Hong Kong: UK Parliament's report firmly rejected The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today said it strongly disapproved of and firmly rejected the so-called report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hong Kong of the UK. It said the report was under the guise of press freedom, made fact-twisting remarks and smeared the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) and the safeguarding of the rule of law in the Hong Kong SAR. The Hong Kong SAR Government strongly urges the relevant UK politicians to immediately stop acting against the international law and basic norms of international relations and interfering in Hong Kong matters, which are purely China's internal affairs. It firmly opposes the UK politicians' repeated malicious slander against the NSL in attempts of interfering in Hong Kong's law-based governance and undermining the rule of law of Hong Kong. It also strongly disapproves of their ignorance of the fact that the implementation of the NSL has enabled the livelihood and economic activities of the Hong Kong community at large to resume as normal and the business environment to be restored. The Hong Kong SAR Government pointed out that with politics overriding the rule of law, the so-called report by these politicians is full of fallacious remarks. Such attempts to undermine the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong only expose their own weakness and faulty arguments, and are doomed to fail. Hong Kong's judicial system has always been highly regarded by international communities. Any attempt by any country, organisation, or individual to interfere with the judicial proceedings in the Hong Kong SAR by means of political power, in order to procure a defendant's evasion of the criminal justice process, is a blatant act undermining the rule of law of Hong Kong. Making a statement with the intent to interfere with or obstruct the course of justice, or engaging in conduct with the same intent, is very likely to constitute the offence of criminal contempt of court or the offence of perverting the course of justice. That Hong Kong is a society underpinned by the rule of law and has always adhered to the principle that laws must be obeyed and lawbreakers held accountable is well recognised by international communities. The Department of Justice (DoJ) of the Hong Kong SAR, by virtue of Article 63 of the Basic Law, controls criminal prosecutions, free from any interference. Independent prosecutorial decisions for each case are made in a rigorous and objective manner, strictly based on evidence and applicable laws and are in accordance with the Prosecution Code. Prosecutions would be instituted by the DoJ only if there is sufficient admissible evidence to support a reasonable prospect of conviction, and if it is in the public interest to do so. As guaranteed by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, defendants charged with criminal offences will undergo fair trials by the Judiciary exercising judicial power independently. Article 85 of the Basic Law clearly stipulates that the courts of the Hong Kong SAR shall exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference. The Hong Kong SAR Government noted that Article 25 of the Basic Law provides that all Hong Kong residents shall be equal before the law. Cases will never be handled any differently owing to the profession, political beliefs or background of the people involved. In all criminal trials, the prosecution has to prove beyond reasonable doubt before the defendant can be convicted, and the defendant has the right to appeal under the law. Article 4 of the NSL clearly stipulates that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong SAR, and that the rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of speech, of the press and of publication, which the residents of Hong Kong enjoy under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong, shall be protected in accordance with the law. Article 5 of the NSL affirms adherence to the principle of the rule of law in safeguarding national security, including the presumption of innocence, the prohibition of double jeopardy, and the right to defend oneself and other rights in judicial proceedings that a criminal suspect, defendant and other parties in judicial proceedings are entitled to under the law. The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal has pointed out that these two articles are centrally important to the interpretation of the NSL generally. Indeed, since the implementation of the NSL, the media landscape in Hong Kong has been as vibrant as ever. As always, the media can exercise their right to monitor the Hong Kong SAR Government's work. Their freedom of commenting on and criticising government policies, which take place as a matter of routine, remains uninhibited as long as they are not in violation of the law. The Hong Kong SAR Government reiterated that it steadfastly safeguards national sovereignty, security and development interests, and upholds the authority of the NSL. In accordance with the law, it resolutely carries out its duties and obligations to safeguard national security and, at the same time, protects the rights and freedoms that the residents of Hong Kong enjoy, ensuring the steadfast and successful implementation of one country, two systems. This story has been published on: 2023-04-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. CARACAS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday affirmed his government's support for peace talks with the opposition as an international forum on Venezuela's political crisis opened in neighboring Colombia. Convened by Colombian President Gustavo Petro in Bogota, the International Conference on the Political Process in Venezuela aims to promote dialogue between Maduro's government and opposition groups. "Venezuela promotes and supports the peace talks," Maduro posted on his Twitter account, adding that his government has a "vocation for dialogue" and has "always sought" an agreement towards recovery and the prosperity of the people. Speaking on his new television program, Maduro said he wanted "the international conference in Bogota to be a complete success for President Gustavo Petro, for Venezuela, for Latin America and for the Caribbean. "We are committed to doing everything that needs to be done to make the conference a success for peace and the sovereignty of Venezuela," Maduro said. He stressed, however, that to make progress towards dialogue with the opposition, it was necessary to "lift all U.S. sanctions" against the South American country. Petro said Tuesday via Twitter that "20 countries are already in Bogota with their foreign ministries" to participate in the conference. Colorado weather forecasters are tracking a powerful storm on Tuesday that has already produced a landspout tornado and is expected to bring heavy snow and rain to other parts of the state. The landspout tornado, the first in Colorado this year, touched down around 3 p.m. near Keenesburg, according to The Denver Gazette's news partners, 9NEWS. The tornado lifted by 3:15 p.m., although it had been visible from Denver International Airport, 9NEWS reported, and inbound flights were held until 4:15 p.m. [Click HERE for live weather updates from Colorado Springs] [Click HERE for the forecast for southern Colorado] The National Weather Service says a winter storm warning is in effect for the Front Range Mountains and Foothills through noon on Wednesday. This includes Red Feather Lakes, Estes Park, Evergreen and Castle Rock. The winter storm warning excludes the Colorado Springs area which is instead under a winter weather advisory and the areas around Canon City and Pueblo, which are only expected to receive rain from this storm. The storm is expected to bring moderate to heavy mountain snow, particularly on Pikes Peak and the Rampart Range, along with the Wet Mountains farther south. One to two feet of snow is possible, especially above 8,000 feet, with higher amounts possible in some spots, the weather service said. The weather service said snow will fall at a rate of 1.5 to 2.5 inches per hour during its heaviest times. Sign Up for Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Areas along the I-25 corridor will mostly see rain. A half inch to an inch is possible with lower amounts falling north and east of Denver, the weather service said. The weather service said in Denver the rain could turn to snow overnight, with a low of 33 degrees expected. However, only about a half-inch of accumulation is expected in the city. However, snow is possible along the I-25 corridor south and west of Denver. A Winter Storm Warning is also in effect over the Palmer Divide from 6 p.m. Tuesday through noon Wednesday, when the weather service says 5 to 13 inches of snow is possible. The snow could pile up at a rate of 1.5 to 2.5 inches per hour at its heaviest times. Drivers should expect major effects in the foothills between 6,000 and 9,000 feet and along the U-285 and I-70 corridors after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, when heavy snow is expected, the weather service said. Roads were expected to be covered in ice, slush or snow in the Foothills, Palmer Divide and US-285 and I-70 corridors overnight, with conditions beginning to improve Wednesday morning, the weather service said. The weather service advised motorists to check road conditions before heading out, pack an emergency supply kit and make sure their vehicle is ready for adverse conditions. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. Colorado Springs experienced a wet Wednesday morning following overnight rain, with no sign of expected spring snowfall throughout most of the area. On-and-off precipitation is forecast to continue Wednesday accompanied by a high of 44 degrees. According to the National Weather Service in Pueblo, shifting wind patterns are responsible for the lack of forecasted snow across the Pikes Peak region. "The main difference is that it went further south so higher snow totals are being seen near Mount White and the Arkansas River Basin," the Weather Service said. "The storm moved a bit further south than the Ramparts (Rampart Range northwest of Colorado Springs). Were still seeing the expected moisture, its just rain instead of snow." Other areas of the state did receive snow as a product of Tuesday's storm with Leadville receiving around 8.5 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Areas north of Colorado Springs did receive some accumulation with Woodland Park measuring a total of 5 inches of snowfall, and Monument receiving a total of 4 inches. Looking ahead to Wednesday night, the rain is forecast to die down. Expect partly cloudy conditions and a high of 29 degrees. Click or tap here for the full list of closings and delays. Click or tap here for statewide road conditions from CDOT. Click or tap here for Colorado Springs-area road and traffic updates. Click or tap here for Colorado Springs Airport arrivals and departures. WEDNESDAY 9:30 a.m.: Colorado Springs and Pueblo saw record-breaking rainfall totals Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Pueblo. The Colorado Springs Airport measured approximately 0.7 inches of rainfall Tuesday, tying with the record set in 1922. Pueblo received 1.4 inches of rainfall Tuesday, breaking the previous record of 0.68 inches set in 1890. The city received a total of 1.94 inches of rainfall throughout the storm. "The average yearly rainfall is around 12 inches. We received nearly 2 of our 12 inches of yearly rainfall yesterday," the Weather Service said. 7:09 a.m.: The Teller County combined courts will be closed Wednesday, and operating remotely. Click or tap here for the full list of closings and delays. 6 a.m.: Colorado Springs District 11, Thomas MacLaren School, Colorado Springs Charter Academy, Calhan School District, Peyton School District, and Colorado Springs Christian School are experiencing a 2-hour delay. Cotopaxi Fremont is closed today, and transitioning to remote instruction. Click or tap here for the full list of closings and delays. Sign Up for Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. 4 a.m.: In anticipation of the storm, the Colorado Springs Operations and Maintenance Division had a full call out of snow removal services throughout the city. High amounts of precipitation rolled through the area overnight, with mostly rain impacting the city. There has been very minimal snow accumulating on roadways and only creating some slushy areas, with no impact to driving conditions," said Shaun Lucero, an Operation Program supervisor for the city, "City plows have been dispersed and they are monitoring for slick or slushy areas, treating them with materials as necessary. We encourage all drivers to slow down and give other vehicles space and use caution." TUESDAY 9:15 p.m.: University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, U.S. Air Force Academy and some Colorado Springs area school districts including Academy District 20, Fountain-Fort Carson District 8 and Widefield District 3 have announced delays for Wednesday. Click or tap here for the full list of closings and delays. 8:03 p.m.: A power outage is affecting nearly 400 customers in a neighborhood near Cimarron Hills, according to the Colorado Springs Utilities outage map. Crews are in route to the neighborhood northwest of East Platte Avenue and North Powers Boulevard. Restoration is expected around 11:53 p.m., Utilities said. A second outage is impacting around 100 customers in a neighborhood near the intersection of North Academy Boulevard and East Woodmen Road. According to Utilities, crews have been assigned and restoration is expected around 11:51 p.m. In an earlier news release, Utilities said electric crews ready to respond to outages or emergencies during the storm. People are asked to report outages and downed power lines. Anyone who loses power is encouraged to seek shelter with friends or neighbors during a storm. 6:15 p.m.: Lewis-Palmer District 38 announces a two-hour delay for Wednesday. Woodland Park School District will be closed. Click or tap here for the full list of closings and delays. 4:45 p.m.: Street flooding has been reported in the Security-Widefield area due to heavy rainfall. 4:30 p.m.: Several flights arriving at and departing from Colorado Springs Airport are delayed, many of them connecting flights to Denver International Airport. 4 p.m.: Cripple Creek-Victor schools will close for a snow day Wednesday. School District 49 will have a two-hour delay. Fort Carson and Teller Couty Government will also be on a delayed start Wednesday morning. Click or tap here for the full list of closings and delays. Here's the forecast for Colorado Springs from the National Weather Service in Pueblo: Tonight: Rain before 9 p.m., then rain and snow between 9 p.m. and midnight, then snow after midnight. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 30. Breezy, with an east wind 15-20 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 2-4 inches possible. Wednesday: Snow before noon, then rain and snow likely between noon and 2 p.m., then a chance of rain after 2 p.m. Some thunder is also possible. High near 42. Breezy, with a north-northeast wind 10-20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Two Albany pharmacy outlets are closing their doors early next month, forcing patients to pick up their prescriptions elsewhere. Medicap locations at 1333 Clay St., SE and 621 NW Hickory St. in North Albany will close their doors by May 2 and May 4, respectively, transferring thousands of patients to Safeway pharmacy. Closing up The decision to close was made with a heavy heart, owner Jennifer Garrison said. It was a tough decision, but at the end of the day, we couldnt do it, she said of dwindling profits. Inside Medicap's main pharmacy, the shelves are already bare. The formerly featured goods have been sold back to the manufacturers, she said. There are still rows of over-the-counter medications behind her as she shuffles through patient prescriptions on her computer. But whatever is left over will be sold to Safeway, she said. Garrison first considered closing at the beginning of this year but didnt make the final decision until about a month ago, she said. Before she owned the stores that are part of a franchise, her parents owned the main location in the 1990s, she said. But in the last 10 years, business is not what it used to be not the number of patients but the operations. Reimbursements for medications are low, and insurance companies arent covering the cost of medications, Garrison said. The pharmacy has had to pay increasing fees associated with insurance plans, she said. The final cherry on top is Oregons Corporate Activity Tax, which is based on sales rather than profits. Pharmacies have high revenues, but after subtracting the high costs of drugs, profits are lower, Garrison said. Broader trend The shuttering of pharmacies fits into a larger trend. In 2021, Oregon lost nearly 60 pharmacies when Bi-Mart closed its pharmacies. That decision left thousands of Oregonians with prescriptions that needed to be transferred elsewhere. Garrison remembers absorbing the patients for the Bi-Mart closure, she said. It increases work for the other pharmacies, she said. In Albany, Bi-Mart closed and transferred prescriptions to Walgreens unless patients requested a different pharmacy. Now the thousands of patients the Albany Medicap locations serve will be transferred to Safeway 1990, at 14th Ave. SE, unless they request otherwise. Patients For North Albany resident Grace Peterson, the news arrived with disappointment. We live in North Albany and it was really convenient," she said of the pharmacy inside the IGA market. Only open a few years, the pharmacy had fewer lines and a small town feel, she said. Peterson learned she would no longer be getting her prescription filled at Medicap through a community members Facebook post. She said she doesnt want to be transferred to Safeway because she doesnt shop there. She's likely to request a transfer to a different pharmacy, she said. Among the other options in town are Costco, Samaritan, Walgreens and Fred Meyer. Patients who are on the Oregon Health Plan should be accepted at other pharmacies around town, Garrison said. Most serve OHP patients. Lately, Garrison has been fielding a lot of calls from patients asking about the closure, she said. Notices were posted on the webpage, on flyers and set up on the pharmacys voicemail. Patients should expect to get something in the mail from Safeway, she said. Although Garrison is closing up shop, youll still see her around, she said. She and some others from Medicap will be staffed at Safeway, she said. Its been a privilege to be here, so its sad, and its bittersweet, she said. I like the relationship with patients. Thats why I do what I do. An animal attacked the goose while in foster care, according to a couple of people who knew Sunny. A veterinarian euthanized Sunny the next day, March 30, in Keizer, according to the gooses owner and a family friend. Owner Tina Corr appeared before Lebanon elected officials in December after the city declined to renew a permit that would have allowed Sunny a "good goose," she said to stay in his home. The goose failed to gain the support of neighbors or officials and was rehomed. Sunny was 9 years old. He didnt deserve what he got. He didnt deserve to die that way, Corr said by telephone. Corr took home Sunny and a partner, Jax, in 2014 after hearing the hatchling birds peeping inside a metal tub at a Wilco Farm Store in Lebanon. She named Sunny for the goslings bright yellow down feathers. Sunny had appeared in photos playing with neighborhood children in 2022; and in Corrs TikTok content receiving greetings and praise on walks in Lebanons municipal parks. Corrs husband, Tom Corr, an attorney who served as Linn County counsel, died in May 2022. Jax died soon after. To help cope, Corr had two goslings shipped in a box to Lebanon to provide Sunny some company. She called them Sunnys mail-order brides, naming them Jinx and Squeaky. By year's end, they all had to go. Corr rehomed all three geese in December. In January, an animal attacked and killed Jinx at a property inside city limits where owners kept livestock, including domesticated geese. On March 29, Corr got another phone call. Property owners told her Sunny had been attacked. She found him lying by a gate, she said. Corr believes a dog mauled Sunny, exposing bone and cartilage. She took the goose to a couple of veterinary clinics before taking him home. Sunny wasnt himself anymore, Corr said. Corr said the bird barely was conscious, so the next morning she returned to a clinic where he was euthanized. She said she will hold a service for Sunny in May. The circle of life continues, however. Squeaky, the other companion goose, is sitting on a clutch of four eggs. Corr said she believes the eggs will hatch by April 30. "They're ready to pop any day," she said. "I hear them knocking." Corr said she believed a neighbor was acting vindictively after police were called to collect her geese from nearby yards or complaints were made about the large waterfowl in 2019, 2021 and 2022. By law, Lebanon doesnt allow livestock animals inside its city limits. Property owners can seek an exception, however, applying every year for a permit from Lebanons building department. Surrounding neighbors must sign the application, consenting to allow an animal. All neighbors but one signed off on Sunny after he appeared in a code enforcement case. Corr turned in that permit in 2016 and Sunny became accustomed to ranging across a couple of yards at the intersection of Randall and Downing drives. Neighborhood relations soured, Corr said, and nearby homeowners didnt consent in a 2022 application for Sunny to remain at home. The citys administrator on Nov. 22 declined to sign off on a renewed permit and Corr rehomed the geese in December. Lebanon code enforcement officials said they would fine Corr $500 each day she violated the livestock ban. Corr told councilors in December she believed Sunny would be euthanized if she couldnt keep the goose at home. Reached by phone April 26, she said she believes a dog killed Sunny. Corr blames Lebanon for the attack. They put Sunny to his death having me move him, she said. Related stories: I agree with others on the need for a new jail facility, sheriffs office, emergency operations center, and courthouse, and appreciate the work the county staff and commissioners have done to plan for these facilities. But I have serious concerns about the allocation of funds proposed in Measure 2-140 because I believe that homelessness and mental health problems should be our top spending priorities. The total cost of the Justice System Improvement Program is now estimated to be $195.8 million (Gazette Times, April 5), with the county hoping for funding help from the state and federal governments. But lets just examine the numbers proposed in the bond measure. Out of the $110 million requested, $40.4 million would go to the sheriffs office and emergency operations center, and $64.3 million would go to the 120-bed jail, including structures to support correctional activities and operations. While its design is not finalized yet, this new jail, according to Benton Countys Jan. 15, 2019 document, would include a 16-bed maximum-security unit, one eight-bed mental health unit, a 16-bed female housing unit, and two 40-bed units for direct observation of nonviolent detainees who will receive rehabilitative interventions while in custody. Not taken into account in the bond measure is the rising cost of construction materials and labor over the next few years, and salaries for staff to service the expanded facilities. These problems aside, simple math shows that if the county spends $64 million for a 120-bed jail, the cost of one jail bed will be roughly $535,800 more than the average price of a single-family home in Benton County! Are we being asked to pay more for each single jail bed than one would pay for an average three-bedroom family dwelling? In contrast, Measure 2-140 allocates only $1.5 million to expand the countys youth mental health facilities, and $3 million to a homelessness navigation center. The full cost of this center is now estimated to be $14.2 million, but since it will provide services to Linn and Lincoln County residents as well, Benton County is hoping the state will fill in the shortfall. The reality is that despite efforts by agencies like the Coordinated Homeless Response Office and the work of the Home, Opportunity, Planning, and Equity (HOPE) Advisory Board and other nonprofit organizations, our treatment facilities, bed capacities, and human resources are still woefully inadequate to care for our mentally challenged residents and our homeless population, whose needs continue to grow. While the issues of homelessness, mental illness, and drug use often intersect with our legal system, it is imperative to decriminalize these conditions and not use them to sweeten the pot that is, to spin the jail bond measure to make it more palatable to voters. I suggest that the county go back to the drawing board and cut way back on the lions share of funding allocated for building jail beds. Money can be better used to develop more low-cost housing, by building multi-story apartments and higher-density dwellings, including tiny homes and temporary trailers, and by repurposing properties in Benton County that have already been developed but are currently unoccupied. With the public demand for more fiscal feasibility, accountability, and environmental sustainability, there is no reason to use the power of eminent domain to turn undeveloped land in north Corvallis into 29 acres of pavement and concrete buildings. Most importantly, more funding should be devoted to recruiting and retaining counselors and social workers to help our vulnerable residents. Because in the end, our community safety and social justice depend more on our human investments than on fancy buildings. Nicholas Kristof, award-winning journalist and former Oregon gubernatorial candidate, came to Corvallis to talk about housing, education and the rural-urban divide. Tapped by Oregon State University to give the 2023 Gov. Tom McCall Memorial Lecture at Oregon State University, Kristof spoke Monday, April 24 at the Learning Innovation Center on campus. Organizers said 288 people attended in person with another 162 watching online. Tom McCall was the governor of Oregon when I was a kid, Kristof said. He changed the trajectory for this state. The Republican governor was remarkable, Kristof said, in his leadership approach, sharing a vision and persuading others to see it. He added McCalls ability to bridge the rural-urban divide was key to policy achievements. His lecture, titled How can we fix the problems all around us? drew from themes in the 2020 book Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope. Kristof co-wrote the book with his wife, fellow journalist Sheryl WuDunn. It explores the difficulties faced by rural communities such as Yamhill, where Kristof grew up. Kristof and WuDunn won a 1990 Pulitzer Prize for their reporting on the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy student protests in China for the New York Times. He won a second Pulitzer for writing columns about the Darfur genocide in 2006. Kristof has earned numerous awards for covering international human rights abuses. Ive been shot at in more countries than I could count, he said. I would go back to Yamhill to heal. But I found myself increasingly going back from a humanitarian crisis abroad to find a humanitarian crisis at home. Reflecting on the untimely, sad fates of kids he knew from his rural upbringing, Kristof outlined how more than a quarter of the kids who rode the school with him had since died what he termed deaths of despair, lives lost to alcoholism, drug abuse and suicide. And the pandemic made it worse, he said. That was the pattern for too many families in Yamhill and so many communities, Kristof said. But we patted ourselves on the shoulder about our strong rural values and looking after each other. About fixing problems, Kristof said solutions to societys ills might be found in more housing, which would lower costs and help get people off the streets, and education with a focus on younger students. To overcome the rural-urban divide, perhaps the most challenging, one needs to work across ideologies both in politics and regular life, he said. Kristof left his longtime employer the New York Times in 2021 to run for Oregon governor but didnt make the ballot because he didnt meet a three-year residency requirement, having voted in New York in 2020. He challenged the decision, but the Oregon Supreme Court upheld it. In the wake of his failed bid for office, Kristof returned to his column-writing gig at the NYT. He has said he doesnt plan to run for office again. With nearly $1 million in campaign cash after losing the race for governor, Kristof has been looking into directing the remaining money to a pay-it-forward job training program under the $200 million Future Ready Oregon approved by the Legislature in 2022. The money will also go to a vision program for students, he said. OSU created the Gov. Tom McCall Memorial Lectureship in 1982 to honor the former Oregon governor, who briefly taught political science and journalism courses at OSU after holding office from 1966 to 1974. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. The lecture series features speakers who talk about the values McCall espoused as governor in the fields of public service, journalism and environmental protection. CLIVE (AP) Many loyal Republicans in the state that kicks off the presidential nominating season are searching for a White House hopeful other than Donald Trump. There's less consensus on what that alternative should look like. Should a potential successor to Trump be just as pugnacious as the former president, but without the constant turmoil? Should that candidate be a next-generation inspiration with an upbeat message aimed at uniting a deeply divided country? These questions hung over the first marquee event of the 2024 Iowa caucus campaign this past weekend, as nearly 1,000 GOP activists, party officials, volunteers and Christian conservatives crowded the floor of a suburban Des Moines event center for the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition's annual spring fundraiser. Trump remained a hero to many in the crowd though interviews with nearly two dozen attendees demonstrated the opportunity and obstacles for those seeking to challenge him. "There's got to be somewhere we can get the force of a Donald Trump in a respectful tone," said Jane Jech, 66, of Marshalltown in central Iowa. As the 2024 GOP field begins to form, Trump is in a dominant position among Republicans in both Iowa and around the U.S. The question is whether that will continue as the field grows and messages take shape. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson will formally unveil his campaign on Wednesday and others ranging from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to former Vice President Mike Pence are expected to do so in the coming months. Iowa has a history of humbling candidates who are presumed to be early frontrunners, siding with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz over Trump in 2016 and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum over Mitt Romney in 2012. If that tendency were to repeat itself, in this rare instance of a former president seeking a comeback, it would set off alarms for Trump. Over boxed dinners of chicken sandwiches, the audience in Iowa heard in person from six presidential prospects including Hutchinson, Pence, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. Notably absent were DeSantis, who was headlining the Utah Republican Party convention, and Trump, who addressed the group in a recorded video message. "I kind of like the freshness of someone who can capture what can bring us together," said Perry Kyle, 38, from the western Des Moines suburb of Waukee, "someone who isn't afraid to tell it like it is, but has an uplifting message." First out of Kyle's mouth was Scott, who recently announced he was forming a presidential exploratory committee. In Iowa, he offered his largest audience yet his call for optimism, reminiscent of Ronald Reagan and markedly different than Trump's typical list of grievances. "We must restore hope, create opportunity and protect America, the city on the hill, the beacon in the midst of the storm," Scott said, sparking applause from the audience. The comments resonated with Ling Yu Detrick, 29, from the eastern Des Moines suburb of Altoona. "He expresses common sense and does not come across as divisive. Trump is just too divisive." That doesn't mean a swath of Iowa Republicans aren't itching for a fighter, and see DeSantis, perhaps, as that candidate. DeSantis has unapologetically racked up conservative legislative achievements, including banning gender-affirming care for minors and eliminating diversity programs in colleges along with barring abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, all with a vocal contempt for Democrats. "We will never surrender to the woke mob," DeSantis told an audience of more than 1,000 in Davenport last month, repeating his defiant mantra. "Our state is where woke goes to die." DeSantis' record and tone appeal to Corey Daley, 37, from Des Moines, though he remains open to supporting Trump in the caucuses. "We need a fighter, someone who is aggressive, otherwise you don't get nothing done," Daley said. Similarly, Charlotte Heck, from Coon Rapids in west central Iowa, was torn between DeSantis, who is taking steps toward running, and Trump, who announced his bid for a comeback in November. Both are effective champions of conservative values, she said, but she finds Trump's personality distasteful while she is unsure of DeSantis' ability to deliver the way supporters say Trump did. "I think I like DeSantis, but am not sure yet if he can get the job done the way we know Trump has," she said. Heck's nod to Trump's record as president echoed throughout the audience, heavy with politically influential evangelical Christians, on Saturday. It's notable for a candidate who once supported abortion rights, spent decades boasting of his sexual exploits and faces felony indictment stemming from a hush money payment made to a porn actor who alleged having an extramarital affair with him. But Trump's three U.S. Supreme Court nominees, who helped last year overturn Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 decision that had recognized a federal right to abortion, and other similar anti-abortion moves have absolved him among many. Abortion has become an early point of debate in the preliminary stages of the 2024 campaign. Trump's position that abortion restrictions should be left to states, not the federal government, drew sharp rebuke last week from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a leading abortion opposition group. But a number of evangelical pastors in Iowa, some who opposed Trump's candidacy in 2016, have pointed to the Supreme Court and other pledges he made to the religious right where he delivered, actions Trump noted by video to applause of the audience Saturday. "I kept my promise, recognized Israel's eternal capital and opened the American embassy in Jerusalem," Trump said during his recorded remarks, prompting applause for what many evangelical Christians see as fulfilling biblical prophecy. For Danielle Akey, the 2024 conversation begins and ends with Trump. "Every person needs to get out, and get out of his way," said Akey, 37, from small-town Adel, west of Des Moines. "I like other ones who are running, but he's the one who can get the job done because he has gotten the job done." Mary Butler, 78, of Pella, said flatly, "I think he is an American hero," though even she didn't know if she could vote for him again, because of the "forces conspiring against him." The early assessment, with more than nine months until the caucuses, comes as Trump and Scott have made their moves, while former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley announced her candidacy in February. While DeSantis travels the country promoting a book and presses his legislative agenda ahead of a spring decision, Hutchinson plans to announce his candidacy Wednesday in his hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas. Pence, meanwhile, has said he expects to announce his plans by June. What seemed clear from conversations Saturday is that Hutchinson and Pence may struggle to find their place with Republicans looking for a post-Trump fighter or unifier. Hutchinson, who has said Republicans must turn the page from the Trump era, has since called for him to exit the race in light of the indictment. Pence, on the other hand, is met with respect as a devout Christian, but inspires little enthusiasm, interviews Saturday and his polite, but muted reception suggest. "I don't think you'll ever see Mike Pence getting traction," said Jech, of Marshalltown. "A great guy. I have great respect for him. But he'll never get traction. He's just too milquetoast." The city of Mason City will work with Kirk Apartments owner Ed Kent in the aftermath of the fire that gutted the building Monday, City Administrator Aaron Burnett said Tuesday. Burnett said it's too soon to know the details of how that will look. The structural integrity of the building at 206 N. Federal Ave. was severely compromised by the blaze. "I think it's too early to talk about things like that. We're in the middle of working with the owner to figure out the plan moving forward," Burnett said. "Obviously, the fire department is still on scene and still working." Emergency responders were called to the building shortly after 2 p.m. Monday, according to a press release from the Mason City Fire Department. Crews arrived to find smoke coming from the building. They performed a search and rescue operation to ensure all residents escaped the building without injury. As they evacuated residents, firefighters fought the blaze on multiple floors of the building. Conditions worsened as the fire spread between floor and ceiling space in the three-story, 44-unit building. As conditions deteriorated, fire crews were forced out of the building and had to fight the fire from outside as the structural integrity of the building began to fail. Crews continued fighting the blaze until about 9 p.m. and remained on scene overnight to extinguish smaller areas of fire. The fire appeared to be contained around 2:30 p.m. but flared up again just after 5 p.m. Firefighters were unable to contain the blaze, which resulted in a total loss of the building. Firefighters were still dousing the building with water Tuesday as it continued to smolder. Building residents said they were initially told they would be allowed to reenter the complex to collect belongings, but the flare-up prevented that from happening. The building did not have a sprinkler system on any floor. A fire alarm system alerted tenants to the danger. The cause of the fire and the flare up is unknown at this time. Investigators from the Iowa State Fire Marshal Division are assisting with the investigation. Burnett said he's met with Police Chief Jeff Brinkley and Fire Chief Erik Bullinger to discuss the best and safest course of action going forward. "We continue to work through it, but it's still a developing situation," Brinkley said. "As we continue to address the building and the public safety side of it winds down, then we'll get into those questions." According to the news release, "As the structural integrity of this building is uncertain at this time, a safe perimeter has been established, and citizens are reminded that debris may fall in this area unexpectedly. Barricades for streets as well as sidewalks are in place, and updates will be given as changes are made." Photos: North Iowa history book, 1800s-1930s North Iowa history: Fire prevention North Iowa history: Grant valentines North Iowa history: Henkel Construction North Iowa history: House explosion North Iowa history: Huxtable Drug North Iowa history: Federal Packing Co. North Iowa history: Boy Scouts North Iowa history: Pierce with kids North Iowa history: Woodward Auto Children at telephone office North Iowa history: Divers at Clear Lake A Detroit man allegedly caught with methamphetamine and marijuana in Clear Lake in February has pleaded guilty in Cerro Gordo County District Court. According to court records, 49-year-old Patrick Cornelius Clark was originally charged with a controlled substance violation -- class B felony possession of contraband in a correctional institution, class D felony failure to affix a drug stamp, and possession of marijuana, a serious misdemeanor. He was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor. The plea agreement calls for all felony sentences to be suspended and for Clark to be placed on probation for three years. The possession of marijuana sentence would be for 13 days in jail with credit for time served. The charges stem from a Feb. 4 incident in which Clark was riding in the passenger seat of a GMC Yukon at 1:14 a.m. when a traffic stop was conducted on U.S. Highway 18 near 10th Street by Clear Lake Police. A strong odor of marijuana was allegedly coming from the vehicle, and Clark allegedly admitted to having marijuana and showed it to officers. When being booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail and changing into jail clothing four plastic bags containing meth were allegedly found on Clark's person. They weighed more than 15 grams. He also had numerous new plastic bags identical to the bags containing meth. No date has been set for sentencing as of Tuesday morning. North Iowa history in photos: Mason City street scenes of the early 1900s 1937 Downtown MC.jpg Cigar and peanut wagon on Federal 1909.jpg Parade for the July 4th 1910.jpg 1920 Ford dealeship in Mason Cityr.jpg 1901 Uncle Tom's Cabin Parade MC IA.jpg 1910 Fire Department MC.jpg 1920s Birdsall's Ice Cream Store same location today..jpg 1910busy intersection standard oil wagon.jpg 1920 Commercial Bank on Federal with parked motorcycle.jpg 1915 Charles Hotel at Central Park with Trolley.jpg 1930 2nd St SE and Federal facing North Best.jpg 1915 Iowa Hardware Mutual Office Bldg old metalcraft bldg.jpg 1930s Jefferson Lines buses at the downtown depot MC.jpg 1915 State st North of delaware facing NE2.jpg 1930 East side Federal to State street.jpg 1915 Street scene at Charles Hotel with Trolleyand Olympia Billboard.jpg 1934 buildings being torn down Federal Ave 1.jpg 1918 North Iowa Fair 19th SW at Federal (Southport Mall site.jpg Mason_City_1212.jpg 1919 White Motor Cars on Federal MC.jpg The Kirk Apartments building has stood at 206 N. Federal Ave. since 1902. It's copper-clad windows and sturdy brick were a backdrop to countless North Iowa Band Festivals, senior portraits and evening walks. Today, the building is a shell as smoke and steam continue to sputter from the charred remains. The Kirk is actually the second apartment block to stand at the corner of Second Street Northeast and North Federal Avenue. In 1892, the three-story Kirkland Flats arose on the site. Kirkland Flats was destroyed by fire in 1902. According to a Globe Gazette article dated Oct. 9, 1902, the Kirk was reconstructed using the remaining north, west and partial south walls of Kirkland Flats. Early Tuesday morning, tenants stood in the early morning sun grieving the loss of their possessions, pets and homes. The Salvation Army of Mason City has stepped forward with shelter, bus passes, gas vouchers and other items displaced residents will need. The Red Cross also is stationed at the Salvation Army at 747 Village Green Drive. Monetary donations are the best way to help those affected by the disaster. Donations of personal hygiene items also are needed. Officials advise those donating to do so in person to ensure donations get to fire victims. On Tuesday, GoFundMe accounts were created for several of the Kirk's displaced residents, according to Nathalie Granda, GoFundMe communications associate. Kylie & Jake Fire Relief was set up by Alexia Schulte for her friend, Kylie Fink, after she and her boyfriend lost everything in the blaze. They were just about to move and had their entire lives packed into cardboard boxes and its all gone, the fundraiser reads. The Cheryl Massey Fire Help Fund was created to help Cheryl Massey, who lost her belongings and her beloved cat, Gary, in the fire. Massey didnt have renters insurance. Getting some money to help her have options when she needs them and be ready to find a new place and get it right away will mean a lot to feel like she can begin to get her life back again, the fundraiser organizer shared. Kira's fire recovery fund was set up by Nathan Meyer, whose daughter, Kira, was one of the tenants who lost everything. While her cats escaped, Kira needs help replacing her belongings and finding a new place to live. On Tuesday morning, the Mason City High School Student Senate was at work organizing a student fundraising drive for a paraprofessional who was displaced by the fire and is staying with relatives. The individual could not be independently identified by the Globe Gazette. City officials are concerned for the safety of community members whose interest in seeing the ruined building may outweigh common sense. Officials ask onlookers to respect the barricades and give staff room to operate downtown. Mayor Bill Schickel said he feels the loss of the historic building intensely. "The building is a total loss, but thank God all were evacuated safely and there were no injuries. A huge thank you for the heroic work of our firefighters and police officers," Schickel said Tuesday. "They have been working overnight and are still working to keep the area safe today. Thank you also for the assistance from neighboring fire departments. A concern now is the possibility of walls collapsing and causing surrounding damage. Thats why adjacent streets will remain closed until the area is secure. The focus right now is on making sure everyone has a place to stay, cleanup and safety." There still is debris, water and equipment on site. Andrew Balduf, head chef at the Suzie Q, a local diner next door to the Kirk, said there was little water damage to that historic building, and he anticipates the cleanup will be minimal. He is waiting for the area to be declared safe. I just went in there and it looks pretty good, Balduf said of the Suzie Q. Firefighters are worried about Kirks west wall collapsing, so I dont know when that will be resolved. Close Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Firefighters spray water on the shell of the Kirk Apartments building in downtown Mason City on Tuesday. PHOTOS: Kirk Apartments in Mason City destroyed by huge fire Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Firefighters spray water on the shell of the Kirk Apartments building in downtown Mason City on Tuesday. The Head Start program for Mason City preschoolers will be consolidated at a single building -- Hoover Elementary -- for the 2023-24 school year. The Mason City School Board on Monday approved a lease agreement to provide facilities for Head Start from Aug. 1 through July 31, 2024. Under the terms of the agreement, Mason City Community School District will provide access to the southwest wing of Hoover Elementary School for use by North Iowa Community Action to operate the Head Start program for the 2023-2024 school year, including five classrooms and the enclosed shared space between them. Head Start provides preschool for children ages 3-4 who meet federal income guidelines. The districts current arrangement sees Head Start students attend at three of the four elementary schools in the district. The boards action moves the program to one location at Hoover. The district expects upwards of 80 students to enroll in Head Start next year. We love Head Start. Were happy that were able to continue to partner with them ... to continue to provide space for them that serves a mutually beneficial purpose for our students, said Bridgette Exman, assistant superintendent at Mason City Schools. Mason City Community Schools will provide breakfast and lunch for Head Start students at Hoover on days school is in session. In other business, the board approved a 3% salary increase for most non-bargaining employees like bus drivers, food service workers, paraprofessionals and other administrative positions, as well as approving the 2023-24 health insurance premiums for district staff, setting them at $810 per month for single coverage and $1,018 for family coverage, with 100% of the single premium paid by the district. Close Kirk Apartment Fire IOWA CITY One of Iowas most generous and notable philanthropists a Mason City native whose name graces buildings, centers and programs including North Iowa Area Community College's John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center has died. Pappajohn died April 22 at age 94. His death is a great loss, University of Iowa Tippie College of Business Dean Amy Kristof-Brown said in a statement, and his legacy will far surpass the name on her colleges primary campus home. His story is at the heart of what we do and inspires us every day, she said. He lived the American dream, immigrating to the United States as a child, raising a family and using his intelligence and hard work to become a business leader. His is a success story we can all learn from. 'Business builder Pappajohn who with this wife, Mary, has given more than $100 million to various philanthropic causes was born in Greece in 1928 and immigrated to the United States at 9 months old with his mother. He grew up in Mason City where he had to repeat kindergarten due to the language barrier and saw his world upended at age 16 when his father died, according to Pappajohns biography. He spent six years working his way through college, earning a UI bachelors degree in business in 1952. After graduation, though, he did not interview for a job. He wanted to own his own business, according to his biography. Pappajohn established an insurance agency, eventually becoming chair of the board for Guardsman Insurance Investors a public insurance holding company. In 1969, Pappajohn sold the enterprise for $100,000 and used the money to launch his own venture capital fund, Equity Dynamics. Before venture capitalists were what they are today, Pappajohn was investing in startups involving himself in more than 100 over the years and more than 50 initial public offerings of public stock. Pappajohn served as director of more than 40 public companies, and his philanthropy has been recognized in the naming of UIs main business building, the UI Hospitals and Clinics Pappajohn Pavilion, the John and Mary Pappajohn Clinical Cancer Center and UIs Pappajohn Biomedical Institute Building. With more than $30 million, he organized and financed the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers at five Iowa universities and colleges the UI, Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, Drake University and North Iowa Area Community College. As of 2022, more than 421,000 people had participated in the programs statewide, including 161,092 at the UI. The centers have churned out more than 8,500 new businesses and 17,400 jobs. At the time of their creation, Pappajohn said he aimed to revive Iowas entrepreneurial spirit following the farm crisis of the 1980s. I want to make Iowa the most entrepreneurial state in America, he said. In 1997, Pappajohn and his wife created a $5 million John and Mary Pappajohn Scholarship Fund for ethnic, disadvantaged and minority students; in 2001, he funded the NIACC Pappajohn Business Building in Mason City; and the couple committed $4 million to help finance the John and Mary Pappajohn Higher Education Center, a collaborative of seven universities and colleges in the state of Iowa. As one of the states leading business builders, John serves as a daily inspiration to Iowans who want to become entrepreneurs, Kristof-Brown said in a statement. I saw firsthand the passion he felt when he engaged with students, inspiring and guiding those who sought to follow his path. 'How can I help? One such student-engagement experience came in fall of 2015, when Pappajohn spoke to a crowd of more than 1,000 during a homecoming week event at the University of Iowa. The largely student audience connected with Pappajohn instantly, hanging on advice like, Philanthropy is a way of life. "If you incorporate it in your DNA, it becomes part of your persona, he said. At that event, Pappajohn told students he was motivated by his UI education to start giving back right away although at the time he could afford only to give $5 as his first donation. His giving grew over time, of course, and he took the wealth he acquired to inspire students that day to start small, too. Distributing envelopes of $10 each to every student in the house, Pappajohn instructed them to give it away and to keep giving $10 a year for five years. And I will match you, he said, acknowledging they werent required to give the money back. If you'd rather go to the Airliner and buy a beer, OK. But your conscience is going to bother you. Pappajohns giving has supported discovery and innovation, launching student, faculty and community entrepreneurs who have started hundreds of businesses, creating thousands of jobs. I dream a lot, I dream constantly, Pappajohn said during his 2015 lecture. I dont have these wild dreams, I just dream about what I want to do and want to give away and what are my priorities in life. "How can I help the world with the time I have left? Close Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Firefighters spray water on the shell of the Kirk Apartments building in downtown Mason City on Tuesday. PHOTOS: Kirk Apartments in Mason City destroyed by huge fire Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Firefighters spray water on the shell of the Kirk Apartments building in downtown Mason City on Tuesday. 20 students from John Adams Middle School and Newman Catholic Middle School participated in the North Iowa Civics Bee on Tuesday. The event was sponsored by the Mason City Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the National Civics Bee annually to engage junior high and high school students in civics and their communities Councilman John Lee, who is also a civics instructor at Mason City High School, emceed the event along with Colleen Frein, president of Mason City Chamber of Commerce. Lee read two rounds of multiple choice questions related to the function of the government at the federal, state and local level and the function of the Constitution. The top five performers advanced to the final round, where they shared a submitted essay focused on a specific instance of civic engagement they would like to implement in their community. City Administrator Aaron Burnett, Jamie Copley of Sukup Manufacturing, and Todd Leet of Thrivent served as judges. Madeline Cornish, an eighth-grader at Newman Catholic, earned 1st Place with her essay describing the outreach she has been doing with fellow students in area nursing homes over the last few months. "I'm a very social person ... (but) kids in general can have problems with being social", Cornish said in her essay. She described how she helped organize students to visit the nursing homes and engage with the residents on a personal level to help build social skills. She handed out fliers and spoke during morning announcements to churn up publicity for her cause among the students, and they showed up. "When I go the nursing home, people who don't normally talk in class or who have trouble making friends were sitting and having great conversations with these older people." She secured a sponsor for her program through Central Park Dentistry, which through its donation provided board games, coloring books and other activities students and residents could participate in together. She plans to expand her project to include more students and more nursing homes to foster even more connection between the community's older population with the students. Cornish received a $500 cash prize awarded by Frein on behalf of the Chamber, and will advance with the two runners-up, Allison Long and Julia Hines, to the state competition at the Iowa State Fair this summer. Mayor Bill Schickel, provided remarks ahead of the event. "I honestly think this is the most important thing going on in Mason City today ... this kind of civic involvement is just so critical to Mason City. ... You're talking about solutions. You're building the future of our community," Schickel said. Close Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Firefighters spray water on the shell of the Kirk Apartments building in downtown Mason City on Tuesday. PHOTOS: Kirk Apartments in Mason City destroyed by huge fire Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday, April 24, 2023. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Mason City firefighters battle a huge blaze at the Kirk Apartments in downtown Mason City on Monday. Firefighters spray water on the shell of the Kirk Apartments building in downtown Mason City on Tuesday. DES MOINES Iowa lawmakers are entering the final push to get key bills sent to Gov. Kim Reynolds desk before packing up and leaving Des Moines. Friday marks the legislatures 110th day, traditionally lawmakers goal for ending the session for the year. There is no legal requirement to end the session on that date, but lawmakers allowances for daily expenses will run out on Friday. Still, they expect to be meeting at least until next week as they hammer out the fiscal 2024 budget, bills dealing with property taxes, loosening Iowas child labor laws and more. Budget The Iowa Senate passed the first few budget bills Tuesday afternoon as lawmakers work to dole out $8.5 billion in state dollars to various services and agencies. Senate Republicans took the unusual process of passing out of committee several shell budget bills with no numbers in them with plans to add the numbers on the floor. Democrats have criticized the process as unprecedented and lacking in transparency, as Iowans have not had a chance to comment on proposed budgets before they get a Senate vote. Sen. Claire Celsi, a Democrat from West Des Moines, said before floor debate that Democrats had not seen the proposed numbers in the administration and regulation budget which was on the debate calendar as of Tuesday morning. She said people that had been in the Senate for decades had not encountered a similar process. An amendment with numbers included eventually was filed, but the Senate did not debate the administration and regulation budget Tuesday. Never have we waited this long to see real budget numbers in our budgets so that we can do an analysis of them to figure out whether were going to vote for them or not, Celsi said. Members of the House have been hammering out budget details in behind-the-scenes meetings, and Appropriations Committee Chair Gary Mohr, R-Bettendorf, said he expects to hold a meeting of the committee later this week. The House is not expected to vote on budget bills until next week. Republican leaders have settled on the top-line numbers for Iowas fiscal 2024 budget: The state plans to spend $8.516 billion, a 3.7% increase over last year. I hope by the end of the week weve got some of the bills ready to go to the full appropriations committee, or even out of Appropriations Committee, ready for floor debate, Mohr said. Guns in parking lots The Iowa Senate must decide on a bill to allow guns in public parking lots, including school parking lots in limited cases. The bill would also lift a number of other restrictions on who can possess guns and where. House Republicans passed the bill this month, saying it will reinforce Second-Amendment freedoms. Democrats said it would increase the likelihood of gun violence at schools and universities and put students in danger. A few dozen Iowa student and adult anti-gun violence activists rallied in the Capitol Monday protesting the bill. The protesters, affiliated with Iowa WTF and March for Our Lives Iowa, said the legislation would perpetuate gun violence and put students in more danger at schools. Sen. Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig, the bill's Senate floor manager, said he supports the major points of the bill and hes trying to make it work, but it may not pass before the end of session. He said there may be some unintended consequences from insurance mandates in the bill, and the language that clarifies who can possess and carry guns needs to be agreed upon by stakeholders. The bill is not dead, but I dont know that its ready either, he said. Property taxes Iowa lawmakers have promised to pass mechanisms to limit Iowa property owners tax bills, but they must decide between two proposals before they can be passed into law. The Iowa House and Senate passed competing bills last week: The House version would limit property tax bill increases to 3% each year for residential and agricultural properties and 8% each year for commercial and industrial properties. The Senate bill would require that a city or countys main property tax levy be lowered if taxable value in the area rises above a set percentage. Both Senate and House Republican leaders have said they are driving the same ideas to bring down property taxes, but they still must address major differences before a bill is ready to be signed into law. Our goal is to provide certainty and relief for Iowans and so if we can find a way to achieve that, we're more than happy to continue to work with the Senate, Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford said last week. Child labor A bill to open more jobs to teenagers is in the Houses court after passing in the Senate last week. Supporters said it would bring common-sense changes to Iowas labor laws and create more opportunities for younger Iowans to gain work experience. But Democrats, who oppose the bill, say it would put teens in dangerous environments and exploit child labor to shore up Iowas workforce issues. The bill would allow teenagers to work in more jobs and later into the night. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds could serve alcoholic drinks at restaurants. Fourteen- to 17-year-olds could participate in work-based learning programs in areas like manufacturing if granted an exemption by state officials. Rep. Dave Deyoe, R-Nevada, the bills floor manager in the House, said he is not sure yet whether the bill will come up for a vote in the House. Democrats have filed more than 20 amendments to the bill in attempts to take out or alter what they see as among the most damaging provisions. The best thing to happen would be that we dont (take up the bill), Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, the House minority leader from Windsor Heights, said last week. Auditor bill Senate Republicans continue to work on legislation that would place limits on what personal information the states taxpayers watchdog could demand during an audit, and remain intent on passing the bill yet this session. Senate File 478 would define and in some cases limit the scope of the state auditors authority while conducting investigations into the use of taxpayer money. Republicans say the bill protects Iowans personal information and puts into state law general accounting standards, while Democrats decry the bill as a power grab that dilutes the power of the auditors office to investigate misuse of state money, putting billions in federal funds at risk. Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand is the lone Democrat to hold statewide office. Sen. Mike Bousselot, a Republican from Ankeny and the bills floor manager, said lawmakers are exploring whether to include more restrictions on the subpoena power of the auditor. Bousselot pointed to an Iowa Supreme Court ruling last month that said the state auditor does not have the authority to investigate the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool that provides property and casualty insurance coverage to counties, cities and other taxpayer funded local government entities across Iowa. Sand had filed a subpoena seeking records about annual meetings the risk pools board of directors held at out of state resorts. Bousselot said the ruling shows Sand abused his subpoena power and that the bill is needed to restrict what the auditors office can investigate. Privacy for Iowans, in a time where theyre giving more information to their government than ever before, is clearly a priority for the House and for the Senate, Bousselot said. It had strong support when we moved it the first time, and I would expect it would have strong support as it moves forward. A bipartisan coalition of state auditors and national organizations that represent state auditors and accounting professionals has said the proposal would jeopardize the independence of the state auditors office and make it easier to conceal waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer money. A fiscal analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency warns Senate File 478 could limit the ability of the state auditor to perform oversight on programs that total more than $12 billion, and could result in a loss of federal funds. Lets be clear about this. This is the destruction of democratic norms, Sand told reporters last week during a news conference on House passage of the bill. Photos: Gov. Kim Reynolds delivers the condition of the state address A 33-year-old Lynchburg man was arrested Tuesday in a February deadly shooting in Gretna, the Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office reported. Corderro Montez Rucker, 33, is charged in the Feb. 12 homicide of Jonathan D. Robertson, 28, of Pittsville. Deputies with Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office responded to a report of shots fired at about 10:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at 295 Falcon View Drive. Prior to the arrival of deputies, a victim was transported by private vehicle to the Centra Emergency Department in Gretna where he later succumbed to his injuries, Capt. Corey Webb, with the Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office, said in February. Robertson was identified as the victim. Authorities did not respond to questions for additional information from the Register & Bee at the time. The body was taken to the medical examiners office for an autopsy. Rucker, who was arrested in Lynchburg on Tuesday by investigators from the Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office and the U.S. Marshals Service, is charged with first-degree murder. The suspect also faces charges of possession or transportation of firearms by a convicted felon, use or display of a firearm in committing a felony and reckless handling of a firearm. Hes being held without bond. The release also noted Rucker faces weapon violation charges in Lynchburg. The Sheriffs Office would like to thank the Pittsylvania County Commonwealths Attorneys Office, The United States Marshals Service, and Investigators of this office, Capt. Gerald Ford wrote in Tuesdays release. Ford, citing the ongoing investigation, said no other details would be provided. Authorities ask anyone with any information to call 434-432-7931 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-791-0044. About $1 billion in federal COVID-19 pandemic relief funding would be dedicated to a one-time boost in behavioral health spending in North Carolina if a bipartisan N.C. House bill becomes law. House Bill 855, titled Strengthening Care for Families and Children, was filed Wednesday with Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, as lead sponsor. Lambeth, a former N.C. Baptist Hospital president, also led the years-long effort to expand the states Medicaid program that was signed into law on March 27. The Medicaid expansion legislation requires approval of the 2023-24 state budget for funding. The largest single amount of $225 million would go to the N.C. Division of Health Benefits to increase rates paid to Medicaid behavioral health-care providers over a three-year period. I believe this plan, because of the significant funding and source (American Rescue Plan Act), will be part of the budget discussions, Lambeth said. We will attempt to reach an agreement to implement this plan. I believe there is a good chance most of the plan will be approved. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement that HB 855 proposes "significant and much-needed investment in North Carolinas behavioral health system." "We will continue its work with the General Assembly to address the mental health crisis in North Carolina. More than two million people in North Carolina have a mental illness and more than one million have a substance use disorder. "Investing in behavioral health is critical in getting people the help they need when and where they need it." The next largest provision at $108 million would be dedicated to the N.C. Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services. It would be spent on funding community-based pre-arrest diversion and re-entry programs, and to fund local partnerships between law enforcement, counties and behavioral health providers. The mental health system in North Carolina is broken, Lambeth said. We have an obligation to create programs to improve access by opening programs, expanding telehealth options, while getting these citizens out of the emergency rooms and into a mode of treatment. It is broad based to help in schools and build a better database to track our effectiveness, Lambeth said. We will monitor closely which programs will work and are worthy of continuing or expanding with additional funds. There are seven primary funding categories and 31 overall funding slots. The lowest amount is $2 million for judicial education programs designed to increase understanding of mental health issues and behavioral health treatment options. Funds would be dedicated to enhancing foster care services, telehealth, child welfare, K-12 school resources, mobile crisis teams, state suicide and crisis lifeline, housing options, information technology, workforce training and workforce retention. Given the projected cost of this proposal, this idea almost certainly would be tied to negotiations over a final state budget, said Mitch Kokai, senior policy analyst with conservative think tank John Locke Foundation. I suspect most lawmakers have some interest in supporting programs that address childrens behavioral health and well-being. Whether this idea can cross the finish line in this legislative session will likely depend on whether lawmakers agree that it beats out other competing priorities. North Carolina is getting failing grades for meeting the mental health needs of the states children, according to the 2023 Child Health Report Card released last week. The state received F grades in mental health, school-based health, housing and economic security, and birth outcomes in the report released by NC Child and the North Carolina Institute of Medicine. The groups say action is needed, pointing to statistics such as the rise in suicides and gun deaths among young people. Our state is falling woefully short of our goals for childrens mental health and well-being, Kathleen Colville, president and CEO of the N.C. Institute of Medicine, said in a statement. As we continue our pandemic recovery, this report should be a call to action for consensus-building around policies and programs that promote the health and safety of all North Carolina kids. Suicides and attempts up Mental health is a major focus in the new report card, which is issued every two years. The report notes that an unprecedented 67 children ages 0-18 died by suicide in North Carolina in 2020. Other alarming statistics include: One in five North Carolina high school students reported seriously considering attempting suicide in 2021, up from 16% in 2017. One in 10 North Carolina high school students reported actually making a suicide attempt. LGBTQ+ students are more than three times more likely to consider or attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Youth depression rising The groups warn that diagnoses of mental health concerns are also on the rise. More than one in 10 children ages 3-17 in North Carolina had a diagnosis of depression or anxiety in 2020. Thats a 49% increase from 2016. This will come as no surprise for anyone who is a parent, around kids, or working with kids in dealing with them that theres more diagnoses of whats called mood disorders: depression and anxiety, Colville said at a webinar Tuesday. Colville said that concern can be addressed by adding more school counselors and nurses, especially in rural parts of the state where access to mental health services may be harder to find. Gun deaths rising At a time when many causes of child death in North Carolina are going in the right direction, Colville said one number is going the wrong way. Child deaths involving a firearm rose more than 40% in from 2019 to 2021. The rate is increasing more in North Carolina than nationally. Homicide and suicide, these are the only causes of child death that are increasing in North Carolina, Colville said. These are preventable and we need to pay attention to that. One of the reports recommendations is to make it harder for children and youth to get access to lethal means of self-harm. This includes safe storage of firearms and prescription drugs. Other recommendations include: Removing barriers to mental health care. Enhancing the availability of mental health care and crisis intervention in public schools, particularly in rural areas where specialty care is less available; Areas of improvement The state got higher grades on other areas, including: A Insurance coverage B Environmental Health; Health Services Utilization and Immunization; Preconception and Maternal Health & Support C Teen Births; Breastfeeding; Oral Health; D Education; Healthy Eating and Active Living; School Health; Child Abuse & Neglect; Tobacco, Alcohol, and Substance Use The high grade for insurance coverage comes from the increase in the number of adults and children who have medical coverage. Luna Homsi, health policy analyst for NC Child, said its exciting that 94.5% of the states children have insurance coverage. Homsi said the A grade was largely due to people keeping Medicaid coverage when a public health emergency was declared during the pandemic. While the federal governments public health emergency has ended, a new bill signed into law will expand the states Medicaid coverage. We are hopeful that Medicaid expansion will ensure that more parents are able to be happy and healthy and create the nurturing environments that parents need, Homsi said. ADAM WAGNER The Charlotte Observer Accelerating sea level rise along the Atlantic coast from Cape Hatteras south to the Gulf of Mexico can be partially attributed to human-caused climate change and partly to natural cycles, according to the lead author of a study published this week. The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications, found that since 2010, sea levels from Cape Hatteras to the U.S.-Mexico border have averaged increases of about 10 millimeters a year, up from a long-term average of one to two millimeters a year. Researchers found that about 40% of the accelerated sea level rise seen since 2010 can be attributed to global warming caused by emissions of greenhouse gases from humans, while 60% is being caused by natural cycles of ocean currents and winds. But they cautioned that those findings still stressed the importance of limiting greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for higher seas. These natural cycles have always been there but now with the man-made acceleration of sea level rise they are more risky for our coastline, said Sonke Dangendorf, an assistant professor in Tulane Universitys Department of River-Coastal Science and Engineering who was one of the studys lead researchers. The paper suggests that the natural cycle is likely to reverse itself in the next decade or so. Even then, Dangendorf said, greenhouse gas emissions that have already occurred mean that global warming would continue and seas will continue to rise, only at a slower pace. And the natural patterns that lead to higher seas are certain to return. Debate about just how much of the acceleration seen along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts in recent years should not detract from the fact that humans play a key role, said Philip Bresnahan, a University of North Carolina Wilmington oceanographer who had reviewed the Tulane study. Some bad actors are really good at misleading people into looking at any kind of debate or uncertainty and using that to political advantage, Bresnahan told The News & Observer. Why are water levels rising faster? Global and local reports in recent years have joined the overwhelming amount of scientific evidence pointing to emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities as the main driver of global warming. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported this year that humans have unequivocally caused global warming. Bresnahan noted that another recent paper, as well as at least two that are available in pre-print, have tried to tease out the causes of the acceleration in sea level rise seen along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. And, he said, they all have one common theme. All of these papers are saying the same thing: Humans are to blame for a lot of it, and we need to change that to improve everyones well-being, Bresnahan said. Paul Liu, an N.C. State University oceanographer, said he is familiar with the Tulane researchers work and is confident in their methods. Liu also noted that subsidence of the coast along the Outer Banks leaves that area more vulnerable to sea level rise. No matter how, the result is the same, Liu said. The water level is rising and rising faster than we expected. What are the effects of sea level rising? Understanding what causes sea level rise to accelerate sea is important, Dangendorf said, in order to be able to anticipate future times when the natural cycles will drive seas higher than expected. Warming caused by human emissions of gases that warm the atmosphere, he said, will exacerbate that cycle when it drives seas higher. That could mean more severe hurricanes and tropical storms whose impacts are coming on top of waters that are already risen. If that sea level is higher, the storms can be more destructive due to the storm surge because they build up on a higher base level, Dangendorf said. In North Carolina, the National Hurricane Center reported that 2018s Hurricane Florence brought a storm surge of 8 to 11 feet around the mouth of the Neuse River. Some of the most significant flooding was seen in downtown New Bern, near where the Trent River flows into the Neuse. The rising sea levels also affect so-called sunny day flooding floods that happen without heavy rains or a similar cause. Oregon Inlet Marina, for instance, experienced about one sunny day flood a year in 2000. In 2021, there were five such floods, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported, and the federal agency projects between 110 and 155 days with such flooding by 2050. Much of the sea level rise thats occurring today is coming from a century of emissions, Dangendorf added, meaning that sea levels will continue to rise even if greenhouse gas emissions were to rapidly plummet. Even if we get to net zero CO2 emissions, sea level doesnt stop rising. If we stopped emissions it would rise less which is important but it wouldnt stop, so we need to adapt, he said. This story was produced with financial support from 1Earth Fund, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work. Posters at Carroll College showing support for marginalized communities, such as safe space posters for the LGBTQ+ community, Black Lives Matter posters, signs welcoming refugees and more, have been torn down. The culprit has not been found. Every time they tear down a sign, two more go up in its place, said Alyssa Puntin, a senior anthrozoology major at Carroll and president of the Queer-Straight Alliance (QSA). It has definitely amplified the amount of support we see on campus just because they tear down someones sign doesnt mean that the person stops supporting the (LGBTQ+) community. Carroll exists at the intersection of a multitude of identities, trying to balance being a small private Catholic liberal arts college alongside the diversity of its 1,200 or so students. Carroll President John Cech sent out an email Tuesday night addressing the posters being torn down and some incidents where students of color have been experiencing harassment on campus. Hateful behavior has no place in our community, and we are committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all, he said. He stressed that someones identity is not a basis for exclusion at the college. It is our responsibility as members of the Carroll College community to ensure that everyone feels welcomed, respected, valued, and supported, regardless of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, or any other characteristic that defines their identity, Cech wrote. Dean Pavlakis, associate history professor at Carroll and adviser to QSA stated that the only posters that remained untouched in his hallway were those expressing a religious message. Pavlakis said that the last time posters were being torn down was in 2020-2021 and that when it happens, it makes (him) weep for the communities represented by the posters. Last week, posters were torn down in the basement of St. Charles which houses Pavlakis office along with a few other professors offices. One professor in the hallway put their posters up and they were torn down again last Thursday night/Friday morning. Another professor in the hallway reported having their posters torn down again Monday. (Tuesday) we came in and found all of our posters torn down and crumpled and thrown on the ground, Pavlakis said. Previous times they had made off with them. This time, they just crumpled them up and left them. Pavlakis said that even his sign asking for the person who is tearing down his signs to come have a conversation with him keeps getting torn down. His posters are already back up, and each time they get torn down, he adds another to the mix, stating that his door has become quite colorful. Pavlakis noted that there is a group of people on campus and in society who feel empowered to be hostile to the LGBTQ+ community and who the college and queer community's efforts to overcome the divide haven't reached. Culture is harder to change than announcing top down that were in a new and better place, said Pavlakis. I dont know if these people are feeling empowered because of whats going on in the wider world That is bleeding into what I think is a small minority of students. Pavlakis highlighted The Cardinal Newman Societys Guide for picking a Catholic College and how some students expect Carroll to be like the very religious colleges listed on it. This leaves room for expectations to not be met with some students saying things like they came to a Catholic college to get away from communities like the LGBTQ+. Puntin stated that Carroll needs to emphasize that if that is what a student is looking for, then Carroll might not be a good fit for them. There are Catholic colleges in this country where Catholicism pervades the instruction. It is a college that exists specifically to promote a particular version of a religion, said Pavlakis. Carroll is in the Catholic intellectual tradition, which means that our purpose is broader. In March of 2020 before COVID-19 forced many students to return home, the QSA was planning on hosting a drag show on campus during Spring Fever Week put on by the Gender Studies Department. Due to some miscommunication among administration, last-minute restrictions were placed on the drag show essentially rendering it into a costume party. The sponsors of the event, including the QSA, decided to cancel the event because of the restrictions, causing protests on campus from the LGBTQ+ community and allies. Efforts have been made both by the queer community here and the power structures of the college administration and our local Catholic authorities, particularly Bishop Vetter but also Father Marc (Lenneman), in trying to bridge what emerged as a gap after the drag show and drag panel controversies, said Pavlakis. Pavlakis has been at Carroll for nine years and been the adviser for QSA (formerly the Gay-Straight Alliance) for six of those. He stated that the relationship between the college and its LGBTQ+ students hasn't always been strained and that the reason QSA wanted to host a drag show on campus was because they felt so welcome. For them it was not an In your face or aggressive act, said Pavlakis. It was an exuberant act -- a Lets share this for the people who are interested in seeing it. Some steps Carroll has been taking to better the relationship with the LGBTQ+ community on campus are hosting a book group reading of Jesuit priest Father James Martin's book Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity. Carroll also hosted Martin over Zoom for a discussion last fall. Austin Vetter, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena, has hosted two listening sessions for students, administration, faculty and staff to come together and hear about each others experiences -- particularly the LGBTQ+ experience at Carroll. In late March, QSA hosted a LGBTQ+ Lived Experience Panel and brought in speakers -- one of them being Zooey Zephyr, Montanas first transgender state representative from Missoula. Pavlakis stated that the administration has formed committees and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion task force to work on creating a welcoming environment for minority students. Also, Residential life and housing is trying to better accommodate transgender and non-binary people living on campus. On Wednesday night, Carroll hosted a Testimony and Interfaith Vigil for Peace in the World event for marginalized communities to be able to share testimonials of bias and discrimination anonymously with the goals of healing and educating. Cech wrote that As a Catholic institution, our mission calls us to respect the dignity of every human person and we must strive to live out these principles in our daily lives and in our interactions with others. Puntin stated that her experience at Carroll as a white female who identifies as bisexual is very different from other LGBTQ+ community members, such as transgender and nonbinary people. I would love for the LGBTQ+ community to feel more comfortable on campus, and I think by holding people accountable, theyll be able to do that, said Puntin. ... The amount of people who I have met on campus, students, faculty, staff who are supportive and want to help and protect us is amazing, absolutely amazing. Dust off those comfy walking shoes, grab that large tote bag that sometimes doesnt seem large enough and pull that wide-brimmed sunhat from the closet. The Helena Farmers' Market returns Saturday in a golden anniversary year celebrating half a century of produce, crafts, baked good, fresh flowers, music and community spirit. It is touted as the longest-running market in the state of Montana. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. along two blocks of Fuller Avenue, between Neill Avenue and Lawrence Street in downtown Helena. Admission is free and the market will run through Oct. 28. There will be a grand opening celebration May 20 and a 50th-year celebration June 17. We are expecting a really great year, Peter Strauss, board chair of the Helena Farmers' Market, said. There are 196 spaces for vendors with 40 of them available for day vendors, who are there for the day, and 156 vendors for reserve vendors, who are there for the entire season, Strauss said. Also participating is St. Peters Health, the downtown businesses association and the Lewis and Clark Library will have its three-wheeled "Words on Wheels" book bike cart there, with Wi-Fi available, Strauss said. Strauss said the market offers vendors who participate in Montana WIC (Women, Infants, Children) Program and can supply up to $30 in double benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP. He said the Helena Farmers' Market is a for-profit organization that works hard not to make lots of profit. He said at the end of the day some of the leftover food is donated to various Helena charities. Were not here to make money, we are here to provide a great event every Saturday, he said. And if you cant make the Helena event Saturday, a smaller version of the farmers' market will open in Main Street Park in East Helena on July 18 and run 3-6 p.m. on Tuesdays through Sept. 26. Strauss said he expects the size of the East Helena Farmers' Market to grow as the community grows. More shoppers mean more vendors, he said. Strauss said the farmers' markets always performed well until they were shut down a few years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year we came back and it was terrific and this year we will be bigger and better, he said. Its where Helena goes on Saturday morning and we love it. For more information, go to: https://www.helenafarmersmarket.com/ Two of Missoula's top elected officials have sided with a Missoula state lawmaker in her clash with the Republican majority in the Montana House of Representatives as the issue continues to make national headlines. Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, is a transgender progressive who has been silenced by the GOP majority in the House after she made comments in opposition to a bill that would restrict gender-affirming care for minors. Missoula Mayor Jordan Hess and Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnick, both Democrats, responded to news on Wednesday that the House might censure or expel Zephyr. (Shortly after they spoke on the subject, the Montana House voted to ban Zephyr from the chamber.) "So I think this is a story of courage and cowardice," Slotnick said. "Imagine being in a room that large with a huge crowd full of people who don't believe you have a right to exist and still having the personal wherewithal to stand up and speak. It's a tremendous amount of courage and Rep. Zephyr's effort needs to be applauded for that." Slotnick doesn't believe what House Speaker Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, did (not allowing Zephyr to speak during subsequent sessions) took courage. "Now in that same context, go back to that room, that big crowd, the massive majority that won't let her speak," Slotnick said. "There's the cowardice. They have all the power, all the tools, all the numbers, all the everything, yet they're afraid of her words. That says it all." Slotnick said he doesn't believe Zephyr's original statement that led the House GOP to silence her warranted such a response. "If you vote yes on this bill, and yes on these amendments, I hope the next time there's an invocation when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands," Zephyr said. "No," Slotnick said when asked if those comments warranted being rebuked. "She was referencing data and studies that are well-known. When LGBTQ kids are not supported, their rates of suicidality are far greater than the general population. She was not shrill. She didn't scream, she didn't call names, she spoke the truth. I believe in decorum and I do not believe she was un-decorous." Slotnick also disagreed with the characterization by the House GOP majority leaders that Monday's protest at the Capitol was a "riot by far-left agitators." "No, the only violence I saw was from law enforcement," Slotnick said. "I mean, I wasn't there. I just saw a clip where people were yelling. I think a riot involves violence and the tools of violence and I saw people protesting, expressing dissent and that's essential to our democracy." Slotnick said the constituents of Zephyr's 100th House District, which he also represents, have now been effectively silenced. "They were silenced as well," Slotnick said. "Their representative was not allowed to speak; that means they are not allowed to speak. That is the essence of representative democracy. They elect someone to speak for them, in this case, this person has effectively been gagged." Mayor Hess said he's been disappointed at the GOP's actions. "I think it is just horrible," he said. "I think we need to realize our collective humanity and I think that this action is exactly the opposite. I think it is punitive. I think it is ignorant. I think it is short-sighted. "I think what we really need right now as a society and as a government, as government leaders, is to come together and build unity," Hess continued. "And I just think it's really the wrong thing to do." Hess said he's heard quite a bit from voters in Missoula on the issue. On Wednesday afternoon, Hess and Slotnick were joined by county commissioners Juanita Vero and Dave Strohmaier in putting out a joint statement in support of Rep. Zephyr. "In banning Rep. Zephyr from the House floor, lawmakers have silenced the voice of 11,000 of Missoula County's constituents," the statement read. "We are proud to follow Rep. Zephyr's lead in being courageous and having clarity of purpose in the face of devastating decisions that cause real harm to our constituents. We join her in standing up and fighting for members of our community who will face more difficulty, adversity and harm because of the policies this Legislature has passed. We see you and we support you." Hess said they've gotten a "lot of positive feedback" from another joint statement in support of Zephyr they put out earlier this week. He also agreed that Monday's events, when seven people were arrested but no injuries were reported, didn't meet his definition of a riot. "I think it was a protest," he said. "It certainly wasn't a riot. It goes back to this trend toward this incendiary language that certainly shouldn't have a place in our politics. And dissent is something we should celebrate. And interrupting a government body session notwithstanding, peaceful understanding and cultivating a difference of opinions and welcoming differences of opinions is important and it's the move to suppress that's what's really unsettling." Hess noted that during his time on city council, if he were to have his microphone shut off, the voices of his constituents would be shut off as well. "If I didn't have the ability to have a microphone to make their concerns, to elevate those concerns to the body, that would just be a huge disservice," he said. "And it would be completely outside the realm of how a representative democracy works." Hess also believes Zephyr's original comments didn't warrant such a response. "I think there's been some words like 'baby killers' and there have been strong words on the other side of the aisle at this session," Hess said. "And so I think there's some hypocrisy to take this approach now but not for some of the kinds of the terms that were really sensational or violent or whatnot on the other side of the aisle." Editor's note: This story contains depictions of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, call the 24/7 Montana Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline at 988 or texting "MT" to 741741. State Sen. John Esp on Tuesday recalled how mental health crises landed blow after blow on his family and friends, a "depth of despair" that's marred 42 of his 71 years. Esp started with an account of riding in a sheriff's patrol car to the top of a hill overlooking the Yellowstone Valley, walking with them 150 yards over the edge of the hill and finding someone Esp described as a good friend and a close relative with a gunshot wound to their head. "That image of him laying there haunted me for years," Esp told senators. "The trauma that it caused in our family haunted us for years." Esp spoke of helping a mother whose child was involuntarily committed to a few different institutions. That mother, too, was lost to suicide. Later, another family member hung himself from a closet rod. "That has to be quite the depth of despair," Esp said. "I've always though things would be better around the corner," he added, speaking of Montana's ability to care for its population, which suffers a higher suicide rate than most of the U.S. "I think the corner is here." The proposal was first introduced by the Gov. Greg Gianforte's administration and is being carried by Rep. Bob Keenan, R-Bigfork. It would also create a commission to re-envision that behavioral health system and direct money to initial building projects. Before the commission was added into the bill, several lawmakers have expressed some hesitancy about signing off on such a massive request by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, which proposes new behavioral health facilities to ease the stress on the state's existing facilities. Still, the House earlier this month approved HB 872 on a 79-19 vote, and no one stood to speak against the measure on the Senate floor Tuesday. "This is a big investment and it's well past time," Sen. Ryan Lynch, D-Butte, testified Tuesday. "The design is not done, but there will be continued conversations. The folks out there suffering from mental health, we need to let them know we see them and we need to invest in them." The Senate gave initial approval to the bill on a 44-6 vote. It will need one more round of votes in the Senate before it is transferred back to the House to approve the Senate's amendments. Republicans in Montanas House of Representatives voted Wednesday to ban a Democratic transgender lawmaker from the chamber, following her support for protesters who shut down the body's proceedings earlier in the week. Rep. Zooey Zephyr of Missoula will still be allowed to vote remotely, but will not be allowed to access the House chamber, anteroom or gallery under the party-line, 68-32 vote taken by the House. Democrats were united against the motion, while Republicans all voted in favor. The measure needed two-thirds of the chambers support to pass. Wednesday's vote appears to be without precedent in the Montana Legislature's modern era. In 1975, an attempt to censure a trio of Republican lawmakers failed to advance from a special committee set up for that purpose. Photos: Rep. Zooey Zephyr banned after arrests and protests at State Capitol Republicans in Montanas House of Representatives voted Wednesday to ban a Democratic transgender lawmaker from the chamber, following her sup Republicans have criticized Zephyrs actions during the protests on Monday, when activists filled the House gallery and interrupted proceedings on the floor with shouting and chanting in support of Zephyr, the first transgender woman elected to the state Legislature. Some protesters also threw red gloves from the gallery onto the House floor. Montana Speaker of the House Rep. Matt Regier, of Kalispell, attempted to gavel down the crowd, but quickly ordered the gallery cleared by law enforcement as the chants of Let her speak, and Whos house? Our house, continued. Republicans moved to the side of the chamber and later exited while police in riot gear cleared people from the gallery. Democrats remained on the other side of the chamber. During the protest, Zephyr stood at her desk on the House floor with her microphone raised and engaged with the crowd. The rally and subsequent protest were held in response to Republicans in the House preventing Zephyr from speaking on the House floor for several days, after comments she made last week. The freshman lawmaker had told representatives a week ago they should be ashamed for voting in favor of a bill that would ban some gender-affirming care for transgender minors. She also told them they would have blood on your hands for doing so. Republicans have advanced several bills affecting trans people this session. Regier had been adamant that Zephyr would again be recognized should she apologize something she declined to do. Regier made the motion to ban Zephyr under a provision of the Montana Constitution that allows each house to expel or punish a member for good cause shown with the concurrence of two-thirds of all its members. (On) Monday, this body witnessed one of its members participating in conduct that disrupted and disturbed the orderly proceedings of this body, said House Majority Leader Sue Vinton, a Billings Republican who brought the motion to bar Zephyr from the chamber. This member did not accede to the order of the speaker to come to order, and finally to clear the floor, and instead encouraged the continuation of the disruption of this body. Zephyr remained defiant, being permitted for the first time in a week to address the House floor as she spoke against the motion. She said she was contacted by the family of a transgender youth who attempted suicide while watching a hearing on one of the anti-trans bills. "When I rose up and said there is 'blood on your hands,' I was not being hyperbolic," she said. "I was speaking to the real consequences of the votes that we as legislators take in this body." Zephyr also said that the bill she had originally spoken against was one of many targeting the LGBTQ community in Montana. This Legislature has systematically attacked that community. Before the protests Monday, three Republican lawmakers had voted with Democrats against upholding the speakers decision. But two of them were among those who spoke Wednesday in favor of banning Zephyr Reps. Casey Knudsen and David Bedey. This house, this body, holds dear the right to self-protection, Casey said. We today are exercising this right, based on the inappropriate behavior on the House floor. ... This behavior violated the collective rights and safety of 99 other members of this body, our staff, our pages and the public. His comments echoed those by other Republicans, including Bedey, who said that Zephyr could have chosen to leave the floor, as other lawmakers did, during the protests, or to attempt to calm the crowd. Zephyr, however, defended the protesters actions as a response to her inability to speak for them. When I continued not to be recognized, what my constituents in my community did was came here and said, That is our voice in this body, let her speak, she said during her floor speech. She held her microphone in the air, she added, to amplify their voices. Democratic Rep. SJ Howell, a trans nonbinary legislator also from Missoula, spoke in support of Zephyr. I feel like I have a voice right now. And I feel like the actions that we saw today send a very clear message that at a certain point, if you don't use your voice the way we want, you're out. I think that is a deeply disturbing message, and there's no clear line and that's part of the problem, Howell said. Regier said during a press conference after the vote that the punishment was intended to ensure safety in the House while also allowing Zephyrs constituents to be represented by her votes on legislation. I did not know what was going to happen moving forward with that representative, if there was going to be more threats to just even safety of staff, he said. Law enforcement has said they were not aware of any violence or damage during the protests Monday. House Minority Leader Kim Abbott sharply countered the idea the protests posed a danger. We have a fundamental disagreement, the speaker and I, on what was required during that protest. That protest was peaceful, it was disruptive. Both of those things are true, Abbott said. The highway patrol was slowly moving people out of the gallery, and they could have continued to do that. There was no reason to escalate the situation with SWAT. Regier cited the presence of riot police in the House chamber when asked about his stated safety concerns. He said he felt law enforcement did a great job of responding to the situation. Zephyr said after the House adjourned Wednesday that the outcome was expected as she did not believe Republicans would have brought the motion without the votes to succeed. She planned to continue to prepare and vote on bills, as well as attend committee meetings if allowed, although she noted that committee work is winding down. I would never change standing up for my community and my constituents, she said. I will continue to represent my community as best I can in this body. Zephyrs barring from the House floor comes as the body prepares to consider several important bills in the next week. Its important to acknowledge that based on the actions today, every bill we debate for the rest of the session, there will be 11,000 Montanans whose voices arent heard, she said. That includes our budget, that includes housing bills. Zephyr said she would not change her actions if given another chance. When you shut out 11,000 Montanans from the democratic process, it is no surprise that those Montanans would come and show up and demand that their voices be heard, she said. And I stood up in solidarity with them, and I would do it every day, because when I do so, I stand up for democracy. Republican House Leadership said in a letter late Tuesday they planned disciplinary consequences against Zephyr after comments she made on the House floor last week. After Zephyr's initial statements, the Freedom Caucus, a group of legislators farther to the right than the rest of the GOP, called for her censure in a statement that misgendered Zephyr. Since last week Regier has refused to acknowledge Zephyr or let her speak on the floor. His decisions have been upheld by most of the supermajority Republicans in the chamber and Regier has said he will not acknowledge Zephyr until she apologizes. Zephyr had said she would not apologize. After Mondays protest in which seven were charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing, Zephyr again said she would not back down. As an elected representative, I am devoted to supporting those who speak in defense of democracy, as it is my duty to ensure their voices are heard and respected, she said in a statement. On Tuesday Regier canceled the Houses floor session and refused to take questions from reporters about why. There are seven days left in the legislative session, and Abbott said Democrats will regroup after Wednesdays actions to discuss how the last week will go. I don't know that we have an appeal option. I think we need to regroup as a caucus. This obviously impacts more than 100 people in this building. It impacts 11,000 people in Missoula who will not have a representative at the table to freely debate on the floor to us. That's unacceptable, and we have to decide what to do, Abbott said. Abbott said the Democratic caucus has had conversations about how they feel the rules have been unevenly applied and to plan a different approach going forward into the next session. Maybe we need to not let as many things slide and really make a point every time we feel like the rules might have been violated or decorum violated, Abbott said, adding she also expects a change in approach over the next few weeks. Asked about his decision to cancel two days of floor debates, Regier laid the blame on Rep. Zephyr. He has consistently argued that the episode is a direct result of Zephyrs unwillingness to abide by decorum, or to apologize after the fact. If youre not going to operate within the House rules, as the other 99 (representatives) do, that is up to Representative Zephyr to remedy that and play within the rules that everyone has agreed on and voted on, Regier said. Regier also clarified during his press conference that Zephyrs ability to participate in committees will not be affected by Wednesdays vote. She sits on the House Judiciary and House Health and Human Services committees. Law enforcement had mobilized around the Capitol but no protest materialized Wednesday. While the gallery was closed Wednesday, legislative staff prepared a committee room so members of the public could view the proceedings. The 40-some people gathered there and together said the Pledge of Allegiance, and then the room was silent as the floor session played out. When the final vote was tallied to ban Zephyr from the House, several disheartened sighs gave out, and then they cleared the room. Joan Tubridy, a 69-year-old retired elementary school teacher from Helena, was crying when the hearing came to a close. Its tragic and its sad, Tubridy said in the hallway. A former student of hers, who is trans, committed suicide a couple weeks ago, she said. The intolerance and close-mindedness and fear toward the LGBT community has far-reaching consequences. Tubridy said she understands the national Republican politics driving anti-trans legislation and how state lawmakers get caught in that current. But this vote, to ban an elected lawmaker who represents not only 11,000 Montanans but the transgender community in Montana, should have been separate from all of that, she said. Plant ecophysiologist Danielle Ulrich will explain how plant life history strategies improve our understanding of how forests will respond to future climates. Ulrich, assistant professor in Ecology at Montana State University, will discuss the functional traits underlying specialist-generalist strategies in whitebark pine and limber pine at the next Draper Natural History Museum Lunchtime Expedition lecture. The free talk takes place Thursday, May 4, at noon in the Buffalo Bill Center of the Wests Coe Auditorium in Cody, Wyoming. Those who prefer to attend virtually via Zoom webinar may do so by registering at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SS4izMG_Rwaa2bxSqZO8gw. Whitebark pine and limber pine are two threatened high-elevation pines that have similar growth and morphology, Ulrich said. Yet the two species have different elevational distributions, with whitebark pine viewed as a specialist inhabiting a narrower elevation range, and limber pine as a generalist inhabiting a broader elevation range. In the presentation, Ulrich discusses her research comparing the physiological and morphological traits of greenhouse-grown 5-year-old whitebark pine and limber pine. She and her team studied the physiological mechanisms that underlie species establishment and survival, and how juvenile physiology contributes to their contrasting distributions and their generalist-specialist strategies. In her work, Ulrich investigates plant physiological responses to and interactions with their environments in forest, agricultural and grassland ecosystems to understand the physiological mechanisms underlying plant responses to environmental stress and future climates. I previously served in the Legislature, but these days I teach preschool. Every educator Ive met can tell you the difference between a child whos well-fed, and one whos hungry. This is a big issue that rarely makes the news. These days, 1 in 4 Montana kids are battling hunger. Our Republican-controlled Legislature, however, has shown no interest in solving this problem. For example, this year their budget sends millions of taxpayer dollars to a little-known office within the Department of Commerce dedicated to tourism promotion. How is this money spent? A large chunk goes to magazine and online video ads in national publications. Recently that included a million-dollar campaign targeting pandemic tourists in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. What's currently not getting funded in the budget? School lunches. Last month Rep. Connie Keogh, a Democrat from Missoula, introduced a measure to expand school meals for Montana kids. It would've cost $300,000, less than a third of what we recently spent wooing Dallas tourists to Montana. Every single Republican legislator voted no. A week later Rep. Melissa Romano, a Democrat from Helena (and Montanas 2018 Teacher of the Year), tried again. She introduced HB 863, which would've ensured no Montana kid goes hungry at school. The bill won support from farmers, teachers, tribal nations and rural school superintendents from across the state. There wasnt a single opponent. Every single Republican on the Education Committee voted to table the bill, however, effectively killing it. Spending taxpayer money on tourism ads instead of school lunches is wasteful and wrong. Even if Montana needed more tourists, there is no evidence state-funded tourism ads have any effect when shows like Yellowstone and Big Sky already saturate national media. Funding school lunches, on the other hand, is proven to improve student achievement. You don't need a fancy degree to know it's damn near impossible to pay attention on an empty stomach. Every election season we hear from countless politicians claiming to promote Montana values. As voters, it's up to us to elect community-minded leaders like Rep. Romano and Rep. Keogh who put those values into action. If we keep electing Republicans, however, we'll keep on getting budgets that prioritizes tourists over Montana kids. DECATUR The Food Truck Frenzy will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 29, in Fairview Park. Food trucks, which include The Turkey Man, Diggity Dawgs, Pig Out Concessions, Powder Funnel Cakes, Kona Ice of Decatur, and Allen's Concessions Grub Truck, will be serving food throughout the afternoon or until they run out of their product. No tickets are required to purchase food. The event is a fundraiser for United Way of Decatur and Mid-Illinois. Other family-friendly activities include Heroes of Legend Cosplay characters, Scovill Zoo's Mobile Zoo and other events until 2 p.m. For more information, contact Aric Lee at 217-433-4279. 23 Decatur restaurants from our past Blue Mill Brown Jug Carlos O'Kelley's Chili Parlor Country Cupboard Dante's Restaurant Elams Root Beer Stand Jimmy Ryan's Lone Star Mr. G's Ponderosa Steak House Rax Restaurant Red Wheel Restaurant Redwood Sandy's Shaw's Restaurant Shenannigans Stoney's Restaurant Swartz Restaurant Tater's Tokyo Garden Tom's Grill Tops Big Boy The band Blood Pollution performs at the Canyon High School Battle of the Bands on Friday, April 21, at Rockin' R in Gruene. The event raised $10,000 to be donated to Food for Kids. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Books in brief "Dark Angel" by John Sandford; Putnam (384 pages, $29.95) John Sandford has tapped into current events for this thriller, in which both the good guys and the bad guys are criminals. Computer hackers who will do anything for the right price agree to try to disrupt Russian military shipments to the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, thugs who will do anything for the right price are sent to stop them. Into this quagmire goes Letty Davenport, a federal agent who is Sandford's newest protagonist and the daughter of the author's longtime hero, Lucas Davenport and who has an even quicker trigger finger than her father. Her orders are to protect the hackers while turning a blind eye to any crimes they commit. But her bosses don't want it known that U.S. agents are supporting known criminals, so she has to maintain a low profile, which isn't easy when you're scurrying around Los Angeles shooting at people. The story stretches credibility a tad sometimes and a lot at other times but the action moves so briskly that we don't have time to dwell on plot holes. Sandford is a master at spinning an engaging tale, and as we race toward the climactic confrontation, we instinctively slide toward the edge of our seat. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. A clown came to Marlene Warrens door on a May morning in 1990, handed her carnations and balloons, then shot her dead in front of her son. On Tuesday, a woman who would later marry Marlene Warrens husband pleaded guilty to being the killer even though she still insists she is not closing a case that is strange even by Florida standards. Former Abingdon, Virginia, resident Sheila Keen-Warren, 59, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a deal that will likely see her released from prison in no more than two years. Long suspected of being the shooter, Keen-Warren has been jailed awaiting trial on a first-degree murder charge since 2017, when Palm Beach County sheriffs investigators said improvements in DNA technology proved that a hair found in the clowns getaway car came from her. Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg said in a statement that the plea deal obtained a measure of justice for Marlene Warren and her son. No public notice was given for Tuesdays plea hearing in West Palm Beach, which otherwise would have drawn a throng of reporters and spectators. Instead, it was handled quietly during Circuit Judge Scott Suskauers lunch break from another murder trial. Sheila Keen Warren has finally been forced to admit that she was the one who dressed as a clown and took the life of an innocent victim. She will be a convicted murderer for the rest of her days, Aronberg said. Her attorney, Greg Rosenfeld, told The Associated Press in a phone interview that this is an incredible win for Ms. Keen-Warren, still insisting she is not the killer. The deal calls for a 12-year sentence, but Keen-Warren has already served six years awaiting trial. Also, Florida law in 1990 allowed significant time off for good behavior, so Rosenfeld expects her to be released early next year. Her trial was set to start next month, and if convicted she would have received a life sentence. Originally, prosecutors sought a death sentence but eventually dropped that. The State of Florida originally wanted to execute her, but now she is going home in 10 months, Rosenfeld said. While it was difficult to plead guilty to a crime she did not commit, it was kind of a no-brainer when there is a guarantee that you will be home with your family. Aronbergs office disputes Rosenfelds claim, saying she will be in prison at least two more years. Marlene Warrens son, Joseph Ahrens, watched the proceeding online. Only 21 when he saw his mother murdered and now in his 50s, his only message to the court and Keen-Warren was, may God be with her. At the time of the shooting, Keen-Warren was an employee of Marlene Warrens husband, Michael, at his used car lot. Since 2002, she has been his wife; they eventually moved to Abingdon, Virginia, where they ran the Purple Cow, a popular restaurant in nearby Kingsport, Tennessee. Witnesses had told investigators in 1990 that Sheila Warren and Michael Warren were having an affair, though both denied it. Over the years, detectives said, costume shop employees identified Sheila Warren as the woman who had bought a clown suit a few days before the killing. And one of the two balloons a silver one that read, Youre the Greatest was sold at only one store, a Publix supermarket near her home. Employees told detectives a woman who looked like Warren had bought the balloons an hour before the shooting. The presumed getaway car was found abandoned with orange, hair-like fibers inside. The white Chrysler convertible had been reported stolen from Michael Warrens car lot a month before the shooting. Sheila Warren and her then-husband repossessed cars for him. Relatives told The Palm Beach Post in 2000 that Marlene Warren, who was 40 when she died, suspected her husband was having an affair and wanted to leave him. But the car lot and other properties were in her name, and she feared what might happen if she did. She allegedly told her mother, If anything happens to me, Mike done it. But Rosenfeld said the states case was falling apart. One DNA sample somehow showed both male and female genes, and the other could have come from one out of every 20 women even Marlene Warren, he said. And even if that hair did come from Keen-Warren, it could have been deposited before the car was reported stolen. He said Ahrens and another witness also told detectives that the car they found wasnt the killers, though investigators insisted it was. Aronberg, in his statement, conceded that there were holes in the case, saying they were caused by three decades it took to get it to trial, including the death of key witnesses. Michael Warren was convicted in 1994 of grand theft, racketeering and odometer tampering. He served almost four years in prison a punishment his then-attorneys said was disproportionately long because of suspicions he was involved in his wifes death. He has never been charged. Warren did not return a call Tuesday seeking comment. Two children are now in foster care following a weekend search that involved local and state authorities. Washington County Virginia Social Services took custody of the children 10year-old Kayden Smith and eight-year-old Kendall Smith on Saturday, said Lt. Steve Crawford of the Bristol Virginia Police Department Social Service workers had located the children at a trailer home on Willow Circle on Thursday morning in Bristol, Virginia, Crawford said. But the children were later listed as missing in a search that involved the Virginia State Police. The search ultimately ended around 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Alpine Motel in Abingdon, Virginia, where a family friend had been in contact with the childrens mother but cooperated with police in getting the children into custody, Crawford said. Washington County officials had been working on an ongoing case with the children, Crawford said. The children were staying with their mother, Barbara Louise Smith, 31, and her boyfriend, Charles William Lewis, 35. Both Lewis and Smith have outstanding arrest warrants for probation violation in Washington County while Lewis is also wanted for failure to appear in court, according to Crawford. They were wanted, Crawford said. The children had lived in Washington County, Virginia, but Crawford said, They bounced around. They were living in a car. The family was homeless, and the children appeared neglected, Crawford said, adding The kids werent being sent to school. Police are currently looking for Smith and Lewis as the investigation continues. ABINGDON, Va. Washington Countys Board of Supervisors moved money from a couple of accounts on Tuesday, trying to protect resources from the federal government. The moves involved ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds that had been received since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. The supervisors unanimously approved allocating the remainder of its ARPA funds $1.71 million to reserve for government services, including the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority, which requires the county to commit money each year. This year, the county had already paid $650,000 to the jail on the north side of Abingdon. Making the move made financial sense in terms of following the rules of what the money can be used for, said County Administrator Jason Berry. Were trying to make sure we protect the countys resources, Berry said. Paying for government services including the jail or sheriffs office qualifies for ARPA funds, Berry said. In another move, the board voted to take away $3 million that had been earmarked for the Washington County Service Authoritys plan to install sewer lines in the I-81 Exit 10 area between Bristol and Abingdon. That sewer plan had been slated to go to bid for contractors about two years ago, said Supervisor Dwayne Ball. Ball assured the supervisors that the sewer plan was vital to growth. Still, the ARPA funds must be used to have all work completed by Dec. 31, 2026 a date that may come sooner than the authority can get enough funding to finish the project, Ball said. Ball said the authority must move faster on the project. In other action, the board matched a $20,000 grant from the Wellspring Foundation to benefit repairs to the Mendota Community Center the former Hamilton Elementary School. This is very generous of the Wellspring Foundation, said Board Chairman Saul Hernandez. The center needs plumbing repairs, a new roof and window replacements, Berry said. There are plenty of needs. Family and friends are asking the community for help after a Friday car crash killed a woman and hurt her four sons, two of whom still are hospitalized. Reyna Mendoza, 29, was headed to Walmart in Lenoir with her sons Jhonny, Leyonel, Osmar and Eleazar when another car crossed the center line on N.C. 18/U.S. 64 and hit her vehicle head-on around 4 p.m. Friday, according to information from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and from Reynas husband, Efrain Mendoza. The crash killed Reyna and 41-year-old Deanna Lynn Ross, who was driving the other vehicle, according to information from the Highway Patrol. It sent the four boys to hospitals across the area. Efrain said two of his boys were released from the hospital Sunday but his 1-year-old and his 9-year-old both remain hospitalized. He said it could be months before hes able to get back to work. On top of that, the family would like for Reynas body to be returned to Guatemala for burial. Moving the body to Guatemala could cost thousands of dollars. Nancy Hasty, a former teacher, said she has known the Mendoza family for many years. I taught several of the children when I saw on Facebook that a mother of four, Reyna Mendoza, had passed, it was just shocking and unbelievable, Hasty said. I sent a note and said, This cant be our Reyna. And yes, yes, it was our Reyna. Kathy Zillman didnt know Reyna, but she came to know her husband when he did some work on her house. If youve come to know (him), hes in your heart, Zillman said. Hes just that way. We all wanted to reach out and do something for him. There are two separate GoFundMe pages set up for the family one created by Efrains brother and the other created by Zillman. The pages had raised about $10,000 combined by Monday afternoon. This family would be so grateful, absolutely so grateful, for any help and assistance that they could receive, and they would receive it with joy and love and gladness in honor of Reyna, Hasty said. The GoFundMe created by the Mendozas family members can be found at https://gofund.me/6e248079. HICKORY Redhawk Publications announced the release of "Our Paths in Life," Ken Harberts collection of poetry. Harbert is a retired physician associate with post graduate education in medical education and health care administration. Still active in advocacy for health care access and delivery, Harbert found the time to present his poetry collection in book form. I am a very active retiree and this book is something I have been wanting to do for years, said Harbert. I have been writing poetry for nearly 50 years. By publishing this collection, it is my way of paying homage to the people, places and pivotal times that have made a difference in many peoples lives, including my own. This collection is about the paths we travel in life. It's about people we know; our given and chosen families, our friends, our colleagues, and all the folks we have met along the way that make up a well-lived life. Reviewing these poems brought back memories of living a life filled with love, war, personal and professional challenges, and surroundings of people I loved, along with the good and the bad. Tim Peeler, chief editor at Redhawk Publications, shared, I believe this book will offer insight into what certain choices in life frequently brings us. He has a unique way with words as he covers the normal feelings of trauma, love, sadness, and exhilaration. We all are familiar with these emotions, but Ken also imparts a special hope for the future that we dont often find in poetry. To purchase "Our Paths in Life," visit https://tinyurl.com/KenHarbertOurPaths Redhawk Publications is an artistic initiative of the Catawba Valley Community College, publishing written works of interest for the local community, the state of North Carolina, as well as the entire United States. Established in 2017, CVCC is the only N.C. community college with a publishing press offering over 100 titles to date. For additional information on Redhawk Publications, visit its website at https://redhawkpublications.com, or contact Patty Thompson at pthompson994@cvcc.edu. Ann Street United Methodist Church 335 Ann St., Concord. Pastor: Rev. Randy L. Wall. In person and Facebook Live worship 11 a.m. at Ann Street Church. Sermon: Handling Disappointment. Scripture: Deuteronomy 34:1-4; Numbers 20:1-13. Bethpage United Methodist Church 109 Fellowship Ave. at West C St., Kannapolis. Pastor: Rev. Gary McDonald. Christian Education at 9 a.m. Worship at 10 a.m. Sermon: My Jesus. Scripture: Psalm 37:1-9; Galatians 3:26-29. Youth Sunday Guest Speaker: Andrew Livengood. Bogers Chapel United Methodist Church 1775 Flowes Store Road East, Concord. Pastor: Pastor Eric Shaver. Sunday school at 9 a.m. Worship in-person or Facebook at 10 a.m. Sermon: Hymns, How We Praise. Scripture: Psalm 118. Calvary Lutheran Church 950 Bradley St., Concord. 704-782-6923. Pastor: Rev. Debbie Frye. In-person worship at 8:30 a.m. (Casual Worship) and 11 a.m. (Traditional Worship with Childrens Church). Coffee/Cookie Social 9:30-11 a.m. Childrens Area and Nursery available all times. All services live-streamed and available anytime on the Calvary Lutheran Concord YouTube channel easy access through our website http://www.clconcord.org. All are welcome. Sermon Topic: Good News! A Shepherd who Cares. Center United Methodist Church 1119 Union St. S, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Tony Allen. Sunday School for In Betweens and young adults at 9 a.m. Worship at 10 a.m. Nursery is provided during the worship service. Website is www.centerumcconcord.org. Look forward to you joining us for our service! Sermon: Glad and Generous Hearts. Scripture: Acts 2:42-47. Crossroads Church 220 George W. Liles Pkwy., Concord. Pastor: Lowell McNaney. Live worship streamed on Facebook, Crossroads Concord Church app or mycrossroads.co website at 9:30 a.m. and 11:11 a.m. Crown Pointe Baptist Church 703 Tennessee Street, Kannapolis. Pastor: Rev. Doug Crawley. Sunday School at 9 a.m. Worship at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary, or view online at our Facebook page. Series: Anchor. Sermon: When the Storm Comes. Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27; Acts 27:1-28:10 ESV. Eastside Missionary Baptist Church 199 Elgin Drive, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Stephen Burrow. In person services: Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship services 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Recorded worship services and other information at EastsideMissionaryBaptist.org. You will be welcomed. Practice social distancing. Epworth United Methodist Church 1030 Burrage Road NE, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Bill Roberts. One of Epworths members, Jan Siodahl, will bring the message. Sunday School at 9 a.m., followed by worship at 10 a.m. We welcome all to join us in person, or you may livestream or watch the recorded service at our website at www.epworthnc.com. Sermon: Our Hearts Burning Within Us. Scripture: Luke 24:13-25. Forest Hill United Methodist Church 265 Union St. N., Concord. Senior Pastor: Rev. Mandy Jones. Associate Pastor: Rev. Wes Judy. We are open for in-person worship. Contemporary worship, 9 a.m. Sunday School/small groups10 a.m. Traditional worship11 a.m. Both the contemporary and the traditional worship services will also be live-streamed at foresthillumc.org or facebook.com/foresthillumc, in case you dont feel like being here in person. Harmony United Methodist Church 101 White Street, NW, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Thad Brown. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. followed by our worship service in the sanctuary at 11 a.m. Sermon: In the Desert. Scripture: Mark 1:9-13. We welcome you to join us in worship! Service is live on Facebook.com/HarmonyUnitedMethodistChurch. We welcome all who are unable to join us in person to worship with us online. For more information, you can call the Pastors phone 704-791-2883 or the churchs phone 704-782-8237. Jackson Park United Methodist Church 715 Mable Ave., Kannapolis. Pastor Laurie Knoespel. Adult Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship at 10:30 a.m. Nursery will be provided during worship service. Kirkwood Presbyterian Church 900 Klondale Ave., Kannapolis. Pastor: Rev. Dr. Dennis B. Craft. Worship at 11 a.m. in church sanctuary on Sundays. No mask restrictions. McGill Baptist Church 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, in-person services. Pastor: Rev. Steve Ayers. If you have not taken the COVID-19 vaccine, please wear a mask. McGill will stream a worship service Sunday at 10 a.m. on www.facebook.com/mcgillbaptistchurch/ and on YouTube. The services will be live and also available on recording afterwards. Fourth Sunday of Easter. Sermon: Abundant Life. Scripture: Psalm 23; I Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10. Midway United Methodist Church 108 Bethpage Road, Kannapolis. Pastor: Rev. Craig Allen. Come join us on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. for Sunday School and 10:30 a.m. for worship. Our service is also livestreamed on the web at midwayunitedmethodistchurch.org or facebook.com/midwayUMC. Theme: Do Good. Message: Rules for Living: Do the Good Stuff. First Reading: James 2:14-17. Second Reading: Galatians 6:7-10. Suggested Hymns: TFWS 2088, Lord, I Life Your Name on High; UMH 318, Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us. Mt. Mitchell United Methodist Church 6001 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Kannapolis. Pastor: Joel Locklear. Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. (Adult and Children classes.) Worship at 11 a.m. in person or Facebook. Multiply Church Concord 150 Warren C. Coleman Blvd. N, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Douglas Witherup. 8:30 a.m. service held at 280 Concord Pkwy S, Suite 15, Concord. Services at 150 Warren C Coleman Blvd N, are Worship and Sermon at 9:30 a.m. and Worship and Sermon at 11:15 a.m. New Gilead Reformed Church, ECO 2400 Old Salisbury-Concord Road. 9:40 a.m. Adult Bible Study. 10 a.m. Sunday School. 11 a.m.Worship in the Sanctuary, also live on Facebook. Oak Grove Baptist Church 200 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg. Pastor: Rev. Franklin D. Watkins. 10 a.m. In-Person Worship Service and Facebook Live and YouTube Live. Sermon: Dying to Live Suicide. Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9. Youth Day Speaker: Rev. Melissa Heyward. Second Presbyterian Church 1578 Dale Earnhardt Blvd., Kannapolis. Pastor Sue Black, Minister. Rev. Aaron Price, Assistant Pastor. Sunday school at 10:15 a.m. Worship at 11 a.m. in Sanctuary and on Facebook live. Sermon: When Ava Maria you hear, see that your house be near. Scripture: I John 1:5-2:2. St. Johns Reformed Church 901 N. Main St., Kannapolis. Pastor: Rev. Chris King. Sunday school for all ages9:30 a.m. Worship Service10:30 a.m. Website www.ourstjohns.org. Email/Phone- ourstjohns@gmail.com / 704-932-3656. Sermon: Jesus Preaches on Adultery. Scripture: Matthew 5:27-30. Information for Sermon topics must be submitted by 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Email your topic to jstamey@independenttribune.com A Republican-sponsored N.C. House bill would require a three-year waiting period for a new Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccine to be placed on the states childhood immunization schedule. House Bill 623, titled 3-year FDA approval for new childhood vaxx, will be heard at 10 a.m. Tuesday in House Health committee, the first of three required committee steps. Among the primary bill sponsors is Rep. Larry Potts of Davidson County. The proposed bill would prohibit the state Commission for Public Health from adding the childhood vaccine inside the three-year period. Childhood vaccines would remain required for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, red measles (rubeola) and rubella. The bill would allow for exemptions if at least six of the 10-member N.C. Council of State approves adding a new vaccine. The Council currently is comprised of six Republican and four Democrats, led by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. Although the COVID-19 vaccine is not listed in HB623, its likely the focus of the bill, as has been the case with other Republican-sponsored vaccine legislation in recent years. The N.C. Healthcare Association said in a statement that we are curious why the bill requires waiting a minimum wait of three years after FDA approval. When the FDA licenses a product, it is giving its official opinion that a vaccine (or any other product) is safe and effective. It is the worldwide gold standard for regulatory approval. Last week, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services said that everyone older than 6 months will only receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine that protects against more variants of the virus. HB623 would allow the commission to exempt children from a required new vaccine who are or who have been enrolled in school (K-12) on or before the effective date of the new requirement. Another vaccine bill The fate of another Republican-sponsored COVID-19 vaccine bill House Bill 98, titled Medical Freedom Act is uncertain. The bill would prohibit city, county and state government agencies and departments from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for employees. The bill does not affect other required vaccinations for K-12 public school students, including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, red measles (rubeola) and rubella. HB98 would not allow the State Board of Education, local public school districts, colleges and universities to require students to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or be vaccinated for one or multiple doses. The bill cleared the House Health and Judiciary I committees, but has been stuck in Rules and Operations since March 29. HB98 has Reps. Jon Hardister of Guilford County and Donny Lambeth of Forsyth County as co-primary sponsors, along with Reps. Brian Biggs and Neal Jackson of Randolph County. Biggs presented HB98 as a bill that gives voice to the voiceless, particularly individuals and parents who believe or feel the COVID-19 vaccine development has been rushed and remains incomplete. However, several Democratic committee members questioned why the bill sponsors believe they are more knowledgeable about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines than the public-health officials advocating for them. Child vaccines Although Biggs stressed that his sponsorship of HB98 is primarily about freedom of choices which is echoed by the other primary sponsors he also made clear his belief that children should not be getting the vaccine at all. Biggs claimed that nearly 100% of children infected by COVID-19 recovered safely. According to DHHS latest COVID-19 dashboard update, as of March 19 there have been 591,426 confirmed cases among children up to age 17. Of those cases, 32 children have been confirmed to have died of COVID-19. This, according to the company, is the first truly unified block and file platform built from the ground up with unified as its goal. Allowing block and file storage to access a flexible global pool of resources eliminates the need for pre-planning storage growth ("storage Tetris"), while a unified policy management system reduces administration time. All common use cases are supported, including VMware and NFS data stores, user directories and profiles, content repositories, data protection, and backup. The global storage pools allows administrators to use storage as needed across block and file workloads, with non-disruptive, on-the-fly expansion and unlimited file system sizes. File Services for FlashArray also provides direct support for VM storage. VM-Aware Storage is claimed to be another industry first, providing deeper visibility at the granularity of the virtual machine and giving administrators access to VM-level statistics, snapshots, quotas, and policies. This means that VM storage including snapshots can be managed by policy rather than manually, its efficiency is improved thanks to global rather than local deduplication, and removal of file system size limits removes the need to move VMs as they grow. Previous multi-protocol architectures have been "a bit of a bolt-on solution," Pure Storage vice president and APJ CTO Mark Jobbins told iTWire. whereas the "first truly unified block and file storage" experience delivered by File Services for FlashArray provides what customers want, including ease of use, optimisation for all-flash storage, the elimination of artificial limits, capex and opex savings, as well as futureproofing thanks to Pure's Evergreen architecture that allows non-disruptive upgrades. Pure customers "don't have to buy anything" in order to use File Services for FlashArray, he said as it is part of the next release of the Purity OS which will run on all recent Pure hardware. The majority of customers including all of those on Evergreen//One or Evergree//Forever plans will be able to benefit from the innovation. "We believe this will be very welcomed by our customers in Australia and New Zealand, many of whom will be able to benefit immediately once they upgrade to the latest version of the Purity operating system, all non-disruptively! For organisations on legacy storage infrastructure, it makes perfect sense to start thinking of Pure as an alternative," said Jobbins. Pure Storage vice president and FlashArray general manager Shawn Hansen said The legacy unified storage market has been held back by the inflexibility and cost of decades-old architectures. Its time for a new way: Were excited to introduce the first truly unified block and file storage platform, built from the ground up for modern simplicity and the ability to evolve with customers." An online launch event is being held on 27 April Channel Seven Melbourne breached captioning rules for its broadcast of 7News Breaking News in June 2021, the Australian Communications and Media Authority has found. Captions for the broadcast, which involved a Victorian Government press conference relating to COVID-19 and wild weather events in Victoria, had accuracy and comprehensibility issues that did not meet requirements under the Broadcasting Services Television Captioning Standard 2013. The rules state that captions provided for television programs, including for news and current affairs, must be readable, accurate and comprehensible so that it can be understandable for deaf and hearing-impaired viewers. Examples of captioning issues identified in the investigation included misspelt suburb names and omitted words and captions. This did not meet the quality requirements. Channel Seven Melbourne commenced independent audits of captioning quality and processes as part of its court-enforceable undertaking. The ACMA administers and enforces the captioning rules through annual compliance reporting and the investigation of complaints concerning the captioning of television programming. Improving the quality of captioning is one of the ACMAs compliance priorities for 202223. This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 25 April 2023. GUEST RESEARCH: Absolute Software has released new research revealing the increasing complexity in enterprise device environments, including operating system (OS) fragmentation and volume of applications, is impacting security and compliance posture. The findings in Absolute Softwares 2023 Resilience Index contradict the long-held belief that having more security solutions directly equates to more protection. Leveraging the analysis of anonymised data from millions of customer devices across the globe, the report provides insights and benchmarks for organisations looking to strengthen cyber resilience in todays widely distributed, hybrid workplaces. The work-from-anywhere model is exacerbating the strain on IT and security teams compounding existing device health and security challenges with a broad mix of networks, hardware, OS versions, and patches. More than 80 per cent of devices analysed use the Microsoft Windows OS, with the large majority on Windows 10, and within that device population there are 14 different versions and more than 800 builds and patches to manage. Absolutes telemetry data also shows there are 67 applications installed on the average enterprise device, with 10 per cent of those devices having more than 100 applications installed. While many of these tools enable employees to be productive, they also contribute to increased complexity. This complexity can create conflict among applications; impede the patching and maintenance of devices and applications, especially if those devices are remote; and lead to software failing or going offline over time. In the report, Absolute looks at common security applications deployed for hybrid workers and assessed the health of leading vendors within the categories of: Endpoint Protection (EPP), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), and secure access. The data shows seven of the 10 apps analysed across these categories were installed and healthy on less than 80 per cent of devices, on average and in some cases, as low as 47 per cent. When self-healing capabilities via Absolute Application Resilience were enabled, application health and efficacy rates across these same vendors increased significantly, as much as 52 percentage points. Security that is not installed or working effectively cannot protect you, said Christy Wyatt, President and CEO, Absolute Software. The criticality of these security controls, especially among remote and hybrid workers, cannot be overstated and the ability to keep them healthy is often oversimplified. Even market-leading, world-class software requires repairing for many reasons: changes in the environment around it, or new forms of risk introduced by adversaries or even by the user. By applying intelligence and automation to heal them, we can remediate the risk, restore the user experience, and ensure compliance. Other key insights from the 2023 Resilience Index include: Distributed, highly mobile users compound complexity: The average number of enterprise device locations across Absolute customers has grown 15 per cent year-over-year, with an average of four locations per device observed in February 2023. Hybrid working means heavy reliance on third-party networks: In hybrid work models, critical applications like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) need to be deployed, installed, and up to date. However, Absolute data shows this critical tool is either not installed or is not at the required version level on more than 30 per cent of devices. Embedded in the firmware of more than 600 million devices, Absolute enables visibility and control across endpoints, applications, and network connections. Leveraging our unique self-healing capability, customers can protect devices, data, and users and ensure that critical security controls operate at maximum effectiveness, while also delivering an optimal remote and mobile user experience. Leveraging our patented Absolute Persistence technology and Absolute Application Resilience capabilities, both enterprises and security vendors can optimise application efficacy and strengthen security and compliance posture. Read the full 2023 Resilience Index here. Report Methodology This report was developed using anonymised data from 14 million Absolute-enabled devices active during the period of February to April 2023, across customer organisations in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, as well as data and information from trusted third-party sources. About Absolute Software Absolute Software (NASDAQ: ABST) (TSX: ABST) is the only provider of self-healing, intelligent security solutions. Embedded in more than 600 million devices, Absolute is the only platform offering a permanent digital connection that intelligently and dynamically applies visibility, control and self-healing capabilities to endpoints, applications, and network connections - helping customers to strengthen cyber resilience against the escalating threat of ransomware and malicious attacks. Trusted by nearly 20,000 customers, G2 recognized Absolute as a Leader for the thirteenth consecutive quarter in the Spring 2023 Grid Report for Endpoint Management and as a Leader for the third consecutive quarter in the Grid Report for Zero Trust Networking. To learn more about Absolute Software and the companys intelligent, self-healing security solutions, here. Cloud-native network detection and response (NDR) provider ExtraHop has announced that Mark Bowling will assume the new role of Chief Information Security and Risk Officer (CISRO). ExtraHop says that as NDR adoption rapidly grows, Bowling will be responsible for implementing effective overall security, information security, and risk management frameworks to maximise growth opportunities for the company. Bowling will report to Lauren Zajac, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at ExtraHop. Under Zajacs leadership, Bowling and his team will help shape the future information security landscape and associated practices to adapt to the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity., says ExtraHop. Jeff Costlow, Deputy CISO at ExtraHop, will report directly to Bowling., who will also be responsible for all other aspects of ExtraHop security to include facility security, physical security, and personnel security. The creation of this role comes at a pivotal moment in cybersecurity history, said Bowling. At a time when critical infrastructure has been the target of nation-state cyber warfare, its become increasingly important to ensure information security, legal, and compliance all work together to protect sensitive data from malicious actors. Im eager to bring my decades-long experience in the government and healthcare sectors to this new role as we help enterprises capitalise on the value of the network so they can elevate their security posture. ExtraHop says that prior to his civilian career, Mark Bowling spent more than two and a half decades investigating and combating cybercrime and nation-state attacks in leadership roles with the FBI and the Department of Education, and protecting our nation as a nuclear officer in the U.S. Navy, initially assigned to the submarine service. A highly accomplished security leader, he previously held the role of Director of Information Security and Compliance for the Washington Regional Medical System, the Virtual CISO for United Capital Financial Advisors, and the Director of Security and Compliance for Southwest Power Pool. He has spent several years as a consulting CISO for numerous organisations in the healthcare, electric utility, and financial services verticals, notes ExtraHop. As global cyber incidents continue to spike and disclosure and privacy regulations evolve, theres an increasing need to ensure that security, compliance, and risk management functions are in lockstep, said Zajac. As a noted and respected leader in the industry, Mark is in a unique position to provide a new way of adapting security strategies that focus on a holistic view of network activity, including both the legal and compliance aspects. We are excited for him in this new role as he advances the critical work we do. There's still a lot we don't know about the events surrounding the appearance and suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop in the final weeks of the 2020 presidential campaign. Twitter, after the purchase by Elon Musk, revealed some key information about the role of the FBI and other government agencies in the effort to censor the laptop's contents. But there is much yet to discover. Like: How did that statement from 51 former national security officials declaring that the laptop had "all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation" originate? In truth, the laptop was legitimately Biden's and revealed enormous amounts of information about his foreign business activities and the possible knowledge of his father, then-presidential candidate Joe Biden and it wasn't part of a Russian operation. National security officials in office at the time said no, there was no evidence that the laptop was a Russian operation. But the statement from the 51 former officials James Clapper, Michael Hayden, Leon Panetta, John Brennan, Michael Morell, and many others lent credibility to the entirely unfounded notion that the Russians were somehow behind the discovery of the Biden laptop. In fact, Hunter Biden, out of his mind on drugs, had simply left the laptop at a repair shop and forgotten what he had done. Still, the statement gave supporters of the Joe Biden campaign something to cite as "evidence" of alleged Russian involvement. Now, we're learning more about who was behind that statement. And you won't be shocked to learn it was the Biden campaign. The House Judiciary Committee and Intelligence Committee are looking into the origins of the statement and have found that Antony Blinken, now the secretary of state but in 2020 an adviser to the Biden campaign, organized the letter, or at least had a role in organizing the letter, as part of the effort to quash the laptop news. Michael Morell, a former deputy director and acting director of the CIA under President Barack Obama, actually wrote the statement. But the idea was not originally his. In an interview with the two House committees, Morell was asked how the statement came about. He said that on Oct. 17, 2020, three days after the laptop story appeared in the New York Post, Morell received a call from Blinken, then advising the Biden campaign. According to the committees, Blinken's call was "couched as simply gathering Morell's reaction to the Post story," but in fact, it "set in motion the events that led to the issuance of the public statement." That same day, Oct. 17, Blinken emailed Morell an article alleging that the laptop was a Russian operation. This is from the portion of Morell's testimony released by the committees: Q: But, prior to [Secretary Blinken's] call, you you did not have any intent to write this statement? A: I did not. Q: Okay. So his call triggered A: It did, yes. Q: that intent in you? A: Yes. Absolutely. A few days after the statement appeared, candidate Biden cited it in his defense when the laptop issue came up during the final debate between Biden and President Donald Trump. After the debate, Morell received a thank-you call from the chairman of the Biden campaign. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. This is from House Republicans on the committees: "Morell also explained that the Biden campaign helped to strategize about the public release of the statement. Morell testified that he sent an email telling Nick Shapiro, former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the Director of the CIA John Brennan, that the Biden campaign wanted the statement to go to a particular reporter at the Washington Post first and that he should send the statement to the campaign when he sent the letter to the reporter." The purpose of it all, of course, was to help Biden defeat Trump. Here is more from the committees' interview with Morell: Q: What was the intent of the statement? A: There were two intents. One intent was to share our concern with the American people that the Russians were playing on this issue; and two, it was [to] help Vice President Biden. Q: You wanted to help the Vice President why? A: Because I wanted him to win the election. Q: You wanted him to win, that's why? A: Yes, sir. House Republican leaders want to know more about Blinken's role. This is how they framed a request for documents from Blinken: "Although the statement's signatories have an unquestioned right to free speech and free association which we do not dispute their reference to their national security credentials lent weight to the story and suggested access to specialized information unavailable to other Americans. This concerted effort to minimize and suppress public dissemination of the serious allegations about the Biden family was a grave disservice to all American citizens' informed participation in our democracy." That is a serious matter, but it's also the sort of thing that Blinken and other figures in the investigation might ignore. It was a campaign, they might say. We were trying to win. To win, we wanted to kill the Hunter Biden laptop story. Most of the press was on our side and went along. So what? But everyone should appreciate what the committees are doing because there is an intrinsic value in simply knowing what happened. When something big happens in public affairs, the public has a right to know how it came about. That's what journalism does, and in many cases, that is what congressional investigations do, too. So everyone should be thankful to the committees for helping us learn more about the events of October 2020. Hopefully, there will be more to come. (COMMENT, BELOW) Sometimes the only rational explanation for world-changing events is that rationality alone cannot explain them. The creation of the United States in the 18th century was one such event. Again and again, members of the founding generation, though profoundly shaped by Enlightenment values the preeminence of reason, natural law, faith in empirical evidence, the scientific method concluded that the Revolution's extraordinary success could not be logically understood without considering G od. "Through the whole of the contest, from its first rise to this time," proclaimed the Second Continental Congress in 1781, "the influence of divine Providence may be clearly perceived in many signal instances." At quite a different moment six years later, James Madison perceived heavenly intervention in the remarkable unity achieved by the Constitutional Convention. That delegates so riven by sectional, political, and philosophical differences could have agreed on a charter for a radically new form of government could not be explained in normal terms. "It is impossible," Madison wrote in Federalist No. 37, "for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger of the Almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the revolution." Even Benjamin Franklin, the intensely practical and worldly man of science, was certain that America's founding must have been "influenced, guided, and governed by that omnipotent, omnipresent, and beneficent Ruler" namely, G od. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> Like the birth of the United States in 1776, the rebirth of Israel in 1948 was miraculous. The reestablishment of Jewish sovereignty in the Jewish homeland more than 1,900 years after the destruction of the last Jewish commonwealth by the Roman Empire was unlike anything ever recorded in history. The Roman destruction of Judea in the 1st and 2nd centuries had been catastrophic. By the time the last of the fighting ended in 135, as many as 1 million Jews were dead. Of those who survived, hundreds of thousands were sold into slavery or expelled. Not until the Holocaust 18 centuries later would the Jewish people experience a more shattering catastrophe. The Roman emperor Hadrian renamed Judea "Syria Palestina" later shortened to "Palestine" to signify that the Jewish nation was at an end and its connection to its homeland severed. Yet through all the centuries that followed, the Jews never lost their self-awareness as a nation or their bond to the Holy Land. They expressed their longing for it in daily prayer and turned toward it when they worshiped. They raised charity to support the minority of Jews who never left. Over the generations, as sovereignty over the land shifted from one ruler to another Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, Mamluks, Ottomans, British Jews kept coming back, often in response to Christian or Muslim persecution elsewhere. By the mid-1800s, a majority of Jerusalem's population was Jewish once more. Zionism an organized movement to renew Jewish independence in the Jewish homeland was formally launched in 1897. Five decades later, against insanely steep odds and in violation of every historical precedent and in the wake of a genocide that had murdered one-third of the world's Jews the modern state of Israel was born. This week, Israel marks the 75th anniversary of that birth 75 years during which it has not merely existed, but thrived. And thrived not amid conditions of peace and neighborly friendship, but despite the unyielding hostility of enemies within and without, the neverending threat of terrorism, and the focused hatred of the world's antisemites. In the teeth of challenges faced by no other nation, Israel has become an economic, cultural, scientific, military, and technological powerhouse. Its land, once notorious for being, as Mark Twain found, "rocky and bare, repulsive and dreary . . . [with] hardly a tree or shrub anywhere," has been transformed into a marvel of agricultural innovation and productivity. Though it dwells in a region of dictatorships, theocracies, and monarchies, Israel is democratic and free, with vigorously contested elections, a fearless press, and as recent developments vividly underscore an extremely independent judiciary. With the possible exception of the United States, no other country is so passionately loved and so implacably despised by so many people worldwide. For 75 years, Israel a nation no bigger geographically than Lake Michigan has been in the glare of world attention. While there are 56 Muslim states and 22 Arab states, Israel is the only Jewish state and the only country whose legitimacy is continually denied. The modern state of Israel is unique in having won the legal imprimatur of both the League of Nations and the United Nations. But its enemies have never stopped screaming that it has no right to exist. And the result of living for 75 years under such unrelenting pressure? Israelis are among the happiest people anywhere. Their birth rate a proxy for confidence in the future is the highest in the developed world. Is this normal? Can it really be seen as the natural outcome of ordinary political and historical forces? The renowned historian Paul Johnson didn't think so. Writing in Commentary 25 years ago, Johnson observed: "In the last half-century, over 100 completely new independent states have come into existence. Israel is the only one whose creation can fairly be called a miracle." He went on to outline some of the wildly unlikely circumstances that aligned to make possible Israel's independence. Johnson pointed out, for example, that Soviet ruler Josef Stalin, though a Jew-hater and a foe of Zionism, briefly reversed his opposition to creating a Jewish state. "Stalin ignorantly supposed that the way to undermine Britain's position in the Middle East was to support the Jews, not the Arabs," wrote Johnson, and he backed Zionism in order to break the British stranglehold.' Not only did he extend diplomatic recognition to Israel but, in order to intensify the fighting and the consequent chaos, he instructed the Czech government to sell it arms. ... Then, in mid-August 1948, Stalin decided he had made a huge error in judgment, and the obedient Czech government ordered a halt to the airlift within 48 hours. But by then the war had effectively been won. In 1948, Israel's population was only 600,000. On its first day of existence, it was invaded by five countries Egypt, Syria, Transjordan, Lebanon, and Iraq with a combined population in the tens of millions. The head of the Arab League predicted that the Jews would be wiped out in "a war of annihilation" and "a momentous massacre." Yet the fledgling Jewish state survived. Even more miraculous was Israel's staggering victory in 1967, when Egypt, Syria, and Jordan again attempted a war of annihilation, and were defeated even more decisively. After centuries in which defenselessness and persecution had been the Jewish lot, Israel would ensure justice and security for Jews through feats of astonishing daring, from the capture and trial of Adolf Eichmann to the spectacular rescue of the hostages in Entebbe to the destruction of Iraq's nuclear reactor. When the new state of Israel proclaimed its independence in 1948, it was home to less than 6 percent of the world's Jews. Today almost half of all Jews live in the Jewish state, to which they emigrated from every inhabited continent. The country's national language is Hebrew, which had not been a spoken language for millennia until revived by the Zionist pioneers. And all this, it bears repeating, within living memory of a genocide unprecedented in the annals of horror. Paul Johnson was right. The rebirth of Israel in modern times the restoration of Jewish sovereignty in the only land where Jews have ever been sovereign is miraculous. Many religious believers see in it the fulfillment of biblical prophecies. Winston Churchill, speaking in Parliament in 1949, described Israel's founding as "an event in world history to be viewed in the perspective ... of a thousand, two thousand, or even three thousand years." In our secular age, it is unfashionable to acknowledge what the Continental Congress called "the influence of divine Providence" in world affairs. But when it comes to Israel, so abnormal and astounding, what better explanation is there? Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission." MATTOON Eastern Illinois University and Elevate have partnered to bring a new Small Business Development Center to Coles County to provide support services for entrepreneurs and existing businesses. Officials from the partner organizations gathered Wednesday afternoon at Elevate, a nonprofit business incubation hub in Mattoon, to celebrate the opening of the new Illinois SBDC at EIU-Elevate. "This will expand services, provide resources and create even greater opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses in the region," said Elevate Executive Director Carlos Ortega of the facility, located on the north side of the Cross County Mall. EIU Vice President for Academic Affairs Jay Gatrell, who will become the university's next president following President David Glassman's retirement this summer, said Small Business Development Centers are a "miracle" for rural America. He said the centers create spaces where business professionals can nurture entrepreneurs, including students, and help them thrive. Gatrell thanked the EIU Lumpkin College of Business and Technology and its partners for working on this project that "went from 0-60 literally in about four weeks" in its planning and development stage. The local center has grant support from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Small Business Development Lead Center. "We have needed a Small Business Development Center in this region for a long time," Gatrell said. "It provides a framework for communities to be successful and grow over time." Elevate Board President Blake Pierce said the SBDC will be the "next evolution of Elevate," which opened in 2020 with the help of Google grant funding and donors. Pierce said Elevate now serves as a permanent meeting location for the ClassE entrepreneur program for Coles County high school students, provides temporary workspace and rental offices for small businesses, and offers a curriculum of start-up information for entrepreneurs. He the SBDC will help make Elevate and its services sustainable in the long run. "Our core mission with Elevate is to connect resources across the region in ways that make sense," Pierce said. "Pairing with EIU to bring their expertise in with some of the facilities we already have and some of the things we have already done is just going to move our ability to help the community to the next level." Austin Cheney, dean of the Lumpkin College of Business and Technology, said a top priority in the college's strategic plan has been engagement with the business community, including someday through an outreach center. Cheney said the college was glad to partner with Elevate's Ortega on the funding application process, for which they had four weeks from the time the grant became available to when the paperwork was due. "Elevate has that entrepreneurial spirit, and EIU has the stability and the faculty resources to provide expertise in various areas across business. To combine those has been a dream come true," Cheney said, adding that he would like to see the facility become a hub of business support services for the region. Illinois Small Business Development Centers network representative Tom Becker said this partnership consolidates the resources of Elevate and EIU with the national network. "The SBDC is going to offer confidential, no-cost business advising. This is crucial to those folks looking to start a business and those folks already in business," Becker said. Project organizers have said the partnership will broaden access to professional business training, plus access to state and federal resources. 100 years ago, April 26, 1923 COOKS MILLS Mrs. Sarah A. Nash of Cooks Mills, a widow of Andrew J. Nash, who died on February 4, 1923, has been granted a pension of $30 a month, with accrued pension of $51.67. Mr. Nash served in Company B, 117th Illinois infantry, during the civil war. The pension was received through the efforts of W.F. Shepherd...CHARLESTON After eighteen hours, the jurors in the trial of Lewis Milburn were unable to reach an agreement and were discharge by Judge Brewer. Following the discharge of the jury, State's Attorney Fletcher continued all other hearings against Milburn to the next term of court. Milburn, indicted on a charge of maintaining a so-called disorderly house at his blacksmith shop several miles northeast of Charleston, was placed on trial Monday afternoon. During the taking of testimony, three young women, Mrs. Irene Woods Leitch, Miss Dukeman and Miss Gilbert gave testimony in the interest of the state...CHARLESTON John Logan Wells filed a bill in the city court Wednesday in which he asks a decree of divorce from his wife, Sadie May Wells, on the grounds of cruelty. The bill alleges the parties were married in Paris on August 18, 1913, and separated March 1, 1923, in Charleston. The plaintiff charges the wife with biting and scratching him...MATTOON Lemuel P. Webb, with a residence at 700 South Thirty-Third Street, Mattoon, was sentenced by Judge Brewer on Wednesday evening to serve an indeterminate term of from one to five years in Chester prison on a charge of bigamy. Webb, who was indicted by the recent grand jury, entered court and entered a plea of guilty to having one too many wives, and sentence was at once promoted. Webb was arrested on March 10 on a warrant sworn out by John Stiff of Mattoon. Webb, it was charged, had married Rosa May Poe in Indianapolis on July 30, 1921, and to have married a Mrs. Dukeman of Mattoon in St. Louis on October 9, 1922, without obtaining a divorce. It was said that Webb and the woman he married in St. Louis were living together as husband and wife at 700 South Thirty-third street, Mattoon, at the time of his arrest. SPRINGFIELD Every spring, people representing various interests from across the state flood to the state Capitol to lobby their elected officials. In recent weeks, some of the groups that have visited Springfield include state gun owners, hundreds of FFA chapters, mayors, environmentalists and advocates for the state's LGBTQ community. On Wednesday, members of the state's business community gathered in the capitol city for their annual lobby day. The day-long event, organized by the Illinois Manufacturers Association and Illinois Retail Merchants Association, included a luncheon keynoted by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and featuring a panel discussion with legislative leaders in addition to lobbying in the Capitol and, in the evening, a gala reception featuring a who's who of Illinois business and political leaders. Here are some observations from business day at the Capitol: Pritzker touts Illinois business Speaking to a packed ballroom inside a downtown Springfield hotel, Pritzker was bullish on the state of the state's economy, passing credit on to the business community as well as the efforts of his own administration. "Just a few months ago, Illinois economy surpassed $1 trillion in GDP the fifth state in the nation to reach this milestone," Pritzker said. "Were now second in the nation for new corporate investment per capita. Thats in no small part because of the investments made by companies in this room." Pritzker specifically mentioned South Korea-based LG Chem, which is partnering with Archer Daniels Midland Co. to construct facilities in Decatur that will produce thousands of tons of environmentally friendly ingredients. The project received tax incentives through the state's EDGE tax credit program. Pritzker also mentioned investments made by electric vehicle companies like Rivian Automotive, which has manufacturing operations in Normal, and Decatur-based parts manufacturer T/CCI, as well as Caterpillar's investment in their first new Decatur facility in a quarter-century. Though the state's 4.4% unemployment rate remains higher than the 3.5% national average, it remains at a level most would consider full employment. Also mentioned were the impact of the state's relatively stable financial picture in recent years, which has led to eight credit rating upgrades. The governor also credited the business community for working with state legislators and organized labor to find an agreement to finally eliminate the state's pandemic-induced unemployment insurance debt. "We are a state on the rise, and everyone in this room has played a role in that," Pritzker said. Pritzker skeptical of Bears tax help Echoing comments made a few months ago, Pritzker poured cold water on legislative efforts to give state assistance to the Chicago Bears for their expected stadium project in Arlington Heights. A new proposal, offered by state Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, emerged late last week that would charge a $3-per-ticket tax on events at the new stadium in order to help the city of Chicago pay down the debt incurred to renovate Soldier Field more than two decades ago. The Bears have sought legislation that would allow for property tax assessments to be frozen for up to 40 years at the site. Pritzker said he has not reviewed the latest proposal. "My No. 1 consideration is keeping us on a firm fiscal footing. So that means that the state really shouldnt be in the business of providing handouts to private industry and thats what the Bears are in their endeavors," Pritzker said. "Im rooting for the Bears. Im also a Chicagoan and I would love it if they stayed in Chicago, but it is their choice as a private business about where theyre gonna go." House Speaker Chris Welch, D-Hillside, in a panel discussion moderated by the Chicago Tribune's Rick Pearson later that afternoon, was noncommittal. "I know there's a couple of different bills about it," Welch said. "There's a lot of opinions out there on this topic. We're gonna let the process play out. Will something get done this session? I don't know." No graduated income tax question, but maybe abortion Welch put to rest any speculation that legislative Democrats were seeking to places another graduated income tax amendment before voters in 2024. "We got our butts kicked on the issue," Welch said bluntly, alluding to the rejection by voters in 2020. Pritzker has also said he would not be pursuing a second to change the state's flat income tax rate to a progressive rate. However, a question asking voters to enshrine abortion rights as fundamental in the state constitution is a possibility. Welch said that a reproductive health working group is still putting together legislative proposals for spring session, which concludes next month. "Our group's not done yet," Welch said. "We're going to listen to whatever recommendations made going forward here in the next couple of weeks. I don't want to get ahead of them. But, they're doing the work." Asked by reporters, Pritzker said "well have to see what the legislature decides to do on it." The governor called for a constitutional amendment in his inaugural speech in January. House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, asked about Republicans' struggles in the Chicago suburbs and whether she would support an pro-abortion rights Republican, indicated that she would. Local governments won't get their full ask Last week, local government leaders lobbied state legislators to gradually restore their share of the state's income tax receipts to 10%. It is currently a bit over 6%. Welch indicated such a jump is not likely due to other budgetary pressures, such as the state's evidence-based funding formula for schools. "Is there room to improve? I think so. Is it 10%? No," Welch said. McCombie, a former mayor, said she would restore it to that number. "If we want to help lower property taxes closer to home, we need to go back to that," she said. A Winston-Salem man is facing charges after a police chase that ended in the citys southeastern section, authorities said. Winston-Salem police attempted a traffic stop at 1:10 p.m. Tuesday on a silver Mercedes Benz at the corner of Silas Creek Parkway and Bethabara Road for a motor vehicle violation, police said. During the traffic stop, Ryan Shymeek Mumford, 23, of Zuider Zee Court attempted to drive around a police vehicle to flee from the scene, police said. Mumfords vehicle and the police vehicle then collided and Mumford left the scene of the collision, police said. Officers then chased Mumfords vehicle on Silas Creek Parkway South, police said. Forsyth County sheriffs deputies assisted in the chase that continued for 12.3 miles and ended at the dead end of Fir Drive. Mumford and a passenger then ran from their vehicle into nearby woods, police said. Officers using a police dog found Mumford, and they didnt find the passenger, police said. Mumford is charged with trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking cocaine, possession of a firearm by a felon and felony speeding to elude officers, police said. Officers recovered a handgun, 7.7 ounces of meth and nearly 19.5 ounces of cocaine, all of which were thrown from Mumfords vehicle during the chase, police said. Mumford is awaiting a bond hearing, police said. Anyone with information about this incident can call Winston-Salem police at 336-773-7700, Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800 or its Spanish line at 336-728-3904. Crime Stoppers of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County is on Facebook. The Text-A-Tip program at 336-276-1717 allows people to text tips, photos and videos to the police. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools will meet with Forsyth Technical Community College on Thursday to talk about revisions to its memorandum of understanding weeks after a drag performer straddled a high school student during a Pride event on campus in March. Superintendent Tricia McManus told the school board on Tuesday that after the meeting with Forsyth Tech officials, she will bring a revised agreement to the school board for its approval in May. WS/FCSs Early College and Middle College are based at Forsyth Tech, giving students access to its facilities. Snippets of a video from the event surfaced on social media. It showed a drag performer briefly straddling a female student whose face was blocked out. Afterward, the student laughed and hugged the performer before walking away. The school district apologized that students in its schools were exposed to an inappropriate dance. That performers dance was not something students of that age should have been able to access or witness, the statement said. High school freshmen are typically 14- or 15-years-old. Before Tuesdays school board meeting, about 15 people holding signs reading Education not Exploitation and No Lap Dances stood outside the Education Building on Bethania Station Road. Board member Steve Wood said that he was glad that the school district is making changes to its agreement with Forsyth Tech. Some may have misconstrued our board silence as consent, Wood told a large crowd gathered at the meeting. Please let us disabuse anyone here in this meeting or other locations that that is not the case. Wood told the crowd that there is a criminal investigation into the incident. Dionne Jenkins, the school districts general counsel, confirmed the investigation. Winston-Salem Police Capt. David Rose said the investigation has been completed and no charges were filed. Several people spoke to the board during the public comments section criticizing the board for failing to take bolder action. I want to know where is the outrage that this happened? asked Rachel Dargis. Why has nobody been outraged and passionate about this? We are. These are our kids. Cheryl Groves said that she never imagined that Id be fighting to protect my children from being victimized by exotic dancers. Another speaker, Dare Luck, asked the board to take a stronger stand. Satan is coming after our children, she said. There is no doubt about that. Rachel Rackley, a student at Reynolds High School, spoke to the board to ask for their support for a gun storage resolution that Students Demand Action presented at the boards meeting in early April. The student group advocates against gun violence. She made a point of saying that gun violence, not drag performers, is at the top of students concerns. I dont know any students who are worried about getting shot by a drag queen, Rackley said after the meeting. The video of the Pride event was shared on Libs of TikTok, a social media channel that routinely reposts videos that are critical of drag performers and issues involving gender-identity and teachers promoting diversity. The video clip caught the attention of several right-wing media outlets including the national desk of Fox News, the National Review and the New York Post. According to the school districts statement, Middle College and Early College administrators knew of the event and a drag performance but were not aware that there would be an entertainer performing in a manner that was not appropriate for underage students. Had it known, the school district said it would have limited access to the event and alerted parents that an adult performance was going to take place in a space that its students frequent. For its part, Forsyth Tech said in a statement that they were not aware that the performance portion of the event would involve audience participation, nor would we have allowed it to take place. Our shared campus and educational experience provides Winston-Salem/Forsyth County high school students access to all Forsyth Tech facilities and events, unless high school administrators decide access should be limited. They were aware of this event and knew it featured a drag performance, and, to our knowledge, they didnt limit access. Forsyth Tech added that it is reviewing policies regarding student organizations use of campus. In response to the dance, Forsyth County Republicans Rep. Jeff Zenger and Donnie Lambeth filed a bill that would make it illegal to perform in drag in public and anywhere minors are present. If House Bill 673 is approved, a performer would be charged with a misdemeanor for the first performance and a felony for a second performance. The legislators said last week the bill was spurred by the incident at Forsyth Tech. Journal reporter Richard Craver contributed to this story. PHOTOS: WS/FCS Board of Education meeting 04/25/2023 A bill to create Civil Service panels to hear and rule on city employee grievances in Winston-Salem and Greensboro passed the N.C. House Wednesday evening, but it is likely to see continued opposition when it is taken up by the state Senate. Rep. Amber Baker unsuccessfully tried Wednesday evening to amend the bill by taking Winston-Salem completely out of the legislation, but the House turned aside that effort on a voice vote. Some Winston-Salem and Greensboro officials object that the bill would usurp the authority of the city manager and his department heads to make personnel decisions. The House did approve another amendment to the bill on Wednesday that would give police and fire chiefs in the two cities a say in picking one member of each citys five-member panel, which would be called a Civil Service Board. Winston-Salem now appears likely to formally object to the bill during Mondays meeting of the Winston-Salem City Council. Despite the strong opposition from Winston-Salem, Rep. Jon Hardister, R-Guilford, said before the vote on Bakers amendment that he and other prime sponsors had conferred and agreed that Winston-Salem should remain in the bill. Besides Hardister, the prime sponsors are Reps. Jeff Zenger, R-Forsyth and Kyle Hall, R-Stokes. Halls district includes parts of northern Winston-Salem. There is a lot of support for it, too, Hardister told a reporter, responding to criticisms voiced by both Winston-Salem and Greensboro officials Tuesday morning. I am not surprised that the senior leadership in the city is opposed to it because they see it as taking some of their purview away. It gives an extra level of due process. In each city, the Civil Service Board that would have the power to hear appeals from city employees who have been discharged, suspended, reduced in rank, transferred against his or her will, or denied any promotion or raise in pay he or she would be entitled to, to see if the action by city management is justified. At the hearing, the burden would be on the city to prove that the discipline or other action was justified. The Civil Service Board could reinstate an employee, for instance, or take other actions to bring the complaint to a just conclusion. During hearings on the proposed legislation on Tuesday, state lawmakers heard opposition from high-profile Winston-Salem leaders. They included Robert Clark, who chairs the Finance Committee of the Winston-Salem City Council, Police Chief William Penn, Fire Chief William Trey Mayo and City Attorney Angela Carmon. Greensboro Police Chief John Thompson and Fire Chief Jim Robinson spoke against the bill during the Tuesday morning meeting of the House Local Government Committee. But when the House Rules Committee took up the bill in the afternoon session on Tuesday, Thompson did not speak and Robinson expressed thanks for bill changes that were in the wings for adoption with the Wednesday amendment that passed the House. One approved change would give the police and fire chiefs one shared appointment on each citys Civil Service Board, which would also have a member appointed by the city council, and two members chosen by city employees by election. The four chosen members would then pick the fifth member. Originally, the councils were to each pick two members for the new board. The other change approved in Wednesdays amendment clarifies that the new Civil Service Board would not have hiring authority. Supporters of the bill say other North Carolina cities have operated with similar boards in place to adjudicate employee grievances. Cities with similar panels include Asheville, Charlotte, Raleigh and Wilmington. This provides due process and transparency, said Scott Mullins, the president of the Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics of North Carolina, who told state lawmakers on Tuesday that the bill has 100% support among firefighters in both cities. John Midgette, the executive director of the North Carolina Police Benevolent Association, told state lawmakers on Tuesday that the existing grievance procedures in the cities amount to fake due process. You are appealing to the people who have punished you and determined you are guilty, he said. Winston-Salem officials said the creation of the new board would step on the authority of the city manager, who now has ultimate hiring, firing and disciplinary authority. This bill would ask our chiefs and other leaders to manage departments without any control over promotions or discipline, Winston-Salem City Manager Lee Garrity said in a text. He added that it would be difficult to lead a team under this proposal. Greensboro City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba was not available for comment on Wednesday, but at-large council member Marikay Abuzuaiter said that when council members voted on their legislative goals, they chose to not support the creation of the proposed board. It will usurp the city manager, the fire chief and the police chief, she said. Greensboro has many policies in place for employees who feel they have been wronged. On top of that, she said, the bill was brought forward without discussion with the city. I would love to support a bill as long as everyone has had time for input, amendments have been made, and everyone is at the table. Carmon, speaking to the House Rules Committee on Tuesday, said the bill could waylay efforts to make sure police, for example, do not use excessive force in making arrests. The city manager could fire someone for excessive use of force ... the board could reinstate the employee ... that employee could then commit another excessive use of force, she said. Baker, introducing her amendment to remove Winston-Salem from the bill, said her effort would allow Greensboro to move forward and give Winston-Salem more time to work on the proposals. Opponents said on Tuesday that creating the panel would allow personal favoritism to creep into city employment decisions. But advocates said the opposite: (Civil service boards) were created years ago to break up the good-old-boys club, Zenger said. It is a backstop, another check and balance. The N.C. Senate cleared Tuesday a bipartisan bill that permits mobile salon services, including at wedding venues. Senate Bill 44 received a 45-1 vote. It now moves to the state House for consideration. If signed into law, mobile salons would be allowed to begin operating Oct. 1. In this instance, a mobile salon is defined in SB44 as a self-contained, enclosed mobile unit licensed for the practice of cosmetic art. A mobile home would qualify for use as a mobile salon. SB44 has been amended to allow for licensed cosmetic art shop employees such as a cosmetologist, esthetician and natural hair care specialist to assist individuals in preparing for a wedding outside away from their normal place of business. Sen. Joyce Krawiec, R-Forsyth, and the primary bill sponsor, said the wedding venue language was added at the request of operators of those facilities in order to provide on-site services before a ceremony. According to state law, services that a licensed mobile salon could provide include those typically offered by a cosmetologist: arranging, dressing, curling, waving, cleansing, cutting, singeing, bleaching, coloring or similar work upon the hair of a person, including the use of hands, mechanical or electrical apparatus, or appliances or by use of cosmetic or chemical preparations or antiseptics. Other services would include skin beautification, manicurists, natural hair care specialist and shampooing. Krawiec said mobile salon operators have the option of selling hair care products. Krawiec said the impetus for SB44 comes partly from public-health restrictions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, and partly to expand the reach of salons. It is much needed for those who are unable to travel to a salon, Krawiec said. During the pandemic, we saw how this could have been helpful. Child vaccination bill A Republican-sponsored N.C. House bill cleared its first House committee step Tuesday that would require a three-year waiting period for a new Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccine to be placed on the states childhood immunization schedule. House Bill 623, titled 3-year FDA approval for new childhood vaxx, cleared the House Health committee. It now goes to Families, Children and Aging Policy committee. Among the primary bill sponsors is Rep. Larry Potts of Davidson County. Although the COVID-19 vaccine is not listed in HB623, its likely the focus of the bill, as has been the case with other Republican-sponsored vaccine legislation in recent years. Primary bill sponsor Rep. Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke, said HB623 is designed to take into consideration some recent experience in which we learned things afterward .... It might suggest that there were some other considerations that you didnt know about when you started. According to DHHS latest COVID-19 dashboard update, as of March 19 there have been 591,426 confirmed cases among children up to age 17. Of those cases, 32 children have been confirmed to have died of COVID-19. The proposed bill would prohibit the 13-member state Commission for Public Health from adding the childhood vaccine inside the three-year period. The commission consists of nine appointed by the governor and four elected by the N.C. Medical Society. The governors appointees must include: a licensed pharmacist; registered engineer experienced in sanitary engineering or a soil scientist; licensed veterinarian; licensed optometrist; licensed dentist; and registered nurse. Childhood vaccines would remain required for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, red measles (rubeola) and rubella. The bill would allow for exemptions if at least six of the 10-member N.C. Council of State approves adding a new vaccine. The council currently is comprised of six Republican and four Democrats, led by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. The committee approved amending the bill to allow for exemption to the three-year waiting period if requested by the board of directors for both the N.C. Medical Society and N.C. Pediatric Society. Blood donation age bill A bipartisan bill has reached the state Senate floor that would bar anyone under age 18 from donating blood without the permission of their parent or guardian. Senate Bill 389, titled Raise the age for donating blood, was submitted by Sen. Ralph Hise, R-McDowell, and a leading Republican advocate for significant health-care reform in North Carolina. Listed as a co-sponsor is Sen. Julie Mayfield, D-Buncombe. State law currently allows those age 16 to donate blood with parental permission, while 17-year-olds can give blood without parental permission. SB782 would amend state law to prevent those age 17 from donating without parental consent. A former constituent of Sen. Hises who is now a current constituent of mine lost a son after he gave blood, passed out and hit his head, Mayfield said. He had some specific health issues that should not have allowed him to give blood, and his parents would not have given him permission to give. A tragic situation that could have been avoided if parental consent were required. Importantly, the bill does not ban people under 18 from giving blood. It simply requires parental consent, she said. The law applies to blood donations made to an individual, hospital, blood bank or blood collection center. State law does not permit those under age 18 to sell their blood. High school-sponsored blood drives have been a staple for donations for decades, primarily to help address constant shortage of donated blood. Hiking is so much more enjoyable when you can take your four-legged sidekick along. Finding the perfect place to hike with your pup may require a bit more digging, but its certainly time well spent. While it may be intuitive to think that all hiking trails are dog friendly, thats not always the case. While most parks allow dogs, they typically have trails specifically designated as dog friendly. In addition, some trails require dogs to be leashed while hiking, while others allow dogs to be off-leash. Another consideration is the dog-friendly trails rating. They can range from easy to very strenuous. You need to determine if your dog (and you) are beginner, intermediate, or advanced hikers. The good news is that there are many dog-friendly hiking trails in parks across the United States. We've plucked out some of the fan-favorites, from coast to coast! Pisgah National Forest Pisgah National Forest is located in western North Carolina in Brevard, NC. However, it surrounds almost all of the ever popular pet-friendly destination, Asheville, NC. Pisgah National Forest boasts over 500,000 acres of some of the most majestic mountain scenery, and is one of the best places for outdoor exploration in eastern North America. You and your pooch will find whitewater rivers, waterfalls, along with hundreds of miles of hiking trails. One of the more popular dog-friendly trails is Sam Nob Trail. Its a moderate trail that is 2.5 miles and takes about 1.5 hours to complete. Its well maintained, has beautiful views, and portions of the trail have stairs. Dogs must be on-leash. Find pet-friendly places to stay in Asheville. Acadia National Park Located in the bayside town of Bar Harbor, Maine, this spectacular park is Maines only National Park -- but it sure is a must-visit for hikers and their pups. Located on Maines amazing coast, across from the infamous Mount Desert Island, this park is sure to please two and four-legged visitors. Dogs are welcome on almost all trails and carriage roads. With approximately 100 miles of dog-friendly hiking trails youll find trails for all skill levels. One of the more popular dog-friendly beginners trail is the Wonderland Trail. Its a short, 1.5 mile trail that takes you out to the ocean and through Maines lush forest. Hiking pups must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Find pet-friendly places to stay in Bar Harbor. Shenandoah National Park Shenandoah National Park is located in the glorious Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. It lies just west of Washington, D.C. The Park stretches 105 miles with entrances at Waynesboro, VA and Front Royal, VA. This scenic park boasts towering waterfalls, lots of wildlife, and spectacular views. They have approximately 100 miles of hiking trails. And the good news is most are dog friendly. A popular dog-friendly trail is the Hawksbill Loop Trail. Its considered a moderately challenging 2.7 mile route. It takes approximately 1 hours to complete. The general rule is that dogs must be on-leash. However, there are some areas of this trail that allow dogs to be off-leash. Find pet-friendly places to stay in Waynesboro and Front Royal. Cuyahoga Valley National Park Cuyahoga Valley National Park lies along the Cuyahoga River between the Ohio cities of Cleveland, OH and Akron, OH. Dog-friendly Cuyahoga has over 100 miles of trails that welcome dogs. Known as a refuge for native plants and wildlife, this dog-friendly park provides visitors with a plethora of discoveries. The spectacular winding Cuyahoga River sweeps into deep forests and rolling hills -- making hiking with your dog a real adventure! A top rated moderate dog-friendly trail loop to hike is the Salt Run, Kendall Lake and Cross Country Trail Loop. It's a 6.9 mile loop and it takes about 2.75 hours to complete. There are areas of the trail that allow dogs to be off-leash. For an easier jaunt, take the ever-popular Towpath Trail to follow the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal. Dogs must be on-leash for this trail. Find pet-friendly places to stay in Cleveland and Akron. Olympic National Park Theres something for everyone (including your dog) at Olympic National Park. In addition to plenty of hiking trails, this popular spot has beaches, waterfalls, and breathtaking, lush rain forests. Located near Port Angeles and Squim, WA, Olympic National Park allows pups on a number of hiking trails as well as various sections of the beaches. Devils Punchbowl via Spruce Railroad Trail is a great dog-friendly hike. It takes you along the shoreline of the lake. This trail is considered easy and takes about 50 minutes to complete. Most of the trail is paved, but it becomes unpaved when approaching to Devils Punchbowl. Dogs must be on-leash. Find pet-friendly places to stay in Port Angeles and Squim. Grab your four-legged hiking buddy and hit the trails! About TripsWithPets TripsWithPets is a leader in the pet travel industry providing online reservations at pet-friendly hotels across the United States and Canada. With a vast inventory of pet-friendly accommodations, TripsWithPets provides pet travelers with a wide variety of pet-friendly options. Pet parents go to TripsWithPets.com for all they need to find and book the perfect place to stay with their pets including detailed, up-to-date information on hotel pet policies and pet amenities. As passionate animal advocates, TripsWithPets supports local and national 501(c)(3) animal welfare organizations by raising much needed funds through their annual Partners for Animal Welfare Series (PAWS) A jury in Missouri has slapped a Lincoln-based real estate business with a $5.8 million verdict. But U.S. Property Inc.'s president, Monte Froehlich, confirmed Wednesday they plan to appeal the decision, which involves a vacant lot at 718 Grand Blvd. in downtown Kansas City. "We strongly disagree with the verdicts and have instructed counsel to immediately file and vigorously prosecute an appeal. We are confident in the appeal process," Froehlich said. In 2019, Racket Merchandise Co., a longtime downtown Kansas City business, sued the Nebraska owners of 718 Grand Blvd. U.S. Property Inc., 718 Grand LLC and Power & Light Properties LLC, all businesses tied to Froehlich after a rainstorm caused clay to run off the property and flood their basement next door. Racket's attorney alleged the owners had neglected the property, it had become a nuisance and their property ended up damaged as a result. In 2013, the lot then home to the Grand Avenue Garage, a 1921 building on the National Register of Historic Places had been acquired with plans to convert it into apartments. But the city ultimately condemned it after it had sat vacant for years and, in 2018, it was demolished. Clay had been brought in for backfilling and grading the lot but was left in piles, which caused a mudslide, the suit alleged. Earlier this month, the case went to trial in Kansas City, resulting in a jury verdict of $1.33 million in actual damages and $4 million in punitive damages. Racket's attorney, Brandon Boulware, told the Journal Star: The jury sent a clear message to all developers and landowners that they must take care of their property. Kansas City will not allow blight. This city has come too far for that." At trial, he told the hometown jury that the property, which sits along the route of the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl parade, had been twice broadcast to the world, according to local coverage of the case. Boulware said Wednesday he hoped the companies in this lawsuit would hear the jury's message "and act on it." "But its been three weeks since the verdict, and they still have not fixed their properties, he said in an email. Froehlich said Wednesday they were surprised "by a verdict that we do not believe is consistent with the facts presented at trial or Missouri Law." He said they had hired two contractors to complete the demolition and remediation of the site. Racket sued the contractors, too, but they settled before the trial concluded, according to court records. Froehlich said: "We have restored more than two dozen historic buildings and have pride in doing so. We have properties in 15 states and have always directed our real estate business responsibly and with the highest of ethics. We have a solid track record of quality work and high standards of conduct." Top Journal Star photos for April 2023 The four people running for the two open seats on the Lincoln Airport Authority have widely different backgrounds. The two Republicans both have aviation experience, with Chris Stokes a current commercial airline pilot and former Air Force Reserve pilot, and Chris Hove having served as a naval aviator. Hove previously served on the Airport Authority from 2007-2011, while Stokes is making his first run for public office, as are the two Democratic candidates, Vanessa Emlich and Nathan Janulewicz. Emlich also has airline industry experience, having worked for German airline Lufthansa, while Janulewicz has experience in government, working as a legislative aide to Lincoln Sen. Eliot Bostar. The four are vying to replace Zachary Mora James and Richard Nuernberger, who both chose not to run for reelection. The Airport Authority has five unpaid members who serve six-year terms. They are tasked with shaping policy for both the commercial and general aviation operations as well as the airport's industrial park and controlling an eight-figure budget. The two new members will be joining the board during a time of huge change at the airport, which is poised to open the first phase of its $55 million terminal expansion project right around Memorial Day. In addition to more terminal space, the expansion also will consolidate the airport's two security checkpoints into one and will add two more gates. Passenger numbers declined sharply in 2020 and have been slow to rebound, but airport officials are hoping the introduction of a new startup airline, Red Way, which will offer twice-weekly flights to seven cities starting in June, will provide a boost. All four candidates have said improving commercial air service in Lincoln is a top priority. Janulewicz called the addition of Red Way "a creative idea by the airport that provides great leisure travel opportunities for passengers." But he also said the airline will have to prove itself to keep flights filled. "My priority will remain to attract legacy or business airlines that are connected to national and international networks to provide more opportunities for LNK passengers and Lincoln's economy," Janulewicz said. The Red Way service is what is referred to as "leisure service," meaning it provides point-to-point infrequent flights to popular destinations. With the loss of Delta Air Lines at the beginning of 2022, Lincoln now only has one mainline airline, United Airlines, that provides flights to major hubs where flyers can connect to other destinations. Stokes said reestablishing service from major airlines should be the airport's top priority. "A Midwestern city cannot thrive nor compete without the basic fundamental requirement of providing reasonable air service for its citizens, businesses, universities and government," Stokes said. He called it maddening that many cities smaller than Lincoln have three or four major airlines providing flights. Emlich said that while she believes the airline industry as a whole will continue to struggle due to a host of issues, expanding service is still a "reasonable goal" for the airport. "One way to do this is by actively pursuing partnerships with local and area businesses," she said. "We should assess, research, plan and clearly demonstrate how an added service could directly financially benefit those businesses." Whatever the airport does be it expand the terminal, bring in a new airline or recruit new tenants to the industrial park Hove said board members need to provide strong oversight to ensure long-term success. "We not only need a cheerleader to promote these projects, but we need a team to make sure these projects enjoy long-term success," he said, touting his own experience as a former board member and commercial banker. When it comes to the airport's industrial park, there also have been recent big announcements. In January, Burrell Aviation of Aspen, Colorado, announced plans to invest $65 million to develop a hub for air cargo and other aviation-related industries. Then in February, Timpte Inc. announced plans to spend more than $30 million on a new manufacturing facility in the airport industrial park. Emlich called those two projects "very promising," but also said there's always room for improvement. "We should explore additional opportunities to converse with more companies to establish long-term partnerships that make the most sense for the space and align with the airports strategic plan," she said. Projects like those two are "an exciting opportunity," said Janulewicz. "As a member of the board, I will prioritize attracting business projects like this," he said. Hove and Stokes were a little less enthusiastic in their assessments of the industrial park, however. Hove said there is "great potential" given the amount of land the Airport Authority owns. But he also said the authority needs to "find ways to better utilize and expand usage of the land both in the industrial park and on the commercial aviation side while not competing with local commercial real estate developers." Stokes was even more blunt in his assessment, saying the "grossly underutilized industrial park looks like a set from a zombie apocalypse movie." But Stokes also noted that the industrial park has tons of potential, with streets and utilities already in place and easy access to highways, rail lines and the airport. "I will work tirelessly with the airport team to relax restrictions to allow easier access to industry," he said. President Joe Biden and South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol have unveiled a new plan to counter North Koreas persistent nuclear threat. The leaders announced the new agreement Wednesday. It includes plans to periodically dock U.S. nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea for the first time in decades, bolster training between the two countries, and more. The declaration was unveiled at a moment of heightened anxiety as North Korea has increased its pace of ballistic missile tests. Biden said a nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partners is unacceptable" and would result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action. A bill allowing Nebraskans to carry concealed firearms without a permit was signed into law on Tuesday, but a Lincoln senator says questions remain about what regulations if any local governments can enact to prohibit firearms on or in public property. Gov. Jim Pillen signed Sen. Tom Brewers bill (LB77) into law at a ceremony attended by nearly two dozen senators Tuesday afternoon. The Gordon senators priority legislation will go into effect 90 days after the legislative session concludes. The measure, which backers refer to as constitutional carry, allows any Nebraskan 21 and older to carry a concealed weapon without first obtaining a permit or taking a gun safety class and also eliminates local ordinances related to firearms. The preemption of local gun ordinances drew opposition from city and police leaders in Lincoln and Omaha, who said removing local control over regulating firearms could jeopardize public safety and put law enforcement officers in danger. But LB77 also allows any person, persons, entity, or entities in control of the place or premises to exercise control over whether or not they prohibit individuals from carrying firearms. That could allow Lincoln and Omaha city leaders to potentially consider new ordinances that continue to ban weapons concealed or otherwise at places like the City-County Building, Pinnacle Bank Arena or on StarTran buses. Lincoln Sen. Jane Raybould, who led opposition to LB77 on the floor, said she was unable to get a definitive answer from the state's top law enforcement officer on that question before the bill passed on final reading, however. About two weeks after the bill passed the second of three rounds of voting, Raybould hand-delivered a letter on April 12 to Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers' office seeking his opinion on what abilities political subdivisions would have to regulate firearms on properties they control. On the same day, Raybould also sent a letter to Speaker John Arch: I respectfully ask that the scheduling of LB77 on final reading be delayed until the opinion is received so that the body can take the information under consideration prior to voting on the bill. Arch scheduled the third and final round of debate on April 19. Brewer, who has introduced similar legislation in each of his seven years in the Legislature, found 33 votes to break a filibuster, and the bill was sent to Pillens desk. Two days later, on April 21, Hilgers responded to Raybould that there was not enough time to give an opinion on the questions raised by the District 28 senator and under the guidelines of a 1985 attorney general opinion only pending legislation could be considered. Unfortunately, we were unable to complete the work necessary to prepare a formal opinion prior to the bills passage, Hilgers wrote. As the bill is no longer pending or proposed legislation, under this prior guidance we regrettably are foreclosed from issuing an opinion to you on this particular bill. Raybould said she believes that there is still time for the attorney general to answer her questions before LB77 takes effect, which will give cities and other political subdivisions guidance for how to move forward. She said state statute also directs the attorney general to give, when required, without fee, his or her opinion in writing upon all questions of law submitted to him or her by several executive branch officials and the Legislature. Rayboulds request was denied again on Tuesday in a meeting with Hilgers, she said. As were her requests for the result of a previous attorney generals opinion requested by former state Sen. Suzanne Geist asking similar questions. Geist resigned from her District 25 seat on April 5 to focus on her campaign to become Lincolns mayor. Her request for an attorney generals opinion was likewise not completed before she left the Legislature. After not voting for a similar bill introduced by Brewer last year, citing the concerns of law enforcement, Geist voted to shut off debate and to advance the bill from first-round consideration this year before withholding her vote on second round. Even without an attorney generals opinion on the matter, Lincoln City Attorney Yohance Christie said he believes the city could continue to bar weapons from any place or premise under its authority, including buildings, parks and vehicles. With LB77 set to wipe out existing ordinances, it would be up to the City Council to pass new measures doing so, he added. Any new ordinance that would be passed locally would certainly have to comply with LB77, Christie said. Well have to think carefully about how to do that. Top Journal Star photos for April 2023 Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha has been a key figure in this year's legislative session, occasionally parting with his Democratic colleagues in the nonpartisan Legislature to provide critical votes on hot-button issues in accordance with his "personal conscience" and his Catholic faith. "I am who said I was when I ran," McDonnell says, "pro-life from conception to natural death," a Democrat who is a nonpartisan senator, a senator who responds to "my personal conscience." McDonnell was the only Democrat who joined all the Republican senators to provide a critical 33rd vote that freed a bill (LB626) that would ban abortions in Nebraska after detection of a fetal heartbeat from the grip of an opposing filibuster and move it ahead. And he was the only Democrat to join all the Republican senators in breaking a filibuster that had blocked the bill (LB574) that would prohibit a range of gender-affirming medical care for youths, allowing the proposal to move forward. Only by voting together as a bloc can the 17 Democrats in the 49-member Legislature sustain a filibuster that traps legislation. McDonnell was the only Democrat who voted to enact a bill (LB77) that would allow concealed carrying of a handgun without a permit, a measure that Gov. Jim Pillen signed into law on Tuesday. Two Democrats were excused and did not cast a vote on enactment of the bill. "Look at who I said I was when I ran" for a seat in the Legislature in 2016, McDonnell said Tuesday. "I haven't changed." McDonnell, who is president of the Omaha Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO and a former Omaha fire chief, is a Roman Catholic. And that, he says, "definitely comes into play along with my private conscience." "My positions haven't changed since I went door-to-door in 2016," he said. "I don't base my positions on whether I'm the 25th vote or the 33rd vote. My votes remain consistent." Yes, he said, "definitely, there has been pushback from the party, and that's OK. Everyone has a right to their opinion." In seeking the District 5 seat in the Legislature, McDonnell noted, "I didn't run with a D behind my name. I vote for what I believe in." In Nebraska's uniquely nonpartisan Legislature, he said, "I believe we should be leaving our political parties at the door." McDonnell has been a member of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee for all seven of his legislative years and that's a position that allows him to "deal with all parts of state government." "It's been very educational and rewarding for me," he said. What lies ahead may be a bid to be elected mayor of Omaha in 2025. McDonnell says his decision won't come until a year from now. "I'm definitely interested," he said. "My wife will be part of that decision. I'm thinking about it, praying about it, discussing it with family, friends and neighbors. "I want to consider what's best for the city of Omaha and whether I can do the best job." Top Journal Star photos for April 2023 In November, Nebraskans approved amending the state constitution to require "valid photographic" ID to cast a vote. More than 65% of Nebraska voters supported the vaguely worded change, putting the issue of implementation squarely in the lap of the Legislature, where it sits, awaiting some kind of compromise between competing proposals from Sen. Julie Slama, who led the the ballot initiative, and Sen. Tom Brewer, chairman of the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. The amendment solved a problem the state doesn't have, and anything that makes voting harder weakens our community by excluding vital voices. The surge in interest was certainly fueled by allegations that have proven unfounded from former President Donald Trump involving the 2020 election. But, at this point, that's water under the bridge. Nebraskans signed petitions, qualifying a voter ID amendment for the ballot. And Nebraskans voted resoundingly for it. Now, though, the dispute over the form that voter ID takes is going beyond what voters approved. Slama has produced two major rewrites of the bill, both of which involve producing ID documents to verify citizenship going well beyond the photo ID mentioned in what became Initiative 432 on the ballot and LB535 in the Legislature. Brewer, who worked with other committee members and Secretary of State Bob Evnen, wants to allow a broader range of photo-bearing documents, including expired ones in some instances, and would offer exceptions in several specified cases like a religious objection to being photographed, and illness or disability, a stolen or lost existing ID or an inability to obtain necessary documents. Evnen last fall noted that the state hadn't had problems with voter fraud of any kind -- let alone the type that requiring a photo ID would thwart. Slama won't budge on Brewer's proposal because it allows people to vote without an photo ID. The only exception she would allow is a religious one. In a literal sense, Slama may have a point. But considering that this is responding to what is entirely a problem of perception -- or perhaps misperception -- that our elections are fraught with fraud, Brewer's approach is far more reasonable. Petition-signers last year saw nothing of notaries, witnesses, birth certificates or proof of citizenship in the wording of what they supported. Voting is a right, and it is as central -- or even more foundational -- as the right to bear arms. If it's going to be easier to carry a concealed weapon, should it really be getting that much harder to cast a ballot? Voters asked for photo ID to add a perceived layer of security to election integrity. They didn't ask for a higher hurdle. Brewer's plan is clearly closer in spirit to what voters approved. It should become law. PLEASANT PRAIRIE Village police arrested a 32-year-old Illinois man wanted in an alleged attempt to run over an Illinois officer with a stolen SUV, after a pursuit in which he tried to elude local authorities and a police helicopter by climbing 40 feet up a tree near Springbrook Road and 93rd Street late Tuesday. Correy C. Moore was taken into custody at 10:30 p.m. as village police officers, a Kenosha County Sheriffs police dog and deputy and Kenosha police surrounded him while an Illinois State Police helicopter hovered above. The man was believed to be involved in the attempted assault on the officer with the vehicle described as a 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV, which an Illinois State Police helicopter had been monitoring and had followed into Wisconsin, according to Sgt. Derek Andrews of the Pleasant Prairie Police Department. They let us know it was coming into our area. (Pleasant Prairie) officers checked for it, Andrews said. Village police also followed the vehicle, which continued into the 6000 block of 12th Avenue, but initially lost sight of it, Andrews said. He said officers had last seen the vehicle traveling southbound on 22nd Avenue at 60th Street. Shortly afterward, they set up with spikes at 91st Street and 22nd Avenue where they managed to stop the vehicle. An officer had a good deployment of the spikes and the vehicle lost tire pressure, he said. The vehicle then lost control in the 3400 block of Springbrook Road near All Saints Cemetery and a large empty field just west of the Kenosha County Bike Trail. The driver fled the vehicle on foot, however, the state police helicopter continued to monitor the suspects movements as he ran into the field, Andrews said. They were able to watch him as he ran from the car and then climb up the tree, he said. The suspect, according to authorities at the scene, had climbed about 40 feet up the tree. They were relaying what they were seeing to us through dispatch and radio, Andrews said. Authorities then made contact with the suspect and he climbed down on his own volition, according to Andrews. He was taken into custody without further incident. The man was at a local hospital where he was being examined early Wednesday but did not appear to be injured at the scene. Thats where he is currently before hes going to be going to the jail, he said. Andrews said that during the vehicle pursuit officers observed the suspect vehicle traveling more than 90 mph on 22nd Avenue prior to setting up the spikes, also known as stop sticks, to subdue it. One of the things we like most about the stop sticks is our ability to end the danger as quick as possible when it comes to these high-speed chases, Andrews said. Because it is a danger to the public ... we dont want them to go any longer than they need to and we also want to catch the people that are doing this ... putting the public (in danger) by choosing to not obey the law and pull over when theyre supposed to. Moore, of Chicago, was formally charged Wednesday in Kenosha County Circuit Court with numerous felonies including operating a vehicle without the owners consent, operating a vehicle to flee or elude officers, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession with intent to deliver narcotics and possession with intent to deliver THC. He was scheduled to make his initial appearance at Intake Court Wednesday afternoon. Mugshots: Kenosha County criminal complaints from April 22-24 Gavino Barrera Gavino Barrera, 30, of Bristol, faces charges of second degree sexual assault of a child, repeated sexual assault of a child (at least 3 violations, first or second degree), and child enticement (sexual contact). Amanda Jean Bloom Amanda Jean Bloom, 37, of Racine, faces charges of bail jumping, resisting or obstructing an officer, and retail theft (intentionally take between $500-$5,000). Rayshon Jerome Creggett Rayshon Jerome Creggett, 30, of Kenosha, faces charges of false imprisonment, battery, and disorderly conduct. Tyrone M. Gister Tyrone M. Gister, 43, of Racine, faces charges of resisting or obstructing an officer, vehicle operator flee/elude an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, bail jumping, and second degree recklessly endangering safety. Timothy Kleinke Timothy Kleinke, 53, of Pleasant Prairie, faces charges of possession of drug paraphernalia (methamphetamine), possession of methamphetamine, and resisting or obstructing an officer. Kaiona Christian Poepoe-Vigil Kaiona Christian Poepoe-Vigil, 32, of Pahrump, Nevada, faces charges of probation and parole, intimidation of a victim (domestic abuse), battery, and disorderly conduct. Who was arrested over the weekend? Here are the Kenosha County Jail booking photos for people facing possible felony charges who were booked April 22-24. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty and convicted. To follow a specific court case go to: wcca.wicourts.gov and inmate.kenoshajs.org/NewWorld.InmateInquiry/kenosha/ RACINE Heather Jirgensen graduated from the Racine Unified School District in 1991. She looked up to many of her teachers, some of whom also taught her mother. That longevity among educators is less common now. This once-respected, noble profession used to pay fair wages, which resulted in long careers that positively affected countless students and created community and consistency, Jirgensen said. Consistency is one of the strongest and most important factors in education for children. The only consistency I see now are too many stellar colleagues, including my childrens teachers, retiring early, leaving the profession or going to other school districts simply because they are fed up. During last Mondays RUSD Board meeting, Jirgensen was one of many teachers who said they are fed up and want the School Board and administration to better support teachers and thus improve student learning outcomes. You cant put students first when you put teachers last, said Jirgensen, a teacher at Olympia Brown Elementary. Matt Landry, Walden High School English teacher, noted that the working conditions of teachers equal the learning conditions of students. When teachers are frustrated, the students learning conditions are affected, Landry said. When teachers are scared and angry and feeling anxious, students learning conditions are affected. When teachers feel unappreciated and hopeless and are considering leaving the profession, you can bet students learning conditions are affected. Teacher concerns During the public comment section of the board meeting, eight RUSD teachers expressed concerns about staff pay and retention. They also requested that the School Board direct RUSD administration to meet and confer with Racine Educators United, the union representing RUSD educators, to discuss their concerns. About 20 educators rallied for 30 minutes before the meeting to raise awareness about their concerns by holding signs. A.J. Zydzik, Case High School German teacher, emphasized that these are serious, ongoing problems. I cannot stress strongly enough that none of this is posturing, none of this is grandstanding, none of this is exaggeration, Zydzik said. RUSD will lose good, caring, compassionate, competent teachers, both veteran and newer teachers, if these issues are not addressed immediately. Educators shared similar concerns during the March RUSD Board meeting. After the March meeting, Stacy Tapp, RUSD chief of communication and community engagement, wrote in an email to The Journal Times that RUSD administrators value our staff and recognize that compensation is important to all employees. Last week, public commenters again requested that the School Board approve an immediate 8% cost of living adjustment for RUSD teachers, grant a step increase to boost the pay of all teachers and educational assistants and not cut any employee benefits. In March, Tapp wrote that the RUSD board will soon consider employee compensation increases with our budget in mind and that an 8% cost of living adjustment and step increase would increase the districts structural deficit by $14 million. This Monday, Tapp wrote in an email that the Board of Education and district administration have been focused on the development of the districts 2023-24 budget and closely following the state budget in preparation for base wage rate negotiations. The district must be fiscally responsible while ensuring we offer a competitive wage and benefits package to our employees. Teachers said last week that how the district spends money shows its priorities. Because were in a school district, the priorities should be students, the classrooms, the teachers and the EAs, said Angie Kennedy, elementary teacher at Mitchell K-8 School. It has been a long time since it has felt that way. They also addressed ongoing staffing challenges. Maurizia Johnson, Wadewitz Elementary educational assistant, noted that RUSD had 73 vacancies shortly before this school year began. Those 73 vacancies were not created by accident, nor is 73 a number created out of bad luck, Johnson said. The number 73 reflects how many educators felt ignored or undervalued. Seventy-three is a deliberate number. If you want to significantly decrease this number, then you have to listen to educators. In late March, RUSD had 24 vacancies in various educational roles, according to Tapp. Meet and confer Educators noted that the RUSD Board in 2017 directed administrators to meet and confer with teachers, and they urged the board to do the same thing now. According to meeting minutes, the RUSD Board during a special meeting on Aug. 7, 2017, voted 5-4 to defer a vote on revisions to the RUSD employee handbook until the superintendent establishes an authentic, collaborative process with employees and union representatives to revise the proposed employee handbook and come back with revisions to the board. RUSD Superintendent Eric Gallien briefly responded last week after the public comments and said RUSD administration is more than willing to meet and confer with the REU. Tapp said the school district continues to meet monthly with the teachers union, and she said the most recent meeting occurred this Monday. Let us help you Zydzik often sees dispirited looks on colleagues faces and is heartbroken to see what my school has become. I see despair in staff members eyes, Zydzik said. Joy that was there has been extinguished. Its been replaced by apathy to the crumbling building around us. I see vacant stares from teachers who cannot take the immense stressors put upon us anymore, and I see the vast number of teachers who have lost faith in RUSD leadership. Were going to lose them to other professions, and were going to lose them to other districts that put a focus on retaining teaching staff and treating them with respect. Jirgensen referred to a recent statement from John Johnson, deputy state superintendent at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, where Johnson noted the years of minimal investments in K-12 education by state legislators that has resulted in Wisconsin educators either leaving the state or teaching profession. The reality is that teachers could make a lot more money working less stressful jobs in other sectors of the economy, Johnson said. And yet, our states future depends on great teachers in the classroom. Educators urged more collaboration from administrators to determine how to best serve students. It seems like our leadership is trying to go it alone into a very uncertain future, said Travis Eales, Julian Thomas Elementary dual language teacher. No one else in Racine cares more about our public schools than the teachers union does. That is all we do all the time. Let us help you. Kira Fetissoff, elementary teacher at Mitchell K-8 school, agreed. We are the ones who work with the students every day and are well-equipped with the knowledge and skills to address their unique needs, Fetissoff said. By working together, we can create a positive learning environment that puts the students at the center of everything that we do. Im confident that by investing in our education workforce, you will have a successful district. Unless teacher pay and retention are addressed, educators said the issues will negatively impact the school district in the long run. We are facing an existential crisis, said Jodi Heine, Olympia Brown speech language pathologist. Where will the district be next year? Where will it be five years from now? Ten? Will Racine Unified still exist? Please encourage Racine Unified administrations to work with us, not against us. A house divided cannot stand. Many Americans breathed a sigh of relief this month after the tax deadline passed. About a quarter of taxpayers wait until the last minute to file their taxes. But wait, were not done talking taxes. The Internal Revenue Service has been busy working on a plan for a government-operated electronic free-file tax return system. Next month, the IRS will release the first in a series of reports looking into how it might be done. The IRS is acting at the behest of Congress as part of the $80 billion infusion into agency funding over the next 10 years which was passed last summer. Part of that funding, $15 million was earmarked for the IRS to report on how it could implement a government-run free-file program and to assess how much it would cost. It gave the IRS nine months to report back. Wait a minute, dont we already have a free-file system for filing taxes? Why, yes, we do. The U.S. has had a free file system for the past 20 years. With the advent of the internet, the Office of Management and Budget asked the IRS to create a no-cost electronic tax filing option for low and moderate income taxpayers. The agency turned to business the online tax preparation industry including Intuit and H&R Blockand they set up a Free File Alliance to offer free tax preparation services. In return, the IRS agreed to pledge not to compete with the service. The tax preparer industry earns some money by up-selling taxpayers to paid programs if their returns are more complicated and by charging a small fee typically around $15 for filing state returns. In theory, the Free File system allows more than 70% of American taxpayersthose with adjusted gross income less than $73,000to prepare and file their federal income taxes at no cost. But a curious thing happened with Free File: last year only 2% of eligible Americans used it. Since it was implemented in 2003, the percentage is less 3%. This in a land that loves freebies of all shape and sort? As filmmaker Samuel Goldwyn once put it, They stayed away in droves. So whats the issue here? Tax experts say that many taxpayers are unaware of the program, although it is prominently offered on the IRS government site. Critics say the web sites of the private companies offering their services are confounding and the options can be confusing. One taxpayer advocate told Congress in 2018, Trying to navigate the Free File sites is a bit like living in the Wild, Wild West. Tax preparation companies oppose a government-run free-file system and have spent millions lobbying against it. Advocates maintain such a system would serve taxpayers well and make it easier for Americans to file. Critics are also skeptical about the federal government serving as both tax collector and tax preparer, and we share that concern. Were also worried about the cost of creating an entirely new federal bureaucracy to prepare taxes and what the price tag of that would be. Were generally loathe to create a federal program that would supplant work that can and is being done, however poorly, by the private sector. Clearly, the Free File system has gained little traction, but the solution may be to boost Americans awareness of the current Free File system by having the IRS publicize it. Or perhaps, the IRS could renegotiate its agreement with the Free File Alliance to set taxpayer participation requirements; and yes, that should be far above the current 2%. The tax industry should also work to make their web sites easier to negotiate. Well await the IRS report to see what their recommendations are, but we have a jaundiced eye toward the idea of setting up a new bureaucracy if the work can be done another way. 1. Yes. Of course. Local governmental entities have the most direct impact on our lives. 2. Yes. Its always important to weigh in on local issues; otherwise we cant complain. 3. No. Im not that familiar with the issues or the candidates this year. Ill sit it out. 4. No. My vote doesnt seem to matter much, so Im not going to make the effort. 5. Unsure. I havent decided whether to take part this time around. Vote View Results A former high school and junior high teacher at a northeast Nebraska school will stand trial for allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old male student. Cali Heikes, 26, of Winside waived her right to a preliminary hearing during a court appearance Monday in Wayne County Court. Heikes is charged with one count of first-degree sexual abuse by a school employee and two counts of third-degree sexual abuse by a school employee, all felonies. According to an arrest affidavit, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office reviewed a call to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services hotline from a mental health therapist about a possible sexual relationship between Heikes and the student. The investigating deputy recalled a January traffic stop of the student who indicated that his friend "Cali" was in a separate vehicle. The student's guardians later told investigators that the boy asked them how they would feel if he was dating a 25-year-old woman. The guardians warned the boy that such a relationship would be illegal. The student told investigators that his relationship with Heikes began around mid-December. He said they had sexual intercourse twice and physical contact on at least three other occasions. Getting away with murder: Nebraska cold cases Ann Marie Kelley Carl Bittner K.K. Kody Christi Nichols Donald Bennett Ernestine Ruschy Eugene McGuire Jay Durnil Mary Heese Gregory Moore Irvin Settje Jason Remsen Jason Vesper Brian Walker Arthur Morley Jay Blockson Jeanne Kassebaum William, Bernice and Barbara Peak Jeffrey Snoddy Joy Blanchard Demetrius Simpson Julie Derrick Leah Rowlands Letha Harley Mary Cabral Mary Cronin Merlin Mosel Mitchell Simon Patrick Vostades Rebecca Williams Richard Chadek Richard Lessley Robert Beaudoin Robert Heelan Rudolfo Flores Russell McKnight Sandy Green Sarah Neal Tyrone Banister Waddell Robinson Charles Hanks The leader of a Capitol Bible study group says carvings on the Nebraska State Capitol include Christian leaders like Moses and Solomon. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN The Nebraska Legislatures budget committee voted out a proposed state budget Tuesday that calls for an average increase of 2.3% in spending over the next two fiscal years. The proposed budget by the Appropriations Committee compares to a 1.5% increase recommended by first-year Gov. Jim Pillen. The main differences between the two proposals is that lawmakers have included an additional $80 million to increase rates for providers of Medicaid services and have upped the budget increase for the University of Nebraska system from Pillens proposed 2% to 2.5%. The proposal also includes raises for state employees negotiated by a state labor union of 7% in the first fiscal year and 5% in the second. Were providing for the states needs, State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, who chairs the Appropriations Committee, said of the budget proposal. Compromise on university funding Clements said the 2.5% increase in NUs budget was a compromise between the governors proposed 2% increase and the 3% request from the University. The higher increase in provider rates, the senator said, was needed because those who provide Medicaid services in nursing homes, hospitals and medical clinics made the case that higher salaries are needed to keep and attract workers. The provider rates would rise by 3% in 2023-24 and 2% in 2024-25, as opposed to rate changes of 2% and 0% offered by Pillen. Clements said he had not yet heard whether the governor is OK with the higher increases or if he might choose to use his veto pen. Prison, canal, environmental trust Among the highlights in the budget are the final funding for a new, $366-million prison somewhere in the Omaha/Lincoln area and setting aside $574 million to build the long-abandoned Perkins County Canal. A controversial proposal to transfer $14 million in state lottery proceeds out of the Nebraska Environmental Trust was part of the budget, as was allocating $1.5 million as seed money toward building a museum/visitors center in the unused fifth floor of the State Capitol Rotunda. Debate on the legislative budget is scheduled to begin May 3. The Appropriations Committees budget calls for spending of $5.34 billion of state funds in 2023-24 and $5.36 billion in 2024-25. Screenshot from C-SPAN of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona at a reporter breakfast in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 7, 2022. WASHINGTON U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on Tuesday said House Republicans debt limit proposal would cut vital education programs and harm vulnerable students across the U.S., such as those who are low income or have a disability. It would be taking us backwards, Cardona said on a call with reporters. U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthys plan would lift the nations borrowing capacity by $1.5 trillion or suspend it through March. It would also set discretionary spending levels during the upcoming fiscal year to last years levels, meaning at least $130 billion in spending reductions to federal agencies. McCarthy, a California Republican, plans to put the bill on the House floor as soon as Wednesday for a vote, and the administration stepped up its criticism in advance. The White House said in a Tuesday statement that President Joe Biden would veto the proposal, calling it a reckless attempt to extract extreme concessions as a condition for the United States simply paying the bills it has already incurred. Biden has said debt limit legislation should not be tied to spending reductions. Even if the bill is passed in the House, its highly unlikely to gain the 60 votes needed to move past the legislative filibuster in the Senate, where Democrats hold a slim majority. Title 1 funding, students with disabilities At least 26 million students who are low income would see Title I funding levels for their schools drop, and more than 7 million students with disabilities would be affected by cuts in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Cardona said. He added that those cuts are equivalent to eliminating 60,000 teachers for low-income students and eliminating 48,000 teachers and related services providers from the classroom for students with disabilities. The plan would also require states to return unspent pandemic funding, much of which went to helping schools reopen. Pandemic funding also provided mental health services for students. During the pandemic, students with disabilities were amongst the hardest impacted by the disruption of learning, Cardona said. The Department of Education released a state-by-state breakdown of cuts to education-related programs in the GOP plan. A senior Department of Education official said the cuts in the debt relief plan also would make it harder for students to afford higher education. Across the nation, it would mean an elimination of Pell Grants for about 80,000 students and more than 6 million Pell Grant recipients would have cuts of about $1,000 each annually, the administration said. Grants are tied to family income. The Republican proposal would also nullify the executive order Biden issued last year to cancel federal student loan debt. The bill would also prevent the agency from finalizing its income-driven repayment program, which sets a monthly repayment plan based on the borrowers income. Student loan debt Bidens executive order on student loans would cancel up to $10,000 in federal student debt for borrowers earning up to $125,000 annually, or up to $250,000 for married couples, with the boost to $20,000 in forgiveness for Pell Grant recipients. The program only applies to current borrowers, not future ones, and income levels for the 2020 and 2021 tax years would be considered. Those who have private student loans are not eligible. But the policy is currently on hold from taking effect due to two lawsuits, one from six Republican attorneys general and another by two student loan borrowers who do not qualify for the program. The Department of Education has collected more than 24 million applications for the relief program, but had to stop due to an injunction. The Supreme Court will make a decision on the policy in the coming months. Regardless of the outcome, the Department of Education announced that the pandemic-era pause on federal student loan repayments will lift on June 30, and those borrowers will be required to begin repayments either after the Supreme Courts decision or 60 days after the June deadline. Effects projected in Nebraska In Nebraska, according to the U.S. Department of Education, the debt limit proposal would: Cut approximately $17 million in Title I funding for schools serving low-income children, affecting an estimated 130,000 students and reducing program funding to its lowest level in almost a decade, a cut equivalent to removing nearly 300 teachers and specialized instructional support personnel from classrooms. Cut support for up to 53,000 children with disabilities, a cut in IDEA funding equivalent to removing approximately 300 teachers and related services providers from the classroom. Limit educators abilities to address student mental health issues, including through violence, suicide, and drug abuse prevention, by cutting Title IV, Part A funding by about $1.5 million. Cancel President Joe Bidens student debt relief plan, keeping emergency student loan relief of up to $20,000 from 97,000 approved applicants recovering from the effects of the pandemic and block the creation of new, more affordable student loan payment plans. Likely eliminate Pell Grants for 500 students and cut the maximum award by nearly $1,000 for the remaining 97,000 recipients. PLEASANT PRAIRIE Village police arrested a 32-year-old Illinois man wanted in an alleged attempt to run over an Illinois officer with a stolen SUV, after a pursuit in which he tried to elude local authorities and a police helicopter by climbing 40 feet up a tree near Springbrook Road and 93rd Street late Tuesday. Correy C. Moore was taken into custody at 10:30 p.m. as village police officers, a Kenosha County Sheriffs police dog and deputy and Kenosha police surrounded him while an Illinois State Police helicopter hovered above. The man was believed to be involved in the attempted assault on the officer with the vehicle described as a 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV, which an Illinois State Police helicopter had been monitoring and had followed into Wisconsin, according to Sgt. Derek Andrews of the Pleasant Prairie Police Department. They let us know it was coming into our area. (Pleasant Prairie) officers checked for it, Andrews said. Village police also followed the vehicle, which continued into the 6000 block of 12th Avenue, but initially lost sight of it, Andrews said. He said officers had last seen the vehicle traveling southbound on 22nd Avenue at 60th Street. Shortly afterward, they set up with spikes at 91st Street and 22nd Avenue where they managed to stop the vehicle. An officer had a good deployment of the spikes and the vehicle lost tire pressure, he said. The vehicle then lost control in the 3400 block of Springbrook Road near All Saints Cemetery and a large empty field just west of the Kenosha County Bike Trail. The driver fled the vehicle on foot, however, the state police helicopter continued to monitor the suspects movements as he ran into the field, Andrews said. They were able to watch him as he ran from the car and then climb up the tree, he said. The suspect, according to authorities at the scene, had climbed about 40 feet up the tree. They were relaying what they were seeing to us through dispatch and radio, Andrews said. Authorities then made contact with the suspect and he climbed down on his own volition, according to Andrews. He was taken into custody without further incident. The man was at a local hospital where he was being examined early Wednesday but did not appear to be injured at the scene. Thats where he is currently before hes going to be going to the jail, he said. Andrews said that during the vehicle pursuit officers observed the suspect vehicle traveling more than 90 mph on 22nd Avenue prior to setting up the spikes, also known as stop sticks, to subdue it. One of the things we like most about the stop sticks is our ability to end the danger as quick as possible when it comes to these high-speed chases, Andrews said. Because it is a danger to the public ... we dont want them to go any longer than they need to and we also want to catch the people that are doing this ... putting the public (in danger) by choosing to not obey the law and pull over when theyre supposed to. Moore, of Chicago, was formally charged Wednesday in Kenosha County Circuit Court with numerous felonies including operating a vehicle without the owners consent, operating a vehicle to flee or elude officers, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession with intent to deliver narcotics and possession with intent to deliver THC. He was scheduled to make his initial appearance at Intake Court Wednesday afternoon. Mugshots: Kenosha County criminal complaints from April 22-24 Gavino Barrera Gavino Barrera, 30, of Bristol, faces charges of second degree sexual assault of a child, repeated sexual assault of a child (at least 3 violations, first or second degree), and child enticement (sexual contact). Amanda Jean Bloom Amanda Jean Bloom, 37, of Racine, faces charges of bail jumping, resisting or obstructing an officer, and retail theft (intentionally take between $500-$5,000). Rayshon Jerome Creggett Rayshon Jerome Creggett, 30, of Kenosha, faces charges of false imprisonment, battery, and disorderly conduct. Tyrone M. Gister Tyrone M. Gister, 43, of Racine, faces charges of resisting or obstructing an officer, vehicle operator flee/elude an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, bail jumping, and second degree recklessly endangering safety. Timothy Kleinke Timothy Kleinke, 53, of Pleasant Prairie, faces charges of possession of drug paraphernalia (methamphetamine), possession of methamphetamine, and resisting or obstructing an officer. Kaiona Christian Poepoe-Vigil Kaiona Christian Poepoe-Vigil, 32, of Pahrump, Nevada, faces charges of probation and parole, intimidation of a victim (domestic abuse), battery, and disorderly conduct. Kenosha police investgate scene of Sunday homicide in 1600 block of 60th Street Secret Chinese police station in New York leads to arrests Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The Monroe County Safe Community Coalition, along with the Monroe County Human Services Department, hosted a countywide Substance Use Prevention Day on April 19 at Tomah Recreation Park. Sophomore students across Monroe County School districts attended a full day of instruction and hands-on-learning on a variety of topics relating to substance use, mental health and distracted driving. Students listened to speakers talk about vaping and tobacco usage, mental health, anxiety and depression, substance use and stories of use and recovery. They watched a safety belt simulator from the Wisconsin State Patrol which showed students how important seat belts are, even at 5 mph. Fort McCoy brought its Driving Impaired Simulator. Students wore fatal vision goggles while driving an obstacle course. The goggles gave the students the feeling as if they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs/marijuana. They were also asked to perform other types of tasks while wearing the goggles. The Tomah Police Department and Tomah Fire Department set up a mock crash and talked with students about the dangers and difficulties of extracting a person from a crash. The Tomah and Sparta ambulance services were there talking about Narcan and drug-related injuries. The Monroe County Sheriffs Office and Sparta Police Department were on site talking about gun safety and gave the students a chance to see the inside of a police car. Students rotated through these breakout sessions throughout the day ending with a keynote speaker, Melissa Duoss, pharmacist at Tomah Health. Duoss was involved in a distracted driving car accident when she was younger and shared her story of the accident and her healing journey. This event was funded by a grant received from Monroe County Human Services, Monroe County Safe Community Coalition and Mayo Clinic Health System. This event wouldnt be possible without the volunteers and support from Monroe County Safe Community Coalition, Next Steps for Change, Monroe County Department of Health, Monroe County Sheriffs Office, LaCrosse County 7Cs Health Initiative, Agents for Change, PATH, Tomah Area School District nurses, Tomah and Sparta ambulance, Fort McCoy, Tomah Police Department, Sparta Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol and Tomah Health. Organizers of Live in Viroqua announce their summer series of free outdoor live music to take place on Court Street just outside the Hotel Fortney in downtown Viroqua, Wisconsin this summer. On the first and third Saturdays of June, July, August and September, the outdoor music street series will bring Viroquas downtown to life featuring regional and nationally renowned bands and local food vendors. This series of Live in Viroqua will build on the momentum of Viroqua and Vernon County being the mecca of live music in Southwest Wisconsin. With nationally and regionally known musicians performing including Dead Horses, Armchair Boogie, Frog leg, People Brothers and much more, the schedule for Live in Viroqua on Court Street is as follows: Saturday, June 3, Armchair Boogie with Friend Dog; Saturday, June 17, Dead Horses with Crooked Willow; Saturday, July 1, Derek Pritzl and the Gamble with Humbird; Saturday, July 15, Laney Jones and the Spirits with Charlieboy; Saturday, Aug. 5, High Mileage; Saturday, Aug. 19, NEWSKI with Yawo and the Afrofunk Band; Saturday, Sept. 2, People Brothers Band with Good Morning Bedlam; Saturday, Sept. 16, Frogleg with Long Mama. We are thrilled to bring this summers music in the street series to Viroqua, says Live in Viroqua organizer Justin Miller. The idea all started with a group of like-minded cultural entrepreneurs, including local business owners, Vernon County tourism and economic development, the Viroqua Chamber Main Street, and local artists. In partnership with the City of Viroqua, individual donations and local business sponsorships, we are able to bring this 'Live in Viroqua' to life. We are more than ready to share our amazing community through quality live music to our residents and visitors. Live in Viroqua is a free summer music series with gates opening at 5pm on Court Street in front of the Historic Fortney Hotel. Music will start at 6pm and end at 9pm. Local food, beverages and vendors will be available on site. For more information on Live in Viroqua, follow the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/liveinviroqua SUDAN CAIRO Sudanese and foreigners streamed out of the capital, Khartoum, and other battle zones Tuesday as fighting shook a new three-day truce brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Aid agencies raised increasing alar mover the crumbling humanitarian situation in a country reliant on outside help. A series of short cease-fires over the past week either failed outright or brought only intermittent lulls in the fighting that has raged between forces loyal to the country's two top generals since April 15. The lulls were enough for dramatic evacuations of hundreds of foreigners by air and land, which continued Tuesday. But they brought no relief to millions of Sudanese caught in the crossfire, struggling to find food, shelter and medical care as explosions, gunfire and looters wreck their neighborhoods. In a country where a third of the population of 46 million already needed humanitarian assistance, aid agencies had to suspend operations and dozens of hospitals were forced to shut down. The U.N. refugee agency said it is gearing up for potentially tens of thousands of people fleeing into neighboring countries. Calls for negotiations to end the crisis in Africa's third-largest nation have been ignored. For many Sudanese, the departure of diplomats, aid workers and other foreigners and the closure of embassies are terrifying signs that international powers expect the mayhem to only worsen. Thousands of Sudanese have been fleeing Khartoum and its neighboring city, Omdurman. Bus stations in the capital were packed Tuesday morning with people who spent the night there in hopes of departing. Drivers increased prices, sometimes tenfold, for routes to the border crossing with Egypt or the eastern Red Sea city of Port Sudan. Fuel prices skyrocketed, to $67 a gallon from $4.20, and prices for food and water doubled in many cases, the Norwegian Refugee Council said. The new 72-hour cease-fire announced by U. S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was supposed to last until late Thursday night. The World Heath Agency expressed concern that one of the warring parties seized control of the central public health laboratory in Khartoum. "That is extremely, extremely dangerous because we have polio isolates in the lab. We have measles isolates in the lab. We have cholera isolates in the lab," Dr. Nima Saeed A bid, the WHO representative in Sudan, told a U.N. briefing in Geneva by video call from Port Sudan. At age 93, struggling with the effects of a stroke, heart failure and recurrent cancer, Teri Sheridan was ready to end her life using New Jersey's law that allows medically assisted suicide but she was bedbound, too sick to travel. So last Nov. 17, surrounded by three of her children, Sheridan drank a lethal dose of drugs prescribed by a doctor she had never met in person, only online. She died within minutes. Soon, others who seek Sheridans final option may find it out of reach, the unintended result of a federal move to roll back online prescribing of potentially addictive drugs allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic. How much should one person suffer? said Sheridans daughter, Georgene White, 68. She wanted to just go to sleep and not wake up. Online prescribing rules for controlled drugs were relaxed three years ago under emergency waivers to ensure critical medications remained available during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has proposed a rule that would reinstate most previously longstanding requirements that doctors see patients in person before prescribing narcotic drugs such as Oxycontin, amphetamines such as Adderall, and a host of other potentially dangerous drugs. The aim is to reduce improper prescribing of these drugs by telehealth companies that boomed during the pandemic. Given the ongoing opioid epidemic, allowing continued broad use of telemedicine prescribing would pose too great a risk to the public health and safety, the proposed rule said. It also cracks down on how doctors can prescribe other less-addictive drugs, like Xanax, used to treat anxiety, and buprenorphine, a narcotic used to treat opioid addiction. The rule would allow some of these drugs to be prescribed with telemedicine for an initial 30-day dose, though patients would need to be seen in person to get a refill. And patients who have been referred to a new doctor by one they had previously met in person could continue to receive prescriptions for the drugs via telemedicine. DEA Administrator Anne Milgram called the plan telemedicine with guardrails. The agency, with input from the Department of Health and Human Services, is working to finalize the rule by May 11, when the COVID public health emergency officially ends, an HHS spokeswoman said. If approved by then, the new requirements would take effect in November. The proposal has sparked a massive backlash, including more than 35,000 comments to a federal portal and calls from advocates, members of Congress and medical groups to reconsider certain patients or provisions. They completely forgot that there was a population of people who are dying, said Dr. Lonny Shavelson, a California physician who chairs the American Clinicians Academy on Medical Aid in Dying, a coalition of doctors who help patients access care under so-called right-to-die laws. Among the biggest complaints: The rule would delay or block access for patients who seek medically assisted suicide and hospice care, critics said. Many of the comments, including nearly 10,000 delivered in person to DEA offices, came from doctors and patients protesting the effect of the rule on seriously ill and dying patients. Please do not make the end of life harder for me, wrote Lynda Bluestein, 75, of Bridgeport, Connecticut. In March, Bluestein, who has terminal fallopian tube cancer, reached a settlement with the state of Vermont that will allow her to be the first non-resident to use its medically assisted suicide law. By the time shes ready to use the drugs, she expects to be too ill to travel to see a doctor in person for the prescription, she wrote. The clash between desperate patients who need treatment and DEAs efforts to bar telehealth companies from overprescribing dangerous medications was inevitable, said David Herzberg, a historian of drugs at the University of Buffalo. The balancing act is so tricky, he said. Laws in 10 states and Washington, D.C. allow dying people with a prognosis of six months or less to end their lives with a lethal combination of medications covered by the DEA rule. But such patients are often too sick to visit a doctor in person -- or they live hundreds of miles from the nearest willing and qualified provider, Shavelson said. There are similar issues for the 1.7 million Medicare recipients enrolled in hospice care in the U.S., said Judi Lund Person, who oversees regulatory compliance for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Rolling back online prescribing flexibilities could mean a dying patient would wait for days for drugs to ease pain and other symptoms. They just dont have time for that, she said. Shavelson and his colleagues called for an exception to the rule for the hundreds of patients a year who qualify for medically assisted suicide. Both the American Medical Association and the California Medical Association sent letters asking the DEA to carve out provisions for doctors prescribing the most dangerous category of drugs to patients receiving hospice or palliative care. These patients are extremely fragile and their medical conditions do not allow them to easily access a physicians office, wrote Dr. Donaldo D. Hernandez, president of the California group. Such people pose a reduced risk for abuse given their clear need for the medications. Hawaii, Wyoming lead the country in primary care doctor shortages Hawaii, Wyoming lead the country in primary care doctor shortages #46. Pennsylvania #45. Rhode Island #44. Kansas #42. Florida #41. New York #40. Maine #39. Oregon #38. Nebraska #37. Oklahoma #36. North Carolina #35. Colorado #34. Idaho #33. Utah #32. Arkansas #31. Iowa #30. South Carolina #29. Michigan #28. Tennessee #26. Wisconsin #25. California #24. Nevada #22. Missouri #21. Ohio #20. Georgia #18. Kentucky #16. Illinois #15. Texas #14. Arizona #12. Minnesota #10. Alaska #9. Mississippi #8. Alabama #7. South Dakota #6. Louisiana #5. Washington #3. New Mexico #2. Wyoming #1. Hawaii BURLINGTON John Davies is still waiting for the future to catch up with him. The Burlington homeowner was ahead of his time in 2009 when he installed a solar energy system in his front yard, generating enough electricity to power his entire house. Not only does Davies not receive an electric bill most months, the utility company often sends him money, because he produces more electricity than he can use. Few people in Burlington had converted to solar energy when Davies unveiled his sunshine-absorbing panels on Conkey Street. Nearly 15 years later, not many have followed the 60-year-old retiree down that environmentally friendly path. But alternative energy proponents say solar finally is building momentum in Wisconsin, as the rate of homeowner conversions has tripled in recent years, now at about 2,300 homes annually. Davies feels satisfaction in knowing that he has done his part, not only to help the environment but also to demonstrate the potential for solar-powered houses in Racine County. Im happy that I did it, he said. People have got to see it to see that its real. Neighbors on Conkey Street have grown accustomed to the solar energy system standing about 15 feet tall on Davies front lawn. Situated at the corner of Conkey and Reynolds Avenue, the house is in a residential area just south of Downtown Burlington. Bill Rysdam, who lives across the street, said plenty of people in the neighborhood talk about the solar panels. But there is no complaining, he said, especially not after so many years. Rysdam said he even has considered going solar himself, although at age 84, he is not ready for such a lifestyle change. Im too stubborn and mule-headed, he said. But I think its a great thing. Solar-powered houses collect solar energy with their outdoor displays, or arrays, and they generate electricity that goes to the power grid operated by utility companies, including Milwaukee-based We Energies. The utility company then credits homeowners for whatever energy they produce, and adjusts their their monthly electric bills accordingly. Renew Wisconsin, a nonprofit group promoting alternative energy, estimates that 15,000 homeowners statewide have gone solar, generating a combined 90 million watts of electricity by harnessing the natural energy of the sun. Sam Dunaiski, executive director of Renew Wisconsin, said federal tax credits approved by the Biden administration currently pay about 30% of a homeowners upfront cost of installing solar panels. The climate for promoting solar in Wisconsin, Dunaiski said, could be improved further with state legislative and regulatory changes, such as allowing homeowners to lease their systems rather than purchase. We would just like to see that situation remedied, he said. Davies, who grew up in Burlington and graduated from Burlington High School in 1980, became fascinated with solar power in college. After purchasing his house at 356 Conkey St. in 2007, he decided to take the plunge. He spent $25,000, of which half was refunded to him through government incentives that existed at the time. Burlington city officials approved the solar house possibly the citys first, according to Davies but they required Davies and his contractor to erect solar panels on the ground rather than on the roof. City officials at the time seemed uncertain about the concept of residential solar power, Davies said. They were dumbfounded, he said. The solar array planted in his front yard includes 12 individual panels, each capable of generating 200 watts of electricity. Mounted on a heavy pole, the apparatus rotates so it always is facing toward the sun. The combined 2,400 watts is enough on many days to power Davies entire two-story house, where he lives alone. The retired industrial electrician from the Nestle chocolate plant in Burlington calculates that he has saved about $5,000 in unpaid electric bills over the years. With surplus electricity sold to We Energies, he receives credits ranging from $10 to $45 a month. We Energies spokesman Brendan Conway said the number of new residential solar connections annually in the companys service region has jumped from 200 to more than 1,000 in the past five years. Conway also said We Energies pays more than any other utility in the state when it comes to rebating customers for solar power sent to the grid. The interest in solar is growing, he said. And we are supportive of these projects. Solar arrays on the market today are more powerful and efficient than what Davies bought in 2009, and they cost about one-fourth what he paid. Looking around his neighborhood, Davies admits to being disappointed that more neighbors have not joined him with solar-powered houses. If Wisconsin permitted leasing solar arrays like Illinois does, he said, there probably would be solar panels on every roof around. Davies cited government and industry opposition for slowing the growth of solar energy, in part because of apprehension that leased systems take more effort to implement. It gets more complicated, he said. So its complicated? Its better for the environment. PLEASANT PRAIRIE Village police arrested a man wanted in an alleged attempt to run over an Illinois officer with a stolen SUV, after a pursuit in which he tried to elude local authorities and a police helicopter by climbing 40 feet up a tree near Springbrook Road and 93rd Street late Tuesday. The man was taken into custody at 10:30 p.m. as village police officers, a Kenosha County Sheriffs police dog and deputy and Kenosha Police surrounded him while an Illinois State Police helicopter hovered above. The man was believed to be involved in the attempted assault on the officer with the vehicle described as a 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV, which an Illinois State Police helicopter had been monitoring and had followed into Wisconsin, according to Sgt. Derek Andrews of the Pleasant Prairie Police Department. They let us know it was coming into our area. (Pleasant Prairie) officers checked for it, said Andrews. Village police also followed the vehicle, which continued into the 6000 block of 12th Avenue, but initially lost sight of it, he said. He said officers had last seen the vehicle traveling southbound on 22nd Avenue at 60th Street. Shortly afterward, they set up with spikes at 91st Street and 22nd Avenue where they managed to stop the vehicle. An officer had a good deployment of the spikes and the vehicle lost tire pressure, he said. The vehicle then lost control in the 3400 block of Springbrook Road near All Saints Cemetery and a large empty field just west of the Kenosha County Bike Trail. The driver fled the vehicle on foot, however, the state police helicopter continued to monitor the suspects movements as he ran into the field, Andrews said. They were able to watch him as he ran from the car and then climb up the tree, he said. The suspect, according to authorities at the scene, had climbed about 40 feet up the tree. They were relaying what they were seeing to us through dispatch and radio, Andrews said. Authorities then made contact with the suspect and he climbed down on his own volition, according to Andrews. He was taken into custody without further incident. The man was at a local hospital where he was being examined early Wednesday but did not appear to be injured at the scene. Thats where he is currently before hes going to be going to the jail, he said. Andrews said that during the vehicle pursuit officers observed the suspect vehicle traveling more than 90 mph on 22nd Avenue prior to setting up the spikes, also known as stop sticks, to subdue it. One of the things we like most about the stop sticks is our ability to end the danger as quick as possible when it comes to these high-speed chases, Andrews said. Because it is a danger to the public ... we dont want them to go any longer than they need to and we also want to catch the people that are doing this ... putting the public (in danger) by choosing to not obey the law and pull over when theyre supposed to. Mugshots: Kenosha County criminal complaints from April 22-24 Gavino Barrera Gavino Barrera, 30, of Bristol, faces charges of second degree sexual assault of a child, repeated sexual assault of a child (at least 3 violations, first or second degree), and child enticement (sexual contact). Amanda Jean Bloom Amanda Jean Bloom, 37, of Racine, faces charges of bail jumping, resisting or obstructing an officer, and retail theft (intentionally take between $500-$5,000). Rayshon Jerome Creggett Rayshon Jerome Creggett, 30, of Kenosha, faces charges of false imprisonment, battery, and disorderly conduct. Tyrone M. Gister Tyrone M. Gister, 43, of Racine, faces charges of resisting or obstructing an officer, vehicle operator flee/elude an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, bail jumping, and second degree recklessly endangering safety. Timothy Kleinke Timothy Kleinke, 53, of Pleasant Prairie, faces charges of possession of drug paraphernalia (methamphetamine), possession of methamphetamine, and resisting or obstructing an officer. Kaiona Christian Poepoe-Vigil Kaiona Christian Poepoe-Vigil, 32, of Pahrump, Nevada, faces charges of probation and parole, intimidation of a victim (domestic abuse), battery, and disorderly conduct. Kenosha police investgate scene of Sunday homicide in 1600 block of 60th Street The Dane County Sheriff's Office is warning area residents of a telephone scammer posing as a local deputy demanding payment for an arrest warrant. A Madison woman contacted the sheriff's office Monday after receiving a call from an unidentified man claiming to be a deputy. The caller demanded she come to Madison's Public Safety Building with $4,000 in cash to pay for a warrant out for her arrest, according to the sheriff's office. After receiving the call, the woman contacted the sheriff's office to confirm it was a scam. "Please be aware that law enforcement will never request money over the telephone or by email," according to a news release from Dane County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Elise Schaffer. "These scammers often sound very legitimate and can spoof telephone numbers of the actual law enforcement agency, making the vetting even more difficult." Officials say some telltale signs of a telephone scam include; not initiating the call; being asked to confirm personal information; being asked to pay with gift cards or pressure to not hang up and pay quickly; and threats. Anyone who receives a potential scam call is asked to hang up and report the call to local law enforcement. Photos: F-35 fighter jet at the Wisconsin Air National Guards 115th Fighter Wing The Republican-led Assembly on Tuesday passed several measures to reduce unemployment benefits in Wisconsin, a response to the states ongoing labor shortage and Wisconsinites approving a nonbinding measure calling for people receiving taxpayer-funded benefits to work or seek work. The Assembly also approved a GOP measure that would require Wisconsinites receiving public health care assistance through BadgerCare Plus to renew their status with the state every six months, instead of automatically reenrolling in the system. The unemployment and health care measures that passed Tuesday mirror bills that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers vetoed last legislative session. Its likely Evers will veto the measures again. But before the session, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, urged the governor not to, pointing toward a nonbinding referendum that 78% of Wisconsin voters approved, which asked voters, Shall able-bodied childless adults be required to look for work in order to receive taxpayer-funded welfare benefits? Hopefully, Gov. Evers looks at the results of what happened around the state, realizes that he should have probably signed them before and that most of these bills should be bipartisan, Vos said. I hope all of them would be. All of the measures passed with all Republicans present in favor and all Democrats against. The bills now head to the Senate. Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, said lawmakers shouldnt cut unemployment benefits but instead address workforce challenges by passing affordable child care policies and expanding low-income housing and paid family leave. Bill opponents said the April referendum, focusing on welfare programs, had nothing to do with the bills before the Assembly on Tuesday, which relate to an insurance program. Whats proposed Among the passed bills, AB 147 would update the Wisconsin laws outlining the conditions for people to be fired from their jobs for misconduct, temporarily eliminating them from unemployment benefit eligibility. Under the bill, those conditions for misconduct also would include the destruction of an employers records, theft or unauthorized possession of property, a violation of the employers absenteeism policy or a violation of the employers social media policy. AB 149 would require employers to inform the state workforce department of any ineligibility questions when notified of a claim for unemployment insurance. The bill would require the workforce development agency to consider reports of an individual declining a job offer or failing to attend a scheduled interview when determining a claimants eligibility for benefits. AB 150 would change references to unemployment insurance in state statutes to reemployment assistance. The bill also would require the Department of Workforce Development to enforce federal drug testing requirements for individuals claiming unemployment benefits in certain occupations. An individual who fails a drug test would be ineligible for benefits until certain requalification criteria are satisfied or unless he or she enrolls in a substance abuse treatment program and undergoes a job skills assessment, and a claimant who declines to submit to a test is simply ineligible for benefits until he or she requalifies, according to the bill. Under the bill, DWD would have to create rules identifying occupations for which drug testing is required. Another measure, AB 152, would make various changes to how DWD operates, including requiring benefits claimants to provide proof of identity when filing an initial unemployment insurance claim. The bill also would require DWD to expand call center hours if the volume of calls received increases dramatically. Lawmakers didnt vote, however, on another bill scheduled for Tuesdays session, AB 153, which would tie the number of weekly unemployment benefits an individual could receive to the states overall unemployment rate. Currently, an individual can receive up to $370 in weekly state unemployment benefits for 26 weeks. Under the bill, the maximum number of weeks a claimant could receive benefits would be based on the states unemployment rate. Claimants would receive 26 weeks of benefits if the state unemployment rate was greater than 9%, while the number of weekly benefits would be reduced to as few as 14 weeks if the rate was at 3.5% or lower. BadgerCare Plus Proponents of the bill to update BadgerCare Plus, AB 148, say the changes aim to reduce the number of ineligible individuals receiving public benefits and reduce state spending. More than 1.6 million Wisconsinites are enrolled in BadgerCare or Medicaid programs, which are provided to low-income, pregnant, disabled and elderly individuals, according to state data. The bill, which now heads to the Senate, would bar the Department of Health Services from automatically renewing eligibility for BadgerCare recipients. DHS also would have to determine an individuals eligibility every six months and would be prohibited from filling out eligibility forms for recipients in advance. In addition, any BadgerCare recipient who fails to timely report to DHS any changes that may affect their eligibility would become ineligible for benefits for six months. Evers vetoed a similar bill in April 2022, writing in a veto message at the time that individuals who otherwise meet existing eligibility criteria are entitled to these program benefits under federal law. The provisions of AB 148 are out of compliance with current federal regulations and would jeopardize Wisconsins ability to draw down both regular and enhanced federal funds for the Medicaid program, Department of Health Services Legislative Director HJ Waukau wrote in testimony about the bill. Mankato Free Press. April 21, 2023. Editorial: Legislature: DFL must aim for middle on tax cuts, increases Sound tax and spending policies for any government should revolve around principles of equity, economic efficiency, economic growth and having those who benefit from a service pay at least part of the costs. DFL plans for tax cuts and tax increases hit the mark in some cases and miss in others on these measures. The House DFL majority released its major tax and spending plan this week that calls for higher income taxes on the wealthy and corporations, and tax cuts and credits for families with children and lower income taxpayers as well as renters. Its hard to argue with the equity effort. It enhances Minnesotas already progressive tax system, increasing the tax rate on couples with $1 million or more in income to 10.85% on earnings over $1 million, up from 9.85%. That would hit about 24,000 filers (0.8%) with an additional $9,000 in taxes. On the other end of the income spectrum, the House DFL proposals calls for $1,200 per child tax credits reducing a tax bill dollar for dollar for families with $35,000 of adjusted gross income and phase out completely for those with $70,000 of income. That would cost the state about $360 million a year and would be aimed at the lowest income Minnesotans. The tax on the wealthy and corporations would bring in an about $500 million a year. Those new corporate taxes also rely on taxing foreign income of domestic corporations, a calculation that is fraught with complexity and may be problematic. The child tax credit was designed to replicate the federal COVID child credit, which has expired but was credited with bringing down childhood poverty by some 50%. The Minnesota credit is estimated to bring down childhood poverty by 25%. We put a high value on eliminating childhood poverty. Research shows that society bears much lower costs for everything from food stamp programs to incarceration rates if it keeps children healthy and safe when they are young. Healthy children grow into productive, tax-paying adults. The elimination of state taxes on Social Security benefits is likely to be a point of negotiation We have favored completely eliminating the tax. It will make Minnesota more competitive with the 39 other states that have eliminated the tax. Above all, the Legislature should not spend one-time surplus money for ongoing expenses. The bulk of the surplus was born of higher corporate and income taxes and lower spending in schools and expensive health care programs due to federal COVID aid. Were not likely to see those economic circumstances again anytime soon. A centrist, moderate approach to tax cuts and tax increases would be best. Minneapolis Star Tribune. April 24, 2023. Editorial: Expand gun laws in Minnesota and save lives The state needs both expanded background checks and a red flag law to combat gun violence. Minnesota is closer than its ever been to having expanded background checks and a red flag law that could curb gun use in domestic violence incidents and other situations. But close isnt good enough. Negotiations appear to be at a critical juncture in the state Senate, where previous gun reform bills have died at the hands of GOP majority. DFLers now have a one-vote margin, but support among a few rural members appears to be questionable, and the defection of even a single DFL senator could tank the vote in the face of solid GOP opposition. Gun rights advocates and Republicans have been particularly critical of the red flag legislation, also known as extreme risk protection orders, which would allow guns to be temporarily removed from those found by a court to be a danger to themselves or others. Domestic violence calls can be some of the most dangerous calls that law enforcement goes out on. Pope County Deputy Sheriff Josh Owen, who was buried on Saturday, was shot and killed while responding to such a call. He left behind a wife and son. Add one more death to the toll exacted in this country by domestic violence incidents in which one partner has access to firearms. Would a red flag law necessarily have spared Owens life? Well never know. But at least there would have been a chance. Some 20 states now have red flag laws, including Florida. Another 13 states have proposed them. Adoption of such laws has been driven largely by some horrifying statistics: On average, 70 women are shot and killed by an intimate partner every month. Expanded background checks that would include handguns and semi-automatic, assault-style weapons, are also necessary. Polls have found that more than 90% of Americans support universal background checks. Legislators need to think about that, too. How long before we have votes that reflect majority positions? Even apart from domestic violence and mass shootings, the proliferation of guns has made us a country awash in increasingly routine gun violence. A teen in Kansas City, Mo., rings the wrong doorbell while trying to pick up his siblings and is shot to death by the 84-year-old homeowner. A cheerleader in Texas is shot and killed for attempting to enter the wrong car after practice. A young woman in upstate New York was recently shot and killed after turning into the wrong driveway in an attempt to find a friends house. She never even got out of the car. In last weeks State of the State speech, Gov. Tim Walz delivered a message that Minnesota legislators should heed as they consider their votes. Im not just a veteran or a hunter, or a gun owner, he said. Im a dad. And for many years I was a teacher. I know that theres no place for weapons of war in our schools, or in our churches, or in our banks, or anywhere else people are just trying to live their lives without fear. Lets be really honest, he said. Were just used to being bullied by the gun lobby. But, you know what? I got an A rating from the NRA my first term in Congress. Now I get straight Fs. And I sleep just fine. And Im not going to let anyone hide behind thoughts and prayers when what we need is action now. How did we ever get to the point where citizens can go armed to the teeth to attend a committee hearing at the Capitol? Where lawmakers brag about packing heat in the course of their daily jobs, which include interacting with the public? Michigan, which like Minnesota has a Democratic trifecta, has already adopted universal background checks and gun storage requirements this year, and a red flag bill is headed to Gov. Gretchen Whitmers desk. But those and other planned reforms come in the wake of a terrible tragedy: A gunman opened fire on the Michigan State University main campus in East Lansing earlier this year, shooting eight students and killing three of them. He later died of a self-inflicted gunshot, proof that he indeed was a danger to himself and others. Walz in his address made a bold prediction, while also serving notice to fellow Democrats: Weve got a gun safety bill on the table, he said. And were going to get it passed. And Im gonna sign it. Were going to have universal background checks. Were going to have a red flag law to keep guns out of the wrong hands. And if anyone in America doubts that we can take meaningful action to protect our kids, Ive got two words for you: Watch us. In Minnesota and across the country, too many lives have been lost to gunfire by those who never should have had easy access to firearms. Lets not wait for the next tragedy. END News Vietnam Ung Hoa added to Hanoi's second airport planning MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minneapolis NAACP sued the city of Minneapolis on Wednesday over allegations that police officers used phony social media accounts to spy on activists without a legitimate public safety purpose. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges that the Minneapolis Police Department discriminated against the NAACP and violated its members constitutional rights when it singled out the organization for surveillance on the basis of race. These are accounts that are supposed to be used for official investigations. There were none, Liliana Zaragoza, director of the University of Minnesotas Racial Justice Law Clinic and attorney for the NAACP, told the Star Tribune. City officials told reporters they couldnt find evidence to support the social media allegations. Our findings are correct, Lucero insisted at the same news conference. MPD uses covert social media to target Black leaders, Black organizations and elected officials without a public safety objective. That remains true. Minneapolis and state leaders have declined to release the underlying evidence, citing data privacy laws. Zaragoza said the city ignored the NAACP's request for the data, leaving Black community members to only guess as to how deep the surveillance has gone. We dont how sinister this is, she told the newspaper. The NAACP hopes to learn the full extent of the surveillance through the lawsuit's discovery process, including the names of officers and whether any social media spying translated to any real-life action. The city has not yet been served with the lawsuit, spokeswoman Sarah McKenzie said. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Minnesota a state where it is already easy to vote is moving make it even easier, countering the national trend of states imposing further restrictions on balloting. The Minnesota Senate was set Wednesday to debate an elections bill that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register so they can vote as soon as they are old enough, and establish automatic registration when residents apply for or renew driver's licenses or sign up for Medicaid and other public programs. At a news conference ahead of the debate, Democratic Secretary of State Steve Simon called it a once in a generation opportunity to strengthen democracy. Simon pointed out that Minnesota 50 years ago became one of the first states to pass Election Day voter registration at the polls. He said he still views that as the jewel in the crown of a system that consistently makes Minnesota a national leader in voter turnout. Minnesota adopted another major set of changes 10 years ago, he said, listing online voter registration and allowing everyone to vote by absentee ballot without needing to provide an excuse. But this bill really is up there," Simon said. "If there was a Mount Rushmore for election reform bills in the history of Minnesota going back beyond 1973, this would be on it. The experience of other states shows that pre-registration makes young people more likely to vote the first time they become eligible and raises the chance that voting will become a lifelong habit, Simon said. And he said automatic registration will build on legislation enacted earlier this year, to restore the voting rights of felons when they leave prison, by making them more likely to exercise that right. We are setting an example, said Democratic Sen. Liz Boldon, of Rochester, the lead Senate author. We are leading the way. The bill, dubbed the Democracy for the People Act, passed the House on a party-line vote two weeks ago. The lead Republican on the House Elections Committee, Rep. Paul Torkelson, of Hanska, said at the time that it struck him more as a bill for ensuring Democratic Party victories. He said it violated a longstanding tradition in the Minnesota Legislature that election bills should be bipartisan to advance. We know that many of our citizens are questioning the validity and the authenticity of our elections," Torkelson said at a news conference. "The work we do here should increase their confidence that our elections are being run fairly. And we don't believe that anything in this bill increases that public confidence. The bill was last on the Senate's agenda for the day, and sponsors said they expected the debate to go late into the night. While Senate Democrats hold just a one-vote majority, they expressed confidence that it would pass. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is expected to sign it once it reaches his desk. Democratic Senate Elections Committee Chair Jim Carlson, of Eagan, said bill also seeks to shed more light on money and politics with increased disclosure requirements. It also includes criminal penalties for intimidation of voters and interference with voting. What we've seen over the past couple of years, and what we have seen over the last couple of months, it's really that states across the country are making a choice," said Democratic Rep. Emma Greenman, of Minneapolis, the lead author in the House. "They're choosing between a thriving multiracial, multigenerational, multiregional democracy, or they're choosing something else. Greenman listed gerrymandering, restrictions on ballot access and expulsions of duly elected legislators as examples of what red states are doing. "In Minnesota we are choosing something different, she said. Nestled in the corner of Levee Park in Winona, the Boat House Restaurant is sailing into its 10-year anniversary in May. Since 2013, the Boat House has been known for being the only riverfront restaurant in town with a view of the Mississippi River. Its also known for its house-made dishes and drinks, which owner Lyon Smith said are inspired by family, friends and a love of the river. Smith said he and his former partners cooked up the idea of opening a restaurant after they had gotten into the tradition of having weekly dinner parties, often hosted at Smiths downtown studio. He and his friends would take turns cooking and choosing a theme for the cuisine each week. But Smiths initial love for food and cooking was passed down from his grandfather, Leo Buster Smith, who was a chef on a U.S. Navy ship in World War II and cooked for thousands of people daily. When Smiths grandfather came home to Winona, he brought with him his love of cooking and shared his talent during family gatherings. Thats the kind of environment we wanted to create, Smith said. A public place for people to gather, and to share that family experience and river culture. Smiths love for the river came from days spent fishing and cooking with friends at his aunts cabin along the river which is also where the restaurants popular fish tacos were first made. To honor that memory and inspiration, that same cabin is pictured in the Boat House logo. We wanted it to feel like going to somebodys cabin on the river which is a very friendly environment, Smith said. But it hasnt always been clear skies for the small business. Boat House manager Victoria Piotter said that there were plenty of trials and tribulations of running a small business during the COVID-19 pandemic. At times, the restrictions meant adapting daily, she said. It took a lot of strength and determination to get where we are now and we couldnt have done it without our loyal customers, Piotter said. Im proud of us and our Boat House family. Smith and Piotter plan to host a celebratory event at the Boat House in May to commemorate 10 years of hard work. They plan to provide live music and special dishes not found on the main menu. Additional information for the event will be posted on the Boat House Facebook page, along with an official date. We are so thankful to be able to share what we love with others, Piotter said. Thats rewarding. The Minnesota Department of Transportation seeks comments and ideas from the public on its upcoming construction project for Highway 43 through Winona. The project, set to begin in 2028, will provide improvements to Highway 43 from Mankato Avenue to the Mississippi River in Winona. The project area of Highway 43 includes E. Sarnia Street, Main Street near Winona State University, and E. Fourth Street in the city. Planned improvements include resurfacing, reconstruction of sidewalks and curb ramps to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, improvements to bicyclists mobility and safety, as well as improving safety and traffic flow at several intersections. People wishing to submit comments and ideas can go to the state transportation departments project website. There, viewers will find the project map and also be able to provide feedback on how they use the road, what works well, what needs improvement, and any other considerations to be considered by project engineers as they develop a plan. Now is the time for your voice to be heard because were in the early stages of the project where we are going to develop design alternatives for improving this corridor and want to be sure weve heard from people who use the road, said Chad Hanson, project lead for the department. Hanson said in addition to the online public comments, officials from the department will meet with the public, the city of Winona, Winona County and Winona State University. Anytime you can engage with the public and find out issues that you maybe didnt know about or see, its a good thing, said Winona Public Works Director Brian DeFrang. It would definitely be nice to see comments of regular users of that route on what they see in daily life there. Public open house meetings will be scheduled this year as the project develops, providing an opportunity in-person to offer feedback to the initially developed designs. Mike Dougherty, director of Communications and Public Engagement for the Minnesota Department of Transportation in Rochester, encourages folks to stay connected to the projects development by signing up for email or text message updates. Theres not an opportunity to go back and readjust things most of the time. Thats why were really doing a push for outreach now, Dougherty said. If theres something that they think should be considered or even just telling us how people use that road or whats important to them, its good because that gets factored into the discussions as we develop the plan. The department would like to receive comments via its website through May 12. Winona is a very engaged community, Dougherty said. I feel like a lot of folks have a really sharp perspective. They know traffic issues or theyre bike advocates, and they bring forth those ideas, and thats what were looking for. While providing comments doesnt guarantee an idea will be a part of the project, Dougherty said, having the department be both aware and understanding of an idea creates a better chance for it to go into the project. The final designs for the 2028 project will be presented to the community around August. To submit comments or ideas to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, visit talk.dot.state.mn.us/hwy-43-winona. The information presented here is subject to change. To have an event appear in this column, email us at newsroom@lakegenevanews.net. Dont miss it! Restaurant Week 2023 Now through April 30 at 30 eateries throughout the Lake Geneva area, www.visitlakegeneva.com/lake-geneva-restaurant-week. Each participating restaurant will feature special menu choices at promotional pricing. Diners can also vote for the charity they want to receive donations. The top vote getter will receive a $5,000 gift, while five runners-up will collect $1,000 each. As for the restaurants, participants include Guac Star, House of Bogini, Pier 290, Magpies Den & Pen, 1878 on the Lake, Sopra, Next Door Pub & Pizzeria and Popeyes on Lake Geneva. Go online for full list and more details. Womens Weekend Lake Geneva 2023 April 28-30, check in at the Riviera, 812 Wrigley Drive, Lake Geneva, www.eventbrite.com/e/womens-weekend-lake-geneva-2023-tickets-417576220717?aff=VisitLG. Tickets: $25 general admission, plus extra fees for add-ons. Sales end April 25. A three-day blend of learning, wellness, relaxation, pampering, shopping, food and drinks under a groovy 1960s/70s theme. Activities include a kick-off party at the Riviera, a pub crawl, brewery tour, boat cruise on Geneva Lake and more. Go to Eventbrite.com page for more about activities. TFI Friday Comedy Night Friday, April 28, bar and restaurant open 6 p.m., doors open 7 p.m., starts 8 p.m., Lake Geneva House of Music, N3241 County Road H, Town of Geneva, lghom.com. Tickets: $15 advance, $20 day of. Laura Struve hosts a show with comedians Aaron Clark, Syed, William Krolowitz and Rich DAmore. Lakeside Laughs Comedy Night at the Abbey Resort April 28, 7 p.m., The Abbey Resort, 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana. Tickets: $20 per person. Hosted by Jose Montero, featuring comedians from the Chicago and Milwaukee areas. 40 Years and Counting: History of Geneva Lake Museum Tuesday, May 2, 2 p.m., Geneva Lake Museum, 255 Mill St., Lake Geneva. Cost: $8. Helen Brandt, who has been with the museum since its beginning, will lead guests on a journey through the first 40 years of the museum. Reservations required. Email staff@genevalakemuseum.org or call 262-248-6060. Spring Boat Show Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Gage Marine Lakefront Showroom, 1 Liechty Drive, Williams Bay. See some new boats, check out some sales and take some test drives. Guests can also enter to win prizes. Let Gage know youre coming by registering at www.gageboats.com/spring-boat-show. RSVP to receive lunch at Pier 290. More details online. Cinco De Mayo Block Party May 6, noon-5 p.m., North Walworth Street in downtown Williams Bay. Pinatas, local food vendors, games, giveaways and special performances by DJ Reef, Mariachi Latino, Flor de Canela folkloric dance group and more are planned for this new event sponsored by the Williams Bay Business Association. The first 100 people at the event will be entered to win an iPad, according to the Cinco De Mayo Facebook profile. Kentucky Derby Party May 6, 1:30 p.m., Maxwell Mansion, 304 S. Wells St., Lake Geneva, staymaxwell.com. Wear your biggest hats and bowties to get ready for an afternoon of watching the races at Maxwell Mansion. Prizes will be awarded to the Best Couple, Best Best Hat and the two Best Dressed. Signature Derby cocktails will be served. Kentucky Derby Dinner Train May 6, 3:30 p.m., East Troy Electric Railroad, 2002 Church St., East Troy. Cost: $99. Dinner will be served on the train, with guests watching the race live at the Depot. Menu includes Southern Pimento Cheese Spread for hors doeuvres, a salad course, Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders, Shrimp & Smoked Grits and Dirty Derby Bread Pudding. From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., back at the depot for the race, there will be Brown Sugar Southern Chicken Bites, Bacon Deviled Eggs and Andouille Tart. To purchase tickets, go to easttroyrr.org/dinner-trains.html. Live comedy May 6, shows at 5 and 7 p.m., The Bottle Shop, 617 W. Main St., Lake Geneva. Tickets: $25 plus tax. Featuring Riley Cosgrove, Dan Cassilgario and Sohrab Forouzesh. Ages 21 and older show only. Strong language. Call 262-348-9463 for tickets. Calendar An Evening with Maggie Ginsberg April 26, 6-7:30 p.m., Lake Geneva Public Library, 918 W. Main St., Lake Geneva. The author will conduct a reading and book signing of her latest, Still True. Copies will be available to purchase. American Legion Open House April 29, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Frank Kresen Post 24, 735 Henry St., Lake Geneva. The post is hosting an open house in conjunction with a nationwide program. Free hot dogs, cookies and coffee, plus the bar will be open to purchase other refreshments. Email the post at post24adj@gmail.com for more information. Nora Fleming signing Thursday, May 4, 4-6 p.m., Brick & Mortar Home, 832 Geneva St., Lake Geneva. Meet Nora and choose from the newest pinstripe platters and base pieces for her to sign. There will be a raffle, refreshments and more. Call 262-249-0210 to pre-order a platter or base piece for Nora to sign. Visit the Nora Fleming Signing Event Facebook page for more details. Senior Travel Club meeting Friday, May 5, 9-11 a.m., Como Community Church, W3901 Palmer Road, Town of Geneva. Members can sign up for future club trips. Call 480-463-6782 or Judy LaBianco at 262-245-6792 for more details. Planning Ahead Series Starts May 5, at 1 p.m., Aram Public Library, 404 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan. Seven-part series about planning for health future with Amanda Kossman, Human Development & Relationships Educator with the Walworth County Extension office. May 5 session: Choices in End of Life Care. Program for ages 18 and older, no registration required. Who's playing Elkhorn's DAS Fest USA this year? Red Hot Chilli Pipers Alex Meixner The Gebel Girls Ed Wagner Brass Band Jenny Hundt JFK the Band Copper Box The Happy Players Dirndolls Petty Union The answer to the headline, of course, is none other than Bikini Bottom's most beloved yellow sponge, the pineapple-dwelling SpongeBob SquarePants. The fanciful undersea fantasy world of tropical Bikini Bottom will come to colorful life in Williams Bay on April 27-28 as Williams Bay Middle School presents "The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition." Performances of the musical comedy, presented through licensure with Concord Theatricals, will be held Thursday, April 27, and Friday, April 28, 7 p.m., in the Lecture Center at Williams Bay Middle School-High School, 500 W. Geneva St. (State Hwy. 67), Williams Bay. Tickets are $5 at the door. This one-hour youth edition of the hit Tony Award-nominated "SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical," specially tailored for young actors, features such popular series characters as namesake SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, Squidward Q. Tentacles, Sheldon J. Plankton, Eugene Krabs, Patchy the Pirate, Mrs. Puff and Gary the Snail, among others. The musical production, conceived by Tina Landau, is based on the animated hit Nickelodeon TV series "SpongeBob SquarePants" by Stephen Hillenburg. Show-goers are invited to plunge into ocean depths with this stunning all-singing, all-dancing, dynamic stage show. When the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home town, SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world. With lives hanging in the balance and all hope lost, a most unexpected hero rises up and shows that the power of optimism really can save the world. Cast members are Spongebob Squarepants, Josh LeBaron; Patrick Star, Keller Cook; Sandy Cheeks, Ciara Benitez; Squidward Q. Tentacles:, Sophia Howarth-Yonkee; Sheldon J. Plankton, Liam Beth; Karen Plankton, Izzy Chamberlain; Mr. Eugene Krabs, Cameron Keith; Pearl Krab,: Gracie Pils; TV reporter Perch Perkins, Elena Walker; Bikini Bottom Mayor, Dex Straubel; Larry the Lobster and Cowboy Fish, Zach Scott; Old Man Jenkins and Cowboy Fish, Nick Gonza; Electric Skates Angie Tejeda, Skye Virgin and Elena Walker; Sardines and Sea Anemones Amelia Coulmann, Sasha Koledova and Kaydence Warrenburg; BFF Letters Jose Espinoza, Degarya Sumiejski and Kyra Frederick; and French Narrator, Samantha Thompson. Members of the backstage crew are Brooke Peyer, Lauryn Sikes, Connor Lindloff, Nicholas Kwiatkowski, Aubree Kunes, Will Sorensen, Elliana Borgen and Nanao Tsuruta. Comprising the production crew are Williams Bay Middle School choral music teacher Jessica Miles, director; Samantha Thompson and Piper Janssen, student directors; Colleen Walker, choreographer; Jessica Miles and Jacob White; set design and construction; Libby Anhold, sound technician; Drey Toro, lighting; Jessica Miles, Brooke Peyer Piper Janssen, costumes and makeup; Darla Thiel, photographer; and Denise Durkin,, posters and programs. "These students have worked so incredibly hard on this show since they received their scripts in February," Miles said. "They have really adopted their character's personality and brought it to life on stage. This is probably one of the funniest and most entertaining shows I have seen at a school. There are so many funny moments ... Josh LeBaron and Keller Cook are the perfect Spongebob and Patrick and they will make the audience laugh with their best friend chemistry." Miles said extra-curricular activities like plays and musical productions help provide participating Williams Bay Middle School students with a more well-balanced educational experience. "We have a lot of students in the cast this year who are not involved with the arts during the school day as well as have never been in a show before," Miles said. "Being involved in the arts in any shape or form will enhance your organization, time management, team work, and you make so many memories and friends throughout this process. I know for me, if I weren't involved in the arts in grade school and college, I wouldn't have the people I consider to be my best friends! It not only enhances your brain chemistry, but also will help you succeed in the future." For more information about "The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition," call 262-245-1575 or visit williamsbayschools.org. In 22 Photos: Williams Bay High School Drama Club presents "Treasure Island" Treasure11.jpg Treasure1.jpg Treasure2.jpg Treasure3.jpg Treasure4.jpg Treasure5.jpg Treasure6.jpg Treasure7.jpg Treasure8.jpg Treasure9.jpg Treasure10.jpg Treasure12.jpg Treasure13.jpg Treasure14.jpg Treasure16.jpg Treasure17.jpg Treasure18.jpg Treasure20.jpg TreasureCheckIn.JPG TreasureDeathbed.JPG TreasureDirector.JPG TreasureDrunkenPirates.JPG Fires that damaged two rooms at UW-Madisons Sterling Hall are believed to have been started intentionally, according to campus police. Officers with the UW-Madison Police Department responded to the Charter Street academic building about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday for a report of smoke coming from two first-floor rooms, according to a police statement. Upon arrival, officers found the remnants of two fires that appeared to have gone out on their own. The two rooms sustained minor damage, with cleanup costs estimated to be about $10,000. The department is investigating the fires as arson and ask anyone with information to contact Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014 or online at www.p3tips.com. Photos: Remembering the UW-Madison Sterling Hall bombing 50 years ago Sterling Hall bombing Sterling Hall bombing Death in bombing Sterling Hall bombing Robert Fassnacht Sterling Hall bombing Sterling Hall bombing Sterling Hall interior Sterling Hall bombing on front page Sterling Hall bombing suspects Sterling Hall bombers caught Leo Burt Leo Burt, then and now Engine fragment Sterling Hall plaque Call Them the Nuclear War Lobby Forum April 25, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)The dangerous agenda of the April 25-28 Sixth Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum hosted by the Hudson Institute today was laid out in the opening speech delivered by Janusz Bugajski of the Jamestown Foundation, a CIA-created bastion of neocons where the dead hand of Zbigniew Brzezinski still rules the roost. His message: You representatives of a myriad of captive nations and regions from inside Russia have been assembled in Washington, D.C. by your Anglo-American managers, to lobby like hell for the United States to hold firm on ensuring a Ukrainian military victory over Russia, followed by the dismantling of Russia itself. An invitation for nuclear war! Bugajski aggressively instructed those present to Seize This Historic Moment, and make sure the failing Russian empire never rises again. Make your voices heard: set up offices in key capitals; coordinate on strategy; prepare for recognition. People must understand that your nations will be in line with Western values and will strengthen NATOs flank. Likewise, the West must embrace the collapse of the Russian Federation. Recognition of new ethnic and regional nations is the most effective way to ensure a peaceful transition away from Russia as it exists today. Russian terrorist advocate Ilya Ponomarev, present in person for the Forums four days of U.S. lobbying, asked Bugajski the first question: Many in Washington greatly fear the collapse of Russia would bring chaos, instability, nukes, and China. You are one of the few in a most influential think tank who understands. How do you recommend we deal with those fears? The biggest fear is the fear of nuclear weapons, Bugajski replied. With a tone of how silly, he dismissed all ideas that breaking up a nuclear superpower could be cause for concern. It makes no sense that Russia would use nuclear weapons against the opposition inside Russia. Nor would Russia use them against the West, since that would only escalate its own destruction. And what could be the danger of nukes falling into the hands of the new states? They wouldnt have the codes, and who would they use them against? They will all be allies and friends with us? You need to tell Americans Relax, we can do this peacefully. This can be done. The premise of Bugajskis grand strategy of ending the Russian Federationwhich was also the premise of the other Anglo-American operatives who spoke at the event is Ukraines military victory over Russia. That, as Bugajski said, is the imperative condition for Russias imperial collapse. That will demonstrate that Russias borders are transient, and the loss of Crimea and the three Donbass areas will encourage others to go for freedom. Ukraine is qualified to enter NATO now, Bugajski also asserted. That is not yet accepted at the highest level of this administrationyetout of fear of Moscow. But what can Moscow do? Invade Ukraine? He laughed. Americans need to be warned: Such arrogant, self-assured, madmen playing chicken with nuclear weapons will bring about Armageddon! EIR LEAD EDITORIAL WEDNESDAY APRIL 26, 2023 De-Escalate Now Before It Is Too Late April 25, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)There is a mindless march underway towards the biggest crisis in human history. If its not stopped by saner heads prevailing in the Western world, then we are on the fast track towards World War III. This was reiterated by the Russian Foreign Ministrys Director of the Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Department Vladimir Yermakov, who told TASS in an interview today that, in the worst-case scenario, i.e., if Washington drives the situation to a military clash between the strongest nuclear powers, then it is not the fate of the New START but the fate of the entire world that will be a concern. We continue sending sobering signals to the West that a catastrophe must be prevented. However, Yermakov pointed out, the West remains deaf to the calls.... In order to improve the situation, the U.S. must immediately take concrete steps on de-escalation and to abolish the hostile course towards undermining Russias security in practice, he insisted. Whats worse is that not only is this war avoidable and unnecessary, but it is being caused by the ideological rejection of the equality and sovereignty of all nations. Compare two events that took place Monday, April 24. In New York, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke in person at the UN Security Council, where he elaborated on what must become the principle of genuine multilateralism, to be achieved through a balance of interests based on the sovereign equality of states and indivisible security. At the same time in Luxembourg, the EUs foreign policy chief Josep Borrell steadfastly opposed such a view. There are two sides, he said: Even when there are many people who dont want to take sides. But they have to take a position with respect to the war in Ukraine and with respect to the relationship with the growing role of China. His ideological fanaticism is what underlies the Wests insistence on and involvement in the attempt to destroy Russia. Following the recent string of leaked Pentagon documents, which proved, among other things, that the U.S. knows Ukraine is not winning the war, another report has come out in Politico that the White House is worried that Ukraines much-hyped spring offensive will fail. Despite this, the U.S. still demands more and stronger weapons for Ukrainians to fight Russia for as long as it takesa hypocritical and immoral sacrificing of lives in an attempt to hold on to its unipolar order. Another report, in the Washington Post, shows just how deeply involved the U.S. is, and how flagrantly dangerous this war has become. The report details how Ukraine was planning a wave of strikes inside Russia for the Feb. 24 anniversary of the Russian special military operationand was only deterred by a direct intervention from Washington to stop it. We truly are on the verge of catastrophe. However, there is no more clear illustration of the extreme danger which Western elites are stoking, and the absolute truth that Yermakov warned of, than the seminar hosted on April 25 by the Hudson Institute in Washington. Featuring a group called the Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum, the event encouraged those within Russia to seize the moment, and push for the final dismantling of the Russian Federation itself. The West, the main speaker argued, should embrace the collapse of Russia, and begin to recognize new ethnic and regional nations as sovereign in order to facilitate the transition. And anyone worried about nuclear weapons should just relax, he said, this can be done. The actual cause of this war is the collapse of the neoliberal system, and at the same time the assertion by a growing number of nations around the world of the right to an actual futurenot one under the control of these types of geopolitical machinations. Increasingly, members of the Global South are refusing to cower in fear of global would-be imperialists, and are instead celebrating a certain principle of self-determination, and dignity. This is an assertion rooted in natural law, not merely a ruse for their own piece of the pie. Last weekends celebration in Ethiopia, Enough with WarLets Celebrate Peace, was a case in point. As some of the representatives at this event pointed out, the reason peace was achieved in Ethiopia was that it was an African Solution to African Problems. In a similar fashion, witness the continued growth in membership of the BRICS, and the absolute failure by the Global NATO crowd to recruit their their side of opposing Russia and China. The task before each of us is to stare this dire reality straight in the eyes, and become a catalyst for a breakthrough. As is painfully obvious from looking at domestic politics in the U.S. or Europe, the solution is not going to emerge from partisan politics in the West, as can be seen by the announcement of Bidens re-election bid Tuesday. Only from the introduction of something newa truthful punch to the ideological gut delivered by true-blooded citizenswill averting this tragedy become possible. On April 5, a man killed four children in a Brazilian daycare center. In the weeks since, Brazilian officials have detained 300 adults and children nationwide. The detainees are accused of spreading hate speech or encouraging school violence. Little has been made public about the crackdown. It risks an abuse of power by the countrys court system. It also shows the strong reaction to school violence across federal, state and city levels. Brazils efforts to end school attacks are very different from those of the United States. In the U.S., such attacks have been more common and more deadly for a longer period. But measures to prevent the violence have come much more slowly. Actions taken in the U.S. are informing the Brazilian response, said Renan Theodoro. He is a researcher with the Center for the Study of Violence at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. We have learned from the successes and the mistakes of other countries, especially the United States, Theodoro told The Associated Press. Brazil has seen almost 24 attacks or incidents of violence in schools since 2000. Half of them have been in the past year. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas government has looked for ideas from researchers and experts. This week, he organized a meeting of ministers, mayors and Supreme Court justices to discuss possible solutions. Some measures that Brazil has already taken are in line with those introduced over time in the U.S. Those measures include the creation of emergency communications systems, safety training for school workers, federal money for mental health, and more security equipment. But Brazil has also detained suspects and has pushed to regulate social media sites. Those measures have not been taken in the U.S. Many Brazilian states did not wait for the federal response. Sao Paulo, for example, temporarily hired 550 mental health experts to work at its public schools. It also hired 1,000 private security guards. School shootings in the U.S. often create debate. But at the federal level, the debate usually ends without a solution. Democrats center on gun control while Republicans push for stronger security measures. Brazils efforts have gained support in part because measures have not included restricting gun use. Gun control is increasingly a divisive political issue in Brazil, like it is in the U.S. Brazil's school attacks are also more often carried out with other weapons, especially knives. In the U.S., legislation rarely passes. There have been exceptions, however. A bill was approved last year after an attack at a Texas elementary school and other mass shootings. The bill made background checks stricter and kept guns away from those guilty of domestic violence. The bill also gave $1 billion for student mental health and school security. Other change has come more slowly. In almost every state, schools are now required to have safety plans that often include what to do if a shooter enters the school. Many individual school systems have their own safety call centers. Some use software to watch social media for threats. Lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro is the son of Brazils far-right former president. He is calling for metal detectors and armed guards. He introduced a bill to make them required at all schools. For Brazil, hoping for quick solutions risks introducing abuses of power. Officials have not offered details on why the 302 suspects have been arrested in the past two weeks. When asked by the AP, the Justice Ministry did not say how many of the detainees were under the age of 18. The ministry is also ordering a national consumer agency to fine technology companies for not removing content seen as praising school violence or making threats. There appears to be large support for regulating social media sites. At this week's meeting in the capital, Lula, his justice minister, two Supreme Court justices and the Senates president voiced support for regulation of the sites. They argued that speech that is illegal in real life cannot be permitted online. The Rights in Network Coalition is a Brazilian group of 50 organizations centered on basic digital rights. It has expressed concern over giving the government the power to decide what can be said on social media. Some social media platforms resisted the move but are now agreeing to the changes. More than 750 profiles have been removed or suspended, Justice Minister Flavio Dino said. Im Dan Novak. Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. Quiz- Brazils Strong Reaction to School Shootings Differs from US Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story encourage v. to make more appealing or more likely to happen crackdown n. a serious attempt to punish people for doing something that is not allowed response n. something that is said or written as a reply to something mayor n. an official who is elected to be the head of the government of a city or town regulate v. to make rules or laws that control hire v. to give work or a job to in exchange for wages or a salary domestic adj. relating to or involving someone's home or family detector n. a device that can tell if a substance or object is present consumer n. a person who buys goods and services platform n. a program or set of programs that controls the way a computer works and runs other programs European protectors of Champagne will not let just anyone use the name of the drink. That includes a large U.S. beer company. Champagne is an alcoholic drink that is produced in France. It is made in an area about 140 kilometers east of Paris. For years, the American beer Miller High Life has used Champagne of Beers as its slogan. A slogan is a short phrase used for advertising products. But last week, customs agents in Belgium destroyed more than 2,000 cans of Miller High Life because the word Champagne appeared on the cans. They did so at the request of the trade body defending the interests of the French makers of Champagne. The Comite Champagne made the request because they say the American beer companys use of the word goes against the protected status of products from the Champagne area of France. A spokesperson at the Belgian Customs administration said last Friday the shipment was taken by officials in the Belgian port of Antwerp in early February. The beer was being shipped to Germany. Molson Coors Beverage Company owns Miller High Life. But it does not currently export the beer to the European Union. Belgian customs did not say who ordered the beers. The buyer in Germany was informed and did not contest the decision, the trade organization said in a statement. Frederick Miller was a German immigrant to the United States. He founded the Miller Brewing Company in the 1850s. Miller High life is its oldest product. It was launched as its main drink in 1903. The products website says the company started to use the Champagne of Bottle Beers slogan three years later. It was shortened to The Champagne of Beers in 1969. With its elegant, clear-glass bottle and crisp taste, Miller High Life has proudly worn the nickname The Champagne of Beers for almost 120 years, Molson Coors Beverage Company said in a statement to The Associated Press. No matter how popular the nickname is in the United States, it does not follow European Union rules. Those rules state that goods that go against the protection of products from a protected area can be treated as counterfeit. The European Union has a system of protected areas created to guarantee the true source and quality of some foods and drinks. A 2020 study by the E.U.s executive arm found the market is worth nearly $87 billion each year. Molson Coors Beverage Company said it respects local restrictions around the word Champagne. The company says it remains pleased with Miller High Life and its longtime slogan. Company leaders added they invite their friends in Europe to the United States any time to try the beer together. Belgian customs said the destruction of the cans was paid for by the Comite Champagne. They released a joint statement that said it was carried out with respect for environment concerns. They said the contents and container were destroyed in an environmentally responsible way. I'm Gregory Stachel. Samuel Petrequin reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. ___________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story contest v. to say that you do not agree with or accept (something) elegant adj. graceful and attractive crisp adj. pleasantly cool, fresh, and dry counterfeit n. something that is made to look like an exact copy of something else in order to trick people designation n. the act of officially choosing someone or something to do or be something determination n. a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult ___________________________________________________________________ What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here. LEXINGTON The Lexington City Council tabled two permits for two proposed meeting spaces on North Washington St., citing the need for updated inspections by the state fire marshal regarding capacity during their meeting on Tuesday, April 25. Conditional use permits for the meeting spaces had been applied for by Fascination, Inc., owned by Diana Gonzalez. The areas in question were the second floor of the 520 N. Washington St. location and the first floor of the 521 N. Washington St. location, just across the street from one another. Development Services Director Bill Brecks said Gonzalez had been using the 520 location previously to host celebrations, birthdays, quinceaneras, etc., without a permit. Brecks said there had been complaints about the use of the space with no permit. Nebraska State Fire Marshal Mike Hoeft noted in a report the space could hold 200 people, but would fail their inspection due to the lack of means of egress and lack of emergency lighting. However, 50 people could meet in the space with a few simpler fixes. The fire marshal had noted the city council could set the occupancy at any number, but the space would still need to meet safety inspections. Parking in the downtown area has been an issue with past permits. With tables and chairs, the space could fit 160 people, requiring 53 parking spots. With 50 people there would be 17 parking spaces needed. Earlier this month, Planning Commission had moved to send the permit to city council with a recommendation for approval, pursuant to the occupancy being set at 50. Gonzalez, who spoke through an interpreter, was asked several questions by the council members. When asked about alcohol consumption, she said she did not plan on selling any during events. Council member Jeremy Roberts asked Gonzalez who would be keeping track of the number of people using the space. She said she keeps a register of people who use it. Mayor John Fagot noted there had been a number of complaints from citizens regarding maintenance, such as sidewalks not being scooped and nuisance items such as broken bottles and discarded cigarettes on the sidewalk. Gonzalez noted she had been sick for a time and that could explain the fall behind on maintenance but said she now has people who are helping her keep the space clean. As for the nuisance items, she said it likely doesnt just come from only her clientele, given the number of people who pass through downtown. Council member John Salem asked what time of day the events take place, citing the parking concern downtown. Gonzalez said the events occur throughout the year and mainly occur after 5 p.m. Fagot brought up the point that Gonzalez was seeking permits for two different meeting spaces, just across the street from one another. He asked if the meeting spaces would host events at the same time, also noting the parking concern. Gonzalez said if approved she would rent the space concurrently. She noted she would rely on the income from renting out the spaces as her other business has been suffering recently. For the 520 space, she said she has hosted 150 people in the space, with 100 being the average. She requested the city council set the occupancy for the space at 100. City Manager Joe Pepplitsch noted the space had been inspected by the fire marshal for 200 people and it had failed due to the number of means of egress and lack of functioning emergency lighting. The fire marshal did offer 50 as a potential occupancy number. Gonzalez said she was willing to adhere to the requirements of the fire marshal but she had to figure the costs and resources of getting the space up to code. She did note that the occupancy set at 50 would not be sufficient for her. It was suggested that the council table the issue and have the state fire marshal return to inspect the space again with an occupancy number under 200 in mind. The council voted to table the conditional use permit. The next item was essentially the same matter, but for the 521 location across the street. This meeting space would be on the first floor, with a retail space on the second floor. The occupancy could be 200 people, but Fire Marshal Hoeft failed the location due to nine different violations. Hoeft did not offer a minimum occupancy as he had with the other space. Brecks had told the Planning Commission that a space with occupancy of 200 would require 66 parking spaces, which would take up nearly all of downtown. The Planning Commission made no recommendation about the permit to the city council, based on their standards. Gonzalez had requested the occupancy for the space be set at 190, which would require 64 parking spaces. If both locations were hosting events at the capacity requested by Gonzalez, the total parking spaces needed would be 97 parking spaces. Regarding getting the spaces up to code for the fire marshal, Gonzalez said she was waiting to make improvements based off of the occupancy number the city council would set. When the council brought up tabling the permit for the 521 space as well, Gonzalez asked why the space couldnt be approved tonight so she knew exactly what she needed to fix. She said she was at a standstill with her business and needed the citys support. It was noted that the original fire marshal inspection had been done with the assumption that the second floor space would be split between the meeting hall and a retail space, but this idea has been discarded. The fire marshal would need to inspect the space again given the change in layout and overall use. The council voted to table the permit for the 521 space. Gonzalez was told that her permits would be considered at the first possible meeting following the conclusion of the fire marshals inspection. The next item was a public hearing was Taco Johns Redevelopment Project. The plan proposes building a new Taco Johns restaurant just south of the Scooters Coffee, east of Walmart. The franchise would move away from the Highway 30 corridor, where it has been located for decades. Construction on the new location is anticipated to start in May 2023 and be finished by fall 2023. The redeveloper estimates that the total project costs will be around $1,230,000.00, around $400,000.00 being eligible for tax increment financing (TIF), which the redeveloper plans to seek. Pepplitsch said Taco Johns is working with the current owner of the ground near Scooters, a subsidiary of Viaero Wireless, to acquire the site in question. The Taco Johns site in Lexington is owned by Derock, Inc., registered to Juliska Derockbraine. Derockbraine noted at a past meeting that the move was being mandated by the Taco Johns corporate office. The planning commission had sent the resolution for the project to the city council with their approval. The council moved. Pepplitsch noted this project was a great example of how TIF can be deployed to aid developers. He said without it, it would be arduous, maybe impossible, for the redevelopment to happen in the proposed area. The council approved the redevelopment plan and waived the Community Development Agencys (CDA) requirement to give a 30 day notice period to the city regarding the project. It was noted they wanted to help the project stay on its timeline. The last item was a resolution conveying property to the CDA for housing development purposes. The lots were located around the Roosevelt Dr., Truman Dr., and Cedar St. area, the southwest side of Lexington. The real estate conveyed was as follow: Lots 1-11, Block 2, Southwest Second Subdivision, a replat of Blocks 2 and Block 9, Southwest First Addition, an addition to the City of Lexington, Dawson County, Nebraska; Lots 1-14, Block 9, Southwest Second subdivision, a replat of Blocks 2 and Block 9, Southwest First Addition, an addition to the City of Lexington, Dawson County, Nebraska; Lots 1-5, Block 3, Southwest First Addition, an addition to the City of Lexington, Dawson County, Nebraska; Lots 1-5, Block 5, Southwest First Addition, an addition to the City of Lexington, Dawson County, Nebraska; Lots 1-4, Block 4, Southwest First Addition, an addition to the City of Lexington, Dawson County, Nebraska; Lots 27-40, Block 10, Southwest First Addition, an addition to the City of Lexington, Dawson County, Nebraska During the roundtable discussion, Pepplitsch said the work on the Lexington Veterans Pavilion is continuing while demolition work for the future site of the Lexington Racquet Center is ongoing. LINCOLN The Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation (NCF) announced they awarded over $64,000 in scholarships to help the next generation of the agriculture industry in their academic pursuits. The scholarships were awarded to fifty-nine distinguished students. President of the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation, Ryan Loeske stated, Each year, generous donors from across the state donate to the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundations Retail Value Steer Challenge Fundraising Project. Our donors support allowed us to award fifty-nine outstanding students with academic scholarships to pursue their education and we cannot thank them enough. He continued, The NCF looks forward to watching these talented students continue their education and strengthen the future of the beef cattle industry. All scholarship recipients will be recognized at the Nebraska Cattlemen Midyear Meeting in North Platte, Thursday, June 8, during the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Lunch. To donate or for more information concerning the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation, contact Lee Weide, Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Secretary at (402) 475-2333 or Jana Jensen, Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Fundraising Coordinator at (308) 588-6299. Local area 2023 Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Scholars include: Callaway Silas Cool - $1,250 West Central / Trotter Inc. Scholarship Cozad Gregory Treffer - $1,200 Ron & Shirley Huss Scholarship Sarah Treffer - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship Elwood Lauren Hickey - $1,200 Robert F. Lute II Memorial Scholarship Gothenburg Heath Keiser - $1,200 Vance Uden Memorial Scholarship Helene Keiser - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship Lexington Dalton Kunkee - $1,200 Donavan Yoachim Memorial Scholarship Jacie Wolfinger - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship Overton Spencer Walahoski - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship Established in 1968, the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundations mission is to advance the future of Nebraskas Beef industry by investing in research and education programs. The Foundations success and its ability to endow scholarships, sponsor leadership and education programs, and assist with research and infrastructure projects has been possible only because of the support from the Nebraska cattle producers and allied industries. As the Foundation grows, expands, and moves forward in its mission to raise funds for educational and scientific activities that benefit the states beef producers the board asks you to consider investing in your industry through the Foundation. The president of Guatemala appealed to other governments to respect Taiwans sovereignty during an official visit yesterday at a time when Chinas ruling Communist Party is stepping up efforts to isolate the self-ruled island Beijing claims as its own territory. President Alejandro Giammatteis government is one of a dwindling number that have official relations with Taipei instead of Beijing. Legislators from the United States and Europe have visited to show support in the face of Beijings attempts to intimidate the island, but their governments have official relations with China, not Taiwan. I would like to appeal to the international community and the free world that we should strive to respect Taiwans sovereignty and territorial integrity, Mattei said in a speech to Taiwans legislature. He expressed rock-solid friendship with Taiwan. Mattei said his visit was a demonstration of our firm support for your country and our commitment to defending our sovereignty and territorial integrity, and our firm opposition to aggression. President Xi Jinpings government has flown fighter jets and bombers near Taiwan in increasing numbers and fired missiles into the sea in an attempt to intimidate the island. The number of governments that deal with Taiwan as a national government is shrinking as Beijing and Taipei compete for recognition from small, mostly poor countries in Africa, Latin America and the South Pacific with infusions of aid and investment. The United States and all European governments except tiny Vatican City have no official relations with Taiwan, a center for high-tech industry and one of the biggest global traders, but maintain extensive commercial and informal ties. Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen visited Guatemala and Belize this month on a tour aimed at shoring up relations with the handful of governments that recognize Taiwan. In Guatemala, Tsai visited a rural hospital built with a donation from Taiwan. Earlier, Honduras announced it was switching recognition to Beijing following the announcement that a Chinese company would build a $300 million hydroelectric dam project in central Honduras. US governor meets Tsai in trade mission Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin met with the leader of Taiwan earlier this week to discuss mutual trade and investment initiatives and other business matters, his office said, and he signed an executive order establishing an economic development office in Taipei. The visit by Youngkin, who has been considered a possible 2024 presidential contender and has not publicly ruled out a run, came on Day 1 of his first international trade mission and amid heightened tensions between the United States and China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory and treats dealings between U.S. and Taiwanese officials as a challenge. Following his meeting with Tsai Ing-wen, the Republican governor, along with the rest of the Virginia delegation, is also expected to visit Tokyo and Seoul, South Korea, as the trade mission continues this week. I was thrilled to meet with [leader] Tsai to strengthen Virginias decades-old partnership with Taiwan, Youngkin, a former private equity executive, said in a statement. As a former business leader, I appreciate the commitment to excellence that Taiwan demonstrates across sectors. They are an important training partner and model of prosperity for nations across the globe. According to Youngkins office, Virginia exported $730 million in products to Taiwan in 2022 and imported $1 billion in goods. Youngkins executive order says the Taipei trade office will represent Virginia in Taiwan and offer services related to economic development and trade. The state has similar international offices in Germany, Japan and South Korea. JOHNSON LAI, TAIPEI, MDT/AP The police have apprehended a telephone fraud syndicate pretending to be a government department. The syndicate used about 3,500 local and overseas phone cards through gateway communication equipment installed in Macau, and made at least 1.74 million calls attempting to defraud people in Macau, the Judiciary Police (PJ) reported. According to the PJ, 45 people were scammed to the tune of MOP23 million. 26 of the victims were college students. Two local men were suspected of assisting in the setup and maintenance of criminal tools. The PJ is still tracking down the other suspects. The group set up fraudulent call centers overseas and four gateway communication devices in Macau to make batch calls. The money obtained by fraud was transferred to overseas bank accounts. During the investigation, the PJ found that the calls were transmitted from a residential unit in Taipa, and two Macau men in their thirties were arrested yesterday morning. The local suspects received MOP2,000 and MOP10,000, respectively, in remuneration. The case has been referred to the prosecutions office. Earlier this week, the PJ asked the public to stay vigilant and safeguard their personal information. In a statement, the PJ said that it has again received reports from the public concerning fraudulent SMS messages from fake courier companies. Since the pandemic has caused interruptions in delivery services, fraudsters have seized this opportunity to scam the public by sending fake SMS messages claiming that parcels cannot be delivered, and providing a link to a fake website, where victims are asked for personal information and to pay a surcharge. Staff Reporter A delegation from the University of Macau (UM) led by Rector Yonghua Song recently visited the Technical University of Munich, Constructor University and Leibniz University of Hannover in Germany, as well as KU Leuven in Belgium. The visit was aimed at fostering research and academic collaborations between UM and universities in Europe. In a statement, the university said that it will continue to promote academic exchange and cooperation with renowned universities around the world, with the goal of improving its academic quality and global impact as well as creating more exchange opportunities for its faculty and students. Related * Macau, Luxembourg bonds Ho Iat Seng visits Luxembourg Stock Exchange, meets Prime Minister before heading to Brussels, final stopover of his European tour * Crime | Police arrest suspects in phone fraud syndicate case * Stats | Suspicious Transaction Reports from casinos grow in first quarter * Finance in Greater Bay Area aims for higher quality development, experts at forum in Hengqin, gathering around 300 guests, conclude * Lawmaker Wong Kit Cheng insists on sex work criminalization * India will be most populous country by months end, UN says DOWNLOAD PDF Wednesday, April 26, 2023 edition no. 4233 Wynn Macau hopes efforts to diversify its sources of visitors will start producing results during the May First Golden Week. I hope that everyones hotel occupancy rate will not only be high, but especially that visitor sources will be more diverse, Linda Chen, president and vice chairman of the Board of Wynn Macau, Limited, expressing her desire to attract tourists not just from the mainland, but especially from the international market. As you know, we just came back from Portugal. We hope to promote the importance of having more international visitors to Macau, Chen told the press on the sidelines of an SME event at Wynn. However, she added, it will take time and multiple campaigns to expand the international customer base. She noted that labor is a challenge that everyone is facing, and claimed Wynn is relatively stable in this regard because it maintained the companys employment rate and kept employees on during the three years of the pandemic. This has allowed Wynns hotel rooms to be fully operational. In the process of promoting non-gaming projects, gaming employees are also encouraged to seek more non-gaming jobs. Chen expressed that the first priority is to develop non-gaming industries, non-gaming activities and projects in the future. If these can be developed well, it will be of great benefit to the recovery of the entire market. There are currently more than 200 employees receiving training in non-gaming sector activities, she said. Staff Reporter LONDON TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Google and Amazon face rising pressure from European authorities as London and Brussels advanced new rules Tuesday to curb the power of digital companies. They're on a list of the 19 biggest online platforms and search engines the European Union's executive arm said must meet extra obligations for cleaning up illegal content and disinformation and keeping users safe under the 27-nation bloc's landmark digital rules that take effect later this year. The U.K. government, meanwhile, unveiled draft legislation to give regulators more power to boost digital competition and protect consumers from online scams and fake reviews. The updates help solidify Europe's reputation as the global leader in efforts to rein in the power of social media companies and other digital platforms. TikTok will allow European Commission officials to carry out a "stress test" of its systems to ensure they comply with the Digital Services Act, Commissioner Thierry Breton said in an online briefing. He proposed the idea to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew when they met in Brussels earlier this year. "I'm happy that they came back to us saying they are interested," Breton said, but added he's waiting for Chew to provide a date. TikTok did not reply to a request for comment. Twitter agreed earlier to a stress test, and Breton said he and Ms team will travel to the company's headquarters in San Francisco at the end of June to carry out the voluntary mock exercise. He didn't detail what the test would entail. Starting Aug. 25, the biggest online platforms will have to give European users more control by making it easier to report illegal content, including hate speech, and providing more information on why their systems recommend certain content. There are guardrails for content generated by artificial intelligence such as deepfake videos and synthetic images, which will have to be clearly labeled when they come up in search results, Breton said. Platforms will have to "completely redesign" their systems to ensure a high level of privacy and safety for children, including verifying users' ages, Breton said. Big Tech companies also will have to revamp their systems to "prevent algorithmic amplification of disinformation," he said, noting he was particularly concerned about Face-book's content moderation systems ahead of September elections in Slovakia. "Now that Facebook has been designated as a very large online platform, Met a needs to carefully investigate its system and fix it where needed ASAP," he said. Facebook's parent company said it supports the EU's new Digital Services Act. "We are already taking extensive steps to ensure we meet the DSA's requirements, including expanding and evolving our existing transparency tools and reporting systems," Meta said. Violations could result in fines worth up to 6% of a company's annual global revenue amounting to billions of dollars or even a ban on operating in the EU. The European Commission's list of very large online platforms is limited to those with at least 45 million users in Europe, which includes Google's Search, Play, Maps, Shopping and YouTube services; Amazon Marketplace; Apple's App Store; Microsoft's Bing and Linkedln; Meta's Facebook and Instagram; plus Pinterest, Snap-chat, TikTok, Twitter, Wikipedia, Booking.com, China's Alibaba Ali-express and German ecommerce company Zalando. Breton said more platforms could be added, and the commission is analyzing "four to five" others that it will decide on in coming weeks. On a crisp Tuesday afternoon, four of the most advanced fighter jets in the world emerged like speeding, roaring, dark seeds from banks of silvery white clouds above Truax Field on Madison's North Side. Minutes later, Lt. Col. Mike Koob of the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115thFighterWing emerged from the cockpit of one of the sleek, gray F-35s that had rolled to a stop before hundreds of upbeat invited guests and unfurled a state flag and a small banner honoring Maj. "Hawk" Jones, a Madison-based airman who was killed in a crash in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in 2020. After years of planning, controversy and robust efforts to both attract and keep the aircraft out of Madison, the first of 20F-35s to be stationed at Truax had arrived at their new home. Three of the four will be staying in Madison permanently assigned to the 115th Fighter Wing and one will be returning to another base. "We really appreciate the support of the host city," Koob said as guests lined up to have photos taken with the plane."It really means a lot to come here and have this out pouring of support." The rest of the F-35s are expected to start a permanent assignment at the airfield over the next year. "We find our selves now in an age where national borders are no longer recognized, and the international order as we know it is being tested," said Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp, the adjutant general for Wisconsin. "As we engage in this new era of great power competition, the ability of this fighter wing to deliver reliable F-35 combat airpower is vital to the national defense of our nation. "To the Airmen of the 115th Fighter Wing: You have been entrusted with the most advanced and lethal weapons system the Air Force has ever fielded in its arsenal," he said. "In your hand snow is the F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. A magnificent aircraft." The jet, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is described as the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world. But the fighter also has faced criticism over costs and technical difficulties. The roughly 2,500F-35s the Pentagon plans to acquire are estimated to cost $1.27 trillion to operate and maintain over the next 66 years, according to the Government Account ability Office. Truax has been home to the Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing since 1948andwasmost recently home to a group of F-16 jets that were among the oldest in operation. In 2020, the Air Force chose two locations Madison and Montgomery, Alabama as the two latest Air National Guard locations that will fly the new jets. In October, the 115th Fighter Wing moved the older generation F-16 fighter jets from Truax in preparation for the arrival of the F-35s. To accommodate the new jets, Truax is undergoing a roughly $120 million renovation. The 115th has a long history of successfully converting from one aircraft to another, but the current conversion is thought to be as significant, if not more significant, than moving from propeller driven aircraft to jets in the early 1950s, akin to moving from a flip phone to a smartphone, military officials have said. "The F-16was developed in the late 1970's," Capt. Leslie Westmont said."The F-35Arepresents a quantum leap in combat aviation technology, with its very low observable air frame, electronic warfare, sensor integration and weapons capabilities." "Imagine the technological differences between an aircraft built in the 1980s versus something rolling off the factory line today," Koob said. Col. Bart Van Roo, the 115th Fighter Wing commander, said the F-35's arrival is one of the most exciting days in the fighter wing's history. "Our focus turns today to ensuring that our wing and these new aircraft are ready to respond at a moment's notice to whatever is asked of us," Van Roo said. "We ask all of you, for your collaboration and partnership ... to maximize these capabilities as we take on this new mission. Madison and the 115th was chosen for our history of producing the world's most capable airmen. Our pilots, maintainers, and support personnel have never been more needed." Concerns aired Despite the festivities on base, "No F-35" signs still dot much of the East and North sides, and there is ongoing uncertainty over what their impact will be on residents who live near Truax and the Dane County Regional Airport. Those opposed to the jets being stationed at Truax say noise and the possibility for other pollution will particularly affect low-income residents and people of color. An Air Force environmental impact found that the presence of the F-35s will increase takeoffs from Truax by 27% and expose more than 1,000 homes to average daily noise of 65 decibels or more a level deemed "incompatible" with residential use, though not uninhabitable. The Safe Skies Clean Water Coalition, which has fought the basing of the planes in Madison, has tried to enlist the support of Democratic leaders in the state, including in a full page ad in the Wisconsin State Journal addressed to Gov. Tony Evers last month in which it called the move "child abuse." "Unlike the F-35s, which the Air Force admits are four times louder than the former F-16's, the Governor has been quieter than a church mouse on this issue," Safe Skies organizer Tom Boswell said at a protest outside the base the next day. "By the time he speaks up and addresses the concerns of his constituents on this issue, it may be too late to protect our infants and school children from the egregious damage the F-35s are likely to cause." The concerns were not lost at Tuesday's observance. Knapp noted that in early March, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, announced that the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs is receiving a$798,000 grant from the Department of Defense to conduct community outreach and noise mitigation planning to prepare for the jets' arrival at Truax Field. The grant will fund community outreach initiatives including town halls and multilingual education initiatives and prepare a feasibility study to assess noise mitigation options for affected neighborhoods and develop best strategies for mitigation. Historically, Truax air operations have been conducted between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, Westmont said. "This will continue with F-35 operations," she said. Also, given the increased use of simulation for training in the F-35A and concentration of flight operations at Volk Field Air National Guard Base and the Hardwood Air-to-Ground Weapons Range near Camp Douglas, Truax Field will likely experience fewer flight operations annually with the F-35A, she said. "To those that are less than excited about the arrival of the F-35 today, know that we will continue to be responsible and honest members of the community ... the community where we work, live, worship, and raise our families as faithful Wisconsinites," said Brigadier Gen. David May, deputy adjutant general for air. The state Senate's top Republican said his proposal to reduce Wisconsin's progressive income tax to a 3.25% flat rate for all earners could be split into two separate measures in an effort to secure support from not only Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, s who has pledged to veto a flat t tax, but also his Republican colt leagues in the Assembly. p Speaking with reporters after $ testifying on his tax cut plan bet fore the Senate's GOP-led revenue committee Tuesday, Senate m Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree that a portion of the state's historic budget surplus estimated at more than $7 billion should go toward tax cuts. "It's going to take compromise on both sides to get a budget, and what's important to (Republicans) is reducing taxes on all Wisconsin taxpayers, not just credits for low to middle-income taxpayers," LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, said. Asked if that may require splitting Senate Bill 1, which is currently written as a four-year proposal, into two separate measures, LeMahieu said, "potentially." "I think for sure (Senate Republicans) could pass the first two years of my plan," LeMahieu added. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and the GOP co-chairs of the state's budget-writing committee already have signaled it's unlikely the Legislature would approve a full flat tax measure this year. "We have not necessarily said that the flat tax is the premier way that we're going to adopt tax reform," Vos told reporters Tuesday."We haven't ruled it out either. I think that it's certainly a long-term goal that all of us agree with, but I want to have a package that will actually become law." Wisconsin's current income tax code applies a rate of: 3.54% for individuals earning less than $13,810 per year or married filers earning less than about $18,400. 4.65% for individuals earning up to $27,630 and joint filers earning$36,840. 5.3% for individuals earning up to$304,000and married filers earning up to about $405,000. 7.65% for individuals earning more than $304,000 or married filers earning more than about $405,500. If only the first two years of LeMahieu's proposal were to pass, it would bring Wisconsin's income tax down to 3.4% for the state's lowest bracket, the second bracket would shift to 3.95%, the third bracket would drop to 4.28% and the top bracket would reduce to 5.45%. Who benefits? While Republicans have said they want to flatten the state's more than 110-year-old progressive income tax, which applies higher rates on income above a certain level, Evers wants to direct tax cuts to the state's low and middle-income residents. Evers has criticized a flat tax as one that largely benefits the state's wealthiest residents, while Republicans and some of the state's largest business organizations say it would make Wisconsin more competitive with neighboring states, help foster economic growth and address long-standing labor force shortages. In a statement, Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, said LeMahieu's "dead-on-arrival flat tax scheme is a discredited, fringe proposal that would transfer massive public resources to the wealthiest among us, while starving Wisconsinites of critical public resources and exacerbating our work force shortage." LeMahieu's proposal would phase down Wisconsin's four income tax brackets until the state reaches a 3.25%flat tax for all earners in 2026. The shift would reduce revenues by just shy of $5 billion over the first two years, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Evers has called for a 10% tax cut for individuals earning $100,000 or less a year and married filers making $150,000 or less. The proposal would increase state tax revenues by more than $257 million over the next two years by limiting the amount companies could claim in manufacturing and agriculture tax credits and increasing some capital gains taxes. It also would increase state spending on refundable income tax credit payments by more than $300 million, according to the nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum. A recent Wisconsin Policy Forum report found LeMahieu's proposal would give an average annual tax cut of more than $100,000 to Wisconsinites who earn more than $1 million. Under Evers' proposal, those same earners would see an average annual tax increase of almost $40,000. Competing plans Last week, Reps. John Macco, R-Ledgeview, and Jerry O'Connor, R-Fond du Lac, unveiled yet another tax cut proposal. The GOP-authored plan would reduce the rates for the state's four income tax brackets over the course of several years. Under the proposed new tax code, earners in the lowest bracket would pay no income taxes, while all other earners would pay a 4.5% income tax regardless of income. The bill is estimated to reduce state income tax collections by more than $3.5 billion annually once fully phased in, according to a fiscal estimate from the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Macco told the Wisconsin State Journal last week he hopes the hybrid flat tax proposal finds a middle ground between tax cuts proposed by Evers and LeMahieu. Evers has not commented on the proposal, though Vos said it's unlikely that bill will be the final proposal from Assembly Republicans. Michigan and Illinois have flat individual income taxes of 4.25% and 4.95%, respectively. Minnesota's top rate is 9.85% for individuals making more than $171,000 and married filers earning more than about $285,000, while Iowa's top tax rate is 8.53% for individuals and married filers making more than $78,435. Iowa's Republican Gov .Kim Reynolds last year signed into law a 3.9% flat tax, which will go into effect in 2026. Wisconsin's current budget, drafted by Republicans and signed by Evers in 2021, included more than $1 billion in income tax cuts. Members of the Senate Universities and Revenue Committee also discussed Senate Bill 2, which would eliminate the state's personal property tax, which businesses pay on furnishings and equipment. Both Evers and legislative Republicans have supported spending about $200 million in state funds to remove the tax but have so far failed to reach an agreement on the matter. On a crisp Tuesday afternoon, four of the most advanced fighter jets in the world emerged like speeding, roaring, dark seeds from banks of silvery white clouds above Truax Field on Madisons North Side. Minutes later, Lt. Col. Mike Koob of the Wisconsin Air National Guards 115th Fighter Wing emerged from the cockpit of one of the sleek, gray F-35s that had rolled to a stop before hundreds of upbeat invited guests and unfurled a state flag and a small banner honoring Maj. Hawk Jones, a Madison-based airman who was killed in a crash in Michigans Upper Peninsula in 2020. After years of planning, controversy and robust efforts to both attract and keep the aircraft out of Madison, the first of 20 F-35s to be stationed at Truax had arrived at their new home. Three of the four will be staying in Madison permanently assigned to the 115th Fighter Wing and one will be returning to another base. We really appreciate the support of the host city, Koob said as guests lined up to have photos taken with the plane. It really means a lot to come here and have this outpouring of support. The rest of the F-35s are expected to start a permanent assignment at the airfield over the next year. We find ourselves now in an age where national borders are no longer recognized, and the international order as we know it is being tested, said Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp, the adjutant general for Wisconsin. As we engage in this new era of great power competition, the ability of this fighter wing to deliver reliable F-35 combat airpower is vital to the national defense of our nation. To the Airmen of the 115th Fighter Wing: You have been entrusted with the most advanced and lethal weapons system the Air Force has ever fielded in its arsenal, he said. In your hands now is the F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. A magnificent aircraft. The jet, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is described as the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world. But the fighter also has faced criticism over costs and technical difficulties. The roughly 2,500 F-35s the Pentagon plans to acquire are estimated to cost $1.27 trillion to operate and maintain over the next 66 years, according to the Government Accountability Office. Truax has been home to the Air National Guards 115th Fighter Wing since 1948 and was most recently home to a group of F-16 jets that were among the oldest in operation. In 2020, the Air Force chose two locations Madison and Montgomery, Alabama as the two latest Air National Guard locations that will fly the new jets. In October, the 115th Fighter Wing moved the older generation F-16 fighter jets from Truax in preparation for the arrival of the F-35s. To accommodate the new jets, Truax is undergoing a roughly $120 million renovation. The 115th has a long history of successfully converting from one aircraft to another, but the current conversion is thought to be as significant, if not more significant, than moving from propeller driven aircraft to jets in the early 1950s, akin to moving from a flip phone to a smartphone, military officials have said. The F-16 was developed in the late 1970s, Capt. Leslie Westmont said. The F-35A represents a quantum leap in combat aviation technology, with its very low observable air frame, electronic warfare, sensor integration and weapons capabilities. Imagine the technological differences between an aircraft built in the 1980s versus something rolling off the factory line today, Koob said. Col. Bart Van Roo, the 115th Fighter Wing commander, said the F-35s arrival is one of the most exciting days in the fighter wings history. Our focus turns today to ensuring that our wing and these new aircraft are ready to respond at a moments notice to whatever is asked of us, Van Roo said. We ask all of you, for your collaboration and partnership ... to maximize these capabilities as we take on this new mission. Madison and the 115th was chosen for our history of producing the worlds most capable airmen. Our pilots, maintainers, and support personnel have never been more needed. Concerns aired Despite the festivities on base, No F-35 signs still dot much of the East and North sides, and there is ongoing uncertainty over what their impact will be on residents who live near Truax and the Dane County Regional Airport. Those opposed to the jets being stationed at Truax say noise and the possibility for other pollution will particularly affect low-income residents and people of color. An Air Force environmental impact found that the presence of the F-35s will increase takeoffs from Truax by 27% and expose more than 1,000 homes to average daily noise of 65 decibels or more a level deemed incompatible with residential use, though not uninhabitable. The Safe Skies Clean Water Coalition, which has fought the basing of the planes in Madison, has tried to enlist the support of Democratic leaders in the state, including in a full-page ad in the Wisconsin State Journal addressed to Gov. Tony Evers last month in which it called the move child abuse. Unlike the F-35s, which the Air Force admits are four times louder than the former F-16s, the Governor has been quieter than a church mouse on this issue, Safe Skies organizer Tom Boswell said at a protest outside the base the next day. By the time he speaks up and addresses the concerns of his constituents on this issue, it may be too late to protect our infants and school children from the egregious damage the F-35s are likely to cause. The concerns were not lost at Tuesdays observance. Knapp noted that in early March, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, announced that the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs is receiving a $798,000 grant from the Department of Defense to conduct community outreach and noise mitigation planning to prepare for the jets arrival at Truax Field. The grant will fund community outreach initiatives including town halls and multilingual education initiatives and prepare a feasibility study to assess noise mitigation options for affected neighborhoods and develop best strategies for mitigation. Historically, Truax air operations have been conducted between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, Westmont said. This will continue with F-35 operations, she said. Also, given the increased use of simulation for training in the F-35A and concentration of flight operations at Volk Field Air National Guard Base and the Hardwood Air-to-Ground Weapons Range near Camp Douglas, Truax Field will likely experience fewer flight operations annually with the F-35A, she said. To those that are less than excited about the arrival of the F-35 today, know that we will continue to be responsible and honest members of the community ... the community where we work, live, worship, and raise our families as faithful Wisconsinites, said Brigadier Gen. David May, deputy adjutant general for air. Photos: F-35 fighter jet at the Wisconsin Air National Guards 115th Fighter Wing After nearly 80 years, a serviceman from Grafton who was killed during World War II will finally be buried in his hometown. Funeral services for U.S. Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Roy C. Harms will be performed by Mueller Funeral Homes before the interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Grafton May 6. On Aug. 1, 1943, the U.S. Air Force deployed dozens of B-24 Liberator bombers and hundreds of crew members into Romania. The United States targeted the Ploiesti oil fields and refineries of Romania, a petroleum powerhouse, as part of the strategic Operation Tidal Wave mission to destroy crude oil used by Nazi Germany and its allies. The Air Force lost 53 aircraft and 310 crew members in that mission. Among the missing was Harms, 26, of Grafton, whose twin-tailed bomber was hit by enemy fire. For decades, Harms remains were buried in military cemeteries in Europe. (Remains of unknown soldiers sometimes were moved around in the years after the war, according to the Defense/POW MIA Accounting Agency.) The DPMAA exhumed unknown remains thought to belong to Operation Tidal Wave personnel in 2017. Last August, 79 years and a day after Harms plane crashed, he was identified via a DNA match from his then-only living sister, Laura Ellen Harms. Laura had provided a DNA sample before she died in February 2020 at age 99. Last month, Army Pfc. William L. Sonny Simon, of Middleton, was finally laid to rest after going missing in action during World War II. Simon died in 1944 in the Hurtgen Forest in Germany at the age of 20. He had served in the military for 16 months when his family back home in Wisconsin learned he was missing in action. Six months later, they learned he had likely been killed, but it took decades for his remains to be exhumed and ultimately identified by DPMAA. In many school shootings, the person who pulled the trigger often a cur-rent or former student is the only one blamed for the crime. But the April 13 arrest of a mother, whose 6-year-old son shot his teacher, and a related investigation of school employees shows how parents and educators are facing increasing scrutiny over any responsibility they may bear. While national statistics are hard to come by, at least seven criminal cases against parents have been filed in the last eight years after a child brought a gun to school and it was fired, intentionally or not. In Newport News, Virginia, the mother of the6-year-old was charged with felony neglect, while prosecutor shave started in vestigating whether the actions of New port News Public Schools employees could lead to criminal charges. Criminal investigations of parents as well as schools are rare, experts say. But they appear to be gaining traction as communities demand accountability and new ways to prevent the violence. How often are parents charged after a school shooting? The K-12School Shooting Database lists more than2,000 incidents of gun violence in schools dating back to 1970. A review of its database and news articles shows that at least 11 adults have been charged, including the Newport News mother. Seven cases have been brought since 2015. Among them was a Chicago mother charged last year with child endangerment after a gun in her second-grader's backpack accidentally discharged at school, injuring a 7-year-old classmate. In 2020, the mother of an Indiana teen received probation for failing to remove guns from her home after her mentally ill son threatened to kill students in 2018. He fired shots inside his school and later killed himself. Teenager Ethan Crumbley pleaded guilty to killing four students a this Michigan high school in 2021. His parents were charged with involuntary manslaughter and accused of ignoring his mental health needs and making the gun accessible at home. The New port News boy shot first-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner at Richneck Elementary on Jan.6as she sat at a reading table. The 25-year-old was struck by a bullet in her hand and chest. She was hospitalized for two weeks and had four surgeries. The boy's mother bought the gun legally, according to police. Her attorney, James Ellenson, has said she believed her gun was secured on a high closet shelf with a trigger lock. She faces up to six years in prison if convicted of felony child neglect and a misdemeanor charge of recklessly storing a firearm. Ellenson said the mother hopes to broker a plea deal with prosecutors. How effective are child gun safety laws? The shooting in Newport News has also renewed calls for stronger gun storage laws. Twenty-nine states including Virginia have enacted child-access prevention laws that allow for criminal charges against adults who intentionally or negligently allow children unsupervised access to guns, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Allison Anderman, senior counsel and director of local policy at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said the most effective laws go beyond liability and require gun owners to store firearms in a specific manner, particularly when children are around. Far fewer states have those, although Michigan's governor signed a safe-storage bill into law last week, following the 2021 shooting by Ethan Crumbley. But Virginia lawmakers rejected several storage bills in the wake of the Newport News shooting. The National Rifle Association said it opposes such "one-size-fits-all" mandates and cited other Virginia laws that hold gun owners responsible. D.J. Spiker, the NRA's Virginia state director, said the group's members already safely store firearms. "Why do we need to add more laws to the books?" he said. How often are schools investigated? Michael Dorn, executive director of Safe Havens International, which works to make schools safer, said he knows of only a few criminal probes involving school employees after a shooting and they're recent. "I suspect a lot of it is that everybody is just desperate for solutions," Dorn said. In New port News , the prosecutor's office is seeking a special grand jury to probe if any "security failures" contributed to the shooting by the young boy. The office didn't elaborate, but Zwerner's lawsuit alleges a string of failures by administrators. A criminal investigation of school employees also followed the 2021 shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan. Prosecutor Karen McDonald has noted that school counselors and Ethan Crumbley's parents had met the day of the shooting over a drawing a teacher found on his desk that included a bullet and the words "blood everywhere." The 15-year-old was sent back to class after his parents refused to take him home. No school employees have been charged. Chuck Vergon, a professor of educational law and policy at the University of Michigan-Flint, said these types of charges are rare because criminal negligence can be difficult to prove. TWIN FALLS The contract has been signed, the details double-checked by attorneys, and now an internet transit company will be operating a new service in the city. Following a vote of the city council on Monday, Twin Falls Downtowner LLC will operate a fleet of on-demand micro-transit services, for a two-year, $3 million pilot program funded by the Idaho Transportation Department. Assistant to the City Manager Mandy Thompson has guided the process of identifying and selecting a transit service. At Mondays city council meeting, Thompson told the council about the details of the contract. I have been talking public transportation since I started working for the city of Twin Falls, Thompson told the council. And that will be 10 years ago in December, so Im excited. After the 2020 census showed the citys population had surpassed 50,000 residents, federal regulations mandated a transit service. To meet these requirements, the city approved a $3 million funding agreement with the Idaho Transportation Department for a two-year pilot program for micro-transit services in November 2022. The city favored the idea of micro transit, a type of service that offers on-demand transit options, curb-to-curb, rather than a fixed-route bus system. Riders would schedule trips using an app, similar to other ride shares like Uber or Lyft. The city received three proposals from vendors interested in operating a transit service. A selection committee interviewed two of them, and, Thompson said, the choice was simple. It was a clear decision by all members of the selection committee that Downtowner was the entity the vendor and really the partner that we wanted to enter into this new endeavor with, Thompson said. Steven Murray, co-founder and CEO of Downtowner told the council that it was a privilege to be chosen as the vendor for the new service. Its a great responsibility to be the firm thats been chosen ... to bring public transportation back to the community, Murray told the council. We look forward to bringing ... a high-quality form of public transit thats accessible for everyone and very usable for everyone, no matter what kind of trip someone might be taken. The service will be available for anyone to use, whether the trips are for necessary transportation for people without cars, or for people who make a choice to leave their car at home and use transit instead. According to the contract, Downtowner will provide service six days a week. On weekdays, the transit will operate from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays. The contract calls for a fleet of seven minivans, each with a capacity of four adults with seat belts. A portion of the vans will be wheelchair accessible upon user request. Public transportation gap hits Twin Falls Nonprofit tries to keep up as city works on public transportation. To get a ride, customers can use an app to book or cancel trips. The app will also be used to make payments, request assistance, submit complaints, ask questions, request refunds, or receive general support. For people who dont use smartphones, there will be a telephone-based dial-a-ride to access the Downtowner services, although the actual mechanisms of how a person can pay for rides without using an app still need to be worked out. The Downtowner company is operating a similar pilot program in Idaho Falls, as well as other places like Jackson, Wyoming. Desert Creative Groups Dean wins 2023 SBA award Janeale Dean, owner and principal consultant of the Twin Falls-based Desert Creative Group, has been named the 2023 Woman-Owned Small Business Person of the Year by the Boise District of the U.S. Small Business Administration. I am so honored to have the opportunity to represent the woman-owned business community in Idaho this year! Dean said in a news release. This success isnt mine alone; I have an incredible circle of clients, staff, family, friends, mentors, peers, and loved ones who are always there offering support. Dean will be awarded during a ceremony on Wednesday, May 3, at 2:30 p.m. at the Desert Creative Group office, 164 Main Ave. N., as part of the districts recognition of National Small Business Week. Founded by Dean in 2017, Desert Creative Group is a full-service marketing and creative agency that works with organizations around the world, according to its website. Simpson announces hiring of Twin Falls aide Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson has announced the hiring of Jessica Hammond through the Green and Gold Congressional Aide Program, a two-year fellowship opportunity for veterans to work in congressional offices. Hammond, who will work in Simpsons office in Twin Falls, served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a bulk fuel specialist from 2016-20 at Camp Pendleton, California, according to a news release. We are fortunate to have Jessica advocating on behalf of veterans and military personnel in our district, Simpson said in the release. After her incredible military service, she understands the needs of veterans and is ready to assist in casework and other areas of need. Hammond can be reached at 208-734-7219, or via email at jessica.hammond@mail.house.gov. Also: The Hagerman Spring Fling & Wing , featuring antiques, appraisals, bird field trips, and arts and crafts, will be May 19 (noon to 7 p.m.) and May 20 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at Memorial Gym, 150 E. Lake St. W. Suggested admission donation is $3 per person, or $5 per family. For more information, email hagermanfun@gmail.com. , featuring antiques, appraisals, bird field trips, and arts and crafts, will be May 19 (noon to 7 p.m.) and May 20 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at Memorial Gym, 150 E. Lake St. W. Suggested admission donation is $3 per person, or $5 per family. For more information, email hagermanfun@gmail.com. The average price for a gallon of gas in Idaho this week was up six cents, to $3.64, nearly identical to the national average of $3.67, according to AAA Idaho. The most expensive prices to open the week were in California ($4.90), Hawaii ($4.77) and Arizona ($4.69), while Mississippi ($3.14) had the lowest per-gallon price. Times-News SAO PAULO About two weeks after a man killed four children in a Brazilian day care center, authorities already rounded up 302 adults and minors nationwide accused of spreading hate speech or stoking school violence. The unprecedented crackdown, which risks judicial overreach, underlines the determination of the country's response across federal, state and municipal levels to stamp out Brazil's emerging trend of school attacks. It also stands in contrast to the U.S., where such attacks have been more frequent and more deadly for a longer period, yet responses are incremental. U.S. actions and its perceived shortcomings are informing the Brazilian response, said Renan Theodoro, a researcher with Center for the Study of Violence at the University of Sao Paulo. "We have learned from the successes and the mistakes of other countries, especially the United States," Theodoro told The Associated Press. Brazil has seen almost two dozen attacks or violent episodes in schools since 2000, half of them in the last 12 months. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the notion of schools as safe havens has been "ruined." His government sought input from independent researchers and this past week convened a meeting of ministers, mayors and Supreme Court justices to discuss possible solutions. Some changes are in line with those implemented in the U.S., including the creation of hotlines, safety training for schools, federal funding for mental health, plus security equipment and infrastructure. Other measures such as the nationwide sweep for supposedly threatening suspects involving over 3,400 police officers, or the newly invigorated push to regulate social media platforms have not been enacted in the U.S. Many Brazilian states didn't wait for the federal response. Sao Paulo, for example, temporarily hired 550 psychologists to attend to its public schools, and hired 1,000 private security guards. Brazil's push garnered broad support in part because proposals haven't included restricting firearm access. School attacks in Brazil more often are carried out with other weapons, especially knives. Shootings in the U.S. often ignite debate, with Democrats urging gun control while Republicans push for stronger security measures. That usually ends in stalemate and legislation rarely passes, though a bipartisan compromise was approved last year. It toughened background checks and kept firearms from more domestic violence offenders, and allocated $1 billion for student mental health and school security. Other change has come more gradually since the 1999 Columbine High School massacre and the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. In almost every state, schools are now required to have safety plans that often include shooter drills. Many school districts have their own safety hotlines, and some use software to monitor social media for threats. Many U.S. states gave schools money for metal detectors, security officers, bulletproof doors and other measures stirring another debate over the policing of America's schools. Brazilian lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of Lula's far-right predecessor, was one of a few prominent voices calling for detectors and armed guards, citing some U.S. states as examples, and put forward a bill to make them obligatory at all schools. Lula said his government won't consider detectors nor backpack inspections. Luis Flavio Sapori, a senior associate researcher with the Brazilian Forum for Public Security, said Brazil adopted a mixed approach that stresses mental health care, preventive monitoring of threats and training for teachers in addition to policing. "In Brazil, we have a clear understanding, based on the U.S. experience, that merely investing in armed security in schools does not work, that police presence in schools doesn't hinder attacks," he said. "It only works to transform schools into prisons." Since the day care massacre, threats and rumors circulated on social media, stirring dread among students, educators and parents. The ministry empowered a national consumer agency to fine tech companies for not removing content perceived as glorifying school massacres, promoting violence or making threats. There also appears to be broad support for holding social media platforms accountable. At a recent meeting in the capital, Lula, his justice minister, two Supreme Court justices and the Senate's president voiced support for regulating the platforms, arguing that speech that is illegal in real life cannot be permitted online. "Either we have the courage to discuss the difference between freedom of expression and stupidity, or we won't get very far," Lula said. The Rights in Network Coalition, an umbrella group of 50 organizations focused on basic digital rights, expressed concern over giving the government the power to decide what can be said on social media. Some social media platforms that initially resisted compliance with takedown requests have come around and, in the prior 10 days, removed or suspended more than 750 profiles, Justice Minister Flavio Dino said. When a man hopped over the wall of a day care center in Santa Catarina state and killed four children with a hatchet April 5, state prosecutors called on news media to refrain from sharing images or identifying the killer, citing research that this can encourage other attackers. Behemoth media conglomerate Grupo Globo announced it would no longer name nor portray perpetrators of such crimes in its broadcasts or publications. O Estado de S. Paulo, one of Brazil's biggest newspapers, followed suit. CNN Brasil and Band also made the change. In the U.S., outlets have began efforts to use shooters' names sparingly and to focus on victims' stories, largely due to advocacy by victims' relatives. Some ceased running profiles of school shooters. Idaho has never been perfect, but over the long haul, Idahoans have generally been practical in their politics and tolerant in their dealings with one another. The Idaho Territory was given life by President Abraham Lincoln on March 4, 1863, in the midst of the Civil War. Statehood followed in 1890. Idaho residents were concerned with real problems getting the Gem State up and running, bringing water to the arid soil, establishing businesses to serve the natural resource industries and setting up a government that would operate with a light, pragmatic hand to do what individuals could not accomplish on their own. I have followed Idaho politics since 1966, when I cut my teeth in the reelection campaign of former Republican Sen. Len Jordan. With glitches here and there along the way, we have done a pretty good job of working together to advance our common interests. Things occasionally got contentious, but throughout the 20th century, there was a live-and-let-live attitude amongst Idahoans, both in the personal and political spheres. That has largely disappeared in this new century. In recent times, Idahoans have been turned against one another by disruptive out-of-state actors. I attribute it to two main factors: The influence of extreme-right media outlets, primarily Fox News, and the closure of the Republican primary in 2012. Fox has fueled fierce culture wars over imaginary issues that are designed to fill its corporate bank accounts. Fox talking heads have spewed out a wide range of misinformation on fake issues to increase its viewership by sowing fear and outrage. For just one instance, Tucker Carlson practically invented critical race theory as a nationwide issue in September 2020. With the help of extremist groups like the Idaho Freedom Foundation, the hysteria spread to Idaho in 2021, resulting in the passage of a confusing law that will eventually be found unconstitutional. There have been so many similar issues that Carlson and other Fox troublemakers have invented to inflame anger that it is hard to keep up. Perhaps no issue has grabbed more public attention than the Fox lies regarding the 2020 election. Despite failing to produce any evidence to back up the false claim that Donald Trump had won, Carlson and others have flogged the claim on a continual basis for the last two years. The other factor that has influenced the toxic nature of Idaho politics is the closing of the GOP primary election in 2012. It was intended to result in a much more conservative Republican Legislature and it has succeeded beyond belief. Just a small minority of Idaho voters have a say in who serves in the Legislature in most districts of this one-party state. Since the extremists have captured the party machinery in most counties, an even smaller group of voters is able to elect the most extreme candidates in most districts. Extreme right groups like IFF and the Idaho Family Policy Center, which engineered the recently-enacted transgender medical care prohibition, took their lead from Fox to interfere with the family medical decisions of this bullied population. It would never have been possible without the extremist-controlled Legislature brought into being by a primary system that allows a minority of Idaho voters to control a majority of the seats in the states lawmaking body. Im dreaming of a day when Idaho can return to its roots as a tolerant place where people are willing to live and let live. An Idaho where a minority is no longer able to capture the governmental machinery and employ it against the majority of Republican, independent and Democratic voters. It will all start with eliminating the closed GOP primary. That time may be closer than many suspect. Do you always feel pleasure during sex? If youre a woman, theres a high chance that the answer is no. And its only partly because your partner comes up, well, short. While men can openly share details about sexual proclivities, Filipino women remain apprehensive when it comes to talking about sexual desires and pleasures. The result: the misconception that female pleasure is elusive, undefinable, and taboo. How has it come to this? And how can Filipino men and women come together towards fun and pleasure for all? From left: TV and movie actress Donna Cariaga with Comedy Manilas Jeannie Laccay and Issa Villaverde Condom brand Durex recently celebrated Womens Month with LOL for All, Pleasure for All, a stand-up comedy show headlined by women that aimed to open up conversation about exploring female pleasure for all via comedy. After all, if men cant rise up for female pleasure, who better get the job done than women themselves? Held at SELTSAM in Makati City on March 30, LOL for All, Pleasure for All featured some of the best female stand-up comedians in the country today: Comedy Manilas Issa Villaverde and Jeannie Laccay, and TV and movie actress Donna Cariaga. ADVERTISEMENT The three Ladies of Laughter shared personal and intimate experiences about sex, pleasure, and what its like to be a woman exploring her sexuality (in a healthy and responsible way, of course) in the Philippines using their signature comedic stylings. Villaverde, who openly identifies as a bisexual woman, put the spotlight on machismo. Male pride can sometimes hinder men from providing pleasure to their partners, she said. I find that straight men are very ma-pride when it comes to sex. Ang daming mayayabang na, Babe, hindi ko kailangan ng lube. Pare, walang nagfafake ng orgasm sa akin, pare. Kaya I appreciate that the girls I am dating know what pleasure is. So guys, please dont hesitate to use lube. Like, thats how we come together, she quipped. Meanwhile, Laccay pointed out the similarities of comedy and sex. In both comedy and sex, men always come first in more ways than one. But women are just as capable as men, she explained. Were used to having men doing stand-up, right? So medyo effort sa amin dito na magpatawa. But its okay because I always challenge myself. Like, I really want a job that most men are good at and Im proud to tell you that Ive finally made it. Isa na po akong tambay, she said in jest. Laccay also noted the importance of protection in exploring pleasure: Yung gusto ko sa Durex, hindi ka na mage-effort for cosplay. Kapag suotin mo yung condom, feeling mo may superpower ka na. Kapag suot mo, I am Pleasuremax Man! Ililgitas kita sa STD. Masaya ka, safe ka pa. O di ba, ang saya? Cariaga poked fun at how men are celebrated for their sexuality, but women are sometimes shamed for it. Sa Pilipinas, ang sex ay mas advantage rin ng mga lalaki. Tignan ninyo, ang lalaki, kapag may bakat, ang sikip ng pantalon niya, badge of honor niya yun, di ba? Pero bakit ang babae kapag may camel toe, hindi pwedeng masikip lang ang underwear namin today? she shared. Dahil sa mga ganitong programa, nabibigyan ng boses ang mga babae. Dahil sa totoo lang, meron pa rin tayong social construct na kailangang basagin sa usapang sex ng babae at lalaki. Kailangan na natin siyang basagin. More than providing rib-tickling funny jokes for pleasure, LOL for All, Pleasure for All gave women an avenue to talk about what makes them feel good, allowing them to champion self-acceptance and feel empowered to enjoy and explore what makes them a woman and how they feel pleasure. Everyone, after all, deserves to have fun and pleasure, said Camille Taguba, Durex Philippines Brand Manager. Im very happy to close Womens Month with this very sexy, pleasurable, and fun night with our funny ladies. Whenever with our condoms, lubricants, or toys, we want to equip you to explore your pleasure and we want to open up the conversation with sex and pleasure, Taguba ended. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Shakahola, Kenya The death toll from a suspected Kenyan starvation cult climbed to 90 on Tuesday, including many children, as police said investigators were pausing the search for bodies because the morgues were full. The discovery of mass graves in Shakahola forest near the coastal town of Malindi has shocked Kenyans, with cult leader Paul Mackenzie Nthenge accused of driving his followers to death by preaching that starvation was the only path to God. There are fears more corpses could be found as search teams unearthed 17 bodies on Tuesday, with investigators saying children made up the majority of victims of what has been dubbed the Shakahola Forest Massacre. Kenyas government has vowed to crack down on fringe religious outfits in the largely Christian country. We dont know how many more graves, how many more bodies, we are likely to discover, Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki told reporters, adding the crimes were serious enough to warrant terrorism charges against Nthenge. ADVERTISEMENT Those who urged others to fast and die were eating and drinking and they were purporting that they were preparing them to meet their creator. The majority of the dead were children, according to three sources close to the investigation, highlighting the macabre nature of the cults alleged practices which included urging parents to starve their offspring. The majority of the bodies exhumed are children, a forensic investigator told AFP on condition of anonymity. The horror is traumatising An officer from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) also confirmed that children accounted for more than half of the victims, followed by women. Hussein Khalid, executive director of the rights group Haki Africa that tipped off the police to Nthenges activities, told AFP that the cult appeared to require children to starve first, followed by women, and finally men. He said 50 to 60 percent of the victims were children, whose bodies were found wrapped in cotton shrouds. The horror that we have seen over the last four days is traumatising. Nothing prepares you for shallow mass graves of children, he said. Investigators told AFP they found bodies squeezed into shallow pits with up to six people inside one grave while others were simply left exposed in the open air. As the fatalities mounted, the DCI officer told AFP that search teams would have to pause their efforts until autopsies were completed. We wont dig for a couple of days, so we have time to do the autopsies because the mortuaries are full, he said on condition of anonymity. The state-run Malindi Sub-County Hospital had warned that its morgue was running out of space to store the bodies and was already operating well over capacity. The hospital mortuary has a capacity of 40 bodies, said the hospitals administrator Said Ali, adding that officials had reached out to the Kenya Red Cross for refrigerated containers. Kindiki said 34 people had been found alive so far in the 325-hectare (800-acre) area of woodland. It is believed that some followers of Nthenges Good News International Church could still be hiding in the bush around Shakahola and at risk of death if not quickly found. Unacceptable ideology Kenyas President William Ruto has vowed to take action against rogue pastors like Nthenge who want to use religion to advance weird, unacceptable ideology, comparing them to terrorists. As the investigation unfolds, questions have emerged about how the cult was able to operate undetected despite Nthenge attracting police attention six years ago. The televangelist had been arrested in 2017 on charges of radicalisation after urging families not to send their children to school, saying education was not recognised by the Bible. Nthenge was arrested again last month, according to local media, after two children starved to death in the custody of their parents. He was released on bail of 100,000 Kenyan shillings ($700) before surrendering to police following the Shakahola raid. Nthenge is due to appear in court on May 2. The Kenya Red Cross said 212 people had been reported missing to its support staff in Malindi, out of which two were reunited with their families. The case has prompted calls for tighter control of fringe denominations in a country with a troubling history of self-declared pastors and cults that have dabbled in criminality. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Philippines Nebojsa Koharovic has paid a courtesy visit to former President and currently House Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at her residence in Quezon City. Arroyo said both countries can do a lot of things together bilaterally on the back of 30 years of Philippine-Croatia relations. She mentioned that the Philippines is seeking to maintain its GSP-Plus (Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus) or GSP+, which is one of the specialized incentive arrangements of the Europena Union (EU) for sustainable development and good governance in the form of zero duties. Croatia is a member of the EU. Arroyo also relayed the Philippines pursuit of Croatias support for the formers bid to the United Nations Security Council as a non-government member. This will be for the term 2027 to 2028 at elections to be held in 2026 in New York. Arroyo recalled her stint as UN Security Council Summit President in 2005, The last time it happened, I was president (of the Philippines) (and) we had a summit, so I presided over the heads of states who were in the Security Council. We had a resolution about terrorism that every country would have an anti-terrorism legislation, Arro said. ADVERTISEMENT She expressed the Philippine support for Croatias forthcoming candidature to the Human Rights Council. We are supporting you of it for human rights. So, its very important of countries like you, who were once upon a time very intimately connected with Russia, to be able to (give) your point of view in the council, she said. For his part, Ambassador Koharovic explained that Croatia is seeking a seat in the Human Rights Commission to put things in context. Arroyo thanked Koharovic for the visit on Tuesday. She also mentioned that her daughter, Lourdes Arroyo-Bernas, the Philippine Ambassador to Austria, is accredited in Croatia. You met my daughter and she is going to be ambassador to your country, and we are visiting your country. (And) we will stay longest in Croatia, she said. Koharovic assured Arroyo that they will do everything to prepare for her visit in Croatia in June. Arroyo presented Koharovic with a a silver plate with the Baybayin inscription Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan ng Republika ng Pilipinas. as a souvenir from the House of Representatives. Ambassador Koharovic also presented his gift to SDS Arroyo. With Arroyo were Inter-Parliamentary Relations Service Director Menchie Dulay and Protocol and Special Affairs Service Director Karen Reside. Consul A.H. Francis Wee and her mother, Rosalind Wee who is the wife of the former Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia H.E.Leehiong T. Wee, accompanied Koharovic during the call. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. By Rey E. Requejo, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta A Filipino was wounded by a stray bullet in Sudan, while a Philippine ambassador figured in a car accident on his way to oversee evacuation efforts in the war-torn African country, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday. The unidentified Filipino was wounded in the hand by a stray bullet but he has received treatment, DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said, adding that no Filipinos were reported killed. Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to Egypt Ezzedin Tago was on his way to the border between Egypt and Sudan when his vehicle was involved in an accident, Daza said. He was unharmed and returned to Cairo to facilitate the entry of Filipino evacuees to Egypt, Daza said. ADVERTISEMENT As of Wednesday morning, the DFA has deployed seven buses carrying around 300 repatriates from Sudan to Egypt, said Undersecretary Ed de Vega, who said processing at the Egyptian border was taking over a day. Our Embassy is sending teams to try to fix it, he said. The DFA said there were 740 registered Filipinos in Sudan. The evacuation buses took Filipinos to Cairo, over 2,000 kilometers north of Khartoum. Daza said getting buses to transport Filipinos out of Sudan was also challenging, given their scarcity and high rental rates. So far, 80 Filipinos have left Sudan, while 270 others are requesting repatriation, data from the DFA showed. Most are professionals, while some work on farms or are students, Daza said. Philippine Honorary Consul Tariq has distributed welfare assistance to priority groups including senior citizens and families with small children in Khartoum, she said. Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople, who is also expected to be in Egypt, earlier said that the Philippine government would provide $200 for each Filipino evacuee from Sudan. The fighting in Sudan, which has left some neighborhoods of its capital in ruins, broke out on April 15 between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy-turned-rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). At least 459 people have been killed and more than 4,000 have been wounded across Africas third-biggest country, according to UN agencies. A US-brokered ceasefire between the two generals entered its second day on Wednesday but remained fragile after witnesses reported fresh air strikes and paramilitaries claimed to have seized a major oil refinery and power plant. Security fears were compounded when the World Health Organization (WHO) warned Tuesday of a huge biological risk after fighters occupied a Khartoum laboratory holding samples of cholera, measles, polio, and other infectious diseases. Sudan, one of the worlds poorest nations, has a history of military coups. The two warring generals seized power in the 2021 coup, but later fell out, most recently over the planned integration of the RSF into the regular army. Some Filipinos in Sudan are taking their fate into their own hands by fleeing the African nation by themselves. Anthony Buhay and John Emil Deza, both Filipino workers in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, no longer waited for assistance from the Philippine Embassy in Egypt, which has jurisdiction over Sudan, after renting buses just to take them out of the center of the clashes. Buhay said he joined a group of evacuees, including Filipinos, who rented a bus for Egypt; while Deza traveled by a private car with his family bound for Soba, also in Sudan, to seek temporary refuge. They made the move as the Philippine government struggled to evacuate them and the bullets started raining on the streets. There were already bombardments in front of our house Its really hard. All the stress. No food, no water. Everythings gone, Deza said in a TV interview. A number of stranded Filipinos were among those evacuated by the French government in Sudan. France continues its evacuation operations launched in Khartoum for French nationals and citizens of other countries, including the Philippines, wanting to leave Sudan, the French Embassy in the Philippines said, without specifying the number of Filipinos evacuated from war-torn Sudan. The French navy frigate Lorraine also assisted the United Nations in the evacuation underway in Port Sudan. Since the start of the operation, a total of 538 people have been evacuated, including 209 French nationals and foreign nationals from 41 other countries. Senator Imee Marcos said the Department of Migrant Workers should evacuate the more than 400 Filipino workers in Sudan. We have to ask the DMW when will be the earliest possible opportunity for them to bring back home the Filipinos who are in danger in Sudan. It seems the situation (in Sudan) is becoming worse. we really do not know until when will they respect the ceasefire, Marcos said. In the House, Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo appealed to the DFA and the DMW to provide assistance to Filipino workers trapped in Sudan. Time is of the essence. We need to evacuate our fellow Filipinos before the country completely submerges into conflict. I trust that the DFA and the DMW are on top of the situation, Salo said. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. There is no question that EDCA caught the Chinese by surprise and did not expect the developments to move so fast We do not know whether the latest statement by DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo that no refueling, reloading and repairing can be done by the United States in any EDCA military base in case China invades Taiwan was a unilateral decision by the Philippines or was a result of discussions with the US government. Instead of simply saying EDCA is for defensive purposes only, Secretary Manalo seem to have gone out of his way to respond to the Chinese Ambassadors remonstrations. Are we now getting rattled every time the Chinese Ambassador opens his mouth and issues a warning? We would hope not. Anyway, PBBM is about to visit the US for talks with President Joe Biden and, hopefully, this Taiwan issue will be tackled and clarified. ADVERTISEMENT The four additional joint EDCA bases, three of which are in Region 2, have certainly riled China and given more ammunition to the critics of the administration to become more vociferous. To China, Taiwan is a renegade province although China never governed Taiwan throughout its history. The whole world, however, knows that China wants Taiwan because it will provide an unimpeded access to the vast Pacific Ocean. This matters very much to Japan and the United States. But should this also matter to us? Filipinos are understandably wary in getting involved in any military conflict between China and the US concerning Taiwan. Why indeed should a small poor country like us get involved in a conflict that has no or very little strategic value to us. To many among us, it does not matter if China acquires an unimpeded access to the Pacific Ocean so long as it plays by the rules and respects the territorial integrity of small countries like us. But that is precisely the issue as far as we are concerned. China has reclaimed four small islands in our exclusive economic zone in the WPS, militarized them then stationed so-called militia ships to prohibit our fishermen from fishing in our own traditional fishing grounds. China with its military base at Scarborough Shoal is actually now nearer to us than those three joint bases in the Provinces of Cagayan and Isabela to Taiwan. Yet, China is furious with our Balikatan military exercises and our revitalized military alliance with the US. With the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister, Secretary Manalo said the WPS issue with China does not define our overall relationship with China. True enough, but when it comes to territorial disputes it actually is the whole issue. So, we have to make up our minds and decide exactly what it is that we want. And once we have made that decision, we must stick with it come what may. Many might also be wondering that unlike the other countries in the region who are trying their best to position themselves so they will not be caught in the middle in case hell will break loose, we seem to be doing the opposite. This is at least the view of some who do not agree with what the government is doing especially in the selection of the four additional Philippine military facilities that will be shared with the United States military. A naval base and two airports just a short distance from Taiwan do appear to indicate the probable purposes of these bases. Those who are against the additional EDCA bases see the selection as inviting possible retaliatory actions from the Chinese in case that country does decide to invade Taiwan. On the other hand, not strengthening our defense capability there and leaving the area devoid of any military resources would be foolhardy in case hostilities do erupt in the Taiwan Strait. In fact, many would argue strengthening our military bases is exactly the right thing to do if we do not want to be caught flatfooted. Besides the government has stated very clearly all these nine selected shared bases are for the defense of the country and are not directed on any particular country. The joint bases are essentially for deterrence and self-defense only. PBBM himself also said the four additional bases shared with the Americans will not be used for any offensive military action. It is not clear, however, what the President means by the word offensive in relation to a possible US-Chinese conflict because of Taiwan. If China will indeed keep its word and invade Taiwan in the coming years and the US will go to the defense of Taiwan by using some of the EDCA shared bases in Northern Luzon, would this be considered offensive military actions as stated by PBBM? Perhaps, PBBM should clarify this during his trip to Washington DC. There is no question that EDCA caught the Chinese by surprise and did not expect the developments to move so fast. Nonetheless, the rhetoric should cool down to pave the way for meaningful talks. We cannot afford to let things get out of hand because the stakes are simply too high. For us, this issue is not going away anytime soon and will occupy PBBMs attention for the remaining five years of his administration. Let us just hope he navigates it right for the sake of the people and country. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. We wish our president a successful visit to the US of A just as we hope the American government will treat its former colony as an equal partner in their Far East An Austrian delegation came to town recently and met with our migrant worker department officials. They are in need of many medical workers, particularly nurses, and are offering top price, about four times what our private hospitals pay their health workers. Surely, there will be a long line of applicants willing to learn the German language which is a requirement for them to work in Austria and though German is rather difficult to learn for Filipinos, try our hopeful nurses certainly will. We are all happy that more OFWs will mean more dollars coming in to prop up an economy whose agriculture is fading and whose manufacturing sector is dependent on raw material and factory supply imports. But our health system, already burdened by lack of infrastructure and vanishing personnel resources on top of the high cost of medical care and pharmaceutical remedies, will be more and more challenged by the migration to other countries. ADVERTISEMENT North America, the UK and Europe also want our nurses and physical therapists. Soon, our hospitals will have fewer and fewer medical professionals to care for the health needs of our 114 million population, and more. Todays solutions, tomorrows problems. Even war-threatened Taiwan wants more Filipino workers. They are in a demographic winter, with fewer Taiwanese entrants to the labor force, and the few who are of working age prefer cushy office jobs to factory work. Three ASEAN countries constitute the bulk of migrant workers in Taiwan: Vietnamese who find some facility in learning Mandarin; Filipinos who are conversant in English; and Indonesians who constitute the bulk of the caregivers for their many senior citizens. When I left Taipei in the middle of 2021, there were around 180,000 kababayans working mostly in factories, and some caregivers and fishermen. Now, MECO Chairman Silvestre Bello III said in a recent interview we have some 200,000 OFWs in the island. Because the Taiwanese government wants its students to learn English, they are now hiring more and more Filipino teachers, and offering salaries thrice what they earn in our country. Soon we will have a dearth of qualified teachers in our country, while our population continues to grow by 1.3 pervcent annually, or about a million and a half more each year who will go to school six years thereafter. Again, todays solutions; tomorrows problems. The AFP spokesman, brimming with enthusiasm at the site of 17,000 joint American and Filipino soldiers doing their Balikatan, and after the governments announcement that four new sites will be accorded EDCA accreditation, proudly declares there is a possibility that more and more locations in the Philippines will be lent to the US. We need a full security cover, something like a 360-degree or all-around security umbrella to protect our sovereignty and maritime resources, he stated. Soon, our officials may resurrect the ardent desire of many to be incorporated into the Union, as the 51st state of mighty and mightily-failing America. Which of course, the Trumpian supporters and the WASPs will reject forcefully. Imagine 65 million voters coming from the Philippines, which has a land area smaller than California? With that number, we can elect Manny Pacquiao president of the US of A, where he after all maintains some kind of domicile. Reading between the lines of statements issued after Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang, a good personal friend of our Philippine Ambassador to Beijing, Jimmy Flor Cruz, met with the president and before that, Secretary Enrique Manalo and DFA officials, it seems that testy relations of late have been cooled. Chill lang, as we stated in our previous article last week, or better yet, chill muna. No sooner had Minister Qin left Manila than the AFP spokesman enthusiastically foresaw more EDCA sites all over the archipelago, some kind of 360-degree security blanket. Okay then, why not another EDCA site in Burgos, Ilocos Norte or Laoag City where there is an international airport? After all, if Puerto Princesa and Mactans international airports are now EDCA sites, should Senator Imee object to Laoag? Or maybe add Davao International Airport, if we want 360-degree cover. Over former President Dutertes dead body though. Despite statements the relations between China and the Philippines are now hunky-dory, watch how the promised investments and bilateral aid will grind exceedingly slow in the following months and years. Watch too how tourists from China, and never mind the dwindled POGO workers, dash the hopes of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco for a renaissance of the 2018-2019 numbers when a million and more came to the country from the mainland. As for American tourists, well, they are mostly balikbayans who will come every Christmas season anyway, or during their hometown fiestas. Ah, but we can count the American soldiers coming in for Balikatan and to construct temporary facilities in the EDCA sites as tourists, ne cest pas? For Olongapo, it will be happy days are here again! And Harry Roque will have more rape and sexual assault victims to lawyer for. Meanwhile Chinese ambassador to France Lu Shaye, in a televised interview last Friday, said countries which emerged after the fall of the Soviet Union dont have effective status under international law because there is not an international agreement confirming their status as sovereign nations. What school of international relations did this guy graduate from? The furor was so great all over that the French foreign ministry summoned Lu for a rebuke, while the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, once also annexed by the Soviets would likewise summon him to explain. Meanwhile, Russias foreign minister, the durable Sergei Lavrov spoke before the United Nations where he warned the world faces extremely dangerous times, and faced a boycott of US, UK and EU representatives. Qin Gang has a lot of work to do polishing Chinas international image with guys like Lu and Huang under his supervision. Never since the Cold War has the whole world been so polarized. President Marcos Jr. hies off to the US for a four-day working visit where he will meet his counterpart in the White House, who this week played host to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol who will be on a state visit till Friday. Yoon also addressed a joint session of the US Congress and today will deliver a speech at Harvard after visiting the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The US and South Korea are commemorating 70 years of alliance at a time when the North and South were shooting at each other, and the Philippines sent a military contingent where one of our great presidents, Fidel V. Ramos, soldiered, with one of our contemporary heroes, then just 17-year old Ninoy Aquino reported for the Manila Times. At the time, barely a decade after the end of the Pacific War, we were economically better off than South Korea, considered a beacon of democracy in Asia. Now South Korea, despite its continuing conflict with its North. is a First World country despite a paucity of natural resources. We wish our president a successful visit to the US of A just as we hope the American government will treat its former colony as an equal partner in their Far East. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Strickland to talk about book, Moonshine and Salteens Retired teacher to be at BHC on May 9 Brenda Strickland will talk about her first novel, Moonshine and Salteens, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 9, at the Bassett Historical Center. The program is free to the public. The book tells the story of Shirley Dalton, a retired educator who lives in a town known for making good moonshine. She and her retired friends call themselves the Salteens, because they enjoy visiting salt caves at the beach. There, they uncover a murder, and their amateur investigation leads to the discovery of more. Strickland is a former resident of Henry County and a retired teacher from Henry County and Martinsville. She holds many degrees and has written nine nonfiction teacher resource books. She will have copies of her books available to purchase. Heres what happened locally on April 26 over the past century, as reported in this newspaper, which went from being called the Henry Bulletin to the Daily Bulletin to the Martinsville Bulletin: 1923: Henry Countys large delegation of Confederate Veterans who attended the Reunion in New Orleans last week, returned last Sunday morning in high spirits. They reported a wonderful trip, but the reunion only surpassed last years reunion in numbers. One veteran said the biggest thing he saw was the gun-boat Galveston. 1948: The mobile X-Ray truck of the State Health Department will return to Henry county this week. Employees of Martinsville firms who were examined earlier and were recommended for X-Rays on large films are requested to contact their plant manager so no time will be lost from work. Employees here will be X-rayed today and Wednesday in the Red Cross office in the courthouse. In Bassett the X-ray machine will be in the Bassett Manufacturing Company plant Thursday and Friday. 1973: State Air pollution control officials are again threatening Henry County with legal action for not complying with open burning regulations. Regional Air Pollution Control Board Director Ivan Henson said today that unless the county begins enforcing a local dump burning ban he may request that the county appear before the June meeting of the air control board subject to stiff penalties. 1998: Almost all the remaining DuPont employees here have joined a new workers group seeking increased pension benefits in anticipation of the nylon plants scheduled June closing, a group spokesman said. DuPont manufacturing technician Steve Rose said Thursday that 404 of about 450 remaining workers each contributed $100 to join the group, called The DuPont Shutdown Defense Committee. Rose noted that only 14 of the remaining workers are eligible for full pension benefits. The rest are waiting to learn what severance package the company will offer this week. Each summer in the western part of North Carolina, a special kind of firefly offers a Christmas tree light show for the lucky viewers who can snag tickets. We like to call it a Christmas light show because there are literally thousands of fireflies twinkling in the trees, said Clyde Sorenson, an entomologist from N.C. State University and a leading expert in firefly research. Great Smoky Mountain National Park has been offering a synchronous firefly viewing event for the past 20 years, and theres always high demand. In late April, firefly viewing dates will be announced, and youll have the opportunity to enter the ticket lottery. As of just last year, Grandfather Mountain has offered a similar event. In 2019, Sorenson discovered a rare species of synchronous fireflies at Grandfather. The Congaree National Park firefly viewing lottery closed in mid-April. This years synchronous light show in South Carolina which Sorenson considers to be the most famous of the Carolina firefly events will be held May 13-16 and May 19-24. Heres everything we know about the events and how you can enter the North Carolina lotteries: How to enter Great Smoky Mountains firefly lottery Here are the estimated dates for the 2023 firefly lottery at Great Smoky Mountain, according to the national parks website: Tuesday, April 25: Firefly viewing dates announced. This year the dates are June 4-11. Friday, April 28: Lottery for vehicle passes opens at 10 a.m. All lottery applicants will be charged a $1 application fee. Successful applicants will be given parking passes, then $24 will be charged to the same credit or debit card used for the application. Monday, May 1: Lottery for vehicle passes closes at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 11: All lottery applicants will be notified of their application decision (successful or unsuccessful). Viewing information: The firefly viewing event will span eight days, and applicants choose their preferred date with one backup option. Seven people are allowed per vehicle, and 100 passes will be issued per day (800 total). Location: The viewing will be held near Elkmont Campground in Tennessee. Parking spots are in the Jakes Creek Trailhead Parking lot, the Appalachian Clubhouse Parking lot and along the exit roadway. Learn more: Find more information by searching Synchronous Fireflies on nps.gov, or searching The Great Smoky Mountains Firefly Viewing Lottery on recreation.gov. For questions, call 865-436-1261. How to enter Grandfather Mountains firefly lottery Heres whats known about this summers firefly viewing event at Grandfather Mountain, according to their website: Sign up for updates: Event logistics, such as ticket pricing, will be announced on Tuesday, May 2. The event dates will be announced May 23, and tickets will go on sale in the days following this announcement. You can sign up to receive emails about the announcement by visiting grandfather.com/fireflies. The first Grandfather Glows event was in 2022, allowing the public to see the ever-special Photinus carolinus fireflies with their own eyes. Just listen to the name: This is a Carolina firefly, which is a cool thing to emphasize, Sorenson said. Last years viewing dates were June 26, June 29 and July 1. Tickets were $60 for adults and $35 for children (ages 4 and under were free). Participation was limited to 200 attendees. What are synchronous fireflies? Synchronous fireflies are part of the few dozen species of fireflies in the Carolinas. The males flash in unison as a mating ritual, illuminating portions of dark forests synchronously. This all-together practice allows female fireflies to recognize theyre responding to one of their own kind, according to the National Parks Service. The other firefly species flashing at night may be predatory, so its important the females recognize males from her own species. The flash pattern of Photinus carolinus is a series of five to eight flashes, followed by a pause of about eight seconds, and then this pattern is repeated. Initially the flashing appears random, but the period of darkness is synchronized, NPS explained. As more males start joining in, the flashing will also begin to synchronize and entire sections of the forest will be pulsating with light. Throughout 2023, the town of Old Fort is marking its 150th anniversary and the latest part of the continuing celebration kicks off this Thursday. The 150 Project launches monthly historic talks starting this week at the Old Fort Depot. The fourth Thursday of each month will feature a historic talk about life or individuals in Old Forts history. You can check with the projects Facebook page for any updates or changes. This Thursday, April 27 starting at 6 p.m., a talk will be presented by John Ronda Lewis about Col. Dan Adams. The talk will last from 6 to 8 p.m. All are welcome to attend. A booth about the 150 Project and related Old Fort community groups, activities, and events will also be set up, according to a news release. Col. Dan Adams was an important person in the growth and development of Old Fort. He was an inventor and a pioneer in hydroelectric power for the town. He was also the designer and builder of the first forest fire tower used on national forest property. Additionally, the 150 Project is launching the Oral History Archive Project this Thursday April 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. Folks who would like contribute their oral histories can come to the Old Fort Depot and share the stories about their lives or families to be recorded via audio and/or video. The content will be shared on social media and archived for a time capsule-like project within the Old Fort community. You can email The 150 Project with interest at the150projectoldfort@gmail.com, message the leaders of the 150 Project on Facebook, or show up in-person during the hours suggested. You may also fill out a Google form available here: https://forms.gle/qk6UvZwggeR3wEDa9 The 150 Project is a collaborative effort aimed to celebrate the 150th anniversary for the Town of Old Fort. Learn more here: https://www.facebook.com/The150ProjectOldFort The first plane of the Moroccan flag carrier, Royal Air Maroc, coming from Sudan landed, Wednesday morning at Mohammed V Airport, with on board 136 Moroccan nationals evacuated from Sudan, after the deterioration of the security situation in this country. The evacuation of Moroccans from Sudan takes place pursuant to the High Instructions of King Mohammed VI to ensure the repatriation of Moroccan nationals from this country in the best conditions. On Monday, a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates said that following the recent events in the Republic of Sudan and the deterioration of the security situation in this brotherly country, King Mohammed VI, has given His High Instructions to ensure the repatriation of Moroccan nationals from this country. In accordance with the High Royal Instructions, the services of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Sudan have, in a first phase, organized a land caravan from the capital Khartoum to the city of Port Sudan, which benefited more than 200 Moroccan nationals established in Sudan or whose presence in this country coincided with this difficult domestic situation, added the ministry, specifying that this land caravan arrived Monday evening safely in the city of Port-Sudan. The King has also given His High Instructions for the organization of an airlift in coordination with Royal Air Maroc (RAM) to ensure the repatriation of Moroccan nationals and their families in the best conditions, according to the statement. Sudan has been experiencing violent clashes between elements of the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 15, leaving hundreds dead and thousands injured. Women with triple-negative breast cancer who received multiple antibiotic prescriptions within three years after their cancer diagnosis were more likely to experience disease recurrence and to die from their cancer than those who took fewer courses of the drugs, according to a study by researchers at Stanford Medicine. The effect on survival was not due to differences in cancer severity, the study showed. The risk increased substantially with the total number and types of antibiotics prescribed for each patient. Each additional antibiotic increased the risk of death between 5% and 18% relative to patients who werent prescribed antibiotics, said Julia Ransohoff, MD, a fellow in hematology and medical oncology at the Stanford School of Medicine. It is important to interpret these findings with caution, however. We cant let life-threatening infections go untreated. But this study suggests that we consider how best to treat them without raising the risk of cancer recurrence. Ransohoff is the lead author of the study, which was published online April 12 in Nature Communications. Allison Kurian, MD, professor of medicine and of epidemiology and population health, and Ami Bhatt, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine and of genetics, are the senior authors of the study. These findings offer insight into the role of the immune system, and factors that may perturb its function, in fighting the most aggressive type of breast cancer, Kurian said. Gaining a better understanding of this process will be important to guide patient care. Effect on a type of immune cell The researchers studied 772 women who were diagnosed between January 2000 and May 2014 and treated at Stanford Health Care or Palo Alto Medical Foundation. They found that treatment with antimicrobials (a class of drugs that includes antibiotics to treat bacterial infections and antifungals to treat fungal infections) was associated with a decrease in the numbers of an immune cell called lymphocytes circulating in a patients blood. Lymphocyte numbers have been shown to correlate with response to treatment and overall survival in people with breast cancer. (Although the researchers studied total antimicrobial prescriptions, 99% of the women in the study who were prescribed antimicrobials received antibiotics.) South Africas ruling ANC has called for the country, criticized since the start of the war in Ukraine for its closeness to Moscow, to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC), President Cyril Ramaphosa said Tuesday. The Hague-based ICC issued an arrest warrant in March for Russian President Vladimir Putin for the war crime of deporting Ukrainian children. Pretoria is due to host a BRICS summit in August, a group of countries including South Africa, Brazil, China, India and Russia. As a member of the ICC, the country is theoretically supposed to arrest the Russian president upon his arrival in the country. The ruling party has decided that it is prudent for South Africa to withdraw from the ICC, Ramaphosa said at a press conference following a visit by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto. The African National Congress (ANC) met over the week-end. The question of whether South Africa will stop Putin is under consideration, the Head of state added. Ramaphosa explained that the decision was made largely because of what is perceived as unfair treatment of some countries by the court. We would like to see this issue of unfair treatment discussed properly, but in the meantime, the ruling party has decided once again that we should withdraw, Ramaphosa said. In the afternoon this 25th April, the South African Presidency emphasized that the country is still a member of the ICC. South Africa had previously sought to withdraw from the ICC in 2016 after a visit by former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. Pretoria had refused to arrest the latter, who was also the subject of an arrest warrant from the court. But Pretorias withdrawal was thwarted by the countrys judiciary, which ruled that such a decision would be unconstitutional. An African diplomatic power, South Africa has refused to condemn Moscow since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, claiming to adopt a neutral position. Cholera cases in Mozambique have increased tenfold since February, with more than 28,000 people infected in the southern African country still reeling from the passage of deadly cyclone Freddy, Unicef warned Tuesday. More than 28,000 cases of cholera have been recorded in Mozambique, Guy Taylor, spokesman for the Mozambican branch of the UN agency, which has distributed 2.4 million doses of oral vaccine in the country, told a news conference in Geneva. This is ten times the number recorded at the beginning of February, and more than half of the cases are children, he continued, adding that the numbers continue to rise. The interruption of water supply, hygiene and sanitation services caused by the cyclone has increased the spread. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the disease has killed 123 people in Mozambique since late last year. An acute diarrheal infection caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with bacteria, cholera is on the rise, especially in Africa, according to the WHO. According to UNICEF, Freddy destroyed a hundred health facilities and 250 water points in Mozambique, depriving about 300,000 people of drinking water, mainly in the center of the country, one of the poorest in the world. The cyclone killed at least 86 people in the country of 33 million and left tens of thousands homeless. More than 390,000 hectares of land were also affected by the cyclone, raising concerns about the upcoming harvest. The United States and Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday inaugurated a language laboratory in the Armed Forces to support the development of the English language skills of Guinean military personnel, the US embassy announced. In todays complex security landscape, it is more important than ever that our security forces continue to build capacity and that we find new ways to collaborate to address common challenges, said US Ambassador Michael Raynor, quoted in the press release. According to the diplomat, the language laboratory will also help open avenues for the United States and Guinea-Bissau to explore new partnerships. Our developing defense partnership will be rooted in common values, the U.S. ambassador stressed, adding that the language lab will allow the military of both countries to work more closely, which will help find new areas to collaborate. The United States has an embassy representation in Guinea-Bissau, which is based in Senegal. Ambassador Michael Raynor began a few days visit to Bissau on Tuesday. As part of his visit, the American ambassador met with the Secretary of State for Communities, Salome Santos Allouche, and with the Minister of Defense, Marciano Silva Barbeiro. During his stay, the ambassador is also expected to meet with government partners, civil society and the private sector to emphasize the United States continued commitment to security, economic growth and democracy in Guinea-Bissau, the diplomatic office said in a post on the social network Facebook. A first plane of the Moroccan flag carrier RAM coming from Sudan landed, Wednesday morning at Mohammed V Airport, with on board 136 Moroccan nationals evacuated from Sudan, after the deterioration of the security situation in this country. The evacuation of Moroccans from Sudan takes place pursuant to the instructions of King Mohammed VI to ensure the repatriation of Moroccan nationals from this country in the best conditions. On Monday, a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that following the recent events in Sudan and the deterioration of the security situation in this country, the King Mohammed VI has given his high instructions to ensure the repatriation of Moroccan nationals from this country. In accordance with the royal instructions, the services of the Embassy of Morocco in Khartoum have, in a first phase, organized a land caravan from the capital Khartoum to the city of Port Sudan, which benefited more than 200 Moroccan nationals established in Sudan or whose presence in this country coincided with this difficult domestic situation, added the ministry, specifying that this land caravan arrived Monday evening safely in the city of Port-Sudan. The King has also given instructions for the organization of an airlift in coordination with Royal Air Maroc (RAM) to ensure the repatriation of Moroccan nationals and their families in the best conditions, according to the statement. Sudan has been experiencing violent clashes between elements of the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 15, leaving hundreds dead and thousands injured. In 2021, five of the 39 beneficiaries accounted for 82% of non-oil exports to the US under the AGOA. That year, textiles and apparel made up the largest share of the beneficiaries exports under that scheme. The preferential trade program AGOA has had positive impacts on only a handful of the beneficiary countries, according to a report released by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), this April 2023. The report commissioned by the Ways and Means Committee of the lower house of the U.S. Congress, reveals that only five of the beneficiaries -all of them are Sub-Saharan African countries- accounted for 82% of non-oil exports to the United States under the AGAO and SGP schemes in 2021. They are South Africa, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, and Ethiopia. That year, the U.S. imported $27.3 billion worth of goods from beneficiary countries. Those imports were largely dominated by crude oil. The value of U.S. imports of non-oil products from AGOA-eligible countries under this specific trade preference scheme and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP, another scheme that allows U.S. imports of goods from developing countries at reduced or zero rates) has declined from about $8.2 billion in 2001 to $6.8 billion in 2021. The average utilization rate of AGOA, i.e., the rate at which African exporters use the trade preference program, has reached 85 percent for all African beneficiary countries. However, this rate varies from one country to the other. For non-oil exports, utilization rates were below 40% for 15 countries, including Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, Niger, and Mali. Textiles and apparel: The most exported goods The USITC points out that the textile and apparel sector is the largest beneficiary of the AGOA scheme. Tariff reductions of up to 30 percent and the provision for third-country fabrics have allowed several countries to expand their production capacity. U.S. textile and apparel imports from beneficiary countries have increased from $953 million in 2001 to $1.76 billion in 2022. More than 95 percent of these imports, however, come from just five countries: Kenya (31.5 percent), Madagascar (19.9 percent), Lesotho (20.6 percent), Ethiopia (18.3 percent), and Mauritius (5.1 percent). The report also indicates that the AGOA scheme has had very limited positive impacts on economic development, regional integration, job creation, poverty reduction, and improvement of the living conditions of marginalized or underserved social groups. Only the textile and apparel sector created between 240,000 to 290,000 jobs in eight of the AGOA beneficiary countries and helped improve the living conditions of some underserved groups, including women (between 70 and 90 percent of the workforce in the sector). The report also reveals that South Africa accounts for almost all U.S. chemical imports from AGOA countries ($384 million in 2021). Washington imports negligible amounts of cotton from AGOA countries and Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole. It imported $1.2 billion of cocoa products from Sub-Saharan Africa in 2021. However, only 8% of those imports were under the AGOA scheme, which covers only two processed cocoa products. Launched in May 2000, the AGOA program allows eligible sub-Saharan African countries to export more than 1,700 products to the United States without paying tariffs. Apart from those products, there are 5,000 goods that qualify for duty-free access to the U.S. market under the Generalized System of Preferences. Each year, Washington updates the list of AGOA-eligible countries based on their commitment to the market economy, respect for the rule of law, and anti-poverty policies. The system also takes into consideration the democratic progress or setbacks of the countries concerned. A second plane of Royal Air Maroc coming from Sudan landed this Wednesday afternoon at Mohammed V airport in Casablanca, with 157 Moroccan nationals on board, evacuated from Sudan, following the deterioration of the security situation in this country. A first plane carrying 136 Moroccans among those stranded in Sudan had landed at Casablanca Airport on Wednesday morning. So far, the total number of Moroccan nationals repatriated from Sudan in the special air bridge set up at the orders of King Mohammed VI amounts to 293 people. Following the recent events in Sudan and the deterioration of the security situation in the country, the King has given orders to ensure the repatriation of Moroccan nationals and their families from this country in the best conditions. Moroccos consular services secured the evacuation of at least 300 nationals to Port Sudan wherefrom the Moroccans are airlifted to Casablanca. Sudan has descended into deadly clashes and chaos as forces loyal to two rival generals fight for power, leaving civilians in precarious conditions. The conflict broke out when Sudans military leader Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan attempted to integrate the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan, into the countrys army. Though the actual number of casualties is still to be determined, at least 500 people have died so far, according to observers on the ground. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A world-leading international trial into the immune boosting benefits of the tuberculosis vaccine, BCG, has found it does not protect health care workers against COVID-19. The BRACE trial, led by Murdoch Children's Research Institute, to test whether the BCG vaccine could protect health care workers against SARS-CoV-2 in the first six months after vaccination found it did not reduce the risk of developing COVID-19 among those on the pandemic frontline. BCG was originally developed to prevent tuberculosis and is still given to more than 130 million babies worldwide each year for that purpose. The BRACE trial was built on previous research that showed BCG also boosted "front-line" immunity in infants and protected against respiratory infections in adolescents and adults. It was hoped the vaccine could be repurposed to buy crucial time in a pandemic like COVID-19 until disease-specific vaccines were developed and tested. The research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and based on the second stage of the BRACE randomized controlled trial, involved 3,988 of the almost 7,000 health care workers who signed up across 36 sites in Australia, the Netherlands, U.K., Spain and Brazil. UMC Utrecht in the Netherlands, University of Exeter in the U.K. and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brazil helped to oversee the international arms of the trial. The risk of symptomatic COVID-19 was 14.7% in the BCG group and 12.3% in the placebo group during the first six months after joining the trial. The research could not determine whether the vaccine reduced hospitalizations or death due to the low numbers of participants with severe COVID-19. Murdoch Children's and the University of Melbourne Professor Nigel Curtis, Chief Principal Investigator of BRACE, said symptomatic COVID-19 being observed slightly more frequently in the BCG group might be explained by stronger immune responses induced by the vaccine. "When we analyzed the immune cells from our health care workers, we saw that the BCG vaccine altered the immune response to COVID-19," he said. "Symptoms reflect the immune system working hard to fight the virus. A stronger response induced by BCG could be beneficial in killing the virus more rapidly and protecting against progression to more severe disease. There was some evidence of this in trial participants over the age of 60, in whom COVID-19 symptoms were shorter in the BCG-vaccinated group." Professor Curtis said because COVID-19 vaccines had been developed and rolled out at lightning speed and health care workers prioritized, fewer participants were recruited than originally envisioned. As a result, lower case numbers meant the team was unable to investigate whether BCG protected against hospitalization and death from COVID-19, he said. A Murdoch Children's led study, published in Clinical & Translational Immunology last year using blood samples from BRACE participants, also showed that the BCG vaccine did provide an immune response consistent with protection against severe COVID-19. University of Exeter Professor John Campbell, who led the U.K. arm of BRACE, said the trial represented an important opportunity to test the potential of the BCG vaccine. "The findings raise important questions about how BCG can modify the course of different viral illnesses and allows us to develop a fuller understanding of whether the vaccine can provide protection against a range of infections other than its main target, tuberculosis," he said. Oswaldo Cruz Foundation's Dr. Julio Croda said the majority of COVID-19 symptomatic cases were recorded in the Brazil trial arm. "This demonstrates the high burden of the disease in Brazil during the entire pandemic," he said. Although BCG does not protect against symptomatic COVID-19, we will also use the data to assess whether BCG protects health care workers for latent tuberculosis infection. An open question, especially for populations at high risk of acquiring the disease." Professor Curtis said trials of this size and complexity normally took about eight to 12 months to organize and recruit, but BRACE was able to start within three weeks due to the dedicated researchers and support teams at the Murdoch Children's, together with generous philanthropic support. "This trial highlights the importance of large-scale randomized controlled trials to test hypotheses and evaluate the effectiveness of new or repurposed drugs or vaccines," he said. The importance of this was highlighted early in the pandemic by the Director General of the World Health Organization Tedros Ghebreyesus who stressed the need for the BCG vaccine to be given only in the context of clinical trials." Professor Curtis said trial data analysis was ongoing with further results on the effect of BCG expected later this year, including the impact of the vaccine on other infections, such as respiratory illnesses and the effect on COVID-19 vaccine responses. The trial team is also using blood samples collected from participants to discover biomarkers for COVID-19 risk. More information: Randomized Trial of BCG Vaccine to Protect against Covid-19 in Health Care Workers, New England Journal of Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2212616 Journal information: New England Journal of Medicine This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A team of medical researchers from the California Department of Public Health, Kaiser Permanente, and Early Alert Canines, has conducted a pilot program to look into the possibility of using dogs to sniff out COVID-19 infections in students. In their paper published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, the group describes their testing setup using trained dogs in both public and private schools and what they learned from the experience. During the early days of the pandemic, some reports were made by various sources that dogs were able to tell which people were infected with the virus using only their noses. Subsequent studies found that such reports held meritmany dog breeds have been found capable of detecting volatile organic compounds emitted by infected people. In this new effort, the research team wondered if using dogs to assist with testing students could reduce the amount of medical waste resulting from antigen tests. They also noted how students disliked being tested due to how uncomfortable they werealso there was the issue of missed class time. To find out if dogs might help, the team contacted Early Alert Caninesa company that trains dogs to sniff out a host of medical ailments in people. Together the team set up a testing scenario that would work for both the dogs and the students. Testing was done by asking students to line up approximately six feet apart. Each was then asked to turn around before a dog walked the line sniffing ankles. If COVID-19 was detected, the dog was trained to sit down for a moment behind the student. The students were asked to turn away from the dogs so that they would not know who, if anyone, was found to be infected, protecting privacy. Two dogs were used in the study, both yellow Labradors. Over two months in the spring of 2022, the dogs were taken to 27 schools in California where they sniffed 1,558 volunteer students. Testing was also done with antigen tests and in so doing, the team was able to see that the dogs were approximately 90% accurate in sniffing out infections while also ruling out those not infected. The dogs detected 383 infections and missed 18. The researchers conclude by suggesting their pilot program shows that using dogs is an effective mechanism for conducting a large-scale, inexpensive testing regimen. They note also that using dogs for testing results in less discomfort for the students and less missed schooltime. More information: Carol A. Glaser et al, Lessons Learned From a COVID-19 Dog Screening Pilot in California K-12 Schools, JAMA Pediatrics (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.0489 Journal information: JAMA Pediatrics 2023 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Are remote video consultations appropriate for treating children and young people under the care of the child welfare services? Therapists recognize a number of benefits, but most young people are critical of webcam-based therapy. This is the conclusion of a new report published by SINTEF which, in partnership with the University of South-east Norway and the Norwegian regional knowledge centers for children and young people (RKBU), has compiled a summary of our existing knowledge in this field. The study has included a systematic review of relevant studies, as well as interviews with young people undergoing therapy, and therapists working in the child and adolescent psychiatric services (BUP). The report was commissioned by the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs, which wanted to know whether remote video consultations were a suitable method of offering mental health treatment to children in the welfare system. Research is revealing that while in general, children and young people in the system exhibit a higher incidence of mental illness and other difficulties than those outside, not all of them are getting the help they need. Is it possible that video consultations will enable more young people to get this help? "As part of this project, we reviewed 13 studies, all of which were unanimous in their conclusion that video consultations offer better accessibility to specialist mental health services, not least because they are independent of the geographical distance between the patient and the therapist," says Project Manager Marian Adnanes, who is a Senior Research Scientist at SINTEF. "Many of the studies indicated that the quality of treatment was good. However, their conclusions were based exclusively on the opinions of the service provider," she says. Young people experienced poorer relations with therapists via video However, the user survey of 221 young people in the welfare system showed that many were critical of psychotherapy consultations using a webcam. Thirty-two of them had previous experience of such consultations. Of the 32, 39% said that they felt that the relations they established with the therapist were poorer via webcam than those during a standard face-to-face consultation. And 45% said that they found it either a little, or much, more difficult to communicate with a therapist via a webcam; 40% responded that treatment via a screen was either only to a very small extent, or not at all, appropriate for them. A similar proportion said that they were only to a small extent, or not at all, satisfied with the therapy they received using a webcam. A total of 27 in-depth interviews were conducted with young people, of whom nine had previous experience of video consultations. "In these interviews, the young people spoke of many more shortcomings than benefits. For example, video consultations were perceived as less committing and generally superficial," says Adnanes. More critical use of video in the future The knowledge summary project also highlighted challenges linked to achieving good mutual therapeutic relations, and maintaining concentration, during webcam consultations. Other challenges involved access to equipment and the internet, and personal privacy. A further critical finding was that therapists failed to monitor development, assess risk, and evaluate the need for support from the child welfare services in the same way as they did during face-to-face meetings. Therapists responding to the user questionnaire noted that video consultations had enabled them to maintain therapy pathways during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also highlighted the practical benefits to themselves, patients and next of kin of avoiding having to travel long distances for consultations. The disadvantage was the greater degree of distance in terms of contact with patients during video consultations. Many therapists found it difficult to achieve effective contact, flow and a meaningful dialogue. The young people were also consistently less participatory during video consultations. Many therapists pointed out how important it is to establish good relations before a video consultation takes place. Therapists working with structured programs for children with obsessive-compulsive disorder were the most positively inclined to continue with video consultations, estimating that they would conduct therapy in this way for about half of their sessions. The remaining therapists were less inclined to continue using video, and one stated that it would be highly unlikely. More research? The Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services currently operates with a target that, overall, at least 15% of out-patient consultations with the specialist health services should be carried out via telephone or video link. The innovation strategy that forms part of the Norwegian Health and Hospitals Plan states that if the 15% target for consultations related to anxiety and depression is achieved, this will free up an estimated 7.5% of total consultations, the number of consultations per therapist will increase, and patients will save both time and travel expenses. According to Marian Adnanes, more research is needed into the use of video consultations for the treatment of children in the welfare system for mental health issues. Such research will help to clarify, among other things, for whom such consultations are most appropriate, and how the quality of video consultations compares with face-to-face sessions. More extensive surveys are required, involving many more children and young people in contact with the welfare services. "Children in the system are often living in difficult and turbulent relationships that may make them particularly sensitive to relational demands," says Adnanes. "There is ample support in the literature that good relations between therapist and patient are key to successful psychotherapy. Thus, in the worst case, an expansion of the use of video consultations for children and young people may create new barriers to treatment within the BUP systemin stark contrast to the stated aims of removing such barriers and promoting the continuity of ongoing patient pathways," she says. Kjetil Ostling is Director of Services at the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs and is taking the conclusions of the project report very seriously. "During the pandemic, a great deal of innovation and method testing linked to service provision was carried out in order to monitor the children and young people in the system," says Ostling. "Even if this study is based only on a small sample, the results indicate that the services should not be uncritical in their proposed expansion of the use of video consultations as part of therapeutic programs," he says. "In particular, we want to point out the importance of actively involving the child or young person in deciding how his or her consultation shall be conducted. Therapists should not be basing such choices entirely on their own perceptions which, as this study has indicated, often do not coincide with those of the children," he says. 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 proposed reforms are intended to make pharmaceutical drugs cheaper, prevent shortages and speed up delivery of new compounds. The EU on Wednesday unveiled a long-awaited proposed reform of legislation governing pharmaceutical drugs to make them cheaper, prevent shortages and boost new antibiotic production. "Over the last decade, reports of medicines shortages, including of antibiotics, have skyrocketed to the tens of thousands," EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides told a news conference presenting the recommendations. The biggest reform of its kind in two decades was in part informed by Brussels' concerted action during the COVID pandemic that underscored the benefits of less-burdensome procedures, greater transparency and joint measures. Kyriakides said that, under the proposal, "companies will have to notify potential shortages earlier and have shortage prevention plans for their medicines". By the end of this year, Brussels plans to draw up a list of critical medicines that will need to be stocked up by manufacturers. The pharmaceutical industry intensively lobbied to change some of the proposals, the presentation of which had been pushed back several times. The industry is especially incensed at a recommendation that the exclusive period companies had selling new drugs in Europe could be shortened from 10 years to eight before patent protection expired. "Today's proposals manage to undermine research and development in Europe while failing to address access to medicines for patients," the head of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, Nathalie Moll, said. The industry also railed against plans for EU-wide access to medicines, saying it would end up "penalising innovation" if a product was not available across the bloc. Moll called the proposals "unworkable EU-level legislation that is destined to fail". While the European Commission aims to bring down the cost of medicines, notably by having more generic drugs on the market, it doesn't have the power to set prices in the European Union. That is the prerogative of national governments who negotiate with pharmaceutical groups. The pharmaceutical industry has expressed concern that the changes could constrain innovation. Drug voucher proposal Commission vice president Margaritis Schinas said that, currently, the bigger EU member states had the clout to get certain drugs faster than smaller ones. "We want our citizens all over the European Union to have the same level of access to drugs," he said. He also said the EU carried out "the biggest ever vaccination programme in the history of mankind" to combat COVID, which showed the benefit of Brussels having more say over broad health issues in the 27-nation bloc. However, a senior commission official admitted that the proposals would not by themselves entirely address the problem of drug shortages, which result from multiple factors, including that essential ingredients are sourced from China and India. A parallel policy push by Brussels to secure its own raw materials and to bring in more industrial production to Europe is meant to tackle that last issue. Antibiotic resistance Another key challenge is increasing microbial resistance to existing antibiotics, which each year leads to 35,000 deaths in the EU. Because antibiotics are meant to be taken in moderate, defined doses they are less lucrative to pharmaceutical companies than blockbuster drugs. To address that problem, the commission is looking at introducing transferable vouchers that would allow a company coming up with a new, effective antibiotic to apply a lengthened period of exclusivity to another, more profitable drug, or to sell that right to another company. Around half the EU member states, including Belgium, France and the Netherlands, are wary of that idea though, worried it would weigh on national health systems. The European Consumer Organisation has also come out against that proposal. "But so far, no one has proposed a better system," said one EU lawmaker, Peter Liese, also a medical doctor considered close to the pharmaceutical industry position. He said that virtually no new antibiotic had been produced in 20 years. On this issue and others the commission is proposing, "innovation-friendly regulation is indispensable," he said. The commission also wants a leaner approval process to get new drugs to market faster, as happened with COVID vaccines. 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: Directed acyclic graph (DAG) used to select covariates for our primary analysis in the association between GWG z-scores and child SRS T-scores. Credit: Obesity (2023). DOI: 10.1002/oby.23710 Gestational weight gain may be associated with autism-related behaviors among children who have a greater pre-disposition to these behaviors and who have mothers with pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity, according to a new study in Obesity. Excessive gestational weight gain has been associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in children, including autism spectrum disorder and related traits. However, it is unclear how pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) or familial susceptibility to autism spectrum disorder influences the gestational weight gain-autism traits association, according to experts. "Our study findings are relevant for clinicians, pregnant individuals and those considering becoming pregnant as gestational weight gain and pre-pregnancy body mass index are modifiable factors, that when addressed, can promote health for the pregnant person and their developing fetus," said Marisa A. Patti, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pa. Patti is the corresponding author of the study. Patti added that for clinicians, it is key to identify sub-populations that may be more susceptible to neurodevelopmental outcomes (in this case, autism-related behaviors in children) to promote more targeted interventions among pregnant people. Pregnant individuals may benefit from counseling or education on guidelines for healthy weight gain during pregnancy such as those outlined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. While pre-pregnancy BMI is not modifiable during pregnancy, gestational weight gain can be. Those considering becoming pregnant can best prepare themselves to optimize their health during gestation by modifying their BMI prior to becoming pregnant, and by knowing recommended weight gain trajectories. Using data from the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI) study, a familial enriched co-hort of mothers who had a previous child with autism and the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) study, a general population co-hort, gestational age and pre-pregnancy BMI category-specific gestational weight gain z scores were calculated. Caregivers completed the Social Responsiveness Scale to assess the presence and severity of autism-related traits in children 3-to-8 years old. The association between gestational weight gain z scores and autism-related behaviors in children were estimated using quantile regression. In the HOME study, among mothers who had overweight or obesity pre-pregnancy BMI values, gestational weight gain z scores and social responsiveness scale scores were positively associated in children with more autism spectrum disorder related traits, but not in children with fewer autism-related traits. For example, the strength and magnitude of associations between gestational weight gain z scores and social responsiveness scale T-scores among those who had overweight or obesity pre-pregnancy BMI values increased from the 50th to the 95th percentiles of the social responsiveness scale T-score distribution. Similar patterns were observed in the EARLI study among mothers with pre-pregnancy obesity. The research is published in the journal Obesity. More information: Marisa A. Patti et al, Prepregnancy BMI, gestational weight gain, and susceptibility to autismrelated traits: the EARLI and HOME studies, Obesity (2023). DOI: 10.1002/oby.23710 Journal information: Obesity This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A first-of-its-kind study showed that use of chemical hair straighteners was associated with a slight reduction in the likelihood of pregnancy, and that Black and Hispanic individuals were more likely than other racial and ethnic groups to use these products early in life, more frequently, and for longer durations. New research led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) suggests that chemical hair straighteners may affect a person's ability to become pregnant. Published online ahead of print in the American Journal of Epidemiology, a first-of-its-kind study found that use of these hair straighteners also called "relaxers," is linked to a slight reduction in one's ability to conceive. Black, Hispanic, and mixed-race individuals were more likely to use hair straighteners, and thus, more likely to be exposed to the toxic chemicals in these products. Current and former use of hair relaxers, greater frequency and duration of use, as well as sustained scalp burns from the products, were also associated with lower chances of becoming pregnant. The study builds upon a growing body of research linking reproductive health issues with exposure to toxic, endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in beauty products. Phthalates, phenols, and parabens are a few of the chemicals in relaxers that may contribute to reduced fecundability. The researchers caution that the full set of ingredients is rarely included on the product label and more data are needed to better understand the specific mechanisms by which relaxers may affect fertility. However, the study underscores the racial disparities in exposure to toxic chemicals in beauty care and the adverse health consequences that may occur as a result. Societal pressure to conform to Eurocentric beauty norms and racial discrimination, such as restrictions on or prohibitions of Afrocentric hairstyles in the workplace and schools, contribute to disproportionate use of these toxic beauty products by individuals of color. "Our work underscores the importance of expanding research on the reproductive health effects of beauty product use to promote environmental justice and increase health equity," says study lead author Dr. Lauren Wise, professor of epidemiology at BUSPH. For the study, Dr. Wise and colleagues analyzed survey data on several aspects of hair relaxer use among pregnancy planners in the BUSPH-based Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), an ongoing study since 2013 that enrolls U.S. and Canadian pregnancy planners, and follows them from preconception through six months after delivery. PRESTO participants provide baseline information on sociodemographics, lifestyle, and medical histories. For this study, more than 11,274 participants provided information on several aspects of hair relaxer use from 2014 to 2022. Compared with those who had never used relaxers, participants who reported ever having used relaxers were more likely to be older, have less education and annual income, a higher BMI, smoke, be unmarried, be residents of the Southern U.S., and experience longer pregnancy attempt time at study enrollment. Current and former hair relaxer use was highest among Black participants, followed by Hispanic participants. More than half of Black participants reported using their first relaxer before age 10 years, compared with 1-17 percent among other racial and ethnic groups. Fertility rates were lowest among participants who used relaxers for at least 10 years or at least five times per year, but the study results did not show clear dose-response patterns for either association. More information: Lauren A Wise et al, Use of chemical hair straighteners and fecundability in a North American preconception cohort, American Journal of Epidemiology (2023). DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwad079 Journal information: American Journal of Epidemiology 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: Antibody-mediated NK cell activity in children: (A) Merozoite opsonizing antibodies from Junju adults (n=40) induced a significantly higher proportion of ab-NK cells degranulation compared to Junju children (n=293). Hyperimmune (PHIS) and malaria naive plasma were included as positive and negative controls, respectively. Error bars represent a 95% confidence interval of the median value; Kruskal-Wallis with Dunns multiple comparison test. (B) Ab-NK cell degranulation in Junju children increased with age; Kruskal-Wallis with Dunns multiple comparison test (n=293). (C) Spearman correlation between ab-NK cell degranulation or IFN- production and total IgG ELISA responses against recombinant P falciparum AMA-1, MSP2 or MSP3 antigens (n=293). Credit: Science Translational Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abn5993 Scientists are unraveling the complex mystery underlying how the immune system mounts a potent defense against one of the world's most relentless killersthe deadly parasites that cause the worst form of malaria. In two unrelated studies, both published in Science Translational Medicine, scientists arrived at the same conclusion: the immune system's natural killer cells, among the critical first responders during parasite proliferation, are key to the control of the mosquito-borne infection. As part of the study, scientists in Kenya turned to adult volunteers who were intentionally infected under strict clinical conditions with the deadliest species of the malaria-causing organism. The research, which was wide-ranging, assessed the infection and natural killer cell response in the volunteers. In a separate arm of the study, the team examined blood samples from children who reside in a Kenyan region where malaria is endemic. And in a final portion of their investigation, scientists analyzed assaults on malaria parasites by natural killer cells in laboratory dishes. These investigators, at the Center for Geographic Medicine Research in Kalifi, Kenya, make a sound argument for better defining the role of natural killer cells and their attack on one of the most formidable infectious agents in the world. In the second study, led by scientists in California, an international team of researchers pinpointed a unique population of natural killer cells that emerge in children who have been exposed to malaria in an endemic region of Uganda. Africa is the most severely affected continent on the planet when it comes to the mosquito-borne disease, according to the World Health Organization, which also emphasized that malaria's spread is driven by a highly efficient carrier, the Anopheles gambiae mosquito. It's a nighttime flyer that bites between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. when people are usually asleep and unlikely to swat and crush them. The Anopheles gambiae is often called the world's deadliest animal. Worse, the mosquito carries the most lethal malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Among the four species of malaria parasites that infect humans, P. falciparum is associated with severe infection and high mortality. The group most adversely affected is children under the age of 5. In 2019, the most recent year for complete statistics, an estimated 386,000 people died of malaria in Africa and 274,000 were children, according to WHO. After years of failed attempts at vaccine development, several immunizations are emerging and one developed in the U.K. by the University of Oxford and pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, has been approved in Ghana and Nigeria. The vaccine was designed for children between the ages of five months and three years. Fourteen investigational vaccines were studied as part of the new research in Kenya to determine their role in prompting a natural killer cell response. "Natural killer cells are potent immune effectors," writes Dennis Odera, lead author of the Kenyan research, describing natural killers, a class of immune system constituents that target and kill infected cells. Natural killers are so named because killing is their chief specialty, a job mediated by potent molecules contained within the killers' lysosomes. These bodies are secretory organelles tucked within natural killers that release harsh compounds. These chemicals are set free as the rough-riding natural killers encounter their deadly targets. Odera and colleagues noted that natural killer cells mediate immune responses against Plasmodium falciparum using multiple effector functions: Hitting the parasite with harsh chemicals and signaling the onslaught of inflammatory molecules, which literally increase the temperature, making conditions within the body difficult for the infectious organisms. Understanding how the immune system responds to P. falciparum helps better illuminate the complex biology of the organism and its activity in the human bloodstream. Studying the active organism and its encounters with the human immune system adds new insight for developing the next generation of vaccines. "Nine of the 14 vaccine candidates tested induced antibody-dependent natural killer cells," added Odera, referring to antibodies that developed in response to vaccination, and which in turn, signaled natural killer activity. Malaria parasites are protozoa that must thrive in two different hostsfemale mosquitoes and humansduring their complex, three-stage life cycle. Those three stages are the ookinete, which occurs in the gut of the mosquito; the sporozoite the more mature form that is released in mosquito saliva when it bites, and the merozoite, the stage of the parasite that evolves in the human liver. Odera and the Kenya-based team are interested in the merozoite stage of the parasite's development because this is when the damage of malaria begins. When a female Anopheles mosquito bites a human, parasites in the sporozoite stage enter the blood and invariably travel to the liver where broods of parasites grow. They emerge from the liver and enter erythrocytesred blood cellsas merozoites, which continue a relentless cycle of invading more and more red cells. As merozoites burst free from erythrocytes they destroy these vital oxygen-ferrying cells in the process. The Kenyan study covered multiple bases in an effort to understand natural killer cell activity and merozoites in the human bloodstream. Along with the controlled malaria infections of Kenyan adults, the study also analyzed of 293 blood samples from a longitudinal cohort of children living in Junju, a region of Kenya with high malaria transmission. Additionally, there was a laboratory component of the research, which allowed Odera and colleagues to observe natural killer cells in actionhow they respond to merozoites in culture. What the team saw was the biological equivalent of chemical warfare. Natural killer cells released antimicrobial compounds through a process called degranulation. The inflammatory molecule interferon-gamma turned up the heat. Fighting malaria isn't easy. The parasites are bigsubstantially larger than bacteria and multiple orders of magnitude larger than viruses. The fight is ferocious, ravaging, and ugly. By releasing antimicrobial compounds and a flood of inflammatory molecules, such as interferon-gamma, Odera and his collaborators saw how malaria parasites can be stopped from further invading red blood cells. In the controlled human malaria infection part of the study, the team observed that Kenyan adults who didn't develop fever harbored higher amounts of antibody-dependent natural killer cells than those who needed treatment. The team then examined the 293 samples from children living in Junju and found that antibody-dependent natural killer cells rose with age and spiked during infections with P. falciparum. Higher numbers of antibody-dependent natural killer cells correlated with a lower risk of clinical malaria and symptoms, suggesting that natural killer cells play a key role in buttressing malaria immunity. "Using multiparameter flow cytometry, we found that natural killer cells degranulate and release interferon-gamma upon stimulation with antibody-opsonized Plasmodium falciparum merozoites," Odera noted, referring to antibodies that had tagged parasites for destruction. "Antibody-dependent natural killer cell activity was largely strain transcending and enhanced invasion inhibition into erythrocytes," Odera added, describing how immune system forces prevented invasion into additional red blood cells. "Antibody-dependent natural killer cells were associated with the successful control of parasitemia after experimental malaria challenge in African adults," Odera continued, noting that in children, "antibody-dependent natural killer cells increased with age, was boosted by concurrent P. falciparum infections, and was associated with a lower risk of clinical episodes of malaria." In the second study, focusing on children and malaria, the international team of scientists underscored that natural killer cell activity is key to the immune response in malaria. Led by researchers at Stanford University, the scientific paper highlights how a special population of natural killer cells supports the immune system's ability to protect the body from malaria parasites. "Natural killer cells likely play an important role in immunity to malaria," asserted Maureen Ty of Stanford, lead author of a study that included researchers in Uganda and Australia. The linchpin in their research was the identification of an atypical subset of natural killer cells, a group dubbed CD56neg. These cells expand during repeated parasite exposures. The team studied natural killer cells in a group of 264 Ugandan children and underscored that the CD56neg subset, provide protection against symptomatic malaria. "Understanding factors that drive programming of this unique [natural killer] cell subset will help guide therapeutic translation, including enhancing vaccine-elicited protection," Ty concluded. More information: Dennis O. Odera et al, Anti-merozoite antibodies induce natural killer cell effector function and are associated with immunity against malaria, Science Translational Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abn5993 Maureen Ty et al, Malaria-driven expansion of adaptive-like functional CD56-negative NK cells correlates with clinical immunity to malaria, Science Translational Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.add9012 Journal information: Science Translational Medicine 2023 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain One in five adults in California, or an estimated 6.5 million people, are concerned that someone they know, usually a friend or family member, is at risk of harming themselves or others, according to new research published in Preventive Medicine. Alcohol and substance misuse, a history of violence, and firearm access were common reasons for concerns about potential violence. Of the people perceived to be at risk for harming others, an estimated 19% were said to have access to firearms. For those perceived to be at risk of harming themselves, that number was approximately 11%. Amanda J. Aubel, a research data analyst at the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program (VPRP) and lead author of the study, notes those numbers are likely underestimates. "Many respondents didn't know whether the person had access to firearms. Nonetheless, our results suggest that firearm access is far too common among individuals at perceived risk of violence," Aubel said. The data for the new study come from the 2020 California Safety and Wellbeing Survey, which is designed to represent the state's general adult population. The 2,870 adult respondents, who answered a series of questions about exposure to violence, were California residents 18 years of age or older. The research firm Ipsos conducted the online survey in July 2020. A growing need for violence prevention Violence is a leading cause of death and injury in the United States. In 2020, approximately 24,500 people died from homicide, and 46,000 died from suicide. More than three-quarters of the homicides and half of the suicides involved firearms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guns are now the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. In 2019-2020, the U.S. firearm homicide rate increased by nearly 35%, and the firearm suicide rate remained high. To find out how widespread the perceived risk of violence is, researchers asked the participants, "Are you concerned that anyone you know might physically hurt" (1) another person and (2) themselves on purpose? Survey results showed that: 12% knew at least one person they thought was at risk of hurting others 13% knew at least one person they thought was at risk of hurting themselves About one-quarter of respondents with these concerns thought the person was likely or very likely to harm others (27%) or themselves (22%) within the following year. Actions to reduce the risk of violence The survey showed that 85% of the survey respondents who knew someone at perceived risk of harming themselves took one or more actions to reduce the risk of the person hurting themselves. Actions included talking with the person about the risk, providing resources, and asking family, friends or a mental health professional for help. Of those concerned that someone they knew was at risk of harming others, 67% took at least one action to reduce their own risk of being hurt by the person. This included ending their relationship with the person and asking for help from friends, family, or a mental health professional. Few respondents (less than 20%) reduced the person's access to drugs or alcohol, and even fewer (less than 5%) reduced the person's access to guns. Reasons survey respondents said they did not take action included: The dangerous situation did not seem likely It seemed like a personal matter They did not think their actions would help They thought their actions might make the situation worse "People often recognize warning signs or increased risk before a mass shooting, suicide or other act of violence, but they don't always know what to do, or they think it's not their place to intervene," Aubel said. "We need to shift that way of thinking and realize that everyone can play a role in preventing violence, especially among our friends, family, co-workers, and others within our social networks." Limitations of the study The researchers noted several limitations of the study. Only adults were surveyed, and the data reflect the respondents' subjective knowledge of people they perceived to be at risk for violence. Although many survey participants were concerned about more than one person, the study asked respondents to describe only the one person they knew best. California is also unique in several ways, including its relatively low rates of gun ownership and suicide compared to other states. "Our findings suggest a need for continued resources and community investment in systems of support that empower the public, especially those close to people who may be at elevated risk for violence, with culturally responsive tools and services to effectively intervene before violence occurs," said Nicole Kravitz-Wirtz, senior author of the study and an assistant professor with VPRP. Examples of these tools and services include lethal means counseling and extreme risk protection orders, known as gun violence restraining orders in California. Additional authors on the paper include Garen Wintemute of the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program and California Firearm Violence Research Center. More information: Amanda J. Aubel et al, Anticipatory concerns about violence within social networks: Prevalence and implications for prevention, Preventive Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107421 Journal information: Preventive Medicine This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Flow diagram of study participants. EHR, electronic health record; MT, music therapy; PROs, patient-reported outcomes. Credit: PAIN Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001074 A new study from University Hospitals (UH) Connor Whole Health found patients with moderate-to-severe pain, stress, or anxiety treated at UH community hospitals reported clinically significant reductions in pain, stress, and anxiety in response to a single session of music therapy. Furthermore, the clinically significant effect on pain was not influenced by patients' demographic or clinical characteristics, suggesting that music therapy can be effective for acute pain management across various inpatient adult populations. The findings from this study were recently published in the journal Pain Reports. In this retrospective study conducted between January 2017 and July 2020, researchers from UH Connor Whole Health examined the first music therapy interventions provided to 1,056 adults receiving inpatient medical care who reported pre-session pain, anxiety, and/or stress scores greater than or equal to 4 on the 0 to 10 numeric rating scale. Unlike prior studies of music therapy, which have primarily been conducted at academic medical centers, this is the first and largest investigation of the real-world effectiveness of music therapy within community medical centers. "The music therapists at UH Connor Whole Health offer non-pharmacological frontline treatment throughout our medical system while addressing issues of stress, pain, and anxiety. Greater Cleveland residents may receive these services during hospitalizations at UH as a clinical service line offering direct evidence-based community benefit," said Seneca Block, The Lauren Rich Fine Endowed Director of Expressive Therapies at UH Connor Whole Health. UH Connor Whole Health manages the largest health system-based music therapy program in the US with 11 board-certified music therapists who collaborate with providers across the system to help patients and their families manage the physical and emotional toll of an illness or hospitalization. Additionally, UH Connor Whole Health provides a diverse offering of integrative health and medicine modalities, including acupuncture, chiropractic, and integrative medicine consults, that are centered on patients' entire well-being. In "Effectiveness of Music Therapy within Community Hospitals: An EMMPIRE Retrospective Study," researchers examined the real-world effectiveness of music therapy at eight UH community medical centers and explored variables associated with pain reduction of greater than or equal to 2 units on a 0 to 10 unit numeric rating scale. Music therapists provided interventions including live music listening, music-assisted relaxation and imagery, and active music making to address patients' needs including pain management, coping, stress reduction, and anxiety reduction. As part of clinical care, the music therapists assessed patients' self-reported pain, stress, and anxiety on a 0 to 10 scale at the beginning and end of each session and documented their sessions in the electronic health record. "What makes this research novel is our ability to streamline data collection from music therapy clinical practice to the electronic health record. We can then use these data to understand the real-world impact of music therapy throughout multiple medical centers and how best to tailor music therapy interventions to meet patients' needs," said Sam Rodgers-Melnick, a music therapist, first author of the study, and a co-investigator on the EMMPIRE project (Effectiveness of Medical Music Therapy Practice: Integrative Research using the Electronic Health Record). Said Dusek, "Routine collection of patient-reported outcomes from clinical practice (also called practice-based research) is becoming increasingly common as a patient-centered quality of care measure." Prior research has demonstrated that reductions of at least 1.3 units on the numeric rating scale for pain are clinically significant for patients with non-cancer pain, meaning that the symptom reduction represents a meaningful difference for patients with moderate-to-severe symptoms. Reductions of at least 2 units in stress and anxiety are also considered clinically significant. In this study, patients reported clinically significant mean reductions in pain (2.04 units), anxiety (2.80 units), and stress (3.48 units) in response to music therapy, with all changes exceeding clinically significant thresholds. Additionally, of the patients reporting a pain score greater than or equal to 4, 14% fell asleep during music therapy sessions, an important observation given the sleep challenges patients with moderate-to-severe pain face during hospitalization. Additionally, after adjusting for demographic, clinical, and operational characteristics, patients receiving a music therapy session in which pain management was a goal were 4.32 times more likely to report pain reduction greater than or equal to 2 units than patients receiving a music therapy session in which pain management was not a session goal. Said Rodgers-Melnick, "this finding raises important questions regarding how music therapists tailor their interventions to address pain when that is the goal of the session, and we will be examining these specific features of music therapy interventions in future research." "Music therapy provides an alternative but very effective mechanism for managing a patient's discomfort," explained Donald DeCarlo, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer of UH East Market. More information: Samuel N. Rodgers-Melnick et al, Effectiveness of music therapy within community hospitals: an EMMPIRE retrospective study, PAIN Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001074 Photo: . Canadians who plan to travel to the Caribbean this summer may want to check on some updated travel advisories before booking a ticket. While many Caribbean Islands are safe to visit, some countries have seen a staggering uptick in crime. In some cases, robberies have turned violent. Three of the most popular destinations have some increased travel risks but the Canadian government has not advised against visiting them. There are certain safety concerns for Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic so travellers should familiarize themselves with the current advice before planning a trip. Travellers departing from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) should also check the advisory before they book and again on the day they are scheduled to depart. They should also check on delays at the airport due to strike action. Jamaica The Canadian government advises that there is a high level of violent crime in Jamaica and local authorities periodically declare a state of emergency to fight against gang-related activity. Tourists are advised that "violent crime, including armed robbery and murder, is a problem in large cities and tourist areas, including parts of Kingston and Montego Bay, despite the presence of police to counter criminal activity." There is a risk that travellers will also be caught in gang-related crossfires, as the risk of firearms is widespread in Jamaica. If you travel to Jamaica during a state of emergency, you may be subject to searches by security forces. Always cooperate with military and police officers Carry valid ID at all times and be prepared for various checkpoints Allow extra time to reach your destination Follow the instructions of local authorities Monitor local news to stay informed on the current situation If you are threatened by robbers, hand over any cash and valuables, as "resistance may provoke the use of violence." Women travelling alone are frequently harassed. Compounds are "gated and guarded" and therefore generally safer. However, there have also been reports of sexual assaults by resort staff and other tourists. Be wary of strangers who seem friendly Refrain from excessive drinking, especially at all-inclusive resorts Ensure that your hotel room doors and windows are locked An April 24 update to the advisory states that pick-pocketing and bag-snatching are common in popular tourist areas and crowded places. Petty crime happens more often during major events and demonstrations. Ensure that your belongings and travel documents are secure at all times Dont carry large amounts of cash Dont show signs of affluence Use ATMs located in public areas or inside a bank or business Protect your cell phone, which is a popular item for theft Use the hotel safe to secure your valuables Dont leave valuables in plain view, even while you are in your hotel room Enquire with reception upon check-in on security precautions related to theft from hotel rooms The Bahamas There is also an increased risk to travellers visiting the Bahamas right now due to high rates of crime, especially in Freeport and Nassau. Visitors should exercise a high degree of caution in these areas. While rates of violent crime have decreased, the Canadian government advises that "armed robberies, burglaries, purse snatchings, theft, fraud and sexual assaults" are the most common crimes. Robberies are frequent at cruise ship terminals and popular resort areas, even during the daytime. Crime increases during the holidays. Avoid Nassaus over the hill (south of Shirley Street) and Fish Fry (Arawak Cay) areas, especially at night Stay alert to your surroundings at all times Dont walk alone, particularly after dark Dont carry large sums of cash or wear expensive jewellery Ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times Avoid deserted beaches If you are threatened by robbers, stay calm and dont resist Sexual assaults are on the rise in Nassau, including on Paradise Island, but they occur frequently throughout the country. In some cases, victims were drugged. Incidents were reported in hotel rooms, in casinos, on cruise ships and on the beach. Be wary when embarking on jet-ski rides with licensed or unlicensed operators, as several incidents of sexual assault have been reported Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol and avoid using drugs Don't accept rides from strangers or from unlicensed taxi drivers Dominican Republic Travellers to the Dominican Republic must also exercise a high degree of caution due to crime. Violent crime occurs, particularly in major cities, but the most significant threat to tourists is "opportunistic crime." Tourists are common targets for theft, such as pick-pocketing and bag snatching, and crime rates rise during holiday periods. Incidents occur: at resorts at beaches at airports at bus stations on public transportation Travellers staying at all-inclusive resorts may have belongings stolen from "hotel room safes, as well as from cars, particularly rentals." Thieves also steal bags and other valuables by grabbing them as they drive by on motorcycles, scooters or bicycles. They may even reach into vehicles, including taxis, when they are stopped at red lights. Checked baggage has also been stolen from airports, most often when travellers are departing. Items have also been stolen from carry-on bags as travellers pass through security. Be wary of individuals who ask for directions or who try to be too helpful Watch out for hustlers selling various wares, particularly in Santo Domingo Stay at hotels or resorts with good security Be wary of anyone who tries to enter your room Ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times Avoid carrying your bag slung over your shoulder Carry only small amounts of money and avoid showing signs of affluence Keep electronic devices like cellphones, tablets, laptops and cameras out of sight Keep car doors locked, windows up and your belongings out of sight Dont pack valuables in your checked luggage Verify that your luggage has not been tampered with before you check in at the airport When it comes to purchasing travel insurance, Canadians should consider that most policies include a clause that outlines government travel advisories. You may not be entitled to reimbursement for trip cancellation if you purchase a holiday while a warning is in place, depending on the level of risk that has been assessed by the Canadian government. 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: Myo15-Cre conditional knockout mice show delayed functional and morphological cochlear pathology. Credit: Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38038-y Usher Syndrome type 1F is a rare but severe genetic disease that causes deafness, lack of balance, and progressive blindness. Now, a team led by researchers at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, and The Ohio State University has made an important first step toward developing a gene therapy for the disease. The research, conducted in mice, is described Apr. 26 in Nature Communications. The scientists designed a "mini-gene"a shortened version of a geneto replace the gene that is mutated in Usher 1F. The mutation renders hair cells inside the inner ear incapable of producing a key protein involved in sound transmission. In mice, the mini-gene increased production of the missing protein, enabling the hair cells to sense sound and restoring hearing. Because vision loss in Usher 1F involves a slightly different form of the same protein, the researchers say the same approach may be useful for preventing blindness. "Patients with Usher 1F are born with profound hearing loss and progressive vision loss, and so far we have been able to offer very few solutions to these families," said co-senior author Artur Indzhykulian, HMS assistant professor of otolaryngologyhead and neck surgery at Mass Eye and Ear. The researchers plan to continue testing the mini-gene in other animal models, and eventually, hope to test it in humans. "It's completely devastating to be born deaf and then lose your vision, so we hope that this mini-gene can eventually be turned into a treatment for this disease," said co-senior author David Corey, the Bertarelli Professor of Translational Medical Science in the Blavatnik Institute at HMS. Applying expertise to a new problem Children with Usher Syndrome are typically born completely deaf or with severely impaired hearing, lack balance, and lose vision over time as the retina deteriorates. Blindness commonly occurs by adulthood. These problems arise due to a mutation that interferes with production of a protein called protocadherin-15, which has slightly different forms in the ear and eye and is needed for cells in the auditory and visual systems to function properly. Researchers in the Corey lab have long been interested in protocadherin-15's role in the inner ear. Specifically, they've wanted to know how the protein helps sensory receptors called hair cells in the ear convert vibrations from the environment into electrical signals, which the brain interprets as sound. Corey's team previously figured out how protocadherin-15 partners with another protein, cadherin 23, in hair cells to create filaments that physically pull open ion channels as the bundles vibrate, allowing electrical current to enter the cells. In the absence of this protein, electrical current can't enter hair cells, the conversion from vibration to electricity doesn't occur, and the brain cannot detect sound. Through this work, Corey became interested in designing a gene therapy for Usher 1F. The therapy would introduce DNA that codes for protocadherin-15 into a cell, enabling the cell to begin making the protein. However, because protocadherin-15 is so big, its DNA is too large for the typical viral capsule used to transport genetic material into a cell. So the researchers decided to explore another option: shortening the DNA to create a mini-gene that still codes for functional protein yet is small enough to fit inside the viral capsule. A gene becomes a mini-gene The first step involved painstakingly mapping all 25,000 atoms in the external structure of inner-ear protocadherin-15a process carried out by co-senior author Marcos Sotomayor, former research fellow at HMS and now associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at The Ohio State. Using a combination of X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, Sotomayor found that the protein is composed of atoms arranged into what looks like 11 links in a chain. Sotomayor made eight different versions of protocadherin-15, each with different links missing to make the protein smaller. The researchers then reverse engineered the truncated protein structures into DNA blueprints that they could test as mini-genes. "The knowledge we gained by studying the structure of protocadherin-15 in excruciating detail allowed us to more quickly design shorter versions of the protein for gene therapy," Sotomayor explained. Indzhykulian tested the eight mini-genes on inner ear cells in a dish. He confirmed that truncated versions of protocadherin-15 made from mini-gene DNA did bind to cadherin 23, its protein partner in hair cells. From there, the researchers selected the three mini-genes that were small enough to fit inside the viral capsule. Lead author Maryna Ivanchenko, instructor in neurobiology at HMS, extensively tested the three mini-genes in the ears of mice that were genetically modified to stop producing protocadherin-15. Ultimately, only one mini-gene worked. The gene successfully prompted hair cells to make a mini version of protocadherin-15, which bound to cadherin-23 and formed the filaments needed to open ion channels. The hair cells successfully converted vibrations into electrical signals. Auditory testing of mice that received the mini-gene showed their brains could receive the sound signal coming from their earsthe previously deaf animals could hear. "We were all pleasantly surprised," Corey said. "We thought it would take years of optimizing and trying things and tweaking the protein structure, but this one version pretty much worked." "The results were thrilling for us," Ivanchenko added. "The most exciting aspect of our findings was that mice that had been completely deaf could now hear almost as well as normal mice." From the ear to the eye While the mini-gene successfully treated deafness in the mouse model of Usher 1F, the researchers are even more interested in its potential for treating blindness associated with the syndrome. Since children with Usher 1F are born profoundly deaf and may lack hair cells in their inner ear, it's unlikely that the mini-gene could improve their hearing, the authors said. Additionally, many of these children are able to receive cochlear implants that allow them to hear. Blindness is a different story, the researchers noted, because children with Usher 1F are born with normal vision. If the mini-gene could produce the form of protocadherin-15 missing in the retina, it could halt vision loss, they said. Why start by testing the mini-gene in the mouse inner ear if treating vision loss is the main goal? Mainly for logistical reasons, the researchers said. Lack of protocadherin-15 causes only mild vision loss in mice and progresses slowly. This means it would take years to test the mini-genes in mouse models, and it would be hard to tell how well they worked. By contrast, the mice were born profoundly deaf, so the researchers got clear results within a couple of weeks. "The whole project was designed to study the ear with the idea that something that works in the ear can later be applied to the eye, as an article of faith," Corey said. "While the best test system is the mouse inner ear, the immediate goal is a treatment for blindness." The Corey lab is now testing the mini-gene in zebrafish eyesa better model because these fish experience more severe and rapid vision loss than mice when protocadherin-15 isn't produced in the retina. If the mini-gene works in the zebrafish retina, the researchers will move to testing the approach in primates and, eventually, in humans. More information: Maryna V. Ivanchenko et al, Mini-PCDH15 gene therapy rescues hearing in a mouse model of Usher syndrome type 1F, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38038-y Journal information: Nature Communications Provided by Harvard Medical School 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: Vaccine efficacy against vaccine-type pneumococcal carriage. Carriage prevalence and percent reduction in carriage of vaccine serotypes comparing each vaccine schedule with unvaccinated participants. Lines represent carriage prevalence with shaded bands showing 95% CI. Text above points shows the percent reduction (95% CI) in carriage in the vaccinated group compared with unvaccinated participants. The percent reduction is equivalent to the vaccine efficacy against carriage, calculated as (1 prevalence ratio) 100. At 6 months and 12 months (1 + 1 comparisons), data for unvaccinated participants came from the two 0 + 1 groups combined; at 18 and 24 months (all comparisons), data for unvaccinated participants come from the control group. PCV=pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. PCV10=10-valent PCV. PCV13=13-valent PCV. Credit: The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(23)00061-0 A unique study published this month outlines new ways to protect more of the world's population from vaccine-preventable diseases. The findings, detailed in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, showed that administering fewer doses of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) could still protect against pneumococcal diseases such as meningitis and pneumonia. Known as the Vietnam Pneumococcal Trial II, the randomized controlled trial was a collaboration between Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City and Menzies School of Health Research. It showed that providing PCV doses to Vietnamese infants at 2 months and 12 months (known as a 1+1 vaccine schedule) reduced the presence of the pneumococcal bacterium found in the nose of healthy children (known as carriage) by up to two thirds. The reduction in carriage reduces transmission and extends the protection from vaccination to others in the community. This is known as herd protection. The trial also saw an increase in individual immunity, helping to protect children in their first years of life. Currently, 3 doses of PCV are recommended for infants. The Vietnam Pneumococcal Trial II adds to evidence suggesting a 1+1 vaccine schedule could be suitable in countries where pneumococcal vaccinations are already being implemented, or where they are yet to be used alongside catch-up campaigns. The United Kingdom has had a 1+1 PCV vaccine schedule since 2020, demonstrating the value of this approach. The other key finding from the study was that one PCV dose provided at 12 months of age (known as a 0+1 vaccine schedule) could also provide some herd protection. This could help to reduce disease in humanitarian crises and remote settings where PCV access is challenging. In both vaccine schedule types, the 2 widely available PCVs were tested. Both vaccines were found to be effective at generating immunity and reducing carriage. These findings, released ahead of World Immunization Week (2430 April) highlight the action needed to promote the use of vaccines to protect people in all settings from disease. Pneumococcal vaccines have been available since 2000, but it is estimated that 60% of children across the globe remain unvaccinated. The Vietnam Pneumococcal Trial II has been made possible through financial support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. According to Menzies School of Health Research Epidemiologist, Vietnam Pneumococcal Trial II Manager and lead author, Beth Temple, "Vaccination strategies that increase the accessibility and affordability of vaccines are urgently needed, and reduced vaccine schedules are one way to address this. "If fewer doses can be given, this helps reduce the cost, logistics and resources, and quantity needed to vaccinate a wider group of people. "The findings of the study provide substantial evidence to support the use of reduced-dose PCV schedules, and in turn can help protect more of our population against pneumococcal diseases." Murdoch Children's Research Institute's Professor Kim Mulholland, Vietnam Pneumococcal Trial II Principal Investigator, stated, "Severe pneumonia, usually due to Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus, remains a major cause of child death in the poorer areas of the world. The children at highest risk are those living in poor, crowded housing, particularly those suffering from malnutrition. "Sadly, 23 years after PCVs were first introduced, these children are still the most likely to miss out on the vaccine. A fair world would have seen to it that these children were vaccinated first. Our studies in this area are designed to help authorities to protect all children, not just those from wealthy families." More information: Beth Temple et al, Efficacy against pneumococcal carriage and the immunogenicity of reduced-dose (0 + 1 and 1 + 1) PCV10 and PCV13 schedules in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam: a parallel, single-blind, randomised controlled trial, The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(23)00061-0 Journal information: Lancet Infectious Diseases Provided by Menzies School of Health Research Following the Legislative session, Republicans will have control of hiring and firing at the Montana Consumer Counsel. The change marks the first time since the state Constitution created an attorney to represent consumers 51 years ago that the makeup of the committee overseeing the Consumer Counsel isnt evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. Three years ago, that even split thwarted Republican attempts to make the Consumer Counsel retract concerns about NorthWestern Energys plans to acquire a larger share of Colstrip Power Plant. The break from bipartisanship comes as NorthWestern is preparing again to acquire a larger Colstrip share. Once again, the Consumer Counsel will be called upon to weigh the acquisitions risks to consumers and make a case against the deal if necessary. By law, Republicans will now have a four-to-two advantage on the Legislative Consumer Committee. The new law proposed by Sen. Keith Regier, a Kalispell Republican, puts two members from the majority of each chamber on the committee and one member from the minority party in each body. A similar split is proposed for every committee meeting between sessions. A 50-50 makeup of interim committees does not reflect the will of the voters. I've had several constituents ask why interim committees arent balanced like the legislature makeup? And all I could answer is it's the law. Senate Bill 176 would correct that, Regier told Senate and House lawmakers in hearing on the law. The Consumer Committee isnt like other interim committees, which conduct government studies and craft bills for the coming session. Up to this point, those laws required bipartisan support to pass committee. Consumer Committee actions are immediate. When the Consumer Counsel needs additional funding for expert witnesses and outside legal counsel, its the Consumer Committee that makes the call. The committee also has the power to fire the Consumer Counsel or anyone on the Counsel staff, which includes two economists, a utility analyst, and an office manager. The two-year budget for the office is $1.5 million, plus an additional $150,000 for extraordinary expenses, such as hiring an expert analyst of utility rates, or corporate restructuring. There have been several attempts by Republican lawmakers to exert more control over the Consumer Counsel since 2020, when Republican members of the committee ordered the Consumer Counsel to retract his concerns about NorthWesterns Colstrip plans. Montanas Consumer Counsel at the time was Bob Nelson. Nelson had just persuaded state utility regulators that NorthWestern had failed to prove that buying more of Colstrip was in the public interest. Details about how much consumers would be paying for Colstrip maintenance and operations, as well as repairs were scant. While NorthWestern was suggesting to Montana regulators that it was in a sound trade, acquiring a 25% share in Colstrip Unit 4 from Puget Sound Energy for one dollar, Puget was telling Washington regulators the power plant was uneconomical and in need of big repairs. Nelson wanted to know more about the power plant. Montanas utility regulator, the Public Service Commission, agreed with Nelson, deeming NorthWesterns application inadequate and requiring the utility to disclose more. Republicans on the Consumer Committee informed Nelson that they had concluded that boosting NorthWesterns ownership of Colstrip was good for consumers. Republican lawmakers Mike Hopkins, of Missoula, and Jeff Welborn, of Dillon, ordered Nelson to retract his concerns. We believe its both our constitutional and fiduciary duty, as both elected leaders and paid staff alike, to advocate for whatever is the best deal overall for Montanas electric consumers, the two Republicans wrote. Welborn identified himself as vice chairman of the Consumer Counsel a position that doesnt exist. The two lawmakers didnt have the right to dictate Nelsons legal work. And they lacked the votes on a bipartisan, four-person committee to fire Nelson or his staff. The following session, Republicans attempted to fold the Consumer Committee into the Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee, the body that not only oversees the Public Service Commission but is also where NorthWestern Energy airs grievances when it feels the PSC has run amok. In 2017 as NorthWesterns bond rating soured, it blamed the PSC, telling ETIC that commissioners have lost their regulatory minds. The Consumer Counsel frequently sides with the states largest monopoly utility. Counsel Jason Brown earlier in April settled a rate case with NorthWestern Energy that will raise the monthly bills of residential electric customers 28% and the bills of small businesses 25%. But Colstrip Power Plant is one issue the Consumer Counsel has repeatedly pushed back on NorthWesterns plans. In 2008 when NorthWestern persuaded Public Service Commissioners to bill customers $407 million for the utilitys 30% share of Unit 4, Nelson asked the PSC to reconsider, arguing that customers should pay no more for the Colstrip share than what NorthWestern paid, $186 million. The Consumer Counsel has on three occasions opposed NorthWestern on cost recovery stemming from prolonged periods of mechanical failure at the power plant. At the start of the 2023 legislative session, Republican lawmakers on the Rules Committee voted to prevent the Montana Consumer Counsel from testifying on bills unless the Consumer Committee granted approval ahead of time. Lawmakers abandoned the decision, but Consumer Counsel Jason Brown proceeded by offering testimony as a neutral expert witness and only when called upon. No one called upon Brown. NorthWesterns latest proposed Colstrip acquisition, a 220-megawatt transfer of Spokane-based Avista Corps share of the power plant, for free, hasnt resulted in a regulatory filing with the PSC. It remains to be seen whether the Consumer Counsel will raise the same concerns it did with the 2020 deal with Puget Sound Energy, a sale that eventually failed. Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Reuters/Mihira Hamad An American family of six from Chicago is desperately attempting to escape the violent conflict in Sudan, which broke out only hours after they arrived in the country to visit relatives. Engineer Azza Hamad arrived in Omdurman near the capital city of Khartoum with her husband, her two young children, her mother, and her brother on April 15. That same day, bloody clashes broke out between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), former allies who worked together to topple the Sudanese government in 2021. Tensions that built up in the aftermath of the coup have now erupted into a power struggle that has killed some 500 people so farincluding two American citizens. Everything was normal when they first arrived, Azzas father, Abubakr Hamad, told The Daily Beast from his home in Chicago. When his wife, Hanan, first called him at 8 a.m. and told him she had heard rumblings that something might happen in Sudan, he didnt think it was cause for alarm, and told her to let his grandkids sleep in. But then I heard from a friend that there is some movement in townfor the last two weeks, there were some little [clashes] here and there, but it seemed to be a serious time. Shortly afterwards, all hell broke loose. Jets started flying off here and there, and the kids were so scared. They dont know whats going on They can hear the sound of bombs here and there and even from their place they could see the jets flying over their heads and towards the target from the air base, Abubakr said. Smoke rises from the tarmac of Khartoum International Airport. Abdullah Abdel Moneim via Reuters From that moment onwards, the father says hes been talking to the family every single hourtrying to do whatever he can from afar to help facilitate their escape out of the country. The family, including the four-year-old and one-year-old kids, were forced to shelter in place at the home they were staying in for roughly 10 days as the horror of the conflict played out around them. There was nothing they could do. All they could do was wait for the embassy, Abubakr said, adding that after reaching out to the U.S. embassy, they were told only that they should shelter in place until further instruction. Story continues When the U.S. embassy staff was evacuated on Sunday, the family hoped they would come and evacuate everybody they saw other embassies starting to evacuate their citizens, like Italy, Germany, Saudi Arabia. They kept their fingers crossed that they would be evacuated. Courtesy Mihira Hamad But that didnt happen, even after a fragile ceasefire was declared on Monday, during which there were a lot of violations and no one moved out. Some people got shot while trying to get water because there was no running water in certain areas, the father said. Instead, the family was told they could attempt to reach the city of Port Sudan at their own risk in order to evacuate. But they could not do it because they have to cross Khartoum where the fighting is really heavy, Abubakr said. Eventually, the family decided they had to take the plunge and attempt to escape to Egypt. After boarding a public bus for a long journey towards the border, they arrived in the Sudanese city of Wadi Halfa on Wednesday. It is not enough But their problems havent ended there. Halfa has been overwhelmed with an influx of thousands of people attempting to flee the country, and their family is currently trying to get all the documentation needed in order to cross the border into Egypt. The border is chaotic, with so many people and so many requirements to cross, Abubakr, who had just spoken with his family before his interview with The Daily Beast, said. It will take at least another day. A burned vehicle is seen in Khartoum. El-Tayeb Siddig/Reuters Roughly 16,000 Americans citizens were in Sudan when the clashes first began, according to the U.S. State Department. Though several countries have been able to safely coordinate the evacuations of their citizens, it appears that many Americans, like the Hamads, have been left to figure it out on their own. There are options to depart Sudan, but you must decide the safest and best method of departure for yourself and your family. We cannot guarantee your safety in movement, an alert from the State Department released Tuesday said. Although the State Department had said they could not facilitate the evacuation of private citizens in the early days of the conflict, that could soon change. U.S. officials are reportedly hoping to send consular teams to Port Sudan to assist with the evacuation, and are reportedly working to assist and advise some private citizens on the best options available. But for Abubakr, who says he hasnt had more than three hours of sleep a night since the conflict broke out, I dont think [the U.S.] did enough. They did a great job evacuating the embassy staff, which was very quick and nothing happened. That was a good job, but they should do a good job on the ground They should do more. I dont think they have a very clear plan like other countries, other countries had a plan and took out their citizens. For now, the father is doing everything he can for his family, including reaching out to members of Congress and urging them to help guarantee their safe return. Im left here at home with my son, a college student, its his final semester and hes doing final exams, he told The Daily Beast. I see him panicking, and he doesn't want to go to school, he wants to stay at home watching the news. Meanwhile, Abubakr is staying in close contact with his daughter Azza, who is trying to stay strong despite occasionally breaking down on the phone with her father. She always makes sure, however, that her children never see her in tears, Abubakr said. I keep talking to my grandson and sometimes he wants to scream, he wants to cry, Abubakr said. I keep telling him, youre just on a road trip. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. In an effort to address community needs in the more rural parts of Missoula County, the county government awarded $20,000 to community organizations in Bonner, Condon, Potomac, Frenchtown and Lolo this week. The set of grants represents the countys first round of its Rural Grants Program. Grants Administrator Heidi West said the program is aimed at empowering rural communities to have the county help meet needs theyve identified. The rural grants are divided between micro grants between $100 and $500 and impact grants between $501 and $4,000. Micro grants are awarded monthly while funding is available, whereas impact grants go out once per year. The impact grants went to Potomac School District, the Seeley Lake Lions Club, The Original Swan River Tavern Foundation, the Bonner-Milltown History Center, Travelers Rest Preservation and Historical Society and Symphony in Schools. In Potomac, $4,000 will go to purchasing a walk-in cooler to ensure food safety for students and community members. In Seeley Lake, $4,000 will be used to hire Red Cross-certified swim instructors to teach swim lessons for approximately 97 children at Double Arrow swimming pool. $3,750 goes to The Original Swan River Tavern Foundation in order to construct a concrete foundation for the tavern located at the Swan Valley Museum in Condon. The Bonner-Milltown History Center will use $3,000 to transcribe 12 roundtable history programs for archival preservation. At Travelers Rest in Lolo, $2,625 will support hosting local Indigenous historians and artisans to provide interpretive demonstrations. An equal amount will also provide partial funding for musicians from the Missoula Symphony Orchestra to visit classrooms in Seeley Lake, Lolo, Frenchtown, Target Range and Bonner. West said the county received 19 applications for impact grants, and demand was about three times more than the available funding. While the government couldnt give awards to all the applicants, West said the program also works to bring attention to community needs so the Missoula County commissioners can target those projects in the future. The county also awarded four micro grants in March, and applications are currently open until April 30 for this months round of funding. The Seeley Lake Market won an award to rent a portable toilet. The Frenchtown Senior Citizens group will use its award to buy food and beverage materials, as well as cleaning supplies, to help maintain the Frenchtown Fire Hall that hosts many local events. The Seeley Lake Bear Fairs award will go to purchasing materials and bear spray for the annual community event that raises awareness about bear safety. East Missoula United used its award to create a mailer for the Earth Day Cleanup Event held April 22. Eligible entities for micro grants include 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, schools, special districts, community councils and individuals. Projects must be located in Missoula County, outside Missoula city limits. Additional guidelines and requirements are available at missoula.co/ruralgrant. West also said she is available to discuss project ideas by emailing hwest@missoulacounty.us. Q: I will turn 72 in 2023. I understand that the SECURE 2.0 Act increased the starting age for required minimum distributions to 73 from 72. Yet my bank notified me that I must take one this year. Are they right? A: No, they are wrong. Unfortunately because the SECURE 2.0 Act was enacted so late in 2022, many financial institutions didnt have time to update their systems, so they have sent out incorrect statements to those who turned 72 in 2023. IRA expert Ed Slott offers some advice. Anyone who turned 72 in 2023 does not have to take a distribution in 2023. For those who have already taken one because of the misinformation, there are options. One is to convert the distribution to a Roth IRA. You can do this if the distribution was made less than 60 days ago. A required minimum distribution cannot be rolled over or converted to a Roth IRA. However, in this case, because the distribution is not required, the IRS does not consider it to be a required minimum distribution, so you can convert it to a Roth. Income tax on the distribution would be required, however. Another option is to roll the distribution back to an IRA. However, this will not be easy because the distribution is now subject to both the once-per-year rule and the 60-day rollover rule. So, if you have already done a rollover within the past year, you cannot do another rollover. Also, if 60 days have passed since you made the distribution, you cannot roll the funds back into your IRA. Even if you havent done a rollover within the past year, your distribution will be taxable, so the Roth conversion makes more sense than rolling over the distribution back to your IRA. Q: My mother passed away in 2023. The size of her estate exceeded the allowable federal estate exemption, so estate taxes of 40% were incurred. She had an IRA that I inherited that was also taxed at 40%. I understand that I am eligible for a tax deduction associated with the inherited IRA. My tax preparer is not familiar with this deduction. Can you advise me regarding the deduction? A: I was not familiar with this deduction, either, so I contacted Ed Slott, who answered the query. He indicated that because this situation is not common, it is not covered in the IRS publication associated with itemized deductions, Schedule A. The deduction involved here is called the Federal Estate Tax Deduction for Income in Respect of a Decedent. It is covered in IRS Publication 529 on page 10. The recipient of the IRA is eligible to deduct the tax amount paid related to the IRA. For example, assume the IRA had a value of $100,000, and the estate tax paid was 40% of $100,000 or $40,000. Assume further that the beneficiary of the IRA had a tax liability of $60,000 related to a required minimum distribution. The beneficiary would be allowed to take a deduction of $40,000 from the $60,000 on Schedule A, resulting in a $20,000 net federal income tax. Q: I am retired and want to make a Roth contribution. I have been told that because I have no earned income, I cannot contribute. Is that correct? A: It is true that you cannot make a contribution to a Roth account if you dont have earned income in a specific year. However, if you do have traditional IRAs, you can convert some or all of your traditional IRAs (however, not until you have taken the required minimum distribution for the year) to a Roth account. Naturally, there would be an income tax due based on the value of the amount of funds converted. Correction In a previous column, I indicated that an individual's health savings account funds could not pay for his or her spouse's eligible medical expenses. That was not correct. As long as the expense of the spouse was incurred during the marriage, the payment is allowable. In addition, health expenses of dependent children of the health savings account owner are also allowable. __ Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. Joel Wakefield isnt just an armchair epidemiologist. His interest in tracking the spread of covid is personal. The 58-year-old lawyer who lives in Phoenix has an immunodeficiency disease that increases his risk of severe outcomes from covid-19 and other infections. He has spent lots of time since 2020 checking state, federal, and private sector covid trackers for data to inform his daily decisions. Im assessing When am I going to see my grandkids? When am I going to let my own kids come into my house? he said. Many Americans have moved on from the pandemic, but for the millions who are immunocompromised or otherwise more vulnerable to covid, reliable data remains important in assessing safety. I dont have that luxury to completely shrug it off, Wakefield said. The federal governments public health emergency thats been in effect since January 2020 expires May 11. The emergency declaration allowed for sweeping changes in the U.S. health care system, like requiring state and local health departments, hospitals, and commercial labs to regularly share data with federal officials. But some shared data requirements will come to an end and the federal government will lose access to key metrics as a skeptical Congress seems unlikely to grant agencies additional powers. And private projects, like those from The New York Times and Johns Hopkins University, which made covid data understandable and useful for everyday people, stopped collecting data in March. Public health legal scholars, data experts, former and current federal officials, and patients at high risk of severe covid outcomes worry the scaling back of data access could make it harder to control covid. There have been improvements in recent years, such as major investments in public health infrastructure and updated data reporting requirements in some states. But concerns remain that the overall shambolic state of U.S. public health data infrastructure could hobble the response to any future threats. Were all less safe when theres not the national amassing of this information in a timely and coherent way, said Anne Schuchat, former principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A lack of data in the early days of the pandemic left federal officials, like Schuchat, with an unclear picture of the rapidly spreading coronavirus. And even as the public health emergency opened the door for data-sharing, the CDC labored for months to expand its authority. Eventually, more than a year into the pandemic, the CDC gained access to data from private health care settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes, commercial labs, and state and local health departments. CDC officials have been working to retain its authority over some information, such as vaccination records, said Director Rochelle Walensky. Walensky told the U.S. House in February that expanding the CDCs ability to collect public health data is critical to its ability to respond to threats. The public expects that we will jump on things before they become public health emergencies, she later told KFF Health News. We cant do that if we dont have access to data. The agency is negotiating information-sharing agreements with dozens of state and local governments, Walensky said, as well as partnering with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. It is also lobbying for the legal power to access data from both public and private parts of the health care system. The hospital data reporting requirement was decoupled from the health emergency and is set to expire next year. But its an uphill battle. Some of those data points we may not have anymore, Walensky said, noting how access to covid test results from labs will disappear. That data became a less precise indicator as people turned to at-home testing. Moving forward, Walensky said, the CDCs covid tracking will resemble its seasonal flu surveillance, which uses information from sample sites to establish broad trends. Itll offer a less granular view of how covid is spreading, which experts worry could make it harder to notice troubling new viral variants early. Overall, federal courts including the U.S. Supreme Court have not been supportive of expanded public health powers in recent years. Some issued rulings to block mask mandates, pause mandatory covid vaccination requirements, and end the nationwide eviction moratorium. Such power limits leave the CDC with its utterly dysfunctional, antiquated data collection system, said Lawrence Gostin, director of the ONeill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University. Its like a mosaic, he said, in which states and territories collect data their own way and decide how much to share with federal officials. Although covid numbers are trending down, the CDC still counts thousands of new infections and hundreds of new deaths each week. More than 1,000 Americans are also hospitalized with covid complications daily. When we stop looking, it makes it all more invisible, Gostin said. Covid knowledge and awareness is going to melt into the background. State and local public health officials are generally willing to share data with federal agencies, but they often run into legal hurdles that prevent them from doing so, said Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. It will take a lot of work to loosen state restrictions on public health data. And the political will may be lacking, considering many jurisdictions have rolled back public health powers in recent years. Until rules change, the CDCs power to help states is limited, Plescia said. Their hands are tied a little bit in how much they can do, he said. Public health officials rely on data to target interventions and track how well theyre working. A lack of information can create blind spots that exacerbate poor outcomes for high-risk populations, said Denise Chrysler, a senior adviser for the Network for Public Health Law. If you dont have the data, you cant locate who youre failing to serve. Theyre going to fall between the cracks, she said. The lack of covid data broken down by race and ethnicity in the early days of the pandemic obscured the outsize impact covid had on marginalized groups, such as Black and Hispanic people, Chrysler said. Some states, like New Jersey and Arizona, issued rules to mandate the collection of race and ethnicity data for covid, but they were temporary and tied to state emergency declarations, she said. Inconsistent local data precipitated the end of privately run projects that supplemented government resources. The available data researchers could pull from was just terrible, said Beth Blauer, associate vice provost for public sector innovation at Johns Hopkins, who helped launch its dashboard. The decision to end the program was practical. We were relying on publicly available data sources, and the quality had rapidly eroded in the last year, she said. The fast collapse of the data network also raises questions about state and local agencies long-term investments in tracking covid and other threats. I wish that we had a set of data that would help us guide personal decision-making, Blauer said. Because Im still fearful of a pandemic that we dont really know a ton about. To Schuchat, formerly of the CDC, theres a lot of ground to regain after years of underinvestment in public health, long before the covid pandemic and high stakes in ensuring good data systems. The CDCs detection of a vaping-related lung illness in 2019 was recognized after case reports from a hospital in Wisconsin, she said. And she attributed the nations slow reaction to the opioid crisis to poor access to emergency room data showing a troubling trend in overdoses. Were much better when we detect things before theres an emergency, Schuchat said. We can prevent major emergencies from happening. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF. USE OUR CONTENT This story can be republished for free (details). Travelers entering China will no longer need to provide a negative PCR test result starting Saturday. A Foreign Ministry official says that travelers can instead show a negative antigen test result taken within 48 hours before boarding. It's another easing of China's zero COVID policies that sharply curbed travel. Beijing resumed issuing all types of visas last month but the PCR test requirement still deterred travelers. PCR tests are highly accurate but cost time and money, while antigen tests are easier to obtain. The Foreign Ministry official says airlines will no longer be required to check test results before departure. The Ukrainian government has launched an initiative to streamline and promote innovation in the development of drones and other technologies that have been critical during Russias war in Ukraine. The government hopes to bring state, military, and private sector developers working on defense issues together into a tech cluster that would give Ukraine a battlefield advantage. Ukraines minister of digital transformation said ahead of Wednesdays official announcement that the government has earmarked more than 100 million hryvnias (about $2.7 million) to fund promising projects. The minister says Ukraine and Russia are about on par right now in their ability to employ drones but that Ukraine must strive for technological superiority. Photo: The Canadian Press Pope Francis has decided to give women the right to vote at an upcoming meeting of bishops, an historic reform that reflects his hopes to give women greater decision-making responsibilities and laypeople more say in the life of the Catholic Church. Francis approved changes to the norms governing the Synod of Bishops, a Vatican body that gathers the worlds bishops together for periodic meetings, following years of demands by women to have the right to vote. The Vatican on Wednesday published the modifications he approved, which emphasize his vision for the lay faithful taking on a greater role in church affairs that have long been left to clerics, bishops and cardinals. Catholic womens groups that have long criticized the Vatican for treating women as second-class citizens immediately praised the move as historic in the history of the church. This is a significant crack in the stained glass ceiling, and the result of sustained advocacy, activism and the witness of a campaign of Catholic womens groups demanding the right to vote, said Kate McElwee of the Womens Ordination Conference, which advocates for women's ordination. Ever since the Second Vatican Council, the 1960s meetings that modernized the church, popes have summoned the worlds bishops to Rome for a few weeks at a time to debate particular topics. At the end of the meetings, the bishops vote on specific proposals and put them to the pope, who then produces a document taking their views into account. Until now, the only people who could vote were men. But under the new changes, five religious sisters will join five priests as voting representatives for religious orders. In addition, Francis has decided to appoint 70 non-bishop members of the synod and has asked that half of them be women. They too will have a vote. The aim is also to include young people among these 70 non-bishop members, who will be proposed to the pope by regional blocs, with Francis making a final decision. Its an important change, its not a revolution, said Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, a top organizer of the synod. The next meeting, scheduled for Oct. 4-29, is focused on the very topic of making the church more reflective of, and responsive to, the laity, a process known as synodality that Francis has championed for years. The October meeting has been preceded by an unprecedented two-year canvassing of the lay Catholic faithful about their vision for the church and how it can better respond to the needs of Catholics today. So far only one women is known to be a voting member of that October meeting, Sister Nathalie Becquart, a French nun who is undersecretary in the Vaticans Synod of Bishops office and will participate in the meeting thanks to her position. When she was appointed to the position in 2021, she called Francis brave for having pushed the envelope on women's participation. By the end of next month, seven regional blocs will propose 20 names apiece of nonbishop members to Francis, who will select 10 names apiece to bring the total to 70. Cardinal Mario Grech, who is in charge of the synod, stressed that with the changes, some 21% of the gathered representatives at the October meeting will be non-bishops, with half of that group women. Acknowledging the unease within the hierarchy of Francis' vision of inclusivity, he stressed that the synod itself would continue to have a majority of bishops calling the shots. Hollerich declined to say how the female members of the meeting would be known, given that members have long been known as synodal fathers. Asked if they would be known as synodal mothers, he responded that it would be up to the women to decide. Francis has upheld the Catholic Church's ban on ordaining women as priests, but has done more than any pope in recent time to give women greater say in decision-making roles in the church. He has appointed several women to high-ranking Vatican positions, though no women head any of the major Vatican offices or departments, known as dicasteries. The founder of a satanic church in New Hampshire who lost a bid for sheriff in 2020 has been sentenced in U.S. District Court to 18 months in prison for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Thirty-five-year-old Aria DiMezzo was also ordered Tuesday to pay a $5,000 fine and forfeit more than $14,000 and 1.93 bitcoins, currently worth about $55,000. DiMezzo is a self-described satanist who started the Reformed Satanic Church. Prosecutors said she worked with Ian Freeman to sell virtual currency to customers whom he recruited, and Freeman received a portion of the profits. A federal jury previously found Freeman guilty of money laundering and tax evasion. Republicans in Montanas House of Representatives voted Wednesday to ban a Democratic transgender lawmaker from the chamber, following her support for protesters who shut down the body's proceedings earlier in the week. Rep. Zooey Zephyr of Missoula will still be allowed to vote remotely, but will not be allowed to access the House chamber, anteroom or gallery under the party-line, 68-32 vote taken by the House. Democrats were united against the motion, while Republicans all voted in favor. Republicans have criticized Zephyrs actions during the protests on Monday, when activists filled the House gallery and interrupted proceedings on the floor with shouting and chanting in support of Zephyr, the first transgender woman elected to the state Legislature. The rally and subsequent protest were held in response to Republicans in the House preventing Zephyr from speaking on the House floor for several days, after comments she made last week. The freshman lawmaker had told representatives a week ago they should be ashamed for voting in favor of a bill that would ban some gender-affirming care for transgender minors. She also told them they would have blood on your hands for doing so. Montana Speaker of the House Rep. Matt Regier, of Kalispell, made the motion to ban Zephyr under a provision of the Montana Constitution that allows each house to expel or punish a member for good cause shown with the concurrence of two-thirds of all its members. "She actively participated in disrupting the lawful activities of this Legislature," Rep. David Bedey, a Hamilton Republican, said. "Such behavior must have consequences if we are to keep our processes in place." Zephyr remained defiant, being permitted for the first time in a week to address the House floor as she spoke against the motion. "When I rose up and said there is 'blood on your hands,' I was not being hyperbolic," she said. "I was speaking to the real consequences of the votes that we as legislators take in this body." Republican House Leadership said in a letter late Tuesday they planned disciplinary consequences against Zephyr after comments she made on the House floor last week. In a debate April 18 over a bill that will block minors from accessing gender-affirming care, she told lawmakers if they voted for legislation to ban some gender-affirming care for minors, they "should be ashamed." She also told them, "I hope the next time there's an invocation when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands." Republicans have advanced several bills affecting trans people this session. After Zephyr's initial statements, the Freedom Caucus, a group of legislators farther to the right than the rest of the GOP, called for her censure in a statement that misgendered Zephyr. Since last week Regier has refused to acknowledge Zephyr or let her speak on the floor. His decisions have been upheld by most of the supermajority Republicans in the chamber and Regier has said he will not acknowledge Zephyr until she apologizes. Zephyr had said she would not apologize. After Mondays protest in which seven were charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing, Zephyr again said she would not back down. As an elected representative, I am devoted to supporting those who speak in defense of democracy, as it is my duty to ensure their voices are heard and respected, she said in a statement. On Tuesday Regier canceled the Houses floor session and refused to take questions from reporters about why. This story will be updated. WASHINGTON Chief Justice John Roberts declined a request from the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify at a hearing next week on ethical standards at the court, instead providing the panel with a statement of ethics reaffirmed by the court's nine justices. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., invited Roberts' testimony last week, saying there had been a "steady stream of revelations" regarding Supreme Court justices "falling short of ethical standards expected of other federal judges." The invitation came after news reports detailed a close relationship between Justice Clarence Thomas and a conservative donor from Texas. The donor, Dallas billionaire Harlan Crow, purchased three properties belonging to Thomas and his family in a transaction worth more than $100,000 that Thomas never reported, according to the nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica. In a letter to Durbin on Tuesday, Roberts said he would "respectfully decline" the committee's request. "Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee by the Chief Justice of the United States is exceedingly rare, as one might expect in light of separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence." Accompanying the letter to Durbin was a "Statement on Ethics Principles and Practices" signed by all nine justices describing the ethical rules they follow about travel, gifts and outside income. While the rules did not appear to be new, the statement said the undersigned justices "today reaffirm and restate foundational ethics principles and practices to which they subscribe in carrying out their responsibilities as Members of the Supreme Court of the United States." The statement details standards for justices' activities outside the court and describes the recusal process, which is generally up to each individual justice. It does not require any justice to say why they are recusing from a case. Durbin said in a statement that he received the letter and would proceed with the hearing, which will "review common sense proposals" to hold Supreme Court justices more accountable to ethics guidelines. "Make no mistake: Supreme Court ethics reform must happen whether the Court participates in the process or not," Durbin said. He said the statement of ethics Roberts sent "ignores the obvious." "The actions of one Justice, including trips on yachts and private jets, were not reported to the public," Durbin said. "That same Justice failed to disclose the sale of properties he partly owned to a party with interests before the Supreme Court." Gabe Roth, executive director of the court transparency group Fix the Court, said the justices' statements rehashed inadequate ethical standards. Make no mistake: Roberts statement is nowhere near an appropriate response to the ethical failures of the current Court, Roth said in a statement. ProPublica also revealed that Crow gifted Thomas and his wife, Ginni, with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of annual vacations and trips over several decades including international cruises on his mega-yacht, private jet flights and stays at Crow's invitation-only resort in the Adirondacks. But the 2014 real estate deal is the first public evidence of a direct financial transaction between the pair. Ethics experts offered conflicting views about whether Thomas was required to disclose the luxury trips Crow funded. Thomas said colleagues advised him that "this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable." Thomas did not name the other justices or those in the judiciary with whom he had consulted. Last month, the federal judiciary bolstered disclosure requirements for all judges, including the high court justices, though overnight stays at personal vacation homes owned by friends remain exempt from disclosure. The ethics statement sent to Durbin notes the Judicial Conference's Committee on Financial Disclosure "provided clarification on the scope of the 'personal hospitality' exemption to the disclosure rules." The original letter from Durbin had asked Roberts or another justice to appear before the committee on May 2. He told Roberts the scope of his testimony would be limited to the ethics rules governing justices of the Supreme Court and potential changes to those rules. Roberts' refusal to testify is the latest hitch for Democrats on the Judiciary panel. With Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California absent indefinitely, the committee has a tied number of Democrats and Republicans and can't move certain judges to the floor or presumably subpoena Roberts, if Democrats wanted to. In declining to testify, Roberts ignored Durbin's invitation to have another justice appear instead. The last time justices met with the Senate Judiciary Committee was in October 2011, when Justices Antonin Scalia and Stephen Breyer testified. The Supreme Court fight over an abortion pill: What's next? Intro What is mifepristone? How did the case get started? How did the case get to the Supreme Court? What could happen next? A closer look Supreme Court temporarily extends stay on Texas abortion pill ruling A Japanese companys spacecraft apparently crashed while attempting to land on the moon. Flight controllers lost contact Wednesday with the lander after it descended from lunar orbit, aiming for the dusty surface. More than six hours later, the company said there was a high probability that the lander had slammed into the moon. If all had gone well, the company would have been the first private business to pull off a lunar landing. Only three governments have successfully landed on the moon: Russia, the United States and China. The spacecraft carried a mini lunar rover for the United Arab Emirates and a toylike robot from Japan. A southern Iowa nursing home thats owned in part by a man accused of defrauding taxpayers has been cited for 19 regulatory violations. One of the alleged violations that state inspectors recently uncovered at Prestige Care Center in Fairfield involves a nurse who, according to state records, openly diluted a patients morphine with tap water to compensate for the portion of narcotic that was missing. According to state records, the incident occurred last September after a medication aide questioned a registered nurse about a shortage of liquid morphine painkiller that had been prescribed for one specific resident. In response to the aide commenting that the narcotic count for the overnight shift was off due to the missing morphine, the nurse allegedly walked to a kitchen sink, turned on the faucet, filled the morphine bottle, tossed it to the aide and said something to the effect of, That was easy enough. There. Now the count is right. In a separate matter, inspectors alleged someone had called the facilitys complaint hotline to report that a family member witnessed a staffer sticking their fingers into a bottle of morphine and then licking it off their fingers. When questioned, the worker allegedly admitted that she had run her fingers around the bottles edge and then licked her fingers. Prestige Care Center was also cited for failing to ensure a resident received only those medications prescribed to him and failed to ensure another resident wasnt subjected to a significant medication error. That violation stems from an incident that took place in October 2022 when a male resident began demonstrating neurological changes, was slurring his words and was incontinent. It was later discovered that the staff had mistakenly given each of two residents medications that were intended for the other resident. The home was also cited for violations related to COVID-19 vaccinations. According to inspectors, the home had no records to indicate that 11 different workers at Prestige had been vaccinated against COVID-19. The state proposed a fine of $8,250 for inadequate nursing services and a fine of $7,500 fine for inadequate resident safety. Both state fines have been suspended so the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services can determine whether a federal penalty is warranted. CMS Care Compare website indicates the most recent federal penalty imposed against Prestige Care Center was in December 2021 when a $98,833 fine was levied. In the past three years, Prestige has been fined nine times by CMS. Care center owner accused of defrauding the government According to CMS data, Prestige Care Center is a for-profit operation owned by Ephram Lahasky and Yisroel Kaplan of New York, and is doing business in Iowa as Sunnybrook Operations. Four months ago, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Lahasky, accusing him and several partners of defrauding the government of more than $18 million while understaffing and neglecting residents at The Villages, a 120-bed facility in northwestern New York. Lahasky and his partners in The Villages allegedly obtained mortgages to finance the original purchase of the facility, then obtained a $15 million loan to refinance the mortgage. They then claimed $4 million as a cash distribution of loan proceeds. In 2020, the facility was again refinanced through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and an additional $3.6 million was withdrawn as profit for the owners, according to the New York attorney general. The care facility then had to repay the inflated costs of the mortgage out of its operating account, which allegedly led to a dramatic decrease in the quality of care while creating the false impression of a cash-strapped nursing home. Lahasky has also been part owner of Brighton Rehab and Wellness Center in Pennsylvania, where authorities have accused the operators of falsifying staff hours and overcharging for resident care. In 2022, MarketWatch reported that of the 97 facilities Lahasky then had a stake in, only two had an overall five-star rating from CMS, compared with 23% of all nursing homes. More than two-thirds of the facilities where Lahasky had an ownership stake had one- or two-star ratings, the publication reported. Other nursing homes cited Other Iowa care facilities recently cited for violations include: Accura Healthcare, Pleasantville According to inspectors, a resident of the home fell in January and required surgery to repair a broken leg. The facility failed to report the injury to the state as required and the administrator later stated the home did not have a policy related to the reporting of major injuries. Inspectors also reported that in January, two certified nurse aides were repositioning a resident who was suspended in the air in a mechanical lift when one of the aides took out her vape pen and blew vapor directly into the residents face. The other aide reportedly questioned her colleague, asking what would happen if the resident had an allergic reaction, to which the aide with the vape pen responded, Not my problem. The facility was cited for failing to immediately report the abuse to the state. State fines totaling $8,000 have been held in suspension so CMS can determine whether a federal penalty is warranted. Park View Homes, Sioux City On Jan.17, a 35-year-old intellectually disabled female resident of this intermediate care facility was apparently knocked to the ground while disembarking from a van. The resident was reportedly up all night that evening, unable to lie down, and was crying and moaning in pain. A supervisor later told inspectors she wasnt sure why the staff didnt take the woman to a hospital for an evaluation. The next morning, the staff transported the woman to a hospital where it was discovered she had a fractured clavicle that required surgery. The state imposed a $5,500 fine. The facility was also fined $500 for repeatedly failing to administer medication in accordance with physicians orders. According to inspectors, that failure affected 11 of the 16 residents who had been prescribed the medication Clozaril, a medication commonly used to treat schizophrenia and other disorders. Best public high schools in Iowa Best public high schools in Iowa #30. Western Dubuque High School #29. Kee High School #28. Clear Lake High School #27. Harlan High School #26. Van Meter Junior/Senior High School #25. George-Little Rock Senior High School #24. South Central Calhoun High School #23. West Marshall High School #22. Hudson High School #21. Liberty High School #20. Williamsburg Junior/Senior High School #19. Grinnell Community Senior High School #18. George Washington High School #17. MOC-Floyd Valley High School #16. Cedar Falls High School #15. Le Mars High School #14. Johnston Senior High School #13. Decorah High School #12. Linn-Mar High School #11. Bettendorf High School #10. Ankeny High School #9. Waukee Senior High School #8. Iowa City High School #7. Ankeny Centennial High School #6. Gilbert High School #5. John F. Kennedy High School #4. Valley High School #3. Ames High School #2. Pleasant Valley High School #1. West Senior High School Asa Hutchinson has formally launched his Republican campaign for president in his hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas. The former two-term governor of Arkansas pledged Wednesday to be a leader who will bring out the best of America and aimed in his speech to draw contrasts with other GOP hopefuls on top issues, including how best to reform federal law enforcement agencies. Hutchinson has been a rare figure among announced or expected GOP presidential hopefuls in his willingness to criticize former President Donald Trump. Hutchinson has called for Trump to drop out of the 2024 race instead of seeking another term in the White House. LEMOORE, Calif. Ron Caetano is packed and ready to go. His family photos and valuables are in the trailer and he's put food in carry totes. He moved the rabbits and chickens and their automatic feeders to higher ground. He and his family and dogs could get out in less than an hour, they figure, should more heavy rain or hot weather melt so much mountain snow that gushing water overwhelms the rivers and channel that surround their tight-knit, rural Central California community and give it its name, the Island District. "The water is coming this way," said Caetano, who started a Facebook group to help organize his neighbors. "I am preparing for the worst and praying for the best and that's all we can do." After more than a dozen atmospheric rivers dumped epic rain and snowfall on California, a reservoir that stores water upstream is expected to receive three times its capacity in coming months. Caetano and his neighbors in the tree-lined Island District, about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, could soon be marooned by rising rivers or flooded out. Water managers are concerned that the spring snowmelt in the Sierra Nevada will be so massive that the north fork of the Kings River won't be able to contain it and carry it toward the Pacific Ocean. Much of the water also is being channeled into the river's south fork, which winds through the area near the small city of Lemoore to fill a vast basin. More than a century ago, that basin was an enormous body of freshwater known as Tulare Lake, the largest west of the Mississippi River. It would grow in winter as snowmelt streamed down from the mountains. Over time, settlers dammed and diverted waterways to irrigate crops, and the lake went dry. Now, Tulare Lake reappears only during the rainiest years, like this one, covering what is now a vast swath of farmland with water. Today, paved roads vanish beneath the lake's lapping waves and utility poles and trees jut out above the water, vestiges of land-living put on hold. Fields that typically grow wheat, tomatoes, and other crops lie underneath. David Merritt, general manager for the Kings River Conservation District, said the Pine Flat Reservoir about 50 miles upstream can hold up to 1 million acre feet of water, but is expected to receive more than 3 million acre feet this spring from the melting snow. Officials have been forced to increase the flow of water out of the reservoir to make space for more, Merritt said. "Once we're at capacity, now you're putting a lot of stress on those conveyance channels," he said. "It's a very fast moving stream and it's very deep right now." Island District residents revived a decades-old network of neighbors for the first time since 1983 to assist one another in a crisis. The last time the Island Property Protection Association activated, there was no such thing as text messages or even emails to quickly spread the word, said Tony Oliveira, a former county supervisor and the network's administrator. In a week, more than 200 people volunteered to help neighbors through the network, and the group's website received more than 4,000 hits. California's parched cities and desperate growers, who have been grappling with intense drought for the past several years, welcomed the winter rains. The state long tended toward wet and dry periods, but scientists at University of California, San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography said they expect climate change will lead to drier dry years and wetter wet years. If temperatures remain cool, snow will melt slowly, with water gradually flowing from the mountains. A hot spell could send massive amounts of water churning through rivers that could potentially overflow, officials said. A beaver or a squirrel that tears a hole in a levee also could bring trouble. Rising temperatures have many residents on edge. Park officials announced plans to temporarily close part of Yosemite National Park starting Friday due to the threat of flooding. Reservations for campgrounds and lodging in eastern Yosemite Valley will automatically be canceled and refunded. Michael Anderson, California's state climatologist, said water inflows into some reservoirs are expected to double though he doesn't expect the warming trend to cause immediate flooding in residential areas. In the coming weeks and months, that could change. Gov. Gavin Newsom visited the reemerged lake Tuesday and said the worst is likely yet to come as more water reaches the basin. "Where we're standing likely will be underwater in a matter of weeks, if not months," he said. "That's very sobering." It isn't the first time Kings County, home to 150,000 people in the fertile San Joaquin Valley, has faced these challenges. Many longtime residents recall when Tulare Lake reappeared 40 years ago. Officials believe crops will remain under water much longer this time due to the massive snowpack, said Dusty Ference, executive director of the Kings County Farm Bureau. To date, more than 60,000 acres of farmland have flooded, he said. Near the lake, the city of Corcoran, which is home to 22,000 people including 8,000 state prisoners, began emergency construction to raise a levee that protects the community. The water behind the levee is already at 178 feet, just 10 feet below the top. Officials want to raise the levee another 3.5 feet, city officials said. "If that water rises above that amount, we will have water coming into our city and we will be in a critical situation," city manager Greg Gatzka said. How climate change is affecting America's national parks Historic flooding, extreme temperatures and more Rising temperatures Glacial retreat Sea level rise Animal life Wildfires (Originally published Feb. 7 as part of the Hot off the Wire podcast.) An 1835 treaty between the Cherokee Nation and United States that led to the death of thousands on the Trail of Tears included a provision that would allow the Cherokee to seat a delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives. Nearly 200 years later, the Cherokee have renewed calls for Congress to honor the treaty and seat its delegate. But what would that mean for the Cherokee Nation as well as other tribes not covered by that treaty? What issues would a delegate focus on as a non-voting member of Congress? Dr. Julie Reed, an Associate Professor in History at Penn State University and a citizen of of the Cherokee Nation, recently wrote an article for The Conversation called: Cherokee Nation wants to send a delegate to the House its an idea older than Congress itself. That article serves as an entry point for a discussion on the topic between Reed and Terry Lipshetz, senior producer for Lee Enterprises and host of Hot off the Wire.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. A Kajiado court has allowed police to detain a woman who killed her two-year-old baby and ate her organs in Kitengela. Olivia Naserian, 24, slaughtered her two-year-old daughter Glory Njeri at their home in Kitengelas Milimani estate on Sunday night. She was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Jane Kamau on Tuesday, with police seeking more time to allow them complete investigations into the shocking incident. We also want to establish whether this woman is normal or has a mental illness. What she did to her own baby is unexplainable, said Kitengela Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Benson Mutia. Magistrate Kamau ordered that Naserian remains in police custody for another 10 days. She is expected back in court on May 8. Naserian, a Fourth Year Commerce student at a local university, said she killed her baby because she hates herself and had suffered a lot. Ninajichukia mwenyewe. Sijipendi ndio maana niliuawa mtoto wangu. Nimepitia magumu na huyu mtoto, she said. Loosely translated: (I hate myself. I suffer from low self-esteem and thats why I killed my child. I have gone through a lot with my daughter) On Tuesday morning before she presented in court, Naserian reportedly demanded to see her daughter. The woman is expected to undergo mental tests before the case can proceed. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua ended his four-day official visit to Botswana on Tuesday after a flurry of activities and bilateral engagements, culminating in Kenya being granted the opportunity to host the third Forbes 30 Under 30 Africa Summit later this year. This was a day after he took part as a panelist at the second edition of the prestigious Summit, which recognises the top 30 entrepreneurs under 30 years, organised by the US-based Forbes Magazine. Early on Tuesday, Mr Gachagua held a meeting with the team behind the popular global summits where he floated a request for Kenya to host the third edition of the Summit, slated for later this year. Among those at the meeting at the Avani Hotel in Gaborone, were Mr Randall Lane, the Chief Content Officer of Forbes Media and Editor of Forbes Magazine, Mr Julius Mwale, an industrial entrepreneur, investor and Principal of Mwale Medical and Technology City (MMTC)-whose roots are in Kenya and Shivish Soni of Sun Group, among others. The Forbes team accepted Kenyas bid to host the Summit owing to the countrys renowned credentials as a leading entrepreneurship hub in Africa. Mr Randall and Mr Mwale will visit Kenya soon for detailed engagements with the Government of Kenya on the modalities of hosting the Summit. Forbes 30 Under 30 is an accolade that shines the spotlight on successful entrepreneurs below 30 years. Launched in 2011 in the US by the Forbes Magazine, the Summit has extended to other continents as a premier platform showcasing youth entrepreneurship. During the panel discussion, the Deputy President said the youth have the potential of driving sustainable development through innovation. I started my first business while at the University of Nairobi. The youth must take advantage of governments which have given them a latitude and created an enabling environment for business, Mr Gachagua said. He added that digital innovation is key to entrepreneurship, hence the reason Kenya is investing in the 100,000km digital superhighway. This will trigger and spur innovations, and other startups across the country, he said. Botswana also hosted the first edition in 2022. Among the Kenyans participating in the Summit in Gaborone is the popular boy band Sauti Sol, who were part of the premier performers at a concert on the eve of the Summit, attended by host President Dr Eric Masisi and Deputy President Gachagua, together with his Spouse Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs Roseline Njogu, among other dignitaries. Kenyan Ms Charlot Magayi, an award-winning safe cooking advocate, who is the founder and CEO of Mukuru Clean Stoves, will speak at the Summit. She was a winner in last years Summit alongside Dr Joan Ruguru Kimani, Elsa Majimbo and Sylvia Gathoni. On Monday evening, the Deputy President was hosted to a dinner by President Masisi at State House, which was attended by some of the youthful entrepreneurs from around the globe, whom Mr Gachagua interacted with. He had earlier, after speaking at the Summit, held a discussion with Vice President Slumber Tsongwane. On Monday morning, President Masisi hosted the DP at State House for bilateral talks. Key among the issues was a request to President Masisi to consider renewal of permits for Kenyans living and working in Botswana and exploiting trade agreements to increase trade volumes. On the sidelines of the Summit, the Deputy President discussed with members of Sauti Sol band on how they can contribute to rescuing the boy child from illicit brew and substance abuse. On Tuesday afternoon, he visited the popular Botswana tourism site Kasane, which is about 1,000km from the capital Gaborone. Red signs and car honking could be seen and heard throughout Vancouver International Airport on Tuesday as about 200 flight attendants rallied to end what theyre claiming is unpaid work in the airline sector across Canada. The average flight attendant in Canada works almost 35 hours every month for free, since theyre not paid until the plane is in motion, according to Wesley Lesosky, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees' (CUPE) airline division, which represents approximately 18,500 Canadian flight attendants at 10 airlines nationwide. Im really impressed by the turnout, said Lesosky. He added employees showed up at 9 a.m. and spoke with travellers who were curious about the campaign. Weve had a lot of passengers flowing through here (who) have asked for information. Some cars even stopped, so weve definitely received positive feedback. The Richmond News reached out to several airlines for information, but none responded. Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) Chief Executive Officer Ezekiel Mutua says he raised the alarm over the controversial preacher, Paul Mackenzie, five years ago. At the time, Mr Mutua was the CEO of the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB). Speaking on Citizen TV on Monday, April 24, Mutua said in 2017, the films board identified a worrying trend in Mackenzies productions on Good News International Church digital TV. According to Mutua, pastor Mackenzie was allegedly teaching people to break the law, including telling his followers not to take their children to school, not to take medications when unwell, nor obey the government. Mutua said KFCB flagged the preachers content leading to a suspension of his program. We saw the danger and raised our voice against it. We did not just impose a ban on his programs and keep quiet. We went public that it was dangerous, said Mutua. The former KFCB boss faulted government agencies for turning a blind eye to pastor Mackenzies activities. The illegal activities were known by relevant government agencies, but some decided to look the other way, he said. It is unfortunate that all this clout-chasing has been taken to church to also win numbers, and the more controversial you are, the more popular you become, Mutua added. An aunt to Olivia Naserian has spoken out revealing more details about her nieces bizarre behaviour before she killed her daughter and ate her internal organs. Gladys Wanjiku said Naserians mother, who is a teacher, also noticed something was amiss when Naserian arrived home on Thursday. Ms Wanjiku said Naserian had returned from Kirinyaga, where she lived with her boyfriend for about 8 months. When she arrived at their Kitengela home, she even helped her mother prepare chapatis and all the time she would jump on her mother and show her a lot of love, said Wanjiku. According to Wanjiku, Naserian did not inform anyone that she was leaving her boyfriends home. The mother of her boyfriend told us that Naserian left with her laptop, her child and without her cellphone. We do not know what happened to her before she left Kirinyaga, the aunt said as quoted by the Star. Upon her arrival, her mother reportedly sent her Sh1,000 for a taxi and even promised to buy her a new phone. On Sunday, however, Naserian started shouting and speaking in tongues. She also broke utensils , windows and the TV before she stabbed her two-year-old daughter Glory Njeri. Something is very wrong. We were not here, but the reports we are getting from our neighbours is that Naserian started talking in tongues and chasing after the only dog at home hours before descending on her child, said Wanjiku. The aunt described Naserian as a disciplined child who respected her parents and close relatives. She said her niece is a member of the Anglican Church of Kenya in Kitengela, but she is not sure which church she attended while in Kirinyaga. Neighbours who witnessed the gruesome attack said Naserian was reciting the alphabet while repeatedly stabbing the baby. She was also chanting, You will never cry again my babyyou will forever sleep. I love you, my daughter. A neighbour told reporters that: The woman ate her babys liver as we watched. She also removed other internal organs search as intestines and heart from the body before becoming unconscious. By the time the neighbours managed to break into the house, the child was already dead and Naserian was unconscious. She was rushed to Kitengela Sub-County Hospital. The childs remains were moved to the Kitengela sub-county hospital mortuary. The St. Helena Hospital volunteer program is an example of how volunteerism can create a caring and supportive environment for patients, their families and the community. Lary Taylor, a six-year volunteer at St. Helena Hospital, joined the program on the recommendation of a former volunteer leader. Taylor said he enjoys connecting with people and providing the last face of the hospital to patients, families and staff. I love being a volunteer here because it allows me to interact with so many different people. I feel like Im making a difference by providing a positive experience for patients and their families during a challenging time, said Taylor, a former Pacific Union College business teacher. For Taylor, the hospital feels like a whole new family, and he looks forward to all the possibilities as the volunteer program grows. As a volunteer, I get to be a part of the hospitals community and make it a better place for everyone. I love seeing the difference we can make together, he said. Volunteers play an essential role at the hospital. One of the primary things we do is discharge patients, move patients within the hospital, and transport lab samples," Taylor said. "Its important work that helps keep the hospital running smoothly. Were happy to do it because it means were helping the patients and staff in some small way." The program was born out of the belief that the social connections made by volunteer work are critical to individual and community well-being. At the core of the St. Helena Volunteer program is the belief that compassion, service and community are the foundation of a healthy society," said Annalisa Price, program manager of volunteer services. "These values contribute significantly to the quality of life and care of patients, their families and the broader community. Sometimes miracles are simply good people with kind hearts. Volunteers from all walks of life have performed duties range from providing directions and welcoming patients to offering emotional support. Volunteers bring optimism and enthusiasm, create positive energy, and share diverse perspectives that enhance patient outcomes, their families and our community," said Glen Newhart, president and CEO of the St. Helena Hospital Foundation. "They are a strategic human resource for the hospital and foundation." Volunteers are trained, mentored and supported in their work, which provides opportunities for them to develop their skills as community support practitioners. Our volunteers are an extraordinary group of local neighbors and friends who are engaged in positive change and transformed by service," said Steven Herber, president of Adventist Health St. Helena. "They have made a meaningful impact on the lives of patients and their families by providing the companionship and support they need during difficult times." Why the health care staffing crisis persists despite returning to pre-pandemic employment levels Why the health care staffing crisis persists despite returning to pre-pandemic employment levels Employment in health care hit nearly 21 million in December Job openings in health care have far surpassed pre-COVID levels Job openings grew over twice as much as hires since 2019 A proposed subdivision that would transform eastern St. Helena is headed to the City Council next Monday after 13 years of planning, environmental review and vehement criticism by local residents. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. The Hunter project would include 87 housing units on 16.9 acres behind the levee past the eastern terminus of Adams Street 51 single-family home lots, a parcel with 25 multi-family units in duplex and triplex configuration, and 11 accessory dwelling units on the single-family lots. The project comes before the council at a critical time when California is scrutinizing St. Helenas proposed Housing Element. Like other local governments around the state, St. Helena is under heavy pressure to allow housing projects to go forward. The Hunter project would account for about a third of St. Helenas housing target through 2031. On top of state pressure, developers and project opponents each seem poised to sue. Attorneys for the developers have said the citys proposed conditions of approval violate the states Housing Accountability Act. Attorneys for the opponents, who have banded together under the name St. Helena Citizens for a Sustainable Future, have called out alleged defects in the projects environmental impact report, which the council is being asked to certify along with approving the projects tentative map. Environmental effects The EIR concluded that all of the projects impacts could be mitigated to less than significant levels except for one significant and unavoidable effect: Vehicle Miles Traveled, a metric used to quantify traffic. In order to certify the environmental report, the council would need to adopt a Statement of Overriding Considerations explaining why the projects benefits outweigh its impact. Opposition to the project initially focused on traffic, the risk of flooding, and unanswered questions about how the project will comply with St. Helenas water-neutrality and affordable housing requirements. Twenty percent of the housing units must be affordable, but its unclear whether those units will be concentrated in one area or dispersed around the site. Even local affordable housing advocacy groups have balked at publicly supporting the project. The applicants have had 13 years to produce an affordable housing agreement, and they've refused over and over, said opponent John Milliken. "You can't do an EIR until you've nailed down affordable housing." After the wildfires of 2017 and 2020, opponents started emphasizing the projects effects on evacuation routes. Vineyard Valley Mobile Home Park uses the levee as an emergency exit, and opponents say adding a subdivision in the area could cause a traffic nightmare at a critical moment. The possible loss of life is the biggest concern that we have, said Maria Villegas, one of the leaders of St. Helena Citizens for a Sustainable Future. Fires and floods move fast. Milliken said public safety concerns should trump state pressure to build housing. "The state should not be ramming this down our throats just to fulfill unreachable housing numbers when it impacts the public safety of the community," Milliken said. The city issued a statement Friday addressing many of those criticisms. St. Helena Police, which has overseen two practice evacuations of Vineyard Valley, does not find that the Hunter project will make evacuations more difficult, the press release states. The news release says the developers will have to offset the projects water demand of 27.04 acre-feet per year before the first building permit is issued. The council will have to sign off on an affordable housing agreement before the projects final map is approved. St. Helena officials also offered their first public response to concerns about the citys potential liability for the loss of life and property if the levee fails. A six-page memo from City Attorney Ethan Walsh concludes that the city would not be liable for damages simply because a flood event occurred, or even simply based on the failure of the levee, were that to occur at some point in the future. Walsh said plaintiffs would have to prove that the city was responsible for flood damage due to unreasonable design, construction or maintenance of the levee. A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers inspection in February gave the levee straight As, except for a piece of plywood and some brush clippings near Vineyard Valley. Project history The projects 87 units are the minimum required by the propertys zoning, but the project has been dogged by criticism and litigation almost from its inception in 2010. Opposition to the project helped propel Ann Nevero to victory in that year's City Council election, as s standard-bearer for the anti-Hunter St. Helena Residents For Responsible Growth, known as SHRFRGs or Shur Frogs. Nevero recused herself from council discussions of the Hunter project because she lived nearby, but concerns about the proposal weighed heavily over much of the councils business, including the city's general plan update. On the advice of its attorneys, the council abandoned plans to rezone the Hunter property and impose new restrictions on development within the floodplain. The rezoning wouldnt have affected the Hunter project because city planners had already deemed the projects application complete in March 2011. That limited the amount of additional detail the city could ask the applicants for. It also meant the project had to be evaluated based in the zoning, development and General Plan standards that were in place as of March 2011. Property owner Dennis Hunter sued St. Helena in 2012 amid a dispute over a 2008 land swap in which the city secured a piece of his property it needed to build the levee. The lawsuit claimed the city had failed to create building pads on Hunters remaining property during construction of the levee. The city paid Hunter $325,000 to settle the suit and received smaller settlements from its own legal and engineering firms that had helped negotiate and design the complicated agreement. The Hunter project made halting progress over the next decade. Its first environmental study was developed at the applicants expense, released in 2012, and updated in 2013. The applicants asked for a delay on the eve of a major hearing in November 2013, and over the next few years city officials accused the applicants of stalling by not paying for additional environmental review. When things seemed to be back on track in 2017, the consultants whod compiled the 2012 EIR said they werent willing to do any more work on it. Much of the data was outdated by then, so the city hired another consultant to write a new EIR again at the applicants expense. The next draft environmental paper was released in 2021, followed by a final report last October that incorporated public comments and consultants responses to those comments. On Feb. 7, the city Planning Commission recommended that the council approve the tentative map and certify the EIR, setting the stage for Mondays council hearing. There are more million-dollar homes in the U.S. than ever before. But can Americans afford them? There are more million-dollar homes in the U.S. than ever before. But can Americans afford them? A Growing Number of Million-Dollar Homes Where Are the Most Million-Dollar Homes? Who Can Afford a Million-Dollar Home? Discrepancies Between the Proportion of Million-Dollar Homes and High-Earning Households Expect the Share of Million-Dollar Homes to Continue Growing The St. Helena City Council appointed Chad Krsek to the Planning Commission on Tuesday. Krsek will serve out the remainder of Commissioner Rosaura Seguras term, which expires June 30, 2024. Krsek is a software engineer who grew up largely in St. Helena, attended St. Helena schools, and moved back to town with his family after living in Seattle and San Francisco. Id like to see the town grow in a sustainable, equitable way, where people from all backgrounds and economic means can thrive, Krsek wrote in his application. Id like there to be a successful business community that serves both locals and tourists, and importantly, Id like the town to maintain its unique character and continue to be a great place for families. After a round of interviews, the council chose Krsek from among five applicants for the seat. The other four were Hector Lopez, Walter Nirenberg, Chris Fowler and Sandra Archibald McCorkle. The council chose Krsek in a 3-2 vote. Vice Mayor Eric Hall and Councilmember Billy Summers preferred appointing Lopez. The council also made the following appointments: Amy Beaudine and Anthony Micheli to alternate seats on the Active Transportation & Sustainability Committee. Deborah Claymon Boeschen to the St. Helena Public Library Board of Trustees. Chris Warner, Jeffrey Green, Richard Corsetti, Jay Kouba and Mario Trinchero to the newly formed Measure H Oversight Committee. Warner will chair the committee and Green will be vice chair. A 14,400-square-foot house proposed at the corner of Madrona Avenue and Fir Hill Drive is in the hands of the St. Helena City Council. The applicants have appealed the Planning Commissions March 7 ruling that the project is inconsistent with the city's general plan because of the net loss of 0.53 acre of agricultural use on the agriculture-zoned property. The project would replace 0.66 acre of vineyard with a 0.13-acre olive grove. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. After three hours of public testimony and detailed discussion, the council agreed to postpone action until mid-May, when the council might set a special meeting to conclude their deliberations and and take a vote. Much of the neighborhood opposition focused on water consumption, the loss of vineyard, drainage, and the houses unusual size. The applicants, Live Nation president/chief financial officer Joe Berchtold and his wife Lorraine, propose a 14,407-square-foot main house with a large basement, a 1,754-square-foot garage and a 1,640-square-foot covered terrace, plus an 850-square-foot accessory dwelling unit with its own 864-square-foot covered terrace. Thats a total of 19,515 square feet. At Tuesdays hearing the applicants lawyer, Katharine Falace, proposed one last change related to the loss of vineyard. She said any viable vines removed to make way for construction would be transplanted to fill in gaps in the remaining vineyards. The preservation of those vines is in keeping with the spirit of the general plan goals of preserving ag land, Falace said. The Planning Commissions denial cited general plan policies that discourage the conversion of existing farmland to non-agricultural uses and strictly limit(s) development on properties that are designated as agricultural land. The applicants appeal took issue with the citys definition of agriculture, and much of the councils discussion involved how to interpret the general plan's agricultural policies not the sheer size of the house. Councilmember Lester Hardy pointed out a conundrum: A house is a permitted use on an ag-zoned parcel, but the general plan frowns on development that removes ag land. So imagine an ag-zoned property covered entirely with vineyard, Hardy said. Could it still have a house? And if not, isnt that an incentive to rip out vines before applying to build a house? Mayor Paul Dohring acknowledged that vexing hypothetical, but he focused on how those general plan policies apply to the applicants' property, which already has a house that would be torn down and replaced. The applicant can build a residence, Dohring said. The question is can he build the residence he wants and also preserve that 0.53 acres (of agricultural use). Thats the question Im struggling with. The council also wants the city attorney to respond to a legal point raised by Kevin Block, a lawyer representing the Herdell family who own property next door and strongly oppose the project. Block questioned the citys ruling that the project is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act. In classic legal fashion, that matter might hinge on a comma in the CEQA guidelines. Photos: Go inside the most expensive home sold in Napa County in March. 2937 Pine St. in west Napa 2937 Pine St. in west Napa 2937 Pine St. in west Napa 2937 Pine St. in west Napa 2937 Pine St. in west Napa 2937 Pine St. in west Napa 2937 Pine St. in west Napa 2937 Pine St. in west Napa 2937 Pine St. in west Napa 2937 Pine St. in west Napa I wish to share with my community a very pleasant moment I experienced this weekend, thanks to UpStage Napa Valley (our very own community theater!). They are currently performing a play that is most entertaining. Its called Stage Kiss and it deals with the complexity of actors, who find themselves having to perform situations on stage (kissing, for instance) that sometimes oppose the reality of their actual lives. I laughed a lot, as the plot navigated between truth and pretense in a way that was quite funny! The theme, on a larger scale, was really about us, as the actors of our own lives; about the choices we make between the profound/long-lasting vs. the superficial/quick-lived satisfactions that forge our life scenarios. I dont know if its the work of the author (Sarah Ruhl) or the genius of the director (Sharie Renault), but this play as it is performed by these particular actors plunges its audience into the seriousness of life in a delightfully funny way. UpStage Napa Valley has the great merit of being a community theater, composed entirely of locals. They rehearse at St. Helena Presbyterian Church, perform at Grace Episcopal Church in St. Helena, are financially supported by many local businesses, and are managed by a Creative Team composed entirely of local community members. The talent we have in this valley is amazing! The director, Sharie Renault, lives in Calistoga, the board members of which Stu Harrison is the president all live in the valley, and even the actors are recruited locally. Youll be thrilled to recognize some of them on stage, as theyre employees of local businesses! If you have missed the opening performances of Stage Kiss, dont worry, there are more to come: Friday, April 28 (7:30 p.m.), Saturday, April 29 (7:30 p.m.), and Sunday, April 30 (2:30 p.m.). And the following weekend: Friday, May 5 (7:30 p.m.), Saturday, May 6 (7:30 p.m.), and Sunday, May 7 (2:30 p.m.). Enjoy! Marielle Coeytaux St. Helena The unemployment rate in the Napa County was 3.6% in March 2023, down from a revised 3.8% in February and above the year-ago estimate of 3.5%, the state Employment Development Department reported. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. That compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.8% for California and 3.6% for the nation during the same period, the EDD said. Year over year, Napa County industries with increased hiring included farm, beverage manufacturing and private service jobs, in addition to transportation and warehouse jobs and leisure and hospitality jobs. At the same time, Napa Countys labor force rose from 71,700 to 72,200 workers. Napa County tied with Sonoma County for the seventh lowest jobless rate in the state. By comparison, Solano County ranked 24th and Lake County ranked 35th. San Mateo County had the lowest jobless rate just 2.8%. In other jobs news, an April report from the Workforce Alliance of the North Bay included data for median annual earnings for Napa County workers. According to that report, eight of the top 10 occupations in Napa County earn median wages below $40,000 per year (and fall below $30,000 when adjusted for Napa Countys cost of living), while registered nurses and general and operations managers command the highest wages, with yearly wages over $100,000. Napa County farmworkers, laborers, and crop/nursery/greenhouse workers earn a median annual income of $33,187. Home health and personal care aides earn a median annual income of $30,243. Cashiers earn a median annual income of $33,530. Waitstaff earn a median annual income of $33,488. Retail salespersons earn a median annual income of $34,653. Registered nurses earn a median annual income of $134,493. Fast food and counter workers earn a median annual income of $34,133. General and operations managers earn a median annual income of $102,419. Demonstrators and product promoters earn a median annual income of $38,230. Maids and housekeeping cleaners earn a median annual income of $34,777. Photos: Earth Day cleanup, celebration in Napa Earth Day cleanup 3 Earth Day cleanup 2 Earth Day cleanup 1 Earth Day cleanup 4 Earth Day cleanup 5 Earth Day cleanup 6 Earth Day cleanup 7 Earth Day cleanup 8 Earth Day cleanup 9 Earth Day cleanup 10 Earth Day cleanup Earth Day cleanup Earth Day cleanup Earth Day cleanup Earth Day cleanup Earth Day cleanup Earth Day Celebration 1 Earth Day Celebration 2 Earth Day Celebration 3 Earth Day Celebration 4 Earth Day Celebration 6 Earth Day Celebration 5 Earth Day Celebration 7 Earth Day Celebration 8 Earth Day Celebration 9 Earth Day Celebration 10 Earth Day Celebration 11 Earth Day Celebration 12 Earth Day Celebration 13 Senators Menendez, Blackburn introduce bill to support Armenian Genocide education in US Armenia refinancing rate left unchanged at 10.75% Armenia ruling force MP: Everything will be done to reach agreement with Azerbaijan Optimar research center pre-election survey: Turkey's Erdogan to get 51.4%, Kilicdaroglu to garner 48.6% of votes Arman Yeghoyan: Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs meeting planned in Moscow also Zangezur corridor is part of Middle Corridor, Azerbaijan official says Armenia ambassador, Georgian official discuss cargo transportation via Georgia Israel damages Aleppo airport runway during its attack on city World oil prices are stable Gabriel Garcia Marquez's heirs to publish his unpublished novel in Spring 2024 Armenia can submit counterarguments to UN court regarding Azerbaijan lawsuit until August 21 Armenia parliament convenes regular sessions Blinken: Dialogue is key to reaching lasting peace in South Caucasus (PHOTOS) Patel: We believe that peace is possible between Armenia, Azerbaijan US State Department: Issue of unblocking Lachin corridor continues to be the case Natural gas leak causes explosion in Armenia, injured are taken to Yerevan burn center Newspaper: Azerbaijan to present gift to reelection of Turkeys Erdogan VOA: Armenia-Azerbaijan document being discussed is called Agreement on the Normalization of Relations Arlington hosts bilateral meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers The Mirzoyan-Blinken-Bayramov meeting ended in Washington Karabakh state minister: I have no direct communication with Armenias authorities President of Artsakh convenes Security Council session Mirzoyan-Blinken-Bayramov meeting starts in Washington Russia, Iran plan to jointly manufacture research satellite Mirzoyan-Blinken meeting discusses process of normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations David Babayan: Karabakh society awaits answers from its authorities, Moscow, Yerevan, the West State minister: Meeting between Karabakh authorities, Russian peacekeeping troops new commander concluded Armenian language courses being conducted for repatriates in Armenia Aram Ananyan: Yerevan-Istanbul flight will take place Mirzoyan-Blinken meeting starts Head of Karabakhs Mets Shen village: We remain in complete blockade Iran embassy, consulate in Saudi Arabia to resume work Tbilisi mayor: EU did not grant Georgia candidate status due to its not joining sanctions on Russia Former human rights activist: Armenian side also set up checkpoint, this legitimizes Azerbaijani sides actions Azerbaijan preparing to organize rowing competition in occupied Mataghis village of Karabakh Murder with firearm in Yerevan, victim was Netherlands citizen Paraguay president-elect wants to restore diplomatic relations with Venezuela World gold prices going down US embassy in Armenia closed Monday Armenias Mirzoyan to meet with US Secretary of State Marina Kaljurand condemns Azerbaijan actions that endanger peace process Anti-Crisis Council head: Russian peacekeepers commander told Karabakh authorities he is going to Azerbaijan for talks Moldova opposition party vice-chair detained at Chisinau airport International Workers' Day marked in Greece with mass labor strikes, demonstrations It snows heavily in Armenia village in May Natural gas supply to Armenia temporarily stopped 6 dead after minibus falls into gorge in Tajikistan 18 dead after tourist bus falls into ravine in Mexico Switzerland heads UN Security Council by rotation shamhsyan.com: Man found dead with gunshot wounds after shooting in Yerevan 4 consecutive earthquakes recorded off Japan coast Turkey's Erdogan expresses hope for wheat deal extension Sudan army agrees to extend humanitarian truce for 72 hours Armenia PM: Only knowledge-based work can bring development, progress Karabakh state minister: Azerbaijanis, putting our citizens in desperate situation, force them to fulfill their demands Italy wants to build world's longest suspension bridge Blinken tells Aliyev deep US concern over Azerbaijans establishment of checkpoint on Lachin corridor Artsakh Information Center: Residents of Karabakh communities under siege are those in Azerbaijan media video Zelenskyy, Macron discuss prospects for development of situation on battlefront 10 killed after armed attack in Ecuador Information about Armenia soldier being wounded not true Iran dismisses industry minister Cuba cancels May Day parade Russian embassy in Poland ready for any decisions by Moscow Operation "Ring": 30 years later, Artsakh faces same existential threat CEC of Uzbekistan declares referendum valid French senator calls for sanctions against Azerbaijan US accuses Russian pilots of aggression in Syria Kyrgyz PM concerned over driverless taxis Artsakh President: No to ethnic cleansing of Artsakh Car falls into gorge in Ararat Province Paris-Yerevan flight arrives from Chisinau Blinken's promise to Armenian PM Pashinyan Stepantsminda-Lars road closed for trucks "Armenia" opposition members visit Gegharkunik Province Turkey closes airspace to FlyOne Armenia Armenian PMs call with Blinken An Armenian serviceman received a gunshot wound in the direction of Tegh Russia and Turkey to increase passenger air traffic "Endangered Christian Culture of Artsakh" conference held in Cologne Warring parties in Sudan more open to negotiations Seven RA citizens to return to Armenia from Sudan Lavrov: West's attempt to isolate Russia will fail "Old and new refugees of Azerbaijani aggression: past, present, future" forum participants adopt declaration "Murdered Citizens Day" rally near Parliament building Zelenskyy: Ukraine to take back Crimea 16 patients transported from Artsakh to Armenia with help of ICRC Mirzoyan and Bayramov to develop "road map" Azerbaijanis detain peacekeepers with humanitarian aid Ardshinbank has opened a new branch in Multi Magic Mall shopping center Ararat Mirzoyan will go on a working visit to Washington Road safety training at Russian military base in Armenia Iran ready to solve Lebanon's electricity shortage problem Turkish plane fired at in Sudan Three Azerbaijanis dead after mine explosion Pope allows women to vote at bishops' meeting for the first time Iranian President to Visit Syria for the First Time in 13 Years Putin signed the law on amendments to CSTO charter on cooperation on biosecurity Haberler: Erdogan and his primary opponent will hold rallies in Istanbul on the same day Eurostat: Eurozone GDP slowed to 1.3 percent in the first quarter The Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Anahit Manasyan, on Tuesday received US Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Alyson Kvien. At the beginning of the meeting, Ambassador Kvien congratulated Manasyan on assuming the mission of the Human Rights Defender and highly appreciated the role of the Human Rights Defender's Office in promoting and promoting human rights in Armenia. The Defender presented the mandate of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia and the priorities of her activities to Ambassador Kvien, which include, inter alia, the combat against hate speech and discrimination, guaranteeing the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, the exclusion of the disproportionate use of force and ensuring access to justice for women. In her remarks, Manasyan referred to the results of her working visit to Syunik Province on April 14, raised the violations of the rights to life and security, private property, physical and mental integrity of the residents, and children's education as a result of the Azerbaijani acts. The Human Rights Defender drew the Ambassadors attention to the urgency of protecting the rights of people living in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) as a result of the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan, and emphasized the need to take immediate steps to resolve human rights issues. Also, Manasyan emphasized the work done by the institution in documenting the facts of war crimes and presenting them to organizations and players with an international human rights mandate. The details of the Human Rights Defender's visit to the Azerbaijani servicemen detained in Armenia were also presented to the US ambassador. At the end of the meeting, the interlocutors reaffirmed their willingness to cooperate in human rights protection and expand the domains of cooperation. Singapore hangs prisoner over 1 kg of cannabis Singapore hanged a prisoner on Wednesday after he was convicted of conspiracy to smuggle one kilogram of cannabis, despite rights groups decrying "many flaws" in the case. Leelavathy Suppiah (L), sister of a convicted drug trafficker Tangaraju Suppiah, who is scheduled for execution, reacts during a press conference in Singapore on April 23, 2023. Tangaraju Suppiah was hanged in defiance of a plea by the United Nations Human Rights Office for Singapore to "urgently reconsider" and calls by British tycoon Richard Branson to halt it. The Asian financial hub has some of the world's toughest anti-narcotics laws and insists the death penalty remains an effective deterrent against trafficking. "Singaporean Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, had his capital sentence carried out today at Changi Prison Complex," a spokesman for the Singapore Prison Service told AFP. Tangaraju was convicted in 2017 of "abetting by engaging in a conspiracy to traffic" 1,017.9 grams (35.9 ounces) of cannabis, twice the minimum volume required for a death sentence in Singapore, the spokesman said. He was sentenced to death in 2018 with the Court of Appeal later upholding the decision, but rights groups have claimed there were several problems with the case. Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson said the evidence "was far from clear cut since he never actually touched the marijuana in question, was questioned by police without a lawyer, and denied access to a Tamil interpreter when he asked for one." He added the hanging "raises serious concerns that Singapore is launching a renewed spree to empty its death row in a misguided effort of deterrence." Amnesty International Deputy Regional Director Ming Yu Hah said there were "many flaws" in the case and that the hanging showed "the staggering failure of Singapores stubborn embrace of the death penalty." - 'Not anywhere near' drugs - Singapore authorities have maintained that Tangaraju was given due process and that his guilt had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The Ministry of Home Affairs said "the evidence clearly showed that he was the person coordinating the delivery of drugs, for the purpose of trafficking." Branson, a member of the Geneva-based Global Commission on Drug Policy, wrote Monday on his blog that Tangaraju was "not anywhere near" the drugs at the time of his arrest and that Singapore may be about to put an innocent man to death. On Tuesday, the ministry slammed Branson, saying that the billionaire showed "disrespect for Singapores judges and our criminal justice system with such allegations." In some parts of the world -- including neighbouring Thailand -- cannabis has been decriminalised, with authorities abandoning prison sentences. Rights groups have been heaping pressure on Singapore to abolish capital punishment, and the United Nations has said the practice has not proven to be an effective deterrent globally and is incompatible with international human rights law. Singapore resumed executions in March 2022 after a hiatus of more than two years. Wednesday's hanging was the city-state's first in six months and 12th since last year. Among those hanged was Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam, whose execution sparked a global outcry, including from the United Nations and Branson, because he was deemed to have a mental disability. Re. Health needs going unmet (Castanet, April 26) Wow, is anyone really surprised about this study? It's what Joe and Jane Public have been saying for years. I wonder how much the study cost? That was money that could have been better spent on supports. Governments across Canada closed a number of health facilities years ago with no plans to support those who could marginally look after themselves. My daughter works for a company in Ottawa that looks after those with severe mental and physical disabilities. In the last few years, it has started housing those with criminal backgrounds. Unfortunately, governments failed to ensure proper housing and supports were in place before closing the large facilities. Clearly, from lived experiences in the study, having open drug use while others are dealing with their own issues isn't the way to go. Its time for the government to stop trying to be friends and start acting like "parents". Remove the wet part of the housing, offer treatment and counselling and, if not accepted by residents, theyre out. I know that sounds cruel and heartless but the current model isn't working. Instead of more studies, put the money into building and staffing the facilities to help (people) transition to the workforce. I would rather see my tax dollars going to that than being spent on the current system of first responders racing to calls only to have the patient refuse and walk away. The current level of theft, arson and vandalism that is going on. I applaud those respondents in the survey that are trying to get their lives back on track, too bad politics gets in the way of things changing. M. Boyer, Kelowna The official website of the upper house of the French Parliament, the Senate, posted and appeal-message titled "Blocking of Lachin Corridor: There is fire in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, whereas the international community has turned its eyes in another direction." Armenpress presented below the unofficial translation of this appeal-message. In order to participate in the commemoration ceremonies of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, the delegation headed by Bruno Retailleau, the chairman of the Senate group on relations with the Christians of the East, which was in Armenia from April 22 to 25 (...) visited the Tegh community on April 23, where, on the territory of Armenia, there was a deadly shootout on April 11. "We have come here to demand the immediate lifting of the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan, freeing the 120,000 Armenians who are in terrible conditions in the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, and restoring the connection with Armenia. What is the point of commemorating the 1915 genocide if we turn a blind eye to the [Armenian] ethnic and [Christian] religious cleansing taking place in Nagorno-Karabakh?" Retailleau stated during a joint press conference with the head of the community and the governor of Syunik [Province] in Tegh community. "We are afraid that the creation of a checkpoint by the Azerbaijani troops at the beginning of the new road to Nagorno-Karabakh, on the Hakari bridge, which is under the responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping forces, may be a prelude to some kind of large-scale operation, which will lead to the irreversible closure of the Lachin corridor." he added. While the [French] Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna is to visit three countries of the South Caucasus at the end of this week, the members of the [French] Senate call on France to strongly condemn this new violation of international law. They demand the European Union to apply strict sanctions against Azerbaijan. The establishment of a checkpoint on the Hakari bridge by Azerbaijan is another blow to the tripartite document of November 9, 2020, and Azerbaijan is advancing its policy of Armenian ethnic cleansing of Artsakh. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Foreign Minister Sergey Ghazaryan said this in an interview on Armenian television. "With the installation of this checkpoint, the perception of the security environment is changing, and Azerbaijan has adopted this policy for a long time. By putting forward various baseless, false accusations, it is trying to resort to such provocations," he said. According to Ghazaryan, first of all, under the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, the Azerbaijani side was to guarantee that the connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia will be ensured, and people, vehicles, and cargo shall pass safely on both sides. "Now they are putting forward new demands. At this moment they will probably try to inspect trucks, pretending that they are inspecting that there are no weapons. In the next phase, they will already push forward that they are inspecting people, their personal belongings, etc. I must note that this point was the most important element of the [aforesaid trilateral] document, and most of the Artsakh residents displaced in 2020 returned, taking into account that those guarantees exist, including from Russia," he said. The Karabakh FM said that the people of Artsakh have returned to Artsakh after seeing that a Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed there, but now they find themselves in hostage status. "Now we see that Azerbaijan is moving forward by pushing back the red lines of the [Russian] peacekeepers, and we see that representatives of various circles from the Russian side are saying that their attention is focused on another direction [i.e., Ukraine], and the Azerbaijani side is making very good use of that. Now we are trying to find out whether there is an end line, border line or cup of patience that the Russian side has in this regard," he added. And when asked if this is also a red line for the authorities of Artsakh, its FM said that yes, and they have been drawing conclusions in all directions for a long time, but in this case they expect concrete steps from the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Artsakh. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia had a telephone conversation with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, Armenian News-NEWS.am learns from the Prime Minister's office. Views were exchanged on the current military, political, and humanitarian situation in the region. PM Pashinyan emphasized that the steps taken by the Azerbaijani side in the Lachin corridor are aimed at the consistent implementation of its policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh and the complete de-Armenianization of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Armenian premier stressed the importance of the proper response by the international community to the actions by Azerbaijan that undermine regional security and taking active steps towards the unconditional implementation of the judgment of the International Court of Justice. Thoughts were exchanged also on the Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiation process. The parties underscored consistent efforts to ensure stability and peace in the region. During the consultations between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan, regional security issues and the agenda of Armenian-Russian relations were discussed, the Russian foreign ministry informed. "The parties noted the positive dynamics of Russian-Armenian allied cooperation. The progressive development of dialogue at the highest and higher levels, as well as the deepening of profile departments, parliamentary cooperation, interregional contacts, and cultural ties were emphasized. Record dynamics of trade and economic relations were noted. There is satisfaction with the degree of coordination of the activities of Russia and Armenia in international organizations," the respective statement reads. Also, the current situation in the region was thoroughly discussed, mainly in connection with the complication of the situation in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping troops in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), in the context of serious concern. "It was considered necessary to intensify efforts in all directions of the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization [of relations], in accordance with the agreements of the leaders of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan on November 9, 2020, January 11, November 26, 2021, and October 31, 2022," the statement added. The US Department of State is deeply concerned about the establishment of an Azerbaijani checkpoint on the Lachin corridor. Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State, stated this during Tuesdays department press briefing. This issue in the South Caucasus is something that the [US] Secretary [of State] himself deeply values and places a lot of importance on. And as you saw us say over the weekend, the [US State] department is deeply concerned about the establishment of a checkpoint on the Lachin corridor. Frankly, (...) it undermines efforts to establish confidence in the peace process, and we are of the viewpoint that there should be free and open movement of people and commerce on the Lachin corridor. But [US] Senior Advisor [Louis] Bono, Assistant Secretary [Dereck] Hogan, the Secretarywere going to continue to remain deeply engaged on this, Patel said. And to the question whether the US representatives did not see in the midst of negotiation on the ground that such an action was being prepared, Patel responded that he was not going to get into specifics of diplomatic assessments on the ground or the specifics of the conversations that they have had. The Minister of National Defense of Turkey, Hulusi Akar, has called the Moscow talks on Syria "useful and positive" and hopes that they will continue in the near future. "Those meetings and consultations were useful and positive. An important contribution has been made. We have agreed with the parties that these efforts are necessary for the establishment of peace, stability, and tranquility in the region. We expressed hope that they [i.e., the talks] will continue in the near future," Akar said CNN Turk reported. The Ministry of Defense of Russia had informed that Minister of Defense of Russia Sergey Shoigu on Tuesday discussed the urgent issues of bilateral cooperation and the various directions of global and regional security with the heads of the military departments of Iran, Syria, and Turkey who arrived in Moscow. The Ministry of National Defense of Turkey informed RIA Novosti that during the meeting, the specific steps for the normalization of relations between Turkey and Syria were discussed. The parliamentary committees of the EU-Armenia partnership, the EU-Azerbaijan cooperation, and the EU-Georgia association announced that Azerbaijan has flagrantly violated its international obligations towards the Lachin corridor. On Tuesday, serious concern was expressed in the European Parliament regarding the establishment of a checkpoint by Azerbaijan in the Lachin corridor. This step is fraught with negative consequences and can be considered as a clear violation of the ceasefire statement of November 9, 2020, and as an act of disrespecting the binding decision of the UN International Court of Justice on February 23, as per the joint statement issued by Marina Kaljurand, Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the South Caucasus, Andrey Kovatchev, the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Armenia, and Zeljana Zovko the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Azerbaijan. The decision of the International Court of Justice obligates Azerbaijan to take all the measures at its disposal to ensure the unhindered movement of people and goods in both directions through the Lachin corridor, the aforesaid MEPs noted in their joint statement. They recalled that the Azerbaijani blockade continues since December 12, 2022, and creates humanitarian difficulties for the people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and disrupts the prospects for peace. They called on Azerbaijan to immediately change its course, take responsibility for the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict, and follow international obligations and norms. The EU remains ready to assist the parties in settling all differences through negotiations, they added. The MEPs expressed regret that Azerbaijan set up a checkpoint in the Lachin corridor on the eve of the Armenian Genocide Memorial Day on April 24. They honor the memory of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide, and call on the international community to be vigilant against all cases of provocative rhetoric and actions that incite hatred and hinder reconciliation. China's Zhurong rover discovers relatively fresh traces of liquid water on Mars Senators Menendez, Blackburn introduce bill to support Armenian Genocide education in US Armenia refinancing rate left unchanged at 10.75% Armenia ruling force MP: Everything will be done to reach agreement with Azerbaijan Optimar research center pre-election survey: Turkey's Erdogan to get 51.4%, Kilicdaroglu to garner 48.6% of votes Russia to host First International Phygital sports tournament with a $25mln prize pool Arman Yeghoyan: Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs meeting planned in Moscow also Zangezur corridor is part of Middle Corridor, Azerbaijan official says New AI 'can accurately spot cancer' AI will change 25% of jobs worldwide in the next 5 years Armenia ambassador, Georgian official discuss cargo transportation via Georgia Israel damages Aleppo airport runway during its attack on city World oil prices are stable Gabriel Garcia Marquez's heirs to publish his unpublished novel in Spring 2024 Armenia can submit counterarguments to UN court regarding Azerbaijan lawsuit until August 21 Elon Musk tells what problems arose during Starship launch, how they blew up world's largest rocket Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams expecting their 2nd child Armenia parliament convenes regular sessions Blinken: Dialogue is key to reaching lasting peace in South Caucasus (PHOTOS) Real to offer deal to Mbappe Patel: We believe that peace is possible between Armenia, Azerbaijan US State Department: Issue of unblocking Lachin corridor continues to be the case Natural gas leak causes explosion in Armenia, injured are taken to Yerevan burn center Newspaper: Azerbaijan to present gift to reelection of Turkeys Erdogan VOA: Armenia-Azerbaijan document being discussed is called Agreement on the Normalization of Relations Willow the cat branded 'total hero' after saving owner's life in bizarre way Arlington hosts bilateral meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers New AI tool can accurately identify cancer at an early stage The Mirzoyan-Blinken-Bayramov meeting ended in Washington How real can a virtual avatar be? It bypassed the bank's protection and fooled real people Karabakh state minister: I have no direct communication with Armenias authorities President of Artsakh convenes Security Council session Mirzoyan-Blinken-Bayramov meeting starts in Washington Russia, Iran plan to jointly manufacture research satellite Mirzoyan-Blinken meeting discusses process of normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations The World Wide Web is 30 years old How has the internet changed over the years? David Babayan: Karabakh society awaits answers from its authorities, Moscow, Yerevan, the West State minister: Meeting between Karabakh authorities, Russian peacekeeping troops new commander concluded Working long hours for a decade or more linked to higher risk of stroke Armenian language courses being conducted for repatriates in Armenia Aram Ananyan: Yerevan-Istanbul flight will take place Mirzoyan-Blinken meeting starts Head of Karabakhs Mets Shen village: We remain in complete blockade Iran embassy, consulate in Saudi Arabia to resume work Tbilisi mayor: EU did not grant Georgia candidate status due to its not joining sanctions on Russia Former human rights activist: Armenian side also set up checkpoint, this legitimizes Azerbaijani sides actions Xiaomi introduces Redmi Note 12R Pro smartphone with Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chip and 12/256 RAM Azerbaijan preparing to organize rowing competition in occupied Mataghis village of Karabakh Murder with firearm in Yerevan, victim was Netherlands citizen Even clouds are carrying drug-resistant bacteria - study Paraguay president-elect wants to restore diplomatic relations with Venezuela Apple watchOS to get a new interface: What features will it have? World gold prices going down US embassy in Armenia closed Monday Armenias Mirzoyan to meet with US Secretary of State Marina Kaljurand condemns Azerbaijan actions that endanger peace process Anti-Crisis Council head: Russian peacekeepers commander told Karabakh authorities he is going to Azerbaijan for talks Moldova opposition party vice-chair detained at Chisinau airport International Workers' Day marked in Greece with mass labor strikes, demonstrations It snows heavily in Armenia village in May Natural gas supply to Armenia temporarily stopped 6 dead after minibus falls into gorge in Tajikistan Annual Investment Meeting 2023 highlights opportunities to stimulate FDI flow and boost economic growth Armenian Premier League: 30th round kicking off China starts creating a digital human for only $145: Where can it be applied? 18 dead after tourist bus falls into ravine in Mexico Switzerland heads UN Security Council by rotation shamhsyan.com: Man found dead with gunshot wounds after shooting in Yerevan World Championships: Armenia boxers first opponents announced 4 consecutive earthquakes recorded off Japan coast Turkey's Erdogan expresses hope for wheat deal extension Sudan army agrees to extend humanitarian truce for 72 hours Wash and dry in just 45 minutes. Xiaomi introduces a stylish and affordable washing machine Armenia PM: Only knowledge-based work can bring development, progress Mkhitaryan: Inter's goal is to have spot in top 4 Karabakh state minister: Azerbaijanis, putting our citizens in desperate situation, force them to fulfill their demands Italy wants to build world's longest suspension bridge Blinken tells Aliyev deep US concern over Azerbaijans establishment of checkpoint on Lachin corridor Artsakh Information Center: Residents of Karabakh communities under siege are those in Azerbaijan media video Zelenskyy, Macron discuss prospects for development of situation on battlefront 10 killed after armed attack in Ecuador Information about Armenia soldier being wounded not true Iran dismisses industry minister Cuba cancels May Day parade Russian embassy in Poland ready for any decisions by Moscow Operation "Ring": 30 years later, Artsakh faces same existential threat CEC of Uzbekistan declares referendum valid Artur Davtyan - three-time World Cup gold medalist French senator calls for sanctions against Azerbaijan US accuses Russian pilots of aggression in Syria Kyrgyz PM concerned over driverless taxis Oppo Find X6 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Which camera takes better pictures at night? Artsakh President: No to ethnic cleansing of Artsakh Car falls into gorge in Ararat Province Health, relationship advice and how tos: What are the most popular questions people ask AI? Paris-Yerevan flight arrives from Chisinau Blinken's promise to Armenian PM Pashinyan Stepantsminda-Lars road closed for trucks "Armenia" opposition members visit Gegharkunik Province Turkey closes airspace to FlyOne Armenia And L-410-UVP E20 passenger plane, which can carry 19 passengers, successfully landed today at 11:58am local time at Syunik Airport of Kapan, Armenia. This aircraft is registered in Armenia, the Civil Aviation Committee of Armenia informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. This was a test flight. The aforesaid aircraft took off from Zvartnots International Airport of Yerevan at 10:10am. The Kapan city airport has been renovated according to international standards and was certified by the Civil Aviation Committee of Armenia in 2020. This flight was historic as there have been no flights at the Kapan airport since the 1990s, except for one private flight in 2017. French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday sent a letter to Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan on the occasion of the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The letter reads as follows, in particular: Today, April 24, France commemorates the 108th anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. France remembers the men, women and children who were killed, died of starvation or exhaustion on the deportation roads. Together with you, France remembers its sailors who came to the aid of the Armenian resistance fighters on Musa Dagh in September 1915. France, which condemned the massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire with the voices of Georges Clemenceau, Anatole France and Jean Jaures, stands with you today to protect the memory of the victims, to fight against denial, and to learn serious lessons from the page of that tragic history. Even today, as the European continent mourns because of the terrible aggression, France continues its struggle for memory and against oblivion. In 2022, during the French chairmanship at the Council of the European Union, we completed the draft law on digital services so that the genocide would no longer be denied with impunity. France shows constant vigilance in the territory of its country. In 2019, I set a commemoration day of the Armenian Genocide in the [French] republic's calendar, as I want every French person to remember that day. This struggle for justice and historical truth belongs to Armenians, but also to all of France because respect for human rights is at the core of the brotherhood of the Republic of France. The commemoration of the [Armenian] Genocide also reminds of the place occupied by Armenians in our history, as many survivors of this tragedy joined our country, contributing to its prosperity and strengthening its influence. On this commemoration day, which also symbolizes the rebirth of the Armenian people, I would like to confirm France's support for the democratic reforms taking place in Armenia, as well as for the processes of building peace in the region. Photo: Teck Resources. Back to the drawing board on separation plan, Teck CEO Jonathan Price. Teck Resources (TSX,NYSE:TECK.B) will proceed with a vote on phasing out its dual class structure, but cancelled today's planned vote on a plan to separate into two companies. In a first quarter earning call today, Teck CEO Jonathan Price said the company still thinks separating into two separate companies is the best way to create value, but said it became clear that the way Teck planned to go about its division was not going to fly with shareholders. Price told analysts there was strong support for a separation plan -- just not the one that Teck had cooked up for today's vote. That plan would hive off Teck's B.C. metallurgical coal mines into Elk Valley Resources, and base metals mines would be kept by Teck Metals. It appears shareholders did not like one part of the strategy -- a Transition Capital Structure -- that would essentially see the new metals company subsidized with quarterly royalty and share redemption payments from the coal business, Elk Valley Resources. Teck needed two-thirds of shareholders to approve the separation plan. Price said it had become clear that it wouldnt get that majority, so that vote was called off. Our tracking showed that we werent going to achieve the sixty-six and two-thirds per cent threshold that we needed for approval, Price said. It wasnt the separation plan per se that shareholders disliked, but the complicated way in which it would be done, including the Transition Capital Structure plan. The company will therefore go back to the drawing board and come up with a separation plan that is simpler and cleaner, Price said. Overwhelmingly the feedback that we received was that a separation of EVR and Teck Metals was favoured as a mechanism to create value for shareholders and hence why weve elected to go back and figure out a way of doing that through a lens of doing this in a simpler and more direct way. Price said a vote on phasing out Teck's dual class share structure would go ahead. "That vote will proceed," Price said. Teck's plan to separate into two companies ended up chumming the waters and attracting one very big Swiss shark -- Glencore, which pitched a US$23 billion merger and demerger that would also have seen Teck's coal and base metals separated into two companies and combined with Glencore's. Teck's board of directors have rejected Glencore's offer, and a number of Canadian politicians, business associations and Canadian mining luminaries have all spoken out against Glencore's takeover plan. Due to the blocking by Azerbaijan of the only road connecting Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) with Armenia, 16 patients from the Republican Medical Center of Artsakhand with serious diseases of the oncology and cardiovascular system as well as with pathologies requiring emergency surgical interventionshave been transported Wednesday to specialized medical institutions of Armenia, with the mediation and escorting of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). And 11 patients, who had been transferred to Armenia for medical treatment, returned to Artsakh, together with accompanying persons, the Artsakh Ministry of Health informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. Three children remain in the neonatal and intensive care units of Arevik Medical Center. Seven patients remain in the intensive care unit of the Republican Medical Center, and two of them are in critical condition. A total of 353 medical patients have been transported so far from Artsakh to Armenia with the mediation and assistance of the ICRC. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan on Tuesday received a delegation led by Loucas Fourlas, Cypriot Member of the European Parliament and chairman of the latters friendship group with Armenia, the latters foreign ministry informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. During the meeting, Hovhannisyan and Fourlas reflected on the security situation in the South Caucasus, the importance of the deployment of an EU monitoring mission in Armenia, the illegal blocking of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan and its new encroachments on the sovereign territory of Armenia, as well as the need for the immediate release of all Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijani captivity. Also, a number of matters on the Armenia-EU partnership agenda were discussed, including interparliamentary cooperation. Paruyr Hovhannisyan lauded the principled position of the European Parliament in matters of primary importance for the Armenian side, which was reflected in the relevant resolutions and reports. Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the press service of the Kremlin informed. They discussed the development of the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh, emphasizing the task of resolving the practical issues of stability and security in the region. In the context of the current aggravation of the situation in the Lachin corridor, the importance of the steady implementation of the entire complex of fundamental agreements by the leaders of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan was confirmed. Also, President of Russia expressed his solidarity with the Armenian people on the occasion of the Armenian Genocide Memorial Day. An agreement was reached to continue contacts at various levels. Ayatollah Abbasali Soleimani, a member of Iran's Assembly of Experts and former representative of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, has been killed after being shot at a bank in Babolsar in the northern province of Mazandaran, Tasnim reported. Ayatollah Soleimani died in the hospital after the incident on Wednesday. Governor of Mazandaran Mahmoud Hosseinipour told the state television that an investigation is underway to determine the motive and circumstances behind the assassination. The governor said the attacker was a local man. Also, Hosseinipour ruled out any terrorist activity, saying the assailant started shooting blindly without any familiarity with Ayatollah Soleimani. The Assembly of Experts has the authority to appoint or dismiss the Leader of the Islamic Revolution. Its members are elected directly by the people for an eight-year term. The body holds biannual meetings to review national issues and appoints a new chairman every other year. A tragic incident took place in Yerevan on Tuesday, shamshyan.com reports. At around 4:25pm, the police received a report that a person was lying unconscious on the street part of a building in Armenias capital. An ambulance staff who were dispatched to the scene took this injured man, who was in critical condition, to a hospital, where, however, he died hours later without regaining consciousness. The police officers found out that the deceased was Yerevan resident Aram Ch., 31. The Investigative Committee of Armenia has launched criminal proceedings into this incident. It will be determined whether this was a suicide, an accident, or the result of carelessness. Also, a forensic medical examination of the body was ordered. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) informed about the arrest of a Russian who was preparing a terrorist attack at the Naval Clinical Hospital of the Russian defense ministry in Simferopol. As a result of the search of this arrested person, an improvised explosive device with damaging elements in the form of nails was seized, as well as an incendiary improvised explosive device, the public relations center of the FSB reported. The investigation department of the FSB launched criminal cases pursuant to the articles of preparation of terrorism and possession of illegal weapons and explosive materials or their illegal circulation. The Russian FSB did not provide any other details about the respective special operation, and did not reveal the identity of the arrested person. The Stratfor analytical center reflected on the installation of an illegal checkpoint by Azerbaijan at the Lachin corridor. Azerbaijan's state border service on April 23 established a border checkpoint on the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Armenia with the Armenian-populated territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, Eurasianet reported the next day, Stratfor wrote in a situation report. It added that many Western governments and politicians condemned the move and called for an end to support for Azerbaijan. The road has been closed since December 2022, but the creation of the checkpoint shows Baku's clear intention to strictly regulate all future entries and exits from Nagorno-Karabakh. Such a development of events could undermine the 2020 Armenian-Azerbaijani ceasefire agreement, as the Lachin road was supposed to be under the control of Russian peacekeepers, and Baku had agreed to "guarantee" traffic in both directions along it. As per Stratfor, the lack of a significant response from the West regarding this checkpoint may prompt Baku to continue its violent violations of the ceasefire. In addition, this Azerbaijani checkpoint is located next to a base of the Russian peacekeepers, who are supposed to keep the road open, and this further undermines the confidence of Russia and its peacekeeping troops in the observance of the 2020 ceasefire agreement. Colonel General Aleksandr Lentsov on Tuesday became the new commander of the Russian peacekeeping force in Nagorno-Karabakh, replacing Major General Andrey Volkov, who held this position since January 2022. On February 28, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had announced during his visit to Baku that "no checkpoint is planned to be established there [i.e., in the Lachin corridor], Stratfor recalled. Hagop Der Khatchadourian, a representative of the Bureau of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Dashnaktsutyun Party, on Tuesday received the delegation headed by Loucas Fourlas, Cypriot Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and chairman of the latters friendship group with Armenia, who has arrived in the country on a fact-finding mission, the ARF informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. The MEP presented the goals and expected results of his visit to Armenia, as well as his visit the previous day to the border areas of Armenias Syunik Province and the starting point of the Lachin corridor, where the Azerbaijani side has set up an illegal checkpoint, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). Der Khatchadourian, in turn, thanked Fourlas for his long-term pro-Armenian activities, and briefed him on the security situation around Armenia. Also, they exchanged views on the effective protection of Armenian interests in the EU, the organizing of joint initiatives in the near future, and the urgent need to hold debates on Armenian issues in the European Parliament. As part of his visit to Spain, Zareh Sinanyan, the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of Armenia, attended the ceremony of raising the national flag of Armenia in the territory of Santa Coloma de Gramenet city hall, in memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide and in support of the Armenian people, reported the high commissioners office reports. The event was organized with the assistance of the Santa Coloma city hall. Dozens of members of the local Armenian community also attended the ceremony. So far, 40 cities in Spain have formally recognized the Armenian Genocide. Photo: Interior Health Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital A man was handed a six-year jail sentence earlier this week for shooting at police officers outside of a Trail ambulance station last fall, but he avoided an attempted murder conviction. Francis Paradis was arrested outside the Trail Ambulance Station near the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital on the evening of Oct. 25, 2022, after he shot at two RCMP officers and three nearby paramedics. Police had been called to the scene just before midnight, for reports that the 29-year-old Quebec man had been behaving erratically. Paradis was standing in a dark area near the ambulance station when officers arrived, and as the officers approached him, he fired several rounds from a handgun in their direction. The officers were not hit and police used a Taser to subdue and arrest him. Paradis has remained in custody since the incident. He was initially charged with assaulting an officer and a handful of firearms charges, but several months later, the Crown also laid an attempted murder charge. On Monday, Paradis struck a plea deal with the Crown and pleaded guilty in Rossland to discharging a restricted/prohibited firearm with with intent to wound, maim, disfigure, or endanger life, along with three other firearms offences. As a result, the Crown stayed the charges of attempted murder and assaulting a police officer. Discharging a restricted/prohibited firearm with intent carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment. Paradis was handed a total sentence of six years jail for the four convictions, according to online court records. With enhanced credit for presentence time served, at 1.5 days for every day spent in custody, he's left with five years and 93 days left to serve. I am thankful that no one was hurt or killed in this incident, said Sgt. Mike Wicentowich of the Trail RCMP in the days after the incident. I would like to commend the bravery of the officers and paramedics who risk their lives and safety in the line of duty during a potentially deadly situation." The specific timeframe and details of the meeting between the ministers of foreign affairs of Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan that was postponed in December are being discussed with the Russian side. This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Armenia in response to a written inquiry by Armenian News-NEWS.am. We had asked whether a new meeting was expected between Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov. "In case of clarity on the matter, the public will be properly informed, as before," the Armenian MFA added. The Armenian side had proposed to postpone the meeting between the ministers of foreign affairs of Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan scheduled for December 23 of last year in Moscow. According to the Armenian MFA, the Armenian FMs priority at that time was the unhindered reopening of the Lachin corridor that was closed by Azerbaijan, and addressing the issues as a result of the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. At his weekly General Audience, Pope Francis continues his catechesis on apostolic zeal, and reflects on the prayer of monks and nuns as the beating heart of the Churchs mission, Vatican News reported. The Holy Fathers catechesis focused in particular on Saint Gregory of Narek, a medieval Armenian monk who, he said, offers a shining example of the universal, all-embracing love which Christians are called to. As another example of this calling, Pope Francis offered Saint Gregory Narek, a tenth century Armenian monk. Saint Gregory, the Pope said, spent almost his entire life in the monastery of Narek, where he learned to peer into the depths of the human soul and, by fusing poetry and prayer together, achieved the pinnacle of both Armenian literature and spirituality. What most strikes him about the saint, the Holy Father went on, is his universal solidarityhis identification with all people and his decision to dedicate his life to praying for them. He sees the faults of humanity not primarily in others, the Pope continued, but in himself, writing in his masterpiece, the Book of Lamentations. This universal solidarity, Pope Francis stressed, was not exclusive to St Gregory, but is rather a feature of the lives all nuns and monks, who, "like Jesus, take on the world's problems, the difficulties, the illnesses, many things, and pray for others." The Pope thus ended his catechesis with an encouragement to his listeners to visit monasteries whenever possible. I believe that the main asset of Armenia are the people with their intellectual potential and great passion for work. Gerard Hofmann, a member of the Supervisory Board of ARMBUSINESSBANK CJSC, stated this in an interview. We present below the text of this interview. What do you think are the main assets of Armenia? I believe that the main asset of Armenia are the people with their intellectual potential and great passion for work. Our goal is to hit the right path to endorse their inner perceptions and aspirations. As loans are granted and other banking services are rendered in different regions of the country, our first priority, without doubt, is the individual and overall well-being. It is likewise important for the Bank to introduce to employees properly the essence of changes. I mean, it is sometimes a big challenge for people to change the usual course of life, work routine, especially when the expectations are ambiguous. We started the reforms that kicked off over a year ago with ourselves. We introduced a new culture in internal communication since it was important for every employee to be updated, to feel part of the team throughout the long journey to changes. Online meetings were organized to keep every employee informed about the Bank's gradual development bringing forth a broad response. There are various investment possibilities globally and the associated investment risks are also different. Why Armenia? Our interest was fuelled by the considerable role of Armenia in the region. For foreign investors Armenia is quite attractive with its favourable business environment and applicable legal framework. We expect, moreover, we are even convinced that the investments in Armenia will create major opportunities to introduce the Armenian financial sector in the international market in a different format. Taking this opportunity, I would like to add that Armenia is a fantastic and marvellously beautiful country. Number of geopolitical events have created new challenges for various industries, including the banks. How would you assess the Armenian banking investment environment and possible developments? In our ever-changing reality the financial sector faces new challenges on a daily basis. Conflicts, the amount of currency debt as well as other factors are the causes behind risks emerging in the country. One of the priorities for any country is the stability of the financial system. To be more precise, a favourable investment environment is crucial for the development of Armenia's economy, this being in fact provided. In recent years, the government itself has been providing considerable support subsidizing various sectors of economy. All this is seen as another incentive for foreign businessmen to consider investment opportunities. It should be noted that Armenian banks have invested considerable efforts also in overcoming the overall challenges faced by the system. The competition has become more intense, the volume of lending has increased, each trying to offer more favourable terms to their customers, due to which the sector shows overall growing trend. Of key importance is also the stability of the country's legal framework. In this regard, I will highly appreciate the possible developments in the Armenian banking investment environment because Armenia has created all the conditions necessary for development and growing stronger. What prevents Armenian banks from becoming an international brand? It would be more appropriate to talk about the factors that can contribute to becoming an international brand. Today, there are Armenian banks investing best of their efforts in the local market, working on brand recognition and reliability having also services to meet the international demand. What I believe is required to enter the international market is professionalism, large investments and a huge amount of effort, focusing first of all on innovations, provision of state-of-the art digital services. How would you assess the dynamics in internationalization of the banking industry, and what does ARMBUSINESSBANK have to do in this regard? Here again, we need to consider the growth of foreign investments since it is an important precondition for internationalization of banking industry. Just imagine having to provide a full package of services to a customer in a foreign country, in other words, traveling to another country for your client. This implies not only modernization and adjustment of all services but also competition with other actors providing financial services in the country concerned. One should be prepared to that. Use of innovative technologies and digital solutions is also essential. As for ARMBUSINESSBANK, one of the priorities in a long-term perspective is to be represented abroad, rendering services also to other countries apart from Armenia. I think there are many opportunities to appear with new services and a strong position outside the country as well. ARMBUSINESSBANK has a long way to go. We have already prepared a wide range of activities, which should be carried out sequentially, with due care and without haste. Vladimir Zelensky, after a telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, said that peace in Ukraine will not be achieved through territorial compromises. "There can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises," Zelensky wrote in his Telegram channel. He also noted that Ukraine's territorial integrity must be restored within the 1991 borders, RIA Novosti reports. Earlier, China Central Television reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping had a telephone conversation with Zelensky. Zelensky said that the conversation was long and informative, and he also announced the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China. Zelensky stated in December 2022 that the withdrawal of Russian troops to the 1991 borders was the only way to end hostilities in Ukraine. RIA Novosti's source in Moscow, commenting on Zelensky's words, noted that if he wants to return to 1991, he should not talk about borders but about neutral and non-aligned status, brotherly relations with Russia - everything that was destroyed by Kiev and led to crisis. On 26 April, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh Sergey Ghazaryan met with Cypriot member of the European Parliament and Chair of the European Parliament Friendship Group with Armenia Loucas Fourlas, who arrived in Armenia with a fact-finding mission. Artsakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports. The interlocutors discussed the situation around Artsakh in the post-war period. The member of the European Parliament called the installation of an illegal Azerbaijani checkpoint in the Lachin corridor inadmissible. Mr. Loucas Fourlas assured that he will spare no effort for the resolution of the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh caused by the blockade. Mr. Gevorg Ghukasyan, Special Project Manager at Armenian National Committee-International also participated in the meeting. Earlier, the delegation led by Loucas Fourlas visited the Syunik region and made observations in the areas adjacent to the beginning of the Lachin Corridor. The danger of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh has become very acute. Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of the RA Security Council, said in a conversation with Petros Ghazaryan. "After the war in 2020 the peacekeepers of the Russian Federation gave guarantees to the people of Nagorno-Karabakh who were in Armenia that they would provide security, and the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, the people who heard those guarantees, returned there. However, on the ground, these guarantees are not working at the moment and, moreover, at this moment, the threat of ethnic cleansing has become very urgent,"- he said. Asked if the security environment has transformed since 2020, Grigoryan said that it definitely has. "Of course, most of our public was not satisfied with the document of November 9, it was a document that documented the situation, it fixed guarantees, the same Lachin corridor, the same Nagorno-Karabakh document, the same line of contact document. They were all architects of security and guarantees that the NK people would go back there, but today we see that system or architecture completely collapsing," he said. One worker said her monthly salary only covered the needs of her family for seven days. One student about to graduate was forced to pick between two jobsnot in her fieldor forfeit her entire five years of university studies. Another said that since he did not participate in government political demonstrations, he was forced to leave his job because of mental and psychological stress. These were some of the testimonies from Cuban nationals included in a study put together by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States (OAS). The study was unveiled last week at the event Human Rights in Cuba: a Report on Labor Conditions from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights held at the University of Miami Libraries Kislak Center. It was co-sponsored by The George P. Hanley Democracy Center. This report could be called a pioneer report, said Maria Claudia Pulido, executive secretary of monitoring and technical cooperation of IACHR. One of the biggest challenges was that we did not have much official government information. Since they did not receive answers to their letters from the Cuban authoritarian government, the commission relied on its own research. It held 80 interviews on Zoom with Cuban workers, as well as with members of civic organizations, to monitor and analyze the state of the Cuban labor and syndicates. IACHR also held a meeting on the island with former members of the judicial system, including lawyers and judges. One of the reports missions is to highlight the abuses against human rights being carried out in Cuba against its workers and promote an Inter-American conversation about these issues, said Pulido. The investigation revealed that Cubans faced several grave challenges in the labor force. Soledad Garcia Munoz, special rapporteur on Economic, Social, Culture and Environmental Rights of the Commission (REDESCA), said that among the most egregious findings were: gender discrimination, racial discrimination, discrimination for sexual orientation as well as for physical condition. She noted that the IACHR and REDESCA believe that the right to work is a fundamental right and inherent to human dignity. The report also indicated a lack of liberty to join unions or syndicates and arbitrary restrictions for faculty members in academic institutions. Testimonies given by Cuban workers showed that jobs and promotions were most often tied to the workers allegiance to the politics of the ruling Communist party. Similarly, those wishing to join syndicates to defend their rights were often intimidated and ostracized by government officials. Even cuentapropistas, or independent workers, who tried to organize themselves in a union were brutally attacked until the group had to be disbanded, according to one of the workers. Giselle Morfi, a Cuban attorney now based in Tampa, works with Cubalex, a legal aid group focused on human rights in Cuba. Discrimination in Cuba is legitimate, she said. In Cuba there is discrimination because of your political opinion. She also pointed out that even though there are laws that enforce public order on the island, police often use their authority to stop citizens for simple infractions and arbitrarily charge them with disorderly conduct. Some of those citizens are often arrested. She indicated that el partido, or the communist party, is above any constitutional laws. Andy Gomez, former professor and administrator at the University, pointed out to the audience that they were sitting in a university where all the opinions by students and faculty members could be expressed openly. That does not happen in Cuba, he said. The Cuban government continues to expel professors and students from its universities for expressing their opinions, which the Cuban government considers anti- revolutionary. The report offers the Cuban government several recommendations including: Adopt measures to eradicate stereotypes, to stop the wage divide between women and men for the same work. Implement strategies to combat and sanction the discrimination of ethno racial groups in the working force, to benefit groups that have traditionally faced discrimination and those who encounter major obstacles in obtaining employment. Permit and guarantee that independent workers may choose their jobs. Guarantee the right to unionize and to follow the Inter-American standards. The commission saw the need to examine Cuba because the country continues to be part of the OAS charter, which includes 35 countries. The mission of the OAS is to achieve among its member states an order of peace and justice, to promote their solidarity, to strengthen their collaboration, and to defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity, and their independence. 08:27 "It was like we were on a deathbed," recalled a relieved Sukhvinder Singh from Haryana as he arrived at the Delhi airport from Saudi Arabia on Wednesday night after being evacuated from strife-torn Sudan. In his mid-40s, the engineer was among the first batch of 360 Indian nationals who returned home under India's 'Operation Kaveri' evacuation mission. Singh, a native of Faridabad in Haryana, recalled his ordeal in Sudan and said he was "still very scared". "We were living in one area, confined to one room. It was like we were on a deathbed," he told PTI before making his way home. India has evacuated at least 670 Indian nationals from Sudan and is looking to rescue more of its citizens from the strife-torn African nation before the end of a tenuous ceasefire between the regular army and a paramilitary force. Chhotu, a factory worker who hails from Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, was in a state of disbelief and exclaimed, "'Marke wapas aa gaya (have returned after almost dying)'." "Now, I will never return to Sudan. I will do anything in this country but won't go back," he told PTI shortly after landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport's Terminal 3. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took to Twitter to share images of the evacuees after their arrival at the Delhi airport. "India welcomes back its own. Operation Kaveri brings 360 Indian nationals to the homeland as first flight reaches New Delhi," he tweeted. At the airport's Terminal 3, as people deboarded the aircraft of Saudia -- a Saudi Arabian airline -- and slowly streamed on to the arrivals lounge area, smiles could be seen on the faces of many who went through tense moments over the past few days. Many waved emphatically, displaying a visible sign of relief, while others shook hands on the skybridge as they were welcomed on their return. Several were seen carrying their luggage, accompanied by children. They also obliged a few photographers with pictures upon their safe return. Tasmer Singh (60), an evacuee who hails from Hoshiarpur in Punjab, described his experience during the ongoing strife as horrifying. "We were like a dead body, roaming in a small house without power, water. We never imagined that we will face this kind of a situation in our lives but thank God, we are alive," he said. Sudan has been witnessing deadly fighting between the country's army and a paramilitary group for the last 12 days that has reportedly left around 400 people dead. India stepped up its efforts to evacuate the Indians from Sudan after a 72-hour truce was agreed between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces following intense negotiations. The batch of Indian nationals evacuated from Sudan who landed in Delhi heaved a sigh of relief after returning to their homeland. Candace Monae of K2 Academy cuts the ribbon to celebrate the creation of her business and her graduation from the SBDCs Launch That Business program. SBDC officials hold the ribbon and join her in marking the special occasion. SIU and Carbondale Tourism hosting events to recognize National Small Business Week in May by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. In celebration of National Small Business Week, April 30-May 6, the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is sponsoring a variety of special events, including a guest speaker, a summit, a unique version of a scavenger hunt and much more. All events are free and open to the public. The Small Business Administration Small Business Week is a time to recognize the hard work and dedication of entrepreneurs who have taken a risk and started a small business, said Melissa Ray Roach, director of the SBDC. It also serves as an opportunity to educate and connect small-business owners with the resources they need to succeed. These businesses are the heart and soul of our communities, and we are honored to be able to help support them. Diverse activities The celebration begins with Make Me Bankable, a financial literacy program from 1 to 3 p.m. May 1 at Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, 1740 Innovation Drive in Carbondale. The free workshop provides information about improving the financial operations of a business, understanding credit and increasing bankability. The course covers the different forms of credit, strategies for repairing and improving credit scores, and how the SBDC can help foster the creation and growth of local small businesses. After successfully completing the course, participants can get individualized credit counseling and, if they choose, enroll in the Entrepreneurial Track Program, an eight-week course focusing on entrepreneurialism and starting a business. Find details and register online in advance at sbdc.siu.edu/workshops. Additional informational, training opportunities Throughout the week the SBDC is offering other special opportunities for people to learn the ins and outs of founding and growing a business and to receive expert advice. Starting Your Business in Illinois is set for 9-11 a.m. May 2 at Dunn-Richmond. The workshop will cover the basics of starting a new business and provide answers to any questions participants may have about starting or growing a business. That includes writing a business plan, legal structures, choosing a business name, licenses and permits, financing and much more. Sign up at ilsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/37302. The National Small Business Week virtual summit is May 2-3. This online event will feature a variety of educational sessions, online business resources and expert speakers to provide participants with new business strategies and a plethora of valuable information. They can also chat with industry experts and meet other small-business owners. Sign up to participate at sba.gov/about-sba/organization/observances/national-small-business-week/virtual-summit. In addition, as part of a new initiative to bring resources to the public, trained SBDC advisers will be at Ethos in Marion on a couple of dates to provide in-person business advisement at no cost. Sessions are set for May 5, as well as June 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pre-registration is required by calling 618-536-2424. Collaborative activities The SBDC is also collaborating with other entities to host special events that week. A group of 14 young student entrepreneurs will showcase their business ventures at the Jackson County CEO Trade Show, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. May 4 at Dunn-Richmond. Its a great chance for the public to experience the creativity and hard work put forth by the business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders of tomorrow. Finally, the SBDC is partnering with Carbondale Tourism to host the Southern Illinois Goose Chase May 1-31. Anyone can participate and win prizes. To begin the shop local campaign contest, download the Goose Chase app at goosechase.com/download and participate in challenges. Create an account or play as a guest by searching for this experience with the code BD5E4X and password shopsoil, or by using the experience name, Southern Illinois Goose Chase. The contest will go live May 1, and each challenge asks participants to visit a local business or location and take a specific photo and share via the app. Each challenge awards a specific number of points. The three people with the highest point totals will win prizes. All prizes are locally produced items and gift cards. With Small Business Week, we want to draw attention to the local economy and businesses, improve their sales, increase tourism and educate the region about all that is available right here in the region, said Amy Dion, small business specialist and marketing. The SBDC is an advocate and no-cost resource for small businesses. New Delhi [India], April 26 (ANI/PNN): Sagacious IP, a leading global IP research and consulting firm, is delighted to release a report on India's top 25 most innovative MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises). It highlights the groundbreaking work of these MSMEs and underscores their immense potential to drive India's economic growth. The report identifies Ather Energy, MKU, Sea6 Energy, Allinnov Research & Development, Accord Ideation, and Arjuna Natural as the most innovative MSMEs in India, with Smartivity Lab, Celagenex Research India, Margo Networks, and Aurea Biolabs also making it to the top 10. These companies have demonstrated exceptional innovation and contributed significantly to their respective sectors. In the report, Karnataka emerged as the leader in the innovation race, with 7 of India's top 25 most innovative MSMEs based in the state followed by Maharashtra & Uttar Pradesh. This underscores these state's commitment to fostering innovation and promoting an entrepreneurial culture. The report also highlights that the majority of patent applications filed by MSME25 companies belonged to the automotive sector, showcasing the potential of the industry to drive innovation and growth in India's MSME landscape. Commenting on the report, Tarun Kumar Bansal, President, Sagacious IP, said "I am thrilled to release this report showcasing the top 25 most innovative startups and SMEs of India. These cutting-edge companies are transforming India's innovation landscape. This report aims to recognize and promote leading innovators and inspire a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that will push India forward. Our company remains committed to supporting and empowering these trailblazers as they continue to shape the future of our nation." Vivek Singh, IP Attorney and Head of Prosecution Practice at Sagacious IP, congratulated the MSME25 companies and said "This report is an attempt to recognize and appreciate innovation & IP-driven companies. The efforts by these companies are helping India climb up the Global Innovation Index and become an IP-savvy nation, which is the vision and mission of Govt. of India. We will keep on updating this report and add more innovative companies in the list every year, he said." The report's findings provide insights into the current state of innovation among Indian MSMEs for policymakers, investors, and industry players. It is part of Sagacious IP's ongoing commitment for driving positive change in India's innovation & IP landscapes. You can download India's MSME25 Innovation Index report here. Sagacious IP is an award-winning IP research solutions provider working with the world's largest companies, law firms, institutions, research organizations, and inventors to help them protect, monetize, defend, and expand their IP portfolios and drive innovation within their industries. For more information, visit: www.sagaciousresearch.com This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) B(200530): 20230426 11:06:19 : : B : Stock Code: 000530; 200530 Short Form of the Stock:Bingshan; Bingshan B No:2023-005 Bingshan Refrigeration & Heat Transfer Technologies Co., Ltd. Public Notice on Resolution of the th th 13 Meeting of the 9 Board of Directors Important: The directors and the Board of Directors of Bingshan Refrigeration & Heat Transfer Technologies Co., Ltd. hereby confirm that there are no any important omissions, fictitious statements or serious misleading carried in this report. I. Calling of the Board Meeting 1. The Notice on holding of the Board Meeting was served by written form on April 12, 2023. 2. The Board Meeting held in the form of live and video dated April 25, 2023. 3. Nine Directors should present for voting and all of them are present actually. 4. The Meeting was presided over by Mr. Ji Zhijian, Chairman of the Board of the Company. 5. The Meeting was regarded as abiding the relevant laws, administrative regulation, department rules, normative documents as well as the Article of Association. II. Deliberation of the Board Meeting 1. 2022 Work Report of the General Manager of the Company With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention. 2. 2022 Work Report of the Board of Directors of the Company; With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention. 3. 2022 Financial Settlement Report of the Company; With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention. 4. 2022 Profit Distribution Preplan of the Company; According to the audit by ShineWing CPAs (Special General Partnership), the net profit made by the parent company of the Company in 2022 was RMB 157.554 million and 10% of the net profit (RMB 15.755 million) was drawn as the legal surplus reserve. Therefore, the profit distributable to the shareholders in the current year was RMB 141.799 million. Plus the initial undistributed profit of RMB 803.564 million and minus the dividend of RMB 8.432 million of common shares paid in 2021,the accumulated profit distributable to the shareholders was RMB 936.931 million. The Companys profit distribution preplan for 2022: Based on the net profit made by the parent Company of the Company in 2022 (157.554 million), 20% of the net profit (RMB 31.511 million) will be drawn as the free surplus reserve; Based on the total capital stock of 843,212,507 shares, the dividend of RMB 0.1 in cash (including tax) will be distributed for every 10 shares, the total cash dividend is RMB 8.432 million, and the cash dividend for B share is converted and paid in Hong Kong dollars. The above preplan shall be submitted to the 2022 shareholders general meeting for review and approval. With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention. 6. Quarterly Report for First Quarter of 2023; With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention. 7. Report of evaluation on internal control of the Company for the year 2022; For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cn With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention. 8. Report of social responsibility of the Company for the year 2022; For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cn With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention. 9. The independent directors report on their work for the year 2022; For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cn With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention. 10. Report on withdrawing provisions for devaluation of assets; For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cn With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention. 11. Report on authorizing the Companys Chairman of the Board and management to apply for the bank line of credit and bank line of loan in 2023; In order to meet the need of the Companys normal production and operation, the General Manager and Financial Majordomo of the Company are authorized to apply for the comprehensive bank line of credit not more than 1,200 million yuan, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company is authorized to apply for the bank line of loan not more than 800 million yuan (not including merger and acquisition loans).The authorization runs from April 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention. 12. Report on Estimated Associated Transactions for the year 2023; It is predicted that the total amount of routine associate transactions of the Company in the whole year of 2023 will be around RMB 828.6 million yuan, consisting of around RMB 257.5 million yuan for purchasing auxiliary products for package projects from associate parties and around RMB 571.1 million yuan for selling auxiliary spare parts to associate parties. The Companys independent directors reviewed this proposal on April 12, 2023 and agreed on submitting it to the Board of Directors for discussions. Correlative directors were avoided from voting this proposal respectively. For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cn With 5 or 7 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention. 13. Report on Engaging Auditors for the Company in 2023; The Company planned to reengage ShineWing CPAs (Special General Partnership) as its auditors for 2023 to integrate and audit the financial statements and internal control of the company. Based on the actual situation of the auditing task, the Company planned to pay ShineWing CPAs (Special General Partnership) RMB 770,000 as the annual financial statements auditing fee (RMB 770,000 for year 2022), and RMB 300,000 as the annual internal control auditing fee. And the corresponding expenditures arising from the auditing shall be born by itself. The Companys independent directors reviewed this proposal on April 12, 2023 and agreed on submitting it to the Board of Directors for discussions. With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention. 14. Report on lease of land and houses of the Company; avoided from voting this proposal. With 7 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention. 15. Report on selling the Guotai Junan shares; Agrees on the Companys selling all of Guotai Junan shares through the trade system of Shanghai Securities Exchange in right time before June 30, 2024. For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cn With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention. 16. Report on financial leasing sales cooperation with Dalian Bingshan Group Hua Hui Da Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (Hua Hui Da); The subsidiary of the Company, Dalian Bingshan Lingshe Quick-freezing Equipment Co. LTD(Bingshan Lingshe). will cooperate with Hua Hui Da, designated by the lessee Jilin Fuyu Agricultural Technology Co., LTD. ("Jilin Fuyu "), intends to purchase the Bingshan Lingshe 's cold storage equipment (Corn on the cob freezing machine) . The above mentioned transaction constitutes a related transaction. Independent directors of the Company deliver a prior approval for the proposal on April 12, 2023 and agree to submit for deliberation on the Board. Related director Mr. Ji Zhijian is avoiding the votes for the proposal. 8 votes for; 0 vote against; 0 vote as abstention. 17. Report on guarantee to Jilin Fuyu Agricultural Technology Co., LTD.; Based on the above financial leasing business, the Company and Bingshan Lingshe agree with Hua Huida and Jilin Fuyu that the Company and Bingshan Lingshe undertake the delayed rental advance and repurchase guarantee responsibility for Jilin Fuyu. Independent directors of the Company deliver a prior approval for the proposal on April 12 and agree to submit for deliberation on the Board. 9 votes for; 0 vote against; 0 vote as abstention. 18. Report on amending the Registration and Management of Insider Information. For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cn With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention. Among the above resolutions, resolution 234511121315 shall be submitted to 2022 shareholders general meeting for review and approval. III. Documents available for reference 1. Proposal of the Meeting with signature of attended directors and seal of the Board; 2. Opinions from independent directors. Board of Bingshan Refrigeration & Heat Transfer Technologies Co., Ltd. April 26, 2023 Stock Code: 000530; 200530 Short Form of the Stock:Bingshan; Bingshan B No:2023-005Bingshan Refrigeration & Heat Transfer Technologies Co., Ltd. Public Notice on Resolution of theth th13 Meeting of the 9 Board of DirectorsImportant: The directors and the Board of Directors of Bingshan Refrigeration & Heat Transfer Technologies Co., Ltd. hereby confirm that there are no any important omissions, fictitious statements or serious misleading carried in this report.I. Calling of the Board Meeting1. The Notice on holding of the Board Meeting was served by written form on April 12, 2023. 2. The Board Meeting held in the form of live and video dated April 25, 2023. 3. Nine Directors should present for voting and all of them are present actually. 4. The Meeting was presided over by Mr. Ji Zhijian, Chairman of the Board of the Company. 5. The Meeting was regarded as abiding the relevant laws, administrative regulation, department rules, normative documents as well as the Article of Association. II. Deliberation of the Board Meeting1. 2022 Work Report of the General Manager of the Company With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.2. 2022 Work Report of the Board of Directors of the Company; With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.3. 2022 Financial Settlement Report of the Company;With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.4. 2022 Profit Distribution Preplan of the Company;According to the audit by ShineWing CPAs (Special General Partnership), the net profit made by the parent company of the Company in 2022 was RMB 157.554 million and 10% of the net profit (RMB 15.755 million) was drawn as the legal surplus reserve. Therefore, the profit distributable tothe shareholders in the current year was RMB 141.799 million. Plus the initial undistributed profitof RMB 803.564 million and minus the dividend of RMB 8.432 million of common shares paid in 2021,the accumulated profit distributable to the shareholders was RMB 936.931 million. The Companys profit distribution preplan for 2022:Based on the net profit made by the parent Company of the Company in 2022 (157.554 million), 20% of the net profit (RMB 31.511 million) will be drawn as the free surplus reserve; Based on the total capital stock of 843,212,507 shares, the dividend of RMB 0.1 in cash (includingtax) will be distributed for every 10 shares, the total cash dividend is RMB 8.432 million, and thecash dividend for B share is converted and paid in Hong Kong dollars. The above preplan shall be submitted to the 2022 shareholders general meeting for review and approval.With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.6. Quarterly Report for First Quarter of 2023;With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.7. Report of evaluation on internal control of the Company for the year 2022; For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cnWith 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.8. Report of social responsibility of the Company for the year 2022; For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cnWith 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.9. The independent directors report on their work for the year 2022; For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cnWith 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.10. Report on withdrawing provisions for devaluation of assets; For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cnWith 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.11. Report on authorizing the Companys Chairman of the Board and management to apply for the bank line of credit and bank line of loan in 2023;In order to meet the need of the Companys normal production and operation, the General Manager and Financial Majordomo of the Company are authorized to apply for the comprehensive bank line of credit not more than 1,200 million yuan, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company is authorized to apply for the bank line of loan not more than 800 million yuan (not including merger and acquisition loans).The authorization runs from April 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024.With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.12. Report on Estimated Associated Transactions for the year 2023; It is predicted that the total amount of routine associate transactions of the Company in the wholeyear of 2023 will be around RMB 828.6 million yuan, consisting of around RMB 257.5 million yuan for purchasing auxiliary products for package projects from associate parties and around RMB 571.1 million yuan for selling auxiliary spare parts to associate parties. The Companys independent directors reviewed this proposal on April 12, 2023 and agreed on submitting it to the Board of Directors for discussions.Correlative directors were avoided from voting this proposal respectively. For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cnWith 5 or 7 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention. 13. Report on Engaging Auditors for the Company in 2023;The Company planned to reengage ShineWing CPAs (Special General Partnership) as its auditors for 2023 to integrate and audit the financial statements and internal control of the company. Basedon the actual situation of the auditing task, the Company planned to pay ShineWing CPAs (Special General Partnership) RMB 770,000 as the annual financial statements auditing fee (RMB 770,000 for year 2022), and RMB 300,000 as the annual internal control auditing fee. And the corresponding expenditures arising from the auditing shall be born by itself. The Companys independent directors reviewed this proposal on April 12, 2023 and agreed on submitting it to the Board of Directors for discussions.With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.14. Report on lease of land and houses of the Company;avoided from voting this proposal.With 7 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.15. Report on selling the Guotai Junan shares;Agrees on the Companys selling all of Guotai Junan shares through the trade system of Shanghai Securities Exchange in right time before June 30, 2024.For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cnWith 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.16. Report on financial leasing sales cooperation with Dalian Bingshan Group Hua Hui Da Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (Hua Hui Da);The subsidiary of the Company, Dalian Bingshan Lingshe Quick-freezing Equipment Co. LTD(Bingshan Lingshe). will cooperate with Hua Hui Da, designated by the lessee Jilin Fuyu Agricultural Technology Co., LTD. ("Jilin Fuyu "), intends to purchase the Bingshan Lingshe 's cold storage equipment (Corn on the cob freezing machine) . The above mentioned transaction constitutes a related transaction. Independent directors of the Company deliver a prior approval for the proposal on April 12, 2023 and agree to submit for deliberation on the Board. Related director Mr. Ji Zhijian is avoiding the votes for the proposal. 8 votes for; 0 vote against; 0 vote as abstention.17. Report on guarantee to Jilin Fuyu Agricultural Technology Co., LTD.; Based on the above financial leasing business, the Company and Bingshan Lingshe agree with Hua Huida and Jilin Fuyu that the Company and Bingshan Lingshe undertake the delayed rental advance and repurchase guarantee responsibility for Jilin Fuyu. Independent directors of the Company deliver a prior approval for the proposal on April 12 and agree to submit for deliberation on the Board.9 votes for; 0 vote against; 0 vote as abstention.18. Report on amending the Registration and Management of Insider Information. For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cnWith 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.Among the above resolutions, resolution 234511121315 shall be submitted to 2022 shareholders general meeting for review and approval.III. Documents available for reference1. Proposal of the Meeting with signature of attended directors and seal of the Board; 2. Opinions from independent directors.Board of Bingshan Refrigeration & Heat Transfer Technologies Co., Ltd. April 26, 2023 New Delhi [India], April 26 (ANI/ATK): India is set to be the world's most populous country with over 1.4 billion people according to the World Population Review. The good thing is that more than half of India's population under 30 years of age, giving the country's economy an edge in the form of a demographic dividend. To turn the demographic dividend to our advantage, youth need to be educated and skilled with employable skills. Without proper management of skills development as per market requirement, there is a risk of missing this opportunity. We at International Institute of Fitness Excellence and Management (IIFEM) understand the need for skilling our youth with an opportunity to be employed. As a leading Institute in Fitness Excellence and Management, IIFEM focusses on providing aspiring fitness trainers with hands-on, practical training so that they are well-equipped to be integrated in the sector. The certified youth have an edge in the fitness industry, with the structured easy to follow training, crucial for client satisfaction. IIFEM offers guidance and counselling to all aspiring fitness trainers for better career opportunity. Depending on their goals, trainers venture in personal training, join upscale gyms, get a salary hike etc which benefits their career. This increases their reputation among their peers and in the sector which ultimately increases their confidence and zeal to do better. The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light the urgent requirement to adapt to healthier lifestyles. As per a report by Assocham, 116 per 1000 population in India is suffering from either of the three hypertension, digestive disease and diabetes. Fitness has a renewed meaning for Indian households and the sector is in demand. According to a report by Stratview Research in 2022, the industry is poised to grow in double digits. This is a good time to explore the opportunities in this growing and relatively new sector. Visit www.iifem.com to know more about career opportunities in fitness industry. This story has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK) Footwear retailers have sought more time for the implementation of norms of the Quality Control Order, 2020 (QCO), for footwear manufacturers. QCO norms for footwear are slated to be enforced from July 1 in the country. Retailers have urged the government to give them 8-10 months of additional time from the effective date of the QCO for footwear manufacturers. This request is meant to allow retailers to place orders and procure stocks of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)-compliant footwear from manufacturers, the retailers said in their request. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) issued QCO for footwear made from leather, rubber or polymer. Once implemented, it will make it compulsory to conform with the Indian Standards and footwear products will also be required to bear a Standard Mark under a licence. Saurabh Sanyal, CEO and Secretary, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), said that the implementation of QCO at this crucial juncture without much time for transition for the retail industry has created a precarious situation and will be an impediment to the operation, growth and sustenance of the footwear retail sector. "While the industry is gearing up for readiness of QCO compliance for new manufacturing, as of now there has been no clarity for applicability of QCO on the inventory manufactured or procured prior to June 30, 2023 (before QCO effective date), for which large capital has been deployed by pan-India retailers while incurring a huge amount of taxes, duties and levies," Sanyal said. The retailers said that most of the manufacturing plants still do not have internal testing facilities within their premises. They will require further investments and time for setting up such facilities before applying for the BIS registration and certification process. According to the PHDCCI statement, only a miniscule of manufacturers or suppliers have been able to receive the BIS licences till date with 30 licences issued across 10 leather footwear categories, and 18 licences for 13 categories of non-leather footwear. At the current pace, the certification process for most manufacturers will not be completed even after the QCO's effective date, it added. Moreover, the retail industry players said that they were determined to adopt the QCO and are aligned with Prime Minister's clarion call for "Zero-Defect-Zero Effect" manufacturing. They said that while the manufacturers have already commenced the process for getting BIS registration and licences to comply with QCO requirements, the existing infrastructure and testing facilities are not sufficient to cater to the current requirements of stringent BIS testing and certification for all the manufacturers and products being manufactured. BIS had still not come up with product manuals for some standards, testing equipment required, testing methodologies and procedures, they added. (ANI) Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], April 26 (ANI/NewsVoir): The EMDP (Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Program) in Andhra Pradesh has been implemented across 4776 Schools, and on its completion, a state-wide expo was held wherein 53 teams of Class 9 students from Govt Schools of Andhra Pradesh showcased and competed their social innovation projects. The AP EMDP EXPO 2023 was held in collaboration with AP SCERT and the EMDP consortium comprising of: Udhyam Learning Foundation, Aflatoun International, Reap Benefit and Makerghat; and was supported by Amazon. The EXPO showcased the students' learning journey from the EMDP program. The students were given a presentation platform to display their projects which were developed by identifying problems in and around their community as well as coming up with solutions for them. The students also displayed Entrepreneurial mindsets and 21st century skills like grit, critical thinking, problem solving and communication & collaboration skills. The winning teams will be taken on an education trip to help the students get exposure to entrepreneurial processes that they can take up in the future. The Top 3 teams were: 1st Prize: School Name: ZPHS Aganampudi, Visakhapatnam District.Project Name: Water Level Controller & Food Supply to pets with Missed Call 2nd Prize: School Name: S.L.S.V.V.S.O.H.S PEDAMUTHEVI, Krishna District.Project Name: Eco-Friendly Pens/seed paper pens. 3rd Prize: School Name: ZPHS Gutharallapalli, District: ChittoorProject Name: Homegrown Tomato based Products Speaking at the event, Suresh Kumar, IAS, Commissioner, School Education Department, Andhra Pradesh said that, "The Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Program is a unique and innovative program that was started in Andhra Pradesh last year covering 326124 children across 5075 government schools. The training program aims to develop life skills and entrepreneurial mindsets and help children identify problems which are prevalent in their own neighbourhoods and come up with practical, innovative and implementable solutions for them, on their own. I am very happy to share that today we conducted the state-level with top teams from all the 26 districts represented at the exhibition, covering a wide range of technology solutions for varying problems across agriculture, solar power and renewable energy sources, recycle waste material, etc." "These children have also made use of schools labs and various other vocational training components, to come up with integrative solutions. I am sure that these children will be, and are, an asset to our society. I wish all the best to the children who are part of this and I also thank the EMDP team and the organizers and sponsors of this program," he added. "These students have demonstrated their ability to identify problems, develop creative solutions, and take action to make a positive impact on their communities. The EMDP consortium is incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to supporting them as they continue to pursue their entrepreneurial goals," said Nezrin M, EMDP State Lead, Udhyam Learning Foundation. Our vision is to "Co-create a caring world, where people fearlessly pursue their potential." We believe that entrepreneurship is a powerful way to channelize an individual's potential. Entrepreneurship enables agency and allows an individual to work on their strengths while creating value for the world. The goal for Udhyam is to build a thriving and supportive ecosystem, where every individual feels empowered to define their path. Entrepreneurial education has emerged as a demanding subject to be mastered by young students for a sustainable future. The Andhra Pradesh state government recognized entrepreneurship education as the need of the hour and decided to introduce it as a part of the curriculum. The program was launched as an initiative by the Andhra Pradesh State Government by the Honourable Education Minister, Sri. Audimulapu Suresh on July 20th, 2021. The program was fully conceptualized and designed by an alliance of non-profit organizations, brought together by Global Alliance For Mass Entrepreneurship: GAME. The non-profit partners include Lead Implementation partner Udhyam Learning Foundation and contributing partners Reap Benefit, MakerGhat, and Aflatoun International. The biggest vision of the program is to cultivate the "entrepreneurial mindset" among children. Through the Entrepreneurial Mindset Development program, students get to activate and build on several 21st-century skills like communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity that will help them massively to take leadership roles in their schools and classes, bringing innovation to whatever they do. All this is done through an activity based curriculum where students get opportunities to learn by solving problems of their own society. These transferable skills would also be critical and essential when students later join the workforce. Objective: 1. Students will be able to build entrepreneurial mindsets and 21st century skills. 2. Students will be able to showcase their learning from the program through projects. 3. Students will be introduced to the basic financial literacy skills & concepts. The focus of the curriculum is on developing the right mindsets and skill sets to make students entrepreneurial. The various projects that students go through during the program helps them to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, a mindset to plan, act, reflect, learn and improvise on their knowledge, skills and attitudes that makes them entrepreneurial in whatever career they choose. The curriculum incorporates three major components: - In - class activities, where students learn concepts and skills by doing activities - Social Project, that the students do to apply their understanding by trying to solve a social problem - An Expo, where the students showcase their learning and its application These students can learn the required mindsets and skills to achieve their dream. This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) New Delhi [India], April 26 (ANI/PNN): The inaugural function to commemorate the Ramakrishna Math & Mission Mumbai's 100 years of spreading spirituality & service to Humanity got off to a great start at Rang Sharda Auditorium on the 21st of April. After the arrival of Most Rev Swami Gautamanandaji Maharaj, Vice President of the Ramakrishna Mission order, the programme started with Chanting of Vedic Hymns. Adhyaksha Maharaj of Ramakrishna Mission Mumbai Rev Swami Satyadevananda Maharaj welcomed the audience comprising a galaxy of monks and devotees - A packed auditorium with a seating capacity of 850. He specifically mentioned that he was very thankful to the Governor who had accepted the invitation to grace the occasion and came in spite of his very busy schedule. The Governor of Maharashtra Ramesh Bais who was the Chief Guest of the Inaugural function narrated his deep respect for the Ramakrishna Math & Mission order. He said it is one of the very few organisations that strikes the right note and right balance between Spiritual Development and Service to Humanity. (Hamesha adhyatmaik vikas aur manushya ke seva ke beech sahi santulan banaya rakhte hai) He added that "Ramakrishna Mission Dharm Nirpekshata ka ek Jiti Jagti Misal Hai". The Governor made an appeal to Ramakrishna Mission to intensify its efforts to spread the man making, character building message of Swami Vivekananda amongst the youth of today. He also fondly remembered his association with Ramakrishna Mission since he was 10 years old and how his thinking has been influenced by Swami Vivekananda's teachings. He briefly mentioned a role he played in his younger days in Eknath Ranade's mission to build the Kanyakumari Memorial Statue in honour of Swami Vivekananda. He also mentioned the great role played by Ramakrishna Mission Mumbai over the last so many years in various relief activities and acknowledged its efforts in uplifting the living conditions of people in the rural tribal belt through its Sakwar centre and the great value the Ramakrishna Mission Charitable Hospital plays in the lives of the under-privileged sections in the city of Mumbai Adhyaksha Maharaj of Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission Mumbai Rev Swami Satyadevananda Maharaj also thanked Most Revered Swami GautamanandaJi, senior most Vice President of the order and Revered Swami Suviranandaji, General secretary of the order for accepting the invitation to grace this auspicious occasion, in spite of their busy schedule. In his welcome address, he said "It is a matter of great pride that Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission Mumbai has completed 100 years. Not many institutions are able to cross this landmark - He also mentioned Swami Vivekananda's assertion that Ramakrishna Mission would serve humanity for more than 1500 years - In that context the institution is still in its sunrise years" His welcome address was followed by the felicitation of Chief Guest, Governor of Maharashtra Ramesh Bais by him and other Senior Monks on the Dias. The Vice President of Ramakrishna Mission and Ramakrishna Math Most Revered Swami Gautamanandaji Maharaj shared some incidents of Ramakrishna Mission Mumbai and how he fondly remembers his stay while he was posted here. Talkin about the Philosophy of Atmano Mokshartham Jagat Hitayacha, he recounted one incident from Swami Vivekananda's life. Once Swami Vivekananda wanted to feed the Santhal Labourers from his own hand. They were not agreeing. Swamiji requested and finally, they agreed. When they were eating Swamiji started crying and remarked..." Look I can see Narayana in all of them. Please take care of all them." The General Secretary of Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Belur Math, Revered Swami Suvirananda Maharaj mentioned that it is heartening to note that the Govt of India has come forward on its own to observe the 125 years of Ramakrishna mission. It is not a co-incidence therefore that the Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission order is acknowledged as a saga of success. He re-iterated what the Prime Minister recently commented about Ramakrishna Mission. He said "It is a milestone in the history of modern India" Commenting on the momentous occasion of the 100 years of Ramakrishna Math & Mission Mumbai he mentioned that it was indeed a privilege and honour to attend the inaugural function of a centre that has been blessed by the visits of many Direct Disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. The other Highlights of the day were Release of Souvenir that was brought out on the occasion of 100 years with Reminisences of Monks and Devotees of the Mumbai centre across the years. With 300 specially curated photographs. A Audio video screening about the History of RKM Mumbai, how it was formed and it's journey over the years to serve humanity Talks by Senior Monks of the order Revered Swami Sarvalokananda Maharaj ( He spoke on Ramakrishna Math and Mission in light of 100 years ) Revered Swami Atmapriyananda Maharaj (He Spoke On: The Ramakrishna Ideal according to Swami Vivekananda (English) Revered Swami Sarvapriyananda Maharaj ( He spoke on Swami Vivekananda's Vedantic Vision and Mission) Revered Swami Muktidananda. He spoke on The Spiritual Strength and universal appeal of the Ramakrishna Movement Musical offering by Pt. Omkar Dadarkar vocal. & Pandit Ronu Mazumdar, Flute Recital. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) The conference with the theme -- Financial Stability: Framework, Monitoring and Implementation -- is being organised by the College of Supervisors in collaboration with the Centre for Central Banking Studies (CCBS), Bank of England, London. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) set up an academic advisory council called the 'College of Supervisors (CoS)' to further strengthen supervision over regulated entities. The CoS is headed by former deputy governor N S Viswanathan, and it has five other members. The council's objective is to identify areas where skill building or upskilling is required, plan and develop curricula of all programmes, benchmark the programmes with international standards or best practices, and develop appropriate teaching methods. The Bank of England's CCBS runs an extensive programme of events for central bankers and financial regulators from around the world. CCBS was established in 1990 and is one of the oldest providers of international central banking technical cooperation and assistance. CCBS in its website said its mission is to equip central bankers and financial regulators - both in the United Kingdom and across the globe - with the frontier skills and expert knowledge they need to tackle the challenges they face. (ANI) New Delhi [India], April 26 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Rashki, one of the most loved sustainable fashion brands, has proudly partnered with Banofi Leather to introduce India's first-ever range of handbags made from banana leather, a sustainable alternative to animal leather, made from banana crop waste. This comes in at a time when India's sustainable fashion market is poised to grow at a CAGR of 10.6% for the period 2021-2026, as per a report by ResearchAndMarkets.com. Commenting on the launch, Rahul Jain, Co-Founder, Rashki said, "Sustainable lifestyle has emerged as a conscious way of living as more and more consumers adapt it and internalise it by making it part of everyday living and choices. That is in itself a clear indication of where the evolution of consumer preferences is headed. As one of the most loved sustainable lifestyle brands in India, we have touched the lives of 40,000 consumers with our vegan, cruelty-free bags and accessories and we are always hungry to do more. In our endless pursuit for an apt leather alternative, we have found the right partner in Banofi and are stoked to create a new range of cruelty free, plant-based leather handbags that promise to wow. Add to that the entire thrill of plant-based leather that is Made in India." Also speaking on the launch, Jinali Mody, Founder, Banofi Leather mentioned, "We value our exclusive partnership with Rashki and their support in launching our product, Banofi, in the Indian market. We're confident that by working closely with our partner brands, such as Rashki, we can disrupt the fashion industry and help play our part in the fight against climate change and animal cruelty. As consumers are shifting towards environmentally friendly alternatives, we are excited to be shaping the sustainable fashion industry." With evolving customer preferences and awareness, the alternative leather market has been witnessing a flurry of exciting developments. Last year French luxury brand Hermes, a leading end leather manufacturer used a leather alternative made out of mushroom for their luxury handbag Victoria. Closer home, Kanpur based Phool announced a range of bags in partnership with PVH Corporation (parent company of Tommy Hilfiger & Calvin Klien) which will be made with Fleather, an interesting animal leather alternative made from flower waste. The Banofi team has found an innovative way to convert banana crop waste into a robust leather alternative which in turn led to some joint R&D and trials, leading to the culmination of this range of plant-based leather handbags. It remains to be seen how much of the $400 Bn leather market will be captured by plant-based alternatives, but going by the early reads, brands that are adopting these leather alternatives are confident about their texture, durability and feel compared to real leather. Banofi Leather has invested two years in R&D, developing a world-class next-generation banana leather. The fashion industry and specifically animal leather puts immense pressure on land, food, and water resources. A typical leather bag made from cow-hide requires over 10,000 litres of water and over 100kgs of CO2 per metre. In comparison, Banofi leather helps accomplish the same animal leather texture, feel and durability with an 85% reduction in both water and carbon footprint, which therefore enables direct integration of sustainability into the business and helps ensure progression towards a more responsible future. Banofi is truly revolutionary as it also upcycles banana crop waste, provides additional income for farmers and generates no toxic waste. Rashki is excited to be pioneering plant-based leather that is truly made in India. The products, priced in the range of INR 2,000 - INR 10,000 shall be available on www.rashki.com initially and later across marketplaces such as Myntra, Nykaa Fashion and Amazon. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) Financial Services Secretary Vivek Joshi on Wednesday said that countries and corporations were now expanding their horizons to explore innovative approaches to tackle climate change while maintaining economic competitiveness. During the XIX Council Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Interbank Consortium (SCO IBC) in Goa on Wednesday, Joshi said, "Coming to the focus area of SCO IBC Council meet, the increased sensitivity towards climate change has seen countries embarking on the journey of Net Zero, Clean Energy Transition and Sustainable Development." The secretary joined the event online on Wednesday. India Infrastructure Finance Company (IIFCL) hosted the council meeting and the meeting was chaired by PR Jaishankar, MD, IIFCL, in the presence of delegates from eight member banks and SCO Secretariat. SCO IBC comprises eight member banks from countries such as Russia, India, China, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Joshi said, "I am happy to share that India too has partaken in the global battle against climate change, with the Prime Minister of India pledging to cut India's total projected carbon emission by 1 billion tonne by 2030, reduce the carbon intensity of the nation's economy by less than 45 per cent by the end of the decade and achieve a net-zero carbon emissions target by 2070." The secretary said the annual per capita carbon footprint in India is only about 1.5 tonne, compared to the world average of 4 tonne per year. According to Vivek Joshi, India has the fourth largest capacity for producing renewable energy in the world. "We are ranked fourth in wind energy and fifth in solar energy in the world. India also aims to become a leading producer and supplier of green hydrogen in the world, having launched a National Hydrogen Mission and moving towards an environment-friendly energy source," he added. Joshi said, "SCO member countries contribute about 30 per cent of global GDP (gross domestic product) and 40 per cent of the world's population. Today, when the world is facing challenges of a looming economic recession, a closer cooperation among the SCO Member States shall play a pivotal role in combating global challenges such as food and energy security concerns." "As part of India's contribution to mitigating the above challenges, our Hon'ble Prime Minister has launched the Global Mission 'LIFE' - which stands for Lifestyle for Environment," the secretary said, adding, "LIFE envisions replacing the prevalent 'use-and-dispose' economy--governed by mindless and destructive consumption--with a circular economy, which would be defined by mindful utilisation of resources." Apart from Secretary Vivek Joshi, Padmanabhan Raja Jaishankar, managing director, India Infrastructure Finance Company, also welcomed the deputy secretary General from SCO Secretariat Nuran Niyazaliev. He also welcomed and thanked all the dignitaries and heads of member banks of Development Bank of Kazakhstan JSC, China Development Bank, OJSC 'RSK Bank', Habib Bank, State Corporation Bank for Development, Savings Bank of the Republic of Tajikistan of Amonatbonk and National Bank for Foreign Economic Activities of the Republic of Uzbekistan JSC. Padmanabhan Raja Jaishankar said it was a great day that IIFCL was hosting the SCO IBC Forum in this very vibrant state of Goa. "As you may be aware, IIFCL is a Government of India enterprise set up under the Ministry of Finance," he added. Before inviting the secretary for his speech, Padmanabhan Raja Jaishankar also apprised the gathering of how Joshi, over thirty-three years in civil services, worked across various sectors of the Indian economy and has made significant contributions towards the development of women and child, trade and textiles. (ANI) New Delhi [India], April 26 (ANI/PRNewswire): NRIHelpLine.com, a startup focused on providing solutions for the Non-Resident Indian community, has successfully raised its seed funding round. The funding was led by A Subba Rao of Dabur International, Arjun Nijhawan of Travel Boutique Online, Rahul Narvekar of India Network, Navneet Singh of NRI Legal Services, and Bharat Bhushan Bhatia of Hines Group. With this funding, NRIHelpLine.com intends to become a one-stop solution for the 100 million Non-Resident Indians worldwide, helping them manage their assets and comply with their responsibilities in India. Rahul Narvekar, India Network, shared his thoughts on the investment and the founder of NRIHelpLine.com, Prasana Rao. He revealed that during their first meeting at the Vibrant Forum in Chandigarh, he was impressed by Prasana's persistence despite facing universal resistance. This sheer persistence and determination led him to commit to the investment in NRIHelpLine.com Arjun Nijhawan of Nijhawan Group,who has been an angel investor in Marquee startups like Inshorts and DineOut, expressed his confidence in the project, citing the team's strength, vision, and conviction as reasons for his investment. He also wished the founders the best of luck. Ananta Raghuvanshi, who has three decades of experience in the realty industry with DLF and EMAAR MGF, joined the NRIHelpLine.com team because she understands the pain and problems that NRIs face in their routine interactions with vendors and service providers in India. She believes that the platform will change the way NRIs manage their affairs, back home, in India and is dedicated to making it a grand success. NRIHelpLine.com is targeting the 100 million NRI diaspora with $ 100 Billion in remittances and aims to become a one stop shop for NRIs to buy, sell and manage their assets by providing a comprehensive technology solution for NRIs. Starting with Gurgaon the startup is planning to on-board real estate inventory in 6 major Indian states and 29 cities for primary real estate sales in the first phase and then of course also in secondary sales of real estate. Contact: Prasana RaoFounder - CEOEmail: rao@nrihelpline.com This story has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) Delhi NCR [India], April 26 (ANI/BusinessWire India): With an assortment of IT and Non-IT courses to offer, CETPA unwraps Summer Training Programs for candidates. The primary focus of this 6 weeks Summer Training Program remains on providing hands-on knowledge to college students, aspiring for a better future. They invite engineering fresher, undergraduates and all others looking to gain expertise in the latest technologies to join them for their 6 Weeks Summer Training Programs. Objective of this Summer Training Program: In the high-and-mighty competitive world of today, being upskilled and effective are the skills required for any job. CETPA Infotech plays an essential role in moulding the futures of engineering students, right from the scratch. CETPA mentors, undergraduates and recent fresher who are yet unskilled, but looking for something worthy that can influence careers. With more than 1000+ courses to choose from, including niche technologies viz. Data Science, Data Analytics, Python Training, Java, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning Training to name a few, CETPA has been recognized as the Best Industrial Training Company. Yes, our research shows that the industry flourishes with CETPA as the brand for Summer Training. During this Summer Training, the students can choose from the numerous courses, any technology that they find will best suit their careers. They will come to learn and explore the technical skills and their practical revelation with bounteous opportunities to stack out all projects, tasks, and assignments accomplished during their training. This will provide them exposure to the marketplace where they can show their skills and make advancement towards their career. Furthermore, they can apply for relevant jobs as per their skill sets and eventually land their dream employment. Summer Training at CETPA: The Highlights Over the past two decades, CETPA has established itself as a recognized Industrial Training Company. Students have preferred being trained by CETPA and recommended the same to others including their juniors in college. Year after year, session after session, and batch after batch, CETPA has gained expertise in training students. Summer Training at CETPA does provide students with chances to learn in abundance. The ulterior motive of CETPA lies in providing the best services, be it training to Students or Professionals, Corporate Training Programs, or HR Consultancy Services. For students, the foremost objective remains in imparting Training with realistic experiences, to assist them to kickstart their dazzling careers. 6 Weeks Summer Training at CETPA features short-duration courses. Besides Summer Training, the company also specializes in Regular Training, Winter Training, College Campus training, Online Training, Fresher Training, Live Project Base Training and Overseas Training Programs. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) New Delhi [India], April 26 (ANI/NewsReach): Rajshri Productions' latest film Uunchai, directed by Sooraj R Barjatya and featuring a star-studded cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, and Boman Irani, has been nominated for seven awards at the prestigious 68th edition of Filmfare Awards 2023. The nominations include Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor in the Lead Role (Male) - Amitabh Bachchan, Best Supporting Actor (Male) - Anupam Kher, Best Music Album - Amit Trivedi, Best Story - Sunil Gandhi, and Best Dialogue - Abhishek Dixit. Upon reaching this significant milestone, fellow producer of Uunchai, Mahaveer Jain, shared valuable insights about the film's making. "We are all elated that Uunchai has received recognition from the prestigious Filmfare Awards. The creative fraternity holds these awards in high regard, and we are grateful for the love and appreciation we have received for the film," said Jain. Jain also praised the film's director, Sooraj R Barjatya, for his unwavering belief in honest storytelling. "He expressed that Rajshri is a film company where work is worship, and that purity, simplicity, positivity, humanity, and humbleness are reflected in every aspect of it. Sooraj R Barjatya is a legendary filmmaker who works like a student, with sincerity and openness throughout the entire process. He's beyond the limitations of race and competition. His value-based family entertainers serve as a shining example of his authentic creative persona." Jain also expressed admiration for Amitabh Bachchan's incredible work at his age, stating that he is a paragon of passion and an inspiration for all of India. He further praised Anupam Kher for his gifted talent and the rest of the cast, including Danny, Boman, Neena, Sarika, and Parineeti, for their outstanding performances. The film's music album, story, dialogues, and production were also praised by Jain, who congratulated the entire team for excelling in every department during the most challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic. While Uunchai received seven nominations, Jain extended his congratulations to all the other film nominees as well. "While only one film or person can receive the trophy, honestly everyone is a winner in their way," he said. The 68th Filmfare Awards 2023 is scheduled to be organized on April 27th at BKC in Mumbai, where the winners will be announced. It is an exciting time for the film industry, and fans of Uunchai are eagerly waiting to see if the film will take home any of the prestigious awards it has been nominated for. Regardless of the outcome, the team behind Uunchai should be proud of their accomplishments and the recognition they have received for their hard work and dedication. This story has been provided by NewsReach. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsReach) With the departures of cable TV stars Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon, surprisingly announced on the same day, we can see how birds of a feather can get clobbered together. Outside of their job descriptions, theres not a lot that Fox News Carlson and CNNs Lemon share in common. Yet they both demonstrate how the power of being able to speak freely over the airwaves can melt your wings when you soar too close to the sunlight of fame. Advertisement Lemons case is an easier call, yet no less puzzling. On Monday, CNN announced Lemon was fired after 17 years at the network. CNN pushed back on the anchors claims that he had not been given a chance to respond. Advertisement He was offered an opportunity to meet with management, the network said, but instead he released a statement on Twitter. Neither statement gave an explanation for the sudden breakup, although it came after Lemon had been mired in a string of controversies in recent months, including accusations of making offensive on-air comments about women and of mistreating female co-workers off-camera. Most memorably, Lemon came under fire for comments he had made on-air about presidential candidate Nikki Haley not being in her prime at the age of 51. As gaffes go, in my humble view, this was not only stunningly inaccurate but also stupid to the point of dangling on the edge of career suicide. Yet, if CNN had any hopes that a competing news channel might steal attention away with an even bigger bombshell, those hopes were answered by Fox News decision to cut ties with Carlson later that day, after six years of hosting one of the most successful shows in prime-time cable TV news. Why? Fox didnt explain, but it appeared to be more than coincidental that a few days earlier Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems reached a $787.5 million settlement, acknowledging that the network ran false claims about election fraud during the 2020 election and its aftermath. CNN sacked on April 24, 2023, broadcaster Don Lemon, who recently made remarks about women and aging that were seen as sexist. (Michael Tran/Getty-AFP) If any award for unintended humor came out of that episode, it was Foxs statement: This settlement reflects Foxs continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards. Oh, yeah? What about the long list of emails, text messages and other evidence that shows Carlson and others at the network knew they were peddling and amplifying lies to their audience? This scandal could yet be as damaging as the phone-hacking scandal that resulted in the closing of another Murdoch property, the British tabloid News of the World, one of the worlds bestselling English-language newspapers. Advertisement If there are any glaring similarities to the cases of Lemon and Carlson, it is how they should have known better than to fall into behavior that led to their self-inflicted career wounds. But what comes next? Fox still faces another lawsuit from Smartmatic, another voting technology company, this time for $2.7 billion. Carlson and Lemon may well wind up at another news or broadcasting outlet. They each have the quality everybody seems to crave these days: a marketable brand. But I suspect the success of Fox will be imitated and possibly duplicated by other networks yet to come. Fox is a modern version of the age-old right-wing radio that served as a megaphone for populist outrage in America during the early days of broadcasting. In the 1930s, the firebrand Father Charles Coughlin drew enormous Depression-era audiences blaming their troubles on communism, Wall Street bankers, Jewish conspiracies and other targets that helped make him the Father of Hate Radio for many. In more recent decades we had Rush Limbaugh, Joe Pyne, Morton Downey Jr. and, currently, Alex Jones, among others on TV and the internet. The targets havent changed all that much. They include cultural and economic elites, of course, and the promotion of backlash against immigrants, baseless claims of election fraud and conspiracies involving masks and vaccinations. Advertisement Lemon is still a talented individual with a future, whether it is in TV or not. Carlson has built his brand around marketable fears and resentments. The market appears almost limitless, as long as we, the public, keep falling for it. cpage@chicagotribune.com Twitter @cptime Top Malayalam film bodies on Tuesday admitted that there is an influx of the use of drugs in the industry and they will approach the state government for a proper probe. After a meeting of the various film bodies here, including the AMMA (representing the actors), the FEFKA (19 different organisations spanning drivers to directors) and the producers association, producer Renjith said the behaviour of actors Shane Nigam and Sreenath Bhasi has crossed all limits and hence till they mend their ways, none from the industry will cooperate with them. "These two do not honour their agreements and arrive late on the sets. Their behaviour has become intolerable and has become a pain for fellow actors and others and hence we have no other way but to announce that we will, from now on, not cooperate with these two," he said. Incidentally, it was on April 18 that the FEFKA had met and expressed their huge displeasure in the way some actors are behaving and if they do not change on their own, they will be forced to come out with their names and that happened on Tuesday. --IANS sg/vd ( 206 Words) 2023-04-25-21:30:05 (IANS) Actor Aamir Khan, on Wednesday, attended the National conclave 'Mann Ki Baat @100' organised by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry to celebrate 100 episodes of PM Modi's programme. The 'Laal Singh Chaddha' actor lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his innovative approach to communicating with the people of the country. "'Mann Ki Baat' has had a huge impact on the people of India. This is a very historic thing that the Prime Minister has done," Aamir said. The conclave was organised by Prasar Bharati in Vigyan Bhawan, here in the national capital. The inaugural session of the Conclave was graced by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar in the presence of Union Minister Anurag Thakur. Around 100 esteemed citizens from various parts of the country whose name has been mentioned by the Prime Minster in the previous episodes of "Mann Ki Baat" attended the event. "Since its inception on October 3, 2014, 'Mann ki Baat' has become a national tradition, with the Prime Minister addressing the nation every month, inspiring millions to participate in India's developmental journey. Since then, it has struck a chord with citizens of India who have reached out to their Pradhan Sevak every month, sharing their achievements, anxieties, happiness and proud moments as well as suggestions for a New India," the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said in a statement. PM Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat program was started on October 3, 2014. Prime Minister Narendra Modi found such personalities of the world through the Mann Ki Baat program, who made special contributions in their field, but their identity was hidden, today people know such people in society and only know them. Not only this, but people are also moving forward with their inspiration. Apart from this, the Prime Minister included all the topics of climate change, agriculture, art, culture, and health in Mann Ki Baat and presented something new to the society every time in his Mann Ki Baat program so that the society could get information about that subject. The aim is to unite the country in one thread and develop by taking everyone along. (ANI) The popular vacation gang is coming back with its awaited sequel 'Vacation Friends 2'. The production house has gifted the audience with a premiere date and first look from the second instalment of the franchise. The movie features actors Lil Rel Howery, Yvonne Orji, Meredith Hagner and John Cena in lead roles. The 20th Century Studios took to their Twitter handle on Tuesday to share the first look from the movie to mark the return of the cast for an exclusive fun ride. https://twitter.com/20thcentury/status/1650877742542622721 The storyline of the first film watched was about an uptight couple (Howery, Orji) who made friends with a rowdy couple (Cena, Hagner) while on vacation in Mexico, witnessing their friendship take a weird turn when they got back home. According to Deadline, a US-based media house. the sequel will pick up a few months after where it left end of Vacation Friends, the newly married couple Marcus and Emily inviting their uninhibited besties Ron and Kyla who are also newly married and have a baby, to join them for a vacation when Marcus lands an all-expenses-paid trip to a Caribbean resort. The main reason for travelling is to meet with the owners of the resort to bid on a construction contract for a hotel they own in Chicago. But when Kyla's incarcerated father Reese is released from San Quentin and shows up at the resort unannounced at the worst possible moment, things get out of control, upending Marcus' best-laid plans and turning the vacation friends' perfect trip into a total mess. Clay Tarver directed from his script co-written by Tom Mullen, Tim Mullen, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, with Todd Garner and Timothy M. Bourne producing, and Steve Pink and Sean Robins serving as exec producers. Tarver returned to direct Vacation Friends 2, with Carlos Santos, Ronny Chieng and Jamie Hector rounding out the cast as new co-stars. Garner and Stuart Besser served as producers on the sequel. The film will premiere exclusively on August 25 on different OTT platforms. (ANI) The travel ban on dissident Iranian director Jafar Panahi has suddenly been lifted after 14 years. Following that, the acclaimed director and his wife Tahereh Saeedi reportedly left Iran for an undisclosed location. Saeedi on Tuesday night posted a picture on Instagram showing her arriving with her husband at an undisclosed airport, reported Variety. https://www.instagram.com/p/CreFHNVtIhZ/ Panahi, 62, was temporarily released from prison last month after going on a hunger strike to protest "the illegal and inhumane behaviour" of Iran's judiciary. He was out on bail. The director was arrested last July in Tehran in the wake of the country's conservative government crackdown. Panahi had gone to Tehran's prosecutor's office to follow up on the situation of fellow dissident filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulov, who had been incarcerated a few days earlier after signing an appeal against police violence. He was arrested there and put behind bars on the spot. Panahi is considered one of Iranian cinema's greatest living masters. He is known globally for prizewinning works such as "The Circle," "Offside," "This is Not a Film," "Taxi," and most recently "No Bears," winner of last year's Venice's Special Jury Prize. According to Variety, the lifting of Panahi's travel ban by Iranian authorities is a clear signal to the outside world that Iran is, at least cosmetically, changing its course amid escalating tensions following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September 2022 while she was held in custody for allegedly wearing a loose hijab. (ANI) Kim Kardashian can let go the limelight off! The reality star got candid about her future in the criminal justice reform movement while speaking at the TIME100 Summit on Tuesday. "I would be just as happy being an attorney full-time," she answered when asked if she would ever consider a life without being in the camera's eye. "The journey just really opened up my eyes so much," she shared. "It gets overwhelming because there's so much to be done ... I brought my sister Khloe [Kardashian] to a prison for the first time last week, and that was really eye-opening for her," reported People. While not yet an official lawyer, The Kardashians star shared with moderator Poppy Harlow that she hopes her efforts in the movement will be "her life's most meaningful work." "I hope so," she said. "I always joke with my mom -- who's my manager -- I say Kim K. is retiring, and I'm just going to be an attorney." In December 2021, she passed the first-year law students' examination ("baby bar") after first revealing in May 2019 that she was choosing to follow in the footsteps of her late father Robert Kardashian Sr. He got O.J. Simpson acquitted in the 1995 murder trial of Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. Kardashian fought for the wrongfully convicted inmates. Most recently, she asked for the temporary release of a jailed father whose daughter was killed in the tragic elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. She spoke about her experience with the law exam in an emotional Twitter post, sharing that her law school journey "wasn't easy." "OMFGGGG I PASSED THE BABY BAR EXAM!!!! Looking in the mirror, I am really proud of the woman looking back today in the reflection," she wrote on Twitter. "For anyone who doesn't know my law school journey, know this wasn't easy or handed to me." (ANI) A video has been doing the rounds on the internet in which the 'Jai Ho' composer is seen accepting an award on stage with Saira Banu by his side in Chennai. Accepting the award, Rahman said, "I don't like to watch my interviews again. She keeps playing again and again and watching because she loves my voice." https://twitter.com/Cat__offi/status/1650902991313010690 The host then asked Saira to speak. Before she could address the audience, Rahman teased her to speak in Tamil instead of Hindi as she is not fluent in Tamil. Saira closed her eyes and said, "Oh my God." The audience laughed and clapped. "Good evening everyone. Sorry, I can't speak fluently in Tamil. So, please excuse me. I am super, super happy and excited because his voice is my favourite. I fell in love with his voice. That's all I can say," Saira said. Rahman and Saira Banu tied the knot in 1995. They are parents to three children -- Khatija, Raheema and Ameen. (ANI) Senior advocate Kapil Sibal and Additional Advocate General Amit Anand Tiwari, representing the Tamil Nadu government, submitted before a bench headed by Justice K.M. Joseph that health is a state subject and cited a top court directive justifying the ban imposed on sale, manufacture and transport of gutkha, and other tobacco-based products. Sibal argued that the state exchequer is burdened by health issues, which arise as a consequence of chewing of tobacco and the government has every right to take care of the health of its citizens. The state government had contended that orders of the Food Safety Commissioner banning sale, storage, manufacture of gutkha and other tobacco products are backed by Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011. The bench, also comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna, stayed the high court order passed on January 20, saying that the state government has made out a case to stay the impugned judgment. The top court allowed the manufacturers to approach the appropriate forum. In March, the top court had sought a reply on a plea filed by Tamil Nadu government challenging an order of the Madras High Court quashing the May 2018 notification. The top court sought response from the food safety commissioner, Jayavilas Tobacco Traders and others. The state government, in its appeal, contended that the high court erroneously held that notifications banning gutkha and pan masala in the state issued by the Food Safety Commissioner under Regulation 2.3.4 of the 2011 regulations are not within his powers. The high court had observed that the Food Safety Commissioner, by issuing successive notifications imposing a permanent ban on tobacco products, would amount to conferring a power that was not provided in the law. --IANS ss/vd ( 339 Words) 2023-04-25-22:12:02 (IANS) This will add approximately 15,700 nursing graduates every year, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told media persons after the cabinet meeting. It will further ensure quality, affordable, and equitable nursing education in India, particularly in underserved districts and states, he added. The total financial implication of the project will be Rs 1,570 crore. The Central government will give Rs 10 crore for setting up of these colleges, while the states can invest the remaining amount, which will depend as per the project report to be prepared for each college, Mandaviya said. Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are among the major states, which will get 20-odd nursing colleges under the initiative, he added. The initiative aims to address the geographical and rural-urban imbalances in the healthcare sector, which have led to the skewed availability of nursing professionals and impacted healthcare services in underserved areas, the minister said. The establishment of these nursing colleges will provide a significant boost to the availability of qualified human resources in healthcare. Co-location of these nursing colleges with existing medical colleges will allow optimal utilisation of the existing infrastructure, skill labs, clinical facilities, and faculty. --IANS ans/vd ( 226 Words) 2023-04-26-21:14:03 (IANS) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday condoled the passing away of Shiromani Akali Dal patron Parkash Singh Badal, saying that his demise marks the end of an era in the country's politics. "Saddened by the news of the demise of former chief minister of Punjab and senior leader Sardar Parkash Singh Badal-ji," a press note quoted Birla as saying. He said throughout his life, the former five-time chief minister waged a struggle in the interest of common people and farmers. "He made an important contribution in the development of society, state and the country. Badal also played an important role in strengthening democratic values. Undoubtedly, his demise marks the end of an era in Indian politics. May God give strength to his family and supporters to bear this unbearable pain," Birla said. Badal passed away at Fortis Hospital Mohali on Tuesday at the age of 95. His mortal remains will be kept at the party office in Chandigarh tomorrow for paying last respects. The funeral procession will start at around 1 pm. A vehicle, carrying mortal remains, will set off for Badal village via Rajpura, Bathinda. Condoling his demise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Badal was a colossal figure of Indian politics and a remarkable statesman who contributed greatly to our nation. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, "Extremely saddened by the passing away of Shri Parkash Singh Badal Ji. He was a colossal figure of Indian politics, and a remarkable statesman who contributed greatly to our nation. He worked tirelessly for the progress of Punjab and anchored the state through critical times." Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also extended his condolences to Badal's bereaved family and supporters. "Shri Prakash Singh Badal ji was a political stalwart who played a significant role in Punjab politics for many decades. In his long political and administrative career, he made several noteworthy contributions towards the welfare of farmers and other weaker sections of our society," he said in a tweet. He added, "Badal Sahab was the son of soil who remained connected to his roots, all his life. I fondly remember my interactions with him on several issues. I'm deeply anguished by his demise. His demise is a personal loss to me. My heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family and supporters. Om Shanti!" Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed condolences to the bereaved family members and supporters. "The news of the demise of Sardar Parkash Singh Badal, former Chief Minister of Punjab and former President of Shiromani Akali Dal, is sad. He was a lifelong leader of the politics of India and Punjab. I express my deepest condolences to all his bereaved family members and supporters including Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal," Rahul said in a tweet. Delhi CM and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also expressed condolences to SAD president Sukhbir Badal and his family. "Received the extremely saddening news of the demise of former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. May Waheguru ji give his departed soul a place in his holy feet. My condolence is with Sukhbir Badal ji and his entire family," Kejriwal tweeted. BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill also expressed condolence saying that Parkash Singh Badal's contribution will never be forgotten. Punjab Chief Minsiter Bhagwant Mann also voiced grief over the death of his predecessor. "Received the sad news of the death of the former Chief Minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal," he said on Twitter. "Saddened to hear about passing of Sardar Parkash Singh Badal. Today, Punjab has lost a stalwart who contributed immensely towards development & well-being of Punjab. Badal Saab's contribution will never be forgotten. Condolences to entire family @officeofssbadal" he said on Twitter. Rajya Sabha MP and AAP leader Raghav Chadha also expressed grief on the politician's demise. "Saddened by the news of the passing away of former chief minister of Punjab, Sardar Prakash Singh Badal. My deepest condolences to his family and friends," Chadha said on Twitter. The Fortis Hospital, in an official media bulletin earlier, stated, "S Parkash Singh Badal, Former Chief Minister of Punjab, was admitted at Fortis Hospital Mohali on April 16, 2023, with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma. He was shifted to the medical ICU on 18th April as his respiratory condition worsened. He had been on NIV and HFNC support along with medical management". "He was being managed under Prof (Dr) Digambar Behera along with the Pulmonology and critical care team supported by Cardiology. Despite appropriate medical management S Parkash Singh Badal succumbed to his illness. Fortis Hospital Mohali deeply condoles the death of S Parkash Singh Badal," the statement added. Badal was admitted to ICU on April 21, following complaints of breathing difficulties, his party had informed earlier. Badal served as Punjab CM from 1970-1971, 1977-1980, from 1997-2002, and from 2007-2017. He was also the youngest to have ever held the CM's office in Punjab. (ANI) India, as the Chair of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2023, will host the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting here on April 28, the Defence Ministry said on Tuesday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to hold bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Gen Li Shangfu. Before the SCO meet, the 18th round of India-China Corps Commander level talks held on Sunday, but it failed to make headway on the contentious issue of the Depsang Plains and de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. The repeated attempts by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) to violate the LAC, leading to tension in Ladakh, spurred the institution of the Corps Commander-level meetings. While the two sides agreed on mutual withdrawals from Pangong Tso, Gogra, and Hot Springs, the Depsang Plains and Demchok remain points of contention and tension. Now all eyes are now on the visit of the Chinese Defence Minister. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), established in 2001, comprises Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan besides India. Apart from the member states, two observer countries - Belarus and Iran - will also be participating in the SCO Defence Ministers Meeting. The Defence Ministers will discuss amongst other issues matters concerning regional peace and security, counter terrorism efforts within SCO and an effective multilateralism. According to the Defence Ministry officials, the theme of India's Chairmanship of SCO in 2023 is 'SECURE-SCO'. India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. The ongoing engagement with SCO has helped India promote its relations with the countries in the region with which India has shared civilisational linkages, and is considered India's extended neighbourhood. SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, equality of all member states and mutual understanding and respect for opinions of each of them. Rajnath Singh is likely to hold bilateral meetings with other Defence Ministers of participating countries on the sidelines of the meet, the officials added. --IANS gcb/vd ( 356 Words) 2023-04-25-20:36:02 (IANS) NEW YORK Patti LuPone recently complained that todays Broadway is too much like a theme park. Im not convinced the great diva has seen many of the shows this season yet theyre just as likely to feature actors sitting in chairs with less adrenaline-pumping excitement than a kiddie ride. Not every show has to keep hitting the gas if its quiet revelations about the mysteries of life are powerful enough. And when you have actors of the quality and appeal of Laura Linney (Ozark, of late) and Jessica Hecht (Breaking Bad), the two stars of David Auburns subtle Summer, 1976, an intimate chance to visit with them can be reason enough to buy a ticket. Advertisement Summer, 1976 begins among junior Ohio State faculty in the titular summer in leafy if prosaic Columbus, Ohio. We meet Diana (Linney), an artist who is teaching with some mix of reluctance and pedagogical ambition, and Alice (Hecht), the wife of an economics professor. Both women have young daughters at home and they bond over babysitting collectives, past disappointments and their own uncertainties about the trajectories of life. The pair are quite different, with Diana much steelier and more abrasive than the goofier and gentler Alice. But Auburn clearly wants to probe how this seemingly platonic friendship, perched on the edge of eros, so to speak, actually is very similar to an intense love affair. The relationship is hardly lacking in mutual criticism and annoyance but it sustains the women through various Central Ohio crises, none earth-shatteringly surprising but some more serious than others. Advertisement Later on, the play extends chronologically to ask how we can spend so much impassioned time with someone at a point in our lives only to lose touch and mutual empathy as the years spool by or jobs take us somewhere else. Thats an interesting thing to think about in the theater, burdened as that question is by the inevitable ravages on our psyches by the passage of time. And as I looked around in the dark at this Manhattan Theatre Club production, I could see audience members appreciating that these performers facility for sharing subtext allowed them to become lost in their own thoughts and memories. I intend that as a compliment to the work of both Auburn and these two highly accomplished stage performers, both very much present. That said, you dont always feel like there is enough here at risk for a truly memorable show, even as classily directed by Daniel Sullivan on a set designed by John Lee Beatty. Auburn has structured the often melancholy piece as a duologue; the two women are gently competing to tell their stories to the audience, almost entirely in narrative form. Thats probably a shrewd, star-friendly move; these days, audience members are less willing to do the work to understand new plays and fresh characters. Thats because of the time we all now spend watching Season 8, or whatever, of a series filled with characters we already know. Thats a big problem for new plays in American theater right now That said, I prefer Auburns traditional dramas, which include the stunning Proof, to this one, penned in a mode not unlike Adam Rapps The Sound Inside, a critically acclaimed piece also told by a self-dramatizing academic. But that Rapp show had more tension and a shocker built in. Summer, 1976 eschews such theatrics and relies instead on depicting the unconscious human struggle against mortality, asking the audience the question as to why we dont have much constancy in how we prioritize who will be our fellow travelers to the grave. Would we not be happier if we did? Its a good question from Auburn, even if Linney and Hecht were mostly but not entirely diving deep inside it, at least at the performance I saw. Diana and Alice are occasionally unreliable narrators, a repeated device that Auburn carries perhaps a bit too far. Certainly, it breaks some of the spell of empathy and shared experience, which may well have been fully intentional. A tilt toward a crucial spark, then, but not as helpful as really catching summer heat. At the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 W. 47th St., New York; www.manhattantheatreclub.com Chris Jones is a Tribune critic. Advertisement cjones5@chicagotribune.com After the reports that National Investigation Agency (NIA) searched the places of some persons connected with Popular Front of India (PFI), Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that it is need of the hour to keep a check on them. "If they have been raided by the NIA, then they must have some connection with PFI. The NIA may have raided only after getting information. If someone has contacts with PFI, then NIA will raid them. It is very important (to raid)," Sawant said. Sources from Goa Police informed that NIA officials searched the premises of some persons in South Goa connected with PFI. However, it couldn't be confirmed with NIA officials. Earlier in March, Sawant had said a sharp watch is being kept over the erstwhile members of the banned outfit and action would be taken against those who are supporting the PFI. "Even before the outfit was declared banned, Goa Police registered cases against the outfit for organising unlawful assembly. In this regard, two cases under relevant sections of IPC were registered in Police Station Fatorda and 18 persons were arrested," Sawant said. --IANS sbk/uk/ ( 199 Words) 2023-04-25-20:44:03 (IANS) Some of the cheetahs currently housed in Madhya Pradesh' Kuno National Park (KNP) will be shifted to new habitats in the coming months. As per the forest officials, the proposal was already part of the 'cheetah reintroduction project' but the fresh proposal has been made following the sudden death of male African cheetah 'Uday' on Sunday. The Madhya Pradesh Forest and Wildlife Department has written to the Centre for some alternative habitats for cheetahs translocated from South Africa. J. S. Chouhan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), said the KNP spread over 748 sq kms has the capacity to accommodate a maximum of 21 cheetahs at one time. However, this number needs to be reduced to provide a larger area for each cheetah to roam in and also to ensure their safety. "It will be a risk to keep all the cheetahs in one place and therefore, I have requested the Centre to find an alternative place to shift some of them," J. S. Chouhan told IANS on Tuesday. However, he did not mention exactly how many cheetahs would be shifted from KNP. A total of 20 cheetahs (eight from Namibia and 12 from South Africa) were released in the KNP enclosure in two phases, out of which, two have died within a period of one month. Female Namibian cheetah 'Sasha' died of a kidney related aliment on March 27, while African male cheetah, who was given the name 'Uday' last week, died of cardiac arrest on Sunday. As 'Project Cheetah' is monitored by the Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the supervision of the Ministry of Forest, it would finalise the new habitats and the number of cheetahs to be shifted. However, if sources are to be believed, at least four-five cheetahs (both male and female) would be shifted to a new habitat. Sources told IANS that most likely the cheetahs would be shifted to Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR), which is located in Rajasthan's Kota district. As per the reports, cheetah experts have also recommended MHTR as the best possible site for cheetahs as it was also included in the risk management plan. --IANS pd/bg ( 377 Words) 2023-04-25-20:56:02 (IANS) With the Nitish Kumar government deciding to release 27 dreaded criminals, the CPI-ML, which is part of the Bihar government, has decided to sit on a dharna in front of the Chief Minister's Office in Patna on April 28. The party believes that the government has adopted a discriminatory approach in releasing prisoners on the basis of good conduct. Kumar Parvej, the media in-charge of the CPI-ML, said why is the Nitish Kumar government silent on the TADA prisoners who have been in jail for more than 20 years in the Bhadasi case of Arwal district. "The unfortunate Bhadasi incident happened in 1988 where 14 innocent persons belonging to the Dalit and EBC communities were booked under TADA. They were sentenced on August 4, 2003 to life terms and they have already been in jail for more than 20 years. If we include Parihar (Remission), their jail term reaches more than 30 years," Parvej said. "Among the 14, 8 have died due to illness while serving the life term and 6 are still alive. They are identified as Dr Jagdish Yadav, Chumaran Bhagat, Arvind Chaudhary, Ajit Saw, Shyam Chaudhary and Laxman Saw. Dr Jagdish, Chumaran Bhagat and Laxman Saw are seriously ill and admitted in hospital during their jail term," Parvej said. "The Patna high court had released an inmate named Tribhuwan Sharma in 2020. He was booked under TADA. The state government can take reference of this case and release these six prisoners. These inmates are more than 60 years old. Recently an inmate, Madhav Chaudhary, died due to illness on April 8, 2023. He was 62 years old," Parvej added. --IANS ajk/bg ( 289 Words) 2023-04-25-20:58:03 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday expressed grief over the demise of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who passed away at a private hospital in Mohali after a brief illness. In a condolence message, Mann recalled the services rendered by Badal as Chief Minister and Minister in the Union Cabinet, terming him an able administrator and above all, a fine human being with qualities of head and heart. Sharing his heartfelt condolences with the members of the bereaved family, the Chief Minister prayed to the Almighty to give them strength to bear this huge loss in this hour of grief and grant eternal peace to the departed soul. --IANS vg/vd ( 123 Words) 2023-04-25-22:00:04 (IANS) Continuing the attack on the ruling BJD over the recent clashes in Sambalpur, senior Odisha BJP leader Samir Mohanty alleged on Tuesday that the ruling party is protecting the perpetrators of the communal violence. Addressing a press conference here, former state BJP chief Mohanty said that Odisha has been witnessing anarchy and lawlessness. "As the law and order situation has deteriorated, it has put a big question on the safety and security of the people of Odisha. The murder of a Cabinet minister, the kidnap and murder of a boy in Jharsuguda, and similar incidents in different parts of the state clearly show the deteriorating law and order situation in Odisha," he said. Mohanty also accused the BJD government of giving shelter to the rioters who unleashed violence in Sambalpur during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations. When a Hanuman Jayanthi procession was taken out in Sambalpur On April 12, stones were pelted on it, people were attacked with sticks, and petrol bombs were seized from the roof of some houses. Besides, anti-national slogans were also raised, alleged the BJP leader. However, Mohanty claimed that state minister Pratap Keshari Deb has blamed the organisers of the Hanuman Jayanti celebrations for the violence in Sambalpur. "The language used by Deb shows that the government is shielding the rioters. Is it not an anti-Hindu mentality to blame the organisers for the violence that happened during the Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in Sambalpur," he asked. "In the FIR, the police mentioned that there were 150 to 160 rioters, whose videos are circulating on social media. However, the police are sitting idle after arresting only 30 persons," he added. Mohanty also asked who is creating pressure on the police to not arrest the other rioters involved in the violence? Reacting to the allegations levelled by Mohanty, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said, "Due to the strong and whole-hearted resolve of the people of Sambalpur and resolute efforts of the police and administration, normalcy is returning to Sambalpur. But unfortunately, the Odisha BJP cannot tolerate." The BJD leader said the law and order situation in Odisha is much better than BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The people of Odisha are peace-loving, but the BJP has been constantly insulting them by calling them lawless, Lenin Mohanty said. --IANS bbm/arm ( 396 Words) 2023-04-25-22:04:03 (IANS) With the wife of slain IAS officer G. Krishnaiah saying that she will move the Supreme Court against the Bihar government's decision to release Bahubali leader Anand Mohan, RJD Vice President Shivanand Tiwari said that everyone has the right to seek legal remedies. "Three days after the murder of (IAS officer) G Krishnaiah, I, along with George Fernandes and Nitish Kumar went to Muzaffarpur jail to find out the actual details of the incident. We met Anand Mohan Singh, Akhlakh and other accused who were facing the murder charge of the Gopalganj DM. They had informed us that they have no role in the murder of Krishnaiah. They were present at the spot where a large crowd were protesting with the dead body of Chotan Shukla but Anand Mohan and others were not near the car of Krishnaiah," he claimed. "It was the supporters of Chotan Shukla who became more angry after the PSO of Krishnaiah pulled out the gun in self-defence. Mob believes that the PSO may have fired on them and hence they attacked PSO and Krishnaiah. The role of Anand Mohan and others who were given the death penalty and later converted to life term had no role in it," Tiwari said. "After the meeting with Anand Mohan and others, we came out from Muzaffarpur jail and George Fernandes who was leading us, had given statement in local media outside Muzaffarpur jail that Anand Mohan and others were not involved in the lynching of Krishnaiah. Nitish Kumar also knew him right from the beginning. The court had acquitted other accused in this case but Nitish Kumar did not allow Anand Mohan to roam free. He served a jail term of more than 15 years without his guilt of murder being proven," he added. Reacting on the statement of the slain IAS officer's wife, Tiwari said: "Everyone has the right to go to the Supreme Court if he/she believes that justice is not delivered. We have complete sympathy with her but we have to keep in mind the circumstances on which the court had acquitted other accused of this case." Anand Mohan is serving life imprisonment in the lynching of Krishnaiah on December 5 1994 in Muzaffarpur. Krishnaiah, the DM of Gopalganj, was returning from Patna after an official meeting. When he reached Muzaffarpur, supporters of underworld don Chotan Shukla were carrying his dead body to the cremation ground. They attacked his car and lynched him. Anand Mohan was part of the funeral process and police of Muzaffarpur charge sheeted him for provoking the supporters for the lynching. --IANS ajk/vd ( 449 Words) 2023-04-25-22:28:02 (IANS) Bureaucrat-turned-social activist Himangshu Mohon Choudhury, who was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 for his role in providing relief and shelter to thousands of refugees who took refuge in Tripura during the 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh, died in Agartala on Tuesday following a prolonged illness. He was 82. Former IAS officer Choudhury, who also received the "Friends of Liberation War" title from the Bangladesh government in 2012 for his contribution to the liberation of Bangladesh, is survived by two daughters. His wife predeceased him a few years back. On Monday evening, Choudhury was admitted to a private hospital in Agartala as his health condition deteriorated. Choudhury was the Sub-Divisional Officer in Sonamura during the 1971 Bangladesh war and performed an exceptional job in helping the Indian Army, Muktijoddhas (freedom fighters) as well as providing relief and shelter to thousands of refugees from across the border. According to historians, during the nine-month-long Bangladesh liberation war, over 1.6 million refugees -- a number larger than Tripura's then population of 1.5 million -- had taken shelter in the state alone. In total, around 10 million men, women and children from then East Pakistan took shelter in West Bengal, Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya during the war. Around 150-200 Muktijoddhas were buried in different areas of Tripura after they died in Pakistan Army attacks. --IANS sc/arm ( 236 Words) 2023-04-25-23:14:03 (IANS) A special Delhi court fixed May 12 for consideration of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)'s supplementary charge sheet filed on Tuesday against former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and three others in connection with the now-scrapped excise policy. The CBI told Judge M.K. Nagpal of the Rouse Avenue Court that the prosecution sanction against Sisodia has already been procured from the competent authorities. The probe agency also informed the court that Hyderabad-based CA Butchi Babu Gorantla, Arjun Pandey, and Amandeep Singh Dhall were also mentioned as accused in the final report, which also included a list of witnesses and documents that were used as support. The CBI has invoked IPC's Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 201 (destruction of evidence/giving false information) and 420 (cheating) besides provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Till now, the CBI has arrested five accused and charge sheeted 11 accused persons. Earlier, the CBI had filed a charge sheet against Sameer Mahendru, Vijay Nair, Abhishek Boinpelly, Gautam Mutha, Arun Pillai, and excise officials Kuldeep and Narendra Singh. Sources said that the CBI has alleged in the chargesheet that liquor businessman Dhall, the director of Brindco Sales Pvt Ltd, was in criminal conspiracy with accused Vijay Nair and the South Group for generating cash towards payment of 6 per cent commission out of the enhanced 12 per cent profit margin. The CBI had arrested Sisodia on February 26 and it filed the charge sheet on the 58th day. The agency said the probe is still going on to look into larger conspiracy and role of other accused in the case.The CBI also filed the electronic copy of the charge sheet in form of a compact disc (CD), which also contained all the documents filed with the charge sheet. --IANS spr/vd ( 316 Words) 2023-04-25-23:26:02 (IANS) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday caught up with his former Punjab counterpart Captain Amarinder Singh as the two leaders arrived to pay last respects to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patron Parkash Singh Badal. The five-time former chief minister Badal passed away at the age of 95. He breathed his last at Fortis Hospital in Mohali. After walking out of the hospital, Haryana CM said the demise of the veteran leader marks the end of an era. "Parkash Singh Badal was a resolute and visionary leader, who never tired of raising his voice for the poor and farmers. He represented his Legislative Assembly for 10 consecutive terms and remained chief minister of Punjab for 20 years. His demise today marks the end of an era. I am here to pay him my last tributes on behalf of myself, the Haryana government and also the people of Haryana," Khattar told reporters here. Condoling the demise of the veteran Akali leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier said Badal was a colossal figure of Indian politics, and a remarkable statesman who contributed greatly to our nation. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, "Extremely saddened by the passing away of Shri Parkash Singh Badal Ji. He was a colossal figure of Indian politics, and a remarkable statesman who contributed greatly to our nation. He worked tirelessly for the progress of Punjab and anchored the state through critical times". Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed condolences to Badal's bereaved family and supporters. "Shri Prakash Singh Badal-ji was a political stalwart who played a significant role in Punjab politics for many decades. In his long political and administrative career, he made several noteworthy contributions towards the welfare of farmers and other weaker sections of our society," he said in a tweet. He added, "Badal Sahab was the son of soil who remained connected to his roots, all his life. I fondly remember my interactions with him on several issues. I'm deeply anguished by his demise. His demise is a personal loss to me. My heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family and supporters. Om Shanti!" Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed condolences to the bereaved family members and supporters of the SAD patriarch. "The news of the demise of Sardar Parkash Singh Badal, former Chief Minister of Punjab and former President of Shiromani Akali Dal, is sad. He was a lifelong leader of the politics of India and Punjab. I express my deepest condolences to all his bereaved family members and supporters including Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal," Rahul said in a tweet. Delhi CM and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also expressed condolence to Sukhbir Badal and his family. "Received the extremely saddening news of the demise of former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. May Waheguru ji give his departed soul a place in his holy feet. My condolence is with Sukhbir Badal ji and his entire family," Kejriwal tweeted. BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill also consoled Badal's demise saying his contribution will never be forgotten. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also expressed grief on the death of his predecessor. "Received the sad news of the death of the former Chief Minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal," he said on Twitter. "Saddened to hear about passing of Sardar Parkash Singh Badal. Today, Punjab has lost a stalwart who contributed immensely towards development & well-being of Punjab. Badal Saab's contribution will never be forgotten. Condolences to entire family @officeofssbadal," Mann said in another tweet. Rajya Sabha MP and AAP leader Raghav Chadha also expressed grief on the politician's demise. "Saddened by the news of the passing away of former Chief Minister of Punjab, Sardar Prakash Singh Badal. My deepest condolences to his family and friends," Chadha said on Twitter. The Fortis Hospital, in an official media bulletin, stated, "S Parkash Singh Badal, Former Chief Minister of Punjab, was admitted at Fortis Hospital Mohali on April 16, 2023, with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma. He was shifted to the medical ICU on 18th April as his respiratory condition worsened. He had been on NIV and HFNC support along with medical management." "He was being managed under Prof (Dr) Digambar Behera along with the Pulmonology and critical care team supported by Cardiology. Despite appropriate medical management S Parkash Singh Badal succumbed to his illness. Fortis Hospital Mohali deeply condoles the death of S Parkash Singh Badal," the statement added. Badal was admitted to ICU on April 21, following complaints of breathing difficulties, the SAD had informed earlier. Badal was CM from 1970-1971, 1977-1980, 1997-2002, and from 2007-2017. He was also the youngest to have ever held the CM's office in Punjab. (ANI) Days after the BJP's Maharashtra chief Chandrashekar Bawankule set tongues wagging with his statement, indicating that present Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis might take over as the next CM, state minister and Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar on Tuesday said there is no need to take the leader of the ruling ally seriously. "Chandrashekar Bawankule is a leader of the BJP, our ally, but there is no need to take his words seriously. The BJP's high command is in regular communication with Devendra Fadnavis and he himself has asserted that Eknath Shinde will be the chief ministerial face (of the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance) in next year's Assembly elections," Kesarkar, also the spokesperson for the Shiv Sena, said at a press briefing on Tuesday. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah demonstrate their support for Shinde on their visits to Maharashtra. Recently, in an interview with a vernacular media, the BJP's state unit chief Bawankule said the BJP workers want to see Fadnavis return as chief minister. (ANI) Carol Burnett gets a standing ovation as seen in the NBC special Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love. (Casey Durkin/NBC) NBCs Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love is a throwback to the kind of old-school specials that rarely air on television anymore. But its fitting. Carol Burnett is old-school herself. Advertisement Shes also one of the executive producers here and her influence on the shows pacing is evident. In the 11 years that she made The Carol Burnett Show from 1967 to 1978, Burnett kept things moving: I never wanted to reset and retape anything, she recently told The Hollywood Reporter. We taped our show in an hour and 15 minutes. Burnett isnt on stage this time out, shes in the audience, but the same philosophy has carried over. Even with careful editing, these kinds of things can sag. She didnt want that to happen: I want people to feel like theyre seeing a Broadway show, not sitting around waiting for scenery or costume changes. Advertisement Her showbiz instincts have always been razor sharp and they remain so even at age 90. Longtime friends Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews sit side-by-side during the NBC special "90 Years of Laughter + Love." (Trae Patton/NBC) Other details are hazy. Her original show aired on CBS. That the special is airing on NBC hovers as a silent question mark over the proceedings, which feature a list of boldface names who pay tribute: Steve Carell, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Amy Poehler, Billy Porter, Lily Tomlin, Maya Rudolph, Charlize Theron, Bob Odenkirk and more. The shows format is straightforward: A star comes out to share a memory or two maybe perform a number and then introduces a segment featuring old clips and a new sit-down interview with Burnett. With the theaters cabaret seating, Burnett is posted up front. Close friend Julie Andrews gets the prime spot by her side. The pair made three variety specials together over the years, filled with moments that brought out Andrews willingness to cut up. Burnett had a way of pulling that out of stars who werent innately comic, as seen in footage of her and the opera diva Beverly Sills singing a duet a number thats charmingly recreated on stage by Kristin Chenoweth and Bernadette Peters. Theres a segment devoted to the incredible costumes Bob Mackie designed for Burnetts show somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 to 70 new garments each week including the famous Gone with the Wind spoof Went with the Wind! featuring Scarletts dress made from curtains, complete with curtain rod. Cher pays tribute to Carol Burnett in a Bob Mackie costume. (Casey Durkin/NBC) I wish more time had been spent on the logistics of how Mackie and his team managed to design and create so many vivid costumes on such a tight deadline. It would be fascinating to know more about the inspirations that informed his work, which was always a bit larger-than-life on The Carol Burnett Show, serving as an exclamation point on the comedy. Like Burnett, Cher understood the power of Mackies visuals and takes the stage in a gloriously eye-popping design of his and reveals a bit of trivia: When Sonny & Cher had the summer show, we didnt have any money. And Carol and I are the same size, so Bob raided your closet so I would have something to wear. Did you know that? Burnett shakes her head no, stunned. Advertisement Also missing are any of the writers who worked on The Carol Burnett Show. Are any of them still around? They labored in obscurity then, and apparently even a special devoted to Burnett all these years later wasnt going to change that. Thirty million people watched her on a weekly basis. She was ubiquitous and embraced Black performers as guests on her show in a way that was unique for the time. She influenced so many who are working today, but the best anecdotes come from those who knew her back when. Tomlin talks about running into Burnett on the CBS lot early in her career, when she was in need of a confidence boost. Burnett was just the person to give it. Time and again, what comes through is that Burnett has formed real friendships, not just showbiz friendships. Vicki Lawrence as seen on Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love. (Casey Durkin/NBC) Among those longtime friends is Vicki Lawrence, hired by Burnett when she was just 17. Thanks to Carol, I got to go to the Harvard school of comedy in front of America. Their most enduring characters remain the embittered Mama and Eunice, who anchored the spinoff Mamas Family, which ran for six seasons. Looking back, Burnett is thoughtful: Eunice spoke to me. I dont know, the frustration, the angst, the wanting to be somebody but not quite making it. I just felt for her. The frustration. The angst. Burnett is human and surely she experienced some of that herself. Hollywood is not for the faint of heart. It can be tough on the ego. But Burnett gives no indication of that. If the special flounders, its that it doesnt ask her to talk about some of these aspects of her life in front of, and behind, the camera. Was there ever a time when she lost her confidence? Or felt the glare of celebrity a bit too intensely? She doesnt say. An appearance by Ellen DeGeneres late in the special briefly sours the mood. Despite the queen of nice image she cultivated over the years, her talk show ended in 2021 after allegations of sexual misconduct and a toxic workplace environment. Advertisement Burnetts legacy is the opposite of that. DeGeneres inclusion here is really misjudged. The trick to Burnetts approach to comedy is not just that shes funny, but shes such a tremendous actor and understands how to imbue so many of her characters with a tragic absurdity. Her performances have always felt human, no matter the chaos happening around her or the chaos that she gleefully instigates. Her public persona remains bright-eyed and down to earth. The special is funny and genuine and even if its not especially original, I found myself choked up by the end. It got me thinking about who might have the chops to be Burnetts successor. Keke Palmer would be a natural, assuming she even wanted a variety show and an executive was smart enough to make it happen. She has Burnetts warmth and talent and creativity and professional instincts for playfulness but also her innate sense of what it means to play host to an audience and make us feel as if weve been invited into something special. Im so glad we had this time together, Burnett sings in her signature song. A sentiment that has always felt genuine. And mutual. Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love 3 stars (out of 4) Advertisement Where to watch: 7 p.m. Wednesday on NBC (and streaming thereafter on Peacock) Maya Rudolph wears an iconic "Went with the Wind!" costume made famous on The Carol Burnett Show on the NBC special Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love. (Casey Durkin/NBC) Nina Metz is a Tribune critic nmetz@chicagotribune.com According to Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the genesis of the programme lies in the vision of PM Modi of promoting the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat through initiatives which bring out and help rediscover the age-old links between people in different parts of the country. With this in mind, the Kashi Tamil Sangamam was organised earlier. The Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam takes forward this vision by celebrating the shared culture and heritage between Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Centuries ago, many people migrated to Tamil Nadu from the Saurashtra region. The Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam provided an opportunity for Saurashtrian Tamils to reconnect with their roots, said the PMO statement. The 10-day confluence saw more than 3000 Saurashtrian Tamils come to Somnath on a special train. The programme began on April 17, with its closing ceremony now being held on April 26 at Somnath. (ANI) Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Tuesday alleged that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was no less dangerous than gangster Atiq Ahmed, who was killed in a recent shootout. "KCR is more dangerous than Atiq Ahmed. He is the leader of gangsters. But there is nothing to be afraid of. We shall continue to fight with him till we achieve our goal," Sanjay said, while addressing the massive rally, Nirudyoga March (Rally of the unemployed) at Mahbubnagar. While Atiq Ahmed had looted the people at gunpoint, KCR was looting the people and their lands taking the help of the police, he said. Accusing the chief minister and his family of being responsible for jeopardising the careers of 30 lakh unemployed youth due to the leakage of question papers of the Telangana State Public Service Commission examinations, Sanjay said the fight would go on till unemployed youth would get justice. "We shall not rest till KCR sacks his son K T Rama Rao from the cabinet, order a judicial inquiry by a sitting high court judge and pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the unemployed youth towards the troubles they faced due to leakage of question papers," he asserted. Sanjay said the countdown for the downfall of KCR government has begun and the BJP will win all the assembly seats in Mahabubnagar district in the next Maharashtra Assembly elections. Sanjay pointed out that the KCR government was trying to frame him in question paper leakage case and send him to jail, only because he was fighting for the cause of the unemployed. "Going to jail is nothing new for me. I had gone to prison nine times. The BJP workers, too, suffered lathi blows and went to jails on every issue confronting Telangana," he said. He said the Telangana government had claimed to have given 21 notifications for various job recruitments but not one of them was successfully completed. "What is the use of having this government which cannot complete the recruitment of jobs in one department?" he asked. The BJP president also defended the announcement of Union home minister Amit Shah that the BJP, if voted to power in Telangana, would do away with the reservations to Muslims in education and employment. "We shall not allow four per cent reservations being extended to Muslims. How can we allow religion-based reservations? Soon after the BJP is voted to power in the state, it will tear the copy of the Muslim reservations into pieces and dump them into dustbin," Sanjay said, while addressing the massive rally, Nirudyoga March (Rally of the unemployed) at Mahbubnagar. Alleging that Hindus were being subject to humiliation in the Bharat Rashtra Samithi government in Telangana, Sanjay said such discrimination was glaringly evident in the construction of state secretariat. "While only 2.5 guntas of land was allotted for Nalla Pochamma temple in the Secretariat premises, five guntas were earmarked for the construction of a mosque. Is it not a discrimination against the Hindus who constitute 80 per cent of population?" he asked. The BJP president said if his party was voted to power in the next elections, it would settle the accounts straight. "We shall make appropriate changes in the Secretariat in tune with the Telangana culture and traditions. We shall convert Nalla Pochamma temple into a golden temple and show the power of the deity," he said. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the shared history of Saurashtra and Tamil Nadu gives the assurance that India has the power to innovate even in the most difficult circumstances. Addressing the closing ceremony of the Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam via video conferencing, PM Modi said that the Sangamam is a confluence of nationalist fervour of Sardar Patel and Subramania Bharati. "At this time when the unity of our country is taking shape through the great festivals like Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam, Sardar Sahab must have been sending blessings to us all. This celebration of the country's unity is also fulfilling the dreams of lakhs of freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives to see 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'," PM Modi said. He said that during Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav the country is witnessing a new cultural tradition like Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam. The Prime Minister further added that there is need for harmony and shunning cultural clashes. "We have to emphasize coordination, not cultural clashes. We don't have to take forward the struggles and confluences. We don't want to find differences... we want to make emotional connections. This is the immortal tradition of India which takes everyone along and moves ahead with inclusiveness, accepts everyone and moves forward," PM Modi said. Mentioning the power of the Sangam, Modi said that just like the convergence of streams gives rise to the creation of a Sangam, the Kumbhs have been the Sangams for ideas and cultures of diversities. "We have been nurturing the tradition of the 'Sangam' for centuries. Just like the convergence of streams gives rise to the creation of a Sangam, our Kumbhs have been the Sangams for ideas and cultures of our diversities. Every such thing has played an immensely significant role in shaping us, our country. Such is the power of the Sangam!" he said. "Today, in the golden age of independence, we are witnessing a new tradition of cultural events like Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam. This confluence is the confluence of Narmada and Vaigai. This Sangam is the confluence of Dandiya and Kolattam," PM Modi added. During the closing ceremony, PM Modi launched the book 'Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamprashastih' by Shree Somnath Sanskrit University. The Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam takes forward this vision by celebrating the shared culture and heritage between Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Centuries ago, many people migrated to Tamil Nadu from the Saurashtra region. The Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam allowed Saurashtrian Tamils to reconnect with their roots, said the PMO statement. The 10-day confluence saw more than 3000 Saurashtrian Tamils come to Somnath on a special train. The programme began on April 17, with its closing ceremony now being held on April 26 at Somnath. (ANI) To play an important role in prevention of human trafficking and provide legal assistance to the victims of sexual offences, paralegal volunteers have been attached with all police stations in Raipur. "Complying with the directives of Chhattisgarh State Legal Service Authority (CSLSA), District Legal Service Authority (DLSA) Raipur has placed one paralegal volunteer each at police stations in the district. Adopting the innovative initiative of CSLSA, the Apex Court has made an arrangement to ensure implementation of this move," said secretary of DLSA Raipur Praveen Mishra. These paralegal volunteers will collect details about the missing children from the police stations and provide legal assistance to their parents, said the secretary, elaborating that the volunteers will also look after the legal complications if surfaces while bringing the missing children from other states. He further elaborated that the paralegal volunteers will create awareness among the victims of sexual exploitation about the provisions of compensation in cases related to rape and POCSO Act. Similarly, they will also create awareness about the schemes being run by CSLSA and National Legal Service Authority (NLSA). Moreover, the volunteers will also inform women and children brought (after arrest) to the police stations about their legal rights. Currently, one volunteer each is placed at the police station, he said, adding that these volunteers have been trained and detailed about 'Bachpan Bachao Andolan' of the Supreme Court. Notably, these volunteers are available at police stations between 10 am to 5 in the evening. Besides, the victims can directly call the authority's toll-free number 15100. "Paralegal volunteers have been placed in 34 police stations of Raipur and they are providing information of legal rights to the victims as well as accused of any offences. The contact numbers of these paralegal volunteers have been put up at the police stations," said Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Abhishek Maheshwari. Explaining what Paralegal volunteers are and who they get appointed ASP Abhishek Maheshwari said "There is a legal service wing inside the court, the District Legal Services Center. Paralegal volunteers have been appointed by them in all the police stations of the district. So the accused who has the legal right can appoint a lawyer for himself, he cannot be assaulted in the police station, as well as he has to be presented in court within 24 hours, all these tell his rights" "Irrespective of any kind of accused, whenever he is brought to the police station, the paralegal volunteer informs the rights of the accused and also gives him legal assistance. 34 of Raipur such para-legal volunteers have been appointed in police stations and their numbers have also been pasted in all police stations," the ASP added further. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai recently released another audio tape purportedly of state Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan accusing Chief Minister MK Stalin's family of "corruption". Reacting to this, DMK leader EVKS Elangovan, said that the state finance minister, in the purported audio clip, is not speaking about the money coming out of corruption. "Annamalai has not stated that all this money has come out of corruption, he has just listed the properties. Nobody is concerned, Annamalai has listed all the properties, and all these were involved in business not only in politics," said Elangovan. In an audio clip released by Annamalai, PTR was heard saying, "I have been a long-time proponent of one man one post from the day I entered politics. I said what I like about BJP, who looks after the party and who looks after the people separate those.. right. Here every (Beep)## decision has to be by MLA and minister who looks after the party and people. Oh, it is easier to do money management .. it is not a system... Where they take the bulk of the spoils... The party which is CM's son and son-in-law.... Ask them to make the financing ... So I decided after watching this for 8 months ... This is not a sustainable model..... The great luxury for me if I put my papers in.... In the short term, I get out before the shit starts blowing up on their face. I have the kind of cleanliness of my conscience that I did have to I gave up the fight too early... I don't have to say... I'm longer in the post it's not my job.... Somebody did it." https://twitter.com/annamalai_k/status/1650807871968526337 Earlier on April 23, a delegation of Tamil Nadu BJP leaders met Governor RN Ravi Avargal, requesting an independent forensic audit of the audio tape of the State Finance Minister on alleged corruption charges. "Today, a delegation of leaders from Tamil Nadu BJP will be meeting the Honourable Governor of Tamil Nadu, RN Ravi seeking an independent forensic audit on the audio file of Tamil Nadu State Finance Minister Thiru PTR Palanivel Thiyagarajan exposing the ill-gotten money amounting to 30,000 Crore through corrupt means by DMK leader & Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru MK Stalin's son Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin & Son-in-law Thiru Sabareesan," an official statement by Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai said. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan refuted to the allegations made in the audio clip and called them "false" and "fabricated". Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiaga Rajan reacted by saying, "In case anyone thinks fabricating a 26-second low-quality clip is hard these days - an example of a whole song that got ~16 MILLION views on multiple platforms, which turned out to be fabricated with "AI-generated vocals". NEVER trust an Audio clip without an attributable source. The audio is fake and fabricated." Tamil Nadu Health Minister M Subramanian reacting to the PTR audio said that BJP is trying to politicise the matter and the state finance minister has cleared his stance about the first audio. "I know about the 1st audio of TN finance Minister PTR I didn't see the 2nd audio. PTR has cleared the 1st audio that the audio which was shared has edits in it, BJP trying to politics these issues. As Parliament elections are coming closer so BJP is trying to do politics by this kind of issue," said M Subramanian. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and said that RG is 50 years old but his mentality is still of a 5-year-old. CM Chouhan made the remark while addressing a gathering during a roadshow in Chikodi in Karnataka's Belagavi district on Wednesday. "Rahul Gandhi has become 50 years old but the mentality is still of a 5-year-old. He had made the controversial 'Modi remark' in Karnataka itself, and now when the court sentenced them, he is running away. He is blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for it. He doesn't know what to say. Is he capable of delivering on promises?" CM Chouhan said. "Rahul Baba had come to Madhya Pradesh to make a promise during 2018 assembly polls that everyone's loan would be waived off, but the loan was not waived off during the 15 months rule of the Congress. He promised unemployed youth would get Rs 4,000 but did not give a penny to them," the CM claimed. Now they (Congress) come to Karnataka to make promises. They are making false promises. These people (Congressmen) are liars, they never fulfil their promises, Chouhan said. He further said that after independence, Mahatma Gandhi had said to dissolve the Congress because it was formed to liberate the country, but Nehru did not listen to Mahatma Gandhi. Though Rahul Gandhi obeyed Mahatma Gandhi and made a resolution that he would destroy the Congress party. Congress is slowly dying out from all over the country. Congress has ceased to exist. Congress only talks about appeasement. The identity of Congress is '3C' Corruption, Crime and Commission. Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) identity is connectivity, road connectivity, air connectivity, cleanliness and development, the chief minister added. He further said, "The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has created new records of development in Karnataka. The double engine government is making arrangements for irrigation in Karnataka. It is working for the welfare of the farmers and to provide free ration to 80 crore people." When the Congress government was in power in Madhya Pradesh, they did not even send the names of farmers of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi that the farmers could not get the money. Congress blocks while BJP moves forward to serve the public, CM Chouhan added. (ANI) Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty on Wednesday said that the state government will hand over a complaint to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the removal of crucial portions from NCERT textbooks. "The curriculum committee has directed that the children must be taught the portions removed from NCERT books and notify Kerala CM and Centre regarding this decision. A complaint will be given to PM and union education minister over removing key portions from NCERT", Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty said. The education minister further said, "The curriculum steering committee unanimously decided to include these omitted portions. Yesterday a meeting of the curriculum committee was held. As decided by the committee, I have been authorised to discuss with CM Pinarayi Vijayan and the government." He also said that the curriculum committee cannot take such decisions alone. "This is something which the curriculum committee cannot decide alone. So we have to discuss with the CM and government to finalise the committee decisions. A meeting with CM will be soon held on the same." The curriculum steering committee meeting of the Kerala State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) on Tuesday decided to include the portions deleted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in the state school syllabus, said a statement. (ANI) Congress leader Jagadish Shettar, who is a candidate from Karnataka's Hubli-Dharwad-Central constituency, on Wednesday said he takes criticism from BS Yediyurappa as his blessing in this election, adding that the wishes of the BJP's leader would convert into success for him. "Amit Shah came here and attacked me. Many from BJP have joined Congress recently but they are targeting me only. I take criticism from BS Yediyurappa as his blessing in this election...His wish for me (to lose) will convert into success for me," said Jagadish Shettar. BJP leader BS Yediyurappa's said that Jagadish, who joined Congress recently, "will lose elections". Challenging Shettar to win on a Congress ticket in the region, Yediyurappa said at a meeting in Hubballi, "Jagadish Shettar has backstabbed the BJP and the members of the party. With all his selfishness, he left the party and joined the Congress. How can this happen? We should make sure he will be defeated here in Hubballi. I can write with my blood that he will lose this election on a Congress ticket." Earlier, after his meeting with Lingayat leaders in Hubbali, former CM BS Yediyurappa said "...All our important Lingayat leaders attended. I told them that Jagadish Shettar should not win. For that, we must work day & night. All of them accepted that..." Jagadish Shettar said that he is contesting from the constituency for the 7th time and the people of the area were hurt by the way BJP treated him. "In the last elections, I won with the support of the people of this constituency. I am now contesting for the 7th time and the kind of support I am seeing shows that even the people of this area were hurt by the way BJP treated me," said Shettar. Shettar joined the Congress party, a day after quitting the BJP after being denied a ticket for the May 10 assembly polls in the state. Shettar became the second senior leader from the Lingayat community to leave the ruling BJP and join Congress in less than a week. Earlier, former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi joined the Congress. Earlier on April 22, Shettar said that the BJP had damaged his self-respect and that people of the state are intelligent enough not to support such a party. Speaking to ANI, Shettar said, "Many Lingayat leaders left BJP. Hurting my self-respect means hurting the people of the region, which will affect the vote bank of the BJP. The people of the state are wise enough not to cast their vote for BJP." "Byadagi in Haveri district is not in my constituency. There are so many Congress candidates who are asking me to campaign in their constituencies. BJP senior leaders of the Lingayat community have said that they are going to join the Congress and hundreds of followers within one or two days will also join," he said. BJP has meanwhile fielded Mahesh Tenginkai against the Shettar for the seat in the upcoming polls. The 224-seat Assembly polls are slated to take place in a single phase on May 10 and results will be declared on May 13. (ANI) A school in Delhi received a bomb threat on Wednesday morning which later turned out to be a hoax call, police officials said. In this regard, Delhi Police said that while conducting the search on school premises no suspicious object was found. While addressing the mediapersons, Deputy Commissioner of Police of South East District Rajesh Deo said, "Today at about 7:50 am Principal of DPS Mathura Road called SHO/PS Hazrat Nizamuddin and conveyed that they have received a mail on their school official email that a *bomb has been planted in the school and which will be activated at 9 am on 26/04/23*. Subsequently, a PCR call was also received in this regard. Immediately, several police teams from district South East were directed to rush to the spot. Apart from this, the Bomb Disposal Squad, Dog Squad and the team Special Cell also reached the spot". "No bomb or any suspicious object was found," he added. The police official further stated that intensive and technical searches were carried out in the school and school children were safely handed over to their parents. "The police staff were broadly divided into 3 groups as per the layout of the school. The school has three buildings Pre-Primary, Junior and senior wings and an intensive manual and technical search was started. The process of evacuation of students also started without any delay and students of the different wings were facilitated to assemble in the open grounds near their buildings. The school has around 4000 students and all present were handed over to their parents, without any loss or injury," he said. In the aftermath of the incident, SDM Defence colony Gaurav Saini said that this incident has been declared a hoax. While talking to ANI, SDM Defence colony Gaurav Saini said," Police have completed their search and clearance has been given. It has been declared a hoax. Cyber teams are locating the source of who sent the email". (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday expressed grief at the deaths of 11 people including 10 police personnel in the Dantewada attack and assured the Chhattisgarh government of all possible support. Taking to Twitter, Amit Shah stated, "Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred jawans". Eleven persons, including 10 police personnel, were killed in an IED blast carried out by naxals in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada. It was reportedly an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack on the vehicle carrying District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel near Aranpur in Dantewada district. Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also expressed tribute to the slain officers and urged the government to take strict steps. "Our jawans were killed in the Naxalite attack in Chhattisgarh. This cowardly act of Naxalites is very disturbing information. All the governments need to take immediate strict steps to crush Naxalism. A humble tribute to the martyred soldiers! May their souls rest in peace!" Kejriwal said in a tweet. Chhattisgarh Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu told ANI that the DRG jawans were sent on the spot based on secret information about Naxal's presence in the area. "Secret Information was received about the presence of Naxals. DRG jawans were sent to the spot. When they were returning after the search, an IED attack took place in which 10 DRG jawans and one driver lost their lives. Extra forces have been sent to the spot," he said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and took stock of the Dantewada incident that claimed the lives of 10 District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel and one driver. He also assured the Chhattisgarh CM that the centre will give all possible help to the state government. Chhattisgarh CM also expressed condolences over the killing of 10 police personnel and one driver in the Chhattisgarh Maoist attack and said that the Naxals wouldn't be spared. Bhupesh Baghel said, "There is such information with us. It is very saddening. My condolences to the bereaved families. This fight is in its last stage. Naxals won't be spared." (ANI) Bishop Robert Casey recounts a story from his own youth before administering confirmation for eighth graders at St. Bede the Venerable in Chicago on April 20, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) The sexual abuse supposedly occurred in 2003 at St. Agatha Catholic Church on the citys West Side. Accuser John Doe claimed in court documents that as a young boy he had been sexually assaulted multiple times during the after-school SAFE program by Daniel McCormack, a defrocked Chicago priest who pleaded guilty in 2007 to sexually abusing five children while serving at St. Agathas parish. Advertisement Memories of the abuse were repressed until 2020, according to court documents, when Doe filed a lawsuit against the former priest and the Chicago Archdiocese, seeking monetary damages. Except the entire story was later proven in court to be a fabrication, seemingly in an attempt to get a settlement. Advertisement As the Catholic Church continues to grapple with a global decadeslong clerical sex abuse scandal, one ramification thats emerged is fraudulent claims against priests and other members of the clergy. While data seem to indicate these kinds of false allegations are uncommon, they do occur and experts say the fallout can hurt real sex abuse victims as well as innocent clergy members, who often live in fear of one day standing falsely accused. Larry Antonsen, a Chicago leader of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, worries that fraudulent claims can have a chilling effect on real survivors of sexual abuse who might refrain from coming forward for fear they wont be believed an added burden on those who have been harmed by the church and its clergy. They are really making it harder for victims to even come out and talk, because its a very difficult thing to do, he said. And Im sure there are people a very small number of people, who go after money. So when people come out and make false accusations, it scares people who might be thinking about telling their story to somebody. In this particular fraudulent case, the accuser was incarcerated at Pickneyville Correctional Center in southern Illinois from 2018 to 2022. During that time, recorded phone calls using an identification number unique to the inmate captured him describing to family members the plans for his hoax, which he often referred to as a lick. Doe would talk on the phone about plaintiffs who received settlements based on allegations of sexual abuse by a priest; he expressed frustration that those people wouldnt put (him) on the lick and tell (him) what to do to pursue his own claim. On the calls, the accuser bragged about being able to make himself cry and admitted he never attended the SAFE program at St. Agatha, according to court documents. Referring to the claim that he would later assert in his lawsuit, the plaintiff told his sister that he was tryin to get some money from that SAFE (expletive) over there. You know that church, right, court documents stated. Advertisement A Cook County judge in January found Does lawsuit was not well-grounded in fact. In March, the false accuser was ordered to pay the archdiocese just over $113,000 in fees and costs incurred defending the lawsuit. While its impossible to say how many claims of this kind are fake, statistics show that substantiated accusations against priests and other members of the clergy greatly overwhelm those that are deemed false. A 2004 John Jay College of Criminal Justice report examined allegations of abuse by Catholic priests or deacons from 1950 to 2002. Of those claims, a definitive result of the investigation was found in just over 5,600 cases. By far, most of the allegations 80% were substantiated, and 18% were unsubstantiated, with only 83 of the accusations, or 1.5%, determined to be false, according to the report. Another 298 priests or deacons who were considered by church leaders to be exonerated when the dioceses submitted information to researchers were not included in these statistics, as well as some claims that had already been withdrawn, the report said. Chicagos archbishop, Cardinal Blase Cupich, said the archdiocese strives to balance prioritizing victims during an investigation while at the same time preserving the rights of a person whos been accused. Advertisement He added that these church investigations are conducted by an independent review board, in addition to any law enforcement or other secular authorities who might also be investigating allegations. Its true there are people who come forward and their facts just dont match up, either time, place or person specific, and the investigators have to tell us, have to validate that one way or another, he said. The difficulty is, we always struggle with reinstating a person not only in their position but also with their reputation. Because its hard for them. Cupich added that this is part of the era we live in. But our priests know that if we put victims first, theyre willing to cooperate with a system and (they) realize that its just part of something we have to do if were serious about keeping our attention on people who have been hurt by the church, he said. Yet the threat of false claims can weigh heavily on the minds of priests and other members of the clergy. A study from the Catholic University of America released in October found that 82% of priests regularly fear being falsely accused of sexual abuse. Advertisement Researchers acknowledged that the clergy sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic church has significantly eroded the trust between laity and clergy, according to a report. The study, which received about 3,500 responses from 10,000 surveyed Catholic priests, examined how the abuse scandal and the churchs responses to it have impacted the priesthood. Nevertheless, many priests fear that in the present climate, it has become all too easy for someone to falsely accuse priests of abuse, the report said. A single allegation, even if proven false, can destroy a priests reputation permanently. As for the recent John Doe case in Chicago, it in many ways mirrored a similar fraudulent sex abuse lawsuit against the archdiocese a few years ago, where another accusers recorded phone calls from prison and jail revealed his claim was not well-grounded in law or in fact, was, in fact false, according to 2018 court documents. That fake claim was also made against McCormack, who was released from an Illinois prison in 2021 and then registered as a sex offender. Adam Rick, an attorney representing the archdiocese, said hes aware of other abuse claims made against McCormack that he believes to be false based on similar jail or prison phone recordings, as well as witnesses who have come forward alleging that an accuser tried to bribe them for testimony. It seems to be a recurring pattern where theres an understanding that the archdiocese makes every effort to resolve claims with legitimate victims of sexual abuse, said Rick, of the firm Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella. So I think certain people have tried to take advantage of the archdioceses compassionate response to real victims by trying to profit from false claims, especially those relating to McCormack. Advertisement Asterisk next to your name In November 2008, one phone call derailed the life of a priest at Our Lady of Tepeyac Parish in the Little Village neighborhood. It was just a normal day, recalled Bishop Robert Casey, who is now vicar general of the archdiocese. That afternoon, I got a call from our vicar for priests office saying that (the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services) notified them of an allegation made against me. And I would immediately need to leave the rectory and the property. Casey said he then packed a bag and left the rectory, his home. His sister took him in for roughly four weeks, while he was under investigation by the state for alleged sexual misconduct with a child. What does this do to my life? he recalled thinking at the time. You have given your life over to the church and to service in the church as a priest. And all of a sudden, that is in jeopardy. Bishop Robert Casey, right, participates in a confirmation ceremony for eighth graders at St. Bede the Venerable in Chicago on April 20, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) State investigators determined the claim was unfounded, according to the archdiocese. Then, after church officials completed a separate investigation, Casey was reinstated in his parish, he recalled. But returning to ministry was difficult, he said. Advertisement The challenge is not just in the accusation and removal, he said. The challenge also comes in then, after going through a false accusation, coming back into life and reengaging in ministry. Because you live with that understanding that you will always have that asterisk next to your name. Yet he has come to see that painful time in his life as a spiritual gift that he has brought into his service as bishop, allowing him to better understand what priests and clergy might face during their ministries. Its living in that tension between knowing that we have to have a voice for victims of abuse and we have to strive for best practices for safeguarding, for healing, for justice, he said. But we also have to have a care for our priests and knowing that they choose to walk a path that makes them vulnerable. And that comes with their job. Casey also worries that false allegations can harm real survivors of abuse. Whats upsetting is that we have legitimate cases of abuse that need to be addressed in our society, he said. And so false accusations do not help. Because that just makes an accuser feel like they have no voice. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 55 The Rev. Michael Pfleger talks to church member Cassie Sanders-Brownlow after Sunday Mass at St. Sabina Catholic Church on Dec. 11, 2022, a day after the Archdiocese of Chicago reinstated him. (Michael Blackshire / Chicago Tribune) In another more recent case, the Rev. Michael Pfleger well known for his anti-violence activism was reinstated in December at the Faith Community of St. Sabina following sexual abuse allegations in mid-October. Advertisement This was the second time in about two years abuse claims temporarily removed the priest from his parish, where he has been widely supported. In 2021, two adult brothers in Texas claimed Pfleger sexually abused them in the 1970s, but an archdiocese panel found insufficient reason to suspect he was guilty. This has been the most difficult and challenging time in my entire life, Pfleger had said at the time. After the more recent allegations, Cupich wrote in a letter to the St. Sabina community that the Review Board has concluded that there is no reason to suspect Father Pfleger is guilty of these allegations, which I fully accept. I want to recognize that these months have taken a great toll on (Father) Mike and all of you, and I am committed to do everything possible to see that his good name be restored, the letter said. As I assure you of my prayers, I ask that you do all you can to welcome back Father Pfleger so that he can once again take up the ministry that has distinguished St. Sabina in the archdiocese and beyond. Accusation, apology, reconciliation In 2018, then-Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan released a blistering preliminary report alleging that hundreds more priests had been accused of sexual abuse against children than Catholic officials had publicly identified. The report which was spurred by a grand jury investigation of the extensive sexual abuse of children and systematic cover-ups by Catholic officials in Pennsylvania added that Illinois dioceses have lost sight of both a key tenet of policies laid out by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as well as the most obvious human need as a result of these abhorrent acts of abuse: the healing and reconciliation of survivors. Advertisement I want to express again the profound regret of the whole church for our failures to address the scourge of clerical sexual abuse, Cupich had said in a statement after the preliminary report came out. It is the courage of the victim-survivors that has shed purifying light on this dark chapter in church history. Cupich had added that the church set up rigorous training and procedures to protect young people from predators, as well as established support services for victims and their families, including the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth. Attorney General Kwame Raoul had pledged to continue the investigation when he took office, but no final report on the matter has been released yet. The archdiocese has prioritized addressing sexual abuse since at least 1991, when then-Cardinal Joseph Bernardin formed a special commission on clerical sexual misconduct with minors, church leaders said. The spiritual leader of millions of Catholics was widely hailed as a national pioneer in tackling the scourge of sex abuse in the church. Yet shortly after, Bernardin himself was falsely accused in a high-profile and harrowing case. In November 1993, a man named Steven Cook alleged in a lawsuit that Bernardin had sexually abused him in the 1970s, when Cook was a teen. Advertisement I can assure you that all my life I have led a chaste, celibate life, Bernardin said, hours after the allegations emerged. In March 1994, Cook recanted. He went on to apologize to Bernardin. The two met in person, prayed together and reconciled. Bernardin gave his former accuser a Bible and said Mass for him and a friend, a Chicago priest who accompanied him to the meeting. Never in my 43 years as a priest have I witnessed a more profound reconciliation, Bernardin wrote in an account that was shared publicly, according to the Tribune. Even before the accusation was withdrawn, many Chicago-area Catholics supported Bernardin. But as one nun commented at the time, the stigma of a sexual abuse allegation can linger even after the accusation is determined to be untrue. Once a priest is accused of something like this, he is marked for life, she told the Tribune in 1993. It doesnt matter if he is guilty or innocent. eleventis@chicagotribune.com The extra forces and ambulance have also reached the spot and carried out an inspection on the spot. As per the police, the 10 slain DRG personnel have been identified as Joga Sodhi, Munna Ram Kadti, Santosh Tamo, Dulgo Mandavi, Lakhmu Markam, Joga Kavasi, Hariram Mandavi, Raju Ram Kartam, Jairam Podiyam, Jagdish Kavasi. In addition, the deceased driver has been identified as Dhaniram Yadav, the police added. Eleven persons, including 10 police personnel, were killed in an IED blast carried out by Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada. It was reportedly an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack on the vehicle carrying DRG personnel near Aranpur in Dantewada district. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and took stock of the Dantewada incident that claimed lives of 10 District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel and one driver. He also assured the Chhattisgarh CM that the centre will give all possible help to state government. Taking to Twitter, Amit Shah stated, "Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred Jawans". Chhattisgarh CM also expressed condolences over the killing of 10 police personnel and one driver in the Chhattisgarh Maoist attack and said that the Naxals wouldn't be spared. Bhupesh Baghel said, "It is very saddening. My condolences to the bereaved families. This fight is in its last stage. Naxals won't be spared." (ANI) Leena Nandan, secretary in the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) has tendered "unconditional apology" before the Nainital bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in the matter of deputation of Uttarakhand cadre IFS officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi. An affidavit filed by Leena Nandan on March 24th says, "Deponent has the highest regard for the majesty of this hon'ble Tribunal if however, this Hon'ble Tribunal comes to any other conclusion the deponent tenders her unconditional apology at the very outset." The matter pertains to deputation request of Sanjiv Chaturvedi, an IFS officer of 2002 batch of Uttarakhand Cadre, into institution of Lokpal in Central Government, which was forwarded by Government of Uttarakhand to MoEF & CC, in December 2019. However, in view of no action, officer filed petition before Nainital Bench of CAT, in February 2020. On September 1st, last year, CAT issued direction to Secretary, MoEF & CC to decide his case within a period of eight weeks. However, by way of order passed on October 3rd, last year, the order was passed by a Director rank officer, in the Ministry. On petition of Chaturvedi, on February 20th, this year, Tribunal issued Contempt notices to Leena Nandan, saying that, "From perusal of the judgment dated 1.9.2022 passed is evident that this Tribunal had directed the respondent No. 1 to decide the representation of the applicant but respondent No.1 has not passed any order whereas the order dated 3rd October 2022 has been passed by the Director (IFS), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Therefore, we are of the opinion that as per the direction of this Tribunal, representation of the applicant must be decided by respondent No.1". Delhi HC has now listed the matter for further hearing on May 22. (ANI) The police informed that the accused had been identified as Mohd Azhar. According to the police, the accused has been arrested on the basis of a complaint registered by the victim's mother. Giving details, DCP Deo said, "The complainant reported that the accused driver engaged a cab for ferrying her six-year-old daughter to school." "On Wednesday, the victim informed her mother that the driver of the cab has been touching her private parts inappropriately while ferrying her from school for about last one year," added DCP. The police stated that on the basis of the complaint of the victim's mother, an FIR has been registered under section 376 Indian Penal Code and 6 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act in Shaheen Bagh police station. "On the basis of the complaint of the victim's mother, an FIR u/s 376 IPC and 6 POSCO Act has been registered in Shaheen Bagh police station," said DCP Deo. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI) The officer is in France to participate in the multinational exercise where India has sent its Rafale aircraft for the first time outside the country, IAF officers said. The IAF had sent a woman fighter pilot for the first time to an international exercise in January this year when Squadron Leader Avni Chaturvedi went to Japan for the exercise Dharma Guardian. Shivangi Singh joined the Indian Air Force in 2017 and was commissioned in the IAF's second batch of women fighter pilots. Before flying Rafale, Shivangi also flew MiG-21 Bison aircraft. Shivangi hails from Varanasi and is part of the IAF's Golden Arrows squadron based out of Ambala in Punjab. In 2020, Shivangi Singh became the first woman fighter pilot to fly Rafale after she was selected as a Rafale pilot following a stringent selection process. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said India's vision for health does not only mean the lack of illness, "Our goal is wellness and welfare for everyone." PM Modi said this while inaugurating the 6th Edition of 'One Earth One Health - Advantage Healthcare India - 2023' at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi via video conferencing today. "India's view of health does not stop at the lack of illness. Our goal is wellness and welfare for everyone. Our goal is physical, mental and social well-being," PM said. Prime Minister highlighted the nation's inclusive vision and mentioned that India's vision for health was universal even when there were no global pandemics thousands of years ago. "Our vision is not restricted to just humans. It extends to our whole ecosystem. From plants to animals, from soil to rivers, when everything around us is healthy, we can be healthy", the Prime Minister said. "Even thousands of years ago when there were no global pandemics, India's vision for health has always been universal. Today when we say 'One Earth One Health' it is the same thought in action," he added. The Prime Minister said that the world has witnessed the impact of Indian doctors, nurses and caregivers and they are widely respected for their competence, commitment and talent. "India has many strengths when it comes to holistic healthcare, We have talent, we have the technology, we have the track record and we have tradition. India is proud to have been a partner to many nations in the noble mission of saving lives through vaccines and medicines," said PM Modi. "India has tremendous diversity in culture, climate and social dynamics", the Prime Minister remarked as he noted the training and diverse experiences of healthcare professionals in India. He further added that Indian healthcare talent has won the world's trust due to their exceptional skills that can meet the needs of different situations. The Prime Minister threw light on the Ayushman Bharat Scheme and said that it is the world's largest Government funded health insurance coverage scheme. PM informed that it covers the medical treatments of over 500 million Indian citizens where more than 40 million have already availed the services in a cashless and paperless manner resulting in the citizens saving nearly 7 billion dollars. Concluding the address, the Prime Minister stressed that the global response to healthcare challenges cannot be isolated and it is now time for an integrated, inclusive and institutional response. "This is one of our focus areas during our G20 presidency. Our goal is to make healthcare accessible and affordable, not only for our citizens but for the whole world", the Prime Minister said as he underlined that India's priority is reducing disparity, and serving the unserved is an article of faith for the country. The Prime Minister expressed optimism that this gathering will strengthen global partnerships in this direction, and sought the partnership of other nations on the common agenda of 'One Earth-One Health'. (ANI) The Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday deferred the order on the bail plea of Delhi's Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with Enforcement Directorate (ED) case in connection with the alleged excise scam. The Special Judge MK Nagpal on Wednesday deferred the pronouncement for April 28, 2023 on the bail plea of Manish Sisodia in money laundering being investigated by the ED. Earlier, appearing for Manish Sisodia, Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan submitted, "It is not the job of the ED to tell what happened in the GoM and the cabinet, the job of the ED should be to tell that if any crime was committed, who benefited from it". Manish Sisodia's lawyer said that Sisodia cannot be kept in custody only on the basis of speculations. Manish Sisodia's lawyer submitted that no money laundering case is made out against him.Enforcement Directorate had opposed the bail plea and said "an Illegal ecosystem was created in view to give illegal benefits to liquor cartels to get kickbacks". Appearing for ED, Zohaib Hossain submitted before the Court that all the elements of conspiracy are present here in the matter. Conspiracy are hatched in secrecy, policy made in public domain, submitted ED lawyer and also said every process of activity dealing with proceeds of crime is money laundering. ED lawyer further alleged that Sisodia played a key role in modifying and implementing the modified policy. We have proofs that the policy was modified without any deliberation and discussion. And we also have sufficient statements of various concerned persons to show that the profit margin was increased from 6 per cent to 12 per cent was meant as kickbacks. In the matter, the expert committee suggested that individuals will apply and they will get two retail vends. This was to avoid cartelisation. This was supposed to happen through the lottery system but Manish Sisodia preferred the limited entity model. ED further said that, "If the policy was genuine, why were emails planted by Manish Sisodia in favour of the policy. Emails were planted through Minority Commission Chairman. Sisodia got emails planted on the mails address of excise depth which was the dame address where the public comments were sought obverse the policy. Fabricated emails to show public approval for a policy. This is a sham approval". On wife's health, ED submitted that other people and family were taking care of his wife since long. While he was holding 18 portfolios and was holding public meetings, there were other people attending to his wife. Humanitarian ground can't be used here, says ED counselEarlier, appearing for Manish Sisodia, Advocate Vivek Jain argued that no PMLA case has made against him. Section 45 of PMLA would come against me only if an offence under Section 3 is made out."ED reply opposing my bail doesn't even show I have conceal any proceeds of crime or acquired any proceeds of crime, or I projected proceeds of crime. Not a single rupee has come in my account or my family account. They have raided my home, they have checked by bank accounts. They even have gone to my native place," Advocate Vivek Jain argued. Manish Sisodia was physically produced before the Court on Tuesday during the arguements of his bail plea. The Rouse Avenue Court was hearing a bail plea of Delhi's former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case pertains to alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of GNCTD. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 9 arrested former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy case, after hours of questioning at Tihar Jail. Sisodia was arrested by the CBI earlier in its ongoing investigation of a case related to alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD). (ANI) Madhya Pradesh High Court has rejected the bail application of members of banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) imprisoned in Bhopal Central Jail. A single bench of Justice D K Paliwal rejected the bail application on Tuesday. A total of seven petitions were presented before the court in which six petitions were rejected and decision of one petition was reserved. Deputy Advocate General Brahmdutt Singh said that a total of seven bail petitions were presented before the court in which there were six petitions carrying 19 applicants of banned outfit PFI and one petition was individual of a member of PFI. During the hearing on Tuesday, the court rejected six petitions, including the individual petition presented before the court seeking bail. The court, however, reserved the decision of one petition whose decision is likely to be pronounced on Thursday, he added. He further said that after hearing the matter, the Court found that the FIR registered against the accused persons under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the UPAP Act which was for their involvement in anti-national activities. In that case there was no right to give them bail or to give any kind of relief, so the court has cancelled six of their petitions and reserved the decision of one petition, he added. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Kerala has given a fillip to the BJP in Kerala, said the party's state chief K Surendran here on Wednesday. Prime Minister recently made a two-day visit to Kerala in which he had both official functions and a function organised by the state unit of the BJP. During the visit, he inaugurated a number of developmental programmes including flagging off a Vande Bharat Express train. Talking about the prime minister's meet with Christian religious leaders of various denominations in Kerala, he claimed that the Christian leaders have a view that if they stand by the prime minister it is good for Kerala. " There was a campaign against BJP leaders visiting Christian homes on Easter. The majority of the Christian leaders have the position that standing with the Prime Minister will be good for Kerala. They want the people of Kerala to support the development," K Surendran said at a press conference here. "The Prime Minister took a positive approach in meeting with Christian religious leaders," he added. 'Sneha Yatra', which is the BJP's outreach to minority communities, will spread further. There will be an effort to make marginalized groups in the state support the BJP, he said. The state BJP chief also claimed that the prime minister's visit also gave a fillip to Kerala's development. "Modi's visit to Kerala has pushed the development of the state a big step forward. There is going to be a significant change in the developmental paradigm of Kerala after the visit," Surendran said. Dismissing the allegation of both the Ruling LDF and the main opposition alliance UDF led by the Congress that the central government is neglecting the developmental needs of Kerala, he said: "It has been revealed that the Modi government has allocated 10 times more than the amount allocated by the UPA government for the development of railways in Kerala. The visit dispels the allegations by the LDF and right UDF that the central government is neglecting Kerala" "The Prime Minister spoke about the speed of development of Kerala. The reason for the accusations against him is that he pointed out that Kerala is lagging behind in terms of development. The state government is unable to deliver even the most basic needs of the people," he alleged. He challenged the state government to prove the prime minister's statement on Kerala's unemployment wrong by citing official data. "Can the state government contradict what the Prime Minister said about unemployment in Kerala by quoting official data? We invite them to debate on all these issues," he said adding that there should be wide discussion about unemployment numbers in Kerala. (ANI) Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday said the Bihar Government is anti-Dalit as it released former gangster-turned-politician Anand Mohan who was convicted in the 1994 murder of then Gopalganj District Magistrate G Krishnaiah, a 1985-batch IAS officer. While speaking to ANI, Athawale said, "I strongly oppose the decision to release former MP Anand Mohan Singh, who was serving a life sentence in the murder case of former DM G Krishnaiah of Bihar's Gopalganj district. I term this decision of the Nitish government as unfortunate". "G Krishnaiah, the DM of Gopalganj, came from the Scheduled Caste. The release of the former Bihar MP is possible only after the Nitish government's amendment in the Bihar Jail Rules 2012, which reflects the state government's policy of giving protection to criminals," the Union Minister told ANI After Bihar Government amended the rules of the Jail manual, an official notification stated that 27 prisoners who have served 14 years or 20 years in jail have been ordered to be released. Anand Mohan was serving lifetime imprisonment in Saharsa jail in a case of lynching the District Magistrate of Gopalganj, G Krishnaiah. As per reports, the case pertains to 1994. Krishnaiah was killed when his car was attacked during the funeral procession of a gangster Chotan Shukla. Anand Mohan was part of the procession, and Muzaffarpur police had charge-sheeted him for provoking the supporters to commit the crime. Uma Krishnaiah, widow of slain Dalit IAS officer G. Krishnaiah urged the Bihar government to withdraw the decision and said that this will set a bad precedent and have serious repercussions for the entire society. "We are not happy, we feel it is wrong. There is caste politics in Bihar, he is a Rajput, so he will get Rajput votes. Otherwise, what is the need of releasing a criminal? He will be given an election ticket so that he can bring Rajput votes," she said. Also, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has strongly criticised the Bihar government's move for the premature release of incarcerated leader Anand Mohan Singh. (ANI) Seventy years back in the absence of digital printing, paintings were the medium of expression. Slowly digital photography and digital printing are taking over the services. But the art and aesthetics of painting are unbeatable even today. RKCS Art Gallery located at Keishamthong is one such example. The gallery with a collection of 150 oil paintings by Rajkumar Chandrajitsana, the founder of the gallery, is drawing attention from people living across the globe. On average the gallery has a footfall of around 300 tourists a month. RK Budhimanta who is running the art gallery with his family witnessed Japanese tourists shedding tears while watching the paintings. The gallery has a collection of historical paintings of the Second World War, Seven Years' Devastation of Manipur, Anglo Manipur War, the Cholera Outbreak etc. Paintings depicting the culture and lifestyle of various ethnic communities in the State are a unique feature of the gallery. Ras Lila classical dance, folk dances, indigenous games and painting defining way of life tell stories of the region to a great extent. With archival sketches of the founder, art installation by his grandson Busho and contemporary paintings by his son Budhimanta, the gallery now hosts around 500 art pieces. Recently the gallery was invited to exhibit paintings at Sangai Ethnic Park during the G20 summit in Manipur. Bhupendra Yadav, Union Minister of Environment and Climate Change also visited the art gallery during his recent visit. He is one among many officials who visited the gallery. In an exclusive interview with his son RK Budhimanta, it was revealed that his father while on a trip to Brindavan experienced a racial remark of having a similar look to the Nepali people (often looked down upon by mainland India as they are engaged in labour and other pity jobs). He decided to popularize Manipur with his artwork. RK Chandrajitsana wanted to popularize Manipur with his painting; he wanted to tell people that Manipur was a respected Kingdom at one point in time and that contemporary Manipur is a gem to explore. He dedicated ten years to researching and painting 150 oil Paintings for the gallery. He gave up all commercial undertakings and was quite absorbed in telling stories of Manipur through his painting. He kept on reading books for his painting. A new building was built to host the artwork with all his savings, and he was successful in doing so. But he passed away without noticing much of the charm the art gallery has brought into contemporary society as he lived only about a year after the art gallery was inaugurated. The legacy of RK Chandrajitsana is being continued by his son and grandson as they continue to paint and does installation work. RK Budhimanta and his son Busho would enthusiastically take the visitors to the gallery to explain about the paintings. Most of the paintings are also captioned for visitors. The gallery is run by donations collected from donation boxes and nominal guide fees often collected from visitors. The gallery was extended in 2006 after the Union Ministry of Culture approved a grant proposal by RK Budhimanta. The extension helped in exhibiting more cultural paintings of the late RK Chandrajitsana which otherwise was not put up due to space crunch. RK Chandrajitsana's family still dreams of having a spacious place for the art gallery realizing the spontaneous overflow of visitors. Among the visitors from abroad, US and UK top the lists. While Bangalore, Kolkata, Pune, Kerala and Delhi score the highest number of visitors from the nation. In a recent visit by a group of around 60 students under the 'Ek Bharat Sestra Bharat' a feedback worth mentioning from the group goes by, "Without the visit to RKCS, the trip to Manipur would not have been fulfilling". RKCS Chitralaya was established in the year 1947 at the then Maxwell Bazar now Thangal Bazar. Painting signboards for private and government establishments and vehicle number plates are some of the services the studio provided. The studio space was a little crunch for painting big posters of Cinema Halls and Drama stages, so most of these paintings were done at the residence of the founder Raj Kumar Chandrajitsana. RKCS Art Gallery was established on 5th May 2003. Ved Marwah, the then governor of Manipur invited his friend M.M Rajendran governor of Orissa to do the honour of inaugurating the art gallery in the presence of distinguished guests Okram Ibobi and M Nara the then chief minister and art and culture minister of Manipur. RK Chandrajitsana passed away due to cancer on 20th November 2004 the day when former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh handed over the key of Kangla to the public. Gursharan Kaur Kohli, wife of Manmohan Singh was supposed to visit the RKCS gallery and she shared her condolences. His last painting commissioned by the Art and Culture department was given the final touch by his son Budhimanta. The same painting was handed over to the Prime Minister as a State gift. (ANI) Pope Francis leaves at the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, April 26, 2023. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP) VATICAN CITY Pope Francis has decided to give women the right to vote at an upcoming meeting of bishops, an unprecedented change that reflects his hopes to give women greater decision-making responsibilities and laypeople more say in the life of the Catholic Church. Francis approved changes to the norms governing the Synod of Bishops, a Vatican body that gathers the worlds bishops together for periodic meetings. Advertisement The Vatican on Wednesday published the modifications he approved, which emphasize his vision for the lay faithful taking on a greater role in church affairs that have long been left to clerics, bishops and cardinals. For decades, women have demanded the right to vote at synods, the next of which is scheduled for October. Advertisement Ever since the Second Vatican Council, the 1960s meetings that modernized the church, popes have summoned the worlds bishops to Rome for a few weeks at a time to debate particular topics. At the end of the meetings, the bishops vote on specific proposals and put them to the pope, who then produces a document taking their views into account. Until now, the only people who could vote were men. But under the new changes, five religious sisters will join five priests as voting representatives for religious orders. In addition, Francis has decided to appoint 70 non-bishop members of the synod and has asked that half of them be women. They too will have a vote. YSR Telangana Party chief YS Sharmila and members of her party went on a hunger strike in Indira Park, Hyderabad on Wednesday in protest against unemployment and Telangana Public Service Commission (TSPSC) paper leak case. Speaking to ANI, the YSRTP Chief said, "YSRTP is organising T-FOURM which we have managed to garner support from all major political parties including the Congress party. More than 50 student organisations are also participating in this strike." She also informed that the hunger strike is a protest against Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao-led government because CM's son KT Rama Rao is the IT Minister and the paper leak happened due to the lack of digital security. "We are having this hunger strike today as a protest against the government of KCR because the Chief Minister's son KTR is the IT Minister and the paper leak happened because there was no digital security provided to the TSPSC Department," she said. "The IT law of 2000 clearly states that the IT Department is responsible for every system that is used in every department of the government and the system have to be maintained, scrutinized, provided security digitally and audited every year," she added. Hitting out at the IT Minister, YS Sharmila said, "The Chief Minister's son being the IT Minister has totally failed and has neglected to give the security to the TSPSC. KTR should resign from his post on moral obligation and an enquiry should be conducted on KTR's ministry." "We are also releasing a questionnaire of 10 questions here on behalf of the people of Telangana. The people of Telangana are asking these questions to the Chief Minister. CM acts like he is a national leader now and does not care about Telangana," she added. (ANI) A government employee fell prey to a 'honeytrap' in the state capital Bhopal in which the accused extorted Rs 1.5 lakh from him by threatening to implicate him in a rape case, a police official said on Wednesday. The police registered a case against four persons, including two women in the matter. The government employee has been posted at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) in the city. "An employee of BHEL had lodged a complaint at Govindpura police station. When the police investigated the matter, it came to light that on the night of April 15 and 16, the BHEL employee became the victim of the honeytrap," Bhopal Zone 2, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Rajesh Singh Bhadauria said. Explaining the chronology of the incident, he said that first the victim met a woman somehow, during this the woman called another woman. Both the women reached a house in Katara area in the city with the victim's consent, but due to some reason they left from there and came to the victim's house in Govindpura locality. "When these three people were alone in the house, meanwhile two other accused in which one was in police uniform reached there and they claimed themselves as the local police. They told the victim that he had committed a rape with those woman and also had beaten up the victim. After that the accused took Rs 1.53 Lakh from the victim from his credit card," Bhadauria said, adding that based on the facts it came to light that these four accused are interconnected and belong to the same gang. When the police showed the old pictures of the accused from the police record to identify the accused, the complainant identified one out of four accused. The identified accused is currently residing in Bhopal only, a team is engaged to nab him. All the accused have been almost identified and they have been located in the Bhopal border area. A team has been sent to nab them, the official added. "One of the accused who was wearing a police uniform, has not turned out to be a policeman yet in our investigation so far. If the accused has misused the police uniform then more relevant sections will be further increased in the matter. Besides, if more accused other than these four accused will be found then action will be taken against them too. All the four accused has been identifed and they will be arrested soon," Additional DCP Bhadauria said. (ANI) Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Amit Shah launched the IFFCO Nano DAP (liquid) on Wednesday and urged farmers to stop using traditional (Di-ammonia phosphate) DAP. On the occasion, Union Minister Amit Shah said, "On one hand, Nano DAP will benefit the farming sector and on the other hand the farmers will become self-sufficient. It is pocket friendly for farmers and it will go a long way in increasing the income of farmers. This will bring down the cost of logistics and warehousing significantly". According to the IFFCO due to the use of Nano DAP, farmers can reduce the crop-wise expenditure by 6 to 20 per cent. A bottle of 500 ml Nano DAP cost Rs 600 which can replace a 50 kg bag of traditional DAP which costs around Rs 1350. Farmers must mix 2-4 ml of Nano DAP liquid in 1 litre of clean water and spray on crop leaves, IFFCO said. Earlier Government of India notified Nano DAP on March 2, 2023. IFFCO has targeted the production of 18 crore bottles of Nano DAP by the year 2025-26 and 90 LMT of conventional DAP will be reduced. Nano DAP contains 8 per cent of nitrogen and 16 per cent of phosphorus. According to IFFCO the utilization efficiency of Nano DAP is 90 per cent and the conventional DAP is 15 to 20 per cent. During the launch Home Minister Amit Shah said that government will open two lakh Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) over the next five years. "Govt will open 2 lakhs Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) over the next 5 years. To improve the viability of the PACS govt has decided that there will be around 25 facilities like petrol pumps, LPG distributions, Fertiliser distributors, and Jan Ayushadhi stores that will make PACS a powerhouse," he said. Amit Shah on the occasion said that model bye-laws of PACS have been sent to the states and 17 states have also adopted these model bye-laws. (ANI) Delhi's Environment Minister Gopal Rai chaired a high-level review meeting with the officials of the Animal Husbandry Department at the Delhi Secretariat on Wednesday and announced that the Delhi Animal Welfare Board has been constituted for the betterment of animals in Delhi. Gopal Rai said, "Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led government has always been determined to work for the welfare of Delhiites and animals living in Delhi. Keeping this in mind, the Animal Welfare Board has been constituted for the betterment of animals in Delhi." "The Animal Welfare Board will work for the prevention of cruelty to animals, and take care of them in Delhi. Along with this, it will also provide financial and technical assistance along with guidelines to the organisations/bodies involved in animal welfare work in 11 districts of Delhi," he added. Minister also said, "The board will continue to work as a governing body. This Animal Welfare Board of 27 members is divided into 19 categories, MLAs of the Delhi Assembly; people actively working in animal welfare work in the state; high officials of the concerned department; representatives from SPCA, Gaushalas and Animal Welfare Board of India have been included." He said, "This board will work to ensure strict compliance with laws related to animal welfare in Delhi and help the organisations involved in this work." Highlighting the importance of veterinary science in the future, Rai said, "The field of veterinary science will become increasingly important in the future since it not only safeguards the welfare of domestic animals and cattle but also safeguards human health by monitoring and managing zoonotic illnesses. Delhi is home to many pet animals that need medical attention." "To meet this need and for better treatment of all types of animals, the construction of the first Government Veterinary College of the city has started. As soon as its construction work is completed, Delhi will also have its first Government Veterinary College. Equipped with modern training facilities, this college will be constructed in an area of about 56 acres in Satbari, Delhi," added Gopal Rai. (ANI) Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that the BJP government will probe all the corrupt leaders irrespective of how prominent they are. While addressing a public rally in Dharwad, Rajnath Singh said, "Corruption is under attack today, big leaders are going to jail and they (opposition) claim that this probe is intentional. This govt will probe all the corrupt leaders, no matter how prominent they are". "I want to ask you, shall corruption be ended in this country or not? We will not spare anyone who is involved in corruption. In the last 9 years assets worth one lakh ten thousand crore rupees have been seized under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. While UPA in their 10 years seized assets worth only Rs 5,000 crore," he added. Earlier in the month of March after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted multiple raids in Delhi and Bihar in connection with the alleged land-for-job scam, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav said that the tradition of raids was started by the Congress which the BJP-led central government is now following. "The tradition of raids was started by Congress, BJP is following that path...CBI, ED and IT work on the whims of government," said Akhilesh Yadav. Last month Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel also reacted to ED searches at different locations in Raipur on Tuesday and said that it seems that ED has no office in BJP-ruled states. "Industrialists, businessmen, transporters, MLAs, officers, farmers -- there is no section left which has not been raided by ED. But it seems there is no ED office in MP, UP, Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Karnataka. As long as there was Uddhav Thackeray's Government in Maharashtra, central agencies were active there. When there was a change of Government there, the agencies became of no use there," CM Baghel said. (ANI) Ladakh, a region of magnificent natural beauty and cultural heritage, is currently buzzing with excitement as it hosts the Youth-20 pre-summit under the aegis of the G20. Ahead of the main summit to be held in Leh from April 26 to 28, 20 delegates from various countries have already arrived in Ladakh's largest city and were accorded a warm welcome on their arrival at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee (KBR) Airport. The pre-summit has been organized by the Ladakh administration, with around 100 youth delegates attending different programs. These programs are being showcased with a focus on the involvement of local youth from different backgrounds, including sports, entrepreneurship, art, and medicine. During the three-day summit, discussions and deliberations would be held on various important topics. The Y20 pre-summit in Ladakh would be a valuable opportunity for the global youth to reflect on priority areas in consultation with the G20 member states to come up with policy recommendations that would prove beneficial to the Ladakh region. On the first day of the summit, the delegates will visit local places of importance including Hemis and Thiksey monasteries and Shanti Stupa. These visits are intended to help the delegates gain an appreciation of the rich culture and history of the region. On the second day, LG Ladakh B D Mishra will address the delegates at the Sindhu Sanskriti Auditorium. Mishra is expected to speak on the importance of the youth in building a better future and how the summit is providing an excellent platform for the youth to interact with each other and learn from each other. On the last day of the pre-summit, Union Minister Anurag Thakur will interact with the delegates and also participate in a youth dialogue. Speaking about the event, Thakur said, "This Youth-20 pre-summit is an excellent initiative, and I am thrilled to be a part of it. This summit is providing an opportunity for the youth to engage with each other and come up with ideas and policy recommendations that will help shape the future of the world." The Ladakh region is known for its strategic location, and the Youth-20 pre-summit is an opportunity to showcase its potential for economic growth, tourism, and development. The summit is also expected to provide a significant boost to the local economy, with delegates and visitors from around the world coming to explore the region and engage with the local people. As per the administration officials, adequate security measures and other arrangements are in place for the smooth conduct of the program. The success of the Youth-20 pre-summit in Ladakh would be a testament to the youth's potential to drive change and shape the future, and it is an event that is being watched with great interest by people around the world. (ANI) Veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over wrestlers staging a dharna in Delhi and no action taken against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. "PM Modi has time to say 'Mann Ki Baat' every week, but he has no time to listen to wrestlers. A Youth Congress girl gives a statement against our Youth Congress leader in Assam, then an FIR is filed against her and an attempt is made to arrest her. Similarly, Rahul Gandhi mentions the statement of a girl in his speech then the Special Commissioner of Delhi Police reached his home to question him," Singh said. He added that the women wrestlers of the country, who were honored by the Prime Minister and hoisted the country's flag at the international level, made allegations of sexual harassment against BJP MP and WFI president Brij Bhushan, then why the FIR has not been filed against him till date? Because he is the leader of the BJP? "We will not tolerate this and we will continue to fight for the rights of all those athletes till the end," Singh added. Singh also reacted to Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh's statement during his speech at an election rally in Karnataka in which he had said lakhs of people were jailed during the Congress rule in 1975. The congress leader said, "We know what is going on in Rajnath Singh's mind. We understand how BJP, PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have made him sit in a corner." Today there is a discussion in the whole country that the governor of Jammu and Kashmir Satyapal Malik had raised a question on the Pulwama incident that it was a failure of the information system, why PM Modi has not given the answer till date, Singh asked. "The families of 40 martyred soldiers are asking today why the investigation was not done. When I had asked this question, I was accused of treason. I had said the same thing that the then Governor Satyapal Malik is saying today. When I say something, I say it after thinking. Till date, I have not retracted any statement. I do not speak without research," Singh added. (ANI) Bhopal Court on Wednesday framed charges against former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Congress Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh in a defamation case filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president V D Sharma. The session court has framed the charges against Singh under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500. The next hearing in the matter will be held on July 1. Advocate of BJP Chief, Sachin Verma told ANI, "V D Sharma had filed a defamation case against Digvijay Singh that he had made defamatory comments against him related to Vyapam scam. In that case, the session court has framed charges against Digvijay Singh on Wednesday." Nonetheless, an advocate of Digvijaya Singh has denied these charges. Now the trial will begin in this case further. The charges have been framed under IPC sections 499 and 500, Verma said. After the case of defamation was registered in December last year, Singh had come to the court and he took bail. He is on bail and now the charges have been framed into the matter. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for July 1 to present the evidence, he added. Notably, the congress leader had made an allegation on the BJP chief in July 2014 regarding Vyapam Scam, as a result of which Sharma had filed the defamation case against him and on December 5, 2022, the court ordered an FIR against him. After that Singh appeared before the court on February 4 this year to take bail in the case. After getting the bail while coming out from the court premises, former CM Singh had interacted with the media persons at that time. He had said, "Today (February 4), I have taken bail in the defamation case. I am facing defamation cases in four states and I am answering to all of them." "There was a demand for a CBI investigation into the Vyapam Scam but it did not happen. There are many people accused in the scam, but the BJP-led Shivraj government has not removed them. They are living in government houses. This whole conspiracy is of CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his associates who have looted the state. All those people are involved in it who led the Vyapam scam," Singh then added. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday in its Judgement directed that a fully-functioning helpline which is available round-the-clock should be devised for the purpose of reporting Non-Consensual Intimate Images (NCII) content. Operators and individuals manning this helpline must be sensitised about the nature of NCII content and must, under no circumstances, indulge in victim-blaming or shaming the victim, added the court. Delhi High Court also said that the "Online Cybercrime Reporting Portal", which is a central platform available on cybercrime.gov.in, must have a status tracker for the complainant, commencing from the filing of a formal complaint to the removal of the offending content. The portal must specifically display the various redressal mechanisms that can be accessed by the victim in cases of NCII dissemination. This display should be in all languages specified in the Eighth Schedule. The cybercrime.gov.in website, along with every other website of Delhi Police, should also notably display the contact details/address of each District Cyber Police Station present in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, said the court. The bench of Justice Amit Bansal on Wednesday passed a Judgement on a plea moved by a woman seeking, in a nutshell, the blocking of certain sites exhibiting intimate images of her and for registration of a First Information Report (FIR) arising out of the complaint dated 03.08.2021 made by the Petitioner. Petitioner claimed that despite she approached the Grievance Cells of respondents i.e. Google LLC, Microsoft India Pvt. Ltd. (later replaced by Microsoft Ireland Operations Ltd, which is the entity managing its search engine, Bing), YouTube.com and Vimeo.com, as well as having placed multiple complaints on cybercrime.gov.in, the explicit images of the Petitioner were not taken down. The Delhi High Court also directed that every District Cyber Police Station must have an assigned Officer who must liaise with the intermediaries against which grievances have been raised by the victim who has approached the Delhi Police and an endeavour should be made to ensure that the grievance is resolved within the time schedules stipulated under the IT Rules. Search engines must employ the already existing mechanism with the relevant hash-matching technology on the lines of the one developed by Meta. They cannot be allowed to avoid their statutory obligations by stating that they do not have the necessary technology, which is patently false as has been exhibited during the course of the hearing, states Delhi High Court. The reporting mechanism under Rule 3(2)(c) of the IT Rules must be conveyed to the users by the intermediaries by way of a prominent display of the same on the website of the intermediary. It is necessary for users to be made aware of the reporting mechanism and the onus for educating the users lies on the intermediaries, stated the bench of Justice Amit Bansal. The search engine cannot insist on requiring the specific URLs from the victim for the purpose of removing access to the content that has already been ordered to be taken down, and the victim cannot be made to face humiliation or harassment by having to approach the authorities or Courts seeking the same relief, added the Bench. As a long-term suggestion, a trusted third-party encrypted platform may be developed by MEITY in collaboration with various search engines under Rule 3(2)(c) for registering the offending NCII content or the communication link by the user/victim, stated Delhi HC. Accordingly, the intermediaries in question may assign cryptographic hashes/identifiers to the said NCII, and automatically identify and remove the same through a safe and secure process. This would reduce the burden on the victim/user to constantly have to scour the internet for NCII pertaining to them and have to request the removal/de-indexing of individual URLs. Utmost importance should be accorded to the fact that the privacy of the user/victim must remain inviolable and the data collected for the purposes of using the hash-matching technology is not stored and misused. On account of the vulnerability of the data involved, the platform must be subject to the greatest of transparency and accountability standards, High Court said in its Judgement. (ANI) During their visit to the site, they were explained by the cultural expert of the Government of Assam, Dr KC Naurial, about the historic importance of the burial mounds of the Ahom Kings and their nobles. They also spent time at the exhibition where ancient antiques from the Ahom era were on display. Enthralled by the historic Charaideo Maidam, the Governor asked functionaries from the Archeology Department to arrange for a screening of the high points of the Ahom Kingdom for the knowledge of the posterity. Minister, Revenue & Disaster Management Jogen Mohan, MLA Sonari, Dharmeswar Konwar, Director, Archeology Department of Assam, Dipi Rekha Kouli were present during the visit. Later, the Governor held a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner, SP and other departmental heads of the Charaideo district. Besides taking stock of the implementation of different government schemes, the Governor stressed the potential of the dairy and fishery sectors for the socio-economic development of the people of the district. He also advocated for several measures including the practice of traditional and modern methods for yearlong yields of agriculture in the district. The Assam Governor moreover discussed the implementation of MGNREGA, TB Mukt Abhiyan, and other important schemes. He asked Deputy Commissioner Paul Barua to take measures for 100 per cent TB eradication. The Superintendent of Police of the district also apprised the Governor of the law and order situation in the district. Later representatives from various civic bodies from the district met Governor and discussed matters relating to public importance. (ANI) When I was 10, sitting around a picnic table with a bunch of girls from camp, I made a mistake. They were laughing, all making fun of Linda, one of our counselors. Though I didnt get the jokes, I mimicked their laughter. When Linda walked up to us, I immediately told her what everyone had been saying. I assumed shed find it funny, too. But she didnt smile. And the girls became upset and refused to talk to me for the rest of the summer. I didnt understand what Id done wrong. Advertisement Throughout adolescence, I did my best to mirror the social behavior of my most normal peers, copying the way they walked and flipped their hair. In the hallways, I avoided eye contact. On sidewalks, I practiced smiling at strangers, and they often smiled back. Still, I felt like an alien impersonating a human. In high school, my social challenges were compounded by increasing academic struggles. When fully focused, I read a page every eight minutes, so I was often up until 3 oclock in the morning completing my homework. At my parents request, I underwent neuropsychological testing and was diagnosed with slow-processing speed. Further testing concluded that I had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Advertisement At 17, I told my parents I could only be happy while hiking alone, which concerned them deeply. I withdrew from people because navigating social interactions was so confounding and exhausting but I craved connection and belonging. On my second night of college, I was sexually assaulted by a boy I had just met. In an attempt to walk off the shame and pain, I fled school and went to the desert, where I could be alone. I then hiked from Mexico all the way to Canada 2,650 miles, mountainous and quiet. On the trail, I enjoyed freedom from the need to pick out clothes or shower or make small talk. Following my long trek, I struggled to support myself, the daily responsibilities of a full-time job too overwhelming. After withdrawing and reenrolling four times at three universities, I finally completed my undergraduate degree at 32 years old. In a psychopathology class, we were shown the short film What Women With Autism Want You to Know, in which several women on the autism spectrum share their experiences with the condition. Watching, I learned that people with autism tend to have difficulty detecting subtle social cues; can become exhausted by interactions with new people due to the effort of masking, or suppressing natural quirks in hopes of fitting in; and are often very trusting, taking people at their word. I was riveted. These strangers felt more familiar to me than any peer Id ever known. They articulated my secrets, speaking of odd habits and misunderstandings common in my life. And from the way these women spoke and looked, I never would have known that any of them had autism. Id always pictured autistic as someone who acted like Dustin Hoffmans character in Rain Man, or a little boy unable to talk or make eye contact. Aspen Matis didn't receive an autism diagnosis until age 33, despite many signs and symptoms and multiple neuropsychological assessments. (Salma Kilaou) In the weeks that followed, I researched the condition obsessively, reading every scientific study I could find. When I learned that almost 90% of females on the spectrum will be sexually assaulted during their lifetimes (by age 25, I had been violated by four men), and 85% of autistic adults are unemployed or underemployed, the denial began to fade. A month after I watched the film, I underwent a formal psychological assessment with a doctor who had treated girls and women on the spectrum. At age 33, I received an autism diagnosis. Somehow, despite many signs and symptoms and multiple neuropsychological assessments, my autism had gone undetected. Why did the diagnosis take so long? Advertisement To my amazement, there was an answer to this question. For every three boys who are diagnosed with autism, one girl is diagnosed but this is not because three times as many males have autism. Rather, the disparity is due to the reality that the majority of autism assessment tests and diagnostic criteria were derived from research studies involving the observation of boys, not girls. A consequential oversight, as autism can look quite different and more subtle in girls than boys. The vast majority of women on the autism spectrum will never be diagnosed. Many are not diagnosed until well into adulthood, sometimes only when their own children are assessed. Or, as I experienced, they will be misdiagnosed and labeled with other cognitive conditions or intellectual disabilities. These errors are not harmless; misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate or ineffective treatment, even exacerbating some of autisms most debilitating symptoms. The bottom line is: Autism tests are failing girls and women, and assessment methods must be updated to narrow the diagnostic gap between the sexes. All my life, I had viewed myself as lazy. As too sensitive and too easily overwhelmed. As slow and fatally awkward. As broken in a fundamental way. A song set to a different faulty beat. But the diagnosis has altered these self-perceptions, bringing me great relief. And as my understanding of autism grows, Ive learned that the condition is inexorably linked to the traits that I love most about myself. My inquisitive nature. My ability to hyperfocus on intense special interest projects. My tendency to see the best in people. Those on the spectrum often retain the innocent way children view the world before cynicism darkens their horizons and I wouldnt trade that sunny lens for the ability to notice subtle sarcasm. Autism explains so many of my struggles, the quirks Ive been ashamed of all my life separating the morality from the neurology in a way that sets me free. There is comfort and belonging in knowing that I am not a defective horse but a normal zebra. Advertisement Aspen Matis is the author of the books Girl in the Woods and Your Blue Is Not My Blue. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged on Wednesday that the violence in Kaliyaganj in North Dinajpur district on Tuesday was triggered by BJP-backed goons who came from Bihar. Parts of Kaliyaganj turned into a virtual battlefield on Tuesday following violent protests by the locals against the death of a 17-year-old girl in the area last week. A local police station was set on fire by the angry mob, while a couple of police vehicles were also torched by the protesters, who claimed that the girl was raped and murdered. On April 21, the body of the 17-year-old girl was found in a canal in Kaliyaganj. Alleging that she was raped and killed, the locals had blocked roads besides setting some shops on fire. Four ASIs were suspended in connection with the minor girl's death case, who were seen dragging the body of the teenage victim. Speaking to mediapersons at the state secretariat Nabanna on Wednesday, the Chief Minister admitted that some police personnel did not do the right thing by dragging the body of the victim, for which four ASIs have been suspended. "However, the manner in which the police station was attacked and set on fire by some goons coming in from Bihar on Tuesday is unpardonable. Even the women police personnel were not spared by the attackers. I have asked the police to take strong action, arrest the culprits irrespective of their political affiliation, and confiscate their properties," the Chief Minister said. Holding the BJP directly responsible for the incident, Banerjee said that the only aim of the opposition party is to create violence and destabilise the law and order situation in the state. Reacting to Banerjee's comments, state BJP spokesman Samik Bhattacharya said that such comments from the Chief Minister are meant to hide the incompetence of the police administration. "Whenever there is any tension in any part of the state, the Chief Minister always floats the theory of outsiders coming in from Bihar. She has no control over her own administration," Bhattacharya said. --IANS src/arm ( 351 Words) 2023-04-26-19:04:02 (IANS) Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday came down hard on BJP turncoats Jagdish Shettar and Laxman Savadi, who recently switched over to the Congress, saying that they will pay for betraying the ruling party in the uncoming Assembly polls. Shettar, a former chief minister, and Savadi, who formerly served as the depty CM, belong to the Lingayat community which is believed to hold sway over electoral outcomes in the state. Hitting out at both the BJP deserters, Yediyurappa said, "I call on the people not to cast a single vote for Laxman Savadi and Jagdish Shettar, as they betrayed the BJP despite being entrusted with key portfolios in the government." "I am 100 per cent certain that both these leaders would lose this election. There is no doubt about it," Yediyurappa told ANI. The former CM, who is himself a Lingayat stalwart, said not just the Lingayats but all communities in the state were solidly with the BJP. "We will return to power with absolute majority," Yediyurappa added. The BJP veteran reiterated his earlier announcement of taking out a Vijayotsav (victory rally) in Hubballi. "With Jagdish Shettar and Savadi certain to lose, about 1 lakh people will gather here and take part in the Vijayotsav here," he said. The senior Lingayat leader further exuded confidence that Mahesh Tenginkai, the party's candidate from the Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency who is pitted against Shettar, will win the polls. "I am 101 per cent confident that our candidate Mahesh Tenginkai will win this election," he said. On claims of a particular community being deprived of governmental benefits, Yediyurappa said, "I have never seen myself as a Hindu, Muslim or Christian. Whatever benefits I extended to the people (during his time as CM) was meant for all the communities, which is why I am now asking all the coomuntiies to show their support for the BJP in this election." The Lingayat votes have traditionally been a key determinant of electoral outcomes in the state. The community has traditionally sided witn the BJP and several Lingayat-dominated regions of the state are considered to be saffron strongholds. Lingayats are largely concentrated in north Karnataka, in the districts of Belagavi, Dharwad, and Gadag. They also have a considerable presence in Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Bidar and Raichur. They also inhabit vast swathes of South Karnataka, especially Bangalore, Mysore and Mandya, in big numbers. The 224-seat Assembly polls are slated to take place in a single phase on May 10 and results will be declared on May 13. (ANI) YSR Telangana Party chief YS Sharmila on Wednesday sent the " Telangana People Questionnaire" to Chief Minister KCR. Sharmila has raised 10 questions related to Telangana Public Service Commission (TSPSC) question paper leakage and subsequent investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Sharmila today participated in the day-long fast and protest meeting held at Indira Park in Hyderabad under the banner of T-SAVE. T-SAVE is an initiative by the YSR Telangana Party to fight for the right of the students and the unemployed in Telangana State by bringing all opposition parties together. In the questionnaire sent to CM KCR, YS Sharmila asked KCR to clarify why he has not spoken a single word on the TSPSC paper leak scam issue. Is he still the CM of Telangana or a Corporator in Aurangabad? "Why still there has been no action against TSPSC Board members and chairman in the TSPSC paper leak scam?" she added. YS Sharmila also alleged that it has been noticed that deliberately no action has been taken on officials because they worked in tandem with SIT to clean up the evidence and asked how is it possible that the IPs were accessed outside the TSPSC office. Why is there no probe into the role of the IT department? She further in the questionnaire said, Why is the IT minister not releasing a white paper on the data breach and compromised access from the data centre of the state government? "When the data and IT infrastructure of TSPSC got breached so quickly, what assurance do the people of Telangana have from the state government that their data with the state government's other departments are not compromised? she added. YS Sharmila also asked how come Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has found a huge money laundering trail and how could this be possible without the role of big fish. She further also asked the reason why any probe has not been done when it came to the notice of the people that wards of a few BRS office bearers got access to the leaked paper. "Why is the case not yet given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or an enquiry from the sitting Judge despite pressure from all quarters? she added in the questionnaire. Lastly, she raised a question saying why the revised TSPSC exams to be held next month are going to be conducted under the supervision of the same Chairman, board members and secretary under whom the paper leak scam happened. Is this not a joke with the future of the students of Telangana? Earlier in the day, YS Sharmila and members of her party went on a hunger strike in Indira Park, Hyderabad in protest against unemployment and Telangana Public Service Commission (TSPSC) paper leak case. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh is closer to becoming a hub for the manufacture of medical devices and medicines in the country. To ensure the same, the upcoming medical device parks will also be provided with excellent connectivity. The Medical Device Park is set to come up on an area of 350 acres in Sector 28 of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority in Gautam Budh Nagar. The park will be given access to not only metros and expressways but also will get seamless connectivity through bullet train services. So far, 59 plots have been allotted for Medical Device Park. On the other hand, allotment letters, checklists and lease plans were handed over to 26 allottees on Wednesday by the Chief Executive Officer. Chief Executive Officer of Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority, Dr Arunveer Singh said that a meeting was organized with the allottees of the plots, in which they were handed over letters related to allotment of land. He informed that in order to realize the concept of Make in India and self-reliant India, work is going on at a fast pace to make this Medical Devices Park a world-class facility under the guidance of the Chief Minister. An Export Promotion Council is also being set up in the park by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India. With this, industrialists will no longer need to go anywhere else for export documentation, export grant, MAI grant, etc. The construction of the administrative block of the council has already been started by the authority. According to the Chief Executive Officer, facility of common hydrant facility will be provided here. General Manager (Project) has been directed to arrange signage on the highway. Along with this, the allottees have been informed that residential facilities are available in the nearby villages of this scheme and in the sector built in the authority area. Along with this, he informed that the Authority is bringing a plan for Transport Nagar in Sector 33, due to which transportation facility will also be available to this Medical Devices Park. He further said that a police station or outpost will be set up in this sector by the authority. Apart from this, two flatted factories will also be constructed by the Authority in Sector 28, which will help industrialists with low budgets to set up factories on rent and start their businesses. The Chief Executive Officer has assured all the industrialists of all help in resolving their problems. (ANI) A SC-ST court in Dholpur, Rajasthan, has sentenced a man to death for the murder of four NREGA workers, besides slapping a fine of Rs 10 lakh on him. According to information, 4 NREGA workers were killed in Dhaundhe ka Pura village in Bari Sadar police station area of Dholpur district in 2008. Twelve armed men had assaulted the NREGA workers while opening fire. Justice Narendra Meena of the SC-ST court convicted Kirti Ram (82) in the murder case and sentenced him to death and also imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh. Public Prosecutor Mahir Hasan Rizvi said that during the NREGA work, about 12 people had beaten up the labourers, resulting in four deaths. He said that there was old enmity between the two sides. Due to this, in 2008, the people from one group, who were working in NREGA, were fired upon by people from the other side. Kirti Ram was sentenced to death by special judge Narendra Meena on Wednesday after nearly 15 years. The accused will also have to pay a fine of Rs 10 lakh. In this case, 3 accused are in jail, whose trial is on and 7 accused are absconding after bail. Judge Narendra Meena, considering the murder of 4 people, sentenced the main accused to death. Along with this, the judge also ordered the disbursal Rs 2 lakh each to the wives of the deceased labourers out of the Rs 10 lakh fine imposed on the accused. --IANS arc/bg ( 265 Words) 2023-04-26-20:12:04 (IANS) As the news of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arresting Sukanya Mondal, the daughter of Trinamool Congress strongman Anubrata Mondal, in Delhi reached Kolkata on Wednesday evening, the state's ruling party took a safe stand in the matter. Trinamool spokesman Kunal Ghosh said that he would refrain from making any comment in the matter since that party's stand on such issues is very clear that it will not stand behind anyone who is involved in corruption. "But a question automatically arises as to whether the central agency could have continued its investigation without taking Sukanya Mondal into custody. She lost her mother a few months back, her father is in judicial custody. So, was such an extreme step necessary? Was this step taken after instruction from a political force," Ghosh asked. Earlier on Wednesday, the ED arrested Sukanya Mondal in Delhi in connection with the cattle smuggling scam in West Bengal. The ED had summoned Sukanya to its headquarters here several times to question her in connection with the scam, but she avoided the summons. Her father Anubrata Mondal is currently in judicial custody in connection with the same scam. Sukanya was arrested by the ED eight months after her father was arrested in August last year. Meanwhile, West Bengal BJP President and Lok Sabha MP Sukanta Majumdar said that the arrest was inevitable considering that she had been repeatedly avoiding the summons of the central agency. "Since the beginning, she had been resorting to non-cooperation in the investigation process. So, the inevitable has happened," he said. Legal brains in the state feel that Sukanya's denial of knowledge about the huge funds lying in the companies where she was a director cannot be used to prove her innocence. "She is an adult. So she cannot claim ignorance in such matters, especially being the director of companies that are under scanner," said senior counsel of the Calcutta High Court, Kaushik Gupta. --IANS src/arm ( 333 Words) 2023-04-26-20:58:02 (IANS) AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday stated that her family is facing a period of struggle in the contemporary period and made an appeal to the people to stand with the Congress party. On her second day of tour, she continued her poignant attack on BJP. Addressing a poll rally in Sringeri of Chikkamagaluru district, Priyanka Gandhi stated, "In 1978, when Indira ji (late ex-PM Indira Gandhi, her grandmother) came to Chikkmagaluru, it was a period of struggle for her. In that tough time, people of Chikkamagaluru stood with her. Today also there is a period of struggle for Rahul ji (Rahul Gandhi) and my family. We have full confidence that people of the country will stand with us," she said. "I have full hope that you will make Congress win in Karnataka. Our country, your state is at such a turning point that if we don't understand that there is a need for such politics which doesn't make people fight, which works for all of us, which makes all of us progress, then the country and the state may undergo heavy loss," she maintained. Priyanka Gandhi further explained, "Today morning, I went to Mylari Hotel in Mysuru. Its owner told me that his father had started that work. He taught me how to make Dosa. I also met his daughter who works in Infosys. Looking to the future while preserving traditions, culture and civilisation... that is the identity of Karnataka." When big ministers say 'don't look at your candidates, hand over Karnataka to PM Modi'. Why? Can the sons and daughters of Basavanna ji, Narayan Guru ji not run the state on their own? Priyanka Gandhi questioned. "Six months ago, I went abroad to drop my daughter off at her college. There I met a youth from Bengaluru who was working in an IT company. Both of us felt proud; there was Karnataka's self-respect, self-confidence and pride on his face. I felt proud that my country's youth has progressed so much, my father's dream has been fulfilled," she stated. "I feel proud of Karnataka, your hard work, honesty. But I also feel sad for you. The government, which has been in Karnataka for the last 3.5 years, has broken your trust. It was formed on the basis of greed; it was formed by stealing MLAs, by breaking Congress-JD (S) government. BJP government has broken every promise. It had said that it'll give jobs, double farmers' income, reduce prices but did nothing," Priyanka Gandhi charged. Youths have not been given employment; 2.5 lakh government posts are lying vacant but they are not getting them. Rate of every post has been fixed, there is a scam in every exam for recruitment. Contractors are committing suicides. The Contractors' Association and School Management Association wrote letters to the PM about corruption but they didn't get any reply, she said. MLA's son was caught with Rs 8 crore cash but no action was taken, rather his MLA father took out a parade to show that they can do anything and nobody can touch them. Even Covid patients were looted; nothing was spared, not even eggs meant for school children, she alleged. "Who made a cooperative like Nandini? You made it by your hard work. Earlier, milk used to be distributed in schools. The Congress government had brought 'Ksheer Bhagya' and 'Ksheer Dhare' schemes. Now, BJP says that less milk is being produced because they want 'Nandini' to merge with Gujarat's Amul. Earning of more than 1 crore people is at stake but they don't care for it," Priyanka Gandhi charged. In Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, farmers' debt has been waived off. It has the highest MSP in Chhattisgarh. In Himachal Pradesh, implementation of Old Pension Scheme has begun as per our promise, she claimed. --IANS mka/uk/ ( 647 Words) 2023-04-26-21:12:05 (IANS) Reacting sharply to Congress leader Siddaramaiah claiming that his party would increase the reservation limit in Karnataka from 50 per cent to 75 per cent if voted to power in the upcoming Assembly elections, former chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday said the "poll promise" would never be met as the prinicipal opposition party in the state was headed for defeat. Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, the veteran Ligayat leader said, "Since he [Siddaramaiah] is going to lose miserably, the question of increasing the reservation limit in the state does not arise." "We [BJP] are going to do everything in our power to form the government," he added. Siddaramaiah, also a former chief minister who is eyeing a fresh term in post after the May 10 Assembly polls, had tweeted, "The Congress party is committed to increasing the reservation limit from 50 per cent to 75 per cent and extend reservation to all castes based on their population." Earlier on Wednesday, Yediyurappa came down hard on BJP turncoats Jagdish Shettar and Laxman Savadi, who recently switched over to the Congress, saying that they will pay for betraying the ruling party in the upcoming Assembly polls. Shettar, a former chief minister, and Savadi, who formerly served as the deputy CM, belong to the Lingayat community which is believed to hold sway over electoral outcomes in the state. Hitting out at both the BJP deserters, Yediyurappa said, "I call on the people not to cast a single vote for Laxman Savadi and Jagdish Shettar, as they betrayed the BJP despite being entrusted with key portfolios in the government." "I am 100 per cent certain that both these leaders would lose this election. There is no doubt about it," Yediyurappa told ANI. The 224-seat Assembly polls are slated to take place in a single phase on May 10 and results will be declared on May 13. (ANI) The first batch of 278 Indians from strife-torn Sudan, which reached Jeddah onboard INS Sumedha, on Wednesday, was personally received by Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan. "Happy to receive 278 Indians from Sudan onboard INS Sumedha at Jeddah Port. Glad Saudi Director General, MFA, Jeddah Branch H.E.Mazin Hamad Al Himly joined me Thank Saudi authorities for excellent support in Jeddah. #OperationKaveri," V Muraleedharan tweeted. Earlier, on Tuesday (local time), Indians stranded in Sudan departed from the conflict-torn country in the first phase of 'Operation Kaveri'. The third Saryu-class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy, INS Sumedha with 278 people onboard, departed from Port Sudan and has now successfully reached Jeddah. The second batch of 121 stranded Indians has also left Port Sudan for Jeddah."Operation Kaveri unfolds. INS Sumedha docks in Jeddah with 278 passengers. Thank HH @FaisalbinFarhan and Saudi Arabian authorities for their fullest cooperation," External Affairs Minister Jaishankar tweeted. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that another vessel with 121 Indian returnees left Port Sudan for Jeddah. Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Tuesday inspected the transit facility at the International Indian School, Jeddah where Indians evacuated from Sudan will be received & put up briefly before arriving in India. "Inspected transit facility @IndianPage, Jeddah where Indians evacuated from Sudan will be received & put up briefly before travel to India. It is fully equipped incl with mattresses, provisions, fresh meals, toilets, medical facilities, Wifi. Has 24*7 control room. #OperationKaveri," the MoS wrote on Twitter. As the fighting between the Sudanese Army and paramilitary groups intensified in the capital Khartoum, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed on Monday that its 'Operation Kaveri' to evacuate its citizens from battle-torn Sudan is underway and about 500 Indians had reached Port Sudan. India launched "Operation Kaveri" to bring back stranded Indians from the war-torn country. Meanwhile, Indian Navy's INS Teg on Tuesday joined 'Operation Kaveri' to further facilitate the ongoing evacuation of Indians stranded in Sudan. The frigate on Tuesday arrived at Port Sudan with additional officials and essential relief supplies for stranded Indians, a senior MEA official said. "INS Teg joins #OperationKaveri. Arrives at Port Sudan with additional officials and essential relief supplies for stranded Indians," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted on Tuesday. "Will boost ongoing evacuation efforts by Embassy Camp Office at Port Sudan," Bagchi added. INS Teg is the fourth Talwar-class frigate constructed for the Indian Navy. In a recent development, warring factions in Sudan have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire on Monday after the US and Saudi Arabia mediated the truce while countries are engaged in evacuating their citizens from the country. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is on a visit to Latin America where he attended the 4th India-SICA (Central America Integration System) Ministerial meeting in Panama. In his opening remarks, Jaishankar said India's motto for the G20 is one earth, one family, one future. "An India that is a digital deliverer, that is an enthusiast of startups, that is a pharmacy of the world, that is a growing manufacturing power, that is a climate leader, and that is science and technology partner," he added. "We admire the role played by SICA in Central American regional integration and thank you collectively and individually for the valuable support that you have extended to forging a strong relationship, as well as supporting India in various international and multilateral forums," Jaishankar said in his opening remarks at the fourth SICA. Jaishankar said as developing countries, SICA members share common perspectives and are confronted with common global challenges. "I can say that we are suffering from the Covid and the Ukraine conflict, but we also have to deal with preexisting conditions, and these are climate change, poverty reduction, and food and energy security, amongst others," Jaishankar added, highlighting various global concerns. "It is with that (preexisting conditions) in mind that Prime Minister Modi took the initiative of holding the voice of Global South summit of 125 nations in which many of you participated. And in the words of Prime Minister Modi was that no group should claim leadership without thinking of those most affected," Jaishankar said. "Soliciting the views of the Global South, we dump this as essential in our responsibility as the G 20 chair," he added. "2023 is a very special year because of (G20) presidency. But it is also a year of exceptional responsibility because we take up this responsibility at a time when East-West polarization is very strong and North-South divides are getting deeper. The underlying theme of our presidency is Vasudaiva Kutumbakum, which means the world is a family. And again, we have sought to translate this into practical action," Jaishankar said on world unity. "Many of you saw for yourselves during the COVID through the Vaccine Maitri, the Vaccine Friendship Initiative, which focused on this region," he added. "I speak of the G20 at some length because all of us are going to be affected by what the G20 does or does not do. I bring to your attention the thinking of Prime Minister Modi, whose view is that let not the issues that we cannot resolve come in the way of those that we can," Jaishankar said, quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Today, we are gathered here as countries with strong bilateral ties, as a partnership between India and SICA as an expression of the common South-South cooperation to which we are all committed, but also as part of our larger commitment to building a fairer and more just international order," Jaishankar said. "Energy and food security are the two most immediate global challenges that the South faces. There are the longer-term trends, the priorities which will go beyond food and energy security, including those of development, growth, trade, investment, employment, poverty reduction," the EAM said. On the global issues taken up by India, Jaishankar said, "I would like to flag two notable initiatives we took the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. I would urge all of you to see how you can take the most advantage of it." Speaking of the third initiative about the declaration of the International Year of Millets, he said, "Substantial expansion of global production of millets has the potential to address food security on a lasting basis. Not just food security, but also nutritional security, because it is a good source of iron, vitamins and micronutrients." He stated that millets have been part of the Indian tradition for many centuries, and the world would be better served if it was revived. "So, in conclusion, let me emphasize that today it is a new India that seeks to partner with the SICA," he said. "Appreciated the role of Secretary General of SICA, Werner Vargas at the India-SICA FMM. His efforts in supporting the fourth India-SICA FMM were commendable. Agreed to take this forward through a concrete Plan of Action," Jaishankar tweeted. On the sidelines of the SICA, EAM Jaishankar also met his counterparts and various ministers from Central American nations. He met Vice Minister Cindy Rodriguez of Honduras on Tuesday on the sidelines of the SICA ministerial. The two leaders agreed that the India-SICA partnership offers many possibilities. Jaishankar also met Guatemala Vice Minister Roberto Urzua at India-SICA Ministerial. He also met FM Eamon Courtenay of Belize on the sidelines of SICA. The Foreign minister also exchanged words with his Nicaraguan counterpart Denis Moncada on the India-SICA FMM sidelines. Jaishankr also met the Foreign minister of El Salvador FM Alexandra Hill Tinoco. The Central American Integration System (SICA) was set up in 1991 as the revived institutional framework for Regional Integration in Central America. SICA evolved from the original Organisation of Central American States (ODECA) initially begun in 1951 and Central American Common Market set up in 1960. SICA consists of seven full members: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama; and Dominican Republic as the Associate Member (Total 8). The 14 observers in SICA include: US, Chile, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Peru (as regional Observers) and Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Australia (as non-regional Observers). US joined SICA as Observer in 2012 and France and South Korea's Observer status has been approved by SICA's apex decision-making Body and formal agreements are soon to be signed. SICA Secretariat is based in San Salvador. (ANI) YBO Yen Bai province kicked off activities in response to the second Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day, including a book exhibition, on April 25, on the occasion of the Liberation Day and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - 2023). Vice Chairwoman of the provincial Peoples Committee Vu Thi Hien Hanh and other officials visit the book exhibition. The Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day and the exhibition are annual activities aimed to encourage people of all social strata to read books so as to develop the life-long learning movement in the community. They are also meant to promote communications to raise public awareness of the reading culture and call on all-level authorities, sectors, social organisations, and people to participate and make contributions so that the Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day can become a meaningful event attracting the publics attention and support. Officials press buttons to open the e-bookstore of Yen Bai province. Notable activities in response to the Day include a book exhibition, book arrangements, book introduction, and experiencing reading softwares. At the opening ceremony, the provincial Department of Information and Communications launched a movement encouraging the development of the online book reading culture, unveiled an "e-bookstore of Yen Bai province, and started a book summarisation campaign. Relevant agencies also signed a deal on a programme deploying the book reading and listening platform for Vietnamese people in the province. Book displaying stalls attract a large number of readers The e-bookstore of Yen Bai was built basing on this book reading and listening platform for Vietnamese people. On this occasion, representatives of sponsors also presented accounts and cards for accessing online learning and testing softwares, along with a number of books to libraries of schools across the province. In a speech at Chicagos City Club on Tuesday, Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx announced she would not be seeking reelection and, at the same time, excoriated both the media and her political opponents for what she claimed was their unfair obsession with the case of Jussie Smollett. Probably when I leave this earth, my epitaph will mention Jussie Smollett, Foxx said from the podium. And it makes me mad. Advertisement In fact, Foxx throughout her speech continually used the name of the actor, who was eventually convicted (a successful prosecution not led by Foxx) of partnering with accomplices and faking a violent, racially motivated attack on a downtown street. But you ask me about Jussie ... was a rhetorical refrain in Foxxs legacy-burnishing exit remarks. (And entrance remarks for a potential run for further political office.) Advertisement Sure we ask about him and heres why. Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx addresses the Chicago City Club at Maggianos Banquets on April 25, 2023. In her speech, Foxx announced she will not run for reelection next year. (Shanna Madison / Chicago Tribune) What Foxx failed to understand and, as far as we can tell, still either fails or willfully chooses not to understand is that the Smollett case fundamentally was about clout. And when people see clout pay off so massively in the justice system, that understandably infuriates them. Especially those who dont have much clout themselves, which is the vast majority of those who found themselves interacting with Foxxs office, or who investigate crime, or who visit their family members in jail. The Empire actor was connected at the highest political levels and at least one powerful phone call, and perhaps several more, was made to a prosecutor who took the call and offered Smollett special treatment. Thats not just our view; the facts in this area mostly are undisputed and special prosecutor Dan Webb came to the same conclusion. The consequence of that error in judgment was that the police, who had furiously tried to solve a case that had sparked all kinds of pro-Smollett tweets from prominent politicians and celebrities, realized they had been played by an ambitious prosecutor like a character in the deeply cynical musical Chicago. No single event in the recent history of Cook County justice did more to undermine the relationship between the police and the prosecutors office. Lets be clear. Most reasonable people always understood that Foxx was routinely faced with the need to make decisions about far more dangerous criminals than an actor looking to make headlines and burnish his personal brand. It was also reasonable to expect a resolution that did not involve jail, but instead a sentence to some combination of probation and community service. Cops knew all too well that Smollett was small-bore in their world. There was even some sympathy for the guy from detectives. Nobody wanted him to be sent to jail for years. Everyone could see he had issues. (Scott Stantis/For the Chicago Tribune) But Foxx made the profoundly serious mistake of not insisting that he at least plead guilty. Unforgivably, she let him wriggle out of that one, conjuring some weird boutique deal where his past service meant her office would drop the prosecution and allow Smolletts attorneys to bloviate past the question of whether Smollett had actually faked a hate crime. It was an act for which a different party later convicted him, although the case is on appeal. That was the issue, Madam States Attorney. Advertisement And the desired refrain? Not And you ask about Jussie ..., but I made a mistake there and Ive learned. That way, Foxx could justifiably take credit for her many genuine achievements in that office, including her laudable focus on seeking justice rather than merely achieve a conviction, her dedication to freeing those wrongly convicted of crimes, including those there as a consequence of corrupt police practices, her encouragement of future progressive prosecutors and her palpable commitment to equality under the law. But that didnt happen with Smollett. And thats why people ask Kim Foxx about Jussie, and always will. Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Al Marar spoke to the Council during an open debate titled "Effective multilateralism through the defence of the principles of the UN Charter." "Our sustained commitment to effective multilateralism, grounded in international law and the principles of the UN Charter, is essential to maintaining international peace and security," Al Marar said. "In turn, defending the principles of the Charter is vital to maintaining effective multilateralism. To address our common challenges and threats, it is imperative to promote dialogue and cooperation among nations. We must double down on efforts to bring a peaceful resolution to conflict and crises, from Sudan to Ukraine," he added. In his statement, Al Marar emphasised the need for the multilateral system to serve all UN members, not only member states with disproportionate influence over the multilateral system. He noted that the multilateral system must facilitate the peaceful settlement of disputes, promote security, and devise collective solutions to key global threats. Al Marar said the multilateral system must include all stakeholders -- not only governments -- including civil society and the private sector. The meeting took place during the Russian Federation's Council presidency in April. It was chaired by Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov. (ANI/WAM) Senator Bernie Sanders, a former two-time presidential candidate, said on Tuesday he endorses President Biden's re-election bid, foregoing a third run for the White House, Fox News reported citing media reports. Biden announced earlier in the day that he would be seeking a second term despite polls showing a majority of Americans, and Democrats, don't want him to run again, Fox News reported. According to the report, Sanders said he would "do everything I can to see the president is reelected", warning against a victory by former President Trump or another Republican, Fox News reported. "The last thing this country needs is a Donald Trump or some other right-wing demagogue who is going to try to undermine American democracy or take away a woman's right to choose, or not address the crisis of gun violence, or racism, sexism or homophobia," Sanders reportedly said. "So, I'm in to do what I can to make sure that the President is reelected." Sanders predicted Biden would ultimately be the Democratic nominee on Election Day, saying he thought his job, and the job of the progressive movement, was "to make certain that [Biden] stands up and fights for the working class of this country and does not take anything for granted." Sanders, a socialist who has served in Congress for decades as a member of both the House and Senate, was the runner-up for the Democratic presidential nominations in both 2016 and 2020, and has commanded a large following among the progressive wing of the Democratic Party since entering the national stage, Fox News reported. The 81-year-old will likely never run for president again, given his age, but said it was "a wonderful privilege" to have run when he did. (ANI) US President Joe Biden will attend the G7 Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima, Japan on May 19-21. On May 24, President Biden will attend the third in-person Quad Leaders' Summit in Sydney, Australia, with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, The White House said in a Press Release. US President Joe Biden will attend the G7 Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima, Japan on May 19-21. The President and G7 leaders will discuss a range of the most pressing global issues, including the G7's unwavering support for Ukraine, addressing the dual food and climate crises, securing inclusive and resilient economic growth, and continuing to lead a clean energy transition at home and for our partners around the world, the release said. On May 24, President Biden will attend the third in-person Quad Leaders' Summit in Sydney, Australia, with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia. The Quad leaders will discuss how they can deepen their cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, maritime domain awareness, and other issues that matter to the people of the Indo-Pacific. Australia will host the Quad Leaders' Summit on May 24 in Sydney, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Twitter earlier on Wednesday. "I'm pleased to announce that Australia will be hosting the Quad Leaders' Summit for the first time on May 24 in Sydney,' Anthony Albanese tweeted. Prime Minister Modi will be travelling to Australia in May to take part in the Quad leadership summit. The announcement was made during the joint press conference hosted by Prime Minister Modi and his Australian counterpart in March when the latter was on a four-day visit to India. "India and Australia are both members of the Quad. I thank PM Albanese for inviting me to Australia for the Quad Leaders' Summit in May. I have invited him to India for the G20 summit in September," PM Modi had said earlier. The leaders of the Quad group have met on four occasions earlier and their next meeting will be held in Australia. The group's importance in the region has increased due to its keen interest in sustainable and inclusive economic growth and increasing people-to-people connections between Quad members and non-Quad members. Prime Minister Modi, on several occasions, has highlighted that the Quad is a force of global good and is aimed at developing the region while protecting the interests of all members of the Indo-Pacific region. The Quad is a strategic forum comprising India, Japan, the US, and Australia. Its primary objective is to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence. (ANI) On the occasion of the 34th birthday of the 11th Panchem Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the global community on Tuesday urged China to provide proof of life and account for his whereabouts. Thirty Spanish senators called on the Chinese government on Tuesday to allow the Panchen Lama to exercise his fundamental freedom in accordance with the PRC's international commitments and call for the immediate release of the Panchen Lama, his family and all other Tibetan political prisoners, reported The Tibet Post. The Spanish Senators said, "Tibet remains the third least free country in the world, tied with Syria and South Sudan. Tibet has been under the tight control of China for more than six decades. This type of repressive regime is best exemplified by the case of the Panchem Lama". "We call on the Chinese authorities to allow him to fully exercise his fundamental freedoms, as established in the international commitments of the Chinese Communist Party. And we call for the prompt release of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his parents, immediately and unconditionally, together with all Tibetan political prisoners," the Senators added. The Inter-Parliamentary Group for Tibet in the Spanish Senate demanded China provide proof of life and account for his whereabouts, reported Central Tibetan Administration. The inter-parliamentary group for Tibet in the Senate was established and launched earlier in February this year at the initiative of Senator Robert Masih Nahar, and this is one of its first political activities. US Republican Senator Jim McGovern also called the Chinese government to release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. "On his 34th birthday, I call on the Chinese government to release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima--the Panchen Lama--one of the highest positions in Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetans deserve to venerate their leaders without interference, and he and his family should be released immediately," tweeted McGovern. Member of the European Parliament also asked whether the EU will adopt an official position on succession of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. In their joint statement on the 34th birthday of Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Els Van Hoof, President and Samuel Cogolati, Vice-President, of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Belgian Federal Parliament condemned the Chinese government's interference in the selection and recognition of the reincarnation of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, reported Central Tibetan Administration. They further stated that the system of recognising reincarnated spiritual beings is a religious practice unique to Tibetan Buddhism and should solely be the prerogative of the present Dalai Lama himself and no one else. In addition, they also strongly support Tibetan people's right to freedom of religion, cultural and linguistic identity. On the occasion of the 34th birthday anniversary of the 11th Panchem Lama, 11 Members of the European Parliament from across the political spectrum led by MEP Mikulas Peksa submitted a written question to the EU High Representative Josep Borrell over his release. On the occasion, eleven MEPs, including Mikulas Peksa, Antoni Comin I Oliveres, Carles Puigdemont I Casamajo, Clara Ponsati Obiols, Miriam Lexmann, Marketa Gregorova, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Reinhard Butikofer, Hannes Heide, Ausra Maldeikiene, Salima Yenbou, from across the political spectrum, have submitted a written question to the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, asking whether he will raise the issue of the 11th Panchen Lama's enforced disappearance with his Chinese counterpart at the EU-China strategic dialogue and whether the EU will consider adopting an official position on the succession of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, similar to that of the US. The Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) of the Central Tibetan Administration issued a statement on the 34th Birth Anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama, and stated, " Today marks the 34th birth anniversary of one of Tibet's important religious leaders, the 11th Panchen Lama, who has been in Chinese custody for more than 27 years since he was initially abducted at six along with his entire family. What was meant to be a sacred and joyous day for Tibetans and Buddhists around the world to celebrate the birth anniversary of their religious leader has instead become a painful reminder of China's abduction and disappearance of the Panchen Lama." Meanwhile, Tibetans in Toronto celebrated Panchem Lama's birthday, calling for his "immediate release." Around 150 Tibetans in Toronto gathered at the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre to celebrate the 34th birthday of the 11th Panchem Lama, who was abducted in 1995 and they expressed their support for his immediate release. Four Tibetan non-governmental organisations in Dharamshala, Tibetan Youth Congress, and Students for a Free Tibet, Tibetan Women's Association and National Democratic Party of Tibet organised a prayer service for Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet, in the main Tibetan temple in Dharamshala on the occasion. Tenzin Phakdon, an activist from Students for a Free Tibet said that they are celebrating the birthday to remind the world that a six-year-old boy was kept in prison by China. She called on the world to ask China about the whereabouts of the 11th Panchen Lama. Speaking to ANI, Tenzin Phakdon said, "Today we are celebrating the 34th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. The whole world doesn't know about his whereabouts except the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Xi Jinping because they captured him when he was six years old. He was actually recognized by the 14th Dalai Lama and since then he is imprisoned and for the last 28 years, we don't know about him." The 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet will be 34 years old on April 25, 2023. He was abducted by the Chinese communist government at the age of six after His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognised him as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama. He has since disappeared and become the world's youngest political prisoner. (ANI) Over 270 Covid-19 subvariants have emerged in China within a week, the NTD reported, adding that the country's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention made the announcement last week. On Saturday last, China's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention announced that over 275 new Covid-19 subvariants were detected in the country within 7 days. The Epoch Times reported that the Chinese authorities have discovered these new sub-variants from April 14 to 20. The Chinese media reported that residents are posting their positive results online revealing that many are getting re-infected. According to The Epoch Times, many residents are posting their positive virus test results online, pointing to a trend of reinfection. Now, concerns over possible mutations are front and centre. In a social media post, an internet user shared that her husband and two children caught the virus once again. So far their symptoms are mild. In another post, the entire family was re-infected after 3 months they got tested positive once, as per The Epoch Times. A prominent Chinese virologist gave his take on what is going on. He explained that if the virus were to mutate the reinfections will start happening about half a year later and usually on a limited scale. "But if that mutation changed enough to break through the human immune system then the trend of reinfections could be enough to form a second wave," he added, as per The Epoch Times. Earlier on Tuesday, China said travellers entering the country are no longer required to show a negative PCR test for Covid. This came as another step toward reopening after a long period of pandemic-era isolation, The New York Times reported. A spokeswoman for China's foreign ministry said, beginning April 29, people going to China can take an antigen test to replace the previously mandated PCR test within 48 hours before boarding their flight. The spokeswoman, Mao Ning, added that airlines would not check test results before boarding. She did not say whether others, such as immigration officials, would check. Notices by Chinese embassies overseas said that travellers arriving in China would still need to fill out a health declaration form and that customs officials would conduct unspecified spot checks, according to The New York Times. China-based SHINE recently reported that New XBB COVID sub-variants had been reported in China. In the past week, there were 12 new sub-variants detected in China. China from December 1 to April 20 reported 32,993 effective genomic sequences of domestic cases. All were confirmed as Omicron variants covering 117 sub-variants, with BA.5.2 and BF.7 as dominants, according to the weekly report issued by the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. The centre detected 603 cases of variants under strict inspection, including the 12 sub-variants being found for the first time, according to SHINE. (ANI) A massive protest rally was taken out on the occasion of Eid, in Pakistan's Gwadar, demanding the release of missing persons including many political activists, Pakistan vernacular media reported. According to Intekhab Daily, a large number of people took part in the protest rally demanding the release of Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman Baloch and Mahil Baloch. Hussain Wadela, President of 'Give Rights Movement' (Haq Do Tehreek), Deputy Organiser Yakub Juski, Gwadar organiser Akram Fida, sister of missing Azeem Baloch said that Maulana Hidayat ur Rahman Baloch has been behind bars for past three months for demanding rights, as per Intekhab Daily. The protesters demanded the release of Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman Baloch and Mahil Baloch and the recovery of all the missing persons, according to Pak vernacular media outlet Intekhab Daily. Haq Do Tehreek (Give Rights Movement) had earlier said Balochistan has been made hell for political activists, according to Pakistan vernacular media Qudrat. On April 19, Haq Do Tehreek had announced that protest rallies for the release of Maulana Hidayatur Rahman and Mahil Baloch and the recovery of missing persons would be taken out across Balochistan. The movement's spokesperson Hafiz Kayani said that the situation in Balochistan is worse than in Palestine, according to Qudrat. Geo News recently reported that the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has sounded alarm over growing public frustration pertaining to enforced disappearances, economic exclusion, curbs on press freedom, misgovernance and allegations of political manipulation by the establishment in Balochistan. A fact-finding mission led by HRCP in October 2022 said that a palpable sense of anger was seen among ordinary citizens, many of whom even called Balochistan as a 'colony' of the state during meetings with the organisation, as per the news report. The mission raised concern about the state's widespread use of enforced disappearances to stop dissent, a grievance echoed in numerous conversations, as per the Geo News report. The discontent has been exacerbated by the extensive presence of paramilitary check-posts, which people have said has caused a climate of fear, particularly in Makran. Balochistan continues to be deprived of its fair share of revenues from large development projects initiated by China through CPEC amid the serious economic downtown, Geo News reported, adding that the mission also observed that the absence of a healthy legal trading ecosystem between Balochistan and Pakistan's neighbouring nations has enhanced poverty levels in the province. (ANI) "Reconnaissance aircraft intercepted. Germany and UK #Eurofighter have been alerted to identify 3 military machines. The two SU-27 flankers and one IL-20 from Russia flew again without a transponder signal in international airspace over the Baltic Sea," tweeted Team Luftwaffe. German and British forces were deployed to identify the two Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft and one Ilyushin Il-20 aircraft. It posted several images of the Russian aircraft mid-flight. Germany handed over responsibility for NATO's Baltic air policing mission to Britain earlier this month. NATO allies pitch in to protect the air space there because Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia do not have their own fighter jets. Notably, Russian military aircraft regularly fly from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad and back, meaning that such encounters are fairly routine in the region. Security has been heightened for the Baltic states after Russia invaded Ukraine last year. Meanwhile, fears are growing in Ukraine that Moscow is pushing its close ally Belarus to take direct part in the fighting. In recent months, Belarussian president Alexander Lukashenko has relied on the Kremlin's political and economic support to help deal with protests and mass arrests. A Belarusian air defence unit was formed recently in Minsk, which is thought to station some of Moscow's missile units. (ANI) India has started evacuating Indians from conflict-ridden Sudan under "Operation Kaveri." Indian citizens are being evacuated in several batches by the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force aircraft. Now, private carriers in India are also showing their willingness to operate charter flights from India to Jeddah for evacuation. India's low-cost carrier Indigo has offered its services to the government regarding evacuation under Operation Kaveri. "We have offered our services for charter flights to Jeddah under the Indian Government's Operation Kaveri rescue mission of our citizens from Sudan," an IndiGo official said. "We are still awaiting details from the ministry to launch these flights, nothing has been confirmed as of yet," further airlines company added. Asked whether Air India (AI) is operating a flight to evacuate Indians under Operation Kaveri. A senior AI official told ANI, "The AI is very capable of doing evacuation drills. However, no such request has been received so far." The evacuation operation started in Port Sudan. A number of estimated 300-500 Indian citizens have been evacuated by ship and other evacuation processes are going on. Earlier, Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain, Ambassador of Sudan to India told ANI, "The evacuation process is a very sensitive process given to the political situation, due to the violation of the ceasefire. Due to the distance between Khartoum and Port Sudan, where most of the Indian citizens are staying, which is almost 1000 kilometres, they will have to go by road. So, it is very clear and obvious that this needs a lot of arrangements and coordination. We provided security and protection for the convoy from Khartoum towards Sudan. Hopefully, this operation will continue until all Indian citizens come back safely to their homes and to their families." Operation Kaveri was launched by India to evacuate Indians stranded in Sudan where the Sudanese Army and paramilitary groups are fighting. Indian Navy has also joined Operation Kaveri with INS Teg arriving at Port Sudan on Tuesday with additional officials and essential relief materials. (ANI) Tibetan diaspora on Tuesday (local time) protested against China and demanded to release the 11th Panchem Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima on the occasion of his 34th birthday. The protest organized by the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress NY-NJ chapter took place in front of the Chinese Consulate in New York from 1 pm to 2 pm (local time). Around 30 to 40 Tibetan diaspora participated in the protest and shouted slogans against China - "Release Panchem Lama", "Long live Dalai Lama", "We want Panchem Lama", "Shame on Chinese Government", "Where is Panchem Lama now", and "China kidnapped Panchem Lama" etc. The 11th Panchem Lama of Tibet will be 34 years old on April 25, 2023. He was abducted by the Chinese communist government at the age of six after His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognised him as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchem Lama. He has since disappeared and become the world's youngest political prisoner. 30 Spanish Senators also called on the Chinese government on Tuesday to allow the Panchem Lama to exercise his fundamental freedom in accordance with the PRC's international commitments and call for the immediate release of the Panchem Lama, his family and all other Tibetan political prisoners, reported The Tibet Post. "We call on the Chinese authorities to allow him to fully exercise his fundamental freedoms, as established in the international commitments of the Chinese Communist Party. And we call for the prompt release of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his parents, immediately and unconditionally, together with all Tibetan political prisoners," said the Senators. The Inter-Parliamentary Group for Tibet in the Spanish Senate demanded China to provide proof of life and account for his whereabouts, reported Central Tibetan Administration. US Republican Senator Jim McGovern also called the Chinese government to release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. "On his 34th birthday, I call on the Chinese government to release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima--the Panchem Lama--one of the highest positions in Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetans deserve to venerate their leaders without interference, and he and his family should be released immediately," tweeted McGovern. On the occasion of the 34th birthday anniversary of the 11th Panchem Lama, 11 Members of the European Parliament from across the political spectrum led by MEP Mikulas Peksa submitted a written question to the EU High Representative Josep Borrell over his release. Meanwhile, Tibetans in Toronto celebrated Panchem Lama's 34th birthday, calling for his "immediate release." Around 150 Tibetans in Toronto gathered at the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre to celebrate the 34th birthday of the 11th Panchem Lama, who was abducted in 1995 and they expressed their support for his immediate release. (ANI) Abu Dhabi [USE], April 26 (ANI/WAM): Borouge, a petrochemical company that provides innovative and differentiated polyolefin solutions, has completed a turnaround project at its "Borouge 2" plant in Al Ruways Industrial City to ensure safe and reliable operations of the facility for the next operation cycle. Production started at Borouge's first plant (Borouge 1) in 2001 with an annual capacity of 450,000 tonnes of polyethylene, which was increased in 2005 to 600,000 tonnes. In 2010, Borouge increased its total annual production capacity to 2 million tonnes of Borstar polyolefins (polyethylene and polypropylene) upon starting-up its second plant (Borouge 2). Planning to enhance its growth and increase its capacity to meet the rising demand for differentiated polyolefin solutions, in 2015, Borouge started-up its third plant (Borouge 3) which raised its total annual capacity to 4.5 million tonnes followed by the starting up of Borouge's fifth polypropylene unit (PP5) in early 2022, bringing the company's total production capacity to 5 million tonnes of polyolefins per year. Dr Saif Al Hajri, Vice President of Maintenance at Borouge, confirmed that the production capacity of Borouge's petrochemical complex in Al Ruways Industrial City has increased by more than 10-fold in 20 years to meet the growing demand for the company's solutions and products locally, regionally and globally. Al Hajri pointed out that more than 6,000 employees and contractors, including a large number of Emirati engineers and managers, participated in the Borouge 2 turnaround project, where they spent more than 1.84 million safe man-hours in full compliance with health, safety and environmental rules to enhance the continuity of the company's business. He explained that the turnaround operations were carried out by employees from many departments across Borouge, including Operations, Maintenance, HSE and Operational Excellence, and planners and contractors. Al Hajri said, "We carry out turnarounds at the Borouge's petrochemical plants periodically to ensure safe and reliable operations for the next five years. The turnaround work at Borouge 2 plant began in February and was successfully and safely completed by mid-March 2023, where the plant's operational units were well maintained and are all operating smoothly." "The Borouge 2 Turnaround has helped us enhance our operational performance improvements and ensure safe operation during the next cycle, where a total of more than 31,000 activities were implemented based on more than 6,000 work orders. We also serviced 196 pieces of rotating equipment and 486 pieces of static equipment and overhauled 1,316 valves," he added. Salem Al Busaeedi, Vice President, Plant Operations (Polyolefins) at Borouge, said, "At Borouge, we emphasise the performance, profitability and efficiency of our operations and enhance the contribution and development of our people, while actively contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)." He added that Borouge is committed to operational and commercial excellence, with a detailed efficiency enhancement strategy focused on safety, plant reliability and integrity and cash flow optimisation. Al Busaeedi pointed out the importance of the 'Borouge Operational Excellence Programme', which aims to enhance efficiency and productivity and achieve higher utilisation rates, reduce energy consumption and in turn reduce GHG emissions over the medium term. It also aims to optimise outside resourcing and maintenance costs by challenging capital expenditure plans, including turnarounds to improve efficiencies and to keep low maintenance capital expenditure levels. "Our operational excellence programme leverages existing expertise across our platforms to share best practices, provide in-house technical support and cooperate with committees to implement preventative and predictive programmes, including assessment of end-of-life for equipment and associated systems," he noted. Al Busaeedi reaffirmed that commitment to 100% HSE is a key priority for Borouge as the company regularly trains its employees to implement the safest practices in the industry. Borouge has one of the lowest total recordable incident rates in the industry. Borouge has also developed a comprehensive health and safety management system by adopting international best practice frameworks and continuous learning. He explained that before launching the Borouge 2 turnaround project, over 1,800 HSE group engagement sessions were implemented and 600 HSE recognitions were received. He noted that a great example of the successful contribution of Borouge's UAE National employees in the turnaround projects is Amina Hassan AlHosani, Engineer, Mechanical Maintenance, who is the first UAE National female employee assigned as Project Lead for the Borouge 2 turnaround project. Amina, who holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, joined Borouge in 2019. Amina accepted to join the accelerated learning path opportunity, as part of the Maintenance function's contribution to the 'Value Enhancement Programme. She played a significant role in completing some major turnaround milestones and demonstrated great leadership skills while collaborating with her colleagues. She said, "I am very proud to have contributed to leading the Borouge 2 turnaround project through which my colleagues and I maintained the most important operational units in the plant so that it can continue working and producing during the next production cycle. I highly appreciate Borouge's management and my superiors for giving me this valuable opportunity to lead the Borouge 2 turnaround project as the first Emirati female employee to perform this type of task in the company, and I strongly value their confidence in my ability to manage the project successfully as one of the Emirati manpower contributing to building this country." Borouge's petrochemical complex is located in Al Ruways Industrial City, about 250 kilometres west of Abu Dhabi City. The complex is also the largest Borstar process technology-based plant in the world, providing enhanced innovative bimodal polymers for a broad range of polyolefin applications. (ANI/WAM) Chinese authorities on Tuesday announced the formal arrest of Yang Chih-yuan, a pro-independence political activist from Taiwan, on suspicion of "secession", more than eight months after he was detained in eastern Zhejiang province, reported CNN. Yang Chih-yuan, a democracy campaigner and pro-independence politician, was detained by Chinese state security in Wenzhou in Zhejiang province last August, hours after then-United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrapped up her high-stakes visit to Taipei. China's Supreme People's Procuratorate announced on social media that prosecutors in Wenzhou had approved the arrest of Yang on secession charges after the city's state security bureau concluded its investigation and handed the case to the prosecutors for "review and prosecution," reported CNN. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said they had repeatedly reached out to mainland authorities about Yang's detention but had not received a direct response. "The government reiterates that Yang is innocent and calls on the Chinese Communist Party to release Yang and allow him to return to Taiwan as soon as possible," the council said in a statement to CNN. Yang, 33, has been active in Taiwan's social movements for more than a decade and once contested for a seat in Taiwan's legislature, which he did not win. In 2019, he became the vice chairman of the Taiwan National Party, a fringe political party advocating Taiwan's independence. The party is now defunct, according to Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior. He has published books critical of the Communist Party. China's state broadcaster CCTV reported on August 3 last year that Yang was taken into custody by the state security bureau in Wenzhou for engaging in "separatist activities" supporting Taiwan's independence and endangering national security. China's ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan as its own territory, despite having never controlled it, and has refused to rule out the use of force to "unify" the island with mainland China. (ANI) Indian Ambassador to China Pradeep Kumar Rawat presented his credentials to Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People, according to the Embassy of India in Beijing. The Chinese President received the credentials of 70 ambassadors to China on April 24. Xi Jinping, while extending his welcome to the ambassadors, asked them to convey his cordial greetings and best wishes to their state leaders, organisation leaders and the people, State-run Xinhua news agency reported. According to Xinhua, China is all set to strengthen friendship and expand mutually beneficial cooperation with people of other countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit and push forward bilateral relations, said Xi. Xi also noted that it is hoped that ambassadors will have a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of China and serve as envoys of friendship and bridges of cooperation. The Chinese government will provide support and convenience for ambassadors to perform their duties, as per Xinhua. The Chinese Premier also said that China has come a long way in battling the Covid-19 pandemic by putting people and life first. In this process, China has received sincere help from several countries and people. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech after receiving the credentials of 70 ambassadors to China, Xinhua reported. (ANI) After the Poonch terror attack, former Pakistani diplomat Abdul Basit fears that India will carry out another surgical strike on Pakistan. Counter-strike fear is looming in Pakistan after the Poonch terror attack and it has become the talk of the town. In a recent video, Basit said, "Now people in Pakistan are talking about another surgical strike or air strike by India. I do not think that now they will do the same because they are holding SCO meet and G20 presidency this year. I don't see any misadventures from India till the time they hold presidencies. But next year during elections, India may do this again. This may happen just before the elections in India." Abdul Basit also tried to justify the horrifying act in Poonch in which five army personnel lost their lives. He said, "Whoever has done it, be it Mujahedeen or whosoever, they have targeted the military, not civilians. They are engaged in a legitimate struggle. If you are conducting a movement, you are targeting the military but not civilians, international law allows it." The former Pakistani diplomat also stated, "India knows where we stand." This video came a few days after the Poonch terror attack. On April 20, an Army vehicle passing Bhimber Gali and Poonch in the Rajouri sector was fired upon by unidentified terrorists, through grenades, which lead to the death of five soldiers. Five personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles deployed for counterterrorism operations lost their lives in the incident, the Army said. The mortal remains of all five soldiers were brought to their native village on Saturday.As per sources, the terrorists are suspected to have been from the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Following the attack, the army launched a massive operation on Friday to hunt down a group of around six to seven terrorists, which it said was behind the ambush. In the recent development of the case, bullets were found at the spot in Bhimber Gali in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch where five soldiers lost their lives. "The Army and security agencies have received inputs about the presence of 6-7 terrorists operating in two groups in the Rajouri-Poonch sector near the area where the incident took place," defence sources told ANI at that time. (ANI) Amid the 72-hour ceasefire that has been agreed upon by the two warring factions in Sudan, countries have been evacuating their citizens at the speed of light, India being one to recently evacuate its nationals under Operation Kaveri. The Indian Air Force very recently rescued another batch of around 250 trapped Indians from conflict-torn Sudan as part of the rescue effort. More than 250 people were evacuated from Port Sudan by two IAF C-130 J planes. Prior to this, 135 more stranded Indians were rescued from Sudan on Wednesday. The Indians evacuated from violence-hit Sudan, too had a story to tell. They narrated their ordeal and said that the fight was so intense that it became an everyday struggle to even arrange for food. Narrating his experience, one of the Indian nationals evacuated from Sudan told ANI, "The fight was intense. We were struggling for food. The scenario continued for 2-3 days." Sudan is facing violence due to fighting between the army and the paramilitary forces. There are reports of violence even amid a 72-hour ceasefire. Fighting has been raging between forces loyal to Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In a separate statement, another evacuated Indian said, "The tent of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) was fixated near our company. Early morning at around 9, the forces entered our company. We were looted." "They kept us, hostage, for 8 hours. They kept riffles at our chest and looted us. Our mobiles were stolen," he told ANI. "We kept in touch with the Embassy and told them to arrange for the buses, as we had diesel. The Indian Navy came and treated us well," the Indian national evacuated from Sudan said. The conflict began when a coup in 2021 between Sudan's military leader and his deputy on the ruling council erupted derailing a plan for a transition to a civilian democracy after the fall of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019. As the fighting between the Sudanese Army and paramilitary groups intensified in the capital Khartoum, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed on Monday that its 'Operation Kaveri' to evacuate its citizens from battle-torn Sudan is underway and about 500 Indians had reached Port Sudan. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, "Operation Kaveri gets underway to bring back our citizens stranded in Sudan. About 500 Indians have reached Port Sudan. More on their way. Our ships and aircraft are set to bring them back home. Committed to assisting all our brethren in Sudan." Previously, France Embassy in India informed that their country has evacuated some Indians along with citizens of 27 other countries as part of its evacuation mission from violence-hit Sudan. Earlier, on Saturday, Saudi Arabia said it has evacuated 66 citizens of "brotherly and friendly" foreign countries that included a few Indian nationals from the conflict-hit nation. The evacuation came days after Jaishankar spoke to his Saudi Arabia counterpart. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Sudan. Various countries have successfully evacuated their citizens from the violence-hit North African country. However, there is still an immense concern about the safety of those who still remain in the country, regardless of their nationality, given the ongoing violence and its impact on critical resources like food, water and medical care. (ANI) Amid the 72-hour ceasefire agreed upon between Sudan's army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), countries including India are leaving no stone unturned to evacuate citizens. The Indian Air Force very recently rescued another batch of around 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport on a flight bound for New Delhi, according to Minister of State for Ministry of External Affairs V Muraleedharan. The Indians evacuated from violence-hit Sudan thanked Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia and the Indian government for the smooth arrangements. One of the passengers in Gujarati thanked the Indian army and the management team. Meanwhile, another passenger stated that the facilities and arrangements done in Saudi Arabia, by the embassy are "good". "I really appreciate the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia. they have done wonderful arrangements for the evacuees coming out of Port Sudan. We can never get a better arrangement than this. Really appreciate them," another passenger said. Operation Kaveri is a rescue operation launched by the central government to evacuate stranded Indian citizens from Sudan. "Happy to see off 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport in a flight bound for New Delhi They will be reaching the motherland soon, reuniting with their families Under #OperationKaveri the Government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan & bring them home safely," MoS Muraleedharan tweeted. India has deployed its military planes and warships to rescue Indians from there. Sudan is experiencing bloodshed as a result of clashes between the army and paramilitary forces. Fighting has erupted between soldiers loyal to Sudanese army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, paramilitary Rapid Support Soldiers (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. The evacuation operation started in Port Sudan. Previously, France Embassy in India informed that their country has evacuated some Indians along with citizens of 27 other countries as part of its evacuation mission from violence-hit Sudan. Earlier, on Saturday, Saudi Arabia said it has evacuated 66 citizens of "brotherly and friendly" foreign countries that included a few Indian nationals from the conflict-hit nation. The evacuation came days after Jaishankar spoke to his Saudi Arabia counterpart. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Sudan. (ANI) UK Minister for Investment Dominic Johnson on Wednesday arrived in India's tech capital Bengaluru to strengthen the UK-India investment partnership across technology, life sciences and more. During his visit, Johnson will meet investors and leading Indian businesses in Pune and Bengaluru, including Infosys and Zensar, to drum up investor interest in the UK, the UK's Department for Business and Trade said in an official statement. India remains a priority market for the UK, and the Minister's visit will help create momentum for the two nations' ongoing trade negotiations, which began this week with Round 9. "It is fantastic to be in India again visiting the vibrant cities of Pune and Bengaluru to find out how our strong cultural and economic ties mean investors and business leaders continue to choose the UK," Dominic Johnson said on his India visit, according to the UK's Department for Business and Trade. "From life sciences to AI, now is the time to invest in the UK as we are determined to be the undisputed number one investment destination in Europe," he added. Moreover, Johnson will also use his visit to promote the Global Investment Summit 2023, which will bring together over 200 CEOs of multinational companies and investment corporations this Autumn. The inaugural Summit in 2021 secured nearly 10 billion pound of new foreign investment on the day, with this year's event showcasing emerging UK success stories in life sciences, deep tech, nuclear fusion and small modular reactors (SMRs), and manufacturing, the official release read. India was the UK's 12th largest trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2022 accounting for 2.1 per cent of total UK trade. Minister for Investment Lord Dominic Johnson visited Mumbai and New Delhi in October last year where he met with investors and businesses including Hospitals Apollo, Prodapt and Wockhardt, the release said. (ANI) * India participated in the Ninth BRICS Middle East North Africa (MENA) Meeting, on Wednesday, in Cape Town, under the chairmanship of South Africa. During the meeting, the member countries exchanged views on hotspots and the overall regional situation. On Twitter, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) met today in a hybrid format in Cape Town, under the chairmanship of South Africa. Members exchanged views on hotspots and overall regional situation." During the meeting, they noted that rising global instability and uncertainties have negatively impacted global peace, security and development including in the region, according to the joint statement released by MEA. "They expressed serious concern over continued conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa that pose threats to regional and international peace, stability and security," the statement read. "Equally, they stated that regional crises should be resolved exclusively through political and diplomatic dialogue based on unconditional respect for independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of all MENA countries," it added. The member countries also reaffirmed their commitment to the basic principle that peace and security in the MENA region should be achieved and sustained in accordance with, and in full respect for, international law and the United Nations (UN) Charter. They reaffirmed the primary role of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in maintaining international peace and security. South Africa's Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Candith Mashego-Dlamini announced that Saudi Arabia and Iran are entering into a new friendly phase, which was facilitated by China on March 10, 2023, in Beijing. "We warmly welcome this agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, to re-open their Embassies and missions in the next two months. We maintain that the rapprochement between these two countries will greatly contribute towards peace, stability and development in the region," Dlamini said. "We equally welcome and are proud of the role played by our fellow BRICS member, the Peoples Republic of China, as well as the role played by Oman and Iraq, in the mediation and facilitation of this agreement," she added. She added that Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud met with Syrian President Bashar, the second positive development in the region. The visit was designed to find a political solution to Syria's civil war and the normalisation of Saudi Syrian relations. "South Africa is deeply concerned by the continuing levels of violence and grave attacks directed against Palestinians in recent months by Israeli settlers and Israeli occupation forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The brutality and provocative rhetoric of these actions perpetuate an endemic cycle of violence which is not conducive to peace, and detracts from a just settlement, based on a two-State solution," South Africa's Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation said. "South Africa remains committed to a solution premised on a just settlement with just laws that are rights-based. We reiterate our support for the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights including but not limited to their right to self-determination," she added. (ANI) As "Operation Kaveri" is underway, the Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday opened a help desk at the resident commissioner's office in Delhi for people stranded in Sudan, a senior official said in Lucknow. "Those coming from Sudan can contact Neeraj Singh, assistant review officer on 8920808414 or Ashish Kumar, protocol assistant on 9313434088 or Whatsapp them about their problems," an order issued by Additional Resident Commissioner, New Delhi, Saumya Srivastava said. Amid the 72-hour ceasefire agreed upon between Sudan's army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), countries including India are leaving no stone unturned to evacuate citizens. The total number of Indians evacuated so far from Sudan stands at around 530, according to official data. In the recent batch, 360 Indians left Jeddah Airport on a flight bound for New Delhi and will soon be reunited with their families, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said on Wednesday. Operation Kaveri is a rescue operation launched by the central government to evacuate stranded Indian citizens from Sudan. "Happy to see off 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport in a flight bound for New Delhi They will be reaching the motherland soon, reuniting with their families Under #OperationKaveri the Government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan & bring them home safely," MoS Muraleedharan tweeted. India has deployed its military planes and warships to rescue Indians from there. The evacuation operation started in Port Sudan. The Indian Air Force C-17 transport aircraft is scheduled to leave for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to bring back Indian citizens stranded in Sudan to their homes, according to government sources. As per the government sources, the aircraft is planned to leave in the evening from Ghaziabad's Hindon air base and return with Indians from Jeddah tomorrow morning to Mumbai. The government sources also stated that the INS Teg is stationed at Port Sudan to bring back Indians from there to Jeddah. Earlier, the INS Sumedha has already disembarked 278 Indians from there to Jeddah.INS Tarkash is in the vicinity to take part in the operations there, according to Government sources. Now, private carriers in India are also showing their willingness to operate charter flights from India to Jeddah for evacuation. India's low-cost carrier Indigo has offered its services to the government regarding evacuation under Operation Kaveri. Previously, France Embassy in India informed that their country has evacuated some Indians along with citizens of 27 other countries as part of its evacuation mission from violence-hit Sudan. Earlier, on Saturday, Saudi Arabia said it has evacuated 66 citizens of "brotherly and friendly" foreign countries that included a few Indian nationals from the conflict-hit nation. The evacuation came days after Jaishankar spoke to his Saudi Arabia counterpart. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Sudan. (ANI) Protestors in Nepal on Wednesday waved black flags and pelted stones on the convoy of former Prime Minister and leader of the opposition party KP Sharma Oli. The incident took place in the Jhapa district of Nepal which is also Oli's home district The convoy had moved past the agitators towards the venue where the former Prime Minister was travelling to attend the party program. Police have detained one person in connection with the attack on the convoy. They also shouted slogans against Oli for endorsing "Koshi" as the name of the Province. The agitating parties have been demanding the name of the province on the basis of identity and have been protesting against renaming it. Meanwhile, in Kathmandu, Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha informed the House of Representatives that one demonstrator has been arrested by the police for displaying black flags to Oli. Speaking in the House of Representatives meeting on Wednesday, Home Minister Shrestha expressed commitment from the government side to ensure the security of the opposition leader as well as the citizens. "Regarding the government's reaction, it is committed to ensuring the security of each and every citizen; on top of that, one of the senior leaders in Nepali politics, the parliamentary party leader of the opposition party and the chairman of the party- we are aware of the security from all aspects. Some of the members of parliament suggested heightening security, when we essence the need then we are ready to add-on security, also the government is committed to assuring the security of every citizen," Shrestha said addressing the parliamentary meeting. Earlier, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) UML chief whip Padam Giri had objected to the attempted assault against party chairman Oli. The UML chair was in Jhapa to attend a party program after which he has now travelled to Illam District, as per his secretariat. (ANI) India is rapidly building on its phenomenal software and innovation sectors to become a global powerhouse in science and technology, UK Science Minister George Freeman said after meeting his Indian counterpart Jitendra Singh on Wednesday, according to the statement released by the UK government. "India is rapidly building on its phenomenal software and innovation sectors to become a global powerhouse in science and technology. With our extensive trading and cultural links, shared democratic values and interest in urgent global issues from green technology and agri-tech to biosecurity and pandemic preparedness, we have very strong platforms for deepening research collaboration," Freeman said. "Today's agreement is part of our programme of deepening UK collaboration with other global science superpowers on ground-breaking innovation and research, to help tackle shared global challenges. This partnership will grow the sectors, companies and jobs of tomorrow for the benefit of both our countries and the globe," he added. This statement came after signing the landmark agreement to collaborate on science and innovation, which aims to remove red tape standing in the way of major collaborations while unleashing a raft of new joint research schemes aiming to deliver progress on some of the biggest issues facing the world, from climate change and pandemic preparedness through to AI and machine learning. Programmes include the establishment of a new UK-India Net Zero Innovation Virtual Centre focusing on industrial decarbonisation and launching the first-ever UK-India scientific deep sea voyage. The memorandum of understanding on research between the two countries was signed in Parliament today, enabling quicker, deeper collaboration on science between the two science powerhouses that will drive economic growth, create skilled jobs, and improve lives in the UK, India, and worldwide, the statement read. Meanwhile, Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, said, "The UK and India are leading research nations and research partners from the ocean floor to outer space - via agriculture, health, decarbonisation and AI." "Today's landmark agreement is another big step in delivering the UK-India 2030 Roadmap. We'll continue to bring our brightest minds and best tech together to forge a prosperous, clean and healthy fourth industrial revolution for future generations," he added. Alongside this momentous agreement, today's announcement also sees India named as a partner for the UK's International Science Partnerships Fund, carrying forward the UK-India science partnership built through the Newton-Bhabha fund. This renewed partnership will kick off with two new joint UK-India research programmes: Euro 5 million UK funding, matched by India, for research into Farmed Animal Diseases and Health and Euro 3.3 million UK funding, matched by India, towards a technology and skills partnership programme that will enable UK and Indian researchers to develop skills, technologies and knowledge in areas such as AI, machine learning and bio-imaging, as per the statement. The UK-India Net Zero Innovation Virtual Centre focusing on industrial decarbonisation and launching the first-ever UK-India scientific deep sea voyage are among the programmes that will be established, according to the statement. (ANI) According to a UN report, the demographic imbalance in China is likely to have far-reaching implications for the economy including labour shortages, rising employment costs and weakened spending power which would be a drag on economic growth. China's working-age population between 16 and 59 years has been falling by an average of 0.14 per cent annually between 2011 and 2022 and the annual average decrease is expected to decelerate further to 0.83 per cent between 2022 and 2035. The working-age population fell to 62 per cent of the population at the end of 2022 from 62.5 per cent a year earlier. According to UN data, China is projected to have a workforce size of less than 400 million by 2100. HSBC Chief Asia Economist, Frederic Neumann, said that the Chinese economy is entering a critical transition phase, no longer able to rely on an abundant, cost-competitive labour force to drive industrialization and growth. Robert Blohm, a Toronto-based Economist and Managing Director of the investment firm 'Keen Resources Asia', believed that China's demographic decline is the single biggest factor driving down its economic growth. China is getting old before it gets rich, having has major implications for the economy as revenues drop and government debt increases due to soaring health and welfare costs. The slower growth rate, shrinking labour force and expected reduction in tax revenue due toageing and shrinking population would create a substantial financial burden on the government budget and make it difficult for China to meet its 'Sustainable Development Goals' (SDW). China's era of double-digit growth is almost certainly over and the growth rate that the country would manage in the coming years is largely depending on how it adapts to the structural challenges of its economy. China's previous growth model based on cheap and abundant labour is no more valid and the future is unclear. The loss of human capital would imply fewer entrepreneurs, innovators, and skilled workers to fuel the economy and spur economic growth. Labour shortage and subsequent increases in labour costs would make it more difficult for Chinese companies to compete in the global market. Already China is facing a shortage of highly skilled workers, particularly in the technology, healthcare and engineering sectors. This would be a major challenge for Xi Jinping's ambitious plans to make China the world's largest economy and dominant superpower. There would be other potential social implications for China as its social security system would come under strain as there would be fewer workers to fund surging pensions and demand for health care due to the ageing population. Shrinking labour and a rapidly ageing population will impact contributions to the country's massive pension system. An ageing population and declining workforce could lead to increase social security costs. China's working age-to-dependency ratio increased from 37 per cent in 2010 to 45 per cent in 2021, meaning that for every 100 people, 45 required support. There would be increasing demand for healthcare, eldercare services and related products seeking significant investments. China is facing a dilemma of allocating scarce resources among competing needs of various sectors while maintaining economic growth. Despite the Government's efforts to increase coverage of health services after Covid19, the country's healthcare system is still highly inefficient, unequally distributed and inadequate. This would require a large investment in the future as China has struggled to keep pace with the speed of demographic and economic changes. According to Cai Yong, a Sociology Professor at the University of North Carolina who studies Chinese population issues, since Chinese people are living longer and the number of working-age, wealth-generating adults is contracting, the cost of education, health care and pensions are likely to climb to 25 per cent of GDP by mid-century from 15 per cent. On the other hand, India is well positioned and has the resources of its demographic dividend of a large working-age population in absolute numbers (1.1 billion) and proportion (75 per cent) than any other major economy to take advantage of the situation and influence trade and investment flows and upend the global balance of power. Already due to the disruptions from COVID-19 and rising geopolitical tensions with the West, industries and investors are looking for other destinations other than China for their supply chains and plants. Higher labour costs, driven by the rapidly shrinking labour force and a Western shift away from China due to geopolitical reasons are set to push low-margin, labour-intensive manufacturing out of China to labour-abundant countries such as India. India is also an attractive destination due to its large market for goods and services. India has the potential to replace China as the world's factory as the present educated Indian young generation has become the largest pool of global talent and the most attractive consumer andlabour source. Recently, Foxconn signed an agreement with Vedanta to invest USD 20 billion in setting up the country's first private semiconductor and display production plant in Gujarat is an indicator in this direction. (ANI) The two-day Global Buddhist Summit was held on 20-21 April 2023 at Hotel Ashok in New Delhi under the theme "Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis". The summit explored ways in which the fundamental teachings and values of Buddha can be an antidote to contemporary universal challenges and concerns. The summit was an effort towards engaging the global Buddha Dhamma leaders and scholars on matters of Buddhist and universal concerns, and to come up with policy inputs to address them collectively under the motto 'United Voice and Collective Wisdom'. The summit saw participation of eminent scholars, Sangha leaders and Dharma practitioners (both monks and nuns) from all over the world. The conference, overall, was divided into two sections -- the inaugural session and the technical session. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the summit and addressed the participants from across the globe. On the second day, the Dalai Lama blessed the summit and the participants with his holy presence and inspiring address. The technical session was held in two parallel sessions -- the Sangh and an Academic where Sangha leaders and erudite Buddhist scholars across the world deliberated on various topics associated with environmental crisis, world peace, preservation of Buddhist Heritage and Pilgrimage etc. At this summit, a special consideration was given to ensure that there was representation from both the genders as speakers in the technical sessions. Dharmachakra Mudra, the logo of the Global Buddhist Summit, signifies the first turning of the Wheel of Dhamma by the Shakyamuni Buddha after attaining enlightenment. The subject matter of the First Turning of the Wheel of Dhamma was the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eight-Fold Path, which are the essence of the teachings of the Buddha and are the foundational tenets of all the Buddhist Schools. The mudra conveys the profound meaning of the various topics dealt with at the Global Buddhist Summit. Therefore, the organising committee selected the Dharmachakra Mudra as the logo of the Global Buddhist Summit, 2023. A source said, "The mudras are the peculiar hand gestures of many Buddha statues depicting the Buddha in various positions and performing different hand gestures. They are the non-verbal mode of communication and self-expression consisting of hand gestures and figure postures." Among various Mudras of the Buddha Statues, the five most common ones are Abhaya Mudra, Bhumisparsha Mudra, Dhyana Mudra, Dharmachakra Mudra and Varada Mudra. It says that each of the mudras has its own meaning and ways of depiction in Buddhist art. Dharmachakra mudra is one of such interesting and unique hand gestures used in Buddha statues, which means the wheel of Dharma in Buddhism. The source added, "The Dharmachakra mudra is formed when the thumb and index finger of both the hands touch at their tips to form a circle. This particular circle symbolises the Wheel of Dharma." Similarly, this circle also means, in the metaphysical term, the union of method or Upaya and wisdom or Prajna. Both hands are held against the chest in Vitarka, while the left hand is facing inward which covers the right hand facing outward. The three remaining fingers of both hands remain extended and they have their own symbolic importance -- the middle finger of the right hand represents the 'hearers' of the teachings of the Buddha, the index finger represents the 'realizers' of the teachings and the little finger represents the Mahayana or 'the great vehicle. Similarly, the three extended fingers of the left hand represent the three jewels of Buddhist principles -- the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. As the gesture is performed with the hands held in front of the left side of the chest, or in front of the heart, the Dharmachakra mudra represents the teachings are straight from the Buddha's heart". With the participation of over 600 delegates from across the globe, the two-day Global Buddhist Summit was a grand success. (ANI) Taking to Twitter, the Indian Coast Guard said, "Indo-Korean bilateral talks culminated by signing Record of Discussions. As a special gesture & a token of friendship & solidarity, Commissioner General #KCG offered a lapel of Honorary Commandership (meant for high level #KCG officials) to #ADG Rakesh Pal #DGICG(Addl charge)." The Indian Coast Guard team was headed by ADG Rakesh Pal, Officiating Director General, Indian Coast Guard, the Ministry of Defence said in the official press release. The delegation of the South Korean Coast Guard was led by Commissioner General KIM Jong Wook. Earlier in March, the Korean Air Force interacted with the members of the Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent as the multilateral air exercise Desert Flag concluded on March 17, the official media coordination centre of IAF stated in a tweet. The IAF participated with five LCA Tejas and two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, and the visitors were also given an overview of the supersonic combat aircraft, LCA Tejas. "#DiplomatsInFlightSuits As #ExDesertFlag comes to a close, our partners from Korean Air Force interacted with the members of the #IAF contingent. The visitors were also given an overview of the LCA Tejas," the official Twitter handle of the media coordination centre of the Indian Air Force (IAF) tweeted. Notably, the Indian Air Force contingent comprising 110 Air Warriors arrived at Al Dhafra airbase of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for participating in Exercise Desert Flag VIII, the Ministry of Defence said in the official release. The air exercise took place from February 27 to March 17. It was the first occasion when the LCA Tejas shall participate in an international flying exercise outside India. Air Forces from UAE, France, Kuwait, Australia, the UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, South Korea, and the USA participated in the Exercise Desert Flag. (ANI) According to a statement, "Today, Ministers and high-level representatives from India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) gathered in New Delhi to discuss the prospects of resuming their negotiations towards a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)." The meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on the state of play of their negotiations and explore ways to advance the talks. During the meeting, the participants acknowledged the challenges posed by the current global economic and trade environment, as well as the need to address the bilateral trade and economic partnership issues in a constructive and pragmatic manner. Both sides agreed to continue their efforts to resolve all outstanding issues and work towards deepening and strengthening the economic partnership while contributing to a more inclusive global trading system. The high-level delegations were composed of Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce &Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food and Public Distribution and Textiles of India; Jan ChristianVestre, Minister of Trade and Industry of Norway; Helene Budliger Artieda, Swiss State Secretaryat the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO; Martin Eyjolfsson, Permanent Secretary ofState of Iceland at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Kurt Jager, Ambassador and PermanentRepresentative of Liechtenstein to EFTA, WTO and the UN in Geneva; and Henri Getaz, Secretary General of the European Free Trade Association. Meanwhile, Goyal tweeted, "Met European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Ministerial delegation led by Ms Helene Budliger, State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Switzerland. With India offering a large market, exchanged views on further strengthening the economic partnership with EFTA member nations."(ANI) In the early 19th century, the Sikh Empire emerged as a powerful force in the Indian subcontinent, spreading across a vast territory and leaving a legacy that would forever shape the nation's history. The Sikh Empire, under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, not only united the Punjab that was divided but also made significant contributions to India's cultural and social heritage, Khalsa Vox reported. The reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh began in 1799 when he ascended the throne at the age of 20. He was an ambitious leader who had within for a united Punjab and worked to achieve this goal. He extended his kingdom beyond Punjab and made significant inroads into Afghanistan, Kashmir, and Tibet. One of the most notable achievements of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the construction of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. This temple is the holiest site for the Sikh community, attracting millions of tourists yearly. The Maharaja also commissioned the construction of several forts, palaces, and other significant structures, all of which stand as a testament to the architectural and artistic achievements of the Sikh Empire, Khalsa Vox reported. The Sikh Empire also made significant contributions to India's military history. Under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh army became one of the most formidable in the region, known for its bravery and discipline. The Maharaja employed a mix of armed forces, including Sikh cavalry, Afghan horse riders, and European mercenaries, all trained to fight in coordinated formations. Further, Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a patron of the arts and literature. His court attracted some of the most talented artists, writers, and intellectuals; his court restored a cultural renaissance in Punjab, and his reign saw the rise of Punjabi literature, music, and poetry, which would continue to influence popular culture in India for generations to come, Khalsa Vox reported. However, the Sikh Empire's reign was not free from conflict and controversy. The Empire was established during political turmoil in India and faced opposition from various other regional powers, including the British East India Company. The Anglo-Sikh wars fought between 1845 and 1849 eventually led to the fall of the Sikh Empire and its annexation by the British. Despite this defeat, the legacy of the Sikh Empire lives on. Its achieve actual and military history achievement left an indelible mark on India's history and influenced the country's national consciousness. The Sikh Empire was a moment of glory in Indian history, representing the height of Sikh power and achievement, Khalsa Vox reported. The Empire marks a glorious chapter in Indian history, representing a time of outstanding achievement, cultural and social renaissance, and military might. Under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh Empire made significant contributions to India's architecture, art, culture, and military history. Despite facing conflict and turmoil, the Empire's legacy inspires and influences India's national identity. (ANI) Last month, China's national legislature spokesperson refuted Western assertions of a "Chinese debt trap" in Africa, during the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), held on March 4, this year, Capital FM.co.ke reported. China has, in fact, asserted that African countries have benefited much from the infrastructure projects that are a part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). More than 200 BRI cooperation agreements had been signed by 140 nations at the start of 2021, serving as frameworks for Chinese businesses to construct infrastructure projects like ports, railways, power plants, and telecommunication networks using low-interest Chinese loans to host countries, Capital FM.co.ke reported. While these projects, bring development to these developing nations of Africa, little is known of the conditions set out in the loans signed in the financing agreements. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) established its first foreign military facility in Djibouti, at the mouth of the Red Sea, in 2017, which drew increased attention to Beijing's economic activities in the Red Sea region, Capital FM.co.ke reported. Moreover, Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic location at the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden intersection; 95 per cent of Ethiopia's trade is handled by its ports. Transshipments between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia are also accommodated by Djibouti's ports. The government has maintained military connections with France for many years, as well as with the US, Japan, Italy, Germany, Spain, and China, Capital FM.co.ke reported. A significant Chinese-led infrastructure project, which will eventually be developed along the Western African coast in order to facilitate tourist access to the treasures of the Red Sea and Atlantic Ocean, was recently completed, connecting the capital city of Djibouti to Addis Ababa via rail. The largest port in Africa, a railroad to Ethiopia, and the nation's first overseas naval facility were all sponsored by Beijing, which is now said to be responsible for almost 70 per cent of Djibouti's total domestic product in debt, Capital FM.co.ke reported. These significant investments made by Beijing in Dijbouti are a microcosm of how China has quickly established a key footprint throughout the country. Further, a report suggests that Chinese involvement in Africa, particularly private Chinese investment, is yielding significant benefits from BRI agreements. China and Djibouti government signed a framework agreement for a concessional loan for the Djibouti Assal Lake Salt Export Terminal Project at the Port of Goubet on November 11, 2012, and also China Eximbank and the Djibouti Ministry of Finance signed a $61,375,440 loan agreement for this project, Capital FM.co.ke reported. Africa's lowest point, Lake Assal, is 155 metres below sea level. With an average salt concentration of 34.8 per cent (which increases to as high as 40per cent at a depth of 20 m), it is the second saltiest body of water and around 10 times saltier than saltwater. Djibouti took over as Ethiopia's main salt supplier when the Eritrean-Ethiopian War broke out in 1998. Prices remained high due to demand from Ethiopia's 62 million+ population. Thus, the salt from Lac Assal became known as 'white gold'. The waters of Lac Assal, which are abundant in minerals like magnesium, calcium, and sulphates, can be utilised to cleanse, calm, and revitalise the skin as well as treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and muscle discomfort. China now has significant infrastructure assets in the BRI project, and there is little doubt that the government is considering a variety of options. Still, it also enters into outside cooperation agreements for its own benefit, Capital FM.co.ke reported. The future of Lac Assal will undoubtedly involve commerce, whether through greater tourism or salt mining. There are plans to construct a visitor centre and wellness resorts akin to those found on the Dead Sea shoreline in Israel and Jordan together with the new industrial site. So, we need to comprehend how these infrastructure developments might affect the environment and ecosystems. There are reports that the exploitation of the salt from the lake was uncontrolled so the Government of Djibouti emphasised the need for managing the exploitation to avoid negative impact on the lake environment and has initiated a proposal with UNESCO to declare the Lake Assal zone and the Ardoukoba volcano as a World Heritage Site, Capital FM.co.ke reported. Without a doubt, human activities such as urbanization, industrialisation, population expansion, deforestation, etc. are the main causes of environmental degradation. (ANI) Chinese President Xi Jinping received the credentials from Ambassador Shrestha at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday. Shrestha was appointed as ambassador in August of last year by then President Bidya Devi Bhandari, following the recommendation of the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government, Pardafas.com reported. During the occasion, Xi said China is willing to work with the international community to promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, and advocate the common values of humanity, Pardafas.com reported. On April 24, 2023, President Xi Jinping accepted credentials presented by 70 ambassadors to China at the Great Hall of the People, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal said in a press release. (ANI) An 11-year-old girl was rushed to a hospital after she was shot in the head at an Ohio apartment, police told news outlets. Police in North College Hill responded to a call the night of April 25 about a gunshot then screaming heard at an apartment complex, WLWT reported. Officers arrived at the unit and found the girl with a gunshot wound to her head and someone trying to perform CPR on her, police told the station. The girl was alive, but her pulse was faint, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. She was taken to a hospital by ambulance. She was playing a game in an upstairs bedroom with her 20-year-old brother and an 18-year-old family friend when the bullet struck her, the friend told police, according to the outlet. The gunshot came from outside, the friend told police, according to WXIX. The brother and the friend were covered in blood, police told the outlet. Their clothes were taken as evidence, along with two firearms and a spent shell casing, according to the outlet. They were also detained for questioning. Officials have not commented on the girls condition. McClatchy News has reached out to the North College Hill Police Department for more information. North College Hill is about 10 miles north of downtown Cincinnati. 22-year-old lures two men to their deaths after meeting on dating app, Texas cops say Gunfire erupts at after-prom party, leaving nine injured, Texas officials say Teens ear piercing gets his dad arrested at their Arkansas home, video shows Man shoots three after food order is delivered to wrong house, Michigan officials say Although it was U.S. special operations forces who led the evacuation of nearly 100 Americans from the embassy in Sudan on Sunday, 12 Marine security guards stationed there contributed to the effort, U.S. officials say. Their relationships with our interagency partners at the Department of State, in particular the Diplomatic Security Service, ensured swift coordination, a spokesman for Marine Corps Embassy Security Group said in an emailed statement to Marine Corps Times on Monday. Their actions maintained security during a critical time and resulted in a safe movement out of Khartoum to return personnel to the U.S. The statement provided no additional details about the Marines role in the evacuation of the embassy in Khartoum, Sudans capital. The spokesman added in a follow-up email that 13 Marine security guards had been assigned to the detachment in Khartoum. After leaving Khartoum, Sudan, the Marines returned to the United States via Ramstein Air Base, Germany, according to the spokesman. U.S. government personnel from the U.S. embassy in Sudan evacuate to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, on Sunday. (MC1 Maria A. Olvera Tristan/Navy) Battles between two rival Sudanese commanders had forced the closing of the main international airport and left roads out of the country in control of armed fighters. The skirmishes have killed more than 400 people. About 100 U.S. troops in three MH-47 helicopters carried out the operation. They airlifted all of the remaining U.S. employees from a landing zone at the embassy to an undisclosed location in Ethiopia. Troops from SEAL Team Six and the Armys 3rd Special Forces Group were involved in the evacuation, a security official told the Washington Post. Some officials within the Marine Corps are concerned that the Pentagon, apparently because of a dearth of ready amphibious ships, didnt send Marine forces for the evacuation, Politico reported. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Monday that Washington has begun facilitating the overland departure of private U.S. citizens who want to leave Sudan, with the use of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets. Earlier, the U.S. government told some 16,000 U.S. citizens in Sudan that they need to fend for themselves and that there wouldnt be mass evacuations. Story continues Marine security guards officially have been assigned to protect embassies and consulates since 1948, according to the groups website. They serve three-year deployments. Embassy security duty is known as a special duty assignment, akin to duty as a drill instructor or recruiter. Our Marines who protect many of our embassies overseas do not often get the credit they deserve, Christopher Maier, the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, said in a State Department news briefing following the evacuation. Their courage under duress represents America at its best, again, in this instance. Marine security guards also helped in evacuations of the embassies in Kabul in 2021 and Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2022. In fact, one Marine clarinetist-turned-security guard, Staff Sgt. Ryan San Juan, happened to be stationed in Afghanistan in 2021 and Ukraine in 2022 and assisted in both evacuations. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Editors note: This story has been updated to note that there were 12 Marine security guards on duty at the time of the evacuation. There were 13 assigned to the embassy, but one was on leave, according to a Marine spokesman. A 13-year-old girl pulled out a knife and attacked a firefighter in Gastonia late Tuesday, according to the Gastonia Police Department. Channel 9 got a tip that a firefighter was assaulted, and police confirmed the incident Wednesday morning. GPD said around 9 p.m. Tuesday, a Gastonia Fire Department crew was at Pikes Peak Drive, which is in a neighborhood east of Crowders Mountain State Park, when it happened. The crew reported to police that one of their firefighters was assaulted by a juvenile armed with a knife. The girl also allegedly attempted to fight another firefighter. ALSO READ: 3 hurt in machete attack in Gastonia; 1 in custody, police say When police got to the street, they found firefighters restraining the teen. Officers tried to get her into custody and she attacked them too, according to the police department. According to GPD, the girl was charged with aggravated assault and assault, and she was being held in a juvenile detention facility in Concord. She wasnt identified, due to her age. The police department didnt have information about the firefighters injuries or current condition. (WATCH: Fire at Gastonia strip mall started by improvised incendiary device, police say) Ecologists are examining the remains of a pregnant 14-foot-long great hammerhead shark that washed up ashore on an Alabama beach on April 20. A day after the shark washed ashore, ecologists from the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center traveled to Orange Beach in Alabama to examine a deceased great hammerhead shark and its 40 pups, which were all dead when they washed up ashore, MSU Marine Fisheries Ecology said in a post on Facebook. Scientists examined the shark's major organs, including its heart, stomach and kidneys, and none showed any signs of trauma. MSU said they plan on preserving the pups and donating them to classrooms for educational purposes. / Credit: Mississippi State University Marine Fisheries Ecology "Moreover, there were no abnormal lesions or unusual parasites," MSU said. Scientists said that while it was "impossible" to determine the cause of death with absolute certainty, they suspect the shark died as a result of fishing mortality that is, likely because it was accidentally caught. They noted that great hammerheads are more prone to the physiological effects of capture stress than other shark species and pregnancy aggravates physiological stress. After obtaining samples, the MSU scientists brought them back to the university lab for further analysis. Among the samples taken were several vertebrae from the adult shark. "These can be used to determine the age of the shark and its birth location. Vertebrae can also be used to examine population structure and connectivity," MSU said. Scientists also removed muscle tissue from the mother shark to determine its feeding habits, the stomach, and several fin clips as well to "contribute to a current study examining genetic population structure, as well as the number of breeding individuals in the population." Fin clips were also removed from each of the pups in order to determine relatedness among the siblings, because the broods of many sharks are usually sired by more than one male shark in a phenomenon known as "multiple paternity," according to MSU. Story continues Scientists said the number and size of the pups also provide important information about brood size and the timing of birth. MSU said they plan on preserving the pups and donating them to classrooms for educational purposes. "Although we are saddened by the loss of these individuals, we are grateful to the City of Orange Beach Coastal Resources for reaching out to the scientific community and enabling us to study these unique specimens," MSU said. "The samples we took provide an opportunity to enhance our knowledge of great hammerheads in the northern Gulf of Mexico, which is critical for their continued conservation." MSU noted that great hammerheads should not be feared because they are not aggressive sharks and have never been implicated in any fatal attack. Great hammerheads located off the coast of Alabama patrol coastal waters primarily to hunt stingrays, MSU said. Disney sues Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over "government retaliation" Stocks fall as First Republic Bank shares plummet British antitrust regulators block Microsoft purchase of Activision Blizzard A 14-year-old was killed when an ATV she was riding struck a tree, ejecting her and another 14-year-old rider, according to a Louisiana sheriffs office. The two girls were riding the ATV in an area near Slidell when they failed to negotiate a curve and crashed into a tree at about 6:15 p.m. on April 25, according to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office. The two were taken to separate hospitals, the sheriffs office said. Neither one had on a helmet. One of the teens, who was identified by the Slidell Police Department as Samia Rogers, died of her injuries. Community members mourned Rogers, who was an eighth grader at Slidell Junior High School. Many people shared a photo on Facebook of Rogers in a Slidell Tigers cheerleading uniform. I am truly (heartbroken) for this beautiful, sweet girl and her family, Shannon Stevens wrote on Facebook. Samia was just the sweetest kindest girl. She did not have a mean bone in her body. She was such a wonderful role model for everyone. The Slidell Police Department said a school resource officer was at Rogers school to help students affected by her death. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith said in a statement that the tragedy was any parents worst nightmare. Whenever a child is involved in a tragic accident, it really hits home and affects everyone involved, the statement says. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of both girls. Information about the injured girls condition was not immediately available. Slidell is about 30 miles northeast of New Orleans. 10-year-old girls who were friends to many die in ATV crash. Unimaginable loss 7-year-old dies after hes thrown from ATV driven by intoxicated man, Ohio police say ATV driver dies after being thrown into shallow drainage ditch, Florida cops say A tour passes Royce Hall at UCLA, which announced a $15-million gift to seed a new initiative to help students afford college without loans. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) As rising college costs impede access to higher education, UCLA announced Wednesday a $15-million gift to seed a new scholarship initiative to help students afford a Bruin education without loans. The gift by California real-estate investor Peter Merlone will enable UCLA to grant individual scholarships totaling about $20,000 over four years to some 700 students beginning in 2024. It is part of a new UCLA Affordability Initiative designed to eliminate the burden of student loans. Last year, UC President Michael V. Drake announced a systemwide initiative to provide a debt-free education to all undergraduates by 2030. UC has begun phasing in the program, offering more grants and work-study opportunities to one-quarter of new students this year. "In this post-pandemic world, where everybody is more attuned and sensitive to the disparities in our community, making education more affordable is something that we just really need to focus on," said Rhea Turteltaub, UCLA vice chancellor for external affairs. "This is essential." Other UC campuses also have begun to step up their financial aid. UC Berkeley, for instance, provided no-loan financial aid packages of grants, scholarships and work-study opportunities for the first time to 776 first-year students and 329 transfer students last year. Merlone said he hoped to inspire other UCLA alumni to contribute to the initiative. When he attended UCLA in the 1970s, he said, the University of California charged no tuition and his room and board totaled about $1,800 a year. Those costs have spiraled today. UCLA's estimated cost of attendance is $38,517 for the 2023-24 academic year for state residents living on campus. Tuition makes up only 37% of that cost with the majority of expenses going toward housing, meals, transportation, books and other outlays. Student living expenses are growing rapidly and usually are not fully covered by financial aid, unlike tuition which is paid through the state's Cal Grant program for more than half of UC undergraduates. Story continues The rising living costs are seen as a major entry barrier to UC for many of the state's lowest-income students. More than 10,000 students with annual family incomes of less than $50,000 declined UC admission offers in 2021 and enrolled in community colleges and California State University campuses instead. Many low-income families are hesitant to take out loans the share of UC undergraduates with federal loans dropped by 35% in the last decade and that reluctance seems to have grown since the pandemic, said Gary Clark, interim vice provost of enrollment management. Such trends have prompted Merlone and UCLA to expand financial aid efforts. "I simply want to make it more likely than not that students don't have to borrow money to be able to go to the University of California," Merlone said. Merlone also began a scholarship program three years ago for UCLA-bound students from North Hollywood High School to honor his mother, a former student. But he said only a handful of students would accept admission offers even though UCLA is the top-rated public university in the nation because many of them could not afford the education and opted for lower-cost options. Some of the best and brightest students, he added, would choose well-endowed private institutions that could afford to offer full rides. Merlone said he hopes to contribute to turning those trends around. Merlone has not restricted his gift to low- and middle-income students, but UCLA officials said they expect to award many of the scholarships to those in need. "UCLA was founded on the notion that access to a top-tier education should be available to talented individuals of all backgrounds and financial means, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said in a statement. The new initiative expands other efforts UCLA has launched in recent years. The UCLA Bruin Success Scholarship will provide about 1,000 students from families with the greatest financial need an additional $2,500 per year up from $2,000 when launched last fall. Clark said the program may have helped UCLA last year bring in the highest number of students awarded federal Pell grants 1,654 since fall 2017. Pell grants are given to the neediest students, with family incomes of about $50,000 or less. In addition, the Westwood campus is launching a pilot program this fall to provide $1,000 scholarships, awarded annually for four years, to about 150 freshmen from under-resourced high schools. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A 2-year-old boy ended up hospitalized after Florida deputies found him locked alone in a feces-covered room swirling with bugs, according to the Fort Walton Beach Police Department. The boys condition has not been released, but police said he has non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators say the discovery was made Saturday, April 22, when police were alerted to a 2-year-old juvenile left alone in a residence. Officers observed the juvenile through the front window of the residence, slapping the window and appearing dirty with multiple flies on him, police said in a news release. Officers ... made entry into the home where they assessed the juvenile and immediately called EMS. Officers noted the room the juvenile was in had feces on the walls, mounds of soiled diapers, an extreme amount of insect activity. The bedroom door of the room was locked from the outside. The child was taken to HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and ultimately was admitted for further care. Deputies said they located the childs parents six hours later after they returned from shopping. His 21-year-old parents have been charged with aggravated child abuse and child neglect, police said. Records show the couple share a home on Mississippi Avenue in Fort Walton Beach. Youth pastor used church Wi-Fi to download child porn after services, Florida cops say Teacher arrested after whacking student on butt and legs with ruler, Florida cops say Dad charged with murder a decade after childs skeleton was found, Alabama cops say Ron DeSantis and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Credit - Tom WilliamsCQ-Roll Call/Getty Images; John LamparskiGetty Images When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his presidential campaign on April 19 in Boston, he highlighted his familys political pedigree and his history of championing numerous environmental causes, saying he was running to end the corrupt merger of state and corporate power. Notably absent was any direct acknowledgement of the decades-long crusade that has made the 69-year-old the most famous face of the anti-vaccine movement in the country. It was a stark contrast to the speeches he was giving last year. In January 2022, Kennedy rallied thousands of people from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington at a massive demonstration opposing vaccine mandates in which he shared discredited conspiracies about COVID-19 and compared U.S. public health officials actions to Nazi Germany. As the pandemic fades from public view, the anti-vax movement finds itself in a state of flux. Kennedys decision to not even use the word vaccine in his announcement speech likely reflects his desire to gain traction in the Democratic primary among voters looking for an alternative to President Joe Biden. Its a different story on the other side of the aisle, where some candidates appear to be actively courting a right-wing contingent made up of anti-vaxxers and vaccine skeptics, opponents of public health mandates, and conspiracy theorists that grew during the pandemic. The extent to which presidential candidates embrace the sentiment could signal whether the movement, and the larger anti-science conspiracies and anti-government views associated with it, has staying power in the American electorate. Before 2020, the idea of anti-vaxxers having any kind of foothold in national politics was widely viewed as unthinkable. Yet now, a significant number of vaccine skeptics have made this part of their identity, and engaging with them is actually going to harden their opposition, says Dr. Tom Frieden, who served as the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2009 to 2017. Story continues After years of engaging in anti-vaccine activism, Kennedy further built his following during the pandemic by capitalizing on many Americans distrust of public health officials, their fears of the virus, and widespread misinformation. He became one of the Disinformation Dozen, a group of twelve individuals identified by the the Centers for Countering Digital Hate as responsible for 65% of the anti-vaccine content on Facebook and Twitter. Last year, Facebook and Instagram removed the pages of his nonprofit, the Childrens Health Defense, for spreading medical disinformation. But to a growing audience of hundreds of thousands of supporters and online fans he was a hero, speaking out against dangerous schemes by government officials and pharmaceutical companies. Despite being a Democrat, he remains popular on right-wing anti-vax channels, where his candidacy was greeted with Trump/RFK 2024! stickers. While Kennedy did not directly mention vaccines in his announcement, it was clear that was not necessary for his most enthusiastic supporters. This is the candidate for vaccine truth that promises to dismantle the vaccine deep state! one popular right-wing anti-vaccine Telegram channel told its 81,000 followers on April 16, encouraging them to attend his announcement in Boston. RFK may not be perfect but we know hed take a wrecking ball to the pharmaceutical industry and vaccines, one poster said on a popular pro-Trump forum. Even Trump may not do that. Five days after launching his campaign, Kennedy alleged on Twitter that Fox News had let go of Tucker Carlson because the right-wing host had claimed that the TV networks pushed a deadly and ineffective vaccine to please their Pharma advertisersFox just demonstrated the terrifying power of Big Pharma. But Kennedy is not the only presidential candidate employing anti-vaccine rhetoric. The pandemic and resistance to the vaccine mandates that followed provided a surge of momentum to the movement, and spurred a partisan split that turned support of vaccines into a political litmus test. While vaccine skepticism has been limited to longshots like Kennedy on the leftPresident Joe Biden is widely expected to coast to the Democratic nominationmore prominent contenders on the right appear to be courting it. I think Robert Kennedy Jr. is in a class by himself, because a huge portion of what he works on is opposition to vaccination, says Joshua Sharfstein, a public health professor at Johns Hopkins. I dont think hes credible within his own family, let alone you know, as a national speaker on the topic More concerning is the Florida governor. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has fallen in polls recently but is still expected to challenge former President Donald Trump for the 2024 GOP nomination, has raised questions about the safety of vaccines in Florida. In December, DeSantis asked the Florida Supreme Court to empanel a grand jury to investigate wrongdoing tied to COVID-19 vaccines. I think people want the truth that I think people want accountability, DeSantis said at the time. You need to have a thorough investigation into whats happened with the shots. Read More: How the Anti-Vax Movement Is Taking Over the Right The embrace of vaccine skepticism, and often anti-vaccine conspiracies, by many on the right turned the public health campaign into a partisan issue. A Washington Post-ABC poll conducted in June 2021 found that 47% of Republicans said they werent likely to get vaccinated against COVID-19, compared to 6% of Democrats. Unvaccinated adults are three times more likely to lean Republican than Democrat, according to a November 2021 analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. According to the data, theres a pretty tight correlation between partisan beliefs about vaccines and death rates, Frieden says. Politicians respond to what their potential voters think and some of the people who will be voting in primaries have very strong beliefs about vaccines. So thats concerning. The politicization of COVID-19 vaccines led to an often bizarre spectacle, as Republican lawmakers became reluctant to publicly disclose their own vaccination status. In 2021, nearly half of House Republicans declined to say whether they had been vaccinated when asked by CNN. In New York City, a GOP city council member refused to disclose her vaccination status even though failing to do so barred her from entering the chamber. DeSantis has staffed his administration with prominent vaccine skeptics. In 2021, in the midst of a nationwide public health effort to vaccinate Americans against COVID-19, he appointed vocal vaccine critic Joseph Ladapo as Floridas Surgeon General. Since then, Ladapo has become a hero in online anti-vaccine communities, who follow his guidance over the advice of U.S. public health agencies. Last year, guidance released by Ladapo warned against vaccinating men between the ages of 18 to 39, claiming there was a 84% increase in cardiac-related deaths related to the COVID shot. He also recommended against vaccinating healthy children, which contradicts U.S. public health guidance. This led to CDC and FDA leaders sending a letter to Ladapo last month. It is the job of public health officials around the country to protect the lives of the populations they serve, particularly the vulnerable, the federal letter said. Fueling vaccine hesitancy undermines this effort. Trump, on the other hand, has a more complicated history with vaccine disinformation. In 2017, Kennedy said Trump had asked him to lead a vaccine safety commission in his administration. But in the wake of the pandemic, Trump vacillated between taking credit for the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines under his administration and seemingly recognizing that anti-vaccine sentiment has embedded itself among the MAGA faithful. After initially denouncing politicians who refused to disclose their vaccination status as gutless, the former President seemed to go quiet on the matter. But many in his orbit were still happy to engage: his son Eric spoke at a conference of anti-vaccine activists in Nashville last fall, and some of his most prominent supporters, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and strategist Steve Bannon, raised questions about the safety and efficacy of vaccines. Should either DeSantis or Trump emerge from the Republican primary by stoking anti-vax fervor, they may regret it when it comes time for the general election, when they will have to appeal to the broader electorate. The vast majority of Americans understand the value of vaccines, and the importance of sufficient vaccination levels so that infectious diseases cant threaten us all, Sharfstein says. Margot Robbie, Matthew Lillard and Ewan McGregor all make the cut (Warner Bros/LucasFilm) There is, its fair to say, nothing more important to the movies than actors. The right performance can tip a film into the realm of greatness; a bad one can doom an otherwise promising project to mediocrity or ridicule. What would There Will Be Blood be without Daniel Day-Lewis at its centre? Would The Godfather still sparkle without Al Pacino and Marlon Brando? These are not questions anyone is keen to know the answer to. The best performances are irreplaceable; they are key to the very essence of cinema. But what happens when one good performance isnt enough to save a film? When a terrific performance is wasted on a substandard story? From Anthony Hopkins to Leonardo DiCaprio, many of the finest actors working today have lent their talents to inferior projects. Sometimes they simply phone it in, but other times, they manage to shine despite the material. Heres The Independents list of 23 secretly brilliant performances in bad films... Phillip Seymour Hoffman Along Came Polly (2004) The late, great Phillip Seymour Hoffman was that rarest of things; an actor who brought depth to even the flimsiest of roles, from The Hunger Games Plutarch Heavensby to Mission: Impossible IIIs villainous Owen Davian. The critically lambasted romcom Along Came Polly may be the best example of this, however, as Hoffman delivering a coruscating comic turn that stole not just a scene but the whole film from under Ben Stiller and Jennifer Anistons noses. Margot Robbie Suicide Squad (2016) One of the worst blockbusters in living memory, David Ayers supervillain dirge Suicide Squad was met with unanimous damnation from the critical community. Reviews were also unanimous, however, in their praise for Margot Robbies performance, with the Australian star later reprising the role in two subsequent movies. Tom Hanks The Ladykillers (2004) The Ladykillers is rightfully considered the nadir of the Coen brothers otherwise pretty miraculously consistent filmography. But thats not at all down to Tom Hanks, who compellingly reinvented a role so brilliantly inhabited by Alec Guinness in the classic Ealing original. Unctuous, erudite and deeply sinister, the felonious band leader is a far cry from any other character Hanks has tackled; he devours the Coens typically sardonic dialogue with a grin. Story continues A not-so-serious man: Tom Hanks as Professor Goldthwaite Higginson Dorr in The Ladykillers' (Buena Vista Pictures) James McAvoy Split (2016) M Night Shyamalans pulpy multiple-personality horror Split had plenty of issues, but James McAvoys showstopper performance wasnt one of them. Playing, essentially, eight characters in one is a tough task to pull off, but McAvoy manages it with theatrical aplomb. Kristen Stewart American Ultra (2015) Though Kristen Stewart has been in a few of the best films of the last 10 years, shes still had her fair share of misfires. The 2015 stoner-thriller American Ultra was inarguably a misfire, as she played the girlfriend and handler of Jesse Eisenbergs amnesiac government sleeper agent. Its a bad film that never lives up to its larger-than-life premise, but Stewart turns in some remarkably good work here. Peter Dinklage Pixels (2015) Theres almost nothing good to say about this insipid Adam Sandler video game comedy from 2015. But what little there is exclusively concerns Game of Thrones Peter Dinklage, who turns in an incongruously funny performance as obnoxious video game champion Eddie "The Fireblaster" Plant. Peter Dinklage in the insipid 2015 gamer comedy Pixels' (Sony) Thomas Hayden Church Spider-Man 3 (2007) Probably the worst Spider-Man film to ever grace cinemas, Sam Raimis trilogy capper was a torrid mess of plotlines, too many villains and bad haircuts. The films only sincere pathos comes from Thomas Hayden Church, who manages to somehow survive the carnage with his head held high, playing the tragically fated Flint Marko, AKA Sandman. John C Reilly Kong: Skull Island (2017) On paper, Kong: Skull Island should have been a blast. It had a solid cast (including Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L Jackson, and John Goodman), an intriguing premise (King Kong during the Vietnam War) and the 104ft ape we all know and love. But the film was a major disappointment. The only saving grace was John C Reilly, whose brief appearance as a WWII pilot stranded on Skull Island after his plane was shot down felt like it was from another film entirely. Uma Thurman Batman & Robin (1997) Uma Thurman knew how to pitch her performance better than anyone else in this despised 1997 superhero flick. In the role of fern fatale Poison Ivy, Thurman gives a performance of enjoyable camp extremity. To quote Janet Maslin in her contemporaneous review for the New York Times: As played by Uma Thurman, Poison Ivy is perfect, flaunting great looks, a mocking attitude and madly flamboyant disguises. Like Mae West, she mixes true femininity with the winking womanliness of a drag queen. Uma Thurman as Dr Pamela Isley, AKA Poison Ivy, in Batman & Robin' (Warner Bros) Michelle Pfieffer Grease 2 (1982) The original Grease has not endured the ravages of time with a whole lot of grace, and its reviled 1982 sequel has fared even worse. Nevertheless, Grease 2 had one living, breathing redeeming quality: its 23-year-old newcomer star Michelle Pfieffer, whose charisma and talents survived the stink of the whole schlocky affair. Alan Rickman Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) Kevin Costner may have failed to set Sherwood Forest alight with his role in the ropey Robin Hood adaptation Prince of Thieves, but the same cant be said for his co-star Alan Rickman. The Die Hard star gave an outstanding performance as the nefarious Sheriff of Nottingham. Was Rickman playing to type? Well, yes, but there was pretty much no one better at doing what he does here. Martin Freeman The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) Forged in the afterglow of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jacksons Hobbit prequels were doomed to live in the shadow of their predecessors. But not many people were ready for quite how bad they were. Look past the dodgy CGI and over-egged plotting, however, and Martin Freeman was an inspired choice as a young Bilbo Baggins: no-one plays a genial, put-upon everyman (or should that be everyhobbit?) quite like him. Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' (New Line Cinema) Max von Sydow Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011) This skin-crawling 9/11 drama was criticised upon its release for being exploitative and trying to milk sentiment from real-life tragedy. Max Von Sydows performance was spared the knives, however, with the legendary Swedish actor giving a moving and wordless turn as an elderly renter. His efforts didnt go unacknowledged, and von Sydow was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Phil Hartman Jingle All the Way (1996) Barring a few notable exceptions (such as The Simpsons and NewsRadio), the late Phil Hartman pretty much made a career out of radically outshining his co-stars. During his eight-year stint on Saturday Night Live, a low period for the shows reputation, Hartman was known as the glue. He didnt manage to hold all the cracks in the wretched holiday comedy Jingle All the Way together, but he was nonetheless an enjoyable, consistently funny presence, playing Arnold Schwarzeneggers smarmy neighbour. Leonardo DiCaprio The Great Gatsby (2013) Baz Luhrmann was always an odd choice to adapt F Scott Fitzgeralds literary classic; his brand of cinema is one of bombast and flash. While Tobey Maguire was a pretty drab Nick Carraway, and the usually brilliant Carey Mulligan underwhelming as Daisy Buchannan, DiCaprio was perfectly cast as Gatsby, striking the right balance of insecurity, bluster and poignancy. Boats against the current: DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby' (Warner Bros) Anthony Hopkins Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) For an actor of the highest calibre, Anthony Hopkins has still been known to phone it in from time to time; when he receives a script, he reportedly marks certain pages with the letters NAR (No Acting Required). Hed have been forgiven for just dialling it in for this dismal Transformers sequel, but instead, hes unnecessarily compelling, playing a sagacious astronomer whos studied the history of Transformers. Oscar Isaac Sucker Punch (2011) Even by director Zack Snyders own standards, Sucker Punch was something of a spiky, unpleasant misstep. The film, a fantasy about a woman who tries to escape a mental institution through a series of fantasy worlds, was savaged by critics. Oscar Isaac, not yet a name movie star, acquitted himself shockingly well, however, playing a despicable orderly at the facility. Adam Driver Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker (2019) Theres much to detest about the final film in the so-called Skywalker Saga, from the dialogue and the lazy fan pandering, to the way in which it all but abandoned story arcs previously given to characters like Finn (John Boyega) and Rose (Kelly Marie Tran). Though his masked villain, Kylo Ren, is rushed through a slipshod redemption-by-numbers story, Adam Driver doesnt stop turning in good work, however. The force was certainly weak with this one, but Driver emerged from the wreckage with his reputation utterly unscathed. Adam Driver as Kylo Ren in The Rise of Skywalker' (LucasFilm) Ewan McGregor Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith (2005) Driver wasnt the only actor who valiantly struggled to provide a good performance in a thoroughly bad Star Wars film. Ewan McGregors work as Obi-Wan Kenobi came under scrutiny throughout the first two of George Lucass maligned prequels, but by the third, he had well and truly found his footing. Michael K Williams Assassins Creed (2016) Even by the metric of video game adaptations, Assassins Creed was capital-b Bad. Usually bankable actors like Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard were histrionic and laughable here; the plot and characterisation almost defy belief. But in the midst of this is The Wires Michael K Williams, delivering a typically classy turn as a Haitian Assassin called Moussa. Florence Pugh Black Widow (2021) The Marvel Cinematic Universe has lured a number of elite actors to its shores, from veterans like Robert Redford and Michael Keaton to younger stars like Michael B Jordan and Zendaya. In terms of up-and-comers, there are few better than Florence Pugh, who appeared as Yelena in the otherwise dreary 2021 blockbuster Black Widow. Pugh makes the films lead, Scarlett Johansson, pale in comparison, but the materials simply not up to snuff. Matthew Lillard Scooby Doo (2002) Say what you will about the puerile 2002 movie adaptation of the classic kids cartoon Scooby-Doo, but you cant really fault the casting. Linda Cardellini, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr are all well-suited to the roles of Velma, Daphne and Fred respectively, but theyre not a patch on Matthew Lillard (Scream; Twin Peaks: The Return), whose big, swing-for-the-fences performance as the feckless slacker Shaggy Rogers is a masterclass in understanding the assignment. Matthew Lillard as Shaggy Rogers in Scooby-Doo: The Movie' (Warner Bros) Raul Julia Street Fighter (1994) The Addams Familys incomparable Raul Julia died tragically in 1994 at the age of 54, having suffered a stroke. While it may seem like a shame for his final major film to be as shoddy an effort as Street Fighter, Raul Julias performance in it is nothing short of a cult sensation. Playing the villainous M Bison, Julia is laugh-out-loud funny, a wonderful foil for a set of unworthy adversaries. Three people were arrested Sunday after an incident broke out between a group of protesters and counterprotesters outside a restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas. The incident occurred outside Fort Brewery and Pizza, where a drag event was scheduled to take place. A small group from Protect Texas Kids, an anti-LGBTQ+ organization that has protested drag events in the past, gathered across the street to protest during the event. Meanwhile, counterprotesters stood in front of the establishment dressed in black and wearing helmets and tactical vests. Many of the counterprotesters were armed with handguns and long guns, the police said. At about 12:50 p.m., one of the counterprotesters, who was later identified as Samuel Fowlkes, 20, pepper-sprayed the protesters from the Protect Texas Kids group, according to the Fort Worth Police Department. Officers attempted to arrest Fowlkes for the assault, but Fowlkes swung his fists at the officers, police reported. Another counterprotester, later identified as Christopher Guillott, 33, reportedly attempted to interfere by swinging an umbrella at the officers and was arrested after allegedly striking an officer in the face with it. Police said both Fowlkes and Guillott resisted arrest. A third counterprotester, identified as Meghan Grant, 37, charged past the officers to get to Guillott and Fowlkes, police reported, adding that Grant didnt comply with officers as they tried to push her to the sidewalk and was taken into custody. Fort Worth Police Department respects everyones constitutional rights to free speech and assembly. Our main goal during any protest event is to provide a safe environment that respects all participants constitutional rights, while effectively maintaining public peace and order, the department said in a statement. However, those who choose to violate the law and assault others will be arrested and charged. Drag shows and LGBTQ+ spaces in the U.S. have faced a surge of targeted attacks in the past year from far-right and anti-LGBTQ+ groups. White supremacist groups have disrupted several drag events in cities nationwide, including in Wadsworth, Ohio, last month. The attacks follow on the heels of the deadly Club Q nightclub shooting in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in November that left five people dead and several others injured. Story continues According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the three who were arrested were members of the Elm Fork John Brown Club, an organization that describes itself on Twitter as helping marginalized communities in organizing community defense against white supremacists / fascism. Both the Elm Fork John Brown Club and Protect Texas Kids have been involved in several drag-related protests throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area and have attended them with armed participants, the newspaper reported. Its unclear if the counterprotesters who were not arrested were also part of the Elm Fork John Brown Club. The altercation between the anti-drag show group and the LGBTQ+ supporters, as well as the arrests, were captured on a city camera and on police body camera footage, released Monday. In the body camera footage, Fowlkes is seen walking away from officers as they approach him. The officers attempt to arrest him, and Guillott can be seen trying to interfere. People in the background yell for the police to stop. Do not reach for that gun, one of the officers said after pinning Fowlkes down. You will be shot if you reach for that gun. Fowlkes repeatedly called out for help as the officers arrested him. The footage also shows Grant being pushed by an officer as she pointed to the people being arrested, repeating What does he need a medic for? followed by her being pinned to the ground and arrested. According to the police, Fowlkes faces four counts of assault causing bodily injury, one count of evading arrest and detention, one count of resisting arrest and one count of assaulting a peace officer. Guillott faces one count of assaulting a peace officer and interference with public duties. Grant faces one count of resisting arrest and one count of interference of public duties. All three are being held on bond, ABC News reported. The Texas Senate passed bills restricting drag performances around children a few weeks ago. According to the Texas Tribune, there have been more than two dozen anti-drag incidents in the state since June 2022. Related... GOLDEN, Colo. (AP) Three teenagers have been arrested on first-degree murder charges in connection to the death of a 20-year-old Colorado woman, who was struck by a rock that investigators say was thrown through her windshield while she was driving. Alexa Bartell, of Arvada, was talking on the phone with a friend when she was hit by the rock northwest of Denver on April 19. After the call went silent, the friend tracked Bartells location with a phone app and found the woman dead in her car, which had crashed into a field, said Karlyn Tilley, a spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office. Bartell was killed by the rock and not the crash, according to Tilley. Joseph Koenig, Nicholas Mitch Karol-Chik and Zachary Kwak, all 18, were arrested at their homes in Arvada, Colorado, overnight Tuesday and Wednesday. Online jail records did not indicate if they have attorneys who can speak on their behalf. Investigators believe the attack is linked to several other similar incidents in which rocks between 4 and 6 inches (10 and 15 centimeters) in diameter and weighing 3 to 5 pounds (1.4 to 2.7 kilograms) were thrown at cars in the area the night of Bartells death. The attacks started just after 10 p.m. and involved at least seven vehicles. In addition to Bartells death, two drivers suffered minor injuries. Its unclear which of the teens was driving during the attacks, but all three are suspected of throwing rocks at vehicles. Investigators say mobile device forensics and tips from the public helped lead them to the suspects, who could face additional charges. PHOENIX, Ariz. A woman accused of attacking three Transportation Security Administration agents at Sky Harbor International Airport on Tuesday morning apparently did so because the agents confiscated her apple juice. Documents say 19-year-old Makiah Coleman started "ranting and raving" after the agents confiscated her apple juice, which is a prohibited item per TSA regulations, and attempted to grab a bin containing her items from a TSA agent who ultimately pushed her away. Documents say Coleman climbed a table between her and the TSA agent when another agent grabbed her by the waist to control her. Coleman struck the agent in the head with her elbow, giving him a concussion, before other agents removed her from the table and sat her down on a nearby bench, documents state. Get a hold of yourselves: Why air rage on airplanes is every traveler's problem 'These items are not allowed': Vampire straw gets passenger arrested at Boston airport Coleman eventually rose from the bench and attacked another TSA agent, pulling her by her ponytail and striking her three to five times with "hammer fist blows" before another TSA agent pulled her off and restrained her, documents state. Documents say Coleman told police she was angry that she had to leave security to get food only to go back through security. She said a female TSA agent also hung up her phone while she was on a call with her mother and admitted to police that she attacked the agents but "kinda blacked out." The air traffic control tower at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is shown on Feb. 13, 2023. "This unprovoked and brazen physical attack against our employees is unacceptable," the agency said in a written statement. "We are grateful for our committed workforce and for the role they play in protecting the traveling public every day. Unfortunately, due to the actions of this traveler, this situation resulted in injuries to three of our TSA officers and inconvenienced approximately 450 travelers who TSA redirected to a nearby checkpoint for security screening." Phoenix police booked Coleman into jail on aggravated assault, two counts of misdemeanor assault, criminal damage and disorderly conduct. She is being held on a $4,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in Maricopa County Superior Court on May 1. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Female traveler arrested after attacking 3 TSA agents at Sky Harbor During the years of Russia's occupation of Crimea, about 30 members of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people have been harassed by Russians. Source: CrimeaSOS Details: 26 April marks seven years since the Russian occupation administration in Crimea unlawfully banned the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and recognised it as an extremist organisation. The organisation's analyst Yevhen Yaroshenko said that since the beginning of the occupation, representatives of the Mejlis "have been persecuted by the occupation authorities, became defendants in politically motivated administrative and criminal cases, and victims of enforced disappearances". Among the most famous victims of politically motivated persecution in Crimea are or were members of the Mejlis: Nariman Dzhelial, Akhtem Chiihoz, Ilmi Umerov, Refat Chubarov, Mustafa Dzhemiliev. The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people is a representative body of the Crimean Tatars, similar to a parliament. It consists of 33 members. Background: In April, human rights organisations called on the world to prevent the deportation of illegally convicted Crimean Tatars to Russia. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Thousands of Florida high school seniors struggling to meet graduation testing requirements got one step closer to a diploma on Wednesday including about 4,000 students in Miami-Dade Public Schools who were at risk of not graduating, or about 16 percent of the class of 2023, according to state education fall enrollment records. The Florida House unanimously approved a sweeping education bill (HB 1537) that includes provisions to delay the higher passing scores that have presented a hurdle to teens who otherwise have met all other standards in place to complete school. Bill co-sponsor Rep. Kimberly Daniels, D-Jacksonville, noted that Republicans and Democrats alike received calls from concerned superintendents, teachers and students. Now they can go home and confidently announce that this is no longer a concern, Daniels said during her closing remarks on the bill. READ MORE: As Florida seniors struggle to graduate, lawmakers eye a temporary fix The legislation would allow students who have not been able to pass the states Algebra 1 or 10th grade language arts exams to substitute scores from the SAT or ACT that are lower than what had been in place starting this year. The bill would set the test scores this year for Algebra 1 at 420 or higher on the SAT math test (800 is the top score), or 16 or higher on the ACT math (36 is the top score). For language arts, the scores would be 430 or higher on the SAT reading and writing test or 19 or higher on the ACT reading section. Next year, the scores would return to the levels that were supposed to take place this spring. Those scores would increase by 50 points from 430 to a 480 for the reading and writing score for the SAT, while the required score for the ACT would be an 18 for both reading and English. The move comes after district leaders across Florida argued that the new stricter standards, initially established in 2018 but postponed until this year, were unfair to the Class of 2023. School superintendents argued the current seniors faced an unusual set of circumstances because of the coronavirus pandemic, including a shuttered final quarter of freshman year and a quarantine-marked sophomore year where many standardized tests were limited and students faced significant learning losses from the pandemic. Story continues According to district staff, 2,850 students at Miami-Dade public high schools failed to graduate in the 2021-22 school year, or about 11% of seniors, state numbers show. READ MORE: Miami-Dade becomes nations third-largest school district, surpassing Chicago Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Jose Dotres was among the district leaders advocating for this group of students and calling for a delay. On Wednesday, Dotres said the decision by the Florida House will open the door for thousands of students impacted by the pandemic to walk across the stage and receive their high school diploma. HB 1537 still must go to the Senate, which does not have a companion bill. Co-sponsor Rep. Alex Rizo, R-Hialeah, said he collaborated with the Senate and governors Office in putting together all aspects of the bill, and anticipated their support. Forty years ago today, the Reagan administration released the influential A Nation at Risk report, detailing how Americas educational system was failing many students and recommending school leaders to adopt new standards and to reevaluate teacher preparation and pay. (See our special documentary: The inside story of the 36 pages that changed American education) To mark todays anniversary, The 74 sat down with a trio of leading education experts to look back at the past four decades of school reform and student progress: Former Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, the Fordham Institutes Chester E. Finn, and USC Education Professor Morgan Polikoff. Click here to see their candid assessments of why A Nation at Risk mattered and how Americas schools have performed in the generation since. Directed by James Fields; Produced by Emmeline Zhao [Source] With the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime currently on break, many fans are excited about how the story will unfold when the show returns in July 2023. Thousand-Year Blood War will feature some of the most much-awaited moments that have not been revealed in past arcs, such as the bankais of some of the remaining Gotei 13 captains. So without further ado, here are five things to watch for in the second cour of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War and beyond based on events from Tite Kubos classic manga series. Highly anticipated bankai More from NextShark: Chi-Knees Line in Monster Hunter is Removed From Global Versions After Chinese Backlash What quite possibly might be what most fans have been waiting for in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War are the never-before-seen bankai. In Bleach, all shinigami students are given nameless swords called zanpakuto once they start their shinigami training and before joining the Gotei 13, the military organization tasked with protecting Soul Society. With enough training, a shinigami who learns the true name of their zanpakuto can release its first transformation, shikai. Furthering that bond can allow a shinigami to release the sword's bankai, the weapons final and most powerful form. More from NextShark: Chick-fil-A Employee Wins Car in Company Raffle, Gives It to Co-worker Who Bikes to Work So far, the only shinigami or characters known to possess a bankai are series protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki, the Gotei 13 captains, a few vice captains and a few characters that are not within those positions, such as Ikkaku Madarame. That being said, the bankai reveal has become one of the most anticipated parts of Bleach among fans, and luckily the Thousand-Year Blood War arc has tons of that to go around. Some of the bankai fans expect to see in the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War second cour and beyond include those belonging to Kuchiki Rukia, Kyoraku Shunsui, Urahara Kisuke, Kepanchi Zaraki and the true bankai forms of Renji Abarai and Hitsugaya Toushiro. Story continues More from NextShark: Nikita Dragun arrested in Miami for nude pool incident, throwing water bottle at cop Kurosaki Ichigos REAL power and true zanpakuto Ichigos journey is one heck of a ride. From becoming a substitute shinigami after Rukia passed her powers onto him, to learning more about being a shinigami, to attaining bankai through training and saving not only the human world but Soul Society as well, he has come a very long way. Interestingly, Ichigo pulled through all of those life-changing events without learning about his own unique heritage or having full knowledge about his zanpakuto. More from NextShark: Over a quarter-million people demand marriage equality in Thailand after 'homophobic' court ruling Not only did the Thousand-Year Blood War arc finally reveal that he is a combination of almost everything in the series Shinigami, Hollow and Quincy the final arc also serves as the jumping point for Ichigo to showcase the full extent of his power. Originally wielding one giant sword, Ichigo is now a dual-wielder like Captain Commander Kyoraku Shunsui and 13th Division Commander Ukitake Jushiro. Besides that, his new and complete bankai has also merged his Shinigami, Hollow and Quincy powers into one monstrous hybrid at least briefly in the manga. The Royal Guards brief action and sudden defeat, plus Ichibe Hyosube powerful bankai Ever since the first mention of the Royal Guards, also known as the Zero Squad, in the Turn Back the Pendulum arc, many Bleach fans were intrigued by the mysterious group until they were revealed to be such a comedic bunch in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. Whether it is in the second or third cour of "Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War," it is to be expected that Yhwach (or Juhabach) the progenitor of the Quincy race and the leader of the Wandenreich, the group of Quincies that invaded Soul Society will eventually launch his attack on the Soul Palace, the area within Soul Society where the Soul King resides and is guarded by the Zero Squad. During the assault, Yhwachs most elite guards, known as the Schutzstaffel the same name as Adolf Hitlers personal bodyguard unit will be facing the Zero Squad in battle, which will likely result in the Royal Guards quick defeat, as shown in the manga. However, the main highlight of this part of the arc is Ichibes showcase of his overpowered bankai, or Shin'uchi, as he calls it, during his fight with Yhwach. His Shin'uchi can essentially rename anything the black ink from his zanpakuto, Ichimonji, touches or covers, thus creating a false hope that he could potentially defeat Yhwach before the latter grotesquely defeats him. Yhwach absorbing the Soul King and Ukitakes sacrifice Yhwach meeting the Soul King following the assault on the Royal Palace is definitely one of the most exciting events to look forward to in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. This event in the arc will signal the beginning of the finale, as Yhwach transcends into a nearly omnipotent being after absorbing the Soul Kings power, thus upsetting the balance of reality itself and creating tremors felt not only in Soul Society but in the Human World as well. Yhwachs actions also result in the death of Ukitake, arguably one of the most beloved characters in the series. The 13th Division commander will eventually sacrifice himself to maintain the balance as he reveals to everyone that the Soul Kings right hand, Mimihagi, has been resting inside him all these years. Villains becoming allies against the Quincies In Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, fans will also see the return of some of the most iconic villains that Ichigo has fought and defeated in the past, notably Espada member Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez and Ginjo Kugo, the leader of Xcution who Ichigo was forced to kill in the "Lost Substitute Shinigami" arc. Other returning characters include Riruka Dokugamine and Yukio Hans Vorarlberna, who are two of the remaining living Xcution members and Fullbringers, and Kutsuzawa Giriko and Tsukishima Shukuro, Fullbringers who were killed by Zaraki and Kuchiki Byakuya in the aforementioned arc. Fans can expect to see these former villains working alongside the shinigami against the Quincies in the final cour. North Carolina universities landed among the top schools in U.S. New & World Reports 2023-24 Best Graduate School rankings. The schools were picked based on multiple factors, such as employment rates for 2022 graduates, mean starting salary after graduation and standardized test scores. The Duke University School of Nursing ranked fourth overall nationally, and its school of medicine took the No. 6 spot, tied with the University of Pennsylvania. UNC Chapel Hill also earned a top 10 ranking in nursing, along with the No. 2 spot in library and information studies. Five North Carolina universities earned top 100 rankings for education graduate programs, with UNC Chapel Hill being placed at No. 21. UNC Charlotte also improved from last year, with 11 of its graduate programs or specialties increasing their rankings this year, according to a news release from the university. Charlottes master of public administration program landed at No. 46 nationally, and its master of business administration program ranked 47th. Heres how North Carolina universities fared overall in the rankings: Business Duke: No. 11 UNC Chapel Hill: No. 22 N.C. A&T: No. 63 N.C. State: No. 78 Law Duke: No. 11 UNC Chapel Hill: No. 23 Wake Forest: No. 37 Medical Duke: No. 6 UNC Chapel Hill: No. 25 Wake Forest: No. 47 Engineering Duke: No. 22 N.C. State: No. 25 UNC Chapel Hill: No. 77 UNC Charlotte: No. 142 N.C. A&T: No. 148 Nursing Duke: No. 4 UNC Chapel Hill: No. 10 UNC Charlotte: No. 92 Winston-Salem State: No. 118 Education UNC: No. 21 N.C. State: No. 31 UNC Charlotte: No. 70 East Carolina: No. 83 UNC Greensboro: No. 83 Appalachian State: No. 138 Western Carolina: No. 150 UNC Wilmington: No. 188 Fayetteville State: No. 219 Fine Arts UNC Charlotte: No. 73 UNC Greensboro: No. 89 East Carolina: No. 110 Western Carolina: No. 193 Public Affairs A man doing yardwork outside his home was shot and killed by his 79-year-old neighbor, Illinois police say. The shooting happened April 12, and charges were issued Tuesday, April 25, against Ettore Lacchei, according to the Lake County Sheriffs Office. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Sheriffs officials were sent to the Antioch home when 59-year-old William Martys was found unresponsive on his driveway, according to a news release. He was determined to have been shot, and he died after being taken to a Libertyville hospital, the sheriff said. An investigation revealed Lacchei had perceived grievances with his neighbor, according to the sheriff. While Martys was utilizing a leaf blower in this yard, he was approached by Lacchei, sheriffs officials said of the April 12 incident. Lacchei argued with Martys and during the argument Lacchei shot Martys in the head. The shooting stemmed from the leaf blower being too noisy, WBBM reported. Lacchei was arrested at his home Tuesday, according to the sheriff. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of William Martys, who was senselessly murdered, Sheriff John Idleburg said in a statement. Lacchei previously had confrontations with other neighbors and had been seen with a gun, sheriffs officials told WBBM. Martys was a father of four and had one grandchild, according to an obituary. His obituary said he lived a life with the mindset of being happy. He strived to create happy events and opportunities in life while making sure the ones around him were happy as well, the obituary said. If you were Williams friend, you were his friend for life he would be there no matter the circumstance. Antioch is about 65 miles northwest of Chicago. Three stabbed after neighbor flirts with mans wife at family gathering, Texas cops say Neighbor shoots 61-year-old and leaves her to die in the street, Michigan cops say Floridas Division of Hotels and Restaurants routinely inspects restaurants, food trucks and other food service establishments for public health and cleanliness issues. The reports are public information. During the most recent inspections in Manatee County, local restaurants were cited for issues including unsafe food temperatures, old food and lack of employee handwashing. Here is what inspectors found: WingHouse Bar & Grill, 5105 14th St. W., Bradenton Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer was not at proper minimum strength. An inspector took a sanitizer reading of zero. Corrective action was taken. A person in charge set up a sink for manual warewashing until the machine could be repaired. An employee put a garbage bag on a garbage can and then failed to change gloves/wash hands before returning to food prep. An inspector educated the employee on proper handwashing procedure. Corrective action was taken. Raw ground beef was stored over cooked chicken in a walk-in cooler. Corrective action was taken. Chicken, cheese, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, cut tomatoes and cut lettuce were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees in a reach-in cooler. A stop sale was issued and the items were discarded. Cooked chicken was hot held at a temperature less than 135 degrees. Corrective action was taken. No test kit was at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use for warewashing and/or wiping cloths. There was no proof of required food safety training for any employees. Cooked chicken wings that were being held for future use in a walk-in cooler were not date-marked. Corrective action was taken. There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Hood filters were soiled with grease. There was an accumulation of debris inside of a warewashing machine. A follow-up inspection was required. During a follow-up visit the next day, an inspector found unresolved issues. Another follow-up inspection was required. Golden Wok, 3545 First St., Bradenton Raw animal foods (raw, chicken, raw shell eggs and raw beef) were not properly separated from one another in a holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Corrective action was taken. An inspector observed an employee handling a cell phone with gloved hands and then failing to change gloves/wash hands before returning to work. The inspector advised on proper handwashing procedure. Corrective action was taken. Wiping cloth sanitizing solution exceeded the maximum concentration allowed. Corrective action was taken. There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Single-use items were stored unprotected from contamination. Corrective action was taken. Raw shrimp was stored on the floor of a walk-in cooler. Corrective action was taken. Hood filters were heavily soiled with grease. An employee was preparing food without a hair restraint. Corrective action was taken. A follow-up inspection was required. Mademoiselle Paris French Restaurant & Bakery, 9906 Gulf Dr., Anna Maria An employee on the cook line cracked raw shell eggs and then failed to change gloves/wash hands before grabbing a clean plate. An inspector educated a person in charge on proper glove use and handwashing. Corrective action was taken. Raw shell eggs were stored over ham and produce in a reach-in cooler. Corrective action was taken. Butter was cold held at a temperature greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken. An employee washed hands in a non-handwash sink. Corrective action was taken. A bread rack was blocking access to an employee handwash sink in the kitchen. Corrective action was taken. There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Hood filters were soiled with grease. The restaurant met inspection standards. Trumans Tap & Grill, 11161 S.R. 70 E. #100, Lakewood Ranch An inspector observed foods that were date-marked as 10 days or more old in a walk-in cooler (pork ribs, bacon jam, pasta, salsa and alfredo sauce.) A stop sale was issued for all of the items due to food being in an unsound condition. A manager discarded all of the items. An employee used a handwash sink to fill a dog bowl. An inspector explained to employees and management that handwashing sinks are to be used for washing hands only. Spray bottles of cleaning fluid were stored next to open liquor bottles in in the bar. Corrective action was taken. The restaurant met inspection standards. Ruby Tuesday, 5802 20th St. E., Ellenton During a follow-up inspection for previous violations, an inspector found unresolved issues. There was no proof of state-required food safety training for any employees. There was no measuring device available for measuring utensil surface temperature when using hot water as sanitizer in a dishmachine. Another follow-up inspection was required. The Club at River Wilderness, 2250 Wilderness Blvd. W., Parrish During a follow-up inspection for previous violations, an inspector found unresolved issues. There was no proof of state-required food safety training for any employees. No test kits were at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use for warewashing and/or wiping cloths. No employee handwashing signs were posted in restrooms. Another follow-up inspection was required. Gogo Subs, 6850 15th St. E., Sarasota A certified food manager or person in charge lacked knowledge of foodborne illnesses and symptoms of illness that would prevent an employee from working with food, clean equipment and utensils and/or single-use items. An open container of corn beef was not date-marked. A manager or person in charge lacked proof of food manager certification, and there was no other certified food service manager employed at the location. There was no proof of required food safety training for any employees. There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. No paper towels were supplied at an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken. Access to an employee handwash sink was blocked. Corrective action was taken. The hood system was soiled. A follow-up inspection was required. Editors Note: According to the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, these reports are a snapshot of the conditions present at the time of the inspection and are public record. The agency is required to inspect every licensed restaurant at least once per year, but new and high-risk establishments tend to be inspected more frequently. When an emergency shutdown order is given by an inspector, it must first be reviewed and approved by agency supervisors. In order for a business to reopen, an inspector will continue visiting the establishment daily until compliance is met. Some citations may include a financial penalty. Inspectors may also respond to complaints, which can be filed at www.myfloridalicense.com. The Bradenton Heralds weekly dirty dining reports list restaurants where inspectors found issues that might concern the average diner such as unsafe food temperatures, employee hand-washing issues or moldy drink machines regardless of whether or not the businesses passed inspection. Authorities said they were trying to identify eight bodies found dumped in the Mexican resort area of Cancun. Oscar Montes de Oca, attorney general of Quintana Roo, said Tuesday that police found the bodies during weekend searches in wooded lots and sinkhole ponds, according to The Associated Press. He said authorities estimated they were dumped there anywhere from one week to two months ago. The head prosecutor of the Mexican state pledged to carry out more searches and identifications. Five bodies were found at an abandoned building site, Monte de Oca said, according to the AP. Three of them were identified as already reported missing persons. At another site in a wooded area on the outskirts of Cancun, he said, authorities found unidentified human skeletal remains belonging to three other people. Is Mexico travel safe? What to know about visiting Cabo, Cancun, Playa del Carmen and more Members of the Mexican Navy and National Guard patrol the tourist beach area of Cancun, Quintana Roo state, Mexico in March 18, 2023. The bodies were found in a poor neighborhood about 10 miles from Cancun's beach and hotel zone, in an area close to the local airport. Officials said similar searches were carried out in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, a town south of Tulum, on the coastline of the country's Yucatan Peninsula. Volunteers, including some relatives of the missing, and search dogs joined investigators on the searches. After releasing a statement earlier on social media that disputed details surrounding the discovery of the bodies, the prosecutor's office confirmed the report to USA TODAY. Thousands of missing people According to a national database, more than 112,000 people are listed as missing in Mexico. Searches for clandestine grave sites have become common throughout the country. What is unusual is that they are now being carried out in Cancun, the crown jewel of Mexicos tourism industry. Dumping grounds are often used by drug cartels to dispose of victims. Several cartels are fighting for control of the Caribbean coast and its lucrative retail drug trade. Story continues Previously: 7 dead, including child, after gunmen stormed Mexican resort, authorities say Travel alert warning In March, the U.S. State Department issued a travel alert warning visitors to exercise caution, especially after dark, at resorts including Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. The warning came in the wake of the kidnapping of four Americans in Mexico earlier this month. U.S. and Mexican authorities said the group was traveling for cosmetic surgery when they got caught in a drug cartel shootout in the border city of Matamoros in Tamaulipas state, south of Brownsville, Texas. Two of the Americans were killed. The State Department had posted a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for when they were kidnapped, citing crime and kidnapping in the region. Contributing: The Associated Press Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 8 bodies found in Cancun near hotel zone of travel destination: AG A 30-year-old member of a gang in South Carolina was sentenced to more than 40 years in prison in connection with the murder of a police informant, court officials said. Antone B. Ellis Tremayne Blakely, who lived in Laurens, was found guilty of murder, third-degree assault and battery by mob, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime by a Laurens County jury on April 21, according to a news release from the Eighth Judicial Circuit. His conviction comes more than two years after the killing of police informant Jarius Byrd in January 2021, according to the 8th Judicial Circuit. According to the prosecutors, Blakely and several accomplices entered Byrds apartment and trapped the former police informant in his bedroom. The group assaulted Byrd before he managed to escape his apartment and tried to flee, the release said. Byrd soon tried to return to collect his personal belongings, but Blakely had stayed inside that apartment and shot him when he came back, according to the release. As Byrd fled the apartment again, he was shot multiple times by Blakelys accomplices and fell to the pavement in the middle of the street outside his home, prosecutors said. He was taken to the emergency room and pronounced dead, according to court officials. At the time Byrd was killed, he was no longer a police informant and hadnt been for more than 10 years, WSPA reported. Detective Sgt. Billy Sellers told WSPA that Byrd had given the police information in 2011 about narcotics, but no information specifically concerning Blakely. It was a case that I took personally because Mr. Byrd was doing the right thing, trying to take dangerous drug dealers off the street, Sellers told WSPA. The jury handling Blakelys case deliberated for about two hours before delivering a verdict. Publicly accessible Facebook posts from Blakely were key evidence in proving Blakelys motive for the crime and his associations with other accomplices in the attack, prosecutors said. Story continues Blakely was sentenced to 40 years in prison on the murder charge, 25 years in prison on the kidnapping charge, 10 years on the conspiracy, five years on the weapon possession charge, and one year on the assault charge, according to Circuit Judge Donald B. Hocker. Eighth Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo commended the work of police and court officials in the case in the release, saying that Jarius Byrd was killed for doing the right thing. Laurens is about 75 miles northwest of Columbia. University student slashed by man found hiding in his dorm room, Tennessee police say Man deported twice is charged in fatal crash, then dies in custody, Florida cops say Pastor killed after stopping to help man believed to have escaped from jail, cops say Husband who vanished during Uber Eats delivery found dismembered in trash bags, cops say Identical twins Isabella Solimene and Ha Nguyen are pictured with their best friend, Olivia Solimene, at a family wedding. From left, Olivia and Isabella Solimene and Isabella's identical twin, Ha Nguyen, at a family wedding in 2022.Michael and Kristin Williams Keely Solimene adopted a Vietnamese girl, and then her best friend. Then she discovered that one had an identical twin. She vowed to reunite the sisters who'd been separated at birth and grew up 9,000 miles apart. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Keely Solimene. It has been edited for length and clarity. A few months after I adopted my two daughters from Vietnam, I found a seemingly innocuous document buried in a pile of paperwork that I planned to sort and put in a cabinet with the other records. Most of the forms were written in Vietnamese, and they were hard to decipher. But the one I saw that day a letter about Isabella, the oldest of the girls made me gasp out loud. It said that she had a sister the exact same age. They'd been separated at birth. The trajectory of my life had already been altered by the adoptions from overseas. But this latest discovery took it to whole new level. The moment that I saw that Isabella, then 4, had a twin, I thought, "That's it, full stop! I need to find her." My husband and I originally decided to adopt just one girl, Isabella, in 2001 I didn't know that the girls were identical at the time. But my intuition told me that they had to reunite. I felt like it was the best thing to do to honor Isabella. It took around five years to find her sister, whose name was Ha Nguyen, and the girls didn't get to meet until they were 14. Meanwhile, they were raised on opposite sides of the world Isabella grew up in the US and Ha in Vietnam around 9,000 miles apart. My husband, Mick, and I decided to adopt Isabella in the fall of 2001. One of my friends had recently adopted a child from Vietnam. The friend knew about a little girl in an orphanage there who was waiting for a family. She showed me her adorable photograph, and I thought, "This is my fifth child." Story continues Isabella, bottom, and Olivia soon after they were adopted as little girls. Keely Solimene Our four biological children Alexandra, Arianna, Victoria, and Will, who were between 5 and 9 at the time were excited by the idea of a younger sister. It felt natural to expand our family that way. We'd only intended to adopt Isabella. Then I heard about her best friend, Olivia, who was 3. The older kids at the orphanage looked after the younger ones. Isabella, even as a 4-year-old, was paired with Olivia. They were close, but the orphanage decided to move Olivia to another part of the complex. They thought it would be easier for them to separate sooner rather than later. "It hasn't gone well," the person from the adoption agency told me one day. "We think it'd be better if they were adopted together." So we decided to adopt Olivia, who became our sixth child. There was a revelation to come in the form of Isabella's identical twin We met the girls in April 2002 on our first trip to Vietnam. I couldn't wait to see them. I'd never really traveled before, and it was overwhelming and eye-opening. I remember scooping up Isabella and Olivia at the orphanage and looking out the window at rice paddies. The sounds and smells were so different. But because it was the home of my girls, it felt like my home, too. It was a beautiful bonding moment. We were invited to return to Vietnam three months later with the whole family. The formal adoption ceremony took place in July of 2002. When we got back to Chicago, it felt similar to when you bring kids home from the hospital as babies. We had a 3-year-old and a 4-year-old who didn't speak English. We didn't speak Vietnamese. We had to figure out a lot of things, but we got along happily as a family of eight. The identical twins were wary of each other when they first met at the age of 14, but they soon became close. Keely Solimene Then I found out about Ha. The document said that the girls' birth mother had wanted to relinquish both twins. They were malnourished and she couldn't raise them herself. The orphanage took Isabella, but not Ha. I later discovered that Ha was very weak. They didn't think she was going to make it. The birth mom left with Ha. The revelation felt a bit like the time I'd heard about Olivia. In fact, we looked at Isabella and Olivia, only 10 months apart in age, almost as twins themselves. I recruited a Vietnamese woman to help track down Isabella's twin sister "You're not going to believe this, but we're going back to Vietnam," I told Mick, who was as shocked as me to learn about Ha. I never intended to adopt Ha, but I wanted them to get to know each other. I needed to locate Ha as quickly as possible. Trails go cold, and I knew that if I didn't act fast, I might never find her. I went back to Vietnam within the year and recruited a local woman to help me. She was part of the community grapevine my eyes and ears on the ground. She finally tracked down Ha in 2008. She was being raised in a rural village by her biological aunt and her partner. The two women clearly loved her, my contact said. "She's safe and happy," she told me. Ha Nguyen in 2008 outside her old schoolhouse in Vietnam. The students drank a glass of milk every day supplied by the cow tied up outside. Keely Solimene I met Ha in 2008 on my fifth trip to Vietnam. She and Isabella were ten years old. Ha looked so much like Isabella, I felt a connection and closeness to her. But Ha and her moms were skeptical. Like Isabella, Ha knew she had a twin, but here was this white woman saying that her sister was part of a family in America. I showed them videos of Isabella and they obviously noticed the resemblance. Soon after, Ha's moms agreed to involve Mick and me in her future. We bought her a bike. She wanted to go to private school in a city that was relatively nearby. Mick and I paid for an apartment for her to live with her moms while she was there. The twins finally met at an airport in Vietnam when they were 14. They were middle schoolers by then. We didn't feel they were quite mature enough to meet each other before that time. I'm a bit of a Pollyanna so I was a little disappointed that it was awkward at first. But as Ha introduced Isabella to Vietname culture, food, and traditions, they became much closer. The family recently celebrated the wedding of Will and Brittany Solimene. Olivia, Isabella, and Ha were three of the bridesmaids. Michael and Kristin Williams In the summer of 2015, Ha told us that she wanted to come to the US for the rest of her education. It was entirely her decision. She became a junior at Olivia's high school a year later, while Isabella was homeschooled. Ha has a special bond with all six of the other kids in the family. The twins went on to attend the same college. I'm now the CEO of a luxury-goods company called Bella/Ha, named for them. Ha, who is constantly in touch with her moms, is now 24, six years older than the maximum age for adoption. But I always introduce Ha to people as my third adoptive daughter. The 9 points of the 3 triangles represent the 9 people in our immediate family Isabella, Olivia, and Ha got matching tattoos near their rib cages close to their hearts. The three intertwined triangles represent the twins and their best friend. The points of the three triangles represent the nine people in the immediate Solimene family. I feel that Isabella and Ha's reunion was meant to be after all those years living so far apart. I think their beautiful life with Olivia and the rest of us here in Chicago shows that we did the right thing by all three. Do you have a powerful story to share with Insider? Please send details to jridley@insider.com. Read the original article on Insider Since remote and hybrid work has reduced the number of employees coming into the office, Adventist Health is looking for tenants to fill about a floor of office space in its Roseville corporate headquarters. Like other companies, Adventist Health has navigated changes to the work environment over the past few years, said Joyce Newmyer, the companys chief people officer. We are committed to growing a collaborative experience for our Roseville teams as we continue the important work of our hospitals and clinics, while sharing our beautiful space with other companies that appreciate the buildings benefits. Adventist moved all of its HQ employees into the five-story, 275,000-square-foot building at One Adventist Health Way in 2019. The company spent about $100 million to build it. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many office buildings closed to employees because of stay-home orders and workers had to get their jobs done from home. While pandemic-era health orders ended, many people have not wanted to return to daily commutes to the office, and employers are determining what works with their business needs. Companies around the nation have seen the number of workers coming into the office on a daily basis plummet over the last three years. Kastle Systems, which sells smart technology to secure building entries, said that about half the number of authorized employees in 10 major markets. had scanned into offices in the week ending April 19, compared with 99% the week ending Feb. 12, 2020. In San Francisco, office usage was down to 44% a week ago; in San Jose, 38.8%. Adventist officials said they consolidated their workforce into other areas of the building and are looking for like-minded companies seeking a collaborative workspace. Jones Lang Lasalle are the leasing agents. The campus was designed with community health, sustainability and human well-being in mind, Adventist officials said. It has earned LEED certification, which recognizes leadership in energy and environmental design, and has met WELL building standards, according to a company news release. A new advocacy group is debuting on Wednesday, and its aiming to raise awareness about how residents of U.S. territories are shortchanged in terms of political representation, federal benefits and self-determination. This is colonialism, plain and simple. It is time we call it what it is. It is time we confront colonialism, reads Right to Democracys first press release. The United States currently has five overseas territories: Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa. Although there are important differences between the territories internal governance and relationships with Washington, they all face similar challenges related to their constitutional status. More than a one-size-fits-all solution, its about identifying our common ground, said Adi Martinez-Roman, co-president of Right to Democracy. Were going to respect the differences between each of the territories and within territories because there are very important differences even inside the territories themselves to try to find those common ground solutions or strategies between us that agree that there is this colonial systemic change that needs to happen, she added. While all the territories currently have a voice in Congress, none of them have a voting presence in the body that ultimately decides their legal system. That leads to wildly different levels of individual representation for the U.S. citizens or nationals in each territory. Puerto Rico, for instance, has one nonvoting resident commissioner representing around 3.2 million people, while the Northern Mariana Islands elect a nonvoting delegate to represent fewer than 50,000. The territories histories are also divergent: American Samoa came under U.S. control as part of a partition deal with Germany in the late 19th century, Puerto Rico and Guam were ceded by Spain after the Spanish-American War, the Virgin Islands were purchased from Denmark, and the Northern Mariana Islands took decades to transition from a trust territory of the United Nations to a U.S. territory. Story continues According to the United Nations, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Guam are non-self-governing territories essentially colonies while Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands were removed from that list in 1952 and 1990, respectively. Yet the territories share common issues such as uncertainty in funding for federal programs ranging from Medicare and Medicaid to emergency response for natural disasters. And while the political status of the territories is often at the core of those issues, proposals to change status are usually as controversial as the problems they aim to solve. The challenges that people have in coming up with solutions is illustrative that people dont really recognize that theres a problem, said Neil Weare, co-president of Right to Democracy. And if the United States as a country actually recognized that it had a colonial problem that was urgent to solve, then the possible solutions to that problem are much more creative and much more available, Weare added. But because the United States does not recognize theres a colonial problem, finding a solution is very difficult. Right to Democracys co-presidents and co-founders are focusing on legal action and community building to build their advocacy group, seeking to create a coalition across all five territories and on the mainland. The group is taking particular aim at the so-called Insular Cases, a series of court decisions that essentially grant Congress the ability to pick and choose which constitutional rights apply to residents of the territories. The decisions, which rely heavily on openly racist language typical of the early 20th century to justify their conclusions, avoided Supreme Court review in October, though justices on either side of the ideological spectrum have expressed a desire to take on the issue. Justices Neil Gorsuch and Sonia Sotomayor have panned the Insular Cases. In 2022, Gorsuch issued a 10-page opinion calling for the Supreme Court to review and overturn the cases, which he wrote deserve no place in our law. Still, the Court decided not to take on a case that could have led to review of the Insular Cases, Congress has not voted on resolutions to condemn the decisions and the Justice Department has actively defended the cases legal effects, if not the language behind them. Recognizing this as a cross-partisan cross-ideological issue, when you have conservative Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch label this relationship as, quote, American colonialism and write a dozen-page-long opinion condemning the insular cases as racist and colonial, demonstrates how this is an issue that its time has come in terms of engaging in a more serious way, Weare said. The group also aims to engage in community lawyering, building cases from the ground up, based on the needs of territorial residents. Traditional litigation is based on We are the smart lawyers and the experts who know what the theory is and what should be argued in court in order to convince a judge,' Martinez-Roman said. Community lawyering is: We actually build the case with the participation of the client. It is centered on the client, and it promotes the community of the client to get involved in the litigation process. Even the theory, the legal theory, is built together, she added. Its fed by the actual meaning in the life of the clients. And there is more impact in terms of the community itself, as the community gets empowered by their building of knowledge of their rights, and being able to exert some political power and pressure over the public officials. Martinez-Roman brings her work in participatory advocacy in Puerto Rico, working at a community level, to the new group, while Weare has worked on the national stage to bring attention to the broader territorial status issue. Right to Democracy is in part funded by the Ford Foundation, according to Weare and Martinez-Roman, and is participating in an exhibit on U.S. overseas expansion at the Smithsonians National Portrait Gallery titled 1898: U.S. Imperial Visions and Revisions. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. An image of Aerosmiths wing logo has been displayed at venues around the country, including the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, possibly teasing a tour stop in the Emerald City. There has been no official announcement yet, however, another clue includes a countdown clock on the Aerosmith website counting down to May 1. According to The Boston Globe, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry said the band will announce a 40-plus-date tour that will stretch into 2024. The last time Aerosmith played in Washington was during a Tacoma stop on their Global Warming Tour on Aug. 8, 2012. Other cities teasing a stop include the Ball Arena in Denver, State Farm Arena in Atlanta and Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. Two national nonprofits dedicated to providing housing for homeless veterans are partnering on plans to build a new community in Bradenton. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which has opened similar affordable housing developments in Arizona and California, sent a letter of intent to Manatee County officials in September. The offer comes after local leaders committed $15 million to renovate the former jail to create housing for veterans. The nonprofit aims to build 122 units south of Cortez Road where the countys Utilities Department is based. The housing would be a combination of 38 comfort tiny homes that are 500 square feet as well as an 84-unit apartment complex. This is a great opportunity and a great location, said Commissioner George Kruse. This expresses to everybody here that we stand behind our word that we care about our veterans, we care about our homeless veterans. The Manatee Board of County Commissioners previously voted to spend $15 million to begin revamping the inside of the former jail that is connected to the Manatee County Judicial Center in downtown Bradenton, but that plan has been abandoned. Last week, commissioners voted to demolish the old jail instead, pointing to the high costs associated with converting the building into housing and a support center for veterans. Board members say they hope Tunnel to Towers proposed village will fill that void. The Utilities Department already has plans to exit the building at 4530 66th St. W., Bradenton, but a new location has not been determined yet. Housing for veterans in Bradenton Tunnel to Towers is working with U.S. VETS, another large nonprofit that provides support to veterans, to offer wraparound services on the property. The organizations say addiction resources, therapists, employment programs and other support systems will be available. The complex will also have 24/7 on-site security. We all suffer an indignity when our women and men are sleeping on the same streets that he or she was once asked to defend. Our job is to make sure that never happens again, said Darryl Vincent, chief operating officer of U.S. VETS. Whatever their need is, we triage them through that. Story continues The property at 4530 66th Street West, currently housing the Manatee County Utilities complex, was proposed to be donated to be a Veterans village during the Board of Commissioners meeting on April 25, 2023. In a presentation to the board, Gavin Naples, vice president of Tunnel to Towers, said the organization has conducted research that shows there are about 200 homeless veterans in and around Manatee County. We want to maximize the utilization of the site and provide housing for as many individuals as we can, said Naples. The planned community in Bradenton would offer permanent housing to local veterans. Naples said the organization would prioritize Manatee County-based veterans and select a mix of veterans in different age groups and other demographics. Support for homeless veterans When it opens, the facility will be able to provide fully furnished units for 122 veterans. Children and significant others will not be able to live there, Naples said. Rent payments will work on a sliding scale to keep it affordable for veterans working to get back on their feet. The veteran is expected to pay 30% of their income, whether thats $20 a month or $700 a month, said Naples, noting that the foundation will provide housing for people without an income while also helping them apply for housing vouchers. According to Vincent, U.S. VETS maintains a 97% percent retention rate for veterans who take advantage of the permanent housing program. Board members said they were impressed by the presentation, but several commissioners said they had concerns about the proposed complex. Officials debated the facility for over an hour before voting unanimously in support of moving forward. Commissioner Jason Bearden, a Marine Corps. veteran, was the most vocal. He pointed to testimonials from friends who had turned to U.S. VETS for help in the past. I could see how this program would be good, but I dont see it as a fix to a specific issue, Bearden said. Our homelessness could increase because of this. Commissioner Jason Bearden during the Board of Commissioners meeting on April 25, 2023. Commissioner Amanda Ballard also asked about how the organizations will handle situations where a veteran has to be removed from the facility. Naples explained that U.S. VETS does not send veterans back into homelessness. In cases where a resident has to be relocated, the organization will connect the veteran with family, pay for housing elsewhere or seek another solution, he said. Were not going to kick someone out of the program and have them on the street. We will find a place for them based on their needs, Naples said. Help during hard times Acting County Administrator Lee Washington, who is also a Marine Corps. veteran, weighed in on the conversation as well. The county made a commitment to do something for our homeless veterans here in Manatee County. To think that this would be any different than any other affordable housing project that weve approved in Manatee County would be incorrect, said Washington, who highlighted the importance of the on-site support services. Were not a bunch of drunks with mental health issues running around Manatee County or the nation. Some of us have just run into hard times. Speaking during public comment, two local residents urged commissioners to support the proposal. This should have been approved an hour ago, said Glen Gibellina, an outspoken advocate for veteran housing initiatives. I cant believe were having this conversation. Theyve earned our respect and a place to get their lives back on track. As a community, the only answer is yes, Stacy Jesse added. Darryl Vincent, chief operating officer of U.S. VETS, a nationwide nonprofit that provides support services for veterans listens to a speaker. Property at 4530 66th Street West, currently housing the Manatee County Utilities complex, was proposed to be donated to be a Veterans village during the Board of Commissioners meeting on April 25, 2023. In the end, commissioners voted to have staff continue negotiating a deal with Tunnel to Towers and U.S. VETS. County staff plan to visit one of the existing veteran housing communities in the coming weeks. Bearden also said he hopes to visit one of the sites to speak with fellow service members. I think I might feel a little bit better if I could get permission to go out to Riverside and check out the facility, said Bearden, referring to an existing community in California. Id like to physically see it and ask questions with the people to see if theyre truly getting services. Tunnel to Towers and U.S. VETS said they hope to open the veteran housing community by the end of 2024. Interim County Administrator Lee Washington during the Board of Commissioners meeting on April 25, 2023. Lawmakers want Gov. Gavin Newsom to devote an additional $200 million to flooding in the San Joaquin Valley as their districts recover from flood damage and face down the new threat of rapidly melting snow in the southern Sierra Nevada. A group of 12 bipartisan members of the state assembly requested the funding for disaster relief in a letter Tuesday, citing the need for greater emergency response to flooding and more investment in protection efforts long term. Were looking into the future and seeing that we have a massive amount of water coming into our communities with this snowpack. We have to be ready and time is of the essence, said Kern County Assemblymember Vince Fong, who spearheaded the ask. In his January budget proposal, Newsom cut $40 million for floodplain restoration projects in the San Joaquin Valley, which allow for rivers to flood in strategic places during storms or snowmelt, reducing the risks downstream and benefiting ecosystems. After a century of attempts to tame California rivers with a complex system of concrete dams, canals and levees that transformed the Central Valley into fertile farmland, state officials have begun to appreciate the value of dedicating large swaths of land to floodplains. Newsoms initial budget proposed some $200 million on flood protections to reduce urban risk, strengthen levees in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, and reduce long-term risks in the Central Valley. But lawmakers say that doesnt go far enough on disaster response. The potential deluge on the horizon Record snowfall in the Sierra Nevada this winter combined with an early season heat wave this week is raising alarm in the Yosemite Valley and Tulare Lake Basin, where a resurgence of the historic lake bed has already affected communities. The governor visited the Tulare Lake Basin Tuesday and met with leaders of Corcoran and Allensworth where floodwaters are creeping into communities. In this week of high temperatures, snowmelt threatens to breach the levee protecting Corcoran and impact a nearby prison. Story continues At least 60,000 acres of farmland in Kings County and Tulare County are now under roughly 3 feet of water following a series of atmospheric river storms this winter, according to the Kings County Sheriffs Department. Every day youre seeing half an inch, an inch of more water present itself here in this basin, said Newsom in front of a flooded farm. And as a consequence we not only need to maintain our vigilance but we cant be impatient in terms of the impending floods and damage that will occur here in a very short order. Newsom, who called the visit a surreal experience, is expected to release his updated budget proposal May 12 as he faces an estimated $22.5 billion budget deficit. The governors office did not respond to request for comment before publication of this story. In the letter, lawmakers including chairs of the emergency management committee said the governors recent executive order is not adequate to support response efforts and prevent future disasters. More emergency funding this summer, they said, would compensate for historic lack of infrastructure upgrades. A blueprint finalized last year to fortify the Central Valley against flooding by the Flood Protection Board estimated a mega-flood in the region could result in $1 trillion dollars in damage and called for $3 billion over the next five years in infrastructure upgrades. A couple hundred million, advocates have long argued, is a worthwhile investment. We have to have floodplain restoration where there are opportunities available to take the pressure off levees, said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta, an environmental advocacy group. This is not a big ask, because peoples lives are at stake. Digital human brain covered with networks An open letter signed by dozens of academics from around the world calls on artificial-intelligence developers to learn more about consciousness, as AI systems become more advanced. "It is no longer in the realm of science fiction to imagine AI systems having feelings and even human-level consciousness," it says. Most experts agree AI is nowhere near this level of sophistication. But it is evolving rapidly and some say developments should be paused. Raise awareness The term AI covers computer systems able to do tasks that would normally need human intelligence. This includes chatbots able to understand questions and respond with human-like answers, and systems capable of recognising objects in pictures. Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4 (GPT-4), an AI system developed by ChatGPT chatbot creator OpenAI, can now successfully complete the bar exam, the professional qualification for lawyers, although it still makes mistakes and can share misinformation. But this is just one function of AI. AI products are being deployed in many sectors, including health research, marketing and finance. Technology billionaire Elon Musk co-signed a recent letter saying further AI developments should be put on hold until effective safety measures could be designed and implemented. And on Tuesday, his ex-wife, Tallulah Riley, tweeted artificial general intelligence (AGI) - AI capable of human-level intellectual tasks - needed "the equivalent of [environmental activist] Greta Thunberg" to raise awareness and encourage public debate. The Association for Mathematical Consciousness Science (AMCS), which has compiled the open letter, titled "The responsible development of AI agenda needs to include consciousness research", said it did not have a view on whether AI development in general should be paused. But it pushed for a greater scientific understanding of consciousness, how it could apply to AI and how society might live alongside it. Story continues "The rapid development of AI is exposing the urgent need to accelerate research in the field of consciousness science," the letter says. Its signatories include Dr Susan Schneider, who chaired US space agency Nasa, as well as academics from universities in the UK, US and Europe. Expressed feelings Last year, a Google engineer was fired after claiming an AI system was sentient. Blake Lemoine wrote Google's large language model Lamda, which underpins its ChatGPT rival, Bard, expressed feelings. Google has maintained Lamda was doing exactly what it had been programmed to do - communicate in a human-like way. But Google boss Sundar Pichai recently told US news platform CBS he did not "fully understand" how Bard worked. The human mind was not fully understood either, he added, which is why the AMCS is calling for more research. Person's hand holding an iPhone displaying Google's Bard AI chatbot with prompt entry field But there is as much excitement as nervousness around AI. It is the big buzzword in big tech and investment money is pouring in to AI-related projects. Released in November, ChatGPT, became an instant viral sensation, the populist "face" of AI, with millions of people trying it out. Using the internet as a database, it can give written answers to questions in a natural, human-like way. Microsoft, which has invested heavily in OpenAI, says AI can take "the drudgery" out of mundane jobs such as office administration. A recent report by Goldman Sachs suggests AI could replace the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs. And while the AI industry will create new human jobs, they are likely to require new skills. Follow Zoe Kleinman on Twitter @zsk The Air Force said Wednesday it has temporarily suspended two leaders of the unit where accused Pentagon document leaker Jack Teixeira worked. The commander of the 102nd Intelligence Support Squadron and the detachment commander overseeing administrative support have both been temporarily suspended from their leadership positions and have temporarily lost access to classified systems and information. The commander of the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts made the suspensions last week. Teixeira, the 21-year-old who allegedly posted hundreds of classified Pentagon documents online for months, worked as a systems administrator in the 102nd Intelligence Wing in the Massachusetts Air National Guard. The two commanders are suspended pending further investigation by the Air Force inspector general. As more information becomes available, more members of Teixeira's unit could face suspension or removal. The Air Force reassigned the unit's intelligence mission to other units earlier this month and ordered the inspector general to probe the unit's policies and procedures related to the handling of national security information. Investigators with the IG's office arrived at Otis Air National Guard Base Tuesday. Teixeira has a detention hearing scheduled for Thursday in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Justice Department argued in court documents filed late Wednesday that he should be held until his trial because, among other things, he poses a significant flight risk and nations hostile to the U.S. might even try to help him flee. Jerry Springer, TV show host and onetime mayor of Cincinnati, dies at 79 What's next in debt ceiling debate after House passes McCarthy's plan? Exclusive discounts from CBS Mornings Deals By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -A dual Lebanese-Belgian citizen accused by the United States of financing Lebanon's Hezbollah has been extradited from Romania and faced sanctions evasion and money laundering charges on Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court, prosecutors said. Mohammad Bazzi, who Washington says has provided millions of dollars to Hezbollah, was arrested in February on charges of covertly selling real estate he owned in Michigan and transferring the funds abroad, violating U.S. sanctions laws. Bazzi was extradited on Tuesday, and pleaded not guilty in a Wednesday court hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Brooklyn. He was ordered detained pending trial. The U.S. Treasury Department placed Bazzi, 58, on its sanctions list in 2018 over his alleged ties to Hezbollah, which Washington considers a terrorist organization. Lawyers for Bazzi did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Prosecutors in Brooklyn last week charged another alleged Hezbollah financier, Nazem Ahmad, with evading U.S. sanctions by exporting hundreds of millions of dollars of diamonds and art. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Mark Porter) Almost two in three Republicans said former President Trump should be reelected even if he is found guilty of a crime, according to a new poll. An NPR-PBS NewsHour-Marist poll released Tuesday found that 63 percent of Republicans, and 27 percent of all U.S. adults, said Trump should be president again even if he is convicted of the current or potential charges he is facing. Four in 10 Republican-leaning independents said Trump should be reelected regardless of the legal challenges, while just more than half said he should not. More than three-quarters of independents who do not lean toward one party and nearly all Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents said Trump should not serve as president again. An NBC News poll released Sunday also found that two-thirds of Republican primary voters are continuing to support Trump and are not concerned about his electability. Trump became the first former president to be indicted last month in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs investigation into a hush-money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen has said he made the payment at Trumps direction for Daniels to remain silent about an affair she and the former president had years prior. Trump has acknowledged reimbursing Cohen for the payment but has denied having an affair with Daniels. Prosecutors charged Trump with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to the payment. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The former president is also facing investigations by Special Counsel Jack Smith into his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and the storing of classified and sensitive documents at his Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach, Fla. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is probing efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia and indicated that she would announce any charges stemming from her investigation between July 11 and Sept. 1. Story continues Pollsters found 23 percent of Republicans said Trump should drop out of the race for president in 2024 because of the felony charges filed against him in Manhattan, while 87 percent of Democrats and 58 percent of independents said the same. Overall, 58 percent of adults and 57 percent of registered voters said Trump should drop out, while 41 percent of each said he should not. The poll was conducted from April 17 to 19 among 1,291 U.S. adults. The margin of error was 3.4 points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A woman living at a Lexington homeless shelter said in a lawsuit that her leg was broken by Lexington police officers at a hospital where she went for treatment last spring. Linda Trapp said in the lawsuit filed in Fayette Circuit Court that she was taken by ambulance to the emergency room at Saint Joseph East on March 10, 2022, after suffering a head injury from a fall. Before the night was over, she alleges she suffered wrongful arrest, imprisonment, emotional injury, severe bodily injuries and delayed medical treatment, that included multiple surgeries to fix her broken leg. Shes suing not only the city government, police department and officers involved but also an emergency room doctor, unnamed security guard and the companies providing security and emergency department services. The lawsuit states Trapp asked the hospital for a COVID-19 test on the night of the incident because the Catholic Action Center shelter, where she was staying, wouldnt allow her back without a negative test result. She wouldve been forced to sleep outside. Ginny Ramsey, director of the Catholic Action Center, confirmed the shelter did require a negative test for entry, and still does. We have a vulnerable, disabled, and elderly population with lots of chronic conditions, Ramsey told the Herald-Leader. Its protection. Ramsey said the hospitals are aware of the shelters COVID testing policies. Everything could have been averted with getting the COVID test, she said. After she was denied the COVID test, Trapp said in the lawsuit that police were called because employees at the hospital didnt think she would leave. When Lexington police officer Myles Foster arrived, the lawsuit states he threatened to drag her out of the bed. Trapp said in the lawsuit she got up and walked to the door but stopped before leaving the hospital to again plead for a COVID test and to ask for her cane. At the time Plaintiff was a sixty-one-year-old woman. She had just suffered head trauma from a fall. In addition Ms. Trapp suffers from a degenerative right knee which caused her to rely on the assistance of a cane to walk, the lawsuit states. Story continues When she continued to ask for a COVID test, the lawsuit said Foster, knowing she would be spending the night outside, responded, Its not that cold tonight you will be alright. At one point during this exchange while inside the hospital and in the presence of Universal security guards, Defendant Foster pushed Plaintiff to the ground and threatened to take her to jail, the suit states. Trapp said she would leave on her own. Foster allegedly said during the exchange, We are not touching you. If I touch you again you are going in cuffs ... and youre gonna get hurt because I am gonna put you on the ground. As Trapp began walking down the driveway and away from the hospital building, she said Foster, another officer whose name is not known, an unknown security guard employed by Universal Protection Service and other employees of the hospital or Southeastern Emergency Physicians collectively began to humiliate and make fun of her. Trapp said she stopped, turned around and again asked for her cane. One woman yelled back to Trapp that she didnt have a cane, and Foster responded, Go find a tree branch or something! Trapp told LEX 18, which first reported on the lawsuit, that she mistakenly thought she had brought her cane to the hospital with her. She also told the television station that she had been drinking that night. As Trapp stood in the same spot, she said in the lawsuit that Foster and the other police officer began walking quickly toward her. Defendant Foster violently grabs Plaintiffs arm and twists it behind her back while forcing her to the ground, face first, and the other officer joins in the unnecessarily aggressive take down, according to the lawsuit. Because I wanted my cane you broke my knee! the lawsuit says Trapp exclaimed. The lawsuit said Trapp never resisted or fought either officer. The lawsuit also said neither officer told Trapp she was under arrest, or directed Trapp to put her arms behind her back or lie on the ground. The officers conduct caused Trapp to suffer serious injuries, including a fractured leg and abrasions to her face and head, the lawsuit said. Once she was brought back inside the hospital, Trapp allegedly told the doctor in the emergency room, Dr. Timothy Anderson, that she couldnt walk and asked him to x-ray her leg. The lawsuit said police body cam footage shows that Anderson spent approximately 19 seconds with her, told her that she could get an x-ray with your doctor at his office and then turned and walked away. Trapp accuses him and the company he works for of negligence. In answering the lawsuit, Anderson denied the allegations and said he rendered reasonable and appropriate medical care well within the standard of care. The suit said Trapp was taken to the Fayette County Detention Center, where she received an x-ray that showed acute proximal tibia/fibula fractures with malalignment. Plaintiff was taken by ambulance to UK Hospital whereupon she ultimately received medical treatment including numerous surgeries to address the severe injuries suffered due to Defendants actions, the lawsuit said. She is accusing Foster and the other unnamed officer of assault and battery and unlawful arrest and imprisonment, and she accuses them and the unnamed security guard of intentional infliction of emotional distress and outrageous conduct, as well as conspiracy. She said the security company was negligent in its hiring, training, supervision and retention, according to the lawsuit. Police charged Trapp with resisting arrest and second-degree criminal trespassing, saying she refused to leave the property. After being advised she was placed under arrest, she began to aggressively resist by throwing her arms around and actively pulling her arms away once officers made contact, the police uniform citation states. She dropped her weight, and attempted to tuck her arms under her body. Trapp entered an Alford plea to the trespassing charge, in which a defendant does not accept guilt but acknowledges that there is enough evidence to convict them. Foster said Trapps plea bars all claims concerning the lawfulness of the arrest, and he said after multiple prior warnings were communicated to Plaintiff, she had clear reason to know the basis of her arrest, according to Fosters answer to the lawsuit. He denies any and all liability whatsoever and said if Trapp was injured, it was not caused by excessive or unreasonable force, his legal reply says. Trapp alleged in the lawsuit that when a police department supervisor arrived at the hospital, Foster made a false report that Trapp said, FU I am not leaving ... so I went to arrest her and she started flailing her arms and kicking and stuff so I put her on the ground. Foster said he did not knowingly make any false statements. Trapp is accusing the Lexington Police Department of negligence and failure to train and supervise. The police department did not comment on the matter due to pending litigation. The urban county government and police department have claimed sovereign immunity and have asked the court to dismiss them as defendants. The urban county government said it would not comment on an open lawsuit. Saint Joseph Health is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Court records indicate Trapp has been charged with criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct after incidents at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital on more than one occasion. Reporter Taylor Six contributed to this story. During an exclusive presentation to CinemaCon audience members, Warner Bros released the first trailer for DCs Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The sequel starring Jason Momoa as the underwater superhero also sees Amber Heards character Mera make a brief cameo, according to reports from the festival. Heards role in the sequel came under question during her high-profile defamation trial with ex-husband Johnny Depp last year. Deadlinereported Tuesday that Heard does have a cameo in the trailer but in a battle scene. During the trial, Heard testified that her part in the film was significantly cut down after Depps legal team called her abuse claims a hoax. I fought really hard to stay in the movie. They didnt want to include me in the film, she said. Amber Heard as Mera in Aquaman' (DC) DC film head Walter Hamada was called to testify in court about Heards diminished screen time. He contradicted her legal teams claim that the role was altered as a result of the allegations against Depp. The size of the role in the film that she has was determined in the early development of the script, Hamada said at trial, citing a lack of chemistry between Heard and the films lead Jason Momoa as the reason behind her cut down screentime. Amid the trial, a petition to remove Heard from Aquaman 2 entirely gained more than 4.5 million signatures. Aquaman is DCs highest-grossing movie to date, earning $1.1bn (890m) worldwide. Depp won his multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Heard after a jury ruled that her 2018 Washington Post article titled I spoke up against sexual violence - and faced our cultures wrath. That has to change was defamatory. Heard was ordered to pay Depp $10m (8.2m) in compensatory damages and $5m (4.1m) in punitive damages. The latter sum was reduced to $350,000 (287,000) to comply with a statutory cap. Heard was awarded $2m (1.6m) in damages in a counterclaim against Depp after his lawyers hoax usage was also found to be defamatory. Only one of Heards co-stars from the Aquaman franchise has spoken publicly about working with her on the films. Dolph Lundgren said: She was great. I worked with her on the first Aquaman, now the second one. We shot last fall in London. Shes terrific, I had a great experience with her. Story continues Shes very kind, nice to the crew, nice to everybody, just down to earth. Meanwhile, eagle-eyed fans noticed that Momoa began following Depp on Instagram while the trial was underway. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to be released in US cinemas on 25 December and in the UK on 29 December. Travel out of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport will be busy this summer, and American Airlines has increased international flight services to anticipate crowds. On Tuesday, American announced expanded services from DFW to Dublin Airport and Rome Fiumicino Airport. Year-round flights to Rome and Dublin will depart daily on Boeing 787 aircraft. The Fort Worth-based carrier will now have 12 daily flight services from DFW to destinations in Europe. Other European destinations include Madrid, London-Heathrow, Amsterdam, Paris and Frankfurt. The airline will also operate several flights to other international locations, including a recently resumed nonstop service to Tokyo. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom has said the carrier expects to see strong demand for international travel. From a demand perspective, I can tell you that what I see coming to the summer, it looks really positive, Isom said during a J.P. Morgan investor event in New York in March. Americans expanded service comes amid growing demand across the travel industry. David Pekoske, administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, told Bloomberg that U.S. airline passenger levels will be above pre-pandemic levels this summer. I expect that were going to see very, very strong demand all the way through the summertime, and thats what were preparing for, Pekoske told Bloomberg. Itll be a challenge, but weve faced this challenge in prior years, and weve been able to be successful at it. Pekoske said major hubs with a high number of international flights will be the busiest, including DFW. With more people wanting to travel, airfares could remain high. Travel experts say there is little relief for airline pricing ahead. Plane ticket prices increased by nearly 18% last month in comparison to March 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Hayley Berg, lead economist at travel booking company Hopper, told The Points Guy airline pricing is the story of supply and demand. If youre traveling over a popular spring or summer long weekend, book three to four months in advance for the best prices and availability, Berg told TPG. Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekend tend to see sold-out flights and high prices if you dont plan ahead. For a group of outspoken Indigenous youth leaders like Eleanor Ferguson and Phillip Iron Shell (Oglala Lakota), raising awareness about the documented abuse in former Native American boarding schools has become a mission not only to help heal their communities but also to heal themselves. International Indigenous Youth Council at Red Cloud (Photo courtesy of IIYC Oglala Lakota Chapter) American Genocide: The Crimes of Native American Boarding Schools is a podcast that launched today, April 26, from IllumiNative, a female-led social justice organization dedicated to empowering Native peoples. On that podcast, IllumiNatives founder and executive director Crystal Echo Hawk (Pawnee) and the director of communications and storytelling Lashay Wesley (Choctaw) talk to Ferguson and Iron Shell about one school in particular, Red Cloud Indian School on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, home to the Oglala Lakota people. Run by the Jesuit order of the Catholic Church, Red Cloud (formerly known as Holy Rosary Mission School) represented one of the more than 400 government- and church-run schools that fell under the federal Indian boarding school system of the late 19th/early 20th centuries and whose purpose was to culturally assimilate Native kids. However, assimilation served as a euphemism for the kill the Indian and save the man mentality of that time period, which saw more than 100,000 Native children forcibly removed from their families to attend schools whose administrators punished them physically, emotionally and mentally for something as simple as speaking their Native language. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) launched a formal initiative in 2022 investigating the abuse and neglect experienced by Native children under the boarding school system. It is a heavy issue, Wesley tells In The Know by Yahoo. But when you have young people who are so self-aware of how that has impacted their families and theyre really reflective and doing their best to learn their language and understand those Lakota lifeways and live that every single day, thats such a drastic contrast to what the school was trying to do. And that has been like the most inspiring thing to listen to. Story continues Nationwide, people are pissed off. Like they want to fing take action immediately. And sorrys not good enough, Ferguson, a representative of the International Indigenous Youth Council (IIYC) Oglala Chapter, tells Echo Hawk and Wesley. Were straightforward with it. Were not fing around, echoes Iron Shell, another IIYC member. Were here to get shit done. Did this happen here? The inspiration for the American Genocide podcast stemmed from a variety of events, according to Wesley. We were seeing the conversations happening around what was happening in Canada, she says about the discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children on the grounds of a residential school in British Columbia. And there were a lot of people that were talking to Crystal who were saying, Did this happen here? They didnt know that it had happened or occurred in the United States. Not only that, but Red Cloud itself came under intense scrutiny in recent years for possible unmarked graves. In an effort to acknowledge and potentially reconcile its dark history, the Jesuit-run school launched a Truth and Healing commission run by Maka Black Elk (Oglala Lakota), who has acknowledged the difficult questions that the church must answer. Its a time for the Catholic Church also to face some very difficult questions about its role in colonization, Black Elk, whos also Catholic, tells Echo Hawk and Wesley. He has since commissioned the search for graves, an effort to which the Jesuits have given $70,000; and the FBI as well as scholar Marsha Small (Northern Cheyenne) and her archaeology team have also joined the effort. We had no idea where this would end up when we first started all we knew was that this story had to be told and what we uncovered is far bigger than any of us could have imagined, Echo Hawk says in a statement. While Black Elk acknowledged the pain inflicted at the school, he has bristled at the approach from youth council members Ferguson and Iron Shell, who have staged protests at Red Cloud and issued a series of demands. I think they feel like theyre doing a good thing, he says about their approach. I dont know if they know that it hurts others. Our people struggle In the process of their own investigation, Echo Hawk and Wesley talked to school administrators and elders as well as Ferguson and Iron Shell, who are in their early 20s. While there was a mix of experiences with elder Bryan Brewer saying he had some good positive memories, but I think those good memories are overshadowed by the negative things that happened to us the two young activists were rawer in their assessments. Our people struggle, Ferguson says during a meeting thats recorded on the podcast. Our people struggle to stay afloat. She and Iron Shell originally pressed for the need to check for unmarked graves, but ultimately theyre looking to get the land back for the Oglala Lakota people. Im glad we started doing this stuff with the boarding school, Iron Shell says in the same meeting, touching on the generational trauma hes faced. All of us can trace things back to the boarding school cause it was just passed down to us. The collective power of Native peoples For the activists, who dont have the direct experience of attending the boarding schools as their relatives have, it was a moment in 2016 that showed them the impact of what raising their voices could do for a cause in that case, it was the protests surrounding the Dakota Access Pipeline construction on the Standing Rock Reservation. Overwhelmingly, the thing that really drove their activism was what happened at Standing Rock, Wesley says. A majority of them had been at Standing Rock when they were very, very young teenagers. And to see that collective power of Native peoples when we come together was really important for them. Exploring that collective power, in addition to an overall awareness of what happened at these schools, is just the start of what Wesley and Echo Hawk hope to communicate through their podcast. But it also goes deeper than that. Its also about the children who are growing up, dealing with this intergenerational trauma, Wesley says. And thats the thing that I hope people take away the most, is that it is about the young people who carry on this history and wanting to have justice just as much for them as well. The first two episodes of the six-part series launched today, April 26, with subsequent episodes airing every Wednesday through May 24. In The Know by Yahoo is now available on Apple News follow us here! The post American Genocide podcast shares how Indigenous youth are helping to inspire a Native boarding school reckoning appeared first on In The Know. More from In The Know: Native American boarding schools are a bleak, dark period in U.S. history that not enough people know about 1 TikToker is trying to change that Bison Star Naturals' beauty products are all made with organic, natural and locally sourced ingredients NDN Girls Book Club, created by Gen Z poet Kinsale Drake, centers Native American 'book nerds' and writers Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands for a minute of silence before the monument in Kyiv to the liquidators of the Chornobyl disaster. April 26, 2023 is the 37th anniversary of the disaster In the presence of an honor guard, the president laid flowers at the memorial mound "To the Heroes of Chornobyl" in Kyivs Dniprovskiy District on the left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro. Thirty-seven years ago, the accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant left a huge scar for the whole world, Zelenskyy said. A radiation leak turned a once cozy and developed area into an exclusion zone. Today, the 30-kilometer zone around the Chornobyl nuclear power plant remains a dangerous place with a high concentration of radiation." Russian soldiers found that out to their cost just over a year ago, when invasion troops briefly seized control of the station, which is about 100 kilometers to the north of Kyiv, during their failed operation to capture the Ukrainian capital and topple the government. Russian invasion force soldiers, after digging trenches in the Red Forest an area of woodland near the nuclear plant so contaminated with radiation that all the pine trees died and turned a red color are reported to have fallen ill with radiation sickness. Zelenskyy said Ukraine and the world paid a high price for eliminating the consequences of the disaster, which are still felt today. The president and other officials, including his chief of staff Andriy Yermak, then honored the victims of the disaster with a minute of silence. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to lay flowers at the monument to the liquidators of the Chornobyl disaster in Kyiv on April 26, 2023, the 37th anniversary of the disaster Office of the President of Ukraine A military honor guard stands flanks the monument to the liquidators of the Chornobyl disaster in Kyiv on April 26, 2023, the 37th anniversary of the accident at the nuclear plant Office of the President of Ukraine Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak prepares to lay flowers at the monument to the liquidators of the Chornobyl disaster in Kyiv on April 26, 2023, the 37th anniversary of the disaster Office of the President of Ukraine The fourth reactor of the Chornobyl nuclear plant exploded and went on fire after operators bungled a safety test. The situation was exacerbated by design flaws in the Soviet-era reactor. The fire released huge amounts of radiation, which spread west over Europe and reached as far as the British Isles. The Soviet authorities did not initially admit that the disaster had occurred, allowing a May Day parade to go ahead as usual in Kyiv. The first the world knew of the disaster was when radiation alarms were triggered at a nuclear power plant in Sweden as the cloud of nuclear particles released by the plant started to sweep over the continent of Europe. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine An ancient Roman physician was found buried with his medical equipment in Hungary, prompting archaeologists to question what urgent matter might have brought him to the far-flung region. The tomb, which had been untouched for about 2,000 years, was discovered near Jaszbereny, about 50 miles from Budapest, according to an April 25 news release from Eotvos Lorand University. The skeletal remains of the doctor, which include an intact skull and leg bones, were found alongside wooden chests containing a complete set of medical tools, researchers said. The physicians skeletal remains on display Physicians skull on display The equipment was of extremely high quality and included pliers, needles and scalpels outfitted with replaceable blades, researchers said. A grinding stone, which could have been used to mix medicines, was also uncovered. Only one other comprehensive collection of similar ancient Roman medical equipment has ever been found (in Pompeii), making the discovery extremely rare, researchers said. Medical tools recovered from the tomb Four of the tools discovered inside the Hungarian tomb Close-up of one of the tools What exactly brought the well-equipped physician to Hungary, which was incorporated into the Roman Empire around the time of his travels, is unclear. The prevailing narrative is that he likely received his training at an imperial center and made the trek to Hungary to provide medical care for someone. Whatever brought him to the region must have been an extraordinary event, researchers said. Physicians in Rome formed guilds and were composed of slaves and freedmen, according to a study published in the Dutch journal Dan Medicinhist Arbog. The education of individual physicians differed remarkably, and Romans were generally wary of them. Google Translate was used to translate a press release from Eotvos Lorand University. Someone buried treasure 2,000 years ago and never returned. A hiker just found it Prehistoric predators last meal reveals an undiscovered ancient species, study says Watch as super rare sea creature gives diver the shock of a lifetime in Malaysia Federal prosecutors played potentially damaging recordings in open court of Andrew Gillum and his brother Marcus Gillums depositions in a state ethics case against the former mayor involving gifts he allegedly received from undercover FBI agents during a 2016 trip to New York. The recordings were played for jurors on Wednesday, the eighth day of Gillums public corruption trial. Gillum, former Tallahassee mayor and Democratic nominee for Florida governor, and Lettman-Hicks, his longtime mentor and owner of P&P Communications, are charged with illegally soliciting campaign donations and routing them to their own accounts. Gillum also is charged with lying to the FBI about the New York trip. Here are the latest developments in the trial. While cameras and electronics are not allowed in the courtroom, stay tuned to tallahassee.com for daily updates from longtime investigative reporter Jeff Burlew (@JeffBurlew on Twitter). Andrew Gillum trial: Chronicling the case Government homes in on Gillum brothers' statements in state ethics case The government recalled to the stand FBI Special Agent Evan Hurley, one of the case agents in the Gillum investigation, to testify about the former mayors state ethics charges that stemmed from his 2016 trip to New York City. Gillum settled the charges in 2019 and signed an agreement with the Florida Commission on Ethics stating that he accepted an illegal gift over $100 from a lobbyist while in the Big Apple. Story continues During the trip, Gillum, his brother Marcus Gillum, their then-lobbyist pal Adam Corey and undercover FBI agents Mike Miller and Brian Butler all went to see Hamilton and took a boat ride to the Statue of Liberty. The FBI allegedly paid for those outings along with dinners, drinks and hotel rooms. 'I got you': Texts, emails detail how Adam Corey, FBI arranged trips for Andrew Gillum Prosecutors played in open court recordings of the Gillum brothers depositions in the civil ethics case. Andrew Gillum said during his deposition that Marcus Gillum handed him his ticket to Hamilton outside the Richard Rodgers Theatre, an explanation he repeated publicly during his 2018 run for governor, when the trip became a big campaign issue. I walked up, Andrew Gillum said during his deposition. He gave me a ticket. And that was it. Marcus Gillum offered the same story to ethics investigators. Earlier in the trial, Miller, Butler and Corey all testified that Gillum went into the show with them and that Marcus Gillum, who was running late, came in mid-show after getting his ticket at will call. Allegations that Andrew Gillum lied about what happened in New York underlie the first count in the indictment. That charge, of lying to the FBI, stems from false statements Andrew Gillum allegedly made in June 2017 during an impromptu interview with Hurley and another overt FBI agent in Cascades Park. During his 2017 interview, the agents asked Gillum whether he ever got gifts from the FBI agents. He told them he hadnt. David Markus, one of Gillums lawyers, noted during questioning of Hurley that the ethics matter was civil, not criminal, with a lower burden of proof. He also asked whether in the settlement, both sides gave something up and got something. Correct, Hurley said. Markus asked whether the agents ever asked Gillum in the park specifically about Hamilton or the boat ride. We did not ask, the agent replied. Markus noted the passage of time between the trip in 2016, the interview with the FBI in 2017 and the ethics settlement in 2019. You would agree with me that as time goes by, memories fade? Markus asked. Hurley said it depended on the person. Earlier in the trial, Markus objected to allowing the ethics case into evidence. And while Winsor overruled him, Markus later asked that records be allowed, including allegations about a Gillum trip to Costa Rica that's not part of the federal case. From the archives: Gillum meeting with FBI undercover agents took shape during Costa Rica trip with lobbyists In his own words: Andrew Gillum on ethics allegations, New York trip with FBI agents Back story: Andrew Gillum settles ethics case, agrees to $5,000 fine Gillum's wife makes fundraising appeal on social media Andrew Gillum's wife, R. Jai, made the case for supporters to help donate toward a $1 million goal in "the fight for justice." In a note sent out on the former mayor's Twitter feed, R. Jai wrote: "You may know my husband, Andrew Gillum, as a dedicated public servant and tireless advocate for those without a voice. But I want to share a side of Andrew that you might not know the loving husband and devoted father to our three beautiful children." "Last week, as I sat in court every day with Andrew, we were able to confirm what we thought to be true for YEARS, unlimited resources have been used to go through our personal records and finances. And all of this after repeated unsuccessful bribery attempts." In the posting, which is a accompanied by a photo of her with Andrew Gillum and their children, she said their family is facing an "unimaginable challenge." "We are fighting against a broken system that seeks to destroy our lives in the name of politics and corruption, and we desperately need your support," wrote R. Jai, who has been in the courtroom for much of the trial. The fund was set up by civil rights lawyer Ben Crump and others after Forward Florida shut down. The committee paid more than $400,000 in legal bills to Gillum's lawyers with the Miami firm Markus/Moss. Gillum campaign treasurer says get-out-the-vote arrangement abnormal Andrew Gay, owner of Grimsley and Company, an accounting firm, took the stand to testify about his time as treasurer in Gillums gubernatorial campaign. Gay worked at one point for both the Gillum for Governor campaign and the former mayors political committee, Forward Florida. Milligan asked about the campaigns hiring of a local accountant, John Grayson, to serve as fiscal agent for the get-out-the-vote effort in the Tallahassee area. The campaign paid Grayson $6,500 to handle the $130,000 budget for local GOTV and pay people who knocked on doors. Federal prosecutor Gary Milligan II sifts through files and exhibits, which he wants to present to the jury in the Andrew Gillum corruption trial on Monday, April 24. As part of that arrangement, nearly half the money, some $60,000, was paid to Lettman-Hicks firm, P&P. Federal prosecutors allege that money went into the pockets of Gillum and his co-defendant for their illegal, personal use. Gay, whose name appears routinely in campaign finance reports, estimated hes worked for as many as 50 campaigns over the years. Have any of them used a fiscal agent like this? Milligan asked. No, he replied, adding that a campaign treasurer could have done that work. Was anything about that causing a concern for you? Milligan continued. I was not accustomed to another accounting firm getting money like that, Gay said. That was abnormal to me. The government calls its final witness Retired FBI special agent Michael Wiederspahn testified for a second time, sitting on the stand for more than two hours while Milligan asked about dozens upon dozens of government exhibits. They included campaign filings and other public documents along with numerous emails, texts, phone calls and financial transactions involved in the alleged crimes. Many of the calls were between Gillum and Lettman-Hicks, his longtime mentor who gave him a job at P&P Communications after he stepped down from the People for the American Way Foundation to run for governor. Sharon Lettman-Hicks listens to testimony during trial. In one message, Lettman-Hicks directed that a phantom person be listed on a document. Markus objected to that evidence later, though Winsor overruled him. Wiederspahn testified that P&P Communications, didnt have enough money to pay Gillums salary without grant money the two allegedly misappropriated. The evidence included an email from Lettman-Hicks to Gillum in April 2016, when he was still serving as Tallahassee mayor and looking to level up politically. She wrote that the U.S. House would be too constraining for him. Hey boo, she said. When does Bill Nelson retire? Lets look at his seat and the Governors Mansion. Gillum responded with a smiling emoji. Another random Sharon idea, ehh," he wrote. Gavel to gavel coverage While cameras and electronics are not allowed in the courtroom, stay tuned to tallahassee.com for daily updates from longtime investigative reporter Jeff Burlew (@JeffBurlew on Twitter). This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Andrew Gillum corruption trial Day 8: Updates from the courtroom On Tuesday morning, less than 48 hours after the close of the 2023 legislative session, reason and decency prevailed in Washington at least for one shining moment. After years of failed attempts and squandered opportunities, the state did something it should have done long ago: banning the sale, manufacture, transfer and importation of more than 50 assault-style weapons, the kind of guns capable of quickly turning a violent crime into a mass murder. Governor Jay Inslee, flanked by a team of beaming liberal lawmakers and supporters, signed the historic bill into law, making Washington the 10th state to implement such a ban, effectively immediately. Of course, the flashbulb media event which included the signing of two other contentious pieces of gun-related legislation also fanned the flames of our long-simmering Second Amendment debate. But you know what? Forget about our fractured politics for a moment and, instead, consider what Washingtons newest gun law will actually do. Just as important, contemplate the little it asks of citizens in return. In light of the tragedies weve seen time and time again, is there anything radical about Washingtons ban on the sale of assault weapons? Of course not. Theres just a litmus test: Either you believe your perceived individual freedoms outweigh the overall safety of society and our children, or you dont. Its that simple. The states ban on assault weapons which was quickly challenged in federal court, as expected, by the Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation comes more than a decade after Sandy Hook, at a time when the U.S. is on a record pace for mass shootings in a single year. Despite this, the prospect of a national ban on assault-style weapons, like the one that was in effect between 1994 and 2004, seems as distant as ever. At a private Christian school in Nashville last month, six people, including three children, were murdered by a shooter armed with assault-style rifles. Its been less than a year since a gunman who legally purchased two assault rifles for his 18th birthday shot and killed 19 students and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas and yet enacting common sense gun regulations has largely been left up to the states. Story continues These weapons of war, assault weapons, have no reason other than mass murder. Their only purpose is to kill humans as rapidly as possible in large numbers, Inslee said during Tuesdays bill-signing ceremony, which made headlines across the country. Its amid this backdrop that opponents of Washingtons ban on assault weapons trot out the same tired arguments in response. Guns dont kill people, they contend, people do and besides, the only ones likely to be affected by any new gun regulation are law-abiding citizens. Criminals are criminals, after all, and no new regulation or restriction will solve all our problems. If someone has the will to kill, they can find a way to do it, no matter their weapon of choice. Are there elements of truth to these arguments? Sure. Lets get that out of the way now. For a mass shooting to happen, objectively, it takes someone to pull the trigger. And, yes, under the new law, responsible people looking to buy a weapon will have fewer options. Theres also little question that reducing gun deaths in America will take more than new regulations; without addressing the pain and despair that contribute to violence, youre only halfway there. But theres also what the research and common sense tell us, and juxtaposed with the me-first objections from the right, what the contrast reveals about the battling priorities at stake in our national gun debate shouldnt get lost in the noise. While the data accumulated during the 10-year period when assault weapons were banned in the U.S. is mixed and complicated, as it usually is, if not inconclusive researchers generally agree on two points: Americans were less likely to die during a mass shooting when assault weapons were banned, and among developed countries, the United States with its lax laws and politicized cultural gun fetish suffers from a much higher rate of gun deaths than most. Logic tells us that access to guns and the widespread availability of weapons like AK-47s plays a part, acting as an accelerant. There are many ingredients in a tragedy. If you subtract one of them, even every other time, it saves peoples lives. In some ways, the detractors are right: Washingtons ban on assault weapons is virtue signaling. Its a declaration that the health and safety of all of us are more important than someones selfish right to do whatever they want, regardless of the societal toll. The Second Amendment gives American citizens the right to keep and bear arms. How we define that is up to us. If banning assault-style weapons prevents the next shooting from becoming a massacre, its a small price to pay. Clarification: The original version of this column described the capabilities of AK-47s in a way that could have been confusing or misleading. It has been updated for clarity. GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) Dozens of robed Ku Klux Klansmen gathered around a burning cross in a remote field in North Florida. It was December 2014, and after the cross lighting ceremony ended, three klansmen asked for a quiet aside with the groups Grand Knighthawk, a klan hitman. The knighthawk was Joe Moore, a former Army sniper whod joined the group and quickly risen through the ranks due to his military background. The men handed Moore a photograph of a Black man that they wanted killed. The story of the klans murder plot and the hitmans secret recordings made over months in 2015 formed the basis of an Associated Press 2021 investigative series called The Badge and The Cross, which used the story as a jumping off point to explore the issue of white supremacist group infiltration of law enforcement. Now, a new Hulu documentary, Grand Knighthawk: Infiltrating the KKK, based on The APs award-winning investigative series, begins streaming on Thursday. It was produced by ABC News Studios and George Stephanopoulos Productions in a first-time collaboration with The AP. A MURDER PLOT, THE KKK & INFILTRATION of LAW ENFORCEMENT The FBI said the infiltration of U.S. law enforcement agencies by white supremacist groups has been a serious threat since at least 2006. The APs series highlighted such infiltration. It started with the story of the modern-day murder plot by members of the Traditionalist American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in Florida, who also had been officers in the Florida Department of Corrections. In 2020, AP journalist Jason Dearen obtained hours of secretly recorded audio and video conversations by the klan group in Florida that detailed a plot to murder a Black man in 2015. The first story in this series shows why this tale, which at first blush seems like the one-off plot, is in truth a view into the violent world of white supremacists in law enforcement. He talked with experts on police violence, racism, and white supremacist groups and identified other officers in Florida and across the U.S. Story continues RACISM IN FLORIDA PRISONS Dearen followed up with a second story showing how the racism problem is allowed to fester because of systemic indifference by Floridas corrections officials. Records and interviews with current and former guards and state prison investigators showed officers who were reported for white supremacist group affiliation were rarely investigated and could move from prison to prison with impunity. A whistleblowers story helped show how the states corrections system is designed to keep such reports inside prison walls. AN FBI INFORMANT COMES OUT OF HIDING Finally, after the first two stories exposed the systemic problem, Dearen received an email with the subject line I am Joseph Moore. The FBI informant had come out of hiding and wanted to tell his story only to Dearen. His message: White Supremacist infiltration of law enforcement was worse than even Dearens stories were describing. In 10 years undercover in two KKK groups, Joe Moore told the FBI about klan members who worked as officers at the local, county and state levels. Grand Knighthawk: Infiltrating the KKK starts streaming only on Hulu on Thursday. Atlanta police have released new photos of a person of interest in connection to the shooting of a transgender woman in southwest Atlanta. Police said Koko Williams was shot and killed on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive on the night of April 18. Her body was found outside the Holmes Plaza. Williams was was the second black trans woman killed within a week after 37-year-old Ashley Burton was shot and killed. On Channel 2 Action News at 4 p.m. Friday, Channel 2s Justin Carter learned that police are working to determine if their deaths are hate crimes. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Tuesday night, police released new photos from the investigation. The photos are from surveillance cameras that captured a man walking into a convenience store. Police have not said that the man is a suspect, but has identified him as a person of interest. Atlanta police released a surveillance video of a man in a red jersey, they believe he may have information to help solve this crime. They are now considering that man as another person of interest. Anyone who recognizes either man is asked to contract Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS or online here. RELATED STORIES: On Saturday, Channel 2s Veronica Griffin attended a vigil held by Williams family and friends. Koko was loved. Koko was loved by many, her sister Poohbella Alford said on WSB Tonight at 11. My sister would never harm anybody. Williams family said that she was a rising musician with one song that is soon going to be featured on Showtimes hit show, The Chi. A GoFundMe has been set up for Williams homegoing services. In a statement, Atlanta police said theyre also investigating a third shooting that critically injured a Black transgender woman in January on Highland Ave. Investigators do not believe any of the cases are connected, but said they understand the widespread concern in the community. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Archaeologists have begun digging up a field in Cambridge ahead of building work on a new police station. Cambridgeshire Constabulary has planning permission for the new hub. Evidence revealed the land was occupied in the Roman, Iron and Bronze Ages and Archaeological Research Services has started exploratory work. The company's head of field archaeology, Jim Brown, said digs at neighbouring developments showed a "great deal of past activity". "We're eager to start uncovering what lies beneath the soil," he said. South Cambridgeshire District Council granted planning permission for the building, beside the Milton park and ride, in March 2021. The force said it would replace the outdated Parkside Police Station in the city centre and would include "enhanced facilities" for responding to "complex" crimes. It is expected to include 24 custody cells, rather than 12, and better road access to enable faster police responses. The constabulary said it was still considering options for a new police station and enquiry office in the city centre. Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk Photo illustration: Jack Forbes; photos: Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images, Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images Already the oldest person to ever serve as president of the United States, 80-year-old Joe Biden announced Tuesday that he will seek another four-year term. In a video and a Washington speech to union leaders, Biden made no mention of his advanced age, instead touting his first-term accomplishments and portraying the campaign ahead as a battle to protect "fundamental freedoms" that are under threat from GOP extremists. His chief Republican rival in 2024, former President Donald Trump, will turn 77 in June, meaning that both men hoping for another four years in the White House are already older than the average male life expectancy in the United States of 74.5 years of age. Each is also more than a decade past the average retirement age, 65, for American men. Age, as the saying goes, may indeed be just a number, but many U.S. voters believe Biden and Trump have counted too many birthdays to once again hold the most powerful office in the land. Sixty-eight percent of U.S. adults surveyed in a Yahoo News/YouGov poll released in February said Biden, who will turn 82 shortly after the 2024 election, is "too old for another term as president." Forty-five percent said the same about Trump, who, if victorious in 2024, would turn 79 seven months into the term. 'The brain does not get bigger with age' A 2006 study published in the Postgraduate Medical Journal confirmed that the human brain "shrinks with increasing age" and that "the volume of the brain and/or its weight declines with age at a rate of around 5% per decade after age 40, with the actual rate of decline possibly increasing with age, particularly over age 70." Theres shrinkage with time," Dr. Claudia Kawas, a professor of clinical neurology at the University of California, Irvine, told Yahoo News. "Just like nobody gets taller with age, they get shorter. The brain does not get bigger with age, and if it does its definitely not a good thing. The strongest correlate of atrophy is age, not disease. Story continues Advanced age has been correlated with an inability to "find words and recall names," as well as "problems with multitasking" and reduced "ability to pay attention," the National Institutes of Health states on its website. What people have the most trouble with when it comes to age is what we describe as word finding, Kawas said. Thats different than being given a word and not knowing what it means. President Biden in November 2021. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Just as many of Biden's Republican foes regularly point to his halting speaking style some of which stems from a lifelong stutter and his routine verbal gaffes as evidence that he is too old to serve as president, Trump's speech has also received critical attention. In 2017, the journal STAT interviewed experts in neurolinguistics and cognitive assessment to compare Trump's speaking habits over the last few decades. They concluded that, since the 1980s and '90s, when he "used sophisticated vocabulary" and "spoke articulately," big changes had occurred. "Now, Trumps vocabulary is simpler. He repeats himself over and over, and lurches from one subject to an unrelated one," the article concluded. To be sure, a comparison between Biden's speech today versus that from when he served in the Senate also reveals changes in his delivery. The question is whether the surface changes to each man's verbal abilities indicate a greater cognitive impairment. Before either Trump or Biden took up residence in the White House, former President Ronald Reagan faced similar scrutiny. A 2015 analysis by Arizona State University researchers published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease linked changes in Reagan's speech patterns with the onset of dementia. "We watched, as far as Im concerned, a president develop dementia while he was in office," Kawas said. "Comparing Reagan and [former President Jimmy] Carter, cognitively they were two completely different people in their 90s. Reagan was quite severely with dementia by the time he died in his early 90s. Carter is in his late 90s now and is still, in a lot of ways, cognitively put together. President Ronald Reagan debates Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale on Oct. 7, 1984. (AP Photo/Chuck Robinson, File) But Kawas is quick to point out that it is virtually impossible to predict whether age could prove a bigger short-term liability for Biden or for Trump. "Variability is the hallmark of aging," she said, adding, Just because Biden is older, its not completely clear to me that he has progressed more or is further along than Trump, who, in all fairness, is not that much younger, really. 'A lifetime of accumulated knowledge' Since everyone feels the effects of age differently, experts say it's best to avoid making blanket pronouncements about when a person is too old for a given job. There are huge individual differences when we get older in terms of all the cognitive abilities, reasoning, problem solving, linguistic skills, attention and aspects of memory," Dr. Arthur Kramer, director of the Center for Cognitive and Brain Health and professor of psychology at Northeastern University, told Yahoo News. "So not everybody ages at the same rate, by any means. Research has also shown that more life experience can be a cognitive asset. "Aging may also bring positive cognitive changes. For example, many studies have shown that older adults have more extensive vocabularies and greater knowledge of the depth of meaning of words than younger adults," the National Institutes of Health states. "Older adults may also have learned from a lifetime of accumulated knowledge and experiences. Whether and how older adults apply this accumulated knowledge, and how the brain changes as a result, is an area of active exploration by researchers." As the standard bearers for their respective parties, Trump and Biden enjoy strong partisan allegiance. Eighty percent of Democrats in a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll said they approve of the job Biden is doing, while 72% of Republicans surveyed in a Quinnipiac poll released in March said Trump has "had a mainly positive impact on their party." Former President Donald Trump at a golf tournament at Trump National Doral Miami in October 2022. (Charles Laberge/LIV Golf via Getty Images) At the same time, however, 45% of Democrats said they believe Biden is too old to serve another term, while 32% of Republicans said the same of Trump, for whom questions of mental fitness led his own Cabinet members to discuss invoking the 25th Amendment following the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. While perceptions about how old is too old to be the U.S. president vary, Kramer is against formalizing any arbitrary limit. I think thats a mistake, mostly because of the huge individual differences which depend, in part, on how you live your life, whether youve taken care of yourself and, in part, on our genetics, he said. Fears about the risks of electing a president experiencing mental decline may be somewhat overblown, both Kramer and Kawas said. Even a president like Reagan, who experts believe had started showing some signs of dementia while still in office, was aided by a staff who helped mitigate the possible dangers posed by age. I guess the question is, what are we worried that theyll do?" Kawas said. I dont think somebody who is developing Alzheimers disease is going to automatically, for some reason, begin pushing nuclear buttons or anything like that. But theyre not going to be able to make as thoughtful decisions in some realms. Testing mental competency Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley at a campaign rally in Gilbert, S.C., on April 6. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) In the kickoff to her own presidential campaign, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is 51, took aim at both Biden and Trump for how old they are. In the America I see, the permanent politician will finally retire, she said in a February speech in Charleston, S.C. Well have term limits for Congress and mandatory mental competency tests for politicians over 75 years old. While not against the idea of giving cognitive tests to presidential candidates, Kramer thinks such measures shouldn't be required solely based on what year a person was born. I would argue that if were going to do a cognitive competency test, it should be independent of age. I know a lot of 40-year-olds who couldnt do the job, he said. In addition to verbal and written tests, there are imaging techniques called positron emissions tomography, Kramer added, that allow neurologists to identify plaques and tangles in the brain, the precursors that are associated with Alzheimers disease. But even those don't tell you how a condition will progress. "You can have an indication of whether theres a lot of pathology or less pathology," he said, "but some people cope better with pathology than others, and were not sure exactly why. During the 2020 campaign, Trump sought to draw a distinction between himself and Biden by revealing that he had been given a test called the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, which is used to detect cognitive impairment. While boasting that he had received a perfect score, he tried to suggest that Biden would have failed the assessment. Joe doesnt know hes alive, OK? He doesnt know hes alive," Trump told then-Fox News host Chris Wallace. Like Wallace, who took the same test himself, Kramer explained that passing it is not exactly an indicator of higher intelligence. "There are a few of them, and the questions are like, What day is today? Who is the president? Who was the last president? These are a good place to start if youre trying to diagnose dementia as a neurologist, but theyre crude," Kramer said. "The fact that he was proud that he did well on that well, most people do well on that. In other words, tests like those proposed by Haley, or the brain scans used by neurologists, for that matter, may give voters only so much information about the candidates on a ballot. A woman who assaulted three TSA agents and upended travel for 450 passengers on Tuesday is accused of attacking the security officials after they took her apple juice away at a checkpoint, according to court documents. Makiah Coleman, 19, was arrested at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and charged with assault, criminal damage, and offense against public order, according to jail records. Makiah Coleman, 19, allegedly assaulted three TSA agents at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Tuesday morning because they took away her apple juice at a security checkpoint. The "unprovoked and brazen physical attack" began shortly before 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday at Terminal 4's Checkpoint D. "[Coleman] was ranting and raving about the apple juice and walks around the barrier and attempts to grab the bin containing her items being screened from the TSA agent," an investigator wrote in a probable cause statement obtained by Fox 10 Phoenix. IRATE PASSENGER GOES ON ANGRY MID-AIR RANT OVER CRYING INFANT, SCREAMED HE WAS IN A TIN CAN WITH A BABY The suspect allegedly struck and bit the security officials, leaving three of them with injuries, two of whom were transported to a local hospital for treatment. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP A plane takes off from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in this file photo. Coleman was arrested at the scene by Phoenix police officers. "Unfortunately, this situation not only resulted in three of our TSA officers being injured, but inconvenienced approximately 450 travelers who had to be redirected to a nearby checkpoint for security screening due to the actions of this traveler," a TSA spokesperson said. Editors note: This story was updated on Aug. 26 at 1:56 p.m., ET. The Army has moved to discharge a sergeant that was convicted of murder on April 7 for killing an Air Force veteran during a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020. A jury in Texas found Sgt. Daniel Perry, 36, guilty of murdering 28-year-old Air Force veteran Garrett Foster on July 25, 2020. Foster was carrying an assault rifle in downtown Austin, Texas during a protest for racial justice, when Perry turned his car into a group of protesters while working as a rideshare driver. During the trial, Perry said he shot Foster with his handgun when the veteran raised his rifle toward Perrys car. At the time of the protest, Perry was based out of Fort Hood, Texas and was later reassigned to the 11th Airborne Divisions 1st Brigade Combat Team at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. The 11th Airborne Division declined to provide a comment on the move to discharge Perry, which Stars and Stripes previously reported. Doug OConnell, who serves as Perrys attorney, however, called the move to discharge his client wildly premature. He said that since a motion for a new trial is still pending, there is no formal paperwork labeling Perry as guilty. The initial police report showed that the responding officer labeled Fosters death as a justified homicide. The police report goes on state that based on the totality of the circumstances, the available evidence supports the assessment that [Perry]did not provoke an armed encounter with [Foster] or engage in criminal activity other than a traffic violationand reasonably acted in self-defense under Texas Penal Code. OConnell pointed to the court of public opinion as the only impetus for his clients discharge, since the conviction has yet to be finalized and the initial police report found no wrongdoing on Perrys part. There is no record of conviction available since Sgt. Perry has not been sentenced, OConnell said. Given the fact that credible evidence of jury misconduct exists, its very possible that Sgt. Perry will receive a new trial...Separating Sgt. Perry based on media reports is not only an injustice but it also sets a dangerous precedent. An affidavit filed by OConnell said that one juror in a sworn statement said another member of the jury brought in research from the Texas Penal Code they conducted during an overnight break. Jurors are not permitted to consider evidence not submitted during the trial process. Perrys conviction has also garnered the attention of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who could in part control Perrys fate if the judge denies his motion for a new trialing. The day after his conviction, Abbott tweeted that he would ask the state Board of Pardons and Paroles to expedite his request to pardon Perry. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson formally launched his bid for the GOP presidential nomination Wednesday in his home state, touting his long career in public service and a commonsense conservative approach on the economy, crime and border security. In this campaign for president, I stand alone in terms of my experience, record, and leadership, Hutchinson said, according to a copy of his prepared remarks. This campaign is about courage. It is about making the tough decisions to rebuild our economy; to give peace a chance through Americas strength, and to renew the American spirit of freedom. Hutchinson, 72, didnt mention former President Donald Trump or any of his other declared or potential opponents in his remarks, sticking mostly to kitchen-table issues and steering clear of the GOPs culture wars. Hutchinson has previously said that Trump, whos mired in legal troubles stemming from a hush money payment to a porn actor, should drop out of the race. Growing up in these hills, I learned the value of work. I hauled hay, worked in four different factories, sacked groceries, and through college, I was a janitor cleaning campus buildings, Hutchinson said in Bentonville, Arkansas, the birthplace of Walmart, where Hutchinson launched his career as a prosecutor. All to pay the bills and to get an education. In law school, I benefitted from the federal student loan program. And, yes, I paid my loan off. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is seeing if voters will respond to his commonsense conservative approach. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is seeing if voters will respond to his commonsense conservative approach. Hutchinson is putting his long resume front and center in his campaign. His second term as Arkansas governor ended in January. Hutchinson was elected to the U.S. House in 1996 and served as one of the managers in President Bill Clintons 1998 impeachment. He resigned from the House in 2001 to serve in President George W. Bushs administration as an undersecretary in the Department of Homeland Security and leading the Drug Enforcement Administration. Story continues If people look at my history, I fought against the establishment, I fought in the courtroom for justice, I fought as governor for credible reform, so theres a lot of different ways to fight. You can fight with common sense and reason, and then you can fight as a screamer. Well if theyre looking for a screamer, thats not me, Hutchinson told HuffPost in Iowa last weekend. Hutchinsons formal campaign launch comes a day after President Joe Biden announced his reelection bid, framing himself as a guard against increasingly authoritarian MAGA Republicans led by Trump. It also came a day after his one of his rivals, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, sought to distinguish herself as a moderate on abortion without offering any specifics about the policies she prefers. Hutchinson has said he would sign a national 15-week abortion ban. Hutchinson joins a GOP field that so far includes Haley and Trump, as well as former radio host Larry Elder and anti-woke author Vivek Ramaswamy. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott are also expected to launch campaigns soon. Igor Bobic contributed reporting. MADISON Lawmakers in the state Assembly on Tuesday approved a package of Republican-authored bills that would cut the length of time unemployed Wisconsinites can receive unemployment benefits when the economy is in good shape and would make the process to become eligible for assistance more rigorous. The bills, which advance to the state Senate, have been vetoed before by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and are likely on track for the same fate this legislative session. One bill would directly link how long a person can receive benefits to the state's unemployment rate. Currently, unemployed Wisconsinites can receive regular benefits for up to 26 weeks. That would drop to as little as 14 weeks under the legislation because the state's unemployment rate is at a historic low. The number of weeks benefits would be available would rise along with the unemployment rate, topping out at 26 weeks when the unemployment rate is at 9% or higher. "We're bringing this bill back because we have record low unemployment rates, and more jobs available in every sector, people are hiring around every corner," Rep. Alex Dallman, R-Green Lake, said earlier this month. "In my mind, we need to do everything we can to get people off the sidelines." A number of other bills passed Tuesday are aimed at changing other parts of the unemployment insurance program or directing the Department of Workforce Development to change their handling of work searches. The bills were introduced the day after the April 4 spring election during which Wisconsinites overwhelmingly voted in favor of a non-binding referendum that said unemployed, able-bodied adults should be required to search for work while receiving benefits. Nearly 80% of voters voted yes on the ballot question. Other proposals would rename unemployment insurance to "reemployment assistance," punish unemployment recipients for declining or "ghosting" interviews or job offers by making the individual ineligible for benefits for the week, enact stricter identity verification checks for unemployment benefits, prohibit local governments from using taxpayer money to create guaranteed income programs and require the Department of Health Services to review every six months the eligibility of people participating in medical assistance programs reserved for low-income people, family caretakers and pregnant women. Story continues A huge wave of unemployment claims in 2020 overwhelmed Wisconsin's outdated unemployment system in 2020, resulting in a backlog that stretched on for months, resulting in some claimants missing out on much-needed payments. In order to avoid those issues, another bill to be taken up Tuesday would implement a number of changes at the department to enable a more efficient response. It would extend call center hours during times of high need, give the Department of Administration the ability to transfer state employees to the DWD to meet increased workloads, provide online resources to employers about unemployment programs, building and requiring weekly eligibility crosschecks using various databases, and improving identity checks for recipients. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Laura Schulte and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin lawmakers pass bill to tighten unemployment benefits Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert! ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS URGE NEWSOM TO INTERVENE WITH PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE The Assembly Public Safety Committee is set to hear several fentanyl-related bills this Thursday, and the Assembly Republican Caucus is turning to an unexpected source to advocate for the legislation: Gov. Gavin Newsom. Though theres very little that caucus members and Newsom agree on, Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, R-Yuba City, and other caucus members are hoping that cracking down on fentanyl dealers is an exception. The caucus sent a letter to the governor, saying that his assistance is urgently needed to persuade the committee to vote in favor of the following bills: AB 367 , which would add more prison time for fentanyl dealers who kill or seriously injure people. AB 675 , which would add more prison time for possessing fentanyl while armed with a loaded gun. AB 955 , which would add more prison time for selling fentanyl on social media. AB 1058, which would add more prison time for possessing large quantities of fentanyl. You have shown a willingness to engage in the legislative process when it comes to pressing issues such as mental health, homelessness and climate policy. Your voice has tremendous influence, especially with our colleagues across the aisle. We are asking for this same level of engagement with the bipartisan effort to address Californias fentanyl crisis, the letter reads. After SB 44, by Sen. Tom Umberg, D- Santa Ana, failed in Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, Gallagher tweeted that Newsoms voice is needed with the Democratic-controlled Assembly Public Safety Committee. Otherwise, the bills in the (Assembly) will likely suffer the same fate Thursday, he wrote. Meanwhile, public health experts are warning that more incarceration will drive people who use drugs away from vital support services. Increasing penalties will likely result in more deaths not fewer deaths. Specifically, they result in less bystander response for concern that they might be caught up and arrested for administering naloxone to people who are overdosing, as well as diminution of 911 calls which often come with police response, said Ricky Bluthenthal, associate dean for social justice and professor in the Department of Population and Public Health at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, in a statement. Story continues COMMITTEE TO HEAR BILL ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH APPS Via Maggie Angst... As California works to solidify its reputation as an abortion safe haven, a state lawmaker has identified a new focus area: reproductive health apps. When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, some pro-choice advocates worried that data about their reproductive health could be used against them in a court of law. In response, a new California bill was crafted to provide reassurance for residents whose data is collected by fertility tracking and other reproductive health apps. Today that bill, AB 254, authored by Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-Orinda, goes before the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee for a vote. Ahead of the meeting, nearly two dozen entities, including tech accountability advocacy groups and pro-choice affiliates, sent a letter to state leaders urging them to pass the bill. We live in a surveillance state in which our data is often collected and retained with very limited user transparency or control, which is why its critical we restrict the sensitive information that apps can retain, the letter read. Until further action is taken, people will either feel unable to track their own health data safely via app or will be at risk of harassment or criminal targeting if they do, both of which can result in difficulty or delay in receiving reproductive health care. HUMAN TRAFFICKING BILL CLEARS SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE The Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a bill that would make human trafficking of minors a serious felony offense, making it subject to Californias Three Strikes law. It was a rare show of support for a tough on crime measure in a Legislature where such policy often receives a poor reception. SB 14, by Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee. SB 14 will help strengthen protections for the thousands of minor victims who are sex trafficked and will serve as a deterrent for those who engage in this horrendous crime, Grove said in a statement. The Bakersfield Republican said that while she is thankful that her legislation, which has 31 co-authors on both sides of the aisle, passed out of committee, she remains committed to getting legislation passed to protect victims of all ages. QUOTE OF THE DAY Its disappointing to see such unilateral control from one party. This bill was not political. My job as a legislator is to advocate for the needs of my district. It is dangerous for the Assembly to not even hear bills that would protect my residents, their businesses and homes. - Assemblyman Joe Patterson, R-Rocklin, in a statement after the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources declined to allow his bill, AB 1554, to be heard. The bill would expressly exempt from CEQA a project reduction of fuels in areas within moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones. Best of The Bee: ATF Director Steven Dettelbach testifies at the U.S. House Judiciary Committee April 26, 2023. The head of the nations gun regulation agency defended policies to crack down on gun dealers and a new prohibition on stabilizing brace devices Wednesday at a Capitol hearing. GOP members at the House Judiciary hearing hammered Steven Dettelbach, director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms on what they called inconsistent previous guidance on the braces that are due to become illegal to possess without a license June 1. You told them one thing 10 years ago and now youre telling them something else, Republican Chairman Jim Jordan said, decrying that owners of the pistol brace devices will become felons overnight. Dettelbach defended the new rules, signed by Attorney General Merrick Garland, and cautioned that unwitting violators likely wouldnt face prosecution and the 10-year prison penalty given prosecutor priorities. More: Biden looks to stem 'ghost guns,' unveils other steps to curb gun violence 'epidemic' More: Dayton shooter used a modified gun that may have exploited a legal loophole More: Conservative Wisconsin law firm sues Biden administration over rule on gun stabilizing brace When does the pistol brace rule start? After the June 1 deadline, millions of braces, which effectively allows a pistol to operate as a short-barreled rifle, will need to be detached, registered or destroyed. The rules have already been challenged in court, and a similar ban on bump stocks were handed a blow by a federal appeals court Tuesday. Other appeals courts have upheld the bans in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Critics question crackdown on gun shops Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. read a letter from a constituent he says held a Federal Firearms License for 46 years before being revoked recently for selling to a prohibited purchaser. The licensee says he relied on Floridas background check system that gave the sale a go-ahead. Why should you be able to destroy the livelihood of my constituent? Gaetz asked. Dettelbach defended the new zero tolerance policy under President Biden that encourages ATF to revoke licenses for willful or repeat violations. Story continues Congress has given us the authority to inspect and make sure firearm dealers are compliant, and the vast majority are, Dettelbach said. A very small minority of those dealers after due process have been revoked. New data released from ATF shows the 92 licenses revoked in 2022 was the highest rate since 2006. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis. asked if the crackdown has resulted in a reduction in crime. There are lots of causes of gun crime, its impossible to say any one of them is the silver bullet, but it doesnt mean you dont work on all of them to address the issue, Dettelbach said. More: New data shows ATF gun store revocations at highest rate in 16 years More: 'Rogue' gun dealers revealed: What to know as ATF names gun shops that flout federal laws OIG report slams gun shop FFL inspections Last week, the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General issued an audit of ATFs gun shop inspection program criticizing what it called inconsistent application of penalties that didnt always follow policy. It noted that in 98 percent of inspections with at least one revocable violation, like selling to a prohibited purchaser, did not result in revocation. We believe that ATF is at risk of fostering the perception among FFLs that certain violations are tolerated, that FFLs will not be held accountable for compliance with federal firearms laws, or that ATFs use of administrative actions is unpredictable or unfair, the report states. More: After repeated ATF warnings, gun dealers can count on the agency to back off; sometimes firearms flow to criminals More: Gun used in Odessa shooting shows risk when chain of illegal sale starts with home-based hobbyist dealers Auditors found more than 2,200 active gun shops that hadnt been inspected for more than a decade well outside the goal of every three years. It also questioned the effectiveness of a top 100 list of shops that receive extra inspection scrutiny. ATF officials pushed back on the OIG findings, but ultimately pledged to implement fixes in many areas. Nick Penzenstadler is a reporter on the USA TODAY investigations team. Contact him at npenz@usatoday.com or @npenzenstadler, or on Signal at (720) 507-5273. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: At ATF congressional hearing Dettelbach defends pistol brace rules SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia said on Wednesday it would start domestic manufacture of guided missiles by 2025, two years sooner than expected, in a wide-ranging shakeup of defence arrangements to focus on long-range strike capability. On Monday, the Labor government said it accepted the recommendations of a defence review that said China had launched the largest military buildup of any country since the end of World War Two without transparency, and major power competition had "potential for conflict" in the Indo Pacific. The timetable for domestic manufacture of guided weapons, originally set for 2027, will be hastened to within two years by allocating A$2.5 billion to the project, Defence Minister Richard Marles said in media interviews. That represents a more than doubling in funding, which is being diverted from cancelled defence projects. "That does radically shift the timeframe forward in terms of a manufacturing capability," Marles said in a television interview with Nine on Wednesday. A further A$1.6 billion will be spent on buying longrange strike systems from overseas within two years, he said. The government was already in talks with missile manufacturers Raytheon and Lockheed about establishing production in Australia, Marles added. Discussions were also being held with Kongsberg, the Norwegian manufacturer of the naval strike missile Australia had already agreed to purchase, he said. Pat Conroy, the minister for defence industry, said the review recommended acquiring Kongsberg's joint strike missile which would "allow us to look at manufacturing the Strike Missile family of missiles in Australia". Australia will work more closely with its security ally, the United States, while boosting diplomacy in the region to deter conflict and step up defence ties with India, Japan, South East Asian nations and Pacific islands, the review said. (Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) An Australian woman has admitted trying to pin a driving fine on a pilot killed in a horrific mid-air helicopter crash. Stephanie Louise Bennett was caught using her phone while behind the wheel, but used details in Ashley Jenkinson's obituary to accuse him of the offence. The UK-born pilot was among four people killed when two helicopters collided near Brisbane in January. Ms Bennett pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft on Wednesday. She will be sentenced in May. Police say the 33-year-old was sent a fine notice in early January, shortly after she was caught using her phone while driving - an offence which attracts a penalty of A$1,078 (575). She disputed the fine online, instead nominating Mr Jenkinson - who she did not know - as the driver at the time of the offence in December. Mr Jenkinson's partner alerted authorities after receiving the fine notice weeks after his death. Ms Bennett had previously avoided court - instead trying to enter a guilty plea by email, which the magistrate rejected - and disguised herself with a scarf as she arrived to heckles on Wednesday. In Ms Bennett's email to the court, which was read aloud, she apologised "for the turmoil this has caused anyone" and said she was "immensely regretful for my actions". She said she had been going through "personal matters" and "financial troubles" at the time, and had tried to undo her actions the next morning. Mr Jenkinson's helicopter, which was taking off, collided with a helicopter coming in to land at Sea World, on the Gold Coast, on 4 January. He was killed, along with three passengers on board - Sydney woman Vanessa Tadros, and British couple Ron and Diane Hughes - and three others were seriously injured. The other helicopter was heavily damaged but managed to land on a sandbar. A report on the Sea World crash last month suggested one pilot may have not heard a vital radio call before the two aircraft came into contact. By Renju Jose SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday that Sydney will host the 2023 Quad Leaders' summit on May 24, the third in-person meeting of the leaders of Australia, the United States, India and Japan. "I am honoured to host the first ever Quad Leaders' Summit in Australia in Sydney," Albanese said. "The Quad is committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is respectful of sovereignty and ensures security and growth for all." Albanese said the leaders will discuss how the Quad can work alongside partners and regional groupings, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Pacific Islands Forum, to strengthen cooperation and shape the region. India, the United States, Japan and Australia are members of the Quad, an informal group that Washington has been promoting to work as a potential bulwark against China's increasing political, commercial and military activity in the Indo-Pacific. China sees the Quad as an attempt to push back against its growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. Albanese said he also plans to visit the US when Biden hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the second half of the year. (Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Alasdair Pal) A lineup of firearms and drugs seized by law enforcement during Operation Overdrive, a local and national partnership to target high-crime areas. A total of 53 people were arrested and numerous guns and kilograms of drugs were seized as a result of a joint operation by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency and Columbus police in the city's Easthaven area on the city's East and Southeast sides, officials announced Wednesday. Mayor Andrew Ginther and Columbus Division of Police leadership joined DEA Special Agent Orville Greene at a press conference to announce the results of the months-long effort to combat drugs and violent crime, which is part of a national DEA effort dubbed "Operation Overdrive." Ginther said the goal of the partnership, which also involved state agencies, was to rid Columbus neighborhoods of violent crime as the city has experienced an increase in homicides this year. As of early Wednesday afternoon, Columbus has had 53 homicides this year. "Here's the bottom line: the criminal gangs that were the focus of our campaign in Easthaven were delivered a major blow thanks to the combined contributions of all our partners," Ginther said. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther addresses the media Tuesday during a press conference with local and federal law enforcement as they detailed the results of Operation Overdrive, which targeted high-crime areas around the country. Operation Overdrive, which began in October of last year is a national DEA initiative where dozens of U.S. cities, including Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton and Cleveland were selected for targeted enforcement in the campaign. Greene said the 53 arrested were harming the Columbus community through violence, drug trafficking and drug poisonings. The DEA uses a "data, intelligence-led approach" to go after drug trafficking operating in areas of the highest rate of drug-related violent crimes and overdoses. "This organization was dealing quantities that had the potential to kill thousands," Greene said. Group in Easthaven was responsible for drug trafficking, financial crimes Columbus police Deputy Chief Robert Sagle said 14 of the 53 people arrested were priority arrest targets using data that showed they were responsible for a large amount of violent crime in the area. Charges against the suspects range from drug trafficking to weapons violations and financial crimes. Story continues The Easthaven neighborhood was the center of the operation, but authorities said the target area a wider area of the East and Southeast sides that was bordered by East Livingston Avenue to the north, Refugee Road to the South, Hamilton Road to the eaest and U.S. 33 to the west. Narcotics seized by law enforcement in December 2022 as a part of Operation Overdrive. In a partnership with the Drug Enforcement Agency, Columbus police arrested a total of 53 people on a variety of charges. Through the local Operation Overdrive effort, officials said law enforcement seized distribution levels of narcotics, including: 337 grams of fentanyl 50 firearms, including rifles, shotguns and pistols Three conversion devices which allow pistols to fire as automatic weapons 42 grams of heroin 2,662 grams of cocaine 32,717 grams of marijuana Sagle added that members of the criminal organization were also involved in financial crimes like welfare fraud that they were using to finance other parts of their scheme. U.S. attorney in Columbus pledges prosecution on major drug crimes Kenneth Parker, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, who also attended the press event, warned people participating in organized crime to reconsider their lives before they find themselves before a federal court. DEA officials: Xylazine linked to increasing fentanyl overdoses nationwide. What to know Just because Operation Overdrive is over does not mean that efforts to prosecute drug and violent crimes that undermine safety in Columbus will not continue. "While we cannot prosecute our way out of (the drug epidemic) we will still prosecute you," Parker said. @Colebehr_report Cbehrens@dispatch.com This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Nationwide DEA operation nets 53 arrests in Columbus neighborhood Looking for work in the Queen City? A new NC Works career center has been opened on McAlpine Park Drive in southeast Charlotte, just off Monroe Road, and Channel 9 was able to get a tour. The center originally opened during the pandemic and offered help virtually. Now, people are able to visit the center and work with a career counselor face-to-face. ALSO READ: LendingTree eliminated about 200 jobs amid rising interest rates Business owners can also visit NC Works centers to get help finding new employees, and its all free. Charlotte Works CEO Anna London says these centers stop employees and business owners from navigating the hiring or job-seeking world alone. A job seeker is able to come here; a business is able to come here and receive services at no cost, London said. So someone looking to navigate the ecosystem doesnt have to navigate it alone. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (WATCH BELOW: Giti Tires says it still has time to fulfill agreement to create 1,700 jobs) Bleak Week just got a whole lot bleaker. The American Cinematheque in Los Angeles has set the second edition of its Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair series, and this years guest of honor will be none other than Bela Tarr, Hungarian master of plumbing the nadirs of the human experience from his last feature The Turin Horse to his beloved epic Satantango, about a farming village in crisis. IndieWire can announce that Tarr will make a rare appearance in the U.S. beginning June 6 at the Aero Theatre for a series of Q&As. More from IndieWire Hi LA! It will be nice to see you again, after a very long time. I am curious how you are now and what is going on in the town! I hope we will have a good meeting and we will spend a good time together. See you there! said the filmmaker in a statement shared with IndieWire. The programming includes the west coast premiere of Janus Films new 4K restoration of his 2000 Communist Hungary portrait Werckmeister Harmonies, plus screenings of The Man from London, Damnation, Family Nest, The Outsider, and all gloriously bleak seven hours of Satantango. We are thrilled to welcome legendary Hungarian filmmaker Bela Tarr as our guest of honor with an extremely rare in-person appearance in Los Angeles. Bleak Week is a celebration of films that masterfully challenge and enlighten us, and there is no greater filmmaker alive that better represents that spirit, said Chris LeMaire, senior programmer at the American Cinematheque and Bleak Week co-founder. Bleak Week opens at the Aero Theatre on June 1 with actor Bruce Dern joining for an in-person Q&A following Sydney Pollacks 1969 Depression-era masterpiece, They Shoot Horses, Dont They? Other films in this years Bleak Week lineup include Gus Van Sants Gerry, Gyorgy Fehers recently restored serial killer drama Twilight, Cristian Mungius classic Romanian abortion drama 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, Michael Hanekes Amour and The Piano Teacher with a live virtual Q&A with the filmmaker, Elem Klimovs Come and See, Ingmar Bergmans Cries and Whispers, and much more. Story continues More details including ticketing information can be found at American Cinematheques website. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. B2 Outlet Stores, a Michigan-based retail chain, that sells clothing, bags, shoes and furniture, is opening a new store in Delta Township. LANSING TWP. B2 Outlet Stores, a discount retail chain with one location on the south side of Lansing, will open a store more than triple the size of the existing location next month on the area's west side. The Zeeland-based business will open a 25,000-square-foot storefront at 3800 W. Saginaw Hwy. in Lansing Township May 4, said Erik Durham, the company's creative and brand development director. The space, which the company is leasing, was previously occupied by a thrift store. "We recognize that the west side of Lansing is a growing market," Durham said. "We believe we can serve the community well by having that store in that location." READ MORE: 8 eateries expanding with new Lansing area locations. Here's a look at when and where How long will it take to redevelop Lansing's former Sears? Flood plain remapping slowing plans Three Grand Ledge residents mark uncommon milestone as they become centenarians The chain offers new brand-name clothing, shoes, furniture, home goods and toys at prices that are up to 70% less than major department stores, Durham said. The company's roots date back to 2013 when father-and-son duo Duane and Matt Smith started a small online auction business in Hudsonville. The venture became B2 Outlet Stores, Durham said. The company has more than 20 locations in the state, along with half a dozen B2 Bargain Bins locations. The new location joins the company's 438 E. Edgewood Blvd. store in Lansing and its B2 Bargain Bins store at 558 S. Cedar St. in Mason. The company will expand to Ohio later this year when they open a location in Toledo, Erik Durham said. "We give a portion of profits back into communities we serve," Durham said, noting they have donated more than $2 million since 2014. The chain already contributes to several local nonprofits, including Cardboard Prophets, Mason Community Services, Punks With Lunch Lansing and Greater Lansing Youth for Christ, he said. Story continues The new store will employ 40 to 50 people, Durham said. Contact Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ . This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: B2 Outlet Stores to open store on Lansing's west side A young woman is killed in a drive-by shooting. Two 16-year-olds are shot and killed. One was a Tacoma resident, shot dead at at an apartment near 112th Street East in Parkland. The other was found unresponsive on South Mildred Street near Tacoma Community College. A Foss High School student is struck down outside TCC, and local police have charged two other teenagers for pulling the trigger. These events illustrate an increasingly common connection between youth violence and firearms. Candace Wesley understands this message intimately, and she wants to do something about it. Wesley and her leadership partner, James Watson, co-founded the grassroots advocacy organization Tacoma Cease Fire in 2019. Last week, Wesley described instances of Tacomas gun violence in adolescents during a local roundtable discussion that included U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer of Washingtons 6th Congressional District and Tacoma Deputy Mayor Kristina Walker. Wesley drove home the message that the nation, and Tacoma, face an escalating violence and mental health epidemic among youth. I dont fear my community, Wesley said. I fear failing [my community]. When youre in survival mode, you dont have the time to embrace the beauty around you. What are youth gun violence rates in Tacoma? Since the start of the pandemic, firearm deaths overall in the United States have risen sharply. The Tacoma area has had its share of violence involving children and teens. The News Tribune reported earlier this month that at least five children have been killed in 2023. The most recent death took place in early April in the case of the 16-year-old shot dead in Parkland. The Pew Research Center finds that there were 6.7 firearm murders per 100,000 residents nationwide. Those metrics are comparable to those of Tacoma at 6.1 and Pierce County at 4.8, according to the city of Tacomas 2022 Youth & Adult Violence Assessment. Pew also found that from 2019 to 2021, gun deaths of American children rose by a whopping 50%. A 2022 study from the New England Journal of Medicine states that in 2020, firearm-related injuries became the leading cause of deaths in Americans age 18 and younger, overtaking vehicle accidents as the leading cause in child fatalities. Story continues The number of kids who died or were injured by gunshot wounds continues to increase every year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. In Tacoma, the 2022 Youth & Adult Violence Assessment found that Tacomans age 15-17 die by assault at a rate of 6.9 for every 100,000 people, a higher number than the city or countys overall rate. The report also states that firearms are the leading cause of youth hospitalizations in Tacoma. Line Chart Infogram The rise in adolescent gun violence coincides with increased access to firearm in the past several years. The Tacoma city government assessment also found that local gun purchases spiked during the pandemic, especially during summer of 2020 and throughout 2021. In addition, 10% of teens in grades eight, 10 and 12 from Tacoma Public Schools thought it was easy to get access to a firearm, based on feedback from the 2021 Health Youth Survey. Its not just legally-purchased firearms, either. People in Tacoma are stealing guns from inside vehicles at a heightened frequency. In January, Tacoma Police Department stated in a news release that a gun is stolen from inside a car every 48 hours. Stolen guns are finding their way into the hands of juveniles and are being used in violent crimes, stated Tacoma Chief of Police Avery Moore in the release. A map displaying where Tacoma Fire EMS responded to violent assaults in 2021. Emergency medical service workers responded to 198 calls for some form of assault that year, with zip codes 98505, 98402 and 98421 comprising a majority of those attacks. Government response to gun violence In 2022, Rep. Kilmer supported the bipartisan Safer Communities Act to address gun violence, which implemented laws requiring more comprehensive background checks and other protective measures surrounding gun purchasing and distribution. The law also provides funding to the state of Washington and Tacoma Public Schools to address mental health services, emergency preparedness and crisis prevention measures. I want [children] to be excited about school, not be afraid for their day, not be afraid for their safety, Kilmer said at the meeting. U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer Fridays discussion took place only days before Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law a bill banning assault weapons in the state of Washington, becoming the 10th state in the U.S. to prohibit the style of firearm. Tacoma advocates response to youth violence Tacoma Cease Fire works to implement prevention measures before violence occurs, as well as raise awareness about gun violence. They recently partnered with the City of Tacoma to implement a trauma response team that completes initial crisis response training and monthly training updates. Their team collectively has more than 30 years of crisis response experience. The leaders of Tacoma Cease Fire state that gun use and deaths among children in the Tacoma area has been an issue thats become more severe over the past few years. They emphasize several approaches to addressing the problem: Connect with parents to understand their mental health and parenting skills. Integrate gun legislation that keeps firearms out of reach of children, such as enacting age restrictions for owning a weapon and protocol for locking them up. Understand the mental health needs of children, parents and families as a whole. This includes resources for an entire family instead of one person. Partnerships with local organizations to foster unity among the community. Implement prevention measures, such as family outings and programs for children to attend, to help to curb violence among children. Provide safety and infrastructure in schools to address student needs and well-being. Other WA gun violence prevention groups One way to take a stand on gun violence is to get involved with a local organization. Advocates against gun violence can volunteer with Washingtons chapter of Moms Demand Action. The group is hosting a volunteer event May 6 in Sammamish. Volunteers will learn to use the power language of our movement, how to have a Be SMART conversation to protect your children, how to use your voice to help elect Gun Sense candidates. For those who want to take a stand on gun violence and dispel myths about firearm violence, its important to know all the facts. Everytown Research & Policy is a nonprofit organization that conducts robust research on gun trafficking, school safety and armed extremism. A Canadian man was ready to come to the rescue when he spotted a bald eagle flailing its wings in the water but soon discovered the bird knew exactly what it was doing. The eagle is seen swimming near Vancouver Island, British Columbia, lifting its wings out of the water and swinging them back down with an audible slap, video shared on Instagram by @wonderfulremark shows. It looks awkward, and exhausting, but its clearly working, as the bird slowly makes its way toward a row of floating logs, video shows. I thought he was drowning, so I approached him to give him a hand, the man wrote in the posts caption. But as the eagle hoists itself onto a log, its revealed the bird has been hauling prey in its talons the whole time, video shows. Oh my goodness thats a huge fish, the man says. The eagle wasnt drowning, it was hunting. Or rather fishing. Either way, it won a hard-earned meal. Fish are a favorite prey for eagles, and the birds are frequently seen swooping down to snatch them from the water. But occasionally theyll go for a swim, experts say. This can happen when an eagle targets a particularly large fish, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. They dive down, sink their talons into the fish, then find its too heavy to fly away with. The eagle could let go and find a smaller fish, but sometimes they decide theyre willing to go for that swim. Its common for them to get a hold of a fish thats too heavy to fly withthey cant take off but they can tow it to shore, rowing with their wings, former U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service specialist Mike Jacobson told the department. Theyre pretty good swimmers. They have thick down so they float pretty well. Occasionally theyll drown if theyre too far from shore. Trapped animal goes ballistic after rescuers free it from cars grille, WI video shows Strange-looking bird didnt move for three days. Then PA rescuers got a surprise Bear carries off hikers dog, stashes body, Canadian officials say. Very concerning What nightmares are made of. Creepy, toothy thing seen on Texas beach is identified The number of firms going bankrupt in Scotland grew by a third last year Company bankruptcies in Scotland rose by a third in the past financial year, as debts from during the pandemic contributed to 1,132 firms going under. Trade association R3, which represents insolvency accountants, said a further wave was almost inevitable, even though the economy has shown resilience. Its said previously successful firms had failed due to rising costs including energy, wages and finance. The number of personal insolvencies was also up by 3% to more than 8000. Thsi figure is well below the pre-pandemic level. In 2019-20, that reached 13,491. R3 chairman, Richard Bathgate, said squeezed household budgets meant that customers were spending less on non-essential items. He said businesses that sell, for example, beauty treatments, home improvements and nights out were particularly vulnerable. The figures were released by the Accountant in Bankruptcy, which has the role of officially registering insolvencies, and tracking the legal pathways by which people and companies handle financial crises. 'Wave of insolvencies' Mr Bathgate, a partner at Johnston Carmichael accountants, said: "The Covid hangover continues to hit Scotland's business hard, with the figures showing that corporate insolvencies are at their highest level in a decade". He said one pathway of voluntary liquidation of a company has risen to nearly double its figures for 2019, and its highest level ever. He added: "This suggests that more company directors are choosing to close their businesses before that choice is taken away from them. "And that businesses which made it through the pandemic with support from the Government are considering whether the debt they've taken on is sustainable." Mr Bathgate said a further wave of insolvencies was inevitable unless the picture drastically improved. He added: "There are various avenues that businesses will try before an insolvency process, so it can take some time to see the true number of insolvent firms reflected in the statistics." Similar figures have been reported for England and Wales, with a warning that more insolvencies are on the way, due to Covid-related debt, rising costs and the squeeze on consumer spending. WASHINGTON "We Build the Wall" campaign fundraisers Brian Kolfage and Andrew Badolato were sentenced to prison on Wednesday for their role in defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors and stealing the proceeds, the Department of Justice said. Kolfage was sentenced to 51 months in prison, just over four years, and Badolato was sentenced to three years in prison. Kolfage and Badolato both pleaded guilty in April last year to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in the donor scheme. The crime carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The two were also handed three years of supervised release. Kolfage, 41, was ordered to forfeit over $17.8 million and pay over $2 million in restitution. Badolato, 58, must forfeit over $1.4 million and pay the same amount in restitution. U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres also ordered forfeiture of over $1.3 million in funds held by "We Build the Wall" and property in New Mexico, where the group had started constructing part of a wall, according to the DOJ press release. "The fraud perpetrated by Mr. Kolfage and Mr. Badolato went well beyond defrauding individual donors," Torres said in the release, mentioning that the case would have a "chilling effect" on political donations. "They hurt us all," Torres said. Kolfage and Badolato worked with Steve Bannon, former chief White House strategist in the Trump administration, to pull together a crowdfunded effort to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border after Donald Trump made building a wall a signature part of his 2016 campaign and subsequent presidency. Mr. Kolfage respects the Court and its determination but we disagree that 51 months was appropriate for this American hero, Kolfages lawyers said in a statement to NBC News, referring to their client's service as a veteran and triple amputee. We are disappointed that the Court did not vary substantially based not only on Brians contrition and extraordinary service to our country, but also based [on the Bureau of Prisons'] abysmal track record for providing the necessary medical care to inmates. Story continues Badolatos lawyer did not immediately respond to NBC News request for comment. Although Trump pardoned Bannon of federal charges for his role in "We Build the Wall," Bannon was indicted in September 2022 in New York state on charges including money laundering and scheming to defraud donors. He pleaded not guilty in both the federal and New York cases. "Brian Kolfage and Andrew Badolato abused the trust of donors to We Build the Wall and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to line their own pockets," said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams in a press release. "The defendants have now been held accountable for their criminal conduct." The crowdfunded campaign ultimately raised over $25 million. Despite Kolfage asserting that all of the funds would be put toward their mission and purpose, the defendants used the money for their personal use and took steps to conceal it by using fake invoices and contracts, DOJ said. Their co-defendant Timothy Shea, 52, was also convicted on multiple counts related to the scheme and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 13, according to DOJ. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Donald Trump participates in a ceremony commemorating the 200th mile of border wall at the international border with Mexico in San Luis, Arizona, June 23, 2020. (AFP via Getty Images) Steve Bannon associate Brian Kolfage has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for his role in defrauding donors to help privately build Donald Trumps southern border wall. Kolfage, a US Air Force veteran who lost his legs and right hand in a rocket attack in Iraq, pleaded guilty last year to misappropriating more than $350,000 from the We Build the Wall campaign. The 41-year-old was sentenced to 51 months in prison at a hearing in federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday. Prosecutors said that he spent the money on cosmetic surgery, boat payments and jewellery. In addition, he also pleaded guilty to tax charges. Andrew Badolato, 58, another former Bannon associate, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison at the hearing, reported Reuters. While they were publicly promising that 100 per cent of donated funds would go towards construction of a southern border wall, and that Kolfage would take no money, the defendants privately arranged to steal donor money to compensate Kolfage, prosecutors wrote before his sentencing. Bannon, Mr Trumps former White House strategist, was also charged in the scheme but later received a presidential pardon in the waning hours of his single term in office. Federal prosecutors had asked for Kolfage to serve 51 months behind bars, while his lawyers had asked for three years of home detention because of his medical needs. By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -A decorated U.S. Air Force veteran who was an associate of Donald Trump's former adviser Steve Bannon was sentenced on Wednesday to 4-1/4 years in prison after admitting helping defraud donors to a campaign to build the wall along the U.S.-Mexican border pursued by the former president. Brian Kolfage, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in Manhattan after pleading guilty last year to misappropriating funds for the "We Build the Wall" campaign, an effort that solicited public donations and, according to prosecutors, raised about $25 million. Torres also sentenced Andrew Badolato, 58, another former Bannon associate, to three years in prison following his guilty plea. "The infamous 'We Build the Wall' scam will no doubt have a chilling effect on civic participation in the political realm," the judge said. "The fraudsters behind 'We Build the Wall' injured the body politic." Kolfage, who lost his legs and right hand in a rocket attack in Iraq, led the fundraising push alongside Bannon, who was also criminally charged in the case but received a presidential pardon from Trump during the final hours of his term. Prosecutors said Kolfage took more than $350,000 and spent it on boat payments, jewelry and cosmetic surgery. He also pleaded guilty to tax charges. "I made a promise not to personally benefit, not anyone else, and I broke that promise," Kolfage said in court before the sentence was handed down, at times wiping his nose and sniffling. "I have been humiliated by my poor decisions." Kolfage ignored questions from journalists as he exited the courthouse in downtown Manhattan after the hearing. Torres also ordered Kolfage to forfeit $17.9 million and pay $2.9 million in restitution. Cesar de Castro, a lawyer for Kolfage, had proposed home detention, citing his client's medical needs. Badolato's lawyer Kelly Kramer sought three years of probation for his client, saying he was less culpable and cooperated with prosecutors. Story continues Another defendant, Timothy Shea, 52, was convicted at trial in October. His sentencing is scheduled for June 13. Despite being pardoned, Bannon still faces New York state money laundering and conspiracy charges over the wall under an indictment from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Bannon, 69, has pleaded not guilty. Trump's pardon covered federal crimes but not state crimes. Construction of a border wall was a key element of Trump's hardline immigration policies during his presidency, supported by his fellow Republicans but opposed by Democrats and immigrant advocacy groups. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Wil Dunham and David Gregorio) Before they went to war with each other, Sudan's rival generals rose to prominence under the regime of deposed strongman Omar al-Bashir. This week, that old guard has reappeared. Wanted by the International Criminal Court, former top Bashir aide Ahmed Harun announced via Sudanese media on Tuesday that he and other former old regime officials had escaped Khartoum's Kober prison, where they had been since Bashir's ouster after pro-democracy protests in 2019. The fighting pits army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against his fellow 2021 coup leader and former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Since their coup, civilian political leaders have warned of "the return of the old regime", after several high-ranking officials from the Bashir era found roles in Burhan's administration. For the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), the main civilian bloc ousted from power by Burhan and Daglo, the re-emergence of Harun was proof that "the deposed regime and its dissolved party are -- through their assets in the armed forces -- behind the ongoing war". But Magdi el-Gizouli of the Rift Valley Institute said that while Bashir's inner circle being free might affect the "ideological propaganda" battle, it "is not a significant development in terms of warfare." Sudan specialist Jonas Horner told AFP that Bashir's cronies are in a position "to contribute thinking and perhaps mobilise key sections" of Islamist factions which played an integral part in Bashir's rule since his own coup in 1989. "But I do not think that under the current circumstances they are viable or eligible to take or re-take positions in government," Horner added. - Crimes against humanity charges - Both the warring generals fighting since April 15 rose to power under Bashir. Burhan, de facto leader of Sudan since the 2021 coup, rose through the ranks under the longtime autocrat. Story continues He was a senior general during the Darfur war, which since 2003 has left some 300,000 dead and millions displaced. Burhan's coup-partner-turned-rival, General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo -- commonly known as Hemeti -- leads the RSF, which emerged from the Janjaweed militia that Bashir unleashed on non-Arab ethnic minorities in Darfur. Harun -- former minister of state for humanitarian affairs and also an ex-governor of South Kordofan -- is implicated in the Darfur atrocities. He has been wanted by The Hague-based ICC since 2007 for 20 counts of crimes against humanity and 22 counts of war crimes, including on a charge of recruiting, arming and funding the Janjaweed. Like much of Bashir's inner circle, Harun was detained -- along with Bashir himself, who was convicted of corruption -- in Kober prison until this week. He stepped into the fray of the latest conflict late Tuesday, releasing a recorded TV address to say he and other top Bashir officials were out of jail, and "have now taken responsibility for our protection in our own hands" in another location. According to the army, Bashir and a handful of other prisoners had been moved since before fighting erupted on April 15 to a military hospital "due to health conditions", where they remain "under the guard of judicial police". Daglo's RSF, keen to exploit the news as a propaganda blow against the army, claimed in a statement on Wednesday that the war was "a cover" to "get the leaders of the deposed regime out of prison". Eager to shift attention from his background as a Janjaweed commander in Darfur, Daglo now portrays himself as the saviour of Sudan, fighting against "radical Islamists" who want to keep Sudan "far removed from democracy". Burhan calls him a "criminal". - 'Strange wild card' - According to Horner, the former regime officials have already garnered a win in escaping prison. But they "are much more likely to want to keep their heads down, because they are very polarising" both within Sudan, "and certainly to the international community". World leaders have been open to negotiating with both Burhan and Daglo, but alignment with Bashir's long-sanctioned regime would be a liability. Careful to avoid claiming the army had secured his release, Harun intentionally put distance between the army and the escaped officials. "In fact, there is probably none", Horner said. As for Bashir, Alan Boswell from the International Crisis Group think tank said that were he to "pop up again as a political actor, I think it could be a very strange wild card". "If he was to choose a side in this, it would seem like he would choose the army... but he could just as well be on his own side", Boswell added. bur/bha/pjm/it The Queen Consort and King Charles arrive to visit the Liverpool Central Library. (Getty) The BBC has been accused of "making up" a claim that schoolchildren drowned out anti-monarchy protesters during King Charles's visit to Liverpool. On the second leg of the royal visit, Charles and the Queen Consort toured the citys Central Library to mark its twinning with another library in Odessa, Ukraine. A group of protesters from the anti-monarchy group Republic met the royal party as they arrived. BBC Merseyside then tweeted that schoolchildren had drowned out Not My King chants from demonstrators but this has been disputed by the group. Read more: King Charles's coronation: When is the bank holiday and what will happen? Protesters hold signs reading "Not My King" ahead of the arrival of King Charles and the Queen Consort in Liverpool. (Getty) BBC Merseyside posted a video of the schoolchildren chanting, with the caption: Protestors chanting not my King are drowned out by children chanting hes our King. Graham Smith, from Republic, denied this and told Yahoo News UK: The point was we were not chanting at the time, unclear why the BBC made that up." He added: Its not possible for schoolchildren to drown out 70 people. The Republic Twitter account also denied its protesters were "drowned out" and described the claim as "a worrying bit of spin from the BBC". Watch: King and Queen Consort mark UK-Ukraine library twinning It added: "Our protesters were not chanting at this point. We will be asking @bbcmerseyside for an explanation. "It is also questionable to suggest that children are of a strong view one way or another on an issue like this when theyve been bussed in for a bit of fun." Read more: Trump to publish letter from the King 'without his permission' A BBC spokesperson said: We provided a range of coverage across radio, TV and online reflecting various sentiments along the way. Republic states on its website that it wants to see the monarchy abolished and the King replaced with an elected, democratic head of state. It adds: In place of the King we want someone chosen by the people, not running the government but representing the nation independently of our politicians. Family, friends and members of the community gathered in Merced on Tuesday, to remember victims of violence and crime. The annual Victims Rights Ceremony at Courthouse Park is hosted by the Merced County District Attorneys Office and the Victim Witness Assistance Program during National Crime Victims Rights Week. The ceremony focuses on honoring victims as families gather to share photos and memories of their loved ones. Today commemorates a time we set aside each year to honor victims and to acknowledge survivors of violent crime in Merced County, said Merced County Chief Investigator Anna Hazel. This year the theme chosen was survivor voices and the act of listening that is needed to elevate, engage and to affect change. This is our offices continued commitment to the memory of victims who have gone on and the survivors that remain, Hazel said. Merced County District Attorney Chief Investigator Anna Hazel speaks during the Merced County Victims Rights Ceremony at Courthouse Park in Merced, Calif., on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. The annual event held to remember victims of violence and crime, is hosted by the Merced County District Attorneys Office during National Crime Victims Rights Week. Photos of victims of violence and crime are displayed during the Merced County Victims Rights Ceremony at Courthouse Park in Merced, Calif., on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. The annual event held to remember victims of violence and crime, is hosted by the Merced County District Attorneys Office during National Crime Victims Rights Week. This year we want to elevate, engage and empower victims and survivors so that they can affect change in their communities, said Merced County District Attorney Nicole Silveira. One of the most powerful ways to do that is by using your voice. While addressing those in attendance, Silveira referenced Pakistani female education activist and 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai. In 2012 Yousafzai was shot in the head by members of the Taliban because she opposed the restrictions placed on female education. She survived this horrific crime and went on to use her voice to raise awareness to that cause, said Silveira. Remembering Robert Rojas, fentanyl overdose victim Many of you sitting here today have lost loved ones to unimaginable crimes, said Silveira. Shootings, stabbings, violent attacks that have taken your loved one from you all too soon. I am here to share with you here today that unfortunately there is another killer among us that we area learning about and that is the drug of fentanyl, said Silveira, calling it one of the most dangerous and deadly drugs ever encountered that is killing people in the community. Story continues Merced County District Attorney Nicole Silveira speaks during the Merced County Victims Rights Ceremony at Courthouse Park in Merced, Calif., on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. The annual event held to remember victims of violence and crime, is hosted by the Merced County District Attorneys Office during National Crime Victims Rights Week. According to Silveira, Merced County has recorded 22 deaths for each of the past two years due to fentanyl overdoses. They are unprecedented numbers that are beginning to rival our murder rate, Silveira said. Silveira spoke about the 2021 death of 29-year-old Robert Rojas who died after drinking a substance from a cough syrup bottle that unbeknownst to him, contained liquid fentanyl. Rojas mother Christina Valenti, founder of the Robert Rojas Foundation Worldwide, spoke to those in attendance about how she is using her voice to educate others on the dangers of fentanyl while keeping Roberts spirit alive. The foundation, which is pushing for stricter laws and punishment for those distributing fentanyl, offers Narcan and fentanyl test strips free of charge in Merced, according to Valenti. Remembering Aaron Albert Jimenez, December shooting victim Lucy and Raul Garcia, were among dozens in attendance as they remembered Lucys eldest child and Rauls stepson, 41-year-old Aaron Albert Jimenez. Jimenez died when he was shot in the chest with an air rifle on Dec. 11, 2022. Merced residents Lucy Garcia, left, and Raul Garcia, right, look at photos of victims of violent crimes during the Merced County Victims Rights Ceremony at Courthouse Park in Merced, Calif., on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Lucys oldest child and Rauls stepson, Aaron Albert Jimenez, 41, was shot and killed on Dec. 11, 2022 in Merced. The annual event held to remember victims of violence and crime, is hosted by the Merced County District Attorneys Office during National Crime Victims Rights Week. Im here to represent my son Aaron and I just wanted to come and be with everybody else who has gone through this because we all are in one boat and we have something all in common. We all have lost a loved one due to violence, said Lucy Garcia. According to Lucy and Raul Garcia, Jimenez was shot and killed by a man following an altercation that Jimenez was not involved in. The couple said the family has been left with a feeling of frustration after the man arrested for the shooting was released from custody a short time later. Lucy Garcia said she is still mourning her sons recent death and she attended the ceremony with family including Jimenezs girlfriend and his 19-year-old son, to be the voice her son no longer has. Lucy Garcia said her son had a loving soul and was a very loving person who had ups and downs as others do. Aaron loved his family and music, according to Lucy Garcia. Aaron was a great person, he had a great big heart, said Lucy Garcia. Lucy Garcia said she wants to bring awareness to her sons death and others who have been killed by pellet guns she just doesnt know where to start. Aaron Jimenezs stepfather Raul Garcia, said one of the things hell miss about Jimenez is how he liked to joke a lot and make people laugh. Raul said Jimenez would talk to him and make him laugh if he was in a bad mood. According to Raul Garcia, the family doesnt feel justice has been served for the death of his stepson who he said he raised as if he was his own son. Were still waiting and were not going to give up because something has to happen, said Raul Garcia. Were here because we want justice. Paper balloons hang from a tree containing messages and the names of victims of violence and crime during the Merced County Victims Rights Ceremony at Courthouse Park in Merced, Calif., on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. The annual event held to remember victims of violence and crime, is hosted by the Merced County District Attorneys Office during National Crime Victims Rights Week. The Merced County Victims Rights Ceremony at Courthouse Park in Merced, Calif., on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. The annual event held to remember victims of violence and crime, is hosted by the Merced County District Attorneys Office during National Crime Victims Rights Week. Raul Garcia, 54, of Merced, hangs a paper balloon with a message to his stepson Aaron Albert Jimenez during the Merced County Victims Rights Ceremony at Courthouse Park in Merced, Calif., on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Jimenez was 41-years-old when he was shot and killed with an air rifle in Merced on Dec. 11, 2022. The annual event held to remember victims of violence and crime, is hosted by the Merced County District Attorneys Office during National Crime Victims Rights Week. Photos of victims of violence and crime are displayed during the Merced County Victims Rights Ceremony at Courthouse Park in Merced, Calif., on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. The annual event held to remember victims of violence and crime, is hosted by the Merced County District Attorneys Office during National Crime Victims Rights Week. A Belleville man has been arrested and charged in the 2017 shooting death of a man during an attempted robbery in East St. Louis, Illinois State Police announced on Tuesday. James D. ONeal, 33, is charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of Philllip S. Smith, 21, of East St. Louis and aggravated battery with a firearm in the shooting of a Belleville man, whose identity was not released, according to a news release. The injured victim was shot multiple times and eventually was released from the hospital. Two others were charged more than five years ago in the shootings and were sentenced to prison, according to a news release from the state police. The release did not explain what led to ONeals arrest so long after the Aug. 13, 2017, shootings at the Norman E. Owens housing complex. The St. Clair County States Attorneys Office approved the charges on Monday. On Tuesday, ONeal was arrested by agents of the Illinois State Police and U.S. Marshals, the release states. He is being held in the St. Clair County Jail. Devonte Lindsey, 20, of Cahokia Heights and Shavon Brownlee, 24, of East St. Louis, were the others charged earlier in the shootings. Lindsey was arrested on Nov. 3, 2017, while Brownlee was arrested Nov. 15, 2017. Police received a call at 2:22 a.m. that morning that shots had been fired and a man was down at the 1100 block of Division Avenue at the housing complex, authorities said at the time. Smith was found in the drivers seat of a car and the other wounded man was in the passenger seat. Both had been shot multiple times. The two men were reportedly dropping off a visitor at the complex. A woman was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in the death of her 7-month-old boy at a home in Belleville. Peanna S. Porter, 25, of 315 Hillcrest Drive, Belleville also was charged with endangering the life/health of a child and obstructing justice. The baby, Richard Bowker III, was pronounced dead at 4:32 p.m. Friday at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, according to St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. Police were sent to a home at the 300 block of Hillcrest Drive on Friday at 1:45 p.m. after a caller reported the baby was unconscious and not breathing, Belleville Police Department Assistant Chief Mark Heffernan said. Officers performed CPR until medics arrived. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services also responded. Investigators searched the home after obtaining a search warrant through the St. Clair County States Attorneys Office and an autopsy was performed Sunday. It was determined the childs death was suspicious in nature, Heffernan said earlier this week. He said Wednesday that the autopsy revealed the child ``died as a result of craniocerebral injury. The charging documents from the St. Clair County States Attorneys Office allege Porter killed her son by inflicting the head injuries, knowing that such an act created a strong probability of death or great bodily harm. The documents also allege Porter failed to get medical care for her son after he suffered head injuries. The obstruction of justice charge is the result of Porter allegedly destroying or concealing physical evidence. The document says Porter initiated a factory reset of her cellular phone. Heffernan said Porter was arrested Monday. She was to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon and moved from the Belleville jail to the St. Clair County Jail. Her bail is set at $1 million. The Illinois Child Death Investigation Task Force is assisting Belleville police in the investigation. President Biden issued the first presidential proclamation recognizing the impact of the Lavender Scare a period of time starting in the 1950s that lasted decades in which LGBTQ Americans were banned from serving in the federal government. Biden said in a proclamation on Wednesday that the country has made tremendous progress in advancing equality for the LGBTQ community but needs to reflect honestly on the darkest chapters of our story. President Dwight Eisenhower signed an executive order banning the LGBTQ individuals from federal service over 70 years ago this week, according to the National Archives. The order led to thousands of government employees being investigated, forcibly outed and fired from their jobs over the course of decades. On this anniversary, we acknowledge the importance of telling the complete history of our Nation, reflecting on the lives changed by this discrimination, honoring the courageous Americans who fought to end this injustice, and celebrating the contributions of todays proud LGBTQI+ public servants including members of our Armed Forces, Biden said. The Lavender Scare occurred alongside the Red Scare of the 1950s in which fears of communist sympathizers were rampant, spurred on by Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-Wis.). Aspects of the order were gradually lifted beginning in the 1970s. Former President Obama also issued an order officially revoking the original executive order before leaving office in 2017. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the first LGBTQ individual to serve in her role, tweeted that the anniversary of the original executive order is of personal importance to her. Its a reminder of how far weve come and the work that continues under this Administration to advance full inclusion and equal protection for LGBTQI+ Americans, she said. Biden said in his proclamation that each generation needs to recommit to ending the hatred and discrimination that LGBTQ Americans face, including laws that states have implemented that target them like bans on transgender youth having access to gender-affirming care. Story continues Great nations face their history openly and honestly: the good, the bad, and the truth, the proclamation states. Today, we make our message simple to every public servant who suffered from the un-American policies and discrimination of the Lavender Scare: We see your sacrifices. We acknowledge what you lost and what you wrongfully endured, it reads. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden launched the first television ad of his newly launched reelection campaign on Wednesday, backed by a first-week expenditure of more than $250,000 mostly in six battleground states. Most Read from Bloomberg The 90-second ad extraordinarily long in modern television advertising comes 24 hours after making his candidacy official with an online video. The paid ad echoes many of the themes of that announcement, contrasting Bidens themes of democracy and freedom with scenes from the Jan. 6, 2021 US Capitol assault that aimed to keep former President Donald Trump in power. As the sun rises, we raise the flag a symbol of all that we hold most dear as Americans. Courage, opportunity, democracy, freedom, the ads narrator says. Joe Biden is running for reelection to make certain that the sun will not set on this flag. The promise of American democracy will not break. A candidates first ad often attempts to set a tone for the rest of the campaign, and Bidens is focused on Trump, whom polls show is the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination and who also released his first ad of the cycle Wednesday. Trumps 60-second ad attacks his presumptive primary rival, Ron DeSantis, for disloyalty after taking Trumps support to run for governor of Florida only to then flirt with a presidential run. Unfortunately, instead of being grateful, DeSantis is now attacking the very man who saved his career. Isnt it time DeSantis remembers how he got to where he is? Trumps message is backed with a much smaller $64,000 purchase of time on the Democrat-friendly cable network MSNBC and the conservative NewsMax TV, according to data from AdImpact, an ad-tracking firm. Story continues The first foray of the marquee candidates into the advertising campaign follows millions of early spending by Republican super-PACs, which can raise unlimited money from donors as long as they dont coordinate with the campaigns. Super-PACS backing either Trump or DeSantis have run attack ads against the two in recent weeks. But unlike his Republican rivals, Biden has a virtually guaranteed free pass to the general election, allowing him to focus on states most important to the electoral college. His first spending gives a glimpse into an early campaign strategy that will focus on battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan and Georgia. In many of those states, hes focusing on small markets like Tucson, Arizona; Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Green Bay, Wisconsin and Flint, Michigan. The Biden campaign said it plans to spend more than $1 million in the first two weeks of his campaign, including a second ad beginning next week. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. President Biden on Wednesday warned North Korea that a nuclear attack against the U.S. or its allies would be "the end" of the communist regime. At a joint press conference with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Biden was asked about new nuclear deterrence commitments the United States has made to protect South Korea from its hostile neighbor to the north. "Look, a nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies, or partisans, or partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action," Biden said. In recent months, North Korea has taken several aggressive actions, including ballistic missile tests and, for the first time, testing a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile earlier this month. The recent test is seen as a possible breakthrough in the Norths efforts to acquire a more powerful, harder-to-detect weapon targeting the continental United States. US TO SEND NUCLEAR-ARMED SUBMARINES TO SOUTH KOREA FOR FIRST TIME IN 40 YEARS President Biden responds to a reporter's question on the debt limit during a joint press conference with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in the Rose Garden at the White House, April 26, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Biden called North Korea's actions "escalatory behavior." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP In response, the Biden and Yoon have signed an agreement that will permit the U.S. to dock nuclear submarines in South Korea for the first time in more than 40 years. "Our mutual defense treaty is ironclad, and that includes our commitment to extended deterrence and that includes the nuclear threat and the nuclear deterrent. They are particularly important in the face of DPRK's increased threats and the blatant violation of U.S. sanctions," Biden said Wednesday. BIDEN PRESSED ABOUT AGE IN 2024 RACE, ADMITS HE CANT EVEN SAY THE NUMBER' "At the same time, we continue to seek serious and substantial diplomatic breakthroughs with the DPRK to bolster stability on the peninsula, reduce the threat of proliferation, and address our humanitarian and human rights concerns for the people of the DPRK," he added. Story continues The decision to dock nuclear submarines in South Korea is part of a policy rollout occasionally referred to as the "Washington Declaration" an international positioning of the U.S. to quell growing aggression from communist North Korea . Yoon, who first entered politics only two years ago to run for president of the Republic of Korea (ROK) , is making a state visit to the U.S. with first lady Kim Keon Hee to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korea alliance. SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH BIDEN, CONGRESS FOLLOWING CONCERNS OVER INTEL LEAK South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and President Biden arrive for a joint press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 in Washington, D.C. On Thursday, Yoon is expected to deliver a speech at a joint session of Congress, making him the first South Korean president to do so in a decade, according to The Washington Post. In remarks, Yoon said the U.S.-South Korean alliance is a "righteous alliance that contributes to world peace and prosperity." "Our two leaders have decided to significantly strengthen extended deterrence of our two countries against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats so that we can achieve piece through the superiority of overwhelming forces and not a false peace based on the goodwill of the other side," Yoon said. Fox News' Timothy H.J. Nerozzi and The Associated Press contributed to this report. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden's administration defended the approval of the abortion pill mifepristone in a federal appeals court filing Wednesday, the latest development in a case that may decide whether Americans have access to the drug. The brief comes less than a week after the Supreme Court kept access by mail and telehealth in place for the drug on a temporary basis. That decision sent the underlying lawsuit back to the New Orleans-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, which is considering the challenge to the drug on an expedited basis. There's a good chance the legal fight over mifepristone will wind up back in front of the Supreme Court, potentially by the time the justices begin their next term in October and just over one year before the next presidential election. The battle over mifepristone has landed as the nation is still grappling with the Supreme Court's decision last year to end the constitutional right to abortion Roe v. Wade established in 1973. With some states banning abortion in response to that ruling, being able to get mifepristone through the mail has become, in many places, one of the few avenues left to get an abortion. The administration asserted that the district court's decision to suspend approval of mifepristone was, to its knowledge, the first time any court had tried to step in to overturn the FDA's approval of a drug "based on disagreement with the agency's judgment about safety much less done so after that approval has been in effect for decades." A coalition of anti-abortion groups is challenging the process the Food and Drug Administration used to approve the drug. Their response to the Biden administration is due May 8 and the appeals court will hear arguments May 17. South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol and President Joe Biden participate in a arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on April 26, 2023. The drama over the drug began earlier this month when a pair of federal court rulings on April 7 plunged the fate of mifepristone into uncertainty. One of those rulings, from U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, effectively invalidated the FDA's 23-year-old approval for the drug. Days later, the 5th Circuit sided with the Biden administration on the drug's approval but let stand on a temporary basis the parts of Kacsmaryk's ruling that halted efforts to expand access to the drug. Story continues SCOTUS: Supreme Court sides with Biden, halts restrictions on mifepristone 'Safer than Tylenol': Experts say mifepristone safe amid court battle Next: Abortion pill will remain widely available but advocates look ahead to future fights Those expansions included FDA actions that allowed Americans to receive the drug through the mail and that allowed pharmacists to prescribe the drug. In an unsigned, one-paragraph order on April 21, the Supreme Court allowed those FDA actions to stand while the underlying legal fight over the drug continues. "FDA's 2000 approval of mifepristone was lawful," the Biden administration told the appeals court. "FDA reasonably explained its decision, relying on multiple clinical trials that demonstrated the drug's safety and efficacy." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Abortion pill: Biden officials defend mifepristone in appeals court South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is in Washington this week to discuss a range of issues with US President Joe Biden The US and South Korea have secured a landmark deal to counter the North Korean nuclear threat. Washington has agreed to periodically deploy US nuclear-armed submarines to South Korea and involve Seoul in its nuclear planning operations. In return, South Korea has agreed to not develop its own nuclear weapons. The Washington Declaration will strengthen the allies' co-operation in deterring a North Korean attack, US President Joe Biden said. Concern has been rising on both sides about the nuclear threat posed by North Korea. Pyongyang is developing tactical nuclear weapons that can target South Korea, and refining its long-range weapons that can reach the US mainland. The US already has a treaty obligation to defend South Korea, and has previously pledged to use nuclear weapons if necessary. But some in South Korea have started to doubt that commitment and call for the country to pursue its own nuclear programme. The South Korean President, Yoon Suk-yeol, who was at the White House for a state visit, said the Washington Declaration marked an "unprecedented" commitment by the US to enhance defence, deter attacks and protect US allies by using nuclear weapons. China - clearly not pleased with the US stance - warned against "deliberately stirring up tensions, provoking confrontation and playing up threats". The new agreement is a result of negotiations that took place over the course of several months, according to a senior administration official. Under the new deal, the US will make its defence commitments more visible by sending a nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea for the first time in 40 years, along with other strategic assets, including nuclear-capable bombers. The two sides will also develop a Nuclear Consultative Group to discuss nuclear planning issues. Politicians in Seoul have long been pushing Washington to involve them more in planning for how and when to use nuclear weapons against North Korea. Story continues As North Korea's nuclear arsenal has grown in size and sophistication, South Koreans have grown wary of being kept in the dark over what would trigger Mr Biden to push the nuclear button on their behalf. A fear that Washington might abandon Seoul has led to calls for South Korea to develop its own nuclear weapons. But in January, Mr Yoon alarmed policymakers in Washington when he became the first South Korean president to put this idea back on the table in decades. It suddenly became clear to the US that reassuring words and gestures would no longer work and if it was to dissuade South Korea from wanting to build its own bombs, it would have to offer something concrete. Furthermore, Mr Yoon had made it clear that he expected to return home having made "tangible" progress. Duyeon Kim, from the Centre for a New American Security, said it was a "big win" for South Korea to be involved in nuclear planning. "Until now, tabletop exercises would end before Washington's decision to use nuclear weapons," said Ms Kim. "The US had considered such information to be too classified to share, but it is important to practice and train for this scenario given the types of nuclear weapons North Korea is producing." This new Nuclear Consultative Group ticks the box, providing the increased involvement the South Korean government has been asking for. But the bigger question is whether it will quell the public's anxieties. It does not ink a total commitment from the US that it would use nuclear weapons to defend South Korea if North Korea were to attack. However, on Wednesday Mr Biden said: "A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action." In return, the US has demanded that South Korea remain a non-nuclear state and a faithful advocate of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The US sees dissuading South Korea from going nuclear as essential, fearful that if it fails, other countries may follow in its footsteps. But these US commitments are unlikely to fully satisfy the influential, and increasingly vocal, group of academics, scientists and members of South Korea's ruling party who have been pushing for Seoul to arm itself. Dr Cheong Seong-chang, a leading proponent of South Korea going nuclear, said that while the declaration had many positive aspects, it was "extremely regrettable that South Korea had openly given up its right to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT]", adding that this had "further strengthened our nuclear shackles". President Biden said the US was continuing efforts to get North Korea back to the negotiating table. Washington says Pyongyang has ignored numerous requests to talk without preconditions. The US hopes to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, but last year the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared the country's nuclear status "irreversible". Some experts say it now makes more sense to discuss arms control rather than denuclearisation. President Joe Biden will visit Japan and Australia next month to huddle with allies on their continued response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine as well as ways to confront China's assertive economic and military moves in the Indo-Pacific region, the White House announced Tuesday. Biden will attend a summit of the leaders of the Group of Seven advanced democracies in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 19-21, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. Then he will make his first trip as president to Australia, which will include the third in-person meeting of the so-called Quad leadership of the U.S., Japan, Australia and India. The President and G7 leaders will discuss a range of the most pressing global issues, including the G7s unwavering support for Ukraine, addressing the dual food and climate crises, securing inclusive and resilient economic growth, and continuing to lead a clean energy transition at home and for our partners around the world, she said. At the Quad meeting on May 24 Biden will gather with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia. The group was formed in 2007 to bolster economic and security relations between the four democracies as a check on China's rise. It was rebooted under the presidency of Donald Trump a decade later, and elevated to a regular leader-level gathering during Biden's tenure. The Quad leaders will discuss how they can deepen their cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, maritime domain awareness, and other issues that matter to the people of the Indo-Pacific, Jean-Pierre said. The meeting with Modi comes amid growing concerns in the U.S. over democratic backsliding in India during his time in office, and efforts by the U.S. to press India to join international economic sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Mountainous village in E China's Anhui thrives on homestay business People's Daily Online) 14:37, April 25, 2023 Photo shows a B&B hotel in Dashan village, Xianyu township, Shitai county in Chizhou city, east China's Anhui Province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Rui) Shitai county in Chizhou city, east China's Anhui Province is rich in selenium, with 99 percent of the county's land boasting high selenium content. Selenium-rich land, sufficient negative oxygen ions and a sound ecological environment are a calling card for the place. Chen Zhen (left), owner of the B&B hotel, talks with a tourist. (People's Daily Online/Wang Rui) A B&B hotel tucked away deep in the mountains of Dashan village, Xianyu township is always filled with tourists from east China's Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces and Shanghai city, who would like to stay in the village for half a month. "There is no high or slack season. It's always high season except for three cold months in winter during which we take a break," said Chen Zhen, who runs the homestay business together with her family members. Photo shows an aerial view of Dashan village, Xianyu township, Shitai county in Chizhou city, east China's Anhui Province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Rui) A woman from Jiangsu Province is a frequent guest of Chen's homestay who spends more than one month in the village every year. She also buys specialty agricultural products such as rice and tea. Tourists go sightseeing in Dashan village, Xianyu township, Shitai county in Chizhou city, east China's Anhui Province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Rui) Local villagers, who once worked outside their hometown as migrant workers, also returned home to open their own homestays. "I could earn between 50,000 ($7,250) and 60,000 yuan a year as a migrant worker. After I returned home and started my own homestay business, I can earn three to four times as much as I could in the past," said Xiong Peiqi, a local villager. There are nearly 200 B&B hotels in Dashan village, and the revenue of some of them can reach as high as 300,000 yuan a year. Photo shows Dashan village, Xianyu township, Shitai county in Chizhou city, east China's Anhui Province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Rui) While trying to create a sound environment for local residents, Xianyu township has vigorously developed the tourism industry, with wellness tourism as an important part for boosting tourism and promoting rural revitalization, according to an official of the town. (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) The ritual is always the same. Mario Prushi carefully washes his hands and face before kissing and pressing one of the world's smallest Korans to his forehead. For generations, the postage stamp-sized book has been passed down in his family -- surviving wars and one of the world's most fanatical "godless regimes". Scholars say it is one of the smallest Korans on record, with the minuscule holy book held inside a silver case blackened with age. "We have kept it from generation to generation with absolute dedication," Prushi, 45, told AFP at his home in Tirana. Just two centimetres (0.7 inches) wide and one centimetre thick, the book almost disappears in the palm of Prushi's hand, and it can only be read with a small magnifying glass embedded in its case. The Koran is difficult to date in the absence of scientific analysis, but according to Elton Karaj -- a researcher in Koranic studies at Beder University in Tirana -- the 900-page copy has been around since at least the 19th century. "This Koran was printed in a very small format, one of the smallest in the world. From its appearance, its publication dates back to the end of the 19th century. It is an extraordinary work, very valuable. It is fortunate that this copy is in Albania," said Karaj. - Miraculously preserved - But its size is not the only remarkable thing about the Koran. It is also responsible for converting the Prushi family from Catholicism to Islam. "My great-great-grandparents were digging the ground for a new house in the Djakovica region of Kosovo when they found the perfectly preserved body of a man buried there," said Prushi. "The Koran was found intact laying over his heart." The family took the discovery as a divine sign and embraced Islam. His grandfather, an officer in the army of Albania's King Zog in the 1930s, knew Arabic and would invite friends to his home every night to read verses from it. Story continues Years later, under the communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha -- who completely banned all forms of religion and sent all practicing believers to prison -- the book survived in part because it could be so easily hidden. "Someone had notified the secret police that we had a Koran in our house, but it was so small that my father managed to hide it. The agents moved heaven and earth without finding it," said Prushi. - 'Blessings' - Following the incident, Prushi's father Skender decided to entrust it to friends in neighbouring Kosovo after smuggling it across the border hidden in a lorry full of coal. He only recovered it only after the war in Kosovo in 1999, where it was buried during to save it from the fighting. Prushi then inherited the Koran shortly before his father's death in 2012. "This little book carries so many stories, blessings and miracles. It is very dear to me," said Prushi. "Every time I touch it, I am moved," his wife Blerina told AFP. "When something goes wrong or when our daughter is sick, we feel reassured, we know that the Koran will protect us, it is a real talisman," she added. The family has received numerous offers to buy it, including from museums. "I never think of selling it," said Prushi. "This Koran belongs to our family and it will always stay with us." bme-ev/ds/fg In this June 20, 2017, file photo, the top section of a Confederate statue called "Johnny Reb" is loaded on a truck before being removed from a downtown park in Orlando, Fla. WFTV-TV reported Wednesday, Dec. 6, that the statue now stands in Orlandos Greenwood Cemetery. John Raoux/AP A new bill in Florida would allow citizens to sue for damage to or removal of historical monuments. The bill doesn't mention Confederate statues, but opponents say it is a response to it. The GOP Senator who sponsored the bill said it is meant to protect history. A proposed bill in Florida would give citizens the ability to sue for damage or removal of historical monuments including Confederate statues and monuments across the state. State legislators opposing the bill believe that SB 1096 while not explicitly mentioning Confederate monuments will embolden citizens of the state and any entity with interest in "historic preservation" to hold local governments and any person in the state liable for damage or removal. State Senator Lori Berman, one of two senators who voted against the bill in the state Senate's Community Affairs Committee, told Hyperallergic the bill "is absolutely a response to the removal of Confederate statues, no question." The bill text states that any person or entity that damages, destroys, or removes a monument is liable for triple the cost to return, repair, or replace a monument or memorial, which is defined as anything meant to be "perpetually maintained" and represents a historical event or person. The bill also clarifies in detail that it will also protect monuments dedicated to a historical person or event that "recounts the military service of any past or present military personnel or the past or present public service of a resident of the geographical area comprising this state or the United States of America." GOP Senator Jonathan Martin, who sponsored the bill, and filed it in February, defended it by saying it was meant to preserve history. The newly-elected state senator, endorsed by Ron DeSantis during his 2022 campaign, previously served on the Florida Southwestern State College Board of Trustees. Martin has not previously publicly spoken about Confederate statues but has made headlines for his controversial bills, including banning electric vehicles during emergency evacuations until the state builds more charging stations. Before being elected, the state senator had been investigated for battery but was cleared by prosecutors in August. Story continues "What I like about these memorials in public places is that everybody has the opportunity to see who we were," Martin told the Orlando Sentinel. "The older the monument, the more important it is, because it provides a starting point for what our country began as, who led our country." Over the past few years, a national movement to remove Confederate statues took hold in the US, with proponents of these removals pointing to the statues' ties to slavery. In 2021, Virginia removed the largest Confederate statue in the country to cheers from a crowd. Martin did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider A bipartisan coalition of senators introduced a bill Wednesday that would limit children under 13 years old from using social media and require teens between 13 and 17 years old to have parental consent before joining. The proposal from Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) builds on the growing scrutiny over how social media platforms operate for minors and mirrors some proposals adopted by states. The Protecting Kids on Social Media Act would also prevent social media companies from feeding content using algorithms to users under the age of 18. The proposal would provide the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general with the authority to enforce the provisions of the bill. The lead senators on the bill touted the bipartisan nature of the effort. Murphy said it is one of the most apolitical issues for lawmakers to address. It comes amid support for other kids online safety proposals. Namely, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) advanced with broad support out of the Senate Commerce Committee last year but failed to get a floor vote. Schatz said KOSA is compatible with the new proposal and there is bipartisan momentum to do a suite of things on kids online safety. The tech industry is going to come at this bill and every other kids online safety bill with everything its got, and they are going to come up with individual use cases and scenarios to try and poke holes in this, but the burden of proof is on those who want to protect the status quo because the status quo is making a whole generation of users mentally ill, Schatz said. Tech industry groups immediately pushed back on the legislation. Adam Kovacevich, CEO of the group Chamber of Progress which names Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta among its members said the bill threatens the millions of teens who live in households without supportive parents, for whom online communities are often a refuge. Story continues And the bills prohibition on algorithmically-targeted content would actually make it harder for services to steer teens towards age-appropriate content. We should listen to teens, who are saying that social media is mostly playing a positive role in their lives, he added in a statement. Carl Szabo, vice president and general counsel of NetChoice which names Meta and TikTok among its members said the proposal infringes on Americans constitutionally-protected rights and violates their privacy. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON A group of senators with kids want to keep their children, and all of Americas children, off social media. A new bill from Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) would outlaw social media for kids under age 13 and require parental consent for youth under 18 years old to use social media. The growing evidence is clear: social media is making kids more depressed and wreaking havoc on their mental health. While kids are suffering, social media companies are profiting. This needs to stop, Schatz said in a press release. Cotton, a conservative senator with young children, added: From bullying and sex trafficking to addiction and explicit content, social media companies subject children and teens to a wide variety of content that can hurt them, emotionally and physically. The bills text says social media companies would be required to take reasonable steps beyond merely requiring attestation to verify users age. In other words, it wouldnt be good enough just to ask people to check a box saying theyre 18. But beyond that, the bill leaves it up to companies to use existing age verification technologies to figure out the ages of their users. Civil liberties advocates expressed concerns about First Amendment protections and urged the Senate to focus instead on passing stalled antitrust legislation reining in Big Tech companies like Facebook, Google, Meta, and Amazon. Evan Greer, deputy director of the nonprofit advocacy group Fight for the Future, called the proposed legislation comically unconstitutional and deeply off base. Sen. Rand Paul (R-K.Y.) also said the measure was a bad idea. I dont know how someone would explain the constitutionality of it or whether or not it would be constitutional. I think parents need to be involved with what their kids do on the internet, but I dont know about the government forcing it, Paul told HuffPost. In 2021, the Supreme Court affirmed the right of students to express themselves off school grounds in a case involving Snapchat use by high school students in Pennsylvania. Story continues The Senate proposal is likely intended more as a conversation starter than an actual attempt to make law anytime soon. The senators pointed to significant percentages of teenagers reporting feelings of sadness or hopelessness, saying in a press release that there is a clear link between social media and poor mental health. Murphy told HuffPost in March, as lawmakers were increasingly discussing an outright ban on TikTok over national security concerns, that just banning youngsters from social media would be a challenge. We dont have an age verification system right now that would make that effective, Murphy said, adding that he suspected his kids didnt put in their correct ages when using social media. In his own household, Murphy said he didnt allow his 11-year-old to use social media platforms, but his 14-year-old can. Im living it, Murphy said of his parenting experience. Its not a product thats making any of these kids better human beings. Related... Black Actresses have faced an uphill battle for years, to reach the success and recognition they deserve in Hollywood. The latest example involves Raven Symone and her hit Disney show, Thats So Raven. Another recent example came when Angela Bassett was snubbed by the Academy Awards for a second time. An event that sent Black twitter into a frenzy. From unequal pay, lack of screen time, and being portrayed as the, sassy best friend, Black women in Hollywood face discrimination despite their talents. Shows like Insecure, Grownish, and Girlfriends, fostered inclusivity by making Black women lead characters but some still faced racial inequality. Heres a look at actresses who have spoken out out against Hollywoods racial biases in television. Visibility Not Common At Disney Channel? Say what??! Thats So Raven costar Anneliese Van der Pol reveals that Raven Symone was initially cast as the sidekick on the show due to what she believed was racism. pic.twitter.com/2zZLjsVLRj MEFeater Magazine (@mefeater) April 26, 2023 Black Millennials and Gen-Z knew Raven Symone as the queen of Disney Channel. Thats So Raven became a staple Black sitcom. Her character represented the fantasy and sci-fi genre which wasnt traditionally prevalent in Black television. Symones co-star, Anneliese van der Pol spoke on Christy Carlson Romanos, Vulnerable Podcast, and revealed Symone was not initially cast as the main character. Thats So Raven was originally titled Absolutely Psychic and Symone was set to play the sidekick. Even though producers found a lead character, Symone blossomed on set and the rest was history. Despite Symones success, van der Pol thought it was low-level racism for not envisioning a Black girl as the lead on the show. Had Symone not shown her comical personality that won her the main role, the beloved television series would be nonexistent. Little Black girls in the early 2000s would have been deprived of the representation the series presented. Raven Symone has yet to comment. Story continues Black Women Deserve Equal Pay Photo credit: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images The Archie comic adaptation, Riverdale, became a cult favorite for its eerie, investigative genre. The CW series regular, Vanessa Morgan, has highlighted being the shows only Black character. During the George Floyd protests, Morgan turned to social media and criticized Hollywoods perception of Black talent. Tired of how black people are portrayed in Media, tired of us being portrayed as thugs, dangerous or angry scary people, Morgan wrote on Twitter. Tired of us also being used as sidekick non dimensional characters to our white leads. Morgan also revealed she was the lowest paid member of the shows cast. Her cast-mates supported her in her frustrations and the shows creator apologized to Morgan. The creator promised to do better; however, Morgan has not made a statement to confirm if her pay has increased. Racist Stereotypes On Set Photo credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Boy Meets Worlds was a nostalgic coming-of-age sitcom. Trina McGee was one of the few Black characters on the show. She portrayed Angela Moore. 90s fans loved her feisty but emphatic character. She was involved in an interracial relationship with Shawn Hunter played by Rider Strong. But McGee went public stating one of her cast members called her Aunt Jemima on the show. The racist and microaggressive alleged actions caused Moore and her former colleagues to speak about the incidents. McGee was written out of the series finale. On the Pod Meets World podcast, McGee said her cast-mates were behind her exit. The cast-mates denied the claim but it was later revealed Will Friedle referred to McGee as a historically racist caricature. He later apologized. Youre part of the cast, so that means, Im gonna make fun of you the same way I make fun [of others]. I thought, Gonna make fun of her red hat. Thats as far as my dumbass, privileged mind saw,' he said. Even though McGee accepted the apology she carried decades of pain from racism she faced in showbiz. The post Black Actresses Deserve Equality In Hollywood appeared first on 21Ninety. Black women are trailblazers who can excel wherever they find themselves. Very often, Black women dont get enough credit for their contributions to society. Still, their contributions are undeniable. There are many inspiring Black women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, or STEM, fields. These women are making significant contributions to their respective fields. Here are a few notable examples. Mae Jemison Dr. Mae Jemison is a trailblazing astronaut, engineer, and physician who became the first African American woman to travel to space. On September 12, 1992, Jemison joined NASAs astronaut program in 1987 and made her historic journey aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. During her eight-day mission, she conducted experiments related to life sciences and human adaptation to space. In addition to her illustrious career, Jemison founded the Jemison Group, a technology consulting firm. Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic Aprille Ericsson Dr. Aprille Ericsson became renowned for being the first African American woman to receive a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Howard University. She was also the first African American woman to receive a Ph.D. in engineering at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Throughout her iconic career, Ericsson has contributed significantly to the design and development of various spacecraft and instruments for NASA missions. She is also a strong advocate for diversity in STEM. Photo credit: Brian Stukes/Getty Images Keli Christopher Dr. Keli Christopher is the first Black individual to obtain a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Illinois. She is also the third Black woman, globally, to earn a Ph.D. in this field. Christoper founded STEM Greenhouse. The organizations mission is to present children of color with role models who encourage them to explore STEM careers. Hadiyah-Nicole Green Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green dedicated her career to revolutionizing cancer treatment. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, she overcame significant personal challenges to pursue her passion for science. Green earned her bachelors degree in physics and optics from Alabama A&M University. She went on to receive her Ph.D. in physics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her groundbreaking research focuses on using laser-activated nanoparticles for targeted cancer treatment. This innovative approach has the potential to minimize the harmful side effects commonly associated with traditional cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiation. Story continues Ruha Benjamin Ruha Benjamin is an influential Black woman in STEM. The sociologist, author, and professor at Princeton University, where she specializes in the intersection of race, science, and technology. Her research explores the ways in which innovations can reproduce and exacerbate existing social inequalities. Benjamins work serves as a call to action for the development of more equitable technologies and systems. She has authored several thought-provoking books, including Race After Technology and Peoples Science. Photo credit: Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Unfinished Live The post Black Women in STEM You Should Know appeared first on 21Ninety. Boeing reported a bigger-than-expected quarterly loss Wednesday due to persistent quality control problems with its jets, but shares rallied as it maintained key medium- and long-term targets. The company reported a loss of $425 million, compared with a $1.2 billion loss in the year-ago period, reflecting the continued drag from supply chain issues across its commercial and defense businesses. Boeing's revenues came in at $17.9 billion, up 28 percent from the year-ago period and topping analyst expectations, but under the level of the pre-pandemic 2019 first quarter. The planemaker affirmed its full-year outlook for operating cash flow, a key metric, and for 737 plane deliveries in 2023. Boeing executives also expressed hope of a resumption of new plane deliveries to China after regulators in the huge market released an aircraft evaluation report for the 737 MAX. "We are progressing through recent supply chain disruptions but remain confident in the goals we set for this year, as well as for the longer term," said Chief Executive Dave Calhoun. Boeing's commercial plane program has been beset with various manufacturing and quality control issues that have limited deliveries for its top-selling jets, the 737 and 787. On defense, Boeing disclosed a new $245 million charge of one-time costs connected to the KC-46A Air Force tanker, also related to supplier issues. The most recent issue in the commercial business stems from a supplier part problem on the 737 that will affect near-term deliveries. However, Boeing still expects to increase production of the plane later in 2023 and again in the 2025/26 timeframe, the company said in a press release. The latest 737 issue will mean some planes won't reach airline customers in time for the summer travel season, Calhoun said. "It costs some real money, so apologies everyone," Calhoun said on CNBC, while adding that the company had anticipated some delays when it set earlier targets. Story continues Calhoun said the cadence of the MAX production ramp-up is determined by supply chain challenges rather than demand. He said the current travel market is "in a demand-crazy moment." Costs have also been elevated due to rework needed on undelivered 737 planes that accumulated during the 20-month grounding of the jet following two fatal crashes. Boeing had about 450 planes in storage at one point after the MAX was finally cleared to resume flights in November 2020. The number is currently in the low-200s, Calhoun said. - China deliveries ahead? - While the company's forecasts do not incorporate a resumption of new deliveries to China, "we are working very hard to regain China," Calhoun told analysts on a conference call. Chinese airlines have resumed flights on the MAX after Beijing finally cleared the jets back for service much later than other regulators. However, a hefty portion of the built 737 MAX planes still in inventory were originally intended for China. Those planes have been in limbo. Calhoun said he was encouraged by the recent publication of a 737 evaluation report by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Calhoun has previously suggested that Boeing's prospects were tied to the brittle state of US-China relations, but said Wednesday that the planes will be needed to meet surging demand in the country. "Our customers in my view are going to need more airplanes in the relatively near to medium to term and this is a pretty easy way for them to satisfy that need," Calhoun said. "No geopolitical discussion is actually required here." Third Bridge analyst Christopher Raite described Boeing's report as "mixed," with the company's confirmation of earlier targets and growing backlog of orders offsetting the disappointing bottom-line result. "While Boeing's reported results continue to lag the recovery in the post-Covid aerospace industry, there are several bright spots for the company," Raite said. Shares finished up 0.4 percent at $203.03. jmb/dw (Bloomberg) -- Brazils Jair Bolsonaro told authorities probing the Jan. 8 attacks on the countrys capital that he had already moved on from his election loss by the time the violence erupted, according to his defense team. Most Read from Bloomberg The former president testified to Federal Police on Wednesday as part of its investigation into the insurrection attempt, during which Bolsonaro supporters who refused to accept the result of Octobers contest stormed major government buildings in Brasilia. Bolsonaro has denied responsibility for the riots and told investigators that he had turned the page on his narrow defeat to leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, his attorneys said. The former president stated that the 2022 election is water under the bridge, Daniel Tesser, Bolsonaros lawyer, told reporters after Bolsonaros testimony concluded. From the moment of his defeat, he made a transition, and on December 30 he left the country for a vacation he hadnt taken for four years. Brazils Supreme Court earlier this month ordered Bolsonaro to testify as part of the investigation. Before the election, Bolsonaro had claimed that electronic voting machines were vulnerable to fraud and manipulation, and crowds of his supporters camped outside of military barracks in Brasilia in the weeks between his defeat and the outbreak of violence. Bolsonaro never explicitly conceded his defeat and left Brazil for Florida days before the official end of his term in December. He was in the US during the attacks, which caused significant damage to the presidential palace, supreme court and congress. A second attorney for the former president, Paulo Amador da Cunha Bueno, said Wednesday that Bolsonaro never asserted that the election was rigged against him. He said that Bolsonaro had repudiated the riots the night they occurred, and dismissed Bolsonaros posting of a video questioning the electoral system three days later as an accident. Story continues This video was posted on the presidents Facebook page as he tried to save it to his WhatsApp archive for later viewing, Bueno told reporters, adding that Bolsonaro was under the effect of medication because he had been admitted to a hospital in Orlando with a intestinal obstruction. The probe into the insurrection attempt is just one of the investigations Bolsonaro currently faces in Brazil. Earlier this month, he appeared before the Federal Police to testify in a case involving roughly $3 million of jewelry allegedly gifted to him by the government of Saudi Arabia. Read More: Mysterious $3 Million Jewelry From Saudi Arabia Haunts Bolsonaro Brazils electoral authorities are also investigating Bolsonaros claims about voting machines during a gathering of foreign ambassadors and diplomats in Brasilia last July. Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco on Wednesday launched a separate investigation into the riots, officially approving an inquiry that will be overseen by a panel of lawmakers from both chambers of Brazils legislature. --With assistance from Bruna Lessa. (Updates with additional details and comments from lawyers) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. He bought a budget airline for 30 cents in 2001 and turned it into one of Asia's top budget airlines. Now, he's ready to walk away. AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade Tony Fernandes, one of the most prolific names in Asian aviation, says "good leadership is to know when to go." He doesn't care who replaces him as long as they're competent. He's also non-committal about where he may land next, but says he likes private equity. Tony Fernandes, the CEO whose name is synonymous with AirAsia and cheap flights, is ready to move on. In September 2001, Fernandes bought the AirAsia brand from a Malaysian government-owned conglomerate for the equivalent of 30 cents at the time. He went on to turn it into one of the most popular budget airlines in Asia even offering fares as low as $3 and in some cases for free. At its peak, AirAsia was the fourth-largest airline in Asia, with more than 200 aircraft and 21,000 staff members across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, per its website. But, after the COVID-19 pandemic, Fernandes says the airline's been through "the worst crisis of our life." The company's operations went bankrupt in Thailand and Japan. And he's ready to walk away: "Good leadership is to know when to go," he told Bloomberg in an interview published Tuesday. "Honestly, I don't care where they are from," he told Bloomberg of his successor. "We don't really talk about race, religion, sex, sexual orientation I don't care, as long as you can do the job." Fernandes, 58, stepped down as the group CEO of the airline's long-haul unit AirAsia X in November to focus on Capital A, a rebrand of the AirAsia Group announced in January 2022. And though he's already talking about plans to replace him, Fernandes doesn't know "exactly when I press the button." But he's talking about these succession plans as he wants to "attract the right leaders." Fernandes is also noncommittal about where he may land next. "I like private equity with an active management and helping young people change things," he told Bloomberg. "I believe there's a low-cost model for education and health. These are the two things that discriminate people the most." Story continues Fernandes' impending exit isn't the only major leadership shakeup in the aviation industry. Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo appointed Dutch-carrier KLM's Pieter Elbers to the top job last year. Newly privatized carrier Air India appointed an executive of Scoot, the low-cost arm of Singapore Airlines, as CEO in June. There were also airline executive reshuffling at American Airlines and Southwest Airlines in December. AirAsia did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider By Anthony Boadle BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazil's Congress on Wednesday opened an inquiry into the Jan. 8 storming of key government buildings in the capital by violent demonstrators who denied the electoral victory of the recently inaugurated President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. In a joint session of its two chambers, the parties began selecting the 16 senators and 16 representatives who will sit on the committee, with opposition parties and the government's allies battling to appoint its chair and rapporteur. Lula's Workers Party had tried to avoid the congressional inquiry, hoping to leave investigations to law enforcement and keep lawmakers' focus on his legislative agenda. The right-wing opposition has pushed for an inquiry as a way to blame his new government for security failures in Brasilia that day. The government fears the inquiry will be a political side-show, firing up supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro and distracting from Lula's proposed tax reform and budget rules meant to keep a lid on public debt and boost social programs to address inequality, government allies said. The opposition, which has a strong position in Congress, plans to stack the committee with enough lawmakers to run the hearings and put the minority Lula government on the defensive, according to the right-wing Liberal Party (PL). "We want to chair the committee. Our party wants to know why the government did not deploy police on the streets," said a spokesman for the PL, Bolsonaro's party and the largest in Congress. Representatives proposed by the PL include the former president's son Eduardo Bolsonaro, his former intelligence chief Alexandre Ramagem and Andre Fernandes, who called for the inquiry even though he is being investigated by the Supreme Court for supporting the Jan. 8 storming. The demonstrations are being investigated by the top court, public prosecutors and the federal police in probes that may carry more serious consequences for Bolsonaro and his supporters, 800 of whom face charges for vandalism and defending a military coup. Story continues Bolsonaro, who has denied any responsibility for the storming as he was not in Brazil at the time, was called to testify at federal police headquarters on Wednesday morning. His spokesperson Fabio Wajngarten said the former president condemned the events in his police hearing. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle and Ricardo Brito; Editing by Aurora Ellis and Stephen Coates) BRASILIA (Reuters) - A Brazilian court on Wednesday ordered a temporary suspension in the country of the encrypted messaging app Telegram until it complies with an order to share information on extremist and neo-Nazi groups using the platform. The decision, by Judge Wellington Lopes da Silva in a court in Espirito Santo state also increased a non-compliance fine to one million reais ($197,780) per day. The federal police requested the suspension order after Telegram failed to comply with a previous court decision to handover data about two neo-Nazi groups on the app that were accused of inciting violence in schools. Due to Telegram's non-compliance with the court order, the judge said telecommunications firms in the country should start to suspend access to the messaging service and downloading of the app. Local media reported that the federal police requested the contacts of administrators and members, as well as phone numbers of users from those groups. Telegram only "partially" complied by sending limited information last Friday, according to news website G1. Telegram brands itself as a messaging app focused on speed and privacy and says its special secret chats use end-to-end encryption that is not stored on its servers. The police's request to "end the secrecy" of the groups was made as part of an investigation of attacks by extremists on schools in Brazil in the last few weeks that killed five people. Telegram did not immediately respond to request for comment. Last year, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the suspension of the app, arguing that Telegram had repeatedly refused to adhere to judicial orders to freeze accounts spreading fake news and failed to comply with Brazilian laws. (Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; Writing by Peter Frontini; Editing by Aurora Ellis) Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday denied all involvement in anti-government riots by his supporters in January as he appeared before federal police. The far-right leader is being investigated for his alleged role in masterminding and instigating the riots that sought the overthrow of his successor, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro, who returned to Brazil in late March after spending three months in the US state of Florida, was questioned for more than two hours at the federal police headquarters in Brasilia, but left in a vehicle with tinted windows without speaking to reporters. Shortly afterward, Bolsonaro's spokesman Fabio Wajngarten told the press that the former president had "repudiated all the unfortunate events that happened in Brasilia" on the day of the riot. One reason the investigation was launched was because two days after the riot, Bolsonaro shared a video to social media of a prosecutor contesting the validity of Lula's victory. Bolsonaro's lawyer Paulo Bueno said the president had been under the effect of medication and had just been admitted to hospital when he shared the video. "The sharing was so accidental that he did not mention it afterward and soon deleted it," said Bueno after the hearing. Lula, who previously led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, narrowly beat Bolsonaro in a fractious, divisive election last October. Thousands of Bolsonaro's supporters stormed Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace in Brasilia on January 8, a week after Lula took office. In scenes reminiscent of the January 6, 2021 riots in Washington by supporters of ex-president Donald Trump -- Bolsonaro's political role model -- they trashed offices, smashed windows, vandalized artworks and called for the military to intervene to oust Lula. Some 1,800 people have been arrested. - Numerous investigations - Bolsonaro left Brazil for Florida on December 30, two days before he was due to hand over the presidential sash to Lula. Story continues On January 13, Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes opened an investigation into Bolsonaro's alleged involvement in the January 8 rampage, in which rioters easily broke through a security cordon. A parliamentary committee of inquiry is due to be set up soon in Congress to shed light on the events of January 8. Former army captain Bolsonaro was previously interviewed by police on April 5 in relation to an accusation that he tried to illegally import millions of dollars worth of jewelry gifted by Saudi Arabia. A source close to the former president told AFP that he denied that accusation. Bolsonaro is the subject of at least 16 other investigations in which, if found guilty, he could be sentenced to prison or disqualified from politics. msi/pt/ll/tjj/bc/mlm SAO PAULO (AP) Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gave testimony at the Federal Police headquarters Wednesday about his actions related to the Jan. 8 attacks on government buildings in the capital, Brasilia. One week after his leftist successor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office, Bolsonaro's supporters raided and trashed the buildings of the Supreme Court, Congress and the presidential palace. Hundreds of them are expected to stand trial. Brazil's prosecutor-general. Augusto Aras, said earlier this month that Bolsonaro allegedly encouraged the perpetration of crimes against the rule of law. The former president had left the country after his defeat and was staying in Orlando, Florida during the attacks, and has denied any involvement in them. Bolsonaro had never openly conceded defeat in the closest presidential race since Brazil's return to democracy over three decades ago. He also repeatedly made unfounded claims that sowed doubt about the reliability of Brazil's electronic voting system. Many of his die-hard supporters still believe the election was fraudulent, though there is no evidence. His sworn deposition Wednesday lasted some two hours and is a step forward in just one of the investigations targeting the far-right leader that could render him ineligible for upcoming races or result in jail time. Bolsonaro admitted March 15 that his ineligibility is possible, but said prison could only result from an arbitrary ruling. The former president has denied any wrongdoing in the cases. Upon leaving the police building, Bolsonaro stepped out of his vehicle and offered a smile and thumbs-up to reporters, but referred questions to his lawyers. I miss you, OK? he said. Hugs to everyone. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes granted a request from the prosecutor-general's office to investigate Bolsonaro's role, citing a video the former president posted on Facebook two days after the riot. It claimed Lula wasnt voted into office, but rather was chosen by the Supreme Court and the electoral body, which Justice de Moraes also oversees. Story continues Although Bolsonaro posted the video on Facebook after the riot and deleted it hours later, prosecutors argued its content was sufficient to justify investigating his conduct beforehand. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday outside the police building, Bolsonaro's lawyer Paulo Cunha Bueno said the former president posted it accidentally while hospitalized and medicated, and deleted it once he realized. While Bolsonaro can be viewed as a sort of intellectual mentor of what happened, given that the rioters were his supporters, holding him legally accountable would be challenging, said Mario Sergio Lima, a senior political analyst for Brazil at Medley Global Advisors. Unless you find some kind of WhatsApp audio with some direct order, or maybe if (Bolsonaro's former Justice Minister) Anderson Torres says something, which doesnt seem very likely, Lima said. Much of the attention thus far has focused on Torres, who became the federal districts security chief on Jan. 2, and was in the U.S. on the day of the riot. De Moraes has opened an investigation into Torres, noting that he fired subordinates before leaving the country, and saying that is an indication that he was deliberately laying the groundwork for the unrest. Torres is currently in jail. The former president is expected to give testimony for several other cases regarding actions during his presidency. Earlier this month, the Federal Police questioned him about three sets of diamond jewlery he received from Saudi Arabia. He denies any wrongdoing in that case, too. ___ AP reporter Mauricio Savarese contributed from Sao Paulo. Former Brazilian far-right president Jair Bolsonaro appeared before federal police on Wednesday to testify over anti-government riots by his supporters in January, a police source told AFP. Bolsonaro is being investigated for his alleged role in masterminding and instigating the riots that sought the overthrow of his successor, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro, who returned to Brazil in late March after spending three months in Florida, has always denied his involvement in the riots. Bolsonaro arrived at the federal police headquarters in Brasilia in a vehicle with tinted windows. Lula, who previously led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, narrowly beat Bolsonaro in a fractious, divisive election last October. Thousands of Bolsonaro's supporters stormed Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace in Brasilia on January 8, a week after Lula took office. In scenes reminiscent of the January 6, 2021 riots in Washington by supporters of ex-president Donald Trump -- Bolsonaro's political role model -- they trashed offices, smashed windows, vandalized artworks and called for the military to intervene to oust Lula. Some 1,800 people have been arrested. Bolsonaro left Brazil for Florida on December 30, two days before he was due to hand over the presidential sash to Lula. Just over a week later, his supporters ran riot in Brasilia, having easily broken through a security cordon. On January 13, Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes opened an investigation into Bolsonaro's alleged involvement. Prosecutors released a video showing Bolsonaro contesting the election results, just two days after the riot. A parliamentary committee of inquiry is due to be set up soon in Congress to shed light on the events of January 8. Bolsonaro was previously interviewed by police on April 5 in relation to an accusation that he tried to illegally import millions of dollars worth of jewelry gifted by Saudi Arabia. A source close to the former president told AFP that he denied that accusation. Bolsonaro is the subject of at least 16 other investigations in which, if found guilty, he could be sentenced to prison or disqualified from politics. msi/pt/ll/md/tjj/bc By Catarina Demony and Lisandra Paraguassu LISBON (Reuters) - Brazil's defence minister vowed on Wednesday that the Jan. 8 riots in Brasilia, in which supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed government buildings, would "never happen again". "We didn't believe that could happen," Brazil's defence minister, Jose Mucio, told Reuters in an interview in Portugal's capital Lisbon. "We were all caught by surprise and we paid a heavy price for it." Supporters of far-right Bolsonaro invaded and vandalised Brazil's Congress, the presidential palace and the Supreme Court a week after leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office in January, protesting his victory in the October election and calling for a military coup. Bolsonaro has denied responsibility for the riots which drew comparisons to the 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. There is an ongoing police investigation to identify people who participated in, funded or fostered the riots. Brazil's Congress also is preparing to open an inquiry. Lula's top national security adviser, General Marcos Goncalves Dias, resigned last week after a CNN report included footage of him walking around the presidential palace while a mob ransacked government buildings in Brasilia on Jan. 8. Dias was the chief of Brazil's military-led Institutional Security Cabinet (GSI), an executive cabinet office. 'LACK OF TRUST' Sources close to Lula said Dias did not facilitate the invasion but footage released by CNN Brasil showed other GSI staffers, such as an army captain, distributing water to the invaders. "The discussion now is whether (GSI) should continue with military (in the leadership) or whether it should be a civilian." Mucio said. "We have so many problems...that I wouldn't change it much but this is a personal opinion." "I think you can even change (the leadership) little by little instead of changing it in an abrupt way," he added. "We can change it...later on...so that it doesn't seem like it was a reprisal...or a materialisation of a lack of trust." Story continues Mucio said it was up to Lula to decide. Brazil's Congress has a growing number of retired and even active-duty officers who tout their military or police credentials as part of their law-and-order appeal. Aimed at discouraging the politicisation of security forces, Mucio's ministry has recently made a legislation proposal that would limit military and police officers from running for elected office. "I think it (the legislation) will be approved (by Congress)... it will help to not mix things up," Mucio said "Politics with politicians. The (security) forces with the military." Muciowas in Portugal with other ministers as part of a state visit by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to the Iberian Peninsula, his first to Europe since taking office. (Reporting by Catarina Demony in Lisbon and Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia; Editing by David Gregorio) MADRID (AP) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with Spain's prime minister Wednesday for talks aimed at making progress on an intercontinental trade deal, but his differences with the European Union on the war in Ukraine remained evident. The 27-member EU completed negotiations in 2019 on a wide-ranging trade deal with Mercosur, a South American bloc that includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. But ratification stalled during the presidency of Lula's predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, due to concerns over environmental standards and price protections for European farmers. Lula and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez held a news conference after signing bilateral agreements Wednesday. The warmth between the two left-wing leaders was evident, but their divergent views on Ukraine left a note of tension in the room. There is no doubt that we condemn Russia's violation of Ukraines rights with the invasion, but it is of no use to say who is right or wrong. The war must be stopped, Lula said. He drew a comparison between Russia's actions in Ukraine and wars waged by other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, invoking the United States' invasion of Iraq in 2003 without a United Nations mandate. Earlier this month, Lula irked Western leaders when he said that both Ukraine and Russia had decided to go to war and that U.S. military aid was fueling the conflict. In Spain, Lula reiterated his call for a G-20 of peace, which he envisions as a group of nominally neutral nations that would try to mediate an end to the Ukraine conflict. The U.N. Security Council's permanent members are the ones who sell the most weapons in the world," the Brazilian president said, suggesting that countries like Brazil, Egypt or South Africa were better positioned to mediate. Earlier in his visit, Lula said that peace must be restored in Ukraine because of the war's knock-on effects on global food and fertilizer prices. Story continues He later reassured his Madrid audience of Brazil's commitment to international cooperation, reeling off a list of world leaders he had met with since he began his third non-consecutive term at the beginning of the year, and stating his intention to meet many more. Brazil is back, he said. Sanchez trod a fine line on Ukraine, thanking Lula for his peace proposal but telling the Brazilian leader that in this war, there is an aggressor and a victim, and the aggressor is Putin. The Spanish prime minister added: If we want a fair and long-lasting peace, it is fundamental that the voice ... of Ukraine and its president be heard. Separately, Brazil and Spain are pushing to get the fine print of the Mercosur deal ready for scrutiny by member nations at a joint July 17-18 summit of the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). Spain takes over the EUs rotating presidency in July, and Brazil will simultaneously assume the equivalent role in Mercosur. Sanchez described the CELAC meeting as an excellent opportunity to push the treaty forward, while Lula added: we need to get it done. The Mercosur-EU agreement would integrate a market of around 800 million people that represents about one-forth of the worlds gross domestic product and more than $100 billion in bilateral trade of goods and services. The deal would cut customs duties and ease access for agricultural exporters to the EU market, and for European manufacturers to Mercosur countries. Mario Sergio Lima, a senior political analyst for Brazil at Medley Global Advisors, said Lula's Ukraine comments were not helping the deal's progress. I dont think that this is what will determine the relationship with Europe, but it is something that rather complicates the conversations," he told The Associated Press. "Its reversible, but Brazil should try to distance itself as much as possible from the Russia issue. Following meetings with Spanish business leaders on Wednesday, Lula also made sure to promote his longstanding links with the country's trade unions, and tweeted a photo with a delegation from the main UGT union. He was hosted by Spain's King Felipe VI for a lunch at the royal palace and was due to return to Brazil on Wednesday afternoon. - Martins reported from Sao Paulo By the time a homeowner who buys a house today pays off a typical mortgage, there is a good chance they will live in a different climate one threatened by stronger winds, more frequent floods and bigger wildfires. For the last two years, homeowners have been able to track those risks on their individual properties through tools created by the nonprofit First Street Foundation. Now what started as an attempt to help Americans visualize the practical impacts of climate change has become a big business in its own right. As part of a broader attempt to visualize future climate risk, insurance companies, federal mortgage managers and consumer financial authorities are partnering with First Street Foundation to bolster the U.S. economy against the rising risk of extreme weather. Climate exposure represents a serious threat to the U.S. housing market, which may be overvalued by more than $200 billion dollars, according to First Street data published in Nature. On Wednesday, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation better known as Freddie Mac was the latest to announce that it would join dozens of other federal and private companies in using First Street data to evaluate climate risk to the properties it helps finance. With more than 30 federal clients including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Reserve and integrations with realty sites Realtor.com and Redfin, First Streets data seeks to bring the financial impacts of climate change home. Thats an inherently tough thing to grapple with, founder Matthew Eby told The Hill. Climate change is this amorphous issue. Its like, the atmosphere is one degree warmer what does that mean? That ambiguity stymies policy action even as public concerns over climate change have gone mainstream, Eby argued. If you understand the science and you talk to the scientists, everyone is very concerned but when you get to individuals which is how policy is made in this country no one thinks its going to impact them personally. Story continues First Street grew out of an early-2000s attempt to change that. The projects first iteration connected the impacts of sea level rise on the price of housing. Housing was a practical choice because a house is for the vast majority of Americans their most valuable asset, Eby said. That first study found coastal homes in the proximity of tidal flooding were appreciating much more slowly than others that were less threatened even during the houses-gone-wild period of the early 2000s. That provided the model for a very successful business based on providing actionable data to everyone from institutional investors and the federal government to individual homeowners. (To use the free tool to check a propertys risks, click here.) Framing the problem in terms of home values also allowed a practical mechanism for thinking decades in advance. A mortgage typically lasts 30 years, even though few people hold properties that long. From that perspective, climate change goes from a theoretical problem however apocalyptically it may be framed to a practical one. For homeowners, no longer is it a thing that might impact my kids, Eby said. Its changing the valuation on my property right now. From an initial study of tidal flooding in the Miami area, they expanded to Florida, the coastal states, and then to the U.S. as a whole. By that point, Ebys ambitions had grown. He and his team envisioned a tool that would allow anyone in the U.S. to identify their flood risk today and how it would change over the next 30 years from sea level rise, changing rainfall patterns and the greater storm surge of the futures more powerful hurricanes. Nothing like that existed at the time. The closest approximation was the hundred-year flood zone maps put out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which determines who is required by law to buy flood insurance. That federal dataset had known limitations, Ibrahim Almufti, a principal at the global sustainable development consultancy Arup which now collaborates with First Street told The Hill. It was built on past patterns, not future climate modeling meaning it was based on the inherent assumption that the floods of the future would be like those of the past. It didnt incorporate flooding from sudden storms, like the deadly floods that scoured eastern Kentucky last July. And even for properties and zones it did cover, the FEMA data gave a yes-no chance of flooding, without information about how deep floodwaters were likely to get. The difference between half a foot of flooding and five feet of flooding is enormous, right? Almufti said. The difference between those two has important implications for risk modeling, Almufti added. First also captured risks to surrounding infrastructure roads, wastewater treatment, parks, schools. To build a more complete map, which they called Flood Factor, First Street enlisted more than 80 scientists from nonprofits and universities, who published their research in top journals like Nature. Their findings were stark: nearly twice as many homes nationwide were exposed to serious flooding than FEMA had predicted. In other words, they identified about 6 million flood-prone houses that FEMA had missed homes whose owners largely didnt carry flood insurance, because they had no idea they needed it. That round of findings made the front page of the New York Times and Washington Post, and brought First Street and Flood Factor to the attention of the engineering, housing and finance sectors that were beginning to grapple with the financial costs of climate change. For example, FEMA data had largely missed the danger of flooding to the Chicago area, a city defined by a complex hydrologic tug-of-war between its sewer system, the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. The First Street flood data was the most interesting thing, said Emily Westendorf of Fifth Third bank, which writes a lot of mortgages in the [Chicago] area. You just learn things that you never even thought of. There was an additional practical benefit, Westendorf said: for these at-risk areas that FEMA didnt catch, Fifth Third could not easily require home buyers to purchase flood insurance a potentially discriminatory practice called blue-lining. But they could show them the First Street predictions, which led most buyers to purchase insurance of their own accord. First Street (now a revenue-generating vendor, rather than a donor-funded research project) expanded from the flood data. In the summer of 2022, they released Fire Factor, the first national map that allowed homeowners or buyers to easily visualize their risk from wildfire uncovering 6 million properties with a 1 in 7 chance of experiencing a wildfire over the next 30 years. Later that summer, they released Heat Factor, which found that the number of Americans living in counties that would experience temperatures above a (potentially lethal) 125 degrees Fahrenheit would reach 107.6 million by 2053 up from about 8.1 million today. And this February, they found that by 2053, hurricane winds would threaten 13.4 million properties that currently dont experience such risks. Many of the newly threatened houses would be unexpectedly deep into the interior of the Midwest, Appalachia and the Ohio Valley, First Street chief data officer Ed Kearns told The Hill. Unexpected danger, Kearns argued, meant magnified danger: People in Tennessee or Kentucky arent expecting hurricane conditions, so theyre not prepared for them. People also didnt really understand that that danger was largely set, no matter what climate actions we take today at least over the 30-year time scale, Kearns added. This is one of the hardest things to communicate to people, Kearns said: for the impacts over the next 30 years, the train has left the station. The world after 2050 will look dramatically different depending on decisions made today as the rising dangers of First Street catalogs could have been lessened by aggressive climate action in the 1990s or 2000s, as scientists began sounding the alarm. That fixed near-term path has helped guide some climate responses while stymieing others. For actuaries and financiers, the new data, from First Street and others, has led to heightened interest in how they can avoid or profit off future dangers and migrations. They care about where people are going so that they can start building the next housing market and the next developments that need to go with it so that they can make money off that, Eby said. And it is also leading regulators in the federal government, at agencies from the Securities and Exchange Commission to the Office of Comptroller of the Currency, to begin requiring banks and lenders to audit and defray their climate risks. But for all its financial success, and as much as the climate conversation in America has changed in the two decades since First Street launched, the company hasnt cracked the larger question of how to make people and policymakers care enough about the data to make different choices. Instead, institutions are adapting themselves to their near-term map of the future, rather than creating a long-term different one. No individual action is going to solve this. It has to be policy-driven and government-driven for [global heating] to be mitigated, Eby said. Even as modeling and financial regulation are improving, and despite massive stimulus spending on clean energy, the long delay between action and effect between a livable or a horrifying back half to the 21st Century keeps climate policy stuck in the same Catch-22 it was in the 2000s, he argued. You need public support for the government to take action but then the public is going to say, what do you mean? For something thats 30 years down the line? he said. If there has ever been a marketing problem, this is a heck of one to try and sort out. This story was updated at 2:50 pm ET. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Two sites have been named as the first places to benefit from a 38m scheme aimed to increasing rainforests in the British Isles. The Wildlife Trusts (WT) said its Atlantic rainforest recovery programme hoped to restore the ecosystems, which now cover less than 1% of the islands. The Isle of Man's Creg y Cowin and Bryn Ifan near Wales' Llyn Peninsula will be the first sites worked on by the WT. WT's Rob Stoneman said the areas would provide vital habitat and store carbon. The organisation said rainforests were defined as areas of tall trees that attract a high and consistent level of annual rainfall. It said native tree species would be planted on 70 acres (28 hectares) at the Manx site at East Baldwin, with a further 20 acres (8 hectares) being left to regenerate naturally. It said it hoped the area, which was currently being used as agricultural land, would eventually see the return of birds such as wood warblers, pied flycatchers and redstarts. Manx Wildlife Trust's Leigh Morris said the remnants of ancient woodland on the island were "crucially important" and it was "fantastic" the island would now be in "the vanguard of bringing temperate rainforests back on a big scale". Across the Irish Sea, North Wales Wildlife Trust will work to establish more than 100 acres (40 hectares) of rainforest on the coastal slopes of Bwlch Mawr through native planting and natural regeneration. The WT said the resulting improvement of wetlands nearby was expected to help rare species such as the marsh fritillary butterfly. Mr Stoneman said the sites would "provide vital habitat for wildlife in a time of nature crisis, store vast amounts of carbon, and benefit local communities for generations to come". "Restoring this gorgeous habitat will also allow adaptation to climate change, reduce threats from extreme heat, flood and drought, and enable local people to reap the benefits," he added. Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and Twitter? You can also send story ideas to IsleofMan@bbc.co.uk Skeletal remains found burned in the woods were identified as a man ambushed in an abandoned home, officials said. Daniel Altman was found dead a week after he was reported missing in Georgetown County, South Carolina. The 25-year-old is remembered as a man who loved his job and was not afraid of hard work. Daniel enjoyed riding in his car, spending time with friends, hunting, fishing, and going to the beach, according to an obituary on the Mayer-Ethridge Funeral Home & Crematorium website. But Altmans life was cut short April 11 when he reportedly was lured to a place where he thought he was meeting a Tinder match for a sexual encounter. But the dating app profile was fake, and three men ambushed him and shot him several times, according to the Williamsburg County Sheriffs Office. Now, three people are charged with murder in the case. Deputies in a news release didnt list attorney information for the men, identified as 18-year-old Marquise Tyron Mitchum, 19-year-old Jakiel Treyvon Chattine and his older brother 20-year-old Javon Armel Chattine. After Altman was shot and killed at an abandoned home in the town of Kingstree, the three men burned the victims body in a nearby wooded area, deputies wrote. The group is accused of stealing Altmans vehicle and his other possessions. Then a week later, human remains were found in the patch of woods in Kingstree. The remains were identified as Altman, though an autopsy report was pending as of April 26, Williamsburg County Coroner Ivori Henryhand told McClatchy News in a phone interview. Altman, a cook at a Texas Roadhouse restaurant, had been missing since Georgetown County deputies said he was last seen at his home on April 11. This was not like Daniel so we knew something had to have happened to him for him to not come home, his sister, Caroline Altman, told GAB News, adding that family members didnt know why he was chosen as a target. Daniel had a network of friends and he would have done anything for them, his mother, Lee Creel, told the news outlet. And, I think they would have done the same for him. Story continues After Altmans vehicle was involved in a chase, the sheriffs offices reportedly discovered that Mitchum and another person had been driving it. The investigation further revealed that Marquise Mitchum was in possession of the victims debit card and provided the debit card to Javon Chattine in an effort to retrieve $100 out of an ATM, officials wrote. In addition to murder, the three men face multiple charges, including destruction or removal of human remains and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. A fourth person, who was accused of driving Altmans car, is charged with possession/sell/disposal of a stolen vehicle, the Williamsburg County Sheriffs Office said. A homicide investigation continues, and anyone with information is asked to call Williamsburg County deputies at 843-355-6381. People also can share details with Crime Stoppers at 888-274-6372, peedeeswanted.com or on a mobile application called P3 Tips. Kingstree is roughly 70 miles north of Charleston. Human remains in shallow grave may belong to man missing since 2015, SC officials say Student mysteriously vanished from SC college town. What we know 25 years later Charred human remains found in trunk during search of abandoned vehicle, NC cops say The cafe spot inside the FireWorx building at 500 S. Topeka has been empty since February, when Sunflower Espressos owners decided to shut down both their cafe, which theyd opened in the building in March 2021, and their mobile coffee bus, which opened in 2014. But soon, a strange new cafe will be taking over the space which is on the ground floor of the FireWorx coworking building in the old fire station at 500 S. Topeka and its owners are also food truckers who decided they wanted to expand into a bricks-and-mortar spot. In a few weeks, the owners of food trailer Paranormal Eggsperience, which hit the streets of Wichita in March 2020, will take over the space and open a coffee shop called Paranormal Cafe. Paranormal Cafe is taking over the old cafe space in the FireWorx coworking space at 500 S. Topeka that Sunflower Espresso vacated in February. The cafe will be an offshoot of the truck, whose theme reflects the owners obsession with aliens, ghosts and cryptids. The trucks menu items have names like Bigfoot Burrito, Chalupacabra, Eggsorcist, Poultrygeist and more. Grace Doukali who is a partner in the business with Brian Armitage and Daniel Niemeyer said that the 400-square-foot cafe spot will serve a full menu of espresso drinks. The Paranormal Eggsperience Truck will be parked right outside the cafe on weekdays, and customers will be able to get the food trailers breakfast burritos, breakfast sandwiches, loaded breakfast tots and more from the truck. (The owners are working on a method where customers will be able to order both coffee and food at the same time.) There are some things were still working out, Doukali said. The truck has occasionally offered lunch specials in the past, but when the cafe opens, the owners plan to expand their lunch offerings. The Paranormal Eggsperience food trailer has been a regular presence at the Kansas Grown Farmers Market at 21st and Ridge since November 2020, and the trailer will continue to serve there on Saturday mornings. That means it wont be at the cafe that day, but Doukali said shes planning to add several baked goods to the cafes menu, and those will be available on Saturday mornings. Story continues The Paranormal Eggsperience food trailer will sell food items outside the new Paranormal Cafe Mondays through Fridays. Pictured here are co-owners Brian Armitage, far right, and Grace Doukali, second from left. Also pictured are Doukalis daughters, who work for the trailer: Ranya, far left, and Maryam, second from right. The owners, who are friends with Sunflower Espressos former owners Kate Hutchens and Michelle Barrett, said they started hearing that the spot may be opening up and talked to them about taking it over. The Paranormal Eggsperience owners had long wanted to expand, and at one point, they even contemplated getting a second truck. Eventually, we realized that weve kind of plateaued with what our truck can do because weve been so busy, and the truck can only hold so much, Doukali said. They also looked at a few other brick-and-mortar spots, but nothing felt right. And then this happened, Doukali said. The owners are planning to remove the stand-up benches Sunflower Espresso put along the edges of the tiny space and add a few small tables so that people can hang out inside, talk and play board games. The space also has a decent-sized patio, which will also have seating. The cafes hours will be 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Itll open Saturdays just for coffee and baked goods, and the owners are also contemplating adding evening hours on the weekends. Stay tuned for an official opening day for Paranormal Cafe, which should be around the second week of May. Zahra Hassan is a middle school teacher whose viral outfits have taken over TikTok. Images via TikTok/@misswondroussoul. Zahra Hassan is proud to be part of a new generation of stylish teachers. Hassan who goes by @misswondroussoul online is taking social media by storm as she documents her unique workwear style on TikTok. As a result, the Canadian teacher is making a name for herself as one of the country's most relatable and fashion-forward educators. The Etobicoke, Ont.-based middle school teacher frequently posts day-in-the-life vlogs, and "What I wear as a teacher" content on TikTok. In fact, Hassan says that her students were the initial inspiration behind creating a TikTok account. "Students would compliment my outfits every day until [they] suggested I create a TikTok account to showcase my teacher outfits," Hassan tells Yahoo Canada. "I started recording my outfits before school in my new classroom, and then the first video I posted went viral overnight." In what seemed like an overnight success story, Hassan initially felt overwhelmed when things all started happening at once. "I woke up to endless notifications," the 28-year-old says. "But, after that, seeing my fashion TikToks go viral was cool because it shows that you can be professional and comfortable and still have a great sense of style." In addition to her fashion, Hassan says that she enjoys using TikTok as a way to connect with others about the importance of representation in the classroom. "I love sharing my perspective as a Black Muslim educator in a field where there aren't many of us," Hassan says. "I love it when young people in high school or university message me and tell me that my page is why they decided to pursue a teaching career." @misswondroussoul TikTok (Photo via TikTok) Hassan is also passionate about using her platform as a way to share the day to day realities of being a teacher "who loves what they do." "So many people perceive teaching as an 'easy' job because we have holidays and summers off," she says. "In contrast, with these vlogs and videos, [I hope] my audience sees the amount of effort, time, and hard work that goes into being a teacher." Story continues TikTok has even become a way for Hassan to give back to her community, as she frequently highlights the work of organizations like Smile for Sache, located in Toronto, and the Fikia Dada Rescue Centre in Kenya, where she volunteers. "I am a person of service, and I love creating content that allows people around the world to [learn about] great organizations that tie back to the importance of education," she says. Since joining TikTok in 2020, Hassan has grown her platform to more than 73,000 followers, with her videos earning more than 2.6 million likes to date. She admits to feeling "grateful" for the love she's been receiving online, as well as the opportunity to connect with others. "Many of the comments on my videos were from people who kept saying if they had a teacher that looked like me, they would have enjoyed learning and coming to class," Hassan says. "It's fascinating the love I was receiving for just doing my job and having fun infusing my passion for fashion at the same time." Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. The now-notorious violent youth riot in downtown Chicago during a recent weekend got me to thinking of a press conference way back in 2010. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley voiced frustration about what he said were large groups of suburban kids causing trouble on Chicagos lakefront, even though plenty of Chicago kids were also participating, including six teens who brutally attacked an 18-year-old suburban woman. Daley complained that the youths would text each other to organize their mayhem. Three years later, downtowns problems with unexpected group violence hadnt gotten any better. So, then-Gov. Pat Quinn held a splashy press conference on Michigan Avenue to sign a bill sponsored by then-Sen. Kwame Raoul and then-Rep. Christian Mitchell which doubled the prison sentences (to 6 years) for those who use social media to incite organized mob violence. We dont want flash mobs harming anyone, anywhere, but especially where many people come from other states, other countries, Quinn said. Their promised crackdown never materialized. However, that penalty enhancement is still in state law books. Illinois has also had a statute on its books since 1969 known as the Parental Responsibility Law. Parents and guardians can be sued for actual damages for the willful or malicious acts of such minor which cause injury to a person or property. Damages under 740 ILCS 115 are recoverable up to $20,000. The law has only rarely been used. Ed Yohnka at the Illinois ACLU told me that his group was not aware of a specific constitutional deficiency with the law, and said the courts long have recognized that one can be held responsible for the actions of others based on specific legal relationships, and recognized the authority of state legislatures to make parents responsible for the torts of their minor children. Yohnka did say that the law was bad policy, partly because impoverished parents would be hurt the most. Many of these families are struggling to make ends meet in communities that lack services and resources that help support strong families. Story continues The state and the City of Chicago also spend millions of dollars a year, and plan to spend much more, on violence prevention programs. In the past, violence interrupters have described being overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of young people breaking the law during the flash mobs or trends or whatever you want to call them. Last week, we barely heard from anyone in that sector about how they helped during the weekend violence or how they can help in the future if properly deployed. In 2019, WBEZ actually went out and talked to some of the kids who were causing some of the disruptions. The youths understandably complained that parks and recreational facilities in their own neighborhoods on the South and West Sides were decrepit. There is usually vandalism over the swings, over the slides, there is usually broken material there is trash and there is a lot of people soliciting, according to Tyrianna Rodgers, who was on a girls-only afternoon in downtown at the time. It just doesnt look like the place where you would send your kids and say OK, You could chill here. Four years later, many of those facilities are still a disgrace. The public radio station also reported at the time that Chicago police were bragging about their ability to monitor the online organization of what are now called trends, which the station defined as large teen-led gatherings that are particularly popular among Black teens. Yet, CBS 2 reported last week that the Chicago PD had no clue how the mob violence was organized. And credible reports have emerged since then about police ignoring calls for assistance. There are really two points here. The first is that all those loud folks pretending that the violence is somehow a new and mysterious thing and a fresh test for a mayor-elect who hasnt even been sworn in yet really ought to take a breath. The second is that law enforcement and local leaders have been given plenty of legal, investigatory and prevention tools (and there are more than just those listed above) to address these issues, but those leaders appear to be allowing those tools to just rust away in a drawer somewhere. Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) had it absolutely right when he complained that nobody has a plan to deal with the violence and that nobody has had a real plan since he was a teen. That has to change! Rep. Buckner rightly roared on social media. Yes, it does. And it starts with the people in authority doing their actual jobs. Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com. This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Capitol Fax: Youth riot shows it's time for officials to do their jobs MILWAUKEE (AP) Victor Caratini and rookie Joey Wiemer homered to back Freddy Peralta, leading the Milwaukee Brewers over the Detroit Tigers 6-2 on Wednesday to avoid a series sweep and stop a three-game losing streak. Detroit shortstop Javier Baez, who entered with a 10-game hitting streak, left in the first inning after being struck on the left hand by a 93 mph Peralta pitch. The Tigers said Baezs hand was bruised and X-rays were negative. Peralta (3-2) allowed a pair of unearned runs and four hits over six innings with a season-high eight strikeouts and no walks. He rebounded from a pair of poor outings in which he gave up nine earned runs in 10 2/3 innings. Bryse Wilson, Hoby Milner, Peter Strzelecki and Devin Williams finished a six-hitter. Today, I got some different results and Im happy about it, Peralta said. I went home last night thinking about it, like, I need to do my best tomorrow to bring a win after two losses. And finally, we got it." Michael Lorenzen (0-1), making his third start, gave up five runs and seven hits in five innings. He threw 100 pitches, 63 for strikes. A hundred pitches in five is pretty embarrassing, to be honest," Lorenzen said. "I have to figure it out. Lorenzen said he tried to convince manager A.J. Hinch to allow him to remain in the game. I was hoping to be able to go more," he said. Milwaukee took a 3-0 lead in the first when Christian Yelich was hit by a pitch, Jesse Winker walked, Rowdy Tellez hit an RBI double and Brian Anderson added a two-run single. Caratini added a two-run homer in the third for a 5-0 lead. Playing with a lead, I think any time you can do that it puts everyone at ease a little bit, Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. Counsell had high praise for Caratini, the backup to Milwaukee's normal starting catcher William Contreras, who is hitting .321 as a starter this season. You feel like when you put Vic out there, hes going to take control of the game, and hes adding something offensively, he said. Thats a real luxury." Story continues After Anderson misplayed Nick Maton's fly to right for an error in the fourth, Detroit scored a pair of unearned runs on the first of Akil Baddoo's two doubles and Jake Rogers' run-scoring single. Wiemer homered against Tyler Holton in the eighth. ROSTER MOVE Milwaukee recalled RHP Tyson Miller from Nashville and optioned LHP Alex Claudio to the Triple-A affiliate. TRAINERS ROOM Brewers: RHP Gus Varland is to begin a rehab assignment Thursday night with Class A Wisconsin vs. Beloit. Varland has been on the 15-day IL since April 16 with a bruised right hand. OF Tyrone Taylor (right elbow sprain) started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday night and went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, including a run-scoring triple, against Omaha. GUARANTEED GAMES: The Tigers have played 11 of their first 14 road games in stadiums with permanent or retractable domes. Guaranteed games are good this time, Hinch said. The opponents have been hard because the teams that play in domes are good. But its been nice to know that you are coming to the ballpark and playing. We dont want to kick a game down the road any more times than we have to. Ive obviously been happy with the lack of disruption, other than the two (postponed) games at home. CABRERA CHEESEHEAD Detroit's Miguel Cabrera, was plans to retire at the end of the season, was presented by the Brewers with a $5,000 check to his charitable foundation. Cabrera donned a foam cheesehead for a brief ceremony before his final scheduled game in Milwaukee. UP NEXT Tigers: LHP Joey Wentz (0-3, 7.56 ERA) gets the start in the opener as Detroit hosts Baltimore for a four-game series. RHP Kyle Gibson (4-0, 3.60) will pitch for the Orioles. Brewers: Milwaukee hosts the Anaheim Angels for a three-game series starting Friday night. LHP Wade Miley (3-1, 1.96) will start the first game for Milwaukee. Miley is 5-1 with a 3.30 ERA in eight starts against the Angels. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Editors Note: Copyright, Project Syndicate. The following article was published by Project Syndicate on April 21, 2023, and has been republished by the Kyiv Independent with permission. The opinions expressed in our op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. STOCKHOLM Floridas Republican governor, Ron DeSantis a prospective U.S. presidential candidate recently created a stir by describing Russias war of aggression against Ukraine as a mere territorial dispute that does not bear on Americas core strategic interests. Following immediate, heavy criticism and a drop in his approval numbers, DeSantis sought to roll back his remarks. But the argument remains in circulation, and DeSantis is hardly the only one peddling it. History can help us sort out whether there is any merit to DeSantiss description of the conflict. Did Adolf Hitler have a territorial dispute with Poland when he launched his blitzkrieg against his neighbor in September 1939? Hitler himself sometimes framed matters in these terms, such as when he spoke of his duty to protect German speakers in Poland. But such rhetoric was always just a smokescreen to divert attention from the real objective. Hitler wanted to eliminate the independent Poland that had re-emerged after World War I, thereby paving the way for Germanys eastward expansion. One should always be careful with historical parallels, of course; but the similarities between Hitler in 1939 and Russian President Vladimir Putin today are obvious. Where Hitler expressed concern for German speakers in Danzig, Putin does the same for Russian speakers in Donbas. In both cases, no one is fooled. Putin has stated explicitly that he sees Ukraine as comprising historically Russian lands, and that Vladimir Lenin made a profound political mistake by allowing a Ukrainian state to emerge after World War I. (He might also have condemned Joseph Stalin, who allowed Soviet Ukraine to be a founding member of the United Nations after World War II.) Story continues Russias centuries-long quest to conquer Ukraine Editors Note: This is episode 2 of Ukraines True History, a video and story series by the Kyiv Independent. The series is funded by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting within the program Ukraine Forward: Amplifying Analysis. The program is financed by the MATRA Programme of the Embassy o Kyiv IndependentIgor Kossov Putin wants all this history rolled back. His goal is to eliminate Ukraine as a nation-state by transforming it into a mere administrative region within a wider Russian empire. The Russian czars of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries are his models, and their wars of conquest are his inspiration. Any doubts about the Kremlins intentions have been put to rest by Putins cronies and political allies. Consider Dmitry Medvedev. A former Russian president who now serves as deputy chairman of the National Security Council, he has declared that a sovereign Ukraine is not needed by anyone on the planet, and therefore will cease to exist once Russia is done with it. Echoing Putin, Medvedev argues that Ukraine is made up of artificially cut territories, many of which are indigenously Russian, separated by accident in the twentieth century. His conclusion is stark: We dont need unterukraine. We need Big Great Russia. Such unhinged rhetoric would not be tolerated if it did not reflect the position of Putin and the rest of his inner circle on the matter. Medvedevs Big Great Russia did exist at one point. Others at the time called it by a different name: the prison of nations. Following the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917, Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania seized the opportunity to secure their independence. And though Ukrainians aspired to do the same, they were crushed by the ensuing Bolshevik violence. To treat the Kremlins clearly articulated project of recreating Big Great Russia as a territorial dispute is a misjudgment of historic proportions. Russia has violated another UN member states territorial integrity in an effort to wipe it off the map. To allow the Kremlin to benefit from this grave offense against international peace could undermine the entire global order. The core principles upon which the UN rests are being directly challenged, and in a way that will open the door for other states with imperial ambitions or festering grievances to swallow their smaller and weaker neighbors. We risk descending into a world ruled by the law of the jungle, where might makes right. DeSantis and any other politician who doubts that the West has an interest in Ukraines future should reflect on what is really at stake. They would do well to read Medvedev and other Russian leaders own statements on the matter, lest they fall into the same trap as the appeasers of the late 1930s. This is no territorial dispute. This is a war for the world order as we know it. Cary High School is in line to get more than $100 million in renovations by continuing to delay construction of a new high school in Raleigh. The Wake County school board approved changes Tuesday to its seven-year, rolling school construction program, including putting more money into renovations by adding Cary High to the plan. The board also approved a resolution asking the Wake County Board of Commissioners to fund the $2.7 billion, seven-year plan. Details about what would be funded in the Cary High renovation are still to be determined. But the plan calls for the work to be done in 2031. Last year, Wake revised the building program to add a major high school renovation. Athens Drive High School in Raleigh narrowly beat out Cary High for inclusion. The funding comes from money set aside for construction of a long-planned high school that has yet to be built. The school board bought the site of the former Bobby Murray Chevrolet car dealership on Capital Boulevard in Raleigh in 2016 with plans to build a small high school there. Douglas Congdon, program executive for Facilities Design & Construction, told the board that staff recommends diverting money from the Bobby Murray site because a defined academic program for the future school has not been established. More focus on renovations Growth has slowed in recent years in Wake, leading the school district to shift more money from new construction to renovation projects. In addition to funding Cary High, renovations of four more schools may be added to the later years of the seven-year plan. Those schools havent been picked yet. In 2016, the school board and commissioners agreed to change how school construction projects are handled. Instead of relying on three-year or four-year programs funded by school construction bond referenda, they agreed to adopt a longer seven-year plan. The seven-year plan is updated annually and is paid for by a mixture of general-obligation bonds that require voter approval and limited-obligation bonds that commissioners can approve on their own. In July 2022, a 40-year-old laborer fell to his death while performing demolition on an old hotel in State College without employer-provided fall protection. A month later, a 19-year-old technician employed with Centre WISP was installing high-speed internet cable at a work site in Gregg Township. The bucket he worked in made contact with overhead power lines and he was fatally electrocuted. Federal safety investigations that followed determined the employers failed to implement work practices that complied with OSHA regulations and could have better protected the two employees. Sadly, workplace deaths are an all-too-common occurrence in the U.S. Since these tragic incidents last year, an additional 17 workers have lost their lives at work sites located in the 14 counties covered by OSHAs Harrisburg Office, which includes Centre County. These numbers remind us of the dangers many workers face. Behind these numbers, there are people who mourn each loss. For them, these statistics are loved ones: theyre parents, children, siblings, relatives, friends, or co-workers. For those left behind the day their loved one was lost becomes a sad remembrance. Graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special times are forever tainted. To pay tribute to those whose jobs claimed their lives, April 28 is Workers Memorial Day. An opportunity for us to pause and join those families, friends, and co-workers to recall those who suffered work-related injuries and illnesses. The remembrance also recognizes the grief that their survivors face in the days, months and years after. Workers Memorial Day also reminds us that more must be done to prevent workplace deaths and injuries. For those of us at the U.S. Department of Labor and, specifically, its Occupational Safety and Health Administration, this annual commemoration reinforces our commitment to developing and enforcing standards and initiatives to safeguard workers and guide employers as they work to provide safe workplaces. Story continues Remember, we all have a role to play in making sure our nations workplaces do not endanger our safety and health. If you see people exposed to workplace dangers, dont ignore your concerns. Alert the employer or contact your local OSHA office or law enforcement agency. Demand that the stores you frequent, the companies that get your business, and those you hire dont endanger the people they employ. If they wont, take your business to those who respect their workers rights to a safe and healthy workplace, and who dont put profit ahead of the lives of the people who help them earn it. On Workers Memorial Day 2023, lets remember those who didnt return home after work and commit ourselves to making sure that no one is forced to trade their life for a paycheck. Kevin Chambers is the director of the U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration Area Office in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Metroplex is getting a seventh Cheesecake Factory restaurant in time for Christmas. State records filed this week show the company plans to start building a $6 million new location in The Shops at Highland Village, which is in Denton County near Flower Mound, Lewisville and Argyle. The restaurant will replace Barnes & Noble Booksellers in the outdoor shopping center. It which will join other Cheesecake Factory locations in downtown Fort Worth, Southlake, Arlington, North Dallas, Allen and Frisco. The notice filed with the state says the new Cheesecake Factory will go into an existing building. The address is 4100 Deer Creek, Suite 100, which is currently the Barnes & Noble Booksellers. The shopping center also has a Whole Foods and the AMC Highland Village 12 movie theater. Barnes & Noble confirmed Wednesday that it will be vacating its current space in the shopping center. We are actively looking for a new location and hope to find one soon, a Barnes & Noble spokesperson said. In the meantime we are open for business and trading as normal in the store. A rep for The Shops at Highland Village did not immediately respond to the Star-Telegram. The new Cheesecake Factory will be 11,370 square feet, which would be more than 2,000 square feet bigger than the Sundance Square location in downtown Fort Worth that opened in late 2014. The company has 18 restaurants in Texas and 318 throughout the U.S and Canada, including its North Italia brand. What are Fort Worths best Southeast Asian restaurants? Nominate for Readers Choice. CHICAGO The Chicago Cubs placed outfielder Cody Bellinger on the paternity list. Bellinger and his girlfriend welcomed their second child, a baby girl. The 27-year-old Bellinger is off to a strong start in his first year with Chicago, batting .300 with five homers and 15 RBIs in 21 games. The 2019 NL MVP finalized a one-year, $17.5 million contract with the Cubs in December. The Cubs also recalled outfielder Nelson Velazquez from Triple-A Iowa. He was in the starting lineup for the opener of a three-game series against San Diego. The team also announced that right-hander Kyle Hendricks will make a rehab start with Iowa. Hendricks is coming back from a right shoulder strain. He hasnt pitched in a big league game since July 5. Hendricks is known more for his command and deception, but Cubs manager David Ross said he has been throwing the ball a little harder during his comeback. Hes touched 90 a couple times, which is something he wanted to work on in this downtime in building back up, Ross said. There was a real sense of kind of a working towards a little bit of a velocity increase, and hes felt great about that. Ross was noncommittal when asked how many rehab starts Hendricks would make before returning to the majors. He is expected to be around four innings and 60 pitches. Well see how it goes from there, Ross said. Id like to get him multiple starts, but theres a lot of variables in that that can also change. Chicago Cubs place Cody Bellinger on paternity list originally appeared on NBCSports.com Clarence Thomas, John Roberts Alex Wong/Getty Images Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) last week invited Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts or another justice to testify on ethics standards at the high court, following a series of revelations involving Justice Clarence Thomas. Roberts sent back his response on Tuesday: No thanks. Roberts said in a letter to Durbin he would "respectfully decline" the request to appear May 2, adding that "testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee by the chief justice of the United States is exceedingly rare, as one might expect in light of separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence." He attached a "statement of ethics principles and practices" signed by all nine justices that reiterated the ethical rules the justice hold themselves to and insisted they were sufficient. Durbin was not impressed. "I am surprised that the chief justice's recounting of existing legal standards of ethics suggests current law is adequate and ignores the obvious," he said, noting that "one justice" failed to disclose yacht and private jet travel he was gifted or his sale of property to the same benefactor. Durbin said he will go ahead with the hearing, because "it is time for Congress to accept its responsibility to establish an enforceable code of ethics for the Supreme Court, the only agency of our government without it." Following the disclosures of vacations and home sales Thomas accepted from Texas billionaire Harlan Crow, Politico reported Tuesday that Justice Neil Gorsuch and two partners sold a tract of land in Colorado to the chief executive of Greenberg Traurig, a major law firm with frequent business before the Supreme Court, nine days after Gorsuch was confirmed as a justice. Greenberg Traurig CEO Brian Duffy put the 40-acre vacation property under contract on April 16, 2017, and closed a month later. Gorsuch and his partners had been trying to sell the land for two years before Duffy stepped in. On his disclosure sheet, Gorsuch listed the asset as "Walden Group LLC" the partnership in which he held a 20 percent stake and said it was valued at $250,000 to $500,000. He did not indicate that real estate was involved, and he left the box for "identity of buyer/seller (if private transaction)" blank. Story continues "Such a sale would raise ethical problems for officials serving in many other branches of government," Politico reports, "but the Supreme Court sets its own rules." Duffy, who is based in Colorado, told Politico he did not know Gorsuch owned the property when he made his first bid The New York Times notes it reported Gorsuch's ownership stake in a March 2017 article and has never met the justice in person. You may also like A complete timeline of George R.R. Martin's progress on The Winds of Winter Why Tucker Carlson was fired from Fox News Tucker Carlson was offered a new job on Russian state TV (Bloomberg) -- Chief Justice John Roberts has refused a request to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee, leaving Democrats struggling for their next move over demands for a code of conduct for the Supreme Court. Most Read from Bloomberg The request followed a report that Justice Clarence Thomas took undisclosed luxury trips over two decades paid for by a Texas real estate developer who has donated millions to conservative causes. He respectfully declines the invitation, Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin said to reporters at the Capitol Tuesday evening, holding up pieces of paper he said comprised Robertss response to the panel. Durbin made the unusual request that Roberts appear or choose another justice to do so in his place on May 2, saying in a Thursday letter to the chief justice that a decade-long failure to act on a high-court code of ethics has fueled a crisis of public confidence. Congressional Democrats are applying pressure on Roberts to act on an ethics code, threatening congressional action if he doesnt. Still, Republicans who control the House and who can filibuster legislation in the Senate are showing no real interest. Supreme Court justices are the only federal judges not subjected to such a code. Roberts letter came with an unusual statement on ethics principles and practices, signed by all nine justices. The three-page document described what it said was the courts approach toward financial disclosure, outside income and recusals. The undersigned justices today reaffirm and restate foundational ethics principles and practices to which they subscribe in carrying out their responsibilities as members of the Supreme Court of the United States, the statement began. It said the aim was in part to dispel some common misconceptions. Story continues ProPublica recently reported that Thomas accepted but never reported extravagant trips over two decades that were paid for by Harlan Crow. The news organization separately reported that Thomas also didnt report that he and relatives sold three Georgia properties to Crow in 2014, including his mothers home that Crow then upgraded and where she resides. Thomas defended himself after the initial report about the trips, saying hed been advised that he didnt have to disclose hospitality from close personal friends who didnt have any business before the court. He also said he intended in the future to follow recent changes made to gift-reporting guidelines issued by the Judicial Conference, which makes policy for the federal judiciary and narrowed an exemption for personal hospitality. Durbin told reporters late last week that he had no plans to subpoena Roberts, and he added that the hearing would go forward even without Roberts. He hasnt announced any witnesses. In his letter to Durbin, Roberts said he must respectfully decline your invitation. Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee by the chief justice of the United States is exceedingly rare, as one might expect in light of separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence, Roberts wrote. Durbin said Tuesday evening he hasnt decided yet on next steps beyond that. Congress has authority and a responsibility when comes to the code of ethics for the court, and I think Im going to have to read the letter and the attachments closely and decide what course to take, he said. Some Judiciary Committee Republicans said last week that Roberts shouldnt testify, with John Cornyn of Texas dismissing a hearing as nothing but a circus for the chief justice. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said Democrats have no real interest in having a debate over a Supreme Court code of ethics, but instead want to engage in a political smear job of Thomas. Any legislation to impose a code of conduct on the high court would almost certainly fail in the Republican-controlled US House and would require nine Republican votes in the sharply divided Senate. Even if it succeeded, the court itself has suggested that Congress has no such power. Roberts has never testified before Congress as chief justice. Other justices have occasionally appeared over the years, mostly on the courts annual budget requests. The most recent example came in 2019, when Justices Elena Kagan and Samuel Alito testified on the budget but the questions veered into a code of conduct because of sexual harassment issues in the judiciary. The Judiciary Committee said in a statement on Tuesday night that according to the Congressional Research Service, since 1960, Supreme Court justices have appeared before Congress to testify in at least 92 hearings, addressing such issues as the constitutional role of judges, judicial security, annual appropriations for the courts, and judicial compensation. (Updates with justicess statement, starting in sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. China is pushing ahead with the largest-ever expansion of its nuclear arsenal, modernising the atomic deterrent with an eye on any future conflicts with the United States, experts say. The SIPRI think tank estimates that China has a stockpile of around 350 nuclear warheads -- small fry when compared with the United States and Russia. But it is growing fast, and could have 1,500 warheads by 2035, according to a Pentagon estimate published in November. "China appears to no longer be satisfied with just a few hundred nuclear weapons to ensure its security," Matt Korda, of the Federation of American Scientists, told AFP. Since its first nuclear test in 1964, China has been content to maintain a comparatively modest arsenal and has maintained that it will never be the first to use nuclear weapons in a conflict. But in recent years, under President Xi Jinping, it has begun a massive military modernisation drive that includes upgrading its nuclear weapons to not only deter foes but also be able to counter-attack if deterrence fails. "China is undertaking the most significant expansion and modernization of its nuclear forces in the country's history," David Logan, an assistant professor at the US Naval War College, told AFP. This involves not only ramping up the production of warheads, but also upgrading the ability to deliver them with a nuclear triad: missiles, aircraft and submarines. "The changes that are taking place or under way are very significant" and "will turn China from a state that has a nuclear retaliatory capability to one that is the world's third major nuclear power", Eric Heginbotham, Principal Research Scientist at MIT's Center for International Studies, told AFP. "This will mark the first time in history that the big nuclear powers will need to consider not one potential nuclear competitor, but two, and it will have implications for nuclear planning and stability everywhere." Story continues China is "rapidly" building launch facilities for intercontinental ballistic missiles, with more than 300 silos in total, according to the Pentagon last year. - 'Lowest level required' - China has stressed that it keeps "its nuclear force at the lowest level required for national security". And Xi said in a joint statement with Russian leader Vladimir Putin last month that nuclear war "must never be unleashed". Data is not publicly available, but the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons has estimated that China spent $11.7 billion on its nuclear programme in 2021 -- less than a third of what the United States was believed to have spent. Further, experts say there are obstacles to any rapid build-up of China's atomic stockpile -- primarily its limited means to produce the fissile materials needed for warheads. One possible helping hand could come from Russia. Beijing and Moscow pledged to step up nuclear cooperation at the recent summit between Xi and Putin. Top atomic energy officials from Russia agreed to assist China in completing "fast reactors", which can generate fissile material at a much faster rate than they consume it. Beijing insisted that the agreement was for its civilian nuclear programme, but experts say it could also be used to build up fissile material stockpiles for warheads. "It would be technically possible for China to substantially grow its plutonium stockpiles with its new developmental civilian fast-breeder reactors using fuel supplied by Russia," Korda said. "However, there are no publicly-available indications that China intends to do this." China has "very limited reserves that would constrain a rapid build-up", Gregory Kulacki, China Project Manager at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told AFP. "According to public information about the pace of the fast breeder programme's development... it will be difficult for China to produce the plutonium they need quickly." - Anxiety about the US - China has many reasons for its adversaries to believe its nuclear reach extends further than it does -- and the Pentagon has a track record of overstating it. But Beijing does have good reason to bulk up its capabilities. "Chinese strategists have been anxious about the possibility that the US could execute a disarming first strike against Beijing's nuclear forces," the Naval War College's Logan said. "The nuclear build-up is likely in part to ensure that the US cannot eliminate China's nuclear deterrent." China's assessment of what constitutes a credible nuclear deterrent may also be changing, experts say, and the substantial upgrades to its nuclear forces will embolden it -- particularly over self-ruled Taiwan or in the disputed South China Sea. Beijing has ramped up pressure on Taiwan, and has recently conducted two major rounds of military exercises around the island -- which it claims as its territory, to be taken one day. "A major factor is likely an assessment that a larger nuclear force is necessary to dissuade the United States's involvement in a future potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait," Ankit Panda at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace told AFP. "China may well believe that a larger nuclear force will moderate the amount of risk the United States is willing to tolerate in a limited, conventional conflict." bur-oho-je/qan Li Hui, a special representative of the People's Republic of China who is a former Chinese ambassador to Russia, is to be sent to Ukraine and other countries for talks on regulating the "Ukrainian crisis" [the war ed.]. Source: Xinhua, citing remarks made by the leader of the Peoples Republic of China, Xi Jinping, during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; CNN, citing a briefing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China Details: It is reported that the purpose of his visit will be to conduct in-depth communication with all parties regarding the political settlement of the "crisis" in Ukraine. Update: The Chinese Foreign Ministry clarified that the envoy to Ukraine and "other countries" will be Li Hui, who is a former Chinese ambassador to Russia [from 2009 to 2019 ed.]. The ministry did not specify when Li would make the trip or which other countries he would be visiting. Xinhua later reported: President Xi said he appreciated President Zelenskyy's continued focus on developing Sino-Ukrainian ties and cooperation with China, and thanked Ukraine for providing significant assistance in evacuating Chinese citizens last year. During the phone call with Zelenskyy, Xi noted that bilateral relations between Ukraine and China have undergone 31 years of development and reached the level of strategic partnership. Mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, Xi said, is the political foundation of bilateral relations. China's desire to develop relations with Ukraine is consistent and clear, Xi said, adding that regardless of how the international situation changes, China is ready to work with Ukraine to promote mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. Previously: Earlier on 26 April, it was revealed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone call with the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping. This was the first conversation between the two leaders since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine. Story continues Background: On 16 April, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reported that he had discussed the principles of establishing peace in Ukraine with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang. On 20-22 April, Xi Jinping paid an official visit to the Russian Federation, where he met with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. It was reported earlier that Chinese leader Xi Jinping planned to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the first time since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine. On 24 February, Zelenskyy said that he would like to have a bilateral meeting with the Chinese leader. Before that, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had published a so-called "peace plan" with its ideas for the settlement of Russia's war against Ukraine. The document consists of 12 points. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he held a long and meaningful call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, a long-anticipated first contact between the leaders since Russias invasion 14 months ago. Xi appealed for negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv to begin, according to a Chinese government readout of the call, which Beijing said Zelenskyy requested. Xi pledged to send a "special representative" to Ukraine for talks about a "political settlement" warning that "there is no winner in a nuclear war." China hopes to become a neutral peace broker in the conflict, although the U.S. and others have questioned its impartiality given a "no limits" partnership in which it has lent Moscow rhetorical and financial support. The lack of any talks between Beijing and Kyiv since the war began has only fueled such skepticism, although China has denied Western suggestions that it was considering arming Russia. Beijing has been seeking to position itself as a diplomatic rival to Washington on the global stage, an effort that has gained impetus in recent months but which was dealt a setback by fury in Europe this week. "On the Ukraine crisis, China always stands on the side of peace. Its core stance is to facilitate talks for peace," the Chinese readout said. "As a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and a responsible major country, China would not sit idly by, nor would it add oil to the fire, still less exploit the situation for self gains." It added that "everything China does is aboveboard." "Dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way forward," it said. Zelenskyys office said in a statement that particular attention was paid to ways of possible interaction with the aim of establishing a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine. The statement also quoted Zelenskyy as saying: Before the full-scale Russian invasion, China was Ukraines number one trade partner. I believe that our conversation today will provide a powerful impetus for the return, preservation, and development of this dynamic at all levels. Story continues Andrii Sybiha, the deputy head of Zelenskyy's office, tweeted that it was "one more important step forward to stop the war." China released a peace proposal in February that called for negotiations and a cease-fire, which the U.S. and many Western allies dismissed as a boon to Russian President Vladimir Putin's war aims. Beijing recently brokered a deal to normalize relations between longtime rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia while courting European leaders on visits to Beijing as it clashes with Washington over the fate of Taiwan. Suspicion of China's bid to present itself as neutral in the conflict increased this week after its ambassador to France questioned the historical legitimacy of Ukraine and other Soviet states comments that sparked uproar across the continent and which officials in Beijing hastily walked back. The U.S. and its allies support Ukraine militarily and financially. John Kirby, the National Security Council's coordinator for strategic communications, said the U.S. welcomed the call as a "good thing." "Weve been saying for quite some time that we believe its important for President Xi and PRC officials to avail themselves of the Ukrainian perspective on this illegal and unprovoked invasion by Russia," Kirby told reporters, referring to China by the initials for its formal name, the People's Republic of China. Earlier, Kirby, told NBC News, "We will let these two leaders speak to the details of their conversation." A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was "way too soon after just getting word of this conversation to speculate about" whether the call should foster optimism about China's peace plan. "Thus far, China has not shown itself to be unbiased when it comes to supporting Russia," the official said. Hopes for a cease-fire aren't high internationally, with heavy fighting raging in the ruined eastern city of Bakhmut and Ukraine expected to launch a spring counteroffensive in the coming weeks. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, marking the first personal contact between the two leaders since Russias invasion of Ukraine and signaling a small shift in Beijings posture, which has aligned closely with Moscow. The call was months in the making and highly anticipated after Xi in February announced intentions to play mediator between Russia and Ukraine, introducing a 12-point plan for peace that was widely rejected by Kyiv, Washington and partner countries as an empty collection of meaningless position statements. Zelensky tweeted on Wednesday that he held a long and meaningful call with the Chinese leader and that he was appointing a Ukrainian ambassador to Beijing to develop bilateral relations between the two countries. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying tweeted that Beijings stance is to facilitate talks for peace. China did not create the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to the crisis. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, China would not sit idly by, nor would it add oil to the fire, still less exploit the situation for self gains, Hua said. Beijing will send a Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs, to Ukraine and other countries, Hua added, to have in-depth communication with all parties on political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. Andriy Yermak, a senior advisor to Zelensky as Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said on Twitter that dialogue is important alongside emoji flags of Ukraine and China. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby on Wednesday said the White House welcomed the news that there was a phone call between Xi and Zelensky, saying it provided China the opportunity to avail themselves of the Ukrainian perspective on this illegal, unprovoked invasion by Russia. Kirby added that the White House did not have advance knowledge of the call and did not expect to be consulted. Story continues The Biden administration has urged cautious alarm over Chinese overtures for peace, speaking out against any effort by Beijing to call for an unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine that would freeze battlelines and would gift Moscow with illegal territorial gains in the country. U.S. officials, and leaked Pentagon intelligence documents, have also pointed to Chinas consideration of providing weapons to Russia, which would violate global sanctions aimed at bankrupting Moscows ability to fund its war against Ukraine. Xi has placed China closely on the side of Russia more than one year into Moscows war against Ukraine, meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin shortly before he launched the invasion in early 2022, and holding a summit with the Russian leader in Moscow late last month. Still, the Chinese leader is seeking to portray himself as a global peacemaker in an effort to elevate Beijings standing on the world stage and as a counter to U.S. efforts rallying allies and partners to confront what it views as Beijings plans to overtake democratic countries and reshape the current global order. Ukraine has been preparing for months to launch a highly anticipated counteroffensive against Russian troops occupying territory in its east and south. The upcoming fight is expected to determine the course of the war, with Kyiv hoping to force Russia to the negotiating table with a decisive military defeat. A more difficult battle, however, could signal a longer, drawn-out war of attrition. Updated at 9:41 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. [Source] A man who was reportedly a part of a Chinese organized crime group behind a drivers license scam that targeted thousands of Texans has been extradited from New York to Texas. Tony Cao Li, 35, is currently held in Travis County Jail on a $250,000 bond. He was reportedly arrested in Utah earlier this year as part of a multi-agency effort to tackle identity theft cases tracked by cyber expert John Miri. I certainly wish it would have been sooner, and they would have caught more of them. But, unfortunately, what's surprising is that they caught anyone, Miri told FOX5NY. Li was reportedly arrested after he used IDs he had stolen to make expensive purchases, such as for a Mercedes and a Porsche. More from NextShark: 6,000 Monkeys Take Over Thai City Like It's 'Planet of the Apes' One of those IDs reportedly belonged to a software engineer based in Austin, Texas. Court documents also revealed that 1,273 Texas drivers licenses based in Texas were found to be linked to Li, as well as three addresses in Oklahoma. More from NextShark: Who is Kim Yo-jong and Why is Twitter Suddenly Obsessed With Her? According to officials, the Chinese organized crime group operates by taking information from the deep web, a part of the internet inaccessible to conventional browsers, and using the stolen personal data to apply for replacement licenses. After doing so, the group would then open credit cards using those IDs and use them to steal money from the victims. The group would also send those licenses to other states from New York, including Oklahoma and Georgia, where they would be sold to other people. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) believes that around 4,800 Asians and Asians Americans have been targeted by the drivers license scam. More from NextShark: South Korean man crowned champion of doing absolutely nothing at annual competition It's a long process for investigators. And unfortunately, it's going to be an even longer and harder process for the people that got affected, Miri said. I would as we talked last time, I would really encourage people to get a credit monitoring service. Story continues DPS Director Steven McGraw said the agency began alerting victims by mail after they noticed the crime ring was using stolen personal data to answer questions on the Texas.gov website. The letters were also sent in other languages besides English, such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese. More from NextShark: Nearly 5,000 Asian Texans targeted by Chinese identity theft group McGraw previously said that while the agency had been aware of the situation since December 2022, the DPS did not immediately notify victims because of ongoing investigations. Answers were only given after Texas State Rep. Mary Gonzales began asking questions about the matter, saying, I knew that it wasnt public and so I decided to ask questions so that people could really wonder and have the information about whats happening, KHOU11 reported. Texas reportedly had the second-highest number of scam cases across the U.S. in 2021, totaling 40,000 victims with reported losses of over $606 million. Cases of digital scams, such as identity theft, reportedly grew amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. (Reuters) -Chinese police have visited U.S. management consultancy Bain & Company's office in Shanghai and questioned staff there, a company spokesperson said on Wednesday without elaborating. "We are cooperating as appropriate with the Chinese authorities," the spokesperson told Reuters by email. "At this time, we have no further comment." The U.S. embassy in China and the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Financial Times, citing people briefed on the surprise visit two weeks ago, first reported on Wednesday that the police took away computers and phones but did not detain any employees. The police made more than one visit to Bain in Shanghai, FT said, noting that the purpose was not immediately clear and whether the raids were connected to the firm or its clients. American companies worry that China may be stepping up retaliatory action because of measures taken against Chinese firms by U.S. President Joe Biden's administration. Chinese authorities last month raided the office of U.S. corporate due diligence firm Mintz Group in Beijing and detained five local staff. U.S. businesses operating in China are increasingly pessimistic about their prospects in the world's second-largest economy, according to a survey released this month by the American Chamber of Commerce in China. China has said it welcomes foreign trade and investment but stressed that security comes before development. Over two years, Beijing has clamped down on antitrust violations, banned private tuition groups and reined in a debt binge by property developers, wiping hundreds of billions off the market capitalisations of some of its largest companies, including e-commerce giant Alibaba and social media giant Tencent. (Reporting by Kanjyik Ghosh, Chandni Shah and Mehnaz Yasmin in Bengaluru; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Richard Chang and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) Chipotle added a new menu item and tested faster-cooking grills as part of changes CEO Brian Niccol discussed with analysts on the company's earnings call Tuesday. Chipotle Chipotle rolled out changes to its restaurants to make employees' jobs easier, its CEO said. The changes include faster-cooking grills, digital tipping, and a TikTok-inspired quesadilla. Chipotle has plans to grow its restaurant network to 7,000 in North America. Life is getting a little easier for Chipotle employees thanks to a series of changes in the company's restaurants, according to its CEO. The chain unveiled the changes, from faster cooking times for meats to digital tipping, over the last few months. CEO Brian Niccol highlighted them on the company's earnings call on Tuesday. One change comes in the form of new grills that cook the protein for Chipotle's menu items. Over the last quarter, the restaurant started using clamshell grills in 10 of its locations, and a Chipotle spokesperson said that the chain is adding the grill to 10 more restaurants to see how it performs. Jobs working the grill are "one of the hardest positions to train" at the average Chipotle restaurant, Niccol said when an analyst asked about the new grills. Niccol added that the grills cook food faster and more consistently than the ones they're replacing. "Chicken goes from 12, 13 minutes to 2, 3 minutes, and you get perfect sear, perfect char," he said. "It just eliminates any potential bottleneck for our future growth," Niccol said. Chipotle also started offering digital tipping at its stores over the last few months "as part of our ongoing effort to enhance our crewmember benefits," Niccol said. Previously, the company relied only on physical tip jars at its stores. "This will enable our teams to be rewarded for their efforts in preparing delicious food and providing a great experience for our guests," he added. While more restaurants and stores have added digital prompts to tip workers, American consumers are tipping less often, including at fast food restaurants, CNN reported last month. Story continues The Mexican-grill chain also added an item to its menu to meet demand for a TikTok trend and simplify preparation for employees, according to Niccol. Starting in late 2022, customers starting ordering fajita vegetables as an add-on to one of the chain's quesadillas. Some also ordered Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette with their quesadillas. The trend was sparked by TikTokers, including Alex Frost and Keith Lee, reviewing the combo. Niccol said that Chipotle worked with Frost and Lee to turn the custom order into a regular menu item. The move helped streamline production for employees, who previously had to fill the order as a special request from customers who had seen the videos. The TikTok-inspired mashup was "outstanding," Niccol said. "During the launch, we nearly doubled our quesadilla business and had two of our top digital sales days of all time," he said. Chipotle introduced the TikTok-inspired Fajita Quesadilla in March 2023. Chipotle "The best part is that it's made of all existing ingredients, which limits additional complexity in our restaurants, and we continue to see incremental quesadilla sales because of this launch," Niccol said. Chipotle has plans to grow its restaurant network to 7,000 stores in North America in the coming years. Currently, it has just under 3,200 stores in the US. Besides traditional restaurants, the chain has been opening special locations and windows, called Chipotlanes, that focus on filling online orders. Digital sales remain a key part of Chipotle's strategy, despite a decline in orders from the early months of the pandemic. Are you a Chipotle employee with a story to share? Reach out to Alex Bitter at abitter@insider.com or via Signal encrypted messaging at 808-854-4501. Read the original article on Business Insider Celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton and White Lotus star Lukas Gage have officially tied the knot -- and Kim Kardashian was the officiant of their ceremony. Gage, 27, took to Instagram on Wednesday to share photos from the event, which feature he and his now-husband wearing matching fur coats and leather pants. For their shirts, Appleton, 39, wore a satin blue button down, while Gage wore a grey leopard print button down. The post also included a shot of the ceremony where the couple appear to be exchanging their vows. Standing behind them is Appletons friend, Kardashian, who was acting as the officiant of the wedding. The final video in the post revealed that Shania Twain also attended the ceremony. In the footage, she performed her song Youre Still the One for the newlywed couple. In the caption, Gage celebrated his new milestone, writing: Ring finger where the rock is. Some of his famous friends then went to the comments to congratulate him. YAAAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYYY, Maude Apatow wrote, while Outer Banks star Madelyn Cline added: Omfg congratulations. Actor Timothy Granaderos commented: This is literally exactly how I imagined your wedding, congratulations!! Appleton also shared these photos on his own Instagram to announce the news. We did it, he wrote in the caption, along with a diamond ring emoji. Big thank you to @kimkardashian & @shaniatwain. Days before this ceremony, Kardashian praised her longtime stylist and his relationship during his acceptance speech at the Daily Front Rows Fashion Los Angeles Awards. As Appleton gave his speech at the event on Sunday, the Skims mogul stepped in and walked up to the microphone. Can I just say one thing really quick, she said. Im so happy hes in a relationship right now and that its, like, out there. After Appleton joked that his relationship was still a secret, Kardashian poked fun at how her peers have asked her about him. Im so tired of all my girlfriends and guy friends asking me if youre available and who my hot guy is who is always with me, she concluded, with Appleton confirming that he is a taken man. Story continues Earlier this week, TMZ first reported that Gage and Appleton got their marriage licence, according to Clark County Clerk records. In February, it was first reported that the actor and hairstylist were in a relationship. At the time, they posted their vacation photos with each other on Instagram and left some flirty messages in the comments. During an appearance on Today in March, Gage confirmed the dating rumours and explained how much he admires his partner. I feel very happy, very lucky and very much in love, Gage said. Hes a good looking man. He also looked at a photo, showcased by Today, of him and Appleton snowboarding, before adding: We have fun together. We go on adventures. Days before Gage made these remarks, Appleton also spoke about his relationship for the first time during an episode of The Drew Barrymore Show. Im very happy, very much in love, he said. And I feel very grateful to be able to share my time with someone very special. Love is a really special thing, and I think meeting someone that you really connect with is really, really special. Corrado Zunino Zunino, working for Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica, was writing a piece on life in Kherson a large city under constant Russian fire from across the Dnipro River. Read also: Putins doppelganger visited occupied Kherson and Luhansk oblast, says former Air Force commander He sustained a gunshot wound to his shoulder and was taken to hospital for treatment. La Repubblica reports that the civilian killed was a Ukrainian fixer working with Zunino, and he is survived a wife and son. Zunino emphasized that he was wearing a vest with clear markings that identified him as a reporter. Read also: Russia shells Kherson city center, injuring six The publication suggests that the journalists may have fallen into a trap set up by Russian snipers. Read also: Another Russian goodwill gesture Signs Russia is preparing to retreat from Kherson Oblast Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani tweeted about the attack, suggesting that it may have been carried out by a Russian drone. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Glaciers are not easy targets for any type of satellite to measure mass loss over time Scientists have obtained their best satellite assessment yet of the status of the world's glaciers. Europe's Cryosat spacecraft tracked the 200,000 or so glaciers on Earth and found they have lost 2,720bn tonnes of ice in 10 years due to climate change. That's equivalent to losing 2% of their bulk in a decade. Monitoring how quickly glaciers are changing is important because millions of people rely on them for drinking water and farming. The world's glaciers are distributed across all latitudes, not just at the poles. A few hundred are routinely measured at ground level - the best way to assess them. But for the vast majority, observation from space is the only way to keep an eye on how they are responding to climate change. It's important that we do that. Like the broader ice sheets, their whiteness reflects sunlight and helps cool the planet. And in many parts of the globe, glaciers also function as critical water reservoirs. More than 20% of the world's population is thought to be dependent in some way on summer melt waters that flow from glaciers - for drinking, for agriculture and to drive hydropower stations. Graphic depicting ice loss Cryosat is a veteran European Space Agency Earth observer. It carries an instrument called a radar altimeter, which sends down microwave pulses to trace variations in height along the planet's surface - and in particular the changes in elevation of ice fields. This type of instrument works really well when monitoring the gentle undulations in the interior of Antarctica and Greenland. It finds it more tricky to measure the ice that runs across rugged terrain, such as in steep-sided valleys. But advances in data processing have enabled scientists to effectively increase the resolution and robustness of Cryosat's vision so that it can now track developments even in those hard-to-see locations. Story continues The study, reported on Wednesday in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, has applied this approach to the spacecraft's entire data archive to produce a global glacier assessment. The satellite's observations indicate the vast majority - 89% - of the ice loss seen between 2010 and 2020 was due to melting in an ever warmer atmosphere. Only 11% of the loss was the result of glaciers experiencing melting or increased flow because their fronts terminate in warmer ocean or lake waters. Alaska's glaciers have experienced the greatest losses. They've been losing more than 80bn tonnes a year, which equates to about 5% of the total ice volume in the region during the 10-year study period. This is very much an effect of warmer air temperatures. Places where glaciers appear to be eroding and moving faster because their fronts end in warmer waters include the Arctic - at Svalbard, the Norwegian archipelago - and in the Russian sectors of the Barents and Kara seas. Increasing ice discharge into the ocean accounts for over 50% of mass loss in these areas. "This is a consequence of what is called the 'Atlantification' of the Arctic," explained Noel Gourmelen from Edinburgh University, UK. "Usually, the surface waters of the Arctic Ocean are cold and fresh, but increasingly in some of these places the surface waters are becoming more salty and warmer as currents move up from the Atlantic. And this means glaciers are dumping more ice into the ocean," he told BBC News. This, of course, will add to sea-level rise which already threatens low-lying communities. Artwork: The European Union plans to measure global glacier status routinely in the future Cryosat is an old spacecraft that has worked far beyond its design life. Scientists hope to get a few more years of operation from it but there's a recognition that it could fail any day now. The European Union is planning a long-term satellite series inspired by Cryosat, given the code name currently of Cristal. "What we've shown you can do with Cryosat to measure glaciers worldwide augurs well for the Cristal mission," said Edinburgh colleague Livia Jakob. Ms Jakob, who led the research from her remote sensing company Earthwave, has been discussing its implications in Vienna, Austria, at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly, one of the world's biggest gatherings of Earth scientists. A video surfaced on TikTok claiming to show Kenyan opposition leader apologising to President William Ruto for spearheading violent anti-government protests in late March. But this is false: the footage was filmed at a national prayer breakfast in 2018 where Odinga apologised to former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta over insults traded between the two rivals during the 2017 presidential elections. This was spliced together with another scene from the same breakfast where Odinga shook hands with Ruto, who was deputy president at the time. However, he did not apologise to Ruto. Raila apologies to president Ruto for disturbing his government in demonstrations (sic), reads the text embedded on the TikTok video published on April 5, 2023. The 21-second-long clip, which has been shared more than 2,200 times, shows Odinga addressing a gathering. On behalf of my team and myself, I, in front of this congregation gathered here, prayer breakfast, tender my apology to my brother, he says in the video. Ruto then joins him at the podium and they hug and shake hands as the crowd applauds. Kenyatta, who served as the countrys president from 2013 until Ruto succeeded him in 2022, is also seen on stage. Screenshot showing the false post, taken on April 20, 2023 Kenyan anti-government protests Odinga lost the August 2022 presidential election to Ruto by a slim margin. Since then, tensions have been rising between the two politicians. In February 2023, Odinga gave Ruto an ultimatum (archived here) to address alleged election fraud in last year's vote and tackle Kenya's rising cost of living. He also demanded a halt in the ongoing process of appointing new electoral commissioners. After Ruto failed to meet his demands, Odinga spearheaded several marches. Following two weeks of deadly protests(archived here), Ruto and Odinga separately announced that they had agreed to parliament-led bipartisan negotiations (archived here) to resolve the tensions. However, the opposition warned that protests would resume if it did not deem the talks meaningful. Story continues Local media reported (archived here) that there were still some unresolved issues. But the video does not show Odinga apologising to President Ruto following the recent trouble shaking the country. Edited old clip Using the InVID-WeVerify video verification tool, AFP Fact Check performed reverse image searches on keyframes from the clip and found that it has been online since 2018. The original footage (archived here) was taken at a national prayer breakfast held on May 31, 2018. The then-president Kenyatta invited Ruto, his deputy at the time, to the podium, along with two opposition politicians including Odinga. Kenyatta asked Odinga to forgive him for anything he may have said or done during the 2017 election campaigns when the two politicians openly insulted one another. At 2'40", Odinga then apologises to Kenyatta not Ruto in return. Odinga and Ruto hugged and shook hands much later in the footage, at 8'35", as they left the podium. However, this scene was placed right after Odingas apology in the clip shared on TikTok, giving the false impression that he had apologised to Ruto. In 2017 Odinga campaigned under the National Super Alliance (NASA) party but lost to Kenyattas Jubilee party. Odinga challenged (archived here) Kenyattas victory in court and the election was nullified over irregularities. Odinga, however, boycotted the repeat poll claiming that they would not be free and fair. Kenyatta emerged victorious with over 90 percent of the vote. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education approved a $2.1 billion plan Tuesday to invest in its people as teacher turnover rates continue to increase. The $2.1 billion 2023-24 operating budget includes $227.4 million in one-time COVID-19 relief. It seeks $596.9 million from Mecklenburg County, an increase of $39 million, or 7%, over last years allocation. Of the additional county money, $29 million would be used for anticipated state raises for teachers, principals and and non-certified staff. The state budget now making its way through the General Assembly calls for raises averaging 5.5% for teachers and other certified staff. The proposed salary increases for district employees are long overdue, particularly those for teachers, CMS board chair Elyse Dashew said. More increases are needed, particularly for starting teachers who dont earn enough to live in Charlotte without spouses or roommates. This is a substantial first step. In CMS, there are 242 teacher vacancies, and more than 20% turnover in sixth-grade through 12th-grade English Language Arts classrooms, as well as math and science in the same grades. Math teacher turnover in CMS has increased since the 2021-22 school year but decreased in science. Teacher attrition in CMS increased from 9.31% in 2020-21 to 11.01% in 2021-22. Out of 9,176 teachers employed during the 2020-21 school year, 854 left. Thats compared to 9,371 teachers employed in the district in the 2021-22 school year with 1,486 leaving. Statistics for this school year wont be available until the fall, CMS officials said. Our proposed budget is focused on building district capacity, which will benefit all of our students, Interim Superintendent Crystal Hill said. Increased money for our employees, especially for teachers, will help us fill teacher vacancies and hard-to-staff positions which will directly benefit our students. By the numbers District officials say salaries must be increased because teachers earn about 2% less than other professions that also require a bachelors degree. CMS offered the following data to back up its argument: Story continues $58,658: Average teacher pay in North Carolina, which ranks seventh among 10 states in the Southeast. $66,506: Average teacher pay in Alabama, which ranks No. 1 among 10 states in the Southeast. $39,695: Average beginning teacher pay in North Carolina, which ranks last among the 10 states in the Southeast. $46,821: Average beginning teacher pay in Texas, which ranks No. 1 among 10 states in the Southeast. $522,000: Average listing price of a home in Charlotte. $1,435: Average monthly cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Charlotte. $61,479: Annual income needed to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Charlotte. What else is in the county increase? While the spending plan calls for county funds to go to salary increases, it also includes $8.4 million for charter enrollment growth ($6.8 million) and opening two new elementary schools ($1.6 million). One school, located at 7515 The Plaza, will provide relief for Hidden Valley, Joseph W. Grier, Newell and Reedy Creek elementary schools. The second elementary school at 5932 Farm Pond Lane will provide relief for Windsor Park, Winterfield, Idlewild, Albemarle Road and Charlotte East Language Academy schools. Other parts of the county allocation would pay for school resource officer contract rate increases and fuel increases for officer vehicles. Whats next The school board will present the budget to the Board of County Commissioners on May 11. Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio is expected to make her recommendations to the board on May 18. A public hearing on the Mecklenburg County budget is scheduled for May 24, with a commissioners vote scheduled June 6. CMS is also waiting to see whether the county will consider asking voters to approve nearly $3 billion in borrowing to build new facilities. If approved, it would be the largest such request in North Carolina history. The BOCC could place a bond referendum on the November ballot, when it would appear alongside Charlotte City Council and town board elections. We are hopeful the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners will approve our budget request, Dashew said. Two boaters are safe after being rescued on a life raft near the Florida Panhandle. The search began Monday after officials got a call from a person on a disabled shrimp trawler in the Gulf or Mexico. U.S. Coast Guard officials said the vessel lost power and was taking on water. Watch: Large gators caught by trappers after Florida man attacked near pond A rescue aircrew found the boaters Tuesday. Officials said the rescued boaters are expected to be OK. Read: Uber Eats driver killed, dismembered while delivering an order Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. (Bloomberg) -- Colombian assets dropped as President Gustavo Petro prepares a cabinet shakeup following a series of legislative setbacks that he said represented the disintegration of his ruling coalition. Most Read from Bloomberg The peso weakened as much as 1.8% before paring the decline amid expectations that Finance Minister Jose Antonio Ocampo would stay on. Dollar bonds from the South American nation were among the worst performers in emerging markets, with notes due in 2041 sinking as much as 1.8 cents to 79 cents on the dollar, according to indicative pricing data compiled by Bloomberg. On Tuesday night, Petro asked his ministers to resign ahead of a likely reshuffle. Ocampo, the market-friendly finance minister, said in written reply to questions that he will comply with Petros request, conforming with protocol, and will await the presidents decision. Ocampo told his team he expects to remain in his role during a meeting earlier today, according to a person familiar with the matter. Colombias first leftist president is attempting to overhaul the nations economic model by boosting worker rights and increasing the states role in health care and pension provision. But his majority coalition has fractured and he has faced stiff opposition, including from allies in congress and even from members of his own cabinet. The upcoming reshuffle follows a decision by lawmakers to remove an article in Petros development plan that would allow the government to buy land for farmers as part of a peace deal with illegal armed groups. The president said his governing coalition had ended. We have to install a government of emergency, given that congress wasnt capable of approving some simple articles, very peaceful, that would have enabled more democratic use of land, Petro said, in a speech in the southwest of the country. Story continues Such a government doesnt imply an emergency decree, but means that government workers labor hard, day and night, every day, to achieve our objectives, he said. XP Investments strategist Andres Pardo said the presidents use of the term emergency government could mean the administration will radicalize as Petro surrounds himself with loyalists. Read more: Leftist Colombia Government Suffers First Big Defeat in Congress Also on Tuesday night, a congressional commission approved the text of a health bill that will be voted on following debates in both chambers. However, several key groups in congress, including Liberals, Conservatives, and the U Party ordered their members not to back the government-proposed initiative, in another blow for Petro. In posts on Twitter, Petro attacked lawmakers who have enriched themselves on public money. --With assistance from Andrea Jaramillo, Maria Elena Vizcaino and Ezra Fieser. (Updates starting with market data in the second paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Colombias President Gustavo Petro ousted his market-friendly Finance Minister Jose Antonio Ocampo and replaced him with a close ally, sending bonds tumbling and the cost of insuring Colombias debt against default soaring. Most Read from Bloomberg Ricardo Bonilla, a former finance chief of Bogota, will take over from Ocampo, following a cabinet shake-up on Wednesday. Other cabinet changes include the ministries of health, agriculture and transport, Petro said in a statement posted on Twitter. Regular currency trading was closed, but the peso weakened 2.5% to 4,659 per dollar in next-day trading. Colombias dollar bonds extended losses after the surprise announcement, with notes due in 2041 tumbling to new lows for the day. Petro wants to reinvigorate his cabinet as he tries to overhaul the nations economic model by increasing the states role in health care and pension provision. But he has faced stiff opposition, including from allies in congress, where his ruling coalition has crumbled. Ocampo not only enjoyed a lot of credibility as an economist, but he was someone who said no to Petro, and reined in some of his proposals, said Sergio Guzman, director of Colombia Risk Analysis. Investors will be monitoring to see whether Bonilla is able to do the same, Guzman said. Bonilla ran Bogotas finances when Petro was mayor from 2012 to 2015, and was one of his top economic advisers during the presidential campaign. Prior to todays announcement he was head of the state development bank, Findeter. Market Reaction The initial market reaction of this appointment should be negative, but Mr. Bonillas track record when he was President Petros finance secretary during his mayorship in Bogota was not of someone known for overboard spending, Munir Jalil, Andean economist at BTG Pactual, said in a message. We expect the fiscal commitment of this administration to continue under Mr. Bonillas tenure as minister. Story continues Bonilla presided over a slight fall in Bogotas debt burden during his time in office. During last years presidential campaign, the adviser said Petro will run a fiscally-responsible government and argued that the nation needs to boost tax revenue to fund social programs and cut the fiscal deficit. As mayor, Petro had a large turnover of staff in key positions, but he never fell out with Bonilla, suggesting that the pair have a close relationship. Petros controversial Energy Minister Irene Velez, whose anti-oil stance has alarmed some investors, will remain in her role. (Adds analyst comment in fifth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. DENVER A former Colorado police officer has been found guilty of failing to intervene as another officer pistol-whipped and strangled an unarmed man. Francine Martinez, who worked for the Aurora Police Department, became the first officer in the state to be convicted by a jury under a police accountability law requiring officers to intervene if they witness colleagues using excessive force. The law was adopted in 2020 after the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer outside a corner store as three other officers stood by. A jury in Arapahoe County District Court determined last week that Martinez stood by as former officer John Haubert struck Kyle Vinson more than a dozen times with his handgun and threatened to kill him in July 2021. Haubert also pointed his gun at Vinson's head, bodycam video shows. Vinson sustained a cut on his head, and one eye was swollen shut. Kyle Vinson in Denver in 2021. (David Zalubowski / AP) Martinez was fired, and Haubert resigned. This should be a wake-up call for all law enforcement officers that the thin blue line of silence wont be tolerated in Colorado, Vinson's attorney, Siddhartha Rathod, said Tuesday. Officers have a moral, ethical and legal duty to intervene and to say something when their fellow officers are committing acts of violence or crimes or other wrongdoings. The former officers were responding to a report of trespassing in the 3100 block of South Parker Road when they encountered three people who had outstanding felony warrants and tried to arrest them. Two of the people ran, but the third, Vinson, did not, police said. Video showed Haubert with his hands around Vinsons throat for 39 seconds as Vinson appeared to begin to lose consciousness. In an affidavit, a witness, Jamie Bourknight, claims that Vinson kicked one of them; the video does not appear to show it. Were disgusted. Were angry. This is not police work, then-Police Chief Vanessa Wilson said at the time. We dont train this. It is not acceptable. Story continues Phone calls to Martinez and her attorney, David Goddard, were not returned Tuesday. Officer John Haubert holds a gun to Kyle Vinson's head on July 23, 2021, in Aurora, Colo. (Aurora Police) Colorado's "failure to intervene" law also requires all officers to use body cameras by this July, bans chokeholds, limits potentially lethal uses of force and removes qualified immunity from police, potentially exposing officers to lawsuits for their actions in use-of-force cases. I watched the majority of it [the body camera video] not all at once, but its kind of hard to take in, Vinson told NBC affiliate KUSA of Denver. Im just thinking Im thankful Im still here, because I thought I was going to die or be another Elijah McClain or George Floyd. Martinez is the first officer to be convicted by a jury under the law. Former Loveland officer Daria Jalali pleaded guilty last year to failing to intervene during the arrest of a 73-year-old woman who had dementia. Jalali, who no longer works for the Loveland Police Department, was sentenced to 45 days in jail. Martinez, who was convicted of a misdemeanor count of failure to intervene for her role in the arrest of Vinson, faces up to a year in jail when she is sentenced June 2. Haubert is charged with first-degree assault causing serious bodily injury with a deadly weapon, second-degree assault/strangulation and felony menacing, among other counts. His trial is scheduled in November. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Three men have been arrested by authorities in Colorado for allegedly throwing large landscaping rocks at motorists, including one that killed a driver, Alexa Bartell, 20, last week just outside Denver. The suspects Joseph Koenig, Nicholas "Mitch" Karol-Chik and Zachary Kwak, all 18-year-old high school seniors were taken into custody at their parents' homes in Arvada, Colo., the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday. All three are facing charges of first-degree murder. Heres everything we know about the case and others like it. What happened? Alexa Bartell. (Jefferson County Sheriffs Office) According to police, six motorists in the greater Denver area reported on the evening of April 19 that rocks had been thrown at their cars. Two of the drivers suffered minor injuries. Around 10:45 p.m., Bartell was driving along a road in Jefferson County when a large rock went through her front windshield, hitting and killing her. A friend who was on the phone with her at around that time became concerned when the line dropped. The friend tracked her phone to a field, where Bartell was found. The sheriff's office said mobile device forensics and information from the public helped lead to the arrests. Its unclear which of the suspects threw the rock that killed Bartell, the sheriffs office added, but all three are suspected of throwing rocks during the hourlong spree. How common is this? Bartell's smashed windshield. (Jefferson County Sheriffs Office) While deaths from them are relatively rare, this is certainly not the first fatal rock-throwing incident in the United States. In 2019, Keila Flores, a 33-year-old mother of three, was killed when a large rock thrown from a railroad overpass in Temple, Texas, crashed into the windshield of the car she and her family were traveling in, police said. Flores was in the passenger seat. In 2018, Joe Shelton, 54, was killed when a large chunk of concrete thrown from a bridge crashed through the windshield as he was driving to work in Nashville, authorities said. In 2017, Kenneth White, a 32-year-old father, was killed when a large rock thrown from a highway overpass in Genesee County, Mich., went through the windshield of a van he was traveling in. White was in the passenger seat. Four teenagers later admitted to throwing rocks from the overpass in a game they called overpassing and were sentenced to prison as adults. Story continues The same year, Marquise Byrd, 22, was killed when a sandbag thrown from an overpass in Toledo, Ohio, smashed through the windshield of a car he was traveling in. Four teens later pleaded guilty in juvenile court to charges of murder, manslaughter and vehicular vandalism, but did not serve jail time. Whats next? Nicholas "Mitch" Karol-Chik, Zachary Kwak and Joseph Koenig. (Jefferson County Sheriffs Office) The three suspects in Colorado are facing charges of first-degree murder, extreme indifference, the sheriff's office said, adding that additional charges are expected to be filed. They are due in court on Thursday. Nathan Tipton, a Lyft and Uber driver who was one of the uninjured motorists in the alleged rock-throwing spree, expressed shock over Bartells death. "When I found out that this series of events actually took a young lady's life, I feel for Alexa and her family, Tipton told reporters on Tuesday. It put me in a bit of a shock. "Nobody should lose their child for a random act, he added. It's heartbreaking." Naimo Mahdi Abdirahman, whom family say was 27 and the mother of a now toddler son, was walking across Morse Road on Columbus' Northeast Side early in the morning of April 20, 2022 when she was struck and killed by a vehicle in a hit-and-run crash. On Wednesday, Columbus police Detective Demetris A. Ortega, 50, was indicted by a Franklin County grand jury on two charges stemming from that off-duty incident: a felony count of failure to stop after an accident and a misdemeanor count of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence. A Columbus police detective has been criminally charged a little more than a year after he was identified by police as being a passenger in his personal vehicle that killed a woman in a hit-and-run crash on the city's Northeast Side. Detective Demetris A. Ortega, 50, of the city's Northeast Side, was indicted Wednesday by a Franklin County grand jury on two charges stemming from the crash: failure to stop after an accident, which is a felony, as well as a misdemeanor count of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them. The charges stem from an early morning April 20, 2022 crash in which 27-year-old Naimo Mahdi Abdirahman was hit and killed while crossing Morse Road in the area of Walford Street, police said. The woman had come to the U.S. from Somalia as a child and had become an American citizen. More: Victim's family seeks justice in fatal hit-skip involving off-duty Columbus cop's SUV Ortega, who has been with the Columbus Division of Police since 2002, was initially placed on "relieved of duty" status, which is essentially a paid suspension following the crash, which occurred while he was off-duty. The Dispatch left a message Wednesday night with a division spokeswoman seeking an update on Ortega's employment status following the indictment. Columbus police had responded around 2:40 a.m. on April 20, 2022 to a report that Abdirahman was struck by an eastbound vehicle while she was crossing Morse Road in the area of Walford Street. Abdirahman was pronounced dead at the scene by medics at 2:48 a.m., police said. Franklin County Prosecutor G. Gary Tyack's office said in a news release Wednesday that Ortega was driving and failed to stop after the crash and left the scene. Through the investigation, prosecutors say it was determined that Ortega had been drinking and was under the influence of alcohol at the time the crash occurred. Story continues The case was presented to the Franklin County grand jury, whose members heard testimony that detectives investigating the fatal crash were unable to locate witnesses, video or physical evidence that would help to conclusively identify Abdirahmans location as she crossed the street. Detectives also were "unable to determine to any degree of certainty that Detective Ortega was at fault in causing the crash," an essential element needed to seek a charge of aggravated vehicular homicide or vehicular homicide against him, the prosecutor's office said.Sources had previously told The Dispatch that Ortega was not driving at the time of the crash, but that the 2022 Kia Sorento identified as the vehicle involved in the crash was reportedly registered to him. A media release from the Division of Police days after the crash said the driver of the vehicle was a female, who briefly stopped after hitting Abdirahman. A male passenger who got out to check on the condition of Abdirahman "appeared distraught" and reportedly told witnesses to call police, the release said. Police have said that after the man, later identified as Ortega, got out of the car, the female driver continued eastbound on Morse Road before turning around to pick up the male passenger so the the pair could leave the scene. Franklin County First Assistant Prosecutor Janet Grubb, who oversees the office's criminal division, told The Dispatch on Wednesday she did not know why police issued a release saying someone other than Ortega was driving. She declined further comment. A spokeswoman for the Columbus Division of Police did not return a call Wednesday from The Dispatch seeking comment. Ortega is scheduled to appear in court on May 10 for an arraignment, according to Franklin County Common Pleas Court records. Columbus defense attorney Mark Collins, who is representing Ortega, told The Dispatch on Wednesday that Ortega will enter a plea of not guilty at the arraignment. He declined to comment further. Members of Abdirahman's family had previously expressed to The Dispatch frustration with the lack of transparency from Columbus police during the investigation and with how slowly the investigation progressed. They also have said they do not know why she was crossing Morse Road at the time of the fatal crash. Abdirahman was a member of the Columbus area's large Somali-American community, having emigrated to the United States as a young child. Government records indicated she was 30 years old at the time of her death, which is the age the prosecutor's office used in their news release. However, her family said she was born in January 1995 and was 27 at the time of her death. The mother of a now 2-year-old boy, Abdirahman was a graduate of Columbus' Centennial High School on the Northwest Side and had attended Columbus State Community College. Dispatch reporter Peter Gill contributed to this article. Eric Lagatta is a reporter at The Columbus Dispatch covering public safety, with a focus on in-depth coverage of social justice issues and crime trends. elagatta@dispatch.com @EricLagatta jlaird@dispatch.com @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus police detective indicted in fatal hit-skip of pedestrian For so many in the United States and around the world, our stories embody the American dream. As an immigrant from India and a descendant of Chinese immigrants, our experiences represent what Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders see as possible in the American dream. The American dream is about hope for the next generation, and this dream has served as a beacon for immigrants to the United States for more than two centuries. It has persevered through myriad global changes, challenges and opportunities including present-day competition with the Chinese Communist Party to determine whether our international order is liberal and democratic or illiberal and autocratic. Opinions in your inbox: Get exclusive access to our columnists and the best of our columns How anti-Asian hate crimes begin Competition can bring out the worst in us. An us-versus-them mentality has led to tragedies of our past: the lynchings of Chinese workers in the 1800s; incarceration camps of Japanese Americans during World War II; the murder of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American man who was killed in 1982 by those who blamed Japan for job losses; surveillance and xenophobic backlash against Muslim, Sikh, Arab, Middle Eastern and South Asian Americans after 9/11; and more than 11,500 anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents since the beginning of COVID-19. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders take action: Two years after the Atlanta spa shootings, AAPI community continues fight to stop hate Asian hate is on the rise: 'But the shooter was Asian!' That doesn't negate the reality of anti-Asian violence. Our communities have seen through our own countrys history what can happen when unchecked rhetoric fans the flames of prejudice. Japanese American incarceration didnt happen overnight in fact, the widely accepted targeting of Japanese Americans during World War II began with attacking the communitys leaders. We are now seeing alien land laws restricting the property ownership rights of individuals from specific countries being introduced in states across the country, just as we saw as far back as the 1800s when they targeted Asian immigrants. Story continues An us-versus-them mentality has led to tragedies of our past: the lynchings of Chinese workers in the 1800s; incarceration camps of Japanese Americans during World War II; the murder of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American man who was killed in 1982 by those who blamed Japan for job losses; surveillance and xenophobic backlash against Muslim, Sikh, Arab, Middle Eastern and South Asian Americans after 9/11; and more than 11,500 anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our government surveilled Muslim communities and mosques after 9/11, and now we must ensure that the civil rights of Chinese Americans are not eroded in the name of national security. We cannot allow history to repeat itself, and it is imperative that we learn from our past to ensure the safety of our communities today. This is precisely why it is so important that while some of our colleagues in Congress race to be the loudest voice speaking out against the Chinese Communist Party, it is equally critical that they, and Americans across the country, learn about our communities deep history and contributions to our nation. Ugly stereotypes damage our democracy Even as members of Congress today, we havent been immune to such hate. Recently, we saw one of our own colleagues consider the renewed focus on the Washington-Beijing relationship a green light to falsely and maliciously accuse Congresswoman Judy Chu of misplaced loyalties. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has also had his loyalty to the United States questioned. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Comments and actions like these arent just reprehensible and condemnable, they also are the antithesis of the American dream and damage the health of our democracy. Ugly stereotypes of Asian Americans as perpetual foreigners and "others" in our own land only serve to suppress our voices and limit our potential. We will continue to fight for an American dream that includes everyones stories. Its a dream we can attest to firsthand. Witness to a crime: As an Asian bystander at an anti-Asian crime, why did I do nothing? Here's what experts say. Fear, grief and resilience in Monterey Park, Calif: How we move forward after massacre in my hometown Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. If we seek to compete against China or any other country lets remind the world who we are at our best: a country that welcomes millions of Asian Americans and gives us an opportunity to succeed and the freedom to weave our identities into the American fabric. Its that strength that will carry us confidently into the future. An America that can outcompete anyone, anywhere, will be an America where Chinese Americans and all Asian Americans feel safe to build, innovate and do what every other immigrant group has done over the course of American history: realize the American dream. At a recent hearing of the Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, Congressman Krishnamoorthi reminded members of both sides of the aisle that "the CCP is counting on us being divided." That division cuts at the very core of our strength as a country. As he said then, and we say together in one voice now: We must rise to the occasion and prove them wrong. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., is the ranking member of the Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. Lets show the rest of the world what we know to be true: We dont need to tear down others to win the future. The American dream is strong enough on its own; we see it lived in ourselves, our families and our communities every day. Congresswoman Judy Chu, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, represents the 28th Congressional District of California. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, the ranking member of the Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, represents the 8th Congressional District of Illinois. You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: China needs a divided US. Anti-Asian hate, stereotypes help them The next round of elections in Sacramento will begin with a March primary, where some races could be determined. Other races might not be determined until the general election in November 2024. For the city of Sacramento, the offices of mayor, and council member for Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 will be on the ballot. No one will be a formal candidate for those positions until the nomination period begins in November 2023, but a number of people have announced their intent to run for the open seats or have started raising money. Heres a look at the candidates and potential candidates for each race. Sacramento mayoral race Darrell Steinberg was elected mayor in 2016. He is the former state senate pro tem. He has not yet announced whether he will run for a third term. Flo Cofer was the first candidate to formally announce a run for mayor. She is an epidemiologist, an activist against police brutality, and former chair of a city committee tasked with advising the council on how to spend new tax revenue. Jeff Harris, a former council member, has filed paperwork to raise money but has not made an announcement. He served on the council from 2014 through 2022, when he lost his District 3 seat due to redistricting. Steve Hansen, a former council member, has also filed paperwork to raise money, but has not made an announcement. He was the citys first openly gay council member. He lost his District 4 seat to Councilwoman Katie Valenzuela in 2020. Maggy Krell has also filed paperwork to raise money, but has not made an announcement. She serves as special advisor to the California Attorney General, and is former deputy for four attorney generals, specializing in sex trafficking prevention. She is also the former chief legal counsel for Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. District 2 City Council Sean Loloee is the sitting council member for the North Sacramento district. He has not yet announced whether he will run. Tamika LEcluse has announced she will run for the seat. She is an elected member of the American River Flood Control Board and a former staff member for Valenzuela. Story continues Kim Davie, a retired vice principal at Grant Union High School, has filed to raise money and has announced she is running. District 4 City Council Katie Valenzuela, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, is the sitting council member for the district. She has announced she will seek a second term. The district will include midtown, downtown, and East Sacramento. Phil Pluckebaum has announced he will run against Valenzuela. He is a former member of the citys Planning and Design Commission, and a project manager at UC Davis Health. District 6 City Council Eric Guerra is the sitting council member for the Southeastern Sacramento district. He was first elected in 2015 and has announced he will run again. He ran for state assembly in 2022, but lost to Assemblywoman Stephanie Nguyen. District 8 City Council Mai Vang is the sitting council member for the South Sacramento district. She has yet to announce whether she will seek a second term. This story, originally published April 25, will be updated periodically as new information becomes available. The filing deadline for all Sacramento candidates for the March 2024 primary election is Dec. 8. Alex Murdaugh has been hit with even more charges two months after he confessed to stealing millions of dollars from his law firm clients while testifying under oath at his double murder trial. The convicted killer was indicted on two counts of willful attempt to evade or defeat a tax by a South Carolina State Grand Jury last week, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced on Tuesday. He is accused of failing to report more than $2.1m of income earned through illegal acts in 2020 and 2021 owing the state $132,572 for the two years. In 2020 the year before the dramatic toppling of the legal scions empire he earned more than $1.1m in legitimate income from his law firm Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Elzroth and Detrick (PMPED) as well as $1.1m from his illegal fraud schemes, according to the indictment. However, he failed to file a tax return at all that year, owing $67,624 to the state of South Carolina. The following year when he shot dead his wife and son in cold blood on their $4m hunting estate Murdaugh earned $86,069 from PMPED and $1m through defrauding the company and its clients, the indictment says. He then allegedly evaded paying $64,948 of income tax for the 2021 tax year. Each count is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000. The new indictment marks only the latest legal trouble for the disgraced legal scion who is currently serving life in prison for the June 2021 murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul and is awaiting trial on a slew of financial crimes as well as a bizarre botched hitman plot. For the financial fraud scheme, he was already facing a staggering 99 charges from 19 separate indictments alleging he embezzled millions from PMPED and its clients going back at least a decade. In December, he was indicted on tax evasion charges for failing to report almost $7m of income earned through illegal means from 2011 to 2019. He owes the state $486,819 for these years, prosecutors say. Story continues Alex Murdaugh as he was sentenced to life in prison (AP) With the latest charges, Murdaugh is now facing a staggering 101 counts across 20 indictments related to his alleged financial crimes where he is accused of defrauding victims out of $8.8m and the state out of $619,000. The family killer is expected to stand trial on the financial fraud charges over the coming months where he faces up to 700 years in prison on these charges. However, he may have already incriminated himself on at least some of the charges after taking the stand at his murder trial. During courtroom testimony, he confessed to stealing millions from his clients and his company while continuing to insist he was innocent of his wife and sons murders. Even without the financial charges, Murdaugh will spend the remainder of his life in prison after he was found guilty on 2 March of murdering Maggie and Paul on the familys Moselle property back on 7 June 2021. Murdaugh, 54, was sentenced to life in prison the day after the verdict and is serving his time in the maximum security facility McCormick Correctional Institution in South Carolina. Murdaughs conviction has now shone a spotlight on some other mystery deaths tied to the South Carolina legal dynasty. Days on from the murders, an investigation was reopened into the 2015 death of Stephen Smith, who was found dead in the middle of the road in Hampton County. Alex Murdaughs new mugshot after he was sentenced to life in prison (South Carolina Department of Corrections) The openly gay 19-year-old had suffered blunt force trauma to the head and his death was officially ruled a hit-and-run. But Smiths family have long doubted this version of events, with the Murdaugh name cropping up in several police tips and community rumours. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has confirmed Smiths death is now being investigated as a homicide. An investigation was also reopened into another mystery death connected to the Murdaugh family that of their longtime housekeeper Gloria Satterfield. She died in 2018 in a mystery trip and fall accident at the family home. Murdaugh then allegedly stole around $4m in a wrongful death settlement from her sons. At the time of his murder, Paul was also awaiting trial for the boat crash death of Mallory Beach. Chinese infantry soldiers during a live firing drill in the city of Huaibei on Sunday. (Getty Images) The UK has urged China to be open about its "biggest military build-up in peacetime". Foreign secretary James Cleverly delivered a speech at Mansion House in London on Tuesday calling for China to be less secretive. However, Cleverly stressed that isolating China would be a "betrayal" of the UK's national interest. In a keynote address to the Lord Mayor's Easter Banquet, the foreign secretary warned: At this moment, China is carrying out the biggest military build-up in peacetime history. Watch: China displays military force towards Taiwan after US president's trip Secrecy can only increase the risk of tragic miscalculation." But how does China's military compare with the largest foreign forces around the world? Which country has the most active military personnel? According to US data group the World Population Review, China has the highest number of active-duty military personnel, with more than two million members. It is followed by India, which has almost 1.5 million, and the US, with just under 1.4 million. North Korea isn't too far behind the US, with almost 1.3 million troops. The only other country with more than one million active-duty military personnel is Russia, currently bogged down in its invasion of Ukraine. The UK was in 34th place for active military personnel, with 148,500 troops. Check out the interactive graphic below to see the full figures: Which country has the most military aircraft? When it comes to fighter jets and other military aircraft, China lags behind two countries the US and Russia. Citing data from Flight International magazine, World Population Review said the US has more than 13,000 aircraft in its military. Fighter jets from China's air force during a demonstration an air show in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, last November. (Getty Images) This includes more than 5,000 in the air force, more than 4,000 in the army, almost 2,500 in the navy and more than 1,000 in the marines. Russia has more than 4,000 aircraft, predominantly in its air force. China is in third place with more than 3,200 aircraft across its air force, army and navy. Story continues Check out the interactive graphic below to see the full figures: Which country has the highest military spending? The three biggest national spenders make up more than 50% of the world's expenditure on the military, according to figures published this week. Data released on Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) showed that the US was the biggest military spender in 2022, with almost $900bn. China was in second place, spending almost $300bn, with Russia in third, in the year it invaded Ukraine, with almost $90bn. The UK was in sixth place, spending almost $70bn on military expenditure in 2022. Which country has the most nuclear warheads? As of early 2023, nine countries possessed about 12,500 nuclear warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). It said that Russia and the US possess 89% of the world's total inventory of nuclear weapons. The nine countries with nuclear weapons and their stockpiles. (FAS) Russia tops the list with 5,889 nuclear warheads, although 1,400 of those are retired, giving it a military stockpile of 4,489. Of those, 1,674 are deployed in intercontinental missile and at bomber bases. The remaining 2,815 are classed as reserve or non-deployed, and are kept in storage. The US has a military stockpile of 3,708 nuclear warheads, while China is in third place with 410. The UK is in seventh position with a military stockpile of 105 weapons, according to FAS. Watch: UK warns Russia of 'severe consequences' of nuclear use weathered American flag painted on a cracked wall - Other countries issue US travel warnings Travel advisories are a common way for countries to provide guidance to their residents when traveling abroad. Similar to the U.S. State Department, some countries issue warnings or advisories to alert their citizens to potential risks when traveling to certain destinations. Despite the opinion of some, its not always the case that the U.S. is considered a safe destination. While many countries advise taking normal safety precautions when visiting the U.S., others are issuing general warnings about crime. At least one country currently has a heightened travel advisory in place for the United States. Others have warned against travel to America in the past due to incidents of violence and hate crimes. New Zealand Photo Credit: Matteo Colombo New Zealand categorizes its travel advisories into four levels, ranging from exercise normal safety and security precautions to do not travel. The current travel advisory level for the U.S. is 2 out of 4, meaning travelers are advised to exercise increased caution. New Zealands government attributes the rating to the threat of terrorism. The U.S. remains a target of terrorist interest from both international terror groups and domestic-based extremists. Citing credible information assessed by U.S. authorities, New Zealand warns that individuals or groups have developed both the intent and capability to conduct terrorist attacks in the U.S., which could be indiscriminate and affect places visited by foreigners. Canada Photo Credit: Daniel Joseph Petty The Canadian government advises taking normal security precautions similar to those taken in Canada. However, the government notes the high rate of firearm possession in the U.S. and that it is legal in many states for citizens to openly carry firearms in public. Incidents of mass shootings occur, which can result in casualties. The government advises tourists to familiarize themselves with how to respond to an active shooter situation. Additionally, Canada warns its residents about the risk of criminal incidents at the U.S.-Mexico border. Story continues Australia Photo Credit: Getty Images Australias travel warnings range from 1 to 4, with the U.S. classified under the lowest level of exercising normal safety precautions. Australia does, however, warn its citizens that violent and gun-related crimes are more common in the U.S. than in Australia. Additionally, the country warns of a persistent and heightened threat of terrorist attacks and mass casualty violence in the U.S., and advises people to remain vigilant when in public places or attending events. United Kingdom Photo Credit: Heidi Fin The UK government shares on its website that violent crime, including gun crime, is not a common occurrence involving tourists in the United States. The UK acknowledges that incidents of mass shootings can happen, although they account for a small percentage of homicide deaths. The government recommends that individuals read the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys guidance on how to respond to an active shooter event. France Photo Credit: Leonard Cotte Frances Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers the United States to be among the safest countries. The department does, however, advise travelers about certain urban areas and an increase in carjacking incidents nationwide. The ministry provides a breakdown of potential threats in neighborhoods in major U.S. cities, such as Boston, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. In Boston, the ministry recommends avoiding certain parts of Dorchester, Mattpan, and Roxbury when traveling alone, on foot, and at night. Similarly, travelers to Los Angeles should steer clear of certain areas, including east, south, and southeast neighborhoods like Watts, Inglewood, and Florence. Venezuela & Uruguay Photo Credit: Getty Images/apomares Two South American countries, Venezuela and Uruguay, issued travel warnings about the United States in 2019. Venezuela recommended that its citizens postpone travel to the U.S. or take extreme precautions due to the proliferation of acts of violence and indiscriminate hate crimes. Meanwhile, Uruguays Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged travelers to take extreme precautions in the face of growing indiscriminate violence, particularly hate crimes, due to the widespread possession of firearms by the U.S. population. It advised avoiding places with large concentrations of people such as theme parks, shopping centers, festivals, artistic events, religious activities, gastronomic fairs, and any type of mass cultural or sporting events. These warnings followed mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. RELATED: Heres What Other Countries Warn Their Citizens About Before Visiting The US Melissa McCarthy is a cover girl defining beauty as 'being exactly who you are' (Jordan Strauss / Invision/AP) Melissa McCarthy is gracing covers and redefining beauty its allowing other people to be who they are. When the "Little Mermaid star was chosen as People magazines 2023 Beautiful Issue cover girl, she thought, "Did my mom and my dad have the two main votes?" Clearly not, and the comedy stars definition of beauty proves shes a cover girl who knows a thing or two about what it really means to be beautiful. To McCarthy, beauty is allowing other people to be who they are. There's nothing more attractive and inspiring to me than when I see someone being OK with exactly who they are, she told People. Also looking at somebody else who's even their polar opposite and being like, that's great too. How boring would the world be if we were all the same? As long as you lead with kindness ... be exactly who and what you are. The Life of the Party star said she was flattered when People asked her to grace the cover, telling the magazine, "I felt like it was saying something really lovely to my younger self, to my 20-year-old self. And maybe to other people too." Along with a photo shoot that features McCarthy in various regal and decadent looks a gold sequined dress billowing with layers of tulle, and a purple mesh gown adorned with magenta and violet floral accouterments People produced a video interviewing the Saturday Night Live alum. McCarthy revealed that in high school, she got the itch to mix things up, then came the Mohawks and the blue hair. On the outside, I was a really good punk and gothic kid, but then I was terrible because I was really chatty. So I looked like I was going to maybe get into a fistfight. And then I was like, 'Hi! What's your name?'" In 2018, McCarthy sat down with The Times for an Actresses Roundtable and talked about the beauty in imperfection. For so many films you start to see these perfect especially women these perfect women, that I dont know, I dont know any. I dont know the pleasant, perfect, always quaff, perfect job, never says the wrong thing, she said. I dont know her, I dont want to know her, I dont think she exists. Story continues The Identity Thief star described the perfect-woman phenomenon as a disease, because it left audiences wondering, Is that what my life should be? Should I be perfect? Should I have to loom my own clothes and make organic baby food? She then said that the imperfections in characters are what make people relate, what make them fall in love. You play somebody whos aggressive and not great with their kids and someones like oh, shes unlikable and Im like, 'thats why you fall in love with people, you fall in love with their rudeness.' The Little Mermaid splashes onto the big screen May 26. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, is introducing a resolution that would condemn the Mexican president for threatening to meddle in U.S. elections in response to Republican moves to crack down on fentanyl smuggling across the border -- with the Texas lawmaker calling for a "united front" from Congress. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in March threatened to launch an "information campaign" after Republicans -- including Crenshaw -- had suggested that the U.S. may have to take military action against cartels in Mexico that are producing fentanyl and moving it across the border. Fentanyl is primarily produced in Mexico using Chinese precursors and then shipped across the U.S. land border. The illicit opioid, which is 50-100 times more potent than morphine and can be fatal in small doses, is responsible for over 70,000 American deaths a year. MEXICAN PRESIDENT PLEADS FOR CHINESE REGIME'S HELP ON FENTANYL CRISIS, SLAMS RUDE THREATS' FROM US Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, is seen outside a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. But with Republicans calling for more action against the cartels, including military interventions and Foreign Terrorist Organization declarations, Lopez Obrador pushed back and moved to punish Republicans at the ballot box instead. "Starting today we are going to start an information campaign for Mexicans who live and work in the United States and for all Hispanics to inform them of what we are doing in Mexico and how this initiative by the Republicans, in addition to being irresponsible, is an offense against the people of Mexico, a lack of respect for our independence, our sovereignty," he said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP MEXICAN PRESIDENT SAYS LACK OF HUGS AND EMBRACES NOT DRUG CARTELS TO BLAME FOR FENTANYL CRISIS "And if they do not change their attitude and think that they are going to use Mexico for their propaganda, electoral, and political purposes, we are going to call for them not to vote for that party, because it is interventionist, inhumane, hypocritical, and corrupt," Lopez Obrador said, later adding that Mexico would be insisting that "not one vote" goes to Republicans from Mexicans and Hispanics. Story continues Crenshaws resolution notes that foreign interference in another countrys election is "a violation of law and longstanding international customs, including the United Nations Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations " It also highlights that it is not the force time the controversial Mexican premier has made such threats, as in July 2022 he targeted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and said that Mexico is "going to ask our countrymen there that they dont vote for that candidate or party." MEXICAN PRESIDENT THREATENS TO MEDDLE IN US ELECTIONS WITH INFORMATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST REPUBLICANS The resolution calls on Lopez Obrador to retract his statements, commit to not interfering in U.S. elections and to "take action to ensure that no ministry or instrumentality acting on behalf of the Mexican Government takes any action to interfere with any election within the United States." At home, it calls on the State Department to monitor any Mexican efforts to interfere in U.S. elections, and calls on President Biden to denounce the remarks and also use the tools of government to protect from any interference. In a statement to Fox News Digital, called for an immediate vote on the resolution, and a united response from Congress to the remarks by supporting the resolution. "Instead of fighting the Mexican drug cartels that are killing Mexicans and Americans, President AMLO is fighting people like me who actually want to stop these murderous thugs. AMLO and his cronies have attacked me personally, victim-blamed Americans killed by fentanyl, and vowed to interfere in American elections to stop legislation that would target his cartel donors," Crenshaw said. "Attempts to intimidate American voters or intervene in our democratic process will not be tolerated. Republican leadership should bring this important resolution to the House floor immediately for a vote. Every Member of Congress should support this resolution to show a united front against AMLOs reckless rhetoric and his failure to stop cartels in his country from mass murdering Americans with fentanyl," he said. The threat from Lopez Obrador is just one of a number of highly inflammatory remarks he has made on the subject of fentanyl. He has falsely claimed that fentanyl is not produced in Mexico, while attributing the crisis to a "lack of hugs" in the U.S. rather than cartels in his country. He also wrote to Chinese President Xi Jinping requesting his help on the crisis, while simultaneously taking aim at American lawmakers. "Unjustly, they are blaming us for problems that in large measure have to do with their loss of values, their welfare crisis," her wrote. "These positions are in themselves a lack of respect and a threat to our sovereignty, and moreover they are based on an absurd, manipulative, propagandistic and demagogic attitude." Planes taking off and landing at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Folks checking out books from their neighborhood Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library branch. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers responding to crime reports. Fast food flying out of drive-thru windows to customers. Thousands of events big and small many of which repeat each day make up daily life for the more than 870,000 people who call Charlotte home. The Charlotte Observer is looking at some of the people who make Charlotte run each day in jobs that often are overlooked; the unseen Charlotte that keeps the city going. Here are just some of the numbers that define a day in the life of Charlotte: Observer staffers Anna Douglas and Catherine Muccigrosso contributed to the reporting of this story. On Wednesday, 19 Ukrainian soldiers arrived in Croatia for treatment, along with 9 members of their families. Source: Embassy of Ukraine in Croatia, reports European Pravda. Details: Croatia will provide the full range of medical, organisational and living needs for the defenders of Ukraine during their treatment, and family members will be provided with accommodations and support during their relatives' stay. "Croats know the vulnerability and pain of wounds sustained while defending their homeland. Therefore, on 16 March 2023, the Croatian government decided to provide assistance in the treatment and rehabilitation of the wounded from Ukraine," the embassy said. At the end of March, Croatian Veterans Affairs Minister Tomo Medved visited Ukraine together with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic to take part in a ceremony marking the anniversary of the liberation of Bucha. After the visit, he said that Croatia plans to accept wounded Ukrainian soldiers for treatment and rehabilitation. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Lori Vallow smiles at a camera after appearing in court on murder charges. East Idaho News/Tony Blakeslee The Idaho jury in the murder trial of Lori Vallow heard a jail call between her and her sister. In the call, Vallow said she deserved to be happy after the kids' deaths. Her sister called her selfish and demanded to know what happened to the children. BOISE, Idaho Lori Vallow, the doomsday prepper accused of conspiring to murder two of her children, her husband, and her lover's wife, could be heard telling her sister in a jailhouse phone call that she did not deserve to be a lonely widow. Vallow's younger sister, Summer Shiflet, took the stand in her murder trial Tuesday. The sisters' call that prosecutors played was recorded in the summer of 2020 while Vallow was in an Idaho jail after police found the remains of her adopted son, JJ Vallow, 7, and his teenage sister, Tylee Ryan. "I had to go on with my life," Vallow told Shiflet in the call, which was played for an Ada County, Idaho, jury Tuesday. "Trying to find happiness." Vallow's children were unearthed on the Idaho property of Chad Daybell, a doomsday prepper and preacher whom Vallow had married in November 2019, about two months after investigators believe her children were killed. In the emotional call, Shiflet expressed anger toward her sister, called her selfish, and urged her to tell her what transpired before the kids' deaths. Also on the call, Shiflet begged her big sister to reconsider her feelings for Daybell, a former gravedigger and apocalyptic novelist. "Please consider that Chad has lied and been deceived and you have been deceived," Shiflet told Vallow in the call. "There is nothing OK about killing children!" Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan were reported missing by their grandparents. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Vallow told her sister about her struggles with the children According to witness testimony, Vallow believed Daybell's teachings about chosen souls living "multiple lives" and being spiritually inseparable despite death. On the jailhouse call, Vallow became self-pitying, indignant, and possessive when Shiflet turned accusatory about her parenting. Story continues "Nobody sees me on the floor crying," Vallow told her sister about what it was like to parent the kids. "Nobody knows what I've been through with my children who I love more than anything. Mine." "I've taken care of them their whole life. Me. Me," Vallow said. Vallow snapped at her sister's suggestion that anyone else could have provided enough care for Tylee, who had pancreatitis, and JJ, who was diagnosed autistic. "We would have taken care of them," Shiflet said through tears. "That's what you think!" Vallow snapped back. "I would have taken them in a heartbeat," Shiflet said. "You have no idea," Vallow replied. Vallow, who wore a cream shawl to court Tuesday, listened to the call with her head cocked to the side while she sat still between her lawyers. Shiflet wept on the stand. Throughout the brief call, Shiflet accused Vallow of doing "the most incredibly selfish thing I can think of." She told her sister she was sick to her stomach and that she was the only one "stupid enough" to be her friend. "If you would tell me the truth I would stand up for you to the end of time," Shiflet said. Each time Shiflet asked Vallow to tell her what happened, Vallow said she could not. "I can't talk about it," Vallow said. "I would love to." Shiflet expressed the hurt she felt that Vallow did not tell her that their older brother, Alex Cox, had died. Before Cox's December 2019 death, which was ruled natural by the medical examiner, he conspired with Vallow in four murders, prosecutors say. "I'm glad he's gone if he was a part of this," Shiflet told Vallow before she added that withholding the news "caused pain throughout our entire family." "That was never my intention," Vallow said. Earlier in the day, an FBI agent testified to tracking Cox's cell phone to the locations of JJ and Tylee's graves on the September 2019 nights authorities believe they were killed. On cross-examination, Vallow's defense attorney Jim Archibald questioned Shiflet about the childhood she shared with Vallow, growing up in sunny Southern California in a churchgoing family of five siblings. Shiflet told the jury she and Vallow were very close, but that after 2018 her sister's new religious beliefs troubled her. "We had a good family," Shiflet said. "We had problems, but we had a lot of fun." On the jailhouse call, Vallow protested to her sister that she had been miscast as a monster by the press. "Everyone sees what's on TV, that's it," Vallow said. Sounding angry, Shiflet reminded Vallow that she and Daybell were filmed in Hawaii "dancing on a beach" in November 2019 after her kids were "thrown away like garbage." "Nobody knows," Vallow said. "I'm sorry honey." Read the original article on Insider Indias military trade with Russia has come to a halt following an exchange rate impasse, with up to $2 billion reportedly remaining unpaid over the past year. For instance, two S-400 air defense systems India placed an order for in 2018 remain undelivered, according to a bulletin by American Foreign Policy Council. Read more Spooked by the volatility in rupee-ruble exchange rate, the south Asian powers largest defence supplier has even stopped a $10 billion line of credit for spare parts. The threat of US sanctions dangles over India The sticking point for India is a potential violation of US sanctions if it pays Russia in US dollars. And Russia is unwilling to go by the rupee-trade mechanism as the ruble has risen nearly 8% against the rupee in the past financial year. That means lower earnings for Russia, eroding its competitive advantage over India. New Delhis own rupee-trade mechanism has not found many takers yet. While India can settle its arms trade in euros and dirhams, which are generally used for discounted Russian oil, that could evoke secondary sanctions from the US. These are aimed at discouraging companies or countries from engaging in specific transactions with countries facing primary sanctions. Trading in other currencies will also increase Indias costs due to unfavourable exchange rates, officials told Bloomberg. India is gradually reducing defence imports from Russia One of Indias oldest and sturdiest defence trade partners, Russias annual arms exports to the country ballooned by more than 450% in fiscal 2023 to $5.08 million, Indian commerce ministry data show. However, global supply chain disruptions, together with increased tensions along the border with Pakistan and China have, in recent years, fast-tracked Indias efforts to make weapons at home or diversify its sources of supply. Story continues This has led to an 11% drop in its total arms imports during 2017-2022, said the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) in a report last month. Russias position as Indias main arms supplier is under pressure due to strong competition from other supplier states, increased Indian arms production, the report stated. India has, meanwhile, been increasingly manufacturing several critical components for foreign companies. In fiscal 2023, its own defence exports hit an all-time high of $1.6 billion. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech government has made the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, the first person on its national sanctions list due to his support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said on Wednesday. Kirill, 76, was listed by his civil name of Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyayev on the sanctions roster, which is posted on the Foreign Ministry's website. His inclusion means he is barred from entry to the Czech Republic, a European Union and NATO member country, and banned from any financial transactions with Czechs. "His frequent public remarks supporting the war in Ukraine, justifying atrocities committed by Russian troops there, those are all clear evidence that can be publicly found," Lipavsky told a televised news conference. Patriarch Kirill is a close ally of President Vladimir Putin and has strongly backed the war in Ukraine, in which tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions driven from their homes. Russia denies accusations of war crimes in Ukraine. The 27-nation EU as a whole tried to put Kirill on its sanctions list last year but member states failed to find unanimity on the issue as Hungary opposed his inclusion. On Tuesday, Kirill branded Russians who fail to serve their country as "internal enemies" and described patriotism as the "greatest virtue", the RIA state news agency reported. (Reporting by Jan Lopatka; editing by Mark Heinrich) Pass-a-Grille Beach in Florida. Pass-a-Grille Beach in Florida. A man and his 10-year-old daughter died after they were carried away by a strong rip current during a family beach trip over the weekend, Florida authorities say. The man, 42-year-old Michael Stephens, was at Pass-a-Grille Beach on Sunday with his three daughters Isabella Stephens, 10, Trinity Stephens, 13, and Brittany Stephens, 20 and Brittanys boyfriend, Jessie Johnson, 20, when the incident occurred, the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office said in a press release. According to the sheriffs office, Michael Stephens was in the water with Isabella Stephens, Brittany Stephens and Johnson when they noticed a strengthening rip current. The Sheriffs office said Johnson was able to help Brittany Stephens out of the water, but when he went back to help the others, they were too far from shore. While Johnson worked to rescue the father and daughter pair from the current that had become too strong, Trinity Stephens called 911 for help. Just before 8 p.m., authorities spotted the dad and the 10-year-old about a half-mile off the coast. First responders took them to a local hospital, where they were pronounced dead, the release says. Pass-a-Grille is a small beach neighborhood about 30 miles southwest of Tampa. Detectives are still investigating the incident, but say the drownings do not appear to be suspicious. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warns that rip currents can be strong and move fast, and advises swimming parallel to the shore to escape them. Related... Photo: Jesse Grant, Lucy Nicholson (Getty Images) Its been less than one week since longtime Scientologist and alleged rapist Danny Masterson returned to Los Angeles court for a retrial, and Leah Remini, actress and well-documented anti-Scientology activist, is already center stage in the proceedings. As Mastersons defense attorney, Philip Cohen, clashed with Judge Charlaine Olmedo on Monday, Reminisurrounded by an entourage, per Deadlinewas present for the proceedings. While she was not a mainstay in Mastersons first trial last year, her recent attendance has become an issue for his defense. Remini tweeted Monday night: Before opening arguments began, Dannys Scientology-controlled lawyers tried to get the judge to throw me out of the courtroom based on the false premise that they had planned to call me as a witness in the trial. Read more 1. Today I attended the opening arguments in the rape trial of celebrity Scientologist Danny Masterson. I attended to show my support for the women who were not only brutally raped by Danny but then subjected to years of harassment by Scientology. Leah Remini (@LeahRemini) April 25, 2023 First, I am not on the witness list for the prosecution. Second, this shows how threatened Scientology is by the truth, she continued. Deadline, who was present in the courtroom, reported that Mastersons defense unsuccessfully sought to bar Remini from the proceedings, though shes a potential witness for the defense. Shawn Holley, another attorney for Masterson, told the outlet that Remini was a percipient witness to certain conversations. Though Reminis representatives did not immediately return Jezebels request for comment, Scientology spokesperson Karin Pouw said in an email: Story continues If you are going to write about Leah Remini, you cant do it without pointing out her continuous unwavering support for the rapist Paul Haggis and her continuous efforts to shame his victims. Isnt it obvious that for Remini this isnt about justice, its about finding every way she can to exercise her bigotry against Scientology through hate? It will be journalistic malpractice to write an article about Remini without pointing that inconsistency out, Pouw concluded. In November 2022, as the acclaimed director and ex-Scientologist was on trial for rape, Remini testified on his behalf, claiming that the lawsuit filed against him by his former publicist, Haleigh Briest, was fabricated by the institution in retaliation for his departure in 2009. The purpose of Scientology lawsuits is just to destroy your life, Remini told the court via video last year. Men and women who have been raped absolutely deserve justice. But in this case, its absolutely Paul who is the victim here. Meanwhile, the same sexual assault allegations litigated in Mastersons 2022 trial are once again being heard, despite a deadlocked jury last year. Given that all three Jane Does named in the proceedings are former Scientologists, the institution was mentioned often, despite the defenses attempts to exclude it. This time, however, Judge Olmedo has already advised against anything that would pose a distraction for the disturbing accusations. The court is not going to allow the parties to go into the weeds, she instructed the defense and the prosecution this week. Cohen has since suggested that the court refer to the Jane Does as accusers as opposed to victims. In 20 years on the court, I have never said that, I never would, Olmedo replied in her rejection of the ask. Masterson is currently free on bail for $3.3 million and faces a maximum sentence of 45 years to life if convicted. Per Deadline, the retrial is expected to last more than a month. More from Jezebel Sign up for Jezebel's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The author relaxes in Paris. The author relaxes in Paris. You Have a New Match! an excited beige box shouts at me. I had clicked on my dating app accidentally the night before while trying to open another app that starts with the same letter. I slide my finger over my phones surface, intending to shut the notification off. Instead, I launch the app. Instantly, a dark-haired Parisian wearing a slim-fitting black leather jacket smiles at me from his profile photo. Im sitting on a wicker chair, in a tiny open-air cafe next to the Tuileries, sipping my espresso on a small, wobbly round table, having traveled by myself to Paris from the U.S., where I live. What sense would it make to chat with this man? I wonder. Where would it go? Why would he click on my obviously American profile? Are Parisians interested in chubby, half-Asian women? I pick up my espresso and let the rich, velvety coffee aroma clear my thoughts down to the type of question that can either forge a new life path or land me as the main character on a true crime podcast: Why the hell not? A deliberateswipe right and a few engaging text exchanges later, and Tea Boat* (how he taught me to pronounce his French name), age 32, single, Scorpio, blood type B, a transplant from the south of France, and I decide to drink coffee together in the 2nd arrondissement the following day. Id thought I was the only one who had discovered the pleasures of dating while traveling solo. Then I met Danika* (not her real name), a Russian traveler who enjoyed a three-day whirlwind romance while visiting Brooklyn this past December. She had opened Tinder looking for company after her friend contracted COVID. Then a former classmate of mine told me she also connected deeply with an app date while traveling through Europe over the summer and has been chatting with him long-distance ever since. According to a 2018 survey conducted by Plenty of Fish, 49% of its users have gone on a date while on vacation, and another 46% at least open their dating apps to check out local singles while visiting another city. Apparently, swiping right on vacation is a waaaaaay more common practice than I realized. Story continues So, how did my date with Tea Boat go? We sat, facing one another, crammed between other patrons in Cafe du Centre. He ordered a cafe au lait while I, hungry from my mornings 20,000-step dash around Paris, requested a beef tartare. Tea Boat stared directly into my eyes and asked questions about my upbringing, dating history and romance philosophies. He referred to himself as stereotypically French, meaning that hes a fantastic lover and horrendous boyfriend. We both laughed, and after two hours, he reached his hand out and I took it, surprised at my impulsivity. We ambled through Paris with no destination in mind, and he dragged me across busy city streets while the light still shone red, insisting that true Parisians dont wait for the signal to turn. Please dont be so American about crossing the street, he teased. We eventually found ourselves sitting on a concrete wall facing the river Seine, in a scene straight out of a romantic movie, shoulders touching, staring at the dark silhouette of the Eiffel Tower. Well, I mutter. Ive really enjoyed meeting you. Moi aussi, Tea Boat says as he turns to face me. I see him glance down at my lips, and the same thought that got me into this date comes roaring back into my head why the hell not? I turn, and he caresses the nape of my neck, and our lips touch. They touch for quite a while. As the sun dips below the horizon, the lights of Paris slowly flicker on, Tea Boat walks me to the metro station and we bid each other farewell. It is, quite simply, the best date Ive been on in a long while. The author on vacation. The author on vacation. I havent spoken to Tea Boat since that afternoon. We didnt exchange socials, although Facebook did suggest him to me as someone you might know. But I prefer to leave the memory of Tea Boat alone just one unexpectedly romantic afternoon, strolling around Paris with a Frenchman Id just met. Since that first experience, Ive enjoyed coffee dates with locals in London and Dublin, though none rivaled my date with Tea Boat. Aware that Im alone in a foreign country, I always make sure someone knows where I am and meet my date in a well-lit public area. Unlike dating at home in Los Angeles, dating on vacation lacks the promise of longevity. Which raises the question why do I do it? Yes, it adds a certain flavor to my solo trips, and I get to meet the locals in a much more intimate way. But, beyond that, when I meet someone knowing our time together is limited, I am choosing to live in and enjoy the current moment. On vacation, I dont ask, Do we have a future? Will he text me? Do I call? Are we going on a second date? Is he the one? Our time together is brilliant and short, like a shooting star. And with all the traditional rules thrown out the window, I am able to focus on the most beautiful part of spending time with another human the connection we form with one another. Do you have a compelling personal story youd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what were looking for here and send us a pitch. Related... A woman accused of killing her mother in Oak Island in 2018 will soon face trial in Brunswick County. A woman accused in the 2018 killing of her mother will soon face trial in Brunswick County Superior Court. Julia Louise Copenhaver, of Springfield, Va., was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in late October 2018 in connection with the slaying of her mother, Susan Copenhaver, in Oak Island. Julia Copenhaver was 24 years old at the time. Jon David, district attorney for Brunswick, Bladen and Columbus counties, said Julia Copenhavers murder trial is currently slated for late May. 'Fairly gruesome' scene On the morning of Oct. 25, 2018, Oak Island police performed a welfare check at 139 Northeast Second St. and found a woman dead inside the home. At the time of the incident, then-Brunswick County assistant district attorney Glenn Emery described the scene as fairly gruesome. According to Susan Copenhaver's autopsy, the 63-year-old woman suffered dozens of stab wounds: 35 to the head, 10 to the neck, 18 to the torso and more than two dozen to her extremities. Susan Copenhaver's body also showed evidence of extensive blunt-force injuries, including to her head, the autopsy reports. According to the autopsy, Susan Copenhaver's left leg was severed below the knee after she died. The medical examiner's investigation report states that Copenhaver's body was found in a walk-in closet in the master bedroom of the home, wrapped in a quilt. A trash bag containing a small fire extinguisher, used paper towels and clothing was found near the body, the report says. The report states that the bed had been stripped, and blood-soiled linens were found in the home's washing machine. Near the entrance to the master bedroom, another bag containing a bloody pair of scissors, a butcher's knife and a hammer was also found. Susan Copenhaver lived part-time in Oak Island, according to past StarNews reports. Julia Copenhaver allegedly sat on the couch in the home as police searched for her mother. In calls to 911 dispatchers, family members of the suspect and victim said Julia Copenhaver was experiencing a psychotic break and hadnt been taking her prescribed medication at the time of the killing. Story continues One family member told dispatchers Julia Copenhaver had recently checked herself out of a state mental hospital against medical advice and had been unreachable after abruptly leaving the familys home in Virginia the day before the alleged attack. Awaiting trial Following her arrest, Julia Copenhaver was held in custody without bond, where she remains awaiting trial. About a month following her arrest, Julia Copenhaver was moved to the N.C. Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh. A safekeeping order issued the day after her arrest said Brunswick County Jail staff requested the move, stating Julia Copenhaver has an extensive mental health history and was in need of treatment the medical staff at the county jail was unable to provide. The request also came after she was charged with malicious conduct by a prisoner after reportedly spitting at a guard. Julia Copenhavers trial is currently slated to begin May 22. Jamey Cross covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter @jameybcross. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Daughter charged in moms Oak Island killing to face trial David Surette with mandolin KITTERY, Maine Renowned Seacoast musician David Surette would be gratified to know the music festival he began more than two decades ago to celebrate the joy of the mandolin will continue. The 20th annual Mandolin Festival, renamed the David Surette Mandolin Festival, will kick off with a Seacoast concert 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 5 at the Dance Hall in Kittery, followed by workshops and a Saturday concert in Concord, N.H. May 6 and May 7. The festival, named after the beloved South Berwick musician who died in 2021, is being organized by his wife and musical partner, Susie Burke, and their daughters, Julianna and Isa, in conjunction with the Concord NH Community Music School. Surette was a beloved teacher and mentor at the music school, in his local studio and across the country for over 30 years. "David really loved sharing his enthusiasm for the mandolin and for music-making in general. He was an inspiring musician and teacher, and I was lucky to live, work and perform with him for 35 years. I am so pleased that our daughters Isa and Julianna are part of the festival and will be performing at both concerts with me as well", Burke said. Carrying this event forward is such a meaningful way to honor their dad. Mandolin instructors clockwise from top left: Keith Murphy, Skip Gorman, Steve Roy and Marla Fibish Over the years, teacher/performers have come from all across the US and as far away as Italy to be part of the festival. The concerts will showcase the diversity of the mandolin and 2023s performers, as they play bluegrass, Celtic, French-Canadian, old-time music and more. Californian Marla Fibish, known for her fluid mandolin and mandola playing, will perform original and traditional Irish tunes. Skip Gorman, one of the countrys leading players of Bill Monroe-style bluegrass mandolin, is also a fiddler whose pieces have been featured in several Ken Burns documentaries. Newfoundland native Keith Murphy offers music of Eastern Canada, as well as original tunes played in a lyrical, rhythmic style. Finally, Steve Roy will offer a variety of styles on mandolin, with improvisation and drive being hallmarks of his playing. Surette started the festival more than 20 years ago as a Saturday of workshops. After just a couple of years, it grew into a two-day event, with four teachers offering workshops, jam sessions, a popular Q & A roundtable, and two concerts. Tickets for the Friday night show in Kittery are available at https://www.thedancehallkittery.org/events/david-surette-mandolin-festival-kickoff-concert. Information on the workshops and Saturday's concert can be found at https://www.ccmusicschool.org/david-surette-mandolin-festival/. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: David Surette Mandolin Festival returns Davidson College is condemning a photo circulating on social media that shows racist and antisemitic graffiti on school grounds. In a statement Wednesday, a representative for the college said the graffiti was found on the blackboard of an outdoor classroom. This act is threatening and an affront to the sense of community that binds us, the statement reads. At Davidson, all of us are called to honor the dignity and worth of every person. We value religious and racial diversity and inclusion, while we deplore racism and bigotry and advocate for a more just world. ALSO READ: Student disciplined after posing in racist photos No one knows who is responsible, but it was the talk of the campus. Sadly, its kind of a reflection of where the world is today, said Ellie Johnson, a student. Johnson said the images disturbed her. Hate still exists, sadly, Johnson said. Students said the graffiti was on the blackboard over the weekend. This was very eye-opening to see that even in our seemingly inclusive community, that terrible things like this can happen, said Lexie Vonderluft, a student. I was horrified by the caricature drawings of the Jewish and Black people on the blackboard and I was shocked to see the slurs written there for anyone to see in that outdoor classroom. The school stressed that its community should feel safe and supported on campus. Even though we know that racism and bigotry exist in our society, it is still shocking and distressing when they show up on campus in such a bold and aggressive way and with messages of violence, the statement says. This violation wounds people we love and value. We all need to recognize and respect their pain. We need to speak up to defend and support them and our values as a community. The school vowed to support community members who feel targeted and said Davidson police are investigating. Officers are also increasing their presence to ensure the safety of students and staff, the school said. Story continues Students are supporting each other after the discovery. I reached out two both of my Jewish friends and checked in on them and I think many people did that just on a personal level, said Carolina Thompson, a student. Davidson Colleges Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion, Chaplains Office and Counseling teams are available for students who need support. The school also encouraged employees to contact the Employee Assistance Program. Thank you for your support of each other, the statement concludes. This hate crime is not an isolated incident A large group of Jewish students at Davidson College released a statement regarding this incident saying, this hate crime is not an isolated incident. Were not surprised by it. The administration has not done enough to respond. Its really disheartening and its also scary that this is such a blatant act of antisemitism, said Nina Worley, a student. Worley and her friend Isabelle Polgar felt compelled to write a letter about the incident to the administration saying the schools response doesnt go far enough. The response from the school was very general and sadly lackluster, Polgar said. It didnt address Jewish students. They never reached out to Jewish students. The students feel like the school is treating it like an isolated incident. They believe its a pattern. I think the campus needs to come together and realize this is not an isolated incident antisemitism lives on this campus. Racism lives on this campus, Worley said. As somebody who is the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, somebody who went through that experience, I felt that sense of fear in my bones, like Im never going to be safe on this campus. Full statement from the students: Dear President Hicks, Dean Rigger, and Dean McCrae, Wed first like to thank you for sending this message to the Davidson community. It is important that the administration keeps affirming that Davidson is a space for religious, ethnic, and racial minorities. We would also like to express some concerns we have about the statement. We worry that this response has not recognized the real and persistent history of racism and antisemitism on Davidsons campus. The statement treats the incident as isolated, ignoring the long history of the exclusion of Jews from Davidsons faculty and student population. Further, the statement has no mention of the history of antisemitism at Davidson, including the Neo-Nazi incident that occurred on our campus four years ago. We feel that it is wrong and dangerous to treat this weekends hate crime as separate from the larger history of Jew-hatred at Davidson. (As Jewish students, we can only write about the impact this has had on our community; we imagine there is a similar frustration among Black students who have also been directly targeted). We ask that the college recognize the true breadth of the problem so that we can begin an honest conversation about Davidsons past and about the efforts to make Davidson safe for Jews and other marginalized groups moving forward. The recent hate crimewhether perpetrated by a Davidson student or notshould spark a proper reckoning. Discussing the incident and learning about the history of racism and antisemitism can equip students with the skills to prevent further hate crimes on our campus, even as antisemitism rises at the national level. We hope Davidson will respond to this incident with a forceful plan to educate the campus community about the antisemitic and racist tropes found this weekend. We worry that if action is not taken on campus and in the classroom, Davidson risks letting its students graduate into an increasingly Jew-averse world without understanding the complex cultural, religious and historical nature of Jewishness. When the school decides not to contest Neo-Nazi tropes in its classrooms, Davidson becomes an accomplice to hate. Below, we have listed several action items that Davidson can take to support Jewish students and combat antisemitism. Provide students with appropriate resources directly after hate crimes occur. Create a space for the community to reflect, heal, and express their needs. Provide educational resources from antisemitism experts, organizations like the Anti-Defamation League, and regional Holocaust museums. Develop an interdisciplinary Jewish Studies program at Davidson. A classroom-based approach must be the cornerstone of the effort to make Davidson a safe space for Jewish students. Establish a permanent space for Jewish students on campus. Allow Jewish students and other religious minorities to have access to the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusions resources. The Center can provide Jewish students with the professional support and bias education & response resources they need to deal with the antisemitism they encounter in their daily lives. Consult Jewish students and other groups targeted by hate speech, vandalism, or other discrimination immediately following an incident. Prioritize their feedback and concerns in the Colleges response. We hope that in the coming days there will be a more active effort to support the communities targeted by this incident. There has been, to our knowledge, no effort to specifically reach out to Jewish students on campus. In this time of uncertainty, Davidsons Jewish community appreciates your eagerness to stamp out hate. We look forward to working together toward robust and permanent change on our campus. Thank you for your careful attention. Channel 9 has reached out to Davidson College for a response to these allegations. We are waiting to hear back. CMS encourages parents to talk to children about posting on social media Also on Wednesday, officials with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools sent a message to parents about a video on social media involving an Ardrey Kell High School student. The district couldnt talk about the video, but officials asked families to take some time to speak with their children about things they say, record and share on social media. They have the potential to negatively impact their peers, the school, and their own well-being. The district also said it doesnt condone students responding with their own posts or threats. (WATCH BELOW: 6 former employees sue Charlotte company alleging racist practices) Davidson College is investigating who drew a racist and antisemitic image on a blackboard in an outdoor classroom over the weekend. College officials, including President Doug Hicks, called the image a threatening act, and Davidson College Campus Police are stepping up their presence adding patrols around outdoor classrooms, for example to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff. The private liberal arts college is making teams from the Center of Student Diversity and Inclusion, Chaplains Office and counselors available to students. The vandalism involved a blackboard near the Alvarez College Union with slurs, swastikas, a drawing of Hitler in chalk and a handwritten message about killing Jews and n*******. We will support the members of our community who feel targeted, college officials said in a news release also posted to the colleges Instagram page. At Davidson, all of us are called to honor the dignity and worth of every person. We value religious and racial diversity and inclusion, while we deplore racism and bigotry and advocate for a more just world. Jay Pfeifer, Davidsons director of media relations, told The Charlotte Observer on Wednesday that Davidsons campus is open to the community and has a handful of outdoor classrooms that anyone has access to. Pfeifer confirmed there was a concert on campus Friday evening rapper Rico Nasty performed that was open to the community. Pfeifer would not elaborate on any other details of the ongoing investigation. Clyde Dwyer, a Davidson College sophomore and member of the Jewish Student Union, told the Observer he feels angry and disgusted over the graffiti. As a Jew, I feel threatened and unsafe knowing that such violent hate exists in the Davidson community, Dwyer said. It is particularly upsetting that this incident comes at a time when the college seems to have been making progress in addressing its historical mistreatment of minority groups and its role in slavery. Davidson has apologized for its history, which involved enslaved people making bricks for the colleges original buildings, and announced a memorial in their honor. Story continues Dwyer says Davidson College has an obligation to hold whoever did this accountable in a way that ensures Jewish and Black students feel safe and respected on campus. Tair Giudice, the chief impact officer at the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, issued a statement Thursday saying she was deeply disturbed by the colleges finding. We commend Davidson College for swiftly condemning this incident and working to investigate it further, Giudice said. As antisemitism is on the rise in North Carolina, we encourage our community to continue to speak out against all forms of hate. Federation is working closely with local Jewish clergy to address this incident and to ensure that Jewish students feel safe on campus. It came out of nowhere Antisemitic incidents are on the rise across North Carolina, according to results of the Anti-Defamation Leagues annual audit released in March. The league reported 39 antisemitic incidents across the state last year, up from 30 in 2021. The number of incidents in 2022 marks a 200% increase from the 13 incidents logged in 2020. Tair Giudice, who works for the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, told the Observer in March the majority of recent incidents occurred in K-12 schools. There are around 15,000 Jewish Charlotteans out of 870,000 Charlotte residents, according to Jewish Heritage North Carolina. The Southern Poverty Law Center said Federal Bureau of Investigation data show a 27% increase in hate crimes from 2020 to 2021, and a significant number of those crimes were against Black people. Last week, a student at Lake Norman High School was disciplined after posting a racist photo on social media. The photo was shared across social media and included the student in a Lake Norman High graduation robe wearing a white pointed hat that commonly represents white supremacy, district officials said. The photo had the caption: The South will rise again. Ethan Rodier, a senior at Davidson College, says he immediately checked on his Jewish friends to make sure they were safe on campus after hearing about the blackboard graffiti. The shock factor comes from the fact that it really came out of nowhere, Rodier said. The Jewish Student Union has made a lot of progress over the last few years getting the Jewish student bodys presence more recognized and respected on campus. So, because of that, it was hurtful and disappointing to see this. Rodier, co-president of the Jewish Student Union, says its the first time hes heard of any serious cases of antisemitism on campus since 2018. That year, two students were accused of making racist and antisemitic posts on social media. Apologizing for its past Last month, Davidson College announced plans for a memorial to honor the enslaved and exploited people who helped build the college. A bronze sculpture two large, work-worn hands will sit among four campus buildings fashioned from those bricks in the mid-1800s. The memorial, named With These Hands: A Memorial to the Enslaved and Exploited, has a spring 2025 planned completion date. Its part of the college reconciling with its past, Hicks said. Davidson College apologized in 2020 for supporting slavery during its first 30 years in the 19th century and for what the college called its embrace of the racist laws and policies in subsequent decades, The Observer reported. The apology followed a two-year examination of the colleges ties to slavery and racist policies by a campus commission headed by Davidson alumnus Anthony Foxx, the former Charlotte mayor and U.S. Secretary of Transportation. On this day in history, April 26, 1865, President Abraham Lincolns assassin, John Wilkes Booth, was killed when Union soldiers tracked him down to a farm in Virginia 12 days after he fatally shot the president of the United States. On April 14, 1865, Booth, 26, an actor, shot Lincoln during a performance at Fords Theatre in Washington, D.C. Booth entered the state box of Fords Theatre, according to the National Park Service (NPS) archives getting past a bodyguard to do so. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, APRIL 25, 1990, HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE PLACED IN ORBIT BY SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY "It was then that John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln in the back of the head with a .44 derringer pistol during a performance of the play Our American Cousin," the site says. Lincoln, immediately unconscious, was examined by physician, Dr. Charles Leale, who "determined that the head wound was mortal. He made the decision to have President Lincoln carried to the closest bed that was available in proximity to the theater." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. president, "was laid down onto a wood-framed spindle bed, diagonally as the bed was too short, and there died 9 hours later at 7:22 a.m. on April 15, 1865," in Washington, D.C. Dr. Leale and several men carried the unconscious president to the Petersen Boarding House across the street from the theater, the site notes. "A boarder at the house, Henry Safford, directed the group to the boarding house, and ushered them into a small room at the end of a first floor hallway. Lincoln was laid down onto a wood-framed spindle bed, diagonally as the bed was too short, and there died 9 hours later at 7:22 a.m. on April 15, 1865," says the site. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles spent the night in the Petersen House with the dying president, along with his wife, who was close to Mrs. Lincoln, says History.com. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, APRIL 15, 1865, PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN PASSES AWAY Welles wrote this in his diary: "It was a dark and gloomy morning, and rain set in [...]. Large groups of people were gathered every few rods, all anxious and solicitous," the site chronicles. Story continues One "or more from each group stepped forward as I passed, to inquire into the condition of the president, and to ask if there was no hope. Intense grief was on every countenance when I replied that the president could survive but a short time. The colored people especially and there were at this time more of them, perhaps, than of Whites were overwhelmed with grief," Welles also wrote, using the terminology of the day. Booth was a Maryland native and a strong supporter of the Confederacy, says History.com. As the Civil War entered its final stages, Booth hatched a conspiracy to kidnap the president and also enlisted the help of several associates but the opportunity never presented itself, according to the same source. "After the surrender of Robert E. Lees Confederate army at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on April 9, Booth changed the plan to a simultaneous assassination of Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State William Seward," the site indicates. "Only Lincoln was actually killed, however. Seward was stabbed by Lewis Paine but survived, while the man assigned to kill Johnson did not carry out his assignment." After shooting Lincoln in Fords Theatre, Booth jumped down from the presidents box and tumbled onto the stage, says History.com. Booth shouted, "Sic Semper Tyrannis" the same line spoken by Brutus when he assassinated Julius Caesar, meaning "thus always to tyrants," as the American Battlefield Trust notes. Meanwhile, "at almost the same moment Booth fired the fatal shot, his accomplice, Lewis Powell (alias Lewis Paine, Lewis Payne), attacked Lincoln's Secretary of State William Henry Seward at his home on Lafayette Square. Seward lay in bed, recovering from a carriage accident," the Library of Congress notes. A HISTORY OF US PRESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ASSASSINATED Powell entered the mansion, claiming to have a delivery of medicine from the secretary's doctor, the site also says. "Seward's son, Frederick, was brutally beaten while trying to keep Powell from his father's door. Powell slashed the secretary's throat twice, and then fought his way past Seward's son Augustus, an attending hospital corps veteran, and a State Department messenger." Even though Booth broke his leg when he leaped onto the Ford's Theatre stage, he still managed to escape the building through a side exit. In the alley outside the theater, he mounted a horse and rode away, joined by an accomplice David Herold, the site also says. In this engraving from 1886, John Wilkes Booth is depicted preparing to shoot President Abraham Lincoln. Right after this, he leaped out of the box and onto the stage of Ford's Theatre escaping through a side exit. A manhunt ensued. Booth and Herold rode through the night on horseback, arriving at about four oclock in the morning at the house of Dr. Samuel Mudd in southern Maryland. "Mudd splinted Booths broken leg and allowed the pair to rest in his home," the same source indicates. "Mudd had been a conspirator in Booths earlier plot to kidnap Lincoln, but he didnt know that Booth killed the president." ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1864, ATLANTA COLLAPSES AND BURNS AS CONFEDERATES FLEE The next day, Mudd read about Lincolns assassination in the morning newspaper, says History.com. "Upon realizing he was housing a fugitive, Mudd kicked Booth and Herold out of his home but he did not turn them in." By this time, more than 1,000 Union soldiers were searching for Booth and Herold. The bounty for the capture of Booth, Herold and a third accomplice totaled $100,000, says History.com Booth and Herold continued their escape south on horseback. For four days the fugitives hid out in Zekiah Swamp and were given supplies, food, water and newspapers by sympathizers and accomplices. On April 26, 12 days after the shooting, troops arrived at a farm in Virginia, "just south of the Rappahannock River, where Booth was hiding in a tobacco barn," notes Brittanica.com. Herold "gave himself up before the barn was set afire, but Booth refused to surrender," the site says. After being shot by Union troops, he was moved to the porch of the farmhouse where he died. "The body was identified by a doctor who had operated on Booth the year before, and it was then secretly buried," the site says. Illustration depicting Abraham Lincoln reading the draft of the Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet in 1862. Undated. The Library of Congress says there were at least four conspirators in addition to Booth involved in the incident. "Four co-conspirators, Lewis Powell, George Atzerodt, David Herold and Mary Surratt, were hanged at the gallows of the Old Penitentiary, on the site of present-day Fort McNair, on July 7, 1865," says the website. President Lincoln, who served as president from 1861 to 1865, issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 that declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy, says Whitehouse.gov. Lincoln delivered the 272-word Gettysburg Address on Nov. 19, 1863, on the battlefield near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as Cornell University and other sources note. The first sentence is, "Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER President Lincoln's legacy is based on his momentous achievements: He successfully waged a political struggle and civil war that preserved the Union, ended slavery and created the possibility of civil and social freedom for African Americans, notes the Smithsonian. Says the site, "One of the great unanswerable questions in American history centers on how our nations social trajectory might have changed had Lincoln lived to serve out his second term." On May 4, 1865, Lincoln was laid to rest in Lincoln Tomb in his hometown of Springfield, Illinois. A damaged sign lies outside the wreckage of Plaza Towers Elementary School, where seven children were killed when a tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma, in May 2013. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) A decade ago, two powerful tornadoes went down in the history books, serving as a deadly reminder of how violent Tornado Alley can become and how quickly. Next month will mark the 10-year anniversary of the pair of tornadoes that tore through Oklahoma. On May 20, 2013, a massive tornado rated at EF5 strength on the Enhanced Fujita Scale rocked Moore, Oklahoma, and surrounding cities, killing 24 and leaving hundreds injured. The destructive path of the twister, roughly 20 miles, caused around $2 billion in damage in 2013 USD, and the tornado remains the most recent EF5 to have touched down in the United States. Just days later, on May 31, roughly 35 miles northwest of Moore in El Reno, Oklahoma, a tornado left eight people dead and became the widest tornado on record. Here's how these catastrophic monsters unfolded. The impacts in the Moore area began southwest of Newcastle, Oklahoma, as winds picked up, causing damage to numerous homes and barn roofs. However, storm surveys would later determine that there wasn't enough evidence to indicate that's where the twister began its rampage. The official beginning of the tornado was in the northwestern part of Newcastle, just south of Oklahoma Highway 37, where trees began to fall rapidly. This May 21, 2013, file photo shows the remains of houses in Moore, Oklahoma, following a tornado on May 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File) The tornado moved northeast, crossing the highway and traveling less than a mile before producing damage consistent with EF4 strength. While crossing the nearby Canadian River, the tornado ripped apart two sections of a steel highway bridge from their concrete pillars. The tornado quickly widened while barreling through, reaching a maximum width of 1,737 meters, or a little over a mile. Story continues When it reached Moore, in the southern outskirts of Oklahoma City, the tornado maintained EF4 strength as it destroyed a small strip mall and two farms before striking Briarwood Elementary School. The destructive force consistent with an EF5 tornado decimated the school and surrounding areas, including damage to a housing complex nearby. The Westmoor neighborhood, where the housing complex was located, was the site of the tornado's first fatalities. A child is carried through the aftermath of a destructive EF5 tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, in May 2013. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) More lives were lost when the tornado hit Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore. Seven children died at the school when a wall collapsed. "To have seven children die in their school was pretty tough," longtime Moore Emergency Director Garland Kitch told AccuWeather in 2018. "People aren't supposed to die on my watch." Just south of the school, homes were swept off their foundations, even though many of the houses were constructed after a May 1999 F5 tornado rocked the area. However, the impacts were far from over in Moore as the massive tornado charged into surrounding neighborhoods, eventually destroying a convenience store and killing three people. The Moore Medical Center was the next target in the twister's destructive path, with the tornado tossing parked vehicles aloft, including one that came to rest on top of the two-story building. After destroying several businesses near the medical center, the tornado continued eastward across Interstate 35, hitting more spots before it lifted. One building heavily damaged was Highland East Junior High School, where the twister destroyed the southern portion of the school and caused injuries. Moore had suffered catastrophic tornado strikes before the 2013 storm, but the massive 2013 twister was the final straw that led to a storm shelter program in the city. In May 1999, an F5 tornado struck Moore and killed 36 people. Tornadoes also hit the city in May 2003 and May 2010, with the May 2010 tornado rated as an EF4. In the years following the 2013 tornado, the focus in Moore turned to the reconstruction of homes and businesses, including rebuilds of both Briarwood and Plaza Towers elementary schools. Both schools were also outfitted with storm shelters as part of the rebuild. More than 1,600 homeowners added tornado shelters to their homes in the years following the twister. The shelter additions were part of a rebate program funded by over $4 million in donations from the American Red Cross. The destruction caused by a tornado is visible in Moore, Oklahoma, on Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey) New building codes were adopted in Moore in 2014, requiring homes to withstand winds of up to 135 mph. "If you can keep part of somebody's roof from blowing off to begin with, then that keeps that piece of the house from impacting their neighbor's house," Kitch said. "It's kind of a domino effect." GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Less than two weeks later, the Oklahoma City area was again the target of a volatile severe weather outbreak brought on by an unstable atmosphere of daytime heat and a stationary front over central Oklahoma. Storms became tornadic rapidly, with the first tornado of the day touching down in Kingfisher County; however, that tornado produced minimal damage. Less than an hour later, a more powerful tornado, dubbed the "El Reno Tornado," developed and decimated areas just south of the city. Damaging numerous homes and businesses near El Reno, the tornado quickly expanded in size and wind speed while passing southwest of the El Reno Municipal Air Park. This photo shows a heavily damaged white Chevy Cobalt near the intersection of Reuter Road and S. Radio Road, or 4.8 miles southeast of El Reno, OK. Three storm chasers were killed when this vehicle was hit by one of sub-vortices within the larger circulation of the "El Reno" tornado. (Photo via NWS Storm Survey) The tornado's expansion was rapid enough that it is now known as the widest tornado on record, with a maximum width of 2.6 miles. The speed intensification peaked at a 302-mph estimated doppler wind speed, similar to the wind speed record held by the May 1999 Moore tornado. Initially also rated as an EF5-strength tornado by the National Weather Service, the El Reno tornado was later downgraded to an EF3 tornado due to a lack of visual damage. However, the human toll was still immense, as the tornado killed eight people, all of whom were in vehicles. Three storm chasers, Tim Samaras, his son Paul Samaras and Carl Young, were killed east of U.S. Highway 81. "He's mostly going to be remembered as somebody who tried to help save lives," Jim Samaras told Reuters of his brother Tim. "He died doing what he loved and literally put his life on the line to save others." AccuWeather Storm Chaser and Meteorologist Tony Laubach knew the three well and chased with them often. "I was exceptionally tight with all three of them," he said, adding that the emblem from the car they drove that fateful day hangs on a wall in his house to memorialize his lost friends. "It still doesn't make sense ... it doesn't seem fair," Laubach said. "They were doing research. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Their legacy just isn't very well honored. These guys were three of the most experienced chasers in the field." Three more people died near the highway while attempting to escape the tornado. Two people were also reportedly killed along Interstate 40 while waiting for the storm to pass. In all, approximately 300 storm chaser groups observed the El Reno tornado. Findings eventually ended up on a website for the El Reno Survey Project, consolidating visual material collected by storm chasers into a database for storm researchers. Laubach was parked in a driveway at a house outside of El Reno as he chased the monster tornado. "Once I couldn't see what I was looking at - it got wrapped in rain - I took off," Laubach recalled. The house he was parked in front of was destroyed about 45 seconds later. "I had no clue the danger I was in. I had a clock in my head that said, 'Time's up. I'm outta here,'" Laubach said. He reflected that he was likely within the wider circulation of the tornado. Still, there were smaller vortices that Laubach described as looking like "full-fledge cone tornadoes rotating around the main circulation." The El Reno tornado was accelerating and becoming larger and rain-wrapped when Tony Laubach decided it was time to leave his storm-chasing post. (Tony Laubach) He described his story as "the most uninteresting harrowing story you will hear," due to the lack of visible debris flying around his vehicle or nearby. But Laubach said he just knew he had to flee the area where he was parked. Laubach later connected with the couple who lived in the destroyed home. They contacted him after seeing his storm footage on YouTube and explained that he had taken the last footage of their home before it was demolished. He remains in touch with the homeowners to this day. Many lessons were learned from the destructive storm, yet the tornado serves as a reminder that Mother Nature can always spin up exceptions. "We study tornadoes for years and years and years," Laubach said. "And just when you think you know how it works, nature spits out something like El Reno, and you go back to the drawing board." The deadly 2013 tornado was not the first of its kind in El Reno. The city was hit by an EF5 tornado in 2011, resulting in 11 deaths and 293 injuries. In 2019, an EF3 tornado rocked the city again, causing two fatalities and 29 injuries. Visit www.accuweather.com/tornadoweek to follow along with coverage. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. "The future development of Chinese film market should not only be bigger and stronger, but most importantly, Chinese films must go out," said award-winning director Zhang Yimou at a press conference during the 13th Beijing International Film Festival in the Chinese capital on April 25, 2023. "We must also let Chinese culture, Chinese works and Chinese sentiments reach the world. People who love movies, from all over the world, should come to see and enjoy our films. Only when we've achieved this can we say that Chinese films have a strong influence and that we have contributed our part to the betterment of humanity and the world," shared Zhang, who also is serving as the jury president for the 13th Tiantan Award of this year's festival. Ten awards, including best feature film, best director, best artistic contribution, best leading actor, and best leading actress, will be announced at the closing ceremony on April 29. Oleg Nivievskyi says that grain prices are falling all over the world, not just in Poland NV spoke with Oleg Nivievskyi, the Dean of Graduate Economics Studies at Kyiv School of Economics and associated member of the Center for Food and Land Use Research, on April 24 to find out. Ukrainian grain is stuck at the EU borders. Read also: Ukrainian grain exports face boycott by EU countries, leading to losses for farmers First, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary blocked its import and transit due to local farmers complaints about having to sell their products at a higher price, as well as their allegations of Ukrainian use of pesticides in their products. Later the transit was unblocked, but the European Union is preparing emergency curbs on grain imports from Ukraine, as reported by the Financial Times. European officials want to ban imports to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria. Only transit and re-export to other EU countries will be possible. Poland greenlit the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products through its territory. Can we assume that the problem is solved and exports wont be affected? No, the problem is only partially solved. There are several aspects here, and as always, economics and politics are intertwined. Read also: Ukrzaliznytsia resumes grain transit through Poland As for the economic side, Poland consumes our grain. About half of the products passing through European countries are imports. The rest is transit. This ratio is also typical for Poland. That is, it turns out that many Polish consumers will suffer from not receiving our products. And this is a loss for both sides. I hope that transit exports will resume, but there will be no imports. But look at what is happening on the politics side. The EU is a block of countries, and each cannot decide unilaterally how to trade with other countries. This must be decided by Brussels. And what happened? Ukraine, roughly speaking, and not Brussels, negotiated with Poland. This is a blow to the unity of the European Union. And this is a bad signal. Its possible to negotiate with anyone, but from the point of view of unity, this is a bad precedent. Story continues Could this mean that the grain import ban canl be lifted if not supported by Brussels? I think these curbs will be lifted. But I dont know when it might happen. For me, although Im an economist, this situation with the unity of the European Union, their trade policy, their decisions, seems to be very important. More important than the economic aspect. If such fluctuations are already observed, what can we say about security? Because when decisions should be made from the point of view of security, and we all have an enemy and we dont have unity, that is a good signal for the enemy and a bad signal for the EU and for us. EU countries claim that Ukrainian grain supplies lead to a drop in prices on the domestic market and to losses for local farmers. Is that fair? The data doesnt confirm this, especially the EUs data. If we look at the dynamics of domestic market prices in Poland, they arent significantly different from Hamburg or Rotterdam. Read also: EU Commission still in talks with five EU countries on their bans on Ukrainian grain imports However, what I saw in the Polish media was an incorrect reflection of this trend. They show the domestic prices are currently decreasing. Yet, this is happening everywhere, including in Poland, Germany, Slovakia, the United States, Brazil, and Argentina because this is the global trend now. If this had been reported correctly in Poland, the situation could have been different. No one is talking about it, but due to the trouble in Ukraine, European farmers likely received higher profits in the spring and summer of last year. The prices literally doubled. Grains are now sold at pre-war prices, but a month ago they were higher and local farmers were earning more than before the start of the great war. Such stories are very easy to use from a political point of view for internal struggles. Thats why I see the political implications of the situation. How much have Ukrainian farmers lost due to the ban on imports to some EU countries? Its still too early to assess. However, potentially, these could be very large losses. About 40% of all exports go overland to Western countries, and thats a lot. This means that Ukrainian farmers will not receive income, and prices will also fall. Russian aggressors are warning about the possible closure of the grain corridor. If this happens, what will be the consequences, and will it be possible to increase exports through EU countries to compensate for the losses? We calculated that Ukrainian farmers lost about $15 billion due to the blocking of seaports. This is due to more expensive logistics, lower prices. What will be the losses now? Probably comparable. Read also: Grain deal extended for another 120 days, Ukraine to continue exporting crops If the western border is blocked and the Russian aggressors block the grain corridor, exports will be blocked, except for, of course, the Danube seaports. Roughly speaking, well have the same situation as we had at the beginning of the war. Therefore, the losses should be comparable. However, I would like to add that we have not yet made detailed calculations. Has the boycott affected the price of grain on the world market? Not yet. How will the uncertainty affect the sowing campaign? What crops can farmers give up and will they reduce the sown area? Farmers are already changing their plans. They sow less corn, paying more attention to oil and other more expensive crops that can withstand expensive logistics. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A city worker was killed when the trench he was working in collapsed on top of him and other city workers, Alabama officials said. The public works employee in Eutaw, Alabama, who officials later identified as Tony Rice, was working underground on sewer lines on the night of April 25 when the dirt around him crumbled, according to a Facebook post from the Greene County Ambulance Service. The other workers were able to escape from the trench, but Rice was trapped. Rescue teams reached the site and tried to get Rice out of the trench, but they were unsuccessful. The ambulance service said it worked for eight hours, but the ground around where the rescuers believed Rice to be was unstable and kept collapsing as they worked. This type of rescue is not only very uncommon, but also very dangerous and requires very specific equipment, the post said. As they worked, the trench started to fill with water and sewage, WBRC reported, and the Tuscaloosa Water and Sewage Department tried to pump out the liquid. Rices family was at the scene when his body was recovered around 4 a.m. on April 26, WBRC reported. Its devastating for the family. Its devastating for the crew members that are on the scene. Members of his crew have not left the scene, Tuscaloosa Fire Chief Randy Smith told WBRC. The City of Eutaw released a statement that was shared on the Facebook page of a local news outlet, calling Rice a dedicated worker and a great friend. No one ever wants to have to deal with a situation like this, and no one ever thinks it will happen to them, the statement said. Over the next several days there will be more questions than answers as we move through all of the official processes and also deal with heavy hearts and sadness at a loss of someone whos close to you. We will forever miss Tonys smiling face and energy. Others shared their condolences for the Rice family and memories of Tony. I can remember moving to Eutaw with my kids (and) didnt have no family of my own no friends to go to but Tony Rice and his (w)ife took care and loved on me, one person posted. Story continues Tony would pull up with some type of sweets and put his girl in his lap just so she could enjoy her snacks, she continued. Thought I was gonna wake up to good news of people saying they pulled (you) out alive, another said. I jus(t) knew (you) was coming out of there with that big smile, praying for your wife, kids and grandkids. Eutaw is about 35 miles south of Tuscaloosa. Pastor killed after stopping to help man believed to have escaped from jail, cops say 10-year-old girls who were friends to many die in ATV crash. Unimaginable loss 24-year-old gas station clerk shot and killed days before finishing masters, cops say Fierce UGA senior with brain tumor will spend final days in perfect place, family says On Wednesday, Ukrainian mobile fire groups destroyed six Russian drones in Kherson Oblast. Source: press service of the Air Force command Details: On 26 April, in Kherson Oblast, soldiers of mobile fire groups of the Air Command Pivden (South) destroyed six Russian unmanned aerial vehicles: five Lancet attack UAVs and one Merlin-BP UAVs. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Boston 25 obtained a new court filing in the case of Boston Police Officer John OKeefes death, where the defense is requesting several pieces of evidence for independent testing. The defense is asking for OKeefes clothing at the time of his death, tail light pieces from his former girlfriend Karen Reads SUV, autopsy samples, and Canton Library surveillance videos. Going over new filing in case where Karen Read is charged with hitting and killing BPD boyfriend John OKeefe. Defense wants OKeefes clothing at time of death, tail light pieces from Reads suv, autopsy samples, Library surveillance vids. Ill update on anything further. pic.twitter.com/wMDt01dYlG Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 26, 2023 According to the defense, the evidence has been at the State Police Crime Lab for more than a year. Read was charged with backing over her boyfriend outside a home in Canton in January 2022 and leaving him to die in a blizzard. Karen Read, facing a murder charge in the death of an off-duty Boston police officer, was ordered held on $100,000 bail. 25 Investigates was the first to share the other defense filings, claiming their client Karen Read, was wrongly charged in his death. They claim evidence points to other witnesses in the case. Reads defense team says newly unveiled cell phone data calls into question the prosecutions case against Read. OKeefe was found in the snow outside a Canton home owned by another Boston police officer where a party took place the previous night. The homeowner and his relatives told investigators that OKeefe never came inside the party and they never saw him. Some of the party attendees are witnesses for the prosecution. 25 Investigates: Defense claims evidence points to witness in BPD officers murder case Reads defense team has called the partygoers narrative illogical and questioned the independence of law enforcements investigation into OKeefes death. Story continues According to Reads defense filing submitted two weeks ago, a relative of the homeowner searched on Google ho[w] long to die in cold hours before OKeefes body was allegedly discovered. And according to the defense, that Google search and a number of texts were deleted from the phone before it was turned over to the police. The defense also claims autopsy photos suggest OKeefe was severely beaten. Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe Traub, the spokesperson for the Norfolk District Attorneys office, initially said its unclear whether Reads team interpreted the cellphone raw data correctly. But Traub tells Boston 25 Investigates that the district attorney will file a response in court on May 3. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Two Democratic lawmakers in Virginia were caught on hot mic last week mocking parental rights as "garbage," "crap," and "stupid," according to two recordings posted on social media by the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC). On the recordings, which were taken at a Friday meet-and-greet at Christopher Newport University, state Sen. Monty Mason and state Del. Shelly Simonds can be heard ripping Republicans over S.B. 1515, a bill that required pornography websites to verify a user's age to be at least 18 before allowing access to its content. They also slammed an amendment to the bill proposed by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin that would have required children to get permission from parents to set up social media accounts and use websites that collect user data, such as online shopping sites. The bill passed the state legislature, but Youngkin's amendment was rejected. IGNORING CHINA THREATS, GOV. YOUNGKIN COMMITS BUSINESS FUTURE TO TAIWAN: DECADES-OLD PARTNERSHIP "Well, there are three real bills that were of consequence: the hemp bill, offshore wind adjustment that we ended up [inaudible] not even discussing, and the one he slapped that online parental garbage on pornography bill," Mason said on one of the recordings, referencing a number of bills previously brought up in the legislature, including S.B. 1515. He went on to describe the idea of requiring an extra step in the online shopping process to verify a buyer's age as "stupid." "What are you sending, a letter?" he jokingly asked. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP In the second recording posted by the RSLC, Mason claimed there was "no practical application" to Youngkin's amendment to the bill, and accused Republicans of playing politics by running digital advertisements against Democrats following the amendment's rejection. VIRGINIA GOV. YOUNGKIN SAYS MORE SCHOOLS SHOULD BAN CHATGPT Story continues "I mean, it's just all a part of this parental crap that they're selling," he said, before Simonds chimed in and tied the issue to her desire to keep the Democratic majority in the state Senate. "This is why we have to keep the Senate because the House is in the hands of the Republicans, and they can push through all kinds of stupid things. We rely on the Senate to kill it all," she said. The dismissive approach from the two Democrats toward parental rights comes less than a year and a half after Youngkin's shock victory over former Democratic Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe in the state's 2021 gubernatorial election. Parental rights in education took a central role in the race amid rising concern over the teaching of critical race theory and other "woke" subjects in schools. Virginia Democratic state Del. Shelly Simonds and state Sen. Monty Mason. That concern led to a revolt against Democrats by suburban parents in Northern Virginia and around Richmond, despite trending towards the party in recent elections. It's unclear why Democrats would continue down the same course on such issues despite that election's outcome. Fox News Digital reached out to Simonds and Mason for comment but did not immediately receive responses. The soon-to-be high school graduate, who intends to reveal his college decision on May 2, wants to pursue a double major in computer science and criminal justice. A high school student from New Orleans broke the nations record by garnering $9 million in scholarships, offers that came from 125 colleges and universities. Dennis Barnes, an International High School of New Orleans student, has received more monetary offers than any other college-bound senior in American history. According to NOLA.com, the record listed in the Guinness Book of World Records belongs to a Lafayette high school senior who got $8.7 million in scholarships in 2019. IHSNO said it is contacting Guinness to get Barnes accomplishment officially recorded. Barnes submitted applications to 200 colleges nationwide and intends to reveal his college decision on May 2. Dennis Barnes, a senior at the International High School of New Orleans, has set a new national record by receiving $9 million in scholarship offers from various colleges and universities. (Photo Credit: International High School of New Orleans) I submitted college applications in August, with an eye on raising the bar high for college admissions, Barnes said, according to NOLA.com. Decision letters were an overflow in my mailbox, he said, and they contained hundreds of scholarship offers. Barnes who will graduate from IHSNO on May 24 has maintained a cumulative grade point average of 4.98 and is a leader within the National Honor Society. His fluency in Spanish earned him a certificate from the Instituto Cervantes and an award presented by Maria Page, the honorary consul of Spain in New Orleans. The soon-to-be high school graduate wants to pursue a computer science and criminal justice double major. He has already jump-started his college career, according to NOLA.com. For the last two years, he has been enrolled at Southern University of New Orleans, collecting college credits while earning his high school diploma. The road to a successful future is to plan ahead [and] network with the collegiate partners, Barnes advised seniors who, like himself, are applying to colleges and seeking scholarships. He added, If you can see your vision, you can achieve your goal. Story continues IHSNO said more admissions and scholarship decisions are continuing to roll in from other schools. Barnes goal is to earn $10 million in scholarship offers by the end of the month. Adierah Berger, head of school at IHSNO, lauded Barnes commitment to learning and desire to support his peers, NOLA.com reported. The school noted that college admissions adviser Denise James was Barnes inspiration. Dennis has demonstrated and handled the depth and complexities of his renowned academic accomplishments, James said in a news release. He is humble, a goal-setter, a positive thinker, and his words of encouragement towards his peers are rewarding. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Dennis Barnes sets record with $9M in college scholarships appeared first on TheGrio. Dennis Barnes A 16-year-old student in the US state of Louisiana has received university scholarship offers totalling more than $9m (7.2m). Dennis Barnes, who is in his final year at the International High School of New Orleans, applied last August to 200 colleges across the country. He has so far been accepted at 125 schools and is hoping for more offers before he decides where to enrol. The scholarship offers could see Mr Barnes set a new national record soon. "My goal is to reach $10 million," he told the local WWL-TV media outlet, which first reported the eye-popping amount the student has amassed. That would see Mr Barnes shatter a US record set three years ago by another Louisianan, Normandie Cormier. Ms Cormier, who attended the historically-black Xavier University of Louisiana and is now completing a master's degree at Louisiana State University, was offered total aid of $9.4m from some 140 schools in 2019. According to The Guardian, she sought recognition from Guinness World Records for her feat and, while the organisation could not find a person with more offers in the US, it was unable to establish if she had broken a world record given the global differences between higher education systems. Mr Barnes told WWL-TV that his social media "blew up" as word spread of his achievement. He is a National Honours Society president who is fluent in Spanish, has a near-perfect grade point average (GPA) and is already pursuing college credits at the Southern University at New Orleans. Applying to so many schools had not been "overwhelming like most people would think," he added. "I started in the beginning of the school year and over time, over a long period of time, I was applying." In a statement released by his school, Mr Barnes said he plans to pursue a dual degree in computer science and criminal justice, and would announce next month which college he plans to attend. His advice to fellow applicants: "The road to a successful future is to plan ahead, network with the collegiate partners, and know that if you can see your vision, you can achieve your goal." Deputies are asking for help identifying the body of a man that was pulled from the Ohio River on Monday. Around 8:30 p.m., Boone County Sheriffs Office deputies were dispatched to Anderson Ferry located on 4030 River Road in Hebron for a report of a dead body found in the Ohio River. >> Local man arrested in Kentucky in connection to deadly hit-and-run crash in Moraine The unidentified man is described as being average height with a bald head. He was wearing a white t-shirt, dark blue or black cargo pants and white, black and red Air Jordan 1 Low shoes. Detectives did not observe any obvious trauma, scars, tattoos or piercings, nor did they recover any additional items on the body that would help make a positive identification on the scene, the sheriffs office said. The Boone County Coroners Office has ordered that an autopsy be done, according to the sheriffs office. Anyone with information that could help detectives in this investigation is asked to call 859-334-8469 or email bcs@boonecountyky.org. Sheriff Michael A. Helmig reports an investigation after the remains of an unidentified man was found in the Ohio River yesterday evening. Posted by Boone County Sheriff's Office, KY on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 Members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) voted Wednesday to void an agreement Disney made with a separate board that would give the company developmental authority over its theme park district. The DeSantis-allied board met Wednesday to vote to void the agreement made between the Reedy Creek Improvement District and Disney in February that gave the company developmental authority over its theme park, according to WESH 2 News. That last-minute deal effectively undermined the governors efforts to impose greater state control over Disney World, which has long enjoyed special self-oversight powers over its theme park empire. Martin Garcia, chair of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board of supervisors, said in the meeting that Disney picked the fight with the board, the report said. Lawyers for the board said at the meeting that the initial agreement was invalid because Reedy Creek did not have the authority to make decisions within the boundaries of Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista Florida. We were not looking out for a fight. We had agreed to meet with the leadership of Disney to figure out how we could work together, Garcia said. Shortly after the vote around noon, Disney filed a lawsuit suing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and other state officials for allegedly harming the companys business operations. Disney said in its complaint that the boards move was void its agreement was the latest strike leading into the suit. The lawsuit comes after months of Disney and DeSantis fighting over signed legislation that seemed to terminate Disneys authority over the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which was self-governed by the company for decades. A targeted campaign of government retaliationorchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disneys protected speechnow threatens Disneys business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights, the lawsuit states. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Walt Disney Company is suing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and other state officials, alleging that DeSantis is harming the companys business operations. The lawsuit comes after months of Disney and DeSantis sparring over legislation that DeSantis has signed and steps the governor has taken to increase the states control over Disney. A targeted campaign of government retaliationorchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disneys protected speechnow threatens Disneys business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights, the lawsuit states. The lawsuit comes after the board that DeSantis appointed to oversee Disney voted Wednesday to void development contracts that Disney made. Disney said in its complaint that the action from the board was the latest strike leading to the lawsuit. DeSantis signed legislation at the end of February to end Disneys power over the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the 25,000 acres that Disney has owned and self-governed for decades. The law allowed DeSantis to appoint a board consisting of five members to govern the district. The move came after Disney openly criticized Floridas Parental Rights in Education law, dubbed the Dont Say Gay bill by opponents. The law places restrictions on the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in public school classes from kindergarten to 12th grade. Disney said it would work to repeal the law and vowed to stand up for the rights and safety for the LGBTQ community. DeSantis began criticizing Disney soon after the company denounced the legislation, calling it an unaccountable Corporate Kingdom that had extraordinary special privileges. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the board that DeSantis created to oversee Disney, was set to take over, but the members said last month the Reedy Creek district signed a last-minute agreement with Disney that gave it developmental authority over the parks. Story continues The agreement led the DeSantis-appointed board to take action to try to declare the agreements void. This government action was patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional, the complaint states. But the Governor and his allies have made clear that they do not care and will not stop. Taryn Fenske, the communications director for DeSantis, told The Hill in a statement that the lawsuit is another unfortunate attempt by Disney to try to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law. We are unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state, Fenske said. The complaint states that the company regrets that it has been forced to turn to legal action but has no other choice. It said it has exhausted efforts to find a resolution to the conflict. The lawsuit asks for the legislation exerting the state governments power over Disney to be nullified because it was enacted in retaliation for the company exercising its rights to free speech. Updated: 1:08 p.m. Disney vs. DeSantisDownload For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The General Assembly of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, held in China's historic city of Xi'an from Monday to Wednesday, yields fruitful results on Asia's cultural heritage protection. The Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia (ACHA) was officially established at the event, three years after China's National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) officially invited Asian countries to jointly launch cultural heritage protection campaigns. Already joined by 13 countries from all across the continent, the ACHA is expected to "help build consensus on cultural relics protection among Asian countries and build a cooperation mechanism and exchange platform," according to Xie Bing, deputy head of the NCHA. A joint declaration on cultural heritage protection in Asia was released at the assembly. According to the declaration, the alliance members will carry out collaborative archaeological projects on themes such as the origins of civilizations and the Silk Road, and jointly declare world heritages. The members will also jointly promote the protection and restoration of important historical sites, contribute to urgent post-disaster repair, and crack down on illegal transportation of cultural relics and facilitate the return of looted relics. The assembly also saw the official launch of the Asian Fund for Cultural Heritage Conservation, which was set up by the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation. Via dedicated funds, the fund will support the protection, research, joint archaeological efforts, and other areas in the protection of Asia's cultural heritage. Li Qun, vice minister of culture and tourism and head of the NCHA, said at the assembly that China will further improve the capacity of the ACHA secretariat and support the alliance's sustainable development based on the Asian Fund for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The fund has raised 88 million yuan (about 12.71 million U.S. dollars) so far to support the cultural heritage protection projects launched by China and other member countries. These results are the latest of China's consistent and concrete efforts to support Asia's cause in cultural heritage protection apart from the call for the establishment of the ACHA. At the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations held in Beijing in 2019, China pledged to work with other countries to protect Asian cultural heritage. The country has since taken part in a series of cultural heritage cooperation projects. Besides collaborative exhibitions, such as the ongoing exhibition of Pakistan's Gandhara art at the Palace Museum, China has also launched a number of professional training programs, signed cultural relics cooperation documents with other Asian countries, and had Chinese archaeologists participate in various joint archaeological surveys and cultural relics repair projects in other parts of Asia. For instance, in 2022, the restoration of Nepal's nine-story Basantapur temple complex was completed with assistance from China. The restoration project began in 2017, two years after a devastating earthquake severely damaged the historical building complex. It was China's first large-scale cultural heritage foreign assistance project in Nepal. "China used to be a beneficiary of international cultural heritage cooperation, and now we have become an active contributor," said Wen Dayan, director of the exchange and cooperation department of the NCHA. The point was echoed by Xie Bing, who said the Chinese solution for deepening the cultural heritage cooperation between Asian countries and promoting exchanges between Asian civilizations, both theoretical and practical, has been widely recognized by Asian countries. Foreign attendees to the assembly in Xi'an have spoken highly of China's efforts and shared their views on the future of cultural heritage protection in Asia. Tiong King Sing, Malaysia's minister of tourism, arts and culture, applauded the formation of the Asian Fund for Cultural Heritage Conservation, as he believes an integral part of ensuring the sustainability of cultural activities and by-products is appropriate funding mechanisms. Fareena Mazhar, secretary of Pakistan's National Heritage and Culture Division, said increased collaboration among ACHA members is crucial for promoting mutual understanding, building bridges of friendship, and strengthening cultural exchanges. "By promoting cultural cooperation, we can build a strong cultural bond among members, which can foster mutual understanding and respect," he said. (Bloomberg) -- Walt Disney Co. sued Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, alleging hes threatening billions of dollars in business as retaliation for the company speaking against his policies. Most Read from Bloomberg The lawsuit came shortly after a board appointed by DeSantis to oversee the municipal authority that governs Disneys Florida theme parks voted to void land-use contracts signed by the company. Disney, which employs 75,000 people in the state, sued in federal court in Tallahassee. This government action was patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional, Disney said in its 74-page complaint. Disney Versus DeSantis: A Timeline of the Florida Political Feud The company said the board vote was only the latest strike in a targeted campaign of government retaliation orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disneys protected speech which now threatens Disneys business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights. Disney asked the court for an order declaring DeSantiss actions unlawful. This lawsuit is yet another unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law, DeSantis communications director Taryn Fenske said in an emailed statement. We are unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government. A Republican and potential 2024 presidential candidate, DeSantis kicked off a feud with Disney last year after the company criticized a law championed by the governor that restricted classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity. Story continues DeSantis responded by trying to seize control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the local governing jurisdiction set up in 1967 that gave Disney great autonomy to manage to day-to-day operations of Disney World and its other Central Florida theme parks, by appointing his own people to the board. But Disney was able to outmaneuver the governor by quietly pushing through changes that weakened the municipal authority hand-picked by DeSantis. Last week, DeSantis vowed to undo the changes Disney made and further threatened the company, suggesting the state might impose taxes on nearby hotels, add tolls to roads leading to Disney properties and possibly build a prison near the companys theme parks. Who knows? I just think the possibilities are endless, DeSantis said at an April 17 press conference. In its lawsuit, Disney said that it sought for more than a year to de-escalate the fight and seek a dialogue with DeSantis. Disney regrets that it has come to this, the company said, adding that it felt it had no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain state officials. Though DeSantiss crusade against Disney has been popular with conservatives critical of woke corporations, hes also faced criticism for taking things as far as he has. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie last week said he would not consider DeSantis a conservative based on his actions towards Disney. A former high-level DeSantis appointee, who asked not to be named in discussing the matter, said a prolonged court battle with Disney could damage the pro-business reputation Florida governor has been working to cultivate. Disney is one of Central Floridas largest taxpayers, contributing more than $1.1 billion in state and local taxes last year. Disney is also one of the largest employers in the state, with tens of thousands of workers, which it calls cast members. The company emphasized its economic importance to Florida in its suit. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who has announced she is running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, took a shot at DeSantis on Twitter Wednesday over his Disney fight. Florida state Senator Shevrin Jones, a Democrat, said the Disney fight would hurt DeSantis with voters. I want to see where people stand when it comes to the governor attacking one of the largest employers in the state of Florida, Jones said. The fact that he is willing to die on the Mickey Mouse hill is baffling to me. There are so many issues and topics that we should be dealing with. DeSantis has taken several controversial steps in his state in part to raise his profile as a potential candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. FiveThirtyEight, which aggregates polls, shows former President Donald Trump has widened his lead over DeSantis among Republicans, 51% to 24%. Trump has attacked DeSantis over the fight with Disney, though mainly because, in the view of the former president, the company has gotten the better of the Florida governor. Two DeSantis allies said the Disney lawsuit would not deter the Florida governor from eventually announcing his run for president, which he is expected to do during the first two weeks of June. One adviser said he does not back down from a fight when he thinks he is doing the right thing. DeSantiss Plan That mentality has meant he has followed the political plan he and his advisers laid out in the winter to lead up to his presidential announcement by passing conservative pieces of legislation in Florida and then going on a book tour to key political states to promote that record. DeSantis and his aides have long believed that sticking to a particular course means they do not let Trump or current events distract them. But critics argue its also kept DeSantis from being more politically nimble to respond faster to attacks from the former president, or donors quietly pulling away from him over his positions on abortion, the war in Ukraine and even Disney. Disney shares were little changed in New York trading at 2:40 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. The case is Walt Disney Parks and Resorts v. DeSantis, 23-cv-00163, US District Court, Northern District of Florida (Tallahassee.) --With assistance from Nancy Cook, Michael Smith and Christian Hall. (Updates with reaction, political analysis.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Brian Snyder/Reuters After a years-long political feud between Ron DeSantis and Walt Disney Co., the Mouse is taking the Florida governor to court. In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, Disney accused DeSantis of embarking on a relentless campaign to weaponize government power to punish the company for its liberal social views, according to The New York Times. The suit came just minutes after a board appointed by DeSantis voted to nullify two agreements that Disney had quietly pushed through shortly before DeSantis takeover earlier this year. Those agreements allowed Disney to maintain sweeping control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a special tax jurisdiction containing its Orlando theme parks. A targeted campaign of government retaliationorchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disneys protected speechnow threatens Disneys business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights, Disney added in the suit. DeSantis seized the district last year in the culmination of a political spat that began when Disney spoke out against the governors Dont Say Gay bill, which bans classroom discussion on gender and sexuality in schools. Floridas Dont Say Gay Bill Is as Vicious as It Sounds DeSantis, who is seen as former President Donald Trumps top challenger for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election, has consistently made headlines with the public beef, using it as a cultural war issue to appeal to his political base. When DeSantis announced the dissolution of the Reedy Creek Improvement District in February, it marked a major escalation in what had previously been largely a war of words. Since 1967 the district has allowed Disney wide latitude to control governance, policing, sanitation, and other public services in the area around its parks. The corporate kingdom finally comes to an end, DeSantis said in a press conference at the time. The Florida governor said he would be replacing the district with a state-appointed, five-member board, but Disney quietly hammered in multiple agreements that significantly limited the boards power in the aftermath of the move. Story continues At a meeting last Wednesday, the board announced a number of reasons why it considered the agreements to be illegal before voting to overturn them, precipitating Disneys retaliatory lawsuit and throwing one of Floridas major economic engines into legal chaos. This dispute has continued for more than a year already. We have to deal with guests and customers and are worried there will be repercussions for our restaurants, the owner of a restaurant in the Disney Springs mall said at the meeting. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Disney sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday over the Republican's takeover of its theme park district, alleging the governor waged a "targeted campaign of government retaliation" after the company opposed a law critics call Don't Say Gay. The lawsuit was filed in Tallahassee minutes after a Disney World oversight board appointed by DeSantis voted to void a deal that gave the company authority over design and construction decisions in its sprawling properties near Orlando. "Disney regrets that it has come to this," the case said. But having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution, the Company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials. The legal filing is the latest salvo in a more than year-old feud between Disney and DeSantis that has engulfed the governor in criticism as he prepares to launch an expected presidential bid in the coming months. DeSantis, who has framed himself as a Republican firebrand able to deftly implement his conservative agenda without drama, has dived headlong into the fray with the beloved company and major tourism driver, as business leaders and White House rivals bash his stance as a rejection of the small-government tenets of conservatism. We are unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state, said DeSantis spokeswoman Taryn Fenske. This lawsuit is yet another unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law. The fight began last year after Disney, in the face of significant pressure, publicly opposed a state law that bans classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades, a policy critics call Dont Say Gay. Story continues As punishment, DeSantis took over Disney Worlds self-governing district and appointed a new board of supervisors that would oversee municipal services in the sprawling theme parks. But before the new board came in, the company pushed though an 11th-hour agreement that stripped the new supervisors of much of their authority. The DeSantis board on Wednesday said Disneys move to retain control over their property was effectively unlawful and performed without proper public notice. Disney picked the fight with this board. We were not looking out for a fight, said Martin Garcia, chair of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, before the vote, adding bottom line, what our lawyers have told us, is factually and legally what they created is an absolute legal mess. It will not work." DeSantis has also vowed additional retribution, with proposals to enhance state oversight of the resorts rides and monorail, as well as a suggestion to build a prison nearby. Also Wednesday, the Florida Senate passed a bill seeking to put those retributions in place and to undo agreements made by the Reedy Creek board before the state took it over. The House still needs to approve before it can move forward. Disney has said all agreements made with the previous board were legal and approved in a public forum. Disney CEO Bob Iger has also said that any actions against the company that threaten jobs or expansion at its Florida resort was not only anti-business but anti-Florida. The Disney lawsuit asks a federal judge to void the governor's takeover of the theme park district, as well as the DeSantis oversight board's actions, on the grounds that they were violations of company's free speech rights. A targeted campaign of government retaliation orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disneys protected speech now threatens Disneys business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights," the lawsuit said. The Walt Disney Company sued Florida governor Ron DeSantis and other state leaders on Wednesday, alleging that they are involved in a targeted campaign of government retaliation against the company for publicly criticizing a controversial education law last year. The 77-page lawsuit accuses state leaders of weaponizing government power against Disney in as clear a case of retaliation as this Court is ever likely to see. The lawsuit was filed shortly after a DeSantis-appointed board overseeing the special district that includes Disney World voted to nullify two agreements that a previous Disney-controlled board made, handing control of development over to Disney. During a press conference last week, DeSantis said the previous boards agreements with Disney werent legal, and were in direct defiance of the will of the people of Florida. Florida law allows the legislature to revoke development agreements, DeSantis said. Lawmakers in the Florida House and Senate then unveiled bills to do just that. The governor also made a series of not-so-subtly-veiled threats about what his new board could do with control over the Reedy Creek Improvement District, including: raising taxes on Disney to pay off debts faster, prohibiting policies mandating mask-wearing, creating more workforce housing, requiring anti-child-trafficking warnings inside Disneys resorts, selling off the districts utilities, and even building another amusement park or a new state prison in Disneys backyard. Disneys complaint, filed in federal court, targets DeSantis, the five members of the DeSantis-appointed special district board, and other state officials. A targeted campaign of government retaliation orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disneys protected speech now threatens Disneys business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights, the lawsuit states. Todays action is the latest strike: At the Governors bidding, the States oversight board has purported to void publicly noticed and duly agreed development contracts, which had laid the foundation for billions of Disneys investment dollars and thousands of jobs, the lawsuit continues. This government action was patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional. But the Governor and his allies have made clear they do not care and will not stop. Story continues A DeSantis spokesman took aim at the lawsuit on Twitter. We are unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state, Jeremy Redfern, the governors deputy press secretary, tweeted. This lawsuit is yet unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law. On Disneys recently filed lawsuit: pic.twitter.com/EEtPcEAs4j Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) April 26, 2023 The DeSantis administration first went to battle with Disney last year after the company publicly denounced the states new Parental Rights in Education bill. The bill prohibits the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools to students in kindergarten through third grade. Opponents labeled it the Dont Say Gay bill. After receiving pressure from Disney employees, then-CEO Bob Chapek said that the companys leaders were opposed to the bill from the outset, and Disney declared that the legislation should never have passed and should never have been signed into law. The company suspended political donations in Florida as an act of protest. Last April, DeSantis retaliated by signing a bill that stripped Disney of its 56-year-old independent special district status, which had granted it the privilege of creating its own regulations, building codes, and other municipal services. Lawmakers later decided against dissolving the district, but voted instead to give the governor the power to appoint the districts board members. However, before the DeSantis-appointed board took over in March, the Disney-controlled board handed control of the districts development over to Disney. At his press conference last week in Lake Buena Vista, Disneys mailing address, DeSantis said that in making the agreements, Disney was essentially negotiating with itself to prevent the state from taking control of development in the district. Thats not going to work, he said. Thats not going to fly. Disney, he said, is going to live under the same laws as everybody else, pay their fair share of taxes, and honor the debts that theyve accumulated over these years. On Wednesday, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board of Supervisors officially voted to void the Disney-controlled boards agreements with the company. Disney called foul. Governor DeSantis and his allies paid no mind to the governing structure that facilitated Reedy Creeks successful development until one year ago, when the Governor decided to target Disney, the lawsuit states. There is no room for disagreement about what happened here: Disney expressed its opinion on state legislation and was then punished by the State for doing so. The lawsuit noted that Florida state Representative Randy Fine, who sponsored a House bill to revoke Disneys development agreements, acknowledged that the legislation does target one company. It targets the Walt Disney Company. The lawsuit claims that for more than half a century, Disney has made an immeasurable impact on Florida and its economy. It has turned Central Florida into a top global tourist attraction, is one of the regions largest taxpayers, one of the states largest employers, and is an unparalleled engine for economic growth in the State. Disney regrets that it has come to this, the lawsuit states of Wednesdays legal action. But having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution, the Company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials. More from National Review Walt Disney World is suing Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials for trying to take control of its special tax district, after it vowed to repeal a school curriculum bill. Ted Shaffrey/AP Photo and Kimimasa Mayama/Pool Photo via AP Disney is suing Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida. The company alleges DeSantis tried to "weaponize government power" over the company. It also alleges DeSantis' continued action against Disney "threatens Disney's business operations." Walt Disney World sued Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida on Wednesday, alleging that he tried to "weaponize government power" over the company. The suit, filed by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts US Inc., alleges that DeSantis and his office have engaged in "a targeted campaign of government retaliation" against Disney that was "orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney's protected speech." The suit says DeSantis' continued action against Disney "threatens Disney's business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights." The tug-of-war between Disney and DeSantis has been at the center of the governor's economic and policy messaging at a time when he's widely expected to mount a run for president. It has also stunned the business world given Disney's formidable power in the state. Walt Disney Co., the parent company of Walt Disney Parks and Resort, is headquartered in Burbank, California, but the company holds powerful sway in Florida through Walt Disney World, which has roughly 80,000 employees and is the state's biggest tourist attraction. The latest move by the company, currently facing a wave of layoffs, is an escalation after DeSantis threatened changes to Disney's special tax district, with help from both the Florida Legislature and the board he appointed to oversee the district. He even floated the idea of building a state prison on the 40 square miles of land that borders the resort and theme park. Last week, DeSantis' newly appointed board said "nothing is off the table" as it took on a major overhaul of the area. In the mix were higher taxes, more regulations, building workforce affordable housing, and exploring the sale of utilities the district owns. Story continues The DeSantis-Disney feud started when the company's executives publicly pledged to work to repeal a DeSantis-backed school-curriculum bill that Democrats have termed the "Don't Say Gay" bill. The law initially at the center of the dispute, formally known as the Parental Rights in Education Act, banned classroom instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation for up to third grade. Last week, the DeSantis administration expanded it to 12th grade, limiting discussions to sex-education classes or those "required by existing state standards." As retaliation to the Disney executives' pledges, DeSantis took aim at a decadeslong provision that gives Disney special self-governing privileges in Florida. Unlike its rival parks Universal Studios and SeaWorld, Disney doesn't have to run its plans by zoning commissions or building-inspection departments. This is intended to make its operations run more efficiently, which saves it time and money. To subvert DeSantis, Disney stealthily made a deal with the previous board that controlled the district, one that would allow the theme park and resort to maintain control of its land virtually in perpetuity. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida warned on April 6 that his battle with Walt Disney World wasn't over. Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images and Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images DeSantis was working outside the country at the time of the lawsuit Disney filed its lawsuit as DeSantis was out of the US on an international business trip that included a stop in Japan. The case has been assigned to Judge Mark Walker, an appointee of President Barack Obama who previously blocked a DeSantis-backed law that restricted how workplaces instituted diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings. "We are unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state," Taryn Fenske, DeSantis' communications director, said when asked about the lawsuit. "This lawsuit is yet another unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law." DeSantis worked with the legislature twice before to punish Disney and ran on the issue during his successful 2022 reelection bid. First, DeSantis signed a bill into law in April 2022 to dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District that oversees Disney. But when it was revealed the measure could have resulted in residents taking on a sizeable amount of debt through higher taxes, the legislature sent DeSantis a new bill in February 2023, during a special session, that would allow the governor to appoint a board to control the district. After Disney created a loophole to retain power, he worked with the legislature to double down, including measures being considered to impose new inspections on Disney's monorail system and rides. The company remained quiet for a while, though it announced an affordable housing initiative was moving ahead and publicized its celebration of an LGBTQ+ event at Disneyland in California. But Wednesday they picked a high-powered attorney to represent them in the lawsuit: Daniel Petrocelli, whose clients have included OJ Simpson and Harvey Weinstein, who successfully argued for the AT&T and Time Warner merger. "When Disney didn't respond for a while, I was shocked, as I think a lot of close observers were," Richard Foglesong, the author of the book "Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando," told Insider. "They have a lot to lose on this that is maybe not fully appreciated." Foglesong said he'd be closly watching comments from Disney CEO Bob Iger in the coming days to assess whether the company was "willing to take a hard run at DeSantis." Wednesday's lawsuit came shortly after another public meeting with the governor-appointed board that oversees Disney, and names the board in the suit. In that meeting, an attorney for the board argued that Disney had improperly struck its 11th-hour deal to maintain control over its land. "What our lawyers have told us is that this is factually and legally an absolute legal mess," Martin Garcia, the chair of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, said. "It will not work." Asked by the Florida Sun-Sentinel about the lawsuit after the meeting, Garcia said he had no comment. The lawsuit landed shortly after the board declared Disney's power grab null and void. Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, a Republican from Naples, declined during a meeting with reporters to comment on the lawsuit, saying she hadn't read it yet. She brushed off suggestions that the GOP-supermajority legislature and DeSantis acted in "retaliation" against Disney. "Is that good policy at the last minute to make changes? Frankly, I don't believe that's good policy," she said of Disney's arrangement to keep power over its land. Foglesong, who is reading DeSantis' new book "The Courage to Be Free," which has a chapter about the Disney feud, said he couldn't picture the govenror backing down. "He doesn't seem like someone who likes to kiss and make up and that's his brand," he said. "He's a tough guy; that's his chosen image and he doesn't want to look weak." Read the original article on Business Insider Minnie Mouse poses for the camera at EPCOT Like an old-fashioned bar room brawl, the back-and-forth public relations, political and legal battle between Ron DeSantis and Walt Disney World began with a few sharp words. Now it has spilled out into the street and is crashing through neighbouring shops and homes. In its latest salvo, Disney has filed suit against Mr DeSantis, alleging that he had "weaponised government power" to punish its theme parks division for exercising its constitutionally protected free speech rights. "In America," Disney said in its legal filing, "the government cannot punish you for speaking your mind". The fight began in March 2022, when the Florida governor bristled at Disney criticism of his state law limiting public school instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation - the so-called "don't say gay" bill. That began an escalating series of action and response. The state revoked Disney's self-governing pact for the 40 square miles of land occupied by the Walt Disney World theme parks and associated enterprises. Disney countered by enacting a provision that preserved its interests in the land until "21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, king of England living as of the date of this declaration". Mr DeSantis - who exchanged vows at Disney's wedding pavilion - pledged to push the state legislature to retroactively invalidate that move and possibly tack on a few more punitive tax and policy measures. Now Disney has deployed its army of lawyers in the courts to ensure that does not happen. Each move - in the moment - may have seemed like a logical response by each side. But as the months go by, the notion that the governor of a major state could end up in such a dogfight with a corporation that employs about 80,000 of his constituents and brings tens of millions of tourists to what otherwise would be a flat, nondescript stretch of landlocked real estate becomes increasingly astounding. Story continues It is the kind of escalation where no one is likely to come out a winner, the price for backing down becomes too high to contemplate and everyone ends up diminished - a World War One scenario played out on a sun-scorched, swamp-filled peninsula. Mr DeSantis's political opponents now appear to sense vulnerability on an issue that the governor once made a bullet point on a culture war resume he hopes to tout during all-but-announced 2024 presidential bid. "DeSanctus is being absolutely destroyed by Disney," former president Donald Trump posted on social media, using one of his preferred nicknames for the Florida governor. "His original PR plan fizzled, so now he's going back with a new one in order to save face." Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley - all current or possible Republican presidential candidates - are among the others who have joined the DeSantis pile on. "If Disney would like to move their hundreds of thousands of jobs to South Carolina," Ms Haley said, "I'll be happy to meet them in South Carolina and introduce them to the governor and the legislature." Disney v DeSantis coverage For his part, Mr DeSantis is pledging to fight on, even as he appears to be vigorously defending the use of big government power against a private entity exercising what it claims to be constitutional liberties - a peculiar position for a conservative politician to take. "Come hell or high water, we're going to make sure that that policy of Florida carries the day," he said. "And so they can keep trying to do things, but we're going to win on every single issue involving Disney, I can tell you that." A World War One general planning the next guaranteed-to-win-the-war offensive could not have put it any better. Americast branding You can hear more of Anthony's analysis by tuning into Americast, the BBC's US politics and culture podcast, on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts And you can follow Anthony on Twitter A United Airlines flight bound for Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport reportedly had to make a U-turn three hours into the flight and head back to Newark, New Jersey, after a man on board became unruly with crew members. Flight 90, which departed from Newark Liberty International Airport in the early morning of Sunday, April 24, reportedly had to turn back a few hours after takeoff. The Israeli passenger wanted to use the bathroom. IRATE PASSENGER GOES ON ANGRY MID-AIR RANT OVER CRYING INFANT, SCREAMED HE WAS IN A TIN CAN WITH A BABY But he waited his turn by sitting in a seat reserved for crew members only, another passenger named Sholomit told Israeli media outlet Ynet. A flight attendant "raised his voice at him and the passenger responded in kind," Sholomit said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Above, an airplane flies over New York City. United's Flight 90 had to turn around three hours into its flight to Israel due to unruly passenger ad The crew member told the yelling passenger the plane would turn back if he did not leave the seat, and the man apparently didnt believe him, Ynet reported. Soon, the other passengers were surprised to see that the plane had "changed course and was returning to the U.S.," Sholomit told Ynet. "No one bothered to inform us," she continued. "We just noticed it on the map showing our flight path and when we landed, we saw the police waiting for the plane." DOGS FLY ACROSS ATLANTIC ON PRIVATE JET: TRAVEL OPTION WAS NO BRAINER,' SAYS OWNER When the plane landed back at Newark International Airport, "the passenger was arrested for misbehaving" and also for "speaking rudely to the flight crew," said Ynet. When a flight attendant (not pictured) told the passenger waiting for the bathroom to leave the specially designated seat for crew members, he reportedly began yelling. "United Flight 90 traveling from Newark to Tel Aviv returned to Newark shortly after takeoff due to a disruptive passenger," United Airlines said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Law enforcement met the aircraft and removed the passenger," the statement continued. "We rebooked our customers onto a new flight that departed Sunday evening." Among the frustrated passengers aboard the flight was a man named Jeff Hunt, who tweeted about the incident. Story continues REDDIT USER RECLINES HIS FIRST-CLASS AIRLINE SEAT, PASSENGER BEHIND HIM ORDERS HIM TO RAISE IT BACK UP "Trying to make it to Tel Aviv. First flight from D.C. canceled due to weather," Hunt wrote in his tweet. One passenger on Flight 90, Jeff Hunt, took to social media about having to land back in Newark, tweeting, "Thanks, bro." "No worries. Took 3hr train to Newark. Flight delayed 2.5hrs due to weather. 4hrs into flight, unruly passenger requires return to Newark," he continued. "Thanks, bro," he added about the passenger who caused the flight to turn back. Fox News Digital attempted to reach Hunt for further comment. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "On the whole, I think that United Airlines flight attendants do a good job of de-escalation," travel expert Gary Leff wrote in the flight publication Viewfromthewing.com about the incident. "They may have overreacted in turning the aircraft around, although if a passenger isnt following crew member instructions and theres no easy diversion, thats a judgment call for the captain," Leff also wrote. "Theres little question, though, [that] the flight attendant is [within] their rights to ask a passenger to vacate crew seats just as a passenger might ask another to get up if they found someone sitting in their seat after going to the lavatory," he added. The Sarasota offshoot of a Miami area company providing nurses and caregivers owed workers $260,221 after paying them at regular rates for overtime work, a federal court consent judgment said. That consent judgment in Tampa federal court says that money will go to 44 workers for CSI-Catalanos Nurses Registry, a part of Northwest Miami-Dades Caregiver Services. Thats an average of $5,914 per employee. A dozen of the employees were owed over $10,000. One was shorted $43,907. An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labors Wage and Hour Division found that CSI misclassified caregivers as independent contractors and paid them straight-time rates for all hours worked in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. READ MORE: Restaurant chain paid Florida workers below minimum wage and kept tips All workers deserve the wages they legally earned, including those who provide essential care to people in our communities, said Wage and Hour Division District Director Nicolas Ratmiroff in Tampa, Florida. Employers should contact the Wage and Hour Division to determine if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. In this case, the employer should have followed federal law in making their determination. When federal and state regulations conflict, employers must abide by the more restrictive of the regulations. The Wage and Hour complaint section of Labors website contains information on how to file a complaint if you believe your employer has violated FLSA or other labor laws. Miamis Wage and Hour Division office can be reached at 305-598-6607. The national helpline is 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Mykhailo Podolyak spoke about Russia's ability to conduct subtle propaganda in the global mass media NV asked Presidential Office advisor , Mykhailo Podolyak, in an interview with Radio NV on April 26. Read also: Russian propaganda narratives: What is the Kremlin betting on? Stories stating that Ukraine is preparing for a compromise like the Korean model, as featured recently in The Guardian, are simply Russian propaganda, he said. Undoubtedly, today Russia knows how to work more subtly than primitive propaganda, he said. All these classic Russian propagandists, from whom you and I make memes (Olga Skabeyeva, Vladimir Solovyov, etc.), have nothing to do with real attempts to conduct subtle propaganda in European or global media. Theyre working more subtly. Read also: Why would China help Russia, which is experiencing the collapse of its civilization? Podolyak Anonymous sources in these publications try to prove that Ukraine will not have enough resources to liberate its entire territory, that the Western world will stop military aid if Ukraine doesnt immediately destroy all Russian capable combat units with one blow, and that it is necessary to seek some compromise, he said. In reality, a compromise is impossible, and it is necessary to adhere to a single strategy and calmly explain that any words of pacifying Ukraine mean encouraging the aggressor. If today were talking about negotiations, a peaceful settlement, it means that we must deliberately give up part of our territory, encouraging Russia to the next stage of the war, he said. Its necessary to ask the right questions and not be afraid that such stories appear. Just keep explaining: no peace initiatives. The West constantly explains that Russia in its current form has destroyed international law, and if it does not lose, it will encourage other regimes to become more agressive. The second obvious thing is that nobody dares to fight with Russia today, except for Ukraine, he added. Simon Tisdall, U.S. editor for the Guardian, wrote in his April 23 article that the situation on the battlefield and the allies will push Ukraine to a truce and a bloody stalemate after the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Story continues Read also: Editor-in-chief of Shariy's propaganda website rebels against his boss, video address He assumes that Russia will eventually agree to a conditional ceasefire. In return, Ukraine is spared further, unsustainable human, economic and infrastructure losses, while retaining roughly 85% of its territory. In Tisdalls scenario, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will survive in power despite his many documented, atrocious crimes. The missiles stop coming. Rebuilding can begin. Refugees come home. An internationally monitored, Korean-style demilitarized zone freezes the frontlines in place. In this case, according to Tisdall, the United States and its west European NATO allies declare that democratic Ukraines sovereign independence, and the global rules-based order, are saved. Poland and other east European states are less sure. Ukraines EU accession is dangled anew. This week, noted Kremlin propagandist Tucker Carlson was fired from Fox News. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine When the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce Spice Up Spring Pueblo Chile Recipe Competition launched Friday, I felt nervous to serve as a judge. As a green chile fanatic and bona fide foodie, I figured it was in my wheelhouse, but I also wondered what I should do to prepare. All I could think of was to stuff my pockets with tissues in case the food was so hot it made my eyes water. I also wore the loosest clothes I could find in my closet. Luckily, I was joined by fellow judges John Jakeman and Jerry Carter, both longtime experienced executive chefs who've been down this road before. They graciously educated me on the finer points of judging. Jakeman, director of nutritional services for the Senior Resource Development Agency, joked that its not too hard to judge food because Ive been eating all my life. He has judged as many as 18 green chile dishes in a day during past Chile and Frijole Festival events, so hes a pepper expert. Carter, director of catering for Aladdin Dining Services at both Pueblo Community College and Colorado State University Pueblo, has judged at least a dozen chile competitions at the Colorado State Fair. He said he prepared for Friday's competition by skipping breakfast. Both chefs have a well-seasoned sense of humor that made it an absolute delight to spend the entire day with them traveling to nine Pueblo eateries to judge delectable dishes. Chef John Jakeman, left, Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon, and Chef Jerry Carter, right, cheers while judging a cocktail at Ruby's. The three were judges for the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce Spice Up Spring contest on Friday. The event set my spring on fire, made my tongue dance and exposed my senses to a peppery plethora of culinary chile combos the likes of which I would never have dreamed possible. Competing chefs were asked to create their most delicious recipes inspired by the versatility of the iconic Pueblo chile. Four categories cocktail, appetizer, entree and dessert were established. Some contestants competed in all four categories while others opted to focus on just one. All told, the chefs and I sampled 20 different delightful creations. Story continues Without further ado, following are the first-place winners. The Pueblo Chile Paloma cocktail from Twenty One Steak. Cocktail category: Twenty One Steak The Pueblo Chile Paloma dreamed up by Twenty One Steak bartenders Dimitri Orozco and Alec Garcia is an ideal summer cocktail perfect for sipping on the outdoor patio. The citrus-infused tequila drink features grapefruit, orange and lemon juices, Pueblo green chile and agave. The rim of the glass was garnished with Milberger Farms Pueblo chile seasoning salt and topped with dehydrated blood oranges and lime peels. Judges Jerry Carter (left) and John Jakeman sample at Romero's Cafe, where the winning appetizer, Chile Cones, was served. Appetizer category: Romeros Cafe Pueblo Chile Cones are a tortilla filled with cheddar cheese and Pueblo chile supplied by Crites Produce, wrapped in bacon before being expertly deep fried to crisp-on-the-outside, gooey-on-the-inside perfection. Thats my creation for the Chile Festival, said Robert Romero, restaurant owner. I sold 2,000 of them at last years festival they flew off the shelf. Romero is a two-time world champion and has more than 75 awards for his chile creations, so he has earned his moniker, Mr. Chile. Tiffany Gernazio (right) and her daughter Michaella serve up "The Senior" grilled cheese sandwiches at the Papa Mario's food truck. Entree category: Papa Mario's food truck Tiffany Gernazio won big with her grilled cheese, called The Senior, which she dedicated to her father. It is a secret family recipe that features marinated roast beef, lots of cheese, fresh grilled onion and loads of Musso Farms Pueblo chiles, so it oozed with juices and delicious flavors. That was the ultimate Pueblo comfort food, Carter said as the other judges and I waddled away from the Papa Mario's food truck. I am literally completely shocked, Gernazio said Monday after learning she won the top prize for the entree. The win is the crown jewel in Gernazio's cache of honors In 2 years of running the food truck, shes won Governors Plate and Peoples Choice awards at the Colorado State Fair, won in both entree and dessert categories during Flavor of Pueblo, and grabbed a half-dozen Best of Pueblo awards too. Brues Alehouse Japanese style cheesecake Dessert category: Brues Alehouse A Japanese-style cheesecake dessert dreamed up by certified Pastry Chef Isabel Burson was a glorious dessert: a Pueblo chile-infused white chocolate cheesecake. The cheesecake was accompanied by costars like a milk chocolate cream, a candied honey comb, a chile chocolate fudge and fresh berries, all topped with a delicate sliver of candied Pueblo chile. The top four finishers all will be presented Wednesday with $250 cash, two bushels of Musso Farms Chile and a Victoria Krage chile-themed urban sheet metal plaque. More chile news: Slop till you drop: Pueblo's Top 10 slopper stops named by local foodies Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon takes notes while serving as one of three judges for the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce Spice Up Spring contest on Friday. Tracy's Choice Awards Five contestants didnt take home a top prize, but in my heart they are all winners, so I made up my own awards. Best cheese: Milberger Farms Dalton Milberger has been cooking for 23 years and farming even longer, so when he and his family decided to supply their homegrown Pueblo chiles to Springside Cheese for its pepper jack cheese, it was a match made in heaven. That cheese is the best ever. Best use of chorizo: Taco Casa Taco Casas Pueblo Chorizo Grinder sandwich is the perfect pairing of hot Pueblo chile and Double J Meats homemade chorizo. Cindy Reyes' Pueblo Chile hummus, from Cinfully Delicious Catering Best hummus: Cinfully Delicious Catering Cindy Reyes created a homemade Pueblo Chile hummus that I believe could outsell any commercial hummus brand. It was so creamy, fresh and lovely that Carter said he could eat it all day long. Best fry bread: The Lunchbox food truck Jessica Casack makes her fry bread dough the night before to allow it ample time to rise. She served the fry bread perfection topped with a tender, juicy roast beef, Pueblo Chile and a citrus sour cream. Ruby's entry for the Spice Up Spring competition was the Pueblo Mary cocktail featuring PexPeppers Pueblo Red hot sauce. Best collaboration: Ruby's and PexPeppers Rubys Isabella Serena teamed up with Garrett Peck of PexPeppers Hot Sauces to create a Pueblo Mary cocktail, a new take on the Bloody Mary. The vodka cocktail featured a miniature jar of Pecks Pueblo Red Hot Sauce made from roasted red Pueblo chile so each judge could make the drink as hot as they wanted it. Twenty One Steak pastry chef Francisca Chacon prepares a frozen green chile tart for the dessert category of the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce Spice Up Spring contest on Friday. Best Friday ever: Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce Best Friday ever, Carter said, toasting our chamber chauffeurs and all-things-Pueblo experts Cara Siegel, Lisa Hendricks and Krystle Herrera, who made sure we got to each venue, had plenty of water and thanked us with a gift bag full of Pueblo chile swag. The real winners here are Pueblo residents who have endless opportunities to eat Pueblo chiles at local restaurants and food trucks on a daily basis. At the end of the day, what a culinary blessing we have in Pueblo, Carter said. The diversity we have, all these amazing dishes and locally sourced food you dont see that in a town this size. We are doing Pueblo proud, Carter said. More chile news: Here's how a man fought liver failure, started a hot sauce company and found Pueblo chiles Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via Twitter at twitter.com/tracywumps. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo chile recipe competition shows diversity of city's pepper A worker transfers goods at the Swire Coca-Cola Beverages Hubei Limited in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 24, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua] With offline consumption picking up and gradually returning to normalcy in the Chinese market since the COVID-19 pandemic, first-quarter global sales of The Coca-Cola Company have also improved, brightening full-year prospects for the beverage giant. First-quarter global revenue grew 5 percent year-on-year to $10.98 billion, generating a net profit of $3.11 billion, up 11 percent. The company did not release any China-specific data. The company said it has demonstrated resilience in the marketplace despite an operating environment that remains dynamic. In the Asia-Pacific, the recovery of the Chinese market has led to an increase in consumer activity, said James Quincey, chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. "There was a rebound of consumption in Chinese New Year, which obviously fell in the first quarter, so we're certainly seeing the performance in China getting better and we've been focused on bringing back our marketing and increasing availability in some of the rural marketplaces." On second-quarter expectations, he said, "We are cautiously optimistic on the rest of the year for China." Global unit case volume grew 3 percent year-on-year in the first quarter. Volume performance was driven by strength in away-from-home channels and continued investments in the marketplace. Growth in developing and emerging markets was led by China, India and Brazil. Asia-Pacific unit case volume grew 10 percent year-over-year. Growth was led by China, India and Australia. In terms of categories, sparkling soft drink sales grew 3 percent year-on-year, led by strong performance in Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Trademark Coca-Cola grew 3 percent year-on-year, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar grew 8 percent. Sparkling flavors grew 3 percent year-on-year, driven by Asia-Pacific, Latin America and North America, partially offset by Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Coffee grew 9 percent year-on-year, primarily driven by the strong performance of Costa Coffee in the United Kingdom and China. Costa Coffee has three business sectors in China on premise stores, ready-to-drink coffee and coffee service express. It has rolled out two new products: coconut-flavored coffee beverage and coconut-oolong light milk tea. In the Chinese market, with the continuous recovery of the food and beverage industry, Coca-Cola China is accelerating its efforts for a bigger share of the catering sector that has recovered from the pandemic impact. In April, the company planned to launch its "A Recipe for Magic "activities in China to bring Coca-Cola into scenarios like get-togethers. The beverage producer is expected to launch food and beverage festivals in Shanghai, Beijing and other first-tier cities. It is also developing set menus on the online delivery platforms to spur sales. In addition, the company is reinforcing its position in the sparkling soft drink segment to drive business growth. Coca-Cola China is working with bottling partners to enhance supply chain investments and drive the optimization and upgrade of production capacity, to meet demand in different market segments. Jason Yu, general manager of Kantar Worldpanel China, said sparkling beverages and coffee the two categories believed to have brought emotional value to consumers during the pandemic reported robust growth in the past three years, thanks to the strong at-home demand. "The return of offline consumption occasions has resulted in the recovery of more away-from-home buying, particularly in the catering sector, a visible improvement for the sparkling beverage segment," said Yu. The Rev. Al Sharpton has voiced his support for Don Lemon who was fired from CNN this week, demanding a "full explanation" from the network. (Left: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times; Right: Evan Agostini / Invision / AP) Days after he was dropped from CNN, Don Lemon is gaining some allies. Civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton, who heads the National Action Network and hosts the MSNBC show "PoliticsNation," voiced his support for Lemon on Wednesday, alongside Marc Morial, the president and chief executive of the Urban National League. In a statement, Sharpton and Morial questioned what Lemon was referring to when the former anchor said there are some larger issues at play" in his firing announcement posted on Twitter. After praising Lemon for being "a superb journalist who was very open to the civil rights community on issues others wouldnt touch," the prominent activists demanded transparency from CNN for why the network let Lemon go. Lemon, CNN's highest profile Black anchor, has talked frankly about race and civil rights issues throughout his run at the network. "We would like to know what he alludes to when he said there are greater things at play, which is why we urge for a full explanation as to why he was let go in such a fashion," the statement said. "Dons voice has been invaluable to the conversation of how we become a more just nation," the statement continued. "With the health of our democracy undergoing perhaps its greatest test, we cannot afford to silence his voice." Lemon announced he had been fired by sharing a statement on Twitter, claiming he had been blindsided by management and that his agent had delivered the news. At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network, Lemon wrote. It is clear that there are some larger issues at play." CNN dismissed Lemon's statement as inaccurate and said he "was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter. Lemon has already hired Hollywood attorney Bryan Freedman. The lawyer also represents Chris Cuomo, who was fired by CNN in 2021 and is seeking $125 million for wrongful termination, and helped Megyn Kelly secure a $69-million payout when she left NBC in 2019, according to the New York Times. Story continues In the meantime, the unemployed Lemon was also offered some employment options from rapper Rick Ross. In an Instagram story on Monday, the rapper offered Lemon a job at one of his Wingstop restaurants. Ross reportedly owns nearly 30 of the chicken franchises across the United States. Were hiring at Wingstop, and for some reason, I believe you know what you doing with the lemon pepper wings, so man, just send over your resume, the Grammy-nominated rapper said while sitting next to his pool at his Atlanta-area mansion. Imma make sure I get you in front of the right grill, brother. Stay solid, brother. The "Money in the Grave" performer also offered to reach out to Rapstar Energy Drink to start manufacturing its own "Don Lemon flavor." Lemon's firing came as CNN began facing resistance from advertisers and potential guests for the morning news program CNN This Morning, which he co-anchored, according to people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to comment. Lemon was briefly suspended in February after he made offensive comments about when a woman is past her prime while speaking about 51-year-old Republican former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is running for the partys presidential nomination for the 2024 election. Soon after apologizing for the inartful comment, Lemon was accused in a Variety report of exhibiting misogynistic behavior in the workplace allegations he dismissed as 15-year-old gossip. Lemons "prime" comments were not the first some have called into question at CNN. In December, Lemon is alleged to have screamed at co-host Kaitlan Collins off-camera following a Dec. 8 broadcast of "This Morning," lambasting her for interrupting him on-air, according to a New York Post report that cited sources close to the situation. After confirming Lemon's termination on Monday, CNN Chief Executive Chris Licht said in the statement that Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years." "We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors," Licht added without giving any further explanation. Lemon's firing on Monday coincided with the termination of Fox News show host Tucker Carlson. Staff writers Meg James and Stephen Battaglio contributed to this story. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Don Lemon has said he had no regrets and owns his actions after being fired from CNN following his 17-year stint with the network. Lemon announced his firing on Monday, saying he was stunned after being informed of the decision by his agent, and lamenting the lack of decency in the handling of the situation, which CNN rejected as inaccurate. Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years, CNN said. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavours. I live my life with no regrets. I did what I did and I own it, and so no, I dont look back and I dont want to change things in the past, Lemon said in an interview with Extra TV at the Time 100 Gala NYC. It came as Lemon had been mired in a string of controversies in recent months with accusations of making offensive on-air comments about women and of mistreating female coworkers off-camera. Lemon has denied the allegations. Key Points Don Lemon says he has no regrets after sexism claims: I own it Don Lemon fired from CNN after accusations of sexist comments and mistreatment of female colleagues What Lemon said about presidential candidate Nikki Haley Donald Trump rejoices in Lemons departure from CNN CNN co-anchors Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins respond to anchors dismissal California congressman defends Lemon over Ramaswamy interview Don Lemon says he has no regrets as he addresses CNN exit after sexism claims: I own it 05:06 , Shweta Sharma Don Lemon said he had no regrets and owns his actions after being fired from CNN following his 17-year stint with the network. Lemon announced his firing on Monday, saying he was stunned after being informed of the decision by his agent, and lamenting the lack of decency in the handling of the situation, which the CNN rejected as inaccurate. The news anchor hit the red carpet at the Time 100 Gala in New York City following his axing and spoke to Extra Tv about the channels decision. Story continues Don Lemon addresses CNN exit after sexism claims Don Lemons career timeline 04:08 , Tom Murray Before joining CNN 17 years ago, Lemon worked on NBCs Today and Nightly News programmes. The Independent has put together Lemons career timeline, from his first job in journalism to his dismissal from CNN. Timeline of fired CNN host Don Lemons career Don Lemon denies misogyny allegations calling them patently false 03:10 , Tom Murray This is what the presenter himself has had to say about the sexism accusations levelled against him. Don Lemon denies workplace misogyny accusations calling them patently false Nikki Haley celebrates Lemons dismissal with custom merchandise 02:12 , Tom Murray The former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the UN, herself now a Republican presidential contender, took to Twitter yesterday to celebrate the downfall of the man who controversially suggested she was past her prime and wasted no time in turning the moment into a sales opportunity. A great day for women everywhere. Now, lets get men out of womens sports, she wrote before pitching a range of beer can koozies emblazened with her slogans. A great day for women everywhere. Now, let's get men out of womens sports. #StillInMyPrime https://t.co/u1KKBf4JRT pic.twitter.com/bLJXUSixkS Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) April 24, 2023 Rick Ross offers Don Lemon a job at Wingstop 01:19 , Tom Murray Rapper Rick Ross has responded to the news of Lemons firing from CNN by offering him a job at his fast food chain Wingstop. For some reason, I believe you know what youre doing with them lemon pepper wings, so man just send over your resume, Ross said. Seventeen years, damn. But Im going to make sure I get you in front of the right grill brother. Read more: Rick Ross offers Don Lemon a job at WingStop pic.twitter.com/77ZBmXiNm7 philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 25, 2023 Don Lemon denies misogyny allegations calling them patently false Thursday 27 April 2023 00:00 , Inga Parkel This is what the presenter himself has had to say about the sexism accusations levelled against him. TV CNN Don Lemon (2021 Invision) The CNN news anchor said story is based on 15-year-old anonymous gossip California congressman defends Lemon over Ramaswamy interview Wednesday 26 April 2023 23:00 , Inga Parkel As we mentioned earlier, The New York Times has reported that CNN executives were left exasperated by the heated interview Don Lemon carried out with entrepreneur and aspiring Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy last week, in which their pair sparred over the history of the civil rights movement as co-presenter Poppy Harlow squirmed awkwardly in her chair. However, California Democratic congressman Ro Khanna has leapt to the anchors defence, retweeting the clip and commenting: Don Lemon was right. As an Indian American, I was profoundly embarrassed by Vivek lecturing a Black man about Black history. The truth is that the Black civil rights movement paved the way for the 1965 immigration act so that Viveks family or mine could come to America. We owe a huge debt. Don Lemon was right. As an Indian American, I was profoundly embarrassed by Vivek lecturing a Black man about Black history. The truth is that the Black civil rights movement paved the way for the 1965 immigration act so that Viveks family or mine could come to America. We owe a https://t.co/oprlEsxHAI Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) April 25, 2023 Nikki Haley wastes no time in using Lemon dismissal to hawk merchandise Wednesday 26 April 2023 22:00 , Inga Parkel The former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the UN, herself now a Republican presidential contender, took to Twitter yesterday to celebrate the downfall of the man who controversially suggested she was past her prime and wasted no time in turning the moment into a sales opportunity. A great day for women everywhere. Now, lets get men out of womens sports, she wrote before pitching a range of beer can koozies emblazoned with her slogans. A great day for women everywhere. Now, let's get men out of womens sports. #StillInMyPrime https://t.co/u1KKBf4JRT pic.twitter.com/bLJXUSixkS Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) April 24, 2023 Ousted CNN presenter previously claimed the White House hopeful was not in her prime What will happen to CNN This Morning? Wednesday 26 April 2023 21:00 , Inga Parkel During Lemons earlier leave, following his controversial comments about Nikki Haleys age, anchor Sara Sidner filled his spot beside co-host Poppy Harlow. However, at the moment, the network has yet to announce any plans for a permanent replacement. For now, Harlow and co-anchor Kaitlan Collins will continue hosting the show as usual. Co-anchors Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins react to Don Lemon's firing Wednesday 26 April 2023 20:00 , Inga Parkel The morning after CNN announced Lemons termination, CNN This Morning went along with business as usual with co-anchors Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins hosting the show. However, before jumping into the days news, the two gave Lemon a swift and upbeat send-off, wishing him well. Read more: Media-CNN-Lemon (2022 Invision) Lemon was fired on Monday after 17 years of broadcasting at CNN Howard Stern brands Don Lemon lucky as his firing coincided with Tucker Carlsons Wednesday 26 April 2023 19:00 , Inga Parkel While Don Lemon claimed his termination came without warning, Howard Stern has suggested theres some good in the timing of it all. The TV personality argued that because Lemons firing coincided with Fox News parting ways with Tucker Carlson, the controversial host would attract the most attention, leaving Lemon with less heated criticism. Read more: (Getty Images) CNNs Lemon and Foxs Carlson announced their departure on Monday (24 April) Michelle Yeohs dig at Don Lemon in Oscars acceptance speech revisited Wednesday 26 April 2023 18:00 , Joe Sommerlad Lemons sexist remark about Nikki Haley earned him a callout from the Best Actress winner at this years Academy Awards in Los Angeles just last month. Peony Hirwani looks back at an excruciating moment for the anchor as he was put to the sword by legendary action star Michelle Yeoh as she accepted her statuette for Everything Everywhere All At Once. Michelle Yeoh takes aim at CNNs Don Lemon with Oscars acceptance speech The Don Lemon scandal is not a scandal Wednesday 26 April 2023 17:15 , Joe Sommerlad For Indy Voices, Clemence Michallon offers this on Lemons past her prime scandal from earlier this year, which in retrospect appears to have marked the beginning of the end for him at CNN. The Don Lemon scandal is not a scandal | Voices Don Lemon career timeline Wednesday 26 April 2023 16:30 , Joe Sommerlad Inga Parkel has this look back at the fired CNN stars career in the media. Timeline of fired CNN host Don Lemons career How CNN reported Don Lemons departure Wednesday 26 April 2023 15:45 , Joe Sommerlad In case you missed it, this is how anchors Poppy Harlow and Kaitlin Collins covered the Lemon news on his former show on Tuesday morning, with both women sharing positive memories of his contribution and thanking viewers for tuning in. CNN's Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins address Don Lemon's termination at the top of the morning show. pic.twitter.com/U5RpXL8cEA The Recount (@therecount) April 25, 2023 Heres more from Ariana Baio. Don Lemon receives swift and upbeat send-off from CNN co-anchors Rick Ross offers Don Lemon a job at Wingstop Wednesday 26 April 2023 15:00 , Joe Sommerlad Rapper Rick Ross has responded to the news of Lemons firing from CNN by offering him a job at his fast food chain Wingstop. For some reason, I believe you know what youre doing with them lemon pepper wings, so man just send over your resume, Ross said. Seventeen years, damn. But Im going to make sure I get you in front of the right grill brother. Rick Ross offers Don Lemon a job at WingStop pic.twitter.com/77ZBmXiNm7 philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 25, 2023 Ross and his family own nearly 30 franchises of the popular fried chicken chain. Lemon lucky to be ousted same time as Carlson, says Howard Stern Wednesday 26 April 2023 14:15 , Joe Sommerlad The legendary radio shock jock has said that the ousted CNN anchor Don Lemon and fired NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell were lucky to lose their jobs at the same time as Foxs Tucker Carlson. Don Lemon got fired over at CNN and then some other guy at NBC, Jeff Shell, whos an executive, got fired, Stern said on Tuesdays episode of his SiriusXM radio show. And Im like, Jeff Shells so lucky, and so is Don Lemon, because Tucker Carlson getting fired on the same day you get fired you barely make news, like no one will even notice. Now is the time to get rid of everybody, cause no ones going to really make a big deal about it. Im not sure its played out like that in practice but heres Ellie Muir with more. Howard Stern claims Don Lemon lucky to be fired at same time as Tucker Carlson Nikki Haley wastes no time in using Lemon dismissal to hawk merchandise Wednesday 26 April 2023 13:30 , Joe Sommerlad The former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the UN, herself now a Republican presidential contender, took to Twitter yesterday to celebrate the downfall of the man who controversially suggested she was past her prime and wasted no time in turning the moment into a sales opportunity. A great day for women everywhere. Now, lets get men out of womens sports, she wrote before pitching a range of beer can koozies emblazened with her slogans. A great day for women everywhere. Now, let's get men out of womens sports. #StillInMyPrime https://t.co/u1KKBf4JRT pic.twitter.com/bLJXUSixkS Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) April 24, 2023 Ariana Baio has more on this timeliest of grifts. Nikki Haley celebrates Don Lemon being ousted with custom koozies Don Lemon denies misogyny allegations calling them patently false Wednesday 26 April 2023 12:45 , Joe Sommerlad This is what the presenter himself has had to say about the sexism accusations levelled against him. Don Lemon denies workplace misogyny accusations calling them patently false The View host defends Lemon over misogyny accusations Wednesday 26 April 2023 12:00 , Joe Sommerlad Also speaking up for Lemon yesterday was The Views Sunny Hostin, who said: I dont believe, in my experience with him, that hes a misogynist. I think he loves women: he loves his mother, he loved his sister, he loves me, he loves Joy Behar. Ingal Parker has more. The Views Sunny Hostin defends friend Don Lemon after CNN firing California congressman defends Lemon over Ramaswamy interview Wednesday 26 April 2023 11:15 , Joe Sommerlad As we mentioned earlier, The New York Times has reported that CNN executives were left exasperated by the heated interview Don Lemon carried out with entrepreneur and aspiring Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy last week, in which their pair sparred over the history of the civil rights movement as co-presenter Poppy Harlow squirmed awkwardly in her chair. However, California Democratic congressman Ro Khanna has leapt to the anchors defence, retweeting the clip and commenting: Don Lemon was right. As an Indian American, I was profoundly embarrassed by Vivek lecturing a Black man about Black history. The truth is that the Black civil rights movement paved the way for the 1965 immigration act so that Viveks family or mine could come to America. We owe a huge debt. Don Lemon was right. As an Indian American, I was profoundly embarrassed by Vivek lecturing a Black man about Black history. The truth is that the Black civil rights movement paved the way for the 1965 immigration act so that Viveks family or mine could come to America. We owe a https://t.co/oprlEsxHAI Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) April 25, 2023 Sean Hannity gloats over dismissal of fake news enthusiast Don Lemon Wednesday 26 April 2023 10:45 , Joe Sommerlad Ironic applause and whistles broke out in the Fox News studio as Hannity covered the Lemon news last night an astonishingly hypocritical attack on a fellow professional given what the recent Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit revealed about what went on at Fox behind the scenes in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. Hannity: Don Lemon is out at CNN Audience: *cheers* pic.twitter.com/nQhBDjEqCA Acyn (@Acyn) April 25, 2023 Why was Don Lemon fired from CNN? Wednesday 26 April 2023 10:00 , Joe Sommerlad While the precise reasoning behind Lemons dismissal from CNN is still not totally clear, one thing is certain: his exit from the network was involuntary. John Bowden has more on a suprise move that coincided with Tucker Carlsons bombshell ousting from conservative rival Fox. Why was Don Lemon fired from CNN? Lemon had heated exchange with Vivek Ramaswamy last week Wednesday 26 April 2023 07:59 , Tom Murray According to The New York Times, several CNN leaders were left exasperated by Lemons heated interview with Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy last week. Lemon and Ramaswarmy fiercely debated the Second Amendment right to bear arms and its role in Black history. At one point, Lemon removed his earpiece as he said he couldnt hear his subject while producers were talking in his ear. according to the NYT this interview that Don Lemon conducted last week with Vivek Ramaswamy played a role in his firing. Note co-host Poppy Harlow sitting silently while Lemon goes after Vivek. pic.twitter.com/Fjx5eX30wU Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 24, 2023 Don Lemons career timeline Wednesday 26 April 2023 07:01 , Tom Murray Before joining CNN 17 years ago, Lemon jumped between several other news anchor gigs after joining the profession surprisingly late. The Independent has put together Lemons career timeline, from his first job in journalism to his dismissal from CNN. Timeline of fired CNN host Don Lemons career Donald Trump reacts to Lemons firing Wednesday 26 April 2023 06:02 , Tom Murray Good News: The dumbest man on television, Don Lemon, has finally been fired from Fake News CNN, Donald Trump wrote on his platform Truth Social on Monday. He added, My only question is, WHAT TOOK THEM SO LONG? Lemon, who had been a host on CNN since 2014, was an outspoken critic of Trump. Read more. Trump celebrates Don Lemon ouster from CNN and mourns Tucker Carlsons Fox exit Latest on Tucker Carlson firing Wednesday 26 April 2023 05:00 , Tom Murray Lemons firing coincided with that of another US media giant: Tucker Carlson. Insiders say Carlson was blindsided by his removal from Fox News after eight years on the network. Heres the latest. Fox News Tucker Carlson was negotiating new contract when Murdoch fired him live Lemon previously came under fire for asking a female guest if she had mommy brain Wednesday 26 April 2023 04:01 , Tom Murray The Nikki Haley scandal was not Lemons first brush with controversy. He previously came under fire for asking political commentator SE Cupp if she was suffering from mommy brain. His comment was branded sexist by viewers. Read more: Sexist CNN host Don Lemon under fire for asking guest if she had mommy brain Voices: The Don Lemon scandal is not a scandal Wednesday 26 April 2023 02:59 , Tom Murray For The Independent, Clemence Michallon previously argued that the Don Lemon scandal over his infamous Nikki Haley comments was not a scandal at all. Find out her reasoning here: The Don Lemon scandal is not a scandal | Voices A reminder of Lemons statement Wednesday 26 April 2023 02:01 , Tom Murray Lemon tweeted the news of his departure on Monday. In a typed statement shared on Twitter, Lemon said no one at CNN had the decency to inform him of his departure in advance. CNN said Lemons statement is inaccurate and that he was, in fact, offered the opportunity to meet with management. You can read his full, typed statement here: Michelle Yeoh references Don Lemon at the Oscars Wednesday 26 April 2023 01:00 , Inga Parkel Michelle Yeoh referenced Lemons misogynistic comments at the 2023 Oscars in March. Lemon had faced backlash for suggesting that 51-year-old presidential candidate Nikki Haley was past her prime. Taking the stage to accept her award for Best Actress, Yeoh told the audience: Ladies, dont ever let anyone tell you you are ever past your prime. Never give up! Read more: (Getty Images) Ladies, dont ever let anyone tell you you are ever past your prime, Yeoh said Where was Don Lemon before his 17-year stint with CNN? Wednesday 26 April 2023 00:00 , Inga Parkel Before Lemons longtime career with CNN, he got his start the same way many anchors do: climbing the news media ladder Don Lemon (CNN This Morning) Before joining the network 17 years ago, he jumped between several other news anchor gigs Tensions between Don Lemon and co-host Kaitlan Collins emerge Tuesday 25 April 2023 23:00 , Inga Parkel Following his eight-year stint hosting his own show CNNs Don Lemon Tonight, he was moved to the networks morning broadcast with co-hosts Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow. However, while he was used to spewing no holds barred commentary on politics the persona that made him popular among viewers this made for a difficult transition to CNN This Morning, a show expected to have a peppy tone sans impassioned monologues. Kaitlan Collins (L) Don Lemon (centre) (2022 Invision) It was revealed that CNN This Morning crew members were shaken by a behind-the-scenes incident in which Lemon blamed Collins for interrupting him too much, according to The New York Times. Rick Ross offers Don Lemon job at Wingstop Tuesday 25 April 2023 22:11 , Inga Parkel Rapper Rick Ross responded to news of Lemons CNN firing to offer him a job at Wingstop. Ross and his family own nearly 30 franchises of the American food chain. Rick Ross offers Don Lemon a job at WingStop pic.twitter.com/77ZBmXiNm7 philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 25, 2023 Lemon previously denied workplace misogyny accusations Tuesday 25 April 2023 22:00 , Inga Parkel Earlier this month, Lemon strongly denied recent accusations lodged against him, which included claims of workplace misogyny and diva-like behaviour. In a damning report from Variety, several sources alleged he had disrespected CNN co-hosts Nancy Grace and broadcaster Soledad OBrien, among other things. Responding to the allegations in a statement to Mediaite, a spokesperson for Lemon said: The story, which is riddled with patently false anecdotes and no concrete evidence, is entirely based on unsourced, unsubstantiated, 15-year-old anonymous gossip. Its amazing and disappointing that Variety would be so reckless. Read more: (Getty Images) The CNN news anchor said story is based on 15-year-old anonymous gossip The View hosts support Don Lemon after CNN firing Tuesday 25 April 2023 21:00 , Inga Parkel The Views Sunny Hostin, along with her fellow co-hosts, support Don Lemon, defending his character, following his departure from CNN. Hostin argued against speculations, which claimed his termination was tied to recent accusations of misogynistic behaviour lodged against him. He loves women. He loves his mother. He loved his sister, the host said. Read more: Sunny Hostin and Don Lemon (Getty Images) Lemon was ousted from CNN on Monday 24 April in a surprise turn of events Lemon previously came under fire for asking a female guest if she had mommy brain Tuesday 25 April 2023 20:00 , Inga Parkel The Nikki Haley scandal was not Lemons first brush with controversy. He previously came under fire for asking political commentator SE Cupp if she was suffering from mommy brain. His comment was branded sexist by viewers. Read more: (AFP via Getty Images) Wow what a sexist comment, one viewer wrote on Twitter. Don Lemon and Tucker Carlson reportedly retain same attorney Tuesday 25 April 2023 19:30 , Inga Parkel In a strange turn of events, Don Lemons firing perfectly coincided with Tucker Tuckers ousting at Fox News. However, in even more ironic news, the two have reportedly lawyered up with the same Los Angeles attorney. Bryan Freedman, a specialist in handling showbusiness breakup, has been hired separately by both stars to represent them, per multiple reports. Freedman has dealt with other high-profile breakups, including Megyn Kelly and NBC News in 2019 and The Bachelor host Chris Harrison in 2021. The Don Lemon scandal is not a scandal Tuesday 25 April 2023 19:00 , Inga Parkel Heres a comment piece Clemence Michallon wrote on the backlash to Don Lemons Nikki Haley remarks in February TV CNN Don Lemon (2021 Invision) Im not excusing what he said. Im just not that surprised that he said it Nikki Haley celebrates Don Lemons dismissal Tuesday 25 April 2023 18:30 , Inga Parkel Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley celebrated former CNN host Don Lemons termination from the network, by posting a graphic referencing his controversial comments. On Twitter, Haley posted a graphic that showed two cans of lemonade enveloped in koozies that read, Past my prime? and Hold my beer. Full story: (Getty) Ousted CNN presenter previously claimed the White House hopeful was not in her prime CNN contests Don Lemons version of events Tuesday 25 April 2023 18:00 , Inga Parkel Shortly after Don Lemon announced he was fired from CNN after 17 years at the network, CNN pushed back on the anchors claims about his termination. On Monday, Mr Lemon shared an emotional note on social media, declaring that the firing left him stunned. In response, CNNs press team wrote on Twitter: Don Lemons statement about this mornings events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter. Rachel Sharp reports: (Getty Images) The network announced the departure in a statement on Monday two months after he came under fire for comments about Nikki Haley not being in her prime Don Lemon stunned by his termination Tuesday 25 April 2023 17:30 , Inga Parkel When word first broke about Don Lemons firing, he tweeted the news of his departure, saying he was stunned. In a typed statement, Lemon said no one at CNN had the decency to inform him of his departure in advance. CNN has called Lemons sentiments inaccurate. Why was Don Lemon fired from CNN? Tuesday 25 April 2023 17:00 , Inga Parkel Although Don Lemons ejection was a surprise to him, it comes after a string of recent controversies. While he was welcomed back after he made sexist comments on air about Nikki Haley, on the belief that he would undergo formal training, it seems his reputation was already tarnished. According to two sources, who spoke to The New York Times on the condition of anonymity, CNN ultimately let the longtime news anchor go after executives found his future with the network had become untenable. Not only had Lemons popularity with audiences dropped significantly, based on research reviewed by CNN executives, but CNNs bookers also discovered that his presence deterred some guests from wanting to appear on air with him. Don Lemon receives swift and upbeat send-off from CNN co-anchors Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins Tuesday 25 April 2023 16:30 , Inga Parkel The day after Don Lemons termination, his former CNN co-anchors, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, opened the Tuesday morning broadcast to wish him well. They spent less than a minute reminiscing on Lemon before getting into the news for the day. Ariana Baio reports: Media-CNN-Lemon (2022 Invision) Lemon was fired on Monday after 17 years of broadcasting at CNN How did Don Lemon respond to Stephen Colberts hoodie take-down? Tuesday 25 April 2023 16:00 , Inga Parkel As per Stephen Colberts request, Don Lemon defended his outfit choice the next morning. The news anchor began by prefacing his response with: I love Stephen Colbert. I think hes funny. Obviously, I love comedians to have a little leeway. I didnt expect that reaction. For me, it was sort of like a Rorschach test... wearing that outfit. Lemon then clarified that it wasnt a sweatshirt, it was a sweater that had a hood on it. What was the Don Lemon hoodie controversy? Tuesday 25 April 2023 15:30 , Inga Parkel In January, Lemon appeared on CNN This Morning wearing a suit with a hoodie attached to it. Later that night, late-night host Stephen Colbert shared his honest opinion on his dear friends outfit choice, asking: What the f*** is that? I know they want to add some comedy to CNN, and this is hilarious. But how do you report the news in that outfit? How do you actually talk about tragedy, because what could be more tragic than that look? Colbert laughed. CNN, highlighting insults of CNN! On "CNN This Morning," they play Colbert SAVAGING Lemon for wearing a hoodie with a suitcoat. Don: It wasn't a hoodie. It was a sweater with a hood on it. pic.twitter.com/h3YIByXnq8 Tim Graham (@TimJGraham) January 20, 2023 He went on to joke that Lemon looked like a high school track teacher who went for a run and got a little hungry and stopped at a restaurant, but it was too nice of a restaurant and they said, Sir you have to wear a jacket. Then he stole a jacket from an extra from Guys and Dolls. A timeline of Don Lemons career Tuesday 25 April 2023 15:00 , Roisin O'Connor Before joining the network 17 years ago, he jumped between several other news anchor gigs. Heres a recap: Timeline of fired CNN host Don Lemons career Don Lemons Nikki Haley controversy explained Tuesday 25 April 2023 14:30 , Roisin O'Connor What did the CNN host say about the presidential candidate? Heres everything you need to know: Don Lemons Nikki Haley controversy explained And heres how Trump reacted... Tuesday 25 April 2023 14:00 , Roisin O'Connor Trump celebrates Don Lemon ouster from CNN and mourns Tucker Carlsons Fox exit Nikki Haley celebrates Don Lemon being ousted from CNN Tuesday 25 April 2023 13:35 , Roisin O'Connor Presidential candidate Nikki Haley celebrated former CNN host Don Lemon being ousted from his network by posting a graphic referencing his controversial comments. On Twitter, Ms Haley posted a graphic that showed two cans of lemonade enveloped in koozies that read, Past my prime? and Hold my beer. Full story: Nikki Haley celebrates Don Lemon being ousted with custom koozies CNN hits back at Don Lemons version of events Tuesday 25 April 2023 12:00 , Roisin O'Connor Shortly after Don Lemon announced he was fired from CNN after 17 years at the network, CNN pushed back on the anchors claims about his termination. On Monday, Mr Lemon shared an emotional note on social media, declaring that the firing left him stunned. In response, CNNs press team wrote on Twitter: Don Lemons statement about this mornings events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter. In an earlier statement on Monday, the network announced that the two sides had parted ways in a brief three-line statement. Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors. While neither statement offered an explanation for the sudden departure, it comes after Mr Lemon has been mired in a string of controversies in recent months with accusations of making offensive on-air comments about women and of mistreating female coworkers off-camera. Rachel Sharp reports: CNN slams Don Lemons reaction to being fired from network Don Lemon firing coincides with Tucker Carlson ousting at Fox News Tuesday 25 April 2023 11:29 , Roisin O'Connor Heres the latest on Tucker Carlson Fox News Tucker Carlson was negotiating new contract when Murdoch fired him live The Don Lemon scandal is not a scandal Tuesday 25 April 2023 11:00 , Roisin O'Connor Heres a comment piece Clemence Michallon wrote on the backlash to Don Lemons Nikki Haley remarks in February The Don Lemon scandal is not a scandal | Voices A reminder of Lemons statement Tuesday 25 April 2023 10:24 , Roisin O'Connor Lemon tweeted the news of his departure on Monday. In a typed statement shared on Twitter, Lemon said no one at CNN had the decency to inform him of his departure in advance. CNN has called Lemons sentiments inaccurate. You can read his full, typed statement here: Lemon previously came under fire for asking a female guest if she had mommy brain Tuesday 25 April 2023 07:05 , Peony Hirwani The Nikki Haley scandal was not Lemons first brush with controversy. He previously came under fire for asking political commentator SE Cupp if she was suffering from mommy brain. His comment was branded sexist by viewers. Read more: Sexist CNN host Don Lemon under fire for asking guest if she had mommy brain Voices: The Don Lemon scandal is not a scandal' Tuesday 25 April 2023 06:07 , Peony Hirwani For The Independent, Clemence Michallon previously argued that the Don Lemon scandal over his infamous Nikki Haley comments was not a scandal at all. Find out her reasoning here: The Don Lemon scandal is not a scandal | Voices Don Lemon has been fired by CNN after 17 years on the network. Following the news, rapper Rick Ross jokingly responded by offering the axed news anchor a job at one of his family-owned Wingstop locations. On Monday (24 April), CNN announced that the network had parted ways with Lemon, barely an hour after news broke that Tucker Carlson had been fired from Fox News. Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years, the statement said. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavours. Lemon reacted to the news with his own statement on Twitter saying he was left stunned after being informed by his agent that CNN had allegedly terminated his contract without informing him. After 17 years at CNN I would have thought someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly, he wrote. CNN has called Lemons statement inaccurate. Key Points Don Lemon is fired from CNN after accusations of sexist comments and mistreatment of female colleagues What Don Lemon said about presidential candidate Nikki Haley Donald Trump rejoices in Don Lemons departure from CNN CNN co-anchors Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins respond to Lemons departure Latest on Tucker Carlson firing 05:00 , Tom Murray Lemons firing coincided with that of another US media giant: Tucker Carlson. Insiders say Carlson was blindsided by his removal from Fox News after eight years on the network. Heres the latest. Fox News Tucker Carlson was negotiating new contract when Murdoch fired him live Lemon previously came under fire for asking a female guest if she had mommy brain 04:01 , Tom Murray The Nikki Haley scandal was not Lemons first brush with controversy. He previously came under fire for asking political commentator SE Cupp if she was suffering from mommy brain. His comment was branded sexist by viewers. Read more: Sexist CNN host Don Lemon under fire for asking guest if she had mommy brain Story continues Voices: The Don Lemon scandal is not a scandal 02:59 , Tom Murray For The Independent, Clemence Michallon previously argued that the Don Lemon scandal over his infamous Nikki Haley comments was not a scandal at all. Find out her reasoning here: The Don Lemon scandal is not a scandal | Voices A reminder of Lemons statement 02:01 , Tom Murray Lemon tweeted the news of his departure on Monday. In a typed statement shared on Twitter, Lemon said no one at CNN had the decency to inform him of his departure in advance. CNN said Lemons statement is inaccurate and that he was, in fact, offered the opportunity to meet with management. You can read his full, typed statement here: Michelle Yeoh references Don Lemon at the Oscars 01:00 , Inga Parkel Michelle Yeoh referenced Lemons misogynistic comments at the 2023 Oscars in March. Lemon had faced backlash for suggesting that 51-year-old presidential candidate Nikki Haley was past her prime. Taking the stage to accept her award for Best Actress, Yeoh told the audience: Ladies, dont ever let anyone tell you you are ever past your prime. Never give up! Read more: (Getty Images) Ladies, dont ever let anyone tell you you are ever past your prime, Yeoh said Where was Don Lemon before his 17-year stint with CNN? Wednesday 26 April 2023 00:00 , Inga Parkel Before Lemons longtime career with CNN, he got his start the same way many anchors do: climbing the news media ladder Don Lemon (CNN This Morning) Before joining the network 17 years ago, he jumped between several other news anchor gigs Tensions between Don Lemon and co-host Kaitlan Collins emerge Tuesday 25 April 2023 23:00 , Inga Parkel Following his eight-year stint hosting his own show CNNs Don Lemon Tonight, he was moved to the networks morning broadcast with co-hosts Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow. However, while he was used to spewing no holds barred commentary on politics the persona that made him popular among viewers this made for a difficult transition to CNN This Morning, a show expected to have a peppy tone sans impassioned monologues. Kaitlan Collins (L) Don Lemon (centre) (2022 Invision) It was revealed that CNN This Morning crew members were shaken by a behind-the-scenes incident in which Lemon blamed Collins for interrupting him too much, according to The New York Times. Rick Ross offers Don Lemon job at Wingstop Tuesday 25 April 2023 22:11 , Inga Parkel Rapper Rick Ross responded to news of Lemons CNN firing to offer him a job at Wingstop. Ross and his family own nearly 30 franchises of the American food chain. Rick Ross offers Don Lemon a job at WingStop pic.twitter.com/77ZBmXiNm7 philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 25, 2023 Lemon previously denied workplace misogyny accusations Tuesday 25 April 2023 22:00 , Inga Parkel Earlier this month, Lemon strongly denied recent accusations lodged against him, which included claims of workplace misogyny and diva-like behaviour. In a damning report from Variety, several sources alleged he had disrespected CNN co-hosts Nancy Grace and broadcaster Soledad OBrien, among other things. Responding to the allegations in a statement to Mediaite, a spokesperson for Lemon said: The story, which is riddled with patently false anecdotes and no concrete evidence, is entirely based on unsourced, unsubstantiated, 15-year-old anonymous gossip. Its amazing and disappointing that Variety would be so reckless. Read more: (Getty Images) The CNN news anchor said story is based on 15-year-old anonymous gossip The View hosts support Don Lemon after CNN firing Tuesday 25 April 2023 21:00 , Inga Parkel The Views Sunny Hostin, along with her fellow co-hosts, support Don Lemon, defending his character, following his departure from CNN. Hostin argued against speculations, which claimed his termination was tied to recent accusations of misogynistic behaviour lodged against him. He loves women. He loves his mother. He loved his sister, the host said. Read more: Sunny Hostin and Don Lemon (Getty Images) Lemon was ousted from CNN on Monday 24 April in a surprise turn of events Lemon previously came under fire for asking a female guest if she had mommy brain Tuesday 25 April 2023 20:00 , Inga Parkel The Nikki Haley scandal was not Lemons first brush with controversy. He previously came under fire for asking political commentator SE Cupp if she was suffering from mommy brain. His comment was branded sexist by viewers. Read more: (AFP via Getty Images) Wow what a sexist comment, one viewer wrote on Twitter. Don Lemon and Tucker Carlson reportedly retain same attorney Tuesday 25 April 2023 19:30 , Inga Parkel In a strange turn of events, Don Lemons firing perfectly coincided with Tucker Tuckers ousting at Fox News. However, in even more ironic news, the two have reportedly lawyered up with the same Los Angeles attorney. Bryan Freedman, a specialist in handling showbusiness breakup, has been hired separately by both stars to represent them, per multiple reports. Freedman has dealt with other high-profile breakups, including Megyn Kelly and NBC News in 2019 and The Bachelor host Chris Harrison in 2021. The Don Lemon scandal is not a scandal Tuesday 25 April 2023 19:00 , Inga Parkel Heres a comment piece Clemence Michallon wrote on the backlash to Don Lemons Nikki Haley remarks in February TV CNN Don Lemon (2021 Invision) Im not excusing what he said. Im just not that surprised that he said it Nikki Haley celebrates Don Lemons dismissal Tuesday 25 April 2023 18:30 , Inga Parkel Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley celebrated former CNN host Don Lemons termination from the network, by posting a graphic referencing his controversial comments. On Twitter, Haley posted a graphic that showed two cans of lemonade enveloped in koozies that read, Past my prime? and Hold my beer. Full story: (Getty) Ousted CNN presenter previously claimed the White House hopeful was not in her prime CNN contests Don Lemons version of events Tuesday 25 April 2023 18:00 , Inga Parkel Shortly after Don Lemon announced he was fired from CNN after 17 years at the network, CNN pushed back on the anchors claims about his termination. On Monday, Mr Lemon shared an emotional note on social media, declaring that the firing left him stunned. In response, CNNs press team wrote on Twitter: Don Lemons statement about this mornings events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter. Rachel Sharp reports: (Getty Images) The network announced the departure in a statement on Monday two months after he came under fire for comments about Nikki Haley not being in her prime Don Lemon stunned by his termination Tuesday 25 April 2023 17:30 , Inga Parkel When word first broke about Don Lemons firing, he tweeted the news of his departure, saying he was stunned. In a typed statement, Lemon said no one at CNN had the decency to inform him of his departure in advance. CNN has called Lemons sentiments inaccurate. Why was Don Lemon fired from CNN? Tuesday 25 April 2023 17:00 , Inga Parkel Although Don Lemons ejection was a surprise to him, it comes after a string of recent controversies. While he was welcomed back after he made sexist comments on air about Nikki Haley, on the belief that he would undergo formal training, it seems his reputation was already tarnished. According to two sources, who spoke to The New York Times on the condition of anonymity, CNN ultimately let the longtime news anchor go after executives found his future with the network had become untenable. Not only had Lemons popularity with audiences dropped significantly, based on research reviewed by CNN executives, but CNNs bookers also discovered that his presence deterred some guests from wanting to appear on air with him. Don Lemon receives swift and upbeat send-off from CNN co-anchors Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins Tuesday 25 April 2023 16:30 , Inga Parkel The day after Don Lemons termination, his former CNN co-anchors, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, opened the Tuesday morning broadcast to wish him well. They spent less than a minute reminiscing on Lemon before getting into the news for the day. Ariana Baio reports: Media-CNN-Lemon (2022 Invision) Lemon was fired on Monday after 17 years of broadcasting at CNN How did Don Lemon respond to Stephen Colberts hoodie take-down? Tuesday 25 April 2023 16:00 , Inga Parkel As per Stephen Colberts request, Don Lemon defended his outfit choice the next morning. The news anchor began by prefacing his response with: I love Stephen Colbert. I think hes funny. Obviously, I love comedians to have a little leeway. I didnt expect that reaction. For me, it was sort of like a Rorschach test... wearing that outfit. Lemon then clarified that it wasnt a sweatshirt, it was a sweater that had a hood on it. What was the Don Lemon hoodie controversy? Tuesday 25 April 2023 15:30 , Inga Parkel In January, Lemon appeared on CNN This Morning wearing a suit with a hoodie attached to it. Later that night, late-night host Stephen Colbert shared his honest opinion on his dear friends outfit choice, asking: What the f*** is that? I know they want to add some comedy to CNN, and this is hilarious. But how do you report the news in that outfit? How do you actually talk about tragedy, because what could be more tragic than that look? Colbert laughed. CNN, highlighting insults of CNN! On "CNN This Morning," they play Colbert SAVAGING Lemon for wearing a hoodie with a suitcoat. Don: It wasn't a hoodie. It was a sweater with a hood on it. pic.twitter.com/h3YIByXnq8 Tim Graham (@TimJGraham) January 20, 2023 He went on to joke that Lemon looked like a high school track teacher who went for a run and got a little hungry and stopped at a restaurant, but it was too nice of a restaurant and they said, Sir you have to wear a jacket. Then he stole a jacket from an extra from Guys and Dolls. A timeline of Don Lemons career Tuesday 25 April 2023 15:00 , Roisin O'Connor Before joining the network 17 years ago, he jumped between several other news anchor gigs. Heres a recap: Timeline of fired CNN host Don Lemons career Don Lemons Nikki Haley controversy explained Tuesday 25 April 2023 14:30 , Roisin O'Connor What did the CNN host say about the presidential candidate? Heres everything you need to know: Don Lemons Nikki Haley controversy explained And heres how Trump reacted... Tuesday 25 April 2023 14:00 , Roisin O'Connor Trump celebrates Don Lemon ouster from CNN and mourns Tucker Carlsons Fox exit Nikki Haley celebrates Don Lemon being ousted from CNN Tuesday 25 April 2023 13:35 , Roisin O'Connor Presidential candidate Nikki Haley celebrated former CNN host Don Lemon being ousted from his network by posting a graphic referencing his controversial comments. On Twitter, Ms Haley posted a graphic that showed two cans of lemonade enveloped in koozies that read, Past my prime? and Hold my beer. Full story: Nikki Haley celebrates Don Lemon being ousted with custom koozies CNN hits back at Don Lemons version of events Tuesday 25 April 2023 12:00 , Roisin O'Connor Shortly after Don Lemon announced he was fired from CNN after 17 years at the network, CNN pushed back on the anchors claims about his termination. On Monday, Mr Lemon shared an emotional note on social media, declaring that the firing left him stunned. In response, CNNs press team wrote on Twitter: Don Lemons statement about this mornings events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter. In an earlier statement on Monday, the network announced that the two sides had parted ways in a brief three-line statement. Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors. While neither statement offered an explanation for the sudden departure, it comes after Mr Lemon has been mired in a string of controversies in recent months with accusations of making offensive on-air comments about women and of mistreating female coworkers off-camera. Rachel Sharp reports: CNN slams Don Lemons reaction to being fired from network Don Lemon firing coincides with Tucker Carlson ousting at Fox News Tuesday 25 April 2023 11:29 , Roisin O'Connor Heres the latest on Tucker Carlson Fox News Tucker Carlson was negotiating new contract when Murdoch fired him live The Don Lemon scandal is not a scandal Tuesday 25 April 2023 11:00 , Roisin O'Connor Heres a comment piece Clemence Michallon wrote on the backlash to Don Lemons Nikki Haley remarks in February The Don Lemon scandal is not a scandal | Voices A reminder of Lemons statement Tuesday 25 April 2023 10:24 , Roisin O'Connor Lemon tweeted the news of his departure on Monday. In a typed statement shared on Twitter, Lemon said no one at CNN had the decency to inform him of his departure in advance. CNN has called Lemons sentiments inaccurate. You can read his full, typed statement here: Lemon previously came under fire for asking a female guest if she had mommy brain Tuesday 25 April 2023 07:05 , Peony Hirwani The Nikki Haley scandal was not Lemons first brush with controversy. He previously came under fire for asking political commentator SE Cupp if she was suffering from mommy brain. His comment was branded sexist by viewers. Read more: Sexist CNN host Don Lemon under fire for asking guest if she had mommy brain Voices: The Don Lemon scandal is not a scandal' Tuesday 25 April 2023 06:07 , Peony Hirwani For The Independent, Clemence Michallon previously argued that the Don Lemon scandal over his infamous Nikki Haley comments was not a scandal at all. Find out her reasoning here: The Don Lemon scandal is not a scandal | Voices E Jean Carroll testified in the civil rape and defamation case against former President Donald Trump A former columnist suing Donald Trump over an alleged rape nearly 30 years ago has testified she launched the case "to try and get my life back". E Jean Carroll told the New York civil rape and defamation trial she had been unable to have a romantic life since the alleged assault. Ms Carroll claims Mr Trump accosted her in a Manhattan department store in 1996. He has consistently denied her accusations as "fiction". "I'm here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he lied and said it didn't happen," Ms Carroll told a Manhattan federal court on Wednesday. "He lied and shattered my reputation, and I'm here to try and get my life back." Ms Carroll, a former advice columnist for Elle magazine, testified that the encounter with Mr Trump initially began with flirtatious banter after he approached her at the Bergdorf Goodman store and asked if she would help him buy a gift for a friend. She said the banter quickly took a turn when Mr Trump asked her to try on a piece of lingerie and followed her into a dressing room. Once inside, she claimed, he closed the door, held her against the wall and raped her. "As I'm sitting here today I can still feel it," she told the court. She tried to push Mr Trump off, saying it was clear she didn't want it to happen, she said. The "extremely painful" encounter was over within minutes, she said, and she quickly left the department store. In the years since, she has felt guilty about her decision to enter the dressing room, Ms Caroll said on Wednesday. Ms Carroll said she told two friends about the attack, who gave conflicting advice about whether she should go public with her story. In his questioning, Ms Carroll's lawyer seemed to anticipate questions she may face from Mr Trump's team, including whether she was motivated to sue the former president for political reasons. Ms Carroll, who has voted only for Democratic candidates, said she was not. Story continues Mr Trump, who is running in the 2024 presidential election, has repeatedly denied her allegations. On Wednesday, on a series of posts on his social media website, he called the account a "fraudulent and false story" and called it into question. "She didn't scream? There are no witnesses? Nobody saw this?" he wrote. Mr Trump's post was brought to the attention of US District Judge Lewis Kaplan before witnesses took the stand. The judge admonished Mr Trump's legal team for their client's behaviour and said the post was "a public statement that, on the face of it, seems entirely inappropriate". Mr Trump's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, told the judge he would ask his client to "refrain from any further posts on this case". As of Wednesday it was not immediately clear if the former president planned to appear in court in the case, which is expected to last two weeks. Ms Carroll, 79, will return to the stand on Thursday, where she will likely face cross examination. She is seeking unspecified damages from Mr Trump, 76. In 2022, New York passed the Adult Survivors Act, which allowed a one-year period for victims to file sexual assault lawsuits in the state over claims that would have otherwise exceeded statute limitations. The Ontario governments plans to boost police enrolment by lowering education requirements is igniting questions about what this means for the future of the province. Many are questioning whether it will lead to more confrontations with police, particularly amongst marginalized populations. Others are outraged that sectors like education and health are being overlooked for the same kind of incentive when it comes to recruitment. Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Tuesday plans to drop post-secondary education requirements for police recruits in the province, as well as offer free tuition, in an effort to boost dwindling enrolment. Currently, police enrolment requires any type of four-year degree to be accepted. Fords proposed legislation would mean recruits only need to have a high school diploma to enrol. The cost of the program is said to be $15,450. Including the additional spaces the provinces plans to open, the cost to cover tuition will be approximately $34 million per year. Ontario Premier Doug Ford arrives at the Toronto Police College for a press conference in Etobicoke, Ont., on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin On social media, some felt the plan was misguided, particularly at a time when the retention rate of nurses and doctors is falling short in the province. This is absolutely enraging for many reasons - but one that stands out is that we have a dire nursing shortage and Ford has done nothing to support them... Nothing from this gov, just more and more cops - it'd be laughable if it wasn't so depressing. https://t.co/khFcqMn99O Saman Tabasinejad (@samantabasin) April 25, 2023 What about free tuition for nurses, who have to complete a four-year degree? What about for PSWs who have to complete a one-year program? How about ECEs who have to complete a two-year certificate? This tells us so much about this government's screwed up priorities. https://t.co/6R22XlnfAB Devon Paul (@Devoptimus) April 25, 2023 1/2 Creating a "pipeline" for more police officers when (a) we know $1 invested in violence prevention saves $7 on cops, courts, cages and victims services after victimization occurs and (b) when policing often harms people pushed to the margins is bad idea. Justin Piche, PhD (@JustinPicheh) April 25, 2023 I dont agree with Doug Fords new lax education standards for police recruits. But the extra income will be nice around the house. I expect Norah to make detective by grade 2. Good morning. pic.twitter.com/ied5hEva7g Steve Patterson (not a parody) (@patterballs) April 26, 2023 If Doug Ford is going to remove post-secondary education requirements, there should be a salary reduction as well. Police officers without post-secondary education should make less. Is that what he is proposing too?https://t.co/WBc6mXe5Hc Amie Archibald-Varley-Nursing my way into Media (@AmieVarley) April 25, 2023 You could absolutely make the case for education here, but the fact Ford opts to make tuition free for police and not nurses, after 3 years of an ongoing brutal pandemic in which nurses have made so much sacrifice, might be the most absurd thing he has done yet.#onpoli Bobby Guse (@Bobby_Guse) April 25, 2023 The move is a much different course than the recommendations proposed just last month from the inquiry into the 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia. It suggested that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police offer a three-year, degree-based model of police training. Philip J. Boyle is an associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies at the University of Waterloo. He says more police officers with less education isnt going to solve long-term problems. Boyle describes it as recipe for more negative interactions between police and the public in the province, especially among people from marginalized and disadvantaged populations. It looks like the province is reaching for a quick fix and I dont think it will be the fix theyre hoping it will be, Boye tells Yahoo News Canada. Boyle adds that police training needs to be reconsidered entirely, since the job goes way beyond fighting crime and arresting people. He suggests police education should also include training in social work, negotiation, crisis and case management, and how to respond to people with mental health and substance abuse issues. Theyre performing a mix of duties partly acting as a social worker, partly acting as crisis managers, partly acting as problem solvers, as negotiators, he says. All of that takes a really complicated mix of skills that doesnt just come naturally. It looks like the province is reaching for a quick fix and I dont think it will be the fix theyre hoping it will be. Boyle says the default is to fall back on a crime fighting mode, which he says can only be a short-term fix but ultimately will not help deal with the real issues around crime and antisocial behaviour. Whats needed is more funding into social services and resources for substance dependency, mental health and unemployment. All those structural issues need to be looked at, Boyle says. Even the best trained police force will not be able to tackle those issues but certainly not a police force that has even less education than whats required now. Journalists from news agencies in several Northern European countries have found that many employees of Russian diplomatic missions in the region are likely to be undercover spies. Source: Article by the Finnish news outlet Yle, as reported by European Pravda. The project also involved Norwegian NRK, Swedish SVT, and Danish DR news agencies in cooperation with the Dossier Centre (an organisation engaged in tracking the criminal activity of various people associated with the Kremlin ed.) founded by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an exiled Russian businessman and opposition activist. Details: The journalists identified several dozen people who were apparently employees of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) or Federal Security Service (FSB) but who worked undercover as diplomatic staff. Sources from the intelligence services said these people are usually assigned to secondary positions, while key people in diplomatic missions can rarely be undercover spies. Yle has identified three of these Russians. Among them is Dmitriy Otorochkin, an alleged SVR officer who first worked at the Russian Embassy in Helsinki, then was transferred to Copenhagen, from where he was eventually expelled in the spring of 2022. He had three pages on the VKontakte social network with different names and places of residence but with photos that made him easily identifiable. Another one is 60-year-old Vladimir Komarov, who also worked at the embassy in Helsinki, and 37-year-old Dmitry Dvinyaninov, who were apparently GRU officers. They were expelled in the spring of 2022. The Finnish Police estimate that up to a third of the Russian embassy's diplomats may be undercover spies. One of the officials, speaking anonymously, said that the Finnish services had intervened several times when such "diplomats" tried to establish contact with Russians in Finland for espionage purposes. SVT journalists tracked down 21 alleged spies in Sweden, with at least thirteen of them continuing to work in Stockholm until at least April 2022. Story continues The Norwegian broadcaster NRK notes that a total of 38 Russian intelligence agents linked to diplomatic missions in Northern Europe have been identified as part of the investigation. Another one is located in strategically important Svalbard - Andrei Chemerilo, the Russian Consul General in Barentsburg, who is most likely connected to the GRU, Russian Defence Intelligence. The Dossier Centre came to this conclusion because Chemerilo had once lived at an address known to be a training centre for GRU officers. Chemerilo himself denies any links to the intelligence service. Background: Norway has recently declared 15 Russian embassy officials, who were de-facto intelligence officers operating under the cover of diplomatic positions, to be personae non gratae. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) The Dutch government unveiled a new package Wednesday to slash carbon emissions by promoting clean energy, sustainable homes and industry and the use of electric cars among other a raft of measures to combat climate change. Climate and Energy Minister Rob Jetten said the package would cost a total of 28 billion euros in coming years and lead to a reduction of 55%-60% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 benchmark levels. We are working towards a completely climate-neutral and circular economy by 2050. For that we really have to wean ourselves off fossil fuels and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions," he said. He pitched the package as a win-win scenario for the Netherlands making it a leader in the energy transition needed to slow global warming while reducing dependency on external suppliers such as Russia. The climate challenges of today also create the economic opportunities for tomorrow," he told reporters in The Hague. If we lead the way in the green transition, we in the Netherlands will also reap the benefits for years to come, he added. By putting a lot of effort into our own renewable energy, we make ourselves less dependent on fossil energy from dubious regimes. We have our own clean and sustainable energy supply and therefore no longer have to be blackmailed by types such as (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. Jetten unveiled the plans days after the Netherlands joined other Western European nations led by Germany and France in committing to massively ramp up the production of clean energy from wind turbines in the North Sea, to both meet climate targets and reduce their strategic energy dependence on Russia. Jetten said the government aims to make the country's energy generation carbon-free by 2035. While it has long pledged to meet the emission reduction targets set out in the 2015 Paris climate pact, the Netherlands has also been under pressure since the country's Supreme Court in 2019 upheld a landmark case brought by climate activists ordering the government to cut emissions by 25% by the end of 2020 compared to 1990 levels. Story continues The Supreme Court upheld lower court rulings that protection from the potentially devastating effects of climate change was a human right and that the government has a duty to protect its citizens. Greenpeace welcomed the measures, while also calling for the country to accelerate the transition. Every step taken to reduce our emissions is appreciated. That is why we are happy that the government is taking these measures," Faiza Oulahsen, head of climate and energy at Greenpeace, said in a statement. Nevertheless, we would like to point out that a considerable acceleration is still needed. The Netherlands will have to do even more to contribute to limiting warming to 1.5 degrees (Celsius), she added. ___ Follow APs coverage of climate change at https://apnews.com/hub/climate Sources tell Action News Jaxs Ben Becker that attorneys for Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and the City of Jacksonville Office of General Counsel have been negotiating separation agreement terms since last week. It could see Greene announce her early retirement and exit from the district as the school board is scheduled to hold a special meeting on Friday about her future. Greene has come under fire amid the Douglas Anderson teacher scandal. Becker has also learned that Greene is currently in the Florida Department of Management Services Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) and is already set to retire by June 30, 2025 at the conclusion of her current contract. Greene has retained high-profile Jacksonville defense attorney Hank Coxe, who is also the former President of the Florida Bar. Coxe has not returned numerous calls and texts from Becker for comment. The state is coming down on embattled Greene after the fallout from the March arrest of a former Douglas Anderson School of the Arts teacher. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] A scathing letter from Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz calls the districts delay in reporting dozens of other incidents of teacher misconduct at other schools completely unacceptable. The school board is scheduled to hold a special meeting on Wednesday and School Board Chairwoman Dr. Kelly Coker said the incident reporting issues will be part of the discussion. Action News Jaxs Meghan Moriarty will be in the special Duval County School Board meeting that starts at 1 p.m. Wednesday and will have the latest updates on CBS47 and FOX30 Action News Jax at 5. RELATED COVERAGE [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The ink was barely dry from Washington Gov. Jay Inslees signature on a ban on sales of certain semi-automatic weapons, when lawsuits to halt the new law were filed Tuesday. The Silent Majority Foundation based in Pasco asked the Grant County Superior Court for an emergency temporary restraining order to stop the ban for up to 14 days. It next will ask for a preliminary and permanent injunction. Two other lawsuits were filed in federal court. The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action challenged the ban in Eastern Washington District U.S. Court. And the Second Amendment Foundation in Bellevue asked the U.S. District Court in Western Washington for preliminary and permanent injunctions. On Tuesday, Washington state became one of 10 in the nation with a ban on salesof what the governor calls assault weapons. SHB 1240 was requested by Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson. Today Washington state is putting the gun industry in its place and improving the health, safety and lives of our residents, Inslee said. Inslee also signed two other firearms bills on Tuesday. One would require a waiting period before buying a gun and the other provides the ability to sue firearm manufacturers or retailers for irresponsible conduct. The ban on the distribution and importation of assault weapons in Washington took effect immediately, but legal owners can retain those they already own. The evidence that assault weapon sales bans prevent gun deaths comes from Americas recent history, Inslee said in an Internet blog post. When a federal assault weapons sales ban was in effect from 1994 to 2004, mass shooting fatalities were 70% less likely to occur as compared to the periods before and after, he said. But the Silent Majority Foundation argued that the measure will do nothing to curb crime, while impairing the right of law-abiding citizens to continue purchasing the most commonly owned type of firearm in the country. Semiautomatic firearms have been in widespread use for more than a century, and are as American as baseball and apple pie, it said in a post. Story continues Pete Serrano, a Pasco City councilman and one of two attorneys filing the lawsuit, said in a video posted on Guardian Arms Training social media that the ban is on absolutely lawful firearms that the Constitution would protect, that our United States Supreme Court would protect. The Silent Majority Foundation has office space at the Broadmoor Park mall in Pasco. No weapon is an assault weapon without a person who is acting on its behalf, Serrano said. The other attorney for the Silent Majority case is Austin Hatcher of Spokane. The Silent Majority Foundation received interest from potential plaintiffs from around the state for a lawsuit against the ban, as well as support from firearms dealers, law enforcement and military veterans, and disabled people who have weapons for self defense, it said. It settled on filing in Grant County because it was home to the majority of interested plaintiffs. The Silent Majority Foundation is joined in the lawsuit by Guardian Arms Training of Moses Lake, which offers firearms training; Millard Sales, a gun store in Ephrata; and seven individuals. The National Rifle Association filed its case on behalf of the National Shooting Sports Foundation and several individual plaintiffs. The Supreme Court long-ago ruled that states cannot ban firearms that are in common use, said Aoibheann Cline, Washington state director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action. Its outrageous that states continue to pass these unconstitutional bans. The new law exceeds the restrictions imposed in California, the NRA said. In the case filed in federal court in Western Washington, the Second Amendment Foundation was joined by three individuals the Firearms Policy Coalition and the Vancouver-area gun store Sporting Systems. The Second Amendment Foundation said the banned firearms are inaccurately labeled as assault weapons. The state has criminalized a common and important means of self-defense, the modern semiautomatic rifle, said the foundations founder, Alan Gottlieb. The state has put politics ahead of constitutional rights and is penalizing law-abiding citizens. Theres an area in Sumner where unhoused people might be allowed to stay overnight in their vehicles in the future. The Sumner City Council is considering entering into an agreement with Faith Covenant Church to convert a portion of the churchs parking lot into overnight parking space. Council members and city staff discussed the idea during the April 24 council study session. City staff will present a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at a future meeting for council members to vote on, community development director Ryan Windish told The News Tribune. The city has yet to determine a meeting date. State law allows religious organizations to host vehicle resident safe parking. Tacoma recently started its own safe car parking program at Catholic Community Services. Other cities that have the program include Covington, Kent and Kirkland. Folks living in their cars often had some kind of crisis. Rent skyrocketed, they lost their job or are fleeing a domestic situation, Windish said. The only option they have is to live in their car. The MOU would outline the requirements and responsibilities of the parties involved in the safe car parking program. Windish said the city will work with the church to finalize the MOU before presenting it to the City Council. Some of the requirements could include allocating a maximum of 10 percent of the parking lot at 1915 Washington St. for the program. Another requirement could be weekly drive-by inspections as well as a code of conduct. The church or a managing agency would be responsible for program operations. The church reached out to the city about creating a safe car parking program last summer, Windish said. At the time, the church was thinking of hosting four vehicles as well as having portable restrooms, showers and security cameras onsite. People are and have been living in their cars in the city already, Windish said. This gives them a safe place to stay thats managed. City attorney Andrea Marquez said during the study session that it has become difficult for the police department to enforce illegal parking overnight due to a 2021 state Supreme Court decision that gives homestead rights to those who live in vehicles. Story continues Our police department can either move them around the city constantly or there can be a centralized location and opportunity for them to actually sleep in their vehicle at night without the risk of being towed, Marquez said. Concerns from surrounding neighborhoods may arise regarding safety and security, Windish said during the study session. Others may have concerns about noise or aesthetics, he said. Council member Barbara Bitetto said during the study session that letting the pilot program run for a year may be too long. She suggested letting the program operate for six months and evaluating how its doing then. Council members Earle Stuard, Cindi Hochstatter, Pat Cole and Charla Neuman agreed. Council member Patrick Reed said during the study session that he struggles with the idea of the program because he has seen variations of it that failed. He also asked if the church would have the power to remove a resident if theyre being uncooperative. City attorney Andrea Marquez said during the study session that a church would have the ability to do so as outlined in the MOU. If I, myself, were parked on the street and needed some kind of service, this would be something that Id be really grateful for the opportunity to be there and to feel safe, Cole said. Bijie in SW China's Guizhou plays movies outdoors, enriches residents' cultural lives People's Daily Online) 15:29, April 25, 2023 Children watch a movie at a park in Bijie city, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo courtesy of the publicity department of the Party committee of Qixingguan district) On April 20, the Chinese animated fantasy "Big Fish & Begonia" was screened at a park in Bijie city, southwest China's Guizhou Province, attracting crowds of local residents. "The number of local residents coming to the park to watch movies has kept increasing. On April 19, we played a movie for more than 4,000 people," said Li Xiuyu, deputy executive director of the publicity department of the Party committee in Qixingguan district of Bijie. Local residents watch a movie at a park in Bijie city, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo courtesy of the publicity department of the Party committee of Qixingguan district) "We think screening movies for local residents is a good way to enrich their spiritual and cultural lives," said Li. Launched on April 17, the movie-screening activity ran until April 23. Local residents watch a movie at a park in Bijie city, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo courtesy of the publicity department of the Party committee of Qixingguan district) Every morning during these days, the local government of Qixingguan district would release a list of six movies on its WeChat account for local residents to choose one movie that they would like to watch. The highest-ranking movie would be shown that night. After watching the movies, local residents could also enjoy local snacks at a pedestrian street near the park. This helped to boost the development of the nighttime economy in Bijie. A boy and his mother watch a movie together at a park in Bijie city, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo courtesy of the publicity department of the Party committee of Qixingguan district) The activity received a warm response from local residents. Li said that they would like to hold such activities on a regular basis in the future. Local residents watch a movie at a park in Bijie city, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo courtesy of the publicity department of the Party committee of Qixingguan district) (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) A customer tries gold jewelry at a store during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday in Danzhai County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Sept. 11, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua] China's gold production has recovered to pre-pandemic levels as demand for the precious metal and jewelry jumped during the first quarter, with people seeking safe havens away from jittery financial markets, said an industry association on Tuesday. China's gold output rose 6.92 percent in the first quarter to 114.87 metric tons, including some imports. Mined gold output in China, the world's largest gold-consuming country, rose 1.9 percent to 84.97 tons from the same period a year earlier, as capacity returned to pre-COVID-19 levels, the China Gold Association said on Tuesday. Gold processed from imported raw materials rose 24.41 percent year-on-year to 29.9 tons over January-March, while consumption of the yellow metal grew 12.03 percent year-on-year to 291.58 tons in the quarter, it said. The association added that gold jewelry consumption grew 12.29 percent year-on-year to 189.61 tons in the first quarter, while gold bar and gold coin demand increased 20.47 percent to 83.87 tons. However, gold use in industrial and other areas fell 16.9 percent to 18.1 tons. With the gradual fading of the impact of the pandemic and the effective implementation of a series of pro-consumption policies, consumer willingness to spend has increased with the recovery trend of gold consumption, which was especially evident in February and March, when the growth rate of gold consumption increased significantly, it said. The National Bureau of Statistics said retail sales of gold, silver and jewelry in March became the fastest-growing category among consumer goods. Due to increased demand for safe-haven assets, consumption of gold bars and coins also saw significant growth. An analyst said the rise in demand for gold is partly due to investors fleeing risk after two banks collapsed in the United States and Credit Suisse in Europe had to be rescued. "China's consumption of gold could pick up this year as the economy recovers and consumer confidence improves," said Zhu Yi, a senior analyst with metals and mining at Bloomberg Intelligence, a market monitor. "Domestic producers have been lifting output of gold amid high gold prices to maximize margins." For example, Zijin Mining, one of the largest gold producers in China, plans to raise its output of mined gold by 28 percent year-on-year to 72 tons in 2023 through technical upgrades, expansion of existing mines and commissioning of new projects, Zhu said. Ed Sheeran John Lamparski/Getty Images Ed Sheeran is once again in court fighting allegations that one of his biggest hits is a ripoff of another song. What does the case against Sheeran look like, and what could the outcome mean for the music industry? Why is Ed Sheeran being sued for copyright infringement? Ed Sheeran has been accused of ripping off the Marvin Gaye song "Let's Get It On" for his song "Thinking Out Loud." Released in 2014, Sheeran's track won the Grammy for Song of the Year. Spin.com, though, wrote in 2015 that it was an "incredibly obvious successor" to "Let's Get It On," pointing to the familiar "four-note bass pattern." You can listen to a comparison of the two songs here. Who is suing Sheeran? Sheeran is being sued by the heirs of Ed Townsend, the late co-writer of "Let's Get It On," including his sister and daughter. They brought the lawsuit in 2017, arguing the two songs are remarkably similar. "The Defendants copied the 'heart' of 'Let's' and repeated it continuously throughout 'Thinking,'" the lawsuit claimed. "The melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic compositions of 'Thinking' are substantially and/or strikingly similar to the drum composition of 'Let's.'" The plaintiffs have also pointed to a video of Sheeran playing "Thinking Out Loud" live and transitioning into "Let's Get It On" as evidence that he's aware of the similarity. "The video of the medley at issue provides helpful guidance to highlight and/or illustrate those similarities and why they are significant," attorney Patrick Frank said, per Billboard. The video was played in court during the New York trial, and Ben Crump, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, described it to jurors as "a smoking gun" and a "confession." Separately, similar lawsuits have been brought against Sheeran by Structured Asset Sales, which owns a portion of the rights to "Let's Get It On." Story continues What does Sheeran say? Sheeran has denied copying "Let's Get It On," and his legal team maintains the two songs simply share "versions of a similar and unprotectable chord progression that was freely available to all songwriters," according to The Associated Press. "According a monopoly over the use of a common chord progression to any author would undermine the central aim of copyright law and unduly chill future expression," his attorneys argued, Billboard reports. A musicologist for Sheeran's team also argued in court filings that the basic sequence of chords at the center of the trial has been used in over a dozen songs that predate "Let's Get It On," per The New York Times. In opening remarks, Sheeran's lawyer told jurors "no one owns basic musical building blocks," CNN reports. Sheeran also took the stand and testified he wrote "Thinking Out Loud" with Amy Wadge. He denied that the concert video proves he copied "Let's Get It On," arguing, "Most pop songs can fit over most pop songs," according to the New York Times. He also said he would be "quite an idiot" to mash the songs together publicly if he truly was guilty of copyright infringement. In 2019, a judge denied Sheeran's motion for a summary judgment, allowing the case to head to trial. "Not only are there substantial similarities between several of the two works' musical elements, but an ordinary observer might experience the aesthetic appeal of both works as the same," the judge ruled, adding that jurors "may be impressed" by the video of Sheeran mashing up the two songs. What has been the outcome of similar copyright lawsuits? The most high-profile music copyright case of the past decade also involved a Marvin Gaye song, as Gaye's family sued Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams for allegedly copying his track "Got to Give It Up" for "Blurred Lines." A jury found they did infringe on the copyright, and Thicke and Williams were ordered to pay over $5 million in damages. After the verdict was upheld, judge Jacqueline Nguyen argued this "strikes a devastating blow to future musicians and composers everywhere," as the two songs "differ in melody, harmony and rhythm." Experts speculated the verdict could create a chilling effect in the music industry, and more copyright claims against musicians followed in the subsequent years. Since then, though, there have been numerous victories by musicians in copyright battles, including involving Sheeran himself, who was sued over a claim that his track "Shape of You" copied the song "Oh Why." He won this case in the U.K. last year after a judge said Sheeran "neither deliberately nor subconsciously copied" the song and that while there were "similarities between the one-bar phrase" in the two tracks, "such similarities are only a starting point for a possible infringement." Sheeran previously settled another copyright claim over his song "Photograph," though he has said he regrets doing so. A lawsuit against Taylor Swift over the lyrics to "Shake It Off" was dropped in 2022 before making it to trial, and Led Zeppelin won a copyright case concerning the opening to "Stairway to Heaven." Katy Perry, meanwhile, was found to have copied the song "Joyful Noise" with her track "Dark Horse," but this verdict was later overturned. A judge said the melody she was accused of copying wasn't "particularly unique or rare." "The 'Blurred Lines' curse its chilling effect has been lifted," Perry's lawyer Christine Lepera previously declared, per The New York Times. So Sheeran's latest copyright battle could be a test of how true that is. In a video shared after his prior "Shape of You" victory, Sheeran argued that copyright claims "like this are way too common now," creating a culture where "a claim is made with the idea that a settlement will be cheaper than taking it to court." He added, "It's really damaging to the songwriting industry. There's only so many notes and very few chords used in pop music. Coincidence is bound to happen if 60,000 songs are being released every day on Spotify." You may also like A complete timeline of George R.R. Martin's progress on The Winds of Winter Tucker Carlson and Fox News 'part ways' as cable news host leaves network Don Lemon says he has been fired by CNN: 'I am stunned' Holmes has avoided the start of her 11-year prison term with a last-minute manoeuvre Disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has delayed the start of her more than 11-year prison sentence after lodging another appeal. Holmes, 39, was convicted last year on four counts of fraud linked to her failed blood testing start up. But under the 9th US Circuit appeals court rules, Holmes' surrender has been automatically delayed until the court decides on her latest bid. It is so far unclear when that ruling will come. Earlier this month, she appealed to the court to remain free on bail while a challenge to the original conviction is considered. But this was rejected by US district judge Edward Davila, who said Holmes had failed to prove the appeals process would lead to a new trial. Then, late on Tuesday, Holmes' attorneys appealed that ruling to the 9th Circuit in San Francisco - and that court's rules mean Holmes' can remain free on bail until the appeal is heard. In the eleventh-hour move, Holmes' team argued Judge Davila's decision contained "numerous, inexplicable errors". Her lawyers said this included referring to "patient fraud counts" even though Holmes was acquitted on charges that she defrauded Theranos patients. The same legal manoeuvre was used successfully by Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, Ms Holmes' co-conspirator and former business and romantic partner. He was able to postpone his sentence by about a month. Balwani ultimately exhausted his options and reported to a federal prison in San Pedro, California, earlier this month to begin his nearly 13-year sentence. If Holmes' appeal is unsuccessful, the US District Court of California has recommended the mother of two serve her time at a federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, that allows for family visitation. But her ultimate destination has not been confirmed. Holmes was once hailed as the "next Steve Jobs" and said to be the world's youngest self-made billionaire. She launched Theranos after dropping out of Stanford University, boasting a new blood-testing device that was purportedly able to run a multitude of tests from just a few drops of blood. But the start-up fell apart in 2018 after it was revealed its technology did not work. Holmes, who was found guilty of four counts of fraud last January, told the court at the time she felt "deep pain" for those who were misled. The imprisonment of former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes has been automatically delayed after she appealed a lower court's decision to deny her release while she appeals her original fraud conviction. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' stay of Holmes' prison term came after Holmes sought to overturn District Judge Edward Davila's April 11 decision to reject her plea for release. Holmes, who received an 11-year sentence, was slated to report to a minimum-security prison Thursday near Houston. In a filing late Tuesday, Holmes' lawyers state Davila's decision to reject her release contained "numerous, inexplicable errors," including references to patient fraud convictions, even though the jury acquitted Holmes on those counts. Holmes was convicted in January 2022 of four counts of wire fraud charges. In November, she was sentenced to more than 11 years in a federal penitentiary. While Tuesdays motion keeps Holmes out of prison for now, it may only be a brief reprieve. Holmes mentor and former boyfriend, Ramesh Sunny Balwani, convicted in a separate trial last year, also sought to remain free pending his appeal, and he appealed to the Ninth Circuit when Davila denied his motion. But the appeals court turned down his request. Last week, Balwani, 57, reported to a low-security federal prison in Los Angeles to begin serving his nearly 13-year sentence. The government has until May 3 to respond to Holmes latest motion. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Elk Grove high school students who have excelled in the classroom and the community can apply for college scholarships from the citys youth commission. Applications for the cash awards offered by the Elk Grove Youth Commission are open to high school students in grades 9-12 who live in or go to school in Elk Grove. Deadline is May 1. The commission wanted to use this year to recognize exceptional students who not only have excelled in their academics, but who also give back to their community, as well as recognize students who have done something impressive during the school year, commissioners said in a statement announcing the awards. During the application review process, the committee will not be able to view applicants names, email, and other identifiers, only application answers and the entrants grade level. A $500 merit-based scholarship will be awarded to a student in grades 9-12 who has demonstrated great strength in academics and extracurricular activities. A $500 award for outstanding achievement will go to the high school student who showed resilience through improving themselves or their community. The youth commission will select two high school seniors who demonstrated excellence in school and the community in the $1,000 Exceptional Youth category. Once law enforcement takes someone to the Tarrant County jail, that person is the countys responsibility. Regardless of the reason he or she is there, or if he or she has a criminal record, every human being deserves to be treated with dignity. From the moment Robert Miller arrived at the jail, this was not the case. And an increasingly discreditable cover-up of his death leaves taxpayers to parse through layers of half-truths, obfuscations and easily disprovable medical excuses. Miller, 38, died after sheriffs officers pepper-sprayed him several times directly in the face. He had asthma and informed a nurse he couldnt breathe. He died the next morning at JPS Hospital. A 2020 autopsy report by the Medical Examiners Office found his cause of death was natural from sickle-cell crisis. A Star-Telegram investigation found evidence that suggested he died from the pepper spray, with experts saying the sickle-cell diagnosis couldnt be the reason. County officials hired an independent forensic pathologist to review Millers case and a select few others. After weeks passed with no new news, KERA reported that the pathologist never received any materials to review. On Monday, a county spokesman said the review was no longer necessary because the Mayo Clinic had confirmed the Medical Examiners original cause of death: sickle cell crisis. And conveniently, no further questions can be answered, officials say, because of ongoing litigation. A photograph of Robert Miller, provided by his wife Shanelle Jenkins. County officials have shattered any trust left on this matter. The expert independent review should have gone through, whatever the Mayo Clinics finding, because Millers death seemed nonsensical. Pushing that off because one facility that happened to agree with the Medical Examiners findings also, fortuitously, let the jail off the hook is a little too convenient. Its not a Hollywood drama. Its a mans real life, and his family deserves better. Medical experts consulted by the Star-Telegram found the pat declaration that sickle-cell crisis caused Millers death impossible. Dr. Rakhi Naik, an associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, said that someone with just the sickle cell trait, and not sickle cell disease, could not die of a sickle cell crisis. Story continues Its the difference between carrying the gene for a disease and having the disease itself. The underlying genetic condition cant cause the crisis, and no one contends that Miller had sickle-cell disease. We dont know a lot of things yet, but we know this much is true: If it seems like Tarrant County leaders and the Sheriffs Office are hiding something, they probably are. If it seems like an inmate died of his treatment, but those responsible suggest an inherited trait that doesnt kill people is responsible, its possible probable even that those responsible are involved in a cover-up. We can understand that in the heat of the moment apprehending a criminal fighting an officer might need to get pepper-sprayed. Why has Tarrant County gone to such lengths to obfuscate the truth and suppress justice for Millers family? Miller wasnt hauled off to jail wholly innocent; however, he wasnt there for murder or even assaulting an officer. Officers had originally approached Miller in July 2019 at his homeless camp after complaints of panhandling. They planned to take him to city jail due to unpaid court fines. That escalated and Miller wound up in the county jail on a higher misdemeanor charge after, officers said, he damaged a cop car during their encounter at the camp. None of that means we can let him die in our care without any public review or accountability. And It shouldnt take our dogged reporting to reveal the truth the county must be open and honest about what happened to Miller. Now, other deaths or abuse allegations there will come with doubts about credibility and questions about a possible cover-up, even without controversial stories behind them. According to records, at least 45 other people have died in this jail since 2019. Its time for the county to own up to its cover-ups and explain exactly what happened to Miller and how to prevent it from happening again. Taxpayers who will bear the responsibility of the cost deserve at least that much. Gov. Ron DeSantis is leading the second overseas trade mission of his governorship, organized by the states economic-development agency, Enterprise Florida, which his office says comes at no cost to taxpayers. His stops in Japan, Israel, South Korea and the United Kingdom have the goal to strengthen economic relationships. It is a trade mission through Enterprise Florida, and just like the last one, is not paid for at the taxpayers expense, DeSantis press secretary Bryan Griffin said. He declined to provide any details about the cost. Enterprise Florida is a publicprivate partnership to promote economic development and international trade, and is supported by private donors and some public money. It has a program that offers trade grants to help companies start exporting or reach new markets overseas. The last time, DeSantis and Florida Cabinet members traveled to Israel for six days, as DeSantis began his first term in office and vowed to become the most pro-Israel governor in America. The cost of the 2019 trip was $442,504, with Enterprise Floridas funds from private donors covering more than two-thirds of the cost, according to documents obtained by the News Service of Florida. Florida taxpayers, however, paid $131,000 related to the 2019 trip to cover lodging, airfare, and other travel costs for former Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, three of her aides, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis chief of staff, Attorney General Ashley Moodys general counsel, three staffers with the governors office and security provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Documents also showed that a major source of private funds for the governors previous trade mission in Israel came from 12 private donors, including a donor to the governors political action committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis. It is unclear whether the financial dynamics will be the same for this years trade mission, which includes four different countries. Griffin, the governors spokesman, indicated Enterprise Florida was paying for it. Story continues The governors office did not provide much information about the governors foreign-trade mission ahead of time and told the Herald/Times to check the governors social media accounts and press releases for updates on his travels. The governor is traveling with his wife, Casey, as well as Secretary of State Cord Byrd and Secretary of Commerce Laura DiBella. He first met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, in which he lauded bilateral ties, especially the idea of a strong Japan, Reuters reported. The first lady has also posted photos on social media that show the couples daughter, Madison, and their son, Mason, are also with them on the trip. The governors office has not said how long the trip is expected to last, so it is unclear when the governor will be back in Florida, where state lawmakers are scheduled to wrap up the 2023 legislative session on May 5. (Bloomberg) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan canceled another day of scheduled campaign appearances after falling ill during a live television interview on Tuesday. Most Read from Bloomberg Erdogan will refrain from visiting the Mediterranean coast city of Mersin on Thursday, where he was scheduled to attend a ceremony to mark the inaugural loading of fuel at a new power plant, according to a senior Turkish official with direct knowledge of the matter. He will instead attend the ceremony via video conference along with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, which is building the plant in cooperation with Turkey. The decision to cancel Thursdays trip was made on advice from doctors, the official said, asking not to be identified because of sensitivity of the matter. The presidency declined to comment. Erdogans TV interview on Tuesday night was disrupted for several minutes after the 69-year-old president became sick with what he said was stomach flu. He canceled three campaign speeches scheduled to take place in central Turkey on Wednesday. Markets appeared relatively unperturbed by the events. The lira remained flat against the dollar. Turkeys benchmark stocks index fell 2.2% ahead of Thursdays interest rates decision by the central bank, extending its slide from Tuesday. Erdogan is facing his toughest election since taking power in 2003, with an alliance of six opposition parties joining forces to unseat him as Turks struggle with the worst cost-of-living crisis in two decades. Erdogans Followers Reconsider Their Loyalties as Election Looms The opposition alliance has chosen Kemal Kilicdaroglu, 74, as its joint presidential contender in the May 14 vote. Kilicdaroglu wished Erdogan a quick recovery in a post on Twitter. Story continues Why Turkeys Election Is a Big Test for Erdogan: QuickTake The cameras didnt show Erdogan in the moments before the TV broadcast was interrupted, focusing instead on an interviewer asking a question. But microphones captured the concerned words of someone in the room saying, Oh no, oh no. The comments were widely circulated on social media. The program had started 1.5 hours behind schedule without explanation. Erdogan said hed considered canceling the interview due to his upset stomach. Due to my busy schedule, such issues can arise from time to time, Erdogan said upon returning to the broadcast on Kanal 7 after several minutes. He answered one more question before the interview concluded. During his time in power, Erdogan brought political Islam into Turkeys once-adamantly secular mainstream. After initially building a reputation as an economic hero, he began to accrue unchecked powers that critics say have undermined the countrys democratic foundations. Turkeys Micromanager-in-Chief Faces Test of His Political Life Erdogans growing authoritarianism and foreign policy zigzags, including closer military ties with Russia, have created rifts with the West. Yet at the same time, Turkey, a NATO member and European Union aspirant, continues to wield enormous influence because of its position as a bridge between Europe and Asia. --With assistance from Beril Akman. (Updates with Erdogans decision to cancel Thursdays campaign events in first four paragraphs.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. BRUSSELS (AP) New rules requiring airlines to use more sustainable fuels across the European Union have been agreed by negotiators from member countries and the EU Parliament in a bid to help decarbonize the sector. The European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, said Wednesday that the deal reached by member states and the European Parliament demands that suppliers blend sustainable aviation fuels with kerosene in growing amounts from 2025. The move is expected to reduce aircraft carbon emissions by two-thirds by 2050 compared to a no action scenario, and provide climate and air quality benefits by reducing non-CO2 emissions," the Commission said. The aviation sector accounts for 13.9% of transportation emissions in the EU, making it the second biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the sector after road transport, the Commission says. If global aviation were a country, it would rank in the top 10 emitters. The political agreement is part of the EU s Fit for 55 package, which sets a goal of cutting emissions of the gases that cause global warming by at least 55% by 2030. The EU has also set a goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. It says it needs to cut transport emissions by 90% compared to 1990 levels to achieve this. The EU is setting all sectors on a pathway to climate neutrality, with the measures necessary to meet our 2030 and 2050 climate targets, said Frans Timmermans, the EU Commissioner in charge of the European Green Deal. "The EU is ready for take-off towards a more sustainable future for aviation." Despite a drop during the COVID-19 pandemic, emissions from the aviation sector are expected to continue growing. According to EU data, they increased an average of 5% year-on-year between 2013 and 2019. Under the deal, at least 2% of all fuels supplied at airports from 2025 will need to be sustainable, with that share reaching 70% by mid-century. The new EU jet fuel blend will need to also contain a minimum share of the most modern and environmentally friendly synthetic fuels, which increases over time, the Commission said. Story continues The deal now only needs formal approval from EU lawmakers and member states to enter into force. ___ Follow APs coverage of climate and environment at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment . Ukrainian wheat will fall under the ban The list will include corn, wheat, rapeseed, sunflower, and sunflower oil, he said. Read also: Whats the deal with the grain ban by Ukraines allies? expert analysis Were very close to a good deal, which provides for a temporary ban on five products, as well as conducting an investigation in accordance with the safeguards provided for in the trade liberalization agreement with Ukraine, he said. These measures can be used until June 5 as these regulatory rules will no longer be valid from then. But we know that if the new rules are agreed, these temporary measures should also be extended, probably until the end of the year. The European Commission is open to such a possibility. Read also: EU to take preventive steps against Ukrainian agricultural products Poland banned grain imports from Ukraine on April 15, caving to demands from Polish farmers who had protested against Ukrainian agriculture shipments for months. The farmers claim that a significant part of Ukrainian grain does not transit further, remaining in Poland to flood the market and depress prices. Later, Hungary and Slovakia also announced a temporary ban on the import of grain and oilseeds, along with other agricultural products from Ukraine. Bulgaria joined these countries on April 19, allowing only transit. The European Union has slammed the bans, saying they contravene both EU and international law, said EU spokesperson for trade issues, Miriam Garcia Ferrer. In fact, grain prices have been falling worldwide not only in Poland. The price spiked last year due to Russias full scale-invasion of Ukraine and blockade of the countrys ports. A UN-brokered deal last year unblocked the shipments, allowing Ukraine to export grain again, and prices started to fall. Ukraine and Poland reached an agreement to resume the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products. Ukraines Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food announced on April 18. Read also: Ukrzaliznytsia resumes grain transit through Poland Story continues Hungary announced on April 19 that it had banned imports of 25 types of agricultural products from Ukraine into the country, but then greenlit their transit under special conditions. Romania has not restricted Ukrainian grain transit via its ports. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine PARIS (Reuters) - The European Union Court of Justice said on Wednesday it had dismissed German satellite company OHB System's complaint about a contract awarded to competitors Thales and Airbus to supply new satellites for Europe's Galileo programme. Following a 2018 European Space Agency (ESA) tender for next-generation satellites for the Galileo global navigation satellite system, the European Commission in 2021 selected Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space Italia, rejecting a bid by its traditional supplier OHB System, which has built most of Galileo's current operating satellites. OHB System had asked the Commission and ESA to suspend the tender after its former chief operating officer (COO) was hired by Airbus and asked for Airbus to be excluded from the tender, which the Commission rejected in January 2021. The court said the allegation that the COO hiring would have given Airbus an unfair advantage was vague and hypothetical, and it also ruled that the Commission was not required to conduct an investigation into those allegations. An OHB spokesperson said the company could not immediately comment. (Reporting by GV De Clercq; Editing by Mark Potter) You are here: Business People visit a hall showcasing holographic reading technologies for children during the first National Conference on Reading in Beijing, capital of China, April 23, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua] The number of digital book readers in China reached 530 million in 2022, up 4.75 percent year on year, according to an industry report. The overall scale of China's digital reading market reached 46.35 billion yuan (about 6.73 billion U.S. dollars), according to the China digital readership report 2022 released at the 9th China Digital Reading Conference in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou on Monday. Individuals aged between 19 and 45 constitute the majority of digital book readers in China, accounting for 67.15 percent of overall readers. Last year, 618,100 Chinese digital books were released abroad last year, a year-on-year increase of more than 50 percent. By Maggie Fick LONDON (Reuters) - Brussels on Wednesday published a long-awaited draft of its proposed overhaul of laws governing the European Union's pharmaceuticals industry, setting up a tussle with drugmakers which warn they will invest and innovate elsewhere. The biggest overhaul of existing medical laws in two decades is aimed at ensuring all Europeans have access to both innovative new treatments and generic drugs, and ending huge divergences in access and price between countries, EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides told reporters after publication. There were few major changes in the proposal from the draft reviewed by Reuters earlier this month, except for details of changes to protections before generic versions of drugs enter the market. The Commission proposes to cut the length of basic market exclusivity that drugmakers get before generics can enter the market to eight from 10 years. But it also offers a sweetener for companies: they get two more years of protection if they launch their new medicines in all 27 member states within two years. Kyriakides said the new incentives system "would provide access to new medicines to around 70 million more citizens compared to today". Patient and consumer groups generally cheered the proposals. The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) called them "a great win for people across the EU" because of the changes to what it sees as a too-generous incentives system for industry. Following publication, the European Parliament, Commission and member states will now thrash out final details of the law, which could take years. The Commission hopes the reforms will create a "single European market for medicines", while preserving Europe's attractiveness for pharmaceutical investment, Kyriakides added. But industry, from big companies including Bayer to biotech firms, say the reforms will have the opposite effect and result in Europe missing out on the newest treatments. Story continues Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jrgensen said in a statement on Wednesday that "the proposals are poison for innovation and competitiveness in Europe." GSK said the EU must "regulate for growth and competitiveness" because companies "have choices on where our capital and resources are focused". The reforms also aim to prevent drug shortages like those seen this winter with critical antibiotics by requiring companies to notify the EU of possible supply issues earlier. And they aim to streamline the EU's drug regulator to speed up the time it takes for new treatments to be approved. ($1 = 0.9117 euros) (Reporting by Maggie Fick; Editing by Josephine Mason, Mark Potter and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) Twitter was only confirmed yesterday as one of 19 major tech platforms subject to centralized oversight by the European Union's executive starting this fall, when so-called very large online platforms (VLOPs) are expected to be compliant with the Digital Services Act (DSA). But the Commission has not wasted any time warning the Elon Musk-owned social network that things aren't looking good for staying on the right side of the incoming law. The DSA requires major platforms to take steps to mitigate systemic risks like disinformation, while breaches of the regime can attract penalties of up to 6% of global annual turnover. On Twitter's 2022 revenue, such a fine could sum to over a couple of hundred million dollars -- with the caveat that the platform's revenue may not hold up this year, given Musk's erratic antics scaring away advertisers and alienating plenty of users. In a pair of tweets sent out today, Vera Jourova, the EU's values and transparency VP, warned of "yet another negative sign" by Twitter -- accusing the platform under Musk of "not making digital information space any safer and free from the Kremlin #disinformation & malicious influence". Her tweets cite an AP report on research by Reset, a London-based non-profit that tracks the spread of propaganda by authoritarian regimes, which found that recent policy changes at Twitter have significantly amplified state-backed disinformation on the platform -- namely Musk's decision to remove state-backed labels from accounts operated by authoritarian governments in Russia, China and Iran and also to lift restrictions on algorithmic amplification of their content. Per Reset's research, Kremlin propaganda saw a visibility boost of around a third. AP's report also cites earlier research by the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab, which found that Musk's decision to remove the state-affiliated labels appears to have reversed a decline in followers for many of the accounts. Story continues "To me this is a signal that #Twitter is falling short of its commitments to the anti-disinformation Code," Jourova went on. "This is a paramount test to show they are serious about respecting the Code and ultimately compliance with the #DigitalServicesAct." To me this is a signal that #Twitter is falling short of its commitments to the anti-disinformation Code. This is a paramount test to show they are serious about respecting the Code and ultimately compliance with the #DigitalServicesAct. (2/2) Vera Jourova (@VeraJourova) April 26, 2023 The bloc backed restrictions on two Russian state-affiliated news channels (RT and Sputnik) in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. The step included not only prohibitions on traditional broadcast media from screening the channels but a legal requirement that online platforms avoid distributing their content too. At the time of writing Twitter users trying to access the two prohibited channels from inside the European Economic Area or the U.K. (which also imposed limits) are met with a notification that the account is "withheld" across 28 countries. However users can circumvent the ban by, for example, using a VPN and changing their location to a country where the accounts are not withheld. And if they do that they will find that, as a result of Musk's changes rowing back on prior anti-disinformation policies, these accounts are longer labeled as state-affiliated nor are they algorithmically de-amplified. Jourova's comment vis-a-vis "respecting the Code" is a reference to the EU's Code of Practice on Online Disinformation -- which Twitter voluntarily signed up to back in September 2018, when Musk was just a high profile Twitter user, not its erratic billionaire owner. As we reported at the time, the initial EU Code was a weak bite at tackling what was then still sometimes being referred to as 'fake news'. But the EU went on to present a beefed up version of the Code last summer. And while the mechanism remains voluntary (i.e. self regulation, rather than legally binding rules), the bloc's lawmakers have signalled that the Code's commitments will count towards future compliance with the DSA. Ergo, on the flip side, not meeting the commitments to combat disinformation should count as a black mark against DSA compliance for any signed up VLOPs -- which are, under the DSA, required to proactively assess systemic risks like disinformation and put in place effective mitigation measures while also taking steps to avoid harming freedom of expression. The Commission will be technically empowered to enforce against DSA breaches by VLOPs from late August/September -- when a four-month implementation period expires for the first wave of larger platforms. So Twitter still has a few months to get its house in order. (Or, more realistically, pick up the smithereens left by Musk's wrecking ball and try to put a coherent content moderation policy approach back together.) Although there's actually a longer lead in for the Code commitments to bite as the mechanism can't be officially linked to the Commission's enforcement framework for the DSA until after a European Board for Digital Services has been set up -- which is not expected until the deadline for the general entry into application of all DSA provisions (in February next year). This means Musk probably has until early 2024 (at least) to play regional disinformation chaos agent -- before any hard DSA-based reckoning lands over his love of 'democratizing' authoritarian propaganda. That said, it's interesting to see the EU getting in so early with public warnings to Musk on disinformation. Which may be a sign the Commission feels its facing some risk here too. Not least the risk that Twitter's presence as a continued signatory to its anti-disinformation Code while its owner is actively ripping up anti-disinformation policies -- and has himself been accused of spreading Kremlin propaganda -- is, to put it diplomatically, pretty damn awkward. The Code being self-regulation also ties the EU's hands in the sense that they can't prescribe who joins it nor boot existing signatories out for making a mockery of provisions like Commitment 18 -- to "minimize the risks of viral propagation of misinformation or disinformation by adopting safe design practices as they develop their systems, policies, and features" -- something Twitter was still technically signed up to at the last check. Yet, again, it looks hard to square an on-paper claim by Twitter that it's committed to shrinking the risks of viral disinformation with policy decisions by Musk U-turn on promoting state-affiliated propaganda channels; tearing up rules on COVID-19 misinformation; or simply blowing up the legacy verification system and replacing it with what looks like an intentionally confusing mess whereby scammers and spammers are encouraged to pay $8 to get their content automatically amplified over non-paying users. Given the lag between the EU's disinformation Code getting hard linked to the DSA as a key mitigation measure -- as expected -- and the delicate dance ahead of the Commission to enforce rules in an area as tricky and slippery as (subjective and often politically charged) disinformation the bloc appears to have decided it can at least make some noise decrying Musk's blatantly bad faith approach in public in the meanwhile. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey wants a lawsuit attempting to block his emergency restrictions on transgender care transferred to federal court on the eve of their implementation, a move that could potentially delay action in the case. The regulations require 15 separate hourly therapy sessions over 18 months before a person can start transgender care. Missouri would be the first state to severely restrict gender-affirming care for adults, in addition to children, if the rule goes into effect. The rule has divided Republicans, with Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and others questioning whether it will hold up in court. Bailey, a Republican, filed court documents Tuesday seeking to move the case out of St. Louis County Circuit Court and into U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and LGBTQ civil rights group Lambda Legal, alleges the regulations violate the Missouri Constitution. Bailey says the lawsuit should be heard in federal court because it also alleges violations of the U.S. Constitution. Attorneys for the ACLU and Lambda Legal are opposing that argument in a legal filing, saying Missouri courts should be the first to address that significant question about the scope of the state attorney generals powers. The dueling court filings come ahead of a hearing in front of St. Louis County Circuit Court Judge Kristine Kerr, appointed by former Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon in 2012, set for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Stars Kacen Bayless contributed reporting If you live in Wichita, Hutchinson, Topeka or Pittsburg, theres a chance your energy bill could increase by the end of the year. Kansas Evergy customers might pay, on average, an extra $14.24 every month after Evergy requested a utility rate increase of 9.77% for the central Kansas area, a Tuesday news release says. The rate increase would result in an addition $204 million in revenue. After maintaining a flat rate the past five years, this is the first rate review requested from the company since 2018, according to the release. Since 2017, overall rates for Evergy Kansas customers have increased just 0.1% and residential rates have decreased 2.5%, the release reads. During the same time period, other electric utility rates in states surrounding Kansas have increased nearly 13% and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased 20%. In addition, since the merger, Evergy has delivered $232 million in merger savings and bill credits to Kansas customers. Westar Energy and Great Plains Energy merged in 2018, resulting in Evergy. The companys Kansas headquarters are based in Topeka. The company also requested a 1.95% rate increase for the Kansas Metro service area, coming out to an average of $3.47 more per customer. Customers in this area reside in Lenexa, Overland Park and around the Kansas City metro area. The nearly 2% rate increase for these area would result in an addition $14 million in revenue, according to the release. How energy rates are set in Kansas The request comes after an eight-month process through the Kansas Corporation Commission. In order for the request to be approved, Evergy has to show the increase is warranted. For an energy company to change its rates, the company has to go through the formal process through the KCC. The process includes the following steps, according to the commissions website: Energy company applies to change its rates Commission staff reviews the request KCC holds a public hearing. This is not required, but common KCC holds an evidentiary hearing to review the facts KCC reviews the record KCC makes a decision Story continues Evergy is currently on step one of the process. Once the commission has more time to review the case, there will be a public hearing and public comment period, a KCC representative told The Eagle. If approved, the new rates would begin in December. Getting help paying your energy bill If you need help paying your energy bill, there are several resources in Kansas. The KCCs website recommends calling United Way at 211 to get matched to a program nearby. There are programs through the Salvation Army, as well, for those who meet income requirements. Theres also Project DESERVE through a partnership with the Center of Hope and Evergy to helps those over the age of 65 pay their energy bills. You can see a longer list of resources on the KCCs website. A new Flash trailer is here, and with it, a better picture of what to expect from this multiversal mashup meant to close out the current phase of the DCEU before its new chapter begins. And what should we expect? A lot of Batman and Kryptonians, apparently. Heres everything we spotted in the manic new trailer. Welcome to Wayne Manor Screenshot: Warner Bros. The trailer begins with Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) and, uh, Barry Allen (uh, Ezra Miller) walking through the mist to an iconic locale: Wayne Manor. No surprises as to wholl theyll find there, because he opens the trailers narration. Read more Oh Damn, Batmans Parents *Died*??? Screenshot: Warner Bros. Stop me if youve heard this before, but Batman might have some kind of tragic past. I lost my parents. That pain made me who I am, Bruce Wayne (the returning Michael Keaton) says in voice-over, as we see him brush a picture of Thomas and Martha Wayne. Batwing Begins Screenshot: Warner Bros. Our first real look at the Batcave between Bruces maudlin musings reveals the Batwinglast seen in its former form in Batman Forever, abandoned when it was shot down by the Riddler. Bruce has been busy since, it seems. Where Does He Get Those Wonderful Toys? Screenshot: Warner Bros. Back above ground, we cut back to Brucewith very long hair, so it seems like hes been out of action as Batman for a while before thisopening up a display of Batsuits hidden behind the bookshelf and display where that picture of Thomas and Martha was. We saw this shot in the first trailer but theres some fun alternate suits here, aside from the updated 89 suit made for The Flash. Theres the Returns and Forever updates, a Batman 1966-inspired classic suit, a more armored get-up that is almost reminiscent of the Knightfall suit, and even a blue-and-grey classic comics take. Bruce Wants What Barry Has Screenshot: Warner Bros. After reflecting on how a lifetime of crimefighting hasnt brought his parents back, we actually cut to the conversation Bruce and Barry are having down in the cave: hes impressed. You actually did it, Bruce says, speaking of Barrys decision to go back in time and save his mother from her untimely end. Story continues Happier Times... Screenshot: Warner Bros. Speaking of! We get to see a young Barry and his mother Nora (Maribel Verdu). I cant imagine what youve been through, an unknown voice says, presumably to Barry. You lost both parents in one day. ... And Not So Happier Ones Screenshot: Warner Bros. As we cut to that moment: Nora bleeding out in the Allen household in front of Barry, as his father Henry (Ron Livingstone, replacing Billy Crudups turn as the imprisoned Henry in Justice League) begs Barry to call 911. Enter the Speed Force Screenshot: Warner Bros. As Barry explains that trying to save his parents from their fate has led to him breaking the universe, we get a brief shot of Barrys interdimensional racing through the Speed Force, the energy that grants him his metahuman superspeed. Man of Steel 2 (Sorta) Screenshot: Warner Bros. How did Barry break the universe? By doing the most horrifying thing imaginable: bringing us back to Man of Steel. Well, gags aside, the real point here is that in this future Barry has made by saving his mother, Superman is not around to stop a rogue group of Kryptonians from assaulting earth with the World Engine, old technology designed to terraform the world into a New Krypton. Kneel Before Zod Screenshot: Warner Bros. Which means, of course, Zod is back, and Michael Shannon returns to his role, despite apparently being very confused as to how. Our first look at him sees him emerging from a Kryptonian ship to see an arid desert landscape we get to visit a lot in the trailerit too appears to be from Man of Steel, where the Army first confronted Superman. The S Stands for Hope Screenshot: Warner Bros. After a brief shot of her blasting off from the top of Wayne Manor, our first real glimpse of Supergirl (Sasha Calle) in the trailer comes in the Batcave, where she asks the Barrys if they know what the S emblem on her outfits chestpiece stands for. Thank god one of them watched Man of Steel already, because this trailer hilariously implies that knowing the answer is how Supergirl agrees to team up with team BatFlash to fight Zod. You Wanna Get Nuts? Screenshot: Warner Bros. Look! Its Michael Keaton! In a batsuit! And he says the line from the 1989 Batman movie! It doesnt make any sense here outside of reference! But also bats dramatically fly by! A New Trinity Screenshot: Warner Bros. Meanwhile back in the desert of Big Action Setpice, the Barrys and Kara dramatically zoom into a hero pose as the Army makes its move against Zod. This is our first real good look at Barry-2's Flash costume outside of merchandise, which is, essentially, a Keaton Batsuit cut up and painted red. Its nice that we get the distinction of each Barry having their own Speed Force lightning color though. A Toasty Hand Screenshot: Warner Bros. We see one hand reach out to another... and one is looking very much worse for wear. But whos is it? Some later shots in the trailer may give us an unfortunate hint, especially with Barry ominously saying I have to undo what I did... over this sequence of shots. Shaped By Scars Screenshot: Warner Bros. These scars we have... make us who we are, the other Bruce of the piece says, as we get to see Ben Afflecks Bruce Wayne for the first time in this trailer. Batman: trauma advocate. Batman Hits the Road Screenshot: Warner Bros. Speaking of Batfleck, we get to see him hit the road in a beefy new Batcycle, dropped out of the hangar bay of his plane from Justice League, the Flying Fox. Crisis on Infinite Barrys Screenshot: Warner Bros. In what feels like an inverse homage to the iconic shot of Superman carrying Supergirls body on the cover of Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, Supergirl rockets into the sky carrying a wounded Barry. But... which Barry is it? Batwing Battle Screenshot: Warner Bros. Keatons Batman takes to the skies in the Batwing as part of the larger Army vs. Zod battle, handily disposing of two Kryptonian ships. Kryptonian v Kryptonian Screenshot: Warner Bros. Meanwhile, Kara is going through it. After a shot of her screaming what did you do!? at someone, we cut to this brutal shot of her just flinging a metal pole right at Zods head so hard it embeds him into a wall. Good job hes wearing a helmet, because yee-owch. Talk to the Cape Screenshot: Warner Bros. Keatons Batman comes to the rescue in a dark tunnel, unfurling his bulletproof cape to shield Barry and a few other unknown people from a wave of gunfire. Its very brief but you can see at least our Barry is in his upgraded Flash suit, but theres three more people behind him Bruce is also protecting. Weve previously seen footage of Supergirl in some kind of white smockis she being imprisoned in the snowy facility we saw the Batwing flying over earlier? Are Bruce and the Barrys on a rescue mission? Super Speed Screenshot: Warner Bros. This sequence is presumably from the World Engine attack, as we see time slow down to highlight Barry leaping his way up a crumbling building. Its interesting to note the color choice herethe whole scene is saturated golden-yellow, the same color of the Speed Force lightning we saw associated with our Barry earlier. The Speed Force sequences with him in Justice Leagueand even seen in this trailerhave previously had a cooler palette associated with him, but maybe this is part of the stylistic differentiation between the multiple Barrys at work. The Other Dark Knight Rises Screenshot: Warner Bros. Batfleck dramatically takes to the skies to avoid an explosion, and it leaves us asking: when is this sequence all taking place? It doesnt appear to be the World Engine attack, because theres shots of him being shot at by mercenaries here too. Zzap! Screenshot: Warner Bros. No matter what we do, were not going to be able to fix this! Barry 1 tells Barry 2, as we see a Barry being absolutely wrecked by blasts of lightning strapped to what appears to be some kind of getup in Bruces batcave, absolute shattering it to pieces with all the bolts tearing him up. But once again the question is which Barry is which here. One Barry has longer, messier hair than the other, which would peg this electrified one as potentially being our Barry. But is he the toasty hand we saw earlier, post electrification? Is he the one we saw Supergirl dramatically lifting into the sky? He Just Needs a Minute Screenshot: Warner Bros. Speaking of things being rough for our heroes, back in that climactic desert battle, we see a bloodied Keaton Batman fall to his knees as war breaks out around him. Look, we get it, hes having a bit of a rough day. Batman v. Super Man Screenshot: Warner Bros. ... Especially as it looks like the reason hes beaten up is in this following shot, where we see a fully-armored Kryptonian (with a black helmet obscuring their faceit looks different to Zods see-through techno helmet we saw earlier) bound across the battlefield, leap onto the Batwing, and smash the cockpit clean open. Hes All Right, Folks! Screenshot: Warner Bros. Thats no problem for Batman though, who simply rockets the Batwing upwards, abandons ship, and casually glides to safety as the Batwing (and its attacker) plummets to the ground. Parachute Pals Screenshot: Warner Bros. The trailer concludes by cutting back to that nighttime sequence at the snowy prison facilityas Keaton Batman prepares the Barrys to jump out of the Batwing, aided by parachutes. Interesting to note here: one is our new Flash suit, the other simply appears to be in winter weather gear. And hes got the short hair we previously associated with our Barry, matching the one we saw frazzling up and being carried skyward by Supergirl. This isnt the long-haired Barry we saw in the carved-up Keaton Flash suit at the battle. Is there a third Barry in this movie? Does he die at some point and thats why we see the toasty hand? I mean, if weve already got one alt-Barry, why not more? My head hurts. Youll Believe a Batman Can Fly Screenshot: Warner Bros. Anyway, Bruce plummets out of the Batwing, and much to one of the Barrys surprise, he does so without a parachute. Because why parachute when you can fall in style, aka glide? Also, note the very cool framing of the moon and the Batwing here. The Flash arrives in theaters June 16. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. BOSTON A former Harvard University professor convicted of lying to federal investigators about his ties to a Chinese-run science recruitment program and failing to pay taxes on payments from a Chinese university was sentenced Wednesday to supervised release and ordered to pay more than $83,000 in restitution and fines. Charles Lieber, 64, was sentenced by Judge Rya Zobel in U.S. District Court in Boston to time served the two days he spent in jail after his arrest two years of supervised release the first six months in home confinement a $50,000 fine and $33,600 in restitution to the IRS, which has already been paid. Lieber, the former chair of Harvards department of chemistry and chemical biology, was convicted in December 2021 of filing false tax returns, making false statements and failing to file reports for a foreign bank account in China. We are grateful for the courts ruling, said Liebers attorney, Marc Mukasey. We think it was the appropriate decision so that Charlie can keep up his fight against his severe health issues. Prosecutors had recommended three months in prison, a year of probation, a $150,000 fine and restitution to the IRS of $33,600. Prosecutors said Lieber knowingly lied to Harvard and government agencies about his involvement in Chinas Thousand Talents Plan, a program designed to recruit people with knowledge of foreign technology and intellectual property to China, to enhance his career including the pursuit of a Nobel Prize and benefit financially. Lieber denied his involvement during questioning from U.S. authorities, including the National Institutes of Health, which had provided him with millions of dollars in research funding, prosecutors said. Lieber also concealed his income from the Chinese program on his U.S. tax returns, including $50,000 a month from the Wuhan University of Technology, some of which was paid to him in $100 bills in brown paper packaging, according to prosecutors. Story continues In exchange, they say, Lieber agreed to publish articles, organize international conferences and apply for patents on behalf of the Chinese university. Liebers case was one of the most notable to come out of the U.S. Department of Justices China Initiative, started during the Trump administration in 2018 to curb economic espionage from China. But in February 2022 under the current administration, a decision was made to revamp the program and impose a higher bar for prosecutions after a review based on complaints that it compromised the nations competitiveness in research and technology and disproportionally targeted researchers of Asian descent. Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said at the time the department will still be relentless in defending our country from China, but would not use the China Initiative label, in part out of recognition of threats from other nations including Russia, Iran and North Korea. The federal government ended up dismissing multiple cases against researchers or had them thrown out by judges. Mukasey asked that his client, who retired after his conviction and has a form of incurable blood cancer along with a destroyed immune system, be spared prison time because of the dangers of getting sick behind bars, the extraordinary research he as done and the positive effect he has had on countless lives. In prison he will be a sitting duck for disease, and will not get the daily medical care that he needs, he said. Mukasey read from some of the more than 100 letters of support submitted to the court by Liebers family, friends, colleagues, and former students he has mentored. More than two dozen of his supporters crowded the courtroom, some of whom flew in from as far away as California to attend the hearing. Anqi Zhang, one of Liebers former doctoral students who is now doing post-doctoral work in chemical engineering at Stanford University, thinks her mentors motives have been misrepresented by the government. Hes the best scientist and the best mentor in the world, she said. Hes a pure scientist, he worked very hard, and was focused completely on the science. Lieber, in a statement read to the court, accepted responsibility and said the last three years of his life have been horrific. I would like to express my sincere apologies and remorse for my actions, he said. Mukasey also stressed that Lieber was never charged with espionage-related offenses; was never accused of misusing grant money; there was no theft or trade of trade secrets or intellectual property; and he did not disclose any proprietary research to the Chinese government or university. But prosecutor Jason Casey said in court that Lieber was someone willing to lie and deceive to protect what mattered to him most and that was his career. His behavior was not an aberration, but occurred over a period of several years. As a person of extraordinary intellect and extraordinary education, he had the capacity to understand the wrongfulness of his actions, Casey said. Casey said a three-month period of prison time was appropriate despite Liebers health issues because he is in remission and can get proper treatment in a federal prison. Mukasey called the governments contentions callous, misleading, naive and dangerous to (Liebers) health and said his client has been punished enough because of his damaged reputation. Please dont put him in prison where he cant control his health, Mukasey told the judge. He was found guilty of making false statements to authorities, filing false tax returns and failing to report a Chinese bank account Former Harvard professor Charles Lieber was sentenced to six months of house arrest on Wednesday, according to US media. He was found guilty in 2021 of making false statements to authorities, filing false tax returns and failing to report a Chinese bank account. Critics say a US campaign to counter economic espionage from China hurts the academic community. Lieber's lawyers asked he be spared prison time because he has cancer. US District Judge Rya Zobel in Boston also sentenced him two years of supervised release and to one day in prison, which he has already served following his arrest. He must also pay a $50,000 (40,100) fine, Bloomberg and Semafor reported. His lawyers said he was remorseful and had been punished enough because, they claimed, "his reputation has been ruined". Prosecutors recommended three months in prison, a year of probation and a $150,000 fine along with a $33,600 restitution to the Internal Revenue Service - which Lieber has already paid. Lieber was previously the head of Harvard's department of chemistry and chemical biology. When he joined China's Wuhan University of Technology as a scientist in 2011 he was given a monthly salary of $50,000, in addition to living expenses of up to $158,000. Prosecutors said some of this money was paid to him in $100 bills in brown paper packaging. To protect his career, prosecutors in Boston said the professor knowingly hid his involvement in China's "thousand talents plan", which aims to attract foreign research specialists. Filings said he was also given more than $1.5m to establish a research lab at the university and was expected to work for the university, applying for patents and publishing articles in its name. Though his involvement is not a crime, prosecutors said Lieber "purposely and repeatedly" lied to authorities about his affiliation with the university in Wuhan and failed to declare income earned in China. Lieber had been awarded $15m in grants from the US National Institute of Health and the US Department of Defence, and recipients are supposed to disclose any conflicts of interest, including financial support from foreign governments or organisations. Story continues The programme has been flagged by the US as a security concern in the past. The case is among those to come from what the US Department of Justice's calls its China Initiative - which began under in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump's administration. Some have criticised the programme, saying it threatens academic research, disproportionately targets Chinese researchers and undermines US competitiveness in research and technology. By Kanishka Singh and Nate Raymond WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A former Harvard University professor was sentenced on Wednesday to six months' house arrest for lying about his ties to a China-run recruitment program, prosecutors said, in one of the highest-profile cases resulting from a crackdown on Chinese influence on U.S. research. Charles Lieber, a renowned nanoscientist and the former chairman of Harvard's chemistry department, was spared additional prison time in the sentence announced by U.S. District Judge Rya Zobel in Boston following his conviction in December 2021. Lieber was sentenced to two days in prison - time that he had already served following his arrest - and half a year of house arrest with a fine of $50,000, prosecutors said. He was also sentenced to two years of supervised release and a restitution to the Internal Revenue Service of $33,600, according to prosecutors. Lieber, who has been battling cancer, denies wrongdoing. A federal jury had found him guilty of making false statements to authorities, filing false tax returns and failing to report a Chinese bank account in a case spilling out of the U.S. Department of Justice's "China Initiative." The conviction had marked a key victory for prosecutors pursuing cases arising from the troubled initiative, which was launched in 2018 during Republican then-President Donald Trump's administration to counter suspected Chinese economic espionage and research theft. The Justice Department under Democratic President Joe Biden in February 2022 ended the China initiative following several failed prosecutions and criticism that it chilled research and fueled bias against Asians, though it said it would continue pursuing cases over national security threats posed by China. The failed cases included another one in Boston in which prosecutors in January 2022 dropped charges against Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Gang Chen for concealing his ties to China when seeking grant money. Story continues Prosecutors alleged that Lieber, in his quest for a Nobel Prize, agreed in 2011 to become a "strategic scientist" at Wuhan University of Technology in China and through it participated in a Chinese recruitment drive called the Thousand Talents Program. China used that program to recruit foreign researchers to share their knowledge with the country. Participation is not a crime, but prosecutors contended Lieber lied about his role in the program in response to inquiries from the U.S. Defense Department and the U.S. National Institutes of Health, which had awarded him $15 million in research grants. The Wuhan university agreed to pay him up to $50,000 per month plus $158,000 in living expenses, and he was paid in cash and deposits to a Chinese bank account, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said Lieber failed to report his salary on his 2013 and 2014 income tax returns and for two years failed to report the bank account. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh, Nate Raymond and Brendan Pierson; editing by Jonathan Oatis) Dr. James Heaps, a former UCLA obstetrician-gynecologist, appears in the Airport Branch Courthouse for a 2019 hearing for sexually abusing his patients while working at the university. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) For the record: 4:47 p.m. April 30, 2023: A previous version of this article incorrectly referred to James Heaps attorney as Tracy Brown. Her name is Tracy Green. Disgraced ex-UCLA gynecologist James Heaps was sentenced to 11 years in prison Wednesday, nearly two years after he was indicted for sexually abusing his patients while working at the university. Heaps, 66, has been in custody since October, when a jury found him guilty of three counts of sexual battery by fraud and two counts of sexual penetration of two patients. Heaps, a retired cancer specialist, appeared in a Burbank courtroom Wednesday wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, neat goatee and glasses. He did not testify or make any statements after he was sentenced by Judge Michael D. Carter. While he was charged with 21 felony counts, Heaps was found not guilty of seven other counts, including one of sexual exploitation. Carter declared a mistrial on nine sex-related counts due to a deadlocked jury. Jurors found that Heaps' victims were particularly vulnerable and that he abused a position of trust as their doctor. The assaults date from 2013 to 2017, the portion of his tenure that falls within the statute of limitations for which criminal charges could be brought. The University of California system has agreed to pay nearly $700 million to settle lawsuits brought by hundreds of Heaps' alleged victims. "For four years we have been fighting," Ellen Cater, one of the plaintiffs in the case, said after the sentencing. "Today we finally have a reason to smile. I hope that the settlement by UCLA and today's sentencing will encourage any victims of sexual assault to come forward." She said she felt alone when she first came forward with her claims of sexual abuse, but was able to unite with the other women. "Now the healing can begin." Other victims said in written statements they still suffer extreme anxiety and no longer trust male doctors because of the sexual abuse by Heaps. Story continues "I'm still living with a lot of anxiety. I've gone to some very dark places in my thoughts," Jane T. said in a written statement that was read in court before the sentencing. Natalie B., one of the women Heaps was found guilty of abusing, said she gave birth to three daughters at the UCLA medical facility where Heaps worked. "I was proud to be a patient there," Natalie B. said in a statement read in court by a prosecutor. "It has been absolutely ruined. ... The defendant has made the place where my babies were born a traumatizing trigger." His victims trusted "their bodies and lives" to Heaps due to his reputation as a world-renowned cancer specialist, Carter said. After he serves his sentence, Heaps will be required to register as a sex offender. He has already served more than a year in jail awaiting trial. Prosecutors asked for a 13-year-prison sentence, the maximum amount of time under the convictions of which Heaps was found guilty. Assistant Head Deputy Dist. Atty. Danette Meyers said Heaps sexually abused his patients out of arrogance, because he thought he could get away with it. "We hold our doctors to a certain level of professionalism. We go to them with our most serious issues in life and we say to them: 'Help us,'" Meyers said. "Now he's got to face the music and pay for it." She took issue with the defense attorney's claims that Heaps should be given a lower-end sentence. "What the defendant did in this case was wrong," Meyers said. "These victims suffered this wrong." Heaps' defense attorneys asked the court to consider his extensive career as an oncologist and gynecologist. "He gave a lot of his career to UCLA," attorney Tracy Green said before he was sentenced. "He's someone who has done a lot of good in his life." "This is a blip in that career," Green said. Before he was sentenced, Heaps asked for a new trial for multiple reasons, including his claim that he received ineffective advice from his attorney to not testify during the criminal trial and that could have changed the jury's verdict. Carter denied the request, ruling that an attorney would not be able to keep a client from testifying. While his attorneys argued for a new trial before Carter, Heaps repeatedly wrote notes to his defense team and anxiously fidgeted in his chair. He was denied probation after Carter heard arguments from the attorneys. Despite years of complaints about Heaps, who treated about 6,000 patients during his tenure, it was not until late 2017 that allegations of sexual misconduct were reported to UCLAs Title IX office and a formal investigation was opened. Heaps was allowed to continue seeing patients both during the investigation and after UCLA informed the doctor his contract would not be renewed when it expired on June 30, 2018. UCLA finally ended Heaps employment and notified the police of the allegations against him in June 2018. Heaps was arrested a year later and charged with two counts of sexual battery by fraud and one count of sexual exploitation in connection with acts involving two patients. Until that arrest, UCLA had not made public or told former patients that a year before, Heaps had been investigated for sexual abuse. Subsequently, a grand jury indicted him on 21 felonies involving seven victims. It's still unclear if the district attorney's office will attempt to retry Heaps on the nine counts that resulted in a hung jury. Outside the Burbank courthouse, defense attorney Leonard Levine said he was disappointed in the court's decision to give his client more than 10 years. He said his client will appeal the court's decision. When asked if Heaps was remorseful, Levine said he was remorseful for anything he did that was inappropriate. "But he has adamantly denied any of the criminal offenses," Levine. Attorneys Jennifer McGrath and Darren Kavinoky, who represented the victims in a civil lawsuit against UCLA, called the sentencing a message to other victims. "Please pay attention to this day," McGrath said. Los Angeles Times reporter Richard Winton contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends Easter Orthodox service at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow on April 16. (Contributor/Getty Images) In the first few days of October 2022, a group of Russians and Belarusians gathered in the Kaliningrad resort town of Svetlogorsk. The politicians, academics and activists discussed how the two countries, truly striving for stability across the planet, might resist the suite of international sanctions hitting both Russia and Belarus after Moscows invasion of Ukraine. One of the Svetlogorsk events most authoritative speakers was Alexander Dynkin, president of the prestigious Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), based in Moscow. Dynkin debated how, in the face of Finlands and Swedens prospective NATO accession, the Baltic Sea would be dominated by Russias foes. Dynkin proposed the creation of a new discussion forum under the conditional name of the Baltic Platform. Three months later, IMEMO, together with the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), a prestigious Russian university, produced a detailed action plan for the Baltic Platform and presented it to the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putins executive office. Yahoo News obtained a copy of the plan. Putin at a videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on April 19. (Gavriil Grigorov/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images) On Tuesday, Yahoo News revealed the Russian Presidential Administrations separate agenda, drafted in 2021, for undermining the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, all NATO and EU members. But that strategy appears largely toothless and impractical after Russias Ukraine invasion, which has united Europe against Moscows influence. The new documents operation, with a focus on the environment, would appear to be another route for Russia to counter NATO in the Baltic Sea, a militarily strategic region for both sides. The Baltic Platform represents documentary evidence of how pro-Russian actors, in league with the Kremlin, are looking to instrumentalize issues like climate change and biodiversity to pressure Baltic nations to dial down their military and naval footprints in the region. Story continues Among other actions, the authors advocated that the pro-Kremlin press in Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave and the countrys only ice-free Baltic port, start peddling catastrophic forecasts of the unstoppable growth of threats to the Baltic Sea and the Baltic ecosystem. As with the Baltic strategy documents published Tuesday, Yahoo News obtained this stealth plan of action together with a consortium of partners in the international media: Delfi Estonia, Swedens Expressen, London-based Dossier Center, Latvias Re:Baltica, Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT, Suddeutsche Zeitung, German public broadcaster networks WDR and NDR, the Kyiv Independent, Polands FrontStory and Central European media outlet VSquare. Putin (top center) with leaders from Tajikistan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan at the Kremlin in May 2022. (Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images) The new plan was submitted as recently as January of this year to the Kremlins Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation. This is the same organization, staffed with Russian intelligence operatives, that drafted the earlier Baltic strategy, according to the source who leaked it. The introductory section of the new material describes how Russia and its client state of Belarus must stand up to the storm of sanctions imposed on them by the West. It goes on to describe the Baltic Platform, aligned with the purpose of achieving a more effective fulfillment of the foreign policy objectives set by President Vladimir Putin. According to the platform, a main goal is to identify problematic (non-political) areas of interaction that require joint efforts in connection with the changed international situation and increased threats to the Baltic macroregion. The most immediate and urgent challenges are the anthropogenic and climate-related threats to the Baltic Sea, the environmental degradation of the Baltic Sea ecosystem and the need to reduce the consequences of the militarization of the region. Although the language is seemingly apolitical and academic, the Kremlin has a rich history of using such projects as Trojan horses to slowly insinuate a pro-Russian agenda, Latvias Constitution Protection Bureau (SAB), which is responsible for the countrys foreign intelligence and counterintelligence, told Yahoo News. Climate and environmental policy issues, which Russia can position as a mutually beneficial direction of cooperation, are one of these potential points of contact, the SAB noted in a statement. Demonstrators in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Feb. 24 march against Russia's war on Ukraine on the first anniversary of the invasion. (Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images) Marius Laurinavicius, a Lithuanian security analyst, described the Baltic Platform activities as fishing expeditions for people from foreign countries who fall outside of the political and business establishments. Theyre interested in getting in touch with scientists and climate change or environmental activists to understand their way of thinking and then make decisions as to which of them could be used for Russian influence operations, if not recruited as Russian agents. In 2021, the Daily Beast reported on a similar project, even similarly named the Baltic Sea Region Strategic Dialogue, to target the same European countries. That one was financed by serially sanctioned Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose Wagner Group mercenaries play a vanguard role in Russias battles against Ukraine. According to Aleksander Toots, the deputy head of the Estonian Internal Security Service, the use of environmental issues and similar indirect approaches is an old method that helps Russia build elaborate cover stories for their contacts. Russia is trying to make use of topics that regular people care about. Climate and environmental issues are a good example of it, he told Yahoo News. Using this approach, they can collect information under a specific cover in different countries. Later on, the intelligence service will decide when and how to make the most efficient use of it, Toots said. In the new political conditions, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus face the most complex challenges, states the Baltic Platform, which was written by IMEMO Director Feodor Voitolovsky and MGIMO Institute of International Studies Director Maxim Suchkov. The Western world, primarily the Anglo-Saxon part of it, has brought the international order into a state of deep crisis. (Voitolovsky and Suchkov did not reply to requests for comment.) Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2017. (Sergei Ilnitsky/Pool via AP, File) The authors acknowledge a grim reality: the unfortunate state of the Baltic Sea, caused by a large layer of hydrogen sulfide that makes life at lower levels of the water impossible due to a lack of oxygen. They also refer to excess levels of nitrogen and phosphorus entering the shallow areas through the rivers and oil pollution originating from the abundant cargo ships operating in the area. There are 85 million people in the combined catchment area. Its a huge land area that drains into the Baltic Sea and then the water takes with it what it finds on the way, which can be nutrients and environmental toxins, and which then end up in this shallow little tub, Tina Elfwing, the director of the Baltic Sea Center at Stockholm University, told Yahoo News. The Baltic Platform document points out that environmental issues can be exaggerated the hyperbolization of individual problems and creating new ones, modeling catastrophic scenarios in order to call for a dialogue. While in its inaugural phase, the Baltic Platform may address these somewhat mundane ecological issues, the action plan describes a progressive transition from the discussion of non-political topics to current political topics, with a gradual increase in the complexity and severity of the issues raised. This piecemeal approach is characteristic of Russian influence operations, particularly those designed to draw in noteworthy figures who would otherwise be averse to participating in anything with Moscows direct fingerprints on it. The greatest potential for dialogue, according to the platform, is preserving biological diversity in the Baltic Sea and the problem of its industrial and other anthropogenic pollution. Revealingly, the paper names organizations it sees as sympathetic or cooperative with such an endeavor, including the Baltic Sea Center at Stockholm University in Sweden and the Helsinki Commission, which was set up specifically to protect the Baltic Sea in 1974. Neither of those institutions are known for their pro-Russian tilt. Birds on the coast of the Baltic Sea at sunset in Tallinn, Estonia, on April 19. (Pavel Golovkin/AP Photo) Elfwing, director of the Baltic Sea Center, told Yahoo News that her organization had not been approached with any proposal or invitation to collaborate with Voitolovsky or Suchkov. It is so damn upsetting and unpleasant to be listed in such a document, Elfwing said. At the same time, I think that if you want to launch something called the Baltic Platform to deal with the Baltic Sea and the environment, then it is logical to approach our center. At the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the Helsinki Commission declared a strategic pause on any and all cooperation with Russia, which had formally acceded to the convention on which the commission was founded in 1974. In a written reply to Yahoo News, the commission confirmed that this moratorium continues to the present day. The document written by Voitolovsky and Suchkov is accompanied by a timetable for setting up the Baltic Platform. From January to March of this year, it would set up the organizing committee, finding suitable opinion leaders and drafting key documents. When forming the initiative groups of the organizing committee, the formulation of goals should focus on the old Europe, the paper states, citing the German-Scandinavian part of the Baltic region in contrast to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which were seen as more hostile to Russia. The document also puts emphasis on Baltic Russians, meaning ethnic Russian minorities living in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, who are clearly identified as potential Kremlin loyalists despite their citizenship in NATO countries opposed to Moscows ambitions. Baltic Russians, according to the paper, would bring together nonpolitical, scientific and cultural interest and create a common platform to rescue the Greater Baltic region from growing climatic and man-made threats, including the growing militarization of the region. The use of rescue in scare quotes only underscores the political aims of the document. A soldier from the Royal Welsh Battlegroup takes part in maneuvers during a NATO exercise on the Estonian-Latvian border in May 2022. (Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images) Just a week ago, the Moscow-friendly website Baltija published a debate video in which three representatives of Estonias pro-Russia Together movement suggested that the expansion of military fields would lead to industrial accidents and ecological disasters. One volunteered with no evidence that weapons would pollute Lake Ulemiste, which provides the Estonian capital, Tallinn, with its drinking water. Do you understand what we are going to drink? And what diseases are we going to get? Latvias State Security Service told Yahoo News that a major Russian propaganda point in the Baltic Sea region is a sham green agenda: Russias plan could be to convince environmental organizations and activists, as well as various experts in Western countries, of the need to save the Baltic Sea in order to put pressure on Western politicians and promote the adoption of decisions that serve Russian interests. In March, the Baltic Platform was set to debut to the wider public, with representatives attending a series of scientific hands-on events at St. Petersburg State University, MGIMO and IMEMO, and the Russian Academy of Sciences. True to the fact, there was such an event in St. Petersburg, Russias second-largest city, which lies on the shore of the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea. The forum was constructed around Baltic Sea Day, held in St. Petersburg from March 22 to 24, and according to the events website, the main goal was to promote and introduce innovative environmental protection equipment and technologies that help conserve natural resources, strengthen environmental safety and improve the quality of life in large cities. The main task of these events, as stipulated by the Baltic Platform, was to demonstrate that the Russians are against the militarization of the Baltics and in favor of a peaceful, good-neighborly and mutually beneficial solution to the regions problems. Belgian troops participate in NATO military exercises in Pabrade, Lithuania, in October 2022. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) Two sources with knowledge of the Baltic Platform, one of them a European intelligence officer, confirmed that the Russian Presidential Administration sought to invite multiple Western participants to these events. Two were Henrik Sven Hirdman, the former Swedish ambassador to Russia from 1994 to 2004, and Markku Kangaspuro, the director of the Aleksanteri Institute at the University of Helsinki. Both Sweden and Finland declared their intent to join NATO in May 2022. The year Hirdman left the ambassadorship, he received the Order of Friendship from Putin for his contribution to developing Russian-Swedish relations. For five years thereafter he also sat on the board of MGIMO University in Moscow, which is linked to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But Hirdman told Yahoo News he was never contacted by anyone affiliated with the project. No, I have never heard of that particular project, he said. Kangaspuro chairs the board of the Finnish Peace Defenders movement. In May 2022, the same month Finland announced its ultimately successful membership bid to join the military alliance another unexpected consequence of the war in Ukraine Kangaspuro spoke at a Helsinki rally organized by the Finnish Peace Defenders called No to NATO, Yes to Peace. He too denied knowing anything about the Baltic Platform and suggested that perhaps his long-standing ties to Russians at St. Petersburg State University put his name on the platforms radar. Since March, Russian state media has been churning out a lot of critical if not alarmist stories on the declining environmental state of the Baltic Sea. The state news agency TASS reported that the revitalization of the Baltic Sea could become part of Russias national program by 2025. A municipality-owned regional media outlet, GTN Pravda in St. Petersburg, wrote that Russias western regions would jointly start to save the ecology of the Baltic Seas water system. John Kerry, U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, on March 7. (F. Carter Smith/Bloomberg via Getty Images) This flurry of activity is all despite the fact that the Kremlin is not exactly known for its bold environmentalism. (In 2019, Putin said at a press conference that no one knows the true cause of climate change.) But scientific and environmental cooperation is something that many Westerners view as too important to let geopolitical rivalries get in the way. We even have to find a way, ultimately, if we can resolve the war in Ukraine, to work with Russia, because Russia is a huge emitter, John Kerry, President Bidens climate czar, told Yahoo News in March. Russia is undoubtedly aware of its crucial role in such issues. Darius Jauniskis, director of Lithuanias State Security Department, said that Russia is looking for experts, scientists and nongovernmental organizations from Western countries to promote the idea that cooperation with Russia is necessary regardless of its aggression in Ukraine and that the isolation and sanctions are harmful to European countries. Tourists visit the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, April 21, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Robots performing kung fu, interactive murals and deluxe camps -- tourists returning to Chinese scenic spots this year may find many new services on offer. Chinese tourists are coming back with a vengeance, having made 1.22 billion domestic tourist trips in the first quarter of this year. In response, the country's tourism sector is actively developing new technologies and products to heat up the market. The just-concluded China (Wuhan) Culture and Tourism Expo, which attracted 2,000 exhibitors from home and abroad, has offered a glimpse into the shift towards high-quality development. Industry upgrades A variety of new technologies have been stealing the spotlight at the expo, from VR tours, robot guides to intelligent wearables, that are vying for a place in Chinese museums and scenic spots. Meet "Crinoid," a humanoid robot playing dulcimer at the expo. It is designed to read music scores, compose music and stage musical performances. "We are discussing collaborations with several tourist sites, where our robots can be deployed to entertain the tourists," said Zhou Li, head of Crinoid's development team at the China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). "People are really interested in this new type of performance. What's more, the robot can perform for longer hours at a lower cost," said Zhou. Industry observers have pointed to the increasing use of new technologies in the tourist sector to not only raise management efficiency but also cater to the rising demand for unconventional travel experiences. "Technologies such as 5G, big data and cloud computing have been widely used in the tourism sector in recent years to develop new tourist products and business models," said Fu Caiwu, head of the National Institute of Cultural Development in Wuhan University. "For instance, many tourist sites are now harnessing mobile internet and livestreaming to attract visitors. This has become a new promotion strategy," said Fu. Other tourist attractions are embracing burgeoning new forms of tourism, such as camping and nighttime travel, to appeal to the wealthier and younger holidaymakers. Prior to the expo, more than 200 tents were set up along the East Lake of Wuhan, where exhibitors showcased motorhomes and camping equipment to the visitors. On Shuangfeng Mountain in Hubei Province, a campsite with over 100 motorhomes is crowded with barbecuers seeking a respite from the urban hustle and bustle. Hu Xiaojun, manager of the campsite, said all the motorhomes had been booked up 20 days ahead of the upcoming May Day holiday. Though new to Chinese holidayers, camping has seen explosive growth in China. Data from research firm iiMedia Research shows that the core market size of China's camping economy reached 113.47 billion yuan (about 16.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022, up from 74.75 billion yuan in 2021. The figure is expected to hit a new high this year. Dai Bin, president of China Tourism Academy, said leisure tourism is now welcomed by a greater number of Chinese people as China enters into a moderately prosperous society. "Moreover, the epidemic has boosted demands for local and short-distance travels, which also contributes to the emergence of new leisure tourism such as camping," said Dai. New destinations China saw nearly 1.22 billion domestic tourist trips in the first quater of 2023, up 46.5 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Both the Spring Festival and the Qingming Festival recorded significant yearly rises in the number of tours. The number of inbound and outbound flights in popular tourist destinations such as Hangzhou, Chengdu, Sanya and Dali rose by 20 percent in March from the same period in 2019, according to travel service provider Qunar. In the first quater of 2023, hotel bookings in popular tourist cities grew by 60 percent from pre-epidemic levels. "March is usually an off-season for travel, but this year the tourism market has seen better-than-expected recovery," said Guo Lechun, vice head of the big data research institute of Qunar. The market rebound is also reflected by the number of newly founded tourism-related companies in the first three months of this year, which according to Qichacha, a leading platform offering company information inquiry services, reached 79,900. The ongoing travel frenzy has created unlikely tourist hotspots. Zibo, an industrial city in Shandong Province, has become one of the most popular tourist spots in China after its iconic barbecue, which wraps grilled meat in crispy pancakes, made waves on the social media. The sudden influx of foodies from across China has reportedly overwhelmed local eateries and prompted local authorities to add trains and temporary bus routes. Tourists have also swarmed into Jiangmen, a coastal city in the southern province of Guangdong where the popular Chinese TV series "The Knockout" was filmed. According to the local government, the number of trips into the city between January and February surged by about 68 percent year on year. Overseas destinations have also begun to feel the excitement rippling from China's fast-recovering tourism market. Thailand for instance saw 269,745 Chinese tourist arrivals in March, a 70-percent increase from February, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. During the first four days of April, the country welcomed no fewer than 8,000 Chinese tourists per day. At the Wuhan expo, officials and tourist practitioners from 15 countries and regions, including the United States, France, Germany and Serbia, were promoting their products and seeking cooperation with local partners. "We are focusing on promoting Serbia as a tourist destination, and developing more business relations with Chinese travel agencies during the expo," said Vladimir Koricanac, managing partner with Serbia Tour Operation Group. "China's tourism industry is rebounding now, and I believe it will be renewed in full capacity this year as it was before," he said. By Anna Tong, Alexandra Ulmer and Jeffrey Dastin SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Tech billionaire and Republican megadonor Peter Thiel, an early backer of former President Donald Trump who later broke with him, has told associates he is not planning to donate to any political candidates in 2024, according to two people close to the businessman. Thiel is unhappy with the Republican Party's focus on hot-button U.S. cultural issues, said one of the sources, a business associate, citing abortion and restrictions on which bathrooms transgender students can use in schools as two examples. Thiel came to this conclusion by late 2022, the sources said. He believes Republicans are making a mistake in focusing on cultural flashpoints and should be more concerned with spurring U.S. innovation - a major issue for him - and competing with China, the business associate said. Thiel's plans for the Republican primary and general election have not been previously reported. Online news site Puck previously reported Thiel was most likely either to support Trump or sit out the primary. Thiel declined a Reuters request for an interview. When Thiel spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention, he had more hope that the party would concentrate on economic issues, his business associate said. "I am proud to be gay," Thiel said on stage. "But most of all I am proud to be an American. I don't pretend to agree with every plank in our party's platform, but fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline, and nobody in this race is being honest about it except Donald Trump." Four political sources also told Reuters that Thiel is taking a step back from U.S. politics. Thiel, who diverged from his Silicon Valley peers with his embrace of conservative causes, identifies as a supporter of libertarianism, a political philosophy that stresses the importance of individual freedoms. DONORS HESITATE The German-born entrepreneur has a fortune estimated at around $4.2 billion after co-founding PayPal and Palantir and investing early in Facebook. He has contributed around $50 million to state and federal political candidates and campaigns since 2000, and he was the 10th largest individual donor to either party in the 2022 midterm congressional elections, according to the non-profit OpenSecrets. Story continues Thiel's decision underlines how the Republican Partys swing to the right on social issues is alienating some prominent, business-minded donors. Several top donors have said they are hesitant to support Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is expected to announce a run for the White House soon, after he signed a bill into law that bans most abortions after six weeks in Florida. None said they intended to sit out the entire 2024 election cycle as a consequence. In 2012, Thiel backed libertarian lawmaker Ron Paul, and in 2016 he donated some $1.25 million to the campaign efforts of Trump, who is the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination. In 2020, Thiel did not financially back Trump's re-election efforts, according to OpenSecrets. Thiel liked some of Trump's policies while in office but disapproved of the chaos surrounding the former reality TV star's presidency, said one of the sources, who is close to Thiel personally. In the 2022 election cycle, however, Thiel emerged as a potential Republican kingmaker, contributing more than $35 million to 16 federal-level Republican candidates, according to OpenSecrets. Twelve of those candidates won. To be sure, Thiel could yet change his mind on political contributions for the 2024 cycle, although both sources familiar with his donation plans said they had heard Thiel declare on multiple recent occasions that he had withdrawn from U.S. politics. The source who knows Thiel personally said he had cautioned that he could still support candidates who have worked for him, as he did in 2022, when the bulk of his $35 million in donations went to two former colleagues running for the Senate as Republicans: J.D. Vance, who won, and Blake Masters, who lost a race pundits considered winnable even though he received some $20 million from Thiel. The business associate said he was not aware of any special proviso for former employees. Thiel is married to businessman Matt Danzeisen, with whom he has two toddlers. Concerns about his family's safety have weighed in Thiel's decision to step back as well, the source who knows him personally told Reuters. (Reporting by Anna Tong, Alexandra Ulmer and Jeffrey Dastin, Editing by Ross Colvin and Alistair Bell) WASHINGTON The United States adversaries will likely target the communications abilities vital to multi-domain operations in a future war, and military commanders will have to be ready to operate during such disruptions, experts said Wednesday. The U.S. militarys ability to fight a network-integrated war, in which it can use vast arrays of sensors, satellites and communications nodes to deliver large amounts of integrated firepower, is one of its key advantages, said Andrew Metrick, a defense fellow at the Center for a New American Security think tank. But potential adversaries such as China and Russia have zeroed in on that as a key ability they would need to take out or disrupt in a fight against the U.S., Metrick said during a panel for the C4ISRNET Conference. We should take it as a given that in places, our communications are going to break and fail, Metrick said. When your adversary is as focused and as capable as [China] appears to be, you should not take it as a given that you will have the same degree of comms freedom that you had when that domain was not being tested. Adversaries advancements in jamming and electronic warfare capabilities have made it necessary for the military to look at a decentralized approach to some operations, said Matt Farmer, an analyst for the operational level doctrine division at the Armys Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate. The strong networking and communications systems of the American armed forces can provide a significant advantage during war, Farmer said but the way the military fights cant always depend on those communication lines remaining up. We know that the battlefield, now and in the next five to seven years, were going to be experiencing this degraded communications environment, Farmer said. We have to be able to operate when you dont have perfect communications or perfect information. If a unit cannot act autonomously, and its effectiveness on the battlefield depends on talking to a command post to get permission to fire weapons or coordinate with other forces, Metrick said, that operational concept will collapse. Story continues How we think about how those units are able to still maneuver and generate effects in a degraded environment is crucial, Metrick said. In addition to developing resilient communications systems that can withstand enemy attacks, Metrick said, the Defense Department needs to create nodal, almost self-contained systems. These units need to be able to operate largely on their own across battlefield domains, while only having sporadic, low-quality contact back to command posts, he said, though he acknowledged doing that will be difficult. Metrick said the war in Ukraine has shown how important it is to have a flexible networking construct, though he cautioned not all lessons would apply in a potential U.S. war in the Indo-Pacific region. Ukraine has taken advantage of resources such as Starlink satellites and ground terminals to help manage command and control. Kyivs forces also have used a variety of small drones to beat back Russias invasion, he said. Its very much a bootstrapped approach [in Ukraine], but its effective, Metrick said. In a lot of ways, you can glean things about the importance of tactical flexibility, about agility, and about the unique combinations of capabilities that produce asymmetric effects from the Ukraine example. By David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - At a summit with South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden will seek to reassure South Koreans that the U.S. nuclear umbrella is sufficient protection from North Korean attack. But with North Korean missiles now a direct threat to the United States, an old Cold-War dilemma has resurfaced: would the United States risk nuclear retaliation against itself to defend an ally? WHY IS SOUTH KOREA WORRIED? U.S. "extended deterrence" protection for South Korea rests on a simple, if grim, assumption: if North Korea were to attack South Korea with nuclear weapons, it would face devastating U.S. retaliatory strikes. For years after Pyongyang first tested a nuclear bomb in 2006 this was a believable threat - North Korea had relatively few bombs and limited ability to send them far beyond its own borders. But its arsenal has grown and it now has intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that can reach U.S. cities, making the cost of defending South Korea potentially far higher. Skeptical that the United States would really risk its own cities to defend its ally - the more so after former President Donald Trump questioned the value of the South Korean alliance when he was in office - many South Koreans now support the idea of their country developing its own nuclear weapons. A poll last month found over 64% of South Koreans support this, something the Biden administration is set against. WHAT ARE SOUTH KOREA'S OPTIONS? Yoon vowed in his election campaign to seek redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea and possibly "nuclear sharing," meaning joint command over U.S. weapons. In January, he raised the possibility that Seoul might someday need to develop its own nuclear arsenal, saying it could do this quickly given its scientific expertise. Yoon never pursued redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons, which Washington said it would not support, and walked back his comments on a South Korean bomb, saying his administration was committed to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). Story continues But his comments have driven a growing debate that one former senior U.S. defense official said threatens to normalize a once unthinkable concept of a South Korean nuclear arsenal. WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE BIDEN-YOON SUMMIT To counter such sentiment, Biden will pledge what senior U.S. officials say will be "substantial" steps to strengthen extended deterrence. A "Washington Declaration" will include creation of a "Nuclear Consultative Group" to give South Korea additional insight on U.S. planning for major contingencies and "a voice in those deliberations," one official said. The aim was to make clear "our absolute and enduring commitment to provide extended deterrence to (South Korea), including, as necessary, a decisive response," another said. The leaders will announce plans to make deterrence more visible through regular deployments of strategic assets, including a first U.S. nuclear ballistic-missile submarine visit to South Korea since the early 1980s. However, the officials stressed there was "no vision" of returning U.S. nuclear weapons to the Korean peninsula and that decisions on their use was the sole authority of U.S. president, while Seoul would reaffirm its commitment to the NPT and its non-nuclear status. WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPLICATIONS OF A NUCLEAR SOUTH KOREA? Nuclear expert Siegfried Hecker warned in January there could be disastrous downsides to Seoul acquiring its own bomb, spurring North Korea to build an even bigger arsenal and likely triggering highly damaging sanctions on South Korea's economy. Despite South Korea's technical expertise and civilian nuclear program, creating a nuclear arsenal would take years and could spell the end of its U.S. alliance and the protection of the U.S. nuclear umbrella, he wrote. It would also threaten worldwide non-proliferation efforts. "South Korea would be the first democratic country to withdraw from the NPT, dealing a blow to decades of U.S. leadership in preventing nuclear proliferation," Hecker said. "Washington would have no choice but to condemn and counter the South's decision to build the bomb." "The South can have its own nuclear arsenal at great expense and sacrifice or work with the Americans to remain under the nuclear umbrella with American troops stationed on the peninsula. It cannot have both." (Reporting by David Brunnstrom in Washington; additional reporting by Josh Smith, Soo-hyang Choi and Ju-min Park in Seoul; Editing by Don Durfee and Michael Perry) F-117 Nighthawk Low level At least some of the U.S. Air Force's fleet of F-117 Nighthawk stealth attack jets continue to enjoy a very active 'retirement' and are set to keep flying for around another decade or so. An aviation photographer who goes by @stinkjet on Instagram was kind enough to share pictures with us of two of these aircraft recently seen zooming along at very low altitude over California. "I took the images from a hilltop along the Sidewinder Low Level training route in southern California on Friday, April 21st," @stinkjet told The War Zone. "The route is used by many military aircraft for low level training, and I happened to be lucky enough to be there when two F-117s came through." Images Courtesy of Aviation Photographer @stinkjet on Instagram The Sidewinder route sits in the vast R2508 Range Complex and part of it runs between Owens Valley and Panamint Valley. Up until a deadly crash of a Super Hornet in 2019, this included military aircraft blasting through Star Wars Canyon, also known as Rainbow Canyon. That was before low-level access for military planes to the crevasse was restricted following the incident. Still, civilian aircraft make that famous run from time to time. Regardless, that is just one part of the route, and as the images of the F-117s show, some great opportunities exist elsewhere along it. @stinkjet was also able to capture some video of the F-117s, seen in the Tweet below. F-117s ripping it up low-level through sidewinder in R-2508 (Huge thanks to Alex stinkjet for sharing! https://t.co/sxpPSTX5Ud ) pic.twitter.com/gZAdSZWAbP Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) April 25, 2023 F-117s have been highly active in recent years in this same area, although catching them running at low-level is somewhat rare. Photographing them flying deep through steep canyons is even more so. Part of the work these aircraft do is to act as 'low-observable' control variables to test new sensors and this area offers ideal conditions, especially for low-level maneuvers. In fact, not far from here is where the F-117 program came somewhat out of the dark, giving photographers an incredible series of encounters, before expanding the scope and profile of the operations significantly. This is also how the unit's Dark Knights moniker came into focus. Story continues The F-117s in this recent imagery don't appear to have any unusual or novel features, at least from what can be seen. That being said, the Nighthawk's overall look remains as distinctive as ever. The Air Force officially retired its remaining F-117s in 2008, after 25 years of service, including participation in numerous combat operations. The surviving jets were subsequently placed in storage at the secretive Tonopah Test Range Airport in Nevada. Despite a Congressional mandate to destroy all of the remaining aircraft, it became clear some years ago now that the Air Force was still flying at least some of the F-117s. The Air Force has since publicly acknowledged the use of a number of Nighthawks for various research and development, test and evaluation, and training purposes. The still-flying F-117s provide valuable dissimilar stealth platforms that are useful in a variety of contexts. At least one of the jets has been notably observed in the past wearing what looks to be a mirror-like coating. Other U.S. military F-22 Raptor and F-35 stealth fighters, as well as Northrop Grumman Model 401 "Son of Ares" test jets, have been observed with similar finishes in recent years. This may all be linked to work on advanced infrared sensors or directed energy weapons, or countermeasures to defeat those kinds of systems. As of January, the Air Force told The War Zone it still had 45 F-117s, though it's not clear how many were flyable then or still are. The service also confirmed at that time that it expects to continue operating at least a portion of that fleet through 2034. Its plan is still to get rid of all of the remaining Nighthawks eventually, but there does not appear to be a fixed timeline for this yet. At least 10 of the remaining F-117s have been or are set to be put on public display, the Air Force also told us in January. Doing this requires a lengthy specialized demilitarization process to remove still-classified or otherwise sensitive components, as well as toxic materials, from the aircraft, as we have explored in detail previously. Whatever the final fate of the Air Force's F-117s might be, @stinkjet's recent pictures and video highlight how a number of the jets are still very much in use and will be for years to come. Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com Alex Stamos said Elon Musk's blue check saga was a "historical self-own" Getty Ex-Facebook exec Alex Stamos said Elon Musk's blue check saga was a "historical self-own." Last week, Musk took away blue check marks from some legacy accounts, only to return some of them. Stamos said Musk's system will make it difficult to identify bots and could make Twitter "unusable." Facebook's former security chief, Alex Stamos, said Elon Musk's blue check mark saga last week was a "historical self-own." The Chief Twit, as Musk refers to himself, removed legacy blue check marks from accounts on April 20 that had been verified under Twitter's old policies, which gave some accounts blue checks to avoid spam accounts pretending to be celebrities, public figures, or journalists. Musk previously described it as a "lords & peasants system." The billionaire initially agreed to give blue check marks solely to users who subscribed to Twitter Blue for $8 per month, but many celebrities and news organizations made a point of refusing to pay for the service. Musk later returned the verified check marks to a handful of users he claimed to have paid for, and then later even more users. "This is just an incredible self-own by Musk like from a historical timing perspective," Stamos said in an episode of the "Moderated Content" podcast that was published on Monday. Stamos, who has been critical of Musk in the past, was previously Facebook's chief security officer until 2018. He also previously served as chief information security officer at Yahoo. He currently runs a cybersecurity firm and teaches at Stanford. In the recent podcast, Stamos said that because of generative AI, society is on the verge of "a new age of bullshit" because the cost of generating content is "trending towards zero." Twitter has essentially taken a very stable verification system and turned it on its head, Stamos said, adding that in a year Musk's social media site "is going to be quite possibly completely unusable" because it will be difficult to distinguish AI bots from real humans an issue Musk has previously said he aims to fix. Story continues Alex Stamos pictured testifying before lawmakers while Facebook's chief security officer. Getty "Every single thing in which you have some kind of anonymity or pseudo-anonymity is going to be completely flooded by a small group of people who want to manipulate it," Stamos said. "Identity is a huge deal. Now identity is really, really going to be important over the next decade, and Twitter had one of the first and best recognized identity programs and they have completely destroyed it. They've made it a negative that people are begging to have it taken off." "In such an age, trust in platforms' ability to prevent impersonation and to verify the identity of high-profile individuals and organizations is going to be critical," Stamos told Insider in a statement. "Musk's timing, destroying one of the oldest and best recognized verification programs, is uniquely stupid." Musk did not respond to a request for comment ahead of publication. Twitter responded with an automated email that did not address Insider's question. The former Facebook security chief also joked on the podcast that Musk's move was also a "masterclass in marketing" as celebrities took to Twitter to say that they had not paid for Twitter Blue and did not want to be associated with it. Stamos is one of several people that have called Musk's plans for user verification on Twitter flawed. Earlier this week, top Tesla investor Ross Gerber told Insider's Hasan Chowdhury that the blue-check saga could indicate Twitter is on its last legs. Read the original article on Business Insider The Apollo 13 Saturn rocket being rolled out to the launch pad in 1970. For millennia, our species looked at the Moon as a place that would forever be beyond our reach, but 20th-century technologies finally made our natural satellite accessible to probes, landers, and even human explorers. Despite these achievements, however, the Moon has furiously resisted our overtures, whether it be these lamentable historical episodes or Japans recent failure with its Hakuto-R lander. In August 1958, some six months after the launch of the first U.S. satellite, the Air Force tried to launch a probe on a flyby mission to the Moon. The mission failed, so the Air Force tried again in September (NASA was still brand-new in 1958, having been founded earlier in the year). The second mission also failed, as did the next two attempts. The Soviet Union tried similar missions at the same time, also experiencing a stream of defeats. Failed launches were the primary culprits, as rocket science was still in its infancy. Read more These first faltering steps were a sign that treks to the Moon werent going to be easy. No doubt, the following years and decades would bear witness to remarkable achievements but also a tremendous number of setbacks. Even today, as we prepare for the Artemis era, our attempts to reach the Moon arent always met with success. Here are some of the most notable failed Moon missions from the past 65 years. ispaces Hakuto-R M1 lander (2023) Hakuto-R transmitted an image of the lunar surface minutes before it crashed onto the Moon. Tokyo-based company ispace hoped to make history as the first commercial venture to land a lander on the Moon, but it wasnt meant to be. Following a four-month journey to the Moon, the Hakuto-R M1 lander crashed onto the lunar surface on April 25, 2023. Engineers are still trying to figure out what went wrong (the lander unexpectedly accelerated shortly before reaching the surface, possibly the result of a distance miscalculation), but the failed landing resulted in the loss of several payload items, including the UAEs Rashid rover, a transformer-like robot, among other items. Undaunted, ispace said it will continue to develop its Hakuto-R platform for delivering commercial and public payloads to the Moon. The failed attempt means a private firm has yet to succeed with a soft lunar landing. Story continues The U.S. Air Force Pioneer 0 mission (1958) The Pioneer 0 probe. With the space race in full swing, the U.S. Air Force designed a series of pathfinder missions to assess the feasibility of lunar exploration. Known as the Pioneer missions, they were first attempt to send a spacecraft anywhere beyond Earth orbit, according to NASA. The first of these missions, known as Able 1 (and later named Pioneer 0) did not go well, with the Thor-Able rocket exploding 73 seconds after launch on August 17, 1958. The next three Pioneer launches ended similarly, and it wasnt until the launch of Pioneer 4 on March 3, 1959 that a semblance of success was achieved. The Soviet Unions Luna E-1 No. 1 (1958) The Ye-1 series of Soviet lunar probes. Like the U.S., the Soviet Union was eager to reach the Moon. The Luna series of missions attempted to do just that, but these early exploratory attempts also resulted in a host of failures. The very first of these missions, Luna E-1 No. 1 (also known as Luna 1958A), was an attempt to deliberately crash a spacecraft onto the lunar surface, but the 794-pound (360 kg) Ye-1 probe never reached space. On September 23, 1958, the launch vehicle underwent a structural failure due to vibration caused by pressure oscillations in theboosters and exploded 92 seconds after launch, according to NASA. NASAs first 6 Ranger missions (1961-1964) The Ranger spacecraft. Whereas the early Pioneer missions were attempts to simply reach the Moons vicinity, NASAs Ranger missions of the 1960s were efforts to study the Moon with probes and then deliberately crash them onto the lunar surface. Ranger missions 7 through 9 were successful, but the same could not be said for the preceding six missions, as NASA explains: Ranger 1 was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on August 23, 1961, followed by the launch of Ranger 2 on November 18 of that year. In both cases, the Agena B rocket engine failed to restart and both spacecraft reentered Earths atmosphere a short time later. Ranger 3 was launched January 26, 1962, but an inaccuracy put it off course and it missed the Moon. Ranger 4 had a perfect launch on April 23 of that year, but the spacecraft was completely disabled. The project team tracked the seismometer capsule to impact just out of sight on the far side of the Moon, validating the spacecrafts communications and navigation system. Ranger 5 missed the Moon following its launch on October 18, 1962, and was disabled. Ranger 6 was launched January 30, 1964, and had a flawless flight culminating in impact as planned on the Moon; its television system, however, was disabled by an in-flight accident and could take no pictures. The Ranger 7 mission finally set things straight, with the probe capturing more than 4,300 photos and crashing into Mare Cognitum. NASAs Surveyor 2 (1966) and Surveyor 4 (1967) Surveyor 3 on the Moon, with the Apollo 12 Lunar Module in the background. NASAs Surveyor probes are famous for being the first U.S. spacecraft to land safely on the lunar surface, but two of the seven missions were complete write-offs. Surveyor 2 crashed on the Moon in September 1966 when its engine failed to ignite, while Surveyor 4 crashed in July 1967 following the loss of radio communications. The Soviet Zond 6 mission (1968) Artists depiction of the Zond spacecraft. The Soviet Union successfully launched its Zond 6 spacecraft on November 10, 1968, in a mission to perform a lunar flyby and a subsequent return to Earth. Zond 6 managed to circle the far side of the Moon, but the mission experienced a host of problems, including the failed deployment of its high-gain antenna (a backup sensor was used to regain control of the spacecraft), and temperatures within a thruster tank dropped far below acceptable levels during the return trip. Engineers attempted to heat the tank by direct sunlight, but as they later discovered, such a procedure affected the weak pressurization seal of the main hatch and led to slow decompression of the main capsule, which would have undoubtedly killed a crew on board, according to NASA. And as a last insult, the spacecraft failed to properly deploy its parachutes during re-entry, resulting in the complete loss of the vehicle on the plains of Kazakhstan. Apollo 13 (1970) A view of the damaged Apollo 13 service module. Like Zond 6, NASAs Apollo 13 mission can be considered a successful failure. The third Apollo lunar landing attempt had to be aborted following the rupture of a service module oxygen tank two days into the mission. Shortly after, and while the crew of three floated some 200,000 miles (322,000 km) from Earth, NASA astronaut James Lovell famously said: Houston, weve had a problem here. With oxygen running out, the crew was forced to retreat from the Command Module to the Lunar Module. They worked closely with NASA mission control, improvising new procedures and ways to stay alive. Lovell, along with Jack Swigert and Fred Haise, safely returned to Earth on April 17, 1970. The Soviet Luna 15 mission (1969) A model of the Soviet Luna 16 lander, which, unlike its immediate predecessor, managed to land on the Moon and return a sample of lunar regolith to Earth. The Soviet Unions long-running Luna program involved dozens of missions to the Moon, not all of them successful. Luna experiments, of which 46 were organized, involved either orbiters or landers, which were used to collect scientific data about the Moon and perform preliminary work for crewed missions that never happened. Running from 1958 to 1976, Luna missions achieved many firsts, including the first flyby of the Moon and the first soft landing, but for each successful mission the program endured around two failures. One notable failure was Luna 15, which attempted a lunar landing and sample return mission. The probe unexpectedly crashed on the lunar surface on July 21, 1969the same day that NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the Moon. The Tranquility Base moonwalkers were never in any danger, as the 12,500-pound probe crashed around 540 miles (870 km) away in Mare Crisium. Chinas Longjiang-1 (2018) Artists depiction of Longjiang-1 and -2. As part of Chinas Change 4 mission to the Moon, two microsatellites, Longjiang-1 and Longjiang-2, were launched in May 2018 on missions to conduct ultra long-wave astronomical observations in lunar orbit. Longjiang-2 reached its destination, but Longjiang-1 experienced problems that prevented it from leaving Earth orbit. Indias Beresheet probe (2019) Beresheet took this selfie when it was around 13.7 miles (22 km) above the lunar surface. It crashed shortly afterwards. In 2019, Israel attempted to become just the fourth country to land a functioning probe on the Moon, joining the United States, the Soviet Union, and China. Sadly, it did not happen, as the Beresheet probe crashed during its attempted landing on April 11, 2019. The crash, which spilled a batch of tardigrades onto the lunar surface, was traced to a technical glitch that prevented the probe from slowing down during the descent. Indias Vikram lander (2019) The crash site of the Vikram lander. In an echo of the Beresheet mishap, India failed to land its Vikram lander on the Moon in September 2019. The probe failed to slow during descent, causing it to hit the surface at speeds reaching 110 miles per hour (180 km/hr). Three months later, an amateur astronomer spotted the scattered remains of the lost probe. JAXAs OMOTENASHI (2022) OMOTENASHI in development. When NASAs Space Launch System (SLS) rocket flew for the first time in November 2022, it delivered a batch of ten low-cost cubesats to space, in addition to the uncrewed Orion capsule. OMOTENASHI, designed by Japans Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), was supposed to attempt a semi-hard lunar landing using solid rocket motors, but the space agency was unable to establish communication with probe after launch. NASAs Near-Earth Asteroid Scout also failed, but its target was an asteroid, and not the Moon. Lunar Flashlight (2022) Conceptual image of Lunar Flashlight. Problems with NASAs Lunar Flashlight emerged shortly after its launch in December 2022. Obstructed fuel lines led to thruster troubles, which prevented the water-hunting probe from entering into its planned halo orbit around the Moon. NASA, along with engineers at Georgia Tech, devised a plan in which Lunar Flashlights remaining thrust capability would push the probe into a high Earth orbit from where it could scan the Moons southern polar region for signs of water ice once per month, instead of the planned once per week. In this sense, the Lunar Flashlight mission represents a partial failure. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that the family has fundraised enough money to pay the bill. The state of Missouri sent a bill for more than $3,000 to the parents of a U.S. Marine killed in Afghanistan for memorial signs honoring the man's military service. Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz was among 13 U.S. service members and more than 100 Afghans killed in a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. Schmitz was 20 years old when he was killed. The two signs, each on either side of Interstate 70 in Wentzville, Missouri, designate the overpass as the Marine Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz Memorial Bridge. This undated photo released by the 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton/U.S. Marines shows Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri. Eleven Marines, one Navy sailor and one Army soldier were among the dead, while 18 other U.S. service members were wounded in Thursday Aug. 26, bombing, which was blamed on Afghanistan's offshoot of the Islamic State group. (U.S. Marines via AP) Why was the family billed for the highway sign? Families of police, firefighters and members of the U.S. armed forces can be billed by the Missouri Department of Transportation for signs meant to honor the person's service, FOX 2 reported. But state legislators tried to end that this month by introducing a bill to stop the practice. The bill passed the Missouri House of Representatives with unanimous support. On Wednesday, a state senate committee held a hearing on it. Missouri state representative Tricia Byrnes, who represents Wenztville, said charging for the memorial signs send the wrong message to the public. It really does have a look that were selling signs to the families of our fallen heroes and then paying for grass cutting along the highways, she told FOX 2. That is not a look we want in Missouri. The Schmitz family has fundraised enough money to pay the $3,200 bill via a GoFundMe set up to cover the cost of the signs. In 2021, the family also began fundraising for a foundation honoring their son. AN AMERICAN HERO: Missouri Marine Jared Schmitz killed in Afghanistan airport attack Retired U.S. Army veteran Dominic Lograsso runs with an America flag along the procession route honoring Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021 in St. Charles, Mo. Who was Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz? Schmitz was stationed in Jordan on his first deployment and was sent to Afghanistan in 2021 just a couple weeks before the U.S. withdrawal, according to his father. Story continues "When things got a little hairy over in Afghanistan, he was one of the 6,000 or so troops that were called in," Mark Schmitz told KMOX radio in August 2021, after his son died. Following the deadly Kabul airport attack, thousands of people lined Interstate 70 in Missouri to watch Schmitz's coffin return home as was driven down the highway. Schmitz graduated high school in 2019, according to his father, and had long dreamed of becoming a Marine. He had "perfected" his skills in the Marine Corps, his father told KMOX radio, and "took his job very seriously." "His life meant so much more and I'm so incredibly devastated that I won't be able to see the man that he was very quickly growing into becoming," Schmitz's father told the radio station. Contributing: Grace Hauck, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US Marine LCpl Jared Schmitz's family billed for highway memorial sign A farm owner in Ohio recently received a surprise visit from a man who dropped out of the sky, police said. The Eaton resident found a man standing at their door around 9 p.m. on April 25, according to a news release from the Preble County Sheriffs Office. I just had a young man come up to our house and say the plane just landed in our field and flipped over, he walked up here, the farm owner told dispatchers, according to WHIO. I was just outside. I dont know whats going on. The man, a 29-year-old pilot from Dayton, had engine trouble while flying a small plane over the area and decided to make an emergency landing in a field, police said. I tried shooting for the road but I ran out of airspeed, the pilot told dispatchers, according to WHIO. My engine went out and I had to land it. While attempting to land, the plane rolled over and came to a stop upside down, police said. The pilot was transported to an Indiana hospital about 20 miles away to be treated for minor injuries. The incident is under investigation by local authorities as well as the Federal Aviation Administration, police said. Eaton is about 100 miles west of Columbus. Mom punches school bus driver, pulls out a knife with children aboard, Boston cops say 10-year-old girls who were friends to many die in ATV crash. Unimaginable loss University student slashed by man found hiding in his dorm room, Tennessee police say By Nyasha Chingono and Wendell Roelf HARARE (Reuters) - Ben Gilpin is one of hundreds of commercial farmers who has been offered government compensation for being evicted from their land and farms two decades ago, and found the plan has come up short. Expelled from his 1,000-hectare farm during a land reform campaign led by former president Robert Mugabe, Gilpin, who lives in the capital Harare, is one of many mostly white farmers seeking redress from the government after years of court action and delays. Still, some farmers say they will reject the government's $3.5 billion compensation package for being inadequate financially and for paying scant regard to land restitution or restoring property rights. Compensating farmers is central to a government strategy under discussion with key creditor, the African Development Bank (AfDB), to clear historic arrears of some $17 billion. Farmers say the plan was agreed by the Commercial Farmers Union in July 2020 and subsequently revised without adequate consultation. Zimbabwe intends to now pay farmers over a decade, instead of the 20 years announced three years ago, finance minister Mthuli Ncube said in February, with money raised via treasury bills. Harare has already defaulted twice on the payments, in June 2021 and June 2022. "The offer of bonds represents a very significant reduction in value with a prolonged redemption period," Gilpin, 67, told Reuters. "This is unacceptable and bears no relation to the original offer." In the initial proposal, half of the $3.5 billion was to be paid within 12 months from the day of signature, and the balance within five years. "We want to reject this government compensation deed because it is not a proper compensation deal," said Ben Freeth, whose father-in-law challenged Mugabe's eviction policies at the now-disbanded SADC Tribunal and won in a 2008 judgement. The government was continuing discussions with farmers over appropriate payment methods and time frames, Ncube said. Story continues "I am certain that we will converge pretty soon in terms of the appropriate instruments," he told journalists on Friday. AfDB president Akinwumi Adesina, who is championing Zimbabwe's debt clearance efforts, said paying farmers over a decade was a long time, given the age of most claimants. "I think a front-loading farmer compensation approach is worth consideration," he told Reuters. "The process will require careful negotiations and the implementation of strategic reforms." (Reporting by Nyasha Chingono in Harare and Wendell Roelf in Cape Town; Editing by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo and Bernadette Baum) By Zeba Siddiqui SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Ukraine is working with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and American companies to collect evidence of war crimes by Russians, such as geolocation and cellphone information, senior officials said on Tuesday. Ukrainian authorities are collecting digital information from battlefields and Ukrainian towns ravaged by the war since Russia invaded the country last February, said Alex Kobzanets, a FBI special agent who previously worked as a legal attache for the agency in Ukraine. "Collection of that data, analysis of that data, working through that data is something the FBI has experience working through," Kobzanets said at the RSA cybersecurity conference in San Francisco. That work includes looking into cellphone information, forensic analyses of DNA samples, as well as analysis of body parts collected off battlefields, he said. "The next step is working with national U.S. service providers, and transferring that information...obtaining subscriber information, obtaining geolocation information, where possible," Kobzanets added. The work reflects deepening collaboration between the U.S. and Ukraine on the cyber front, where Russia has been a common adversary for both nations. The Russian government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The agent added that the U.S. FBI had for the past year and a half been working on helping Ukraine to also identify Russian collaborators and spies operating in Ukraine and the Russian forces that were operating outside of Kiev as the invasion was happening. U.S. security companies and officials have been a major partner of Ukraine in its efforts to fend off Russian cyberattacks, which it has battled since at least 2015. Illia Vitiuk, head of the Department of Cyber Information Security in the Security Service of Ukraine, said that while the number of Russian attacks against Ukraine has grown in the last few years, in recent months they have become more targetted. Story continues "Its very difficult to prove in a criminal case, who is responsible," said Vitiuk. "Its very important for us to get as much information about Russian cybercriminals...because we collect all this information and put it into our criminal cases." We do believe that this case about cyber war crimes is something new, he added. This is where we have seen the first full scale cyber war. (Reporting by Zeba Siddiqui in San Francisco; Editing by Michael Perry) Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, speaks at a seminar with NPC deputies attending the second session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee, April 25, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] China's top legislator Zhao Leji Tuesday urged efforts to maintain a firm political stance, fulfill duties under the law, and give full play to the role of deputies to people's congresses. Zhao, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, made the remarks at a seminar with NPC deputies attending the second session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee. Based on their work, the deputies shared their experiences and thoughts on issues such as maintaining close ties with the people and conducting fact-finding research and studies. Hearing the remarks, Zhao said deputies to people's congresses should adhere to the correct political orientation and earnestly perform their duties prescribed by the law. He also urged them to keep close ties with the people and serve as the bridge that links the Party and the country with the people. Zhao also stressed the importance of the NPC Standing Committee to enhance work capacity building for deputies to people's congresses and ensure that deputies can fulfill their duties according to the law and play their due role. A federal judge on Wednesday ordered that a lawsuit attempting to block Missouri Attorney General Andrew Baileys restrictions on transgender care be sent back to state court, denying Baileys request for a federal case a day before the restrictions will take effect. Henry Autrey, a U.S. District Court judge in St. Louis, said during a virtual hearing that the lawsuit did not concern any issues of federal law and should be considered by St. Louis Circuit Court. Cases involving exclusive state claims, state law, are not within the purview of the jurisdiction of federal courts, Autrey said Wednesday. No matter how much we may wish, hope or pray it is, it just isnt. The regulations require 15 separate hourly therapy sessions over 18 months before a person can start transgender care. Missouri would be the first state to severely restrict gender-affirming care for adults, in addition to children, if the rule goes into effect. The rule has divided Republicans, with Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and others questioning whether it will hold up in court. Baileys office had tried to move the case out of St. Louis County Circuit Court and into U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and LGBTQ civil rights group Lambda Legal, alleges the regulations violate state law and the Missouri Constitution. Tony Rothert, an attorney for the ACLU of Missouri, told Autrey Wednesday that the case should be sent back to state court, citing the upcoming implementation of Baileys restrictions. We ask that happen as soon as possible because the ill-advised and allegedly illegal order that we are challenging goes into effect at midnight, he said. Josh Divine, an attorney with Baileys office, countered on Wednesday that the lawsuit raised issues related to both the state and U.S. Constitution. He also said he was worried that attorneys from Baileys office, which is based in Jefferson City, would not be able to make it to St. Louis in time for a hearing. They have raised a claim under the federal constitution, Divine argued. Wednesdays federal hearing delayed a hearing that was scheduled at 1:30 p.m. in front of St. Louis County Circuit Court Judge Kristine Kerr, appointed by former Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon in 2012. It wasnt immediately clear on Wednesday when the case would be rescheduled in state court. John Tate, chairman of the Wisconsin Parole Commission and president of the Racine City Council, poses for a photo at Roosevelt Park, a park he grew up going to as a child, on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 in Racine, Wis. Tate has resigned from the parole commission. A judge dismissed a felony charge against a former Racine Common Council president a week after prosecutors say he illegally negotiated terms of his employment as the city's new violence interruption coordinator. John Tate II, who also is a former Wisconsin Parole Commission chairman, was accused of using his capacity as a public official for private interests. He was charged on April 18 with one count of "private interest in a public contract while working in a public capacity" in Racine County. Racine County Judge Robert Repischak dismissed the charge Tuesday after Tate's attorney, Patrick Kiernan Cafferty, made a motion to dismiss the case, according to online records. According to a motion to dismiss submitted by Cafferty, Tate's attorneys argue the prosecution failed to meet one requirement of the charge: Tate needed to be authorized or required by law to participate in the contract negotiation. Tate's attorneys say a criminal complaint filed against their client last week failed to do so and, therefore, doesn't establish probable cause. The case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning prosecutors can bring the case again if they want to. Racine County District Attorney Patricia Hanson told the Journal Sentinel she is reviewing the case for refiling. According to the complaint, Tate unlawfully negotiated terms of his employment as Racine's new violence interruption coordinator after approving the creation of the job as Common Council president. "At no time during his role on the Finance and Personnel Committee nor in his role as acting president of the Common Council did Mr. Tate II participate in the making of the contract for the position of Violence Interruption Coordinator," Tate's attorneys argue, adding that it wasn't part of Tate's role to make the contract and job description, that was handled by the city. Racine used $784,000 in COVID-19 relief funds to approve of the position. Story continues The Common Council approved the coordinator position in a July 19 a meeting Tate presided over. The position was then advertised from Sept. 8-22. Tate applied for the job and became a finalist, the complaint states. News reports surfaced in October stating Tate had accepted the job of independent police monitor of Madison police. Two days later, the city of Racine emailed an offer to Tate for the violence interruption coordinator, the complaint states. Tate countered the offer by requesting a greater salary and more vacation time, the complaint states. Two city officials, Public Health Administrator Dottie Kay Bowersox and City Administrator Paul Vornholt, agreed to Tate's requests and amended the offer to him, the complaint states. According to the complaint, the amendment raised the pay to $101,698.25, which was above the maximum pay listed on the job posting. The salary came with an understanding that he reside in Racine, the complaint states. Tate was also offered more vacation time and an opportunity to participate in a $10,000 forgivable home loan program. Prosecutors argue Tate "by applying for and negotiating the terms of his employment, he acted on behalf of his own pecuniary interest." Tate initially announced he would resign as alderman to begin as violence interruption coordinator in mid-November. However, Tate then announced in a Facebook post he was advised state law prohibits sitting local elected officials from taking positions that were created during their term of office. He then said he would finish his term then start his new job. Tate announced his final day as an alderman on Monday. Last year, Gov. Tony Evers asked for Tate's resignation as Wisconsin Parole Commission chairman, following Tate's decision to parole Douglas Balsewicz, who was convicted of stabbing his wife to death, in the presence of the couple's two young children. Drake Bentley of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Judge drops felony charges against former Racine council president A top officer in the Army's 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade has been investigated following allegations of multiple sexual assaults and a pattern of sexual harassment, according to two sources with knowledge of the investigation. It is unclear whether the investigation is ongoing, but it comes while another is underway into allegations of toxic leadership by the brigade's commander. Col. Meghann Sullivan, commander of the 5th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 5th SFAB, faces allegations of assaulting at least two subordinate men and harassing several others, with some of those incidents allegedly tied to alcohol abuse, according to one of the two sources. At least one of those alleged assaults involved forceful kissing and another grabbing a man below the belt without his consent. Sullivan is seemingly still in command, though commanders are sometimes suspended amid investigations. She did not return a request for comment. It is unclear whether Sullivan has hired an attorney. Read Next: These Soldiers Say Mold in Barracks Isn't Just Disgusting, It's Making Them Sick "We have no information on that matter that we can share at this time," Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Patoka, a spokesperson for the Security Force Assistance Command, told Military.com in a statement. "We take any and all allegations seriously and handle them appropriately as circumstances dictate." Male victims account for 10% of sexual assault cases in the military, according to 2021 data from the Department of Defense. That data estimates roughly 14,000 male soldiers experience some type of unwanted sexual contact per year, though male cases of sexual assault and harassment are likely underreported due to societal stigma. Sullivan is the first woman to take command of an SFAB battalion. Those new units, created between 2017 and 2020, sport a unique brown beret and "Advisor" tab. Their mission is to work with established allied forces to review their doctrine, assist in any training, and develop ways the U.S. can work with partner countries. Each SFAB focuses on a specific region, with the 5th SFAB overseeing the Pacific and partnering with countries that will be key for any conflict with China, including Japan, Australia, Mongolia and Thailand. Story continues The news comes as the 5th SFAB's commander, and Sullivan's boss, Col. Jonathan Chung, was suspended and faces allegations of counterproductive leadership and abusive treatment of his subordinates. Military.com interviewed two dozen of Chung's subordinate officers and noncommissioned officers who worked with him in multiple different units, including the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division and 75th Ranger Regiment. Virtually all of them painted a picture of Chung being a micromanager who demanded loyalty and who routinely dressed down subordinates in front of others and retaliated against his soldiers for minor infractions. Chung's investigation is ongoing but is expected to wrap up in the coming weeks, according to internal emails reviewed by Military.com. -- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon. Related: 'He Was the Worst Leader I've Ever Had': Suspended Brigade Commander Accused of Toxic Leadership The family of Liza Burke, a University of Georgia senior, has stopped treatment for her brain tumor and she is spending her final days with loved ones, her mother said. After Burke failed to respond to treatment, her family met with several doctors and made the decision to cease radiation and pursue providing Liza a send-off like only she deserves, her mom, Laura McKeithen, said in an April 17 journal entry posted online. Tonight we begin the hunt for the perfect place by the sea where Liza can enjoy her final days supported by the infinite love that surrounds her, McKeithen wrote. If I could, I would hang onto Liza and follow her. But since I cant, please continue your prayers for our Sleeping Warrior and for all of us who will never fully fill the void that will be left in her wake. As of April 25, Burke was alive and spending time with loved ones. Another beautiful day as Liza brought our little crew closer together enabling us to each play a role in her care, McKeithen wrote in a journal post. We took turns repositioning, preparing and delivering meds, suctioning, and telling stories, and in response Liza shared her love through squints and facial gestures. Burke is an Asheville, North Carolina, resident and attended the University of Georgia. Liza Burkes story While on spring break with friends in Mexico, Burke developed an unusually painful headache on March 10, McClatchy News reported. She left breakfast to rest and hours later was found unconscious in her room. Burke was rushed to a hospital after friends were unable to wake her. On March 14, Burke and her family made it back to the United States and she was admitted to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Originally, doctors diagnosed Burke with a brain bleed caused by an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) a tangle of blood vessels that causes arteries and veins to be connected wrong. However, on March 28, preliminary biopsy results revealed that Burke was suffering from a grade 4 astrocytoma tumor. Story continues Also known as a glioblastoma, this tumor is the most malignant, aggressive and common type of astrocytoma, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. The tumor is a highly aggressive cancer that progresses quickly. Friends described Burke as genuine, dynamic, playful and fierce, according to a GoFundMe started by a family friend. Liza amazes me daily with her ability to do this dying thing with bountiful courage, grace, and beauty, but PLEASE shout out your prayers for Lizas peace and comfort because it looks hard, McKeithen wrote in an April 24 update. Liza exemplifies all the good in this world, wrapped into one beautiful, kind, selfless and smart lady, one person commented on the post. To some of you she may be a stranger, but to so many on UGAs campus she is a friend, another friend wrote on Facebook. 16-year-old diagnosed with leukemia dies the same day, PA family says. A nightmare Chopped Junior winner Fuller Goldsmith, who had leukemia five times, dies at 17 Bodies of two missing college students recovered from Indiana lake, officials say F-16 fighters Jeff Seldin, Voice of America correspondent, reported that Wallander made the statement during a hearing of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. Read also: Ukraine has airfields that can accommodate F-16 fighters Ihnat Modern Western planes are currently ranked approximately eighth on the list of Ukraines defense needs, said Wallander. Read also: No plans to supply F-16 jets to Ukraine, US reaffirms She added that a higher priority is currently given to air defense systems, artillery, and armored vehicles. On March 3, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov expressed confidence that Ukraine eventually will receive several types of Western fighter jets from its partners. Read also: Energoatom will work with U.S. Holtec International to install 20 nuclear reactors in Ukraine Kyiv has repeatedly appealed to the United States and other allies to provide modern aircraft. However, U.S. President Joe Biden stated that he currently excludes the possibility of sending U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine People gather in Khartoum on Wednesday Fighting is continuing in parts of Sudan despite a 72-hour ceasefire largely holding. Speaking via phone from Omdurman, the city adjoining the capital Khartoum, the BBC's Mohamed Osman says fighting broke out near TV and radio buildings. There is no fuel and a lack of doctors, and people are struggling to access food and money, our correspondent adds. Sudan's army chief has reportedly approved extending the ceasefire - due to expire on Friday - for 72 hours. Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan gave initial approval to the proposal from the regional African bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Reuters news agency reports. The proposal suggests sending envoys from the Sudanese army and rival group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to Juba in South Sudan to discuss the details. The current ceasefire began at midnight local time (22:00 GMT) on Monday bringing a pause to a conflict which erupted on 15 April amid a power struggle between the leaders of the army and the RSF. People in Khartoum and Omdurman are finding it difficult to find clean water and food and access to cash, our correspondent says. Explosions and gunfire could still be heard on Wednesday, with warplanes in the air, although it was quieter than before the ceasefire and the situation was good enough for evacuations to continue. Our correspondent says he and his family find it difficult to sleep because of the explosions and shooting. Gangs have also been looting homes and empty buildings, targeting cars and vehicles, he adds. Local people fear what will happen after the ceasefire ends. Both sides still man checkpoints but these are fewer in number as some troops have withdrawn to other areas. The warring factions both claim to control important places like airports and army headquarters. There is no internet access and phone lines are poor. At least 459 people have been killed since the fighting broke out though the actual number is thought to be much higher. Earlier the World Health Organization said it expected "many more" deaths due to disease, a lack of access to food and water and disruption to health facilities. Story continues Several countries have evacuated their nationals since the ceasefire took hold. A boat evacuating more than 1,600 people from dozens of countries arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and both Germany and France say all their citizens have now left the country. The first flight bringing British national home landed at Stansted on Wednesday, via Larnaca in Cyprus. Some 536 British nationals have been evacuated from Sudan on six flights, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said. The chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission confirmed to the BBC that evacuations of stranded Nigerian students in Sudan had started. It is thought there could be up to 5,000 Nigerians living in Sudan, and that 3,500 of them are students. However, a UK-born student in Sudan said she did not have enough petrol to get to rescue flights. Samar Eltayeb, 20, from Birmingham, has been sheltering with a relative outside Khartoum since fighting began. The third-year medical student at Sudan's National University has been waiting to be evacuated to join her parents and siblings in the UK. "We have have no gas, and the petrol stations are empty," Ms Eltayeb said. "There'll be constant flights within the next few days, but if I can't find gas to get there, then I'm stuck." Buses carrying evacuees are continuing to leave Khartoum despite soaring prices of fuel and bus tickets. Meanwhile, former Sudanese politician Ahmed Haroun said that he and other former officials are no longer in jail. Reports emerged this week of a prison break at Kober in Khartoum- where Ahmed Haroun was serving a sentence alongside Omar al-Bashir, Sudan's former president. The Sudanese army said Bashir was moved from the prison to a military hospital before the fighting erupted. Both Bashir and Haroun are facing charges by the International Criminal Court for their alleged role in the atrocities in the western Sudanese region of Darfur. On Tuesday, Haroun confirmed in a statement aired on Sudan's Tayba TV that he and other Bashir loyalists who served under him had left the jail - but said he would be ready to appear before the judiciary whenever it was functioning. A large fire caused extensive damage Wednesday at the Russian cultural centre in the capital of Cyprus, which is home to thousands of Russians as well as Ukrainian refugees. The cause is under investigation. Five fire engines responded to the blaze in central Nicosia at around 1:45 pm, the fire service said. Witnesses saw a large plume of smoke as flames seemed to engulf the outside of the building. Others said they heard explosions. "The entire building has suffered extensive damage," Fire Service spokesman Andreas Kettis tweeted. "The causes of the fire will be investigated in cooperation with the police and, if necessary, other state services." AFP was not immediately able to reach anyone from the centre to comment. Russian state-run TASS news agency quoted Russian ambassador to Cyprus Murat Zyazikov as saying there were no casualties and "different theories are being looked at" to determine what happened at the facility, formally known as the Russian Centre for Science and Culture. TASS also quoted the centre's head, Alina Radchenko, as citing witness comments that "Molotov cocktails were thrown into the building." This could not be verified by the Cyprus police or fire officials. According to TASS, she said "two loud blasts" occurred, after which a wall and the roof caught fire. The centre, part of which is wrapped in large bands of red, white and blue paint, the colours of the Russian flag, is operated by the country's embassy. It was built in 1978 and is located in a separate part of the city from the embassy itself. There are more than 18,000 Russians and more than 4,600 Ukrainians living on the Mediterranean island, according to official Cypriot government statistics last year. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, European Union member Cyprus has also received around 10,000 Ukrainian refugees. cy/it/pjm Abby Grossberg, the former Tucker Carlson producer suing Fox News for allegedly forcing her to give misleading testimony in the Dominion case, appeared Tuesday on MSNBC to dish dirt on her former boss now that he has also been fired by the conservative cable giant. Grossberg, who was terminated by Fox News last month, said that she believed her lawsuit against the network has something to do with Carlsons stunning ouster from the network. Confider reported on Monday that a key factor in the Fox stars sudden demise was Dominion lawyers citing his repeated use of the c-word, something that came up in Grossbergs own deposition. Additionally, Grossberg not only went into detail about the toxic work environment she experienced while working for Carlsons show but also claimed the primetime host seemed hellbent on finding a link between the FBI and the Jan. 6 insurrection. That was despite, as Grossberg noted, lawyers for the Capitol rioters trying to dissuade Carlson from chasing the conspiracy theory. Elsewhere in the 40-minute discussion with MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace, the ex-Fox producer claimed to be in the possession of 90 recordings, several potentially relevant to her case that she is still going through on her devices. And, in the end, she said that what she really wants from Fox News is an apologysomething the network didnt give Dominion even after paying the voting software firm $787.5 million to settle its defamation lawsuit. Below are the top highlights from the much-anticipated interview. TUCKER AND HIS TOP PRODUCER MADE HER LIFE A LIVING HELL Grossberg alleged in her lawsuit that Carlsons show was a cesspit of misogyny and antisemitism. And on Tuesday she told Wallace that she felt mixed emotions about the firing of Carlson and his top producer Justin Wells even though they were responsible for breaking me and making my life a living hell. She added: There is a feeling of justice, but its only partial. Story continues Recapping the claims raised in her legal complaint, Grossberg said Carlsons crew plastered demeaning pictures of Nancy Pelosi all over the office and once asked whether her previous boss Maria Bartiromo was sleeping with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. While recounting her objections to Carlsons interview with accused human trafficker Andrew Tate, Grossberg told Wallace that other producers wanted it to be a bro fest and later mocked and shut her out of meetings over her concerns. CARLSONS OBSESSION WITH PROVING JAN. 6 WAS FALSE FLAG Towards the end of Grossbergs time at Fox, Carlson had been given exclusive access to the Jan. 6 surveillance video footage by McCarthy. According to Grossberg, the now-former Fox News star was very set on finding an FBI person who was implanted in the crowd so he could prove the insurrection was a false flag by the government. [He was] spinning this conspiracy that they were ultimately the ones responsible for the Capitol attack, not Fox News as theyre about to go into the Dominion trial, she said. It was really the FBI that set up this thing, not Fox telling the American people that the election was rigged and the voting machines did it. Grossberg claimed that even an attorney representing some of the Capitol rioters implored her to push Carlson away from the unhinged theory, but it was to no avail because everyone was a believer on the show. I went back to them and said, look, theres no conspiracy theory here. I called the attorney who is representing one of the Proud Boys. He told me on two occasions, Theres no conspiracy, get away from this stuff, this is dangerous. Tell Tucker to stop. I will come on your show, but Ill absolutely walk off if he asks me this. And the result was, find somebody else, Tucker is really intent on this. GROSSBERG FEELS SHE MAY HAVE BROUGHT TUCKER DOWN With speculation that her looming lawsuit may have been a factor in Carlsons stunning termination, Grossberg was asked if she felt that her legal action brought Carlson down. I think it has something to do with it, I dont know for sure, she answered. Its not a fact. I would like to think, if anything, it shows when you have the truth on your side and you stand up for yourself, people will listen. For now, thats what Im taking from it. Abby Grossberg says she thinks her Fox lawsuit "has something to do with" Tucker Carlson's firing but doesn't know for sure. She adds that Tucker's use of the c-word came up several times in her deposition, which she claims Fox lawyers prepared her in advance to lie about. pic.twitter.com/2hmy8BG3zJ Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) April 25, 2023 Wallace also wanted to know if Grossberg believed her amended Dominion deposition and willingness to be the voting companys star witness in the trial may have also played a role. Grossberg, for her part, said that Carlsons use of the c-word while discussing ex-Trump lawyer Sidney Powell came up several times in her deposition, and that Foxs attorneys had prepared her in advance to lie about whether or not it bothered her. THE ABBY DAY CELEBRATION Grossberg said that after Fox News attorneys coerced her to give misleading and false testimony in order to protect Carlson and top executives, the staff was given a celebratory lunch later on called Abby Day. Reading from Grossbergs lawsuit, Wallace stated: The day after her deposition on December 14th, Alex McCaskill asked Ms. Grossberg about what she covered in her testimony. She said Mr. Carlsons name came up, but she protected him. The attorney said they were happy with the answers she had given and said they should celebrate with lunch later that day. An email was sent to the staff to celebrate Abby Day. Asked if this was normal, Grossberg said she was one of three people shes aware of on Carlsons staff that was deposed in the case. And she was the only one who was venerated with a staff-wide celebration. LORDY, THERE ARE (MORE) TAPES The revelation that Grossberg had secret audio recordings of Powell, Rudy Giuliani, and Trump officials admitting to Fox News that they had no evidence of election fraud was a turning point just before the start of the Dominion trial. The judge overseeing the case reprimanded the networks lawyers for not providing the tapes to Dominions legal team in the discovery phase. Grossberg, who has since revealed other recordings, said on Tuesday she has even more tapes. Nicolle Wallace: "Where are those recordings now? Did Dominion ultimately get them?" Abby Grossberg: "I have several recordings Im still going through that we recovered from all the phones. There are 90 that we have. I dont know what Fox turned over." pic.twitter.com/eth921sAIB Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) April 25, 2023 I have several recordings Im still going through that we recovered from all the phones, she said. There are 90 that we have. I dont know what Fox turned over. I know that based on what Ive read that they handed over the Sidney and Rudy tapes. Fox should have everything they really should. Grossberg also confirmed that she has been subpoenaed by Smartmatic, another voting machine firm suing Fox News for defamation. I WANT AN APOLOGY Grossberg ended her Tuesday conversation with Wallace by stating that nobody from Fox told her anything about Carlsons firing, sarcastically adding: No one is coming near me; they could be worried I have tapes. However, she declared, I want an apology from Fox. While accurately pointing out that Dominion didnt even get that and they received nearly $800 million, Wallace asked if Grossberg really thought a mea culpa would ever come. I dont know. But I want one, she concluded. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. TOKYO An attempt by Japan-based ispace to become the first company to put a lander on the moon appears to have failed. In a statement posted on its website, the company said the HAKUTO-R Mission 1 Lunar Lander was expected to land on the moon at 12:40 p.m. EDT Tuesday after spending more than 130 days traveling through space. However, engineers have yet to be able to confirm that the landing was successful. "So, we have to assume that we could not complete the landing on the lunar surface," said ispace CEO Takeshi Hakamada during a news conference in Tokyo. Hakamada said the company received telemetry from the craft up until just before the landing was expected, but then communication was lost. He said engineers are investigating to determine what went wrong. 1-YEAR AWAY: WILL WEATHER COOPERATE FOR TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE IN APRIL 2024? The ispace lander was shot into space by SpaceX from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in December. The goal was to land HAKUTO-R in the Mare Frigoris, or Sea of Cold. Hakamada said the company has already started preparing for a second HAKUTO mission and that the data the company received during this mission will help refine future attempts at a moon landing. "We are very proud of the work that we have already achieved," Hakamada said. "We will keep going never quit (our) lunar quest," he added. NASA UNVEILS ARTEMIS II ASTRONAUTS WHO WILL EMBARK ON HISTORIC MISSION AROUND THE MOON Mission 2 is scheduled to head to the moon in 2024. The original plan was for the second lander to carry a rover to explore the lunar surface. A third mission is also in the works, but a date for it has yet to be announced. First Dates star Merlin Griffiths is now cancer free. (Channel 4) First Dates star Merlin Griffiths has revealed his stoma scars on live TV. Appearing on Lorraine as part of a campaign around bowel cancer, Griffiths discussed his 2021 diagnosis with a tumour in his bowel and the effects treatment have had on his body. The bartender said: "Going through it all myself, you get very comfortable talking about this stuff [checking your poo] because you have to and youre dealing with medical professionals and treating your diagnosis, he said. Read more: First Dates star Merlin Griffiths has stoma removed in surgery "But I think there is a bigger point and people have to be comfortable talking about this before this happens." First Dates' @MerlinFDC4 lists the symptoms which pushed him to talk to his doctor - and later be diagnosed with bowel cancer - as well as the treatment he went through to get the all clear. #NoButts #Lorraine pic.twitter.com/Tad2rvNTA4 Lorraine (@lorraine) April 26, 2023 He also said he went through chemotherapy, an intravenous infusion, chemoradiotherapy, a low anterior resection which removed his rectum and colon and a stoma fitted. Griffiths then said the stoma had been reversed which signified that he was cancer free. Read more: What is a stoma bag? (Yahoo Life, 4 min read) Griffiths then asked Lorraine if he could lift up his shirt and he revealed his scars from the operation and said: "Thats what youre left with afterward." A stoma is a small piece of flesh sewn on top of the body that acts as an opening and can be connected to the digestive and urinary systems to allow fluids to be directed out of the body. Story continues Merlin Griffiths on First Dates. (Channel 4) Earlier this year, Griffiths confirmed that he was in the final stages of treatment, saying on Instagram: "Checked in (with the bear of course), and ready to go. Here's to the final phase of treatment and recovery." Griffiths also noted that some of his earliest symptoms of the cancer were debilitating tiredness and a change in bowel movements. Other symptoms include blood in your poo, stomach pain, bloating and losing weight without trying. It is recommended by the NHS that you see a GP if you have these symptoms for three weeks or more. Watch below: Merlin Griffiths and Matt Dawson on raising awareness of bowel cancer A female teacher (R) gives an English lesson at Shangban primary school in Luoting Township, Wanli District of Nanchang City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Sept. 2, 2019. China plans to hire 52,300 college graduates this year to work as primary and middle school teachers at under-developed rural areas in central and western regions, a notice said on Tuesday. The notice, issued by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Finance, said the special recruitment effort is expected to improve the teaching quality in rural schools and increase the number of teachers in subjects such as physical education, foreign languages, science and art. The recruitment drive is mainly seeking teachers for schools in once-impoverished regions, counties undergoing the rural vitalization efforts and those inhabited by minority ethnic groups. The teachers should have bachelor degrees at minimum and be no more than 30 years old. Higher vocational school graduates majoring in education are also eligible to apply. The central government will continue to allocate extra subsidies to the teachers, and they should enjoy the same salary level and other benefits as local public school teachers. They also are entitled to preferential policies in attaining professional titles and year-end reviews. Since the program was launched in 2006, 1.03 million college graduates have been hired to work at rural schools, according to the Ministry of Education. Glass and debris were scattered across DeLong Lures in Canal Fulton after a stolen vehicle crashed through the store early Tuesday morning. CANAL FULTON Stephen Ziegler has had a lot on his mind, running his fishing lure business and dealing with the recent deaths of his father and grandmother. Miles away from home and preparing for his family member's burial, Ziegler got a call at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday from a fellow business owner who told him that someone had run through his store. "I was like, 'What does that even mean?'" Ziegler recalled. Burglars drove a stolen Kia Soul through the front door of his business at 2381 S. Locust St. "Someone took a stolen Kia smashed it into our shop and hit a giant 6-foot DeLong Lures sign," he said. "They are not very smart. They ran into the wrong spot." It appears the burglars were aiming for the gun shop next door. Nothing was taken from the lure shop, Ziegler said. After smashing into Ziegler's store around 4 a.m., the stolen vehicle backed up and crashed into D&D Precision, Ziegler said. The crime was caught on surveillance film, which has not been released by authorities. DeLong Lures at 2318 S. Locust St. in Canal Fulton was damaged early Tuesday morning when a vehicle smashed through the front doors. The vehicle also smashed through the D&D Precision where numerous firearms were taken. Canal Fulton police tracking gun thieves Canal Fulton Police Sgt. Lance Priest said the investigation is ongoing as the department works with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to identify those involved. The Kia, which was stolen from a Canal Fulton residence that night, was driven through the front doors of both stores, police said. Four masked people entered D&D Precision and removed numerous firearms from the gun shop. More: DeLong Lures relaunches in Canal Fulton Priest said the number and types of firearms stolen are being determined as the business is doing an inventory. According to D&D's website, the business builds custom firearms as well as sales and repairs. The robbers left the Kia behind and fled in another vehicle, which authorities are working to identify. The owner of the gun shop, who asked not to be named due to security concerns, said he watched the theft take place in real time. Story continues When the store alarm sounded, he was altered on his cellphone. He was able to tap into the store cameras from his phone. "It was very surreal," he said. "We have had false alarms in the past but this time it was really happening." The thieves were in and out in under 60 seconds, he said, noting they were on the property for about two to three minutes. The smash-and-grab style used by the burglars is typical for gun store thefts, he added. "We do everything we can (to keep our merchandise secure)," the owner said. "We have an alarm system and for the most part, everything is under lock and key. There is a reason they didn't walk out with more." While they continue to do an inventory of the store, at least 10 guns ranging from pistols to rifles were taken, he said. "We don't want these in the wrong hands," he said. "We don't want anyone to be in danger. We want them caught and brought to justice. We are very strict as far as the rules and we want our guns going to law-abiding citizens." Impact on DeLong Lures Already delayed because of the deaths in his family, Ziegler said, his orders will be delayed a few days. "It has put us behind," he said. "Ultimately they didn't take our stuff but everything had to be cleaned up. There was glass everywhere." The impact was so hard it cracked the drywall all the way to the ceiling, Ziegler added. DeLong Lures reopened Wednesday offering a cheeky smash-and-grab discount. "They made a big mess of things and it is a big hassle but we have had to have fun with it," Ziegler said. Anyone with information about the crime should call Canal Fulton police at 330-854-2211 and speak with the officer in charge. Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @aknappINDE DeLong Lures reopened Wednesday offering smash and grab discounts. This article originally appeared on The Independent: Thieves target DeLong Lures, D&D Precision in Canal Fulton Kansas will not see a flat tax this year or a quicker elimination of the food sales tax after the Kansas Senate failed to override Gov. Laura Kellys veto of the policy. The Senate voted 26 to 13, missing the two thirds majority needed to override a veto by just one vote. Kelly vetoed the bill earlier this week, warning that the imposition of a 5.15% flat income tax would damage the states budget and force cuts to schools and other state programs. Today, the senate sided with balanced budgets and strong public schools. But the tax discussion shouldnt end here. Now, the legislature should pass my plan to provide a $450 rebate to every Kansas taxpayer, Kelly said in a statement following the vote. In a press conference Monday Kelly presented the rebates as a better use of Kansas surplus because the state wouldnt have to continue to fund it as revenues decrease. The flat tax had been a top priority of GOP leadership in the Legislature this year who argued the tax would simplify the states tax code and encourage more investment in the state. Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, said Wednesday he had voted to provide much needed relief to Kansas working poor who would save money on food and income tax and for retirees. Ive been pretty clear that was the compromise, Masterson said. Were done for taxes. I think its unfortunate that Kansans arent going to see the benefit. But Kelly and her allies in the Legislature called the cut regressive. Though it provided a tax cut for all Kansans, the largest cuts would be seen by Kansas highest earners rather than low income residents. Were at the point in our budget and fiscal responsibility coming out of the Brownback years where we need to be cautious, said Rep. Jeff Pittman, a Leavenworth Democrat. Kelly warned the bill would have caused cuts to public education and other state services, but Republicans supporting the bill said the argument fell flat in a year with a large budget surplus. We have found time and again ways in which to help schools, said Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a Louisburg Republican and chair of the Senate Education Committee. A United Airlines flight was turned back to Newark Liberty International Airport hours into a flight to Israel after a passenger sat in a crew seat while waiting to use the bathroom. United Airlines Flight 90 was three hours into its journey to Tel Aviv on Sunday when the unruly passenger became embroiled in a shouting match with a flight attendant. And other passengers on the flight reportedly only found out they were returning to the US from the flight maps on their screens. Crew members told him that if he did not return to his seat, the plane would be turned back to New York, a passenger only identified as Sholomit told the Israeli outlet Ynet. The eyewitness added that the passenger had not appeared to pose a threat. A United Airlines spokesperson told Insider that the flight had returned to Newark because of the behaviour of a disruptive passenger. United flight 90 traveling from Newark to Tel Aviv returned to Newark shortly after takeoff due to a disruptive passenger. Law enforcement met the aircraft and removed the passenger. A new flight was scheduled to depart Sunday evening, the airline told The Independent. The airline added that upon arrival at Newark, the flight was met by law enforcement and the passenger was removed. All of the remaining passengers were then taken off the flight, which was rescheduled for Sunday evening. Passenger Jeff Hunt took to Twitter to share a video of the passenger apparently being removed from the flight. And he wrote that the passenger was then seen wandering around the airport pleading his case to other travellers, insisting he had not been physical and that the flight crew had overreacted. He just kind of hung around everybody, which was bizarre and bold, Mr Hunt said. If I was escorted off an airplane I would have hung my head in shame and disappeared, but he spent four hours talking to people. Florence Pugh has hinted at what her outfit for her first Met Gala will be. In a joint interview with Valentinos creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli for The New York Times, Pugh opened up about attending the upcoming event with the designer. When asked if her dress is going to surprise people, the actor confessed that it was going to be big. She also spoke candidly about the pressure shes prepared to feel when posing on the Metropolitan Museum of Arts red steps. But we like big, dont we? the Dont Worry Darling star said. When Im on those red carpets, there is so much pressure because youre either selling a movie or trying to make a moment. Theyre nerve-racking. Pugh went on to note what fashion means to her and how excited she is to appear at the event in her outfit, despite what other people may think about it. The whole point is that you are expressing yourself with what you are wearing, she said. Every time I step out in whatever dress, thats a version of me that Im really proud of. So it doesnt matter if people dont necessarily like it. She emphasised that she doesnt need people to love her style, adding: I dont think anything that I do has to be 100 percent loved. Things being up for debate is good. It means people are interested. The Good Person star also acknowledged that glamour that will come with attending her first Met Gala, which includes posing for pictures. And people who know how to pose and walk, and youre like, oh my god, Im so out of my depth, she said. Despite the pressure she may feel at the star-studded event, Pugh still addressed how excited she is to walk alongside Piccioli during it, who helped create her outfit. But to have this person with you who designed the dress after talking and planning and creating for months takes away 30, 40 percent of the fear, she said. The idea is to be as bold as possible. I love the power that it gives me. I love how it sparks conversation. Story continues Piccioli agreed with the actors sentiments and opened up about being her designer, adding: You create objects that have to be worn by someone. And Florence is the person that makes sense of what I am doing. The theme of the 2023 Met Gala will be Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. It will also pay homage to the late designer through its dress code: In honour of Karl. According to Vogue, there are wondrous ways that guests can salute one of fashions greats. For example, the magazine explained that the most authentic approach would be to wear an archival look from one of the labels Lagerfeld led. While Lagerfeld was known as the creative director for Chanel, he also did work with brands like Valentino and Chloe. While Pugh is opting for a look by Valentino for Mondays big event, this wont be her first time working with the brand. In August 2022, she made headlines for her sheer pink dress by the fashion house, which showcased her nipples. During her conversation with The New York Times, she reflected on the widespread criticism that she faced over her look and how she was caught off guard by it. I did have a lot of positive comments, but I was surprised that people felt they were allowed to be really awful and say some disgusting things because of me showing my nipples, she said. Even though the dress was daring, it wasnt in any way gratuitous. It wasnt over-sexualized. It was basically this beautiful dress and this beautiful fabric, showing off whatever it was that I had underneath. She emphasised her shock about the criticism, as she addressed her decision to hit back at it on social media last year. I just could not wrap my head around the fact that showing my breasts was causing such anger to the point where people were saying that if I got hurt, I deserved it, Pugh added. That was why I had to comment. When addressing the criticism on Instagram in July 2022, she wrote: So many of you wanted to aggressively let me know how disappointed you were by my tiny t***, or how I should be embarrassed by being so flat chested. However, the Midsommar star explained that not a wink of [her] was nervous to wear the gown before, during or even now after being body shamed. Florence Pugh has revealed the reason why she responded to body-shaming comments about her sheer Valentino dress. The British actor, who was recently named Valentinos newest brand ambassador, opened up about the backlash she faced when she decided to wear a transparent pink Valentino gown to the labels haute couture show in Rome last July. In an interview with the New York Times published on 26 April, Pugh shared that she was surprised by the negative reaction the dress received. I did have a lot of positive comments, but I was surprised that people felt they were allowed to be really awful and say some disgusting things because of me showing my nipples, she told the Times. Nearly one year later, the Dont Worry Darling star has maintained that the tulle sheer dress which showed Pughs breasts wasnt sexual at all. Even though the dress was daring, it wasnt in any way gratuitous. It wasnt over-sexualised, she said. It was basically this beautiful dress and this beautiful fabric, showing off whatever it was that I had underneath. I just could not wrap my head around the fact that showing my breasts was causing such anger to the point where people were saying that if I got hurt, I deserved it. That was why I had to comment. Following the backlash, Pugh issued a statement on social media after so many of you wanted to aggressively let me know how disappointed you were by my tiny t***, or how I should be embarrassed by being so flat chested. Pugh told her critics that not a wink of me was nervous to wear the gown before, during or even now after being bodyshamed. Whats been interesting to watch and witness is just how easy it is for men to totally destroy a womans body, publicly, proudly, for everyone to see, she wrote, adding, It isnt the first time and certainly wont be the last time a woman will hear whats wrong with her body by a crowd of strangers. Whats worrying is just how vulgar some of you men can be. Story continues Pugh went on to say that shes comfortable with the intricacies of my body and content with all of the flaws I couldnt bear to look at when I was 14, before calling out her critics. Ive lived in my body for a long time. Im fully aware of my breast size and am not scared of it, she wrote. Whats more concerning is Why are you so scared of breasts? Small? Large? Left? Right? Only one? Maybe none? What. Is. So. Terrifying. The 27-year-old actor went on to defend her controversial Valentino dress numerous times, most recently when she appeared on the cover of Vogues January 2023 issue. While addressing criticism over her decision to wear the sheer gown, Pugh said it was the problem of body shamers if they were offended. Ive never been scared of whats underneath the fabric, she told Vogue. If Im happy in it, then Im gonna wear it. Of course, I dont want to offend people, but I think my point is: How can my nipples offend you that much? Speaking to Harpers Bazaar in August, Pugh also claimed the backlash was largely because it aggravated [people] that [she] was comfortable with her breasts. I was comfortable with my small breasts. And showing them like that it aggravated [people] that I was comfortable, she said. The Little Women star acknowledged that she knew her outfit choice would draw attention, considering she and designer Pierpaolo Piccioli had decided to remove the lining of the dress to make it completely transparent. It was just alarming, how perturbed they were, she added. They were so angry that I was confident, and they wanted to let me know that they would never w**k over me. Well, dont. On 26 April, Florence Pugh was announced as the new face of Valentino. In a campaign photographed by Steven Meisel, the actor posed with various Valentino Rockstud handbags as she made a variety of expressions for the camera. As you can see...Im pretty shocked and ecstatic to announce that my @maisonvalentino campaign is here, Pugh captioned an Instagram post announcing her new partnership. Truly an honour to continue creating art with my family at Valentino. Working with talented people is one thing, but to work with talented people who are great friends feeds the soul! And this campaign truly did feed the soul. Thank you for letting me be me, she wrote. The Midsommar actor has rocked a number of jaw-dropping Valentino looks over the years. She recently sat front-row at Valentinos fall 2023 show at Paris Fashion Week, where she sported another see-through ensemble. Pugh turned heads when she arrived at the Venice Film Festival premiere of Dont Worry Darling in a dramatic black tulle gown from Valentinos fall/winter 2022-2023 Haute Couture collection. She even walked the champagne carpet at the 2023 Oscars wearing a beige, strapless taffeta dress from Valentino. The bold fashion moment, complete with a flowing train and ruffled sleeves, was also the inspiration behind many viral memes of the night. Florence Pugh is expected to cement her relationship with the Italian fashion house at the Met Gala 2023, which takes place on 1 May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Not only will it be Pughs first-ever Met Gala, but shell also attend with Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli as her date. As the Florida Supreme Court considers a similar case, an appeals court Wednesday rejected a class-action lawsuit that Florida Atlantic University students filed because of a campus shutdown early in the COVID-19 pandemic. The FAU lawsuit is one of numerous cases filed in Florida and other states alleging that colleges and universities breached contracts and should be required to refund money to students. But a panel of the 4th District Court of Appeal upheld a circuit judges decision to dismiss the FAU case, finding that the university didnt have an express, written contract with the students named as plaintiffs, Amanda Heine and Jhayla Stready. Students concede they were permitted to enroll in courses at the university in exchange for paying their tuition and fees, which is FAUs only express obligation found in any of the documents submitted for review, said the ruling, written by Chief Judge Mark Klingensmith and joined by Judges Dorian Damoorgian and Ed Artau. No express contract was formed by the attachments to the complaint (lawsuit) regarding what students would receive in return for paying the statutorily mandated fees. In fact, nothing in the attachments establish any contractual agreement to hold in-person classes or provide on-campus services at all, even though that was certainly a reasonable albeit unenforceable expectation. The Florida Supreme Court is considering a case in which the 1st District Court of Appeal reached a similar conclusion in a potential class-action lawsuit filed against the University of Florida. Also, the 1st District Court of Appeal last week rejected a case filed against Florida A&M University, and the 3rd District Court of Appeal has turned down a case filed against Miami Dade College. But the 2nd District Court of Appeal last year refused a request by the University of South Florida to dismiss a similar potential class-action lawsuit. The Supreme Court on Jan. 5 declined to take up an appeal by USF. Story continues In Wednesdays ruling in the FAU case, the appeals-court panel drew a distinction with the University of South Florida case. It said a document in the University of South Florida case included different language than documents in the FAU case. After the pandemic hit in 2020, campuses throughout Florida and the nation were shut down and students were forced to learn remotely. Many of the lawsuits filed in Florida and across the country seek refunds of fees that students paid and not tuition. A key issue in the cases against Florida state universities and colleges involves whether the schools are protected by sovereign immunity, which generally shields government agencies from liability. Agencies can face lawsuits if it is shown that contracts have been violated. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The Florida Senate sent a bill aimed at combating messages of hate throughout the state to the Governors desk Wednesday morning. The bill is partly modeled after a city ordinance passed here in Jacksonville earlier this year after hateful messages and symbols were projected on local buildings. Jewish Floridians bore the brunt of the recent hate. Nationally Jews make up roughly two percent of the population, but yet, theyre a target of way over 50 percent of the hate messages, said Adam Chaskin with the Jewish Community Alliance. Chaskin helped champion the local ordinance passed here in Jacksonville earlier this year, which targeted the antisemitic projections seen on the CSX building and Jaguars stadium. It limits the opportunity for it to occur and it sends a message to other people that obviously theres something wrong with this, said Chaskin. The state bill targets multiple forms of hate. It makes it a 1st-degree misdemeanor to litter hateful messages on private residences, harass a person based on religious or ethnic clothing, display a message on a building without permission from the owner, refuse to leave a college campus while spreading hateful rhetoric and interrupt a religious assembly or funeral. If its determined a credible threat was made during any of those activities, the charge is upgraded to a 3rd-degree felony. Chaskin believes the statewide legislation will give law enforcement the tools needed to shut down the hateful acts that have plagued the state in recent months. Weve now given law enforcement across the state the ability to do what they know is right, said Chaskin. Wednesday also happened to be Israels Independence Day. The Governor is expected to travel to the Jewish state in the coming days as part of his ongoing international trade mission. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. By Dawn Chmielewski and Lisa Richwine (Reuters) -Walt Disney Co sued Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, asking a court to overturn state efforts to control Disney World and intensifying a battle between a global entertainment giant and a likely White House contender. In its lawsuit, Disney accused DeSantis and his supporters of illegally using the state government to punish a company for voicing an opinion that should be protected by free-speech rights. The skirmish began last year after Disney criticized a Florida measure banning classroom discussion of sexuality and gender identity with younger children. DeSantis repeatedly attacked "woke Disney" in public remarks. Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disney's virtual autonomy in central Florida where the Disney World theme parks attract millions of visitors each year. In the action filed in federal court in Tallahassee, Disney said it aimed to protect Disney World's employees, guests and developers from "retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials." "Disney now is forced to defend itself against a State weaponizing its power to inflict political punishment," the company said. Last year, Disney's then-chief executive, Bob Chapek, said the company opposed a bill formally known as the Parental Rights in Education Act. Critics called it the "Don't say gay" law. Disney's lawsuit alleges that a newly formed DeSantis-appointed tourist board violated the company's contract rights, and did so without just compensation or due process. The company is asking the court to declare Florida's legislative action unlawful. DeSantis has argued that Disney, which employs roughly 75,000 people in Florida, had been enjoying unfair advantages for decades. "We are unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges," DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern said Wednesday on Twitter. Story continues The governor is currently traveling in Asia on a four-country trade mission. Disney shares fell 1.4% to close at $96.61 on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday. POLITICAL RISK DeSantis clash with Disney has been a centerpiece of his speeches as he toured the United States ahead of his expected presidential bid. But as the battle has intensified, it has brought mounting political risk. Former President Donald Trump, the favorite for the Republican nomination, has slammed DeSantis stance, saying on social media that the governor "is being destroyed by Disney" and warning that the company would reduce its investments in Florida. Carlos Curbelo, a former U.S. Republican congressman from Miami, said DeSantis' attacks on Disney "made sense for a time." "Now its coming across as petty and personal," Curbelo said. "Disney clearly detects that the governor is in a weaker position today and is going on offense for the first time in this conflict." Before DeSantis appointees took over a state board that oversees Disney World, the company pushed through changes to the special tax district agreement that limit the board's action for decades. Florida's new oversight body on Wednesday said Disney's plans for potential expansion of Disney World did not comply with state law, and declared that agreement void. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board unanimously supported an attorney's findings of legal flaws in the developers' agreement Disney reached in February with a previous board, including a lack of proper public notice. "What they created is an absolute legal mess," said board Chairman Martin Garcia. "It will not work." Disney announced its lawsuit minutes later. The tussle could boost DeSantis' support among U.S. Republican voters, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found, but also hurt him among the wider electorate. Seventy-three percent of respondents - including 82% of Democrats and 63% of Republicans - said they were less likely to support a political candidate who backs laws designed to punish a company for its political or cultural stances. The judge that will oversee Disney's case against DeSantis, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, has struck down several laws that defined the governor's conservative political agenda, including statutes that sought to limit the speech of college professors, curtailed protests and restricted voting access. (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski and Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by James Oliphant in Washington;Editing by Sonali Paul, David Gaffen and Matthew Lewis) The Florida state legislature approved a measure on Wednesday that would rein in some public-sector unions in the state by changing how union dues and fees are collected and limiting where unions can promote their efforts. The state House passed the Employee Organizations Representing Public Employees Bill in 72-44 vote on Wednesday, sending the bill to governor Ron DeSantiss desk for final approval. The measure was one of several proposals included in DeSantiss Paycheck Protection plan for teachers that he unveiled in January. The proposed law would ban automatic payroll deductions for public-employee union dues. Public employees who join a union would also be required to sign a form acknowledging that Florida is a right-to-work state. Unions would be required to notify members every year of their membership costs and union members would not be allowed to distribute union literature at work. Additionally, union officials would be prohibited from performing union business during their working hours at their taxpayer-funded jobs. The bill would also require unions to represent at least 60 percent of the employees eligible for representation. Unions that fail to meet the threshold would be decertified and would have to petition the Public Employees Relation Commission (PERC) for recertification. Unions would also be required to submit audited financial reports to the state yearly and to include an annual audited financial statement in its registration renewal application. The bill would also lay out salary restrictions that would ensure that no union leader could be paid more than the unions highest-paid member. One of the ideas here is to make sure that the union members are getting the best possible union representation as possible, said Florida state senator Blaise Ingoglia, who introduced the bill back in February. The state senator suggested the provision to ban automatic deductions will promote face-to-face conversations between members and their union representatives. Story continues Police, fire and corrections unions are exempted from the bill. Pressed on that exemption by Florida Representative Ashley Gantt, a Democrat, state Representative Dean Black said: We treat public safety differently. They protect us. President of the Florida Education Association Andrew Spar claimed the bill is insulting to teachers and staff in the state of Florida, basically telling them that they dont know better and someone big government has to watch out over them. The first-of-its-kind law could have far-reaching consequences if other states follow suit, as was the case with Floridas Parental Rights in Education law. More from National Review The Florida House on Wednesday passed a measure that would put new requirements on universities related to debates and other campus forums, with supporters saying it would bolster free speech but critics arguing it could have unintended consequences. The Republican-controlled House voted 82-34 along near-party lines to approve the bill (HB 931), which still needs to pass the Senate before it could go to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The proposal (HB 931) also would prevent state colleges and universities from requiring students and staff to complete political loyalty tests as a condition of admission or employment. Under the bill, each university would be required to establish an Office of Public Policy Events, which would be responsible for organizing, publicizing, and staging at least four debates or forums per year. Such debates and group forums must include speakers who represent widely held views on opposing sides of the most widely discussed public policy issues of the day and who hold a wide diversity of perspectives from within and outside of the state university community, the bill says. But several House Democrats criticized the bill for not defining widely held views. Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, argued that leaving the issue open to interpretation could benefit some groups over others. I think its hard to dictate what is a widely held view. That often can take the shape of who is in political power at that time, who is the biggest donor to a university, and whos the biggest donor to the governor. I just am very concerned that we actually are not creating an environment with freedom of speech, because some speech will be preferred over others, Eskamani said. Supporters of the bill, however, argued that it would help protect campus free speech. Rep. Doug Bankson, R-Apopka, called higher-education institutions a crucible of free thought. It is our foundational right to have freedom of speech. This great bill protects those things. It makes sure that all voices can be heard. Because truth has its own legs, it can stand on its own when its given the chance to be heard, Bankson said. Story continues Rep. Rita Harris, D-Orlando, contended that not all arguments deserve equal airtime. Im sorry but Nazism, there is no pro (side), there is no flip-side to the coin, Harris said. Bill sponsor Spencer Roach, R-North Fort Myers Republican, pushed back on Harris argument. I would argue that Nazism is not a widely held idea. But let me ask you this if a speaker came onto campus advocating that we should reinstitute slavery; that we should exterminate the Jewish population, I would say this, So what? And I will quote our 28th president, Woodrow Wilson, when he said, The best way to expose a fool is to allow him to rent out a hall and put forth his ideas to his fellow citizens, Roach said. The measure also would require that, if a schools Office of Public Policy Events cant readily find an advocate from within the state university community who is well-versed in a perspective, the office would invite a speaker and provide a per-diem and a reimbursement for travel expenses. Democrats also questioned why the measure did not include a cap on how much money could be provided to invited speakers. The part of the bill that seeks to prohibit political loyalty tests defines such tests as compelling, requiring, or soliciting a person to identify commitment to or to make a statement of personal belief in support of things such as a specific partisan, political, or ideological set of beliefs. Such tests also could not require statements of support for any ideology or movement that promotes the differential treatment of a person or a group of persons based on race or ethnicity, including an initiative or a formulation of diversity, equity, and inclusion beyond upholding the Constitution. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. You are here: China Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to a commemorative event marking the 50th anniversary of cooperation between China and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on Wednesday. With lawmakers on both sides of the debate pointing to a housing crisis, the Florida House on Wednesday passed a controversial bill that would lead to state law trumping local regulations governing landlords and tenants. The Republican-controlled House voted 81-33 along almost-straight party lines to approve the bill (HB 1417). Rep. Paula Stark, R-St. Cloud, joined Democrats in voting against the bill, while Rep. Kimberly Daniels, D-Jacksonville, voted for it. Bill sponsor Tiffany Esposito, R-Fort Myers, and other supporters said the state needs to take a free-market approach to address the housing problems and that local regulations drive up costs. The government is the problem when it comes to the affordable-housing crisis, Rep. David Borrero, R-Sweetwater, said. But opponents said the bill would lead to reduced consumer protections and that local governments should be able to address housing issues. This bill is designed to help corporate landlords at the expense of tenants, many of which are already struggling to stay in their homes, Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, said. The Senate is scheduled Friday to take up its version of the bill (SB 1586). In recent years, cities and counties, including in heavily populated areas such as Miami-Dade, Broward, Orange, Hillsborough, and Pinellas counties, have passed ordinances frequently described as a tenant bill of rights that go beyond a state law known as the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. The ordinances deal with a variety of issues, such as notices about rent increases, notices about fees and notices about changes of ownership. Espositos proposal is what is known as a pre-emption bill because state law would pre-empt, or override, the authority of local governments. Lawmakers last month passed a separate bill (SB 102) that included preventing local rent controls. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed that wide-ranging housing bill on March 29. During the debate about Espositos bill, lawmakers agreed on the problem a lack of affordable housing but had starkly different positions on the governments role in addressing it. Story continues Supporters of the bill said regulations help lead to a limited housing supply, which results in higher costs. Rep. Tommy Gregory, R-Lakewood Ranch, said the law of supply and demand is irrefutable. This bill is not about helping renters, per se, Gregory said. It is about making sure local governments dont love them to death. But Rep. Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg, said dozens of local ordinances would go away if the bill passes and that the system is already tilted toward landlords. What we are talking about here in this debate is simple consumer protections, Rep. Robin Bartleman, D-Weston, said. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. A pair of related bills rapidly advancing through the Florida Legislature would eviscerate protections for historic buildings and districts in coastal areas across the state, allowing property owners and developers to bypass local regulations and bulldoze and redevelop much of Miami Beach, among many other places. That would include the iconic Art Deco hotel row on Ocean Drive as well as famed neighborhoods such as Key Wests Old Town, the town of Palm Beach and Fernandina Beach. The bills, SB 1317 and HB 1346, sponsored by Republicans Sen. Bryan Avila and Rep. Spencer Roach, are causing alarm among preservationists and municipal officials statewide, including shocked elected officials in St. Augustine the oldest city in the United States as they realize their potentially devastating implications. One preservation group in Miami Beach called the legislation the end of historic preservation in coastal Florida. Another critic likened it to an atom bomb. Its one of the worst proposals Ive ever seen, said a livid state Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, a Republican whose district includes St. Augustine. Everybody that cares about the character of their coastal community should be concerned about it. They should be raising questions. The bills are the latest, and perhaps the most dramatic and consequential, of rapidly advancing, developer-friendly measures in the GOP-dominated legislature and aim to supercharge development by preempting or overriding local zoning controls regarding suburban sprawl, urban density and other issues. The preservation-preemption bills, which exempt single-family homes, would prohibit local officials from blocking the demolition of any other buildings, including those designated as historic, that sit within a half-mile of the coast or within an extensive series of flood zones delineated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency if they dont meet the U.S. agencys standards for new construction. By definition, virtually no historic buildings conform to those rules. Story continues Senate sponsor Avila, a Republican representing Northwest Miami-Dade, said the goal is to ensure the resiliency of coastal communities by promoting the replacement of older buildings with new structures that meet up-to-date FEMA rules for flood- and storm-surge resistance in order to obtain insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program. He and Roach insisted their bills are narrowly tailored to ease the way for construction of safer buildings under federal regulations that call for flood-resistant materials and elevated structures in vulnerable areas. An overhead view from 2020 shows the iconic Delano Hotel, at center right, which sits vacant amid a row of historic Art Deco hotels on South Beach. Bills advancing in the Florida Legislature would override local protections in coastal cities for historic buildings like the Delano hotel and its companions and allow their demolition and redevelopment. Roach, a North Fort Myers lawyer, said his bill was necessary because preservationists have for too long used their historic buildings as a cudgel to avoid replacing them with safer buildings. He has met with local officials and is working on amendments that he said will clarify that the measure is not intended to line Floridas coast with more condominium canyons. The bill comes up for a vote next week. I have told them I am not going to go down in history as the guy that puts a skyscraper in St. Augustine, in Miamis Art Deco district, in Palm Beach or in Pensacola, he said in an interview Monday. That is not the intent of the bill and the narrow language is designed to prevent that. Potential demolition derby? But critics say the bills are anything but narrow. They say the bills, which contain no analysis of impact, are so broadly written that the result will be a demolition derby as developers seize the chance to tear down historic buildings to clear and flip properties a common practice in older areas poised for redevelopment known as speculative demolition. They say the measures could be destructive for the historic fabric of their communities and their economies. The bills would give property owners the right to demolish any building for any reason in the designated zones without so much as a public hearing, with the exception of a relative few listed on the National Register of Historic Places, an honorary designation that by itself confers no protections. Because many of the states oldest and historic neighborhoods and districts sit along the coast, the bills, if approved, would open tens of thousands of structures now protected as landmarks under local ordinances to potential demolition. Advocates say 84 local jurisdictions across the state have historic-preservation programs. The bills also prevent those local jurisdictions from limiting the scale of replacement buildings to conform to historic neighborhood scale or requiring that they replicate or preserve some historic elements, though the new structures must still meet local zoning rules. In practice, that would mean in many, if not most cases, that developers will be able to build bigger, denser replacement structures, putting potentially thousands of new residents in high-hazard flood zones, critics say. Another section of the bills would allow demolition of any building anywhere in the state, even if designated as historic, that a local building official has declared unsafe even though procedures to do so already exist. The measures also would prohibit local officials from requiring that a historic building that an owner has allowed to slide into ruin replicate all or a portion of the original if it has to be torn down, or to limit the new structure to historic scale. The target is ordinances passed by many municipalities, including Miami Beach, designed to discourage owners of historic buildings from engaging in whats known as demolition by neglect. A view of the Colony Hotel located on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Florida on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. Lifting those rules, critics say, will again encourage property owners to allow historic buildings to fall into disrepair in order to obtain an order to demolish. This is a very dangerous bill, and it is full-steam ahead, Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez said. It is a train that is going to wreck our historic districts. It has nothing to do with resiliency. It has to do with the resiliency of the profits of big developers. Building bigger buildings does not do anything for resiliency. This bill is all about circumventing our historic-preservation regulations. That could not be more clear. Canceling Miami Beach Virtually all of low-lying Miami Beach famed for historic neighborhoods and hotels that draw millions of tourists sits within the zones affected by the bills. City officials estimate the bills would expose as many as 2,600 Beach buildings that are now protected as historic or architectural landmarks to demolition with no appeal. The Deauville was an iconic hotel that hosted the Beatles and other celebrities. It sounds like a targeted, sweeping bill canceling Miami Beach, said Daniel Ciraldo, executive director of the Miami Design Preservation League, the group that spearheaded creation of the citys first historic districts decades ago under the leadership of legendary activist Barbara Capitman. Here, 40 years-plus of preservation goes down the drain. Ocean Drive is like our citys postcard. Under this bill, these buildings would be considered automatically nonconforming and subject to demolition. Someone could file a paper, process it at the city, and here come the bulldozers. Its very scary. Creation of the citys 14 historic districts, starting in the 1980s with the designation of the original Art Deco district centered on Ocean Drive, is widely seen as the multibillion-dollar tourism and economic-development engine behind the resurgence of Miami Beach and, eventually, its neighbor across Biscayne Bay. Before the districts, city leaders and property owners wanted to tear down the Art Deco hotels and apartment buildings to clear the way for hotel and condo towers. The city of Miami has also established historic districts, such as the Miami Modern, or MiMo, district along Biscayne Boulevard, and individual landmarks that helped spur extensive renovations and development. To be protected as landmarks, buildings, sites and neighborhoods must meet strict criteria established under federal law for architectural or historic significance. The FEMA flood zones stretch well inland along bodies of water, including into the city of Miami along the Miami River and drainage canals into Coral Gables, as well as Fort Lauderdale and most coastal cities in the state, opening up historic properties in broad swaths of those jurisdictions to demolition as well. Be careful, Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago warned legislators in a legislative hearing this month. We have reaped the benefits of historic preservation. What you will see if this bill passes, what we fear were going to see, is incredible amounts of speculative buying with the intent to demolish these historic gems. Imposing stronger flood standards Roach said his intention is to make it easier for property owners in his district to rebuild after Hurricane Ian. The problem weve run into is there are some local jurisdictions that have made it near impossible to rebuild these commercial structures in a way that makes sure they can rebuild it in the future and that they can withstand future storms, he said. Roach said the requirement that replacement structures meet underlying zoning sufficiently protects local jurisdictions, while arguing that some municipalities use historic designation to require reconstruction of buildings that dont meet FEMA flood standards. He did not provide examples. A view of the iconic Delano hotel, which sits vacant, on Collins Avenue in South Beach. Bills advancing in the Florida legislature would override local protections in coastal cities for historic buildings like the Delano and allow their demolition and redevelopment. FEMA provides exemptions and standards to encourage renovation and strengthening of historic structures. That has been a common practice in historic preservation in places such as Miami Beach, where developers can build modern additions to historic hotels and other buildings while beefing up their capacity to withstand flooding. The city is also spending hundreds of millions of dollars to build seawalls and beach-dune systems to blunt storm surge and inundation. Rep. Stevenson, who also serves as chair of the House Water Quality, Supply and Treatment Subcommittee, said she fears the bill could stimulate coastal construction of high-rises that do not have adequate water treatment and sewage facilities, do not provide sufficient water pressure for residents, and do not have safe evacuation opportunities in a hurricane. If this becomes law, we have no way of going backwards once we give property rights, the lawmaker said. Theres a tremendous financial penalty for going backwards. So we should be very careful about going forward. While the House version of the bill has narrowed the scope to retain some local control, Avilas Senate bill has moved with bipartisan support with none of those changes. Avila has rejected amendments proposed by Miami Beach officials, preservationists and state Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Democrat whose district includes a portion of that city, to exempt properties designated historic by local authorities and those included in districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The vast majority of properties on the register, run by the National Park Service, are included in such districts, but the bills would exempt only those individually listed a label reserved for only the most significant ones. Miami Beach has only seven properties individually listed, Those include the Fontainebleau Hotel, but none on its most famous strip, Ocean Drive. As a consequence, said Miami Beach land-use attorney Kent Harrison Robbins, all the iconic hotels on Ocean Drive could be demolished. Im not saying they will be. But they could be, he said. Pushing despite opposition Avila did not respond to requests from the Miami Herald for an interview. Municipal officials and preservationists complain he has not responded to pleas to meet or discuss his bill. At a committee hearing last week, Avila appeared to sometimes misrepresent the impact of his bill, insisting erroneously that only structures deemed unsafe by a local building official would be subject to demolition. He also seemed to misapprehend the different roles of the National Register listings, which are purely honorary, and local designations, which protect structures from demolition and require review by preservation officials and boards of renovations and additions. He noted what he called a discrepancy between the seven register listings on the Beach and the 2,600 buildings protected under city zoning rules as individual properties or as part of districts, without acknowledging that many of the latter are also included in districts recognized by the National Register. The city has three National Register districts containing hundreds of hotels and apartment and commercial buildings in South Beach, North Beach and along Collins Avenue. It leads one to question whether a lot of these sites have any historic significance, Avila said, adding while guffawing: My house is older than the Fontainebleau. Does that make it historic? Avila also insisted St. Augustine would not be affected because its on a river more than half a mile from the coast. But St. Augustine Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline told preservationists in a public webinar last week that city officials who closely examined flood maps think the city sits in the target zone. Critics have been surprised at how the bills have sailed through committees with little scrutiny and now are ready for floor votes, probably next week as the session draws to a close on May 5. Who is behind them, however, remains something of a mystery. Unusually, no proponents or supporters of the bills have testified to legislative committees save for members of a fringe free market group. The bills have drawn opposition from officials from, among others, Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, St. Augustine, Coral Gables, Pensacola, Palm Beach, the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation and the Florida League of Cities. Some smaller affected towns with significant historic properties appear not to be aware of the legislation or understand its potential consequences. For instance, an administrator in Fernandina Beach, a town that is on Amelia Island north of Jacksonville and has two famous historic areas, erroneously said when contacted by a Herald reporter that those would be exempt from the bills because theyre on the National Register of Historic Places as districts. Developers deny a role In Miami Beach, preservation advocates surmised that well-heeled developers frustrated with the citys strict rules could be pushing behind the scenes for passage of the bills. Some owners of vacant historic buildings such as the iconic Deauville Hotel, which preservationists cite as an example of demolition by neglect have jousted with the city over their preservation and would likely benefit from the legislation. On Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022 Miami Beachs 17-story hotel tower of the historic Deauville Beach Resort implodes approximately at 8:00 am sending dust full of debris into the oceanside luxury buildings. The Deauville was demolished in November following years of court battles after a city building official deemed it a hazard. And a $1 million campaign by billionaire developer and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross failed to win voter approval for a pair of towers taller than existing zoning allows. Its unclear if Ross, who had a deal to buy the property from its current owners, still plans to pursue a project there, but any development would be subject to approval by the citys Historic Preservation Board a requirement that would disappear under these bills. Neisen Kasdin, an attorney for Ross and a former Miami Beach mayor, said Ross has nothing whatsoever to do with this legislation. Public records show one local developer, 13th Floor Investments, which owns a vacant, designated Art Deco building on the Collins Avenue beachfront, gave $10,000 to a political-action committee chaired by Avila one day before he filed the bill, and $10,000 three days later to Roachs PAC. The firm had previously given $5,000 to Avilas PAC in 2021 when Avila was running for the Miami-Dade County Commission. The real estate development and investment firm, led by partners Arnaud Karsenti and Rey Melendi, has a contract to buy an adjacent designated building, also vacant, with plans to redevelop the two structures jointly, the city has said. This year, the developer, also represented by Kasdin, was hit with a violation for failing to maintain one of the properties the shuttered Patrician Hotel on Collins Avenue. A special magistrate ordered the developers to prevent further deterioration and said that if they want to demolish the structure, 13th Floor would need approval from the Historic Preservation Board. The bills would lift that stricture. In a statement released through a spokesman in response to questions from the Miami Herald, 13th Floor, which has also given $5,000 to the Miami Design Preservation League, said the checks to Avila and Roach were unrelated to the bills. Like any Florida businesses, 13th Floor Investments supports various elected officials and candidates each year, according to the statement. These contributions are directed toward individuals and are not intended to advance specific issues or legislative items. Roach, however, conceded that property owners all over the state, including in my county, are going to see an opportunity with this, as well they should. The intent of the [House] bill is to allow people to rebuild property that is insurable and still conforms to local zoning codes, he said. A view of the Ocean Drive historic Art Deco hotels in Miami Beach. Bills advancing in the Florida legislature would override local protections in coastal cities for historic buildings like the Ocean Drive hotels and allow their demolition and redevelopment. To Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, though, the likely consequences for the city and its historic districts are inconceivable. Historic architecture is what makes these places so special. I cant imagine Ocean Drive without those beautiful historic buildings, Gelber said. The idea that we could lose any of them is really unthinkable. In this Nov. 6, 2019, file photo, a restaurant advertises Uber Eats in Miami. A Florida man was charged with the murder and dismemberment of an Uber Eats driver, reports say. | Lynne Sladky, Associated Press A man was arrested and charged with the murder of an Uber Eats delivery driver in Holiday, Florida. CNN reported that the sheriff described the murder as demonic and that the remains of the victim were found inside of the home of the man charged. Related What happened to the Uber Eats driver? The delivery driver, 59 year-old Randall Cooke, went about his night as usual on April 19 and texted his wife prior to his final delivery, saying that he would be home soon, according to CBS News. Cooke was delivering to the home of Oscar Solis, a 30-year-old affiliated with the MS-13 gang, and was captured on video making the delivery. You can actually see the victim walking up to the house to deliver food, but the video cuts off at that point, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said in a press conference. When the drivers wife hadnt heard from him for a while and texted him a few more times, she reported her husband missing to the police. ABC News reported that a police affidavit said the remains of Cooke were found at the house in trash bags and a cooler, which also contained a receipt with Solis name on it. This was a horrific crime of passion, Nocco said. This was demonic. What he did was demonic. Related Why was the Uber Eats driver murdered? The New York Post reported that investigators are still trying to find out the motive for the murder. Youre talking about a violent individual that Indiana released and sent down to Florida, Nocco said. People reported that the sheriffs office released a statement that said, No other individuals were at Soliss home at the time of the murder. The victim and Solis did not know each other. All it appears is that there was a gentleman who was working, he was doing his last delivery of the night, and this person killed him for no reason, and he took him away from his family, Nocco said. Thousands of Florida high school seniors struggling to meet graduation testing requirements got one step closer to a diploma on Wednesday. The Florida House unanimously approved a bill (HB 1537) that includes provisions to delay the higher passing scores that have presented a hurdle to teens who otherwise have met all other standards in place to complete school. Bill co-sponsor Rep. Kimberly Daniels, D-Jacksonville, noted that Republicans and Democrats alike received calls from concerned superintendents, teachers and students. Now they can go home and confidently announce that this is no longer a concern, Daniels said during her closing remarks on the bill. The legislation, which also includes several other education-related measures, would allow students who have not been able to pass the states Algebra 1 or 10th grade language arts exams to substitute scores from the SAT or ACT that are lower than what had been put in place starting this year. District leaders across Florida argued that the new stricter standards, initially established in 2018 but postponed until this year, were unfair to the Class of 2023. The current seniors faced an unusual set of circumstances because of the coronavirus pandemic, including a shuttered final quarter of freshman year and a quarantine-marked sophomore year where many of the testing opportunities were limited. Placing these new expectations on these seniors is untimely and, perhaps, unjust, Pinellas County Superintendent Kevin Hendrick told lawmakers in a recent letter requesting the delay. The bill would set the alternative test scores this year for Algebra 1 at 420 or higher on the SAT math test, or 16 or higher on the ACT math. For language arts, the scores would be 430 or higher on the SAT evidence-based reading and writing test, or 19 or higher on the ACT reading section. Next year, the scores would return to the levels that were supposed to take place this spring. HB 1537 still must go to the Senate, which does not have a companion bill. Co-sponsor Rep. Alex Rizo, R-Hialeah, said he collaborated with the Senate and Governors Office in putting together all aspects of the bill, and anticipated their support. Republicans in the Florida House passed a bill Wednesday aimed at reducing membership in public-sector unions and weakening organized labors political clout, delivering the controversial legislation to Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for his signature. Progressive lawmakers and labor groups have blasted the legislation as a political power grab meant to kneecap teachers unions and other labor groups that tend to support the Democratic Party. The bill would make it harder for unions representing government employees to collect dues and make it easier for the state to decertify them and nullify their contracts. In a clear indicator of the bills political intentions, Republicans added a carveout so that the anti-labor measures would not apply to unions representing cops, firefighters or corrections officers unions that are more likely to support GOP candidates and policies. Republicans hold solid majorities in both the state House and Senate. A version of the same anti-union legislation passed the Florida Senate last month, despite several Republican state senators joining their Democratic colleagues to vote against it. DeSantis has publicly supported the legislation as it relates to teachers unions, but has not said whether he believes it should apply to other public-sector unions or exclude the unions representing cops, firefighters and corrections officers. A spokesperson for the governor previously told HuffPost he would not weigh in until he received a final version approved by both chambers. The governor will decide on the merits of the bill in final form if and when it passes and is delivered to the governors office, the spokesperson said. The legislation, known as S.B. 256, forbids public-sector unions from deducting dues directly from workers paychecks, which is how most unions receive their funding. The ban would force them to set up new dues-payment mechanisms, like ACH transfers from workers bank accounts, adding a new administrative hurdle. Story continues Another provision would require that at least 60% of a bargaining unit be dues-paying members, or else the union would have to reapply for certification with the state. That way, if the union lost members due to the paycheck measure, it could possibly nullify the unions collective bargaining agreement with the employer. The goal of the bill is to eliminate collective bargaining for public-sector workers who the governor doesnt like, Rich Templin of the Florida AFL-CIO said of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who hasn't yet said whether he will sign the final bill. The goal of the bill is to eliminate collective bargaining for public-sector workers who the governor doesnt like, Rich Templin of the Florida AFL-CIO said of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who hasn't yet said whether he will sign the final bill. The legislation would also force local unions to conduct an annual audit. Several lawmakers, including at least one Republican, argued that the audit would be too cumbersome and expensive for small unions that dont represent many workers. Labor officials said the legislation was meant to grease DeSantis run for president and weaken a line of defense teachers unions against the governors right-wing anti-woke education agenda. The goal of the bill is to eliminate collective bargaining for public-sector workers who the governor doesnt like, Rich Templin, director of politics and public policy at the Florida AFL-CIO labor federation, told HuffPost ahead of the House vote. This is another in a very long line of policies being advanced solely for the governors run for the White House. Proponents of the legislation have cast it as paycheck protection for workers against greedy unions. However, that stance has made it harder to explain why cops and firefighters, whom the backers described as heroes, should be undeserving of the same protections that teachers and sanitation workers would receive. Republican state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, the bills sponsor in the Senate, tried to explain the logic during questioning from a Senate colleague during a committee hearing. Ingoglia said cops and firefighters put their lives on the line every day. [I]f youre getting rid of payroll deduction, then youre forcing a face-to-face conversation with the employees and their union representatives, Ingoglia said. I would have a hard time telling law enforcement who worked an overnight from 12 to 8 that she or he would have to not get any sleep and meet their union representative at 11 a.m. to give them their check. This is not the first time Republican lawmakers have tried to undermine public-sector unions while protecting the unions they tend to like. When Wisconsin Republicans enacted the infamous anti-union package known as Act 10 under then-Gov. Scott Walker in 2011, they largely shielded the unions representing police and firefighters. A Republican Florida state senator filed an amendment Tuesday that could eliminate one logistical hurdle for the state's governor, Ron DeSantis, should he decide to run for president in 2024. Florida State Senator Travis Hutson filed an amendment to an elections bill in the state Senate to change the language of the "resign to run" law so that the resignation requirement would not apply to "Persons seeking the office of President or Vice President of the United States." Currently, under Florida law, a public official may not run for another office with a term of service that overlaps the official's current position without sending a resignation letter. In DeSantis' case, that letter would have to be sent 10 days before Florida's presidential qualification deadline in the beginning of December. His resignation would be irrevocable and take effect the day the president-elect is inaugurated in 2025, even if DeSantis were to lose in the primary or general election. "The amendments made to s. 99.012, Florida Statutes, by this act are intended to clarify existing law," Hutson's amendment states. The state repealed the "resign-to-run" law in 2007, when then-Republican Governor Charlie Crist was on the short list to be 2008 GOP nominee John McCain's running mate. Former Republican Governor and Senator Rick Scott signed a law in 2018 that reactivated this requirement. If the amendment passes, it would take effect July 1. Discussion and debate of the amendment and overall election law bill will take place Wednesday, with a potential vote the same day or Thursday. Florida state Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, a Republican, said in late March that she was still researching whether changes to the resign-to-run law were needed. DeSantis, who is traveling in Asia for an international business trade mission, has said he wouldn't decide on a 2024 presidential run until after the legislative session ends in early May. As part of a tour to promote his new book and what he dubs as the "Florida Blueprint," DeSantis has visited all four early presidential primary states this year: Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Story continues "I got reelected in November. We had a big landslide win," DeSantis told the Nikkei Asia media outlet while in Tokyo on Tuesday. "No announcements prior to the end of the legislative session. So, just stay tuned." From 1988: Harry Belafonte, "a voice with a conscience" From 2011: Harry Belafonte's life of singing, acting and activism Alisa Mathewsons 55 hours of terror DUBAI (Reuters) - Airline flydubai on Wednesday said initial assessments of a technical problem on a flight at take-off from Kathmandu on Monday suggested a bird strike, but the company would further inspect the engine. Nepal's civil aviation authority on Tuesday disputed whether the flydubai plane had been hit by a bird strike in Nepali airspace, calling the United Arab Emirates carrier's account of the incident "misleading". The airline had said a flight carrying 167 passengers from the Nepali capital Kathmandu to Dubai experienced a bird strike during take-off late on Monday. "Flight FZ 576 ... landed normally in Dubai International (DXB) after experiencing a technical issue upon take off from Kathmandu, the initial assessment suggested a bird strike" a flydubai spokesperson said on Wednesday. "After following standard operating procedure, the flight crew determined that the engine was within normal operating parameters and continued the onward journey to Dubai. Further inspection of the engine is being carried out," they added. A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said one of the plane's engines had caught fire shortly after take-off from Kathmandu, and that CAAN had set up a technical committee to investigate. The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority did not respond to a request for comment on the incident. Flight 576 on the Boeing 737-800 plane landed normally in Dubai Monday night. Flights by flydubai to Kathmandu Airport (KTM) are operating to schedule, the company said. Mountainous Nepal has a history of deadly air crashes. It suffered its worst one in 30 years in January this year, which killed all 72 people aboard an ATR 72 aircraft operated by Yeti Airlines. (This story has been corrected to remove suggestion that Flydubai attributed the technical problem to a fire in the headline) (Reporting by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Jon Boyle) This article was originally published in THE CITY. More than 300 graduate student workers at Fordham Universitys Arts and Sciences school began a three-day walkout this Monday, resulting in hundreds of canceled classes amid growing frustration with the state of their union contract negotiations with the university. On Tuesday morning, about two dozen picketers marched in front of Fordham Universitys Rose Hill Campus in The Bronx, while others demonstrated at Lincoln Center Campus in Manhattan. Drivers sped along East Fordham Road toward Webster Avenue and honked their horns in support as the strikers bellowed, Whos got the power? We got the power! What kind of power? Union power. The Fordham Graduate Student Workers union, which formed last May and is made up of 360 graduate teaching assistants, is calling for significant pay increases, more administrative support for international students, adoption of a just cause standard for disciplinary actions, university-provided computers, a ban on non-disclosure agreements, and $4,000 in annual child care subsidies for workers with children under the age of 5. Communication Workers of America Local 1104 is the parent union. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter We dont make a living wage, actually, we make less than half the living wage when adjusted for the New York City cost of living, Molly McCargar, a sixth-year doctoral student in biological sciences, told THE CITY at the Bronx rally on Tuesday. Weve been at the bargaining table for eight months now, without a single movement away from the status quo. Amal Zaman, a graduate student worker on the bargaining committee, said that the walkout will end on Wednesday, but is a sign that a strike remains on the table ahead of the fall semester. If by the end of the summer, there is no contract and we feel they have not ended their practices of bad faith and surface bargaining, we have no choice but to extend the labor stoppage, Zaman said. Story continues About three-quarters of the workers in the bargaining unit collect an annual stipend, currently about $28,000, which they seek to raise to $60,000, according to union leaders. A smaller number of grad students get paid hourly and are looking to earn at least $28 an hour. Masters students on an hourly wage now make $18.96 an hour, while doctoral students earn $21.38 an hour, according to Fordham University. New York Citys minimum wage has been $15 per hour since 2019. They Changed Their Tune Fordham spokesperson Bob Howe told THE CITY in an email on Tuesday that as many as 239 classes were canceled as a result of the walkout, and noted that not all graduate students participated in it. The Union has yet to present the University with its full economic demands, which is necessary for Fordham to understand their economic package in a comprehensive manner, Howe said. What the Union has proposed thus far represents a 100%-125% increase in stipends compensation ($60,000 to $69,000) for part-time work that would be the equivalent of more than $100 per hour and greatly exceeds what other institutions pay. Fordham graduate worker Molly McCargar handed out flyers during a strike outside the universitys main entrance, April 25, 2023. (Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY) But Zaman said that Howes summary was full of distortions. For example, she said, they keep calling us part-time workers but theyre the ones who make us sign an attestation form that says we wont take outside employment and will only work for Fordham for 19 hours. And our actual work takes much more than 19 hours. The Fordham Graduate Student Workers union is also calling for guaranteed housing for international students which the university says would be prohibitively expensive and for a dedicated staffer within Fordhams Office for International Services to support their needs. Fifth-year doctoral English student Anwita Ghosh, 31, said those who choose to opt in to the universitys housing system must pay four or five months in advance from their $28,000 stipend. Because of this, she said, many international students like herself elect to take their chances in the citys housing market. I took a gamble. I basically signed my lease from India without having seen the place in person, Ghosh told THE CITY at the Rose Hill Campus rally on Tuesday. We dont have a guarantor. We dont have the credit scores. We get $28K, which is not 40 times the rent. If we cant afford the guarantor, we should have the 40 times. Ghosh is the coordinator for the writing center at Rose Hill Campus. Because of the walkout, there were only three tutors available to aid students there on Tuesday instead of the usual 12, she said. The graduate students walkout came months after Fordham finished contentious negotiations with Fordham Faculty United, a union of more than 600 adjunct and non-tenure track instructors, reaching a deal ahead of the spring semester after the union threatened a strike. However, their contract forbids them from solidarity strikes on behalf of other unions. The graduate students union and Fordham had their latest bargaining session on Monday. According to Zaman, the universitys representatives said they were open to concessions for international students, but that the meeting was no different from previous ones. Verbally, they changed their tune, she said, but I cant say if they changed anything until they change it in writing. THE CITY is an independent, nonprofit news outlet dedicated to hard-hitting reporting that serves the people of New York. Lisa Sanchez, a former Boise City Council member, is asking Idahos 4th Judicial District Court to intercede on her behalf and prevent the council from doing business without her. A decision is expected in the coming days. A motion seeking a preliminary injunction, filed on April 17 by Sanchezs lawyer, Wendy Olson, argues that Sanchez has suffered irreparable injury as a result of losing her seat and that the appointment of Latonia Haney Keith to fill the District 3 vacancy was illegitimate. Sanchez filed a lawsuit against Boise after Mayor Lauren McLean announced earlier this month that Haney Keith would be appointed to fill the seat until after the November elections. Sanchez was elected by District 3 voters in 2021. However, when she moved to a new apartment in January, she inadvertently moved out of her district. When Boise lawyers learned that she no longer lived in her district, they concluded she had vacated the seat and could no longer serve on the council. Since then, Sanchez has moved back into District 3 and demanded that the mayor reappoint her. Sanchez applied and was a finalist to be reappointed to the seat when McLean solicited applications earlier this year, but the mayor chose and the council confirmed Haney Keith. Sanchezs demand culminated in the lawsuit filed this month. The motion asks the court to prevent the City of Boise from conducting business without Plaintiff Sanchez and ordering the City of Boise to reinstate Plaintiff Sanchez to the city council position from which she was unlawfully removed. At a Wednesday hearing, Olson clarified that the relief her client is asking for would be to preclude the City Council from acting, but not the entire municipal government. City council members are not fungible, Olson said. In response, lawyers for Boise argued in filings that it was Sanchezs own actions that caused her to lose her seat, and said granting her request would stop the government from doing its work. A lawyer representing the city, Daniel Williams, also argued that requiring Boise to reappoint Sanchez could, if she eventually loses her case, call into question council decisions made by a person with no legal right to sit on City Council. Story continues Williams also disputed how Sanchez lost her seat. Olson has repeatedly said that the council had no legal basis to remove Sanchez. By contrast, Williams argued that no one removed her rather, she vacated her seat when she moved out of the district, even though she did not intend to. This wasnt a mystery, this wasnt that difficult, Williams said at the Wednesday hearing. Were here because of plaintiffs own doing. Williams included in his court filing a 1986 letter written by Idaho Deputy Attorney General Robie Russell to the mayor of Spirit Lake explaining that the AGs office believed a city council member had vacated his seat by moving out of the town. Williams also noted that Sanchez did not file her lawsuit or motion for a preliminary injunction immediately, but rather waited until this month after she wasnt appointed. Another city filing included the minutes from a council meeting in 2021 that approved the map of geographic districts, as well as minutes from a meeting last year that created the new council districts. Sanchez voted to approve both maps. A 2020 Idaho law required Boise to switch from at-large districts to geographic districts. In 2021, Boise hired a consultant to draw a map with districts. In 2022, the city created a citizens commission to redraw the boundaries once more, which resulted in a new map for this years elections. That map replaced the district that covers the North End and Northwest Boise District 3 with a new District 6, which has somewhat different boundaries at its southern edge. The address Sanchez moved to in January was within the future District 6 but outside of the current District 3. Days after learning of her mistake, Sanchez moved to an address inside District 3. Williams filing notes that when Sanchez was informed that her initial move placed her outside of her district, she told other council members, No, youre right, I messed up. In a filing, Sanchez said that her City Council salary was her only income, and that she has also lost her medical insurance and state retirement benefits. A spokesperson for McLean declined to comment. Sanchez referred the Statesman to her court filings. District Judge Derrick ONeill, who presided over Wednesdays hearing, said he expects to make a decision on the request for an injunction in the coming days. At the start of the hearing, ONeill noted that before becoming a judge he was a partner at Williams law firm, Jones Williams Fuhrman Gourley. He said he no longer has any connection to the firm. A former California Highway Patrol officer from Redding pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court to a charge of possessing child pornography while he still worked for the state law enforcement agency. Timothy Allen Horwath, 53, knowingly received visual depictions of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct from Feb. 25, 2019, through Oct. 10, 2019, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Sacramento announced in a news release. He was arrested in December 2019 after he was indicted in federal court. Horwath, who has since retired, was working as a CHP officer at the time of his offense, federal prosecutors said. On Tuesday, Horwath remained in custody at the Sacramento County Jail. Prosecutors said Horwaths pretrial release was revoked Feb. 24 after he violated his bond conditions by using the Internet, smart phones and tablet computers that he was prohibited from possessing. Hes scheduled to return to court Aug. 22 for his sentencing hearing. Prosecutors said Horwath faces a sentence of five to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution to the victims of the offense. Horwath has agreed to deposit $75,000 into the courts financial registry to be used to pay any court-ordered restitution to victims, assessments and other financial penalties, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Nusret Gokce, better known as Salt Bae, has been popular on social media since first becoming viral in 2017. Laurent Koffel/Getty Images Nusret Gokce, known as Salt Bae, is prone to favoritism and excess, an Insider investigation found. Some women who worked at Gokce's restaurant said they were told to wear revealing outfits. Other employees alleged they faced discrimination based on their nationality. Nusret Gokce, known as Salt Bae, is famous for his showmanship. The Turkish meat maestro went viral for a 2017 video showing him sprinkling salt on a slab of steak with arched, sensual flair. He rode the wave of his fame and expanded his restaurant empire, which now includes 22 luxury steakhouses named Nusr-Et. But a new Insider investigation found a darker side to Gokce and his restaurants. Seven lawsuits in two cities and interviews with nine former staff members from six of Gokce's restaurants depict him as a tyrant obsessed with wealth and excess, Insider's Sophia Ankel reported. In addition to allegations of wage theft and labor violations, former staffers described a testosterone-laced work culture rife with misogyny and discrimination. "You feel like you were treated a lot less, not really respected," a former female reservations agent at Nusr-Et Miami told Insider. Allegations of discrimination based on nationality Former employees alleged that they faced discrimination because they were not Turkish, and that Turkish employees at Gokce's restaurants were treated more favorably, Insider's investigation found. In a complaint filed in November 2021, Angelo Maher, a server at Nusr-Et New York, claimed he was fired in 2020 after he spoke out against what he called "nationality-based employment discrimination." Despite his "previous strong performance," he wasn't rehired after COVID-19 restrictions eased even though Turkish employees were, according to the court filing. Maher also alleged Turkish employees were not reprimanded for their mistakes as their non-Turkish colleagues were. Another former employee who spoke with Insider echoed the claim. Story continues Maher, who identifies as Latino, said in his lawsuit that he was called "Spanish shit" by a colleague. He added that he suffered "mental and physical anguish" after the workplace became a place of "physical intimidation and discriminatory intimidation directed at non-Turkish employees." The lawsuit is ongoing. Revealing outfits and alleged misogyny Women who worked at Gokce's restaurants said they were told to wear revealing outfits and were harassed by their male colleagues. The reservations agent at Nusr-Et Miami said while she wore a standard uniform, some female colleagues were made to wear dresses that looked like they were "going to the club." Elizabeth Cruz, a former bartender at Nusr-Et New York, alleged she was asked by a general manager to change into a "short skirt, high-heels, and revealing top" on her first day of work, according to a complaint filed in November 2021. After the manager discovered Cruz was Dominican, he allegedly told her, "My wife is Dominican. I know how you women are" which she took as a suggestion of sexual promiscuity. Cruz felt humiliated, but complied with the manager's request. Her male colleagues began to harass her, the complaint said. One colleague told her she should work as a stripper. Another pestered her to go on a date with him, even following her home one evening despite her pleas to stop. In Cruz's complaint, she noted that other female employees who were Turkish like Gokce didn't have to wear revealing clothes like she and some others did. Two weeks into the job, Cruz was fired after asking to wear the standard uniform of pants and a button-down shirt. In her lawsuit, Cruz alleges she was terminated in retaliation for her complaints. (The lawsuit is still ongoing.) In another lawsuit filed in January 2020, Melissa Compere, a former employee at Nusr-Et Miami, said she wasn't promoted because of her gender despite her qualifications. Compere and the restaurant reached a confidential settlement agreement in 2021. Lawyers for Gokce denied her claims in a court filing. Gokce did not respond to interview requests from Insider. Christy Reuter, a lawyer representing Gokce and his businesses, said in a statement to Insider: "The allegations are really nothing more than a re-hash of old lawsuits where the claims were disputed and have long since been settled." Read the original article on Insider A former Harvard Professor was sentenced in federal court Wednesday on charges of lying to federal authorities regarding his ties to the Peoples Republic of China and Wuhan University of Technology, as well as falsifying his tax returns. Dr. Charles Lieber was sentenced to serve two days in federal prison, two years of supervised release and ordered to pay fines and resituations totaling over $80,000, according to the District of Massachusetts U.S. Attorneys office. In December 2021, the former Chair of Harvard Universitys Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department was convicted on two counts of making false statements to federal authorities, two counts of making a false income tax return and two counts of failing to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts with the IRS. Prosecutors say Lieber was a strategic scientist at the WUT and a participant in Chinas Thousand Talents Plan while helping oversee more than $15 million in research sponsored by various U.S. Government agencies from 2012 to 2015. The Thousand Talents Plan was a Chinese talent recruitment strategy to attract, recruit and cultivate high-level scientific talent in furtherance of Chinas scientific development, economic prosperity and national security, says the AGs office. In an April 2018 interview, Lieber told federal agents he had never been asked to participate in the Thousand Talents Plan, according to prosecutors. Lieber also caused Harvard to falsely tell the National Institutes of Health that Lieber was not a participant in the program in January 2019. Prosecutors say Lieber signed a Thousand Talents contract with WUT in 2019. The three-year contract allowed Lieber to be paid upwards of $50,000 per month, living expenses of up to $150,00 and approximately $1.5 million to conduct joint research with WUT. Lieber did not report his earned income from WUT or other payments related to his Thousand Talents contract to the IRS, according to the AGs office. Prosecutors say Lieber also opened a Chinese bank account during a 2012 trip to Wuhan. WUT allegedly deposited percentages of Liebers salary into that account. Between 2014 and 2015, Liebers Chinese bank account was around $200,000 while prosecutors say Lieber purposely failed to file the proper tax forms. Story continues This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A former Webster County sheriff is sitting on home incarceration after he pleaded guilty to first-degree official misconduct. Donald Jones, a 57-year-old Sebree resident, was prosecuted by Attorney General Daniel Camerons office for first-degree official misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor, and witness tampering, a Class D felony. He was indicted in August. Jones pleaded guilty to the misconduct charge last month. His one-year prison sentence was probated by Webster Circuit Judge Brian Wiggins, according to court documents. He was ordered to pay $165 in court costs. Jones also pleaded guilty to tampering with a witness. Krista Buckel with the Attorney Generals office said under the terms of the plea, Jones was placed on pre-trial diversion for three years and may not work in law enforcement. He is currently serving three months in home incarceration, according to Buckel. If the terms of the pre-trial diversion are violated, Jones could serve up to one year in prison. Jones was charged with tampering with a witness after he allegedly made false statements with intent to affect court testimony, according to court documents. Jones indictment also alleges he committed official misconduct in October 2021 when he, as the Webster County sheriff, gave a criminal defendant advice on her charges. According to the Tristate News, Jones became the sheriff on Jan. 1, 2021, and took over for former Sheriff Frankie Springfield, who retired at the end of 2020. Jones had been with the department for 25 years, and was captain before he became sheriff. William Bill Braden took over as the Webster County sheriff this year after he was elected in November 2022. A former receptionist for Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo testified Wednesday that her boss coerced her into claiming she had been sexually harassed by two former high-ranking aides in the office, who were on the outs with the commissioner. Tanjha Quintana, who has since moved to Texas, told jurors in Miami federal court that she was summoned to the commissioners home in early 2019 by his wife, then told to tell a city hearing board that two former lieutenants Steve Miro and Richie Blom had made unwanted advances. Both aides had raised questions about the commissioners campaign against two Little Havana business owners who had backed a political foe. City of Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo, pictured above with his wife, avoided court again Wednesday, when a former receptionist testified the commissioner forced her to lie and claim that two former top Carollo aides on the outs with the commissioner, had sexually harassed her. He told me everything he wanted me to say. That he [Miro] was sexually harassing me. That he was very inquisitive about my personal life, Quintana said under questioning from attorney Courtney Caprio, who is representing two men suing Carollo in a civil suit over allegations he misused his authority to target their businesses. I was terrified., she testified. I was 20. It was my first real job. Hes [Carollo] related to my family. First, I didnt want to lose my job. And I didnt want to create any family problems. Little Havana property owners William Fuller and Martin Pinilla claim that after they threw their support behind one of Carollos political opponents in 2017, the commissioner pressured police and code enforcers to harass several businesses they operated, including the popular nightclub Ball & Chain. Theyre seeking $2.5 million and punitive damages. Her testimony came during a short but eventful day in trial that has already packed plenty of drama into its first three weeks. Judge Rodney Smith also denied the second request for a mistrial from Carollos defense team. This time surrounding the testimony of Quintana only the latest witness to describe the long-time commissioner engaging in a pattern of arm-twisting with city staffers to single out the Little Havana businesses. Story continues In earlier testimony, Miro, who had worked as a community liaison, testified he was fired by Carollo after taking issue with the commissioners focus on Fullers businesses. Quintana said she lied about Miros advances after being sworn in before the citys Civil Service Board, which was hearing the former aides wrongful termination case. Quintana said Carollo also forced her to lie about similar behavior by Blom, then the commissioners chief of staff. Blom resigned, he said, after refusing to carry out orders from Carollo to find problems with Fullers properties After his firing, Miro sued the city of Miami for wrongful termination. A settlement was reached out of court. He told the court earlier in the trial the settlement was in the six figures. In a deposition taken leading to Miros lawsuit against the city, Quintana had recanted the statements she made to the Civil Service Board about both men Its probably one of the things I regret the most, Quintana told jurors Wednesday. I was forced to lie and say things that werent true. I felt terrible. To this day, I cant believe I did that. Carollo attorney Marc Sarnoff questioned Quintanas credibility, reminding her she swore an oath before taking the job and that in her departure letter she thanked Carollo for the opportunity to work in his office and said it had been a pleasure. Is that truthful, the attorney asked Quintana. No, not at all, she replied. The trial, which will resume on Monday, has already had a string of dramatic developments. During its first week in Fort Lauderdale, historic rainfall forced the shutdown of the federal courthouse and the trial moved to Miami. Then after testimony last week, Carollo foe and former Police Chief Art Acevedo reported being followed from the courthouse to a restaurant in Coral Gables. He called police, who determined the two men tailing the chief were private investigators. A week later, its still not clear if they had actually been hired to tail the former chief and if so why. The city has not responded to public records request regarding the private detective. Acevedo, in a statement, raised allegations of witness intimidation. Then on Tuesday, Carollo was a no-show in court, even though he was on a potential witness list. One of his attorneys, Marc Sarnoff, himself a former city commissioner, claimed Carollo suffered some type of asthma attack and a doctor informed the judge that Carollo would need some time off. That came the same day Carollos lawyers asked for a mistrial after a juror told the court a man who Carollos defense team said was a Fuller business partner in the parking garage across the street had said something about the trial as they were going to their vehicles. Smith did grant a request from Carollos attorneys to seal the mistrial motion they had made public the previous day. It wasnt clear if Smith had formally ruled on the first mistrial motion but on Wednesday he said court would resume Monday and that he expected defense attorneys to produce Carollo. Make sure hes here promptly at 9 a.m., he said. The cinematic arts department chair, Corey Thayer, is now under investigation. This comes as one teacher was arrested in March, now three others are under a professional standards review. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The district has been slow to act, former student of the school, Shyla Jenkins said. Roughly a month ago at a DCPS board meeting, former D.A. students brought letters describing their time at the school, one mentioned the cinematic arts chairs name. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] I dont know how many more letters have to come through for the district, specifically the administration that deals with this type of grievances, to do something, Jenkins said. This comes after the arrest of former vocal chair, Jeffrey Clayton in March, whos now facing criminal charges that involved a student. Read: Douglas Anderson teacher accused of lewd conduct involving a student submits retirement, DCPS says A special board meeting is going to be held on Wednesday regarding the situation at the school. Board members are expected to speak on hiring a third-party counsel, provide an update from office of general counsel, as well as the timeline and costs of the investigation. Jenkins is still hoping for transparency. Its transparency about who knew at what levels at what times, and whether those people are currently working in the Duval County school system, or if theyre retired, holding them accountable for their lack of action, she said. Action News Jax did try reaching out to Thayer for comment but didnt hear back. Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Principal sent the following message to parents: Good afternoon families, this is Principal Wilson, and I am calling with another update regarding a personnel matter at our school. As you know, investigations are ongoing, and based on information received, we have made the decision to reassign teacher Corey Thayer pending the outcome of a professional standards review. While we follow the standard of presuming innocence until proven guilty, out of an abundance of caution, we will be moving him to duties off campus and without student contact. Story continues Read: Duval school board members discuss investigations after teacher-involved Douglas Anderson incidents As I have mentioned in previous messages of this type, if you or your student has information that might assist the district in any investigation, I encourage you to share that with Dr. Tameiko Grant. You can email Dr. Grant at grantT1 (again thats grantT1) @duvalschools.org. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Thanks again for your cooperation and support as we continue to work through this situation as a school community. Good-bye. STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories Jon Stewart addresses Tucker Carlson during a 2004 show on CNN's "Crossfire." Alex Felker/YouTube Tucker Carlson worked at CNN before he helmed the top-rated show at Fox News. Jon Stewart once called Carlson a "dick" on the show Carlson hosted on CNN, "Crossfire." The tense 2004 exchange went viral, and the show was canceled months later. Long before Tucker Carlson hosted and then was fired from Fox News' most-watched primetime cable news show, he worked at CNN. The far-right firebrand media personality co-hosted CNN's now-defunct "Crossfire" show beginning in 2001. The political debate-styled program was canceled in early 2005 after a tense on-air exchange where comedian Jon Stewart called Carlson a "dick." "I do think you're more fun on your show, just my opinion," Carlson told Stewart, who at the time was the host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," during an October 2004 "Crossfire" segment that later went viral. Stewart shot back, "You know what's interesting though? You're as big a dick on your show as you are on any show." "Now you're getting into it, I like that," a chuckling Carlson replied. Before Stewart called Carlson a "dick" before a live audience, Stewart told co-hosts Carlson and Paul Begala that he thought "Crossfire" which had liberal and conservative pundits go head to head on political issues was harmful to the country. "I made a special effort to come on the show today because I have privately, among my friends and also in occasional newspapers and television shows, mentioned this show as being bad," Stewart told the co-hosts. "And I wanted to, I felt that that wasn't fair, and I should come here and tell you that I don't, it's not so much that it's bad as it's hurting America," added Stewart, who drew laughter from the audience. Carlson tried to interrupt, but Stewart continued, "Here's just what I wanted to tell you guys. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop hurting America." Story continues Stewart said that the co-hosts were "helping the politicians and the corporations." "You are part of their strategies. You are partisan, um, what do you call it? Hacks," Stewart said. During the show, Carlson accused Stewart of sucking up to then-Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry and being his "butt boy." "You have John Kerry on your show, and you sniff his throne, and you're accusing us of partisan hackery?" Carlson asked Stewart. "Absolutely," Stewart replied. "You've got to be kidding me," said Carlson. Carlson later told Stewart, "I thought you were going to be funny. Come on, be funny." "No, I'm not going to be your monkey," Stewart said, adding, "I watch your show every day, and it kills me oh, it's so painful to watch." Tucker Carlson during a CNN National Town Meeting on coverage of the White House sex scandal, on January 28, 1998. Richard Ellis/Getty Images Months later, in January 2005, CNN canceled "Crossfire" and severed ties with Carlson. "We just determined there was not a role here in the way Tucker wanted his career to go. He wanted to host a primetime show in which he would put on live guests and have spirited debate. That's not the kind of show CNN is going to be doing," CNN's then-president Jonathan Klein told The New York Times at the time. Klein specifically cited Stewart's criticism at "Crossfire" during the interview and explained, "I agree wholeheartedly with Jon Stewart's overall premise," according to the Times. Carlson has previously said that he resigned from "Crossfire" months before Stewart even appeared on the show, Insider has reported. After CNN, Carlson worked at PBS and MSNBC. He joined Fox News in 2009. In a bombshell statement on Monday, Fox News announced that Carlson and the cable news giant had "agreed to part ways." Carlson was reportedly blindsided by Fox News' decision to cut ties with him and was informed of the move just 10 minutes before the network released the brief statement, sources told The Wall Street Journal. Read the original article on Business Insider France's Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne Wednesday pledged to cut unemployment and make industry greener as she sought to turn the page on months of unrest over a contentious pension reform. "I only believe in results. We need to obtain some in all areas, and I hope for them to be concrete, tangible, visible for French people," she told reporters as she announced her government's next steps. Borne has been the unpopular face of President Emmanuel Macron's flagship pension reform to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, which he signed into law earlier this month despite repeated mass protests. She invoked a controversial executive power to push the bill through parliament without a vote last month, and is now under more pressure than ever to find a majority to back any future legislation in its hung lower house. Borne on Wednesday laid out the details of a 100-day target to relaunch Macron's second term in office after his re-election in April 2022. Her government would aim to improve work conditions, reduce unemployment, and make French industry more environmentally friendly among other measures, she said. But a new bill on immigration, expected to be the next hot topic after the pension debate, would not be presented until the autumn for lack of consensus. "There is no majority to vote through such a bill," Borne said. And "it's not the moment to launch a debate on a topic that could divide the country." She said some 150 extra policemen would however be deployed to the Italian border to battle illegal immigration. The pension reform has sparked mass strikes and protests across the country, and eroded Macron's popularity just a year into his second term. After months of keeping a low profile, the president has, since signing the law, embarked on trips around the country to meet members of the public face-to-face. But he has been greeted by pan-bashing protesters on most of these forays into provincial France. bpa-vl-fff/ah/sjw/fb Frontier Airlines saw the highest rate of passenger complaints among U.S. carriers in 2022, a year that became one of the most disruptive for flyers on record. The Denver-based company registered more than 20 complaints for every 100,000 passengers who boarded its aircraft, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics published earlier this month. That compares with a national average of about six passenger complaints per 100,000. A Frontier representative did not respond to a request for comment. The combination of a post-pandemic boom in air travel demand and reduced staffing as a result of pandemic-fueled layoffs and retirements led to a series of delays and cancellations in 2022. The year was capped off by the late December shutdown of Southwest Airlines' flight schedule amid a harsh winter storm and system outages. The number of complaints against all airlines (both American and foreign) jumped between 2021 and 2022 from 49,991 to 77,656 with grievances about U.S. airlines more than doubling on the year, from 20,365 to 47,591. Air travel is just a mess right now, said Teresa Murray, director of Consumer Watchdog at the nonprofit U.S. PIRG Education Fund in an accompanying writeup. Murray is also the author of a report on last year's airline troubles. Our analysis shows the complaints-to-passengers ratio was more than five times higher in 2022 than in 2019," Murray said. "Airlines often post unrealistic schedules, they cancel flights and they drag their feet with refunds. Airlines and online ticket agents just dont face enough consequences when they abuse customers. Seattle-based Horizon Air had the lowest complaint rate, at just 1.09; followed by Utah-based SkyWest Airlines at 1.37 and Phoenix-based Mesa Airlines at 1.74. Among the largest carriers, Delta had the lowest complaint rate at 2.66 while Southwest Airlines had the highest at 6.75. PIRG found consumers filed more complaints against U.S. airlines in 2022 than in any year in at least a quarter century. The 77,656 complaints consumers filed in 2022 was the second-highest number behind 2020 but that year, most of the 102,550 complaints were against foreign airlines, it found. Story continues The 47,591 complaints that consumers filed last year against U.S. airlines topped any year since 1997, PIRG said. The data show fewer than 77% of flights arrived on time last year, compared with more than 81% in 2021. Delta had the best rate, at 82.5%, while the ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Air had the worst, at 63%. The national flight cancellation rate was 2.7%, up from approximately 1.8% in 2021. Hawaiian Airlines had the lowest cancellation rate, at 0.92%, while JetBlue had the highest, at 3.74%. The overall rate of mishandled bags climbed from 0.51% in 2021 to 0.64% in 2022. Allegiant Air had the lowest rate of mishandled bags, at 0.16%; while American Airlines had the highest rate, at 0.94%. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Several companies are shunning London to list in the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as UK pension funds remain risk averse. Photo: Brendan McDermid/Reuters A lack of investment from pension funds is driving companies to pursue listing abroad, the boss of the London Stock Exchange (LSEG.L) told MPs. Cambridge-based chip designer Arm, owned by Japans Softbank (9984.T), announced earlier this month it was seeking to list in the US this year. This is despite an intense lobbying effort from British officials to see the company make its market debut in the UK. London Stock Exchange boss Julia Hoggett said there needed to be more understanding that equities markets inherently involve risk. We need to recognise that stock markets are about risk capital, she told the Treasury select committee. We have to recognise that not every time, companies will succeed. Some will fail, and not every companies will have the returns expected. Read more: Arm chooses New York for key technology listing in 'kick in the teeth' for London Building materials giant CRH (CRH), which is headquartered in Ireland, also said it would move its primary listing to the US, citing increased commercial, operational and acquisition opportunities. Hogget pushed UK pension funds to invest in startups as a way to make IPOs in London more attractive. There are more teachers in Ontario financing startups in this country than teachers in Aberdeen, Cardiff or Dover, she said in reference to the fact that UK pension funds are not investing in UK companies. A single Canadian pension fund invested more in one UK private company in 2021 than all of our pension funds did in private companies in the UK in the same year, she added. Read more: Trending tickers: Microsoft | Alphabet | First Republic | Meta | GSK The Cambridge-based Arm designs the chips that power most of the worlds smartphones. It is expected to be worth as much as $70bn (58bn) according to bankers pitching the company on the US float. Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, said the snub was a kick in the teeth for London. Read more: UK watchdog blocks Microsofts $75bn acquisition of Activision Blizzard Story continues Peter Harrison, head of the fund manager Schroders (SDR.L) and one of the Citys most senior executives warned at the time that the UKs failure to back risk takers means London is unable to compete with New York. Last year alone, there were 130 deals stateside in new Initial Public Offerings, which raised about $9bn, according to figures from EY. Around 70% of these IPOs were on US exchanges. GSK (GSK.L) chair Jonathan Symonds told MPs that lack of funding from British investors for early-stage companies is a key reason why UK companies tend to list abroad. When a company comes to that critical decision in its life of do we list and where do we list the vast majority of companies in UK life sciences have been almost entirely funded by US capital, he said. Therefore the vast majority of its board is from outside the UK. So when it comes to the question of where do we list, the UK isnt getting a fair opportunity. If the capital is all imported, I dont think we can complain if the company is exported, added said. The raft of British companies choosing to list abroad is a major blow to Rishi Sunaks ambitions to make the City the first choice for tech company flotations. Watch: Arm snubs London by choosing US listing Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. Prakazrel "Pras" Michel told jurors he believed the payments were "free money" from a Malaysian tycoon Ex-Fugees musician Prakazrel "Pras" Michel has been found guilty of 10 counts, including corruption, stemming from allegations he used money to peddle influence in the US. US prosecutors said Michel had received more than $100m (80m) from Malaysian billionaire Jho Low that was used in two efforts to influence US politics. The self-identifying "celebrity surrogate" was also convicted of lobbying on behalf of China's government. The rapper now faces years in prison. Michel, 50, was convicted in a Washington DC court of campaign finance violations, acting as an unregistered foreign agent, witness tampering and lying to banks. His lawyer, David Kenner, said that he was disappointed with the outcome of the trial and planned to file an appeal. "This is not over," Mr Kenner said. "I remain very, very confident that we will ultimately prevail in this matter." Mr Kenner said he had also filed motions for a mistrial. The trial, which began on 30 March, saw testimony from Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as former US Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The Grammy-winning musician was accused of bringing "secret, illegal, foreign influence to bear" during the administrations of Barack Obama and Donald Trump, between 2012 and 2017. Businessman Mr Low, who funnelled money to Michel, is accused of stealing about $4bn from Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund during the infamous 1MDB scandal. Mr Low, who is currently wanted by the US government, allegedly helped finance DiCaprio's 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street with money stolen from the sovereign fund. Michel was alleged to have helped lobby Trump-administration officials to abandon their investigation into Mr Low's part in it. Additionally, Michel was also accused of taking money from China to lobby US officials to extradite a US-based dissident, Guo Wengui, back to China. Story continues The government's lead prosecutor, Nicole Lockhart, told jurors that Michel had been "looking for other ways to be paid" after his music career stalled. She also said he had seen an "opportunity to make money" through Mr Low, who "needed a different type of help" to avoid the consequences of the 1MDB scheme. While Michel acknowledged taking money from Mr Low - including $20m to help him get a photo with Mr Obama - he said he had viewed the payments as "free money". Taking the stand in his own defence, Michel said he also felt "betrayed" by his advisers and employees who he claimed had offered him bad advice on how to handle money and avoid breaking the law. He acknowledged, however, that it had been "stupid" to reach out to "friends" who were "getting visits" from the FBI about campaign contributions - an idea that led to his witness tampering charges. A wanted fugitive was arrested on Tuesday after he struck a man with his car and crashed into a home in Gulfport while fleeing authorities, police say. Jamaal Jerry Addison, 31, wanted by the Mississippi Department of Corrections for armed robbery, was charged with one county of leaving the scene of an accident causing serious bodily injury after striking a person with his car on Highway 49. Gulfport police officers responded to a car accident in the area of 25th Avenue and 20th Street around 10:10 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a person lying in the road. Multiple people who witnessed the incident described the vehicle that hit the victim to authorities, police said in a press release. Investigators determined Addison was traveling in the southbound lane of Highway 49 when he struck the victim, who was on foot, with his vehicle and fled the scene, police said. Addison later crashed into a home on 38th Avenue as he was fleeing and was arrested by officers without incident. The person that was struck by Addison was transported to a local area hospital to be treated for multiple injuries. The victims condition is not known. Addison is being held at Harrison County jail on a $100,000 bond. Gulfport Police urge anyone with information on this incident to contact the Gulfport Police Department at 228-868-5959 or Mississippi Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898. Kentucky communities afflicted by tornadoes and flooding in 2021 are set to receive $123 million in federal funding, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Wednesday. Four counties will see 80% of that money, Beshear said at a Frankfort press conference. In Western Kentucky those counties are Graves, Warren and Hopkins all hit hard by deadly tornadoes in December 2021. Breathitt County in Eastern Kentucky which was impacted by flooding in February 2021 and then again in last summers deadly flooding will also receive funding. Beshear said to expect another announcement in the coming weeks related to 2022 flooding in Eastern Kentucky. About 600 homes are estimated to be built with this round of funding, which is coming from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, Beshear said. He also thanked Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell for his work in securing the funding. Those are 600 families that just this most recent funding will help ensure that they will have a roof over their head, Beshear said. Kathy Stewart ONan, the mayor of Mayfield in Graves County, said shes thankful for the funding and has already watched new houses and rebuilding businesses start to pop up in town from prior work. Were going to be resilient and rebuild and get people out of the floodplain, said Laura Thomas, the mayor of Jackson in Breathitt County. The remaining 20% of the funds will be split between 36 other counties also affected by the extreme weather. Applications for the funding will open May 1 for local governments, nonprofits and for-profits who wish to use the money for building back housing, Beshear said. On June 1, applications for infrastructure-related projects will open. At the moment, no deadline is set for the applications. Wednesdays announcement comes about a month after federal officials announced that $298 million in funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for communities affected by the 2022 summer flooding. A major German tech conglomerate has announced plans to acquire TSI Semiconductors in Roseville, transforming the locally owned circuit manufacturer within the next few years into a facility that will make state-of-the-art chips used in electric vehicles. Robert Bosch GmbH, a multinational company headquartered in Gerlingen, Germany, in a Wednesday news release said it would transform the TSI Semiconductors site at 7501 Foothills Blvd. into the third pillar of its semiconductor manufacturing operation, joining its two existing facilities in Reutlingen and Dresden. The planned acquisition marks a potentially immense economic boost for Roseville, a suburban city of about 150,000 people 20 miles northeast of Sacramento that is already one of Californias fastest-growing: Bosch said it intends to invest $1.5 billion into its new California property. It will also represent one of the first major projects in California since the passage of federal legislation last year that dedicated hundreds of billions of dollars to semiconductor manufacturing growth on U.S. soil. This $1.5 billion investment will bring down costs, strengthen our electric vehicle supply chain, help rebuild American manufacturing and create economic opportunity for the working families of California, Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement to McClatchy News. And it will put more electric vehicles on the road, a priority I have worked for since I served in the United States Senate. Stefan Hartung, chairman of Boschs board of management, said in a statement that existing cleanroom facilities and expert personnel in Roseville will form a foundation for the company to scale up development and production of silicon carbide (SiC) chips, which are key components in modern electric vehicles. After retooling the existing location, Bosch anticipates it will begin producing SiC chips in Roseville by 2026. This historic investment is extremely impactful as the automotive industry works on electrifying mobility, Barry Broome, CEO and President of the Greater Economic Council, said in a statement. As a region, we want to focus on expanding this industry to help build the supply chain as we continue to support future mobility. Story continues TSI Semiconductors has a manufacturing foundry with 150,000 square feet of cleanroom space along with its headquarters, both located in a campus on Foothills Boulevard near Rosevilles Pleasant Grove neighborhood, according to its website. Founded in 1984, the company currently produces application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) used in various industries. After retooling, the Roseville site will use about 10,000 square meters (108,000 square feet) of cleanroom space for SiC chip production, according to Bosch. The TSI Semiconductors campus at 7501 Foothills Blvd. in Roseville, California is seen in an undated aerial photo. German multinational tech conglomerate Bosch announced plans Wednesday to buy TSI Semiconductors and invest $1.5 billion to transform the site into a manufacturing site for silicon carbide chips, which are used in electric vehicles. Bosch and TSI Semiconductors have agreed not to disclose financial details of the planned transaction. Bosch in Wednesdays news release said TSI Semiconductors employs about 250 people. In a statement, CEO Oded Tal said TSI Semiconductors is pleased to join a globally operating technology company with extensive semiconductor expertise. Projects full scale depends on federal funding, Bosch says To what extent Boschs $1.5 billion investment into its new U.S. foothold might translate into new jobs is not yet clear. The full scope of the planned investment will be heavily dependent on federal funding opportunities available via the CHIPS and Science Act as well as economic development opportunities within the State of California, Bosch said in Wednesdays announcement. The CHIPS and Science Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden last August, allowed for $280 billion toward domestic manufacturing of semiconductors, including funding for subsidies, research and workforce training efforts and tax credits. The first version of the legislation introduced in the House of Representatives in 2021 passed 215-207, with only one Republican vote in its favor. Unfortunately, House Republicans are working to undo our progress, Harris statement continued. They want to defund American manufacturing and ship jobs overseas. President Biden and I will never let that happen. What are silicon carbide (SiC) chips? SiC chips are key components in electric vehicles, as they are more energy efficient than silicon chips that have been the industry standard for decades. In electric vehicles, SiC chips enable greater range and more efficient recharging, as they use up to 50 percent less energy, Bosch wrote in Wednesdays announcement. Boschs two manufacturing sites in Germany have been producing SiC chips since 2021. Demand for chips for the automotive industry remains high, the company wrote in Wednesdays news release. By 2025, Bosch expects to have an average of 25 of its chips integrated in every new vehicle. When it gets up and running, the Roseville site will be less than one-quarter the size of Boschs Reutlingen facility, which is currently 35,000 square meters (375,000 square feet) with plans to expand to 44,000 square meters (475,000 square feet) by 2025. Though it will start smaller, the location in Roseville will reinforce Boschs international semiconductor manufacturing network, the company wrote. SiC chips are a key component for electrified mobility, Markus Heyn, a Bosch board member and chairman of the companys mobility solutions sector, said in a statement. By extending our semiconductor operations internationally, we are strengthening our local presence in an important electric vehicle market. McClatchyDCs Gillian Brassil contributed to this story. BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany has ended its operation to evacuate people from Sudan, with over 700 people flown out of the country, including around 200 German citizens, the German defence ministry said on Twitter on Wednesday. (Writing by Rachel More, Editing by Friederike Heine) A group of whale watchers trekked 60 miles to get a glimpse of a rare white orca calf off the Southern California coast. The ghost orca returns! Delaney Trowbridge, Newport Coastal Adventures captain, said in an April 24 Facebook post. Frosty, who is estimated to be 3 years old, was spotted swimming with the CA216 pod of orcas, also known as killer whales, on Sunday, April 23, Trowbridge said. Twenty awesome people dropped everything and rushed down to our boats just for the chance at seeing these elusive Southern California visitors, Trowbridge said. For most on board, it was their first time seeing a white killer whale, a once in a lifetime sighting, according to Trowbridge. Its kind of like the holy grail for some people, Ryan Lawler, the whale watching-companys owner, told The Orange County Register. We know our customers are absolutely fanatical about the opportunity to see killer whales and witness such rarities. Frosty was first spotted in September 2019 off Dana Point, The Orange County Register reported. Experts were puzzled by the calfs light skin, the newspaper reported at the time. We dont know what the cause is. Its impossible to know unless a genetic sample is taken, Alisa Schulman-Janiger with the California Killer Whale Project told the newspaper. It could be a gene, it could be a disease. We dont know. Newport Coastal Adventure noted Frostys light skin could be the result of a rare genetic condition, in an April 25 Instagram post. Frosty was also seen in Monterey Bay in May 2020, The Monterey County Herald reported. The remarkable thing I noticed is that his behavior is perfectly normal, Howard Garrett from the Orca Network told the newspaper. He doesnt seem to be regarded as unusual by his family. Orcas are actually the worlds largest dolphin, according to Newport Coastal Adventure. Story continues There are about 50,000 orcas globally, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries said. Watch miracle whale keep up with 10,000-mile migration despite missing its tail One of the rarest whales in the world stuns group when its spotted off California Rare white dolphin spotted off Southern California coast. See the video Jo-Emma Larvin, 44, from Ripon in North Yorkshire, was one of 11 couriers - Central News/Facebook A glamour model is facing jail after she was convicted of being part of a gang which communicated in a Whatsapp group called Sunshine and Lollipops to smuggle more than 100 million in cash to Dubai. Jo-Emma Larvin, 44, from Ripon in North Yorkshire, was one of 11 couriers who took regular business class flights from Heathrow to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), taking suitcases full of cash with them. The money mules were paid 3,000 for each trip and smuggled 104 million to Dubai between November 2019 and October 2020. While in the Middle East they enjoyed luxury holidays, posting pictures on social media. Jo-Emma Larvin and her partner Jonathan Johnson at Iselworth Crown Court - Central News The cash, which was believed to be the profits of drug dealing, was collected from organised crime groups around the UK before being taken to counting houses in rented apartments in Central London. The money was then vacuum packed and sprayed with coffee or air fresheners in a bid to put off Border Force sniffer dogs. The couriers then booked onto business class flights in order to take advantage of the extra luggage allowance and packed around 40 kilograms of cash - worth around 500,000 - into their suitcases. The network made 83 separate journeys over an 11-month period. Larvin was found guilty alongside her partner, Jonathan Johnson, 55, Beatrice Auty, 26, and Amy Harrison, 27, following a trial at Isleworth Crown Court. She told the jury she thought the suitcases had contained money and official documents but believed the trips had been authorised by UAE embassy officials. The trial heard how the network had been overseen by ringleader Abdullah Alfalsi, 47, who was jailed for more than nine years in July last year. Cash is the lifeblood of organised crime groups Ian Truby, a senior investigating officer with the National Crime Agency (NCA), said: These couriers were important cogs in a large money-laundering wheel. The crime group they belonged to was responsible for smuggling eye-watering amounts of criminal cash out of the UK. Story continues This simply wouldnt have been possible without couriers doing their bidding, in return for a sunshine holiday and a slice of the profit. Cash is the lifeblood of organised crime groups, which they re-invest into activities such as drug trafficking. This fuels violence and insecurity around the world, which is why our investigation into other cash couriers continues. Adrian Searle, director of the National Economic Crime Centre in the NCA, added: The laundering of such vast quantities of cash around the globe enables organised criminals and corrupt elites to clean or hide their ill-gotten gains. The money mules were paid 3,000 for each trip - Central News/Facebook Cash smugglers typically work on behalf of international controller networks, who move the finances of the international drug trade, people traffickers, fraudsters and other criminal groups, making the source of the money difficult to trace. The criminality this enables costs the UK billions every year, causes misery and ruins lives across the world. This case demonstrates the continued commitment by the NCA to crack down on money laundering and close the vulnerabilities being exploited. Investigators established that courier Tara Hanlon, who was convicted in June 2021, had briefed another courier about the operation. That courier had travelled from Heathrow to Dubai on three occasions in August and September 2020, checking in 18 suitcases which contained 6.8 million. Auty, who was arrested following NCA raids in May 2021, travelled the same route twice in July and August of that year, checking in seven suitcases containing 3.4 million. Czech national Zdenek Kamaryt, who was convicted of money laundering in March 2021, joined her on the second trip. Auty was involved in accompanying couriers to Heathrow and collecting empty suitcases when they returned so they could be used again. Larvin made two trips to Dubai in August and September 2020; accompanied on one trip by Amy Harrison and on another by Johnson. Larvin and Johnson were arrested at Manchester Airport in March 2022. Harrison made three further trips between July and September 2020, taking 15 suitcases containing around 6 million. Five other couriers pleaded guilty at previous hearings. They will all be sentenced at a later date. Some members of the network remain at large and the NCA said they were continuing to investigate. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has expressed his interest in buying Manchester United, with Friday the deadline for third bids to be submitted (Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Wire) Joel and Avram Glazer could remain stakeholders at Manchester United under a deal being proposed by prospective new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, according to reports. British businessman Ratcliffe, founder and chairman of the INEOS Group, is among those to have expressed an interest in buying the Premier League club. It has been reported that one of the options on the table for the American owners would see Ratcliffe take a controlling stake of more than 50 per cent, with the two Glazers retaining a combined 20 per cent. Such a deal would not be welcomed by large sections of Uniteds support who have campaigned for the Glazers whose leveraged buyout in 2005 plunged the club into huge debt to quit Old Trafford. American bank the Raine Group are facilitating the sale of the club, with Friday being the deadline for third bids to be submitted. The Glazer family are considering either selling the club or bringing in external investment after announcing last November they were seeking strategic alternatives. As well as Ratcliffe, a Qatari consortium led by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani and Finnish businessman Thomas Zilliacus have gone public in their ambition to complete a full takeover. One other group known to be involved is American hedge fund Elliott Investment, which has made an offer for a minority stake, but it is unknown how many parties have entered the process. It has been reported the Glazers value the club at 6billion. Parents of the service members killed during the August 2021 suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the Afghanistan withdrawal are demanding that the Biden administration be held accountable after the Taliban killed the ISIS "mastermind" behind the attack. A senior administration official told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that the ISIS-K terrorist who directed the suicide bombing at the Abbey Gate entrance of HKIA on Aug. 26, 2021 was killed in a "Taliban operation." The suicide bombing took the lives of 13 U.S. service members 11 Marines, one Navy sailor and one Army soldier. Eighteen other U.S. service members were wounded. The bombing also left more than 150 civilians dead. TALIBAN KILLS ISIS TERRORIST WHO DIRECTED ATTACK THAT KILLED 13 US TROOPS DURING AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a State of the Union address at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. Fox News Digital had previously reported that the suicide bomber had been a prisoner released from Bagram Air Base on Aug. 15, 2021, after the Taliban seized control of the facility. Family members of the service members were notified this week of the Talibans operation, which killed the ISIS-K operative, but told Fox News Digital that they were not given the name of the individual or any further details. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "They told me the planner from ISIS had been taken out. They would not give me his name. They wouldnt give me any details of the operation," Darin Hoover, the father of Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, a U.S. Marine from Utah who was killed in the suicide bombing, told Fox News Digital. While U.S. officials are touting that the terrorist has been taken off the battleground "regardless of who carried out the operation," Hoover said the Biden administration needs to be held accountable. FLASHBACK: 13 US SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN KABUL AIRPORT BLAST, MORE WOUNDED, OFFICIALS SAY "To me, it feels like it's a victory lap for them, for the administration that the Afghanistan debacle is over and done with, weve taken out the main planner, or the Talibans taken out the main planner, and this whole thing can be put behind us," Darin Hoover told Fox News Digital. "Well, bullcrap. No, that doesnt sit well with me." Story continues He added: "The administration needs to take accountability and responsibility for what happened." And Cheryl Rex, the mother of Marine Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola told Fox News Digital that she also "disagrees" with the characterization that the terrorists killing is "some kind of an accomplishment." Hoover and Rex also told Fox News Digital that President Biden "never called the families" after the suicide bombing in 2021, and instead, sent a letter. "We all received the same letter in our mailboxes. It was the same letter to each of usphotocopied and stamped," Hoover said. "No personal communicationnothing." "The State Department, the administration, the Pentagon, nobody has reached out to us," he said. "What happened to our kids should have never happened," Rex told Fox News Digital. "The shock and the way we were treated after these kids, the militarys everyone in Afghanistanthey all deserve to be praised for saving livesnot pushed away." She added: "Those kids never got any acknowledgment at all." White House National Security Council strategic comunications coordinator John Kirby responded to the families' concerns. "Our hearts go out to those Gold Star families," Kirby told Fox News Digital. "We share their grief and can only imagine the pain and heartbreak they have and continue to experience. Their loved ones were heroes who saved lives as part of the largest airlift evacuation operation in history." Kirby said the Biden administration "will continue to take action against terrorists, like we did when we took the global leader of ISIS and the leader of al-Qaeda." "President Biden has demonstrated he will continue to take all necessary steps to protect the United States from threats wherever they exist," Kirby said. FLASHBACK: ISIS-K SUICIDE BOMBER WAS PRISONER RELEASED FROM BAGRAM AIR BASE, SOURCES SAY Meanwhile, Rex described her son, who was killed during his first deployment, as someone who was "outgoing, loving" and who "would give everything to everybody." Rex said he was raised "knowing family, country, and God." And Hoover described his son as "the anti-bully," the "defender of the little guy." "He is one hell of a patriot and I cant take that away from him," Hoover said. "He was an amazing man and his legacythat will never be taken away from him." A senior administration official could not disclose the name of the individual but told Fox News Digital that intelligence analysts and the U.S. government characterized the individual as "the mastermind of that awful attack" who "directed that awful attack." The official said that the individual had still been engaged in efforts to "perpetrate violence" and had "remained a key ISIS-K figure." The official told Fox News Digital that they were not notified of the operation by the Taliban but rather learned of it through U.S. intelligence streams. FLASHBACK: ISIS-K SUICIDE BOMBER WAS PRISONER RELEASED FROM BAGRAM AIR BASE, SOURCES SAY The official also said the United States did not conduct a joint operation with the Taliban. "This was a Taliban operation," the official said. "We view this operation as emblematic of a landscape in Afghanistan. It has become very challenging for terrorists, like ISIS-K, who might seek to engage in the type of external plotting that could harm Americans." US TAKES OUT AL QAEDA LEADER AYMAN AL-ZAWAHRI IN SUCCESSFUL AFGHANISTAN COUNTERTERRORISM OPERATION The U.S. service members killed in the suicide bombing as they conducted the massive evacuation effort to save U.S. citizens and Afghan allies include: Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, U.S. Marine from Utah; Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, a U.S. Marine from California; Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, a U.S. Marine from Massachusetts; Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, a U.S. Marine from California; Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, a U.S. Marine from California; Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, a U.S. Marine from Nebraska; Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, a U.S. Marine from Indiana; Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, a U.S. Marine from Texas; Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20, a U.S. Marine from Missouri; Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, a U.S. Marine from Wyoming; Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20, a U.S. Marine from California; Navy Hospital Corpsman Max Soviak, 22, a Navy corpsman from Ohio; and Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23, a U.S. Army soldier from Tennessee. Gov. Greg Abbott recently injected himself into the judicial process when he prematurely said he expects a pardon application from the Board of Pardons a Paroles for recently convicted Travis County defendant, Daniel Perry. Daniel Perry shot and killed Garrett Foster during a Black Lives Matter protest in Austin in 2021. There was a question about whether Foster pointed a weapon at Perry, making the killing self-defense. But a properly seated jury heard the evidence and determined that Perry was a murderer. When it made national news and became a political cause, Abbott promised a swift pardon. If only he could move so quickly on another pardon request in a clearer case. It coincidentally involves a defendant named Perry and came from the same Austin court. In this case, though, theres no question of innocence. In February 2020, an application for a posthumous pardon was filed on behalf of Douglas Perry. He was a codefendant with Fran and Dan Keller in the infamous Oakhill Satanic Ritual child abuse trial. The three were charged and convicted of child molestation and abuse. The Kellers were sentenced and served years before their convictions were overturned. Douglas Perry was a codefendant in the infamous Oakhill Satanic Ritual child abuse trial. His posthumous pardon is pending. Perry signed a confession that he soon recanted, saying it was coerced. He was sentenced to probation but had to register as a sex offender. When he failed to properly do that, he was thrown in prison, too. In May 2015, after an exhaustive reinvestigation by the Travis County District Attorneys office, the Kellers were exonerated by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. In July 2015, Doug Perry suffered a heart attack. His mother, Bonnie Perry, tried numerous times to resuscitate him, but Doug Perry died at home. Fran and Dan Keller would go on to claim compensation from the state of Texas under the Tim Cole Act. Tim Cole is my oldest brother. He was a student at Texas Tech University in 1985, when a series of rapes was committed on and around the campus. Tim was arrested and labeled as the Tech Rapist. Story continues My brother was tried, convicted and sentenced, on Sept. 17, 1986, to 25 years in prison. Tim always maintained his innocence. Often in letters that he would write to me from prison, he would say, I want vindication, exoneration and a full pardon. My brother Tim never got what he wanted and deserved in life. Tim would later die in prison after suffering a heart attack due to complications from asthma. In 2009, after DNA testing was done, Tim was proved innocent. In 2010, Gov. Rick Perry issued the first posthumous pardon ever in Texas. The attorney general at the time was Greg Abbott. He was instrumental in my brothers pardon because he issued an opinion making it possible for Texas to pardon the deceased. In 2014, Abbott joined me, Governor Perry and other state officials at the unveiling of a statue of Tim in Lubbock. We all came together to clear the good name of Tim Cole, Perry said. Abbott added: The Tim Cole statue will always be a reminder that we must always pursue justice, no matter how long it takes. How long, Governor? The application for a posthumous pardon for Doug Perry has been sitting at the Board of Pardons and Paroles for more than two years. I visited with Doug Perrys parents, Bonnie and Jimmy Perry, in 2018 at their home in Austin. Mrs. Perry said something to me that reverberated through my very soul, the very same words that my mother said to Gov. Perry in 2009: I just want to reclaim my sons good name back. We must come together to clear the good name of Doug Perry. The Travis County District Attorneys office and the court in which Perry was convicted have all said that he is actually innocent. This miscarriage of justice must end now. When Abbott spoke in 2014 in Lubbock, he had his sights set on becoming governor. In 2023, perhaps he has his sights and and his rhetoric set on a run for president. Equal justice under the law has been denied to Doug Perry. We pledge that all who seek justice in the United States shall have it, even in death. It has been said that the day will come when we all stand before the God of history and we will speak in terms of things we have done. I can hear the God of history saying: That was not enough, when you could have restored the good name of my innocent children, you refused. Cory Session of Fort Worth is vice president of the Innocence Project of Texas, which works to free those wrongfully convicted, and the brother of Timothy Cole. Republican lawmakers have agreed on a plan that will allow any North Carolina family to receive taxpayer funding to attend a private school. At a news conference Wednesday, state House and Senate GOP leaders said they will approve an expansion of the Opportunity Scholarship program that eliminates income eligibility limits for voucher recipients. The Choose Your School, Choose Your Future Act will be heard Wednesday in the Senate Education Committee. The legislation is expected to become law this year because Republicans now have large enough majorities to override vetoes from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. This is a great day in North Carolina, said Rep. Tricia Cotham, whose defection to the Republican Party gave the GOP a supermajority in the House. We have solid support from both chambers. This is a movement were seeing all across the country and especially in North Carolina, where families want opportunities because they want the best for their child. Critics of the bill charge it will hurt traditional public schools and allow wealthy families to get taxpayer support to attend private schools. Originally for poor families only The Opportunity Scholarship program was initially promoted, when it was created in 2014, as a way to help low-income families escape failing public schools. Nariah Hunter (center right), 7, dances with classmates as they sing in music class on March 15, 2016. North Carolinas Opportunity Scholarship program is making it possible for Janet Nunns 7-year-old granddaughter, Nariah Hunter, to attend Victory Christian Center School. The program has grown to serve 25,246 students. Last school year, it helped fuel the largest expansion in North Carolina private school enrollment since 1971. Over time, both the income-eligibility limits and the amount of the voucher have been raised. The program was expanded this school year so that a family making 200% of the amount needed to qualify for federally subsidized meals could get funding. Thats an income of $111,000 for a family of four. Sen. Michael Lee, a New Hanover County Republican, said that its the governments role to help all children. Under Senate Bill 406, the income eligibility limits would change to: A family of four making 100% of the amount needed to qualify for a free or reduced lunch would get full voucher funding, which is equivalent to the average amount the state spends per student in public schools. That would be the equivalent of a family of four making less than $55,500 a year. Story continues A family making between 100% and 200% of the amount for a subsidized meal would get 90% of the voucher amount. Thats equal to a family of four making between $55,500 and $111,000 a year. A family making 200% to 450% of the income needed for a subsidized meal would get 60% of the voucher amount. Thats a family of four making between $111,000 and $249,750 a year. A family making more than 450% of the income needed for a subsidized meal would get 45% of the amount given per child in public schools. Thats equal to a family of four making more than $249,750 a year. The legislation also eliminates any requirements that recipients had to have previously attended public schools. The changes would go in effect for the 2024-25 school year, a year later than originally proposed. Religious schools get most funding Historically, most families have used their vouchers to attend religious schools Tamika Walker Kelly, the president of the North Carolina Association of Educators, had been among the plaintiffs who recently dismissed a lawsuit against the Opportunity Scholarship program. They had argued that the program should be unconstitutional because some schools bar students who support LGBTQ+ rights or who dont follow the schools religious beliefs. Lee said that it should be up to the parent to decide to which private school they want to send their child. A group of 10 Democratic governors are lobbying federal lawmakers to drop provisions in the Republican debt limit bill that would expand work requirements for a number of social safety net programs. While Congressional leaders have clarified that Medicare and Social Security will not face any cuts, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, and discretionary spending literal lifelines for millions of Americans nationwide are on the chopping block, the letter, to bipartisan congressional leaders in both chambers, said. Democratic governors Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Delaware Gov. John Carney, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, all signed the letter. The pressure from the state leaders comes after Republicans have proposed their legislation that would raise the debt ceiling but also cut federal spending. The proposal includes changes to federal programs like SNAP and Medicaid, which opponents of the bill argue would slash benefits for millions of needy Americans. The expanded requirements would mean that people between the ages of 18 and 56 would need to participate in at least 20 hours of job training a week to get SNAP benefits for more than three months. The Biden administration has railed against the proposed changes. The Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday that the legislation, as proposed, would affect around 1 million people who receive SNAP benefits and tens of thousands more who get rental assistance through the department. We are united in our opposition to expanded work and work reporting requirements in any crucial safety net program we urge you to work in a bipartisan manner to find a solution that preserves funding for crucial programs that benefit all of our constituents, the governors said in the letter. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. MURKATA, India (AP) Krishna Biswas is scared. Unable to prove his Indian citizenship, he is at risk of being sent to a detention center, far away from his modest hut built of bamboo wood that looks down on fields lush with corn. Biswas says he was born in Indias northeastern Assam state. So was his father, almost 65 years ago. But the government says that to prove he is an Indian, he should furnish documents that date back to 1971. For the 37-year-old vegetable seller, that means searching for a decades-old property deed or a birth certificate with an ancestors name on it. Biswas has none, and he is not alone. There are nearly 2 million people like him over 5% of Assam's population staring at a future where they could be stripped of their citizenship if they are unable to prove they are Indian. Questions over who is an Indian have long lingered over Assam, which many believe is overrun with immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh. At a time when India is about to overtake China as the most populous country, these concerns are expected to heighten as Prime Minister Narendra Modis government seeks to use illegal immigration and fears of demographic shift for electoral gains in a nation where nationalist sentiments run deep. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has promised to roll out a similar citizenship verification program nationwide even though the process in Assam has been put on hold after a federal audit found it flawed and full of errors. Nonetheless, hundreds of suspected immigrants with voting rights in Assam have been arrested and sent to detention centers the government calls transit camps. Fearing arrest, thousands have fled to other Indian states. Some have died of suicide. ___ EDITORS NOTE: This story is part of an ongoing series exploring what it means for the 1.4 billion inhabitants of India to live in what will be the worlds most populated country. ___ Millions of people like Biswas, whose citizenship status is unclear, were born in India to parents who immigrated many decades ago. Many of them have voting cards and other identification, but the states citizenship registry counts only those who can prove, with documentary evidence, that they or their ancestors were Indian citizens before 1971, the year Bangladesh was born. Story continues Modis party, which also rules Assam, argues the registry is essential to identify people who entered the country illegally in a state where ethnic passions run deep and anti-immigrant protests in the 1980s culminated in the massacre of more than 2,000 immigrant Muslims. My father and his brother were born here. We were born here. Our kids were also born here. We will die here but not leave this place, Biswas, said on a recent afternoon at his home in Assams Murkata village, near the banks of the Brahmaputra River. The Biswas family has 11 members, of whom the citizenship of nine is in dispute. His wife and mother have been declared Indian by a foreigners tribunal that decides on citizenship claims. Others, including his three children, his father and his brothers family, have been declared foreigners. It makes no sense to Biswas, who wonders why would some be considered to have settled in the country illegally and others not, even though they all were born in the same place. The family, like many others, has not pleaded their case before the tribunal or higher courts due to a lack of money and the arduous paperwork required in the process. If we cannot be Indian then just kill us. Let them (the government) kill my whole family, he said. The registry was last updated in 2019 and excluded both Hindus and Muslims, but most critics view it as an attempt to deport millions of minority Muslims. They say the process would become even more exclusionary if Modis party resurrects a controversial citizenship bill that grants citizenship to persecuted believers who entered India illegally from neighboring countries, including Hindus, Sikhs and Christians, but not Muslims. The nationwide citizenship bill was introduced in 2019, but led to widespread protests across India for singling out Muslims, forcing the government to put it on the backburner. Supporters of the registry say it is essential to protect the cultural identity of Assams indigenous people, arguing that those who entered illegally are taking away their jobs and their land. The influx of illegal foreigners from Bangladesh is a threat to the identity of the indigenous people of Assam. We cannot stay like a second class citizen under illegal Bangladeshis. It is a question of our own existence, said Samujjal Bhattacharya, who has been part of a movement in Assam against illegal immigration. Fearing a possible loss of citizenship, scores of people in Assam have killed themselves, leaving a trail of devastation among families. When Faizul Ali was sent to a detention center after being declared a foreigner in late 2015, his family members feared they would be next. The prospect of being thrown in jail drove his son to take his own life. His brother tried to save him but drowned in the process. A year later, Alis other son hanged himself. Ali was released on bail from the detention center in 2019. He died in March, leaving behind his wife, a mentally ill son, two daughter-in-laws and their children. They all live in a single room house made of corrugated tin in Muslim majority Bahari village. All have been declared foreigners. Unable to make ends meet, Alis wife, Sabur Bano, has taken to begging. She cant afford firewood for cooking and uses discarded clothes she collects from streets as burning material. I am a citizen of this country. I am 60 years old. I was born here, my children were brought up here, all my belongings are here. But they made me a foreigner in my own land, she said, wiping tears from the hem of her white sari. Others are still waiting for their loved ones after they were arrested. On a recent morning, Asiya Khatoon boarded a rickshaw and traveled nearly 31 kilometers (19 miles) from her home to a detention center in Assam's town where her husband has been held since January. They (police) just came and picked up my husband saying he is a Bangladeshi, the 45-year-old said, before hurriedly walking toward the detention center circled by a vast perimeter of walls and watchtowers with security cameras and armed guards. In her hands was a crinkled plastic bag. It carried a green T-shirt, trousers and a cap she wanted to give her husband. University of Texas students walk past an early voting site on campus in 2020. The Texas Senate voted to end the use of countywide voting centers on election day, but it's unclear if the Texas House will support that bill. Sen. Bob Hall kept emphasizing the need to trade security of the elections for convenience. When did that become an either/or choice? Especially in a state already deemed one of the most difficult places to vote in America? Last week, the Texas Senate voted to end the access to countywide voting locations on election day meaning people could vote only at their designated neighborhood precinct, not at a polling site closer to work or their kids school. (Oddly enough, countywide voting sites would remain in place during early voting. More on that in a minute.) Its unclear whether the Texas House will share an appetite for Senate Bill 990. Apart from throwing a major curveball at Texas voters 83% of whom live in counties that use countywide voting sites the measure would require Travis, Williamson and dozens of other counties to set up twice as many polling sites as they do now, with all the associated costs. Not because any problems have been found with countywide voting centers. But because Hall, R-Edgewood, and a contingent of election deniers just dont trust them. I cant imagine what youre trying to fix, Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, said during floor debate last Thursday, plainly flummoxed. "You have no evidence to prove anything that you're saying," added Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, noting that no audits have found any problems with countywide voting centers. I'm saying we don't know, there's nothing to be proven, Hall countered. Sen. Bob Hall, right, shown ahead of a Capitol hearing last month, pushed a bill to end the use of countywide voting sites, which are used in the counties where 83% of Texans live. Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin even cited a Texas secretary of state report from this year saying the countywide voting system has proven successful for participating counties. You will only find what you look for, Hall said dismissively. The debate had a familiar feel if youve ever tried to reason with a conspiracy theorist. Theyre sure something is wrong, but the proof is somehow hidden, corrupted or just out of reach. The discussion sinks into rhetorical quicksand. Story continues Countywide voting helps counties big and small Watching the debate was equally exasperating for folks like Williamson County Elections Administrator Chris Davis. Whether voting happens in a neighborhood precinct or a countywide voting center, administrators use the same protocols to ensure voters get the correct ballots and results are accurately tabulated. Countywide voting centers simply give voters the flexibility to find a location that works for them. It just takes a special level of tone-deafness for any kind of lawmaker to think that its been anything but successful, Davis told me. That is not a partisan conclusion. Even though the vote on SB 990 fell along party lines, this should not be a Republican vs. Democratic issue, or a rural counties vs. big cities issue. Reliably red Lubbock County pioneered countywide voting centers in 2006, and the program expanded with careful vetting and guidance by the Texas Secretary of States Office, an agency headed by an appointee of our Republican governor. Each county decides for itself whether to use this approach. During the 2020 presidential election, countywide voting centers were used in nine Texas counties that went to President Joe Biden and in 63 counties that backed former President Donald Trump. Now, the format is used in 90 Texas counties, from Harris (2.6 million voters) to Throckmorton (1,200 voters). And while the list includes all of the major metro areas, it also includes 48 counties that each have fewer than 50,000 voters. Whether youre contending with rush hour traffic on Interstate 35, or you live in a sprawling countryside where your precinct could be miles from home, having the flexibility to vote where its convenient has been a boon for Texans. Early voting: Find your polling location and what you need to vote So whats the problem? Hall has suggested the jumble of votes cast at a countywide voting site from people who live in different precincts, with different races on their ballots makes it harder to sort results and see if the tallies are correct. It'd be like a bank taking the money and never having an audit of it, Hall said during the debate. Just letting the money come in one window and go out another window. Which is laughably untrue about our elections. The accuracy of the machines is tested before and after each election; the results are carefully verified; and under the election law passed last session, officials must provide a written reconciliation of ballots and voters. Hall also claimed that the Secretary of States Office liked this idea of returning to voting at precincts instead of countywide voting centers. They agreed they thought this was a good solution, Hall said. Not so: Alicia Pierce, a spokeswoman for the Secretary of States Office, told me the agency does not offer positions on pending legislation. I can't make any sense of it, Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado said when I asked her this week about the motivations behind SB 990. Unfortunately, we're just at a time in the politics of America where good sense is not prevailing and everything's for political points. Early voting: What you need to know about Prop A and Prop B. Indeed, if there was something truly problematic about countywide voting centers, it would be an issue during early voting as well as election day voting. Its literally the same setup. But Sens. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, and Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, pressed for an amendment in SB 990 leaving early voting untouched. If I had my way completely, it would be both periods, Hall said during floor debate, but not everyone shares my view. Maybe Senate Republicans are just humoring Hall and the election deniers in their party, and they're counting on the Texas House to save them from this bad bill. Or maybe theyre taking an incremental approach to unwind countywide voting centers, starting with election day, then coming for more next session, trying not to rile too many voters at once. Either way, its not a choice between security and convenience, but a question of governing from the facts vs. catering to wild fears. And once again, Texas is drifting in the wrong direction. Grumet is the Statesmans Metro columnist. Her column, ATX in Context, contains her opinions. Share yours via email at bgrumet@statesman.com or via Twitter at @bgrumet. Find her previous work at statesman.com/news/columns. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Grumet: Push to end countywide voting sites rooted in fears, not facts By Maggie Fick and Natalie Grover LONDON (Reuters) - British drugmaker GSK on Wednesday warned that the overhaul of laws governing the EU's pharmaceuticals industry risks forcing companies to invest and innovate elsewhere, which would hurt EU efforts to improve access to medicines. GSK Chief Executive Emma Walmsley told reporters on a quarterly earnings call that the European Union must "regulate for growth and competitiveness" because her company and others "have choices on where our capital and resources are focused". The European Commission will publish its long-awaited draft on Wednesday, detailing the biggest overhaul of medical laws in 20 years. The Commission has said the reforms aim to tackle unequal access to medicines across Europe while retaining the region's competitiveness for pharma companies developing and bringing new treatments to market. Walmsley said the industry shared the EU's goal of improving access to medicines for all Europeans and that the region was critical to GSK's R&D and manufacturing. Updates to the bloc's regulatory system are needed, she said. However, pressure to weaken market exclusivity protections could discourage companies from researching and launching treatments in Europe, she added. European biotech lobby Europabio said changes to protections before generic versions of drugs enter the market could also make it harder for biopharma startups to raise money for research and development. (Reporting by Maggie Fick and Natalie Grover; Editing by David Goodman) State leaders have publicly promised a crackdown on people breaking the law with guns but protecting our rights while protecting our people can be a difficult balance. One thing weve heard universal agreement on over the years, though, is enforcing the laws we already have. So why arent we? Take someone convicted of domestic violence assault. After a judge or jury says theyre guilty, our laws say the now-convicted criminal can no longer own a firearm, at least for a specified length of time. But in most cases, nothing is done about it besides a brief warning (if even that). Prohibited possessors are on the honor system here. In fact, less than 10 of our states 254 counties have any protocol in place to ensure people ordered by our courts not to possess firearms are actually disposing of the ones they own. The results speak for themselves. In 2021, Texas Council on Family Violence recorded that 75% of female victims killed in domestic violence incidents in Texas were shot to death, and a significant number of the murderers were legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. In other words, these were preventable deaths. Additionally, a 2021 study revealed the vast majority of mass shootings in the U.S. 68% in fact involved a shooter who had a history of family violence. More: When does early voting start in El Paso? May 6 ballot includes climate charter Not just numbers These arent just numbers. Texans have lost their lives, families have had grief heaped upon them, and the safety of communities has been shredded because we failed to uphold the laws meant to protect our people. People from all across Texas such as Trave Jackson of Midland, Ryniscia Sanford of Houston, Dalisha Blate of Jacinto City, and Jennifer Hoekstra of El Paso, all killed by abusers who were legally barred from possessing guns. But House Bill 3938 by El Paso Rep. Joe Moody is meant to change that. The bill requires a judge who issues an order that prohibits someone from possessing a firearm (like a felony conviction or a family violence protective order) to give that person explicit written notice they must dispose of all guns they possess within 10 days. How thats done is up to the individual firearms can be transferred to a lawful possessor, sold, or disposed of through other lawful means. But on day 10, they must give the court a signed affidavit saying they dont possess any firearms. Story continues Thats it. The bill doesnt create new laws about gun possession and doesnt create a registry or record of anyones firearms. It even provides a statewide affidavit for courts to use so theres no patchwork of enforcement. More: 'He loved El Paso': Friends, family celebrate life of UTEP legend Willie Cager We endanger Texans when we don't enforce gun laws This may sound like the least we can do, but its a critical step. It bridges the chasm between laws and actions. It gives clear direction and a timeline to people who intend to abide by the law, and it gets the attention of those who might not otherwise comply. It also works. While some argue that criminals dont follow the law anyway, thats simply not true (if it was, there would be no point having criminal laws at all). The fact is that thousands of Texans on probation, parole, and pretrial bond abide by legal restrictions every day. No law can prevent every crime that its designed to combat, but some of our most recent tragedies have highlighted that our criminal laws do work. The Robb Elementary School shooter made two failed attempts to have someone illegally purchase weapons for him, forcing him to delay his horrific plans until he could legally make the purchase. The law worked until it didnt stand in his way anymore. We endanger Texans when we make no effort to ensure our laws are followed. We can debate what our gun laws ought to be, but House Bill 3938 is a commonsense effort to make sure the laws we already have are more than empty words on paper. The bill was heard in the Texas House Select Committee on Community Safety on April 4, and now it must move through the House and Senate and achieve the governors signature to truly create a safer Texas. We encourage lawmakers to vote for this bill, and invite everyone to use their voice on social media and elsewhere to demand better oversight of prohibited possessors. You deserve to be safe where you live and work. It's too late for Trave, Ryniscia, Dalish, Jennifer and many other Texans killed because our laws went unenforced. We cant shorten the victim list thats already written. But together, we can keep countless other names off that list. State Rep. Joe Moody represents District 78, located in north and west El Paso, in the Texas House of Representatives. Gloria Aguilera Terry is the chief executive officer of the Texas Council on Family Violence and a native El Pasoan and former executive director of the local Center Against Family Violence. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: We have gun laws; we aren't using them: Joe Moody, Gloria Aguilera Terry Police have identified a 23-year-old man shot to death at a Gwinnett County home as a possible home invasion suspect. Gwinnett County police said a man went to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound on April 24. He told police that he was involved in a shooting at a home on Mountain Drive. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The victim said there was someone else shot at the home. Police went to the home, where they found Leon Summers, of Stone Mountain, dead. Detectives said they believe the victim shot Summers in self-defense. TRENDING STORIES: The victim has not been identified. Its unclear if he knew the suspect. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta at 404-677-TIPS. Kim Kardashian recently offered an update on her journey to becoming a lawyer. (Jordan Strauss / Invision / AP) Kim Kardashian is ready to get her "f ass up and work" as an attorney. Once she passes the bar exam, that is. At Tuesday's Time 100 Summit in New York, the shapewear mogul and reality TV star offered an update on her journey to becoming a lawyer and revealed that she is tentatively planning to take the bar exam next February. Asked by moderator and CNN anchor Poppy Harlow if her "most meaningful work" is ahead of her, Kardashian replied, "I hope so." "I always joke with my mom, who's my manager. I say, 'Kim K is retiring, and I'm just going to be an attorney,'" she said. "I was like, 'So you can go help my siblings.'" In December 2021, Kardashian passed California's "baby bar" exam after four attempts. Because she didn't go to law school, the "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" alum is required to pass both the baby bar and the bar in order to become an attorney. "The baby bar has, like, a 16% pass rate," Kardashian told Harlow, who whispered, "Wow." "I mean, it took me a few tries," Kardashian continued, drawing chuckles from the audience. "Then I have another one. I think it's like a 36% pass rate?" Kardashian also spoke at the event about her passion for criminal justice reform and her distaste for the death penalty. On Monday, the mega-influencer put out a call on social media to save Richard Glossip, who was twice convicted of ordering the killing of his boss and is on death row in Oklahoma. Kardashian is among multiple celebrities who have thrown their support behind Glossip, who many believe to be innocent. "I think that there was hardly any evidence that linked him none to his case, and I personally don't believe in the death penalty," Kardashian explained. "I think that everyone deserves at least to have their case fully examined before they're about to be executed. It's really that simple. And I just don't feel like he's gotten a fair chance." Story continues Earlier this month, Kardashian joined the cast of the 12th season of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuks American Horror Story." She is set to play a stylish and terrifying character written just for her. Her casting has sparked a backlash among those who believe she doesn't deserve the part including Broadway legend and Murphy collaborator Patti LuPone. But Murphy is standing by the decision. "Kim is among the biggest and brightest television stars in the world and we are thrilled to welcome her to the AHS family," the producer said in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter. "This season is ambitious and unlike anything we have ever done. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Two LAPD officers were reported hospitalized with minor injuries after their car collided with a suspected stolen vehicle in South Los Angeles on Sept. 23, 2015. (Los Angeles Times) Almost half of the people injured or killed during police chases in Los Angeles since 2018 were bystanders, according to new LAPD data. The findings, presented Tuesday to the Board of Police Commissioners, found that LAPD officers have been involved in at least 4,203 pursuits since 2018; roughly a quarter (1,032) resulted in a collision that caused injuries or death. Nearly half of these injury crashes hurt people who weren't involved in the chase with 496 injured and nine killed. By comparison, 462 fleeing suspects were injured in that span, with five dying, according to the report. Sixty officers were injured during chases; none have died. Most collisions happened relatively early in a police chase, with more than three-fourths occurring within five minutes of the start of a pursuit, the report said. The average speed of pursuits was 46 mph; 64% of collisions occurred when chases reached speeds of 41 to 80 mph. Slightly over half of chases ended up covering a distance of less than two miles. LAPD Deputy Chief Donald Graham said in an interview Tuesday that the debate over police chases is more nuanced than arguing for an across-the-board ban on pursuits for nonviolent crimes such as vehicle thefts. Many stolen vehicles are involved in hit-and-runs or are used to commit further crimes, he said. Graham said the department has overhauled its training, supervision and policies to reduce the risk of crashes during high-speed pursuits. The increase in pursuit-related crashes coincides with a rise in vehicle thefts, he said. Were telling our officers to be proactive and look for these situations [that are] going to cause an increase in the number of pursuits," he said. Under LAPD policy, officers are allowed to initiate a pursuit in response to a suspected felony or for certain misdemeanors such as reckless or drunk driving. The LAPD has long struggled to limit the danger that its pursuits pose to civilians. From 2006 to 2014, 334 bystanders were hurt as a result of crashes caused by LAPD chases. During that time, 1 in 10 pursuits resulted in the injury of someone who was not participating in the pursuit, according to a previous Times analysis of California Highway Patrol data. Story continues In 2015 alone, at least 78 bystanders were hurt in LAPD chases, the highest tally in a decade, records show. Two years later, an L.A. County civil grand jury questioned whether the LAPD was properly training its officers and scrutinized the departments practice of, at times, chasing suspects for nonviolent crimes. Graham said that the LAPD didn't modify its policy in direct response to the Times analyses or the grand jury report, but that "some of the things that we did in the review process have changed. For instance, officers are now being judged not just on the pursuit's outcome but also on their driving tactics. The actions of the passenger officer are also evaluated, he said. The departments policy on engaging in pursuits is considered permissive compared with those of other major American cities. The Philadelphia, Phoenix and Dallas police departments have abandoned the practice of chasing people suspected of misdemeanors. A picture of deceased Jack Phoenix hangs on tags in the clothing store Sake, which the Phoenix family opened to memorialize their 15-year-old son, who was struck and killed by a stolen car fleeing an LAPD pursuit in November 2015. Jack was an artist and graphic designer, and Sake sells items based on his portfolio. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times) The pursuit intervention technique, also known as the PIT maneuver which the LAPD sometimes uses to bump a fleeing vehicle when it is traveling below 35 mph in order to force it to stop is banned by police in the countrys two other largest cities, New York and Chicago, records show. The current debate comes against a backdrop of a broader conversation around the role of police traffic enforcement and rising traffic fatalities. A long-delayed study of alternative traffic approaches by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, which could serve as a foundation for new legislation, is expected to be released in the coming weeks. Recognizing that officers involved in a "high adrenaline situation" such as a pursuit may not be thinking straight, LAPD officers are now required to report their speeds to a supervisor, who can make a dispassionate decision of whether to terminate a chase, department officials said during a presentation Tuesday. Of the 4,203 pursuits over the last five years, 406 ended up being called off by officers or supervisors. After internal investigations, 609 pursuits were found to be out of policy or resulted in an administrative disapproval against the officers involved. Both numbers rose in recent years, the report found. After the department's presentation, Police Commission President William Briggs said he was concerned by a number of recent chases that led to serious injury or the death to bystanders. He urged department officials to step up their training to ensure that the "average patrol officer on the street" understands and adheres to the LAPD's chase policy. "It raise the specter that pursing suspects may not be the best avenue under these circumstances, unless of course the suspect was wanted for ... bank robbery," he said. "What else can the department do to help our officers engage in this type of critical analysis to mitigate or minimize the citizens getting injured?" Graham responded that the department is training officers to constantly consider their surroundings and weigh factors such as the suspects' speed and the weather in deciding whether to continue the pursuit. "We know that this is the most dangerous thing that we do," he said. "These are 3,000-pound bullets that are driving around our city at very high speeds." LAPD Cmdr. Craig Valenzuela told commissioners that 81% of the chases with the "most catastrophic outcomes" lasted under three minutes. Valenzuela said LAPD officials have explored the use of various tools that would limit the need to initiate a chase, including one device that deploys a heavy-duty nylon rope designed to entangle the suspect vehicle's axle to slow it down. The department is also considering an adhesive GPS device, nicknamed "Star Chase," that can be launched at a fleeing vehicle and enables officers to track its movements from a safe distance. Commissioner Rasha Gerges Shields asked how rising auto theft rates might affect the number of police chases that end with a collision. Some jurisdictions, she pointed out, have banned such pursuits and are turning to technology such as drones to track suspects. Graham said that he recently took a tour of the "current drone setup" of the Beverly Hills Police Department. The wealthy enclave has in recent years expanded its use of drones, cameras and other surveillance tools to combat crime. But the blanket surveillance has been met with concern from some privacy rights advocates, who see it as a move toward greater government intrusion into peoples lives. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, a Republican who has flirted with a 2024 presidential campaign. Jemal Countess/Getty Images for TIME Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire said Donald Trump would be "wimping out" by skipping debates. Trump recently suggested he might not attend some or all of the GOP presidential debates. Trump notably skipped the final debate before the 2016 Iowa caucuses. Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire blasted Donald Trump on Wednesday after the former president strongly suggested he might skip GOP presidential primary debates. "I mean, we're going to have debates, but Trump says he ain't showing up," Sununu told the conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. "I don't know what that's all about." He added: "He's kind of wimping out. He says he's a fighter, but now he doesn't want to actually be, you know, have discussions and debate." Sununu also said he's "hoping" to be on the debate stage. Hewitt asked whether that meant the Republican governor was running, to which Sununu responded that he'd "make an announcement sometime in early summer." Earlier in the conversation, Sununu had said that if he decided not to run for president, he would endorse someone else. As the leader of an early primary state, Sununu is being closely watched. Trump, who notably skipped a GOP debate right before the 2016 Iowa caucuses, suggested on Tuesday that he might not appear at the forthcoming debates. In 2016, Trump later lost Iowa to Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Given Trump's status as the frontrunner by a large margin, the former president's suggestion was widely noticed. "I see that everybody is talking about the Republican Debates, but nobody got my approval, or the approval of the Trump Campaign, before announcing them," Trump wrote on his social-media platform, Truth. It's not just primary debates. Trump pulled out of the second 2020 presidential debate after the commission in charge of scheduling them moved for it to be held virtually following Trump's positive test for the coronavirus. He did participate in the final debate, but since then the Republican National Committee left the bipartisan commission that has scheduled the general election debates for decades. Story continues The former president singled out the second debate, which is scheduled to be hosted at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. He said it was "amazing" that The Washington Post's publisher, Fred Ryan, served as chairman of the library. Though Ryan does lead the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, which operates the museum that will host the debate, the library itself is operated by the National Archives and Records Administration, a federal agency of which Trump is very aware. Trump has repeatedly clashed with the Post and its owner, former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. Ryan served in the Reagan administration and was later one of the 40th president's chiefs of staff after he left the White House. A representative for Trump's campaign didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Correction: April 28, 2023 An earlier version of this story, published on April 26, misspelled the name of the city set to host a coming Republican presidential primary debate. It's Simi Valley, California, not Semi Valley. Read the original article on Business Insider Allison Rodriguez has a new TV home. 12News announced on its website Tuesday that Rodriguez would join the Phoenix station as co-anchor of Today in AZ, its morning show. She will join Emily Pritchard, who started at 12News in 2022. Her first date on air will be May 15. Krystle Henderson will continue doing weather, and Stella Sun will report on traffic. The website does not say what this means for Scott McDonnell, who joined the station in 2021 and co-anchors Today in AZ with Pritchard. Rodriguez posted the news on her Facebook account, saying, Im so happy I get to stay here and tell your stories. Love you guys! Allison Rodriguez returns to the Valley to anchor a new show, "ABC15 Mornings on CW61." The staying here part is meaningful. Rodriguez left ABC15/CW61 in Phoenix in early April, where she worked as an anchor and a reporter. She came to the station in 2013, after working two years in Yuma. In August 2019, she left ABC 15 in Phoenix and joined KTVU in Oakland, California. She returned to Phoenix in early 2020 as a co-anchor of ABC15 Mornings on the CW61, an expansion of ABC15 Mornings. Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Facebook @GoodyOnFilm and on Twitter @goodyk. Subscribe to the weekly movies newsletter. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. What are you waiting for? This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix news anchor Allison Rodriguez to join 12News after leaving ABC The same day US President Joe Biden announced his re-election bid, his vice president put forth abortion as a key issue in their 2024 campaign. "I trust the women of America," said Kamala Harris, speaking at Howard University, in Washington, before a crowd chanting "four more years." "We are living in a moment in time where so many of our hard-earned freedoms are under attack," said Harris, accusing her Republican opponents of wanting to outlaw abortion nationwide. "We cannot sleep on this," Harris said. "There is too much at stake." The Biden administration has made the bet that abortion can be used as a hot issue to mobilize its base ahead of the 2024 election, as was the case in the midterm elections in November. After the Supreme Court axed the nationwide right to abortion last year, Democrats -- especially young people -- turned out to the polls in numbers. While Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives, the "red wave" of Republican dominance projected in that election was largely dented. Since the Court's decision, multiple states that have held referendums on abortion have voted to protect it -- including conservative ones. And according to polls, a majority of Americans think abortion should be legal. - 'On the ballot' - Shirts distributed at the Howard rally, which was organized around abortion access, staked out the Democrats' framing of the issue, emblazoned with the phrase "Abortion is on the ballot." Stephanie Nash, head of the Blue Ridge Abortion Fund in Virginia, grabbed one, promising to "continue the fight." She said she was excited to see Harris, a fellow Black woman and the first to serve as vice president, "use her platform to speak up and speak out." "It makes a difference" Republicans, despite claiming victory in the Supreme Court ruling, have since struggled to stake out their party's definitive position on abortion. Strict bans enacted in some conservative states have some Republicans wanting to adopt more moderate positions, while others want to hold firm on near or total bans -- the same bans that fire up Democratic voters. Story continues - Biden's stance - "I've been looking forward to seeing her!" 19-year-old student Naudia Thurman said of Harris, adding that she hoped abortion would be a dominant political issue in the 2024 campaign. "I think it would also be important if Biden was here," the psychology major added. In her opinion, women are often forced to take the lead on the issue in US politics. Biden, a devout Roman Catholic, has staunchly defended abortion rights as they've come under pressure from the right. Also on the agenda for the Biden-Harris ticket: Pitching their economic message to middle-class Americans, a key demographic the Republicans will also fight over. Both parties will have plenty of time to do so, given the United States' uniquely long campaign season: The election is more than 550 days away. cjc-nro/bfm Another Harry Potter star has come forward in their support of JK Rowling amid the authors ongoing controversy. Rowling has long been a critic of gender ideology and faces continued criticism for her opinions on trans people. While former Harry Potter child stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson have spoken out against the authors views, some of the older actors to have appeared in the fantasy franchise, an adaptation of Rowlings novels, have jumped to her defence. One such star is Jim Broadbent, who played Professor Slughorn in two Harry Potter films. He described the backlash against Rowling as really sad, telling The Telegraph: I think JK Rowling is amazing. I havent had to confront [the backlash] myself, but I would support her in that, I think, if it came to it. Other stars to have supported Rowling following the criticism levied against her, which has included death threats on social media, include Helena Bonham Carter and Ralph Fiennes. Bonham Carter, in an interview with The Times in 2022, called the backlash horrendous, stating: Shes not meaning it aggressively; shes just saying something out of her own experience. Also in 2022, Fiennes told The New York Times: The verbal abuse directed at her is disgusting, its appalling. I mean, I can understand a viewpoint that might be angry at what she says about women. But its not some obscene, uber right-wing fascist. Its just a woman saying, Im a woman and I feel Im a woman and I want to be able to say that Im a woman. And I understand where shes coming from. Even though Im not a woman. Last week, Rowling issued a sarcastic response to the Harry Potter fandoms proposed boycott of a new TV series based on her books. Hialeah is considering a plan to incorporate a section of Brownsville, a historic Black neighborhood in Miami-Dade. City leaders say adding an industrial section of the community will generate money for Hialeah. But dozens of Brownsville leaders and residents came to Hialeah City Hall on Tuesday night to protest the plan. Hialeah Councilman Jesus Tundidor, an incorporation advocate, told el Nuevo Herald that Hialeah is struggling with many expenses and we have the same income. Adding a new area to the city would allow us to have additional income. Brownsville neighborhood rejects Hialeahs plan to incorporate its industrial zone The proposal comes nearly two decades after Hialeah incorporated three square miles west of Interstate 75, known as Hialeah Heights, where people have complained about a lack of services. City of Hialeah Mobile Fire Station 9, located in the City Annex, in Hialeah Heights, northwest of Miami-Dade Tundidor said the Brownsville plan is still in the exploratory phase. We have to investigate the area, understand how it will affect us and the taxpayers, he said. We hired an engineering company to explain to us how the properties in the area are, how much it will cost us to incorporate it, to maintain it. Heres what to know about the plan: Brownsville incorporation area Proposal: The proposal prepared by the engineering company The Corradino Group indicates that the annexation area will provide fiscal strength to the city by increasing its tax base and allowing for significant creation of employment opportunities. Area profile: According to The Corradino Group, the area had 259 potential voters as of September 27, 2022, but less than 50% of the proposed area is residential. Therefore, it would not be necessary to hold a referendum to consult the residents about the incorporation plan. Opposition: The Brownsville community has spoken out against the plan, preferring to keep in control of the unincorporated area of Miami-Dade. Kenneth M. Kilpatrick, president of the Brownsville Civic Neighborhood Association, said: We dont want to lose the integrity of our heritage. The Brownsville community prefers to stay in charge of its own destiny. We are a traditional African American community. Story continues Dr. Enid Pinkney, historian, speaks during a press conference to inform the public about Hialeahs plan to incorporate the Brownsville industrial zone on Monday, April 24, 2023, at Brownsville Church of Christ in Miami. The area includes industrial warehouses and also houses and the church. Reaction: Enid C. Pinkney, historian and activist for the civil rights of African Americans, told el Nuevo Herald that we believe more in the work of the county than in that of Hialeah. They have a very bad reputation in how they treat African American communities. We have a historical legacy that we dont want to lose. Councilman Tundidor said: We have good relations with Seminola (a mostly African-American area of Hialeah), which I think is what they are referring to. We are looking to incorporate the industrial, not the residential part of Brownsville. What they say doesnt align with what were trying to do. Hialeah is a very diverse place, not only Cubans, but also from South America. I dont see why [the ethnic and racial issue] would be a problem. Brownsville opposition Commnunity meeting: Brownsville community members gathered at Brownsville Church of Christ on Monday to speak out against the plan. The churchs pastor, Harrell L. Henton, recalled the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Henton asked the community to say something, do something. We must never stay silent about what is important to our community, he said. This church has been standing for 50 years for the Brownsville community and now they want this area to belong to Hialeah. Dozens of people then showed up a day later to Hialeah CIty Hall to speak against annexation. HIALEAH City Hall on Palm Avenue and 5th street. Profile of the proposed incorportion area Boundaries: The proposed Hialeah inprojection area is 0.24 square miles, bounded by Northwest 54th Street to the north, Northwest 37th Avenue to the west, Northwest 35th, 33rd and 32nd avenues to the east, and State Road 112 to the south. Character: The area has residential mobile homes, large industrial and commercial warehouses, semi-truck lots, CSX and Tri-Rail facilities, and hazardous materials facilities, according to the report. Breakdown: According to the Inventory of Existing Land Uses provided by the Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources, Planning, Research and Economics Analysis Section (September 2022), the annexation area has approximately 150.9 acres, consisting of: 18.4 acres of residential land (12.2% of the land) 1 commercial acre, hotels, motels (0.7%) 81.6 industrial acres (54%) 40.8 acres of transportation, communications (27%) 6.6 institutional acres (4.4%) 2.5 vacant acres (1.7%) Area of the Brownsville neighborhood that the City of Hialeah proposes to incorporate into its territory according to the use agreement of the lands that make up the lot What does Hialeah need to incorporate the area? Public safety: The proposed incorporation area would mean a jurisdictional expansion for the Hialeah police and fire departments. For police it would place greater demands for service in an area where the Miami-Dade Police Department handles an estimated 1,738 calls for service per year. Hialeah would need 12 police officers and additional equipment that would cost about $2 million, according to estimates. The fire department would have greater service demands for two stations, and on another two for backup to the area. Risk factors: The report says that the proposed area includes an industrial area that demands a large workforce and includes hazardous materials facilities, machines, chemicals, and fuels. And the mobile home parks scattered throughout the area may present a high safety risk to the lives of residents ... due to the extreme flammability and aging state of the structures. Like the polcie department, the report says the fire department would needs additional vehicles and 11 additional personnel. atr acost of about $2.6 million a year. Cost to Hialeah Funding: According to The Corradino Group report, the first year of incorporation of the Brownsville industrial zone would cost Hialeah about $4.7 million to provide police and fire services. The second year cost would decrease to $1.8 illion. Budget: Although Councilman Tundidor did not explain where the city would get the money to cover the expenses, he assured the report was made looking at the property as it is today, with abandoned buildings. That report does not include the potential of that area, nor the possibility of creating new developments in the future. Future: The councilman ruled out that the citys plan is to displace people in the community. That area has no single-family housing units, just two mobile home parks. The historic area will not be annexed. We are not looking for a way to incorporate historic areas. A bullet train project aiming to connect the two cities took a big step forward. Courtesy of Brightline Travelers in the Los Angeles area may soon be able to reach Sin City a whole lot faster. Brightline West, a company that plans to connect Las Vegas and Los Angeles with high-speed train service, recently made progress to turn the project into reality. This includes the signing of a labor agreement with a railroad construction union and receiving government support for federal funding. The Brightline West service will start in San Bernardino, California, and makes a stop in Victor Valley before continuing to a final destination near the Las Vegas Strip. Brightline expects the project to debut in 2027. The train service would operate at 186 mph over a 260-mile track, which would cut the drive time between the two cities in half, the company shared with Travel + Leisure. The train may even be a faster option than flying too flights take, on average, one hour and 15 minutes after factoring in security and check-in times. Courtesy of Brightline Over 38 million tourists visited Las Vegas in 2022, which was up 20% from the previous year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority. Before the pandemic, the city saw a decline in visitors from California, reported the Las Vegas Sun, but the new train could make it easier for those in Southern California to visit. Government leaders in Nevada and California have voiced support for the project and are seeking $4 billion in federal funds to bring it to fruition, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. This project is a major priority because it will make southern Nevada more accessible to millions of visitors each year, said U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, reported the Associated Press. Once built, the Brightline West train plans to offer free onboard Wi-Fi, food, beverages, the ability to check in luggage, and other amenities. Courtesy of Brightline For a glimpse of what's to come, travelers can look to Florida where Brightline is putting the final touches on a new high-speed rail service that will ultimately connect Orlando to Fort Lauderdale and Miami. It recently unveiled the new Orlando Station at Orlando International Airport the service is expected to begin this summer, with tickets starting at $79. Were proud to start this journey in Florida and rejuvenated in our belief that the time is now to accomplish this in other parts of the country, Brightline CEO Mike Reininger said in a statement provided to T+L. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. The clock is ticking for Congress to address the looming debt ceiling to avoid a default, which economists warn would lead to an economic disaster. The House could vote as soon as tomorrow on a GOP-backed proposal to raise the debt ceiling and implement spending cuts. The White House has said President Joe Biden will not sign a debt ceiling proposal attached to spending cuts. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is pushing the measure dubbed the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023, which includes spending cuts despite opposition from Democrats and the White House. The bill would repeal some green energy tax credits and rescind unused COVID-19 relief funds. It would also prevent student debt cancelation and expand work requirements for Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Temporary Cash Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Were going to save taxpayers money, said McCarthy. House Republicans are taking action to lift the debt limit. To limit government spending. On Tuesday, Democrats on the House floor slammed McCarthys proposal, arguing it will take away food assistance for people in need. The only way the Speakers bill saves money, which he does say, is if people have their benefits stripped away. If seniors go hungry, said Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX). White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre released a statement saying McCarthys bill would cut the American economy off at the knees. The White House accused McCarthy of hostage taking during the negotiations. The way to have a real negotiation on the budget is for House Republicans to take threats of default when it comes to the economy and what it could potentially do to the economy off the table, said Jean-Pierre. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) faces questions by reporters about House Republicans' plan to cut the deficit by nearly $5 trillion and raise the debt limit. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) faces questions by reporters about House Republicans' plan to cut the deficit by nearly $5 trillion and raise the debt limit. House Republicans were still trying Tuesday to ensure they had enough votes to pass a massive spending cut bill as their opening bid in a fight with the White House over raising the governments debt limit. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told reporters late in the day that he thought the bill would still pass this week but acknowledged there were wrinkles that needed to be ironed out. This week we will pass a bill on this floor that will lift the debt ceiling something the Senate has not done, something the president has not negotiated and send it over to the Senate, McCarthy said. Asked how he would ensure passage while also vowing to make no changes to the bill to win over needed GOP votes, McCarthy said, The same way weve done it every week when you talk to me about every other bill we bring to the floor. Remember what this bill is: This bill is to get us to the negotiating table. Its not the final provisions, and theres a number of members who will vote for it going forward to say theres some concerns there. To Be Watered Down? Holding a 222-213 margin in the House, McCarthy can lose only four Republican votes and still be able to pass the bill if all the representatives show up and vote along party lines. However, one Democratic member, Dan Kildee (Mich.), is expected to be out all week as he recovers from cancer surgery, meaning the Democratic vote would top out at 212. When the day began, Republicans had hoped for a smooth process in which the bill would go through the Rules Committee on Tuesday and be on the floor Wednesday. But McCarthys remarks cast doubt on that timeline. Potential cracks in the GOP lines persisted. A group of ethanol proponents was reportedly upset with the bills cancellation of many green tax breaks. Others were concerned the bill did not go far enough in its cuts or it would get watered down. Story continues My question is, is this what leadership is going to demand from the Senate, or are we going to get something watered down? Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) told HuffPost. Norman was one of a group of House Republicans who voted against McCarthy becoming speaker until he agreed to a list of their policy demands. Its a good bill, to be honest with you. It does a lot of what the 20 of us did in January, but theyre going to have to follow through on it. My question is, is this what leadership is going to demand from the Senate, or are we going to get something watered down?Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) Some were publicly noncommittal, though likely for different reasons. I have a lot of questions, said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), the co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, who is seen as a moderate in the party. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said he was ecumenical on the changes being discussed but otherwise declined to disclose his stance. Massie has a deep libertarian streak and has taken to wearing a digital counter in his jacket pocket that tracks the national debt. Fewer Medicaid, Food Assistance Recipients The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the bill would cut the budget deficit by $4.8 trillion over 11 years, with the bulk of that savings coming from caps the bill would place on the annual funding voted on by lawmakers. If adhered to, the caps would cut about $3.2 trillion from the pool of yearly appropriations to agencies including the Pentagon, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency. The bills savings would be even larger, but it includes one provision that would boost the deficit: taking back money the Internal Revenue Service was given to hire more than 80,000 new employees. Because the IRS was expected to get more money through tougher enforcement of tax laws with more manpower, taking the money back for those workers would mean the government would lose out on $191 billion over 11 years, the CBO said. The CBO said other parts of the bill, meant to impose new or additional work requirements on some recipients of Medicaid and food assistance, would mean reductions in the number of people on those programs. It estimated that Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for the poor, would see 600,000 lose their coverage. About 275,000 people, on average, would lose eligibility for food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program each month, and 19,000 more would see their benefits reduced, the CBO said. The bill would suspend the debt limit until March 31, 2024, or until the Treasury had used $1.5 trillion in borrowing authority, whichever arrived earlier. Boost From Deficit Hawks The bill, if it passes the House, would almost certainly not become law given the Democrats hold on the Senate and the threat of President Joe Bidens veto pen. But if it did, the effect on the economy would be harmful compared with passage of a clean debt limit bill, according to a report by Moodys Analytics, a financial analysis firm. While the economy skirts recession in both scenarios, recession risks are uncomfortably high, with a consensus of economists and many investors and business executives expecting a downturn beginning late this year or early next. The timing of the government spending cuts in [the bill] is thus especially inopportune as it would meaningfully increase the likelihood of such a downturn, the company said. The bill did get a boost from the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, which said the proposed spending cuts should be seen in light of a run-up in appropriations since 2017. The cuts in annual spending would still leave it in 2024 at about $125 billion above what former President Donald Trump had proposed in his final budget. These caps are aggressive but reasonable and achievable assuming lawmakers consider all parts of the discretionary budget when meeting these caps, the deficit hawk group said. Additional reporting was provided by Arthur Delaney. Related... The Republican majority of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday expressed support for pushing through a resolution that would audit the Biden administrations military assistance to Ukraine, despite Democratic opposition. The resolution gained Republican support in an initial voice vote during a committee markup. A recorded vote of the full committee was postponed until Friday. The resolution, H.Res 300, was introduced by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), and calls for the president and secretary of defense to transmit to Congress all documents indicating any plans for current or future military assistance to Ukraine. House Democrats said the measure would undermine strong, bipartisan support for robust assistance to Ukraine to fend off Russias more than year-long war of aggression against the country. Rep. Kathy Manning (D-N.C.), called the measure divisive and ill advised and said it is a partisan political ploy, and the height of legislative irresponsibility that jeopardizes U.S. national security and partnership with European allies and Ukraine. Passage of this measure would represent a gift to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and his Kremlin cronies and provide visibility into the plans our military and intelligence leaders strive to protect at all costs. Therefore, we must reject it, she said. A similar measure introduced by Gaetz in the previous Congress failed to pass what was then the Democrat-majority committee. But it still gained the votes of all Republican members, underscoring the GOPs effort to portray itself as the party of oversight on U.S. assistance to Ukraine. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), expressing support for continued U.S. assistance to Ukraine, said during the hearing that he supported H. Res. 300 because every dollar counts. U.S. support is enduring. But it is not without the strings of accountability, he said. I support this resolution, as it is consistent with House Republicans oversight agenda and of the U.S. Ukraine aid. Story continues But that position was criticized by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), saying the resolution is in line with public positions from Gaetz and far-right allies like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who have opposed all U.S. assistance to Ukraine. Gaetz earlier this year introduced the Ukraine Fatigue Resolution which would direct the U.S. to end all American military and economic assistance to Ukraine approximately $45 billion has been provided since Putin launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022. If we pass a resolution authored by Mr. Gaetz and Ms. Greene, we are sending an unequivocal message I do not believe you intend or I intend with respect to Ukraine, Connolly directed toward Issa. Were in a war. Children are dying. maternity hospitals are being blown to smithereens by a depraved sociopath in the Kremlin. This is no time to send any signal to those brave people, that we waver one iota in our ongoing support. The bill text also includes a provision requiring the Pentagon to describe to Congress documents related to U.S. special forces deployed on the ground in Ukraine. The Pentagon has said a small number of Marines are providing security at the U.S. embassy and helping with weapons oversight, however critics in the GOP have warned having U.S. troops anywhere in Ukraine raises the risk of direct conflict with Russia. Issa sought to speak to those concerns in Wednesdays hearing. The small U.S. military presence in Ukraine, along with and providing embassy security, is critical to U.S. defense attache efforts to monitor the U.S. weapons provided to Ukraine, Issa said. Let me make it clear. They are not able to fight, they are not forces against Russia or in any way supporting directly the war effort. Instead they are on the frontlines of the oversight efforts. Gaetz introduced his bill as a Resolution of Inquiry, and that compelled the House Foreign Affairs Committee to bring up the text for consideration within 14 days or allowed the Florida lawmaker to force a vote on the floor of the House. A recorded committee vote on Friday is likely to gain the full support of the Republican majority, and allow the text to be reported favorably out of the House Foreign Affairs panel. But Issa said this did not automatically lead to a vote on the House floor. It is unclear if all Republicans would rally behind the legislation text, with the majority of members on both sides of the aisle keen to project bipartisan U.S. support for Ukraine. Issa said the committees actions Wednesday cut off what would have been a guaranteed pathway to a full House vote. If we did not act, if we did not hold this today based on the number of days then it would automatically go to the floor. And thats one of the reasons that, as we all know here on the committee, we have statutory responsibility to consider these and either reject or accept but regardless, the privilege ends today, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A bipartisan group of House lawmakers are introducing a resolution calling for the United States to support an outright victory for Ukraine in its war against Russia. Republican Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina emphasised the need to not make the mistakes of history. We must not repeat the error of Sept. 1, 1939, he said in reference to efforts to prevent the Nazis from invading Poland. The resolution would require a full review from the House Foreign Affairs Committee before it goes to the House floor. Yahoo! News first reported on the resolution. The text affirms that it is the policy of the United States to see Ukraine victorious against the invasion and restored to its internationally recognized 1991 borders. That year marked when the Soviet Union collapsed and an independent Ukraine emerged. But in 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin seized Crimea, which the United States did not stop. In addition, Mr Putin has supported separatists in Luhansk and Donetsk, known collectively as the Donbas. Mr Wilson is sponsoring the legislation with Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee, who co-chairs the Helsinki Commission that was co-foundeed in 1976 to ensure Russia abided by its international agreements. The only way to maintain peace is through strength, Mr Wilson said, referencing former president Ronald Reagan. The resolution comes as House Republicans have become increasingly hostile to sending aid to Ukraine. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said that the United States would not give a blank check to the country as it defends itself from Russias onslaught. Similarly, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has proposed legislation to audit speding in Ukraine. In addition, many Republicans criticised President Joe Biden for visiting Ukraine earlier this year on Presidents Day. A federal judge has sentenced the former chairman of the Riviera Beach Housing Authority to 15 months in federal prison following his guilty plea in December to a charge of extortion, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Friday. Delvin Thomas, 44, also must pay $9,400, the amount prosecutors said he obtained by pressuring a real-estate broker to pay him a commission on land purchased by the housing authority for low-income housing. Thomas entered his plea Dec. 16 and faced up to 20 years in prison. The housing authority in April 2019 was looking to purchase a parcel of land in Riviera Beach to use for a low-income rental property. Thomas, who was chairman of the agency at the time, introduced a real-estate broker to the person responsible for purchasing the property. Fatal stabbing: Man facing murder charge after co-worker's bleeding body found in van near Wellington West Palm homicide: She told him she didn't want that gun in their home. Then it fired, and she was dead. Was it self-defense? Argument over friend's debt led to West Palm fatal shooting, police say After the agency hired the broker, Thomas demanded half of the 3 percent commission the broker was set to receive from the $631,000 sale, according to court documents. At closing, the broker was paid $18,930 with Thomas collecting half. To hide the payments, Thomas contacted a third party who used a business account to deposit two checks from the payout, prosecutors said. The third party then issued checks to a company owned by Thomas, falsely stating in the memo sections that the payments were for consulting services. Thomas was a member of the housing authority from 2010 to 2020. Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on Twitter at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Former Riviera Beach housing official sentenced in federal extortion case Randall Cooke called his wife on the evening of April 19 to let her know that he was about to complete his last Uber Eats delivery of the day and would be home soon, his wife, Kathy Cooke, said in a Facebook post shared by her daughter. But Randall Cooke did not return home that evening. Instead, his remains were found in trash bags two days later at the address where he logged his last delivery, according to the Pasco Sheriffs Office in New Port Richey, Florida. One of the homes residents, Oscar Adrian Solis, 30, who officials say is affiliated with the gang MS-13, has been arrested and charged with murder. This is demonic Deputies began searching for Cooke after his family reported him missing on the night of April 19, Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said during a news conference posted on Facebook. He had last been seen in Holiday at around 2:30 p.m. that day, according to the sheriffs office. His wife had heard from him by phone just before 6:45 p.m., when he told her he was about to drop off food for an Uber Eats delivery and would return shortly, Nocco said. Cookes wife wrote on Facebook that she tried calling both of his phones when he didnt come home, but both had been turned off. Detectives with the sheriffs offices missing persons unit contacted Uber Eats to find out his last-known GPS coordinates and went to a house on Moog Road in Holiday, about 35 miles northwest of Tampa, Nocco said. They originally saw nothing suspicious at the house, Nocco said, but when they returned the next day, April 21, they spoke to a roommate of Solis, who gave them video footage from outside the house. The footage shows the victim, who authorities did not name during the news conference, on April 19 approaching the door to deliver food before the video cuts out, Nocco said. Footage from the following day, April 20, shows Solis and another person carrying trash bags out of the house, he said. Detectives asked to go through the trash bags and found human remains inside, Nocco said. Story continues Deputies arrested Solis on April 21 on charges of violation of parole and failing to register as a convicted felon, Nocco said. Solis, who Nocco described as a violent individual, moved to Florida from Indiana in January and has a lengthy criminal record in that state. He is also affiliated with MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, which has a presence across the U.S. and is involved in multiple criminal activities, including weapons smuggling, illegal firearms sales and drug distribution, according to the Department of Justice. Detectives continued to investigate and identified the remains found at the residence on April 24, Nocco said. They also found the victims wedding ring and car keys in the house. The Pasco Sheriffs Office did not identify the remains as belonging to Cooke, but his family members identified him on social media and to news outlets. Solis was charged on April 24 with murder while engaged in robbery, according to Pasco County jail records. This was absolutely a horrific crime of passion, Nocco said. This is demonic. Nocco said detectives were still working to figure out why the killing took place. There was a gentleman who was working, doing his last delivery of the night, and this person killed him for no reason and took him away from his family, he said. Solis is being held without bond, according to jail records. Heart of gold Loved ones posted messages on social media asking for support for Cookes family after he went missing. In a post shared by her daughter, Brittany Dzoba, Cookes wife wrote that he was a stepfather to her two daughters, and he also had two daughters and a son. Randy was a hardworking, loving, kind and caring man who cared deeply about his family and friends, she wrote. A GoFundMe page created for the family describes Cooke as having a heart of gold. An Uber spokesperson said in a statement that the company had been in close touch with the sheriffs office throughout the investigation. We are heartbroken by the news of this horrific crime, the statement says. There is no reason why Mr. Cooke shouldnt be home with his family today, and we are keeping his loved ones in our thoughts. DoorDash driver assaulted during delivery, Florida cops say. Then her family saves her Papa Johns driver fatally shot during Indiana delivery, reports say. Loving father City councilmans daughter dies in crossfire while driving for Lyft, Georgia cops say Music robots and motorhomes: China's tourism upgrades amid accelerated recovery Xinhua) 08:11, April 26, 2023 WUHAN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Robots performing kung fu, interactive murals and deluxe camps -- tourists returning to Chinese scenic spots this year may find many new services on offer. Chinese tourists are coming back with a vengeance, having made 1.22 billion domestic tourist trips in the first quarter of this year. In response, the country's tourism sector is actively developing new technologies and products to heat up the market. The just-concluded China (Wuhan) Culture and Tourism Expo, which attracted 2,000 exhibitors from home and abroad, has offered a glimpse into the shift toward high-quality development. Tourists visit the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, April 21, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) INDUSTRY UPGRADES A variety of new technologies have been stealing the spotlight at the expo, from VR tours, robot guides to intelligent wearables, that are vying for a place in Chinese museums and scenic spots. Meet "Crinoid," a humanoid robot playing dulcimer at the expo. It is designed to read music scores, compose music and stage musical performances. "We are discussing collaborations with several tourist sites, where our robots can be deployed to entertain the tourists," said Zhou Li, head of Crinoid's development team at the China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). "People are really interested in this new type of performance. What's more, the robot can perform for longer hours at a lower cost," said Zhou. Industry observers have pointed to the increasing use of new technologies in the tourist sector to not only raise management efficiency but also cater to the rising demand for unconventional travel experiences. "Technologies such as 5G, big data and cloud computing have been widely used in the tourism sector in recent years to develop new tourist products and business models," said Fu Caiwu, head of the National Institute of Cultural Development in Wuhan University. "For instance, many tourist sites are now harnessing mobile internet and livestreaming to attract visitors. This has become a new promotion strategy," said Fu. Other tourist attractions are embracing burgeoning new forms of tourism, such as camping and nighttime travel, to appeal to the wealthier and younger holidaymakers. Prior to the expo, more than 200 tents were set up along the East Lake of Wuhan, where exhibitors showcased motorhomes and camping equipment to the visitors. On Shuangfeng Mountain in Hubei Province, a campsite with over 100 motorhomes is crowded with barbecuers seeking a respite from the urban hustle and bustle. Hu Xiaojun, manager of the campsite, said all the motorhomes had been booked up 20 days ahead of the upcoming May Day holiday. Though new to Chinese holidayers, camping has seen explosive growth in China. Data from research firm iiMedia Research shows that the core market size of China's camping economy reached 113.47 billion yuan (about 16.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022, up from 74.75 billion yuan in 2021. The figure is expected to hit a new high this year. Dai Bin, president of China Tourism Academy, said leisure tourism is now welcomed by a greater number of Chinese people as China enters into a moderately prosperous society. "Moreover, the epidemic has boosted demand for local and short-distance travels, which also contributes to the emergence of new leisure tourism such as camping," said Dai. People enjoy camping at the Donghu Lake scenic area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) NEW DESTINATIONS China saw nearly 1.22 billion domestic tourist trips in the first quarter of 2023, up 46.5 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Both the Spring Festival and the Qingming Festival recorded significant yearly rises in the number of tours. The number of inbound and outbound flights in popular tourist destinations such as Hangzhou, Chengdu, Sanya and Dali rose by 20 percent in March from the same period in 2019, according to travel service provider Qunar. In the first quarter of 2023, hotel bookings in popular tourist cities grew by 60 percent from pre-epidemic levels. "March is usually an off-season for travel, but this year the tourism market has seen better-than-expected recovery," said Guo Lechun, vice head of the big data research institute of Qunar. The market rebound is also reflected by the number of newly founded tourism-related companies in the first three months of this year, which according to Qichacha, a leading platform offering company information inquiry services, reached 79,900. The ongoing travel frenzy has created unlikely tourist hotspots. Zibo, an industrial city in Shandong Province, has become one of the most popular tourist spots in China after its iconic barbecue, which wraps grilled meat in crispy pancakes, made waves on the social media. The sudden influx of foodies from across China has reportedly overwhelmed local eateries and prompted local authorities to add trains and temporary bus routes. Tourists have also swarmed into Jiangmen, a coastal city in the southern province of Guangdong where the popular Chinese TV series "The Knockout" was filmed. According to the local government, the number of trips into the city between January and February surged by about 68 percent year on year. People visit the Hong Kong pavilion during the 2nd China (Wuhan) Culture and Tourism Expo in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, April 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) Overseas destinations have also begun to feel the excitement rippling from China's fast-recovering tourism market. Thailand for instance saw 269,745 Chinese tourist arrivals in March, a 70-percent increase from February, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. During the first four days of April, the country welcomed no fewer than 8,000 Chinese tourists per day. At the Wuhan expo, officials and tourist practitioners from 15 countries and regions, including the United States, France, Germany and Serbia, were promoting their products and seeking cooperation with local partners. "We are focusing on promoting Serbia as a tourist destination, and developing more business relations with Chinese travel agencies during the expo," said Vladimir Koricanac, managing partner with Serbia Tour Operation Group. "China's tourism industry is rebounding now, and I believe it will be renewed in full capacity this year as it was before," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) You cant say Ice Spice fans arent dedicated. A Georgia fan went to the trouble of paying for an entire billboard to invite the Bronx rapper to his college graduation. As hes known on Instagram, Lil Munchy Baby announced he graduated from Atlanta Metropolitan State College with a Mass Communications degree. Dear Ice Spice, Im feelin u, love Munchy. Youre invited to my graduation on May 5th. Please DM, the sign reads. The accompanying photo shows Munchy Baby posing in his graduation cap while lying on a throne and flexing wads of cash. Court ordered to go to school is crazy, but I did it and kept my head up high I graduated and actually got a degree finna walk the stage, and I need bae there tag @icespice for me. Just embracing my inner munch, he captioned the Instagram post. in a separate post, the aspiring rapper shared that only a few people know his story. Only a few people know my story; truthfully, music and my gang saved my life. You could say that I was forced to go back to school, but I learned to have gratitude cuz a N*gga coulda been locked up, he captions his post on Instagram. Shit took us 11 years but we here. Thank God for everything we aint nun without him[.] If you proud of me, stream Pull Up today, he continued. Fans have also tagged the Bikini Bottom artist in Lil Munchy Babys comments section in an attempt to grab Ice Spices attention, but it remains to be seen if the request has gotten on Spices radar. @icespice, come watch my little bro walk the stage! one user wrote. Spice never graduated, having dropped out of SUNY Purchase in New York around her second year. She also studied communications. I left because I felt like I was in the wrong place, the 23-year-old told XXL in an interview earlier this year. Ice Spice has become a breakout star since emerging on the rap scene last August with the massively successful single Munch (Feelin U). The New Yorker followed that up with hits like Bikini Bottom and In Ha Mood. Spice then released her EP Like..? in January, which contained the hit Princess Diana. Story continues She later created a remix of the song with Nicki Minaj, which debuted on April 14. Her success continued earlier this week when Spice and Minajs Princess Diana (Remix) debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking her second top 10 track after Boys a Liar Pt. 2 with PinkPantheress. Ice Spice earns her second entry inside the Top 10 of Billboard Hot 100 with Princess Diana (Remix). pic.twitter.com/yK0Quj6yxu Pop Base (@PopBase) April 24, 2023 She has yet to respond to the fans request, so it looks like its a waiting game to see if Spice will decide to attend. Update: Idaho Falls police said in a news release Tuesday night that Maya Jones was located. They did not indicate where or what her condition was. Below is the original story. The Idaho Falls Police Department is asking for the publics help in locating a missing, endangered teenage girl. Maya Jones, 16, is believed to be with 32-year-old Tigan Howes in the Boise area. They may be traveling in a gold 2001 Toyota Camry with license plate 8BAE54U. Jones, who is Black, has black hair and brown eyes, and is approximately 5-foot-8 and 115 pounds. Howes, who is white, is 5-7 and weighs 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone who sees Jones, Howes or the vehicle is asked to contact their local law enforcement immediately, according to a news release. Anyone who has information that may help locate Jones can contact the Idaho Falls Police Department at 208-529-1200 and ask to speak with Detective Gramm. The Fresno County Superior Court is among at least 10 across California that have ended a late-fee program for traffic tickets that preyed on low-income people of color to generate money for the court systems, according to an attorney and civil rights organizations that sued over the practice. The Fresno court was among the 10 worst in the state at imposing the program, attorney Zal Shroff told The Bee. In one fiscal year alone, 2018-19, the court collected roughly $5 million in late fees from more than 10,000 low-income Fresno residents, said Shroff, an attorney with the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay area. The Fresno court didnt respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Merrill Balassone, a spokeswoman with the state Judicial Council, said she couldnt comment on pending litigation. Shroff was the lead counsel on a lawsuit brought by his organization, the ACLU Foundation of Northern California, and Bay Area Legal Aid last year against the San Mateo Superior Court and then the Judicial Council of California. On Tuesday, the organizations announced the end of their lawsuit, calling it a victory in a fight that had been ongoing for a long time. Their lawsuit argued the legality of exorbitant court late fees known as civil assessments which California had encouraged courts to use to raise revenues, the organizations said in their announcement. Just in the last 10 years, $700 million were taken from low-income communities of color who predominantly are already over-policed at traffic stops, Shroff said. The only people who are being charged this fee, are the people who cant afford to pay on time, and those are the people who are funding to run the court systems. The organizations filed a resolution for dismissal based on a settlement reached with the Judicial Council and the San Mateo court. As a result of the organizations lawsuit, the San Mateo County Superior Court announced it would no longer use this practice, and the Judicial Council issued new guidance for courts in the state. The Fresno court is among at least nine other courts that followed the direction of the San Mateo court to discontinue this particular program, Shroff said. Story continues A new piece of legislation that passed in the wake of the organizations lawsuit also already has made a significant difference. All the debt that was outstanding up until July when the new law Assembly Bill 199 passed, Shroff said, is now eliminated statewide. What that means is that we eliminated about $1 billion of late fee debt for, I want to say, up to 1 million low-income Californians, he said. It was impacting a huge number of people with serious debt burden. The Judicial Council in its guidance says it has updated its policy on the fees, and had been working to alleviate financial pressures for individuals struggling with court debt, especially after the passage of AB 199. The civil rights organizations said the unlawful late fee programs ... penalized poverty. Shroff explained this particular program had been in place for about 20 years, and it came from the time of mass incarceration in California. The courts, he said, went into a fiscal crisis because they didnt have the staff to handle the caseloads. Instead of the states Legislature providing more funding, he said, the courts were told to charge the people they were prosecuting. What we had is this late-fee scheme that was purely about revenue generation, he said. Comparisons to Ferguson police This practice, Shroff said, aligns with the strategies the Ferguson (Missouri) Police Department had in place that also preyed on low-income people for funding. You can see that playing out in California, he said, with these kind of schemes, as well. The maximum amount the courts were allowed to charge was $300 for a late fee under this program, he said, with most courts imposing the maximum amount. That program... was basically an automated computerized system, Shroff said, that as as soon as you missed your first payment deadline, you suddenly had a bill thats $300 more than it was before. AB 199 also reduced the maximum late-fee amount for traffic tickets to $100 effective July 2022, but the goal of the organizations is to get all courts to eliminate the program. The late fees were also a fundamental violation of due process and Constitutional rights, Shroff said. The victory announced on Tuesday, Shroff said, is an important step, but more work remains to be done as there are more fees imposed on people going through the criminal justice system, even for minor offenses. Stephanie Campos-Bui, an assistant clinical professor of law at the University of California, Berkeleys School of Law and Policy Advocacy Clinic, said California law previously authorized the criminal legal system to charge people with over 90 different fees. Over 40 have been eliminated to date but there are several that still remain, including fees to seal records, for parole supervision, for counseling programs, among others, she told The Bee in an email. The organizations goal, Shroff said, is to eliminate all fees currently on the books. Its really important, I think, for the public to understand that even the court isnt above the law, he said, and that we need to hold our government institutions to account when they harm the communities that they are meant to be serving. Suella Braverman - PA Illegal migrants are fuelling crime and prostitution, Suella Braverman has warned, as her small boats Bill cleared the Commons on Wednesday with a majority of 59. Speaking ahead of the Third Reading debate, the Home Secretary said migrants crossing the English Channel on small boats were linked to heightened levels of criminality. "I think that the people coming here illegally do possess values which are at odds with our country," she said. "We are seeing heightened levels of criminality when related to the people who've come on boats, related to drug dealing, exploitation, prostitution. "There are real challenges which go beyond the migration issue of people coming here illegally. We need to ensure that we bring an end to the boat crossings." The Illegal Migration Bill which was passed by 289 votes to 230 gives ministers powers to detain nearly all migrants who arrive in the UK illegally and swiftly remove them to their home country or a third safe nation such as Rwanda. Asked to provide evidence for her comments on criminality at a subsequent event in Westminster, she said it was based on information from police chiefs. "I consider police chiefs experts in their field and authoritative sources of information," she said. It was not in all cases, but she added: It is becoming a notable feature of everyday crime-fighting in England and Wales. Many people are coming here illegally and theyre getting very quickly involved in the drugs trade, in other forms of exploitation. Migrant arrivals via small boats have increased in recent years - Stuart Brock / Story Picture Agency National Crime Agency chiefs warned last year that a significant number of the Albanians in the UK who had entered illegally were working in the grey market or for organised criminal drug gangs and were sending back hundreds of millions of pounds a year to Albania. Ministers avoided any Conservative backbench rebellions over the Bill as none of the MPs pushed their amendments to a vote. They warned, however, that ministers could face votes against them in the Lords if they did not come forward with further concessions. Story continues Theresa May and Sir Iain Duncan Smith, both former Tory leaders, had sought to exempt victims of modern slavery in the UK from being removed. Mrs May warned that the Bill would leave more people in slavery in the UK, calling it a "slap in the face" for anyone who cares about the victims of human trafficking. Victims forced 'to remain in slavery' She told the Commons: "Modern slavery is the greatest human rights issue of our time. The approach in this Bill, I believe, will have several ramifications. I believe it will consign victims to remain in slavery." Sir Iain said: "We need to send the right signals about this and I think the problem with this Bill right now is it's unnecessarily now targeting a group of people that are not the problem, themselves will suffer, and ironically we will fail as a government through the home affairs end of it because the police simply won't be able to get those prosecutions." Tim Loughton, a former minister, welcomed the Governments concessions on safe and legal routes, with ministers drawing up plans for such schemes within six months of the Bill becoming law. But he warned: We need to see some real and workable details in the coming months as the Bill goes through the Lords." Mr Loughton has also secured concessions on the detention of unaccompanied children, whereby any extension of the period they are held has to be sanctioned by judges and in accord with ministers obligations under the Childrens Act. He said he would not be pushing his amendment to a vote but wanted the Government to specify a time limit on child detention. We are not going to force it to a (vote) because I trust the migration minister to do the right thing before this Bill finalises its stages, said Mr Loughton. MPs on the Conservative Right had previously secured amendments giving the Home Secretary discretion to ignore last-minute injunctions by the European Court of Human Rights. This is likely to be one of the most contentious elements of the Bill when it starts its passage through the Lords. If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE & online.rainn.org). E. Jean Carroll detailed her rape allegations against Donald Trump in civil court on Wednesday, while the ex-president and 2024 Republican presidential candidate attacked the lawsuit as politically motivated. "I'm here because Donald Trump raped me," Carroll said during the first day of testimony in her defamation lawsuit against the ex-president. On his Truth Social website, Trump who is not attending the trial said that "this is a fraudulent & false story." Opening statements: A New York jury considers whether Donald Trump raped and defamed E. Jean Carroll Depositions:A New York jury considers whether Donald Trump raped and defamed E. Jean Carroll U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan admonished Trump's legal team about the posts and suggested that the defendant is risking a contempt of court citation. Among the developments: Carroll's testimony A professional writer, Carroll testified that Trump attacked her after a chance encounter at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in 1996. Carroll has said she was fearful of going public because Trump would have tried to demonize her, something she testified the then-president did after she discussed the incident in a 2019 memoir. On the stand, Carroll acknowledged that she flirted with Trump and accompanied him to a dressing room. Carroll said their friendly conversation turned ugly and Trump forced himself upon her over her objections. E. Jean Carroll After accusing him of rape in her testimony, Carroll added: "When I wrote about it, he said it didnt happen. He lied and shattered my reputation, and Im here to try and get my life back." Trump attacks Before Carroll took the stand, Trump on social media again questioned the plaintiff's veracity and claimed that the lawsuit is politically motivated. Story continues "She didnt scream?" Trump said at one point. "There are no witnesses? Nobody saw this? She never made a police complaint?" Carroll's lawyers brought up the posts to Kaplan, who admonished Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina. The judge said Trump appears to be trying to tell supporters and perhaps jurors about issues that are not pertinent to the case. First witness Carroll's lawyers opened their case with a former employee at Bergdorf Goodman. Cheryl Beall, a store manager at the time, talked about how spacious the store was and that it was set up almost like an apartment. Trump is not on trial for a criminal charge of rape Because this is a civil case, Trump's not at risk of a criminal conviction for sexual assault; it is a potential civil judgment against him for millions of dollars, based on grisly evidence. Carroll's lawsuit accuses Trump of defamation lying about her after she wrote about the alleged rape in a 2019 memoir. A 'strange sisterhood:'How a strange sisterhood of #MeToo accusers is reacting to Trumps indictment in hush money case Trump and 'Me Too:'Two women dealt a blow to Donald Trump's power. In a post-#MeToo era, will he fall? In a post in October, Trump said on social media that Carroll was "a complete con job" and that he couldn't have assaulted her because she was "not my type." The civil trial began a month after a New York grand jury indicted Trump on criminal charges stemming from hush money payments to an ex-mistress. Trump is also under criminal investigation in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., over efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia, his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House and the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021. This lawsuit stems from a new law Last year, New York State passed a law last year allowing the victims of sexual assault to sue their attackers, no matter how long ago the incident took place. Carroll, who filed an initial lawsuit against Trump in 2019, filed another action in November under New York's new Adult Survivors Act. It gave victims of abuse a one-year window in which to file lawsuits, even if the statute of limitation has run out on any potential crimes. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Donald Trump raped me': E. Jean Carroll testifies inn defamation case A graphic image of multiple burnt bodies is being shared in online posts in Kenya with claims it shows a cult-related massacre, which took place in Uganda in 2000. While such an indicent did indeed happen, this picture is unrelated. It shows the aftermath of an oil tanker explosion in DR Congo that killed more than 230 people in 2010. AFP Fact Check previously debunked the same image in relation with another false claim. On April 24, 2023, a Kenyan Twitter account posted an image of charred bodies, alleging that it showed members of a Ugandan church who died by immolation. 17 March 2000, Kanungu Uganda. 778 members of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God died in Uganda after burning themselves in a Church (sic), reads the tweet, which was shared more than 600 times. A screenshot of the false tweet, taken on April 25, 2023 The same claim was repeated in Facebook posts here, here and here. The image surfaced as mass graves linked to a starvation cult were discovered in Kenya (news story archived here). Self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie Nthenge had urged his followers to starve to death. After a tip-off, Kenyan police raided Shakahola forest near the coastal town of Malindi where they unearthed dozens of bodies including children in shallow mass graves. More than two decades before the macabre discovery in Kenya, a cultic massacre was reported (archived here) in neighbouring Uganda where some 700 members of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God were burned to death. Members of the cult, which believed the world would end at the turn of the millennium, were locked inside a church, with the doors and windows nailed shut from the outside. The building was then set alight. DRC photo from 2010 But while the 2000 cult massacre in Uganda did take place, the graphic image shared in the online posts is unrelated. A reverse image search locates the image on stock photography website Shutterstock (archived here), where it is credited to the European Pressphoto Agency (EPA). Story continues In the EPA archives, which are only available to paid subscribers, the image is captioned: "A photo made available on 04 July 2010 shows burned bodies of the victims of an oil tanker explosion near Sange, South Kivu province, easter Democratic Republic of the Congo, 03 July 2020". A screenshot of the image and its caption in the EPA archives AFP also reported the 2010 tanker accident here (archived here). AFP Fact Check has debunked the same image several times in relation to other false claims including in Nigeria, where users alleged the picture showed "Christians burnt alive by Muslims" in the West African country. Dr. Kylie Cooper was one of only nine maternal-fetal medicine physicians in Idaho. Dr. Kylie Cooper was one of only nine maternal-fetal medicine physicians in Idaho. Panic was the first thing Dr. Kylie Cooper felt when her home state of Idaho implemented a near-total abortion ban following the repeal of federal protections last year. As a maternal-fetal medicine physician in the largest hospital in the state, Cooper wasnt used to feeling panicky. Her job working with high-risk obstetric patients didnt allow for anxiety or fear. She was good at working under pressure, but this was different. Every time I was on call since the ban went into place, I had so much anxiety. What if I get that call and theyre previable? What are we going to do? Theres just fear there, Cooper told HuffPost. And anytime you insert fear into medical decision-making, its not a good situation. Cooper had worked for nearly five years at St. Lukes hospital in Boise, which saw between 350 to 400 births a month. She started to have trouble sleeping. Lying awake at night, she pictured her patients faces and remembered their circumstances: some with complicated fetal abnormalities, others with pregnancy conditions threatening their own lives. What am I going to do if that type of patient shows up again? How are we going to navigate this? she thought, staring at her bedroom ceiling. Her worst fears came true weeks after the ban went into effect, when she had to tell a patient that her pregnancy had a significant fetal abnormality. Cooper cried with the devastated couple in her office, and realized her hands were tied. She couldnt offer any more care they had to go elsewhere. The immense and needless suffering set off by the ban was just too much for Cooper to bear. It often rendered her helpless at work. And personally, she was not comfortable raising her young daughters in Idaho. We cannot raise them here, a place where they dont have a right over what happens to their own bodies, she said. So Cooper and her family picked up and moved to another state seven months after the abortion ban went into effect. It was not an easy decision, but she felt it was a necessary one. There are only nine maternal-fetal medicine specialists in the entire state of Idaho. Cooper is one of four who have left or decided to leave since the states near-total abortion ban went into effect last year. Story continues A crisis of care is quickly unfolding in Idaho. There are two abortion bans currently in place: a six-week ban that allows private citizens to sue people who violate the law, and a near-total ban, also known as the trigger ban, that carries criminal penalties and automatically went into effect after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Between them, the two abortion bans allow for few exceptions and carry a slew of punishments for physicians. The penalties range from civil suits with fines starting at $20,000 to the permanent suspension of a medical license and the threat of felony charges that carry a maximum of five years in prison. The near-total ban was especially insidious in its first six months because it included an affirmative defense law that essentially asserted any doctor who provided an abortion was guilty until proven innocent. (Scary is an understatement, Cooper said of the statute.) A bill amending the trigger ban, which strikes the affirmative defense statute and clarifies that removing a nonviable fetus or an ectopic pregnancy does not qualify as an abortion, passed this legislative session. Many medical professionals were critical of the amendment, noting that the law still includes felony punishment and there continues to be no true exceptions for the life and health of the pregnant person. The feelings of helplessness and the threat of prison time for simply doing their jobs are forcing some providers to leave Idaho. Nearly 50% of maternal health doctors in Idaho are considering leaving the state in the next year, according to a survey conducted by the Idaho Coalition for Safe Reproductive Health Care. An additional 27% responded they are maybe considering leaving the state. Providers are leaving and the bottom line is that women and families cannot access quality pregnancy care if there are no qualified providers to care for them, Cooper said. We are already seeing the ripple effects from the abortion bans. Cooper with moving boxes in her new home. Cooper with moving boxes in her new home. Idaho already has the lowest physician-to-population ratio in the country, but its poised to get much worse.Dr. John Werdel, the medical director for womens services at St. Lukes, said the abortion bans are making it harder to recruit and retain physicians. He estimates that at least nine womens health physicians, including Cooper, have left or are in the process of leaving the state because of the abortion ban. These laws are decimating our workforce, he told HuffPost. Werdel believes even more providers will eventually leave, but some are holding out hope for a special legislative session this summer that could offer opportunities to loosen criminal punishment for doctors. St. Lukes is the largest employer in the state, with around 15,000 staffers. It has been a well-respected and sought-out hospital in a community that many saw as great for raising a family, Werdel said. Before the abortion ban, there were normally multiple applications for one opening in an average OB-GYN group, and every applicant who was offered a position would accept, he said. Now, the hospital has one, maybe two, applicants for positions that have been open for over a year. It was a pretty good place to come to, and now we have struggled to find adequate candidates for positions that are open, he said. Nobody is seeking out this location anymore. The cost of care is also increasing as a consequence of the near-total abortion ban. Even when physicians know what to do, they may wait another 24 or 48 hours to run more tests to ensure they are protected against legal inquiries, Werdel said. This drives up the cost for a patient who likely didnt need another ultrasound or that extra night at the hospital. Laura Taylor, a labor and delivery nurse at St. Lukes, has also thought about moving out of Idaho. The threat of criminalization for offering health care to pregnant people with complicated pregnancies or life-threatening conditions can be all-consuming. Im seeing a lot of nurses who are wondering if their license is going to be put at risk just by helping patients, by providing the standard of care in these situations, Taylor told HuffPost, adding that several of the nurses on her team have discussed leaving Idaho. In 10 years, I have never made a phone call to our legal department, she said. In the last six months, I have had charge shifts where I have been on the phone with legal more than once to make sure that my nurses who are providing care are going to be protected. Meanwhile, a patient is experiencing the worst day of their lives. Meanwhile, youre making a patient feel like a criminal for showing up for care when they did nothing wrong. The current bans are affecting patients of all kinds. Idahoans with very wanted pregnancies have been forced to continue nonviable pregnancies, magnifying an already traumatic experience and jeopardizing their health. Every week, an average of 30 patients present to our clinics and hospitals with wanted pregnancies complicated by conditions that may require an end to the pregnancy for a myriad of medical reasons, Werdel testified during a committee hearing last month on the bill that amended the trigger ban. Others with unwanted pregnancies are traveling out of state if they can, but many are forced to carry pregnancies to term a dangerous and expensive feat in the U.S. There are providers who can work anywhere. Why would you want to deal with this? Why would you want to have to look at a patient and say, Well this is what needs to be done, but I cant do it. Im not legally allowed to provide you this care. Why would someone choose here?Laura Taylor, a labor and delivery nurse at St. Lukes in Boise Taylor knows about that patient experience firsthand. She and her husband have had four devastating pregnancy losses in recent years, including one right after the near-total ban went into effect last August. Taylor was around seven weeks pregnant when an ultrasound showed slow and irregular cardiac electrical activity a sign she knew meant something was wrong with the fetus. Under the new law, Taylor was faced with an impossible decision: carry the pregnancy until she miscarried, travel out of state to get an abortion, or wait until the nonviable fetus was enough of a threat to her own life that it warranted an exception. I didnt think that I would be carrying a loss again, she said. It continued to show definite signs that something was wrong with the pregnancy, but nothing could be done about it in the state of Idaho. She and her husband decided to wait. If she made it to 12 weeks, she would get a genetic test that would likely show the fetus had some form of lethal anomaly and they would possibly drive to Oregon to get an abortion. For a few weeks in September, Taylor woke up, went to work, delivered babies, cared for new parents, went home and then did it all over again the next day. Everywhere she went, she carried her go-bag stocked with menstrual pads and a toilet hat a plastic bowl-like container normally used to collect urine samples in case she miscarried into the toilet. Throughout those weeks, Taylor kept getting ultrasounds, hoping something had changed. But the scans continued to show the fetus was growing abnormally and confirmed the pregnancy was nonviable. It was heartbreaking. The pregnancy was very much wanted, she said through tears. There were times, she recalled, when her colleagues declined to take care of patients who found out their pregnancies were nonviable. Women who were 17 or 18 weeks along who just found out they were going to lose their wanted pregnancies people having the worst days of their lives and whose providers wouldnt care for them because of the very real threat of criminalization from the states abortion ban. That felt deeply personal to me. I thought, What if this pregnancy makes it six more weeks and then I lose it? Will these nurses refuse to care for me? she said. These are my colleagues and friends people Ive known for 10 years. Taylor started miscarrying around the nine-week mark. She was able to access misoprostol one of two medications used for abortion and miscarriage care through the hospital system because her pregnancy had officially been deemed no longer viable. Idaho has always been a Republican state, but its fervor for anti-abortion rhetoric and far-right ideology has grown in recent years. The states more radical conservative faction has infiltrated the legislature, pushing more and more extreme bills. It used to be that the Idaho Senate was a place where reasonable debate was valued and minds could be changed, but not anymore, Democratic state Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow told HuffPost. The last election drastically changed the makeup of the Senate from more policy minded to politically motivated. There are a solid 10 very conservative members who took out more establishment folks in their primary. And that has forever changed the voting dynamics. Just last month, the legislature passed the first ban on interstate travel for abortion care since Roe fell, banning minors from traveling across state lines to get abortions without parental consent. And this month, state Attorney General Raul Labrador released a legal opinion arguing that health care providers in Idaho are prohibited from referring patients out of state for abortions under the current ban. (Labrador has since withdrawn his initial opinion after Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit; a federal judge in Idaho is expected to rule on the suit in the coming days.) Like Cooper, the physician who left Idaho, state Rep. Lauren Necochea (D) said she has increasing concerns about raising a family in her home state. Despite her parents, her three brothers and their families all living in Idaho, Necochea cant comfortably tell her daughters to stay there. I cant encourage my two daughters to settle in Idaho with the laws we have on the books. I would be terrified to have my daughters try to carry a pregnancy here, she said through tears during a debate on the House floor over the current abortion ban. This is not a safe place to be pregnant. This statute is tearing families apart and is pushing our OB-GYNs out of state. Demonstrators attend an abortion-rights rally outside the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho, on May 14, 2022. Demonstrators attend an abortion-rights rally outside the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho, on May 14, 2022. Huge swaths of Idaho are likely to become maternity care deserts if providers continue to leave the state, and rural areas are especially vulnerable. Two Idaho maternity wards closed their doors in recent months, and at least one closure was directly related to the abortion ban. Bonner General Health in Sandpoint, Idaho, closed its maternity ward in March, citing staffing issues. Highly respected, talented physicians are leaving. Recruiting replacements will be extraordinarily difficult, Bonner General Health said in a press release last month. The Idaho Legislature continues to introduce and pass bills that criminalize physicians for medical care nationally recognized as the standard of care. The closure means providers who are willing to continue helping patients in Idaho will lose jobs in their specialty and may have to relocate. At least 16 OB-GYN nurses will lose their jobs due to Bonner Generals maternity ward closure, Werdel said. Of the 13 other states that have near-total abortion bans, Idaho is the only one that declined to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage this year. The Republican legislature tabled a bill last month that would have expanded critical coverage before the body adjourned for the year. I didnt feel safe in Idaho ... and I didnt feel that my daughters were safe there either.Dr. Kylie Cooper, a maternal-fetal medicine physician Idahos Maternal Mortality Review Committee was established by the Idaho Department of Health in 2019 to track, review and analyze deaths caused by pregnancy-related complications. In 2020, in its first report, the committee found that the state had a maternal death rate that was almost double the national average. Idaho lawmakers declined to renew the committee this session, citing budget issues. The Maternal Mortality Review Committee only cost the state $10,000, writer Jessica Valenti reported. A lack of support for policies that help pregnant women has been exacerbated by continued efforts to criminalize medicine, which put our physician workforce in jeopardy, Dr. Loren Colson, a family medicine physician in Boise, wrote in an op-ed in the Idaho Capital Sun. What will happen when theres more pregnant people due to the abortion ban and less physicians to care for them? It will be more important than ever to review circumstances where the medical system failed and troubleshoot how to prevent the same events from happening again. Yet we will be left without one of our greatest tools to do so by no longer having a Maternal Mortality Review Committee. The provider exodus from Idaho is also impacting those who dont leave. For the physicians that stay, theyre dispirited and have a low-level anxiety which increases their burnout, Werdel said. Its an inability to recruit, an inability to retain, it harms the workforce and it creates risk and harm to our citizens of Idaho that dont deserve this and dont understand it. Taylor, the labor and delivery nurse, is starting a program in June to become a midwife. Shes excited at the opportunity to offer empathetic care as a full-time provider to her patients, who she hopes can benefit from her own experiences with pregnancy loss. Shes optimistic her next step as a provider will be enough for her family to stay in Idaho, but she understands why medical professionals dont want to come to her home state anymore. There are providers who can work anywhere. Why would you want to deal with this? she said. Why would you want to have to look at a patient and say, Well this is what needs to be done, but I cant do it. Im not legally allowed to provide you this care. Why would someone choose here? As for Cooper, she feels like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders since moving. I didnt feel safe in Idaho, she said. I dont think it was something I consciously thought about but now that Im out of there, I realize I didnt feel safe there and I didnt feel that my daughters were safe there either. She recently started her new job, which comes with all the daily stressors and responsibilities shes used to. But now she can just go to work and care for her patients without fear of being thrown in jail. Im able to go back to helping people in the way that I can and the way that they deserve, she said. Thats a huge relief. Major green energy projects are sprouting up across Spain as it seeks to position itself as a future green energy leader -- but experts have urged caution over costs and demand uncertainty. Spanish firms are ramping up production of emissions-free fuel and ploughing investment into green energy projects, despite fears over the high price of production. "Everything is going very fast," said Miguel Angel Fernandez, technical director at the Spanish National Hydrogen Centre, a public research centre based in central Spain. "There are so many projects, it is impossible to keep track of them all." Most hydrogen is currently produced using polluting fossil fuels but so-called "green hydrogen" is made entirely using renewable energy such as wind, solar and hydropower. While fossil fuels emit harmful greenhouse gases when they burn, hydrogen only emits water vapour. Madrid launched a 1.5-billion-euro ($1.7-billion) plan in in 2021 to support green hydrogen projects, using a European Union Covid recovery fund. Spain is now home to 20 percent of the world's green hydrogen projects -- second only to the United States. Last year Spanish energy giant Iberdrola started operating what it says is the largest green hydrogen plant for industrial use in Europe, in the former mining town of Puertollano. The plant uses 100 megawatts of solar panels to produce green hydrogen, which is stored in huge white storage tanks. The initial goal is for it to provide 10 percent of the energy needed by a neighbouring factory belonging to fertiliser maker Fertiberia. This will prevent the release of 48,000 tonnes of planet-warming carbon dioxide per year according to Iberdrola. If the pilot project works, Iberdrola will launch a "much more important second phase" to meet 100 percent of the fertiliser plant's energy needs, said Javier Plaza, head of Iberdrola's green hydrogen division. - Hydrogen valley - Rival Spanish energy firms such as Cepsa and Repsol have in recent months launched similar projects. Story continues In Spain's sunny southern Andalusia region, three billion euros is being invested to create a "green hydrogen valley" where two large factories will produce 300,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year from 2027. In the northern region of Asturias 15 solar power parks will be built by 2030 to enable the annual production of 330,000 tonnes of green hydrogen. Rafael Cossent, research associate professor in energy economics at Madrid's Comillas Pontifical University, said there was an "effervescence" in the sector putting Spain in a leading role in green hydrogen production. This is partly due to Spain's abundant sun and wind power capabilities, he added. The Spanish Hydrogen Association estimates there are currently 50 green hydrogen projects under development in the country. Spain could potentially produce enough green hydrogen to cover its own needs and export to northern Europe, the association argues. - 'Long-term race' - A major drawback for green hydrogen, however, has been the high cost of producing it. While the price of the renewable energy used to make it has come down due to technological advances, green hydrogen has still not proven itself to be economically viable. Massive use of green hydrogen will also require "complex transformations" by vehicles and industrial plants which make future demand for the fuel uncertain, said Cossent. A green hydrogen economy will need a robust transportation infrastructure to transport it -- which Spain is currently lacking. The government is counting on a planned underwater pipeline between Barcelona and Marseille, dubbed H2Med, which is expected to transport some two million metric tonnes of hydrogen annually. Hydrogen is difficult to contain without leakage however, making it challenging to store and transport, so delays to the pipeline are widely expected. But the giants of the green hydrogen market are undeterred. Iberdrola's Plaza said it is important to get into green hydrogen early because "whoever starts first has the advantage". "We are talking about a long-term race," he added. vab/ds/mg/rox/rl Keller Mayor Armin Mizani is calling on the Tarrant Appraisal District to address technological failures that have left Tarrant County homeowners with fewer options for protesting their sky-high property values. Mizani penned a letter to Chief Appraiser Jeff Law and beseeched him to explore all available options to remedy this issue, including extending the May 15 protest deadline. A TAD spokesperson told the Star-Telegram Monday that TAD does not intend to extend the protest deadline, although many county property owners are still unable to access their accounts on TADs website. This is inexcusable, Mizani wrote. Since values started going out last week, Tarrant County many property owners have been unable to access TADs website, with pages locking up, failing to download or timing out. When users finally gain access, the online protest button takes them to a form to schedule a hearing. In prior years, users had the option to enter a different value and receive an immediate settlement offer. Thats known as automated market review. TADs inability to address its website issues, known since 2022, will significantly reduce the window for taxpayers to protest their assessments conveniently and thats only if the repairs are made in time and hold up to what I imagine will be overwhelming website traffic once this tool goes live, Mizani wrote. And, its not just convenient for homeowners; access to this tool is mandated by Texas tax code. A TAD spokesperson said Monday that the automated market review tool will be available within 10 days. Taxpayers should not be on the hook for TADs inability to safeguard its website functions as required by state law, he wrote. Anna Paul has 6.6 million followers on TikTok. Anna Paul via TikTok. The Australian influencer Anna Paul told TikTok she had a bad day and wanted to talk about it. She received some backlash from a handful of commenters who called her "privileged." Paul revealed she's been facing a number of personal struggles while being "financially stable." The Australian influencer Anna Paul has responded to commenters who called her "privileged" after she posted about having a bad day, saying she has been dealing with a number of difficult issues that she hasn't been sharing with the public. On April 20, Paul, who typically posts lifestyle and vlogging content, shared a video montage of clips taken from over the course of her day, adding a voice-over explaining how she was feeling at the time. "Today for me was just one of those days, so I'm just going to tell you about it. I don't usually talk about the bad days and stuff in my life. I usually do happy voice-overs because I know that you guys watch my life to be happy if you're sad," she said. Paul went on to say that she fell over during a horse-riding lesson that day, but that wasn't the reason she was struggling emotionally. Later on during the day, she said she laid in bed because she was feeling "really sad," briefly mentioning that some of her relatives were experiencing health issues that were weighing on her mind. "I know that I'm somebody that's always happy online, but I want to show you that being sad is just as normal as being happy," she said. The vast majority of comments under Paul's post, which received 4.4 million views, were supportive. Many people thanked the influencer for giving them an honest review of her day, and sent her well wishes, hoping she would start to feel better over time. But some commenters said they thought that as a lifestyle influencer who typically posts about lavish experiences, Paul has little to be upset about in comparison to people who are struggling financially. Story continues "Rich people being sad is my fav content," one user wrote. Later that same day, Paul posted a follow-up video, responding specifically to one negative comment, which now appears to have been deleted, that read: "What on EARTH do you have to be sad about? You literally live in a bubble. This is such a frustrating video for real." Paul addressed the comment by explaining that she had recently been dealing with some difficult situations in her personal life, including the loss of a friend, and the experience of supporting a loved one with terminal cancer. "This was a frustrating video for you to watch, because why? Because I'm financially stable? Because I drive a nice car?" she said. Paul went on to say that she deliberately does not post about her difficult experiences because she doesn't want to upset her followers. "I don't come on here like, 'Hey guys, another cancer update, they have another two months to live, can you believe it?'" Commenters rushed to support Paul by saying they did not agree with the negative comment the user made, referring to it as "insensitive" and "ignorant." Others said that they felt Paul was completely entitled to share her thoughts on having a bad day and that influencers are just as susceptible to bad days as everyone else. "Influencers are also real people with real feelings and a life off the screen," one user wrote. In recent months and in response to rising costs of living, influencers who post about their lavish lifestyles are increasingly coming under fire and being accused of being out of touch with the hardships that many people face. In April, a British influencer who posted a video about buying her first house was accused of being insensitive to millions of people struggling to pay rent in light of the UK's ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Paul, who has 6.6 million followers on TikTok, is also one of Australia's top OnlyFans creators, and in August, she posted a TikTok describing "a day in the life" of a sex worker, which quickly became her most viral video and has, at this point, accrued about 40 million views. In September, Paul became the subject of a viral controversy when her meet-and-greet event descended into chaos and police shut it down, leading fans to share clips of fights and disorderly crowds at the event on TikTok. Representatives for Paul did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here. Read the original article on Insider WASHINGTON In the four years since President Donald Trumps leader-to-leader diplomacy with Kim Jong Un of North Korea collapsed after a failed meeting in Hanoi, the Norths arsenal of nuclear weapons has expanded so fast that American and South Korean officials admit they have stopped trying to keep a precise count. North Koreas missile tests are so frequent that they prompt more shrugs than big headlines in Seoul. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times So when President Joe Biden welcomes President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea to the White House on Wednesday, only the second state visit of Bidens presidency, there will be few pretenses that disarming North Korea remains a plausible goal. Instead, U.S. officials say, Bidens most vivid commitment to Yoon will focus on what arms control experts call extended deterrence, renewing a vow that Americas nuclear arsenal will be used, if necessary, to dissuade or respond to a North Korean nuclear attack on the South. The emphasis on deterrence is a striking admission that all other efforts over the past three decades to rein in Pyongyangs nuclear program, including diplomatic persuasion, crushing sanctions and episodic promises of development aid, have all failed. It is also intended to tamp down a growing call in South Korea for its own independent arsenal, on the very remote chance that North Korea would make the suicidal decision to use a nuclear weapon. The Norths arsenal will hardly be the only topic under discussion during Yoons visit. He and Biden will also celebrate the 70th anniversary of the alliance between their countries, commitments for more South Korean investment in manufacturing semiconductors and plans to bolster Seouls always-fraught relationship with Japan. But the rapid expansion of North Koreas capabilities is a subject of perpetual mutual concern for both countries. At a recent security conference held by the Harvard Korea Project, several experts said they believed Kims goal was to approach the size of Britains and Frances arsenals, which hold 200 to 300 weapons each. Story continues Biden and Yoon are expected to hold out the possibility of pursuing a diplomatic solution toward what a succession of administrations have called the complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. But the North, administration officials say, has declined to respond to a series of public and private messages from Biden and his aides. And what seems irreversible now is North Koreas entrenched and advanced program. With China expanding its arsenal to 1,500 weapons by around 2035, according to Pentagon estimates, and Russia threatening to use tactical weapons in Ukraine, this is not an external environment in which its easy to have a conversation with North Korea, said Victor Cha, a professor at Georgetown University who directed policy toward the North during the George W. Bush administration. They look around their neighborhood and they say, I dont think so. Trump vowed fire and fury like the world has never seen when North Korea greeted his presidency with missile launches; he ultimately tried the innovative approach of direct diplomacy with Kim. He emerged at one point predicting that Kim would begin disarming within six months and declaring at another that the North was no longer a nuclear threat. The arsenal just kept growing. On Friday, North Koreas foreign minister, Choe Son Hui, repeating a line that has been uttered by her government frequently in recent months, said the Norths status as a world-class nuclear power is final and irreversible. Few experts believe the shift in rhetoric or the threats about first strikes indicate a greater willingness by the North to employ nuclear weapons. The response would be devastating. But gone are the days when U.S. officials thought the arsenal was a bargaining chip, something to be bartered away for trade deals, or for the string of hotels that Trump said America would help build on the North Korean beaches. There was a mistaken belief, said Joseph Nye, who oversaw one of the first intelligence estimates of North Korea for the U.S. government, that they would try to cash in their chips and get something for the nuclear weapons. But rather than developing the country, he said at the Harvard conference, the Norths highest goal was to preserve the dynasty, and that meant holding on to the arsenal and expanding it. North Koreas new confidence in expanding the arsenal, American officials said in interviews, is partly explained by a change in the relationship with China. Previously, the United States worked with Beijing the supplier of critical energy and trade to the North to rein in the country. In the mid-2000s, the Chinese even hosted the so-called six-party talks North Korea, along with Japan, Russia, the United States and South Korea to resolve the nuclear issue. When Pyongyang conducted nuclear tests, Beijing often voted for sanctions, and imposed a few. Now, rather than view North Korea as an unruly, angry neighbor, China has welcomed it, along with Russia and Iran, as part of what White House officials call a coalition of the aggrieved. While Chinese officials presumably fear North Koreas nuclear tests could go awry, creating a radioactive cloud, it appears perfectly happy to have the North unsettling the United States and its allies with regular missile tests. North Koreas most recent tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles including one powered by solid fuel, which makes it quick to roll out of hiding and launch suggest that North Korea can now almost certainly reach U.S. territory, even if its ability to hit specific targets is imprecise. And over the past year, the North has enshrined its nuclear capability in its laws and started talking about its first-strike capabilities, rather than casting its arsenal as purely defensive. On March 27, North Korea also released photos of Kim inspecting Hwasan-31, a small standardized nuclear warhead kit that can be mounted on its various nuclear-capable missiles and drones. If the module was a real thing, the photos mean that the North is showing off an ability to mass-produce standardized nuclear warheads, said Hong Min, an expert on North Korean weapons at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul. Kim has also called for mass-producing nuclear warheads for an exponential increase in the countrys nuclear arsenal. Last month, he ordered his government to step up the production of weapons-grade nuclear materials. South Korean officials said that some of the Norths claims, including the purported capabilities of its underwater drones and supersonic missiles, were exaggerated. The reaction in Washington and Seoul has been to vow to strengthen their alliance made easier by the fact that Yoon takes a far more hawkish view of how to deal with the North than did his predecessor, Moon Jae In, who visited Biden in May 2021. So the two leaders are expected to speak at length, publicly, about extended deterrence, with Biden offering more regular, visible visits of nuclear-armed submarines and aircraft to South Korea, bolstering the recently reinstated and expanded joint military exercises. (The exercises were variously suspended and scaled down under Trump.) Kim Tae Hyo, a deputy national security adviser for Yoon, said that a top agenda item at the summit was how to boost South Korean confidence in Washingtons commitment to protect its ally with its nuclear umbrella. But Korean officials say that is more dependent on their confidence in the sitting U.S. president and whether, in the midst of a North Korean attack on the South that employed tactical nuclear weapons, Washington would be willing to take the risk to enter nuclear combat. Bidens words at a news conference Wednesday will be picked apart for what they may, or may not, say about his determination to take the risks of nuclear engagement. A new cyberinitiative will also be announced: The North funds the nuclear program with thefts of cryptocurrency and attacks on central bank reserves, and the South, although it rarely discusses it, has developed a skilled offensive cybercorps loosely based on the U.S. Cyber Command. Outsiders will also be looking for signs of temporary or permanent damage from the leaks of Pentagon and CIA documents in recent weeks that made clear the United States was listening in on top South Korean national security officials as they debated whether to send artillery rounds to Ukraine. The revelation was highly embarrassing for Yoon, because it suggested an absence of trust by his biggest ally. But officials say they believe Yoon will move past it, celebrating cultural ties with the United States and booming investment by South Korean companies in semiconductor plants. There is one thing South Korean officials say they will not ask for: a return of American tactical nuclear weapons to their country. They were withdrawn in 1991. Yoons aides say they do not want them back. c.2023 The New York Times Company Federico Dimarcos goal sent Inter Milan into the Coppa Italia final (Luca Druno/AP) (AP) Inter Milan booked their place in the Coppa Italia final as Federico Dimarcos goal was enough to down Juventus. With the semi-final level at 1-1 from the first leg, it was Inter who progressed after Dimarcos first-time finish with just 15 minutes on the clock saw the hosts advance 2-1 on aggregate. In Spain, Barcelona failed to further extend their lead at the top of LaLiga after slipping to a surprise defeat at Rayo Vallecano. Nearest challengers Real Madrid had been stunned at Girona on Tuesday night but Barca lost 2-1 as the gap at the summit remained at 11 points. Alvaro Rivera broke the deadlock for the home side, whose hopes of European qualification was boosted when Fran Garcia doubled their lead and they hung on despite a late Robert Lewandowski effort. Third-placed Atletico Madrid came from behind to beat Real Mallorca 3-1 and move just two points behind their city rivals. Matija Nastasic headed Mallorca in front only for Rodrigo De Paul to fire the hosts level in first-half stoppage time. Atleti were ahead two minutes after the restart courtesy of a fine Alvaro Morata header and the points were secured when Yannick Carrasco collected a through ball and finished coolly. Luis Suarez hit a brace as Almeria won 2-1 at fellow relegation candidates Getafe who pulled a goal back through Borja Mayoral having seen Djene Dakonam sent off at the end of the first half. Bottom club Elche lost 1-0 at Celta Vigo as Joseph Aidoo scored in the last minute. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) An Iranian court issued a $312.9 million judgment against the United States over a 2017 Islamic State-claimed attack on Tehran, authorities said Wednesday, the latest judicial action between the nations amid their decadeslong enmity. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, in reporting the decision, offered no direct evidence to support the court's allegation that American officials had any part in the June 2017 attack that killed at least 18 people and wounded 50 others. The assault saw gunmen attack Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeinis mausoleum and the country's parliament, starting an hourslong siege. However, the court ruling comes after the United Nations' highest court in March rejected Tehrans legal bid to free up some $2 billion in Iranian Central Bank assets frozen by U.S. authorities. Meanwhile, U.S. judges have issued rulings that call for billions of dollars to be paid by Iran over attacks linked to Tehran, as well as those detained by Iran and used as pawns in negotiations between the countries. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. The IRNA report described those named in the lawsuit as including the U.S. government, former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, the CIA, the American military's Central Command, the Treasury and others. It said the case before Branch 55 of the Tehran Court of Justice came from the families of three people killed in the June 2017 attack. The reasons for attributing these crimes to the United States ... is based on the central and main role of the government and officials of this country in organizing and directing terrorist groups, the IRNA report said. It cited reliable news and unidentified speeches by American officials as its evidence. During his 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump described Obama as the founder of the Islamic State group. While later calling his comments sarcasm based on Obamas decision to earlier withdraw troops from Iraq, conspiracy theorists across the Middle East, including Irans supreme leader, seized on the remarks. Story continues The Islamic State group, a Sunni extremist group born out of al-Qaida's offshoot in Iraq, declared itself a caliphate across the vast territory it held in Iraq and Syria in 2014. A U.S.-led coalition and separately Iran-allied Shiite forces ultimately dislodged the extremists, who became notorious for their gruesome killings of prisoners and attacks abroad. The June 2017 attack in Tehran marked the first time the Islamic State's extremists could penetrate tightly controlled Iran and carry out of a massive assault. The assault shocked Tehran, which largely has avoided militant attacks in the decades after the years-long tumult surrounding the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran a year later executed eight men sentenced to death over the attack. Since the revolution, a series of U.S. court cases have been filed against Iran, particularly over attacks like the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut that killed 63 people. A 1996 U.S. law allows Americans to sue nations identified by the U.S. government as sponsoring terrorism, like Iran, for damages suffered in militant acts linked back to them. Others have sued for being wrongfully imprisoned by Tehran, like Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian. The court decision announced Wednesday comes as tensions between Iran and the U.S. remain high over Tehran's nuclear program enriching uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels under reduced oversight from international inspectors. Meanwhile, Iran is still reeling after months of protests and a violent security force crackdown following the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest by the country's morality police. On Wednesday, Iran's judiciary acknowledged two reporters who broke news on Amini's death, Niloufar Hamedi and Elham Mohammadi, had been indicted on charges of collaborating with the U.S., acting against national security and creating propaganda against the system. Nearly 100 journalists have been arrested amid the demonstrations, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. ___ Associated Press writer Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. Last week, Iran extended an official invitation to Saudi Arabia's King Salman to visit Tehran, one of many steps recently undertaken by the two countries as they slowly improve their relations. The two countries have been bitter rivals for decades, but their relationship has begun to thaw since they signed an agreement to resume diplomatic ties in Beijing last month. It was a diplomatic breakthrough in a standoff that has shaped events and attitudes across the Middle East for more than 40 years. The two countries completely severed diplomatic ties after Sunni Muslim-ruled Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shiite Muslim cleric in 2016. Iran's ruling clerics, and most of its population, are Shiite, and the two nations' animosity has exploded into "proxy wars" in several countries across the region, including Yemen, where groups backed by either side have taken a heavy toll in human lives and caused a dire humanitarian crisis. In detail: Islam's Sunni-Shiite divide There are many questions about how much progress Saudi Arabia and Iran will actually make toward putting their long-standing grudge behind, but given both nations' heavy influence across the Middle East and wider Muslim world, the rapprochement could have a meaningful impact on a range of disputes and crises. Below is a look at how the deal brokered by China could impact the region. The Saudi shift to China "There are two types of common medicines, American medicine and Chinese medicine," Saudi political analyst Salman Al-Ansari told CBS News. He said the Saudis spent four decades trying to convince the U.S. government to stop "Iranian terrorism in the Middle East," but they didn't get the results they were after. "So the kingdom [Saudi Arabia] decided to shift its direction to Chinese medicine," said al-Ansari. "Will it succeed in preventing the 'cancer' of Iranian terrorism from spreading in the Middle East? Only time will tell." Story continues He said Saudi Arabia would see the agreement as an opportunity to assess Iranian commitments to peace. There is no doubt, meanwhile, that this mediation has enhanced China's image on the world stage as a global mediator and power broker. In this picture released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, left, shakes hands with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, right, and Chineses counterpart Qin Gang in Beijing, April 6, 2023. / Credit: Iranian Foreign Ministry via AP "China is the one and only country that has substantial leverage over Iran," said al-Ansari. "If Tehran doesn't hold up to its promises, then the Iranian regime will be cornered by its biggest ally, which is China. So either way, the deal is positive." Iran's internal turmoil Iran's relationship with Saudi Arabia has been tense since the 1979 Islamic Revolution brought Iran's hardline clerical regime to power. Over the last year, that regime has faced an unprecedented challenge from within, as a wave of protests saw tens of thousands of Iranians demand greater freedom. One expert believes the diplomacy between Tehran and Riyadh, even if it bears limited fruit for their bilateral ties, could help Iran's ruling clerics put the unrest behind them. "The fact that Iran and the Saudis now will again have a diplomatic relationship strengthens the Islamic regime, which is currently struggling with internal turmoil, a fully collapsed economy and full isolation from the rest of the world," Dr. Ardavan Khoshnood, an Iran foreign policy expert who teaches at two universities in Sweden, told CBS News. "It does not, however, mean that all the obstacles between the two countries will be eliminated. Absolutely not." Khoshnood said the highly ideological nature of the two countries' conflict will make it very difficult to achieve meaningful reconciliation between the two sides. "The obstacles between the countries will continue to exist, and we may also witness covert malign operations on both sides," he said. Yemen's civil war Yemen's civil war has always been seen as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Saudis lead the regional military coalition battling Yemen's Houthi rebel movement, which is backed by Iran. While the new diplomacy between the regional powers could bolster a fragile truce that has quieted the fighting since last year, few believe a definitive end of the war is near, and some fear it could even get worse. "It would be a mistake to assume that a Saudi-Iran rapprochement will translate into ending the war in Yemen," Nadwa Al-Dawsari, a nonresident senior fellow at the Project on Middle East Democracy, told CBS News. "The Saudi goal now is to extricate itself from the Yemen mess that it contributed to." Al-Dawsari said that as Saudi Arabia has failed not only to reinstate Yemen's government and end the Houthi uprising by force over the last nine years, but also come under direct attack due to its role in the war, the kingdom is likely to push Yemen to accept a deal with the Houthis in a bid to at least contain the crisis. That, al-Dawsari said, would effectively be "granting the Houthis political recognition in exchange for assurances to stop their missile attacks against Saudi Arabia and containing Yemen as a civil war." That may help Saudi Arabia in the near term, but it would do little to help the people of Yemen as they endure the brutal humanitarian crisis caused by the war. "The Houthis have been stocking up on arms and repositioning their forces. They are not done fighting and this deal is not about to change that," said al-Dawsari. "Yemen is yet to enter its most intense phase of the conflict." Israel and Saudi Arabia Iran and Saudi Arabia have played significant roles in shaping the political landscape of the Middle East, including Israel's relations with its Arab neighbors ties that Israel's leaders have sought to improve in recent years. Saudi Arabia and Israel share a common cause in opposing Iran's nuclear program and containing its regional influence. Dr. Meir Javendanfar, a lecturer at Israel's Reichman University, told CBS News it's possible that Iran and the Saudis will now be able to manage their differences more smoothly, but that their agreement was unlikely to have a major impact on efforts to normalize Israel's relations with Saudi Arabia. He said, however, that it could see Israel and the Saudis collaborate more to counter Iran's influence in the region. "I think the two countries [Israel and Saudi Arabia] will work together behind the scenes... monitoring what Iran is doing in the region," he said. Lebanon crisis An estimated 75% of Lebanon's population is living in poverty. The country is nearing financial meltdown and currently has no president, as its major political parties can't agree on a path forward to hold new national elections. Lebanon's unique, incredibly complex political system has long been framed by sectarian division, with the Iran-backed Shiite group Hezbollah on one side and the Saudis backing Sunni politicians on the other. So, could the thaw in Saudi-Iranian relations help end the deadlock and make Lebanon's government work again, maybe even filling its presidential vacuum? Not quickly, analysts believe. "This rapprochement not yet exactly a deal does not mean an end to competition, tension, or even friction between KSA [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia] and Iran, but it aims at regulating it," Joseph Bahout, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, told CBS News. "Until Iran and KSA openly and frontally address this issue, all local parties in Lebanon will most probably hold to their positions and to their respective candidates." Iraq's internal divisions Iraq played a significant role in facilitating the nascent reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, with the country's capital, Baghdad, hosting five rounds of talks between Iranian and Saudi officials. Those talks led directly, on March 10, 2023, to the signing of the pact brokered in Beijing for the two countries to restore diplomatic relations. Iraq had a vested interest in bringing the two longtime foes together: The decades-old sectarian rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia has played out on Iraqi soil as much as it has anywhere else. Iraq's Sunni and Shiite Muslims have fought for decades for political clout in Baghdad, and Iran's leadership has long held huge sway with Iraq's powerful Shiite factions. It was that division at the heart of the post-U.S.-invasion violence that plagued the country for two decades. "With Saudi and Iran not escalating, there's hope that the sectarianism in both countries, toward the sect minorities there, will decrease, impacting positively the sectarian tensions in Iraq," Iraqi analyst and deputy Middle East editor for New Lines magazine, Rasha al-Aqeedi, told CBS News. Al-Aqeedi said another benefit of the Saudi-Iranian reconciliation for Iraq, albeit a symbolic one, "is the return of Iraq to the center of geopolitics not as a headache, but rather a problem-solver. It gives Iraq great leverage on the regional and international stages." CBS News' Tucker Reals contributed to this article. Arsenal and Manchester City battle for Premier League title in pivotal match Second American killed in Sudan amid fighting, U.S. says House Speaker Kevin McCarthy pushes to pass debt ceiling plan Iran's judiciary confirmed on Wednesday a death sentence for a German-Iranian national over a deadly mosque bombing in 2008, a decision Berlin described as "unacceptable". "Jamshid Sharmahd's sentence has been upheld by the Supreme Court," judiciary spokesman Massoud Setayeshi told reporters in Tehran, saying "measures" ahead of the 68-year-old's execution "will be taken later". German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the decision was "unacceptable" and Sharmahd had "never had anything like a fair trial". "We call on Iran to reverse this arbitrary sentence immediately," she wrote on Twitter. Germany's ambassador to Iran has cut short a business trip and is on his way back to Tehran, she added. A foreign ministry spokesman earlier said Germany was "dismayed" by reports of the decision, adding that if they were true the situation was "extremely serious". The Tehran Revolutionary Court in February sentenced Sharmahd to death after he was convicted of involvement in the April 2008 attack in the southern city of Shiraz that killed 14 people. Germany has condemned the sentence and declared two staff members at Iran's embassy in Berlin personae non gratae, ordering them to leave the country. Tehran, in turn, expelled two German diplomats last month. Prosecutors had also accused Sharmahd, a US resident, of having established contact with "FBI and CIA officers" and of having "attempted to contact Israeli Mossad agents". Iranian authorities announced in August 2020 Sharmahd had been apprehended in what they described as a "complex operation", providing no specific details of the arrest. His family says he was kidnapped by the Iranian security services while in transit in Dubai and then brought to Iran. At least 16 Western passport-holders, including six French, are being held in Iran on various charges. Most hold dual nationality, which Iran does not recognise. Story continues Three dual nationals including Sharmahd have been sentenced to death or executed over security-related charges since the start of the year, according to the judiciary. The execution in January of Alireza Akbari, a former Iranian official with British citizenship convicted of espionage, has provoked international outcry. pdm-sea/fec/hmn/dv Poland launched a social campaign for Ukrainians Know your rights Read also: US planning more deliveries of Abrams and Bradley to Ukraine, Polish PM says The main goal of the new social campaign is to familiarize Ukrainians with the features of the Polish labor market, increase their confidence when looking for a job, and promote employment. The issue of secure employment is particularly important, since changes to the refugee legislation came into force in March 2023, according to which Ukrainians fleeing the war now must cover part of the living expenses in collective shelters. According to a labor market study conducted by the IRC, 70% of refugees from Ukraine consider finding a job the most urgent need after finding a safe haven in Poland. After a year of war, ensuring a stable source of income remains one of the main problems, and unsatisfactory working conditions are one of the main factors of this. In particular, the salary is lower than the minimum wage, as well as there is the lack of legal protection, irregular working hours, and sometimes non-payment or other forms of abuse by the employer. At the same time, according to the Special Act on Assistance to Ukrainian Citizens, Ukrainians in Poland have the same rights as Polish citizens. Read also: Ukraine prepares to evacuate its citizens from Sudan, list already formed The main message that the authors of the campaign want to convey to Ukrainian refugees is the importance of knowing their rights, monitoring the regulatory acts, and remembering how they can request assistance. The authors also hope that the campaign will be useful not only to potential employees from Ukraine, but also to employers who will have the opportunity to work with personnel better acquainted with the peculiarities of the Polish labor market and legislation. Looking for a job is stressful for everyone, especially for new residents of the country who need to learn to navigate the new system and understand the rules of the labor market, said Alan Moseley, IRC Country Director in Poland. Story continues We aim to encourage people who are seeking refuge from the war and are trying to settle down in Poland to become confident job seekers who are aware of what they can offer their potential employers and know what they should expect from the companies that hire them. Read also: Grain transport resumes through Poland, funding to re-open airspace, why Putin invaded IRC Manager of Economic Recovery and Development, Volodymyr Hryhorovych, added that the campaign is mainly aimed at encouraging Ukrainians to learn more about their rights. We want to support refugees from Ukraine and help them learn more about their rights in accordance with the Polish legislation on labor, and the legal framework for concluding contracts in Poland, about the minimum wage, and the types of benefits to which they are entitled, he said. Read also: Poland criticizes Germanys stand on Ukraines NATO membership Weve noticed a great need for this kind of assistance both in official surveys and in our daily work, especially in the One Step to Employment Support and Integration centers that weve established in Poznan and Katowice. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have suggested that the Kremlin is avoiding overtly repressive measures because it fears for the stability of Russian dictator Putin's regime. Source: ISW Details: The ISW said in its report that Russian ultranationalists are continuing to advocate a return to Stalinist repression measures by the Kremlin. Such sentiments suggest that extreme nationalists are expecting Russian President Vladimir Putin to increase repression and fully commit to waging war. However, the report said, the Kremlin continues to avoid openly repressive measures, likely because of fears for the stability of Putins regime. That is why the Russian government has withdrawn a bill from the Russian State Duma that would have increased taxes from 13 to 30 percent for Russians who have fled the country. However "Russian ultranationalists have repeatedly called on the Kremlin to nationalise property belonging to Russians who had "betrayed" the country by fleeing, but the Kremlin appears to remain hesitant to introduce such unpopular measures". The ISW also emphasised that senior US and EU officials believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin would continue to be unwilling to negotiate in response to a successful counteroffensive by Ukraine. One more topic presented in the report was the fact that Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin has denied ISWs statement on 22 April that relations between the Wagner Group and with the Russian military command had improved in the run-up to the planned Ukrainian counteroffensive. The analysts pointed out that the ISW had previously estimated that the Russian military command may have partially re-established its strained relations with Prigozhin to order to convive Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt offensive operations prior to the planned Ukrainian counteroffensive. ISW noted that Prigozhin's constant statements about his distaste for the Russian military leadership was in contradiction to Prigozhin's change in rhetoric, as well as the sudden arrival of artillery ammunition after months of a reported shell famine in Bakhmut. Story continues ISW analysts noted that taken in combination, these factors indicate that Prigozhin, despite his claimed independence and pride, needs to retain the favour and support of both the Kremlin and the Russian Defence Ministry to continue with his operations. To quote ISWs key takeaways on 25 April: Senior US and EU officials assess that Russian President Vladimir Putin would remain unwilling to negotiate in response to a successful Ukrainian counteroffensive. A Ukrainian military official claimed on April 25 that Ukrainian forces are achieving "impressive results" in counter-battery combat against Russian forces on the Russian-occupied eastern (left) bank of the Dnipro River. Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin denied ISWs April 22 assessment about limited improvements in Wagners relations with the Russian military command ahead of the planned Ukrainian counteroffensive. Russian ultranationalists continue to advocate for the Kremlin to adopt Stalinist repression measures. The Kremlin continues to avoid adopting overtly repressive measures likely out of concern for the stability of Putins regime. Russian civil rights groups OVD-Info, Memorial, and Rus Sidyashchaya (Russia Behind Bars) issued a legal challenge to the Russian censorship law against discrediting the Russian military on April 25. Russian sources claimed that Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks on the Svatove-Kremmina line. Russian forces continued to conduct ground attacks in and around Bakhmut and along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City frontline. Russian milbloggers continued to issue vehement denials that Ukrainian forces established sustained positions on east (left) bank Kherson Oblast. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) is attempting to financially incentivize Russian prisoners to fight in Ukraine, offering them compensation equivalent to that of Russian volunteers. The Ukrainian Resistance Center reported that Ukrainian partisans detonated a Russian military checkpoint near Oleshky. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Passengers have to book by May 31. Maximilian MAller/Getty Images Italian cruise line Costa Cruises is celebrating spring with a sale on European sailings starting as low as $489 per person. The cruise companys spring sale has deals on trips in the Mediterranean, in northern Europe, and on transatlantic journeys, Costa Cruises shared with Travel + Leisure. To take advantage of the deals, passengers must book by May 31. Costa is enticing travelers to take a European vacation with an authentically European cruise line, offering a variety of options for the spring sale on nine Costa ships, including the two newest flagships, Costa Toscana and Costa Smeralda, the cruise line wrote in a statement shared with T+L. The sale applies to several seven-night cruises along with select trips ranging from 10 to 21 nights in length. Courtesy of Costa Cruises Courtesy of Costa Cruises Sail the Mediterranean stopping in ports like Marseilles, France; Barcelona; and Palermo, Italy on cruises from May through November. Or head further north on a cruise with stops in Belfast, Northern Ireland; Reykjavik, Iceland; along the Norwegian fjords, and more from June through August. Travelers looking for a longer getaway can book a transatlantic journey on the Costa Favolosa over 15 to 18 days in November. Currently, Costa Cruises operates a total of nine ships in its fleet and sails around the world, including trips to the Mediterranean (its most requested cruises), northern Europe, the Caribbean, the United Arab Emirates, and more. Courtesy of Costa Cruises Courtesy of Costa Cruises Beyond cruising, there are plenty of wallet-friendly ways to explore Europe this summer. Travelers should consider flying into major (and often cheaper) cities like London or Paris and then traveling on from there by train or budget airline. Travelers can also keep an eye out for free entry days at popular museums and save money on food by heading to local markets. And for those who want to splurge, there are plenty of over-the-top hotels to choose from in cities across Europe from Paris to Madrid, Florence, and more. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. A year ago, Todd Schulte and Cory Dannehl opened Earls Premier, a Brookside bar and grill bustling with orders for fresh oysters, shellfish, and frozen gin and tonics, with the patina of a long-time neighborhood gathering spot. Now they are set to do the same with Bacaro Primo, in the Crestwood Shops just southeast of the Country Club Plaza. After remodeling, it opened a week ago in the former Cafe Europa spot at 323 E. 55th St. Cafe Europa relocated to 4928 Main St. Its Italian-inspired food that a couple of German guys are doing. We arent claiming to be experts, Schulte said Wednesday. But its already looking to be a hit with tables filling up quickly at both lunch and dinner. The menu includes pizzas Margherita, pepperoni and Cavolo Nero (ricotta, taleggio, pistachio and cremolata) as well as a Roman-style pizza (oblong crust with less fat, fewer calories), meatball panini (their spin on a meatball grinder), pastas, grilled steak, roasted chicken, hearth baked focaccia, romaine salad with anchovy dressing and limoncello cake. Customers pass by the salumi bar where employees can often be found putting together boards of meats, breads and cheese. Its a nice focal piece and brings a little energy to the room. It is like our oyster bar at Earls. People start with a board and then decide what to order from there, Schulte said. Bacaro Primos fried olives green olives stuffed with a clove of roasted garlic, wrapped in spicy Italian sausage and deep fried. One surprise hit is the fried olives. Green olives stuffed with a clove of roasted garlic, wrapped in spicy Italian sausage, standard breading and deep fried until they are golden brown and delicious. Whats not to like? Schulte said. They have been a welcome hit but not what we thought. Seems like everyone gets an order. Ivanka Trump is pursuing a new legal strategy in her defence against allegations levied against the Trump Organization and its executives Donald Trump and members of his family by New Yorks attorney general. The resort and hotel chain business stands accused in New York civil court of defrauding banks and other financial interests by falsely inflating and deflating the value of their assets in order to obtain loans, reap tax benefits, secure better insurance rates, and for a whole host of reasons that enriched the Trump Organizations coffers. The lawsuit comes as the company was found guilty in New York criminal court just last December of running a decade-long criminal tax fraud scheme. On Friday, Forbes reports that Ms Trump replaced a pair of attorneys who represented the three elder Trump children, Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka, with attorney Bennet Moskowitz of Troutman Pepper; Mr Moskowitzs hiring also coincided with the departure of two other attorneys Ivanka Trump had retained separately from her brothers. More follows... The former prime minister of New Zealand was praised by Harvard for her "strong and empathetic" political leadership Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has announced she will join Harvard University as a fellow later this year. The prestigious Ivy League university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, said in a news release that Ms Ardern had been appointed to dual fellowships. Ms Ardern served as prime minister of New Zealand for more than five years. She announced she was resigning from public office in January, saying she did not have "enough in the tank". On Tuesday, Harvard announced that Ms Ardern would be joining their campus in the autumn under dual fellowships at the Harvard Kennedy School. Ms Ardern will be the 2023 Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellow and a Hauser Leader in the School's Center for Public Leadership. In its announcement, the university praised the former prime minister for her "strong and empathetic" political leadership. "She earned respect far beyond the shores of her country, and she will bring important insights for our students and will generate vital conversations about the public policy choices facing leaders at all levels," said Douglas Elmendorf, dean of Harvard Kennedy School. The Angelopoulos fellowship will give Ms Ardern the chance to spend time in residence at Harvard as she transitions from her public service role, where she is expected to help students and faculty in building leadership skills. Her second fellowship under Harvard Law School will be focused on studying ways to improve standards and accountability to combat extremist content posted online, the university said. Ms Ardern said she is "incredibly humbled" to join Harvard. "Not only will it give me the opportunity to share my experience with others, it will give me a chance to learn," Ms Ardern said. "As leaders, there's often very little time for reflection, but reflection is critical if we are to properly support the next generation of leaders." Ms Ardern, 42, earned international recognition for her style of leadership, particularly in the aftermath of a deadly mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch in 2019, which killed 51 people. Story continues She was also praised by many for her handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, though her public health policies were criticised by those opposed to lockdowns. Ms Ardern delivered the commencement address for Harvard in 2022, where she spoke out against the online "scourge of disinformation" and earned a standing ovation for her government's gun control policies. She became prime minister in 2017 at age 37, making her the youngest female head of government at the time. A Jamaica Plain man was arrested in connection with an aggravated assault in Roxbury earlier this month. Police say John Depalm, 24, attacked someone with a knife around 4:43 p.m. Monday, April 10, in the area of 301 Warren Street. Sunday, BPD asked for public help locating Depalm, sharing photos of the man with a skateboard. Depalm will be arraigned in Roxbury District Court. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Brazils former president, Jair Bolsonaro, has been ridiculed by his political opponents after he was questioned by federal police as part of a criminal investigation into Januarys alleged coup attempt and claimed he had shared a video questioning last years election result by mistake. Bolsonaro spent more than two hours in the company of police investigators on Wednesday morning, nearly four months after thousands of hardcore supporters ran riot in the capital, Brasilia, in what the new administration called a botched coup intended to reinstall the far-right former army captain as president. Related: Diehard Bolsonaro fans greet far-right ex-president on return to Brazil The pro-Bolsonaro riot failed and the winner of last years election, his leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, remains in power. But federal investigators are now working to identify and punish the perpetrators of Januarys violence as well as the financial backers and organizers of the turmoil. Speaking earlier this week, Lulas justice minister, Flavio Dino, said he believed traitorous army generals were involved in the conspiracy. They go around calling themselves patriots but they are traitors, Dino said. Bolsonaro was forced to appear before police officials on Wednesday morning over a video he shared on Facebook two days after the 8 January uprising that claimed without proof that the election he lost had been rigged by electoral authorities. Brazilian media reports claimed Bolsonaro told investigators he had republished the video by mistake and while under the effect of morphine he had received after being taken to hospital in the US. Bolsonaros lawyer, Daniel Tesser, told reporters the former president rejected any kind of anti-democratic deed or behaviour which sought to destabilize the democratic order. Opponents of the former president who has a long and well-documented history of undermining Brazils democratic institutions and electronic voting system scoffed at those claims. Story continues He has the ears, the snout and the tail of a coup-monger and hes going to tell the federal police hes not a coup-monger?! tweeted the president of Lulas Workers party (PT), Gleisi Hoffmann. The federal police investigation is far from the only legal difficulty facing Bolsonaro, who is widely expected to be stripped of his political rights in the coming months by Brazils electoral court as a result of an investigation into online disinformation. The former president, who no longer enjoys political immunity from prosecution, faces at least 16 separate investigations as well as a growing scandal over suspicions he tried to illegally take possession of millions of dollars worth of jewelry given to him by the government of Saudi Arabia. Bolsonaros political backers are reportedly considering who might replace their leader if his legal woes mean he is unable to challenge Lula in the 2026 presidential election. One option is said to be his wife, the former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro. By Kate Chappell KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters) - While Britain prepares to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III, its former colony Jamaica is distinctly cool on having a new head of state from a distant land. The process to sever ties with the British monarchy is underway, following in the footsteps of another former Caribbean possession, Barbados. With a bitter history of slavery and a plantation economy that made some Britons wealthy but left many Jamaicans impoverished, the relationship with Britain is not always seen as having been happy and glorious. So there is little excitement about the lavish coronation ceremony taking place in London on May 6. "It doesn't mean anything to me because I don't see what they are doing for us here in Jamaica," said Claudeth Brown, 68, who sells peanuts and cold drinks in the capital Kingston. Carpenter David Brown, 65, had similar feelings. "If we have independence, why would we need another head of state from abroad?" he said as he caught sardines in Kingston Harbour during a day off work. Maziki Thame, a political scientist at the University of the West Indies, agreed the coronation was of little significance. "It's not a part of my imagination around the future of Jamaica, and I suspect that that's where the majority of people are presently," she told Reuters. Jamaica first came into England's hands in 1655 when it was seized from Spain, which had brought over the first Africans as slaves. It gained independence in 1962 but retained the British monarch as head of state and stayed in the Commonwealth. In the years since it has often been racked by political and criminal violence. Waves of immigration to Britain kept the links alive as did an affection for Queen Elizabeth, who was on the throne at the time of independence. But even before Elizabeth's death last September, republican sentiment was increasingly gripping the Caribbean region. Story continues Barbados ditched the monarchy in 2021. Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and the Bahamas have all expressed an interest in cutting ties with the British crown, while Trinidad and Tobago and Dominica are already republics. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has said his country is "moving on". In March he announced a constitutional reform committee that will assist in the transition. "We will be one step further in redefining who we are as a country and as a sovereign people," he said. Breaking ties with the monarchy is essential for Jamaica, said Steven Golding, president of the UNIIA-ACL, a Black nationalist organization founded in Jamaica by activist Marcus Garvey. "Given the atrocities that we suffered through the period of enslavement, through the colonial period, I think it is the final piece of the puzzle when it comes to our sovereignty as an independent nation," he said. UNEASY LIES THE CROWN When he assumed the crown on his mother's death, Charles became head of state not only of Britain but 14 other realms, including Canada, Australia and Jamaica. In order to become a republic Jamaica's Constitution requires a 2/3 majority in both the elected and nominated Houses of Parliament and a simple majority in a general referendum, said constitutional expert Lloyd Barnett. However, if it obtains a 2/3 majority in the elected House but only a simple majority in the nominated House it will require a 2/3 majority of the electorate in a referendum. A 2022 survey by pollster Don Anderson found that 56% of Jamaicans want to remove the monarch as head of state. "Jamaicans are more attuned to the situation now and probably more inclined to wish for and to support the separation from the monarchy," Anderson told Reuters. The emotional ties to the queen that lingered among older Jamaicans have likely evaporated now, he said. The Windrush scandal that emerged in 2017, in which hundreds of immigrants to Britain were detained or deported after living there for years, added a sense of betrayal to the list of grievances. Indeed, the monarchy is irrelevant to Jamaicans' daily life, said lawyer Danielle Archer, a spokesperson for the Advocates Network, a group that planned protests during Prince William and his wife Catherine's visit in 2022. Protesters held signs during the visit demanding the pair apologise for slavery. At a formal state dinner, Prince William expressed "profound sorrow". But he stopped short of a formal apology, as did his father, Charles, who spoke of his "personal sorrow at the suffering of so many" in an address to Commonwealth leaders later that year. Charles also acknowledged growing republican sentiment in some Commonwealth nations and said it was for them to decide their constitutional arrangements. About 600,000 Africans were brought to Jamaica as slaves between the 15th and 19th centuries to work on sugar, cotton and banana plantations, the National Library of Jamaica says. The British government was involved in the Atlantic slave trade and reimbursed plantation owners for the loss of labour that occurred when slavery was outlawed in 1834. In recent years, some governments, individuals, institutions and private companies have apologized for their involvement. But the ravages of slavery are obvious, Archer of the Advocates Network said. "Take a trip to any Caribbean island, any country that was under the grip of colonialism. You will see poverty. You will see where the resources have been taken from the land and placed in the wealthy," she said. Archer plans to watch the coronation, albeit reluctantly. "I'd like to hear what Charles has to say about the subjects in the Isle of Jamaica," she said. "Will we be specially mentioned? And if so, would you consider doing more than telling us to move on from slavery, but to realistically look at the situation and make a reasonable assessment?" (Reporting by Kate Chappell, Editing by Angus MacSwan) The new leader at the United Way of Etowah County abruptly resigned Monday after only three months at the helm, officials said. Jana Pickette didnt say what her next move was or why she was resigning as executive director, according to Tony Smith, local manager for Alabama Power Co. and chairman of the agencys executive committee. These things happen, Smith said. I was sorry to hear it, but you cant stop people from pursuing their passion. Jana Pickette was introduced as United Way of Etowah County's new executive director on Jan. 30. Agency officials say she resigned on Monday. Pickette said she could confirm she was no longer with United Way, but was still talking to the board about the legalities of the decision. She said she didnt officially resign, but wouldnt comment further. However, Smith said she was not pushed to resign. No, no, he said when asked. The interim director will be Molli LeMay, United Ways director of student success. Among several programs, LeMay heads the partnership with Dolly Partons Imagination Library, which provides free books to pre-school age children to promote reading and help children learn. LeMay, who was asked to take the interim role this week, was born in Wisconsin and raised in Michigan. She graduated college in 2019 with a B.S. in public and nonprofit administration with an emphasis on community health from Grand Valley State University near Grand Rapis, Michigan. She moved to Alabama in May 2021. The board has a meeting in May and will decide then whether to start a search for a new director or give LeMay a chance to do the job for a while. Smith said the board is undecided at this point. Sometimes it happens, he said, and you have to go back to the drawing board. LeMay, who has been with United Way a little over a year, said Wednesday she had made no decision about whether she was interested in the position permanently. Pickette was introduced as the new executive director on Jan. 30. She succeeded Ruth Moffatt, who stepped down in November after nearly two years in the role to join Mayor Craig Fords administration as director of diversity, equity and inclusion. Story continues Prior to joining United Way, Pickette was the grant project coordinator for the Office on Violence Against Women at Jacksonville State University. At United Ways annual meeting earlier this month, Pickette cited all the great work being done in our community, living united to get us to this point and supporting our agencies so they can do the work that is necessary to elevate all of us. United Ways 2022 campaign netted more than $1 million locally, amid a difficult economy. This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Pickette out as United Way of Etowah County director Officials at the Japanese company ispace believe the lunar lander they were attempting to successfully land on the surface of the Moon suffered a crash landing. Ispace flight controllers lost contact with the lunar lander just as it was scheduled to land and were never able to re-establish contact, leading them to conclude their attempt to become the first crew to landa a commercially-developed spacecraft on the Moon had failed. Now, officials have reason to believe the spacecraft crashed. Ispace said in a statement on Tuesday evening that its engineers were still in the process of attempting to figure out why the landing had failed at the crucial moment. It has been determined that there is a high probability that the lander eventually made a hard landing, Ispace said in a statement. The company, headquartered in Toyko, was attemping to become the first corporation to land a spacecraft on the Moon carrying a rover produced by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. We believe that we have fully accomplished the significance of this mission, having acquired a great deal of data and experience, ispace CEO and founder Takeshi Hakamada said in comments reported by Al Jazeera. What is important is to feed this knowledge and learning back to Mission 2 and beyond, he continued. The scale of what ispace was attempting to achieve is remarkable: only three governments have ever successfully landed a spacecraft on the surface of the Moon, and of those three, only the United States was able to land a human being. The company has been working to send a lander to the Moon for years. The firm, which was initially launched in partnership with another firm called White Label Space, competed to win the $20m Google Lunar XPrize for landing a robotic rover on the Moon and transmiting data back to Earth before the competition was shut down in 2018. Canadian socialite Jasmine Hartin, pictured in a photo posted on Facebook with her partner, Andrew Ashcroft, at the opening of his new hotel in Belize (Facebook/Alaia) On 7 May 2021, Jasmine Hartin looked on proudly as her partner and the father of their children, Andrew Ashcroft, unveiled his new luxury hotel on the Belize island of San Pedro. The Canadian socialite was pictured in a video on the Facebook and YouTube pages of the new resort, the Alaia Belize Hotel Autograph Collection, looking immaculately dressed in a smart, pink top and white trousers, with glamorous makeup, swept up hair and a cocktail in her hand, standing by the pool. Just weeks later, the daughter-in-law of British billionaire Lord Michael Ashcroft, 75, was in jail, charged with the manslaughter of police officer Henry Jemmott. The 42-year-old police officer had been found in the water off San Pedro on Friday 28 May, shot with his own gun, as reported by CNN. Ms Hartin, who has two children with Lord Ashcrofts son Andrew and is reportedly also a US citizen, had allegedly invited the officer, who was a friend, over to her apartment for a drink to discuss her personal security. They are then believed to have broken the 10pm Covid curfew by walking to a nearby dock where she is said to have offered him a massage for his shoulder pain. What happened next is unclear. Ms Hartins version of events appears to be that Mr Jemmott put down his gun and was shot with it accidentally when she handed it back to him. The father-of-five suffered a bullet wound behind the ear and died of his injuries. Police commissioner Chester C Williams told local media that security guards came running after hearing a single gun shot and upon investigating, police found the female on a pier and she had what appeared to be blood on her arms and on her clothing, Sky News reported. He added that she initially refused to speak to police without a lawyer. Ms Hartin was arrested on Monday 31 May, charged with manslaughter by negligence and denied bail, according to her lawyer Godfrey Smith. Jasmine Hartin, pictured in her LinkedIn photo, worked for her husbands hotel, The Alaia, in Belize (LinkedIn/Jasmin Hartin) So who is Jasmine Hartin? On her LinkedIn profile, she is listed as director of lifestyle and experience for Andrew Ashcrofts luxury Alaia resort, with a previous role as a real estate associate for SANCAS Realty Ltd. Story continues A page on the hotels website, which has since been removed, said: Along with her husband, Andrew Ashcroft, Jasmine has played an integral role in shaping the vision for Alaia Belize from the very beginning, as reported by The Sunday Times. Andrew Ashcroft, son of Conservative donor Lord Ashcroft, pictured in a still from the launch video for his new hotel, The Alaia, in Belize (The Alaia/YouTube) In a video posted on the hotels YouTube page, Ms Hartin can be seen with her two children and partner at the resort launch, which was attended by the minister of tourism. In the same video Mr Ashcroft, whose father Lord Ashcroft is the former deputy chairman of the British Conservative Party and who grew up in Belize as a child and holds dual Belizean and British citizenship, said his family was 100 per cent committed to Belize and that the children would soon start school there. Speaking over clips of his children, Mr Ashcroft says: For my family this is about the best thing, I mean we are committed as a family. My wife Jasmine, my kids, we are 100 per cent committed to Belize. They start school here this summer. Were going to start a new project here this October called The Alaia Beach Club which will double our key count so we are here to stay and do more investments in Belize. We might have a couple surprises of other projects around Belize wed like to do. Lord Ashcroft, businessman and politician, arrives at the Manchester Central convention complex in Manchester on 29 September, 2019, on the first day of the annual Conservative Party conference (AFP/Getty) Following news of Ms Hartins arrest, photos emerged in the local press appearing to show her behind bars. In Belize, manslaughter can be punished by up to 25 years in jail but Ms Hartin is believed to be facing a maximum five-year sentence, or a fine of $10,000 dollars. Marie Jemmott Tzul, one of the officers sisters, told The Daily Mail that she was overwhelmed and devastated by my brother's death. She added: I can't speculate over whether they will bail her or she will stay in prison, because I don't know the charge yet. What I would say to Jasmine is, give closure to the family. Tell us what happened. We want to know for the benefit of our family. He was my only brother. Ms Jemmot Tzul continued: He had five children and a partner for 14 years. Every time I look at my nieces and my nephews I break down and cry. Please tell us what happened. Members of the officers family denied local reports that he may have killed himself due to marital problems. Another sister, Cherry Jemmott, 48, an assistant superintendent with Belize Police, told The Mail: My brother would never ever kill himself. He had his plans. In September [2021], he was to be promoted to senior superintendent and he was to be transferred to another unit. My brother is a very top cop with a big dream. Belize Police Commissioner Williams told local media that the pair had been drinking and were in breach of the islands 10pm to 5am Covid curfew at the time. He said: They were both fully dressed. They were known to each other. They were drinking for a couple of hours before the incident occurred. His body was recovered from the water. His weapon was recovered at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. On 26 April 2023, Ms Hartin pleaded guilty to manslaughter by negligence as her trial opened at the Supreme Court in Belize City. I just want Henry's family to have peace now and I want this whole thing behind all of us so we can heal, she told local media outside the court. Hartins attorney, Orson OJ Elrington, told reporters his clients primary concern was to not put the family of the victim through the anguish of having to go through a trial proceeding, so she consistently expressed her concern about that. Channel 5 Belize reported the sentencing hearing is expected to happen on 31 May. As she pleaded guilty, it added, Mr Elrington said the judge is expected to give a non-custodial sentence. Hartin told reporters outside the courthouse in Belize that she wants the superintendent's family "to have peace" A Canadian socialite has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a police chief in Belize. Jasmine Hartin, the former partner of Andrew Ashcroft - the son of UK businessman Lord Michael Ashcroft - was arrested and charged with the deadly shooting of superintendent Henry Jemmott two years ago. Police at the time said Mr Jemmott and Hartin were known to be friends. Her sentencing hearing has been set for 31 May in Belize City. The 34-year-old reportedly broke down in tears during her guilty plea on Tuesday. She told reporters outside the courthouse: "I just want Henry's family to have peace now and I want this whole thing to be behind all of us so we can heal." Hartin was tied to the death of Mr Jemmott after police found her on a pier near where his body was recovered on 28 May 2021. She was found distressed and covered in blood, police said at the time. Mr Jemmott's body was found in the water off San Pedro, Belize with a single bullet wound to the head. At the time, Hartin was living in Belize with Andrew Ashcroft and their two children. She was charged with manslaughter by negligence and released from custody in June 2021 on a $15,000 (12,041) bail. During her bail hearing, it was revealed that Hartin and Mr Jemmott were at a party together in Ambergris Caye on the night of his death. Detectives said they went for a walk on the beach before they sat down on a pier. There, Hartin gave Mr Jemmott a shoulder massage. He then handed her his gun to put down. Hartin told investigators that she struggled with the handgun after Mr Jemmott asked for it back, and that it accidentally discharged. She added she had been drinking at the time. Under Belize's criminal code, the maximum prison sentence for manslaughter by negligence is five years. The judge overseeing the case had indicated that Hartin may receive a non-custodial sentence and instead pay a fine, according to Channel 5 Belize news. DAYTONA BEACH As an armada of fully decked-out Jeeps assembled early on Wednesday on the sands behind the Hard Rock Hotel, it offered ample evidence of the self-expression at the heart of the appeal of both the brand and the annual Jeep Beach celebration at the Worlds Most Famous Beach. It was the opening day of Jeeps At the Rock, an outdoor Jeep Beach celebration at the hotel that features a surf school, games, vendors, prize raffles, drink specials, a pool party and, of course, all those tricked-out Jeeps. The two-day beach party continues Thursday at the hotel. From eye-catching custom paint jobs to rows of oversized audio speakers and the ever-present duck mascots that have become the brands universal goodwill ambassadors, each vehicle reflected its owners personality. 'Still growing': Jeep Beach rolls toward 20th anniversary edition of Daytona Beach event Get ready for Jeep Beach: Jeep Beach 2023 is almost here. What you need to know New at Hard Rock Hotel: Madonna's Cadillac, Elvis' jacket: Daytona Hard Rock marks 5 years For Jeep owner Blake Jacobs, the enormous plastic duck atop his 2022 Gladiator Rubicon, sporting a patriotic stars-and-stripes color scheme, threatened to steal the attention from the vehicle itself. I saw that duck online and I said, I have to have it, said Jacobs, 32, a long-haul trucker from Charlotte, North Carolina. A stars-and-stripes flag shaded in deep blues was flying from the back of the vehicle, a gesture of support for police and firefighters. I was a fire-fighter for 10 years and I know a bunch of cops, Jacobs said. I want to show my support. Jeep enthusast Blake Jacobs, of Charlotte, North Carolina, came equipped with an enormous duck on the roof of his Jeep at Wednesday's "Jeeps at the Rock" event on the beach behind Hard Rock Hotel in Daytona Beach. The event is part of the weeklong Jeep Beach celebration. Attending his second Jeep Beach, Jacobs also embraces the Jeep culture, a tight-knit community that stretches beyond geographic boundaries, he said. Its a worldwide thing, he said. Were down here with friends from Kansas that we met online through a Jeep group. Once you have a Jeep youre in it forever. Story continues 'Not just a vehicle, it's a lifestyle' Nearby, Shelley Kervel, 49, of Cape Coral, also arrived in a Jeep that represents more than transportation. Her lime-green 2016 Jeep JKU had been transformed into a camping outpost, complete with fold-out shower and bathroom attachment on one side, a retractable awning on the other and two comfy-looking hammocks affixed to the tailgate. Its fully set-up for camping, said Kervel, an HR administrator. I can self-sustain inside my Jeep for a week without any power other than what my Jeep produces. For Kervel, the custom touches go beyond creature comforts. Adorned with rainbow flag insignias and an inflatable rainbow on the roof, the Jeep also was a vehicle of diversity advocacy. Times are very difficult right now and visibility is very important, Kervel said. If I can do that through a vehicle, its a way to make people smile, to let them know they are safe. It's not just a vehicle, it's a lifestyle. Steve Scofield, sales manager with custom equipment company Rebel Off Road, was among the vendors at the "Jeeps at the Rock" event on Wednesday behind the Hard Rock Hotel in Daytona Beach. The two-day Hard Rock event, which continues on Thursday, is part of the weeklong Jeep Beach celebration. For vendors selling an assortment of high-end accessories behind the Hard Rock pool deck, the weeklong Jeep Beach offers a valuable opportunity to connect with potential customers, said Steve Scofield, Texas-based sales manager for custom equipment company Rebel Off Road. Its a chance to show off the products you build, to get people excited about the things they want to do to their Jeeps, Scofield said. Jeep Beach combines events with community focus Incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity in 2017, Jeep Beach Inc. over the past decade has raised a total of more than $3.8 million to support recipients that include the Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia & Flagler Counties, the NASCAR Foundation and the Childhood Cancer Foundation. Jeep enthusiasts check out the displays on the beach behind the Hard Rock Hotel in Daytona Beach at the "Jeeps at the Rock" event. The two-day Hard Rock event, which continues on Thursday, is part of the weeklong Jeep Beach celebration in Daytona Beach. This years event rolls ahead with an assortment of popular events. On Friday and Saturday, the focus turns to the Jeep Beach Main Event, a two-day outdoor festival on the infield at Daytona International Speedway that features vendors and an obstacle course that pits vehicles against a gauntlet of dirt and concrete. This year, the Speedway event also features a new wrinkle: a closing Saturday concert by pop star Colbie Caillat. On Sunday, the annual closing-day Jeep Beach Parade illustrates the events community-oriented mindset. Jeeps will start cruising the beach early for the annual Jeep Beach Sweep to pick up and dispose of trash to leave the beach better than they found it. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Jeep Beach 2023: Jeeps At the Rock hits Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company Joby Aviation's strategy for launching commercially in 2025 is becoming more clear. The startup secured a $55 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense Tuesday, a deal that will allow the company to put its aircraft into customers' hands and start generating revenue before it has achieved Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification. That's because Joby is pursuing two paths to market -- a broader commercial service that requires FAA certification and a government service that requires military airworthiness from the DoD. The former includes certification of the aircraft design, production and maintenance, as well as pilot training and operating procedures. The latter is more focused on ensuring an aircraft meets the needs of military operations. In November, the FAA issued airworthiness criteria for Joby to certify its Model JAS4-1 aircraft to operate in U.S. airspace. The company had also previously received airworthiness approval from the Air Force for an uncrewed electric aircraft in 2020. When it comes to Joby's other path to commercialization -- which is similar to a rideshare app where customers pay to be transported via Joby's air taxis -- the company is chipping away at its FAA requirements. In February, Joby began final assembly on its company-conforming eVTOL, which is a prototype that's a couple steps away from the final version. The company also completed the second stage of a process with the FAA to achieve type certification. Joby still has a few more stages in that process before it can move onto production certification, which will allow the company to mass-produce its eVTOLs. There's a lot of overlap between the two paths to certification. Paul Sciarra, Joby executive chairman, says the value of that is twofold. "One is that we get to basically put product into the hands of customers a lot more quickly, generate revenue more quickly, but then also gain the learnings of what it takes to operate these aircraft, what it takes to train pilots, what it takes to dispatch the vehicles," Sciarra told TechCrunch. "And we do that in a smaller, more controlled setting before bringing it to the broader consumer side." Story continues The latest injection of capital from the DoD marks Joby's third extension of its Agility Prime contract with the U.S. Air Force, an initiative launched in April 2020 to test, experiment and accelerate the development of eVTOL for cross commercial and military use. This week's contract brings the total potential value of Joby's current contract up to $131 million, according to the company. As part of the agreement, Joby will deliver and operate up to nine of its five-seat, low-noise electric aircraft, the first two of which are expected to be delivered to Edwards Air Force Base in California by spring 2024. Joby's eVTOLs will be used to demonstrate logistics use cases, like transporting people and cargo, as well as potentially medical evacuations. Joby will retain ownership of the aircraft, while providing military pilots with flight training. The training sessions have already commenced at Joby's manufacturing facility in Marina, California. Earlier this month, four pilots became the first Air Force personnel to fly Joby's eVTOL through the full flight envelope, including transition from vertical to wingborne flight. The flights were piloted remotely from the ground, and the pilots were trained in a combination of classroom-based and simulator training, the company said. This next step of getting Air Force pilots trained and operating Joby aircraft at an Air Force installation is an incredibly important milestone for the program, providing key insights to actual operations and use case validation for Advanced Air Mobility aircraft, said Lt. Col. Tom Meagher, division lead of Agility Prime, in a statement. Additionally, the Joby operations provide an outstanding opportunity for accelerated learning with the other Department of Defense services and government agencies, including NASA and the FAA. Sciarra said Joby's initial deployment is hopefully the first stage of even larger contracts with different government agencies over time. Joe Biden jogs across the White House lawn after returning from his annual medical checkup in February Time waits for no man, the saying goes - and for 80-year-old Joe Biden, that could be a problem. Can the US president convince voters that his age is not an issue? Mr Biden announced on Tuesday that he wants to serve another four years in the White House. Americans, according to a recent NBC News poll, aren't so sure. The survey shows that 70% of Americans - and 51% of Democrats - think he shouldn't seek re-election. And it identifies one major concern for about half of those who want him to stand aside in 2024: his age. Mr Biden is already the oldest president in US history. If he were to win re-election, he would be inaugurated at age 82 and finish his second four-year term at 86. According to US government actuarial tables, the average life expectancy for an 82-year-old man is 6.77 years, with an 8% chance of death within the next 12 months. The video, which broadly outlines his plan to protect "personal freedoms" and warns against threats posed by his Republican opponents, does not tackle the age issue head on. Instead, it intersperses cuts of an animated president - jogging here, looking engaged there - set to swelling instrumental music. The video also repeatedly highlights Vice-President Kamala Harris, who would take over the presidency if Mr Biden were incapacitated. At 58, the Biden team may hope her presence injects a bit of life and energy into the campaign. Then Vice-President Biden, it should be noted, was missing from Barack Obama's 2012 re-election video. The video is not going to be enough, according to veteran political consultant Bob Shrum, director of the Center for the Political Future and a former senior adviser to the presidential campaigns of Democrats Al Gore and John Kerry. "You answer age questions by running a vigorous campaign," Mr Shrum said. "You don't answer it by talking about it." He added that the age issue will only become a problem if Mr Biden has a "serious" mistake or stumble on the campaign trail. And if that's the case, the Republicans - who are already trying to amplify every Biden gaffe - will be ready to make the case that Mr Biden is no longer fit for the presidency. Story continues Last year, 54 Republicans in the House of Representatives signed a letter to the White House expressing "concern" about Mr Biden's cognitive state and demanding that Mr Biden take a dementia test. The letter went on to list a number of Biden missteps and misstatements during his presidency. "These recent gaffes are not isolated incidents, as they are part of a larger history of your actions which exemplify cognitive decline," the letter read. These kind of pointed "concerns" have been echoed by Donald Trump, who is currently the leading contender for the Republican 2024 presidential nomination. At political rallies in the run-up to the midterm congressional elections last year, Mr Trump frequently played a video for the crowd of Mr Biden's various gaffes and stumbles. "Joe Biden can't speak clearly," Mr Trump said when introducing the video at an October rally in Arizona. "He can't think clearly." According to Jim Messina, who ran Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, Democrats may be counting on Mr Trump - who is only four years younger than Mr Biden - to help defuse the age issue. "Voters say, look, they're both old," Mr Messina told the BBC Americast podcast. "Tell me who's going to make my life better." "Democrats do one thing every night," he continued. "We sit down, and we get on our knees, and we pray to God that Donald Trump is the Republican nominee for president." Mr Biden also faced questions about his age four years ago, although the nature of the presidential race in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic helped insulate the candidate from some of the exposure that comes with a national primary and general election campaign. And in the end, the age issue was a non-factor in Mr Biden's victory over Mr Trump. This time around, Mr Biden will enjoy the benefits of campaigning as the incumbent president. That includes travel on Air Force One and attending political events that are meticulously planned not just by professional campaign staff but also by the president's extensive security detail. It is a very different type of experience to what non-incumbent candidates must face. His rivals will have to battle through primaries in the snows of New Hampshire and Iowa, often running on shoestring budgets and competing in a crowded field which can take more than a year to vanquish. That will give Mr Biden the luxury of a running start against his Republican opponent. The period of frenzied active campaigning he will have to endure can be measured in weeks and months in the second half of 2024. And if there were a bit of silver lining to the NBC poll showing a national reluctance to embrace Mr Biden's re-election bid, it's that if Mr Biden does run again, 88% of Democrat said they would definitely or probably support their candidate. "Biden is always underestimated," Mr Shrum said. "Biden was underestimated in 2020. People wrote him off after the first couple of primaries, and then he went on to win the primaries by a landslide." Find out more Americast branding You can hear more of Anthony's analysis by tuning into Americast, the BBC's US politics and culture podcast, on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts And you can follow Anthony on Twitter Liverpools Joel Matip (second right) celebrates scoring their sides second goal of the game during the Premier League match at the London Stadium. Picture date: Wednesday April 26, 2023. (PA Wire) Joel Matips towering header saw Liverpool come from behind to beat West Ham 2-1 and pick up a third straight win. The Hammers led through a wonder strike from Lucas Paqueta but were pegged back by Cody Gakpos drive. And moments after Jarrod Bowen had a goal disallowed for offside, Matip struck from a corner to halt West Hams recent revival. Three points on the road pic.twitter.com/pdzz0ZWecI Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 26, 2023 West Ham were convinced they should have had a late penalty when Thiagos arm hit the ball as he fell in the area, but despite a VAR check nothing was given. The Hammers went into the match buoyed by a profitable week which saw them come from behind to draw 2-2 with Arsenal, reach the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League and climb further away from the relegation zone with a thumping 4-0 win at Bournemouth. And manager David Moyes, who turned 60 on Tuesday, was celebrating again when his side took the lead with a goal of real quality from Paqueta after 12 minutes. 3 goals in 3 games Lucas Paqueta fires West Ham into the lead against Liverpool pic.twitter.com/YxrwF6fhxE Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 26, 2023 The Brazilian twice exchanged passes with Michail Antonio as he cut in from the right before launching a rocket from the edge of the box past his international team-mate Alisson. Paqueta has taken a painfully long time to get up to speed since his record 50million switch from Lyon to east London last summer. But it was a third goal in three matches for the 25-year-old who is now finally starting to look the part in claret and blue. However, the lead lasted only five minutes before Trent Alexander-Arnold, gliding around in central midfield again, found Gakpo 25 yards out. Story continues The Dutch forward was able to take a few touches and weigh up his options before deciding on a low shot which skidded past Lukasz Fabianksi into the corner of the net. Liverpool weren't behind for long as Cody Gakpo's long-range strike draws them level pic.twitter.com/YGcuyDb891 Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 26, 2023 Liverpool should have gone ahead when the ball dropped to Diogo Jota eight yards out but the Portuguese forward shinned his volley over the crossbar. Jota, who scored four goals in his previous two matches, then planted a header wastefully wide. But West Ham remained a threat and just before half-time Virgil van Dijk got a crucial touch to prevent Antonio from converting Said Benrahmas cross at the far post. The hosts thought they had gone back in front when Bowen raced on to Paquetas through ball, cut inside Van Dijk and fired into the corner, but a VAR check showed the winger was marginally offside. Instead Liverpool snatched the lead in the 67th minute after Fabianski saved a point-blank shot from Matip. The defender stayed up for the ensuing corner and duly powered his header from Andy Robertsons cross past Fabianski. West Ham pushed for an equaliser but Maxwel Cornet blazed wide and Tomas Soucek header over. Moyes protested furiously to the fourth official after Thiagos slip in the area but Liverpool survived to climb above Tottenham into sixth. Comedian John Mulaney describes Jimmy Kimmel as his sugar daddy for making his stay at the late night hosts guesthouse so cushy. (Watch the video below.) Appearing on Tuesdays episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live to promote his new Netflix comedy special, Mulaney recalled a not-so-funny time when he was between lives in 2021. He had completed rehab for alcohol and cocaine addiction, followed by a stint in a sober living environment. He then took up Kimmel on his repeated offer to house anyone in their social circle who needed a place to stay. Kimmel said it was as if he had adopted a son. But I was treated so well I never saw you, Mulaney countered. There were indeed perks to crashing at Kimmels pad. Id wake up and thered be a basket with bagels, Mulaney said. He was like my sugar daddy. Id wake up, and thered be money for the day [to] go buy an outfit. A restaurant-quality espresso machine made the mornings easier, but the exercise bike proved challenging, Mulaney said. The stand-up comic, who has a 1-year-old son with actor Olivia Munn, said he was still smoking heavily and had to squeeze into the Peloton shoes of Kimmels wife, Jimmy Kimmel Live executive producer Molly McNearney. Elsewhere in their chat Tuesday, the two discussed the star-studded intervention that TV personality Seth Meyers and others arranged to get Mulaney on the path to recovery. Need help with substance use disorder or mental health issues? In the U.S., call 800-662-HELP (4357) for the SAMHSA National Helpline. Related... In his new Netflix stand-up special released on April 25, comedian John Mulaney spoke openly about his past drug use and 2020-21 stint in rehab. He also revealed that one of the first phone calls he got while in rehab was from his famous friend, Pete Davidson. Mulaney, who did two months in rehab starting in December 2020, told the story of how his famous friends staged a "star-studded" intervention for him. After arriving two hours late to what he thought was a dinner he stopped by his drug dealer and then the set of "Saturday Night Live" on the way to convince the hair department to give him a haircut he opened the door to his friend's apartment and said he "immediately" knew it was an intervention. Do you know how bad of a drug problem you have to have if when you open a door and see people gathered, your first and immediate thought is, 'This is probably an intervention about my drug problem?'" he said. "Theres no other reason people would be behind a door." He quipped that though it had been infuriating the A-list stars at the intervention hadn't cracked a single joke the whole evening, he'd still been secretly a little excited to see everyone show up for him. "As mad as I was when I walked in there, I was like This is a good lineup. This is really flattering in its own way," he said. "It was like a 'We Are The World' of alternative comedians over the age of 40." Mulaney explained that comedian and former "SNL" star Pete Davidson was traveling at the time of the intervention but called him hours after he checked into rehab. He said that during the call, Davidson said the public might think he had encouraged Mulaney's drug use, a concern Mulaney quickly refuted. Saturday Night Live - Season 45 (Rosalind O'Connor/NBC / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) "Some people suggested that he and I did drugs together because he has tattoos and I am plain," Mulaney quipped. "We must be up to witchcraft!" Story continues He then clarified that he'd never done drugs with Davidson. Davidson did not respond to TODAY.com's request for comment. Mulaney went on to say in his special that he's in a much better place now than the evening his friends helped him go to rehab. The actor also welcomed his first child, a son named Malcom, with girlfriend Olivia Munn in December 2021. This article was originally published on TODAY.com John Oliver and Joe Rogan are the latest celebrities to react to Bud Light's recent partnership with transgender TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney. More celebrities are reacting to the Anheuser-Busch and Dylan Mulvaney backlash. After CEO Brendan Whitworth released a statement April 14 amid the recent backlash over Bud Light's partnership with Mulvaney, a transgender actor and TikTok star, another Anheuser-Busch-owned beer, Budweiser, shared an ad on social media. The one-minute clip showed the company's famous Clydesdale horse running through American landmarks and patriotic symbols that represent "the story of the American spirit." While the ad did not directly mention Mulvaney, a University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music alumna, nor the backlash to her partnership with Bud Light, many people, like John Oliver and Joe Rogan, have interpreted it as a direct response and have since criticized the commercial. Others, however, are still taking issue with the beer brand. More: Second Anheuser-Busch exec goes on leave amid UC grad Dylan Mulvaney, Bud Light backlash John Oliver responded to the Bud Light backlash Oliver addressed the criticism surrounding Bud Light's partnership with Mulvaney during Sunday night's episode of his show "Last Week Tonight." According to The Hollywood Reporter, the British comedian discussed how people are taking videos of themselves destroying Bud Light and Anheuser-Busch products, saying because theres one thing that hurts a company, its destroying their product after its already been purchased. Among those videos was the viral clip posted by Kid Rock, who Oliver called "Child Rock." In the video, Rock fired a gun at cases of Bud Light beer, but didn't reveal the reasoning behind his post. I dont think theres a more dangerous way to dispose of Bud Light other than, of course, drinking it, Oliver added. Reactions: Budweiser posts patriotic ad amid Dylan Mulvaney backlash, celebs continue reacting The host went on to say how the "real nastiness" surrounding the backlash is the moral panic around trans rights" occurring at the same time that many states are passing anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Kentucky lawmakers voted to ban gender-affirming care for minors last month. Story continues Oliver additionally criticized Whitworth's statement, saying it's really annoying to be both sides in something when the two sides are: 'I am trans,' and (the other side is) 'That makes me so mad Im gonna shoot $65 worth of non-refundable beer.' He concluded Sunday's episode by playing Budweiser's new commercial, calling it "a huge misfire." When bigots are loudly announcing they dont like your beer because they are bigots, that is an opportunity to say, Then our beer is not for you,'" he said. Joe Rogan: Anheuser-Busch 'is a company in deep s---' Joe Rogan said it seemed the recent Budweiser ad was made by artificial intelligence, calling it a "ChatGPT 4.0 version of the perfect American commercial." Rogan, host of the "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast, also shared some thoughts about Budweiser's new advertisement during his April 20 episode. He said it seemed the ad was made by artificial intelligence, calling it a "ChatGPT 4.0 version of the perfect American commercial." "It's like the f----ing dumbest, pro-America rah rah (ad)," Rogan said. "This is a company in deep s----." Related: Dylan Mulvaney goes on Rosie O'Donnell podcast after Bud Light deal, talks UC, criticism Rogan also criticized Bud Light's marketing vice president Alissa Heinerscheid, who recently took a leave of absence from the company, and Mulvaney, saying the UC grad is craving attention. The UFC commentator had previously spoken about the Bud Light and Mulvaney controversy, labeling it "goofy" in an earlier episode, per Newsweek. "What they're doing is just spreading the brand to an extra group of people. Why, if something is good, do you give a f--- who's got it?" Sarah Huckabee Sanders and other GOP governors released 'Real Woman' beer koozies Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and other female Republican governors responded to the Bud Light controversy, releasing a series of beverage koozies branded with their faces and the slogan "Real Woman." Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and other female Republican governors also responded to the Bud Light controversy, releasing a series of beverage koozies branded with their faces and the slogan "Real Woman." According to the Des Moines Register, the koozies, which portray four different Republican governors, appear to parody Bud Light cans by using the brand's signature royal blue color and white lettering. In addition to Reynolds and Sanders, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem were also included. They are available for $15 on Sanders' campaign website. Reynolds posted a promotional image of the merchandise on Twitter this week, writing, "Woke corporations are trying to change who WE are!" Woke Corporations are trying to change who WE are! Buy your Real Women of Politics Koozies here: https://t.co/ahU6lR9ENG pic.twitter.com/SI08VzO0Fj Kim Reynolds (@KimReynoldsIA) April 24, 2023 The group also released a promotional video parodying Bud Light commercials with a voice in the background saying, "real women don't have to fake it." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: John Oliver, Joe Rogan, GOP governors chime in on Dylan Mulvaney, Bud Light Exhausted, elated and cradling her newborn daughter in a rundown government hospital, young mother Manu Bala had just helped make India the world's most populous nation. Tears of joy and relief streamed down Bala's cheeks as her as-yet-unnamed child -- one of more than 67,000 born across India on Monday -- rested on her chest. It was also the day the UN announced that India, already home to more than one in every six humans on the planet, would this week eclipse China with more people than any other country. "I am very happy that my child was born on the day India left behind China -- it feels special to become a mother on this day," the 22-year-old housewife told AFP from her bed. "I want my baby to study hard and become whatever she wants to become. I want to give her a good life." Bala had writhed in agony on her gurney inside the crowded and somewhat decrepit maternity ward of her Himalayan town's public hospital. Flanked by nurses in green and white overalls, her face turned pale as she lay on a bare bed with her feet mounted in stirrups. "Push harder," the doctor urged the first-time mother in the labour room, while her husband and mother-in-law waited anxiously outside. Sweat trickling down her forehead, Bala winced in pain and clasped the sides of the bed before the final push, met with a round of cheers from the staff. Holding the baby to her chest with relief writ large on her face, she mustered up one final reservoir of energy to thank the doctor and nurses. - 'One baby is enough' - Bala's husband Rohit, a state government employee, was relieved that the birth was without complications and ecstatic about becoming a father. He already has his mind turned to the weeks ahead: the family will have a naming ceremony 11 days after the birth, with the assistance of a Hindu priest consulting astrological charts for an auspicious moniker. But beyond that, Rohit was fretting over the future awaiting his daughter. Story continues "There are many problems we have to face because of the growing population," the 30-year-old told AFP. "Even for seeing the doctor here we had to queue up for so long." India faces huge challenges in providing electricity, food and housing for its growing population. Many of its cities struggle with water shortages, air and water pollution, and packed slums. Millions of young people are entering the workforce each year and struggling to find opportunities in an economy that does not have the capacity to provide them all with jobs. "Already there is so much unemployment in the country. It will become all the more difficult to get a job," Rohit said. "I think one baby is enough in today's times." abh/gle/axn/dva E. Jean Carroll and Donald Trump Getty/Getty Trump's Truth Social posts blasting E. Jean Carroll may be "tampering" the jury, the judge warned. Minutes before Wednesday's trial, Trump posted online that Carroll's allegations were a "made up SCAM." Carroll has accused Trump of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman changing room in the mid-1990s. The federal judge overseeing Donald Trump's rape trial in Manhattan warned that the former president's social media posts criticizing his accuser, E. Jean Carroll, may cross the line into tampering with the jury. "Your client seems to be endeavoring to talk to the public, but also seems to be talking to the jury in this case," US District Judge Lewis Kaplan warned Trump's attorney Joe Tacopina in his courtroom Wednesday morning. Minutes earlier, Trump had published a series of Truth Social posts calling Carroll's allegations that Trump raped her in a dressing room of the Bergdorf Goodman department store in the mid-1990s a "made up SCAM" that was motivated by politics, and claiming that Carroll refused to produce a dress she said had DNA evidence proving Trump sexually assaulted her. Carroll's lawyer Roberta Kaplan (who is not related to the judge) raised it before calling the case's first witness on Wednesday morning. Tacopina initially said that Trump's comments appeared consistent with his opening statements in the case made Tuesday, but the judge wasn't buying it. Judge Kaplan pointed out that Trump had, for years, dodged taking a DNA test that would help determine the merits of Carroll's allegations. "It's as if you just told me yesterday was the Fourth of July," Judge Kaplan said. Judge Kaplan called Trump's Truth Social posts "a public statement that seems entirely inappropriate" and warned it may cross the line into "tampering" with the case. "We're getting into an area where your client may or may not be tampering with a potential source of liability," the judge said. Story continues Tacopina told the judge he'd tell Trump who wasn't present in court to "refrain from making posts" about the case. "I hope you're more successful," the judge said. After the exchange over Trump's social media posts on Wednesday morning, Carroll's legal team called its first witness: The manager of the Bergdorf Goodman store at the time of the alleged rape. Carroll first accused Trump of raping her in the mid-1990s in a 2019 essay for New York magazine. She said that while their encounter began playful, with Trump asking Carroll to help him pick out a gift for a female friend, things quickly turned aggressive. Carroll said Trump assaulted her in a dressing room after asking her to try on a lacy bodysuit in the lingerie section. While Carroll didn't report the incident to the police, she says she confided the story to two friends after. Both are on a list of potential witnesses who may testify during the trial. Trump has loudly and repeatedly denied her claim, saying Carroll wasn't his "type" and that she made up the accusation in order to sell more copies of her memoir. In an October 2022 post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "This 'Ms. Bergdorf Goodman case' is a complete con job. It is a Hoax and a lie, just like all the other Hoaxes that have been played on me for the past seven years." Carroll swiftly filed to sue Trump for defamation. The suit, along with Carroll's battery lawsuit, began trial in a Manhattan federal court on Tuesday. Read the original article on Business Insider A federal judge tossed former California Congressman Devin Nunes lawsuit against a journalist and magazine that suggested his familys Iowa dairy farm knowingly employed undocumented workers. Nunes and his family had sued over a 2018 article that reporter Ryan Lizza wrote for Esquire magazine. For the piece, Lizza visited Sibley, Iowa, and spoke to locals and workers about the Nunes dairy, NuStar Farms. Nunes, who does not have a stake in the farm, was representing the area around Tulare in Congress and was a Republican on the House Intelligence Committee at the time. Judge C.J. Williams in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa decided that, based on what hed seen throughout the case, what the magazine and reporter published was accurate overall. The assertion that NuStar knowingly used undocumented labor is substantially, objectively true, Williams wrote in his 101-page ruling released Tuesday. Williams noted that 243 of 319 workers at NuStar Farms on or before the day the article published did not have Social Security numbers that matched Social Security Administration records. He said evidence showed the farm was warned about this, took expired credentials and did not correctly sign forms that verified employees could work legally in the U.S. Six employees who were subpoenaed by Hearst, which owns Esquire, to prove their work authorization pleaded the Fifth Amendment to not self incriminate. Williams pointed out NuStar Farms never used e-Verify, the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys voluntary program for checking a workers employment eligibility, even though Nunes praised the program and suggested it should be mandatory in an interview on Fox News in 2019. In a deposition, the judge wrote, Nunes called e-Verify a failed program. Williams wrote in his decision that Nunes failed to show that he was materially harmed by Lizzas story. While he ruled that a reasonable jury would not find for Nunes on most of his arguments, Williams said that there were some factual unknowns which the former congressman and his family could have perhaps used to convince a jury that some of Lizzas implications were false. But, Williams wrote, they never offered factual evidence denying the allegations. Story continues In separate 2019 lawsuits, Nunes and his family his father and brother said that Lizza and Hearst defamed them and aimed to harm their reputation through a story titled Devin Nuness Family Farm is Hiding a Politically Explosive Secret. In the story, Lizza contrasted the farms reliance on undocumented labor with Nunes ardent backing of former President Donald Trump, whose administration touted anti-immigrant sentiments. NuStar Farms said the farm did not knowingly rely on undocumented labor. Nunes had claimed that Lizza and Hearst published the story knowing that it was false or with reckless disregard for the truth actual malice, the standard he as a public figure needed to prove to recover damages in a libel lawsuit. The four-year-long lawsuit concluded after Williams initially dismissed Nunes case in 2020, appeals court judges reopened it in 2021 over a social media post in which Lizza linked to the story on Twitter, and another judge conjoined the former congressmans lawsuit with his familys in 2022. Nunes can appeal Williams ruling. Nunes and his family had a shared lawyer who represents Nunes in various other lawsuits. The lawyer, Steven Biss, did not respond to a request for comment. Neither did a spokeswoman for Trumps media company, which Nunes now runs. A lawyer for Hearst forwarded a request for comment to his colleagues at the magazine company who have not yet responded. Lizza, who now works for POLITICO, declined to comment. In 2022, Nunes left Congress to be the chief executive of the company that controls Truth Social. Still, he continued legal pursuits he started while serving California in the U.S. House. The Tulare native filed 11 lawsuits against media companies and critics between 2019 and 2022. Most of them have been dismissed or dropped. Among other suits, Nunes is still trying to sue the anonymous writers behind Twitter accounts that parody a cow and his mother, part of the first case in his string of suits related to defamation claims. The lawsuit he filed most recently, against CNN and anchor Jake Tapper, was tossed by a federal judge in Florida in March. Devin Nunes Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images A federal judge in Iowa on Tuesday tossed out a defamation lawsuit that former Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) filed in 2019 against reporter Ryan Lizza over an article he wrote for Esquire in 2018 about the Nunes family dairy farm, NuStar Farms, and why it had quietly relocated to Iowa from California. Nunes, who left Congress last year to head up former President Donald Trump's social media company, had sought $77 million from Lizza and Hearst Magazines, Esquire's publisher. U.S. District Judge C.J. Williams, a Trump appointee, ruled that Nunes had neither shown he had been harmed by the article nor that Lizza's reporting on NuStar's heavy reliance on undocumented immigrants was false. In fact, Williams wrote in his 101-page opinion, "the assertion that NuStar knowingly used undocumented labor is substantially, objectively true." Williams wrote that 243 of the 319 NuStar employees the court had run past the Social Security Administration had birth dates, names, and Social Security Numbers that matched no SSA records. He also pointed out that NuStar has never used the Homeland Security Department's e-Verify program to check on the status of its farm workers, and that Nunes had called e-Verify a failed program in a deposition while saying publicly it works "really, really well" and should be mandatory. The NuStar libel suit was "part of a flurry of at least 10 lawsuits Nunes filed beginning in 2019 against media organizations, journalists, and critics he accused of defaming him," Politico reports. "The most famous suit sought $250 million from Twitter, Democratic political strategist Liz Mair, and anonymous figures operating Twitter accounts labeled as 'Devin Nunes' Mom' and 'Devin Nunes' Cow.'" A judge in Virginia dismissed that lawsuit in 2020 and 2022. You may also like A complete timeline of George R.R. Martin's progress on The Winds of Winter Why Tucker Carlson was fired from Fox News Tucker Carlson was offered a new job on Russian state TV E. Jean Carroll, centre, arrives at court in New York on Wednesday - John Minchillo/AP Donald Trumps rape accuser told a New York on Wednesday that the former president subjected her to an extremely painful assault in the changing rooms of a department store following a "funny" chance encounter. E. Jean Carroll testified on the second day of a Manhattan civil trial that Mr Trump raped her in Bergdorf Goodman in 1996, then attempted to destroy her by accusing her of lying when she went public years later. Taking the stand for the first time, the former Elle magazine columnist recounted the day of the alleged assault, calling it such a funny New York scene and said the mood between them was light and fun. The 79-year-old said she bumped into Mr Trump, who said: Hey, you are that advice lady', adding that she replied, Hey, youre that real estate tycoon. She testified she then willingly went with him to the lingerie section to help him find a gift for another woman. Ms Carroll said her early impressions of the New York mogul were as a "raconteur" and "man about town". She admitted to finding him attractive, believing him to be a "sophisticated man who was entertaining to be around. An audibly emotional Ms Carroll recalled the moment the mood changed in the changing room, however, saying Mr Trump immediately shut the door and shoved her against the wall. I was extremely confused, and suddenly realising that what I thought was happening was not happening, she told the jury. She said that she did not want to anger Mr Trump: I didnt want to make a scene. I know that sounds strange. "He was very large. He leaned down and pulled down my tights, she went on. "I was pushing him back. It was quite clear that I didn't want anything else to happen. As I'm sitting here today, I still feel it." She said she shouted out but did not recall saying no. Mr Trump denies the accusations, saying the pair never met. However, a photograph was submitted into evidence on Wednesday showing Mr Trump and Ms Carroll at a social event with their partners in the mid-Nineties. Story continues The judge on Wednesday warned Mr Trump he could face serious legal issues after the former president challenged the allegations of his accuser in a social media post which questioned why she didnt scream. The 76-year-old Republican posted on his Truth Social media account on Wednesday morning calling the proceedings a scam. Mr Trump, who is not expected to be called to give evidence during the two-week hearing in Manhattan, wrote: "The E. Jean Carroll case, Ms. Bergdorf Goodman, is a made up SCAM. Does anybody believe that I would take a then almost 60 year old woman that I didnt know, from the front door of a very crowded department store, (with me being very well known, to put it mildly!), into a tiny dressing room, and . her, he continued. She didnt scream? There are no witnesses? Nobody saw this? She never made a police complaint? If I was seen there with a woman-BIG PRESS. SCAM! Comments 'entirely inappropriate' Ms Carroll's lawyer argued in court to Judge Lewis Kaplan that Mr Trump's latest posts violate various court orders. Judge Kaplan replied that the former president seemed to be trying to communicate to his supporters, or even perhaps jurors, about issues that are not supposed to be part of the case. He said the comments were entirely inappropriate. Joe Tacopina, a lawyer for Mr Trump, responded that he would try to address that with my client and that he would ask him to refrain from any further posts regarding this case. The judge responded, Well, I hope youre more successful, and added that Mr Trump may or may not be tampering with a new source of potential liability. And I think you know what I mean. Ms Carroll, 79, is suing the Republican front-runner in the 2024 US presidential election for defamation after he denied her rape claim in an October post on Truth Social. Though these are civil proceedings and not a criminal trial, the stakes are still high for Mr Trump. If Ms Carroll is successful, it would be the first time he is held legally responsible for sexual assault, after more than two dozen such allegations have been made against him A six-man, three-woman jury is expected to decide whether to hold Mr Trump liable for damages, and, if so, how much he owes Ms Carroll in damages. The trial continues. Julia Louis-Dreyfus recalled how one of her greatest memories is also one of her saddest. At the top of her Lemonada Medias Wiser Than Me podcast episode, the actor revealed that she suffered a pregnancy loss when she was in her late 20s. When I was about 28, I got pregnant for the first time and I was crazy happy, she began. I got pregnant easily. I felt very fertile, very womanly. And then, quite late in the pregnancy, my husband, Brad (Hall), and I discovered that this little fetus was not going to live. So that was emotionally devastating as you can imagine, but it got worse because I developed an infection that landed me in the hospital, the actor continued, calling the moment a complete nightmare. The Seinfeld star recalled how her mom, Judith Bowles, flew out to be with her and prepared a delicious meal. After a couple of days, I finally gotten out of the hospital and I came home to recuperate, but I wasnt allowed to get up out of bed yet. I was, as they say, bedridden, Louis-Dreyfus continued. But my mom cooked. She made this incredible cozy chili in a cast iron skillet with cornbread on top in the pan. Her mom and husband set up a tray of food at the foot of her bed. However, she couldnt eat it. The smell of that cornbread and the chili was so wonderful. It just filled the room and the whole house and my heart, really, because heres the thing I couldnt eat, she said. I wasnt yet allowed to have solid food, but it didnt matter. The Emmy winner called it the best meal ever, even if she couldnt have it. She said the making of the meal was so comforting and embracing at the moment. Food is central to the traditions of my family, she said. I would think that to most families, thats the case. I relate food especially to my mom. Shes a great cook, she said. This is one of my greatest memories around food, even though it has sort of an odd kicker. Louis-Dreyfus and husband Brad Hall have been married since 1987. The couple share sons Henry, 30, and Charlie, 25. Story continues Charlie Hall is following in his famous parents' acting footsteps. During a chat with Jimmy Kimmel on his late night talk show, Louis-Dreyfus revealed that she watched her sons racy scenes in Sex Lives of College Girls. Charlie Hall plays a biology student who becomes a love interest for one of the characters in the HBO comedys second season. I think he was really great, Louis-Dreyfus said. I mean, he was adorable. He was f------ some girl in the library and I thought it was dynamite! As for Louis-Dreyfus son Henry, hes a musician. He released his debut album, Neato, in 2020 and a five-song EP, Are You Kidding Me in September of last year. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Julie Su survived her first Senate test Wednesday, but the next step in her quest to become Secretary of Labor remains highly uncertain. The former California Secretary of the Labor and Workforce Agencys nomination was approved by a party-line 11-10 vote by the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee. The vote means Sus fate is now up to the full Senate, and the outcome of that vote remains unpredictable. Democrats Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana, and Independent Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who caucuses with Democrats, have not said whether theyre supporting Su. Each faces re-election next year in states where Republicans have done well in recent years. I hope so. Well see, said Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, Ind.-Vt., when asked if Su has the votes for confirmation. Theres no firm schedule for a Su Senate floor vote. The leadership will schedule it when its confident it has the 50 votes needed for confirmation. Democrats control 51 votes, but Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has been home in San Francisco and not voting. Theres no word on when she may return. As a result, with all 49 Republicans expected to vote no, Democrats can afford to lose only one vote. Tester met with Su Tuesday and said hes not leaning either way. He said they covered several topics. Asked if anything bothered him, Tester said no but I want to find out if theres anything she said that bothered my staff. Sus opponents were adamant Wednesday theyll be fighting hard to deny her the job. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La. the committees top Republican, said there were serious concerns about Miss Sus ability to manage an agency. He cited controversy in the California unemployment system, which Su oversaw as it was overwhelmed by claims and balky technology during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Sus supporters have said that Californias chaos was no different than what other states experienced, and that she took strong steps to make the department operate more efficiently. Story continues Tester was asked by The Bee if Sus California experience bothered him. Im always concerned anytime theres fraud, he said. Of the claim that other states had similar experience, Tester said, Ive never heard about it in Montana. As the committee deliberated, voices outside the hearing room kept up the fight against her confirmation. During the pandemic, Julie Su and her Employment Development Department (EDD) became the national poster child for government failure, wrote House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, and Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, in an op-ed for Fox News. Kiley has led the congressional battle against Su. Given her abysmal track record in California, they wrote, its clear that a promotion to the nations top labor office would be a disservice to the American people. Democrats continued to warmly praise Su. I think Julie Su currently and in her role in California and throughout her life has made it clear shes prepared to stand up for working families, Sanders said. Transfer season is once again upon us and Ohio State has taken a few hits. On Tuesday, wide receiver Caleb Burton entered the portal. On Wednesday, offensive lineman Ben Christman joined Burton in making a move from Ohio State. The Ohio native redshirted during his first year on campus and didnt see the field often this past season. There wasnt much buzz about Christman contending for a starting job this fall after spring camp, so this move makes sense for the soon-to-be third-year player. The Buckeyes are also over the scholarship limit, so you can expect more portal news as the program gets down to the 85-player limit the NCAA mandates. For the best local Columbus news, sports, entertainment and culture coverage, subscribe to The Columbus Dispatch. Christman was regarded as one of the best interior offensive linemen in the 2021 recruiting cycle, ranked as the No. 7 interior lineman and 124th overall player on the 247Sports composite. #Buckeyes offensive tackle Ben Christman is in the transfer portal. He was ESPN's No. 131 overall recruit in the 2021 class. Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) April 26, 2023 Its not a massive loss for the Buckeyes, but one that affects depth. The starters at guard are set: Donovan Jackson and Matthew Jones. Christman was never really considered a candidate for either open tackle positions or center. He had rotated in behind Jackson at left guard during the spring, but hes most likely looking to be the guy somewhere else. We wish Ben the best of luck at his next destination. More! Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. goes off the board in the first round of the NFL draft Reactions to Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud selected by the Texans Ohio State football 2023 NFL draft tracker Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud selected in the first round of the NFL draft Final call for where Ohio State football players will land in the NFL draft Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Michael Chen on Twitter. Story originally appeared on Buckeye Wire Getty In almost 70 years, our understanding of how Parkinsons disease wreaks havoc on the nervous system has grown tremendously. Advances in genetic sequencing, for instance, have revealed that up to 15 percent of all cases of Parkinsons can be attributed to inherited mutations in a persons DNA. But large gaps in our understanding remain, including what causes the majority of cases and how to definitively test for the disease. Most astonishingly, todays gold standard treatment for Parkinsonslevodopa medicationswas discovered 68 years ago. Levodopa is effective at reducing Parkinsons hallmark symptoms like tremors, slowness, and stiffness. The underlying theory is that Parkinsons patients lose cells that make dopamine, and levodopa acts as a substitute Crucially, however, levodopa cannot stop or slow the progression of the neurodegenerative diseasemerely provide some respite to the symptoms. Many researchers hope to find a more permanent cure by targeting the source and directly fixing mistakes in patients genes that lead to Parkinsons in the first place. In a new study published April 19 in the journal Science Advances, one group reports having acquired the ability to overcome a (literal) barrier holding genetic intervention back. New ways to treat Parkinsons disease cant come fast enough. More than 8.5 million people worldwide have the disease, and its the fastest-growing neurological cause of disability and death. Not only can these new findings introduce a new generation of Parkinsons treatments, it could fundamentally change the way we treat diseases of the brain. Our ultimate goal is to treat neurological diseases, such as Parkinsons, early and non-invasively, Jose Obeso, a neurologist at the Abarca Campal Integral Neuroscience Center in Spain and the senior author of the new research, told Spanish newspaper El Pais. If all goes well, we could start testing on patients in the summer of 2024. This Device Tracks Parkinsons by Watching You Walk Around at Home Story continues Last-Mile Drug Delivery Though the roots of Parkinsons disease remain mysterious, researchers have figured out that dopamine is central to the puzzle. You may know this chemical as a pleasure hormone, but more generally its a key component of neurons messaging system. A structure in humans midbrain called the substantia nigra controls movement and coordination through cells that release dopamine. But in Parkinsons patients, 80 percent or more of these cells are killed off. Gene therapieswhere researchers can fix a mutation in a persons underlying genetic codehave shown promise for rare disorders that consist of a single well-described mutation, Rebecca Gilbert, the chief scientific officer of the American Parkinson Disease Association who was not involved in the recent research, told The Daily Beast. Parkinsons, however, seems to be much more complex, and so the gene therapies that have been trialed have taken a variety of approaches. Some aim to keep dopamine-producing cells alive, while others increase the production of enzymes that turn precursor chemicals into dopamine. But both of these strategies hit the same roadblock: Its not easy at all to get to the substantia nigra because of a network of blood vessels and tissues called the blood-brain barrier. To protect the brain from infection and inflammation, the barrier lets in substances like water and oxygen while keeping out large proteins. Levodopa naturally crosses the blood-brain barrier, but gene therapy, which is often delivered using a harmless virus, is a definite no-no. If drug delivery were a microscopic-scale version of package delivery, the blood-brain barrier might be a low-clearance bridge and gene therapy an oversized truck. The [blood-brain barrier] keeps many unwanted substances out of the brain, so it is a very necessary system to protect the brain, but it means that it needs to be circumvented for gene therapy to work, Gilbert said. Will This Stem Cell Breakthrough Spell the End of Parkinsons? Were About to Find Out. To date, the solution to this issue has been injecting gene therapy directly into the brainan invasive procedure that may still result in the therapy filtering out to the bloodstream. But in a study published on April 19 in the journal Science Advances, Obeso and his colleagues detailed a simpler, less invasive method of crossing the barrier. Best of all, it relies on low-intensity focused ultrasound, a technology that many hospitals already possess. In the new study, the researchers injected tiny fat bubbles into the veins of six macaque monkeys and three humans, then performed focused ultrasound in a machine similar to an MRI. The ultrasound waves combined with the bubbles formed millimeter-sized cracks in various parts of the blood-brain barrier, which the researchers found they could control. And though it seems small, a few millimeters is all a gene therapy would need to slip past into the brain. The researchers found that the primates and human participants tolerated the focused ultrasound without any complications, and that their blood-brain barriers were restored after 24 hoursraising the possibility that therapies that would have been kept out can now gain entry into the brain. A whole variety of different molecules such as antibodies, nerve growth factors, and gene therapy may be able to take advantage of this approach, Gilbert said. Opening up this gap in the blood-brain barrier might allow early and repeated interventions to treat neurodegenerative disorders besides Parkinsons, too, the researchers wrote in the study. The U.S. spends more than $50 billion annually on Parkinsons care, which means that this method of breaking through the blood-brain barrier isnt just a million-dollar idea, it could be a multibillion-dollar one. With this last-mile solution, a new therapy for this debilitating disease might finally be within reach. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. If you think it's obvious which man Carrie Bradshaw should have picked in "Sex and the City," and the answer is Aidan, rejoice: her ex-fiance re-enters the picture in the first trailer for the second season of "And Just Like That..." In the teaser, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) walks up the steps to her brownstone, as she narrates a voiceover: "And just like that, I realized some things are better left in the past. But maybe not everything." When she turns around, Aidan (John Corbett) stares longingly at her from the bottom of the stairs. The trailer for Season Two is, as Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) says, "full of surprises" beyond Aidan's return, revealing the current relationships of Carrie and her friends. "If youre lucky, you can always count on your closest friends to be there," Carrie says. "We are all blissfully unaware when our lives are about to change." The big changes include Miranda revealing there will be a "big step up" for her and Che (Sara Ramirez) after her separation from her husband, Steve (David Eigenberg), and last-minute decision to move to Los Angeles. As for Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and her husband Harry (Evan Handler)? Their daughter Lily (Alexandra Fong) is also sharing a possible big change, as she tells her parents and Charlotte's friend Anthony Marentino (Mario Cantone), "I'm ready to lose my virginity." Carrie also shares she's having exit out of grief sex following the death of her husband, Mr. Big (Chris Noth), in the first season (but before she reunites with Aidan). "It's just sex," she says, adding "life's too short not to try something new." Though Big is out of the picture, the debate over who Carrie should have ended up with is still raging. In "Sex and the City," Carrie winds up engaged to Aidan, the scruffy carpenter, but ultimately leaves him for Mr. Big, the suave businessman who follows her to Paris to declare she's the one for him in the series finale. After departing the show, Noth was accused of sexual assault by two women. Noth was not charged or sued, and denied the allegations in a statement to NBC News, saying that the encounters with the women were consensual. Story continues Candace Bushnell, the author of the newspaper columns that inspired Sex and the City, weighed in herself in January, writing in a tweet she wouldn't have picked either for Carrie. "When people ask me if Im Team Big or Team Aidan, I loudly proclaim my love for Harry Goldenblatt," Bushnell said. While Harry and Charlotte end up married, we'll just have to see what happens between Aidan and Carrie this time around. "And Just Like That" returns to HBO Max in June. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Orange County sheriffs deputies are continuing to investigate after an Orange High School student reported being assaulted by another student Monday, officials said Wednesday. The student reported feeling a blow to the back during a late-afternoon class change, Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Alicia Stemper said in a news release. The student was checked out by the school nurse, who then contacted emergency responders, she said. Investigators have detained a suspect on a juvenile petition. Since they are under 18, very little information can be released at this time, Stemper said. Officials have not released other details about the assault, but extra security was on hand Tuesday at the high school. There is no ongoing threat to the school or its students, Stemper said. The school also had crisis team members, counselors and school staff available to help students, parents and employees, she said. Anyone with information about the incident can call Investigator Borland at 919-245-2907. One day after the Missouri Board of Education voted to close Genesis, the Kansas City charter school is suing, calling the process unlawful. On Monday, the state school board unanimously agreed to close the East Side school, affirming a decision by the schools sponsor to revoke its charter. Officials cited 15 years of low academic performance and a failure to properly educate its students and train teachers. Its an almost unheard of move in Missouri to revoke a schools charter in the middle of its contract. Genesis has continually argued that its sponsor, the Missouri Charter Public School Commission, breached its contract and unlawfully nullified its charter. Ahead of Mondays board vote, Missouri Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven acknowledged, There are concerns about how the charter commission proceeded with the revocation. And she said it is clear the process was deficient. But, Vandeven argued, there are more significant concerns with allowing the school to continue to remain open when its threatened the educational security of its students and has for a number of years. Now, Genesis is suing the commission and state board of education in Cole County Court in Jefferson City, arguing that the charter revocation should be invalidated. Genesis Executive Director Kevin Foster said he is extremely disappointed in the decision to close the K-8 school. But in a statement he said, Even more disappointing was the apparent lack of seriousness and deliberation given to their decision that directly impacts the 210 students, 40 staff members and institution older than the Charter Statute itself. After admitting that the process followed by MCPSC was deficient and raises concerns, the Commissioner of Education presented new and separate justification when recommending the State Board vote take the unprecedented action of voting to close the school despite our contract. A spokeswoman with the Missouri department of education said she could not comment on pending litigation. The charter commission did not immediately return The Stars request for comment Wednesday, but leaders have previously defended the process and stood behind their decision to close the school they say has broken promises to their students for years. Story continues Genesis charter schools argument In revoking the charter, the state commission has pointed to Genesis history of low academic performance, with the school continually scoring behind the state average and Kansas City Public Schools. In the 2021-2022 school year, for example, the commission said only 13 out of 100 students performed at or above grade level in English and math. Commission leaders say the school has failed to adequately prepare students for high school and beyond. School officials and teachers counter that test results are not an accurate indicator of their students growth, many of whom are considered at-risk and transfer to Genesis testing in the lowest percentile. Typically, a sponsor decides whether to renew or revoke a schools charter at the end of its performance contract. Genesis contract would have been up at the end of next school year, so canceling in the middle of the contract is very strange, said Charles Hatfield, the schools attorney. Under state statute, a sponsor may revoke a charter in the middle of its term if there is clear evidence of low scores in the schools annual performance report in three of the last four school years or if theres a violation of the law or the public trust. The charter commission says Genesis under-performed for each of the last three years for which performance data may be used by the state for school accountability. That does not include more recent reports, which were not used to hold schools accountable because the required state assessments were canceled during the pandemic, and test scores have dropped overall since. Genesis argues that the commission should have relied on the schools annual performance reports from the last four years. Foster said Genesis has seen student performance improve since the pandemic, as students continued to learn in person. The school says 2021 state assessment data shows growth in both English and math, as well as a 15% reduction in the amount of students scoring below basic in English. We feel the law is pretty clear that theyre supposed to look at the last four years to determine under-performance or not, Hatfield said. School leaders also believe the charter commission was in breach of the contract because it did not provide Genesis with enough notice or calls for corrective action, as laid out in the agreement, in advance of announcing its intent to revoke the charter. Under their contract, the commission may revoke the schools charter if Genesis breaches the performance contract, fails to meet performance measures or fails to adhere to mandated corrective actions. Genesis argues in its lawsuit that the commission did not revoke its charter for reasons allowed in the contract. The process ought to be collaborative, wherein the sponsor of the charter school makes every effort to get the charter school in line with its goals on educating kids, Hatfield said. This was more like a prosecutor kind of approach. But Robbyn Wahby, executive director of the state charter commission, previously said Genesis has broken the promises it made in its contract, not only with the commission, but with previous sponsors as well. She said the commission has provided the school with several warnings, but Genesis leaders have not proven they have the urgency or plan in place to improve student achievement or adequately prepare teachers to lead classrooms. During Mondays state school board meeting, Foster said he was disappointed that members did not discuss Genesis performance data or ask questions about Vandevens opinion that the revocation process was deficient. A drawn-out fight Genesis has served at-risk students since 1975 and is now one of Missouris oldest charter schools. The charter school was first sponsored by the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The University of Missouri-Columbia later took that over and in 2020 renewed the charter, but put the school on probation due to its low test scores. But the university later lost the authority to sponsor Genesis and two other charter schools. Last year, the state charter commission became Genesis new sponsor. Last spring, the commission told Genesis the school was not meeting standards, so it outlined performance goals for a new contract, signed in July. Two months later, the commission notified Genesis it intended to move forward with revoking its charter unless the school agreed to relinquish its charter. Genesis refused. In December, the commission told Genesis it was moving forward with nullifying its charter. It held a hearing, where dozens of families fought for the school to stay open. And in February, the commission voted 6-1 to revoke the charter, a decision Genesis appealed. But the state board of education this week agreed with the commissions decision. I appreciate that they care for their kids. But theyre not educating those kids, board member Peter Herschend said. And for that reason, it would be criminal neglect if we just said, thats OK, continue as you are. Before their vote, a few board members repeated an anecdotal statistic from member Carol Hallquist, who said some Kansas City leaders told her there were Genesis students six years behind grade level. In its lawsuit, Genesis states, there is no evidence, or any record, that any child attending Genesis is six years behind on their education. Hallquist, of Kansas City, said during Mondays meeting that Genesis is beloved by the community. It has stellar relationships with parents, its unmatched. And their wraparound services are so helpful for the students there. Its a challenging group. ... But our duty on the state board is to ensure that every Missouri student gets a quality education. While the battle is rare for Missouri, Hatfield pointed to a 2014 lawsuit won by Gordon Parks Elementary School. Although the circumstances were different, a Cole County judge ruled that the Missouri state school board violated state law when it denied the Kansas City school a new charter. The school was allowed to stay open. Staff of the Kansas City Defender The citizens of Kansas City, Missouri, are still reeling from the shooting of Ralph Yarl, leaving the city in emotional turmoil. On April 17, 16-year-old Yarl was shot by an 84-year-old white man, Andrew Lester. The teenager accidentally rang Lesters doorbell, mistaking it for a friends home. The headline made national news as people questioned Lesters motive. Outlets covered the breaking news around the story, including the recovery of the resilient teen. However, few were on the ground to feel the racial tension from the incident. Journalist Roland Martin thanked the Black owned/operated Kansas City Defender for its proficient story coverage. He acknowledged the outlet on his Instagram, stating it owned the glory of making the story go national. He wrote, Let me say this right now: NO ONE can claim credit for making the #RalphYarl story go national than Black-owned @kansascitydefender. They were on the ground, doing the hard work and reporting on the shooting. Check the time stamp. They were first to push this story out. And they have stayed on top of it. I want to give them their just due. JOB WELL DONE!!!! Martin ended the caption with the intentional hashtag #BlackOwnedMediaMatters. Ryan Sorrell, founder and executive editor of the Kansas City Defender, and his team broke the story to his readers. The article, This Is A Hate Crime: Kansas City Black Family Demanding Justice After A White Man Shoots Black Boy, Ralph Yarl, In The Head Twice For Ringing Doorbell Of The Wrong Home, White Man Released By Police Hours Later, shared facts other outlets missed or chose to overlook. The truth is that when our local white news outlets first reported the story, the headlines did not indicate anything particularly heinous, Sorrell told Blavity. For example, one of the first stories from KMBC read, Kansas City juvenile shot after trying to pick up sibling at wrong address. There was no race or motive mentioned. It would be very easy to glance past that headline, which I did at first. Honestly, it would have likely remained this way, like so many other stories that have been erased and swept under the rug. Story continues Sorrell added that community was a major part of their story development. We have a lot of people in our community who provide us stories through our DM on social media, he said. I started getting five, maybe 10 DMs from people saying This doesnt sound right can you look into this? So we did. Then we found out Ralph was Black, we found out Andrew Lester shot him twice, once in the head and once while he was already bleeding out on the ground, that it was essentially an attempted murder. I then contacted his aunt and spoke with her as well. In contrast, our headline read This Is A Hate Crime: Kansas City Black Family Demanding Justice After A White Man Shoots Black Boy In The Head Twice For Ringing Doorbell Of The Wrong Home, White Man Released By Police Hours Later.' He mentioned their uncompromising approach to the story gained some national backlash but, more importantly, local support. So there was immediate outrage when we published the first story that included all these critical components about the real story and the hateful, horrific, and purposeful violence inflicted on this child, he explained. More critical than outrage, though, was people wanted to take action. So we published it on a Saturday morning around 10 a.m., and within 48 hours, it seemed like the story had already traveled worldwide. More importantly, though, our community came together, and hundreds of people commented on our social media platforms, asking, What can we do about this? So we helped organizers connect with one another, and it took a life of its own from there. As disgusting as this particular incident was, the truth is that in Kansas City, it is not an anomaly, Sorrell said. I think the naked and brazen violence of this shooting, and the fact Ralph was such a model student and that there is absolutely [nothing] negative anybody, even the most racist person, can say about him whatsoever, made it wildly viral. The Defender was one of the first outlets to give the details of Lester shooting Yarl in the head through the peephole and then reshooting him once he was already incapacitated. But in our work, just in the past year, weve covered stories of our police department murdering people in cold blood, lying about it, and our local media participating in these coverups. Theres a 19-year-old student, Jaylon Elmore, sitting in prison in our state right now, facing life in prison for a crime he didnt commit. This is our everyday work. Thats why I started The Defender, so we can have a vehicle to defend, to refute the lies and dehumanization of Black people through the media. We were able to bring light to this story which I am grateful for, but it equally made me realize how if we hadnt published our reporting on it, it likely would have just been another day in the city. I can only think of how many more Ralphs there are who dont have Black media outlets in their cities or neighborhoods to bring light when something horrific happens to them. Sorrell is already looking at the outcome and impact of everything that has transpired. One of the outcomes we can already see, is that Andrew Lester is facing charges, he said. Knowing the racist culture of the Northland here in Kansas City, theres no doubt in my mind that without the public outcry and massive national response, our police department wouldnt have made a criminal referral and the prosecutor certainly wouldnt have brought the charges he has. Beyond that, we are also seeing a massive resurgence in people wanting to organize, to volunteer with our organization. I havent seen anything like it since 2020. The Defender was started in 2020, arising from the racial unrest in the nation. The nonprofit community media platform primarily focuses on education, justice, business, arts & culture and technology. The Defender isnt the only Black owned/operated outlet covering Kansas City stories. The Kansas City Discover was able to interview James Lynch, the neighbor that helped Yarl after Lester shot him. KVC Kansas placed two 8-year-old girls together at a psychiatric facility, knowing that one had a history of sexually inappropriate behavior and the other had survived sexual assault, according to a lawsuit filed in Wyandotte County. Days after KVC placed the girls together, one girl coerced the other into sex acts, lawyers for the other girl wrote. That girl reported the abuse the next day to KVC, which released her back to her mother. KVC is a nonprofit that offers behavioral health services and is Kansas largest foster care contractor. Spokeswoman Blythe Hinderliter of KVC Kansas declined to comment on the case, but said all allegations are referred to local authorities for further investigation. She said staff conduct risk assessments on each child brought to KVC hospitals and medical facilities to create a culture of safety. A Kansas Department for Children and Families spokesperson was not immediately available to comment. The lawsuit claims that KVC had knowledge about the child that could have prevented her from abusing others. In court documents, KVC generally denied the allegations. The lawsuit was one of two filed in recent months where a child with mental and emotional conditions was allegedly abused at a KVC psychiatric facility. In the other case, a 13-year-old boy who has autism and suffered prior abuse was sexually assaulted and tortured by two other residents of a facility in Hays in western Kansas, according to a lawsuit filed this month in Johnson County. In the Wyandotte County case, the lawsuit said the abused girl who had bipolar disorder and autism was assaulted by her babysitter at age 5. KVC knew that as a survivor, the girl was at higher risk for future abuse and increased harm from any future abuse, according to the lawsuit. The girl threatened to harm herself and others, so her mother took her to Childrens Mercy, which referred her to KVCs facility at 4300 Brenner Drive in KCK, according to the lawsuit. Story continues Both girls were at the facility for in-patient psychiatric services. Brian Russell, a Kansas City-based attorney who represents the survivor, said she will probably forever be dealing with the effects of the abuse. The lawsuit was filed against KVC Hospitals, KVC Behavioral Health Care and KVC Health Systems. The lawsuit noted that KVCs website claims it provides 24-hour supervision from trained clinicians and staff. But no one was supervising the girl when she was abused, the lawsuit said. It said KVC had the resources to attract and keep qualified staff, but chose not to. Three other lawsuits filed in the last three months similarly accuse KVC of placing vulnerable children in unsafe environments, without taking into account their history of abuse or pre-existing health conditions. A February lawsuit alleged an infant was injured after being placed into an overcrowded home. Another lawsuit accused KVC of placing a teenage girl with a foster parent who had a history of being inappropriate around adolescents. The foster parent confessed to assaulting her months later, the lawsuit said. The third lawsuit alleges KVC placed another teenage girl with a foster parent who was unable to provide safe housing and was frequently intoxicated. She was sexually assaulted two months later, the lawsuit said. The Stars Laura Bauer contributed to this report. Ty Masterson is feeling cranky about Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly. Kellys veto pen is running hot these days she has vetoed 15 bills during this session of the Kansas Legislature, the most of any governor in three decades. Masterson, the Republican Kansas Senate president, says that means the governor has broken her promise to govern from the middle. As Joe Biden prepares to launch his reelection bid, it is apparent that the governor seems to be following in his footsteps by doing whatever the radical left asks of her, rather than honoring her pledge to meet us in the middle, Masterson said this week. Thats a remarkable charge. Its also pure nonsense. Most human beings understand meeting in the middle to involve some movement by both sides. I want what I want and you want what you want, and then we both give up a little bit so that we can come to some acceptable common ground. In what sense, then, have Kansas Republicans kept their end of meeting in the middle? Was it when they passed legislation targeting the tiny number of transgender student-athletes in the state, even though Kelly won reelection last fall against a GOP gubernatorial candidate who made that non-issue the flagship of his campaign? Was it when they passed a so-called flat tax bill that would deliver its biggest benefits to the richest Kansans while potentially setting the state up for a repeat of the fiscal crisis that dominated the tenure of Gov. Sam Brownback? Or maybe it was when they approved an effort to defund Kansas public schools and weaken the communities that rely on them by diverting money to families that would rather send their kids to private schools or educate their kids at home? What exactly has the GOP given up? How has the party modified its agenda to find some bit of common ground with Kelly? With Masterson leading the way, Republicans in the Kansas Legislature have governed in 2023 as if there isnt actually a Democrat sitting in the governors office as if they have unbroken authority to do exactly what they want without any need to consider the opposition. Story continues And maybe they dont need to. After all, they have a veto-proof majority in both the House and Senate. If Republicans can keep their team together always a big question, not always answered in their favor they really can pass whatever laws they like without bothering to consider how Kelly might react. But in doing so, theyre ignoring the message that Kansas voters have been sending for more than a generation. Ive said this before, but it bears repeating: Kansans are more moderate than our red state reputation suggests. Kellys election and reelection werent outliers Democrats regularly win the governors office in this state. Conservatives rarely do. Brownback was the only conservative Republican to win a majority of gubernatorial votes in the last 30 years, and that was only during his first term. (Bill Graves won two terms comfortably, but he was decidedly a moderate.) The rights standard-bearers men like David Miller, Tim Shallenburger and Kris Kobach have taken their shot at Cedar Crest and missed. Of course, the same electorate that keeps rejecting conservative gubernatorial candidates has also empowered a Kansas Legislature that is dominated by the right. That could say something about the GOPs ability to draw legislative maps to its advantage. Or it might suggest that voters are confused about what they really want from their state government. Or maybe it just means that Kansas voters really do want their leaders to meet in the middle. It takes two to tango, but Ty Masterson and Kansas Republicans dont really have much interest in the dance. They presented the governor with a take or leave it agenda from the far rights wish list. She left it, and now theyre trying to paint her as a radical. Dont be fooled. People fleeing from Sudan arrive at a bus station in Aswan, Egypt, on April 25, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] The ongoing crisis in Sudan jeopardizes peace and stability in the African country. Clashes leading to killings and injuries are causing chaos for the Sudanese people and foreign nationals who live and work in the country. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed for warring parties to stop the fighting and work toward a permanent ceasefire. In particular, there are two main warring parties, namely the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The two groups are led by two commanders, General Abdel Fattah al Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, respectively, and are at odds over the return to civilian rule. Current hostilities, however, cannot be understood without being placed into a context. From a historical prism, Sudan has suffered two civil wars, with the second ending in 2005, leading to the creation of South Sudan as an independent state six years later in 2011. Other internal conflicts, most notably in the region of Darfur, elicited additional problems of similar, if not higher, severity. Under dramatic circumstances, the Rapid Support Forces were established in 2013 to fight against rebels in Darfur. Then in 2017, the Rapid Support Forces were integrated into the Sudanese army, although the degree of this integration would be highly contested in the years to come. President Omar al-Bashir, who had started governing Sudan in 1989, witnessed reactions against his rule principally due to economic calamity and food shortages from December 2018 onwards. Amid tensions, he was overthrown by a military coup in April 2019. A transitional council was subsequently formed in order to pave the way for the organization of democratic elections in 2022. This transitional council was composed of both military and civilian representatives. The former would govern first and the latter second. But approximately two years later, in October 2021, this collaboration model collapsed after another military coup was staged. The 2021 military coup generated a new round of tense disagreements in Sudan. On the one hand, supporters of a democratic transition felt completely disappointed. On the other, military rule could hardly guarantee the organization of an election, a task that had not been fulfilled in the years prior. More importantly, cleavages between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces came to surface, with the aforementioned commanders, Burhan and Dagalo, not in accord over the particulars of power sharing. It was therefore unsurprising that violence would eventually erupt, as is currently happening. China is carefully looking at the dangerous situation in Sudan. Beijing's most important priority is to secure the safety of Chinese nationals living in the country and to possibly facilitate their evacuation. It will not be the first time that such a policy has been implemented in the Middle East and North Africa region. In 2014, for example, several Chinese nationals had to leave Libya because of the civil war there at the time. At that time, Greece sent one of its frigates to help, a decision the Chinese government will not forget. In tandem with the protection of safety and security, China has called on the two sides, the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces, to stop fighting as soon as possible and prevent further escalation in order to jointly move forward the political transition process. In 2022, China's special envoy for the Middle East, Zhai Jun, traveled to Sudan and talked about the importance of dialogue on the basis of the trilateral mechanism comprised of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). China and Sudan enjoy good bilateral relations, which have spread to other areas and summits, such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). China is also Sudan's largest trading partner, with over 130 Chinese companies operating in the country. Obviously, political uncertainty does not help foreign enterprises. Above all, this uncertainty will push Sudanese people to pay a heavy price following decades of protracted conflict. Sudan is one of the poorest countries in the world and cannot expect improvements to their standing as long as the threat of another civil war looms. George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. Abortion providers in Kansas will soon face additional criminal penalties if they do not provide care to infants born alive in an abortion after lawmakers approved the first anti-abortion bill since voters overwhelmingly opted to retain the state-level right to the procedure last year. The Kansas Legislature voted Wednesday to override Gov. Laura Kellys veto of the bill, which goes beyond existing federal law protecting infants born alive in abortions to create new criminal penalties. The House voted 87-37 to and the Senate voted 31-9 Wednesday override the veto on the born alive bill. The new law will take effect in July. But medical experts and Kansas abortion providers said the bills were redundant with existing policy and ignored medical science surrounding abortion. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said the born alive bill seeks to prevent a situation that does not occur in modern abortion care. Federal law already requires care for infants born alive in an abortion but the new bill creates new criminal penalties for those who do not comply. Advocates said that accountability was important. We owe it to these people to provide care to those who are weak, powerless, said Rep. Ron Bryce, a Coffeyville Republican. Democrats opposing the bill warned of unforeseen consequences by limiting options in tragic circumstances and by driving gynecologists and obstetricians out of Kansas. Who are we truly trying to protect? We have increased criminalization for these providers, said Rep. Melissa Oropeza, a Kansas City Democrat. Do you think any of these providers are going to continue going into this specialty care where we are criminalizing our providers? While abortion rights advocates sat in the House gallery with signs about last years vote, the House voted 84-40 to override two other abortion bills. One requires providers to notify patients a medication abortion is reversible though that isnt proven. Another makes it harder for abortion providers to access liability insurance. Story continues Advocates said the measures were key to protect infants in Kansas if abortions went wrong and to ensure patients have all their options if they regret taking mifepristone, the first pill taken in a medication abortion. The bills now head to the Kansas Senate, where the insurance bill has already passed with a veto-proof majority and the pill reversal bill fell just one vote short earlier this month. The procedure to reverse a medication abortion is based upon limited studies that have been criticized as insufficient to prove the procedure works and is safe.The procedure involves providing a woman who has taken the first of two pills used in a medication abortion with progesterone, which is often used to treat women experiencing miscarriage. Under the proposal, providers would be required to tell anyone receiving mifepristone that the procedure is reversible. By denying (a patient) that information the abortion industry is essentially forcing her to complete an abortion she no longer wants, said Jeanne Gawdun, a lobbyist for Kansans for Life. Anti-abortion advocates cited a case study from an anti-abortion doctor in California that found the hormone worked to halt abortions for about two-thirds of cases. But the study lacked a control group so its unclear if the progesterone was needed or if the abortion would have been halted if the patient just didnt take the second pill. The legislation also shows little regard for patient health and safety, forcing providers to break patients trusts by relaying information grounded neither in truth nor science, Alexis McGill Johnson, President of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said in a statement earlier this month calling for Kellys veto. The abortion pill reversal bill would also redefine abortion in state law to explicitly exclude contraceptives, miscarriage care and ectopic pregnancy care. In the wake of the Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v. Wade, doctors in states with strict abortion restricts have said they were forced to delay care for women facing ectopic pregnancies for fear of criminal penalties. Anti-abortion advocates say the goal is to provide clarity in the wake of fears following the fall of Roe. Gawdun said the definition was a direct response to abortion rights advocates. Its interesting why opponents to that legislation why they wouldnt even vote for it because they were part of the ones that spread this fear to women and their doctors, Gawdun said. But Democrats said the policy laid the groundwork for a new constitutional amendment fight. The Kansas Supreme court gave us bodily autonomy. The Legislature is trying to take that away, said Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Shawnee Democrat. Kate Middleton is many things: a royal, a mom, a mental health advocate and, of course, a style icon. In fact, the Princess of Wales is an influencer without even trying. From her beloved Longchamp tote to the Superga sneakers she sports everywhere, anything she touches (or wears) becomes a bestseller. And now we finally have a fragrance to add to that list of 'It' girl must-haves: it's Orange Blossom Cologne by Jo Malone London, and it's Kate Middleton's perfume of choice. It's also on sale at Nordstrom for just $68. Nordstrom Jo Malone London Orange Blossom Cologne $68 $80 Save $12 Orange Blossom Cologne is a floral bouquet inspired by the honeysuckle that grows in the English countryside. As dreamy as it sounds, honeysuckle grows in twisting vines that bear sweet-smelling, nectar-producing flowers. This popular fragrance has notes of white lilac, clementine flower and rose. $68 at Nordstrom The bouquet in this perfume is pretty distinct. White lilac has a sweet yet spicy element, and clementine is citrusy. In addition to smelling fresh and fruity, Orange Blossom Cologne has earthy undertones courtesy of an orris wood base and balsamic vetiver, known for its almost grass-like aroma. According to those in the know, Kate is often awash in this natural, refreshing scent, which no doubt adds to her dignified aura. In fact, it was Coco Chanel who said, "No elegance is possible without perfume. It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory." So if a more sophisticated vibe is what you're after, follow your nose. Even the bottle this fragrance comes in is stately. Kate Middleton's perfume of choice is a sweet and fruity blend by Jo Malone London! (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images) But this perfume is not just princesses. Nordstrom reviewers are also heaping praise on Orange Blossom Cologne by Jo Malone London. "This scent is happiness in a bottle. It is a fresh, light, citrus floral that stays true for hours, just softening. It's lush and juicy. Wearing it for only a few days, I've gotten numerous compliments," wrote a newfound fan. Another devoted customer said, "I am so blown away by this fragrance...It's almost as if you're leaning directly into an actual orange blossom/honeysuckle flower and breathing in only the best, most refined and lovely part of the aroma. It's mind boggling how the fragrance can be so precisely Orange Blossom like and be so airy and beautiful." Another shopper stated simply, "If heaven had a fragrance, this would be it." So raise your perfume game to an ethereal level with this fragrance fit for a royal. Orange Blossom Cologne by Jo Malone London is on sale for just $68 for a 1-ounce bottle that's a $12 savings. A 3.4-ounce bottle is discounted too. Nordstrom Jo Malone London Orange Blossom Cologne $68 $80 Save $12 The manufacturer, Jo Malone London, suggests spritzing Orange Blossom Cologne on your pulse points for best effect. That's because places like your wrist, elbows and neck emanate the most heat, in a sense activating the scent. $68 at Nordstrom The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication. Kate Middleton and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark during an audience at Christian IX's Palace on February 23, 2022, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Arthur Edwards - Pool/Getty Images, Samir Hussein - Pool/WireImage A clip showing Kate Middleton discreetly shuffling toward Queen Margrethe is going viral on TikTok. The video, which has over 1.9 million views, was taken during Kate's visit to Denmark in 2022. Royal commentator Amanda Matta said Kate looked like she was "slightly nervous" during the meeting. Not even the royals are immune to an awkward encounter, as a viral clip of Kate Middleton shows. On Tuesday, a video taken of Kate, 41, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, 82, and Princess Mary of Denmark, 51, was shared by a user named The Royal Watcher on TikTok. The clip, which has over 1.9 million views as of Wednesday, appears to show Kate shuffling her way closer to Margrethe at a photocall during her audience at Copenhagen's Christian IX's Palace in February 2022. From the looks of it, Kate was trying her best to get close to Margrethe without calling too much attention to herself. The creator of the TikTok dubbed her move the "princess shuffle" in a caption overlaying the clip. But according to Amanda Matta, who is known for her royal-themed videos on Twitter and on TikTok, where she has more than 1.2 million followers, Kate's shuffle may have shown a crack in her usually collected public appearance. "I can honestly say that I haven't seen Kate do this move before. To me, it demonstrates the high level of consideration (to the point of overthinking) that she puts into her appearances. On that photocall with Queen Margarethe and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, she seemed slightly nervous," Matta said. "While a bolder move would have been to simply take a step to the right, Kate instead chose to try to make the shift towards the Queen as surreptitious as possible," she added. "She was able to keep her eyes on the camera at all times as a result." Story continues Kate Middleton (R), Queen Margrethe II (C), and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (L) at Christian IX's Palace on February 23, 2022 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Owen Humphreys - Pool/Getty Images Matta went on to say that Kate's focus on getting closer to Margrethe, who inherited the unofficial title of Europe's longest-serving living monarch upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II, could be a sign of her being intimidated by the Danish royal. "Normally I don't like so-called 'body-language analysis,' but the signals that Kate may have been feeling a bit daunted by the Queen's presence were overwhelming on this day! And who wouldn't be?" Matta added. At the time, Kate was on her first overseas royal visit since 2019, Town & Country reported. A tweet shared by Kensington Palace a month before the trip said she would be focused on "learning from experts, parents & practitioners about Denmark's approach to early childhood." And although Margrethe is not expected to attend King Charles' upcoming coronation, due to her recovery from a back surgery, Kate will be reunited with Mary at the royal event. The Danish princess is confirmed to be attending alongside her husband, Crown Prince Frederik, 54. The couple will be among 10 international royals represented at the British coronation for the first time in over 900 years. Kensington Palace did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Insider Gov. Brian Kemp signed a series of tough-on-crime bills into law Wednesday, including a crackdown on gangs recruiting minors. Were saying loud and clear, Come after our kids, and we will be coming after you, Kemp told members of the Georgia Sheriffs Association at a conference at Lake Lanier Islands Legacy Lodge. We will not let up in Georgia until gangs are literally gone because their members are behind bars. Majority Republicans in the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 44 part of the governors legislative agenda for 2023 voting along party lines. The bill imposes tougher penalties for gang recruitment, including at least 10 years in prison for recruiting anyone under age 17 or with a disability. Legislative Democrats opposed the legislation because of the mandatory prison sentences, arguing such prison terms take away discretion from judges. Democratic lawmakers also objected to a provision in the bill restricting judges abilities to allow people to be released without bond if they have been convicted of bond jumping within the past five years. The other bills Kemp signed Wednesday enjoyed bipartisan support. The list included measures to: increase penalties for criminals who deliberately damage critical infrastructure, including power stations and water supplies. make it harder for thieves to sell stolen items including catalytic converters. create a grant program to help local law enforcement agencies investigate and prosecute motor vehicle crimes. eliminate a requirement that prosecutors disclose the home addresses and other personal information of non-sworn employees of law enforcement agencies called to testify at criminal trials. allow law enforcement officers to request that their personally identifiable information be removed from local, publicly available property records. establish the offenses of interfering with or harming a public safety animal or search and rescue animal and provide for punishment. designate Sept. 11 as First Responders Appreciation Day. It is an image etched in Myanmar's collective memory of repression and loss: a middle-aged man holding a camera, lifted off his feet by a shot fired by a soldier at point-blank range as protesters flee in panic. He rolls onto his back, fatally wounded, still holding his camera up in one hand. A Reuters photographer would later win a Pulitzer prize for capturing that moment. The man was Kenji Nagai, a veteran Japanese video journalist. He was killed on 27 September 2007, at the height of the so-called Saffron Revolution, mass protests led by Buddhist monks in several cities in Myanmar against a military regime which had ruled for 45 years and run the economy into the ground. His camera, missing for 16 years, has now resurfaced, bringing some closure to his family who flew to Bangkok this week to receive it. "I think my brother threw himself right into the turmoil of the Saffron Revolution, convinced he could help Myanmar by letting the world know what was happening," his sister Noriko says. "I don't think of him as a hero even though he lost his life. I would prefer people to remember him as a journalist who was willing to keep fighting." A warning - this story contains the Pulitzer-winning photograph of Kenji Nagai moments after he was shot. By the time Nagai, who was on assignment for the AFP, arrived in Myanmar the protests had been going on for six weeks, the first significant challenge to military rule for nearly 20 years. They had escalated in early September when monks across the country, reacting to the assault of monks by soldiers in the town of Pakkoku, had turned their bowls upside down and refused to take alms from military personnel - a powerful act of defiance. It had caught the government off-guard, but by late September the army was already using force extensively to crush the movement, raiding monasteries and beating dissident monks. On 27 September, a large crowd gathered near the historic Sule Pagoda in central Yangon, Myanmar's commercial hub. And Nagai - in shorts and flip-flops - was milling among them holding up a video camera. He was a pioneer of one-person videography - today we would call him a news vlogger - using small, hand-held cameras to film himself and what he saw around him. Story continues In the video he took that day, seen now for the first time, Nagai records the moment trucks full of soldiers appear at Sule Pagoda. Speaking to his camera, he says: "The army has just arrived, and they are heavily armed. Yet more people are still gathering in front of the pagoda." It is the last thing he says. Shortly after that his video stops. Other journalists, filming from the pedestrian footbridges above Sule Pagoda road, captured what happened next. A volley of tear gas and shots sends protesters running for their lives. Then a single shot rings out, and Nagai is thrown to the ground. "The police and soldiers formed three lines on the Sule Pagoda side of the road," recalls Myint Yee, a young Burmese journalist who was also filming from the bridge. "At that point I saw Kenji Nagai filming the security forces from close up. I thought he was very bold. I heard the first shots, which were fired into the air. Then the soldiers marched into the crowd and started beating them. Mr Nagai was there. I heard a gunshot and saw him fall down. After that I could see no movement." Soldiers are then seen carrying the journalist's body away. There is no sign of his camera, which he was still gripping as he went down. When his body was returned to Japan 10 days later with some of his possessions, the camera was not among them. Nagai's family and the Japanese government demanded an investigation. But the then-military government claimed he had been killed by a stray bullet. The family also asked for an apology. Sixteen years later, and after the death of his mother, his sister Noriko is still waiting. She also kept asking for the camera he had been holding when he was killed, of which the family made a model to place on his grave in his hometown of Imabari. What happened to the camera is unclear. But eventually the dissident news organisation Democratic Voice of Burma, some of whose journalists were also covering the protests on that day, managed to track the camera down, and extract the tape inside, so that Nagai's final video work could be preserved. It invited Noriko to Bangkok to see that video for the first time - and to take her brother's camera home with her. The camera was given to Noriko at the handover in Bangkok Shawn Crispin, the South East Asia representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists, who was at the handover of the camera, accused the government in Japan of failing to push hard enough to reveal the truth about Nagai's death. "The Japanese government has implicitly helped to cover up the circumstances of Kenji Nagai's murder by not revealing the results of its own autopsy. It has shamefully prioritised maintaining good diplomatic relations and strong commercial ties with Myanmar's generals over pursuing justice for Kenji Nagai," he said. The Saffron Revolution lasted for less than two months, but was significant at the time. Despite the overwhelming repression ever since the military brutally crushed an uprising against its rule in 1988, the people of Myanmar showed they were willing to risk their lives to express their yearning for change. But a whirlwind of dramatic events quickly eclipsed it. The following year a devastating cyclone killed at least 150,000 people. Paranoid about foreign interference, the military government was slow to accept international aid. Two years later, it held the first election in 20 years. The military's own party was guaranteed to win when the National League for Democracy led by detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi boycotted it. The US dismissed the election as "totally illegitimate and without meaning". Yet within days Ms Suu Kyi would be released from house arrest, followed by thousands more prisoners in the next two years. It was a remarkable and unexpected democratic opening that lasted until the 2021 coup, giving the Burmese their first real hope of better and freer lives in half a century. Many observers believed it was in part the shock of seeing so many rise up in anger during the Saffron Revolution that persuaded Myanmar's military rulers to relax their hold on power, and cut a deal with their nemesis Ms Suu Kyi. Monks took to the streets in protest in the 2007 uprising against Myanmar's military rulers Yet when the generals brought the democratic experiment to a crashing halt with their coup two years ago, memories of Kenji Nagai, and all the others gunned down in the Saffron Revolution, told the Burmese people what to expect when, once again, they came out in protest. Among the thousands killed by the security forces since the coup are four journalists. Dozens more have been jailed. When Kenji Nagai was shot, at close range, by a soldier to whom he posed no threat, there was outrage expressed all over the world at such a needlessly callous act. Sixteen years later, the sheer scale of the violence inflicted on the people of Myanmar by their military rulers is losing its power to shock, so routine now are attacks in which multiple lives are lost. Kenji Nagai's family say they hope that the recovery of his camera, and the poignant video material found in it, can help to revive their campaign for his death to be explained, and eventually for accountability for all the other deaths of those documenting or opposing military rule. Read more of our coverage on Myanmar A Kentucky woman has been sentenced to four years in prison after conning an elderly man out of nearly $600,000 and using the money to buy a car and install a swimming pool, among other purchases. A judge also ordered Donna Jean Bradshaw, 57, of Lebanon, to pay $582,635 in restitution. Another Marion County woman who helped Bradshaw with the scams, Tammy Lynn Gilbert, 49, was placed on supervised release for five years, fined $1,000 and ordered to repay the victim $10,000, according to a news release from the U.S. Justice Department. The scheme started with Bradshaws desire to make renovations to her home, Assistant U.S Attorney David Weiser said in a sentencing memorandum. Bradshaw told a man identified in court records as L.P. that the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had a program that would reimburse him for money he spent to improve Bradshaws home and to pay her mortgage, according to the memo. Bradshaw gave L.P. fake OSHA documents about the fictitious program. She also got Gilbert to call him, pretending to be an OSHA employee, and give him information from a script Bradshaw provided, Weiser said. Bradshaw also came up with a second scheme to defraud L.P., saying she had inherited a large amount of money but that she needed money from him to pay expenses before the windfall could be released, the prosecutor said. Bradshaw made false documents about the inheritance, using the name of a Louisville law firm, and forged the name of a lawyer from the firm on them, according to the prosecution memo. And again, Bradshaw got Gilbert to call L.P. posing as an employee of the law office to confirm that Bradshaw was in line to inherit money but needed to pay some expenses. There was no inheritance, according to the court record. Donna Bradshaw had caviar tastes and a hot dog budget, Weiser wrote in the memo. To resolve this discrepancy, between March 2013 and June 2016, she planned and executed a scheme to defraud L.P. of over half a million dollars. Story continues Bradshaws total income between 2013 and 2016 was $54,528, but she spent $399,499 in that period, the prosecutor said. Bradshaw and Gilbert pleaded guilty on bank fraud and wire fraud charges. U.S. District Judge David J Hale sentenced Bradshaw and Gilbert Tuesday. This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the National Elder Justice Task Force and the Kentucky Elder Justice Task Force. To report fraud against older people, call 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). MALINDI, Kenya (Reuters) - Stephen Mwiti was too distraught to go identify the bodies of his wife and six children among the corpses of dozens of cult members recovered from Shakahola forest and brought to a mortuary in Kenya's coastal town of Malindi on Wednesday. "My children are gone. The children who have been rescued, I went and had a look and I did not see my children," Mwiti said as he waved a photo of his wife and four of the children. He has been carrying the fading, dog-eared photo in a plastic bag for the last six months or so as he searched for his young ones. Mwiti said his wife took the children in 2021 to live among members of the Good News International Church, 89 of whom are known to have died. The Kenyan Red Cross says more than 300 people have been reported missing. "That wife, even if they recover her body, I will not collect it," Mwiti said. "These problems I am experiencing, she is the one who brought them to me." The leader of the cult, Paul Mackenzie has been in police custody since April 14, held alongside 14 other cult members. Hospital workers and Mwiti told Reuters that Mackenzie had told his followers the world would end soon and instructed them to starve themselves to be the first to reach heaven. Authorities have recovered 81 bodies from shallow graves, while eight cult members died after being found alive. Reuters has not been able to reach any lawyer or representative who could speak on Mackenzie's behalf regarding the accusations against him. Mwiti said he once attempted to rescue his wife and children from the forest, where he saw them living with Mackenzie and about 50 other women and their children. "We could see people in the distance but there was no way to get to them. We went round and round until we spotted a car somewhere in the forest," Mwiti said. "We tried calling out and nobody was responding to our calls. We cleared the way in. It's then that we saw Mackenzie." He said Mackenzie told them they could not pick up the children since they had all gone deeper into the forest. (Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Aaron Ross and Daniel Wallis) Kim Kardashian has said she created her SKIMS shapewear brand as a solution to get lingerie to match her skin tone. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star recalled how she used to dye her old shapewear with coffee or tea bags to get the right colour for her skin. Speaking at the 2023 TIME100 Summit on Tuesday (25 April), Kardashian said: For me, I was just looking for a solution to the fact that I love to wear shapewear and there wasnt a colour tone that fit my skin tone, let alone most of my friends. There was either a super light nude, which was a more pale colour, and then the colour black. There was really nothing in between. She continued: So I would take coffee and tea bags and I would put them in the sink or the bathtub and put shapewear in here. I would cut them all up because you know, the cuts werent right, and I found one of my original ones, I always kept them, and it was just so funny to look back and see what I would try to do. SKIMS, which offers a range of shapewear in different skin tones, was Kardashians opportunity to fill the gap in the market, she explained. Because it didnt exist, I wanted to create that and find better materials, better colours, and we launched a pretty wide arrangement of nude tones and we grew from there, the entrepreneur said. She launched the brand in 2019. As of 2022, SKIMS was worth $3.2bn. In 2016, Kardashian posted a video about dyeing part of a couture gown that she wore to the Cannes Film Festival that year with Earl Grey tea bags. WE DYED MY DRESS WITH TEA BAGS https://t.co/9u8QNYgQd7 pic.twitter.com/bCoVrl9byS Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) May 23, 2016 The dress, custom made by Lan Yu Couture, include an intricate beaded gown that was to be worn over a slip dress that was meant to be nude-coloured, but did not match Kardashians skin tone. Story continues The reality star explained: We had to try to darken the nude mesh dress under the silver layer, because it was too light to match my skin tone. We had just two hours before we left for Cannes, so we put Earl Grey tea bags in a sink and put the dress in for about 30 minutes to dye it. Her team later blow-dried the dress so that she could put it on and wear it on the red carpet. Last year, Kardashian was honoured at the annual Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Fashion Awards for her shapewear brand. As she accepted the first-ever Innovation Award, she took the opportunity to call on the industry to embrace size equality and diversity as a fixture and not just a trend. King Charles III will not be seeing his name attached to a Heathrow airport terminal any time soon King Charles III will not be seeing his name attached to a Heathrow airport terminal any time soon King Charless coronation is going to be marked by a particularly unusual gesture from Heathrow Airport, according to new reports. With world leaders flying into Londons airports ahead of the big day on May 6, it makes sense that Heathrow feels the need to honour the occasion. And, according to The Times, the airport has decided a free commemorative luggage tag will do the trick. Around 12,000 tags, designed by London-based artist Morag Myerscough, will be handed out between May 1 and May 10 to Heathrow passengers as a keepsake to hold onto for years to come. Myerscough said: I marked the day with CR III 2023 and on the reverse depicting an abstract gateway to echo how Heathrow is the gateway to the UK and the world, welcoming people to start their adventures there and now to celebrate a new monarch. The tag is also printed by the royals favorite stationer Barnard & Westwood. We're kicking off our #Coronation celebrations with an exclusive run of commemorative luggage tags designed by London-based artist @MoragMyerscough to mark the Coronation of King Charles III. Find out more and how you could get your hands on one at https://t.co/hs2HlJSivUpic.twitter.com/B9nMOIv9kT Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) April 25, 2023 It comes after the monarch reportedly rejected Heathrows first offer to name Terminal 5 after him, an honor it also extended to the late Queen Elizabeth. She accepted the name, meaning Terminal 2 became the Queens Terminal in 2014. Heathrow thought proposing another name change was suitable because of the long-standing connections it has with the royal family. The late queen, for instance, took her first steps on British soil as the U.K.s monarch at Heathrow back in 1952. Story continues Despite this bond, allegedly the palace was advised to reject the offer by the government. A royal spokesperson said, the granting of royal titles is done on the advice of government, while the Cabinet Office said it did not comment on royal titles. The Times also suggests Charles didnt fancy it either, despite his own background in flying he served in the RAF and the Navy in the 70s. The newspaper hinted that this move may be due to the kings strong environmentalist perhaps not being linked directly to a carbon-spewing airport was a good move, especially as he has faced criticism for his own use of private jets. But The Times claims the airport refuted that being associated with it would not clash with Charles green roots, but did acknowledge that it has a problem with carbon. Heathrow cant exactly make the change without the palaces approval though, because all of the symbolism associated with the Firm is closely guarded. Its not entirely clear what an organization has to do to win over the royals and use the famous insignia or name, but it seems that Terminal 5 just doesnt cut the royal mustard. Other structures named after the Firm included the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in 2012 and Portsmouths Princess Royal naval base in 2017. Charles meeting armed British police officers during a visit to Heathrow Airport in west London in 2018. Charles meeting armed British police officers during a visit to Heathrow Airport in west London in 2018. Royal Visit, 1970 Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, right, and Princess Anne wear trouser suits as protection against black flies as they tour Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, on July 11, 1970, with Prince Philip, left, and Prince Charles. The Royal family left for Manitoba to spend six days in the province in honour of its Centennial. (AP Photo) King Charles III has been visiting Canada for over 50 years and has made 18 official visits to date. His most recent visit, accompanied by The Queen Consort, was in 2022 to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. In anticipation of the King's coronation on May 6, 2023, here are some highlights of Charles on tour in Canada from the 1970s to his most recent visit last year, from young prince to king-to-be. Flash The Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced Tuesday that a 72-hour new truce came into effect, despite persisting gunfire in Khartoum and the two warring sides accused each other of ceasefire violation. The army said it agreed to a 72-hour truce brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia with humanitarian aims, and on condition that "the rebels commit to stopping all hostilities and abide by the requirements for its continuation," according to a statement of the Sudanese army spokesperson. The RSF announced in a statement that it has "agreed to a 72-hour truce to open humanitarian passages, facilitate the movement of citizens and residents to enable them to get their needs, reach hospitals and safe areas, and evacuate diplomatic missions." On Monday, the U.S. State Department announced in a statement that the truce was reached after intense negotiation over the past 48 hours, urging both sides "to immediately and fully uphold the ceasefire." The truce would start at midnight on April 24 and last for 72 hours, according to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Yet a few hours later the two sides started accusing each other of violating the ceasefire, with eyewitnesses saying gunfire was heard in various areas across Khartoum, especially in the Omdurman neighborhood. The Sudanese military claimed in a statement that it has detected "many violations" committed by the rebel militia since the early hours of Tuesday morning despite the truce was announced. The army said it noticed "continued military movements of the rebels inside and outside the capital together with attempts to occupy sites and restrict movement of citizens." The army also blamed the RSF for repeated breaches and violations during the previous truce, warning against the possibility of them using the new truce to act against civilians. RSF meanwhile said "the command of the armed forces is still practicing its continued violations of the declared truce." "A short while ago, the armed forces attacked the point of the Rapid Support Forces in the Republican Palace in Khartoum with cannons, which contradicts the conditions of the humanitarian truce that are designated to open safe passages," RSF said in a statement. Sudan has been witnessing deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15. Both sides have accused each other of initiating the conflict. Unseen footage of Charles is set to air in the BBC special. Unseen footage of Charles is set to air in the BBC special. King Charles will be telling his own life story in a new BBC special set to be released ahead of his coronation next month. The special 60-minute documentary, called Charles R: The Making of a Monarch, is set to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday, April 30, less than a week before the May 6 coronation. According to the BBC, the program will offer audiences a chance to witness unseen and rarely seen footage of King Charles III, telling his more than 70-year story as heir to the throne, through his own words over the decades. The BBC describes the documentary as the story of how a Prince became a King and an unfiltered and immersive portrait of our new monarch. Charles is set to discuss his own childhood, his memories of the queens coronation (he was only four at the time), his school years and his investiture as Prince of Wales. Charles became the heir apparent when his mother unexpectedly inherited the throne in 1952, following the sudden death of King George VI. He eventually became Britains longest-serving heir, waiting in line for more than seven decades until he himself inherited the throne back in September. The documentary, made by BBC Studios who also produced 2022s programme, Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen, includes clips from the 1969 documentary Royal Family. King Charles's coronation King Charles's coronation That footage has been under lock and key in the BFI National Archive since 1977, after it was widely criticized for destroying the mystique around the Firm (including by David Attenborough). On Tuesday evening, the BBC released five never before seen stills from the program showing Charles as the Prince of Wales flying a plane solo, visiting the Royal Mint with his mother, traveling to Malta when he was young and decorating a Christmas tree at Windsor. BBC Studios were also granted access to clips from the royal familys private home movie footage showing how Charles fondness for nature began. The BBCs Head of History, Simon Young, said: Its a real privilege to be trusted with such rare, unseen archive material to create a new and distinctive portrait of someone so famous and photographed. Following three years of litigation, King County has settled its lawsuit against the company that produces Juul electronic cigarettes over youth vaping and nicotine addiction concerns, officials announced Wednesday. In 2019, King County filed a class action lawsuit against Juul Labs, Inc. alleging that it compelled a generation of youth, who were never cigarette smokers, into nicotine addiction and put them at risk for severe lung injury or other health harms. The countys settlement with the company is part of a global settlement resolving numerous cases brought by government entities such as counties, cities and school districts. Theres no higher priority than the health and well-being of our kids, and we cant let the progress weve made be threatened by persistent youth nicotine use, said Executive Dow Constantine in a news release. The settlement will provide resources for efforts to prevent nicotine use among youth in King County and provide support to those who are already using tobacco and vape products and looking to quit. The investments we make from this settlement will pay off for lifetimes in less illness, suffering, and deaths from preventable diseases caused by tobacco and nicotine use, said Dr. Faisal Khan, Director for Public Health Seattle & King County. In a news release, officials confirmed King County would continue its litigation against tobacco giant Altria. In a 2019 complaint, the county alleged that the company worked to maintain and expand JUULs market share despite knowing it is based on epidemic levels of youth vaping. Juul was also ordered to pay $22.5 million in April 2022 following a lawsuit filed by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson. That lawsuit, filed in 2020, said the e-cigarette company violated state law when it designed and marketed its products to appeal to underage customers. The Food and Drug Administration briefly banned the sale of all Juul electronic cigarettes in the U.S. in June 2022, following a two-year review of the company. The ban was put on hold following an appeal, pending an additional review of Juuls marketing application. Gov. Gavin Newsom, in his first visit to witness the resurrection of Tulare Lake that has flooded fields and left farmworkers and officials worried about future flooding as the record snow in the Sierras melts, said, the state wont neglect the region. Newsom said California is one of the few, if not the only, states that provides philanthropic support to farmworkers that do not have documentation or are unable to access federal programs. Newsom visited Corcoran and Allensworth on Tuesday, which have been directly impacted by not only the flooding that exists today, but the flooding were anticipating over the course of the next number of months. County supervisors Richard Valle (KIngs) and Eddie Valero (Tulare) accompanied Newsom and other state officials.. Newsom listed: FEMA support for mixed status families. The states rapid response fund through the Department of Social Services in partnership with philanthropy. Disaster Cal fresh, which people can access regardless immigration status as well as other supports such as counseling and legal services. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, far left, looks at farm machinery that is flooded as he walks on a levee at Hansen Ranches on 6th Avenue Tuesday, April 25, 2023, south of Corcoran, CA. Maria G. Ortiz-Briones/mortizbriones@vidaenelvalle.com Newsom said it is important to communicate the availability of those resources to the people who need them. The state has several websites, including the Department of Social Services (cdss.ca.gov). Outreach workers with Listos California knock on peoples doors and work with community-based organizations to provide support. The Federal Emergency Management Agencys website is disasterassistance.gov. When asked if the state knows the number of farmworkers that may be affected, Newsom said that assessment is happening in real time and that number changes pretty dramatically. Those affected by the flooding should apply as soon as possible. Dont wait, said Nancy Ward, director of the California Office of Emergency Services. With many livelihoods at stake, Valero said he was thankful Newsom visited the Central Valley to survey the damage caused by several rounds of atmospheric rain in January, February and March. Story continues Tulare and Kings counties have been greatly impacted, strained and inundated, Valero said. People are tired. Homes are gutted and lands are unharvestable. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, far left, along with Kings County Supervisor Richard Valle, center, and Tulare County Supervisor Eddie Valero, far right, and other state officials. arrive to speak to the media at Hansen Ranches on 6th Avenue Tuesday, April 25, 2023, south of Corcoran, CA. Maria G. Ortiz-Briones/mortizbriones@vidaenelvalle.com Valle said Newsoms visit lowers the anxiety level in the community of Corcoran and the people that I represent. Both Valero and Valle, the only Latinos supervisors on their respective counties, reached out to Newsoms office a few weeks ago with their concerns. Kings County is 56% Latino, while Tulare County is 66.7% Latino. Valle said he looks forward to working with Newsoms office to get past the challenging times that we have ahead of us. Challenging months California has gone from an extreme drought (the state extended the drought proclamation in early December in some parts of the state) to weeks later having the first of 13 atmospheric rivers hit the state. The state moved its emergency response from the drought to deal with the major flooding caused by the resurrected Tulare Lake. Waterfowl is seen along 6th Avenue Tuesday, April 25, 2023 south of Corcoran where flooding is re-creating the old Tulare Lake. Maria G. Ortiz-Briones/mortizbriones@vidaenelvalle.com The damage inflicted on the region by the recent historic weather conditions is devastating, said state Sen. Melissa Hurtado, D-Bakersfield, in a statement after Newsoms tour. Agriculture has been decimated by flooding with dedicated farmers and agriculture workers bearing the economic brunt of loss crops and flooded farmlands, Hurtado said. The economic consequences to the industry and our region will continue to be significant. Newsom expects the water in the basin to rise, and asked residents to remain vigilent, but we cant be impatient in terms of the impending floods and the damage that will occur here in a very short order. We recognize the impact this has had on real people, Newsom told reporters on a levee at Hansen Ranches equipment property on 6th Avenue south of Corcoran. Hansen Ranches on 6th Avenue is surrounded by water Tuesday, April 25, 2023 south of Corcoran, CA. Maria G. Ortiz-Briones/mortizbriones@vidaenelvalle.com Earlier Newsom walked Main Street in Corcoran with Mayor Jeanette Zamora-Bragg, Valle and Valero. The group visited small business owneres that have expressed to the governor how business is down because farmworkers cant afford a beer after work. Others are concerned about whats coming in the next few weeks, Newsom said. Later in the day, Newsom and his team met with local leaders to address questions about the cost and scope of raising the Corcoran levee. Newsom said it was important to get everybody local, state and federal partners - on the same page. Heavy machinery work on the levee that protects the City of Corcoran from the flooding at the old Tulare Lake Tuesday, April 25, 2023 south of Corcoran, CA. Maria G. Ortiz-Briones/mortizbriones@vidaenelvalle.com California Gov. Gavin Newsom arrives to speak to the media at Hansen Ranches on 6th Avenue Tuesday, April 25, 2023, south of Corcoran, CA. Maria G. Ortiz-Briones/mortizbriones@vidaenelvalle.com A boat is seen west of 6th Avenue Tuesday, April 25, 2023 south of Corcoran, CA. Maria G. Ortiz-Briones/mortizbriones@vidaenelvalle.com Patient Zero, an American official stationed at the U.S. embassy in Cuba, was in his Havana apartment one night in December 2016 when he heard a strange sound and felt what he described as a head-crushing pressure and a massive ear pain. The sound stopped after he moved to another residence, but the symptoms remained, he told the Miami Herald: I would wake up with nosebleeds that wouldnt stop. A doctor the CIA sent to investigate had a similar incident himself in his Capri Hotel room just hours after arriving on the islands capital in April 2017. I woke up with severe pain in my right ear. I had a deafening, resounding headache and nausea. I sat on the bed and realized I was awake. I had this extreme feeling of pressure. I thought, This cant be happening; its crazy, he told the Herald. That morning, the physician was so disoriented he said he didnt know whether to pull or push to open a door and couldnt concentrate enough to count money to exchange currency. Around the same time, in early 2017, two Canadian diplomats posted in Cuba had similar symptoms, suddenly feeling extremely nauseous and disoriented, with headaches and ear pain, the two told the Herald. The children of some Canadian diplomats also had nosebleeds, nausea, loss of memory and concentration and vision problems for no apparent reason. In December 2017, a high-ranking CIA official, Marc Polymeropoulos, at the time deputy chief for operations in Europe and Eurasia, woke up in a hotel room in Moscow with a terrible case of migraine and vertigo, he told the Herald. Former CIA intelligence officer Marc Polymeropoulos All of these people have been diagnosed with brain injuries or inner-ear problems that doctors who treated them believe are part of a new disorder known for the place it all started: Havana Syndrome. They went through years of tests and rehabilitation therapies and are still suffering from debilitating effects. But after so many years, they still struggle to be believed. Read more: Experts cant agree on cause of Havana Syndrome or even if its real. Heres what they say Story continues The Miami Herald spoke to three former CIA officials and two Canadian diplomats affected by the strange incidents who said they are convinced they were targeted while serving their countries abroad. And all said that a recent U.S. intelligence report blaming their ailments on pre-existing medical conditions or environmental factors is an attempt to whitewash the Havana Syndrome affair, likely due to political considerations. Most of those who spoke to the Herald requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation, concerns for their security or because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the cases. A betrayal, Polymeropoulos said of the U.S. intelligence assessment published in March. An attempt at public influence and disinformation, said another of the victims. Hugely disappointing that they would take that stand and cast doubt all over again, one of the Canadian diplomats said. It really hurts our credibility. The Havana Syndrome affair marked a breaking point in U.S. relations with Cuba. Most embassy staff was evacuated in 2017 and all visa processing halted in Havana for several years. The United States embassy facility in Havana, Cuba. Now the victims claim the U.S. government wants to move on and put a bow on it and close the book in hopes that no one would question it, Patient Zero said. This is a massive analytic intelligence failure or a cover-up; only time will tell, he said. Patient Zero got his nickname for being the first U.S. official to bring up the incidents. He said he retired from the CIA after seven years of service because the injuries he suffered in Havana left him blind in one eye and incapacitated for work. He suspects he might have been targeted with a directed energy weapon or device, a possibility that the March intelligence assessment rules out. The report has been harmful to those of us injured, he said. Its just another knife in the back. People dont realize that by doing this, they greenlit all of our adversaries abroad to keep doing this to us. The Canadian cases were not included in the March assessment, the Canadian diplomats said, even though they were a crucial part of what happened in Havana. We were there, one of the Canadian diplomats said. We know that something happened. The people the Herald interviewed also point to the failure of the U.S. and Canadian governments to immediately respond to the incidents and provide timely medical treatment to all affected. The three former CIA officials said the U.S. government has taken one position in public while discreetly paying compensation to the victims under the Havana Act, a 2021 law that authorizes payments to agency personnel who incur brain injuries from hostilities while on assignment. The compensation rules require that a doctor certify the person has a qualifying injury to the brain and that they do not have evidence or otherwise believe that the symptoms can be attributed to a pre-existing condition. The CIA wants to have it both ways, Polymeropoulos said. They paid out settlement money to us, acknowledging that we suffered a brain injury in the line of duty that was not a preexisting condition. But then they also say at the same time, nothing happened to us. Asked for comment, the CIA pointed to a statement by agency Director William Burns after the release of the March intelligence assessment stressing that these findings do not call into question the experiences and real health issues that U.S. Government personnel and their family members including CIAs own officers have reported while serving our country. CIA Director William Burns Burns said he and other leaders at the CIA, one of the agencies involved in the production of the March assessment, stand firmly behind the work conducted and the findings. We applied the Agencys very best operational, analytic and technical tradecraft to what is one of the largest and most intensive investigations in the Agencys history, he said. The worst type of science The Intelligence Community Assessment published in March, written by analysts from seven unnamed U.S. intelligence agencies, concludes there is no credible evidence that a foreign adversary has a weapon or collection device that is causing Havana Syndrome. U.S. government officials said the assessment is the most comprehensive analysis of the mysterious incidents in Cuba and other countries including Russia, China and Austria. Because the intelligence agencies could find no evidence of a foreign power targeting American officials, the symptoms reported by U.S. personnel were probably the result of factors that did not involve a foreign adversary, such as preexisting conditions, conventional illnesses, and environmental factors, National Intelligence Director Avril D. Haines said in a statement. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines testifies during a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on worldwide threats, at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, March 10, 2022. After the House passed a late night government funding bill with more than $13 Billion in additional funding for Ukraine, the Senate is expected to take up the measure and pass it before a government shutdown deadline. (Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA) The CIA doctor who became ill in Havana said the statement is an example of circular reasoning. Because they could not find a weapon or adversary, and they dont think any directed energy or microwave weapon would work (without providing a basis for that assessment), they dismissed the legitimacy of the medical problems, he said. He called the report a gross summary designed to influence public opinion. It is not a scientific report. A declassified summary of the assessment shows that the agencies that contributed to it sometimes disagreed with each other, with some stating they had low confidence in particular findings because of gaps in the evidence, and one even abstaining from backing up some of the reports conclusions. But a lack of evidence does not mean something didnt happen, Polymeropoulos said. In countries like Cuba, Russia and China we dont have this all kind of encompassing knowledge, he said. We dont have great coverage in terms of human intelligence and signals intelligence... How can you explain anything that happens inside Cuba when we dont know anything that happens inside Cuba? Patient Zero agrees, noting the Cuban government controls every square inch of the environment down there, which makes it very difficult to collect the appropriate intelligence. When Polymeropoulos asked the CIA if it had solved his case, the answer was no, he said, adding that he cant understand the sense of finality in the March assessment. It really is a betrayal, he said. And its a betrayal from colleagues. Its upsetting because I dont understand why they cant just say we dont know what happened. Critics of the assessment say it has a major flaw: It looked at 1,500 cases, a figure dramatically higher than the original reports because the Biden administration asked government employees to report any suspicious symptoms. By casting such a wide net, critics say, and without a clear explanation of the criteria and methodology, the report minimized the findings related to a core cluster of cases, mainly from Havana, that do follow similar patterns and that the CIA acknowledged were difficult to explain in an interim finding in early 2022. This is a very dangerous report that represents the worst type of science possible, a scientist familiar with the Havana Syndrome cases told the Herald. He asked not to be named because he was not authorized to discuss the the subject. They were very indiscriminate in who they included as a possible victim. When you include individuals who may or may not have been affected, you dont get an accurate view of those who were truly affected. The scientist pointed out that the data was sometimes collected years after the person was affected. The report sounds authoritative, which is unwise because the science is very suspect, if not totally wrong, the scientist said. And in some ways, it disenfranchises or discounts the truly affected individuals who are truly suffering. I think it was done entirely with political motivation. The March intelligence assessment relies heavily on a 2021 report written by JASON, a group of elite scientists that advises the U.S. government, to cast doubt on the original clinical findings by two independent teams of medical experts at the University of Miami and the University of Pennsylvania. Those teams were asked by the CIA and the U.S. State Department to test and treat American diplomats, CIA officials and family members stationed in Havana. The Miami team found that some victims had a unique pattern of balance and cognitive dysfunctions linked to abnormalities in the inner ear. The Pennsylvania team concluded that about two dozen Americans suffered from mild traumatic brain injury, similar to a concussion, even though none had suffered a blow to the head. In a later study in 2019, the UPenn doctors found the group had specific changes in their brains. Both teams strongly opposed theories that the injuries were psychosomatic, as an earlier FBI report and the Cuban government had suggested. Two other teams of experts one from the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine that published its findings in 2020, as well as a panel convened by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the CIA in 2021 to investigate potential causes also agreed with the early medical findings that the symptoms associated with Havana Syndrome pointed towards a new medical disorder. But the authors of the March intelligence assessment paraphrased language from the JASON report to claim that while the initial studies concluded that the health incidents represented a novel medical syndrome or consistent pattern of injuries similar to traumatic brain injury, a combination of medical and academic critiques pointed to methodological limitations in that work. Yet examples of those critiques are scant in the Jason report, which was commissioned by the State Department. The intelligence assessment also says JASONs review of medical data does not convey a consistent set of physical injuries, including neurological injuries such as traumatic brain injury. The JASON report, however, included several caveats, among them that the group did not have access to the patients MRI studies and other medical records, and that an alternative explanation for not having found strong evidence of traumatic brain injury in the medical data of 65 people the group reviewed was that the pool of individuals might have been too broad. However, 20 to 30 cases defy a straightforward explanation at present, the JASON report concluded. It is unclear why the intelligence agencies gave more weight to one study than others. The assessments full version is classified. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not comment for this article. A failure in leadership After an initial diagnosis of brain injury by a UM team led by Dr. Michel Hoffer, a professor of Otolaryngology and Neurological Surgery and concussion expert, in February 2017, Patient Zero spent several months trying to convince his superiors he needed further evaluation and medical care. He did not return to Havana and his health deteriorated. At some point, he said he even wrestled with suicidal thoughts. It was not until he told his superiors he would not go back to work that he was allowed to see doctors at UPenn in September 2017. He received a similar brain-injury diagnosis there. But at that point, the doctors informed his superiors that the delay in treatment and the fact that I was forced to stay in work, and was fighting and stressing, all that stuff actually led to the severity and permanence of my injuries, he said. Patient Zero said that while he was away from his post in Havana, the U.S. government sent replacements without warning them about what had happened. And then they would come out injured as well but not knowing why, he said. The CIA closed its station in Havana in September 2017, according to a declassified internal review obtained by the National Security Archive. The document mentions that several temporary duty officers were injured in Havana, including two who experienced medical injury from an incident at a Havana hotel in August 2017. Several years later, Patient Zero says he is still adjusting to living with a brain injury which is now his reality. Its a challenge; its day by day, he said. You exist with Post-It notes and things on your phone to remember things, which is difficult for someone like me. I used to have a photographic memory. Now, its a challenge to remember things. Despite his position higher up in the CIA, Polymeropoulos said he also encountered similar reluctance when he asked for medical care. After his return from a 10-day trip to Moscow to meet Russian intelligence officials, he went to visit the doctors immediately at CIA headquarters. And I said, Something happened to me in Moscow. He asked them to send him to UM or UPenn for evaluation, but he said they refused. It was not until after he retired in 2019 and spoke to the media about his case that he was referred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, a Washington, D.C., government facility where he was diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury, according to a document he shared with the Herald. I was in really bad shape and begging for health care. They were saying no, he said. What a horrible leadership failure. What a kind of moral injury for me. I was a very successful operations officer, one of the most decorated in terms of intelligence medals and awards from my generation. The Canadians who spoke with the Herald reported a similarly harrowing experience. The diplomats said they believed they were targeted in Cuba but that Canadian embassy officials in Havana asked them to keep quiet and not alert others about what was happening. The Canadian government did not evacuate family members and non-essential personnel until April 2018, after UPenn doctors told two Canadian families that they had the same brain injury pattern as the Americans. That was months after the U.S. State Department had pulled out non-essential personnel in Havana in September 2017. A study of 16 adult Canadians who reported health incidents in Havana found changes in areas of their brains that were similar to those found in the Americans affected. The study was requested by Global Affairs Canada, the agency that oversees diplomatic relations. The diplomats said the Canadian government did not coordinate medical treatment, particularly for the affected children, and that getting reimbursed for medical treatment took months, if not years. Recently, they said they had been cut off from workers compensation too. We were railroaded, thrown under the bus, one of the Canadian diplomats said. Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Marilyne Guevremont said the agency takes the health, safety and security of Canadians both at home and abroad very seriously. Canadian diplomatic staff and their families have Global Affairs Canadas unwavering support. She said Global Affairs Canada provided support to employees posted to Cuba and their dependents, including aiding medical assessment and treatment and reimbursing them for medical expenses. One of the Canadians affected said that even when their government stopped officially acknowledging new cases, Canadian officials going to Cuba continued to get sick. Global Affairs said that 15 Canadians had been diagnosed with acquired brain injury, although Canadian media have reported at least 23 cases of people affected in Havana. In 2019, a group of Canadian diplomats and their families sued the government for $21 million, claiming it withheld information and failed to protect them. The government is fighting the complaints but has agreed to mediation, one of the diplomats said. Most sources interviewed for this story said they couldnt say why the U.S. and Canadian governments were slow in responding to the threat. Still, they mentioned geopolitical interests and staffing concerns as possible reasons. The incidents have been a major roadblock in U.S. relations with Cuba and contributed to thousands of Cubans using irregular means to get to the U.S. after the embassy stopped issuing immigration visas. The Biden administration started staffing the embassy again in late 2021. Canada, on the other hand, which has a friendlier relationship with the Cuban government, has carefully avoided publicly calling the incidents attacks. In this Sept. 12, 2017, file photo, a customer sits at the lobby bar of the Hotel Capri in Havana, Cuba, where an American official reported being the victim of what was later labeled Havana Syndrome. The CIA doctor who was affected in the Havana Capri Hotel incident said he believes that some of the participating intelligence agencies behind the March assessment had an interest in diluting the results, as they were involved in the premature decisions to ignore the medical complaints. The impact of the relentless impugning of the Havana groups integrity and motivation has had serious impacts on their well-being, he added, noting the group had passed extensive medical and psychological tests. If anything, he said, it is the reports cherry-picking of facts and cases to formulate their opinions that really falls apart. Kevin J. Smith, 60, was fatally shot Saturday after 911 received calls about a trespasser and then that a homeowner had shot him. The death of 60-year-old Kevin Smith, a homeless man who was found shot inside a detached garage on the South Side earlier this month, has generated significant community reaction from those who say he was a well-known figure in the neighborhood. Smith was found around 6 a.m. on April 15 inside a detached garage on the 600 block of East Whittier Street in the Southern Orchards neighborhood. He died at the scene a short time later. Few details have been released about what happened. Here's what we know, and what we don't, about Smith's death and the ongoing investigation. What happened in the shooting? Columbus police have released limited details in the shooting. Police said they received a call around 6 a.m. that night about a reported trespasser. Before officers could arrive on the scene, there was a second call that the trespasser had been shot by someone at the residence. Responding officers arrived to find Smith dead from gunshot wounds in the home's detached garage. Afterward, police indicated that Smith was shot and killed by a homeowner. Police have not released information about what was said on the 911 calls, which have not been released. The Dispatch has requested the 911 calls, incident report and other documents. Who was involved in the shooting? Columbus police have not released the names of anyone else involved in the incident. The division said in a press release that the case will be fully investigated and then sent to the Franklin County Prosecutor's office for review. The release did not specify whether the shooter was a male or a female. The Dispatch attempted to contact someone listed as the owner of the property on Tuesday. That person said it was not their address and hung up the phone. Who was Kevin Smith? Mike Premo, executive director of United Methodist Church & Community Development for All People, said Smith was a beloved member of the faith-based, nonprofit community organization and well-known on the South Side. Story continues Premo called Smith's death "tragic and completely avoidable" and said Smith posed no danger, while adding he did not know what happened inside the garage. Premo said it was likely Smith was sleeping in the garage. "Knowing Kevin, there is absolutely no way he posed any threat to anyone. He would've followed directions and left if asked," Premo said. Smith "always had a smile and kind word," Premo said, and was a volunteer, churchgoer and frequently attended Bible studies. Premo said Smith had obtained a law degree, but he was not a registered attorney in Ohio, according to the Ohio Supreme Court. Premo and other staff and volunteers at United Methodist Church & Community Development for All People got to know Smith over the last two years when he stayed at the organization's warming center. The organization held a memorial service and reception for Smith on Tuesday at its building at 946 Parsons Avenue. Could charges be filed in the shooting? Any decision on whether charges will be presented to a grand jury will be made by the Franklin County Prosecutor's office. Ohio has a self-defense law, commonly called Stand Your Ground, which means a person has a right to defend themselves or their property. The law specifically states, "a person has no duty to retreat before using force in self-defense, defense of another, or defense of that person's residence if that person is in a place in which the person lawfully has a right to be." However, because Smith was shot inside a detached garage, which is not typically considered a part of a residence under Ohio law, it is unknown whether stand your ground would apply. What occurred inside the detached garage, forensic evidence in the case and witness statements would all be factored into a decision about charges. How long will a decision take? There is no timeline for when the investigation will be completed and sent to the prosecutor's office. There is also no timeline for how long the prosecutor's office might take to review the case. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What we know and what we don't in death of Kevin Smith Bryan Kohbergers defense team thinks one of two surviving roommates from the Moscow stabbings that left four students dead has information that could help clear their client and seeks her testimony. Her attorney aims to prevent her from having to appear at Junes scheduled preliminary hearing. At the request of Kohbergers public defenders, Judge Megan Marshall of the 2nd Judicial District Court in Latah County last month compelled Bethany Funke to travel to Idaho for the hearing, according to court records obtained by the Idaho Statesman. Marshall wrote that Funke may be a material witness for the defendant in this case, and a formal subpoena was issued April 11 in Nevada, where Funke lives. Marshall will determine at the planned weeklong preliminary hearing set to start June 26 whether prosecutors have established probable cause to send Kohbergers case to trial. Moscow homicides suspect Bryan Kohberger, left, attends a status hearing seated next to public defender Anne Taylor in Latah County Court in January in Moscow. His preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin June 26. A criminal investigator working for Anne Taylor, Kohbergers public defender, said in a legal filing that police interviewed Funke several times as part of their investigation into the November slayings at an off-campus rental home near the University of Idaho. Funke and another roommate went unharmed in the knife attack that killed their housemates, Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Xana Kernodle, 20, as well as Ethan Chapin, 20, who was staying the night with Kernodle, his girlfriend. In addition, Funke was present when police were called and arrived to the King Road home to find the slain students about eight hours after police allege Kohberger entered the home around 4 a.m., criminal investigator Richard Bitonti said. Funke has information that is exculpatory to the defendant, he wrote, a legal terminology meaning the details disprove Kohbergers guilt. Portions of information Ms. Funke has is exculpatory to the defendant, Bitonti wrote to justify the out-of-state subpoena. Ms. Funkes information is unique to her experiences and cannot be provided by another witness. Story continues The new wrinkle in Nevada adds another U.S. state to the homicide case, which has brought national and international attention to Idaho. Kohberger was attending graduate school just over the Washington state border at the time of the homicides, and was later arrested while visiting his family in Pennsylvania. He and his father also were captured on police body-cam footage in Indiana as they road-tripped from Washington to Pennsylvania during Kohbergers winter break from Washington State University. Funkes bedroom was on the first floor of the three-story home in Moscow, and she and the other surviving roommate, whose bedroom was on the second floor, were home at the time of the killings, police said in an affidavit for Kohbergers arrest. Funke told police in an interview that she saw Kernodle and Chapin at the Sigma Chi fraternity house from about 9 p.m. Nov. 12 until about 1:45 a.m. Nov. 13., when they returned to the King Road home, police said. Sigma Chi is located fewer than 600 feet from the home where the homicides took place. Four University of Idaho students were found dead in November at an off-campus rental home on King Road in Moscow, Idaho. Funke and the other survivor each told police that all five housemates and Chapin were back at the home by 2 a.m., according to the affidavit. Everyone was asleep or in their respective bedrooms by about 4 a.m., with the exception of Kernodle, who received a food delivery to the home at approximately 4 a.m., police said. Police said records they downloaded from the two surviving roommates cellphones helped lead them to believe that the homicides happened between 4 a.m. and 4:25 a.m. One of the roommates cellphones also was used to call 911 dispatch just before noon Nov. 13, police said. There are no other references to Funke in the affidavit to indicate what else she may have told investigators. It is not known whether the other surviving roommate was served with a subpoena to testify at the preliminary hearing. She told police she saw a masked man in the house. Funke fends off subpoena Funkes attorney is trying to nullify the court-ordered subpoena. The legal demand for her client to appear in Idaho was improperly issued because a hearing on the matter was not first held in Nevada, Reno-based attorney Kelli Anne Viloria said in an April 21 court filing. (T)here is no authority to summon a Nevada witness to an Idaho matter without a Nevada judge making a finding of materiality, necessity and the lack of undue hardship, Viloria wrote, citing a law that does allow for such subpoenas, but only within the state. Thus, even if that law applied by analysis, no hearing occurred and that important procedural requirement was not met. An expanded gag order that Marshall issued in January restricts attorneys for victims or witnesses in the Kohberger case from commenting about it outside of court filings. Anne Taylor, public defender for Moscow homicides suspect Bryan Kohberger, speaks during a status hearing in January in Latah County Court in Moscow. Her client is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. Beyond issues over following proper procedure, Viloria, a former longtime county prosecutor, wrote that a preliminary hearing is not the right setting for the defense to summon an out-of-state witness, which, she said, Nevada law does not offer. A preliminary hearing is not meant to become a mini-trial due to its limited purpose in deciding of probable cause, she argued. Arguably then, if Ms. Funke possesses exculpatory evidence, which remains to be seen, there is no place or reason to present that evidence at a preliminary hearing. The presentation of evidence by the defense is exceedingly rare at a preliminary hearing, but it is allowed in Idaho, said Edwina Elcox, a criminal defense attorney in Boise who previously served as an Ada County deputy prosecutor. Although its seldom done because it can give away defense strategy to the prosecution, she said, an attorney may pursue it if it could prevent a case from going to trial. If were using the word exculpatory, that means it negates his guilt, Elcox told the Statesman in a phone interview. That word is very legally significant. If whatever this witness possesses is so significant, it could convince the judge that the state has not established probable cause and to say, OK, this evidence shows that it wasnt him. The legal and procedural pushback from Funke and her attorney also may derive from the request for her testimony coming from the defense in this case rather than the prosecution, Elcox said. People typically want to cooperate with law enforcement agencies, she said. So I think it is entirely feasible that if the prosecution was seeking her attendance, that there wouldnt be this issue of dropping the subpoena or whatnot. It is unclear whether Funke will be forced to show up June 28 in Moscow through the remainder of the hearing, as the subpoena required. A material witness case is listed online as pending active with Judge Barry Breslow of the Second Judicial District Court in Washoe County, Nevada. The most recent court filing is Vilorias motion Friday to invalidate the subpoena. There are no upcoming hearings on the case docket, Alicia Lerud, the district courts administrator and clerk of court, said by email. And I am not certain one will be scheduled, she said. The Kansas Senate voted Wednesday to override Gov. Laura Kellys veto of a sweeping bill affecting the lives of transgender Kansans but rejected a bill that would restrict health care for transgender youth. The chamber voted 28-12 to pass the womens bill of rights over Kellys veto. The bill now head to the House where lawmakers approved it earlier this month with a veto proof-majority. If the House overrides Kellys veto Kansas would be the first state in the nation to approve the policy, which comes amid a raft of anti-trans bills in red states nationwide. The bill would bar transgender and nonbinary Kansans from single-sex spaces that do not match their assigned sex at birth. The Senate passed the override with relatively little debate. The House and Senate also successfully overrode Kellys veto on a related bill that requires county jails to separate inmates by gender as defined in the womens bill of rights. The sweeping bill defines man and woman in state statute based solely upon reproductive capability and explains the state has an interest in protecting spaces designated for women. Though the language of the bill is vague, transgender Kansans say they believe it is designed to functionally erase their identities in society. It would also block gender non-conforming Kansans from changing the marker on their drivers license to be consistent with their gender identity. Gov. Laura Kellys administration has warned that state agencies could lose millions in federal funding because compliance with the bill would put them out of compliance with non-discrimination requirements. The fact that someone even had the balls to say this is something we should try to pass is big enough, said Lane Rozin, a 19-year-old transgender man who attends the University of Kansas. It shows that there are people in our government system that are trying to erase our identities. The ability to change a drivers license identifier and access health care, he said, is lifesaving. Story continues The bill could open the door to lawsuits against public entities that do not comply with the laws restrictions against on transgender people entering single-sex spaces not aligned with their sex assigned at birth. The direct enforcement mechanism is unclear. Proponents have said the bill would preempt courts that might force single-sex spaces to be open to individuals who dont have female genitalia. Supporters said the bill was important to preserving spaces that were created for women. A woman, a grandchild, should be able to walk into a restroom and know theyre in there with other females, Rep Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican, said during a meeting of the GOP caucus. If more gender-neutral bathrooms need to be built to accommodate, then fine. If more gender-neutral bathrooms need to be built to accommodate, then fine. Kelly has rejected five anti-trans bills this year. Earlier this month, the Legislature voted to override Kellys veto on a bill banning transgender athletes from girls and womens sports. Lawmakers fell short Wednesday of overriding the governor on a bill that bans hormone therapy and gender transition surgery for minors by punishing its providers. Proponents said the aim was to prevent minors from making medical decisions they may regret later. Sen. Mark Steffen, a Hutchinson Republican, said the Legislature must step in when parents and the medical establishment have lost their way. It is never OK to mutilate a minor. They cant possibly know whats in their best interest, he said. Only when confusion, chaos, and, frankly, evil reigns in a society is this sort of abhorrence allowed. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle rejected the bill, arguing it unnecessarily infringed on medical decisions. This bill goes too far and we are reaching out to take that place of parental responsibility with supporting their children, said Sen. Pat Pettey, a Kansas City Democrat. The Stars Jenna Barackman contributed to this report. Kurt Myers, Idaho National Laboratory distributed energy and grid systems integration group lead, shows a microgrid outside of the INL Energy Systems Laboratory in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. The grid-in-a-box has solar panels that can be set up anywhere and attached to battery storage housed in a portable shipping container. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Kurt Myers is surrounded by all sorts of computers and monitors. Some of the monitors are the size of a big screen TV, while others crowd multiple desks next to him. He points to one monitor in particular that is livestreaming energy generation, weather conditions and more from a distance some 7,200 miles away from his location at the Idaho National Laboratory near Idaho Falls. It is a remote office in Kuwait staffed by the U.S. Army that also includes a latrine. Both relied on diesel fuel as their sole source of power generation until the laboratory deployed a test demonstration microgrid project to rope in renewables so the military branch can be more self-sustaining and produce fewer carbon emissions. Microgrids and new, diverse power generation Myers can look at one of the monitors and determine solar generation and overall energy output at this military post in Kuwait. Diesel generators running on a low load of output are inefficient, and it is hard on equipment as well, he said. We tell it when to start and when to stop, otherwise, he added, Before, its like driving your car and you keep stomping on it and slamming the brakes and you just run it down until it will get very low. Instead, Idaho National Laboratory runs its real-time sophisticated equipment to determine, for example, when to power up the generators or when to back off. We dont want to start the generator at 6 in the morning as the sun is coming up, so we will wait, he said. Conversely, Myers said if there is forecast cloud cover, the microgrid will turn to diesel power generation. We have a program to run the generators to an optimum energy efficiency level. Kurt Myers, Idaho National Laboratory distributed energy and grid systems integration group lead, shows current microgrid solar performance in a portable shipping container that houses battery storage outside of the INL Energy Systems Laboratory in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News He said the demonstration project has proven to be successful. So this has been running for almost a year now, next month. Our analysis so far is we are saving about 65% on the prior fuel usage and that shows you what you can do for the system that doesnt even include wind or hydro. Related Story continues Idaho National Laboratory on its own site has a microgrid, which Myers said is at below net zero emissions, roping in wind and solar, with storage capability and the goal of someday incorporating hydrogen power from a big chamber that the agency is running through its tests. The idea is to build a system not just microgrids that can smoothly integrate carbon-free energy such as wind, solar, hydropower, hydrogen and battery storage that taps this technology to reduce harmful emissions and make power systems more diverse and integrated. Well see a lot of fingers and players trying to drive that. Its going to get more and more critical that the higher percentage level of wind, solar, hydro, geothermal with whatever comes on the grid to try to get these systems developed and come together, Myers said. Kurt Myers, Idaho National Laboratory distributed energy and grid systems integration group lead, walks away from a portable shipping container that is part of a microgrid, connected to solar panels, after checking a meter on it outside of the INL Energy Systems Laboratory in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News The future of achieving redundant power So my group does a lot of with with the militarys Department of Defense in helping them with energy and power projects and bringing in additional resiliency and try to decarbonize, Myers said. You know, its little by little, and of course with them the mission is always the primary thing, but we are helping them realize that there are other ways to achieve that and help make themselves more resilient. Related He added that the military uses a lot of liquid fuel in the arena of power generation and the U.S. Department of Energys national laboratories can help reduce that. Our assistance is helping them make headway and push the envelope and become more resilient so youre not locked in to having to ship fuel every seven days. Related Microgrids and the military, and yes, Utah The Idaho National Laboratory works with the Department of Defense in more than 25 projects beyond what is happening in Kuwait. The nice thing about the laboratory here is were able to test components universe, different things that we want to do kind of kick the tires and look under the hood. What what does this thing do? What does it not do? Where are the gaps? Can we inform industry? Hey, so we need these other features to be included in it and are they planning to do that soon, Myers said. In north Texas, it supported the development, design and implementation for the Pantex Wind Project, the largest federally owned wind project to date with its supply of 11.5 megawatts of generation that meets more than half of the facilitys electrical power. Farther away, it supports microgrid development for the U.S. Navy in Guam, Sasebo, Japan, and the Bahamas. In Utah, Idaho National Laboratory is actively helping Tooele Army Depot in Tooele County and the Armys Dugway Proving Ground, the latter of which occupies an area the size of Rhode Island. Kurt Myers, Idaho National Laboratory distributed energy and grid systems integration group lead, works in the Microgrid Research Laboratory in the INL Energy Systems Laboratory in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News If the power goes down, critical emergency functions at Dugway would be in jeopardy. They have a single (power line) going out there that is 45 to 50 miles long. The cost to run another production line from a different part of the grid is pretty high, Myers said. So then you look at well, whats the cost comparison between doing that and putting, you know, some solar and batteries and having a backup power plant. It just comes down to the business case and the value of that critical load or that resiliency. Right now, Dugway generates 2 megawatts of energy from solar, which R. Jason Reed, Dugways chief of environmental programs within the directorate of public works, pointed out is not very much. Dugway is well on its way for a microgrid and is readying for the installation phase. There are a lot of kinks and quirks that need to be dialed in and figured out that will inevitably control the electrical loads of two substations and emergency power generation as well, Reed said. The idea, Reed said, is to provide an automated, remote switching capability to the microgrid during emergencies should the main grid fail and then when it is back up, switch back to the main grid. That single power line is a vulnerability for Dugway, with Reed adding that reliable, recurring power is of great importance. The ability for us to lose power and therefore use our two megawatts to continually to operate emergency aspects of the defined critical areas of the installation is profound. Its a game changer for us. Kurt Myers, Idaho National Laboratory distributed energy and grid systems integration group lead, unlocks a portable shipping container that houses batteries to store energy from solar panels, as part of a microgrid, outside of the INL Energy Systems Laboratory in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Related The Kentucky state department that handles child protection has an active investigation of a situation that resulted in a Lexington middle school principal being placed on administrative leave. I have confirmed that the Department for Community Based Services has an active investigation with regard to this matter, Susan Dunlap, spokesperson for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said in an email to the Herald-Leader. Dunlap and Fayette County Public Schools have not provided any specific details about the situation that resulted in Winburn Middle School Principal Mike Hale being placed on administrative leave. Hale did not respond to the Herald-Leader for a request for comment. The school district will not provide documents to the Herald-Leader regarding Hales suspension or his personnel file. Officials said those documents are excluded from disclosure under the Kentucky Open Records Act because there is currently an active administrative investigation. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services cannot comment on matters that are under investigation, Dunlap said. Lexington police officials said they are not investigating the situation. The Kentucky Department of Education doesnt have disciplinary records regarding Hale, spokespeople for the two organizations said. Fayette County school district spokeswoman Lisa Deffendall has only said that Hale was placed on administrative leave per our normal human resources procedures. Typically, we do not comment on personnel matters and cannot provide additional details at this time, Superintendent Demetrus Liggins said in an April 11 email to families announcing Hales leave. However, due to the public nature of the situation, we wanted to provide timely information to families, he said. Liggins did not elaborate on the public nature of the situation in the email. Assistant Principal BJ Martin will be serving as acting principal, according to Liggins. When Dunbar High School Principal Marlon Ball was placed on administrative leave in late 2022, the district gave the Herald-Leader a copy of a letter that Liggins sent to Ball through the Kentucky Open Records Act. A request for similar information in Hales case was denied. Oleksiy Danilov Read also: Chubarov says Russia placing nuclear weapons in Crimea would be step to nuclear war "Any of Russias threats to use nuclear weapons are a manifestation of powerlessness and fear," he wrote. The worse the situation at the front, the more often "hysterical 'nuclear' statements will be heard" because the Kremlin understands the inevitability of defeat and subsequent retribution, said Ukraines top security official, Read also: Putins nuclear saber-rattling is a sign of dangerous Russian desperation Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that a preventative (first strike ed.) nuclear strike was a certainty if he were currently President and argued that nuclear weapons are the very "staple" that binds Russia together. On March 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he planned to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. He justified his decision by arguing that the United Kingdom planned give Ukraine depleted uranium munitions. Read also: Putin's statement was criticized by many countries. The United States sees no signs of Russian nuclear weapons being moved to Belarus, and the European Union is ready to impose further sanctions. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Flash With a population of about 1.4 billion, Africa carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2021, the continent was home to about 95 percent of all malaria cases and 96 percent of deaths, according to the latest world malaria report published by the World Health Organisation (WHO). While China has created a malaria-free society, bringing down an estimated 30 million cases of malaria to zero after nearly seven decades of hard work, now the country is actively sharing its experiences with African countries that are still haunted by the infectious disease. Growing medical support China's medical support to Africa has been growing over the years since the Chinese government dispatched its first medical team to assist several nations on the continent in 1963. Ethiopia is one of the African countries that has been the beneficiary of China's generosity in the fight against malaria. The Chinese government has been sending batches of medical teams to Ethiopia since the 1970s and helped the East African nation build Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital as well as Malaria Prevention and Treatment Center. China also donated medical materials, anti-malaria equipment, and medicines to the center. "The assistance China offered has played a vital role in helping Ethiopia to improve its medical treatment of malaria and scientific research," said Aschalew Worku, a health expert at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. In Sierra Leone, a Chinese medical team volunteered to visit communities ravaged by malaria, where they gave lectures on the prevention and treatment of the disease. The training, which took the form of a PowerPoint presentation, video documentary, and practical work, was aimed at providing hospital staff with the required skills on how to perform modern-day diagnoses of malaria. Sallieu Kamara, a doctor at the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital, praised the Chinese medical team for putting together a comprehensive training package for the local staff. Reduction of malaria burden China has supported Tanzania in the fight against malaria in the East African country's southern district of Rufiji in the Coast region. The China-Tanzania Demonstration on Malaria Control Project, which was implemented between 2015 and 2021, has led to a significant reduction in malaria prevalence rates from over 30 percent to less than 3 percent at the intervention sites, officials said recently at a conference to evaluate the project held in Dar es Salaam, the economic hub of Tanzania. Suo Peng, charge d'Affaires and minister counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania, observed that as a true friend and good partner of Tanzania, China has carried out effective malaria cooperation with Tanzania for a long time. "The Chinese success story in fighting malaria is inspiring Africa to control and ultimately eliminate the disease," said Catherine Joachim, head of the Health Sector Resource Secretariat in the Tanzanian Ministry of Health. Citing that Tanzania is the first in Africa to pilot this historic initiative for malaria control, Joachim expressed her belief that lessons learned from the project would be an innovative approach to malaria control in many African countries. Building community of shared future Cavince Adhere, a Kenyan international relations scholar, said malaria presents a worrisome situation for African countries. Adhere observed that through the use of artemisinin, the first special antimalarial drug discovered and successfully extracted by China, Kenya has significantly reduced mortality from malaria-causing parasites. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, it is estimated that some 240 million people have benefited from artemisinin-based combination therapy. "The drug has also reduced medical expenses and malaria treatment turnaround time while enhancing the ability of Kenya's healthcare system to cope with the malaria burden," he said. The scholar further said through the construction of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, China has significantly amplified the continent's capability to undertake disease surveillance and coordination of control mechanisms, including in the management of malaria. "China's pursuit of building a community with a shared future for humankind is demonstrated by its assistance in the fight against malaria in Africa," said Adhere, adding that by supporting other countries to overcome the disease, Beijing is making a major contribution to global social and economic wellness given that the biggest investment a country can make is in the health and safety of its population. The Glen Canyon Dam holds back the Lake Powell waters in Page, Arizona, on July 18, 2022. Federal officials believe Lake Powell will rise another 50 to 90 feet by the end of June. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Federal water managers say they believe Lake Powell will rise anywhere between 50 and 90 feet this spring and summer after the nation's second-largest reservoir dropped to its all-time low again earlier this year. The reservoir's water level rose to 3,524.2 feet elevation by Tuesday, representing about 22.7% capacity. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials say that the water levels could rise to anywhere between 3,575 feet and 3,615 feet by the end of June, according to an outlook published last week. The most probable scenario is that the reservoir jumps to 3,590 feet elevation, or about 65 feet, by June, before dropping to 3,573.47 feet elevation by the end of the year. This graph shows the minimum (red), probable (green) and maximum (blue) outlooks for Lake Powell's water levels this year. The most likely scenario is that it rises another 65 feet by the end of June. | U.S. Bureau of Reclamation The lake would remain about 110 to 126.5 feet below full-pool status in the probable scenario but it would also place the reservoir between 80 and 100 feet above the minimum pool level needed to generate power. The increase comes as the National Weather Service's Colorado Basin River Forecast Center adjusted its snowmelt forecast to project that 1.3 million acre-feet worth of water will flow toward Lake Powell over the next few months, 177% of the average. Lake Mead, located downstream from Lake Powell, is also expected to rise this year, though, how much it rises is more dependent on how much water is released from Lake Powell. Bureau officials did increase this month's releases from 522,000 acre-feet to 910,000 acre-feet, while monthly releases over the next few months will be "adjusted as needed." It's currently projected to end up at 1,068.05 feet elevation by the end of the year, which is about 33 feet higher than it was in March. Camille Calimlim Touton, the bureau's commissioner, said this spring's outlook is a step in the right direction; however, she cautions it's not enough to overcome the challenges that arose at the beginning of the megadrought over 20 years ago. "This winter's snowpack is promising and provides us the opportunity to help replenish Lakes Mead and Powell in the near term, but the reality is that drought conditions in the Colorado River Basin have been more than two decades in the making," she said, in a statement last week. Story continues "Despite this year's welcomed snow, the Colorado River system remains at risk from the ongoing impacts of the climate crisis," she added. "We will continue to pursue a collaborative, consensus-based approach to conserve water, increase the efficiency of water use, and protect the system's reservoirs from falling to critically low elevations that would threaten water deliveries and power production." Meanwhile, the Bureau of Reclamation also approved a four-day controlled release from the Glen Canyon Dam as a part of additional water it's sending downstream this month. The department is releasing 39,500 cubic feet per second from Lake Powell for an experiment to move sediment in the Paria River onto the beaches and sandbars in Marble Canyon and the eastern Grand Canyon, according to the National Park Service. The project, both federal agencies explained, is to "restore" the Colorado River corridor at the east edge of Grand Canyon National Park. The controlled releases will wrap up on Thursday. Lake Powell's rise should also allow more boat ramps to open at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area this year. Wahweap Stateline Auxiliary and Bullfrog North are currently the only two ramps available for small motorized vehicles, while boaters are advised to approach the dock at Rainbow Bridge National Monument at their own risk. The probable scenario would be enough for the Castle Rock Cut and Antelope Point ramps to reopen. The recreation area drew in more than 2.8 million visitors in 2022 despite the ongoing water challenges. Contributing: Matt Johnson LAPD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) Efforts by the city of Los Angeles to force a journalist and a police watchdog group to return more than 9,000 photos and names of LAPD officers were dealt a blow Tuesday when a judge rejected a request for a temporary restraining order that would have prevented them from doing anything with the data. The judge said that the case was essentially about prior restraint and that the city would need to address it before any decisions are made in the case. The case stems from the city's release of the photos, names and other data last year in response to a California Public Records Act request and related litigation. Attorneys for the city filed a lawsuit last month against Knock LA journalist Ben Camacho and the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, saying the release of the officers' names, photos and serial numbers on a data drive to Camacho was "inadvertent." They argued that the publication of images of officers who serve in undercover assignments posed a safety risk to the officers. After receiving the photos, Camacho provided them to the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, which published them online last month. On Tuesday, the attorneys asked the judge to approve the restraining order to stop Camacho and the coalition from "transferring, concealing, removing or otherwise disposing of" the photos and other information. Lawyers for Camacho have filed to have the case dismissed as unconstitutional and retaliatory. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff declined to issue the restraining order and labeled the city's legal brief confusing. Beckloff said the city was trying to prevent the dissemination or publication of the information, but he told the city's lawyers: "You really don't address the prior restraint issue. You buried the lead." He said the city needed to address the pivotal U.S. Supreme Court case on prior restraint Nebraska Press Assn. vs. Stuart and whether the injunction would be effective. Story continues City lawyers insisted they aren't seeking to prevent publication but want to prevent Camacho and the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition from allowing other people to download the photos. In one of several declarations filed by the city, LAPD Capt. Jonathan Tippet, who oversees the Robbery-Homicide Division, wrote that the publication had exposed the photos of undercover officers, including those of the Special Investigation Section, which conducts surveillance on suspects in violent serial crimes. Tippet said the images "permanently endangered the lives of the officers" and "jeopardize the investigation of significant criminal cases." Also Tuesday, Camacho said on Twitter that Microsoft had taken down a folder filled with head shots in a cloud drive for "violating terms of service." Camacho previously tweeted a link to the folder, which contained the names and photos of 9,300 LAPD officers. The legal team for Camacho filed a motion last week alleging that the litigation is a so-called SLAPP lawsuit, an improper lawsuit used by public officials to censor or intimidate someone from exercising their free speech. The City of Los Angeles lawsuit is a thinly veiled attempt to silence Mr. Camacho and other journalists who report on law enforcement, Dan Stormer, one of the attorneys for Camacho, said at a news conference last week. The real motives behind this lawsuit are to shield the Los Angeles Police Department from any measure of accountability and transparency. Other attorneys representing Camacho include Susan Seager, head of UC Irvine School of Laws Press Freedom Project. In their motion, the lawyers argue that the city's attempt to undo the publication of the officers' photos and information amounts to an infringement on Camacho's freedom of speech. Such a ploy, they wrote, is barred by the state's anti-SLAPP statute. The motion says that the city willingly gave Camacho the records six months ago to settle the lawsuit he brought under the Public Records Act and that city officials wrote Camacho a letter saying the records did not include any officers working "undercover." The motion also states that the city failed to define an undercover assignment and that its claims of threats to officer safety are conjecture. Knock LA and the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition have denounced the lawsuit in separate statements. Knock LA called it a "clear intimidation tactic" by City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto. The Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, a frequent critic of the Police Department's use of surveillance technology, called it "an attack on the publics ability to request, analyze, and publish public records." Legal experts uniformly rejected the lawsuit as baseless and ripe for dismissal on 1st Amendment grounds and other well-established legal protections for journalists. Hamid Khan, a coordinator with Stop LAPD Spying, said Camacho shared the officers' images and information with his organization. The group then posted them online as part of a public, searchable database called "Watch the Watchers," which includes each officers name, ethnicity, rank, date of hire, division or bureau, serial number and photo. The union representing rank-and-file LAPD officers subsequently sued Chief Michel Moore over the release of the photos, hoping to force the department to stop disclosing such images and try to claw back those already released. More than 300 officers who claim to work in sensitive assignments have also given notice that they intend to sue the city, accusing it of negligence and endangering their lives by releasing the images. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Trappers in Southwest Florida have captured two large gators after a man was attacked. The attack happened Monday in Sanibel, not far from Fort Myers. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said a 37-year-old man was bitten by a gator in a pond. Watch: Homeowner: 11-foot gator found in pool busted through screen like the Kool-Aid Man Officials said the man wasnt seriously hurt. Trappers were called out and captured a 9-foot gator in the water. Watch: Paddleboarder films close encounter with alligator at Silver Springs State Park Neighbors said they have seen it many times before. Theyve never really bothered us, said Sanibel resident Linda Clemente. Read: A truly remarkable alligator: Gatorland icon Chester dies at 60 FWC said the second gator caught was about 7 feet long. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. FIRST ON FOX: Republican presidential candidate Larry Elder says "O.J. Simpson will find the killer or killers" of Ron Goldman before the Justice Department (DOJ) probe into Hunter Biden is concluded. Elder caught up with Fox News Digital Tuesday after announcing his White House candidacy last week, joining a growing field of GOP challengers to President Biden. The California Republican said he believes the presidents son is receiving "special treatment" in regard to the DOJ investigation into his international business dealings and predicted the probes end isnt anywhere close. REPUBLICANS RESPOND AFTER IRS WHISTLEBLOWER SAYS HUNTER BIDEN INVESTIGATION IS BEING MISHANDLED "O.J. Simpson will find the killer or killers of Ron before the investigation is concluded," Elder said. "Weve got the whistleblowers who are coming forth, one from the IRS and others who are claiming that the DOJ is dragging their feet on the Hunter Biden investigation." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Elder said it "didnt take Alvin Bragg very long enough to bring charges against Donald Trump, but all of a sudden, this thing is just taking and taking and taking and dragging and dragging and dragging their feet. "Obviously, hes getting special treatment, as is the big guy, the person to whom Hunter Biden was referring when he said, Ten percent for the big guy," Elder said. "And I think the Biden family in general is getting special treatment." HUNTER BIDEN LAWYERS TO MEET WITH DOJ OFFICIALS NEXT WEEK AS FEDERAL INVESTIGATION CRITICISM INTENSIFIES Elder claimed there are people outside the Biden family "who apparently got some money from Hunter Bidens activities and from the fact that Hunter Bidens dad was vice president." "This is a scandal of epic proportions," Elder said, noting that "if one fraction of this applied to the Trump family," it would be "nonstop on MSNBC," CNN and late-night talk shows. Story continues Elder is joining a growing field of contenders taking on Trump in the battle for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Elder, a longtime conservative commentator and popular nationally syndicated radio host, easily topped the field of replacement candidates in Californias gubernatorial recall election in September 2021 that Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom convincingly survived. Elder passed on taking on Newsom a second time when the governor easily won re-election last year in the blue state. Larry Elder and Hunter Biden The former attorney and author had been flirting with a White House run for months, saying on numerous occasions he was "very likely going to run for president," with an announcement coming in the early spring. Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed reporting. Jan Lipavsky, Czech Foreign Minister, in his response to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov's comments about the Czech president, called the Russian diplomat "a clown" and said that the leadership of the terrorist Russia should stand trial. Source: European Pravda Lipavsky wrote on Twitter that "the statements of Lavrov the clown about our president Pavel are simply ridiculous." "Russia is a terrorist state, and its leadership should face an international tribunal," the Czech diplomat stressed. Vyroky klauna Lavrova na adresu naseho prezidenta @prezidentpavel jsou k smichu. Rusko je teroristicky stat a jeho vedeni patri pred mezinarodni tribunal. Jan Lipavsky (@JanLipavsky) April 25, 2023 Lipavsky did not specify which of Lavrovs statements he was referring to. However, the Russian Foreign Minister recently said that the reaction of the Czech president to China's position on Ukraine "does not correspond to political norms". "These are statements that have nothing to do with the work of a normal political figure," Lavrov said. Petr Pavel, Czech President, stated that China could not be trusted as a mediator in establishing peace between Russia and Ukraine in an interview with Politico, because it benefits Beijing to continue the war. Apart from the Czech Republic, other countries are also sceptical that China can act as a neutral mediator, given its "friendship without limits" with Russia. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! For 25 years, teens in North Carolina have received drivers licenses gradually, under a system designed to give them more freedom as they get more experience behind the wheel. Now lawmakers want to relax two requirements under that system, pleasing teens and parents but concerning some safety advocates. The House and Senate have sent a bill to Gov. Roy Cooper that would reduce the amount of time a teen must drive under the supervision of a parent or guardian before gaining a provisional license. Except during the COVID-19 pandemic, North Carolina has required teens to have a so-called learners permit for 12 months before moving up to a provisional license with more freedom. The bill would change the learners permit period to nine months. Three months may not seem like much, but lawmakers are tinkering with a system that has helped prevent countless teen crashes, injuries and deaths, said Natalie OBrien, a researcher at the UNC Highway Safety Research Center in Chapel Hill. We know that crashes are a leading cause of death for teens. And the reason teens crash is a lack of experience, OBrien said in an interview. And so anything we do to provide them with less practice is detrimental. The main sponsor of Senate Bill 157, Republican Sen. Vickie Sawyer of Iredell County, says she was responding to requests from teens and their parents and that shortening the learners permit to nine months brings North Carolina more in line with places such as South Carolina and Virginia. Other states around us have a six-month or a nine-month waiting period, so I just feel like its really just an arbitrary number at this point, Sawyer told WCNC-TV in Charlotte last month. Senate Bill 157 would also increase the number of young passengers a teen with a limited provisional license can carry if they are going to or from school. Now, an unsupervised teen driver may have no more than one unrelated passenger under 21 years old; the bill would double that to two, if the additional passenger is a student being driven directly to or from school. Story continues The bill passed with bipartisan support, 38-5 in the Senate and 92-15 in the House. A spokeswoman for Cooper would not say whether he supports the bill, saying only that he will review it. Graduated license system is 25 years old North Carolina established three-step graduated licensing for drivers under 18 in the late 1990s, starting with a learners permit for drivers who have passed an education course. After 12 months, teens who have logged more than 60 hours of supervised driving and passed a road test can get a limited provisional license, which allows them to drive unsupervised between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. or when going directly to or from work or volunteer fire or EMS service. After another six months and 12 more hours of supervised driving, a teen can obtain a full provisional license, which comes with fewer restrictions. Diana Xavier, Sawyers legislative assistant, noted that while the bill would reduce the learners permit period, it would not change the number of hours of supervised driving teens must document. When COVID-19 canceled drivers education classes and shut Division of Motor Vehicles offices, lawmakers streamlined the licensing process for teens. That included shortening to six months the amount of time they had to hold a learners permit before moving up to a provisional license. That provision expired Dec. 31. Shortening the permit requirement to six months contributed to a 12% increase in crashes for 16-year-olds statewide, says Robert Foss, retired director of the Center for the Study of Young Drivers at the UNC Highway Safety Research Center. Foss opposes weakening the graduating license system even a little, saying that surveys have found overwhelming support for the 12-month learners permit among parents. There is no need whatsoever to permanently degrade a highly successful system, ignoring the wisdom and wishes of virtually all parents in the process, Foss wrote in an op-ed in The News & Observer last month. No state has ever taken such a retrograde step. North Carolina should not be the first. Parents still get the last word on granting driving privileges, said Joe Stewart, vice president for government affairs of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina. Parents are free to extend their childs time under a learners permit if they think their child needs the longer supervision. Stewart said he thinks lawmakers tried to balance the clear scientific benefits of the graduated licensing system with the real-world needs and desires of families. After the state temporarily shortened the learners permit period to six months, he said in an interview, a majority of legislators determined something less than 12 months makes sense. You want to strike that balance, he said. Doing the things you know are beneficial and proven to be good at reducing the probability of a crash for a young driver, but also recognize that the privilege of driving is in many ways an essential part of young people being able to interact, work, be able to get to and from school, all of those sorts of things. A Metropolitan police badge in London Like many before me, I became a police officer to fight crime. I wanted to catch criminals and lock them up. I wanted to make my local neighbourhood safer. Nothing felt better than putting away burglars, fishing knives out of waistbands, and knowing that in doing so I was making the streets safer. When I started in the Metropolitan Police as a volunteer police officer, I had hoped to find a force dedicated to fighting crime. Yet the recruitment process was more of a half-baked attempt to identify bigots than any sort of test for crime-fighting aptitude. As I progressed, becoming a regular officer, I witnessed an organisation in which too many senior leaders were far more interested in reputation management than in protecting the public. The forces systems were archaic geared towards consuming officer time and slowing things down. And too often, we were required to deal with overspills from other agencies, particularly around mental health. Fighting crime was what I was determined to do. In the line of duty, I found myself screamed at, spat at and even shot at. I suffered broken ribs, bruises, and more besides. Much of this was to be expected but the quid pro quo for officers should be knowing that management and leadership are straining every sinew to support that mission. I ended up leaving the force, disillusioned by an organisation that seemed more interested in recording crime than taking it on. Too many bosses and senior civilian staff were more intent on building evidence for their next promotion than in gripping and fixing the simple things that obstruct officers day-to-day work and leave them feeling undervalued and unappreciated. You need to have a high tolerance for low-level crime, was the staggering invocation from one, now disgraced, senior officer. It revealed to me the extent to which much of the leadership would rather have a quiet life of meetings with community activists than risk rocking the boat by delivering on the publics crime priorities. Story continues These experiences, coupled with my own series of close calls and near-misses, led me to the conclusion that if I had continued fighting crime, Id have ended up in the ground or in intensive care. I wasnt the first or the last crime-fighting police officer to arrive at such a bleak conclusion. The need for policing to rediscover its purpose is evident from charge rates for some serious crimes that have fallen from healthy double digits to low single digits. Its also obvious from public attitudes, with polling earlier this year finding that seven in 10 Britons think the police have given up on solving crimes like burglary and shop theft. As some police chiefs know, it does not have to be this way. The system can change but it will take courage and conviction. Police leaders will have to develop a resistance to the endless stream of junk policy and practice being fed to them by campaigners who would rather apologise for criminals than see them caught. Todays launch of The Public Safety Foundation, featuring a speech from the Home Secretary on policing and crime, marks an important first step. This new foundation will speak up for a public frustrated by the lack of crime-fighting, stand with the beleaguered men and women on the frontline, and do all it can to help make the UK the safest place to live, work and raise a family. Rory Geoghegan is the founder of The Public Safety Foundation, a former police officer, and a former special adviser on crime and justice in No 10 Gov. Ron DeSantis hand-picked oversight board delivered more blows to Walt Disney World on Wednesday, voiding the previous boards development agreements and restrictive covenants. The move came as local business owners urged the board to work with Disney leadership. Chair Martin Garcia detailed how the board met with Disney vice presidents but were ultimately slighted by the company, which he said created an absolute legal mess thats pushing the board to raise taxes to cover costs. READ MORE: Disney fires back at DeSantis, files suit claiming retaliation Thats not working together, Garcia said. Disney picked the fight with this board. During last weeks meeting, the board voted without discussion to invalidate the last-minute arrangement between Disney and the previous board. The DeSantis versus Disney feud began when the company voiced opposition to the Legislatures passage in 2022 of the Parental Rights in Education Bill, which prohibited classroom instruction on gender-identity issues in certain grades. Over the two-year feud, the governor tried and failed to dismantle the Reedy Creek Improvement District with legislation but had to repeal that law because it would have left local residents to shoulder nearly $1 billion in debt. In February, DeSantis sought again to wrest control of the Disney-controlled district but that effort was preempted to a degree when the Disney-backed board approved agreements that freeze existing regulations in place for decades, undercutting the authority of the new board appointed by the governor. At the companys recent annual meeting, Disney CEO Bob Iger spoke up against the governors actions, calling the move anti-business and anti-Florida. Though tight-lipped about the new boards plans, Disney on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against DeSantis in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. The legal mess The previous Disney-backed board passed development agreements and restrictive covenants that attempted to undermine the governors control over the newly constituted board. Story continues Daniel Langley, the DeSantis boards special general counsel, argued Wednesday that the agreements and covenants werent lawful, citing how the board: Violated Sunshine laws by not notifying property owners of meetings or conduct public hearings; Ignored state laws that required the district to establish procedures before adopting new development agreements; Delegated authority, such as setting the height of buildings, to a private company, which violates the Florida Constitution. Langley also flipped through slides detailing actions taken by the previous board from 2017 to 2023, when the current governor-appointed board took over. [It] just shows you, with the timeline, how rushed this all was, Langley said. Alan Lawson, a former Florida Supreme Court Justice, called on the board to find the agreements and covenants null and void after he detailed several legal findings in a presentation. Disney was openly and legally granted its own special privilege, the privilege of running its own local government, Lawson said. That era is now over. Disney, Lawson said, tried to bind the hands of this board. His findings included that Disney violated the state Constitution and laws by acting without legal authority and without following notice and proper procedure. Other decisions The board also voted Wednesday to prohibit COVID-19 restrictions and mandates within the district and announced its intentions to hire several positions, including a special adviser, district administrator, general counsel and district clerk. The board even floated a name for the district administrator position, with several members lauding Glen Gilzean, the CEO of an Orlando nonprofit, who DeSantis appointed to the Florida Commission on Ethics. Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Chief Mary Ellen Klas contributed to this report Gov. Ron DeSantis goal of passing legislation that would rewrite federal defamation law and make it easier to sue critics appears dead for the legislative session, but the author of the bill said he will be back to try it again next year. Theres just not enough time, and I have too much stuff on my plate, said Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, the House sponsor of HB 991 as lawmakers approach the final week of the annual 60-day that ends May 5. The companion measure, SB 1220, is also dead, he said, as time ran out before the bills could be heard in their final committees. The bills would have removed many of the legal protections against defamation lawsuits established in the landmark 1964 Supreme Court case New York Times v. Sullivan by changing what is considered a public figure in a defamation claim and eliminating the longstanding protections for the news media in its coverage of politicians, government officials and public figures. Although the measure was a top priority for DeSantis, who has been sued for curbing First Amendment protections for critics of his policies in Florida, support for the measure had waned. For weeks, free speech advocates, including some members of conservative media, warned that the bill was a direct violation of the free speech protections in the U.S. Constitution and would open the door to a barrage of lawsuits, including against conservative talk radio hosts. The death of the bill is one of the few policy losses the governor has faced this legislative session, as he has advanced an aggressive agenda of culture wars aimed at imposing state controls over classroom speech, transgender healthcare, entertainers in drag, abortion and loosening restrictions on guns. DeSantis set the stage for the bill The governor first called for the legislation at a Feb. 7 roundtable event in which he sat in a mock cable news set with a panel of commentators who had sued legacy media companies, such as Fox News and The Washington Post. Story continues Seated in an anchormans chair in front of a screen with the words Speak Truth behind him, DeSantis declared that legacy media companies are probably the leading purveyors of disinformation in our entire society, and urged legislators to be standing up for the little guy against them. Gov. Ron DeSantis first called for legislation to make it easier to sue news organizations and others for defamation at a Feb. 7 roundtable in which he sat in a mock cable news set with a panel of commentators who had sued legacy media companies, Courtesy of the Executive Office of Governor Ron DeSantis. But instead of protecting average citizens, opponents said the measure would instead serve to protect those in power from criticism by journalists and the public. James Schwartzel, the owner of 92.5 FOX News, a Fort Myers-based radio station that carries conservative personalities such as Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin, wrote legislators to warn the bill would be the death of conservative talk throughout the state of Florida. Congressman Cory Mills, a conservative Republican from New Smyrna Beach, sent a letter to House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, outlining a litany of objections, including that it will target speech based on content and tilt the playing field in favor of plaintiffs. Bobby Block, executive director of the First Amendment Foundation, called the bill a death knell that will be used to try to crush critics of government policy. What the bill would have done The measure would have removed from legal defamation claims Floridas existing protections of journalists privilege. That law allows journalists under most circumstances to refuse to identify anonymous sources or disclose other information gathered as part of their reporting. The bill also would have made using anonymous sources more difficult by assuming that statements from anonymous sources are false in defamation proceedings. If a journalist used an anonymous source, that would also be considered sufficient for showing actual malice, the standard used to establish defamation. Andrade and Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Orlando, filed the bills but the governors office had hopes that its thrust would extend beyond Florida. A memo from the governors office obtained by the website, Seeking Rents, showed that the bill was designed to set up a legal challenge to New York Times v. Sullivan, the precedent-setting US. Supreme Court ruling that established the standard for defamation claim against media organizations. To the extent these provisions conflict with existing Supreme Court precedent, this legislation aims to invite challenges to such precedent with the goal of restoring the original understanding of the First Amendment, the DeSantis legal memo read. But when legislators came under fire for supporting the bill, DeSantis, who has made antipathy toward corporate media part of his campaign narrative, never engaged with legislators about how to address the pushback. With less than a week left of the legislative session, the sponsors dropped the bills. I am encouraged that it appears lawmakers have decided to take time and study the matter further, Block, of the First Amendment Foundation, said Wednesday. Andrade says hell revive the bill in 2024 The opposition by conservative media outlets served at least one purpose, Andrade said. Their opposition blew the liberal claim, that this was a partisan bill, out of the water, he said. Working to fix a problem in our civil justice system shouldnt have ever been considered a partisan issue. Its not a partisan issue, its just a good policy. He plans to file the bill again next session. Well be able to start from a much better position next year because of the work we put in this year, he said. Barbara Petersen of the Florida Center for Government Accountability, a non-profit transparency watchdog, questions why Andrade wants to bring the measure back. A bad bill this year will be a bad bill next year, she said. Mary Ellen Klas can be reached at meklas@miamiherald.com and @MaryEllenKlas Flash Using seismic data gathered by NASA's InSight mission, scientists have made the first observations of seismic waves traveling through Mars' core, according to new study published on Monday. Mars has a liquid iron alloy core at its center. By looking at seismic waves the InSight lander detected from a pair of temblors in 2021, scientists have been able to deduce that Mars' liquid iron core is smaller and denser than previously thought. The findings mark the first direct observations ever made of another planet's core, according to the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences. The two temblors, which occurred on Aug. 25 and Sept. 18 of 2021, originated on the opposite side of the Red Planet from the lander, so-called farside quakes. "Farside quakes are intrinsically harder to detect because a great deal of energy is lost or diverted away as seismic waves travel through the planet," said lead author Jessica Irving, an Earth scientist at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. Based on the findings documented in the paper, about a fifth of Mars' core is composed of elements such as sulfur, oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen. InSight was launched in May 2018 to study the deep interior of Mars. It touched down safely on the Red Planet in late November 2018. The lander ended its mission last December after more than four years of collecting unique science on Mars. Museum specimens are like time capsules from where and when the organisms and their pathogens lived. Ed Maker/The Denver Post via Getty Images The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Years-old tissue samples from armadillos in museum collections may harbor Mycobacterium leprae, the bacteria that causes Hansens disease, also called leprosy, according to recent research my colleagues and I conducted. Leprosy can cause nerve damage that, without early effective treatment, can lead to paralysis and blindness in the most severe cases. Approximately 140,000 new patients were diagnosed worldwide in 2021, mostly concentrated in India, Brazil and Indonesia. Since 2010, evidence has accumulated that the nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus, is transmitting leprosy to people in North America and potentially elsewhere. To investigate this connection, we turned to 10 natural history museums in the U.S. These institutions offer more than just public exhibitions. They also host thousands of biological samples, collected over many years. Examining these historical specimens could help researchers identify pathogen prevalence and diversity across time and space. Molecular diagnostic techniques identified the leprosy-causing Mycobacterium leprae bacteria in archived tissue samples from 14.8% of nine-banded armadillos tested. Daniel Romero-Alvarez In our study, we used online repositories such as VertNet to identify armadillo specimens held by museums. We then physically examined tissue samples from 159 individual animals from 10 armadillo species. Specimens were collected between 1974 and 2017 from eight countries in the Americas. Using molecular diagnostic techniques, we identified M. leprae bacteria in muscle, spleen and liver tissues in 18 out of 122 nine-banded armadillos a prevalence of 14.8%. All positive samples were collected between 1996 and 2014. Our research allowed us to peek into the immediate past to see that M. leprae was circulating in armadillos in previously unknown locations. Why it matters How leprosy is transmitted is still under debate. The bacteria can apparently spread in aerosols and droplets released by the coughs or sneezes of infected patients. But because some people become sick without being exposed to an infected person or traveling to an area where leprosy is present, researchers think there must be another way it spreads. Story continues In the last decade, molecular examinations of nonhuman samples, water and soils have suggested that wildlife and the environment are potential sources of leprosy. Our analysis revealed that the M. leprae strain identified in the positive museum samples is very similar to one that has been circulating in North American armadillos since the 1990s, when transmission of leprosy through wildlife was still only suggested. What other research is being done In animals, researchers have used museum specimens to study snake fungal disease and the chytrid fungus that affects frogs. Scientists less often examine museum archives for pathogens that affect humans. Researchers have, however, identified Tripanosoma cruzi, the agent that causes Chagas disease, in wood rats in natural history museum collections, as well as hantaviruses in deer mouse specimens. Since approximately 70% of emerging human infectious diseases originate in wildlife, examining museum specimens will likely help identify where and when particular pathogens have existed. Ultimately, understanding more about which pathogens are emerging, and where as we did with leprosy and armadillos can help scientists anticipate potential outbreaks and maybe even head them off. Molecular techniques extracted and amplified DNA from the historical samples housed in museum collections. Daniel Romero-Alvarez What still isnt known Scientists discovered in 2008 that another pathogen, Mycobacterium lepromatosis, can also cause leprosy. Researchers have yet to untangle the role of this second bacteria in the worldwide incidence of the disease. All our 159 armadillo samples were negative for M. lepromatosis. But this bacteria has infected humans in Mexico, Colombia, Canada and elsewhere, along with red squirrels in the British Isles. My colleagues and I hope our discovery prompts further research on the role of nonhuman sources of leprosy transmission across the Americas. Our work is another case study demonstrating that natural history collections can play an important role in human infectious disease research. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. Like this article? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It was written by: Daniel Romero-Alvarez, University of Kansas. Read more: Daniel Romero-Alvarez does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. If North Idaho College fails to lose its accreditation, it wont be for lack of trying. The events about to transpire at Mondays meeting of the North Idaho College Board of Trustees could be a death knell for the colleges accreditation and possibly the college itself, Coeur dAlene Press staff writer Maureen Dolan warned in an analysis ahead of this weeks meeting. Good prediction, it seems. As Kaye Thornbrugh of the Coeur dAlene Press reported, on Monday night, the boards far-right majority voted to nullify the contract of President Nick Sawyne, who was hired by the board, then placed on administrative leave and then replaced and then the board was ordered to reinstate him. The action was likely illegal and will probably be reversed at some point. That has been the pattern since far-right figures launched a successful effort to take over the North Idaho College board. As Daniel Walters of the Inlander reported in December, the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee worked hard to gain a majority on the NIC board. And David Reilly, a hardcore anti-Semite and one of the organizers of the notorious Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, pitched in with election messaging. The takeover may have been a sinister plot, but the plotting seems to have ended with the election. Now the winners look like the dogs that caught the car. Maybe they wanted to purge all teaching they are ideologically opposed to. Maybe they wanted to turn the college into some right-wing, theocratic indoctrination center. Regardless of what the goal was, all they seem to know how to do is trip over their shoelaces. Ever seen that clip from The Simpsons of Sideshow Bob stepping on a rake, having the handle fly up and hit him in the face, groaning, and then taking another step, only to find hes stepped on yet another rake, ad infinitum? Well, thats a pretty good synopsis of the NIC board with the far right in charge. It seems hard for the board to hold even one meeting without breaking the law, Monday being no exception. Story continues The majority has hired former attorney general candidate Art Macomber, who is the laughingstock of the state bar and at an exorbitant level of pay. As Thornbrugh reported, the board took the action to nullify Swaynes contract based on a top-secret report produced by Macomber. The report claims that there were unspecified Open Meetings Law violations at the time Swayne was hired in June 2022, far too long in the past for the action to be undone. Board members who arent part of the far-right majority objected, rightly, that nullifying Swaynes contract was probably illegal, with Macombers legal advice being less than trustworthy. Thats a good bet. And even if nullifying the contract isnt strictly illegal, its sure to be seen as a dodge of the intent of a court order mandating the board to reinstate the status quo while Swaynes termination was litigated. But the path the far-right majority would take was set out long before the meeting, and they did not waver. Expect that the board will soon get yet another correction from a judge. And all this likely lawbreaking is happening only days before a visit by officials from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, as Dolan noted. The commission is considering revoking NICs accreditation, thereby turning it from a community college for students into a collection of useless buildings. The main reason theyre thinking of doing it is that the board has a track record of lawlessness and incompetence not because of the students or the staff, who continue to conduct themselves honorably in the face of this travesty. And now the boards far-right majority has shown itself lawless and incompetent yet again. When the far right controls the levers, this is what it looks like. Bryan Clark is an opinion writer for the Idaho Statesman based in eastern Idaho. McChord International Airport? Puget Sound area passenger and freight air traffic is projected to double by 2050, and even with future expansions at Sea-Tac and Paine Field, there will not be enough capacity in the region without a new airport. The Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commissions most recent report did not consider a joint-use airport at McChord Air Force Base. Perhaps the commission could study the joint-use Charleston (South Carolina) International Airport which shares runways and services with Charleston AFB. This might provide a model for how McChord AFB could be adapted to serve as a joint-use airport. A quick look at Google Maps shows that the east side of the existing runway at McChord is mostly empty land which might be available for passenger and freight terminals. With easy access to existing freeways (I-5 and WA-512), a passenger airport at McChord could easily serve passengers arriving from locations across Pierce and Thurston counties. Theres even an opportunity to build a short link to the Sound Transit rail station in Lakewood just across I-5 from McChord. Perhaps the U.S. Air Force could help the Puget Sound region avoid a messy fight about the location of a future greenfield airport by sharing their perfectly located existing runway? Jeff Roberts, Seattle Responsible siting of clean energy projects As we see an influx of clean energy proposals such as wind and solar throughout Washington state, it is more important than ever that we have a well-coordinated process in place to ensure that these projects are developed and sited responsibly. Otherwise, these projects could have significant negative impacts on wildlife, cultural resources, and the health and well-being of local communities. House Bill 1216, which has been sent to Gov. Inslee, is essential to achieving these goals and reaching 100% clean energy in Washington, while also protecting our natural resources and rural communities. On behalf of the Black Hills Audubon Society, I want to extend our gratitude to Rep. Beth Doglio (D-Olympia) for her leadership in advancing this critical piece of legislation, and to the prime sponsor, Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon (D-West Seattle). Story continues HB 1216 will set up an interagency clean energy siting coordinating council to improve siting and permitting of clean energy projects. The legislation also includes community benefits agreements, which encourage local and tribal governments to play a proactive role in the responsible siting of clean energy projects, while protecting environmental concerns and overburdened communities. We believe policies like this will be essential to achieving our goal of reaching 100% clean electricity while also protecting our natural resources. We appreciate all who have helped advance this important piece of legislation. Sam Merrill, Olympia It is long past time for Congress to act on this injustice Our disabled veterans are grossly undercompensated. This travesty of justice is causing enlistments to dry up. In FY2023, a totally disabled veteran with no dependents is compensated at the ridiculous rate of $43,463 annually. The National Average Wage Index for 2021 was $60,575 per annum and the median income for 2021 was $70,784. The per capita GDP in 2021 was $69,288, among the highest in the world. Huh?! They have been asking various Administrations and Congresses for fair compensation since the end of World War I in 1918. That was 104 years ago! In my opinion, the basic reason for their gross under compensation is because they are only compensated for projected loss of wages due to their disabilities. They are not compensated for their low quality of life, which is the norm in personal injury cases in court. This is obvious to our young people. They are not interested in accepting the possibility of a lifetime of near poverty should they get injured in the armed forces, just so our wealthy Elites can evade proper and fair taxation. Our youth are aware that the people that had their assets and overseas business interests protected the most by our now-broken former troops pay essentially nothing to support them in their brokenness. Be warned! Congress must correct this injustice now! Ernest Witham, Lacey Richard Riordan leaves one of his final news conferences as mayor of L.A. on June 29, 2001. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times) To the editor: Richard Riordan's crowning achievement as mayor was saving the main branch of the L.A. Public Library downtown, which now bears his name. I have no argument against that or his sincere humble concern for the well-being of most of Los Angeles. ("Former L.A. Mayor Riordan battled, but ultimately honored, the media," April 22) But at heart, Riordan was not a participatory democracy leader. He was an old-school, boys-club businessman who thought the best way to address public policy issues was to convene a plutocrat network meeting to decide what was to be done without participation by the public, and even against the public will if necessary. The library will stand the test of time as a tribute to him, but let his old-school backroom political methodology die with him. Peter Stephen Nicholas, Los Angeles .. To the editor: Riordan was an innovator. In 1994 he created Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative, a nonprofit organization that engages under-served communities in building vibrant public spaces. I had the privilege of serving as co-founding executive director from 1994-2009. Two things Riordan said to me stand out in my mind: "It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission," which encouraged me to think outside the box; and, "Thanks for making me look good," which made me proud to be a part of his team. Joyce Perkins, Los Angeles .. To the editor: The piece by reporter James Rainey on Riordan's complicated relationship with the media was, I found, the only one of value on the late mayor. Rather than damning the man with faint praise, Rainey truly delved into the man's character. As a working-class revolutionary, I can say that Riordan' politics were hardly up my alley. But I had to give him cred for one thing: While Democrats waste our time pretending to be on the side of working people but support capital every time, Riordan was at least honest and honorable enough not to pretend to care about the working class. Story continues We knew where he stood. He made no bones about it. Michael Weinert, Encino This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. This nearly slipped by me. My own Ada Community public library board is self-censoring materials including at least one of which is a classic I have respected for decades. I just now placed an online hold on one of the most pivotal and highly meaningful books I have ever read, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Though given an option to request it, I noticed a designation on the record saying it has been transferred to ????? I will await its arrival. From how I interpret this, my Library Board made an arbitrary decision to remove certain titles that had been found on some unnamed list somewhere. This self-censorship shows pure cowardice and arrogance. What right does this group of people have to determine my reading choice? Diane Claus, Boise Republican extremism I wrote to Sen. Jim Risch, and he responded to my letter with pure political chicanery. He seems to think that the Second Amendment includes unlimited rights to bear arms. The Amendment does not state that. Perhaps unlimited muskets but not assault rifles, tanks, grenades or bazookas. The GOP keeps losing ground by stubbornly maintaining indefensible positions. They would like women to carry unviable fetuses to term under the guise of pro-life and maintain that its OK to keep killing children by the 10s, 20s or 30s because of gun rights. So those who are pro-life before birth but to hell with the kids afterbirth. They protect assault weapons, lower SNAP programs and cut school lunches. They can even see its inconsistencies. The Republic Party is dying and that is sad for our country. Mike Maher, Boise End the death penalty Theres been a lot of bible waving and comments by the Idaho legislature over the last year about protecting the sanctity of human life. That is why it surprised me when HB 186 was signed into law to allow human lives to be killed by firing squad. Rep. Skaug, Attorney General Labrador, and Gov. Little all claim that they support this bill because it allows the death penalty to be carried out as mandated in the Idaho Constitution. Instead of introducing a bill to allow enforcement of a bad law, our legislature should fix the real problem and eliminate the death penalty. Protecting the sanctity of human life should involve protecting ALL human lives. In my bible, stoning is described as an execution method during Jesus time. In the Gospel of John, Jesus disciples asked him his thoughts about the law requiring a woman to be stoned for committing adultery. Jesus responded, as noted in John 8:7 Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. I urge Skaug, Labrador, and Little to heed these words and reconsider their commitment to the death penalty. Story continues Glenn McGeoch, Meridian The GOP is ruining its brand The First Law of Holes: If ever one finds themselves in a hole the very first thing one should do is to stop digging. Obviously, the GOP leadership does not comprehend the essence of that simple rule. A review of GOP actions and legislation over the past few years reveals that obvious truth. They have at every level from county commissioners to the U. S. House of Representatives and judicial benches screwed themselves with anti-abortion rulings; anti-individual rights actions; anti-voting rights legislation; and extremist judicial rulings. Never have so few done so much harm to so many. It all really started with the overturning of Roe v Wade, but it was decades in the making. If future elections were limited to females of Gen Z there probably wouldnt be enough GOP representatives in any currently Republican-dominated state to fill a mid-size SUV on that issue alone. The much-ballyhooed Red Wave of 2022 was reduced to a ripple on almost every front at the polls. This ripple forced McCarthy to kowtow to the minuscule Freedom Caucus just to reach the speakership concessions hes sure to regret. I keep waiting for the rationale GOP to come back. Will they ever? Gil Beyer, Sandpoint If you drive a car in Lexington County, you may soon be asked to pay more to use the countys roads. Lexington County Council on Tuesday discussed charging a road user fee on vehicles registered in the county in order to fund improvements to county roadways. The user fee would raise a fraction of the revenue that a proposed 1% penny sales tax would have funded for road improvements in the county. Voters rejected that proposal in a referendum last November by a 10-point margin, 55% to 45%. Council members did not settle on an amount road users would have to pay, although Chairwoman Beth Carrigg said other counties in South Carolina with a similar fee charge anywhere from $10 to $50. Currently, the county collects a $1 processing fee on vehicle registration applications, which last year raised $238,000. Lexington County has around 323,000 registered vehicles, but not all drivers are charged the processing fee, including people who pay for their registration in person, council members heard. Councilwoman Debbie Summers did some quick math and decided that a middle number $35 would end up raising $8.3 million a year. Thats one-seventh of what we would have gotten with the penny, Summers said. It would take seven years of this fee to get what we would have got in one year of the penny. The penny tax would have raised around $500 million over eight years, county officials estimated at the time. That proposal would have levied a 1% tax on various sales in the county, regardless of if the buyer had a registered vehicle or even lived in Lexington County. We tried to get a penny tax passed twice, and they didnt want it, Councilman Darrell Hudson said, referencing a similar proposal rejected by voters in 2014. And we told them we have to do something... We need to come up with a fee and some formulation for how its going to be spent. While most council members who spoke Tuesday were open to a fee, how the money raised would be spent was a point of contention. Councilman Todd Cullum said he wouldnt support a fee that would only be spent on county-maintained roads. Story continues 85% of my district is on the state road system. said Cullum, who represents the Cayce area. They wouldnt see any benefit from that at all. It sounds like a subsidization system to me. Hudson suggested that however the fee ends up being spent, it should be tiered based on the vehicle being registered in the county. A tractor-trailer would pay a larger fee than a motorcycle, Hudson said. A dump truck should have a larger fee than a pickup truck. Pulitzer-prize winning World War II novel All the Light We Cannot See is getting the silver screen treatment. And as beautiful a story as it is on paper, the trailer seems poised to be just as luminous. Anthony Doerrs historical novel centers on the closing days of World War II in a small coastal town in France. The trailer for the four-episode miniseries by Steven Knight and Shawn Levy brilliantly contrasts the idyllic locale with the destruction and chaos of war, without any of the characters uttering a single word. The decision to exclude any dialog in favor of simple piano music is clearly designed to leave audiences speechless. In the book, chapters alternate between the perspective of the Marie-Laure LeBlanc, played at different ages by Aria Mia Loberti and Nell Sutton, and Werner Pfennig (Louis Hofmann) in what makes for an unorthodox love story that unfolds between two unlikely characters brought together while apart. LeBlanc, who went blind at age six, lives with her father Daniel (Mark Ruffalo). They are being hunted by the Nazis because he has been assigned by the Natural History museum to protect a rare diamond from falling into German hands. As such, they flee to the seaside town of Saint-Malo to live with a reclusive uncle who broadcasts Resistance radio transmissions. Pfennig, a genius German orphan, built his own radio to listen to a French professor talk about science when he was young. He is drafted into the Army underage for his brilliance and is tasked with tracking illegal broadcasts for the Nazis in the same small town. Their paths eventually collide in the most unlikely of ways and show that, despite the most tragic of circumstances, there is always a light to be found in the dark. All the Light We Cannot See is set to air on Netflix Nov. 2, 2023. Lionel Richie is still feeling all the feels after completing his important role as father of the bride. On Monday, the Grammy winner dedicated a sweet post to his daughter, model Sofia Richie, who wed music executive Elliot Grainge in a lavish ceremony in the South of France over the weekend. My little girl is all grown up and starting her own journey with the love of her life, he wrote in an Instagram post. Youll always be my little bird, but Im so proud of the woman youve become. Endless Love to you and Elliot. During a red carpet interview with E! News posted on Tuesday, Richie revealed that he has known Grainge since he was 9 years old. I vetted the kid, I know who he is I know his people, Richie said with a laugh. He later added, If you wish for anything for your kid, you want someone to love your kid as much as I love my kid, and he loves my kid. The American Idol judge shared that he performed two songs at the wedding celebration, at the request of his daughter and now son-in-law. Sofia Richie also celebrated her and Grainges star-studded wedding in a series of Instagram posts after the festivities. Marry your best friend!!! she wrote in a post on Monday. The newlywed couple were first romantically linked in 2021. Grainge proposed to the model in April 2022. Sofia Richie posted photos on Instagram from the engagement at the time, writing, Forever isnt long enough. Related... This is a breaking news story. Check back to idahostatesman.com for updates. To sign up for breaking news alerts, click here. In the last four weeks, prosecutors have begun to explain why they say Lori Vallow Daybell a 49-year-old Rexburg mother killed her two children. Theyve presented cellphone records, had law enforcement testify about finding 7-year-old Joshua Jaxon JJ Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryans remains, and asked friends to explain the Daybells fringe religious beliefs that people could be possessed by dark spirits and need to be cast out. The Daybells, who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had a months-long affair before getting married, are being tried separately. Lori Daybells trial began early this month and could last another four weeks. They are charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of JJ and Tylee, along with three counts of conspiracy to commit murder. Vallow Daybell is accused of conspiring to kill Chad Daybells then-wife, Tammy Daybell. READ MORE: Lori Vallow Daybells case spans 3 states, 4 deaths. Here are all the key people involved. Chad Daybell who has a hearing scheduled for May 4 also faces a first-degree murder charge in Tammy Daybells death. And Vallow Daybell faces a felony charge for allegedly conspiring to kill her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, with her brother Alex Cox. Chad and Lori got married on a Hawaii beach two weeks after Tammy Daybells body was buried in a Utah cemetery, according to witnesses throughout the trial. Authorities said they believe Cox who died of natural causes also conspired to kill JJ, Tylee and Tammy Daybell, according to the indictment filed by prosecution teams from Madison and Fremont counties. The 18-person jury which will be whittled down to 12 deciding jurors is expected to continue hearing testimony from FBI Special Agent Steve Daniels about law enforcements search of Chad Daybells property. Story continues Check this story for live updates on Vallow Daybells trial. 3 p.m. Tylees remains had sharp trauma to the pelvic region FBI forensic anthropologist Angi Christensen who examined Tylees skeletal remains said there were five areas in Tylees pelvic region that had damage. Christensen began testifying Tuesday afternoon but spoke for only about 30 minutes before court was adjourned for the day. She will return to the Ada County Courthouse on Thursday morning. Christensen said that three bones Tylees hip bones and the bottom of the spine had sharp trauma from an unidentified tool. Christensen couldnt identify the tool but said it was something with a bevel or a point. There was also evidence that a carnivore had bitten Tylees femur bone, she said. Christensen said that typically when someone is dismembered, their remains are removed at the joints, but in Tylees case that isnt what happened. Instead, she said, all of these sharp traumas are in the pelvic region. 2:15 p.m. Defense cross-examines medical examiner One of Vallow Daybells defense attorneys, John Thomas, questioned Chief Forensic Pathologist Garth Warren Wednesday asking him to explain how he knew JJs manner of death. Warren said earlier in the day that JJ died by asphyxiation because of a plastic bag over his head and duct tape over his mouth. Thomas questioned whether the plastic could have been put over JJs head after he died, to which Warren responded that he guessed it could be possible. But Warren said he knows JJ died from asphyxiation because he found nothing else wrong with the boy during the autopsy. Warren said that he didnt take a swab of JJs nasals during the autopsy, which Thomas questioned and asked him why he didnt, citing his knowledge of crime movies and television. Thats scary, Warren quickly responded, referring to the fact that Thomas was asking medical questions based on television. Thomas then asked Warren how he was making his determination. My knowledge, Warren said. He was excused for the day around 2:30 p.m., but the defense could call him back as a witness later in the trial. 12 p.m. Medical examiner testifies about Tylees autopsy Tylees death was ruled a homicide by unspecified means, Warren said. The lack of autopsy findings and medical records, Warren said, meant he couldnt pinpoint exactly how Tylee died, but he said he believes she was killed. Tylees case was different, said Warren, who works for the Ada County Coroners Office. He said that he received seven bags with Tylees remains, two of which were black body bags. Warren said that there was no evidence that Tylee was burned alive. The 16-year-olds remains were found burned, melted, in pieces and located in two different places a fire pit and buried underground inside a melted green bucket. READ MORE: Medical examiner testifies about how Lori Vallow Daybells children died 11 a.m. Judge rules autopsy photos wont be public The prosecution asked to admit over 30 photos from JJs autopsy, but the defense objected. While its not the first time the court room has seen autopsy photos of JJs body, 7th District Judge Steven Boyce said the additional photos were very graphic. These are photos of what actually happened, the prosecution argued, asking for the photos to be admitted. After about a 15-minute sidebar, Boyce ruled that showing the photographs to the public would be inappropriate because of their graphic nature. He added that the photographs would have been sized up, since images were being presented on projectors in both the courtroom and overflow room. The jury panel, along with the attorneys, Boyce and Vallow Daybell are able to see the photographs on their individual monitors, but the public was unable to see them. 9:40 a.m. JJ died by asphyxiation, medical examiner says JJ died by asphyxiation because of a plastic bag over his head and duct tape over his mouth, Warren said during his testimony Wednesday. The children were found dead in shallow graves on the Salem, Idaho, property owned by Chad Daybell. Warren said he performed a four-hour autopsy on JJ on June 11, 2020 two days after the childrens bodies were found. JJ had a scratch on the left side of his neck, which Warren said was a red flag. He noted that while he couldnt say for certain what caused the scratch, he said he wondered whether JJ was trying to get the bag off his head. Warren also noted that JJs body was in a state of decomposition, and that he had bruising to his forearms from being bound with duct tape. Rexburg Police Det. Ray Hermosillo previously said that JJs body was found wrapped in a black trash bag and his hands and feet were bound with duct tape, according to his April 11 testimony. READ MORE: Lori Vallow Daybells 7-year-old son died by asphyxiation, medical examiner says 8:45 a.m. Such a big contrast in the way JJ and Tylee were buried, FBI agent says Daniels, who wrapped up his testimony Wednesday morning, said that law enforcement tried to dig around and below JJs grave site in an attempt to find Tylees remains because at that point they hadnt located Tylee. Both of the childrens bodies were found in June 2020 on Chad Daybells property. There was a big difference in the way that JJ and Tylee were buried, Daniels said. JJs body was found in a garbage bag and he had been bound with duct tape, while Tylees remains were found dismembered, burnt and in two locations, the pet cemetery and the fire pit. He said that law enforcement at first couldnt even tell that Tylees remains were human and added that there was such a big contrast in the way they were buried. Police said they believed that Tylee was killed first on Sept. 8- 9, and JJ was killed two weeks later on Sept. 22-23. About 150 seniors from Glencoe, Hokes Bluff and Southside high schools will be at the William H. Rhea III Judicial Building on Friday for a Law Day moot court program, according to a news release from Etowah County Presiding Circuit Judge George Day. The government students will fill three courtrooms in which mock criminal trials will be conducted before juries made up of students. The mock case in each, The State of Alabama vs. Buford Bodine, was created especially for the event. Day said the trial experience will be abbreviated to 90 minutes, but students will get a first-hand look at the legal process. It will begin with opening statements, followed by the presentation of testimony for the state and the defendant, closing statements, the charging of the jury by the court, jury deliberations and the announcement of a verdict. Law school students often participate in a simulated or moot court as a learning tool, but the experience also can be an educational presentation. However, Day said the goal is not only to educate students about court procedure, but also to pass on to them the respect that those in the justice system have for the rule of law. Day said this will be the first moot court at the judicial building since the COVID-19 pandemic. He recalled one several years ago in his courtroom involving government students from Gadsden City High School. Their reaction was memorable when deputies brought the defendant into the courtroom: Keith Blackwell, their principal at the time, who is now assistant superintendent of Gadsden City Schools. Etowah County Schools Superintendent Alan Cosby is coordinating student participation with the principals of those attending the program. Day and Circuit Judges Cody Robinson and Sonny Steen will preside over the moot court case in their respective courtrooms. District Attorney Jody Willoughby, Chief Deputy District Attorney Marcus Reid and Deputy District Attorneys Carol Griffith, Denise Welch and Brynn Crain will serve as prosecutors. The defense teams will be comprised of local attorneys: Morgan Cunningham and Kirkland Back; Vincent Pentecost and Davis Bailey; and Sam Bone and Chris Messer. Story continues Circuit Clerk Cassandra Johnson and her staff will participate in the seating of the juries, and the judges official court reporters will be joined by court reporting students from Gadsden State Community College in documenting the events. (GSCC paralegal students also will witness the proceedings.) Day said he hopes the program will become a tradition in Etowah County, and that government students from all local school systems and public and private high schools can take part. This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Moot court set for high school seniors St Edwards Crown St Edward's Crown, the coronation crown Of England on April 19, 1994. Credit - Tim GrahamGetty Images With preparations underway for King Charles IIIs May 6 coronation, the royal regalia, an ancient and priceless collection of jewel-encrusted swords and crowns stored safely and on display at the Tower of London, is being readied for use at the ceremony. That includes the hefty crown placed on the monarchs head at the moment of coronation. King Charles will wear the St. Edwards Crown for the first and only time in May, in line with royal traditions that reserve the crown exclusively for the occasion. It was originally made for the coronation of Charles II in 1661 and later worn by Queen Elizabeth II during her coronation in 1953; it has since been refitted for the new King. Below, what to know about the King and Queen Consort Camillas crown. Read More: Heres the Full Schedule for King Charles IIIs Coronationand What to Expect Which crown will King Charles wear? King Charles will wear the St. Edwards Crown, which was last used for crowning Elizabeth II in 1953. The crown is made of a solid gold frame that weighs nearly five pounds along with a purple velvet cap and an ermine band. It is also adorned with 444 gemstones, including rubies, sapphires, garnets, topazes, and tourmalines. The crown was commissioned in 1661 by the Royal Goldsmith, Robert Vyner, for the coronation of Charles II. It replaced a medieval crown that was first discovered in 1163 in the tomb of the 11th-century royal saint, King Edward the Confessor. The crown was later melted down by parliamentarians in 1649 following the execution of King Charles I. After the ceremony, King Charles will switch to the lighter Imperial State Crown for the procession back to the palace. This crown is made of gold and set with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 269 pearls, and four rubies. It also features some of the most famous jewels in the Royal collection, including the Black Princes Ruby, the Stuart Sapphire, and the Cullinan II diamond, the largest diamond ever mined. Originally made for the coronation of King George VI in 1937, the crown replaced Queen Victorias crown in 1838 and was also worn by the late Queen Elizabeth II during her coronation. Most recently, it was placed on the Queens coffin during her state funeral. Jewellery experts at U.K. retailer Steven Stone estimate the crowns value to be worth 2.5 million. Story continues Read more: Everything to Know About King Charles IIIs Coronation Which crown will the Queen Consort Camilla wear? Camilla will wear a modified version of Queen Marys Crown, which was originally made by Garrard for the 1911 coronation of King George V, the father of Queen Elizabeth II and grandfather of Charles, and commissioned by Queen Mary, the consort of King George V. This will be the first time a queen consort crown has been re-used since the 18th century, when Queen Caroline, consort of George II, wore Mary of Modenas crown. However, the crown will not feature the Koh-i-Noor diamond used in the late Queen Mothers crowning in 1937. The diamond, first seized by the East India Company in 1849 and presented to Queen Victoria, has long been the subject of a controversial spat between Britain and its former colony India. While the Indian government previously said the diamond was a gift from Maharaja Duleep Singhan 11-year-old emperor of the Sikhsthe childs mother had reportedly been imprisoned by the British and coerced into signing away rights to the jewel. After the passing of Queen Elizabeth, members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in India stated that using the crown jewel in Camillas coronation would bring back painful memories of the colonial past. Instead, Camillas crown will be reset with the Cullinan III, IV, and V diamonds, part of the late Queens personal jewellery collection and often worn by her as brooches. Camilla will also hold a scepter made of ivory, a controversial move after Britain imposed a near-total ban on dealing elephant ivory products and considering that Prince William, heir to the throne, has campaigned against the illegal trafficking of animal parts. What is the historical significance behind the Crown? Although the May 6 ceremony is reportedly more low-key than previous coronations, it will still feature ancient traditions and royal regalia used for centuries. Aside from the crowns worn by King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, the regalia also includes five symbolic swords, two scepters, and the Sovereigns Ring of sapphire with a ruby cross set in diamonds. Despite their repeated use and historical significance, royal experts have admitted that the purpose of some of the objects remains unclear. Most of them are no older than 350 years because much of the original medieval collection was destroyed in the mid-17th century on the orders of the political leader Oliver Cromwell. The destruction followed the English Civil War, which took place between the supporters of King Charlers I and those who supported the rights and privileges of parliament, and which led to the execution of Charles I in 1649. Read more: Why Theres No Crown on King Charles IIIs New Stamps Their replicas were later recreated by the royal goldsmith on the orders of Charles II in 1660-1 after the Stuart Restoration in 1660, when King Charles II returned from exile to the kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland. One rare survivor from the original collection that will feature in the coronation is the silver-gilt coronation spoon that dates from the 12 century. The oldest object in the regalia, the spoon was used to pour the chrism oil, consecrated at the Holy Sepulchre church in Jerusalem, before the anointing of the new King and Queen. What is the Crown emoji? To mark the weekend of coronation festivities and the first crowning to take place in the social media era, Buckingham Palace has also revealed the first official emoji created for the coronation. The colorful emoji features the motif of the 17th-century St. Edwards crown with the gold band and a purple cap. Along with the emoji, the palace began using the official Twitter hashtags #Coronation, #CoronationConcert, #CoronationWeekend and #CoronationBigLunch from April 10. Lookout's long-running transition to becoming an enterprise security company is all but complete, revealing today that it's selling its consumer mobile security business to Finland's F-Secure in a deal valued at around $223 million. Founded out of San Francisco in 2009, Lookout originally started as a consumer-focused smartphone security and data backup business, garnering millions of users and hundreds of millions in funding from esteemed investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Accel, Greylock, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Telekom and Jeff Bezos. Over the past 10 years, Lookout has gradually extended its reach into the business realm, notching up enterprise partnerships with technology giants such as Samsung along the way. A couple of years back, Lookout went most of the way toward cementing its B2B credentials when it snapped up cloud-native cybersecurity startup CipherCloud, a company focused on the growing secure access service edge (SASE) security segment. Fast-forward to today, and while Lookout still offers a suite of security products for the consumer market, including antivirus software for smartphones, it's clear that its trajectory in recent years has been heading much closer to the enterprise, which is why it's offloading pretty much all of the remnants of its consumer business to F-Secure -- a long-established European consumer cybersecurity company that sells everything from password management tools to antivirus applications. A 'pure-play enterprise company' Lookout says that with this transaction, which it expects to conclude within the next two months, its business will "now evolve into a pure-play enterprise company," focusing on cloud and mobile endpoint security. The company said that the proceeds from the sale will be be plowed back into its enterprise products, alongside the $150 million in debt-financing it secured from BlackRock last summer. "Our success in the highly competitive enterprise market has compelled us to focus our product and go-to-market efforts to gain advantage," Lookout CEO Jim Dolce noted in a press release. By doubling down on the enterprise market, well be better positioned to capitalize on its projected hypergrowth, fueled by an increase in remote and hybrid work, a shift to cloud-based delivery models and the transition to zero-trust architectures." Story continues For F-Secure, the deal gives it a stronger foothold in the U.S. market specifically, as well as bolstering its existing consumer software lineup with a suite of fairly similar products. "In line with F-Secure strategy, we are seeking growth both organically and through acquisitions," F-Secure CEO Timo Laaksonen said in a statement. "The acquisition of Lookout consumer business unit is a significant step in developing our business in the United States. With a complementary software product portfolio and strong competence in developing mobile products, Lookout consumer business unit is a perfect fit for F-Secure." *This article was updated with a deal valuation and additional comment from F-Secure. Jasmine Hartin Canadian socialite Jasmine Hartin has pleaded guilty to the accidental shooting death of a Belizean police chief two years ago. Hartin broke down in tears as she entered her plea at the Supreme Court in Belize City where she was due to go on trial for manslaughter by negligence on Wednesday. Her lawyers had requested a last-minute adjournment to consider pleading guilty over the death of Supt Henry Jemmott. The court will next sit for a sentencing hearing which is expected to take place on May 31. Superintendent Henry Jemmott belize Outside court, Hartin said: I just want Henry's family to have peace now and I want this whole thing to be behind all of us so we can heal. At Wednesday's hearing, prosecutors presented Judge Ricardo Sandcroft with a file of evidence that would have been unsealed had the trial gone ahead. The court heard that the precedent in the case of a guilty plea for the offence was a non-custodial sentence. jasmine hartin With tears streaming down her face, a shaking Hartins voice trembled as she stood in the small wooden dock to enter her last-minute plea in the packed courtroom. She was watched by the dead officers sisters and his daughter who have attended court proceedings since he was killed almost two years ago. The father of five was killed by a shot to the head while having a late-night drink with Hartin on a pier on the island of Ambergris Caye. The Belizean courthouse heard that the precedent in the case of a guilty plea for the offence was a non-custodial sentence including a fine. Hartin Judge Ricardo Sandcroft said he was unlikely to "veer away" from the existing precedent but had previously warned Hartin in an earlier hearing that he was "not bound" to it. She is due to return to the same court on May 31 for a sentencing hearing after the judge receives a socio-economic report which will be used to determine the amount of the fine. Hartin has two children with Andrew Ashcroft, the son of former Tory deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft. Editors note: This story contains graphic language about the deaths of children. Joshua Jaxon JJ Vallow a high-energy 7-year-old boy with a goofy smile died from asphyxiation because of a plastic bag over his head and duct tape over his mouth, Chief Forensic Pathologist Garth Warren said during his testimony Wednesday. Authorities said they believe Lori Vallow Daybell killed, encouraged or commanded someone else to kill her children, JJ and his 16-year-old sister, Tylee Ryan, according to the indictment. Tylees death was ruled a homicide by unspecified means, Warren said. The lack of autopsy findings and medical records, Warren said, meant he couldnt pinpoint exactly how Tylee died, but he said he believes she was killed. This is a homicide, Warren said. I just cant tell you why. The children were found dead in shallow graves on the Salem, Idaho, property owned by Chad Daybell, Vallow Daybells husband. The Daybells have been charged with the first-degree murders of the two children, along with three counts of conspiracy to commit murder. JJ had a scratch on the left side of his neck, which Warren said was a red flag. He noted that while he couldnt say for certain what caused the scratch, he said he wondered whether JJ was trying to get the bag off his head. Warren also noted that JJs body was in a state of decomposition, and that he had bruising to his forearms which happened before he was killed from being bound with duct tape. Rexburg Police Det. Ray Hermosillo, who was on the scene when the childrens bodies were found, said JJs body was found wrapped in a black trash bag and his hands and feet were bound with duct tape, according to his April 11 testimony. Layers of duct tape were also found across JJs face, according to autopsy photos presented in court. Both Warren and Hermosillo said a strip of duct tape covered JJs mouth from jawline to jawline. Once the duct tape was removed, a white garbage bag which had a red drawstring and is commonly used in a kitchen trashcan was left around JJs head. Story continues Hermosillo said in court that he was present during the autopsy. When the tape was removed, he said authorities were able to identify the little boy in red pajamas. It was easy to identify that little boy as the one we had been looking for, Hermosillo said. Tylees case was different: Medical examiner testifies Warren, later in the day, began to testify about performing Tylees autopsy. Tylees case was different, Warren said. He said that he received seven bags with Tylees remains, two of which were black body bags. Warren said that there was no evidence Tylee was burned alive. The 16-year-olds remains were found burned, melted, in pieces and located in two different places the fire pit and buried underground inside a melted green bucket. Tylees toxicology report would have shown high levels of carbon monoxide if she was burned alive, Warren said, but it didnt. He added that while he would have liked to have tested Tylees blood to get the toxicology results, he wasnt able to because law enforcement didnt find any blood. He instead used skeletal muscle, which he said isnt the best, but they were able to get an idea of the results. Warren said he also reviewed Tylees medical records as a part of his examination and said she dealt with ovarian cysts, pancreatitis and panic attacks. When asked by the prosecution whether anything in Tylees medical history would explain her death, Warren said no. Warren said Tylees skeletal remains were sent to a forensic anthropologist team with the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Several pieces of small unidentifiable charred bone and fragments of tissue were inside several of the bags. Warren said that since the bones, which came from the fire pit, were so small and burnt, he couldnt tell where they came from. WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT A forensic pathologist on Wednesday revealed the causes of death for "cult mom" Lori Vallow's 7-year-old son, J.J. Vallow, and 17-year-old daughter Tylee Ryan, according to local reports. Vallow is charged with killing her two children , J.J. and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, around September 2019, and her husband's first wife, Tammy Daybell, in October 2019. The 7-year-old boy, who had autism, died of asphyxia by a plastic bag over his head, and the 17-year-old girl died of homicide by unspecified means, Ada County coroner Dr. Garth Warren testified, according to East Idaho News reporter Nate Eaton. In June 2020, months after the children went missing in 2019, investigators found Tylee's remains dismembered and burned while J.J.'s body was wrapped in plastic and tied with duct tape. LORI VALLOW TRIAL: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT CULT MOM ACCUSED OF KILLING 2 KIDS, HUSBAND'S FIRST WIFE READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Kay and Larry Woodcock are eagerly awaiting access to J.J. Vallow's remains following the April trial so they can give him a proper service and burial. Warren "did not see any trauma to the internal organs or evidence of overt natural disease to any of" J.J.'s organs, he testified, as Eaton reported. J.J. did have an abrasion on his neck, bruising on his arm and a hemorrhage on his right thumbnail, Eaton reported, citing Warren's testimony. LORI VALLOW TRIAL: IDAHO INVESTIGATOR DETAILS GRUESOME FINDINGS AT BURAL SITE WHERE CHILDREN'S BODIES WERE FOUND "There were also other areas that were concerning or suspicious bruising on the ankles that may have been associated with the duct tape," Warren said. Meanwhile, the coroner received Tylee's burned remains in "three separate bags," making her autopsy "different" from the majority, he said. Lori and Chad Daybell are accused of killing 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, right, and 7-year-old J.J. Vallow, left, in 2019. Her "organs had severe decomposition, significant burning artifacts, they were charred and shrunken. Presumably the rest of hte organs burned away or were never found," Warren said. J.J. and Tylee went missing in September 2019 around the time investigators believe they were murdered on Chad Daybell's Idaho property. Story continues LORI VALLOW CASE: JJ VALLOW'S GRANDMOTHER DOESN'T RECOGNIZE SO-CALLED CULT MOM SMILING OUTSIDE COURT Authorities eventually found J.J. and Tylee's bodies buried on Daybell's property in rural Idaho in June 2020. Authorities arrested Vallow in February 2020 and Daybell in June 2020. The couple was indicted in late May 2021 on multiple counts each of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft by deception, and first-degree murder related to the deaths of Tylee, J.J. and Tammy Daybell, officials announced at the time. Arizona officials in June 2021 also indicted Vallow in the July 2019 murder of her ex-husband, Charles Vallow. Prosecutors revealed on April 10 that Tammy Daybell also died of asphyxiation. 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. There is huge interest in the cases string of mysterious deaths and murders, and the related bizarre cult beliefs of those involved. Ms Vallow allegedly also conspired to murder her fourth husband Charles Vallow and is charged separately in a case in Arizona. Today, jurors heard details of JJs autopsy and a cause of death was finally revealed he had been suffocated with a plastic bag and duct tape. Earlier, a recording of a devastating call between Ms Vallow and her sister was found to appear to include an admission she knew of the timing of her childrens deaths. Key points 18:17 , Oliver O'Connell Both the prosecution and defence are turning their monitors around and moving their seats to ensure no one in the public gallery can see the pictures as they are published. The jury has screens immediately in front of them and so this is not an issue for them. 18:09 , Oliver O'Connell Judge Boyce reenters court and says the autopsy photos will only be published to the jury monitors and will not be displayed to the public gallery or media on the main screen of the courtroom. Story continues 17:56 , Oliver O'Connell There is a sidebar out of the courtroom with Judge Boyce after the defence asks for the photos to be shown in black and white and not colour. The prosecution objects saying that they should not be altered in any way. 17:50 , Oliver O'Connell The defence objects to showing the photos to the jury, saying they may be considered prejudicial and not productive. The state counters they are true and accurate representations of what actually happened to JJ. Judge Boyce overrules the objection. The autopsy photos are being admitted into evidence. Court resumes after morning break 17:48 , Oliver O'Connell Court is back in session and the prosecution is looking to admit photographs of the autopsy of JJ into evidence. The defense is now privately viewing the photos before they can be admitted. Lori is not looking at them and is looking the opposite direction. Alex Caprariello (@alcaprari23) April 26, 2023 17:16 , Oliver O'Connell Judge Boyce calls the mid-morning break. 17:16 , Oliver O'Connell The toxicology report shows low levels of ethanol (alcohol), a drug called GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid commonly known as a date rape drug), caffeine, and theobromine which can be found in cocoa and tea. Woods asks about the amount of GHB found in JJ. Dr Warren says, inconclusive. GHB can be found in tissues including livers postmortem and theres really no way for me to tell for sure whether this is just a naturally occurring product in the body that was there or if JJ was given GHB. I cant say one way or another based on the levels. "there's really no way for me to tell for sure whether this is just a naturally occurring product in the body that was there or if JJ was given GHB. I can't say one way or another based on the levels." Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 26, 2023 17:07 , Oliver O'Connell WARNING: Graphic description The clothes, bags, and duct tape were submitted to law enforcement with cuttings from JJs fingernails, samples for DNA, and swabs to determine if a sexual crime had been committed. Injuries noted included a scratch and abrasion to the neck. Dr Warren notes that injuries to the neck are a red flag in autopsies and in this case it could have been JJ trying to get the bag off his head. There was symmetrical bruising to his upper arms, and Dr Warren notes: There were also other areas that were concerning or suspicious, bruising on the ankles that may have been associated with the duct tape. An internal exam showed no sign of disease on any of his organs. No blood or urine could be collected due to decomposition. There was no sign of rib fractures and nothing unusual in the lungs. A full body x-ray showed no fractures or similar abnormalities. 17:01 , Oliver O'Connell WARNING: Graphic description Dr Warren says the cause of death for JJ Vallow was asphyxia by the application of a plastic bag over his head and duct tape over his mouth. He had been bound with duct tape and there was bruising to his arms and abrasions to his neck. JJs body was enclosed within a black plastic tarp held together with duct tape. There was a white plastic bag over his head and it was wrapped around the face multiple times with tape down to the neck. His forearms, hands, and ankles were also bound with duct tape. He was wearing red pajamas and black socks. Decomposition had begun as evidenced by the presence of fluid and mould. 16:56 , Oliver O'Connell Dr Warren explains the process of performing an autopsy from unsealing the body bag and noting how the body is presented (clothes, evidence of medical intervention etc) through removing clothes and examining the corpse from head to toe, describing every feature and determining if there is any initial signs of a cause of death. He then performs an internal exam of organs, blood, and other bodily fluids. 16:49 , Oliver O'Connell Dr Warren investigates homicides, suicides, and accidents. There is an entire team that investigates these deaths. Their job is to determine why people die. The Ada County Coroners Office also covers neighbouring Madison and Fremont Counties and conducts autopsies for deaths there. Dr Warren estimates he performs between 200-250 autopsies a year and in his time in Idaho a total of between 1,200 and 1,500 cases. The Ada County Coroners's Office has a contract with Madison and Fremont Counties to conduct autopsies. Warren performs 200-250 autopsies a year. He believes he's conducted 1,200-1,500 cases in Idaho. Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 26, 2023 New witness: Dr Garth Warren, forensic pathologist 16:43 , Oliver O'Connell The next witness for the prosecution is Ada County forensic pathologist Dr Garth Warren. While it may be impossible to ever know the cause of death for Tylee due to the state of her remains, it is possible that an official cause of death for JJ may be revealed Alright, we have yet to hear the cause of death for the children. I don't know if they could determine the cause of death for Tylee, but possibly JJ. Garth Warren is a medical examiner and he is on the stand now. We may get some answers here. Alexandra Duggan (Alex) (@dugganreports) April 26, 2023 16:39 , Oliver O'Connell Defence attorney John Thomas is now cross-examining Agent Daniels. He again begins by asking about the witnesss experience. Mr Daniels says that in his 13 years of experience, he has been to five to seven burials in Utah, Idaho, and Montana. Asked whether he would consider this case one or two burials, he replies two due to the contrast he just described. When asked about his experience within Idaho, Mr Daniels believes he has processed another burial scene on the Fort Hall Reservation, but adds he probably shouldnt talk about specific cases. Thomas says it goes to his credibility. Mr Daniels says he has worked on other cases in Missoula and other cases involving human remains in a firepit. Questioning turns to the logistics of the grid and the sifting process at the burial sites. Mr Daniels cannot recall if certain areas outside of the firepit were sifted with it or not. Thomas asks why he doesnt know after having three years to prepare. Agent Daniels says he hasnt spoken about this specifically recently. No further questions. Agent Daniels is dismissed but not released from subpoena in case they need him to testify again later. 16:31 , Oliver O'Connell WARNING: Graphic description Prosecution attorney Woods asks Mr Daniels to contrast the sites of Tylee and JJs burials. He says there was a big difference between JJ and Tylee's burial. JJs remains were all in tact, wrapped in plastic bags, and very coordinated with rocks and wooden planks. Tylees burial site was a mass of organic material that fell apart when the team went to uncover it. Such a big contrast for us as a team going from JJs how precise everything was placed. Versus Tylees melted, charred, mass... how that was placed in that burial. No further questions from the prosecution. 16:15 , Oliver O'Connell All of the photos shown in court are submitted as evidence for the jury to consider later during their deliberations. There is an objection from the defence that admitting another batch of photos of the graves and excavation is cumulative, but Judge Boyce overrules the objection saying he believes it would assist the jury. The photos are entered into evidence. 16:07 , Oliver O'Connell Despite the discovery of Tylees body being discussed first in Agent Danielss testimony, her remains were found second. Once we found JJs remains, we knew Tylee was around here somewhere. Was Tylee buried underneath JJ? We had to be very careful, he says. 16:05 , Oliver O'Connell WARNING: Graphic description The careful excavation of the site continues with shovels, rakes, and metal trowels. Closer to the body, wooden and clay tools are used to not cause any further damage. Another photo is shown of the wider excavation sire. The small body is wrapped in black plastic and bound with duct tape. The white plastic bag is over the head. A photo of the completed excavation is shown to the court showing the entire body bag. Once the body is removed, an empty grave is shown with moisture at the base, showing the decomposition process had begun. JJ was killed on 23 September 2019 and the excavation took place on 9 June 2020. 15:59 , Oliver O'Connell Mr Daniels says he removed some of the soil by hand revealing black plastic. I made an oval shape in the ground and it has the feel of a human skull. Thats what I presume it is, he says. Its tight to whatever is inside. I had to pull that black plastic bag off and make a razor blade cut to the bag. Within the black plastic is white plastic. Upon cutting that open, he finds human hair. Thats the point we decide these are human remains. This becomes burial site number one and it is JJs burial site, Agent Daniels says. Photos of the excavation are shown to the court showing the hair visible through the cut in the white plastic. Lori does not look up once. 15:52 , Oliver O'Connell Mr Daniels describes a raised berm with shorter grass and vegetation on it when compared to the surrounding area. Upon removing the top layer of soil at least four large rocks were found. This was a good indication that this was a burial due to the precise manner the rocks were placed, Agent Daniels says. Once the rocks were removed there was wood paneling underneath, as was described in earlier testimony. Mr Daniels says that out of all of the burials he has uncovered, this was the most precise. Ive probably excavated approximately five to seven burials. Out of all of those burials, this is the most precise somebodys taken the most effort to bury these remains, he says. The stones and panels are there to stop wildlife from digging up the remains, he explains. The raised berm would eventually sink as the body decomposes, leveling out the land. 15:48 , Oliver O'Connell Judge Boyce is on the bench and the jurors are brought into the courtroom. Madison County prosecuting attorney Rob Wood resumes questioning Agent Daniels. The court is once again shown the overhead view of Chad Daybells property where the bodies of Tylee and JJ were discovered. Mr Daniels is discussing the first burial site, where JJs bound corpse was found wrapped in plastic near a tree. (AP) 15:37 , Oliver O'Connell Both the prosecution and defence attorneys are meeting with Judge Boyce in his chambers. Lori Vallow is sitting alone at the defence table and Agent Daniels has taken the stand. The jury has not yet been brought in. Court to resume shortly 15:21 , Oliver O'Connell FBI Special Agent Steve Daniels will resume his testimony when court gets underway at 830am MT. Yesterday, Agent Daniels gave graphic testimony of the search for and unearthing of Tylees remains at Chad Daybells property. He began to talk about where JJs body was found when Judge Steven Boyce adjourned court for the day. Yesterday: Lori Vallow trial hears devastating call with sister saying she treated childrens bodies like garbage 15:10 , Oliver O'Connell The trial of doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow has been played a devastating jailhouse call in which her sister accused her of throwing her murdered children away like garbage. An Idaho court heard Summer Shiflet sobbing uncontrollably in audio of a video call she made with her sister as she sat behind bars on 24 June 2020. In the call, Ms Shiflet told her sister that Tylee and JJs bodies had been found in Ms Vallows backyard, with Tylees being discovered in a pet cemetery. Did you know they were there? Ms Shiflet asked her sister, to which she replied, I cant talk about it. Read the story here: Vallow trial hears devastating call with sister after discovery of childrens bodies What we know about the doomsday cult: 14:00 , Rachel Sharp At the centre of the string of alleged murders and mystery deaths stands the couples bizarre doomsday cult. Chad Daybell ran a publishing company that put out books about apocalyptic scenarios loosely based on the theology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Lori Vallow followed his books for some time, before the pair finally met in person at a religious conference in Utah in October 2018. At this point, investigators say their relationship became romantic. And as their relationship grew more intense, so too did their apocalyptic beliefs. Charles Vallow claimed in divorce documents that Ms Vallow believed she was a god-like figure chosen to carry out the work of 144,000 believers. Multiple friends cited in police reports say that the couple believed they could drive out evil spirits and seek revelations from beyond the spiritual veil. Ms Vallow even believed she could teleport between Arizona and Hawaii, according to documents. But most chillingly the couple allegedly believed that people, including JJ and Tylee, had become zombies. They allegedly had a scoring system for ranking how far peoples souls had gone from good to evil. The only way to then rid an individual of the zombies would be for them to die, according to documents. Prosecutors believe that Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell used these beliefs to further their plots to kill JJ, Tylee and Tammy. Cult moms chilling internet searches and trove of burner phones revealed 13:30 , Oliver O'Connell Chilling internet searches have revealed that doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow shopped for life insurance policies for her children two months before they were murdered and buried on her new lover Chad Daybells property. FBI analyst Nicole Heideman took the stand at Ms Vallows murder trial in Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on Monday to testify about the shocking discoveries on the 49-year-olds cellphones, email addresses and online search history. Rachel Sharp reports. Cult mom Lori Vallows chilling internet searches revealed Who was Alex Cox? 13:00 , Rachel Sharp Alex Cox was Ms Vallows brother who mysteriously died in December 2019. Cox is also Ms Vallow and Mr Daybells alleged accomplice and co-conspirator in the murders of Tylee, JJ andTammy. He also shot dead Ms Vallows fourth husband Charles Vallow in July 2019. Alex Cox died suddenly in December 2019 two months after allegedly conspiring to murder the children In December 2019 just as Tammys body was being exhumed by authorities Cox died suddenly aged 51. His death has been ruled natural causes, with indications of a blood clot wedged in the arteries of his lungs. However, the overdose drug Narcan was also found in his system. Alex Cox (File) ICYMI: Lori Vallow confronted by best friend in secret recording 12:30 , Oliver O'Connell A phone call between cult mom Lori Vallow and her former best friend was played in court during her ongoing trial for the murders of two of her children. Two weeks ago, prosecutors played a phone conversation between Mr Daybell, Ms Vallow and her then-best friend Melanie Gibb, who was on the stand testifying for the state. Andrea Blanco reports on what was said. Lori Vallow confronted by best friend about JJ lies in secret recording Lori Vallow trial hears devastating call with sister saying she treated childrens bodies like garbage 12:00 , Rachel Sharp The trial of doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow has been played a devastating jailhouse call in which her sister accused her of throwing her murdered children away like garbage. An Idaho court heard Summer Shiflet sobbing uncontrollably in audio of a video call she made with her sister as she sat behind bars on 24 June 2020. In the call, Ms Shiflet told her sister that Tylee and JJs bodies had been found in Ms Vallows backyard, with Tylees being discovered in a pet cemetery. Did you know they were there? Ms Shiflet asked her sister, to which she replied, I cant talk about it. Read the story here: Vallow trial hears devastating call with sister after discovery of childrens bodies Lori Vallows chilling response to question about missing daughter 11:30 , Oliver O'Connell A former friend of Lori Vallow has revealed the cult moms chilling response after being confronted about her missing teen daughter. Andrea Blanco reports. Lori Vallows chilling response to question about missing Tylee revealed LISTEN: Detective testimony in full 11:10 , Rachel Sharp Lori Vallows uncle chokes up with emotion outside court 10:38 , Rachel Sharp Lori Vallows uncle choked up with emotion outside Ada County Courthouse this week as he said the past four years had been very difficult for the families. Rex Conner told East Idaho News that he was overwhelmed with the support for his family from around the world as they seek to get justice for JJ and Tylee. Whats hit me more than anything is an overwhelming feeling of gratitude to see how many people are involved in trying to get justice for Tylee and JJ and Tammy and Charles, he said. I know a lot of people its their job but so many people are going above and beyond just the 9-5 aspect of it so its very gratifying. You ripped my heart out, surviving son tells Lori Vallow 09:30 , Oliver O'Connell On day six of testimony in the trial of cult mom Lori Vallow, the jury heard a recording of a phone call between the defendant and her eldest son from the early months of her incarceration. Colby Ryan, Ms Vallows son from her second marriage, was called a witness for the prosecution. He is her only surviving child following the murders of daughter Tylee, 16, and adopted son JJ, 7, in September 2019. In the emotional call between mother and son, Ms Vallow refused to switch on her camera, while Mr Ryan demanded to know whether Jesus had really told her to murder his siblings. Read more... Lori Vallow trial hears gut-wrenching prison call with surviving son Colby Ryan Lori Vallows cousin reveals haunting fear about Tylee and JJs murders 07:30 , Oliver O'Connell Lori Vallows estranged cousin has revealed one of her most haunting fears about the murders for which the so-called cult mom is currently on trial. Megan Eyden, whose father is Ms Vallows uncle, spoke out about the bombshell case in an interview with NewsNations Ashleigh Banfield aired Friday night. Megan Sheets reports. Lori Vallows cousin reveals haunting fear about childrens murders Who are the key players in the Lori Vallow trial? 05:30 , Oliver O'Connell Its a sprawling case spanning Idaho, Arizona, and Hawaii. Heres a whos who of the key players. Who are the key players in Lori Vallows trial? Bizarre moments from Lori Vallows murder trial 03:30 , Oliver O'Connell As with many trials, beyond the testimony, there have also been some bizarre happenings taking place inside the courtroom, Rachel Sharp reports. Bizarre moments from Lori Vallows murder trial Lori Vallow trial hears devastating call with sister saying she treated childrens bodies like garbage 02:34 , Graeme Massie You threw Tylee in a pet cemetery like a piece of garbage, sister Summer Shiflet told murder accused. Vallow trial hears devastating call with sister after discovery of childrens bodies Court hears of Vallows chilling internet searches and trove of burner phones 01:30 , Oliver O'Connell Chilling internet searches have revealed that doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow shopped for life insurance policies for her children two months before they were murdered and buried on her new lover Chad Daybells property. Rachel Sharp has the details. Cult mom Lori Vallows chilling internet searches revealed Key revelations from Lori Vallows murder trial so far Tuesday 25 April 2023 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell Rachel Sharp has compiled this list of some of the key revelations to date in the trial... Cult beliefs and charred remains: Key revelations from Lori Vallows murder trial Court adjourns for the day Tuesday 25 April 2023 22:29 , Oliver O'Connell Judge Boyce says testimony will conclude for the day and Agent Daniels will return to the stand tomorrow morning. The trial will resume at 830am MT on Wednesday. Tuesday 25 April 2023 22:27 , Oliver O'Connell Agent Daniels now talks about JJs burial site. He observed a raised berm near a pond with shorter grass than the surrounding area. Police went layer by layer to remove the earth from the site. More photos are shown including one of three big rocks that were found under the upper layers of soil. This is screaming to me as a team leader that something is odd. Something shouldnt be here, Agent Daniels says. Tuesday 25 April 2023 22:23 , Oliver O'Connell A search of the barn was then conducted as with a burial, tools are obviously necessary. They found four shovels and a pick axe, as well as a green bucket and two white buckets. The shovels were dirty and could have been used in and around a fire. They were turned over to Rexburg PD. The pick axe had material on the blade portion. Photos of the tools are shown to the court. Other equipment of note included pruning shears, a saw, and an axe. More tools were found in the garage (a shovel, two axes, a hoe, and a posthole digger) and some of those were also seized, as were bricks similar in size to those found with Tylee. Tuesday 25 April 2023 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell After all the remains had been collected the backhoe dug deeper and wider into the site to ensure nothing had been missed. For context, the bucket had been found approximately two feet down. This was especially important on JJs burial. His was the first burial we found and we wanted to make sure Tylees remains werent in the same area. Tuesday 25 April 2023 22:11 , Oliver O'Connell WARNING: Graphic description The search continued on 10 June, with a sifting operation set up to try and find more possible remains in the ground. Eventually, they hit what they realise is a mass of a human - dismembered, melted, underneath which were a green bucket and a partial skull. It took a while for us as investigators to figure out what happened here what is this, Agent Daniels says. After having documented the scene they tried to lift the remains out and they just fell apart. The anthropologist and coroner conducted an inventory of which body parts they had. Agent Daniels says an assessment had to be made: How many pieces are we still looking for or do we think we have everything we need to take? More close-up photos are shown as evidence. Agent Daniels says it was unclear if it was one person or two, so the inventory was especially important. Tuesday 25 April 2023 21:59 , Oliver O'Connell WARNING: Graphic description As the digging continued a hard substance like concrete was uncovered in the dirt and the backhoe was used to remove it. Beneath that, they discovered charred and pink flesh. An anthropologist on site identified the remains as human. They removed the piece and laid them out on a blue tarp. Photos are being shown to the court. Lori has reportedly not looked up once. Another photo shows more pieces of remains. You can see the bigger bones sticking out of the ground, Agent Daniels says and describes her remains as melted together in the ground. The remains were placed in a body bag, given to the coroner, and removed from the scene. The remains were placed in a body bag, given to the coroner and removed from the scene. We now see a photo of what the burial site looked like after the remains were out of the ground. Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 25, 2023 Court resumes following afternoon break Tuesday 25 April 2023 21:54 , Oliver O'Connell WARNING: Graphic description As the excavation of the site where Tylee was discovered continued a backhoe was brought in. They had initially found dog and cat remains using hand tools, but the backhoe allowed them to cover more area. A photo is shown of a piece of what is described by those in court as a pice of vertebrae that was uncovered. A second bone was also found. With the size of the bone being found... I could also smell an odor I could associate with human remains decomposing so between this bone being found and a second bone being found the decision was then made not to use the tractor anymore, Agent Daniels says. The odor got stronger the more they dug and some bricks were also uncovered before more bones were found and they knew they had discovered a grave. It was unclear what the bones were but they were much bigger than those previously discovered. Tuesday 25 April 2023 21:38 , Oliver O'Connell In this aerial photo, investigators search for human remains at Chad Daybells property in June 2020 (Post Register no sales no mags) Tuesday 25 April 2023 21:19 , Oliver O'Connell Judge Boyce calls for the afternoon recess. The trial will resume in 15-20 minutes. Tuesday 25 April 2023 21:16 , Oliver O'Connell As ash and earth is removed from the fire pit it is sifted for evidence such as bone fragments, organic material, jewelry, etc. They found a necklace chain as well as cloth and fabric in the firepit. As the scene was processed, the smell became overpowering. A soil sample was taken. A charm was also found in the grass near the firepit, not in the pit itself. Closeup view of the charm found. Similar to this one #LoriVallow @LawCrimeNetwork pic.twitter.com/I8mM17udtl Pretty Lies & Alibis (@PrettyLiesAlibi) April 25, 2023 Tuesday 25 April 2023 21:06 , Oliver O'Connell A series of maps, photographs and overhead images of the property are entered into evidence. Agent Daniels points out the fire pit, burial sites of the children, and other key points. A photo from Chads bedroom window shows that you can see JJs burial site from there as well as from the kitchen window. Photos taken at the firepit show there are disturbances in the earth before any search was undertaken. Det Daniels says that when he noticed there were impression in the ground at the pet cemetery, he told his team to start processing the area. Tuesday 25 April 2023 20:49 , Oliver O'Connell The ERT was asked to help come up with a search strategy to execute a search warrant on 9-10 June 2020 at the Daybell property. They were looking for human remains and other evidence of crime. They had prepared for about a weeks work and there were eight team members present who were all given a role. After an initial walkthrough, areas of priority were established for the search the firepit, the pet cemetery, the pond, and various sheds and outbuildings. Agent Daniels says they wanted to look at the whole 3-4 acres. Among the technology used was a drone. Some 500-700 photos were also taken during the serving of the search warrant. New witness: Steve Daniels, FBI Tuesday 25 April 2023 20:37 , Oliver O'Connell The next witness is Steve Daniels, a special agent with the FBI with 25 years of experience. He is the senior leader of the evidence response team (ERT). Tuesday 25 April 2023 20:35 , Oliver O'Connell Defence attorney John Thomas begins cross-examination of Det Schmitt by asking about the storage unit surveillance videos. He says he reviewed them most recently one month ago. Asking about the sport club, Thomas asks how people sign into the club, and Det Schmitt says it is done on an honour system with nobody monitoring it. Thomas asks whether it is an assumption that C Quint is Alex Cox (its also the name on his vehicle registration), he confirms it is. There was no follow-up investigation to ask if anyone saw Alex there. Det Schmitt confirms he was in the firepit area when the teeth, bone, and flesh were found. No further questions. Tuesday 25 April 2023 20:32 , Oliver O'Connell After Chad was arrested, he was transferred to the Fremont County Jail. He was released. Det Schmitt returned to the Daybell property where he was assigned to help search the fireput and pet cemetery. He found teeth and burned pieces of flesh and bone. Some of the dirt was pretty hard and it appeared as if concrete or cement had been put in the ground. A backhoe was called in and eventually, officers found a melted green bucket that contained Tylee's remains. Tuesday 25 April 2023 20:29 , Oliver O'Connell On 9 June 2020, as police searched Chad Daybells property, Det Schmitt was assigned the task of keeping an eye on Chad in case he decided to try to leave the property. At one point in time when the search dogs were on the scene, Chad got out of his vehicle that was parked in the driveway in front of his house. They were searching the area where JJs remains were found and Chad was facing toward that direction. Lt Ron Ball and Det Ray Hermosillo then came over to talk with Chad. They were searching the area where JJ's remains were found and Chad was facing toward that direction." Lt. Ron Ball and Det. Ray Hermosillo then came over to talk with Chad. "At some point in time, Chad went back into his house. Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 25, 2023 Det Schmitt recalls: At some point in time, Chad went back into his house. He came out with a backpack and got into his vehicle. He sat there in his vehicle and then drove across the street to his daughters house. After some time, Chad came out of Emmas house, got in his vehicle and started going south on 1900 East in Fremont County. Chad was stopped and arrested. Chad was eventually stopped and arrested. Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 25, 2023 Tuesday 25 April 2023 20:26 , Oliver O'Connell In January 2020, Det Schmitt visited the Unified Sportsman Club - a firing range. Alex had signed in there under different names including his own and C Quint, as well as just Alex. He used the name C Quint multiple times over the month of October 2019. He also signed in on 3 September but there is no paper record of that. Court resumes after lunch Tuesday 25 April 2023 20:13 , Oliver O'Connell Lunch is over and Judge Boyce is back on the bench. The jury is brought in and prosecutor Rachel Smith resumes questioning of Det Rick Schmitt, formerly of Rexburg PD, about the self-storage facility visited on multiple occasions by Lori, Chad and Alex. He says on one occasion Alex took a long rifle case and a bunch of totes to the facility. On 22 October he took out a gun storage case and tote, and on 28 October he took four gun cases. Chad was with him on that visit. On Oct. 22, 2019, Schmitt says Alex took a gun storage case and a tote out of the storage unit and put it in his pickup truck. On Oct. 28, 2019, he took four gun storage cases and put them in his pickup truck. Chad was with Alex on this visit. Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 25, 2023 Lori Vallows chilling internet search history Tuesday 25 April 2023 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell Chilling internet searches have revealed that doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow shopped for life insurance policies for her children two months before they were murdered and buried on her new lover Chad Daybells property. FBI analyst Nicole Heideman took the stand at Ms Vallows murder trial in Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on Monday to testify about the shocking discoveries on the 49-year-olds cellphones, email addresses and online search history. Rachel Sharp reports. Cult mom Lori Vallows chilling internet searches revealed Timeline of the Lori Vallow case Tuesday 25 April 2023 19:25 , Oliver O'Connell Confused by the twists and turns of the case? Heres a timeline of what happened and when: Timeline of the Lori Vallow Daybell case Tuesday 25 April 2023 19:12 , Oliver O'Connell Court breaks for lunch. The trial will resume at 1pm MT. Tuesday 25 April 2023 19:10 , Oliver O'Connell Alex was not seen in the video but the following day was when he and Lori came back to pick up the back seat and spare tire. On 2 October, Brandon Boudreaux, the ex-husband of Loris niece Melanie Pawlowski, is shot at in a drive-by shooting in Arizona but escapes unscathed. The assailant is driving a grey Jeep Wrangler with the back tire removed. Tuesday 25 April 2023 19:07 , Oliver O'Connell On 2 February 2020, Det Schmitt joined Det Kunsaitis, who testified earlier in the trial, and went to the self-storage facility which Chad, Lori, and Alex had visited many times. Video surveillance showed the three visiting at different times to pick up things from the unit. In footage from the beginning of October, he saw Lori putting a box and tote inside the unit. On On 2 October, he saw Lori and Chad going into the unit bringing in the Jeep spare tire and backseat from the Wrangler. Beginning of October he saw Lori putting a box and tote inside the unit. On 10/2 he saw Lori and Chad going into the unit bringing in the Jeep spare tire and backseat from the Wrangler. #lorivallow@LawCrimeNetwork Pretty Lies & Alibis (@PrettyLiesAlibi) April 25, 2023 Tuesday 25 April 2023 19:04 , Oliver O'Connell On 8 January 2020, he received video footage from the Fremont County Sheriffs Office that showed the entrance of Yellowstone National Park on 8 September 2019. I was looking for a blue Nissan Rogue, a Silver Ford pickup or a gray Jeep Wrangler. He saw a vehicle that looked like the pickup truck. Further video showed Alex, Lori and the children at the park on that day. Los Angeles teachers have much to cheer about. Less than a month after the districts school support workers received a contract with 30% salary increases, United Teachers Los Angeles came away with a mammoth deal of its own. On April 13, the district made what it called a historic offer of 19% in pay hikes over three years. The union promptly rejected it as inadequate but five days later accepted what it called a groundbreaking agreement with increases of 21%. By January 2025, it will bring the average Los Angeles teacher salary to an estimated $106,000 a year. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The post-deal reactions from the district and the union were a contrast in styles. Proud of what we can do with our labor partners when we negotiate in good faith and come to an agreement that serves our hardworking employees as well as our students and families, tweeted Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. Proud of what we can do with our labor partners when we negotiate in good faith and come to an agreement that serves our hardworking employees as well as our students and families. Onward. https://t.co/QuwRqRr4If Alberto M. Carvalho (@LAUSDSup) April 15, 2023 While Carvalho and the district spent the past year ignoring and undermining educators, students and parents, UTLA members fought for a fair contract that meets the urgent needs of today and builds a strong foundation for public schools, read the union statement. Carvalho is sanguine about the districts ability to bankroll these deals. The state has provided two back-to-back, very solid budget years with a cost-of-living adjustment that allowed us to compose these offers, he said. Nevertheless, he made a trip to Sacramento earlier this month to lobby for more school funding. Story continues It has been widely reported that the district has $5 billion in reserves, which, for a total budget of $14.2 billion, is excessive. Less widely reported is that half of the reserve is already committed or is one-time federal COVID relief money. The district has yet to release data on the total cost of the new contracts. Los Angeles also has 35,000 fewer students than it did two years ago, and the district forecasts the loss of another 121,000 by 2030. Since state funding is based on enrollment, that is going to make it difficult to sustain the districts spending levels. Carvalho may think he bought himself at least a year of labor peace, as the support employees contract expires in June 2024 and the teachers contract in June 2025. But the unions dont seem eager to beat their swords into plowshares. Related Settling L.A. Strike Causes Future Problems While Trying to Solve Past Ones We still have a long way to go, said SEIU Local 99 steward Jennifer Torres. This is the foundation. We have maximum power right now, and its going to keep evolving from this point on even further, said teachers union Secretary Arlene Inouye. So did Carvalho get schooled by the unions, as Politico believes, or to further the metaphor is he planning to graduate? Carvalho is flashy and at ease in front of the camera. He has often been rumored as a candidate for higher office, and if he has any aspirations in California, he must at least hold the public employees unions at bay. It wouldnt surprise me at all if Carvalho is somewhere else when the districts bills come due. The implications for Los Angeles are only part of the picture, since other teachers unions may now see the last few months as a model to follow. The Oakland Education Association is currently holding a strike vote, which would be an unfair labor practices walkout similar to the one that shuttered Los Angeles schools for three days last month. The state labor board has still yet to determine whether that strike was legal, and a faction with the Oakland union is planning a wildcat strike if the authorization vote fails. Intentionally or not, Carvalho and the Los Angeles school board have reset the market for public school employees. But if the enrollment figures are any indication, parents will continue to take their business elsewhere. Mike Antonuccis Union Report appears most Wednesdays; see the full archive. Chief Justice John Roberts snub of Dick Durbin on Tuesday was accompanied by a less-noted rarity: a declaration signed by all nine justices on their ethics practices. The Statement on Ethics Principles and Practices seemed designed to quell rising calls for ethics reform at the high court. But it didnt break much new ground, and it stopped well short of adopting an enforceable code of conduct that critics have been clamoring for. Instead, the unusual statement the first of its kind in three decades showed a court that is often ideologically fractured banding together to present a united front in the wake of recent controversies surrounding some of its members. The justices message is the same as it largely has been in the past: Trust us. Theres nothing new in this statement. The statement is a lot of handwaving, said Kathleen Clark, a law professor and expert on legal ethics at Washington University in St. Louis. The problem is not with foundational ethics principles. The problem is theres no accountability for violating the law. And theres nothing in this statement that suggests the court even understands what the problem is. The statement, consisting of three pages of text and two pages of citations, was attached to a short letter that Roberts sent to Durbin declining to appear at a Senate Judiciary hearing on Supreme Court ethics. This statement aims to provide new clarity to the bar and to the public on how the Justices address certain recurring issues, and also seeks to dispel some common misconceptions, the justices pronouncement says. It largely echoes previous commitments the justices have made about financial disclosures and recusal practices, and it says the justices consult various non-binding sources when faced with ethical issues. The push for ethics reform at the Supreme Court is intensifying after recent revelations about Justice Clarence Thomas relationship with a Republican megadonor and Justice Neil Gorsuchs sale of a property to the head of a law firm with business before the court. Story continues Sens. Angus King (I-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced a bill Wednesday that would require the high court to adopt a code of conduct within a year. Its a bipartisan boost for a court-reform movement that has largely been led by Democrats though like prior efforts to enact a Supreme Court code of conduct, the bill has little chance of passage. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), a longtime critic of the courts ethics practices, derided the courts latest attempt to assure Congress and the public that it can largely police itself. This new statement of principles has virtually no utility, he said. There is still no inbox to file a complaint, no process for fact finding, no way of making ethics determinations, and thus no way of holding justices accountable. Durbin, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, was a bit less confrontational, but said the high courts response further demonstrates the need for court-reform legislation. I am surprised that the Chief Justices recounting of existing legal standards of ethics suggests current law is adequate and ignores the obvious, Durbin said. It is time for Congress to accept its responsibility to establish an enforceable code of ethics for the Supreme Court, the only agency of our government without it. The Supreme Court seldom comments publicly about its ethics practices. In 2019, Justice Elena Kagan told a House subcommittee that Roberts was actively considering whether the court should adopt a formal ethics code. The chief justice is studying the question of whether to have a code of judicial conduct thats applicable only to the United States Supreme Court, Kagan told lawmakers at the time. That has pros and cons, Im sure, but its something that is being thought very seriously about. The court has provided no further update about the adoption of any ethics code since then, and Tuesdays statement from the court seems to confirm that the effort petered out. In fact, the new statement closely tracks a 2011 exposition from Roberts on the subject. Writing in his year-end report on the judiciary, he defended the lack of a binding code of conduct for the Supreme Court. Like Roberts 2011 comments, Tuesdays statement invokes the courts unique qualities and institutional interests. Before this week, the last time the justices issued a joint statement about their own ethics practices appears to have been in 1993, when seven justices published a Statement of Recusal Policy about cases that might involve attorneys in their families or law firms employing those relatives. The absence of two justices from that declaration appeared to stem not from disagreement but from the fact those jurists didnt have relatives working as lawyers. Two years before that, the court issued a resolution in which the justices agreed to abide by regulations on gifts and outside income adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States, a body created by Congress to write rules for federal courts. More recently, the court put out a rare joint statement deploring the disclosure to POLITICO of a draft majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade. In the statement issued in January and apparently on behalf of all nine justices the court called the breach of confidentiality a grave assault on the judicial process and an extraordinary betrayal of trust, but also said the court had been unable to determine the source of the draft, which was largely identical to the majority opinion the court issued last June ending the federal constitutional right to abortion after nearly a half-century. The decision overturning Roe and the recent string of ethics controversies including reports of efforts to lobby justices through meals, vacations and social events likely have contributed to declining public trust in the court. Only 37% of Americans have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the Supreme Court, according a new poll released Monday by NPR, PBS NewsHour and the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. Thats the lowest number since the poll began asking the question in 2018. Clark, the legal ethics expert, said the courts new statement on Tuesday has a face-saving quality to it, but will not accomplish what the justices appear to have intended. These folks are politicians. Theyre absolutely politicians, so they apparently thought signing their names, all nine of them, to this two-plus-page statement was better than not doing it, she said. Theres no reason to think these folks are going to start being accountable until Congress takes some action. They're going to have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the post-Watergate accountability world. Tuesdays statement does raise one new issue not contained in previous court statements on ethics: fears for the justices safety. Judges at all levels face increased threats to personal safety. These threats are magnified with respect to Members of the Supreme Court, given the higher profile of the matters they address, the justices wrote. Recent episodes confirm that such dangers are not merely hypothetical. Matters considered here concerning issues such as travel, accommodations, and disclosure may at times have to take into account security guidance. A Michigan man bought a few lottery tickets while at a dive bar, though he didnt think he won any prizes. But just to be sure, the Wayne County man said he scanned his tickets. I got a message to file a claim at the Lottery office on one of them, so I looked the ticket over again, the man told Michigan Lottery officials. Seeing the three jackpot symbols was unbelievable! He had won a $589,042 Jumbo Jackpot Slots Fast Cash jackpot while at Parts & Labor Bar in Melvindale, according to an April 26 news release. I put the ticket in my pocket and tried to play it cool the rest of the night, but it was hard because I was so excited, the man said. As soon as I left the bar, I called my friends and family to tell them what Id won. He plans to use his prize money to invest and pay bills, officials said. You see people winning the Lottery, and you never think it will be you, so winning is a very surreal feeling, he said. Melvindale is part of the Detroit metropolitan area. Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families. If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website. Man rolls down a window after winning jackpot then lottery ticket nearly flies away Couple was in shock when they realized they won a big lottery jackpot in Michigan Woman loves suspense of playing lottery. Her jackpot win in NC comes at perfect time NEW YORK In blunt and at times emotional testimony, E. Jean Carroll took the stand Wednesday in her civil lawsuit accusing Donald Trump of rape, saying of the alleged incident that my whole reason for being alive in that moment was to get out of that room. Carroll, a magazine columnist, has accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a dressing room of luxury department store Bergdorf Goodman in the mid-1990s. She is suing him for battery and defamation in a trial that began Tuesday in Manhattan federal court. He has denied the allegations, saying the incident never happened and that she has perpetrated a hoax. Im here because Donald Trump raped me, Carroll told the jury Wednesday. Referring to a book she wrote in which she detailed the alleged incident, she said: And when I wrote about it, he said it didnt happen. He lied and shattered my reputation. And Im here to try to get my life back. Carroll will be cross-examined by Trump's attorneys. It wasn't clear Wednesday afternoon when that questioning would begin. In much of her initial testimony, Carroll, 79, was matter-of-fact, but when one of her lawyers, Mike Ferrara, asked her about the moment Trump allegedly inserted his penis into Carroll, she stammered, took a lengthy pause and began to cry. I.II tried. I, she said, before pausing. When you asked me what I did in that moment, I always think back to why I walked in there to get myself in that situation, she said, crying. But I did get out. Carroll, a longtime advice columnist for Elle magazine, testified that she and Trump had met years before the alleged incident, and she liked him. I thought he was well-known, a raconteur, man-about-town, she said. Well-liked. Asked if she thought he was attractive, she said yes. According to Carroll, she bumped into Trump at the door to Bergdorfs, and he asked her to help him pick out a gift. Oh, I was delighted, she recalled. Well, it was such a funny New York scene. Im a born advice columnist. I love to give advice, and here was Donald Trump asking me to give advice about buying a present. Story continues Carroll has said she does not remember the exact date but believes it was in late 1995 or early 1996. A lawyer for Trump tried to use the lack of a date to undermine her account in his opening statement on Tuesday. But in her testimony Wednesday, Carroll provided a detailed account of what she says happened that day. She and Trump browsed the store, she said, and eventually made their way up the escalator to the lingerie department on the sixth floor. The tone of their conversation was very joshing and light-hearted, Carroll testified, and the two teased each other about which one should try on a lace bodysuit. I was flirting the whole time, probably, she said. Trump took her by the arm and led her to a dressing room, she said. Asked if she ever thought about saying no, she replied that it didnt occur to me. The door was open and that open door has plagued me for years, because I just walked into it. Just walked in, she said, as though in disbelief. Carroll said it took her a moment to register that their cheerful encounter had taken a turn. He immediately shut the door and shoved me up against the wall, she testified. And shoved me so hard my head banged. I was extremely confused and suddenly realizing that what I thought was happening was not happening. She testified that she didnt call for help or yell. This is going to sound odd: I didn't want to make a scene, she said. I didnt want to make him angry at me. This started out as something fun and light and comedic and something to tell people you were having dinner with, and it suddenly turned absolutely dark. At the time, Carroll said, she was 59 and about 120 pounds and was wearing 4-inch heels, making her approximately Trumps height but about 100 pounds lighter. His head was beside mine, breathing, she said. His whole weight came against my chest and held me up there. And he leaned down and pulled down my tights, she said. I was pushing him back, she said, holding up her hands to demonstrate. Carroll said she was stamping and trying to wriggle out from under him. But he had pulled down my tights and his fingers went into my vagina and it was extremely painful, she said. Extremely painful, because he put his hand inside me and curved his fingers. As Im sitting here today I can still feel it, she said, her voice cracking. Then what happened? her lawyer, Ferrara, asked. Then he inserted his penis, she said, and the alleged assault lasted a few minutes. I had so much adrenaline pouring through me at this time, I can't recall if I said anything. After pushing Trump off of her, she said, Carroll fled the store and ran out onto Fifth Avenue. Sitting here today, how do you feel about going into that dressing room? Ferrara asked. It was very stupid, Carroll said. It changed she paused. I know people have been through a lot worse than this, but it hadit left me, it left me unable to ever have a romantic life again. Carroll said she immediately called one friend, Lisa Birnbach, and the next day told another friend, Carol Martin. She said she never told anyone else until she went public with her account in 2019. Asked if she was afraid of how others would react, she said she wasnt. No, I knew how others would react, she said. Women who are raped are looked at as soiled goods. Theyre looked at as less. Trump has accused her of being financially motivated to smear him, but Carroll said she has taken an economic hit from the episode. She testified that she received a $70,000 advance for her 2019 book in which she made the allegation, which was way less than other book advances she has received. Asked how the book sold, she replied, Oh, not at all. Terrible. She also said she was fired by Elle, which had paid her $5,000 per month. The former president has also accused Carroll of wanting to damage him politically, and on Wednesday her lawyers introduced a 2017 email between Carroll and Martin that Trumps lawyer suggested in his opening statement hinted at their intention to take him down. In response to an email referencing Trump, Martin wrote: As soon as we are both well enuf to scheme, we must do our patriotic duty again Carroll responded: TOTALLY!!! I have something special for you when we meet. Were you and Ms. Martin scheming to bring down Donald Trump? Carrolls lawyer asked. She laughed and said no. Carroll also testified about the emotional impact of Trumps denial of her claims. People have gone through much worse than being reviled by President Trump for three days, much worse I understand that but boy it hit me and it laid me low, she said. Because I lost my reputation. Nobody looked at me the same. It was gone. Even people who knew me looked at me with pity in their eyes the force of hatred coming at me was staggering. After receiving physical threats, she said, she purchased bullets for a gun she owned. She testified that she also received messages of support, but that the vileness and the dirt overwhelmed the encouraging feedback. And she testified to one more consequence of the alleged rape: she said it left her unable to have a romantic relationship or to have sex in the years since it occurred. When her lawyer asked if she thought her age had anything to do with that matter, she replied: I dont think so. Im a young 79, and at 52, a woman is really reaching a glorious peak because she's got the right job, shes got the right look, shes not self-conscious about her body anymore. 52 is a great, just a great age. Its one of the most powerful ages a woman can be. Later in the afternoon, Carroll again broke into tears on the witness stand when questioned about whether she was happy she spoke out. Ive regretted this about 100 times, she said, pausing. But in the end, being able to get my day in court finally is everything to me, she said, her speech interrupted by crying. So Im happy. Relocated finless porpoises return home to Yangtze River Xinhua) 08:21, April 26, 2023 Released Yangtze finless porpoises swim in the Yangtze River in central China's Hubei Province, April 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) WUHAN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday released four Yangtze finless porpoises under ex-situ conservation into the country's longest river Yangtze for the first time, with an aim to boost the population of this critically endangered species. The newly released finless porpoises were all born in Tian'ezhou National Nature Reserve in central China's Hubei Province. It is one of the earliest ex-situ conservation areas for finless porpoises in the country. Of the four, two male porpoises aged about 5 years were released into the Xinluo section of the Yangtze River. Researchers had spent two years helping them adapt to the natural water environment of the Yangtze. The other two porpoises, a 13-year-old male and a 5-year-old female, were released into the Shishou section of the river. They will be first isolated using nets and their ability to catch prey will be monitored before they are guided back to the open-water area. "This is a milestone in the protection of Yangtze finless porpoises, and indicates significant progress in the ex-situ conservation of the species," said Xia Zhicheng, deputy director of Hubei's forestry bureau. Researchers will track them for the next three months, and evaluate their adaptability and health status. The Yangtze finless porpoise, which is under top-level state protection, is an important indicator of the Yangtze River ecology. China started a porpoise relocation program in the 1990s after concerns were raised that the population of the species had shrunk despite preservation measures. The sustained improvement of the ecological environment in the Yangtze River basin and the rapid growth of the relocated population of the Yangtze finless porpoise have both provided favorable conditions for the release of porpoises back into the river. The release of the Yangtze finless porpoises under ex-situ conservation will help to increase the population of the species and improve their genetic diversity, said Hao Yujiang, associate researcher with the Institute of Hydrobiology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Thanks to China's effective measures to conserve finless porpoises, including ex-situ conservation, artificial breeding, and in-situ conservation, the population of the once-endangered mammal is now recovering. According to the 2022 comprehensive surveys on the species, there were 1,249 finless porpoises in the Yangtze, which marks a significant rebound from 2017 when the figure stood at only 1,012. Staff members try to push a vehicle for transporting Yangtze finless porpoises out of a muddy road in central China's Hubei Province, April 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) Staff members release Yangtze finless porpoises to the Yangtze River in central China's Hubei Province, April 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) Staff members transport Yangtze finless porpoises to an artificial pool before releasing them to the Yangtze River in central China's Hubei Province, April 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) Staff members carry a Yangtze finless porpoise to a transportation vehicle in central China's Hubei Province, April 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) A staff member monitors the condition of released Yangtze finless porpoises on the bank of the Yangtze river in central China's Hubei Province, April 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) Staff members carry a Yangtze finless porpoise to be released on the bank of the Yangtze River in central China's Hubei Province, April 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) Staff members transport Yangtze finless porpoises from an artificial pool to the Yangtze River in central China's Hubei Province, April 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Raleigh leaders are debating how they should be elected, again. The Raleigh City Council reviewed a study groups recommendations recently and took the first steps toward implementing election changes. Some the changes, like moving from two- to four-year terms or adding members to the currently eight-member board, are allowed under state law but would require the city to change its charter. That would kick off meetings and a possible vote by the city electorate. There are people who lack trust in the democratic process and dont believe city leaders are listening to them on election issues, said Council member Mary Black, who was elected to her first term in November. I definitely think for continuing to build trust with the people here in Raleigh we have to be like really intentional about what were doing with communicating and letting them have a voice in the process as we are passing or not passing things, she said. Other possible changes like lowering maximum campaign contributions would require help from the state. Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin has asked that the topic return to the City Council in May. What happened last time? The Raleigh City Council used to be elected in odd years with an election planned for 2021. In a closed session, the council voted 7-1 to ask the legislature to move the 2021 election to 2022, extending then-members term by a year. Former Council member David Knight cast the sole no vote. The 2021 election had to be postponed after the U.S. Census Bureau announced its redistricting data wouldnt be released in time for cities like Raleigh to change their district boundaries. The city could have joined other affected cities and held its municipal election in the 2022 primary, but it asked for the election to be moved to the fall of 2022, for elections to be held permanently in even-numbered years and for the election method to change. Some state legislators criticized the decision for a lack of transparency, and a citizens group mounted a recall effort against Baldwin that failed. Story continues Campaign contributions The maximum a person can donate to candidates campaign rose in 2023 from $5,600 to $6,400. Some city leaders have been criticized for receiving large or maxed-out campaign contributions from people, mostly within the construction and real estate fields. I just dont think that democracy does well when we have big donors that influence elections in a way that is greater than the regular everyday residents, said Council member Jane Harrison, who also was elected last fall. So for me, thats something I would want to cut in half, or even go lower. Two North Carolina municipalities, Chapel Hill and Carrboro, have lower maximums than what is currently allowed by the state. Chapel Hills maximum is $357 and Carrboros is $250, excluding donations from the candidate themselves and their domestic partner. Baldwin asked the city attorney to talk with the citys lobbyist to determine what the appetite would be in the legislature for letting the city lower the maximum campaign contribution. Expanding the board The Raleigh City Council has five district seats and three at-large seats. The district representatives must live in the district they represent and are voted on by people who live in the district. People who run at-large, including for mayor, are voted on by everyone in the city. The Raleigh City Council is one of the few local governing boards that has an even number of members, meaning votes can end in a tie. The study group recommended adding a district seat, because district races cost less and are more likely to attract diverse and non-traditional candidates, according to the citys presentation. I know we can get district maps in time for the next election, said Mayor Pro Tem Corey Branch. I dont know if the city will be emotionally ready for district maps by the next election. Raleighs districts must be redrawn every 10 years after the U.S. Census, and each district must have around the same number of people. Last year the city approved new districts that moved about 10% of people despite concerns the maps could dilute minority voters power. I will agree with Council member (Jonathan) Melton and Mayor Pro Tem Branch about changing districts, Baldwin said in an interview with The News & Observer. That was very contentious last time, she said. And part of it is change is difficult. This would be a lot of change. And Im not sure the public is ready for that yet. Wed have to have much more discussion about it. It would be easier to add an at-large seat, which doesnt require changing district borders, and to come back later with another district seat. Election method There are four election methods in North Carolina. The Raleigh City Council, and a majority of municipalities in Wake County, use a nonpartisan plurality. Thats a winner-takes-all approach with no run-offs or primaries. Before the 2022 election, the city had a nonpartisan election with a run-off. But those can only be held in odd-numbered years, said City Attorney Robin Tatum. The other two election types are a partisan primary and election, and a nonpartisan primary and election. Several council members, including Harrison and Melton, expressed interest in rank-choice voting. Theres been a push for this election method in recent years, and it has previously been used by some North Carolina municipalities, including Cary and Hendersonville, in pilot programs approved by the state legislature. Rank-choice voting might be a long-term goal, and if people want a way to narrow down the field of candidates, the primary method might also be an option, Melton said. I think if we have consensus to move to four-year staggered (elections) with a primary, we can still ask for rank-choice voting, he said. We can implement that into whatever election structure we have. 4-year staggered terms The councils eight members, including the mayor, are elected at the same time every two years. The study group unanimously recommended moving from two-year terms to four-year staggered terms. An election would still be held every two years, with at-large and mayor candidates being voted on at the same time and all the district representatives being voted on two years later. A man authorities believe beat an elderly man to death after a fender bender on Christmas is in custody and facing assault charges in Colorado, cops say. Los Angeles police detained Shane Kaufman on a manslaughter warrant on March 22 and extradited him to Colorado on April 16 to face a second-degree assault charge, a Thornton police spokesperson said. The spokesperson deferred further questions to the 17th Judicial District Attorneys Office. Officials with the 17th judicial district did not reply to McClatchy News request for information. The deadly assault occurred just before 10 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 25, McClatchy News previously reported. Police found the victim at Thirstys Pub in Thornton, about 10 miles north of Denver, and said they learned he had been punched and kicked after he had backed into another persons car. He was taken to a hospital and died the next day from his injuries, McClatchy News previously reported. A witness who saw the assault later told police he saw the other driver get out, hit the older man and knock him unconscious, CBS News reported. Kaufman is from California, but he was staying in town near the Colorado pub at the time, the station reported. Hes scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 18, the outlet reported. The elderly victim, Manuel Osvaldo Jacquez-Machado, was the joy of the party, his son Javier Osvaldo-Jacquez told KUSA. He had survived cancer and lived with rheumatoid arthritis for 35 years, the station reported. 70-year-old driver beaten to death after bumping car on Christmas, Colorado cops say Driver drags woman accused of cutting the McDonalds drive-thru line, CA cops say Woman hit and killed arguing on highway about fender-bender, California cops say A Florida man is facing murder and robbery charges after police found the dismembered remains of a food delivery driver in the trash outside his home, authorities announced Tuesday. Police said the victim, who worked as a delivery driver for Uber Eats and DoorDash, was going about his deliveries on April 19 when he texted his wife to say he would be home soon because he had one more delivery to go. After not hearing from him for a while, the wife texted again, but received no response. After a few more hours passed with more texts that went unanswered, the wife then reported him missing. Two days later, police went to the location of the last known delivery address, where the suspect's roommate gave the police video showing the victim. Just before 7 p.m. on April 19, "You can actually see the victim walking up to the house to deliver food, but the video cuts off at that point," Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said at a press conference Tuesday. The next day, the footage showed, the suspect and one other person took out several bags of trash, Nocco said. When detectives searched the trash bags, they found human remains, Nocco said. A booking photo of Oscar Solis. / Credit: Pasco County Corrections Oscar Solis, who had been paroled in Indiana and moved to Florida in January, was then arrested for failure to register as a felon with the county and violation of parole. Solis, 30, was then arrested Monday night for "felony murder in conjunction with the robbery," after detectives found the victim's wedding ring and car keys inside Solis' house. The victim's car was found about one-third of a mile from the home, police said. According to a police affidavit obtained by the CBS News, inside the car's trunk, detectives found a trash bag with "apparent blood-soaked rags," along with a red Door Dash bag and paper towels. In the trash bag they also found a time card punch out receipt with Solis' name on it for a gentleman's club where Solis had told investigators he worked security, the affidavit stated. Story continues The roommate was not home at the time of the murder, police said. It was not immediately clear who the other person was that helped take the trash out. Police said the home is leased to the roommate and the suspect's father, and the father moved out when Solis moved from Indiana so that Solis could live there. Both the father and the roommate have been cooperating with the investigation, police said. Nocco said Solis was affiliated with the MS-13 gang and had previously served four years for burglary and assault. He was also accused of stabbing someone while in prison, Nocco said. Nocco said there didn't appear to be any relationship between Solis and the victim. "This was a horrific crime of passion," he said. "This was demonic. What he did was demonic." Police also released photos of a woman and a man who they said were seen leaving the home shorty before the victim arrived. Police said the two were "not considered missing, but may have information to provide in this case." From 1988: Harry Belafonte, "a voice with a conscience" From 2001: Harry Belafonte on preserving Black music From 2011: Harry Belafonte's life of singing, acting and activism The Chinese national flag is raised in front of the Shanghai No.1 Intermediate People's Court in Shanghai. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images A 65-year-old man has been charged with extortion after kidnapping his granddaughter for ransom. He sought $72,000 from his daughter and son-in-law to pay off his gambling debt, per local media reports. The man, known only as Yuan, argued that the kidnapping should only be considered a family dispute. A Shanghai man was sentenced to prison for kidnapping his own granddaughter so he could maintain his gambling addiction with the ransom money. The kidnapping orchestrated by a 65-year-old man identified only by his surname, Yuan was first reported by the Shanghai Law and Rule Journal. The legal news outlet didn't specify when the incident occurred but wrote on April 18 that Yuan had just started serving his prison sentence. Yuan kicked off his plan by picking up his four-year-old granddaughter from her kindergarten and taking her out to eat and shop without her mother's knowledge, the Journal reported. The girl's mother then arrived at the school and realized her daughter was missing. She received a message from Yuan demanding $72,000, according to the Journal. "Take out 500,000 yuan in three days, or you'll never see your precious daughter again!" Yuan told his daughter, per the Journal. She called Yuan to persuade him to give up on the plot but failed to sway him, the outlet reported. Yuan was arrested that evening after his daughter reported him to the police, and he was charged with extortion and sent to the Xinshou Prison, a facility in Shanghai, per the Journal. He protested the charges in court, saying the kidnapping should be considered a family dispute and not a crime, per the Journal. Chinese courts can designate some crimes within families including domestic violence as family affairs. The Journal did not specify the length of Yuan's sentence, but cited police reports saying that he pleaded not guilty to the charges. Yuan was desperate for the ransom money because he'd run up a heavy gambling debt and was diagnosed with stomach cancer, the Journal reported. His wife divorced him, and he began neglecting his business because of his gambling habits, according to the outlet. Story continues While serving his sentence, Yuan went on a hunger strike and had difficulty getting along with other prisoners, the Journal reported. "I'm 65 years old, and my daughter still comes after me. She doesn't want me to improve, she just wants me to die!" he kept saying to authorities, the Journal wrote. But he stopped resisting after his daughter and ex-wife contacted him in prison, and the Journal reported that he has since cooperated with prison authorities. The account of Yuan's kidnapping has since been shared on social media by police departments, a municipal court, and public prosecutor's offices across China. Several major Chinese news outlets, such as the state-owned daily The Paper, have also carried the story. People on Douyin, China's version of TikTok, and Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter, reacted in horror to the news of Yuan's actions. "I'd cut off contact with him. No idea what he'd do after he gets out of prison," wrote one Weibo user. Read the original article on Insider Manchester City host Arsenal in a Premier League title decider this evening at the Etihad Stadium. The champions trail the Gunners by five points, but Pep Guardiolas side have two games in hand, which means both teams still control their own destiny in the title race. More importance has been put on tonights result for Arsenal after recent draws against West Ham and Southampton. The Gunners now need to defeat City to ensure they hold on to top spot as anything less could see them overtaken by their title rivals. City, meanwhile, kept their pursuit of a treble alive with a dominant FA Cup semi final win over Sheffield United at the weekend. They are used to playing important matches consecutively and will return to league action full of confidence this evening. Follow along as Manchester City host Arsenal in the Premier League: Man City vs Arsenal Man City demolish Arsenal in a Premier League title decider to move within two points of the leaders 90+5 GOAL! - Haaland gets his goal with the last kick of the game (MCI 4-1 ARS) 86 GOAL! - Holding scores a consolation for Arsenal (MCI 3-1 ARS) 54 GOAL! - De Bruyne and Haaland combine to earn Citys third (MCI 3-0 ARS) 45+1 GOAL! - Stones nods in a De Bruyne free kick to double Citys lead (MCI 2-0 ARS) 30 SAVE! - Ramsdale keeps out Haalands effort from close range (MCI 1-0 ARS) 27 BLOCK! - White gets in front of De Bruynes effort (MCI 1-0 ARS) 22 SHOT! - Bernardo forces Ramsdale into a low save from the right side of the box (MCI 1-0 ARS) 7 GOAL! - De Bruyne sends City in front with a lovely curling shot (MCI 1-0 ARS) Manchester City FC 4 - 1 Arsenal FC FT Man City 4-1 Arsenal 22:05 , Mike Jones Only five players have provided more assists in the Premier League this season than Erling Haaland (7): Kevin De Bruyne (16), Bukayo Saka (11), Leandro Trossard (9), Andrew Robertson (8) and Michael Olise (8). FT Man City 4-1 Arsenal 22:02 , Mike Jones (Action Images via Reuters) (REUTERS) Full-time: Man City 4-1 Arsenal 21:59 , Mike Jones Story continues 90+6 mins: The whistle goes to end the game and Manchester City have won the initiative in the Premier League title race. Pep Guardiolas men move within two points of the Gunners and have two games in hand. City are unbeaten in 17 matches across all competitions now. GOAL! Man City 4-1 Arsenal (Haaland, 90+5) 21:58 , Mike Jones 90+5 mins: There is another one! A long ball comes over to Phil Foden who pokes it into the box towards Erling Haaland. Haaland takes a touch and smokes the ball past Aaron Ramsdale to cap off a brilliant night and performance. Man City 3-1 Arsenal 21:54 , Mike Jones 90+2 mins: In a surprise to no-one watching the game tonight, Kevin De Bruyne has been awarded the player of the match. His link up play with Erling Haaland was exceptional and his two goals helped City move one step closer to the Premier League title. Man City 3-1 Arsenal 21:53 , Mike Jones 90 mins: Five minutes of stoppage time to play at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City are going to win the game but will their be another goal? Man City 3-1 Arsenal 21:50 , Mike Jones 88 mins: Jack Grealish is taken off by Pep Guardiola with Phil Foden intriduced for the final few minutes of the 90 plus stoppage time. Can Arsenal score again? GOAL! Man City 3-1 Arsenal (Holding, 86) 21:49 , Mike Jones 86 mins: Theres still a chance for Arsenal. They play a corner short and send the ball back across to Leandro Trossard. He dribbles into the box before laying it off to Rob Holding whose first time shot fizzes past Ederson to get the Gunners a goal. Man City 3-0 Arsenal 21:47 , Mike Jones 84 mins: Eddie Nketiah almost conjures up something for Arsenal after Reiss Nelson picks him out. The forward fires a shot that across goal and past the far post. Man City 3-0 Arsenal 21:43 , Mike Jones 81 mins: Kevin De Bruyne gets a warm and loud round of applause from the Manchester City fans as he walks off the pitch with allow Julian Alvarez a few minutes. All Citys substitutions bring on more attacking players. Their squad depth is unreal. Man City 3-0 Arsenal 21:42 , Mike Jones 78 mins: An Arsenal free kick about 25 yards out from goal sees Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka standing over the ball. Its Saka who shoots but he belts the effort over the crossbar. Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah come on for Arsenal replacing Gabriel Jesus and Saka. Man City 3-0 Arsenal 21:40 , Mike Jones 75 mins: Manuel Akanji wants in on the action too. He releases the ball over to Jack Grealish from his position in midfield then drives into the penalty area. Grealish flicks the ball into his feet and the defender decides to pull it back instead of taking a shot. His pass is intercepted and Arsenal clear their lines. Man City 3-0 Arsenal 21:34 , Mike Jones 72 mins: Thomas Partey and John Stones come together in the middle of the pitch were Stones is caught on the head by the Arsenal man and wins the home side a free kick. Man City 3-0 Arsenal 21:33 , Mike Jones 69 mins: Pep Guardiola goes to the bench now and takes off the captain Ilkay Gundogan to bring on Riyad Mahrez. Mahrez banged in a hat-trick at the weekend and will want to score more tonight. Emile Smith Rowe is back in an Arsenal shirt too, hes on for Martin Odegaard. Man City 3-0 Arsenal 21:30 , Mike Jones 66 mins: The Arsenal fans inside the Etihad look dejected now. Their team has been played off the pitch tonight and it looks as though the Premier League title is slipping away too. If the Gunners can score though things may just get interesting again. Man City 3-0 Arsenal 21:26 , Mike Jones 63 mins: Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli are the two men whove gone off for Arsenal with Trossard and Jorginho brought on. As it stands Manchester City will draw within two points of Arsenal in the table and have two games in hand on Mikel Artetas men. Man City 3-0 Arsenal 21:24 , Mike Jones 60 mins: Bukayo Saka attempts to weave into the box from the right wing but loses control of the ball and City work it clear. Leandro Trossard has been introduced for the Gunners. Man City 3-0 Arsenal 21:18 , Mike Jones 57 mins: This could get messy for Arsenal now. Manchester City look as though they can score whenever the like and its been a really tough night for Holding and Gabriel. The City fans are celebrating as though theyve already won the league. GOAL! Man City 3-0 Arsenal (De Bruyne, 54) 21:16 , Mike Jones 54 mins: Game over! Arsenal have not been able to cope with Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne. Martin Odegaard gives the ball away to De Bruyne who prods it up to Haaland. He takes on the defenders, runs into the box and squares it back to the playmaker who guides it into the far bottom corner. Lovely goal. Man City 2-0 Arsenal 21:14 , Mike Jones 51 mins: Oleksandr Zinchenko tries to get around the back of Kyle Walker but doesnt have the pace. The City right-back holds him off and Zinchenko runs out of space to operate. Hes at least trying to get Arsenal up the pitch which is a positive sign. Man City 2-0 Arsenal 21:12 , Mike Jones 48 mins: Citys lead means they can ease off the gas in terms of tempo and take their time probing Arsenals defence. The Gunners need to do the opposite. They have to play fast paced football, passing quickly and trying to get City on the back foot. Second half: Man City 2-0 Arsenal 21:08 , Mike Jones Manchester City get the match back underway and look for a quick start to the second half as the ball comes over to Kevin De Bruyne in the box. He attempts a volley but misses his kick and the ball goes rolling out of play. HT Man City 2-0 Arsenal 21:03 , Mike Jones How will Arsenal respond in the second half? Mikel Arteta needs to change things up as his team is being outclassed. Whether thats the tactics or the personnel but the Arsenal boss has to try and upset Citys mojo. HT Man City 2-0 Arsenal 20:59 , Mike Jones Kevin De Bruyne has scored seven goals against Arsenal in the Premier League, two more goals than he has scored against any other side in the competition. (PA) HT Man City 2-0 Arsenal 20:55 , Mike Jones (PA) (PA) (Action Images via Reuters) Half-time: Man City 2-0 Arsenal 20:51 , Mike Jones 45+4 mins: Ruben Dias is bungled over by Ben White and kicks out at the Arsenal man after hitting the floor. He earns a yellow card. The whistle goes to signal the end of the first half and City are flying high. Theyve scored twice with Arsenal mustering hardly anything in return. The Premier League title could be heading back to Manchester. GOAL! Man City 2-0 Arsenal (Stones, 45+1) 20:49 , Mike Jones 45+1 mins: It stands! A close offside call is overturned because Ben Whites foot was playing the City man onside. City add a second on the stroke of half-time. Man City 1-0 Arsenal 20:47 , Mike Jones 45+1 mins: Disallowed goal! Kevin De Bruyne floats the free kick into the far side of the box, finds John Stones and watches as the defender nods the ball into the far corner. The offside flag goes up immediately to rule out the goal but theres a VAR check taking place, this one may yet stand. Man City 1-0 Arsenal 20:46 , Mike Jones 45 mins: Two minutes of added time to play. Thomas Partey attempts to win a physical battle with Erling Haaland but comes of worse and brings down the City striker leaving the hosts with a free kick about 30 yards out from goal. Man City 1-0 Arsenal 20:43 , Mike Jones 41 mins: Save! A throw in for City is sent to Rodri before getting slipped into Ilkay Gundogan on the left side of the box. He drives into the area, skips around a defender then lays the ball off to Erling Haaland. Haaland shoots but Ramsdale drops to the low and somehow keeps the ball out with his trailing leg! Man City 1-0 Arsenal 20:41 , Mike Jones 39 mins: Just to add to Citys attacking threat, theyre menacing on the counter-attack too. First Erling Haaland darts into the left side of the box and powers a shot wide of the target before Jack Grealish loses possession to another last ditch tackle just before he gets a shot away. It wont be long until City score again. Man City 1-0 Arsenal 20:36 , Mike Jones 36 mins: Close! Thats a whole lot better from Arsenal. The Gunners work the ball down the right wing this time with Bukayo Saka bringing it up to the edge of the box. He lays it off to Thomas Partey who sidefoots a shot from outside the penalty area and curls it just wide of the near post! Man City 1-0 Arsenal 20:33 , Mike Jones 33 mins: And again! Haaland heads into the left inside channel this time and receives the ball with the tightest of angles towards goal. He goes for the shot anyway and Ramsdale is forced to bat away the effort. Arsenal need to change things up, its all too easy for Man City tonight. Man City 1-0 Arsenal 20:30 , Mike Jones 30 mins: Save! Now its Haalands turn. Hes given the ball over on the right side and takes it around the Arsenal defence into the penalty area. He cuts onto his left foot and shoots but Ramsdale drops to his right and palms the ball away with a strong right hand. City are upping the threat and tempo. Arsenal are shook here. Man City 1-0 Arsenal 20:29 , Mike Jones 27 mins: Block! City work the long ball release up to Erling Haaland once more who brings it down and provides Kevin De Bruyne whi another opportunity to score. De Bruyne weaves into the box and shoots only for Ben White to make a fantastic last ditch block to deny him a second. Man City 1-0 Arsenal 20:27 , Mike Jones 25 mins: Its better from Arsenal but theyre still not threatening Citys goal. The Gunners maintain possession and work it out wide to Gabriel Martinelli. He gives it to Oleksandr Zinchenko who threads the ball into Granit Xhaka but the midfielder is knocked out of possession and City win a free kick as Martinelli makes the foul trying to recover the ball. Man City 1-0 Arsenal 20:23 , Mike Jones 22 mins: Shot! Bernardo Silva brings the ball down the right wing and decides to take on former teammate Oleksandr Zinchenko. He nips inside and dribbles into the box before curling a left-footed effort past Gabriel and forcing a low stop out of Aaron Ramsdale. Man City 1-0 Arsenal 20:22 , Mike Jones 19 mins: Kevin De Bruyne looks to spin around Rob Holding in the middle of the pitch. He flicks the ball on then draws the foul out of the Arsenal centre-back. Arsenal have been slightly off the pace in these opening stages. Man City 1-0 Arsenal 20:18 , Mike Jones 16 mins: Manuel Akanji steps into the left side of midfield and receives the ball. He decides to run it forward and Arsenal let him go. They drop away from the defender until he carries the ball into the penalty area then theres a sudden scramble to recover the ball as though the danger of a shot at goal is finally realised. Man City 1-0 Arsenal 20:14 , Mike Jones 13 mins: Man Citys intense press is doing wonders to nullify Arsenals desire to get the ball out wide. At the minute the Gunners are being forced to knock the ball around the back before resorting to pumping it long. Rob Holding fires an aerial pass up to Bukayo Saka who cant control the dropping ball and lets it bounce out for a throw in. Man City 1-0 Arsenal 20:10 , Mike Jones 10 mins: Thats the worst possible start for Mikel Artetas men. City have only lost one of their last 53 matches when scoring the first goal. Arsenal havent settled at all yet and now they need to come back from a goal down. GOAL! Man City 1-0 Arsenal (De Bruyne, 7) 20:09 , Mike Jones 7 mins: Man City lead! A long ball comes up to Erling Haaland who chests the ball down and releases the ball into the feet of Kevin De Bruyne. He drives towards the box, checks to the right of Rob Holding then curls a wonderful low strike past Aaron Ramsdale and sneaks it into the smallest gap next to the right hand post. Man City 0-0 Arsenal 20:07 , Mike Jones 6 mins: Arsenal try to play through Manchester City but cant find a way through the middle of the pitch. Thomas Partey is given the ball and he sends it long down the right side. Gabriel Jesus sets off but the pass is too heavy for him and Ederson scoops it up. Man City 0-0 Arsenal 20:05 , Mike Jones 3 mins: Ilkay Gundogan storms down the inside left channel before slipping the ball out wide to Jack Grealish. Grealish knocks it back to Kevin De Bruyne whose ball into the middle comes too close to Aaron Ramsdale. Nearly! Grealish leads another City attack and pulls the ball back into the middle of the penalty area. Ramsdale palms it into the path of De Bruyne who looks to shoot first time. Just as hes readying to take the shot, Thomas Partey steps across him and receives a kick in the leg. Both men go down and the referee awards a free kick to Arsenal. Kick off: Man City 0-0 Arsenal 20:02 , Mike Jones Arsenal kick off the match and send the ball back to Aaron Ramsdale. He belts it long and City win control of possession. Martin Odegaard presses immediately and almost nicks the ball back but Citys back line send it across to Kyle Walker who tries to sprint down the right had side. Man City vs Arsenal 19:57 , Mike Jones Here come the teams. The players step out onto the pitch at the Etihad Stadium. This one feels as big as a final, it could prove to be one at the end of the season. Kick off is up next.. Three decades of Premier League title showdowns 19:53 , Mike Jones Which way will tonights showdown go? Can Arsenal shock City to get one hand on the Premier League trophy? Three decades of Premier League title showdowns (not sure 2002 and 2006 really count since it was pretty much done)https://t.co/WFcWiMMBqE pic.twitter.com/EqxYNOgpl7 Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) April 26, 2023 Pre-match thoughts of Mikel Arteta 19:50 , Mike Jones Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to BT Sport: It is different as it is the top two in the Premier League that have been fighting for many months. It is a really important game. It is not decisive, especially in this league, with the amount of points still to play for. We want to win it but we have to earn it. Granit Xhaka has been really important throughout the season. Since I have been here he has played every single game. We need that experience, competitiveness and edge. We are happy to have him back. We ended Fridays game with a draw but the feeling that we should have won it. The reality is we gave away two really sloppy goals and in this league it becomes really difficult to win. But the team showed incredible spirit, confidence and hunger not to give up. We will need a lot of that tonight. Pre-match thoughts of Pep Guardiola 19:45 , Mike Jones Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to BT Sport: We are calm. Nothing much to say. Go out there and do your best. The defensive structure is for everyone to try to help. We defend all together in high pressing and we defend deep all together. We try to have the ball as much as possible to try to score goals. Everyone has seen Arsenal this season. They are strong in all departments. In set pieces, transitions, ball possession, build up with four or with three and Zinchenko inside, the runs from Martinelli and Saka. We cannot deny how important it is. It is not decisive but it is a really important game. Arsenal require perfection to beat Man City and the Premier League needs it too 19:40 , Mike Jones It is a word Mikel Arteta has now used in public, but only to emphasise what he has been saying to his Arsenal players behind the training ground fences. Perfection. To beat this Manchester City, Arteta has asserted to his squad, Arsenal have to be perfect in everything they do. Thats no exaggeration for motivation. He means it about every step, every run, every pass. It might be asking a lot given Arsenals last three games, but this is what they have been building towards for months. Pep Guardiolas ultra-focused players have been playing to these demands for much longer. Thats despite the Catalan on Tuesday insisting perfection doesnt exist in football. Thats saying something given he has presided over a 100-point season, a 98-point season and a domestic treble, all before currently going for the grandest treble of all. These are now the levels, after 15 years of the Abu Dhabi project. If City win seven of their remaining eight games, which seems a fair expectation, that will be 91 points. Arsenal would require 92. Arsenal require perfection to beat Man City the Premier League needs it too Man City vs Arsenal 19:35 , Mike Jones Gabriel Martinelli has been directly involved in 11 goals in his last 10 league appearances, scoring eight and setting up three for Arsenal. Martinelli also tops the charts for successful dribbles (56), with Bukayo Saka (42) and Martin Odegaard (39) also amongst the top 10 in the Premier League. (PA) Man City vs Arsenal 19:30 , Mike Jones Ederson has kept just six clean sheets across 20 games in all competitions since Christmas for Manchester City. Is there a slither of hope that Arsenal can put a couple of goals past the Brazilian tonight that would take them to the Premier League title? (AFP via Getty Images) The missing piece of Arsenals title bid 19:25 , Mike Jones The cause of the frenzy happened to be Mohamed Elnenys most noticeable contribution in weeks. The Arsenal midfielders Instagram story showed William Saliba back in the gym, peddling on an exercise bike and pointing to his head. Apart from that, the clip revealed nothing that couldnt otherwise be seen, but it spread on social media regardless, generating an excited reaction from a fan base desperate to claw onto any sort of positive news ahead of the trip to Manchester City. This was one: Saliba was back, and everything was going to be fine. And then it wasnt. First Saliba could not be seen in Arsenals training photos ahead of facing Southampton last week, then Mikel Arteta delivered the news. He is not progressing as quick as we hoped, Arteta admitted. It all but confirmed that Saliba was out of Arsenals biggest Premier League game in 19 years. While Arteta did not want to make predictions, there is now doubt over whether he will play again this season as well. We are finished, came one reply. Goodbye title, came another, even if Twitter is hardly the place if you are looking to find measured reactions. The missing piece of Arsenals title bid Artetas bogey team 19:20 , Mike Jones Mikel Arteta has lost all six of his Premier League meetings with Manchester City as a manager - they are the only side the Spaniard has failed to beat in the division. (EPA) Haaland chasing Premier League record 19:15 , Mike Jones Erling Haaland is two shy of equalling Andrew Cole and Alan Shearers all-time Premier League record of 34 goals in a season. Haaland has scored 11 times in his last four home appearances and there is a good chance he will break the record this evening as the Norwegian likes to step up in big games. (Action Images via Reuters) Dias on Citys fantastic form and challenging for the title 19:10 , Mike Jones It is all seems fantastic and great, but it is not done until it is actually done. said Man City defender Ruben Dias when asked about his sides unbeaten run of form. It is in these moments that you really need to push instead of just trying to maintain. You need to push and go for all of it. It is not really how it begins or in the middle, it is how it ends. For us, I think the most important is the mix between having that experience and everyone still being so hungry. Everyone needs and wants more. No one is satisfied and especially when you get to this part and you are in the competitions, the appetite just comes. The fact that no one has lost that appetite is what keeps us coming back again. To be here again is a privilege for us all. We have obviously been here before and we know what we have to do. We will try to do it again. To make things happen, you need to visualise them first but then, right after that you need to remember that you need to think about today and not think too far ahead as you will lose the focus and the possibility of fighting for something great. Man City vs Arsenal team changes 19:07 , Mike Jones Pep Guardiola makes five changes to the Manchester City team that played the FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United at the weekend. Ederson returns in goal with Ruben Dias slotting in between Kyle Walker and Manuel Akanji in defence. Sergio Gomez, Julian Alvarez and Riyad Mahrez all drop out with John Stones, Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri coming in. Mikel Arteta makes just one change to the Arsenal team that drew 3-3 with Southampton last time out. Granit Xhaka replaces Fabio Vieira. Man City vs Arsenal line-ups 19:02 , Mike Jones Man City XI: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji; Stones, Rodri; De Bruyne, Gundogan, Bernardo, Grealish; Haaland XI | Ederson, Walker, Dias, Akanji, Stones, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan (C), Bernardo, Grealish, Haaland SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Phillips, Laporte, Alvarez, Gomez, Mahrez, Foden, Palmer, Lewis#ManCity | @HaysWorldwide pic.twitter.com/sf5NFOZj98 Manchester City (@ManCity) April 26, 2023 Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus Xhaka returns Odegaard makes 100th appearance Jesus in attack Lets do this - together! pic.twitter.com/0oUpIYvl0o Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 26, 2023 Man City vs Arsenal 18:52 , Mike Jones Arsenal could score and concede multiple goals in four successive top-flight matches for the first time since a run of six between December 1960 to February 1961, which included a 5-4 home win over Manchester City. In an ideal world Mikel Arteta will be hoping tonights game ends in a clean sheet for Aaron Ramsdale and a hat-trick for Gabriel Jesus but it doesnt seem as though that outcome is likely. Arteta on dealing with Haaland 18:45 , Mike Jones In his pre-match press conference yesterday, Mikel Arteta, was asked how he planned to deal with Manchester Citys star striker Erling Haalan. He replied: Obviously, we have worked on their threat as well as we have worked on their weaknesses and we know where they are. The issue with City is that they start with the goalkeeper - they are a threat when the ball is with him. You have to control every single player. But we just focus on us: we know what they want to do, what theyre going to try to do and they can do various things. They can play with a box inside, they can play with a diamond, they can build the game with three, they can be asymmetric on one side, they can pull one out on the right and play a diamond, they can put [Kyle] Walker higher. They can do so many things that you have to be able to adapt to, so you have to focus on certain principles to try and play the game how you want. The key battles where Man City vs Arsenal will be won and lost 18:38 , Mike Jones Ahead of this huge clash, WhoScored.com take a look at four key head-to-heads that may determine who comes away victorious at the Etihad Stadium: John Stones vs Rob Holding Whats been key in Manchester Citys late surge to leapfrog Arsenal into first place has been John Stones versatility. Comfortable at centre-back, right-back or in midfield, Stones has been consistent in both denying opponents and dictating the tempo for the defending champions, allowing Guardiola to implement an attacking 3-2-4-1 system. A pass success rate of 93.7 per cent is the best in the Premier League this season, with some going as far as to say that the England international is currently the best centre-back in the game. Thats a bold call, but there is logic behind the assumption. Stones is one of the most accomplished players on the ball, and the ease with which he turns under pressure is not to be underestimated. This is key in helping turn defence into attack with City, unlike at the Emirates, expected to dominate proceedings. This is unfortunate for Rob Holding, who has struggled alongside Gabriel in the absence of William Saliba. Salibas injury, coupled with Takehiro Tomiyasus spell on the sidelines, has proven a huge blow in Arsenals title pursuit, with Holding nowhere near the level required of a team chasing the Premier League title. Artetas side are conceding an average of 3.3 league goals per 90 when Holding starts, with the 27-year-old lacking the composure both on and off the ball Saliba brings to the side. He nullified Haaland in the FA Cup tie at the Etihad in January, but Holdings defensive shortcomings have destabilised Arsenal. City should ruthlessly take advantage in Wednesdays title decider. (WhoScored.Com) The key battles where Man City vs Arsenal will be won and lost 18:32 , Mike Jones Ahead of this huge clash, WhoScored.com take a look at four key head-to-heads that may determine who comes away victorious at the Etihad Stadium. Jack Grealish vs Gabriel Martinelli Jack Grealish attracted his fair-share of critics following a disappointing debut season at Manchester City, but hes taken his game to the next level in 2022/23. Grealish enjoyed ample freedom in the attacking third during his final campaign with Aston Villa, so he essentialy had to redevelop his game to become a better system player under Pep Guardiola. Five goals and six assists may seem a disappointing return for a player of Grealishs ilk in this free-scoring City side, yet he has established himself as one of the most consistent performers in the division, as evidenced by a WhoScored.com rating of 7.35. City fans know hell keep the ball well to maintain pressure on opposition defences, but is capable of finding the breakthrough where needed, noted by commendable returns of 2.1 dribbles and 2.1 key passes per 90. While Haaland and De Bruyne have drawn the plaudits, Grealish has been just as important as the former pair in this City side. And he is not the only key left winger for his side, with Gabriel Martinelli rediscovering his goalscoring touch at just the right time for Arsenal. Martinelli kicked off 2023 with a six-game goalless streak, and this barren run actually saw him dropped by Arteta for their eventual 4-2 win over Aston Villa. The Brazilian netted late on off the bench at Villa Park, and since then; has been nigh-on unstoppable. Indeed, Martinelli has been directly involved in a goal in all but one of his last 10 league outings, scoring eight goals and laying on a further three assists. Arsenals top scorer with 15 league goals to his name, Martinelli will hope to end the Gunners away day woes at City, with the north London side failing to score, let alone win, on their last four visits to Manchester. (WhoScored.Com) The key battles where Man City vs Arsenal will be won and lost 18:26 , Mike Jones Ahead of this huge clash, WhoScored.com take a look at four key head-to-heads that may determine who comes away victorious at the Etihad Stadium. Kevin De Bruyne vs Martin Odegaard Following the World Cup, Kevin De Bruyne endured a brief dip in form, and found himself out of the team on a couple of occasions, starting from the bench against Tottenham and Crystal Palace in February and March, respectively. However, following the March international break, the Belgian has been in sensational form having been directly involved in four goals in his last three league outings, providing three assists to move four clear in the race to be crowned the divisions top assister (15). Whats proven key about De Bruyne this season is that he is one to turn up to the big occasion. He was directly involved in two of Manchester Citys three goals in their 3-1 win at the Emirates earlier this year, and has either scored or assisted against Liverpool and Manchester United. A big game player, they dont get much bigger in the Premier League this season than the welcome of title rivals Arsenal. De Bruyne may have experience on his side, but the opposite side of the coin; Martin Odegaard brings the youthful exuberance to this vibrant Arsenal outfit. The Gunners captaincy has proven a poisoned chalice in recent years, so when Odegaard was chosen to skipper the side, fans may have feared the worst. However, the Norway international has taken the decision in his stride. Odegaard has directly contributed to 19 league goals for Arsenal this season, scoring 12, with returns not seen since his time with Vitesse. Crucially, though, is what the 24-year-old brings to the side off the ball. Odegaard has won possession in the attacking third more times (41) than any other player in the Premier League this season and if anyone can disrupt Citys ability to play out from the back, then its the Gunners captain. (WhoScored.Com) The key battles where Man City vs Arsenal will be won and lost 18:20 , Mike Jones Ahead of this huge clash, WhoScored.com take a look at four key head-to-heads that may determine who comes away victorious at the Etihad Stadium: Erling Haaland vs Gabriel Jesus Erling Haaland was unable to extend his impressive goalscoring streak to eight games in Manchester Citys 3-0 FA Cup win over Sheffield United at the weekend, but that shouldnt be a concern for the defending champions. A brace against Leicester earlier this month took him to 32 league goals as he closes in on Andy Cole and Alan Shearers joint-record for the most goals scored in a Premier League season. The Norwegian hitman scored Citys decisive third when these two met at the Emirates back in February, but was shut out when the pair faced off in the FA Cup at the Etihad at the end of January. Nevertheless, with 20 of his 32 league goals scored on home turf, Haaland will feel confident of putting an Arsenal backline without star centre-back William Saliba to the sword on Wednesday night. Conversely, City need to be wary of Arsenals own attacking threat. Gabriel Jesus returns to the Etihad for the first time following his summer move down south and the Brazilian seems hellbent on making up for lost time. Jesus returned from the World Cup injured, and finally made his first league start since November in Arsenals 4-1 win over Leeds on April Fools Day. With a brace against the Whites and goals against Liverpool and West Ham, four of Jesus nine league goals this season have come in his last four starts for Mikel Artetas side. Up against his former employers on Wednesday, Jesus could prove the perfect forward to really dent Citys title push and give this out-of-form Arsenal side the necessary shot in the arm to get them over the line. (WhoScored.Com) Fortress Etihad 18:14 , Mike Jones Pep Guardiolas side have won all 11 of their home fixtures in all competitions this year, scoring 40 goals in the process. Will Arsenal be the first team to inflict a home defeat on them? Arsenal were incredible at the start of season says Guardiola 18:07 , Mike Jones Pep Guardiola says that Manchester Citys position of second in the Premier League table isnt because his team were having a poor season but rather that Arsenals start was exceptional. I didnt have [the feeling] we were making a bad bad season or we drop a lot of games. The problem was Arsenal were unstoppable, he told the media yesterday. They made 50 points in one half. When this happens its hats off. I think we didnt drop in comparison much from the previous seasons. But at the end we were consistent, kept believing, stayed there, game by game knowing what we have to do and in the end the situation is the situation. But tomorrow, at home where we feel comfortable with our people, I know everyone will be there and we will feel them. Hopefully our football can help to make them feel more and more. We will see. After, the players will do their best. Arsenal have lost their bearings and must now fight history in title race 18:00 , Mike Jones Mikel Arteta, at the least, didnt react in the way you would expect. He was smiling. Perhaps that is because, after so much chaos and confusion for pretty much the last two weeks and three games, there is a rare clarity. That does offer some meagre comfort. The Arsenal manager knows if his side win all of their last six games they win the title. Its just that, to do that, they have to start with the most difficult challenge in football right now. They have to go to perhaps the best side in Europe and win. Anything else and its impossible not to feel its Manchester Citys title again. This maybe explained Artetas facade after the 3-3 draw with Southampton, since he needs to maintain positivity. Arsenal have lost their bearings and must now fight history in title race The biggest game of Artetas managerial career? 17:52 , Mike Jones Now? For sure. replied Mikel Arteta when asked if this was the biggest game of his career as a manager yesterday. But if you ask in my career, probably a final. Its either lift the trophy or go home in tears. Those situations make you a better coach, they make you understand the team better and its just incredible to be in the position were in, trying to prepare the game to win it and this is what were going to do. Its very big. Lets say its a very big game because its the one we have to play tomorrow. Manchester City vs London clubs 17:45 , Mike Jones Manchester Citys last four home league defeats have all come against teams from London Chelsea (2021), Crystal Palace (2021), Tottenham (2022) and Brentford (2022). Will Arsenal add themselves to the list of victors tonight? Swings and roundabouts 17:37 , Mike Jones Mikel Artetas team have conceded two or more times in six of their last 11 top-flight games. However, Arsenal have also scored at least twice in each of the last eight Premier League fixtures. The Gunners will need to have their scoring boots on this evening if they want to overcome the reigning Premier League champions. Pep Guardiola inspired Mikel Arteta then he moved another step ahead 17:30 , Mike Jones The architect of the possession revolution surveyed a potential title decider and considered Mikel Arteta and Arsenals approach. Pep Guardiola concluded: It is not going to be a game where one team has 65 or 70 per cent possession. It is not going to happen. Nor, perhaps, would it have been expected to in the pre-Pep era. Now a shared ethos may bring a share of the ball. But only after a shift in marquee matches. One team would play with the ball, one without. Even against the best of the rest, Guardiolas sides were so superior at that facet of football that summit clashes became studies in contrasting tactics. Their style, said Arteta. They have brought something very different to this league that hasnt been seen before. And to other leagues. Jose Mourinhos Inter famously prevailed at the Nou Camp in the 2010 Champions League semi-finals with a mere 24 per cent of possession. If it was partly because they spent the majority of the match with 10 men, across three clubs the Nerazzurri, Real Madrid and Manchester United Mourinhos teams would have about one-third of possession: 33 per cent when losing a Clasico to Barcelona 5-0, 35 when winning a Manchester derby at the Etihad in 2018. Pep Guardiola inspired Mikel Arteta then he moved another step ahead The belief is still there says Arteta 17:24 , Mike Jones Mikel Arteta is adamant that his players still believe they can end the season with Premier League winners medals despite a run of three draws which has allowed Manchester City to close the gap on them in the league table. Arteta said: Obviously, the belief is there. When I look at how they train, how they reacted after that [result against Southampton], the mood in the dressing room, the way they defended each other in each moment. We really want it and were going to show that again tomorrow night, but then you have to deliver in the right moment, the right performance and it has to be perfect because thats what these last levels demand. Its absolute perfection in every single ball. (PA) Can Arsenal will the Premier League title? 17:16 , Mike Jones One hundred per cent. said Gunners boss Mikel Arteta in his pre-match press conference before adding, But we knew from the beginning that City was the team to beat, probably with Liverpool, because of what those teams have done in the last six or seven years. Theyve fully deserved that credit and to be at the top. We were the ones that wanted to be closing that gap as much as we possibly could, and we are toe-to-toe with them. We knew we had to go to the Etihad, we know that after that they are going to have another five very difficult games. That game is going to be really important - if its going to define the season, the answer is no. Arsenals recent form 17:10 , Mike Jones Arsenal are on a 10-match unbeaten league run, although theyve drawn the last three in a row. The Gunners have won 11 of their 16 Premier League away fixtures, drawing three and losing two. (Action Images via Reuters) Man City vs Arsenal 17:03 , Mike Jones Heres a few highlights of the previous league meeting between Manchester City and Arsenal. Played at the Emirates Stadium Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring for the visitors before Bukayo Saka equalised from the penalty spot a few minutes before half-time. Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland got themselves on the scoresheet inside the final 20 minutes and City went on to claim a 3-1 victory away from home. A reminder of our last meeting with Arsenal in the @premierleague pic.twitter.com/jU5xnz1Hbt Manchester City (@ManCity) April 26, 2023 Citys unbeaten run 16:56 , Mike Jones Manchester City have won eight of their last nine league games, including the last six in a row. They are unbeaten in 16 matches in all competitions, winning 13 and drawing three. (Action Images via Reuters) Man City vs Arsenal 16:49 , Mike Jones The last few weeks have all been building to tonights clash between the reigning Premier League champions and the current Premier League leaders. Only one can come out on top and whoever does will be in pole position to go on to win the title. Are you ready? I guess this is a title decider says Dias 16:42 , Mike Jones I guess it is a title decider, as will the next one against Fulham and the one after that against West Ham and so on, said Manchester Citys Ruben Dias when previewing tonights match against Premier League leaders Arsenal. It is just another part of the title race. It is definitely a big one because we are playing against our main opponent, and it is a good time to make a statement. But we know that after this game, there is still a long way to go and many games to be played. Our total focus is on tomorrows game, but knowing there is still a long way to go. We all know how good Arsenal are and what they are capable of. But we also know how difficult it is in this part of the season. Haaland, Odegaard and the collision of two stars taking over the show of the Premier League title race 16:35 , Mike Jones The best place to take the temperature of a nations love of football is always on the school playground, and in Norway there has been a sea change. Partly it is the colours sky blue is everywhere these days but more subtly is the fact that, more so than ever before, there are Norwegian names on the back of kids shirts. The country has always loved English football ever since acquiring TV rights in the 1960s, and the Premier League is something of an obsession. But the fact that two of the leading protagonists in this years compelling title race play for the Norway national team has made things personal. Martin Odegaard is Arsenals captain; Erling Haaland is Manchester Citys superstar. And on Wednesday night they collide at the heart of a match at the Etihad Stadium which will likely decide who wins the Premier League. Haaland, Odegaard and the collision of two stars in the Premier League title race Manchester Citys hot streak 16:27 , Mike Jones Since losing to Tottenham at the start of February, Pep Guardiolas Manchester City have won eight of their last nine league games, including each of the last six to close the gap at the top of the table. It currently stands at five points in Arsenals favour but City have two games in hand and know that if they win all of their remaining league games then the title will be theirs. Next few games are important for City 16:20 , Mike Jones Argentina striker, Julian Alvarez, says that the next few games are important for Manchester City and they could decide how successful a season the Premier League champions have this year. In recent weeks we have been having a great season, Alvarez said, But I think that the last days, the last weeks, are going to be the most important. It is when competitions are decided. The team is good. We want to continue like this to reach the end with as many options as we can. Man City vs Arsenal 16:13 , Mike Jones Arsneal have scored just three goals in 10 previous league meetings against Manchester City who, in contrast, have racked up 26 goals against the Gunners. City have beaten Arsenal twice this season and are seeking a hat-trick of wins against the Gunners in a single campaign for the third time in five years. City must focus on the game says Alvarez 16:07 , Mike Jones Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez says that his teammates will focus on the game at hand when they take on Arsenal this evening and try to ignore the wider context of a Premier League title race. League leaders Arsenal will step out at the Etihad holding a five-point advantage over Pep Guardiolas reigning champions but City have two games in hand on the Gunners. We have to focus on ourselves even though we know Arsenal are ahead, Alvarez said, We still have to face them in the Premier League, and I think they are doing an amazing season. They have great players and are performing really good, which is what has made them win many games and be so consistent. But I think our strengths is to be focused on our game. We must keep an eye on them because we are going to face them. We are strong when we do what we know, play as we know, whatever the opponent is, to get the win, thats the most important thing. I think that the most important thing is to keep focusing on ourselves and to keep getting three points every single game to be able to fight until the last game. The missing piece of Arsenals title bid 16:00 , Jamie Braidwood The cause of the frenzy happened to be Mohamed Elnenys most noticeable contribution in weeks. The Arsenal midfielders Instagram story showed William Saliba back in the gym, peddling on an exercise bike and pointing to his head. Apart from that, the clip revealed nothing that couldnt otherwise be seen, but it spread on social media regardless, generating an excited reaction from a fan base desperate to claw onto any sort of positive news ahead of next weeks trip to Manchester City. This was one: Saliba was back, and everything was going to be fine. And then it wasnt. First Saliba could not be seen in Arsenals training photos ahead of facing Southampton on Friday, then Mikel Arteta delivered the news. He is not progressing as quick as we hoped, Arteta admitted. Southampton was the focus, but it all but confirmed that Saliba was out of Arsenals biggest Premier League game in 19 years. While Arteta did not want to make predictions, there is now doubt over whether he will play again this season as well. We are finished, came one reply. Goodbye title, came another. The missing piece of Arsenals title bid Man City vs Arsenal 15:54 , Mike Jones This match is a big one. If Arsenal win then they have a massive chance on going on to claim the Premier League title but if they lose then the momentum in the title race swings in Citys direction. Who will come out on top at the Etihad tonight? Matchday in Manchester. Let's do this - together! pic.twitter.com/zjf5BbmBhY Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 26, 2023 Why did Arsenal draw with Southampton? 15:48 , Mike Jones That was a question asked to the Gunners boss, Mikel Arteta who put the result down to human error and emphasised that the focus would be on eradicating those mistakes. Human errors. he replied, Players make a lot of brilliant decisions, and they make mistakes. The areas where you dont make mistakes probably define the extent or the consequences of the mistakes, and obviously, where we made those mistakes, we were punished heavily. But looking back at the last two games, taking that apart we deserve to win both games, without a question of a doubt. We have made some errors, but we have managed to win the games. Those errors then probably get a little resolved but we have had some of them that we have managed to do that. But yes, especially certainly in certain areas, you have to minimise as much as possible because the margins then become much smaller. Man City vs Arsenal 15:42 , Mike Jones Arsenal have lost 11 consecutive top-flight games to Manchester City, their longest losing streak versus any opponent in the clubs league history. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiolas City side have won all six Premier League home matches against Arsenal by an aggregate score of 17-3. It seems as though this should be a one-sided affair but with the Premier League title at stake Arsenal will come out all guns blazing at the Etihad tonight. Can Arsenal make do without Saliba and Xhaka? 15:36 , Mike Jones William Saliba is out of tonights crunch match against Manchester City as he continues to recover from a back problem. He joins long-term absentees Mohamed Elneny and Takehiro Tomiyasu on the sidelines. There are also doubts over midfielder Granit Xhaka who missed Fridays match against Southampton with illness. On paper Salibas absence doesnt look too concerning as Mikel Arteta has a ready made replacement in Rob Holding. However, Saliba has been composed and calm in the back line creating a formidable partnership with Gabriel this season. Perhaps more worrying would be the absence of Granit Xhaka. Alongside Thomas Partey in midfield Xhaka is a controlling presence able to work the transitions well and break up play. Fabio Vieira, who would likely fill in for him, hasnt developed the same aura and could come unstuck against Citys heavy hitters like Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne. Bayern Munich victory was a confidence boost for City 15:29 , Mike Jones Dias went on to explain that Man Citys recent run of form, which saw them defeat Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals, has filled the group with confidence that they can go on to achieve something special this year. If you play well, you keep winning and you keep performing, especially when you face Bayern Munich and you are able to beat them, I think for the team, for everyone, it is a big boost for the confidence, he said. It definitely helps you accumulate that good energy. But in the end, you always need to remember that the challenge is gone, its done, its been great, but you have another one in just three days. That is the biggest challenge. Also, throughout the season as it is the life that we live, but especially in this moment as it is all finals. (REUTERS) Every game is a final says Dias 15:22 , Mike Jones Manchester City defender Ruben Dias says his teams mentality will be that of a playing in a final as they chase three major trophies in the remaining weeks of the 2022/23 season. I think we have been on form in the right time for a long time now, said Dias. It is that time of year and every game you are either in or out with Champions League elimination rounds and also the way it goes in the Premier League. We have been fighting finals for a long time now and it will keep being the same until the end. It comes from ambition - ambition for us all. Ambition is one of our best characteristics. We are all very ambitious and when this time comes, no one hides - everyone shows up and does their best to be there for the team. Preview: Man City vs Arsenal 15:15 , Jamie Braidwood It is a word Mikel Arteta has now used in public, but only to emphasise what he has been saying to his Arsenal players behind the training ground fences. Perfection. To beat this Manchester City, Arteta has asserted to his squad, Arsenal have to be perfect in everything they do. Thats no exaggeration for motivation. He means it about every step, every run, every pass. It might be asking a lot given Arsenals last three games, but this is what they have been building towards for months. Pep Guardiolas ultra-focused players have been playing to these demands for much longer. Thats despite the Catalan on Tuesday insisting perfection doesnt exist in football. Thats saying something given he has presided over a 100-point season, a 98-point season and a domestic treble, all before currently going for the grandest treble of all. These are now the levels, after 15 years of the Abu Dhabi project. If City win seven of their remaining eight games, which seems a fair expectation, that will be 91 points. Arsenal would require 92. As daunting as that is for a club who havent come within even 10 points of that in over a decade, and have clearly been feeling some of the expectation, there is that unmistakable air around Arsenals Colney base. This is what its all about. This is what has been denied Arsenal for too long, that gripping tension that is actually one of the great attractions of the game. Read Miguel Delaneys big match preview, here Arsenal require perfection to beat Man City the Premier League needs it too Man City vs Arsenal odds and prediction 15:08 , Jamie Braidwood Manchester City win 3/5 Draw 18/5 Arsenal win 5/1 Prediction Manchester City should have enough forward firepower to exploit Arsenals defensive vulnerabilities. Manchester City 3-2 Arsenal Man City vs Arsenal: Early team news 15:04 , Jamie Braidwood Nathan Ake missed Manchester Citys progression to the FA Cup final and is a doubt for this crucial league fixture. Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson, Ruben Dias, Rodri and John Stones are likely to return to the starting side after being afforded a rest against Sheffield United. Arsenal have suffered a further blow with William Saliba not expected to be ready to feature after injury. Granit Xhaka could return after illness. Predicted line-ups Manchester City XI: Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Laporte; Stones, Rodri; Mahrez, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland. Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus. When is Man City vs Arsenal and how can I watch? 15:02 , Jamie Braidwood Manchester City vs Arsenal is due to kick off at 8pm BST on Wednesday 26 April at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester. How can I watch it? Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on BT Sport 1 and Ultimate, with coverage from 7pm BST. Subscribers can stream the action via the BT Sport app or online player. Man City vs Arsenal 15:00 , Jamie Braidwood Manchester City host Arsenal in a Premier League title decider this evening at the Etihad Stadium. The champions trail the Gunners by five points, but Pep Guardiolas side have two games in hand, which means both teams still control their own destiny in the title race. More importance has been put on tonights result for Arsenal after recent draws against West Ham and Southampton. The Gunners now need to defeat City to ensure they hold on to top spot as anything less could see them overtaken by their title rivals. City, meanwhile, kept their pursuit of a treble alive with a dominant FA Cup semi final win over Sheffield United at the weekend. They are used to playing important matches consecutively and will return to league action full of confidence this evening. Until then, follow all the build-up to Manchester City vs Arsenal in our live blog. A twice-deported man was again in the country illegally when he was charged with DUI manslaughter, and investigators suspect his mysterious death two days later was due to internal injuries suffered in the crash, the Polk County Sheriffs Office says. The wreck happened just before 11 p.m. Saturday, April 22, near Haines City, about 38 miles southwest of Orlando, officials said in a news release. A 23-year-old driver from Davenport was killed in the crash, and detectives say 43-year-old Doroteo Martinez-Castro of Mexico drove on the wrong side of the road and head on into the victim. Multiple cans of Modelo beer were found in Martinez-Castros vehicle. He also admitted to a detective that he drank multiple beers and Crown Royal whiskey a short time before the crash, the sheriffs office said. He was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for an ankle injury. ... Upon his release from the hospital during the early morning hours of Sunday, April 23rd, he was booked in to the Polk County Jail and then transferred to the medical dorm for his ankle injury. Martinez-Castro died while in custody the next day, after being rushed to AdventHealth Sebring Hospital, officials said. According to the investigation so far, Martinez-Castro was being monitored by deputies and medical staff throughout Monday morning, April 24th. Deputies checked on him every 14-15 minutes, the sheriffs office said. When his food tray was delivered at 10:40 a.m., a deputy noticed he was sitting in his wheelchair unresponsive. Deputies and medical staff immediately began CPR until he was transported to Sebring. He was declared deceased at the hospital at 11:31 a.m. An April 25 autopsy revealed the suspect died from crash-related internal injuries that were not detected during his initial hospital visit, officials said. A final autopsy report is awaiting toxicology test results, officials said. Four independent investigations are being conducted in the death, and all findings will be sent to the State Attorneys Office for review, officials said. Story continues Martinez-Castro was driving with a suspended learners permit when he was arrested, officials said. He was deported the first time in 2019, after being charged with traffic-related misdemeanors, officials said. DUI on a bicycle? Man was pedaling while intoxicated on Florida island, police say 2-year-old boy found covered in flies, locked in feces-smeared room, Florida cops say Escort website, prison inmate tied to cold case of Florida womans burned body, cops say This story has been updated to reflect new information. A 22-year-old man from Beaverton, Oregon died Wednesday in a two vehicle collision on I-5 north of 93rd Avenue Southwest in Thurston County. The collision occurred about 12:11 a.m. south of Tumwater Boulevard, according to a press memo from Washington State Patrol. The incident blocked traffic for six hours and thirty minutes early Wednesday morning. The Beaverton man reportedly traveled north in a Honda Civic in lane two of three. Trooper Robert Reyer said the Honda struck a disabled semi-truck, and both vehicles came to a rest in a ditch on the right side of the roadway. The driver of the semi-truck, a 30-year-old Fresno man, did not suffer any injuries, according to the memo. The Fresno man reportedly wore a seat belt while the Beaverton man did not. The Honda and the semi-truck were totaled in the collision, per the memo. State Patrol indicated they were investigating the cause of the collision. Its still unknown if drugs or alcohol were involved, per the memo. Robert Trumper awoke to cries for help just before midnight as flames engulfed the home of his grandparents and younger brother. Grandpa, I heard him yelling, I cant breathe, I cant breathe, Trumper, who had been asleep in a trailer outside the El Cajon home, told KGTV. He tried to enter through a sliding glass door but passed out from the smoke and heat. I went to yell, I got you, Im going to come save you. But I was unable to, Trumper told KGTV. Marilyn Trumper and Herman Trumper, both in their 80s, died in the fire Thursday, April 20, along with Ian Trumper, who was disabled, a family member told KNSD. When I got out of our apartment, which is in the middle, there was ashes everywhere, neighbor Lili McFarland told the station. And then you could see on the roof, ashes. Firefighters from multiple agencies responded to theaggressive blaze, which also burned a utility pole, KFMB reported. Neighbors reported hearing explosions. At some point the gas line ruptured, Battalion Chief Michael Christiansen of San Miguel Fire & Rescue told the station. Utility crews had to shut the line off from the street because it ruptured before reaching the meter, Christiansen told KFMB. Firefighters pulled two people from the home and took them to a hospital, where they died, the San Diego County Sheriffs Department said in a news release. The third person was found dead inside the charred home. A vehicle also burned in the fire, sheriffs officials said. Robert Trumper, who was treated for smoke inhalation, told KGTV his grandparents adopted him as a 6-year-old because his parents couldnt care for him. They saved my life, and I feel like, I feel like a failure because I was supposed to save their lives, he told the station. Sheriffs investigators are working to determine the cause of the blaze, the agency said. El Cajon is a city of 105,000 people about 15 miles northeast of San Diego. 12-year-old clings to tree on cliff after fall that killed his dad, Oregon sheriff says Help me. Tow truck driver loses eye when hes hit by flying metal, Utah family says Shark just wouldnt let go. Surfer loses foot after attack off Hawaii, family says Tents line up "The Zone" in Phoenix on April 11, 2023. The man whom Phoenix police arrested in connection with a burning dumpster death in "The Zone" was no longer facing murder charges as of Tuesday but was rearrested on a May 2022 drug possession charge. Since he was arrested on March 22, Larry Scott, 22, has been passed between Glendale and Maricopa County custody twice. On March 21, a man was found dead after being thrown in a dumpster and set on fire in the sprawling downtown Phoenix homeless encampment called "The Zone." Two of three suspects were arrested, one of them Scott. Court records indicated Scott had been homeless for 13 months. But Scott was never charged, and county prosecutors kicked his case back to Phoenix detectives, with no immediate explanation. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office handed Scott off to Glendale Police Department custody on March 28 on a warrant stemming from a 2020 charge of smoking marijuana in public. He was released that day after he appeared before a Glendale Municipal Court judge. Scott pled guilty in that case on April 18 but for a lesser charge of obstruction of justice. Police said he admitted he didnt give officers his real name when they arrested him. The next day, Scott had a scheduled appearance in Maricopa County Superior Court on a felony charge of carrying meth. But he missed it, triggering a bench warrant. That meth case had been suspended or paused on Feb. 10, after the Superior Court judge ordered Scott into a diversionary program. After court ruling: Phoenix likely to clear The Zone homeless encampment beginning in May On March 22, Maricopa County prosecutors issued a motion to resume the drug case after he failed to enroll in the diversionary program, and he was rearrested. According to Maricopa County Attorney's Office Communications Director Jennifer Liewer, "The defendant had two unsuccessful enrollments since 2022, with the latest enrollment happening on Feb. 9, 2023." After he missed the April 19 hearing, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge David Garbarino issued a warrant. Story continues Glendale police arrested Scott that day in a Glendale warehouse under the warrant, plus a new charge of trespassing. Scott faces a felony drug charge in county court and a trespassing charge in city court but no murder charges. The County Attorney's Office did not bring charges against Scott in the arson murder but did against 19-year-old Isaiah Baskin, the other person police arrested on suspicion of the act. Police claimed that Baskin told them that Scott and an unknown third man beat up the victim, wrapped him in trash bags and then helped them put the victim in a dumpster. He also told them that the third man was the one to light the fire, and he and Scott added firewood to the fire after, police claimed. According to a police report, police found surveillance video from local businesses and residents that showed Baskin and another man lifting the man into the dumpster. On April 6, Phoenix police announced a $2,000 reward for anyone with information that could help identify the victim or the third man. Scott has a hearing in Maricopa County Superior Court on May 1 and a hearing in Glendale Municipal Court on May 5. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Larry Scott, first held in Phoenix dumpster death, faces drug charge Keith Carnes, who spent more than 18 years in prison before he was freed in 2022, filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Kansas City police that alleges officers framed him for a murder he did not commit. The petition, filed in the Western District of Missouri, claims KCPD officers hid evidence and coerced witnesses to pin a 2003 fatal shooting on Carnes, now 53. The lawsuit also names a former assistant prosecutor and several officers. Carnes was convicted of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the Oct. 6, 2003, killing of Larry White, who was shot in a parking lot at 29th Street and Prospect Avenue. Carnes was sentenced to life in prison. He was released last year after Jackson County prosecutors declined to refile charges against him, saying though they were unconvinced of his innocence there was insufficient evidence to bring the case to trial again. That decision came days after the Missouri Supreme Court tossed Carnes conviction because an eyewitness account was not disclosed to Carnes defense team, in what is known as a Brady violation. Eve Moffatt hugs her son, Keith Carnes, before he spoke to the press outside of his attorneys office Monday, April 11, 2022. Earlier in the day, Carnes was freed from prison after 18 years. The prosecutors office declined to file charges after the Missouri Supreme Court threw out his conviction for murder and armed criminal action. Carnes lawsuit is at least the third filed against KCPD in recent memory that alleges misconduct led to a wrongful conviction. Kevin Strickland, who spent 43 years in prison for a triple murder he did not commit, and Ricky Kidd, who served 23 years for a double killing he did not commit, have also filed suit. As it does in response to most lawsuits, the Kansas City Police Department said Wednesday it does not comment on pending litigation to ensure fairness for all sides involved. Carnes lawsuit alleges KCPD officers produced a series of false and fraudulent reports in the case and ignored leads that a feared drug dealer was the real killer. While evidence emerged of the other suspect, officers stuck to their scheme and hid evidence of Carnes innocence, according to his lawyers with the Chicago-based law firm Loevy & Loevy. While nothing can return the 18 years that Keith lost, this lawsuit is a step towards justice for Keith and his family, one of his attorneys, Locke Bowman, said in a statement. The Kansas City police practices described in this lawsuit fabricating evidence to secure convictions and propel officers own careers forward amount to corruption. Story continues Two witnesses in the case, Wendy Lockett and Lorraine Morrow, testified that Carnes chased White and shot him multiple times. But in 2014, Lockett recanted her testimony, alleging that she had been coerced into identifying Carnes. Morrow also recanted her testimony and recalled being pressured by then-Assistant Prosecutor Amy McGowan into picking Carnes. The lawsuit alleges Morrow told McGowan she saw the other drug dealer shoot White, but that McGowan suppressed evidence and threatened Morrow with jail time if she failed to deliver the false testimony that McGowan had planted. Carnes is suing McGowan, who also prosecuted Kidd, as well as the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners, which oversees the department. The Star could not reach McGowan for comment. Further complicating Carnes case, Lockett testified in a 2021 court hearing that her original testimony actually was accurate and she was harassed into recanting by Carnes supporters. At the same hearing, Morrow said she was suffering from too many medical conditions to remember the night of the murder clearly. When prosecutors dropped the charges against Carnes, they said a special masters investigation found no prosecutorial misconduct in the case. Prosecutors also blasted a private investigator who reviewed Carnes case, saying she pressured witnesses to recant. Carnes lawyers noted that Missouri only compensates people freed with DNA evidence, which was not the case in Carnes exoneration and is not how most innocent prisoners win their freedom. NEW YORK (AP) A 31-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Wednesday for killing a New York City emergency medical technician by running her over with her own ambulance. Jose Gonzalez was convicted of first-degree murder last month in the March 2017 murder of Yadira Arroyo, a 14-year Fire Department veteran and mother of five, in the Bronx. Prosecutors said the fatal encounter started when Gonzalez grabbed the back of Arroyo's ambulance and rode on it, then jumped off and stole a man's backpack. The robbery victim flagged down the ambulance and Arroyo got out and spoke briefly to Gonzalez, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said. Gonzalez then jumped into the driver's seat of the ambulance, backed up over Arroyo and drove forward, dragging her across an intersection, Clark said. Arroyo was pronounced dead at a hospital. The case against Gonzalez was delayed by psychiatric evaluations to determine his fitness to stand trial. He was convicted on March 8 after a month-long trial. Clark said in a statement that the sentencing closes a long and difficult chapter for the victims family and her FDNY colleagues, who have waited for justice for six years. The Daily News reported that Arroyo's mother, Leida Rosado, said in court before the sentencing, "At night, before I close my eyes, Yadi is the last thought on my mind. Taken from me in the most savage way. Gonzalez told the courtroom, I apologize to the victims family. I never knew what was going on. Gonzalez's attorney had sought a sentence of 20 years to life. A 53-year-old man was arrested after he was accused of trying to kidnap a 12-year-old girl on her walk to school, Utah officials said. Police were called on reports of an attempted kidnapping on April 25 in Salt Lake City, according to a news release. A dark-colored GMC truck pulled up next to the girl as she was walking to Liberty Elementary School, Salt Lake police said. The driver offered the girl money and a ride, and the girl declined the offer and walked away, police said. The man drove toward the girl to keep her from leaving, police said. The girl was able to run away and reported the incident at school, police said. McClatchy News reached out to the school for comment on April 26 and is awaiting a response. We were fortunate that school surveillance footage captured helpful images and was of help to the police in their investigation, school principal Julia Barrientos said in a letter to parents obtained by KSL. Police said they spotted a truck matching the description and made the arrest. The man will be booked into Salt Lake County Metro Jail on one count of attempted child kidnapping, police said. Mother clings to door as teen steals SUV with 8-year-old inside, Pennsylvania cops say Woman fakes her kidnapping, then shes caught getting food with neighbors, GA cops say Man kidnaps his ex-girlfriend and goes on a rampage after she escapes, feds say 13-year-old girl who vanished in Texas found living with man in Mississippi, cops say palm trees and view of Manhattan Beach, where 2024 Junteenth celebrations will be held. June 19th, or Juneteenth, is a special date for Black Americans, and weve celebrated it for generations. For Manhattan Beach, it will be extra special next year. Following a city council vote, this formerly Black-owned area will host Juneteenth festivities. According to Black Enterprise, The city council says that the Parks and Recreation Commission will plan events for Juneteenth at Bruces Beach. Bruces Beach, A Segment Of Manhattan Beach, Was Black-Owned More than a century ago, Bruces Beach, a segment of Manhattan Beach, was Black-owned. After relocating West during The Great Migration, Charles and Willa Bruce purchased the land. They transformed it into a seaside resort and called it Bruces Lodge. Over time, it earned the name Bruces Beach. This special site was one of joy for Black people. Here, they could be themselves against the backdrop of sun, sea, and sand. However, in true racist fashion, this bothered nearby white residents to such an extent, that they chased the Black people out. In 1924, white residents claimed they wanted to build a park, but their intentions were completely motivated by racism. Not only did the Manhattan Beach City Council acquiesce to the demands of the white residents, it actively worked to prevent the Bruces, or any other Black family, from purchasing property in the area. It wasnt until July 2022, that ownership of Bruces Beach was returned to the descendants of Charles and Willa Bruce. The Hostility Shown To Black Residents Of Bruces Beach Wasnt Unique The most infamous example of the destruction of Black businesses and homes happened in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1921, but Black residents of Bruces Beach experienced similar hostility. According to The Los Angeles Times, tires were slashed. The Ku Klux Klan purportedly set fire to a mattress under the main deck and torched a Black-owned home nearby. Fake 10 minutes only parking signs were posted to deter Black out-of-town folk. The publication notes that the Pacific Beach Club in Huntington Beach, which was Black-owned, was burned the day before it was set to open. Story continues The roadblocks keeping Black people from owning property was systemic racism in action. Because of certain laws, it was harder, if not impossible, for Black people to build generational wealth. According to MB News, council members agreed that if Manhattan Beach was to do an event, it should be done the right way. It should be spread across multiple places in the city, including Polliwog Park and Civic Center Plaza. Recently, Juneteenth Was Declared A Federal Holiday In June 2021, President Biden signed Juneteenth into law, making it a federal holiday. This prompted some Black people to rightly ask what took so long. They also point out that July 4th isnt, and never has been, about Black emancipation. The ancestors of Black Americans were still enslaved in 1776. Whats about to happen in Manhattan Beach is encouraging. Theres a necessary conversation to be had, however, about the true history of Bruces Beach. That history is just one example of how the U.S. has consistently undermined and mistreated Black people. RELATED: Juneteenth Museum Coming To Forth Worth, Texas Thanks To Grandma Of Juneteenth Manhattan prosecutors are asking a judge to prevent former President Trump from disseminating evidence in his hush money criminal case publicly after his lawyers declined to consent to such an agreement, according to court filings. Prosecutors are arguing a protective order, which would place rules on how Trump can use evidence prosecutors turn over to him during discovery, is needed given his history of attacking those involved in legal proceedings against him. At Trumps arraignment earlier this month, Assistant District Attorney Catherine McCaw indicated prosecutors were negotiating such an order with his legal team and were very close to agreement and finalizing the language. But those talks have apparently broken down. Initially, the People sought to negotiate the terms of a protective order with defense counsel, McCaw wrote to the judge this week. Defense counsel has since indicated that they will not consent to a protective order, so the People are now moving for such an order, she continued. Trump attorney Susan Necheles told The Hill the former president will file a response next week. We havent resolved anything yet, Joe Tacopina, another attorney representing Trump in the case, told The Hill earlier this month when asked about the negotiations. Beyond keeping the discovery private, prosecutors are also hoping to prevent Trump from viewing the evidence when his lawyers arent present. They further want to redact the names of certain district attorney staff from the materials until a trial begins and require Trump to get consent from prosecutors before he can see forensic images of witness cellphones. Manhattan prosecutors noted Trumps attacks about the past probe into Russias election interference in the 2016 election, the current federal investigations into Jan. 6, 2021, the mishandling of government records at Mar-a-Lago, and the probe by Georgia authorities over Trumps effort to influence the election there. Story continues This pattern, particularly given that Defendant is currently under federal investigation for his handling of classified materials, gives rise to significant concern that Defendant will similarly misuse grand jury and other sensitive materials here, McCaw wrote. Trumps legal team is expected to leverage the materials as they prepare a motion to dismiss the indictment. But prosecutors said at Trumps arraignment they wanted a protective order before handing any of it over. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office asked a judge to issue an order prohibiting former President Donald Trump from publicly discussing information prosecutors turn over to his lawyers before hes tried on business fraud charges. Most Read from Bloomberg The risk that this defendant will use the covered materials inappropriately is substantial, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Catherine McCaw wrote. Defendant has a long history of discussing his legal matters publicly including by targeting witnesses, jurors, investigators, prosecutors, and judges with harassing, embarrassing, and threatening statements on social media and in other public forums and he has already done so in this case. Trump was indicted in Manhattan after a grand jury determined there was enough evidence to proceed with a case against him for paying hush money to a porn star during his 2016 campaign. He pleaded not guilty. In a deviation from a standard request for a protective order to limit the disclosure of information exchanged between parties ahead of trials, Braggs office went to great lengths in describing Trumps history in legal matters, stressing the special need for such an order in this case. In Tuesdays filing, the prosecutor noted that in Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election, as well as two separate impeachment trials in Congress, Trump criticized and ridiculed witnesses and officials involved in those matters. On social media, Trump described former FBI director James Comey as an untruthful slime ball. In the first impeachment trial, involving an attempt by Trump to pressure Ukrainian officials to open an investigation into Joe Biden, Trump disparaged Marie Yovanovitch, the US Ambassador to Ukraine whom he fired, and criticized Alexander Vindman, an official who expressed alarm over Trumps phone call with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Story continues Trump has already begun attacking potential witnesses in this case, including Michael Cohen, his former fixer, who paid $130,000 in hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election to guarantee that she wouldnt disclose an alleged sexual liaison she had with Trump years earlier. After his indictment, Trump sued Cohen. Prosecutors also cited the example of Ruby Freeman and her daughter, volunteer poll workers in Georgia, who were falsely accused by Trump on social media of double-counting ballots in heavily democratic Fulton County. The harassment unleashed on the women resulted in Freeman, on the advice of the FBI, having to vacate her home for approximately two months. At Trumps arraignment on April 4, prosecutor Christopher Conroy raised the topic before Judge Juan Merchan, saying Braggs office would ask for a protective order for discovery materials only, but was considering whether stricter conditions were warranted. In Tuesdays filing, McCaw said Trumps lawyers said they wouldnt agree to a protective order, so prosecutors were asking the judge to impose it. The prosecutors also expressed concern over allegations that Trump took classified materials from the White House and brought them to Mar-a-Lago, his home in Florida. As part of the protective order, theyre asking that Trump be allowed access to discovery materials only in the presence of his attorneys. The case is The People of the State of New York v. Trump, 71543-23, Supreme Court, State of New York, County of New York. (Updates with examples of harassment) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. From left to right: Dylan Arrington, Corey Harrison, Jerry Raynes and Casey Grayson A man who escaped from a Mississippi jail and is believed to have murdered a pastor while on the run has been killed in a police shootout. Dylan Arrington, 22, and three other inmates broke out of the Raymond Detention Center near Jackson on Saturday night, police say. One of the escapees, Jerry Raynes, has since been arrested in Texas. The suspects reportedly fled via two breaches in the building, including one on the jail's roof. People in the area have been asked to remain vigilant. The four prisoners were reported missing during a routine headcount at the medium security jail in Hinds County. Authorities believe they escaped to the jail's roof by nightfall and may have left the facility at different times. Along with Arrington and 51-year-old Raynes, the two other suspects have been identified as Casey Grayson and Corey Harrison, both 22. The men were in custody on a variety of charges, primarily related to thefts. Raynes has a long history of escaping from jail, including from Raymond two years earlier, according to local authorities. Arrington, who was serving time for firearm and auto theft charges, is considered the prime suspect in the fatal shooting of a local resident - Reverend Anthony Watts, 61. Police say Rev Watts, the head pastor at a nearby Baptist church, was killed around 19:00 local time on Monday after pulling over to help a man - believed to be Arrington - who had crashed a motorcycle. The pastor was found dead at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds and his vehicle, a red truck, had been stolen. In a statement, daughter Kristin wrote that her father had "meant so much to so many" and "instilled so much into me". "I will miss him, and I know the days to come will seem very empty, but I know without a doubt where he is," she said. On Wednesday, police exchanged gunfire with a suspect barricaded inside a home in the city of Carthage. The sheriff's office in Leake County, where Carthage is located, said the standoff lasted about two hours and the building caught fire during the shooting. Story continues A body found inside the charred home was later identified as Arrington. A police investigator who was shot in the leg during the incident is now recovering in hospital. Residents of Leake County were earlier advised to be "extremely cautious", keep their doors locked and avoid having keys or weapons in parked vehicles. But at least one of the remaining three suspects went as far as Texas, where he was arrested in Spring Valley on Thursday. Police released surveillance footage earlier showing Raynes at a petrol station in the city of Spring Valley, just outside of Houston, before his arrest. Raynes is believed to have also stolen a government public works vehicle that has since been recovered. Police said Raynes is now in custody and will face extradition back to Mississippi. Conditions at the prison the four men escaped from this weekend has faced intense scrutiny over the past year. In July, a federal judge seized control of Raymond, citing "severely deficient" conditions and a "stunning array" of assaults and deaths among detainees. A public safety consultant was appointed as a "receiver" by the judge in October, with 120 days to devise a plan to improve conditions. The judge's order was stayed by an appeals court in December after local officials asked for the move to be reconsidered. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks to reporters as she leaves the US Capitol on November 17, 2022. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Marjorie Taylor Greene said "everyone" she talks to is shunning Fox News after Tucker Carlson's exit. They have deleted Fox News on their phones and canceled their Fox Nation subscriptions, she said. Fox Corporation stock fell as much as 5% on Monday after Carlson's shocking departure was announced. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has claimed that everybody she knows is boycotting Fox News after Tucker Carlson's shock departure. Appearing on Tuesday's episode of "Firebrand with Matt Gaetz," Greene told her GOP colleague that those in her circles had decided to shun the conservative media powerhouse following Carlson's sudden ousting on Monday. "Everyone I've talked to has deleted the Fox News app on their phones," she said in a clip of the interview shared on Twitter by The Recount. "People are canceling their Fox Nation subscriptions. People are saying 'I'm done with Fox,'" she added. Fox News said on Monday that the network and Carlson, who was their top-rated host, had "agreed to part ways." Carlson was reportedly blindsided by the decision. Fox Corporation stock fell as much as 5% on Monday, erasing $962 million in market value. Greene said on the podcast that Fox News had no idea "how badly they're hurting the company," while accusing the network of caving in to the "woke mob." "They believe in canceling people and silencing their speech," Greene said. "That's what they think they're doing to Tucker Carlson. Fox News went along with it." The Georgia lawmaker later accused the network of turning on "MAGA Republicans." Carlson's abrupt departure sent shockwaves through MAGA circles, with the likes of Rep. Lauren Boebert and Rep. Andy Biggs tweeting that they "stand with" Carlson. Story continues And former Fox News hosts Glenn Beck and Megyn Kelly criticized the network for cutting ties with Carlson, Insider reported. Kelly, a former Fox News anchor who left the conservative media powerhouse in 2017, called Carlson's ousting "a terrible move" on Monday's episode of her SiriusXM program "The Megyn Kelly Show." While Beck, who left Fox News in 2011, said on his BlazeTV program on Monday that it was a "suicidal move for Fox." Insider contacted Fox News for comment but did not immediately receive a response. Read the original article on Business Insider Sen. Marsha Blackburn. Drew Angerer/Getty Images GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn is promoting her own pizza cutters, which she's offering for $20 each. Blackburn said the pizza cutter sales would allow her to continue to "cut the red tape in Washington." Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is also selling beer koozies for $17 and hats for $35. Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn is offering "one-of-a-kind" pizza cutters for the price of a $20 donation to her fundraising committee. "Cutting the red tape," declares a slogan on the wheel cutter, which features the stars of the Tennessee state flag. "I'm fighting to cut the red tape in Washington, but it's not easy," Blackburn said in a Monday promotional video for the kitchen utensil. "If you pledge $20 today, I'll send you your very own made-in-America pizza cutter." Blackburn, who is running for reelection in 2024, is seen slicing a pepperoni pizza on a kitchen counter. "Together, we can cut the red tape in Washington once and for all," she said. In comparison, pizza cutters of similar functional designs are available at Walmart for $2.96 and $7.98. A stainless steel variant is going for $10.99. Blackburn's video, posted on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, was soon ridiculed by people on social media. "That's the most rediculous thing I've seen all week," one person wrote. With her pizza cutter venture, Blackburn joins a host of other GOP politicians hawking stylized household goods for donations. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who's running for the GOP presidential nomination, sells $35 hats with political slogans and beer koozies for $17. Former President Donald Trump has offered supporters merchandise, memberships to societies he appears to have made up, and chances to win a dinner with him. Story continues Items include a white T-shirt with red words for $47 donations and the title of "Great MAGA King," which appears to be a GIF of a medieval scroll for $25 donations. His store page sells merchandise like a Mar-a-Lago Christmas ornament for $95. Across the aisle, former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in August also touted $30 hats and T-shirts with the tagline "but her emails." President Joe Biden's reelection campaign is also selling $22 mugs and $32 t-shirts with designs alluding to the "Dark Brandon" meme. A representative for Blackburn did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Business Insider A Massachusetts man has been arrested after the Woonsocket police say he fled the scene of a fatal crash Friday night. Reed Barbour, 22, of Franklin, was arrested Tuesday by police in Franklin, according to the Woonsocket police. The two-car crash happened at about 11:20 p.m. Friday at the intersection of South Main and Providence streets. When police officers arrived, they learned that the driver and a passenger of one vehicle had fled on foot, Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas Oates III said in a press release. More: Motorcyclist killed in Warwick crash early Saturday The operator of the other vehicle, Thomas Seuss, 55, of Woonsocket suffered head injuries. A passenger, Brian Blanchette, 39, of Bellingham, Mass., had been ejected from the vehicle and was suffering from multiple injuries, the police said. Both were taken to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment. Blanchette was pronounced dead at the hospital. On Monday, an arrest warrant was issued for Barbour, and the Franklin police took him into custody Tuesday, according to Oates. Barbour was held overnight and will be presented to court in Massachusetts for an extradition hearing. He faces the following charges in Rhode Island: duty to stop in accident resulting in death, duty to stop in accident resulting in serious injury, driving to endanger resulting in death, driving to endanger resulting in personal injury. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Woonsocket police: Reed Barbou, Franklin MA, fled scene of fatal crash Cynthia McClain-Hill, president of the board that oversees the DWP, at Tuesday's meeting. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) Top officials at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on Tuesday blamed poor oversight and planning to explain why power poles and other utility equipment flagged as unsafe have gone unrepaired in recent years. The Times reported this week that the department launched an effort about three weeks ago to repair 1,600 of the utilitys most dangerous power poles. Some have wood that is severely deteriorated either in the poles or in the cross-arms, which hold high-voltage wires in place while others have electrical equipment that needs replacing, officials said. The overdue repairs came under scrutiny following a lawsuit against the city over a downed DWP power line that killed a father and daughter in Panorama City in 2021. The city recently agreed to settle the case for $38 million. At Tuesdays meeting of the board that oversees the DWP, utility officials said that as of Saturday, the utility had 753 outstanding priority one tickets. That classification means there is an immediate safety and/or reliability risk," according to the California Public Utilities Commission. The DWPs own standard is to fix a priority one ticket within 24 hours or perform a temporarily fix and reclassify it with lower priority, officials said. In explaining the backlog, DWP officials told the board that a contractor was brought on to help the utilitys inspection program in 2021. In the first year, the contractor identified five times the number of issues that the utility had reported the previous year, officials said. But at the time, the utility was focused on replacing poles, not priority one tickets. Priority one tickets aren't necessarily assigned to pole replacements, but can also be assigned to cross-arms or other items, Brian Wilbur, senior assistant general manager, told the commission. Cynthia McClain-Hill, president of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, asked Wilbur whether priority one tickets "were simply not prioritized? Story continues That is correct, Wilbur replied. DWP General Manager Marty Adams told the board that the department failed to use the list of the most urgent repairs to inform the order of work. We're trying to figure out exactly how that disconnect [was] allowed to happen, Adams said. Officials told the commissioners that 695 priority one tickets were closed as of late March. Of that group, 519 work requests were completed, 157 were classified to another priority and 79 tickets were canceled, either because the ticket was a duplicate or the work was completed on another request. Board members expressed frustration with the revelations about the repairs and asked for reports back on the planned fixes. Others also worried about the utility's separate backlog of priority two tickets, which can also pose problems. Beyond this, it makes us wonder what else is being missed? Commissioner Nicole Neeman Brady said. This is a massive issue in and of itself. And we should get into how and why it was missed. Crews are working seven days a week and contractors are being brought on to address the backlog, officials said. The backlog of priority one repairs is expected to be resolved by May 16, officials said. At the same time, the utility is receiving up to seven new priority one tickets each day, officials said. Questioning DWP staff about the lack of oversight, McClain-Hill cited a 2014 Daily News story on the utility's failure to replace aging poles and associated equipment. Three years earlier, the states Public Utilities Commission audited the DWPs operations and concluded that the utility did not inspect its overhead wires frequently enough to ensure they are in good condition. Weve been here before, more than once, McClain-Hill said. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The suspected mastermind of the attack on Kabul Airports Abbey Gate, which left 13 U.S. service members and at least 170 Afghans dead, has been killed by the Taliban in recent weeks, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed. Biden administration officials identified the suspect to the Washington Post as a leader within the Islamic States Afghanistan chapter, known as Islamic State-Khorasan or ISIS-K. The U.S. was not involved in the operation, but learned the individual was responsible for additional violence in Afghanistan and likely harbored aspirations to carry out attacks in the West. The attack on Abbey Gate in 2021 was a culmination point in the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. The House Foreign Affairs Committee heard testimony last month that the U.S. military did not give service members permission to engage the suspected suicide bomber before the attack occurred. Plain and simple, we were ignored, explained U.S. Marine Corps sniper Tyler Vargas-Andrews, who was catastrophically injured in the attack. Vargas-Andrews and other witnesses said that the U.S. allowed the Taliban to inflict death and destruction upon the Afghan people in those final days. Representative Michael McCaul (R., Texas), chairman of House Foreign Affairs, explained to the New York Times in a statement that any time a terrorist is taken off the board is a good day. But this doesnt diminish the Biden administrations culpability for the failures that led to the attack at Abbey Gate, and will in no way deter the committees investigation, McCaul added. The Biden administration has made the case that the U.S. does not need boots on the ground to launch counterterrorism operations. In July of 2022, the U.S. military conducted a single drone strike in Afghanistan against Ayman al-Zawahiri, then the leader of al-Qaeda. However, no single strikes of any kind have been carried out against the Islamic State in Afghanistan since the withdrawal. Story continues Officials have pointed to the Taliban as an effective counterterrorism force. I would emphasize that this development represents the continued counterterrorism pressure faced by ISIS-K in Afghanistan and beyond, explained one senior official to the Post, referring to the killing of the ISIS-K leader. Despite this position, leaks of sensitive information by a Massachusetts airman on Discord revealed that Afghanistan has become a significant coordination site for the Islamic State as the group plans attacks across Europe and Asia, and conducts aspirational plotting against the United States. Last month, General Michael Kurilla, leader of U.S. Central Command, told the the Senate Armed Services Committee that in his view, ISIS-Khorasan can do an external operation against U.S. or Western interests abroad in under six months with little-to-no warning. More from National Review Speaker McCarthy announces Limit., Save, Grow Act on Capitol Hill House Speaker Kevin McCarthy with reporters after leaving the House Floor on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 in Washington, DC Credit - Kent NishimuraLos Angeles Times via Getty Images House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday cleared his first major political test since winning the post in January, securing just enough votes to approve a Republican bill to raise the nations debt ceiling in exchange for deep cuts in government spending. The partisan measure, which House Republicans passed 217 to 215 along party lines, escalates a looming high-stakes fiscal showdown with the White House with as few as six weeks remaining before the government could default. The legislation would cut federal spending by nearly 14% over a decade by undoing several major elements of President Joe Bidens domestic agenda, including his clean energy tax credits and student loan cancellation plan. It would also impose stricter work requirements for federal nutrition and health programs starting next year. The bill now heads to the Democratic-led Senate, where it is widely viewed as dead-on-arrival. But its passage in the House marks a significant milestone for McCarthy, the embattled California Republican whose reputation and authority were on the line if he couldnt keep his narrow majority. McCarthy and GOP leadership viewed the bill as a necessary step to force Biden to negotiate over the terms of a debt ceiling increase, even though the President has vowed to veto their bill. This bill is to get us to the negotiating table, McCarthy told reporters Tuesday night. Its not the final provisions. Still, the path to passage was fraught with political conflict, requiring an intense round of overnight negotiations among party leaders and a last-minute scramble by McCarthy to win over a handful of holdouts who threatened to tank the bill. Several House Republicans raised concerns over the bills energy and environmental provisions, while others felt the work requirements being imposed on federal social programs were too weak. Story continues Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, told TIME earlier this week that she would vote no on the bill because the green energy tax credit rollbacks would make it more expensive to build solar and wind power in her state. But her position changed this afternoon following a meeting with McCarthy, where she used her holdout status as leverage to push for an amendment to require a balanced budget and three unrelated policy priorities, which she summarized as: Weed, women and guns. I feel heard by the Speaker, and I will support the debt-ceiling vote today because he listened to my concerns, hes willing to work with us on our concerns about balancing the budget, and that was meaningful, it was productive, and I believe its going to be fruitful in the near future, Mace said as she left a meeting with McCarthy in the Speakers office. With a slim margin for error, McCarthy made a litany of changes to the bill late last night to address concerns from holdout Republicans, agreeing to drop a provision that would repeal climate and energy tax credits for ethanol to address complaints from a bloc of Midwestern Republicans. He also agreed to tweaking a provision to impose work requirements sooner on low-income Americans enrolled in programs such as Medicaid and food stamps, a move intended to satisfy far-right lawmakers who insisted on tougher terms for receiving public benefits. McCarthy continued his pleas with holdouts within his caucus on Wednesday morning in a private meeting held in the basement of the Capitol, where he urged members to support the bill and provide him with a strong position to compel Biden to come to the negotiating table. All of the Midwestern Republicans who originally opposed the bill over the ethanol tax credits voted yes on Wednesday, following the overnight changes. The deciding vote came down to Rep. George Santos, a freshman Republican from New York who has gained national notoriety for having fabricated much of his biography. Santos, who faced calls to resign almost immediately after being sworn in, was the last lawmaker to cast a vote on Wednesday. He had said last week that he was a hard no, but changed his stance after reviewing McCarthys revisions. Our goal still must not be limited to simply avoiding a clean debt limit increase, Rep. Kevin Hern wrote in a letter to the Republican Study Committee, which he chairs, after the vote. Nor can we be happy with just a few token reforms I will use every tool in my arsenal to defend every provision of this package. Still, not all House Republicans were swayed by McCarthys revised bill. Four right-wing Republicans voted against the legislation, the most McCarthy could afford to lose and still pass the legislation. The Republican holdouts were Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Ken Buck of Colorado, and Tim Burchett of Tennessee (Biggs and Gaetz were part of the group that battled McCarthy for 15 rounds of voting during his grueling, televised four-day spectacle for the Speakers gavel in January). The U.S. officially hit the debt ceiling last month, and as a result could face the prospect of default as soon as June if lawmakers and the White House do not strike a deal to raise the federal borrowing limit within the next two months. As the deadline looms, Biden has argued that the debt ceiling should be raised without conditions given the immense risks a default would present to the U.S. economy. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, on Wednesday blamed the GOP for hostage taking and said that House Republicans brought the country dangerously close to defaulting. But with no bipartisan resolution in sight, or even a meeting between Biden and McCarthy on the horizon, it remains unclear. The sad part here is, now the Democrats need to do their job, McCarthy said immediately after the vote. The president can no longer ignore [it] by not negotiating. Two California lawmakers have joined forces to lobby for changes to an intelligence-gathering tool that allows for warrantless spying on foreign nationals, a process that can sweep up information on Americans in the process. The Fourth Amendment Caucus formed by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D) and Tom McClintock (R) is arguing for reform as Congress weighs reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). With a nod to the constitutional protection against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government, a Dear Colleague letter says the caucus would fight to safeguard against warrantless searches and seizures, close privacy-violating surveillance loopholes, and protect and restore Fourth Amendment rights. Section 702 allows for the warrantless surveillance of foreigners outside the United States, even as they communicate with U.S. citizens on domestic soil. Its a feature that many fear allows intelligence agencies to keep tabs on U.S. citizens without securing a warrant. In 2021, according to the most recent data available, authorities surveilled more than 232,000 foreign nationals under Section 702, but some 3.4 million Americans were queried in what the caucus referred to as backdoor searches. Rep. Darin LaHood (R- Ill.) has said he believes he was swept up in one such FISA search. It is crucial to emphasize that the reforms spearheaded by the Caucus will protect American civil liberties while preserving national security. United in our efforts, we can profoundly impact the protection and preservation of privacy rights for all Americans, Lofgren and McClintock wrote in their letter. The caucus is the latest sign of the uphill battle to reauthorize 702 a cause that can make for strange bedfellows. While some of the GOPs most right-wing members have been vocal in expressing concern over reauthorization, so have some of Congresss more left-leaning members, with Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) saying the reauthorization process must include meaningful reforms to protect Fourth Amendment rights. Story continues The Justice Department and FBI have been making the case for Section 702 reauthorization, warning of what they would lose if the power expires at the end of the year. What keeps me up at night is thinking about what will happen if we fail to renew Section 702 of FISA, said Matthew Olsen, the assistant attorney general for national security, at a discussion at the Brookings Institution in March. Without 702, we will lose indispensable intelligence for our decision-makers and warfighters, as well as those of our allies. And we have no fallback authority that could come close to making up for that loss. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell defended the high ethical standards already observed by the Supreme Court in the face of a report that Justice Clarence Thomas took undisclosed luxury trips paid for by a prominent GOP donor. Most Read from Bloomberg Speaking on the Senate floor, the Kentucky Republican indicated that a three-page statement signed by all nine justices vowing to follow foundational ethics principles and practices but suggesting no need for a formal code of conduct sought by Democrats is adequate. The statement was attached to a Tuesday letter from Chief Justice John Roberts refusing to testify to the Senate Judiciary Committee on court ethics. Unlike the activists and elected Democrats trying to tear them down, the justices have proven their sobriety and their judicial temperament over their long and distinguished careers, McConnell said. McConnell also lambasted what he called never-ending attempts to smear and defame justices appointed by Republican presidents going back years and decades. His comments point further to a likely lack of any action in Congress to impose an ethics code, since some GOP support would be needed to move legislation through the Senate. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin on Tuesday pushed back on the document, saying he was surprised that the chief justices recounting of existing legal standards of ethics suggests current law is adequate and ignores the obvious. Durbins request for Roberts to testify came in response to a ProPublica report that Justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose luxury trips over two decades that were paid for by Harlan Crow, a Texas real estate developer who has donated millions to conservative causes. In a second story, ProPublica reported that Crow bought three Georgia properties, including Thomass boyhood home, from the justice and relatives. Story continues On Tuesday, Bloomberg reported that despite Thomass statement that Crow did not have business before the court, there was a 2005 appeal that was rejected by the court involving one of the Crow family businesses. Meanwhile, Politico on Tuesday reported that Justice Neil Gorsuch, just days after his confirmation, sold a Colorado property he owned with two other individuals to the chief executive of Greenberg Traurig, one of the nations biggest law first with business before the high court. Gorsuch reported the purchase but not the purchaser in his 2017 financial disclosure form. The justice, through a spokesperson, declined to comment. McConnell defended both Thomas and Gorsuch, saying they have been particularly subjected to a carousel of character assassination. Durbin said Democrats on his committee are considering next steps toward drafting a code of ethics in Congress, because it appears unlikely that Roberts will push one for the court. On Wednesday, Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Independent Senator Angus King of Maine introduced a bipartisan bill that would require the high court to adopt one within a year and to appoint an official to review potential conflicts of interest and public complaints. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) tried to ratchet up the pressure on President Biden Wednesday to negotiate with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on legislation to raise the debt limit and made clear he doesnt plan to step in to resolve the impasse. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle think McConnell will eventually have to come up with a compromise proposal to avoid default, as he did during the debt-limit standoff of 2011 and again in 2021, when he cast one of 14 GOP Senate votes to extend the federal governments borrowing authority. But McConnell on Wednesday warned that Biden will not be able to continue avoiding direct talks with the Speaker. I think the Speaker has done an excellent job of unifying our side and its logical for many of you to begin to wonder what happens next whether the House passes this measure or not, McConnell said of McCarthys proposal to pair the debt limit increase with $4.8 trillion in spending cuts. What happens next is what I have said repeatedly for the last couple of months, he said. I want to disabuse any of you of the notion that theres any measure clearing the Senate with 60 votes that could be approved by this House. This agreement must be reached because we must never default and the agreement must be reached between the Speaker and the president, he added. McConnell argued that the president knows how to do this, noting the compromise he worked out with Biden, who was then vice president, in 2011 to raise the debt limit in exchange for significant spending cuts. He said Biden knows that in divided government you dont get things exactly the way you want them. So, I would remind the president just he did in 2011 that this is one of those occasions, he added. Until he and the Speaker of the House reach an agreement, well be at a standoff. The American people expect the president and the Speaker to get together and work this out, he said. McConnell made his comments as McCarthy was making a furious push for 218 Republican votes in the House to pass his proposal. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), speaking to reporters shortly after McConnells press conference, said McCarthys plan is dead on arrival in the Senate if it manages to pass the lower chamber. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty The Broadway play Leopoldstadt begins with joy. It is 1899, and a wealthy Jewish family living in Vienna is gathering for Christmas. They are drinking, teasing each other, and chasing after kids. The men are debating Zionism, Jewish identity, and culture. One daughter gossips with her aunt about a crush. A son starts talking about his dreams for the future. Sir Tom Stoppards newest work is a personal opus, inspired by his own familys experience during the Holocaust and the years leading to it. It charts 50 years of that familys existence as they come of age and grow old, navigating love, sex, business, and their faith against the rise of Bolshevism and a palpable antisemitic mood. That culminates with a sequence set in 1938, when the Nazis have arrived and, along with them, Kristallnacht. The act unfolds, appropriately, like a tense horror scene, with crashes, screams, and explosions in the distance as the family gathers and attempts to prepare their affairs. The Nazis requisition their home, and they are transported to camps the following day. Leopoldstadt on Broadway Brings Jewish History to Haunting, Urgent Life Its an unsettling, searingly urgent climax, given the disturbing, rising tide of antisemitism in the U.S. and around the world today. But Leopoldstadt wouldnt be such a critically hailed piece of theaterthe rare production that demands to be seenif it didnt feature a full orchestra of human emotion, a swell of laughter and hope in harmony with the fear. Its the crucial reminder of the gravity of the loss that the audience knows is coming. A lot of times the audience will come in and be like, Well, this is the Holocaust play, Its gonna be really heavy, actor Brandon Uranowitz, who plays two pivotal roles in the production, tells The Daily Beast. And then we show up in 1899 and everyones really prosperous. Its really light-hearted and fun and funny. Sometimes the audience will give themselves permission to loosen into it. Or theyll still be like, Mmm, I dont know. This feels like a red herring on some level. This is still about the Holocaust.' Story continues Theres a coda to Leopoldstadt that happens before the curtain call, and it centers heavily around the second character Uranowitz plays: Nathan, one of only three family members to survive, and the only one who survived the camps. The three gather in the familys home in Vienna again, haunted by memories, their own identities, what they lived through, and what their loved ones didnt. They talk through what it means to remember this past and what its like to wear it as a permanent scar, one that never stops pulsing with pain. "Leopoldstadt." Joan Marcus Its in this sequence that Uranowitz has a releaseas Nathan but also as himself, as we learn while talking with him over coffee in Manhattans Hells Kitchen, blocks away from the Longacre Theater, where Leopolstadt plays eight times a week. During this monologue, his mop of curly hair seems to tangle and rise from his head, as if its fleeing the tumult Nathan is weathering. As his emotion builds, you see him start to break in a cascade: first his voice cracks, then his tired eyes well up, and eventually his body gives out. He practically melts into a chair as he wails. Hes letting out his trauma. Hes also announcing it. Uranowitz has been letting out this cry for seven months now. In doing so, hes repeatedly articulating the memory of the family the play representsbut also his own. Its the kind of work accolades like the Tony Awards are designed for, and Uranowitz, like many people involved with the stunning production of Leopolstadt, is tipped for those mentions. Finally, he says, its the kind of work that is starting to get a little easier. During rehearsals and previews, I had a really tough time not taking residue from the show home with me, he says. And that was really exhausting. It was hard to exist outside the world of the play, which is a really dark, heavy place to be. But your body does a strange thing: It starts to remember things. He brings up the book The Body Keeps the Score, which is about how your body can remember trauma and store it in your cells. Now that Ive been doing it this long, my body does this weird thing where it remembers where it needs to be, which is really helpful, because I dont have to spend as much time with the heavy stuff. Uranowitzs career is not without its heavy stuff. Its also not without its lighter fare. In fact, its rare for a Broadway resume to be this variedor this flawless. In 2019, he starred opposite Keri Russell and Adam Driver in the play Burn This, earning a Tony nomination. That was his third Tony nod. The first two came for the 2017 musical revival Falsettos, set at the dawn of the AIDS crisis, and 2015s mounting of An American in Paris. His Broadway debut was in the 2011 jukebox musical Baby, Its You!, and hes also starred in 2017s Hal Prince revue, The Prince of Broadway, as well as the 2017 Tony-winning musical The Bands Visit. Brandon Uranowitz and Stephanie J. Block perform with the cast of "Falsettos" onstage during the 2017 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 11, 2017 in New York City. Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions Theres the kind of Broadway that razzle-dazzles you: maybe a classic, maybe a carousel of show-stoppers, maybe something that makes you swoon nostalgia. Theres the kind that challenges you: thats difficult, that drives the stake into the cultural conversation so that the seismic web of cracks force their tendrils into issues that matter, that change us. Some are period pieces that resonate in surprising ways. Some bring A-list actors right before your eyes in real lifestar wattage as thrilling and blinding as the floodlights. Uranowitz, it seems, has done all of them. But Leopolstadt is different. Its a singular show, bringing with it, for Uranowitz, a singular experience: purpose. Its something that most adults dont get to enjoy professionally and, certainly, is something thats rare for an actor to find. I honestly can't think of anything else I should or could be doing, he says. Especially right now. I think this play is so much bigger than any one of us When word circulates that theres a new Sir Tom Stoppard play coming and youre a Broadway actor, you take notice. (Again, this is Stoppard, considered one of the greatest living playwrights. Word circled Times Square faster than a chorus boy from Newsies doing triple pirouettes.) Uranowitz emailed his agents that he had to be seen to audition for it. He was sent a script, which knocked the wind out of him. I was like, if I dont book this, if I dont get this role, then what am I doing? He couldnt imagine not being a part of this production. And I dont mean that to sound like theres nobody else out there who could do what I do, or who could bring something to these roles. I just felt such a personal draw to the show, more than just like, Oh, God, I want this part. It was so much bigger than that, he says. I think this play is just so much bigger than any one of us. Uranowitz grew up in West Orange, New Jersey, part of a Jewish family that he recognized in the characters from Leopoldstadt. The play has specific tethers to his own history, which he feels and processes every night on stageespecially during that final act, in that moment of extreme release. His fathers aunthis mothers sistersurvived the camps. She lived in a bungalow in the Catskills, and Uranowitz remembers going to visit her when he was young. She was always forthcoming about her stories from that time, echoing what is said in the play, that its a duty to speak about what happened. I grew up with that sentiment that, yes, this is old information. This is stuff that we know but you have to constantly say it out loud and remind ourselves so that it doesnt fade away, he says. Because my own DNA, my own family has such a connection to the story of this play, the way that I access the emotional requirements is to put my family in that situation. Thats a tough, dark place to go to every night. Theres also a sense of responsibility. I think that we all feel that obligation. So that also helps to mitigate some of the pain that we have to put ourselves through. "Leopoldstadt." Joan Marcus I ask if hes ever spoken with his family, specifically his father, about this. The funny thing is, my family exists right at that intersection of Jewish identity that we talk about in the play a lot, which is the push and pull of Jewish pride while also feeling the need to assimilate for survival, he says. My family is very much right smack in the middle of that push-pull. And because of the assimilation piece, despite my aunts efforts, my family doesnt like to talk about that stuff. Not in any sort of dire way, his parents priorities right now, he expects, are to make sure hes OK. Theyre concerned about his heart and his mental health, doing this play each night, and likely want him to just be able to, for the time being, do his job. Historically, his father, being a Jewish man of a certain generation, has struggled to talk about emotional things. But Uranowitz has seen him after seeing the play looking red-eyed and dewy-cheeked. I have a feeling those heavier discussions will happen after the shows done, he says. Not that those discussions arent happening every day. The stage door experience with people who have just seen the play can be awkward. The final moments are so visceral and stirring, they embed in you. The result of that is a theaters worth of patrons emerging from the Longacre deeply moved, yes, but also a bit shell-shocked. Its hard to lasso those feelings into coherent thoughts so immediately, which I discovered myself after seeing the production and then saying hi to Uranowitz after. I like your coat, was the sheepish comment I could bleat out, amid the in-real-time realization that anything I would speak out loud involuntarily came out as a sob. More intelligent conversations happen days later, with his partner, with his friends, with the people who direct message Uranowitz on social media, and, when theyve had some time to compose themselves, over coffee with journalists. My position here is always to get people to come see the thing, he says. So all roads lead to the play. I also bring to that my own personal experience. I bring to the play my own Jewish identity and my own identity, even my identity as a queer person. Anytime I can shed any sort of light on the way that oppressive systems affect groups of people I will seize that opportunity. Brandon Uranowitz, Robert Fairchild, Max von Essen and the cast of "An American in Paris" perform onstage at the 2015 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 7, 2015 in New York City. Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions In some respects, being a part of the Falsettos revival prepared him for this. Leopoldstadt is a period piece with themes that resonate loudly today, particularly given the antisemitism that is increasingly prevalent. Falsettos takes place in the early 80s, but its content about the LGBT community, acceptance, and family was certainly prescient when the revival mounted in 2017, in the wake of Donald Trumps election. I think [Falsettos] did help guide me to be able to at least talk in a clear and succinct way about how what we're doing relates to what's happening now, he says. And how that threshold between the house of the lawmaker and 48th Street [where these Broadway houses are] is a lot blurrier than you might think. Trump was elected the night before a Wednesday matinee of Falsettos. Ill never forget it, Uranowitz says. There was somethingI dont want to say electric because that's a little glibbut it was one of those instances where the show went deeper. That experience has prepared me for a lot. Leopoldstadt dropped in deeper when all the Kanye West stuff was happening. It dropped deeper for me on Holocaust Remembrance Day, of the liberation of Auschwitz. That was one of those shows where everyone could tell Brandons really going through it. I feel both really lucky and grateful to have done two shows that were so prescient in their historical messaging, he adds. I also hate it. I hate that this is so urgent. I hate that Falsettos felt urgent on that day. I dont like that this feels vital to be telling. If I see an empty seat, I feel like were failing to reach as many people as possible. Because I want this play to proliferate in ways that make some sort of change. I was like, Work? This is a dream Uranowitz and his Leopolstadt co-star Jenna Augen, who is a key member of that 1955-set coda with him, joke that, after this production, the only thing they could possibly do next is Guys and Dolls. Just a light-hearted musical. It comes up after I mention the difference in tenor of our conversation and the ones many actors have about their projects. They get to talk about their big tap-dance number, the pranks the cast plays on each other, and dish about which Real Housewives theyre watching at the moment. This is significantly weightier. Now that youre asking me that question, I realize that I actually get to do both, he says, in a bit of an epiphany. Each night, he goes to that dark place in Leopoldstadt and has that release. Then he goes home to the house in New Jersey he shares with his partner, Zachary Prince, and they watchyou guessed itReal Housewives. (The New Jersey franchise, for obvious reasons, is their favorite, though the news of a Mary Cosby comeback has them stoked for the new season of Salt Lake City.) They met during auditions for Baby, Its You! in 2011. Uranowitz won the role, and Prince was cast as a standby, leading to what, years later, would be the most adorable article youve ever read: Playbills What Happens When You Have a Crush on Your Standby? (Spoiler: More than a decade later, they are still pretty damn happy.) Were both Cancers, so we are home bodies who like our comfy clothes and our comfortable house and our two dogs, he says. Just a lot of snuggling and watching Real Housewives and stupid horror movies. They have two dogs. Bessie, who is 15, is hanging in there. Winnie is a spritely 7. Bessie is named after a drag queen character Prince created for a project when he was studying at Carnegie Mellon. He and the friend with whom he worked on the project made a pact to name their future pets after their drag characters. I dont think his friend made good on that Uranowitz says. Winnie is named partly after Winifred Sanderson from Hocus Pocus, partly after Winnie Cooper from The Wonder Years, and partly because it sounds like a horses name, which they liked. Then we realized that everybody had a dog named Winnie and got really upset. Theres an awareness that Uranowitz, his partner-and-dogs family, and his career are at a place that just feelsdifferent. Its something that happens when youre in a show like Leopolstadt. And its what happens when you reach a certain point in your thirties. Theres a time in peoples careers, especially in a profession like acting, where the work is fun. Life is a party. And theres a time when all of it starts to feel, not to be reductiveI, at least, can attest its truemore grown up. Uranowitzs first job out of college, when he was 23, was on the final Rent national tour with Anthony Pascal and Anthony Rapp. He remembers being at the company housing the first day of tour with his roommates, and getting a knock from someone saying, Its time to go to work. I was like, Work? This is a dream. Im on the Rent tour. Work is a party, he says. At that time, my entire future was ahead of me. I didnt have a mortgage and I didnt have dogs to take care of. I was single. Now that I have actual adult responsibilities, there is that feeling that, if I want to keep doing this, if I want to be a productive member of society while also making a living and keeping my head above water, I have to approach some of this like work. And sometimes going to work feels like going to work. This work, in particular, is going to end. Leopoldstadt is scheduled to finish its run at the beginning of July. Its the conclusion of what has, again, been a remarkable string of Broadway creditsand one that has been personally meaningful, on top of that. Its a funny thing: I look back on my career and like on paper, like, wow, its been really great, he says. But, day to day, hour to hour, when youre not working feels like forever. Im one of those actorsand I dont think this will ever changewhere every job feels like the last one. So I have no idea whats after this. And that freaks me out. I also cant imagine anything better. He gives a huge smile. Thats a scary thought. But its also, in a profound way, a quite wonderful one to have the privilege of having. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Menopause costs the U.S. economy $1.8 billion a year, according to a new study. (Photo: Getty Images) Most people are aware that menopause can come with intense symptoms such as hot flashes and insomnia. But a new study from the Mayo Clinic finds it can have a direct impact on women's ability to work and on the economy. The study, which was published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings on Wednesday, analyzed data from 4,440 participants between the ages of 45 and 60 who received care at one of four Mayo Clinic sites. The women were given a survey on their symptoms during menopause, as well as on how those symptoms impacted their work. The researchers discovered that 597 women, or 13.4%, said they had experienced at least one bad outcome at work meaning they quit, retired, were fired or missed hours or days of work due to symptoms of menopause. The researchers also found that the odds of having a bad outcome at work increased the more severe a woman's symptoms were. As a result, the researchers estimated that there is an annual loss of $1.8 billion in the U.S. due to menopausal symptoms. "This large cross-sectional study identified a major negative impact of menopause symptoms on work outcomes and the need to improve medical treatment for these women and make the workplace environment more supportive," the researchers wrote in the conclusion. The lead author of the study, Dr. Stephanie Faubion, who is the director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Womens Health and director of the North American Menopause Society, tells Yahoo Life that the calculations on economic impact didn't even count things like missed hours of work or not taking a promotion due to menopause. "That is probably grossly underestimating the problem," she says. "We're losing our most talented, experienced workers who could be on the leadership pipeline," Faubion says. "It could be one of the reasons that we have a leaky leadership pipeline and fewer women in the C suite they're opting out at the time when they could be in the pipeline." Story continues This, she says, goes hand in hand with a lack of resources available for women going through menopause. Faubion's study isn't the first to look at the economic impact of a lack of support for menopausal women in the workplace. A 2013 study of nearly 9,000 women found that those who had menopausal symptoms reported "significantly higher" issues at work, along with a greater risk of depression and anxiety than those who didn't have symptoms. Research conducted by the U.K. government also concluded that menopause can lead to reduced engagement at work, more sick days and a greater desire to stop working altogether. 'Why is anybody surprised that this has a billion-dollar impact?' Women's health experts aren't shocked by the latest findings. "There have been multiple studies, mostly from the U.K., which have shown this or worse," Dr. Lauren Streicher, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and author of Hot Flash Hell, tells Yahoo Life. "Why is anybody surprised that this has a billion-dollar impact on the corporate level and below? Insomnia, hot flashes ... people are not able to function. As a result of this, they're dropping out of the workplace, making mistakes, and they're really struggling." Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine, agrees. "Many menopausal women are up at night with hot flashes and night sweats, and they get broken sleep," she tells Yahoo Life. "And then, of course, they are putting up with hot flashes during the day." It's a lot to deal with. "Menopausal symptoms also reduce quality of life," Dr. Lauren Baker, an ob-gyn at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells Yahoo Life. 'Universal suffering should not be tolerated or normalized' Experts say the findings underscore the importance of treatment options such as hormone therapy, which can help reduce or alleviate menopausal symptoms. "Hormonal therapy is quite safe for most women and is quite effective," Minkin says. "There is a new medication that will be coming out shortly that provides good relief for hot flashes without estrogen. And there are some herbal products that can be helpful." Hormone therapy is typically seen as the best treatment for lowering the risk of hot flashes and night sweats due to menopause, along with vaginal dryness and bone loss, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists but it has a controversial past. Preliminary results were published in 2003 from the Womens Health Initiative (WHI) clinical trial that linked hormone therapy a combination of estrogen and progestin with a greater risk of heart disease, stroke, blood clots, dementia and breast cancer. The study was halted early because of this. However, researchers in 2013 found that the original study had looked at women 65 and older who already had a greater risk of conditions such as heart disease, skewing the data. "It has been argued that in the 10 years since WHI, many women have been denied HT [hormone therapy], including those with severe symptoms, and that this has significantly disadvantaged a generation of women," the 2013 study's authors wrote. Dr. Nina Ali, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, tells Yahoo Life: "FDA-approved hormone therapy options are available, and for most women, the benefits of hormone therapy far outweigh risks in the early years after menses cease. For women with contraindications to hormone therapy, there are many effective options to address symptoms based on that individual's particular needs." Women have generally gotten the message that they just need to suffer through menopause, Streicher says, but they have options they just may not be aware of them. "You want to be going through menopause with a provider: a doctor, PA, nurse practitioner or nurse midwife with experience and that you feel comfortable talking with," Minkin says. As Baker puts it: "While menopause is a universal experience for women, universal suffering should not be tolerated or normalized. Safe and effective treatment options exist to help women survive and thrive during menopause and beyond. Its time to bring attention to menopause so women get the information they need and the care and support they deserve." Support during menopause goes beyond individual treatment, though. Experts argue that businesses also need to do more to support women employees going through menopause. A growing number of companies in Europe are offering menopause leave for employees to try to combat this issue and prevent them from exiting the workforce and Streicher says American companies should take note. "We have to stop ignoring this and talk solutions," she says. Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here. Merced City School District principals and staff made two things clear to the school board during its Tuesday night meeting. First, they are grateful that the board fired superintendent Diana Jimenez during a special meeting Friday. Second, the district principals and staff want to have input on the hiring of the next superintendent. Burbank Elementary School Principal Jill Settera said she was asked by many of her colleagues who couldnt make it to the board meeting. Settera has worked in the district for 26 years, including the past 10 as a principal. Our message is to thank you, Settera said. Thank you for listening. Our school district has had the sad misfortune of hiring two superintendents Al Rogers and Diana Jimenez from outside our community, using consulting firms. Im here to tell you you dont need a consulting firm, Settera said. You have over 1,000 employees to help you select the next right leader. Jimenezs employment contract was terminated without cause during Fridays special board meeting. Jimenez lasted less than a year in the district. The board appointed Jimenez as superintendent on May 24, 2022, and she officially started on July 1, 2022. Associate Superintendent Brian Meisenheimer is now the acting superintendent. The board didnt announce any decision on an interim superintendent during Tuesdays board meeting. Setter told the board the district principals support Meisenheimer as interim superintendent to bring consistency and stability in the district. Its been a tumultuous few years for the districts top job. Jimenez was selected as superintendent after former MCSD superintendent Richard Al Rogers resigned on July 1, 2021, following a civil complaint filed against him alleging sexual harassment. Many staff members complained about the working culture in the district under Rogers and Jimenez. We are on the front line every day, said Hoover Middle School Principal Julie Rivard during Tuesdays meeting. We take care of our students, we take care of our staff. This has been done with superintendents who didnt take the time to know our campuses, who speak to us as if we are deficient and have not taken the time to listen to principal, teachers and classified staff. Story continues No more drama, MCSD...We can no longer work in a culture of fear and intimidation, Settera added. Settera suggested to the board members that district leadership, site leadership, teachers and classified staff be part of the hiring committee put together to hire the new superintendent. We are MCSD, Settera said. We have the same goals as you do to make sure the right person is hired for the job. Merced City Teachers Association President Diane Pust asked for transparency during the superintendent hiring process. Pust said MCTA members werent included in the hiring of the past two superintendents. Its time to stop being so secretive about the process, Pust said. Just like all other hires, MCTA and (California School Employees Association) need to be on those interview panels. The comments didnt go unnoticed by the school board. We heard loud and clear today the need to incorporate voices that have never been at the table, said Board Member Priya Lakireddy. So maybe we kind of look at what this process looks like. Teachers, staff, community leaders need or want to be part of this process and I think we ought to do that, Reddy added. Three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep on Wednesday won Spain's top arts prize, the Princess of Asturias award, for her "unforgettable performances" in a career spanning over five decades. The prize jury praised the 73-year-old for "successive performances in which she brings life to richly complex female characters." "The honesty and responsibility she brings to her choice of roles, at the service of inspiring and exemplary narratives, reach out beyond the screen," it added in a statement. Streep has performed in more than 60 movies, acquiring iconic status for roles from a Nazi concentration camp survivor to an ABBA-singing mother. She won her most recent Oscar in 2012 for her role as Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady". Before that, she won in 1980 for "Kramer v. Kramer" and in 1983 for "Sophie's Choice". The 50,000-euro ($55,000) award is one of eight prizes covering the arts, science and other areas that are handed out annually by the foundation named for Spanish Crown Princess Leonor. Past winners of the arts prize include US directors Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola, Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke and American architect Frank Gehry. The awards will be handed out at a ceremony hosted by Spain's King Felipe VI and broadcast live on Spanish television in October. al/ds/fb MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican prosecutors on Tuesday formally accused Mexico's top migration official with unlawful practice in public office, a criminal offense, over a fire at a government detention center that killed 40 migrants, according to Mexican media. Francisco Garduno, head of the National Migration Institute (INM), is the highest-ranking official to be formally accused in the case, which also led to the arrests of several other INM officials on homicide charges. Garduno, in remarks to reporters broadcast by Milenio television after the hearing, said he had invoked his right to remain silent before a judge. The hearing was held in Ciudad Juarez, the northern border city where the fire occurred. His lawyer, Rodolfo Perez, also in televised remarks after the hearing, said the judge denied a request from prosecutors to temporarily suspend Garduno as head of the INM. Garduno has remained in his post since the fire took place on March 27. Perez said the hearing will continue Sunday, when the judge is expected to determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to merit charges against Garduno. According to newspaper La Verdad, prosecutors told the judge that the Ciudad Juarez detention center was not equipped for fire safety or to house migrants, and Garduno did not take steps to improve conditions. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Leslie Adler) The bodies of eight people were found dumped in the Mexican resort of Cancun, one of the countrys most popular tourism destinations, authorities said Tuesday. The bodies were discovered over the weekend about 10 miles from Cancun's beach and hotel zone after police launched a coordinated effort to search for missing people in wooded lots and even sinkhole ponds, also known as cenotes, Mexican authorities said. Oscar Montes de Oca, the head prosecutor of the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo said five of the bodies were found at an abandoned construction site. Three were subsequently identified as previously reported missing people. Three sets of skeletal remains were discovered at a separate site in a wooded area on the outskirts of Cancun near a poor neighborhood, close to the resort's airport, authorities said. They have not yet been identified. MAN ALLEGEDLY LINKED TO DRUG CARTEL FATALLY SHOT AT STARBUCKS IN MEXICO CITY People enjoy a day at Playa Delfines beach (Dolphin Beach) at the Hotel Zone of Cancun, Quintana Roo State, Mexico, on November 8, 2022. Montes de Oca said authorities estimated the bodies were dumped there between one week and two months ago. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP According to the government, more than 112,000 people are listed as missing throughout the country. While crimes are more common in other areas of the country, Cancun and other resorts were typically regarded as safe travel destinations. Drug cartels have begun disposing of the bodies of their victims in clandestine body dumping grounds, especially as several cartels fight for control of the Caribbean coast and its drug trade. 3 FOUND DEAD IN CANCUN'S HOTEL ZONE, AMIDST TROUBLING SURGE IN VIOLENCE Members of the National Guard patrol a beach in the Hotel Zone of Cancun, Quintana Roo state, Mexico, on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. Authorities carried out similar searches in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, which is about 140 miles south of Cancun. Volunteers, including the relatives of missing people, assisted investigators in the searches. Search dogs were also used. CANCUN QUADRUPLE HOMICIDE LIKELY GANG RELATED, AUTHORITIES SAY Earlier this month, four men were killed in Cancun following a dispute related to drug gang activity. The dead men were found in the citys hotel zone near the beach. Story continues A U.S. tourist was also shot in the leg in the nearby town of Puerto Morelos in March. Aerial view of an almost empty beach in Cancun, Quintana Roo state, Mexico, on March 28, 2020. There have been a significant drop in the number of tourists registered in Mexico's resorts due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Cancun remains the top destination for Americans vacationing in Mexico. The U.S. State Department issued travel guidance last month that warns travelers to "exercise increased caution," especially near resorts like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum anytime after dark. In 2022, two Canadians were killed in Playa del Carmen, which is about 40 miles south of Cancun. In 2021, in the town of Tulum about 80 miles south of Cancun two foreign tourists including one American and one German were killed when they were apparently caught by gunfire from rival drug dealers. The Associated Press contributed to this report. With the announcement of Secretary Barbara Vigils resignation last week, I heard a death knell for the Child, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) as we know it. We all know it doesnt work in its current form. Child welfare was a major topic during the 2023 legislature. 60 child welfare bills were introduced. 51 did not pass. Some say, this was because of pressure from the governor. Merritt hamilton Allen The most significant legislation that did pass, the creation of a civil rights division in the attorney generals office to investigate, intervene in, and pursue civil actions in the case of civil rights violations on the part of state agencies, was vetoed. And again, legislation that would create an independent ombudsman office to investigate complaints went absolutely nowhere. It is very clear that this administration is unwilling to accept any external interference or accountability for CYFD. Yet the week after Governor Lujan Grisham vetoed the Civil Rights Division Act, her second (or fourth, if you count two interim secretaries) CYFD secretary resigned, citing unrelenting factors that affect New Mexicos most vulnerable children. Does she mean endemic poverty and drug abuse, or a systematically dysfunctional CYFD? Whichever it is, a former state Supreme Court chief justice, with specific and extensive experience in child welfare and juvenile justice, is throwing in the towel. Thats how bad it is. The legislature cant fix CYFD. And now the attorney general cant fix CYFD. This governor is so far unable (unwilling?) to fix CYFD, although a nationwide search for a new secretary has been announced. The last nationwide search resulted in a secretary who left amidst a whistleblower scandal, clear ethics violations and a lawsuit. Its time for federal receivership. Its not a simple process, but there is precedent in other jurisdictions. Advocates would have to assemble a case in federal court for CYFD to be taken out of state control and under federal receivership. If the plaintiffs prevailed, a federal receiver would be appointed to oversee CYFD. Story continues If that sounds just like more government bureaucracy to you here are some statistics from the District of Columbias six years of federal receivership: Adoptions before: 60 per year Adoptions after: 250 per year Federal revenue reimbursement before: $8 million/year Federal revenue reimbursement after: $50 million/year Overcrowding before: 114 children placed in overcrowded foster homes Overcrowding after: 39 children placed in overcrowded foster homes (nothing about office floors) Staffing before: 95 social workers Staffing after: 259 social workers Obviously, this will be opposed by many, the administration first and foremost. CYFD is already operating under a class action court order. The Kevin S. settlement from 2020 sets out benchmarks not unlike a federal receivership, they might say. Except CYFD is only meeting nine of the 51 terms mandated by the settlement, according to the independent monitors charged with tracking compliance with the settlement. It just isnt enough. We dont get to see real numbers out of CYFD, the administration makes sure of that, but what we get from the news and independent reports like those from the Kevin S. monitors tell the story: Kids with mental health or behavioral problems are placed in shelters that have no ability to cope with them. Over 1,100 calls to 911 were made by shelters housing CYFD clients between 2019 and 2022 seeking help for those children. CYFD did not disclose the childrens background before placing the children (Searchlight NM/ProPublica). Law enforcement and CYFD can make the most shocking discoveries and surviving children are not removed from the home. The most recent case involves a dead infant found to have meth in his system last year, as did the other children in the home. The children were not removed from the home, and the mother not charged in the death of the infant, even after one of the surviving children came to school smelling of pot last month. The children were removed for a 48-hour hold earlier this month, and then returned. The mother was finally charged in the death of the infant last month. (Albuquerque Journal) For the last three years that data is available, between 11-13% of children in CYFD custody have had one placement outside a licensed foster home. The worst of these options is staying in a CYFD office. There were 85 children placed in CYFD offices for a total of 188 nights in 2021. Only 15 of these placements were reviewed by the Protective Services Division Director or CYFD Secretary as required by the Kevin S. settlement (Kevin S. vs. Blalock Co-Neutrals Annual Report 2021). CYFD is lagging in compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Only one of seven ICWA requirements set forth in the Kevin S. settlement is being met (Kevin S. vs. Blalock Co-Neutrals Annual Report 2021). If a class action lawsuit with independent monitors wont bring CYFD into compliance, its time to look at the next option. The most innocent and vulnerable lives depend on it. Merritt Hamilton Allen is a PR executive and former Navy officer. She appears regularly as a panelist on NM PBS and is a frequent guest on News Radio KKOB. A Republican, she lives amicably with her Democratic husband north of I-40 where they run two head of dog, and two of cat. She can be reached at news.ind.merritt@gmail.com. Read more from Merritt Hamilton Allen: This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: New Mexico can't run CYFD any longer She was one of Miami Beachs first gallery owners, a pioneer of the citys nascent art scene, the woman who brought Andy Warhol to South Beach, and the cook of a brisket recipe so delicious it converted vegetarians. Barbara Gillman, a legendary Miami gallerist, died Sunday. She was 86. She served on the advisory committee that brought Art Basel to Miami Beach, changing the city forever. She was involved in artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapping Biscayne Bay islands in hot pink. She loaned art for Miami Vice. She dealt with some of the worlds most important contemporary artists, including but not limited to, James Rosenquist, Herman Leonard and Nam June Paik. Barbara had been dealing with dementia in the years before her passing, her sons said. She is survived by her adult children, Ed, Henry, Carolyn and Andrew; and her eight grandchildren: Brooke, Lindsey, Daniel, Michael, Sarah, Saskya, Rebecca and Sophia. A funeral service will be held Thursday afternoon at Mount Nebo Miami. Barbaras family remembers her as a loving mother and grandmother, a fierce businesswoman, a fabulous party host and one of the greatest gallery owners to grace Miami. She was the grand dame of the Miami art scene, Henry Gillman said. Making history and lemon squares Barbaras career left an undeniable mark on Miami and its arts scene. Most of all, her sons stressed, she was a champion for Miami artists. Barbara took care in educating and promoting local artists like Purvis Young to help their careers reach new heights, Henry said. She believed that Miamis artists were just as talented as anyone in New York City. Her artists were like her kids, Henry said. They were like family. And she fed them like family, too. Her dinner parties were the stuff of legend, her sons said. After every gallery opening, shed host hordes of people at her Belle Towers condo and feed them her famed brisket sandwiches and lemon squares. (The recipes were so renowned they were featured in a 2001 Herald article and republished below.) Story continues Gallery owner Barbara Gillman throws a party to celebrate the opening of her new gallery in Edgewater on Biscayne Blvd. Saturday night. Here, she serves the beef Brisket that she is known for. Her airy apartment looked like a gallery. It was teeming with art and sculptures on every wall. A custom-made sectional sofa was positioned just right to face the view of the bay. And she kept a guest book on the console for her artists to sign and draw sketches. I wanted a place that would allow me to display art, Gillman told the Herald in 2001. I wanted this to have the look of a New York loft, with the view of Miami Beach. 10/24/01 Al Diaz/Miami Herald Staff--Miami Beach--Residents at The Bell Towers, a circa 1950s luxury condominium at 16 Island Avenue, will have an open house as a fundraiser for the Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council. The name of the event is Arts Beach on Belle Isle. Barbara Gillman enjoys the bay view form her apartment. (1 of 8) Andrew said he is touched by the outpouring of support from his mothers former colleagues, friends and artists. Its been humbling and unbelievable to hear from her former artists and people I didnt even know, he said. Reaching out over the last few days, offering their condolences, but also sharing their recollections and what she did for them. Im very proud. Ahead of her time Barbaras roots run deep in Miami Beach. Her grandparents escaped Russian pogroms and arrived in Miami in 1910. They were among the first Jewish families to settle in Miami. The family co-founded the Miami Jewish Federation, Beth David Synagogue and the Miami chapter of Haddassah, Andrew said. Barbara proudly kept her Jewish Russian heritage alive, cooking her grandmothers recipes on Passover and celebrating Hanukkah with her family. She grew up in her beloved Miami Beach, swimming in the ocean and reading comic books at the drugstore. As a kid, Barbara would sweep outside the apartment building her family owned and tell tenants that she was the manager. In many ways, Barbara followed her ancestors pioneering footsteps. She was a visionary, Ed said. She was cutting edge, Ed said. She was ahead of her time at all times. She was born Barbara Seitlin on Jan. 14, 1937, making her one of the first babies born at Jackson Hospital. She attended Miami High, H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College and the University of Miami. She opened the first iteration of the Barbara Gillman Gallery in 1979 near what is now the Design District. Today, the neighborhood is replete with luxury fashion stores, expensive restaurants and social media influencers. In the 80s, not so much. It was riddled with crime, Barbara said in a 2012 interview documented by Florida International Universitys digital archives. After the gallery windows were smashed for the fourth time, she relocated to Lincoln Road in 1990, she said. She later moved the gallery to Buena Vista and Wynwood. The gallery officially closed in the early 2010s. Barbara Gillman in front of her gallery on Lincoln Road Mall in October 1995. The gallery represented Robert Thiele, Martin Kreloff, Gilberto Ruiz, Carlos Macia, Rosemarie Charlione, Purvis Young, Robert Calvo, Joseph Davoli, Dina Knapp, Janet Paparelli, Stacey Mancuso and many others. Barbara made it her business to secure grants and museum exhibitions for her artists, her sons said. Throughout her decades-long career, Barbara remained old school. She believed art should not be bought as an investment, she said in the FIU interview. You buy because you like it, she said. The Boss, the muumuus and Warhol Barbaras love for the arts left a lasting impression on her children. She taught her children to be open-minded and worldly, her sons said. Carolyn and her mother shared a love for New Orleans, music and food. She took her kids to see Ella Fitzgerald and camped out with them to snag tickets for a Bruce Springsteen concert. And, of course, there was the time the Gillman family took Andy Warhol on a tour around Miami and to dinner at Versailles. It was 1980, and Barbara brought him down to Miami for an exhibit at the Lowe Art Museum. Warhol, who was having a blast, told the kids to stand around him and act like his bodyguards. Andy Warhols Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century were exhibited in Miami by Barbara Gillman (right) and Toby Lerner Ansin (left) in September 1980 in conjunction with Beth David Congregation and the Lowe Art Museum. Barbara and Toby invited Andy to attend and he came for an exiting weekend full of activities including knishes at Beach Poultry, Matzohs Ball Soup at the Famous Restaurant and a late night dinner at Versailles . Courtesy of Barbara Gillman It was just an experience that youll never get being the son of somebody else, Andrew said. Susan Brustman, Barbaras best friend and longtime public relations guru, remembers her sense of humor and wit. The two would laugh until we cried. Brustman laughed as she recalled the time she gave Barbara a makeover. Barbara had a habit of wearing nothing but muumuus and artsy jewelry, her friend said. Brustman opened up her closet and dumped the two dozen muumuus on the bed. Barbara leapt onto the pile of muumuus and yelled, Noooooo! Brustman told her to pick two and donate the rest to charity. Brustman especially admired Barbaras passion, she said. Barbara was wholly dedicated to the success of her artists. To this day, she said, nobody is doing it like Barbara. She was a force of nature, Brustman said. She was somebody that glowed when things went well for the people she worked with. She was vulnerable, real, generous, down-to-earth, sweet. Im so going to miss her. Though Barbara traveled all over the world and hopped all over Miami-Dade County, there was no place like the beach. When an interviewer asked if her roots were in Miami Beach, the answer was a no-brainer. She was wearing a South Beach t-shirt, after all. Oh, of course. This is where I was born, Barbara said. Your roots are always where you are born. Barbara Gillmans after party recipes You dont have to be a famous Miami Beach art gallery owner to host a killer party. The following was originally written by Linda Bladholm and published in the Herald June 2001. Russian brisket: For Barbaras brisket, you want it undivided and untrimmed, known as a packers cut. This has a strip of fat rippling through the center and a layer on top called the fat cap. The brisket is placed in a giant roasting pan lined with foil, along with chunks of carrot, sliced onions, a sprinkling of brown sugar, a little ketchup, one packet of onion soup mix and some garlic powder. It is then covered tightly with foil and roasted 12 hours at 350 degrees. The thick dark brown juices are drained off and poured into jars and refrigerated; the fat is removed after it hardens on top. The juice is later heated and served as gravy. The cooled brisket is sliced across the grain and can be prepared two days ahead of time. On the night of the party, Gillman simply warms up the brisket in the oven and puts out the rolls, condiments, coleslaw, desserts and coffee in a big silver warming pot. Lemon squares: 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1 stick (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut in pieces; 1/4 cup confectioners sugar plus additional for sifting over bars; 2 large eggs; 3/4 cup granulated sugar; 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1/2 teaspoon double acting baking powder In a bowl, blend 1 cup of flour, the butter and 1/4 cup confectioners sugar until the mixture resembles meal. Pat mixture into an 8-inch square baking pan and bake in the middle of a preheated 350-degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until pale golden. In another bowl, with an electric mixer, beat eggs until thick. Beat in granulated sugar and lemon juice; mix for 8 minutes. Sift in remaining 2 tablespoons flour and the baking powder; stir mixture until combined well and pour over the baked layer. Bake in the middle of a 350-degree oven for 20 minutes, or until golden. Sift confectioners sugar on top. Makes 16 2-inch squares. This story was produced with financial support from The Perez Family Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work. Tuesday in Miami federal courtroom 13-4 was remarkable for who wasnt there: Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo, being sued for millions over allegations that he used his office to try to destroy the businesses of two local property owners, was a no-show. It happened on the same day Carollo was on the witness list and his legal team also sought a mistrial, raising the second claim of witness or juror intimidation associated with a three-week trial. His attorney offered an excuse for the absence. Carollo, who up until Tuesday had appeared each day with his wife at his side, had an asthma attack and went to see his doctor, attorney Marc Sarnoff told District Court Judge Rodney Smith. The judge, noting his own daughter suffered from the same illness, at first said it was treatable and repeated his desire for Carollo to appear. But after several private sidebar discussions, the judge sent jurors home late in the afternoon and said court would resume Wednesday morning. Carollo is being sued for $2.5 million and potential punitive damages by two of Little Havanas largest commercial property owners, William Fuller and Martin Pinilla. The men claim the commissioner used code enforcement to harm businesses run by them after they came out in support of Carollo political opponent Alfonso Alfie Leon, who the commissioner defeated in a runoff in 2017. Carollos mistrial motion claimed that one juror had been confronted by a business partner of Fullers in a parking garage across the street from the Wilkie D. Ferguson Federal Courthouse in downtown Miami. The motion claims attorneys for the two parties were told by the judge privately before court on Monday that one of the jurors had been followed and had been confronted by one of Fullers business partners. The juror, the filing claimed, recognized the man but didnt know his name. The juror also spoke to several other jurors about the incident before deciding to inform the judge, according to the complaint. Story continues In the motion, Carollos attorneys identified the man as a co-owner of Fullers largest property, the Ball & Chain nightclub in Little Havana. Carollos attorneys say a mistrial is warranted because the man is on the witness list and because in a deposition for a separate trial, he claimed to be vested in the outcome of Fuller partner Martin Pinillas lawsuit against the commissioner. According to the motion, the juror told the court that the man in the garage said to take a look at social media, on the Internet and see that people have been followed and you need to see what this defendant is capable of. The judge did not issue a ruling on the motion and attorneys on both sides declined to discuss the allegation after being ordered not to talk about it publicly. The civil trial involving Miamis most controversial, outspoken and conspiracy-minded commissioner has already taken a number of unexpected twists. First, it was moved from Fort Lauderdale to Miami after just two days because of historic rain and flooding in Broward County. Jurors are offered bus rides each day to Miami. The change of scenery brought more drama. Last Tuesday after testifying against Carollo as a key witness, Carollo foe and former Miami Police Chief Art Acevedo was followed from a restaurant in Coral Gables by two private detectives. Acevedo, who was with his attorney Marcos Jimenez, contacted Coral Gables Police, who spoke with the men before letting them go. A week later its still not clear who, if anyone, hired the private detectives or if they did anything wrong. But Acevedo issued a statement that it amounted to witness intimidation. Jurors may be unaware of that episode. They were warned by Judge Smith each day not to read or watch the news or discuss anything with friends or family. The trial will continue in Miami on Wednesday. Jurors were given Thursday and Friday off and are expected to return next week. Miami-Dade County Public Schools is the third-largest school district in the country, according to numbers released this month by the National Center for Education Statistics. Chicago Public Schools has long held the third rank, but according to the agency, housed within the federal Department of Education, Miami-Dade Public Schools enrollment this year reached a total of 319,612 students, about 4,800 more students than Chicagos 314,784. The total number includes charter school students, which account for about 25% of the districts overall student enrollment. The ranking change comes after years of declining enrollment in Miami-Dade schools, but the district had a recent uptick during this school year because of an influx of immigrant students. At the School Board meeting last week, the news announced by Superintendent Jose Dotres was met with cheers and applause from board members and those in the audience. The district had been the nations fourth-largest in the country. READ MORE: Spectacular in every way. Heres the winner of the Miami Heralds Honor Roll poll This is a historic milestone collectively embraced by the (Miami-Dade) School Board, school leaders, and the entire (district) community, Dotres later said in a news release. We are committed to ensuring that Miami-Dade County Public Schools is the best choice for all students. New York City Public Schools remains the largest district in the county, with 804,530 students, and the Los Angeles Unified School District following in second, with 435,958 students. Clark County School District in Nevada and Broward County Public Schools in Florida, follow Chicago Public Schools for the fifth and sixth largest districts, with 306,389 students and 250,496 students, respectively, according to the NCES data. During the pandemic, from 2019-20 to 2020-21 school years, the districts enrollment fell from more than 347,000 to 334,400 students, a reduction of nearly 12,700 students, in part because of families choosing homeschooling, moving away from the area or pivoting to private schools. In the last two decades, enrollment has dropped more than by 51,000 students, according to district records. In the 2002-03 school year, enrollment was 371,482. Still, despite the overall decline in recent years, the district this school year reported an influx of immigrant students. Between the start of the school year Aug. 17, 2022 and the beginning of January, 14,723 students enrolled in the district, records show. Nearly 10,000 students immigrated from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, reflecting the surge of immigrants coming from those four countries over a nearly six-month period. Mifepristone is used together with another pill, misoprostol, in medication abortions. AP Photo/Allen G. Breed A flurry of court rulings in April 2023 has left the future of the abortion pill mifepristone in question. For now, a U.S. Supreme Court decision on April 21 allows the drug to remain accessible without additional restrictions as the merits of the case are weighed in lower court proceedings. Depending on the outcome, the pill could face a ban or tightened restrictions on its usage, a possibility that has many health care providers concerned. The Conversation asked Grace Shih, a family physician practicing in Washington state, to explain the science behind mifepristone as well as its safety and efficacy in medication abortions. What is mifepristone, and how does it work? Mifepristone is a pill that is used in medication abortion during early pregnancy. It was initially approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000 and is approved by the FDA for medication abortion up to 10 weeks after the first day of the last menstrual period. It can be taken as one part of a two-part pill regimen for medication abortion. Mifepristone is prescribed as a 200-milligram dose taken orally, followed by an 800-microgram dose of misoprostol, which is placed in the vagina or between the teeth and cheek, where it dissolves and is absorbed, usually 24 to 48 hours later. Mifepristone acts by blocking the hormone progesterone, which is necessary for a pregnancy to develop. This stops the pregnancy growth and softens and dilates the cervix. It also prepares the uterus for contractions, increasing its sensitivity to medications such as misoprostol. Misoprostol is a synthetic prostaglandin. Prostaglandin is a hormonelike substance that has multiple effects, including the stimulation of uterine contractions, which helps expel pregnancy tissue such as the thickened uterine lining and the tissues that are the precursor to the placenta. Misoprostol is currently FDA-approved for reducing the risk of gastric ulcers in patients who are at high risk of complications from ulcers. But it is commonly used off-label for things like cervical ripening, or softening, to induce or help with labor. Mifepristone and misoprostol are also both used in the medical management of miscarriage. Story continues Medication abortion can also be done with misoprostol alone, an approach known as the misoprostol-only regimen. This regimen is safe and has been used widely by people around the world. In the misoprostol-only regimen, an 800-microgram dose is placed in the vagina or between the teeth and cheek every three hours for up to three doses. Both protocols are very effective, with the two-drug regimen up to 99.6% effective and the misoprostol-alone regimen between 84% to 96% in medication abortions. Why would a person opt for one regimen or the other? People usually dont choose the type of medication abortion they receive. Because the availability of mifepristone and misoprostol is highly variable, whichever method is available to you is medically safe. Patients should feel assured that guidelines for medication abortion support the safety and efficacy of both medication regimens. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society for Family Planning and the World Health Organization all support both types of medication abortion. How widely accessible is mifepristone? In January 2023, the FDA updated its guidelines to allow mifepristone to be dispensed through pharmacies with a prescription. The change means that the drug is available both by mail or at brick-and-mortar pharmacies, as long as that retail pharmacy has been certified. In other words, people who live in states where abortion is not banned can take their mifepristone prescription and get it the way they pick up other medications. For someone able to pick up mifepristone from a local pharmacy, the process is no different from picking up birth control pills or blood pressure medications. This allows mifepristone and its applications for abortion care and miscarriage management to be treated as typical health care. While the January 2023 FDA ruling theoretically increases the ways that a person can get mifepristone, so far it has not been widely available at retail pharmacies. Can I still get mifepristone? The short answer is yes, mifepristone is still FDA-approved. The Supreme Courts April 21, 2023, ruling means that there will be no changes to mifepristone access for now. However, for use in abortion care, mifepristone still faces restrictions depending on your states legislation. As of April 2023, 27 states have some restriction on medication abortion according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health policy organization. This includes 12 states that have a near-total ban on abortion and one state that has stopped offering abortion care because of legal uncertainty. Of the 15 states with restrictions specific to medication abortion, all of them require that medication be provided by a physician and not an advanced practitioner like a nurse practitioner. Six of the states require an in-person visit with a physician, one state requires that mifepristone be taken in the presence of a physician, and one state bans mailing medication abortion pills. Evidence-based health care As a practicing family physician, I follow the science and make medical decisions with my patients using the most up-to-date evidence. Medication abortion using mifepristone and misoprostol is exceptionally safe and highly effective, as is medication abortion using misoprostol alone. Side effects of the misoprostol-only regimen are similar to the combined regimen, though they may last longer because of the need for multiple doses of misoprostol. Some news coverage has focused on comparing the efficacy of the two regimens. But percentage points mean very little to an individuals health what matters is that people get the care they need. I will continue working, providing and advancing care that is based on science. Leading health professional organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians have all issued statements that call for removing all restrictions around mifepristone and/or support the safety of misoprostol-only medication abortion. This is an updated version of an article originally published on Jan. 11, 2023. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. Like this article? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It was written by: Grace Shih, University of Washington. Read more: Grace Shih does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. A sham court of the illegal "Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR") has sentenced Andrii Petrenko, a Ukrainian marine, to 22 years in prison. Source: Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, on Telegram Details: According to Lubinets, the Russian-controlled "supreme court" of the unrecognised "DPR" has sentenced Andrii Petrenko, a soldier of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, to 22 years' imprisonment in a high-security penal colony. He was found guilty of killing a civilian during the battle for Mariupol in March 2022. An unlawful investigation by the Russian Investigative Committee concluded that the Ukrainian soldier shot and killed a resident of Mariupol with a sniper rifle. Andrii Petrenko was accused under Russian law of "murder for political and ideological reasons, ill-treatment of civilians, and the use of prohibited means and methods in an armed conflict" (Articles 105(2) and 356(1) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The occupiers have also claimed that the Ukrainian serviceman supposedly "pleaded guilty". Quote from Lubinets: "The fake trial of a serviceman of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk Oblast is unlawful and will have no legal effect. The verdicts issued by the so-called courts of DPR/LPR quasi-entities are a gross violation of the Third Geneva Convention in terms of the right of prisoners to a fair trial and the prohibition of torture. It can be considered a war crime. Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts are part of Ukraine within internationally recognised borders and are subject to the jurisdiction of Ukrainian courts. Only they have the right to administer justice on this territory. I call on the international community to condemn the trial of Andrii Petrenko and demand that Russia immediately release him and other Ukrainian citizens who have been illegally imprisoned in the temporarily occupied territories and in Russia." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Concern is growing in Minneapolis after incidents at three mosques over 14 days in April, when Muslims observed Ramadan and celebrated Eid-al-Fitr. Fires were set Sunday at the Masjid Omar Islamic Center and Monday at Masjid Al Rahma, Minneapolis police said. The mosques are about three minutes away from each other. Jackie R. Little of Plymouth, Minnesota, was arrested by police on Saturday and charged with arson in connection to both incidents, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office District of Minnesota. The blazes come on the heels of another incident at a third Minneapolis mosque. On April 10, several windows and the door of Ummatul Islam Mosque were destroyed in an act of vandalism, according to the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Minneapolis police Chief Brian O'Hara was meeting Monday with staff members from Masjid Omar Islamic Center after a bathroom there was set on fire when he was notified about the fire at Masjid Al Rahma. "Earlier this week, an arsonist set fire to two occupied houses of worship in South Minneapolis," O'Hara said in a statement released on Saturday. "This heinous act was an attempt to inflict terror onto our Muslim community. Houses of worship should be safe places. Setting fire to a sacred facility, where families and children gather, is incredibly inhumane. And this level of blatant hatred will not be tolerated in our great city." The department will evaluate any possibility that the incidents were motivated by hate or bias and look into potential prosecution for a federal offense because they happened in occupied places of worship, OHara added. A possible suspect in two fires set at mosques in Minneapolis (Minneapolis Police Department via Facebook) Officers who responded to Masjid Omar Islamic Center around 7:15 p.m. Sunday following reports of arson found evidence in a bathroom of a small fire that was extinguished before emergency personnel arrived. No one was injured. According to a criminal complaint, Little allegedly entered a second-floor bathroom at the center and "lit a cardboard box on fire inside a stall." He was interrupted by an employee, who chased Little out of the building. Story continues The burnt cardboard box and a partially melted gas can were left behind in the stall. Worshippers in the mosque helped extinguish the flames, according to the council's Minnesota chapter. If not for the actions of the worshippers, this disturbing incident could have resulted in injuries or even deaths," CAIR-Minnesota executive director Jaylani Hussein said. "We thank fire and law enforcement officials for their response and hope that a motive for this arson attack at a house of worship may be determined. Given past incidents targeting state mosques and Islamic institutions, we urge law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for this crime. On Monday around 6:52 p.m., Little was seen on surveillance footage entering Masjid Al Rahma. The mosque rents the lower level of the location to a private daycare business, according to court documents. Little allegedly set a fire on the third floor of the center, significantly damaging the hallway and the stairwells on both ends. A security guard at the mosque alerted three men who were present at the time of the fire, one of which ran upstairs to the third floor where he found smoke. The security guard called 911 and directed others to help evacuate the children attending daycare in the lower level. A pile of debris was found on the third floor, as well as cardboard, seven metal olive oil canisters, ceiling tiles and a melted red plastic rectangular object resembling a plastic gas can that contained gasoline, court documents say. No injuries were reported. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded. I have ordered additional patrols and additional law enforcement resources, some of which will be visible and some of which are not, OHara said. We will work with our law enforcement and community partners to do everything possible to keep all people safe and free to exercise their Constitutional right to freedom of religion. In addition to the fires, Little was arrested in connection with acts of vandalism he's accused of committing late last year and earlier this year, including spray-painting the number 500 on the front door of a U.S. representative's office, a Somali Minneapolis police officers car and the entryway of a shopping center in Minneapolis locally known as Somali Mall, according to a criminal complaint. The meaning of 500 is unclear at this time. Little also allegedly sent the U.S. representative an email with an attached image of "a Quran in a toilet being urinated on by a male." Officials would not identify who the U.S. representative in question was. "Based on our investigation, there is no other known, active threat to our Muslim neighbors," O'Hara said on Saturday. "Let this be a lesson to anyone who seeks to cause harm through acts of hate. We will find you. We will remove you from our streets. And we will ensure you are held accountable." Little "has a known history of arson or suspected arson, including incidents in May 2022 and December 2021," according to court documents. His mother, who was interviewed by law enforcement, said Little had a fascination with fire from a young age. Little also has a history of domestic assault and "other violent crime as recently as March 2023." Minneapolis this month became the first major U.S. city to allow the broadcast of the Islamic call to prayer five times a day year-round. Muslims pray every day at dawn, early afternoon, late afternoon and sunset and the final one at night. The city's noise rules previously prevented calls to prayer from being broadcast at dawn and late at night. Mosques are common in Minneapolis, where there's a large East African population that's been growing since the 1990s, The Associated Press reported. Three of 13 members of the Minneapolis City Council identify as Muslims. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minneapolis NAACP sued the city of Minneapolis on Wednesday over allegations that police officers used phony social media accounts to spy on activists without a legitimate public safety purpose. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges that the Minneapolis Police Department discriminated against the NAACP and violated its members constitutional rights when it singled out the organization for surveillance on the basis of race. These are accounts that are supposed to be used for official investigations. There were none, Liliana Zaragoza, director of the University of Minnesotas Racial Justice Law Clinic and attorney for the NAACP, told the Star Tribune. Minneapolis officials have denied the allegation of social media abuse since it first appeared in a scathing Minnesota Department of Human Rights report alleging racially biased policing a year ago. But state Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero stood by the allegation last month when both sides announced a court-enforceable settlement that calls for a series of reforms for the police department in the city where George Floyd was murdered by an officer nearly three years ago. City officials told reporters they couldnt find evidence to support the social media allegations. Our findings are correct, Lucero insisted at the same news conference. MPD uses covert social media to target Black leaders, Black organizations and elected officials without a public safety objective. That remains true. Minneapolis and state leaders have declined to release the underlying evidence, citing data privacy laws. Zaragoza said the city ignored the NAACP's request for the data, leaving Black community members to only guess as to how deep the surveillance has gone. We dont how sinister this is, she told the newspaper. The NAACP hopes to learn the full extent of the surveillance through the lawsuit's discovery process, including the names of officers and whether any social media spying translated to any real-life action. The city has not yet been served with the lawsuit, spokeswoman Sarah McKenzie said. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Baileys emergency rule targeting transgender health care, set to go into effect Thursday but facing a legal challenge, is exposing a rift among Republicans over access to gender-affirming care for adults. Bailey, a Republican, has put forward regulations that will severely limit care for both minors and adults. The rules require 15 separate hourly therapy sessions over 18 months before a person can receive care. They would make Missouri the first state to severely restrict adult access to gender-affirming treatment. The sweeping nature of the rule is dividing Missouri Republicans, with some voicing full-throated support for making restrictions on gender-affirming care as broad as possible, while others say adults should have the freedom to make their own decisions even as they back bans on the care for children. Sen. Mike Moon, an Ash Grove Republican who is sponsoring legislation to restrict gender-affirming care for minors, said although he is pleased with Baileys sense of urgency, he questions whether the state attorney general has the authority to enact the rule because he is not part of the legislature. Moon also said he doesnt support the rule applying to adults. Our premise was protecting kids, Moon said. And once someone reaches the age of maturity, they should be able to make those choices themselves. Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, left, on the Missouri Senate floor in 2022. The divisions reflect tensions between the social conservative and libertarian wings of the party, as well as early jostling ahead of the 2024 Republican primary elections for governor and state attorney general. Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican running for governor, has been outspoken in his skepticism of Baileys rule even as he has aggressively supported prohibitions on care for children. The conflicting perspectives could hold consequences for how far Missouri goes in restricting care. The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and LGBTQ civil rights group Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit Monday in St. Louis County Court. The suit alleges Baileys restrictions violate the state constitution by legislating behind closed doors through Missouris limited emergency rulemaking procedureswithout any input from the Missourians the rule will affect most. Story continues If the groups are successful in blocking or limiting the rules on procedural grounds, implementing restrictions may fall to the Missouri General Assembly, where Republicans hold supermajorities but arent in lockstep on whether to restrict care for adults. Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican, said in an interview this week the emergency rule is a necessary stopgap before any restrictions the legislature may pass goes into effect. Still, Brattin said adults can make the decision for themselves and said his own approach has been to focus on children. I think he sees a potential public health crisis and risk for people, Brattin said of Bailey. And hes taken action to protect the well being of especially minors. I think that he has a responsibility as chief law enforcement officer to act. Brattin was more clear during a speech on the Senate floor last month. If youre an adult and you want to go do whatever you want to do, thats at your own accord, if youre an adult, he said at the time. The most prominent Missouri Republican voicing skepticism about Baileys rule has been Ashcroft, who launched his campaign for governor earlier this month. Ashcroft, who has promised to make the state the front line of freedom if elected, has said adults can make their own decisions about treatment. But he has also maintained that gender-affirming care cannot fundamentally change whether someone is a man or woman. I dont think anyone should go through this process because its a lie to say that you can change from a man to a woman or a woman to a man through surgery... But if you have someone who is an adult, they can make their own decision as to what they want to do, and I support them, Ashcroft said during a Tuesday appearance on CNN. Ashcrofts office didnt make him available for an interview with The Star. But in a Friday appearance on NewsTalkSTL, Ashcroft voiced concern the legislature would use Baileys rule as an excuse not to pass legislation on transgender care. He said rulemaking authority is limited and said there are real questions about whether or not that rule will survive in the courts. Ashcroft spokesperson JoDonn Chaney said in a statement that the Missouri Secretary of States Office had processed and posted the emergency rule as required by law. Andrew Bailey speaks to reporters outside Missouri Republican Gov. Mike Parsons Capitol office in Jefferson City, Mo., after being named state attorney general on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. Bailey is Parsons general counsel and will replace U.S. Sen.-elect Eric Schmitt as the states top prosecutor. Bailey says hes protecting patients Missouri Republicans have aggressively pursued legislation to regulate the lives of transgender residents this year and at one point had more anti-LGBTQ bills than other states, according to a database from the American Civil Liberties Union that tracks legislation nationwide. Efforts kicked into high gear in early February, however, after a former employee of Washington Universitys Transgender Center publicly accused the clinic of misconduct. GOP legislators have cited the claims made by the former employee, Jamie Reed, in the months since, even as current and former patients and their families have sharply disputed her account. Washington University released the results of its internal review on Friday, which found that children werent harmed at the center and also said the center had tightened up its policies to require written consent before prescribing gender-affirming medications. Kendall Martinez-Wright, a 29-year-old transgender woman from Palmyra in northeastern Missouri, said she believes a small group of Republicans understand Baileys rule oversteps the conservative tenets of small government. He is superseding his own limited powers that he has as attorney general, hes doing an overreach, which, for some members of the Republican Party, that could be an issue, she said. Martinez-Wright said she was frustrated that some Republicans who are against Baileys restrictions appear unwilling to speak out. For his part, Bailey has acknowledged his restrictions would affect adults as well as children, but has largely portrayed the rule as intended to protect children. He has called gender-affirming care experimental, and has cited a state consumer protection law to justify the emergency rule. The safeguards that Ive put into place are intended to protect all patients: to ensure patients have access to the information necessary to make health decisions that can have long-term deleterious health consequences. My rule ensures all patients have access to mental health services, and that all patients understand the experimental nature of these drugs, Bailey said in a statement Monday. Bailey added that he is proud to be the first state attorney general in the nation to use his rulemaking authority to protect patients and require that providers abide by basic standards of care. Bailey was appointed to the job in January by Republican Gov. Mike Parson after working as his general counsel. He faces a primary challenge from Will Scharf, a former federal prosecutor and an ex-aide to former Gov. Eric Greitens. Scharf declined to comment. State Sen. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City, filibusters Senate Bill 49 on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, in Jefferson City. The bill, filed by state Sen. Mike Moon, an Ash Grove Republican, would ban all gender transition procedures for people under the age of 18 except for a few specific instances. Doctors who violate the restrictions could face professional discipline as well as lawsuits. Has AG crossed a line? Several Republican officials this week either refused to talk about whether gender-affirming care should be available for adults or didnt respond to requests for comment, underscoring how Baileys first-in-the-nation restrictions have become a fraught topic in a party where many would prefer to keep the conversation focused on children. Missouri House Majority Leader Jonathan Patterson, a Lees Summit Republican, is typically open to speaking with reporters about most topics. He declined to discuss restrictions on adults or Baileys rule on Monday. Rep. Jamie Burger, a Benton Republican, filed a bill this year that would ban transgender athletes from competing in womens sports. But when stopped by a reporter in the hallway of the Missouri Capitol on Monday, Burger claimed to be unaware of Baileys proposed restrictions. Half a dozen other GOP legislators or their offices also declined to comment or didnt respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Parson didnt respond to a request for comment. Sen. Greg Razer, a Kansas City Democrat, said most Republicans dont want to deal with banning gender-affirming care for adults, but the ones that do are running for election. I dont know when it stops, Razer said. When the attorney general of the state of Missouri puts a page on his website, asking Missourians to turn in their neighbors because of their health care decisions, you have crossed a line. Transgender friends, family and communities gathered Sunday, April 16 at Mill Creek Park on the plaza to protest Attorney General Andrew Baileys new executive action so strict that it will essentially ban gender-affirming care for many adults and minors in Missouri. Bailey in March launched a tip line to collect reports of questionable or harmful gender-affirming care. The tip line was later shut down amid what his office said was numerous false reports. Razer said Missourians should pause and ask if lawmakers really understand the medical ramifications of what they are discussing. I believe their answer is I want to win the Republican primary, and well do it at anyones expense, Razer said. One GOP lawmaker has been outspoken in his opposition to restrictions. Rep. Chris Sander, a Lone Jack Republican who is openly gay, said Monday he believes Baileys rule and bills restricting gender-affirming care violate the U.S. Constitutions equal protection rights for adults seeking health care for gender dysphoria. Clearly the legislation is seeking to discriminate a minority class of adult LGBT Missourians, Sander said in a text message to The Star. I have voted NO on all legislation that seeks to destroy civil rights and MO/US Constitutional rights. Sen. Denny Hoskins, a Warrensburg Republican, tried to find a rhetorical middle ground Monday on limiting gender-affirming care for adults. He said Republican colleagues he has spoken with agree that if adults do want the care, it needs to be done safely. I would encourage Attorney General Bailey to use every power that he has, according to the Missouri Constitution, as the attorney general, to make sure that any types of these procedures are not performed on kids, and any that are performed on adults are safe, Hoskins said. Missy Elliott Missy Elliott spoke candidly about her mothers abusive relationship in the past and vowed to save her if she became successful in music. On Sunday, the Work It artist revealed on Twitter that she used her mothers struggles as motivation after a fan asked what inspired her to work in an androcentric industry, HipHopDX reported. I wanna know like what inspired her and what was her drive to remain persistent in a male-dominated industry at the time, the fan tweeted. Elliott responded to the inquiry and praised other prominent women in the music industry who overcame tough times in their own lives. I seen many strong women in the industry be4 me that made it through & my mom was in a abusive relationship so I told her I would make it so I could get her out of that situation, the 51-year-old tweeted. [And] I would make sure shed never have to work again thats what really kept me going. I seen many strong women in the industry be4 me that made it through & my mom was in a abusive relationship so I told her I would make it so I could get her out of that situation & I would make sure shed never have to work again thats what really kept me going https://t.co/JHDvBysNbE Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) April 24, 2023 Throughout her career, the Grammy Award-winner has never shied away from transparency. From her weight loss journey to managing life with Graves disease, the Virginia native remains positive. Blavity reported the rapper tweeted encouraging words in 2021 to those who may have needed to hear them. You may be feeling a lil depressed because everything you been trying to do is taking so long to happen Dont give up on your IDEAS or your VISION just KEEP WORKING & when the TIME IS RIGHT everything will ALIGN up for you & you will be HAPPY you didnt Give up, the Supa Dupa Fly rapper wrote. Story continues You may be feeling a lil depressed because everything you been trying to do is taking so long to happen Dont give up on your IDEAS or your VISION just KEEP WORKING & when the TIME IS RIGHT everything will ALIGN up for you & you will be HAPPY you didnt Give up Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) August 18, 2021 Social media users applauded Elliott for the uplifting words, and the musician responded to some fans who opened up about their struggles. Hey always be mindful the tongue is powerful if you keep thinking it will never happen then you bring that energy in your space so try to speak goodness over your life, she wrote. Shelby Shelby American launched its first-ever upgrade package for an electric vehicle on Wednesday, based on the 480-hp Ford Mustang Mach-E GT. Shelby's kit includes new wheels, a retuned suspension, and carbon fiber upgrades, but no power mods. As part of the kit, the hood, upper grille, splitter, mirror caps, and door trims have all been replaced with Shelby-made carbon fiber pieces. There's also a handling package that lowers the Mach-E by over one inch, along with a set of lightweight aluminum wheels. Inside you'll find Le Mans-themed "over the top" color-coordinated vinyl striping, along with a numbered dash plaque. There are other Shelby badges scattered throughout the car, both inside and on the exterior. The Shelby Mustang Mach-E GT will also come with Borla's active performance sound system as standard. First shown in late 2022, it's a speaker system mounted under the car that pairs to an amplifier to produce a synthetic internal combustion engine exhaust sound using real-time data from the car to mirror revs and acceleration. Shelby American plans to produce just 100 examples of its Mach-E upgrade kit starting in July, priced from 24,900 (around $27,500) plus the price of a donor car. The price is listed in Euros because Shelby only plans to sell the kit to people in Europe. Shelby We elected to initially offer the Shelby Mustang Mach-E GT only in Europe because sales of EV's are growing much more rapidly there than in the U.S.A., said Aaron Shelby, company board member and grandson of founder Carroll Shelby. And from 2016 to 2021, the number of public EV charging stations increased by 431 percent across Europe. It just makes good business sense for Shelby American. You Might Also Like Molly Ringwald's 13-year-old daughter won't watch "The Breakfast Club" because of how outdated and sexist it is. Universal Pictures, Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images Molly Ringwald said her 13-year-old daughter won't watch her 1985 classic "The Breakfast Club." "She's very liberal. I mean, I'm very liberal, but she's another level," she told The Guardian. "There were certain things that were accepted that just wouldn't be accepted now." Molly Ringwald has said that her 13-year-old daughter has no interest in watching one of the movies that made her mom a star, "The Breakfast Club." Ringwald who starred in the detention-set drama with Emilio Estevez, Paul Gleason, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, and Ally Sheedy told The Guardian that her youngest daughter won't watch the coming-of-age drama seemingly because of its outdated, sexist tropes. "She's very liberal. I mean, I'm very liberal, but she's another level. Which she should be, and I'm glad," she said of her daughter Adele, 13. In the film, Ringwald's character Claire is repeatedly harassed, berated, and even sexually violated by Bender (Nelson), who is presented as her love interest. At the end of the film, they are shown getting together and sharing a kiss in the school's parking lot. Elsewhere, the film also features several gay slurs and stereotypes. Ally Sheedy as Allison and Molly Ringwald as Claire in "The Breakfast Club" (1985). Universal Pictures/Getty Images The 55-year-old actor, who also shares daughter Mathilda, 19, and son Roman, 13 with her husband Panio Gianopoulos, noted that the film, which earned acclaim from critics upon its release in 1985, was the product of an entirely "different time." "There were certain things that were accepted that just wouldn't be accepted now," she added. Ringwald then pointed to a troubling scene in one of her other collaborations with filmmaker John Hughes, "Sixteen Candles." At one point in the movie, Jake (Michael Schoeffling) trades his drunk girlfriend Caroline (Haviland Morris) to have sex with Farmer Ted (Anthony Michael Hall), in exchange for a pair of underwear he has stolen from another female character. Story continues "The whole storyline with Caroline, that didn't have anything to do with my character," she said. "So I really couldn't change that. I didn't have that kind of power." Molly Ringwald and Adele Georgiana Gianopoulos attend the American Ballet Theatre's Fall Gala at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on October 26, 2021. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for American Ballet Theater As for "The Breakfast Club," Ringwald disclosed in a 2018 essay for The New Yorker that there were actually far more overtly sexist scenes in the movie's first draft that she managed to convince Hughes to cut. "There was a scene in which an attractive female gym teacher swam naked in the school's swimming pool as Mr. Vernon, the teacher who is in charge of the students' detention, spied on her," she wrote. "The scene wasn't in the first draft I read, and I lobbied John to cut it. He did, and although I'm sure the actress who had been cast in the part still blames me for foiling her break, I think the film is better for it." Read the original article on Insider A childs mother got on a school bus and punched the driver in the stomach in front of children, according to Boston police. She also pulled a knife on the man and shattered the bus rearview mirror around 2:32 p.m. on April 25 in Bostons Roxbury neighborhood, a police report provided to McClatchy News says. The mother left the scene before police arrived, and the bus driver was taken to a nearby hospital with stomach pain, according to the report. Now, school district detectives are investigating the assault and battery, Officer Michael Torigian confirmed to McClatchy News. The children on the bus were William Monroe Trotter Elementary School students, according to a letter the school principal sent to parents on April 25. Families of the students onboard the bus at the time were immediately notified and picked up their students from the bus, Principal Sarita Thomas wrote. She informed parents its possible law enforcement will initiate disciplinary action. Our buses are considered an extension of the classroom, Thomas said. Its unclear what led to the assault on the bus driver, and police didnt specify the mothers potential motives behind the attack. No arrests have been made as of the afternoon of April 26. Family jailed after bus taken for joyride in dark, then returned, Louisiana cops say Bus full of students finds teenager shot along route, Indiana cops say. He later died Man exposes self to school bus as teens inside receive graphic images, TX cops say Rep Zooey Zephyr was censured after opposing a bill restricting medical care for transgender youth Montana Republican lawmakers have voted to bar transgender Democratic lawmaker Zooey Zephyr from the House chamber. She sparked a backlash last week when she said lawmakers would have "blood on their hands" if they restricted medical care for transgender youth. Ahead of Wednesday's vote she vowed to "do what I have always done: I will rise in support of my community". Republicans accused her of stoking violence and violating the chamber's decorum with her comment. On 18 April Rep Zephyr registered her opposition to a proposed bill that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth in Montana. "I hope the next time there's an invocation, when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands," Rep Zephyr said in reference to the high rates of suicide risk among transgender youth and adults. Wednesday's vote split along party lines with 32 Democrats voting against punishment and 68 Republicans - two-thirds of the chamber - voting against her. Rep Zephyr will keep her seat, but the measure bars her from being present on the House floor, anteroom, or galleries. She will only be allowed to participate in votes remotely. Republican Majority Leader Sue Vinton, who introduced the motion, told lawmakers during debate on Wednesday that Rep Zephyr's actions put lawmakers and staff "at risk of harm". The move is the latest escalation in an heated culture-war debate playing out across the US over transgender rights. It is also the second recent case of a Republican-controlled legislative body moving to punish Democratic lawmakers who spoke in opposition to policies conservatives support. Earlier this month, Tennessee Republicans voted to expel two black Democrats who led protests on the legislature floor in favour of gun safety in the days following a mass shooting. Rep Zephyr, who represents the Missoula area, is the first openly transgender lawmaker elected in the state of Montana, and one of a handful of transgender lawmakers serving in state houses across the US. Story continues In an interview with the BBC, she said she stood by her remarks and there was "blood on the legislature's hands". "I wasn't being hyperbolic," she said. "When the speaker asks me to apologise for those remarks, what he's actually asking me to do is to be silent as my community faces real harm and real dangers." Rep Zephyr also said the protesters supporting her were "demanding that their voices are heard". "I think it is the legislature that is grossly out of step with what people in our state and country want," she said. Her comment last week immediately sparked conservative anger. The influential Montana Freedom Caucus issued a statement condemning her remarks. The statement misgendered Rep Zephyr and accused her of using "inappropriate and uncalled-for language during a floor debate". The representative claims that the Republican-led House chamber has refused to allow her to speak on the floor since her speech. Republican Speaker Matt Reiger pushed back against Rep Zephyr's claim that his party had silenced her. "Currently, all representatives are free to participate in House debates while following the House rules," Mr Regier told reporters on Tuesday. "The only person silencing Rep Zephyr is Rep Zephyr. The Montana House will not be bullied." Members of Republican leadership did not respond to the BBC's request for comment. Montana is one of several conservative-controlled states that have considered or passed legislation aimed at restricting gender-affirming medical care for transgender children and adults. Ahead of the vote, Rep Zephyr told BBC News that she chose her words condemning the proposed legislation "with precision". "I have received calls from families whose trans teenagers attempted suicide while watching hearings in my state," she said. On Monday, protesters who support Rep Zephyr gathered at the state capitol in Helena and chanted, "Let her speak!" A handful of protesters were arrested. The public was barred from Wednesday's meeting of the legislature. "This action against Rep Zooey Zephyr is clearly an attack on the lives of trans people in Montana - and on a legislator who is only working to serve and defend her community," Josie Caballero of the the National Center for Transgender Equality told the BBC in a statement. Montana House Republicans on Wednesday voted to censure Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr. All 68 House Republicans voted to censure Zephyr, while the bodys 32 Democrats voted against it. Zephyr, one of the states first openly transgender lawmakers, will be barred from the House floor, anteroom and gallery for the remainder of the session. She has the option to participate remotely, but only by voting. Zephyr has been unable to speak on a bill for more than a week after she said lawmakers who voted to pass a measure preventing transgender youths from accessing gender-affirming health care would have blood on your hands. The Montana Freedom Caucus, a coalition of state House and Senate Republicans, responded by calling for Zephyrs immediate censure, accusing her of attempting to shame members of the legislature by using inappropriate and uncalled-for language. This kind of hateful rhetoric from an elected official is exactly why tragedies such as the Covenant Christian School shooting in Nashville occurred, the group wrote last week in a statement, referring to a mass shooting in Tennessee last month that left six people dead, including three 9-year-old students. Local authorities immediately after the shooting said they believed the suspect, 28-year-old Audrey Hale, who was fatally shot by police, was transgender. Nearly a month later, Hales gender identity remains unclear. The Montana Freedom Caucus in its statement also repeatedly misgendered Zephyr by referring to her using male pronouns. Demonstrators gathered Monday at the state capitol building in Helena to protest the continued silencing of Zephyr. Seven were arrested for criminal trespass after shouts of Let her speak! and Whose House? Our House! from the gallery drowned out legislative debate on the floor. House Republicans characterized Mondays protest as a riot by far-left agitators. The House gallery on Wednesday was closed to the public. Story continues On Wednesday, Montana Republicans argued that Zephyr incited and actively participated in disrupting the lawful activities of the state legislature. This conduct cannot be allowed to stand, Republican Rep. Sue Vinton, who sponsored the motion to censure Zephyr, said Wednesday. I find that theres been a pattern of unwillingness to listen to a diverse set of opinions on the bills in front of us, and that is our job, Democratic Rep. SJ Howell, who is transgender nonbinary, said during Wednesdays floor session. There are deeply held disagreements about the bills that we hear, about the policies that we are debating, and those disagreements are part of the process, they said. We have to be able to discuss them, even when its uncomfortable. Zephyr on Wednesday defended her words, which she said accurately captured the gravity of the bills consequences. When I rose up and said there is blood on your hands, I was not being hyperbolic. I was speaking of the real consequences of the votes that we legislators take in this body, she said. And when the speaker asks me to apologize on behalf of decorum, what hes really asking me to do is be silent, when my community is facing bills that get us killed. Hes asking me to be complicit in this legislatures eradication of our community, and I refuse to do so, she said. I will always refuse to do so. Updated at 5:15 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Republican lawmakers in Montana voted Wednesday to bar a transgender Democrat from the assembly chamber after she blasted them for banning gender-affirming care in the conservative US state. Zooey Zephyr was already banned from taking the floor of the Montana statehouse for the rest of the 2023 session, after refusing to apologize for telling Republicans they would have "blood on [their] hands" over the vote, comments which opponents said breached rules on decorum. The spat is the latest on the hot-button issue of identity politics in the deeply divided United States, and comes on the heels of Tennessee Republicans kicking out two Black Democrats who argued that they were complicit in gun violence. The new punishment, which means Zephyr can only participate in debates remotely, caps a week of clashes over a bill that prohibits transgender minors from receiving specific medical treatments such as hormones and puberty blockers. Advocates say these are effective for people suffering from gender dysphoria -- the clinical condition of distress that arises when a person's gender identity is not the same as their biological sex. Supporters say children and young people denied these treatments are at greater risk of self-harm or suicide. In a defiant speech on Wednesday -- she was allowed to speak on the motion to eject her from the chamber -- Zephyr said her removal was an assault on democracy and an affront to the transgender community. "When I rose up and said there is blood on your hands, I was not being hyperbolic," she told the chamber, invoking the attempted suicide of a transgender person while watching a Montana statehouse debate on limiting transgender rights. When the speaker of the house demanded she apologies for the blood-on-your-hands comments, Zephyr said it was an attempt to silence her and make her complicit in legislation that causes real-world harm. "I refuse to do so. And I will always refuse to do so. I would also say that if you use decorum to silence people who hold you accountable, then all you're doing is using decorum as a tool of oppression." Story continues The vote to remove Zephyr was passed along party lines, in a chamber where Republicans outnumber Democrats 68 to 32. The American Civil Liberties Union condemned Zephyr's suspension, calling it "authoritarianism". "Freedom of speech is essential to our democracy. Trans people are an essential part of our democracy both as voters and lawmakers and must be defended," said Deirdre Schifeling, National Political Director at the ACLU. Transgender rights are among the frontline issues in America's culture wars. Since January, 29 new laws restricting the rights of transgender people have been passed in 14 US states, according to an analysis of data from the ACLU published this week by The Washington Post. pr-hg/dw By Daniel Trotta (Reuters) - Montana statehouse Republicans on Wednesday silenced Democratic transgender legislator Zooey Zephyr from floor debates for breaking decorum after she said lawmakers who backed a ban on gender-affirming healthcare for minors would have "blood on your hands." Under the motion that passed with a vote of 68-32, Zephyr will be allowed to vote but is barred from the House floor, anteroom or gallery for the remainder of the legislative session, scheduled to end on May 10. The discord in Montana - which has garnered national attention amid an escalating culture war in the U.S. over issues like transgender rights - has brewed since an April 18 debate over Senate Bill 99. The state measure seeks to ban transgender healthcare treatments for minors, including puberty blockers and hormones. Zephyr, a first-term representative from Missoula, said in the debate that denying such care was "tantamount to torture," and that a ban would lead to more suicides. "If you vote yes on this bill and yes on these amendments, I hope the next time there's an invocation when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands," Zephyr said. In response, the Republican supermajority silenced her within the chamber until she apologized, prompting a large protest by Zephyr supporters at the statehouse on Monday. When protesters in the gallery disrupted that session by chanting "Let her speak!," the House speaker ordered representatives to abandon the floor, but Zephyr stayed in place, pointing a microphone toward her supporters. Seven demonstrators were arrested, and Republicans increased their attention on Zephyr, with the ultraconservative Montana Freedom Caucus on Monday urging she be punished. Majority Leader Sue Vinton, who presented the motion, stressed the need for decorum so that the rights of all representatives were protected. "Monday, this body witnessed one of its members participating in conduct that disrupted and disturbed the orderly proceedings," Vinton said. "This member (Zephyr) did not accede to the order of the speaker." Story continues Zephyr remained defiant on Wednesday, telling the chamber that her "blood on your hands" comment was "not being hyperbolic." "When the speaker asks me to apologize on behalf of decorum, what he is really asking me to do is be silent when my community is facing bills that get us killed," Zephyr said. "He is asking me to be complicit in this legislature's eradication of our community. And I refuse to do so." The Democratic Party, the American Civil Liberties Union and LGBTQ advocates criticized the censure as undemocratic. Republican legislators across the country have sought to ban certain healthcare for transgender youth. One tracker by a group of independent journalists says more than 500 bills have been introduced that they say would infringe on the rights of gender non-conforming people. Such bills were once mostly limited to regulating changing rooms and women's sports but now also include limiting healthcare access for transgender adults and in some cases seek to charge parents and doctors with child abuse if they provide treatment. Opponents of such treatment are skeptical of the major medical associations that support gender-affirming care, raising concerns that minors are too easily allowed to make such life-changing decisions. A similar break in decorum at a statehouse in Tennessee earlier this month led the Republican supermajority to expel two Democratic lawmakers who had protested in support of gun control, drawing national attention. They were promptly reappointed to their seats by their county legislatures and earned a trip to the White House. (This story has been refiled to say 'your', not 'their', in paragraph 1) (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) Montana Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr hoists a microphone into the air on Monday, April 24, 2023, as her supporters interrupt proceedings in the state House by chanting "Let Her Speak!" in Helena, Montana. Amy Beth Hanson The Montana House of Representatives voted to censure its first transgender legislator. State Rep. Zooey Zephyr was censured days after protestors interrupted the legislature because the House speaker wouldn't recognize her on the floor. The censure comes weeks after Tennessee's GOP-led legislature expelled two of its members for leading a protest. In a party-line vote, Montana's Republican-led state legislature voted on Wednesday to censure Democratic state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, Montana's first openly transgender woman legislator. In doing so, Zephyr will not be allowed on the House floor or gallery for the remainder of the legislative session. Speaking on the House floor before the vote on Wednesday, Zephyr said the Montana legislature has "systematically" attacked the LGBTQ community, which is why she previously admonished the Republican-led legislature for pushing through a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors on April 18. "We have seen bills targeting our art forms, our books, our history, and our healthcare," Zephyr said Wednesday. "And I rose up in defense of my community that day speaking to the harms that these bills bring and that I have firsthand experience knowing about." Tensions are high amid a spate of legislation targeting trans rights Prior to Wednesday, Montana's Speaker Matt Regier refused to allow Zephyr to speak on the House floor until she apologized for previously shaming the legislature. On Wednesday, she once again refused to apologize. "When the speaker asks me to apologize on behalf of decorum, what he is really asking me to do is be silent when my community is facing bills that get us killed," Zephyr said. "He's asking me to be complicit in this legislature's eradication of our community and I refuse to do so, and I will always refuse to do so." State Rep. SJ Howell, a Democratic legislator who is nonbinary, spoke in support of Zephyr on Wednesday and said the protests on Monday were unsurprising. Story continues "It is deeply unsurprisingly to me that the community responded the way it did," Howell said. "It's not just one of our own that has been silenced. It happened after a session where bills have targeted us, struggling for equal treatment under the law." Following Tennessee's playbook Expulsion and censure, generally reserved for only the most severe violations of conduct in legislatures, have recently been adopted as more routine punishments in states where the GOP controls a significant majority. Zephyr's censure comes weeks after the Republican-led Tennessee legislature voted to expel two of its members, Rep. Justin Pearson and Rep. Justin Jones, for leading a protest on the state House floor to advocate for gun reform. Pearson and Jones have both been reinstated to their positions in the state legislature, and their initial expulsions have led to them becoming national figures, leading even to a meeting at the White House. A member of the Republican National Committee from Tennessee recently lamented the Republican Party in the state's decision to expel the members as they said it "energized young voters against us." Now, after Zephyr's censure, a similar problem could occur for Montana Republicans as Zephyr increasingly gets placed into the spotlight. Read the original article on Business Insider Texas will once again be on alert for severe weather Wednesday as storms target the northern portion of the state. Parts of Florida are also at risk of severe storms Wednesday, the Storm Prediction Center said. While Texas and Florida face the highest threat, more than 48 million people across the southern tier of the U.S. are at risk of severe weather Wednesday, the prediction center said. "A few tornadoes, along with very large/destructive hail, and severe thunderstorm gusts, are expected over parts of north Texas this afternoon and evening," the prediction center said. "Very large hail and damaging winds also are expected over parts of central Florida." Those storms in Texas and Florida will be part of a severe weather trend from the central U.S. throughout the Southeast, with the chance of storms extending from southeast Colorado to south Florida. Elsewhere, the Upper Midwest and northern Plains continue to brace for historic river flooding and parts of Yosemite National will close due to flooding. Here's what to know about the national weather forecast for Wednesday. The Levee Inn is partially submerged by the rising Mississippi River, Monday, April 24, 2023, Davenport, Iowa. 'Enhanced' risk of storms in Texas and Florida More than 12 million people are under an "enhanced" risk for severe weather in Texas and Florida, meaning numerous thunderstorms are possible, according to the weather service. An "enhanced" risk area is level 3 of the 5-level severe storm risk scale. Wednesday will be the second straight day severe thunderstorms will be possible in central and northern Texas, and the National Weather Service said the conditions could worsen in the afternoon and evening. . Several storms across Central Texas on Wednesday night produced "very large, destructive hail," the National Weather Service in Fort Worth said. Several tornado watches and severe thunderstorm warnings were also issued as training supercells moved through the region. Story continues Several storms across Central Texas are currently producing very large, destructive hail. This is a hailstone that fell out of the storm that just moved over Waco, Texas. Take any warnings issued for your location seriously!! https://t.co/2kOKM9Gaxz NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) April 26, 2023 Isolated tornadoes are possible, AccuWeather said. "Severe storms producing damaging winds and very large hail are expected," the weather service said. Cities in the "enhanced" risk area include: Dallas Fort Worth Arlington Plano Waco 7:50am CDT #SPC Day1 Outlook Enhanced Risk: over parts of north Texas and central Florida https://t.co/TgJgC6cQZw pic.twitter.com/640C4e2BQp NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) April 26, 2023 Flood warnings remain in Upper Midwest Flood warnings remain in place until further notice in the Upper Midwest, primarily around the Mississippi River in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Parts of northeast North Dakota are also under flood warnings until Friday due to snowmelt. Monday, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for 10 counties along the Mississippi River. The state's Homeland Security and Emergency Management departments said representatives are working with affected communities to ensure "necessary resources to prepare and respond" to potential flooding. Communities along the Upper Mississippi River scrambled Wednesday to prepare for near-record level swelling. Some were forced to evacuate while other created sandbag walls downstream and closed off flood-prone areas. Flooding is highly anticipated this week into early next week as the river grows from the snowmelt in northern Minnesota. In Iowa, forecasts predict the river will reach the third-highest level ever recorded when it crests Saturday about 160 miles to the south in Davenport, Iowa. John Haase, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities, defines the "crest" as the highest water level the river is expected to reach before it starts to fall. The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities expects at least 13 counties along the Mississippi River to be under a major flood risk now through May 9. Parts of Yosemite National Park closing for flooding The National Weather Service issued several flood watches and warnings for parts of California and Nevada due to flooding caused by snowmelt. Most of Yosemite Valley will be closed from Friday night until Wednesday, the National Park Service announced. Yosemite's snowpack is over 240% of its average, according to an April 1 snow survey. The snow measures above 8,000 feet and is the deepest ever recorded, the park service said. The park service said the valley closes once the Merced River at Pohono Bridge is expected to rise above flood stage of 10 feet. Severe weather threat throughout South, Southeast Outside of northern Texas and central Florida, severe weather will be possible throughout the South and Southeast. "The excessive rainfall and severe weather threats ramp up over the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley on Wednesday," the NWS said. The threat of severe weather will be in: Southeast Colorado Northeast New Mexico Central and southern Texas Oklahoma Southern Nebraska Arkansas Louisiana Mississippi Alabama Central and southern Georgia Florida Winter storm warnings in Colorado Residents in Colorado's mountains will continue to be under a winter storm warning through Wednesday morning, the NWS said, as heavy snowfall could leave up to 3 feet of accumulation in some higher elevations. In Denver, the high will be 54 degrees with rain mixed with snow possible in the morning. US weather watches and warnings National weather radar Contributing: N'dea Yancey-Bragg and Saleen Martin, USA TODAY; Francesca Block, Des Moines Register; The Associated Press Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Severe storms in Texas, Florida are in Wednesday's weather forecast By Alexandra Valencia QUITO (Reuters) - A representative from Ecuador's opposition and a lawyer for President Guillermo Lasso on Wednesday gave dueling testimony to a congressional committee tasked with recommending whether to remove the conservative leader from office. Opposition lawmakers have pushed impeachment hearings against the former banker, alleging Lasso disregarded possible embezzlement connected to an oil shipping contract between public company Flopec and a private-sector business. Lasso has denied wrongdoing, pointing out the contract was signed in 2018, three years before he took office, and that his administration negotiated profitable changes to it under recommendations from the comptroller. Lasso did "nothing" when warned about irregularities in the contract, opposition lawmaker Viviana Veloz testified to the committee. "That's why he should be censured and removed, this is the constitutional truth and the political truth that many are trying to hide from the Ecuadorean people," said Veloz, who presented letters and video she said showed Lasso's guilt. "There is more than enough proof of acts of corruption at Flopec." There is no proof Lasso was ever involved with Flopec contracts, his lawyer Edgar Neira testified. "The president does not have Flopec resources, nor those of any public company, under his care," Neira said. The opposition "has not established what the diversion of funds was, there is not an economic accounting analysis that indicates what the alleged loss was." The committee should recommend against an impeachment vote, he added, and should declare no corruption took place. Though Lasso has largely failed to rectify rising crime - a top concern for voters - some Ecuadoreans said his removal was not the solution. "The hearings are a waste of time and resources, we don't need this when the country is controlled by criminals," said 60-year-old Yolanda Proano in Quito. "If they end up kicking him out things won't get better, it will be worse for the economy, for employment." Story continues The committee will now have 10 days to prepare its report. The impeachment hearings are the first in decades. Opposition lawmakers - many allied with former President Rafael Correa, himself convicted of corruption - would need 92 of 137 legislators to favor removing Lasso if the process goes to the full chamber. Lasso allies have said they have enough backing to block impeachment. Under Ecuador's constitution, Lasso could call elections for his post and the assembly instead of facing the impeachment vote. Another opposition lawmaker said they have complained to the attorney general's office over Lasso's alleged connections to Flopec corruption. (Reporting by Alexandra Valencia in Quito,; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Josie Kao and Matthew Lewis) The county prosecution in the University of Idaho student homicides has added two state attorneys to its legal team in pursuit of four first-degree murder charges against defendant Bryan Kohberger, a case that qualifies for the death penalty should they seek it. Idaho deputy attorney general Jeff Nye and deputy attorney general Ingrid Batey, each from the offices criminal law division, were appointed Monday at the request of Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson. Second Judicial District Judge John Judge, who is poised to oversee a possible trial in the Kohberger case, accepted Thompsons petition for legal help. I seek assistance in this case in order to utilize the expertise and additional resources of the Office of the Attorney General, Thompson wrote in a Monday court filing. The attorney generals office has agreed, in writing, to assist the Latah County Prosecuting Attorneys Office in this matter. Like Thompson, a 1980 graduate of the U of Is law school, each of the state deputy attorneys general joining the case has ties to the university. Batey is a 2016 graduate of the U of I law school, while Nye has worked as an adjunct professor at the U of Is law program since 2021, according to their LinkedIn profiles. Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson speaks at a press conference on Dec. 30, 2022 announcing the arrest of Bryan Kohberger, who is suspected of killing four University of Idaho students in November. Thompson and his staff remain the lead on the case with the attorney generals office in a support role, office spokesperson Beth Cahill told the Idaho Statesman. Bill Thompson and his team of prosecutors are doing an amazing job, and we stand ready to help them in any way we can, Cahill said in a statement. Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador named Nye as his chief of the criminal division in January. He has been with the office for more than five years, including two years as its previous lead special prosecutor, his LinkedIn profile showed. He is a graduate of Georgetown Universitys law school. Jeff has extensive experience putting criminals behind bars, and hes the right man to help me transform this division into Idahos premier prosecution office, Labrador said in a January statement. Story continues Batey joined the attorney generals office last year after more than five years as a deputy prosecutor in Canyon County, her LinkedIn profile showed. She joined the criminal division of the attorney generals office in December, according to the Idaho Press. In March, Kohbergers public defender, Anne Taylor, who is chief of the Kootenai County Public Defenders Office, received court approval to add another death penalty-qualified attorney to her team. Jay Logsdon, chief deputy of litigation with Taylors office, formally joined Kohbergers defense. Kohbergers preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin June 26 at the Latah County Courthouse. The mother of a Greenville County teen who died of a drug overdose in a motel room last year was arrested Tuesday and charged with unlawful conduct towards a child. The Greenville County Coroners Office reported Monday that Landon Chance Poston died of oxycodone toxicity. He was found at InTown Suites on Nov. 21, 2022, which would have been the teens 15th birthday, and had been dead for a week. His mother Sonja Campbell was found unconscious in the room. The Sheriffs Office reported that they were called to the motel by staff members who entered the room to evict Campbell. The investigation showed Campbell had been living at the motel with her son when she consumed Oxycodone in an attempt to commit suicide. Investigators believe the suicide attempt occurred in the presence of Poston, who has autism, the Sheriffs Office news release said. The Greenville County Detention Center daily log reported Campbell, 39, had not posted bond as of 6 p,m. The online Greenville County arrest records show she was arrested around noon Tuesday. The Coroners Office listed the manner of death as undetermined. Poston was a student at Southside High School in Greenville. Women attend a lesson at a school for wives and daughters of former Renamo members Television is popular medium in Mozambique and there are around 20 stations. State-run TVM is the national network, and STV is a popular private channel. Portuguese RTP Africa and Brazilian-owned TV Miramar are widely-watched. State-run Antena Nacional radio is a key news medium. Private FM stations operate in most towns. Many community broadcasters are funded by the government and Unesco. BBC World Service is available via FM relays. Many media outlets are "directly or indirectly controlled by the authorities or members of the ruling party", says watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The media suffer a lack of resources and are susceptible to self-censorship, says Reporters Without Borders. Journalists are subject to intimidation and lawsuits by officials. Access to the north of the country, where Islamist militants are active, is "virtually impossible" for reporters, RSF says. There were 6.5 million internet users by December 2021, comprising 20% of the population (Worldinternetstats.com). Press/Online Noticias - main daily, has government shareholding O Pais - private, daily Carta de Mocambique - news website Television Radio News agency Home prices and home values continue to climb in many parts of Wichita this spring, even as sales slumped in March compared to last year. Houses in south-central Kansas sat on the market for an estimated six days before being sold last month, according to data from the Kansas Association of REALTORS. March also saw 968 new listings in the area, according to the monthly report prepared by South Central Kansas MLS. The median sale price was $201,400, up from the $193,400 median sale price from the same month previous year. Overall home sales in south-central Kansas fell 9.7% this March compared to March 2022, according to that same data. The Kansas Association of REALTORS reports the median active listing price this March was $310,000, compared to $265,875 the previous March. As for home values, the mid-point home in the Wichita area is worth $239,700, according to data from the Zillow Home Value Index. The average percent change over a year was 7.9%, Zillow reports. Five Wichita-area ZIP codes have a median value exceeding $400,000, according to the same data. The zip code with the highest mid-point value was 67228, with a median value of $437,301. The other four ZIP codes with the highest median values are: 67232s mid-point is $416,803 67230s mid-point is $421,078 67223s mid-point is $422,261 67227s mid-point is $429,170 The ZIP code with the lowest median home value was 67214, with a median price of $72,760. The four areas with the lowest values are: 67213s mid-point is $105,190 67211s mid-point is $106,136 67216s mid-point is $122,254 67218s mid-point is $134,766 Wichita ZIP code 67214 had the highest increase in home values this year at 21.15%, while 67230 saw the lowest increase at just a 0.86% difference compared to last March. See the interactive graph below with the latest data from Zillows Home Value Index. Note: This graphic will automatically update as new data become available. Tori Brumback said she was at her Funkstown home when she heard six shots during the early morning of April 11 and, shocked, wondered where the bullets ended up. She ran to check upstairs to ensure her husband and son were OK. "I'm scared. I've really never heard somebody get killed before," said Brumback, who added she cried for an hour after that. Brumback lives within a block of Joker's Bar & Grill where Erwin Bernard Redding, 38, who lived in the Hagerstown area, was shot to death. Darrin Anthony White, 25, of Hagerstown, has been charged with first- and second-degree murder in Redding's death. White and Redding two fought inside the bar before taking things outside. Sheriff comments on report: Is violent crime on rise in Maryland? New report gives outlook for Gov. Wes Moore The Town of Funkstown hosted Sheriff Brian Albert and Washington County Liquor Board Chairman Jeff Buczkowski at Town Hall on Monday night to give them the opportunity to hear concerns from town residents and others about the homicide and the bar. Concerns about the bar at North Antietam and West Baltimore streets have come up periodically over the years, ranging from noise issues to rowdy behavior. On May 15, 2018, shots were fired at a minivan driving away from the area following an altercation that began in the bar, according to Herald-Mail archives. A Hagerstown man was found guilty of charges that included first-degree assault. Mayor Paul Crampton, in a phone interview Tuesday, said that until the fatal shooting things with the bar had been quiet since a video of a September 2020 melee inside the bar went viral and was featured on TMZ's website. After that fight, Joker's owner Josette Gustavus told The Herald-Mail she'd banned at least two people from the bar and was cooperating with the sheriff's office. A Florida man pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and received probation before judgement, according to his online court docket. Story continues Gustavus' attorney, Eugene L. Souder Jr., said at Monday night's meeting that he's seen video from the night of the murder taken inside and outside the bar. The altercation took less than 2 minutes and the shooting happened in about 20 seconds. Souder said it would have been impossible for anyone who works at Joker's to think the perpetrator was going to do that. Souder said the perpetrator was "clearly agitated" and took out his gun and "shot in cold blood." This could have happened at a grocery store or church, he said. After the meeting, Souder said Gustavus who attended the meeting had no comment. Crampton said Tuesday that while he wasn't at Joker's when the fight or shooting occurred, it could have happened anywhere. However, "I can't speak to whether it could have been prevented," Crampton said. Jokers Bar & Grill in Funkstown The sheriff, liquor board and town officials heard from about 10 people Monday night. Some of them voiced concerns about the shooting and type of clientele the bar attracts. Two men who said they are Joker's employees said the owner does a good job of being proactive. When there is a dispute inside the bar, employees work to get the aggressor outside, they said. The employees said they can't control what happens outside. One of the employees later clarified that while he can ask someone to leave the bar, he has no authority outside the bar. At least one of the employees said they call the sheriff's office when there are incidents. Albert said a duty officer will decide, depending on the type of incident, whether to dispatch deputies immediately or when they are freed up after other calls. The sheriff's office covers 450 square miles with seven deputies on duty in the evenings, running from call to call, he said. On Tuesday, Albert said that if there's an emergency call about someone that could be harmed, the response would be expedited as quickly as possible. The April 3 call for emergency responders was an "echo call" that went out to every law enforcement agency in the county, he said at the meeting. Albert said he couldn't talk about the homicide because the case is pending. Albert said he knows folks are frustrated. The suspect is in custody and when the investigation is complete, a report will be sent to the liquor board, he said. Buczkowski said the liquor board is waiting for the sheriff's office's report on the shooting to see what comes up during the investigation. That includes who called for help. Local athletes: Hagerstowns Isaiah Brooks (Aarons brother) is 7-0 in his wrestling comeback Several people said they don't want to see the bar's liquor license pulled or for the bar owner and employees to lose their livelihoods. But not everyone was so kind. Sherry Moore said her back porch gives her a front-row seat to Joker's. She talked about seeing fights and drug activity in the area. When she woke up the morning of the shooting, there was a detective in her back yard searching for the gun, she said. Two bags of marijuana were found in her yard. "I don't even feel safe now to sit in my own back yard ..." she said. A woman asked if calls to inform law enforcement about information about incidents around Joker's would lead to the business being called a nuisance. Buczkowski said if someone with a bar calls for help due to an incident, that works in the bar's favor because the establishment is being proactive. Deputy hours to increase in Funkstown Albert said he and Crampton had worked out a contract for a community deputy, on a limited basis, to patrol Funkstown. Crampton said Tuesday the sheriff's office has provided a deputy, on overtime, for about 20 hours a month, for years. The new agreement provides a specific deputy to the town for at least eight hours a week, town officials said. The one-year deal will cost the town $20,271.80, Town Manager Brenda Haynes said Tuesday. Crampton said that costs less than the previous arrangement and provides more deputy time for the town. Albert said the new agreement might need more signatures, but that's a formality. The new assignment starts July 1. The sheriff's office provides similar coverage from a deputy for Clear Spring, Keedysville, Sharpsburg and Williamsport. Brumback asked if the sheriff's office does training for neighborhood watch groups. Albert said the sheriff's office hasn't been very proactive about that due to manpower issues, but to contact the office and he'll get someone to meet with her. "We're going to work on making it a safer place so you feel comfortable living here," Albert said at the Funkstown meeting. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Funkstown residents share concerns with officials about murder For 27 years, a small Missouri town had been without a murder. But a recent discovery by a mushroom hunter is raising questions in Pevely, a suburb of St. Louis with a population of about 6,000 as of 2021. The Pevely Police Department said in a news release the mushroom hunter found human remains April 23 along a woodline. The remains have not been positively identified, but KTVI reported the body is of a woman. In an interview with Leader Publications, Pevely Police Chief Mark Glenn considered the death suspicious and said the body was in a state of decay. Jill Rodgers, who made the discovery, told KTVI she is still in shock. I was walking up the hill, and I was coming near this long tree that was laid over, Rodgers said. There was something huge laying down on the ground. There was a moving blanket, so I pulled that back. I took a big tree limb and lifted it up, and it clearly looked like a foot, a human foot. Police have not released details of the autopsy. The investigation is ongoing. A clerk with the Pevely Police Department told McClatchy News the town has not had a murder since 1996. The discovery is one of two instances of mushroom hunters coming across human remains in Missouri in a matter of days. On April 21, a mushroom hunter found remains on private property in Daviess County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Daviess County is about 75 miles northeast of Kansas City. Troopers continue to investigate the remains of the Daviess County victim, who is unidentified. Morel mushroom-hunting season begins in Missouri. Heres what to know before you hunt Mushroom hunters found 60-year-olds body in Missouri well, leaving more questions Mushroom hunter finds womans body while scouring woods for morels, Iowa cops say Mushroom hunters use branch to check well depth and a body emerged, Missouri cops say By Devjyot Ghoshal BANGKOK (Reuters) - Government and think-tank representatives from Myanmar and its neighbours, including India and China, held talks in New Delhi on Tuesday as part of a secretive effort to de-escalate a bloody crisis in the army-run Southeast Asian nation, two sources said. Myanmar was plunged into conflict and economic chaos in 2021 after its powerful military overthrew the elected civilian government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering an armed resistance that it has sought to violently crush. The talks this week were the second in a "Track 1.5" dialogue that started in Thailand last month and came as frustration grows within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc at the military's failure to implement a peace plan it agreed to in April 2021. The sources, who asked not to be named and declined to identify the representatives because the process was confidential, said Myanmar, India, China, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos were present at Tuesday's meeting, as was Indonesia, the current ASEAN chair. One of the sources said participants were interested in bringing into the process Myanmar's shadow National Unity Government (NUG), an organisation affiliated with the resistance and declared "terrorists" by the junta. "They are wanting to talk to NUG at some point of time officially, because the NUG and the Myanmar army haven't spoken officially at all," said the source, who was briefed on the meeting. "These are the hopes that the participants have." India and Thailand's foreign ministries, and the Chinese embassy in New Delhi did not immediately respond to queries from Reuters, while a spokesperson Myanmar's junta could not be reached. A spokesperson for Indonesia's foreign ministry said he was not aware of the meeting. The NUG is open to dialogue with neighbouring and regional countries, spokesperson Kyaw Zaw said. "We welcome all efforts from the international community to end the violence and atrocities in Myanmar," he said. Story continues The meeting was hosted by an Indian think-tank and included discussion on all sides reducing violence, creating space for dialogue and the delivery of humanitarian aid, the second source said, adding the next meeting would be in Laos. "The neighbouring countries' perspective needs to be taken into account," said the source, "For them, the foremost priority is the de-escalation of the violence." The junta has been shunned by Western countries but has stepped up engagement with Russia and recently hosted visitors from Thailand, including its military chief and the foreign minister. Retired diplomat Ban Ki-moon, who made multiple trips to Myanmar as United Nations chief, met the junta leader and its reformist former president on Monday and called for an immediate end to violence. ASEAN's peace plan known as the five-point consensus, is the only official diplomatic process in play for Myanmar and includes halting hostilities and starting dialogue between all parties. ASEAN has barred the junta from attending until they implement the plan, which has infuriated the generals. "This effort will not supplant ASEAN," the second source said of the ongoing talks, "This will only complement." (Reporting by Devjyot Ghoshal; Additional reporting by Reuters Staff, Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok, Stanley Widianto in Jakarta and Tanvi Mehta in New Delhi; Editing by Martin Petty) Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Reuters/Getty Americans have tried to help Ukraine defend against Russian aggression ever since Vladimir Putins invasion began last year, from offers to fight on the battlefield to raising funds for the embattled nation. At one point, that appeared to include Bob Baera former CIA agent who previously worked in the CIAs Directorate of Operations, working jobs around the globe from Lebanon to Iraq. Baerwhose 2003 memoir inspired the movie Syriana, starring George Clooney and Matt Damonregistered as a foreign agent for Ukraine in March, according to filings with the Department of Justice obtained by The Daily Beast. The work was intended to help Ukraine navigate through arms purchases, one of the filings states. In an early April interview with The Daily Beast about the registration, Baer said that: What Im trying to do right now is help the Air Force with various [equipment], with drones, with MiGs, aviation, things like that, adding that some of the specifics for his work, which he said would be done pro bono, were still getting sorted out. I think the Russians need to be stopped before they go any farther. Thats when things started getting a little murky. Inside the Hunt for Russias Fourth Man Within the CIA The plan started to spiral this month, according to Baers telling. He told The Daily Beast he wanted more specifics from the Ukrainian government about what his duties would be, and he wanted it in writing. He said his intermediaries, who he claims roped him into the scheme in the first place and whom he has refused to name, started to go silent on him. Then, on April 10, Baer informed The Daily Beast he had decided to pull out of the plan entirely. Nevertheless, Baers registration as a foreign agent remains active more than two weeks later, according to Department of Justice records reviewed Tuesday. The Ukrainian Air Force acknowledged a request for comment, but ultimately did not respond to The Daily Beast to confirm the alleged arrangement. Story continues In his latest comments to The Daily Beast, the former CIA agent said he has plans to deregister this week. In the days leading up to Baers apparent decision to deregister with the Justice Department, he had told The Daily Beast that his plans with the Ukrainians were still in flux. He said the arrangement would have him working with congressional staffers and members of Congress, where he intended to engage in political lobbying in both the House and the Senate, according to a filing. The documents Baer submitted to the Justice Department reflect some confusion in the early development of the plan. The former CIA agent was originally set to work with Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraines top military intelligence official, according to some filings retained at the Department of Justice. Baer later told The Daily Beast that the arrangement had changed, and that he was set to work under the Air Force more specifically. According to the most recent filing, he was set to work under the commander of the Air Force, Mykola Oleschuk. Budanovs office did not respond to a request for comment. The apparent plan comes as Ukraine is growing increasingly desperate for certain weapons aid from the United States and other Western nations to try to win the war against Russia. Ukrainian officials have been pleading with the Biden administration for fighter jets and other weapons for months. The need for more Air Force resources is currently dire, according to Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat, who said early this month that Russia is five or six times more powerful than Ukraine in the air. Technologically, they are several times better, Ihnat added. They carried out deep modernization of the Su-27 aircraft, today it is the Su-30, and there is also a Su-35 variant, as well as a Su-34 fighter-bomber, and what these aircraft fire off is a new threat. Ukraine has recently begun receiving MiG-29 fighter jets from Slovakia and Poland. Other military packages have included Su-25s from Bulgaria and Su-25s from North Macedonia, according to Oryx and the Associated Press. Foreign aid shipments have also included attack, transport, and utility helicopters, as well as unmanned combat aerial vehicles and intelligence UAVs, Oryx reported. But Ukrainian officials say they still need modern fighter jets like the F-16s. The F-16s have an on-board radar that can see far and a wide range of weaponscruise missiles, guided air missiles capable of hitting air, ground, and water surface targetseverything is there in the F-16 aircraft. That is why we need such a multi-purpose warplane, Ihnat said. The MiG-29, which is handed over to us by our partners, doesnt have this. Although the Biden administration has held off on sending F-16s to Ukraine, Ukrainian pilots have been completing training on F-16s in the United States in recent weeks, in a sign that Ukraine may be getting just what it needs soon. Arming Ukraine Is the Path to Peace Currently, Ukraines Air Force is working on ramping up the pressure on the United States to give F-16s to Ukraine. We are trying to explain that while its great that the MiGs came from Slovakia and Poland, they are not actually helping a lot. They are basically quantity but not quality. And they are not changing the situation at all for us, said Yulia Marushevska, who spoke with The Daily Beast on behalf of Ukraines Air Force. Its a big threat for us right now due to the absence of the modern jets, the problem of the F-16s. We are currently trying to alarm the world that there is a huge problem and threat for us. Marushevska, however, did not respond to multiple comment requests about addressing this threat with the help of an alleged arrangement with Baer, the details of which remain shrouded in mystery. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Celia Dial Saxon, one of the states most revered educators, is the first African American to be honored with a building name on the University of South Carolina campus. It is an honor both well-deserved and long overdue. At a public ceremony on April 21, a residence building at 700 Lincoln St. in Columbia was dedicated formally as Celia Dial Saxon Hall. The site of the building, which houses 297 students, is significant because it is adjacent to the historic Ward One District, where an elementary school named for Saxon was located until its closure in 1968. Much of the largely African American Ward One neighborhood is no longer recognizable. It is now the location of the Koger Center for the Arts, Greek Village, Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center, Carolina Coliseum, residential buildings, parking areas, and private businesses. Celia Dial Saxon was a prominent educator in Columbia in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The University of South Carolina recently named a building after her. The renaming of this residence hall is part of ongoing efforts to place USCs history in context and to honor those who have been left out of the universitys story. Other recent efforts include renovations to the former Booker T. Washington High School (with further renovations currently being planned); the 2017 installation of two markers on the Horseshoe to credit the work of enslaved persons in constructing the USC campus and landscape; the 2018 unveiling of the Richard T. Greener statue on campus, honoring the universitys first Black professor; and the January 2023 unveiling of a State Historical Marker on the west end of the Horseshoe acknowledging the history of USC during Reconstruction. Later this year, the university expects to unveil a monument in statue form of the three students who desegregated the university on September 11, 1963: Robert G. Anderson, Henrie Monteith Treadwell, and James L. Solomon Jr. The Board of Trustees recognizes the importance of commemorating Saxons impact on the culture and heritage of USC and the state through her perseverance, compassion, and devotion to educational excellence. Story continues Celia Emma Dial was born in Columbia in 1857, just one block west of the antebellum-era university campus. During Reconstruction, Saxon became one of the first African American students to attend the South Carolina State Normal School, which was established by the General Assembly in 1873 and opened on the University of South Carolina campus in 1874. Upon earning her teaching credential, she started her career at Columbias Howard School. She married Thomas A. Saxon, dean of Allen Universitys law school, in 1890, and the couple had two children. She spent the majority of her professional career as a teacher at Booker T. Washington High School. Although she worked under the burden of the Jim Crow era, her commitment to equality, justice, and hard work enabled her to excel as an educator. Over her 57-year career, she influenced generations of Black students. She also was an empathetic advocate who worked to provide educational and financial resources for African Americans in South Carolina and to advance the rights of women and girls. She was active in the national Womens Club Movement and was involved in numerous organizations such as the Palmetto State Teachers Association, the South Carolina Federation of Colored Womens Clubs, and the Womans Christian Temperance Union. As a member of the State Federation of Negro Womens Clubs, Saxon was one of the founders of the Fairwold Industrial School for Negro Girls and the Wilkinson Orphanage for Negro Children in South Carolinas Midlands. Saxon died in January 1935 while grading student papers at her home in Columbias Waverly neighborhood. In addition to the elementary school in Ward One, at least three other locations in the Columbia area have been named in her honor. In 2008, a South Carolina Historical Marker was placed at the corner of Blossom and Assembly streets, near the location of the school that once bore her name. The building on USCs campus named for Celia Dial Saxon honors her legacy as an education pioneer and tireless advocate and reminds us to keep building upon it. Thad Westbrook is the chair of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees. The Board of County Commissioners, Nassau County Parks and Recreation, and the community came together on Monday to celebrate the opening of Nassau Countys first dog park. The new bark park is located within Nassau Crossing Park at 77480 William Burgess Blvd., Yulee. The event on Apr. 24 began with a welcome message by Parks and Recreation Director, Jay Robertson. Robertson expressed the countys excitement about the new dog park, and also spent a few minutes talking about the progress of Nassau Crossing Park. The future looks bright for Nassau Crossing Park. Future amenities that were discussed included the soccer field, nature outlook, and splash park. Pet safety was discussed and an overview of the park rules was provided to those in attendance. Commissioner Klynt Farmer performed a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The real fun was unleashed when all the dogs and their handlers were invited into the new park. The pets explored the obstacles that had been installed and had fun playing chase. Dogs were greeted by staff with complimentary treats. Nassau City Commissioner Klynt Farmer cut the ribbon on the new bark park on Monday. The park is now open for residents to use at their leisure. The new dog park includes obstacles in a fenced in area within Nassau Crossing Park. City officials were on hand to celebrate the opening of the new dog park within Nassau Crossing Park. Nassau County's first dog park grand opening. Dog park rules for owners and pets alike. The County's first dog park located within Nassau Crossing Park at 77480 William Burgess Blvd., Yulee. Just remember that agility equipment is for dog use only. Everyone had a good time at the grand opening of the dog park in Nassau Crossing park. The Nassau Crossing dog park is now open for residents to use at their leisure. Residents are urged to be responsible while enjoying use of the park. Below are the rules for use of the park. This information is also posted around the park as a reminder. Owner Rules All dogs must have current vaccinations Control your dog at all times Agility equipment is for dog use only (please keep toddlers and children off) The park gate must remain closed at all times All dogs must be leashed when preparing to leave the gated (dog park) area 3 dog maximum per visitor allowed Clean up after your dogs No people food or glass containers All dogs must be accompanied by a person of at least 16 years of age Park is use at your own risk Dog Rules No aggressive behavior No unsupervised dogs No female dogs in heat No puppies (under 4 months of age) >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Read: Read: Read: [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Alicia D. Williams never set out to be a childrens author. In fact, the award-winning Charlotte writer laughs when asked if success was part of the plan. I wish I was one of those people who said all my life, I knew what I wanted to be, but I didnt, she said. I loved storytelling and drama. But learning that how to best articulate and express myself was through my book characters came later. Later has arrived. WIlliams first book, for middle grades, tackled themes of family and Black identity, won awards and a rave in The New York Times in 2019. Her latest book came out last fall. The Talk covers the all-too-familiar conversation Black and brown parents have with their kids to keep them safe. Its a book aimed at children ages 4 to 8, and also has won awards for Williams. Williams wrote The Talk after inadvertently watching the Ahmaud Arbery video, where a 25-year-old Black man who was jogging in Georgia was killed by three white men in a racially motivated crime. I knew this was weighing on my mind, she said. Anytime I approach a story, its something Im trying to grapple with, something Im trying to understand, something Im trying to work out to see if there is a solution to get closer to understanding the world in which we live in. I feel like a sense of responsibility on how I serve that message in there, she added. That is not something that Im giving it to readers, but for them to come to the conclusions on their own. Alicia D. Williams believes that children need stories to inspire hope or change, or make them want to take risks or action. Finding her purpose When work brought Williams from New York to Charlotte, the American Musical and Dramatic Academy alum thought that she had left a career in the creative arts behind. Williams first came to Charlotte through her job as a flight attendant for American Airlines and then took a job working for Bank of America. But she missed the arts. A move into education, which allowed her to focus on arts integration, proved to be a good fit. And enrolling in graduate school at Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota, brought her closer to her purpose. It was during that time that Williams composed her first full length work, a novel for kids 9 and older that addresses racism and colorism head on. Story continues Encouraged by a professor, Williams sent the manuscript off and quickly secured an agent. That first book, Genesis Begins Again, focused on a young teen who hates her dark black skin and hair, prays for beauty and hopes to win a singing contest at school to help her troubled family. The New York Times compared to the Toni Morrison classic The Bluest Eye and it received Newbery and Kirkus Prize honors. Alicia Williams Why she writes For many families, the talk that Williams book references is that moment when the reality of growing up Black or brown in America is laid out clearly to children. In the book, protagonist Jay enjoys a life of family and friends in concert with his white counterparts. He loves to run unfettered through the neighborhood with his friends. He feels safe when enveloped in the hood of his fathers college sweatshirt and doesnt know why wearing it could bring him danger. He jokes when his mother laments his loss of boyhood and increasing height. But as Jay inches toward adolescence, his family knows that racism means he will be seen as a threat and that what he wears and how he moves can mean the difference between life and death. The books illustrations (by artist Briana Mukodiri Uchendu) reinforce these realities. One, featuring a blurry television screen with a CNN story on police brutality still legible, is especially resonant. Literature for children and young adults has long come under scrutiny by institutions and individuals claiming they are protecting impressionable young minds from questionable or dangerous content. Williams is emphatic in her response to the question of whether literary content should be censored for young readers. Tough topics like poverty, bullying, trauma, racism these are experiences that kids are living through. All these things happen at a young age, but we want to say our children arent ready? I write because our children are ready, she said. I know I write in a way thats gentle enough, compassionate enough, and authentic enough to reach children at their level. Alicia D. Williams wants readers to come to their own conclusions after reading her books. Censorship concerns Last year, a report from PEN America found that 5,049 schools in 32 states had banned more than 1,648 titles. Also last year, the American Library Association said the number of attempts to ban or restrict library resources in schools, universities and public libraries exceeded the record counts of 2021. This trend unsettles Williams, who believes that whether books are non-fiction or fiction, they are essential sustenance to young readers and their caregivers. When people choose to ban books, you know theres a reason you dont want these books to be read. These books give hope, they give answers, they give empathy, they break down fear, she said. And the walls that we build ourselves around, we give understanding. They are literal road maps to freedom. Though Williams has worn many professional and creative hats throughout her career, she says that writing and teaching through her books is her true calling. Its how she hopes to leave the world a better place. She emphasizes the significance that words can provide, arguing that children need stories to inspire hope or change, or make them want to take risks or action. Through my pen or my keyboard, thats how I get out to support whatever were going through in this time of history, she said. And much like Morrison, the literary ancestor to whom her work has been compared, Williams believes in the power of language. It builds bridges between communities, fostering greater understanding and empathy. More arts coverage Want to see more stories like this? Sign up here for our free Inside Charlotte Arts newsletter: charlotteobserver.com/newsletters. And you can join our Facebook group, Inside Charlotte Arts, by going here: facebook.com/groups/insidecharlottearts. Netflix is cracking down on password sharing. NurPhoto / Getty Images Netflix is pushing ahead with its password-sharing clampdown. The streaming giant has said its US crackdown will start in the current quarter. In Spain, users have gone on a canceling spree. Here's how the clampdown works. Netflix is pushing ahead with its password-sharing clampdown and research shows that scores of customers have gone on a canceling spree. In the US, the streaming giant said its crackdown on password sharing will start in the current quarter. The proposed plans have been met with fierce backlash from some customers, several of who threatened to cancel their accounts if the rules were enforced. However, the policy has already been rolled out in several countries. In Spain, where password-sharing rules were enforced in early February, Netflix subscribers have been on a canceling spree, per Bloomberg. Citing research from Kantar, Bloomberg reported that Netflix lost more than one million users in Spain during the first three months of 2023. Subscription cancellations in the first quarter tripled compared with the previous period, per Kantar's research. The reaction is not entirely unexpected. In an earnings call in January, Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters said the company was expecting to see "a bit of a cancel reaction" to the policy. In its first-quarter earnings release on April 18, Netflix said the company expected the dip to be temporary before "borrowers" started signing up for their own accounts. How it works Netflix has said it can detect when passwords are shared outside a household, which it defines as people who live in the same location as the account owner. The company previously said it uses a combination of IP addresses and device IDs to determine if an account is being used in the correct location. If users want to share their account with someone outside their household they can buy an "extra member" and add them to the account, according to Netflix's help center. This feature is only available in some countries. Story continues Paid sharing was initially tested in Costa Rica, Chile, and Peru, where it costs the equivalent of around $2 to $3 to add an extra member account. This was later extended to include New Zealand, Canada, Spain, and Portugal. The extra member prices differ across countries. In New Zealand, the service costs NZ$7.99 ($5.09) per month, in Canada it costs CAN$ 7.99 ($5.96) per month. In Spain, the service costs 5.99 euros ($6.45), and in Portugal, it's 3.99 euros ($4.30). The company has compared Canada's reaction to the new policy with what it hopes to achieve in the US. "In Canada, which we believe is a reliable predictor for the US, our paid membership base is now larger than prior to the launch of paid sharing and revenue 4 growth has accelerated and is now growing faster than in the US," the company said in a letter to shareholders after its first-quarter earnings release. Netflix has tested other rules aimed at stamping out password-sharing, including temporary-access codes for traveling, Insider previously reported. Netflix did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment made outside of normal working hours. Read the original article on Business Insider Photo Illustration by Luis Rendon/Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Netflix Netflix is welcoming in May with several celebrations. Bridgerton has always felt like a springtime show, thanks to those gorgeous lilacs around the Ton, so its fitting that the show will return next month. Further, the streamer has something to offer for Mothers Day and anyone swooning over a potential summer fling. The streamer will begin the month with Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on May 4. Though this new series wont follow the original Bridgerton premisewhich sees each of the eight Bridgerton children falling in love in a new seasonwere getting a more personal look at one of the shows most prominent characters. This show will give us the background on Queen Charlottes love life as a younger woman, played now by India Ria Amarteifio. Then, Netflix is keeping it all in the family with The Mother, a movie from Jennifer Lopez. Its part of her multi-year first-look deal with the streamers production company. J.Lo has really been on a wild stretch with Marry Me and Shotgun Wedding. Hopefully The Mother, which sees her in action to fight for her daughter, continues that streak when it premieres on May 12. Lastly, To All the Boys Ive Loved Before will return with a new spinoff. Though not based on one of her novels like its predecessor, To All the Boys author Jenny Han will bring back the youngster of the Covey family with XO, Kitty on May 18. The series follows Kitty as she embarks on a love life of her ownat an exclusive school in South Korea! Netflix has a stacked May offeringkeep reading to find out what else is new in the list below. May 1 Above Suspicion Airport Airport '77 Airport 1975 American Gangster Austin Powers in Goldmember Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Black Hawk Down The Cable Guy Captain Phillips Chicken Run Cliffhanger Conan the Barbarian The Croods The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Dawn of the Dead Flight For Colored Girls Girl, Interrupted The Glass Castle Story continues Home Again Hop Igor Kindergarten Cop Last Action Hero Legends of the Fall Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Leon: The Professional Marshall Paranormal Activity Peter Pan (2003) Pitch Perfect Rainbow High: Season 3 Rugrats: Seasons 1-2 The Smurfs: Season 1 Starship Troopers Steel Magnolias The Tale of Despereaux This Is the End Traffic Vampires The Wedding Date The Young Victoria May 2 Love Village The Tailor May 3 Jewish Matchmaking Great British Baking Show: Juniors: Season 7 Netflix May 4 Arctic Dogs Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Sanctuary May 6 A Man Called Otto May 8 Justice League: Seasons 1-2 Justice League Unlimited: Seasons 1-2 Spirit Rangers: Season 2 May 9 Documentary Now!: Season 4 Hannah Gadsby: Something Special May 10 Dance Brothers Missing: Dead or Alive? Queen Cleopatra May 11 Royalteen: Princess Margrethe St. Vincent Ultraman: Season 3 Netflix May 12 Black Knight Call Me Kate The Mother Mulligan Queer Eye: Season 7 May 13 UglyDolls May 14 Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me May 17 Faithfully Yours Fanfic La Reina del Sur: Season 3 McGREGOR FOREVER Rhythm + Flow France: Season 2 Working: What We Do All Day May 18 Kitti Katz XO, Kitty Yakitori: Soldiers of Misfortune Netflix May 19 Asteriz & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom Kathal - A Jackfruit Mystery Muted Selling Sunset: Season 6 Young, Famous & African: Season 2 May 22 The Batman: Seasons 1-5 The Boss Baby The Creature Cases: Chapter 3 May 23 All American: Season 5 MerPeople Victim/Suspect Wanda Sykes: I'm An Entertainer May 24 Hard Feelings Mother's Day Rhythm + Flow France: Season 2 (new episodes) The Ultimatum: Queer Love May 25 FUBAR May 26 Barbecue Showdown: Season 2 Blood & Gold Dirty Grandpa Tin & Tina Turn of the Tide May 30 I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson: Season 3 May 31 Heartland Season 15 Mixed by Erry Rhythm + Flow France: Season 2 (new episodes) The Ultimatum: Queer Love (new episodes) May TBA Siren: Survive the Island Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. [Source] Netflix released the official trailer for its upcoming series XO, Kitty on Tuesday. The To All the Boys spin-off focuses on Kitty Song Covey (Anna Cathcart), the younger sister of Lara Jean Song Covey (Lana Condor), and her journey from her home in Portland, Oregon, to Seoul. At the beginning of the trailer, the 16-year-old convinces her father (John Corbett) and stepmother (Sarayu Blue) to let her attend her mothers previous boarding school in South Korea, the Korean Independent School of Seoul. The boarding school also happens to be where Kitty's Korean long-term, long-distance boyfriend, Dae (Minyeong Choi), studies. Upon arriving in South Korea, however, Kitty realizes that things arent always what they seem especially after she realizes that Dae has another girlfriend. More from NextShark: Michael Buble Gifts Grandfather's Epic House to Filipina Caregiver To Help Her Family Viewers of the 10-episode series, which is set four years after To All the Boys: Always and Forever, will see Kitty grow into the main character of her own story. The drive that Kitty has as a little girl rifling through her sisters things and setting people up is the same drive she has for herself in XO, Kitty, co-showrunner Sascha Rothchild told Tudum. She makes decisions, she goes for it. That really propels her forward in the story and in her relationships. In addition to Cathcart, Corbett, Blue and Choi, the upcoming series' cast also includes Gia Kim, Sang Heon Lee, Anthony Keyvan, Peter Thurmwald, Regan Aliyah, Yunjin Kim, Michael K. Lee and Jocelyn Shelfo. As for the show's directors, Jennifer Arnold, Jeff Chan, Pamela Romanowsky and Katina Medina Mora have helmed at least two episodes each. More from NextShark: K-pop's newest hit: mental health support through audio therapy XO, Kitty, will premiere on Netflix on May 18. Watch its official trailer below: More from NextShark: First Asian American 'James Bond' director Cary Fukunaga shares his pride in being the 'other' Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Korean actor Kim Sae-ron apologizes for drunk driving, steps down from upcoming SBS drama 'Trolley' Devon Hoover, a Detroit neurosurgeon, was found dead in his home on Sunday. Devon Hoover, a Detroit neurosurgeon, was found dead in his home on Sunday. A Michigan neurosurgeon was found fatally shot and wrapped in a sheet in his Detroit home on Sunday, authorities said. Police said they found the body of Dr. Devon Hoover at a home on West Boston Boulevard in the Boston-Edison historic district while conducting a wellness check, WXYZ reported. His body was wrapped in a sheet in the attic of the residence, according to Fox 2 Detroit. His car was reportedly found in a separate location. Police said they were investigating the circumstances of the death, but didnt elaborate. Hoovers employer, Ascension Michigan, said he was a dedicated and well respected member of the Ascension Michigan family and will by greatly missed by our community. Our sincerest condolence and heartfelt prayers are with his family, friends and fellow associated during this incredibly difficult time, the statement said. On a newly created Facebook page titled Justice for Dr. Devon Hoover, patients and acquaintances wrote tributes to the doctor. Without a doubt Dr. Hoover had the best bedside manner of any surgeon. He was so intelligent but yet explained everything, in detail, in a way it was easy to know what his plan was, one former patient wrote. Others described him as kind, talented and compassionate, with a knack for putting patients at ease. Dr Hoover was one of the reasons I made it to 47 years old, another former patient said. Paddy Lynch, who said he was Hoovers neighbor, described him as a loving son and brother, a brilliant, accomplished surgeon, an unrivaled collector and caretaker of all things beautiful, and a champion of art and culture. He was one of the first neighbors to take me under their wing, offering old house advice, support, and kindness all along the way, Lynch wrote. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday takes in a flooded field outside of Alpaugh, Calif. (Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press) Water lapped Tuesday at the edges of 6th Avenue, where thousands of acres of once-fertile farmland sat sodden beneath several feet of stagnant floodwater. The problem, state officials said, is only going to get worse in the days and weeks to come as temperatures rise and record-deep snowpack in the southern Sierra Nevada begins to melt and make its way downhill. "You can look at a scene like this and think the worst is going to recede, the worst is behind us, but in fact, quite the contrary," said Gov. Gavin Newsom, who was visiting Corcoran to survey flood damage from winter storms. In the distance, a farmer steered a boat through the flooded Tulare Lake Basin, which only weeks ago was home to cotton plants, corn, wheat, tomatoes and other crops. "Every day, you're seeing an incremental half-inch or inch of more water, new water, present itself here in this basin," Newsom said. "As a consequence, we not only need to maintain our vigilance, but we can't be impatient in terms of the impending floods and the damage that will occur here in a very short order." The flooding that has already occurred was the result of dozens of powerful atmospheric rivers at the start of this year that caused more than $40 million worth of damage in Tulare County alone, said county Supervisor Eddie Valero. Included in that calculation were 50 breached canals, 37 destroyed homes and 13 damaged bridges. Adding to the challenge is an imminent heat wave, with temperatures around the San Joaquin Valley expected to reach nearly 100 degrees by Saturday. The National Weather Service has already issued a flood watch in Yosemite National Park, where the Merced River is expected to overflow due to rapid runoff from melting snow. Newsom said runoff could trickle into the Tulare Lake Basin for the next 16 weeks. But water in the lake bed which now sits like a bathtub with essentially nowhere to drain could stick around for as long as two years. Story continues The state is taking steps to help, including providing shelter assistance for displaced residents and aid for affected farmworkers, as well as supplying millions of sandbags, portable barriers called muscle walls and other flood prevention supplies, Newsom said. But he and other state officials said much of the response will fall to the four Tulare Basin counties Kern, Tulare, Kings and Fresno which are not part of the Department of Water Resources' Central Valley Flood Protection Plan. That plan, which runs from the Sacramento Valley down to Fresno County, tasks the DWR with collecting and analyzing data on hydrology, climate, flood impacts and levees, which can help with planning and response during disasters. DWR Director Karla Nemeth said Tuesday that the agency does "not have significant information about these four counties and where [their] water moves." The counties' absence from the flood plan is the result of decisions made years ago, when the plan was being drafted, and they shied away from state oversight, she said. "The one way we will be successful is if the state, federal and local governments form a very strong partnership, establish plans and communicate those plans with the public to keep them safe as the snow starts to melt over the course of the next 16 weeks," Nemeth said. Calls have been mounting for the state to help fortify the Corcoran levee a critical piece of flood control infrastructure in Kings County but Nemeth said the agency has not received a specific request from the county. Newsom said he and other state officials would be meeting with representatives from local groups to determine the best path forward. "There have been a lot of questions about cost, scale, scope of that project different points of view, different opinions," the governor said. "I can assure you being on the same page with regard to local decision makers is important, but also getting on the same page with legislative leaders and our federal partners as well, in a concurrent manner." The seeming lack of activity has left some residents frustrated. Jordan Silva, a local farmworker, landowner and custom harvester, said he took a boat onto the flooded basin Tuesday to try to recover some of his equipment from beneath the water. "We've heard about a bunch of stuff that might come monies and stuff that might show up here but no, we haven't gotten any," he said. "I threw my name in the hat to possibly, eventually, get some." Silva, who said he anticipates a significant economic hit from lost crops this year, noted that the water in some places is as deep as 30 feet. He said it makes him reconsider his future in the state; he has thought about moving to South Dakota, where "it's easier." "There will be water here for two years at least," Silva said. "It does make a person rethink a little bit." Calls for assistance are also coming from government officials. A group of 12 California Assemblymembers called on Newsom Tuesday to dedicate funds for the development of floodplains, a flat area of land beside a river or stream. "We are writing to urge you to dedicate $100 million to restore previous and current year funding that was diverted and cut from San Joaquin River floodplain restoration, and we ask that you commit an additional $100 million to provide disaster relief to devastated counties," wrote the group of Democratic and Republican legislators, many representing districts in the Central Valley. "Restoring floodplains is a critical and cost-effective flood prevention tool," they wrote. "As water levels in rivers rise due to rain and snowmelt, floodplains offer opportunities to divert that water to mitigate flooding. Floodplains allow water to flow outside of a rivers main channel and temporarily store it to prevent damage. They also provide space for recreation, habitat for wildlife, and can recharge groundwater to improve water supplies. Floodplains will help protect exposed vulnerable communities." State and federal officials said there are ongoing efforts to deal with floodwater and prepare for incoming runoff, including more than 50,000 acre-feet of floodwater that has already been diverted into areas where it can seep into the ground and recharge groundwater supplies. DWR has also initiated a program to provide more pumps and siphons for local agencies that have maximized their ability to divert water for recharge, including the Fresno Irrigation District, Nemeth said. "Flood, as a general matter, is a landscape scale it is a regional challenge. It just screams regional coordination to make it actually work," she said. Federal agencies are also responding to the runoff by making strategic releases from the basin's four major dams at Lake Success, Lake Kaweah, Lake Isabella and Pine Flat to ensure there is room for incoming snowmelt. "There's definitely space to take in water in all four of those reservoirs," said Kenneth Wright, a spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers, which owns and operates the dams. "We've been working daily for weeks months, really to create and sustain flood control space." He said the expected heat wave "doesn't come as a big surprise," and everyone at the local and federal levels has been bracing for runoff from warming temperatures. "We're not veering from our plan we're doing what we always do, especially at times like these," Wright said. "We're coordinating with our local, county, state and sometimes federal partners ... to coordinate the appropriate and safe releases." An emergency declaration from Newsom and a presidential disaster declaration from President Biden remain in effect and will continue to enable additional assistance for disaster preparation, response and recovery, officials said. (Farmworkers and other affected residents can go to cdss.ca.gov for more information about assistance programs.) But while groundwater diversions will make a difference, "we will have, in all likelihood, a degree of a standing lake" in the Tulare Basin for the foreseeable future, Nemeth said. "We are here in the Tulare lake bed because, as we all are acutely aware, all of that snowmelt, without interruption, ends up right here," she said. The next phase of the state's response will include efforts to evacuate water from the lake bed over time. However, future planning will also depend on hydrology, as forecasts are calling for the emergence of a strong El Nino pattern this winter, she said. The pattern is often associated with increased rainfall in California, though it is not a guarantee. But even as the water level continues to rise, some Corcoran residents said they're not concerned. Lup Ramirez, who has lived in the area his entire life, said he has seen worse flooding in the past. "I'm not scared," said Ramirez, 72, as he rested on his bicycle beneath some shade downtown. He said the Boswell Co. the cotton-growing giant that remains the town's most influential employer would ensure that things don't get worse. "This is Boswell's town, and they've got it pretty well under control," he said. "They have a lot invested here they're not going to let it go under." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Benjamin Netanyahu was Israel's prime minister at the time of the country's 50th anniversary and he is prime minister again today as it marks its 75th. (Ronen Zvulun / AFP via Getty Images) When Israel celebrated its 50th anniversary, it was every bit as divided and disheartened as it is today, on the eve of its 75th. Fifty years after its creation in 1948 as a refuge for Jews, who'd undergone two millenniums of wandering and a devastating genocidal holocaust, Israel was rich and reasonably democratic (for those it chose to enfranchise). It had revitalized a near-dead language, survived four major wars and was in the middle of a peace process with the Palestinians. Yet its achievements seemed distant, its ideals battered, and it was a land of unfulfilled dreams in the grips of a bruising internal struggle. Thats what I wrote 25 years ago, in 1998, as a Jerusalem-based correspondent covering the 50th anniversary. It has surprised me, in rereading it, how fraught and similar the situation is today. Israel marked its 50 years of existence with symphonies, dance performances, parades, a flotilla and a concert of cantors, but the country was adrift, the peace process was stumbling and Israelis were still reeling from the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin three years earlier at, of all things, a peace rally. Left and right were at daggers, as were religious and secular Jews. The conflict with the Palestinians raged on West Bank settlements, terrorist attacks, mutual recriminations and growing distrust. Increasingly empty promises of peace. Abba Eban, former Israeli foreign minister, told me then: I worry very much about my country these days. Its very sharply divided, its disappointing and theres a sense of disillusionment. Now, 25 years later, Israel is again tense and riven. On its 75th anniversary, left and right are again at war, as are religious and secular. Again, people are flooding the streets in protest. Though I never would have believed it in 1998, the unjust occupation of Palestinian land seized in the Six-Day War in 1967 continues. Palestinian hopes for independence remain unfulfilled; violence persists; Israeli settlements continue to spread. The occupation has lasted for 56 years, and the conflict seems no closer to resolution. Story continues Fewer and fewer people believe a two-state solution, which seemed inevitable in the 1990s, will spring miraculously back to life. Israel today faces stiff critiques around the world, including in the U.S. Here, it receives more support than it used to from evangelical Christians, but less from American Jews and more from Republicans than Democrats. According to Gallup, Democrats now sympathize more with Palestinians than with Israel, a stunning shift from 2001, when they favored Israel by about 35 points. The Abraham Accords, a set of normalization agreements with several Arab states forged during the Trump administration, have taken some of the international pressure off Israel to find a solution to the Palestinian conflict. But the underlying issue isnt going away, and more violence seems inevitable, the predictable result of an occupation that festers and chafes. At the 50th anniversary, I wrote about the challenges to Israeli national myth-making as the country matured into adulthood. The countrys founder David Ben-Gurion was getting a critical rethink; new historians were seeking to debunk what they called a distorted Zionist narrative of Israeli history. One such story claimed that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled the country in 1948 voluntarily or at the behest of their leaders rather than that they'd been pushed out by Israeli soldiers. Israels collectivist idealism, too, seemed threatened in 1998. Children born on kibbutzim werent staying on when they grew up. Socialism was a thing of the past. The Histadrut, the nations powerful labor union, was losing influence. During much of the intervening 25 years, the country has been led by the right-wing leader of the Likud Party, Benjamin Netanyahu, now the countrys longest-serving prime minister. Netanyahu is serving his sixth term even as he's being tried on bribery and fraud charges. For much of his tenure, Netanyahu has presided over a country with a booming high-tech economy, which helps explain his continued electoral success. But the government he leads today is more illiberal and reactionary than ever. Netanyahu's coalition includes several ultranationalist ministers, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who believes the occupied territories were promised to the Jews by God, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was convicted of racist incitement and barred from serving in the army because of his extremism. For the 50th anniversary, I interviewed Netanyahu, who was then 48 years old and in his first term. He shrugged off the notion that internal dissension was leaving the country battered. This is so boring, so untrue, he said. Were celebrating an enormous triumph. Let those who carp do so on the sidelines. Theyre just a footnote in this great odyssey. Hes done much to make that final statement come true, outperforming opponents in repeated elections by focusing on fears about security. For years now its been said that the Israeli left and the Israeli peace movement are dead, or virtually so. The Labor Party, which dominated the country for most of its first 50 years, now holds only four out of the 120 seats in the Knesset, suggesting it has become a footnote indeed. But once again, Israel is at a transitional moment. Will it continue its descent into reactionary politics? A poll conducted in early April found that just 20% of Israelis believe Netanyahu is doing a good job. The streets today are full of newly energized Israelis protesting the government's hard-right agenda. Tens of thousands of people sometimes more than 100,000 have turned out around the country each week to repudiate the government's plan for so-called judicial reform and other policies that threaten democracy. The demonstrations have continued for 16 straight weeks. Thousands of military reservists have threatened not to report for duty if the judicial reform is passed. Heres hoping the right has finally overplayed its hand. @Nick_Goldberg This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley urged Walt Disney World to consider relocating from Florida to South Carolina. Oficina del primer ministro de Corea, John Raoux, File, and Patrick Semansky/AP Photo Disney World sued DeSantis to keep control of its self-governing status in Florida. Nikki Haley said the theme park should move to South Carolina instead. A top Disney expert said the company is stuck. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has a solution for Walt Disney World in its ongoing battle with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: Just move to South Carolina. Haley, who was South Carolina governor from 2011 to 2017, said elected officials in the Palmetto State would welcome Disney's business. She would be "happy," she said on Fox News, to introduce them to the governor and the legislature. She then followed up on Twitter about her offer. "We've got great weather, great people, and it's always a great day in South Carolina! SC's not woke, but we're not sanctimonious about it either," she said. Haley was using the word "sanctimonious" as a thinly veiled swipe against DeSantis, given that former President Donald Trump has used the nickname "DeSanctimonious" against the governor. The dig didn't escape Never Back Down, the super PAC that's supporting a DeSantis presidential run. "Embracing woke corporations and copying Trump's lame attack at the same time? Someone's trying really hard to audition for VP!" the group wrote on Twitter. Haley's latest comments come as Disney has escalated its feud with DeSantis by filing a lawsuit Wednesday to maintain control over its land. The lawsuit alleges that DeSantis was retaliating against Disney after it vowed to fight a school curriculum bill HB 1557, Parental Rights in Education Act, which detractors have called the "Don't Say Gay" bill that limited how gender and sexual orientation is taught in public schools. She isn't the only presidential candidate to criticize DeSantis, who hasn't formally announced a presidential run. Trump mocked DeSantis for doubling down against Disney, and former Vice President Mike Pence, who is set to announce his decision about a 2024 run soon, criticized the actions as being antithetical to the values of conservatism. Story continues "You don't use the heavy hand of government to punish a business," GOP presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson, former governor of Arkansas, said. Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in April 2022. AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Disney can't move Despite Haley's overtures, Disney World is stuck in Florida, Richard Foglesong, the author of the book "Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando," told Insider. While facilities such as factories can easily be moved, Walt Disney's World's sprawling, 27,520 acres made up of brick-and-mortar hotels, rides, stages, shops, and restaurants, is simply too vast, he said. The costs of building the new infrastructure would be astronomical. The theme park and resort is Florida's largest attraction, but it gets a lot out of Florida, too. The self-governing privileges it enjoys the ones at question in the lawsuit mean Disney doesn't have to run its plans by zoning commissions or building-inspection departments, unlike rival theme parks, saving them time and money. When Disney first came to Florida in the 1960s, the state didn't have much going for it, and struggled to recruit businesses there. The company knew it could ask for a lot. "That's what Disney realized, and they wanted to get all their privileges up front and lock them in," Foglesong said of the decades-long provision, "because they figured they could never get that again." On top of that, numerous small businesses in the area rely on Disney because of the tourism it brings to the state. That reality came into sharp view in a board meeting on Wednesday, as small business owners in the district housing Disney expressed their concerns about the possibility of facing new taxes and tolls. Disney doesn't even have the luxury of cutting off its investment in Florida, Foglesong continued. In fact, Disney plans to spend $17 billion in the state over the next decade. Foglesong said that Disney did so because it must continually refresh its offerings, necessary given that 70% of visitors to the theme park are returning guests. "It's a compliment but it's also threatening, because how do you get them to come back again to see the same stuff? You have got to have new rides and attractions," he said. "They're stuck there," Foglesong continued, "and Florida is stuck with them." Read the original article on Business Insider U.S. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley delivers a campaign policy speech on abortion in Arlington, Virginia, on Tuesday. U.S. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley delivers a campaign policy speech on abortion in Arlington, Virginia, on Tuesday. GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley has emphasized yet another reason that people should not vote for Joe Biden in 2024: He wont be alive in five years. Haley, 51, who has previously suggested there should be age limits and competency tests for the presidency, made the grisly prediction Wednesday on Fox News, arguing not that it would be sad for the nation if the president were to die of an age-related illness in office but that a vote for Biden is effectively a vote for Kamala Harris if that were to happen. He announced that hes running again in 2024, and I think that we can all be very clear and say with a matter of fact that if you vote for Joe Biden you really are counting on a President Harris, because the idea that he would make it until 86 years old is not something that I think is likely, said Haley, referring to the age Biden would be in 2028. Haleys remark comes the day after Biden, the oldest president in U.S. history, launched his reelection bid with a fiery rebuke of MAGA Republicans and campaign merchandise that featured a popular meme of Biden as an octogenarian fighter with glowing red eyes. Aside from his advanced age, theres no reason to believe that Biden will actually be dead in five years. The president, who has already outlived the average American by about three years, got a clean bill of health in February and exercises five days a week, according to his doctor. Bidens most serious ailments are acid reflux and a stiffening gait. The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment. Haleys comments are a grimmer and more frank version of the attack Republicans are expected to deploy relentlessly over the course of Bidens reelection, suggesting the 80-year-old is simply too elderly to be president despite being only four years older than Donald Trump. Story continues The attacks also serve to elevate Harris, a figure who is marginally less popular than Biden and whom the GOP is eager to criticize. While Republicans have struggled at times to demonize Biden, Harris is a more natural target for the racial and gender-based grievances animating their core voters. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is considering a run for the GOP nomination, made a similar argument at an event in New Hampshire this month, telling town hall attendees a vote for Trump would amount to backing Harris, since Biden would beat Trump before presumably dying in office. A vote for Donald Trump is a vote for Kamala Harris, Christie said, according to The New York Times. (Christie has famously struggled with his own health, undergoing lap-band surgery in 2013.) Republicans, meanwhile, are hesitant to go after Trump for his own advanced age. The former president, who is overweight and known to indulge in fast food, became ill enough with coronavirus in 2020 that he required oxygen and hospitalization, putting former Vice President Mike Pence perilously close to the presidency. Biden, appearing at a press conference alongside South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol at the White House on Wednesday, addressed his advanced age for the first time since announcing his reelection, saying he took a hard look at his own age before pulling the trigger on a campaign. (In 2019, Biden offered to wrestle a reporter who questioned his age.) When I guess how old I am, I cant even say the number. It doesnt register with me, Biden told reporters. People are going to see a race, and theyre going to judge whether I have it or dont have it. I respect them taking a hard look at it, Id take a hard look at it, and I took a hard look at it before I decided to run. I feel good, and Im excited about the prospects. Polling indicates concerns over Bidens age are a major factor driving dissatisfaction with his performance as president. An NBC News survey, released Sunday, found 70% of Americans did not want Biden to run for a second term, while just 26% wanted him to run again. Among those who said they did not want Biden to run again, a plurality of 48% said his age was a major factor, while 21% said it was a minor factor. Just 29% said it was not part of their reason to oppose a bid for a second term. Concerns about Bidens age and acuity extend into the Democratic Party. Just 56% of Democrats said Biden was mentally sharp in a Pew Research Center survey earlier this month. Only 31% of adults overall described him that way. A Suffolk University/USA Today poll from December, meanwhile, found most Americans think the best age for a president is between 51 and 65 years old. But theres little evidence that concerns about age override partisanship or other factors. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who fended off concerns about her advanced age from fellow Democrats for years, said yesterday the party would be able to quickly get past their concerns over Bidens age. Yes, theyd rather he be younger, Pelosi, 83, said at a Time magazine event. But theyre all for him. Related... (Bloomberg) -- Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley dangled a relocation offer for Disney: South Carolina. Most Read from Bloomberg Hey @Disney, my home state will happily accept your 70,000+ jobs if you want to leave Florida, the former South Carolina governor tweeted on Wednesday. Haley used the opportunity to whack potential fellow Republican contender Ron DeSantis amid the Florida governors legal issues with the company. SCs not woke, but were not sanctimonious about it either, Haley added, using a nickname for DeSantis coined by another 2024 contender - Donald Trump. On Wednesday, Walt Disney Co. sued DeSantis, alleging hes threatening billions of dollars in business as retaliation for the company speaking against his policies. The lawsuit came shortly after a board appointed by DeSantis to oversee the municipal authority that governs Disneys Florida theme parks voted to void land-use contracts signed by the company. (Updates with additional details about Disney, DeSantis. An earlier version corrected description of Haley in first paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. PATERSON The New Jersey attorney general has scheduled his first Paterson community meeting since the states March 27 takeover of the city Police Department, but officials said the man who will be in charge of the force wont be there. Attorney General Matthew Platkins meeting with the public is scheduled for May 4, but the veteran New York City police officer he picked to take command in Paterson doesnt start work until May 9. The incoming officer-in-command, Isa Abbassi, will hold his own community sessions later in May, officials said. Pastor, community leader press Platkin NJ Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announces on the steps of the Paterson Police Department that the Attorney General's Office is taking control of the department in Paterson, NJ on Monday March 27, 2023. Meanwhile, a prominent Paterson pastor wants the Attorney General's Office to provide more transparency on the Najee Seabrooks police shooting investigation, the takeover of the Police Department and the pending City Council election fraud case. Please understand that we will not and cannot silence our voices nor ignore the situation in our community, said a letter signed by the Rev. James Kuykendall, president of the Paterson Pastors United Council, and community leader Joseph Fulmore, a retired school administrator. We support your presence here in Paterson, said the letter, dated April 15. However, we urgently request face-to-face interaction to help reduce ambivalence and feelings of distrust, which continue to be a significant concern throughout the city. Kuykendalls letter said a private meeting that had been scheduled for April 19 was abruptly postponed. Election fraud case: Paterson Councilman Alex Mendez's election fraud case will stretch into summer While seeking information about the Seabrooks case and subsequent state takeover, the letter went into the most depth regarding the election fraud charges against Paterson City Council members Michael Jackson and Alex Mendez, which has been pending since June 2020. The letter said the dysfunction at City Council meetings is directly linked to the unresolved voter fraud case involving Patersons May 2020 elections. Story continues This delay has undermined our democratic process and questioned the public expectation of trust in your office, Kuykendall and Fulmore said in their letter. We need you to know that you are not the supervisor of the municipal council; however, the toxic council culture is rooted in the unfinished business of our justice system. The case against Jackson is scheduled to go to trial in mid-May, but those proceedings have been postponed several times in the past six months. A New Jersey Superior Court judge recently was ready to set a trial date for the Mendez case, but the Attorney General's Office asked for a delay and the next session has been set for mid-July. Najee Seabrooks: The fatal police shooting of a Paterson activist and its aftermath Council members react Paterson Press sent Jackson and Mendez copies of the letter from Kuykendall and Fulmore to get the council members comments. The two elected officials both of whom have repeatedly professed their innocence offered very different opinions on the letter. Im in total agreement with the authors of that letter, Jackson said. I think the community is being done a great disservice by the delay, and not only the community, myself as well. Im entitled to a fair and expeditious trial, Jackson added. This case should have been over the same year it happened. But Mendez said Kuykendall and Fulmore shouldnt be rushing the Attorney General's Office. He said the letter was designed as an attack on him and Jackson by two supporters of Mayor Andre Sayegh. Mendez accused Kuykendall and Fulmore of using the Seabrooks case as an excuse to achieve political goals. Jackson and Mendez both ran against Sayegh for mayor in 2018 and 2022. They have asserted that the election fraud charges against them were orchestrated by Sayeghs political allies in Trenton. Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press. Email: editor@patersonpress.com This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ attorney general plans Paterson police takeover community forum Lauren Baker (center) sits in court April 19, 2023 on trial for murder in connection with her 2-year-old sons overdose death. Lauren Baker woke up from a nap on March 18, 2021, to find her 2-year-old son, Jaxson Vogt, lying across her legs unresponsive. The contents of her purse, including the fentanyl she bought just a few days before, were scattered across the bedroom. The toddler was later pronounced dead at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. He had more than 10 times the lethal dose of fentanyl in his system, prosecutors said. A Kenton County jury found Baker guilty of murder, importing fentanyl and trafficking in a controlled substance. On Tuesday, the jury recommended she serve a total sentence of 33 years in prison. Baker, 35, is the first person in the county to be convicted of murder for exposing their child to fentanyl, according to Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders. "Jaxson paid for his mother's fentanyl use with his own life," Sanders said. On March 13, 2021, Baker went to Cincinnati to buy fentanyl with money from her federal stimulus check, according to a police report. She then returned to Northern Kentucky with $1,200 worth of fentanyl and gave quantities of the drug to two other people, including the child's father, prosecutors said. Baker admitted that, five days later, she "took a shot" of fentanyl prior to taking a nap with Jaxson at their home on Stokesay Avenue in Ludlow, the report states. Earlier in the trial, prosecutors said Baker was aware fentanyl is deadly but brought it into her home regardless. They said she also knew Jaxson could get into her paraphernalia because just a year earlier the toddler got hold of a burnt spoon Baker used to heat fentanyl. Baker had a system for storing her fentanyl and she took substantial precautions to keep opioids out of her children's reach, John Beaulieu, Baker's public defender, said in court last week. Beaulieu said Baker, upon noticing that Jaxson was unresponsive, immediately administered Narcan and performed CPR until first responders arrived. He said Baker was grief-stricken and inconsolable when police reached the home. Story continues Around the time of Jaxson's death, he added, Baker was receiving treatment at a methadone clinic because she suffered from opioid use disorder. Much of the evidence presented against Baker was evidence she provided to investigators herself, Ashley Graham, another public defender who represented Baker, said in court on Tuesday. Graham noted that Baker cooperated with the investigation and waived her right to an attorney during a nearly two-hour interview with Sanders and a detective at the Ludlow Police Department. Baker's attorneys previously tried to have Sanders disqualified from prosecuting the case at trial due to his involvement with that interrogation, court records show. That request was ultimately denied. A final sentencing hearing has been scheduled for June 5 before Kenton County Circuit Judge Kate Molloy. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Mom who spent stimulus check on fentanyl convicted in son's OD death Pathological tests have found no clear cause of death for a golden eagle found on a south of Scotland estate. The bird, part of a project to boost numbers in the area, was discovered on 11 February on the Queensberry Estate in Dumfries and Galloway. A thorough investigation has found no evidence the eagle, named Sula, was poisoned or contracted avian flu. The South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project (SSGEP) said it was "very sad" to lose the bird. The discovery of the eagle was reported to the project and Police Scotland by a member of the Buccleuch gamekeeping team on the estate north of Dumfries. The veterinary investigation centre at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) in Dumfries conducted a variety of tests but found no definitive cause. However, it did conclude it had been in a "very fit condition" prior to its death. Dr Cat Barlow, SSGEP project manager, said: "Though we are of course very sad that Sula has died, it is reassuring for the local golden eagle population that this thorough investigation found no evidence of avian flu or other potential causes, and that Sula had clearly been thriving before her death. "Like any species, golden eagles can die suddenly for a number of reasons, including natural causes. "Overall, the golden eagles translocated by our project have a fantastic survival rate." The SSGEP has been relocating birds to the region since 2018. It started bringing chicks from the Highlands but has now begun introducing older birds. Last year the number of golden eagles in southern Scotland hit its highest recorded level since the early 19th Century. There were estimated to be more than 30 birds in an area where there were fewer than five breeding pairs just four years earlier. Benny Higgins, executive chairman of Buccleuch, which runs the estate, said: "Buccleuch work closely with the SSGEP in the local area. "We are extremely proud of our record in recent years of helping rebuild the population and look forward to continuing to do so in the years ahead." SAN FRANCISCO (AP) I won't forget the first time I took a ride in a car without anyone sitting in the driver's seat. It happened one night last September when a Chevy Bolt named Peaches picked me up outside a San Francisco bar. Our ensuing half-hour ride together produced, at first, a titillating display of technology's promise. Then an unexpected twist made me worry that the encounter had turned into a mistake I would regret. Peaches and I were getting along great for most of our time together as the car deftly navigated through hilly San Francisco streets similar to those that Steve McQueen careened through during a famous chase scene in the 1968 film Bullitt. Unlike McQueen, Peaches never exceeded 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour) because of restrictions imposed by state regulators on a ride-hailing service operated by Cruise, a General Motors subsidiary, since it won approval to transport fare-paying passengers last June. It was all going so smoothly that I was starting to buy into the vision of Cruise and Waymo, a self-driving car pioneer spun off from a Google project that is also trying launch a ride-hailing service in San Francisco. The theory fueling the ambition is that driverless cars will be safer than vehicles operated by frequently distracted, occasionally intoxicated humans and, in the case of robotaxis, be less expensive to ride in than automobiles that require a human behind the wheel. The concept does sound good. And the technology to pull it off is advancing steadily, just like other artificial intelligence applications such as chatbots that can write college-level essays and produce impressive pieces of art within seconds. But when something goes awry, as it did near the end of my encounter with Peaches, that sense of astonishment and delight can evaporate very quickly. DESTINATION: UNCERTAIN As we approached my designated drop-off location near the Fairmont Hotel where presidents have stayed and Tony Bennett first sang I Left My Heart In San Francisco" Peaches advised me to gather my belongings and prepare to get out of the car. Story continues While I grabbed my bag as the robotaxi appeared to be pulling over to the curb, Peaches suddenly sped up and inexplicably started driving away in the opposite direction. After seeing the dashboard display screen indicating I was now somehow an estimated 20 minutes away from my destination, I grew frantic. I asked Peaches what was going on. There was no response, so I used a feature on Cruise's ride-hailing center that enables a passenger to contact a human in a call center. The Cruise representative confirmed that Peaches had gotten confused, apologized and assured me the robotaxi had been reprogrammed to get me to my original destination. Indeed, the car did seem to be headed back to where I requested. Then it started doing the old same thing again, making me wonder whether Peaches might like me a little too much to let me go. Feeling more like I was stuck on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyland than riding in an artificially intelligent car, I contacted Cruise's call center. Peaches, they told me apologetically, seemed to be malfunctioning. Suddenly, Peaches came to a halt right in the middle of the street. I bolted from the Bolt, marooned several blocks away from my destination shortly before 10 p.m. Fortunately, I know my way around San Francisco, so I walked the rest of the way to where I needed to be. But what if this had happened to tourists? Would they know where to go? How would they feel being forced to walk around a strange neighborhood in a big city late at night? MAYBE DON'T STOP HERE When I discussed the incident during an interview for a recent story about robotaxis, Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt apologized and assured me the problem had been fixed. Sure enough, I was picked up and dropped off at my designated destinations in rides I took with another Associated Press reporter in two different Cruise robotaxis one named Cherry and the other Hollandaise on a mid-February night in San Francisco. But Cherry chose to drop us off at a bus stop just as a bus was trying to pull up to pick up a bunch of passengers. They weren't happy about their ride on mass transit being delayed; they began jeering us. My experience apparently isn't isolated. The San Francisco County Transportation Authority has raised a red flag about robotaxis making unexpected, prolonged stops in the middle of streets and identified other problems that threaten to cause headaches and potentially imperil public safety. Earlier this month, Vogt revealed that Cruise had voluntarily recalled the software in 300 robotaxis after one of them rear-ended a bus in San Francisco and declared the problem that led to the fender-bender had been fixed. Not long after that, five Waymo vehicles blocked traffic after becoming disoriented in San Francisco's famously foggy conditions and coming to a stop. And my experience with Peaches? Whenever I reminisce about that ride, I am also reminded of another trip to New York that I took two days after the robotaxi couldn't deliver me to my destination. After I landed at JFK Airport, I hopped into an old-fashioned taxi driven by a fellow named Talid. I remember having a pleasant conversation with Talid, who chuckled as I recounted what happened with Peaches. At the end of the ride, Talid dropped me off at Grand Central Terminal, as I had requested. Then his cab drove off with, of course, a human still behind the wheel. ___ Michael Liedtke covers technology for The Associated Press. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/liedtkeSFC By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Sudan appears to be partially holding but there is no sign the warring parties are ready to seriously negotiate, the U.N. special envoy on Sudan said on Tuesday. This suggested "that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible," envoy Volker Perthes told the U.N. Security Council. "This is a miscalculation." Fighting broke out between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15. Both parties agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire beginning on Tuesday after negotiations mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia. "It seems to be holding in some parts so far. However, we also hear continuing reports of fighting and movement of troops," said Perthes, who spoke via video from Port Sudan. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the violence and chaos in Sudan as "heartbreaking." The power struggle puts Sudan's future at risk and could cause suffering for years and set back development for decades, Guterres said. The United Nations has moved hundreds of staff and family members to Port Sudan from Khartoum. The United Nations plans to establish a hub in Port Sudan to continue working in the country where, even before the violence broke out, nearly 16 million people - one-third of the population - were in need of humanitarian aid. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols, editing by Grant McCool) Norfolk Southern spent $387 million in the first quarter to cover the damage caused by its East Palestine, Ohio, derailment in February, the company said Wednesday. Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw said on an earnings call that the company aims to complete its cleanup of the derailment site and have all of its tracks in service by early June. He said the company will do whatever it takes to make it right for East Palestine and the surrounding areas. Norfolk Southern said that the projected losses dont include costs it may incur as part of Ohios lawsuit to ensure the company pays to clean up environmental damage, or money it may receive from insurance. The derailment, which was caused by an overheated wheel bearing, spilled toxic chemicals into the East Palestine community. Officials were forced to slowly burn the chemicals to prevent a massive explosion. East Palestine residents continue to report illnesses they believe are related to poor air and water quality. Many residents still cannot return to their homes as Norfolk Southern undergoes a lengthy process to remove toxic chemicals from nearby soil and creeks. Despite the costs to clean the spill, settle legal issues and provide housing to East Palestine residents, Norfolk Southern still brought in $711 million in first-quarter profit. Thats down 34 percent from the same period last year. Ohio Sens. J.D. Vance (R) and Sherrod Brown (D) are pushing a bipartisan measure to overhaul safety standards, but the railroad industry has pushed back, arguing that federal regulation is too costly and ineffective, despite the devastating East Palestine derailment. Shaw told an Ohio panel last week that he plans to express a full-throated endorsement for many of the safety provisions included in the proposal. But he came out against mandating two-person crews, a key priority for workers who say its unsafe to operate a train alone. I have been personally engaged in Washington to support specific federal legislative provisions to enhance safety, Shaw said Wednesday. Updated at 2:20 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) this week signed legislation barring transgender people from using certain restrooms, locker rooms and other facilities that align with their gender identity. Burgum on Tuesday quietly enacted House Bill 1473, requiring state correctional facilities and public colleges to designate multi-occupancy restrooms and shower rooms exclusively for males or exclusively for females. Administrators, correctional officers or college dormitory staff under the new law may provide reasonable accommodation for transgender or gender nonconforming students or inmates. The measure sailed through North Dakotas GOP-controlled House and Senate, passing each chamber with veto-proof margins. It is the sixth measure Burgum has signed into law this month that targets the rights of LGBTQ people, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Burgum last week signed a bill that makes providing gender-affirming health care to transgender minors a felony crime, punishable by up to a decade in prison. Eight states have now enacted laws or policies that explicitly bar transgender students from using school facilities consistent with their gender identity, including four Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa and Kentucky that have done so this year. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Transgender kids and adults in North Dakota wont be able to access bathrooms, locker rooms or showers that match the gender they identify with in places like college dorms or jails, under a new law signed by Republican Gov. Doug Burgum. The American Civil Liberties Union has said that so far this year, more than 450 bills attacking the rights of transgender people have been introduced in state legislatures. Burgum's office announced Wednesday that he had signed the bill the previous day. The measure passed the state House and Senate with veto-proof majorities. Dorms and living facilities controlled by the state board of higher education are affected, as well as correctional facilities for youths and adults. Restrooms and shower rooms will be designated for use exclusively by males or exclusively by females. Transgender or gender-nonconforming people will need to get approval from a staff member to use the restroom or shower room of their choice. The governors office declined to comment on the bill Wednesday. Rep. Eric Murphy was one of three Republicans who defied their party and voted against the bill when it was in the House. I dont try to be polarizing. I just dont think there was a need for the legislation, the lawmaker from Grand Forks said in an interview after the new law was announced. Murphy, a professor of biomedical sciences at the University of North Dakota, said he doesnt think there needs to be a law to tell school officials how to handle this issue. Republican Rep. Jeff Hoverson supported the bill. Why would you not want a mens bathroom to be for men, and a womens bathroom to be for women?" the Minot representative said Wednesday. Experts say gender is a spectrum, not a binary structure consisting of only males and females, and it can vary by society and change over time. Sex refers to biological characteristics, such as chromosomes, hormones and reproductive anatomy, which can also vary or change in understanding over time, or be medically and legally altered. Story continues Last week, the governor signed a bill that restricts transgender health care in the state, immediately making it a crime to give gender-affirming care to people younger than 18. That measure also received veto-proof support from GOP lawmakers although some Republicans did vote against it, alongside all Democrats. Earlier this month, Burgum also signed a transgender athlete ban into law after it similarly passed the House and Senate with veto-proof majorities. In 2021, Burgum vetoed a bill that would have imposed a transgender athlete ban at that time, but House and Senate lawmakers did not have enough votes back then to override his veto. Republican lawmakers across the country are also banning gender-affirming care for minors. Restrictions have gone into effect in eight states this year including conservative Utah and South Dakota and are slated to in at least nine more by next year. ___ Trisha Ahmed is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Trisha Ahmed on Twitter: @TrishaAhmed15 ___ This story has been updated to correct that the bill was signed Tuesday and announced Wednesday. Yuriy Ihnat In his comments, Ihnat mentioned that neither he nor the Air Force "announced any 'cotton puff'". "We have no information from official sources," he said. Read also: Military expert explains growing number of drone explosions in Russia We have information from the Russian media, which started shouting feverishly that there was an attack by drones and they killed everyone. We are very cautious about commenting on such things that happen in Russia and in Ukrainian Crimea. Because silence is silence. It must be maintained in order not to harm the actions that are taking place today, including in the south of our country. Read also: Ukrainian UAV destroys enemy position set up on high-rise buildings roof video He noted that surface drones that move over the waves are not easy to detect and destroy. He said that Ukraine is facing new types of weapons, including guided aerial bombs and drones, but "will not lag behind in [the use of] strike UAVs." "Ukraine also has some examples of our successful use of attack UAVs," he stated. The so-called "governor of Sevastopol" Mikhail Razvozhayev said that Russias Black Sea Fleet had allegedly successfully repelled a surface drone attack on the occupied city on April 24, though his comments were refuted by video posted on social media. Worried about attacks by Ukrainian maritine drones, Russian occupation authorities have already installed at least six tiers of physical barriers at the entrance to Sevastopol Bay, said OSINT analyst H I Sutton. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Russian army occupied the Chornobyl exclusion zone for 36 days and threatened the world with a new nuclear disaster. Local residents told the Ukrainian Witness project about the events they experienced during the occupation. A local huntsman Vasyl told the project about planes entering Ukrainian airspace from Belarus. "They would launch missiles that would then reach Kyiv. They would immediately turn around and fly back. This is hell. It's hard to watch it all. We had an agricultural company here. They took everything away. They came in cars, ATVs with machine guns. They pulled out and took away everything they could. It's like a plague," the man emphasised. The exclusion zone Photo: Ukrainian Witness project He recalls that the occupiers were looking for ATO participants [The ATO or Anti-Terrorist Operation is a term used from 2014 to 2018 by the media, the government of Ukraine and the OSCE to identify combat actions in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts against Russian military forces and pro-Russian separatists ed.]. They were forcing men to undress and looked for tattoos. A local resident said that the occupiers' heavy equipment drove by her house for 15 hours. "They just drove in on an armoured vehicle like thieves and took everything from the store in 15 minutes: candy, feminine hygiene products. Three people were shot in the back from the village, and a 14-year-old boy was among the victims," the woman says. According to local residents, looting was rampant in the village of Strakholissia, near Chornobyl. The occupiers were stealing new equipment for which the owners had not even received documents yet, said Volodymyr, one of the residents. He worked in a local shop. He saw with his own eyes how the occupiers robbed the locals. He says they also destroyed a recently repaired road. Another local resident said that the occupiers broke doors and windows in houses. Story continues "There is not a single building in Chornobyl that they have not looted. They even stole radiation-contaminated KRAZ trucks. After the Russian soldiers left, road signs disappeared from the roadside, and fresh markings disappeared from the road," the project says. Maksym Shevchuk, deputy head of the State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management, spoke about how the occupiers looted during the occupation. "The state of offices and enterprises is as follows: every building has been looted. The agency's office has also been looted, and you can enter it only through the back door because the front door has not yet been checked for mines," said the deputy head of the state agency. The leading engineer of the physical protection service also recalls the occupation of the Chornobyl NPP, saying that the occupiers were "fully equipped: they were marching in a column with armoured personnel carriers and armoured trucks, armoured personnel carriers and T-72 tanks". Background: Chornobyl NPP employees performed their duties while under occupation. During the occupation, Russian soldiers looted everything around them. They even took spoons and forks from a neighbouring hotel. The occupiers left the Chornobyl NPP, taking their own broken equipment and taking the looted equipment and cars. During the retreat, the occupiers captured Ukrainian National Guardsmen guarding the Chornobyl NPP. Some of them were returned home during several PoW exchanges in the fall and winter. But a significant number of soldiers are still in captivity. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! If the National Rifle Associations annual convention is an indication of where Republicans are in presidential politics, the partys nomination practically is a foregone conclusion. Former President Trump will win, hands down. Chuck Malloy Former U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, of Idaho, an NRA board member since 1982, said delegates at the recent convention in Indianapolis made it clear where they stood. Others made strong impressions, including former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sent a recording that was well received, and a smattering of boos greeted former Vice President Mike Pence. But it was Trumps show, and he continues to thrive in the wake of an indictment filed by the Manhattan prosecutor. Trump was Trump, Craig told me. He played to the crowd and the crowd played back. They were there to see their president. And while the NRA is a nonpartisan lobbying group, at least officially, there are good reasons for NRA members to support Trump. Yes, there are some including Craig who wish Trump had a more diplomatic style, but theres no question about his commitment to NRA issues. He was the first presidential candidate that we fully endorsed in 2016, Craig said. He pledged that he would build a pro Second Amendment court, and he delivered. Meanwhile, NRA and Democrat leaders are no closer to resolving the gun debate, or coming up with common sense legislation to to curb the wave of gun violence. There have been more than 160 mass shootings in the U.S. this year and its only April. With frustrations and anger at a fever pitch, Craig says he understands the calls for Congress to do something anything to stop the bloodshed. And politicians, being politicians, want to show they are doing something even if it doesnt have any consequence, Craig says. We have common-sense gun laws all the laws we have are based on that. There isnt anyone in the NRA, or any law-abiding citizen, who wants a person to use a gun with the intent to cause harm. But the problem is lack of enforcement of the laws that are on the books. For instance, do all states immediately feed their information to the FBI database for automatic background checks? No. And there are frustrations of a wide-open southern border and immigration policy, where some criminals are coming into the country. Story continues Beyond that, he says, We have a cultural civil war that is going on in our country right now, and it has built a lot of anger and frustration as the left moves further to the left and the right moves further to the right. What people expect from government is to stay out of our private lives, enforce laws and keep us safe. When people dont think that law enforcement will keep them safe, they take steps on their own to protect themselves and their families. So, guns have become the ultimate security blanket. But do people really need weapons, such as an AR-15? Well try to take them away, Craig says. How are you going to collect them? How are you going to take them off the street? In Idaho, are you going to assign the National Guard to go door to door and ask for them? The answer is that the guard wont allow it, and the governor wont order them to do it. Then we get down to states rights some states will and some wont. So now it comes to the individual and some people will start shooting if federal agents come to the door. As for the prospect of banning the sale of assault weapons, Craig says, one problem is defining what an assault weapon is. Any weapon used to kill another human can be viewed as an assault weapon. For law-abiding citizens, an AR-15 is a nice addition to a gun collection. But its a popular weapon for crazed shooters seeking 15 minutes of fame on the news networks and wanting to go out in a blaze of glory. Gun violence may be part of a cultural war, as Craig suggests, or maybe its the end result of what happens during the transition from pandemic lockdown to normal living. Either way, there are no easy answers, culturally or politically. Of course, theres something already on the books that should cover everything related to gun violence. Intentionally killing another person, by whatever means, is against the law punishable by death or life in prison. Chuck Malloy is a longtime Idaho journalist and columnist. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com Gun rights advocates have filed lawsuits against Washington states newly signed law that immediately banned the sale of AR-15s and dozens of other semiautomatic rifles. The National Rifle Associations lobbying arm filed a suit against Washington Attorney General Robert Ferguson and Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste on Tuesday, the same day that Gov. Jay Inslee (D) signed HB 1240 into law. A second, separate lawsuit was similarly filed against Ferguson, Batiste and four Washington counties sheriffs and prosecutors on behalf of six other opponents. The NRAs lawsuit, filed on behalf of local plaintiffs and a Connecticut-based firearms trade association, argues that the Second Amendment protects the use and possession of common use weapons, including AR-15 rifles, for self-defense. Semiautomatic rifles are displayed at a gun store in Auburn, Washington. House Bill 1240 banned the future sale, manufacture and import of assault-style semiautomatic weapons in Washington state. Semiautomatic rifles are displayed at a gun store in Auburn, Washington. House Bill 1240 banned the future sale, manufacture and import of assault-style semiautomatic weapons in Washington state. Indeed, Americans buy more of the most popular type of semiautomatic rifle (the AR-15) each year than the most popular type of automobile and there are more AR-15-style rifles in private hands in America today than subscribers to all daily newspapers nationwide combined, the lawsuit states. The Second Amendment, word-for-word, does not specify that common use weapons are protected, though the Supreme Court last year in NYSRPA v. Bruen ruled against a ban of weapons that are in common use today for self-defense. Its outrageous that states continue to pass these unconstitutional bans. But rest assured, the NRA will continue to fight each one, Aoibheann Cline, the Washington state director of the NRAs Institute for Legislative Action lobbying arm, said in a statement. Chris Loftus, director of communications for the Washington State Patrol, said in a statement to HuffPost that the agencys job is to always dutifully enforce the laws of the state as they are written. Story continues In short, we will let the courts do their job and continue to do our own without comment until notified of any legal outcomes that change our direction or responsibilities, Loftus said. Ferguson and Inslees press secretary both dismissed the validity of the lawsuits in separate statements. The state is acting totally within its authority to protect its residents from gun violence. We are confident these challenges will not be successful, said Inslees press secretary, Mike Faulk, in a statement to HuffPost. My office is undefeated in court against the gun lobby. We plan to keep that record intact, Ferguson said in a statement posted to Twitter. We will defend Washington's new ban on the sale of assault weapons against two legal challenges. pic.twitter.com/VPa0R16LmC Attorney General Bob Ferguson (@AGOWA) April 26, 2023 HB 1240, when signed by Inslee, immediately prohibited sales of semiautomatic rifles throughout the state. These weapons of war, assault weapons, have no reason other than mass murder, the governor said while signing the bill, according to The Seattle Times. Inslee also signed into law a 10-day waiting period for firearm purchases and a bill that would hold gunmakers liable for negligent sales. Both lawsuits seek a preliminary injunction that bars enforcement of the gun ban. Related... Nurses picketed Wednesday outside MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup for changes related to staffing and breaks. The vast majority of the 750 nurses at the hospital support the picket, the Washington State Nurses Association said in a news release Tuesday. The hospital system said in a statement Tuesday: MultiCare remains committed to bargaining in good faith with WSNA with the goal of reaching a fair contract that supports a safe, equitable and economically sustainable workplace. MultiCare has been in active negotiations with WSNA since February, and we have made significant progress to date. Good Samaritan Hospital will be open and serving patients on Wednesday while WSNA exercises their right to picket. The hospital systems statement went on to say: MultiCare believes in paying market-competitive salaries and benefits. We must also ensure our services remain affordable for patients and that our hospitals remain fiscally sound so that we can continue providing health care services to the community. The Nurses Association said one of the issues is that Good Samaritan nurses care for one anothers patients in order to take breaks. Nurses feel that this method spreads them too thin and is not in a patients best interest, the news release said. At MultiCare Tacoma General, meanwhile, nurses bargained for and won nurse-to-patient ratios in 2016 which caps the number of patients a nurse cares for, and they operate with break nurses. The union release also raised concerns about an approach at the hospital called team nursing. Team nursing, nurses explained, doubles the patient load of a registered nurse and expects much of the patients care to fall on ancillary staff (such as certified nursing assistants), the news release said. While team nursing works in some departments like outpatient rehabilitation, the nurses said, it doesnt work for in-patient care. The union also has concerns about virtual nursing, in which an off-site nurse is on a screen. ... a registered nurse based at Good Samaritan will need to sign off on the tele-nurses work which means that the Good Samaritan nurses license essentially vouches for the tele-nurses work, the release said. A registered nurse quoted in the release, Erin Butler, said: We are already spread so thin. And when you put more and more responsibility on nurses it puts our license and livelihood at risk. CPR training in Kansas. Kynala Phillips/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images Natalie Davies was getting ready to enjoy her spring break in New Orleans. The nursing student had just submitted a paper on the importance of CPR training. Then a man collapsed as she was waiting for her flight, and she sprung into action with CPR. Just 12 hours before boarding her flight at John F. Kennedy's International Airport, a Connecticut nursing student submitted a paper on the importance of CPR training for the general public. "Twelve hours later, I was administering CPR in a public setting. In this case, there were a couple of us right there who knew what to do. It's important for everyone to learn how to administer CPR when needed," Natalie Davies said in a Sacred Heart University press release. Davies, a senior nursing student at the school, was waiting for her flight to New Orleans when she said she heard a scream. By the time she turned around, a man had collapsed, prompting her to spring into action and administer CPR, the release said. The man had no pulse, and Davies began CPR compressions. Another passenger, who happened to be a cardiologist, also came over to help revive the man. The cardiologist used an automated external defibrillator (AED) to help bring the man's pulse back, according to the school. The school didn't offer more information on who the man was or what may have led to his pulse stopping. Davies didn't respond to Insider's request for comment. Davies said the incident was "the first time" she felt like a "real nurse." "I didn't think: I just knew what to do and concentrated on the patient. I wasn't even aware people were watching until after EMS arrived," she said in the release. It took three rounds of this before the man's pulse returned, but he was awake and talking by the time EMS arrived, the press release said. After graduating, the senior nursing student plans to join Yale New Haven's Emergency Department as a critical care registered nurse. Read the original article on Insider Josh Bravo, 21, who occasionally slept in a drop-in center in Manhattan for homeless and runaway youth after escaping an abusive home, attends a City Council hearing in New York, April 24, 2023. (Ahmed Gaber/The New York Times) NEW YORK A month after New York City banned teenagers and young adults from sleeping through the night at drop-in centers for homeless and runaway youth, a high-ranking official in Gov. Kathy Hochul administration was getting frustrated. In a Feb. 8 email, Nina Aledort, a deputy commissioner at the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, asked a high-ranking city official why Mayor Eric Adams administration was falsely saying that the order came from the state. As you know, it did not. I hope that staff can be clear about that in the future, she wrote. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times In an emailed response, Anthony Ng, the acting chief of staff for the citys Department of Youth and Community Development, acknowledged the policy decision was the citys alone. We have been clear that this guidance came from DYCD, and we own that, he wrote. The emails, released by the state in accordance with its Freedom of Information Law, point to widespread frustration, including from the state, over the Adams administrations efforts to ban sleeping at the centers. The emails also highlight the ongoing mystery surrounding what prompted the ban in the first place. To this day we dont know, said Jamie Powlovich, executive director of the Coalition for Homeless Youth. New York Citys five 24-7 drop-in centers, opened over the course of the last five years, are designed to serve as a refuge for teenagers and young adults who have nowhere else to turn. While they connect youth with more permanent housing, they have also provided cots or trundle beds, so that when a teenager in crisis turns up at 3 a.m., or when there is a shortage of other options, they have somewhere safe to sleep. The cots do not appear to have been a secret. The city conducts monthly inspections of the centers. State and city officials have sought an explanation for the directive from the Adams administration for months now, to no avail. So too have the five organizations that run the overnight drop-in centers, one in each borough. Story continues A new commissioner, Keith Howard, a longtime Transportation Department official with limited subject matter experience, took over the citys youth department last June. In a statement on Monday, Amaris Cockfield, a spokeswoman for the mayor, said the ban was about safety, but declined to say what catalyzed the citys policy shift. Cockfield denied the city ever sought to pin blame on state regulations, but cited those rules as a factor in the citys deliberations. Shelters are required to adhere to rigorous safety standards for residential programs set forth by New York state law, and these centers do not have this type of license, nor are they in buildings that currently meet New York City building code requirements for shelters, Cockfield said. The state licenses residential shelters, which provide food, clothing, counseling, laundry and showers, and give homeless youth a safe space that caters to people their age. Since drop-in centers are not licensed as residential shelters, they have existed for years in legally nebulous territory a necessary concession to reality, advocates say. Citywide, there are only 60 shelter beds dedicated to young adults between the ages of 21 and 24. Fifteen of those beds are temporarily out of service, and the rest are oversubscribed, Powlovich said. On the afternoon of Jan. 13, Samantha Dawkins, an official with the Department of Youth & Community Development, emailed the drop-in centers with the news. Effective immediately, providers are required to discontinue the practice of allowing youth and young adults to sleep overnight, she wrote, in a directive first reported by the news site The City. This includes removing cots or furniture designed for sleeping, and communicating to participants that the priority is to place them into a more stable housing situation. Powlovich, whose organization represents the service providers, sought an emergency meeting for the following week. The city declined, she said. It was only after The City article in February that city officials finally agreed to meet. Initially, city officials sought to deflect blame. When Althea Stevens, the New York City councilwoman who chairs the Committee on Youth Services, heard about the directive, she was seriously furious, she said. Young people will still show up there. So is the solution that they sleep on the floor? She reached out to an administration official to find out more. It was like, oh its a state mandate, this came from them, Stevens recalled the official saying. (She declined to give the officials name.) One of the five sites, the Ali Forney center in Manhattan, has publicly vowed to defy the order. At a City Council hearing on Monday, Josh Bravo, 21, said he found himself sleeping every now and again at Ali Forney after escaping an abusive home in New Jersey. Now an aspiring actor, Bravo said that without the option to sometimes sleep at Ali Forney, he probably would have been dead in the streets. At the hearing, city officials said the sleeping ban does not preclude resting, but that they were still working on an FAQ to define the distinction between rest and sleep. c.2023 The New York Times Company WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Lawyers for Peter Nygard on Wednesday asked the Manitoba Court of Appeal to reconsider a U.S. extradition order, citing concerns over the Canadian fashion mogul's health if he were to serve time in the United States. Nygards lawyers were in court to argue against three issues in the order. They are requesting that federal Justice Minister David Lametti address them. Lametti issued the order in March 2022, requiring the 81-year-old be sent to the United States once his Canadian court cases are settled. Nygard was first arrested in Winnipeg in 2020 under the Extradition Act after he was charged with nine counts in New York, including sex trafficking and racketeering charges. U.S. authorities allege he used his position in the fashion industry to lure women and girls. The disgraced fashion entrepreneur faces similar charges in Canada. In Toronto, where he is currently in custody, Nygard has been charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and forcible confinement and is scheduled to face trial in September. A complainant in Montreal came forward with allegations that led to Nygard being charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement. The trial in Quebec is expected to take place next year. Nygard waived his appearance at the Manitoba Court of Appeal hearing. He has maintained his innocence. Nygards lawyers are asking Lametti to ensure their client would not be housed at Brooklyns Metropolitan Detention Centre citing humanitarian concerns over Nygards age and health. Brian Greenspan, Nygards lawyer, told the court that conditions at the New York City facility were terrible. He argued that being at the detention center could undermine his clients health. "Those concerns can be simply addressed and easily addressed by the minister, Greenspan said. Lawyers for the justice minister told the court the Metropolitan Detention Centre submitted a report showing the facility was in good shape. Story continues Greenspan also argued the racketeering charge shouldnt be considered because Canada does not have a comparable offense. Greenspan requested assurances that Nygard will not be involuntarily or indefinitely imprisoned after serving a sentence if convicted. The panel of three judges have reserved their decision. Insider One Planet Banner . Sebastian Hennige, a marine biologist, looks into a tank. Alex Ingle The ocean stores a huge amount of carbon, but excessive human emissions are changing its chemistry. It's becoming more acidic hitting marine ecosystems and causing coral reefs to crumble. Two scientists based in Scotland are taking inspiration from bone research to help protect the reefs. This article is part of "Gains in Green Tech," a series showcasing some of the most transformative solutions to the climate crisis. For more climate-action news, visit Insider's One Planet hub. The remote fishing village of St Abbs, Scotland, was made famous as the filming location of New Asgard in Marvel's "Avengers" movies. But to locals, it's better known as a surfing and walking destination thanks to its sandy beaches and 200-acre nature reserve. St Abbs is also home to a marine-research facility where scientists tackle an array of issues facing the ocean, with a focus on conservation. Inside one of the facility's labs are 40 small "future oceans" tanks of seawater chemically altered to reflect potential future scenarios of the ocean impacted by climate change. The ocean has absorbed around 30% of the carbon dioxide produced since the industrial revolution, making it an invaluable tool in the fight against climate change. But all this CO2 is changing the ocean's chemistry, making it more acidic. Increased acidity could devastate marine ecosystems, which are built upon coral reefs, and in turn, affect the fish and seafood humans eat. The tanks, which hold dead and alive deep-sea coral, are part of a research project by the marine biologist Sebastian Hennige and Uwe Wolfram, a material scientist who focuses on bones. The ocean acidification researchers' 40 mini "future oceans." Kristina Beck The pair met in 2016 while working at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland. Hennige had been researching deep-sea corals and their breaking points when he spotted Wolfram, a new hire who worked on osteoporosis in humans, on the university's faculty page. Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones weaken and become more likely to break. Wolfram compared bones with osteoporosis to Swiss cheese with holes. Story continues Hennige, who is now at the University of Edinburgh, initially wanted to know if Wolfram's expertise in how bones break down could be applied to coral dissolution. The pair met over coffee and Hennige brought a piece of coral with him. They found clear overlap between bones and coral, and that initial conversation kick-started years of ongoing collaboration. Uwe Wolfram, a material scientist who focuses on bones. Uwe Wolfram It's "mind-boggling business" how similar porosity in corals, known as coralporosis, and osteoporosis are, Wolfram said. Reefs are built upon dead corals, or coral skeletons, which are made of calcium carbonate and support the whole reef ecosystem. As the ocean becomes more acidic, the dead coral skeleton is eaten away by seawater, becoming weaker, more brittle, and at risk of fracturing just like bones affected by osteoporosis. Living coral also has a protective layer of "skin." A deep-sea coral reef. Changing Oceans "This can start to make changes to habitats on a very, very large scale," Hennige said. As the base becomes weaker, it may crumble over time, become less complex, and not be able to support as much marine life. Hennige said that an increased understanding of the effects of ocean acidification will make it easier to protect reefs from "additional stresses," such as by restricting some fishing around at-risk or particularly well-connected reefs, which spread larvae and help populate others. Hennige also said there's a large data gap about the ecosystem at the bottom of the ocean and that there are a lot of poorly mapped coral reefs. One of the main challenges, he said, is that the ocean is "deep, it's dark, it's expensive to get down there." Lophelia pertusa coral in corrosive waters off the Southern California Bight is live coral is on bare, exposed rock with no dead coral framework. NOAA Small changes have a big impact In the dark, cold lab at the St Abbs Marine Station, Hennige and Wolfram mimic deep-sea conditions temperatures are capped at 9 degrees Celsius and light is limited. "We're trying to use these tanks as a kind of crystal ball, to look into what a future ocean may look like," Hennige said. Ocean acidification is the main focus, but the ocean isn't facing just one threat some tanks have multiple stressors, such as deoxygenation and increased temperatures, in an attempt to provide realistic future scenarios. The ocean's pH stood at 8.2 before the industrial revolution; today it's 8.1, which is the experiment's control tank level. The tanks range from this to pH 7.7, on a scale of 1 to 14, with 1 being acidic and 14 being basic, or alkaline. This sounds like a small change, but it's a big deal for lots of marine organisms, Hennige said, particularly to calcifying organisms, such as various types of algae, crustaceans, and corals. That's because as the ocean gets more acidic, there are fewer carbonate ions available in the water to make calcium carbonate. Corals are made of calcium carbonate, as are shells. Ocean acidification: Lophelia pertusa coral in noncorrosive water off the Southern California Bight. Live coral is on top of large amounts of dead coral framework. NOAA In the lab, the researchers typically don a jacket and hat because of the cold, while Hennige will sometimes go in with a red-light head torch to avoid turning the light on. Researchers add precise amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, which are used to ramp up acidification and bring down the oxygen level, respectively. The research began in January and will run for one year, with data collected in monthly intervals to help understand coral responses to ocean acidification and timescales. The pair are taking advantage of medical technology like X-rays and CT scans to monitor coral-dissolution rates. Lophelia pertusa skeleton with evidence of dissolution around the outside walls. Sebastian Hennige Predicting the health of coral reefs The end goal is to create a computer model to predict the health of reefs by combining the research with data from a "whole wagonload" of historic corals, marine biology, and climate data, Wolfram said. This could ultimately help to conserve reefs by discovering which water conditions are the most critical and how long coral survives in such conditions, he added. Such a model could be very powerful if it points to reefs that must be protected, according to Jason Hall-Spencer, a marine biology professor at Plymouth University in the UK. "The focus should really be on how to quickly and effectively remove damaging practices things that we know are very likely to kill off corals," Hall-Spencer said. That's not just ocean acidification, but carbon-dioxide emissions, deforestation near coral reefs, and fishing practices like trawling, he said. Hennige and Wolfram are leaning on advances in the medical field. Research on the disease has created "wonderful models" that flag when a person is at risk of osteoporosis by looking at factors including lifestyle and genetics, Hennige said. "That's what we want to be able to do for these corals," he added. In case you missed it, watch a replay of Insider's One Planet virtual event with activist and artist Elijah McKenzie-Jackson. Read the original article on Business Insider A U.S. Navy Ohio class nuclear ballistic missile submarine is reportedly set to make a visit to South Korea sometime in the near future. This will be the first time one of these submarines has made a port stop on the Korean Peninsula in at least four decades. This is part of broader plans to more visibly demonstrate America's ability and willingness to use its nuclear capabilities to defend South Korea if need be in the face of growing concerns about threats from North Korea. Multiple outlets reported on the expected submarine visit earlier today, citing unnamed U.S. government officials. This could be the first of many such visits by Ohio class ballistic missile submarines, or SSBNs. Each of the Navy's 14 Ohio SSBNs can carry up to 20 Trident II submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The Trident II has a so-called multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) configuration and each one can carry up to 14 individual warheads. The Trident IIs are typically loaded with either W76-1 or W88 series warheads, which have estimated maximum yields of 100 kilotons and 475 kilotons, respectively. A view of the USS Ohio showing its missile tubes open. DOD However, it is largely understood that Ohio SSBNs conduct patrols with missiles that have fewer than 14 warheads apiece, as a byproduct of various arms control deals with Russia. In addition, Ohio SSBNs are now sailing with at least some of their Trident IIs fitted with at best a very small number maybe even just one per missile of low-yield W76-2 warheads. The U.S. military is also now looking to step up shows of force involving bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons, which could include temporary deployments to the Peninsula, according to those same reports. An uptick in U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operations in the region might be another component of this new reassurance effort. In addition, the Washington Declaration will reportedly include a new U.S.-South Korean "nuclear consultative group." This entity "will focus on 'nuclear and strategic planning issues' and give the South Korean side 'new insights' into how the U.S. plans for scenarios like a possible nuclear exchange," Axios reported, citing an anonymous U.S. government official. Story continues None of this is expected to involve the permanent redeployment of U.S. nuclear weapons in South Korea. American forces maintained a nuclear stockpile on the Peninsula for much of the Cold War, but the U.S. government decided to remove them in 1991. It is worth remembering that one of the U.S. Navy's four Ohio class guided missile submarines, or SSGNs, USS Michigan, did make a stop in Busan, South Korea, in 2017, amid a spike in tensions with the North. The Ohio SSGNs are not capable of employing nuclear weapons, with their launch tubes being repurposed to primarily fire Tomahawk cruise missiles. Those tubes can also be used to deploy other payloads, including uncrewed platforms. The four converted Ohios, overall, are extremely capable multi-purpose platforms that can carry out stand-off conventional strikes, act as motherships for special operations forces, serve as underwater intelligence fusion centers and command posts, and more, as you can read about in this past War Zone feature. The Ohio class guided missile submarine USS Michigan in Busan, South Korea, in 2017. USN The U.S. Navy has also been increasingly more inclined in recent years to publicly disclose visits by Ohio SSBNs, as well as Ohio SSGNs, to various locales around the world. These announcements are widely viewed as tools to reassure allies and partners and signal resolve to adversaries or potential adversaries. As an example of this trend, today's news follows the Navy's official release yesterday of pictures showing the Ohio SSBN USS Maine making a stopover at the service's base on the strategic Western Pacific island of Guam on April 18. The Ohio class ballistic missile submarine USS Maine arrives in Guam on April 18, 2023. USN Shows of force around the Peninsula involving U.S. bombers, as well as other American and South Korean combat aircraft, have become routine in response to North Korean missile tests and other provocations, too. This all being said, the bombers in question have often been conventional-only B-1s, rather than nuclear-capable types. It's also important to remember that these kinds of flights also occurred regularly for years prior to a period of detente between the United States and North Korea during President Donald Trump's term in office. The reported planned Ohio SSBN visit and other rotational deployments are part of a broader set of new agreements between the United States and South Korea, which will reportedly be collectively referred to as the Washington Declaration. This is set to be formally announced later today as part of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to Washington, D.C. Welcome to the White House, President Yoon and Mrs. Kim. pic.twitter.com/Soolh6Lx9S President Biden (@POTUS) April 26, 2023 This also follows months now of Yoon and his government very openly lobbying for significantly increased South Korean participation in matters of deterrence on the Peninsula, particularly with regard to the possibility of retaliating against a North Korea nuclear strike. In January, Yoon caused a stir by calling for more direct South Korean involvement in nuclear planning exercises with its American counterparts, something U.S. officials rebuffed at the time. The U.S. government's response at the time seemed to be that it would continue to have active discussions about potential nuclear response options with its South Korean counterparts, but that it had no plans for any deeper coordination on their actual use. The expected establishment of a new U.S.-South Korean nuclear consultative group would seem to reflect continued discussions on this matter. It is worth noting that, under current U.S.-South Korean agreements, should a full-scale war break out on the Peninsula again, the U.S. military would exercise operational control (OPCON) of all American and South Korean military units. Negotiations to transfer wartime OPCON of South Korean forces to the country's independent military command structure have been underway for years now. U.S. and South Korean personnel together at the Korea Air Operations Center at Osan Air Base, South Korea, during an exercise in 2010. USAF Later in January, Yoon had gone one step further, implying that, depending on how the security situation on the Peninsula might evolve, his country could be compelled to develop its own nuclear weapons. This would, of course, be a massive shift in policy for South Korea, which is currently a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In light of this, the Washington Declaration is expected to also include a reaffirmation by the South Koreans of their obligations under the NPT, including not pursuing a nuclear weapons program. A key element of the backdrop to all of this is North Korea's steady demonstration in recent years of an ever-expanding arsenal of strategic and tactical weapon systems likely capable of delivering nuclear warheads, together with a growing stockpile of those weapons and the material needed to make more. Just in the past few years, North Korean forces have tested an array of differently sized ballistic missiles, including ones capable of being fired from submarines, railcars, and more protected static positions on land and underwater, as well as various mobile ground-based launchers. North Korea claims that one of these newer ballistic missiles is tipped with a hypersonic boost-glide vehicle, as well. On top of all that, just this month, the regime in Pyongyang conducted a test of the country's first solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), an important leap in technology and capability. Meet the next North Korean ICBM: Hwasong-18. 1st launch from 9-axle launcher similar to one displayed at Feb 2023 parade. Solid fuel significant step to increase responsiveness, reduce vulnerability. More on North Koreas nuclear capabilities here: https://t.co/HptHwXTavh https://t.co/sXvnisz5DK pic.twitter.com/L9bE6zEwrn Hans Kristensen (@nukestrat) April 13, 2023 Added to this are a slew of other munitions that North Korea says are nuclear-capable, or those that the country might be looking to fit with nuclear warheads onto. This includes ground-launched long-range cruise missiles, very large artillery rockets, and even a purported uncrewed underwater vehicle. https://twitter.com/GalloVOA/status/1639019651815587841?s=20 https://twitter.com/JosephHDempsey/status/1640658729535152131?s=20 North Korean developments have already prompted something of a missile race on the Peninsula, with South Korea having demonstrated a number of its own new ballistic and cruise missiles in recent years. The South Korean weapons are all, at least for now, conventionally armed. There has been more conventional friction between North and South Korea recently, too, sparked in part by the return to more regular public large-scale U.S.-South Korean military exercises. This includes multiple instances last year of North Korean artillery units firing shells into maritime buffer zones. The government in Pyongyang has a long history of provocative reactions to U.S. and South Korean forces training together, routinely asserting without evidence that these activities are simply rehearsals for a full-scale invasion of the North. Altogether, today's expected Washington Declaration would seem to be as much about trying to slow the overall arms race that is developing and trying especially to put a stop to any talk about South Korean nuclear weapons as it is about signaling American resolve to North Korea in support of its ally on the Peninsula. The exact terms of the new arrangements do of course remain to be seen. If the reports so far are accurate, South Korea looks set to at least see the first visit by an Ohio class SSBN since the 1980s. UPDATE 3:35 P.M. EST: U.S. President Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol have now held a joint press conference where they, in part, provided additional details about the Washington Declaration and their new extended deterrence plans. Neither leader specifically confirmed plans for a visit by an Ohio class SSBN to South Korea, though Biden did mention future "port visits" involving unspecified "nuclear submarines." "Sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula does not happen automatically," Yoon said, speaking through a translator. "[We] have decided to significantly strengthen [the] extended deterrence of our two countries. against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats so that we can achieve peace through the superiority of overwhelming forces and not a false peace based on the goodwill of the other side." "Our two countries have agreed to immediate bilateral ]residential consultations in the event of North Korea's nuclear attack and promise to respond swiftly, overwhelmingly, and decisively using the full force of the Alliance including the United States' nuclear weapons," he continued. "Our two countries have agreed to establish a nuclear consultative group to map out a specific plan to operate the new extended deterrence system." "Now, our two countries will share information on nuclear and strategic weapon operations plans in response to North Korea's provocations, and have regular consultations on ways to plan and execute joint operations that combine [South] Korea's state-of-the-art conventional forces with the U.S.'s nuclear capabilities," he added. "The results [of the NCG's work]... will be reported to the leaders of our two countries on a regular basis." Yoon also said that the United States and South Korea would also engage in advanced tabletop exercises concerning potential nuclear crises on the Peninsula and confirmed plans for more regular temporary deployments of unspecified "strategic assets." "I can't talk to the specifics right now about what type of information [we will be sharing] and what type of specific activities we will be conducting, but... under the nuclear umbrella, our extended deterrence was a lot lower [previously]," Yoon further explained. "So, right now it's an unprecedented expansion and strengthening of the extended deterrence strategy under the Washington Declaration." "A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and... partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action," President Biden added. The new extended deterrence plans are "about strengthening deterrence in response to the DPRK's escalatory behavior." "I have absolute authority as commander-in-chief and the sole authority to use the [U.S.] nuclear weapon, but you know, what the declaration means is that we're going to make every effort to consult with our allies, when it's appropriate," Biden continued. "The bottom line here is there's even closer cooperation, closer consultation, and we're not going to be stationing nuclear weapons on the Peninsula." The official White House video of the press conference is seen below. Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com Evander Kane ripped into Kings fans for how they allegedly treated a young Oilers supporter battling cancer. (Photo via @simply_cecily/Twitter) Edmonton Oilers star Evander Kane came to the defence of a 10-year-old fan and cancer patient after she was allegedly mistreated at a game in Los Angeles last week. With the Oilers taking on the Kings in their first-round series, Cecily Eklund made the trip south of the border to cheer on her favourite team in Game 3. Kane claims the girl was harassed by Kings fans with someone even spitting on her. Here's the full message Kane posted on social media: "My dear friend [Cecily] got to go on an amazing trip to LA last week that created some incredibly fun memories. But some of her experience in LA, specifically at Game 3, was not. I'm disgusted and appalled at what happened to this amazing little girl in the stands and in a woman's restroom, where she was harassed for wearing her jersey and was spit on by an LA fan for doing so. This type of behaviour is gross and completely unacceptable. For any young girl, especially someone battling cancer, to be treated in such a manner is pathetic. Grow up and as this smart young lady always says BE KIND!" Oilers fans! Lets all choose to be kind and be happy we get to watch our favourite hockey if you go to the Oilers game come see me tonight! Ill be selling bracelets helping other kids go on magical experiences with the @BenStelterFund pic.twitter.com/Ua8Ze4Ni1l Simply Cecily (@simply_cecily) April 25, 2023 Eklund's mother, Cathy, confirmed her daughter was spit on and said the environment at the arena was "hostile." There was a fight just two rows in front of Cecily, she was spit on, sworn at, Cathy Eklund told Global News. It wasnt the best experience, but its also very important to remember that a couple fans dont represent the whole fanbase. Story continues Supporters of both the Oilers and Kings have since rallied behind Cecily, with a number of Kings fans attempting to make up for the poor treatment she received by donating to her charity drive. Cathy said Kings fans had contributed over $7,000 as of Tuesday evening. Cecily's page has already accumulated nearly $50,000 as of this writing, which is well over its stated goal of $30,000. Prior to this incident, the child had already fundraised nearly $100,000 after her cancer diagnosis four years ago, per Global News. Edmonton has given Cecily plenty to cheer about on the ice. The team clobbered Los Angeles in a pivotal Game 5 on Tuesday to take a 3-2 series lead. Oaklee Snow With her dead toddler wrapped in a blanket in the back seat, Madison Marshall and her boyfriend, Roan Waters, drove in his Dodge Durango out of Indianapolis until they arrived at a dilapidated house on a hill near Martinsville, Indiana, according to police. From where they parked on a gravel road, Waters took Oaklee Snows body and entered the abandoned house through a window, Marshall told investigators. Moments later, when he returned, Snow was no longer with him. That was Feb. 9 just weeks before Snow's second birthday. In late April, investigators scoured the property after Marshall allegedly confessed to her role in disposing of the toddler, and led them to the scene. Inside, they found the body of a female child in the bottom drawer of a dresser. Her leg was broken at the knee. A blue and white sock still covered her small foot. While the remains have not yet been officially identified, the evidence was enough to support a litany of charges filed Wednesday against Marshall and Waters, including murder and neglect of a dependent resulting in death. More: Where is Oaklee Snow? Seminole County toddler missing after mother arrested Charges appear to mark the end of national hunt for Snow The criminal charges, which were announced by the Marion County Prosecutors Office in conjunction with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, appear to mark the end of a national search for Snow that began in Seminole County, Oklahoma, and included law enforcement in four states and the FBI. "We were hoping for a better outcome," said Seminole County investigator J.T. Palmer, when reached over the phone Wednesday. Waters has been charged with murder, two level one felony charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a level three felony charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury, a level six felony charge of neglect of a dependent for abandoning or cruelly confining the dependent, and two level six felony charges of neglect of a dependent for placing the dependent in a dangerous situation. Story continues Timeline: What we know about Oaklee Snow's disappearance He's also facing a level five felony of battery resulting in injury of a victim under the age of 14. Marshall is facing the same charges except she is not facing a murder charge or a battery charge. Instead, she has been charged with assisting a criminal, a level five felony. The article continues below the affidavit As parents, we have a duty to protect our children. Not only did these two individuals fail to live up to that responsibility, but the allegations in the probable cause affidavit indicate that Snow suffered a horrific death and an abandonment that diminished the dignity that any child deserves, Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears said Wednesday in a prepared statement. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Randal Taylor said in a statement the case was "one of the most challenging types of cases for a community and for our investigators." His agency confirmed to the IndyStar that a body had been found in Morgan County. Marshall's statements at the heart of criminal charges According to a probable cause affidavit outlining the investigation, the couple fled Oklahoma with Snow and Snow's younger brother, Coleton, earlier this year. The biological father of Snow and Coleton told the Seminole County Sheriff's Office that they "took his children from his home" and left without authorization. They headed to Indianapolis, where Waters has family. They stayed at a "trap house" there, Waters told law enforcement when he was arrested in Colorado in March, so they could do drugs. Coleton was eventually located by Waters' sister. He has since been reunited with his biological father. More: Madison Marshall, mother of missing 2-year-old Oaklee Snow, has first court appearance Marshall's descriptions of what happened around the time of Snow's death provide a large chunk of the information authorities are using to support the charges. She told an Indianapolis Metropolitan police detective that Waters frequently hit Snow while they were together. "He would frequently 'whoop' or 'spank' her as a form of discipline," the affidavit states, quoting Marshall. "He had also occasionally 'choked her out.' This included for reasons of her crying, urinating in her diaper, 'holding a fork wrong,' and other behavior common of a toddler." Marshall sees Snow's unresponsive body On Feb. 9, Waters was yelling at Snow to bounce on a bouncy ball, Marshall said. She told police she was in another room when Waters started screaming Marshall's name. She ran to the living room and found Waters holding Snow's unresponsive body in his arms. "R. Waters continually repeated without prompting that he 'didnt do anything' and that 'it wasnt (his) fault,'" the affidavit states. Her eyes were closed, Marshall said, and blood and spit were dripping from her mouth. Shortly after, they got into Waters' car with the toddler and drove southwest. 'Find Oaklee': Community members hold vigil for toddler last seen in Indianapolis Waters told Marshall their alibi would be that they left Snow at an Indiana hospital, according to court records. Snow's biological father and other family members and friends told officials no hospital they had contacted in the state showed any record of her. Mike Ellis, the Morgan County coroner, told the IndyStar on Wednesday it would still be two to four weeks until the body recovered from the abandoned house is identified. Waters doesn't currently have any court dates scheduled. Marshall had a hearing Wednesday. Her bond was set at $200,000. Snow's loved ones declined interviews Wednesday, but a family friend said in a statement that they are "heartbroken at the results" for Snow. "We are numb, and at a loss for words," the statement read. "Nothing can explain the amount of pain family and close loved ones are feeling at this time. We will always carry Oaklee in our hearts for the rest of our life. She did not deserve this, and we are seeking justice for Oaklee. Please continue prayers for her family and loved ones. This is a nightmare that unfortunately we won't get to wake up from." Contributing: IndyStar reporter John Tufts; Oklahoman reporter Jessie Christopher Smith. Call IndyStar courts reporter Johnny Magdaleno at 317-273-3188 or email him at jmagdaleno@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @IndyStarJohnny This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Madison Marshall, Roan Waters charged in toddler Oaklee Snow's death Protestors take part in a "die in" Friday, June 24, 2022, in Norman, Okla., following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki An Oklahoma woman with a cancerous pregnancy said she was told to wait until she was sick enough for treatment. Jaci Statton told NPR she went to three hospitals before she had to go to Kansas for an abortion. "I didn't just go into that clinic to get rid of my baby. I had to go in there for my life," she told Fox 25. A woman in Oklahoma with a cancerous pregnancy said hospital workers asked her to wait in the parking lot until she started "crashing" before they could give her an abortion last month. Jaci Statton had a partial molar pregnancy, a rare complication in which the placenta has irregular tissue, NPR reported. Molar pregnancies can cause a rare form of cancer and typically result in early miscarriages, according to the Mayo Clinic. They occur in about 1% of pregnancies, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Statton and her husband have three young children, own a fishing guide company, and go fishing every day. The couple was looking forward to welcoming a new child into their family, NPR reported. Statton told NPR that the hospital staff was "very sincere" and wasn't trying to be mean when they turned her away. "They said, 'The best we can tell you to do is sit in the parking lot, and if anything else happens, we will be ready to help you," Statton told NPR. "But we cannot touch you unless you are crashing in front of us or your blood pressure goes so high that you are fixing to have a heart attack.'" Oklahoma has three laws that ban abortion, with conflicting definitions for when exceptions are allowed, according to NPR. In March, the state supreme court ruled that abortions must be allowed if a patient's life is in danger. Statton said doctors at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center told her that, although she was experiencing severe symptoms from her molar pregnancy, they could not help her and she only had around two weeks to live, Fox 25 reported. Story continues OU Health did not immediately return Insider's request for comment on Wednesday. 'You will die' "They said... 'You will die.' I had cancer cysts, cancer pockets around my baby, inside my uterus, and anytime one of those ruptured, I would bleed," Statton told the local station. Statton told NPR that she was transferred to three different Oklahoma hospitals, all of which told her they couldn't give her an abortion, before doctors suggested that she leave and go to a state where abortion was legal. She and her husband then drove to a Kansas abortion clinic where she had an abortion performed, according to the outlet. Statton described the ordeal as "heartbreaking" and said she felt alone through the process and wished she could have gone to her own doctors and hospitals that she is familiar with for medical care, Fox 25 reported. "I'm sorry, I didn't just go into that clinic to get rid of my baby. I had to go in there for my life," she told the outlet. Read the original article on Insider An Austin restaurant once named home of the second greatest burger in Texas is coming to Mineral Wells. But not where expected. Second Bar + Kitchen, a contemporary grill and bar from James Beard Award-winning chef David Bull, will open this summer in the restored Crazy Water Hotel, owners announced Wednesday. The Mineral Wells location for Second Bar + Kitchens second location is not a surprise. The Palo Pinto County city expects regional tourism to grow with the reopening of the historic Baker Hotel. Second Bar + Kitchen will open in the Crazy Water Hotel in Mineral Wells. But the restaurant location changed. It was originally announced two years ago as opening in the Baker. Both hotels have been under an Austin-based management group that also handles the historic Hotel Settles in Big Spring along with an Austin hotel. Second Bar + Kitchen has a transient history. The restaurant made headlines when it opened on Congress Avenue in downtown Austin, and its Congress Burger ranked the No. 2 hamburger in Texas in 2016 by Texas Monthly. That location and another location at The Domain shopping center in north Austin have closed. Bottles of Crazy Water on display at Coffee and Water Bar in the Crazy Water Plaza in Mineral Wells. Currently, the only Second Bar + Kitchen is at the East Austin Hotel, 1108 E. Sixth St. (There is also a location at the Austin airport.) The Crazy Water, 401 N. Oak Ave., in Mineral Wells, will become a new home for Second Bar + Kitchens black-truffle pommes frites, baked brie, duck confit and brunch dishes such as strawberry goat-cheese scones. The brisket-blend Congress Burger is a Swiss cheeseburger described by Texas Monthly as monumentally juicy. FLINT A former Catholic priest who worked at two Lansing parishes pleaded guilty this week to a single count of first degree criminal sexual conduct in a case involving a Burton child. Vincent DeLorenzo, 84, formerly of Flint, and then of Marion County, Florida, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Genesee County Circuit Court. Vincent DeLorenzo DeLorenzos sentencing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. June 13. Through a plea agreement, the Michigan Attorney General's Office said he will be sentenced to five years probation, the first of which will be served in the Genesee County Jail. He also must register as sex offender, undergo sex offender counseling and pay restitution. All of DeLorenzo's victims will have an opportunity to provide an impact statement at the time of sentencing. DeLorenzo was among the first five priests charged by Nessel in late May 2019, according to a press release. He pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 5-year-old boy following a service he officiated for the boys deceased family member in 1987 at Holy Redeemer Church in Burton, near Flint. In exchange for his guilty plea, additional charges were dismissed. He originally was charged with three counts of first-degree CSC and three of second-degree CSC. Those charges were connected to the sexual assault of a child from 1995-2000 while the boy was a student at Holy Redeemer's former school. DeLorenzo was ordained in 1965 and removed from the ministry in 2002, according to the Diocese of Lansing's list of credibly accused priests. During his career, he worked at St. Thomas Aquinas in East Lansing and St. Casimir in Lansing, but time periods are not included. He also worked at St. Joseph and St. Augustine in Kalamazoo, St. Pius X in Flint, and St. Robert Bellarmine in Flushing. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Former St. Casimir, St. Thomas Aquinas priest pleads in Burton CSC case Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Justice Clarence Thomas, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) On Monday, Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) called on embattled Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to resign over the multiple ethical breeches that journalists have uncovered in recent weeks regarding his decades-long financial ties to a GOP megadonor. I will say what needs to be said: Clarence Thomas should resign from the Supreme Court of the United States. His reputation is unsalvageable, Markey said. It is evident that he cannot judge right from wrong, so why should he be judging the countrys most important cases on the highest court? Read more Markey follows Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who called for Thomas resignation on Twitter back on April 14. Other members of the House have said similar, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), and Jesus Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.). But how is it that only two U.S. senators are willing to say that Thomas should step down? To recap, Thomas didnt report on his disclosure forms that billionaire Harlan Crow took him on luxury vacations for years and bought property from him at inflated prices, including the home where Thomas mother still lives. Thomas, notably, didnt recuse himself from at least one case where Crow had business before the court. Sources close to Thomas claimed him not reporting the home sale was an oversight, and he said he would amend his forms as appropriate. This is a justice who is famously hostile to defendants and their lawyers who make minor legal mistakes, as law professor Leah Litman noted: he said the same thing when it concerned a defendant's state-appointed lawyer's failure *to raise a constitutional claim at all* - also the defendant's fault & (to him) would have meant the federal court couldn't consider the claim. https://t.co/SAn7XNI7vK Leah Litman (@LeahLitman) April 17, 2023 Markey made the comments at a press conference alongside his Massachusetts colleagues Pressley and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who called for reforms to the court. But Warren, for some reason, stopped short of saying Thomas should resign. Story continues The appearance was part of a 20-stop tour to advocate for stronger ethics rules for the nine unelected justices who serve for life and dont have to follow the same ethical code as every other federal judge. Pretty good timing, given new reporting that Justice Neil Gorsuch didnt report hundreds of thousands of dollars in income from when the CEO of a law firm thats often bringing cases to the court bought a property that he co-owns. In short: Step up and lead, please, Democrats. Correction, 4/27/23: This story has been corrected to reflect that Rep. Ayanna Pressley has called for Thomas resignation. More from Jezebel Sign up for Jezebel's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. They say sharing a common challenge is the best way to build a friendship. President Joe Biden, then, is on track to becoming fast friends with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol; the two are reuniting during Yoons state visit to Washington, D.C., this week, as the two heads of state face a number of similar challenges. Both suffer from miserably low approval ratings. Bidens popularity trails behind that of virtually every modern U.S. president. In Morning Consults survey of 22 major global leaders, Yoon comes in dead last with a 19 percent approval rating and a staggering 75 percent disapproval rating. Neither president can pass any significant law, as their opposition controls at least part of the legislature. But most pertinently, both presidents deal with a political environment destabilized by their predecessors indictment. The only difference is that Yoon has been able to use this situation to his advantage and could even offer Biden some pointers on how to benefit from the prosecution of former President Donald Trump. Unlike the U.S., which is queasy about prosecuting any former president no matter how awful they are, South Korea is a global leader among wealthy democracies in putting its former presidents in jail. Excluding Yoon, South Korea has had eight presidents since 1980; four of them were imprisoned. Yoon, a former prosecutor, was personally involved in the cases against two of them from his own party. In 2016, Yoon was the head of investigation under special prosecutor Park Young-soo the South Korean equivalent to Special Counsel Jack Smith and their work ultimately led to the impeachment and removal of then-president Park Geun-hye. The politics of Yoon, who is now the countrys top conservative, were not clear at the time, nor did it matter. He captivated the nation with his take-no-prisoners approach to the investigation. The criminal prosecution of Park, based largely on the facts that Yoon investigated, led to a 20-year sentence. The succeeding president Moon Jae-in and his liberal administration rewarded Yoon by appointing him as the powerful Seoul Central District Prosecutor. Then in 2018, Yoons office indicted another former president, Lee Myung-bak, who served before Park from 2008 to 2013, for bribery and embezzlement. Lee was convicted and sentenced to a 17-year prison term. Story continues Yoons central role in these (ex-)presidential prosecutions turned him into a political star despite his total lack of charisma. A career prosecutor with no prior electoral experience, Yoon may be the worst public speaker that South Korean politics has ever seen. During his presidential campaign, Yoons tendency to speak in run-on sentences that swerved wildly into eyebrow-raising statements such as praising South Koreas former dictators as good at growing the economy or advocating for a 120-hour work week and relaxing food safety laws so that poor people can choose to eat substandard food earned him the nickname a Gaffe a Day. (Yet another parallel with Biden, one might add.) Nevertheless, his public image as a principled prosecutor standing against the highest power was enough to carry him through a razor-thin presidential election victory in March 2022. Biden may not be a prosecutor himself, but Yoons tactics could provide Biden the same kind of political power if applied subtly by his allies. Perhaps during the state dinner at the White House, Biden might lean into Yoons ear to whisper: How do I capture some of that magic and take advantage of these investigations? First, Yoon might answer, leverage the allure of the rule of law. South Koreans are deeply cynical people with low trust in government much like the politically polarized voters of the U.S. But that cynicism, in fact, is a by-product of a strong desire to see a fair application of law that punishes even the most powerful. One of Yoons shining moments was early in the Park Geun-hye administration in 2013, when he led the team that investigated the Lee administrations use of its spy agency to help elect Park in the presidential election. When conservative legislators criticized him, Yoon declared: My loyalty is not to a person. Even to a cynical audience, such high-minded appeals to the rule of law can resonate. Second, make sure to get the media on your side. In a high-profile political trial, a classic prosecutors tactic is to make well-timed leaks to journalists, making the defendant face a parallel trial before the public in addition to the one in the courtroom. Despite being a poor public speaker, Yoon could exert significant public influence because of his mastery of this tactic. So far, Biden remains tight-lipped on the indictment of Trump, a wise move that allows the president to seem above the fray. All fine and good, but Biden and his staff could also privately communicate with journalists to create a media circus, as Yoon did. Technically under South Korean law, it is a criminal offense for a prosecutor to disclose information gained from an investigation prior to an indictment. As a prosecutor, Yoon flagrantly disregarded this prohibition. Yoon was well known for constantly working the phone with journalists and had been spotted meeting with owners of major newspapers. News reports speculated he gave the media access to inside information in exchange for his favored narrative and self-promotion. Third, and most important: Always look out for number one, and never forget the fact that you are doing this for your own advancement. Yoon would not have become the president if he simply rested on his laurels after prosecuting the two ex-presidents. Following Lees imprisonment, Moon sought to dramatically curtail the investigative power of prosecutors, in a move his opponents criticized as an attempt to cover his own behind. If Yoon had acquiesced, he would simply be remembered as a famed former prosecutor who ended his career as one of Seouls many law firm partners. Instead, Yoon staged a full-scale revolt. In order to protect the power of his office, he turned against his boss, Justice Minister Cho Kuk, a star liberal politician who was tasked with the prosecution reform that could threaten Yoons power as prosecutor. Claiming corruption, Yoon targeted Cho with attacks even more wide-ranging and vicious than any of his previous investigations. It was a stunning about-face, as if Attorney General Merrick Garland suddenly went all-in on investigating Hunter Biden in an overt pursuit of power and popularity. Yoons investigation team carried out more than a hundred raids that included Chos house, workplace, his mothers home, his brothers home, his wifes workplace and his childrens schools. Tipped off in advance, a throng of journalists swarmed each raid location, shoving a camera and microphone at anyone who would come out. In an infamous episode, no less than a dozen journalists blocked the motor scooter of a delivery worker coming out of Chos residence, desperately asking what the Justice Ministers family had ordered. Thousands of news reports raised allegations that Cho was forming a secret political slush fund based on his investment in a private equity fund, even though all these raids failed to uncover any evidence of corruption. Yoon then pivoted to alleging that Chos wife forged documents for their daughters college admission, and won a four-year sentence against the Justice Ministers wife. In the end, the prosecutors could not indict Cho or his family on corruption charges, but no matter unable to withstand the onslaught, Cho resigned from his post, with his political life all but finished. Yoons attack on Cho made him an unlikely hero for South Koreas conservatives, which suited Yoon just fine. For a career prosecutor with little political conviction other than Nietzschean will to power, the conservative People Power Party, weakened by the imprisonment of two of its former presidents, became an ideal target for his hostile takeover. With their party in shambles, most South Korean conservatives were ready to welcome any credible champion. The PPPs old guard, the fans of Park who considered Yoon their archenemy, could offer little resistance. His rise to the top made one lesson clear: Mastering the art of prosecuting political rivals is the most powerful tool an ambitious politician can yield. In the end, just five years after South Korean conservatives suffered the embarrassing meltdown that was Parks impeachment, they recaptured the presidency with Yoon. Imagine, Yoon might tell Biden, what you could do for Democrats in the wake of a Trump prosecution. Assault weapons and handguns are seen for sale at Capitol City Arms Supply, Jan. 16, 2013, in Springfield, Ill. | Seth Perlman, Associated Press What has become of us? A 16-year-old honor student is shot when he accidentally knocks on the wrong door. A young woman is shot when the friends she is with accidentally pull into the wrong driveway. Two high school girls are shot when one of them accidentally gets into the wrong car, thinking it is hers. A 6-year-old girl is shot while retrieving a ball from a neighbors yard. All within one week. In the United States of America. Have we become so fearful, so easily enraged, so enamored with our guns that we have completely lost our way? How do we fix this? Its clear that rushing to our respective political corners and hurling word grenades at each other every time another horrific shooting hits the news cycle isnt going to do it. In fact, we need to stop viewing this as a political issue at all. Its not political; its moral and our propensity toward division and apathy is, quite literally, killing us. We are, most of us, good people. We care about each other. We cherish our children. We are reasonable and sensible. We are capable of understanding that sensible regulations on gun sales, gun storage and assault-style weapons do not in any way infringe upon our constitutional right to bear arms. Related Lets take a hard look at some hard facts: As of this writing, there have been 167 mass shootings in the U.S. this year alone. And its only April. U.S citizens are 10 times more likely to die by gun death than citizens in any other developed nation in the world. Firearms are now the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 1 and 19 in our country. The leading cause of death for our children. These are not statistics that I am willing to live with. Are you? Please, join with me in claiming our responsibility as citizens to do something about gun violence in America. We cant wait for someone else to fix this because it wont happen unless a critical mass insists on solutions. Our approach will need to be multifaceted because the problem itself is multifaceted and complex. Story continues Related Join with me in doing whatever we can to counteract fear with love and with accurate information. Join with me in scrutinizing the culture of violence we have created in our country, including through video games and other media. Join with me in refusing to see gun violence as a political issue and instead finding common ground with others from across the political spectrum. Join with me in ensuring that we do a better job of identifying and caring for the mentally ill in our country. Join with me in acknowledging that sensible gun regulations are not about restricting freedoms, but protecting them especially the right to life. Join with me in putting real and sustained pressure on our legislators to pass the commonsense gun regulations that a majority of Americans support and reminding them that they are beholden to us, their constituents, and not to the powerful gun lobbies that too often control their votes. Join with me in recognizing that the NRA, which casts itself as the protector of the Second Amendment, is actually interested in protecting the billion-dollar firearms industry. Join with me and millions of others by supporting the efforts of nonpartisan organizations like momsdemandaction.org; bradyunited.org; sandyhookpromise.org; and everytown.org so that we can reach that critical mass that will bring about real change. We can do something about this. For the love of God, country and our precious children, we must do something. Sharlee Mullins Glenn founded Mormon Women for Ethical Government in 2017 and served as its executive director through 2019. She currently sits on the external advisory board of Brigham Young Universitys Office of Civic Engagement and volunteers with a number of humanitarian organizations. The thoughts expressed here are her own. Texans should take pride in the fact that their state has one of the strongest free-speech protections against frivolous lawsuits in the country. Unfortunately, a bill currently making its way through the Texas Legislature would remove some of these protections and damage the ability of Texans to speak freely. This protection, known as an anti-SLAPP statute, prevents abuse of the legal system by providing defenses to those who get sued for exercising their First Amendment rights. SLAPP means strategic lawsuit against public participation. As that name suggests, SLAPP suits occur when a party weaponizes litigation to suppress speech that he or she dislikes, typically involving a claim of defamation. The costs and other challenges created by such suits can punish speakers simply for speaking. Moreover, the specter of SLAPP suits can chill speech, which means discouraging individuals from speaking at all. A bill being considered in the Texas Legislature would weaken an essential protection for free speech, David Keating writes. (Photo: Jay Janner/AMERICAN-STATESMAN/File) Under the Texas Citizen Participation Act (TCPA), Texans enjoy robust safeguards against SLAPP suits. These anti-SLAPP provisions allow citizens to exercise rights of free speech and political participation without fear of reprisal from censors who can afford lawyers. In its current form, HB 2781 (and its identical Senate companion, SB 896) would compromise the effectiveness of the TCPA by weakening an essential procedural protection for speakers: the right of an immediate appeal if a trial court denies an anti-SLAPP motion. The measure would remove the stay of a case under appeal if an anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss is frivolous, untimely or subject to an exemption. Put more simply, the proposed change would mean that many more speaker defendants would have to proceed with an expensive litigation process. A defendant now has a right to an immediate appeal of a denied anti-SLAPP motion before the trial itself would commence. The burden of a trial court error in a case like this would fall disproportionately on a speaker/defendant, as the trial would begin even though the ruling is under appeal. A trial in court is expensive and stressful. Moreover, if the anti-SLAPP appeal ultimately succeeds, that unnecessary trial work would burden not only the speaker defendant, but the plaintiff, the courts, and the taxpayers who fund the court system. Story continues But trial courts do sometimes make mistakes. That ability to appeal an anti-SLAPP motion denial can allow an appellate court to correct a potential error that the trial court made. This, in turn, means that the defendant can avoid the costly trial that the TCPA is designed to prevent. Thats why preserving the right to an immediate appeal of a denied anti-SLAPP motion is crucial. States with the most effective anti-SLAPP laws protect speakers throughout that appeals process, and Texas is among those exemplary states. As currently written, HB 2781 / SB 896 would weaken the TCPA and give an advantage to plaintiffs who file frivolous lawsuits seeking to punish or chill speech. Strong anti-SLAPP laws like Texas encourage potential plaintiffs to think twice before hauling speakers into court with weak or frivolous cases. These laws protect defendants who have merely exercised their First Amendment rights. Anti-SLAPP statutes provide a relatively quick, cheap, and effective way to dispose of weak, anti-speech lawsuits. The proposed law would significantly dilute this protection in Texas. Thats why numerous organizations across the ideological spectrum, from ACLU-Texas to National Right to Life, have rightly raised alarms about the dangerous effects of these bills. To preserve robust protections against SLAPP suits, the Texas Legislature should reject the changes and keep the law intact. In doing so, the Legislature will ensure that Texas continues to be a leader in its commitment to free speech for all citizens. Keating is the president of the Institute for Free Speech. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Opinion: Bill endangers the ability of Texans to speak freely Smoke rises from fighting in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, on April 22. (Marwan Ali / Associated Press) Sudan has descended into chaos as rival military leaders fight for power in the East African nation. Since the violence broke out April 15 in Khartoum, the capital, hundreds have been killed. The U.S. Embassy was shut down after the U.S. Navys SEAL Team 6 and the Army's special forces evacuated American diplomatic staff. But thousands of other U.S. citizens are finding themselves stuck. On Monday, U.S. officials announced a 72-hour cease-fire following talks, yet fighting has persisted in some areas and a previous cease-fire also fell apart within hours. There are reportedly an estimated 16,000 American citizens registered at the U.S. Embassy in Sudan. British and other European officials boasted of successful evacuations of their nationals. In a series of television appearances this week, National Security Council spokesman John F. Kirby said its hard to know exactly how many Americans are still in Sudan, but the vast majority are dual-nationals, who have no intention of leaving or wanting to depart. His advice? Shelter in place, hunker down and stay safe. Though the U.S. is helping some people travel by land, the situation is not secure enough to conduct a mass evacuation, he said. Those Ive spoken to in Sudan feel abandoned by the international community. Heavy weaponry including artillery, tanks and jet aircraft have been used in densely populated areas in Khartoum. Human rights and aid organizations have reported that civilians are bearing the brunt of the fighting. Food and fuel prices have soared, and there are power and water outages. Americans are among thousands rushing to Port Sudan along the Red Sea, where the U.S. says it has naval and intelligence assets, and to the Egyptian border to get out. As the U.S. and its partners negotiate with Sudans warring parties, there must also be a plan for protecting and helping civilians as the conflict, and resulting humanitarian crisis, worsen. A close friend of mine, who holds a British passport, was on his way to Port Sudan on a bus a treacherous nine-hour journey with his relatives, including his 80-year-old mother and two young children. When he arrived at the port, he told me via text message, there were no evacuations happening for dual-nationals like him and his family, despite what the embassy had told him. Instead, they are all stranded with no information on when, or even if, they will be able to get out. Story continues The fighting in Sudan comes after weeks of tension between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary force, and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) over security force reform during negotiations for a new transitional government. The RSF and SAF jointly overthrew Sudans transitional government in October 2021, after popular uprisings deposed longtime President Omar Bashir in 2019. Another friend in Khartoum whose house was looted by armed men and car stolen and who was threatened at gunpoint fled with his family to the Egyptian border. Along with thousands of other Sudanese, they have waited for the last three days for Egyptian officials to process them. Amid the sound of crying babies, they wait on the hot concrete floor at the border crossing with no idea when their turn will come, and even whether they will be allowed entry to Egypt. One family was turned away because their child didnt have the right paperwork. These are people who left their homes and belongings overnight. And they are considered the lucky ones. For most people in Sudan, there are no good options stay in your house and pray that its not bombed or raided, or try and get to a border and beg for entry. One Sudanese woman told me via phone she didnt have her passport because it was at one of the embassies that had been shut down: I applied for a visa weeks ago, it was being processed and now there isnt even anyone to speak to at the embassy. They are all gone. There is no end in sight for the suffering of people in Sudan. The U.S. has faced criticism previously for leaving behind U.S. citizens in conflict zones, such as in 2015 when war erupted in Yemen, and during the American withdrawal of Afghanistan. In the last year, however, we have seen the international community react in a humane way in times of crisis, most recently in Ukraine when those escaping Russias aggression were flown out and welcomed in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere. This is not what is happening in Sudan. There is no coordinated, forceful action by international governments or the United Nations, let alone a plan for those seeking asylum and making it across the borders only statements of concern by officials. The U.N. and others should have robust setups at the refugee camps receiving those fleeing, and yet we see little movement. The lack of extensive U.S. media coverage of what is happening on the ground, or outrage at this attack on civilians in Africa, is saddening but unsurprising. The next few days in Sudan are critical, and the window of opportunity for any safe evacuation is quickly closing. Governments worldwide, including the U.S., have a responsibility to help their citizens get to safety. But their responsibility does not end there as the humanitarian situation inside the country continues to deteriorate and U.N. agencies warn of imminent shortages in food, medicine and water. Unless international assistance arrives soon, the rest of the Sudanese people, those who cannot afford the hundreds of dollars it now costs to get a bus to the border or dont have foreign passports or visas will be trapped in a burgeoning war with no way out. Sherine Tadros is the deputy director of advocacy and U.N. representative for Amnesty International based in New York. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A soon-to-be high school graduate, Dennis Barnes, is celebrating his newest achievement of receiving offers from over 125 institutions totaling more than $9 million in scholarships. While there have been many before him who have achieved this level of academic success. Barness overall scholarship total of $9 million and college offers officially make him the only high school senior in U.S. history to receive this amount. I submitted college applications in August with an eye on raising the bar high for college admissions. Decision letters were an overflow in my mailbox, and hundreds of scholarship offers, Barnes told WWLTV. Barnes will graduate from the International High School of New Orleans in June and plans to make his college decision on May 2. Barness total amount could easily incline as IHSNO has told WWLTV that college and university offers are still rolling in for the senior. The New Orleans native hopes to receive $10 million in offers before his decision date. IHSNO has sent Barness historical achievement to the Guinness Book of World Records. The previous Guinness recorded entry was held by a Lafayette high school senior who received over $8.7 million in scholarships in 2019. Barnes is an overachiever who has maintained a GPA of 4.98 and was heavily involved in the National Honor Society. His studies have allowed him to be fluent in Spanish and have earned him an official qualification from the Institute Cervantes on behalf of Spains Ministry of Education. Barnes hard work and dedication havent gone unnoticed by community leaders either. Recently, Maria Pagee, Honorary Consul of Spain in New Orleans awarded Barnes with the Jose Luis Banos Award. Dr. Adierah Berger, Head of School for IHSNO, told WWLTV that Barnes was deeply inspired by his college admissions counselor Denise James. Barnes plans to enroll as a double major studying computer science and criminal justice. The road to a successful future is to plan ahead, network with the collegiate partners, and know that If you can see your vision, you can achieve your goal, Barnes told students applying to college next year. Barnes is sure to soar through college as he prepared for the workload by enrolling at the Southern University of New Orleans for the past two years. While at the university Barnes earned college credits while pursuing his high school diploma. Barnes is set to graduate from IHSNO on May 24. Chinese premier sends congratulatory letter to China-ASEAN agricultural cooperation ceremony Xinhua) 08:23, April 26, 2023 BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday sent a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony of the ASEAN-China Year of Agricultural Development and Food Security Cooperation. Agriculture and food security are the bases for the achievement of peace, stability and development, and they are key areas of cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), bringing great significance to the yearlong event, Li said in the letter. He said he hopes that both sides will work together to improve the resilience and sustainability of agricultural development and to ensure food security in an improved manner. Building on the event, China is willing to deepen cooperation with ASEAN members on green agriculture, smart agriculture, digital agriculture, and poverty relief and rural revitalization, Li said. He also called on the two sides to advance the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership and help achieve the goals of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) As California faces a silver tsunami, care workers who help the elderly and disabled live independently in their homes are fighting for a better wage they say is necessary to sustain them. Over 23,000 Fresno County residents rely on the publicly funded In-Home Support Services program, a number that county officials expect to grow. Administered by the Department of Social Services, Californias IHSS program provides eligible individuals with in-home care services to keep people living safely in their homes. IHSS workers typically help individuals with basic needs such as bathing, feeding, grocery shopping, and mobility and restroom assistance. The IHSS program allows wheelchair-bound care recipient Jovonna JoJo Martinez to stay in her own home. She said she wouldnt last in a long-term care facility because she fears both the living conditions as well as losing individualized care. Without my in-home service care worker, honestly, I would be in a convalescent hospital, she said in an interview with The Bee/Fresnoland. And the thought of that just terrifies me. In-Home Support Services (IHSS) care worker Wendy Davenport, right, looks toward her client Jovonna Martinez Wednesday, March 15, 2023 in Fresno. Davenport and other SEIU workers are looking for a salary increase from $16.10/hour to $20/hour for the work they do. Martinez started utilizing the IHSS program over 10 years ago when she developed cataracts that were causing her to go blind. Last year, she broke her hip, which in addition to existing thyroid-related weight issues, knee problems and degenerative disc disease has made it even more difficult for her to complete basic tasks like grocery shopping, cleaning the house, and using the restroom. I cant tell you how many times Ive slipped out of bed and called (my caretaker) in the middle of the night, and shes come and rescued me, Martinez said. Fresno Countys caretaker program will grow More Fresno County residents are expected to utilize home care services in the coming years due to the regions aging population as well as the expanded eligibility for Medi-Cal, according to Sanja Bugay, head of Fresno Countys Department of Social Services. Population projections from the California Department of Finance estimate that by 2050,18% of Fresno County residents, or 230,770 of 1,226,158, will be over the age of 65. Story continues Bugay said that the program has grown consistently in recent years, a trend she expects to continue. From 2021 to 2022, the program grew by 5%, from 2020 to 2021, it grew by under 2%. Meanwhile, the years prior to that saw about 5% to 6% growth each year, she said. Currently, 47% of Fresno Countys IHSS recipients are elderly, while 43% are disabled adults, and 10% are minors. People have talked about the silver tsunami, Bugay said, and we want to keep this population out of institutional care. While Fresno County officials say they are able to find IHSS workers to fill the demand for requested service hours, union officials argue otherwise. Bugay said the county doesnt have a challenge when it comes to recipients finding providers. However, union officials said that in 2022 over 951,000 hours went unfilled in Fresno County alone. Part of the problem is that one in four IHSS workers leaves the profession each year due to the low-pay, according to Service Employees International Union 2015 President, Arnulfo De La Cruz, the union that represents Fresno Countys IHSS caregivers. Who would you want taking care of your loved one? he said. Would you want someone whos making minimum wage and benefits, or someone whos able to care for their own families, too? Fight for $20 per hour On a late Wednesday morning in mid-March, IHSS caregiver Wendy Davenport reported for duty at Martinezs central Fresno home. That day, Davenport helped Martinez wash her bedding, tidy up the house, and pack a suitcase for an upcoming trip. Davenport also typically helps Martinez get in and out of the shower, get dressed, and prepare meals. In-Home Support Services (IHSS) care worker Wendy Davenport helps helps with the laundry for her client Jovonna Martinez Wednesday, March 15, 2023 in Fresno. Davenport and other SEIU workers are looking for a salary increase from $16/hour to $20/hour for the work they do. Davenport, who has been an IHSS caregiver for over 10 years, works about 20 hours a week with Martinez and 10 hours a week with another client. And while she loves her job, she struggles to pay off basic monthly bills like car insurance, especially after her husband had a heart attack last year and couldnt work. I dont think that those little bills should be that big of an issue for me, she said, but they are. Demand for caregivers is on the rise in California and union leaders, workers, and some economists, say higher wages are crucial to attract and retain the growing caretaker workforce. Currently, Fresno County has an estimated 18,000-20,000 IHSS workers, which makes it the largest public workforce in the county, De La Cruz said. Earlier this year, the SEIU Local 2015 started the bargaining process for a new contract with Fresno County a process that Dereck Smith, executive vice president for the union, said he hopes will be complete within the next couple of months. Negotiations for the recently-expired three-year contract culminated in 2019, after eight years of bargaining, union officials said. The process was marked by care workers and labor activist and United Farm Worker co-founder Dolores Huerta getting handcuffed and removed from a Fresno County Board of Supervisors meeting. The last negotiation (with Fresno County) took a very long time, he said, and were hoping that we dont have to escalate and be at the Board of Supervisors week after week. One major priority for the union is securing a raise from $16.10 to $20 per hour for IHSS workers. Aside from arguing that the grueling work justifies this pay raise, union officials and workers say increased wages will help the local economy because care workers generate tax revenue and contribute to the local economy. With the price of things today, thats what we feel will be necessary just to survive, Davenport said. Its the least we deserve. How much would this cost? Currently the IHSS program costs $688 million to fund in Fresno County alone. However, the countys share of this cost is around $52 million, while the state and federal government cover the rest of the program costs, Bugay said in an email statement to The Bee. Bugay estimates that a raise to $20 for IHSS workers would cost a total of $103.7 million, with the federal government covering $50 million, the state $17 million, and the county $31 million. SEIU 2015 representatives similarly told The Bee that the increased wages would cost around $29 million to Fresno County. Smith, of the SEIU 2015, also discussed the idea of adding just one dollar on top of current wages to put Fresno County care workers on on a path to $20. While the raise would mean increased costs, union representatives, researchers, and economists say the program saves taxpayers money in the long run. Keeping people out of hospitals is so crucial in this ongoing pandemic, Hannah Archambault, assistant professor of economics at Fresno State said. Immunocompromised, elderly, and people with disabilities suddenly (become) really expensive in a hospital. A 2021 report from the California State Auditor said that the IHSS program saves the state millions of dollars between $22,000 and $153,000 annually per recipient since these individuals would likely otherwise be placed in long-term care. Good pay, Archambault said, is essential to keep workers in the field. Oftentimes, caregivers who nationwide tend to be women of color are overworked, she said, either because they are demanded to work more hours by their bosses, or because they need to take those hours to make ends meet. For these services to be adequate, let alone outstanding or excellent which is what we should want from our provision of health care services, she said, its absolutely crucial that these workers are paid more. In-Home Support Services (IHSS) care worker Wendy Davenport, laughs as she shares caring for her client Jovonna Martinez, left, Wednesday, March 15, 2023 in Fresno. Davenport and other SEIU workers are looking for a salary increase to $20. Negotiations may change from county to state This could be the last time SEIU 2015 bargains with Fresno County, as the union recently sponsored a bill that would shift bargaining from the county level to the state level. Authored by Assemblyman Matt Haney, D-San Francisco, the In-Home Support Services Employee-Employer Relations Act, would create a more efficient way of planning to attract caregivers for the future, De La Cruz said. Were in this space now where theres a lack of caregivers, all of these consumers (IHSS recipients) cant find a caregiver, he said, and then were forced to work at the county level to figure this out. I just think that we can do much better than that. Bugay, of DSS, said shed be supportive of statewide bargaining as long as our local costs are really paid attention to. The bill is working its way through the Legislature and has an appropriations committee hearing scheduled on April 26. Ultimately, union officials want the public to understand that, at some point, everyone will need care. Theres really only two types of people as it relates to care: those who are currently needing it, De La Cruz said, and those of us who are going to need it at some point. U.S. providing more than four million rounds of heavy ammo to Ukraine. The U.S. has committed more than 4.4 million artillery shells, tank rounds, rockets and mortars, plus another 200 million rounds of small arms ammunition to Ukraine to assist its fight against the Russians. And that doesnt include an unspecified number of 120mm and 105mm tank rounds and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rounds for the 38 U.S.-donated M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS. Rows of incomplete 155mm shells wait for the next step in production at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant. (Photo by Aimee Dilger/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Add it all up, and it weighs more than 103,000 tons. The munitions are part of more than $36.1 billion in security assistance committed to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration, including more than $35.4 billion since the beginning of Russias full-on invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. This includes more than 1.5 million standard 155mm howitzer rounds as well as 7,000 M982 Excalibur guided rounds and 14,000 Remote Anti-Armor Mine System (RAAMS) projectiles and over 450,000 105mm artillery rounds. Remote Anti-Armor Mine System (RAAMS) will be given to Ukraine. These scatterable mines are launched from 155mm artillery and are devastating to any armored vehicles that get close. They self-detonate after a certain time to protect civilians from coming across them. 1/ https://t.co/FEmCboDnD2 pic.twitter.com/gk2h5Es1rZ CJ (@CasualArtyFan) September 8, 2022 Along with howitzers donated by allies, like the French and Danish 155mm CAESAR wheeled self-propelled howitzers, German PzH 2000 155mm guns, Polish AHS Krab 155mm self-propelled howitzers and British AS-90 155mm self-propelled howitzers, the 160 155mm and 72 105mm howitzers donated by the U.S. have proven critical on the battlefield for Ukraine. They made a huge difference last fall during the Kharkiv and Kherson counteroffensives as well as the ongoing bloody slugfest in the Donbas. Story continues You can read more here about the U.S.-donated 155mm variants and the 105mm rounds in our story from last October, when the U.S. commitment first exceeded one million of these artillery rounds. Given Ukraines need to feed its Soviet-era artillery tubes and tanks, the U.S. has also committed over 50,000 152mm artillery rounds; about 40,000 130mm artillery rounds, 40,000 122mm artillery rounds and 100,000 rounds of 125mm tank ammunition. Ukraine also continues to use Soviet-era GRAD rocket launchers so the U.S. has committed 60,000 122mm GRAD rockets. The U.S. has provided more than 60,000 122mm rockets for Ukraine's Grad multiple-launch rocket system. (Photo by Muhammed Enes Yildirim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) The U.S. has also provided Ukraine with 120mm, 81mm, 80mm and 60mm mortars and committed more than 345,000 rounds to go with them. And with the promise of 31 M1 Abrams tanks and the delivery of the first tranche of 113 Bradley Fighting Vehicles the U.S. has committed an undisclosed amount of 120mm ammunition for the Abrams main gun plus over 3,000 Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles and over 1,800,000 rounds of 25mm ammunition to feed the Bradleys main weapons systems. The U.S. has promised Ukraine 113 Bradley Fighting Vehicles as well as munitions for its main weapons systems. (Ukrainian Defense Ministry photo) Ammunition continues to be a critical need for both sides in this conflict, with Ukraine and Russia both rationing shell usage. In February, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that Ukraine is using up far more artillery ammunition than is currently being produced. "Ukraine has been at this for a year and so they have used a lot of artillery ammunition," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a February meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, an organization of some 50 nations working to arm Ukraine. "We're going to do everything we can working with our international partners to ensure that we give them as much ammunition as quickly as possible and that we will do everything we can to sustain our efforts there as well." Ukrainian artillerymen of the Aidar battalion work with artillery shells on a front line position near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on April 22, 2023. (Photo by Anatolii STEPANOV / AFP) (Photo by ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images) In addition to the shells provided by the U.S., the European Union (EU) has a $1.1 billion plan to provide one million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine. And Ukraine has sought ammunition from Pakistan as well which you can read much more about here. Russia, meanwhile, has reached out to North Korea and Iran for artillery shells. Russia is also facing an artillery shell shortage. (Russian Defense Ministry photo) With all the ammunition provided to Ukraine, and facing concerns about a potential conflict in the Pacific, the U.S. too is scrambling to up its production. The Pentagon has allocated roughly $3 billion alone to buy munitions overseas from allies and to ramp up production at home, including for 155mm artillery shells, according to CNN. To help meet that need, the Army is planning a 500% increase in artillery shell production, from 15,000 to 70,000 a month, according to Army acquisition chief Doug Bush. As this conflict drags on with no end in sight, the need for more artillery and tank shells, mortars, rockets, and small arms ammunition will only increase. The U.S. and allies have promised to supply Ukraine as long as it takes. The long-term effect on domestic stocks remains to be seen. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com A unique house on the real estate market in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is turning heads on social media thanks to its shiny exterior. The three-bedroom, four-bathroom estate listed for $899,000 is called the Mirror house for good reason: because, well, its covered in mirrors, as the photos on Zillow.com show. Known as the Mirror House among its legions of fans, this elegant multi-level home features an open interior with 25 skylights and approximately 4,291-square-feet, the listing on Zillow.com says. Just like Fallingwater, the house emphasizes the connection between the interior/exterior spaces. Features of the estate include: Home theater Artists studio Finished basement Chefs kitchen Zen-like backyard The house was featured on Zillow Gone Wild, a Facebook page and Twitter account that highlights special houses dotting the real estate market all over the country. And fans were opinionated. I do not - EVER - need to see myself from that many angles, but the rest of the house is absolutely fabulous. That room is just BEGGING for bad luck, one person joked. Id worry about the risk of catching my outside foliage on fire, another said. Id need a lifetime supply of Windex if I bought this house, someone noted. All I can think of is how often I hit the brick on our house with our lawnmower when I was in high school. Hope its more sturdy than a regular mirror, one person commented. I can see myself living here! another joked. Ok no joke I love this house in its entirety. It is bizarre but feels like a Rothko painting in house form lol, someone said. Previously owned by Narcissus, who did all the interiors, another joked. Have vertigo? Then this home for sale in West Virginia isnt for you. See why Tom (right) and Junior (left) spend a lot of time living in hotels and driving up and down the East Coast disposing of dangerous materials. Courtesy of Tom DeSana Tom DeSena and Junior Lallbachan say they're just two guys in their twenties following where their job takes them. DeSena, 23, told Insider they spend a lot of time together as a pair of traveling crime scene cleaners. Now, they're gaining popularity on TikTok for videos documenting what a day on the job looks like. If you've ever wondered what happens after police leave a crime scene, two of the technicians tasked with cleaning them up are going viral on TikTok for documenting the wildest jobs they've ever taken. Tom DeSena, 23, and Junior Lallbachan, 26, are a Florida-based duo who travel along the East Coast cleaning up biohazards in crime scenes and hoarder situations that have gotten out of control for the New York-based company National Crime Scene Cleanup. "We drive pretty much wherever our company tells us to go," DeSena told Insider. "I guess you could say we're an emergency response unit. We usually work 24/7." DeSena branded their partnership as the "Soul Mediators" in October 2022 when he started documenting their jobs on TikTok. Today, the pair boasts over 200,000 followers and more than one million likes on the platform. "We're always on the go, and I think we live a pretty interesting life," DeSena said. "I think we bring a different energy to the job. It makes it more engaging for us." 'Every single day is different' A job can start at just about any time of day, and the hours are often long, hot, and grueling, DeSena said. He said they don't start with much debriefing before heading out on a call, and most times assignments begin with just an address and vague description. Story continues "Every single day is different," DeSena told Insider. "Whether it's a similar death, weapon, or demographic of people, it's always unique. You can only prepare so much." Their latest project catching the attention of followers is the "Coors Light house," a home filled with mountainous piles of nearly floor-to-ceiling beer cans. Some were empty, but others were refilled with urine, DeSena told followers. "I know it's a bit graphic, and I wasn't sure how people were going to react," DeSena said. "I do my best to blur out certain things when I'm recording the videos." The "Coors Light house" has become a series for the duo, allowing followers to keep up with their progress in clearing out a home filled nearly floor-to-ceiling with beer cans. Courtesy of Tom DeSana Although their Coors Light house video raked in over two million views, the reality was mostly bagging trash and fighting off cockroaches for about six days in the Florida heat, he said. "It's not as exhilarating as you may think," DeSena said. "Realistically, if I did a time lapse, you'd just see us shoveling the whole house for eight to 10 hours." However, at the end of a long day, "tired" and "accomplished" are the two words that come to DeSena's mind. For him, the feeling is welcomed after previously working at less labor-intensive jobs like bartending. From colleagues to close friends The pair met in 2020 when a 20-year-old DeSena applied for a job posting searching for a crime scene cleanup technician on Indeed. He and Junior who'd been working there for five years prior bonded over being some of the youngest people working at the company in New York. In February 2022, the pair were sent to live in Florida as roommates and coworkers taking on jobs as they occurred and traveling as far west as Texas for gigs. "The pay is good, but respect is a big thing for me," DeSena, who studied criminal justice in college, told Insider. "I enjoy my work, and I don't think there are many people who feel as much passion (for the job) as Junior and I do." According to Glassdoor, the average crime scene cleaner in the US earns $42,000 annually, but DeSena who wouldn't disclose his pay told Insider his salary is "well above" the figure. He said his job also comes with the perks of hotel stays and meals paid for by the company wherever their assignments take them. "If someone wants to do this, I'd say make sure you really want to do this," DeSena said, emphasizing the trust he felt with his partner helped him feel more comfortable leaving his hometown of Long Island. Read the original article on Business Insider By Daniela Desantis and Lucinda Elliott ASUNCION (Reuters) - Paraguayan opposition leader Efrain Alegre can trace some of the fire for his 2023 presidential run to three weeks he spent behind bars two years ago on what he says were trumped up corruption charges related to campaign financing. The 60-year-old veteran politician and lawyer, who was narrowly defeated at the ballot box in 2018 - his third attempt at the presidency - is pushing hard to unseat the ruling conservative Colorado Party in Sunday's vote. Some opinion polls have shown him ahead. Alegre said his arrest, which he blamed on judicial corruption and what he called a "mafia" in government, fired up his sense of injustice and made him determined to take the ruling party on at the ballot box. "I was so calm because we had defeated the mafia, because even while I was in prison, people knew that I was the object of an injustice," he told Reuters at his home on the outskirts of Asuncion. His party had been accused of presenting a false invoice to Paraguay's electoral court related to 2018 campaign expenses. If elected, Alegre has vowed to clean up corruption in government, accusations of which have dogged the Colorado Party. The U.S. Treasury in January imposed sanctions on party head Horacio Cartes and Vice President Hugo Velazquez, citing "rampant corruption." They deny the charges. The election is seen as a two-horse race between Alegre and Santiago Pena, the ruling party candidate who has the backing of the powerful Colorado political machine but must shake off voter anger at the graft allegations leveled at his party. Alegre has said he would cut public sector red tape and establish diplomatic ties with China that would open up its huge market to Paraguay's soy and cattle farmers. Alegre represents a broad center-left coalition of independent parties and movements. He ran as a presidential candidate unsuccessfully in 2013 and again in 2018. Story continues POLITICS 'IN THE BLOOD' If elected as Paraguay's first non-Colorado president in over a decade, Alegre proposes a "new energy policy" to get more out of the country's huge hydroelectric power plants at Yacyreta and Itaipu, shared with neighbors Argentina and Brazil. "We need to use energy to develop our country. Paraguay does not win with this rentier policy, whereby we receive dollars for our energy that end up in the pockets of some politicians or are caught up in ballooning bureaucracy," he said. During his campaign Alegre pledged to reassess Paraguay's six-decade-old diplomatic relations with Taiwan and said he favors opening up to China, hoping to boost farm exports. At his home, however, a framed picture of him receiving a medal from a Taiwanese official hangs just under his certificate as a lawyer, underscoring how ditching Taiwan ties may not be simple, especially without congressional support. "If he does not command a Senate majority this will reduce room for maneuver as president. I think it won't be easy for him," said sociologist Luis Ortiz from the National University of Asuncion. Alegre lacked charisma but was experienced and "knows the inner workings of the state," he added. Alegre has served as a congressman and senator and was public works minister under leftist President Fernando Lugo, who was removed in a controversial impeachment trial in 2012. Alegre voted in favor of ousting Lugo, a decision that several of his allies on the left still question. Those who know Alegre say he is a "politico de raza" - that politics runs in his blood. "I love what I do," he said. "After being president I would continue helping but in a more withdrawn way, at a greater distance. But I will never give (politics) up." (Reporting by Daniela Desantis and Lucinda Elliott; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Rosalba O'Brien) For the second time in two months a Boston Public School bus driver is allegedly assaulted by a parent on board a Boston School bus, right in front of students. Boston Police tell Boston 25 that a mother of a student on board the bus attacked the driver, punching him in the stomach, breaking the rear view mirror and then pulling out a knife. And sources tell Boston 25 she was upset because the bus was late. The Boston Police are investigating and according to sources Boston 25 has learned they have identified the mother. Boston Public Schools sent a letter home to parents. It says in part: The Trotter School, alongside the entire Boston Public Schools, has no higher priority than providing a safe, affirming learning environment for our students to thrive. Our buses are considered an extension of the classroom. - Sarita Thomas Principal In March, a 70 year old BPS bus driver was allegedly attacked by a parent also in front of school children at the corner of Woodrow and Lyford Streets in Dorchester, I saw commotion there that something happen, said a neighbor. According to the police incident report the school bus driver was repeatedly punched in the face and suffered injuries to his left eye and his lower lip. The school bus driver told police he did not recognize the parent, but he claimed the man said, Dont mess with my kid before launching his attack. Parents then as now worried this violence taking place in front of their kids I really feel bad about the kids watching this happen. Children seeing the violence is disturbing. said a neighbor. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A day care worker in Indiana was arrested after a parent noticed a mark on their child, police said. When a child came home from the Kiddie Academy Daycare in Fishers, her parent spotted a handprint bruise on her leg, according to an April 25 news release from the Fishers Police Department. The parent contacted the day care and arranged to meet with the owner, police said. The pair then watched video footage of the childs classroom, which revealed the employee a 23-year-old woman from Noblesville had inappropriate contact with the child, police said. In the video, the employee could be seen shoving the childs head into a changing table, slamming her down and covering her face with a blanket, according to WTHR. The employee, who said she had worked in day care for six years, reportedly told a coworker, You better not be telling anyone what I am doing in here, according to the outlet. On Wednesday, March 15th, we became aware that an assistant teacher in our Toddler room had been acting in a manner contrary to our core values and commitment to provide safe and healthy environments for all children in our care, a representative for the day care said in a statement provided to McClatchy News. Upon learning of the behavior, we notified the appropriate authorities, and the teacher was terminated. The employee, Molly C. Taxter, was arrested on April 25 and taken to the Hamilton County Jail, police said. An attorney for Taxter could not immediately be reached for comment by McClatchy News. Currently detectives have identified multiple victims but believe there could be additional children involved, police said, adding that a hotline has been set up for parents. Taxter has been charged with 19 counts of battery, all of which are felonies, police said. Our team is dedicated to sound leadership decisions, swiftly addressing concerns, aligning with local licensing bodies and ensuring that the trust of each family is earned and maintained, the representative for the day care said in the statement. We will continue to fully cooperate with local authorities during any further investigation of this matter. Story continues Fishers is a suburb of Indianapolis. Bartender and customer collapse in bar and die of suspected overdose, Indiana cops say Mom dies after pickup hits her and her daughter on their way to school, CA cops say 16-year-old listening to a song about murder runs over 70-year-old man, MN cops say Natalie Behring/Getty Warning: this article contains some graphic descriptions. An Idaho forensic pathologist on Wednesday detailed how doomsday mom Lori Vallows two children were killed in 2019, including how her 7-year-old son was allegedly strangled to death by a plastic bag over his head and duct tape over his mouth. Dr. Garth Warren, who works for the Ada County Coroners Office, told jurors in Vallows murder trial that he conducted the autopsies on Joshua JJ Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan a few days after they were found buried in the backyard of Chad Daybells home in June 2020. Authorities say that JJ was found in a pet cemetery while his 17-year-old sister, Tylee Ryan, was dismembered and buried in a fire pit nearby. Warren said JJ died of asphyxiation and Tylee died by unspecified means but her death was a homicide. [JJ] was found with a plastic bag over his head, it was tight and there were signs of a struggle, he said, according to EastIdahoNews. Warren told jurors that right from the beginning there were some things that obviously jumped out in JJs autopsy. Warren said that JJ still wearing a red pajama set when he was found wrapped in a garbage bag with the white plastic bag over his head and duct tape all around his body, including his forearms, hands and ankles. Lori Vallows Sister Takes the Stand: She Lied to Me The child also had bruising on his arms and an abrasion to his neck from the grisly slaying. Warren added that a toxicology report concluded that JJ was found with low levels of ethanol, the date-rape drug GHB, and caffeine in his system. The amounts of GHB, he noted, were inconclusive. Theres really no way for me to tell for sure whether this is just a naturally occurring product in the body that was there or if JJ was given GHB, Warren said. I can't say one way or another based on the levels. Warren also noted that Tylees autopsy was different than her brothers because she arrived at the morgue in multiple bags. He said her toxicology came back positive for ibuprofen, iron, and carboxyhemoglobin. Story continues If carboxyhemoglobin is breathed in when a person is alive, the readings will be high but Tylees were extremely low. There is no evidence to support that Tylee was alive when she was burned, he said. The bombshell testimony marks the first time prosecutors have revealed how Vallows long-missing children were killed in September 2019 before being buried in her apocalyptic author husbands backyard. Prosecutors allege that a month later, the religious fanatics allegedly conspired to kill Daybells first wife, Tammy, for insurance and Social Security funds before fleeing to Hawaii. Vallow has pleaded not guilty to several charges and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Defense attorneys for Vallow insist that the loving mother could never kill her children. But Warren went into harrowing detail on the stand about how the two children, who were officially reported missing in December 2019, were killed. He noted that, in addition to the plastic bag and duct tape, he also immediately noticed that JJ had rapidly decomposed. There was dirt and mold on the tops and bottoms, Warren said, according to EastIdahoNews. You could tell even with the clothing on that the body was in a state of decomposition by the color of the skin. Warren then went into graphic detail about the state of JJs body, including a scratch-life abrasion on the left side of JJs neck and a hemorrhage on his right thumbnail. As Warren was speaking, jurors reportedly took detailed notes while Vallow looked at the witness stand. There were also other areas that were concerning or suspiciousbruising on the ankles that may have been associated with the duct tape, Warren added. All of the organs showed decomposition changes but I did not see any trauma to the internal organs or evidence of overt natural disease to any of the organs. Tylees autopsy was different to JJs, he said, because he usually performs autopsies on entire bodies but Tylees remains were received in three separate sealed bags. Warren said that his team x-rayed the remains to look for foreign objects that would give them a clue about the cause of death. Instead, he said, they found a collection of bones along with other debris. A lot of mud and dirt. He said his team was able to locate some of Tylees organs that had severe decomposition and several bones. There werent nice clean bones. These were bones that had significant artifacts secondary to the fire, Warren said. They were blackened and charred. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Escambia Circuit Judge Jennie Kinsey sentenced a Pensacola man to prison for threatening to carry out a shooting at Booker T. Washington High School. Freeman Quyva Lindsey was sentenced to 30 years in state prison after he was found guilty by a jury on two counts of written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury, conduct mass shooting or conduct act of terrorism regarding his statements of shooting Washington High School. "The charges stem from texts and both public posts and private messages on Facebook where Lindsey threatened to 'shoot Washington High School up' in February 2022," a State Attorney's Office press release said. Holley Navarre threats: Rebekah Jones' son charged under law making online threats - even 'jokes' or 'memes' - a crime Pensacola Catholic threat: Active shooter report at Pensacola Catholic High School is false alarm According to his arrest report, Lindsey's cousin told authorities that Lindsey would hear "voices in his head telling him to go to Washington High School in the morning to shoot everyone at the school." He also texted his cousin after a phone call saying, "I'm going to shoot Washington High School up in the morning." The report also notes that Lindsey made several Facebook posts that read, "I'm shooting in the morning" and "It's going to be a shooting at Booker T. Washington High School in the morning." Kinsey designated Lindsey as a habitual felony offender, and his 30-year-sentence will run consecutive to any sentences he's currently serving. Lindsey was previously found guilty in 2005 for making a false report of a bomb. He's also been convicted of first and second-degree arson, indecent exposure, forgery and grand theft, according to court records. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Booker T. Washington High school shooting threat nets 30 years prison Nearly three years after Escambia County Sheriff's deputies arrested a Pensacola man for sexually assaulting a child for three years, a jury entered the courtroom Wednesday and levied its verdict in less than 90 minutes. The jury found 48-year-old Larry Steve Snipes guilty on 10 child sex abuse charges that include four capital felony counts of sexual battery on a child under 12 years old, four first-degree felony counts of custodial sexual battery, a third-degree felony count of child abuse without great bodily harm and one third-degree felony count of distributing obscene material to a minor. "The state would submit to you that we have proven all of these (counts) beyond a reasonable doubt," Assistant State Attorney Carrie Gilmer told the jury. "The state is asking that you come back with guilty as charged on all counts for Larry Steve Snipes." Larry Snipes listens as his attorney addresses the jury during the final day of his trial on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Snipes was found guilty of 10 different felony charges related to the sexual abuse of a young girl. Snipes' arrest: Pensacola man accused of sexually abusing girl for three years In case you missed it: Pensacola man sentenced to 30 years for threatening to 'shoot up' Booker T. Washington school Snipes was initially arrested by Escambia County Sheriff's deputies on Aug. 12, 2020, after a girl told her cousin that Snipes had been sexually assaulting her from 2017 to 2020. The time the first incident occurred, the child was 11 years old. Over the course of the three years, Snipes would force the child to have sex and perform sex acts "on him every day, sometimes twice a day," his arrest report said. Snipes and his girlfriend, Sammi Jo Combs, would also frequently give the child Lortabs and Xanax without a prescription to calm her down before they abused her. Combs testified she helped Snipes during the trial and is currently awaiting sentencing after pleading no contest to eight child sex abuse charges. Larry Snipes listens as his attorney addresses the jury during the final day of his trial on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Snipes was found guilty of 10 different felony charges related to the sexual abuse of a young girl. During closing statements, Snipes' defense attorney, Gene Mitchell, argued the jury should consider the witnesses who spoke during the trial were previously convicted of a felony or a crime of dishonesty. Story continues "Sammi Jo Combs demonstrated to you that she had previously ... been convicted of a felony," Mitchell told the jury during his closing statement. "(The child's cousin) demonstrated that she had been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty. Judge Simon will tell you to consider that in considering if this witness is worthy of being believed beyond a reasonable doubt." The jury ultimately concluded that Snipes committed all of the charged counts, leaving him waiting for sentencing. Snipes must be sentenced to life for each of his capital felonies under Florida law. Escambia Circuit Judge John Simon also can levy a life sentence for each first-degree felony. Snipes is scheduled for sentencing on May 31. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola man Larry Snipes convicted of sexually abusing young girl Daniel Ellsberg speaks during a 2006 protest in front of the White House. Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images There's no reason to think the Discord leak has damaged US national security, Daniel Ellsberg said. "Top secret is like toilet paper" at the Pentagon, said Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers. Ellsberg told The Washington Post that the US government tends to keep a "mystique of secrecy." Daniel Ellsberg, the man who in 1971 exposed Vietnam War intelligence that stunned the country, doubts the leak of Pentagon documents last year on Discord poses any severe threats to US national security. Ellsberg, who is 92 and battling pancreatic cancer, commented on the Pentagon's handling of classified information in a Tuesday interview with The Washington Post's Devlin Barrett. "There is no reason to believe that it harmed American national security in any measurable way," he told The Post. Public fears about the leak's consequences have been blown out of proportion because the US government tends to keep a "mystique of secrecy," he said, per The Post. "At the Pentagon, top secret is like toilet paper, it's nothing," the former military analyst told the outlet. CIA Director William Burns appeared to echo a similar sentiment on April 11 as he spoke at an event in Texas, CNN reported. "I think there is a serious problem of overclassification sometimes in the US government," Burns said, per CNN. "Which I think needs to be taken on." Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old Air National Guardsman charged with leaking the Pentagon secrets on Discord, was given top-secret security clearance in 2021 less than two years after he enlisted, according to prosecutors. The documents, which Teixeira is accused of uploading to his private Discord server, revealed details of the US surveillance on South Korea, Egypt, Israel, and Ukraine's governments. Ellsberg said the leak, discovered by authorities earlier this month, in some ways mirrors the secrets he revealed five decades ago, per The Post. Story continues American officials at the time believed the US was struggling in the Vietnam War but publicly claimed they were close to victory. In comparison, the new leak shows that Washington knows the war in Ukraine has slowed to a stalemate, though neither the US nor Russia will admit it, Ellsberg told The Post. For his part, Ellsberg has taken responsibility for giving the Pentagon Papers to the press back in 1971. He'd become disillusioned with the war narrative at the time, according to multiple accounts of his life and the leak. Like Teixeira, Ellsberg was charged by the US government in January 1973 for revealing classified information. The charges were later dropped in May 1973 after the Nixon administration was discovered to have burgled the office of Ellsberg's psychiatrist to try to find dirt on Ellsberg. Ellsberg has won several awards for exposing the Pentagon Papers. He's since spent years in political activism, protesting US military actions overseas, including the war in Iraq and the supplying of weapons to Ukraine. Read the original article on Business Insider Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty While you might think fishing is all about catching the biggest fish possible and using it as a dating profile pictureor, at the very least, posting it on Instagram)--theres an emerging group of fishermen who think just the opposite. Its not about how big the fish is. Instead, its about variety. And theres no better way to catch unique fish than by reeling in the smallest organisms thatll bite. Theyre called micro-fishermen, and they are part fishermen, part amateur biologists, and while they still post their photos on social media, they confine themselves more to Facebook groups than anything else. The Art of Microfishing, a Facebook group with over 10,000 members, and a corresponding blog, is run by Edward Johnson, a 50 year old currently living in Sydney, Australia. Johnson says he started both in September 2021, but he may have always been a micro-fisherman. At the age of 4, I would catch tiny sunfish for my aquarium, he says. After continuing to target small fish, the pandemic is when things really got started for Johnson. He launched the site and the Facebook group, and started selling micro hooks, tiny fishing hooks designed for catching small fish, and even wrote a book about the subject. Microfishing is inspired by an ancient Japanese tradition called tanago. Using a tenkara rod about the size of a number two pencil, anglers aimed to catch Tokyo bitterling (tanago in Japanese), which are maximum 70mm in length . DigiPub/Getty While the tools used are the more or less the same, microfishing differs from tanago insofar as it's not about catching the smallest fish, but rather, the rush comes from seeking out and catching as many different species as possible. Take Galen Lyon, a 22 year old from Homer, Alaska. He says he grew up fishing in Alaska, with a large interest in the biological diversity surrounding the species [he] was targeting. Instead of fishing for dinner, Lyon has always done catch and release, and targeted juvenile and bait species. He says its just as satisfying and enjoyable catching a small fish as it is catching one thats 20 pounds, because it has to do with a larger interest in the diversity and biology of fish, rather than just capturing them for food. Story continues In order to identify each catch, anglers post photos of their fish, placed in their palm for scale, on the Facebook group, where comments are less often wows and more frequently helpful hints in uncovering what species the fish in question might be. Juvenile Golden Shiner or Eastern Silvery Minnow? one post reads, with comments ranging from Golden! to Strongly decurved lateral line suggests Golden Shiner. After the fish is identified, the author of the post will typically go in and edit the post to have the species name in it, for reference. More serious anglers might take it a step further. Many upload their catch and location to Fishmap.org, an online database of fish and their location all over the world hosted by the North American Native Fishes Association, a non-profit dedicated to the appreciation, and study of native fish in North America. This is where many micro-fishermen look to in order to discover where species they havent caught might be lurking, and begin to plan trips around reeling them in. Of course, there are microfish everywhere, but the place where it seems to be taking up steam is in North America. One fisherman recounts seeing someone on the group post a location for an American Brook Lamprey. They made their way from Wisconsin to New Jersey to catch the fish, and proudly posted it on the site, writing My first micro jawless fish! Comments ranged from, that one is hard to catch, what bait did you use? to nice work! Others wrap it into their current travel plans. One mentioned that they were visiting a friend in Florida and brought their fishing gear along. They posted their catch of Xiphophorus, a gleaming rainbow colored fish with a sword as a tail. Anglers arent the only fans of Fish Map and The Art of Microfishing Facebook group. Biologists also stay abreast of its updates as a way to monitor fish populations. Fandi Setia Putra/Getty Some of those scientists wonder if microfishing, despite its intent, might have an overall negative impact A 2020 policy paper in Fisheries Magazine raised concerns about the potential for increased mortality rate on caught-and-released fish, as well as how catching fish at the beginning of their life cycles might disturb their lifecycle. There is no doubt that there are some very sensitive small-bodied fishes that may not respond well to micro-fishing catch-and-release, Steven Cooke, a professor of biology at Carleton University, who authored the paper said. There is need to develop science-based best practices to ensure that microfishers are provided with information to guide them. However, Zach Alley who currently works with EDGE Engineering and Science argues that while some might think that microfishing might lead to disrupting fisheries, there is no evidence of this. Theres no evidence that microfishing negatively impacts fisheries, Alley says, adding at least, not yet. Instead, Alley is an active member in microfishing groups despite not being one himself. Microfisherman frequently reach out to me for assistance with identifying fish they've caught from various places throughout the eastern US, and ask me questions about updates in taxonomy, Alley says. Because Alley is currently doing genomics research in the hydrophlox group, he says he gets a lot of questions about those fish, too, and that they help him identify where these fish might be. Alley doesnt think this is much of an issue. Instead, their involvement and interest has been a great way for biologists to locate targets easier, and it's a resource Alley mentions he uses for scientific portraits as well. As for why microfishing may be exploding in popularity, there are a few theories. Alley says that one reason could be the pandemic forcing more people outside. But another is more interesting. The equipment is significantly cheaper than traditional fishing rods, and so perhaps it is more easily accessible, as well. The bottom line is clear though: Microfishing is more than a hobby. For some, its a way of life, a way to see the world, even if its on a small scale. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Alex Cochran, Deseret News Editors note: This is the first of a two-part series on DEI by the author. The next piece will explore why the contexts in which DEI is practiced are perceived as a threat. Growing up in London, Stacey Gordon was one of the only Black children in her school. She never felt that she fit in. When her family moved to Brooklyn, New York, she thought things would be different. But in Brooklyn, she stuck out as the British girl. It wasnt until she embraced her own unique background that she felt she belonged. Now she uses DEI diversity, equity and inclusion instruction to help others do the same. But not every experience with DEI is positive. A small business recently sought to implement a DEI program, but soon felt compelled to stop. As the company pursued diversity hires, long-time employees began to unexpectedly leave the business. After looking into why, company leaders learned that the more tenured employees found recent hires to be less experienced and competent at the job than past new hires, making the work more difficult. This detracted enough from their workplace experience that established employees sought employment elsewhere. These stories point to a conundrum for those committed to expanding opportunity for all Americans: How do we support the values of diversity and inclusion without eroding other important values? American public opinion about racial and ethnic diversity complicates this further. The majority of Americans of all races recognize the value of diversity in American life. A plurality of Americans of all races believe it is important for businesses to promote racial and ethnic diversity in the workplace. But a majority of Americans of all races also believe hiring and promotion at work should be based only on qualifications, even if this produces less diversity, and they do not believe race and ethnicity should be a factor in such workplace decisions. As recent events show, the conundrum gets even thornier when it comes to gender. The result is that some peoples experience with DEI is positive, while for others it is negative. Story continues Negative experiences and associations with DEI initiatives would be enough of a challenge on their own. But in our time, a political cancer on Americas race and gender issues has metastasized, transforming negative experiences and associations with DEI into perceptions of threat. The original motivations behind what eventually became DEI do not point to it as a source of threat. DEI has its roots in the 1960s civil rights movement, beginning with racial diversity training for businesses to assist with post-segregation diversification of the workforce. Later, efforts were made to ensure that minority employees felt included in public settings and the workplace. The concept of equity was added to promote the idea that some people may need unique support systems due to varied backgrounds and experiences. DEI also expanded its scope from race to include characteristics like religion, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. Americans can recognize that the differences among us in viewpoint, experience, culture and physical characteristics enrich our lives when we recognize the value of those differences and genuinely include those that have them. This is particularly true when diverse people come together to pursue a shared goal. There is greater debate about equity, such as whether we ought to pursue equality of opportunity or equality of outcome. But it is reasonable to recognize that individuals with different experiences may require customized support to progress in life. Enter polarization. Related We live in a political and media environment (both social and traditional media) that rewards the stoking of division and the elevation of the extremes in our narratives through the immediate gratification produced by money, followers or clicks. These dynamics drive the social phenomenon of tribal hostility in politics that pushes Americans to greater political extremes. Such an environment cultivates the perception of an ongoing, political life-and-death struggle for the nations values, ideals and future. The culture-war perspective of factions within both major political parties is an example of this polarized politics in action. In such a high-stakes scenario, opposition and even simple differences can be perceived as significant threats or existential problems. This plays out in various ways, on all sides, with DEI. The opportunities for immediate gratification that DEI offers political and media actors lead some to co-opt DEI in pursuit of their own agenda or narrative often grounded in identity politics. The perceived threat from DEI leads others to describe it as an ideology that undermines their values and principles. The polarized response to genuine concerns about some DEI efforts exacerbates perceptions of threat. Supporters of DEI sometimes frame DEI, knowingly or unknowingly, in terms of critical race theory implying that DEI critics are motivated by discomfort with a potential loss of power. Natural, normal and healthy questions that arise when people in business or politics are learning about the ideas and methods of DEI can be portrayed as signs of malicious intent or a corrupt character. Such criticisms feel like personal attacks. The lens through which some people promote or criticize DEI short-circuits healthy dialogue and debate over its merits. A Princeton professor who studies prejudice and behavior change wrote last year that we dont have good evidence for what works (in DEI). Were treating a pandemic of discrimination and racial and religious resentment with untested drugs. In a healthy political environment, a significant lack of evidence on the effectiveness of DEI staffing and programs would spark a debate over the impact of billions of dollars of investment in DEI in recent years. If DEI efforts are not effective, or if only certain DEI approaches are effective, then we ought to change our approach out of concern and respect for all involved. But in our polarized politics, our debate spirals into arguments over whether those with concerns about DEI are racist or transphobic. Lost in the polarized conflict is a search for the best ways to help Americas historically marginalized minorities while preserving essential American institutions and better applying important principles that have led to opportunity and prosperity for so many. The motivation to help eliminate barriers and strengthen opportunity for historically marginalized Americans is worthy of support from people of all political ideologies. So too is the desire to preserve and promote basic ideas like fundamental fairness, rewarding hard work, and equality before the law. If we can rise above polarized political narratives move beyond the dual narratives of blaming the system or blaming the victim, as called for by American Enterprise Institute scholar Ian Rowe we have hope of arriving at a framework of principles that can unify Americans around aiding and assisting marginalized Americans. In other words, we can hope to pursue diversity and inclusion in a manner that builds belonging and protects opportunity for all Americans, rather than exacerbating division and perceptions of threat. The stories of Stacey Gordon and of the business that tried and stopped a DEI program will no longer be stories whose endings diverge. Rather, future stories can show how Americans figured out how to welcome everyone into the full promise of American equality and freedom, while preserving the essential ideals that help fulfill that promise. Derek Monson is vice president of policy for Sutherland Institute, a principle-based think tank in Salt Lake City. A Philadelphia teenager died from a blood infection caused by leukemia within 24 hours of doctors discovering the cancer in the student-athlete. Sixteen-year-old Kyle Limper played football, wrestled and ran track at Penn Treaty High School before he died April 13. One day after a basketball game, Kyle told his parents that he was experiencing back pain. The teen was taken to a hospital to be checked out and was told to see how he felt in a few days. "They told me in a couple of days, if he doesnt get better, to bring him back. Well, in a couple of days he couldnt even stand up," Kyle's father, Ken Limper, told FOX 29 Philadelphia. HUGH JACKMAN UNDERGOES BIOPSIES FOR CANCER SCARE, EMPHASIZES SUNSCREEN USE Kyle Limper, 16, played football, wrestled and ran track at Penn Treaty High School before he passed away April 13. When his symptoms got worse, Kyle was rushed to Philadelphia's St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "He couldnt even get out of bed and I had to help him up and stand him up, then he fell right back down on the bed," the grieving father added. Doctors told Kyle's stunned family the teen's organs were shutting down due to leukemia. Kyle spent around 24 hours at St. Christopher's before passing away. HUGH JACKMAN UNDERGOES BIOPSIES FOR CANCER SCARE, EMPHASIZES SUNSCREEN USE Doctors told his stunned family that Kyle Limper's, left, organs were shutting down due to leukemia. "I wouldnt wish this feeling or the situation on anyone. It's indescribable," Kyle's mom, Jodi Taffe, who recently battled breast cancer, said. "I can't, I cant even put into words how Im feeling." Limper had dreams of studying criminal law and working as a crime scene investigator. Kyle Limper, right, had dreams of studying criminal law and working as a crime scene investigator or for the FBI. "April 13th, he was a completely healthy and happy young man with no sign of illness," Kyle's online obituary read. "It just came and and [sic] took him in the same day." Phoenix police car The mother of a 17-year-old Phoenix young man charged with murder will face charges for shielding him from police after a fatal shooting. On April 17, police found Elijah Johnson, 18, shot right outside a Budget Lodge room in Phoenix. He died after being taken to a hospital. Four days later, Maricopa County attorneys charged Sir Amir Williamson as an adult with second-degree murder. Police believed Williamsons mother, Tanyelle Wiliams, had been hiding Williamson and arrested her Friday on suspicion of hindering prosecution after a police car chase. Phoenix officers claimed in a probable cause statement that Williamson admitted to accidentally shooting his cousin, Johnson. Williamson told police that he and Johnson got into a shouting match, which made Johnson want to leave, according to the police report. As Johnson was leaving, he asked for a gun that the two shared, and Williamson handed it to Johnson, but it went off when he stepped on a dog, Williamson explained to detectives, according to the police report. After the shooting, the motels video surveillance showed Williamson running from the motel, police claimed. Williamsons mother arrived at the apartment and talked to police shortly after. Williams, 45, told them that the apartment was hers, that the teens were cousins and that they were both staying there. 'Freedom in the color orange': Incarcerated women in Arizona find voice through performing arts After being unable to find Williamson for days, police believed his mother was hiding him. Williams called police to tell them that they did not have the full story about her son, but cut off communication when police told her that he needed to turn himself in, the police report explained. Phoenix investigators followed her to Wickenburg, according to the police report. On April 21, Wickenburg police said they spotted Williams and tried stopping her for speeding but took chase when she did not stop. It ended with Williams crashing her car near 101st and Grand avenues, police said. Story continues Williams was arrested and accused by police of hindering prosecution by hiding her son. Later that day, Williamsons sister called police to tell them she would drive the teen to turn himself in. Police arrested Williamson. He faces between 10 to 25 years of life in prison. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 1. The same day, Williams is due in court to face one count of hindering prosecution, which comes with a possible one to three and three-quarter years in prison. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tanyelle Williams charged with hiding son from Phoenix police A Pickerington man admitted Wednesday in federal court to setting a church in Fairfield County on fire in 2021. Benjamin Darrell Ruckel, 25, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Columbus to violating the federal Church Arson Prevention Act when he set fire to Mount Zion Church in Baltimore, Ohio, on Nov. 27, 2021. Ruckel broke the windows of the church and spread accelerant before setting the church on fire, according to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Kenneth Parker's office. Ruckel admitted during his arraignment Wednesday that he intentionally set the building on fire because it is a church, Parker's office said in a release. Ruckel will be sentenced at a later date. He faces the possibility of up to 20 years in prison. More Dispatch courts coverage: Massive legal fight over sex trafficking in hotels coming to Columbus Mark Collins, Ruckel's defense attorney, told The Dispatch that Ruckel suffers from schizophrenia a brain disorder that can cause delusions and begins affecting people usually in their mid-20s. "Unfortunately, schizophrenia hits people ages 25 to 26 and he got hit pretty hard with it," Collins said. "This is his first step in taking responsibility." Collins said Ruckel is getting mental health treatment now and doing well. Parker said every resident should be free to worship without any criminal acts against them or their place of worship. Combatting these types of unlawful acts is a priority for my office, and together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to vigorously use every criminal enforcement tool at our disposal to address civil rights violations," Parker said. More court news: Delaware County judge temporarily halts enforcement of Columbus' gun safety laws Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division said Ruckel is being held accountable for this devastating church arson that impacted an entire community of worshipers. Story continues "The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that religious practice is protected from forceful interference and will continue to prosecute those who commit acts of violence against houses of worship because of their religious character," Clarke said. FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers said religious freedom is a cornerstone of our nation and the FBI will continue to protect the rights of Americans to worship safely. "As the lead agency for investigating criminal violations of federal civil rights statutes, the FBI works closely with law enforcement, religious organizations, and community groups to reduce civil rights abuses," Rivers said. Ruckel was also charged in Fairfield County for this crime, but that case was dropped after a plea agreement was reached in federal court. In an unrelated case, another Ohio man also has been charged with violating the federal Church Arson Prevention Act and is facing other charges for allegedly trying to burn down a Geauga County church on March 25 to prevent a drag show that was scheduled to take place there. Aimenn Penny, 20, of Alliance, who is a member of a "white lives matter" group that espouses racist and neo-Nazi views, tried to use Molotov cocktails to burn down Community Church of Chesterland, Ohio, east of Cleveland, because he wanted to protect the children and stop the drag show," authorities alleged in unsealed court documents. The church, which was unoccupied at the time, had scorch marks on the front door, but otherwise sustained minimal damage from the failed arson attempt, the FBI said. According to court documents, investigators found broken glass from a vodka bottle and a beer bottle each containing a cloth-type material, along with a burnt matchstick and a blue plastic spray bottle filled with gasoline. Penny could face up to 50 years in prison if convicted. Drag shows have become a target of conservative groups and leaders around the nation, with some claiming the art form sexually grooms children. Performers and event organizers, though, say the shows are innocent fun and that its those who protest against them who are terrorizing and harming children and making them political pawns. The Associated Press contributed to this report. jlaird@dispatch.com @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Pickerington man admits setting fire to Fairfield County church Television host Piers Morgan, in a new column for The New York Post, said the way back to the White House for the GOP in 2024 is not with a political suicide bomber in former President Trump but instead with a winner in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Morgan, the former host of Piers Morgan Live on CNN and current host of Piers Morgan Uncensored on TalkTV in the United Kingdom, said if theres one thing even more bonkers than Biden running again its surely Donald Trump running against him again as the Republican nominee. Morgan, writing the day after Biden formally launched his reelection bid, said Trump has become a loser. There was a time when Trump was a political King Kong, swatting away all rivals during his one-man wrecking-ball rampage to the White House in 2016. But that was seven long years ago, Morgan wrote. Now hes become a political suicide bomber whose only power seems to be blowing up his own partys chances of winning anything. A majority of Americans dont want Trump or Biden to run again, according to a poll from NBC News, but a hypothetical matchup between the two is closer to reality than ever before. Sixty percent of Americans, including roughly a third of Republicans, dont think Trump should seek the White House again, according to the NBC poll, while 70 percent of Americans dont think Biden should run again, including 51 percent of Democrats. But Trump, despite countless legal troubles and GOP concerns about his appeal in a general election, announced his third run for president in November. Morgan acknowledged Trumps popularity compared to the Republican primary field but argued DeSantis would fare better in the general election. Morgan referenced a report from WPA Intelligence, based on six national popular vote polls, that showed Biden would beat Trump by an average of 3.1 percent in the popular vote. But the same report showed that DeSantis would beat Biden by 1.2 percent. Story continues You can tell how much Trump fears DeSantis by the way hes been going after him so aggressively, from (pathetically) mocking the way he allegedly eats chocolate pudding with his fingers DeSantis denied the charge when I interviewed him last month to the absurd and demonstrably false claim that hes ruined Florida, which begs the question: If its so bad, Donald, why have you gone to live there?! Morgan wrote. Of course, the real reason Trump fears him is because DeSantis is a winner. Morgan interviewed DeSantis on Piers Morgan Uncensored in March. Trump took swipes at DeSantis following the interview. DeSantis has yet to formally get into the race, but many, including former Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R), have urged him to make up his mind about 2024. As DeSantis mulls running against Trump, the former president has secured a number of endorsements from politicians in Florida. Morgan concluded his piece Wednesday by arguing that the alarm bells couldnt be louder for the GOP, nor the solution more obvious. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. EVANSVILLE Federal prosecutors charged Pigeon Township Trustee Mariama Wilson and two others with wire fraud Wednesday after a months-long investigation into the township's books revealed what officials called a "kickback scheme." Zach Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, unveiled the charges against Wilson, 50, at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. The indictments accuse Wilson and her community relations coordinator, William Payne, 49, of conspiring with 32-year-old construction contractor Terrance D. Hardiman. Wilson and Payne each face five counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The same charges are leveled against Hardiman, who also faces a count of money laundering. Wilson's alleged role in an illegal kickback scheme stands in stark contrast to her public image as a progressive activist focused on improving the lives of Evansville's inner-city residents. According to prosecutors, the kickback scheme siphoned thousands of dollars in funds away from a local homeless shelter. Wilson, Payne and Hardiman deny the charges, according to Myers. The investigation into the township office began last summer. Pigeon Township Office attorney, state Rep. Ryan Hatfield, previously told the Courier & Press that Wilson has "nothing to hide." Attorney Jeffrey A. Baldwin is listed in federal court records as Wilson's defense attorney. Between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, police arrested all three defendants, Myers said. Wilson, Payne and Hardiman were arraigned in federal court, pleaded not guilty to their charges and were released under pretrial monitoring. Zach Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, unveiled charges against Pigeon Township Trustee Mariama Wilson, her community relations manager WIlliam Payne, and construction contractor Terrance Hardiman with wire fraud at the Winfield K. Denton Federal Building in Evansville, Ind., Wednesday afternoon, April 26, 2023. Wilson and Payne each face five counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The same charges are leveled against Hardiman, who also faces a count of money laundering. What authorities claim happened According to a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday, Wilson and Payne hired Hardiman in February 2020 to remodel the Dorothea McGregor Family Shelter and install a food pantry. In exchange, authorities claim Hardiman agreed to "kick back a portion of the funds that he received from the trustee's office to Wilson and Payne." Story continues Hardiman inflated the cost of each invoice by about $1,000 to $2,000, the indictment states. Between February 2020 and May 2022, that allegedly netted about $38,000 for Payne and Wilson: or about $19,000 each. More: Pigeon Township trustee, FBI still mum about investigation "Hardiman deposited the checks and then withdrew all or nearly all the deposited amount in cash for the purpose of kicking back a portion of the proceeds to Wilson and Payne," the release states. "Hardiman placed cash in an envelope and hand-delivered the envelope to Wilson or Payne. Wilson or Payne then divided the kickback." Neither Hardiman nor his company, Hardiman Construction LLC, were licensed to perform contracting work in Indiana, according to the indictment. On Tuesday, Myers' office published a news release stating three Evansville township officials would soon face charges, sending police scrambling to make contact with Payne, Wilson and Hardiman before news of the pending indictments became public knowledge. Their arrest follows a months-long FBI investigation into the township office's financial records. The investigation became public knowledge in July 2022 when FBI agents, alongside Indiana State Board of Accounts auditors, showed up at the township's Eighth Street offices. More: Newcomer Wilson takes Pigeon Township trustee race in major upset Wilson's indictment, in particular, could resonate widely within the broader Evansville community, given her dual role as an elected official and well-known activist. She is a Democrat who unseated longtime trustee Mary Hart in the 2018 primary, then ran unopposed in the 2018 and 2022 general elections. Vanderburgh County Sheriff Noah Robinson described the alleged kickback scheme as "a slap in the face to the community in which we live." Myers characterized Wilson's actions as a betrayal of public trust: "Inflated invoices and kickbacks rob the taxpayers of their hard-earned money and damage the trust citizens are entitled to have in their government." If convicted, Wilson, Payne and Hardiman face up to 20 years in federal prison and up to three years of supervised release. Attorney previously said Wilson had 'nothing to hide' When FBI agents first showed up at the Pigeon Township offices on July 8, they released few details about what the investigation entailed, only going so far as to say it centered around "spending irregularities" in the township's books. Hatfield, who serves as an attorney for the Pigeon Township Trustee's Office, said the State Board of Accounts had informed Wilson it planned to perform a routine audit but instead showed up with investigators. At the time, Hatfield, said "we anticipate authorities will find no wrongdoing." More: FBI's visit to Pigeon Township trustee's office a surprise, lawyer says And though Wilson and her staff could have invoked their right to counsel or declined to talk, Hatfield said in July that they submitted to interviews and provided documents to investigators without a lawyer present. "We believe, based on those interviews that the trustee's office employees voluntarily gave, that this was a fishing expedition started by a disgruntled former employee." Hatfield declined to name the former employee or explain what their supposed grievance may have been. Hatfield did not responded to an additional request for comment as of Wednesday afternoon. Mariama Wilson, Pigeon Township Trustee and local anti-gun violence activist, poses for a portrait in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020. Trustee had garnered praise for gun violence work In addition to Wilson's role as an elected official, she also leads the Evansville chapter of Mothers Against Senseless Killing, an advocacy group which aims to prevent gun violence by building stronger communities. Members hold vigils for victims of gun violence, host block parties and patrol their neighborhoods with evening walks. Wilson has been a prominent voice in Evansville for years, but her role as an activist became even more personal when her son was seriously injured in a shooting while walking home in 2020. More: Evansville anti-violence activist Mariama Wilson is #BiggieStrong after son's shooting Prior to the announcement of her indictment, Wilson had been scheduled to attend a Mothers Against Senseless Killings sit-out event, which was scheduled to run from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., according to the group's Facebook page. Among those arrested Tuesday, Wilson is not alone in her activism. Payne, a local pastor, is also well known for his social justice work and efforts to improve blighted Evansville neighborhoods. Payne was one of the first advocates to aid tenants of Woodland Park Apartments, a South Side complex plagued with issues and alleged mismanagement. In 2020, Payne drafted a petition calling for the city to hold Woodland leadership accountable for what he described as unsafe living conditions. The petition garnered more than 500 signatures. More: 'Being poor shouldn't be a crime:' Evansville activist on bail bond reform In 2019, Payne created an online Facebook fundraiser The Community Bond Project to help raise bond money for individuals arrested for non-violent crimes. He was also active with the Social Justice Network and has advocated for lower utility bills and spoken about racial injustice more broadly. Construction contractor previously accused of fraud Earlier this year, law enforcement agencies in Vanderburgh and Gibson counties accused Hardiman of defrauding customers who paid tens of thousands of dollars for contracting work. In January, the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office charged Hardiman with fraud resulting in a loss of between $750 and $50,000, a Level 6 felony, in addition to theft and criminal mischief charges. Hardiman was arrested and subsequently released from the Vanderburgh County jail after posting a $500 cash bond. A jury trial in the case is scheduled to begin Sept. 27. And in early February, Gibson County prosecutors charged Hardiman with one count of theft where the value of property is between $750 and $50,000. A trial date has yet to be set, according to court records. Where the case goes from here When Wilson made her initial appearance, she waived the right to have her indictment formally read in court. Magistrate Judge Matthew P. Brookman ordered Wilson released, pursuant to a list of conditions, until she can face trial. The court ordered Wilson to appear in federal court July 10 at 9 a.m. In the meantime, Wilson must hand in her passport to the U.S. Probation Office and may not leave the Southern District of Indiana unless she secures approval from her supervisor, according to a judge's order. Wilson, Payne and Hardiman are barred from contacting each other under the conditions of their release. State law does provide a means to remove a township trustee, though the process is arduous and would require multiple hearings, the approval of the township's board, and public meetings. Courier & Press reporter Tom Langhorne contributed reporting for this article. Houston Harwood can be contacted at houston.harwood@courierpress.com This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Mariama Wilson, William Payne and Terrance Hardiman indicted by feds [Source] A Filipino developer recently posted jaw-dropping images of authentic-looking but nonexistent Filipino dishes generated using artificial intelligence (AI). Christopher David, who is currently based in Taguig, Philippines, shared the images with the Facebook group Midjourney Official on Friday. Lost dishes of the Philippines, the Facebook user wrote in his post. I asked AI to create completely new Filipino dishes that doesn't exist, but uses Filipino ingredients and cooking techniques. He also posted images of the dishes on TikTok, with his post already garnering over 46,000 views. More from NextShark: Video of 7-year-old girl in China crying because her father 'works too hard' goes viral The Filipino developers nonexistent dishes include pork limuata, which has pork belly cooked in a tangy tamarind sauce with pineapple and ginger. He also shared images of kesong biya ("a dessert featuring layers of creamy carabao milk cheese, crispy rice flour wafters, and sweetened mangosteen jam, served chilled with a drizzle of coconut caramel sauce") and binalugang dalag ("grilled freshwater fish marinated in a tamarind and sugarcane vinegar sauce, served over a bed of fragrant pandan rice, and garnished with edible flowers"), among others. More from NextShark: Great taste is universal: Behind the scenes of Times Squares Jollibee flagship store More from NextShark: Spicy Pickled Garlic is the Hot Food Trend on TikTok To create the imaginary dishes, Christopher David used the AI-powered art generator Midjourney, as well as the text-generating AI program GPT-4, which comes from the company behind ChatGPT. More from NextShark: Influencer overjoyed after followers help her fulfill her dream of meeting Stephen Chow [GPT-4] can generate a lot of creative prompts. I was able to create something from scratch, he told ANCX. He also explained that he used GPT-4 to pattern the names of the dishes after Filipino food that already exists. However, several of these names include words that either have no meaning or are not present in Filipino vocabulary, such as talukab gisa. Story continues The Filipino developer, who describes himself as a foodie, is just getting started. In addition to generating dishes using AI tools, Christopher David plans on recreating them in his kitchen. In December 2022, he posted a video on TikTok of him making mango adobo. He most recently recreated tinikim na manok, a flavorful chicken dish cooked in a sauce made from calamansi, ginger, and coconut milk, garnished with toasted coconut flakes and chopped cilantro, and shared a video of him cooking the dish on TikTok. A man was arrested in downtown Seattle on Monday afternoon after an officer saw him selling fentanyl. According to the Seattle Police Department, an officer was working an emphasis patrol when they witnessed the man exchanging narcotics with multiple people for stolen goods and cash near the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Pike Street. At about 4 p.m., the officer coordinated with patrol units to take the 23-year-old man into custody. During a search of the man, police recovered: A plastic tube containing 37 blue M-30 pills Approximately 4.8 grams of fentanyl powder $311 in cash A digital scale and a 100-gram weight A Helly Hansen jacket with security tags attached A Chilaca cell phone with box The man was booked into the King County Jail for possession of narcotics with intent to deliver, as well as an outstanding warrant out of Oregon. Police officers wave an LGBT flag on a Pride march in Glasgow - Findlay/Alamy Live News Police who get involved in contested issues such as trans debates on Twitter or critical race theory by taking the knee are undermining public confidence, says Suella Braverman. The Home Secretary said police needed to be politically impartial and stop virtue signalling so that they concentrated on common sense policing where they prioritised the fight against crime. Amid a bitter row over the passive response to chaos caused by Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, Mrs Braverman also said that police should not be giving them cups of tea or dancing along with militant protesters. She was speaking at the launch of the Public Safety Foundation, a back-to-basics police think tank, as the Government announced it had hit its target of recruiting an extra 20,000 police officers in England and Wales. The Metropolitan Police was the only one of 43 forces to have missed its target by 1,000. Suella Braverman meets police recruits in Northampton on Wednesday - Joe Giddens/PA Wire Mrs Braverman said: When police chiefs spend taxpayers money that could have been spent fighting crime on diversity training that promotes contested ideology like critical race theory, the reputation of policing as an institution is damaged in the eyes of the public. Some forces have equality teams that have completely abandoned impartiality in favour of taking partisan positions, sometimes even engaging in political argument on Twitter. The perception that some police are more interested in virtue signalling, or in protecting the interests of a radical minority engaged in criminality than they are protecting the rights of the law-abiding majority is utterly corrosive to public confidence in policing. Policing lawful debate Given the example of a trans flag, Mrs Braverman said: What I want to get across is the police should not be policing lawful debate. For someone to express gender critical views on social media, they shouldn't be getting involved in that. "They shouldn't be getting involved or adhering or espousing views that are into critical race theory, they shouldn't be taking the knee. Story continues She also said police should not be spending thousands of pounds on lanyards promoting equality. Earlier this year she declared war on "politically correct nonsense" after Home Office staff were urged to wear rainbow lanyards at an internal event where they were ordered not use words including "homosexual". If police chiefs approached instilling a culture of political impartiality with the same dedication, which they approach to instilling a culture of diversity and inclusion, I have no doubt that political confidence in policing would be materially improved, she said. Mrs Braverman also urged police chiefs to share footage from officers body-worn video more widely to counter spurious claims against them and prevent trial by social media where dangerous narratives could take hold. She disclosed that she would be writing to police chiefs to reiterate the importance of stop-and-search tactics in tackling crime and the Government's full support for the police's appropriate use of it. Common sense policing calls for the use of the most effective tools available without regard to political correctness, she said. Stop and search is a perfect example. It's a critical tool which I and this government fully support the police using to keep our streets safe. Her speech came after figures showed more than 20,000 new police officers have been hired in England and Wales - meeting a Conservative manifesto pledge - but Britain's biggest police force missed its individual target. Out of 43 forces, the Met was the only one to fall short - by about 1,000. Mrs Braverman said cultural changes within policing were necessary in the wake of Baroness Casey's report, which found that the force is institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic. Home Secretary Suella Braverman meets police recruits during a visit to Northamptonshire Police's Giffard House Training Centre, in Northampton, following the release of Home Office data confirming whether the target to recruit 20,000 police officers has been met When Tony Blairs Labour government took office in 1997, one of the earliest controversies concerned falling police numbers. Force budgets were slashed despite the tough on crime mantra that had helped get the party elected. Within a few years, the decline in officers was so marked that the policy was reversed and, by 2010, overall numbers were at a record high. History then repeated itself. The Coalition oversaw another cut in police spending and numbers fell once more as recruitment stalled and older officers retired. At the 2019 election, Boris Johnson promised another 20,000 police officers for England, which Rishi Sunak on Wednesday proudly told MPs had been achieved. Numbers now stand at 149,572, slightly above where they were in 2010 in actual terms though still fewer on a per capita basis given the huge population growth ever since. Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, called this a historic moment, adding: We have more police on the beat preventing violence, solving burglaries and cracking down on antisocial behaviour. If that were true, it really would be historic. Even with smaller forces, there used to be far more officers walking the streets until they retreated in the 1960s into panda cars and fast-response wagons. What matters to most people is not necessarily how many police there are but how they are deployed. If they dont turn up to investigate a burglary, or offer a reassuring presence at crowded events, or if they let eco-fanatics block the highway with virtual impunity then the fact there are more of them is meaningless. This fixation on numbers has always been the wrong way to look at policing. It may lend itself to a manifesto pledge, but risks adding to public cynicism when people do not associate the pledge with the reality. Of course the nature of policing has changed, with much more online crime to be dealt with (though this could be done by computer experts rather than warranted police officers). In addition, they are still tied up with red tape that successive governments promised to remove. The contact the police have with the community has become increasingly remote. Many senior officers still consider beat policing to be wasteful. They have been persuaded to focus more on problem-oriented priorities or other crime-specific activity rather than on the primary function of policing, which is to keep law and order. Ascension Michigan/WXYZ On Sunday night, police carried out a wellness check at the home of a revered neurosurgeon who had failed to show up at a family party. In the attic of the property belonging to Dr. Devon Hoover in Detroits historic Boston-Edison District, officers found a scene of horror. Hoovers lifeless body was found wrapped up in a plastic sheet with a single gunshot wound to the head. His car was also later found ditched at a separate location, according to FOX 2. As of Tuesday, no arrest had been made in the case as investigators still worked to establish the circumstances around the grim killing. According to CBS Detroit, police believe the shooting may have been related to a domestic incident that turned deadly. Neighbors and patients who Hoover treated through Ascension Healthcare at St. John Hospital in Detroit were shocked by news of the 53-year-olds brutal death. I went on Facebook and I saw his picture and thought oh, he mustve gotten an award, Julia, one of Hoovers patients, told WXYZ. So I put my glasses on and my daughter was outside with the dog and I just started screaming, Oh, my God, oh, my God. Julia was one of countless people who paid tribute to the slain doctor. She says she never lost her ability to walk after being treated by him for a spinal problem in 2008. I respect him. I thank him because my life in the last 15 years couldve been way different without him. His distraught patients also spoke out about their shock and heartbreak in a Justice for Dr. Devon Hoover Facebook group created Monday. There, Joni Yankitis called Hoover an incredibly kind and talented neurosurgeon. He was a gentle soul, explaining the procedures I had to undergo with patience and always made sure I was comfortable, Yankitis added, saying she was sad and angry that his life was senselessly ended. Friends and neighbors similarly expressed their disbelief at his death. Jonathan Shearrod, who lives down the block from where Hoover resided for about 15 years, said his generous neighbor would be extremely missed. Its gonna take some time to like wrap your head around what has happened, he told the Detroit News. I just cant imagine anyone experiencing that in their home or just having to face that kind of terror where you live. Story continues Shearrod said the neurosurgeon lived alone at the home but would regularly welcome others for neighborhood functions and celebrations, and had even hosted weddings for his colleagues relatives. Hes an anchor of the block, extremely involved in the neighborhood, Shearrod said. Hes just a wonderful person. I mean, the home looks amazing because he was an ardent reservationist, restorationist. Devon Hoover, MD, was a dedicated and well respected member of the Ascension Michigan family and will be greatly missed by our community, Ascension said in a statement. Our sincerest condolence and heartfelt prayers are with his family, friends and fellow associated during this incredibly difficult time. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. A new poll has found that a vast majority of Americans follow a public figure to get their news, a finding that comes amid evidence showing declining confidence in news organizations. According to the new poll from Gallup and the Knight Foundation, about 9 in 10 Americans follow at least one public figure to keep up with news and for other information. When asked what kind of public individual they follow for information, more than half of respondents said they followed scientists or experts, journalists and politicians or elected leaders. Whats more, a portion of the American public says they trust public individuals more than news outlets to report the news, the poll analysis said. These findings hint at the amount of power individuals with public platforms have today in informing and potentially persuading or even misleading the public. The poll found that 66 percent of respondents follow scientists or experts for news, 58 percent say they follow journalists and 54 percent say they follow politicians or elected officials. About 43 percent also said that they follow hosts of a show or program, while 36 percent said they follow community organizers or activists. When asked about specific individuals, Tucker Carlson, who parted ways with Fox News on Monday, came out on top. The former Fox News host was cited 113 times; he was followed closely by MSNBCs Rachel Maddow, who received 107 mentions. Other media hosts received a high number of mentions, with Fox News host Sean Hannity and former The Daily Show host Trevor Noah receiving 57 mentions each. President Biden and former President Trump received 37 and 30 mentions, respectively. More than 90 percent of those who follow journalists follow them for news, while 65 percent of those who follow politicians and elected officials use their platforms to get news, according to the poll. The analysis also said that those who follow actors, athletes or social media influencers report higher rates of following those groups for careers, hobbies and other interests rather than news. Story continues Nearly 50 percent of those who follow social media influencers say that they receive news from them, while 58 percent of the group say they receive commentary and analysis from them. The Gallup poll surveyed more than 3,800 U.S. adults in October 2022. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Philip Pullella (Reuters) - Pope Francis, in a historic move that could lead to more inclusiveness in decision-making in the Roman Catholic Church, will allow women to vote for the first time at a global meeting of bishops in October. In the past, women were allowed to attend the synods, a papal advisory body, as auditors but with no right to vote. The revolutionary rules, announced on Wednesday, allow for five religious sisters with voting rights. Additionally, the pope has decided the inclusion of what a Vatican document called "70 non-bishop members who represent various groupings of the faithful of the people of God". The 70 priests, religious sisters, deacons and lay Catholics will be chosen by the pope from a list of 140 people recommended by national bishops' conferences. The conferences were encouraged to include young people. The Vatican has asked that 50% of the 70 be women. Synods are usually attended by about 300 people, so the bulk of those with voting rights will still be bishops. Still, the change is remarkable for an institution that has been male-dominated for centuries. The new rules follow two major steps Francis took last year to place women in decision-making positions in the Vatican. In one, he introduced a landmark reform that will allow any baptised lay Catholic, including women, to head most Vatican departments under a new constitution for the Holy See's central administration. In another last year, he named three women to a previously all-male committee that advises him in selecting the world's bishops. RIGHT TO VOTE Women's groups in the Church have for years been demanding the right to vote at the high-profile synods, which prepare resolutions that usually lead to a papal document. A 2018 synod became a flashpoint when two "brothers", lay men who are not ordained, were allowed to vote in their capacity as superiors general of their religious orders. But Sister Sally Marie Hodgdon, an American who also is not ordained, was not allowed to vote even though she was the superior general of her order. Story continues In 2021, Francis for the first time named a woman to the number two position in the governorship of Vatican City, making Sister Raffaella Petrini the highest-ranking woman in the world's smallest state. The same year, he named Italian nun Sister Alessandra Smerilli to the number two position in the Vatican's development office, which deals with justice and peace issues. He also named Nathalie Becquart, a French member of the Xaviere Missionary Sisters, as co-undersecretary of the Vatican department that prepares synods. The upcoming synod has been in preparation for two years, during which Catholics around the world were asked about their vision for the future of the Church. Proponents have welcomed the consultations as an opportunity to change the Church's power dynamics and give a greater voice to lay Catholics, including women, and people on the margins of society. Conservatives say the process has been a waste of time, may erode the hierarchical structure of the nearly 1.4 billion-member Church and in the long run could dilute traditional doctrine. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Alex Richardson) Pope Francis ordered unprecedented changes Wednesday for the Vatican's upcoming bishops conference, for the first time providing women the right to vote and expanding access to the faithful who are not clergy. Changes include allowing participation of 70 non-bishop members at the Synod of Bishops set for Oct. 10 from each of the seven regional conferences around the world. Half of the additions are expected to be women. Young people also are to be included. The Womens Ordination Conference a group working to ordain women as priests, deacons and bishops lauded the changes, saying they resulted from a collaboration in which the group played a founding role. "This is a significant crack in the stained glass ceiling, and the result of sustained advocacy," the conference said in a statement. The synod is the Catholic Church's top deliberative body. The first of a two-part synod gathering in Rome is expected to address church governance, the role of women in the church and perhaps the most controversial topic within the church: LGBTQ relationships, according to the National Catholic Reporter. 'WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF GOD': Pope Francis says homosexuality is not a crime in interview For more than half a century, popes have summoned the worlds bishops to Rome for a few weeks at a time to debate particular topics. The meetings wrap up with the bishops voting on proposals to be sent to the pope, who deliberates and then responds to the ideas. Only men, however, have been involved in the voting. Pope Francis caresses a statuette of the Virgin Mary as he leaves his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on April 26, 2023. Some of the changes: Ten members of men's religious orders have historically been elected to participate; the new plan calls for five women and five men. The role of "auditors," observers who are not granted a vote, will be eliminated. SEX IS 'BEAUTIFUL: Pope Francis criticizes pornography in new documentary Women's Ordination Conference led charge In 2018, the women's conference demonstrated for voting rights at the synods near St. Peters Square in Rome. The group claims that for years Vatican representatives and bishops resisted, "moving the goal post" with every synod. The unspoken reason, the group says, was sexism. Story continues "In the near future, we hope that the synod continues to develop into a fully representative body of the people of God," the group's statement says. "This is an important step on the path toward gender parity, and we will continue our persistent efforts to work for lasting structural changes in the church." Bishops will still run the synod Francis has been a relatively liberal pope on women's issues. He upheld the Catholic Churchs ban on ordaining women as priests but has provided women with greater say in decision-making roles in the church and has appointed several women to high-ranking Vatican positions. Cardinal Mario Grech said more than 20% of those gathered for the October meeting will not be bishops, and half that group will be women. But he stressed that for the most part the bishops will continue to hold the most authority at the synod. Delegates from other Christian churches and communities will be invited to participate, along with outside experts. In addition, the October 2023 synod will introduce the role of "facilitators" to moderate various proceedings during the monthlong gathering. The Vatican has not released its list of invited outside participants. POPE FRANCIS' HEALTH: Pope's health improving since hospitalization for infection, Vatican says Young people to be included among non-bishop members The plan is to include young people among these 70 non-bishop members, who will be proposed to the pope by regional blocs. Francis will make final decisions. The pope for years has encouraged young people to become more involved in the faith and to share their faith through social media and other outlets. Its an important change," said Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, a top organizer of the synod. "Its not a revolution. Contributing: The Associated Press . This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pope gives women right to vote at bishops' meeting for first time Weeks after a health scare, Pope Francis heads to Hungary Friday to meet Ukrainian refugees and nationalist leader Viktor Orban, with whom he has not always seen eye to eye. The 86-year-old pontiff spent three nights in hospital with bronchitis at the end of last month, a stay that fuelled concerns about his long-term health and future as head of the worldwide Catholic Church. While in Budapest, he will as usual be accompanied by his doctor. His trip had already been adapted to account for his increasing use of a wheelchair, due to knee pain. The war in neighbouring Ukraine is likely to dominate the visit to the central European nation, of whom 39 percent are Catholic, according to 2011 figures. More than a million Ukrainians have crossed the border into Hungary since Russia's February 2022 invasion, and 35,000 have asked for temporary protection status, according to United Nations figures. During an audience with Orban a year ago at the Vatican, the pope thanked the Hungarian leader -- who comes from a Calvinist background -- for the welcome accorded to refugees. But Orban's anti-migration rhetoric, couched in terms of defending "Christian Europe", is at odds with the pope's repeated calls for European nations to welcome those fleeing poverty or conflict. It is the pope's second visit to Budapest after a short stop-over in September 2021 for an international religious event. On Sunday, Francis said he would be visiting "as a pilgrim, friend and brother of all". He described it as a "journey to the centre of Europe, over which the icy winds of war continue to blow, while the displacement of so many people puts urgent humanitarian questions on the agenda". - 'Ambassador of peace' - The Argentine pope has repeatedly called for peace in Ukraine, although Vatican efforts to mediate have so far failed to yield results. Orban was close to Russian President Vladimir Putin before the war and has drawn criticism from EU allies for refusing to send weapons to Kyiv and opposing sanctions against Russia. Story continues His government said it "welcomed with joy" the visit of the pope, calling him an "ambassador of peace". Eduard Habsburg, Hungary's ambassador to the Holy See, said that on Ukraine, "our position is close to that of the Vatican -- (we want) an immediate ceasefire and peace talks". "We have called for peace since the beginning... and we have always strongly condemned Russian aggression," he told AFP. In taking in so many refugees, "my country is carrying out the largest humanitarian action in its history," providing housing, schooling and work for those who want to stay, he said. "But they are refugees from war -- it's a completely different situation from illegal migrants," he said. - 'Traditional values' - In what will be his 41st trip abroad since becoming pope in 2013, Francis is scheduled to speak six times and lead an open-air mass on Sunday before heading home. He will meet refugees from Ukraine and other countries, as well as young people and representatives from the academic and cultural sectors. In a society where family and gender rights are live political issues, pro-Orban media has criticised the pope in the past for being too favourable to migrants and the LGBTQ community. But Zoltan Kiszelly, the head of pro-government think tank Szazadveg, says Orban will use the pope's visit to emphasise shared "traditional values, around family and God". "There are plenty of differences (between the men) but he will stress the fact that they are like-minded people, and say 'we are not alone with our position, the pope is supporting us'." Francis is the second pope to visit Hungary, after John Paul II made trips in 1991 and in 1996. Despite his health issues and advancing age, Francis continues to travel widely, including a visit to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier this year. cmk-bur/ar/ams/giv Two new restaurants are joining the busy StoneCrest at Piper Glen development in Charlotte: Illios Crafted Greek and Ramen Bar Kazoku. Illios Crafted Greek, a fast-casual restaurant known for serving Mediterranean classics including lamb, gyro pita, falafel and more, is slated to open within a few weeks. Look for your new location at Stonecrest at Piper Glen opening mid May! the restaurant announced via Instagram. Ramen Bar Kazoku is also on the way, as well. The restaurant tucked between Dish it Out and Jersey Mikes near Michaels will serve traditional-style Japanese ramen and steamed buns, along with sake, cocktails and draft beer. The changing shopping center will also welcome a previously-reported new location of The Office Craft Bar and Kitchen, which got its start in nearby Indian Land. The restaurant is slated to open this summer in the former Dean & DeLuca space, serving shareables such as nachos, dips and wings, along with burgers, salads and pizzas in a family friendly atmosphere. Location: 7832 Rea Rd #E, Charlotte, NC 28277 (opening mid-May) Location: 1514 S. Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203 Location: 951 Market Street, Fort Mill, SC 29708 Menu Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean Instagram: @ilios_crafted_greek Location: 7828 Rea Rd #B, Charlotte, NC 28277 (opening soon) Menu Cuisine: Japanese, ramen Instagram: @ramenbarkazoku Allegations against poet Aliza Grace began circulating online as early as March 2022, when another poet published almost 70 tweets accusing Grace of plagiarism. In February 2023, Sabina Laura added to her Twitter thread and reignited the conversation around Grace, her poetry and her success. Graces social media presence and poetry style can be categorized as a second coming of poet Rupi Kaur, who won over audiences in 2014 after self-publishing her first book, Milk and Honey. Graces poetry, like Kaurs, is written in lowercase and is of varying lengths some as short as a sentence with italics to create emphasis on certain words or lines. poetry is not a normal sentence broken into smaller fragments smaller fragments, it is not. (@pharaohnotfound) February 24, 2023 Nineteen-year-old Grace now boasts 611,000 followers on TikTok, where she has posted over 5,000 videos showcasing her writing from her 16 self-published poetry books. The hashtag #alizagrace has more than 280 million views on TikTok, made up of a mix of Graces poem videos and fans reacting to them. Her Amazon storefront quotes an interview she gave in which she said she has always been obsessed with reading poetry and felt an instant connection to writing poems herself. Laura, the poet who has accused Grace of plagiarism, is also a self-publish internet poet, but with a smaller following. Her TikTok account which is set up in the same way as Graces, with daily posting of her poems has over 3,000 followers, and she has published five poetry books so far. Based on her thread, Laura initially accused Grace of plagiarizing her poems. The first tweet shows a side-by-side of one of Lauras poems compared with Graces. left: original poem by Sabina Laura right: the copy pic.twitter.com/smfZgAG4uE sabina (@_sabinalaura) March 27, 2022 But then the thread evolves to Laura also alleging that Grace plagiarized other artists some with smaller audiences, others more mainstream, like Beau Taplin and even Lady Gaga. Laura compares some of Graces poems with meme text, tweets, Tumblr quote blocks and song lyrics. Story continues Ive stopped including all the ones that were stolen from generic quotes on the internet, otherwise Id have to post every page from every book, Laura quipped in a tweet. In one screenshot Laura shared, a poet corrected someone else commenting on Graces TikTok page claiming that she was the actual author. Aliza has also plagiarised work from Bianca Sparacino. pic.twitter.com/UCUJ0Vj8bu sabina (@_sabinalaura) April 7, 2022 When someone steals your poetry, publishes a whole book of it, and you have to fight with people on TikTok who dont believe you, poet Bianca Sparacino wrote. I love putting my work on the internet but this is truly so disheartening. Five of the poets mentioned in Lauras thread Laura, Kristina Mahr, William Bortz, J. Strelou and Chloe Frayne confirmed to Forbes in March that they believe Grace plagiarized their poems. The first picture is a poem someone named Aliza Grace put in her 2021 poetry collection and shared with her 95k followers on TikTok. The second is the poem I wrote in 2020, shared on my Instagram, and published in my Heretic Hearts collection. pic.twitter.com/0yAaVd07bP Kristina Mahr (@Kristina_Mahr) March 24, 2022 The first photo is a page from this so-called 'author' Aliza Grace's book, with 8.8 million likes on @tiktok_us, published in 2021, the second piece is from my book, 'my hope for tomorrow' published in 2019. She's done this to MANY authors. Re-share and spread the word about her! pic.twitter.com/jxD1C9GvOY Ruby Dhal (@rdhalwriter) March 28, 2022 Grace hasnt responded to the accusations. In fact, theres not a lot about Grace herself available online. Theres one photo associated with her Amazon storefront that shows a blond woman in a green dress shielding her eyes from the sun, but otherwise no other personal photos or videos across social media. Graces Twitter doesnt show much personality beyond poetry and the occasional Lana Del Rey reference. Her GoodReads account is dedicated to her own books. The quote on Graces Amazon page thats supposedly from an interview about how she got into poetry also doesnt pull up any sources when searched it just goes back to her Amazon page. The only other information there is her specific birthday of Feb. 17, 2004, and that she was allegedly born and raised in West Virginia. Is Aliza Grace actually a 19 year old female poet stealing from across the web, or just some random person pretending to be 19 so that the work feels more relevant to Gen Z idiots? one Reddit user asked on a post making fun of Graces poetry. Other outlets that have covered her plagiarism accusations, including Forbes and the Daily Beast, were also not able to get in contact with her. An Instagram account linked to Grace through Google, which is not Graces official poetry account, does have the handle @alizagrace__ the same as her TikTok and Twitter accounts. The account is private with 7,000 followers and does, in fact, follow Graces poetry account. But the icon for the account is of a woman with dark hair in an embrace with a man, which doesnt match Graces Amazon photo. Mahr, one of the poets accusing Grace of plagiarizing, told the Daily Beast that she worked with a copyright lawyer to issue a cease-and-desist letter, but they couldnt find the correct email or home address for Grace. We couldnt find any contact information, Mahr said. There is no proof if thats even her real name, so theres no way to take action against someone with such little trace. In The Know by Yahoo is now available on Apple News follow us here! The post Popular Instapoet Aliza Grace was accused of plagiarism but who really is she? appeared first on In The Know. More from In The Know: Boyfriend steps out to 'call his mom,' but car's Bluetooth reveals who's really on the other line: 'what should I do' Wedding season has TikTokers in tears with onslaught of 'save the date' cards: 'WHY SO MANY' What does it sound like to hear with a cochlear implant? A viral TikTok claims to have the answer Construction worker makes toddler's day by including him in their bulldozer work The smoke from a neighboring cigar shop has forced a Carrboro pizzeria to shut down its dining room, according to a lawsuit filed this month by Coronato Pizza. The four-year-old pizzeria owned by chef Teddy Diggs is suing the cigar shop Oasis Cigar Club and its landlord Woodhill NC, LLC, which owns the South Green Shopping Center. The suit alleges the constant presence of smoke from the cigar bar has hurt business at the pizzeria, which has operated as takeout only for most of 2023. Coronato opened in 2019 as one of the first tenants at the newly developed South Green Shopping Center, serving a thin and crispy Roman-style pizza. Oasis moved in and held its grand opening in September 2022, operating as a bar and cigar lounge and frequently hosting live music. North Carolina outlawed smoking in bars in 2009, but it also created new designations for businesses, such as cigar bars. State law requires any new cigar bar opened after 2009 to be built in a new, free-standing structure. But that building rule doesnt apply to private clubs and country clubs, where smoking is allowed as long as a select roster of members is maintained and the business maintains a non-profit status. Oasis was formed as a non-profit company in February 2022. Coronato Pizza closed its dining room in February 2023, alleging smoke from a neighboring cigar bar makes the air unsafe. Even before Oasis opened, Coronatos lawsuit says Diggs made complaints about the bars smoke making its way into his restaurant. The lawsuit mentions numerous meetings between the businesses and the landlord, Gary Woodhill. At one point, the suit says Woodhill bought two portable air purifying systems, installing them first in Coronato and then in the cigar lounge. Diggs says in the suit that the purifiers had no impact. Early this year, while still complaining about the smoke, Diggs hired Repace Associates to test the air quality in the restaurant. According to the suit, those tests revealed a level of nicotine 1,000 times the minimum level of detection. This result demonstrates that secondhand smoke at irritating and health threatening levels is present in the Coronato Premises, the suit says. Story continues The overall results of the testing reported an unhealthy dining environment, according to the lawsuit. Repace Associates concluded that the air pollution created by exfiltration of SHS from the Oasis Premises into the Coronato Premises has exposed Mr. & Mrs. Diggs and their staff and patrons to significantly unhealthy air quality from secondhand smoke that poses both an acute and chronic hazard to their physical and mental health, the lawsuit states. While preparing to respond to the suit, Woodhill declined to comment through a representative at Maynard Nexsen law firm. The firm shared a statement saying the company had taken multiple steps to address the pizzerias complaints. Woodhill NC, LLC which owns South Green Center, works to provide commercial space that supports our tenants in legally operating their businesses, the statement said. We have taken significant steps to ensure proper ventilation between tenants which include the installation of commercial grade air cleaners, carbon filters, and an ozone generator. We are working with Coronato Pizza and their attorney to respond to the lawsuit provided to us on April 14, 2023. The owners of Oasis also released a statement in response to the lawsuit. The Oasis Cigar Club has always sought to be good neighbors, the statement said. It has extensive and expensive investments geared to mitigate the smoke in its space. There are 4 Industrial Strength Air Purification Units in the business. There are Ozone filters in the unit, and the HVAC units have been rerouted to negative air pressure, keeping all of the air inside. At this point, Oasis is exploring all of its legal options. The suit alleges Woodhill is in breach of the pizzerias lease and accuses Oasis of negligence and trespassing. Coronato claims to have lost at least $25,000 due to the smoke and its decision to close the dining room. We tried all 40 milkshakes at Cook Out. Here are the best (plus some you should skip) A post claims that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a recent speech that he would "bring the opposition to its knees in northern Ethiopia" to ensure the security of the Oromo ethnic group. However, this is false: a review of the address shows that it does not contain these statements. Instead, Abiy spoke about the armed conflict in the East Wollega zone in the Oromia region and called for a peaceful resolution. The post was published on April 21, 2023, with a headline in Amharic that translates to "Abiys speech in Nekemte to Oromo people". Nekemte is a major city in the Oromia regions east Wollega zone. Screenshot of the false post taken on April 25, 2023 The post then presented statements attributed to the prime minister during the alleged address: "Just join us and do not worry. Others nag us, but we really work for the Oromo people. We are still working for the people. The Prosperity party is an Oromo government. If power slips out of our hands this time, we will not get it back in a hundred years," it reads. "The people of northern Ethiopia are resisting us. If we are not able to organise and bring them to their knees, not only we who are in power, but the entire Oromo people will be in danger," the post continues. The mention of the "people of northern Ethiopia" appears to refer to protests that erupted in the northern Amhara region over the federal governments decision to disband regional special forces. Calm returned to the region in mid-April. The post has been shared more than 320 times. It also includes a photo showing Abiy speaking to military officers along with other federal and regional officials. Peace negotiations Local media reported that Abiy held discussions with community representatives from four zones of Wollega in Nekemte on April 19, 2023. The zones had been experiencing security problems due to the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), an armed rebel force actively operating in the area. Story continues Both warring parties have blamed each other for a number of attacks that have claimed lives of civilians in the Oromia region. A few days after he met with the community representatives, Abiy announced (archived here) on April 23, 2023, that his government would enter peace negotiations with the OLA to be held in Tanzania. OLA also confirmed this (archived here). Abiys speech in Nekemte AFP Fact Check conducted a keyword search on YouTube to find Abiys speech in Nekemte on April 19, 2023. The original video (archived here) showing the full meeting was aired on the Oromia Broadcasting Network (OBN), a broadcaster owned by the Oromia region. Sixteen minutes into the clip, Abiy speaks about the armed conflict affecting the lives of the people of Wollega and says that his government will prioritise a peaceful resolution of the armed conflict along with the development of infrastructure in the affected areas. Screenshot of Abiy's speech captured on April 25, 2023 He also responded to a question raised by a participant about killings of civilians by "extremist groups" entering Wollega from other areas. "Let us first think about our internal affairs and leave aside the external challenges," Abiy replied. "If the Oromo live in harmony with each other, no external forces can harm them. But we are killing each other, we are divided. Such rifts could create opportunities for external challenges." He went on to ask community representatives: "Support us to ensure the continuity of development work in Wollega. It is possible to cooperate in development work when you have different political objectives. Abiy, however, said nothing about the need to crush opposition in northern Ethiopia. A powerful Iranian cleric, a member of the Assembly of Experts that selects the country's supreme leader, has been killed in an armed attack, officials said Wednesday. The attack is believed to be the most significant in years against a cleric in Iran. "Ayatollah Abbas Ali Soleimani was killed this morning in an armed attack... the assailant was also arrested and is now being investigated," IRNA news agency reported, citing a security official for the northern province of Mazandaran where the killing occurred. The attack took place inside a bank in Babolsar city, the official said. "The motive of the assailant is not yet clear and will be announced after it is clarified," the official added. The governor of Mazandaran, Mahmoud Hosseinipour, said the attacker was a local security officer of the bank. "So far, our information and documents indicate that this was not a security or terrorist act," Hosseinipour told state television, adding that "the assailant did not know the ayatollah." CCTV camera footage released by Tasnim news agency showed the security guard, wearing a blue and white jacket, shooting the cleric from behind as he was sitting in a chair at the bank. Following the killing, Iranian Prosecutor General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri ordered provincial authorities to "investigate the issue from different angles, do the necessary follow-ups and report the results." Soleimani, 75, was previously a representative of the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He had also been the imam who led the weekly Friday prayers in the cities of Kashan, in Isfahan province, and Zahedan in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan. Under the constitution, the 88-strong Assembly of Experts is mandated with supervising, dismissing and electing the Supreme Leader. The all-powerful deliberative body is now headed by ultra-conservative 96-year-old cleric Ahmad Jannati. Its members are chosen in popular elections for eight year-terms from a pool of candidates vetted by the country's Guardian Council. Story continues - Previous attacks on clerics - In April 2022, a suspected jihadist knife attack in the northeastern shrine city of Mashhad in Razavi Khorasan Province led to death of two clerics and injury of another. The chief suspect, identified as Abdolatif Moradi, 21, was an ethnic Uzbek who had entered Iran illegally via the Pakistani border a year earlier, Tasnim news agency said at the time. Moradi was hanged in June in the same city on the accusation of "moharebeh", or "war against God". The assailant struck on the third day of the holy month of Ramadan as large crowds of worshippers gathered at the shrine of Imam Reza, one of the most revered figures in Shiite Islam. The attack in Mashhad came days after two Sunni clerics were shot dead outside a seminary in the northern Iranian town of Gonbad-e Kavus. pdm/it Beach goers were in for a surprise when a pregnant 14-foot great hammerhead shark appeared at an Alabama beach earlier this month. Visitors helped pull the dead shark closer to shore, before the City of Orange Beach Coastal Resources arrived. The beach staff quickly pulled the rare hammerhead all the way to shore and lifted it onto the back of a pickup truck. We are very thankful that our staff was able to get the shark off of the beach, protected from the elements, and iced down within a few short hours of the initial call, Orange Beach officials said in a Facebook post. This was definitely an experience that we won't forget. Pregnant great hammerhead shark found dead at Orange beach in Alabama. The staff contacted various agencies, including biologist at Mississippi State University Marine Fisheries Ecology, who arrived the next morning to a surprise of 40 great hammerhead pups. The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species listed great hammerheads as critically endangered in 2018. How did the great hammerhead die? Mississippi State University Marine Fisheries Ecology biologist study a Great hammerhead shark pup. MSU biologists took many samples of the female shark, including its heart, liver, esophagus, stomach, scroll valve, spleen, kidneys, muscle tissue and pancreas. The team said in a Facebook post that none of the organs showed signs of trauma. We know that great hammerheads are especially prone to the physiological effects of capture stress, more so than most other shark species, MSU fisheries biologists said in the Facebook post. Pregnancy compounds this physiological stress. Biologists removed several vertebrae from the female, which can determine the age and birth location of the shark. The team also removed several fin clips from both the mom and pups. The DNA from the fin clips will contribute to a genetic population structure study, the group said. Biologist said its impossible to determine the cause of death, but suspect it was the result of fishing mortality. They will preserve and donate the pups to local classrooms for educational purposes. Story continues Mississippi State University Marine Fisheries Ecology biologist study 40 Great hammerhead shark pups. 5 facts about great hammerhead sharks: The great hammerhead shark is the largest of nine hammerhead species. They are about 13 feet long and 500 pounds. A great hammerhead shark can birth 6 to 42 pups at once. Great hammerheads are not aggressive, and have never been implicated in a fatal attack. MSU biologist said. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species listed great hammerheads as critically endangered. While theres no data on the great hammerhead population, the current population is decreasing. The great hammerhead shark is the largest of nine hammerhead species. They are about 13 feet long and 500 pounds. Pregnant great hammerhead shark found dead at Orange beach in Alabama. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pregnant great hammerhead shark washed ashore with 40 unborn pups On 26 April, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone call with the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping. Source: Zelenskyy on Twitter, President's spokesman Serhii Nikiforov on Facebook, Xinhua Quote Zelenskyy: "I had a long and meaningful phone call with President Xi Jinping. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations." Details: Ukrainian President's spokesman reported that Zelenskyy had an hour-long telephone call with the leader of People's Republic of China. I had a long and meaningful phone call with President Xi Jinping. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations. (@ZelenskyyUa) April 26, 2023 The President's Office promised to reveal more details soon. At this moment of time, there is no decree on the appointment of Ukraines ambassador to China on the Presidents website, but as of 13 April 2023, Ukraines Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba reported that he submitted candidates for the positions of Ukraines ambassadors to China, India and Brazil for Presidents consideration. Chinese publication Xinhua reports that Xi Jinping tried to convince Zelenskyy to begin a dialogue and negotiations: "Dialogue and negotiations are the only viable option of settling the Ukrainian crisis [this is the way China and its media calls Russian invasion in Ukraine ed.]; no one can win the nuclear war." Background: On 16 April, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba reported that he discussed the principles of establishing peace in Ukraine with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang. On 20-22 April, Xi Jinping paid an official visit to the Russian Federation, where he met with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. It was reported earlier that Chinese leader Xi Jinping planned to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the first time since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine. On 24 February, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he would like to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Before that, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has published a so-called "peace plan" with its ideas for the settlement of Russia's war against Ukraine. The document consists of 12 points. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not consider China's proposals of settlement of the war in Ukraine to be a peace plan, but said he saw positive things in the initiative. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A video capturing Prince Harrys charming debut on the Buckingham Palace balcony has resurfaced amidst news that only working royals will appear on the Palace balcony for King Charles IIIs coronation. In 1987, a two-year-old Prince Harry warmed hearts when he made his first-ever appearance on the balcony at Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour celebrations. Now, a TikTok video of the archival footage has gone viral with more than two million views since it was posted last week. In the clip, which was posted by @lady_frances1997, the royal family can be seen making their annual appearance on the balcony, where they celebrate Trooping the Colour each June. The video shows members of the royal family including the late Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, the then-Prince of Wales and Princess Margaret waving to the crowds from the balcony before returning inside the Palace. At the foreground of the balcony is Princess Diana, dressed in a white suit jacket with a matching skirt and white hat, alongside a toddler Harry, whose face can barely be seen above the balcony. The mother of two then picks up her youngest son and asks him to wave to the crowd. The two-year-old, wearing a white collared shirt and baby blue shorts, gives a big wave to the audience which prompts loud cheers from the audience. Little prince charming, the TikTok user captioned the viral clip. Little prince Harry delighted the crowd as he waved to them. Stealing the show, another user pointed out in the comments. So sweet, said someone else. And now hes not allowed up there, a third person wrote. Story continues The Duke of Sussex would go on to steal the show at Trooping the Colour the following year, when a three-year-old Prince Harry stuck out his tongue. More than 35 years later, the royal family will stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony once again to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Saturday 6 May. In the past, the royal balcony appearances have featured the late Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. However, King Charles coronation ceremony is expected to be a slimmed-down service with a much smaller number of royals standing on the balcony. Britain Platinum Jubilee The Balcony (AP1988) Prior to the Duke of Sussex confirming his attendance at his fathers coronation, it was reported that only working members of the royal family will appear on the balcony on the day of the coronation. According to The Mirror, the King has chosen 15 of his closest and most loyal family members to appear on the balcony with him. The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to stand beside Charles and Camilla, alongside their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. In addition, the Princess Royal and her husband, Sir Tim Laurence, will likely appear alongside the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. A source told the publication that there is little room for sentiment on the balcony, and several members of the royal family have not been invited to appear, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who stepped down as senior working royals in 2020. The King has been very clear who he wants to represent the monarchy, the source said. There is little room for sentiment, this is a state occasion, not a family occasion and it is right that only the working members of the family are there at the big public moment. Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate Middleton watch the RAF 100th anniversary flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace in July 2018 (Getty Images) On 12 April, it was announced that the Duke of Sussex will attend King Charles IIIs coronation at Westminster Abbey on 6 May without his wife Meghan Markle, who will stay in California with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6 May, the Palace said in a statement. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The news comes after months of speculation over whether Prince Harry would attend the ceremony after the release of his tell-all memoir, Spare, in January. It was previously reported that Harry was seeking an apology from his father, Charles, and his brother, the Prince of Wales, before he made any commitment to the ceremony. Harry had also said in an interview that the door is always open for reconciliation. Prince Harry made a surprise appearance at the Royal Courts of Justice last month for a hearing over allegations of unlawful information gathering against Associated News Limited. (PA) Prince Harry has alleged that The Sun newspaper paid a private investigator to find out Meghan Markle's social security number when they had first started their relationship. The allegation was part of the witness statement filed by the duke in a preliminary hearing against News Group Newspapers (NGN), in which he also alleged that Prince William made a secret deal with the publishers to privately settle his own phone hacking claim and to avoid the possibility of appearing as a witness in a legal case. Harry's witness statement said: "The Sun (through its journalist, James Beal, who I now know regularly stalked me in the UK and abroad to places such as Jamaica) instructed an American private investigator, Danno Hanks (who has admitted to regularly carrying out work for NGN over a number of years), to obtain private information in the form of a report about my new relationship with Meghan. Harry and Meghan have been clear that press scrutiny and the leaking of stories against them are amongst the reasons they stepped back as working royals in 2020. (Getty Images) "This information, which included highly sensitive information such as her social security number (and other details about her and her family), was unlawfully obtained by Mr Hanks in the full knowledge of the Editors of The Sun." Harry said that this meant The Sun obtained private information, which could be seen in two articles, "such as my and/or Meghans call records (to establish how many texts I had sent her), flight details and so on." This means, Harry claims, that "unlawful activity isnt as historic as NGN claims" and that the company has not changed since the phone hacking scandal saw the closure of the News of the World. NGN told Yahoo News in a statement: "In 2012, an unreserved apology was made to all of those who had brought cases against the News of the World for voicemail interception. Since then, NGN has been paying financial damages to those with claims. "There are a number of disputed claims still going through the civil courts some of which seek to involve The Sun. The Sun does not accept liability or make any admissions to the allegations. Story continues "As we reach the tail end of litigation, NGN is drawing a line under disputed matters, some of which date back more than 20 years ago. During his promotional tour for his memoir Spare, Harry made clear how much the relationships with his brother and father had broken down. (ITV) "All of these matters are historical, dating back to a period between 1996 and 2012." Harry's witness statement was filed as part of a preliminary hearing that began on 25 April, in which the publishers of The Sun tried to get a case brought against them by Prince Harry and other claimants including Hugh Grant thrown out. The case is part of Harrys long-term campaign to reform the British media in what he has previously called his lifes work. Harry has made claims about deals made between the palace and the Murdoch owned paper before, but this witness statement saw him go into more detail. He went as far as to say that the late Queen Elizabeth supported his legal action against NGN, but that his father Charles (then Prince of Wales) undermined their efforts. In March, court filings in another claim he brought against the publishers of the Daily Mail Associated Newspapers alleged that royals had made a deal not to sue the paper over the phone hacking scandal. Harry claimed this was because starting litigation could mean a member of the Royal Family ending up in the witness box which could open up a can of worms. The witness statement also saw Harry say that the whole country is doomed if Associated Newspapers can successfully evade justice. Baroness Doreen Lawrence, pictured here leaving the Royal Courts Of Justice, is one of the other high profile claimants taking on ANL alongside Prince Harry. (PA) The duke also said in his statement: The evidence I have seen shows that Associateds journalists are criminals with journalistic powers. Associated Newspapers have called the claims stale and preposterous smears. His case against The Sun was first filed in 2019 and is one of three that are currently ongoing against the British media for invasions of privacy. A trial date is set for May in Harrys case against Mirror Group Newspapers and will see him give evidence in person against the publishers alleged unlawful information gathering, which the company has denied. The trial is expected to last six to seven weeks and will be the second appearance of Prince Harry in a British courtroom this year, as he also made a surprise appearance at the recent preliminary hearing against ANL. Watch: The Royal Family's biggest spending sprees Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Due to the fact that hes quite literally royalty, Prince William is richas in, I live in a casual castle and my late grandma owned a scepter rich. Not only does Prince William have more money than his brother, Prince Harry, for reasons that would cause any family to feud, but hes about to get even richer, too. Heres a breakdown of Prince Williams net worth, and how his royal finances work. Prince William Has a Trust Fund From His Great-Grandmother Prince William and Prince Harrys great-grandma was Queen Elizabeths mom, and in 1994, she went ahead and placed two-thirds of her money (an estimated 19 million) into a trust fund for her great-grandchildren. The Guardian reports that William and Harry split about 6 million of this trust at age 21but it wasnt a 50/50 split because the Queen Mother wanted to compensate Harry for not becoming sovereign. William and Harry get to split another 8M of that trust fund when they turn 40Prince William might already be seeing that money, since his 40th birthday was last Juneand if youre wondering who the remaining 6 million is going to, thatd be William and Harrys cousins, who are further down the line of succession. Prince William Got a Huge Inheritance From Princess Diana Princess Diana tragically died when she was just 36, and according to Forbes, she left Prince William and Prince Harry $10 million after taxes. William started receiving annual dividends of $450,000 a year at 25, which are his to do with what he wants. Hes certainly not using it to pay for his royal lifestyle, though, because thats more than covered. Prince William Gets Perks From Being a Working Royal Prince William is considered a working royal, meaning his full-time job is going to charitable events and shaking hands. As such, he and wife Kate Middleton get a lot of their expenses (including travel) paid for by the Sovereign Grant, which is taxpayer money meant to cover the Royal Familys official duties. Story continues Prince William Inherited the Duchy of Cornwall in 2022 The Duchy of Cornwall is a private portfolio of property and financial investments previously owned by King Charles. However, Prince Williams took over after Charles became King following his mother's death in September 2022. Now, William is the Duke of Cornwall and has control of the duchys revenue. Its pretty much up to William how to spend the ~23 million he'll get per year. Finances aside, however, Cornwall is near and dear to both Prince William and Prince Harry, as they would often visit it while on vacation with their mother, the late Princess Diana. In fact, in a 2019 documentary produced by ITV called Prince Charles: Inside the Duchy of Cornwall, the Duke of Cambridge opened up about how excited he was to lean into that side of the family business, saying, Ive started to think about how I will inherit the Duchy one day and what I do with it. I think its really important, about the family angle, I really do. In a later part of the doc, Charles responds to his son's enthusiasm, and confesses that he was practically reduced to tears at the fact that Prince William had expressed such an interest in taking over the portfolio. I was deeply touched and moved by what he said...It practically reduced me to tears. Because I suddenly thought, well, just hearing that from him, has made the last 50 years worthwhile. Prince William Will Eventually Inherit the Queens Money Prince William is in line to become the next monarch (right after King Charles), which means eventually, everything the light touches will be his. And according to Forbes, that includes $10 billion worth of real estate, the Royal Art Collection, a bunch of swans, and an annual government stipend of $12.9 million. Theres also the late Queen Elizabeth IIs personal net worth of $500 million (a.k.a. money thats not tied to the crown), which includes property, stud farms, jewelry, and a fancy stamp collection. Neither King Charles III nor any other members of the Royal FamilyPrince William includedwho receive an inheritance following the Queens death will be required to pay tax on that inheritance thanks to a 1993 agreement with the British government. So, What Is Prince William's Net Worth? Prince William is currently worth around $100 million, most of which comes from the duchy. But you can expect that number to keep growing with William's increasing stature. Emilys List, a key Democratic pro-abortion rights group, announced an endorsement Wednesday of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) amid speculation she could face a primary challenger. Were proud to endorse @SenGillibrand for reelection to help hold the Democratic pro-choice majority in the Senate. We need her voice in the fight for reproductive freedom! Emilys List said in a statement on Twitter. Gillibrand touted the endorsement, saying in her statement that she was proud to have their backing. Pro-choice Democratic women will be key to keeping control of the Senate, and Im proud to stand with EMILYs Lists incredible supporters and my fellow women senators running for reelection! she added. The endorsement comes as progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has been floated as a potential primary challenger to Gillibrand. During an interview with Politico earlier this month, the House lawmaker declined to say whether she would consider a Senate run against Gillibrand, saying, Dont ask me that question. But at the same time, her interview suggested that she was open to the idea of seeking higher office. Theres a world where Im here for a long time in this seat, in this position. Theres a world where Im not an elected official anymore. Theres a world where I may be in higher office, she told Politico. Former Rep. Lee Zeldin (N.Y.) is seen as a potential GOP challenger to Gillibrand, though he hasnt made any formal announcements. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Family and friends of Joseph Taylor have gathered inside Government Plaza in Downtown Shreveport to rally in support of justice for Taylor. Taylor was shot and killed by a Shreveport police officer during an altercation that occurred during a traffic stop April 23. Just after 9:30 p.m. Shreveport Community Response Unit conducted a traffic stop at Valley View Drive and Mansfield Road. A group gathers in Shreveport's Government Plaza to protest for justice for Joseph Taylor who was shot and killed by a Shreveport police officer on April 23. During that stop officers encountered Taylor, who was armed. Police said that a struggle ensued, and an officer fired. UPDATE: Officer involved shooting after a traffic stop in Southwest Shreveport SPD said at the scene the officer fired one shot, however, Taylor was shot multiple times and was transported to Ochsner LSU Health where he was pronounced dead at 9:57 p.m. Louisiana State Police are currently investigating the shooting. Shreveport mayor issues statement on Sunday officer involved shooting On Wednesday, a group gathered on the first floor of Government Plaza to speak out against SPD, Chief Wayne Smith, and Mayor Tom Arceneaux. Shut down the city of Shreveport, said Lacy Houston relative of Joseph Dewayne Taylor. He continued saying hes calling for everyone to be heard. Supporter and activist Jermaine Anderson called for the resignation of Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith at the Justice for Joseph Taylor rally at Government Plaza in Shreveport on April 26. Supporter and activist Jermaine Anderson said We want police chief Wayne Smith to step down and all three officers to be fired immediately." The protesters have been bared from entering the second floor and the elevators have been locked. This story is developing and will be updated. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Protesters gather in Shreveport's Government Plaza after officer-involved shooting Activists will gather on April 26 at the intersection of Beatties Ford Road and LaSalle Street in Charlotte, North Carolina. Community activists in Charlotte, North Carolina, continue demanding justice for Shanquella Robinson, the 25-year-old woman who died while on vacation with friends in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. Demonstrators will gather on April 26 at the intersection of Beatties Ford Road and LaSalle Street for a third time in recent weeks. They are coming together to protest U.S. authorities decision to not federally prosecute the person suspected of killing Robinson, The Charlotte Observer reports. (Photo: Courtesy of family of Shanquella Robinson) As reported previously on theGrio, citing The Associated Press, Robinsons case gained mainstream media traction last fall after a viral video showed her viciously attacked by one of her traveling companions. Her tragic death occurred in October in a Mexican resort. As the disturbing video circulated on social media, many quickly concluded that Robinson suffered fatal injuries caused by one of her so-called friends. The footage prompted the FBI and Mexican authorities to open investigations into Robinsons mysterious death. However, the Department of Justice announced earlier this month that there was insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal charges. Mexico reportedly issued an arrest warrant for the suspect seen in the video beating Robinson, but it is unclear whether the United States received the extradition request. In the meantime, Robinsons supporters and community members will gather in Charlotte on Wednesday at 4 p.m. to call for the extradition of the suspect to Mexico, according to The Charlotte Observer. The woman in the video attacking Robinson is apparently the individual at the center of the case. U.S. authorities have not released her name. Million Youth Marchs founder, Mario Black, said Robinson was a part of our community and her life mattered. We all should be just as angry with this as we are when we have protests and when a white (police) officer kills a Black individual, Black added. Story continues Black organized the march in Charlotte. He calls for supporters to show solidarity with Robinsons family using the hashtag #JusticeforShanquellaRobinson on social media. Join the fight to keep her name alive, Black said, according to The Charlotte Observer. The Robinson family and their attorneys organized a march Washington, D.C., on May 19, to demand diplomatic intervention in the case. The time and location is still unknown, The Charlotte Observer reports. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Protests continue demanding justice for Shanquella Robinson appeared first on TheGrio. WASHINGTON (AP) Jurors began deliberating Wednesday to decide whether former Proud Boys extremist group leader Enrique Tarrio and four lieutenants are guilty of seditious conspiracy in one of the most serious cases the Justice Department has brought in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Deliberations got underway in Washingtons federal court more than four months after jury selection began. The far-right extremist group's members are accused of plotting to use force to keep then-President Donald Trump in the White House after he lost the 2020 election. Defense attorneys say there was no conspiracy and no plan to attack the Capitol. Theyve sought to portray the Proud Boys as an unorganized drinking club whose members' participation in the riot was a spontaneous act fueled by Trumps election rage. Tarrio, a Miami resident, was tried alongside four other Proud Boys: Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzola. They could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of seditious conspiracy, a Civil War-era charge that can be difficult to prove. Tarrio is one of the top targets of the Justice Departments investigation of the riot, which temporarily halted the certification of Bidens election win. For years, Gary Ruane II experienced tingling in his hands and arms. Doctors eventually ruled out carpal tunnel syndrome and thought something in his neck contributed to his loss of sensation. After a jolt of intense pain rippled down his neck, he underwent spinal fusion. But that ultimately didnt treat his pain. He had several other surgeries and experienced worrisome symptoms and eventually learned he had a condition that was caused when his bones didnt heal properly after surgery. I just learned to basically live with it, the 43-year-old mechanic from Chesapeake, Virginia, tells TODAY.com. I did the physical therapy that was every required of me to a T. I just never got any relief. From 2013 to 2015 Ruane, who served in the military for 21 years, was stationed with a colleague who had a brother that was a spinal surgeon. When the friend moved near Ruane, they reconnected. After years of numbness and tingling in his hands and debilitating neck pain, Gary Ruane II met Dr. William Clifton who understood how to treat Ruane's condition. (Courtesy Gary Ruane II) He came over to my house and he said, Man, your neck looks awful. Let me see if my brother can help, Ruane recalls. He put me in contact with his brother and I flew out to see Dr. Clifton and from the first time I shook his hand, the very first time, I knew I was in great hands. Unexplained hand numbness and neck pain In 2015, Ruane felt numbness in his hands after sleeping. At first, his wife thought he might have laid on his arms. My wife said maybe I slept on my stomach with my hands underneath, he says. I never sleep like that. Ruane visited a doctor, who recommended physical therapy, and he eventually underwent exploratory surgery for carpal tunnel. But doctors didnt find the nerve condition. Then he began experiencing pain in his arms and the doctors suggested that having the ulnar nerves "repositioned" in his arms might help him. He never pursued it and during a deployment to Bahrain in 2017, Ruanes neck began to hurt. I turned my neck suddenly and it was one of the most horrific pains that Ive experienced, he says. It felt like my spine was grinding on itself. Story continues A specialist in Bahrain fused the discs in his neck to help manage the pain he was experiencing. It seemed to alleviate some of that pain initially, Ruane says. Then it started coming back. In 2018, he began physical therapy again and hoped his mobility would improve but the neck and arm pain persisted. Another doctor suggested a spinal cord stimulator, a device that was implanted in his neck to reduce pain. When he didnt feel better, the doctor ordered X-rays and a CT scan, and they learned some bad news. One of the (stimulator) paddles came loose in my spine, Ruane says. He said that he would have to go back in another operation, and he would be able to suture it permanently to my spine. Since having surgery with Dr. William Clifton, Gary Tuane II has more mobility in his neck and can do everything he needs to do at work, with very little pain. (Courtesy Gary Ruane II) Ruane felt disappointed with the stimulator and asked for the doctor to simply remove it. Then his buddy who was stationed nearby called his brother, Dr. William Clifton to see if he could help Ruane. Revision spinal surgery and pseudoarthrosis In some cases when patients, like Ruane, undergo spinal surgery to fuse discs together it doesnt heal properly and that leads to something called pseudoarthrosis. He had surgery done from the front of the neck in an attempt to fuse two of the spots that have a lot of arthritis. That, at the time, was believed to be causing some of his neck issues, the spine orthopedic surgeon and neurosurgeon at the Center for Spine Health at the Cleveland Clinic tells TODAY.com. If the bones dont spot well together it can form a little joint or a little space between the bones and the bones can rub on each other causing an extremely painful condition called pseudarthrosis. When Ruane met Clifton, the surgeon said he still had a lot of residual neck pain, a lot of residual numbness and tingling in his arms. What ended up happening was his neck started to fall forward to the point where he couldnt hold his head up correctly, Clifton says. The spinal cord stimulator didnt work, and they had an operation to try to take it out, which caused even more trauma to the back of his neck. This meant that Ruane struggled with daily tasks at work and home. He was pretty debilitated by his pain, Clifton says. After serving in the military and undergoing several neck surgeries, Gary Ruane II found himself having a lot of pain and felt as if there was no solution. (Courtesy Gary Ruane II) Clifton ordered tests and a scan to try to determine what Ruane experienced. Instead of just relying on an MRI, which measures the spine in the prone position, Clifton ordered a standing x-ray. This gave him an opportunity to see Ruanes neck when hes upright. Thats when Clifton could see that a degenerative spine condition caused compression on the nerves, causing the tingling and numbness, and the pseudoarthrosis. The condition occurs most often in people like Ruane who have undergone multiple neck or spine surgeries. It doesnt even have to be symptomatic, Clifton says. I think the opposite occurs. A lot of people have symptoms, but they dont get worked up for this problem. Clifton performed a revision surgery on Ruane to ease the mans pain. Ruane worked with a physical therapist following surgery, too. Immediately when he woke up he could tell the difference, Clifton says. He didnt have any numbness or tingling. He had incisional pain, but it was completely different from the pain he had before. He was able to hold his neck up. Life after surgery When Ruane woke, he felt stunned by his recovery. For as much stuff as I had done, I seemed to recover a lot faster, he says. The first few days were a little rough. Soon, he was able to be active and the worst part of my recovery was the drive home, about a 9-hour car ride. After three months out of work and resting, Ruane began physical therapy. He can look left and right again, something he struggled with prior to surgery, but cant put his ear on his phone and hold it with his shoulder. Im OK with that because nobody ever does that anymore, he says. I feel great to be honest with you. Im so blessed that I was able to connect with this surgeon. For so long, Ruane simply thought neck and arm pain would be part of his life. He hopes his story encourages others to find doctors who offer solutions for their pain. After years of inadequate treatment for his neck, arm and hand pain, Gary Ruane found a doctor who took a holistic look at his neck and spine and found a solution. (Courtesy Gary Ruane II) Nothing seemed to work for me, so I just accepted the fact (I had pain), he says. Take your time and find the right doctor. This article was originally published on TODAY.com The Purdue University Northwest (PNW) chancellor, who drew backlash for a racist display at the colleges winter commencement will serve out the rest of his term, the school said. The announcement comes months after calls for Chancellor Thomas L. Keon to step down after in December he seemingly mocked Asian languages in an impromptu impression onstage. Having served as the schools chancellor since 2016, his last day is slated for June 30, 2024. Neither Keon nor the universitys board of trustees responded to NBC News multiple requests for comment. The university declined to comment beyond its announcement, but Thomas J. Roach, chair of the faculty senate said he was disappointed in the board of trustees refusal to answer questions and to justify their actions in keeping the chancellor. This decision by a privileged few to protect one of their own further alienates members of our minority communities. I hope it is clear to everyone that the boards decision in no way reflects the wishes of the majority of faculty on the Purdue campuses, Roach, whose executive committee unanimously demanded Keon step down after the incident, wrote in the statement. Mung Chiang, who as president of Purdue University oversees the schools various campuses, and the board of trustees announced on Friday that a search advisory committee will be tasked with finding a replacement for Keon. The chancellor will be transitioning into a faculty position afterward. I have appreciated and enjoyed serving Purdue Northwest, its students, faculty, staff, and community and I will continue to do so for the next year and beyond, Keon wrote in a letter to his colleagues. During the December ceremony, Keon recited made-up words onstage, in what he called an Asian version of a previous speech. Thats sort of my Asian version of his, Keon said of remarks from radio host James Dedelow, who had given a speech right before. A clip of the commencement, first shared by Richard Lee, a professor at the University of Minnesota, went viral and prompted concerns over Keons ability to work with students and colleagues of Asian descent without bias. Story continues At the time, Keon released a statement saying he did not intend to be hurtful. He also indicated that he would be meeting with members of the student government, as well as directing a new diversity initiative to understand and address issues of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. On Saturday, December 10, during one of our two PNW Commencement ceremonies, I made a comment that was offensive and insensitive, Keon wrote in a statement. I am truly sorry for my unplanned, off-the-cuff response to another speaker, as my words have caused confusion, pain, and anger. And while the board issued a formal reprimand to Keon, it did not take further action. Although in the Trustees estimation, this offensive remark does not reflect a pattern of behavior or a system of beliefs held by Dr. Keon, the Board has made clear to him that a repeat incident of a similar nature would provide grounds for further Board action, including possible dismissal, Mike Berghoff, trustee chair, previously said in a statement. However, calls for Keon to step down continued. A Change.org petition demanding Keons resignation drew more than 9,500 signatures. And academics in the school system and beyond called out both Keons and Purdues leadership. The Purdue University Northwest chapter of the American Association of University Professors released a statement demanding the board of trustees remove the chancellor if he does not resign. And, in addition to the executive committees unanimous vote for Keons resignation, in December 87% of the PNW faculty senate cast a vote of no confidence in Keons leadership, initiated by Roach. The Purdue Board of Trustees continues to make decisions that run contrary to the needs and values of the university and that violate the precedents of university governance, Roach said in his statement. I call for an investigation of the appropriateness of their public actions and for an audit of the Purdue Endowment funds. This board has demonstrated repeatedly that it is accountable to no one. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Puyallup officers ended up tasing a man after he allegedly shoplifted from a Safeway, pulled out a knife, and tried to get away. On Tuesday, around 10:30 a.m. officers went to a report of a man shoplifting at a Safeway at 708 Shaw Road, according to the Puyallup Police Department in a news release. According to the report, the man tried to leave the store with unpaid items and an employee confronted him. The man flashed a knife at the employee before running into the parking lot. Officers arrived and saw the man running westbound and then circling back toward the parking lot. The man then jumped into a car with a woman inside that he knew. The man demanded she drive away and she refused. Officers were able to safely remove the woman from the car. The man then tried to get in the drivers seat and use the keys to start the car. As officers were trying to prevent him from getting away, a Taser was deployed during the struggle, police said. Police described the man as white and around 35 years old. The man was taken into custody and officers requested medics from Central Pierce Fire & Rescue to the scene for the taser and because the man was complaining of pain. Officers saw the man having a seizure and requested medics. The man was then taken to the Good Samaritan Hospital. Once cleared from the hospital, the man will be booked into the Pierce County Jail for robbery, attempted motor vehicle theft, resisting arrest, and obstructing. The late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles (Dominic Lipinski/PA) (PA Archive) The late Queen backed the Duke of Sussexs bid for an apology from media mogul Rupert Murdoch, but his efforts were blocked by Charles staff, the High Court has heard. Harry is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World, over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles. However, NGN is asking Mr Justice Fancourt to throw out his claim along with a claim brought by actor Hugh Grant arguing they have been brought too late. While NGN has settled numerous hacking claims in relation to the News Of The World, the publisher denies illegal activity at The Sun. In a witness statement made public on Tuesday, Harry described how in late 2017, he wanted to push for a resolution over alleged phone hacking and get an apology from News Corp owner Mr Murdoch before his wedding to the Duchess of Sussex. I spoke to her shortly afterwards and said something along the lines of: Are you happy for me to push this forward, do I have your permission? And she said: Yes. Duke of Sussex He said: I remember speaking to my brother and saying something along the lines of enough of this, I want to get permission to push for a resolution to our phone hacking claims and a formal apology from Murdoch before any of his people are allowed anywhere near the wedding, or words to that effect. However, he accused Clarence House of seemingly blocking our every move as part of a strategy to keep the media onside in order to smooth the way for my stepmother, and father, to be accepted by the British public as Queen Consort and King respectively. In his written statement, Harry said he was angry about appalling treatment his wife had faced from Murdoch-owned newspapers and was frustrated about a lack of progress on his phone hacking allegations. I thought, naively perhaps, that this might prove the perfect opportunity to air our grievances and force a resolution to our phone hacking claims, he said. Story continues Harry said his brother, the Prince of Wales, was very understanding and supportive and agreed that we needed to do it and suggested that I seek permission from granny the late Queen. The duke continued: I spoke to her shortly afterwards and said something along the lines of: Are you happy for me to push this forward, do I have your permission? And she said: Yes. Harry said the Queens then-director of communications Sally Osman was then given the green light to approach senior executives at NGN on behalf of the institution, Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, William and me, to broker a resolution and an apology from Mr Murdoch. However, Harry claimed that there was very little support from the Queens private secretary, as well as staff from Buckingham Palace and Clarence House despite my grandmother having given her consent. I remember one senior palace staff member saying that there couldnt be an apology to the Queen because she didnt have a claim, he continued. The duke said that in March 2018, following continued silence from News International, the Queen allowed a further note to be sent to Robert Thomson, CEO of News Corporation and Rebekah Brooks, CEO of News UK. In an email from Ms Osman describing the note, she said: Her Majesty has approved the wording, which essentially says there is increasing frustration at their lack of response and engagement and, while weve tried to settle without involving lawyers, we will need to reconsider our stance unless we receive a viable proposal. However, Harry said he was told shortly before his and the Duchess of Sussexs wedding that nothing could be done by Gerrard Tyrrell, who the duke later described as the institutions lawyer taking direction from Clarence House. He said: Shortly before the wedding, we were informed by Gerrard Tyrrell that nothing could be done as NGN were not in a position to apologise to Her Majesty The Queen and the rest of the Royal Family at that stage on account of the fact that, if they did so, they would have to admit that not only was the News of the World involved in phone hacking but also The Sun, and that was something that they couldnt afford to do until the end of the litigation because it would seriously undermine their settlement strategy across all the other claims. Harry said he understood this conversation took place between Charles communications secretary and Ms Brooks. The duke continued: With hindsight, I now understand why staff at Clarence House were being so unhelpful and were seemingly blocking our every move, as they had a specific long term strategy to keep the media, including NGN, onside in order to smooth the way for my stepmother, and father, to be accepted by the British public as Queen Consort, and King respectively, when the time came, and anything that might upset the applecart in this regard, including the suggestion of resolution of our phone hacking claims, was to be avoided at all costs. Anthony Hudson KC, for NGN, said that while communications show discussions took place between the Palace and NGN in 2017-2018 about resolving outstanding issues relating to allegations of (voicemail interception), they do not provide any support for a suggestion that there was an agreement by which NGN would forgo its right to bring a limitation defence in response to any claims by members of the royal family. Harry also said that when he did start his claims against NGN and also Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) in October 2019 he was summoned to Buckingham Palace and specifically told to drop the legal actions because they have an effect on all the family. The duke described this as a direct request, or rather demand from Charles, his private Secretary and the Queens private secretary. Describing going through Mr Tyrrell as a no-go, Harry said he instructed his own lawyers to bring a claim against NGN, telling the Queen, Charles and William of this while he was on tour in Africa. Rainn Wilson has spoken about the viral moment he caught the person sitting next to him on a flight watching The Office. The comedian and actor played Dwight Schrute in all nine seasons of the US version of The Office before it ended in 2013. Steve Carell played workplace boss Michael Scott. Wilson posted a video on Instagram stories showing him on a Delta Airlines flight sitting beside a man watching the popular comedy show. In the viral video, Wilson is seen wearing a mask and slowly shaking his head, before turning the camera to film his fellow passenger who appears to be engrossed in the series, unaware that the Dwight star is sitting right next to him. Wilson was also sporting a cap and headphones at the time, which partially obscured his identity. (Instagram/ Rainn Wilson) On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Wilson explained how he eventually revealed his identity to the fan. I nudged him towards the end and I was like, So, you seem to like that show a lot. I heard it kinda sucks, the actor recalled. And hes like, Yeah well, it kinda starts slow in season one, youve gotta get used to it but youll warm into it. Wilson said he then slowly began lowering his mask to reveal his identity as The Office star. It took him like 47 seconds of talking to me and then all of a sudden it was like one of those face-melting brain explosions, he said. And we bonded and it was beautiful. Wilson, who is currently promoting his new book Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution, recently made headlines for accusing HBOs The Last of Us of perpetuating anti-Christian bias in Hollywood. The Office star took issue with the hit video game adaptations eighth episode, which featured a cannibalistic pastor named David (Scott Shepherd). Wilson later followed up on the comment clarifying that he is not even a Christian and mocked the conservative US broadcaster Fox News for covering his view. (Bloomberg) -- Pras Michel, a Grammy-winning rapper turned political influencer, was convicted of conspiring to wage a back-channel lobbying campaign to end US probes of Malaysian tycoon Jho Low and get American authorities to extradite a dissident Chinese billionaire. Most Read from Bloomberg Federal jurors on Wednesday convicted Michel, 50, of other crimes, including conspiring to illegally funnel Lows money into the campaign of President Barack Obama in 2012. Michel gambled by testifying in his own defense during the monthlong trial in Washington federal court, denying wrongdoing. Michel showed no emotion as the foreperson declared him guilty on all 10 counts, and he faces as many as 20 years in prison on the most serious charge. The verdict in Washington was a stark downfall for Michel, who rose to fame in 1990s with the Fugees, one of the best-selling hip-hop groups ever. Prosecutors said Low paid more than $100 million to Michel in two plots. His conspirators lobbied President Donald Trumps administration in 2017 to end US probes of Lows alleged embezzlement of billions of dollars from the Malaysian development fund 1MDB. They also pushed to have Guo Wengui sent back to China from the US. Both efforts failed. Mr. Michel, he was greedy, prosecutor Sean Mulryne argued to jurors on April 20. In exchange for Lows millions, Mr. Michel agreed to do Lows bidding over six, seven years. Read More: US Wants to Take Down 90s Rapper for Role in 1MDB Scandal Outside the courthouse, Michel attorney David Kenner said he will certainly appeal the verdict. Its not over, he said. We are very, very confident that we will ultimately prevail. Story continues US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly set no sentencing date, giving Michel until June 9 to contest the results of the trial. Prosecutors said Pras began doing Lows bidding in 2012, when Low wanted a photo with Obama during his reelection campaign. Low allegedly sent $21 million through shell companies to Michel. The rapper funneled $2 million through straw donors into Obamas campaign and a super political action committee, Black Men Vote. Michel kept the balance, the US said. Low was excluded from two Obama fundraisers because of the campaigns concerns about his playboy image, but the tycoon got his photo with the president and his wife at a holiday party. US election law bars donations from foreign nationals and the reimbursement of straw donors. Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio added a bit of celebrity pizazz to the proceedings. He testified he partied with Low, who told him he wanted to give $20 million to $30 million to the Democratic Party in 2012. Low also put $100 million into the movie The Wolf of Wall Street, which starred DiCaprio. In 2017, Michel worked with others to try to squelch a US civil forfeiture lawsuit against Low and encourage Guos removal from the US, prosecutors said. For that, Low sent $100 million to Michel, who gave some to his confederates, prosecutors said. The plotters included former Trump fundraiser Elliott Broidy; former Justice Department attorney George Higginbotham, who moonlighted as Michels lawyer; and Nickie Lum Davis, a Hawaiian businessman. All three pleaded guilty but Trump pardoned Broidy. Higginbotham and Broidy testified as government witnesses. Jurors heard that Michel and others met with Low in Thailand and China about lobbying to get the 1MDB case dropped. They also heard that Michel met in China and New York with Sun Lijun, the Chinese vice minister of public security, who was pushing for the Guo extradition. Higginbotham also went into the Chinese embassy in Washington to discuss the case. Michel was convicted of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act over his efforts to help Low; conspiring to act as an unregistered foreign agent of China and to commit money laundering; acting as an unregistered agent of Low; and as an agent of China in pushing for Guos removal. In his testimony, Michel denied that he conspired with Low to funnel the tycoons money into Obamas campaign. He said Low was willing to pay $20 million for a photo. He also denied he acted as an agent of China or knew he had to register with the US under FARA. Jurors also convicted Michel of conspiring to make false statements to banks, including City National Bank, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup Inc., about the source and purpose of funds he got from Low. He was also convicted of witness tampering. Low was charged with Michel in Washington federal court, and he was indicted separately in the Eastern District of New York, where hes accused of conspiring to launder billions of dollars in illegal proceeds and paying hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes. In that case, the US alleges Low stole $1.42 billion from three bond transactions that Goldman Sachs Group Inc. arranged. Low is considered a fugitive and is believed to be in China. In March, Guo was indicted in the Southern District of New York, where hes accused in a $1 billion fraud case. He was an associate of Steve Bannon, the former White House strategist for Trump. The case is US v. Michel, 19-cr-148, US District Court, District of Columbia. (Updates with comment from Michels lawyer.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Should Boston have a rat czar? City Council President Ed Flynn thinks so. The Boston City Council on Wednesday will hear Flynns proposal to create the new position. So far this year, there have been about 1,700 rat complaints to the citys 311 hotline. Theyve been piling up from neighborhoods all over, and now, councilors looking to create a designated position to mitigate the growing public health issue. Flynn says pest control has become a top constituent complaint across the city. Since the pandemic, complaints have grown from 4,383 calls in 2021 to 5,095 in 2022. Public works and inspectional services need additional resources to tackle the growing problem, according to Flynn. He wants to create an Office of Pest Control. Flynn is closely following what New York City did, recently hiring a pest control officer at $155,000 a year to cut off food sources and develop new technologies to exterminate the rat population. Flynn has not said how much Bostons rat czar would earn, but some of the other responsibilities would include educational outreach and working with other city departments to address the rat problem. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW (Bloomberg) -- Consumers could see carbon footprints on common products they buy as the worlds green transition forces companies to increase transparency on emissions, said billionaire investor Tom Steyer. Most Read from Bloomberg Thats what its going to take, said Steyer, co-executive chair of Galvanize Climate Solutions, at the Bloomberg Green summit in New York on Wednesday. You have to know, What is the carbon footprint of this shirt? Steyer cited the effort by the US Securities and Exchange Commission to require climate disclosures by companies and the European Unions border adjustment rules as evidence of a global push for quantification of climate impact. Read more: Carbon Accountant Will Be the Real Climate Job of the Future Katie Hall, co-executive chair of Galvanize with Steyer, noted the push is occurring not just on the policy front but system wide. Customers are demanding change, employees are demanding change, she said. Steyer and Hall launched Galvanize in 2021 with the aim of investing billions of dollars in companies working to curb carbon emissions around the world. The firm recently announced plans to buy and decarbonize real estate assets in markets across the US. Galvanize only makes investments where it expects good returns as well as significant climate impact, Steyer and Hall said. Investors are drawn to areas of massive disruption. Its out of that huge chaos and change where theres big winners, Hall said. Asked about the Republican-driven backlash to ESG investing in the US, Steyer called it a partisan issue but its not a partisan issue with the voters, since many Republican voters want a robust climate response from the government, he said. What were seeing is a pushback from businesses who are worried that different industries are going to come in and out-compete them. Thats called capitalism. Story continues Read more: Will Transition Plans Bring Transparency to Net-Zero Goals? Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. [Source] Lawmakers have reintroduced a bipartisan bill to speed up the visa process for children of Filipino World War II veterans. On Tuesday, the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act was reintroduced by Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Representatives Ed Case (D, HI-1) and Jen Kiggans (R, VA-2) to exempt the sons and daughters of Filipino WWII veterans from numerical limitations on immigrant visas. The law would benefit thousands of people, including those already waiting in the visa application queue. Filipino soldiers served our country with honor and bravery during World War II. But for too long, theyve been denied many of the rights and benefits they deserve, including the ability to reunify with their families in the U.S., Senator Hirono said in a press release. More from NextShark: Grande Cosmetics founder addresses lash serum TikTok controversy There were more than 260,000 Filipino soldiers who fought for America from 1941 to 1946 when the Philippines was a U.S. colony. In 1990, Former President George H. W. Bush granted U.S. citizenship to about 26,000 Filipino nationals who served the U.S. during WWII. However, the law did not grant citizenship or residency to the veterans children. To this day, Filipino applicants must wait nearly 20 years before their applications are considered. In 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services implemented the Filipino WWII Veterans Parole program to reunite veterans with their families. However, the extensive delays are leaving applicants without certainty as dozens of the surviving veterans are now over 100 years old. More from NextShark: NYPD asks for help after man follows woman into Chinatown apartment building and sexually assaults her The new legislation would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act, providing a permanent solution for WWII veterans who were naturalized under the 1990 law or other specified laws. Senator Lisa Murkowski said in a press release: Story continues To express our gratitude to the brave Filipino service members who fought for our nation in WWII, we should do what is right and fair for our veterans and their family members. This bill will reunite mothers and fathers with their children, and honor the service of Filipino veterans who served under the American flag. More from NextShark: Survey of Hong Kong children reveals nearly half are subjected to physical punishment Im proud to reintroduce the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act to reunite these veterans with their loved ones, Hirono added. I will continue working to support Filipino veterans, their families, and all veterans in Hawaii and across our country. Hirono has been leading the bipartisan Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act since 2013. She also led the introduction of the Filipino American History Month (FAHM) Resolution, which recognizes October as FAHM and celebrates the heritage and contributions of Filipino Americans. Due to her years of advocacy, Congress finally awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino WWII veterans in October 2017 after decades of fighting for recognition. More from NextShark: Chinese American scientist accused of spying for China wins $1.8 million settlement White House officials announced Wednesday that military investigators have identified the remains of Medal of Honor recipient Army Cpl. Luther Story, killed during the Korean War and classified as missing for the last 73 years. In a joint statement, Presidents Joe Biden and South Koreas Yoon Suk Yeol said the revelation underscores both countrys commitment to honoring the service members who fought in that war and ensuring everything possible is done to provide closure to their families. Storys remains were included among a group of 652 unknown combatants exhumed from Sangde-po, South Korea, in June 2021. Officials from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency used dental and anthropological records to identify Story among the individuals buried there, while scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA analysis to confirm the findings. US to dock nuclear subs in SKorea for 1st time in 40 years Story was posthumously given the Medal of Honor the nations highest military award in June 1951. Eleven months earlier, Story was a 19-year-old serving with the 9th Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division when his company was attacked by North Korean forces near the towns of Pusan and Yeongsan in South Korea. According to his fellow soldiers, Story repeatedly exposed himself to enemy gunfire to lob grenades at the attackers, allowing time for U.S. forces to pull back to safety. During that retreat, he was mortally wounded, but continued to provide cover for his withdrawing comrades. Military members later searched for his body, but were unable to recover it. He was officially declared missing in 1954. Wednesdays announcement was made as part of the South Korean presidents visit to Washington, D.C. This year marks the 70th anniversary of start of the official alliance between the two countries. Story will be buried in his home state of Georgia in a ceremony scheduled for May 29, according to officials from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. A Chevron gas station in Renton is the latest to be hit in a recent series of early morning armed robberies in King and Pierce counties. Renton police were dispatched to the gas station at 1419 North 30th Street at 2:36 a.m. on Wednesday. The clerk told officers that three Hispanic men armed with guns and dressed in black entered the store and demanded that she open the cash registers, according to Renton police. The clerk opened one register and a suspect stole about $70 in cash. A second suspect stole some cigars. The three men then ran outside to a vehicle described as a newer gray SUV and then sped away. Police said that during the robbery, someone approached the store and saw three men inside pointing guns at the victim. Two more men were seen sitting in the back seat of an SUV. The witness left the area but returned to give a statement to officers. Renton police said the King County Sheriffs Office requested information about the case, as it could be related to another robbery in Bellevue on Wednesday. In the Bellevue case, the suspects SUV was spotted in Bothell and a chase began. Shots were fired at Bothell police before the suspects crashed in Shoreline and then ran from the scene. The robbery at the Chevron has been assigned to an investigator who will work with other police agencies to determine if the robberies are connected. In the early hours of last Friday night, police reported at least five robberies: three in Pierce County and two in South King County. Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., spoke about the connection between anti-China rhetoric and anti-Asian violence at a launch event Wednesday for a new institute dedicated to the late Vincent Chin. Already, Asian Americans have been suffering three years of anti-Asian hate due to Trump calling Covid-19 China virus and kung flu, she said. But now, the rhetoric and tension about the U.S.-China relationship comes on top of that, potentially escalating that violence. Today, the focus has shifted to extremists engaging in racial profiling of Chinese Americans. The Vincent Chin Institute aims to end anti-Asian hate in the U.S. and advance education on Asian American issues. Its named after a Chinese American man murdered in 1982 by two white auto workers who blamed Asians for layoffs in the industry. Advocates say his death the spurred a movement that became a watershed moment in the history of Asian American civil rights. Today, over 40 years later, what we learned is that the rhetoric used around economic competition with Asian countries can result in harm and even murder of Asian Americans here at home, Chu said. Portrait photo of Vincent Chin (Bettmann Archive / Getty Images) Chu, the first Chinese American elected to Congress and the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, addressed racist vitriol she has experienced from her colleagues in the House of Representatives. Even I have been accused by extremist right-wing Republican congressmen, in particular this one from Texas, of being a spy for China, she said. Earlier this year, GOP Rep. Lance Gooden of Texas publicly questioned Chus loyalty to the U.S., saying, Im really disappointed and shocked that someone like Judy Chu would have a security clearance. At the launch event, the congresswoman from California cited this experience as an example of why organizations like the Vincent Chin Institute are necessary. With education materials available in several Asian languages, she foresees it making an impact. Ill never forget learning about Vincent Chin, Chu said. Im beyond confident that the legacy of the Vincent Chin Institute will be extensive. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Demonstrators protest the death of environmental activist Demonstrators protest the death of environmental activist "Tortuguita" in Atlanta on Jan. 21, 2023. Tortuguita was shot by police on Jan. 18 after authorities say the 26-year-old shot a state trooper. Activists have questioned that version of events, demanding an independent investigation. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation claims that gunshot residue was found on a slain activists hands, despite two previous autopsy reports saying otherwise. Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, who went by the nickname Tortuguita and used they/them pronouns, was killed by Georgia State Troopers on Jan. 18, prompting community outrage and protests. There are still questions surrounding Terans killing, as there appears to be no body camera footage of the shooting. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation report, which was obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and viewed by HuffPost, claims that samples taken from Terans hands revealed the presence of particles characteristic of gunshot primer residue (GSR). This supports the possibility that the individual discharged a firearm, was in close proximity to a firearm upon discharge, or came into contact with an item whose surface bears GSR, the report continued. It should be noted that it is possible for victims of gunshot wounds, both self-inflicted and non self-inflicted, to have GSR present on their hands. Teran was shot at least 57 times, including in the hands, according to a DeKalb County autopsy report. Vienna holds a photo of her slain partner, Tortuguita, in Atlanta on Jan. 26, 2023. Officials have said officers fatally shot Tortuguita in self-defense, but activists argue it was a state-sanctioned killing. Vienna holds a photo of her slain partner, Tortuguita, in Atlanta on Jan. 26, 2023. Officials have said officers fatally shot Tortuguita in self-defense, but activists argue it was a state-sanctioned killing. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation finding contradicts two separate reports claiming that there was no GSR present on Teran. The DeKalb County Medical Examiners Office conducted an autopsy after Terans killing and did not find gunshot residue. Additionally, an independent autopsy conducted on Jan. 31 came to the same conclusion. The independent autopsy also found that Terans hands were raised when they were shot. Story continues Georgia State Troopers are not required by law to wear body cameras, but nearby Atlanta Police Department body cameras did capture an officer suggesting that another officer had been shot by friendly fire. However, there was apparently no footage of the shooting itself. Teran was part of a larger movementlooking to stop the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, dubbed Cop City by its critics. Many activists have rejected the idea that Teran fired at the police first. The constantly shifting, piece-meal narrative from the state is yet another example of their attempts to manufacture consent for a wildly unpopular project, Hannah Riley, an organizer with the movement, wrote to HuffPost. While the police seek to muddy the waters of public opinion and public understanding, here is what remains crystal clear: on January 18, a forest defender, who was living among the trees they hoped to protect, was gunned down by a phalanx of police officers. They were sitting peacefully in their tent when officers fired rounds of pepperballs at them. Their body was riddled with bullet wounds, Riley added. The bloodshed in the forest that day should have immediately halted the construction of Cop City. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Terans family attorney did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment. Related... Florida Governor Ron DeSantis met South Korea's prime minister in Seoul on Wednesday to discuss trade and North Korea's nuclear weapons on the second stop of his four-country trip before a possible presidential run. DeSantis, who is widely expected to seek the Republican nomination in next year's White House race, is visiting Seoul while South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is on a six-day state visit to Washington. He kicked off his international tour -- widely seen as a bid to burnish his diplomatic and security credentials -- in Japan this week. In South Korea, he met Kim Dong-yeon, the governor of Gyeonggi province, to discuss expanding economic cooperation, including in industries such as biotechnology. Samsung Electronics, social media giant NAVER and others have their headquarters in Gyeonggi. DeSantis then met Prime Minister Han Duck-soo for talks, during which the Florida governor "emphasized the importance of the history and alliance between" Seoul and Washington, Han's office said in a statement. Han said he explained Seoul's "policies toward complete denuclearisation of North Korea" to DeSantis. Han and DeSantis also discussed regional and global issues that included Northeast Asia, Han's office said without giving details. Washington and its Asia allies Tokyo and Seoul are seeking closer military cooperation over North Korea's growing nuclear threats. North Korea said last week its status as a nuclear power was "irreversible and final", slamming a G7 call for leader Kim Jong Un to give up his nuclear weapons entirely. Tensions have also flared recently between Washington and Beijing, with China staging three days of war games this month that simulated "sealing off" Taiwan. The drills followed a visit to Los Angeles by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. China, Pyongyang's most important ally and economic benefactor, views democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to bring the island under its control one day. Story continues DeSantis stressed on Tuesday the importance of warding off conflict over Taiwan, telling a Japanese media outlet that "what China respects is strength". He is also due to visit Israel, another traditional stop for US presidential candidates, particularly Republicans, and Britain on his trip. DeSantis has yet to officially announce his 2024 bid but is already the biggest threat to former president Donald Trump in both polls and media attention. cdl/ceb/pbt JACKSON, Miss. Authorities hunted Wednesday for four inmates, including one suspected of killing a man and stealing his pickup truck, who escaped over the weekend from a Mississippi jail that has been under federal scrutiny. Update: Hinds County escapee Dylan Arrington reported dead following police standoff Multiple law enforcement agencies were searching parts of the state, with at least one county sheriff's department telling residents to please keep your doors locked and have no keys or weapons in your vehicles following unconfirmed reports that the man was spotted in the area. The U.S. Marshals service and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations are among the agencies assisting in the search. Police said Anthony Watts, 61, was shot and killed Monday night around 7 p.m. on Interstate 55 in Jackson after he pulled over to help a man who had wrecked a motorcycle. Police say that man shot Watts several times and then stole his Red Dodge Ram. Watts died at the scene. This booking photo provided Jackson, Miss., Police Department shows Dylan Arrington Based on information gathered from investigators, the suspect ... fit the description of 22-year-old Dylan Arrington, Jackson Police Chief James E. Davis said. Arrington is one of four prisoners along with Casey Grayson, Corey Harrison and Jerry Raynes who escaped Saturday night from the Raymond Detention Center, a facility near Jackson, through breaches in a cell and the roof. Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones said the men might have camped out on the roof before fleeing the facility and going their separate ways. The four were in custody for various felony charges, most involving theft. Arrington had charges of auto theft and illegal possession of a firearm, WAPT-TV reported. Watts' stolen Red Dodge Ram, which has tan trim and Cowboys stickers on the front and the back, was last seen heading south on I-55 in Terry, Mississippi, police said. Jones said one of the prisoners stole a Hinds County Public Works vehicle that was later recovered in a suburb of Houston. Investigators also believe a stolen Chevy Silverado is connected to the escape. None of the men had been captured as of Tuesday afternoon. Story continues Be extra cautious, be vigilant of anything that appears to be suspicious, Jones said Tuesday. Make sure you get on the phone and notify local police. No information at this point is too small to provide to law enforcement, he said. In July, a federal judge ordered a rare takeover of the jail after he said deficiencies in supervision and staffing led to a stunning array of assaults, as well as deaths. Seven people died last year while detained at the jail, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves said. Reeves wrote in his ruling that cell doors did not lock and a lack of lighting in cells makes life miserable for the detainees who live there and prevents guards from adequately surveilling detainees. He also said guards sometimes slept instead of monitoring the cameras in the control room. Federal and state judges had only ordered receiverships or similar transfers of control for prisons and jails about eight times before Reeves order, according to Hernandez Stroud, an attorney at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. But just days before the appointed receiver was scheduled to assume control over the jail on Jan. 1, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the lower courts order until it ruled on the countys motion for reconsideration. The court was to examine whether the lower courts injunction complies with the Prison Litigation Reform Act, a 1996 federal law that places restrictions on lawsuits brought by prisoners. Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones said in December that county officials were committed to fixing the issues at the jail, many of which stem from staffing shortages. Hinds County officials applauded the stay. Attorneys for the county said the receiver would be utterly unaccountable to voters and taxpayers. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Residents told to lock doors amid search for Mississippi jail escapees Scott Anderson, researcher, prepares samples in a hot cell in the Materials and Fuels Complex at the Idaho National Laboratory in Atomic City, Idaho, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. The controls he is using maneuver tools like grips, saws and polishers inside the hot cell. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Facing political pressure and stringent new regulations for aging coal-fired power plants, many utility companies around the country are looking at the future with a new set of glasses that demands an alternative that will provide reliable, recurring power to the electrical grid. Enter small nuclear reactors under development to provide base-load, carbon-free emissions to fill the gaps where intermittent renewable energy like wind and solar cannot. In the West, Wyoming is pursuing TerraPowers Natrium reactor for a site at a retiring coal plant in Kemmerer, supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to demonstrate the technology of an advanced reactor. The Natrium technology is a 345- megawatt sodium fast reactor with molten salt energy storage. These are not your grandparents nuclear reactors. They occupy a much smaller footprint, can ramp up quickly or shut down with speed and use passive cooling systems. In addition, they are far less vulnerable to natural events like earthquakes or other disasters, according to the DOE. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and the founder and chairman of TerraPower, is pursuing deployment of at least five more Natrium reactors in the West by 2035, including Utah. PacifiCorp signed a memorandum of understanding exploring the placement of the Natrium reactors at the Hunter and Huntington coal-fired plants in Emery County, Utah, which was recently unveiled in its proposed long-range plans. The TerraPower project in Kemmerer Wyoming, pictured in this artist rendering, will take the place of a coal fired power plant. | TerraPower Related TerraPower with GE-Hitachi is on a fast track to get these reactors in place and providing power, particularly at its demonstration project in Wyoming. The company announced that it had raised over $830 million in private funding in 2022, and Congress appropriated over $1.6 billion for the Natrium project. The government is expected to fund half of the total projects cost of $4 billion. Story continues One hiccup is that Russia is the only commercial provider of the necessary fuel, called HALEU, or low-enriched uranium, and the war in Ukraine disrupted that supply. It cannot be easily overcome, resulting in a delay for Natrium by as much as two years in Wyoming. The federal government is working to find alternative sources. A radiation caution sign is pictured at the Idaho National Laboratory in Atomic City, Idaho, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News What is a suitable location for coal to nuclear? After screening recently retired and active coal plant sites, a study by the U.S. Department of Energy involving the national labs identified 157 retired coal plant sites and 237 operating coal plants sites as potential candidates for the coal to nuclear transition. You can see that theres tremendous potential across the country for citing nuclear reactors. At coal power plant sites, somewhere on the order of 250 gigawatts of coal capacity is suitable for converting to capacity for nuclear, at least according to the siting analysis that we that we went through, said Jason Hansen, a senior economist with Idaho National Labs integrated energy and market analysis team. The study included a multifactored analysis that discarded coal plants retired 10 years or longer and looked at existing infrastructure like transmission lines, environmental implications such as proximity to cultural or national historic sites, community interest and a coal plant workforce that could be easily trained up and assimilated in the transition. Christine King, the DOEs director of the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear, or GAIN, said the research showed that the most valuable connection in the site analysis was connection to the grid, the transmission, existing substations and even the administration buildings. What gets more complicated is if you start to think about what advanced nuclear opens up is the idea to consider coupling directly to the steam cycle equipment. And thats, you know, one of the things about generating electricity with gas and with coal and with nuclear is were all just boiling water to turn a turbine, which turns the generator which puts electrons out on the grid. The Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) Facility is pictured at the Idaho National Laboratory in Atomic City, Idaho, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Economic impacts and cleaner air? Hansen said the coal to nuclear transition is a positive for hosting communities, with an all nuclear scenario netting 650 new jobs with the closure of a 1,200-megawatt coal-fired plant on top of the existing workforce that could be transitioned. And (those) 650 jobs are distributed between some of those that are located at the nuclear plant. Some of those are located in the supply chain, and some of those are located in the in the local surrounding community that supports the plant, he said. That turns into about $100 million dollars in new wages in peoples pockets for stimulating the economy in that region. According to a news story by WyoFile, Kemmerer, Wyoming, is a tiny boom and bust town of 2,800 people, many of whom were packing up boxes, selling houses and businesses after the announcement of the planned retirement of PacifiCorps Naughton coal-fired power plant. When Natrium rolls in, it needs to support an additional workforce of 2,000 people during the construction phase. Coal dependent communities have been struggling for years with the accelerated retirement of power plants and shuttered coal mines due to economics, emissions and dwindling resources. Bill Price, a Kemmerer City Council member, said the plans for the Natrium reactor in their backyard was a dose of badly needed medicine. He says the town will still hang on to coal harvested from a nearby mine to repurpose into other uses: carbon fiber and even fertilizer. Between the Natrium and the coal, we are hoping the town gets a shot in the arm, he said. Brian Muir, Kemmerers city administrator, said the community and government leaders are strongly in support of the TerraPower nuclear project. We are embracing nuclear in our community, he said. We would be in a big world of hurt if we did not have this plant. He said Kemmerer competed vigorously against three other Wyoming communities to get TerraPower to locate there. A November 2021 survey the city conducted showed 78% of residents believe it would help the area economically, another 77% believe nuclear power is a safe form of energy and 83% support bringing in advanced nuclear power. Related In Utahs Emery County, designated to host the Natrium reactors at its pair of power plants, Sen. Dave Hinkins, R-Orangeville, said there is optimism. People are positive. I have not heard any negative at all. They just want to make sure there are jobs here for their kids, he said. He said people in his district have already been baptized in the idea of nuclear energy with the BlueCastle nuclear power plant that had been planned for Green River. That project is in limbo. Related I think we had the ice broke with that, Hinkins said. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said nuclear has to be part of Utahs energy portfolio in the future. I want more nuclear here. I am optimistic about more nuclear here, he said, adding that he is concerned about the timeline of when those small nuclear plants would come to fruition and that residents have jobs when the power plants are retired. The INL report also detailed the benefit of reduced carbon emissions. If we look at the greenhouse gas component, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as we go from the coal scenario to the nuclear scenario, greenhouse gas emissions fall by about 99% at the footprint of the site directly, Hansen said. If we expand to the region around the site, greenhouse gas emissions fall by approximately 86%. Tiankai Yao, transmission electron microscope group lead, works in the Materials and Fuels Complex at the Idaho National Laboratory in Atomic City, Idaho, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Questions about advanced nuclear energy Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety with the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the organization takes a neutral position on nuclear energy but there is a slew of doubts about these small nuclear reactors being pursued by the United States and elsewhere. He cited costs, safety concerns, the technology itself and fears that industry and the federal government will cut corners on their projects. And he added theres been a lot of distorted hype. I think theres really less happening than meets the eye. Right now, theres a lot of talk, a lot of hope, but the bottom line is nuclear power is still extremely expensive, even with the subsidies. He added it is impractical to believe a nuclear reactor can easily slide in to take the place of a shuttered coal-fired power plant. The problem is that the industry and the Department of Energy are really promoting a lot of misleading ideas about how safe this technology is. I think there is going to be a rude awakening when theres finally a real accounting for the risks they could pose. He said a two-mile emergency zone or buffer presumed in the INLs coal report is insufficient, as opposed to the current 10-mile emergency zone requirement for the current fleet of nuclear power plants. I would hate to see them relax any of those standards to site a nuclear plant at coal plants, he said. ... Dont bend the rules, dont cut corners and dont make unjustified assumptions about how safe this experimental technology is going to be. A wave of bills to boost tenant rights in a tight market with high rents and sometimes unsafe conditions was heard in the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday night, signaling hope for renters looking for more protections. And those would be many. Think rent stabilization, legal representation, a rental registry and getting tough on lead hazards. That's not all. More than half a dozen bills were discussed during the three-hour hearing, including what's been dubbed a tenants' bill of rights, a document reaffirming certain rights such as freedom from discrimination and introducing new regulations such as a 4% cap on annual rent increases. The Rhode Island Association of Realtors has already raised opposition to that limit, urging lawmakers in written testimony to focus on "creating more affordable units and lowering housing costs for homeowners and tenants alike." Daniel Denvir, co-chair of Reclaim Rhode Island, a progressive group that has consistently pushed for tenant rights in the state, said now is the time. "Rhode Islanders want the state to fix this housing crisis now," he said. "The historic number of bills introduced to enhance tenant rights are a testament to the fact that legislators are listening." Legal counsel for renters facing eviction All the bills were held for further study, though not without a marathon of testimony. Rep. Cherie Cruz, who is sponsoring a bill to establish a stable of lawyers within the public defender's office to represent tenants facing eviction, described the dizzying array of legal terms renters encounter in such situations. Right now, tenants rely on two primary organizations for pro bono work Rhode Island Legal Services and the Center for Justice where attorneys are inundated with cases. Cruz contends it's essential that all renters be able to find attorneys, "especially [with] something that is so important, so detrimental to someone's health and well-being as housing when it means homelessness for a mother, a child, a family, when it comes to the result of an eviction case." Story continues But it's far from an easy ask. Acting Public Defender Matthew Toro said the office is already short nearly 90 lawyers and has a "well-documented caseload crisis." There is "absolutely no way" it could take on an increase in clients, he said. More: Radon is a big risk in Rhode Island, but renters are left to face the danger on their own Tougher lead regulations see support from attorney general and mayors One of the most consequential shortcomings of substandard housing is the presence of exposed lead paint in a household with children. A state Health Department inspection of this home at 6 Fletcher St. in Central Falls found lead in nearly every surface tested, including where the tenant family's young twins slept and played. The property is owned by Pioneer Investments. Additionally, a trio of bills would push landlords to comply with existing lead laws. Thousands of units around the state are out of compliance, many lacking proper lead certificates that say apartments are safe. If passed, the legislation would require landlords to register with the Department of Health and provide valid certificates of conformance documents they should have already. It would also subject violators to attorneys' fees and damages in addition to letting tenants put rent in escrow if the landlord breaks lead laws. Today, such a move would leave a renter vulnerable to an eviction proceeding that would remain visible to any future landlords, making it nearly impossible to move. Miriam Weizenbaum, chief of the Civil Division of the Attorney General's Office, described the package of bills as "light-touch regulation" created "to make sure landlords follow lead-poisoning prevention laws that have been on the books for 20 years." More: A Central Falls couple's twins were struggling. Then a blood test showed high lead levels Vincent Greene, a lawyer from Motley Rice the same firm that looked into two recent cases of child lead-poisoning in Central Falls apartments owned by rental company Pioneer Investments described the severity of his cases: "I'm the person of last resort," Greene said. "I'm the person to whom parents come when their children have been lead-poisoned, when prevention has failed and there is nothing to be done but to hold someone to account." Both Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera and Providence Mayor Brett Smiley submitted written testimony in support of the package of bills. And now for something new: Radon testing? Another bill sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Boylan would address a hazard that, unlike lead, currently faces minimal regulation: radon. Boylan's bill would require landlords to test for the toxic gas that is emitted naturally from the ground but is often present in high levels in Rhode Island homes. Boylan said the legislation was inspired by The Providence Journal's reporting on the risks of the odorless gas that is far more present in the state than in many locations due to geology. So far, landlords are not required to address it to make their units safe. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: House lawmakers push for state to get tough on landlords. Here's what's at stake Family trouble? Just light up, and your troubles might go up in smoke. Can marijuana save the relationship between Teresa Giudice and brother Joey Gorga? Bill Aydin, husband of Jennifer Aydin, had an interesting proposition on how to resolve the conflict between the siblings on the Tuesday, April 25 episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. You need to smoke weed and have a heart-to-heart talk with your sister because it puts all your guards down, said Bill, half-baked, after a husbands pot-party at Joe Benigno and Margaret Josephs home in Englewood. Joey deflected the idea with a vague reference to the housewives trip to Ireland and finally said, I lost my train of thought because this guy (Frank Catania) blew his (blank) in my face. Frank is in the pot business. Frank Catania and Joey Gorga on the April 25, 2023 episode of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey." About three years ago, I was contacted to get into the cannabis industry and I didnt even smoke it, Frank said. Then I heard it was becoming legal in New Jersey and ever since then I have eat, slept and drink weed. I just like to feel good and thats what weed does. It can also loosen inhibitions. Joey started fondling the vein on the bicep of Franks left arm after the group lit up. Hes high and I love it! Frank said. The big storyline on the current season is the invitation status of Joey and Melissa Gorga to Teresas wedding to Louie Ruelas. It doesnt seem like the weed is going to help. The housewives are in Ireland on a bachelorette trip. On Tuesdays episode, they went to a farm to corral animals and jump into a bog. More: RHONJ: Teresa Giudice says she's scared of brother Joey Gorga's temper They also painted a mural tribute to Teresa. Melissa painted the Gorgas coming to America from Italy and that struck a chord with Teresa. I was just thinking this morning, I want some part of you in my wedding, Teresa said. I was thinking we should have Gino (Gorga, their son) walk down with Audriana (Giudice, Teresas daughter). You, Antonia (Gorga, daughter), Gino and Joey complete it if you guys are there with me. Story continues Are you asking them to be in your wedding? Jennifer said. All of them? No, no, I just want happiness and peace, Teresa said. More: RHONJ: Bad blood between Teresa Giudice and brother Joey Gorga stems from bad pizza deal I literally have no words for this. Its such complete nonsense, said Melissa in a confessional. Whatever shes asking, if shes even asking because shes, like, barely asking. Was it all just a dream? Were in Irish, were in Ireland, Teresa said. I want the gold at the end of rainbow. Maybe just the pot if not the gold? The Real Housewives of New Jersey airs 9 p.m. Tuesdays on Bravo. Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: RHONJ: Marijuana the answer for Teresa Giudice, Joey Gorga? Though the in-laws appeared to find common ground on Tuesday's episode, things turned when Teresa announced that Bill Aydin would be in their wedding because "I don't have family" Brian Ach/Getty; Lars Niki/E! Entertainment/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty With just weeks to go until she says "I do," Teresa Giudice was still making last-minute additions to her wedding party during Tuesday night's episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. On their final day in Ireland for Teresa's bachelorette trip, the women headed to a farm for a day filled with activities. They played "catch the cock," in which they had to grab real-life chickens, bonded over a sort of pictionary-esque game detailing Teresa's life, and they even jumped into a mud pit. During lunch, however, Teresa revealed her then-fiance "Louie asked Bill [Aydin] to be in the wedding" because "[Jennifer Aydin and Bill] been so supportive since day 1, and it's nice since I don't have family." Related:RHONJ's Jennifer Aydin Says She's 'Never' Considered Divorce amid Troubles with Husband Bill: 'Make It Work' Melissa Gorga was sitting right there at the table with all of the women. She said nothing in response to Teresa's comment other than "I'm good" after a few of the women asked her if she was okay. "This is why it's really hard for me to believe she really wanted Gino in her wedding because in the next breath she's literally saying 'Well, I have no family,'" an incredulous Melissa said in her confessional. "This is why we don't believe you!" As for wanting Gino in her wedding, Teresa had made a different comment earlier during the picture-drawing portion of the day, which had actually started with the in-laws sharing a sweet moment. "I started with Sala Consilina 'cause that was where your parents were from," Melissa said, explaining her drawing representing the beginning of Teresa's life. She began to cry nearly right away. Story continues "And I'm showing your family coming from Italy," she explained before becoming too overwhelmed with emotion to continue. Related:Teresa Giudice Learns 'Moving On' Is Her 'Only' Option with Brother Joe Gorga After 6 Months of Therapy "Alright stop," Teresa said, getting up from where she was seated next to the other women. Melissa continued to explain her drawing. "Your dad, your mom, you and your brother," she said, her voice breaking as she pointed to her orange stick figures. Joe Gorga/Instagram In a confessional, Melissa added: "It's just sad to me that this was a family, and to draw them from the beginning struck me like, 'Wow, look where we are right now.'" Teresa then walked over to Melissa. "I swear, I knew that was yours," she said of the illustration. "I'm sorry," Melissa said through tears, as the two women embraced. "This is your family. I love them so much." "Alright, going forward we should just not even talk about the past," Teresa concluded. Related:RHONJ: Teresa Is Accused of 'Blaming' Niece Antonia for Feud with Gorgas Who Don't 'Belong' at Her Wedding "I agree," said Melissa. "That's why I got upset on the bus yesterday because you were bringing up a sweet sixteen from one year ago. That's the past." "Melissa, I wasn't trying to say anything bad about Antonia, like, I love your children. I was just thinking this morning I want some part of you guys in my wedding. Like, I was like, 'Should we have Gino walk down the aisle with Gianna?' You, Antonia, Gino and Joey would complete it, like, if you guys are there with me," Teresa explained of her latest vision for her wedding. Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty, Manny Carabel/Getty, Dia Dipasupil/Getty "Are you asking them to be in your wedding?" Jennifer Aydin, who herself was also a recent addition to the bridal party, chimed in. "All of them?" Teresa immediately backed off. "No, no, I'm just saying I want happiness and peace," she clarified. "I literally have no words for this. It's such complete nonsense what she's asking. If she's even asking because she's barely asking," Melissa admitted in a confessional after Teresa's comments. Teresa then motioned to her surroundings, and reminded the women of where they were. "I want the gold at the end of the rainbow," she decided. Related:RHONJ: Melissa Calls It 'Convenient' Teresa's Wedding 'Vision' Didn't Include Her as a Bridesmaid Melissa, however, wasn't falling for it. "No, we're not your props in the final hour. Sorry," she concluded in her confessional. Back in New Jersey, Joe Gorga wasn't buying any of what his sister was supposedly offering, either. At guy's night, he had some words for Bill. Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty "No disrespect to you," Joe said to Jennifer's husband. "You're an afterthought. 'We've got no one else, let's throw in Bill and Jen.'" "No big deal. I thought the mailman was next," Joe sarcastically deadpanned in his confessional. 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 Real Housewives of New Jersey airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. To keep Rhode Island beaches safe, the state is increasing hourly pay rates and offering $1,000 bonuses to attract and keep lifeguards on duty through the summer. Ideally, the state would like to hire 150 lifeguards to staff swimming areas at state beaches and parks, but it anticipates another difficult year in hiring, according to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Last summer, the state had 85 lifeguards for most of the summer, which prompted the DEM to restrict swimming "at a few beaches a handful of times last year," the DEM said. More: How to go to the beach for free before the season (mostly) starts on Memorial Day A lifeguard on duty at Scarborough Beach in Narragansett. The state Department of Environmental Management is increasing pay and offering bonuses to attract and keep enough lifeguards this summer. The DEM is increasing hourly pay 10 to 15% and offering a $500 sign-on bonus and another $500 to stay on the job until Sept. 4. Positions are available at all state swimming areas, including surf beaches, non-surf beaches and freshwater beaches at state campgrounds and parks. Lifeguard pay ranges from $14 to $18.75 an hour based on location, experience, and position level, the DEM said. All lifeguard candidates must receive state certification and have successfully completed courses and hold valid cards in lifeguard training, first aid, and CPR including infant, child, and adult, the DEM said. More: RI coastal council pushes off decision on big offshore wind farm to May The DEM is also looking for hundreds of seasonal workers to fill positions such as beach managers, park rangers, groundskeepers, facilities attendants and nature educators, according to DEM Director Terry Gray. The state career pages include a full list of available jobs. Citing a University of Rhode Island study, the DEM said Rhode Island's beaches and parks attract nearly 10 million visitors and add an estimated $300 million annually to the state economy. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Searching for a summer job in RI? State offering bonus to lifeguards Crystal Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth). REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski/File Photo Riverside Sheriff's deputies in California attempted an undercover drug sting last week. The operation was botched, and the suspect jetted off after buying 60 pounds of meth. The department is actively investigating where the suspect, and drugs, ended up. Police in Riverside, California, sold 60 pounds of methamphetamine in a failed "reverse buy" drug sting operation that saw the suspect speed away with the illicit product. The Desert Sun first reported that Riverside County Sheriff's deputies arranged the drug deal last Thursday. According to a press release from the department, undercover investigators met the suspect to seal the deal, with the goal of identifying "narcotics traffickers." But following the transaction, the suspect sped away with the drugs. In the press release, the department said that they had identified a local suspect who wanted to purchase bulk quantities of the drug. The officers sold the drugs to the suspect and then attempted to stop the suspect, per the release, leading to a high-speed pursuit. "Due to the high speeds and suspect's disregard for public safety, deputies lost sight of the vehicle," the department said in the release. According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration, in 2022, the street price of mid-grade meth is $2,500 to $3,500 per lb. The suspect in Riverside jetted off with somewhere between $148,000 and $208,000 worth of the drug, per that calculation. Michael Lujan, a retired captain with the department who lost a recent election for Sheriff, told the Los Angeles Times, that "reverse buy" operations like this one typically require more surveillance and "guardrails" to ensure someone doesn't flee the scene. "Why would you let someone get in their vehicle, I don't know," Lujan told the Times. "It is pretty embarrassing. It's unfortunate because now we have additional narcotics out on the street." Story continues The department said that the investigation into the suspect is ongoing. Riverside County Sheriff's Department did not immediately return Insider's request for more information. Read the original article on Insider Chief Justice John Roberts will not testify at an upcoming hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee focused on Supreme Court ethics. The committees chairman, Senator Dick Durbin (D., Ill.), invited Roberts to testify last week, saying: The time has come for a new public conversation on ways to restore confidence in the Courts ethical standards. The move came amid efforts by Democrats to force the high court to adopt ethics rules and calls to investigate Justice Clarence Thomas for his financial dealings with billionaire Harlan Crow. Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee by the Chief Justice of the United States is exceedingly rare, as one might expect in light of separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence, wrote Roberts in response. The chief justice noted that the Supreme Court Library has only two recorded instances of it happening in the past: Chief Justice Taft in 1921 and Chief Justice Hughes in 1935. Both hearings involved routine matters of judicial administration, Roberts wrote, adding that his predecessor, Chief Justice Rehnquist, appeared before House committees twice on similarly mundane topics. Neither Chief Justice Burger nor Chief Justice Warren nor Chief Justice Vinson ever appeared before a Congressional Committee, explained Roberts. Congressional testimony from the head of the Executive Branch is likewise infrequent, he added, citing only three previous instances of the president testifying before Congress in 1862, 1919, and 1974. When Durbin was asked last week if he was considering a subpoena should Roberts decline, he demurred, appearing to allude to the absence of Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who has been away from the Senate for months due to poor health. It takes a majority. I dont have a majority, Durbin told reporters. The Illinois senator was also asked this weekend why he didnt invite Justice Clarence Thomas directly. I think I know what would happen to that invitation. It would be ignored, Durbin said. Story continues Last week, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) defended the third branchs independence. The Supreme Court and the court system is a whole separate part of our Constitution and the Democrats it seems to me spent a lot of time criticizing individual members of the court and going after the Court as an institution, the Kentucky senator said, explaining he has total confidence Roberts can deal with any issues internally. More from National Review Chief Justice John Roberts has declined an invitation to testify before the Senate about the Supreme Courts ethical standards, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Tuesday. In a letter responding to Durbin, Roberts wrote I must respectfully decline your invitation and noted a sitting chief justice has testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on only two occasions in the past 102 years. Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee by the Chief Justice of the United States is exceedingly rare, as one might expect in light of separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence, Roberts wrote. He noted that Chief Justice William Howard Taft and Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes testified before the panel on routine matters of judicial administration related to judgeships in lower courts and jurisdiction over appeals from lower court injunctions in 1921 and 1935, respectively. Roberts attached a Statement of Ethics Principles and Practices, to which he said all current members of the court subscribe. The statement notes members of the Supreme Court in 1991 voluntarily adopted a resolution to follow the substance of the Judicial Conferences code of conduct, which provides broadly worded principles that inform ethical conduct and practices for the federal judiciary. Durbin and other Democrats on the committee invited Roberts to testify at a May 2 hearing on Supreme Court ethics reform. He noted in a letter to Roberts last week that Supreme Court justices appeared before the Judiciary panel in October 2011 to discuss the courts approach to ethics matters. The opportunity for the American people to hear from justices in this setting presents a moment that could strengthen faith in our public institutions, Durbin wrote the April 20 letter. The time has come for a new public conversation on ways to restore confidence in the Courts ethical standards. I invite you to join it, and I look forward to your response, he wrote. Story continues Durbin offered that Roberts could designate another justice to attend the hearing in his place. The Illinois Democrat scheduled the hearing in response to reports by ProPublica that conservative Justice Clarence Thomas accepted luxury travel, hospitality and other favors from Texas billionaire Harlan Crow over more than 20 years. Democrats say that Thomas was required by law to publicly disclose the trips he took in Crows Bombardier Global 5000 private jet. ProPublica also reported that Thomas failed to disclose the sale of a property in Savannah, Ga., in which he had a one-third interest, to one of Crows companies. Durbin responded to those reports by sending a letter to Roberts earlier this month urging him to immediately open an investigation and take all needed action to prevent further misconduct. He warned, If the court does not resolve this issue on its own, the committee will consider legislation to resolve it. Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee last week accused Democrats of trying to embarrass Thomas and urged Roberts to skip the hearing. I would not recommend that the chief accept his invitation because it will be a circus, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said in response to Durbins invitation for Roberts to testify. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Nothings off-limits when Roy Wood Jr. takes the stage as the headliner at the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) dinner on Saturday, except, perhaps the Senate minority leader. The only thing that I know for sure thats off the list right now is Mitch McConnell, Comedy Centrals Daily Show correspondent told ITK of the Kentucky Republican, who returned to the Senate last week for the first time since suffering a concussion in March. If hes nursing himself and trying to get healthy, OK, lets put the Mitch McConnell jokes in our back pocket and in the meantime, lets hope that [Supreme Court Justice] Clarence Thomas stays healthy until April 29, said Wood. The health of people I think theres rules. Theres rules to war. But Wood said virtually anyone else is fair game for roasting at the Washington Hilton hotel, even if certain lawmakers and political figures arent in the actual room. I feel like just because somebody isnt there doesnt mean you cant do jokes about them. Avoiding the event does not keep you from being held accountable and accountability will be on both sides, for the record. This isnt some Republican bash fest. I think its fair to come into this with fair critiques about politicians, also the role media plays, but more importantly the blind spot that I think a lot of the American public have to the media, Wood said. The Last Comic Standing alum, who majored in broadcast journalism at Florida A&M University, said hes solicited advice from previous WHCA dinner entertainers since he was announced as this years performer back in February. Hasan Minhaj, the 2017 entertainer, suggested he figure out the layout of the Hilton ballroom, and which high-profile guest is sitting where. Seth Meyers, who took the mic in 2011, doled out some pacing recommendations. Traditionally, with my stand-up comedy, I talk very fast and for some that makes it hard to understand me, Wood, 44, said, adding he needs to slow down because for a lot of these people, they only have two Black friends. Story continues Theyre not used to all the different speeds of Black verbiage, he said with a laugh. Wood also planned to reach out to former Daily Show contributor Michelle Wolf ahead of the dinner. Wolf famously ignited controversy when she headlined the 2018 event, with critics saying her jokes about then-White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders went too far. I dont expect to be as controversial as Wolf, Wood said, before adding, I dont think Michelle Wolf expected to be controversial. Asked if hes concerned about being canceled following his set at the Correspondents bash, Wood replied, Im not worried about anybody thats upset about a joke that I told. And Im not worried about whatever opportunities and doors that may close because of it, because theres going to be doors that will open. I am poised on Sunday morning after the Correspondents dinner to go to breakfast with my mama and my child. I do not have an apology drafted up in the Notes app. One thing Wood, who grew up in Alabama, said he does anticipate is for the targets of some of his wisecracks to fundraise off of his material. One thousand percent someone is going to take a joke that I said at that dinner and go, See, theyre attacking me. And theyre picking on us. And you need to give me $12. The closer he gets to taking the stage on Saturday following President Bidens remarks, Wood said, the more intense hell feel before delivering one-liners in front of a famously stiff and buttoned-up room. I did Showtime at the Apollo nothing will ever be more nerve-wracking than a room full of 2,000 people ready to boo you. At least at the Correspondents dinner everybodys quiet. Except for maybe Marjorie Taylor Greene, Wood said of Georgias GOP congresswoman, who shouted out during Bidens State of the Union address in February. But I can deal with one heckler. I cant deal with 2,000, Wood chuckled. The comedian said hes not planning for a purely partisan blood bath with his punchlines: I think you have to take shots at lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, otherwise youre not honoring the job. I dont think that we can sit here and act like both parties have been perfect in their duties of serving the American people. Republicans lie, Democrats over-promise, he said. But bigger than just jokes, Wood said, I think its important to understand just how the media works to try and get this right. And just how much budgets and fiscal limitations are slowly suffocating free speech, far more than any policy thats been put on the books by Republicans. If you can get somebody from across the aisle to look at the other side, to look at another table and see someone laughing at themselves and vice versa, then its possible theres a connection that can happen later on after the fact. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. 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. Royals news - latest updates Prince Harry says tabloid press was always third party in his relationships Murdoch firm secretly paid Prince William phone-hacking settlement, court hears Latest hearing in Prince Harrys legal battle with UK press to begin today Proclaimers song removed from Kings coronation playlist Sarah Ferguson reveals why she was not invited to Kings coronation: Youre either in or out Prince Harry says tabloid press was always third party in his relationships Tuesday 25 April 2023 15:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain 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 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. Story continues 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. He claimed that the tabloid press felt like it owned him, despite him only being 5% funded by the taxpayer while he was a working royal. Despite the common misconception, I was no more than 5% funded by the taxpayer while I was a working royal in the UK, yet it felt as though the tabloid press thought that they owned me absolutely, and deserved to know everything there is to know about me, my life, my movements and the lives of those people who came into my orbit, he said. Harry claimed that the tabloid press cast him as a thicko and a cheat, and that he ended up playing up to the headlines they wrote about him. As a teenager and in my early twenties, I ended up feeling as though I was playing up to a lot of the headlines and stereotypes that they wanted to place upon me, he said. It was a downward spiral, whereby the tabloids would constantly try and coax me, a damaged young man, into doing something stupid that would make a good story and sell lots of newspapers. Looking back on it now, such behaviour on their part is utterly vile. He said that the tabloids hoped for him to undergo a total and very public breakdown. Despite them all knowing about what I was dealing with throughout the years, they kept on doubling down their efforts rather than letting up, he said. That is grotesque and sadistic - and no doubt they were hoping for a total and very public breakdown. In court documents, Harry said he tried to be the best partner he could be, but the tabloid press always became involved (PA Wire) Who is in line for the British throne? 05:49 , Andy Gregory When Queen Elizabeth II died last year, Britain bid goodbye to its longest-reigning monarch. In Elizabeths 70 years on the throne, the British line of succession has seen many changes and following the Queens death, her son King Charles III was the next royal to ascend to the throne. The royal line of succession has decided who will be the next king or queen of Great Britain for hundreds of years, and now with new generation of royals, there is a now long list of people who could be our next monarch. Furvah Shah takes a look in this explainer: Who is in line for the British throne? Full report: Prince William paid very large sum by Murdoch firm over phone-hacking 04:38 , Andy Gregory Prince William was paid a very large sum of money by Rupert Murdochs UK newspaper business to settle a phone-hacking claim, the High Court has heard. The Prince of Wales allegedly received the secret payment after bringing a case against News Group Newspapers (NGN), the owners of The Sun and the now defunct News of the World. My colleague Joe Middleton has the full report here: Prince William paid very large sum by Murdoch firm over phone-hacking Watch: The Kings Troop rehearse ahead of coronation on 6 May 03:29 , Andy Gregory What other legal action is Prince Harry taking? 02:21 , Andy Gregory The claim against the Sun publisher is one of a number of legal actions currently being brought by Prince Harry, who appeared in person at the High Court last month for a preliminary hearing against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail On Sunday. He is also expected to give evidence at a trial over allegations of unlawful information against tabloid publisher Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), due to begin next month, with Harry due to appear in court in June. What is the purpose of this weeks hearing? 01:06 , Andy Gregory This weeks hearing in the case against Sun publisher News Group Newspapers is expected to last three days. The judge is determining whether the claims by Prince Harry and actor Hugh Grant should progress to a trial. If it goes ahead, the trial is due to be heard in January next year. Who are the key players at King Charles coronation? Tuesday 25 April 2023 23:58 , Andy Gregory I almost missed the email to bake Harry and Meghans wedding cake Tuesday 25 April 2023 22:49 , Andy Gregory Baker Claire Ptak has told The Independent of how she nearly missed out on the biggest job of her career: making the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs wedding cake. Prudence Wade has the interview here: I almost missed the email to bake Harry and Meghans wedding cake Four things weve learnt so far from Prince Harrys court battle with Sun publisher Tuesday 25 April 2023 21:41 , Andy Gregory Move to America was in large part due to British press, says Prince Harry Tuesday 25 April 2023 20:36 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has said he and his wife Meghan Markles decision to move to America was in large part due to intrusion by the British press. In a wide-ranging 31-page witness statement, Harry made a number of serious allegations against journalists and senior executives at News Group Newspapers, as well as against the wider UK tabloid industry. His move to the US was in large part ... due to the constant intrusion, inciting of hatred and harassment by the UK tabloid press into every aspect of our private lives, he said, adding that the impact on their mental health and wellbeing had been devastating. We were also very concerned for the security and safety of our son, as well as ourselves, said the duke. It is no secret that I have had, and continue to have, a very difficult relationship with the tabloid press in the UK. Why is Harry suing the Sun publisher? Tuesday 25 April 2023 19:31 , Andy Gregory Harry, 38, is suing the publisher over alleged unlawful information gathering at The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World, claiming that his private information was unlawfully accessed from as early as 1994 to as late as 2016. While News Group Newspapers has settled numerous hacking claims in relation to the News Of The World, the publisher denies illegal activity at The Sun. Lawyers for the publisher have launched a bid to have Harrys claim thrown out, along with a similar claim by actor Hugh Grant, on the basis that they have been brought too late. Harry wanted to block journalists from wedding to force an apology from Murdoch Tuesday 25 April 2023 18:35 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry wanted to force an apology from [Rupert] Murdoch for phone-hacking by blocking journalists from his wedding to Meghan Markle, according to his court submissions. The Duke of Sussex claims a secret agreement was struck between the Royal Family and Sun publisher News Group Newspapers in 2012, blocking him from pursuing a legal claim until all other Royal litigation against the company was over, at which point the claims would be admitted or settled with an apology. Three months before his wedding in 2018, the duke asked an official for the latest on the phone hacking, adding: They are running out of time. According to the Evening Standard, he told the official in a second message: The institution is supposed to be leading on this and is being made to look ineffective and weak. I cant begin to tell you what it will say about the institution if this isnt resolved before the baby arrival and wedding. If it isnt resolved, should the Queen be allowing them to Windsor on May 19th? They have NO excuse for not getting this sorted. We all want to draw a line under this but judging by their behaviour thus far, they will pay whatever they can to keep this out of court when it comes to other victims. There needs to be an ultimatum otherwise this institution and everything it stands for becomes a laughing stock. Prince Harry says he is much more interesting to tabloids when he is single Tuesday 25 April 2023 17:21 , Andy Gregory Describing the press as a third party in all of his relationships, Prince Harry said he felt the tabloids wanted him to remain single as he was much more interesting to them, and said their reporting more recently has been even more sinister and dangerous because of race. Whilst they would, of course, report on my successes in life, it seemed to me that they took far greater pleasure in knocking me down, time and time again. This extended to my relationships, he said in court documents. I always felt as if the tabloids wanted me to be single, as I was much more interesting to them and sold more newspapers. Whenever I got into a relationship, they were very keen to report the details but would then, very quickly, seek to try and break it up by putting as much strain on it and creating as much distrust as humanly possible. This twisted objective is still pursued to this day, even though Im now married. The methods relied on of late being even more sinister and dangerous because of race. Prince Harry saw James Murdoch as kindred spirit of sorts Tuesday 25 April 2023 16:18 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Prince Harrys witness statement in the British royals legal battle with Rupert Murdochs UK newspaper arm News Group Newspapers (NGN) contains broadsides against the tabloid press and revelations about his family. The younger son of King Charles is suing the newspaper group at the High Court in London for multiple unlawful acts allegedly committed on behalf of its tabloids, the Sun and now-defunct News of the World, from the mid-1990s until 2016. NGN is seeking to strike out the claims by arguing the prince should have taken action sooner. It also denies anyone from the Sun was involved in any unlawful activity. Below are the key points in Harrys witness statement, which was released to the media on Tuesday: The Queen Harry said that he spoke to his brother Prince William in 2017 about pursuing their phone-hacking claims against NGN to try and force an apology from Murdoch. William was very understanding and supportive and agreed that we needed to do it, Harry said. He therefore suggested that I seek permission from granny. I spoke to (the late Queen Elizabeth) shortly afterwards and said something along the lines of are you happy for me to push this forward, do I have your permission? and she said yes. King Charles III Harry said that royal staff did not support his efforts and that, after he sued NGN and fellow newspaper publisher Mirror Group Newspaper in 2019, he was summoned to Buckingham Palace and specifically told to drop the legal actions. He said the demand to abandon the lawsuits came from his father King Charles and senior royal staff. Prince William Harry claimed that his brother Prince William - who he said settled his claim against NGN for a huge sum of money in 2020, seemingly for going quietly - appeared to know an awful lot more than I did on the subject of phone hacking. Meghan Markle Harry said Meghan, whom he married in 2018, suffered a huge amount of harassment, intimidation and racist and sexist abuse at the hands of the tabloid press from early in their relationship. He spoke of his anger that the main culprits of this abuse were to be invited to their wedding, and told William he wanted a formal apology from Murdoch before any of his people are allowed anywhere near the wedding. Harry also said he brought his own lawsuits in part so Meghan was not on her own while she was suing publisher Associated Newspapers in a separate case. James Murdoch Harry revealed that he spoke to James Murdoch, Ruperts youngest son, after suing NGN and that having broken away from the cult that is the Murdoch dynasty, he was starting to show signs that he wanted to do things differently. Given that he had broken away from his familys history, and I was about to do the same with mine, I felt that we were kindred spirits of sorts, he added. The Press Harry described the tabloid press as the mothership of online trolling, saying he was exposing alleged media wrongdoing to save journalism as a profession. Describing allegations of widespread phone hacking and its concealment, Harry said: This makes them criminals, not journalists, and the Fourth Estate is too important and rightly powerful to have criminals masquerading as journalists running the show. They have lied under oath, perjured themselves in the process and have proven theyaAAre above the law. Everyone seems to be scared of them, especially politicians. Royal family reached secret agreement with publisher of The Sun- continued Tuesday 25 April 2023 15:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain In his witness statement, the Duke of Sussex alleged that it was agreed royals would bring claims at the end of a series of cases about phone hacking and their cases would be resolved without trials. Harry said: My brother and I were also told by either the institutions solicitor, or someone else from the institution, that there was no possibility of either of us bringing a claim against NGN for phone hacking at that time. The rationale behind this was that a secret agreement had been reached between the institution and senior executives at NGN whereby members of the royal family would bring phone hacking claims only at the conclusion of the mobile telephone voicemail interception litigation and at that stage the claims would be admitted or settled with an apology. Harry claimed the agreement was to avoid having a member of the royal family going into a witness box and describing the private and highly sensitive voicemails that had been intercepted. He continued: The institution was incredibly nervous about this and wanted to avoid at all costs the sort of reputational damage that it had suffered in 1993 when The Sun and another tabloid had unlawfully obtained and published details of an intimate telephone conversation that took place between my father and step-mother in 1989, while he was still married to my mother. Harry later said that the alleged agreement including the promises from NGN for delayed resolution was, obviously, a major factor as to why no claim was brought by me at that time. The duke also said: To say that I was frustrated and disappointed would be something of an understatement. (AP) Royal family reached secret agreement with publisher of The Sun Tuesday 25 April 2023 14:41 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A secret agreement was allegedly reached between the institution of the royal family and the publisher of The Sun to prevent William and Harry from bringing phone hacking claims, the High Court has been told. The Duke of Sussex is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World, over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles. On Tuesday, NGN made a bid for a judge to throw out the case, as well as a similar claim brought against the publisher by actor Hugh Grant. Harrys lawyers said the bid is an attempt to go behind a secret agreement between the royal family as an institution and NGN - or its parent companies News UK and News Corp - which the duke was informed of in 2012. The High Court in London heard this alleged agreement prevented the duke and the Prince of Wales from bringing phone hacking claims against the publisher at the time. However, NGN has denied Harrys claim that there was a agreement. (PA Wire) Prince William lays first wreath during Anzac Day dawn service Tuesday 25 April 2023 14:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Prince of Wales commemorated Australia and New Zealands war dead in a dawn service marking Anzac Day on Tuesday 25 April. Hundreds of Australians, New Zealanders, and military personnel watched as William laid a wreath of red poppies and white flowers at Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, London. The message on the wreath read: In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. He wore a red poppy during the service and bowed briefly to the wreath before standing in silent tribute for a few moments. Prince William lays first wreath during Anzac Day dawn service Watch: Harry and Meghan spotted laughing together at Lakers game night before High Court hearing Tuesday 25 April 2023 14:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were spotted enjoying themselves at a Lakers game ahead of the Duke of Sussexs continued legal battle against the UK press. While the hearing is taking place today at the High Court in London, Harry is watching the proceedings via videolink. Background on phone-hacking scandal by Murdoch firm Tuesday 25 April 2023 13:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain In 2012, Murdochs British newspaper group issued an unreserved apology for widespread hacking carried out by journalists at the News of the World which the media mogul had shut down amid a backlash. But it has always rejected any unlawful activity at the Sun which was previously edited by Rebekah Brooks, now chief executive of his British arm, News UK. She has always denied knowledge of phone-hacking and was found not guilty in the 2014 trial of involvement. Last week, Murdochs Fox Corp. settled a U.S. defamation lawsuit for $787.5 million, but reports suggest that figure is dwarfed by the British phone-hacking scandal. In 2021, the media industry magazine, the Press Gazette, estimated that phone-hacking had cost NGN more than 1 billion pounds ($1.24 billion), and in its accounts last year the group stated that it might need to spend a further 100 million pounds. The case is one of four Harry is pursuing against British newspapers. Rupert Murdoch (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Prince Harry takes on Murdoch's UK group over phone-hacking Tuesday 25 April 2023 13:13 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain In a submission to the court, Harrys legal team said the reason he had not brought action before was because a deal had been agreed between NGN and the institution - Buckingham Palace - to hold off any claims until the conclusion of other outstanding phone-hacking litigation. In responding to this bid by NGN to prevent his claims going to trial, the claimant has had to make public the details of this secret agreement, as well as the fact that his brother, His Royal Highness, Prince William, has recently settled his claim against NGN behind the scenes, his lawyers said. They added NGN had settled with William for a very large sum of money in 2020. Williams office said it could not comment on ongoing legal proceedings. During a criminal trial brought against News of the World journalists and others in 2014, its former royal editor Clive Goodman said in the mid-2000s he had hacked the voicemails of Harry as well as those of William, and Williams wife Kate. Her phone was hacked 155 times, William 35 and Harrys nine times, Goodman said. In his witness statement, quoted by his lawyers, the prince said the secret deal was struck to avoid the situation where a member of the royal family would have to sit in the witness box and recount the specific details of the private and highly sensitive voicemails that had been intercepted. Harry said Buckingham Palace wanted to avoid at all costs the reputational damage caused by publication in the 1990s of details of an intimate telephone conversation between Charles and the now Queen Consort Camilla, when his father was still married to his mother Princess Diana. The document also said Harrys grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth, had been involved in discussions and in 2017 had given her permission for him to pursue his case. In his submission, NGNs lawyer Anthony Hudson denied there was any secret agreement between the publisher and the royal family. He argued that, even if there was a deal, it did not affect their case that the lawsuit was brought too late. Harry, who now lives in California, was not in court, but would be watching proceedings by videolink, his lawyer David Sherborne said. Read Duke of Sussexs witness statement in todays hearing Tuesday 25 April 2023 12:34 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain In part of a witness statement prepared for Tuesdays hearing, the Duke of Sussex said: My brother and I were also told by either the institutions solicitor ... or someone else from the institution that there was no possibility of either of us bringing a claim against NGN for phone hacking at that time. The rationale behind this was that a secret agreement had been reached between the institution and senior executives at NGN whereby members of the royal family would bring phone hacking claims only at the conclusion of the Mobile Telephone Voicemail Interception Litigation and at that stage the claims would be admitted or settled with an apology. The reason for this was to avoid the situation where a member of the royal family would have to sit in the witness box and recount the specific details of the private and highly sensitive voicemails that had been intercepted by Clive Goodman. The institution was incredibly nervous about this and wanted to avoid at all costs the sort of reputational damage that it had suffered in 1993 when The Sun and another tabloid had unlawfully obtained and published details of an intimate telephone conversation that took place between my father and stepmother in 1989, while he was still married to my mother. This agreement, including the promises from NGN for delayed resolution was, obviously, a major factor as to why no claim was brought by me at that time. Prince Harry trial: Murdoch firm secretly paid Prince William phone-hacking settlement, court hears Tuesday 25 April 2023 12:19 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Prince of Wales has allegedly recently settled a claim over phone hacking against publisher News Group Newspapers, the High Court has been told. It is the latest hearing in a number of legal battles being fought by the Duke of Sussex against UK press organisations taking place at the High Court in London. Harry is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World, over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles. NGN will ask a judge to throw out the case, as well as a similar claim brought against the publisher by actor Hugh Grant. Prince Harry trial: Murdoch firm secretly paid William phone-hacking settlement Prince William recently settled claim over phone hacking against News Group Newspapers, High Court hears Tuesday 25 April 2023 12:11 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Prince of Wales has allegedly recently settled a claim over phone hacking against publisher News Group Newspapers, the High Court has been told. (PA Wire) Surprise guest blown away by invitation to King Charles coronation Tuesday 25 April 2023 11:19 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A vicar from a parish church in Norfolk has spoken of his surprise after receiving an official invitation to the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla. The Reverend Matthew Price of Gorlestons Mary Magdalene Church in Gorleston, Norfolk, said he was blown away by the illustrations on the invitation, which were designed by artist Andrew Jamieson. Price, 45, became a British Empire Medal recipient in 2020 for his work in the community during the Covid-19 pandemic. A number of recipients have been invited to be part of the 2,000-strong congregation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May. Surprise guest blown away by invitation to King Charles coronation ICYM: Prince Harry set to give evidence in court case against Mirror newspaper publisher Tuesday 25 April 2023 10:17 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain While a legal battle will commence this morning at the High Court in London, another hearing is already scheduled for the summer. The Duke of Sussex is to return to the High Court in June to give evidence in his claim against a tabloid newspaper publisher over phone-hacking allegations. Harry is one of a number of high-profile figures bringing damages claims against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles. The trial of four representative cases is due to begin on May 9 and to last for six to seven weeks. At a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, Julian Santos, for Harry and other figures bringing claims, said all the witnesses on their side would be giving evidence in person. Prince Harry set to give evidence in court case against Mirror newspaper publisher Meghan Markle makes surprise appearance to introduce friends Ted Talk Tuesday 25 April 2023 09:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Duchess of Sussex made a surprise public appearance to introduce a longtime friends Ted Talk. Meghan appeared in a video to introduce photographer Misan Harriman, who was about to deliver his speech. Our next speaker has an unmatched eye for a good photograph, she said. Ive experienced his talent firsthand as he has captured many meaningful milestones for me and my family, and I know there are many others who share in this experience. Photographs of the Sussexes that Harriman has captured include Princess Lilibets first birthday portrait. Meghan Markle makes surprise appearance to introduce friends Ted Talk Latest hearing in Prince Harrys legal battle with UK press to begin today Tuesday 25 April 2023 09:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The latest hearing in a number of legal battles being fought by the Duke of Sussex against UK press organisations is due to take place at the High Court in London. Harry is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World, over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles. NGN will ask a judge to throw out the case, as well as a similar claim brought against the publisher by actor Hugh Grant. Lawyers for the publisher are expected to argue at a hearing on Tuesday, before Mr Justice Fancourt, that Harrys claim was made too late and should be struck out. (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) The hearing is expected to last three days and the judge will determine whether their claims will progress to a trial, which is due to be heard in January next year. The claim is one of a number of legal actions currently being brought by the duke, who appeared in person at the High Court last month for a preliminary hearing against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of The Mail and Mail On Sunday. He is also expected to give evidence at a trial over allegations of unlawful information against tabloid publisher Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), due to begin next month, with Harry due to appear in court in June. The publisher of titles including The Mirror, The Sunday Mirror and The Sunday People, MGN has previously settled a number of claims against it in relation to unlawful information gathering, as has NGN. The Duke of Sussex is involved in other litigation against newspapers and is bringing two separate legal actions against ANL, one over The Mail On Sundays coverage of his judicial review against the Home Office about his security arrangements for his family when they are visiting the UK. The other is over alleged unlawful information gathering at ANL titles, which is being brought alongside other high-profile figures including Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Sir Elton John. Hearings took place last month in both of his legal actions against ANL and rulings are awaited in each. Harry has been outspoken in his criticism of the British press, most recently in his memoir Spare and in a number of television interviews. Tuesdays hearing is due to start at 10.30am. Proclaimers song removed from Kings coronation playlist Monday 24 April 2023 15:34 , Kate Ng A classic song by the Proclaimers has been removed from King Charles IIIs coronation playlist after complaints were received over their anti-monarchy views. Craig Reid and Charlie Reid of the Proclaimers perform at the celebration of the World Premiere of The track, Im Gonna Be (500 Miles), will no longer feature on the official celebration playlist, according to a report. The playlist is compiled by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It includes other tracks such as Daddy Cool by Boney M, Come Together by The Beatles, and Our House by Madness. It previously included Dizzee Rascals Dance Wiv Me, but DCMS removed the song after members of the public pointed out that the grime artist was convicted of assaulting his ex-fiancee. Craig and Charlie Reid of the Proclaimers, who are Scottish, have made their republican views clear over the years. Last year, Charlie spoke out in support of Symon Hill, who shouted: Who elected him? during a proclamation ceremony for the King in Oxford. He was taken away from the event in a police van and he was charged with using threatening or abusive words, or disorderly behaviour. His case was later dropped. Former royal butler explains how Camilla will be feeling ahead of coronation Monday 24 April 2023 14:00 , Ellie Muir Although King Charles III has been preparing for his coronation his entire life, Queen Consort Camillas trajectory has been rather different. Because her life has taken such a different turn, the couples former butler has predicted that Camilla will be nervous on the day both she and the King are crowned. From their 6 May coronation, Camilla will be known as Queen Camilla. Her new title was confirmed in the official coronation invitiations, which was designed by Andrew Jamieson. Read the full story below: Former royal butler explains how Camilla will be feeling ahead of coronation Sarah Ferguson reveals why she was not invited to Kings coronation: Youre either in or out Monday 24 April 2023 13:00 , Ellie Muir Sarah Ferguson has broken her silence about why she wasnt invited to King Charles IIIs coronation next month. The 63-year-old book author confirmed that she wouldnt be attending the event at Westminster Abbey on 6 May during Thursdays episode of ITVsGood Morning Britain. She said she didnt get an invitation and wasnt offended about it, as she and Prince Andrew, who is the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, have been divorced since 1996. Its a state occasion and being divorced, I dont think you can have it both ways, she said. I am divorced, and Im really loving being divorced to my ex-husband, not from my ex-husband, its quite a differentiate. Read the full story below: Sarah Ferguson reveals why she was not invited to Kings coronation Prince Harry was kept out of the loop on alleged phone-hacking by tabloid newspapers, the High Court was told on the second day of a hearing for the Duke of Sussexs claims of illegal information gathering against the publisher of The Sun. The duke understands that the royal household dealt withfears that his voicemail messages had been intercepted while he was serving in Afghanistan, failing to update him with all the information and allegations, David Sherborne, representing Harry, told the court. Mr Sherborne was countering the claim of Anthony Hudson KC, for News Group Newspapers (NGN) that Harry was at the epicentre of hacking claims. Harry said in a statement that Prince William appeared to know an awful lot more than his younger brother about the claims. Lawyers for News Group Newspapers claim there is no hard evidence against The Sun but only general pleas of voicemail interception and phone tapping. Earlier, lawyers for the duke said actor Hugh Grant will tomorrow give evidence in the case. Royals news - latest updates Prince Harry kept out of the loop on alleged phone-hacking Hugh Grant to give evidence tomorrrow King tried to stop Harry taking legal action' Prince Harry says tabloid press was always third party in his relationships Murdoch firm secretly paid Prince William phone-hacking settlement, court hears Prince Harry kept out of the loop on alleged phone-hacking 15:48 , Liam James The Duke of Sussex was kept out of the loop regarding alleged unlawful information gathering by tabloid newspapers in relation to the royal household, the High Court has heard. David Sherborne, representing Harry, told the court on Wednesday that, before 2012, the duke believed there was only one voicemail which his brother left for him that had been intercepted. The barrister said Harry thought the tabloid press wouldnt have been stupid enough to go after his messages, given the security services involvement, and that there were members of royal staff who he was aware believed they had been hacked but he was kept out of the loop. Story continues He was told more in 2012 but that was essentially dealt with by his family, the institution as he described it. That is no criticism of the [late] Queen or his family, that is how it was done and he accepted it. One also has to remember at the times he was on active service in Afghanistan. Lawyers for the publisher claim there is no hard evidence against the paper but only general pleas of voicemail interception and phone tapping by Sun journalists. William and Harry in June 2012 (Getty) Hearing resumes 14:30 , Matt Mathers The hearing has resumed after lunch and Prince Harrys legal team led by David Sherborne, is now bringing a counter argument against claims Hugh Grant knew of phone hacking claims but failed to bring the claim forward earlier. Hugh Grant to appear in court tomorrrow 13:14 , Matt Mathers The lawyer representing Prince Harry and fellow claimants, David Sherborne, is now arguing why he believes The Suns application to have the claims thrown out should be denied, Thomas Kingsley reports. He said that Hugh Grant is watching along by live link and will be in court tomorrow (Thursday). He added that the Duke of Sussex extended his apologies for not attending but is also following by live link. Hugh Grant (CBS) ICYMI: Piers Morgan criticises Harry for attending King Charles coronation: The brass neck 12:30 , Matt Mathers Piers Morgan has hit out at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their decision over King Charles IIIs coronation on 6 May. The Piers Morgan Uncensored host, who previously branded the couple shameless grifters, took aim once again after Buckingham Palace confirmed Prince Harry would attend the coronation but Meghan Markle would not. Kate Ng reports: Piers Morgan criticises Harry for attending King Charles coronation Prince William has no interest in speaking to Prince Harry before Kings coronation 12:03 , Matt Mathers Prince William reportedly has no interest in speaking to Prince Harry before King Charles and Camillas coronation next month. The Duke of Sussex wrote about their fraught relationship in his memoir Spare, which was released in January this year. Harry alleged that William once knocked me to the floor during an argument about Meghan in 2019. Prince William has no interest in speaking to Prince Harry before Kings coronation No hard evidence of phone-hacking - defenence 10:57 , Matt Mathers The court is still going through claims against The Sun, Thomas Kingsley reports. Lawyers for the publisher claim there is no hard evidence against the paper but only general pleas of voicemail interception and phone tapping by Sun journalists. Lawyers claim the allegations brought the Duke of Sussex and the other claimants may point to illegal activity on the part of private investigators but not The Sun newspaper, with the defence denying any commissioning of investigators. Hearing underway 10:40 , Matt Mathers The hearing is underway, the legal team representing The Sun have begun this morning with a recap of the Dukes claims against the publisher, Thomas Kingsley reports. Yesterday the court heard of Prince Williams private settlement with The Sun in 2020 in addition to Prince Harrys efforts to block journalists from attending his wedding in 2018. King tried to stop Harry taking legal action 09:54 , Matt Mathers King Charles tried to stop his son Prince Harry taking legal action against the publisher of The Sun, according to court documents. "I was summoned to Buckingham Palace and specifically told to drop the legal actions because they have an effect on all the family," Prince Harry said. "This was a direct request (or rather demand) from my father, Edward Young and my fathers private secretary, Clive Alderton." King Charles Harry makes Meghan giggle as couple appear on Jumborton at Lakers game 07:35 , Matt Mathers The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were spotted on a date night in Los Angeles on Monday night, as Prince Harry prepares to attend his fathers coronation in less than two weeks. Harry and Meghan Markle were broadcast on the Crypto.com Arenas Jumbotron during the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Memphis Grizzlies. A clip of the couple shared on social media showed Meghan giggling as Harry appears to lean towards her for a kiss. Kate Ng reports: Meghan appears to dodge Harrys advances as couple appear on Jumbotron at Lakers game Queen backed my bid to seek apology from Rupert Murdoch, says Prince Harry 06:58 , PA The High Court has been told that the late Queen backed the Duke of Sussexs bid for an apology from media mogul Rupert Murdoch but were blocked by Charles staff, reports Jess Glass. Prince Harry is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN) over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles. In his written statement, the duke said he was angry about appalling treatment his wife had faced from Murdoch-owned newspapers and was frustrated about a lack of progress on phone hacking. Harry said his brother, the Prince of Wales, was very understanding and supportive and agreed that we needed to do it and suggested that I seek permission from granny - the late Queen. The duke continued: I spoke to her shortly afterwards and said something along the lines of: Are you happy for me to push this forward, do I have your permission? And she said: Yes. Harry said the Queens then-director of communications Sally Osman was then given the green light to approach senior executives at NGN on behalf of the institution, Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, William and me, to broker a resolution and an apology from Mr Murdoch. However, Harry claimed that there was very little support from the Queens private secretary, as well as staff from Buckingham Palace and Clarence House despite my grandmother having given her consent. Who is in line for the British throne? 05:49 , Andy Gregory When Queen Elizabeth II died last year, Britain bid goodbye to its longest-reigning monarch. In Elizabeths 70 years on the throne, the British line of succession has seen many changes and following the Queens death, her son King Charles III was the next royal to ascend to the throne. The royal line of succession has decided who will be the next king or queen of Great Britain for hundreds of years, and now with new generation of royals, there is a now long list of people who could be our next monarch. Furvah Shah takes a look in this explainer: Who is in line for the British throne? Full report: Prince William paid very large sum by Murdoch firm over phone-hacking 04:38 , Andy Gregory Prince William was paid a very large sum of money by Rupert Murdochs UK newspaper business to settle a phone-hacking claim, the High Court has heard. The Prince of Wales allegedly received the secret payment after bringing a case against News Group Newspapers (NGN), the owners of The Sun and the now defunct News of the World. My colleague Joe Middleton has the full report here: Prince William paid very large sum by Murdoch firm over phone-hacking Watch: The Kings Troop rehearse ahead of coronation on 6 May 03:29 , Andy Gregory What other legal action is Prince Harry taking? 02:21 , Andy Gregory The claim against the Sun publisher is one of a number of legal actions currently being brought by Prince Harry, who appeared in person at the High Court last month for a preliminary hearing against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail On Sunday. He is also expected to give evidence at a trial over allegations of unlawful information against tabloid publisher Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), due to begin next month, with Harry due to appear in court in June. What is the purpose of this weeks hearing? 01:06 , Andy Gregory This weeks hearing in the case against Sun publisher News Group Newspapers is expected to last three days. The judge is determining whether the claims by Prince Harry and actor Hugh Grant should progress to a trial. If it goes ahead, the trial is due to be heard in January next year. Who are the key players at King Charles coronation? Tuesday 25 April 2023 23:58 , Andy Gregory I almost missed the email to bake Harry and Meghans wedding cake Tuesday 25 April 2023 22:49 , Andy Gregory Baker Claire Ptak has told The Independent of how she nearly missed out on the biggest job of her career: making the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs wedding cake. Prudence Wade has the interview here: I almost missed the email to bake Harry and Meghans wedding cake Four things weve learnt so far from Prince Harrys court battle with Sun publisher Tuesday 25 April 2023 21:41 , Andy Gregory Move to America was in large part due to British press, says Prince Harry Tuesday 25 April 2023 20:36 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has said he and his wife Meghan Markles decision to move to America was in large part due to intrusion by the British press. In a wide-ranging 31-page witness statement, Harry made a number of serious allegations against journalists and senior executives at News Group Newspapers, as well as against the wider UK tabloid industry. His move to the US was in large part ... due to the constant intrusion, inciting of hatred and harassment by the UK tabloid press into every aspect of our private lives, he said, adding that the impact on their mental health and wellbeing had been devastating. We were also very concerned for the security and safety of our son, as well as ourselves, said the duke. It is no secret that I have had, and continue to have, a very difficult relationship with the tabloid press in the UK. Why is Harry suing the Sun publisher? Tuesday 25 April 2023 19:31 , Andy Gregory Harry, 38, is suing the publisher over alleged unlawful information gathering at The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World, claiming that his private information was unlawfully accessed from as early as 1994 to as late as 2016. While News Group Newspapers has settled numerous hacking claims in relation to the News Of The World, the publisher denies illegal activity at The Sun. Lawyers for the publisher have launched a bid to have Harrys claim thrown out, along with a similar claim by actor Hugh Grant, on the basis that they have been brought too late. Harry wanted to block journalists from wedding to force an apology from Murdoch Tuesday 25 April 2023 18:35 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry wanted to force an apology from [Rupert] Murdoch for phone-hacking by blocking journalists from his wedding to Meghan Markle, according to his court submissions. The Duke of Sussex claims a secret agreement was struck between the Royal Family and Sun publisher News Group Newspapers in 2012, blocking him from pursuing a legal claim until all other Royal litigation against the company was over, at which point the claims would be admitted or settled with an apology. Three months before his wedding in 2018, the duke asked an official for the latest on the phone hacking, adding: They are running out of time. According to the Evening Standard, he told the official in a second message: The institution is supposed to be leading on this and is being made to look ineffective and weak. I cant begin to tell you what it will say about the institution if this isnt resolved before the baby arrival and wedding. If it isnt resolved, should the Queen be allowing them to Windsor on May 19th? They have NO excuse for not getting this sorted. We all want to draw a line under this but judging by their behaviour thus far, they will pay whatever they can to keep this out of court when it comes to other victims. There needs to be an ultimatum otherwise this institution and everything it stands for becomes a laughing stock. Prince Harry says he is much more interesting to tabloids when he is single Tuesday 25 April 2023 17:21 , Andy Gregory Describing the press as a third party in all of his relationships, Prince Harry said he felt the tabloids wanted him to remain single as he was much more interesting to them, and said their reporting more recently has been even more sinister and dangerous because of race. Whilst they would, of course, report on my successes in life, it seemed to me that they took far greater pleasure in knocking me down, time and time again. This extended to my relationships, he said in court documents. I always felt as if the tabloids wanted me to be single, as I was much more interesting to them and sold more newspapers. Whenever I got into a relationship, they were very keen to report the details but would then, very quickly, seek to try and break it up by putting as much strain on it and creating as much distrust as humanly possible. This twisted objective is still pursued to this day, even though Im now married. The methods relied on of late being even more sinister and dangerous because of race. Prince Harry saw James Murdoch as kindred spirit of sorts Tuesday 25 April 2023 16:18 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Prince Harrys witness statement in the British royals legal battle with Rupert Murdochs UK newspaper arm News Group Newspapers (NGN) contains broadsides against the tabloid press and revelations about his family. The younger son of King Charles is suing the newspaper group at the High Court in London for multiple unlawful acts allegedly committed on behalf of its tabloids, the Sun and now-defunct News of the World, from the mid-1990s until 2016. NGN is seeking to strike out the claims by arguing the prince should have taken action sooner. It also denies anyone from the Sun was involved in any unlawful activity. Below are the key points in Harrys witness statement, which was released to the media on Tuesday: The Queen Harry said that he spoke to his brother Prince William in 2017 about pursuing their phone-hacking claims against NGN to try and force an apology from Murdoch. William was very understanding and supportive and agreed that we needed to do it, Harry said. He therefore suggested that I seek permission from granny. I spoke to (the late Queen Elizabeth) shortly afterwards and said something along the lines of are you happy for me to push this forward, do I have your permission? and she said yes. King Charles III Harry said that royal staff did not support his efforts and that, after he sued NGN and fellow newspaper publisher Mirror Group Newspaper in 2019, he was summoned to Buckingham Palace and specifically told to drop the legal actions. He said the demand to abandon the lawsuits came from his father King Charles and senior royal staff. Prince William Harry claimed that his brother Prince William - who he said settled his claim against NGN for a huge sum of money in 2020, seemingly for going quietly - appeared to know an awful lot more than I did on the subject of phone hacking. Meghan Markle Harry said Meghan, whom he married in 2018, suffered a huge amount of harassment, intimidation and racist and sexist abuse at the hands of the tabloid press from early in their relationship. He spoke of his anger that the main culprits of this abuse were to be invited to their wedding, and told William he wanted a formal apology from Murdoch before any of his people are allowed anywhere near the wedding. Harry also said he brought his own lawsuits in part so Meghan was not on her own while she was suing publisher Associated Newspapers in a separate case. James Murdoch Harry revealed that he spoke to James Murdoch, Ruperts youngest son, after suing NGN and that having broken away from the cult that is the Murdoch dynasty, he was starting to show signs that he wanted to do things differently. Given that he had broken away from his familys history, and I was about to do the same with mine, I felt that we were kindred spirits of sorts, he added. The Press Harry described the tabloid press as the mothership of online trolling, saying he was exposing alleged media wrongdoing to save journalism as a profession. Describing allegations of widespread phone hacking and its concealment, Harry said: This makes them criminals, not journalists, and the Fourth Estate is too important and rightly powerful to have criminals masquerading as journalists running the show. They have lied under oath, perjured themselves in the process and have proven theyaAAre above the law. Everyone seems to be scared of them, especially politicians. Prince Harry says tabloid press was always third party in his relationships Tuesday 25 April 2023 15:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain 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 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. He claimed that the tabloid press felt like it owned him, despite him only being 5% funded by the taxpayer while he was a working royal. Despite the common misconception, I was no more than 5% funded by the taxpayer while I was a working royal in the UK, yet it felt as though the tabloid press thought that they owned me absolutely, and deserved to know everything there is to know about me, my life, my movements and the lives of those people who came into my orbit, he said. Harry claimed that the tabloid press cast him as a thicko and a cheat, and that he ended up playing up to the headlines they wrote about him. As a teenager and in my early twenties, I ended up feeling as though I was playing up to a lot of the headlines and stereotypes that they wanted to place upon me, he said. It was a downward spiral, whereby the tabloids would constantly try and coax me, a damaged young man, into doing something stupid that would make a good story and sell lots of newspapers. Looking back on it now, such behaviour on their part is utterly vile. He said that the tabloids hoped for him to undergo a total and very public breakdown. Despite them all knowing about what I was dealing with throughout the years, they kept on doubling down their efforts rather than letting up, he said. That is grotesque and sadistic - and no doubt they were hoping for a total and very public breakdown. In court documents, Harry said he tried to be the best partner he could be, but the tabloid press always became involved (PA Wire) Royal family reached secret agreement with publisher of The Sun- continued Tuesday 25 April 2023 15:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain In his witness statement, the Duke of Sussex alleged that it was agreed royals would bring claims at the end of a series of cases about phone hacking and their cases would be resolved without trials. Harry said: My brother and I were also told by either the institutions solicitor, or someone else from the institution, that there was no possibility of either of us bringing a claim against NGN for phone hacking at that time. The rationale behind this was that a secret agreement had been reached between the institution and senior executives at NGN whereby members of the royal family would bring phone hacking claims only at the conclusion of the mobile telephone voicemail interception litigation and at that stage the claims would be admitted or settled with an apology. Harry claimed the agreement was to avoid having a member of the royal family going into a witness box and describing the private and highly sensitive voicemails that had been intercepted. He continued: The institution was incredibly nervous about this and wanted to avoid at all costs the sort of reputational damage that it had suffered in 1993 when The Sun and another tabloid had unlawfully obtained and published details of an intimate telephone conversation that took place between my father and step-mother in 1989, while he was still married to my mother. Harry later said that the alleged agreement including the promises from NGN for delayed resolution was, obviously, a major factor as to why no claim was brought by me at that time. The duke also said: To say that I was frustrated and disappointed would be something of an understatement. (AP) Royal family reached secret agreement with publisher of The Sun Tuesday 25 April 2023 14:41 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A secret agreement was allegedly reached between the institution of the royal family and the publisher of The Sun to prevent William and Harry from bringing phone hacking claims, the High Court has been told. The Duke of Sussex is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World, over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles. On Tuesday, NGN made a bid for a judge to throw out the case, as well as a similar claim brought against the publisher by actor Hugh Grant. Harrys lawyers said the bid is an attempt to go behind a secret agreement between the royal family as an institution and NGN - or its parent companies News UK and News Corp - which the duke was informed of in 2012. The High Court in London heard this alleged agreement prevented the duke and the Prince of Wales from bringing phone hacking claims against the publisher at the time. However, NGN has denied Harrys claim that there was a agreement. (PA Wire) Prince William lays first wreath during Anzac Day dawn service Tuesday 25 April 2023 14:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Prince of Wales commemorated Australia and New Zealands war dead in a dawn service marking Anzac Day on Tuesday 25 April. Hundreds of Australians, New Zealanders, and military personnel watched as William laid a wreath of red poppies and white flowers at Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, London. The message on the wreath read: In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. He wore a red poppy during the service and bowed briefly to the wreath before standing in silent tribute for a few moments. Prince William lays first wreath during Anzac Day dawn service Watch: Harry and Meghan spotted laughing together at Lakers game night before High Court hearing Tuesday 25 April 2023 14:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were spotted enjoying themselves at a Lakers game ahead of the Duke of Sussexs continued legal battle against the UK press. While the hearing is taking place today at the High Court in London, Harry is watching the proceedings via videolink. Background on phone-hacking scandal by Murdoch firm Tuesday 25 April 2023 13:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain In 2012, Murdochs British newspaper group issued an unreserved apology for widespread hacking carried out by journalists at the News of the World which the media mogul had shut down amid a backlash. But it has always rejected any unlawful activity at the Sun which was previously edited by Rebekah Brooks, now chief executive of his British arm, News UK. She has always denied knowledge of phone-hacking and was found not guilty in the 2014 trial of involvement. Last week, Murdochs Fox Corp. settled a U.S. defamation lawsuit for $787.5 million, but reports suggest that figure is dwarfed by the British phone-hacking scandal. In 2021, the media industry magazine, the Press Gazette, estimated that phone-hacking had cost NGN more than 1 billion pounds ($1.24 billion), and in its accounts last year the group stated that it might need to spend a further 100 million pounds. The case is one of four Harry is pursuing against British newspapers. Rupert Murdoch (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Prince Harry takes on Murdoch's UK group over phone-hacking Tuesday 25 April 2023 13:13 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain In a submission to the court, Harrys legal team said the reason he had not brought action before was because a deal had been agreed between NGN and the institution - Buckingham Palace - to hold off any claims until the conclusion of other outstanding phone-hacking litigation. In responding to this bid by NGN to prevent his claims going to trial, the claimant has had to make public the details of this secret agreement, as well as the fact that his brother, His Royal Highness, Prince William, has recently settled his claim against NGN behind the scenes, his lawyers said. They added NGN had settled with William for a very large sum of money in 2020. Williams office said it could not comment on ongoing legal proceedings. During a criminal trial brought against News of the World journalists and others in 2014, its former royal editor Clive Goodman said in the mid-2000s he had hacked the voicemails of Harry as well as those of William, and Williams wife Kate. Her phone was hacked 155 times, William 35 and Harrys nine times, Goodman said. In his witness statement, quoted by his lawyers, the prince said the secret deal was struck to avoid the situation where a member of the royal family would have to sit in the witness box and recount the specific details of the private and highly sensitive voicemails that had been intercepted. Harry said Buckingham Palace wanted to avoid at all costs the reputational damage caused by publication in the 1990s of details of an intimate telephone conversation between Charles and the now Queen Consort Camilla, when his father was still married to his mother Princess Diana. The document also said Harrys grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth, had been involved in discussions and in 2017 had given her permission for him to pursue his case. In his submission, NGNs lawyer Anthony Hudson denied there was any secret agreement between the publisher and the royal family. He argued that, even if there was a deal, it did not affect their case that the lawsuit was brought too late. Harry, who now lives in California, was not in court, but would be watching proceedings by videolink, his lawyer David Sherborne said. Read Duke of Sussexs witness statement in todays hearing Tuesday 25 April 2023 12:34 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain In part of a witness statement prepared for Tuesdays hearing, the Duke of Sussex said: My brother and I were also told by either the institutions solicitor ... or someone else from the institution that there was no possibility of either of us bringing a claim against NGN for phone hacking at that time. The rationale behind this was that a secret agreement had been reached between the institution and senior executives at NGN whereby members of the royal family would bring phone hacking claims only at the conclusion of the Mobile Telephone Voicemail Interception Litigation and at that stage the claims would be admitted or settled with an apology. The reason for this was to avoid the situation where a member of the royal family would have to sit in the witness box and recount the specific details of the private and highly sensitive voicemails that had been intercepted by Clive Goodman. The institution was incredibly nervous about this and wanted to avoid at all costs the sort of reputational damage that it had suffered in 1993 when The Sun and another tabloid had unlawfully obtained and published details of an intimate telephone conversation that took place between my father and stepmother in 1989, while he was still married to my mother. This agreement, including the promises from NGN for delayed resolution was, obviously, a major factor as to why no claim was brought by me at that time. Prince Harry trial: Murdoch firm secretly paid Prince William phone-hacking settlement, court hears Tuesday 25 April 2023 12:19 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Prince of Wales has allegedly recently settled a claim over phone hacking against publisher News Group Newspapers, the High Court has been told. It is the latest hearing in a number of legal battles being fought by the Duke of Sussex against UK press organisations taking place at the High Court in London. Harry is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World, over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles. NGN will ask a judge to throw out the case, as well as a similar claim brought against the publisher by actor Hugh Grant. Prince Harry trial: Murdoch firm secretly paid William phone-hacking settlement Prince William recently settled claim over phone hacking against News Group Newspapers, High Court hears Tuesday 25 April 2023 12:11 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Prince of Wales has allegedly recently settled a claim over phone hacking against publisher News Group Newspapers, the High Court has been told. (PA Wire) Surprise guest blown away by invitation to King Charles coronation Tuesday 25 April 2023 11:19 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A vicar from a parish church in Norfolk has spoken of his surprise after receiving an official invitation to the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla. The Reverend Matthew Price of Gorlestons Mary Magdalene Church in Gorleston, Norfolk, said he was blown away by the illustrations on the invitation, which were designed by artist Andrew Jamieson. Price, 45, became a British Empire Medal recipient in 2020 for his work in the community during the Covid-19 pandemic. A number of recipients have been invited to be part of the 2,000-strong congregation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May. Surprise guest blown away by invitation to King Charles coronation ICYM: Prince Harry set to give evidence in court case against Mirror newspaper publisher Tuesday 25 April 2023 10:17 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain While a legal battle will commence this morning at the High Court in London, another hearing is already scheduled for the summer. The Duke of Sussex is to return to the High Court in June to give evidence in his claim against a tabloid newspaper publisher over phone-hacking allegations. Harry is one of a number of high-profile figures bringing damages claims against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles. The trial of four representative cases is due to begin on May 9 and to last for six to seven weeks. At a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, Julian Santos, for Harry and other figures bringing claims, said all the witnesses on their side would be giving evidence in person. Prince Harry set to give evidence in court case against Mirror newspaper publisher Meghan Markle makes surprise appearance to introduce friends Ted Talk Tuesday 25 April 2023 09:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Duchess of Sussex made a surprise public appearance to introduce a longtime friends Ted Talk. Meghan appeared in a video to introduce photographer Misan Harriman, who was about to deliver his speech. Our next speaker has an unmatched eye for a good photograph, she said. Ive experienced his talent firsthand as he has captured many meaningful milestones for me and my family, and I know there are many others who share in this experience. Photographs of the Sussexes that Harriman has captured include Princess Lilibets first birthday portrait. Meghan Markle makes surprise appearance to introduce friends Ted Talk Latest hearing in Prince Harrys legal battle with UK press to begin today Tuesday 25 April 2023 09:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The latest hearing in a number of legal battles being fought by the Duke of Sussex against UK press organisations is due to take place at the High Court in London. Harry is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World, over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles. NGN will ask a judge to throw out the case, as well as a similar claim brought against the publisher by actor Hugh Grant. Lawyers for the publisher are expected to argue at a hearing on Tuesday, before Mr Justice Fancourt, that Harrys claim was made too late and should be struck out. (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) The hearing is expected to last three days and the judge will determine whether their claims will progress to a trial, which is due to be heard in January next year. The claim is one of a number of legal actions currently being brought by the duke, who appeared in person at the High Court last month for a preliminary hearing against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of The Mail and Mail On Sunday. He is also expected to give evidence at a trial over allegations of unlawful information against tabloid publisher Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), due to begin next month, with Harry due to appear in court in June. The publisher of titles including The Mirror, The Sunday Mirror and The Sunday People, MGN has previously settled a number of claims against it in relation to unlawful information gathering, as has NGN. The Duke of Sussex is involved in other litigation against newspapers and is bringing two separate legal actions against ANL, one over The Mail On Sundays coverage of his judicial review against the Home Office about his security arrangements for his family when they are visiting the UK. The other is over alleged unlawful information gathering at ANL titles, which is being brought alongside other high-profile figures including Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Sir Elton John. Hearings took place last month in both of his legal actions against ANL and rulings are awaited in each. Harry has been outspoken in his criticism of the British press, most recently in his memoir Spare and in a number of television interviews. Tuesdays hearing is due to start at 10.30am. Proclaimers song removed from Kings coronation playlist Monday 24 April 2023 15:34 , Kate Ng A classic song by the Proclaimers has been removed from King Charles IIIs coronation playlist after complaints were received over their anti-monarchy views. Craig Reid and Charlie Reid of the Proclaimers perform at the celebration of the World Premiere of The track, Im Gonna Be (500 Miles), will no longer feature on the official celebration playlist, according to a report. The playlist is compiled by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It includes other tracks such as Daddy Cool by Boney M, Come Together by The Beatles, and Our House by Madness. It previously included Dizzee Rascals Dance Wiv Me, but DCMS removed the song after members of the public pointed out that the grime artist was convicted of assaulting his ex-fiancee. Craig and Charlie Reid of the Proclaimers, who are Scottish, have made their republican views clear over the years. Last year, Charlie spoke out in support of Symon Hill, who shouted: Who elected him? during a proclamation ceremony for the King in Oxford. He was taken away from the event in a police van and he was charged with using threatening or abusive words, or disorderly behaviour. His case was later dropped. Former royal butler explains how Camilla will be feeling ahead of coronation Monday 24 April 2023 14:00 , Ellie Muir Although King Charles III has been preparing for his coronation his entire life, Queen Consort Camillas trajectory has been rather different. Because her life has taken such a different turn, the couples former butler has predicted that Camilla will be nervous on the day both she and the King are crowned. From their 6 May coronation, Camilla will be known as Queen Camilla. Her new title was confirmed in the official coronation invitiations, which was designed by Andrew Jamieson. Read the full story below: Former royal butler explains how Camilla will be feeling ahead of coronation Sarah Ferguson reveals why she was not invited to Kings coronation: Youre either in or out Monday 24 April 2023 13:00 , Ellie Muir Sarah Ferguson has broken her silence about why she wasnt invited to King Charles IIIs coronation next month. The 63-year-old book author confirmed that she wouldnt be attending the event at Westminster Abbey on 6 May during Thursdays episode of ITVsGood Morning Britain. She said she didnt get an invitation and wasnt offended about it, as she and Prince Andrew, who is the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, have been divorced since 1996. Its a state occasion and being divorced, I dont think you can have it both ways, she said. I am divorced, and Im really loving being divorced to my ex-husband, not from my ex-husband, its quite a differentiate. Read the full story below: Sarah Ferguson reveals why she was not invited to Kings coronation A man dressed in running gear was found dead Wednesday morning in a Rancho Cordova canal, according to the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District. Shortly after a call to dispatch around 7:50 a.m., the man was found in the Folsom South Canal near White Rock Road and Sunrise Boulevard, Metro Fire spokesman Capt. Parker Wilbourn said. He was pulled from the water and pronounced dead at the scene. Wilbourn initially said the deceased victim appeared to be potentially preparing for an upcoming run and that he was wearing jogging attire. Wilbourn said later Wednesday morning that the death investigation would be handed over to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office following additional findings at the scene. Sheriffs Office spokesman Sgt. Amar Gandhi said that as of 9:30 a.m. sheriffs officials were not investigating the death as suspicious. No other details were available regarding the circumstances leading up to the death. The Coroners Office will release the mans identity following notification of family. High-level meetings in Washington and New York this week could have wide-reaching implications for the war between Ukraine and Russia, geopolitical hotspots like Taiwan and the South Pacific, and the global economy and international finance. With Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the U.N. to preside over the Security Council and meet with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and Guterres then traveling to Washington to visit lawmakers and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, new diplomatic initiatives regarding the 14-month-old war are underway. Amid that diplomacy, perhaps the most significant development in the war this week was a call Wednesday between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who hadnt spoken during the conflict so far due to Chinas general alignment with Russia. Guterres was scheduled to meet Wednesday with the top appropriators in the Senate, Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), the secretary-generals spokespersons office said. Those were followed by meetings with House appropriators Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) and ranking member Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), as well as House Foreign Affairs Committee leaders Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.). Meetings were likely to touch on Ukraine or other topics, like the conflict in Sudan. The U.S. has been a staunch ally of Ukraine and the top international donor to the Ukrainian war effort since the war began, with more than $75 billion given as of February in military, humanitarian and financial aid to the country. According to the German Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the U.S. spent around $48 billion on military aid, around $27 billion on financial and administrative support, and around $4 billion on humanitarian aid between January 2022 and February 2023. The meeting between Guterres and Blinken on Thursday was discussed at the United Nations on Tuesday. Story continues Earlier this month, Blinken authorized an additional tranche of $325 million in military support for Ukraine that included artillery rounds, rockets, small arms and anti-armor systems. We will continue to stand with our Ukrainian partners in response to Russias continued war of aggression, Blinken said in an April 19 statement. This new security assistance will enable Ukraine to continue to bravely defend itself in the face of Russias brutal, unprovoked and unjustified war. Russia could end its war today. Until Russia does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine for as long as it takes. A readout of the call between Zelensky and Xi, as reported and translated by China analyst Bill Bishop, cautions against the dangers of nuclear war in the context of the Ukraine war and encourages negotiations. Dialogue and negotiation are the only way out. There are no winners in a nuclear war. Regarding nuclear issues, all relevant parties should maintain calm and restraint, truly consider their own and the future of all humanity, and work together to manage and control the crisis, the Chinese readout of the call says, according to Bishop. Bishop reported that China will be sending an envoy to Ukraine and other countries in the region to facilitate talks and work toward a settlement. Xi Jinping finally held a call with Ukraine President Zelensky, and according to the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] readout China will send its special representative on Eurasian affairs to Ukraine and other countries to conduct in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the crisis, Bishop wrote in an analysis. The call between Xi and Zelensky came in the wake of remarkable comments last Friday on French television by the Chinese ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, who questioned the sovereignty of ex-Soviet states. Those comments followed remarks earlier this month by French President Emmanuel Macron, who had concluded a state visit to China and cautioned against European overreliance on the U.S. that could obstruct European strategic autonomy. Macrons comments were first reported in English by Politico. If diplomatic tides in the war in Ukraine are now shifting, they are sure to be felt in the Black Sea, where the future of a trade and humanitarian corridor hangs in the balance. Russian and Ukrainian agricultural products, which are vital to world markets and affect global food prices, have been transiting through this corridor. Experts have also noted the symbolic importance of the corridor, which was negotiated under the auspices of Turkey and the United Nations as an indication that international cooperation can still take place during times of war. Yesterday, Antonio Guterres told me that on the global markets, there are acute shortages of fertilizer, specifically from the ammonia group. Nobody thought about this up until very recently at the last moment, Lavrov told reporters at the United Nations on Tuesday. Lavrov also suggested it was important for his countrys agricultural bank, Rosselkhozbank, to be readmitted to the international bank transfer system, known as SWIFT. Either you want to systemically resolve the issue of food shortages on the global market, [in which case] theres a need simply to bring our bank back into the fold of the SWIFT system. Or you want every time for us and the U.N. Secretary-General to run back and forth and to plead with any given U.S. financial structure for them to be so magnanimous you understand that cannot work and it will not work, Lavrov said. While peace in one part of the world does not imply peace in another, international diplomats often emphasize the importance of de-escalation in general for alleviating regional conflicts. We all want the resolution to correspond to a peaceful environment, Guterres said regarding tensions around Taiwan during a visit to Tokyo last year, as reported by the Japanese publication Nikkei. Its very important to appeal, first of all, to common sense, and then to restrain allowing for the de-escalation. Members of Congress have been concerned about how the conflict in Ukraine could reverberate across the world and affect other areas of geopolitical tension, even as far away as the Pacific Ocean. Updated at 6:47 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A cargo ship waiting to be inspected for entry into the Bosphorus Strait, October, 2012 Read also: Ukrzaliznytsia resumes grain transit through Poland According to the report, Russian representatives in Istanbul's joint coordination center refused to approve the movement of vessels to and from Ukrainian seaports through the humanitarian corridor. Due to this decision, four ships, including the vessel AKDENIZ-M, chartered by the UN World Food Program for delivering wheat to Ethiopia, were unable to leave Ukrainian ports in and around Odesa. Another vessel, currently located near Romanias Sulina, is waiting for permission to enter the port of Odessa. Additionally, the navy has denied false reports that Kyiv is behind the apparent blockage in food exports from Ukraine to the rest of the world. Read also: Major natural food producer to expand in western Ukraine, open retail chain Ukraine consistently fulfills all its obligations within the framework of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and makes maximum efforts to support and expand the grain and related food exports by sea, in the interests of our state," the message reads. Read also: Grain transport resumes through Poland, funding to re-open airspace, why Putin invaded The message notes that, according to UN data, the grain corridor has already facilitated the delivery 28.9 million tons of agricultural products to African, Asian, and European countries. On March 18th, Ukrainian Deputy OM Oleksandr Kubrakov announced the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative for another 120 days. On April 24th, the Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of "violating" the grain agreement by launching drone attacks on occupied Sevastopol, Crimea. The Russian side, which regularly tries to disrupt the agreement, said there is a "threat to the next extension of the agreement beyond May 18." Read also: Whats the deal with the grain ban by Ukraines allies? expert analysis The Ukrainian military maintains that any strikes on Crimea include exclusively military targets. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russia is currently using about 369,000 soldiers and approximately 5,900 units of heavy weaponry in the war against the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Source: Military Media Center, which operates under the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine Details: According to the latest data, Russia has deployed up to 48 brigades and 122 regiments in the hostilities against Ukraine; the occupation forces amount to about 315 formations. In total, Russia is using about 369,000 fighters and about 5,900 units of heavy weaponry against Ukrainian troops. Quote: "The long-term plans of the Kremlin, according to available information, remain unchanged to force the leadership of Ukraine to negotiate. To achieve this, the occupiers will soon focus their efforts on conducting offensive operations with the aim of ousting the Defence Forces from important centres of Donetsk Oblast: Bakhmut remains the primary goal of the enemy, namely establishing complete control over this city; The enemy will also continue to try to capture other cities in the oblast Avdiivka and Marinka. At the same time, it seems extremely unlikely that Russia will conduct offensive operations from the Belarusian front in the near future. However, the aggressor will continue to threaten Ukraines civilian and military infrastructure by launching large-scale missile attacks. Thus, Russia continues the full-scale armed aggression and, based on the latest information, has not given up its plans to destroy Ukraine as an independent state." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! An alleged conversation between Russian billionaire Roman Trotsenko and businessman Nikolay Matushevsky has been leaked online. The phrase "Russia, which we love so sincerely, has now ein the clutches of some scumbags," is heard in the conversation. Source: Nastoyashchee Vremya TV (Current Time), a Russian news outlet; audio recording on the Youtube channel of Nastoyashchee Vremya Quote: Sistema (a Nastoyashchee Vremya and Radio Svoboda investigative project) has acquired correspondence containing a link to a publicly available audio recording of a conversation, allegedly featuring billionaire Roman Trotsenko. The person he was speaking to was not specified in the letter, but judging by the conversation, he may be businessman Nikolay Matushevsky. Details: Nastoyashchee Vremya TV recalled that Trotsenko is the former president of the United Shipbuilding Corporation and former adviser to Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, one of the businessmen relatively close to Vladimir Putin. Matushevsky is an old friend of Trotsenko and the creator of the Moscow design factory Flakon. He publicly sympathises with the opposition, for example posting a video of protests in Moscow in 2021 on Instagram. After a Sistema journalist contacted Matushevsky, he said that he did not know what it was about and asked for a link to the recording. After about 40 minutes [the recording itself lasts for the same amount of time ed.], Matushevsky said that "this conversation did not take place". He added that the last time he spoke with Trotsenko was in 2022 and he definitely never discussed politics. "I think it's a fake or someone's silly joke using AI [artificial intelligence]," Matushevsky added. There are several facts that could prove that the recording may be genuine. Firstly, during the conversation, Matushevsky claims that he is in Bali, which is confirmed by photos from his Instagram. Secondly, the phone number from which Roman allegedly called [a source provided this to Sistema ed.] corresponds to Trotsenko's number, which is available to the editorial office. Thirdly, the details in the conversation match the information about the businessmen. For instance, Roman calls himself "Roman Viktorovich" and says that he will be 62 years old in ten years. In addition, Nikolay repeatedly talks about projects at Flakon, which he owned until 2021. Story continues However, no one has officially confirmed the authenticity of this audio recording yet, and it would be possible to say with relative certainty that the men's voices belong to Trotsenko and Matushevsky only after a professional audio assessment. The dialogue between Trotsenko and Matushevsky allegedly took place at the beginning of January 2023. In the first part of the conversation, two men, who call each other Kolya and Roma, discuss a holiday in Bali. Kolya tells Roma that there are many investors and opportunities on the island. "I have been having a hard time in Russia recently, I understood that something was wrong, there was nothing to do there," Kolya complains, and the person whose voice the leakers attribute to Trotsenko agrees. After that, Kolya details his new project, AirBNB for Business. "It's the right thing to do, we don't need to remember what it was like in Russia. That's gone and won't ever be there again. This is no longer there and will never be again," Roma approves of the idea and notes that in Indonesia, "everything will grow tenfold in ten years, and in Russia it will halve". Then, the friends have a long discussion about them moving and their children, infrastructure in Bali and personal affairs, but eventually, the conversation turns to discussing the war and the situation in Russia. "Unfortunately, Russia, which we love so sincerely, has ended up in the clutches of some scumbags... Who profess... some strange compositions... from the 19th century. This can't end well, it will end in hell... People will kill each other on the streets of Moscow," says Roma wearily, while Kolya agrees with him and tries to turn the conversation to healthy eating and vegetarianism. But the conversation quickly turns to politics. Kolya says that he recently watched a video clip of Russian presidents' New Year's greetings, "starting with Yeltsin [...] up to the last one, when that jerk is not standing against a background of a Christmas tree, as usual, but [standing with] the military [in the background]." "How can a country live and develop, where the only ideology is making money and one group of people holding power?", Roman asks his friend. "There is no concept of "whats next". They will die at some point and leave nothing behind. It will simply be a scorched desert," the man continues in a voice attributed to Trotsenko. Nikolay simply sighs, and Roma continues to complain that not all Russians have heard what is happening. "Then this simple [bulls***] will reach everyone, everyone. And it turns out that it is too late. People will not be able to withdraw money, will not be able to leave, their children will be called up into the war... [It's horrific], frankly speaking," he concludes. The publication reiterates that Trotsenko is one of the richest Russian businessmen. Forbes estimated his fortune at US$3.8 billion in 2023. Matushevsky is known as the creator of a number of creative spaces, in particular the Moscow design factory Flakon. The idea of this project was proposed to Matushevsky by Trotsenko, whom he called a "school friend". Together with his wife Sofia, the billionaire is developing a Moscow art cluster called Vinzavod. But Trotsenko's main focus is still business. Before the start of the full-scale war with Ukraine, Trotsenko regularly participated in Putin's meetings with big business. But on 24 February 2022, when Putin gathered businessmen in the Kremlin a few hours after the attack on Ukraine, Trotsenko was not among them. Later, many participants of that meeting came under Western sanctions. The billionaire was also not seen at the last annual congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) in March 2023, where Putin delivered an address. Background: Earlier, a recording of a conversation that likely took place between Iosif Prigozhin, a music producer, and oligarch and billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov has leaked online and is now gaining momentum in Russia. In the audio, Prigozhin and Akhmedov criticise Russias leadership, in particular President Vladimir Putin. Prigozhin called the recording a "symbiosis" of spoken and computer-generated speech. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Kamianka-Dniprovska is located on the left bank of the Dnipro River Buses have arrived to transport them, according to local residents. Read also: Explosions heard in Zaporizhzhya, Russia attacks Ukraine again with Iranian-made drones A young family tried to register for evacuation, but the (occupation) administration refused, said Yevtushenko. Currently, only top collaborators are being evacuated, while the rest are waiting for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. People are afraid that before their departure, the Russians will stage a provocation with mass casualties to blame it on Ukraine. Read also: Russia preparing evacuation plan for Rosatom employees from occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP Recently, there has been much discussion of a possible offensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in certain areas on the left bank of the Dnipro River in the adjacent Kherson Oblast. According to The New York Times, Ukraine is preparing to launch a counter-offensive against Russian forces as early as next month. Read also: Occupiers ramp up efforts in search of guerrillas in occupied Crimea NRC Journalists say that although Ukraine shares few details of its operational plan with U.S. officials, the operation is likely to unfold in the countrys south, including along Ukraines coastline on the Sea of Azov, near the Russia-occupied Crimea. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Bakhmut after Russian shelling, April 15 The article discusses how some representatives of the Russian economic elite may disagree with the country's stance towards Ukraine, and sanctions have harmed their business. However, according to an assessment dated early March, they are unlikely to withdraw their support for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. "Moscow relies on corporate tax increases, its sovereign welfare fund, increased imports, and business adaptability to help ease the economic pressure," the classified assessment reads. Read also: Russia blocks Black Sea grain agreement Ukrainian Navy In early April, dozens of US intelligence documents were discovered on social media, including those related to the war in Ukraine, China, the Middle East, and other countries and regions. Leading US media outlets have published interesting details regarding the US assessments and the relationships between different states stemming from these leaks. Read also: MP urges reform of Economic Security Bureau in line with IMF guidelines Later, it was revealed that a 21-year-old American National Guard from Massachusetts who worked as a system administrator in the intelligence unit and posted photo documents on the Discord messenger was responsible for the leak. The investigation into this leak is ongoing. Read also: Hungarys Orban claims Ukraine economically defunct country, Ukraines MFA reacts (Note: Edited in accordance with the AP style guide to prioritize clarity and readability, including the use of active voice, removing unnecessary jargon, and simplifying sentence structures.) Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Ukrainian Armed Forces say Russia is far from capturing Bakhmut Read also: Military expert warns of deteriorating situation in Bakhmut A positional war is being waged in the Donbas town and the situation changes from time to time, according to the officer. Cherevaty said that Ukrainian forces killed 175 Russian troops on April 24, while 213 others were wounded. Due to the enormous losses, in particular among the units of Wagner Group PMC, Moscow cannot avoid deploying freshly-mobilized soldiers to the front. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers managed to knock out an enemy T-272 tank, four infantry fighting vehicles, and three Msta-B howitzers in the last 24 hours. Five UAVs, an electronic warfare station, and four field ammunition depots were also destroyed. Read also: Easier for Ukraine to liberate Crimea than Donbas, veteran commander says Cherevaty noted that he is not authorized to disclose the exact ratio of the number of eliminated Russians to Ukrainian losses, but suggested that the enemys losses are multiple times higher. At the same time, he said the Russian military does learn from its mistakes and takes into account that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have a substantial reconnaissance system set up. By sending in small groups, they try to capture half a building or half a street at a time. Read also: Ukrainian military reports Russias plan to transfer 4,000 troops from Belarus to Donbas "Every brick in Bakhmut is incredibly costly for them because the losses are enormous," noted Cherevaty. It seems to me that they have some kind of super goal to take this relatively small town because it is becoming a shameful episode for their military. Read also: Mobilisation raids in Moscow and St Petersburg, Russia wants to seize Bakhmut by May 9, says expert On April 21, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said that fierce battles for Bakhmut continue, with Russian invading forces attacking and destroying buildings, as the Ukrainian units holding their positions. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine (Bloomberg) -- Russia trained troops from Belarus on tactical nuclear warheads for Iskander short-range missiles, taking a step toward following through on its threat to deploy the weapons on the territory of its ally. Most Read from Bloomberg Russias Defense Ministry said the training had covered the storage and use of tactical special munitions, the euphemism it uses for smaller nuclear weapons. The Belarusian Defense Ministry confirmed the troops had already returned to base after the training, Tass said. President Vladimir Putin last month announced plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus for the first time. He said storage facilities would be built by July 1, but Russia hasnt said when the arms will actually be sent there. In early April, Belarus announced that its troops would be going to Russia for training. Putin Says Russia to Place Tactical Nuclear Arms in Belarus Putins Belarus Nuclear Move Is at Odds With China Pledge As its invasion of Ukraine has struggled, Russia has repeatedly suggested it may use nuclear weapons, drawing criticism from the US and its allies, as well as China and India, which have generally been more supportive of Russia in the conflict. Why Putins Tactical Nuclear Threats Raise Alarm: QuickTake Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Flags of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia Lithuanian broadcaster LRT reported that the Kremlins main goals are to use pro-Russian forces and organizations in the countries for their own interests, prevent the strengthening of NATOs influence in the region, and thwart the construction of new NATO military bases. Read also: Russia stunned by extent U.S. intelligence has penetrated the Kremlin, says expert about intel leaks The documents were drafted by the Office of Interregional and Cultural Relations, led by Dmitry Kozak, the deputy head of Russian dictator Vladimir Putins administration. The Kremlin developed separate strategies for Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, and the goals covered three periods: 2022, 2025, and 2030, though some of the strategies coincided. In particular, the Russians planned: to restore relations between Russia and the Baltic states to form a soft power network of organizations advocating cooperation with Russia to prevent the militarization of the countries and the construction of new NATO military bases on their territory to recruit Baltic businessmen with promises to open the Russian market if their countries changed policies towards Moscow to preserve common historical memory and Soviet monuments. Read also: Russia to use Central Asian migrants to replenish ranks of Armed Forces, reports National Resistance Center The priorities also included a strong effort to promote the Russian language in education. Russias strategy in Latvia, for instance, was aimed at recognizing Russian as the state language and involving the country in political alliances with Moscow, the journalists said. Russia was unhappy with the reaction of the countries following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including the active participation of the Baltic states in NATO, the increase of allied troops the countries, the introduction of sanctions, and the expansion of trade with the West. Read also: Russia wants to use Moldova against Ukraine, President Sandu warns Story continues After reviewing the strategy documents, former Estonian President, Toomas Henrik Ilves, believes the Kremlin has an out-of-touch understanding of the reality and just doesnt understand whats happening in the Baltic states, he told Yahoo News. Earlier European and U.S. journalists, citing leaked documents, reported that the Kremlin wanted to seize Belarus by 2030 and planned to turn Moldova into a Russian satellite. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A Russian missile attack on the city of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast on 25 April killed two women and injured ten people, four of whom have been hospitalised. Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "According to the updated information, two women aged 54 and 57 have been killed, and ten people have been injured in a missile strike on Kupiansk. Four of them were hospitalised, and six more sustained minor injuries and received medical treatment on the spot". Details: Russian forces hit at least 17 borderline settlements in the Kharkiv, Kupiansk and Chuhuiv districts of Kharkiv Oblast over the past 24 hours. In particular, the settlements of Kupiansk, Udy, Veterynarne, Ohirtseve, Hatyshche, Krasne Pershe, Novomlynsk, Dvorichna and others came under Russian fire. Background: On 25 April, Russian troops struck the building of the local history museum in Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast. At first, one person was reportedly killed, and then information on one more emerged. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Fire in the building of the Russian Read also: Auto parts warehouse outside Moscow reportedly on fire video According to eyewitnesses, allegedly "Molotov cocktails were thrown into the building." "There were two loud pops, the wall and roof are on fire," Radchenko said. People have been evacuated. Police have surrounded the building; firefighters are working at the scene. Read also: Casualties reported in fire at Russian FSB building in Rostov-on Don Propagandists later reported that the fire was extinguished and that the Cultural Center "suffered significant damage." The Nicosia Fire Department said they were investigating the cause of the fire. The Russian Embassy in Cyprus reported "no victims". Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine By Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber GENEVA (Reuters) -Russia's envoy to the United Nations in Geneva on Wednesday said "no real progress" had been achieved in resolving issues raised by Moscow over the Black Sea grain deal, which is set to expire next month. Separately, Ukraine accused Russia of blocking the passage of four grain ships from its Black Sea ports. The Kremlin has repeatedly said the deal will not be renewed beyond May 18 unless the West removes obstacles to Russian grain and fertiliser exports. "As of today, we regret to say that no real progress was reached in resolving this problem," envoy Gennady Gatilov told reporters at the Russian permanent mission in Geneva. The Black Sea deal, brokered between Russia and Ukraine by the United Nations and Turkey in July, aimed to prevent a global food crisis by allowing Ukrainian grain trapped by Russia's invasion to be safely exported from three ports. The Ukrainian navy, writing on Facebook, said Russia had effectively stalled the deal on Wednesday by refusing to take part in agreeing upon the routes that four grain ships should take, a process that occurs for each export trip. Although Russia's agricultural exports have not been explicitly targeted by Western restrictions, Moscow says sanctions on its payments, logistics and insurance industries have created a barrier to the export of its grains and fertilisers. "The Ukrainian part of the deal is working well," Gatilov said. "But the Russian part of this deal is not working and these two parts should be equal. This is not the case." One of Russia's main demands in negotiations is the reconnection of the Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) to the SWIFT payments system. Gatilov said the bank should be fully reconnected to the system rather than subjected to "case-by-case" decisions. Reuters cited a Russian source as saying the United States gave JPMorgan Chase & Co permission to process payments for Russian Agricultural Bank, but that the arrangement was no substitute for reconnecting the bank to SWIFT. (Additional reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Barbara Lewis and Cynthia Osterman) Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said Wednesday he could face life in prison on "terrorism" charges while another popular opposition politician went on trial in Russia's escalating clampdown on dissent. Authorities are taking the crackdown on freedoms in Russia to an unprecedented new level over a year into Moscow's assault on Ukraine, with independent media shut down and most key opposition figures behind bars or in exile. Navalny's team says authorities are preparing a major new trial against the star enemy of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "They have brought absurd charges against me, according to which I am facing up to 35 years," said Navalny, who wore his prison uniform and appeared gaunt but defiant. Navalny, 46, said that within the framework of the new extremism case he was told he would be separately judged by a military tribunal over "terrorism" charges. He said he could face life in prison. Last October, Navalny said that investigators had launched a new criminal case against him on allegations of "extremism" and "terrorism" and "rehabilitating the Nazi ideology". The court gave Navalny until May 5 to read the 196 tomes of materials comprising the extremism case, his team said. Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said a new major trial against the opposition politician was expected to begin "before the end of May." Then he is expected to stand a separate trial on "terrorism" charges, Yarmysh said on social media. She called the appearance of the new case while Navalny was behind bars "mindboggling". Navalny, who used to mobilise massive protests against the Kremlin, is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence on embezzlement and other charges. He shot to global prominence after he barely survived a poisoning with Novichok, a Soviet-designed nerve agent, which the opposition politician blames on the Kremlin. He was arrested in January 2021 upon returning from Germany after recovering from the poisoning attack. Story continues - 'I have no fear' - More than 1,500 kilometers (around 930 miles) to the east of Moscow, Navalny's friend and popular former mayor Yevgeny Roizman went on trial in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg over accusations of discrediting the Russian army over its offensive in Ukraine. Roizman is Russia's last prominent opposition figure who is still in the country and not behind bars. He faces up to five years in prison. In 2013, Roizman, 60, became Russia's highest-profile opposition mayor and held the position in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg for five years. Tall, sporty and charismatic, he is a hugely popular figure in Yekaterinburg and beyond. He had until recently remained largely untouchable but in August 2022, authorities opened a criminal probe against Roizman. Dressed in blue jeans and a white T-shirt, Roizman pleaded not guilty at the start of the trial in Yekaterinburg, according to a live YouTube broadcast of the hearing. Asked by the judge if he admitted his guilt, Roizman said "no". In the courtroom, the opposition politician sat next to lawyers in front of the judge. Roizman, who openly denounces Putin and his assault in Ukraine, has said he knows he could go to prison at any moment. "I have no illusions," the tough-minded opposition politician told AFP in an interview last year. "But I also have no fear." Roizman has a penchant for crude language and has peppered Twitter with swear words to mock officials, much to the delight of his supporters. All top opposition figures are either in prison or in exile. Roizman first shot to prominence as an anti-drugs activist fighting Russia's severe narcotics epidemic. When he served as mayor, he made himself accessible to his constituents, receiving the city's neediest people to help them solve their problems. He resigned after authorities moved to scrap mayoral elections, but he has been closely involved in his charity's work. Last week, a Russian court sentenced another Kremlin critic, Vladimir Kara-Murza, to 25 years in a high security prison on treason and other charges for criticising the Ukraine assault. It was the harshest sentence delivered against a Kremlin critic since the start of Moscow's offensive in Ukraine. bur/jmm Andrey Kartapolov, head of the Main Military Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, suggested that the civilian population start guarding the state borders of Russia, as the Russian Armed Forces currently do not have the military capacity for this. Source: Meduza Quote: "Unfortunately, at the moment we do not have such capabilities that the Soviet Union had, when the whole country was guarded by the military units of the border guard forces of the USSR along the perimeter. So now the border guard is a bit different. To my mind, engaging the local population on a voluntary basis is quite realistic and logical. This is a common practice in many countries." Details: Kartapolov added that if the government trustw the people, it can start forming the mechanisms of engaging them into the border guard units, such as the formation and the quantity of units, quantity of armament, subordination etc. Background: At the beginning of March, a sabotage and reconnaissance group created a fuss in Russia's Briansk Oblast. The Russian propagandists accused Ukraine of it, yet it was the Russian Volunteer Corps that provided an explanation. It stated that it was responsible for the operation, and it was coordinated with the Ukrainian authorities. The goal of the operation was to demonstrate that free Russian people with weapons can fight with Putin's regime. On 6 April, the Russian Volunteer Corps, which claims to be fighting on Ukraine's side, reported to be "performing combat missions" in Briansk Oblast. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Russians are working on equipping shelters in temporarily occupied Crimea in case of "[air raid] threats". Source: National Resistance Center (NRC) Details: In particular, according to the NRC, relevant work was carried out in the city of Alupka. They also conducted "explanatory work" with some residents regarding the course of action in the event of an "emergency situation", and also talked about the detection of drones in the sky. The NRC believes that all this indicates that Russians are preparing for a possible counteroffensive. Accordingly, due to this, panic is growing on the peninsula. Background: Earlier, it was reported that the invaders in Crimea are stepping up measures to identify members of the Ukrainian underground resistance. In particular, the occupiers search the apartments of those they suspect of "disloyalty". On 24 April, the Russian occupation authorities reported that the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Crimea had carried out an attack with three unmanned speedboats. UK Navys Naval News reported that the entrance to the harbour in temporarily occupied Sevastopol, where surface drones were able to break through, is protected by many physical barriers and is under the supervision of boats, helicopters, and combat dolphins. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! UNITED NATIONS (AP) Russias top diplomat warned Tuesday that the European Union is becoming militarized at a record rate and aggressive in its goal of containing Russia. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a news conference he has no doubts that there is now very little difference between the EU and NATO. Lavrov said they recently signed a declaration, which he said essentially states that the 31-member NATO military alliance will ensure the security of the 27-member EU political and economic organization. He was apparently referring to a Jan. 19 EU-NATO declaration on their strategic partnership which calls Russias Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine the gravest threat to Euro-Atlantic security in decades. It calls the present moment a key juncture for Euro-Atlantic security and stability and urges closer EU-NATO cooperation to confront evolving security threats, saying this will contribute to strengthening security in Europe and beyond. And it encourages the fullest possible involvement of NATO members that dont belong to the EU and EU members that arent part of NATO, but it does not state that NATO will ensure the security of the EU. Russian President Vladimir Putin has long complained about NATOs expansion, especially toward his country, and partly used that as a justification for invading Ukraine. The Russian attack, however, sent fear through its other neighbors, and Finland joined NATO earlier this month, seeking protection under its security umbrella after decades of neutrality following its defeat by the former Soviet Union in World War II. While NATO says it poses no threat to Russia, the Nordic countrys accession dealt a major political blow to Putin. Finland's membership doubles Russias border with NATO, the worlds largest security alliance. Sweden, an EU member, is also seeking NATO membership and is hoping for final approval soon. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg defiantly declared last week that Ukraines rightful place is in the military alliance and pledged more support for the country on his first visit to Kyiv since the invasion. The Kremlin responded by repeating that preventing Ukraine from joining NATO is still a key goal of its invasion, arguing that Kyivs membership in the alliance would pose an existential threat to Russia. Story continues Ukraine is also seeking EU membership and in February its leaders pledged they would do all it takes to back Ukraine. But they offered no firm timetable for talks on joining the EU to begin, as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had hoped. Russias Lavrov was asked whether the war in Ukraine was a miscalculation since Moscow strongly opposed NATOs expansion and the invasion sparked Finlands membership, with Sweden next and Ukraine hoping for a road map to join. NATO never had any intention of stopping, the Russian minister replied, pointing to the recent EU-NATO declaration and actions in recent years that saw non-NATO members Sweden and Finland increasingly taking part in NATO military exercises and other actions that were meant to synchronize the military programs of NATO members and neutral states. Lavrov said Russia was promised on several occasions that NATO would not expand, but said those were lies. Unbiased assessments that our political scientists as well as those abroad made is that NATO sought to break Russia apart," he said, "but in the end it only made it stronger, brought it closer together. So, lets not make any hasty conclusions now as to what this will all end in. A Russian army chef with officers at the Vostok 2018 exercise in Russia's Far East in September 2018. MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP via Getty Images The spread of drones on the battlefield in Ukraine is one of the most notable features of the war. Russia's military has been experimenting with drones in a variety of combat roles for years. Counter-drone training has also become common throughout the Russian military. Russia's attack on Ukraine last year kicked off Europe's biggest conflict since World War II, one in which two modern militaries have deployed new weaponry at an unprecedented scale. As such, the fighting in Ukraine has introduced the world to new technologies that are upending longstanding military thinking. Perhaps the most notable development is the widespread use of drones. Both sides have employed drones of all sizes and capabilities both military- and commercially designed models for a variety of operations. Many drones conduct aerial reconnaissance and provide vital information to troops on the ground or relay coordinates for artillery fire. Other drones carry weapons, ranging from small grenade- and mortar-size munitions to harass infantry and mechanized forces to missiles and rockets for attacks on vehicles and fortifications, or are weapons themselves. Almost every Ukrainian unit is using tactical drones in some way, but the Russian military has also been preparing for a drone-filled battlefield, and its troops from the frontlines to rear areas are being trained to use them and to shoot them down. Countering enemy drones Russian airborne troops use an Orlan-10 drone during an exercise in June 2018. Andrey Rusov/Russian Defense Ministry via Mil.ru Russian forces have been tinkering with drones more formally called unmanned aerial systems or vehicles for some time. They used them in Syria and employed them in Ukraine following Moscow's intervention there in 2015. Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian military's general staff, said in 2017 that combat is now "unthinkable without drones they are used by gunners, scouts, pilots everyone." Having used drones and seen drones used with increasing frequency, the Russian military has also expanded its counter-drone training. The threat is now considered so widespread that most Russian troops, regardless of military specialty, are getting instruction in spotting and dealing with drones. Story continues "Counter-UAS training is now ubiquitous across the entire military. In fact, everyone in Russian military uniform whether they're a soldier or a cook or a medic or whoever has to know how to deal with small drones," Samuel Bendett, an expert on Russian military technology at CNA, a research organization, said during a February episode of the Modern War Institute's Urban Warfare Project Podcast. Such training is now "a requirement," Bendett said. "So soldiers are trained how to shoot down small quadcopters, small UAVs that can potentially penetrate Russian defenses." A Ukrainian serviceman with a drone on the outskirts of Bakhmut in December. Sameer Al-Doumy/Getty Images Troops shooting down aircraft is nothing new British sailors reportedly brought down Argentine jets with small-arms fire during the Falklands War in 1982 but counter-UAS training for Russian troops has frequently been part of broader electronic-warfare training. "Every time we read about Russia's electronic-warfare training or a drill, we see the phrase 'counter-UAV training'" because defending against incoming drones and countering electronic-warfare countermeasures "are becoming one in the same," Bendett said. Russian forces are also developing their own unmanned aerial and ground vehicles with robust countermeasures for electronic-warfare attacks, such as jamming, Bendett added. Electronic warfare has been prevalent in Ukraine. Early in the war, Russian electronic-warfare capabilities frequently clashed with each other which Western experts called "electronic fratricide" but their performance has improved and they appear to have had an effect on Ukraine's weapons, including those provided by the West. Recently leaked US Defense Department intelligence documents indicate that Russian troops have used GPS jamming to counter US-provided smart bombs known as Joint Direct Attack Munitions, causing them not to detonate or to miss their targets. Attack vs. defense A "No Drone Zone" sign in a park near the Kremlin in Moscow in March. NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images The Russian military has used its unmanned aerial systems to give the Ukrainians a hard time by surveilling and attacking Ukrainian troops and with strikes on civilian targets, especially energy infrastructure. In recent months, Russian forces have made prolific use of Iranian-made Shahed-136 loitering munitions to target Ukraine's critical infrastructure and urban centers. Ukraine's military has been bolstering its drone defenses throughout the war, as shown in the Western military aid being sent to Kyiv. The US's latest package of security aid includes 30mm gun trucks designed to shoot down drones as well as mobile anti-drone laser-guided rocket systems. Despite having kinetic and electronic-warfare countermeasures to take out Russian drones, Ukraine still faces a difficult challenge. Russia's drones, especially its Iranian-made loitering munitions, often used in large numbers and are cheaper than many of Ukraine's advanced air-defense weapons, like surface-to-air missiles. The leaked US intelligence documents, which were composed in February, show that Ukraine's stocks of those missiles are dwindling. Western countries have supplied Kyiv with more missiles, but Russia's constant attacks mean Ukraine's military may increasingly face a difficult decision between trying to destroy drones or saving its ammo for Russian missiles and aircraft that can do more damage. Stavros Atlamazoglou is a defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate. He is working toward a master's degree in strategy and cybersecurity at Johns Hopkins' School of Advanced International Studies. Read the original article on Business Insider The Russian Aerospace Forces Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with a military satellite blasts off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Arkhangelsk region, north of Russia, in November 2022. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP Russia's space program is declining thanks in part to sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. That's according to leaked US intelligence, which also seemed to list Elon Musk's SpaceX as a factor. China, meanwhile, is making worrying progress in its space race with the US, the intel said. Russia's space program has been diminished, and will likely continue to be over the next ten years, due to sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine and the rise of SpaceX, according to leaked US intelligence documents seen by The Washington Post. At the same time, China's efforts to dominate near-space are progressing at worrying speeds, the documents said. One of the documents, from a cache allegedly leaked by Massachusetts Air National Guard Jack Teijeiro, said that severed Western partnerships and disrupted supply chains had "very likely" hampered the Russian space program's ability to generate funding, the Post reported. In addition,"foreign customers have canceled planned launches on Russian [rockets] and other space-related activities, eliminating a key revenue stream," the document said. One document seemed to point to Elon Musk's SpaceX as a factor, noting that a US company was now certified to transport astronauts to the International Space Station, something Russia had previously charged between $75 million and $85 million an astronaut to do. The documents added that Russia's space program has been in decline since at least 2020. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, many companies have stopped doing business with the country, and governments around the world have put in place sanctions to prevent it from importing certain materials and components, particularly those that would help it make weapons. This means that Russia has been "unable to easily obtain space-grade components," forcing production delays of military and civilian satellites, one of the documents said. Story continues Russia started deprioritizing making its own components in 2014 "because superior Western technology was readily available," it said. Now it's looking to China for help, according to the leaked intelligence. While Russia's space program is suffering, China's is booming, the documents said. China has recently built its own station and NASA warned that it wants to claim resource-rich parts of the moon. China has also doubled its number of satellites, to over 700, since 2019, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said during a news conference last week, with more than a third used for intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance. The leaked US documents suggest that China would use those satellites in a conflict with Taiwan, the self-governing island that China considers part of its own territory. This would include China using its satellites to jam other communications and intelligence satellites, and to "destroy ballistic missile early warning satellites," the documents said. Both China and Russia have also developed the ability to use missiles to destroy satellites in space, the Post noted. Read the original article on Business Insider Eurovision host Rylan was left in stitches after he met King Charles III at the unveiling of the Eurovision 2023 arena. In a video posted to Twitter by Rylan on Wednesday (26 April), the pair are seen shaking hands before engaging in some friendly conversation. Rylan, who found fame in 2012 after appearing on The X Factor, said to the King: Nice to meet you, before adding: I heard you just come from Scotland? After some chatter, Charles then went on to ask Rylan about his role at Eurovision. Yeah, so Ive been doing Eurovision for six, seven years now, he said, before adding that he would be behaving himself in Liverpool this year. But I have to be on my best behaviour because were on home turf this year whereas normally I can just roll around Italy, he joked. Charles then made a joke that was inaudible in the clip, which left Rylan laughing with the monarch. In another clip shared by the TV presenter, Eurovision hosts Julia Sanina, Hannah Waddingham, Scott Mills and Rylan are seen walking across the Eurovision stage where they meet Queen Consort Camilla and Charles. Not the Italy stories #Eurovision2023 pic.twitter.com/Py3dfKRs9i R Y L A N (@Rylan) April 26, 2023 Rylan then tweeted what he thought of the Eurovision location: The arena looks unreal btw x. It comes after the King and the Queen Consort unveiled the staging for the Eurovision Song Contest and tour the arena in Liverpool on Wednesday. Charles and Camilla were shown around the M&S Bank Arena and met Mae Muller, the UKs contestant, including the presenters and the creative teams. The grand final of the competition is due to take place on 13 May, a week after the coronation of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla. Story continues Eurovision 2023 will take place in Liverpool after the UK was chosen to host the competition on behalf of war-torn Ukraine. It will be the first time the competition has been held in the UK for 25 years. Charles and Camillas visit to the arena is one of several royal engagements in Liverpool, recognising the cultural partnership of the UK and Ukraine and celebrating Eurovision. They will also visit Liverpool Central Library to officially mark its twinning with Ukraines first public library, the Regional Scientific Library in Odesa. An animal shelter in Sacramento this week was looking for homes for 58 cats recently rescued from a hoarding situation, and officials there were waiving adoption fees. The rescued cats are in desperate need of homes, staff from the Front Street Animal Shelter wrote Tuesday evening in a Facebook post. The shelter shared in the Facebook post a photo of the cats crowded on kitchen appliances and cabinets of their former home. These kitties are very scared at the shelter, and while many are starting to come around, they will likely be shy cats and were worried they wont find adopters, shelter staff wrote in the Facebook post. Were counting on you to spread the word! Shelter staff said the Fieldhaven Feline Center in Lincoln, which specializes in shy cats, will be providing advice to adopters after they go home. All the cats will come fixed, chipped, and vaccinated, and their adoption fees are waived, staff said. The Front Street Animal Shelter can be reached at 916-808-7387 and is open seven days a week from noon to 5 p.m. at 2127 Front St. downtown. Sacramento County, which has Californias fifth-highest number of girls behind bars, is taking part in a new statewide initiative to eradicate the incarceration of girls. The California Office of Youth and Community Restoration announced this week that Sacramento County was chosen to receive grant funding to analyze its practices around locking up girls and gender-expansive youth a term used to describe those who identify as transgender, nonbinary and gender-fluid. Working with the New York-based nonprofit Vera Institute of Justice, the county will be tasked with identifying systemic gaps and developing new programs and policies to quickly reduce the number of girls it incarcerates on a daily basis. It will also be asked to craft a multi-year plan to reach zero female juveniles within its youth detention facility. Marlon Yarber, Sacramento Countys chief probation officer, said hes excited about the opportunity and committed to implementing equitable policies and gender-responsive programming to immediately reduce girls incarceration. Sacramento was one of four counties selected to launch the initiative. The other counties are Imperial, Los Angeles and San Diego. The initiative is part of a growing movement in juvenile justice reform to reach zero girls in long-term correctional facilities an achievement reached by Hawaii last year. In 2022, Sacramento County incarcerated an average of 14 girls on a daily basis tying for 5th out of 58 counties for the number of girls it locked up. And between October 2021 and September 2022, the county saw the number of girls behind bars spike from 11 to 18, according to data released by the Vera Institute. Elise Vondrak, a spokeswoman for the Sacramento County Probation Department, said Tuesday that county officials would know more about the details of their strategy to lower those numbers following a kickoff meeting for the initiative next month. Finding a different approach than incarceration for girls Lindsay Rosenthal, director of the Initiative to End Girls Incarceration at the Vera Institute, called the grant program an important step towards realizing justice and freedom for girls and gender-expansive youth of color. Story continues These four counties demonstrated a strong commitment towards ending girls incarceration and addressing the race and gender disparities in their youth legal systems, and we look forward to partnering with them in this critical effort, Rosenthal said in a statement. We are excited to see the momentum build among youth legal system leadership in California a state that has always played an important role in youth legal reform. Almost half of the girls detention admissions in California are for low-level offenses such as vandalism, theft and trespassing. And girls of color are disproportionately affected. Black youth, for instance, account for 25% of all girls detention admissions in California despite only making up about 8% of the states youth population, according to the Vera Institute. Criminal justice reform advocates and organizations like the Vera Institute argue that such offenses can and should be addressed in the community through local supportive services rather than inside locked facilities that can cause new trauma. They hope that initiatives like this will help officials make determinations around whether a girl actually poses a threat to public safety threat or if they could be better treated outside of a juvenile detention hall. California reduces the number of incarcerated youth Former juvenile court Judge Katherine Lucero, who now leads the Office of Youth and Community Restoration, said in a statement that the initiative builds off on ongoing work to transform Californias youth justice system. Over the past two decades, California has seen a dramatic drop in its incarcerated youth population. Between 2012 and 2021, the number of annual girls admissions to California detention facilities dropped by 71%, according to the Vera Institute. If detentions continued to fall at that same rate, the institute forecasts that the state could eliminate girls detentions by as soon as 2027. California is currently in the process of phasing out all of its state-run juvenile facilities and shifting funding and responsibility for young offenders to the states 58 counties. The complete closure of the states remaining three Department of Juvenile Justice facilities is slated for July 1. We have been thrilled to see the interest that this opportunity has generated across the state and believe that with targeted support, these four counties have the potential to become leaders for their peers in California and nationally, Lucero said in the statement. The Vera Institute is hoping to build off of the success seen in Santa Clara County, which experienced a 60% decline in girls detention center admissions since Vera started working with it in 2019. During the first year in the program, Sacramento County will receive $125,000 to analyze its data and develop plans to eliminate girls incarceration at its youth detention facility. If the county successfully develops a bold and effective plan, the county and local community organizations can receive up to $750,000 in additional two-year grants to continue putting the plan into motion. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 23: (L-R) Alycia Debnam-Carey, Josh Bonzie, West Duchovny, Jayden Elijah and Betsy Brandt attend the 2023 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the University of Southern California on April 23, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) A seemingly idyllic luxury family vacation takes a dark turn in the new Hulu series Saint X (now on Disney+ in Canada), starring West Duchovny, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Jayden Elijah and Josh Bonzie. Saint X taps into the increasingly popular theme of a whodunit for the rich, like White Lotus, Triangle of Sadness and Glass Onion. In this new psychological thriller series, based on the book by Alexis Schaitkin, Bill and Mia Thomas (played by Michael Park and Betsy Brandt) take a vacation to the Caribbean with their daughter Alison (Duchovny), a college freshman at Princeton, and youngest daughter Claire (Kenlee Townsend), in the early 2000s. Claire is a relatively quiet kid, while Alison is particularly vocal about the hypocrisy of this vacation, where local employees attend to her rich family's every need all day long, but Alison's still an active participant. Two of those employees are Edwin (Elijah) and Clive aka "Go Go" (Bonzie), who Alison becomes friends with. But when Alison dies during the family vacation, Edwin and Clive are accused of rape and murder. The timeline in Saint X flips between this 2000s-era vacation and present day where we meet a woman in her 20s named Emily. This is actually Claire, who now goes by a different name, and we see the impact that Alison's death had on her younger sister. By a twist of fate, Emily ends up in a cab driven by a now older Clive, and the story shifts from a seeming murder mystery to an analysis of coping with grief and how it quickly consumes Emily, even as an adult now. Welcome to Saint X, streaming April 26 on Disney+ Canada. pic.twitter.com/RwevHg0FIv Disney+ Canada (@DisneyPlusCA) April 6, 2023 'It just sparked every time' Both Elijah and Bonzie give powerful performances, with some of the show's best moments coming from the interactions between these two characters, in addition to a particularly emotional moment for Clive near the end of the series. Story continues "It really was just working with Josh, being in the moment with Josh, actor to actor, seeing what he brought and seeing what I could bring to that," Elijah told Yahoo Canada. "Of course it was scripted, but a lot of the moments and the intricacies of our friendship, I think, ... we were surprised by them as well." "I'm so lucky because Jayden is such a playful, intelligent actor, you want someone that's like that because you feel safe to play and try new things," Bonzie added. "Jayden is an actor who follows his impulses, ... which was so much fun to dive into those scenes, because you never knew what spark would hit." "But it just sparked every time with Jayden and it was just an actor's dream to work across someone like that." For Elijah, he highlighted that it was a "dream come true" to play Edwin. "Edwin is so complex and layered and multifaceted," he said. "A character that has a darkness to him, that also is relatable, is one of my favourite archetypes to play." "To be given the gift of playing someone like Edwin, at such a young age, it's a dream come true." Bonzie also stressed how great it was for the actor to be able to play a character whose story goes through several shifts in one series. "To play someone who appears to be unassuming and that is a bit of an underdog in a way, and then you learn more, and you discover more, that there are so many layers to a person, it was a blessing," he said. "Every script that I would read, I would just be like, I'd have to pinch myself a little bit." PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 14: (L-R) Michael Park, West Duchovny, Betsy Brandt, Josh Bonzie, and Leila Gerstein of Hulu's 'Saint X' pose for a portrait during the 2023 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 14, 2023 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by JSquared Photography/Getty Images) 'Just pause before we jump to conclusions' While some moments in Saint X can drag at times, the cast for the series is spot on. In addition to Elijah and Bonzie, we also see West Duchovny (daughter of David Duchovny and Tea Leoni) take a leading role in Saint X, and she has that perfect balance of college-aged naivety, emotion and being a snob at times, as Alison. "Working with West, who plays Alison, it was amazing," Elijah said about his co-star. "She's great to act with as well." "We didn't do much talking about our characters, ourselves, but I think instead we explored our characters' relationship on screen, like live, because we knew if the camera was capturing the first time we interacted or found out about each other's aspects, it would bring an element of electricity." In terms of the ultimate outcome of Saint X (which we won't spoil), Elijah and Bonzie believe there are a few lessons we could take from the series. "In our rush to sort of want to understand something, to really get to the bottom of something, sometimes we just don't see things the way they are," Elijah said. "I think that's certainly true for this show." "I'm hoping that people ... just pause before we jump to conclusions, or blame, or [judge], because you just never know what people are going through, or what their story is." "I think, hopefully, it makes an audience remember to look inward at some of the assumptions that they may make, and think twice about judging or blaming, or categorizing so quickly," Bonzie added. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 via YouTube/KPIX A former San Francisco fire commissioner who was beaten by a homeless man is now accused of eight separate attacks in which he allegedly attacked other homeless people with bear mace. An attorney representing Garret Doty, 24, the man accused of viciously assaulting Don Carmignani, 52, requested that the judge in the case release her client, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Wednesday. The request came as police reports released in the discovery process revealed eight incidents in which a man apparently matching Carmignanis description attacked homeless people, some sleeping or sitting on the ground. Video of one of the macing incidents, from November 2021, was obtained by the San Francisco Standard. In the footage of a dark street in the Marina district, a man wearing face mask and hat approaches a person sleeping on the street. The man sprays the homeless person with an unknown substance for at least five seconds, before calmly walking away. EXCLUSIVE: Defense attorneys for the man accused of attacking former SF Fire Commissioner Don Carmignani say the person shown in this video bear spraying a homeless person in the face appears to be Carmignani. The video, taken in November 2021, is part of a trove of new evidence pic.twitter.com/tLaUqqDGjP The San Francisco Standard (@sfstandard) April 26, 2023 Deputy Public Defender Kleigh Hathaway told the court Wednesday that the man in the video was Carmignani. He is terrorizing (homeless people) with a 10-inch can of bear spray, not pepper spray. He sprayed anything and everything, including my client, Hathaway said in court, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Carmignani suffered a fractured skull when he was attacked with a metal rod outside his mothers house in the citys Marina District earlier this month. The violent incidentwhich came the day after Cash App founder Bob Lee was stabbed to death in San Franciscosparked outrage and was cited by some as an emblematic case of rampant lawlessness in the city. Story continues Cash App Founder Stabbed After Dispute Over Suspects Sister, Court Docs Say In the hours before the attack, Carmignani and his mother called 911 to say that three homeless people had set up an encampment outside her home and that theyd made violent threats against her family. Carmignani claimed that when police and homeless service providers failed to respond, he asked the group to leave himself that evening. He alleges one of the group then attacked him. Garrett Doty, 24, was arrested in connection with the incident and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with serious bodily injury, and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury. The charges could lead to a sentence of up to seven years in state prison. Carmignani told KPIX Wednesday that his lawyer was contacted by the District Attorneys Office to say they will now be moving to dismiss the charges against Doty based on the new video evidence. UPDATE: @SFDAOffice plans to drop assault & battery charges against Garret Doty in confrontation w/ex-SF Fire Commissioner Don Carmignani on grounds of self-defense - & could charge Carmignani for discharging pepper spray, says Carmignanis atty, releasing more videos of incident pic.twitter.com/GCSySzv6AI Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) April 26, 2023 Carmignanis lawyer says the district attorney believes the metal rod attack was actually an act of self-defense and that evidence of Carmignanis alleged assaults on other homeless people had motivated the decision to dismiss the case. For his part, Carmignani is still healing from his injuries and claims his doctor told him he may have died if just one more blow had been struck on him in a specific place. I didnt go out there to fight anyone, Carmignani told KPIX. Im trying to get them down the road, go to the park. Its three-on-one. I know odds. Im 52 years old. I have two hip replacements. Im an old guy, I could have been a dead guy. A spokesperson for the Public Defenders Office told the outlet that Dotys public defender had received discovery from the prosecution that includes evidence of prior unprovoked attacks of homeless people alleged to have been committed by Carmignani. They did not confirm if the charges against Doty would be dropped. Carmignani says that he may now face charges of his own for discharging pepper spray. I used the spray as self-defense, Carmignani said. I never went after him. He said that he never actually sprayed the suspect and only mistakenly sprayed himself. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The San Francisco district attorneys office on Tuesday dropped the charges against a homeless man who allegedly attacked former San Francisco fire commissioner Don Carmignani earlier this month with a crowbar, sending him to the hospital for emergency surgery to treat a hole in the back of his skull. The case was dropped after prosecutors concluded the attacker, Garrett Doty, was acting in self-defense when he beat Carmignani so badly that he broke the former fire commissioners jaw and left him in need of 50 stitches, the New York Post reported. The incident began when Carmignani confronted Doty and two other vagrants who were allegedly blocking Carmignanis mothers driveway in the citys Marina District while consuming drugs and harassing neighbors. His mothers calls to 911 had gone unanswered. During the confrontation, the trio refused to leave and Doty allegedly became aggressive. Carmignani then deployed pepper spray on Doty. Because Carmignani sprayed Doty, the district attorneys office has concluded the homeless man was acting in self-defense when he viciously attacked Carmignani, despite prosecutors having obtained video of the attacker taking the crowbar out of a garbage can and taking practice swings before the attack. Video appears to show Doty cornering Carmignani, who was heavily bleeding, against the wall of a gas station store while brandishing a crowbar. Carmignani tried to fight back, but Doty struck him in the head with the crowbar when Carmignani went to wipe blood from his eyes. Carmignani attempted to escape toward the road but Doty hit him in the head again and then chased him down the sidewalk, according to the report. The attack left Carmignani in the ICU for several days. While Doty was initially charged with assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with serious bodily injury, and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, it not may be Carmignani who now faces charges for spraying the pepper spray, according to the report. Story continues Police and the district attorneys office did not interview Carmignani about the incident before dropping the case, a source close to the victim told the paper. More from National Review The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to end a boycott of 30 states that passed conservatives laws after the rule proved costly and ineffective. The board voted 7-4 to repeal a 2016 law that prohibited city employees from traveling to or doing business with companies in states that passed conservative laws. The board of supervisors first enacted the law in an effort to punish states that had enacted what it viewed as restrictions on LGBT rights after the Supreme Courts decision in Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Since 2015, the board had amended the law to include states that, in its view, had limited voting rights and abortion access. Its not achieving the goal we want to achieve, said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, the sponsor of the legislation to repeal the boycott. It is making our government less efficient. The rollback comes after a report by the city administrators office found that no states ever appeared to change their own laws in response to the citys boycott. A budget and legislative analysts report also found the city had done business with the states on the boycott list. A one-year period between mid-2021 and mid-2022 saw waivers for contracts and purchase orders totaling $791 million. Meanwhile, the budget and legislative analyst also found that the city had spent nearly $475,000 in staffing expenses to carry out the boycott. The law has created additional administrative burden for City staff and vendors and unintended consequences for San Francisco citizens, such as limiting enrichment and developmental opportunities, according to the city administrators report. Few, if any, other jurisdictions implement travel or contracting bans as expansive as the Citys. The report also noted the boycott had other unwanted consequences, including adding more red tape for a program that paid for teens to visit historically black colleges and universities, as many HBCUs are located in banned states. Story continues Mayor London Breed previously said she would support changing or altogether repealing the boycott law. Breeds office said in a statement that she recognizes the well-intentioned effort behind the boycott but also acknowledges the many difficulties that affect contracting in the City. The four supervisors who voted against repealing the boycott expressed concern that the city did not spend enough time weighing how the move would impact San Franciscos small businesses. Supervisors Shamann Walton, who previously told National Review that the San Francisco advisory committees recommendation that the city pay out hefty reparations to the citys longtime black residents does not go far enough toward making things right, warned there could be many unintended consequences of the repeal and said as states are doubling down on their conservative laws he does not want to make it seem that the city is not still fighting against these discriminatory practices and laws. More from National Review A Sansom Park police officer, who was shot in the face during a training exercise in November, is suing the company that held the training. Sansom Park police officer Lina Mino is suing Texas Police Trainers and its CEO and owner, Janice Washington. Mino was in critical condition after she was accidentally shot in her left eye by a law enforcement officer who was another student at the training exercise at David K. Sellers Elementary School in Forest Hill on Nov. 5. The student carried a live firearm loaded with real ammunition into the training area, the lawsuit states. The student shot Lina during a training session with the live firearm. Texas Police Trainers allowed a real gun with live ammunition into its active shooter training course, the lawsuit claims. Texas Police Trainers holding itself out as a one-stop-shop that helps ensure our law enforcement community are highly trained violated the most basic safety rules that led to Linas permanent eye loss and brain injury. The bullet entered Minos left eye and exited above her left ear. She underwent brain surgery to remove the bullet fragments and suffered the permanent loss of her left eye and a brain injury from the bullet traveling through her brain and out her skull, the lawsuit states. Officials said participants in the training scenario were playing the parts of an active shooter and of officers responding to an active shooter call. Mino participated as an actor in the active shooter training course conducted by TPT. The suit argues TPT and Washington were negligent for failing to ensure all who attended the active shooter training course were unarmed. Mino is seeking more than $1 million in damages for her injuries, and health care and medical expenses, and requesting a jury trial to determine the actual amount. Paul Gaumond, a reserve deputy constable for the Johnson County Constable Precinct 2 Office, served as the instructor for the exercise at the school. Gaumond was placed on administrative leave during the investigation. Washington, the Killeen-based companys owner, told the Star-Telegram in a brief telephone conversation back in November, Were all devastated by this. Washington, though, declined to answer questions and noted the matter was under review. South Carolina is one final vote away from mandating a near-total abortion ban. In an about-face for a chamber that has consistently rejected the same bill for the last six months and has instead rallied for its own six-week version, the Senate advanced the near-total abortion bill Tuesday, April 25, in a 22-21 split. The vote came minutes after an attempt failed to make abortion a referendum issue. The current bill, H.3744, prohibits all abortions with exceptions for rape, incest and fatal fetal anomaly. Anyone who violates the proposed law will be fined $10,000 or get imprisoned for up to two years, or both. The bill also states a pregnant woman who has an abortion will not be criminally prosecuted or found civilly liable and mandates that the father pay child support. But it does place the burden of criminalization on the physician who performs the abortion. The Senate will consider the bill again for a third and final vote Wednesday. If the bill passes, it will be sent to Gov. Henry McMaster's desk and is likely to become law. If the Senate passes the bill, the state will join Mississippi to be the only other state with an abortion ban that allowed for exceptions. Other southern states such as Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama have banned all abortions with no exceptions. But the push and pull between banning abortion and reversing bans will be far from over because any abortion ban will almost always end up litigated. Some lawmakers are frustrated by the prospect of a continual back and forth. State Sen. Greg Hembree is chairman of the South Carolina Senate Education Committee. A Republican, he represents District 28. Sen. Greg Hembree, R-Horry, who banded with Democrats and other GOP holdouts, introduced an amendment that would have changed the state constitution by making abortion a ballot question. If the public were to give their assent or resist abortion access, then that would give the General Assembly the clear authority to regulate abortions in South Carolina, Hembree said. "That authority is not clear right now. That's the problem," he continued. "We've been talking about the issues between the House and the Senate. That's not the larger issue. The larger issue is between the General Assembly and the state Supreme Court." Story continues Hembree said the new SC Supreme Court could reverse their original position. But in the future, another judge could challenge that position. There had to be some consistency, he said. "Women in South Carolina children, unborn children in South Carolina, people that are genuinely trying to decide what to do are going to be whipsawed back and forth based on the good or bad luck of who happens to be sitting on the Supreme Court at that particular moment," Hembree said. Senate President Thomas Alexander, R-Oconee, ruled Hembree's amendment was not applicable to the legislation. This drew a lot of resistance from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, some wanting to appeal the president's ruling. South Carolina GOP infighting: SC Freedom Caucus wants to change policymaking. GOP Caucus concerned by tactics, direction. Greenville County politics: America First group regains control of Greenville County GOP. Julian first Black woman chair. Here's what happened Tuesday in the SC Senate During Tuesday's debate, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, said the Senate's decision to prioritize the House's stricter abortion bill was due to an increase in the number abortions offered to out of state residents. He said 87 abortions were performed on non-residents, between Jan. and March 2022. But in 2023, that number had risen to 1,385 in the same time frame. That increase in services bothered Massey, who added that stricter actions in other southern states, such as Florida, could make the state a destination for abortion procedures in the southeast. Massey said abortion is a divisive issue, but he believes most state residents do not approve of the current 22-week law. Sen. Sandy Senn, R-Charleston, questioned Massey. "Do you believe that abortion is the number one problem facing the state of South Carolinatoday?" Senn asked. Massey said he did not want to get into an argument and would only respond to questions directly related to the bill. But Senn zeroed in on Massey's role in elevating the House bill. "Can you tell me why we're taking it up for the third time in six months? If it's not the number one problem, has there been any other problem that we've taken up three times in six months?" Senn asked. SC operatives: Nikki Haley, Tim Scott could be formidable. Will they get a big boost at home? Massey refused to take any of Senn's questions. Some lawmakers are concerned about provisions in the bill that had the potential to violate a rape victim's privacy rights. Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Colleton, said the bill was silent on what happens if a victim is unable to identify the perpetrator. She asked Massey if he was comfortable with law enforcement using the information to criminally charge a woman if the police officer believed she was not telling the truth or was failing to cooperate with law enforcement? Lawmakers on the other side of the aisle resisted any implication that a woman could be charged. Spartanburg lawmaker Josh Kimbrell said the burden of criminality fell on the physician who he claims "profited" from providing abortion services. In a back and forth, Massey and Kimbrell countered claims that their support of abortion bans was anti-woman. Rather, as Massey repeatedly said, this was to help women and save the lives of children. South Carolina Sen. Josh Kimbrell, District 11 (Spartanburg County), speaks before Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at First Baptist North Spartanburg church in Spartanburg, S.C. Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, said lawmakers need to leave women alone. "Did you know that most women would just ask you not to help them and just let them do what they want to do when they want to do it and make their own decisions for themselves without your help?" Hutto asked. Association of American Medical Colleges data showed states that passed abortion bans this year experienced a 10.5% decrease in OBGYN resident applications. Abortion advocates are urging senators to deny the passage of the bill in their next vote, which will be out of the norm as third readings are generally considered to be a cursory procedure. "Politicians are attempting to force South Carolinians, including children, to give birth in a state with dangerously high rates of maternal and infant mortality and a shortage of OBGYN doctors all of which get worse every year, said Vicki Ringer, Director of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic in a press statement. Looking back at 2022 abortion ban votes in the SC House, Senate Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, passing a stricter abortion ban has been a top priority for the General Assembly. Attempts to pass a total abortion ban failed last year when female GOP Republicans, Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, Sandy Senn, R-Charleston, Penry Gustafson, R-Kershaw, along with Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, banded together with Democrats. They helped stall and ultimately kill a near-total abortion ban. Lawmakers tried to reach a compromise but ended the year with no resolution in sight. The Senate did not have the votes to pass anything less than a six-week abortion ban. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Senate ignores calls for referendum, advances near-total abortion ban Washington State Patrol is warning people to take caution with phone calls that appear to come from the patrol and ask for personal information. Scammers have spoofed a handful of WSP-associated phone numbers and are using them to trick people into believing they are calling as a patrol officer, according to a news release from Kelsey Harding, WSP public information officer. The numbers were illegally obtained and used for fraudulent purposes, according to law enforcement. The scammers call and identify themselves as an officer, trooper or detective from WSP and tell the unsuspecting citizen their ID was used and is connected to a crime being investigated in another state or country. They then seek actual personal information for verification, the release said. When scammers are questioned during these calls, they tell people to Google the number, which appears to prove it is a WSP phone number. They have also provided citizens with fake case numbers. This type of spoofing is commonly used by scammers to make it seem like they are calling locally by spoofing a regional phone number while calling from another city, state or even another country. Because these scams often start overseas, they are particularly difficult to investigate, the release said. Washington State Patrol says it will never seek personal information over the phone. Anyone who receives such a call should contact 911. There seems to be an evergreen lede that frequently starts off my columns about the Fayette County schools: I dont know whats going on behind the scenes, but it seems like a waste of time that distracts everyone from the crucial work of educating our children. That perfectly describes Valarie Honeycutt Spears latest story about a kerfuffle between Fayette County Public Schools and KY 120 United-AFT, the local chapter associated with the American Federation of Teachers and part of the larger AFL-CIO. Fayette teachers can also be represented by the National Education Association, or KEA, which is the largest educator group in the state. Labor unions are important to our democracy. Teacher unions in particular, stopped the worst changes to the teacher pension system, and more or less, helped convince voters to get rid of Gov. Matt Bevin. Needless to say the GOP doesnt like most organized labor. This past session session, they passed a bill to prohibit automatic payroll deductions for union fees for public employees, unless they are for police and firefighters, which gives you some idea of where they stand. In meeting the requirement of this new law, Fayette County administrators said they had just realized that KY 120 reps didnt fill out some required paperwork, and so Fayette County schools is not going to recognize them, which led those members to go to a school board meeting and express themselves loudly. Now I dont know why Fayette County couldnt have just asked them to fill out the paperwork without going through the drama of not recognizing them. I dont know if this is some weird power play by school board chair Tyler Murphy because he is a representative from Kentucky to the National Education Association Board of Directors, which is affiliated with KEA and FCEA or if FCPS administrators simply dont like KY 120. Whatever the case, it makes everyone look bad. Some people are still mad at teacher unions in general because they blocked a quicker return to school during COVID, some people are mad at Fayette County and public schools in general because they dont understand why they spend so much time on matters like this instead of teaching kids to read and do math. The COVID deficit is real and still hurting our kids results. Story continues Public education has enough problems, and infighting does not help. In fact, public educations enemies, like the Kentucky GOP, collect these stories like Halloween candy so they can use them when the next argument over school choice or school funding comes along. Texas political scientist Joel Montfort had a great Twitter thread just a day ago, where he pointed out the systemic destruction underway of public education. You can read the whole thing, but it boils down to this: The GOP wants it to fail. They want to choke the life out of it. They see that it has created a generation that has completely turned on them. They are furious. This is retribution. Montfort goes on to lay out how they make teachers miserable by preventing them from teaching history, underpaying them and undermining their retirement, so more quit and fewer join the profession. Then they can say school districts are failing and we need school choice at private schools. They make them public enemy number one, accuse schools and teachers of somehow grooming or teaching critical race theory when they point out that Jim Crow laws were bad. Does any of this sound familiar in Kentucky? I mean, its not just a plan, its a reality, and the only reason its not further along is because unions have held back widespread privatization efforts. Just this session, we were supposed to substantively address the teacher shortage, and instead we passed rules on transgender kids, sex education and harmful books. So quit with the infighting. Administrations and unions and anyone who supports public education should be on the same team because its very clear who the enemy is, and they are very close. HOPE MILLS A three-day search came up empty in Hope Mills this week for clues into the 2002 disappearance and presumed death of a disabled Fayetteville man, officials said Wednesday afternoon. Kent Jacobs was last seen on March 10, 2002, a week before his 42nd birthday, officials said. On Monday, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office announced that new leads prompted a search at 5437 Jackson St. one of the last places Jacobs was seen walking past on his Sunday visits with childhood friends. While no dwelling is currently on the property, a house was located at the property back then, an official said. "Unfortunately, the search did not locate Kent Jacobs, but we discovered endless support from the community. Not only did multiple agencies and businesses partner together and integrate strategies, neighbors, family members, concerned citizens, the public, and the media contacted us to assist us with our investigation," a news release from the Sheriff's Office said. "The search for Kent Jacobs continues. Kent Jacobs has not been forgotten, and this investigation remains active and ongoing." Dr. Billy Oliver and John Deloatch pinpoint an area to be excavated by members of the N.C. Forest Service and Cumberland Sheriff's Office. Related: Search of Hope Mills property to continue Wednesday in hunt for man missing since 2002 Described by family as having the mental acuity of a 9-year-old, the trusting, friendly and predictable Jacobs lived in a Fayetteville group home but visited with his mother on weekends. He had $200 in cash on him from his paycheck when his mother last saw him leaving her home as he did every Sunday afternoon to visit with friends in the Colonial Heights neighborhood where he grew up. When he didn't return home at 4 p.m. something he also did every Sunday the family knew something was amiss. Lt. Patrice Bogertey said that this week, searchers using ground penetrating radar scoured about 19 acres of land on Jackson Street and nearby on Calhoun Street. The equipment uses radar pulses to image the subsurface. Various digs over the three days prompted by the ground radar came up empty, she said. Story continues Also providing no clues, according to Bogertey, was a septic system on the Jackson Street property that was drained and searched. "My heart breaks for the family," Faithe "Nan" Trogdon said Wednesday afternoon by phone from her Florida home. Trogdon is a former Cumberland County Sheriff's Office detective senior sergeant who investigated Jacobs' cold case. She retired from the department in 2014. An aerial shot taken this week shows a section of land near Jackson and Calhoun streets that authorities searched in the hunt for clues to a man missing since 2002. Related: Detectives searching Hope Mills property in 2002 disappearance of 42-year-old man Earlier tips lead to search elsewhere More than a decade ago, Trogdon headed up the last physical search for Jacobs on Hulon Street. Trogdon's 2010 affidavit in support of the search warrant stated that the Sheriff's Office had received tips that Jacobs was buried in a refrigerator on the property. At the time he went missing, the land was owned by a man named Clifton Jones who died a year before the 2010 search, Trogdon confirmed Wednesday. Jones had a series of trailer parks and tenants on his property and a backhoe which he used to bury trash and large items like appliances, Trogdon said. In the search warrant affidavit posted to the website findkent.com and its authenticity confirmed by Trogdon on Wednesday, she wrote that a witness reported seeing Jacobs near the Jones property. The website is run by Dennis Mahone, a former Fayetteville resident who now lives in Charlotte and said he's been following the Jacobs case for years. The affidavit stated that another person told investigators Clifton Jones claimed he'd buried Jacobs encased in the refrigerator on the land. Trogdon said Wednesday that crews back then searched only 60% of the Hulon Street land unearthing carpets, trailer parts, trash and at least one water heater before having to conclude the search when they hit the water table. She believes that in order to properly rule out the location, the remaining land should be examined. "I still stand by my search warrant," she said. "The door is still open ... the door has to be closed." She said she's been closely following news of the recent search and was saddened that it ended without any answers. Particularly, she said, for Jacobs' elderly mother who, even with failing health, still lights an electric candle each night in her window so her son can find his way home. "Somebody knows something. Please, please come forward because the Jacobs family needs closure," Trogdon implored. "They've been doing this for 21 years. Miss Martha's health is declining. "He didn't drop off the face of the earth. Somebody needs to come forward. This family needs closure they deserve closure." John Deloatch of Geo Solutions Ltd. works this week (April 24-26, 2023) examining property on Jackson and Calhoun streets where law enforcement is searching for information in the 2002 disappearance of Kent Jacobs. (Photo: Cumberland County Sheriff's Office) Related: 'I've never given up hope': Family of Kent Jacobs speaks of the impact his absense has on them The case remains open Lt. Bogertey said the Sheriff's Office's search this week included assistance from Dr. Billy Oliver of the North Carolina State University Forensic Sciences Institute, John Deloatch of Geo-Solutions Limited, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, N.C. Forest Service, Cumberland County Emergency Management, Cumberland County Solid Waste Management and Cumberland Septic Services. She said that crews spent hours each day going over the property and that even when nightfall prevented searchers from continuing, law enforcement remained on the scene overnight to secure it. Bogertey also noted that while investigators are no closer as a result of this probe to finding out what happened to Jacobs, they are no less dedicated to finding the answers. "We're never going to stop," she said. "We still keep on with whatever leads come in." To that end, the Sheriff's Office encourages anyone who may have information in Jacobs' disappearance to contact Senior Sgt. R. Westmoreland at 910-677-5596 or CrimeStoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477). What tips led to the recent search, however, will not be publically released, Bogertey said. The affidavit in the case that would lay out the details that prompted the search was sealed by the court, she said. "We're not done investigating this case. This case is not resolved. We are going to work it until it's resolved," she said. Crime and military editor F.T. Norton can be reached at fnorton@fayobserver.com. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Search for Kent Jacobs ends with no clues in his 2002 disappearance The Biden administration on Wednesday confirmed a second American citizen was killed in Sudan amid an outbreak of heavy combat between competing military generals in the capital Khartoum. A three-day, U.S.-brokered cease-fire has decreased fighting, National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby told reporters while confirming the death of the American. Kirby said President Biden has asked for every conceivable option to help as many Americans as possible. Following the outbreak of fighting, the State Department last week estimated there are about 16,000 Americans, largely dual U.S. and Sudanese citizens, in the country a number that is highly approximate given Americans are not obligated to register their travel or their location with U.S. missions abroad. At least 500 American citizens had contacted the embassy as of last week, a congressional source told The Hill, with about 55 asking for direct U.S. assistance to leave Khartoum. The Biden administration greenlighted a high-stakes evacuation of about 100 embassy staff from Sudans capital over the weekend, and Kirby said on Wednesday that the U.S. is actively facilitating the departure of a relatively small number of Americans who have indicated to us that they want to leave. Sudanese, American and other foreign nationals fleeing Khartoum, the center of the fighting between warring military factions of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces, are reported to be traveling by convoys from the capital to the Port of Sudan. Kirby said that U.S. intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets are stationed along the land evacuation route and are moving naval assets in the region to help U.S. and other civilians exit the country. While fighting has continued following the implementation of the cease-fire, which took effect Monday at midnight local time, combat has decreased, Kirby said, adding the U.S. is in direct contact with both heads of the warring parties. Story continues We urge both military factions to fully uphold the cease-fire and to further extend it. Weve said this many, many times, but the violence is simply unconscionable, and it must stop, Kirby said. The intense military conflict broke out nearly two weeks prior, between Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudans Armed Forces, and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, who has control of the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces. The heavy combat including airstrikes, shelling and gun battles in the street has paralyzed the capital city, killing hundreds, wounding thousands and plunging it into a humanitarian crisis by threatening access to water, electricity, internet, food, medicine and health care. The fighting between Burhan and Hemedti has highlighted the failure of years of U.S. and regional diplomacy to help realize Sudanese ambitions to transition to a democratic, civilian government. Burhan seized power of the country in 2021 in a military coup and that suppressed a transitional, civilian-military government in place since a grassroots revolution ousted longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir from power in early 2019. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Washington A second American citizen has died in Sudan amid clashes between two rival generals, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby confirmed Wednesday. "We extend our deepest condolences to the family," Kirby said in a call with reporters. "We continue to make clear at the highest level of our government to the leadership of both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces that they are responsible for ensuring the protection of civilians and noncombatants, including people from third countries and humanitarian staff that are working to save lives." Kirby said the person died Tuesday but did not confirm their identity. However, the Sudanese American Physicians Association said on Tuesday that Bushra Ibnauf Sulieman, a doctor who practiced medicine in the U.S. for a number of years before returning to Sudan, had been killed earlier in the day. The group said he had been on the frontlines providing emergency medical aid during the conflict and was killed outside his home while escorting his father to a medical appointment. Sulieman was a professor of internal medicine and director of the faculty of medicine at the University of Khartoum, the association said. Kirby said a 72-hour ceasefire brokered by the U.S. that began late Monday has mostly held, though there has been some violence between forces controlled by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who leads the Sudanese Armed Forces, and Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who is in charge of the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group. "We've said this many, many times, but the violence is simply unconscionable and it must stop," Kirby said. The U.S. military evacuated American personnel from the embassy in Khartoum over the weekend and President Biden confirmed embassy operations were "temporarily" suspended. Before the ceasefire, Americans in the country had been urged to shelter in place. Kirby said Wednesday that the U.S. is "actively facilitating the departure of a relatively small number of Americans who have indicated to us that they want to leave." Story continues "We continue to deploy U.S. intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, unmanned assets to support land evacuation routes, which Americans are using, and we're still moving naval assets within the region to provide support along the coast and offer Port Sudan," he said. "American citizens are arriving in Port Sudan and we're helping to facilitate their onward travel as appropriate." Bo Erickson contributed reporting. Disney sues Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over "government retaliation" Stocks fall as First Republic Bank shares plummet British antitrust regulators block Microsoft purchase of Activision Blizzard Chinese vice president meets with founder of Schultz Family Foundation Xinhua) 08:26, April 26, 2023 Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Howard Schultz, founder of the Schultz Family Foundation and Starbucks' former chief executive officer, in Beijing, capital of China, April 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met on Tuesday with Howard Schultz, founder of the Schultz Family Foundation and Starbucks' former chief executive officer, in Beijing. Han said that, in January 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping replied to a letter from Schultz, encouraging him and the coffee company to continue to play a positive role in advancing China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation and bilateral ties, and expressing earnest hopes in this regard. Noting that China will not change its basic state policy of opening-up, Han said China is ready to share with companies from the United States and other countries the new opportunities brought by China's new development. "We welcome Mr. Schultz and the Foundation to continue to actively participate in China's economic development and reform and opening-up process, and to make new contributions to the development of bilateral relations," Han said. Schultz congratulated China on a series of historic achievements in developing the economy and improving people's livelihoods. He expressed his willingness to give full play to the influence of the Schultz Family Foundation and Starbucks to promote more fruitful economic, trade, cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Hagerstown Police have arrested a second city man they say was involved in an April 3 shootout that resulted in a stray bullet hitting an innocent bystander in the legs. That stray bullet came from a weapon fired by city resident Dajor Javon Walden, according to charging documents filed in Washington County District Court. Walden, 19, faces numerous charges, including four counts each of attempted first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder related to a shootout near Mulberry Lofts in Hagerstown. Walden is accused of being one of the males shooting at a Honda Fit, from which three people had exited, according to charging documents. New sheriff comments on report: Is violent crime on rise in Maryland? New report gives outlook for Gov. Wes Moore Walden, arrested on a warrant served on April 19, is the second young Hagerstown man to be charged in connection with the shootout. Michael Anthony Jones, 18, also faces four counts each of attempted first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder and other charges. Jones also faces gun and drug charges after police searched his bedroom and found weapons and drugs. Among the items found was a plastic bag holding about 85 grams of suspected marijuana, an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle with a shorter barrel and a "ghost gun" a polymer P80-type handgun with no serial number, according to charging documents. Both Walden and Jones were being held without bond Tuesday at the Washington County Detention Center. Shootout in alley caught on surveillance video Hagerstown Police responded to the 200 block of East Franklin Street around 7:26 p.m. that Monday for a reported shooting, court records state. An officer learned a male victim had been shot in both legs and was to the rear of the first block of North Cannon Ave. The victim was an innocent bystander who was outside a friend's home with his child when he was struck by a stray bullet. Witnesses saw a smaller white SUV in the area at the time of the shooting, court records state. Police canvassed the alley between the first blocks of North Cannon and North Mulberry for evidence and found an iPhone and shell casings in the area. Story continues Through surveillance video in the area, police determined Walden and Jones were in separate groups, allegedly exchanging gunfire in an alley next to Mulberry Lofts, court documents state. Video footage shows a black Chrysler Sebring appearing to follow a white Honda Fit through town. The Chrysler turns into a parking lot off East Washington Street that is adjacent to Mulberry Lofts and "ultimately connects" to the alley where the shooting occurred, charging documents state. The car slowly drives through the lot into the alley and stops where the alley meets North Mulberry Street, according to charging documents and Hagerstown Police. Around the same time, the Honda approaches from the other end of the alley. A passenger exits the Chrysler while another male in a white T-shirt rounds the corner into the alley. Jones was allegedly in the group that arrived in the Honda, with video showing three people exiting that vehicle, according to charging documents. The second group in the shooting consists of people who arrived in the Chrysler and others who came on foot, charging documents state. The police investigation found one of the men who arrived by foot and wearing a white T-shirt was Walden, also known as "Dae Dae," according to charging documents. The man in the white T-shirt "can clearly be seen pulling what appears to be a short barrel assault style rifle from his pants," charging documents state. It appears the man in the white T-shirt fired at least once after pointing the firearm in the direction of the males in the Honda, charging documents state. The area where the man is seen pointing the rifle is the same area where police later found a spent .223 casing. As gunfire is exchanged, the man in the white T-shirt and another male that came from the sidewalk run back to the sidewalk and turn to the north, charging documents. The Chrysler starts to drive away as the first male that exited the car runs after it on foot. The car eventually stops and lets that male get in. Earlier, that male was seen on camera and appeared to be armed with a handgun that he pointed at the males in the Honda with a motion consistent with firing a handgun, charging documents state. That male is not identified in Walden's charging documents. Update on 2022 shooting case: Hagerstown woman gets plea deal in shooting over alleged money dispute Using footage from private surveillance cameras along North Mulberry Street, police can see the male in the white T-shirt running south on the sidewalk to the alley in the first block of North Mulberry Street and after he "completes the shooting," leaving the alley and running north on the sidewalk, according to charging documents. Private video footage also captured a clear image of the male whose hairstyle is similar to that of a "high top," court records state. Multiple police officers believed the male in the image to be Walden, court records state. A witness in the area during the shooting also saw Dae Dae running with an assault-style rifle in his waistband and hearing gunshots come from the area Dae Dae headed. After police determined Walden's nickname, they found that his address matched the address the witness knew for Dae Dae, court records state. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown man charged in shooting of bystander during shootout By Blake Brittain (Reuters) - Moderna Inc failed to persuade a Delaware federal judge on Wednesday to shift liability from the company to the U.S. government for alleged patent infringement by Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine. Chief Judge Colm Connolly's ruling for Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc came just over a month after a different judge in Delaware rejected Moderna's similar motion in another vaccine patent lawsuit. Connolly did not include the reasoning for his decision in his order, which he announced from the bench following arguments in the case. A Moderna spokesperson said in a statement that the company "respectfully disagrees" with the decision and is confident that discovery will support its position. Representatives for Alnylam did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Alnylam sued both Moderna and Pfizer Inc in Delaware last year, seeking royalties for the lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology their vaccines use to deliver genetic material known as mRNA. The cases are part of a wave of patent lawsuits that have been filed over technology used in the COVID-19 shots, including one filed by Moderna against Pfizer last year. Moderna said in the Alnylam case that the court should dismiss claims that were based on vaccines it sold to the U.S. government and that Alnylam should instead seek damages from the government itself. It cited a law that was previously used to keep patent disputes from interfering with the supply of war materials during World War One. Moderna made the same argument in a motion to dismiss part of another patent lawsuit brought by Arbutus Biopharma Corp and Genevant Sciences GmbH. U.S. District Judge Mitchell Goldberg rejected Moderna's motion in that case last year and said it had not yet proven the government was more than an "incidental beneficiary" of the shots. Goldberg denied the motion for a second time last month after the federal government backed Moderna's position. (Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has exposed two more of Russias accomplices who voluntarily cooperated with the occupying forces after the temporary occupation of Ukraines south. Source: Security Service of Ukraine Quote: "The former head of one of the Russian proxy 'departments' of the Kherson Oblast Water Resources Basin Administration is among the detainees. While holding this 'position', she was involved in establishing a water supply for the needs of Russian occupation groups, which were deployed on the temporarily occupied territory of the oblast. To do this, she formed a staff for the 'department' and urged local residents to join the ranks of the sham institution. Before the liberation of the oblast centre, the collaborator fled to Kyiv, where she planned to 'blend in' with the capitals residents and thus avoid justice." Details: The SSU established the womans whereabouts and detained her. Another accomplice of the aggressor was a resident of the city of Kherson, who, during the occupation of the city, got a position in the Russian-backed "oblast pension fund". The offender was involved in implementing Moscow's instructions to introduce a "rouble zone" in Kherson Oblast. The woman pressured elderly people to receive pensions in Russian currency. After the city was liberated, she fled to Odesa, where she was arrested. Both defendants were served with a notice of suspicion under Art. 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (collaboration). The court has remanded one of them in custody, pending trial. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Sen. Aisha Wahabs controversial bill that would ban caste-based discrimination made its way through the Senate Judiciary committee Tuesday, and is heading to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 403 was met with strong opposition from some members of the Indian-American community across the state. They say that it will enable racial profiling against South Asians. A line of both supporters and dissenters spent nearly two hours sharing their views with the committee. This has to be one of the largest numbers of people that have testified in this session, said acting chair Sen. John Laird, D-Santa Cruz. Caste is a civil, racial, gender, workers, and human rights issue, Wahab, D-Hayward, who has received death threats since announcing the bill, said Tuesday. The bill received broad bipartisan support, but many opponents of the bill and some of Wahabs colleagues in the Senate wondered if discrimination on the basis of caste is a big enough problem to warrant legislation. She cited several cases of such discrimination in California. In 2020, California regulators sued Cisco on behalf of a Dalit engineer who said he was harassed due to caste. Dalit tech workers at Google have also said that caste-based discrimination is the companys best kept secret, and Dalit students at CSU East Bay experienced discrimination to the extent that the CSU system added caste to its anti-discrimination policy in 2022. Caste systems are not widely understood, Wahab said. This bill does not target any specific community, religion, nor does it create more harm. It simply protects people from discrimination and allows people to know they are protected under California law. Supporters of the bill include the ACLU California Action, CAIR-California, Sacramento native Dr. Cornel West, and members of the Seattle community who came to Sacramento to show support for SB 403. The Seattle City Council passed legislation to add caste as a protected class, and was the first city in the country to do so. There is a foundational principle that we dont have caste in the U.S. said Sen. David Min, R-Irvine, who voted in support of the bill. There are no untouchables here. Committee members encouraged Wahab to work closely with the community to assuage dissenters fears about reverse discrimination. But, Sen. Min said, the pros (of the bill) outweigh the cons. Senate Republicans on Wednesday defeated a bill calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to research marijuana as a remedy for post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain. Senators voted 57 to 42 to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill, falling short of the 60 votes necessary for it to advance. Eight Republicans Sens. Bill Cassidy (La.), Susan Collins (Maine), Josh Hawley (Mo.), Jerry Moran (Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Mike Rounds (S.D.), Eric Schmitt (Mo.) and Dan Sullivan (Alaska) voted alongside every Democrat to advance the bill. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) switched his vote from aye to nay in order to have the ability to bring the legislation to the floor again in the future. He lamented that the bill was not able to move forward despite the support of numerous veterans groups and marijuana advocates. Its regrettable that this bill, which so much helps our veterans, went down, Schumer said. I hope that some of our members on the other side of the aisle who didnt vote for it will reconsider. Some Senate Republicans indicated that their main concern with the proposal was indeed the marijuana-related provisions and argued it was unnecessary. When the conversation about how to serve our veterans after all they sacrificed is to give them marijuana we have failed our veterans, Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) tweeted earlier on Wednesday. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Sullivan are the leading sponsors of the proposal, which was voted out of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in February. In Montana, we respect and fight for the men and women who have defended our country and freedoms, Tester said in a statement. Todays failed vote tells them that their government doesnt value their sacrifices. By blocking consideration of a bill that passed unanimously out of Committee two months ago, a group of Republicans today prioritized partisan politics over providing our nations veterans their hard-earned benefits and care. Story continues The blueprint pushes the VA to move ahead on a large scale study and a potential clinical trial to determine whether marijuana should be used to treat veterans. Tester, the committee chairman, had acknowledged on the floor ahead of the vote that the legislation was deemed controversial among some Republican senators. But he said it was important to have a better understanding of the role medical cannabis could have for veterans. Today, its time to put political differences aside and do whats right for our veterans, he said. Use of cannabis has increased across the country, with 20 states having legalized it for recreational use. However, it remains illegal federally, meaning the VA cannot recommend its use to veterans in any way. According to Tester and Sullivans proposal, the VAs observational study would look into the positives and negatives of veterans using marijuana and their overall health as a result. The senators also noted that it would also look into improvements to mood and social functioning, changes to overall quality of life and impacts on other substance use, including alcohol and opioids. Updated at 5:45 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee advanced Labor Secretary nominee Julie Su on Wednesday, setting up an uncertain floor vote. Su, the former California labor secretary who served as Bidens deputy Labor secretary since 2021, sailed through the committee on a party-line vote. Things wont be as easy in the full Senate, where Su is still trying to win undecided Democratic holdouts, such as Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Mark Kelly (Ariz.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), along with Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Angus King (I-Maine), who often vote with Democrats. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the committees chairman, praised Sus support for union organizing and strong worker protections. He said that Su has made it clear shes prepared to stand up for working families. Business groups are running ads pressuring the senators to reject Sus nomination, while labor unions are responding with a pro-Su campaign. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), the committees ranking member, said that Su failed to respond to senators questions following last weeks confirmation hearing. He criticized Sus support for a California law aimed at overhauling the gig economy. The economy of 2023 is the economy that theyre attempting to limit, Cassidy said. Lobbying battle underway Business groups are running ads in key senators home states taking aim at Sus record in California. They point to pandemic-era unemployment fraud under her watch and Sus support for California bills that drew opposition from big business. Su was confirmed as deputy Labor secretary in 2021 with no Republican votes, receiving the support of all Senate Democrats, including the current holdouts. Most of the unsure Democrats are up for reelection in 2024. Manchin and Tester are increasingly voting with Republicans as they prepare for difficult elections in red states. Tester has already announced his reelection bid, while Manchin is yet to formally announce his plans for 2024. Story continues Franchisers are currently fighting to block Californias FAST Act, a bill to bolster wages and working conditions for fast food workers, while gig companies pushed back on the states Assembly Bill 5 law to reclassify many independent contractors as employees who are owed benefits. Dont let Julie Su turn Arizona into California, reads an ad from a business coalition dubbed Stand Against Su. The powerful International Franchise Association is warning that Su might aggressively crack down on the franchise model as Labor secretary. Some of the largest West Virginia and Arizona business groups are also urging their senators to vote no. Todays party-line vote is another reminder that Julie Su is no Marty Walsh, who advanced in a bipartisan 18-4 vote only two years ago, said Michael Layman, a top lobbyist at the International Franchise Association, in a statement following Wednesdays vote. The AFL-CIO is fighting back, running ads in Arizona and D.C. backing Sus efforts to counter wage theft in California. The ads tell viewers that workers are tired of getting ripped off by big corporations. The labor federation is also mobilizing its members to lobby senators. Were going to defend Julie against these baseless corporate special interests attacks, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler told reporters last week. Every senator, especially those that havent yet said that theyll vote yes, needs to be aware of how much this confirmation means to working peoples lives. Su responded to business concerns during her confirmation hearing last week, stating that she wouldnt implement the strict ABC test to determine whether an individual is a contractor. California is one of a few states that use the test, which makes an employee classification more likely. Su referenced her working relationship with former Labor Secretary Walsh, who was confirmed with bipartisan support and endorsed Su as his replacement. Senators debate Sus qualifications Cassidy argued Wednesday that Su could find ways to enact stricter contractor classification rules without using the ABC test. He added that Su was unable to provide a single instance in which she handled a successful negotiation, noting that 150 labor contracts are set to expire this year. Republicans dont have the votes to defeat Su alone, so theyre putting pressure on the undecided Democrats to vote no. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) criticized Sus nomination by pointing to corporate opposition and a relatively small number of meetings with business groups on her public calendar. Sanders noted that Su was endorsed by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, one of the few business groups to back her nomination. Democrats argued that Sus lack of support from business interests isnt relevant to the Labor Departments mission statement of protecting workers rights. Its the Department of Labor, not the Department of Labor and Corporations, Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) said. Its there for workers. Updated at 11:05 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. As House Republicans labor to pass a debt-limit bill with steep funding cuts and no chance of White House support, two senior senators are moving forward on a government spending process with more bipartisan buy-in. Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and her Republican counterpart, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, are starting the process toward developing government funding legislation for the fiscal year that starts in October. If they succeed in the next few weeks, theyd achieve a bipartisan feat unseen in years allowing the upper chamber to move forward with a dozen annual spending bills. They have a big problem, though: This years spending climate in Congress is light years away from normal. House Republicans have conditioned a must-pass bill to lift the debt ceiling, which may need to happen as early as June, with their demands for steep federal spending cuts. So far, Democrats have refused to play ball, leaving talks on both the debt limit and government funding at a stalemate. And while Murray and Collins are leaving the chaotic debt-limit fight to Speaker Kevin McCarthy, they're also quietly plodding along trying to start the bipartisan funding process they hope could get begrudging support from both Congress and the White House and help avoid a government shutdown that triggers at the end of September. Their colleagues aren't writing them off yet, hoping the effort will inject new life into the onerous task of writing spending bills. But few senators are confident: Im not concerned about the debt limit derailing the process, Arkansas Sen. John Boozman said, adding that he actually sees a core agreement on topline spending numbers as probably the hardest thing to get done. Boozman, a senior Republican appropriator, lauded Murray and Collins for talking in earnest even though both sides still appear pretty far apart. And Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who leads the Appropriations subpanel on defense spending with Collins, described the committee leaders conversations as serious. Story continues The two top appropriators talks are a departure from standard Senate practice in recent years. Rather than waste precious floor time, the chambers leaders have instead usually opted for directly negotiating with House appropriators in a bid to land bills that can pass both chambers. And those discussions usually come down to the wire, saddling lawmakers with votes on sprawling legislation that comes out just days or hours beforehand a process no one has been happy with. In a brief interview last week, Collins acknowledged her discussions with Murray, but said shes waiting to see what shakes out in the House. However, she added she's "determined" not to let the debt-limit stalemate derail annual spending bills. We have laid out an aggressive schedule to bring the bills to the floor and to do that, we have to have a topline, the Maine Republican said. Im sure well be talking, but first I want to see where the House lands." Other Senate appropriators arent so bullish about the push to finish a slate of spending bills against the backdrop of a debt-limit standoff, with no clear resolution in sight. Asked if hes worried about the debt battle thwarting those bills, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), who oversees funding for the State Department, said simply: Yes. Im concerned. A bipartisan agreement between Murray and Collins would further negate the need for Senate Democrats to draft a budget, or a nonbinding measure that lawmakers often skip as part of the federal budget process. Senate Budget Chair Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said Tuesday that a budget isnt officially off the table, although hes receiving zero pressure from fellow Democrats to write one, given broad satisfaction with President Joe Bidens fiscal 2024 budget. House Republicans could set their desired overall government funding level for the coming fiscal year as soon as this week, using a procedural gambit that would both tee up floor action on Speaker Kevin McCarthys debt-limit package and automatically establish a $1.47 trillion total spending level once Republicans adopt the rule on the floor. House Appropriations Chair Kay Granger (R-Texas) said she hasnt spoken with her Senate counterparts, but that she hopes to mark up GOP spending bills in May and pass them on the floor as early as June. That's likely a rosy timeline, given the debt-ceiling drama, and even then those numbers would most assuredly change in any bicameral talks with the Democratic-led Senate. Were pushing as hard as we can, Granger said in a recent interview. House Republican appropriators know their proposed cuts will never become law, and theyre waiting to see whether the Senate actually produces the promised spending bills. A number of House GOP members expect the Pentagon to escape any major slashing in fact, it may even see a small funding boost in the bills that the Republican majority write. Funding for military construction and the Department of Homeland Security could also escape the brunt of McCarthys $130 billion in proposed spending cuts, according to senior GOP appropriator Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), resulting in even steeper cuts across other bills that make up the bulk of domestic programs. Theyre probably the only three guys that are going to be popping champagne corks, Cole said of his colleagues leading the Defense, Military Construction and Homeland Security spending panels. The rest of us are going to be crying in our beer. CORRECTION: A previous version of this story inaccurately conflated Murray and Collins effort on appropriations with debt-limit negotiations. The two senators are discussing a path forward on annual spending bills and are not involved in debt-ceiling talks. Sens. Angus King (I-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) have introduced a bipartisan bill to require the Supreme Court to create a new code of conduct for itself after ProPublica revealed that conservative Justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose luxury trips he accepted from Texas billionaire Harlan Crow. The bill would require the Supreme Court to implement a code of conduct within one year of its enactment into law and publish the new code on its website so its available to the public. It would further require the court to name an individual to handle any complaints of violations of the code and give the court authority to initiate investigations to determine if justices or staff have engaged in conduct affecting the administration of justice or violating federal laws or codes of conduct. It would empower the court to draft its own code of conduct to preserve the separation of powers between the legislative and judicial branches, thereby deflecting any criticism that members of Congress would be interfering in the courts affairs. The Supreme Court Code of Conduct Act is a commonsense step to restore and maintain faith in the high court by requiring the creation of consistent, transparent rules like the ones that apply to every other federal judge across our democracy. The other two branches of government already have codes of conduct, it is only reasonable the full Judiciary should as well, King said in a statement. Murkowski said the legislation will address public concerns about the courts impartiality amid its declining approval ratings. The American publics confidence in the Supreme Court is at an all-time-low. Americans have made clear their concerns with the transparencyor lack thereofcoming from the Supreme Court and its justices, she said in a statement. It is critical the public has full faith that their institutions are functioning, including the judicial branch. The Supreme Court must demonstrate independence and fairness as they rule on the laws of the landand any cracks in the publics confidence will have damaging repercussions for the state of our democracy, she warned. Story continues King and Murkowski discussed the legislation last week after returning to Washington from a two-week recess, during which time ProPublica published two bombshell reports about favors Thomas, the Supreme Courts longest-serving justice, has accepted from Crow, a major conservative donor, over the past two decades. King told The Hill that he will try to recruit more Republicans to support the bill and hasnt yet begun discussing it with GOP colleagues other than Murkowski. ProPublica published details of luxury trips Thomas accepted from Crow as well as frequent trips in the real estate magnates Bombardier Global 5000 jet travel that justices are required to disclose publicly, which Thomas failed to do. ProPublica also reported that Thomas failed to disclose the sale of a Savannah, Ga., property in which he had a third interest to one of Crows companies. The reports have prompted an outcry from Senate Democrats, who will hold a hearing in the Judiciary Committee on May 2 to review the Supreme Courts ethical standards. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) last week invited Chief Justice John Roberts to testify at the hearing, which Roberts declined. In a letter responding to Durbin on Tuesday, Roberts pointed out that members of the Supreme Court in 1991 voluntarily adopted a resolution to follow the broadly worded principles set out in the Judicial Conferences code of conduct. The Judicial Conference is the policymaking body for the federal courts. The new legislative proposal from King, who caucuses with Senate Democrats, and Murkowski, an influential Republican moderate, will put more pressure on Roberts to take action, senators say. When a bipartisan pair of senators who ordinarily concern themselves with court matters understand the situation at the court is so bad that they need to involve themselves, its a very strong signal to the court that it needs to clean up its act, said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), a member of the Judiciary Committee. Neither King nor Murkowski sits on the Judiciary panel. King pointed to recent polling that shows the public is losing faith in the nations highest court. In the Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton notes that the Judiciary can only be successful if it has the esteem and applause of all the virtuous and disinterested. With trust in the Supreme Court reaching historic lows, I worry were getting dangerously far from this fundamental vision, King said Wednesday. A Gallup poll published in June found that only 25 percent of U.S. adults surveyed said they have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the Supreme Court, a drop from the 36 percent of respondents who said so in 2021. Murkowski told The Hill last week that she worried about the courts credibility in the eyes of the American public, which has grown increasingly distrustful of the nations institutions in recent years. I think we are moving dangerously close to a place where the public has lost faith and trust in the credibility of our governing institutions. They dont trust the court, I dont think whats going on with Justice Thomas is helping anything, she said. Updated at 3:45 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Men look at newspaper front pages hung on a rope in Fann Hock neighbourhood, in Dakar, on February 25, 2019, one day after Senegal's presidential elections Senegal has traditionally had one of the most unrestricted and diverse media scenes in the region. The constitution guarantees freedom of information and abuses against journalists are relatively infrequent, says Reporters Without Borders (RSF). But some subjects remain off limits for reporters. Violence against journalists is relatively rare in Senegal but 2021 saw a surge in verbal and physical violence against media outlets amid the arrest and release of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. There are around 20 TV stations. Radio is an influential medium, and outlets include commercial and community stations.There are almost 30 daily newspapers. BBC World Service and Radio France Internationale are available on FM in Dakar. The online news media are highly-developed and include internet-based TV outlets. There were 9.7 million internet users by December 2021, comprising 56% of the population (Internetworldstats.com). Access is unrestricted. Press Television Radio Radiodiffusion Television Senegalaise (RTS) - state-run, operates Chaine Nationale and Senegal Internationale, Dakar FM, regional services Sud FM - private, in Dakar and other cities Walf FM - operated by Groupe Wal Fadjri Dunyaa FM - private News agencies Sephora has sponsored a photo exhibition paired with a film featuring 2,000 women from more than 50 countries, which is on display as part of the Jam Capsule, an immersive cultural experience in Paris. The event is taking place at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles trade show venue, where the Jam Capsule is hosting a series that also includes immersive experiences about Japan, legacy and the moon. More from WWD Woman, the exhibit and film, were cocreated by Anastasia Mikova, a Ukrainian-born film director and journalist. While serving as editor in chief of the Earth From Above documentaries she began collaborating with the other cocreator of Woman, French photographer and director Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Visitors to the exhibit first encounter 11 upright, rectangular screens, which introduce the concept and showcase still images of women in the movie. They hail from countries as far afield as Vietnam, Bolivia, South Korea, Denmark, the U.S. and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These photos are rich in expression and color, and vary as much as the women in them. Next door theres a vast room with scattered benches, so people sit facing all directions, and curvilinear walls. During the 50-minute film, womens images are projected onto them in all sizes. Some are still, others moving. Some videos are in the mix think an American woman in cowboy attire surrounded by horses, or women engaged in native dance in Africa. Woman also blends in womens thought-provoking testimonials about subjects such as relationships to their appearance; discrimination and violence, including female genital mutilation; motherhood, and power. The Woman project dovetailed from Mikova and Arthus-Bertrands previous film, Human, which involved 800 interviews. Mikova noted how much women wanted to talk for that, and that once female interviewees felt comfortable enough to confide, there was a great feeling of release. Story continues Women are ready to speak out, so a window must exist for them to be heard, said Mikova. It took five years to pull together Woman, in which many women had told their stories for the first time and which had a soft launch on March 4, 2020, a week before COVID-19-related lockdowns in France. Three years later, the Porte de Versailles location allowed for not just one screen, but multiple screens on to which the film could unfurl. The partnership with Sephora also seemed very natural, said Mikova, noting most of the women appearing to be filmed were made up, well-prepared and feeling beautiful for such an important life event. The films biggest takeaways, she continued, are womens strength and resilience. Guillaume Motte, chief executive officer of Sephora, said it took him just seconds to sign on to partner with Woman. Sephora today its the expression of each [persons] beauty, and indeed the strength of women through their beauty, he said. Everyone at Sephora is extremely proud to be associated with this beautiful work. Woman, which runs through May 7, chimes with Sephoras overarching inclusive and diverse ethos, including its campaign, dubbed The Unlimited Power of Beauty. Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. Severe weather returned to North and Central Texas on Wednesday afternoon and evening with reports of very large hail and a tornado watch, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth. The tornado watch was in effect until 10 p.m., but it didnt include Tarrant and Dallas counties. The severe weather threat for areas north of Interstate 20 decreased before the watch was issued. The tornado watch was for counties to the south of Dallas-Fort Worth. It initially included Johnson, Hood and Ellis counties but was allowed to expire early for those three while continuing in counties farther south until 10. Hail as big as baseballs was reported Wednesday evening near cities including Walnut Springs, Dublin and Hallsburg, and hailstones up to the size of grapefruits fell near Waco, according to reports and photos sent in to the weather service and WFAA-TV. Several storms across Central Texas are currently producing very large, destructive hail. This is a hailstone that fell out of the storm that just moved over Waco, Texas. Take any warnings issued for your location seriously!! https://t.co/2kOKM9Gaxz NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) April 26, 2023 Yes, the bull is fine! Large hail pounded Dublin, Texas (Erath County) on Wednesday during rounds of severe storms. @wfaaweather explains. More: https://t.co/Wtv7IjT8Pj pic.twitter.com/mnh25PKu1M WFAA (@wfaa) April 27, 2023 The potential for large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes will maximize south of I-20 this afternoon and evening. Persistent rain, cloud cover, and cooler temperatures has decreased the severe potential along and north of the I-20 corridor; however, isolated hail up to the size of quarters will still be possible through the evening. Some showers and thunderstorms moved into the Dallas-Fort Worth area beginning late Wednesday morning, but the greatest threat for the region was from about 3-10 p.m., according to NWS meteorologist Miles Langfeld. The strong storms were forecast to include threats of tornadoes, damaging winds and hail larger than 2 inches in diameter. The biggest hailstone reported so far on Wednesday measured about 4.5 inches. After brief heavy rainfall early Wednesday afternoon, Fort Worth police responded to a few calls about drivers stranded in high water. Rain pours down in Fort Worth on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Hail, damaging winds and tornadoes could occur due to severe weather Wednesday evening. Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and Love Field were experiencing flight delays, according to FlightAware. Storm Reports This map contains continuously updated storm reports and damage from the National Weather Service for the past 48 hours. Reports include tornado, wind storm and hail storm reports. The map also includes tornado reports for the past week and recent rainfall accumulations. Sources: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Esri. Open National Weather Service officials recommended that residents stay weather aware throughout the day and ensure they had multiple ways to receive storm warnings. Rain pours down in Fort Worth on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Hail, damaging winds and tornadoes could occur due to severe weather Wednesday evening. This weeks forecast Cloudy and then sunny weather with a high of 70 and low around 52 is in Thursdays forecast, according to the National Weather Service. A chance of storms will return on Friday. Its been a very busy weather year so far with all the ingredients for storms regularly falling into place, Langfeld said. The North Texas storm season runs from the end of March through early June. Rain pours down in Fort Worth on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Hail, damaging winds and tornadoes could occur due to severe weather Wednesday evening. 3-Day Storm Outlook This map shows the 3-day weather outlook for storms by the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center. Sources: National Weather Service, Esri. Open Current Temperatures Current temperatures and weather data from NOAA weather stations updated hourly. Tap on the map for current weather conditions, including humidity, wind speed. and direction. Data provided by NOAA and Esri. Open A faith-based residential treatment center accused of allowing staff to sexually abuse boys is pushing for legislation that would protect it and similar state contractors from most lawsuits filed by victims and their families. The legislation would provide immunity to child caring institutions and group homes in connection with the performance of duties under a contract with the Indiana Department of Child Services. Those contractors include Lifeline Youth & Family Services/Lasting Change, a politically connected operator that provides homebased services and runs a residential treatment center in Northern Indiana. Indiana General Assembly: Indiana GOP lawmakers propose major change for DCS at 11th hour with no public input The Fort Wayne nonprofit is a leading promoter of the legislation. It is DCS's largest contractor, raking in nearly $200 million from the state since 2017. Its fundraisers have featured former governor and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. Pierceton Woods Academy in Fort Wayne faces accusations One of Lifeline's facilities is Pierceton Woods Academy, a residential treatment center about 30 miles west of Fort Wayne that provides care for sexually maladapted youth. The academy has been accused of allowing employees to abuse teenage boys, then covering it up. A psychologist hired by the attorneys of one victim said in a report submitted as part of the 2020 lawsuit that at least a dozen staffers were known or suspected to have sexually abused boys at Pierceton Woods. Curtis Smith, a spokesman for Lifeline, said the nonprofit denies allegations that it failed to protect minors from sexual abuse or that it was aware of and covered up sexual assault allegations. "We love helping these boys heal and get better," Lifeline CEO Tim Smith told lawmakers during a hearing in March. "It is the only reason we do what we do." But Travis McConnell, the attorney who filed the lawsuit alleging sexual abuse at Pierceton Woods, said Smith lied to lawmakers about his client's case in an effort to keep the immunity legislation alive. Story continues Travis McConnell represented a boy in a 2020 lawsuit that alleged sexual abuse at Pierceton Woods Academy, a residential treatment center that provides care for sexually maladapted youth in Northern Indiana. If theres no accountability for their actions, then theres no incentive to do the right thing," McConnell said. "By giving people immunity, youre giving people a free pass to do whatever they please. The controversial proposal, House Bill 1282, appeared dead earlier this month after a Senate committee failed to advance it, but lawmakers appeared ready to add the liability protections to House Bill 1091 as of Tuesday. If that happens, the full House and Senate could vote on the measure this week. CEO accused of misleading lawmakers During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last month, Tim Smith said the immunity legislation is needed because of a huge increase in insurance premiums. Without relief, he said, the company already has reduced the number of boys it serves and may not be able to continue providing important rehabilitation services. Smith testified the annual insurance premium jumped from $30,000 for $3 million coverage to $500,000 for less coverage. He blamed one lawsuit in 55 years even though it was settled for nuisance value, a legal term for an amount less than it would cost to fight a lawsuit. Smith said he could not disclose the settlement amount because it was confidential. McConnell, the Warsaw attorney who represented the family in that lawsuit, called out Smith on the nuisance settlement claim. That statement was not true, McConnell said. So not only does Lasting Change want the taxpayer to cover their negligence, its CEO is willing to lie to the Legislature in order to try and make it happen. IndyStar Investigations: Nurse who removed COVID-19 patient's oxygen mask pleads to felony McConnell said Smiths statement voided the confidentiality agreement, and he provided IndyStar a photocopy of a $72,000 settlement check from Lifelines insurance company. Curtis Smith, the Lifeline spokesman, said Tim Smith "stands firmly" behind his opinion that the settlement was for "nuisance value," adding that McConnell "appears to misunderstand" the terms of the settlement. Records detail troubled history at residential treatment center Court documents and DCS records in the lawsuit detail a troubled facility rife with allegations of the abuse of young boys most already abuse victims seeking treatment. The case alleged a 16-year-old boy was groomed and sexually abused by a female worker. An investigation by DCS found that allegations of child seduction against the employee were substantiated, meaning theres enough evidence for a reasonable person to believe the boy had been abused. It also revealed the same employee had been investigated two years earlier for similar allegations and allowed to keep her job despite refusing to cooperate with that earlier DCS investigation. The lawsuit alleged the woman coerced the boy, and other residents, into participating in various sexual acts over several months in 2019. The employee formed a so-called circle of trust with the boys and repeatedly told them they could be open with her, according to a complaint filed in Kosciusko County in October 2020. The complaint also alleged that multiple supervisors were or should have been aware of the accusations against the employee, but they failed to implement policies to prevent sexual assault and, instead, chose to minimize and cover up such allegations. Indiana DCS investigates sexual assault accusations DCS began its investigation in 2019. In interviews with a family case manager, the boy and another resident said the woman had sexual contact with them during movie outings and walks near Pierceton Woods. The employee admitted forming the circle of trust with the residents and taking them on walks and outings, but denied any sexual abuse, according to the case documents. In 2017, police and DCS looked into similar allegations against the same employee, but neither the woman nor the alleged victim cooperated. Lifeline kept the employee on staff with direct access to male residents, documents say. Curtis Smith, Lifeline's spokesman, said the nonprofit can't comment on DCS investigations, although he said the nonprofit cooperated with the agency. The employee in question no longer works for Lifeline, he said. He did not say if she was fired or if she resigned. A psychologists report prepared for the lawsuit said Lifeline showed deliberate indifference to the rampant sexual abuse of young boys, interfered with the ability of residents and staff to report to DCS, and emboldened sexual predators. Staffers who were accused of or committed sexual misconduct were sometimes reassigned or given the opportunity to resign, allowing them to move to other youth organizations, Kristine Chapleau, a licensed clinical psychologist in Indianapolis, wrote in her 21-page report. Chapleau's assessment was based on interviews, DCS reports, mental health records, company policies and court depositions. The work environment at Pierceton Woods was highly sexualized. Several female staff talked openly about sex, fought over who was having sex with the male staff, and even bragged about abusing the male youth, Chapleau wrote, citing an employee who boasted about such abuse. Yet, these giant red banners were repeatedly ignored. At least a dozen staffers were known or suspected to have sexually abused boys at Pierceton Woods, according to Chapleaus report. One employee was allowed to resign after sexually abusing a boy under 15 and was never reported to DCS, according to the report. So was another employee who sexually abused a 15-year-old boy inside a supply closet. Another was allegedly impregnated by a resident she helped escape from the academy, the report said. In 2020, another female employee was investigated by DCS and arrested for child seduction. She pled guilty to two misdemeanors in a deal with the prosecutor. Curtis Smith said Chapleau was hired by the plaintiff's attorney, McConnell, to pursue money damages in the lawsuit and neither visited Lifeline facilities nor interviewed any employees. He added that Chapleau's report was based on "hand-picked" information and documents. During the litigation, Lifeline's attorneys expected their own medical experts to "deeply scrutinize" the findings and prepared to "vigorously cross-examine" Chapleau before the plaintiff decided to settle, Curtis Smith said. Chapleau told IndyStar her report was based on the sworn depositions of eight employees, Lifelines policies, and the substantiated DCS investigation. "Within a month of receiving my report, Lifeline agreed to settle without asking for my deposition," she said. "Its troubling that, even today, Lifeline would rather 'deeply scrutinize' those who uncover the abuse than their employees who commit the abuse." 'This takes the consequence away' The lawsuit filed by McConnell was voluntarily dismissed by agreement of the parties in February 2022 after discovery, including multiple depositions that were taken. That dismissal was tied to a then-confidential financial settlement with the family. The dispute was rekindled last month following a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on HB 1282, which would prohibit negligence claims such as the one McConnell brought against Pierceton Woods. Under the legislation, immunity would apply to most liability claims, including wrongful death, negligence, malpractice, battery and infliction of emotional distress. There are exclusions for criminal offenses, gross negligence and willful or wanton misconduct, but those cases are rare and much more difficult to prove. McConnell said he shared information about the settlement in his case after hearing Smith downplay the incident in testimony to the Senate committee. He said Smith's public statement voided the agreement, and he doesn't want to see lawmakers swayed by what he considers misinformation. Brad Catlin, an attorney who has represented multiple clients in DCS-related lawsuits, said the impact of abuse in youth treatment settings can be particularly devastating for the children involved. "If they are hurt in places where they are put for care, thats a terrible thing," he said. "It probably also will seriously make the issues they are dealing with worse." Lawmakers should ensure contractors are held accountable, he said. "If some somebody doesn't have a consequence, they're more likely to engage in bad behavior," he said. "And this takes the consequence away." Contact IndyStar reporter Tony Cook at 317-444-6081 or tony.cook@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @IndyStarTony. IndyStar reporter Kristine Phillips at (317) 444-3026 or at kphillips@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @bykristinep. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Residential treatment center wants immunity after sex abuse accusations The Shasta County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to allocate millions of taxpayer dollars to pay for seven new employees who will assist in the countys switch to manual ballot tallying. But the man behind the switch is paying a large price, too. Conservative Supervisor Kevin Crye, who has perpetuated the claim that Dominion Voting Systems rigged the 2020 election in favor of President Joe Biden, was served recall papers at the board meeting. In March, Shasta became the first county in California to pivot to a manual tally. The countys contract with Dominion Voting Systems ended in January, and after right-wing news outlets and commentators spread the falsehood that the machines were rigged, board members decided not to renew it; instead of replacing it with different machines, they opted for the controversial decision to count ballots by hand at great expense. Chief fiscal officer Erin Bertain warned the board on Tuesday that the decision to hand count votes could cost the county at least $3 million through the 2024-2025 fiscal year, because the county will likely need to hire 1,500 ballot counters for the 2024 election. There are nearly 112,000 registered voters in Shasta County; in the last presidential election, 94,084 people turned out to vote. The role of Mike Lindell Mike Lindell, the My Pillow CEO and noted election denier, has thrown his support behind the Board and Crye specifically, and even offered to pay for any future legal fees if the county is sued for its decision to pivot to a manual tally. Dominion has sued Lindell for a whopping $1.3 billion in a defamation lawsuit. Lindell was recently also ordered to pay $5 million to a man who disproved his election fraud claims. Cryes association with Lindell, and his efforts to upend the voting system, brought nationwide ridicule and embarrassment to Shasta County, according to a group of residents who want to recall him. Your recall is necessary to preserve our limited resources and return stable government to Shasta County, said Jeff Gorder, a spokesman for the committee to recall Crye, at the meeting on Tuesday. We cannot stand by for another 3 years and watch you take the county down the path that youve taken it thus far, he said. Therefore, today, weve served you with a notice of intent to circulate a recall petition. The Sacramento Bee reached out to Supervisor Crye twice and has not heard back. Gabby Morrison started working in her parents southwest Charlotte restaurant, Nana Morrisons Soul Food, at just 5 years old. The tasks were all pretty basic, like wiping down tables and stocking up silverware. But her dad, Shawn, and her mom, Kiana, did start cutting her an actual paycheck, and she did file a tax return the following year. By age 10, her parents say, Gabby was involved in hiring decisions at Nana Morrisons, which sits in the shadow of Charlotte-Douglas International Airport at Yorkmont and West Tyvola roads. She was creating employee schedules. Doing payroll. Communicating with their bookkeeper. Placing food orders. All while navigating the fourth grade. So, with those things in mind, its perhaps a little bit less surprising to learn that Gabby will be fully in charge of their second Nana Morrisons location set to open Monday in Charlottes Mountain Island area despite the fact that shes not yet 17. These, though, might still be shockers: Shell earn $100,000 a year for doing the job, and she plans to skip college to hang onto it. I dont have the desire to go and put the effort in to do it, Gabby says of continuing her education after high school. Its not because she doesnt want to work hard, or because shes not a good student. In fact, shes consistently made the honor roll at Marvin Ridge High School in her hometown of Waxhaw and will graduate early this December. No, she is diving headlong into this new role because she believes theres a good chance college would just be an expensive way for her to come to the conclusion about what she wants to do with her life that shes already made. I was like, OK, this is the next step in my career, Gabby says. I can do this now, or put my career on hold that I know is always gonna be here, and take another path, and it might not work out. So its like, just stick to what you know, and continue on with the restaurant business, and I can grow in it. Story continues At this point, you probably have a lot of questions about this unusual situation. Weve got answers. But first, a little background about the Morrison family. Shawn Morrison, Gabby Morrison and Kiana Morrison at the new Nana Morrisons Soul Food location in northwest Charlotte. Nanas just sounded better Shawn grew up in a rough neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, with a mom who was a high school dropout and a brother who was shot five times. Kiana, meanwhile, was born to a Native American mother and half-Filipino father but raised on Long Island by her grandparents on her mothers side. Shawns brother married Kianas cousin, and at 16 Shawns family moved to Long Island. Kiana was 13 at the time. They started dating a few years later. By the time she was 17, they had moved in together. A year later they had the first of their four children, Shawn Jr., and a year after that they were married. In 2004, they opened a tobacco-retail business on Long Island that became immensely successful, they say. Then in 2006, the Morrisons came to Charlotte to visit Kianas aunt and he fell in love with the area. They originally bought a house here as a vacation property but the following year wound up deciding to sell their New York business, move to North Carolina and enjoy a semi-retirement. The latter didnt last. Mainly because Kiana couldnt find a soul-food restaurant in Charlotte that she liked. It really was that simple. I always cooked at home. Everybody always seemed to like my cooking, and it was just like, OK, I want to open a restaurant, she says, plainly. Thats how Nanas came about. It was no desire to get into the restaurant business. It just felt like a lack of the type of food we were used to. That was in 2009, after she gave birth to the last of their four children, son Aaron. The original name of the restaurant was Nanas Soul Food, but when they went to trademark it, they learned it was already taken. They used Nana because thats what Kiana called her grandmother, and Morrison to honor Shawns surname. Kianas mom was a really good cook and her grandmother was merely average, Kiana says, laughing, but Nanas just sounded better than Mamas. The restaurant opened in 2011 with a menu packed with Southern soul-food favorites that Kiana cooked up based on this philosophy: Kids, when theyre little, theyre picky. So ... if my kids ate it, then I think everybody else would want to eat it. Nana Morrisons new location, which opens Monday, is at 3824 Corning Place Suite A in Charlotte. Getting all 4 kids an early start All four of their children started helping out at the restaurant at a young age. They would start as early as kindergarten or first grade, doing those simple set-up tasks before Nanas would open for the day. Then once customers started coming in, theyd have to stay in the office or sit in the dining room. Once they got a few years older around third grade or so Shawn and Kiana would let them start operating the registers. Sometimes people would get freaked out. Shawn recalled getting a call from the Department of Labor after a Door Dash delivery person reported seeing Aaron working at the front counter when he was about 8. In case youre wondering, no one got in trouble. Because the Morrisons own 100% of the restaurant, their children are allowed to officially serve as employees of the business as long as they adhere to certain guidelines pertaining to limited work hours and safety standards. None of them were allowed to work on the line, preparing food and cooking, until they were teenagers. But even before Gabby was old enough to do those things, she was interviewing people for jobs in Nanas kitchen. It wasnt easy being 12 and being in charge of interviewing a job candidate, Gabby recalls, because people would look at me and be like, Youre 12. What are you doing? At the same time, I just had to be like, OK, if youre not gonna respect me in this interview, youre not gonna work for me. By that age, shed been learning the ropes of the business from her parents for five years. And she loved every minute. I wanted to be here all the time, Gabby says. The new dining room, at Nana Morrisons Soul Foods second location, was designed in part by 16-year-old Gabby Morrison. I just felt it in my heart Under different circumstances, Gabby might have been headed to Florida in June, around the time she turns 17 on the 25th. Its a long story, but heres the medium version: The Morrisons had started looking to expand on Nanas about two years ago. They settled on two locations for additional restaurants, including the one that opens next Monday (just outside I-485 at Mt. Holly-Huntersville and NC 16) and another in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where Shawn and Kiana own another home. Originally, they thought Gabby was going to graduate from Marvin Ridge this June, a full year early. The plan was then to let her move into their house in Port St. Lucie and take charge of the first Florida Nanas, set to open in September. But over this past winter, she learned she needs one more class to complete her diploma; so instead, her older brother Hank, 18, who will graduate from high school in June, is headed south this summer to become the general manager of the Sunshine State location. (By the way, thatll make three Morrison-family GMs, since 24-year-old Shawn Jr. now runs the original Nanas.) As of about two months ago, Shawn Sr. was ready to give the GM position at the new location to a seasoned candidate. In fact, he extended a job offer. While waiting for an answer, however, it struck Shawn that he should have offered it to Gabby. After all, even though she had one more semester, she had just one in-person class first thing in the morning, so she could be at the restaurant every day in time to open it at 11 a.m. The other three courses shell take this fall are online. She could do it, Shawn thought. She could do it as well as anybody. To his relief, the other candidate ended up turning him down. I just felt it in my heart, he says. Shes ready. I dont want to hold her back anymore. I dont believe in age (being a limiter). ... Kids can play video games and master video games, right? Its about spending time, and giving the effort. About that $100,000 salary ... Shawn insists the salary hes promised to Gabby is what hed give others for the same job who have the same level of experience she does. I dont want nobody to think that any of our kids got the position because theyre our kids and because of their last name, he says. No, they have to work for it. If they didnt, I would hire somebody to be their boss. Period. Theyll tell you that in a heartbeat. Because Im not giving them nothing they dont deserve. My wife and I were brought up poor. We didnt have any money. Nothing was given to us. I explain that to them. I explain our upbringing. I explain that they have to work for it. He says that his rule when they were growing up was that they could spend 10% of their paychecks however they wanted to spend it, but that they needed to save or invest the other 90%. And while he knows that wont be possible once theyre out on their own, he hopes his lessons continue to influence their financial lives. I always tell em, if your moneys right, you can do whatever you want to do, Shawn says. If you cant do whatever you want to do, its cause you dont have no money. He thinks Gabby will be just fine. So does Kiana. They couldnt be more proud of their only daughter and her passion for the job. Shes always up there at the new restaurant, Kiana says. After school, Ill call and ask, Where are you? Shell say, Im at the new location. Shes always up there. Checking on things, making sure everything is right. Shes handled everything from the Pepsi contracts to all the food vendors, its been her. On her lunch break, shes calling everybody. I know, Gabby interjects, I tell them all the time, I feel like Im signing my life away. They laugh, then Dad adds, beaming: Its pretty exciting ... me just thinking about it. Some guys 16-year-olds are out chasing guys, and our daughter our 16-year-old daughter is gonna be running a multi-million dollar business. Gabby Morrison, the general manager of Nana Morrisons Soul Food, will turn 17 years old in June. Original location: 2908 Oak Lake Blvd Suite #106, Charlotte, NC 28208. New location: 3824 Corning Place, Suite A, Charlotte, NC 28216 (opening Monday, May 1). Menu highlights: Baked, barbecue, fried, curry and smothered chicken; fried fish and pork chops; ribs; black-eyed peas; collard greens; pinto beans; banana pudding; sweet potato pie; and a variety of cakes and cheesecakes. Cuisine: Soul food Instagram: @nanamorrisons.soulfood A guard keeps watch over Changi Prison on Nov. 24, 2005 in Singapore. A guard keeps watch over Changi Prison. Credit - Jonathan DrakeGetty Images Amid protests and growing international attention, Singapore executed another man on Wednesday for a drug offense. Tangaraju Suppiah, a 46-year-old of Tamil descent who had been on death row since 2018, was hanged at dawn in Singapores Changi Prison after being convicted in 2018 of abetting the smuggling of 1.02 kilograms (2.2 pounds) of cannabis back in 2013. Tangarajus execution is the first in the country this year, though its unlikely to be the last. Singapore executed 11 people in 2022, all for narcotics-related offenses. As is customary, Tangarajus family only received one weeks notice before his execution. Advocates estimate there to be at least 50 others awaiting their own turn at the gallows. (Singapore has not made public the exact number of its prisoners on death row). Activists in Singapore and around the world unsuccessfully appealed to the Singapore government to stay Tangarajus executionhighlighting specific issues with the case and generally appealing for mercy. There are many ways to seek justice, Tangarajus sister Leelavathy told reporters on Sunday. Just dont take someones life. But Singapore, a Southeast Asian city-state of 5.7 million people, takes pride in sentencing drug offenders to deathits one of just 35 countries that maintain the death penalty for drug offenses, according to a report by Harm Reduction International, and one of only eight in the world to regularly hand out such a sentence. Singapores Ministry for Home Affairs, which did not respond to specific questions from TIME but provided background documents and links to past statements, has called capital punishment an essential component of its justice system that has been effective in keeping Singapore safe and secure. Increasingly, however, activists are questioning whether thats true. [The government says] we are doing this to prevent harm, to protect people, says Kirsten Han, a member of the Singaporean anti-death penalty group Transformative Justice Collective. But look at Tangaraju The system was not protecting him. The system jailed him over and over again for his whole life. And then when he finally was charged for something high enough, this system has decided that hes disposable enough that he can be executed. I dont see who is being protected here. Story continues Singapores history with the death penalty In 1993, Singapore was controversially dubbed Disneyland with the Death Penalty. But Singapore didnt invent the death penalty. The former British colony, which became an independent nation in 1965 after separating from Malaysia, inherited its laws on capital punishmentas well as its method of execution (hanging)from its colonizers. Singaporean lawmakers did, however, extend the death penalty to drug-related offenses in 1973 with the Misuse of Drugs Act, which in its current form prescribes, for example, a death sentence for importing or possessing 500 or more grams (1.1 pounds) of cannabis. (To compare, in the U.S.where marijuana remains illegal though decriminalized by many statestrafficking less than 50 kilograms of marijuana is punishable for first-time offenders by no more than five years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.) According to a 2020 study by Ariel Yap and Shih Joo Tan of Monash University in Australia, the Singaporean government has retained its harsh drug policy due to its proximity to the Golden Trianglethe area comprising parts of Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam, historically known for the narcotics trade. As a key commercial and transport hub, Singapore is vulnerable to the scourge of drugs, both as a transit point and as an import market for illicit drugs, says the background document provided to TIME by the Singapore government. Though exact figures are unknown, Singapore is estimated to have executed more than 400 people between 1991 and 2003, including at least 247 for drug trafficking, while government data show at least 64 people since 2007, not including Tangaraju, have been hanged, of which 49 were for narcotics-related crimes. While some Southeast Asian countries have doubled down in recent years on killing drug offenders, the latest Singapore execution comes as other countries in the region have moved in the opposite direction. Just earlier this month, the parliament of neighboring Malaysia passed sweeping reforms to abolish the mandatory death penalty (leaving sentencing there to judges discretion) and to reduce the number of offenses punishable by death. (Malaysia has already been maintaining a moratorium on carrying out executions since 2018.) When Indonesia revised its penal code in December, it introduced a 10-year probation period for those sentenced to the death penalty, after which the sentence may be reduced by a judge to 20 years or life imprisonment. And Thailand, last year, became the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis nationwide. The governments defense of executing drug offenders Shanmugam, Singapores Minister for Law and Home Affairs, is the countrys most staunch defender of capital punishment for drug-related offenses. He says the government takes care to distinguish between drug abusers and traffickers. Pure abusers are not treated as criminals, Shanmugam said in a forum last month. We focus on them as people who need help, so they are put into centers. Singapores Drug Rehabilitation Center admitted 1,995 people last year. Traffickers, of course, we deal with very differently, he says. Shanmugam has said that anti-death penalty advocates discount the would-be victims of drug trafficking that Singapores severe laws are meant to safeguard. Statements from his ministry have pointed to the toll drugs have taken in other countries, like the U.S., to suggest what the alternative could look like. Countries which have softened their stance against drugs are being overrun by drug-related violence and crimes, the government says. Singapore cannot afford such a high cost to our society and our people. The minister has praised the deterrent effect of Singapores capital punishment for drug offenses: in 2020, he wrote to Parliament that his ministry found in the four-year period after the introduction of the mandatory death penalty for trafficking involving more than 500g of cannabis in 1990, there was a 15 to 19 percentage point reduction in the probability that traffickers would choose to traffic above the capital sentence threshold. Shanmugam also likes to note that theres extremely strong support for the death penalty from the Singaporean public. From 2018 to 2021, the Ministry for Home Affairs conducted and commissioned several surveys to gauge public opinion on capital punishment. One survey from 2021 found that 73.4% percent of residents aged 15 and up agreed that the death penaltywhether imposed mandatorily or discretionarilywas an appropriate punishment for intentionally trafficking a substantial amount of drugs. As for cannabis in particular, the government insists that it is harmful and addictive and that theres insufficient evidence of any medical benefits. Advocates arguments against capital punishment While the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rightsadopted in 1966, though Singapore is not a signatorydoes permit states to use the death penalty for adults convicted of serious crimes, organizations such as Amnesty International have argued that the death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and breaches human rights regardless of who is accused, the nature or circumstances of the crime, guilt or innocence or method of execution. In Singapore specifically, advocates against the death penalty decry that executions have disproportionately affected ethnic minorities, foreigners, and people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Though Malays account for only about 15% of the countrys population, they made up 84% of executions for drug-trafficking, according to a 2021 report by the U.N. Moreover, advocates worry that the people on Singapores death row tend to be poor, may not speak English, and often arent able to receive adequate legal assistance. Despite fierce outcry domestically and internationally, Singapore last year executed a Malaysian man whose family said had an intellectual disability. (The Singapore government maintains that all accused are treated equally regardless of demographic characteristics and all are given full due process.) Anti-death penalty advocates also say that the deterrent effect of capital punishment is overstated. Thousands of grams of drugs are seized every week in Singapore, says Kokila Annamalai, a cofounder of the Transformative Justice Collective. There is no evidence that the supply has gone down. Indeed, despite decades of having the supposed deterrence of a death sentence in place, authorities in Singapore have regularly reported major drug busts, including earlier this month when 35 suspected drug offenders were arrested over the alleged trafficking of more than 9 kilograms (19 pounds) of cannabis and an assortment of other drugs estimated to be worth about $418,000. The countrys largest cannabis seizure this century took place in 2021, and the largest heroin seizure since 2001 happened just last year. Eugene Thuraisingam, a defense lawyer who has worked on Singaporean drug-related death penalty cases, tells TIME his clients usually fall into one of two groups: either addicts who traffic in drugs to fund their drug addiction or extremely poor persons who are willing to take the risk of trafficking in drugs to make a small amount of money. Either way, the deterrent does not work on them, he says. M Ravi, another attorney who has worked on drug-related death penalty cases, including Tangarajus, similarly tells TIME that Singapores justice system tends to capture the lowest members of the trafficking hierarchy, those who are forced into the trade by poverty: Until you can crack down on the kingpin, he says, the mules and the vulnerable will be trapped. As for victims of the drug trade, the Transformative Justice Collective says on its website, given that theres no evidence the death penalty actually deters or reduces drug trafficking, its unclear how the death penalty actually helps people struggling with addiction, or those affected by their behavior. The group argues that the family and loved ones of convicts on death row and those who have been executed are victimized by the system. Another more recent post on the advocacy groups site, said to be written by Tangaraju and other prisoners on death row for cannabis-related crimes, questions why trafficking in cannabis, which is arguably less dangerous than alcohol or cigarettes, merits such a severe punishment as the death penalty in Singapore. Tough-on-crime politics The ruling Peoples Action Party, which has led Singapores government since even before the countrys founding, has long insisted that the death penalty is necessary, and maintaining capital punishment has become central to the partys narrative of assuring stability and security to the tiny island city-state. Its not likely, observers have noted, that the party will do an about faceand especially not on account of growing international protest or attention to the issue. The Ministry of Home Affairs has explicitly condemned the West for trying to impose their values when it comes to the death penalty. Embracing a tough-on-crime posture is a well-worn political tool worldwide. Philippine former President Rodrigo Duterte earned high approval ratings for his deadly war on drugs. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly, including during his 2024 presidential campaign launch, praised Singapores death penalty for drug offenders, suggesting the U.S. should emulate the practice to solve its drug problems. But while its doubtful the Peoples Action Party would ever abolish capital punishment, it has made reforms (albeit minor ones) to the penal code before. In 2012, the Misuse of Drugs Act was reviewed and amended such that should a convicted trafficker have only played the role of courier and not supplier or distributor of drugs, their sentence may be reduced from mandatory execution to life imprisonment at a judges discretion. But that amendment only applies if the convict substantively cooperates with authorities to disrupt drug trafficking activities, such as by providing information to assist in the arrest or prosecution of other suspects. The law was also amended to reduce mandatory death sentences for drug offenders with an established mental disability to life imprisonment. The Transformative Justice Collective points to these amendmentsthough it says their implementation has been problematicas evidence that unjust laws can and should be changed. Its also not clear that public opinion in Singapore is settled. In 2018, a group of academics at the National University of Singapore published an independent assessment of public opinion on the death penalty, which found that most people didnt actually think about the death penalty too muchbut when they did, sentiment appeared more nuanced than the government presents. While 7 in 10 Singaporeans the academics surveyed did say they support the death penalty in general, the study found that only about one-third of respondents favored mandatory capital punishment for drug trafficking. And when presented with specific scenarios, respondents showed little support for the death penalty in typical cases of drug trafficking brought before the courts. Its this lack of dogmatism among the public that inspires Han and the Transformative Justice Collective team as they go door-to-door in Singapore to talk to people about the death penalty. Nobodys really so hardcore, Han says. Most people, if they take the time to think about it she says, will believe that if there are other alternatives that we can do to address the harm, then we dont need the death penalty. Smile Identity, a KYC compliance and ID verification partner for many African fintechs and businesses, has acquired Inclusive Innovations, the parent company of Appruve, a Ghanaian developer of identity verification software. In a statement shared with TechCrunch, Smile Identity said it is actively fulfilling regulatory requirements to finalize the transaction for the [Inclusive Innovation] affiliated entities in Africa. This strategic acquisition will expand Smile Identitys footprint across Africa and solidify its position as the continents leading identity verification and digital KYC provider, a part of the statement read. While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, sources close to the matter say the cash-and-stock deal was not more than $20 million, with a large chunk as stock. As fintech services proliferate across different African markets, the need to have sufficient KYC and identity verification processes in place has intensified amid increasing fraud challenges and more stringent regulatory requirements. Founded by Mark Straub and William Bares in 2017, Smile Identity is a major player in Africas ID verification and KYC compliance industry. Buoyed by venture capital investment of more than $30 million (including a recently announced $20 million Series B) and backed by investors such as Costanoa Ventures, Future Africa and Norrsken22, among others, the company has built its business by combining document verification, face verification, biometrics, and data integrations into local trusted ID authorities to verify peoples identities. Other prominent use cases include AML checks, customer onboarding and fraud prevention. On the other hand, Appruve, which provides an API that verifies user identity, fraud detection and digital documentation, primarily focuses on new datasets that enable or complement traditional government data such as international passports and national IDs. Within the last 18 months, the four-year-old startup worked on analyzing fraud data from global money networks, verification of mobile money financial statements and blocklist data from various banks and fintechs within the last 18 months. (The four-year-old digital verification upstart has received less than $500,000 in venture capital funding since its inception as well as $450,000 in grant money from DFS Lab through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Googles launchpad studio accelerator, and others.) Story continues These are relevant localized data that have long been left out of the bigger pool of KYC and fraud prevention. Its these capabilities, experience, and know-how that we are bringing on board, working together with Smile, which just launched an AML product, to build a fully comprehensive product and solution for the market, said Appruve founder and CEO Paul Damalie on what his startup brings to Smile Identitys table. Heres also how it fits into Smile Identitys current growth strategy from a product but geographic-led standpoint. Document verification and face recognition and matching comprise Smile Identitys base-level product that works across Africa. While the platform has added depth in some markets with more advanced fintech regions, such as Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa, where it can query against government databases, such depth is lacking in other markets, including Francophone Africa. In a February interview, Straub noted that Smile Identity would use the growth capital it had secured to expand its KYC capabilities into the market, among other things. Thus, in addition to supplying Smile Identity with a skilled and experienced team, APIs and customers, Appruve presents the Costanoa-backed KYC identity provider with a gateway into the Francophone market (focusing on Ivory Coast and Senegal) and also Uganda, Straub told TechCrunch over a call. We have product depth in Nigeria already. Were interested in replicating the product depth to more markets and realizing our ambitions to have product depth for all of Africa, Straub said on the call. Fraud data, mobile money data, government data queried against national ID systems, AML, PEP screening checks, sanction screening, both global and local KYB business verification data. We want to add that depth in more markets, and Appruve gives some of that. Smile Identity, according to its statement, said the Appruve acquisition which expands its suite of APIs, including mobile money, data, and anti-fraud checks will allow it to cover over 1 billion Africans, the African diaspora, and 100 million African businesses, supporting over 230 documents and data types with integration options for every device and operating system combination in Africa. Before the acquisition, Smile Identity had just crossed over 60 million verifications. Meanwhile, Appruve processed up to 100,000 verifications monthly, Damalie disclosed in the interview. Straub asserts that the combination of Smile Identity and its new subsidiary Appruve alongside the intervention of other KYC and AML services, will help decrease the potential for fraud despite increased usage of digital wallets, banking apps, and mobile money services across the continent. He added that protecting consumers data is paramount to Smile Identitys business, and both Smile and Appruve have been working diligently to achieve and maintain the appropriate licensing regimes where required and various data protection policies. In line with that, Damalie, who will now head international expansion efforts for Smile Identity, says, in a couple of years, the company sees itself acting as the digital infrastructure that will enable trust among African businesses as the intra- and inter-continental movement of goods and services across borders become more pronounced. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Baileys emergency rule restricting access to gender-affirming health care is set to go into effect on Thursday, unless a judge blocks enforcement before then. The ruling would require patients both adults and minors to complete 15 therapy sessions over 18 months, get screened for autism and other conditions, resolve all other mental health issues and follow other requirements before receiving care. Civil rights groups including the Missouri ACLU and Lambda Legal are suing to challenge the rule before it goes into effect, with a first hearing on Wednesday. But transgender and nonbinary Missourians are already preparing for the AGs rule to complicate or even cut off their access to medication and other treatments. Critics have called the 11-page emergency rule baseless and discriminatory, with some of its underlying claims being widely debunked. We took a closer look at the justifications the rule uses to severely limit gender-affirming health care in the state. Why does the ruling seek to limit transgender health care? Gender-affirming health care is a combination of services that help people better align with their gender identity, such as talk therapy, puberty-blocking medication, hormone replacement therapy and surgeries. The practice has recently come under fire in Missouri, especially for minors. Baileys office announced in February that it was investigating the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Childrens Hospital for providing gender-affirming care to children. The university has denied allegations of substandard care. In light of the ongoing investigation, Baileys emergency ruling is based on the idea that gender transition interventions lack a solid evidentiary foundation. Most major medical associations disagree. Gender-affirming care is medically-necessary, evidence-based care that improves the physical and mental health of transgender and gender-diverse people, said Dr. Michael Suk, a board member of the American Medical Association, in a 2021 statement. Story continues Gender-affirming health care is also supported as a safe and evidence-based best practice by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the American Psychiatric Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology and many others. What is social contagion? Another point repeated several times in Baileys ruling is the idea that gender dysphoria, the disconnect between ones gender identity and the sex they were assigned at birth, can spread between young people in a manner similar to social trends. This theory, called social contagion, is widely understood to be false. The idea stems from a single study from 2018 in the journal PLOS One wherein researcher Lisa Littman collected survey results from parents on three websites that oppose gender-affirming health care. Citing this study, the emergency rule requires providers to screen patients of all ages for social contagion at least annually. The rule doesnt detail what this kind of screening would involve, but it does require providers to share a statistic from this study with patients. The emergency rule does not cite the extensive correction that PLOS One issued to Littmans study in 2019, which questions its sampling methods and reliance on parental accounts rather than information gathered directly from trans people. The ruling also neglects to cite a 2022 study in the journal Pediatrics that found no evidence of social contagion, and stated that the theory should not be used to argue against the provision of gender-affirming medical care. For context, the 2018 study that popularized this theory used a sample of 256 parent-completed surveys, while the 2022 study debunking the theory used a sample of over 100,000 adolescents. What other misleading claims does the emergency ruling contain? Claim: The use of puberty blocker drugs or cross-sex hormones to treat gender dysphoria is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Context: The FDA first approved a puberty-blocking drug in 1993 to treat precocious puberty, a condition that causes early sexual development. Sex hormones are also FDA-approved to treat a wide variety of conditions. Estradiol (estrogen) was approved in 2004, and testosterone gel was first approved in 2012. While the FDA has not approved these medications specifically to treat gender dysphoria, they have long been used for this purpose off label a widely accepted medical practice. Claim: The FDA has issued a warning that puberty blockers can lead to brain swelling and blindness. Context: A closer look at this report shows that the condition in question, called pseudotumor cerebri, was only identified in six children and at the time of the FDAs review, only one of them was still experiencing symptoms. The update does not report blindness, saying only that some of the children experienced visual disturbances. Claim: Researchers have suggested that allowing a child to go through puberty without medical intervention may resolve gender dysphoria, whereas puberty suppression may improperly influence and worsen gender dysphoria. Context: The citation for this claim is a 2020 paper by a regulatory group in Finland that does not assess the service needs of individual patients or make decisions on their treatment. The paper itself concludes that both puberty-blocking medication and hormone therapy can be used for minors on a case by case basis. Research has shown that providing puberty blockers to transgender children significantly reduces suicidal ideation later in life, and that those who are supported in their gender expression have rates of depression and anxiety no higher than the average population. It would be unethical to allow a patient to suffer through the distress of pubertal development when we have a way of preventing the distress it causes, concluded a 2010 paper from the American Medical Associations Journal of Ethics. Suppression of puberty is a safe and easy way to begin to do so. Do you have more questions about gender-affirming health care in Missouri or Kansas? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com. LinkedIn/Facebook Canadian socialite Jasmine Hartin pleaded guilty to manslaughter by negligence on Tuesday, nearly three years after accidentally shooting a Belize police superintendent in the head with his own gun. The plea, submitted just before a trial was slated to begin, ends a lengthy saga that had captivated the Central American nation. Hartin, the former daughter-in-law of British billionaire Lord Michael Ashcroft, reportedly wept as she declared herself guilty in the killing of police superintendent Henry Jemmott. I just want Henrys family to have peace now and I want this whole thing to be behind all of us so we can heal, she said after leaving the courtroom. According to Hartins account of the tragic shooting, she and Jemmott walked to a pier in May 2021 in San Pedro, Belize, after drinking cinnamon whiskey together. She said Jemmott let her handle his Glock 17, as he thought she needed to learn how to operate a firearm to protect herself. (Jemmotts sister, Cherry, previously told CBS she believed her brother would never do a thing like that.) After handling the weapon, Hartin said, Jemmott told her that his shoulder was stiff, and she offered to massage it. Jemmott then suggested they head inside, she recalled to CBS. She then tried to remove the magazine from the gun but struggled to see clearly in the darkness, she said. Suddenly, as she was fumbling with the firearm, it went off. He fell on top of me. And all I could feel was warmth. And I later then realizedhe was bleeding on me, she said. Jemmotts body was later retrieved in the water near the pier. At first, Hartin told authorities that Jemmott had been shot by an assailant in a kayak, as Channel 5 Belize reported. She later told CBS that she didnt remember making that claim, adding that the aftermath of the shooting was such a blur. She insisted that she wasnt just lying in a weak attempt at avoiding accountability. Police officials found cocaine in Hartins possession when she was taken into custody. She told CBS the drugs werent hers but declined to say who they belonged to. She also insisted that she and Jemmott were simply friends, not romantic partners, and that her persona as a wild, crazy, party girl thats hanging from the rafters was off base. Thats not it at all. Im a businesswoman. Im a mother. Im a friend... Im a wife, she said. Story continues Andrew Ashcroft, Hartins ex-husband, was awarded custody of their two kids last year. Ashcrofts billionaire father is an influential figure in Belize and once served as its ambassador to the United Nations. Hartin is scheduled to be sentenced next month and is not expected to receive jail time. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. (Bloomberg) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa walked back his statement that the country plans to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, as the authorities grapple with how to handle a potential visit by Russian leader Vladimir Putin this year. Most Read from Bloomberg Ramaphosa had said on Tuesday that the governing African National Congress decided to pull out of the ICC because of what the party said was its inconsistent application of international law. His remark was later contradicted by the ANC, which in a statement reaffirmed a party resolution in December to remain a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the court. Read more: South Africas ANC Contradicts Ramaphosa on Partys ICC Stance The president misspoke because of an error in a comment made at an ANC media briefing, his office said in a statement late Tuesday. The presidency wishes to clarify that South Africa remains a signatory to the Rome Statute and will continue to campaign for equal and consistent application of international law, it said. South Africas membership of the ICC obliges the authorities to arrest Putin if he travels to the country to attend a BRICS summit scheduled for August. The government previously drew international criticism in 2015, when it refused to execute an ICC arrest warrant for then-Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir while he was attending a meeting of African leaders. Former South African President Jacob Zuma proposed withdrawing from the ICC in 2016, though that plan was later abandoned. The government is currently taking legal advice on how to handle the arrest warrant for Putin. Among the options being considered by the government is a legislative amendment that would domesticate the Rome Statute. Story continues This includes provision of article 98 of the statute that requires a waiver of immunities for persons charged by the ICC from third party countries where there is no referral by the United Nations Security Council, the presidency said. The manner in which the UK domesticated the Rome Statute to incorporate the provisions of article 98 has been recommended as a guideline case study. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa rowed back on Wednesday from a pledge to quit the International Criminal Court, months before he is due to host Russia's Vladimir Putin who is wanted by the ICC for suspected war crimes. Ramaphosa had said on Tuesday that the ruling African National Congress would aim to repeal South Africa's membership of the Hague-based court, which hears cases of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. But on Wednesday, Ramaphosa's office said he had made a mistake. "South Africa remains a signatory to the ICC in line with a resolution of the 55th National Conference of the ANC held in December 2022 to rescind an earlier decision to withdraw from the ICC," the presidency said in a statement. "The December resolution was reaffirmed at a meeting of the National Executive Committee of the ANC during the weekend of 21 to 24 April 2023." The ICC issued an arrest warrant in March for Putin, accusing him of the war crime of forcibly deporting children from Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine. Moscow denies committing war crimes including forced deportations of children, and says the ICC has no authority as Russia is not a member. Putin is due to visit South Africa in August for a summit of the BRICS group of emerging economies comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. As an ICC member, South Africa would be required to detain him. Putin has not travelled abroad since the ICC warrant was issued. He has made only one trip outside the former Soviet Union - to Iran - since launching the invasion of Ukraine last year. The ANC decided at its national conference in December that South Africa should abandon a legislative process to pull out of the ICC and try to effect changes to the organisation from within. The presidency said on Wednesday that South Africa would work towards establishing an African continental criminal court that would complement the ICC as a court of last resort. (Reporting by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Alexander Winning and Peter Graff) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said his country is prepared to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC), which in March issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. South Africa has expressed frustration about how the arrest warrant will impact an upcoming BRICS summit in which Putin, Ramaphosa, and the leaders of Brazil, India and China are expected to attend. BRICS is an acronym for five leading global economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The term BRIC was coined by economist Jim ONeill in 2001 and South Africa was added in 2010. Since 2009, BRICS has acted more like a formal intergovernmental organization, and the countries have met annually at summits and coordinated multilateral policies, according to Forbes. The ICC issued the arrest warrant for Putin in March over allegations of unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. South Africa has not condemed Russias invasion of Ukraine, instead choosing to remain neutral during the war, while calling for dialogue to end the conflict. Ukrainian prosecutor calls on countries to obey Putins arrest warrant Ramaphosa, who made the comments during a press conference with Finland President Sauli Niinisto, also said that the governing African National Congress (ANC) has long viewed that the ICC treats some countries unfairly. The ANC has also been a longtime friend of Moscow and Putin. Our view is that we would like this matter of unfair treatment to be properly discussed, Ramaphosa told Voice of America. But in the meantime, the governing party has decided once again that there should be a pullout, so that will be a matter that will be taken forward. If Putin does attend the annual BRICS summit, South Africa is obliged to arrest him per the ICCs warrant. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Commander of Special Operations Forces, General Viktor Khorenko, visited Bakhmut He observed the situation first-hand and spoke with Special Operations Forces units defending the city. The situation in Bakhmut is really difficult, but who, if not you, knows what to do and how to act in the current conditions, Khorenko told the soldiers. t.me/rus_sof Your work here once again proves that the Special Operations Forces are primarily an advantage of quality over quantity. The general also emphasized the importance of the work of special task groups during the defense of Bakhmut and the professionalism of the Special Operations Forces. t.me/rus_sof Read also: Military expert warns of deteriorating situation in Bakhmut Bakhmut is turning into a model of military shame for Russia, Ukrainian Armed Forces Eastern groupings spokesperson, Serhiy Cherevaty, said on April 25. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared on April 24 that Ukraine would not give up Bakhmut, as it would allow Russia to extend the front line and threaten more cities in Donbas. Fierce fighting for Bakhmut continues, with Russian invaders attacking and destroying buildings, while Ukrainian defenders resist and conduct counterassaults, Deputy Defense Minister, Hanna Malyar said on April 21. The Battle of Bakhmut has been ongoing since July 2022. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine By Asiri Fernando and Uditha Jayasinghe COLOMBO (Reuters) -Sri Lanka is trying to reduce its overall debt by $17 billion through restructuring, its president told the parliament on Wednesday as he sought support of opposition parties for a nearly $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. President Ranil Wickremesinghe also said the country would discuss debt restructuring with India and the Paris Club of creditors on one platform and with China separately. Caught in its worst financial crisis since independence from Britain in 1948, the island nation of 22 million people secured an IMF loan last month. Sri Lanka owes $7.1 billion to bilateral creditors, according to official government data, with $3 billion owed to China, $2.4 billion to the Paris Club and $1.6 billion to India. Wickremesinghe said no final decision had been taken yet on domestic debt restructuring. He added that the country needs to accelerate growth to 6% or higher by 2028 or 2029 to repay debt and develop. Sri Lanka is yet to finalise the debt restructuring plan which was expected to be handed over to the IMF, creditors and bondholders by the end of April, a senior finance Ministry source said, adding that the government is in touch with the IMF regarding the matter. "We are still finalising the plan, it requires a lot of serious discussions. The (restructuring) programme may get delayed a few days or a week," the source said, declining to be named as they were not authorised to speak to media. Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday that Sri Lanka had pushed back release of debt restructuring plan to middle of May. Sri Lanka will likely have another year of economic contraction in 2023, ratings agency S&P said on Wednesday but noted that conditions in the country were beginning to stabilise. It affirmed Sri Lanka's long-term and short-term foreign currency sovereign credit ratings as 'SD/SD', meaning selective default, and retained outlook on the long-term local currency rating as negative. (Reporting by Asiri Fernando and Uditha Jayasinghe; Writing by Shivam Patel; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Christina Fincher) Visions In the Starsfrom Punkrobot After the acclaimed debut of Star Wars: Visions volume one in 2021, a new collection of animated shorts is about to drop on Disney+. io9 recently spoke to Lucasfilms executive producers on the seriesJames Waugh, Jacqui Lopez, and Josh Rimesabout putting together the upcoming anthology Spanning the world and exploring new styles, the shorts in Star Wars: Visions volume two explore the Star Wars universe through the lens of cutting-edge animation houses like 88 Pictures, Punkrobot, Triggerfish, Aardman, Studio Mir, and El Guiri. io9 interviewed Lucasfilms executive producers on Visionsan apt name, since the series highlights the best of what Star Wars can be when more storytellers explore the potential contained within the franchises expansive universe. Its a global love letter inspired by the impact Star Wars has had on cultures around the world. Read more Star Wars Visions Aarus Song from Triggerfish Sabina Graves, io9: Tell me a bit about how this collaboration came to be and what it was like to return for the second installment. James Waugh: We were over the moon by the success of volume one. I think that it exceeded anything we could have possibly hoped for. We believe in these things and put so much heart and soul and passion into making this stuff. So it gave us license to start having conversations about what can volume two be? We always saw Visions as a platform that really could expand. It didnt just have to be storytelling about anime in particularwe started there just because it was such a such an influence on so many of us. In that process, we really started to see how the other great story of volume one wasnt just doing anime versions of Star Wars, but it was actually Japanese culture through the lens of Star Wars. And these creators had different contexts of what Star Wars meant to them: different religious, different influences, different historical influences that allowed them to tell stories that wouldnt have come out otherwise of Western elements. We realized that there was a story in that and as big fans of animation we wanted to see what Star Wars would look like through different cultural lenses from cultures around the world. What [would] Star Wars look like from India? What Star Wars look like from South Africa? Story continues io9: My best friend currently lives in Japan and we really bonded over the different stories in the first anthology. When it came to finding collaborators for this second installment, were there creatives you wanted to go to specifically for their voice or style, or were there creatives who approached you with ideas? Jacqui Lopez: We definitely had some studios that we wanted to approach specifically. You know, we thought an Aardman Star Wars mash up would be incredible. And that was such a joy when they when they were equally as excited to do it. Cartoon Saloon as wellyou know, were such fans of their work and theres Celtic mythology and things they bring into [Screechers Reach]. We wanted to make sure we had a global representation. And we had been in talks with [Siths] Rodrigo Blaas, wanting to work with him. So that was a pre-established relationship. No one just came and pitched just blind. We sort of approached the studios and then asked them if they had a Star Wars story that they would like to pitch. io9: There are so many voices represented and an exciting cast as well. Daveed Diggs in The Pit was just mind-blowingly great. I always like to see him pop up in different projects. Lopez: Wherever he pops up is amazing. io9: Aaus Song was stylistically so different and textured; I just love the different mix of styles this time around. Once youve been in talks with these other studios, how do the ideas develop for their shorts? Josh Rimes: Its amazing to talk to them and get to know them to know whats important to them. Usually with every studio, we open up the discussion and ask them to send us a few ideas or some inspiration artwork or concept drawings. And thats sort of the first step in really looking at ideas and putting together the anthologymaking sure stories feel different from each studio but also feel extremely personal. Stories that come right from the heart, from the filmmakers, really are what rise to the top. And all of the studios really do bring their A-game. So its sometimes difficult to choose. And as far as the style goes, we knew when we went to Aardman wed be getting an amazing sort of stop motion, their specialty. And the stop-motion technique brought to some of the CGI projects like Aaus Song and In the Stars was really unique to us. io9: In the Stars was incredible. Rimes: Yeah. It just added [a] tactile feel to the emotion of those characters. Seeing that hand-drawn animation that Cartoon Saloon does [in Screechers Reach] and that La Cachette does [in Spy Dancer] is amazing. So its really just the combination of heartfelt storytelling with these amazing styles that make it feel really magical and special. Waugh: We wanted to make sure that there was a wide range of styles, that the audience really would get to see not only cultural diversity, but also the medium diversity thats happening today. And so balancing that against the number one thing: what does the story have to say when you strip out all the Star Wars? I think we were able to kind of balance it right, and work with each of these studios to make sure their story was being executed in a way that made it not only the purest form of that initial vision, but also an untold Star Wars story with Star Wars values. Star Wars Visions Sith from El Guiri Star Wars Visions volume two arrives May 4 on Disney+. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Getty The E. Jean Carroll trial against Donald Trump for rape and defamation began poorly for the former president, with opening statements by lawyers for both parties starting with Trumps decision to not bother showing up in person. Trump does not have to attend the trial and his decision not to likely reflects a strategic choice to show that he is above the allegations, calculated to send a not-so-subtle message to the jury that the claims are not serious enough to even warrant his attendance. This is a mistake on Trumps part and unlikely to go over well with the jury. After all, they have to be there because of him so why shouldnt he be there? As a former sex crimes prosecutor, its my experience that juries take their obligations in allegations of sexual assault very seriously and work conscientiously to objectively and dispassionately evaluate the evidence each case. Credibility determinations are a particularly important factor in such cases and a big part of that is the demeanor of parties both on and off the stand. In preparing witnesses for court, I always impress upon that every moment the jury or judge can see them counts. In court today, E. Jean Carroll was in full view of the jurors with her gaze fixed on Tacopina [Trumps lawyer] during his opening. Carrolls presence signaled to the jury that she stands behind her allegations and that she is unafraid to let them see for themselves her demeanor and reactions. Thus the jurors had no view of Trump to compete with the sexual predator that Carrolls lawyer portrayed him to be other than the attacks on Carrolls character made by Trumps attorney, Joe Tacopina. Trumps absence made Tacopina his stand-in for the start of the trial and while his blustery style might make him an excellent choice as a debate practice stand-in for Trump, it is unlikely to be helpful in a case where Trump is accused of rape (sexual battery) and defamation. How Trumps Words Are Already Coming Back to Haunt Him at Rape Trial Story continues Tacopinas opening statement unsurprisingly focused on the age of the allegationsthe alleged rape occurred nearly 30 years agoand tried to suggest that Carroll had not gone public with the allegations (or to the police) because the assault had never happened. But it is now fairly commonly accepted that sexual assault survivors suppress the experience so Tacopinas argument that silence equals lying is likely not going to get much traction. Making matters worse was his claim that the Carrolls story also should not be believed because staff or other customers in the store would have noticed or heard a sexual assault. This point, however, is just a dog-whistle to the idea that sexual assault victims cannot be believed if they did not fight backa misogynistic viewpoint that will seem exactly that to a jury. Tacopinas other arguments involved the standard celebrity defense of claiming that Carroll fabricated the accusations to gain money and/or fame. This defense is better suited for a one-off type of complaint. Here, the defense will be severely undermined for Trump because of the evidence of other victims of Trumps alleged sexual predation that Carrolls attorneys will be allowed to present under a federal rule of evidence specific to similar conduct evidence in civil cases involving sexual assault or child molestation. Specifically, two other women will be allowed to testify about Trumps alleged assaults on them. Writer Natasha Stoynoff will testify claiming Trump forcibly kissed her against her will while he was showing her around his Florida home for a 2005 article and businesswoman Jessica Leeds will testify that Trump grabbed her breasts and tried to put his hand up her skirt when the two were in a first-class cabin during an airplane flight in the early 1980s. Such evidence places Trump in the position of having to discredit not one victim but threeall of whom recount assaults that have the similar circumstances of having occurred in relatively public places. The Jurors in Trumps Rape Trial Have Some Notable Media Diets This type of evidence in trials is enormously damaging to defendants in sexual assault cases. For example, in the first Bill Cosby rape trial, the prosecution was only allowed by the judge to introduce one woman besides the victim to testify about Cosbys alleged sexual assault and the jury hung. In the second trial, the prosecution was allowed to introduce the testimony of five other women besides the victim, who testified about Cosbys assaults. The second jury convicted Cosby. Precisely because of the explosive effect of such evidence of a defendants conduct, judges must be careful how much evidence will be let into a case and carefully control its use. Reckless use of such evidence may result in a verdict against the defendant which may face significant risk of being overturned on appeal. Finally, the defamation claim by Carroll being heard in the same case as the rape allegations put Trump in a particularly difficult posture. His statements in 2022 that Carroll is lying about the sexual assault because she is not his type plays right into the idea that he would have felt free to assault her if she was his type. That is near exactly the type of thinking he disclosed in the now infamous Access Hollywood tape where he said that being a celebrity meant he could freely grope women without their consent. Jury trials are impossible to accurately predict even for the most seasoned litigators. They are always a roll of the dice for both sides. But the E. Jean Carroll case against Trump is looks like the beginning of a bad roll for Trump. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. A state review prompted by a mans death at the Mecklenburg County jail shows jail officers followed observation rules immediately before he died, but not the day before. Bryon Miller, 49, was the sixth person to die in the jail since January 2022. Another person held in-custody with Miller in the jail previously told The Charlotte Observer jail officers ignored his calls for help after Miller suffered a medical emergency on Jan. 18. His death sparked a review of the jail by the Department of Health and Human Services. DHHS released its reports from the most recent inspection to the Observer late last week. These investigations are standard procedure and this one found that jail staff missed at least 11 observations the day before Millers death. However, there were no violations found in the 10 hours preceding his death. Jail officials did not respond to questions asking why observation tours were missed. State investigations show that in all but one of the six deaths from the past year Mecklenburg County jail staff failed to properly observe those in-custody either in the hours preceding their death, or during it, violating state law. Additionally, inspectors say the jail was out of compliance and did not abide by state observation laws in June and December, according to semi-annual and annual inspection findings. Inspectors say some of these observation issues can be attributed to a lack of staffing and overcrowding at the jail. State law requires officers to make observation rounds at least twice an hour with no more than 40 minutes between rounds. In some cases noted in the inspections, officers went more than an hour without conducting their rounds. In a recent interview with The Charlotte Observer Mecklenburg Sheriff Garry McFadden said while sometimes rounds arent made as often as the standard set out in state law, staff is always present. McFadden said in previous interviews with the Observer that sometimes DHHS has found the jail to be out of compliance when jail staff only missed the required checks by a few minutes. Story continues McFadden said in an interview March 1 that some people in-custody are brought into the jail in poor health and may die as a result. A lot of these people come in poor health, McFadden said. But theyre still being housed here and thats a sad thing, and then they eventually expire, for whatever reason. The DHHS inspection file contains notes from health care providers taken on his arrest date and the date he died. The notes are fully redacted by DHHS because the records contain health information. DHHS lists Millers death as undetermined and an autopsy is still pending. What DHHS inspectors found Miller died around 5:30 a.m. Jan. 18, three days after he was arrested, according to information provided by the sheriffs office. Abdou Bah, 35, was being held in the same housing pod as Miller and says he witnessed his death. He says he and others in the jail alerted multiple corrections officers that Miller was having a medical emergency after he began struggling to breathe. Nobody helped me, they wouldnt even come inside, Bah said. According to a statement from the sheriffs office, Miller was found unresponsive at 5:07 a.m. Officers called for medical backup and promptly started resuscitation efforts. At 5:24 a.m., Medic and Charlotte Fire arrived and took over. Four minutes later, Miller died. Previously the sheriffs office would not say whether guards ignored Bahs cries for help. Officials would not say what ultimately led to staff finding Miller unresponsive, but they found him close to when a guard was making an observation round. Chief Jail Inspector Chris Wood led the investigation and inspection for DHHS. He found based on staff interviews and an electronic observation log there was only one documented observation on Jan. 17 during seven one-hour time periods. During another hour, neither of the two required checks were logged. Wood said two other time slots showed a gap of more than 60 minutes between observations. Jail officials disputed this claim and said the gaps were just over 30 minutes each. Jail officials wrote in a follow-up report sent to Wood that some observation tours take longer than others because guards are addressing the needs of those in-custody giving the illusion that they are out of compliance with state law. Jail officials were required to submit a plan of correction to fix this deficiency within 60 days of the DHHS report. DHHS accepted the detention centers plan, which will be verified at the next bi-annual inspection. This plan of correction is similar to those issued in the past when investigations by state officials showed violations of twice-per-hour observations. Bryon Miller death in the Mecklenburg jail Over the past decade, deaths in North Carolina jails have skyrocketed, going from 17 in 2011 to 76 in 2021, according to DHHS data. Miller lived in Gastonia and was born in Ohio, according to his obituary. He loved his family, music, sports, and cooking. He is survived by his parents, two children, and sister. The Observer has been unable to reach Millers family. We dont take it lightly, McFadden said in a previous interview with the Observer. Its very traumatic for us. But we believe that were doing an excellent job in producing a great investigation, so the district attorney and SBI can properly go forward and determine the cause of death, including the manner of death. Two inmates have been captured after escaping a facility in Macon. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Georgia Department of Corrections issued a statewide manhunt on Wednesday for two inmates Kenneth Hamilton and Jacob Long. The pair are residents at Macon Transitional Center. Officials said the pair walked away from the facility. TRENDING STORIES: Hamilton was recaptured around early Wednesday morning. A few hours later a fugitive squad captured Long. Long faces charges of aggravated assault and theft by shoplifting. Hamilton is charged with aggravated battery. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Steve Harvey Steve Harvey is recanting his apology for his 2015 Miss Universe blunder. Harvey was a recent guest on Shannon Sharpes Club Shay Shay podcast. He opened up about the infamous mistake and now is singing a different tune. In 2015, he was the master of ceremonies for that years Miss Universe Pageant. Harvey placed himself at the center of controversy when he mistakenly announced first runner-up, Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez, as the winner. Then, as Gutierrez was well into her on-stage celebration, Harvey returned to declare the actual victor was Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach. After the boos and tears cleared, Harvey did his best to apologize and explain how he fumbled the play. I will take responsibility for this. It was my mistake. It was on the card. Horrible mistake, Harvey then revealed the card to the cameras so the viewing audience could see what was written inside. Sharpe brought the moment up as one of the lowest points in Harverys career compared to his other merits. He asked the 66-year-old entertainer if it was just a matter of misreading the teleprompter or something else. Harvey stated he read what was exactly in the prompter and then began to detail what led to the confusion. Harvey revealed discrepancies during rehearsals the week leading up to the pageant regarding the sequence of how the MC read the names. According to Atlanta Black Star, before WME/IMG purchased the pageant from Donald Trump, the tradition called for a first and second runner-up to be announced before the winner. Harvey told Sharpe the new showrunners thought that order was anti-climatic, so they switched up things. All week long, we rehearsed it, he said. We not gonna do, we just gonna do a second runner-up. She get out the way, and then next we gonna announce the winner. Despite that being the plan, a member of the old regime did not agree and took it upon herself to switch the names to the old sequence order without telling Harvey. Story continues In addition to being on stage with a botched card, he told the podcast host his thumb was covering up that portion of the cards information, and he also chose to rely on the teleprompter. Harvey claimed he read the name as they rehearsed and as it was displayed. He explained, Why else would I say, And the new 2015 Miss Universe is? It wasnt but one more name on the card. Harvey then recalled he was unaware of any mistake until he went backstage. Then, a member of his team told him he misread the card. I said, I aint said s**t wrong, he said. I read the card, and I read what was in the teleprompter. He said, Nah, bruh, the lady, she put the name down here. You supposed to read that one. I said, Dawg, that aint what we rehearsed.' He said a production team member reassured him they would address the mix-up in the media the following day. Harveys good conscience got the best of him, causing him to return onstage and take the heat for the misread, which he now regrets. Stupidest s**t I ever did. I should have let em fix it in the newspaper, he said. My stupid ass walked right out there and took the full hit, man. I took it dead in the teeth like it was all my fault, and it wasnt. We all cant forget about when Steve Harvey named the wrong miss universe #TwitterMomentOfTheDecade pic.twitter.com/XGbLDLeRc1 Ulrick JP, PT, DPT (@Ricky1256) December 4, 2019 Harvey admitted to Sharpe that the backlash from the accident was brutal. He received public scrutiny and ridicule from the Colombian and American press. I had never seen anything like it. Bruh, I was everywhere, he remembered. Ive never been ridiculed. A dude, man, that I really liked on CNN, I aint gon say his name, T.J. Holmes, tore my ass, he jokingly said. Although the situation was disastrous, Harvey came out on the other side, realizing it had all worked out in his favor. I had just wrote on my vision board, I was asking God to increase my global brand and persona. In 48 hours, Sharpe, my name had been Googled 4 billion times; 4 billion impressions in 48 hours. I was the most famous person in the world, he said. God had increased my global brand and persona. This week in Sacramento, you can celebrate beer with pints, deals, games and food at local breweries. Sacramento Beer Week 2023 started on April 22 and will run until April 30. The 14th annual event is hosted by the Sacramento Area Brewers Guild, an organization that supports independent breweries in the Greater Sacramento region. A handful of events are happening each day in Sacramento and nearby cities, including West Sacramento, Auburn and Rancho Cordova. You can find the full list of Beer Week events, dates and locations online. Wednesday Bingo & Crooked Lane Tap Takeover (2009 Matsui Alley) - Free bingo, prizes and brewery merch available. $5 Pint Night (116 N. 16th St.) - All beers are $5. Paella and Beer Pairing Dinner (2004 Capitol Ave.) - Enjoy a flight of four beers with chicken and chorizo paella, along with live music. Thursday Bingo and Karaoke Night (1323 Terminal St., West Sacramento) - Choose from more than 30 beers and play bingo or sing. Craft Beer Trivia (536 Grass Valley Hwy, Auburn) - See if your craft beer knowledge is up to par. Beer Games (8251 Alpine Ave.) - Games include corn hole and video games. The Gauntlet: Ultimate Pizza Eating Competition (2009 Matsui Alley) - Teams must finish an entire deep dish pizza and two 32-oz beers to win the grand prize which includes a private brewery and farm tour of Ruhstaller Brewing and a trophy. Friday Back to College Party at LogOff Brewing (3054 Sunrise Blvd, Ste J, Rancho Cordova) - Take yourself back to college and play some beer pong. Craft Beer and Spirit Pairing (2004 Capitol Ave) - Learn how to pair beers and spirits for $32. Saturday Beer Mixer (8251 Alpine Ave.) - Kick off the weekend with beer cocktails. New Craft Brewery is serving a flight of four until 1 p.m. Live Music with Malarkey (536 Grass Valley Hwy, Auburn) - Listen to covers and original songs from local band Malarkey. Sunday Michelada BFD Brunch (2009 Matsui Alley) - Enjoy micheladas or mimosas with brunch. Story continues Michelada Brunch Closing Ceremony (2004 Capitol Ave) - There will be micheladas and other beer cocktails to go with the brunch menu, which includes eggs benedict, sandwiches and more. Grilled Cheese Sandos and Beer Pairing (2904 Franklin Blvd) - Guests get three types of grilled cheese and three different brews. What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com. Monroe County sheriffs deputies flattened the tires of a van they say was reported stolen from Key West Tuesday afternoon. But, even after the spike strip laid across U.S. 1 by deputies blew out the tires of the Chevy van shortly before 5 p.m., it managed to drive on its rims from mile marker 18 to almost mile marker 30 before stopping, according to the sheriffs office. Deputies arrested the driver, Evan Joseph Dodge, a 36-year-old man from New Albany, Ohio, on driving under the influence, reckless driving and drug paraphernalia charges, sheriffs office spokesman Adam Linhardt said. According to online jail records, Key West police booked him on grand theft auto charge. Linhardt said Dodge told deputies he had been smoking methamphetamine. His bond information was not immediately available. According to Monroe County court records, Dodge was also arrested on April 15 after deputies stopped him at mile marker 83 in the Upper Keys driving a pickup truck that had no license plate. He did not have a drivers license because he said it was suspended in Ohio. He showed deputies the title to the truck, which he said he just bought and was on his way to Key West to visit his brother, according to the arrest report. He faces two misdemeanor charges in that case for driving with a suspended license and for not registering his truck, according to court records. SAO PAULO, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Illegal deforestation on indigenous lands in the Brazilian Amazon jumped 129 percent between 2013 and 2021, a study released Tuesday by the Sao Paulo Research Foundation revealed. This generated 96 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, with 59 percent occurring between 2019 and 2021, the study published in the journal "Scientific Reports" detailed. The study analyzed 232 indigenous territories and found deforestation in the territories reached 1,708 square km, equivalent to 2.38 percent of the Brazilian Amazon. "Deforestation also creates other problems inside these areas, such as the spread of diseases and threats to the survival of isolated indigenous peoples," said Celso Silva, professor in biodiversity and conservation at the Federal University of Maranhao. Guilherme Mataveli, one of the co-authors of the study, said that indigenous lands are "essential" for Brazil to meet such environmental goals as reducing the impacts of climate change, since the South American country holds 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest. Two students who say they were prohibited from wearing their anti-Joe Biden apparel to school have now sued their Michigan school district. The students, who both attended Tri County Middle School at the time of the incidents, said in the lawsuit their First Amendment rights are being violated. They hoped to wear their sweatshirts with the Lets Go Brandon slogan to express their opposition of the president, according to details of the lawsuit filed Monday, April 25, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. The Lets Go Brandon slogan became a cryptic way to insult Biden in 2021. The phrase has often been used by Republican officials and their supporters as a way to show their dislike for Biden without using profanity. But at Tri County Middle School in Howard City, students could not wear the clothing because it is considered political speech, according to the lawsuit. The district has not responded to the lawsuit. The school is about 35 miles northeast of Grand Rapids. Take that sweatshirt off In February 2022, one of the students, a sixth-grader at the time, wore the sweatshirt at the school but was stopped in between classes by Andrew Buikema, the schools assistant principal. Buikema told the student to remove his sweatshirt because the phrase on it was equivalent to the F-word, according to details of the lawsuit. The student complied with the assistant principals instruction, lawyers said. He wore it again a few weeks later and a school official told the student the sweatshirt was not permitted, the lawsuit said. Take that sweatshirt off, Wendy Bradford, a teacher at the school, told the student, his lawyers said. Ive told you before and wont tell you again. The other student, who now attends Tri County High School, was pulled from class in May 2022 when he was wearing a sweatshirt with the same slogan, according to the lawsuit. He was told by Buikema he could not wear the sweatshirt. He, like the first student, complied with the direction out of fear of being punished, the lawsuit said. Story continues A separate student, who was not included in the lawsuit, was told he could not wear a Donald Trump flag they wore during the middle schools field day in June 2022, according to the complaint. Tri County Area Schools and its employees are censoring students who try to express support for former President Donald Trump or opposition to President Joe Biden, lawyers with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression said in the lawsuit. The students demands The students have asked the court to allow them to wear their Lets Go Brandon apparel and declare that the ban violates the First Amendment. They have also asked for the school districts dress code policy prohibiting clothing disruptive to the teaching and/or learning environment by calling undue attention to oneself to be declared in violation of the First and Fourteenth amendments. Conor Fitzpatrick, an attorney with the foundation, said criticism of the president is protected by the First Amendment. Whether its a Biden sticker, Lets Go Brandon sweatshirt, or gay pride T-shirt, schools cant pick and choose which political beliefs students can express., Fitzpatrick said in a news release. The slogan exists as a way to express an anti-Biden message without using profanity, he continued. A public school district cannot censor speech just because it might cause someone to think about a swear word. Lets Go Brandon started as a Republican rally cry now its topping iTunes charts Passenger yells Lets go Brandon after being booted from Las Vegas flight, cops say NASCAR driver Brandon Brown announces sponsor inspired by Lets Go Brandon chant The students and faculty of Medway High School were evacuated Wednesday afternoon after threats were made against the school, according to Medway police. Police say Medway high school received two phone calls from a person threatening student safety. The threats have since been deemed not credible. Police say the school was immediately put into lockdown and students and staff were contained in classrooms while police investigated. Dismissal was delayed as Medway police officers searched the building and premises. Students and staff were let back into the school around 3:00 p.m. after first responders deemed the building safe to reenter. All afternoon and evening activities at the high school have been canceled. Officials say school will be held as scheduled on Thursday under an increased police presence. The incident is under investigation by Medway police. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Alexander Skarsgard as Lukas Matsson in Succession' (HBO) Like all truly great TV series, Succession is about a lot of things. It is about generational trauma, ambition, betrayal, self-destruction, family, and capitalism. It is also a show about male predation. While pretty much all of its characters are problematic in some way or another, the concept of specifically male toxicity is ever-present but seldom explored. From Roman Roys (Kieran Culkin) unsolicited dick pic last season, to the cruiseline rape and murder coverup that simmered in the background of the first three seasons, and Logan Roys (Brian Cox) affair with his much-younger secretary, Succession has indulged a relentlessly cynical view of sexuality, and of harmful male behaviour. In the character of Lukas Matsson, though, the series may have introduced a whole new type of toxic man. Matsson, played by Alexander Skarsgard, was introduced last season as an erratic Swedish tech billionaire, interested in buying WayStar RoyCo. Episode five, Kill List, is a showcase for the character, as the Roys fly out to Norway to negotiate with Matsson (to bleed the Swede, in Kendalls words). While there, the Roys and we get a closer look at the man whos set to take over their company: its not a pleasant sight. At one point, we see him crack a sexist joke about, and in front of, his communications chief Ebba (Eili Harboe). Later, a coked-up Matsson confides to Shiv (Sarah Snook) that he had been dating Ebba, and, after a bad-tempered breakup, had taken to repeatedly sending her half-litre bricks of his own frozen blood. Yikes doesnt quite cut it. Naturally, and as ever in Succession, the ensuing conversation is not about this disturbed, abusive behaviour, but about the optics of such behaviour. Shiv whose chat with Matsson had its own palpable sexual element simply suggests that he stops sending blood, and says shell offer some pro bono tips on how to navigate the looming scandal. Whether or not this will come up again in the series remains to be seen; Succession is prone to leaving character threads like this untouched. But it confirms what many may have already assumed about Skarsgards character: this is a guy with some serious skeletons in his closet. There are other parts of the episode that touch upon Matssons problematic habits. At one point, Cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun) says that hes heard that Matsson has sex while wearing noise-cancelling headphones and listening to podcasts (a line surely rooted in a well-known rumour about a real-life Hollywood A-lister). Towards the end of the episode, we see Matsson begin to urinate against a rockin the middle of a hostile negotiation with Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and Roman. (Last season, the character was seen relieving himself on Romans phone, albeit with his consent.) Matsson is a self-styled alpha male, a repellent mixture of privilege and ego that makes even the Roy brothers seem reasonable in comparison. The casting of Skarsgard too, adds another layer of intrigue. A virile, hunkish leading man in movies such as The Northman or Tarzan, Skarsgard here is hunched and dour, his sex appeal almost completely nullified. For all the terrible men Succession has spotlighted over the past three-and-a-half seasons, there have been none quite like Matsson. To some extent, he or a character like him was inevitable. This is a series about the uber-rich, and part of what defines the uber-rich is the propensity to commit terrible acts of abuse and presume to get away with it. In a post-Epstein world, this is widely acknowledged as fact. Succession has never pretended its characters were innocent. But in Matsson, we may finally be seeing a level of toxicity that even Roman couldnt make a dirty joke about. A Greek military transport plane carrying evacuees from Sudan arrives at Tanagra air base near Athens on Wednesday. (Thanassis Stavrakis / Associated Press) After 10 days of brutal urban warfare that has killed hundreds, a tenuous cease-fire is in place in Sudan, brokered by the United States with assistance from Saudi Arabia. U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and a high-level team spent hours on the telephone over the last week, speaking directly to the two Sudanese generals leading opposing sides of the conflict, as well as other key actors from half a dozen nations. The United States has long taken a major role behind developments in Sudan, in ending the dictatorship of Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir and in attempting to usher the country into democracy an effort that has failed perilously so far. The Sudanese people are not giving up, and neither will we, said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee, as she announced over the weekend the indefinite closing of the nation's embassy in Khartoum after American special forces airlifted nearly 100 U.S. diplomats from the Sudanese capital in a high-security mission in the dead of night. She noted continuing efforts to suspend fighting amid profound distrust between the warring parties. There is no guarantee the cease-fire will hold, and many observers believe Sudan is on the brink of all-out civil war. Despite these challenges, Phee said, the stakes are too high for Sudan and for the region to stop trying. Sudan may not be on the top of the agenda for many Americans, but the stakes in the northeastern African country are, indeed, high for the U.S., as well as Sudan and the entire region, diplomats and analysts say. From its strategically critical geographic location to its long, hard quest for freedom from military rule, Sudan has proved an appealing partner for the U.S. and a potential model for political transition in Africa. A country of 46 million people, Sudan straddles the Nile River and sits on the Red Sea, which serves as the artery for more than $700 billion in ocean-transiting global trade. Story continues Since it also borders six countries, Sudan is a bridge between northern Africa the primarily Arabic countries of Egypt and Libya and the Sahel, a strip stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Red Sea, skirting numerous countries and laying a hotbed for jihadi terrorist groups. And to the south is Ethiopia. This makes Sudan a linchpin in regional peace, commerce and political development. Aside from the devastating human toll, Sudan's instability poses major threats to the economy. The way Sudan falls will fundamentally shape whether the region is stable or violent, said Susan Stigant, head of the Africa programs at the U.S. Institute of Peace. A Sudan in chaos would probably disrupt maritime security and could give Islamic extremist groups such as the Somali-based Shabab a new foothold in the region. Neighboring Chad, a strong U.S. ally, would also be vulnerable to spillover violence from Sudan. The U.S. has invested political capital in Sudan's fate for decades. U.S. officials pushed for the prosecution of accused war criminals responsible for the genocide in western Sudan's Darfur region in the early 2000s, in which hundreds of thousands of people were killed. In response, Washington levied heavy economic sanctions on Bashir-ruled Sudan and placed the country on an especially ignominious State Department shortlist: state sponsors of terrorism. In 2019, the people of Sudan rose up in a massive nonviolent protest, risking harsh crackdowns while demanding freedom, justice and an end to three decades of dictatorship under Bashir. The longtime president was deposed. Democratic change seemed to be in the offing, with a new transitional government seated and the enthusiastic backing of the United States, Europe and other countries. "As an American value, it is so rare to have a demand so clear, so organized, that the U.S. can get behind," Stigant said. But two years later, Sudan's top two military commanders to hold on to power and to avoid being held accountable for Darfur atrocities staged a coup. Now, those two men are squaring off against each other, both with outsized ambitions to lead the country. Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan heads the Sudanese armed forces, and his former No. 2 and now archrival, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, marshals the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF. Despite some calls from Washington and elsewhere for outsiders to stay out, Egypt is said to back Burhan, while the United Arab Emirates stands with Hemedti and the RSF. The generals and other members of the elite are said to have gotten wealthy off Sudan's abundance of gold and other valuable mineral resources, while the wealth never filtered down to ordinary people. The resources often inoculated leaders against the U.S. sanctions, which in turn prevented American investment in Sudanese mines and infrastructure. Another risk for U.S. interests in Sudan comes from Russia. For several years, the infamous Wagner Group, a Kremlin-backed private military company, has been active in Sudan, initially supporting Bashir in December 2017 while securing gold exports for a Russian company. Jeffrey Feltman, the former U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa, said "very nefarious" Russian activity continued to be documented during the fledgling democratic transition. The Russians, Feltman said in an extensive report last year, were "trying to basically disrupt a civilian transition." Not surprisingly, Wagner which gained infamy this last year in its ruthless front-line battles in Russia's war against Ukraine but has been operating in more than two dozen other countries backed the 2021 military coup and is now jockeying for continued advantage. Russia has also long coveted a port on the Red Sea. The Wagner Group has sufficient military assets and a masterful disinformation apparatus to be able to continue to meddle in the conflict in Sudan while maintaining deniability, analysts said. This poses another challenge to U.S. interests. "When we see them [the Wagner Group] engage in any country, we find that country ends up being more vulnerable, more prone to destabilization, more prone to threats," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said Tuesday. "And so, we are working collectively with our allies and partners to curb the influence of the Wagner Group, of course on the African continent but elsewhere as well." Washington has lost a lot of diplomatic, political and economic ground to Russia and even more to China in places such as Africa and Latin America in the last decade. The Biden administration is attempting to make the case in Sudan and elsewhere that the U.S. should be the preferred partner. But the chaos in Sudan will make that argument all the more murky. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Meinas Mohamed said she was "just hoping for the best" for family members in Sudan A pharmacist in Lincolnshire has said she is terrified for the safety of members of her extended family who are trapped in conflict-hit Sudan. Violence erupted in the North East African country on 15 April. Meinas Mohamed, an Irish national, who works at Boston's Pilgrim Hospital, said her father managed to escape via a French rescue flight but other family members were still there. She said the situation in Sudan was "really volatile, really horrific". Ms Mohamed, who has been working in Boston for the past five years, said her six-year-old cousin, who has Down's syndrome, was among the relatives left unsafe in their homes outside the capital, Khartoum, where intense fighting had broken out between two rival armies over control of the country. Ms Mohamed's cousins, including a six-year-old who has Down's syndrome, are among relatives living outside Khartoum She said: "There are issues with electricity. Can they get running water? Can they get bread? Basic things that people had no issue getting, [but] now supplies are running low, especially the inner city hospitals. There have been issues with getting medications, oxygen tanks. "I have a cousin who has special needs. How is she going to understand everything that's happening to her? "I have elderly relatives who have really serious illnesses. How are they going to have their medications sent to them?" Ms Mohamed, who helps to treat cancer patients at Boston Pilgrim, said she was "just worried and anxious all the time" for members of her extended family in Sudan as there had been "heavy bombing" close to their neighbourhood. "I feel so guilty and so sad. Part of me wishes I was there with them. "We're just hoping for the best." Ms Mohamed, whose family lives near Belfast, said her father and her uncle, who both have Irish citizenship, had been visiting relatives in Sudan for Ramadan. Story continues Ms Mohamed's father (left) was able to get out, but she said she feared for the safety of her uncle (right) and other relatives While her father, a retired NHS doctor, had managed to get out quickly, her uncle had decided to remain in the country to look after the rest of her extended family, who are Sudanese nationals, she added. "[It's] so nerve-wracking because the communication has been essentially kind of cut down and it's so weak at the moment - the infrastructure - that any sort of communication we can get is vital. "It's hard to even say if 'worry' is a big enough word for it. We're taking it day by day and hoping that they can give us daily updates." Ms Mohamed said she had been in touch with other members of Lincolnshire's Sudanese community in a bid to provide help and support to those affected. The UK government has begun evacuating British nationals from the country. Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. Haroun (left) in 2010 when he was governor of the South Kordofan region A former Sudanese politician wanted for alleged crimes against humanity has said that he and other former officials are no longer in jail - following reports of a break-out. Ahmed Haroun was among those being held in Kober prison in the capital Khartoum who are facing charges by the International Criminal Court (ICC). A ceasefire between fighting military factions largely appears to be holding. But there are doubts about both sides' commitment to a lasting peace. The conflict - which began on 15 April - arose from a bitter power struggle between the leaders of Sudan's regular army and a rival paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Reports emerged this week of a prison break at Kober - where Ahmed Haroun was serving a sentence alongside Omar al-Bashir, Sudan's former president. On Tuesday, Haroun confirmed in a statement aired on Sudan's Tayba TV that he and other Bashir loyalists who served under him had left the jail - but said he would be ready to appear before the judiciary whenever it was functioning. In an audio message circulating on social media, Haroun claimed the group had been aided in their escape by prison guards and the armed forces. "We made a decision to protect ourselves due to lack of security, water, food and treatment, as well as the death of many prisoners in Kober," Haroun told al-Sudani, a daily newspaper with ties to Bashir. Haroun was a key player in the Sudanese government's brutal response to two long-running and still unresolved civil wars - in Darfur (from 2003) and South Kordofan (from 2011). He was indicted by the ICC in 2007 for his alleged role in the atrocities in Darfur - described as the first genocide of the 21st Century - when he was the country's interior minister. He faces 20 counts of crimes against humanity and 22 counts of war crimes, with charges including murder, rape, persecution and torture. He denies the charges. Story continues Mukesh Kapila, a former UN coordinator for Sudan, described Haroun as "extremely dangerous" and "unreliable", adding he had "many followers who have been lurking for the last two decades". "This, plus other armed groups now coming out of the woodwork, really changes the dynamics in ways that are difficult to predict at the moment - but it's really bad news," he told the BBC World Service's Newsday programme. Haroun was arrested in 2019, after veteran leader Bashir was ousted by the military amid mass protests. The country has experienced frequent unrest and several other coup attempts since then. Bashir - who is 79 - had been serving a jail sentence for corruption. He is at a military hospital in police custody - having been moved there before the latest hostilities broke out, according to Sudan's army. He is also accused by the ICC of leading a campaign of mass killing and rape in Sudan's Darfur region, which he denies. Sudan's interior ministry has accused the RSF of breaking into five prisons in the past few days - including Kober, which Bashir had already left. Police said the raid led to the killing of two prison warders, and that the RSF released all who where being held there. The RSF has denied the allegations, claiming instead that the military "forcibly evacuated" the facility as part of a plan to restore Bashir to power. An army spokesman denied any army involvement, saying the military "does not have any supervision over prisons". He said the military was coordinating with police to return inmates to prisons. But plenty of Sudanese will believe this is just the latest example of Gen Burhan, leader of Sudan's armed forces, trying to restore Bashir's Islamist lieutenants to the forefront of Sudanese politics. The ceasefire in Sudan has allowed several countries to evacuate their nationals from the country. Several evacuation flights carrying UK nationals from Sudan have landed in Cyprus, while a boat evacuating more than 1,600 people from dozens of countries has now arrived in Saudi Arabia. Both Germany and France say all their citizens have now left the country. Hundreds of people evacuated from Sudan have arrived in Saudi Arabia by boat Volker Perthes, who is the UN special envoy to Sudan and is currently in the country, said on Tuesday that the 72-hour pause in fighting still appeared to be holding together. But gunfire and explosions continued to be reported in Khartoum and the nearby city of Omdurman. "There is yet no unequivocal sign that either [side] is ready to seriously negotiate, suggesting that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible," said Mr Perthes. Mr Perthes said that many homes, hospitals and other public facilities have been damaged or destroyed in residential areas near the army headquarters and airport in the capital Khartoum. The ceasefire, which began at midnight local time (22:00 GMT) on Monday, is the latest attempt to bring stability to the country after fighting broke out nearly two weeks ago. The White House said on Wednesday the ceasefire should be extended to address the humanitarian crisis, news agency Reuters reported. National security spokesman John Kirby also confirmed a second American had died in Sudan on Tuesday. At least 459 people have died in this conflict so far, though the actual number is thought to be much higher. Thousands more are reported to have fled Sudan and the UN has warned that this is likely to continue. Lines of buses and other vehicles are continuing to leave Khartoum despite rocketing prices of fuel and bus tickets. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it expects there to be "many more" deaths due to outbreaks and a lack of services. More than 60% of health facilities in Khartoum are closed, it said. There is also concern for those who are left behind, with an estimated 24,000 pregnant women currently in Khartoum who are expected to give birth in the coming weeks. Sudan, which has descended into chaos with fierce fighting between rival generals, has lived through multiple civil wars since winning independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956. - 1955-1972: first civil war - Sudan's first north-south civil war broke out several months before independence on January 1, 1956 and lasted until 1972. It pitted successive governments in the Arab and Muslim-dominated north against multiple forces of separatist rebels in the south, where people are mainly Christian or follow traditional religions. The 17-year conflict ended with a treaty signed in neighbouring Ethiopia, under which the president granted autonomy to the south. It collapsed in 1983 after 11 years of relative peace when President Jaafar Nimeiri decided to revoke the south's autonomous status, enforce Islamic sharia law and crush southern troops he said were mutinying. According to different sources, as many as 500,000 people died in the bitter conflict. - 1983-2005: second civil war - Sudan's second civil war erupted in 1983 when the rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), led by John Garang, rose up to change the Islamist rulers in Khartoum into a secular, democratic "New Sudan". In 1989, Omar al-Bashir, an Islamist, took power in a coup and cracked down on the southern rebellion. Southern guerrillas also fought within themselves, with one faction fighting for the south to break away. Northern rebels also battled the government in Eastern Sudan, Blue Nile and the Nuba Mountains. Some sources estimate as many as two million people were killed and another four million displaced in the 22-year war. The war ended on January 9, 2005, when Garang signed a peace accord with Bashir's government. The cornerstone of the Kenya-mediated accord was a protocol exempting the south from sharia law and granting it six years of self-rule ahead of a 2011 referendum on whether to remain part of Sudan or secede. Story continues Oil-rich South Sudan proclaimed independence on July 9, 2011, splitting Africa's biggest country in two. As South Sudan separated, conflict resumed in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile in the rump state of Sudan in areas held by former guerrillas, now called the SPLM-North. In the spring of 2012, relations between Sudan and South Sudan soured in oil-rich border zones, resulting in clashes between the two armies. - 2003-2020: Darfur war - Sudan's vast western region of Darfur was plunged into a war in 2003 when mostly non-Arab armed groups rose up against the government in Khartoum, alleging racial discrimination, marginalisation and exclusion. Khartoum responded by unleashing the Janjaweed, a marauding group of nomadic Arab raiders who attacked Darfuri villages on camel and horseback alongside regular soldiers. In the first five years the conflict claimed 300,000 lives from direct combat as well as disease and malnutrition, according to the United Nations. Around 2.5 million were displaced. The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague in 2009 and 2010 issued arrest warrants for president Bashir for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Darfur. Bashir was ousted in 2019. On August 31, 2020, the government and most rebel groups agreed a landmark peace deal, but sporadic clashes continue. Since mid-April, the conflict between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, head of a paramilitary force born out of the Janjaweed, has caused heavy fighting in Khartoum as well as renewed conflict in Darfur. bur/jmy-paj/cb/pjm A Fife man has described his journey from "hell" to escape war-torn Sudan. Amar Osman, from Dunfermline, was with his wife Fatma Giha in Omdurman, near Khartoum, when the crisis began. He said he had joined a "mass exodus" from the country amid a fragile ceasefire agreed by warring generals on Monday. More than 2,000 British nationals have registered in Sudan under evacuation plans, but thousands more could be in the country. Mr Osman, who is with his wife, mother-in-law and sister-in-law, started the journey back to Scotland on Monday. They made their own travel arrangements as they had not yet heard from the UK government about an evacuation strategy. Following three sleepless nights, he spoke to BBC Scotland as he was waiting to catch one of hundreds of buses to the Egyptian border, about 150 miles away. "Everyone is absolutely shattered," he said, describing the journey as "hell". "This is so sad, seeing all these people flee their homeland," he added. Fighting erupted near the airport in the capital Khartoum Mr Osman, who is heading for the Egyptian city of Aswan before aiming to reach Cairo, said he feared for Sudan's future. "I don't know what's going to happen next but it's not good," he said. "Everybody's worried and there are different stories every day. We hear different people got bombed in their house, some of them got kicked out of their house." A power struggle between Sudan's regular army and a powerful paramilitary force has led to violence across the country for more than a week. Electricity is scarce and food and water supplies are running out for many. The UK government said that 301 people had been airlifted to safety on four flights. Another RAF flight was preparing to depart the Wadi Saeedna airstrip near the capital of Khartoum on Wednesday afternoon, with a further three flights expected later. Story continues More than 2,000 British nationals have registered in Sudan under evacuation plans, but thousands more could be in the country. A ceasefire has been agreed between forces led by two warring generals The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the operation in Khartoum was "running smoothly" and there was "no issue with capacity". He said the "majority" of the people on planes were British nationals, while others were citizens of allied countries. He said had not been informed of "large-scale problems" of non-British passport holders turning up and being told they are not eligible. A 72-hour ceasefire brokered by the warring rival generals has largely held since it began in the early hours of Monday. It is understood that if fighting resumes the evacuation operation will not necessarily end, but it will present a greater risk to the safety of evacuees, troops and officials. The first flight of British nationals arrived back in London Stansted on Wednesday afternoon, having left Larnaca in Cyprus, where they were initially evacuated. Nesrin El-Haj, from Cardiff, has said she is "very depressed" after not hearing from her mother or two sisters in two days A woman has said her family in Sudan can "smell the dead bodies in the street" as they attempt to flee the country. The UK government has begun evacuating nationals following intense fighting between rival military forces. Nesrin El-Haj, from Cardiff, said she has been "very depressed" since losing contact with her mother and sisters. "The war is so massive. The sounds of heavy weapons, explosions and bullets have terrified them," she said. Nesrin has not heard from any family or friends in Sudan for two days and is waiting for them to confirm that they are safe. "They have no electricity, there's a lack of food, lack of basic services, water and medical treatment," she told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast. "It's so hard for me because I've lost connection with them and I've felt very depressed, very stressed." Saleh El-Khalifa, from Swansea, said he has had little contact with his mother as she is worried her phone will be tracked A student in Swansea is also fearful for his family's safety as his mother and grandfather attempt to flee the war-torn country. Saleh El-Khalifa said his mother, a British national, is trying to get to Saudi Arabia with her 96-year-old father, who is unwell. He said he has had limited contact with her as she is worried her phone signal may be tracked and reveal her location. 'Complicated' situation Saleh said his mother and grandfather are travelling in a group of eight, including his aunt and two cousins. However, contact with them has been made even more difficult as data and wi-fi signal is very limited in the country in northeast Africa. He added that help from the Foreign Office has been "very limited and very, very minimal". Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the approach to getting UK citizens out of Sudan, describing the situation as "complicated". Saleh said the first few days he and his sister contacted the Foreign Office, their advice was for his family in Sudan to "stay indoors and to not move". Story continues However, he believes officials did not fully understand the situation, adding: "It wasn't a viable option as there was no guarantee of their safety. "Since the planes have started and plans have been made by governments to evacuate nationals, contact between me and the Foreign Office has improved but it's still very minimal." On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the UK government's approach to getting British citizens out of Sudan, following criticism that the Foreign Office was failing those stuck in Khartoum. "The security situation on the ground in Sudan is complicated, it is volatile and we wanted to make sure we could put in place processes that are going to work for people, that are going to be safe and effective." Mr Sunak said. Mr Sunak said more than 1,000 UK citizens in Sudan had been contacted about evacuation plans, and "many more" flights will leave on Wednesday. A Welsh government spokesman said: "We are monitoring the situation closely and we are in contact with the Foreign Office as they repatriate people back to the United Kingdom." CAIRO Sudanese and foreigners streamed out of the capital of Khartoum and other battle zones, as fighting Tuesday shook a new three-day truce brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Aid agencies raised increasing alarm over the crumbling humanitarian situation in a country reliant on outside help. A series of short cease-fires the past week have either failed outright or brought only intermittent lulls in the fighting that has raged between forces loyal to the countrys two top generals since April 15. The lulls have been enough for dramatic evacuations of hundreds of foreigners by air and land, which continued Tuesday. But they have brought no relief to millions of Sudanese caught in the crossfire, struggling to find food, shelter and medical care as explosions, gunfire and looters wreck their neighborhoods. In a country where a third of the population of 46 million already needed humanitarian assistance, multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations and dozens of hospitals have been forced to shut down. The U.N. refugee agency said it was gearing up for potentially tens of thousands of people fleeing into neighboring countries. Calls for negotiations to end the crisis in Africas third-largest nation have been ignored. For many Sudanese, the departure of diplomats, aid workers and other foreigners and the closure of embassies are terrifying signs that international powers expect the mayhem to only worsen. Thousands of Sudanese have been fleeing Khartoum and its neighboring city of Omdurman. Bus stations in the capital were packed Tuesday morning with people who had spent the night there in hopes of getting on a departing bus. Drivers increased prices, sometimes tenfold, for routes to the border crossing with Egypt or the eastern Red Sea city of Port Sudan. Fuel prices have skyrocketed, to $67 a gallon from $4.20, and prices for food and water have doubled in many cases, the Norwegian Refugee Council said. Story continues Those lucky enough to reach the border crossings face additional hardships. Moaz al-Ser, a teacher, arrived at the Arqin border crossing with Egypt early Tuesday with his wife and three children after a harrowing trip from Omdurman. They were among hundreds of families who were waiting to be processed. Many had spent the night in an open area near the border. The crossing point is overwhelmed and authorities on both sides dont have the capacity to handle such a growing number of arrivals, he said. The new 72-hour cease-fire, announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was to last until late Thursday night, extending a nominal three-day truce over the weekend. The Sudanese military, commanded by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the rival Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, said Tuesday they would observe the cease-fire. In separate announcements, they said Saudi Arabia played a role in the negotiations. But fighting continued, with explosions, gunfire and the roar of warplanes overhead around the capital region. They stop only when they run out of ammunition, Omdurman resident Amin Ishaq said. Al-Roumy, a medical facility in Omdurman, said it suspended its services after it was hit by a shell Tuesday. They dont respect cease-fires, said Atiya Abdalla Atiya, a senior figure in the Sudan Doctors Syndicate, a group that monitors casualties. Dr. Bushra Ibnauf Sulieman, a Sudanese-American physician who headed the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Khartoum, was stabbed to death outside his home, the Doctors Syndicate said. He had practiced medicine for many years in the United States, where his children reside, but had returned to Sudan to train doctors. Colleagues said he had been treating those wounded in the fighting in recent days and that it was not known who killed him. The World Heath Agency meanwhile expressed concern that one of the warring parties had seized control of the central public health laboratory in Khartoum. That is extremely, extremely dangerous because we have polio isolates in the lab. We have measles isolates in the lab. We have cholera isolates in the lab, Dr. Nima Saeed Abid, the WHO representative in Sudan, told a U.N. briefing in Geneva by video call from Port Sudan. He did not identify which side held the facility but said they had expelled technicians and power was cut, so it was not possible to properly manage the biological materials. There is a huge biological risk. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a press conference at U.N. headquarters in New York on Tuesday that representatives of UNICEF have requested that Russias embassy host and accommodate its staff because they are not in a safe location. Im not certain how this can be done, but we will tackle the situation. said Lavrov. UNICEF, the U.N. childrens agency which is headquartered in New York, said it declines comment on issues related to staff security as a matter of standard practice. Clashes meanwhile escalated in the western Darfur region, residents said. Armed groups, wearing RSF uniforms, attacked several areas in Genena, a provincial capital, burning and looting properties and camps for displaced people. Fierce battles are raging all over the city, said a doctor in Genena, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. All eyes are on Khartoum but the situation here is unimaginable. Women and children were fleeing homes in the city center, and the citys main hospital has not functioned for days, with unknown numbers of dead and wounded, she said. More fighters on motorcycles and horses have flowed into the city to join the battles, with dead bodies lying in the streets, according to Darfur 24, an online news outlet focusing on covering the war-wrecked region. The RSF has its roots in Darfur, where it emerged from the notorious Janjaweed militias that committed atrocities there while putting down a rebellion in the 2000s. At least 459 people, including civilians and fighters, have been killed, and over 4,000 wounded since fighting began, the U.N. health agency said, citing Sudans Health Ministry. Among them were 166 deaths and over 2,300 wounded in Khartoum, it said. Those who are able have made their way to the Egyptian border, Port Sudan or relatively calmer provinces along the Nile. But the full scale of displacement has been difficult to measure. Mohammed Mahdi, of the International Rescue Committee, warned that resources were growing thin at the Tunaydbah refugee camp in eastern Sudan after 3,000 people fleeing Khartoum took refuge there, joining some 28,000 refugees from Ethiopia. At least 20,000 people have fled from Khartoum to the city of Wad Madani, 100 miles to the south, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. Some 20,000 Sudanese have fled to Chad and around 4,000 South Sudanese refugees living in Sudan have returned home, according to the U.N. refugee agency, which is gearing up for tens of thousands more to flee to neighboring countries. Meanwhile, airlifts of foreigners continued. Germany said its last rescue flight would take off Tuesday, having so far evacuated nearly 500 people over three days. French military spokesman Col. Pierre Gaudilliere told journalists Tuesday that the French evacuation mission was completed and had flown out more than 500 people from 40 countries, though a Navy frigate will remain off Port Sudan to help evacuations. The European airlift, pulling out a broad range of private citizens from many countries, has stood in contrast to more limited operations by the United States and Britain, which sent in teams Sunday to extract their diplomats but initially said they couldnt organize evacuations for private citizens. After growing criticism of its failure to help civilians, Britain said Tuesday it conducted its first evacuation flight for U.K. private citizens from an air base near Khartoum for Cyprus, with two more flights expected overnight. Earlier, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said those wanting to get on a flight would have to make their own way to the airfield, calling the situation dangerous, volatile and unpredictable. The U.S. said Monday it is now helping to connect private American citizens to other countries convoys making the journey from Khartoum to Port Sudan and then to find transport out of the country. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said reconnaisance assets are helping to determine safe routes but that no U.S. troops are on the ground. Li Ganjie, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the CPC Central Committee's Organization Department, holds talks with Truong Thi Mai, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, permanent member of the CPV Central Committee Secretariat and head of the Organization Commission of the CPV Central Committee, in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Li Ganjie, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the CPC Central Committee's Organization Department, held talks with Truong Thi Mai, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, permanent member of the CPV Central Committee Secretariat and head of the Organization Commission of the CPV Central Committee, in Beijing on Wednesday. Li said that China and Vietnam are friendly socialist neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, adding that China is ready to work with Vietnam to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties, promote institutionalized exchanges between the organization departments of the two parties and push for greater development of China-Vietnam relations. For her part, Truong Thi Mai expressed a willingness to strengthen inter-party exchanges with China and promote relations between the two parties and countries, as well as the development of the socialist cause. Following the talks, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee and that of the CPV Central Committee. Li Ganjie, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the CPC Central Committee's Organization Department, holds talks with Truong Thi Mai, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, permanent member of the CPV Central Committee Secretariat and head of the Organization Commission of the CPV Central Committee, in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) A US-brokered ceasefire in Sudan appears to be partially holding, UN special envoy Volker Perthes said. He, however, told the UN Security Council that there was no sign the warring parties were ready to negotiate. This suggested that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible, Mr Perthes said. This is a miscalculation. Meanwhile, the second flight evacuating British nationals from Sudan landed in Cyprus this morning, it was reported. The first flight carrying 39 people landed on Tuesday as reports of fierce battles in West Darfur and fighting near Khartoum jeopardise the volatile new ceasefire underpinning the UK rescue mission. The passengers on the second flight and the 39 from an earlier rescue flight on Tuesday are expected to be flown to the UK from Cyprus later. Some Sudanese relatives of British nationals have been denied temporary visas and excluded from evacuation flights, The Independent has been told with no plans to set up a legal route for Sudanese refugees to claim asylum. Key Points Second flight carrying Britons from Sudan lands in Cyprus No sign Sudan warring parties ready to negotiate, UN says Woman trapped near Sudan army base pleads for evacuation: Please save me and my son First evacuation flight leaves after Britons told to make their own way to airfield asap Exclusive: UK evacuation inhuman as Sudanese relatives excluded with no plans for asylum route WHO says 'high risk of biological hazard' after Sudan laboratory seized How is the UK evacuating people from Sudan? 08:55 , Matt Mathers The first British nationals were evacuated from conflict-torn Sudan on Tuesday. A 72-hour ceasefire between warring factions has provided a window for foreign nationals to escape a dangerous, volatile and unpredictable situation, according to the prime minister Rishi Sunak. Several previous ceasefires declared since 15 April outbreak of fighting were not observed, the Associated Press reports. Story continues Here is a look at what we know about the evacuation plans, so far. Jacob Phillips reports: How is the UK evacuating people from Sudan? A British doctor was shot saving his family in Sudan. Now, hes trapped and supplies are dwindling 08:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar A British doctor trapped in Sudan has been shot in the leg as he risked his life to rescue his elderly mother, his daughter has revealed. The doctor, who retired recently after working in the NHS for over 30 years, was visiting his family in Khartoum for Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr when fierce clashes between the countrys two top generals erupted in the city on 15 April. His daughter and mother, who requires constant care, had been without water and electricity for five days at his brothers house close to the airport when he felt he had to move them to a safer place. Speaking to The Independent, his daughter a British doctor based in London told how her father drove to the house at dusk last Thursday through the streets of the capital, past bodies strewn across the roads. Calling herself Dr A to protect family in Sudan, she said: They started shooting at the car first. My father kept going, but then he stopped because the shooting was coming from all directions. Tara Cobham reports: British doctor shot in leg as he rescued mother and daughter in Sudan Suella Braverman says Sudanese refugees who come to UK on small boats will face deportation 08:39 , Matt Mathers Sudanese refugees who arrive in the UK on small boats will have come here illegally and face deportation, Suella Braverman has confirmed. The Home Secretary said those fleeing the conflict in Sudan would be detained and could be removed to Rwanda under the governments Illegal Migration Bill. There is no good reason for anybody to get into a small boat and cross the channel in search of a life in the UK, Ms Braverman said when asked what will happen to Sudanese asylum seekers arriving in the country. Archie Mitchell reports: Braverman says Sudanese refugees who come to UK on small boats will face deportation UK has evacuated up to 300 people from Sudan - Braverman 08:35 , Matt Mathers Home secretary Suella Braverman said 200 to 300 people had been evacuated from Sudan so far as part of the airlift. She told Sky News: We commenced an evacuation mission in the last 24-48 hours and we expect there to be approximately 200 to 300 people who have been relocated from Sudan in the last few flights. We are now commencing an extensive operation, working with over 1,000 personnel from the RAF and the armed forces. She defended the UKs response, saying the government had to cope with a larger cohort of British nationals in Sudan compared to many other countries. UK troops to take over Sudan airfield as evacuation flights gather pace 08:30 , Matt Mathers The first evacuation flights carrying British nationals have taken off from Sudan as UK troops prepare to take over the running of the airfield. Two Royal Air Force planes have landed at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus as of 6.30am on Wednesday, with the first charter flight back to London set to depart later in the day. Families with young children were among those on the first flights that landed in Cyprus with a British man telling the BBC that his sister, who left Sudan overnight, felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Three planes were due to have left conflict-torn Khartoum for Cyprus by Wednesday morning, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledging many more would follow as he warned of a critical 24 hours. Defence secretary Ben Wallace said the UK would take charge of the Wadi Saeedna airstrip near the capital from German forces, after Berlin said its final evacuation flight would leave on Tuesday night. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace giving evidence to the Defence Select Committee at the House of Commons (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) (PA Wire) Not inevitable Sudanese people will arrive in UK on small boats - Braverman 08:16 , Matt Mathers There is no good reason for anybody to cross the Channel in search of a new life in the UK, home secretary Suella Braverman has said as she faced questions on the Sudan crisis. Speaking to Sky News, Ms Braverman also said it was not inevitable that Sudanese people would try to flee to Britain as their country collapses amid an ongoing conflict. Nearly 4,000 Sudanese have arrived in the UK by small boat since 2018, according to official figures. Further comments from the home secretary below: "There is no good reason for anybody to get into a small boat to cross the Channel in search of a new life in the UK."@SuellaBraverman is asked what will happen if people fleeing the war in Sudan attempt to cross the Channel. More: https://t.co/oLwydfQf16 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/4kMNAXM8yk Sky News (@SkyNews) April 26, 2023 Terrified pregnant British woman stranded in war-torn Sudan could give birth at any moment 08:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar A terrified pregnant British woman stranded in war-torn Sudan with her family fears she could give birth at any moment as they battle to flee the country. The womans older sister Saryah Elwasila, 29, said the family of five, who were in the country visiting family for Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr when fierce clashes erupted, had been forced to flee Khartoum to the city of Wad Madani in the neighbouring state of Gezira, without food, power, fuel, very little water and money. There is also no functioning hospital nearby if the woman goes into labour after many were bombed and doctors fled. The family has been robbed twice by looters who are raiding abandoned areas, leaving them with only their passports, a small amount of money and the clothes they were wearing. The British government announced on Tuesday morning that it would begin evacuation flights for UK nationals from Sudan following an agreed 72-hour ceasefire but Elwasila said her family had heard nothing from British authorities. Without fuel, they fear they have now lost their last slim chance of escape. Which countries are evacuating citizens from Sudan? 07:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar Hundreds of foreign nationals have been safely evacuated from Sudan where continued fighting threatens to plunge the African country deeper into chaos Which countries are evacuating citizens from Sudan? Very limited contact from Foreign Office 07:24 , Matt Mathers The son of a British citizen trying to escape Sudan has said his family have had "very limited" contact from the Home Office. Saleh El-Khalifa, whose mother is attempting to flee Sudan with her elderly father, said the Home Office advice to stay indoors had not been a "viable option". His mother was forced to make a journey to Port Sudan with her 86-year-old father, who suffers from a terminal illness, and is trying to cross the border into Saudi Arabia, he said. Mr Khalifa told BBC Breakfast the journey was "beyond challenging" and that information from the Home Office had been "very limited", adding: "It could be points that Im not able to speak to her for a day or two. "The first few days me and my sister tried to contact (the Home Office). The advice was the same, to stay in doors and not move. That wasnt a viable option as there was no guarantee of their safety by staying in one location. "That is why the majority of people have had to move to ensure their own life and safety, which is a situation no-one should have to be put in. "It is at the point now where my mum might be trying to get into Saudi Arabia as she believes it would be a safer route back to the UK as opposed to being told at the last moment where these flights are taking off. "We heard about one of the first flights yesterday that it was only on the ground for less than half an hour and the location was being shared very minimally. "Even if my mum had been told of the right time, the timeframe she would have had to get there would have been almost impossible." Bashir-era official wanted by ICC escapes jail after reports of prison break 07:15 , Andy Gregory Ahmed Haroun, a former Sudanese official who served under Omar al-Bashir and is wanted by the International Criminal Court, said that he and other former officials of Bashirs government had left Kober prison and would take responsibility for their own protection Mr Haroun also said they were ready to appear in front of the judiciary whenever it was functioning, in a statement aired on Sudans Tayba TV on Tuesday. The statement comes after reports that prisoners at Kober prison, which held Bashir and other top deputies, had staged a break earlier this week. It was not immediately clear if Bashir, who has spent extended periods in a military hospital, was at the prison. Second flight carrying Britons from Sudan lands in Cyprus 06:54 , Maroosha Muzaffar The second flight carrying British nationals from Sudan landed in Cyprus this morning, reports said. Trapped British nationals were told to make their own way to an airstrip near the Sudanese capital Khartoum, where an RAF military plane picked them up and flew them to Larnarca International Airport. Three planes were due to have left conflict-torn Khartoum for Cyprus by this morning, with prime minister Rishi Sunak pledging many more would follow as he warned of a critical 24 hours. Sudanese refugees face deportation from UK as government fails to set up safe and legal routes 06:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar Sudanese refugees face being criminalised and deported from the UK because there are no safe and legal routes for most people fleeing the conflict. The British government is not planning to set up a bespoke scheme for the country like those used for Ukraine and Afghanistan, The Independent understands and is only evacuating British citizens and embassy staff. Almost 4,000 Sudanese small-boat migrants have crossed the English Channel since 2020, and they are already the eighth-highest nationality using the route. When questioned at an event in central London on Tuesday, immigration minister Robert Jenrick suggested he expected a rise in Sudanese small boat crossings, saying it was likely that, in time, there will be migratory effects of the crisis. Mr Jenrick insisted that the government did have safe and legal routes, more broadly, but maintained its position that those in peril should seek sanctuary in the first safe country they reach. More from Lizzie Dearden,Bel Trew: UK fails to set up safe and legal route for refugees fleeing Sudan It was right to evacuate diplomats first, says Sunak 06:15 , Andy Gregory Rishi Sunak has defended the UKs decision to evacuate British diplomats before helping ordinary citizens leave Sudan. Asked on Tuesday about accusations that the government is not doing enough to help citizens Khartoum, the PM said: Im pleased that we were actually one of the first countries to safely evacuate our diplomats and our families. And it was right that we prioritised them because they were being targeted. The security situation on the ground in Sudan is complicated, it is volatile and we wanted to make sure we could put in place processes that are going to work for people, that are going to be safe and effective. Turks evacuated from Sudan arrive in Istanbul 06:06 , Maroosha Muzaffar The first Turkish civilians evacuated from Sudan returned to Turkey on Wednesday, with more than 100 people arriving by plane at Istanbul Airport, Reuters footage showed. The Turks came from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, where they had arrived overland from the Sudanese capital Khartoum. Several more flights were expected later on Wednesday to evacuate the remaining Turkish citizens crossing to Ethiopia from Sudan. Fighting flared anew in Sudan late on Tuesday despite a ceasefire declaration by the warring factions as more people fled Khartoum and former officials, including one facing international war crimes charges, left prison. Turkeys President Tayyip Erdogan has called on both sides in Sudan to end the conflict and return to negotiations. Reuters Woman trapped near Sudan army base pleads for evacuation: Please save me and my son 05:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar A Sudanese woman married to an Indian man has issued a desperate appeal to be evacuated having been left stranded along with her 21-month-old son by the fighting in the country. Please help me and my son, Baraah Abaker, 23, says as countries, including India, scramble to evacuate their citizens. Fighting began earlier this month between forces loyal to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudans army, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. Abaker was in her final year at Bahri University when her husband Abdul Haseeb left for India in October last year for work. He left their Indian passport-holding son with her. A veterinary doctor in her final year, Abaker was to take her exams before returning to her husband in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad. More by Namita Singh here: Woman trapped in Sudan pleads for evacuation: Please save me and my son Rishi Sunak pledges many more Sudan evacuation flights as he warns next 24 hour is critical 05:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar Rishi Sunak has pledged many more evacuation flights in what will be a critical 24 hours as ministers scramble to rescue Britons from war-torn Sudan. The prime minister said more than 1,000 people had been contacted, of an estimated 4,000 in the country, and many were making their way to an airfield outside Khartoum. But the government was forced to defend the timing and handling of the evacuation effort amid claims it had taken its eye off the ball. Ministers denied Britons should have been evacuated earlier after Germany announced it would complete its operation overnight. It came as Alicia Kearns, chair of the foreign affairs select committee, urged the government to commit as many resources as quickly as possible to the rescue because there is a very real danger fighting will return. No sign Sudan warring parties ready to negotiate, UN says 04:44 , Maroosha Muzaffar A US-brokered ceasefire in Sudan appears to be partially holding but there is no sign the warring parties are ready to seriously negotiate, the UN special envoy on Sudan said yesterday. This suggested that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible, envoy Volker Perthes told the UN Security Council. This is a miscalculation. Fighting broke out between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 15 April. Both parties agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire beginning on Tuesday after negotiations mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia. It seems to be holding in some parts so far. However, we also hear continuing reports of fighting and movement of troops, said Perthes, who spoke via video from Port Sudan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the violence and chaos in Sudan as heartbreaking. The power struggle puts Sudans future at risk and could cause suffering for years and set back development for decades, Mr Guterres said. The United Nations has moved hundreds of staff and family members to Port Sudan from Khartoum. The United Nations plans to establish a hub in Port Sudan to continue working in the country where, even before the violence broke out, nearly 16 million people - one-third of the population - were in need of humanitarian aid. Reuters Britons experiencing fuel shortages must still make own way to airport, says minister 04:42 , Andy Gregory British citizens in Sudan who are experiencing fuel shortages must still make their own way to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip in Khartoum to be evacuated, the UKs Africa minister Andrew Mitchell has said. Travel within Sudan is conducted at British nationals own risk and plans may change depending on the security situation, he told MPs, adding that he has enormous sympathy for British citizens facing travel difficulties within Sudan. People who have registered with the Foreign Office should receive contact from the department at least once a day, he said, in what appeared to be a reference to automated messages. Mr Mitchell added: The atmospherics in Khartoum hinder that sort of communication. Yesterday there was 2 per cent internet that does make communicating extremely difficult but in principle that has been what we have tried to achieve. The system is working but it is spasmodic. ICYMI: Dodging bullets and paying thousands: How these British families escaped war torn Sudan 04:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar Families watched as fighter jets roared overhead and bombs landed just a few kilometres from them as they were forced to hide, Bel Trew and Tara Cobham report: Dodging bullets and paying thousands: How these families escaped wartorn Sudan Sudan conflict explained: Whats happening in Khartoum? 04:04 , Maroosha Muzaffar Fighting has erupted in Sudans capital city Khartoum and other sites across the country this month as powerful rival military factions battle for control of the African nation and its future. So far, over 420 people, including 264 civilians, have been killed in the conflict and over 3,700 wounded. The sudden slide into violence between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group called Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has stranded thousands of foreigners, including diplomats and aid workers in the country, with the UK, US, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states among those closing their embassies and working to evacuate their nationals. Read the full story here: What is happening in Sudan? The conflict crisis explained Washington is talking to leaders on both sides of conflict, says White House 03:31 , Andy Gregory United States president Joe Bidens national security team is continuing to talk to military leaders from both sides of the Sudan conflict to support a durable end to the conflict, the White House has said. The US is working with partners and Sudanese civilian groups to work toward a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian arrangements, spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday. Battle in Sudan's capital risks awakening war in Darfur 01:20 , Reuters Darfur inhabitants fear battles between Sudans rival military leaders could reawaken war in the vast and largely desert region already scarred by a two-decade-old conflict. The Darfur conflict originated around 2003-2004, pitting rebels against government forces backed by horse-riding militia known as Janjaweed in violence that killed some 300,000 people and uprooted millions from their homes. Despite repeated peace deals, the conflict has simmered ever since, with violence rising in the past two years. Now the conflict which began in Khartoum between Sudans army and RSF paramilitary, who had been ruling together during a political transition, has quickly spread to Darfur. Residents and sources have reported pillaging, ethnic reprisal attacks, and clashes between the two military factions in various population centres around the farming and nomadic region that is roughly the size of France. Local mediation has helped cool the strife in the main cities of Nyala and al-Fashir, but shelling and looting have continued in the town of Genena, leaving Darfuris fearing another major explosion of warfare. If this continues, if we get the killing of military commanders that are a part of influential tribes, then itll be anarchy. There will be tribal mobilisation, said Ahmed Gouja, a journalist and rights activist in Nyala. For Sudans warring leaders, Darfur is as familiar as it is strategically important. Army chief Abdel-Fattah Burhan rose through the army ranks while fighting in Darfur. RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo got his start as a leader of one of the militias which did much of the government sides fighting during the Darfur conflict, inflicting an outsize proportion of the violence. As the army now tries to push his RSF fighters from positions across Khartoum, the group could fall back on its roots in Darfur to try to regroup and raise reinforcements. UK to assume control of airfield from Germany, says Ben Wallace Wednesday 26 April 2023 00:13 , Andy Gregory The UK will take over from German forces running the Wadi Saeedna airfield on Wednesday, defence secretary Ben Wallace has said. The Germans are leaving tomorrow, and we will take over the facilitation at the airfield, he told LBC. And the reason the Germans are leaving is people have stopped coming in large numbers. Only one nation can facilitate the airfield at a time, Mr Wallace said, adding: If the Spanish or the Italians or anyone else wants to fly, well be the ones giving permissions effectively. The minister also said that 99 per cent of the British nationals who have registered with the Foreign Office did so in Khartoum. Hundreds of British nationals expected to be evacuated overnight Tuesday 25 April 2023 23:01 , Andy Gregory Some 260 people in total are expected to be evacuated on three British flights tonight, with the first plane to land in Cyprus having carried 39 people, according to the BBC. The Independent understands the overnight figure to be in line with official estimates. UK can take who turns up at evacuation area, says Wallace Tuesday 25 April 2023 22:07 , Andy Gregory The British military is ready to take who turns up at the evacuation area in Sudan and the situation is not like Kabul, defence secretary Ben Wallace has said. We have got two plane loads that will go out tonight. We can take really who turns up at the moment, he told Channel 4 News earlier. What weve learned from both seeing the German and the French evacuation is, this is first of all, not like Kabul, not thousands at the gate and people are making their way, theyre being processed. We have a Border Force and Foreign Office team on the ground, and then were loading them up. I think there is some risk that some of the planes are not full. Weve seen that in the German planes and theyve then resorted, understandably, to take some other fellow foreign personnel there if theres room. Mr Wallace added: As Im giving this interview right now one of the planes is loading, and therell be another one tonight and then therell be a number of planes tomorrow as well. UK government could not have predicted battle for raw power in Sudan, minister insists Tuesday 25 April 2023 21:15 , Andy Gregory The UKs minister for Africa has denied that the government should have seen the conflict in Sudan coming. This isnt an ideological battle, this is a battle between two generals for power, Andrew Mitchell told MPs on the Commons foreign affairs committee. There is no ideology involved in this, its raw power being fought over. One might have hoped that this would never happen given the appalling humanitarian jeopardy it has placed so many people in. The minister added: We would not have expected that these two generals would have slugged it out in this way on a totally non-ideological issue, let alone deploy heavy weapons in built-up areas. Questioned on next steps, Mr Mitchell went on: What is urgently required is a ceasefire, for the combatants to lay down their arms and return to barracks and for the political process, which was moving forward significantly before the second week of April, for that to reassert itself. Andrew Mitchell told MPs there was no ideology involved in the Sudan conflict (PA) Sudan will experience a humanitarian catastrophe, MPs told Tuesday 25 April 2023 21:08 , Andy Gregory Sudan will experience a humanitarian catastrophe, the UKs minister for Africa has said. Andrew Mitchell told the Foreign Affairs Committee that the lack of food supplies and humanitarian relief workers will lead to such a crisis, with most humanitarian staff living with little prospect of returning without a ceasefire. Five of them have already been murdered, he said. First UK evacuation flight lands in Cyprus, carrying 39 people Tuesday 25 April 2023 20:23 , Andy Gregory The first flight evacuating UK civilians from Sudan has landed at Larnaca airport in Cyprus, with 39 people on board, the BBC has reported, citing British officials. Around 260 people in total are expected to be flown out of the war-torn nation overnight on three separate flights, according to the broadcaster. UK evacuees should ideally be pre-cleared when they reach airfield, says minister Tuesday 25 April 2023 20:05 , Andy Gregory The UKs Africa minister Andrew Mitchell has told MPs that people seeking evacuation from Sudan should ideally be pre-cleared before they arrive at the airstrip having been in touch with the Foreign Office. Otherwise we are expecting them to have a British passport and so far Im not aware of any problems in that process, he said. Those stuck in Sudan have been grappling with internet outages and several have criticised a lack of personal contact from the embassy and Foreign Office prior to today, prompting some to seek to escape the country themselves. Dr Lina Badr, 42, an NHS gynaecologist who has hired a $20,000 bus along with several fellow Britons in a bid for the Egyptian border, told The Independent of the frantic nature of their departure, having at one point been forced to escape heavy gunfire, saying: Some of us were not able to bring passports, some have passports which are expired. British grandfather, 85, stuck in Sudan without food or water despite living next to embassy Tuesday 25 April 2023 19:32 , Andy Gregory Azhar Sholgami, a researcher at Cornell University in the US has told The Independent that her British grandfather, aged 85, has been left trapped on the frontline without water or food despite living directly opposite the British Embassy. The RSF raided and looted his home, they took water and food they had. There is no electricity or phone connection so we have no contact with him, she said of her grandfather, Abdalla Sholgami, a retired businessman. We have called different people in the embassy to help for the last eight or nine days, said Ms Sholgami, adding: My grandfather always said he is happy to live next to the British Embassy because if anythinggoes wrong they are just next door. Its super disappointing. The least they could have done is knock on the door and given him a single bottle of water when they left but they didnt even do that, she said. German minister appears to make dig at UK evacuation of embassy staff Tuesday 25 April 2023 18:58 , Andy Gregory Germanys foreign minister appeared to take a dig at the UK governments decision to first evacuate embassy staff as she announced that Berlins final evacuation flight would depart Khartoum this evening, with German citizens still stranded in Sudan to be evacuated by other nations. Annalena Baerbock told reporters: It was important to us that, unlike in other countries, an evacuation not only applies to our embassy staff but to all local Germans and our partners. Almost 500 people from 30 countries were flown out of Khartoum thanks to our support that is a huge achievement. The fact that our citizens abroad can also rely on not being left to their own devices in an emergency is not a bureaucratic matter of course. It is the result of courage, teamwork and tireless dedication on the part of many hundreds of people involved in the German armed forces, the federal police and the Foreign Office. Praising three officials who flew to Khartoum to help the evacuation for their impressive willingness to enter such a crisis situation voluntarily as civilians, she added that Berlin was continuing to work on ways to rescue remaining citizens there, be it with flights from partners, by land or by sea. Dodging bullets and paying thousands: How these British families escaped war-torn Sudan Tuesday 25 April 2023 18:27 , Andy Gregory British families fleeing Sudan have told The Indepenent of dodging heavy gunfire and bombing in their bids to escape the war-torn country after the Foreign Office failed to secure safe routes out. Many have spent thousands to escape the country themselves, having given up on the Foreign Office after days without any communication bar automatic emails telling them to shelter in place. I completely lost hope in the system. Until this morning, I have not received anything about a solid evacuation plan. Just advice to stay indoors and call for any psychological support, said NHS gynaecologist and Dr Lina Bahr, from the Egyptian border, where she hoped to cross to safety. With no connection we had to make a decision. We took the risk, said the mother of three, who hired a bus with other Britons for $20,000 in order to escape after stray bullets ripped through her familys living room, food and supplies ran out and her two-year-old became sick. While more than 2,000 people have registered themselves with the Foreign Office for help, Dr Bahrs husband Ousama Suliman, also an NHS doctor, said: Everyone I know has pretty much made the journey by road to Egypt. Most of the people who have registered with Foreign Office are not going to be there to evacuate. When the hotline numbers dont work, when you cant get through to anyone and then you hear the diplomats, the embassy has been evacuated, you panic. Our international correspondent Bel Trew and reporter Tara Cobham have the full report: Dodging bullets and paying thousands: How these families escaped war-torn Sudan Next 24 hours are absolutely critical, Sunak tells officials working on evacuation Tuesday 25 April 2023 17:55 , Andy Gregory Rishi Sunak has said that the next 24 hours are absolutely critical in the evacuation of British nationals from Sudan as he urged staff at the Foreign Offices crisis hub in central London to keep at it. Thanking the teams working on the evacuation, the prime minister said: Your efforts are really, really helping, making a huge difference. Keep at it ... The next 24 hours are absolutely critical. We can make a big push as were already doing and you can help us get everyone who wants to come home home. Africa minister Andrew Mitchell, who met Mr Sunak in the crisis hub alongside foreign secretary James Cleverly, told him 200 people are working on the UK efforts day and night. Rishi Sunak spoke to teams coordinating the evacuation of British nationals from Sudan (Hannah McKay - WPA Pool / Getty Images) British and Irish citizens describe trying to leave Sudan Tuesday 25 April 2023 17:31 , Andy Gregory Britains military stands ready to defend airfield if necessary, says No 10 Tuesday 25 April 2023 17:08 , Andy Gregory Britains military stands ready to defend the airfield north of Khartoum where UK citizens were told to travel as soon as possible this afternoon, No 10 has said. But efforts will be made to avoid active engagement with other forces, Rishi Sunaks official spokesperson said. Speaking as the government seeks to avoid a repeat of the scenes during the evacuation of Kabul in 2021, the spokesperson said: Its worth emphasising that international evacuations have been taking place since Sunday and we havent seen any significant issues ... or large crowds appearing. UK has capacity to take over airfield once German forces leave, says No 10 Tuesday 25 April 2023 16:44 , Andy Gregory Downing Street has said that the UK has the capacity to take over from German forces running the Wadi Saeedna airfield near Khartoum, where British nationals hoping to be evacuated were ealier told to travel to. The Germans are currently running the site, the strip there, said Rishi Sunaks official spokesperson. I think should they choose to leave, and theres no indication of that, we have the capacity to take over running that site so that should mean we would continue to allow flights to run in and out. Defence secretary Ben Wallace previously told MPs that the UKs evacuation at the airfield could not start until the Germans leave. Berlin said its last flight would take place this evening, and that German nationals still stranded in Sudan would be evacuated by other nations. First UK evacuation flight takes off Tuesday 25 April 2023 16:12 , Andy Gregory The first flight carrying British nationals has left Sudan, with two more planned overnight, Downing Street has said. The first flight has left and you can expect that there will be at least two more flights overnight tonight but that is subject to change, Rishi Sunaks official spokesperson told reporters. British national says no clarity on UK evacuation Tuesday 25 April 2023 16:10 , Andy Gregory A British national sheltering in Khartoum has said there is currently no clarity in the governments plans to evacuate UK citizens stuck in Sudan. Nadir Omara, 56, a consultant psychiatrist who usually works in Madani, south of the capital, had travelled to Khartoum to celebrate Eid with friends and family on 13 April, two days before fighting broke out. You have to bear in mind that the communications are very intermittent [and] haphazard - sometimes they do work, sometimes they dont, said Mr Omara. I have already sent an email to the local MP, James Cleverly, and Rishi Sunak that we need more guidance. The numbers for the embassy or consulate services werent reachable, so we had to rely on watching the news and services here. Thats very difficult. I did get an email today about the evacuation [but] theres no clarity as to how that is going to be conducted, other than the priority is for the elderly and people with families. Food, water and medicine shortages in Sudan becoming extremely acute, warns UN Tuesday 25 April 2023 15:55 , Andy Gregory Shortages of essentials such as food and water are worsening around Khartoum and prices for basic goods are skyrocketing, the United Nations has warned. After 10 days of fighting, shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel are becoming extremely acute, especially in Khartoum and surrounding areas, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. It also cited reports that the cost of basic goods had surged, saying prices for bottled water had doubled, and said cash was scarce and hard to access. Tens of thousands of people have already fled the conflict into Egypt, Chad and South Sudan. But the cost of escaping is soaring with one Khartoum resident telling Reuters that a bus fare to Egypt had risen nearly six-fold to the equivalent of 275, and was only increasing every day. UK evacuations waiting for Germans to leave airfield, says Ben Wallace Tuesday 25 April 2023 15:39 , Adam Forrest Political Correspondent The Independent understands that the government hopes the evacuation flights will start around 5pm or 6pm (UK time). But defence secretary Ben Wallace has made clear that the UK operation cant start until the Germans leave. Asked by senior Tory MP Tobias Ellwood when the UK flights would begin, Mr Wallace said: If and when Germans leave. The Germans are running the airport at the moment. So if and when the Germans leave. I cant speculate on the Germans. They are responding to the condition of the flow of their citizens and their nationals. Ellwood, "When will we start evacuating Brits in Sudan?" Wallace, "If and when the Germans leave." Ellwood, "Sorry?" Wallace, "If and when the Germans leave." World-beating Brexit Global Unicorn Britain relies on if and when the Germans leave to bring our people back home. pic.twitter.com/5BLRerjGqm Farrukh (@implausibleblog) April 25, 2023 Sudanese refugees face deportation from UK as government fails to set up safe and legal routes Tuesday 25 April 2023 15:21 , Andy Gregory Our home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden and international correspondent Bel Trew report: Sudanese refugees face being criminalised and deported from the UK because there are no safe and legal routes for most people fleeing the conflict. The British government is not planning to set up a bespoke scheme for the country like those used for Ukraine and Afghanistan, The Independent understands, and is only evacuating British citizens and embassy staff. The Independent has been told that some Sudanese relatives of British nationals have been denied temporary visas and excluded from evacuation flights, including the 87-year-old grandmother of a British doctor. The Foreign Office just contacted my father and told him they can only evacuate him and his sister, but not my grandmother as she is not a British citizen, the doctor who is calling herself Dr A to protect her family, told this newspaper on Tuesday. The UK cannot expect him to evacuate, leaving his 87-year-old mother on her own in the middle of war in Khartoum. The house is located close to the fighting at the airport. It is inhuman. This is not acceptable. My father will not leave his mother behind, he will not leave. UK fails to set up safe and legal route for refugees fleeing Sudan Sudanese refugees who arrive in the UK by small boat could face deportation to Rwanda, Suella Braverman has said. The home secretary said any Sudanese refugees who arrive on Britains shore via the English Channel will have come here illegally. There is no good reason for anybody to get into a small boat and cross the channel in search of a life in the UK, Ms Braverman said when asked what will happen to Sudanese asylum seekers arriving in the country. Her comments come after The Independent reported that Sudanese refugees face being criminalised and deported because there are no safe and legal routes for those fleeing the conflict. Earlier, the UN said a US-brokered ceasefire in Sudan appears to be partially holding. However, UN special envoy Volker Perthes told the Security Council there were no signs the warring parties were ready to negotiate. This suggested that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible, Mr Perthes said. This is a miscalculation. Key Points Second flight carrying Britons from Sudan lands in Cyprus No sign Sudan warring parties ready to negotiate, UN says Woman trapped near Sudan army base pleads for evacuation: Please save me and my son First evacuation flight leaves after Britons told to make their own way to airfield asap Exclusive: UK evacuation inhuman as Sudanese relatives excluded with no plans for asylum route WHO says 'high risk of biological hazard' after Sudan laboratory seized More than 300 Britons evacuated as first flights on way to UK 13:08 , Emily Atkinson More than 300 Britons have been evacuated from Sudan as the military races against time to bring people to safety before a ceasefire ends. Over four flights have departed Khartoum so far, a total that will rise to eight on Wednesday, Downing Street has said. Were calling everyone forward and we have no issue with capacity, and people are being processed smoothly, the prime ministers official spokesman said. Story continues By the end of today we should have eight flights (in total). The majority of the people on the planes are British nationals but some will be allies citizens, he said. Which countries are evacuating citizens from Sudan? 14:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar Hundreds of foreign nationals have been safely evacuated from Sudan where continued fighting threatens to plunge the African country deeper into chaos Which countries are evacuating citizens from Sudan? Sudan war in pictures - 26/04/2023 14:11 , Matt Mathers Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum (Rapid Support Forces (RSF)/AFP v) (Rapid Support Forces (RSF)/AFP v) (Rapid Support Forces (RSF)/AFP v) Government to hold another Cobra meeting on Sudan - No 10 14:00 , Matt Mathers The UK government will hold another emergency Cobra meeting to discuss the situation in Sudan, No 10 has said. Prime minister Rishi Sunaks official spokesman said the talks would be charied by Oliver Dowden, the deputy PM. Mr Dowden led a Cobra meeting on the crisis yesterday in which officials discussed plans to evacuate British citizens from the war-torn country. Oliver Dowden (right) at a meeting with former PM Boris Johnson (Downing Street) Bashir-era official wanted by ICC escapes jail after reports of prison break 13:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar Ahmed Haroun, a former Sudanese official who served under Omar al-Bashir and is wanted by the International Criminal Court, said that he and other former officials of Bashirs government had left Kober prison and would take responsibility for their own protection Mr Haroun also said they were ready to appear in front of the judiciary whenever it was functioning, in a statement aired on Sudans Tayba TV on Tuesday. The statement comes after reports that prisoners at Kober prison, which held Bashir and other top deputies, had staged a break earlier this week. It was not immediately clear if Bashir, who has spent extended periods in a military hospital, was at the prison. Fighting ramps up again following brief lull 13:36 , Matt Mathers Sudans capital resounded with gunfire and explosions on the western outskirts on Wednesday, eroding a truce amid collapsing basic services, dwindling food supplies and the opening of a prison that let out allies of a jailed former autocrat. With the conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) showing no sign of easing, the army said former president Omar al-Bashir had been transferred to a military hospital before hostilities started on 15 April. The renewed battles were in Omdurman, one of Khartoums twin cities, where the army was fighting reinforcements to the RSF brought in from other regions of Sudan, a Reuters reporter said. A projectile hit Al-Roumi medical centre in Omdurman on Tuesday and exploded inside, wounding 13 people, a hospital official said. The army has accused the RSF of using a three-day truce to reinforce itself with men and weapons. The truce was due to end on Thursday evening. (Rapid Support Forces (RSF)/AFP v) Woman trapped near Sudan army base pleads for evacuation: Please save me and my son 13:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar A Sudanese woman married to an Indian man has issued a desperate appeal to be evacuated having been left stranded along with her 21-month-old son by the fighting in the country. Please help me and my son, Baraah Abaker, 23, says as countries, including India, scramble to evacuate their citizens. Fighting began earlier this month between forces loyal to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudans army, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. Abaker was in her final year at Bahri University when her husband Abdul Haseeb left for India in October last year for work. He left their Indian passport-holding son with her. A veterinary doctor in her final year, Abaker was to take her exams before returning to her husband in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad. Desperate British nationals walk four hours to reach evacuation flights from Sudan 12:54 , Emily Atkinson A British national in Khartoum plans to walk for four hours from his location to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip, despite the threat of being shot and cashless, in the hope of boarding an evacuation flight to the UK. Tarig Babikir, 42, who used to live in Coventry, told the PA news agency: Im going to go through national army checkpoints and paramilitary checkpoints, and most likely Im going to encounter some armed gangs as well. Im carrying no cash as you can get robbed on the streets, and Im going to hide my cell phone. (PA) Mr Babikirs Ukrainian mother and Sudanese father both have expired UK visas, so he will have to leave them behind with other relatives. My dad is recovering from a stroke, but the best option right now is to leave and I will probably come back in a months time, he said. He added he has been told by the UK Government that two evacuation flights are due to leave Wadi Saeedna on Wednesday evening, and he would be staying with a friend in Kent upon arriving back in the UK, adding: Its complete anarchy right now, complete chaos. Anyone can rob you, anyone can shoot you. Child soldiers, death and despair: We must secure peace in Sudan 12:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar It is always much harder to enforce peace than it is to start a war, writes the chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Alicia Kearns: Opinion: Child soldiers, death and despair: We must secure peace in Sudan At least 240 Britons land in Cyprus in Sudan evacuation 12:36 , Matt Mathers Now to the latest update from Reuters on the ground: Britain ramped up an airlift of its citizens out of war-torn Sudan to Cyprus on Wednesday, racing to evacuate as many as possible in a 72-hour ceasefire window. Britain began the large-scale evacuation on Tuesday, following other nations in pulling people out of Sudan where clashes between the army and the RSF paramilitary group have killed at least 459 people since April 15. At least 240 Britons arrived from Sudan to Larnaca in Cyprus overnight to early Wednesday. Diplomats said that about 170 individuals who had arrived overnight to the east Mediterranean island had already been placed on a repatriation flight to the UK. Another 150 people were due on an early afternoon flight, diplomats said, and more flights were expected during the day. (PA) The British government has estimated that around 4,000 Britons were stuck in Sudan. The effort is for a smooth operation for people arriving, then leaving as soon as possible, said Theodoros Gotsis, a spokesperson for Cypruss Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The fighting between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has turned residential areas into battlefields and destroyed hospitals. Both parties agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire beginning on Tuesday after negotiations mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Flynn doubles down on questions over Sudanese refugees coming to UK 12:30 , Emily Atkinson Mr Sunak is continuing to bat away questions over Sudanese refugees. The SNP Westminster leader has asked the PM to outline a safe and legal route available to a child refugee seeking to flee Sudan to arrive in the UK. Stephen Flynn told the Commons: Can I ask the prime minister to outline the safe and legal route available to a child refugee seeking to flee Sudan and come to the United Kingdom? Rishi Sunak replied: As outlined earlier, our priority in Sudan, first and foremost, was to evacuate our diplomats and their families, which Im very pleased we were one of the first countries to be able to do. (PA) Since yesterday, we have been conducting a large-scale evacuation of British nationals. We have some of the largest numbers of British nationals on the ground and rightly - and I am sure the whole House will agree with me - that it is reasonable, legal, and fair to prioritise those most vulnerable families, particularly those with elderly people in them, medical conditions, but also children. Thats what we are in the process of doing and I pay tribute to all those who are making it possible. Sunak dodges questions of Sudanese refugees 12:26 , Emily Atkinson Rishi Sunak has defended the UKs migration system after the SNP Commons leader called for more humanity in the debate over small boats. Stephen Flynn was grilling the prime minister over whether a child refugee fleeing Sudan for the UK would be able to seek asylum under the governments rules. Mr Flynn hit out at the Conservative and Labour parties, as he accused Mr Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer of rac[ing] to the bottom. He asked the PM to confirm to the Commons that it would be his governments intention to detain and deport a child refugee who flees from Sudan and comes to the United Kingdom. Mr Sunak avoided the question and instead pointed to the governments work to evacuate diplomats and British nationals from Sudan. Starmer pays tribute to personnel involved in Sudan evacuation 12:19 , Emily Atkinson Speaking at Prime Ministers Questions, Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to personnel involved in the evacuation effort from Sudan, adding: The government must do everything in its power to urgently evacuate UK nationals still trapped in Sudan. Sudan will experience a humanitarian catastrophe, Africa minister says 12:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar Sudan will experience a humanitarian catastrophe, the Africa minister has said. Andrew Mitchell told the Foreign Affairs Committee that the position in terms of food and the lack of humanitarian relief workers will lead to such a crisis. He said most humanitarian workers are leaving and will not be able to come back until there is a ceasefire. This isnt an ideological battle, this is a battle between two generals for power. He added: Five of them have already been murdered. Mr Mitchell denied that the government should have seen the conflict in Sudan coming. This isnt an ideological battle, this is a battle between two generals for power, he said. There is no ideology involved in this, its raw power being fought over. One might have hoped that this would never happen given the appalling humanitarian jeopardy it has placed so many people in. Press Association Sunak promises to continue work to end bloodshed in Sudan 12:10 , Emily Atkinson Rishi Sunak has promised to continue to work to end the bloodshed in Sudan as the UK races against time to bring British nationals to safety. Addressing the Commons, the prime minister said: The UK will continue to work to end the bloodshed in Sudan and support a democratic government. (Parliament Live) We have begun a large-scale evacuation of British nationals and I pay tribute to all those carrying out this complex operation. Dodging bullets and paying thousands: How these British families escaped wartorn Sudan 12:01 , Matt Mathers Families watched as fighter jets roared overhead and bombs landed just a few kilometres from them as they were forced to hide, Bel Trew and Tara Cobham report. Read the full story here: Dodging bullets and paying thousands: How these families escaped wartorn Sudan Massachusetts mother and baby daughter escape Sudan after terrifying week sheltering from war 11:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar A Massachusetts mother and her 18-month-old daughter have safely crossed the border out of Sudan after spending a terrifying week stranded in the war-torn country. Trillian Clifford, a teacher at Khartoum International American School, and her daughter Alma were among thousands of American citizens trapped in Sudan as a violent civil war unfolds between the North African countrys two most powerful generals. Her family in Massachusetts announced on Tuesday that Ms Clifford, her daughter, and all American teachers employed by the school have been able to safely leave Sudan. Their whereabouts will not be shared for security reasons, but it will be several days before Ms Clifford and baby Alma reach American soil. The escape was organised by Ms Cliffords school and was also possible thanks to the help of Senator Elizabeth Warren and Governor Maura Healey, Ms Cliffords family said. While we are relieved that Trillian is finally making progress on her journey back home, we want to acknowledge there are millions of people still suffering through this conflict in Sudan and many foreign nationals still trying to evacuate, Ms Cliffords sister-in-law told The Independent in a statement. We extend our deepest concern for the innocent citizens of Sudan, including Trillians young students. Ms Winter said Ms Clifford had been in touch with her on Tuesday and wanted to thank the public for all the support she has received. Sudan evacuees flying back to UK 11:40 , Matt Mathers The first flight of evacuees from Sudan is on its way back to Britain as the military races against time to lift people to safety during a fragile ceasefire. RAF flights from near the capital of Khartoum were continuing throughout Wednesday after hundreds of UK nationals were brought to safety in Cyprus. A chartered jet was taking a first group back to London Stansted left Larnaca in the morning, with officials working to rescue more than 2,000 citizens who have registered in Sudan. File: RAF transport plane (REUTERS) No sign Sudan warring parties ready to negotiate, UN says 11:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar A US-brokered ceasefire in Sudan appears to be partially holding but there is no sign the warring parties are ready to seriously negotiate, the UN special envoy on Sudan said yesterday. This suggested that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible, envoy Volker Perthes told the UN Security Council. This is a miscalculation. Fighting broke out between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 15 April. Both parties agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire beginning on Tuesday after negotiations mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia. It seems to be holding in some parts so far. However, we also hear continuing reports of fighting and movement of troops, said Perthes, who spoke via video from Port Sudan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the violence and chaos in Sudan as heartbreaking. The power struggle puts Sudans future at risk and could cause suffering for years and set back development for decades, Mr Guterres said. The United Nations has moved hundreds of staff and family members to Port Sudan from Khartoum. The United Nations plans to establish a hub in Port Sudan to continue working in the country where, even before the violence broke out, nearly 16 million people - one-third of the population - were in need of humanitarian aid. Reuters Fighting eases slightly - residents 11:00 , Matt Mathers Sudanese people living in the capital Khartoum and the neighbouring city of Omdurman have reported sporadic clashes early on Wednesday between the military and a rival paramilitary force but said the intensity of fighting had dwindled on the second day of a three-day truce. Many residents of the capital emerged from their homes to seek food and water, lining up at bakeries or grocery shops, witnesses said. Some inspected stores or homes that had been destroyed or looted during the fighting. Others joined the tens of thousands who have been streaming out of the city in recent days."There is a sense of calm in my area and neighbourhoods," said Mahasen Ali, a tea vendor who lives in a southern neighbourhood of Khartoum. "But all are afraid of whats next." People flee the fighting (Reuters) Jailed strongman's whereabouts unknown amid Sudan chaos 10:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar An attack on the prison holding deposed Sudanese strongman Omar al-Bashir has raised questions about his whereabouts, with one of the warring sides saying he is being held in a secure location and the other alleging he has been released. Al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan for three decades despite wars and sanctions, was overthrown during a popular uprising in 2019. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide and other crimes committed during the conflict in Sudans western Darfur region in the 2000s. He and other former top officials accused of atrocities have been held in Kober prison in Khartoum for the last four years, as authorities have declined ICC requests that they be handed over. The Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which together had removed al-Bashir from power during mass protests, are now battling one another across the capital. The fighting reached the prison over the weekend, with conflicting reports about what transpired. Military officials told The Associated Press that al-Bashir, as well as Abdel-Rahim Muhammad Hussein and Ahmed Haroun who held senior security positions during the Darfur crisis had been moved to a military-run medical facility in Khartoum under tight security for their own safety. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter with the media. The army later accused the RSF of donning military uniforms and attacking the prison, saying they released inmates and looted the facility. The RSF, led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, denied the allegations and claimed that the military forcibly evacuated the facility as part of a plan to restore al-Bashir to power. Local media meanwhile aired a purported audio statement from Haroun in which he said that he and other former officials were left in the prison complex guarded by a small number of security forces, and were later allowed to walk free. He said they left the prison for their own safety because of the fighting and a lack of food or water. He did not mention al-Bashir or say where he and the other officials were. Associated Press Airlift continues as ministers defend response 10:25 , Matt Mathers Hundreds of Britons have been evacuated from Sudan as the military races against time to bring people to safety before a ceasefire ends. Flights began landing in Cyprus on Tuesday evening and continued through the night, with more planned on Wednesday. Home secretary Suella Braverman said on Wednesday morning that 200 to 300 people had been brought out so far. Sophie Wingate reports: Sudan airlift continues as ministers defend UK response to the crisis Sudan fighting eclipses new truce as aid groups raise alarm 10:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar Sudanese and foreigners streamed out of the capital of Khartoum and other battle zones, as fighting Tuesday shook a new three-day truce brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Aid agencies raised increasing alarm over the crumbling humanitarian situation in a country reliant on outside help. A series of short cease-fires the past week have either failed outright or brought only intermittent lulls in the fighting that has raged between forces loyal to the countrys two top generals since April 15. The lulls have been enough for dramatic evacuations of hundreds of foreigners by air and land, which continued Tuesday. But they have brought no relief to millions of Sudanese caught in the crossfire, struggling to find food, shelter and medical care as explosions, gunfire and looters wreck their neighbourhoods. In a country where a third of the population of 46 million already needed humanitarian assistance, multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations and dozens of hospitals have been forced to shut down. The UN refugee agency said it was gearing up for potentially tens of thousands of people fleeing into neighbouring countries. Calls for negotiations to end the crisis in Africas third-largest nation have been ignored. For many Sudanese, the departure of diplomats, aid workers and other foreigners and the closure of embassies are terrifying signs that international powers expect the mayhem to only worsen. Associated Press Ousted former president being held in military hospital under police custody - report 10:06 , Matt Mathers Sudans army on Wednesday said ousted former president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir is being held in a military hospital under police custody. Formerly jailed Bashir and around 30 others were moved to the hospital on the recommendation of medical staff in Kober prison before fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke out, the statement said. Police said the raid on Kober led to the killing and injury of several prison officials, adding that the RSF released all who were held there. The prison break-ins took place between April 21-24, the ministry said. Sudan's former president Omar Hassan al-Bashir smiles as he is seen inside a cage at the courthouse where he is facing corruption charges, in Khartoum (REUTERS) UK troops to take over Sudan airfield as evacuation flights gather pace 09:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar The first evacuation flights carrying British nationals have taken off from Sudan as UK troops prepare to take over the running of the airfield. Three planes were due to have left conflict-torn Khartoum for Cyprus by Wednesday morning, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledging many more would follow as he warned of a critical 24 hours. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the UK would take charge of the Wadi Saeedna airstrip near the capital from German forces, after Berlin said its final evacuation flight would leave on Tuesday night. He said 120 British troops have already been supporting the operation there. Around 260 people were expected to be flown out overnight on three flights, the first landing on Tuesday evening at Larnaca airport on Tuesday evening with around 40 people on board. British nationals have been told to make their own way to the site with some fearing they will not make it due to a petrol shortage. Scottish Government expresses deep concern over Sudan conflict 09:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar Scotlands External Affairs Secretary has written to the Foreign Secretary to express the Scottish Governments deep concern over the current conflict in Sudan. Angus Robertson said a number of Scots and family members have been in touch with the Scottish Government and he thanked all those in the armed forces and UK Government currently working on evacuation efforts. He urged the UK Government to do everything possible to work with international partners to address the humanitarian situation and to offer protection for those fleeing the violence. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that many more flights carrying British nationals will leave Sudan into Wednesday, after the first plane took off from the conflict-torn nation on Tuesday. The Prime Minister said over a thousand UK citizens in Sudan have been contacted about evacuation plans, with officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) having spoken to hundreds directly already. How is the UK evacuating people from Sudan? 08:55 , Matt Mathers The first British nationals were evacuated from conflict-torn Sudan on Tuesday. A 72-hour ceasefire between warring factions has provided a window for foreign nationals to escape a dangerous, volatile and unpredictable situation, according to the prime minister Rishi Sunak. Several previous ceasefires declared since 15 April outbreak of fighting were not observed, the Associated Press reports. Here is a look at what we know about the evacuation plans, so far. Jacob Phillips reports: How is the UK evacuating people from Sudan? A British doctor was shot saving his family in Sudan. Now, hes trapped and supplies are dwindling 08:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar A British doctor trapped in Sudan has been shot in the leg as he risked his life to rescue his elderly mother, his daughter has revealed. The doctor, who retired recently after working in the NHS for over 30 years, was visiting his family in Khartoum for Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr when fierce clashes between the countrys two top generals erupted in the city on 15 April. His daughter and mother, who requires constant care, had been without water and electricity for five days at his brothers house close to the airport when he felt he had to move them to a safer place. Speaking to The Independent, his daughter a British doctor based in London told how her father drove to the house at dusk last Thursday through the streets of the capital, past bodies strewn across the roads. Calling herself Dr A to protect family in Sudan, she said: They started shooting at the car first. My father kept going, but then he stopped because the shooting was coming from all directions. Tara Cobham reports: British doctor shot in leg as he rescued mother and daughter in Sudan Suella Braverman says Sudanese refugees who come to UK on small boats will face deportation 08:39 , Matt Mathers Sudanese refugees who arrive in the UK on small boats will have come here illegally and face deportation, Suella Braverman has confirmed. The Home Secretary said those fleeing the conflict in Sudan would be detained and could be removed to Rwanda under the governments Illegal Migration Bill. There is no good reason for anybody to get into a small boat and cross the channel in search of a life in the UK, Ms Braverman said when asked what will happen to Sudanese asylum seekers arriving in the country. Archie Mitchell reports: Braverman says Sudanese refugees who come to UK on small boats will face deportation UK has evacuated up to 300 people from Sudan - Braverman 08:35 , Matt Mathers Home secretary Suella Braverman said 200 to 300 people had been evacuated from Sudan so far as part of the airlift. She told Sky News: We commenced an evacuation mission in the last 24-48 hours and we expect there to be approximately 200 to 300 people who have been relocated from Sudan in the last few flights. We are now commencing an extensive operation, working with over 1,000 personnel from the RAF and the armed forces. She defended the UKs response, saying the government had to cope with a larger cohort of British nationals in Sudan compared to many other countries. UK troops to take over Sudan airfield as evacuation flights gather pace 08:30 , Matt Mathers The first evacuation flights carrying British nationals have taken off from Sudan as UK troops prepare to take over the running of the airfield. Two Royal Air Force planes have landed at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus as of 6.30am on Wednesday, with the first charter flight back to London set to depart later in the day. Families with young children were among those on the first flights that landed in Cyprus with a British man telling the BBC that his sister, who left Sudan overnight, felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Three planes were due to have left conflict-torn Khartoum for Cyprus by Wednesday morning, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledging many more would follow as he warned of a critical 24 hours. Defence secretary Ben Wallace said the UK would take charge of the Wadi Saeedna airstrip near the capital from German forces, after Berlin said its final evacuation flight would leave on Tuesday night. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace giving evidence to the Defence Select Committee at the House of Commons (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) (PA Wire) Not inevitable Sudanese people will arrive in UK on small boats - Braverman 08:16 , Matt Mathers There is no good reason for anybody to cross the Channel in search of a new life in the UK, home secretary Suella Braverman has said as she faced questions on the Sudan crisis. Speaking to Sky News, Ms Braverman also said it was not inevitable that Sudanese people would try to flee to Britain as their country collapses amid an ongoing conflict. Nearly 4,000 Sudanese have arrived in the UK by small boat since 2018, according to official figures. Further comments from the home secretary below: "There is no good reason for anybody to get into a small boat to cross the Channel in search of a new life in the UK."@SuellaBraverman is asked what will happen if people fleeing the war in Sudan attempt to cross the Channel. More: https://t.co/oLwydfQf16 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/4kMNAXM8yk Sky News (@SkyNews) April 26, 2023 Terrified pregnant British woman stranded in war-torn Sudan could give birth at any moment 08:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar A terrified pregnant British woman stranded in war-torn Sudan with her family fears she could give birth at any moment as they battle to flee the country. The womans older sister Saryah Elwasila, 29, said the family of five, who were in the country visiting family for Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr when fierce clashes erupted, had been forced to flee Khartoum to the city of Wad Madani in the neighbouring state of Gezira, without food, power, fuel, very little water and money. There is also no functioning hospital nearby if the woman goes into labour after many were bombed and doctors fled. The family has been robbed twice by looters who are raiding abandoned areas, leaving them with only their passports, a small amount of money and the clothes they were wearing. The British government announced on Tuesday morning that it would begin evacuation flights for UK nationals from Sudan following an agreed 72-hour ceasefire but Elwasila said her family had heard nothing from British authorities. Without fuel, they fear they have now lost their last slim chance of escape. Which countries are evacuating citizens from Sudan? 07:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar Hundreds of foreign nationals have been safely evacuated from Sudan where continued fighting threatens to plunge the African country deeper into chaos Which countries are evacuating citizens from Sudan? Very limited contact from Foreign Office 07:24 , Matt Mathers The son of a British citizen trying to escape Sudan has said his family have had "very limited" contact from the Home Office. Saleh El-Khalifa, whose mother is attempting to flee Sudan with her elderly father, said the Home Office advice to stay indoors had not been a "viable option". His mother was forced to make a journey to Port Sudan with her 86-year-old father, who suffers from a terminal illness, and is trying to cross the border into Saudi Arabia, he said. Mr Khalifa told BBC Breakfast the journey was "beyond challenging" and that information from the Home Office had been "very limited", adding: "It could be points that Im not able to speak to her for a day or two. "The first few days me and my sister tried to contact (the Home Office). The advice was the same, to stay in doors and not move. That wasnt a viable option as there was no guarantee of their safety by staying in one location. "That is why the majority of people have had to move to ensure their own life and safety, which is a situation no-one should have to be put in. "It is at the point now where my mum might be trying to get into Saudi Arabia as she believes it would be a safer route back to the UK as opposed to being told at the last moment where these flights are taking off. "We heard about one of the first flights yesterday that it was only on the ground for less than half an hour and the location was being shared very minimally. "Even if my mum had been told of the right time, the timeframe she would have had to get there would have been almost impossible." Bashir-era official wanted by ICC escapes jail after reports of prison break 07:15 , Andy Gregory Ahmed Haroun, a former Sudanese official who served under Omar al-Bashir and is wanted by the International Criminal Court, said that he and other former officials of Bashirs government had left Kober prison and would take responsibility for their own protection Mr Haroun also said they were ready to appear in front of the judiciary whenever it was functioning, in a statement aired on Sudans Tayba TV on Tuesday. The statement comes after reports that prisoners at Kober prison, which held Bashir and other top deputies, had staged a break earlier this week. It was not immediately clear if Bashir, who has spent extended periods in a military hospital, was at the prison. Second flight carrying Britons from Sudan lands in Cyprus 06:54 , Maroosha Muzaffar The second flight carrying British nationals from Sudan landed in Cyprus this morning, reports said. Trapped British nationals were told to make their own way to an airstrip near the Sudanese capital Khartoum, where an RAF military plane picked them up and flew them to Larnarca International Airport. Three planes were due to have left conflict-torn Khartoum for Cyprus by this morning, with prime minister Rishi Sunak pledging many more would follow as he warned of a critical 24 hours. Sudanese refugees face deportation from UK as government fails to set up safe and legal routes 06:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar Sudanese refugees face being criminalised and deported from the UK because there are no safe and legal routes for most people fleeing the conflict. The British government is not planning to set up a bespoke scheme for the country like those used for Ukraine and Afghanistan, The Independent understands and is only evacuating British citizens and embassy staff. Almost 4,000 Sudanese small-boat migrants have crossed the English Channel since 2020, and they are already the eighth-highest nationality using the route. When questioned at an event in central London on Tuesday, immigration minister Robert Jenrick suggested he expected a rise in Sudanese small boat crossings, saying it was likely that, in time, there will be migratory effects of the crisis. Mr Jenrick insisted that the government did have safe and legal routes, more broadly, but maintained its position that those in peril should seek sanctuary in the first safe country they reach. More from Lizzie Dearden,Bel Trew: UK fails to set up safe and legal route for refugees fleeing Sudan It was right to evacuate diplomats first, says Sunak 06:15 , Andy Gregory Rishi Sunak has defended the UKs decision to evacuate British diplomats before helping ordinary citizens leave Sudan. Asked on Tuesday about accusations that the government is not doing enough to help citizens Khartoum, the PM said: Im pleased that we were actually one of the first countries to safely evacuate our diplomats and our families. And it was right that we prioritised them because they were being targeted. The security situation on the ground in Sudan is complicated, it is volatile and we wanted to make sure we could put in place processes that are going to work for people, that are going to be safe and effective. Turks evacuated from Sudan arrive in Istanbul 06:06 , Maroosha Muzaffar The first Turkish civilians evacuated from Sudan returned to Turkey on Wednesday, with more than 100 people arriving by plane at Istanbul Airport, Reuters footage showed. The Turks came from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, where they had arrived overland from the Sudanese capital Khartoum. Several more flights were expected later on Wednesday to evacuate the remaining Turkish citizens crossing to Ethiopia from Sudan. Fighting flared anew in Sudan late on Tuesday despite a ceasefire declaration by the warring factions as more people fled Khartoum and former officials, including one facing international war crimes charges, left prison. Turkeys President Tayyip Erdogan has called on both sides in Sudan to end the conflict and return to negotiations. Reuters Woman trapped near Sudan army base pleads for evacuation: Please save me and my son 05:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar A Sudanese woman married to an Indian man has issued a desperate appeal to be evacuated having been left stranded along with her 21-month-old son by the fighting in the country. Please help me and my son, Baraah Abaker, 23, says as countries, including India, scramble to evacuate their citizens. Fighting began earlier this month between forces loyal to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudans army, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. Abaker was in her final year at Bahri University when her husband Abdul Haseeb left for India in October last year for work. He left their Indian passport-holding son with her. A veterinary doctor in her final year, Abaker was to take her exams before returning to her husband in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad. More by Namita Singh here: Woman trapped in Sudan pleads for evacuation: Please save me and my son Rishi Sunak pledges many more Sudan evacuation flights as he warns next 24 hour is critical 05:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar Rishi Sunak has pledged many more evacuation flights in what will be a critical 24 hours as ministers scramble to rescue Britons from war-torn Sudan. The prime minister said more than 1,000 people had been contacted, of an estimated 4,000 in the country, and many were making their way to an airfield outside Khartoum. But the government was forced to defend the timing and handling of the evacuation effort amid claims it had taken its eye off the ball. Ministers denied Britons should have been evacuated earlier after Germany announced it would complete its operation overnight. It came as Alicia Kearns, chair of the foreign affairs select committee, urged the government to commit as many resources as quickly as possible to the rescue because there is a very real danger fighting will return. No sign Sudan warring parties ready to negotiate, UN says 04:44 , Maroosha Muzaffar A US-brokered ceasefire in Sudan appears to be partially holding but there is no sign the warring parties are ready to seriously negotiate, the UN special envoy on Sudan said yesterday. This suggested that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible, envoy Volker Perthes told the UN Security Council. This is a miscalculation. Fighting broke out between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 15 April. Both parties agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire beginning on Tuesday after negotiations mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia. It seems to be holding in some parts so far. However, we also hear continuing reports of fighting and movement of troops, said Perthes, who spoke via video from Port Sudan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the violence and chaos in Sudan as heartbreaking. The power struggle puts Sudans future at risk and could cause suffering for years and set back development for decades, Mr Guterres said. The United Nations has moved hundreds of staff and family members to Port Sudan from Khartoum. The United Nations plans to establish a hub in Port Sudan to continue working in the country where, even before the violence broke out, nearly 16 million people - one-third of the population - were in need of humanitarian aid. Reuters Britons experiencing fuel shortages must still make own way to airport, says minister 04:42 , Andy Gregory British citizens in Sudan who are experiencing fuel shortages must still make their own way to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip in Khartoum to be evacuated, the UKs Africa minister Andrew Mitchell has said. Travel within Sudan is conducted at British nationals own risk and plans may change depending on the security situation, he told MPs, adding that he has enormous sympathy for British citizens facing travel difficulties within Sudan. People who have registered with the Foreign Office should receive contact from the department at least once a day, he said, in what appeared to be a reference to automated messages. Mr Mitchell added: The atmospherics in Khartoum hinder that sort of communication. Yesterday there was 2 per cent internet that does make communicating extremely difficult but in principle that has been what we have tried to achieve. The system is working but it is spasmodic. ICYMI: Dodging bullets and paying thousands: How these British families escaped war torn Sudan 04:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar Families watched as fighter jets roared overhead and bombs landed just a few kilometres from them as they were forced to hide, Bel Trew and Tara Cobham report: Dodging bullets and paying thousands: How these families escaped wartorn Sudan Sudan conflict explained: Whats happening in Khartoum? 04:04 , Maroosha Muzaffar Fighting has erupted in Sudans capital city Khartoum and other sites across the country this month as powerful rival military factions battle for control of the African nation and its future. So far, over 420 people, including 264 civilians, have been killed in the conflict and over 3,700 wounded. The sudden slide into violence between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group called Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has stranded thousands of foreigners, including diplomats and aid workers in the country, with the UK, US, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states among those closing their embassies and working to evacuate their nationals. Read the full story here: What is happening in Sudan? The conflict crisis explained Washington is talking to leaders on both sides of conflict, says White House 03:31 , Andy Gregory United States president Joe Bidens national security team is continuing to talk to military leaders from both sides of the Sudan conflict to support a durable end to the conflict, the White House has said. The US is working with partners and Sudanese civilian groups to work toward a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian arrangements, spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday. Battle in Sudan's capital risks awakening war in Darfur 01:20 , Reuters Darfur inhabitants fear battles between Sudans rival military leaders could reawaken war in the vast and largely desert region already scarred by a two-decade-old conflict. The Darfur conflict originated around 2003-2004, pitting rebels against government forces backed by horse-riding militia known as Janjaweed in violence that killed some 300,000 people and uprooted millions from their homes. Despite repeated peace deals, the conflict has simmered ever since, with violence rising in the past two years. Now the conflict which began in Khartoum between Sudans army and RSF paramilitary, who had been ruling together during a political transition, has quickly spread to Darfur. Residents and sources have reported pillaging, ethnic reprisal attacks, and clashes between the two military factions in various population centres around the farming and nomadic region that is roughly the size of France. Local mediation has helped cool the strife in the main cities of Nyala and al-Fashir, but shelling and looting have continued in the town of Genena, leaving Darfuris fearing another major explosion of warfare. If this continues, if we get the killing of military commanders that are a part of influential tribes, then itll be anarchy. There will be tribal mobilisation, said Ahmed Gouja, a journalist and rights activist in Nyala. For Sudans warring leaders, Darfur is as familiar as it is strategically important. Army chief Abdel-Fattah Burhan rose through the army ranks while fighting in Darfur. RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo got his start as a leader of one of the militias which did much of the government sides fighting during the Darfur conflict, inflicting an outsize proportion of the violence. As the army now tries to push his RSF fighters from positions across Khartoum, the group could fall back on its roots in Darfur to try to regroup and raise reinforcements. UK to assume control of airfield from Germany, says Ben Wallace Wednesday 26 April 2023 00:13 , Andy Gregory The UK will take over from German forces running the Wadi Saeedna airfield on Wednesday, defence secretary Ben Wallace has said. The Germans are leaving tomorrow, and we will take over the facilitation at the airfield, he told LBC. And the reason the Germans are leaving is people have stopped coming in large numbers. Only one nation can facilitate the airfield at a time, Mr Wallace said, adding: If the Spanish or the Italians or anyone else wants to fly, well be the ones giving permissions effectively. The minister also said that 99 per cent of the British nationals who have registered with the Foreign Office did so in Khartoum. Hundreds of British nationals expected to be evacuated overnight Tuesday 25 April 2023 23:01 , Andy Gregory Some 260 people in total are expected to be evacuated on three British flights tonight, with the first plane to land in Cyprus having carried 39 people, according to the BBC. The Independent understands the overnight figure to be in line with official estimates. UK can take who turns up at evacuation area, says Wallace Tuesday 25 April 2023 22:07 , Andy Gregory The British military is ready to take who turns up at the evacuation area in Sudan and the situation is not like Kabul, defence secretary Ben Wallace has said. We have got two plane loads that will go out tonight. We can take really who turns up at the moment, he told Channel 4 News earlier. What weve learned from both seeing the German and the French evacuation is, this is first of all, not like Kabul, not thousands at the gate and people are making their way, theyre being processed. We have a Border Force and Foreign Office team on the ground, and then were loading them up. I think there is some risk that some of the planes are not full. Weve seen that in the German planes and theyve then resorted, understandably, to take some other fellow foreign personnel there if theres room. Mr Wallace added: As Im giving this interview right now one of the planes is loading, and therell be another one tonight and then therell be a number of planes tomorrow as well. UK government could not have predicted battle for raw power in Sudan, minister insists Tuesday 25 April 2023 21:15 , Andy Gregory The UKs minister for Africa has denied that the government should have seen the conflict in Sudan coming. This isnt an ideological battle, this is a battle between two generals for power, Andrew Mitchell told MPs on the Commons foreign affairs committee. There is no ideology involved in this, its raw power being fought over. One might have hoped that this would never happen given the appalling humanitarian jeopardy it has placed so many people in. The minister added: We would not have expected that these two generals would have slugged it out in this way on a totally non-ideological issue, let alone deploy heavy weapons in built-up areas. Questioned on next steps, Mr Mitchell went on: What is urgently required is a ceasefire, for the combatants to lay down their arms and return to barracks and for the political process, which was moving forward significantly before the second week of April, for that to reassert itself. Andrew Mitchell told MPs there was no ideology involved in the Sudan conflict (PA) Sudan will experience a humanitarian catastrophe, MPs told Tuesday 25 April 2023 21:08 , Andy Gregory Sudan will experience a humanitarian catastrophe, the UKs minister for Africa has said. Andrew Mitchell told the Foreign Affairs Committee that the lack of food supplies and humanitarian relief workers will lead to such a crisis, with most humanitarian staff living with little prospect of returning without a ceasefire. Five of them have already been murdered, he said. First UK evacuation flight lands in Cyprus, carrying 39 people Tuesday 25 April 2023 20:23 , Andy Gregory The first flight evacuating UK civilians from Sudan has landed at Larnaca airport in Cyprus, with 39 people on board, the BBC has reported, citing British officials. Around 260 people in total are expected to be flown out of the war-torn nation overnight on three separate flights, according to the broadcaster. UK evacuees should ideally be pre-cleared when they reach airfield, says minister Tuesday 25 April 2023 20:05 , Andy Gregory The UKs Africa minister Andrew Mitchell has told MPs that people seeking evacuation from Sudan should ideally be pre-cleared before they arrive at the airstrip having been in touch with the Foreign Office. Otherwise we are expecting them to have a British passport and so far Im not aware of any problems in that process, he said. Those stuck in Sudan have been grappling with internet outages and several have criticised a lack of personal contact from the embassy and Foreign Office prior to today, prompting some to seek to escape the country themselves. Dr Lina Badr, 42, an NHS gynaecologist who has hired a $20,000 bus along with several fellow Britons in a bid for the Egyptian border, told The Independent of the frantic nature of their departure, having at one point been forced to escape heavy gunfire, saying: Some of us were not able to bring passports, some have passports which are expired. British grandfather, 85, stuck in Sudan without food or water despite living next to embassy Tuesday 25 April 2023 19:32 , Andy Gregory Azhar Sholgami, a researcher at Cornell University in the US has told The Independent that her British grandfather, aged 85, has been left trapped on the frontline without water or food despite living directly opposite the British Embassy. The RSF raided and looted his home, they took water and food they had. There is no electricity or phone connection so we have no contact with him, she said of her grandfather, Abdalla Sholgami, a retired businessman. We have called different people in the embassy to help for the last eight or nine days, said Ms Sholgami, adding: My grandfather always said he is happy to live next to the British Embassy because if anythinggoes wrong they are just next door. Its super disappointing. The least they could have done is knock on the door and given him a single bottle of water when they left but they didnt even do that, she said. German minister appears to make dig at UK evacuation of embassy staff Tuesday 25 April 2023 18:58 , Andy Gregory Germanys foreign minister appeared to take a dig at the UK governments decision to first evacuate embassy staff as she announced that Berlins final evacuation flight would depart Khartoum this evening, with German citizens still stranded in Sudan to be evacuated by other nations. Annalena Baerbock told reporters: It was important to us that, unlike in other countries, an evacuation not only applies to our embassy staff but to all local Germans and our partners. Almost 500 people from 30 countries were flown out of Khartoum thanks to our support that is a huge achievement. The fact that our citizens abroad can also rely on not being left to their own devices in an emergency is not a bureaucratic matter of course. It is the result of courage, teamwork and tireless dedication on the part of many hundreds of people involved in the German armed forces, the federal police and the Foreign Office. Praising three officials who flew to Khartoum to help the evacuation for their impressive willingness to enter such a crisis situation voluntarily as civilians, she added that Berlin was continuing to work on ways to rescue remaining citizens there, be it with flights from partners, by land or by sea. Dodging bullets and paying thousands: How these British families escaped war-torn Sudan Tuesday 25 April 2023 18:27 , Andy Gregory British families fleeing Sudan have told The Indepenent of dodging heavy gunfire and bombing in their bids to escape the war-torn country after the Foreign Office failed to secure safe routes out. Many have spent thousands to escape the country themselves, having given up on the Foreign Office after days without any communication bar automatic emails telling them to shelter in place. I completely lost hope in the system. Until this morning, I have not received anything about a solid evacuation plan. Just advice to stay indoors and call for any psychological support, said NHS gynaecologist and Dr Lina Bahr, from the Egyptian border, where she hoped to cross to safety. With no connection we had to make a decision. We took the risk, said the mother of three, who hired a bus with other Britons for $20,000 in order to escape after stray bullets ripped through her familys living room, food and supplies ran out and her two-year-old became sick. While more than 2,000 people have registered themselves with the Foreign Office for help, Dr Bahrs husband Ousama Suliman, also an NHS doctor, said: Everyone I know has pretty much made the journey by road to Egypt. Most of the people who have registered with Foreign Office are not going to be there to evacuate. When the hotline numbers dont work, when you cant get through to anyone and then you hear the diplomats, the embassy has been evacuated, you panic. Our international correspondent Bel Trew and reporter Tara Cobham have the full report: Dodging bullets and paying thousands: How these families escaped war-torn Sudan The first flight carrying British nationals escaping conflict-hit Sudan has landed in the UK. The flight from Larnaca Airport in Cyprus, where those fleeing were first brought, arrived at Stansted Airport at about 14:25 BST on Wednesday. British troops are attempting to get UK nationals out of the east African country during a 72-hour ceasefire. A total of eight evacuation flights are expected to leave Khartoum by the end of Wednesday. Documentation checks on those on board were carried out in Cyprus, before the onward journey to the UK. The first onward flight to the UK is carrying about 250 people. The prime minister's official spokesman said the "majority" of those on board the rescue flights were British nationals, but also included some allies' citizens. "We're calling everyone forward and we have no issue with capacity, and people are being processed smoothly," he said, adding those travelling to the airport were not having significant issues. Trapped British nationals had been told to make their own way to an airstrip near the Sudanese capital Khartoum, once it was clear the ceasefire that began at midnight local time (22:00 GMT) on Monday was holding. More than 2,000 British citizens have registered in Sudan with the Foreign Office. An RAF military plane is being used to pick up British passport holders from the airstrip and fly them to Larnaca Airport. The RAF plane then refuels, before returning to Sudan to pick up the next batch waiting at the airstrip. The Foreign Office said its aim was for evacuees to be in Cyprus for less than 48 hours before taking up the option of flying to the UK. But the BBC has since learned the airstrip being used for evacuations from Sudan is beginning to break up. This is due to the sheer number of aircraft taking off and landing damaging the surface, according to a well-placed source. Story continues There are concerns about how long the airstrip can continue to be used safely for evacuations over the next couple of days. If not, people might then have to take the potential alternative route to Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast for a possible seaborne evacuation. Government sources said they were aware of the issue with the runway and were confident it would not be a limiting factor in the flights. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the House of Commons on Wednesday the UK "will continue to work to end the bloodshed in Sudan and support a democratic government"."We have begun a large-scale evacuation of British nationals and I pay tribute to all those carrying out this complex operation," he said. Among the first group of evacuees to arrive in Cyprus were families with young children, some of them newborns, who were greeted by the Cypriot Red Cross which provided food and toiletries. Speaking to the BBC at Larnaca Airport, passengers said they were delighted to be going home, but reaching the flight had been difficult because of limited UK government help. One man said he had to take a bus with his young family and had never been so scared. Yahya Yahya told the BBC it was "a very difficult time" and he was "thankful that we've finally made it to a safe place". A British man whose sister managed to be evacuated overnight told the BBC she felt an overwhelming sense of relief to have escaped. He said at one point she and 13 others had only four dates and one egg left to share between them because it was not safe for them to go out to look for food. UK nationals arrived in Cyprus on Wednesday morning on their way back to the UK It is not clear why more British passport holders have not been on the flights so far, but some appear reluctant to leave relatives without UK visas behind. On BBC Breakfast on Wednesday, Swansea-based Saleh El-Khalifa said his mother, who is a British citizen, aunt and elderly grandfather had made their way to Port Sudan, and contact from the Foreign Office had been "minimal". He said the "timeframe" to reach the evacuation flight "would have made it almost impossible" for his mother to make it, and she was instead trying to reach Saudi Arabia and travel to the UK from there. Around 120 British troops are supporting the evacuation at the Wadi Saeedna airstrip. Downing Street said the British military will defend the airfield in Sudan but clarified efforts would be made to avoid "active engagement" with other forces. Clashes between the Sudanese army and paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began on 15 April. Hundreds of people have since died and thousands have been injured in the conflict. Airlifting large numbers of people out of Sudan has been complicated by major airports becoming battlegrounds, and movement out of the capital has been perilous. Young children were among the British nationals to arrive at Larnaca International Airport The government is also considering a seaborne evacuation from Port Sudan, some 500 miles from the capital. HMS Lancaster and RFA Cardigan Bay have been sent to the region. Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, are being prioritised for the flights. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible for the evacuation flights. On Tuesday evening, Mr Sunak visited the Foreign Office's crisis centre in London, which is overseeing the evacuation efforts. He told staff that "the next 24 hours are absolutely critical". Speaking to the media, he added: "The security situation on the ground in Sudan is complicated, it is volatile and we wanted to make sure we could put in place processes that are going to work for people, that are going to be safe and effective." Banner saying 'Get in touch' Are you a British national who has been evacuated from Sudan? Are you still inside the country? If it is safe to do so, share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. Watch on iPlayer banner DUBAI (Reuters) - Sudan's army on Wednesday said ousted former president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir is being held in a military hospital under police custody. Formerly jailed Bashir and around 30 others were moved to the hospital on the recommendation of medical staff in Kober prison before fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke out, the statement said. (Reporting by Tala Ramadan; Writing by Nadine Awadalla; editing by John Stonestreet) KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan's toppled leader Omar al-Bashir had been moved from Kober prison to a military hospital in the Sudanese capital before heavy fighting broke out there on April 15, two sources at the hospital said. The whereabouts of Bashir came into question after a former minister in his government, Ali Haroun, announced on Tuesday he had left the prison with other ex-officials. Both Bashir and Haroun are wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged atrocities in Darfur. (Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; Writing by Aidan Lewis) Sudan flag and citizens. Illustrated | Gettyimages U.S. special forces evacuated the staff of America's embassy in Sudan over the weekend. Thousands of U.S. citizens, including aid workers and Sudanese Americans, remained trapped in the northeast African nation as rival armed factions fight for control of the resource-rich country. The two warring sides agreed to a 72-hour cease-fire this week to allow time for more foreigners and civilians to flee. Mortar shells have hit homes. Armed groups have looted houses and businesses, leaving civilians to choose between sheltering in their homes without food, or going out in search of provisions and risking getting caught in the crossfire. About 400 civilians have been killed since the shooting began. "The fire is getting stronger. We can't stay here," a Khartoum-based science teacher told The Washington Post. "If you do not die from the bombs, you will die of hunger. There is nothing in the markets to eat." The fighting broke out between army forces controlled by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the country's de facto leader, and Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that evolved from the Janjaweed militia that committed atrocities in Darfurr, as pressure mounted for transferring control of the country from the military to civilian leaders. The United States and other countries urged the generals to make peace and put the transition to democracy back on track. Is there any hope for democracy now? The generals' willingness to unleash "full-scale military warfare" on Khartoum illustrates "just how far the military will go to cling to power," said The Daily Maverick (South Africa) in an editorial. Burhan and his rival, known as Hemedti, signed the political Framework Agreement, along with pro-democracy elements led by the mainstream Forces of Freedom and Change, in Dec. 2022, committing to helping put the transition to democratic, civilian rule "back on track." Now that the two generals have shown they are willing "to plunge their country into all-out warfare, regardless of civilian casualties," to control "the spoils," it seems unlikely "either would really submit to civilian rule." Story continues "The popular wave of protests that ousted long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019 feels like a very long time ago indeed," said Ella Joyner at DW.com. Back then, these rival generals were on the same side as the masses, working "together to help topple al-Bashir in 2019." First they turned on the people, and the democratic transition, in 2021 when they teamed up "to oust the fledgling civilian government, before ultimately turning on one another earlier this year." Sudan's neighbors and faraway powers like the U.S. won't be able to focus on "how to stop the bloodshed from escalating into civil war," much less how to put Sudan back on the path to democracy. For now, their priority is evacuating civilians and foreign aid workers before the fighting gets worse. Neither general deserves to win Burhan and Hemedti, longtime rivals, only "managed to bury their differences long enough to work together in a power-sharing deal to thwart any move toward civilian rule," said The Washington Post in an editorial. Now they are in a fight to the finish because both want to rule the country alone. "Both leaders need to check their egos, order their forces to stand down and observe an immediate cease-fire. Their casual disregard for civilians' lives, as well as their obvious disdain for the Sudanese people's clearly expressed democratic aspirations, shows that neither of them is fit to govern." The generals aren't the only ones to blame, said Jacqueline Burns, a former adviser to the U.S. special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, in The New York Times. When the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement failed to end two decades of conflict, the international community fell into "a familiar pattern of never-ending peace negotiations" that pushed "armed belligerents" into "concessions that might lead to an end to the violence," but peace deals "that split power between armed groups no matter how many provisions on political reforms are added rarely leads to sustainable peace." All this does is legitimize them and make them the only "voices that need to be heard, while asking Sudanese citizens to quietly wait their turn." You may also like A complete timeline of George R.R. Martin's progress on The Winds of Winter Why Tucker Carlson was fired from Fox News Tucker Carlson was offered a new job on Russian state TV Salaam Remi is your favorite producers favorite producer. Name a genre and he has a classic. Hip-hop? Made You Look. R&B? Bust Your Windows. Dancehall? Here Comes the Hotstepper. Not to mention his work as a producer for Amy Winehouses seminal work Back to Black. But as talented as he is behind the boards, his recent foray into the world of visual arts might be his most fascinating pivot. A lot of artists didnt really have any resources to make a lot of money from what they were doing, the Grammy Award-winning producer said. So me being the person I am, if I can plant a tree thats fruit not only for me but for a whole set of people, thats the way Im going to do it. The MuseZeuM is that manifestation. A gallery without the old gallery ways, the MuseZeuM combines Remis love of music with his passion for visual art, crafting paintings of legends including Marvin Gaye, Celia Cruz and Slick Rick that double as speakers, also known as an Artboxxx. The MuseZeum will also host a monthly concert series featuring acts that normally wouldnt pull up to Miami like Rakim and Big Daddy Kane. Grammy Award-winning producer Salaam Remi is photographed at his Wynwood art gallery, MuseZeum, on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Miami, Fla. A Miami resident since 2001, Remi always had a passion for creativity. Art Basel, in a sense, was his playground: a time that combines all forms of art for a week in December. It took the pandemic, however, for him to start his own journey as a visual artist. Beginning in 2020, Remi abandoned the recording studio as he attended what he called YouTube University, teaching himself how to spray paint. In doing so, Remi realized an important piece about creativity. For me, part of the creation process is bigging up the people that you think are great and putting them in position for everyone to love them as well, Remi said. Getting a space to display all of his creations was the next logical step and in December 2022, he opened the doors of the MuseZeuM. Located on the edge of Wynwood, the outside of the MuseZeuM is adorned in graffiti dedicated to some of Remis favorite artists like DAngelo, Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley. Walk inside the gallery and youre immediately greeted by a carefully curated playlist as well as the faces of some of the greatest artists Gaye, Marley, Amy Winehouse, Celia Cruz all created by Remi himself. And while only the Winehouse portrait, which features the songstress blowing a pink bubble, doesnt contain a musical component, the others are outfitted with speakers specifically tuned to the artists genre of music. Story continues Grammy Award-winning producer Salaam Remi is photographed at his Wynwood art gallery, MuseZeum. What makes Remis endeavor unique, however, is that everyone from the photographer who took the source image to the subject gets a cut of the sale. Take the portrait of Gaye, for example. The piece costs $40,000 and when it sells, the Gaye estate receives 40 percent while the remaining 60 percent is divided among the photographers, illustrators, engineers, craftsmen, according to Remi. Too many beloved musicians dont know their value, Remi said. And never get a chance to tap into whilst here with us. And their families will now know whats capable as well. At a time when artificial intelligence allows users to produce entire songs without the artists consent, Remis desire to get all the artists consent. Remi refused to even sell his Gaye portrait without the full support of the family, said Lloyd Winston, the executive director of Gayes estate. That made it easier to be a part of this because the architect of its first concern was to make sure the family was a part of it and compensated fairly, Winston added. Grammy Award-winning producer Salaam Remi is photographed at his Wynwood art gallery, MuseZeum. Omer Pardillo, the executive director of Celia Cruzs estate who negotiated with Remi to create the Afro-Cuban legends portrait, says Remi doing the right thing. He has the right approach in business and ethics, Pardillo said, adding that hes helping us bring Celia to more generations. For a young artist like Tatiana Crooks, the creative director for both Remi and the MuseZeuM, its showcasing the power of collaboration. As the person who redraws the photo for the portrait before Remi puts his touch on it, Cooks also gets a slice of the pie as well as prominent placement on the exhibition label. Theres nothing wrong with sharing a creation, Cooks said. Nobody does everything by themselves: it always takes another person or a team. IF YOU GO WHAT: The MuseZeuM WHERE: 2032 NW 2nd Ave Miami, FL WHEN: Fridays and Saturdays 12 p.m. - 12 a.m. Rob Brennan, who owns Supermoon brewery with his wife, Maria Keegan, stands behind the bar in the century-old building that once held a general store. Saison (shown) is one of the beers he makes. While a student at Marquette University, Rob Brennan made a visit to Lakefront Brewery for a tour. He returned again and again, home brewing all the while. Then he took a trip to Belgium. Those pivotal experiences carried him, eventually inspiring Brennan and wife, Maria Keegan, to open Supermoon Beer Co., 3145 S. Howell Ave. The building is a former general store dating back to 1902. He sold his first beer in November 2020, and hes slowly been building a following for his approach to barrel-aged fermented farmhouse style with European influences. Fermentation and fruit are at the heart of his style. There are eight beers on draft, with names like Punchbowl Piquette and Saison Bay View, plus a nonalcoholic kombucha called the house booch. Bottles are available in the cooler, and include Marbelle, which features Petite Pearl wine grapes grown in Wisconsin. A parklet addition in front of the building offers added seating when weather warms. Just past the bar, a recently finished area provides a small space for performances. So far they've hosted two live shows and plan for more small-scale events. The taproom officially opened Halloween 2022. While the brewery does not offer food, theyve teamed up with local restaurants for events. Next up, Dave Swanson and Braise will have a pop-up at the brewery May 12 and 13. Sweet Smoke will do a barbecue pop-up in June. More: Supermoon Beer Company, serving traditional European brews in Bay View, to open taproom this summer He went from home brewing to business plan My wife and I went to Marquette University as undergrads. That is where I caught the bug, I guess you could say. I visited a friend who was making his own beer in his basement. I was just interested in the simple fact that you could do that at all. Then I started taking the tour at Lakefront Brewery. It is one of the best tours Ive ever taken. I was freshly 21, kind of broke. Friday nights I could pay a few bucks to go to Lakefront. Id get fish fry and a brewery tour with beer and good information. Story continues I moved back to Chicago after school and kept home brewing. I started my career in advertising. I was home brewing the whole time. I took a couple trips to Belgium, which was pretty formative. Id started nursing school. Halfway through, two guys I knew were on their way out of Goose Island, which had just gotten purchased by Anheuser-Busch. They started their own brewery, Penrose Brewing in Geneva, Ill. Thats how that started. I got to be a sponge and see how from the ground up to start a brewery. I stayed there for four years, until we moved back to Milwaukee in 2017. He bought a building and began a brewery in Bay View My brother and his wife live in Bay View. We loved the community and felt good here. We started to look for a home. This was a result of that. We werent finding a house, so we found this old building that had been on the market for a while. It was in rough shape. Well live in the apartment and rent the other space out. Shortly after we moved in, we found our commercial tenant was leaving. We had never been a commercial landlord. We were looking through all the paperwork. The building was zoned to be a brewery back 120 years ago. That unique situation allowed us to apply for our federal brewers permit. I left the workforce in October 2020, a month before we sold our first beer. Weve been at this ever since. He found his focus with European-style beers We focus on what we call Old World rustic farmhouse style beer. Which is a very specific way of putting it. The generalized is to say Belgian and French European farmhouse inspired ale. Generally what that means is the majority of our beer is fermented in oak for long periods of time and then blended much like wine making, or it is a much more fermentation driven and yeast forward beer style. He wants to create a conversation, not intimidation It is so important now to have the tasting room because we can have those conversations and demystify things and break down barriers. Our bestselling beer is Saison Bay View. The word saison tends to trip people up if they've never had it. We say it is basically a pilsners weird cousin. It kind of settles things down. At Supermoon Beer, its always about the yeast Hops are usually the rockstar ingredient. They tend to get the loudest share of people's enthusiasm, and that's great. There's a lot of interesting innovation happening in terms of the hops themselves and hops growers pushing boundaries with hybridization, product development, and brewers doing techniques, but that is not technically the sandbox we're playing in. We're trying to offer something a little more focused on, and I would argue an equally important ingredient, yeast. That's what we mean when we say our beer is fermentation and yeast driven. We do use hops in our beer, all fresh crop year, primarily from Michigan, all direct from the farms themselves, but they don't tell the whole story of our beers. An IPA, the story is conveyed by the hop profile. Our beers tell their story through fermentation profile and yeast characteristics. Marbelle is one of Rob Brennan's favorites. It features Wisconsin-grown Petite Pearl wine grapes and Door County cherries It is sold in 750 ml bottles. He uses whole fruit, no purees or concentrates We have committed to using entirely whole, organic unsprayed minimally processed fruit. because I believe that it gives the ultimate glass of beer the most authentic fruit profile you can get, one that you cant replicate with purees or concentrates. A good example is in our cherry beer. I hand crush the cherries myself. I leave the pits entirely intact, and as a result you get this pit contact that has this almond sort of marzipan vanilla toasted almond background to the cherry. Bring on the booch, a nonalcoholic kombucha option on tap We started making kombucha. We call it our "house booch." We're thinking about packaging it. House is an unfruited traditional kombucha, but we use a ginger peach tea that gives it a passionfruit profile. He loves local ingredients (especially cold-hardy wine grapes) We draw from Belgian inspiration; they too use the most local fruit to them. There is a cherry unique to the region where lambic is produced in Belgium. We don't have that, but we do have these cold-hardy, interesting native hybrid wine grapes. The state of Wisconsin is sort of an underdog, I would say, but the amount of research going on and grape development and production is fascinating, like American Wine Project, which is doing some incredible (Wisconsin) wine. It is all about taking a slightly different approach. We work with the UW-Madison agricultural research station in Verona. They have a harvest of grapes they are continually researching. I pick them up after harvest. We hand macerate them here and add them to blended beer in our oak fermentation tanks. What you need to know before visiting Were going to be expanding hours. Weve been open up to this point with the taproom, open Thursday through Sunday. Well be adding Wednesday and extending hours so well be open a little more often by mid-May. Hours: Wednesday and Thursday 3 to 9 p.m., Friday 3 to 10 p.m., Saturday noon to 10 p.m., Sunday 12 to 8 p.m. We do cashless sales only. We typically have eight beers on draft, average price is $7. We have cold bottled beer to go and a growing list of nonalcoholic options, including our house-made kombucha. Plan ahead if you want to do a 'cellar session' We dont do traditional tours. We do this thing called "cellar sessions," more of an intimate sit-down tasting in our barrel cellar. We like to call it a 201 style brewery tour. Once youve heard the typical four ingredient brewery tour, we peel a layer back and talk about what it means to put beer into oak, what is sour beer, what isn't sour beer, the nitty gritty of blending in and extended fermentation, things like that. Those are by appointment. Rob Brennan inspects the fill level for a oak barrel that is used as fermentation and aging vessels for his base wort for different brews. More: Wine, cheese and coconut kefir: Frannie's Market owner sells her favorites Fork. Spoon. Life. explores the everyday relationship that local notables (within the food community and without) have with food. To suggest future personalities to profile, email psullivan@gannett.com. Sign up for our Dish newsletter to get food and dining news delivered to your inbox. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Supermoon Beer Co. in Bay View specializes in farmhouse style beer [Source] One of the suspects behind the violent Rolex robbery of two men in San Franciscos Chinatown in 2019 has been sentenced to four years in prison. Dashawn Pierson, 22, appeared in front of Judge Loretta Giorgi at the San Francisco Superior Court, where his sentencing was read, on Tuesday. Pierson and two other assailants, identified as Akeem Smith and Christopher Jefferson, were previously arrested for the strong-arm robbery and assault on Walter Wong and Chang Hwang, two elderly leaders of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, in July 2019. Since Piersons defense lawyer and San Francisco's District Attorneys Office reportedly entered a plea deal on the assault and elderly abuse charges, the case did not go to trial. More from NextShark: Elderly man shoves 90-inch jump rope through his penis Pierson is expected to be released from prison later this year, however, as he has already served most of his time in jail before his sentencing. He was arrested in October 2019 at the age of 19. Meanwhile, Smith, 22, entered a similar plea deal, while Jefferson, 24, still has a pending case. The two men were arrested in 2020. Story continues Speaking to The San Francisco Standard via an interpreter, Wong said that he "still hopes to get his watch back someday." More from NextShark: Joe Bidens Campaign Ad Against Trump Called Out for Being Xenophobic and Racist He also said he was happy and relieved to see the men sentenced for their crimes. The court notably ordered Pierson to pay Wong back for the Rolex. The incident occurred while Wong and Hwang were crossing the street at Stockton near Pacific in San Franciscos Chinatown on July 15, 2019. More from NextShark: 'Is it wrong that I like anything?': Anime fan in China says she was interrogated by police for wearing kimono Pierson, Smith and Jefferson were spotted by a surveillance camera right before the broad daylight robbery as they were about to cross the street. The three do appear to be talking and walking quickly with some purpose as if they have a destination or something in mind," police spokesperson Sgt. Michael Andraychek said at the time. Wong, who was 56 years old at the time, was picked up and thrown to the ground by the assailants, while Hwang, who was 69 years old, was knocked to the ground as he tried to help his friend. After the three assailants took Wong's Rolex and fled the scene, Wong and Hwang were transported to the hospital to treat their head injuries. Following the incident, San Francisco's Chinatown community rallied behind the victims as they denounced what was recorded as the eight violent broad daylight attack in the neighborhood as of July 2019. Authorities continue to search for answers a week after a man was fatally shot during the early morning hours in Pine Manor. About 4:30 a.m. April 19, the sheriff's office was alerted of a body in the area of Fifth Avenue and Cypress Drive, in Pine Manor, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno announced that day. When authorities arrived, Marceno said, they found a man who died from a gunshot wound. Lawsuit in vehicle manslaughter: Naples father sues woman accused in drunken driving death of Charlotte County deputy. Hate crime: Cape police announce arrest of man linked to attack, attempted burglary of Jewish center Marceno said the incident is isolated. They urge anyone with information to contact Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). Tipsters may also be eligible for a reward of up to $3,000 in cash if their tip leads to an arrest. Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Authorities hope to solve Pine Manor homicide in exchange for reward Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, meets with Truong Thi Mai, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, permanent member of the CPV Central Committee Secretariat and head of the Organization Commission of the CPV Central Committee, in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, met with Truong Thi Mai, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, permanent member of the CPV Central Committee Secretariat and head of the Organization Commission of the CPV Central Committee, in Beijing on Wednesday. Xi asked Truong Thi Mai to convey his sincere greetings to Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the CPV Central Committee, and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong. He noted that this year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Since General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to China last year, China and Vietnam have attached great importance to implementing the consensus reached by the two general secretaries, and taken measures to push for a sound momentum of China-Vietnam exchanges and cooperation, Xi said, adding that he would like to maintain close exchanges with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to strengthen political and strategic guidance for China-Vietnam relations. Given the volatile international environment and tasks of reform, development and stability in the two countries, China and Vietnam should follow the policy of long-term stability, forward-thinking, good neighborliness and comprehensive cooperation, and the spirit of being good neighbors, friends, comrades, and partners, Xi said. He called on the two sides to consolidate political mutual trust, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, properly manage differences, jointly address risks and challenges, and build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future to contribute to human peace and progress. Xi said both countries should continue to be armed with the scientific theory of Marxism and work together to advance the cause of socialism. China and Vietnam need to put people first, improve the synergy of development strategies and projects, advance infrastructure connectivity and people-to-people exchanges, and enhance people's understanding of traditional friendship to consolidate public support for the long-term growth of bilateral relations, Xi said. Xi said the utmost effort should be made to consolidate the rule of the two parties, safeguard national stability and development, stay committed to human peace and progress, strengthen solidarity and cooperation in international affairs, firmly oppose hegemonism and bloc confrontation, safeguard the dividends of regional peace and development, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity. Truong Thi Mai conveyed the greetings of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong to General Secretary Xi Jinping. She extended congratulations on the success of the 20th CPC National Congress and China's "two sessions," and on General Secretary Xi Jinping's reelection as President of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission. She expressed confidence that the Chinese people will surely complete all the goals set out at the 20th CPC National Congress and build a modern socialist country in an all-round way under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong paid a successful visit to China shortly after the conclusion of the 20th CPC National Congress, injecting strong impetus into the comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries. Vietnam has always given top priority to developing friendly cooperation with China, adhered to the one-China policy and firmly supported China's reunification, Truong Thi Mai said. She said Vietnam is willing to enhance high-level exchanges between the two parties and promote the synergy of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Vietnam's "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan to contribute to the ties between the two parties and the two countries and the cause of socialism. Vietnam firmly supports the major global initiatives proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, supports China to host the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and hopes to strengthen regional and international cooperation with China to promote regional and world peace and development, Truong Thi Mai said. Unusual, swirling cloud formations were recently spotted spinning near the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of northwestern Africa, but even though they resemble hurricanes, these clouds dont have the power associated with one of the most destructive forces of nature on Earth. The swirling clouds are called "von Karman vortices." They are named after Theodore von Karman, a co-founder of NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory and one of the first scientists to describe the unusual atmospheric phenomenon, according to NOAAs National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS). HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER NESDIS says the clouds occur when the prevailing wind is diverted by elevated land features such as islands, mountains or volcanoes. In a tweet posted by the National Hurricane Centers Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch, a series of swirling von Karman vortices can be seen in a satellite loop spinning south of the Canary Islands. They were caused by the air flowing to the southwest around the tall mountains associated with the island chain. AMERICA'S FAVORITE PUNCTUATION MARK IS ALSO A TYPE OF CLOUD The elevated land features, such as the mountains of the Canary Islands, disrupt the flow of wind and cause the air and clouds to spin in a spiral shape that resembles hurricanes. The wind intensity affects the pattern of the cloud swirls. These vortices are driven by prevailing winds, which NESDIS says can change seasonally and cause differences in the direction and structure of the vortices. LEARN THE SCIENCE BEHIND THESE JAW-DROPPING SHELF CLOUDS NESDIS says Guadalupe Island (off the western coast of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula) and the Canary Islands and Cape Verde Islands (off the western coast of Africa) are common spots for von Karman vortices form. In addition, satellites have also captured images of the spinning clouds over the Juan Fernandez Islands off the coast of Chile. They've also been spotted near Tristan da Cunha, a remote volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean; Jeju Island, South Korea's largest island; and the Kuril Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, according to NESDIS. Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney at CinemaCon. Gabe Ginsberg/WireImage Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell were reportedly "flirty" onstage at CinemaCon. There's been plenty of speculation about a romance between the two stars. The rumors were further fuelled after Powell's girlfriend reportedly unfollowed Sweeney on Instagram. In the last few years, "Euphoria" actor Sydney Sweeney and "Top Gun: Maverick" star Glen Powell have been met with plenty of critical acclaim thanks to their respective work, and they'll soon star in the buzzy rom-com "Anyone But You" together. The film follows a couple who seemingly hate each other, but can't keep their hands off one another. On Tuesday, Sweeney and Powell took to the stage at CinemaCon to briefly talk about the project, which resulted in what has been described as a "flirty" exchange between the two stars, according to Vulture and CNN. Per People, Powell joked, "We love seeing ourselves on the big screen," before Sweeney sarcastically replied, "Oh please, Top Gun." Powell then joked: "I love it when she calls me that." Sweeney also joked that she mistook Powell on set for one of his "Top Gun" costars. "I thought he was Miles Teller until the fourth day of shooting," she said, adding: "And Glen plays a character who's a real asshole. His character is a real dickhead." Powell added: "As you could probably guess, this movie's about two people that hate each other. Sydney plays a character [who is] a real nightmare. And what better place to put a nightmare and an asshole than on the other side of the world in the most romantic setting imaginable?" While shooting "Anyone But You" in Australia, speculation about the stars' off-screen relationship has swirled online in recent weeks, despite them both being in relationships. Sweeney is engaged to restaurateur Jonathan Davino, while Powell is dating model Gigi Paris. Story continues Over the weekend, a video of Powell and Sweeney on set went viral, with some Twitter users commenting on their apparent chemistry with one another. Sydney Sweeney fans (@SSydneyBest) April 23, 2023 And on Monday, it was reported Powell's girlfriend, Paris, had unfollowed Sweeney on Instagram after previously posting a supportive comment on her photo about working with Powell on the Sony movie. Representatives for neither Sweeney, Powell, nor Paris immediately responded to requests for comment. Read the original article on Insider Tacaria Anderson Jones oversees contract compliance at the Port of Palm Beach. She went from intern to director. She will soon be overseeing her own intern. Tacaria Anderson Jones wasnt sure what she wanted to do after graduating from college in 1998. A high school teacher suggested the intern program at the Port of Palm Beach. She assisted administrators at the port that summer. And once the internship was completed, the port offered her a full-time position as a fiscal technician. Since then, she has done a bit of everything, advancing to a director position. She currently oversees compliance and tenant relations, ensuring that tenants are abiding by the terms of port contracts. She also assists in negotiating those contracts. I would never have imagined my internship would lead me into a career with the port industry, she said The port is again offering a six-week paid internship program to students with an interest in learning about the industry. Port officials say the program will introduce interns to various career fields within the port industry and teach them valuable skills that can easily translate to any career. Searching for more space, Port of Palm Beach may call for the relocation of some tenants Margaritaville at Sea cruise line gets $250,000 in financial concessions from Port of Palm Beach Why a $10.9 million dredging project is a win-win for the Port of Palm Beach and beachgoers We see this program as a gateway to opportunities for local students who are highly motivated to explore various public sector and professional fields, said Port of Palm Beach District Board Chairwoman Dr. Jean L. Enright. Applications will be accepted through May 5. Selected participants will have an opportunity to work in the following professional fields: Accounting/ Finance Administration/ Records Management Communications Engineering Information Technology Margaritaville at Sea Port Operations Port Planning Security Margaritaville at Sea is thrilled to participate in this rewarding internship program with the Port of Palm Beach, said Margaritaville at Sea President and CEO Kevin Sheehan, Jr. Story continues There really is no better way to introduce and attract young professionals to the industry than through these kinds of first-hand experiences. Through the internship partnership with Margaritaville at Sea, these students will be exposed to a diverse career path within the hospitality industry, including everything from culinary, finance, engineering, and more. Tacaria Anderson Jones participated in an internship program at the Port of Palm Beach 25 years ago. She went from intern to director as today she oversees contract compliance. (Photo: Port of Palm Beach) Every week during the program, the Port will host a Port Activity Day where interns will have a chance to explore different terminals and learn about port-related business beyond their primary duties. This community engagement program would not be possible without the support weve received from our Port community, said Port Executive Director Michael Meekins, noting port tenants Berth One Palm Beach, E.N. Bisso, Margaritaville at Sea, Ozinga,South Florida Materials and Tropical Shipping have helped to fund the program. Interns will work a 35-hour week June 20 to July 28. The pay is $13 an hour. For more detail on the program and how to apply, click here or go to the Port of Palm Beach website. Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him atmdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism.Subscribe today This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: How a Port of Palm Beach intern became a Port director 25 years later A newly completed downtown apartment project has changed ownership again. A group of townhomes also has sold in a separate transaction. On April 21, Caesars Luxury Apartments, 308 Tacoma Ave S., sold for $35.35 million to RGPD LLC, whose officials are affiliated with Dobler Property Management of Tacoma. The seller, Caesars Luxury Apartments LLC, is affiliated with Barcelo Homes of Mercer Island. The site received an eight-year multifamily property tax exemption with initial developer Glasshouse Two in 2019. Eight-year MFTEs do not require rent-restricted units, allowing development of all market-rate apartments. The Caesars LLC purchased the property in September 2020 from Glasshouse Two for $3.5 million. The seven-story, 131-unit building, completed this year, has 66 parking stalls. According to its listing on apartments.com, rents range from $1,389 for studios to $2,557 for a two-bedroom, one-bath unit. A separate sale involved a property developed during the Great Recession. Pine Street Townhomes, built in 2008, became a bank-owned property in December 2009, selling the following year for a little over $5.9 million. It last sold in January 2018 for just over $10 million. On April 13, the property at 2901 S. 45th St. sold for $17 million to Pine Street Townhomes LLC, affiliated with Ethos Development of Portland, and Lombard Equities Group of San Francisco. The seller was two LLCs affiliated with a San Diego-based real estate investment entity. Rents for the 53 units range from $1,995 for two-bedroom units to $3,095 for four-bedroom units. Tacoma police arrested two people Tuesday in connection to a bank robbery that happened earlier this month. According to the Tacoma Police Department, a 27-year-old woman was arrested while on foot in Tacoma just after 9 a.m., and a 23-year-old man was arrested at a business in Tacoma at 11 a.m. The two are allegedly responsible for the robbery of a Wells Fargo bank at 5245 Pacific Ave. on April 14. The two were booked into jail for investigation of first-degree robbery. The mastermind of the deadly August 2021 attack at Kabul International Airport, which claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members and more than 150 Afghans seeking to flee the country, has been killed, according to three U.S. officials. The ISIS-K operative, whose name the officials would not provide, was killed by the Taliban in Afghanistan earlier this month, the officials said. The U.S. was not involved in the operation, the officials said, and is not relying on the Taliban for confirmation that he was killed. The U.S. has intelligence and other sources confirming his death, the officials said, adding that they are not providing the Taliban with operational information or intelligence. Other partners in the region do share information with the Taliban. TOPSHOT - A Taliban fighter stands guard at the site of the August 26 twin suicide bombs, which killed scores of people including 13 US troops, at Kabul airport on August 27, 2021. (Wakil Kohsar / AFP via Getty Images file) On Tuesday evening, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, The ISIS-K terrorist who was the mastermind of the horrific attack at Abbey Gate that killed 13 brave American service members and many others has been removed from the battlefield. He was killed in a Taliban operation, which is another in a series of high-profile leadership losses ISIS-K has suffered this year." "We have made clear to the Taliban that it is their responsibility to ensure that they give no safe haven to terrorists, whether al Qaeda or ISIS-K." The families of the 13 U.S. service members killed in the airport attack were notified of the operative's death this week, most in a brief phone call from the military. The dead included 11 Marines, one Navy corpsman and one Army soldier. Staff Sergeant Darin "Taylor" Hoover was badly injured in the attack and later died. Despite his wounds, he continued helping his fellow Marines, handing them ammunition and encouraging them to fight on. He was 31. His father, Darin Hoover, who was briefed about the ISIS-K operatives death Tuesday, said he's frustrated by how little information the Pentagon and State Department have shared about the attack that day. Story continues FILE - Smoke rises from a deadly explosion outside the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021. Two suicide bombers and gunmen have targeted crowds massing near the Kabul airport, in the waning days of a massive airlift that has drawn thousands of people seeking to flee the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The Taliban have killed the senior Islamic State group leader behind the August 2021 bombing outside the Kabul airport that killed 13 service members and about 170 Afghans. That is according to the father of a Marine killed in the attack who was briefed on April 25, 2023, by military officials. (Wali Sabawoon / AP file) We only get piecemeal stuff from them and it just doesnt work for me, he said. How can you have the next generation coming up to defend this country if this is how theyre treated? Hoover said the Marine did not provide the name of the operative killed or any details about the operation beyond the fact that he was the individual responsible for the attack. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, said this does not end the need for justice for the families of those killed. If these reports are true, any time a terrorist is taken off the board is a good day. But this doesnt diminish the Biden administrations culpability for the failures that led to the attack at Abbey Gate, and will in no way deter the committees investigation," McCaul wrote in a statement. "I will not sleep until every stone is unturned and these Gold Star families have answers and justice." CORRECTION (April 25, 2023, 8:30 p.m. ET): A caption on a photo in a previous version of this article misstated when two bombs exploded at the Kabul airport. It was Aug. 26, 2021, not Aug. 27, 2021. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Pallbearers carry the casket of Marine Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, who was killed in the Kabul airport bombing. Stephen Lam/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images The leader of the Islamic State cell that bombed the Kabul airport in August 2021, leaving 13 U.S. troops and close to 170 civilians dead, has been killed by the Taliban, senior U.S. officials told The New York Times and The Washington Post. The official did not share the individual's name, only saying they had "high confidence" he was the mastermind of the airport attack, which took place as U.S. troops were evacuating people from Kabul following the Taliban's takeover. It isn't clear whether the Taliban purposely targeted the ISIS leader or if he was killed in a battle between the two groups, the Times reports. The U.S. was not involved in the operation, officials said. The ISIS affiliate in Afghanistan is called Islamic State-Khorasan, or ISIS-K. Leaked military documents recently obtained by the Post say ISIS-K is actively planning terrorist attacks in Europe and Asia and conducting "aspirational plotting" against the U.S., seeking to target churches, embassies, and business complexes. In March, Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, the top U.S. military commander in the region, told the House Armed Services Committee that ISIS has expanded in Afghanistan, and due to its quick growth could soon be able to launch attacks outside the country "with little to no warning." You may also like A complete timeline of George R.R. Martin's progress on The Winds of Winter Why Tucker Carlson was fired from Fox News Tucker Carlson was offered a new job on Russian state TV Tangaraju Suppiah was hanged for conspiring to traffic cannabis despite pleas for clemency Singapore has executed a man for conspiring to traffic cannabis despite pleas for clemency from his family, activists and the United Nations. Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, was hanged at dawn on Wednesday over a plot to smuggle 1kg (35oz) of cannabis. Activists said he had been convicted on weak evidence and received limited legal access during his prosecution. But Singapore authorities said he had been given a fair trial and criticised those who questioned the courts. Singapore has some of the world's toughest anti-drug laws. It argues these are a necessary deterrent to drug crime which is a major issue elsewhere across South-East Asia. On Wednesday, Tangaraju Suppiah's family gathered at Changi Prison near the city's airport in the east to receive his body. "The family said they weren't going to give up on him until right until to the end," anti-death penalty activist Kirsten Han told the BBC. "They still have a lot of unresolved questions about his case, and the evidence against him. It has been such a harrowing experience for them." Last year Singapore hanged 11 people, all on drugs charges - including an intellectually impaired man convicted of trafficking three tablespoons of heroin. The nation's stringent drug laws and use of capital punishment put it increasingly at odds with advanced nations and others in the region, activists say. Singapore's neighbour Malaysia abolished mandatory death penalties earlier this month, saying it was not an effective deterrent to crime. Meanwhile cannabis has been decriminalised in many parts of the world - including in neighbouring Thailand, where its trade is encouraged. "It is just illogical to know that countries nearby are enjoying cannabis in food and beverages, and using it for its medical benefits, while our country is executing people for the very same substance," local activist group the Transformative Justice Collective said. Story continues Singapore's courts on Tuesday had rejected a last-minute appeal from Tangaraju Suppiah's family against his conviction. Supporters had also petitioned Singapore's President Halimah Yacob for a reprieve, while British activist billionaire Sir Richard Branson added his voice to those calling for a case review. The UN's Human Rights Office had on Tuesday also called on Singapore to "urgently reconsider" the execution, saying the death penalty violated international norms. Tangaraju Suppiah had been convicted of "abetting by engaging in a conspiracy to traffic" about 1kg (35oz) of cannabis from Malaysia to Singapore in 2013. He was not found with the drugs or during the delivery. But prosecutors said he had been responsible for co-ordinating it, and they traced two phone numbers used by a deliveryman back to him. Tangaraju denied his involvement - and said he had not been the person communicating with the deliveryman. He said he had lost one of the phones and denied owning the second one. Singapore's law mandates the death penalty for those guilty of trafficking narcotics - including cannabis, cocaine, heroin, and ketamine - beyond a certain quantity. Leela Suppiah (centre) spoke to reporters on Sunday pleading for her brother's life Convicted traffickers who can prove that they were only couriers may be able to avoid the death penalty. Drug possession and consumption draw lesser punishments including prison and fines. In Tangaraju Suppiah's last appeal, the judge agreed with the prosecution that he had been responsible for co-ordinating the delivery, which made him ineligible for a more lenient sentence. Activists had raised concerns that he had not been given adequate access to a Tamil interpreter and had been forced to represent himself at his last appeal because his family was unable to secure a lawyer. Singapore authorities say he requested an interpreter only during the trial, and not earlier. They also said he had access to legal counsel throughout the process. Sir Richard, who had previously criticised the 2022 execution of intellectually impaired Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, said the latest case was "shocking on multiple levels". In a blog post on Monday, he said Singapore "may be about to kill an innocent man" on the back of "more than dubious circumstances". Rebutting his allegations, Singapore's Home Affairs Ministry accused him of "disrespect for Singapore's judges and our criminal justice system". It said the death penalty was "an essential component" in a multi-pronged approach that had been "effective in keeping Singapore safe and secure". Tangaraju Suppiah's case marked the country's first execution this year. Singapore is one of 35 countries and territories in the world that sentence people to death for drug crimes, according to Harm Reduction International (HRI), a non-profit, non-government organisation. It is also considered a "high application" country, where at least 10 executions have been carried out in the past five years. The US and South Korea are the only two OECD member countries that have retained the death penalty for drug offences, but they have not carried out such executions in the last five years, according to HRI. The State Attorney's Office has decided to charge a 16-year-old boy as an adult in connection with a traffic crash that killed a 15-year-old girl. The crash occurred on May 10, 2022, at Northeast 14th Street and Northeast 25th Avenue. The boy was the driver and the girl was his passenger. Ocala Police Department officers investigated the crash, which killed Mackenna Rector, a 10th grader at Vanguard High School. The original story: Vanguard H.S. student, 15, killed in crash in northeast Ocala; driver, also 15, injured High school student's death: North Marion High School student killed in two-vehicle wreck on foggy, rural road Why charge the teen as an adult? The driver is charged with no valid driver's license causing serious injury or death and vehicular homicide. The Star-Banner is not releasing his name because of his age. MacKenna Rector Prosecutors said the decision to charge him as an adult was based on the totality of the circumstances and the medical evidence. Prosecutors filed the charges on Monday. The boy was booked into the Marion County Jail on Tuesday afternoon, records show. His first appearance hearing was held Wednesday morning in front of County Judge Robert Landt via Zoom. The judge was at the courthouse and the teen was at the jail. The judge appointed the Public Defender's Office to represent the teen. Bail set at $35,000. This is how the crash happened According to OPD Officer William Joedicke's report, a woman who was behind the wheel of an older model Mitsubishi Montero was stopped, facing southbound on Northeast 25th Avenue at the 14th Street intersection. The woman said the traffic light was red, and her vehicle was in the southbound middle lane. The woman said she saw a vehicle, later identified as an older model Toyota Yaris, speeding northbound in the southbound lane toward her. The Toyota struck the front of her vehicle. Officers checked the Toyota's event data recorder, or EDR, and it indicated the vehicle was traveling at 57 mph at the time of collision. Story continues Intersection of NE 14th Street and 25th Avenue Upon impact, the force pushed the Mitsubishi backward, approximately two car lengths, Joedicke wrote in his report. The traffic homicide investigator noted the woman's vehicle finally stopped in the inside travel lane. The Toyota rotated almost 180 degrees and came to rest in the southbound left turn lane, the report stated. Mackenna was transported to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, where she died. Police officials were unable to talk with the teen driver (he was 15 at the time) because of his injuries and because his mother told them she was getting a lawyer. Surveillance video of the crash Joedicke was able to watch two security videos from a nearby business that showed the crash. The first video showed the Mitsubishi sitting still at the red light, facing southbound in the inside travel lane. Then, the Toyota, traveling northbound, hits the Mitsubishi. The second video indicates the Toyota traveling northbound and it appears to be traveling more than the posted 40 mph speed limit. A county fire rescue official who treated the Toyota driver said the teen told him he had been drinking and he was impaired. Several opened and unopened Twisted Tea alcoholic drinks were in the Toyota, officials said. Medical records Officers were able to get a subpoena for the teen driver's medical records. It showed he was impaired and tested positive for opiates, THC and alcohol at the time blood was taken, police said. Joedicke said he was told the driver's blood-alcohol content was above the legal limit. However, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement laboratory said it was unable to test the blood sample for alcohol because the sample size wasn't adequate. Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Defendant, 16, charged as an adult in 2022 crash in NE Ocala A teenager accused of inserting sewing needles into food items while employed at a Giant grocery store in Pennsylvania has been charged, authorities said. Troopers with Pennsylvania State Police Fogelsville were called to the Trexlertown store on Wednesday, April 19, after customers returned groceries with sewing needles hidden inside, McClatchy News previously reported. A spokesperson with Giant told McClatchy News the company learned of the product integrity issue on April 17 and immediately investigated. The company then contacted authorities for further action and investigation. Based on an internal investigation and surveillance video, an employee now former employee appeared to insert a sewing needle into at least three known food items, which were found to have sewing needles, the spokesperson said. Investigators found 11 sewing needles in various items at the grocery store, according to an April 25 news release from Pennsylvania State Police. The juvenile suspect is charged with three counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count of criminal mischief, authorities said. No other suspects are believed to have been involved, LehighValleyLive reported, and no injuries were reported. The safety of our customers is GIANTS top priority, a spokesperson previously told McClatchy News. Out of an abundance of caution, the company has removed some products from shelves at its Trexlertown store. The categories believed to be affected include: single serve Tastykakes, fresh bagged green beans, loose sweet yellow and white onions, fresh green asparagus, soft packaged dog food and treats, soft packaged cat food and treats, instant mashed potatoes (boxed) and cleaning sponges. If you suspect product tampering or purchased any of the affected items from the Trexlertown store, Giant said you should notify authorities and can return your products for a full refund. A Giant spokesperson said the company will not be commenting on the charges. Story continues If you have any additional information regarding the investigation, call Pennsylvania State Police - Fogelsville at 610-3951438. Trexlertown is about 60 miles northwest of downtown Philadelphia. Grocery employee caught on video inserting sewing needles into food items, PA store says McDonalds manager stuffed cash in shirts, stealing nearly $50K in 7 months, cops say Walgreens worker shoots pregnant woman he thought was shoplifting, Tennessee cops say UNITED NATIONS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The top United Nations envoy for Sudan said Tuesday that the military leaders of the warring parties in Sudan are not ready for a complete ceasefire. "Both leaders (of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces) have not been able to fully commit to a complete ceasefire or implement one. The two generals continue trading accusations and issuing competing claims of control over key installations," said Volker Perthes, the UN secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan. There is yet no unequivocal sign that either is ready to seriously negotiate, suggesting that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible, he said. "This is a miscalculation. As fighting continues, law and order will further break down throughout the country, and command and control will dissipate. Sudan could become increasingly fragmented, which would have a devastating impact on the region," he warned. And even if one side wins, Sudan will lose, said Perthes. A 72-hour ceasefire, brokered by the United States on Monday, seems to be holding in some parts of Sudan so far. However, there have been reports of fighting and movement of troops. The Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces have accused each other of violating the ceasefire, he said via a video link from Port Sudan on the Red Sea, where nearly 1,200 people, including 744 UN staff and their dependents, international nongovernmental organization staff and their dependents, and diplomatic staff from several embassies, were relocated from the capital city of Khartoum on Monday. In Khartoum, fighting around the Republican Palace, Khartoum international airport, Sudanese Armed Forces headquarters, Rapid Support Forces bases, and other strategic locations have largely continued or in some cases intensified. Airstrikes and heavy shelling have also continued, particularly in Bahri and Omdurman on the outskirts of Khartoum. Khartoum airport is reportedly now operational, but its aprons are damaged, he said. Residential areas near installations of the two military factions have come under persistent attacks. Homes, shops, schools, water and electricity installations, mosques, hospitals, and other health facilities have been damaged or destroyed. Reports of home invasions, looting of homes and shops and cars at checkpoints have been rampant. These have included the homes and cars of Sudanese citizens, United Nations staff, humanitarian workers, and the diplomatic community, he said. "We have also received disturbing reports of attempted sexual assaults. With supply lines running out and destroyed, fear of increased criminality is mounting. Reports of prisoners being released from detention centers across Khartoum have compounded these fears," he said. The situation in western region of Darfur remains volatile. Other regions of Sudan, while spared from armed confrontation, are feeling the impact of the fighting. Several are hosting thousands of internally displaced people. Yet supply routes are disrupted, resulting in fuel shortages, said Perthes. Throughout Sudan, significant price hikes of basic commodities are reported. There are also increasing reports of armed robbers at checkpoints on some roads, looting civilians who are fleeing from violence, he said. The United Nations and partners are doubling their efforts to ensure that the 72-hour temporary ceasefire holds and evolves into a lasting cessation of hostilities and return to political negotiations, said Perthes. For Republicans in the Tennessee House of Representatives, bringing the expulsion of three Democratic state representatives to a vote reminds us of an old saying: Look before you leap. Instead of figuring out how to relegate three already uninfluential House members to an even more back-bench status, the Republican supermajority managed to make national figures (briefly) of the Tennessee Three, who broke House rules they would no doubt defend uproariously in other circumstances. Heres how, on April 7, Nashvilles newspaper, The Tennessean, described the three legislators March 30 actions on the House floor: On Thursday, the three House Democrats approached the podium between bills without being recognized to speak, a breach of chamber rules. With a bullhorn, Reps. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis led protestors in the galleries in several chants calling for gun reform. 'Tennessee Three' broke the rules. However What they did was wrong. Absolutely. Unquestionably. Irrefutably. Undeniably. The House of Representatives cant become a protest site for every legislator who believes their issue merits shouting through a bullhorn and bringing House business to a stop. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, and Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, raise their hands April 6 outside the House chamber after Jones and Pearson were expelled from the Tennessee General Assembly in Nashville. Johnson survived expulsion by one vote, and Jones and Pearson were returned to their seats within days. Viewed another way, if Tennessee were a Democratic-dominated state (as it was for more than a century), would Democrats take kindly to a trio of Republican members staging an anti-abortion protest in the exact same manner as the Tennessee Three? Of course not. And its not principle, but politics, when someone argues that their cause warrants such demonstrations, but the causes of their opponents fall short. Thats why there are House rules, to keep these things from happening. Two wrongs made the Democrats look right But the way Republicans handled the situation added another wrong (politically, at least) and the two wrongs together in this case made the three legislators look, in a way, right. The Beach Boys' 1960s hit, Dont Worry Baby, offers lyrical insight into what Republicans did next: But I can't back down now because I pushed the other guys too far. In this case, Republicans couldnt back down because they all pushed themselves too far. Story continues No one seemed to think about the falling dominoes in the wake of an expulsion: First, the three would be lionized by liberals in the national media, and theyd gain a broader platform from those who saw them as an opportunity for momentary political advantage, as evidenced by their invitation to the Biden White House. Additionally, Republicans leaped before considering that, if expelled, legislative bodies in the representatives home districts would simply send them back to Nashville. And heaving two Black members out of the House while leaving by one vote a white woman in her seat led to the inevitable charges of racism. But the only reason Johnson survived the vote was because one Republican House member said the charge didnt fit her, as she didnt yell through the bullhorn or chant aloud. As if that made a difference in perception. Perhaps predictably, members of the Democratic trio, with their moment on the national stage, are busy overplaying their parts. Jones said the expulsion was an assault on democracy. He knows better. And Johnson told the politically liberal publication Mother Jones "I feel like North Korea has more democracy than we do in the state of Tennessee, and it's terrifying to me that we're in this march to fascism, likening the state to both a communist and Nazi-like dictatorship. Perhaps Johnson would wish to pay a visit to North Korea to gain a clearer insight between the state in which she lives and the North Korean Peoples Prison. The frustration for Democrats is that they once dominated the state, their dominance lasting more than a century. However, since 1994 and the first mid-term election of Bill Clintons presidency, Republicans have been on a Tennessee ascendency, today having supermajorities in the House and Senate, the governors office, both U.S. Senate seats and a majority of the U.S. House delegation. Democrats have fallen a long, long way. Its understandably irritating to them. What the three Democrats should have done If the three legislators had not wanted to invite official retribution, they could have called the Nashville media to a news conference outside the House chamber; led a march on Charlotte Avenue past the Capitol building; or gotten in their cars and driven to every major Tennessee city to visit with news media there. But what they did was wrong, and they knew it. House Speaker Cameron Sexton had several options. One was to ignore them, which invites other such demonstrations in the future. Another was to punish them in other ways with a warning that if it happens again, theyre gone, and position it in such a way that it would be clear they were given ample warning. If the three had a goal of baiting the Republicans into falling into a media trap of their own making, it succeeded. But its possible the trio wasnt thinking strategically, and was simply playing to the gallery. The shouting and finger-pointing wont change the states political makeup, nor will it alter state policy. What it did was cause media grief for the Republican House majority and remind every politician in the country that getting what you want doesnt mean youll want what you get, and leaping before looking doesnt promise a comfortable landing. George Korda is a political analyst for WATE-TV, hosts State Your Case from noon to 2 p.m. Sundays on WOKI-FM Newstalk 98.7 and is president of Korda Communications, a public relations and communications consulting firm. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: George Korda: Tennessee House GOP leaped before looking on expulsions A college student at the University of Memphis was attacked in his dorm room on Tuesday, according to police. Kaleb Steward, 19, is accused of lying to a University of Memphis employee to gain access into the victim's room on Monday just before noon. After getting into the room, Steward waited until the victim arrived before allegedly attacking him, police said. Steward is being charged with felony aggravated battery, felony aggravated assault, felony false offense report, carry of weapon on school property, and two misdemeanor charges of vandalism of $1,000 or less. The victim, a male student, told police officers that he was "ambushed" by Steward while going into his room. The student also told police that the 19-year-old suspect attempted to stab him, but was unsuccessful. ARIZONA AIRPORT ASSAULT: WOMAN REPORTEDLY ATTACKED, INJURED TSA AGENTS BECAUSE THEY TOOK AWAY HER APPLE JUICE Kaleb Steward, 19, is accused of lying to a University of Memphis employee to gain access to the victim's room on Monday just before noon. After gaining access to the room, Steward waited until the victim arrived before allegedly attacking him, police said. According to the affidavit, the suspect manged to slash the victim's face. The student was then able to call for help from others who were in the dorm. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP After Steward was arrested, he allegedly told officers that he slashed the victim's tires and "threw a car battery through the victim's" Chevy pick-up truck parked on campus. The acts of alleged vandalism by Steward took place on separate dates, according to the police report. Steward also told police that he intentionally pulled a fire alarm in a campus building on Sunday. Jail records state that Steward was released from the Shelby County Jail Wednesday on his own recognizance. INVESTIGATOR: 89 SHOTS WERE FIRED AT ALABAMA SWEET 16 BIRTHDAY PARTY A spokesperson for the University of Memphis said that the incident happened in the Living Learning Complex, according to FOX 13. "The safety and security of our students, faculty and staff is paramount, and we are taking all appropriate measures. Due to it being an ongoing investigation, we cannot comment further at this time," the spokesperson said. DeMarco Cooperwood, a freshman at the University of Memphis, told FOX 13 that he doesn't know how the suspect even got into the dorm. "Then you have to swipe into the front desk. Then, to get over to either side of the buildings, you have to swipe again, and then if you have to get into a room you have to swipe again," Cooperwood said. A new tequila brand with Fort Worth roots will launch Friday at one of Cowtowns oldest open-air flea markets. La Pulga Tequila, named after the Pequeno Mexico La Pulga open air market on 960 N University Drive, is an artisanal, additive-free 100% agave tequila founded by three local entrepreneurs: Sarah Castillo, Andrew De La Torre and Stephen Slaughter. Although the tequila is distilled and bottled in Jalisco, Mexico, Fort Worth native Castillo said the brand is firmly rooted in the owners hometown. Mexico and Fort Worth share a rich cultural heritage and connection, and our goal is to preserve and celebrate those strong community ties through the lens of traditional spirits, Castillo said in a statement. La Pulga Spirits founders from left to right, Stephen Slaughter, Sarah Castillo and Andrew de la Torre. Castillo is restauranteur of Taco Heads, Tinies Mexican Cuisine and Sidesaddle Saloon. De La Torre is a club owner and the operator of Pequeno Mexico and Slaughter is a local entrepreneur and real estate developer. The brand will launch with the La Pulga Tequila Blanco and La Pulga Tequila Reposado. La Pulga Tequila Blanco is an unaged 80 proof silver tequila with a floral aroma and taste notes of cooked agave, grapefruit, anise and honey. La Pulga Tequila Reposado is an 80 proof tequila aged for 7 months in ex-bourbon barrels with flavor notes of agave, burnt sugar, licorice, honey and black pepper. The tequila is packaged in an easy-to-pour bottle, sealed with a premium cork stopper and adorned with a keepsake La Pulga medallion. The bottle labels feature alebrijes Mexican folk art images that depict El Bronco, a bronco, on La Pulga Blanco, and El Toro, a bull, on the Reposado bottle. Tequila consumption in the United States rose by 30 percent between 2015 to 2020, according to global drinks analytics company IWSR. Agave-based spirits are expected to increase by 7% by 2026. La Pulga Tequila is an artisanal, additive-free 100% agave tequila. Where can I purchase La Pulga Tequila? Both La Pulga tequilas are available at bars and restaurants throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area and other select Texas markets, and at fine spirits retailers. Its also available for purchase online via the La Pulga website. La Pulga Tequila Blanco sells for $44.99 and La Pulga Tequila Reposado sells for $54.99. By Jonathan Stempel and Jack Queen NEW YORK (Reuters) - A writer explained in graphic detail on Wednesday how Donald Trump allegedly raped her nearly 30 years ago, at a civil trial to determine whether the former U.S. president assaulted her and then lied about it. "I'm here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he lied and said it didn't happen," E. Jean Carroll told jurors in federal court in Manhattan. "He lied and shattered my reputation, and I'm here to try and get my life back." Carroll, 79, a former Elle magazine advice columnist, is seeking unspecified damages from Trump, 76, who leads the Republican field in the 2024 presidential campaign. Her lawsuit concerns an alleged encounter in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in late 1995 or early 1996, where she says Trump raped her before she could flee. Carroll says Trump defamed her by calling her rape claim a hoax, lie and "complete con job" on his Truth Social media platform, and said she was not his "type" and had made up the claim to sell her memoir. She is also suing under New York's Adult Survivors Act, which lets adults sue their alleged abusers long after statutes of limitations have run out. Trump is not attending and not required to attend the trial, which began on Tuesday. He has a scheduled New Hampshire campaign event on Thursday, and both sides have indicated it is unlikely Trump will testify. Trump maintained his scorn nonetheless for Carroll's case on Truth Social on Wednesday, calling her lawyer a "political operative" and the rape claim "a made up SCAM," adding: "This is a fraudulent & false story--Witch Hunt!" U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan warned that Trump could face more legal problems if he kept discussing the case. 'I CAN STILL FEEL IT,' TRUMP'S ACCUSER SAYS Carroll testified that she had met Trump years before the alleged rape, finding him "very personable" and a "man about town." Story continues At Bergdorf, Carroll recalled that she was leaving the store when Trump recognized her and held up his hand. She stopped. "He said, 'Hey, you are that advice lady,'" Carroll recalled. "I said, 'Hey, you are that real estate tycoon.'" Carroll said Trump bantered in a "joshing" tone as he shopped for lingerie for another woman. She said Trump asked her to try on a piece of lingerie, prompting her to joke that he should try it on. Carroll said Trump then coaxed her into an open dressing room, shut the door, shoved her against a wall, and pulled down her tights. She choked up and fought back tears as she described pushing him back. Trump's fingers "went into my vagina, which was extremely painful, extremely painful," and he also "inserted his penis," she said. "As I'm sitting here today I can still feel it," she said. "It left me unable to ever have a romantic life again." Asked by her lawyer if she told Trump "no," Carroll said "I may have said it" but did not know. She also said she blamed herself, and feared she would be fired and Trump would retaliate if she reported him. Inspired by the #MeToo movement, Carroll came forward in 2019, and denied Trump's repeated suggestions it was because she disliked his politics. "I'm not settling a political score at all," Carroll said. "I'm settling a personal score because he called me a liar repeatedly, and it really has decimated my reputation." She said Trump's attacks caused Elle to fire her, costing her 8 million readers, and left others convinced she was a liar. Carroll broke down when asked if she regretted ending her silence. "I've regretted this about 100 times," she said, "but in the end being able to get my day in court finally is everything to me." Lawyers for Trump are expected to question Carroll on Thursday, including over her inability to remember when the alleged rape took place. OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE Trump posted his latest comments on Truth Social about an hour before Wednesday's testimony began. He questioned how anyone could believe he - "being very well known, to put it mildly!" - could have raped Carroll. "She didn't scream?" Trump wrote. "There are no witnesses? Nobody saw this?" The posts led Kaplan to tell Trump's legal team, outside the jury's presence, that Trump appeared to be "endeavoring, certainly, to speak to his quote-unquote public" and to the jury about matters that have "no business being spoken about." Kaplan also said Trump could be "tampering with a new source of liability" if he continued. Trump's lawyer Joe Tacopina said he would tell Trump to stop. But concern about social media influencing the trial resurfaced after Trump's son Eric tweeted on Wednesday afternoon about Reid Hoffman, the billionaire LinkedIn co-founder and prominent Democratic donor helping fund Carroll's case. Eric Trump said Hoffman's involvement was "an embarrassment to our country, should be illegal and tells you everything you need to know about the case." Kaplan told Tacopina such comments needed to stop. "There are some relevant U.S. statutes here, and somebody on your side ought to be thinking about them," Kaplan said. The judge also said Donald Trump's lawyers cannot mention Hoffman at the trial, calling it "unfairly prejudicial." (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel and Jack Queen in New York; Additional reporting by Luc Cohen in New York and Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Howard Goller) AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas schools could offer stipends of up to $25,000 to staff members who add the role of armed campus sentinels to their regular duties under a proposal advanced Tuesday by state lawmakers in response to the Uvalde classroom attack last year. With U.S. mass shootings on a record pace so far in 2023, there have been new calls among some lawmakers for more armed personnel in schools. Also on Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida proposed an $80 million federal program to fund armed officers in all U.S. schools. Texas already lets teachers carry guns under a voluntary program that requires firearm lessons but has drawn relatively few takers. Under the new proposal, armed personnel must also train in identifying students with mental health issues. What I want to pay them for is hopefully getting the training needed to spot the children before we have a problem, said Republican state Rep. Ken King, who authored the bill. The legislation, which overwhelmingly passed the Texas House with bipartisan support, now goes to the Senate where its prospects are uncertain. Texas lawmakers have only a few weeks left to pass any school safety measures before adjourning on May 29. That is just a few days after the anniversary of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, where a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers. Some of the families have spent months pleading for tougher gun laws in particular one that would raise the age to purchase semi-automatic rifles but GOP leaders have made clear they do not support new restrictions. Under the Texas bill, teachers and staff of public and open-enrollment charter schools would be eligible to earn up to $25,000 extra for opting to be armed for campus security. They would also need to take courses in first aid, firearms training and mental health training, which would be added to the mental health training Texas lawmakers want to require for all school employees. Story continues Other new school safety measures advancing in Texas would require at least one armed person ranging from a police officer to a school staff member on all public school campuses. A bill requiring silent panic buttons in classrooms is now headed to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature. Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat and former teacher who voted against Tuesdays proposal, said he worried the bill would create an incentive for teachers struggling financially to start carrying weapons. Even teachers who dont want to carry guns may feel like they are financially pressured to do so just so they can provide for their families, Talarico said. After the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in 2012, Texas created a voluntary school marshal program in which applicants must first be approved by their school districts, pass a psychological exam and receive 80 hours of training, including in live-shooter scenarios. In its first four years, the program certified just 33 school marshals across the state, which has about 9,000 campuses. By summer 2022, shortly after Uvalde, there were still fewer than 400. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, shown here at a March 15 news conference in Austin, starting pushing for a pardon for man who shot a protester after Fox News' Tucker Carlson made an issue of it. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, shown here at a March 15 news conference in Austin, starting pushing for a pardon for man who shot a protester after Fox News' Tucker Carlson made an issue of it. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was asked in February about the noticeableback-and-forth jousting with his Florida counterpart, Republican Ron DeSantis. Both DeSantis and, to a much lesser degree, Abbott are considered possible 2024 presidential candidates, and so they appear to be more or less engaging in an unspoken competition to effectively out-cruel each other over policy. So far, the results have culminated in each governor shipping undocumented migrants to states with Democratic governors, restricting abortion, expanding gun rights and limiting or flat-out banning the mention of race, sexuality and gender in schools. All of it has been done for the sake of satiating the mean-spirited impulses that fuel the modern conservative movement with the hopes of building up enough appearances on the Fox News prime-time bloc to garner sufficient support to launch the perfectly bigoted presidential campaign. Abbott still wont cop to what drives his decision to use governance to troll and harm people, though, telling TheTexas Tribune when asked about DeSantis, The reality is we really just focus on Texas and working for our constituents here in our state. That does not explain the latest example of Abbotts desperate and increasingly dangerous attempts to build a national following: calling for the pardon of a man convicted of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester in Austin in 2020. Daniel Perry was recently convicted of murdering Garrett Foster from his car in downtown Austin in July 2020, two months after the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. After Perry turned into a crowd of marching BLM protesters, he drove his car into a group that included Foster. Foster, a white Air Force veteran, was legally carrying an AK-47, but it was Perry who shot Foster five times through his car window with a handgun. Witnesses said Foster never raised his rifle. Story continues It only took a day for Abbott to rally behind a convicted murderer once Tucker Carlson got involved. The just-fired host of Tucker Carlson Tonight, which commanded a daily audience of well over 3 million, was used to effectively using his platform to punk Republican politicians into doing what he wanted. So, on a recent Friday night airing of his show, Carlson called out Abbott for not agreeing to appear on the show to address Perrys murder conviction. Carlson said Abbotts office suggested Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton instead, and thats when the second most powerful man in the GOP called him out. So that is Greg Abbotts position theres no right to self-defense in Texas, Carlson claimed. Less than 24 hours later, Abbott made his first public comments on Perrys case on social media, promising a pardon for him. I am working as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt. Perry, Abbott wrote. Abbott also tweeted that Perry should have been protected by the states stand your ground laws, faulting a progressive district attorney for prosecuting him. Have you caught all of the buzzwords? The embattled Carlson, who recently lost his job (did I already mention that?) was not mentioned by name, but its not the first time Abbott has announced some policy in response to one of Carlsons on-air rants. He no longer has to; its evident who he is answering to. As longtime Abbott observers have noted, during his eight years in office, the governor has largely waved off the countless pardon requests landing on his desk. This is unprecedented, state Rep. Ron Reynolds, chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, said in a statement in response to Abbotts pledge. 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. Abbott, a former state Supreme Court justice and three-term Texas attorney general, is letting us know how justice bends to the will of those with power, even for those who become among the pettiest public officials serving in government. Since Abbotts decision, it has been revealed that for years Perry sent messages online containing racist memes, racist language and threats of violence against Black people and Muslims. A state district judge unsealed court records last week, and in the 76 pages filed by Travis County prosecutors, the Army sergeant said he was a racist. Black Lives Matter is racist to white people.... It is official I am racist because I do not agree with people acting like monkeys, Perry wrote. Weeks before Perry shot Foster, he wrote in a May 2020 Facebook message exchange with a friend that he might have to kill a few people rioting outside his apartment complex. The friend wrote to Perry: Can you catch me a negro daddy. That is what I am hoping, Perry said in response. Abbott has yet to respond to reports about these messages, but I genuinely fear it may not matter to Abbott because it doesnt matter to the base hes appealing to. Tucker Carlson, like many on the right, has increasingly embraced men like Daniel Perry. Carlson is the same person who gave a sympathetic interview to Kyle Rittenhouse, the teen who killed two protesters and wounded a third in 2020 during civil unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. What a sweet kid. I think that comes through loud and clear, Carlson said to his viewers during a break from the interview. Imagine putting that kid in jail. This is the party of stand your ground laws, the permission slip to kill enemies real or imagined and the party that has since set its sights on making it legal to run over protesters. Republican lawmakers in states including North Dakota, North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee and, of course, Texas proposed bills that would make it legal for drivers to hit peaceful protesters. The Republican Party is one of white grievance and vengeance with a conservative media ecosystem that only feeds that anger, and the leaders of the GOP would rather capitulate to it than challenge it. Abbott even seems to revel in it. It was clear when we went on Fox News to troll Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) while Texans froze during another failure of the states power grid, but his depravity and desperation for attention are only growing more dangerous as he pushes for this pardon. Abbott is a goofy, hateful man trying to troll his way to relevancy in a Republican presidential primary. It will never happen, but that doesnt matter when people suffering in vain suffer the same as those in Florida and elsewhere under similarly cruel Republican governance. To me, it is yet another reminder of why Democrats should not give up on Texas and, generally speaking, should start making a bigger fuss of how blatantly racist and violent the opposition party is and what media outlets promote them. Community members discussed in small groups Tuesday what they thought the strengths and weaknesses were for Columbus City Schools during a town hall meeting held at Columbus Downtown High School. The meeting was intended to get community input on the district's search for the next superintendent, but residents pushed back when two firms hired by the district to facilitate the search refused to provide any information about the candidates. Columbus City Schools parents and residents attending a town hall meeting Tuesday pushed back on the firms hired to help with the search process for the district's next superintendent after the firms declined to provide them any information about who has applied for the position. Nearly 30 Columbus City Schools parents, district faculty members and residents took part in the town hall at Downtown High School, which was facilitated by the law firm Taft Stettinius & Hollister, which has offices in Columbus; Ray & Associates, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based firm that specializes in school executive leadership searches; and Fahlgren Mortine, a Columbus-based marketing firm. The Columbus City school board approved paying a total of $250,000 to be handled by the Taft firm to assist in searching for a new school chief executive after outgoing Superintendent Talisa Dixon announced in December that she would be retiring at the end of the current academic year. Angela Chapman took over Jan. 1 as interim superintendent for the district. Dixon brought her into the administration in 2019, and she had served as chief transformation and leadership officer. During portions of the meeting, community members in attendance were broken off into small groups to discuss what they thought the strengths, opportunities and weaknesses are in the state's largest school district and shared their conversations with the group. During a question-and-answer portion of the meeting, multiple participants began asking about how many applicants had applied for the post and asked when they could see the list of candidates. Janica Pierce Tucker, partner-in-charge of the Taft law firm's Columbus office, told the audience that the list of candidates would not be shared until the board has narrowed the selection down to finalists and shared information with the public, citing Ohio open meetings laws. However, Stephen Hardwick, a Columbus attorney in the audience law, asked if Ohio law required them to withhold applicant information or if they were choosing to do so. Story continues Columbus City Schools buses are parked in 2019 at the Moler Transporation Services Center in Columbus in a Dispatch file photo. "Well, I'm a lawyer, so I'm not going to answer that," Pierce Tucker said to Hardwick before adding she believed the law was open to interpretation in regards to that. "It's your choice to keep it secret don't blame the law," Hardwick replied. "That's not honest, you need to be honest." Hardwick later wrote on his Twitter account that the decision to withhold who has applied for the superintendent's position was a choice made by the Board of Education. "They need to just own their decision," he tweeted. Unforced errorCCS people tonight said open meeting laws *require* them to keep initial applicant names secret. But thats a defensible policy choice that the Board made. They need to just own their decision. pic.twitter.com/7a4N2X4V6O Stephen Hardwick (@Nonfinality) April 26, 2023 The Columbus Dispatch filed a records request for information about the candidates earlier this week, but Columbus City Schools said in a Tuesday evening response that the records did not exist and the details of the applicants are confidential under attorney/client privilege. Michael Collins, president of Ray & Associates, said he thinks Ohio has a "very natural, respectful" level of required transparency in public records access to candidate information. "(The finalists') names are going to be known before they're ever selected," Collins said. Community shares thoughts on superintendent search process Fred Jones, 54, a parent of a Fort Hayes Career Center student, said he wanted to emphasize the importance of stability to the district after a series of changes in the superintendent and school principal positions. "The turnover in leadership is concerning because stability is the one thing our kids need, and if you have stable leadership in the buildings, it provides a great environment for learning and growth," Jones said. Many participants said during the event that they believed the district was strong in diversity and access to resources, but some groups reported that they believed the district didn't communicate well enough and should look for talent within rather than filling positions with external candidates. Numerous participants also said the district had an opportunity to expand extracurricular activities and programs for children, something some believed would help reduce juvenile crime. Read more: Interim Columbus schools superintendent wants job long-term as district begins search Collins said Tuesday's town hall and a community survey have provided valuable feedback for the Board of Education as it goes about selecting from the candidates. The community survey generated a little over 1,700 responses. "This is not just an exercise to hear what people have to say. This has a very significant sense of importance and a place as the entire pool of candidates is shrunk down to the finalists," Collins said. Shayna Wade-Argus, a Columbus resident who participated in the meeting, said during the Q&A section that she was concerned that the community didn't trust the process and that the search firms had not truly taken the community into consideration. "Knowing that we're paying a quarter-of-a-million dollars to find someone, is unnerving," Wade-Argus said. "Right now, I don't think we have the belief and the support of this community that will be worried about our kids." Finalists will be announced ahead of final public forum In early May, the Board of Education plans to review applications, select semifinalists, and complete the first round of interviews, according to a release. On Monday, Tuesday and May 4, the board is holding special meetings where they will immediately go into executive session to consider "the appointment, employment or compensation of public employees." A yet-to-be-determined number of finalists will be announced publicly in mid-May, followed by the final round of interviews and a public forum where the community will have the opportunity to ask questions of candidates. Board President Jennifer Adair previously said the board wants the job filled by the start of the 2023-24 school year in late August. Collins said speed is an important part in moving through the selection process. "The front of this is always longer than the backend," Collins said. @Colebehr_report Cbehrens@dispatch.com This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Residents sought info on Columbus schools superintendent applicants Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes alongside her boyfriend Billy Evans, walks back to her hotel following a hearing at the Robert E. Peckham U.S. Courthouse on March 17, 2023 in San Jose, California. (Getty Images) Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has delayed starting her prison sentence for defrauding Silicon Valley investors by filing yet another appeal over her conviction. Holmes had been due to self-report to a prison camp on 27 April to begin the 11.25-year sentence she was handed after a jury convicted her on multiple counts related to her fraudulent blood-testing start-up. Now her lawyers have informed US District Judge Edward Davila that instead of entering prison she has appealed a decision he made earlier this month ordering her to begin her sentence later this week. The appeal was filed with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday and automatically delays the reporting date for Holmes, who has been free on bail since her conviction in November, according to the Associated Press. Holmes, 39, has two young children, the first of whom was born before her 2021 fraud trial and the second who was born after her November sentencing. Judge Davila had recommended Holmes be imprisoned at a low-security prison camp in Bryan, Texas, but it has not been confirmed that is where she will serve her sentence. Ed Sheeran testified this week in Manhattan federal court. (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press) Ed Sheeran has some bad habits, but ripping off other people's songs isn't one of them, he insisted this week on the witness stand. The British pop musician testified Tuesday in Manhattan federal court that he did not plagiarize the Marvin Gaye classic "Let's Get It On" while co-writing his hit single "Thinking Out Loud." Sheeran is on trial in New York after the family of Gaye's late songwriting partner, Ed Townsend, sued him for copyright infringement. According to the Associated Press, Sheeran got heated at times and sparred with the plaintiffs' attorney, Keisha Rice. After the plaintiffs' team played a video for the jury of Sheeran performing a mashup of "Thinking Out Loud" and "Let's Get It On" in concert, the Grammy winner testified that it is quite simple to weave in and out of songs that are in the same key. Sheeran argued that he would "be an idiot to stand on a stage in front of 20,000 people and" play a song he knowingly plagiarized. Another attorney for the plaintiffs, however, said the footage of Sheeran merging the two songs was tantamount to "a confession." Ben Crump, who represents the Townsend family, called the video a "smoking gun" and urged Sheeran to give "credit where credit is due." (The judge overseeing the case, Louis L. Stanton, initially rejected the plaintiffs' motion to show the concert video to the jury but had said he would reconsider his decision depending on the evidence presented.) Townsend's daughter and lead plaintiff Kathryn Townsend Griffin also took the witness stand and hailed Sheeran as "a great artist with a great future." "But I have to protect my father's legacy," she added. In 2016, Townsend's heirs filed a lawsuit accusing Sheeran of stealing the heart of Lets Get It On by using melodic, harmonic and rhythmic compositions that are substantially and/or strikingly similar to the drum composition of the Gaye tune. Story continues Attorneys for Sheeran have countered in court documents and at trial that "the two songs share versions of a similar and unprotectable chord progression that was freely available to all songwriters. The Manhattan trial is expected to last up to two weeks, and Sheeran is scheduled to kick off a North American concert tour May 6 in Arlington, Texas. His new studio album, "Subtract," comes out May 5. The week of the album release, a number of "Subtract" pop-up experiences are slated to appear in major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and New York. The Subtract tour is coming to Santa Clara and Inglewood in September. The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Olivia Pratt-Korbel - Family handout A convicted criminal who helped Olivia Pratt-Korbels murderer to cover his tracks will not be able to return to Merseyside, but he is to be given a new identity after he is released from prison. Paul Russell, who pleaded guilty to assisting an offender, claimed he was terrified of the schoolgirls killer, Thomas Cashman, who had a reputation, as he was sentenced to 22 months in prison. The 41-year-old said he was not aware that Cashman had killed the nine-year-old when he helped him to dispose of clothing and a bag after the shooting in August 2022, Liverpool Crown Court heard on Wednesday. Russell, a father of two and the partner of the key witness in Cashmans trial, will serve half of his sentence minus the six months he has spent on remand, which means he will be released in only five months. Russell spoke with police in the days after Olivias death and told them he knew who was responsible for the killing, his sentencing hearing was told. The court heard that moments after he was charged with assisting Cashman, he was issued with a threat to life warning by police. His guilty plea could not be reported until after the trial of Cashman, who was found guilty of the schoolgirls murder last month and sentenced to 42 years in prison. Many would think it lenient Jailing Russell, Mrs Justice Yip said: Those who assist offenders who use guns must expect to be imprisoned. That message needs to be understood. She said a balance needed to be struck because Russell had gone to the police after discovering the dreadful truth that an innocent child had lost her life and had named Cashman despite genuine fear of the consequences. The judge said she had no doubt that many would think the sentence was very lenient given the nature of the offending. Olivias family were in court for the sentencing and her father, John Pratt, was seen shaking his head and saying, so what? after hearing Russells life had been destroyed since he began assisting the police. Story continues When the sentence was announced, he said: Joke. Russell, from West Derby, in Liverpool, admitted driving Cashman from an address in the aftermath of the shooting. He also admitted disposing of a bag given to him by Cashman by taking it to another address. During the attack, the balaclava-clad gunman chased convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee into the Korbel family home in Kingsheath Avenue, before firing through the door, killing Oliva and injuring her mother, Cheryl Korbel. The defendant, wearing a black suit and white shirt, appeared via videolink from a remote location for the hearing. Accomplice turned on killer Henry Riding, prosecuting, said: Mr Russell not only admitted what he had done to assist Mr Cashman in the course of police interviews, he also named Mr Cashman in the course of the very first police interview. He said Russell had offered to give evidence against Cashman as a prosecution witness. Cashmans trial heard that the killer fled the scene of the shooting as Olivia lay fatally injured and went to the house of a woman he had been in a relationship with. The woman, who has been given lifetime anonymity, told the court that Cashman had changed his clothes and she heard him say he had done Joey. Tom Schofield, defending, said: [Russell] doesnt for a moment suggest he is blameless in this case and he recognises that its right he should be punished. Russell had been remanded to a prison in Leeds, but was transferred to another prison under an assumed name because of a threat to his safety. Mr Schofield said Russell would be looking over his shoulder for years to come. UNITED NATIONS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for an immediate end to fighting in Sudan. Ten days of violence and chaos since the outbreak of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces are heartbreaking. A prolonged, full-scale war is unbearable to contemplate, he told a UN Security Council meeting on Sudan. Sudan borders seven countries, all of which have either been involved in conflict or seen serious civil unrest over the past decade. It is a gateway to the Sahel, where insecurity and political instability are making an already catastrophic humanitarian situation even worse, he noted. Across the wider region, poverty and hunger are rampant. The climate emergency, the global cost of living crisis, and soaring levels of debt are taking a terrible toll. In some places, humanitarian aid is all that is keeping famine at bay, he added. The power struggle in Sudan is not only putting that country's future at risk. It is lighting a fuse that could detonate across borders, causing immense suffering for years, and setting development back for decades, he warned. The fighting must stop immediately, he said. "We need an all-out effort for peace," said Guterres, calling on the parties to the conflict "to silence the guns" and "to put the interests of their people front and center." This conflict will not, and must not, be resolved on the battlefield. The Sudanese people have made their wishes very clear. They want peace and the restoration of civilian rule through the transition to democracy, he said. Guterres demands the parties to the conflict respect the 72-hour cease-fire and come together to establish a permanent cessation of hostilities. He urged Security Council members and other UN member states and regional organizations with influence to press them to de-escalate tensions and return to the negotiating table immediately. The United Nations has reconfigured its presence to protect its personnel and their families while staying and delivering support to the Sudanese people, and is establishing a hub in Port Sudan on the Red Sea to enable it to continue to work with partners in support of peace and to alleviate humanitarian suffering, he said. "Above all, we stand with the Sudanese people, and their hopes and demands for peace, the restoration of civilian rule, and the democratic transition," said the UN chief. Fear was on the minds of many students and teachers at Bartram Trail High School today. The school increased security on campus due to a school threat. The communication person with the St. Johns County School District tells me more than 2,100 students did not go to school today. And the total enrollment number is about 3,000. I mean its something we have to worry about every day, one parent who did not want to share her name said. Its not just when we get warnings. This parent has two kids currently attending Bartram Trail High School. One is a freshman; another is a junior. Both her children went to school today. We cant live our lives in fear, the parent said. I do live my life in fear, but I cant make my choices on that. She also had a child that graduated from Bartram Trail High last year. During his high school experience, we had a lot of bomb threats, and so I saw this as similar to that, the parent said. In an email sent to parents last Friday, stated in part, There was a possible threat to the school written on a restroom stall. Ryan Yeoman says it was a message written in the girls restroom. All I remember was it was black ink saying, Im going to shoot up the school on whatever day today is, Yeoman said. Yeoman chose not to go to school today. It was kind of a free day. I mean you still be worried about it, but its high school, Yeoman said. Were high school kids. Were not really going to think about it. In a statement, a school district spokesperson told Action News Jax, We take all threats seriously, even when the credibility of the threat is in question. So today, the school increased its police presence on campus. I was really happy how the school responded, the parent said. Lots of law enforcement, lots of support from the teachers and staff saying if you dont feel safe, its going to be an excused absence. Action News Jax reached out to the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office requesting more details about the threat. But we are still waiting to hear back. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Since the wheels of justice can often be slow to turn in the legal system, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune has put together a list of three area cases where an arrest was made, but a trial has yet to happen, to help readers stay up to date. It's important to note that while some of these cases are scheduled for trial in 2023, that can change if more time is needed, schedule conflicts arise, or other factors contribute to a need to push back dates. Related court news: Murder, drive-by cases from Sarasota-Manatee linger in legal system. What's happening now? More like this: Two fatal crashes and a shooting: 3 cases awaiting trial in Sarasota circuit court North Port shooting suspect's case expected to go to trial next week Three years after a five-hour standoff with police along Interstate 75 just north of Gainesville ended in an arrest, Robert Parolisi's case is expected to head to trial on May 1, according to court records. Parolisi has been charged with murder in the first degree in connection to the fatal shooting of his ex-girlfriend, Amber Shildneck, according to court records. He is still in custody at the Sarasota County Jail, records indicate. North Port police stopped by Parolisi's home on May 1, 2020, after his mother reported that Parolisi was threatening to kill himself, according to the affidavit in the case. When an officer contacted Parolisi's mother again, she "advised that the defendant told her he shot the victim." According to Shildneck's current boyfriend at the time, Shildneck went to Parolisi's house to get her cat and turtle following their breakup four months earlier. Court records indicate that in September 2021, Parolisi filed to dismiss the case based on Florida's Stand Your Ground immunity. Parolisi claimed that an argument broke out between him and Shildneck that evening, and after attempting to calm Shildneck down, he told her to leave. Parolisi then claims Shildneck reached for a handgun, causing the two to struggle over the gun. Parolisi said he managed to wrestle the handgun away and fearing Shildneck would stab him with a kitchen knife, he fired the gun three times in the kitchen and then the remaining rounds in front of the door until Shildneck fell to the ground. Story continues The court denied Parolisi's motion to dismiss a little less than a year later, stating that the prosecution "satisfied its burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant did not act in self-defense and is not entitled to the statutory immunity." While the motion to dismiss was denied, the judge said Parolisi can raise the claim that he acted in self-defense during the trial. Man arrested in fatal shooting of woman at Venice bank could stand trial in late summer In October 2020, William Tollard was arrested and charged with murder in the first degree after he was accused of shooting a woman at a Venice bank, according to previous Sarasota Herald-Tribune reporting and court records. Witnesses told police they saw Tollard walk up to a woman in a white Jeep who was at the drive-thru of BB&T Bank and fired a handgun several times. Tollard then fired more shots at the Jeep in the parking lot before he fled, according to previous reporting. Tollard and the victim knew each other, but the specifics of their relationship were not released because of Marsy's Law. Tollard has remained locked up at the Sarasota County Jail since his arrest, records indicate. A jury trial was scheduled for March 27, however, it was canceled, and a docket sounding is now scheduled for early August, with a trial possibly following between Aug. 21 and Sept. 1, according to court records. For subscribers: Midnight heist of rare horse: Minnesota woman's bizarre fight with Florida circus owner In other court news: Devin Nunes, CEO of Trump's media group, sues Herald-Tribune columnist for alleged defamation In other Sarasota news: After site plan changes, Siesta Promenade once again open to public scrutiny Trial scheduled for mid-October for three defendants in connection to July 2021 shooting Roberto Ruiz Jr., Rafael Gonzalez and Nichole Vasquez are all scheduled to stand trial on Oct. 16 in connection to the fatal shooting of a man at the Day Night Convenience Store in July 2021, according to court records. Ruiz Jr. is charged with murder in the second degree and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Gonzalez is charged with murder in the second degree and Vasquez is charged with accessory after the fact, according to court records. Affidavits in the cases indicate that Vasquez pulled up to the convenience store in the mid-afternoon of July 26, 2021, and became involved in a verbal argument with the victim. During the argument, Ruiz approached Vasquez and the victim, who removed a pocketknife from his pocket, opened it, and held it behind his back. Ruiz put himself between the two, the court document states. It's noted in the affidavit that neither Ruiz nor Vasquez appeared to be afraid of the victim or attempted to create any distance from him. A second man, later identified as Gonzalez, approached the group holding a handgun, according to the affidavit. As the argument between the victim and the group continued, Gonzalez allegedly shot the victim twice, causing him to drop the knife and flee. Gonzalez followed the victim and witnesses told investigators they heard three additional shots, the affidavit states. Gonzalez, Ruiz and Vasquez all fled the scene in two separate cars. Investigators in the affidavit in Ruiz's case indicate that he and Vasquez are affiliated with the Surenos gang and that Ruiz was an enforcer for Vasquez. Gabriela Szymanowska covers the legal system for the Herald-Tribune in partnership with Report for America. You can support her work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America. Contact Gabriela Szymanowska at gszymanowska@gannett.com, or on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota Circuit Court: 3 fatal shooting cases heading to trials The tarpaulins and scaffolding that obscured the facade of Tiffany and Co's flagship New York jewelry store for years have finally come down ahead of its re-opening this week. The mythical store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue -- immortalized by the 1961 film "Breakfast at Tiffany's" -- has been extensively remodeled, which the luxury jeweler hopes will help fuel the brand's momentum under its new owner, the French luxury giant LVMH. The revamped landmark store will be officially inaugurated on Wednesday following its first complete renovation since it opened in 1940. It will reopen to the public on Friday. The goal, according to Tiffany chief executive officer Anthony Ledru, is to offer "a unique client experience," with a blend of "art, craftsmanship, heritage and lifestyle." Tiffany is looking to remain true to its origins while remaining culturally "relevant," he told AFP in an email. The company wants to make Tiffany's "approachable to all generations," he said. - Beyonce and Nike - Tiffany was founded in New York in 1837, and has become best known for its diamonds, silver jewelry and engagement rings sold in the brand's iconic robin's egg blue boxes. The company, which employs 14,000 people and operates some 300 retail outlets around the world, was acquired by LVMH in early 2021 for just under $16 billion. At LVMH's annual earnings presentation in January, CEO Bernard Arnault noted that Tiffany was on track to "exceed $1 billion in current operating income" this year. "We were barely halfway there when we acquired this business," he said. With help from Arnault's son, Alexandre, Tiffany CEO Anthony Ledru has embarked on a refresh of the brand, calling on America's hottest show business couple Jay-Z and Beyonce to promote its products, and launching a campaign around the provocative slogan, "Not your mother's Tiffany." Story continues The luxury brand has also forged a partnership with US footwear giant Nike to go along with the revamp. "Tiffany was a sleeping beauty," says Erwan Rambourg, a specialist in the luxury sector at HSBC. The company long relied on a "very strong reputation," but was also "very conservative in its choices, very slow and quite obsessed with the short term" to satisfy shareholders, he told AFP. The new management, spurred on by "the spirit of conquest specific to Bernard Arnault," repositioned the image of the brand by putting less emphasis on products related to marriage and silver jewelry and by raising some prices, he said. "When it was managed by American executives, there was a huge emphasis in communication on entry price, which is not a good approach" to take in luxury, according to Luca Solca of Bernstein, saying it is more prudent for such brands to focus on high-end products. The current management's marketing and communication strategy are "more modern," which is necessary "to recruit younger consumers," he said. - Recognizable jewelry - The jeweler has also launched a range of new products such as the "T by Tiffany" ring and, more recently, its "Lock" line of bracelets. "It is quite difficult to put a big logo on a ring, a bracelet or a pendant, but the shape of some so-called iconic products can, at 20 meters in a restaurant or a bar, identify that it is a Tiffany, Cartier or Van Cleef jewel," Rambourg said. The group has also developed a new approach for its stores, opting for a "more feminine, warm and welcoming" concept, he added. The renovation of the New York store began under previous management in 2019, and continued after Tiffany's takeover by LVMH. It represents the largest investment ever made in the luxury world for an operation of this nature, according to a person close to Arnault. In addition to the refresh of the sales counters, the Manhattan store's ten floors will include several exhibition spaces, a cafe run by French chef Daniel Boulud and a VIP area. Before the renovation -- during which customers could visit a temporary location next door -- the store accounted for around 10 percent of Tiffany's sales. Ledru would not commit to a specific sales target post-renovation, but said the group has "set the bar high for business expectations," and that it anticipates "millions of visitors from all over the world" will set foot in the new Tiffany store each year. jum-kap-da/caw A conspiracy theory spiraling on social media suggests a recent string of deaths in Chicago may be connected by something more sinister than coincidence - despite police insisting thats not the case. Over the last few months, multiple men have been found dead in bodies of water surrounding Chicago, including the Diversey Harbor, the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. The deaths have few things in common. Most of the men were in their 20s or 30s, many were returning from a night of drinking before going missing and somes cause of death was listed as drowning due to intoxication. Ken Waks, a TikToker who makes videos about business news, and more recently crime, has dedicated multiple posts to his belief that men in Chicago are being targeted by a group of people. Mr Waks made a video in early March saying he had been offered a ride by a stranger in an unmarked vehicle while walking around Chicago at night, multiple times. Do not take free rides from strangers, Mr Waks said. People are going missing. Like I think this is some kind of connection. In another video, Mr Waks claimed he knew how the men were going missing and how they were connected - saying the similarities in the cases indicate the men are being drugged at bars they attend, then offered a ride, like Mr Waks was, and eventually killed. Mr Waks said he contacted the Chicago Police Department and local news stations to encourage an investigation of his theory. But his efforts were fruitless. In a video, Mr Waks said he attempted to attend a Chicago Police Department community policing meeting but was refused entry at first, then denied an opportunity to speak. The Independent has reached out to the Chicago Police Department for comment. In a statement given to NBC 5 Chicago in March, a spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department said, At this time there is no evidence suggesting there is a connection between these drowning deaths. The Chicago Police Department conducts thorough death investigations as we work to bring a measure of closure to the families of these, and all, victims, they added. Story continues Mr Waks is accusing the police and local news stations of not picking up the story because there is not enough evidence to assume the deaths are connected or a group is targeting. Mr Waks videos have received millions of views and amassed thousands of comments from people who are concerned about the issue. TikTok is experimenting with a new tool that allows users to create generative AI avatars, the company confirmed to TechCrunch. The new tool was first spotted by social media consultant Matt Navarra. The tool isn't broadly available, and is currently being tested in a few select markets, the company said. With this test product, TikTok is essentially building a Lensa-like app directly within its platform. Once users get access to the tool, it will ask them to select between three to 10 photos to create avatars, according to screenshots posted by Navarra. You can only use the tool once a day, and each time you use it, it will generate up to 30 avatars. TikTok has a NEW generative AI avatar creator! View thread to see what it can do pic.twitter.com/TDBbwok6bt Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) April 25, 2023 After you upload your images, you can pick up to five different styles for the tool to use when generating your avatars. Navarra notes that it takes a couple of minutes for the app to generate the AI avatars. You can then choose to download one or several of the AI avatars. You have the option to share an avatar to your TikTok story or upload it as your profile avatar. "We're always thinking about new ways to add value to the community and enrich the TikTok experience, as we continue to build a safe place that entertains, inspires creativity, and drives culture," a spokesperson for TikTok told TechCrunch in an email. "In a few select regions, we're experimenting with a new way to create and share profile pictures with the TikTok community." Although the styles with TikTok's tool are more limited than what you can get on Lensa, a paid app, the results are impressive. And give you the option to share an avatar to your TikTok story and / upload it as your profile avatar pic.twitter.com/XPzhNxjqsK Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) April 25, 2023 Photos that violate TikTok's Community Guidelines cannot be used to create avatars, and photos that are uploaded will be moderated by the app's content moderation systems. TikTok will delete all of the photos that users upload after a short period of time. Story continues TikTok says that the features it experiments with don't always end up in the final product, and for features that do, they can look and feel different by the time they launch broadly. Last winter, Lensa climbed to the top of the U.S. App Store charts as users around the world posted artistic renditions of themselves that they generated on the app. In response to the app's success, consumer demand for AI edits had pushed numerous other AI apps into the U.S. App Stores Top Charts. At the time, the top three spots on the U.S. App Store were all held by AI photo editors. Given the success around generative AI avatar tools, it's no surprise that TikTok is looking to incorporate its own version within its platform. Of course, the success around AI photo apps is paired with controversy, as artists have raised red flags about apps like Lensa AI sampling their work. TikTok is likely looking to avoid such controversy by experimenting with a limited tool. It's worth noting that this isn't the first time that TikTok has built and incorporated its own limited version of a popular AI app. Back in August 2022, the company introduced an in-app text-to-image AI generator that lets users type in a prompt and receive an image that can be used as the background in their videos. The filter was released in response to the popularity of OpenAIs DALL-E 2 text-to-image AI generator. The TikToker's video has garnered over a million views in two days. Screenshot/TikTok - @facecination A TikToker went viral this week with a storytime about how she missed three consecutive flights in a day. She told audiences that this incident in 2019 was her first time flying alone. She told Insider that she's received a ton of dishearteningly hateful and insulting comments from strangers. A TikToker has gone viral with a wild and perplexing storytime about how she missed not one, not two, but three consecutive flights in a single day. Her video has amassed 1.3 million views in two days, but the reactions are split between sympathy and scorn, with some commenters insulting her intelligence. The creator is a 26-year-old accountant and part-time face painter and balloon artist from New Jersey named Sara Poskonka. While she shared her story publicly for the first time on Monday, she told Insider the incident took place in the fall of 2019. She said she was flying via United Airlines at Newark Airport, and praised the company for being "very accommodating and helpful during this horrible experience." In Poskonka's video, told using the second-person "put a finger down" narrative, she described how this was the first time she was ever flying by herself, and that she was traveling to visit her sister in Charleston, South Carolina. She said she missed the first flight because she didn't understand that boarding and departure times were different. She sat at a bar in the airport while her flight was boarding because she thought she had more time. After customer service rescheduled her for a flight that same day, leaving four hours later, she said she missed that one, too. According to Poskonka, the gate had been changed, but she did not hear this announcement as she had her headphones on the entire time. Story continues "You start running over to the other gate, which is actually really far away from the gate that you were at, and you ended up missing the second flight, and basically none of your family believes you," she recalled. Poskonka said she got scheduled on a third flight, this one once again scheduled to take off in four hours. She said she was so anxious to make this one that she sat in total silence without headphones or any distractions waiting to board. But then chaos struck again. "Right before you were supposed to board, you get a phone call from your sister saying that they actually changed terminals, which you would have to take a shuttle bus in order to get to the next terminal, and so you don't even attempt that," she said in her storytime. Poskonka told Insider that because her sister purchased the ticket, all of the updates and notifications about flight changes were sent to her phone and email. "She was actively monitoring the flight because I was extremely upset over missing the first two so she was trying to ease my anxiety as much as she could," Poskonka said. In her video, Poskonka recalled sprinting to the customer service desk to plead if they could call the gate and ask them to hold the plane while she traveled over to the other terminal, but they said no. At this point, Poskonka said she was so upset that she sat on the floor and cried. Despite the misfortunes of the day, the TikToker did make the fourth plane. Responding to a commenter, Poskonka added that she was so traumatized by the experience that she opted to drive 13 hours to visit her sister the next time. The reactions to the video have been visceral, with many viewers stunned by the farcical chain of events, and comparing it to the iconic episode of "SpongeBob" called "Rock Bottom" where the titular sponge continually misses his bus. "This story will always amaze me," one top comment with over 4,000 likes said. "How did every part of this go so wrong?" another commenter wrote. "This was such a chaotic story lmao." But there was also a torrent of harsh backlash, which Poskonka said she was shocked to see. She expected more people to find "humor in the experience" because of how ridiculous and unrelatable it was, she told Insider. Many commenters insulted her intelligence, and said her misfortunes were a "skill issue." "How old are you," one top commenter quipped. Some suggested that she needed a "babysitter" to navigate life, and that they found it "horrifying" that she could be allowed to vote or drive. Poskonka thinks these hateful remarks are crossing a harmful boundary online. "The comments are definitely taking it too seriously, and a few comments specifically have really gotten out of hand," she said. "Some people are 'diagnosing' me with mental issues and others are saying I'm a 'threat to society.' All I did was share a story that didn't harm anyone and only wasted my own time." Despite the toxicity, Poskonka said she also received some sweet and helpful comments from strangers with useful flying tips that she will forever pocket. Read the original article on Insider James Cordens time as the host of The Late Late Show on CBS comes to an end this week following an eight-year run in the presenters chair. The British entertainer has a star-studded week of guests lined up ahead of his last show on Thursday (27 April), including a final Carpool Karaoke session with Adele. Since arriving in the US in 2015, Corden has gone from being the beloved star of the hit BBC comedy series Gavin & Stacey to a global phenomenon, appearing in major Hollywood movies and forming personal relationships with A-listers like Tom Cruise. However, the dizzying heights Corden has reached have also been marked by some embarrassing lows. Over the years, Corden has been accused of exhibiting diva behaviour and stealing jokes from other comedians. Read on to find a timeline of the entertainers biggest controversies. 2010: Patrick Stewart row at the Glamour Awards James Corden and Patrick Stewart square off at the 2010 Glamour Awards (Rex Features) A moment of genuine drama unfolded at the 2010 Glamour Awards ceremony as Corden clashed with X-Men star Patrick Stewart on stage. As he walked up on stage, Stewart told Corden to get his hands out his pockets and accused him of looking around as if you would rather be anywhere in the world but here. Oh! You couldnt be more wrong, sir. You couldnt be more wrong, Corden responded. Genuinely. And if it looked like that, Im so sorry. But when you come up and present an award, just f***ing get on with it. Stewart kept the argument going, making fun of Cordens weight: From where I was, I could see your belly and that was from right at the back of the room. As the actor paused, Corden hit back: Im waiting for the punchline. Go on. No, seriously, go on. No, go on! You could see my belly, and we can all see you dying right now. He concluded: OK, can we get a taxi really quickly please. Theres an old man going home. 2017: Weinstein jokes at the amfAR Gala Corden received backlash for his stint as host at the AmfAR Gala an HIV/Aids fundraiser in Los Angeles, where he chose to comment on the then-ongoing sexual harassment scandal involving Harvey Weinstein. Story continues The comedian quipped: This is a beautiful room. Its a beautiful night here in LA. So beautiful, Harvey Weinstein has already asked tonight up to his hotel to give him a massage. Corden continued with: It has been weird this week though, watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water. Ask any of the women who watched him take a bath. James Corden speaks onstage during the amfAR Gala Los Angeles 2017 (Charley Gallay/Getty Images for FIJI Water) The actors jokes about the disgraced Hollywood film mogul were met with harsh reprisals from the likes of Anthony Bourdain and Rose McGowan, who alleges that Weinstein raped her. Corden later apologised for the awards show segment, tweeting: To be clear, sexual assault is no laughing matter. I was not trying to make light of Harveys inexcusable behavior, but to shame him, the abuser, not his victims. I am truly sorry for anyone offended, that was never my intention. 2020: Accusations of gayface in Ryan Murphys The Prom In 2020, the actor was accused of portraying gross and offensive gay stereotypes in Ryan Murphys Netflix musical, The Prom. Corden who is straight plays ailing gay Broadway star Barry Glickman in the film. AwardsWatchs Erik Anderson described the Brits performance as the worst gayface in a long, long time. IndieWire writer Zack Sharf tweeted: The Prom shouts about tolerance but has James Corden leaning into effeminate gay stereotypes every chance he gets. In an article about Cordens insulting performance for Vanity Fair, Richard Lawson said that Corden is so bad that no more straight actors should play gay men until [the films] sins are properly atoned for. The Prom (MELINDA SUE GORDON/NETFLIX) 2022: Balthazar restaurant scandal Last year, Corden was branded a tiny cretin of a man and banned from New York City restaurant Balthazar over his alleged treatment of the staff. The owner of the eatery Keith McNally alleged on Instagram that The Late Late Show host was the most abusive customer to my Balthazar servers since the restaurant opened 25 years ago. However, McNally rescinded the ban shortly after and claimed that Corden had apologised profusely and all was forgiven in a second post. Corden later addressed the controversy on his talk show, saying: The truth is I have made a rude, rude comment. And it was wrong. It was an unnecessary comment, it was ungracious to the server. As the saga unfolded, however, a clip resurfaced online showing the Gavin and Stacey star being unable to name members of the crew on The Late Late Show. 2022: Joke-stealing accusations Just months after the restaurant scandal, Corden was accused of stealing one of Ricky Gervais stand-up jokes. On 31 October, Corden told his Late Late Show crowd: When you see Elon Musk talk about Twitter, he does this thing where he goes, Well, its the town square. But it isnt, cause if someone puts up a poster in a town square that says, Guitar lessons available, you dont get people in the town going, I dont wanna play the guitar! I wanna play the piano, you piece of s***! Its like, That sign wasnt for you it was for somebody else. You dont have to get mad about all of it. James Corden (left) and Ricky Gervais (Shutterstock) The joke was practically identical to one Gervais made in his 2018 special Ricky Gervais: Humanity. Gervais himself drew attention to the similarities before swiftly deleting the Twitter post. Corden addressed the subject hours later, writing on the Late Late Shows official Twitter page: Inadvertently told a brilliant Ricky Gervais joke on the show last night, obviously not knowing it came from him. Its brilliant, because its a Ricky Gervais joke. You can watch all Rickys excellent specials on Netflix. J x. The Late Late Show With James Corden airs weeknights at 12:37am EST on CBS in the US. The final episode will air on 27 April. UK viewers can tune into on Sky Comedy the next day at 11:50pm GMT. Republicans in the Montana House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to censure Representative Zooey Zephyr, a Democratic, transgender lawmaker who has been denied the right to debate for over a week after speaking out against a proposed ban on gender-affirming medical care. The vote means that Ms Zephyr, who represents Missoula, will be barred from speaking during floor sessions or participating in person in House business for the rest of the 2023 session. The dramatic censure vote follows days of controversy in the Montana statehouse. On Monday, riot police descended into the House viewing gallery and arrested seven people, as protesters rallied against the ongoing silencing of Rep Zephyr, the first transgender person elected to the state legislature in Montana history. The Montana Republican party and the House Republicans are making a fatal mistake, Keegan Medrano of the Montana ACLU told The Independent ahead of the historic vote. I think that theyre showing all Montanans that theyre unafraid to infringe on free speech. Theyre unafraid to engage in harassment and discrimination against an individual that theyve been seeking to legislate out of existence. The richness of this is all is that they have taken away her microphone but theyve only amplified her voice. Theyve take a local community leader, a real figure for Missoulians, and turned her into a national and international figure, a sort of distillation of the animus and the legislation theyre seeking to pass, they added. I think this will completely backfire on them and I think it already has. The rapidly escalating dispute began on 18 April, when Rep Zephyr pointedly criticised her colleagues for backing a proposal to ban gender-affirming medical care for minors, telling them they had blood on their hands. This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information. The Republican-controlled Montana House voted Wednesday to discipline Democratic state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, the state's first transgender lawmaker. Zephyr is barred from participating on the House floor for the remainder of the 2023 session, but will be allowed to vote remotely. Zephyr had been prevented by Republicans from debating a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors after telling her colleagues that they would have blood on their hands if it passed. Her silencing led to protests from her constituents, seven of whom were arrested Monday while protesting in the House chamber. "When I rose up and said 'there is blood on your hands,' I was not being hyperbolic," Zephyr said while addressing the House before the disciplinary vote. "I was speaking to the real consequences of the votes that we, as legislators, take in this body. And when the speaker asks me to apologize on behalf of decorum, what he is really asking me to do is be silent when my community is facing bills that get us killed." House Speaker Matt Regier had previously said that "the only person silencing Rep. Zephyr is Rep. Zephyr. The Montana House will not be bullied. All 100 representatives will continue to be treated the same." In a letter demanding the Zephyr be censured last week, the Montana Freedom Caucus misgendered Zephyr. The letter, signed by 21 members of the House, said she should be punished "for trying to shame the Montana legislative body and by using inappropriate and uncalled-for language during a floor debate." This is a breaking news story. It will be updated. Israel celebrates its 75th Independence Day Biden, South Korean President Yoon announce nuclear partnership Arsenal and Manchester City battle for Premier League title in pivotal match Saturday the Tri-Cities should get a taste of the summer to come. The National Weather Service forecasts a high of 87, but thats the center of a range that can be 2 to 3 degrees warmer or cooler. The unusually hot day for late April could be a harbinger of the summer ahead, which the weather service says may be hotter and drier than usual in southeast Washington. All of Washington state and Oregon are likely to have a warmer June through August that usual, it says. The summer is likely to be hotter than usual in the Tri-Cities, according to the National Weather Service outlook. Indications also are that those months could be drier than usual across south Washington and north Oregon, but it is less sure of that prediction. Temperatures since the start of 2023 have averaged colder than usual in the Tri-Cities. They averaged about 2.2 degrees below normal in March and 2.5 degrees below normal so far in April, according to weather service data. Spring has been slower to warm up than usual in the Tri-Cities, said weather service meteorologist Joe Solomon. Temperatures had reached the 70s on just two days this month before Tuesday. Temperatures will finally heat up this spring on Friday and Saturday. The high could be 88 on Saturday, but Columbia River water will still be cold, warns the National Weather Service. But by the end of the week, highs of 81 on Friday, 86 on Saturday and 80 on Sunday are forecast. Saturday should be about 30 degrees warmer than the coolest day in the last week. Normal highs for the end of April are 72 degrees. Highs should be down to about normal again on Monday, when a Tri-Cities high of 69 is forecast. Heat means cold, high rivers The hot weather Saturday likely will draw many Tri-Cities area residents to the Columbia River for water fun. But the weather service warns that the river water will be much slower to warm up than the air temperature. Loss of muscle control can happen quickly, even for experienced swimmers, in its cold, snow-fed and fast-moving water in April, it said. Life vests are recommended. Melting snowpack will fill the Yakima River but it is not expected to reach flood stage near the Tri-Cities. Smaller rivers and creeks also will be rising with melting snowpack. The weather service is not expecting flooding in the Mid-Columbia but is keeping a close eye on water levels that could change. The Yakima River at Kiona, the site of the closest gauge to the Tri-Cities, was at 5.4 feet deep Tuesday morning. It was expected to rise to 9.7 feet over the next seven days. Story continues Thats well below flood stage of 13 feet and also below 11 feet, the action stage at which people along the river are advised to use caution and take actions, such as moving livestock out of low-lying areas along the river. No drought in the Tri-Cities area now, according to U.S. Drought Monitor. The snowpack in the East Cascade Mountains, which will feed the Yakima River to supply water to the Kennewick Irrigation District was at 97% of normal as of early April. The U.S. drought monitor shows no drought now in Benton or Franklin counties as the area has slowly recovered over the last 18 months from the worst rating possible. In 2021, Franklin County was rated as being in extreme drought and Benton County was rated as being partly in extreme drought and partly as exceptional drought, the worst rating possible. Volker Perthes (on the screen), the UN secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan, is about to speak at a Security Council meeting on Sudan at the UN headquarters in New York on April 25, 2023. Perthes said Tuesday that the military leaders of the warring parties in Sudan are not ready for a complete ceasefire. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Fighting in Sudan is quickly turning an already dire humanitarian crisis into a catastrophe, said UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya on Tuesday. What has been unfolding in Sudan since April 15, when clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces broke out, is a nightmare for ordinary citizens and aid workers alike, she told the Security Council in a briefing. Even prior to April 15, humanitarian needs in Sudan were at a record high. Up to 15.8 million people -- a staggering one-third of the country's population -- needed humanitarian aid. Four million children and pregnant and lactating women were malnourished. Some 3.7 million people were internally displaced, she noted. "This conflict will not only deepen those needs. It also threatens to unleash an entirely new wave of humanitarian challenges. Fighting is massively impeding and imperiling aid operations. A humanitarian crisis is quickly turning into a catastrophe," she warned. More than 450 people have been killed and over 4,000 others injured. At least 20 hospitals have been forced to close due to damage, military use, or lack of resources. Power cuts and fuel shortages risk damaging vaccine stocks and water supplies, a precursor to the spread of disease, said Msuya. There have been numerous reports of sexual and gender-based violence. The toll on mental health and psychological well-being, especially among children, is unimaginable, she added. Msuya said the world body's commitment to the people of Sudan remains resolute even though the situation is extremely dangerous and alarming, adding that the UN is exploring ways to replenish stockpiles so that it can deliver aid to partners in Port Sudan and elsewhere, as soon as it is safe to do so. The UN is activating a hub in Nairobi, Kenya, to support the rapid response, and is preparing for refugee influxes into countries across the region, she said, adding that tens of thousands of people have arrived in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. "What the people of Sudan need, what we need to reach them, is an immediate ceasefire and a lasting solution to the crisis," said Msuya. UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya (front) speaks at a Security Council meeting on Sudan at the UN headquarters in New York on April 25, 2023. Fighting in Sudan is quickly turning an already dire humanitarian crisis into a catastrophe, said Msuya on Tuesday. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) A Kennewick woman admitted Tuesday to strangling to death her longtime partner last year, then fleeing with their two children to Oregon. Chiloe Chervenell, 49, was emotional on Tuesday as she pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for killing her Kathy Chervenell-Brinson. Franklin County deputies discovered the 54-year-old teachers body underneath junk on the porch of Chervenell-Brinsons home, hidden under some bicycles and other items. Prosecutors have said at least one of the children saw the attack. Later, Chervenell loaded the two children, ages 7 and 9 at the time, into her partners car and drove to Oregon. The murder followed years of abuse and a protection order that was supposed to keep her away from Chervenell-Brinson and the children. At the time, Chervenell-Brinson convinced a judge that she and the kids were in danger because of Chervenells destructive lifestyle involving drug use. Chiloe Chervenell, left, changes her plea Tuesday in Franklin County Superior Court with her defense attorney Shelley Ajax standing with her. She pleaded guilty to killing her longtime partner, Kathy Chervenell-Brinson. Prosecutors dropped kidnapping, burglary and assault charges that she was facing. Her sentencing range is about 22 to 30 years in prison. Prosecutors plan to ask for a 25-year term. The judge isnt required to follow the recommendation when she is sentenced later this week. The plea agreement wraps up one of the four Tri-Cities-area domestic violence murders last year. Mesa murder Franklin County deputies were first tipped off that something bad had happened on Aug. 4 when one of Chervenells friends called to report she had admitting to killing her wife. When investigators arrived at Chervenell-Brinsons home, they couldnt find her, the children or her Chevy Equinox. Deputies learned that Chervenell had her partners phone. As they were searching the phones signal, deputies discovered Chervenell-Brinsons body underneath some bicycles and other junk on the porch of her Mesa home. Police tracked the phone into Oregon and Morrow County sheriffs deputies discovered her with the two children in Irrigon. She was arrested and returned to Washington. Story continues At the time, Chervenell-Brinson had a protection order that was supposed to keep the other woman away from her and limit the amount of time she could spend with the children. While Chervenell-Brinson treated the children like they were her own, they were biologically Chervenells. According to court documents, Chervenell often used the other womans love for the children against her and threatened to keep her away from them. Magazine columnist E Jean Carroll arrives for the first day of her civil trial against former President Donald Trump at a Manhattan Federal Court on April 25, 2023 in New York City A rape allegation against Donald Trump is not a case of "he said, she said", a lawyer for former columnist E Jean Carroll said as the civil trial over the case got underway in New York. Ms Carroll, 79, has sued Mr Trump for allegedly assaulting her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s, a charge the former president has denied. Lawyer Shawn Crowley said Ms Carroll confided in friends about the assault. In return, Mr Trump's lawyer dismissed the accusation as implausible. "It all comes down to: Do you believe the unbelievable?" lawyer Joe Tacopina said to the the six-man, three-woman panel in opening remarks on Tuesday. The civil trial, expected to last two weeks, will centre on an alleged encounter between the former advice columnist for Elle magazine and Mr Trump more than two decades ago at the Bergdorf Goodman store. According to Ms Carroll's account, she went with Mr Trump, 76, to the store's lingerie department where he maneuvered her into a dressing room and raped her. The event "would change her life forever, Mr Crowley said, adding that "fear and shame" kept Ms Carroll silent about the incident for years. Ms Carroll will testify at trial, her lawyer said, as well as witnesses who would verify her account, including two employees of Bergdorf Goodman, her sister and two women who also claim to have been assaulted by Mr Trump. It remains unclear whether the former president will testify in person. Ms Carroll's lawyers have said they do not plan to call him as a witness. On Tuesday, the judge ordered Mr Trump's team to provide clarity on whether he will attend parts of the trial by the end of the week. The judge said that court security and staff need to have time to prepare in case he does show up. Lawyers for Mr Trump have focused on the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack, asking jurors how such a crime could have occurred unnoticed in a typically bustling New York City store. Story continues Ms Carroll's account, Mr Tacopina said, is "unbelievable". The trial comes amid a barrage of other legal troubles for the former president, who has announced his third bid for the White House. Though these are civil proceedings and not a criminal trial, the stakes are still high for Mr Trump. If Ms Carroll is successful, it would be the first time he is held legally responsible for sexual assault, after more than two dozen such allegations have been made against him. Mr Trump has said Ms Carroll made up the claim for publicity. Ms Carroll is seeking unspecified damages for what she described as significant pain and suffering, lasting psychological harm, and invasion of privacy. In 2022, New York passed the Adult Survivors Act, which allowed a one-year period for victims to file sexual assault lawsuits in the state over claims that would have otherwise exceeded statute limitations. Insider One Planet Banner . Insider's travel reporter has taken overnight trains, glamped in tents, and packed as lightly as possible to help reduce her carbon footprint. Joey Hadden/Insider To be a more responsible traveler, I tried seven things to reduce my carbon footprint. I followed experts' advice to take trains, stay in eco-friendly lodging, and book longer trips. Most worked well, but I'll never again travel in a shared sleeper cabin on an overnight train. This article is part of "Green Getaway," a series exploring how people can make more eco-conscious choices while traveling. For more climate-action news, visit Insider's One Planet hub. Over the past year and a half, I traveled more than I ever had in my life. The author relaxes in an Amtrak bedroom while traveling from Miami to New York City in 2021. Joey Hadden/Insider When I was growing up, vacation always meant visiting my cousins in other states. I didn't travel for myself until college, when I spent all the money I made working in a photo lab on camping road trips that I took around the Southwest with my buddies. That was the first time I felt like my travels were about the place I was visiting, and I grew more curious about exploring other states and countries. That curiosity led me to my current job a travel reporter at Insider. Over the past year and a half in this role, I've spent more than 100 hours on trains across six countries, sailed on the largest cruise ship in the world, and learned about all the decision-making that comes with planning a spectacular trip. But traveling frequently has also motivated me to think about how to get around the world sustainably. So I tried seven ways to lower my carbon footprint. A view out the window of an Amtrak train. Joey Hadden/Insider I love to travel, but I know it can be harmful to the environment. Justin Francis, a cofounder and the CEO of Responsible Travel, a UK travel company that evaluates trips and vacation providers, previously told Insider that travel could be helpful or harmful to the environment; it all depends on how you do it. "Tourism creates local jobs and can improve lives," Francis said. "On the flip side, overtourism reduces local quality of life and affordable housing. It contributes enormously to crucial conservation work but irresponsible development risks decimating nature." Story continues Francis said he believed it's possible to travel "in a way that not only reduces harm but actively maximizes the benefits, for both planet and people." Similarly, Paloma Zapata, the CEO of Sustainable Travel International, told Insider that traveling sustainably was all about making intentional choices to serve your destination and planet well. With this guidance in mind, I took seven actions to lower my negative effect on the environment while traveling that were recommended by six sustainable-travel experts who previously spoke with Insider. Here's a closer look at everything I tried, most of which I'd do again. Based on experts' advice, for my latest trip, I chose a destination that embraced sustainability and the outdoors the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. I'd gladly do it again. The trail to Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in April. Joey Hadden/Insider When it comes to deciding where to travel, Jessica Blotter, the CEO and a cofounder of the public-benefit corporation Kind Traveler, told Insider she looked for destinations with tourism boards that have a dedicated sustainable-travel section on their website. She avoids places "where access to nature and the outdoors is limited," she added. In April, I followed this advice when I wanted to plan a trip and landed on the Great Smoky Mountains, a mountain range in a national park split between Tennessee and North Carolina. I selected this destination not only because of its vast access to more than 800 miles of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, according to the National Park Service, but also because I saw that the Great Smoky Mountains were part of the Climate Friendly Parks program. The program is "a network of parks nationwide that are putting climate-friendly behavior at the forefront of sustainability planning," says the Great Smoky Mountains action plan by the NPS that details the park's sustainability practices. The plan also says the park aims to teach visitors about sustainability practices by including information about the climate crisis and mitigation in brochures, public facilities around the park which I spotted during my trip and park-led activities like guided hikes. Compared with other national parks I've visited, I was surprised by how clean Great Smoky Mountains National Park was. I didn't see litter, which made me think that the park's emphasis on sustainability education was working. Hiking without a candy wrapper in sight also made me feel like I was truly getting away from my urban lifestyle. And that takeaway made the trip worth it for me. Ultimately, I felt closer to nature, which is rare since I live in New York City, and I felt good visiting a place that I knew was actively working to preserve the surrounding environment. Moving forward, I'll be sure to continue looking out for sustainable destinations to visit. During the same trip, I committed to spending all five days in one area. Experts say this is more sustainable than hopping from one destination to another. I also thought it helped me get to know the place I was visiting more deeply. The author spent five days in the Great Smoky Mountains. Joey Hadden/Insider In the past, I've packed in as many destinations as possible in a single trip, from a two-week adventure to four European countries to a weeklong tour of four Canadian cities. During these trips, I moved every day or so and felt I didn't have enough time in each place to get a good feel for it. But according to Francis, it's more sustainable to visit fewer destinations for a longer period of time to decrease carbon emissions that come from flying. "Fewer but longer trips mean fewer air miles, more money in local hands, and you'll have a more relaxing trip, too," Francis said. "If you can, keep shorter trips close to home or travel by land or sea." He added that these modes of travel could be adventures themselves and allow you to "see so much more of a destination." Additionally, aviation made up more than 2% of global energy-related carbon emissions in 2021, according to the International Energy Agency. And 80% of a trip's carbon footprint typically comes from the flights, National Geographic reported. So when I planned my five-day trip to Tennessee, I decided to stay near the national park for the entire time, rather than add on nearby destinations such as Nashville. I not only was glad to help support the environment in a beautiful place like a national park but also thought spending all my time in one area helped me get to know it much better than when I planned multiple one-night stays in Canada and Europe. By the end of the trip, I was glad I didn't go to Nashville. I left Tennessee feeling like I got a full experience at the Great Smoky Mountains. Plus, following the same advice, I knew I could always plan another trip just for Nashville and would get a better sense of the city than if I spent one day there during this trip. Experts recommend packing as lightly as possible to lighten the load on your transportation vessel. I packed for my past few trips with just a backpack and found it also made it easier to keep track of my belongings. The author packing for her trip to Tennessee in April. Joey Hadden/Insider When preparing for a trip, packing lighter is more sustainable, experts agreed. "The more weight an aircraft carries, the more fuel it burns; the lighter the load, the less polluting," Francis previously told Insider. "So pack as light as you reasonably can. If you avoid the hassle of checking a bag, that's a bonus." For example, according to FiveThirtyEight, Southwest's fuel costs increase by more than $1 million a year if every passenger carries a cellphone and $21 million if everyone carries a laptop. I've taken this to heart, and for my past three trips, I traveled with just a backpack. I've found that the sustainable practice is more efficient not only for the environment but also for me personally. The load on my back is lighter on me than a full suitcase would be, and it's also lighter on every flight I take, reducing the amount of fuel needed to get to my destination. Louise Miller, an executive director of the international nonprofit Center for Responsible Travel, added that by packing fewer items and using a carry-on, you'd get through security faster and avoid the hassle of checking a bag, which I think is also a major incentive to leave behind what you don't need. When it comes to transportation, experts told me that traveling by train was more sustainable than flying. I also think it's often a better experience. The author exits a train in Miami after a 30-hour ride. Joey Hadden/Insider How you get to your destination is another important consideration when trying to travel sustainably, experts told me. In the US, Amtrak has reported that taking trains over flights reduces a traveler's carbon emissions by 73%. In Europe, Eurail has reported that traveling by train contributes between 66% and 75% less carbon than driving or flying. Besides biking and walking, trains are typically one of the most sustainable ways to travel, Zapata of Sustainable Travel International said. If your destination is accessible by train, consider that. Since learning this, I've been making an active effort to follow this advice and focus on train travel. I've spent more than 100 hours and 3,000 miles traveling by train in six countries, from 30-hour rides on Amtrak sleeper trains up and down the East Coast and 12-hour overnight rides across Germany and Austria to long day trips around Italy and Canada. In addition to being a sustainable mode of transportation, traveling by train has given me unparalleled views of the world, with landscapes changing every second. And being stuck on a train for long periods of time forces me to sit back and do nothing, which is something I don't often prioritize in my daily life. Overall, I've found that taking trains makes my trip feel more like the journey is part of the destination. So I know I'll keep traveling by train whenever possible, especially since it lowers my carbon footprint. When traveling by train isn't an option, I always book nonstop flights in economy, which is more sustainable than premium cabins or flights with layovers, experts say. Insider's reporter flew on a Norse red eye from NYC to Berlin and arrived in Germany feeling exhausted. Joey Hadden/Insider As noted by National Geographic, flying will likely be the most unsustainable aspect of your trip. But some flight bookings are more sustainable than others. The Independent reported takeoff and landing made up more than 25% of a flight's carbon emissions, which means trips with connecting flights are more taxing on the environment. "When booking long-distance plane travel, always choose a direct flight with no layovers," Blotter of Kind Traveler said. "Direct flights use less carbon dioxide than connecting flights," she said. Flying economy, she added, maximizes the number of people one flight can carry because the seats take up less space. "The average business-class seat can be replaced by three economy seats, which weigh much less," Francis said. Before I even thought about making sustainable travel a priority, I still always tried to book nonstop flights whenever possible since layovers added more variables to my travel. I've also always flown economy because it's the most affordable option for air travel. So learning that these flight bookings are more sustainable than alternatives didn't change the way I traveled, but I do feel more motivated to search for these flights moving forward when train travel is not possible. Experts recommend finding accommodations that embrace sustainability. While they can be hard to find, I think it's worth it. Tents at the Under Canvas glamping resort in the Great Smoky Mountains. Joey Hadden/Insider Plenty of hotels have eco-friendly branding, so experts agree finding accommodations that truly contribute to a destination's sustainability can be tricky, but I've found it's worthwhile. When researching accommodations, look for specifics beyond "eco-friendly" and no plastic straws, Miller of the Center for Responsible Travel previously told Insider. "Hotels that are truly eco-friendly should have a sustainability statement and clearly stated initiatives visible on their website," Blotter said. "Choosing a destination that embraces sustainable and regenerative travel creates an opportunity to vote with your dollars and support destinations committed to this path." Likewise, Zapata recommended looking for specific initiatives regarding sustainability on hotel websites. And if you end up booking with them, look for evidence that their accommodation is following the claims it makes. I did just that ahead of my trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. Before booking Under Canvas a glamping resort with a community feel I found that the resort's website had a section dedicated to sustainability. From there, I learned that Under Canvas partnered with The Nature Conservancy, a global environmental nonprofit that works to conserve land and water, helps to fund conservation, and raises awareness through education, volunteer efforts, and donation programs. I felt good seeing these efforts and booked a one-night stay. During my stay, I noticed several of these practices in place to reduce energy consumption, from pull-chain showers that saved water by running only while the chain was down to wood-fired ovens that campers lit themselves to warm their tents instead of electricity. I also noticed dim lighting, which is meant to decrease light pollution, according to the company's website. While I selected Under Canvas because of its sustainability efforts, I found I enjoyed the eco-friendly practices of the resort. Making my own fire to heat my tent made me feel more connected to nature, and I'd definitely stay in a place like this again. While following experts' tips on sustainable travel worked for me in most cases, there was one thing I tried that I wouldn't repeat. I won't ever again travel in a shared space on an overnight sleeper train. A seating carriage and a shared cabin. Joey Hadden/Insider "Along the same logic of how flying economy has a lower carbon footprint than first class, traveling in shared cabins on sleeper trains is more sustainable than booking a private cabin because it maximizes the number of passengers each train can carry, optimizing the efficiency of the train," Blotter said. With Blotter's advice in mind, when I planned my train trip through Europe, I decided to book only shared spaces instead of private cabins, as I had in the past on Amtrak. I spent two nights on OBB Nightjet sleeper trains. For my first ride, from Berlin to Vienna, I booked a regular seat in an enclosed space with six seats facing each other. It was called a seating carriage. For my second ride, from Vienna to Venice, Italy, I booked a bunk in a shared cabin. I thought both rides were too cramped and uncomfortable to get a good night's rest and lacked any privacy. I was exhausted when I arrived at my destinations for long days of exploring. While I'm glad I did something positive to support the environment, I'd have to pass on making the choice again. Fortunately, Blotter said she encouraged travelers booking private cabins for comfort or security reasons to do so over plane travel because traveling by train is still more sustainable than flying. So in the future, I'll still travel by overnight train to reduce my carbon footprint, but I'll opt for a private cabin instead of a shared space. Ultimately, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed making my travel more sustainable. The author gets ready to board a Trenitalia train in Rome in October. Joey Hadden/Insider Spending five days in the mountains of Tennessee gave me enough time to immerse myself in nature, while traveling by train gave me a chance to slow my pace. More importantly, I know that the choices I made while planning, booking, and experiencing my trips helped me decrease my harmful influence on the planet. In my future travels, you'll catch me spending more time in my destinations, booking private sleeper trains, packing light, and choosing the most sustainable accommodations I can find. I think it not only makes for more memorable experiences but also ensures I'm being a more responsible traveler plus, you can't beat that railroad view. In case you missed it, watch a replay of Insider's One Planet virtual event with the activist and artist Elijah McKenzie-Jackson. Read the original article on Insider West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice is expected to announce a campaign for U.S. Senate Thursday, setting the stage for a potential blockbuster 2024 race against Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin. The two are the Mountain State's highest-profile and storied political figures. Justice, who has announced a Thursday 5 p.m. press conference at his Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, would face stiff competition for the Republican nomination and a possible head-to-head general election battle against Manchin. FILE - West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice delivers his annual State of the State address in the House Chambers at the state Capitol in Charleston, W.Va., Jan. 11, 2023. / Credit: Chris Jackson / AP Justice declined to say more about the plans for his Thursday press conference when he spoke with CBS News outside a school in Craigsville, West Virginia, Tuesday. But Justice acknowledged he is already making calls and plans ahead of the likely announcement of his candidacy. Multiple West Virginia Republicans told CBS News they expect Justice to launch a run for the Senate at the Thursday event. Justice told CBS News he has already reached out to former President Donald Trump to discuss a possible Senate endorsement and he said he expects a "potful" of endorsements from Republican state legislators in a race for the Senate. Justice told CBS News, "Just look at how I am accepted by the voters. I have a (high) approval rating. You don't just get that by falling off a log." Justice, who is term-limited and has 20 months remaining in his second term as governor, would face a GOP primary in next spring against Rep. Alex Mooney, Republican of West Virginia. Mooney has touted a series of endorsements from West Virginia state Republicans for his run. On Monday, in a statewide radio interview with host Hoppy Kercheval, Mooney argued he had a more conservative record than Justice. Justice and Mooney have formed a political rivalry in recent years. In 2022, Justice campaigned for Mooney's opponent in the Republican primary for the U.S. House seat. Manchin has not yet announced whether he will seek reelection in 2024. During a public appearance in Martinsburg, West Virginia earlier this year, Justice said he would be a favorite to defeat Manchin, despite Manchin's long tenure and popularity in the state. Story continues Justice was first elected governor in 2016 as a Democrat, before changing parties months into his first term. Manchin, too, is a former governor of West Virginia, serving from 2005-2010. Disney sues Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over "government retaliation" Stocks fall as First Republic Bank shares plummet British antitrust regulators block Microsoft purchase of Activision Blizzard Donald Trump furiously tried to pour doubts on E Jean Carrolls rape claims against him as he spoke out for the first time since their civil defamation trial began. The former president took to Truth Social on Wednesday morning ahead of the first day of testimony in the bombshell case pitting himself against Ms Carroll, who accused Mr Trump of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in the 1990s. In a pair of posts, he branded the case a witch hunt as he unleashed a series of victim-shaming assumptions about her allegations. The E. Jean Carroll case, Ms. Bergdorf Goodman, is a made up SCAM, Mr Trump wrote. Her lawyer is a political operative, financed by a big political donor that they said didnt exist, only to get caught lying about that. Just look at her CNN interview before & after the commercial break - Like a different person. She said there was a dress, using the ol Monica Lewinsky stuff, then she didnt want to produce it. The dress should be allowed to be part of the case. This is a fraudulent & false story--Witch Hunt! In the second post, Mr Trump went on to claim that Ms Carroll and her attorneys got caught lying! The Miss Bergdorf Goodman case is financed by a big political donor that they tried to hide. Does anybody believe that I would take a then almost 60 year old woman that I didnt know, from the front door of a very crowded department store, (with me being very well known, to put it mildly!), into a tiny dressing room, and . her, he wrote. She didnt scream? There are no witnesses? Nobody saw this? She never made a police complaint? If I was seen there with a woman-BIG PRESS. SCAM! Mr Trumps Truth Social posts were quickly brought into the court proceedings. According to Adam Klasfeld of Law & Crime, Ms Carrolls lawyer argued that Mr Trumps posts violated two court orders, those ordering participants not to discuss the attorneys or the issue of the DNA sample. Mr Trumps initial post misleadingly suggests that Ms Carrolls attorneys did not want to enter the dress she was wearing on the day of the alleged rape into evidence. Story continues In reality, Ms Carrolls legal team tried for three years to obtain Mr Trumps DNA sample to compare it with stains on the dress. After refusing to provide a sample, Mr Trumps attorneys then made an offer to do so earlier this year - but only after the deadline to litigate concerns over evidence had passed. Judge Lewis Kaplan rejected the offer because reopening the DNA issue would delay the trial. Judge Kaplan addressed that issue in discussing the Truth Social posts on Wednesday, asking Mr Trumps lawyer Joe Tacopina: For three years [Mr Trump] refused to give a DNA sample, and now he wants it in the case? The judge then called Mr Trumps Truth Social comments entirely inappropriate. Mr Tacopina responded that he would try to address that with my client and that he would ask Mr Trump to refrain from any further posts regarding this case. The judge responded, Well, I hope youre more successful, and added that Mr Trump may or may not be tampering with a new source of potential liability. And I think you know what I mean. The civil trial stems from Ms Carroll claiming that Mr Trump raped her in a dressing room almost 30 years ago. She placed the incident in either late 1995 or early 1996 when the future president was married to Marla Maples. Ms Carroll, then a magazine feature writer and TV host, bumped into Mr Trump in the upmarket New York department store Bergdorf Goodman. As Ms Carroll wrote in her 2019 memoir What Do We Need Men For?, he recognised her as that advice lady. She knew him as that real-estate tycoon. Mr Trump supposedly told her that he was there to buy a gift for a girl, and asked for help to choose an appropriate item. The pair made their way to the lingerie section, where Mr Trump suggested that she try on a lace bodysuit. She claims she jokingly said that he should try it on instead. As they reached the dressing rooms, Ms Carroll alleges that Mr Trump shoved her against a wall, put his hands underneath her dress and pulled down her tights. He then unzipped his pants, and forcing his fingers around my private area, thrusts his penis halfway or completely, Im not certain inside me, she wrote. A colossal struggle ensued, she said, and Ms Carroll eventually pushed him away and ran out of the dressing room. The episode was over in under three minutes, she wrote. After the allegations were first made in a book excerpt in New York magazine in June 2019, Mr Trump angrily denied it. Ive never met this person in my life. She is trying to sell a new book that should indicate her motivation. It should be sold in the fiction section, he said in an official White House statement that month. Then days later in an interview in the Oval Office with The Hill, Mr Trump went even further. Ill say it with great respect: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK? Ms Carroll then filed a defamation lawsuit against Mr Trump alleging he had damaged her reputation, substantially harmed her professionally, and caused emotional pain. Months later, the Department of Justice intervened and transferred the case to federal court, arguing that he was immune from prosecution as president at the time of the initial defamation. But the federal court disagreed with the position of the DoJ and allowed discovery in the case to continue. And when the former president failed to have the case dismissed last October, he took to Truth Social to again unleash his denial, and unwittingly at the same time allowed Ms Carroll to file the new defamation claim. In 2022, New York passed the Adult Survivors Act which allowed adult sexual assault survivors one year to sue their alleged abusers. Ms Carroll filed a second lawsuit against Mr Trump for rape and for additional alleged defamatory statements made by him in October 2022 where he called her a complete con job. It is this second case for which court proceedings began on 25 April. In this March 3, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidates, businessman Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich appear during a Republican presidential primary debate at the Fox Theatre in Detroit. Michigan Republicans meet Saturday, April 9, in Lansing for their annual convention with one of the main agenda items the choosing of delegates to the partys presidential convention in July in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) | Paul Sancya, Associated Press Former President Donald Trump expressed his unhappiness Tuesday with the details that have come out about the upcoming GOP presidential primary debates, suggesting theres little benefit for him to participate. Trump said in a post on his social media platform that the Republican Party is setting up the debates without talking to him or his campaign. I see that everybody is talking about the Republican Debates, but nobody got my approval, or the approval of the Trump Campaign, before announcing them, Trump said on Truth Social. The RealClearPolitics polling average shows Trump with a 29 point lead against his closest potential rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to join the race in the coming months. Trump said since hes leading by seemingly insurmountable numbers ... why subject yourself to being libeled and abused? Related Ronna McDaniel, the Republican National Committee chairwoman announced late February that the first GOP primary debate will be held this August in Milwaukee. Earlier this month, McDaniel said Fox News was chosen to host the debate. Without referencing Fox News directly, Trump said the debates will have hostile Networks with angry, TRUMP & MAGA hating anchors asking the questions. For several months, Trump has traded barbs with Fox News: last month calling Fox Chairman Rupert Murdoch and other company executives a group of MAGA hating Globalist RINOS who are abetting the destruction of America. Screen shot of @realDonaldTrump on Truth Social Last week, McDaniel announced the second Republican primary debate would be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, where Washington Post publisher Fred Ryan is chairman of the board. Trump criticized the pick and said, NO! Its not uncommon for Trump to threaten to skip presidential debates. During his first campaign for president he considered missing the first GOP primary debate in 2016 because he didnt believe then-Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly would treat him fairly, but he ended up participating in the debate Story continues Then, later in that same race, the GOP primary debate scheduled to take place in Salt Lake City in March 2016 was canceled after Trump and other candidates declined to come. Weve had enough debates in my opinion, he told reporters. And in 2020, Trump repeatedly said he was considering a boycott of the debates with then-candidate Joe Biden in the general election due to his complaints about the Presidential Debate Commission. The commission is a nonprofit organization that has hosted presidential debates for the general election since 1988. It is run through sponsorship from both the GOP and Democratic Party. But last year the Republican National Committee unanimously voted to withdraw from the commission. The RNCs new rule effectively prohibits the eventual 2024 GOP presidential nominee from participating. Although, they could vote to change their participation rules later. When conservative activists and Maga influencers called for a boycott of Bud Light beer over a sponsorship deal with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney, one notable GOP figure stayed silent on the matter: Former president Donald Trump. The twice-impeached ex-presidents silence on the bubbling controversy stood out among GOP presidential contenders, many of whom spoke out against the maker of Bud Light, Anheuser-Busch InBev. One possible Republican White House hopeful and Mr Trumps highest-polling rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, said a boycott of the beverage was justified because the companys decision to partner with Ms Mulvaney, a TikTok star who garnered an invitation to the White House last fall, was rubbing our faces in it. So, if you as a consumer are Like, yeah, theyre doing that, but Im just going to keep drinking anyways. Well, then theyre going to keep doing it, Mr DeSantis said, before extolling the power of the selective boycott. So I think we have power as consumers to make our voice heard and not on every company because sometimes conservative consumers arent going to make a dent in some companies. This one is one, he said during an appearance on The Benny Show. He added that Anheuser-Buschs work with Ms Mulvaney was part of a larger thing where corporate America is trying to change our country, trying to change policy, trying to change culture. Two of Mr Trumps former allies turned rivals ex-vice president Mike Pence and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley also weighed in on the controversy in favour of boycotting the brewers products, with Ms Haley saying the marketing partnership makes a mockery of women and Mr Pence decrying what he described as gender insanity which continues to poison our public discourse. Dylan Mulvaney announces brand partnership with Bud Light. (Dylan Mulvaney / Instagram) Mr Trump is himself no stranger to hurling attacks on transgender people as part of his political persona. In a video released by his campaign to outline a second-term agenda if hes returned to the White House, he has vowed to stop the chemical, physical, and emotional mutilation of minors through federal action, and has promised to unleash federal law enforcement on doctors and other healthcare providers who provide gender-affirming treatment to transgender people. Story continues Yet Mr Trump never spoke out about the boycott of Bud Light. According to data reviewed by The Independent, its possible that Mr Trumps reluctance to criticise the company that makes the middling American beverage stems from his personal financial interests. Mr Trumps most recent financial disclosure shows he holds a significant financial interest in Anheuser-Busch InBev, the company that produces Bud Light. Donald Trump. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The disclosure form, which is on file with the Federal Election Commission, shows the twice-impeached former president owns between $1m and $5m in Anheuser-Busch InBev stock under an account listed as DJT Trust Investment Account #2. The former president is not the only member of his family not to speak out in favour of boycotting the company. His eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, became one of the first high-profile GOP figures to call for an end to the boycott, citing the iconic status of Anheuser-Busch. So heres the deal. Anheuser-Busch totally s*** the bed with this Dylan Mulvaney thing. Im not, though, for destroying an American, an iconic company for something like this, he said on a recent episode of his Triggered podcast. Donald Trump Jr speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, USA, 03 March 2023. (EPA) He added that the company does not participate in the same woke garbage that other people in the beer industry actually do and claimed the companys competitors are significantly worse offenders. Its unclear whether the younger Mr Trump also holds stock in the beverage maker, but its likely that he is at least somewhat aware that his father owns the stock through a trust because he was made one of the trustees charged with overseeing it during his fathers presidency. Representatives for Mr Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent. Former US President Donald Trump. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Lawyers made opening statements in E. Jean Carroll's rape trial against Donald Trump. Trump's lawyer asked jurors to dismiss the case even if they "hate" Trump. Jurors are staying anonymous given the charged nature of the case. In his opening statement defending Donald Trump in a rape trial Tuesday, attorney Joe Tacopina asked jurors to find him not liable of battery and defamation even if they "hate" the former president. "You can hate Donald Trump. It's OK," lawyer Joe Tacopina told jurors. "But there's a time and secret place for that: It's the ballot box." Tacopina's message to the jury in a federal court in downtown Manhattan followed an opening statement from Shawn Crowley, an attorney representing E. Jean Carroll in the case. In 2019, Carroll went public with her claim that Trump raped her in a dressing room of Manhattan's Bergdorf Goodman department store in the mid-1990s. "She struggled to break free, but she couldn't," Crowley said in her opening statement. "Trump was about twice her size." When Trump denied the allegations, insulted Carroll's appearance, and called her a liar, she accused him of defamation. Carroll filed the lawsuit, alleging defamation and battery, late last year after New York state passed a law allowing plaintiffs to bring civil sexual assault lawsuits in cases where they'd otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations. US District Judge Lewis Kaplan moved swiftly to bring it to trial, despite multiple attempts from Trump's legal team to delay the case. Carroll also has a separate defamation lawsuit, over the same claims, which has been slowed by appellate courts and remains pending. Crowley said her team would show evidence and bring forth evidence proving Carroll's version of events, including testimony from friends she told at the time about the alleged rape. Tacopina, in his own opening statement, said Carroll and her friends cooked up the story because she hated Trump's politics and wanted to make herself more famous. Story continues Despite the charged nature of the case, jurors were seated in the span of several hours, shortly before the court's lunch break on Tuesday. Kaplan ensured prospective jurors weren't already familiar with the details of the case, and asked that they remain impartial while hearing court testimony. The trial is expected to last about a week overall. Kaplan made arrangements to keep the jurors anonymous after expressing concern that they could face "harassment or worse" from Trump and his supporters. On Tuesday, he suggested they use fake names throughout the deliberations process to help protect their privacy. Kaplan also asked attorneys for both parties to advise their clients against "making any statements that will incite violence or civil unrest" to "try to avoid problems down the road." Trump didn't personally show up to court on Tuesday, and Kaplan hasn't required him to appear in the case. Tacopina said he didn't want to "distract" from what he claimed were inconsistencies in Carroll's version of events. "There's no more for him to add," Tacopina said. Tacopina said jurors would see him testify through videos of depositions he took for the case. In one video, Tacopina, said, jurors may observe that Trump appears angry. "You're going to see him get angry. That's understandable he's been falsely accused of rape," Tacopina said. Carroll's team is expected to call their first witness on Wednesday morning. Read the original article on Business Insider Photograph: AP Donald Trumps lawyers in the Mar-a-Lago documents investigation found the 15 boxes the former president returned to the National Archives a year after the end of his presidency mostly contained briefings for calls with foreign leaders, according to a new letter they sent to Congress. The majority of the letter seen by the Guardian and earlier reported by CNN served to characterize Trumps retention of classified-marked documents as inadvertent, and due to White House staffers sweeping all documents into boxes during a chaotic departure at the end of the administration. Related: Bannon ally handed four-year prison term over Trump border-wall fraud But the 10-page letter that was sent to the House and Senate intelligence committees also revealed the order in which the documents were placed, as well as their contents, inside 15 boxes the National Archives struggled to retrieve for months and precipitated the criminal investigation. The investigation into Trumps potential retention of national defense information and obstruction of justice led by special counsel Jack Smith is ongoing, though it may be near its end given prosecutors have subpoenaed almost everyone who conceivably could have knowledge of the matter. Trumps two main lawyers involved in the documents investigation Tim Parlatore and Jim Trusty in late December last year formally asked the National Archives for access to the 15 boxes that Trump had returned through the relevant provision in the Presidential Records Act. The request was granted several weeks later, and Parlatore and Trusty went to one of the top floors in the main National Archives building overlooking the National Mall and started going through the boxes, which they found preserved just as when Trump had sent them up from his Mar-a-Lago resort. The boxes, according to the letter, contained a mixture of documents from the White House that were grouped by date and included newspapers, magazines, notes, letters and daily presidential schedules. Story continues Where there had been classified documents which was what prompted the National Archives to first alert the justice department to start an investigation last year officials had inserted placeholder pages that described the document that had been removed, the letter said. That allowed Parlatore and Trusty to discern what the documents were, as well as what other materials in the boxes were in proximity The vast majority of placeholder inserts refer to briefings for phone calls with foreign leaders that were located near the schedule for those calls. The letter then described the ensuing criminal investigation as misguided because, in their eyes, the way the boxes were packed was indicative of White House staff pulling all documents into the boxes during a chaotic pack-out process at the end of the Trump administration. Left unsaid was that the criminal investigation has evolved since the initial referral. The obstruction part of the investigation is centered on Trumps incomplete compliance with a subpoena last May that demanded the return of any classified-marked documents in his possession. That was after documents he returned earlier to the National Archives included 200 that were classified. Last June, the Trump lawyer Evan Corcoran searched Mar-a-Lago and produced about 30 documents with classified markings to the justice department, and had another Trump lawyer, Christina Bobb, sign a certification that attested to compliance with the subpoena based on the information provided to me. But the justice department developed evidence that more documents that were marked as classified remained at the resort, according to court filings, and when the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago in August they found 101 documents marked as classified in a storage room and in Trumps office. Last month, Corcoran was ordered by a senior US judge to testify and hand over his notes to the grand jury hearing evidence in the case, piercing his attorney-client privilege protections through the crime-fraud exception because Trump might have used his advice in furtherance of a crime. The special counsel is also investigating whether Trump violated the Espionage Act, and prosecutors have recently asked witnesses whether Trump ever showed a map to donors or a book author, a person familiar with the matter said. Some of the documents marked classified and found at Mar-a-Lago appear to be memos written for former President Donald Trumps calls with foreign leaders, lawyers for the former president wrote Wednesday in a letter to the head of the House Intelligence Committee. The Trump lawyers also lambasted the Justice Departments handling of the documents investigation, writing that DOJ should be ordered to stand down and that Congress should hold hearings on how outgoing White House officials handle documents. The letter also noted that along with Trump, President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence have faced scrutiny for their post-government handling of documents marked as classified. Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed special counsels to investigate both Trump and Bidens handling of the documents. In the letter, though, Trumps lawyers said the Justice Department should not be running criminal investigations of Trump, Biden, or Pence. POLITICO obtained a copy of the letter sent to House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner (R-Ohio). Tim Parlatore, one of the letters signatories, told POLITICO that it was also sent to House Intel Democrats and to Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee. The letter was first reported by CNN. Please know that despite the differences in the cases, we do not believe that any of these three matters should be handled by DOJ as a criminal case, Trumps lawyers wrote. Rather, the stakeholders to these matters should set aside political differences and work together to remediate this issue and help to enhance our national security in the process. The letter said two of Trumps lawyers, Parlatore and Jim Trusty, reviewed 15 boxes of documents that were taken to Mar-a-Lago after Trump left the White House and then later sent to the National Archives. Following its review of the materials, NARA inserted placeholder pages where it had removed documents with classification markings, reads the letter, signed by Parlatore, Trusty, John Rowley and Lindsey Halligan. That allowed Messrs. Parlatore and Trusty to discern what the documents were, as well as what other materials in the boxes were in the proximity of the marked documents when the White House staff packed them. The vast majority of the placeholder inserts refer to briefings for phone calls with foreign leaders that were located near the schedule for those calls. The appearance of documents marked classified at Mar-a-Lago, the lawyers continue, was the result of haphazard records keeping and packing by White House staff and GSA. BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday said the trade barrier investigation into Taiwan's trade restrictive measures against the mainland is completely justified and reasonable. Taiwan authorities have long adopted unilateral restrictions on a large amount of product items from the mainland and this is a fact, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told a press conference. The commerce ministry launched a trade barrier investigation in accordance with the non-discrimination principle of the World Trade Organization and relevant regulations of the mainland, which is completely justified and reasonable, the spokesperson said. (Bloomberg) -- The New York author who sued Donald Trump claiming he raped her in a department store in the 1990s testified in graphic detail about the alleged assault, breaking down at times and saying she even bought bullets in fear of the blowback from her accusation. Most Read from Bloomberg E. Jean Carroll, a journalist and former Elle magazine advice columnist, told a jury of six men and three women in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday that she kept silent about the alleged attack in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room for decades, believing Trump would destroy her if she spoke up. Thats exactly what he tried to do when she went public in 2019, Carroll said. I am here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it he said it didnt happen, Carroll, 79, said under questioning by her lawyer. She added: He shattered my reputation and Im trying to get my life back. The jury will decide whether Trump, 76, is liable for sexually assaulting Carroll and then defaming her as recently as last year by claiming on social media that she fabricated the attack to sell a book. If they find him liable, the jurors will decide how much he must pay Carroll. The case has brought new attention to past claims about Trumps treatment of women that failed to derail his 2016 presidential campaign, as he runs in the 2024 race. Carroll Breaks Down Carroll began sobbing on the witness stand as she spoke of finally getting her day in court, but she stopped her lawyer from asking the judge for a break and quickly composed herself. This is my moment, she said. Im not going to sit here and cry and waste everybodys time. Story continues Trump has denied wrongdoing and argues the case is part of a broader political witch hunt. He says that includes his recent indictment in a case brought by the Manhattan district attorney as well as criminal probes of his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. On Wednesday morning he blasted Carrolls lawsuit again in a social media post, calling it a scam and deriding his accuser as Ms. Bergdorf Goodman. He has said the alleged attack is clearly fabricated, given Carrolls age and because she is not his type. Trump attorney Joe Tacopina signaled during his opening argument on Tuesday that hell seek to undermine Carrolls story by presenting evidence that she is motivated by an animus toward Trump and that she waited too long to come forward with her claim if it were true. Read More: Trump Lawyer Tacopina Has a Lot in Common With His Client Trump hasnt said yet whether he will testify in his defense or attend any part of the trial. Bought Ammunition Carroll told the jurors that the blowback she experienced after making her allegations public was so severe that she bought new bullets for a gun she owns. The crude emails were driven by Trump calling her a liar from the White House, she said. Boy, it hit me and it laid me low I lost my reputation, she said. Even people who knew me looked at me with pity, and the people who had no opinion now thought I was a liar and hated me. She told the jury: My God, the force of hatred coming at me was staggering. Asked to describe how the alleged assault unfolded, Carroll testified that she and Trump ran into each other at the luxury department store while shopping. She told the jury she agreed to help him pick out a gift for a woman. Kidding Around Carroll said Trump asked her to go to the sixth-floor lingerie department, where they eventually found a lacy bodysuit that he jokingly suggested she try on. She said she told him he should try it on instead, thinking he would put the bodysuit on over his pants. Carroll told the jurors she agreed to go into a dressing room with him, thinking it was an amusing moment, sort of like a Saturday Night Live sketch. She said Trump then shut the door and shoved me against the wall. He shoved me so hard my head banged. I was extremely confused and suddenly realized that what I thought was happening was not happening. She testified that she didnt scream but instead fought to get away, even though Trump is much larger than she is. I Can Still Feel It My whole reason for being alive in that moment was to get out of that room, she said. She said she was trying to wriggle out from under him, but he had pulled down my tights and assaulted her with his fingers, which was extremely painful. He put his hand inside of me and curved his finger. As Im sitting here today I can still feel it. Im proud to say I did get out, Carroll told the court. I got my knee up and pushed him back. She fought back tears as she described the guilt she felt over why she went into the dressing room with Trump. I was ashamed, she said. I thought it was my fault. Because I was flirting with him. Reid Hoffman Is Out While the jury was on a break, US District Judge Lewis Kaplan issued a ruling barring Trumps legal team from telling the panel that a billionaire donor to the Democratic Party was helping to finance Carrolls suit. Trump argued the financing by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman undermined Carrolls credibility. Read More: LinkedIn Co-Founder Defends Funding Trump Rape Accuser Suit There is virtually nothing there as to credibility, and even if there were, the unfair prejudicial effect of going into this subject would very substantially outweigh any probative value, Kaplan said. The subject is closed. The day started with the judge warning Tacopina about his clients social media habits, telling the lawyer that the Trump post calling the case a scam and going after Carrolls lawyer as a political operative could expose the former president to a new potential source of liability. Read More: Trump Post About Rape Accuser Inappropriate, Judge Says In his post Trump also referred to the infamous dress that White House intern Monica Lewinsky wore in an assignation with Bill Clinton. He suggested Carroll was bluffing about male DNA found on her own clothes and that it would only have exonerated him if she had accepted his last-minute offer to provide a sample. That drew an exasperated reply from the judge, since Carroll finally gave up on seeking a sample from Trump after many delays. He refused for three years to give a DNA sample, and now he wants it in the case? Kaplan fumed. The case is Carroll v. Trump, 22-cv-10016, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan). (Updates with Carrolls testimony about blowback in first, second and third sections and judges response to Trumps social media post at bottom.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- The judge overseeing the trial of a New York authors civil sexual assault suit against Donald Trump criticized the former president over a new post on social media disparaging his accuser and her lawyer, saying it seems entirely inappropriate. Most Read from Bloomberg The post on Trumps Truth Social platform calls E. Jean Carrolls rape allegation a made up SCAM and accuses her attorney, Roberta Kaplan, of being a political operative. Kaplan complained about the post at the start of the trials second day on Wednesday, before the jury was brought in. Trumps lawyer Joe Tacopina said it was the first he had heard of the post. What youre trying to do is get away from a statement by your client that seems entirely inappropriate, said US District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who previously advised both parties to avoid making inflammatory statements during the trial. Trumps remarks outside court have already led to warnings from the judge and special provisions for the trial. Read More: Trumps Protest Calls Lead to Anonymous Jury in Rape Trial I will ask him to refrain from any other posts about this case, Tacopina said. I will do the best I can do, your honor. Well, I hope youre more successful, the judge responded. He said were getting into an area where Trump could face a new potential source of liability. Carroll went public in 2019 with her claim that Trump raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s. She has been criticized by the former president before on social media one of his posts from October is the basis of her defamation claim, which is also on trial. Trump denies assaulting or defaming Carroll. Story continues Trumps social media posts became an issue in a separate, criminal case in New York state court in which he was indicted for falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to a porn star during the 2016 election campaign. At his arraignment, the judge overseeing the case advised him against further posts that could incite violence or put anyones safety at risk. Trump has pleaded not guilty in the criminal case. Read More: Trump Says Whatever He Wants, But a Judge Can Tell Him to Stop The civil case is Carroll v. Trump, 22-cv-10016, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan). --With assistance from Patricia Hurtado. (Adds details, quotes and context starting in sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Tucker Carlson was pushed out of Fox News on Monday. (Richard Drew / Associated Press) The end of a long-running hit show can be a sobering moment for a TV network. The finale of Friends ended the seemingly unstoppable run of NBCs Must See TV. HBO had to brace for a future without Game of Thrones. Now Fox News is facing the same challenge after its most-watched prime-time personality, Tucker Carlson, was suddenly yanked from his perch Monday amid the scandals and lawsuits facing Rupert Murdochs conservative network. Guest host Brian Kilmeade, a co-host on Fox & Friends, filled in for Carlson on Monday night, and others will rotate until a permanent replacement is named for the 8 p.m. Eastern hour. Is it the beginning of the end for Fox News' run as the cable news ratings leader since 2002 and as a powerful and disruptive influence in political discourse? Not likely, history shows. Liberals hate Fox News and critics call it right-wing propaganda. But Carlson's departure won't end its status as a refuge for an audience wanting to marinate in "anti-woke" commentary, Hunter Biden embarrassments, immigration and any other outrage of the day bugging conservative pundits. The Fox News viewer chooses that environment even with a different voice delivering those missives. When Bill OReilly, Megyn Kelly and Glenn Beck were shown the door, the network replaced them without missing a beat. "Its worked in the past because they are not selling a personality, they are selling a mindset and selling a view of the world," said Jon Klein, a tech entrepreneur who ran CNN from 2004 to 2010. "It's the power of the Fox News brand." Carlson's rise is a prime example of the formula's reliability. A veteran print journalist, he was a two-time loser in cable news, having been fired from both CNN and MSNBC, leading to skepticism that he was the best choice to replace O'Reilly after he was ousted over sexual harassment allegations in 2017. But Carlson tapped into the mindset of Trump-loving viewers while being compelling enough to draw in some liberal hate-watchers as well. That made him an even bigger hit. Story continues "Tucker Carlson Tonight" retained most of OReillys audience levels and improved the Nielsen ratings performance in the 8 p.m. Eastern time period among the key 25-to-54 age group that advertisers covet. Previously, Fox News held strong after the network fired conservative firebrand Beck, whose conspiracy theories and on-air claim that former President Obama hated white people lost him advertisers on his 5 p.m. show. To fill Beck's void, Fox News came up with "The Five," the opinionated roundtable show that is now the most-watched program in cable news, surpassing "Tucker Carlson Tonight" by drawing more than 3 million viewers daily. "The Five" has become a Fox News talent incubator for other programs, demonstrating the company's strategy of allowing its audience to become familiar with new faces before elevating them to larger roles. Jesse Watters, who started out as a mischievous ambush interviewer for O'Reilly, gained enough of a following on "The Five" to earn his own show at 7 p.m. Eastern, which improved ratings in the hour by 50%. Greg Gutfeld, the comic relief on "The Five," was given his own late-night program, which now tops broadcast network stalwarts such as "The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live." Fox News Media Chief Executive Suzanne Scott has been criticized for her handling of the network's reporting on alleged voter fraud in the 2020 election (the company paid Dominion Voting Systems $787.5 million to settle a defamation suit over false statements made by the network). But she has shown a knack for identifying personalities that connect with Fox News viewers. "She is keenly aware of who her audience is," said one talent agent who does business with the network and spoke on the condition of anonymity. "She knows how to cast. She programs for her audience and not for the conference room." Still, Fox News is likely to take a ratings hit without Carlson. Kilmeade's first night in the time slot was down nearly 600,000 viewers from Carlson's average of 3.2 million viewers. Other Fox News personalities expected to get a shot in Carlson's chair include daytime host Harris Faulkner and Fox & Friends weekend co-host Will Cain. But the network could be better off financially in the long run even with a slightly smaller audience. Although Carlson was a ratings hit, major advertisers stayed away from his program after his 2018 comments that Democratic immigration policy was changing the demographics of the country, which critics described as an endorsement of racist "replacement theory." A new host will probably make less than the $15-million to $20-million salary Carlson pulled in a year. Plus, a less incendiary personality could attract big brand-name advertisers that had stayed away from the program, driving up the price of commercials. What might change the equation is if Carlson shows up on a competing network. After the news of his firing broke Monday, conservative competitor Newsmax put out a statement that sounded like an invitation to the now show-less host. For a while Fox News has been moving to become establishment media and Tucker Carlsons removal is a big milestone in that effort, Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy said in the statement. Millions of viewers who liked the old Fox News have made the switch to Newsmax, and Tuckers departure will only fuel that trend. Although Newsmax would love to land Carlson, he probably has a noncompete clause that allows him to leave the network with what was owed to him on his contract. That might keep him off a competitor's airwaves through 2024. Carlson also could pivot to a direct-to-consumer strategy. An online newsletter, podcast or streaming brand would offer the pundit a cheap and easy way to engage his fans without having to go through another cable network. The real money would be in creating a D2C podcast/media property that you could sell to someone like Spotify, said Maribel Lopez, founder of the tech research and consulting firm Lopez Research. Controversial podcaster Joe Rogans own deal with the Swedish audio giant, estimated to be worth some $100 million, is a case in point, she said. I cant imagine Tucker Carlson not putting out content, said Ray Wang, founder of the tech advisory firm Constellation Research. "Direct-to-consumer is probably one way to do it. But its not a perfect solution. Six out of every seven of his viewers are over the age of 55, said Eric Nuzum, co-founder of the podcast consulting and production agency Magnificent Noise. A lot of the self-distributed platforms, be it newsletters or podcasts or YouTube or all these other things you're not seeing older audience members there, or the number of them are smaller and theyre less comfortable. Times staff writer Brian Contreras contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Tucker Carlson Jason Koerner/Getty Images Tucker Carlson is no longer with Fox News, after both sides agreed to "part ways," the network announced on April 24. This came as a shock to many, who thought Carlson's popularity as the highest-rated cable news host and revenue generation his show, Tucker Carlson Tonight, brought in $77.5 million in 2022 were more than enough to keep him at Fox News for years to come. Carlson, 53, arrived at Fox News in 2009, after co-hosting Crossfire on CNN and his own show, Tucker, on MSNBC. When Bill O'Reilly was fired in 2017 due to sexual harassment allegations, Carlson took his 8 p.m. time slot, using Tucker Carlson Tonight to discuss current events through his conservative lens. During his tenure, Carlson rode out several controversies, including an advertiser boycott in 2018 after he said immigration is making the United States "dirtier" and backlash to his frequent promotion of the baseless "Great Replacement" theory. Sending a message Carlson not only had his contract renewed in 2021, but was also able to host and produce specials on the streaming service Fox Nation. His ratings in the 8 p.m. hour were always good he had the second-highest number of viewers from 2017 to 2020, second to Sean Hannity, before moving into first place in 2021 and that's why what happened with Carlson is "major," one unnamed Fox News personality told The Washington Post. "It sends a message that even the guy with the highest ratings of all, by a long shot, doesn't get to survive this disaster," referring to how the network recently settled a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for nearly $800 million dollars over its coverage of the 2020 presidential election. In text messages released as part of that suit, Carlson denigrated former President Donald Trump in private, while championing his disproved election fraud allegations on his show. Immediately after Carlson's departure was announced, fans and detractors started discussing his exit, with both sides critical of Fox News for different reasons. Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, denounced Carlson, tweeting that he used Tucker Carlson Tonight and Fox News to "spread misinformation and harm LGBTQ people." Bridget Todd, director of communications for the women's group Ultraviolet, described him as "one of the nation's most prolific mouthpieces for white supremacy, misinformation, and misogyny. By providing Tucker with a platform on national TV for so long, Fox News has done extensive damage to our democracy. Good riddance, Tucker Carlson." During an appearance on The Charlie Kirk Show, Donald Trump Jr., a friend of Carlson's, called him a "once-in-a-generation type talent" who is "an actual thought leader in conservatism." He found it "mind-blowing" that Fox News decided to sever ties, while failed Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, a former anchor at the Fox station in Phoenix, applauded the separation. "The best decision I ever made was leaving Fox," she tweeted. "Good for you, @TuckerCarlson. You're free & uncensored!" The cash cow is gone Fox News has not said who will take over the 8 p.m. time slot yet, and until a decision is made, various network personalities will host a show called Fox News Tonight. Roger Stone, the longtime Republican operative and a friend of Carlson's, predicted to The New York Times that Fox News will end up on the losing side of things, having "essentially canceled the single most influential conservative commentator in the country, at the same time killing a cash cow for the network." It doesn't matter what Carlson does next, Stone added, as he will have a "massive audience" wherever he goes. Carlson so far is staying mum about his next move, but he has several former colleagues who could show him a way forward. Glenn Beck, who left Fox News in 2011, started The Blaze website, and also has a podcast and radio show. O'Reilly became a podcaster as well, plus runs an eponymous website where he posts commentary and livestreams interviews. Megyn Kelly, who after leaving Fox News in 2017 had a brief stint at NBC before landing at SiriusXM, encouraged Carlson to strike out on his own. On her April 24 podcast, Kelly said she did not have any "insider information," but felt this was "a terrible move by Fox, and it's a great thing for Tucker Carlson." She's "not worried about Tucker at all," Kelly added. "I predict Tucker goes independent. Tucker launches a podcast or digital show and crushes it. Absolutely crushes it." It's her belief that Carlson will stay out of politics, because he has "way more influence sitting behind a microphone than he does standing on a debate stage." Fox News' loss could be a rival's gain The Twitter hashtag #DoneWithFox started trending on April 24, with some users claiming they will no longer watch Fox News now that Carlson is gone. Kelly said Carlson is "the only reason a lot of people still watch Fox News, with respect to my other colleagues there, I'm saying he's their favorite." Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy echoed Kelly's comments, asserting that with Carlson out, droves of Fox News viewers will no longer tune into the channel. He encouraged those angry at Fox to give his network a chance, claiming "millions" have already made the switch. Carlson has experience starting his own media company, having co-founded the Daily Caller in 2010, but it's possible he might decide to join an already established conservative outlet. He's already been approached by two potential employers the Russian state television channels RT and Russia-1 and if any smaller company can get Carlson on board, "it would be like an injection of superfuel," Howard Polskin, author of the conservative news tracker TheRighting, told the Times. "He's probably the biggest individual personality and brand in conservative media." The exact reason or reasons why Fox News and Carlson parted ways may never be known, Brian Stelter writes in Vanity Fair. "Both Fox and Carlson may be incentivized, for financial reasons, to stay semi-peaceful in public," he said. What's notable, Stelter added, is that after Fox News announced his exit, Carlson refrained from making a statement, not even a neutral one confirming his departure. Stelter said he texted Carlson for comment as well, and hadn't heard back, which struck him as out of the ordinary: "One of the biggest, baddest loudmouths in television history is suddenly silent." You may also like A complete timeline of George R.R. Martin's progress on The Winds of Winter Why Tucker Carlson was fired from Fox News Tucker Carlson was offered a new job on Russian state TV The international gathering on Venezuela organized in Colombia by President Gustavo Petro failed to meet expectations this week with participants reiterating at its closing the same positions they held at the beginning, analysts said. The meeting, which brought diplomats from about 20 countries to Bogota, was also overshadowed by the expulsion of opposition leader Juan Guaido, who said he had entered Colombia hoping to express to participating delegations the feelings of millions of Venezuelans trapped under the Nicolas Maduro regime. Guaido, who arrived in Miami early Tuesday morning, said he will hold a press conference in the coming days. At the summits end, Colombian Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva read a brief statement containing the gatherings conclusions, reiterating the need to create a roadmap to hold free and fair elections in Venezuela. But whatever steps Caracas needs to take must be accompanied by the gradual lifting of U.S. sanctions imposed on Venezuela, which must also be given access to billions of dollars set aside for humanitarian aid as a precondition for its participation in talks in Mexico with opposition leaders, Leyvas statement said. Thats exactly where things were before the gathering began, said Asdrubal Aguilar, lawyer and secretary general of the Democratic Initiative of Spain and the Americas, an organization that brings together more than 20 former Latin American and Spanish presidents. Its more of the same; a total waste of time, this meeting, Aguilar said. This is really sad. Everything is oriented towards the stabilization of the Venezuelan regime. Given the lack of results, the treatment that Guaido received from the Colombian authorities ended up being the meetings main take-away, he said. There was a central actor and that was Juan Guaido. Until yesterday, he was the interim president of Venezuela with a constitutional legitimacy that no country had questioned. Efforts to find a negotiated solution to the protracted Venezuelan crisis continue at a standstill given the regimes desire that the United States lift sanctions immediately and Washingtons insistence that Caracas must first take serious steps towards guaranteeing free and fair elections. Story continues The U.S. has stressed that it has already provided sufficient good-faith signs, after releasing Maduros two nephews, who were serving time in New York for conspiring to import cocaine into the country, and removing another nephew of the presidential couple from the Treasury Departments sanctions list. Previous diplomatic engagements between Caracas and Washington also led to the Biden administration allowing U.S. company Chevron to operate more freely in the South American nation with the hope of allowing Venezuelan oil to regain access to U.S. markets. But the Caracas regime seeks more concessions, demanding that the sanctioned, state-run oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, be allowed to recover access to the international banking system. The Maduro government demanded this week to be given access to a $3 billion fund established to attend humanitarian needs in the country. Jon Finer, the White House Deputy Senior National Security Adviser who was sent to the summit to represent the United States, insisted at the meeting that Washington needs to see serious steps from Caracas before making any further concessions. The United States remains firmly committed to the Venezuelan people and will continue to work with the international community to support the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in the country so that Venezuelans can rebuild their lives, Finer said, emphasizing that the Biden administration wants to see the adoption of a step-by-step approach where concrete actions to restore Venezuelan democracy, leading to free and fair elections, are met with corresponding relief from sanctions. Electoral guarantees are deemed as necessary given the regimes long history of electoral fraud, analysts said. In the last presidential election in Venezuela, in 2018, in which Maduro declared a landslide victory, the evidence of fraud was so overwhelming that the United States and the vast majority of Latin American countries quickly disregarded his legitimacy as president of Venezuela. Meanwhile, the spotlight is on Guaido, who before leaving for Venezuela said he had information that the regime was about to arrest him. The opposition leader was recognized by the United States and more than 50 other nations as the legitimate president of Venezuela until his so-called interim government was dismantled by the opposition earlier this year. Among his closest allies was the Colombian government, but that situation changed drastically after the election victory of Petro, who last year became the countrys first leftist president. Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office arrested two individuals in connection with separate alleged terroristic threats on social media. On Tuesday, April 25, Christopher T. Short, 32, of Shreveport was arrested after he made a threat on a popular social media site to kill people. Short made a fake social media account where he joined a live event at the Shreveport City Council meeting April 24. During the live chat, Short allegedly made direct threats to harm white people in local Catholic Churches. Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office immediately launched an investigation and were able to obtain and execute a search warrant for Short's residence. The sheriff's office said that during the search detectives found an AR-15-style pistol with a 60-round magazine. Short was questioned and detectives were able to determine that he created the fake profile and posted the threat. Short was arrested and charged with one count of Terrorizing and was booked into the Caddo Correctional Center. The sheriff's office said no bond has been set and this is an ongoing investigation with the possibility of more charges. Louisiana woman charged with COVID-19 PPP fraud A Rodessa woman was also arrested by the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office for allegedly making terrorizing threats in a separate incident. Nichole Miller, 36, was arrested after posting a direct message on a social media platform to shoot everyone she believed caused her to lose custody of her child. Detectives said Miller used direct messaging threatening to kill a local judge, courthouse personnel and certain family members of her son. Miller also bragged about the guns she owned and ordered. During the investigation, detectives were able to determine that Miller sent the messages but were unable to locate any weapons. She was arrested and charged with one count of Terrorizing and booked into the Caddo Correctional Center with no bond set. DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office released information on a threat made on Logansport High School Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Two people arrested following separate Facebook threats When Texas whitetail deer breeders find a fatal disease in their herd, state Parks and Wildlife officials may soon show up with orders to contain the disease by killing the herd. For a rancher, the loss of an entire herd is devastating. And the bill that comes later requiring the rancher to pay for the costs of the killing operation adds a bitter second blow. But new legislation would ease the burden on breeders who are forced to depopulate after detecting Chronic Wasting Disease within their herds. The change would still allow the state to order herd killings, but would also allow the state to waive the costs of the culling. It definitely makes life a little easier for the guy that just received the death sentence, the worst news possible, said John True, president of the Texas Deer Association and a partner in a whitetail deer ranch in North Texas. Texas has hundreds of registered whitetail deer breeders, who raise the animals for trophy hunting. The state has regulations that require breeders to regularly test their animals for chronic wasting disease, a fatal deer-specific illness that can infect and kill deer with little forewarning. If a breeder discovers CWD in their herd, state officials enact what is known as a herd plan to attempt to contain the disease. And if the disease cannot be contained, then the state will order a depopulation a culling of the entire herd. That can mean the killing of hundreds of expensive animals, and the financial ruin of their rancher. Under current policy, after state officials carry out the depopulation, they send an invoice to the breeder, who is responsible for reimbursing the state for the entire cost of the depopulation. The invoice can include everything from the salaries of the state workers involved to the cost of the bullets that killed their livestock. Its just a heaping-on of bad news, said Kevin Davis, the executive director of the Texas Deer Association. This file photo shows a whitetail doe named Miss Clutch on Big Rack Ranch near Dallas. Ranch partner John True is an advocate of a new state bill that would allow the state to waive the fees for ranch depopulations. John Silovksy, the wildlife division director for the state Parks and Wildlife Department, said the state has carried out a dozen depopulations since 2015. While the cost varies, Silovsky said the average depopulation costs $138 per deer. He said that more than half of breeders in Texas have 50 deer or fewer. Some farms, however, have hundreds, which means a depopulation invoice could total tens of thousands of dollars. Story continues But the new bill which originated as Senate Bill 1372 would shift the cost of the depopulation to the state, so that deer breeders who are in good standing and have complied with other state regulations would not be charged if the state ordered a depopulation of their farm. No smoking gun The bill comes on the heels of a rash of CWD positives. In late March and early April, the Parks and Wildlife Department announced that five counties had discovered their first cases of CWD, all at deer breeding facilities. Its not clear how CWD spreads or why some animals catch it while others dont. That means that even breeders who carefully follow state regulations around testing and transporting deer, may still find themselves with a CWD positive on their hands. As much as we dont know about CWD, we cant find, sometimes, the smoking gun, said Silovsky, the Parks and Wildlife official. This bill was just really an opportunity to not penalize somebody for really bad circumstances. The bill specifically states that only deer breeders who are in compliance with state regulations would have their ranchs depopulation fees waived. These are simply facilities that drew a black bean and detected a disease that exists in free range deer and in breeder deer, and nobody really understands the origin, said Davis, with the Texas Deer Association. These guys just drew a black bean, if you will, and did not break the law. In this July 2022 file photo, rancher Robert Williams pets a fawn held by Evelyn Sparks, 10, at RW Trophy Ranch in North Texas. The bill has the support of breeders through the Texas Deer Association, as well as state officials through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and some conservationists through the Texas Wildlife Association. The bill passed the Senate unanimously in early April, and has also passed through a House committee on its way to consideration by the House chamber. Rewarding good actors Justin Dreibelbis, the CEO of the Texas Wildlife Association, said he recognizes how difficult depopulation is on both the state officials carrying it out and the ranchers losing their livelihood. But in cases where depopulation is necessary to contain CWD, Dreibelbis said, his organization supports the approach. But the CWD bill, Dreibelbis said, could help state officials maintain better relationships with deer breeders throughout the depopulation process. This bill essentially allows Parks and Wildlife to absorb that cost, which we believe helps remove the threat from the landscape quicker, with better landowner relations for the department, and ultimately we think that moves the needle as far as managing the disease, Dreibelbis said. Sen. Charles Perry, a Lubbock Republican and the author of the original Senate bill, said that the legislation would allow the state to recognize the efforts of deer breeders who follow the states testing and containment rules. Were not changing regulations as much as were rewarding breeders that have chose to play by the rules, that have done what has been asked of them at a tremendous cost, Perry said. This is a way for them to be acknowledged that theyre a partner and not an adversary. Davis and True, of the Texas Deer Association, said that deer breeders have been pushing for changes such as this one for years. Silovsky, the Parks and Wildlife official, said the department supports changes to policies as new research comes out about CWD. And Perry said that, over the last couple of years, theres been a noticeable shift in the tone of the discussion between the state and the deer breeding industry. Over the years, that relationship has gotten better, Perry said. Its been a completely different conversation in the last two or three years. A contentious topic Although the Senate Bill 1372 has so far sailed through the legislative process, CWD has long been a subject of fierce debate in Texas. While CWDs origin is not known, some conservationists and hunters have pointed the finger at deer breeders and blamed the industry for harboring and spreading the disease. Deer breeders, in response, have said that CWD is naturally occurring and is simply found in farmed deer more frequently because those animals are more closely monitored and more frequently tested. In addition to finger-pointing over the origin of CWD, the states ability to order the killing of farm animals which is legally permissible with whitetail deer because they are technically wild animals even if they were born and raised on a farm has also triggered heated fights over private property rights. In one case, as the Star-Telegram previously reported, a whitetail deer breeder outside of Dallas has decided to sue the state rather than allow state workers to depopulate his ranch in the wake of a CWD positive. That case is still winding through the state court system. In order to become law, the CWD bill still has to pass the House chamber with a majority vote and then be signed by Gov. Greg Abbott. The chair of the House committee that most recently approved the bill, Rep. Trent Ashby, said in an emailed statement that he was pleased to see the bill making its way through the legislature. After several contentious sessions, Im pleased that we were able to reach a compromise to address the issue of chronic wasting disease, the statement said. I look forward to getting this bill through the House and onto the Governors desk for final approval. Tax season is over; revenues are down. And as the House moves to hold its first vote on legislation to address the debt limit, some new estimates put the day the federal government will run out of money to pay its bills sooner than economists initially expected. While projections of the so-called "X date" have put it sometime over the summer, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in January the U.S. would be able to avoid default through at least early June as it uses "extraordinary measures" to pay its bills. At that time, the Bipartisan Policy Center estimated the date would likely arrive this summer or early fall. Economists at Bank of America expect Yellen to update her guidance on the X date by early May and anticipate she will stick with the early June estimate. But with tax revenues down, economists at multiple banks have started moving up their own estimated timelines for the threat of a default. "The April tax data thus far has come in on the lower end of our expectations," they wrote. "However, we reserve full tax date judgement until IRS check processing slows to a trickle." Bank of America has moved up its X date projection to Aug. 1 but acknowledged it could slip into late July. Goldman Sachs economists have also noted the potentially shifting timeline, pointing out that tax receipts are running 35%, or $138 billion, below last year. "At this rate, an early June deadline looks nearly as likely as the late July deadline we project," they wrote. Their economic research team continues to put the debt limit deadline in late July, but they noted if tax receipts continue to undershoot in the coming days, the odds tilt "slightly in favor" of an early June deadline. The Treasury is expected to receive another round of tax payments around the mid-June estimated tax deadline, which the bank economists believe would provide sufficient funds through the end of June. Story continues The latest Wells Fargo report keeps the projection for the X date as early to mid-August, calling the timeline "still the most probable outcome." But their team notes a small risk that the Treasury could hit the X date in the first half of June. In their recent analysis, Moody's Analytics also acknowledged the X date may come sooner than its mid-August estimate earlier this year. As House Republican lawmakers take the first steps to address the looming deadline with legislation while slashing roughly $4.5 trillion in government spending, it appears dead on arrival in the Senate even if it passes. As of Wednesday, it was not clear Republicans had the votes in the House. As the clock ticks down, Yellen has urged Congress to not wait until the last minute to raise or suspend the debt limit and avoid default. In a speech Tuesday, Yellen reiterated her warning that defaulting on the debt would result in an economic catastrophe. "Household payments on mortgages, auto loans and credit cards would rise. And American businesses would see credit markets deteriorate. On top of that, it is unlikely that the federal government would be able to issue payments to millions of Americans, including our military families and seniors who rely on Social Security," Yellen said. "In the longer term, a default would raise the cost of borrowing into perpetuity. Future investments would become substantially more costly." Yellen has previously dismissed the ability of the Treasury Department to prioritize some government payments over others should the U.S. reach the debt limit. She called it a default by another name. Yellen and other financial experts have warned even coming close to the X-date could have economic consequences costing billions. During the debt ceiling fight in 2011, Standard & Poor's announced the first U.S. credit-rating downgrade even as lawmakers and the Obama administration were able to reach a last-minute deal. The Government Accountability Office estimated the delay in raising the debt limit led to a $1.3 billion increase in the cost of Treasury borrowing that year alone. Debt ceiling vote passes in the House Biden hosts South Korean president at White House E. Jean Carroll takes stand in civil trial against Trump logos of Microsoft and Activision Blizzard Anadolu Agency / Contributor/Getty Images Antitrust regulators in the United Kingdom blocked Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of video game developer Activision Blizzard, impeding one of the tech industry's most significant deals "over concerns it will stifle competition in cloud gaming," CNN writes. The U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority said it was concerned the proposed deal would lead to "reduced innovation and less choice for U.K. gamers over the years to come." The regulator added that if Microsoft acquired Activision, it would make the tech giant "even stronger" in cloud gaming, an emerging market in which the company already has a 60-70 percent share of the global market. "Allowing Microsoft to take such a strong position in the cloud gaming market just as it begins to grow rapidly would risk undermining the innovation that is crucial to the development of these opportunities," the CMA continued in a statement. The U.K. is not the first country to challenge the deal, which "has been met with growing opposition by antitrust regulators worldwide," CNN adds. The Federal Trade Commission in the United States sued to block the merger over similar concerns about hampering innovation. A hearing in the case is scheduled for August. The European Union is also evaluating the acquisition. The U.K. regulator's "surprising ruling" was a "clear victory for proponents of regulating tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta, Facebook's parent company," says The New York Times. Efforts to reign in the tech industry, "fueled by fears that the companies wield too much power over online commerce and communications, have been stymied in the United States by recent court losses and legislative failures," the Times adds. Both Microsoft and Activision say they intend to appeal the U.K.'s decision. "Alongside Microsoft, we can and will contest this decision, and we've already begun the work to appeal to the U.K. Competition Appeals Tribunal," Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said in a statement. Story continues You may also like A complete timeline of George R.R. Martin's progress on The Winds of Winter Why Tucker Carlson was fired from Fox News Tucker Carlson was offered a new job on Russian state TV Sofya Aptekar interviewed more than 70 noncitizen soldiers from 23 countries for her new book, Green Card Soldier: Between Model Immigrant and Security Threat. Sofya Aptekar interviewed more than 70 noncitizen soldiers from 23 countries for her new book, Green Card Soldier: Between Model Immigrant and Security Threat. The U.S. government has long celebrated having immigrants in the military and has touted the 158,000 people who have earned citizenship through servicesince 2002. More than 10,600 service members were naturalized during a one-year period ending last September alone. To become eligible to apply for naturalization, an immigrant must have served honorably for a minimum of a year and have a certain immigration status at the time of the naturalization interview, among other requirements. But immigrants in the military have also reported delayed timelines for the naturalization process and long periods of being trapped in bureaucratic limbo; some U.S. veterans have even been deported. Sofya Aptekar, an associate professor at the City University of New York School of Labor and Urban Studies, takes a critical look at how the U.S. military uses the promise of citizenship to recruit immigrants under false premises. For her new book, Green Card Soldier: Between Model Immigrant and Security Threat, which is coming out next month, she interviewed more than 70 noncitizen soldiers from 23 countries. Aptekar talked to HuffPost about her findings, the role of stereotypes in recruitment and the historical role the U.S. military has played regarding migration, labor and exploitation. Talk to me about the inspiration for this book. What made you want to write it? My first book, The Road to Citizenship: What Naturalization Means for Immigrants and the United States, was looking at the naturalization process and what it was like for immigrants and what it meant to them. As a part of that work, I touched a little bit on naturalization for military service as this separate, special route for those who worked in the military. But I didnt develop it. It was always in the back of my mind. Story continues I was chatting with a colleague some years later who does work on deportations, and he was sharing this really kind of disturbing experience where he was presenting in a border town, just north of Mexico. He was doing an academic talk when a group of men stood up at the end of the talk in the back of the room and unfurled a huge banner that said, Bring Deported Veterans Home. I was like, Wow, I really need to look into it more, and of course, deported veterans were one part of the story, but that was kind of my way back into that work and looking at the experience of immigrants from the military. You open your book with a story about a man named Miguel, a Peruvian American who was stationed along the U.S.-Mexico border. While he was there, Miguel described how he felt a kinship with fellow Indigenous people of the continent and how they looked like his dad, and they looked like him. You wrote that he found that he had more in common with them than what he called the average American. How do immigrant military members process such internal conflict and how does it impact how they perceive the U.S. military and the country as a whole? Miguel is such a good example because he was so good at explaining how he changed over time, his understanding of the U.S. and the way he was shaped by his experience in the U.S. military. He talked to me about the stress he felt imagining that he would be put in the position of shooting a migrant when he was a migrant. That did not make him feel any more American. It also took a long time for him to become naturalized. He lived in Peru for a while after service in the military because he was not so sure that he wanted to live in the U.S. [but eventually] he came back and he embraced being an American. It is such a much more complicated story than what we often hear, which is celebrating immigrants serving in the military as proof that they really want to be Americans, and look how great it is. That is not that common of a story. Half of all military recruits by the 1840s were born outside the United States, and Native Americans had the highest rates of any racial group enlisting in the U.S. military. From a historical perspective, how have things changed or not when it comes to those experiences and the experiences of Black members and other marginalized groups? The U.S. military is not unique [when it comes to] the general trend of imperial militaries using marginalized or colonized populations as military labor. Thats what happened in the U.S., and its not that different from Britain and what it did for example, in places like India. For Native Americans, these young people were cut off from their culture and their family members, and that created a stream into the military that has stayed. So thats part of the story. The other part of the story is drafts. Multiple times in U.S. history, drafts were avoided by expanding who was allowed to serve in the military and allowing wealthier people to avoid sending their youth for military service. Part of why we see so many immigrants and oppressed groups serving in the military is because of that, because their serving means wealthy, white people dont have to serve. In the public sphere, the narrative is that service in the military led to even more rights for African Americans and that the military is a colorblind institution, its the one institution in the U.S. where racism is not as prevalent. And thats really the wrong way of looking at it. There are plenty of statistics that show that racial discrimination against African Americans is present in so many areas promotions, military justice, who is in the military prisons, exposure to combat, etc. Part of why we see so many immigrants and oppressed groups serving in the military is ... because their serving means wealthy, white people dont have to serve. Another thing that I write about in my book thats very striking that I learned when I was writing it is that after African American veterans came back from World War II, there were some of the highest rates of lynchings. The idea at the time was that white people would view [African Americans] after they served their nation as equal, but in fact, they [were seen as] a threat because they had experience and they were a threat to the prevailing racial order, and they needed to be violently put down. Thats actually what happened after World War II. Its very scary and tragic. With that type of history, have you seen an increase in different racial groups enlisting, or has it just kind of been the same throughout the different wars? The immigrant population in the military doesnt look like the general population. Some are overrepresented. For example, Filipinos are a higher percentage than they are in the general population because of the legacy of U.S. imperialism in the Philippines. Starting in 2009, after the creation of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (a recruiting program that allows certain noncitizens to join the U.S. military and apply immediately for U.S. citizenship), there was an influx of recent immigrants, mostly college students. It was a different and new thing that hadnt been really happening before because most immigrants in the military had grown up in the U.S. Im glad you brought up the college student anecdote because the one thing that I found interesting in your book is where you noted Proposals to make college free are also seen as a threat to military recruitment. Earlier this year, the Biden administration fought hard for tuition-free community college but received vehement pushback. How do you think that will bode for the military and people interested in enlisting? Recruitment is not doing well right now. I fully anticipate that if college is free and debt is completely canceled, as it should be, that will severely undermine the militarys ability to get people to enlist even as they continue to change the requirements [to] make it easier to enlist, such as raising the age and giving a lot of waivers for people with criminal records. I want to pivot the conversation to talk a little about the role of stereotypes. You talked about the portrayal of Central American migrant men in particular and how they were depicted as violent gang members. But at the same time, that same stereotype of the hyper-masculine man was the same reason recruiters said those qualities made them well suited to join to only have that backfire because they were put in dangerous military positions. Is that still quite common? Are there other similar stereotypes that youve seen with other groups as well? Im glad you picked up on that because to me the whole masculinity and gender aspect is fascinating. I was able to interview people from so many different countries across the world, and people are racialized differently. There is this powerful stereotype that really reduces the humanity of these men. It flattens what they can be as people in ways that harm them and also harm their victims, as they are foot soldiers sometimes in the same regions that they came from. The difference with Central American men but also with Latinx men in general and the contrast with Asian men is really striking. The U.S. stereotype of Asian men is one of lacking masculinity or being deficient in masculinity, and the military service was an attempt to correct that and attempt to acquire these layers of warrior masculinities to repair the damage that they suffered to their images as Asian men specifically. The military definitely capitalizes on that and seeds it and grows it sends it out in the world and back into the communities. Was there any particular individual or story that you met that resonated with you from your book? Miguels thats why I put him first. Hes also a neighbor. We were both active in a neighborhood group that just did organizing around workers rights. I had already started the project, which was going very slow. I had learned that he was a veteran and that he was a noncitizen who enlisted. He was very generous. We had this beautiful conversation in a local coffee shop. This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Hong Kong: CS begins Beijing visit Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki began his visit to Beijing today. Mr Chan called on the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing to receive a briefing on its work. He was pleased to learn that the Beijing Office had made visits to various provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions to promote Hong Kong and enhanced co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland on all fronts. Mr Chan also met the office's new Dedicated Team for Attracting Businesses & Talents to learn about its work in reaching out to target enterprises and talent to encourage them to pursue development in Hong Kong. The Chief Secretary then visited Tsinghua University and interacted with Hong Kong students studying in Beijing to learn about their studies and life on the Mainland. He noted that pursuing studies on the Mainland enables the students to keep updated on the latest national development and proactively explore the immense opportunities there. Mr Chan encouraged them to continue studying hard and better equip themselves so as to serve the needs of, and contribute to, Hong Kong and the country in various areas with their own strengths in the future. This story has been published on: 2023-04-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China willing to deepen intl data cooperation 08:35, April 26, 2023 By Ouyang shijia in Hangzhou ( Chinadaily.com.cn This photo taken on April 24, 2023 shows a view of the 4th United Nations World Data Forum in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province. The forum is scheduled from April 24 to 27. [Photo/Xinhua] Data: Traditional factors of production to be upgraded China is willing to deepen international data cooperation with other countries within the framework of the Global Development Initiative, President Xi Jinping said on Monday. Xi said that China supports and implements the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and adheres to a new philosophy of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development. In a congratulatory letter to the UN World Data Forum 2023, Xi said China constantly improves digital infrastructure, strengthens data and statistical capacity building, and actively shares its practices and experience in monitoring the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The forum, organized by the UN and co-hosted by China's National Bureau of Statistics and the government of Zhejiang province, is being held from Monday to Thursday in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. China will work with other countries to help implement the 2030 Agenda through "data governance", and will support open, win-win international cooperation in the data field and promote the common development and progress of all countries, Xi said. Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attended the forum's opening ceremony and read out the congratulatory letter. Ding said the country will accelerate the promotion of innovative applications of digital technology, fully leverage the advantages of massive data scale and rich application scenarios, and improve the efficient circulation and proper use of data, to provide strong support for promoting high-quality development. The scale of China's digital economy reached 45.5 trillion yuan ($6.6 trillion) in 2021, ranking second in the world and accounting for 39.8 percent of the country's GDP, according to a white paper released by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. Mao Shengyong, deputy head of the National Bureau of Statistics, told a news conference on Monday morning that the development of the digital economy is becoming a new driving force to boost high-quality development. "Once put into economic activities, data, as a very innovative and new factor of production, will integrate itself with traditional ones. And that will bring added value, promote economic and social development and improve economic efficiency," Mao said. Mao added that data will help promote the upgrading and transformation of traditional factors of production. According to a recently released guideline by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, China's Cabinet, important progress will be made in the construction of a digital China by 2025. By 2035, China will be at the global forefront of digital development, according to the plan. Siddharth Chatterjee, the UN resident coordinator in China, said, "We see this as an incredible opportunity to partner with China to bring forth real capacities into the developing world so that they can best utilize data." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) People wait to be evacuated near an airport in Omdurman, Sudan, April 26, 2023. As conflict continues in Sudan, many people have fled to neighboring countries. (Xinhua) ADDIS ABABA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people have entered Ethiopia fleeing fighting in neighboring Sudan, an Ethiopian official said Wednesday. Speaking to local media, Gizachew Muluneh, the head of the communication bureau in Ethiopia's Amhara region, said in the last five days thousands of people have entered the West Gonder zone of Amhara region fleeing fighting in Sudan. Muluneh said the regional administration and the federal government are jointly providing emergency humanitarian aid as well as material support to the refugees who are of various nationalities. He also said scores of Ethiopians who were previously residing in Sudan have crossed back to their home country in the last few days. "The local host population is also providing food and water to the refugees which mainly consist of children, women, mothers and the elderly," Muluneh further said. Brutal fighting erupted in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, on April 15 and swiftly escalated in different parts of the country. The ongoing fighting is pitting the Sudanese army against the country's paramilitary force, the Rapid Support Force (RSF). Both sides have accused each other of initiating the conflict. Deep differences have emerged between the Sudanese army and the RSF, particularly regarding the latter's integration into the army as stipulated in a framework agreement signed between military and civilian leaders on Dec. 5, 2022. In December 2022, Sudan's military and civilian leaders signed a political framework agreement to end the political impasse and institute a two-year transitional civilian authority, but the two sides have so far failed to transform the agreement into a final deal. People wait to be evacuated near an airport in Omdurman, Sudan, April 26, 2023. As conflict continues in Sudan, many people have fled to neighboring countries. (Xinhua) People wait to be evacuated near an airport in Omdurman, Sudan, April 26, 2023. As conflict continues in Sudan, many people have fled to neighboring countries. (Xinhua) People wait to be evacuated near an airport in Omdurman, Sudan, April 26, 2023. As conflict continues in Sudan, many people have fled to neighboring countries. (Xinhua) People wait to be evacuated near an airport in Omdurman, Sudan, April 26, 2023. As conflict continues in Sudan, many people have fled to neighboring countries. (Xinhua) The State Department is planning to send a consular fly away team to the Port of Sudan to help evacuating Americans get home, three people familiar with the plans said. If a final decision is made to send the team, they would perform similar duties to consular officers who were sent to Afghanistan in 2021 during the evacuation of Kabul. An unknown number of officials will check documents and get evacuees on to flights or ships out of Sudan. People fleeing the fighting have described the 500-miles overland journey from the capital of Khartoum to the port as perilous. The conflict in Sudan has grown over the last week, as two opposing generals are using their forces to seize control of the country. More than 400 have been killed in the fighting around the large country and roughly 4,000 people have been injured. The Biden administration has repeatedly vowed it would not organize a large-scale evacuation operation like in Kabul. But President Joe Bidens team has authorized the use of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets to assure the safety of evacuating convoys and placed assets in the region for contingencies. Vedant Patel, a State Department spokesperson, said the administration sent additional consular staff to the region to support U.S. citizens departing Sudan but didnt say specifically where they were going. Consular officers in Washington, D.C. are also working around the clock to assist Americans seeking to flee, he said. The State Department has asked the military for logistical support to move the fly away team, which is currently in Djibouti working to complete the necessary paperwork, to the Port of Sudan, according to a Defense Department official. Another person, a former U.S. official, said the fly away team was assembled and making the necessary preparations for the Port of Sudan deployment. Both were granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive operation. The Pentagon is looking at options to move the team by ship or by air, the DoD official said. This could include making the 800-mile trip on MV-22 Ospreys stationed in Djibouti, or traveling on one of the nearby U.S. Navy ships. Story continues The U.S. government is currently looking at whats the fastest, safest way to get the consular team to the port, the official said. At the moment, the military has not been tasked to do anything other than position ships in case they are needed. One option to move the team by sea is the destroyer USS Truxtun, which is already on standby off the Port of Sudan. A number of other ships are en route to the region, including the expeditionary sea base USS Lewis B. Puller, which can act as a floating base or transfer station, and the expeditionary fast transport USNS Brunswick, operated by the Military Sealift Command and designed to rapidly move troops or equipment, according to the DoD official. There is also an additional supply ship en route to sustain the ships in the region, the DoD official said. The news that the U.S. is planning to send a consular team to Sudan comes days after a U.S. special forces team conducted a daring mission into the country to evacuate U.S. embassy personnel from Khartoum. About 100 troops made the trip from Djibouti to the capital in three MH-47 twin-rotor transport aircraft, a heavily armed version of the CH-47 Chinook piloted by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment known as the Night Stalkers. By Ted Hesson and Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden's administration is devising a strategy for the possible arrival of tens of thousands more migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border after the anticipated end of COVID-19 restrictions next month, scrambling to find holding centers, speed deportations and increase processing of refugees abroad. The administration is expected to announce new measures as soon as this week that would include stepping up the number of Latin Americans admitted through the U.S. refugee settlement program, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. U.S. officials are also expanding holding capacity for migrants at the border while piloting faster asylum screenings. One yet-unreported option under discussion is to process migrants at Fort Bliss, a military base near El Paso, Texas, two U.S. officials and a third person familiar with the matter told Reuters. The base was used to house thousands of unaccompanied minors in 2021, which led to reports of overcrowding and unsanitary conditions. White House spokesperson Abdullah Hasan denied Fort Bliss was being considered and the Pentagon said it had not received a request to use it for migrant processing. Other steps are likely to include agreements with regional governments aimed at curbing migration and increasing aid to migrants already in those countries, according to the person familiar with the matter, although details remain unclear. Barring any last-minute legal or congressional intervention, the Biden plans aim to address a likely increase in unauthorized immigration after May 11, when COVID border restrictions in place since 2020 are set to end. The broader COVID public health emergency is scheduled to terminate on that date, undercutting the rationale for the restrictions, known as Title 42. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. State Department did not respond to requests for comment. United Nations agencies that assist with refugee processing in Latin America said they were in discussions with Washington about increasing resettlement from the region. Story continues At the same time, 480 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) employees with refugee experience are being assigned to help with initial asylum screenings of migrants caught at the border, a union representative said on Wednesday. The representative, Michael Knowles, said that even with the temporary boost in workers, the asylum program is "vastly understaffed and under-resourced" with about 800 permanent asylum officers. LOW REFUGEE ADMISSONS Biden, a Democrat who announced his 2024 re-election campaign this week, has struggled with record numbers of migrants caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and gradually toughened his approach to enforcement. Republicans have criticized Biden for abandoning hardline policies championed by former President Donald Trump, the leading candidate for their party's presidential nomination. The Biden administration has yet to restore refugee admissions slashed under Trump. Biden carved out 15,000 refugee slots for people in Latin America and the Caribbean in fiscal year 2023, which began on Oct. 1, 2022, but only admitted about 2,300 as of March 31. Biden officials have discussed expanding refugee processing in Guatemala and Colombia, three sources familiar with the matter said. Ecuador and Costa Rica are also under consideration, one of the sources said. Government representatives from those nations did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In addition to the refugee efforts, Biden's latest border plan focuses on a soon-to-be-finalized regulation that would block most migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally from claiming asylum if they passed through another country without seeking refuge or failed to use legal U.S. pathways. U.S. authorities have said people denied asylum under the new regulation will be subject to "prompt removal," which could deter other border crossers but may prove logistically challenging. Troy Miller, acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), told lawmakers last week he is preparing for the possibility that up to 10,000 migrants per day could attempt to enter the United States illegally, nearly double the daily average in March. Miller noted that an estimated 660,000 migrants are currently in Mexico, citing United Nations figures. CBP has capacity to detain 6,000 migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border and plans to add space for 2,500 more, Miller said, adding that the agency has stepped up its ability to quickly transport migrants away from the border. Border cities have struggled with large numbers of migrants releases in the past. (Reporting by Ted Hesson and Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Additional reporting by Sofia Menchu in Guatemala City, Alvaro Murillo in San Jose, Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City; Julia Symmes Cobb in Bogota, and Alexandra Valencia in Quito; Editing by Mary Milliken, Mica Rosenberg, and David Gregorio) The U.S. will deploy nuclear-armed submarines to South Korea for the first time in decades part of a new agreement that will signal Washington's commitment to defend Seoul against rising nuclear threats from North Korea, U.S. officials said. The plan to dock the ballistic missile submarines in South Korea, which hasn't happened since the 1980s, headlines an effort to make U.S. deterrence against Kim Jong Un's regime "more visible," senior administration officials said. The U.S. will also vow to give its ally a greater role in any response to a potential nuclear attack. President Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart, Yoon Suk Yeol, were to announce the agreement Wednesday in Washington, the officials said. Yoon Suk Yeol and Joe Biden during a State Arrival Ceremony at the White House (Andrew Harnik / AP) The Washington Declaration, as its known, wont involve the U.S.s deploying nuclear weapons to the South, as it did during the Cold War, the officials said. Instead the U.S. will increase the number of military assets it sends to the country on a temporary basis, such as a nuclear-armed submarine and bombers. The officials likened it to cooperation with European allies in the Cold War during similar periods of threat. The declaration would also improve joint training, information-sharing and military exercises in deterring and defending against the North, an official said. The announcement is "purely symbolic" and intended "to reassure the South Korean public" that the U.S. still has its back, said Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey in California. But the commitments "dont have any military value." Many South Koreans appear to need reassuring. Polling shows more and more want their government to develop nuclear weapons of its own, driven by questions over whether a Washington distracted by the growing clash with China would protect them in a conflict with the nuclear-armed North. The U.S. would oppose such a development, also barred by international treaty. Story continues The new steps are designed to be "seen by the Korean public," and the agreement also sets out a new framework through which the government in Seoul can have more of a voice in any response in a crisis, an official said. In return, an official said, South Korea would reaffirm its commitment to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which bars countries from seeking nuclear weapons. The officials briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity ahead of the official announcement. North Korea isnt a signatory to the treaty, and in recent years under leader Kim it has made strides to develop its suspected arsenal of around 20 nuclear weapons. North Korea launched its first solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile this month in what analysts say is a meaningful advance in the countrys efforts to build a nuclear arsenal that is harder to detect and capable of threatening anywhere in the continental U.S. U.S. and South Korean officials also say North Korea is preparing for its seventh nuclear test, which would be its first since 2017. Yoon, a former prosecutor who was elected as South Koreas leader last year, arrived Monday in Washington for a six-day state visit as the U.S. and South Korea mark the 70th anniversary of their alliance, which dates to the end of the Korean War. He and Biden were to hold a summit Wednesday, and Yoon will address a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday. A leak of classified Defense Department documents shows the U.S. has been gathering intelligence on its southeast Asian ally. Both sides have said much of the information is inaccurate, without providing further specifics. In an interview with NBC News' Lester Holt, Yoon said it wouldnt "shake the ironclad trust" between his country and Washington although he acknowledged the awkwardness of the situation. Yoon's is the first U.S. state visit by a South Korean leader in 12 years and the first by an Indo-Pacific leader during the Biden administration, which is focusing more intensely on the strategically important region as it tries to counter growing Chinese influence. Yoons visit follows the largest U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises in years, aimed largely at countering the North Koreas nuclear threat. The two countries are also stepping up their security coordination with Japan, holding trilateral defense talks in Washington this month. Biden is also expected to encourage Yoon to continue improving ties with Tokyo, with which Seoul has long had a fraught relationship. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com By Daniel Wiessner (Reuters) - Uber Technologies Inc drivers are not exempt from a U.S. law requiring them to bring work-related legal disputes in private arbitration rather than joining class action lawsuits in court, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Wednesday. A panel of the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said that Uber drivers do not qualify for an exemption from the arbitration law for workers involved in interstate commerce because they rarely cross state lines when transporting passengers. A San Francisco-based appeals court came to the same conclusion in a 2021 case involving Uber, and an appeals court in Boston that year said Lyft Inc drivers were required to arbitrate legal claims against the company. Uber and lawyers for the drivers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The ruling came in a proposed class action accusing Uber of misclassifying drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, who would be eligible for overtime pay and reimbursements for work-related expenses and who can cost a company up to 30% more than contractors. The Federal Arbitration Act requires the enforcement of agreements to bring employment-related disputes in arbitration rather than court, but exempts transportation workers engaged in interstate commerce. A majority of private-sector U.S. workers, and most Uber drivers, have signed such agreements. The question of whether the exemption applies to Uber drivers and other gig workers is crucial because it determines whether they can bring large-scale class actions or must individually arbitrate legal claims. Arbitration is often impractical because of the small sums at stake in individual cases. The 3rd Circuit on Wednesday said evidence presented in the case showed that nearly two-thirds of Uber drivers never cross state lines, and only 2.5% of Uber trips are interstate. Even when drivers do make such trips, it is incidental to their work, the three-judge panel said. Story continues "Take away interstate trips, and the fundamental character of Uber drivers' work remains the same," Circuit Judge Anthony Scirica wrote for the court. The ruling affirmed a New Jersey federal judge's 2021 decision to send the claims to arbitration. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Alexandra Hudson) A man reads the "Sunday Vision" newspaper whose front page shows a portrait of re-elected President Yoweri Museveni on January 17, 2021 at a kiosk on a street in Kampala Uganda's constitution guarantees press freedom, but the media are "hindered by laws on fraudulent digital activity, anti-terrorism and public order", says the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) watchdog.Journalists face intimidation, including arrest and assault, especially if they criticise the president and his inner circle, says the Freedom House NGO. Violence against journalists is "an almost daily occurrence", says Reporters Without Borders. However, social media are part of a "robust culture of independent journalism", Freedom House says. Uganda has a lively broadcasting scene, with more than 200 radio stations and around 30 TV networks, most of them privately-owned. Pay TV platforms are widely available.The state-owned New Vision and the privately-owned Daily Monitor dominate the press market.BBC World Service is widely available on FM (101.3 in Kampala). Radio France Internationale and China Radio International also broadcast in the capital. There were 18.5 million internet users by December 2021, comprising 39% of the population (Internetworldstats.com). Facebook is the most popular social network. Press/Online Television UBC TV - public, run by Uganda Broadcasting Corporation NTV-Uganda - owned by a subsidiary of Kenya's Nation Media Group NBS - privately-owned Bukedde TV - operated by state-owned New Vision Group Radio President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday called on Ugandan MPs to "reconsider" draconian anti-gay legislation passed by parliament last month and widely condemned in the West. The Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 promises harsh penalties against anyone who engages in same-sex activity. "I return the bill to Parliament for reconsideration," Museveni wrote in a letter to the house. The president has faced widespread calls to reject what has been criticised as among the world's harshest anti-gay legislation. A distinction should be made in the bill "between being a homosexual and engaging in acts of homosexuality," Museveni said in the letter read out in the house by deputy speaker Thomas Tayebwa. It proposed "a provision... for avoidance of doubt, a person believed or alleged or suspected of being a homosexual who has not committed a sexual act with another person of the same sex doesn't commit an offence". "What is clear is that our society does not accept homosexual conduct or actions," Museveni wrote. "Therefore the proposed law should be clear so that what is thought to be criminalised is not the state of one having a deviant proclivity but rather the actions of one acting on that deviancy or promoting the same in whatever way." "The duty to report acts of homosexuality... presents constitutional challenges and could be a source of conflicts in society," he added. The law should also facilitate the "rehabilitation" of gay people who come "to seek help", he wrote. - 'Among the worst' - Under the bill, anyone who engages in same-sex activity could face life imprisonment, and repeat offenders could be sentenced to death, according to activists. Uganda has not resorted to capital punishment for many years. Lawyers for the government had advised the president to send the bill back to parliament. The European Parliament has voted to condemn the bill and asked EU states to pressure Museveni into not implementing it, warning that relations with Kampala were at stake. Story continues The White House has warned Kampala of possible economic repercussions if the legislation takes effect. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, also urged Museveni not to sign into law the bill which he described as "probably among the worst of its kind in the world". But many of Uganda's neighbours are also cracking down on gay rights, with politicians in Kenya and Tanzania warning against efforts to raise awareness of LGBTQ issues. Homosexuality was criminalised in Uganda under colonial laws, but since independence from Britain in 1962 there has never been a conviction for consensual same-sex activity. gm-sva/ybl/bp/gw Well, thats something you dont see every day: A Fox News host actually fact-checking a Republican official. But that happened on Wednesday mornings Fox And Friends show during an interview with Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel. Steve Doocy noted that former President Donald Trump recently announced he might skip the GOP primary debates since nobody got his approval, but McDaniel tried to nip that news in the bud. She claimed she talked to President Trump all the time and would let them know the schedule. She then insisted that President Trump never shies away from a debate. That statement got pushback from host Brian Kilmeade, who said: He does! He skipped ours. He skipped ours in 2016. McDaniel seemed slightly perturbed that Kilmeade didnt understand the assignment but conceded, He did. He skipped one. She then tried to spin things by saying that Trump was on the center of the debate stage in 2016, and he never left it. So well see what happens. McDaniel added, Its going to be a rollercoaster till August. RONNA McDANIEL: President Trump never shies away from a debate BRIAN KILMEADE: Yes he does. He skipped ours in 2016. McDANIEL: He did. He skipped one. pic.twitter.com/tyFNbRhtM4 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 26, 2023 In January 2016, Trump skipped the final debate before the Iowa caucus, partly because of his ongoing feud at the time with then-Fox News employee Megyn Kelly. Many Twitter users were amused to see McDaniels unexpected reaction to being fact-checked by, of all people, a Fox News host. Liars lie so often on @foxandfriends it's unusual to see a lying liar like @GOPChairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel get called out for a lie live on @FoxNewshttps://t.co/8yNSpjx7b2 Bad Fox Graphics (@BadFoxGraphics) April 26, 2023 He also set unrealistic conditions in order to submarine the second general election debate in 2020. He also agitated to avoid a debate with Cruz at the tail end of the 2016 primaries. https://t.co/hGS2a7anLM Philip Bump (@pbump) April 26, 2023 Rnc chairwoman referencing Trump 2016: He was in the center of the debate stage and he never left it Why is the party chair doing Trump So Strong hagiography for a guy that members of her own party voted to bar from running for office again? https://t.co/F4dBCa3yVG Tim Miller (@Timodc) April 26, 2023 is ronna fixin to date junior? she seems to have gone 75% guilfoyle. https://t.co/7WwBHcGwLt Florida Chris (@chrislongview) April 26, 2023 Just abject denial of reality. He skips shit all the time. Trump is a coward and a fraud. The GOP has hooked their wagon to a poodle and insist on calling him a bull. https://t.co/GaAc4D841T Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) April 26, 2023 Related... Britain on Wednesday blocked Microsoft's $69-billion takeover of "Call of Duty" video games giant Activision Blizzard, arguing it would harm competition in cloud gaming. The ruling will be appealed by both US companies -- but analysts warned it could spell game over for the gigantic takeover of Activision, whose hit titles also include "Candy Crush" and "World of Warcraft". Xbox-owner Microsoft launched its audacious bid for Activision in early 2022 to create the world's third biggest gaming firm by revenue after China's Tencent and Japan's PlayStation maker Sony, triggering antitrust concerns. Following its lengthy probe, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority announced Wednesday it has prevented the deal "over concerns... (it) would alter the future of the fast-growing cloud gaming market, leading to reduced innovation and less choice for UK gamers over the years to come". Both firms said they will appeal and expressed deep disappointment over Britain's decision regarding the gigantic takeover. Activision threatened to reassess its growth plans for Britain amid chances that the deal could now be blocked elsewhere, although it has been approved in Japan. - 'Game over?' - "If the competition appeal tribunal (in Britain) confirms the decision, it's Game Over for Microsoft," said Anne Witt, a professor of anti-trust law at EDHEC business school in France. "If Microsoft is in the UK market, it has to abide by the rules. It's the price you pay to be a global player," she told AFP. Microsoft is seeking to further tap into booming demand for cloud services that stream gameplay over a range of devices like mobile phones and tablets. But it already accounts for between 60 percent and 70 percent of cloud gaming services, according to a CMA analysis. "The deal would reinforce Microsoft's advantage in the market by giving it control over important gaming content such as Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft," it said. Story continues "The evidence available to the CMA indicates that, absent the merger, Activision would start providing games via cloud platforms in the foreseeable future." In addition, the CMA said Microsoft's proposed remedies over cloud gaming contained "significant shortcomings" and would require further regulatory oversight instead of allowing the market to decide and the industry to shape its own future. "Preventing the merger would effectively allow market forces to continue to operate and shape the development of cloud gaming without this regulatory intervention," it added in the statement. Martin Coleman, chair of the independent panel of experts conducting the CMA probe, said the transaction would hand Microsoft even more power over rivals. "Microsoft already enjoys a powerful position and head start over other competitors in cloud gaming and this deal would strengthen that advantage, giving it the ability to undermine new and innovative competitors," Coleman said. In response, Microsoft's vice chair and president Brad Smith said it remained "fully committed to this acquisition and will appeal". The decision "rejects a pragmatic path to address competition concerns and discourages technology innovation and investment in the United Kingdom". - UK 'closed for business'? - Activision also slammed the regulator's verdict, arguing it showed Britain was "closed for business" for its industry, despite the UK government's insistence that it was a global hub for technology. "We will work aggressively with Microsoft to reverse this on appeal," it said. "The report's conclusions are a disservice to UK citizens, who face increasingly dire economic prospects." Wednesday's announcement comes despite the CMA having recently narrowed the scope of its probe to cloud gaming, after recently concluding that Microsoft's deal would not damage competition in relation to console gaming. In Wall Street trade on Wednesday, Microsoft's shares rallied seven percent on investor relief, although the stock also won a boost from quarterly results that beat expectations with $18.3 billion in profit thanks to a strong performance in cloud activities. Activision's share price however sank nine percent in value. The European Union is meanwhile due to announce its ruling on the blockbuster deal by May 22. The US Federal Trade Commission last year filed a suit to block the takeover, alleging that Microsoft had previously acquired smaller gaming companies to take the games exclusive. ode-rfj/rl The U.K.s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has confirmed that it intends to block Microsoft's megabucks Activision acquisition, concluding that such a merger would create "...the most powerful operator" in the cloud gaming market. The CMA noted that with Microsoft's current share of 60-70% of the U.K. cloud gaming market, acquiring Activision's portfolio of games would "substantially weaken competition." It added that Microsoft would also have the incentive to withhold such games from competing gaming platforms. The story so far By way of a brief recap, Microsoft first revealed plans to buy Activision in a whopping $68.7 billion deal last January, a move that would essentially make Microsoft the third-largest gaming company in the world by revenue behind Tencent and Sony, while giving it direct control over mega-franchises such as Call of Duty and World of Warcraft. Last July, the CMA confirmed it was launching an antitrust investigation into the deal, then two months ago the regulator gave the strongest indication yet that it was gearing up to block the merger when it provisionally concluded it "could harm U.K. gamers" by creating higher prices, fewer choices and less innovation. Then last month, the CMA narrowed its position to focus entirely on cloud gaming, rather than console gaming. This is a position that the CMA has confirmed today, noting that while Microsoft could damage its closest competitor in the console market by withholding Call of Duty from Sony's PlayStation, it believed that Microsoft would be "unlikely to do so." It said this was because PlayStation has a "large and profitable user base that regularly buys Call of Duty," and that losses from reduced sales to PlayStation users would outweigh any gains Microsoft were to attain from gamers switching to Xbox. With cloud gaming, however, the CMA notes that Microsoft's market advantage owing to the proliferation of Windows and its "significant cloud infrastructure" businesses would give it a strong foundation on which to gain an unfair advantage if it were to acquire Activision Blizzard's titles. Story continues "No other cloud gaming operator has this combination of advantages," the CMA wrote. "Some of these strengths are already reflected in Microsofts current UK market share of cloud gaming of between 60-70%." Appeal Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith issued a statement immediately after the CMA published its final position today, saying that Microsoft intends to appeal the decision while pointing to recent moves it has made to alleviate competition concerns, which includes signing deals that would make Activision Blizzard games available on rival devices. Smith wrote: We remain fully committed to this acquisition and will appeal. The CMA's decision rejects a pragmatic path to address competition concerns and discourages technology innovation and investment in the United Kingdom. We have already signed contracts to make Activision Blizzard's popular games available on 150 million more devices, and we remain committed to reinforcing these agreements through regulatory remedies. We're especially disappointed that after lengthy deliberations, this decision appears to reflect a flawed understanding of this market and the way the relevant cloud technology actually works. -Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President Indeed, Microsoft has made various commitments toward keeping Activision games on rival platforms including Sony, Nintendo and Steam for a 10-year period. However, the CMA has taken the position that Microsoft's proposals can't replace the existing "competitive dynamism," and would merely compensate for the loss of competition through "obligations that would regulate its behaviour" for 10 years only. The CMA wrote: We had to consider how best to remedy these concerns. Preventing the merger would preserve the competitive dynamism and level of innovation that exists in the growing cloud gaming market. In contrast, Microsoft proposed a remedy that sought to compensate for the loss of competition with a set of obligations that would regulate its behaviour and how it did business for a period of ten years. Having carefully considered Microsofts proposal, we found that it would not restore the competitive dynamism that would be lost as a result of the Merger. We decided, therefore, that a remedy that preserves competition, rather than one that imposes global regulatory oversight, is the only effective and proportionate way forward. Activision Blizzard, for its part, does not mince its words in response to today's news. A spokesperson said that the CMA's report "contradicts the ambitions of the U.K. to become an attractive country to build technology businesses," adding that it will "work aggressively with Microsoft" to appeal the decision. "The report's conclusions are a disservice to U.K. citizens, who face increasingly dire economic prospects," the spokesperson said. "We will reassess our growth plans for the U.K. Global innovators large and small will take note that -- despite all its rhetoric -- the U.K. is clearly closed for business." Precedent It's worth noting that the acquisition faces scrutiny in other regions around the world. This includes the U.S., where the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is suing to block the deal, though Microsoft did recently secure a dismissal in a separate private antitrust lawsuit brought about by gamers. Elsewhere, Europe has been mulling an in-depth probe for some time already. The European Commission (EC) had previously set a provisional deadline of 25th April to announce a decision, but this was recently moved to May 22. Early reports indicate that Europe could be set to greenlight the deal in the wake of further remedies offered by Microsoft. However, in being the first political entity to officially reject the acquisition, the U.K. may have set something of a precedent for what's to come. "In prohibiting the deal, the CMA has not only put itself in the firing line of the merging parties, but also set an important precedent for the EU Commission and U.S. FTC whose deliberations are ongoing," Alex Haffner, competition partner at law firm Fladgate, said in a statement. More than a million children in the UK received food aid in the past 12 months, an increase of 300,000 from a year earlier, as the country battles a cost of living crisis, latest figures showed Wednesday. Out of the nearly three million food parcels distributed in the year to the end of March 2023, more than 1.1 million went to children, according to the Trussell Trust charity which supports some 1,200 food banks nationwide. The number of emergency packages going to children the previous year was over 800,000, it said. In 2017-18 the figure was less than 500,000. The figures come as the UK -- a G7 member and one of the world's richest countries -- grapples with the biggest surge in prices in decades with fuel, heating and food and housing costs all soaring. Food banks have become a feature of life as increasing costs combined with wage stagnation have pushed many to seek help for the first time -- even those in work. "We are experiencing an unprecedented rise in the number of people coming to the food bank, particularly employed people who are no longer able to balance a low income against rising living costs," said Brian Thomas, chief executive of South Tyneside food bank in northeast England. "We're also seeing a really high number of families needing support as people struggle to afford the essentials." - Under strain - The cost-of-living crisis has seen sectors across the economy from doctors, nurses and teachers to dock workers and lawyers strike in the past year. Thomas added that the situation had hit donations as more people struggled to meet basic costs for themselves. "Food donation levels are not keeping up with the significant increase in need and this is putting us under a lot of strain, it's a real pressure cooker situation for food banks," he added. Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, said food banks were set up to provide short-term support to people in an emergency but had now become the norm for low-paid workers and people receiving welfare payments. Story continues "They are not a lasting solution to hunger and poverty, and more than three quarters of the UK population agree with us that they should not need to exist," she said. The Trussell Trust is urging the Conservative government to increase welfare payments to a more realistic level so that they cover essential costs. The current chairman of the Conservative party, Lee Anderson, has sparked outrage by saying that people struggling with rising prices should budget better and questioned whether food poverty was real. According to the charity's figures, more than 760,000 people used a food bank for the first time in the past 12 months -- a 38 percent increase on the previous year. har/phz/giv LUANDA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Angola's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced it is working to evacuate Angolan citizens from Sudan. A press release issued Tuesday stated that five Angolan citizens studying in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, were en route to the land border between Sudan and Ethiopia. Another five citizens are being evacuated to Egypt in cooperation with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, the statement said. The ministry has confirmed that necessary procedures are underway for Angola's diplomatic missions in Cairo, Egypt, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to facilitate the voluntary evacuation of these citizens to Luanda, the capital of Angola. The fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which broke out on April 15, has reportedly killed hundreds of people and injured thousands of others. The UKs antitrust regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority, has announced it will block Microsofts eye-popping purchase of Activision Blizzard. In a statement, the body said the deal risks harming the nascent cloud-gaming market by creating a monopoly player. It added that, if the deal concluded, Microsoft would have a market share of between 60 and 70 percent, incentive to withhold [Activision Blizzard] games from competitors and substantially weaken competition in this important growing market. The nature of the UKs investigation originally centered both on cloud issues but also the broader console gaming market. But in March of this year, said that the console market would be less of an issue than it had originally suspected. It conclusion was, broadly speaking, that while Microsoft could block high-profile Activision Blizzard titles, like Call of Duty, Overwatch and World of Warcraft from rival platforms, it didnt make much business sense to leave all of those sales on the table. And Microsoft did attempt to head off those concerns by signing a pact with Nintendo for access to Call of Duty, and made overtures to Sony for the same. Consequently, the investigation refocused on the cloud gaming market, which is where it found greater cause for concern. In its report (.PDF), the CMA says that Microsofts strengths as a brand and as an infrastructure provider needed to be taken into consideration. Specifically that it already controls Windows and Xbox, both big brands for gaming and gamers, as well as the infrastructure to support it, with xCloud and Azure on the cloud side. Regulators said if those were combined with Activision Blizzards portfolio of gaming titles, could be more readily weaponized in the cloud gaming sphere. And even if they werent used as a cudgel against Sony and Nintendo, as well as other cloud gaming companies, there was still a risk of the more general ills of a monopoly provider. For instance, it said the deal would standardize the terms and conditions on which games are available, as opposed to them being determined by the dynamism and creativity of competition in the market. By comparison, regulators believed that without the merger, Activision Blizzard would start providing games via cloud platforms in the foreseeable future. And that if it did, users will have a wider choice of service providers than if all of that content was locked inside Microsofts ecosystem, or at the very least made available to users at more preferential terms (.PDF). This, officials felt, would constitute a "significant lessening of competition," which was enough to put the hammer down. In addition, the CMA felt that Microsoft's proposed remedies didn't go far enough to reassure regulators of its intentions. For instance, while the company had offered console support for 10 years to rival platforms, it "did not sufficiently cover different cloud gaming service business models, including multi-game subscription services." Another objection centered on the fact Microsoft didn't promise much to "providers who might wish to offer versions of games on PC operating systems other than Windows." This is not the only instance of regulators raising concerns that Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard may be a step too far. In the US, the FTC has sued in an attempt to prevent the deal, saying that Microsoft had previously made promises to share its IP with rival platforms, only to change its mind later on. It pointed to the late decisions to make the (Microsoft-owned) Bethesda titles Starfield and Redfall exclusives as evidence that its assurances couldn't be counted upon. The EU, meanwhile, initially objected to the deal on similar competition grounds, but is now expected to offer its blessing to the deal. We remain fully committed to our acquisition with @ATVI_AB and will appeal today's determination by the CMA. Here's our statement. pic.twitter.com/ylvDP5RUqQ Brad Smith (@BradSmi) April 26, 2023 Activision Blizzard issued a statement, saying that the CMA "contradicts the ambitions of the UK to become an attractive country to build technology businesses." It added that it will work "aggressively with Microsoft" to appeal the decision, and that the results are a "disservice to UK citizens," and threatening to "reassess" its growth plans for the country, saying that the "UK is clearly closed for business." Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has published a note (via Substack) saying that while the news isnt what he wanted, it is far from the final word on this deal. He added that Microsoft will contest the decision, saying that blocking the deal will stifle investment, competition and job creation throughout the UK gaming industry. Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith has also published a note on Twitter, saying that the decision appears to reflect a flawed understanding of this market and the way the relevant cloud technology actually works." Tears of relief as sisters reunite at Stansted Airport After days of dread, fear and desperation, British families are now on rescue flights out of Sudan, making the 3,000-mile journey to safety. At Stansted Airport, emotions ran high as relatives clutched flowers and waited to see whether their loved ones were on the next airport bus. One little boy called out "mum" when he saw his mother get off the bus. The arrivals, looking tired and relieved, were coming to the end of a very long and frightening journey. Many will have risked their lives to travel - without any assistance - across Sudan's capital, Khartoum, during a fragile ceasefire to reach an airfield. From there, they joined RAF planes taking them out of Sudan, away from the conflict and on to Cyprus. Then they were brought to the UK on a chartered flight and into the arms of waiting relatives. As of around 22:00 BST on Wednesday six flights had evacuated 536 British nationals from Sudan, the Foreign Office said. But there has been criticism of the slowness of the UK government's evacuations compared with other Western countries such as Germany, which completed its evacuations on Tuesday evening. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said the government would be supporting British nationals and their dependents, but added there were no plans to introduce a legal route for people fleeing Sudan to claim asylum in the UK. However, Alicia Kearns, chairwoman of the Commons foreign affairs select committee, said elderly people dependent on their British citizen children should be allowed on flights to the UK. "In the same way we treat children who are dependent on their parents, we should respect that some elderly people are dependent on their children," she said. Clashes between the Sudanese army and paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began on 15 April. Hundreds of people have since died and thousands have been injured in the conflict. Story continues A ceasefire began in Sudan at midnight local time on Monday, but is due to expire at the start of Friday. Writing on Twitter, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned the UK could not guarantee how many further flights would depart once the ceasefire ends. Airlifting large numbers of people out of Sudan has been complicated by major airports becoming battlegrounds, and movement out of the capital has been perilous. One evacuee described seeing burnt houses and cars everywhere on her way to the airfield, just outside Khartoum. Others had seen dead bodies, she said. But now, back in the UK and little over an hour from her home in Acton, west London, Nemar told gathered reporters of her happiness and pride at making it home. "I am very happy to be here," she said. "The British government has been marvellous - I feel very proud that I have made it here," she added, before wrapping her arms around her sister in emotional scenes. There were more tears or relief and joy at the airport, with people saying they finally felt safe and protected. Tariq, who saw the building next to his shelled in Sudan, said: "We're very grateful to be alive." He thanked the British government but said they should be trying to save more people. "We don't know who's going to make it out. We are very lucky, but not everyone is as lucky as us," he added. Shama, one of the first off the airport bus, told reporters and her family: "We're safe. We're in no danger - I'm back and no longer scared." Asked about the speed of the British response to the violence in Sudan, she said: "It was slow but we're here." Earlier at Larnaca Airport, in Cyprus - where Britons boarded their second flight - Shereen Soliman spoke of her relief at escaping Sudan. "It was something else. I can't even describe," the mother and fashion designer told the BBC from the departure gates. "It was bad, it was very bad, I even don't want to remember it." Shereen was on a three-week holiday with her son Karim, 10, and eight-year-old daughter Diyalam, who were excited to be visiting family in their homeland when the fighting broke out. "In two weeks they [her children] were asking me to go back to London." Karim said: "We heard lots of gunshots while we were in the house. We also heard explosions. I saw men with guns but they were friendly because they were on our team." But he said he was looking forward to being back in London because it was safe there. However that has not been an option for all of the family. Others did not have the right to go to the UK with her, Shereen said. "I had to leave my parents, my siblings, the whole family there. So I'm very worried about them. I really feel sorry for Sudan because it's my home, my country. I wanted my kids to feel safe there." Asked how she felt about the British authorities' handling of the situation compared with the French and the Germans, she said: "They were slower than the others, but still they saved us. "That's what matters, right?" Her feelings were shared by fellow British national, Yahya Yahya, who has been trying to flee Sudan with his family since the fighting started 11 days ago. He told the BBC it was "a very difficult time" and he was "thankful that we've finally made it to a safe place". "The first day that the war started [I tried to leave the country], because I wanted to try and get my kids to a safe place," he said. Asked about the delay in knowing that Britain would help evacuate its people, Yahya took a sharp intake of breath. "It was quite difficult, but it was ok," he said. Other stories have emerged of timely escapes. One British man whose sister managed to be evacuated overnight told the BBC she felt overwhelming relief to have escaped Khartoum, where food and water have become scarce because it is not safe for people to leave their homes. He said at one point she and 13 others had only four dates and one egg left to share between them. Brigadier Dan Reeve, the most senior military official overseeing the evacuation, said there was capacity to evacuate about 500 people a day. He defended the decision not to escort people to the airport, even though some other countries have done this with their nationals. He told the BBC: "This is not a race to get it wrong. In my professional judgement it would not be safe to bring people together in one location in Khartoum and seek to extract them. "We've seen incidents of convoys being attacked." Around 120 British troops are supporting the evacuation at the Wadi Seidna airstrip. Downing Street said the British military would defend the airfield in Sudan but clarified efforts would be made to avoid "active engagement" with other forces. The government is also considering a seaborne evacuation from Port Sudan, some 500 miles from the capital. HMS Lancaster and RFA Cardigan Bay have been sent to the region. Additional reporting by Nick Beake, Europe correspondent, and Nick Garnett, in Cyprus The move marks a major blow for Microsoft. Photo: Jae C. Hong/AP The UKs competition regulator has moved to block Microsofts (MSFT) acquisition of the Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard, in a possible fatal blow to the $69bn (55bn)deal. The Competition and Markets Authority said it believed the company would be commercially motivated to make Activisions games exclusive to its own cloud gaming service. Cloud gaming is a technology that enables gamers to access games via companies remote servers, allowing users to stream a game like one would on Netflix. Martin Coleman, chair of the independent panel of experts conducting the CMA investigation, said: Microsoft already enjoys a powerful position and head start over other competitors in cloud gaming and this deal would strengthen that advantage, giving it the ability to undermine new and innovative competitors. Microsoft engaged constructively with us to try to address these issues and we are grateful for that, but their proposals were not effective to remedy our concerns and would have replaced competition with ineffective regulation in a new and dynamic market. Cloud gaming needs a free, competitive market to drive innovation and choice. That is best achieved by allowing the current competitive dynamics in cloud gaming to continue to do their job. Read more: Trending tickers: Microsoft | Alphabet | First Republic | Meta | GSK In a statement, Microsofts president Brad Smith said the company was disappointed by the CMAs decision and claimed it would appeal. We remain fully committed to this acquisition and will appeal. The CMAs decision rejects a pragmatic path to address competition concerns and discourages technology innovation and investment in the United Kingdom. We have already signed contracts to make Activision Blizzards popular games available on 150 million more devices, and we remain committed to reinforcing these agreements through regulatory remedies. Were especially disappointed that after lengthy deliberations, this decision appears to reflect a flawed understanding of this market and the way the relevant cloud technology actually works. Story continues Ed Vaizey, the former Tech and Culture minister, has criticised the move by the regulator to block Microsoft's swoop on Activision. A spokeswoman for Activision Blizzard said: The CMAs report contradicts the ambitions of the UK to become an attractive country to build technology businesses. We will work aggressively with Microsoft to reverse this on appeal. The reports conclusions are a disservice to UK citizens, who face increasingly dire economic prospects. We will reassess our growth plans for the UK. Global innovators large and small will take note that despite all its rhetoric the UK is clearly closed for business. Read more: Bitcoin rises as concerns over First Republic Bank escalate Sophie Lund-Yates, lead equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "The CMA has concerns that the deal could undermine fair competition in cloud gaming if the Xbox maker decides to make Activisions games exclusive to its cloud gaming platform. Cutting alternative distribution off at the knees is seen as a step too far for the UK authorities. "Scepticism among shareholders about the proposed takeover was already rife, the CMA is not the only regulatory body to be sniffing around the deal. Microsoft has plenty of financial resource to appeal the decision, with over $50bn of net cash languishing on the balance sheet." Watch: Diablo 4 is not intended to be played forever, says Blizzard Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. Ukrainian military on BMP-2 in Chasovyi Yar, Donetsk region Read also: Estonia believes Ukrainian counter-offensive to start no sooner than in a month First of all, there are weather conditions, he said. It has been raining in Donbas for two weeks straight, so much so, that its impossible to drive a truck there, and even tracked vehicles are stuck and cannot perform any logistical tasks. Zhyrokhov noted that, although the Ukrainian military leadership claims that there are not enough weapons and ammunition, we obviously dont know the dynamics of supplies of this equipment and ammunition over the last month, for example, and this dynamic, in my opinion, is quite powerful. According to The New York Times, Ukraine is preparing to launch a counter-offensive against Russian forces as early as next month. Read also: Kyiv and Washington united ahead of Ukraines anticipated counteroffensive, says PM Shmyhal Journalists say that although Ukraine shares few details of its operational plan with U.S. officials, the operation is likely to unfold in the countrys south, including along Ukraines coastline on the Sea of Azov, near the Russia-annexed Crimea. Read also: Shape of Ukraines counteroffensive to be decided just before it begins, official says Meanwhile, according Politico, the White House is quietly preparing for the possibility that if Ukraines spring counteroffensive falls short of expectations, critics at home and allies abroad will argue that the United States has come up short, too. U.S. officials have also briefed Ukraine on the dangers of overextending its ambitions and spreading its troops too thin the same warning U.S. President Joe Biden gave then-Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as the Taliban moved to sweep across the country during the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. Read also: Zelenskyy explains why Ukraine will not give up defense of Bakhmut Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on April 24 that the Armed Forces of Ukraine were preparing for a counter-offensive. Story continues Earlier, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said that Ukrainian defenders were already conducting counter-offensive actions in the east of the country. Read also: Russias General Staff spread disinformation about winter offensive on Kyiv Pentagon leaks Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov previously stated that Ukraines counter-offensive would likely begin in April-May, across several fronts. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A group of people watching the sunset in front of the Kremlin The reports stemmed from the recent leaks of several dozen classified U.S. intelligence documents. Yusov stressed that the U.S. Department of Justice is still investigating the leaks, adding that some of the documents were forged or altered. Read also: Ukraine nears agreement on all-for-all prisoner exchange with Russia Budanov "We can definitely comment that Ukraine is completely independent in making decisions to protect and restore its sovereignty and counter Russian military aggression," Yusov said in the April 26 interview. Everything else is hearsay, and we will not comment on it. Read also: Russia has considered replacing Putin for a year Budanov On April 24, The Washington Post wrote that a secret report by the U.S. National Security Agency stated that Ukrainian Military Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov ordered one of his officers to "prepare massive strikes on Feb. 24." It was also reported that officials in Washington were secretly monitoring the Ukrainians' plans, while the White House feared that attacks inside Russia could provoke an aggressive response from the Kremlin. On Feb. 22, two days before the anniversary, the CIA made a new classified report: Ukraines MI "had agreed, at Washington's request, to postpone strikes" on Moscow. Read also: Fringe U.S. lawmakers urge Biden to halt military aid to Ukraine On April 17, Budanov stated that Ukrainian drones are capable of reaching "Moscow and beyond." Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine, has stated that Ukraine and Italy are considering joint production of air defence systems to protect infrastructure from Russian drone attacks. Source: Shmyhal during the visit to the Rheinmetall Italia S.p.A. technology group in Italy, reported by European Pravda Quote: "We are expanding the horizons of cooperation between Ukraine and Italy in the defence industry. We are considering the possibility of joint production of components for these systems. We are working to have more of these efficient air defence systems. They will create a reliable shield around our strategic infrastructure facilities." Details: It is noted that Rheinmetall specialises in the production of modern air defence systems. Among its developments is the Skynex short-range air defence system, which Ukraine is interested in. "We need such an effective weapon to defend ourselves against the drones that Russia is attacking Ukraine with. It will save dozens of lives and important infrastructure facilities for millions of people," Shmyhal said. Shmyhal has pointed out that such batteries are currently being deployed in Ukraine. He has also thanked the Italian partners for their support. Background: At a meeting with Shmyhal in Rome on Wednesday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that Italy would help Ukraine fulfil the criteria necessary for full EU membership as soon as possible and speed up the process of starting accession talks. Italian President Sergio Mattarella expressed his support for Ukraines EU accession as soon as possible at a meeting with Shmyhal. On 26 April, a bilateral conference on Ukraine's reconstruction was held in Rome, it was attended by Denys Shmyhal and Giorgia Meloni, as well as other members of the two governments and representatives of international financial institutions. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! (Bloomberg) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with Ukraines Volodymyr Zelenskiy for the first time since the Kremlins invasion began, telling the Ukrainian leader that the only way to achieve peace is through negotiations. Although readouts of the call suggested no major breakthroughs, President Zelenskiys office described it as a productive hour-long conversation. Most Read from Bloomberg Russia put two companies owned by Finlands Fortum Oyj and German utilitys Uniper SE under temporary state administration in response to asset freezes by the US and its allies. President Vladimir Putin Tuesday night signed a decree, allowing the government to introduce temporary state control over property or securities owned by companies or individuals from so-called unfriendly states. Russian prosecutors are pursuing new cases accusing jailed opposition leader Alexey Navalny of extremism and terrorism, charges that carry sentences of up to 30 years and 35 years respectively, according to his spokeswoman. Key Developments Xi Finally Speaks to Zelenskiy as China Pushes Peacemaker Role Russia Seizes Fortum, Uniper Plants in Response to Asset Freezes Ukrainian Refugees See Financial Solidarity Slip in Romania Russia Steps Up Tactical-Nuclear Threats With Belarus Training (All times CET) EU Official Says Its Good China-Ukraine Channels Are Open (8:46 p.m.) A European Union official said it was good the Xi-Zelenskiy phone call finally took place and that communications channels are open. The official, who discussed the call on condition of anonymity, said the EU looked forward to more details on Chinas intention to send a special envoy to Ukraine. But US officials responded warily to the call, and indicated it did nothing to alleviate their belief that Xis peace plan is a nonstarter. Story continues Ukraine Says Russia Halted Vessels Passing UN Grain Corridor (7:51 p.m.) Four vessels including one chartered by the UN World Food Program and directed to Ethiopia werent permitted to leave the ports of Chornomorsk, Odesa and Pivdenny Wednesday and had to wait for their passage to be approved by Russia, according to a Ukrainian Navy statement on Facebook. Russian representatives in the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul refused to let vessels move to and from Ukrainian seaports taking part in the United Nations Black Sea Initiative, the Navy said. Russia Has Lost 80 Aircraft But Still Has 1,000: US General (7:04 p.m.) Russia has lost 80 aircraft to Ukraines defenses but still has 1,000 fighter jets and bombers, the US commander of European forces told the House Armed Services Committee. In prepared remarks released earlier, General Christopher Cavoli said Russia remains a formidable and unpredictable threat to the US and European interests and will likely rebuild its future Army into a sizable and more capable land force. The war in Ukraine hasnt affected Russias strategic weapons stockpile and Russian air, maritime, space, and cyber forces havent suffered significant degradation, Cavoli said in the remarks. Russia retains a vast stockpile of deployed and non-deployed nuclear weapons, which present an existential threat to the U.S. homeland, our allies, and partners, and is failing to comply with several of its legal obligations under the New START Treaty, Cavoli said. Russia Industry Grows First Time in a Year on War Production (6:02 p.m.) Russian industry unexpectedly rebounded for the first time in a year, as sectors associated with military production delivered strong performances amid rising spending on the invasion of Ukraine. Industrial production was up 1.2% in March from a year earlier, according to the Federal Statistics Service, instead of the decline expected in a Bloomberg survey of economists. Mining and resource extraction were down 3.6% but the agency didnt break out data for oil production, unlike in past releases. Manufacturing was up more than 6%, led by a 30% gain in finished metal goods, which includes arms and ammunition. Computers, electronic and optical products, which economists say is likely to include parts for aircraft and rocket engines, as well as optical sights and other systems grew 23%. Russia to Crack Down Further on Foreign NGOs (4:13 p.m.) New draft laws proposed in parliament would criminalize working with nongovernmental organizations that dont register with the authorities, adding to the pressure on civil society as the Kremlin seeks to eradicate outside influence. The plan, proposed by a parliamentary commission that investigates alleged foreign interference, would impose fines and jail terms of up to three years for people who worked with such groups. Organizations that work with unregistered NGOs would face heavy fines. Russia has shut down dozens of foreign-backed groups in recent years, declaring many of them undesirable. Ukraine Says 44 POWs Returned From Russia (3:15 p.m.) Ukraine returned home 42 servicemen and two civilians from Russian captivity, according to President Zelenskiys chief of staff, Andriy Yermak. The prisoners included defenders of Mariupol, Azovstal, and Kherson, he said. The Russian Defense Ministry said 40 of its servicemen had been freed after negotiations and were due to arrive in Moscow. Wagner Chief Complains of Munitions Shortage Again (2:36 p.m.) Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russian mercenary company PMC Wagner, complained again that his forces dont have enough shells and other munitions and blamed unnamed commanders for holding them back. We have enough for about 2-3 weeks before were down to the last cartridge in the clip, he said in a recording posted on his Telegram channel. The Ukrainian offensive is inevitable, but there is betrayal underway within the Russian Federation - they arent letting us put up defenses and attack further. He said the Ukrainian counteroffensive is likely to begin after the first week of May, once the mud on the battlefield dries. Earlier this year, he complained that the Russian Defense Ministry wasnt giving his forces adequate supplies, but in recent weeks the conflict had appeared to fade. China to Send Representative to Ukraine, Xi Says (1:17 p.m.) Xi told Zelenskiy during a phone call that the war can only be resolved through negotiations, according to Chinas state TV, which cited the Chinese leader as saying his nation would send a representative to Ukraine. Zelenskiy said on his Telegram channel that there could be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises. China recently put forward a 12-point cease-fire proposal that was dismissed by Kyivs allies as being a one-sided deal that would benefit the Kremlin, while French President Emmanuel Macron has sought to enlist Beijings help to intervene in Ukraine. Putin Critic Navalny Risks Decades in Jail, Spokeswoman Says (1:05 p.m.) Prosecutors are pursuing new cases against Navalny of extremism and terrorism, his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said on Twitter. A Moscow court gave Navalny until May 5 to familiarize himself with 196 volumes of case material alleging extremism, the state-run Tass news service reported. Navalny said via video link before the closed hearing that prosecutors were also preparing a terrorism case against him. Putins most high-profile critic is already serving a nine-year sentence after he returned to Moscow in January 2021 from treatment abroad for a poisoning in Russia that he and the West blamed on the Kremlin. Russia Steps Up Tactical-Nuclear Threats (11:17 a.m.) Russia trained troops from Belarus on tactical nuclear warheads for Iskander short-range missiles, taking a step toward following through on its threat to deploy the weapons on the territory of its ally. Putin last month announced plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus for the first time. As its invasion of Ukraine has struggled, Russia has repeatedly suggested it may use nuclear weapons, drawing criticism from the US and its allies, as well as China and India, which have generally been more supportive of Russia in the conflict. Poland to Open Repair Hub for Leopard Battle Tanks in May (11:17 a.m.) Poland will open a repair hub next week for German-made Leopard tanks returning from the Ukrainian battlefield, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday. The decision follows a letter signed by Poland, Germany and Ukraine laying out the preliminary financial scheme for the creation of a service hub. Garland Meets With Chief Justice (7:13 a.m.) US Attorney General Merrick Garland met in Washington Tuesday with Vsevolod Kniaziev, the chief justice of Ukraine. The two men discussed the challenges posed by wartime conditions in running a justice system, and expanding access to justice, especially in those areas most affected by the war, according to a Justice Department account of their encounter. Sweden Expels Five Russian Diplomats (7:13 a.m.) Sweden expelled five diplomatic staff members from the Russian embassy, broadcaster SVT reported. The ambassador was summoned by Swedish authorities. Their activities on our territory have been incompatible with their status as diplomats, said Swedens Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom in an interview. (An earlier version of this story corrected an item on delayed grain shipments to show only one ship was UN-chartered) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Drone pilots in a dug out Ukraine says it is rapidly increasing its production of drones as demand grows on the front line. The government has relaxed import laws and scrapped taxes for drone parts and equipment. The expansion is being funded by a successful fundraising campaign called the Army of Drones. More than $108m (87m) has been raised with the help of celebrity supporters like Star Wars' Mark Hamill. As well as buying and building drones for the war, the money is being spent on training new pilots for the front line. The BBC was invited to a training session for Ukraine's latest group of drone pilots in a secret location on the outskirts of Kyiv. Drone pilots are trained in teams of two as navigators and spotters A dozen teams of pilot pairs flew small drones across a field, searching for markers resembling military targets. Instructor Slava watched their technique and commented on how to better remain hidden in their makeshift dens in the woods. "Drones are our eyes, we can see the occupier very well from the top so we can adjust artillery and find and neutralise the enemy," he says. Soldiers on both sides of the conflict are also increasingly reliant on smaller and relatively cheap drones that are traditionally used for filming. The DJI Mavic is one of the most popular hobby drones in the world used for filming The most common drone seen on the front line is the DJI Mavic which costs less than $2,000 (1,615). Last year, its Chinese manufacturer banned exports to Ukraine and Russia insisting its products are "for civilian use only". Slava says the ban has made it harder to get hold of the drones but Ukraine has still been able to import thousands. But he admits they need more and also need to develop new types as they are so often shot down or jammed by electronic weapons. Organisers of the Army of Drones campaign say they have built or purchased an extra 3,300 drones. Some 400 people have even sent their own hobby drones in the mail. The fundraising began in July last year to help bolster the country's fleet and train pilots. The project is prominent on social media, with the actor Mark Hamill presenting promotional videos and sharing messages to his fans. Story continues Many shops and restaurants are promoting drone fundraising projects inside Ukraine Other nationwide drone projects are being advertised in many shops and service stations across Ukraine as the government insists drones give its military a competitive advantage on the battlefield. On Monday, 100 Ukrainian-made kamikaze drones designed to be crashed into enemy targets were sent to Bakhmut in the latest shipment. In March, Ukraine's Ministry for Digital Transformation announced what it called "an important step for the development of the Ukrainian UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) market", relaxing and simplifying the procedure for importing components for drones into Ukraine. Previously, the rules meant that receiving parts like GPS modules or thermal cameras could take 15 days. Ukraine already made many powerful combat drones but increased production in the last three months Ukraine also changed its tax code rules so importers of drones do not pay import duty and VAT for drones and their components. "Drones today are a fundamental technology in terms of the significance," said Minister for Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov when announcing the changes. Mr Fedorov has been leading the Army of Drones fundraising campaign. In his government office in Kyiv he proudly displays a prototype of a new secret kamikaze drone being built in Ukraine. Mr Fedorov makes no attempt to hide the deadly nature of these drones designed to smash into targets like soldiers or tanks. But like the rest of his government, he refuses to talk about recent drone strikes on Russian territory. Last month, a drone came down in the town of Kireyevsk, about 400km (249 miles) from the Ukraine border, injuring at least three people in an explosion after it was brought down, Russian state media said. In February, Russian media reported that a Ukrainian-made drone crashed in the Moscow region, with officials accusing Ukraine of targeting an energy facility. Mykhailo Fedorov says drones are giving Ukraine a competitive edge over Russia Russia has deployed hundreds of drones against Ukraine, particularly with large Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones. But Ukraine has never admitted to going on the offensive inside Russian territory. Asked if he would condone drone attacks on Russia, Mr Fedorov said: "I support everything that will bring us victory and stop Russia." On his official Telegram account, Mr Fedorov has also boasted of a Ukrainian drone called the R18 that "can fly from Kyiv to Moscow and back". The minister denied that he was calling for drone strikes on Moscow, saying: "We have defence forces who plan operations and our task is to do everything we can so that the country has enough UAVs for them to be used for all military purposes." The Ukraine Ministry of Defence did not respond to our requests for comment about drone strikes on Russian soil. Ukrainian defenders on the front line in Donetsk region Cavoli stated that Ukraine and its Western allies calculated how much equipment Kyiv would require for the counteroffensive, after which Ukraine's partners began supplying it. The general said that over 98% of the promised combat vehicles had already arrived in Ukraine, and also acknowledged the "generosity" of allies in supplying tanks and armored combat vehicles. Read also: Poland to provide Ukraine with more heavy military equipment "I am absolutely confident that we have delivered the material they need, and we will continue to work to support their operations," said Cavoli. According to Cavoli, the results of simulated wargames, conducted jointly with the Ukrainians, indicate that Kyivs forces are "in a good position" for a successful counteroffensive against Russian troops occupying Ukrainian territory. Read also: Leading digital comms firm trashes millions of dollars worth of equipment on leaving Russia On April 21st, the 11th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group took place at the U.S. Air Force Ramstein base in Germany. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the participants had agreed to intensify supplies of air defense systems and ammunition to Ukraine. Read also: Fighter jets ranked 8th on Ukraines list of military needs, Pentagon says The head of the Pentagon also reported that over the past several months, Ukraines partners have transferred over 230 tanks and more than 1,550 armored vehicles, considerably bolstering Kyivs ability to counter Russian aggression. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine China made its pledge to send an envoy to broker a 'political settlement' after a phone call between Xi Jinping and Volodymyr Zelensky - AP/Agence France Presse/AP, Pool Agence France Presse China said it would send an envoy to Ukraine to broker a political settlement to the war after Xi Jinping and Volodymyr Zelenksy spoke for the first time since the Russian invasion. The Chinese and Ukrainian presidents spoke for nearly an hour in their first contact since Russia invaded two years ago. Mr Zelensky said: I had a long and meaningful phone call with President Xi Jinping. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations. (@ZelenskyyUa) April 26, 2023 Ukraine has been seeking a formal call with Mr Xi since he visited Moscow last month in what some Western officials criticised as an endorsement of the invasion. Mr Zelensky appointed Pavel Ryabikin, who previously headed the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, as Kyiv's new envoy to China. Ukraine has not had an ambassador to China since February 2021. China said in a read-out that Mr Xi had noted that the complex evolution of the Ukrainian crisis has had a significant impact on the international situation during the call. It said China would send Li Hui, its special envoy to Eurasia, to Ukraine and other countries to have in-depth communication with all parties on political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, we will neither sit idly by, nor pour oil on fire, still less seek to profit from it, said Mr Xi, according to a Chinese read-out of the call. China has provided multiple batches of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and will keep providing help to the best of its ability, he added. Later, Mr Zelensky added that There can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises in a read-out of the call on Telegram. Story continues Mr Zelensky stressed that peace could only be agreed on the "1991 borders", meaning Ukraine taking full control of Crimea. It was not clear how much weight Chinas diplomatic gamble would carry. Neither Kyiv nor Moscow has shown any willingness to meet the others minimum demands for talks to start. Most serious observers believe one or the other must win a decisive advantage on the battlefield before direct diplomacy could start. Mr Li is a veteran but relatively low-profile diplomat who served as Chinas ambassador to Moscow for 10 years until 2019. He has been Eurasia's envoy for three years. He is unlikely to have authority to negotiate and would probably be briefed to deliver a message from Beijing. rather than try to broker talks. Vladimir Putin, Russias president, awarded him the countrys friendship medal - an award for people who have promoted Russias relations with foreign countries - when he left his post. Analysts said China was unlikely to risk embarrassment by committing a more senior figure to the venture, because it was unlikely to succeed. The United States welcomed the statement, but said it was too early to tell if it would result in progress towards peace. Thats a good thing, John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, said about the call. Now, whether thats going to lead to some sort of meaningful peace movement, or plan, or proposal, I just dont think we know that right now. Raffaello Pantucci, at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), said Mr Xi would have seen it was necessary to speak to Mr Zelensky after his Moscow visit, but that there was little new in the content of the call. The statement seems to reaffirm things the Chinese have said before, and these appointments of special envoys dont often lead to that much, he said. So it is a way of being seen to do something without doing that much or committing much. But I don't think that means the Chinese want the war to go on. And the fact Xi was able to talk to Zelensky about mutual respect for territorial integrity says something. In February, China set out a 12-point peace plan calling for a ceasefire, but had no specific proposals on how to achieve it. China has always professed neutrality over Russias war in Ukraine, but has refrained from condemning the invasion and remains Moscows closest and most powerful ally. Mr Xi has spoken to Putin several times since the war began and in March made a state visit to Moscow. The US recently said it was concerned China might provide weapons or ammunition to Russia, although Beijing denies any such plans. Some Western officials have sought to persuade Mr Xi to use his influence to restrain Putin. Last week, Chinas ambassador to France caused outrage when he said former Soviet states do not have effective status in international law - a comment that echoes Putins view that Ukraine is not a real country. 03:01 PM Todays liveblog is now closed. Thanks for following todays liveblog. Here is a summary of today's stories. Chinas president Xi Jinping has held a phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky, which marks the first time the pair have spoken since Russia invaded Ukraine. Following the long and meaningful call, a Ukrainian ambassador to China is to be appointed, Mr Zelensky announced on Twitter. President Xi told the Ukrainian leader that talks and negotiation were the only way out of the war, according to Chinese state media. Russia has accused Ukraine of undermining any peace attempts in its reaction to the call. The foreign ministry in Moscow said: "The Ukrainian authorities and their Western minders have already shown their ability to mess up any peace initiatives," according to AFP. Popular former mayor of Yekaterinburg and high-profile Kremlin critic Yevgeny Roizman has appeared in court over accusations of discrediting the Russian army over the war in Ukraine. He pleaded not guilty at the start of the hearing. British and German forces were deployed to intercept three Russian military aircraft flying without transponder signals over the Baltic sea, the Luftwaffe said on Wednesday. Two Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft and one Ilyushin Il-20 aircraft were identified flying within international airspace over the Baltic sea, the German air force said on Twitter. Ten Norwegian diplomats have been expelled from the embassy in Moscow and have been demanded to leave the country, Norway's foreign minister has said. Russia described today's move as a "retaliatory measure", following Norway expelling 15 Russian embassy officials accused of being intelligence officers operating under the cover of diplomatic positions on April 13. Please follow along tomorrow for all the latest updates on Ukraine. 02:39 PM 44 Ukrainians returned from Russian custody Ukraine has repatriated 44 prisoners of war from Russian custody, including two civilians. The head of the President of Ukraine's office Andriy Yermak said on Twitter that those returned included fighters from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol and some from Kherson. Mr Yermak wrote: "Another POW swap. We brought home 44 Ukrainian people. They had defended Mariupol, 'Azovstal', Kherson Oblast, fought the enemy in the Eastern regions. "We also managed to take two civilians back from Russian custody." Mr Yermak also wrote on Telegram that some of those freed had injuries sustained during torture. Another POW swap. We brought home 44 Ukrainian people. They had defended Mariupol, "Azovstal", Kherson Oblast, fought the enemy in the Eastern regions. We also managed to take two civilians back from Russian custody. pic.twitter.com/ZnNW3niW77 Andriy Yermak (@AndriyYermak) April 26, 2023 02:22 PM Moscow accuses Kyiv of undermining peace attempts after call between Ukraine and China Russia has accused Ukraine of undermining any peace attempts in its reaction to the first call between President Zelensky and Chinese President Xi Jinping since the war began. The foreign ministry in Moscow said: "The Ukrainian authorities and their Western minders have already shown their ability to mess up any peace initiatives," according to AFP. Moscow noted "the readiness of the Chinese side to make efforts to establish a negotiation process." Beijing has previously proposed a vague political solution to the conflict that includes a call for dialogue and respect for all countries' territorial sovereignty. "We see a broad consonance in our approach and in the provisions in the paper" from China, Moscow said. It accused Kyiv of having rejected "any sensible initiatives aimed at a political and diplomatic settlement." "The eventual consent to negotiations is conditioned by ultimatums with obviously unrealistic demands," it said. Ukraine has said it would not enter into negotiations with President Putin and that only by the withdrawal of Russian troops would peace be possible. 02:07 PM Italy wants to play 'leading role' in Ukraine reconstruction, says Meloni Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has said that Italy wants "to play a leading role" in the reconstruction of Ukraine following the outbreak of war, and encouraged other EU bodies to back the rebuilding efforts. We want to play a leading role not only politically, but also by involving businesses, Ms Meloni said, speaking alongside Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal at a bilateral summit in Rome. We are deepening cooperation. At the meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, I thanked Italy for its extensive assistance and consistent stance in supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of #Ukraine. We are working for the victory and 's recovery! pic.twitter.com/GGvOo2irHC Denys Shmyhal (@Denys_Shmyhal) April 26, 2023 01:57 PM France says it 'encourages all dialogue' after talks between Xi and Zelensky France has said it supported all dialogue which can "contribute to a resolution of the conflict" in Ukraine that is "in line with the fundamental interests of Kyiv" and international law on Wednesday, following a telephone conversation between President Zelensky and the President Xi Jinping. A French presidential official, who asked not to be named, emphasised that this was the message "taken by the president (Emmanuel Macron) during his visit to China" earlier this month, where he and European Commission president Ursula con der Leyen met with President Xi. 01:44 PM China to send special representatives to Ukraine following leaders call China is to send special representatives to Ukraine and hold talks with all parties on resolving the crisis, President Xi Jinping told President Zelensky on Wednesday, Chinese state media has reported. "China will send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to Ukraine and other countries to conduct in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, a government statement reported by state television said. When asked during a press conference about the conversation, a representative from the foreign ministry in Beijing said that the "call was initiated by the Ukrainian side". China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin takes a question at a briefing about the phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing - GREG BAKER/AFP 01:02 PM President Xi: 'Talks and negotiation' are 'only way out' of war Chinese state media has begun to report on what President Xi Jinping said on today's telephone call with President Zelensky. During the call, Mr Xi told Zelensky that "talks and negotiation" were the "only way out" of the war, CCTV reported. The leader said: "On the issue of the Ukraine crisis, China has always stood on the side of peace and its core position is to promote peace talks." Mr Zelensky's spokesman Sergiy Nykyforov said on Facebook that the pair had "an almost one hour-long telephone conversation". 12:49 PM President Zelensky speaks about call with Xi Jinping I had a long and meaningful phone call with President Xi Jinping. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations. (@ZelenskyyUa) April 26, 2023 12:41 PM EU institutions must support Ukraine reconstruction efforts with their own resources, says Italy EU institutions must support efforts made by the blocs members to help Ukraine restore its infrastructure after the Russian invasion with their own resources, the Italian economic minister said on Wednesday. At a bilateral conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine in Rome, Giancarlo Giorgetti said the European Investment Bank (EIB) was expected to play a key role. Rome is to contribute with a guarantee worth 100 million euros (88.5m) to the newly created EIB guarantee fund named 'EU for Ukraine'. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni meets with Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal prior to the plenary session of a bilateral meeting between Italy and Ukraine on the reconstruction of Ukraine in Rome - Gregorio Borgia/AP Yesterday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU would be providing another 1.5bn to Ukraine as part of the annual macro-financial assistance package. 12:12 PM Russia expels 10 Norwegian diplomats Ten Norwegian diplomats have been expelled from the embassy in Moscow and have been demanded to leave the country, Norway's foreign minister has said. "Our ambassador...has today been informed by the Russian foreign ministry that 10 of our diplomats in Moscow have been declared unwanted," the Norwegian foreign ministry said in a statement. "Russian authorities say that this is in reaction to Norway's decision," the Norwegian ministry added. Russia described today's move as a "retaliatory measure", following Norway expelling 15 Russian embassy officials accused of being intelligence officers operating under the cover of diplomatic positions on April 13. ""(Norway's ambassador to Russia) Robert Kvile was handed a note declaring 'persona non grata' 10 representatives of the Norwegian embassy in Moscow," Russia's foreign ministry confirmed. 11:47 AM US allowed JPMorgan to process payments for Russian Agricultural Bank The United States gave JPMorgan Chase & Co permission to process payments for the Russian Agricultural Bank, a Russian source told Reuters. The source said that the temporary agreement was no substitute for the bank being reconnected to the SWIFT payment system, one of the main demands from Russia if it is to extend the Black Sea grain deal beyond May 18. The Russian source, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control had allowed the transactions. "The transactions are difficult," said the Russian source, who has knowledge of the situation. JPMorgan did not reply to requests for comment. 11:34 AM Ukraine: The Latest - what South Asia makes of the war in Europe On the latest episode of The Telegraph's Ukraine podcast, the hosts discuss Russias T-14 Armata tank, and do a deep dive with special guests into the view from South Asia; how countries like Pakistan, India and Bangladesh are reacting to a war far from their orbit, and what this means for the region as a whole. You can listen below. 11:17 AM Pictured: Chernobyl memorial service on 37th anniversary of disaster Staff of the Chornobyl nuclear plant carry candles at a memorial dedicated to firefighters and workers who died after the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, during a night commemorative service - VALENTYN OGIRENKO/REUTERS 10:49 AM Navalny says he faces 30 additional years in jail on 'absurd' terrorism case Alexei Navalny has said he faces absurd accusations from investigators in a terrorism case which could see him sentenced to an additional 30 years in prison. The prominent opposition figure, who has been in detention since he returned to Russia from Germany, is already serving combined sentences of more than 11 years for fraud and contempt of court on charges he says were trumped up to silence him. He appeared via video link in a Moscow court as part of a case into extremism on Wednesday, Reuters reporters at the court said. Mr Navalny said in a statement posted to Twitter by supporters: They have put forward absurd accusations, according to which I face 30 years in prison. He added: I insist that the attempt to close the process is an attempt not only to restrict me from familiarising myself with the case, this is an attempt to make it so that nobody finds out about it." 10:21 AM Drone allegedly falls onto grounds of Moscow City Court A drone has fallen onto the grounds of Moscow City Court, Russias Izvestiia newspaper has reported. Details of the incident were not clear. No foreign objects were attached to the drone, a source told the paper. 10:06 AM In pictures: Scenes from Andiivka, Donetsk Ukrainian soldiers and volunteers try to load horses into a truck to evacuate them from an abandoned horse farm in war-hit Avdiivka - AP/LIBKOS A Ukrainian soldier walks in Avdiivka, the site of heavy battles with Russian troops in the Donetsk region, Ukraine - AP/LIBKOS A local resident carries her belonging as she leaves her home in Avdiivka, the site of the heaviest battles with Russian troops in the Donetsk region, Ukraine - LIBKOS/AP 09:50 AM Zelensky on Chernobyl anniversary: Give Russia 'no chance' to 'blackmail' Ukraine and world with nuclear threat Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said the world must give no chance to the terrorist state to use nuclear power facilities to blackmail Ukraine and the entire world, on the 37th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. Russian forces seized the nuclear power plant last year, and Mr Zelensky said that with its seizure they endangered the entire world again. It was later taken back by Ukraine at the end of March. Writing on Telegram, Mr Zelensky said: 37 years ago, the Chornobyl NPP accident left a huge scar on the whole world. The radiation leak turned a once cozy and developed area into an exclusion zone. Today, the 30-kilometer zone around the Chornobyl nuclear power plant remains a dangerous place with a high concentration of radiation. Last year, the occupier not only seized the nuclear power plant, but also endangered the entire world again. Its been more than a year after the liberation already, scientific and security enterprises in the Chornobyl zone have already returned to normal operation. Ukraine and the world have paid a high price for the liquidation of the consequences of the disaster, which continues to this day. We must do everything to give no chance to the terrorist state to use nuclear power facilities to blackmail Ukraine and the entire world. 09:36 AM Former opposition mayor goes on trial in Yekaterinburg Popular former mayor and high-profile Kremlin critic Yevgeny Roizman has appeared in court over accusations of discrediting the Russian army over the war in Ukraine. Mr Roizman, 60, became the most prominent opposition mayor when he assumed office in Ekaterinburg in 2013. He held the position for five years. The ex-mayor openly denounces Vladimir Putin, and has said he knows he could go to prison at any time, AFP reports. Russian opposition politician Yevgeny Roizman, who is accused of discrediting the Russian army, speaks to the media as he arrives for a court hearing in Yekaterinburg - NATALIA CHERNOKHATOVA/REUTERS Authorities launched a criminal probe against Mr Roizman in August 2022, and he stands accused of discrediting the Russian army in comments about Moscows military intervention in Ukraine. He pleaded not guilty at the start of the trial in Yekaterinburg. 09:18 AM Russian commanders use smartphone GPS app for operations in Bakhmut Russian commanders in Bakhmut use the Alpine Quest GPS app on smartphones to plot coordinates of targets and advance routes, a Ukrainian commander has said. In an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, commander of the eastern group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrsky, said that commanders of Russian assault groups in the area were using Alpine Quest GPS to plot firepower, objects of attack, routes of advance to them, as well as the tasks of neighbouring units. The commanders of the assault groups use smartphones with special software Alpine Quest GPS, in which the coordinates of the positions of our firepower, objects of attack, routes of advance to them, as well as the tasks of neighbouring units are plotted," General Syrsky said. 08:55 AM Latest MoD update: Fighting in Bakhmut The latest update from the Ministry of Defence concentrates on Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the war in Ukraine so far. The ministry said that there has been fighting on the outskirts of the town as Ukrainian forces seek to keep hold of the 0506 road which is their key supply route, as other resupply options are likely complicated by muddy conditions on unsurfaced tracks. In their daily intelligence update posted on Twitter, the ministry said: A key development over the last week has been fighting on the outskirts of the town, especially near the village of Khromove, as Ukraine seeks to maintain control of its 0506 supply route. Ukraines other resupply options into Bakhmut are likely complicated by muddy conditions on unsurfaced tracks. With the town having now been under attack for over 11 months, the Ukrainian defences of Bakhmut have now been integrated as one element of a much deeper defensive zone, which includes the town of Chasiv Yar to the west. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 26 April 2023. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/wtiXllWpl9 #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/olhe70Sfw5 Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) April 26, 2023 08:41 AM Ukraine military achieving impressive results on eastern bank of Dnipro, says official Ukrainian forces are achieving impressive results in counter-battery combat against Russia on the eastern bank of the Dnipro, a spokeswoman for the Ukrainian Southern Operational Forces has said. The US-based Institute for the Study of War said that Nataliya Humenyuk had claimed on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces hit and destroyed Russian artillery systems, tanks, armoured vehicles and air defence systems on the Russian-occupied left bank. Ms Humenyuk added that forces were working to clear the frontline on the east bank in a counter-battery mode. Last week the institute said that Ukrainian soldiers had crossed the river for the first time since the early days of the invasion and had built positions there. 08:25 AM In pictures: Aftermath of missile attack in Kupiansk President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia was trying to erase Ukraine's history and culture after a missile strike on a museum killed two people and wounded 10. One of the two women killed was reportedly an employee "who was trying to save the exhibits", Ukrainian internal affairs adviser Anton Gerashchenko said on Twitter on Tuesday. Ukraine regained Kupiansk, a key rail hub in northeastern Ukraine, in September, but fears had mounted that Russia was trying to retake the city which prompted an evacuation order for vulnerable residents in March. A local resident looks at an explosion crater next to the local history museum destroyed following Russian missile strike in the town of Kupiansk, Kharkiv - SERGEY BOBOK/AFP A Ukrainian policeman walks next to the local history museum destroyed following Russian missile strike in the town of Kupiansk, Kharkiv region - SERGEY BOBOK/AFP 08:12 AM Russian government seizes assets of two foreign firms, warning of possible further action Russian president Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to establish temporary control of the Russian assets of two foreign energy firms, in a step signalling that Moscow could take similar action against other companies. The decree noted the possibility of retaliation if Russian assets abroad were seized, and said that Moscow would need to take urgent measures to unspecified actions in the United States and other countries it said were unfriendly and contrary to international law. Moscow has taken action against Uniper SEs Russian division and the assets of Finlands Fortum Oyj, with shares placed in the temporary control of Rosimushchestvo, the federal government property agency, Reuters reported. 08:02 AM Pictured: Three Russian aircraft intercepted above Baltic Sea, says German air force Aufklarungsflieger abgefangen. und #Eurofighter wurden alarmiert, um 3 Militarmaschinen zu identifizieren. Die zwei SU-27 Flanker und eine IL-20 aus flogen erneut ohne Transpondersignal im int. Luftraum uber der Ostsee. #SecuringTheSkies #VAPB @NATO @GermanyNATO pic.twitter.com/sOY4CPkrbe Team Luftwaffe (@Team_Luftwaffe) April 26, 2023 08:00 AM Good morning Good morning and welcome to today's Ukraine liveblog. We will be guiding you through the latest updates on Ukraine. NAIROBI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The National Treasury and Economic Planning of Kenya has proposed to amend its debt law by removing the current ceiling of 10 trillion shillings (about 73.64 billion U.S. dollars) and replacing it with a new measure based on the gross domestic product (GDP) for the efficient budget deficit and debt management. The government agency said Wednesday it's seeking to introduce a debt anchor that is pegged at 55 percent of the GDP. The new debt anchor will, therefore, allow more borrowing to finance the budget deficit. "By putting a debt anchor, we will manage our debt in a sustainable manner that conforms with guidelines set by the International Monetary Fund on debt limit and reduce the risk of default," Monica Asuna, the director of Planning at the National Treasury and Economic Planning, said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. The institution is currently taking the proposed amendment through public participation before it is forwarded to Parliament for debate and passage into law. According to Njuguna Ndung'u, the cabinet secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, if the law is not changed, the ministry would have to write to Parliament every time the threshold is exceeded. Kenya's debt stock stood at 68 billion dollars at the end of January. Ndung'u said Kenya thus needs to amend the debt law to enable it to meet its debt obligations and finance its budget deficit. On April 18, Kenya kicked off a plan to raise funds in the international market through a sovereign bond in the financial year 2023/2024 which is expected to raise the public debt stock. The money raised would be used to offset a 2-billion-dollar Eurobond that would be done in June 2024. Yevgeny Prigozhin, a putative close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the boss of the Wagner mercenary group, called out the Kremlin Wednesday for failing to provide enough ammunition as Ukraine prepares for a looming offensive. "What's going on now with the Ukrainian Armed Forces counter-offensive?" Prigohzin, whose troops have borne the brunt of the battle for Bakhmut, asked rhetorically in an audio message posted on his Telegram channel, according to a translation by Times Radio. "It's raining today and the last of the rain is forecast for May 2. Another week will be needed for the winds to dry the ground. After that, the Ukrainian Army will be ready to move." The Ukrainian Army "is fully ready to move out and cover flanks," he added. "Nobody has ever covered our flanks. All the stories about preventing the Ukrainian reserves from entering Bakhmut is total crap. Not a single shot was made by the Russian Army. Nobody is giving them ammunition. Not to them, not to us. A criminal order was made not to give out ammunition." "Ammunition is stacked high in warehouses as I already said before," Prigozhin fumed. "Scumbags who made these decisions should be answerable to the mothers of those killed in action." Due to the lack of ammunition, too many troops are dying, Prigozhin said. Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin says Russians are dying in Bakhmut because they are not getting enough ammo. (Via Twitter) "Five people are dying instead of one," he complained. "It is a five-to-one ratio. One soldier should die when coming into a building. But five are dying because there's no ammunition. The Ukrainian offensive is inevitable. There's treason inside the Russian Federation. We are not even allowed to build up our defenses." As Prigozhin fulminated, the commander of Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SSO) Gen. Viktor Khorenko visited Bakhmut Wednesday. He familiarized himself with the current situation in the city and talked with the soldiers of the SSO units defending the city. Story continues "Indeed, the situation in Bakhmut is difficult, but who but you knows what needs to be done and how to act in the current conditions," he told the troops, according to his Telegram channel. "Your work here once again proves that the SSO is primarily an advantage of quality over quantity." Khorenko emphasized the importance of the work of special-purpose groups during the defense of Bakhmut and noted the professionalism of SSO operators. "For a long time, the soldiers of the Special Operations Forces have been fully performing the task of defending the city, which remains the hottest point of the front," he said. "Despite the superiority of the enemy, and massive attacks aimed at destroying city blocks, operators of the SSO of Ukraine strike the enemy at key areas, destroy his personnel and perform a number of other tasks, hindering the advance of Russian troops." Ukrainian SOF Commander Brigadier General Viktor Khorenko has visited Bakhmut. The situation in Bakhmut is hard, who but you knows what to do, - noted Viktor Khorenko while speaking with SOF warriors who are defending the city. pic.twitter.com/1xMqukz5B0 SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES OF UKRAINE (@SOF_UKR) April 26, 2023 Perhaps one good piece of news for Russia as its Donbas offensive seems to have stalled is that Moscow appears to be seeing a reduction in combat casualties, according to the U.K. Defense Ministry (MoD). The MoD, citing Ukrainian figures, suggests that Russia's turn to a more defensive posture along much of the front lines in and around Bakhmut is a likely reason why fewer of its soldiers are getting killed and wounded. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 25 April 2023. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/fbRN7V3P9X #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/NGYshhAX13 Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) April 25, 2023 Before we head into todays latest updates from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here. The Latest The long-awaited call between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Chinese President Xi Jinping finally took place today. "During the hour-long conversation, we discussed a full range of topical issues of bilateral relations. Particular attention was paid to the ways of possible cooperation to establish a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine," Zelensky said on his Telegram channel. "No one wants peace more than the Ukrainian people. We are on our land and fighting for our future, exercising our inalienable right to self-defense. Peace must be just and sustainable, based on the principles of international law and respect for the UN Charter. There can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises. The territorial integrity of Ukraine must be restored within the 1991 borders." The two leaders also "discussed ways to strengthen the Ukrainian-Chinese partnership," said Zelensky. "Before the full-scale Russian invasion, China was Ukraine's number one trading partner. I believe that our conversation today will give a powerful impetus to the return, preservation and development of this dynamic at all levels." I had a long and meaningful phone call with President Xi Jinping. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations. (@ZelenskyyUa) April 26, 2023 Nearly all the combat vehicles Ukraines Western allies promised to deliver in time for Kyivs expected spring counteroffensive have arrived, NATOs top military commander said on Wednesday, The New York Times reported. Over 98 percent of the combat vehicles are already there, said Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, who is also the top commander of U.S. forces in Europe. In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, he said, I am very confident that we have delivered the materiel that they need and well continue a pipeline to sustain their operations as well. Top U.S. General in Europe, Christopher Cavoli: Ukraine has already received 98% of the combat equipment promised by the West. Ukraine is "in a good position" for a counteroffensive. pic.twitter.com/jHY3Up1UUP Clash Report (@clashreport) April 26, 2023 With Ukraine eyeing the liberation of Crimea, occupied by Russia since 2014, it appears that Moscow's forces are on the move there. Satellite imagery viewed by open-source intelligence (OSINT) analyst Brady Africk shows that Russia has emptied the Medvedivka depot in northern Crimea where it stored tanks and other armor as well as artillery between Feb. 11 and April 25. Russia has moved equipment out of its depot in Medvedivka in northern Crimea, says OSINT analyst Brady Africk. (Google Earth image) "Without knowing where the vehicles and equipment from that depot near Mevedivka ended up, it is difficult to draw conclusions as to the significance of Russian removing it all," Africk told The War Zone. "It might have been a decision made due to the need for more equipment near the front line, fear of Ukrainian strikes, or a combination of similar motives." Russian forces have emptied out this military depot in northern Crimea, new satellite imagery shows. This site was used to store tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery. pic.twitter.com/3uIc4GI5ac Brady Africk (@bradyafr) April 26, 2023 Speaking of Ukrainian attacks on Crimea, on Monday we wrote about yet another Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessel (USV) attack on Sevastopol, home of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Now Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) says that despite Russian protestations, the attack did not violate the Black Sea Grain Initiative. "Ukraine complies with international obligations, including fulfilling all obligations related to the grain corridor," said GUR spokesman Andrii Yusov. "The recent events in Crimea concerned only military facilities and are in no way related to the grain agreement, which provides for Ukrainian ports and civilian ports when it comes to the territory controlled by Ukraine." Military intelligence: Explosions in Crimea do not violate grain deal terms. Recent explosions at Russian military facilities in the occupied Crimea do not violate the terms of the Black Sea grain deal, said a spokesperson for Ukraine's military intelligence Andrii Yusov. The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) April 26, 2023 Yesterday, we wrote about the more than four million howitzer shells, rockets, mortars and other munitions the U.S. has provided Ukraine. Today, The Wall Street Journal took a deep dive into concerns about this nation's supply chain, especially with lingering problems from a 2021 explosion at a Louisiana factory that was "the sole domestic source of an explosive the Department of Defense relies on to produce bullets, mortar shells, artillery rounds and Tomahawk missiles." "The ramshackle facility makes the original form of gunpowder, known today as black powder, a highly combustible material with hundreds of military applications," the newspaper reported. "The product, for which there is no substitute, is used in small quantities in munitions to ignite more powerful explosives." The factory remains offline, highlighting the precarious nature of the U.S. weapons supply chain for items like Stingers, howitzers, anti-armor systems and artillery ammunition. "Stocks are low in both the U.S. and its NATO allies, especially in 155mm howitzer shells, an ammunition that has been crucial to pushing back Russian forces." Can you imagine what would happen to these supply chains if the U.S. were in an actual state of active war, or NATO was? said Jeff Rhoads, executive director of the Purdue Institute for National Security, a defense-research institute at Purdue University. They could be in trouble very quickly. The U.S. military needs black powder to produce bullets, mortar shells and Tomahawk missiles. Its made in one Louisiana factory. It blew up nearly two years ago and remains offline. https://t.co/sIK8Kr6ZMs via @WSJ Howard Altman (@haltman) April 26, 2023 Ukraine's Air Force released a video of one of its new Patriot air defense systems. The 2-minute, 30-second video gives a good look inside and outside one of the systems, on duty somewhere in Ukraine. The two systems - one donated by the U.S. and one a combination of German and Dutch components - arrived in Ukraine last week. The Slovenian government delivered 20 Valuk six-wheeled armored personnel carriers to Ukraine, the Slovenian 24ur news outlet reported Wednesday. The vehicles "were delivered to Ukraine in complete secrecy," 24ur reported. Slovenian Valuks are armed with 40 mm automatic grenade launchers or 12.7 mm machine guns, "and we had 85 of them in our composition and they were in the Slovenian Army for 24 years." The newest weapons Slovenia sent to Ukraine, "they are intended for the transport of infantry and protect them from anti-personnel mines and infantry weapons up to 12.7 mm caliber." The Dutch Marines, who trained Ukrainian troops, are pleased those troops using the Swedish Bandvagn BvS 10 armored tracked all-terrain vehicles the Netherlands provided. Nice to see Ukrainians treat our dear vikings well. Flashback to their training. https://t.co/cFb2cF7VUC pic.twitter.com/ELpor6QbSD Korps Mariniers (@korpsmariniers) April 25, 2023 The United Kingdom was the first nation to promise Western tanks to Ukraine, offering up Challenger 2 main battle tanks. Having been delivered last month, they are now on the battlefield and ready for combat. Also the Challenger 2 tanks supplied by The UK are ready for operational combat pic.twitter.com/RVFzvNez9r NOEL (@NOELreports) April 25, 2023 Wednesday marked the 37th anniversary of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident that left much of Europe contaminated with radioactive cesium, though the ultimate danger could have been much worse. There was a widespread release of radioactive cesium in the wake of the April 26, 1986 explosion at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. (RealChernobyl map) "37 years ago, the accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant left a huge scar on the whole world," Zelensky said at a commemoration event. "The radiation leak turned the once cozy and developed territory into an exclusion zone. Today, the 30-kilometer zone around Chornobyl remains a dangerous place with a high concentration of radiation." The deactivated plant and surrounding exclusion zone was captured by Russia as it drove south through it from Belarus on the first night of the all-out war. 37 years ago, the Chornobyl NPP accident left a huge scar on the whole world. Its been more than a year since the liberation of the plant from the invader. We must do everything to prevent the terrorist state from using nuclear power facilities to blackmail and the world. pic.twitter.com/q1QNDniXg4 (@ZelenskyyUa) April 26, 2023 Meanwhile, Ukraine's State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate resumed the work of the Nuclear Safety Inspection unit responsible for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest and occupied by the Russians since the early days of the all-out war. You can read about one researcher's concerns about Russia's occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in our deep dive here. Oleh Korikov: We are preparing to resume safe operation of Zaporizhia NPPhttps://t.co/Qm0rwu0Wji pic.twitter.com/8hbN3tY6NQ Media Center Ukraine (@CenterUkraine) April 25, 2023 Nearly a year ago today, we interviewed Ukrainian Maj. Borden Krotevych from inside the besieged Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol. Back from captivity, he is planning to revive the Azov brigade, hailed by Ukrainians for holding out for months at the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol, the Azov brigade is scrambling to rebuild from heavy combat losses as it seeks to play a muscular role in Ukraines next major assault, The Washington Post reports. The high-profile unit is hoping to recruit 6,500 new fighters who will provide restored combat heft even as its leaders push for the return of more than 1,000 brigade troops who remain in Russia as prisoners of war. We are ready to liberate territory, Krotevych, who is the brigades interim commander and is leading the rebuilding effort after his release from Russian captivity in the fall, said in an interview. Ukraines Azov brigade races to rebuild ahead of fateful fight - The Washington Post https://t.co/EvSnMmqLyb Bud (@BudGothmog44) April 26, 2023 Speaking of Mariupol, Google Maps has updated its satellite images of the Azov Sea port city of Mariupol, devastated during a brutal Russian siege and ongoing occupation. We will never forget what Russia did to Mariupol and its people. From burying loved ones in children's sandpits to escaping now knowing if you and your family will make it throughthe people of Mariupol went through real hell at the hands of Russia. pic.twitter.com/7SCZmFTA3q UNITED24.media (@United24media) April 26, 2023 Russia keeps hitting Ukrainian cities. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry (MoD) said that a woman was killed and 10 people injured after a missile strike on Kupyansk in the Kharkiv Oblast on Tuesday. russian terrorists launched a missile attack on Kupyansk, Kharkiv region. The city museum suffered the most damage. A woman was killed, and ten people were injured. People are still trapped beneath the rubble. pic.twitter.com/R8YBWUL1Ze Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 25, 2023 In the age of drones, damaged armor is in great peril on the battlefield. In this case, a damaged Russian T-72A tank was destroyed after being hit by a Ukrainian First Person Video (FPV) drone. The resulting hit detonated the tank's ammunition, finishing it off. #Ukraine: Near Nevelske, #Donetsk Oblast the Ukrainian 59th Motorized Brigade destroyed with an FPV loitering munition a damaged T-72A tank that Russian troops were attempting to evacuate. The ammunition on board eventually detonated, completely destroying the tank. pic.twitter.com/aAGaW4IKFB Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) April 26, 2023 Ukraine is also using FPV drones to attack buildings, like this Russian surveillance system at the Nova Khakhovka power plant. Video of a Ukrainian FPV loitering munition strike on a Russian surveillance system at the Nova Khakhovka power plant. https://t.co/wTYHPP4xPChttps://t.co/PjOFW1DwgS pic.twitter.com/cYt9tp8DRe Rob Lee (@RALee85) April 26, 2023 There are a whole bunch of new drones heading to Ukrainian troops. We are sending 100 kamikaze drones to the Bakhmut direction, Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister, said on his Telegram channel. In two days, subscribers of the Blyskavka online publication raised more than UAH 10.4 million (about $283,000) for 500 kamikaze drones through UNITED24. The first batch of those drones is already flying to one of the air reconnaissance units of the 59th brigade. They will help the fighters quickly deliver gifts to the Russians. Thanks to partners and everyone who supports the Drone Army." Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister: "We are sending 100 kamikaze drones to the Bakhmut. In two days, subscribers of the Blyskavka online publication raised more than UAH 10.4 million for 500 kamikaze drones through UNITED24. The first batch of "birds" is already https://t.co/5toKbNMs94 pic.twitter.com/1ljtp48UgN Samuel Bendett (@sambendett) April 24, 2023 But regardless of technological advances, snipers will always have a role, like these Russian troops in the bombed-out city of Marinka. Snipers from a Russian Southern Military District motorized rifle unit (presumably 150th MRD) in Marinka with SVDS and ASVKM rifles. https://t.co/pf89Q678bP pic.twitter.com/aamNFs4CxO Rob Lee (@RALee85) April 26, 2023 A Russian "Basurmanin" BMP-1AM infantry fighting vehicle parked next to a building in Luhansk Oblast was destroyed by the Ukrainian army. #Ukraine: A Russian BMP-1AM "Basurmanin" infantry fighting vehicle was destroyed by the Ukrainian army in Chervonopopivka, #Luhansk Oblast. pic.twitter.com/JQBbhFWPQX Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) April 25, 2023 Ukraine keeps adding to its trophy collection, in this case a Russian T-62M tank captured in Kherson Oblast. It may be old, but if nothing else, the tank can be used as an indirect fire platform. #Ukraine: One of the Russian T-62M tanks captured by the Ukrainian army in #Kherson Oblast is now in service with the 17th Tank Brigade. Although it's an ancient type, it still can see use as an armoured recovery vehicle or/and for indirect fire support. pic.twitter.com/cdAi1eI2bv Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) April 25, 2023 Ukraine continues to find innovative ways to use tractors to clear mines, in this case adding armored plating and pushing a wheeled roller. An impromptu remote-controlled demining vehicle with which Ukrainian farmers clear their land. Created on the basis of an old tractor. I never cease to be amazed at the ingenuity of Ukrainians #UkraineRussiaWar #Ukraine #War# #UkraineWar # pic.twitter.com/Ikge9gQOKc AlexRaptor (@AlexRaptor94) April 24, 2023 And finally, one soldier seems to have found some beauty in the horrors of trench warfare. He turned the walls of one trench into a work of art, carving faces into the mud. That's it for now. We'll update this story when there is more news to report about Ukraine. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com Ukraine brought back 44 more prisoners of war, 2 of them civilians. Source: statement by Andrii Yermak, Head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine Quote: "Another PoW swap. We managed to bring back home 44 of our people. Among them 36 privates and sergeants and 6 officers, including military, border guards, members of the National Guard of Ukraine, marines. These people defended the city of Mariupol, the Azovstal plant, Kherson Oblast, and fought with the occupiers in the east of Ukraine. We also brought back two civilians." Details: Yermak stated that some of these people are injured, as they had been tortured while in captivity. The seap included two men whose wives were brought back from captivity earlier. The Ministry of Defence of Russia reported that Ukraine handed over 40 captured occupiers. Background: On 10 April, Ukraine brought 100 of its soldiers back from Russian captivity. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Key developments on April 26: Zelensky holds phone call with China's Xi Jinping, appoints Ukrainian ambassador to Beijing CNN: White House 'welcomes' Zelensky-Xi call, expresses caution regarding Chinese peace plan. Italian correspondent wounded, Ukrainian fixer killed in Kherson Oblast 44 Ukrainian POWs freed in prisoner exchange President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on April 26. This is their first call since Russia launched the full-scale war against Ukraine. Zelensky said it was a "long and meaningful phone call," in which he said the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and ways to establish "a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine." He underscored that only a complete liberation of Ukrainian territories is acceptable despite the "tough" battlefield conditions, the President's Office reported. In the nearly hour-long phone call, the two sides agreed on appointing Ukraine's ambassador to China, which Zelensky said would "give a powerful impetus" to developing bilateral relations. Zelensky later appointed Pavlo Riabikin, the former minister of strategic industries, as the new ambassador. Ukraine's previous ambassador to China, Serhii Kamyshev, died on Feb. 14, 2022, just over a week before the full-scale war began. China remained careful, giving little information about the call. As cited by Chinese state media, Xi said that he would send a special delegation to Ukraine for a "political settlement" of the "crisis," adding that "China has always been on the side of peace" and "dialogue and negotiations are the only way out of the conflict." Without condemning Russia's brutal war or naming Russia, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in its statement, "China will continue to facilitate talks for peace and make its efforts for early ceasefire and restoration of peace." The long-anticipated Zelensky-Xi phone call comes as Washington and NATO issue a warning to China against providing lethal weapons to Russia. Story continues In late February, NATO said it saw signs that China was preparing to send lethal aid to Russia, and the U.S. warned that it would target Chinese firms and individuals involved, immediately hitting with a heavy economic price. While neither the U.S. nor NATO officially confirmed that China had provided lethal aid to Russia, the tension remains high as Beijing and Moscow increasingly isolate themselves from the West. The growing Beijing-Moscow relations have also alerted the West and Ukraine, especially after Xi's two-day visit to Russia, where he held lengthy talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. A few days before the full-scale war, the two leaders declared "friendship without limits," agreeing there would be no "forbidden areas of cooperation." Despite tensions, the U.S. welcomed the Zelensky-Xi phone call, yet being cautious of "whether that's gonna lead to some sort of meaningful peace movement or plan or proposal," White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby said, as quoted by CNN. China's proposed 12-point "peace plan," for instance, fails to directly call for a complete Russian withdrawal, with Western officials criticizing it as a pro-Moscow peace agreement that undermines Ukraine's sovereignty. After the phone call, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova praised China's readiness to begin negotiations, adding that Russia and China held "a broad consonance of our principled approaches" on China's peace plan. Ukraine and Western nations have called on Russia to end its war against Ukraine, with Zelensky reiterating on April 26 to liberate all of its territories. A Ukrainian policeman walks in front of a destroyed school in the frontline town of Avdiivka, Donetsk region on April 25, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images) Italian journalist wounded, his Ukrainian colleague killed Correspondent of Italian newspaper La Repubblica Corrado Zunino was wounded, and his Ukrainian colleague Bohdan Bitik was killed near the Antonivsky Bridge, close to the liberated city of Kherson, due to a Russian attack. The paper reported that the two were "most likely" ambushed by Russian snipers. While areas on the west bank of the Dnipro River, including the regional capital of Kherson, were liberated by Ukrainian forces last fall, the Russian troops are still on the other side of the major waterway. The Italian journalist's fixer Bitik, who helped organize reporting trips, layed still right after the attack, Zunino told the newspaper. Zunino, who the newspaper says was also covered in blood, was taken to a Kherson hospital and contacted the Italian Embassy. The Ukrainian is survived by his son and a wife. "Russians don't care if you're Russian, Italian or Ukrainian, they just shoot," Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba told Italian media, adding that he was briefed on the incident immediately by the Ukrainian military. Under international humanitarian law, attacking media representatives and their equipment in a conflict zone is illegal. The Italian journalist told La Repubblica that he and Bitik could be "clearly recognized" as journalists. Throughout the full-scale war, Russia has indiscriminately killed civilians and journalists across Ukraine, often firing upon non-military targets. 44 Ukrainian POWs freed in latest prisoner exchange Forty-two Ukrainian military personnel and two civilians have returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity in the latest prisoner swap, Presidential Office head Andrii Yermak reported on April 26. The Ukrainian prisoners of war who were released included soldiers, navy personnel, border guards, and national guardsmen, according to the official. Among them were 36 privates and sergeants, as well as six officers. According to the report, the former POWs took part in Ukraine's defense of Mariupol, including the Azovstal plant, and fought against Russian troops in Kherson Oblast and the east. Some of the exchanged POWs were wounded and tortured by Russia in captivity, Yermak said. Among them were also two men whose wives had been previously released from Russian captivity. Two traitors, who were passing intelligence data about the location of the defence forces units on the Bakhmut front to the occupiers, have been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Source: Security Service of Ukraine Details: According to Security Service materials, the court sentenced them to 15 years in prison for treason committed under martial law. Both Russian accomplices were detained in December 2022 during counter-subversion measures in the front-line areas of Donetsk Oblast. The perpetrators are a couple from the settlement of Chasiv Yar. The man had previously served a sentence for participating in the illegal armed formations of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic". Last summer, they remotely contacted deputy commander of Sparta, a Russian reconnaissance battalion, which participated in hostilities on the eastern front. In correspondence with him, the traitors offered their help in the war against Ukraine. At the instructions provided by the Russians, they collected information about possible bases and movements of the defence forces on the front line. First, they tried to find warehouses with weapons and ammunition of Ukrainian troops. Russian agents transmitted the information they received to the occupiers through a network of Russian military intelligence "liaisons" in the captured part of Donetsk Oblast. Closed chats in messenger apps were used for communication. Based on the collected evidence, the court found both Russian henchmen guilty. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A shot of a Patriot missile battery firing an interceptor in a US Army test. The Patriot missile defense system is a ground-based interceptor able to eliminate airborne threats. US Army photo Russia's air force has an edge over Ukraine's aircraft, requiring Ukraine to rely on other capabilities. Fighting off Russia's air force is dependent on Ukraine's surface-to-air missiles, a new report says. But leaked US intelligence shows that Ukraine's SAM inventory has reached critical levels. Ukraine's ability to keep Russia's superior air force at bay relies heavily on its inventory of surface-to-air missiles, a new report argues, but leaked US intelligence documents indicate Kyiv's air defenses could be in trouble, making support from its partners critical. In the 14 months since Russia carried out its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow's fighter force has demonstrated it maintains a significant advantage over Kyiv's aircraft, according to a recent report on the strengths and weaknesses of Russian airpower published by the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA), a US-based think tank. Given the disparities in missile and radar performances, electronic warfare equipment, and overall numbers, "Russia's fighter force has shown that it is more than capable of overmatching" Ukraine's forces, the April 17 report says. And in Syria, prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Moscow's forces demonstrated that if the attack aircraft are permitted to fly uncontested at medium altitudes, they have no problem targeting and engaging fixed defensive positions and infrastructure. As Ukrainian air forces can't compete, the task of fending off Russian aircraft ultimately comes down to Ukraine's surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems, Justin Bronk, an airpower expert who authored the CNA report, said. Bronk notes that if Western countries like the US and its NATO partners can't resupply, augment, and replace Ukraine's SAM systems, Russia's more powerful could overrun the Ukrainian air force and go on to control critical airspace. "This would pose a serious risk to the Ukrainian Army's ability to sustainably hold fixed defensive positions, assemble reinforcements and reserve units in rear areas, and safely marshal ammunition and logistics supplies," Bronk wrote in the report. But if Ukraine can maintain its SAM inventory, it's not very likely that Russia's airpower can "significantly change its fortunes so far into the war," he added. Story continues Technicians look over an Su-34 at an airfield in Kubinka, Russia, August 29, 2020. Mihail Tokmakov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv had managed to field what Bronk called "an impressive air defense inventory" that included several different types of surface-to-air missile systems, as well as shoulder-launched portable missile systems that could defend against targets at lower altitudes. But after more than a year of war, Ukraine's SAM inventory may be in rough shape, according a collection of top secret Pentagon documents that was leaked online, allegedly by a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. One document in particular that was obtained and reviewed by Insider details Ukraine's air defense capabilities and the risks it faces. The document, which appears to have been published at some point in February, says SA-10s and SA-11s, the NATO names for the S-300 and Buk systems, make up 89% of Ukraine's medium and high-range air defense protection. US intelligence estimated that Ukraine would exhaust its SA-11s as early as the end of March while the SA-10s could be gone by early May. Ukraine has pushed back on some observations and assessments in the leaked documents, but given that Russia has continuously lobbed a variety of munitions at Ukrainian cities, it is likely that the country's air defenses are strained, with the potential for certain capabilities to have been depleted. According to the CNA report, Ukraine has lost a "significant" amount of SAM systems because of Russian missile, artillery, and loitering munition strikes. And because Kyiv's forces are expending lots of ammunition to continuously intercept Russian aerial threats, they rely heavily on missile supplies from other countries just so to maintain its surface-to-air combat capabilities. Soldiers of the German Armed Forces stand on a trailer with launching pads for guided missiles of the Patriot air defense system on a snow-covered field in southeastern Poland. Photo by Sebastian Kahnert/picture alliance via Getty Images The leaked document also states that Ukraine's other air defense systems to include other Soviet-era systems, as well as capabilities like the US-provided National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and Germany's IRIS-T system have limited quantities available, are unable to match the Russian volume, cannot be layered, and can only cover select assets. While shorter-range systems like US-made Stingers help to ease Ukraine's dwindling supply of tactical and strategic SAMs, these weapons don't have the same deterrent effect against Russia's multirole fighters, the classified document notes. Despite this bleak assessment, Ukraine recently celebrated the much-anticipated arrival of American-made Patriot missile defense batteries, which are combat-tested surface-to-air systems that can target and eliminate aircraft, drones, missiles, and loitering munitions. "Our beautiful Ukrainian sky becomes more secure because Patriot air defense systems have arrived in Ukraine," Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said last week. He thanked the US, Germany, and the Netherlands all of which have pledged to send the highly advanced systems to Ukraine. But as Bronk noted in his report, continued support is necessary to prevent Russia from securing the ability to "to overpower the [Ukrainian Air Force's] remaining fighters and gain control of the airspace over the frontlines in key areas." Read the original article on Business Insider Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke on the phone for an hour Wednesday, and Xi pressed his position as a neutral peacemaker in the Russian-Ukrainian war that has dragged into a second year with no end in sight. Xi appealed for negotiations, warning there is no winner in a nuclear war, Chinese state media reported, although Russia has dismissed claims it would resort to nuclear weapons and Ukraine no longer has them. Xis government will send a representative to Ukraine for talks about a possible political settlement, according to the report. Zelenskyy provided an upbeat description of the call on social media: "I had a long and meaningful phone call with President Xi Jinping. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations." During his nightly video address to the country, Zelenskyy said Xi had "words of support'' for extending the Black Sea grain agreement, which Russia has threatened to abandon when it expires May 18 if the Kremlin's demands are not met. White House spokesman John Kirby called the direct communication between Xi and Zelenskyy a good thing. The Biden administration, he said, has been stressing the importance of China getting the Ukrainian perspective. Now, whether that's going to lead to some sort of meaningful peace movement or plan or proposal, I just don't think we know that right now, Kirby told reporters. China has claimed neutrality in the war, refusing to criticize Russia for the invasion and declining to participate in Western sanctions. Beijing also has denied speculation that it would supply Russia with much-needed weaponry and ammunition. Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke on the phone Wednesday. Developments: Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Wednesday he's facing new extremism and terrorism charges that could keep him behind bars for life, calling the extremism accusation "absurd'' and questioning how he could be conducting terror attacks while sitting in prison. Story continues Fighting on the outskirts of Bakhmut has intensified in recent days as Ukraine seeks to maintain control of a primary supply route, the British Defense Ministry said in its most recent assessment of the war. Explosions at Russian military facilities in occupied Crimea do not violate the Black Sea grain deal, Ukraine officials said. The Russian Ministry of Defense accused Ukraine of violating the agreement by attacking Russia's fleet in Sevastopol. Italian journalist Corrado Zunino was injured and his interpreter Bogdan Bitik killed in the southern city of Kherson. Zunino told the newspaper La Repubblica, for which he was a correspondent, he suspected they were attacked by Russian snipers. At least two people were killed and 10 wounded when a Russian missile hit a museum building in the northeastern city of Kupiansk on Tuesday, officials said. CHINA AFFIRMS UKRAINE SOVEREIGNITY: China disavows diplomat's claim after outcry, affirms Ukraine's sovereignty Ukraine 'in a good position' for counteroffensive, U.S. general says More than 98% of the combat vehicles pledged by Western countries before the expected Ukraine spring counteroffensive have been delivered, NATOs top military commander told a congressional committee Wednesday, the New York Times reported. The Ukrainians are in a good position, Gen. Christopher Cavoli, also the top commander of U.S. forces in Europe, told the House Armed Services Committee. Ukraine has been gearing up to try to reclaim Russian-occupied territory with an offensive U.S. officials expect to begin in May, the newspaper said. The pace of weapons deliveries has increased enough for officials to believe Ukraine will be well supplied. I am very confident that we have delivered the materiel that they need and well continue a pipeline to sustain their operations as well, Cavoli said. Russia can fund the war for at least another year, report says Russia is capable of funding the war for at least another year despite the growing economic pressure of sanctions, according to a Washington Post report based on leaked U.S. military documents. The sanctions imposed by the U.S. and its allies are impacting the businesses of economic elites, but not enough that they would figure to turn their back on Russian President Vladimir Putin, a top secret assessment indicates. Moscow is relying on increased corporate taxes, its sovereign wealth fund, increased imports and businesses adaptability to help mitigate economic pressures, the assessment says. 'The aggressor is Putin,' Spain reminds visiting Brazilian leader Lula Spanish King Felipe VI said lasting peace for Ukraine "must be based on respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity" during a meeting Wednesday with visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who earlier this month accused the West of prolonging the war by supplying weapons to Ukraine. Lula, as the Brazilian leader is commonly known, has pushed the warring parties to negotiate and recently tempered his criticism of the West's intervention. Still, his differences on the topic with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez were evident at a joint news conference earlier in the day. Spain has supplied tanks and other weapons to Ukraine. There is no doubt that we condemn Russias violation of Ukraines rights with the invasion,'' Lula said, "but it is of no use to say who is right or wrong. The war must be stopped. Brazil's population of 219 million people ranks seventh in the world and is the second-largest in the Western Hemisphere. Lula, now in his third term as the country's leader, has offered to help mediate peace talks. Sanchez trod a fine line on Ukraine, thanking Lula for his peace proposal but saying that in this war, there is an aggressor and a victim, and the aggressor is Putin. Zelenskyy marks anniversary of Chernobyl catastrophe with a warning Zelenskyy marked the 37th anniversary of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster by placing flowers at two Kyiv memorials and warning that Russia could fuel another nuclear catastrophe with military attacks near the plants. Russian forces occupied the Chernobyl plant for a few weeks early in the war before withdrawing. The Chernobyl meltdown resulted in scores of deaths and contamination over a wide area. "Thirty-seven years ago, the Chernobyl NPP accident left a huge scar on the whole world," Zelenskyy said in a Twitter post. "Its been more than a year since the liberation of the plant from the invader. We must do everything to prevent the terrorist state from using nuclear power facilities to blackmail (Ukraine) and the world." Russian forces have been stationed at Ukraines Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europes largest, since capturing the site early in the war. International nuclear experts have warned that fighting near the plant has jeopardized safety. Zelenskyy said he spoke Wednesday with Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency. "I stressed that only the return of full control over (the Zaporizhzhia plant) will protect the world from a new disaster," Zelenskyy said. Ukraine launches Brave1, digital effort to aid war effort Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation unveiled an initiative to create a single platform for defense tech companies, the state and the military, investors, volunteer funds, the media and "everyone who helps to bring victory closer through technology." The system, Brave1, is being designed to include drone technology, situational awareness systems, artificial intelligence and satellite data, among other uses. The goal is to build a system with a quick launch of defense tech projects, ministry chief Mykhailo Fedorov said. "Make bold decisions, create the best conditions for the development of companies that develop military technologies," Fedorov said. Contributing: Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY; The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine Russia war updates: Zelenskyy, China's Xi talk on phone Paratroopers from the 25th Separate Sicheslav Airborne Brigade have destroyed a Russian Ural truck and a BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle belonging to the Russian occupiers. Source: 25th Separate Sicheslav Airborne Brigade Quote: "Sicheslav paratroopers are inflicting fire on the occupiers in Luhansk Oblast with pinpoint accuracy." Details: A video released by the paratroopers shows the successful destruction of an Ural and a BMP-2 belonging to the Russian forces. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A technical maintenance hub for the Leopard 2 main battle tanks supplied to Ukraine will open in Poland in May. Source: This was reported by Mariusz Baszczak, Poland's Defence Minister, on Wednesday 25 April, reports European Pravda with reference to Polskie Radio. Quote: "The Leopard 2A4 and 2A6 main battle tanks that are currently on the Ukrainian front line will be serviced and repaired at the Bumar-abedy factory in Gliwice. This repair centre will open in May," Baszczak said during a joint visit to the factory with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Baszczak added that the establishment of the centre will contribute to the creation of additional jobs in Gliwice. The Minister highlighted that the reason for choosing this factory was that it has been servicing, repairing and upgrading Leopard 2A4 tanks to the 2PL version for 20 years. He added that the Polish T-72 tanks which Warsaw has already supplied to Kyiv are also repaired and upgraded in Gliwice. The "tank coalition" agreed to set up the Leopard 2 maintenance centre for Ukraine in Poland on 21 April on the sidelines of the Ramstein meeting. A T-64 tank repair centre for Ukraine has already been opened in Poland. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! MARIIA KABATSII, staff author for Ukrainska Pravda.Culture, 26 April 2023 As It Was, the film by Ukrainian director Anastasiia Solonevych and Polish director Damian Kocur, has been selected for the main contest of short films of the 76th Cannes Film Festival. The festival will be held from 16 May to 27 May 2023. Follow Ukrainska Pravda.Culture on Telegram It is in Cannes where the world premiere of the film will take place. As It Was is about coming home for the first time since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. The events in the short film unfold in the winter of 2023 in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Lera, the main character, who has lived in Berlin for almost a year, comes back home for the first time since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. In Kyiv, she meets her friend Kyrylo, and they spend a day together like they used to before the full-scale war began. Valeriia Berezovska and Kyrylo Zemlianyi starred in this short film. Frame from the movie "As it was" Anastasiia Solonevych, the director, shared the good news on Facebook and remarked that since 24 February 2022, she has been writing down her observations and capturing her experience. In November 2022, after a conversation with Damian Kocur she came up with an idea for the movie. "On 16 December, we talked on the phone and said: "Yes, lets shoot this film." We were in Kyiv on 3 January already. Valeriia portrayed my experience as well as her own, as well as the experience of many other Ukrainians who had left home and came back for the first time since the beginning of the war," the director added. Frame from the movie "As it was" Along with As It Was, 11 other short films from 12 countries Argentina, Columbia, Spain, the US, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Iceland, Norway, the UK, Poland and Ukraine were selected for the contest. The winner will be announced on 27 May. Such long-awaited films as Killers of the Flower Moon by Martin Scorsese, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny by James Mangold, and Asteroid City by Wes Anderson will be presented at the festival. Story continues Ruben Ostlund, a Swedish director, whose satirical comedy Triangle of Sadness won the Cannes Festival last year, was chosen as the head of the jury. The 76th Festival will be opened by a historical drama The Favorite starring Johnny Depp. In the Rearview, the documentary by Polish director Maciek Hamela will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival as well. The documentary reveals the story of evacuation of Ukrainian refugees after the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Denys Shmyhal and George Maloney Read also: Italian PM Meloni travels to Kyiv, affirms Romes commitment to Ukraines sovereignty According to the report, Meloni pledged Italy's continued political, military, and humanitarian support for Ukraine, as well as assisting with the restoration of strategic infrastructure facilities in liberated settlements. She also acknowledged Kyiv's efforts in carrying out key reforms and urged faster negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU. "Our task is to help Ukraine write a new chapter of its history, and Italy has everything it needs to become the main character (in it)," Meloni said. Read also: Italy unlikely to send fighter jets to Ukraine, says foreign minister In his turn, President Mattarella assured Shmyhal that Italy will support Ukraine as much as necessary. Shmyhal also met with the leadership of the Italian parliament and emphasized that Ukraine enjoys the support of the both chambers of Italian legislature. Read also: Italy ready to donate five fighter jets to Ukraine, but doesn't want to be first media The parties signed several agreements, including one that allocates EUR 1 billion ($1.1 billion) for trade and financial operations, and a memorandum of cooperation between several Ukrainian and Italian regions. Read also: Italy sends at least 30 M109L self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, media reports Finally, Italy and Ukraine agreed to work together when it comes to maintaining Ukraines railway infrastructure and building new hydroelectric plants, according to Shmyhals post on Telegram. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine HANOI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam has recorded rising numbers of poisoning cases due to e-cigarettes and heated cigarette products, Vietnam News reported on Wednesday. The Health Ministry's Medical Examination and Treatment Department noted a concerning uptake of electronic nicotine delivery products and heated tobacco products among young people, after a number of students were admitted to the emergency room for the poisoning of nicotine and other harmful substances found in e-cigarettes and heated cigarettes. "Using nicotine during adolescence can cause harm to the parts of the brain that control attention, learning ability and mood," Nguyen Tuan Lam, an expert from the World Health Organization in Vietnam, told Vietnam News. "It can also increase the risks of addiction to other substances in the future." E-cigarettes and heated cigarettes also pose potential risks and contribute to social evils, such as drug abuse and other addictive behaviors, which adversely affect the health and lifestyle of adolescents, the health ministry warned. Despite a slight reduction of people who smoked tobacco in 2022, down 0.8 percent from 2015, Vietnam is ranked third among Southeast Asian countries with the highest smoking prevalence, only after Indonesia and the Philippines, according to the health authorities. Vietnam is now faced with additional challenges in its fight against smoking as the prevalence of e-cigarette use among Vietnamese teens has increased in recent years among 13-15-year-olds. About 3.5 percent were reported to use e-cigarettes last year, up from 2.6 percent in 2019, according to a report by the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Education and Training. The authorities also recorded e-cigarette use among adolescents and young adults with about seven in 100 aged between 15 and 24 years old using e-cigarettes. The World Health Organization has recommended that e-cigarette heated tobacco products are more harmful than traditional cigarettes and can cause premature health effects or interstitial lung disease, which progresses rapidly and has a worse prognosis than lung cancer. The Health Ministry last November proposed a ban on all new-generation tobacco products including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday he had held a "long and meaningful" phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and hoped it would give impetus to relations with Beijing. "I had a long and meaningful phone call with...President Xi Jinping," he wrote on Twitter. "I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations." He did not immediately give any other details. (Reporting by Dan Peleschuk, Editing by Timothy Heritage) The skyline of the Rwandan capital Kigali The UK government wants to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda. The High Court ruled in December 2022 that the scheme is legal, but that decision is facing further challenge in the courts. What is the Rwanda asylum plan? The five-year trial would see some asylum seekers sent to Rwanda on a one-way ticket, to claim asylum there. They may be granted refugee status to stay in Rwanda. If not, they can apply to settle there on other grounds, or seek asylum in a "safe third country". The government says this will deter people arriving in the UK through "illegal, dangerous or unnecessary methods", such as on small boats which cross the English Channel. However, the numbers crossing have not fallen since the policy was announced on 14 April 2022. More than 45,700 people used this route to come to the UK in 2022, the highest figure since records began. Chart showing the rise in small boat crossings to the UK since 2019 Is the Rwanda scheme legal? Opponents argue that Rwanda is not a safe destination for asylum seekers and that the scheme breaks human rights laws. But in December 2022 the High Court said that the plan is legal and that it does not breach the UN's Refugee Convention. However, on 16 January, the High Court ruled that the some of the groups who lost the case had the right to appeal against parts of its decision. The appeal hearing began on Monday 24 April with a verdict expected on Thursday 27 April. Flights cannot take off to Rwanda while legal proceedings are ongoing. No asylum seeker has actually been sent to the country so far. The first flight was scheduled to go in June 2022, but was cancelled after legal challenges. Ms Braverman (centre) pictured on a visit to Rwanda in March 2023 Home Secretary Suella Braverman insists Rwanda is a safe country for migrants, telling the BBC that the country has "a track record of successfully resettling and integrating people who are refugees or asylum seekers". How many people could be sent to Rwanda? The UK government previously said "anyone entering the UK illegally" after 1 January 2022 could be sent, with no limit on numbers. Story continues Rwanda says it can process 1,000 asylum seekers during the trial period, but has capacity for more. Under the deal, Rwanda can also ask the UK to take in some of its most vulnerable refugees. But in October 2022, Privilege Style - the airline which was scheduled to take asylum seekers to Rwanda - withdrew from its Home Office contract, after a campaign by refugee charities. At the time the Guardian reported that two other airlines which had previously conducted deportation flights, Titan Airways and AirTanker, had also ruled out participation in the Rwanda scheme. Map showing Rwanda How much will the plan cost? So far the UK has paid the Rwandan government 140m for the scheme. Other costs include flights to Rwanda, food, accommodation, access to translators and legal advice. Removing people from the UK by charter flight cost more than 13,000 per person in 2020. When the policy was first announced, then Home Office Minister Tom Pursglove said the cost would be "similar to the amount of money we are spending on this currently". He said that "longer term, by getting this under control, it should help us to save money". The UK's asylum system costs 1.5bn a year. Almost 7m a day is spent on hotel accommodation for refugees and asylum seekers. Critics say the daily cost is so high because of the time taken to decide on applications, and a ban on asylum seekers working while waiting for confirmation of their status. What is an asylum seeker? The UN Refugee Agency defines an asylum seeker as someone who has applied for shelter and protection in another country. A refugee is a person who has fled conflict or persecution in their own country. The legal rights of refugees are protected by international law. However, it is up to host countries to decide whether an asylum seeker is granted refugee status. In 2022, the UK received more than 89,000 asylum applications, the highest number for 20 years. Of these, more than 23,800 people and their dependants were granted a form of protection. The basic principle of Moore's law -- computing becoming more powerful yet more compact -- is playing out in a number of fields, and one of the latest is coming from the world of audiology technology. TympaHealth, a London startup that has developed handheld hardware built around streamlined iPhone and Android devices, and corresponding software, to run hearing tests -- tests would have previously required specialists, a range of larger and more expensive equipment and purpose-built clinics -- has raised $23 million in funding to expand its business. Octopus Ventures is leading the round, with participation also from new backers Dara Capital, Rezayat Investments and serial entrepreneurs Bob Davis and Jeff Leerink (as well as previous backers). Notably, the startup raised an $8 million seed round in February 2022 from a well-connected set of individuals that included the VC Jim Breyer, the former head of Apple Health Anil Sethi and others; it's not disclosing which previous backers are participating in this latest Series A. Figures in PitchBook put it's valuation at around $62-$65 million with this latest funding, but founder and CEO Dr Krishan Ramdoo, tells us pre-money valuation is closer to $70 million. (The market is tough for startups raising right now, so the more modest numbers are not too surprising.) The funding is going to be used in its home market and also in the U.S., where Tympa believes it has a big opportunity to provide an easier route to hearing tests in a market where hearing aids are going to become much more widely available, thanks to new FDA rules that will allow them to be sold without a prescription, over the counter. So far, the company has been seeing some interesting traction. In the U.K., more than 250,000 patients have had their hearing tested with its devices across audiology labs, but also hundreds of pharmacies (including major chains like Boots), care homes and clinics. Although Tympa was originally hatched in an NHS incubator, ironically most of its users to date have been through private (that is, paid) visits. Story continues Part of that may be down to the price and business model around the product: The hardware and software are both sold on a SaaS model: there is a standalone training and set-up fee that is not disclosed (it will vary depending on the business size and more), and then there is a 200 per month fee for access to the hardware and software. Users sign three-year contracts with one-year break clauses. Customers then are typically charged 50-60 per assessment (so that means four customers per month to break even). But with GPs no longer offering services like hearing assessments, and users might otherwise require referrals that take time to action, Tympa's customers are seeing more customers than this on average. With this positive track record, Tympa is also now starting to work with NHS trusts, too (where the tests will be subsidized by the country's health service). "Using a high-quality product and a proposition geared around the consumer, they are reducing the burden of ear and hearing care in an overstretched NHS, while vastly improving patient experience and outcomes," said Joe Stringer, a partner at Octopus Ventures, in a statement. In the U.S., where Tympa has already received FDA approval, it has also been running a trial ahead of a wider business development push. Prices in the U.S. are likely to be higher due to how insurance works in that country. Ramdoo is a former ear, nose and throat surgeon, and he said that he started the company out of his direct experience with encountering patients who were not getting regular check-ups for their hearing, and were missing out on getting issues like hearing loss, or even just excessive wax build up, identified and addressed in a timely way. Ramdoo was working in the U.K.'s National Health Service at the time, and while the organization has a strong reputation for providing socialized medicine to U.K. residents, it's also been trying to lean into more innovative practices. One of those was building an in-house incubator, where Ramdoo started work on his concept. The device it's built is based around a smartphone -- currently it has a version that works with an Android device and a version that is based around an iPhone -- but essentially the phone is no longer a phone: the startup has developed apps for iOS and Android that run on the devices. Those devices are in turn integrated into a larger piece of hardware, a shell of sorts with an improved lens and otoscope to probe into an ear, a processing unit to gather and organize the data -- running machine learning and algorithms to determine conclusions from the diagnostics -- and a micro-suction system, which can remove wax in the ear. I thought it was interesting how far Tympa had doctored -- so to speak -- these smartphones. Ramdoo said that they'd reached out to both companies, and neither had any issue with how the startup was tweaking their devices, nor have they made efforts -- yet -- to get more involved with what they're doing. That will be something to watch. Although we have not heard (pun intended) much about what Google and Apple are doing in the area of audiology, both have a strong interest building out a deeper set of services in the area of health. Both Apple and Google have worked with other hearing technology specialists -- Denmark's GN Hearing has worked with both companies to build hearing aid devices and related technology that work more seamlessly with their smartphones. And while current economic tides, and perhaps other projects, may mean that moonshots are getting less attention and funding -- the last big updates from Google's Project Wolverine were in March 2021, for example -- Ramdoo believes that they are still in the pipeline. "The idea of iPods as hearing aids is coming," he said. In the meantime, he said that all the major companies building audiology technology are in touch, too, potentially for better data integrations and maybe also, down the line, to develop more personalized and sophisticated hearing technology based on the diagnostics that Tympa is able to collect. "Were bringing more people into the funnel who will need more hearing aids," Ramdoo said. Previously, all of the different ecosystems that were focused on hearing -- from clinicians through to those making hearing aids, to the hospitals and care homes that were the first port of entry for patients -- were all in silos, he added. "We are helping to collect all that data under one umbrella." Updated with more detail on valuation and to correct the pricing details. A Saudi Navy sailor carries a child as evacuees arrive at King Faisal Navy Base in Jeddah on April 26, 2023 - AMER HILABI The United Nations is preparing for up to 270,000 refugees to flee Sudan, where almost five million people have already been displaced. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick predicted very significant numbers would flee Africas third-largest country, which could lead to a surge in illegal small boats crossing to Britain. Last year, 3,191 Sudanese people made asylum claims in the UK, according to Home Office data, of whom 1,704 arrived in small boats. Sudan hosts 1.1 million refugees and 3.7 million internally displaced people in a legacy of the almost 17-year Darfur conflict. Before the current fighting started, the UN estimated that 16 million people - a third of Sudans population - needed humanitarian assistance. Save the Children warned that about 12 per cent of the countrys 22 million children were going without enough food - SAUDI MINISTRY OF DEFENSE Save the Children warned that about 12 per cent of the countrys 22 million children were going without enough food. The Government believed those in peril should seek sanctuary in the first safe country they entered, Mr Jenrick said. Asked whether legal routes for Sudanese migrants would be available, Mr Jenrick said some could enter the UK under existing family reunification schemes. Migrants arriving in Britain branded criminals Meanwhile, Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, branded migrants arriving in Britain in small boats as criminals. On a day when the Governments Illegal Migration Bill went before the Commons, she said migrants would be returned to their home country if it was safe, or Rwanda. The fighting looks set to trigger further displacement, both within and outside the country, said Olga Sarrado Mur in Geneva, the spokesman for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The UNHCR plans to support 100,000 Sudanese refugees crossing into neighbouring Chad to escape the bitter civil war. About 20,000 refugees have arrived in Chad since fighting began on April 15, and clean water, food and shelter are scarce, UN officials told the Telegraph. More than 400,000 Sudanese refugees are already hosted in 13 camps and local communities in eastern Chad. Story continues Vast majority in Chad or South Sudan Sudanese refugees have arrived in Egypt and the Central African Republic, according to reports, but the vast majority are expected to cross into Chad or South Sudan. In South Sudan, which seceded from Sudan in 2011 after years of fighting, supplies and resources are being prepared for 170,000 refugees. RSF fighters gestured from vehicles as they drove by A fighter gestures from a vehicle in the East Nile district of greater Khartoum Of that total, 45,000 are expected to come from Sudan, with the remaining 125,000 South Sudanese refugees returning home after being hosted by Sudan, which borders seven countries. Nearly 4,000 South Sudanese have been registered crossing from Sudan, but more may have crossed the border. There are 800,000 South Sudanese refugees in Sudan, with a quarter in the capital, Khartoum, where fighting has been fierce. The UN Migration Agency said there are 300,000 registered migrants and tens of thousands of unregistered migrants in the country. About 3,000 people have fled Khartoum and taken shelter in a refugee camp in the eastern province of al-Qadri, which houses 28,000 refugees - mostly Ethiopians, who fled a devastating war in 2020. Now, many South Sudanese are expected to return home to a country in the midst of what the UNHCR called a major humanitarian crisis. South Sudan has more than 2.3 million internally displaced people and almost three-quarters of its population is in need of humanitarian assistance. UNHCR is seriously concerned that a large, unplanned number of new returns may destabilise already struggling local communities, the agency said. Arrivals in Europe Once out of Sudan, some refugees might try to make their way to Europe and ultimately to the UK, but the numbers who have arrived in the EU are comparatively small. In January and February, 344 Sudanese entered the EU illegally, according to Frontex, the blocs border agency. Of that total, 189 used the central Mediterranean route from Libya to Italy, 84 crossed the Eastern Mediterranean from Turkey to Greece, and 52 took the Western Mediterranean route from Morocco to Spain. A boat with 1,687 civilians from more than 50 countries fleeing violence in Sudan, arrive at King Faisal navy base - AMER HILABI Frontex detected 28,130 illegal border crossings in the first two months of 2023, with most using the Central Mediterranean route. The majority of those making the crossing came from Syria, Cote dIvoire, Guinea, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Frontex reported that the number of illegal Channel crossings increased in the first two months of 2023 to more than 5,600 - 82 per cent higher than in the same period of 2022. The Global Data Institutes Displacement Tracking Matrix has more recent public data than Frontex, but this does not include the nationality of the migrants and refugees. It reported a 53 per cent increase in arrivals to Europe in the week ending April 24, which brings the number of irregular arrivals by sea up to 46,200 so far this year. While almost 3,200 Sudanese refugees made claims in the UK, there were 2,920 claims lodged in France. According to Eurostat, the next most popular places for Sudanese migrants to claim asylum last year were Spain (640), Greece (470) and Germany (405). In total, 5,625 asylum applications were made by Sudanese people across the EU. Supporting the most vulnerable A Government spokesman said: The UKs current resettlement schemes allow us to support the most vulnerable refugees direct from regions of conflict and instability. No one should risk their lives by coming to the UK illegally and we are focused on stopping small boats. It is our long-standing principle that those in need of protection should claim asylum and seek sanctuary in the first safe country they reach. He added: For many people, it is in their best interest to stay close to the region, or in a neighbouring country where there are often similarities in culture and language, and can be supported by international organisations. We continue to work intensively, alongside international partners, to maintain the ceasefire and bring an end to fighting the single most important thing we can do to prevent a humanitarian emergency in Sudan. By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -The U.N. Security Council is set to vote on Thursday to condemn a ban on Afghan women working for the United Nations in Afghanistan and call upon the Taliban administration to "swiftly reverse" its crackdown on the rights of women and girls. The resolution to be voted on - drafted by the United Arab Emirates and Japan and seen by Reuters - describes the ban as "unprecedented in the history of the United Nations" and asserts "the indispensable role of women in Afghan society." Diplomats said it is expected to be adopted. The draft resolution says the ban on Afghan women working for the United Nations "undermines human rights and humanitarian principles." UAE U.N. Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh said the restrictions "could jeopardize the operations of the U.N. in Afghanistan as a whole" and that the Security Council could not stay silent. "The challenges in Afghanistan are multifaceted and must also be addressed," she said. "But what is clear is that without women, the dire situation in the country cannot be addressed sustainably." The Security Council will vote days before a planned international meeting in Doha on May 1-2 on Afghanistan. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will convene behind closed doors special envoys on Afghanistan from various countries to work on a unified approach to dealing with the Taliban. Earlier this month the Taliban began enforcing the ban on Afghan women working for the U.N. after stopping most women working for humanitarian aid groups in December. Since toppling the Western-backed government in 2021, they have also tightened controls on women's access to public life, including barring women from university and closing girls' high schools. The Taliban says it respects women's rights in accordance with its strict interpretation of Islamic law. Taliban officials said decisions on female aid workers are an "internal issue." Story continues The draft resolution also recognizes the need to address substantial challenges facing Afghanistan's economy, including through using assets belonging to Afghanistan's Central Bank for the benefit of the Afghan people. The United States froze billions of the bank's reserves held in the U.S. and later transferred half of the money to a trust fund in Switzerland overseen by U.S., Swiss and Afghan trustees. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Grant McCool) Republicans on the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic delivered a sharp rebuke to Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), for her organizations role in delaying school reopenings during the Covid-19 pandemic. The effect on children has been vast and to have no remorse on closing schools and keeping them closed for the length of time is unconscionable, explained Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R., Iowa), a medical doctor and a former director of the Iowa Department of Public Health. Referenced throughout the hearing were consultations the American Federation of Teachers had with the Biden administration and the CDC about school reopenings. On January 29, 2021, Weingarten and senior AFT staff participated in a conference call with members of the CDC in which they suggested ideas. Two of the suggestions were accepted in guidance the Biden administration sent out in February of 2021. The first was to encourage schools to provide options for teachers and staff who had documented high-risk conditions and the second was to make clear that the governments guidance may be changed depending upon new Covid variants. Several members took issue with this, including the committees chair, Representative Brad Wenstrup (R., Ohio). Miller-Meeks chose to zero into the claim that AFT had scientific expertise that allowed it to take science-based positions. The Iowa representative pointed to publications by the American Journal of Pediatrics that children had very little to no transmission of Covid-19. Did your scientific experts present to you, as of June of 2020, among 1.8 million children in this age group, do you know how many died from Covid?, asked Miller-Meeks. I dont have that number in my head, replied Weingarten. Miller-Meeks then answered her own question, saying the number is zero. Did they present you data from other countries that showed continuing in-person schooling was in fact safe for children and safe for teachers?, asked Miller-Meeks, adding that she understands the educational system has a great deal of experience with influenza and its contagiousness among children, but influenza is not Covid. Story continues The representative then pointed to CDC data from March 1, 2020 to July 25, 2020 showing the exceedingly low risk to children of hospitalization or death from Covid-19. What our experts showed usin two reports, the one from Massachusetts and the one from Wisconsin, and we also saw the reports from the other countries I dont know if I saw all of them that you saw that show that when you had this layered mitigation, there was much less transmission in schools, explained Weingarten. The layered mitigation was in relationship with influenza, Miller-Meeks countered. What Im doing is as a physician, as 7 physicians on this panel, challenging what your experts said. These facts are non-negotiable, maam. The fact is schools were relatively safe places for both students and educators. These are scientific questions that a scientific organization should be able to study and answer. The AFT is not a scientific organization, Miller-Meeks asserted. The AFT was out of its league in this regard, she added. In his opening statement, Wenstrup, the committees chairman, explained that the the baseline question should have been: Schools need to be open. Are we doing everything we can to make that happen?' He added that the recommendations of the February 2021 school-reopening guidance from the Biden administration kept 90 percent of schools from fully reopening at the time. The recommendations Wenstrup named were the use of community-spread rates to determine reopening, a requirement for routine testing, and six feet of distancing instead of three feet. Wenstrup said none of these recommendations were based in science and all of them were supported by the AFT. Why not follow the in-school spread data?, asked Wenstrup. The representative also accused the AFT of playing politics. He pointed to a remark from Weingarten in her written testimony: Releasing guidance on how to safely reopen schools without attempting to address the concerns of these educators would not only be irresponsible but also futile. To me, these statements sound like a form of intimidation. This is more political than scientific, Wenstrup said. It made sense to consult with the CDC and it was not only appropriate for the CDC to confer with educators, it would have been irresponsible not to, Weingarten said during the hearing. Wenstrup also criticized Weingartens assertions that the [Trump] administration downplayed the pandemic. He asserted that Trump had nothing to do with the crafting the AFTs guideline recommendations. More from National Review Moritz Riedacher sat down at a busy road junction with four other climate activists in southwestern Germany earlier this year, holding up traffic for hours - an action that landed him a jail sentence. But he remains undeterred. This week, the 26-year-old journalism student again halted traffic, this time in Berlin where fellow activists in the group Letzte Generation (Last Generation) launched a campaign demanding stronger climate protection policies. Riedacher, who has not yet been imprisoned pending appeals, is among the first in Germany to land a jail conviction over such protests. "I find it really, really hard to process the verdict," he told AFP, calling the four-month sentence handed to him this month over the Heilbronn protest "disproportionate". "It is definitely urgent" for the government to do more for climate protection, he said, pointing to the 2021 deadly flooding in southern Germany. "We can't say let's just go on as normal. Rather, we need to cause disruptions," said Riedacher. The controversial tactics of Letzte Generation, from hunger strikes to throwing mashed potato on paintings in museums, has resulted in the group being described by some German politicians as "climate terrorists". Over the last year, its sit-ins on roads complete with some members being glued to the asphalt have become increasingly frequent. In turn, more activists are landing in court. - 'Coercion' - While most received fines for disrupting traffic or obstructing police work, the court in Heilbronn has raised the stakes with months-long jail sentences. For judge Julia Schmitt, the road blockade constituted "coercion", a crime carrying up to three years' imprisonment. Deputy chief of the union for German police, Heiko Teggatz, said Schmitt's ruling should be used as an example. "That is the only signal that these idiots understand," Teggatz told the daily Welt, urging preventive detention of up to 30 days followed by expedited trials that result in heavy jail-terms. Story continues The protesters have not drawn sympathy from Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government, with even junior coalition partner the Greens opposed. Calling the group's approach "wrong", Economy Minister Robert Habeck of the Greens told news channel NTV that "this protest doesn't win a majority for climate protection, rather, it irritates people, divides society and in that sense, it's not a helpful contribution to climate protection". Accusations have flown that the blockades hinder emergency services such as ambulances. And scenes of frustrated motorists shouting at the protesters or dragging them away have accompanied much of the action. But Riedacher argued that "at the same time, more people are showing solidarity, perhaps after being moved by these harsh rulings". If the verdict against him is upheld, he could end up with a criminal record that could prove troublesome in the future. But he and other protesters, many of whom are young, are unfazed. - 'Pay the price' - In central Berlin last month, activist Irma Trommer was facing a judge with a similar charge of coercion. Prosecutors argue that street blockades force motorists to take certain actions -- stop moving -- against their will. Different courts have weighed up the imperatives of the right to protest against the coercion charge, with varying outcomes. Whatever the verdict in her case, the 26-year-old actress vowed to keep blocking traffic "because I understand that the climate crisis is now the key point on which our entire future hinges". The activists carry out demonstrations with the full knowledge about potential consequences. Not only do they undergo training on how to glue themselves on asphalt but are also given legal advice. The trials themselves offer "a platform with wide reach" to bring climate concerns to the public, said Last Generation on its website. Activist Henning Jeschke glued himself onto a table during his trial. After he was carried out of court with the table, he halted traffic a month on again with other activists, table in tow. Trommer's father, Stefan Diefenbach-Trommer, told AFP of his "shock" at his daughter landing in court "not because of her action but because she is being prosecuted for taking on responsibility for the future of this planet". Like his daughter, he shrugged off the potential impact that the legal procedure could have on her livelihood. "What's the use of a super CV or a great university degree if the world is no longer liveable?" he said. Trommer admitted that she had been jittery on the eve of the trial, but added: "I am ready to go to jail if necessary." "Having a criminal record is the lesser evil compared to what the climate crisis will bring. If that's the price that I have to pay, then I'll pay," she said. hmn/sr/giv Crowds continue to gather at Sudans border with Egypt and in the seaport city of Port Sudan after days of fighting between the army and paramilitary groups have threatened to push Sudan into a full-blown civil war, reports said Wednesday. The capital city of Khartoum saw relative calm by mid-week as the nation entered its second day of a U.S.-brokered 72-hour truce between the waring parties, allowing residents to leave their homes for the first time in days to get food supplies and water, though gun fire and explosions could still be heard throughout the city. "There is a sense of calm in my area and neighborhoods," one tea vender from the southern neighborhood of May told the Associated Press. "But all are afraid of whats next." SECOND AMERICAN DEAD IN SUDAN, WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SPOX JOHN KIRBY CONFIRMS Clashes on Wednesday in the capital appeared to centered largely around strategic targets like the Republican Palace in the citys center and around military bases just across the Nile River in the neighboring city of Omdurman. The fighting that broke out earlier this month saw a near immediate response from citizens looking to flee Sudans borders as quickly as they could. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP But it is not just the Sudanese who are looking to flee the threat of a massive civil war. In this handout provided by the U.S. Navy, U.S. government personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Sudan embrace as they evacuate to Camp Lemonnier on April 23, 2023 in Djibouti. At the direction of the President, the U.S. military conducted a successful operation to safely evacuate U.S. government personnel out of Sudan. At least three U.S. Navy ships have been dispatched to the Red Sea with at least two of them arriving in Port Sudan this week as the Navy prepares for potential orders at the direction of the State Department to help with the evacuations of American citizens, according to Al-Monitor. It is unclear how many Americans are currently in Sudan, though an estimated 16,000 private U.S. citizens are registered with the embassy there. According to White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby Wednesday "several dozens of Americans" have made their way to Port Sudan "on ground routes that the U.S. military is providing." Story continues The State Department has also refused to detail how many Americans are in Sudan and when pressed by reporters on claims made by the Secretary of State Antony Blinken this week who said that "dozens" have express interest in leaving the turbulent country, deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Tuesday that he was "not going to get into specific numbers" and noted that the situation "is quite fluid." People board a ferry passenger ship as they evacuate from Port Sudan on April 25, 2023. - Foreign nations pushed with evacuations of their citizens from chaos-torn Sudan which, the UN chief warned, is "on the edge of the abyss" after 10 days of brutal fighting between army and paramilitary troops. "We don't ask American citizens to register when they travel to any country, when they arrive in a country, when they're residing in a country, or when they depart," he said. "What I can say is that we continue to remain in close touch with American citizens." FIRST IMAGES FROM SUDAN EVACUATION EMERGE, AS US PULLS OUT ALL DIPLOMATIC STAFF Other nations like Saudi Arabia have begun evacuating foreign citizens from Sudan, including at least two Americans. Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, the commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, left, greets John T. Godfrey, the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Sudan, right, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, April 23, 2023. According to a press release from the Saudi Embassy in the U.S. on Monday, some 357 people from 27 countries had been evacuated by the Saudi Navy. One hundred and one of the evacuees were Saudi citizens while another 255 belonged to 26 other nations like the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey, though by Wednesday that number had jumped to 1,674 people from 56 countries. A Saudi Navy sailor carries a child while disembarking off a ferry passenger ship after arrival at King Faisal navy base in Jeddah on April 26, 2023 following a rescue operation amid a US-brokered ceasefire between the country's warring generals. The British government said it had apparently airlifted some 300 people out of Sudan, with four more flights planned for Wednesday. The UN health agency reported that at least 459 people have been killed since fighting broke out with another 4,000 wounded. At least two Americans have been killed since the fighting began earlier this month. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Congressional lawmakers on Wednesday pressed American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten to admit that the union had a hand in crafting CDC guidelines on how schools should respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. And Weingarten largely complied, saying it made sense to consult with the CDC as the pandemic progressed in 2021. But in testimony on Wednesday before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, Weingarten pushed back forcefully against GOP claims that the union exerted inappropriate influence over the guidance or worked behind the scenes to keep U.S. public schools closed for longer than necessary. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter She said any allegations of undue influence over prolonged closures are inaccurate, noting that the CDC approved just one particular edit to a policy about accommodations for immunocompromised teachers. Weingarten also noted that neither the CDC nor teachers unions had the authority to open or close schools, despite the AFTs aggressive moves to ensure members workplaces were safe. In one instance in 2020, the union threatened safety strikes if school reopening plans didnt meet their health and safety standards. Related The Terrible Truth: Current Solutions to COVID Learning Loss Are Doomed to Fail The subcommittees Republican chairman, U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup of Ohio, last month previewed Wednesdays hearing, alleging in a March 28 letter to Weingarten that the CDC let the AFT edit its operational strategy for reopening schools prior to its February 2021 release. The guidance, Wenstrup said, advised keeping schools closed in more than 90 percent of U.S. counties, contrary to the prevailing science. He said the AFT and Weingarten got uncommon access to the draft plan, even making line-by-line additions that coincidently shifted the CDCs guidance to align with AFTs agenda keeping schools closed. Story continues The issue of closures remains contentious more than three years after the pandemic shuttered virtually every public school in America. Researchers are quantifying their human cost in lost learning time, lower school attendance, worsening mental health, deteriorating school behavior and lower childhood vaccination rates, among other indicators. Studies have shown that widespread reliance on remote and hybrid schooling during the pandemic had profound consequences for achievement, with students, especially those in high-poverty areas, losing more ground in math the longer they learned remotely. Learning gaps in math didnt worsen in places where schools remained in-person. During the hearing, Weingarten said it was appropriate for public health authorities to consult with education groups she said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky noted that the agency conferred with more than 50 organizations about the guidance. Related Senate Leaders Want Answers on CDC-Union Interaction It was not only appropriate for the CDC to confer with educators. It would have been irresponsible for them not to, Weingarten said. She told committee members that it was the Biden administrations idea to approach the AFT about the guidance, not the other way around. But she denied that the AFT provided, in Wenstrups words, suggested revisions to the CDCs operational strategy regarding school closures or reopenings. What we suggested, sir, was ideas, she said. But Republicans on the committee, trying to make the case that the politically powerful union shouldnt have a hand in U.S. health policy, pushed to tie Weingarten as closely as possible to the Biden administration. At one point, Rep. Debbie Lesko of Arizona told her, Im a member of Congress that sits on two committees that deal with the CDC. I dont have a direct number to Director Walensky. Do you? Weingarten admitted she did. Well, hopefully shell give it to me too, Lesko said. The hearing was delayed for nearly half an hour as House lawmakers approved legislation to raise the U.S.s debt ceiling while cutting federal spending, including President Bidens proposal to forgive student debt. While Weingarten was Wednesdays only witness, the subcommittee has also requested documents from other education groups about advice they gave to the CDC. They include the National Education Association the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National PTA, among others. Midway through the hearing, Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland, told Wenstrup, Ive been to some weird hearings in this Congress, Mr. Chairman, but this one might be the weirdest, because its convened in order to accuse a federal agency of the crime of consorting with American citizens. People rallied to reopen the schools and put students back in the classroom during the coronavirus pandemic. (Michael Siluk/Getty Images) The AFT expected a contentious hearing: In preparation, it hired veteran Washington, D.C., attorney Michael Bromwich, a former U.S. Justice Department inspector general, who has already complained of scapegoating built on false allegations that appear to be the basis for this Subcommittees investigation. For the hearing, the AFT also released a lengthy letter from Bromwich, who last week told Wenstrup and ranking member Rep. Raul Ruiz of California that the unions role in CDC school closure policies has been exaggerated and falsified to support pre-conceived conclusions about closure strategy. Actually, he said, the AFTs role was extremely limited, amounting to a few sentences in a 38-page document. He noted that the unions February 2021 proposal of a trigger threshold of positive COVID cases that would signal schools to close was actually rejected by the CDC. Asked during the hearing if she had any regrets about the AFTs work during the pandemic, Weingarten said, I regret the fear that was there. And part of the reason we wanted clear information was because we had a role in terms of overcoming fear. She noted that proper ventilation and testing, for instance, turned out to be more important than social distancing. There were things that we really didnt get right. While Republicans sharply criticized the unions role in often-disastrous closures, one line of questioning, from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, drew a sharp rebuke from Democrats. Greene asked Weingarten, a lesbian, Are you a mother? Weingarten replied, I am a mother by marriage. In 2018, she married Rabbi Sharon Anne Kleinbaum, who came to the relationship with two daughters. Related 74 Interview: AFTs Randi Weingarten Talks Tying School Reopening to Teacher Vaccine Rollout, Bidens Ed Secretary Pick and $900B Relief Bill Greene said she questioned Weingartens recommendations to the CDC as not a medical doctor, not a biological mother, and really not a teacher either. She later added, Let me tell you: I am a mother, and all three of my children were directly affected by the school closures, by your recommendations, which is something that you really cant understand. Democrats on the committee asked that Greenes comments be stricken from the record a request Wenstrup denied. International data suggests that schools werent associated with accelerating community transmission of the disease during the pandemic. While infections affected schools, researchers found, most of the outbreaks were small, with fewer than 10 cases. And they couldnt be definitively linked to in-school transmission. Related 700 Days Since Lockdown: COVIDs Seismic Interruption to Education Yet evidence from other nations suggests that the U.S. took a much more cautious approach to reopening. Andreas Schleicher of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development told NPR in November 2020 that while schools in Europe were initially closed, Research has shown that if you put social distancing protocols in place, school is actually quite a safe environment, certainly safer than having children running around outside school. Prolonged U.S. public school closures have long been a sore spot for educators and public health officials, who now admit that policies keeping students out of school for months could have been rethought. In an interview last week with The New York Times, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the recently retired head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said, I certainly think things could have been done differently and better Anybody who thinks that what we or anybody else did was perfect is not looking at reality. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the recently retired head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said of the administrations pandemic response, I certainly think things could have been done differently and better. (Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty Images) The subcommittee has been probing several school-related aspects of the pandemic. Last month, its initial hearing into closures featured testimony from University of California-San Francisco epidemiologist Dr. Tracy Hoeg, who said scientists had evidence before the epidemic that wearing masks was largely ineffective at preventing the spread of flu and similar viruses and that CDC recommendations on distancing six feet apart were arbitrary and not based on science. Previously unseen personal moments of the King are among clips to feature in a new BBC documentary. Charles R: The Making of a Monarch will offer audiences a chance to view unseen and rarely seen footage of Charles, telling his more than 70-year story as heir to the throne, through his own words. Buckingham Palace has granted the BBC exclusive access to unseen footage of Charles from the 1969 documentary, Royal Family. The footage shows the royal family enjoying a bonfire at Sandringham, the then Prince Charles flying solo, and the future King on a private visit to Malta in 1968. There are also unseen clips of Charles on royal engagements, including a trip to the Royal Mint with his parents, and a visit to a North Sea oil platform. Other intimate family moments that have never been seen before include the Queen, Charles and other members of the family taking a trip by hovercraft and the family sitting down to dinner onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. BBC Studios has also been given special permission to use clips from the royal familys private home movie footage, showing the Kings early love of nature, gardening and animals. The BBC said the programme is told through the Kings own words, as recorded through the decades. Unseen footage of the King will be revealed in the BBC film (PA) Viewers will hear the King discuss his childhood, including his memories of the Queens coronation, as well as his school days, adolescence, and investiture as Prince of Wales. It also contains recollections of the Kings military service and personal commentary on his commitment to charitable work, as well as his private passions and the role of the institution he now heads up. Five never before seen images from the programme were released on Tuesday including shots of the then-prince flying a plane solo, a visit to the Royal Mint with the Queen, a trip to Malta when he was young, and a shot of the prince decorating a Christmas tree at Windsor. Simon Young, the BBCs head of history said: Its a real privilege to be trusted with such rare, unseen archive material to create a new and distinctive portrait of someone so famous and photographed. Story continues As their majesties coronation approaches, this film will give audiences a fresh insight into his remarkable life. Claire Popplewell, creative director for BBC Studios events productions, added: This documentary brings audiences a treasure trove of scenes filmed across seven decades in the life of the King. Unique and unseen moments with contemporary archive sources and the spoken words of His Majesty, Charles R: The Making of a Monarch tells the story of how a prince became a king. Charles R: The Making of a Monarch will debut on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday April 30. ISLAMABAD, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Another convoy carrying 211 Pakistanis dispatched from Sudan's capital of Khartoum arrived in Port Sudan on Tuesday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said. With the latest convoy, the total number of Pakistanis who have been evacuated from Sudan has reached 700, the foreign minister was quoted as saying in a statement here on Tuesday. "In keeping with the commitment of the government of Pakistan to the welfare of overseas Pakistanis, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to lead in the relief and rescue of Pakistanis in Sudan," he said. A team from Pakistan's embassy in Khartoum and Port Sudan are working day and night to facilitate the stay of Pakistanis who are still in Sudan, Zardari added. "We remain engaged with friendly countries in the region, especially Saudi Arabia to facilitate this process," according to the foreign minister. The United States on Wednesday will announce steps designed to deter North Korea from launching a nuclear attack on South Korea, according to Biden administration officials. The commitments, which the officials said will be called the "Washington Declaration," coincide with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's visit to Washington, D.C. as U.S. President Biden will host Yoon for a bilateral meeting and a state dinner at the White House on Wednesday. MORE: South Korea exporting arms to Poland amid controversy over lethal aid to Ukraine The U.S. plans to "to make our deterrence more visible, through the regular deployment of strategic assets," an official said. The steps include a visit by a U.S. nuclear ballistic submarine to South Korea for the first time in four decades; the strengthening of joint U.S.-South Korean military training and simulations; and creating a "Nuclear Consultative Group," defined as "a regular bilateral consultation mechanism that will focus on nuclear and strategic planning issues," according to the official. Meanwhile, South Korea will pledge to not go nuclear, the officials said. This comes amid growing calls from the South Korean public for the country to have nuclear capabilities of its own. MORE: North Korea fires multiple cruise missiles amid US-South Korea joint drills In addition to commitments on nuclear deterrence, the U.S. and South Korea on Wednesday will highlight their security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region; the need for diplomacy to address North Korea's "profoundly destabilizing" rhetoric and actions; Seoul's improved relations with Japan; their support for Ukraine amid Russia's invasion; substantial South Korean investment in the U.S.; educational initiatives; cultural connections; and cooperation on issues regarding green technology, according to the officials. The two countries will also announce a new student exchange program that will increase the number of Korean students coming to the U.S. and Americans studying abroad in South Korea, an official said, as well as a new volunteer initiative and an executive training program in technology for mid-career professionals. ABC News' Joohee Cho contributed to this report. US announcing new moves to deter North Korea nuclear attack on South Korea originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The United States said Wednesday it would refuse visas on human rights grounds to a Sri Lankan provincial governor who had been charged with killings during the island's long civil war. A Sri Lankan investigation accused former navy chief Wasantha Karannagoda, among others, of abducting teenage children of wealthy families and killing them after extorting money. Authorities in 2021 dropped charges, prompting an outcry from human rights groups, and he was soon named governor of North Western Province by then president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who served as defense chief when Sri Lanka defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said allegations against Karannagoda remained "serious and credible" and that neither the governor nor his wife would be allowed to visit the United States. "The United States reaffirms its commitment to upholding human rights, ending impunity for human rights violators, acknowledging the suffering of victims and survivors and promoting accountability for perpetrators in Sri Lanka," Blinken said in a statement. The action on human rights comes as both the United States and India voice alarm over inroads in Sri Lanka by China, the island's biggest creditor. Sri Lanka last year defaulted on its external debt and saw angry protests that toppled Rajapaksa over economic mismanagement that brought acute food, fuel and medicine shortages. A UN panel has said 40,000 civilians may have been killed in the last stages of the 37-year conflict. Government officials deny abuses. sct/st The U.S. Chamber of Commerce gets most of its money from a small pool of anonymous donors, raising questions about its claim to represent more than 3 million businesses, a new report found. The nations largest business group raised nearly half of its 2021 revenue from donors giving $1 million or more, according to an analysis of the Chambers tax filings from left-leaning watchdog group Public Citizen. Only 18 donors accounted for more than a quarter of the Chambers revenue. The narrow donor base casts serious doubts on the Chambers repeated claims that it represents such a broad range of business, Lisa Gilbert, executive vice president of Public Citizen, said in a statement. Its no secret in the nations capital that the Chamber is primarily a big business lobbying group. The Chambers board of directors includes executives at FedEx, Facebook, Microsoft, Chevron, Comcast, Ford, Pfizer and other large multinational firms, in addition to some midsize companies. But the Public Citizen report makes the case that the Chamber receives next to no support from small businesses. The Chamber reported 1,300 donations of $5,000 or more, which made up 97 percent of the groups revenue. The Chamber doesnt disclose its donors. Whoever the Chamber is truly working for, its receiving almost all of its money from a tiny slice of U.S. businesses, assuming its donors are businesses, Public Citizen wrote in its report. In response, the Chamber said that it leans on a small business council of 100 small businesses to help guide its policy priorities and noted that it operates a small business platform that assists nearly 20,000 companies every day. As we have for over a century, the Chamber represents the depth and breadth of the American business community. And like America, the vast majority of our members 90% are small businesses and state and local Chambers of Commerce, Chamber spokesperson Kasper Zeuthen said in a statement. Story continues CNBC first reported the Public Citizen analysis on Wednesday. The Chamber is currently pushing for legislation to ease the permitting process for energy and infrastructure projects. Its also fighting the Federal Trade Commissions noncompete ban and a slew of other Biden administration rules aimed at boosting workers power. The group remains largely aligned with Republicans, though Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and other House GOP leaders have said they are shunning the Chamber after it endorsed swing-district Democrats in the 2020 election. Still, House Republicans Lower Energy Costs Act, considered their top priority for this Congress, included many measures backed by the Chamber, including permitting reforms. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. SAN ANTONIO, Philippines (AP) American and Filipino forces sank a ship with a barrage of high-precision rockets, airstrikes and artillery fire in their largest war drills on Wednesday in Philippine waters facing the disputed South China Sea which are likely to antagonize China. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. watched the American show of firepower from an observation tower in the coastal town of San Antonio in northwestern Zambales province, the latest indication of his strong backing of the Philippines' treaty alliance with the U.S. Marcos has ordered his military to shift its focus to external defense from decades-long domestic anti-insurgency battles as Chinas increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea become a top concern. The shift in the Philippine defense focus is in sync with the Biden administrations aim of reinforcing an arc of alliances in the Indo-Pacific region to better counter China. China has angered the Philippines by repeatedly harassing its navy and coast guard patrols and chasing away fishermen in waters close to Philippine shores but which Beijing claims as its own. The Philippines has filed more than 200 diplomatic protests against China since last year, including at least 77 since Marcos took office in June. Marcos, sitting beside U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson and his top defense and security advisers, used a pair of binoculars as rockets streaked into the blue sky from the U.S. High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, a multiple rocket and missile launcher mounted on a truck that has become a crucial weapon for Ukrainian troops battling Russian invasion forces. The coastal clearing in front of Marcos resembled a smoke-shrouded war zone and thudded with artillery fire as AH-64 Apache attack helicopters flew overhead. A private light plane flew by during the exercises, briefly interrupting them, and was asked to move away, said Col. Mike Logico, a Philippine military spokesperson for the drills. Fishermen have been advised to stay away from the area. Story continues This training increased the exercises realism and complexity, a key priority shared between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military, said Lt. Gen. William Jurney, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces. Together we are strengthening our capabilities in full-spectrum military operations across all domains, said Jurney, the U.S. director for the annual joint exercises called Balikatan, Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder." About 12,200 U.S military personnel, 5,400 Filipino forces and 111 Australian counterparts are taking part in the exercises, the largest since Balikatan started three decades ago. The drills have showcased U.S. warships, fighter jets as well as Patriot missiles, HIMARS and anti-tank Javelins, according to U.S. and Philippine military officials. The ship targeted by the allied forces was a decommissioned Philippine navy warship which was towed 18 to 22 kilometers (11 to 14 miles) out to sea. Smaller floating targets, including empty drums tied together, were also used as targets to simulate a battle scene in which a U.S. Marine Corps command and control hub enabled scattered allied forces to identify and locate enemy targets and then deliver precision rocket and missile fire. Philippine military officials said the maneuvers would bolster the countrys coastal defense and disaster-response capabilities and were not aimed at any country. China has opposed military drills involving U.S. forces in the region as well as increasing U.S. military deployments, which it warned would rachet up tensions and hamper regional stability and peace. Washington and Beijing have been on a collision course over Chinas increasingly assertive actions to defend its vast territorial claims in the South China Sea and Beijings goal of annexing Taiwan, by force if necessary. In February, Marcos approved a wider U.S. military presence in the Philippines by allowing rotating batches of American forces to stay in four more Philippine military camps. That was a sharp turnaround from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who feared that a larger American military footprint could antagonize Beijing. China strongly opposed the move, which would allow U.S. forces to establish staging grounds and surveillance posts in the northern Philippines across the sea from Taiwan and in western Philippine provinces facing the South China Sea. China has warned that a deepening security alliance between Washington and Manila and their ongoing military drills should not harm its security and territorial interests or interfere in the territorial disputes. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has said that such military cooperation should not target any third party and should be conducive to regional peace and stability. ___ Gomez reported from Manila. Associated Press journalist Joeal Calupitan contributed to this report. The US Supreme Court's Chief Justice John Roberts is refusing to testify in Congress about business dealings by two conservative justices and lavish gifts one received that have raised ethics issues. Roberts cited "separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence" in declining the committee's invitation in a letter dated Tuesday to the Senate Judiciary Committee. He included a copy of court ethics guidelines and a statement signed by the nine justices in which they "reaffirm and restate foundational ethics principles and practices." But Roberts made no direct reference to the controversy engulfing the court's most senior justice, Clarence Thomas, that Thomas and his wife Ginni received lavish gifts and took vacations worth millions of dollars with property billionaire Harlan Crow. Thomas did not report those gifts, which included a flight on Crow's private jet to Indonesia for an island-hopping cruise on Crow's 162-foot (49 meter) yacht, according to the independent ProPublica news outlet. Nor did he report regularly vacationing at luxury resorts owned by Crow, or that the tycoon bought properties in Savannah, Georgia from the justice, including the home occupied by Thomas's mother, according to ProPublica. Roberts's refusal to testify also followed a report by Politico that Justice Neil Gorsuch, just after being confirmed to the court in 2017, sold a large rural Colorado property to the head of Greenberg Traurig, a major US law firm which regularly handles cases before the high court. Gorsuch had tried without success to sell the property for two years before joining the court, and he did not disclose the buyer on his personal disclosure reports, according to Politico. On April 20, Senate Judiciary Committee chair Dick Durbin asked Roberts to appear on May 2 to discuss ethics issues around the court. Since the last time justices appeared before Congress in 2011, also on ethics questions, "there has been a steady stream of revelations regarding justices falling short of the ethical standards expected," wrote Durbin. Story continues The 2011 appearance by two justices was also sparked by allegations of Thomas and his wife benefitting financially from relations with Crow and other powerful Republican donors. A specific focus then was Crow's donation of $500,000 to fund Ginni Thomas's new Liberty Central advocacy group. Ginni Thomas is also currently under scrutiny for her role in former president Donald Trump's late-2020 campaign claiming, without evidence, that Joe Biden's election victory over him was fraudulent. After Roberts turned down the committee invitation, two senators, Democrat Angus King and Republican Lisa Murkowski, announced a bill Wednesday requiring the court to create a code of conduct and appoint an official to review potential conflicts and public complaints. Supreme Court justices are the only federal judges not explicitly bound by a code of conduct, they noted. "The American public's confidence in the Supreme Court is at an all-time-low," noted Murkowski. "Americans have made clear their concerns with the transparency -- or lack thereof -- coming from the Supreme Court and its justices," she said. pmh/tjj/md (Bloomberg) -- Washington will gradually lift sanctions on Venezuela if the country moves toward restoring fair elections, according to a top US official. Most Read from Bloomberg The US doesnt want to keep its curbs on Venezuela in perpetuity and would like to see the country prosper, US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer told reporters in Bogota on Tuesday. We are more than ready to reduce and ultimately end our sanctions pressures, but it will take concrete, meaningful steps and ultimately free and fair elections in order to get to that, Finer said. Read more: Guaido Arrives in Miami After Being Shunned by Petro Finer made the remarks after attending a summit organized by the Colombian government aimed at unlocking stalled negotiations between the Venezuelan government of Nicolas Maduro and the opposition. Representatives from 19 other countries and the European Union also attended the event, which was hosted by Colombian President Gustavo Petro. US sanctions have aggravated Venezuelas economic crisis by hindering oil sales, though failed to unseat Maduro. The government of US President Joe Biden envisions a step-by-step approach whereby steps toward restoring Venezuelan democracy are met by steps to ease sanctions, Finer said. The US partially eased sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports last year after Russias invasion of Ukraine, though most of them are still in place. This gives Washington significant leverage, Finer said. Colombias Foreign Affairs Minister Alvaro Leyva told reporters that participants at the event agree on the need for a timetable toward free and transparent elections and the simultaneous progressive lifting of sanctions. The parties will meet again in the near future, he added. Story continues --With assistance from Andreina Itriago Acosta. (Adds comments from Colombian Foreign Affairs Minister in final paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- The US and the Philippines showcased their defense ties near disputed waters in the South China Sea, using rockets and combat aircraft to simulate sinking an enemy ship as part of war games held amid growing tensions with China. Most Read from Bloomberg President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday watched the live exercise using binoculars as American and Filipino forces attempted to sink a decommissioned vessel 12 nautical miles off Zambales province, facing the vast waters thats been a flashpoint between the Southeast Asian nation and China. High-mobility artillery rocket systems were used for the drills, similar to those deployed in the Russian war in Ukraine. Attack helicopters and other combat aircraft were also utilized in the military tests, which were streamed live for two hours. Marcos is hoping the country could benefit from enhanced cooperation with the United States, according to a statement on the drills released by his communications office. The live-fire exercise intends to boost the interoperability of US and Philippine defense systems, and highlights Marcoss strategy to shift the armed forces focus to external security, said Chester Cabalza, who heads a Manila-based security think tank. The message it sends to China brings the notion that the archipelagic country is naval-ready for any eventuality, he said. The US has been advancing its longstanding defense alliance with the Philippines, amid increasing rivalry and geopolitical disputes with China over Taiwan and the South China Sea. Marcos is set to meet US President Joe Biden in Washington next week to discuss defense ties, months after the American military gained expanded access in the Philippines. Story continues China has described the strengthened US defense ties with the Southeast Asian nation as an attempt to encircle and contain Beijing. China also recently announced plans to hold military drills in waters off its coast and in the South China Sea, shortly after conducting exercises around Taiwan. (Adds details from drills, presidential communications office statement in 4th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden and South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol unveiled a new plan Wednesday to counter North Koreas nuclear threat, with the U.S. leader issuing a blunt warning that such an attack would result in the end of whatever regime took such action. The new nuclear deterrence effort calls for periodically docking U.S. nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea for the first time in decades, bolstering training between the two countries, and more. The declaration was unveiled as Biden hosted Yoon for a state visit at a moment of heightened anxiety over an increased pace of ballistic missile tests by North Korea. A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partners is unacceptable, and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action," Biden said during afternoon Rose Garden news conference with Yoon. Yoon said that the new commitment by the righteous alliance includes plans for bilateral presidential consultations in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack, the establishment of a nuclear consultative group and improved sharing of information on nuclear and strategic weapons operation plans. Sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula does not happen automatically, Yoon said. He added, Our two countries have agreed to immediate bilateral presidential consultations in the event of North Koreas nuclear attack and promised to respond swiftly, overwhelmingly and decisively using the full force of the alliance, including the United States nuclear weapons. Biden and Yoon aides have been working on details of the plan for months and agreed that occasional and very clear demonstrations of the strength of U.S. extended deterrence capabilities needed to be an essential aspect of the agreement, according to three senior Biden administration officials who briefed reporters ahead of the announcement. The officials said the so-called Washington Declaration was designed to allay South Korean fears over the North's aggressive nuclear weapons program and to keep the country from restarting its own nuclear program, which it gave up nearly 50 years ago when it signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Yoon earlier this year said his country was weighing developing its own nuclear weapons or asking the U.S. to redeploy them on the Korean Peninsula. Story continues The U.S. and South Korea also would coordinate more deeply on nuclear response strategy in the event of the North attacking the South but operational control of such weapons would remain in U.S. control, and no nuclear weapons are being deployed onto South Korean shores. We are not going to be stationing nuclear weapons on the peninsula, Biden underscored. Biden said coordination between the U.S. and South Korea remains crucial in the face of increased North Korean threats and blatant violation of international sanctions. The president repeated that the U.S. remains open to substantial talks with the North without preconditions. Rob Soofer, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said the new declaration includes important steps but may not fully address the "underlying dilemma that provokes South Korean angst over the U.S. nuclear umbrella." Having the nuclear capabilities to strike North Korea is only part of the deterrence equation the U.S. must also convince the adversary that it has the will to use these weapons in the face of nuclear retaliation," Soofer said. The state visit comes as the U.S. and South Korea mark the 70th year of the countries' alliance that began at the end of the Korean War and committed the United States to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea. Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are currently based in South Korea. Why did they sacrifice their lives for this faraway country and for the people that youve never met? Yoon said of the U.S. troops who served during the war. That was for one noble cause: to defend freedom. The agreement also calls for the U.S. and South Korean militaries to strengthen joint training and better integrate South Korean military assets into the joint strategic deterrence effort. As part of the declaration, South Korea will reaffirm its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, an agreement signed by several major nuclear and non-nuclear powers that pledged their cooperation to stem the spread of nuclear technology, the officials said. As a candidate for the presidency last year, Yoon pledged to call for the increased deployment of U.S. bombers, aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines to South Korea as he looked to offer a firmer response to the North's threats than his predecessor Moon Jae-in. In the midst of the Cold War in the late 1970s, U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines made frequent port visits to South Korea, sometimes two to three visits per month, according to the Federation of American Scientists. It was a period when the U.S. had hundreds of nuclear warheads located in South Korea. But in 1991, the United States withdrew all of its nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula, and the following year Seoul and Pyongyang signed a joint declaration pledging that neither would test, manufacture, produce, receive, possess, store, deploy or use nuclear weapons. But as the North has repeatedly violated the joint declaration over the years, there's been increased support in South Korea for the United States to return nuclear weapons to the country. One Biden administration official cautioned it is crystal clear that there are no plans by the administration for "returning tactical or any other kind of nuclear weapon to the Korean Peninsula. Instead, administration officials said they envision that the visit of ballistic missile submarines will be followed by the U.S. military more regularly deploying assets such as bombers or aircraft carriers to South Korea. North Koreas increasing nuclear threats, along with concerns about Chinas military and economic assertiveness in the region, have pushed the Biden administration to expand its Asian alliance. To that end, Biden has thrown plenty of attention at Yoon as well as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Next week, Biden will host Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for Oval Office talks. In the past year, North Korea has been steadily expanding its nuclear arsenal, while China and Russia repeatedly block U.S.-led efforts to toughen sanctions on the North over its barrage of banned missile tests. The stepped-up testing by North Korea includes the flight-testing of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time earlier this month. The recent test is seen as a possible breakthrough in the Norths efforts to acquire a more powerful, harder-to-detect weapon targeting the continental United States. Biden and Yoon, and their aides, also discussed Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. The Biden administration has praised South Korea for sending some $230 million in humanitarian aid to Kyiv, but Biden would welcome Seoul taking an even bigger role in helping the Ukrainians repel Russia. Yoon's visit comes just weeks after the leaks of scores of highly classified documents that have complicated relations with allies, including South Korea. The papers viewed by The Associated Press indicate that South Koreas National Security Council grappled with the U.S. in early March over an American request to provide artillery ammunition to Ukraine. The documents, which cited a signals intelligence report, said then-NSC Director Kim Sung-han suggested the possibility of selling the 330,000 rounds of 155 mm munitions to Poland, since getting the ammunition to Ukraine quickly was the United States ultimate goal. Asked at the joint news conference if the leak came up in their private talks, Yoon replied, "We are communicating between our two countries. Wednesday evening, Biden and first lady Jill Biden honored Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, at a state dinner at the White House. The United States has taken a lead in trying to end a burst of violence in Sudan but it faces a tough road ahead with limited power to rein in warring generals. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spearheaded efforts to broker a three-day ceasefire that took effect Tuesday and has largely held in the capital Khartoum, although scattered clashes persisted elsewhere in Africa's third largest country. Previous truces quickly disintegrated over 10 days of round-the-clock fighting that have pitted paramilitary forces against the army, into which the powerful unit was supposed to be integrated. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said that US diplomats remained "deeply engaged" with all sides to try to extend the ceasefire and making it permanent, with hopes of a path to civilian rule. Molly Phee, the top US diplomat for Africa, and John Godfrey, the US ambassador to Sudan who was evacuated on Saturday, have been involved in detailed negotiations with the two generals in coordination with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, regional heavyweights that have major investments in Sudan. - Historic US role - The United States for decades has been the key diplomatic player in Sudan, negotiating a 2005 agreement that ended the civil war and brought independence to South Sudan and later taking the forefront in efforts to stop a scorched-earth campaign in Darfur. But Washington, seeking to preserve bridges, had hesitated in the run-up to the violence to take direct action against the dueling generals. US diplomats are also now reduced to coordinating by telephone after President Joe Biden ordered an evacuation of the embassy out of safety concerns. "Whether or not we have the leverage, we are looked upon as having the leverage" due to the history, said Cameron Hudson, an Africa expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The United States can still build diplomatic coalitions but its leverage in Sudan has "substantially declined," Hudson said. Story continues Hudson said she was pessimistic that the ceasefire would hold and pointed to anecdotal reports that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have used the lull to bring in supplies from their Darfur stronghold. Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo both still hope for military victory but had an interest in a pause in fighting, which also served to please international interlocutors, Hudson said. "These guys have been fighting for 10 days, 24 hours a day, flat out. They're tired. They need a break. They need to regroup. They need to resupply," he said. "So I think that this ceasefire has the potential to backfire." - Waning pressure - The United States had loosened pressure on Sudan since 2019 when a coup d'etat ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir, a nemesis of the United States for much of his three decades in power which included welcoming Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden in the 1990s. In late 2020, then president Donald Trump removed Sudan from a blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism after leaders tentatively agreed to recognize Israel and to compensate US victims of Al-Qaeda terrorism. The Biden administration froze a $700 million aid package a year later after another military coup thwarted a transition to civilian rule. But some lawmakers had pressed for further action. Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat close to Biden, ahead of the latest violence had called for targeted sanctions against coup leaders to disrupt their streams of revenue -- seen as a key reason why they were clinging to power. Susan Stigant, Africa director at the US Institute of Peace, said that greater instability in Sudan held major risks due to the country's strategic location between North and sub-Saharan Africa and on the Red Sea, a major artery for global trade. She said it was crucial that any US strategy not involve just the two generals but the broad range of Sudanese society that has clamored for change. "We have to be very careful we don't create a false binary choice between the two generals," she said. "There has to be a third way." sct-lb/dw A writer told a US civil trial Wednesday that an alleged sexual assault by Donald Trump three decades ago left her feeling "ashamed" and unable to have romantic relationships. "I'm here because Donald Trump raped me," E. Jean Carroll said in Manhattan's federal court, which is hearing a defamation and battery lawsuit against the former president. The case is one in a series of legal challenges facing Trump as the 76-year-old Republican seeks a return to the White House. Carroll, 79, has sued Trump alleging he sexually assaulted her in a changing room at the luxury Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan in the mid-1990s. She also claims that Trump then defamed her when she went public with the allegations years later. Trump has repeatedly denied the allegations and has not been criminally charged. The former Elle magazine columnist described to jurors how a chance encounter with Trump in the Manhattan store quickly turned violent. She said that after Trump playfully asked her for advice on buying a women's lingerie gift, he "shoved" her against the wall of the dressing room. "All his weight (was) against my chest. He pulled down my tights. I was pushing him back," Carroll told jurors from the witness stand. She first made the allegation in an excerpt from her book published by New York Magazine in 2019. Asked why it took her more than 20 years to go public with her allegations, she responded: "I was frightened by Donald Trump. I was ashamed. I thought it was my fault." Carroll filed the lawsuit late last year after a law took effect in New York that gave victims of sexual assault a one-year window to sue their alleged abusers decades after attacks may have occurred. - 'Pain and suffering' - The suit accuses Trump of battery, "when he forcibly raped and groped" Carroll, and of defamation for a post that Trump made on his Truth Social platform in October where he referred to Carroll as a "complete con job." Story continues "He lied and shattered my reputation. I'm here to get my life back," Carroll told the court. "I know people have been through a lot worse but it left me unable to ever have a romantic life again," she added. Before the testimony, judge Lewis Kaplan rebuked Trump for writing on Truth Social Wednesday that the trial is "a made-up scam" and Carroll's lawyer a "political operative." Kaplan said the comments were "entirely inappropriate" and suggested Trump was trying to influence jurors. Carroll's suit seeks unspecified damages for "significant pain and suffering, lasting psychological and pecuniary harms, loss of dignity and self-esteem, and invasion of her privacy." It also asks that Trump retract his comments. Around a dozen women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct. He has denied all the allegations and has never been prosecuted over any of them. No criminal prosecution can stem from Carroll's civil case but if Trump loses it will be the first time he has ever been held legally liable for an allegation of sexual assault. Trump has provided sworn testimony in the case but is not expected to take the witness stand. The trial is likely to last one to two weeks. In opening arguments Monday, Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina said there was no evidence of the assault and that Carroll was "abusing the system for money, for political reasons, and for status." The case comes just weeks after Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts related to a hush-money payment made to a porn star just before the 2016 election. Trump is also being investigated over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the southern state of Georgia, his alleged mishandling of classified documents taken from the White House and his involvement in the storming of the US Capitol by his supporters on January 6, 2021. arb-pdh/mlm PHNOM PENH, April 26 (Xinhua) -- More than 60 journalists from the six Lancang-Mekong countries gathered in the capital of Cambodia on Wednesday for a training workshop on media engagement for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Mekong region. Organized by the International Relations Institute of Cambodia (IRIC) of the Royal Academy of Cambodia in partnership with the Club of Cambodian Journalists, the second Mekong journalism training workshop would help journalists better understand the politics, economics, societies and cultures of the Lancang-Mekong countries. IRIC's director-general Kin Phea said that over the course of three days, the participants would gain insights into political and electoral systems, environmental and socio-economic landscapes, and regional cooperation frameworks, among others, of the Lancang-Mekong countries. The workshop was also a platform to enhance information sharing and networking among journalists across the Lancang-Mekong region, he said. The six Lancang-Mekong countries include Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Originating from the Qinghai-Tibet plateau in China, the river is called the Lancang River in China, and the Mekong River when flows through the other four countries before emptying into the sea. Cage-free chickens stand in a fenced pasture on a farm near Waukon, Iowa, on Oct. 21, 2015. The USDA announced Wednesday a proposal aimed at preventing future salmonella outbreaks caused by poultry products. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Wednesday announced a proposal to prevent future salmonella outbreaks that could be caused by poultry products, with a specific focus on breaded stuffed chicken. USDA is taking science-based, decisive action to drive down salmonella illnesses linked to poultry products, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The proposal, he said, represents the first step in a broader effort to control salmonella contamination in all poultry products, as well as a continued commitment to protecting American consumers from foodborne illness. Its a foodborne disease outbreak when two or more people develop an illness caused by consumption of the same food, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Salmonella is an infection caused by bacteria that can be transmitted through consuming infected food, water or interacting with infected animals. If the proposal is adopted, salmonella would be seen as an adulterant, an ingredient that is in a product but not listed in the ingredient label. It would apply to frozen stuffed chicken products like chicken cordon bleu, which is filled with multiple ingredients that cook fully at different temperatures, making it difficult for consumers to know when their food is safely cooked all the way through. In deciding to make salmonella an adulterant in the raw, breaded and stuffed chicken products, the Food Safety and Inspection Service based its decision on several factors, including that since 1998, (the agency) and its public health partners have investigated 14 salmonella outbreaks and approximately 200 illnesses associated with these products. The most recent outbreak was in 2021 and resulted in illnesses across 11 states, per the USDA press release. The regulation would mean that any chicken product with a salmonella amount of one colony-forming unit (CFU) per gram before being stuffed with additional ingredients would fail the inspection and could not be sold on store shelves. Story continues According to Science Direct, The colony forming unit (CFU) is a measure of viable colonogenic cell numbers in CFU/mL. These are an indication of the number of cells that remain viable enough to proliferate and form small colonies. Related Following the USDAs proposal, the National Chicken Council expressed their grave concerns if the new regulations were to pass, noting the precedent set by this abrupt shift in longstanding policy has the potential to shutter processing plants, cost jobs and take safe food and convenient products off shelves, without moving the needle on public health. They estimated that over 200 million servings of this product will be lost, 500-1,000 people will lose their jobs, and the annual cost to the industry is significantly higher than USDAs estimates. It is likely that this proposal would drive smaller producers of this product out of business entirely. The CDC estimates that salmonella is the cause of about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths in the United States every year. The public is allowed to post their opinions on the USDAs proposal within 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. MEXICO CITY (AP) The trilateral Commission for Environmental Cooperation established by the U.S., Mexico and Canada has recommended opening an investigation into Mexico's multibillion-dollar tourist train project on the Yucatan peninsula. Environmentalists filed a complaint saying the Maya Train project threatens jungles and limestone caves containing precious fresh water. The caves have also yielded some of the oldest human remains found in North America. The train is currently being rushed to completion. It is the pet project of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who wants it finished before he leaves office in September 2024. The trilateral commission was established by the governments of Mexico, the United States and Canada in 1994, and operates under the USMCA free trade agreement. It has the power to produce fact-finding reports that could be used in trade disputes. It will do so if two of the three countries agree; the U.S. government has always voted to go ahead with such investigations. The USMCA trade pact requires member countries to enforce their environmental laws, and they could face tariffs or other sanctions if they don't. The commission said in a statement late Tuesday that the investigation will look into the environmental impact assessment procedures for the Maya Train project, including relevant studies and alleged fragmentation of the environmental impact studies, as well as the change in land use authorization. The 950-mile (1,500-kilometer) Maya Train line is meant to run in a rough loop around the Yucatan Peninsula, connecting beach resorts and archaeological sites. Originally projected to cost around $8 billion, the train line now appears likely to rise to $15 billion, and possibly as much as $20 billion. Because no real feasibility studies were done, it is not clear whether the train will draw enough tourists or recoup its costs. While some stretches of the train line run over existing tracks or alongside existing roads, other parts are being cut through the jungle, including a controversial stretch that cuts a 68-mile (110-kilometer) swath between the resorts of Cancun and Tulum. Story continues It is the hurried approval and construction on that Cancun -Tulum stretch that is at the center of the complaint. Activists say the heavy, high-speed rail project will fragment the coastal jungle and will run often above the roofs of fragile limestone caves known as cenotes, which because theyre flooded, twisty and often incredibly narrow can take decades to explore. Inside those water-filled caves are archaeological sites that have lain undisturbed for millennia, like Naia, the nearly complete skeleton of a young woman who died around 13,000 years ago. Jose Pepe Urbina, a diver who has explored the caverns for decades, welcomed the investigation of the train project, even though the Mexican government has already started sinking concrete piles into the fragile limestone soil to build the railway. This is good news, it comes a little late, but better late than never, Urbina said. Let's see what the Mexican government says or does. The environmental destruction is a reality that their propaganda cannot hide any longer. The stretch of track was originally supposed to have been built on elevated tracks above the existing coastal highway that connects the two resorts. But opposition from hotel owners led Lopez Obrador to relocate the train tracks inland, requiring workers to cut a swath through the jungle. The change was made with almost no prior study of its environmental impact. Archaeologist Octavio del Rio, who has spent years exploring the caves, said damage is already being done. It is not just on the surface, where the destruction is more evident, but in the underwater archaeological artifacts that are less apparent, Del Rio said. It is already being subject to destruction by hundreds of enormous columns that are sinking into the ground, affecting the artifacts. Water begins to flow at Point of the Mountain in Draper on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. The Central Utah Water Conservancy District is redirecting it to the Great Salt Lake to help in the flood control effort and expects to divert 50 million gallons per day. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Gene Shawcroft pulled a walkie-talkie up to his mouth and called for his employees to open a spill gate located near the Point of the Mountain. "We'll get it going as fast as we can," one of the workers replied back. This article is published through the Great Salt Lake Collaborative, a solutions journalism initiative that partners news, education and media organizations to help inform people about the plight of the Great Salt Lake and what can be done to make a difference before it is too late. Read all of our stories at greatsaltlakenews.org. A minute or two later, Shawcroft, the general manager of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, and others applauded as the gates opened and water began to shoot out of the large concrete structure into a 10-foot man-made waterfall in front of them that flows directly into a nearby culvert. The district plans to send about 50 million gallons of water from this site every day for the next little while, all of which should eventually end up in the Great Salt Lake. Tuesday's event comes as the Provo-Utah-Lake-Jordan snowpack basin continues to retain most of the snow that has built up since October. Per Natural Resources Conservation Service data, there are still 37.8 inches of snow water equivalent left in the basin, 2.3 below this year's record peak but 3.4 inches above the previous record set in 2011. With temperatures slowly warming up this spring, Shawcroft says the real snowmelt process is expected in the "very near future." The point of this runoff is to avoid severe flooding from the impending snowmelt; however, it's a perfect way to send all the excess water into the struggling Great Salt Lake, too. "We've got a lot of water to come down," he said. Water moves through a culvert as it begins to flow at Point of the Mountain in Draper on Tuesday. The Central Utah Water Conservancy District is redirecting the water to the Great Salt Lake to help in the flood control effort and expects to divert 50 million gallons per day. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Jeff Budge, the operations and engineering manager for the Provo River Water Users Association, explained that water coming from the Provo River is being diverted to the spill gates at the Point of the Mountain. This water ends up in the Jordan River, a tributary of the Great Salt Lake. Story continues The water that the district is sending to the lake is enough to fill 100 Olympic-sized swimming pools or 150 homes for a year, Shawcroft said. He adds the releases will continue daily until the snowmelt begins to slow down and flood concerns peak in the area. The plan is similar to Salt Lake City Public Utilities' decision earlier this year to release water from two reservoirs in Parleys Canyon. Department officials said they began to release extra water from the reservoirs when it became clear that there was more snow in the snowpack than the reservoirs had the capacity to collect. It just so happens that both districts' flood control measures can benefit the struggling Great Salt Lake. Water begins to flow at Point of the Mountain in Draper on Tuesday. The Central Utah Water Conservancy District is redirecting the water to the Great Salt Lake to help in the flood control effort and expects to divert 50 million gallons per day. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News The Great Salt Lake's water levels reached an all-time low for the second-straight year in 2022 but it has received a significant boost with this year's record-breaking winter. The U.S. Geological Survey reports that levels at the Saltair Boat Harbor are back up to 4192.4 feet elevation, more than 3 feet above the record-low readings in November. "This infrastructure ... wasn't built to send water to the Great Salt Lake. It was built to send water to homes and farms and irrigation ground. But here we are finding a way to send it directly to the Great Salt Lake, said Utah Utah House Majority Leader Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, attending Tuesday's event. "This didn't have to happen today. These guys took it upon themselves (and) decided to work together to figure out a way to send water to the Great Salt Lake." More water is expected from beyond just when flows in from the Jordan River. The Bear, Ogden and Weber rivers are all projected to have flows that are between 240% and 260% of average. However, consumption will dictate how much of that ends up in the Great Salt Lake, especially once the irrigation season is in full swing. Utah leaders and water experts alike say this winter, while tremendous for the state's ongoing drought situation and the Great Salt Lake, doesn't guarantee that next year's winter will be as beneficial. The lake also remains about 5.6 feet elevation below its minimum healthy level. It's why Schultz says Utahns should continue to "come together" and find ways to reduce water consumption. "It's going to take more in the future from everybody," he said. "We're going to have to figure out other ideas and solutions on how we can solve this problem. ... We're going to figure out ways to come together that will benefit our kids and grandkids in the future." Ranchers in southern New Mexico could receive federal funds to pay for livestock attacked by the endangered Mexican gray wolf, as the federal government works to restore the species but also mitigate its impacts to the agriculture industry. U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) cosponsored a bill known as the Wolf and Livestock Fairness (WOLF) Act that would use federal funds to fully compensate ranchers for livestock lost through wolf attacks. Federal law compensates ranchers for 75 percent of the value of cattle killed by wolves. The WOLF Act would cover 100 percent of losses. More: 'Lobo' numbers increased last year in New Mexico, but concerns remain for its survival The bill was introduced April 18 by a bipartisan group of U.S. representatives including Vasquez, Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ) and Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX). It was referred to the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture. The Mexican gray wolf, also known as the lobo was listed as endangered in 1976 as its numbers dwindled in the deserts of southern New Mexico and Arizona. More: River snakes in New Mexico see habitat cuts, drawing lawsuit against federal government The listing ignited decades of debate on wolf management practices, as conservation groups clashed with ranchers who worried their cattle could be threatened by increased wolf populations nearby. Vasquez said a balance must be struck between the needs of local industry and recovery of the species native to his state and the surrounding desert. A Mexican gray wolf in a crate after being captured at Ted Turners Ladder Ranch near Hillsboro, New Mexico, Monday, November 21, 2022. The wild-born wolf was transferred to Mexico with its mate the next day. Officials minimize the time wolves are held in confinement before being released. Mexican and U.S. officials hope the pair will breed in Mexico to grow the neighbor country's wolf population in the wild. There were once up to 2 million lobos roaming the American West, read a report from the Center for Biological Diversity, but this year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported at least 241 wolves documented in the wild in 2022. More: Heinrich seeks billions in wildlife recovery funds as prairie chicken listed in New Mexico That marked a 23 percent increase in 196 wolves reported by the Service in 2021 and the first time, the Service said, the population eclipsed 200 wolves since reintroduction began in 1998. Story continues This bipartisan bill strikes the right balance to fully compensate ranchers for livestock loss and decreases in herd size due to wolf depredation in New Mexico and Arizona, Vasquez said. "Apex predators like the Mexican gray wolf, native to New Mexico, belong on the land, but have also caused our ranchers significant hardship. This legislation will provide the necessary compensation to ranchers who depend on their cattle to feed their families and the nation. More: Legislator, environmentalists urge governor to sign bill changing State Game Commission Larry Reagan, president of the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau said efforts to restore the Mexican gray wolf often ignored the needs of ranchers who depend on their herds to make a living. He hoped the WOLF Act would augment current federal programs Reagan said were so far inadequate to support ranchers in New Mexico. Current depredation programs such as the Livestock Indemnity Program and Wolf Livestock Loss Depredation Grant Program fail to make ranchers whole from the involuntary pressures and conflicts resulting from the growing Mexican wolf presence, Reagan said. More: What ranchers in eastern New Mexico are doing to save an iconic but struggling bird Audrey McQueen, a rancher and Catron County commissioner in New Mexicos bootheel region along its western border with Arizona where wolf recovery efforts are centered, said reintroduction of the species has already had devastating impacts to ranchers. As both a County Commissioner and rancher, I can attest to the heavy impacts wolf depredations have had on our ranching community, McQueen said in a statement. Receiving compensation for our stock losses has been tedious and frustrating. The lobo is the rarest gray wolf subspecies in the North America, read the Fish and Wildlife Service report, and about 380 are maintained in captivity in the U.S. and Mexico. More: Restrictions on coyote killings in New Mexico could protect endangered lobos, petition says Restoration efforts were controversial as conservation groups argued against federal programs that recently led to the killing of a reported pack leader that was believed responsible for multiple livestock attacks in the area. An order to kill the wolf was filed March 29 by the U.S. Department of the Interior, citing 13 killings by the pack of livestock on federal land. The killings were reported May 21, 2022 to March 7, and the Service said a wide variety of preventative measures were taken but the depredations continued. More: Lobo recovery plan challenged by New Mexico conservation groups in federal court The Service said the pack consisted of three pups, one sub-adult and two adults including the one approved for killing. The order contended removing one of the wolves via the order would not impact the packs ability to raise pups as there were multiple adults. It is the Services intent to recover the Mexican wolf in a manner that reduces economic effects on the local livestock industry, read the order issued for the killing of the pack leader. Given the rate and proximity of the depredations, the Service believes it is likely that Mexican wolves will continue to depredate on domestic animals in the near future without additional control measures. The wolf kill brought outcry from environmental groups in New Mexico, arguing removing a breeding male could threaten the packs survival. Every single time a Mexican wolf is killed by the agency meant to protect and restore lobos, we need to remember: these are critically imperiled, native, ecosystem engineers who belong in the wilds of the American Southwest, said Chris Smith, southwest wildlife advocate for Santa Fe-based WildEarth Guardians. Cows are destructive, non-native animals that are only on the landscape to bring profits to a special interest. Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Vasquez looks to pay ranchers for cows killed by endangered lobos BRANDON - Lee Stowell worked on Wall Street selling high yield junk bonds for 25 years before deciding to return to her native Vermont with her six children in March 2020 to take over a medical cannabis operation in Brandon, called Grassroots Vermont. "I wanted to get back to Vermont," Stowell said in a recent interview. "I built my house 15 years ago, but I didn't move up here permanently until Covid hit." Stowell built her house on Goodsell Point on Lake Champlain in Colchester, on land her great grandmother purchased in 1937 for $3,000. Nine other family members also live on the point. Stowell said her great grandfather owned and operated ferries crossing Lake Champlain, and family legend has it her great grandmother bought Goodsell Point using the accumulation of her husband's pocket change. Lee Stowell stands in front of a grow room at Grassroots Vermont in Brandon on April 13, 2023. "She actually wrote into the leases, because my great grandfather was a speculator, that he didn't have the right to sell the property, and she gave seven pieces of land to her seven kids, and it's just been transferred and transferred," Stowell said. With Grassroots Vermont, Stowell is showing the same determination and vision landing the contract to be the exclusive supplier of cannabis for a new line of products being launched by Ben Cohen called B3 for Ben's Best Blnz as her great grandmother did landing Goodsell Point. "It's been a whirlwind," Stowell said. Ben's B3 launching 'cannabis Ferrari' in Vermont Stowell got into the cannabis business by way of serendipity. She was acting as a financial advisor to a cannabis-growing operation in Kingston, Jamaica, being run by another Vermonter, former Nectar's co-owner Chris Walsh. "We met down in Jamaica and started doing cannabis investments together," Walsh said. "She was like, 'Guess what, I'm moving back to Vermont from New Jersey.' When she moved up here we hit the ground running. We've done a bunch of stuff together. This is our magnum opus." Story continues Ben Cohen, Lee Stowell and Chris Walsh (left to right) as seen on April 13, 2023, at Grassroots Vermont in Brandon. The masterpiece Walsh is referring to is the deal with B3. "Everyone wanted to work with (Cohen), he chose Lee," Walsh said. "A lot of people were lining up because this could put any manufacturing facility on the map. This is a very high brow, sophisticated product. We're building the equivalent of a cannabis Ferrari. The manufacturing plant that does it gets a lot of street cred." Cohen's approach to his nonprofit cannabis business is to offer five different blends with five different effects on the user. Cohen, 72, explained there are six to eight "major terpenes" in cannabis that determine what kind of effect that cannabis is going to have, depending on how much of each terpene is present, and the relationships among them. "In our pre-rolls, which we call blended slow smokes, they are deliberately low potency because so many people feel like pot's too strong these days," Cohen said. "I felt like there should be pot more like the way (it was when) I grew up, when I was in college. Turns out what we were smoking in college was 4-8% THC, back in the 60s and 70s. Now what you find in the dispensaries is mostly 20-30% (THC). You know it's just too strong for a lot of people." Ben Cohen explains how B3's packaging for its pre-rolls preserves the volatile terpenes that create the desired effects, as seen on April 13, 2023, at Grassroots Vermont in Brandon. THC is the substance that's primarily responsible for the effects of marijuana on a person's mental state, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. It's the part that gets you high. From clear-headed to out cold With B3, Cohen focused on manipulating the terpenes to create five different effects on the user. "The first one would be focus," Cohen said. "That's pretty clear-headed and motivated and high energy. On one end of the scale you have energetic. On the other end of the scale you have sedated." B3, for Ben's Best Blnz, has a social mission, just as Ben Cohen's Ben & Jerry's does, as seen on April 13, 2023, at Grassroots Vermont in Brandon. Second comes ECS, which stands for "enhanced creative and stimulated." "Mentally you make different connections, different perspectives that you normally would," Cohen said. "Walking out in nature things are a little enhanced. Being physically with a person is a little more stimulating, a little more enhanced." After ECS comes cloud 9, which Cohen describes as "slightly euphoric," and after that, kick back, which he said is "relaxed." "Then there's dream, sweet dreams, which is good for going to sleep," Cohen said. More than a year of testing terpenes Walsh is responsible for coming up with the formulations for B3's line of products. He said testing went on for more than a year. Chris Walsh (right) formulated the blends for Ben's Best Blnz, as seen on April 13, 2023, at Grassroots Vermont in Brandon. "From the summer of 2021 to the summer of 2022, every week I rolled 80 joints," Walsh said. Those joints went to 30 to 35 test subjects, mostly in Chittenden County. "We had 65-year-olds, Ben's crew," Walsh said. "We had daily smokers, we had light smokers, we got a good cross section. It kind of vacillated because we burned people out, believe it or not. Once we got it locked in, we brought the brand here and we're going to launch May 1 in medical, hopefully in adult use soon after." More: Is your high in short supply? Why pickings may be slim at retail shops The reason B3 is launching its medical line first in Vermont is because Stowell is still waiting for her approval from the Cannabis Control Board to produce and sell cannabis for adult recreational use. The board is responsible for administering the adult-use and medical cannabis programs in Vermont, as well as regulating hemp and CBD product manufacturing, according to its website. Stowell said Grassroots Vermont has a vertical license, which means it can grow, produce and sell medical marijuana. The company has applied for a vertically integrated license, which would allow it to grow, produce and sell adult-use recreational marijuana as well. Sean O'Connor trimming up weed for packaging, as seen on April 13, 2023, at Grassroots Vermont in Brandon. "Our application is all in, we're just waiting for that process," Stowell said. "Then, (the Cannabis Control Board) basically blesses it and it becomes recreational and medical." Ben Cohen's latest social mission Like the ice cream company he founded with Jerry Greenfield, Ben Cohen has a social mission with B3 to "right the wrongs of the war on drugs," he said. B3's packaging includes the message to "Take pot off Schedule 1 or put beer on it," a reference to Schedule 1 being reserved for drugs that have no medical benefit and are highly addictive. As seen on April 13, 2023, at Grassroots Vermont in Brandon. "In the industry, people have started to realize that Blacks were arrested at four times the rate of whites for smoking pot, despite the fact that both colors smoke at the same rate," Cohen said. "Now that it's becoming legal, the money-making parts of it are mostly owned by white people. Blacks paid the price, but they're not reaping the rewards of legalization." With that inequity in mind, B3, a nonprofit, will use 80% of its profits for grants and loans to black cannabis entrepreneurs. Ten percent of the profits will go to the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, and the remaining 10% will go to the Last Prisoner Project, a national organization that works to get people convicted of cannabis crimes out of jail and get their records expunged, according to Cohen. More: Waterbury's Zenbarn Farms supports racial equity in the cannabis industry through fund "We're looking to downplay the Ben part," Cohen said. "Not because of Ben & Jerry's, just because it's not about me. It's about these guys and the cause, righting the wrongs of the war on drugs." B3 provides the graphics, marketing and packaging The business structure of B3 is as a licensor, according to Cohen. "We developed the formulas, we developed the graphics, the marketing, the packaging and we license that intellectual property to a licensee," Cohen said. "This operation is controlled by the licensee in Vermont, which is CNC Higher Love. CNC Higher Love is run by Chris Walsh and Craig Mitchell. They're working with Lee's operation to actually manufacture it." B3's packaging includes an explanation of how marijuana ended up on Schedule 1, reserved for drugs that have no medical benefits and are highly addictive. As seen on April 13, 2023, at Grassroots Vermont in Brandon. While B3 is a nonprofit, both CNC Higher Love and Grassroots Vermont are for-profit entities. CNC Higher Love is B3's first licensee, but Cohen acknowledged B3 could develop similar relationships with other companies in every state where cannabis is legal. Twenty states and the District of Columbia have legalized weed for recreational use, and 27 states allow it for varying medicinal purposes, according to yahoo!finance. Idaho, Kansas and Nebraska prohibit it entirely. There are only three vertically integrated licenses available in Vermont like the one Grassroots Vermont has applied for, and no more will be created. Stowell is in the process of buying Grassroots, and the licenses along with it, from iAnthus, a Canadian company with headquarters in Manhattan at 420 Lexington Ave., of all things. "I run it, I'm the general manager, but I will become the owner as soon as it closes," she said. "I think this is going to be an interesting startup for us. We're starting off with a bang." Contact Dan DAmbrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosio@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Ben Cohen launches line of cannabis products with Vermont grower Pasco could be the third Tri-Cities community to take action to tighten its laws on simple drug possession if the Washington state lets its existing law lapse. Richland and Kennewick already passed ordinances earlier this year making public drug use a misdemeanor, but a failure by the state Legislature to pass a last-minute and permanent fix statewide has Pasco and other municipalities considering local control. The states current drug possession law, which was signed by Gov. Jay Inslee in 2021 and expires July 1, aimed to reduce drug convictions by requiring police to refer offenders for first two offenses to treatment before they can be charged with a misdemeanor. Many critics say the current law is too lax but legislators failed to agree on the right combination of changes to adopt before the Legislature adjourned last weekend. Now, Inslee is considering calling for a special session before July. The current law was created after the Washington Supreme Court ruling in State v. Blake removed criminal penalties for drug possession and declared felony possession unconstitutional. As a result, drug convictions statewide were thrown out. Pasco Mayor Pro Tem Craig Maloney said at Monday nights city council meeting that he was deeply concerned that the Legislature might let their drug possession law lapse. Maloney said he doesnt think the city should draft its own ordinance, but said they need to tee up something in case the Legislature doesnt meet again before July. No decision was made at the meeting, though the topic could come back to the council for more discussion. City Manager Adam Lincoln said theyre already looking at what other cities are doing. Ill be very interested in making sure we have something ready to go so that if the Legislature fails us again that we have something we can put into our books, and we have municipal code that allows us to manage the possession and use of drugs, he said. Maloney said he and others who gathered in Peanuts Park over the weekend for the annual Pasco Taco Crawl were concerned to see people opening smoking fentanyl, publicly urinating and selling drugs. Story continues The police did come down and were checking things out but, again, when someone is actively smoking fentanyl and theyre not arrested or trespassed from our public park or anything, thats deeply disturbing and something I want to understand better how to resolve this, he said. Council member Pete Serrano said the city should be following in the steps of other cities such as Kent whose previous ordinances on drug enforcement inspired similar acts by the Richland and Kennewick city councils and engage with other cities and municipalities that have implemented such laws. Those municipalities passed ordinances that go beyond just possession to allow police to act in response to drug use, allowing them more leeway to make arrests. Specifically they focus on public consumption of drugs, such as smoking fentanyl and littering of drug paraphernalia, including throwing away foil used to smoke fentanyl in parks. These ordinances inspired public and police pushback that led to legislators adding more provisions in proposed bills for tackling drug use.. If the state only passes a new law focused on possession, as the current law is, the cities would still be able to use the ordinances to go beyond it to enforce against public consumption. I have very little faith in our Legislature, Im going to say that. The fact that they have to get called into special session for something of this nature that should not be political. Its an absolute health crisis, Serrano said. Carbs are always a good idea. Just ask Vice President Kamala Harris, who traveled to Miami last week to highlight the White Houses climate-change agenda, right after we were still drying out from unprecedented storms that flooded Fort Lauderdale. I stopped by Doggis Arepa Bar in Miami to try their famous arepas. Small businesses like this one are the backbone of our nation. pic.twitter.com/G3wFvT1b2s Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) April 23, 2023 Harris and her team zoomed around Dade County, visiting the University of Miamis Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric & Earth Science on Virginia Key. The trip wasnt all business, though. The crew later stopped in to Doggis Arepa Bars Coral Way location. Harris tweeted a snap of the momentous visit to the local hot spot that has been selling the popular Venezuelan corn pancakes packed with sweet and savory fillings since 2010. Small businesses like this one are the backbone of our nation, the 58 year old Californian wrote of Doggis, which reportedly did not have a heads up about the historic pop-in beforehand. Video on the family owned restaurants Instagram shows the pol in a cream pants suit smiling and chatting with staffers, posing for selfies, then grabbing a bag of chow to go. Doggis told Miami.com the second in commands order was simple: two signature arepas. One was the catira, shredded chicken and gouda ($10.99); the other, the pabellon, shredded beef, black beans, fried plantains and white cheese ($12.99). Apparently, one was for her, the other for Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff. Im honored to eat your arepas, said Harris. I dont know if Ill be able to save one in time for my husband on the way home. A Rochester man has been charged with murder in connection with the burning death of a Rochester woman at a Jefferson Avenue apartment building earlier this month. At a Wednesday morning news conference, Capt. Frank Umbrino of the Rochester Police Department, announced that Troy Parker, 53, was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree arson, both felonies, in connection with the April. 11 death of Fantasia Stone. Parker is accused of intentionally dousing Stone with an accelerant and setting Stone on fire after the two argued inside 565 Jefferson Ave., where Stone lived, Umbrino said. The two were acquaintances, he said. Police officers and firefighters were called to the two-story apartment building near Frost Avenue in southwest Rochester, after receiving reports of a fire in the hallway with someone trapped around 11:15 p.m. on April 11. Stone, who lived in the building, was found on fire in a hallway. She died at the scene. Umbrino said that Stone suffered burns to over 85% of her body and was "clearly alive when she was lit on fire." "It's vicious, it's an act of savagery," Umbrino said. "To douse somebody with an accelerant and then light the on fire...there's no other way to describe it except an act of savagery." Counting Stone's death, Rochester has had 14 homicides within city limits this year. The fire in which Stone died also damaged the apartment building, Umbrino said. A second fire further damaged the same building on April 12. Umbrino said that Parker was not charged in connection to that incident and an investigation continues. While a city resident, he did not live at 565 Jefferson Ave., according to police. Parker pleaded not guilty in City Court Wednesday morning and was remanded to the Monroe County Jail without bail. He is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on Monday. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Troy Parker charged in burning death of Fantasia Stone in Rochester NY The victim count in Sunday's shooting at an after-prom party in Texas has risen to 11, and four "people of interest" have been identified, officials said Tuesday. The number of victims in Jasper County was initially believed to be nine. Authorities discovered the additional victims after they sought treatment the next day, Jasper County Sheriff Mitchel Newman said at a news conference. Eight of those struck by gunfire have been released from hospital care, Laronnia Gray, Jasper County's victim assistance coordinator, said at the news conference. Sheriff Mitchel Newman speaks to the media in Jasper County, Texas, on Tuesday. (Jasper County Sheriffs Office via Facebook) It wasn't clear whether the additional victims were also struck by gunfire. Gray said all the victims were "physically injured." The 11 victims were ages 15 to 19, officials said. The so-called people of interest have not been arrested, officials indicated. Investigators were still interviewing witnesses and trying to pinpoint a motive, Newman said. "We expect to be seeing an arrest warrant and warrants soon," Jasper County District Attorney Anne Pickle said at the news conference. Newman, the sheriff, said a statement with updates on the case was expected to be released Wednesday. Authorities found at least one vehicle believed to be connected to the case and seized it for processing as possible evidence, Newman said. The attack unfolded shortly after midnight, authorities said. Whoever opened fire was gone when deputies arrived, he said. A second shooting in which no one was struck was reported at about 12:45 a.m. in the city of Jasper, Newman said. A vehicle seen at the after-prom party attack was also seen at the second shooting, he said. It wasn't clear whether authorities were processing that vehicle. Sheriff's spokesperson Karli Cherry indicated more than one vehicle may have been seen at both locations. "The vehicles that were involved in the secondary shooting were present at the party, as well," she said, "and were investigating that possible connection." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Disturbing new details have emerged about the reported sexual assault on an MIT student over the weekend that resulted in this weeks arrest of a Level 3 sex offender with a prior conviction. Nahom Getaneh, 33, was held without bail following his arraignment Wednesday in the Roxbury Division of Boston Municipal Court on charges of assault with intent to rape and indecent assault and battery in an alleged sexual assault of the student in Boston on Saturday. A plea of not guilty was entered on Getanehs behalf. Getaneh was previously convicted in 2007 of indecent assault and battery on a person aged 14 or older, according to the states Sex Offender Registry Board. Level 3 sex offenders are said to have a high risk of re-offending and pose a high degree of danger to the public. During Saturdays incident, the victim told police she was able to free herself from her attacker and she ran and locked herself in a nearby bedroom in her sorority building before police arrived, according to the police report. Nahom Getaneh, 33, was held without bail following his arraignment Wednesday in the Roxbury Division of Boston Municipal Court on charges of assault with intent to rape and indecent assault and battery in an alleged sexual assault of the student in Boston on Saturday. A plea of not guilty was entered on Getanehs behalf. Late Saturday night in Boston, according to the police report, Getaneh threatened the victim after attacking her from behind while she entered her residence through the rear alley of the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority at 515 Beacon St. at about 11:45 p.m., police said. The victim told investigators she was bringing her bicycle into the back of the building when she saw the suspect, later identified by police as Getaneh, leaning up against the adjacent building, according to the police report. At first, the victim thought he was just another person attending a party next door. After she entered the punch code into the door of the sorority building, the victim said the suspect then followed her into the apartment and pushed her into the laundry room blocking the door to prevent her from leaving, the police report states. He then forced her to the ground, and she could not move from underneath him, the report states. The victim began screaming for her attacker to get off of her and that is when he attempted to strangle her and said Do you wanna die? according to the police report. Story continues The victim then began kicking and fighting off her attacker, and was able to break free, the police report said. The suspect then allegedly grabbed the victim by her hair and said: Your legs are free but I have your hair (expletive), the report states. The victim then escaped and ran to a bedroom in the building and locked herself in a closet until police arrived, the report states. A few days later, police arrested Getaneh in the area of Atkinson Street and Southampton Street around 2 p.m. Tuesday. Police said surveillance images helped them eventually identify Getaneh, who was also wanted on two outstanding warrants on charges of failure to register as a sex offender and possession of Class B drugs. In 2007, Getaneh was convicted in Cambridge District Court for grabbing a womans breast as she walked on Massachusetts Avenue with her boyfriend the previous year. In addition to that 2006 sex assault case, he has five other cases at Cambridge District Court, including for kidnapping, assault and battery on a disabled person, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and trespassing. Getaneh has also served time, twice, for failing to register as a sex offender. Attorney Wendy Murphy, a victims advocate, told Boston 25 that all of this will be taken into consideration when a judge considers whether to release Getenah during a dangerousness hearing that is scheduled for Monday. I think the judge will be hard pressed to find that hes not dangerous because of this one incident, attacking a woman at her own home, said Murphy. But in addition to that, when you take into account he has a number of past offenses and recently stopped registering as a sex offender, which is one of the ways we make sure youre not hurting other people, I think the judge will have good reason to find him dangerous today. The case illustrates the prevalence of sexual violence for young American women, and particularly for college students experiencing it at some point in their lifetime. Women ages 18 to 24 who are college students are three times more likely than women in general to experience sexual violence, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, or RAINN, in Washington, D.C., the nations largest anti-sexual violence organization. And one out of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or complete rape in her lifetime, according to RAINN. The statistics about sexual violence on campus are staggering. According to RAINN, among undergraduate students, more than one-quarter of females -- 26.4 percent -- experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation. Anyone who has experienced sexual violence or knows a victim of sexual violence can get help by calling the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673), which will connect you with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW QALA-E-NAW, Afghanistan, April 26 (Xinhua) -- At least five commuters were killed and nine others were injured in a car accident in Afghanistan's western Badghis province, said a statement of the provincial police office released on Wednesday. The accident occurred in Bala Murghab district when a car overturned due to reckless driving on Tuesday evening, killing five including a child on the spot and injuring nine others, some in critical condition, the statement added. All the injured including women and children have been taken to the hospital for medical treatment. In a similar road crash, six people were killed in the eastern Parwan province on Monday. Traffic accidents are often caused by congested roads, lack of safety measures during travel and reckless driving on dusty highways in the mountainous country. At least 20 people have been confirmed dead and more than 200 others injured in Afghanistan since Friday, the first day of Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of fasting month Ramadan in the war-torn country. Ahmed Haroun said he is willing to appear before the judiciary when it resumed functioning - ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP A Sudanese war crimes suspect accused by the International Criminal Court of responsibility for genocide and rape has been broken out of prison as Sudan teeters on the brink of civil war. Ahmed Haroun, a former minister of state for interior affairs, was freed from prison when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) battling Sudans military released all the prisoners from Kober prison in the capital Khartoum. The prison has also been holding ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir until he was moved to a military hospital shortly before fighting erupted on Apr 15. Sudans interior ministry on Tuesday accused the RSF of breaking into five prisons and releasing the detainees between April 21-24. The RSF is led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, known as Hemedti, who is fighting Sudans military chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan for power. Thousands of convicted criminals, including some sentenced to death, were held in Kober prison, along with senior and lower-ranking officials from the Bashir regime, which was ousted in 2019. Rapid Support Forces in the East Nile district of greater Khartoum - AFP Sudanese authorities and the RSF traded accusations over the release of inmates, with the police saying paramilitary gunmen had stormed into five prisons over the weekend, killing several guards and opening the gates. The RSF blamed authorities for letting Haroun and others out. "This war, which is ignited by the ousted regime, will lead the country to collapse," said Sudan's Forces of Freedom and Change, a political grouping leading an internationally backed plan to transfer to civilian rule derailed by the eruption of fighting. After 11 days of fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese military, the US brokered the latest attempt to halt the violence, a 72-hour ceasefire starting on Tuesday. But on Tuesday evening the Sudanese military launched renewed air strikes against the RSF. Meanwhile, Haroun said in a statement published on Sudanese television that he and other Bashir-era officials had left the prison but that he was willing to appear before the judiciary when it resumed functioning. Story continues "We made a decision to protect ourselves due to lack of security, water, food and treatment, as well as the death of many prisoners in Kober," Haroun told al-Sudani, a daily newspaper in Sudan with ties to Bashir. He said he and fellow jailed regime members "had now taken responsibility for our protection in our own hands" in another location. Other former officials were also moved with Bashir, 77, to the military-run Aliyaa hospital, the military said, among them former defence minister Abdel-Rahim Muhammad Hussein, another of the five Sudanese men wanted by the ICC. The ICC issued charges against Bashir in 2009 while he was still president of Sudan, accusing him of responsibility for crimes against humanity - including murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture and rape - war crimes and genocide related to the Darfur conflict. The United Nations estimated that over 300,000 people were killed and 2.5 million more displaced during the conflict, which started in 2003 and is still not completely resolved. Bashir was ousted in a coup in 2019 after widespread popular protests against his rule. In 2021 Sudanese officials said they would hand Bashir and the other wanted officials over to the international body in The Hague, though the transfer never took place. WASHINGTON Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., grilled Defense Department lawyers on Wednesday over the revolving door between former Pentagon officials, military officers, lawmakers and congressional staff going on to lobby for the defense industry. Warren, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committees personnel panel, convened the hearing the same day her office released a report that found 672 instances in 2022 of former government and congressional officials working as lobbyists, board members or senior executives for the top 20 defense contractors. The study found that 91% of those employees became registered lobbyists for the contractors. Because federal contracts are so profitable for defense companies, these companies want the inside track on how to win those contracts, Warren said at the hearing. A preferred strategy is to hire former Pentagon employees to put together the bids and then to present them to their former colleagues in government. After all, if a defense industry staffer used to work in the next cubicle over from a Pentagon acquisitions officer, theres a better chance that the industry staffer can get his phone calls and emails returned, she added. The report refers to these as revolving door hires. It found that Boeing the third largest defense contractor made the most of these hires with 85 former Pentagon or congressional officials, comprised of 77 lobbyists, six executives and two serving as either a director, board member or trustee. The report also lists Pfizer as a defense contractor, arguing that it did extensive Pentagon contracting during the COVID pandemic and noted that the pharmaceutical company retained 73 former officials. Pfizer aside, the more traditional top five defense contractors came in third, fourth and fifth on Warrens list: Raytheon at 64 hires, General Dynamics at 57 and Lockheed Martin at 53. Warren argued that federal ethics laws on Pentagon lobbying are too narrow and pointed to legislation she previously introduced to close influence peddling loopholes to expand the definition of lobbying, extend recusal periods that prevent defense contractor employees from working for the Defense Department and enhance reporting requirements when the companies hire former government officials. Story continues Caroline Krass, the Defense Department General Counsel, defended current ethics laws and pushed back against Warrens calls to expand them. Theres always room for improvement, and [the Defense Department] supports well-coordinated, integrated efforts to enhance executive branch-wide laws, said Krass. But imposing additional ethics restrictions that apply only to [the Defense Department] can be counterproductive if they diverge from long-standing and well-known executive branch ethics laws. They can crate unnecessary complexity and confusion and may also put us at a disadvantage in our recruitment and retention perspective, she added. The Pentagon is reviewing the impact of ethics laws on recruiting and retention as required under the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. Danielle Brian, president of the Project on Government Oversight, argued at the hearing that the current ethics laws hinder military readiness and effectiveness. She pointed to the Navys failed efforts last year to retire nine littoral combat ships early because of design flaws that created numerous problems retirements that Congress partially prevented. An intense lobbying campaign led by former Navy officials who had gone to work for companies with contracts to support those ships successfully prevented the Navys retirement of five of those ships, said Brian. Current lobbying restrictions did not prevent this because they only prohibited a very narrow definition of lobbying activities for very senior officials. Foreign influence Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., joined Warren in highlighting former Pentagon officials who had gone on to work for foreign governments, including those who have committed serious human rights abuses. He pointed to a Washington Post report that found the Defense and State Departments approved 95% of some 500 veterans requests to work for foreign governments since 2015. The Defense Department at the request of Warren and Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa sent Congress a report in March detailing former military personnel who went on to work for foreign governments, with the majority of the names redacted. (Warren and Grassley sent a follow up letter to Defense Secretary Austin on Monday asking him to submit an unredacted report.) An analysis of the Pentagon report from the dovish Quincy Institute found that more than half of these veterans worked for the UAE. It also noted that the list included 77 former senior officials working for foreign governments, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Army General Counsel Carrie Ricci noted at the hearing that the vast majority of Army personnel who were approved to work for the UAE and Saudi Arabia had not been general officers. They are largely connected to our foreign military sales programs, said Ricci Theyve been maintainers who have been hired by these countries to help maintain the equipment through security cooperation. A Washington County hair stylist is facing prostitution charges after State Police busted her for allegedly performing sexual acts on her clients. State Police said Embellish Hair Cuts owner Amy Zlobin was acting as a prostitute inside her business on Steubenville Pike in Hanover Township. Its disgusting, said Donald Wacker, who lives near the salon. At first we thought it was a hair salon until we sent my wife over there and she got her hair done and it couldnt have been worse, said Hanover resident Bill Andrews. Investigators were tipped off by watchful neighbors, like Wacker, who said they grew suspicious after seeing men come and go at all hours of the day and night. Traffic. Constant traffic, described Wacker. There was never any girls that came to her hair salon and then she put curtains up in her windows and guys were coming in and out with no hair to cut, added another neighbor who asked to remain anonymous. State Police arrested Zlobin during a sting last Wednesday. An undercover State Trooper made a half-hour appointment for $130. When the Trooper arrived, Zlobin allegedly offered to perform sex acts before closing the blinds and locking the door. Zlobin agreed to the appointment of sexual favors for the money for the 30 minutes, at which point the Troopers were able to identify themselves and then we also bring in Troopers in full uniform, that way they know its for real, said Trooper Rocco Gagliardi. According to the police report, Zlobin told troopers she does not have many haircut clients and does prostitution to make money for her and her daughter. Shame on the people that were coming here that had families and would bring that into this community, multiple times and multiple days, said Wacker. During the bust, Troopers found a logbook of all of Zlobins appointments and said her alleged prostitution clients could face charges as well. Well probably have to find out whether its just actual appointments for hair or if they were going to for hair and something extra, said Gagliardi. Story continues Investigators also said they found at least 24 online posts about Zlobin performing sexual favors for clients dating back to August of 2022. Right now, they are not able to say how many clients allegedly had sexual relations with Zlobin. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Popular Cranberry Township restaurant receives violation for insect activity Recall alert: GM recalls 40K pickups due to fire risk, owners told to park outside Shell Polymers plant executives host town hall after operations put on hold VIDEO: Upper St. Clair School District proposes change to start time for students DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts President Biden on Wednesday will host South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol for an official state visit at the White House, putting the spotlight on the relationship between the U.S. and a key ally in Asia. Biden and the first lady will welcome Yoon and his wife in a formal ceremony, followed by a bilateral meeting, a press conference and a formal state dinner with lawmakers, administration officials and special guests. The visit will commemorate 70 years of the alliance between the U.S. and South Korea, officials said. Here are the key items expected to be on the agenda. Leaked documents A trove of leaked government documents included multiple mentions of South Korea, frustrating some lawmakers in Seoul and forcing the Biden administration to do clean up. The documents detailed U.S. requests for South Korea to provide ammunition to Ukraine in its war against Russia. Support for Ukraine is a thorny issue for South Korea, as it is hoping to garner support from Russia to reign in missile tests by North Korea. Yoon and his top officials have downplayed the severity of the leak, arguing it would have no negative impact on the U.S.-South Korea relationship. Some South Korean lawmakers, however, have argued the leak was a breach of trust that called for an apology from the U.S., according to The New York Times. I believe that this matter is no reason to shake the ironclad trust that supports the U.S.-South Korea alliance, because it is based on shared values like freedom, Yoon told NBC News on Monday. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday said U.S. officials are engaging with allies and partners, including in South Korea, to reassure them of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence and fidelity to our security partnerships. Our commitment to the [Republic of Korea] is ironclad and has been and will continue to be so, she said. North Korea A central focus of the meeting will likely be how the two leaders can deal with North Korea, which has been more aggressively testing missiles in recent months. Story continues White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters Monday that Biden will reinforce and enhance our extended deterrence commitments to South Korea with respect to the threat the DPRK poses. Administration officials said Biden and his team will underscore their commitment to diplomatic efforts on the peninsula, as well as the importance of human rights. We are ready to meet at any time, at any place to address serious concerns, and we are open to the possibility of humanitarian assistance with appropriate safeguards to help the people of the DPRK, Sullivan said. Tensions on the peninsula have been heightened over the past year in particular. North Korea has launched roughly 100 missiles since the start of 2022, putting South Korea and Japan in particular on high alert. North Korea has also taken issue with joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea, viewing it as a threat. Biden administration officials have stressed that they are willing to keep diplomatic channels with North Korea open, though they have not had the same level of contact as the Trump administration, where then-President Trump and then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo both met with Kim Jong-Un. Economic ties Biden and Yoon are likely to highlight the growing economic ties between their two nations during Wednesdays meetings and public statements. The Biden administration announced earlier this year that Korean solar power company Hanwha Q Cells will spend more than $2.5 billion to expand its Dalton, Ga., facility, the largest one-time investment in solar manufacturing in U.S. history. Ahead of this weeks visit, General Motors and South Koreas Samsung SDI announced plans to invest more than $3 billion in a new electric vehicle battery cell plant in the United States, which would begin operations in 2026. Investment by ROK companies in the United States shows great confidence in the U.S. economy and where the United States is going, a senior administration official told reporters Tuesday. Indo-Pacific strategy Officials framed this weeks state visit as part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to bolster its alliances in the Indo-Pacific to counter Chinese influence. A senior administration official noted that the state visit will mark the fifth time Biden has met with the leader of South Korea since taking office. Biden will also travel to the region next month for the Group of Seven (G-7) summit, which is being held in Japan. Its important to place this visit in the larger context of President biden taking the necessary steps to really step up our game fundamentally across the Indo-Pacific, the official said.. The senior administration official noted the Biden administration has worked with South Korea to redirect some of its economic and technology investments that have previously gone to China so that they now go to the United States. And Sullivan on Monday celebrated that Yoon has also shown determination and courage in his moves to improve ties between the ROK and Japan, an issue that has long been of deep interest to President Biden. Press conference Biden and Yoon will hold a joint press conference with reporters from both nations on Wednesday, which is common during state visits but has become less of a staple of foreign leader visits under the Biden administration. White House reporters have pressed Jean-Pierre and other administration officials in recent weeks over the lack of formal press conferences with Biden, which have in the past been standard during foreign leader visits. Jean-Pierre has typically said it is a joint decision made with the visiting foreign leader. Biden has in the past few months hosted foreign leaders from Brazil, Ireland and Colombia, but has not held a joint press conference with any of them. He also did not hold a press conference during a recent trip to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. In some cases, such as when the Colombian president visited last week, foreign leaders have opted to speak to reporters solo outside the West Wing. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Manchester City and Arsenal meet in a potential title decider at the top of the Premier League. Having looked reasonably secure at the top of the table for so long, Arsenal will be starting to fret after recent draws against West Ham and Southampton. That gives Mikel Artetas side only a five point buffer over their opponents, who have two games in hand and would be very much in control of their own destiny with a home victory. Manchester City kept their pursuit of a treble on with an FA Cup semi final win at the weekend and will return to league action full of confidence. Heres everything you need to know. When is Manchester City vs Arsenal? Manchester City vs Arsenal is due to kick off at 8pm BST on Wednesday 26 April at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester. How can I watch it? Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on BT Sport 1 and Ultimate, with coverage from 7pm BST. Subscribers can stream the action via the BT Sport app or online player. Team news Nathan Ake missed Manchester Citys progression to the FA Cup final and is a doubt for this crucial league fixture. Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson, Ruben Dias, Rodri and John Stones are likely to return to the starting side after being afforded a rest against Sheffield United. Arsenal have suffered a further blow with William Saliba not expected to be ready to feature after injury. Granit Xhaka could return after illness. Predicted line-ups Manchester City XI: Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Laporte; Stones, Rodri; Mahrez, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland. Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus. Odds Manchester City win 3/5 Draw 18/5 Arsenal win 5/1 Prediction Manchester City should have enough forward firepower to exploit Arsenals defensive vulnerabilities. Manchester City 3-2 Arsenal A wedding photographer has blamed a Karen for ruining a couples perfect wedding shot, but social media users seem to disagree. Duminciuc Bogdan, a wedding photographer and videographer, went viral on TikTok when he shared a video of a bystander walking into what wouldve been a picture-perfect shot. In the video, which has nearly 27 million views, a bride and groom are seen posing for a photoshoot on a pier in Corfu, Greece. As Bogdan snapped photos of the married couple, an airplane flew above their heads and the photographer attempted to take a picture of the unexpected moment. He instructed the couple to kiss just as the plane was in the frame, but just then a woman walking her dog photobombed the special moment. I was trying to get a shot with the couple and the airplane and Karen here decided to ruin our shot, he wrote over the clip. The photographer can also be heard complaining about the woman interrupting their shot in the background, saying: Oh, come on. Come on. The video received 26.8m since it was posted, but many people in the comments section were divided over whether the bystander actually ruined the couples wedding shot. Many TikTok users agreed that the woman shouldve waited until the photographer was able to capture the photo before continuing to walk her dog. My anger issues could NEVER, commented one user. Doesnt matter if its a wedding or just a tourist. You can wait one second for a photo to be taken, another user said. The rage that filled my body after watching this, said someone else. However, others suggested that the so-called Karen may not have noticed they were taking the photo, or believed that they would pause the photoshoot for the plane passing by. At first glance I would assume that a plane would ruin a shot anyway so Id rush through when its in the frame, said one user. Story continues I bet she was waiting for a while and had enough, someone else wrote. Its public space. Respect goes both ways and as you see there is no other route for her. Maybe she had been waiting for a while and figured it was good time to pass thinking they wouldnt want an EasyJet plane in their wedding pic, a third user commented. Recently, another wedding photographer went viral on TikTok when she revealed that a bride had asked if she would photograph her destination wedding free of charge in exchange for travel and lodging for their Mexico nuptials. In the video, the photographer shared a screenshot of the email that she received from the bride saying she was looking for someone willing to exchange services of photography/videography for flight/resort/transportation. To photograph and film the wedding, in exchange for travel and lodging at the resort, the email continued, with the bride explaining that ideally, she would like to cover just the hotel, which includes all-inclusive drinks and food, in exchange for the photography services. Many viewers were horrified by the brides request and pointed out her audacity for asking the photographer to cover the expenses of their own services. Thats an offer you give to a cousin or something, not a professional vendor, one person commented, while another said: The audacity of people always astonishes me The Texas House on Wednesday gave initial approval to a bill reducing the penalty for possessing a small amount of marijuana. The proposal, if passed into law, would make having a small amount of marijuana one ounce or less a Class C misdemeanor, which is publishable by a fine of up to $500 and does not include jail time. Under House Bill 218, possessing a small amount of cannabis is still illegal, said Rep. Joe Moody, an El Paso Democrat and the bills author. It addressing it in a smarter way than we do now. Currently, those caught with less than two ounces of marijuana could face up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. Moody described how that would change under the bill during a Feb. 28 committee hearing. Basically, the person is given a ticket, goes to court, theyre assessed a fine, then the court tells them, youve got six months to pay and you need to stay out of trouble during that time, Moody said at the time. If the person does their part, the court dismisses the charges and on a request of the individual, deletes the entire record of it. He continued, The person walks away lighter in the wallet but without any criminal record whatsoever, Moody said. The bill must be voted on once more in the House before it can move to the Senate for consideration. The House has passed similar bills in past sessions that have stalled in the Senate. The measure also creates parity between leaf cannabis and concentrates, like that found in a vaporizer thats used to consume the marijuana, Moody said during the hearing. In other words, when someone has a joint or a vape pen, were going to treat them the same, which isnt the case under the current law, he said. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has previously expressed support for reducing the penalty for marijuana possession. I remain open to talking with the legislature about reducing the penalties of possession of small amounts of marijuana from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class C misdemeanor, he said in a Star-Telegram candidate questionnaire ahead of the 2022 gubernatorial primary. Story continues What about legal marijuana in Texas? Also on Wednesday, a smaller group of House lawmakers considered legalizing marijuana. A separate bill by Moody would allow for the sale and recreational use of marijuana. Moody called the hearing on House Bill 3652 historic while laying out the bill on Tuesday. No cannabis retail market bill has ever gotten a hearing like this in the Texas Legislature, Moody said. That reflects the changing times that were in, and I think of this as the beginning of a public conversation about whether this the right policy for our state. I certainly think this is, and I know youll hear from some witnesses that feel the same way. Legalizing marijuana faces long odds in Texas. Texas has a limited medical marijuana program, but recreational use goes too far for most members of the Texas Legislature, particularly among Republicans, said University of Houston Political Science Professor Brandon Rottinghaus. Because of political worries, Texas has only taken baby steps to expand marijuana use, he said in a text. Generally speaking, the bill legalizes marijuana and outlines how it can be cultivated, tested, transported, sold, consumed and taxed. I want to encourage you not to get bogged down in the specifics, Moody said. That kind of thing matters when the idea really takes hold. Rep. Ken King, chair of the committee where the bill was heard Wednesday, said he personally doesnt support Moodys bill. That being said, when I walk down Congress, you can openly by pot on the street of our state capitol any time you wanted, and while I dont support what your bill is attempting to do, I certainly dont support the way the law is being enforced today, and I just think its time for the conversation, said King, a Canadian Republican. Moody said its big deal just to have the conversation. Texas, I will say, is going to be very slow to move in this direction, but having the conversation like this and building it from the ground up is the right way to do it, Moody said. Only a few speakers addressed lawmakers, advocating for or against the legalization proposal. Speakers opposing the legislation advocated for continued legal deterrents to prevent marijuana use and warned of addiction. Supporters spoke of potential revenue for Texas and medical benefits, particularly as an alternative to opioids. A bill expanding Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows doctors to prescribe low-THC cannabis to treat a limited number of medical conditions, recently passed out of the House. The bill would add chronic pain when opioids would otherwise be prescribed to qualifying medical conditions. The WGA, in a message to members accompanying its new set of Strike Rules, is answering frequently asked questions about a possible strike that could happen as soon as May 2. And the answer to many of the questions is No. The list ranges from unemployment insurance for strikers (you dont get it in California, but you do in New York) to whether employers can cancel writing assignments and overall deals during a strike (it depends). Have a look below. More from Deadline If there is a strike, when would it start? A strike could start as early as 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, May 2. Guild members would be notified of a strikes start date as soon as a decision is made. As always, members should be very wary of rumors about a possible strike, including its timing, and rely only on official Guild communications. Ive heard from reps and execs that the Guild will extend the contract through June or July. Is that true? No. There are no plans to extend the deadline. Unless you hear it directly from the WGA, you should assume that the rumor is nothing more than that. Do I qualify for unemployment insurance if Im not working because Im on strike? In California, employees on strike are normally not entitled to unemployment insurance benefits. In New York, employees eligible for unemployment are entitled to unemployment insurance benefits while on strike after a two (2) week waiting period. Are residuals payments suspended during a strike? No, the Companies must continue to pay residuals that are owed. The Guild will continue to enforce residual obligations. Will I be held liable for breach of contract for going on strike? The MBA provides that both the writers and companys obligations under existing employment contracts are suspended during a strike and the writer may not be held liable for breach of contract for observing a strike if the member performs their contractual obligations after a strike concludes. Story continues If theres a strike, will the company terminate my writing agreement or overall deal? The companys right to terminate will normally depend on the language of the writers individual agreement or overall deal. If the writers individual agreement has a force majeure provision identifying a strike/work stoppage as a ground for termination, the Company may be able to exercise its right of termination. Because contract language varies widely and other factors may affect the Companys rights, please reach out to the WGAW Legal Department so we can advise you. What will happen to my show if theres a strikewill it resume after the strike is over or will it be canceled? It is up to the companies whether to continue production of a show that is interrupted by a strike. What will happen to my show if theres a strikewill it resume after the strike is over or will it be canceled? It is up to the companies whether to continue production of a show that is interrupted by a strike. Are there any circumstances under which I can render writing services for a struck company during a strike? No. A member cannot render writing services for a struck company during a strike under any circumstances. I understand I cant perform writing services during a strike, but can I still produce? Guild members are prohibited from performing any writing services during a strike, including making changes or revisions to literary material (including cutting and pasting from already written drafts), as well as (a)-(h) services, such as cutting for time (which often happens in the editing bay during post), or adjusting dialogue during principal photography. The Guild cant require members not to perform purely producing functions, but members are encouraged to refuse to perform any work for struck studios to assist the strike effort. Do the Strike Rules apply to showrunners and other writer-producers? Yes. Showrunners and writer-producers, like every other member of the Guild, must follow the Strike Rules. The Strike Rules prohibit showrunnersor any other membersfrom performing writing during production and post-production, including (a)-(h) writing services. In 2007-08, many showrunners went farther than that and refused to perform any services for struck companies during the strike. Do the Strike Rules apply to writer-directors and writer-performers? Yes. These members also must follow the Strike Rules, which prohibit performing any writing services during a strike. Can I direct during the strike? The Guilds cant prohibit you from directing under the DGA agreement. But as a director, you cant rewrite or polish the script or perform other writing services, even if you are not hired on the project as a writer. Can I perform during the strike? The Guilds cant prohibit you from performing under the SAG-AFTRA agreement. But as an actor or performer, you cant write any of your or others lines, even if you are not hired on the project as a writer. Members cant write, even if also employed in the capacity of a performer. Can I write for a non-signatory foreign producer? What about a job falling under WGC jurisdiction? No, you cannot write for a non-signatory foreign producer. Guild Working Rule 8 prohibits members from working for non-signatory companies. This rule applies at all times but is particularly important during a strike because of the potential that a non-signatory producer could be used as a subterfuge to have work performed for a struck company. In the event of a strike, all Canadian waiver agreements will be terminated, and therefore you are not permitted to continue writing on such projects during a strike. We encourage writers to call us with the particulars of their situation so we can assess whether they are in danger of engaging in strike-breaking activity. Can I pitch during a strike? No, you cannot pitch during a strike. Can I take a general meeting during a strike? No. Can I write a spec script during a strike? You can write a spec script during a strike, but neither you nor your reps can shop, option, or sell the spec script, or take any action to further the future option or sale of the spec script, including developing the script with a producer, or attaching talent or other elements to the project. Can I enter into an option agreement during a strike? If an option on literary material expires during a strike, can I negotiate an extension of the option? No, you may not negotiate with a struck company for option or sale of literary material, including an extension of an option agreement that predates a strike. Ive been commenced on a step but havent delivered. Am I required to deliver before the MBA expires on May 1, 2023? No, the MBAs expiration on May 1 does not require you to deliver before then. But if you have not completed your step by May 1 and the Guild calls a strike the following day, its pencils down until we come to terms on a new MBA. You should deliver before May 1 if you have completed the step or if you must do so to comply with the writing period in your contract. Im on an O-1 Visa is my immigration status impacted by participating in a strike? No. A writers immigration status will normally not be affected in the event of a strike, provided that the writer complies with all the normal O-1 visa rules. Erik Pedersen contributed to this report. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. WALLKILL It took all of six minutes on Wednesday for Edward V. Holley to learn that Orange County District Attorney David Hoovlers office was not going forward with a preliminary hearing in the Megan McDonald murder case in which Holley faces a second-degree murder charge. With Hoovler declining a preliminary hearing, and with no action yet from the grand jury to indict Holley in the brutal 2003 murder of the 20-year-old McDonald, Judge Peter Green had no choice. Based on the law, Im required to release you, sir, Green told Holley, noting that he would have to finish his sentence on an unrelated drug charge but then would be released on his own recognizance. Holleys attorney, Paul Weber, said his client is due to be released Thursday from Orange County Correctional Facility and is due back in Greens court May 3 to see what, if any, action Hoovler will take. The preliminary hearing was set for Wednesday after Holleys April 20 arrest in the infamous Orange County cold case. Megan McDonalds body was found in a remote field off Bowser Road on March 15, 2003. State Police made the arrest after a 20-year investigation, and issued a 17-page felony complaint laying out much of the investigation. But, in an unusual twist, the arrest and Holleys arraignment came before Hoovlers office had presented the case to the grand jury to seek an indictment. There's something more going on here, Weber said outside court later. I don't know if it's the DA and the State Police are butting heads, but there's something going on here with this case. Edward Holley is wheeled into the Town of Wallkill Court in Middletown on April 26, 2023. Will not go forward Holley was wheeled into Greens town of Wallkill courtroom wearing an orange jail sweatshirt, his hands folded in his lap. Confined to a wheelchair since a 2007 auto accident, Holley scanned the courtroom and nodded when he saw his family. Jessica Dovico, an assistant district attorney, then read from the letter Hoovlers office had sent to Green late Tuesday, that the preliminary hearing would not go forward, and that Megan McDonalds mother and sister were seeking orders of protection. Story continues Green granted the order of protection and ordered Holley to have no contact with the McDonald family, who have been waiting 20 years for a break in the case. After 20 years, an arrest in Megan McDonald's murder: Inside the hunt for a killer Criminal mind: FBI goes inside the criminal mind of Megan McDonald's suspected killer 20 years later: On the 20th anniversary of her murder, more clues in Megan McDonald's death No access to defendant Paul Weber, attorney for Edward Holley, who was arrested for the 2003 murder of Megan McDonald, talks about the state's case against Holley. Less than 18 hours before Wednesday's court appearance, Weber had not yet been given access to his client, and couldn't even get a call back from Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta's office to find out if Holley would be in court for the 9 a.m. hearing. "I've never seen anything like it," Weber said. "In 20 years of practice, never." Holley uses a wheelchair, and the sheriff's office told the court there was a problem lining up transportation from the Orange County jail to the court, a distance of less than 7 miles. Arteta's office informed the court clerk on Monday that they did not have the proper vehicle to transport Holley to town court. While the State Police had lifted Holley into their cruiser to transport him from the arrest to troop headquarters and then to Middletown court, there appears to be a sheriff's regulation against deputies doing the same. (The sheriff's department declined to answer questions about the regulation, or other aspects of the case.) On Tuesday, the sheriff's office repeated to Green that it could not get Holley to the court and suggested that the defendant appear via a Zoom connection. Green balked and placed a call to Hoovler's office. Later, a terse note was forthcoming from Samantha Pascal, the sheriff's public information officer: "The Orange County Sheriffs Office complies with valid court orders to produce. This case will be no exception." And Holley was produced in the courtroom, just before 10 a.m., Wednesday. Silence, inaction, a ticking clock Hon. Peter Green, justice for the Town of Wallkill speaks during a hearing for Edward Holley in Middletown on April 26, 2023. Despite its high profile, and the 17-page State Police felony complaint that painstakingly laid out the case against Holley, the days following the arrest were marked by silence and apparent inaction. District Attorney David Hoovler was not present at the press conference announcing the arrest, and later issued a statement saying his office had not been consulted before the arrest and that the clock was ticking on convincing a grand jury to indict Holley. His office had six days, he said, or Holley would have to be released. Hoovler's office then went silent, declining to answer questions about whether he had or would take the case to the grand jury. The sheriff's office would offer no comment on the case, referring questions to the State Police. The State Police stopped commenting. No access to the defendant Holley was arrested April 20 on a single charge of second-degree murder and arraigned in city of Middletown court, as the Wallkill court was not in session. The case was then transferred to Wallkill where Green will likely arraign Holley again on Wednesday, explain the charges and consider motions. Weber, who was in North Carolina when Green summoned him to take Holley's case, said he had twice tried to interview his client via Zoom in the jail, on Saturday and Monday but no connection was made. He said he was unsure if the jail or his client was responsible for not making the connection. Whichever the case, Weber said he approached Wednesdays hearing blind, without the discovery files necessary to defend his client and without having had a chance to talk about the case with Holley. He was able to meet Holley briefly before he appeared in court. Holley was in Orange County Correctional Facility on a drug charge last week when he was handed over to the New York State Police and arrested in the 2003 murder of McDonald, a vivacious 20-year-old and 2000 graduate of Burke Catholic High School. Why is Edward Holley in a wheelchair? Holley lost the use of his legs in a 2007 auto accident. After he was arrested by State Police on April 20, he was wheeled out of the Troop F barracks by troopers and lifted into the back of a police vehicle. Why was Edward Holley arraigned at Middletown City Court? While Megan McDonald's murder took place in the town of Wallkill, that court is not in session full-time. When the court is not in session and an arraignment is required, it is handled in Middletown court and then transferred to town of Wallkill. Who is the judge in the Megan McDonald case? Town of Wallkill Judge Peter W. Green will preside over Holley's preliminary hearing. A lifelong resident of the town of Wallkill, the part-time judge has a law firm in Goshen. He holds a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law and a bachelor's degree from SUNY Albany and graduated from Pine Bush High School in 1999. He is married with two children. Who is Edward Holley's attorney? Cornwall attorney Paul N. Weber was assigned the case by Wallkill Judge Peter Green. On his website, Weber says he has "successfully defended our clients against a wide array of criminal charges throughout the Hudson Valley and into the five boroughs." "Whether you have been arrested for DWI or any misdemeanor or felony, we know exactly what the cops are supposed to do while performing their duties and we know every element of the crimes that the prosecutors must prove in order to convict you," the site reads. "As such, we know when to push for a fight in court and when a negotiated plea is the best choice." Why was Holley arrested now, after 20 years? While State Police didn't spell out why Holley was arrested and arraigned on April 20 after 20 years and without an indictment his attorney said the timing appeared related to the drug charge that had landed him in the county jail. Police were about to lose custody of Holley. "Mr. Holley is serving a county sentence for a drug conviction and he was due to be released on April 27th," Weber said. "That's probably why the arrest was made at this point." Who is the prosecutor in the Megan McDonald case? District Attorney David Hoovler's office has declined to comment on the case. Assistant District Attorney Jessica Dovico was in court Wednesday on Hoovlers behalf. Edward Holley is wheeled out of the Middletown NYS police barracks on April 20, 2023. New York State Police Troop F Commander, Major Paul Dequarto speaks during a press conference about the arrest of Edward Holley on April 20, 2023. Holley is being charged for the 2003 murder of Megan McDonald. Megan McDonald What is the sentence for a second-degree murder conviction? If convicted, Holley faces 20 years to life in prison. Reach Peter D. Kramer at pkramer@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on New York State Team: Edward Holley, suspect in Megan McDonald murder, set to leave jail Given how strong his play has been this season particularly since January and in the postseason most of all it is not a wild position to take that veteran Boston Celtics combo guard Derrick White is the Celtics most valuable player. And while White might not rise to the level of a league-wide MVP, the Colorado native has been the most consistent member of the teams roster this season. Playing in all 82 games (the only one on the team to do so), White has been rock solid on defense while also being able to ramp up his offense when called on to do so. If we have not convinced you, take a look at the clip embedded below to see if the hosts of the CLNS Media A-List podcast can. A. Sherrod Blakely, Gary Washburn, and Kwani A. Lunis recently debated just how valuable White has been this season; see if you agree with their takes in the clip above. Listen to the Celtics Lab podcast on: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ More Analysis! Best of Payton Pritchard with the Boston Celtics in 2022-23 Story originally appeared on Celtics Wire ISLAMABAD, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani army said on Wednesday that it has killed two terrorists and injured four others during an operation in Khyber district of the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the army, said that a fire exchange took place between security forces and a group of terrorists in Tirah area of Khyber district on Tuesday. The troops effectively engaged the terrorists' location and killed two of them and injured four others. However, two soldiers embraced martyrdom after fighting gallantly, said the ISPR. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists. "Sanitization of the area is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area," said the military, adding that security forces are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and "such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve." At risk of adding to the parental travel load, there is one more thing you should try to do before your next flight with your kids if you havent already. At risk of adding to the parental travel load, there is one more thing you should try to do before your next flight with your kids if you havent already. Flying with children can be overwhelming. First, you have to make sure you pack all of your essentials, plus everything your kids could need in transit and at your destination. After you schlep all that extra baggage through the airport, you may also have to wrangle strollers, car seats and other bulky portable items during the boarding process. The theres the challenge of keeping little ones fed and entertained in a metal tube for hours on end. At risk of adding to the parental travel load, however, there is one more small thing you should try to do before your next flight with your kids if you havent already. And fortunately this one wont do any damage to your back: Sign them up for airline rewards programs. The Case For Enrolling Your Kids If youre flying with your kids, theres no reason not to sign them up for a frequent flyer mile account, said Scott Keyes, founder of Going.com. Theyre free to sign up, and the miles they accumulate from flying in their childhood could easily tally up to three or more free flights by the time they turn 18. Its free money. Youre leaving money on the table when you dont sign your child up for loyalty programs because the person who does the flying is the one receiving miles not the one who pays for the ticket. So if youre going to go through the trouble of buying an expensive plane ticket for your child, you might as well put those hard-earned dollars toward rewards. Theres no reason for your kids not to earn miles when they fly, said Summer Hull, director of travel content at The Points Guy. Just like with adults, only paid fares are going to earn miles, but since most major frequent flyer miles in the U.S. dont expire anymore, your kids can start racking them up now and either you can use them for family trips or let them build up for the kids to use later. Story continues Indeed, airline loyalty programs arent just for business travelers or other frequent flyers. Even miles from the occasional family vacation can add up over time, so get your kids earning as early as possible. My oldest has now been racking them up for 13 years, Hull noted. How To Sign Up Every U.S. airline program I know of does allow kids to earn miles basically the same as adults, Hull explained. I have run across some international programs where there are age requirements, which sometimes dont allow for earning miles until they turn 2 years old, but for most U.S. travelers, the short answer is yes. As long as the kiddo is on an eligible paid ticket, they can earn miles. What constitutes an eligible paid ticket is typically just one in which the child has their own seat. Lap infants generally do not earn miles, even if there was a fee associated with the ticket for taxes, etc., Hull noted. You're essentially leaving money on the table if you buy a plane seat for your child without enrolling them in the airline loyalty program. You're essentially leaving money on the table if you buy a plane seat for your child without enrolling them in the airline loyalty program. The process for enrolling your child in a frequent flyer program varies based on the airline, but in most cases, a parent or legal guardian can simply sign their kid up online via the airlines website (or by calling customer service if they prefer). Alaska Airlines notably requires a phone call to enroll children under 13. In addition to asking for basic information like your kids name, birth date and address, many airlines require that your child have their own email address to join the loyalty program. Other travel programs like Global Entry have that same requirement, so its probably worth making one sooner rather than later if you plan to jet-set with your little ones. And although many email providers wont issue an address to children under 13, there are workarounds like Googles Family Link. What Else Parents Should Know Once youve got your childs email address and frequent flyer accounts set, they can earn miles for every eligible ticket purchased from those airlines. Additionally, some airlines allow families to pool their miles together to earn free flights faster, Hull said. JetBlue is a leader in this within the U.S., with family mileage pools permitted for up to eight people (with no relationship requirements). There are others, such as Frontier, that do have different versions of this, though it is still more common internationally. For airlines that dont offer pooling, redeeming your childs frequent flyer miles may require a phone call. You can also transfer them to your account, though theres usually a fee involved. Ive actually never redeemed my kids miles, Hull said. They will be there when they want to use them down the road. Indeed, the good news is you likely wont have to worry about time limits on these miles. Historically, airline miles would expire after a period of inactivity, often 18 months, Keyes said. But one of the passenger-friendly trends over the past half-decade is many airlines implementing policies that miles no longer expire. This is currently the case for Delta, United, Southwest, Hawaiian and JetBlue. Hull believes this is yet another reason to sign your kiddos up for frequent flyer accounts. It costs nothing and the awards do add up especially since most major U.S. programs dont have miles that expire anymore and even though American Airlines is one of the few that does expire adult miles without activity after 24 months, they dont do this to the miles that children earn until they turn 21. The travel world is filled with little debates and personal preferences, but if youre a budget-conscious traveler with kids, the experts tend to agree: Signing them up for frequent flyer programs before your next trip is a no-brainer. Related... Fox News host Tucker Carlsons sudden departure from the cable network is being greeted as good news by Republicans who support U.S. intervention in the war in Ukraine. Carlson was one of the most prominent critics of U.S. involvement to defend Kyiv against Moscows invasion. Its a bad day for Vladimir Putin, a Senate Republican aide said. This takes one of the biggest critics of Ukraine war in Republican and conservative circles off the table. The aide noted that some GOP senators were also uncomfortable with what they viewed as Carlsons over-the-top rhetoric opposing vaccine mandates, which divided conservatives during the pandemic. When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) declared that the war in Ukraine was a territorial dispute and not a vital national interest a statement that many Republicans later criticized he did so in response to a query from Carlson. More coverage of the weeks media moves from The Hill: DeSantis quickly walked back his comment after getting strong pushback on Capitol Hill from prominent lawmakers including Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). One Republican senator, who requested anonymity to comment on a media figure who had a loyal following among many right-leaning voters, said Carlsons departure from prime time would be a positive development for maintaining public support for the war. He wasnt troubled by whether something was true or not. He was mean, irresponsible and dangerous, the lawmaker said. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who has called the Ukraine crisis one of the greatest demonstrations of good versus evil weve seen in our lifetimes, said Carlson had a big influence on many Republicans. Story continues There have been some that have argued that he was setting foreign policy for the Republican Party, which I find to be bizarre. Certainly not for me, he said. To the primary [Republican] voter, the active participant, the grassroot voter, hes a person they listen to and has a big influence. Asked how he evaluated Carlsons influence on the GOP electorate, Romney said it depends on the issue but I think with regards to Russia and Ukraine he was misguided. Romney also expressed disbelief over Carlsons defense of Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to halt the certification of the 2020 presidential election. Carlson aired television specials that attempted to reframe the attack on the Capitol as a largely peaceful protest activity after his show gained exclusive access to 41,000 hours of security footage. Its really disheartening and disappointing that an intelligent person would take a stance defending people who break into the symbol of democracy here and around the world, Romney said. Carlson may continue to have a media profile, such as other former Fox stars like Bill OReilly and Glenn Beck, but hes not expected to have nearly the same influence on Republican politics without his prime-time slot on Fox. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), an adviser to the Senate Republican leadership team, said Carlson is not going away but predicted hell have less influence on Republican politics now that hes lost his coveted 8 p.m. slot on Fox News, which drew more than 3 million viewers a night. Cornyn noted that Beck continued to be a voice and have some impact although it was diminished after leaving Fox. Carlson questioned what the United States hoped to accomplish by intervening in the conflict and grilled Republican presidential hopefuls about what they thought the exit strategy should be. He defended Putin by asking his viewers to ask themselves: Why do I hate Putin? Has Putin ever called me a racist? Has he threatened to get me fired for disagreeing with him? Carlson clashed with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and other defense hawks last year when he urged Republicans to oppose an omnibus spending package that included a 9.7 percent increase for defense programs. Heres the amazing thing, some Republicans in the Senate are working with Democrats to get this bill passed before Christmas. They dont have to do that, he said in December, arguing that GOP senators could have insisted on a spending freeze until after Republicans took control of the House in January. What is going on here? It seems like a great betrayal, he said. Cornyn said most Republican senators disagreed with Carlsons skeptical view of U.S. support for Ukraine, which has cost taxpayers tens of billions of dollars. I disagree with what he was advocating for and I think the majority opinion, the substantial majority opinion, in the Congress is its in Americas best interest to continue to support Ukraine, he said. Asked about DeSantiss statement minimizing the war in Ukraine as a territorial dispute, Cornyn noted the Florida governor walked that back some. I think people are just trying to find the center of mass of public opinion on that but my view is that its in our national interest to help Ukraine, he said. He added that it was his impression that DeSantis had Carlsons criticism of U.S. support for the war in mind when he issued his controversial statement. Danielle Pletka, a distinguished senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute specializing in foreign and defense policy, echoed others in calling Carlson one of the nations most prominent critics of U.S. support for Ukraine and hailed his departure from Fox as a significant development. Yay, ding dong, Tucker Carlson is gone, she said. Pletka said Carlson appeared at times to have more prominence in the debate over Ukraine than Biden. The idea that an anchor on Fox News was influencing the debate when the president of the United States hasnt spoken on the issue, its really staggering, she said, arguing that Biden has not done enough to explain to the nation why the war is an important national security concern. Tucker Carlson is on TV every single night, no one else is. Nature abhors a vacuum and he filled it nicely, she added, with a dose of sarcasm. I think he was an influential voice. It was uninformed and a dangerous voice against U.S. support for the war. Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.) said Carlsons sudden departure from Fox wont have an immediate impact on any votes on Capitol Hill for military and economic aid to Ukraine but acknowledged the former primetime host had a large following. I think the votes up here probably are what they are, he said. Clearly hes got a following and hes got an audience out there but I think people up here are going to weigh the relative value of Americas involvement in that war based on whats in our national security interests. Some lawmakers were reluctant to comment on Carlsons abrupt split with Fox without knowing all the details. I assume, dont know, but I assume it was a business decision. Obviously there was something they didnt have a meeting of the minds about. I assume hell have a voice wherever he goes next. He had a following there, Thune said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The family of a man who died on a cruise ship is suing for allegedly mishandling his body after he died on the ship. Marilyn Jones and her family are seeking $1 million in damages from Celebrity Cruises for suffering extreme emotional trauma, the lawsuit states. Both in their late 70s, the now-widow was married to Robert Jones for 55 years before he died of a heart attack on Aug. 15, 2022, while onboard the Celebrity Equinox. The two set sail on Aug. 13 from Florida for an eight-day cruise along the Caribbean. Two days after their journey began, Robert died of a heart attack. Cruise line staff allegedly stored his body for nearly a week inside a walk-in cooler used for beverages instead of a properly chilled morgue as promised, the lawsuit continues. Following his death, crewmembers allegedly gave Mrs. Jones two options when her husband died. She had to choose between taking his body off at the next stop, Puerto Rico, or storing his body in the morgue until the ship docked back in Fort Lauderdale in six days. Passenger deaths are not uncommon, so most large cruise ships have makeshift morgues, ABC News reports. Jones picked the morgue because of logistics. Crews informed her that she would have to go with the body, and arrange transportation for her and the body if she chose to get off in Puerto Rico, the lawsuit states. Cruise line crews also informed her that there could be delays in getting back to Florida if she got off in Puerto Rico because the coroners office sometimes requires an autopsy. The lawsuit claims crewmembers urged her to keep the body on the ship and assured her they would preserve his body until they got back to Florida, The Washington Post reports. The widow chose to store his body in what she hoped to be a morgue because she was traveling alone. The Body Found In Walk-In Beverage Cooler When the ship docked in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a funeral home employee and a Broward County official didnt find the body in the morgue and found the morgue was out of service, the lawsuit claims. Story continues Instead, they retrieved Mr. Jones body in a walk-in beverage cooler in a bag on a palette, which was not cold enough to keep the body from rotting. The lawsuit says when the officials found his body, it was in the advanced stages of decomposition. The body was bloated and green, so the family could not have an open-casket funeral. [This] was a long-standing family custom and what his family had desired, the lawsuit says. Travel Noire reached out to Celebrity Cruises for comment. They did not immediately respond at the time of this report. This story is developing. Dominic West as the Prince of Wales in the fifth season Netflix series The Crown (Netflix/PA) (PA Media) King Charles III has been depicted in a variety of ways in dramas, satires, plays, films and television series. In The Windsors and Spitting Image, he has been portrayed as a hapless prince of Wales waiting to be crowned. More recently in The Crown, he has been fictionalised as a conflicted royal torn between duty and his own personal wants and needs. Many of these depictions have focused on his marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales, along with his relationship with Queen Camilla. Here are the highlights of King Charles on screen: The Queen, 2006 Alex Jennings portrayed the future king as he dealt with the fallout from the death of Diana in 1997. Charles and then-prime minister Sir Tony Blair, played by Michael Sheen, are portrayed as wanting an official expression of grief from Buckingham Palace and the Queen, played by Dame Helen Mirren. Jennings would eventually go on to portray Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor, in The Crown. King Charles III, 2014 This blank verse play by Mike Bartlett premiered at the Almeida Theatre in London, starring Tim Pigott-Smith and directed by Rupert Goold, to acclaim. It imagined the moment of the Queens death and Charless accession to the throne while examining the role of the media. When Parliament passes a new law that will severely limit the freedom of press, he refuses to sign off on it, prompting a constitutional crisis. After a successful run, the play transferred to Wyndhams Theatre in the West End, continuing until January 2015. It was later turned into a TV drama for the BBC. The Windors, 2016 to present Charles has been played by Harry Enfield in Channel 4s light-hearted satire of the royal family for seven years. His portrayal is of a whimsical and naive man with little knowledge of the outside world, impatiently waiting for his mother to die so he can finally become king. The Crown, 2019 to present Josh OConnor as Charles in The Crown (Getty, Netflix) On the small screen, Josh OConnor said he was initially reluctant to take on the role in seasons three and four of the Netflix royal drama. Story continues This was until he read a scene where Charles compares his life to the Saul Bellow novel Dangling Man, where the protagonist lacks meaning in his life until he is drafted for war. OConnor told The Guardian: Its hard not to feel sympathy for someone in that situation. Because its insane. He would later win a Golden Globe for best television actor, as well as an Emmy and a Critics Choice Award for the portrayal. In season five, Dominic West took over the role as a royal fighting for a modern Britain while also dealing with the fall-out of the end of his marriage. Dominic West as Charles in The Crown (Netflix) Spencer, 2021 Another big screen adaption, which focused on Diana, played by Twilight star Kristen Stewart, saw Poldark actor Jack Farthing as Charles. In the film, set during the Christmas of 1991, Diana is on holiday with the royal family and her children at the Sandringham estate while she considers divorcing Charles. She eventually cuts the holiday short and takes the future Prince of Wales, William, and Harry, now known as the Duke of Sussex, back to London. Spitting Image, 1984-present Charles has been a regular target of the satirical puppet show since it first aired four decades ago. When the show as revived in 2020 for BritBox, both he and the Queen Consort featured. Over the years Charles has been portrayed as a pseudo-hippie, a taxi driver and deeply impatient to become king. The lead plaintiff of a lawsuit against the state of Texass new abortion restrictions tore into Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, the two Republicans who represent her state in the upper chamber of Congress, on Wednesday and accused them of being responsible for her nearly dying. Amanda Zurawski testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday at a hearing entitled The Assault on Reproductive Rights in a Post-Dobbs America. The hearing examined the effects of various abortion restrictions passed by a flurry of Republican activity in the wake of the Supreme Court decision last year overturning Roe v Wade. Ms Zurawski came close to death after doctors in the state allegedly informed her that while her pregancy would result in the loss of the unborn fetus, new Texas state laws prevented them from operating until the condition that had compromised her pregnancy further developed. What happened next was an agonising days-long battle with sepsis in the emergency room. During her testimony, she argued that anyone who supports the kind of abortion restrictions in Texas which prohibited most abortions after Roes fall was responsible for her experience. I wanted to address my senators, Cruz and Cornyn, she said I would like for them to know that what happened to me is a direct result of the policies they support. I nearly died on their watch and I may have been robbed of the opportunity to have children in the future. During hearing on Texas abortion pill, Amanda Zurawski on Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn: "What happened to me...was horrific, but it's a direct result of the policies that they support. I nearly died on their watch..." pic.twitter.com/AyGk0Y9tNd CSPAN (@cspan) April 26, 2023 Both Texas senators are members of the Judiciary panel; however, neither bothered to attend her testimony during Wednesdays hearing. Both did participate in other parts of the hearing, however, including a moment where Mr Cruz accused Democrats of wanting abortion to be legal up until the moment that a baby is born; only 1 per cent of abortions in the United States occur after 21 weeks into the pregnancy, and only a small handful of states have no legal limit on how late into a pregnancy an abortion can be performed. The Texas lawsuit is one of a handful of cases where supporters of abortion rights have argued that restrictions on abortions are directly endangering the lives of women, as they are written without concern for issues which complicate pregancies and in some cases force hospitals to delay treatment or refuse it entirely to pregnant women who need urgent care. Other high profile cases have included a 10-year-old who fled the state of Ohio to seek an abortion after she was sexually abused. For almost 33 years, Sheila Keen-Warren insisted she wasnt the murderer who dressed as a clown and shot Marlene Warren in the face on Memorial Day Weekend 1990. Keen-Warrens story never changed even as she married Warrens widowed husband, Michael Warren, in 2002 and when Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office detectives arrested her in 2017. Legally, that changed on Tuesday, when Keen-Warren, 59, changed her plea to guilty to a charge of second-degree murder. Thirty-three years after the murder of Marlene Warren, today we have obtained a measure of justice with the conviction and sentencing of her killer, Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg said in an emailed statement. After years of professing her innocence, Sheila Keen-Warren has finally been forced to admit that she was the one who dressed as a clown and took the life of an innocent victim. She will be a convicted murderer for the rest of her days. With what court documents say is an agreed-upon 12-year sentence, and given credit for 2,039 days (just over 5 1/2 years) in Palm Beach County Jail, Keen-Warren likely will be out of prison by the end of 2025. READ MORE: A killer clown shot a woman to death. An arrest has been made 27 years later Keen-Warrens defense attorney, West Palm Beachs Greg Rosenfeld, gave a pragmatic description to the change of plea. Ms. Keen-Warren was facing 25 years to life. The state offered her 12 years, Rosenfeld said in an email to the Miami Herald. With gain time, which is calculated based on the law in 1990, shell be released in 16-18 months. While she was certainly hesitant to plea because shes innocent, it was too good of an offer to turn down. Needless to say, its a huge win for Ms. Keen-Warren. To convict Keen-Warren, prosecutors wouldve had to make a beyond-reasonable-doubt case 33 years after the murder. The decision to negotiate a guilty plea was made after considering the age of this 33-year-old case, particularly the death of key witnesses, Aronberg said. For example, the death of the lead crime scene investigator broke the chain of custody for critical evidence that could no longer be authenticated. Story continues Aronberg said Marlene Warrens son, Joe Ahrens, approved the plea terms. Ahrens told Palm Beach NBC affiliate WPTV via Zoom that I didnt see any remorse, and thats all I have to say, although he did also say of Keen-Warren, God be with her. READ MORE: A Florida city fired an inspector who found sewage in the drinking water. The city owes her $818,000 Deadly clown and flowers Ahrens was 22 and sitting at the breakfast table with his friends and his mother when someone dressed as a clown rolled up to their Wellington home in the 15400 block of Takeoff Place on May 26, 1990. The clown got out of a Chrysler LeBaron and, when Marlene Warren answered a knock, offered Warren flowers. As Warren took the flowers, the clown shot her in the face. She died two days later. Marlene Warren is the only one on the state paperwork for West Palm Beachs Bargain Motors, but she owned it and a rental car agency with husband, Michael Warren. Michael was a regular customer of Sheila Keen and estranged husband Richard Keen, who ran a car repossession business. Witnesses at a costume shop gave a tentative identification of Sheila Keen as buying a clown costume two days before Warren was shot. Also, Publix employees told investigators a woman fitting Keens description bought flowers and balloons 90 minutes before the murder. Detectives told the public all along that Keen and Michael Warren were their lead suspects. Warren did prison time from March 1994 to December 1997, but for convictions on racketeering, grand theft and odometer tampering charges. He called it selective prosecution by a state attorneys office that felt he hadnt helped enough in finding his wifes killer. Marlene Warrens murder investigation turned cold. Michael Warren and Sheila Keen married in 2002. Investigators learned about that and the restaurant Warren and Keen-Warren operated in Kingsport, Tennessee (The Purple Cow) when the PBSOs cold case unit reopened the investigation in 2014. While witnesses and memories were now 24 years old, DNA analysis of hairs and fibers left behind in the Chrysler LeBaron was new. A grand jury indicted Keen-Warren on a first-degree murder charge on Aug. 31, 2017. Keen-Warren was arrested on Sept. 26, 2017 in Virginias Washington County, where she owned a home about a 50-minute drive from Kingsport. Michael Warren proclaimed his wifes innocence to the reporters talking to him for a 2017 episode of the ABC-TV newsmagazine 20/20 on the murder investigation. A woman looking to avoid unwanted questions had to answer to U.S. customs officials when they found 19 vials and tubes with DNA samples in her luggage upon arriving from Russia, federal prosecutors said. She said she smuggled vials over concerns that customs inspectors would think disease agents were inside and that theyd be taken from her at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia, according to prosecutors. The vials, packed in a Styrofoam cooler with dry ice and labeled as Research Samples, contained DNA from different animal species including from two species considered endangered under federal law, according to prosecutors. Now the woman, a Russian national who also lives in Leesburg, Virginia, has since pleaded guilty to smuggling animal DNA into the country, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced in an April 24 news release. McClatchy News contacted her attorney for comment on April 26 and didnt immediately receive a response. Why did the woman bring animal DNA into the US? On a customs declaration form, the woman lied and said she wasnt bringing any animals, animal products or cell cultures into the U.S. when she arrived at Dulles airport on Aug. 19, prosecutors said. An inspection of her luggage proved otherwise, and customs officers discovered the Styrofoam cooler with nine empty tubes and 10 vials with a yellowish substance inside, according to court documents. She admitted animal DNA and cell lines were inside, according to prosecutors. The woman said she was a researcher at the Institute of Molecular & Cellular Biology in Novosibirsk, Russia, where she studies evolution and sequences animal DNA, a statement of facts filed in court says. She denied working for the Russian government but said the institute is funded by Russia, according to the statement of facts. She also said the institutes lab doesnt deal with viruses, dangerous pathogens, or military projects. Story continues The woman told officers she wanted to sequence the animal DNA in the U.S. as part of her research but didnt have any documents to corroborate this, prosecutors said. If she had declared having the DNA samples on the customs form, she feared there would be too many questions she couldnt answer without paperwork, according to the statement of facts. What kinds of animal DNA samples were inside the vials? The woman told customs officers that most of the DNA samples were of mustelids, including mink and Siberian polecat, according to the statement of facts. About 55 animal species, such as ferrets, badgers, otters and wolverines, are mustelids, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. Samples from two species, however dhole and Siberian crane are endangered under U.S. law and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, prosecutors said. Dholes, which are from eastern and southern Asia, are red-haired dogs reminiscent of foxes but with longer legs. Siberian cranes, which are white with red foreheads and legs and have wings with black tips, are mostly found in East Asia, including northeastern Siberia. The animal samples were suspended in a medium that also had fetal bovine serum from cattle, according to the statement of facts. She said bringing the vials from Russia was her last-minute decision, and she was aware that it would take a long time to go through the proper authorization process with the United States government, the statement of facts says. The woman is facing up to 20 years in prison, but due to this being a federal crime its possible the sentence will be less than the maximum penalty, prosecutors said. Her sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 24. Leesburg, where the woman lives, is about 40 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. Vampire straw found hidden in travelers backpack at Boston airport, cops say TSA officer stole thousands in unemployment while working at Florida airport, feds say Stowaway in checked luggage triggers TSA alarm and then it hopped out, photo shows Amanda Zurawski, one of five women suing Texas for denying them an abortion while facing pregnancy complications, offered a scorching rebuke of Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn (R-Texas) at a Senate hearing Wednesday, saying she nearly died on their watch. Zurawski, four other women and two doctors filed a lawsuit in state court last month against Texas, seeking to clarify the medical emergency exceptions under the states six week abortion ban. Zurawski, who lives in Austin, was diagnosed with an incompetent cervix, according to the suit, and was told her baby would not survive. The condition occurs when the cervix ruptures prematurely and is a common cause of late miscarriages. Since her baby still had a heartbeat, Zurawski was told there was no other care the hospital could provide. She eventually went septic, and the hospital finally agreed that she was ill enough to induce labor. She delivered her child, who passed away. I wasnt permitted to have an abortion and the trauma and the PTSD and the depression that I have dealt with in the eight months since this happened to me is paralyzing, Zurawski said at a Senate hearing about a ruling from a federal judge in Texas that attempted to block to sale of a popular abortion pill, mifepristone. On top of that, I am still struggling to have children. Zurawski took aim at Cruz and Cornyn, arguing the senators supported the policy that kept her from receiving an abortion. I wanted to address my senators, Cruz and Cornyn, neither of whom, regrettably, are in the room right now. I would like for them to know that what happened to me its a direct result of the policies that they support, Zurawski said. I nearly died on their watch as a result of what happened to me, I may have been robbed of the opportunity to have children in the future. Both Cruz and Cornyn sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which held the hearing on Wednesday morning. The senators attended the hearing but were not in the room when Zurawski addressed them. Story continues Cornyn addressed Zurawskis case in questioning of witnesses on the panel, saying if medical experts thought her doctors violated the standard of care, it would give rise to a case for medical malpractice. He also said it was unlikely that a national standard for abortions would pass through the Senate. Cruz used his time to blast Democratic positions on abortion, arguing they are radical and want unelected judges to set national abortion standards. He did not address Zurawskis case. Texass six week abortion ban took effect in September 2021, making it the first state to enact a near-total ban on the practice. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Pope Francis leaves at the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peters Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 26, 2023. | Alessandra Tarantino, Associated Press For the first time, women will be allowed to vote at an upcoming gathering of Catholic leaders, the Vatican announced Wednesday. Pope Francis approved the historic reform himself, choosing to allow women and other laypeople to play a more significant role in the Synod of Bishops, scheduled for October. The changes reflect his hopes to give women greater decision-making responsibilities and laypeople more say in the life of the Catholic Church, The Associated Press reported. How Catholics reacted Leaders of Catholic womens groups praised the popes decision in interviews with The Associated Press, describing it as a long-awaited victory in the push to give women more power over church affairs. This is a significant crack in the stained glass ceiling, and the result of sustained advocacy, said Kate McElwee of the Womens Ordination Conference. But other Catholics have downplayed the significance of the shift, noting that bishops and other ordained (male) leaders will remain the dominant voices at the upcoming meeting. Its an important change, its not a revolution, said Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, a top organizer of the synod, to The Associated Press. Related What is the Synod of Bishops? The Synod of Bishops is a group of Catholic leaders that meets periodically to discuss issues of concern to the pope and others at the Vatican. This years gathering will focus on how to foster greater involvement from church members in the future of the Catholic Church, according to The New York Times. Although the Synod of Bishops in the past was comprised primarily of Catholic bishops, the new guidance from Pope Francis makes room for 70 new voting participants and emphasizes the importance of inviting women and young people, in particular. Women had participated as auditors in past synods, the Times reported. Story continues What has Pope Francis done for women? The popes move to allow women to play a more significant role at Octobers meeting follows similar decisions and comments from him in the past. Although Pope Francis has not lifted his churchs ban on womens ordination, he has done more than any pope in recent time to give women greater say in decision-making roles, The Associated Press reported. He has appointed several women to high-ranking Vatican positions, though no women head any of the major Vatican offices or departments, the article said. Early EV adopters want the newest tech in an electric car. That's not so true for the next waves of buyers. Getty Images Men make up most early adopters of electric cars, while women account for most EV skeptics. Higher-income consumers are more likely to adopt or consider going electric. Those skeptical about EVs aren't willing to accept a range lower than 353 miles. If automakers want to make their multi-billion-dollar electric car ambitions happen, they need to know who their target customers are and what buyers are looking for in an EV. Notably, well-off millennial men have largely been leading the charge on EV purchases. But on a more granular level, US consumers fall into three camps as it relates to electric cars, according to consultancy Berylls and data from market researcher Ipsos: Early adopters, considerers, and skeptics. Here is who they are and what they're looking for. Early adopters Socio-demographics Details Mean age 42 years Gender 31% female Have children 69% Mean income $112,690 Live in major cities 64% Minimum accepted range 247 miles Source: Ipsos 2022 Mobility Navigator Module 1, Berylls "On the early adopter side, we're looking at a much younger and male-focused population versus the EV skeptics that are a little bit older, tend to skew more towards female," Cameron Gormley, senior consultant at Berylls, told Insider. These buyers are also generally less financially-motivated. The adopters' top three prioritized vehicle features include addressing concerns about CO2 emissions and air pollution, vehicles that are unique, and a vehicle that keeps its value. They're also the most flexible of buyers regarding the range they're looking for in an EV. "This customer group is more so interested in a futuristic looking vehicle, something that's unique that might separate from them from the crowd, that might have all the digital system features," Gormley said. Buyers considering EVs Socio-demographics Details Mean age 45 years Gender 47% female Have children 68% Mean income $106,910 Live in major cities 49% Minimum accepted range 244 miles The considerers' top features include the best of both worlds, and consider both cost and lifestyle factors: They want a vehicle that keeps its value, a vehicle with good fuel economy, and a vehicle that is fun to drive. Story continues "The considerers and the skeptics, they're more so interested in your traditional vehicles, not necessarily some of the high-tech features," Gormley said. Given that, "I think we'll potentially start to see a shift in terms of what the range of features within electric vehicles is." Car shoppers skeptical about EVs Socio-demographics Details Mean age 57 years Gender 61% female Have children 27% Mean income $86,890 Live in major cities 11% Minimum accepted range 353 miles The skeptics' top features are primarily financially driven: They want a vehicle with good fuel economy, a vehicle that keeps its value, and a vehicle with a low total cost of ownership. Actual driving habits and perceptions of what an EV can provide don't seem to align. "Those who are in the skeptic camp said that they wanted a higher range, however, actually drove the least amount on average per year," Gormley said. "Part of that might be a lack of education in terms of what they think an EV can provide for them in terms of range." The 2023 Kia Niro EV. Kia What types of electric cars EV shoppers want overall "If we look at the F-150 being the most-selling vehicle, you would expect to see pickup trucks dominating the market," Berylls associate partner Henning Ludes said. "But actually from our own analysis, SUVs will be the key electrification driver." The firm expects SUVs to make up 60% of US EV sales in 2030, pickups to account for 15%, and other vehicles to make up 25%. Read the original article on Business Insider People visit a booth at the overseas exhibition of the 20th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Export Fair in Vientiane, Laos on April 25, 2023. The 20th CAEXPO and China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Export Fair was held in Lao capital Vientiane from Monday to Wednesday. The event has drawn 183 companies from China, Laos and Thailand to seek cooperation in electrical appliances, machinery, clean energy innovations and medical equipment, among others. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) VIENTIANE, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The overseas exhibition of the 20th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Export Fair, was held in Lao capital Vientiane from Monday to Wednesday. The event has drawn 183 companies from China, Laos and Thailand to seek cooperation in electrical appliances, machinery, clean energy innovations and medical equipment, among others. At the opening ceremony on Monday, Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong said that Chinese modernization benefits the people in China and other countries. The event is an opportunity for Guangxi to promote its products to Laos, and Lao enterprises are welcome to participate in the CAEXPO, Jiang said. Noting the expo's important role in cooperation on trade, investment and tourism, Lao Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Chansouk Sengphachanh said the event will serve as a platform to promote business cooperation, post-pandemic recovery and people-to-people exchange. Laos' first participation in China-ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Expo dates back to 2004, when the event was held in Guangxi's capital Nanning. Annually, senior leaders of Laos lead a delegation, accompanied by producers of competitive products, to attend the expo. Highlighting the importance of an inclusive China-ASEAN Expo, Wei Zhaohui, secretary-general of the CAEXPO Secretariat, pledged to deepen the exchange and cooperation between China, Laos and other ASEAN member countries, and to help Lao products better access major markets. People visit the overseas exhibition of the 20th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Export Fair in Vientiane, Laos on April 25, 2023. The 20th CAEXPO and China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Export Fair was held in Lao capital Vientiane from Monday to Wednesday. The event has drawn 183 companies from China, Laos and Thailand to seek cooperation in electrical appliances, machinery, clean energy innovations and medical equipment, among others. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) This photo taken on April 25, 2023 shows a scene at the overseas exhibition of the 20th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Export Fair in Vientiane, Laos. The 20th CAEXPO and China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Export Fair was held in Lao capital Vientiane from Monday to Wednesday. The event has drawn 183 companies from China, Laos and Thailand to seek cooperation in electrical appliances, machinery, clean energy innovations and medical equipment, among others. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) People visit the overseas exhibition of the 20th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Export Fair in Vientiane, Laos on April 25, 2023. The 20th CAEXPO and China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Export Fair was held in Lao capital Vientiane from Monday to Wednesday. The event has drawn 183 companies from China, Laos and Thailand to seek cooperation in electrical appliances, machinery, clean energy innovations and medical equipment, among others. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) DELTA TWP. A worker at Alliance Interiors died Monday night when he was caught in a piece of machinery that began operating, according to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Eaton County Sheriff's Office deputies and EMS were called to the company at 4521 W. Mt. Hope Highway about 11:14 p.m. Monday, a sheriff's office employee said. The victim, a 24-year-old man, was transported to an area hospital where he was declared dead. An incident summary posted to MIOSHA's website said the production technician was heating a finished part to remove oils when the next cycle of a vacuum forming mold began. The victim was caught between an extended conveyor and vacuum forming mold, crushing him. "MIOSHA has initiated an investigation of the incident that occurred in Delta Township," Mike Krafcik, a MIOSHA spokesperson, said in an email. "MIOSHA cannot provide information on an open investigation. Typically, this type of investigation may take several weeks or months to complete." READ MORE: Nola Bistro closes doors in Delta Township; Noosh Afghan Cuisine to take spot Eagle Township looks to claw back zoning from Clinton County Work begins on $33M affordable housing development in Stadium District The Delta Township Fire Department handled the incident and turned over the investigation to MIOSHA. According to its website, the company is a supplier of interior soft trim and acoustic systems and components to the auto industry. The accident is under investigation, said Alliance General Manager Jason Miller, who added the company is cooperating with MIOSHA. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Worker killed at Delta Township automotive supplier was crushed Since 1989, AFL-CIO unions have observed April 28 as Workers Memorial Day because the Occupational Safety and Health Administration began on that day in 1971. Unions also hold services to remember workers killed, injured, or made ill on the job and to renew the fight for strong safety and health protections, according to the AFL-CIO. Unions took the lead in championing OSHA, which has done much to improve worker safety and health for all workers. But the AFL-CIO says more needs to be done. Each year, thousands of workers are killed, and millions more suffer injury and illness because of dangerous working conditions that are preventable. When it comes to unions and worker safety and health laws, the voice of history, the subject I taught for two dozen years, could hardly be louder or clearer. We need them both. In an ideal world, everybody would live by the Golden Rule, some form of which can be found in just about every religion. But we live in a real world where, sadly, greed is the gospel of many employers. If those employers got their way, we wouldnt have unions or worker safety and health laws. For a long time, we didnt have either. Only a small fraction of the U.S. workforce was unionized until the 1930s when a Democratic-majority New Deal Congress passed legislation giving workers the right to vote in unions and requiring employers to recognize and bargain with the unions. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democrat, signed the measure into law. Not until 1970 did Congress pass legislation creating OSHA, which AFL-CIO President George Meany hailed as a long step ... toward a safe and healthy workplace. The Mine Safety and Health Administration came seven years later. OSHA and MSHA were needed because many, if not most, state and local worker safety and health laws were inadequate or were not rigorously enforced. Before strong unions and meaningful laws to protect worker safety and health, most workers toiled long hours at low pay in jobs that threatened and often claimed life and limb. Story continues Railroads, mines and factories were slaughterhouses and, as a group, their owners and managers flat didnt care. Americas Captains of Industry believed nothing especially government and unions should keep them from making as much money as they wanted, even if it meant impoverishing and brutalizing their workers. The rights and interests of the laboring man will be protected and cared for, not by the labor agitators, but by the Christian men to whom God in His infinite wisdom has given control of the property interests of the country, and upon the successful Management of which so much depends, said industrialist George F. Baer. Many children were among the thousands who were annually killed on the job in American industry. Child labor was widespread and blessed by many industrialists. The most beautiful sight that we see is the child at labor, declared Asa Candler, a founder of Coca-Cola. As early as he may get at labor the more beautiful, the more useful does his life get to be. Adults were so poorly paid that boys and girls as young as 10 had to go to work to help their parents. (Child labor seems to be on the way back with some Republican governors and Republican-majority state legislatures calling for loosening restrictions on child labor.) In the name of free enterprise, the millionaires in Baers day brazenly bankrolled right-wing politicians to help them break unions and keep Uncle Sam from safeguarding worker safety and health on the job. Todays plutocrats and their anti-union water carriers in Congress and the Kentucky General Assembly are still at it. But when we pause on Workers Memorial Day, let us remember the words of one of the greatest union heroes from history, Mary Harris Mother Jones: Mourn the dead; fight like hell for the living! Berry Craig of Arlington is a professor emeritus of history at West Kentucky Community and Technical College in Paducah and a retiree member of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, and the Kentucky Education Association. PARIS (AP) Leila Oulkebous' research for her doctorate from one of France's top universities was going well when the explosions started. Oulkebous had decided to focus her field work on Sudan when the country exploded into violence. The chiefs of the countrys army and its rival Rapid Support Forces rose to power after a popular uprising in 2019 prompted them to remove longtime autocratic ruler Omar al-Bashir. They started fighting this month amid tensions over a new plan to re-introduce civilian rule. The bombing shook the house where Oulkebous was living in the capital, Khartoum, investigating the effects of dams on rivers that cross borders. "We were hiding all the time under the bed, she said Wednesday at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport as hundreds of people arrived in harrowing evacuations. World powers were rescuing people from Sudan on planes and warships in operations prompted by the eruption of the fighting that sent thousands of foreigners and many more Sudanese people fleeing for safety. A French frigate carrying hundreds of evacuees docked Wednesday morning in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as part of broader efforts involving several warships, in addition to airlifts. French military spokesman Col. Pierre Gaudilliere said France evacuated more than 500 civilians from 40 nations by plane over the weekend after securing the airbase north of Khartoum Saturday, using its airbase in neighbouring Djibouti for the airlift. Gaudilliere said the French military was the first to land, and organized the flow of its own and other nations' planes. You still had airstrikes as the operation was going on, crossfire in the streets, artillery fire, so it was and still is very intense fighting, Gaudilliere said. The French military had personnel on the ground to assess the situation during the operation, he said. Several nations, including Japan, thanked France for rescuing their citizens. Some other countries quickly joined evacuation efforts. Story continues Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said Wednesday three nationals have been evacuated with help from Germany, and his country is now working with Turkey to help evacuate two other citizens. Greek national Christos Dedes, who was in Sudan for work, said he and his colleagues managed to leave their Khartoum hotel Tuesday via the Portuguese embassy, which sent a car to drive them to the airbase where there were Italian, French and German soldiers. We just happened to leave with the Italians, on a transport plane, he said on Greek TV channel Mega Wednesday, after he arrived in Athens. From their Khartoum hotel, he said, they could see that every day the battles were heavier. Both (sides) were using heavy weapons. He said they would hear explosions at night, and see bodies in the street. More than 1,000 people from 58 countries were to arrive Wednesday by ship to the port of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, including many on the French warship Lorraine. Saudi Arabia on Saturday organized the first evacuation convoy by land, via cars and buses bringing people to Port Sudan, where a navy ship took them to Jeddah. The French foreign affairs ministry said a flight carrying 184 French nationals and their families and about 20 other nationals returned from Djibouti and landed in Paris Wednesday morning. Among them was Oulkebous, a Moroccan PhD student at Bordeaux Montaigne University. The feeling I had since the first day of fighting was I felt really paralysed, I didnt know what to do, I didnt know how to get out, the airport was closed, we could not leave," she said, describing "the explosions, the smoke, so really, I didnt have the time to fully realise what was going on. A Royal Air Maroc plane arrived at Casablancas Mohammed V airport on Wednesday, carrying 136 Moroccan nationals evacuated from Sudan. In contrast with France and some other nations, the U.S. and Britain didnt evacuate non-diplomats at first. The British government has come under growing criticism for its failure to airlift civilians. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the governments approach, saying diplomats had been evacuated first because they were being targeted. The British government since said that 301 people have been evacuated on four U.K. flights from Sudan over the past 24 hours, and four more are scheduled Wednesday. Britain intends to keep running the flights for as long as possible. In addition, rapid deployment teams of U.K. officials are in Port Sudan assessing potential for a seaborne evacuation. The Foreign Office says U.K. passport-holders are eligible, and priority is given to family groups with children and/or the elderly or individuals with medical conditions. Officials have said there are as many as 4,000 British citizens in Sudan, 2,000 of whom have registered for potential evacuation. The White House said Monday the U.S. is helping from afar as thousands of Americans left behind in Sudan seek to escape fighting in the east African nation, after the U.S. Embassy evacuated all of its diplomatic personnel over the weekend and shut down. The Biden administration is considering several options for assisting private American citizens in getting out of Sudan. Two U.S. officials said one option being considered would be to send U.S. Navy vessels in, or en route to, the Red Sea to dock at Port Sudan and take Americans to Jeddah or another location. The officials said this would depend on the security situation and whether it was deemed safe for the ships to dock. A U.S. official said the military has developed other options for getting Americans, including using an airfield that some European countries have used to fly out citizens. To date, it has not been told to do that, the official said. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss sensitive matters. ____ Karel Janicek in Prague, Jill Lawless in London, Elena Becatoros in Athens, Tarik El-Barakah in Rabat, Matt Lee and Tara Copp in Washington contributed to the story. ___ This story was first published on April 26, 2023. It was updated on April 27, 2023 to make clear that Oulkebous decision to focus her research on Sudan was not related to the civil war in Ethiopia. NEW YORK (AP) A writer suing Donald Trump took the stand Wednesday to tell jurors that the then-future president raped her after she accompanied him into a department store fitting room in 1996. Im here because Donald Trump raped me and when I wrote about it, he said it didnt happen. He lied and shattered my reputation and Im here to try and get my life back, E. Jean Carroll testified. From afar, Trump repeated his insistence that Carrolls allegations are fiction, writing on his social media site that the case is a made-up scam, and more. His comments prompted the judge to warn Trumps lawyers that he could bring more legal problems upon himself. Former advice columnist E. Jean Carroll arrives on April 26, 2023 to federal court in New York City. Jurors have been seated in the trial over Carrolls claim that former President Donald Trump raped her nearly three decades ago in a department store dressing room. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Trump hasnt attended the trial thus far, but his lawyers said Tuesday its still possible he could decide to testify. The trial comes as Trump again seeks the Republican nomination for president and weeks after he pleaded not guilty to unrelated criminal charges that involve payments made to silence a porn actor who said she had a sexual encounter with him. Carroll, 79, has said she crossed paths with Trump at the revolving door to Bergdorf Goodman on an unspecified Thursday evening in spring 1996. At the time, she was writing a long-running advice column in Elle magazine. Trump was a real estate magnate and social figure in New York. She has said he asked her advice about selecting a gift for a woman, and she went along, thinking the experience would be funny. According to Carroll, they ended up in a lingerie department, joked with each other about who should try on a bodysuit and went to a dressing room. Then, she alleges, Trump slammed her against a wall, yanked down her tights and raped her while she struggled against him. She has said she finally kneed him off her and fled. Trump, 76, has said he wasnt at the store with Carroll and had no clue who she was when she first aired the story publicly in a 2019 memoir and accompanying magazine excerpt. Story continues As court was about to begin Wednesday, Trump vented his feelings about it on his Truth Social platform. Among other remarks, he called Carrolls lawyer a political operative and alluded to a DNA issue that Judge Lewis A. Kaplan has ruled cant be part of the case. (L-R) Former President Donald Trumps lawyer Susan Necheles and an unidentified man on April 25, 2023 walk into federal court in New York City where a jury of six men and three women was chosen to hear former advice columnist E. Jean Carrolls lawsuit accusing Trump of raping her in the 1990s. (AP Photo/Brittainy Newman) This is a fraudulent & false story Witch Hunt! Trump wrote. Lawyers for Carroll whose suit includes claims that Trump previously defamed her by publicly calling her case a hoax,scam, lie and complete con job mentioned his new statement to Kaplan. He wasnt pleased. What seems to be the case is that your client is basically endeavoring, certainly to speak to his quote-unquote public but, more troubling, the jury in this case about stuff that has no business being spoken about, the judge told Trumps lawyers. He called Trumps post a public statement that, on the face of it, seems entirely inappropriate. Trump attorney Joe Tacopina noted that jurors are told not to follow any news or online commentary about the case. But he said he would ask Trump to refrain from any further posts about this case. I hope youre more successful, Kaplan said, adding that Trump may or may not be tampering with a new source of potential liability. Carrolls federal lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and a retraction of his allegedly defamatory comments. The suit was filed under a New York law that temporarily lets decades-old sexual abuse claims go to civil court. She never pursued criminal charges. The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll has done. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Writer tells jury: Donald Trump raped me. Ex-president not attending trial appeared first on TheGrio. Four women, including two sisters, were killed when a wrong-way driver crashed into their car, North Carolina police said. The driver, Pedro Alfonso Galdamez, 51, gave police false identification at the scene, according to the Winston-Salem Police Department. The four women were traveling southbound in a 2016 Nissan Sentra on U.S. Route 52 in Winston-Salem on April 16 when they were struck head-on just after 3 a.m. by a 2010 Honda Accord traveling in the wrong direction, according to a report from the Winston-Salem Police Department. The driver of the Nissan Sentra, Blanca Estela Castillo Bernal, 60, and the three passengers, Gregoria Noyola Jimenez, 64; Santa Hernandez Bernadino, 46; and Estefania Hernandez, 32, were killed, according to police. Bernadino and Hernandez were sisters, according to a GoFundMe page created for their family. The driver of the Honda Accord was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, police said. He originally identified himself to officers as Giovany Ruiz, the report says. Winston-Salem is about 100 miles northwest of Raleigh. Officers served warrants at the mans residence on April 24 accusing him of four counts of felony death by motor vehicle and driving while impaired, the report says. He was also cited for not having an operators license and driving the wrong way, police said. While processing the charges at a magistrates office, officers found that he had given them a false name, the report says. They identified him as Galdamez and charged him with identity theft, police said. His bond was set at $1.25 million, according to police. Emily Salinas-Hernandez, who is Santa Hernandez Bernadinos daughter, grieved the passing of her mother on Facebook. I feel this pain cant be explained, Salinas-Hernandez wrote in Spanish. Can I just say, I wont ever feel the same as before. I was so happy because I had my mom at my side, and now I dont have her My best friend, my queen, my fighter, you pulled me through Story continues She also wrote about losing her aunt. I love you so much, aunt, she wrote. How I regret not spending more time with you. I miss you Thank you for taking care of my daughter when I needed help Salinas-Hernandez told WXII12 that her mother and aunt were from Mexico, and her aunt had just moved to North Carolina in January. She was so happy she was here, she was so happy, Salinas told the outlet. She had a dream. She had so many things to accomplish. ... Vanessa Mendoza, Blanca Castillos daughter, told Que Pasa Media Network that the morning of the crash, her mother was dropping off the other women at a friends reunion. Her mother was from Mexico and had been living in Winston-Salem for almost 30 years, she told the outlet. Family members said in a GoFundMe page they created for Gregoria Noyola Jimenez that they would always keep her memory in their hearts. Her family is devastated, as are many of her friends, and everyone else who knew her, the page says. Were only left with the memories and experiences she gave us. 19-year-old killed when car rolls down driveway and pins her against tree, WV cops say Firefighter expecting his 2nd child dies when truck rolls down embankment, reports say Mom dies after pickup hits her and her daughter on their way to school, CA cops say Jerone Hunter, front and Troy Victorino enter the courtroom at the start of their penalty retrial on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Prosecutors began Wednesday in the penalty phase retrial of Troy Victorino and Jerone Hunter in Deltona's Xbox mass murder by showing a video depicting the bloody scene. Victorino, 46, and Hunter, 35, were already convicted and sentenced to death for the 2004 murders. Two other men, Michael Salas and Robert Cannon, were sentenced to mandatory life in prison. Victorino's and Hunters guilt has already been decided. Only the sentence is at issue: whether they will be sentenced to life in prison without parole or the death penalty. Killed in the massacre were Erin Belanger, 22; Michelle Nathan, 19; Roberto "Tito" Gonzalez, 28; Jonathan Gleason, 17; Francisco "Flaco" Ayo-Roman, 30; and Anthony Vega, 34. A dog was also killed. Xbox mass murder: State seeks to stop trial to challenge judge's ruling on death penalty Sentences overturned: 2 men convicted in Deltona mass murder face death penalty again after sentences overturned As the penalty phase of the trial continues, prosecutors are fighting to stop the proceeding so they can challenge Circuit Judge Randell Rowe's decision to prevent prosecutors from using the state's new death penalty law. Prosecutors have filed an appeal to the 5th District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach asking it to stop the trial. The previous law required a unanimous jury recommendation of death for the judge to have the option to sentence a person to death. The new law, which took effect immediately, only requires eight of the 12 jurors to recommend death for the judge to have that option. At the first trial in 2006, Victorino and Hunter did not receive unanimous recommendations for death. Gruesome videos of Xbox crime scene Defense attorneys objected to Assistant State Attorneys Heatha Trigones and Andrew Urbanak playing a crime scene video. But the judge overruled their objection. The video showed the bodies of the victims. One was in a chair while others were sprawled on the floors. A medical examiner testified they all died of blunt force trauma. Prosecutors said they were beaten with aluminum bats. A dead dog was on the floor near Belanger's body. Story continues Jurors watched the video. Victorino and Hunter did not appear to look at the screens. Family members of the victims left the courtroom as the video was playing. A crime scene analyst then showed jurors photos of the crime scene. Previous coverage: Deltona killer Troy Victorino's latest death penalty challenges struck down Xbox murders: Death sentence overturned for Troy Victorino, ringleader of Deltona mass murder Defense attorney wanted list of witnesses Before the proceedings began on Wednesday, one of Hunter's defense attorneys asked the judge to order all sides to provide a list of what witnesses they would be calling and in what order. Trigones said prosecutors were not required to provide such a list to the defense. She also said sometimes that the state has to change the order of the witnesses. Rowe said he had checked with other judges and also court rules and found no requirement that the state provide a list of their daily witnesses to the defense. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Xbox mass murder sentencing continues; lawyers spar over death penalty During a conversation with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined his vision of the steps that should be taken to end the war in Ukraine. Source: Chinese state-owned agency nhua Quote: "Xi noted his proposals of four points about what must be done [for a peaceful settlement ed.], four things the international community must do together and three observations [regarding the course of the war ed.], saying that on this basis, China released its Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis." "China will send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to visit Ukraine and other countries to conduct in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the crisis. Xi pointed out that bilateral relations [between Ukraine and China ed.] have gone through 31 years of development and reached the level of strategic partnership, which has boosted the respective development and revitalisation of the two countries." "China did not create the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to the crisis, Xi said, adding that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, China would not sit idly by, nor would it add oil to the fire, still less exploit the situation for self gains." Details: Xi also noted that mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is the political foundation of bilateral relations. He reiterated that on the nuclear issue, all relevant parties "should remain calm and exercise restraint". The Chinese president also said that he would continue to send humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The Chinese state-owned news agency notes several times that Xi spoke about the "crisis in Ukraine", which, in particular, has a significant impact on the international landscape. Quote: "On the Ukraine crisis, China always stands on the side of peace, and its core stance is to facilitate talks for peace, [Xi] said." Background: On the afternoon of 26 April, it became known that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This is the first conversation between the two leaders since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. China will send China's former ambassador to Russia, Li Hui, as a special representative to Ukraine and other countries to communicate on resolving the "Ukrainian crisis" [war ed.]. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! On Monday, Yara Shahidi chatted with SiriusXM host Jess Cagle on The Jess Cagle Show. During their conversation, Shahidi discussed her experience studying at Harvard University as a celebrity, specifically how she could go under the radar. It really wasnt until my sophomore year that my close friends that I developed told me like, Yeah, they dont freak out when youre here, but as soon as you leave, people are like, Oh, she was just here,' she said. The actress was accepted into Harvard University in 2017, with an application that even included a letter of recommendation from former first lady Michelle Obama. Shahidi also revealed to People magazine that she was accepted to Stanford, Yale and Spelman. I always knew I was going to go to college that was the one definitive thing in my life, she told Byrdie for their March digital issue. As Shahidi spoke with Cagle, the Grown-ish actress reflected on how she wasnt accommodated in any way because she was famous. Youre just an actor, like go live in the dorm, she said with a laugh. According to Vogue, the 20-something balanced dual academic tracks across the Social Studies and African American Studies departments as an undergrad at a prestigious Ivy League institution. Her concentration, Black political thought under a neocolonial landscape, culminated last spring with a 136-page senior thesis. Her paper I Am a Man: The Emancipation of Humanness from Western Hegemony Through the Lens of Sylvia Wynter explores the Jamaican writers work and larger questions around the topic. My thesis was a moment to connect these past four years of education to something that connects to what Im passionate about and have ground myself in my entire life, she told Vogue. Shahidi celebrated the accomplishment in a video posted to Instagram in Harvard gear: Weighing in at 32,508 words and 136 pages, is this thesis writer, Yara Sayeh Shahidi! Lets go. The Black-ish and Grown-ish actor is now enjoying life as alumn-ish, having graduated from Harvard University in May 2022. Im at an exciting phase where Im coming to terms with just how much more life there is to live, she said of her life now that she has left the Harvard experience, which she has dubbed her selfish season, Byrdie reported. The decades-long push to bring private school choice to South Carolina cleared a major hurdle Wednesday when the House passed a bill that subsidizes education expenses for parents who pull their children out of local public schools. S. 39, which the Senate passed in late January, gives qualifying families entree to a $6,000 voucher they can use at private schools, public schools outside of their zoned districts and for a variety of other educational expenses. Private school choice proponents argue that vouchers provide choice to families who cant afford alternative education options that may better suit their children, while opponents claim they illegally divert taxpayer dollars to unaccountable private schools and hurt public education. Unlike last year, when each chamber passed its own version of ESA legislation and then failed to reach a compromise bill, the House this year adopted the Senates bill 79-35 without changes. Debate on the bill, which ate up two full weeks in the Senate earlier this year, lasted only an afternoon in the lower chamber after Republicans voted to limit discussion of the bill. It now heads to the governors desk for his signature. Gov. Henry McMaster, a private school choice champion, has long supported ESA legislation and allocated $25 million in his executive budget to establish an education scholarship trust fund in anticipation of the bills passage. Im very much for that, he said Wednesday, when asked about the bill. Its worked very well in Florida and other states, and I think itll work very well here. Once signed into law, the ESA bill is likely to face a legal challenge from opponents who argue it violates the South Carolina Constitutions prohibition on public money being spent on private educational institutions. The Constitutions no-aid clause, which some call the Blaine Amendment named for the Maine congressman who unsuccessfully proposed it as an amendment to the U.S. Constitution in the 1870s derailed McMasters 2020 plan to send federal COVID-19 aid to private and religious schools and is what some argue would invalidate an ESA program. Story continues Republican leaders say theyve crafted the ESA bill to circumvent the no aid provision and are confident it would fare better before the state Supreme Court than the governors proposal. Rather than sending voucher money directly to private schools, as McMaster had proposed, the ESA bill would give qualifying parents access to a state-funded account they could tap to pay for education expenses at the providers of their choice. Indirect funding of private schools is not expressly prohibited by the state Constitution. How would the ESA program work? South Carolinas ESA program would start small, enrolling a maximum of 5,000 of the states most economically disadvantaged students in the 2024-2025 school year, before gradually growing in size and scope. By the 2026-2027 school year, families making up to four times the federal poverty level $120,000 for a family of four would qualify for vouchers, and as many as 15,000 would receive them. Participating students must have attended public school during the prior year, unless theyre entering kindergarten. Their families would be able to spend ESA money on a wide range of educational expenses, including tuition, tutoring, transportation and technology. The state would spend up to $30 million on vouchers in the programs first year, not including initial startup costs, and up to $90 million annually at full implementation, according to an analysis by the state Department of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs. Under the bill, the state Department of Education may take up to 2% of that scholarship money to pay for costs associated with its administration of the program. After three years, lawmakers would evaluate the ESA program and could choose to expand it further, as many states with income-limited voucher programs have in recent years. If it becomes popular with parents and the children are performing well, then I think you do expand it, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, said last month. But you first need to make sure that its gonna work. Whether or not school vouchers work depends on whom you ask. Early studies conducted on small, carefully controlled voucher programs showed modest gains in student achievement and attainment, but more recent evaluations of expansive statewide programs have found large negative effects on participating students. US President Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol warned North Korea it would face a nuclear response and the "end" of the leadership there if Pyongyang uses its own arsenal. Speaking at the White House after Oval Office talks during only the second state visit so far in the Biden presidency, the two leaders said the US security shield for South Korea was being strengthened in the face of the nuclear-armed North's aggressive missile tests. And they made clear that if the isolated, communist dictatorship in North Korea attacks the South or the United States, the response will be devastating. "A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies... will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action," Biden told reporters at a joint press conference with Yoon. Yoon said his priority was to secure peace through "superiority of overwhelming forces and not a false peace based on the goodwill of the other side." "In the event of a North Korean nuclear attack," he said, Washington and Seoul have agreed to "respond swiftly, overwhelmingly and decisively using the full force of the alliance including US nuclear weapons." A military honor guard and hundreds of guests massed outside the White House where Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, arrived for a day of pomp and ceremony. They rounded off the day with a lavish state dinner where Hollywood star Angelina Jolie was among the guests joining the Korean first couple, Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. In a toast, Biden recalled the sacrifice by American soldiers to help fight the communist north during the 1950-1953 Korean War and said their countries were bound by "a belief in democracy, liberty, security and above all a mutual belief in freedom." - 'Washington Declaration' - Yoon and Biden issued what was titled the Washington Declaration, bolstering the US nuclear umbrella over South Korea, which is increasingly nervous about the saber-rattling in the north. Story continues "President Biden has reaffirmed his ironclad commitment to extended deterrence towards the Republic of Korea," Yoon said. This will include a mechanism for the two countries to share information and consult in event of a North Korean attack, even if US commanders will still retain full control on the nuclear weapons. It will also see more integration of South Korea's conventional military with US nuclear forces. A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the new arrangement as an echo of moves last witnessed when Washington oversaw the defense of Europe against the Soviet Union. "The United States has not taken these steps, really, since the height of the Cold War with our very closest handful of allies in Europe. And we are seeking to ensure that by undertaking these new procedures, these new steps, that our commitment to extended deterrence is unquestionable," the official said. US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, stressed that there are no plans to station nuclear weapons in South Korea -- a difference from the Cold War, when US strategic weapons were deployed to Europe. In addition, Seoul reiterated its pledge in the declaration not to seek its own nuclear arsenal. - Nuclear sub - The US official said initial steps would include "regular deployment of strategic assets, including a US nuclear ballistic submarine visit to South Korea, which has not happened since the early 1980s." In addition to submarines, there will be a "regular cadence" of other major platforms, "including bombers or aircraft carriers," the official said, emphasizing however that there will be "no basing of those assets and certainly not nuclear weapons." A US official said that steps are being taken in advance to defuse potential tensions with Beijing over the tougher military posture. "We are briefing the Chinese in advance and laying out very clearly our rationale for why we are taking these steps," the official said, adding that the Biden administration is "disappointed that China has been unprepared to use its influence" on North Korea. Yoon will address a joint session of Congress on Thursday and have lunch with Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. On Friday, he will visit MIT and Harvard University in Boston, before returning home on Saturday. Yoon and Biden on Tuesday visited the Korean War Memorial, which features life-sized steel statues of US soldiers. Yoon also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery and joined Harris for a tour of a NASA facility near Washington. sms/mlm KABUL, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 36,000 Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan from neighboring Iran over one month, the state-run Bakhtar news agency reported on Wednesday. A total of 35,999 Afghan refugees who used to stay in Iran for years have returned to their homeland in Afghanistan in the past month, and the process of returning the refugees to their country continues, the state-controlled news agency added. A couple of months ago Bakhtar also reported the return of more than 300,000 Afghan refugees from Iran to Afghanistan. More than 2.5 million registered Afghan refugees reportedly have been living in Iran and about the same number are living in Pakistan. The Afghan caretaker government has been calling upon Afghan refugees living abroad to return home and contribute to the reconstruction of their home country. WASHINGTON Another unprecedented event in the Donald Trump era: a former president in a civil lawsuit centered on accusations of rape. Attorneys delivered bracing opening arguments Tuesday in the civil case of E. Jean Carroll, a writer who said Trump raped her at a Manhattan department store in 1996. She has sued the former president for defamation. Carroll's case, which began Tuesday with jury selection and opening arguments, has taken a winding road that spanned years and an attempt by Trump's former attorney general to quash the suit before opening arguments ever took place. When Carroll broke her silence about Trump in a 2019 memoir, the then-president used the most powerful platform on earth to lie about what he had done, attack Ms. Carrolls integrity and insult her appearance, attorney Shawn Crowley told the newly selected jury. Trump attorney Joseph Tacopina said to the jury six men, three women that Carroll is telling untruths about Trump for financial gain and political revenge. The case is an "affront to justice," he said. The trial is expected to last up to two weeks, but some themes are already clear: Trump is not on trial for a criminal charge of rape Carroll's lawsuit accuses Trump of defamation lying about her after she wrote about the alleged rape in a 2019 memoir. Carroll v. Trump:E. Jean Carroll defamation case: Some Trump deposition excerpts ordered released as trial date set The lawsuit:Donald Trump faces new lawsuit from E. Jean Carroll, who's already suing him for defamation Because this is a civil case, Trump's not at risk of a criminal conviction for sexual assault; it is a potential civil judgement against him for millions of dollars, based on grisly evidence. In a post in October, Trump said on his social media site Truth Social that Carroll was "a complete con job" and that he couldn't have assaulted her because she was "not my type." Story continues Citing that comment during her opening argument, Crowley told jurors that everybody knows what Trump meant: "He was saying she was too ugly to assault," according to one reporter at the trial, which is not being televised. The plaintiff's attorney also noted that, in a deposition, Trump mistook a picture of Carroll for one of his ex-wife Marla Maples. Tacopina accused her of pursuing the case for money, status and political reasons. Trump doesn't plan to attend the trial; Carroll does The defendant does not have to be at the trial, and Trump's lawyers have said the former president doesn't plan to show up at the courthouse. Carroll's lawyers have indicated they do not plan to call Trump as a witness; it is possible that Trump could travel and be a witness on his own behalf, but no one is expecting that. Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter There will be graphic testimony against Trump Carroll attended the opening statements and is expected to testify graphic testimony that will likely be the most publicized part of the trial. During her opening remarks, Crowley said Trump "jammed" his hand up Carroll's dress before raping her. The plaintiff's attorneys are also expected to call other women to the stand to talk about inappropriate behavior by Trump. E. Jean Carroll Citing Trump's notorious comments about grabbing women by the genitals which surfaced during the 2016 presidential campaign attorney Crowley told the jury that is "exactly what he did" to Carroll and other women. Trump has repeatedly said that his accusers are lying about him for political reasons. No televised testimony Like jury selection and opening statements, the trial itself will not be televised. Interested parties will have to rely on courthouse reporters to broadcast the proceedings. This lawsuit stems from a new law Why is this just coming up now? Because New York State passed a law last year allowing the victims of sexual assault to sue their attackers, no matter how long ago the incident took place. Carroll, who filed an initial lawsuit against Trump in 2019, filed a second suit in November under New York's new Adult Survivors Act. It gave victims of abuse a one-year window in which to file lawsuits, even if the statute of limitation has run out on any potential crimes. Tight security Jury selection was conducted amid tight security in the courthouse and beyond. U.S. District Judge Lew Kaplan ordered that the names of prospective jurors be kept secret from the public. He assigned the jury candidates numbers rather than have their names placed on the public record. A sisterhood of Trump accusers:How a strange sisterhood of #MeToo accusers is reacting to Trumps indictment in hush money case A legacy of 'Me Too:'Two women dealt a blow to Donald Trump's power. In a post-#MeToo era, will he fall? In seeking a jury of six to 12 members, Kaplan asked jurors if they had attended a Trump rally or believe the 2020 election was stolen. No one said yes to those inquiries. The judge also warned the parties to the lawsuit to avoid public statements that could incite violence or civil unrest. Trump's campaign Trump is expected to campaign throughout the trial; he has a rally scheduled for Thursday evening in New Hampshire. He is expected to lump the Carroll lawsuit into the many criminal investigations against him. He has already been indicted in New York City for false reporting in paying hush money to a former mistress. Trump also faces three other grand jury investigations: efforts to overturn his loss to Joe Biden in Georgia; his handling of classified information after leaving office; and his actions before and during the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021. Contributing: Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NY jury to decide if Donald Trump raped, defamed E. Jean Carroll On Wednesday, a group of contractors at YouTube Music voted to unionize with the Alphabet Workers Union-Communications Workers of America (AWU-CWA). Out of the 49 workers who were eligible to vote, 41 voted in favor of the action, with the remaining eight abstaining. As of last year, the workers were already paying AWU-CWA dues but were seeking bargaining rights. In March, the group won a landmark legal victory when the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that Google must bargain with them to ratify their union contract. WE WON! 41 YES's 0 No's After months of union-busting by @Google & @Cognizant, our YouTube Music members have just won their NLRB union election in a blowout victory & are ready to bring BOTH of their employers to the negotiating table to win their fair share. pic.twitter.com/zJot09Dsx8 Alphabet Workers Union (AWU-CWA) (@AlphabetWorkers) April 26, 2023 While Google vowed to challenge the ruling, the results of todays vote could have significant implications for the company. Provided the NLRBs decision stands, Google will need to collectively bargain with a group of its US employees for the first time in the company's nearly 25-year history. Thats something that could prompt other groups within the tech giant to pursue unionization. After months of union-busting by Google and Cognizant, our YouTube Music members have just won their NLRB union election in a blowout victory and are ready to bring both of their employers to the table to win their fair share, the Alphabet Workers Union tweeted. Although Wednesday's vote was months in the making, it comes after Google laid off 12,000 employees or about six percent of its global workforce in late January. This week, the company shared its Q1 earnings results, reporting a net income of $15 billion. It also announced a $70 billion stock buyback. In 2022, the year workers at YouTube Music Content Operations filed for union recognition with the NLRB, Google compensated CEO Sundar Pichai to the tune of $226 million. President Xi has never condemned Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine Ukraine's Volodymr Zelensky says he has had a "long and meaningful" phone call with China's Xi Jinping, their first contact since Russia's war began. He said on Twitter he believed the call, along with the appointment of an ambassador to Beijing, would "give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations". China confirmed the call, adding that it "always stood on the side of peace". Unlike the West, Beijing has sought to appear neutral on the Russian invasion. But it has never hidden its close ties to Moscow, or condemned the invasion, and last month President Xi paid a two-day state visit to Russia. He referred to President Vladimir Putin as his "dear friend", proposed a vague 12-point peace plan and insisted that China stood on the right side of history. However, he made no commitment to providing Russia with weapons. Within days of the visit, President Zelensky invited the Chinese leader to visit Kyiv for talks, noting they had contact before the full-scale war but nothing since it began in February 2022. In a readout of Wednesday's phone call, China quoted President Xi as saying that China, "as a responsible majority country", would "neither watch the fire from the other side, nor add fuel to the fire, let alone take advantage of the crisis to profit". That statement appeared to be a swipe at China's biggest international rival, the US, which has provided the most help towards Ukraine's response to the Russian war. White House spokesman John Kirby welcomed the phone call as "a good thing" but said it was too early to know whether it would lead to "some sort of meaningful peace movement, or plan or proposal". The likelihood of China helping to end the war appears remote, not just because Russia has shown no readiness to withdraw its forces from Ukraine's sovereign territory. It is a key demand from Kyiv that President Zelensky reiterated: "There can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises." Story continues Critics have also questioned the idea of Beijing acting as a mediator, citing not only Mr Xi's firm friendship with Russia's leader but also China's soaring trade with Russia and its refusal even to speak of an "invasion". Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow saw "broad concord" with China's approach but said the main barrier was Kyiv's "unrealistic demands". Moscow's own demands include recognition of its annexation of swathes of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which was invaded in 2014. Chart showing Russia's trade with China China's 12-point plan to end the war has been widely criticised by Ukraine and the West. It fails to offer clear plans for Ukraine's future security or for territory seized by Russia and includes a proposal for unilateral sanctions to be dropped. And yet Wednesday's hour-long call did not come as a complete surprise. Earlier this month, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said that Mr Xi had spoken of his willingness to talk to Ukraine's leader when the "conditions and time are right". She had joined French President Emmanuel Macron on a visit to Beijing. President Zelensky has repeatedly reached out to the Chinese president, an acknowledgement that China's vast wealth and global influence could swing the outcome of the war. In its readout of the call, Beijing announced its willingness to engage directly with Ukraine, by sending a special representative on Eurasian affairs to Kyiv and other capitals for "in-depth communication" on a political settlement. For his part, Mr Zelensky appointed a former minister, Pavlo Ryabikin, as ambassador to Beijing. Xi Jinping has had recent diplomatic success by persuading Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties. While it is possible he may have developed a taste for the role of a key international stakeholder, there may also be an economic element to his intervention. China's flagging economy is still fragile after years of tight Covid-19 restrictions. It is dependent on export trade and cannot fully bounce back as the war in Ukraine drags on. News of the phone-call made headline news in China's carefully controlled state media outlets, which printed China's interpretation of the call. On Chinese social media sites, users appeared supportive, with many calling for peaceful dialogue and supporting what they saw as China acting like a responsible country. "China must break the deadlock and melt the ice!" read one typical comment. President Volodymyr Zelensky marked the 37th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster by honoring the memory of the liquidators of the largest nuclear accident in human history. Zelensky laid flowers on April 26 to the memorial signs to civil and military personnel who had died after trying to limit the disaster's consequences. "37 years ago, the accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant left a huge scar for the whole world. A radiation leak turned a once cozy and developed area into an exclusion zone," Ukraine's president said, as cited by his office. "Today, the 30-kilometer zone around the Chornobyl nuclear power plant remains a dangerous place with a high concentration of radiation." A powerful chemical explosion at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in Kyiv Oblast that occurred overnight on April 26, 1986, led to almost 8.5 million people being exposed to radiation, according to the United Nations. Life near Russian-occupied nuclear plant: I dont know if tomorrow will come Editors Note: The Kyiv Independent talked to residents who are still in Russian-occupied Enerhodar and those who recently left but still have family in the city. For their safety, we do not disclose their identities. When Russian soldiers captured Enerhodar, the satellite city of the Zaporizhzhia Kyiv IndependentAlexander Query The Soviet Union's government at first tried to conceal the scale of the disaster's consequences from the international community. Ukraine exited the union and became independent in 1991, with Moscow's response to the Chornobyl accident accelerating this decision, as some historians argue. Shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine started on Feb. 24 last year, Russian troops occupied the Chornobyl nuclear plant for over a month. Russia used the territory of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and the plant itself in an attempt to quickly transfer its troops to storm the Ukrainian capital. Story continues Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said he had talked to Zelensky on April 26, telling him about the agency's new medical assistance program for personnel at all Ukraine's nuclear plants. Grossi also pledged to continue IAEA efforts to protect the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has been occupied by Russian forces since March 2022. Since Russian troops captured the plant, they have used it as a military base from which they launch attacks at Ukrainian-controlled territory across the Dnipro River, in particular, Nikopol. Over the course of more than a year of the full-scale war, 2,279 Ukrainians, both military and civilian, have been released from Russian captivity. Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the evening speech on 26 April Quote from Zelenskyy: "We managed to [bring back] 44 more people from Russian captivity to Ukraine. Most of them are servicemen. From various fronts. Among them are defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol, other cities in Donetsk, Kherson, Kharkiv [oblasts]... Most of them are privates and sergeants. Some are officers. Two of them are civilians In total, 2279 Ukrainians have already been returned from Russian captivity during the full-scale war." Details: The President has assured that the exchange team is working on all prisoners, even civilians who are difficult to release, and even those for whom there is no accurate information on where they may be. "We remember everyone. Ukraine must bring back all its people," Zelenskyy stated. Background: On 26 April, Ukraine brought back 44 more prisoners of war, 2 of them civilians. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! During a telephone conversation with Xi Jinping, the President of the People's Republic of China, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, discussed possible cooperation that would help establish a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. Source: Office of the President of Ukraine Quote from Zelenskyy: "During the hour-long conversation, we discussed a full range of topical issues of bilateral relations. Particular attention was paid to potential ways of cooperating to establish a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine. No one wants peace more than the Ukrainian people. We are on our land and fighting for our future, exercising our inalienable right to self-defence. Peace must be just and sustainable, based on the principles of international law and respect for the UN Charter. There can be no peace that is based on territorial compromises. The territorial integrity of Ukraine must be restored to within the 1991 borders." Details: Zelenskyy also said that during the conversation, the leaders discussed ways to strengthen the Ukrainian-Chinese partnership, since before the full-scale Russian invasion, China was Ukraine's number one trading partner. Background: On 26 April 2023, Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. It was the first conversation between the two leaders since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Li Hui, a special representative of the People's Republic of China who is a former Chinese ambassador to Russia, is to be sent to Ukraine and other countries for talks on regulating the "Ukrainian crisis" [the war ed.]. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! During a phone conversation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Chinese President Xi Jinping about Ukraine's peace formula, while Xi Jinping spoke about China's "peace plan". Source: Serhii Nykyforov, spokesman for Zelenskyy, during the 24/7 national joint newscast Quote: "There was an exchange of views. The Chinese President personally presented the Chinese peace plan, which is in the public domain. The President of Ukraine spoke about our 10-step peace formula, which is a priority for us. There are certain points where they overlap, such as the non-use and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, etc." Details: Nykyforov said that this is only the beginning and marks a new phase in the bilateral relations between the two countries. Zelenskyy's spokesman described the conversation as an "exchange of views" on the most important issues and a "first step" in restoring and developing Ukrainian-Chinese relations. Ukraine is awaiting the arrival of Li Hui, a former Chinese ambassador to Russia (2009-2019) who has been appointed as Chinas special representative to resolve the "Ukrainian crisis" [as the Chinese government calls the war ed.]. It is not yet known when Li will arrive and which other countries he will be visiting. Quote: "We'll see what he comes with. I understand that he is coming in order to gain a more detailed understanding of our position. In any event, we are committed to a direct dialogue with China." Background: On 26 April 2023, Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This is the first conversation between the two leaders since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. On the same day, Zelenskyy appointed Pavlo Riabikin as Ukraine's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to China. Since the death of the previous ambassador, Serhii Kamyshev, Ukraine had not appointed an ambassador to China for several years. The last time the leaders of Ukraine and China spoke was in 2021. In February 2023, the Chinese Foreign Ministry published a so-called "peace plan" with its ideas for resolving Russia's war against Ukraine. The document consists of 12 points. Zelenskyy does not consider China's proposals for resolving the war in Ukraine a peace plan, but he does see positive things in the initiative. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Marking the 37th anniversary of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) disaster, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the world must do everything possible to prevent Russia from using nuclear facilities to blackmail Ukraine and the rest of the world. Source: President Zelenskyy on Telegram Quote from Zelenskyy: "Thirty-seven years ago, the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant left a huge scar for the whole world. The radiation leak turned the once peaceful and developed area into an exclusion zone. Today, the 30-kilometre zone around the Chornobyl NPP remains a dangerous area with high concentrations of radiation. Last year, the occupiers not only captured the power plant, but put the whole world in danger. We have to do everything we can to prevent the terrorist state from using nuclear energy facilities to blackmail Ukraine and the rest of the world." Details: Zelenskyy explained that in the year following the resumption of Ukrainian control over the Chornobyl NPP, scientific and security facilities have resumed their work there. The Ukrainian President stressed that Ukraine and the world had paid a high price to address the aftermath of the 1986 Chornobyl disaster, the fallout of which can be felt to this day. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Volodymyr Zelenskyy Read also: China using Russia to technologically rearm the Chinese military ex-Ukrainian FM The Ukrainian president described the phone call as long and substantive. I trust it (the conversation) and appointing a new ambassador to China will be an impetus to the development of our bilateral relations, said Zelenskyy. On the same day, he appointed former Minister for Strategic Industry, Pavlo Ryabikin, as Ukraines new Ambassador to China. The talk also encompassed Sino-Ukrainian economic and trade ties. Read also: NSDC head calls for 'enough weapons' to defeat Russia, not peace initiatives Prior to Russias full-scale invasion, China was Ukraines number one trading partner, a subsequent message on the presidents website quotes Zelenskyy. I trust todays conversation will provide a substantial boost to restoring, maintaining, and developing this dynamic across all levels. Read also: China backs down from ambassadors statement on sovereignty of former Soviet states, Crimeas status According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' spokesperson Hua Chunying, Ukraine requested the conversation. China plans to send a government envoy to deepen communication around the political settlement of the Russian war, which Beijing refers to as the "Ukrainian crisis." The ministry reiterated China's position of "always standing on the side of peace" and its willingness to develop bilateral relations with Ukraine. "Dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way forward," Chunying emphasized via Twitter. Read also: China benefits from prolonging the war in Ukraine, Czech president says On Feb. 24, China published a document outlining its position on the "settlement" of Russia's war against Ukraine, including a call for a ceasefire and negotiations, but not a withdrawal of Russian troops. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine In a move some Amherst County officials have referred to as a gamble in future development, the board of supervisors has agreed to support financing of the Gateway Sanitary Sewer Project. The board voted 3-0, with members Claudia Tucker and Drew Wade absent, during its April 18 meeting to approve a support agreement with the Amherst County Service Authority to finance $2.5 million in utility infrastructure improvements in southern portions of Madison Heights. The $3.5 million project previously received $1 million from the county in federal relief money in response to the pandemic. The project includes a pump station, new sewers and a sewer line that is needed for a major residential development on Virginia 163 in close proximity to the Virginia 210 intersection to move forward. Terry Morcom, a developer and builder who has lived in the county for more than 60 years, plans to build the residential project with a heavy focus on senior housing and amenities with roughly 650 units, including 276 market rate apartments. The board approved rezoning and special exception permits in 2022 to allow the development to move forward. Morcom said the development will meet a huge need in the county for senior housing and keep many residents from leaving the county to seek living arrangements as they age. He also recently told supervisors the development will help the county grow and expand its tax base. According to county documents tied to the projects zoning approval, the development is estimated to yield just more than $597,000 in annual tax revenue for the county when built out in future years. Supervisor David Pugh voted against moving the financing forward during an April 4 meeting out of concern for the countys risk of investing in infrastructure with no shared costs from the developer. Pugh also agreed with a concern publicly raised by John Marks Jr., a former county supervisor, the move sets a bad precedent as other developers may expect similar investments. I was not for it because there was no buy-in from the developer, but its moving forward regardless, Pugh said. He added any further opposition is a moot point, which is why he voted in favor at the April 18 meeting. I think it could potentially cause some problems, Pugh said. Im supportive of the project. Im hopeful it works. Pugh has called the measure a gamble for the county. Morcom said he too is gambling in pursuing the development. Tom Martin, the boards chair, said recently he views the countys infrastructure investment as a partnership and the county expects the development to move forward. We all sitting up here respect each others opinions and thoughts and they are always taken into consideration, Martin said in response to Pughs concerns. Andrew Proctor, chair of the Amherst County Economic Development Authoritys board of directors, on April 4 spoke before the board in support of the investment in the project. There is no doubt the investment cost were facing now is significant, however, were virtually assured that if we wait several years, it will only cost even more, Proctor said. By investing in the project, the county is capitalizing on an excellent growth opportunity, he added. Investing in it may feel uncomfortable but it is crucial to economic growth and it has a very high likelihood of success, Proctor further stated in written comments to the board. Also during the April 18 meeting, Interim County Administrator Jeremy Bryant spoke of the open house meeting on the Madison Heights Master Plan that was held the previous week. Bryant said 111 people signed in at the April 10 meeting at Monelison Middle School, but the county estimates a crowd of closer to 150 attended the April 10 meeting to gauge specific plans and strategies for a master plan in Madison Heights from the U.S. 29/Virginia 130 intersection to the James River. We really had a lot of positive feedback from the public, Bryant said. It was encouraging to see that. EPR, the Charlottesville consulting firm working with the county on the plan, will report on that feedback during a public hearing for the Amherst County Planning Commission and board of supervisors in the future, Bryant said. Martin said he is impressed with the consultants work and county staffs efforts in presenting the plan to residents. Thank you to our citizens for coming out and wanting to be informed about future plans and hopes for Madison Heights, because its an important part of our community, Martin said. Facebook suppressing Hersh's Nord Stream story 08:40, April 26, 2023 By HENG WEILI in New York ( Chinadaily.com.cn The question of who blew up the Nord Stream pipelines will likely not go away. But a detailed account by investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, which blamed the United States for the explosions, is facing suppression by Western social media. Hersh's story was published on Feb 8 on substack.com with the headline, "How America Took Out The Nord Stream Pipeline". The US has consistently claimed that Hersh's story is false. Facebook has added qualifiers to the story by Hersh, who was a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The New York Times, and also redirected readers to an article on a Norwegian website. It was Norway that Hersh alleged helped US Navy divers detonate the explosives. "On September 26, 2022, a Norwegian Navy P8 surveillance plane made a seemingly routine flight and dropped a sonar buoy. The signal spread underwater, initially to Nord Stream 2 and then on to Nord Stream 1. A few hours later, the high-powered C4 explosives were triggered and three of the four pipelines were put out of commission," Hersh wrote in February. "Within a few minutes, pools of methane gas that remained in the shuttered pipelines could be seen spreading on the water's surface and the world learned that something irreversible had taken place." Facebook users who try to share the URL from Hersh's story receive the following message: "Before you share this content, you might want to know that there's additional reporting from Faktisk. Pages and websites that repeatedly publish or share false news will see their overall distribution reduced and be restricted in other ways." It also includes a link to the month-old article by Faktisk.no, a Norwegian "fact-checking" website produced in cooperation with Norwegian mass media and NRK, Norway's state broadcasting company. Twitter user "Nuno Marques" posted on April 20 that Hersh's report "is now banned on Facebook and Reddit in Norway" and that the Norwegian government is "demanding censorship of this news as they learned more than half of their citizens were against the Nord Stream bombings!" Australian journalist Caitlin Johnstone, writing on substack.com on April 21 said, "Facebook does not explain how a 'fact-checking' company which operates in conjunction with Norwegian state media can be regarded as 'independent' regarding an article which explicitly accuses the Norwegian government of extremely egregious crimes. The Norwegian word Faktisk means "actually" in English. "But whether you think Hersh's claims are valid or not, his reporting is indisputably a part of the conversation about the Nord Stream sabotage and is newsworthy in itself," Johnstone wrote. "The world's largest social media platform is straightforwardly interfering in news distribution." The pipelines carried natural gas from Russia to Western Europe and have a terminus in Germany. The US and other NATO countries have placed economic sanctions on Russia since the start of its military conflict with Ukraine in February 2022. In an article on substack.com on April 23, author Michael Shellenberger wrote that "instead of allowing people to make up their own minds, Facebook has decided to take a side". "And instead of explaining, Facebook sends readers to an article in Norwegian. In other words, Facebook has decided that a Norwegian journalist is right and Hersh is wrong. And maybe Hersh is wrong. Maybe the Norwegian journalist is right," wrote Shellenberger. "Whatever the case, it should not be up to Facebook to decide. It's a debate that should proceed without Facebook's intervention." In an April 20 post on Twitter, Shellenberger wrote "After Biden's 'Summit for Democracy' last month, Facebook agreed to censor 'false narratives' that would 'weaken our support to Ukraine'." Originally, Hersh's article was blurred out with the label "false information, checked by independent fact checkers". It has been unblurred and has a picture of a coastal scene and is now labeled "partly false information". Branko Marcetic, a staff writer for Jacobin magazine, pointed out in an April 21 article for the Responsible Statecraft website that other stories including one published on March 7 by The New York Times that suggested a pro-Ukrainian group was behind the explosions do not carry similar warnings by Facebook, nor do accounts that allege Russia was behind the pipelines' destruction. "This is despite the fact that such accusations clash with the now-official narrative of a pro-Ukrainian, nonstate group, and that even Western officials now openly doubt Russia's culpability for attacking its own pipeline, which could cost half a billion dollars to repair by one estimate," Marcetic wrote. Russian website RT.com tweeted on April 21, "The notoriously 'impartial' Facebook red flags Seymour Hersh's reporting on Nord Stream sabotage as 'false' citing counterclaims by 'independent fact-checkers' from Norway and Ukraine." George Beebe, a former CIA officer and now head of the Quincy Institute's Grand Strategy program told Responsible Statecraft: "The Biden administration seems to be recognizing that the story of the Russians blowing up their own pipeline wasn't holding any water. "This doesn't mean (that The New York Times story) is wrong, but it sure does raise questions in my mind as to what is going on here," Beebe said. "They didn't show any evidence to The New York Times reporters, they simply said, 'We have this new intelligence. Trust us.'" (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Almost 21 kg of crystal methamphetamine has been seized by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in the South Asian country's biggest drug bust. BGB public relation officer Md Shariful Islam told reporters that BGB personnel found 21 kg of what is commonly known as ice inside a house in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district, some 300 km southeast of capital Dhaka, on early Wednesday. He said the BGB team carried out an operation in the district's Balukhali area in the wee hours of Wednesday, arresting three men over their involvement in procuring and possessing drugs. According to the official, the arrested people are part of a broader syndicate with international links. "This seizure is the biggest in Bangladesh's history," he said. Operation Ceasefire was the topic of discussion Tuesday afternoon at the University of Lynchburg, as Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares held a news conference to give updates on the initiative that was launched last fall. Operation Ceasefire is an approach to address violent criminal activity, among serious and repeat offenders by maintaining partnerships through the commonwealth by promoting firearm safety, investing in gang prevention and supporting community policing in high-crime neighborhoods, according to a release from the attorney generals office in October. The news conference took place in Drysdale Student Center with members of the police department, attorney generals office and leaders within the community in attendance. Miyares said his office is so grateful for Operation Ceasefire and the partnerships both locally and federally, in advancing the initiative forward. The General Assembly allocated more than $5 million for Operation Ceasefire in the past years budget and he said the extra resources means that our office is better able to tackle this issue that is affecting so many Virginians, and make sure the victims indeed have a voice. The attorney general said his office hired six designated special assistant attorneys general that are cross designated in the U.S. attorney generals office, and 13 prosecutors in the Virginia attorney generals office that are part of the operation. The Virginia attorney generals office will partner with the U.S. attorney generals office to prosecute specifically gun crime, to lower gun violence, Miyares said. He added the operation is both about prevention and prosecution. I want to emphasize, we are simply not going to be able to arrest our way out of this, Miyares said. Miyares said one thing he and others have seen, through data that has been shared from local law enforcement and around the eastern part of the state, is overwhelmingly violent crime is driven by a small percentage of repeat violent offenders. He added that depending on the study and estimate, anywhere between 2% and 5% of violent offenders are committing, in a locality, roughly 50% of the violent crime. Miyares explained, it makes sense that if you want to lower violent crime, you go after that 2 to 5% that are overwhelmingly driving and are the repeat offenders, which he believes is a key component of Operation Ceasefire. The other two key components are making sure law enforcement have the right data to make sure people are held accountable and prevention working within schools, to help students with life skills to make sure they dont fall into the siren call of illegal activity. Along with Miyares, U.S. Attorney for the Western District Christopher Kavanaugh and Lynchburg Commonwealths Attorney Bethany Harrison provided remarks. Kavanaugh said all law enforcement and officials present at the news conference agree theres a problem in communities around the state and they are dedicated to solving it. He said the work is far from done. My directive to my team is not to go out and arrest as many people as possible. We are seeking for the most high-quality value targets, the ones that are having the greatest impact on our communities, Kavanaugh said. Harrison said shes grateful to the attorney general for recognizing the need in the target cities and to be one of the cities receiving benefits from Operation Ceasefire. There are 12 ceasefire cities, four in the area Roanoke, Danville, Martinsville and Lynchburg. Harrison mentioned collaboration from Miyares office, law enforcement and also local help from organizations such as the Good Gangs initiative and the Jubilee Center are important collaborations in working toward keeping young people out of a life of criminal activity. She said some of Lynchburgs most violent offenders are young people involved in criminal street gangs who commit some of the most violent offenses and use firearms. The commonwealths attorney said collaboration with members of the community is also important. Collaboration doesnt end with us, we need you as well, youre also our partners in this, Harrison said. Miyares said his office is pleased that they are fully ramped up with hiring, prosecutors and the distribution of grant money. There are more than 70 active cases that have been launched under Operation Ceasefire and the idea is to send a message that were not going to tolerate high levels of gun violence and gun crime, according to Miyares. We no longer want you [community] looking over your shoulder. Nobody in this amazing country should be looking over their shoulder for you to be able to live their life, Miyares said. And for young people, we want them to know were here to also work with you. BEDFORD A Republican candidate for the newly created 53rd House of Delegates district can remain in the race after a legal challenge to his Bedford County residency was denied, following a decision the countys registrar announced April 26. Registrar Barbara Gunter announced her finding that Tim Griffin, chair of the Bedford County Republican Committee who seeks the GOP nomination for the seat at the May 6 convention at Jefferson Forest High School, legally has met residency requirements and she cannot justify canceling his voter registration record. The decision followed an evidentiary hearing Monday at the Bedford Central Library on a petition from three county residents Margie Jones, Donald Toms and Billy Hackworth that argued Griffin did not properly meet residency requirements by living in a detached garage at 102 N. Woodfin Court in Forest. Griffin, a former prosecutor in Bedford and Amherst counties, is running for the newly drawn 53rd House District, which includes all of Amherst County and parts of Bedford and Nelson counties. Also running for the seat in the convention is Sarah Mays, a Forest resident who owns and operates a Christian-based day care in Amherst County. I think this puts this to rest, Griffin said after the hearing. I live here, Im registered here. Were going to the convention to win on May 6. This puts an end to this nonsense. Lets focus on the issues. Toms said he felt the result would go in Griffins favor because of politics. He said the nine-page petition was based on a very specific law of Virginia and everything was bent backwards. The Republican Party has all these positions in Bedford County, and they have power over people, Toms said. This is very unfortunate, very unfortunate this happened. Griffin described the petition during Mondays hearing as a disgusting attempt to take away his right to vote and run for public office because of bias and people who dont personally like him. In a brief interview Wednesday, he called the challenge a last desperate attempt to try and figure out a way to defeat us at the May 6 convention. This idea that we are going to disenfranchise voters, we are going to take away their right to vote just because they dont like you or they dont agree with you, we put it to bed today, Griffin said. He said mudslinging has been at an all-time high and he is confident in victory May 6. They cant win on the merits, they cant win on the issues, they dont have the votes, so they are going to try and sling mud, Griffin said. We are going to stick with the issues. We want to protect life; we want to protect our elections; we want to protect Second Amendment rights. Thats what weve been about, thats what we are going to continue to talk about. Were going to bring new conservative leadership to Richmond in a way we havent seen. Toms, a retired schoolteacher, said the trio who brought forth the petition are talking about possibly appealing the decision. My hope was they would enforce the laws of the state of Virginia, which we plainly told them here and in the paperwork we provided, Toms said. A garage that someone could not live in is not a domicile. I would like to know how many nights he spent in that garage without a bathroom. I dont buy that. Toms said bringing the petition was nothing personal against Griffin and the intent was to make sure the law is properly being followed. It was all the laws of Virginia and how you establish domicile, Toms said. It had nothing to do with personalities or whatever. Griffin said the challenge to his residency had no evidence and was based on hearsay. In a news release he issued shortly after Gunters announcement, Griffin said as an election attorney he understands voting is a constitutional right that should never be taken away. There is an ugly history in this country of disenfranchising Republican voters. I am glad we were able to defeat the return of this revolting legacy to deny suffrage, Griffin said. I hope this serves as a clear message for my opponents team. It is time to focus on the issues, stop the mudslinging, and attacks on my right to vote. Gunter cited state code and policies and procedures outlined by the state board of elections in reaching the decision, which she announced before a crowd of just more than 30 people Wednesday. While the petitioners allege that garage cannot be used as a residence, they did not present any evidence this is not where Mr. Griffin stays or is the place where he lays his head, Gunter said. Pictures Griffin provided to Gunter clearly shows a studio apartment with amenities to support a living space and he also proved he receives mail there, the registrar said. The garage where Mr. Griffin testified he lays his head clearly meets the requirements of place of abode, the physical place where a person dwells, Gunter said. What we must dig deeper into is the question of domicile. Mr. Griffin has produced many documents that would lead you to believe he intended this to be his residence. A residence can be established in a commercial, industrial or other building that is not normally used for residential purposes if the building serves as the applicants primary nighttime residence, Gunter said. Zoning and occupancy regulations are an issue separate from residency for purposes of voting, she said. I must register him where he actually sleeps at night, Gunter said. Gunter said the petitioners provided exhibits, including correspondence from the Bedford County Department of Community Development on a notice of violation and Griffin is expected to vacate the garage in May. If he relocates, he must properly update his voter registration to reflect the new address, Gunter said. After the hearing, Gunter confirmed she has dealt with a legal challenge to a candidates residency on only one other occasion in her 19-year tenure. In response to the zoning issue at the residence, Griffin said relocating to a new residence in upcoming months is not a big deal. He said in the release one of the petitioners is a financial supporter of Mays. Mays attended the hearing and said concerned citizens bringing legal concerns before the proper authorities after consulting with an attorney should not instigate what she described as negative treatment from Griffin and some of his supporters. She said she attended the two hearings this week as a concerned citizen of the district. Im just a common everyday citizen taking a stand for truth and integrity, Mays said. I can vow, and I can promise that when I am elected, I will vow to uphold the Constitution and truth and integrity, something I think politics needs. Outgoing Del. Kathy Byron, R-Bedford, was honored for her two-plus decades in public service by Lynchburg City Council on Tuesday night, receiving a key to the City of Lynchburg as a parting gift. Byron, a 26-year veteran of Virginias General Assembly, represented Virginias 22nd House district, which encompassed parts of Bedford and Campbell counties, as well as Lynchburg. She announced in February she would not seek reelection in 2023, when all 140 seats in the Virginia General Assembly will be on the ballot. During Tuesday nights regular city council meeting, Mayor Stephanie Reed read remarks honoring Byron for her many years of service to the citizens of Lynchburg and the region. Calling it a tremendous honor to receive the key to the city, Byron thanked the citizens of Lynchburg for their support by sending her to Richmond. The people of Lynchburg have been unfailingly patriotic, hardworking, God-fearing, humble, generous, patient, kind people. And its been a distinct honor of mine to be able to serve them for 26 years, Byron said. I believe you have the best law enforcement in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I have been privileged to serve with them and to assist them in many ways, Byron said, thanking Lynchburg Police Chief Ryan Zuidema for his collaboration with her. In a jam-packed council chambers, with residents ready to voice their opinions on the real estate tax rate, Byron said it was wonderful to see citizens willing to lend their voices to the elected officials. We need to hear your voice as we make those tough decisions, she said. In closing, Byron thanked council for the honor, but said, most importantly, I think I need to thank the people of the area for entrusting me to be your delegate for 26 years. Thank you. ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) A Virginia man who caught and sold wild turtles has pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally trafficking the reptiles. Stanlee Fazi, 41, of Louisa, Virginia, admitted Monday in federal court in Alexandria that he made nearly $13,000 over three years selling turtles to customers across the U.S. Prosecutors said many were brokers who went on to sell the turtles to customers in Asia, where the animals are in demand as pets. Authorities have said there is an increasing demand for pet turtles in many areas around the world, and that demand is fueling an increase in turtle poaching. Fazi sold primarily eastern box turtles, which can live for up to 100 years. In particular demand were screamer turtles, which have unusually colorful markings on their shells. Court documents show that Fazi would post messages on Facebook pages dedicated to reptiles, offering turtles for sale. He would respond dismissively when others told him that what he was doing was illegal. I know all about the laws and would be stupid to not research first, he wrote in one post. Virginia wildlife-protection laws makes it illegal to take any turtle species from the wild and sell them, and a federal law makes it a federal crime to violate state wildlife laws. Fazi's attorney, Ed Ungvarsky said his client only sold to fellow turtle aficionados and didn't intend for any of the turtles to leave the country. Fazi charged customers about $200 for an individual turtle, more for ones with unusual colors, court documents show. He is set to be sentenced July 26. The Virginia Employment Commission has laid off nearly 160 employees because of anticipated loss in federal funding to support their jobs, despite an ongoing effort to recover from a record number of claims for unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. The VEC notified 157 employees on Tuesday that their jobs will end at the agency on June 9, in addition to eight others who left the agency for jobs at other state agencies or elsewhere. Virginia Employment Commissioner Carrie Roth said the layoffs will not affect urgent work for adjudicating disputed unemployment claims and hearing appeals of agency decisions. That is the last remaining large backlog stemming from more than 2 million requests for unemployment compensation after the pandemic turned the state's labor market upside down three years ago. Instead, the VEC has transferred 11 grant-restricted positions to help with the appeals backlog. The layoffs underscore the challenge facing the VEC as an agency that relies on federal grants to pay for its operations because it generally does not receive money from Virginia's general fund budget. "This is a response to a long-anticipated reduction in federal funding following the pandemic," said Roth, noting that VEC staff "fluctuates depending on federal funding and workload. "These are issues that face all of the agencies across the country," she said in an interview. "Not only does it need to be addressed at the state level, but at the federal level we need to look at how to catch up to where we are in 2023." Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who appointed Roth as commissioner 15 months ago in the midst of the crisis, is facing some of the same budget challenges at VEC as his predecessor, then-Gov. Ralph Northam. Youngkin, a Republican, strongly criticized Northam, a Democrat, during the 2021 gubernatorial campaign for his handling of unemployment claims during the pandemic. Northam diverted state tax funds to the VEC after facing a federal lawsuit from unemployed Virginians and their legal advocates over backlogged unemployment insurance requests in 2021. Virginia generally has targeted that money for specific needs, such as completing a long-stalled information technology upgrade or hiring temporary workers, rather than financing daily operations. As a result, the VEC has to use federal funds to pay for raises the state gives other employees and for IT licensing fees and services. "Our big (budget) drivers are technology and personnel," said Roth, who led technology startup companies before taking the job. "Technology is a huge cost." The lessons of the pandemic are not lost on General Assembly leaders who discovered during the crisis that the VEC had been underfunded because of its reliance on federal payroll taxes and grants that vary from year to year. "We need to be funding the VEC to do its mission, not based on available federal funding," said Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, chairman of the assembly's Commission on Unemployment Compensation, who called the layoffs "disappointing." Youngkin proposed to include $30 million in the revised two-year state budget as a line of credit for the VEC to use in future emergencies, but the assembly remains deadlocked over the spending plan because the Democratic-controlled Senate and Republican-controlled House of Delegates are divided over $1 billion in tax cuts that the governor proposed in December. "We shouldn't be funding it based on an emergency," Ebbin said. "We should be funding it based on its mission." The VEC is laying off employees in its call centers, which had been overwhelmed during the crisis; workforce programs; and administration. The agency expects to fill 927 full-time equivalent positions after the job cuts, or 100 more than in January 2020, before the pandemic began. The number rose to almost 1,200 employees and more than 1,000 temporary contractors by early 2022 as the agency fought to eliminate backlogs, especially in disputed claims awaiting adjudications. The agency reported to the assembly last month that it had completed 94% of more than 1 million in backlogged unemployment insurance items that Youngkin inherited when he was inaugurated on Jan. 15, 2022, but acknowledged that it still faced a backlog of 86,546 appeals of decisions made against unemployment claimants or employers after adjudicating disputes over eligibility. On Tuesday, the number of pending appeals was 84,747, representing 45,994 individual claimants and employers. Virginia ranks at or near the bottom in the latest quarterly rankings by the U.S. Department of Labor for timely first payment of benefits and non-monentary determinations. The state also ranks third for the longest average wait for resolution of first-level appeals at 427.3 days. Roth said the lag in timely first payments and non-monetary determinations reflects delays in resolving potentially fraudulent claims, but she said the agency has made first payments within 21 days in 84% of claims filed since the first week of February. The layoffs do not "impact appeals or adjudications," Roth emphasized in the interview, adding that the VEC is making "unprecedented efforts" to help affected employees find jobs at other state agencies. Ebbin said he appreciates the work that the VEC has done to recover from backlogs during the pandemic, but he added, "It's disappointing to see layoffs before they're caught up." A group of Harrison County businesses will participate in a fundraiser to help cancer patients this weekend. The third annual Boyer Valley Corridor Boutique Crawl-Ladies Day Out will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at participating businesses in Dunlap, Woodbine, Logan and Missouri Valley. Each site will sell raffle tickets for a gift basket for $5 each and can punch tickets for visitors. The ticket selected in each community will be entered into a final drawing for the basket, according to Dollie Bothwell, owner of Fleurish at 402 Walker St. in Woodbine. Guests can participate in a class on Kokedama a type of plant arrangement design at 9:30 a.m. at Fleurish, take Girlfriend Pink Out pictures from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kelli Marie Photography at 310 Lincolnway in Woodbine, eat lunch at Good Fellows Restaurant in Woodbine from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (which will hold fashion shows at 11:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.) and, of course, shop at any or all of the participating businesses. We have some really great restaurants and boutiques, so I hope folks come out and participate, Bothwell said. Proceeds from the raffle will go to the nonprofit Check the Girls Foundation, which connects with hospitals, schools, grocery stores and restaurants to provide direct assistance to patients undergoing cancer treatments in the form of gas cards and meals. Their main goal is to help subsidize them with gas cards and such for their trips to treatment, Bothwell said. Participating locations will include the following: Dunlap Custom Trends, 111 Iowa Ave. Suite 1; Schaben from Scratch + Common Threads, 611 Iowa Ave.; and Vintage Envy Boutique, 609 Iowa Ave. Woodbine Maxines Boutique & More, 63 Fifth St.; Fleurish, 402 Walker St.; Aroma Bakery (Coffee) 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., 409 Walker St.; Book Sale at Woodbine Carnegie Public Library, 58 Fifth St., 9 a.m. to noon; Kellie Marie Photography, 310 Lincolnway St. Logan She Market Pop Up, 303 E. Seventh St.; Grey Gelding Coffee Co., 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 313 E. Seventh St.; One Farm, 215 E. Seventh St.; All Things Diva, 121 N. Fourth St.; and Rust Bucket, 412 E. Seventh St. Missouri Valley Fishers Petals & Posies, 410 E. Erie St.; Mack Black, 507 E. Erie St.; Rise & Grind Coffee Co., 401 E. Erie St.; and Harrison Co. Welcome Center, 2931 Monroe Ave. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Weather Alert ...FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM CDT THIS MORNING... * WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 31 expected. * WHERE...Knox, Antelope, Pierce, Boone, Madison and Platte Counties. * WHEN...Until 8 AM CDT this morning. * IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above- ground pipes to protect them from freezing. && HANOI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam received an estimated 5.85 billion U.S. dollars in actual inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first four months of this year, down 1.2 percent from the same period a year ago, Vietnam News reported on Wednesday. Total registered FDI as of April 20, including new pledges, additional investment funds to existing projects and share acquisition, fell 18 percent to a combined 8.9 billion U.S. dollars year on year, according to the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Vietnam licensed 4.1 billion U.S. dollars worth of 750 new projects in the first four months of this year, up 11.1 percent from a year ago, said the foreign investment authorities. Nearly 1.66 billion U.S. dollars went into 386 existing projects during the January-April period, down 68.6 percent from a year ago, which indicates a slower declining trend as the additional investment funds slumped 85.2 percent in the first two months and 70.3 percent in the first three months. The statistics showed foreign investors' confidence in Vietnam's investment environment as they continued to expand their existing projects in the country, the FIA said. Foreigners also invested over 3.1 billion U.S. dollars in the January-April period, marking a year-on-year increase of 70.4 percent, through acquiring stakes in local companies, data showed. Singapore was the top source of direct investment pledges in the period with nearly 2.2 billion U.S. dollars, followed by Japan with about 2 billion U.S. dollars and China with nearly $752 million. Six biggest foreign investors accounted for 75.1 percent of the country's total investment capital in the period, the FIA added. Foreign investors were mainly interested in the technology and manufacturing sector as they pledged to invest over 5.1 billion dollars, equivalent to 57.8 percent of the total registered capital. Banking and finance came second with over 1.5 billion dollars, 12 times higher than the same period last year. FDI inflows have been a key driver of Vietnam's economic growth. Companies with investments from foreign firms accounted for about 74.4 percent of the country's total exports last year, according to the country's General Statistics Office. As fierce battles between armed forces loyal to two rival generals continue raging and with Sudanese counting their losses, the wider region is already reeling from the impact of the one-week conflict due to Khartoums economic importance in Northeast Africa, according to analysts. Khartoums economic importance to its neighbors have already been felt and, as the conflict continues unabated, the wider region should brace for more losses, analysts warn. Located between Suez Canal and Bab el Mandeb, right by a busy shipping lane in the Red Sea, and bordering North Africa, the Sahel and Central Africa, Sudans security and stability is important for business and trade. Sudan also plays a key role in preventing infiltration of terror merchants, or illegal weapons, who may be hiding in troubled Libya, says Claire Amuhaya of Rudn University in Moscow. It connects important transportation routes for aviation, oil and other stuff. It needs to be in stable hands to sustain this flow, she adds. Thus its hardly surprising that leaders in the region have called for de-escalation, fearing that the war could not only spread but it would be a new economic burden to their efforts to rise from recent global crises. For Sudan, it is not just the port of business with the outside world that matters. Sudans airspace is among the largest aviation territories on the continent, making it a useful route when going to or from Europe, but airlines have now either avoided the violence areas, taking on longer routes, or suspended scheduled flights. Some countries and companies in Africa have been concerned about the impact of the war in Sudan on supply chains and trade. Sudan is one of the biggest importers of our coffee and we should be worried, said Stephen Asiimwe, executive director of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda. Sudan is the second-largest importer of Ugandan coffee after the European Union, as well as a major importer of its tea, spices, vehicles, animals, vegetable fats, and other agricultural produce. The fighting threatens to destabilize not just Sudan but much of the region, Davis Nyagah, an Immigration Law consultant, warns. The crisis has a regional bend since the repercussions from the conflict could compromise regional security, peace and stability, thus undermining economic, political and security interests. Kenya has slammed Russia and Gulf countries for their involvement in Sudans politics that does not help to find a solution to the conflict, while an exclusive article published by the Washington Post accuses the Russias Wagner Group of aggressively working to create a confederation of anti-Western states in Africa by creating instability across the continent. Kenyas Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has said that external interference had made it difficult to reach lasting peace in Sudan, echoing concerns that only the African Union (AU) had expressed in vague terms last week. Speaking at a joint briefing in Washington alongside his host Antony Blinken, Mutua said that it is quite tragic that we have more bullets coming into Sudan or being used in Sudan than food (and that) a lot of other players (are) trying to use Sudan as a playing field for whatever reason, for the gold in Sudan, for territorial strength and control of the region. He also urged external forces to leave Sudan alone as an African continent and the AU and intergovernmental organization called Igad, we are trying to find solutions for Sudan. When asked to clarify his remarks, Kenyas top diplomat fingered Russia and some Gulf countries for taking sides in the conflict. Weve been quite concerned by some of our friends in the Middle East as (inaudible) Russia and others who for a long time have been friendly to either one or the other side, Mutua added. Meanwhile, in an exclusive article, Washington Post puts a blame for the conflict in Sudan squarely on the Wagner Group that is aggressively working to create a confederation of anti-Western states in Africa as the Russian mercenaries create instability while using their paramilitary and disinformation capabilities to aid Moscows allies. Indeed, the Washington-based newspaper asserts that Wagner (is ) a relatively unconstrained force in Africa, expanding its presence and ambitions on that continent even as the war in Ukraine has become a grinding, if not all-consuming, problem for the Kremlin. The Wall Street Journal has recently reported of the mercenaries having offered heavy weapons to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) currently engaged in unrestrained combat with Sudans national army. Citing leaked intelligence documents, the Washington Post warns that Wagner and related business empire of its owner and Putin ally, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who have even offered to be Khartoums peacemaker, have ramped up Africa operations in recent years, and along with that, expanding both its ambitions and ability to exert authority. After instruction from King Mohammed VI, Morocco has started evacuating its citizens from Sudan as in-fighting worsens in the country. A first plane carrying 136 Moroccan Nationals stranded in Sudan landed at Casablanca Airport this Wednesday morning, and a second plane is expected to arrive later in the day. The Royal Air Maroc plane took off at night from Port Sudan airport, after opening a special air bridge to evacuate Moroccan citizens who arrived in Port Sudan in batches. Moroccos consular services secured the evacuation of at least 300 nationals to Port Sudan where they will be airlifted to Casablanca, according to Moroccan ambassador to Khartoum. Many other evacuation operations are underway after the declaration of a 72-hour ceasefire. Sudan has descended into deadly clashes and chaos as forces loyal to two rival generals fight for power leaving civilians in precarious conditions. The conflict broke out when Sudans military leader Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan attempted to integrate the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan, into the countrys army. Though the actual number of casualties is still to be determined, at least 500 people have died so far, according to observers on the ground. Kumulus, a Tunisian startup operating in water industry, won Tuesday the European Bank for Reconstruction and Developments startup competition AgVenture aiming at supporting innovative early-stage agribusiness technology ventures in the economies where EBRD invests. The challenge unveiled the names of the winners at EBRD Consumer Rules Summit held in Zagreb, Serbia. Kumulus produces and operates machines replicating the dew phenomenon, sustainably producing fresh water. The companys website says the venture designs, manufactures, and operates machines that create drinking water using solar power and the humidity in the air. Other two winners include Biftek and Smapp Lab. Biftk, from Turkey, is growth supplement producer cutting the cost of lab-grown meat while Smapp Lab is a Hungarian insect monitoring platform that helps farmers optimize pesticide use. EBRD AgVenture will assist these start-ups to enhance their competitiveness and growth, which will contribute to the major problems faced by food systems today including but not limited to food security, rising input costs, intensified climate change, and fair inclusion of minorities, and small businesses in global value chains. The winners will receive a tailored advisory service through the dedicated EBRD Star Venture experience in value of 80,000 for winners, a 10,000 grant for additional services, visibility at global forums and connection to EBRD and other networks. The summit focuses on consumer spending, which drives nearly 60% of world GDP, and is an engine for economic activity. It aims at connecting entrepreneurs with international investors, retailers, food producers, regulatory authorities, and other relevant stakeholders, with the aim to promote investments in these highly dynamic sectors, strongly supported by the EBRD. The Chadian government has brushed aside reports that Ndjamena is backing up the Sudanese army in the ongoing internal conflict opposing it to the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Force (RSF). The Foreign ministry of the central African country has issued a statement in response to media reports citing a diplomatic source that the transitional government led by Mohamed Idriss Deby is endorsing the Sudanese government. In these circumstances, the Minister of Foreign Affairs remains the most reliable diplomatic source, the statement said. The statement also slammed the reports, which the ministry believes, are meant to tarnish the image of the country. Sudans capital, Khartoum, and its sister cities Omdurman and Bahri have been rocked by fierce battles between the army and the RSF. The showdown, which entered the second week last Saturday has left hundreds dead and thousands wounded while survivors cope with shortages of electricity and food. Chadian authorities announced last week that over 300 Sudanese soldiers have fled the fighting and crossed into Chad to seek refuge for fear of being killed by RSF troops. The country also evacuated 438 Chadians from Khartoum back home. President Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo has sent a written message to King Mohammed VI. The message was handed over to Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita by Congolese Minister for the Environment, Sustainable Development and the Congo Basin, Arlette Soudan-Nonault, who is also the coordinator of the Congo Basin Climate Commission. In a statement to the press after her meeting with Bourita in Rabat on Tuesday, Ms. Sudan-Nonault said that her visit to Morocco is part of the preparation of the summit of the three global forest basins scheduled for next October in Brazzaville. Soudan-Nonault has, in this connection, commended the commitment of King Mohammed VI in favor of biodiversity and climate, particularly in the African continental region, recalling that the Sovereign was behind the initiative to create the three climate commissions on the occasion of the African Action Summit held on November 16, 2016 in Marrakech on the sidelines of COP22. The King is the great sponsor of the three climate commissions in the African continental region, she said, noting that the Sovereign has been supporting the Congo Basin Climate Commission step by step since its creation. She also stressed that Morocco is a great partner in the Climate Commission alongside the 15 countries of the Congo Basin, which represent 10 pc of the worlds biodiversity. We need this coalition led by His Majesty the King so that we can speak with one voice in the context of South-South cooperation, without forgetting to involve the countries of the North, she stressed, noting that the climate emergency requires the mobilization of financial resources for inclusive and sovereign projects that meet the aspirations of the regions populations. The Congolese minister said in this regard that the Brazzaville summit of the three basins of African biodiversity will allow to keep pace with the dynamics of the Paris Agreement. The Brazzaville meeting will also focus on the Amazon basin, Borneo-Mekong in Southeast Asia, which represent 80 percent of global biodiversity, she said. Except for the U.S. and Nebraska flags, the colorful flagpoles surrounding the Wild West Memorial at the entrance to North Platte's Cody Park have been bare as of late. They usually display the flags of the other 47 U.S. states and 10 nations visited by William F. Cody's "Buffalo Bill's Wild West" between 1883 and 1913. City Administrator Layne Groseth said the flags are periodically replaced as they wear out, but several of the needed replacement flags are on back order. The city hopes to restore the 1998 memorial's full-color splendor in time for Memorial Day weekend, Groseth said. The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission says it expects no significant impact on the environment from converting most of the 41-year-old Trailblazer Pipeline from natural gas to carbon dioxide transportation. FERC will take public comments through 5 p.m. ET Monday on its environmental assessment clearing the way for the three-state pipelines conversion, the agency said in a March 31 filing. Trailblazer, completed in November 1982, runs 436 miles through parts of Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska from south of Cheyenne to Beatrice. It parallels the Colorado-Nebraska border in Kimball and Cheyenne counties, drops down into Sedgwick County, Colorado, re-enters Nebraska near Venango and cuts through Perkins, southern Lincoln, southwest Dawson and northern Gosper counties. Lincoln County commissioners Aug. 8 approved a letter of support for Trailblazers proposed conversion. Wallace and Wellfleet lie near the natural gas pipeline. Colorado-based Tallgrass Energy, which owns Trailblazer and the parallel Rockies Express Pipeline (REX), asked FERC in May 2022 to let it abandon all of Trailblazer except its eastern end in regard to natural gas transport. Instead of sending gas eastbound toward Beatrice, the western 392 miles of Trailblazer would send carbon dioxide captured in Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado westbound to a commercial-scale carbon sequestration hub in eastern Wyoming. That hub is expected to go online next year. Trailblazers natural gas customers would be served instead by REX, a 2009 pipeline running 1,679 miles from the Colorado Rockies to eastern Ohio. Tallgrass would build two new laterals totaling 41 miles of pipe to connect Trailblazer customers to REX. Because Tallgrass intends to shift rather than increase its natural gas delivery capacity, Trailblazers conversion would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, FERC said in its March 31 filing. The agencys draft environmental assessment would require Tallgrass to follow state regulatory directives and mitigate for any potential disturbance of sensitive species or cultural resources. It also couldnt increase REXs natural gas carrying capacity, the document adds. If FERC allows abandonment of Trailblazers use for natural gas, the 392 miles tapped for carbon dioxide transport would not be subject to the Commissions jurisdiction in the future, the March 31 filing adds. The 366-page environmental assessment is available only in electronic form due to its length. It may be viewed and downloaded at ferc.gov/industries-data/natural-gas/environmental-overview/environmental-documents-2023. Click on the EAs tab for the link to the Trailblazer document. Comments may be submitted electronically by clicking FERC Online on the ferc.gov homepage. Clicking eComment allows the user to submit Microsoft Word or text documents of up to 6,000 characters. People may file longer comments and documents by clicking eRegister to establish an account and then eFiling to submit the documents, FERC says. Those wishing to submit electronic comments by either method may email FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call 866-208-3676 for assistance. People who prefer to file paper copies of their comments must ensure they arrive at FERCs office by the 5 p.m. ET Monday deadline, the agency says. Letters should be mailed to Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St. NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Include the Trailblazer projects docket number (CP22-468-000). Submissions through carriers other than the U.S. Postal Service must be sent for processing to 12225 Wilkins Ave., Rockville, MD 20852. For more information on the Trailblazer conversion project, call FERCs Office of External Affairs at 866-208-FERC (866-208-3372) or click eLibrary on the FERC website. Okinawa lawmaker Katsutoshi Toyama speaks in an interview after talks at Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, Japan, April 25, 2023. A delegation of lawmakers from Japan's Okinawa Prefecture has called on the country's government to engage in peacebuilding through dialogue and diplomacy. In a resolution submitted to the Defense Ministry, the Cabinet Office and the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on Monday and Tuesday, the lawmakers also urged efforts to prevent the southernmost prefecture from becoming a battlefield again. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu) TOKYO, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A delegation of lawmakers from Japan's Okinawa Prefecture has called on the country's government to engage in peacebuilding through dialogue and diplomacy. In a resolution submitted to the Defense Ministry, the Cabinet Office and the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on Monday and Tuesday, the lawmakers also urged efforts to prevent the southernmost prefecture from becoming a battlefield again. Japan should not attempt to achieve deterrence by deploying missiles or other means to strengthen military power in the southwestern islands region, according to the resolution. Japan should follow the principles it reached with China in relevant political documents, develop friendly relations with China, and resolve issues peacefully, it added. The resolution, adopted by the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly on March 30, is the first of its kind seeking peaceful diplomacy and voicing concern over the three updated documents on Japan's security and defense policies, reflecting the collective aspirations of the Okinawa people. "The Japanese government's excessive reinforcement of defense and military forces has made us feel that Okinawa is at risk of becoming a battlefield again," Okinawa lawmaker Katsutoshi Toyama told the media on Tuesday. Toyama noted that the central government's response to their visit to Tokyo and the resolution made him feel that their goals had not been achieved. In December last year, the Japanese government approved three revised security and defense-related documents, including the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy and the Defense Buildup Program, all of which mentioned the need to strengthen the Japan Self-Defense Forces stationed in Okinawa and expand their access to local airports and ports. North Plattes Community Redevelopment Authority will decide Thursday morning whether to recommend tax increment financing to expand the 80-unit Victory Village apartment complex to 200 units. CRA members also will complete action on a $2.75 million TIF contract to aid Wilkinson Cos. $16 million-plus development of the last open quadrant at Interstate 80s Newberry Access exit. The 9 a.m. meeting in the City Hall council chamber, 211 W. Third St., will be livestreamed on the citys YouTube channel. The link and a copy of the CRAs agenda may be found at north-platte.ne.us/government/city-council/agendas-minutes. A positive CRA vote on Victory Village would send DP Development LLCs request for $2.23 million in TIF aid toward the complexs completion to a decisive May 2 City Council public hearing and vote. DP, which received $1.6 million in TIF toward first-phase infrastructure costs, had received CRA permission in September to add 40 units with help from the remaining $1.3 million in TIF authorized by the council in 2020. After setbacks including rising supply costs and last falls death of DP CEO Terry Clouff, the Omaha-based firm recast and broadened its plan at the urging of North Platte leaders. It combines the previously planned 40-unit second phase with a final 80-unit expansion that had been on DPs long-term radar. That would more than double Victory Villages eightplex apartment buildings, from 10 to 25. The firms financing now includes an undisclosed amount from North Plattes Great Plains Health and a $250,000 North Platte Area Chamber & Development Corp. loan combining local donations and remaining Nebraska Rural Workforce Housing Fund dollars from the chambers Shot in the Arm incentive program. DP will buy the needed land north of Victory Villages current units for $800,000 but without any TIF reimbursement for that purpose, the CRAs proposed resolution for the council says. The firms latest TIF request seeks to gradually recover less than 10% of the expansions vertical construction costs under a 2018 state law meant to encourage more workforce housing in rural Nebraska. For vertical costs to be an allowable TIF expense, an apartment project must be built for less than $200,000 per unit. DP officials estimate Victory Villages completion will cost $190,000 per unit. TIF dedicates property taxes generated by a projects increase in taxable value to reimbursing its developers agreed-to eligible costs for up to 15 years. If the clock runs out before those costs are covered, the developer has to absorb the unpaid amount. Wilkinsons I-80 Exit 179 project, approved 5-3 by the City Council April 4, will receive TIF reimbursements for up to 15 years toward part of its site preparation and infrastructure costs to fill out the interchanges long vacant, low-lying northeast quadrant. The projects keystone will be a Fat Dogs truck stop, one of five Wilkinson has opened or is building along 275 miles of I-80 from Ogallala to Lincoln. Other features of the Exit 179 development will include a quick-serve restaurant, a hotel, park land and office space for Wilkinsons corporate headquarters. The homegrown North Platte company received TIF reimbursements from 2004 to 2019 for part of its costs to build the Fritz Subdivision strip mall just north of North Plattes Walmart. Wilkinson fell $84,921 short of recovering its $287,945 in agreed-to eligible expenses for that project, according to city records. UPDATED, April 26, 2023, 12:50 pm: Corrects amount of additional TIF aid sought for Victory Village expansion. *** Completion of the Victory Village apartment complexs full 200-unit vision took another step forward Tuesday with a unanimous positive vote from the North Platte Planning Commission. Members voted 8-0 to recommend $2.23 million in additional tax increment financing for the complexs last 120 units, sending the $26 million plan back to the Community Redevelopment Authority before an expected City Council public hearing and vote May 2. Identical 8-0 votes favored annexing the 65.03 acres of land that Chief Development Inc. first proposed in 2019 for a senior living complex, as well as 8.93 acres to its west that encompasses the north end of the NPPD Canal. Five other agenda items also won 8-0 votes as the Planning Commission moved through its agenda in less than 45 minutes. Senior member Don Weber was absent Tuesday. Brian Reilly of Omaha, president of Victory Village developer DP Development LLC, and North Platte Area Chamber & Development Corp. President and CEO Gary Person were the only speakers during a public hearing on DPs revised redevelopment plan and TIF request. CRA members will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday in the City Hall council chamber to consider that panels formal recommendation of the project to the council. The five-member board also will finalize an unrelated TIF contract for Wilkinson Cos. Fat Dogs truck stop complex at Interstate 80 Exit 179. DP dedicated its first 80 units last July at the apartment complex near West A Street and Lakeview Boulevard. The $9.5 million first phase was built with help from up to $1.6 million worth of gradual TIF reimbursements for infrastructure costs, plus Nebraska Rural Workforce Housing Fund dollars and local donations through Phase 2 of the chambers Shot in the Arm homebuilder incentive program. The longtime manager of North Plattes District 177 shopping center (formerly Platte River Mall) won CRA approval in September to build 40 more units while accessing the last $1.3 million in TIF enabled when the council approved Victory Villages first phase in February 2020. We basically begged Brians group to move forward on another phase that they had intended to do at some point, Person said. The 40-unit expansion was shelved due to rising supply costs and the Oct. 15 death of DP CEO Terry Clauff, who planned to be a key personal investor. But chamber leaders helped reassemble and broaden the expansions financing while strongly urging DP leaders to fully build out their ultimate 200-unit vision to take a bigger bite out of North Plattes housing shortage. Their evidence of the exceptional work they do and the exceptional developments they bring to the community you can just walk through them and see, Person said. The residents there are some of their best ambassadors. DPs revised financing package includes a $250,000 performance-based loan from the chamber financed by remaining local and Rural Workforce Housing Fund dollars from Shot in the Arm Phase 3 and an undisclosed amount from Great Plains Health. The hospital revealed its role Monday. It also calls for $2.23 million in additional TIF aid rather than $1.3 million. The increase and the expansions larger scope necessitated DPs second and current round of city hearings and votes now under way. Person recalled the long path the chamber had to follow to develop housing at West A and Lakeview since it identified the site in 2014. It was made TIF-eligible in April 2016, but two developers explored and ultimately rejected the project before DP took it on. My point is this is nine years later after we started down this path, Person said. Thats how challenging housing is for all communities, but I think especially in North Platte We need this in the worst sort of way. Reilly confirmed earlier statements that DP has fully rented out all of Victory Villages first 80 units in less than a year since Julys dedication. Planning Commission Chairman David Fudge thanked Person and Reilly after the panels vote. Mr. Reilly, thank you for your companys investment in our community, he said. No one spoke during a public hearing on the pair of annexation requests related to Grand Island-based Chief Developments vision of building a variety of 55-and-older housing options north of North Platte Community Colleges North Campus. Chief officials unveiled their vision in August 2019 as the climax of a three-pronged development plan on both sides of I-80 between North Plattes two exits. The Iron Trail Industrial Park warehouse complex has been established at Twin Rivers Business Park, while commercial projects farther east on Halligan Drive still are planned. Chief requested that their Hahler property senior-living site be annexed as a preliminary step toward making the senior-living complex a reality, Planning Administrator Judy Clark told the Planning Commission. That led Police Chief Steve Reeves to ask for annexation of the adjoining NPPD Canal land. He noted that North Platte police currently lack jurisdiction there because its outside city limits, Clark said. Nebraska Public Power District officials sent a letter saying they wont oppose the annexation, she added. No one spoke during the public hearing on annexing the canal land. The council will hold hearings and take initial votes on both annexations May 2, when the other items voted on Tuesday also will be on its agenda. Planning Commission members also endorsed four subdivision plats scattered across the city, including one for the first four lots of North Platte Area Habitat for Humanitys next housing development at East Second Street and McCabe Avenue. Habitat, which hopes to build eight to 12 homes in the area, wants to divide two current East Second lots into four. Construction on two homes has started on them, but the next two cant proceed without the lot split, Clark said. The North Platte chamber won endorsement of a subdivision plat creating five lots from Twin Rivers remaining open land. It plans to install two new public streets with help from $2.8 million in TIF the council approved last June. Planning panel members gave their blessing to a lot split sought by James Hassett for his property at 808 Rodeo Road. He wants to sell the home on the site but retain the garage for storage, Clark said. Finally, Jared and Melony OKeefe won the commissions backing for a rezoning ordinance and subdivision plat so they can buy 3.62 acres from Sharon and Pamela Bourne next to the OKeefes home at 4114 Victoria Lane. The extra land, which Clark said the couple wants as a buffer to neighboring land, needs to be rezoned to match the homes R-3 zoning. No one spoke against the idea at a public hearing. CN, the railroad company that operates the Kirk Yard in downtown Gary, reached a tentative labor agreement with a union representing its workers in Canada. The Montreal-based rail giant that runs freight trains all through Northwest Indiana and North America, came to a new collective bargaining agreement with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference. We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the TCRC. We would like to thank their leadership for engaging with CN in proactive and productive discussions, ensuring uninterrupted service for our customers. We look forward to working with them in the future," said CN President and CEO Tracy Robinson. The Teamsters union represents about 6,000 employees who work on CNs mainline, shortlines and yards in Canada. Its members include conductors, locomotive engineers, yard conductors and yard coordinators. We are pleased to have reached an agreement with CN. I would like to congratulate the bargaining committee on their hard work, and thank all the members who took part in this process, said the national president of Teamsters Canada, Francois Laporte. Workers must now vote to ratify or pass on the deal. Now that we have reached a tentative agreement, it will be important for members to attend their local meeting, get informed, and vote to shape the future of their working conditions, said Paul Boucher, president of the TCRC. The company transports more than 300 tons of goods a year. It operates a vast 18,600-mile rail network that extends from Canada's east and western coasts to the southern United States. It's that time of the year when wildflowers are in bloom in the Indiana Dunes National Park. People can see trillium, Dutchmans breeches, spring beauties and other flowers start to bud at some of the more than two dozen natural sites that make up the National Park along the South Shore of Lake Michigan. National Park Service rangers will lead a two-hour guided hike from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday Heron Rookery in Porter County near the LaPorte County border to see woodland flowers. "The Heron Rookery is one of the best locations in the Region to see spring wildflowers. Be prepared for muddy conditions," Supervisory Park Ranger-Interpretation and Education/Public Information Officer Bruce Rowe said. Any interested hikers can meet at the Herons Rookerys east parking lot at 1336 North County Road 600E in Michigan City. It now costs $25 to visit the Indiana Dunes National Park between one to seven days. The National Park in Northwest Indiana stretches across 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, from Gary to Michigan City. It encompasses many diverse habitats, including beaches, prairies, bogs, woods, marshes and globally rare oak and savannah habitat. As many as three million visitors come to the Indiana Dunes National Park a year. For more information, call 219-395-1882, visit our nps.gov/indu or find the Indiana Dunes National Park on Facebook. The Gary Community School Corp. once again will have a local school board. The Indiana General Assembly gave final approval Tuesday to legislation reestablishing a school board in Gary nearly six years after its previous elected school board was dissolved and the school district taken over by the state for financial mismanagement. Senate Enrolled Act 327 establishes a five-member, appointed school board in the Steel City beginning July 1 to eventually replace the Indiana Distressed Unit Appeals Board (DUAB) as the school district's governing body. Under the plan, the mayor of Gary will appoint one school board member, the Gary Common Council will select another, and the three remaining picks will be made by the Indiana secretary of education, who must appoint at least one Gary resident, one resident of Gary or Lake County, and a final member from anywhere. The school board initially will be tasked with advising the districts emergency manager. It will take full control, including the power to appoint a superintendent, on July 1, 2024, or a later date when DUAB certifies Gary schools no longer are financially distressed. State lawmakers representing Gary said they welcomed the partial return of local control. But some, including state Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary, and state Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, explained they could not support the measure because Gary deserves a school board made up solely of Gary residents and elected by its citizens, just like nearly every other community in the state. Specifically, Melton said the city needs a definite end-date for state authority over Gary schools while the legislation only hints at a potential reevaluation of Gary school governance by the 2027 General Assembly. "I've talked to the residents of my district, and more than anything, theres a desire to have real input in the future of our community. Gary residents simply want local control of our school district and the right to lead decisions surrounding the education of our children," Melton said. Though state Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary, who supported the proposal along with state Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, said she considers the plan "a bright new day for Gary families, students and educators," even if it's just a start toward local control. "It is critically important that members of the community have a voice on their school board. This legislation gives back some of the control that has been taken away over the past few years, and I hope it's a starting point to have school board members who are elected by the people of Gary making up the entire board," Hatcher said. Indeed, advocates for the legislation, which is headed to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb to be signed into law, described it as a first step toward returning control of Gary schools to local officials following a period of relentless cost-cutting and right-sizing by a state-appointed emergency manager. Thanks in part to the extra financial resources obtained through a successful 2020 voter referendum, Gary schools now have a $1.3 million annual operating surplus and paid off all but $66 million in debt, and the district has a five-year financial plan in place to maintain solvency and stability. In contrast, Gary's school district was taken over by the state in 2017 after its former school board spent $21.5 million more than the district took in, racked up $103 million in debt, frequently struggled to make payroll, stiffed vendors, routinely failed to remit to the IRS tax payments withheld from employee paychecks, and fell $3 million behind on paying employee health insurance premiums. 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 CROWN POINT An Illinois man faces a slew of drug charges after police used a confidential informant and caught him dealing cocaine, heroin and fentanyl. Charles D. Willis, 30, was charged on Monday with two counts of dealing in cocaine and three counts of dealing in a narcotic drug, which are all level four felonies. Level four felonies carry a sentence of between two and 12 years. Charging documents show that Merrillville police utilized a confidential informant to conduct a controlled purchase, wherein the informant bought drugs while wearing audio and video recording devices. Police enacted two separate purchases during their investigation, one on March 13 and the other on April 4, according to court records. Ahead of both purchases, the informant called Willis and asked for cocaine and heroin. Records show that Willis told them the deal would happen in the next 15 minutes. The drugs were purchased with a predetermined amount of money from the Hammond controlled purchase fund, according to the probable cause affidavit. On March 13, the informant met Willis on the 100 block of Terrance Drive in Munster and purchased cocaine and heroin, court records stated. Officers tested the drugs and found the rock-like substance weighed 2.14 grams and tested positive for cocaine and the brown rock-like substance weighed 2.83 grams and tested positive for heroin. On April 4, the informant met Willis at the same location and bought the same drugs, according to court documents. Officers tested the drug baggies and discovered one contained 3.61 grams of a substance that tested positive for cocaine and the other contained 2.12 grams of a substance that tested positive for both heroin and fentanyl. Willis's first court appearance has not yet been set. Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail Marlon Manning Richard Stewart Jr. John Tylicki Jazmin Guerrero Kane Jackson Peter Kochopolous Billy Fowler Franklin George Jasmine Escalante Joshua Copollo Rex Engle Roshaud Bell Jamyra Thomas Camden Wall Devonte Phillips Melissa Reyes Brian Sheppard Ernest Murphy III Joshua McCafferty Mark Millsap Jr. Caroline Hamilton Tyrone Holyfield Sr. Dale Crawley Jeffery Vlietstra Adam Valdez Ryan Valleyfield Cody Sucich Jarred Rumph Lamont Murdaugh Nicholas Ramirez Edward Reddick Ronald Kelley Jr. Elizabeth Millan-Rodriguez Leonard Johnson Jr. Andrian Esparza Nicole Fuentes James Grover Jr. Amy Alexanderson Jose Becerra Hernandez Romell Cooper Micah Singleton Samantha Vaughn Michael Nanay Collins Onchagwa Jessica Ottomanelli Roberto Sanchez Samantha Flores Tyrone Leverson Jr. Jaquies Moore Thomas Aiken Martell Flippins Hoosiers called or selected for jury service on or after July 1 are getting a pay raise. The Indiana General Assembly has given final approval to legislation doubling the amount of money prospective jurors and individuals chosen to sit on a jury receive for each day they spend at the courthouse. Currently, prospective jurors are paid $15 a day regardless of whether they're chosen for a jury, while seated jurors receive $40 for attending each day of a trial. House Enrolled Act 1466 hikes the pay for prospective jurors to $30 a day and requires seated jurors be paid $80 a day for the first five days of a trial, and $90 for each trial day thereafter. Prospective and seated jurors also continue to be entitled to a daily mileage reimbursement for travel to and from the court. Supporters of the legislation noted Indiana has not increased juror pay in a quarter-century, and the low daily pay rate can prejudice and distort who ends up serving on juries. "In each and every trial, invariably, there are a handful of people that say they cannot afford to sit for jury service," Lake Superior Judge Samuel Cappas told lawmakers in February. "They live check to check, the money is not enough to compensate them, they can't pay their bills, and then they end up getting struck for cause. "That results in the parties not have a fair cross-section of the community," he added. Cappas also noted that jurors typically sit for seven hours a day during a trial and up to 14 hours a day amid deliberations. He said jurors see and hear difficult testimony, look at gruesome photos and take on tasks most people would choose to avoid all for a measly $4 an hour during a 10-hour day. "They do hard work," he said. "They're grossly underpaid." The legislation covers the cost of the juror pay hike by increasing to $6 the $2 jury fee assessed on each person convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime, infraction or municipal ordinance violation, and by imposing a new $75 filing fee on all civil tort and plenary actions. The plan was approved without opposition in both the House and Senate. It's expected to soon be signed into law by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb. Gallery: Take a virtual tour of Indiana's state parks Brown County State Park Chain O' Lakes State Park Charlestown State Park Clifty Falls State Park Falls of the Ohio State Park Fort Harrison State Park Harmonie State Park Lincoln State Park McCormick's Creek State Park Mounds State Park O'Bannon Woods State Park Ouabache State Park Pokagon State Park Potato Creek State Park Prophetstown State Park Shades State Park Shakamak State Park Spring Mill State Park Summit Lake State Park Tippecanoe River State Park Turkey Run State Park Versailles State Park White River State Park Whitewater Memorial State Park A 40-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death of an Evansville man, whose body was found over the weekend in the Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area in northwest Warrick County, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is reporting. Johnathon Buza, of Evansville, has been charged with murder, felony murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, the DNR said. He is accused of killing 27-year-old Manuel Eduardo Heaton. Heatons remains were found by a passerby around 7:30 a.m. Saturday in the area of St. Johns Road and Kansas Road, near the Scaup Pit., officials said. The Warrick County Coroners Office took possession of the body and an autopsy was to be done. Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact the DNR Law Enforcement Central Dispatch at 812-837-9536 or the Warrick County Sheriffs Office at 812-897-6180. CROWN POINT A man accused of killing his girlfriend had allegedly physically and emotionally abused her on multiple occasions before he shot her while their five children were nearby in a bedroom, newly unsealed court documents show. Samuel Carlos Edwards, 36, of Harvey, was charged Jan. 13 with the murder of Ieisha Jefferson, 31, of Gary, according to court documents. Edwards also faces five felony charges of neglect of a dependent and one misdemeanor charge of domestic battery. Jefferson was found shot in the face Dec. 27 on the 3600 block of Adams Street. The Lake County coroner's office declared her death a homicide. Edwards gave one of the children Jefferson's phone to play with and shut them inside a bedroom, according to charging documents related to the case. Jefferson and Edwards were arguing with each other for a few minutes before a gunshot went off. One of the couple's children, 6, said "Sam" was their dad and Ieisha was their mom, and "Sam" had a gun. The child heard a gunshot and said multiple times that "Daddy killed Mommy." The five children were released to family members after police contacted the Indiana Department of Child Services. Lake County 911 Dispatch received a call in the early morning hours from a male caller named "Carlos," who told police there were "some shots" and paramedics were needed. The male caller sounded emotionally distressed and refused to answer additional questions from the dispatcher, but said he wasn't there during the shooting and stated "I don't know what happened." He hung up during the call and did not answer his phone when the dispatcher attempted to call back, court documents allege. Investigators learned Jefferson had been beaten by Edwards numerous times and sustained noticeable physical injuries. Police had been called to the residence a few months prior for a domestic abuse related incident, records state. Before her death, Jefferson allegedly said "if [I] die, just know my baby daddy did it." Edwards has not yet been apprehended. Anyone with information on the incident or on his whereabouts can contact Detective Justin Clark with the Lake County Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force at 219-755-3855 or any local law enforcement authority. Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail Marlon Manning Richard Stewart Jr. John Tylicki Jazmin Guerrero Kane Jackson Peter Kochopolous Billy Fowler Franklin George Jasmine Escalante Joshua Copollo Rex Engle Roshaud Bell Jamyra Thomas Camden Wall Devonte Phillips Melissa Reyes Brian Sheppard Ernest Murphy III Joshua McCafferty Mark Millsap Jr. Caroline Hamilton Tyrone Holyfield Sr. Dale Crawley Jeffery Vlietstra Adam Valdez Ryan Valleyfield Cody Sucich Jarred Rumph Lamont Murdaugh Nicholas Ramirez Edward Reddick Ronald Kelley Jr. Elizabeth Millan-Rodriguez Leonard Johnson Jr. Andrian Esparza Nicole Fuentes James Grover Jr. Amy Alexanderson Jose Becerra Hernandez Romell Cooper Micah Singleton Samantha Vaughn Michael Nanay Collins Onchagwa Jessica Ottomanelli Roberto Sanchez Samantha Flores Tyrone Leverson Jr. Jaquies Moore Thomas Aiken Martell Flippins "That's sort of my Asian version," Keon said immediately afterward to a mix of laughs and gasps. In the following weeks the National Urban League asked Keon to step down from the NWI Urban League board. The PNW faculty senate, PNW's chapter of the American Association of University Professors, the Association for Asian American Studies and several other organizations demanded Keon resign from his role as chancellor. A Change.org petition calling for Keon's resignation has over 9,500 signatures and a statement of condemnation has been signed by over 1,000 scholars from hundreds of U.S. universities. In a poll held by the PNW Faculty Senate, 135 faculty members, or 87% of respondents, voted no confidence in the chancellor. Of the university's 238 tenured, tenure-track and clinical faculty, 155 members responded to the poll. "If the chancellor doesn't have the faculty's support, the chancellor should leave," Thomas Roach, chairman of the faculty senate said during a December interview with the Times. Roach said the senate has been concerned with Keon's leadership for some time. He said Keon continues to trim the universities' budget "without a clear plan" for PNW's future. Roach also noted Keon has not attended any faculty senate meetings this year. Keon should have been removed in December, Roach said. "Waiting another year is just an insult to minority communities," Roach said. It essentially means that we (PNW) have no leadership for another year." On December 14, Keon issued an apology, saying he was "truly sorry" for the "unplanned, off-the-cuff response to another speaker." "We are all human. I made a mistake, and I assure you I did not intend to be hurtful and my comments do not reflect my personal or our institutional values," Keon wrote. "I will learn from this and assure you that Purdue Northwest and I will take action to prevent such missteps from occurring in the future." The Purdue University Board of Trustees said that, unless Keon commits another offense, he would not be dismissed. The board called the comments "extremely offensive and insensitive" and issued a formal reprimand to Keon. "The Boards benign reprimand of Chancellor Keons behavior suggests that they will tolerate demeaning humor, historically used as a tool of oppression and subjugation," the PNW chapter of the American Association of University Professors wrote in a March 11 statement. NICOSIA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of foreign nationals have arrived in Cyprus after being evacuated from Sudan, Foreign Ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis said on Wednesday. Gotsis said the evacuees were mostly British nationals, and six military aircraft with some other nationalities also aboard arrived at Larnaca airport on the day. Previously, three planes carrying people fleeing the fighting in Sudan arrived overnight on Tuesday, Gotsis told state-run CyBC television, adding that most evacuees have already been repatriated aboard commercial flights. The repatriates said they had a nightmarish experience making the journey form war-torn Khartoum to the airport on their own. Britain is using a British air base on the south coast of Cyprus for the repatriation of several hundred British nationals and the evacuation of its diplomatic personnel from Sudan. Cyprus activated an action plan to receive foreign nationals fleeing Sudan on Tuesday, as part of the European Union action to repatriate thousands of EU and third country nationals trapped by fighting between rival military factions, mostly in the Sudanese capital Khartoum. VALPARAISO In partnership with the Northwest Indiana District 1 Firefighter Training Council, the MAAC Foundation is announcing the graduates of its 11th Fire Academy. With over 300 people in attendance, the ceremony was held April 21, 2023, at the MAAC Foundation First Responders Training Campus. The 17 graduates - representing Crown Point, Dyer, Portage, East Chicago, Michigan City, New Carlisle, North Judson, Concord, and St. John - have completed a rigorous 11-week training program. It included instruction in fire suppression, hazmat operations, and technical rescue, along with other firefighting skills. They have also learned about the importance of community service and public education. We are proud to welcome these 17 new firefighters to our community, said Celina Weatherwax, President of the MAAC Foundation. They have demonstrated the dedication and commitment necessary to serve as first responders and we are confident that they will make a positive impact in Elkhart, Lake, La Porte, Porter, and St. Joseph Counties. Surrounded by family, friends and the fire departments which they are joining, the following graduates walked across the stage to receive their certificates: Gabriel Azcona, Crown Point Fire-Rescue Alec Barney, East Chicago Fire Department Brian Bentley, Michigan City Fire Department Miguel Fernandez, East Chicago Fire Department Britney Horvath, New Carlisle Fire Department John Jordan, Portage Fire Department Logan Kwiatkowski, Dyer Fire Department Richard Nagy, Michigan City Fire Department Blake Ostrom, Concord Township Fire Department Kobe Roberson, Michigan City Fire Department Connor Rucklos, Portage Fire Department Noah Sanchez, North Judson Fire Department Jeffery Schafer, St. John Fire Department Michael Swift, Portage Fire Department Grant Wild, Portage Fire Department Jacob Wood, New Carlisle Fire Department Jacob Zakutansky, Portage Fire Department I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have trained these capable firefighters, said Battalion Chief Chris Crail, Academy Commander. They have learned to adapt and overcome challenges throughout the academy. It is my hope that these students understand the skills they learned here are applicable to more than only firefighting, these are skills to carry with them for the rest of their life. The MAACs mission is to facilitate training and skill enhancement on a comprehensive campus that is safe and inclusive to all first responders and the community. For more information about the MAAC Foundation, visit www.maacfoundation.org. NWI Parkinson's is now selling tickets for its biggest fundraising event of the year, its 2023 dinner and dance. The annual fundraiser will take place from 5:30-11 p.m. Friday, May 19, at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, board member Madeline Wilson said. "Our theme this year is join the fight against Parkinson's," she said. The gala will include champagne, appetizers, dance bands, a cash bar, a silent auction, a raffle, dinner, dancing and a vibraphonist. "NWI Parkinson's has been a godsend for me and my husband," Terri Schulte said. "They provide support, education and a variety of exercise programs that keep me active and informed about Parkison's disease. Don't know what I would do without them. We travel from Illinois to participate. It's a beacon of hope and light." Highland-based NWI Parkinson's hosts a variety of educational programs, including a yearly educational symposium, weekly Zoom sessions and monthly pearls of wisdom seminars. It has doctors from Rush, Northwestern and Northwest Indiana who help educate the public about the chronic degenerative disorder that affects nearly 1 million Americans and will affect an estimated 1.2 million by 2030. "I feel privileged and honored to serve my community with the things we do," CEO and founder Elizabeth Woodberry said. She suffers from Parkinson's disease and volunteers like everyone else with the group. "This is all volunteer," Wilson said. "People normally get paid salaries to do what we do. We just do this from the heart." Proceeds will go toward programs like yoga, weightlifting, full-body exercise and dance classes that are free to those coping with Parkinson's. "Our programs help Parkinson's patients throughout Northwest Indiana," Wilson said. "Doctors and pharmaceutical reps say this is the most active group in Chicagoland. They have never seen one this active and are blown away by what we do. One doctor from Northwestern had given a talk to 10 people and said he was surprised we had 130 people at this event." Attendance has been improving yearly at the dinner. "This is a perfect chance to get out and enjoy yourselves," board member Don Nagdeman said. "It's a great cause. This is a great organization and it gives me satisfaction to help out." Tickets are $135. For more information or tickets, call 219-237-2342. What a sight. (But get ready to shield yourselves from the debris and dust.) Photo: GO NAKAMURA/REUTERS It was cloudy in Port Isabel, Texas, on April 20, but the faculty at Garriga Elementary School let some 450 students linger outside among the palm trees before classes that morning to see Elon Musks newest, biggest rocket launch. About six miles to the south, in Boca Chica, was the SpaceX Starship, a nearly 400-foot superheavy rocket capable of 18 million pounds of thrust, a vessel so big that it could one day, maybe carry 100 people aboard on a trip to Mars. Garriga Elementary is the closest school to the launchpad, but when the engines ignited just before 9 a.m., the kids couldnt really see anything. Instead, they felt the rumbling. The minute they launch, you feel it in your chest and it starts to shake everything in the area, Principal Eddie Alaniz told me. In the sky was a faint white streak, then, from above, the sand came blowing in. At first, it was hard to see anything, Alaniz said. But at a certain point we did start to see that there was debris coming down. Soon, he and the teachers brought the kids inside to shield them from the blast. The rocket had shaken the school so hard that a light fixture in the computer lab had crashed onto the ground, and two others were dangling above chairs where children would have been sitting. Photo: SPACEX HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/SPACEX HADOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterst The Starship exploded about a minute after takeoff, but Musk described its liftoff as a massive success, a test from which he and his engineers learned a lot for [the] next test launch in a few months. That may be true, but his apparent rush to launch the rocket on 4/20 do we need to explain the joke again? without some relatively minor safety features has ended up giving more power to federal aviation regulators who could slow the pace of his subsequent test runs. For about seven miles around there was dust, debris, shaking windows, some light property damage. Nothing big and apparently no injuries, but the disturbances that have made at least some locals feel the worlds second-richest man didnt do enough to shield them. Nobody has accused Musk or SpaceX of doing anything explicitly wrong, and in fact, the Federal Aviation Administration cleared the way for the rocket to launch as it did, even after issues about debris were raised. Still there is a perception that the launch was more disruptive than it needed to be for the surrounding area. Optics aside, thats a big deal for Musk because his program is functionally grounded while the FAA probes what exactly happened a process that could take months. Photo: Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via Getty Images Whats unusual about the Starship situation is that, even though it exploded, the current problems for Musk dont really have anything to do with the rocket itself. They have to do with the launchpad. Reports from the FAA show that actions he could have taken to prevent collateral damage werent required, and engineers and experts say that he could have built in relatively simple features into the launchpad that would have prevented the dust clouds and debris. But then again, the FAA cleared him for launch four days before, and Musk loves his 4/20 jokes. (SpaceX didnt return a request for comment.) Remember, Musk admitted he overpaid for Twitter at $54.20 a share, in part because he loves to make the same weed joke over and over again. He had also planned to purge legacy blue checks on Twitter that day. Hard to believe Starship actually did launch on 4/20 lol, Musk tweeted a few days later. Photo: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images This was all preventable, says Olivier de Weck, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets and a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology teaching aeronautics, astronautics, and engineering systems. Rockets are, by their nature, huge explosive machines that will destroy anything that is too close, and the Starship, with its 33 engines, had twice the launching power of the Saturn V, which went to the moon. The blast wave is almost like an explosion, but its not as instantaneous, de Weck tells me. Still, there are ways to manage it. All that fire and heat has to go somewhere, and SpaceXs launch lacked flame trenches concrete bunker-like structures that divert the engine blast underground. Musk had apparently nixed the idea back in 2020, saying that it could be a mistake to have one, though he didnt elaborate why. Another way to contain rocket blasts is with lots of water. Large dust clouds and sandstorms dont happen in the areas near Cape Canaveral, where NASA launches its rockets, in part because of the swampy environment, he says. Its not that far from the Gulf of Mexico, de Weck said. What I would probably do is build a small pipeline and bring seawater to the launch site, basically flood the launchpad with seawater. But of course, thats a massive civil-engineering project, and so much of the focus has been on the rocket itself. Musk himself even acknowledged that a water-cooled launch site was being built, but wasnt ready in time. 3 months ago, we started building a massive water-cooled, steel plate to go under the launch mount. Wasnt ready in time & we wrongly thought, based on static fire data, that Fondag would make it through 1 launch. Looks like we can be ready to launch again in 1 to 2 months. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 21, 2023 The FAA knew that the debris was a risk. A Starship/Super Heavy anomaly could result in an explosion on the launchpad, which would spread debris, according to the agencys executive summary of the launch plan. The agency also appeared to treat the use of water at the launchpad as a secondary concern. SpaceX is still considering whether to use deluge water for the launchpad, but, in the event it will, it has decided that it will use truck water, it said. An FAA spokesman confirmed that flame diverters arent required: The company went through a yearlong process with the agency and the local government to address all kinds of issues, from environmental impact to how it would impact the local community. Its not clear how long SpaceXs Starship program will be grounded for. De Weck thinks it will be less than a year before the next Starship launches but probably longer than the few months that Musk had predicted on Twitter. He still considers the launch to be mostly a success, and hesitated to put too much blame on the FAA for the collateral damage, since the agency both has to consider environmental impact and promote commercial spaceflight. If they set the bar too high, therell never be a launch from that site again, he said. SpaceX is now required to clean up the mess it left behind, plus produce reports squaring its data from the launch with its safety assumptions beforehand. As required by regulations, the company must demonstrate that any ground safety and flight hazards do not pose unacceptable risk to the public during licensed activities, the FAA spokesman said. In Texas, the extent of the damage is yet to be tallied. Photos posted on social media show large chunks of concrete that had been blasted along the beach, a sandstorm that destroyed a car, and pieces of a heat shield that washed up in the Gulf of Mexico. A local gym owner said a window shattered. Fine-grained debris, dubbed concrete rain, covered cars, laptops, and lawn chairs as far out as Port Isabel about five miles away. Again, all very minor but it did enough to disturb the way of life for the people in these border towns that one complained to the New York Times that the locals here are just being sacrificed. On Wednesday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported that, while no wildlife were killed, it did cause a 3.5 acre fire. Impacts from the launch include numerous large concrete chunks, stainless steel sheets, metal and other objects hurled thousands of feet away along with a plume cloud of pulverized concrete that deposited material up to 6.5 miles northwest of the pad site, according to the agency. SpaceX has set up a hotline for people to call in if any part of the spaceship that fell in their yards. If you believe you have identified a piece of debris, please do not attempt to handle or retrieve the debris directly, the message pleads. This post was updated to include an additional report on April 26 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on nearby damage from the Starship launch. Photo: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/Shutterstock/Lev Radin/Pacific Press/Shutters The New York Times reported Wednesday that one of Governor Kathy Hochuls top advisers is based in Colorado, thousands of miles from the state whose policies he is influencing. According to the Times, Adam Sullivan is a somewhat mysterious figure who is disliked by some in the governors orbit both for his political advice and his treatment of peers. Several people who spoke to the Times described him as disparaging subordinates, especially younger women as well as marginalizing those who disagreed with him. He is also responsible for a risky messaging decision made early in Hochuls bid for a full term as governor, one that would follow her campaign all the way to November. Last spring, Hochuls team cut a 30-second ad focused on crime and keeping the city safe, but Sullivan suggested focusing on abortion instead and the TV spot ultimately never ran. Then crime became a significant topic in the governors race, first as Hochul was attacked from the right during the Democratic primary by then-Congressman Tom Suozzi, who painted her as weak on the issue, particularly when it came to bail reform. That same line of attack was used to great effect by her Republican opponent in the general, Lee Zeldin, who came within striking distance of Hochul in late polling, prompting a more crime-focused strategy in the waning weeks of the campaign. In the end, Hochul won by six points, though Democrats dropped four House seats in the state, largely because of Republican attacks on crime. Sullivan had previously served as Hochuls campaign manager during her successful 2011 bid for Congress from her native Buffalo. Since then, he continues to advise the governor and has played a key role in her administration despite being based in Boulder, Colorado. He heads ACS Campaign Consulting, which the Times notes has received $50,000 from Hochuls campaign since 2021. But sources tell the outlet Sullivan also likely receives a portion of the campaigns ad spending, which means he has potentially netted at least $500,000. Sullivan also had a hand in another controversial move by Hochul: her selection of Hector LaSalle to be the states first Latino chief judge of the court of appeals. The pick was swiftly denounced by many members of her own party who felt some of the justices past decisions were too conservative. But Hochul stuck by her pick, and the Senate Judiciary Committee voted down LaSalles nomination. A court challenge later forced a vote before the full State Senate, which also rejected the judge. Hochul later appointed Rowan Wilson to the role, and he was quickly approved by the Legislature. In a statement, Sullivan said, I have always tried to treat everyone with respect and regret that there are people who feel I did not meet that bar. Biden and Trump, his likely opponent, were both born in the 1940s. Photo: DOUG MILLS/The New York Times/Redux About a year ago, when Joe Bidens approval rating was dipping to dangerous lows and whispers about a one-term presidency were more or less inescapable in and around D.C., I spoke to a handful of extremely annoyed Democrats. These people, who were close to the president, couldnt quite believe that no one believed Biden when he kept saying he wanted to run for reelection in 2024. Sure, hes already the oldest president ever, but all this commentary misunderstood the size of the chip on his shoulder and the fact hes been talking about running for president since the early 70s, one person told me, as I wrote at the time: He was told in 16 he couldnt cut it. He runs in 20 and everybody rolls their eyes, and he still wins. So why in the world now would he be like, You guys are right. I am old? Another Biden friend I quoted back then put a finer point on it: Its been his life. Its like a shark that keeps swimming. Its how he stays alive. The barrage of polls showing Democratic concerns with Biden kept up even as he got more and more open in his preparations. His friends stopped finding the second-guessing about his intentions even remotely entertaining, remembering how unamused Biden himself was whenever anyone privately brought up the one-term question when he was considering running in 2015 and 2019. But perhaps now that Biden has formally announced his plan to seek a second term leaning into his achievements and Democrats surprising post-midterm strength his staunchest supporters will get their wish and the questions will subside, at least for a while. Biden was always going to run for reelection, no matter how you interpreted his 2020-era promise to be a bridge to a new generation of Democratic leaders. His approval rating is still in the low 40s? So were Barack Obamas, Bill Clintons, and Ronald Reagans at this point in their presidencies, and they all won second terms. (Im told that Bidens team, which is stacked with alums of the last Democratic White House, has been in close touch with Obamas ahead of his campaign launch.) Bidens announcement video, published early Tuesday morning, naturally made no mention of his work to consolidate support from his partys leaders or his efforts to try and dispel questions about his age or popularity. Instead, its a stark message about a choice hed like Americans to keep making. The three-minute video opens with footage from the January 6 riot before pivoting to a pro-choice protester and then a straight-to-camera shot of Biden, who intones, Freedom. After a beat, he explains, Personal freedom is fundamental to who we are as Americans. The video broadens to paint his first term as being in the service of protecting democracy and rights, and warning of his MAGA extremist oppositions attempts to cut Social Security, abortion rights, and voting access. Every generation has a moment where they have had to stand up for democracy. To stand up for their fundamental freedoms. I believe this is ours. Thats why Im running for reelection as President of the United States. Join us. Lets finish the job. https://t.co/V9Mzpw8Sqy pic.twitter.com/Y4NXR6B8ly Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 25, 2023 Biden has been building toward this moment with increasing speed ever since Democrats historic overperformance in the midterms, which he saw as vindication of his original promise to rid the country of Trumpism with an understated approach that implicitly set a blunt contrast with his predecessor. Still, his White House knows that last years landscape was also fundamentally shaped by the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, and his political lieutenants have been trying to gauge how different 2024s now looks with abortion as an inescapable central issue. The answer may depend in part on the opposition, which is busy defining itself with a race to its own extremes as an indicted Donald Trump tries beating up on Ron DeSantis and others try making their own headlines. (As I typed this, Nikki Haley was addressing the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group, which promotes a federal ban on abortion after 15 weeks.) To understand how leading Democrats understand the battleground now taking shape, I spoke briefly with top party pollster Celinda Lake, who has known Biden for decades, a few hours after the reelection video was published. Lake was not speaking as a representative of Bidens new campaign, but she co-led polling on his successful 2020 campaign (and his failed 2008 effort) and polled and ran focus groups for his DNC and a series of other liberal groups during the 2022 midterm season. There was a lot about this launch video that reminded me thematically of 2020s, if you sub out January 6 footage for scenes from the white-supremacist rally in Charlottesville. I think its actually pretty different. Both focus on the battle for the soul of the nation, and that started for him with Charlottesville; that was a very authentic reason why he ran to begin with. But obviously, the whole abortion piece is new and due to the overturning of Roe. The urgency around freedom is highlighted by Roe and the fight over medication abortion, as well as January 6 and voting restrictions. So its soul of the nation with a new urgency brought about by the actions of the MAGA Republicans in the last four years. Have you seen him try to work out this freedom theme? How did we get to that shorthand for the fight over rights targeted by the MAGA Republicans he loves to talk about? I can tell you that freedom has been testing very, very strongly, and it was a major theme in 2022. The strongest critique of the MAGA Republicans is that they are taking away our freedom. The strongest critique of politicians, particularly to women, is that they are trying to control our lives, control our bodies. Its a very, very strong thematic, and its a strong way to think about the economy, too, because people think of the freedom to thrive, which is very, very powerful to Latinos and men. Are those findings from the midterms? We know the 2022 results have shaped how Biden is thinking about this race, but based on your work in focus groups and polling, and as youve studied the results of those elections, is there anything specifically new about that electorate that you think foreshadows the early days of this contest? Three things come from those midterms. One is how the president framed 2022 as a contrast rather than a referendum with this message of taking away our freedoms. That dynamic is going to be very, very important in 2024, as well. Second, that message was very strong for mobilization. It mobilized young voters, African Americans who associate freedom with voting rights and civil rights, and it really motivates women, and younger women, around the abortion issue, and medication abortion. And then its very persuasive to blue-collar men who are kind of populist and libertarian, and its very persuasive to suburban women who associate with the abortion issue. Of course, the midterms are one thing and the presidents own numbers are something else. Plenty of parallels have been drawn to previous reelection campaigns, and I know there were some expectations that the run-up to this one would look like Obamas in 2012, but clearly not. Bidens in the video over and over, he narrates it, and it shows images of Trump, DeSantis, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and so on, along with insurrection footage. So what accounts for the fundamentally different approach? I think it was very, very important to show the president being energetic and forceful. I think the video was very successful in doing that. That wasnt a question for Obama. The question for Obama was more: Was he for all people, or just certain people? And thats what he emphasized in the video. I also think that the way that President Obama announced wasnt that strong in terms of setting up the contrast, and it wasnt until later in 2012 that he came to that. Whereas it seems that President Biden is comfortable with, and knows that, the contrast is very important from day one. And as he constantly says, Dont compare me to the Almighty, compare me to the alternative. You just alluded to his energy being a concern. Obviously, the main objection Democrats have had to his running for a second term is his age. Have you seen any change during your polling or focus groups in how voters talk about or perceive this issue? Well, its present. But I would say two things about it. First of all, if age is the biggest critique you have against the president, then were in pretty good shape, particularly when Trump is just as old. [Ed. note: Biden is 80; Trump turns 77 this summer.] Secondly, I think the best way to deal with age is to show, not tell. And thats what the video did. You demonstrate results, demonstrate your energy, demonstrate your resilience, demonstrate your productivity, and thats what hes doing. He does it in the video, hell do it on the trail, hell do it in the speech today. Thats the best antidote to concerns about aging. Obviously it comes up a lot among Republicans, but theyre also focused on their own primary now. Ive heard some assumptions that this primary would look like 2016 fractious, huge, dominated by Trump give way to an understanding that it might be more akin to 2012, with one front-runner ahead all along, even if other candidates may have temporary moments in the sun. We know Biden is watching this play out and that he believes he needs to beat Trump. With that in mind, has anything surprised you about the early contours of the GOP race? One aspect that has surprised me is the resilience of Donald Trump, which is a big problem, I think, for the Republicans. This is one of their problems in their primaries: The rational Republicans the third of Republicans who dont like Trump have exited the party, and so no matter whether hes indicted or whatever, he seems to be strengthening. And I have been surprised at the weakness of DeSantis and at the tack he is taking. He is clearly sacrificing general-election viability in a desperate attempt to achieve primary viability. Biden certainly doesnt seem like hes in a hurry to hit the campaign trail while this is all playing out. The thinking seems to be that just sticking to the White House makes that contrast you mentioned earlier clear enough. The best thing he can do is keep getting out what hes done so far, and keep getting out the contrast. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Sign Up for the Intelligencer Newsletter Daily news about the politics, business, and technology shaping our world. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images Tumult seems to have become a near-constant state for most of the media industry, particularly over the past week. Days before the Disney layoffs and the firing of Tucker Carlson, Don Lemon, and NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell, the first shoe to drop was the demise of BuzzFeed News, which was announced right before Kara Swisher spoke with its former editor-in-chief, Ben Smith, for the latest episode of On With Kara Swisher. Smith is now co-helming the news startup Semafor and has a new book out, Traffic, which examines the viral ups and brutal downs of the digital media business during the age of social. In their conversation, two segments of which are excerpted below, Swisher and Smith discuss the shifting headwinds the industry has faced, his firsthand view of BuzzFeeds rapid decline, whether progressive new-media pioneers helped deliver a presidency to Trump, and why hes now refreshing the Drudge Report instead of Twitter for news. Kara Swisher: Right before this taping, news broke that Jonah Peretti was shutting BuzzFeed News down as a larger cost-cutting effort that will reduce headcount by about 15 percent. He wrote in the memo, The company can no longer continue to fund BuzzFeed News as a standalone organization. Obviously, this is your old shop. You were the founding editor-in-chief. Are you surprised? I think youre probably not, but why dont you talk about it a little bit? Ben Smith: Yeah, I mean I guess Id say I am, you know, shocked but not surprised. This was, you know, in the cards for a long time. I was there from 2012 to 2020 and we you know, Jonah Peretti who founded it, sort of saw social media coming. I mean, he really saw around this corner. Kara Swisher: Its the opening of your book. Ben Smith: Yeah, its strange because I spent, you know, a couple years really spending a lot of time thinking about this period when I was writing this book. And Jonah, I think maybe more successfully than anybody really, channeled this huge new surge of audience and attention and traffic coming from social media onto BuzzFeed. And you know, we were in the year you know, 2012, 2013, 2014 we had this theory, and people seemed to like a website that mixed Disney princess quizzes and investigations and breaking news, because that was kind of what your Facebook feed was like. And people liked that too. And then politics really intervened, like Facebook went from it being delightful, that this was this mix of things, to it becoming toxic. Facebook and other platforms responded by trying to start to push news out of their feeds. Because people hated it. And I think BuzzFeed really lost its footing there. And we never really recovered. Like, we looked for ways to escape this ecosystem. And Im sure we made lots of mistakes. Kara Swisher: Its really hard to start a media company, first of all, lets say that. That said, they are still, uh, subject to economics which, I think reporters dont like that part of it. Theyre fine writing about other companies undergoing these kind of pressures. But, you know, BuzzFeed raised 700 million before its IPO. It had a $1.5 billion valuation at the IPO, and its market cap hovered significantly lower into the $100 million to $250 million for most of last year. There was downsizing, so it was sort of death by a thousand cuts. And the editors were pushing for more content with the downsized staff. But it was a prestige brand, and the first cuts in 2023 had not affected BuzzFeed or the HuffPo. Can you talk about that and why? Ben Smith: Yeah, I think Jonah had been really attached to BuzzFeed News and loved it and, you know, I dont think we did a particularly good job of building a business around it. And maybe this is actually, its related to that, and viewed it as something that was sort of a passion project. But ultimately, you know, investors had been pushing him for years to cut it because it was unprofitable. And when your stocks under a dollar, its pretty hard to resist those pressures, which is where things are, when its hard to borrow money. Kara Swisher: Do you have any insight into why now? To just say, You have to give it up, Jonah, or what was the inside? Ben Smith: I dont, Im not on the inside of that anymore. And I dont know, I mean I do think, to me, one of the most interesting and strange things is you know, when I was going back and reporting Traffic, Huffington Post was this bold new digital entry that captured attention and dramatically upended media, and I think we then started to see it as this sort of legacy digital thing that was dying and it was sold to BuzzFeed, I think basically for less than a dollar. I think Verizon basically paid BuzzFeed to take it off its hands. And as the social web has receded and collapsed, I think what they found at BuzzFeed is that like, huh Huffington Post front-page traffic stuck around. Kara Swisher: It did. Ben Smith: And its, I find myself in this weird moment where like, when I want to know whats going on in the world, like Twitter doesnt really do that anymore. Twitter [tells you what] Elons thinking about. But it doesnt tell you whats happening in the world. And I find myself like, huh, like Im going to the Drudge Report. Im going to Huffington Post. These old internet behaviors that predate social media are kind of back. Kara Swisher: Well, its easier. Its a quick read or, you know, whatever you decide to read. Ben Smith: Yeah. I mean, and thats, and thats to the degree anybodys on the web at all. I mean, I think you are spending a lot of time in audio and at events, Im spending all my time in newsletters and at events. These are alternatives to the web, basically, and other ways for people to get their news. Kara Swisher: So you said that told the Times that its the end of a marriage between social media and news. Can you explain what you mean by that? Ben Smith: Yeah, I mean I think BuzzFeed in some ways, among others, led the way for publishers to say: Wow. Facebook and Twitter in particular provide, in Facebooks case, massive distribution. In Twitters case, sort of a central beating heart of news and an elite conversation to penetrate. Journalists, for individual reasons, to build our brands, jumped in with both feet. Publishers in varying degrees resisted or followed. But by say 2018, Facebook and Twitter are the most important parts of the news ecosystem. And then I think youve seen that collapse over the last few years. Facebook is obviously losing users, losing audience in a substantial way. And also, as part of its way of combating that, is pushing anything that resembles news or that resembles links out of the feed. Twitter is losing its cultural relevance, partly just because social networks are like bars and clubs theyre cool when your friends are going there and then theyre not. And so I think Elon has probably speeded the move away from news, but I think it was probably inevitable. And then meanwhile publishers and journalists are thinking a lot about just totally different places, like email and like audio, where audiences who felt overwhelmed and manipulated by these algorithmic feeds are looking for something new. Kara Swisher: Let me ask you: In Perettis memo, he talked about having overinvested in BuzzFeed News out of love for the work and mission, as you noted. It said it made him slow to accept that the big platforms wouldnt provide the distribution or financial support required to support premium, free journalism purpose-built for social media. They stopped paying. Right? But the New York Times reported that in a meeting with the staff, he said, It is clearly a massive failure on my part, and I am deeply sorry for it. Have you spoken to him? Ben Smith: Yeah, I mean, I spent hours and hours talking to him for the book, and hes sort of a congenital optimist and I think was so, has been very excited about whats next about particularly AI and the uses of AI and media. But I do think he, I dont know, I think he bet really heavily on Facebook and on Mark Zuckerberg. Kara Swisher: He did. Ben Smith: You know, BuzzFeed was among the companies that took checks from Facebook but really built its business on an organic relationship with Facebook and on a bet on this whole social-media ecosystem. And I think it was pretty hard for us to imagine, particularly in 2014, that this was just gonna go away. Kara Swisher: The news part was supposed to not turn a profit? The larger company subsidized the newsroom Ben Smith: You know, it depends. I mean, you always say youre not supposed to turn a profit when youre not turning a profit. I certainly Kara Swisher: Yes. Yeah. Ben Smith: And early on, you know, we were a venture-backed company, so nothing was supposed to turn a profit. If we were profitable, it was by accident. I mean, I, in retrospect, as soon as anybody started talking about news as a, something we were doing because it was important to the world, I should have said, We gotta cut costs, like that we cant, were inevitably screwed. Kara Swisher: Could you not charge more for advertising if it was as prestigious? Like you broke a lot of news, you broke a lot of stories. Ben Smith: We broke a lot of news, but you know how media companies work. Its very hard to focus on selling the harder thing to sell. And I guess Ive sort of, you know, I mean the lessons Ive learned are really about trying to build a news business where your partners on the business side are totally, totally focused on news and good at executing. Kara Swisher: So last year, Jonah told the newsroom, or recently, that they had to turn a profit. It could be as little as a dollar, but they shouldnt expect to get subsidized by the larger company. Did they get enough time to do that? Or was it just inevitable. Youre a public company, youre Ben Smith: Yeah, I just think they were, I mean, hed been I mean that was my mandate which, which we failed at, and I failed at, not being particularly well qualified to do starting in 2018 or 2019 and uh, yeah. I mean, I think they ran out, we the company ran out of time. Kara Swisher: Yeah. How do you think hes handled this? One reporter on the beat told us that their impression was no one was going to, going out of their way to cut him slack. Why is that? Ben Smith: Oh, you mean that his employees? I mean, I think he, I do think that, you know, theres a lot of public conflict around the union. Um. And that, you know, where inevitably its a really adversarial relationship where management becomes a target. And I do think that, I think that definitely alienated him personally from the news department and alienated a lot of journalists from him who were unhappy with how he handled it. Kara Swisher: Right. Well, you know, its interesting because these layoffs, theres never any good way to do these things. There arent better ways. Ben Smith: Yeah. And when you cut costs every I mean, its miserable. Kara Swisher: Yeah. But one of the things I had told you, going public was the mistake, and with a SPAC. Oy. Did you think that was the case? I know you and I have talked about that a lot, but I always felt that one of the assets of Vox is that it didnt go public maybe it couldnt have, et cetera. Ben Smith: I think in retrospect, Vox looks incredibly smart for not going public. BuzzFeed went public through a SPAC, and the process dragged until it was the absolute worst time possible to do it, and all the capital they thought they were gonna raise with a SPAC went away. I mean, I think that when you pull back the camera here, like, there are tons of tactical things that could have been done differently, of operating things, of kind of business decisions. But this was a company that, you know, mastered social media, saw social media coming, lived in this whole world of social media that collapsed really, really fast around it. And I think thats a very hard thing to overcome. Kara Swisher: In the book you draw a direct line from Gawkers sex tapes and dick pics to BuzzFeeds listicles and cat videos. And the viral Is it blue or gold? dress Facebook post to right-wing, authoritarian populists like Trump, Bolsonaro, and Duterte. I want you to explain this, Id like you to redraw that line right now too. Ben Smith: Yeah, thats a, maybe not a straight line, perhaps a zigzaggy BuzzFeed-logo line. I mean, I guess the thing that surprised me most in reporting out the book, which was a lot about parts of media history that I had been a little next to and interested in, but not there I wasnt invited to the Gawker parties. Like, I was a young political reporter in New York; I kind of knew about them and wished I was invited. But going back to talking to everybody in that era, one of the things that really, really surprised me was, these are mostly people, I think Jonah certainly, a lot of the people around Gawker, who see themselves really as progressives. Huffington Post was created really specifically to elect a Democratic political candidate in 2008. And they boosted Barack Obama through the primary. And in some sense it felt like the election of Barack Obama was the culmination of this new wave of progressive online media. Yet you go back and its like: Huh, Andrew Breitbart was one of the co-founders of HuffPost. The founder of 4Chan worked out of the BuzzFeed office. Steve Bannon is hanging around that story. You know, the founder of the Proud Boys was over at Vice and was pals with the women who founded Jezebel. And the sort of origins of the far right are just right right next to that story. Like, theyre like down the theyre like sitting at the same desk and learning without the sort of Establishmentarian, like, Well, we still have some rules kind of feelings that I, for instance, brought to it. And I think what I sort of realized was like, Oh, actually the real culmination of this period is the election of Donald Trump, not the election of Barack Obama. I write about this in the book, but I went over to Trump Tower in the run-up to the 2016 election to see Steve Bannon, and he had obviously studied BuzzFeed incredibly closely when he was creating Breitbart. And he, and his one thing was, he was like, I dont understand why you guys didnt just go all in for Bernie Sanders. I mean, thats where the traffic was. Which was true, by the way, that thats where the traffic was. And wed had folks in the BuzzFeed data side say, Why arent we going all in for Bernie Sanders? Like, well, were journalists. We dont go all in. And he just kind of shook his head at me like: What are you doing? Whats wrong with you? Kara Swisher: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Hes the Elon Musk School of Journalism. Um, theres a line in the book that stuck with me: The thing about a commodity is that it needs to be limited to have real value. That means its not a commodity, by the way. But give us some context for that and explain what you meant. Its an interesting point. Rarity is critically important, obviously. Ben Smith: Yeah. I mean, I think traffic was the commodity that people like Jonah, like Nick Denton, who founded Gawker, like you and me, felt like we had sort of discovered. And I remember putting the first kind of tracker on my website and watching it come in. And basically the business model for all these companies was you could sell advertising because you had traffic. And then the problem was that the value of each pageview kept going down. And for a while its like, well, each pageview, you know, used to be worth a dime and now its worth a penny, but were getting 20 times as many as we used to, so its okay. And we can crank harder and harder and harder and still grow. Kara Swisher: Make it up in volume. Ben Smith: Make it up in volume. And then at some point the numerator gets so low that it doesnt matter what the denominator is or vice versa, whichever, but you couldnt make it up in volume because Facebook and Google provided effectively infinite scale. Kara Swisher: Right, exactly. Which is one reason I didnt go that way. Cause I was like, Im not gonna win here ever economically. And so we went the other way with events and podcasts that had a much better return on substance, which was interesting. I wanna talk quickly about Twitter. Um, Elons been going after news organizations for being government funded? Although hes since corrected to publicly funded [and days after this interview was recorded suddenly removed all the labels completely]. He himself is government funded, by the way. Ill just point that out for the hundredth time. Do you think he wants to be a news organization, or is he doing damage to American media? Ben Smith: I mean, both. I think he sees Twitter as a news organization and is, Im not sure he would put it exactly this way, but yeah, he is trying to damage his competitors and drive them off his platform, and I think will certainly succeed at that. Kara Swisher: And is that a good thing? Ben Smith: I mean, its not a good thing if what you care about, as I do, is, you know, trusted, careful, verified journalism. But I also think that a less relevant Twitter that is a place where people have great conversations about AI and tech as they continue to, that you know that much of whats on there isnt true, but thats sort of caveat emptor. I mean, like for instance, I think Reddit is wonderful and an incredibly valuable part of the media ecosystem. Kara Swisher: My son is on that a lot. Ben Smith: Nobody says, Well, Reddit is where you get trusted news. Although sometimes theres incredible trustworthy stuff on Reddit. Kara Swisher: Or insightful things. Yeah. Ben Smith: Yeah. Could Twitter become something like that? I think thats sort of where its headed, for somewhat different communities. And then also an incredible place to watch sports. Kara Swisher: So are some of his critiques justified? And which ones? Ben Smith: Um, I dont know what even are his critiques? I think critique is a really big word. Kara Swisher: Yeah, I know, theyre tantrums really, um, you know, lords and ladies elites, so Ben Smith: Oh, I think thats totally bizarre, honestly. Like I think that theres this sort of weird reverse class resentment by billionaires of working people in this odd way Kara Swisher: Theyre the victims, Ben. Theyre in pain. Ben Smith: Yeah. I mean Kara Swisher: Hes in pain. Ben Smith: That said, I do think the much narrower thing that reporters came to buy a set of ideologies about tech and wrote a bunch of nonsense stories. I mean, lots of journalism is wrong. I mean, and you know, its a flawed profession. It always has been. I do think the narrative that all societys ills were about these tech companies was overblown. Kara Swisher: I would agree. Ben Smith: And the entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley are right to be pissed off about that. I think they then developed a kind of mirror image. You know, they, they only saw the most irresponsible and worst stories because Twitter is a machine for elevating the dumbest stuff your enemies say. Kara Swisher: And theyre very sensitive people. Lets be clear. Ben Smith: Yeah, theyre, you know, theyre allowed to be. But I do think Twitter did this in a way. They live, they spent all their time on Twitter and developed their own totally Twitter-centric ideology of what the media is and how it works, that was actually just inaccurate. I mean, the notion that journalists were desperate for blue checks, that would pay for them was just an inaccurate read of Kara Swisher: Its so inane. Ben Smith: Yeah. And have their own pretty crazy ideology about how media works, that was in some ways, created a kind of crazy mirror image of the dumbest things that journalists wrote about technology. I mean, you go back to that Cambridge Analytica story and it was, that was basically nonsense. It was indicative of real problems and it was metaphorical for real problems. But the basic thrust of the story was that Cambridge Analytica had a meaningful impact on American elections and that was not the case. Kara Swisher: That is correct. But it was indicative, it was indicative of bigger problems elsewhere. Ben Smith: Sure. It was indicative, all these things. But somebody writes a story about you thats not true. And your defense cant be: Its indicative. Kara Swisher: No, but you could say, Theres mold here. We should look at this. Maybe theres something bigger. You know what I mean. Ben Smith: Oh, sure. But if somebody says, We found people who died of mold in your living room, and you say its not an acceptable defense: that thats not true, and heres some mold. Kara Swisher: Yeah. Thats true. Thats fair. I think the error was Mark saying it has nothing to do with it, and he opened himself up on that issue. Ben Smith: Yeah. I would say they have some justified grievances. Kara Swisher: Yeah, they do. But mostly when you hear pain from billionaires, its harder to take, I think, especially when its versus journalists. What do you think the shift in Twitter is doing to journalists besides making us pull our hair out and, as you just said, visit the Drudge Report and HuffPo and do other things? Ben Smith: I think its actually pushing us to develop more direct connections with our audience, you know, and to find people who wanna read our work and not go through other peoples algorithms to do it. And that feels healthy to me. And the pendulum always swings in this business, and people get, audiences get tired of one thing and interested in another thing. But I think that feels like a healthy shift right now. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. On With Kara Swisher is produced by Nayeema Raza, Blakeney Schick, Cristian Castro Rossel, and Rafaela Siewert, with mixing by Fernando Arruda, engineering by Christopher Shurtleff, and theme music by Trackademics. New episodes will drop every Monday and Thursday. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Photo: Justin Lane/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Calling your bosses really bad words is a big no for even the most famous of employees, as Tucker Carlson has learned. A Wall Street Journal report found that the recently fired Fox News host called a senior executive a cunt in a private message that was turned up during discovery in the defamation case filed by Dominion Voting Systems, which was settled for $787 million last week. The report does not state which executive Carlson was referring to and the message was redacted in the ocean of correspondence that was released through court filings. Carlson did not want the damning message redacted from the lawsuit. He told his colleagues that he wanted the world to know what he had said about the executive in a private message, the report states. He compared it to his I hate him passionately comment about Trump. While that was said amid a short burst of anger, his resentment toward the executive was deep and enduring, per the Journal, which is owned by News Corp., the sister company of Foxs parent. Since Carlsons surprise departure on Monday, reporters have been piecing together why the networks top prime-time host was let go. Carlson was reportedly informed of the decision just ten minutes before it was made public. According to multiple accounts confirmed by the Journal, the decision to cut him was made directly by the Murdoch family and Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott. Carlson had reportedly grown disdainful of his bosses at Fox News, believing that his star outshone the network itself. The New York Times reports that one of the reasons the matter came to a head was that Foxs board of directors and top executives only learned about the contents of the redacted messages the day before the Dominion trial was supposed to begin. If the lawsuit had gone to trial, Dominion lawyers were apparently going to push to be able to use the contents of the redacted messages during their questioning of Carlson, and they planned to pin him down on the ones that were most demeaning toward women, per the Times. According to a lawsuit filed by his producer Abby Grossberg, Carlson oversaw a toxic environment on his show in which misogyny, including the use of the C-word by men on the team, and antisemitism were rampant. (In an interview on MSNBC on Tuesday, Grossberg said Carlson made her life a living hell.) According to a Washington Post report, Rupert Murdoch had also become concerned with Carlsons presentation of the Ukraine war like one onscreen graphic of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a Ukrainian pimp. After one segment in March, Murdoch went into the newsroom to loudly challenge Carlsons message, according to the Post. This post has been updated. Sign Up for the Intelligencer Newsletter Daily news about the politics, business, and technology shaping our world. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Nearly 90 shell casings were found on the scene of the mass shooting that broke out April 15 at a downtown Dadeville Sweet 16 birthday party, according to testimony Tuesday at the Tallapoosa County Courthouse. The judge denied bond for all six suspects following a series of Aniahs Law hearings. Those suspects are Johnny Letron Brown, 20; Tyreese Ty Reik McCullough, 17; Travis McCullough, 16; Wilson LaMar Hill Jr., 20; Willie George Brown Jr., 19; and a 15-year-old from Tuskegee who authorities have not publicly named. They all face four counts of reckless murder in the April 15 shooting that killed Marsiah Emmanuel Collins, 19, of Opelika; Philstavious Dowdell, 18, of Dadeville; Shaunkivia Nicole Smith, 17, of Dadeville; and Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23, of Dadeville. District Attorney Mike Segrest said the state intends to file a motion to have the youngest suspect tried as an adult. The McCulloughs have already been charged as adults. The Browns and Hill remain at the Tallapoosa County Jail, while the 15-year-old is still in custody at a undisclosed location. A preliminary hearing in the case is set for May 23. In Tuesday's hearing, Cpl. Jess Thornton, a special agent with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, said blood was everywhere when agents arrived at the Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio on Broadnax Street at approximately 10:35 p.m. on April 15 to investigate the mass shooting that left four dead and 32 injured. Possibly 60 people were in the building, he testified. They found the bodies of four victims in the studio, lying side by side near the front entrance. Ive never seen something of this magnitude, he testified. Thornton said the suspects were at the Sweet 16 birthday party an hour before the shooting. He added everyone aside from Willie Brown Jr. admitted to being there. Willie Brown Jr. allegedly denied it. Thornton told the court some guests were lifting up their shirts and showing guns to others at the party, but didn't clarify who or how many. He said the suspects were in the back right corner of the dance studio when the shooting started. Charging documents the Opelika-Auburn News retrieved from the Tallapoosa County Courthouse states the Browns, McCulloughs and Hill "discharged firearms into the crowd, which caused the deaths. Thornton said no automatic weapons were found, but witnesses reported hearing what sounded like a machine gun. He testified that least one of the guns was altered to fire automatically. A second gun had possibly been altered as well. Co-defendants accused Willie Brown Jr. of shooting a gun at the scene, but none of the witnesses interviewed have reported that, according to ALEA. Authorities have have recovered four of the seven guns tied to the incident and found nearly 90 shell casings. Two of those weapons were on the bodies of two victims, Thornton said. He told the court a 9mm was placed on Holstons chest in an odd way but didnt elaborate. He said they also found a .45-caliber in Collins belt that had not been fired. The other weapons were a .40-caliber gun and a .22-caliber gun. Investigators linked the .40-caliber weapon back to Willie Brown Jr. Michael McCullough, a 17-year-old Auburn resident who identified himself as Willie Brown Jr.s stepbrother, told the court he rode to the party with Willie and they picked up Travis McCullough on the way. Lakeitha Macon, Hills mother, was also called as a witness. She called the allegations uncharacteristic of her son. She told the court he would not be a flight risk if he were allowed to stay at her home under house arrest. ALEA is still looking for the publics help with the case. It doesnt matter how minor the info may seem. You can call 1-800-392-8011or email the agency at sbi.investigations@alea.gov to submit tips. ALEAs Fusion Center has also partnered with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Mobile Office to provide a digital tip line for videos and photos related to the incident. Those files may be uploaded here. Also, if you have information for the 5th Circuit District Attorneys Office concerning the incident or need to provide information to the individuals or families concerning victim services, please click here. The Central Alabama Crimestoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for any information that leads to the identification or arrest of any suspects in the Dadeville shooting. You can submit tips to Crimestoppers at (334) 215-STOP. A look at the mass shooting crime scene in downtown Dadeville In response to the constitutional carry bill, local law enforcement agencies have partnered together to create the Metro Gun Crimes Task Force (MGCTF). The Auburn Police Department, Opelika Police Department, Lee County Sheriffs Office and the Lee County District Attorneys Office have partnered together to create a task force that will combine resources from each agency, allowing teams to focus on reducing gun-related crimes across the Lee County area. APD Assistant Chief Mike Harris said he came up with the idea to establish a joint effort between the local departments to keep the community safe as the laws change. The constitutional carry law went into effect in January and allows gun owners in Alabama to carry a concealed handgun in public without obtaining a state permit. We saw a need certainly. We anticipated we may see an uptick in stolen guns after the passage of the constitutional carry bill in the state. Just looking at other states and what we had seen, Harris said. Before coming to the APD in 2021, Harris served 22 years in the FBI. He talked with FBI friends in Texas about the effects of the constitutional carry bill. He found out that Texas saw a 40% increase in crimes committed with stolen weapons after the state enacted the new law. Having concerns about that happening locally and also seeing a slight uptick in gun violence in the area already, Harris said they decided they needed to pull their resources and work together. We dont know what to expect, so we were prepping for the potential increase in stolen guns and crimes committed with those stolen guns, Harris said. The APD, OPD, LCSO, and Lee County DAs Office have been working on putting this task force together for about three months now. Since January, Harris and the other agencies have been talking with civic and community leaders to get the community to understand the goal and buy into it. Harris said the bottom line is to get illegal guns out of the hands of people that shouldnt have them. These agencies officially released the announcement about the task force about a week after a mass shooting broke out at a birthday party in Dadeville in which four people were fatally shot and 32 were injured. Harris said theyve been working on establishing the task force months before this incident. Harris said he got the idea for this task force from a program called Violent Gun Reduction and Interdiction Program (VGRIP). This program was something he witnessed during his time in the FBI that had a positive impact on cities that had an increase in gun-related crimes. The APD plans to use the $254,000 federal Project Safe Neighborhood grant that the department received in November 2022 to get advanced forensic equipment and enroll in the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is a nationwide network that will allow MGCTF investigators to rapidly track and link seized firearm evidence to other crimes across the southeast region, the release stated. For example, if investigators seize a shell casing from a crime scene in any of their respective jurisdictions, they can rapidly enter the evidence into NIBIN and potentially connect the case to another crime committed with the same firearm in a neighboring city, county or state. Harris said there werent any NIBIN machines in Lee County, so if the department needed to enter shell casings into the system, they had to drive to Montgomery to use the system at the Montgomery Police Department or the Forensic Science Department. Now, a NIBIN system will be housed at the APD and all participating agencies in the MGCTF will have investigators trained in the use of NIBIN with 24/7 access to the system. These investigators and other officers in the task force will also be required to attend additional training focused on legal issues, de-escalation techniques, implicit bias awareness and proper tactics for criminal interdiction and patrol. Harris said this will help make sure everyone is on the same page. Operations will begin after all the MGCTF officers have completed training. Local law enforcement agencies partnering to address and prevent gun crimes is a proactive effort that cant be measured, but will be impactful, APD Chief Cedric Anderson stated in the release. We are grateful for the partnership. Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said there are many challenges facing public safety in our communities, state and nation. The prevalence of violent acts involving firearms is a major concern to all and has visited tragedy on our largest cities down to our smallest of towns, he said. Our local agencies, through this task force, will be able to combine efforts and utilize state of the art technology to increase our efficiency and effectiveness to identify and apprehend violent offenders in the overall goal of protecting our citizens. OPD Chief Shane Healey said hes always looking for ways to make our city safer. By coordinating our enforcement efforts, this task force becomes a force multiplier for our local agencies, Healey said. By combining efforts and working together, we hope to drastically reduce the number of illegal guns that are on the streets in our communities. Lee County District Attorney Jessica Ventiere said firearms in combination with a criminal mindset are a real and present threat to the safety of every member of our community. By working together, our local law enforcement agencies will have a greater impact on reducing criminal activity, particularly gun crimes, all across Lee County, she said. The Lee County District Attorneys Office will be supporting law enforcement in their efforts, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact this task force will have on the overall safety of our communities. In as little as eight years since ExxonMobils first offshore discovery in Guyana the impoverished former British colony has emerged as a major oil producer and exporter. In as little as four years, Exxon took the offshore 6.6-million-acre Stabroek Block from first discovery to first oil, an impressive achievement, especially when the complexities of deepwater drilling in a frontier oil basin are considered. The latest discoveries indicate that the Stabroek Block contains over 11 billion barrels of recoverable oil resources and that the Guyana Suriname Basin possesses far greater petroleum potential than originally believed. The prolific Stabroek Block has proven to be a gold mine for Guyanas government in Georgetown despite the extremely favorable terms granted to the Exxon lead consortium exploiting the block. As a result, Guyanas economy is growing at a rapid clip and will continue to do so for as long as the countrys oil boom is gaining momentum. As of February 28, 2023, Guyana, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources, was pumping 383,000 barrels per day. That petroleum is being produced from the Liza oilfield in the Stabroek Block, which has a nameplate capacity of 360,000 barrels per day from two operational floating, production, storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs). It is speculated that by implementing efficiencies and operational improvements, Exxon can lift output from those FPSOs to over 400,000 barrels per day. There is every expectation that Guyana will be pumping 1.2 million barrels per day by 2027 as additional projects in the Stabroek Block come online. The next facility to commence operations is the 220,000 barrel-per-day Payara project which is scheduled for start-up later this year. Then there is the Yellowtail development targeting a rated production capacity of 250,000 barrels per day which is expected to come online during 2025. The immense oil boom underway in Guyana, which will see the former British colony become the worlds further largest offshore petroleum exporter in little more than a decade, is driving a colossal economic boom. It is generating considerable revenue for a one-time cash-strapped government. For 2023 alone, petroleum exports are expected to earn more than $1.6 billion for Georgetown, and that is on top of the $1.1 billion received during 2022. This will deliver considerable benefits for the country of around 800,000, which has long been one of the poorest countries in South America. Both Georgetown and international organizations believe if appropriately managed, Guyanas monumental oil boom will lift the former British colony out of poverty, making it one of the richest, and potentially the richest, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. According to the International Monetary Fund, black gold has catapulted Guyana to the position of being the worlds fastest-growing economy during 2023. The international government organization has forecast that the former British colonys gross domestic product will expand by a whopping 37.2% this year which is the highest forecast growth rate globally for a sovereign state. Astonishingly, Guyanas GDP is also expected to expand by an impressive 45.2% during 2024 as petroleum production and industry investment rise further. In a recent interview, Guyanas former Prime Minister and President Sam Hinds, now the countrys ambassador to the U.S., stated that he expects GDP to double by 2027. Indeed, it is forecast that GDP per capita will double from $6,000 to $12,000 over that period, which based on 2022 IMF data, indicates Guyana will become the fifth wealthiest country in South America, placing it ahead of Brazil but behind Argentina. There is the possibility that Guyanas GDP will expand at an even greater clip than forecast by the IMF because investment in the former British colonys offshore oil boom is growing rapidly. Those significant investment inflows, projected to be at least $7 billion for 2023, will drive further oil discoveries, the development of additional petroleum projects and ultimately higher oil production. The likelihood of further significant oil discoveries keeps rising with it increasingly apparent is that the Guyana Suriname Basin holds far more oil than originally assessed by the United States Geological Survey. In a May 2001 report, the USGS estimated that the basin had mean undiscovered oil resources of 15.2 billion barrels which is marginally higher than the 11 billion barrels found by Exxon in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. There have been a host of oil discoveries in the basin outside of the Stabroek Block. Among the most recent is CGX Energys Kawa-1 discovery in the Corentyne Block. The company is drilling another wildcat well called Wei-1, which is expected to be completed during May or June 2023. It is speculated by Frontera Energy, which owns 77% of CGX. It has a consolidated 93% interest in the block, that the petroleum fairway running through the neighboring Stabroek Block passes through Corentyne into Block 58 offshore Suriname where Apache and 50% partner TotalEnergies have made five high-quality discoveries. In 2019, Tullow Oil announced a discovery in the Orinduik Block, where it is the operator with a 60% interest, with Eco Oil and Gas controlling 15% and a joint venture between TotalEnergies and Qatar Petroleum holding the remaining 25%. That discovery was found to be heavy sour crude oil, which at the time was deemed non-commercial due to weak oil prices, although during 2022, the commercial potential of the find was reevaluated as petroleum prices soared. Orinduik is estimated to contain 5.1 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Tullow and partners are planning to drill another well during 2023 or 2024, with the most likely target being the Amatuk prospect which is believed to hold 267 million barrels and has a 28.8% chance of success. There was also a series of wells drilled on the Kanuku Block in which Tullow has a non-operated 37.5% working interest, with the operator Repsol holding 37.5% and TotalEnergies the remaining 25%. While two discoveries have been made on Kanuku since 2020, they were both deemed non-commercial. The latest was the Beebei-Potaro wildcat well, completed in August 2022, which was especially disappointing. The targeted reservoirs were deemed of good quality but water-bearing which saw the well plugged and abandoned. Repsol is currently in the process of mapping its activities in the Kanuku Block and working the latest drilling results into the blocks subsurface models before embarking on another well. It is speculated that Tullow will relinquish its non-operated 37.5% interest in the block. Investment in offshore Guyana, which is being described as the worlds hottest frontier oil play, continues to expand. Not only are international energy companies examining farm-in opportunities, but Georgetown launched the first ever licensing round during December 2022, offering 14 offshore blocks, three deepwater and 11 shallow-water, to bidders. Submissions were due to close on April 14, 2023, but that has been delayed until July 2023 to give prospective bidders more time to prepare their submissions and for Georgetown to implement the new regulatory framework and production sharing agreements. The auction has attracted considerable interest from energy heavyweights, including Shell, Chevron and Petrobras. Georgetown is reputedly considering another oil auction during 2024 which will drive further investment. Guyana is undergoing a transformative oil boom that is lifting the tiny South American country out of poverty and turning it into one of the continent's largest oil producers as well as exporters. In as little as five years since Exxons first 2015 discovery in the Stabroek Block, Guyana has emerged as the worlds fastest-growing economy. During 2020 as the rest of the world struggled with a pandemic-induced recession Guyana shrugged off the fallout to log an annual GDP growth rate of 43.5%. Since then, the countrys economy has kept expanding at a remarkable pace growing 20% during 2021 and then by a whopping 62% in 2022. It is rising oil production that is responsible for this astonishing rate of economic growth. By the end of February 2023, Guyana was pumping 380,000 barrels per day, with up to another 220,000 barrels daily expected to come online later this year. It is for these reasons that for 2023 Guyana will be ranked as the worlds fastest-growing economy, with GDP forecast to expand by an impressive 37%. ADVERTISEMENT By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Mexico still has a strong potential for oil and gas despite faltering due to nationalisation policies and a poor health and safety record in recent years. Despite a poor track record from Mexicos state-owned oil company Pemex and the introduction of policies that have pushed away foreign investors, recent developments show that Mexicos oil and gas industry may have a long way to go before the green transition curbs demand. In 2022, Pemex reported profits of $1.2 billion, boosted by high oil prices throughout the year. This marks the firms first annual profit in a decade. Although, Pemex was still in $105 billion of debt last year. In addition, despite a push from President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) to nationalise Mexicos energy industry, private investment in the oil and gas sector is beginning to grow. The private sector funded around 5% of the countrys oil production last year. The combination of new private investment and increasing condensate production has helped Mexico to reverse the downward trend in oil production that started in 2004. The countrys oil output rose to almost 2 million bpd in 2022, similar to pre-pandemic levels. Production is expected to average around 1.93 million bpd this year and 1.91 million bpd in 2024. The countrys energy regular CNH reported that natural gas output for 2022 totalled 4.07Bf3/d, while Pemex said it was closer to 4.68Bf3/d. Its proven oil reserves stand at 6 billion barrels, with around 70 percent of this located offshore. A new refinery the Olmeca Dos Bocas refinery, in Tabasco is expected to come online this year. The project has been developed under AMLOs energy security strategy at a much higher cost than originally projected of $12 billion. New coker units will also come online this year in the Tula and Salina Cruz refineries. And in 2022, Pemex purchased ownership in Houstons Deer Park refinery for $596 million. The successes of 2022 demonstrated that Mexico still has significant oil potential at a time when the U.S. and other world powers are looking to ensure their energy security while also striving for an ultimate green transition. Some of Mexicos biggest producing fields have been around for decades, such as the Maloob, Zaap and Balam oil fields. But there is also hope for large-scale production in several recently developed regions. Oil output in the Tupilco Profundo totalled 48,000 bpd in November last year and the Pokche field has seen a production increase from 3,900 bpd to 32,000 bpd over the last two years. The Racemosa field increased production from zero in 2020 to 4,000 bpd in 2022, while the Teekit Profundo increased output from zero to 6,800 bpd over the same period. Pemex expects to see high production levels from Racemosa over the coming years. In March, Italian oil and gas major Eni announced the discovery of oil in the Yatzil exploration prospect in Block 7, in the mid-deep water of the Cuenca Salina in the Sureste Basin in the Gulf of Mexico. The firm believes there to be around 200 million barrels of oil in the area. This is the second well on Block 7 and the eighth successful well drilled by Eni in the Basin. This discovery follows recent finds in Block 10, making Eni one of Mexicos biggest private oil industry investors optimistic about the regions oil and gas potential. Eni has a 45 percent stake in Block 7, with Scottish firm Capricorn Energy PLC holding 30 percent and Mexicos Citla Energy SAPI de CV with 25 percent. Eni produces an average of 30,000 bpd from its Area 1 project, which is expected to come fully online by 2025. Eni first entered the Mexican market in 2006 and now holds rights in eight exploration and production blocks, all in the Sureste Basin in the Gulf of Mexico. As well as developments in the private sector, Pemex also has big plans to boost its oil production. In March, Pemex and a consortium led by U.S.-based Talos Energy, including Harbor Energy and Wintershall Dea, submitted a development plan for a largescale offshore oil field to regulators. Talos and partners originally discovered the Zama field in the Gulf of Mexico in 2017 and have been fighting for exploration rights ever since. It initially hoped to develop the field without Pemex, which held rights to an adjacent block that turned out to include part of Zama. Pemex got the backing of Mexicos energy ministry to manage the development, despite having drilled no wells in the neighbouring field. The field is thought to hold around 850 million barrels of oil, with an output potential of 180,000 bpd, according to Pemex. The development plan includes two offshore platforms and 46 wells. Pemex plans for production from the field to be transported to the coastal Pemex-run terminal of Dos Bocas. Mexicos energy regulator CNH is expected to deliver a response within 85 days. If this project is successful, there could be a positive future for Mexicos oil and gas industry, for as long as the global demand for fossil fuels remains high. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The European Union finalized the approval of a carbon tax reform that will see polluting industries face higher costs for continuing to generate emissions and incentivize the switch to wind and solar. Approved by the European Parliament last week, the reform will see the EUs carbon permit regime extended to more industries, including air and maritime transport, and reduce the availability of these permits with a view to phasing them out entirely by 2034. In four years, the carbon permit regime will extend further to cover emissions from cars and buildings. To soften the blow, the EU plans to set up an 86.7-billion-euro fund. The money will be raised from the sales of carbon permits. The price of these permits has soared in the past couple of years, largely in anticipation of the reform. In fact, since the start of 2020, the price per ton of carbon dioxide has tripled to 88 euros, Reuters noted in a report. Even with this increase in the cost of generating carbon emissions, last year those fell just 1.2% to 1.6%, according to preliminary data released earlier this month. The data covered the industries that are currently within the scope of the emission-trading regime: power generation and heavy industry. The goal is to reduce the blocs emissions by 62% from 2005 levels by 2030, to which end the EU also agrees to introduce a tax on emission-intensive imports from 2026 onward. The import goods that will be subject to the new tax include steel, cement, aluminum, fertilizers, electricity, and hydrogen. The levy aims to put European producers of such goods on a more equal footing with countries that dont have as stringent emission-related legislation as the European Union. A majority of 24 member states voted in favor of the reform, Poland and Hungary voted against it, and Belgium and Bulgaria abstained. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: It is now safe for TotalEnergies to restart work on the $20-billion Mozambique LNG project, Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi said on Wednesday, but the French supermajor says the decision to resume construction is up to all shareholders in the venture. "The working environment and security in northern Mozambique makes it possible for Total to resume its activities any time," Nyusi said today at an energy conference in Mozambique's capital city of Maputo, as carried by Reuters. TotalEnergies holds a 26.5% stake in the LNG project, which was put on hold in 2021 following Islamist militant attacks in towns close to the site. The project site is close to Palma in the Cabo Delgado province, where Islamic State-affiliated militants have been active for a few years. In the spring of 2021, Islamic State-affiliated militants raided Palma in attacks that left dozens of people killed. "The restart is a decision of Mozambique LNG, not a decision of TotalEnergies, which only owns 26.5% of the project. Given the context, the decision will have to be unanimous and TotalEnergies' position is that it is appropriate to take the time to have the expected assurances before considering a possible restart," TotalEnergies spokesperson Stephanie Platat told Reuters on Wednesday. The Mozambique LNG project is not expected to start operations until 2027 at the earliest, even if TotalEnergies quickly decides to lift the force majeure on the works and proceed with development, Stephane Le Galles, project director at TotalEnergies, told Bloomberg last month while on a visit to the construction site in northeastern Mozambique. "From the time we restart to production, we need another four years to build the facility," Le Galles said. In February, TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne visited Cabo Delgado and entrusted Jean-Christophe Rufin, an expert in humanitarian action and human rights, with an independent mission to assess the humanitarian situation in the province. TotalEnergies has yet to decide when to resume the project, with several conditions needed for a positive decision, Le Galles told Bloomberg last month. Those include the same project costs, an improved security situation, Mozambique government officials returning to the towns of Palma and Mocimboa da Praia, and an assessment of the human rights conditions in the Cabo Delgado province. ADVERTISEMENT By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: South Africa has issued the first request inviting proposals for renewable energy procurement for 3,740 megawatts (MW) in the biggest such program in Africa. The release of this Phase One RFP comes at an opportune moment, with government remaining steadfast in eradicating the electricity and water supply challenges, and the rampant landfill shortages our country continues to face, South Africas Public Works Minister Sihle Zikalala said in a statement carried by Bloomberg. Currently, coal is the major energy source for South Africa, accounting for around 80 percent of the countrys energy mix. The country is also the worlds fifth-largest coal exporter. But South Africa is going through a significant energy crisis with daily rolling power cuts that are crippling the economy as state firm Eskom continually fails to boost generation capacity to keep pace with growing demand in recent years. Early this year, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen said that the United States supports South Africas transition to cleaner energy and will help mobilize financing from the private sector to assist the coal-dependent country. The U.S., the UK, France, Germany, and the EU are mobilizing an initial $8.5 billion to catalyze the first phase of South Africas Just Energy Transition (JET) Investment Plan as part of a long-term Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) signed in 2021. The financial package of $8.5 billion is a substantial down payment. Importantly, it is designed to mobilize additional money from the private sector and philanthropies, and I will meet with representatives from both groups later today, Secretary Yellen said in January this year. Under the just transition plan, South Africa will invest in job retraining and reskilling, cash payments to support displaced workers while they find new employment, and redevelopment of former coal mines and coal power plants as clean energy production sites and other productive uses. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Concerns about cost led the Douglas County Board to postpone a vote Tuesday on taking a major step toward building new mental health facilities near the Douglas County Jail in downtown Omaha. The postponement came at the last minute as the board was about to vote on a resolution to move forward on the project, estimated to cost a combined $60 million. The resolution, put forward by board Chair Mary Ann Borgeson, called for launching capital improvement projects to erect two structures. One would be an addition to the Douglas County Jail and serve people in jail. The other, nearby at 1601 Jackson St., would house the Douglas County Community Health Center, which currently occupies part of the Douglas County Health Center near 42nd Street and Woolworth Avenue. The community facility would provide short-time inpatient as well as outpatient care. Most of the construction costs would come from federal pandemic recovery and relief money. The board would use $50 million of the countys 2021 American Rescue Plan Act allotment, plus $8 million from previous CARES Act funding that the county had set aside for mental health. The resolution appeared to have the votes to pass after debate and a public hearing Tuesday. But County Board Member P.J. Morgan moved to table it, saying he was concerned about the costs of the Community Mental Health Center portion of the project. The board voted 4-3 to table the resolution. Jim Cavanaugh, Mike Friend and Maureen Boyle joined Morgan in voting yes. Borgeson, Chris Rodgers and Roger Garcia voted against the postponement. Morgan said he wants a more solid cost estimate for the whole project. He said he also has concerns that the community mental health center portion of the project would be too expensive, an opinion that several people also expressed during the public hearing. Morgan also said operating costs could strap future county budgets. I really want to be careful about the expenses, he said. A 35,200-square-foot community mental health center, with 20 beds, would cost about $23.5 million, according to a consultants presentation to the County Board on April 4. The 37,000-square-foot jail addition would cost about $34 million, according to the presentation. Morgan also said he wants to find out how proposed state legislation might effect opportunities to collaborate with the state. He said after the meeting Tuesday that he has reached out to county public properties staff to help get a more firm cost estimate. During the meeting, it appeared that the vote would be postponed for two weeks. But Morgan said afterward that it is likely to come back in three weeks, on May 16. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of April 2023 LINCOLN A 37-year-old Lincoln man was sentenced to decades in prison Tuesday for sexually abusing a girl over six years after she briefly was placed in his care by the state. First, Andrew Sell told retired Lancaster County District Judge John Colborn that he was really sorry for what hed done. I know that what me and (the victim) did together was wrong, and it should not have continued for as long as it did after the first time. It should have ended. It didnt, Sell said. Throughout the years, it just became something they did together, he said of the sexual abuse. Sell claimed it wasnt a forceful situation. Though the victim said he began touching her when she was just 11, long before the 16-year age of consent in Nebraska. But at the same point, its my fault it continued as long as it did, Sell said. In an interview with a probation officer, he echoed the comment and went further, claiming that it was the girl who had coerced him and that he should have stood my ground. Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Jason Cooper pointed to that and other comments, saying Sell had taken no responsibility for six years of pedophilia besides a single line of lip service and attempts to justify what is otherwise unjustifiable. Defendant lives in a grotesque version of reality, unmoored from any truth, where he was the victim of an adolescent preteens sexual advances on him, Cooper said. He said Sell claimed that the girl was in control, that he never forced her to do anything and that she had threatened to tell if he stopped. Cooper said multiple lines of delusional excuses for his own misconduct followed by the phrase I take responsibility wasnt a substitute for genuine self-reflection. Theres not a single person in this case who believes that the victim was in control, not the defendant; that he did not desire what transpired; and certainly not that he was somehow blackmailed into participation, the prosecutor said. Cooper said the victim will deal with this for the rest of her life. In the end, Colborn sentenced Sell to 35 to 45 years in prison, saying he couldnt ignore the serious nature of the crime and the surrounding circumstances. Police began investigating Sell nearly a year ago, after the mother of a teenage girl called the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services child abuse hotline after her daughter told her she thought she may be pregnant from a sexual relationship with Sell. The girl, then 17, later told investigators that Sell began touching her when she was 11 and that the abuse escalated and continued for years and had happened as recently as April 2022, in his camper northwest of Lincoln. In an interview with police that followed, Sell admitted to multiple incidents and knowing it was wrong. He was arrested and ultimately pleaded no contest to first-degree sexual assault for it. As part of his sentence, Sell will have to register as a sex offender and be subject to community supervision for the rest of his life. April 25, (THEWILL) The Labour Party (LP) has asked the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting at the Appeal Court in Abuja, to disregard an alleged letter by its factional Chairman, Lamidi Apapa, seeking to withdraw the petition of Peter Obi, Presidential candidate of the Party, against the declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President-elect. Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiorah Ifoh, made the call in a statement on Tuesday. Ifoh said the move was the latest attempt by the breakaway faction to destroy the party. He listed Samuel Akingbade, Gbenga Daramola, Anselem Eragbe and Abayomi Arabambi erstwhile National Legal Adviser, National Financial Secretary, National Youth Leader and National Publicity Secretary, respectively amongst others for colluding with the factional chairman to derail the party. The LPs acting spokesperson called on the Department of State Services (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Police to arrest these enemies of democracy The statement read: Daily, the evil intention of the breakaway faction of the Labour Party, led by the suspended Deputy National Chairman, Lamidi Apapa, continues to manifest and just this morning, our legal team was confronted by the stark revelation that these men have advanced their plot by approaching all the tribunals where our numerous candidates lodged their election petitions arising from the recently held general election. Alongside Lamidi Apapa on the plot to frustrate Labour Partys destined victory in the tribunals and also to derail the fledgling democracy are some of the suspended members including the Samuel Akingbade, Gbenga Daramola, Anselem Eragbe and Abayomi Arabambi erstwhile National Legal Adviser, National Financial Secretary, National Youth Leader and National Publicity Secretary respectively amongst others. Recall that the leadership of the Labour Party has been swimming through the murky waters of conspiracy, treachery and sabotage orchestrated by these former officers of the party. We had long suspected that moles were planted to sabotage the efforts of the party to offer Nigerians an alternative to the wicked and clueless governance in place today, but the desperation to satisfy their paymaster is beginning to threaten our common peace and of course, our democracy. Approaching the tribunals to withdraw all the cases lodged by Labour Party candidates across board is the height of subterfuge and treachery, and Nigerians will resist this ploy to plunge the nation into unnecessary turmoil. Their actions show that they are working against the party and that they are working to destroy the party. If they claim that they have a problem with the national leadership of the party, will they also claim that they have a problem with the candidates of the party? What offence have the candidates of the party committed that they are now moving around to withdraw their matters from the tribunal? The leadership of the Labour Party is, therefore, calling on the tribunals to disregard any letter emanating from our suspended National Legal Adviser, Samuel Akingbade, to the effect that all our cases are to be withdrawn. We are also calling on the presidential election tribunal to disregard such letters from these ex-officials of our party asking for the withdrawal of HE Peter Obis petition. Trending Anxiety As FG Takes Terrorism Financiers to Court We also call on the Police, DSS and EFCC to quickly apprehend and question these agents of destruction before they succeed in igniting the nation. The party leadership equally noted that the appointment of Pastor Ifoh as Acting National Publicity Secretary followed due process as enshrined in the partys constitution. All stakeholders including the State Chairmen and their secretaries, Zonal officers, owners and trustees of the party including NLC and TUC, some elected members of the party, as well as the leader and presidential candidate of the party amongst others, met in Asaba on April 18, where I was elected as the National Publicity Secretary due to the vacancy that occurred after the expulsion of the former National Publicity Secretary in line with the powers conferred on it. Article 14(2) b Section XIV of the Labour Party Constitution on the Powers and Function of the NEC states: To fill vacancies in the NWC as they may occur from time to time in between National Convention; Also Section XV states; To take disciplinary action against any member or organ of the party as it may seem fit in the interest of the party. All relevant government agencies including NEC were present where I was unanimously elected. It is even ludicrous that an imposter, who committed a crime and forged signatures upon which he has been suspended over six months ago, and for him to turn around to calling people imposters, I wonder who is the imposter here. Let me refresh your memory. At a press conference held at the partys national secretariat in Abuja six months ago, the then National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, explained to newsmen that Eragbes suspension was informed by allegations of forgery, issuance of certificates to groups unknown to the leadership of the party without the approval of the National Working Committee or the National Chairman, the launch of a fund mobilisation website to receive funds without the approval of the National Working Committee or the National Chairman and sending official letters to some individuals without the approval of the National Working Committee or the National Chairman. Abayomi described the actions of the National Youth Leader as gross misconduct, disobedience to the constitution of the Labour Party and other acts. While accusing him of anti-party activities, he said the suspension will last for six months and that will depend on how Eragbe conducts himself while the suspension lasts. He said: In essence, he seems more to be working against the aspiration of our presidential candidate. Ever since he became our senatorial candidate in Edo State, he has been hobnobbing with our major foe and that alone, is an act that cannot be condoned by the leadership of this party. Is this the character one will be taking seriously? I am the current National Publicity Secretary and the resolution of the NEC has already been filed with relevant authorities. We urge the media to ignore the ranting of this exposed and disgraced former Youth Leader. NEWS PROVIDED BY Catholic League April 26, 2023 NEW YORK, April 26, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on media coverage of Tucker Carlson's exit from Fox News: The terms "far left" and "far right" have historically been used by social scientists to refer to communists and fascists, respectively. Stalin and Hitler epitomize the labels. But in today's polarized society, the mainstream mediawhich is left-of-centeris dubbing Tucker Carlson "far right." Which means he allegedly has more in common with Nazis than conservatives. This is a bastardization of the terms. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly organized to write a new constitution. Those who wanted the king to hold power sat to the right of the president of the assembly; those who wanted a revolution sat to the left. Hence, the terms right and left refer to traditionalists and radicals. Today, these terms have lost their meaning. The lead story in today's New York Times is, "Fox News Ousts Carlson, A Voice Of The Far Right." What did Carlson do to merit this invidious tag? The news story says he took "far-right positions on issues like border policy and race relations." Carlson believes that people who break the law by crashing our border and entering the country illegally should be prosecuted. The surveys show so do most Americans. Carlson also believes that critical race theory, which teaches that every white person is a racist, is irresponsible. The surveys show most Americans agree with him. In other words, according to the New York Times, most Americans are Nazi-like creatures. Most fair-minded observers would say that Carlson is to the right of center the way Don Lemon is to the left of center. Accordingly, if the New York Times were fair, it would brand Lemon "far left." But that is not what they called him in yesterday's newspaper: he is called a "fiery political commentator." This could also be said of Carlson, but that is not what they say about him. He is an extremist. The New York Times is not alone in its biased reporting. We did a study of how the media are responding to the ousters of Carlson and Lemon. We found over 200 examples of Carlson being called "far right," but only a few instances of Lemon being called "far left." PBS, NBC and MSNBC referred to Carlson as "far right" but none referred to Lemon as "far left." No media outlet we checked was more unprofessional than the New York Times. In yesterday's paper it has a news story on Dong Yuyu, the "longtime writer and editor at a top Chinese Communist Party newspaper." If anyone merits being called "far left" it would be him. But, no, he is said to have written "liberal-leaning commentaries." In other words, Communist Party leaders are not even "liberals," never mind "left-wingers"and they most certainly are not "far-left wingers." They just "lean" to the liberal side. To top things off, the New York Times issued an obituary today on Harry Belafonte; the entertainer died at age 96. In a lengthy account, the only reference to his politics was that as a noble civil rights crusader. The paper lied. Belafonte loved Stalin. According to Ronald Radosh, who spent his academic life writing about communists, Belafonte was an "unreconstructed Stalinist." Mr. "Calypso" was very upset with whites who discriminated against blacks in the United States, yet he never had anything bad to say about Fidel Castro's oppressive communist regime. Worse, Belafonte went to the wall defending the genocidal maniac, Mengistu, in Ethiopia, the communist who instituted the "Red Terror." None of this was reported by the New York Times. According to "the newspaper of record," Belafonte, like Dong, was a liberal, not a communist. But Tucker is akin to the Nazis. Got that? Contact Carolyn Ryan, managing editor of the New York Times: carolyn.ryan@nytimes.com The Labour Party on Tuesday urged the election petition tribunals to disregard letters written by a faction led by Lamidi Apapa, demanding the dismissal of all petitions, including the one challenging the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinbu, in the February 25 election. The LP acting National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, who made the call in a statement posted on the partys website, accused Apapa and his supporters of working to satisfy their paymasters who are determined to truncate the countrys democracy. The LP has currently embroiled in a leadership crisis with Apapa and the partys substantive national chairman, Julius Abure, fighting for control of the party. Apapa, who was the LP Deputy National Chairman, was appointed the acting national chairman following an order by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court which restrained Abure and five others from parading themselves as the partys national officers. He was however suspended by the partys National Working Committee (NWC) for alleged anti-party activities last week. In the statement, the LP spokesman asked the Department of State Service (DSS) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to go after the enemies of the countrys democracy. The statement read: We are by this statement informing all arms of the judiciary, including the tribunals and courts to ignore the ignoble antics of these compromised suspended members of the party. We are also calling on the police, DSS and EFCC to arrest these enemies of democracy. READ ALSO: APC to Labour Party: Were not behind your crisis Approaching the tribunals to withdraw all the cases lodged by Labour Party candidates across the board is the height of subterfuge and treachery, and Nigerians will resist this ploy to plunge the nation into unnecessary turmoil. Their actions show that they are working against the party and that they are working to destroy the party. If they claim that they have a problem with the national leadership of the party, will they also claim that they have a problem with the candidates of the party? What offence has the candidates of the party committed that they are now moving around to withdraw their matters from the tribunal? The leadership of the Labour Party is therefore calling on the tribunals to disregard any letter emanating from our suspended National Legal Adviser, Samuel Akingbade, to the effect that all our cases are to be withdrawn. We are also calling on the presidential election tribunal to disregard such letters from these ex-officials of our party asking for the withdrawal of HE Peter Obis petition. Join the conversation Opinions Support Ripples Nigeria , hold up solutions journalism Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs. As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake. If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause. Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development. Donate Now From Godwin Tsa, Abuja A presidential candidate of the Hope Democratic Party(HDP) in the 2019 election, Chief Ambrose Owuru has asked the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal to stop the May 29 inauguration of the President -elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a fresh suit marked CA/CV/259/2023, Uwuru, also a legal practitioner, is praying the intermediate court to prohibit President Muhammadu Buhari, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from inaugurating the 2023 President- elect on May 29. The plaintiff wants Buhari, AGF and as INEC stopped from taking any further steps on the 2023 presidential election that produced Tinubu as winner. He predicated his action on the ground that he is the constitutionally adjudged winner of the 2019 election and has not spent his tenure as required by law. Among others, Owuru insisted that President Buhari has been usurping his tenure of office since 2019 because the Supreme Court has not determined his petition filed in 2019 in which he challenged the purported declaration of Buhari as the election winner. In his motion on notice marked CA/CV/259/2023 just filled at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, Owuru applied for An order of prohibitory injunction compelling Buhari, AGF and INEC, their servants, agents and privies to preserve and give due cognizance and abstain from any further undertaking or engaging in any act of usurpation of adjudged acquired Constitutional rights and mandate as winner of the 2019 presidential election. He also applied for another order directing and placing on notice that any form of handover inauguration, organized and Superintended by Buhari on 29th May 2023 outside his adjudged winner of the 2019 presidential election, subject of the pending appeal remains and is viewed as an interim place holder administration arranged pending the hearing and determination of his substantive appeal on constitutional interpretation thereof. Listed as respondents in the motion on notice are President Muhammadu Buhari, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 3rd respectfully. The motion on notice filed on his behalf by Mr Odion Peter has been served on President Buhari and AGF through their counsel, Mrs Maimuna Lami Ashiru of the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja while that of INEC was served through the Head of Legal Department and Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Mr S. O Ibrahim. Our correspondent noted that the motion is supported with 8- paragraph affidavit praying the Court of Appeal for expeditious hearing before the inauguration of Tinubu. The affidavit deposed to by an Abuja based legal practitioner, Adebayo Anafowode and filed at the Court of Appeal in Abuja expressed apprehension that Owurus suit against Buhari would be rendered nugatory unless given quick hearing. Part of the affidavit read That the applicant (Owuru) is the adjudged 1st in time constitutional winner of the February 16, 2019 presidential election reserves the right of first refusal over any later presidential election returns in the face of usurpation of adjudged acquired constitutional rights.. Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for hearing of the suit by the Court of Appeal. By Ismaila Chafe President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Accra, Ghana, identified regular meetings amongst countries that make up the Gulf of Guinea Commission as a critical route towards achieving peace and security in the region. Mr Femi Adesina, the Presidents spokesman in a statement, said the president was speaking for the last time as Nigerias President at the 3rd Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), taking place in the Ghanaian capital. According to the Nigerian leader, the theme of the Session Building a Safe, Secure and Prosperous Gulf of Guinea Region for Sustainable Development, is quite apt and significant towards addressing the challenges in the region. He said: We must remain committed to our regular GGC Summits and the Extraordinary Sessions and use these deep-seated fundamental platforms to essentially continue to work out key modalities that could afford us the opportunity to discuss, identify, support strategies and develop capacities to achieve peace, security and prosperity in the Gulf of Guinea Region. While reiterating Nigerias commitment and steps towards fighting maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea, Buhari encouraged member countries to enact laws against piracy and other criminal acts as Nigeria has done. He expounded on steps so far taken by the country to further show its steadfastness to the revitalisation and strengthening of the GGC in order to achieve set objectives. According to him, Nigeria hosted the 5th Ordinary Summit of the Gulf of Guinea Commission on Oct. 13, 2022, in Abuja as a demonstration of Nigerias strong commitment towards the repositioning of the GGC into a more vibrant organisation that will effectively deliver on its mandate. He noted that at the 5th Ordinary Summit, the Assembly adopted policy decisions towards revitalising the Commission. Nigeria considers the effective and optimal function of the GGC as strategic to the global security interests in the Gulf region. These commitments include addressing issues of Piracy, Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Protection of Marine Resources as well as Irregular Migration to the Region, he said. The president noted that in June 2019, Nigerias National Assembly passed the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act, 2019 (POMO Act). According to Buhari, the bill aims to prevent and suppress piracy, armed robbery and any other unlawful acts against any ship lawfully operating in the Gulf Region. Nigeria continues to deploy significant resources towards tackling Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. In June 2021, the Government of Nigeria unveiled 195 million dollars worth of Boats, Vehicles and Aircraft to spear-head the countrys fight against Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea through the Deep Blue Project, he added. The Nigerian leader used the occasion to express his appreciation to President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, the Chairperson of the Assembly, for the invitation. He also lauded Amb. Florence Ukonga, the Nigerian outgoing Executive Secretary of the GGC and her Management Team for their dedication and selflessness in the discharge of their functions. He especially commended the dignified way the Ambassador had faced the daunting financial challenges in a way that it did not compromise the integrity of the organisation, urging member countries to be alive to their financial commitments and responsibilities. Buhari further lauded the team for elevating the status of the GGC to such a level that enables it to partner with the African Union to implement some of her sub-regional programmes on maritime security, safety and sustainable developmental issues with profound impact on Central and West Africa. We very much look forward to May 15, 2023, when the proposed joint Africa Naval Exercise of the Commission would take place in Lagos. In his welcome address, President Nana Akufo- Addo expressed his delight at the physical Summit, after several virtual meetings since 2019 due to COVID-19 pandemic. He reminded delegates of the challenges the Commission faced, enjoining member states to promptly discharge their financial obligations to enable it fulfill her statutory responsibilities. (NAN) By Godwin Oritse President Muhammadu Buhari will today depart Abuja for Accra, Ghana to attend the 3rd Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Gulf of Guinea Commission, (GGC) convened by President Nana Akuffo-Ado of Ghana. The president, according to a statement issued on Monday by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, is billed to participate and deliver remarks at the high-level discussion on strategies for strengthening peace and security in the fight against maritime-related crimes in the region. As the immediate past Chairman of the Assembly, President Buhari had championed collective efforts by Member States of the region, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) and their partners to address and prevent piracy. Related News In June 2019, Nigerias National Assembly passed the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act, 2019, (SPOMO Act), which aims to prevent and suppress piracy, armed robbery and other unlawful acts against a ship. The president will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd) and Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, among other government officials. A bandits attack victim, Zakaria Iliya has recalled his ordeal in the den of the criminals that resulted in the loss of his arm. Iliya, who is 19 years old recently returned to his community, Ungwan Gora in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State for herbal treatment and shared his ordeal in an interview with The Punch. According to him, the bandits had stormed his Community on Presidential election day and kidnapped him along with five other villagers. He said: On a fateful day while we were at the kidnappers den, they asked us to go and fetch water, when we came back I went to defecate, and while I was there I saw one of the bandits running towards me with a long sharp Matchet and chopped off my arm on the assumption I wanted to escape. Blood was gushing out without any help from anybody. The bandits continue beating me mercilessly without being remorseful of my condition. A sum of N1 million naira was paid as ransom before I was released, Zakaria lamented. The teenager disclosed that his parents had to struggle to pay the money before they secured his release. In other news, Kanyi Daily reported that trapped Nigerian students in Sudan have yet to leave Khartoum, the countrys capital. Reports say 40 buses were already on the ground to convey the students from Khartoum to Cairo. The Plateau State Governor-elect Barr. Caleb Mutfwang has inaugurated a nine Member Transition Committee to ensure a smooth Transition Come May 29th. Speaking at the event, Mutfwang said he will be a Governor for all irrespective of Political Party and Other differences and charged members of the Committee to see their assignment as that of the people of Plateau State. Our correspondent reports that the Atiku /Mutfwang campaign team was dissolved at the event. The nine member committee is to work with a nine man transition committee set up by the State Government towards ensuring a successful hand over. While thanking the people for the mandate given to him, the Governor-elect expressed his commitment that the trust given to him will not be betrayed. Mutfwang noted that his administration will set standards from the beginning and must be responsible and accountable. He called on the legislative arm to operate within the context that are beneficial and useful to the people of the State. The Governor-elect said the Party has confidence in the Judiciary and expressed the believe that all tribunals operating in the State will work with the fear of God and sense of responsibility and assured that the party will do its best to win in all the tribunals. He applauded the campaign council for a job well done and expressed the believe that the transition committee will do a good job. Speaking earlier, Chairman of the PDP in the State Chris Hassan applauded the campaign structure that worked for the success of the PDP in the State. On his part, Chairman of the Atiku/Mutfwang Campaign Council Hon. Latep Dabang said their task was made easy considering the support they received from the party and the people of the State. However, Chairman of the Transition Committee Professor Ganyir Lonbin said they will work assiduously towards fulfilling the trust bestowed on them. On his first appointment, the Governor-elect has as well approved the appointment of the Correspondent of the Sun Newspaper and Chairman Correspondent Chapel in the State Gyang Bere as his Special Assistant Media and a retired Civil servant in the State Moses Nwam as his Senior Special Assistant Special duties. Advertisement By Joshua Chibuzo Andrew, Owerri Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate for the November 11th Imo governorship election, has presented Jones Onyereri to the State Working Committee of the party, as his running mate. Onyereri, a two-time member of the House of Representatives is also the candidate of the PDP for the just concluded Imo West senatorial election. Anyanwu while presenting the deputy governorship candidate during an interactive session held on Tuesday at the party secretariat, he described him as a grassroots politician who has the capacity of delivering Orlu zone. He said that his choice of Onyereri was unanimously endorsed by the party. Having presented my deputy today, i sincerely seek for your support. With your individuals support, we will surely win the race. The National Secretary of PDP further described his candidature as a divine one, expressing no regrets that some of the partys serving federal lawmakers left for the ruling APC. He described them as household enemies whose departure from the party would serve the party better. Related Advertisement The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday obtained an order to retrieve all the documents it tendered as exhibits in the N4.6bn money laundering trial of a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode. The EFCC obtained the order from Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos to enable it re-file the charges before the Abuja division of the court. The decision to take the case from Lagos to Abuja followed the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which held that the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, rather than Lagos, has the jurisdiction to hear the case. The EFCC charged Fani-Kayode alongside a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenandi Usman; a former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Yusuf Danjuma, and a company, Jointrust Dimensions Nigeria Ltd. In the 17 counts filed against them, they were accused of laundering N4.6bn in the build-up to the 2015 general elections. In the middle of the trial before Justice Rilwan Aikawa in Lagos, the defendants challenged the jurisdiction of the court, on the grounds that the facts of the case happened in Abuja, rather than Lagos. Related News But Justice Aikawa dismissed their objection after which they went on appeal. The appellate court later upheld the defendants appeal, holding that the Lagos court lacks jurisdiction over the case. At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, EFCC Prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court that in view of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, all exhibits and documents tendered by the prosecution should be released to enable the commission to commence the matter afresh at the Federal High Court Abuja. Justice Osiagor granted the application. In the charges, the EFCC alleged that Fani-Kayode and others at various times unlawfully retained over N4.6bn which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful acts of stealing and corruption. Spread the love The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has dismissed a report by an online publication that it incurred a deficit of N17bn, describing the story as totally untrue and a figment of the writers imagination. The Commission expressed concerns over the report titled NCC Incurs a Deficit of N17bn, Spending N35.2bn on Personnel, Consultancy Fees, noting that the inability of the online publication to accurately interpret the contents of its 2021 Annual Reports which have been made public was responsible for the error in the report. The publication gave the wrong impression that the Commission incurred a N17bn deficit because of expenditures on personnel and consultancy fees. This is far from the truth, NCC said in a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka. Clearing the air on the issue, the Commission said: Though the Statement of the Financial Performance of the Commission for the period ended December 2021, clearly indicates that the sum of N17.3bn was a Surplus/(Deficit) retained for the period), this does not imply that the Commission incurred a cash deficit as the expenditure in its financials were both in cash and accruals applicable to the year. READ ALSO: NCC begins 5-day training on digital technology for varsity staff If the publication had inquired of the constituents of our expenditure, it would have learnt that the expenditures for the year 2021 included accruals for items undergoing procurement at the end of the year, like the State Accelerated Broadband Initiative, SABI, being implemented by the Commission, which was standing in the sum of about N24bn in the financial report. The Commission also remitted an Operating Surplus/Spectrum Fees of estimated N197.7bn to the Federal Government, under the same Financial Performance Reporting period, and had a bank balance of about N46.97bn, erasing any doubt that there was any deficit spending. The Commission, therefore, disclaims the wrong impression created by the above headline, and subsequent misinterpretation of our financial report in the publication may have had in the minds of the public, and stakeholders. The Commission reiterates its commitment to effective and transparent processes in all its regulatory, management and financial activities. Labour Party has raised alarm over moves by a faction led by Lamidi Apapa to sabotage the petition of the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, at the tribunal. In a statement on Tuesday, April 25, LP acting National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh revealed that Apapa, a suspended Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party, had approached the tribunal seeking to withdraw the partys pending cases. He urged the tribunals to disregard letters written by Apapa, demanding the dismissal of all petitions, including the one challenging the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinbu, in the February 25 election. The LP spokesman accused Apapa and his supporters of working to satisfy their paymasters who are determined to truncate the countrys democracy. Ifoh asked the Department of State Service (DSS) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to go after the enemies of the countrys democracy. The statement reads, Daily, the evil intention of the breakaway faction of the Labour Party, led by the suspended Deputy National Chairman, Lamidi Apapa continues to manifest and just this morning, our legal team was confronted by the stark revelation that these men have advanced their plot by approaching all the tribunals where our numerous candidates lodged their election petitions arising from the recently held general election. Alongside Lamidi Apapa on the plot to frustrate Labour Partys destined victory in the tribunals and also to derail the fledgling democracy are some of the suspended members including the Samuel Akingbade, Gbenga Daramola, Anselem Eragbe and Abayomi Arabambi erstwhile National Legal Adviser, National Financial Secretary, National Youth Leader and National Publicity Secretary respectively amongst others. Recall that the leadership of the Labour Party has been swimming through the murky waters of conspiracy, treachery and sabotage orchestrated by these former officers of the party. We had long suspected that moles were planted to sabotage the efforts of the party to offer Nigerians an alternative to the wicked and clueless governance in place today, but the desperation to satisfy their paymaster are beginning to threaten our common peace and of course our democracy. Approaching the tribunals to withdraw all the cases lodged by Labour Party candidates across the board is the height of subterfuge and treachery, and Nigerians will resist this ploy to plunge the nation into unnecessary turmoil. Their actions show that they are working against the party and that they are working to destroy the party. If they claim that they have problem with the national leadership of the party, will they also claim that they have problem with the candidates of the party? What offence have the candidates of the party committed that they are now moving around to withdraw their matters from the tribunal? The leadership of the Labour Party is therefore calling on the tribunals to disregard any letter emanating from our suspended National Legal Adviser, Samuel Akingbade to the effect that all our cases are to be withdrawn. We are also calling on the presidential election tribunal to disregard such letters from these ex-officials of our party asking for the withdrawal of HE Peter Obis petition. We also call on the Police, DSS and EFCC to quickly apprehend and question these agents of destruction before they succeed in igniting the nation. KanyiDaily recalls that Lamidi Apapa had claimed that Peter Obi is not qualified to rule Nigeria because the presidential candidate does not respect court order. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) Internet connectivity in the Philippines accelerated last month, data from global benchmarking firm Ookla showed. In a recently released report, Ookla said the countrys fixed broadband speed improved by a notch to 90.57 megabits per second (Mbps), while the mobile speed was also faster at 25.63 Mbps. Ookla said among the three mobile operators in the Philippine market, PLDTs Smart Communications delivered the fastest median download speed at 33.39 Mbps. Globe Telecom, meanwhile, defeated the other two telcos in the consistency segment with a score of 83.4%. In a statement, the National Telecommunications Commission attributed these improvements to the increase in issued permits granted to telcos for their network buildup, including the deployment of more cell towers. The regulator also said boosting the countrys internet speed is a priority under the current administration as this would support expediting the digitalization of small businesses and government services as well as Filipino consumers preference to stay online. Despite pleas from the United Nations, activists and family members, a 46-year-old man has been executed in Singapore for conspiring to traffic cannabis. Singapore is home to one of the worlds toughest anti-drug laws. It argues the laws are a necessary deterrent to drug crime which is a major issue across South-East Asia. Tangaraju Suppiah was hanged at dawn on Wednesday, April 26 over a plot to smuggle 1kg (35oz) of cannabis. Activists said he had been convicted using weak evidence and received limited legal access during his prosecution. But Singapore authorities said he had been given a fair trial and criticised those who questioned the decision of the courts.. On Wednesday, Tangaraju Suppiahs family gathered at Changi Prison near the citys airport in the east to receive his body. Last year Singapore hanged 11 people, all on drugs charges including an intellectually impaired man convicted of trafficking three tablespoons of heroin. Meanwhile Singapores neighbouring country Malaysia abolished mandatory death penalties earlier this month, saying it was not an effective deterrent to crime. Agency Report A tourist ship evacuating 1,687 foreign nationals out of Sudan arrived the shores of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. The Saudi foreign ministry, acknowledging the arrival of the ship, disclosed that the evacuated foreign nationals are from 50 countries, noting that this is the largest evacuation from Sudan by Saudi Arabia. The Foreign Ministry stated that foreign nationals that arrived the coastal city of Jeddah from Port Sudan on Wednesday was transported by one of the kingdoms ships, and the kingdom was keen to provide all the basic needs of foreign nationals in preparation for their departure. The ministry revealed that the evacuated nationals include 13 Saudi Arabians, and nationals of other countries in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas. It was disclosed that Saudi Arabia has received several contingents of evacuees by air and sea since the war began in Sudan on April 15. The President-Elect, Senator Bola Tinubu has met with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu at the Defence House in Abuja. In attendance at the meeting which was held behind closed doors are the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan; the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege; APC National Publicity Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore and former Secretary of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Hon James Faleke. At the end of the meeting, the APC National Chairman said the meeting is a routine exercise. He declined to disclose issues discussed at the meeting. The meeting comes barely two days after Tinubus return to the country after over one month away in Europe. The President-Elect is due to be inaugurated as President Muhammadu Buharis success on May 29. Tinubu scored the highest votes in the February 25 poll and was declared the President-Elect by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), though his victory is currently being vigorously challenged at the tribunal by two top contestants Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). On March 22, after controversy surrounding his whereabouts, Tinubus spokesman, Tunde Rahman said his principal travelled to Paris in France to rest and observe the lesser hajj but no photo of the President-Elect was made public while he was away. Tinubus health has been a subject of controversy in the last two years. In 2021, Tinubu was away in the United Kingdom for over three months where he underwent surgery and therapy for a knee injury. He subsequently travelled to the UK and Paris a few times in 2022. Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh has threatened to deal with a celebrity stylist, Mimi Linda Yina, better known as Medlin Boss, for allegedly sleeping with her best friends husband. Popular Instagram blogger, Gistlover, had alleged that Medlin Boss is dating the husband of her best friend, Nimi Okafor, who already had six children. The blogger also shared damning screenshots of leaked chats allegedly between Medlin and Nimis husband, showing they were sleeping with each other. Reacting to the story on her Instagram page, Tonto Dikeh expressed disbelief and disappointment over Medlins actions, saying she is a demon. The actress said that Medlins horrible stories is all over Abuja, stressing that if she were in Nimis shoe, she will gather people to beat the celebrity stylist. She wrote, A friend who can do this to another friend is a demon. @Medlinboss I dont want to believe all these horrible stories. I AM DISAPPOINTED. That was your sister, Tufiakwa. Blcok me thats your business. If I were your friend, I will gather other friends and beat the hell out of you, this is evil. The gist is all over Abuja. KanyiDaily recalls that Tonto Dikeh had also said that Blessing CEO needs to be dealt a lesson due to her insensitive comments about the dead. KanyiDaily recalls that Binani had approached the court with an ex-parte application to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from reversing her illegal declaration as the winner of the Adamawa gubernatorial election. Binanis Counsel, Mohammed Sheriff, upon resumed hearing in the matter on Wednesday, told Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja that a notice of discontinuance had been filed to that effect and urged the court to strike out the case, NAN reports. The lawyer, who informed the court that a lot of issues had come up between the last date of adjournment and the present, begged for the suit to be struck out. But Justice Ekwo reminded Sheriff that an order was given on the last adjourned date directing him to address the court on whether the court had the jurisdiction to entertain the case or not. The judge held that since Sheriff had failed to go by the order of the court, the appropriate thing to do was to dismiss the matter. I hereby make an order dismissing this suit, Justice Ekwo declared. KanyiDaily recalls that Binani was illegally declared the governor-elect of Adamawa by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa. following last Sundays supplementary election. Yunusa had walked into the collation centre after the supplementary election was suspended on Saturday and announced Binani as the winner on Sunday when outstanding results were yet to be declared. The APC governorship candidate was hoping to upstage the incumbent governor, Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored more votes during the main election on 18 March. But INEC described Yunusas action as null and void, and reversed Binanis declaration as winner of the election, which could have made her the first elected female governor in Nigerias history. INEC said the Adamawa REC has no power to announce the winner of the election, noting that the responsibility solely lies with the state collation officer appointed by the commission. BY SULE TAHIR President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has debunked speculations that he was seriously ill as saying I am hail and hearty contrary to speculations that he was seriously ill. An energetic-looking Tinubu, whose jet touched down at about 4:30pm at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, arrived in company of his wife, Oluremi and son, Seyi, to a cheery welcome by his supporters, stalwarts and members of his ruling All Progressives Congress, APC including members of the now-dissolved Presidential Campaign Council (PCC). The visibly elated former governor of Lagos State urged Nigerians to forget rumours about his health. Advertisement The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has filed an appeal, challenging the Wednesday, April 26, 2023 ruling of Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos that struck out its suit seeking the forfeiture of 14 properties as well as the sum of N400m linked to the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, citing his immunity from prosecution under the 1999 constitution. In the notice of appealed filed today, the Commission averred that Justice Oweibo erred in law when he struck out the suit as the immunity conferred on the Respondent against any civil or criminal proceedings during his incumbency as a governor of Kogi State does not extend to properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime traced to him; that the court erred and occasioned a miscarriage of justice when it refused to bind itself with the decision of the Court of Appeal in EFCC V Fayose (2018) LPELR 44131 CA and the decision of the Supreme Court in Fawehinmi V IGP (2002)7 NWLR (PT767)606, on the proper interpretation of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution; and that the learned trial court erred in law when it struck out a preservation order of properties reasonably suspected to have been derived from proceeds of unlawful activities notwithstanding its findings that the Respondent failed to show the genuine origin of funds used to acquire the properties under the preservation order Justice Oweibo had, on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, granted an interim forfeiture of the properties in Lagos, Abuja and the United Arab Emirates and also ordered the preservation of the sum of N400, 000,000.00 (Four Hundred Million Naira) recovered from one Aminu Falala, which is reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activity and intended to be used for the acquisition of Plot No. 1224 Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island Lagos . Moving the application, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, had stated that the properties, including Hotel Apartment Community, Burj Khalifa lying, being and situate at, Plot 160 Municipality NO 345-7562 , Sky View Building No 1, Property No 401, Floor 4, Dubai U.A.E., were reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activity. In his ruling, Justice Oweibo had granted the application, as prayed, and also directed the Commission to publish the interim order within 14 days in any national newspaper and also adjourned to March 28, 2023. During the proceedings on March 28, 2023, Oyedepo had informed the court that the Commission received a notice of intention to oppose the making of the preservation order, which it had equally responded to. Responding, Bello, in an application through his counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed SAN, had sought to vacate the order of the court on the grounds that most of the properties sought to be forfeited were acquired by Bello before he became the Governor of the state. Oyedepo, in opposition to the application, drew the attention of the court to the fact that the applicant failed to respond to the depositions in the counter-affidavit. According to him, In Usman against Garke, it was reported in 2003, LPLR 3431, Supreme Court and our submission is that failure to reply to the counter-affidavit has a single legal consequence that the despondent are agreeing to the application. We urge your lordship to hold that the failure to respond is deemed admitted. It is our submission that, where a statute describes a mode of doing a thing, it is that mode that must be followed. We have cited authorities to this effect, one of which is Patience Jonathan and the FGN, in paragraph 1.08 of our submission. The Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022 prescribes the mode of challenging the preservation order of the court and the steps to be taken by the party challenging the making of the preservation order. Oyedepo had also submitted that one of the requirements that the application challenging a preservation order must contain is that the applicant must show his interest in the property concerned. In his further submissions, he had said: Apart from Paragraph 4H and I of the affidavit in support of the notice of intention, there is nothing before this Honourable court showing, by way of credible evidence, how the properties were acquired. In our counter-affidavit, we have established how the properties were acquired and there is nothing challenging how the properties were acquired. What was deposed is that most of the properties were got before he became Governor of Kogi State and the properties were not acquired through illegal means. Without establishing the interest of the applicant, the application is bound to fail. And having failed to show how the properties were acquired, the next thing the applicant sought to do was to tell the court that the prosecution had failed several court orders. In response to the immunity clause as contained in Section 308, Oyedepo had said: the Provision of Section 308 will not and cannot be construed to a ridiculous extent of preventing the state from investigating the beneficiary of the section. As far back as 2002, in the case of Fawehinmi and IGP, the court mentioned that a person protected under Section 308 can be investigated; and the fact that someone is under immunity does not prevent the state from investigating. Where a states governor is reasonably suspected to have committed a financial crime, the state can investigate for evidence that will be used in prosecution when he no longer enjoys the immunity. Oyedepo had also argued that the steps the prosecution was taking is a step for preservation and it cannot be stopped. He had further urged the court not to be persuaded by the argument of the applicant as Section 308 does not house the courts power to determine the issue. He had, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the prayers of the applicant and order him to tell the court how the properties were acquired. Consequently, Justice Oweibo had adjourned the matter to April 20, 2023 for ruling. In his ruling today, Justice Oweibo held that I have weighed the evidence on both sides. Section 74 of the Act places the burden of proof on the opposing party to show that he is the legitimate owner of the asset suspected to be proceeds of crime; that the assets are of legitimate origin and not proceeds of unlawful activity. The party opposing has not given any evidence in support of his claim that the properties were acquired before he became the Governor of Kogi State thereby showing the nature and extent of his interest. I believe that the evidence should show when and how these properties were acquired. I find that the party opposing has not placed before the court sufficient reasons to oppose the preservation order. The application accordingly fails. However, by reason of the provisions of Section 308(1) of the Constitution, this suit is struck out. Related Advertisement Advertisement BY SULE TAHIR. FEDERAL Governments ten 100-seater buses carrying stranded Nigerian students in Sudan has left Khartoum for Cairo. A student leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, five of the buses were at the meeting point in Khartoum last night and an additional 15 100-seater buses arrived the meeting point today, making it a total of 20 buses. According to him, a total of 10 buses conveying stranded Nigerian students are headed to Cairo and an additional 10 more buses are lined up at the venue to carry some more students. Five buses were here overnight and an additional ten more buses arrived this morning at about 10:30am local time. And immediately after the arrival of those buses, the official started the screening and students boarded. After two hours, at about 12:30pm local time the first set of five buses filled with our Nigerian students left the campus for Cairo and after two more hours, at about 2:40pm local time another set of five buses left too, making it a total of 10 buses headed for Cairo. As I speak to you now, the students on ground are boarding the remaining five buses and just few minutes ago, five more buses just drove into the premises. In total, we have 10 100-seater buses conveying our students to Cairo and 10 more on ground now, he explained. Sources closes to the scene reported that, Federal Governments buses arrived the meeting point of International University Of Africa, Khartoum for the evacuation of the stranded Nigerian students in Sudan through Cairo. This medium reported that, a set of five 200-seater buses drove into the venue at exactly 7:30pm local time (5:30pm Nigerian time) with two Hilux trucks of security personnel and a small bus of embassy officials. A student leader who spoke confirmed the development,the officials have started clearance and verification of students at the venue and some students are ready to board. Also Speaking an official of NEMA said, the movement of the buses from Khartoum in Sudan is to Aswan in Egypt. From Aswan, they will be airlifted to Abuja. The road trip is estimated to be about 40hours. Related Advertisement Spread the love The Federal High Court in Lagos has struck out an interim order of forfeiture obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking to seize 14 properties linked to Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. Justice Nicholas Oweibo held that Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution prevents the institution of any criminal or civil case against a governor or the President. The properties are in Lagos, Abuja and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The judge granted the temporary forfeiture order on February 22, following an ex parte motion filed by EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN). It directed the anti-graft agency to publicise the order in two national dailies for any interested parties to show cause why the order should not be made absolute. But upon the publication of the preservative order, Governor Bello filed a notice of intention to oppose, and an application seeking the vacation of the interim forfeiture order through his lawyer, Mr. Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN. READ ALSO: Kogi APC primary: Yahaya Bello commends party members for turnout, orderliness The Governor premised his application on the ground that the property listed were not proceeds of an unlawful act, as they were acquired long before he was elected as Kogi State Governor and could not have been acquired from Kogi State funds. He further stated that by Section 308 of the Constitution, the EFCC is prevented from instituting any civil or criminal suit against him. He also protested the legality in the filing of the suit by the EFCC on the ground that the case was in flagrant disobedience to a state high court order, which restrained the EFCC from investigating any account of the Kogi State Government pending the determination of the Motion on Notice. Advertisement According to him, the interim forfeiture order was obtained by either suppression or misrepresentation of facts by the Commission. The Governor also argued that the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) could not take effect in retrospect as the properties in dispute were acquired before he became Kogi State Governor. READ ALSO: Alleged 3bn Scam: Yahaya Bellos Nephew, others remanded in Prison He said the POCAs validity was being challenged at the Supreme Court. Regarding jurisdiction, the Governor stated that the properties listed were in Abuja, Kogi and the UAE, and the personality involved was based in Lokoja, adding that the suit ought to have been instituted either in Abuja or in Kogi State. He, therefore, asked the court to vacate the case for lack of jurisdiction. In his response, Oyedepo said the applicant brought nothing before the court to convince the court to vacate the order. He said contrary to the submissions of the Applicant, the Kogi State High Court or any other court in Nigeria had not stopped the EFCC from carrying out its constitutional duties. In his ruling, Justice Nicholas Oweibo held that given Section 308 of the Constitution, which provides immunity to a sitting governor from any civil/criminal prosecution, the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter. Consequently, the court struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction. The Police Command in Enugu State on Sunday issued a 3-day ultimatum for people in possession of unlicensed and authorised firearms to surrender them to the command. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ultimatum was part of the decision reached at the emergency Joint Security Meeting held in Enugu on Friday. The Commands Public Relations Officer, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said this in a statement made available to NAN in Enugu. Amaraizu said that those in possession of unauthorised firearms should surrender them to Commissioner of Police, Mr Sulaiman Balarabe. He said it should be done through either the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) or Divisional Police Officers. According to him, the Command is urging strict compliance to this with effect from Aug. 3, a day after the Emergency Joint Security Meeting. The Command further wishes to make it categorically clear that anyone found in possession of any unlicensed/unauthorized firearms after the expiration of the three days given will be diligently prosecuted in line with the relevant section of the law. The security operatives of the Command working in partnership with sister security agencies and relevant stakeholders have been directed by the commissioner of police to fish out those within the categories mentioned above. The commissioner of police enjoins all to be law abiding, he said. NAN recalls that the Emergency Joint Security Meeting was sequel to the brutal killing of a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr Paul Offu, Parish Priest of St. James Greater Parish, Ugbawka in Nkanu East Local Government Area. Offu was killed by yet to be identified suspected armed men along Ihe-Agbudu Road in Awgu Local Government Area of the state on Thursday, Aug. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25) There will be no special vaccination sites for second COVID-19 booster shots, the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday. "Ang ating mga vaccination sites (for the second booster) ay yung mga health centers din ng ating mga local government. Hindi na tayo mag tatayo ulit ng special vaccination sites," DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters. [Translation: Our vaccination sites for the second booster are the health centers of the local government. We will not set up special vaccination sites.] "Gusto na natin ma-integrate ang COVID-19 vaccination doon sa ating mga regular na programa para mas malapit sa ating komunidad," she added. [Translation: We want to integrate the COVID-19 vaccination into our regular program so it will be closer to our communities.] Vergeire also said the agency will release the number of people who took the second booster shot by the end of the week. The DOH earlier said the general adult population may now acquire the second COVID-19 vaccine booster shot. However, it must be at least six months after receiving the first booster dose. The protesters in London Nigerians have taken to the streets of London to continue protesting for the release of SaharaReporters publisher, Owoyele Sowore. The protest specifically took place at the Nigerian embassy in London The protesters said instead of the government arresting Sowore, they should go to Sambisa Forest and arrest the Boko Haram terrorists and kidnappers killing innocent people in Nigeria because they are the ones making Nigeria uncomfortable. See more photos below: President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Yokohama, Japan, sought the support of the Asian government in combating piracy in the Gulf of Guinea as well as illegal fishing in that region. The President made the request during a bilateral meeting between the Nigerian delegation and Japanese officials led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on the margins of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7). The Nigerian leader, who commended Mr. Abe for the invitation extended to him to attend the triennial Forum, also thanked the Japanese government for attending the pioneer celebration of June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria. In his remarks, Prime Minister Abe, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, welcomed President Buharis participation at TICAD7 and the countrys signing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. Commending the Buhari administration for taking Nigeria to the Next Level, Mr Abe pledged a $300,000 support for Nigerias Defence College as well as 12 million Yen for the countrys public health sector. He also pledged his countrys support for Nigerias Presidency of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, while seeking Nigerias support for Japans bid to occupy some global positions. Also on Thursday in Yokohama, Nigeria and the European Union signed a 50 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support humanitarian and development efforts in the countrys North East region. READ ALSO: Just in: Criminals abroad dont represent Nigerian values, says Buhari The cooperation agreement which was signed by Nigerias Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama and EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Mr. Neven Mimica, would bring the total EU support to the country to 562million for 2014-2020. President Buhari, who thanked the EU member states for their support especially for the North East, described as pathetic the situation in internally displaced camps. He also called for further assistance to improve youth education in the region to take them out of poverty. Commissioner Mimica said Nigerias request for enhanced assistance would be given priority consideration since it had come at the time that the EU was in the process of preparing its seven-year budget. File photo Forty-one people have died from Lassa fever, Health Minister Osagie Ehanire said on Tuesday. He said 258 cases have been confirmed so far from 19 states. Dr. Ehanire said though the disease is endemic due to Nigerias ecological profile, it is everyones responsibility to help curb its spread. At a briefing in Abuja, Ehanire told reporters: Lassa fever is a disease that is indigenous to our country because it occurs every year, particularly in the dry season. As of the 28th of January, 2020, 258 confirmed cases and 41 deaths have been reported in 19 states, with a majority of the cases from Ebonyi, Edo and Ondo states. Given the tropical climate in Nigeria and the abundance of the disease vectors, the high risk of infectious diseases like Lassa fever is high. Despite the increase in confirmed cases, the overall case-fatality rate for 2020 has been just about 15 per cent compared to the same in 2019, which was 20 per cent. A few years ago the case fatality rate was over 30 per cent. Ehanire said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has activated a National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate responses to the outbreak The EOC, which was constituted on January 24, includes representatives from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Environment, World Health Organisation, UNICEF, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and other partners. While we are gradually moving towards achieving a single-digit fatality rate, we will continue to support response activities like surveillance and contact tracing in affected states through the deployment of rapid response teams for improved case management and outcomes. The rapid response teams have so far been deployed to five states Ebonyi, Enugu, Kano, Borno and Ondo states. It is important for health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion and practice universal health precautions to protect themselves from infections by using surgical masks, gloves, laboratory coats and aprons. Further information on Lassa fever can be obtained from the following number 08099555577. On coronavirus, Ehanire said his ministry was working with relevant ministries and agencies to strengthen surveillance and response to public health emergencies at points of entry. The minister explained that the risk factor for coronavirus depends largely on air travel volume. Nigeria has a moderate risk factor because we do not have the huge air travel volume that other high risks countries have, he said. NCDC Director of Prevention, Programmes and Knowledge, Dr Joshua Obasanya, said two health workers died from Lassa fever out of the six affected. We lost two of the health workers, he said. Also yesterday, Tarabas Commissioner for Health, Dr Innocent Vakkai, told reporters in Jalingo that 15 suspected cases were tested and six tested positive, out of which four died. Acting Head, Clinical Services of the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, Dr Ahmed Jatau, added: A medical doctor tested positive. He explained that the doctor, a house officer, was undergoing treatment at the Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo State. Seven suspected cases of Lassa fever were recorded in Gombe State, according to the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ahmed Gana. He said two were confirmed and one died; the other one was treated and discharged. Gana said among the remaining five suspected cases, one later died while waiting for laboratory confirmation. The management of the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital dispelled rumours that a youth corps member serving in Asaba and two pregnant women admitted for Lassa fever died. It said the two pregnant women were brought in from Ondo and Ogun states and both delivered their babies safely. The hospital is a centre for diagnosing and treatment of Lassa fever. The Medical Director of the hospital, Prof Sylvanus Okogbenin, told reporters that the corps members had received dialysis and was recovering. Okogbenin said the doctor from Jalingo was responding to treatment, even as 27 others were treated and discharged. According to him, 61 patients were on admission in the hospital for Lassa fever, adding that three deaths were recorded since the outbreak. The Adamawa State Government confirmed the death of one person from Lassa fever. The state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Prof Abdullahi Isa, said the deceased was a 29-year-old pregnant woman who suffered a stillbirth. He added that three other suspected cases from Yola North, Yola South and Girei LGAs had since been discharged. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Muhammad Bello, said there was no case of Lassa Fever in Abuja. He urged medical experts to be prepared to forestall any outbreak, be it Lassa fever or the Coronavirus. The Federal Ministry of Water Resources has begun activities to intensify efforts to promote a handwashing culture to halt the spread of Lassa fever. The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, urged residents to maintain proper personal hygiene to prevent Lassa fever. The Emir, in a broadcast on Monday evening at his palace, directed residents to notify health professionals of any symptoms noticed in their community. He cautioned them against self-medication or using herbs. Loading Loading The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has challenged professionals in the Nigerian Petroleum sector to come up with solutions to tackle current challenges facing the industry. The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, gave the charge while playing host to the Executive members of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Nigerian Council, in Abuja on Tuesday. He listed over-supply and the outbreak of the COVID-19 which has led to a considerable fall in the price of crude oil as the two major challenges facing the oil and gas industry today. The combination of these two events means that there would be a lull in activities in the oil industry, and if forecasts are right, we may witness very low oil prices throughout the year and that will have a collateral effect on the economy, the GMD observed. He, therefore, urged professionals to come up with a blueprint on how to get things done economically in order to minimize the negative impact of the current situation on the industry. The GMD said NNPC has repositioned its Research and Development business into an innovation centre that can provide the needed solution and services for the technological development in the petroleum industry. On his part, President of the SPE, Joe Uwakwe, said the business of his society was to seek technical solutions to industry problems, adding that the present challenges require the development of technology to produce crude oil in a cost-efficient manner. He assured that professionals in the industry would do what is necessary to overcome the present challenges. By Taiwo Okanlawon Nigerian prolific rapper, Folarin Falana widely known as Falz has called out Lagos state governor, Babjide Sanwo-olu for soliciting for funds after he made a pledge to set up a 2 billion naira relief fund for the victims of Abule-Ado explosion in Amuwo Odofin local government area of the state. Sanwo-olu had visited the site for on-the-spot assessment of the explosion was widespread as it hit schools, houses, and office complexes, leading to the death of many while others suffered injuries However, he decried the Lagos state governments inability to solely raise the funds, hence his decision to call on well meaning Nigerians to donate to the cause. A day after making the pledge, the governor revealed that N250 million has been pumped into the fund as he released bank details to which well-meaning donors will deposit the remaining N1.75 billion for the victims of the Abule Ado explosion. But Nigerian musician, Falz who believes that the state is financially buoyant enough to come up with the 2 billion naira called it a joke. Falz, wrote: on his Twitter account; What kind of joke is this? Who are you asking to donate? What kind of joke is this? Who are you asking to donate ? https://t.co/QT6dbDOAvY Bop Daddy (@falzthebahdguy) March 17, 2020 [embedded content] By OTIVE IGBUZOR Covid 19 is the name given to the disease associated with Corona virus that started in Wuhan, China towards the end of 2019. Corona viruses are viruses that circulate among animals but some of them are known to infect human beings. The virus is spread from human to human via small respiratory droplets through sneezing, coughing or contact with infected person or surface. When a person comes in contact with the droplets and touch his or her nose, mouth or eyes, he or she will get infected. The virus can survive on different surfaces for several hours and probably to a few days. The incubation period i.e time of exposure to the virus and onset of symptoms is between one and fourteen days. The main symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat and difficulty in breathing (respiratory distress). The way a country is able to respond to the Covid 19 pandemic depends on the strength of its governance system. Governance is the exercise of political, economic and administrative authority to manage the affairs of an entity like a country or a state. It is made up of the mechanisms, processes, relationships and institutions that are used to manage the affairs. I am starting this Covid 19 and governance in Nigeria series during this period of lock down to examine the challenges of Covid 19 in Nigeria and its implications for governance. In particular, I will focus on governance failures and what needs to be done to strengthen our governance system. I hope that researchers, policy makers, civil society activists and the general public will find the series useful. Otive Igbuzor is a Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege PV: 0 The fifth generation (5G) telecommunication technology being rolled out is generating phobia and disquiet over its threatening inherent health hazards on human race across the world. While some potent industrial bourgeoisie are believed to have invested huge funds on the 5G radio frequency radiation and are afraid to lose their investment, scientists and medical professionals are questioning the health threat of the telecommunication innovation and strongly advocating that countries should not give approval for the installation of 5G in their juridical frontiers. Apparently, 5G is generating global concerns over opportunities for wealth creation and profit maximization by the investors and the health risk of citizens, the end users and potential victims of infections and death, in various countries of the world. The telecommunications industry has gone through rapid innovations from 2G to 3G and the recently popularized 4G, then, the current threatening 5G. they are aimed towards speedy internet transmissions and wider application usages. Over 180 scientists and medical doctors from 36 countries have cautioned the European Union (EU) of the danger of 5G. the danger, they warned will cause high exposure to electromagnetic radiation. The scientists insist countries must suspend or withhold approval for installation of 5G except independent task force conduct research to evaluate the health consequences of humans and environment. The scientists and medical professionals had declared: We, the undersigned scientists, recommend a moratorium on the roll-out of the fifth generation (5G) for telecommunication until potential hazards for human health and the environment have been fully investigated by scientists independent from industry. 5G will substantially increase exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on top of the 2G, 3G, 4G, WiFi etc. for telecommunications already in place. RF-EMF has been proven to be harmful for humans and the environment. The consequences of 5G in Nigeria can only be imagined with the high usage of internet facilities for social media activities even in private homes, beside offices and public utilities. The Nigerian government does not appear to be conscious of the global reservations on 5G installation. The scientists pointed out that the 5G network expansion is intended to facilitate faster wireless transmission of larger amounts of data. The network, they said, requires the installation of many more antennas in the cities. The scientists, therefore, contended the no one is escaping the potentially harmful effects of radiation any longer. After all, we are already exposed to 2G, 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi radiation, they said. One of the scientists, Dr. L. Hardell, Professor of Oncology at Orebro University in Sweden, declared: The telecom industry is trying to roll out technology that may have very real, unintended harmful consequences. Scientific studies, both recently and over many years, have identified harmful effects on health when testing wireless products under realistic conditions. We are very concerned that the increase in radiation exposure by 5G leads to damage that cannot be reversed. Hardell maintained: The fifth generation (5G) of radio frequency radiation is now being developed. This is done without dosimetric determination or study of the possible health effects. He decried that innovators only project in particular all the possibilities that the technology promises to offer, such as the self-propelled car and Internet of Things (IoT); but lamented that ordinary people are not informed of conflicting opinions about this technological development. PV: 0 The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored zero vote in both the governorship and house of assembly elections at Godswill Akpabios polling unit, Unit 9, Ukana West Ward 2, Essien Udim Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. Mr Akpabio, a former governor of the state, is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West District. His party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), scored 1597 in the governorship election in the unit. It scored 1596 in the house of assembly election. Mr Akpabio had failed to win re-election for a second term during the national assembly election. His opponent, Chris Ekpenyong of the PDP, was declared the winner of the election. The senator, who claimed he was the winner of the election, accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of tampering with his election result. He is challenging the result at the election tribunal. Mr Akpabio had boasted recently that the APC would defeat the PDP in the Akwa Ibom governorship and house of assembly elections. I will tell you something. Those who are jubilating now will be so shocked that on the ninth of March that state would go 80 per cent APC. That is the truth, he said in an interview aired on Channels TV. It is, however, too early to say if the APC is winning in the senators Essien Udim Local Government Area and in the entire state. BLOOMINGTON A Danvers man has been indicted in the murder of Melissa S. Ostrom, Bloomington police announced Wednesday, one week after she was found dead. When he was indicted, Joshua D. Livingston, 41, was already in custody on separate charges connecting him with 39-year-old Ostrom's disappearance. He was arrested April 17, the day Ostrom was reported missing, and charged with unlawful possession of stolen vehicles. Police said Livingston was stopped while driving a 2017 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck that they believe was connected to Ostrom's whereabouts. His charges last week also included the possession of a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro that police believe Ostrom to be connected to. Livingstons first charges came the same day Ostrom was found, April 19. Police have declined to say where she was located. In a statement from the Bloomington Police Department on Wednesday, McLean County Coroner Kathy Yoder said preliminary autopsy results indicate Ostrom died by strangulation. Livingston was indicted Wednesday on multiple charges in connection to Ostrom's death, including three counts of first-degree murder and one count of concealment of a homicidal death, police said. On Monday, Livingston was also charged with three counts of burglary, accused of entering a Bloomington auto body shop and two vehicles with the intent to commit theft. Bond information on the murder charges was not available Wednesday afternoon. Livingston is being held on a $150,000 at 10% bond on the burglary charges and $250,000 at 10% on the stolen vehicle charges. This case remains under investigation by Bloomington police. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective P. Diaz at 309-434-2532 or pdiaz@cityblm.org or Detective B. Merritt at 309-434-2359 or bmerritt@cityblm.org. To remain anonymous, contact the Crime and Intelligence Analysis Unit at 309-434-2963, email CIAU@cityblm.org or text "BPDTIPS" to 847411. Updated mug shots from The Pantagraph Bryant Lewis Derek Roesch Justin M. Mata Marcus D. Wesley Phillip Tinch Trisha L. Hanke William B. Givens David L. Oliver Kenneth E. Funk Jordan R. King Holly M. Isaacson Kenneth L. Minton Tony L. Jackson Britley L. Hilger Jasmine L. Smith Jackie S. Claypool Noah R. Demuth Brandon L. Parsano Alexander N. Williams Carlos Sanchez-Solozarzano Jaylin S. Bones Jordan R. King Dominique M. Banks Austin T. Daugherty Sandra M. Lewis Samantha E. Morris Nolan C. Love Nikkita L. Sandefur Katlin M.B. Wilson Eli C. Garozzo Tysean T. Townsend Curtis J. Byrd Noral K. Nelson Charles J. Tankson Davis, Micah S Livingston, Joshua D. Kevin L. Ewen Emmanuel K. Mpay Ahmad S. Manns Dylan R Mann Tony L. Jackson William R. Linden Zadek U. Moen How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region. 100 years ago April 26, 1923: Fair weather of the last few days has enabled rapid progress on the part of city employees at Miller Park who are arranging the recreation center. If the weather continues to be fair, boating will open Sunday, Custodian John Uhrle said. 75 years ago April 26, 1948: A hint that the Bloomington General Mills plant might soon be manufacturing home appliances in addition to the PressureQuick saucepan came Monday. An automatic toaster is being tooled, said Roscoe Imhoff, head of the home appliance marketing operation. 50 years ago April 26, 1973: Injury to a striking Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. employee Thursday at the plant entrance on Fort Jesse Road was blamed for the failure to end an unauthorized strike which hit the plant at 11 p.m. Wednesday. Joseph Dubois was treated and released at Brokaw. 25 years ago April 26, 1998: A special McLean County committee studying the possibility of combining the computer functions of the Bloomington Election Commission and McLean County clerk's office has determined it would be "not a major problem." The study began because the League of Women Voters of McLean County has recommended abolishing the city election commission and combining its functions with those of the clerk's office. 101 years ago: See vintage Pantagraph ads from 1922 Gerthart's Union Gas and Electric Co. Hoover Dr. J.A. Moore Dentists Moberly & Klenner W.P. Garretson W.H. Roland Pease's Candy Thor 32 Electric Washing Machine The Kaiser's Story of the War Ike Livingston & Sons Gossard Corsets Cat'n Fiddle 'Stolen Moments' Case Model X The Johnson Transfer & Fuel Co. The Pantagraph want ads Franklin Motor Car Co. 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' Calumet Baking Powder Mayer Livingston & Co. Newsmarket 'The Emperor Jones' 'California Fig Syrup' Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) More than 300 more Filipinos in violence-stricken Sudan are being evacuated amid the ongoing ceasefire, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday. Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega reported that at least seven more buses carrying the repatriates are leaving for Egypt as of Wednesday morning in Sudan time, which is six hours behind Philippine time. The latest number is in addition to the 50 Filipinos who have already been evacuated as of Tuesday. According to the DFA, securing buses to transport people out of Khartoum the capital of the North African country has been difficult due to the scarcity of bus providers, which have also been raising rent. Another challenge is the long processing at the Egyptian border which is taking over a day, De Vega explained. He said the Philippine embassy has sent teams to address this. The official also reported that while in their rush to get to border by car to help incoming Filipinos cross through, Philippine Ambassador to Egypt Ezzedin Tago and Vice Consul Bojer Capati got into a car accident. De Vega said the vehicle carrying the two diplomats rolled over two times, but he added that they survived and are still proceeding to the border. This is the DFAs commitment to our overseas Filipinos and we hope the public can be advised and reassured that we are doing what we can, he wrote in a message sent to reporters. Based on the Philippine government's latest count, there were at least 740 Filipinos residing in Sudan when the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces broke out nearly two weeks ago. The DFA noted that the majority of this number are professionals, while there are also students and household service workers. It said 350 Filipinos have so far requested repatriation, 80 of whom have already left Sudan, including the first batch of 50 evacuees. Meanwhile, the death toll in the war-torn country has climbed to at least 459, according to the World Health Organization. Over 4,000 others have been injured. There are no reported deaths yet among Filipinos, but the DFA earlier said one was wounded. On Tuesday, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the warring factions agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire, although the two sides have accused each other of violating the agreement since then. BLOOMINGTON A group of international students visited downtown Bloomington on Tuesday to talk about climate change in a unique format a museum on wheels that they call the "Bus-eum Project." Twelve students from the University of Erfurt in Germany have been traveling around the Midwest with the bus-eum to talk with locals about how they view climate change and how it can affect their lives. The exhibit is called "Heartland's future: How we might live together on a changing planet." David Bernhardt, 25, said the bus helps attract curious onlookers. "The bus, itself, is kind of an eye-catcher, something that people can walk up to," Bernhardt said, "to discuss with us and talk about solutions to climate change and the problems of climate change." He said the bus has 12 climate exhibits, covering everything from agriculture to fashion, transportation and agriculture. Katharina Herz, 23, said the goal is two-fold: to educate as well as learn. "This, of course, is all our German perspectives," Herz said. "We don't know what it's like to be U.S. Americans, and dealing with climate change here." Herz said they have researched and studied climate change in America, "but it's different from speaking with people on the ground. So we're also here to learn about their perspectives, your perspectives, and your approaches." This is not the first iteration of the bus-eum. University of Erfurt Professor Michael Luick-Thrams said he created the bus-eum 20 years ago to talk about German migrant relations and their experience in America, including difficult topics like racism and anti-immigrant sentiments. Luick-Thrams, born and raised in Iowa, received his Ph.D. from Humboldt University in Berlin and has lived in Germany for about three decades. His original exhibits can still be seen inside the bus, while the exterior of the bus now features facts and discussion about climate change. According to the Buseum Project's website, the "main exhibit is inside a retrofitted school bus turned into a museum ... with relevant but often overlooked aspects of history and culture." Luick-Thrams said the reason to change focus to climate change was paramount. "The planet is on fire," he said. Svea Benett, 21, said talking about climate change can be uncomfortable. The bus provides a space for dialogue for people with different experiences. Herz said, "As Germans, we know history that is hard to talk about and how difficult it can be." Benett said having those difficult conversations, though, is key to uniting in the fight against climate change. "We've got different pasts and we've got different opinions ... but those don't define how our future will look," Benett said. To keep up with the Bus-eum Project, go to heartlandsfuture.com. Photos: Illinois State University alumna Jane Lynch Founders Day 2017 Founders Day 2017 Founders Day 2017 Founders Day 2017 Illinois Broadcasters Association Illinois Broadcasters Association Jane Lynch, 2022 Jane Lynch, 2003 Jane Lynch, 2009 Jane Lynch, 2010 Jane Lynch, 2019 Jane Lynch, 2019 Jane Lynch, 2022 Jane Lynch, Cubs Jane Lynch, Cubs Jane Lynch, Cubs Jane Lynch, Cubs SPRINGFIELD When state Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, announced his Illinois House candidacy in 2017, he promised that, if elected, he would decline a pension, not take a state healthcare plan, donate his salary and only serve three, two-year terms. Having already followed through on the first three, Caulkins is now making good on that last pledge, confirming to Lee Enterprises that he will not seek reelection in 2024. The news was first reported by The Illinoize, a website covering state politics. The Decatur Republican represents the sprawling 88th House District, which stretches from the outskirts of Decatur to the outskirts of Bloomington, picking up largely rural portions of DeWitt, Macon, McLean, Livingston and Piatt counties in between. I'm 76-years-old. I don't want to be the guy they wheel out of the breakroom to vote, Caulkins said with a laugh. And my wife knows that nothing dies in Springfield, so as long as I'm over there, I'm gonna stay alive and... that's not her plan. Kidding aside, the Decatur Republican said a long legislative career was never in the cards amid a desire to travel and spend more time with his wife Jo. In any case, Caulkins was drawn out of his district by Springfield Democrats who controlled the redistricting process in 2021. His home about a half-mile outside the district he represents is in the district of ally Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, meaning he would have to move if he wanted to run again. Despite a very tempting opportunity to rent a home in Piatt County and establish a residence in his district, Caulkins is pushing forward with plans to move on. Caulkins has established himself as one of the most conservative members of the Illinois House, aligning himself with a small cadre of far-right lawmakers once informally known as the Eastern Bloc and now under the umbrella of the Illinois Freedom Caucus. He made headlines earlier this year as the lead plaintiff in one of three state-level lawsuits challenging Illinois semiautomatic weapons ban, which was passed by the Democrat-majority legislature and signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in January. A Macon County judge ruled in favor of Caulkins in March, finding that the states ban was "facially unconstitutional." Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has appealed the ruling and the issue is now before the Illinois Supreme Court. Prior to his election to the Illinois House, Caulkins served on the Eastern Illinois Universitys board of trustees from 2015 to 2018 and as a Decatur city councilman from 2005 to 2009. A retired Army major, Caulkins has also run several businesses focused on senior and disabled adult long-term care living facilities throughout the state. A conservative Republican in a legislature dominated by supermajority Democrats, Caulkins legislative record was not long. But, he said he was most proud of helping his constituents with things as simple as a FOID card and as complex as trying to deal with DCFS. Being able to help people solve problems that they're not able to solve on their own when dealing with the government, I hope that's the legacy that people remember, Caulkins said. The district is heavily Republican. Petitions for placement on the March 2024 primary ballot will begin circulating in September. Photos: GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey's election results watch party Darren Bailey watch party Darren Bailey watch party Darren Bailey watch party Darren Bailey watch party Darren Bailey watch party Darren Bailey watch party Darren Bailey watch party Darren Bailey watch party Darren Bailey watch party Darren Bailey watch party Darren Bailey watch party Darren Bailey watch party Darren Bailey watch party Darren Bailey watch party Darren Bailey watch party Darren Bailey watch party Darren Bailey watch party Former President John Dramani Mahama has called for the resignation of the Minister for Health after he openly admitted that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has failed. Kwaku Agyemang Manu says the scheme is no longer working, admitting that he no longer uses the service and prefers to pay for his medical treatment. According to him, treatment given to NHIS card holders at the various facilities is below par, complaining bitterly that patients who are unable to pay are being denied access to medical services. Responding to the Ministers admission of failure, the former President said Agyemang Manu must resign. He himself has admitted that he has failed. He has not been able to grow the NHIS, and he says it has failed. He has no business being the Minister of Health. He should resign, he added. Mahama said this to wild applause at a meeting with branch and constituency executives of his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in Sefwi Adobokrom, in the Bia East Constituency. Providing some more detail, Mr. Mahama said NHIS cards are being turned away from most health facilities because the government is not paying their claims. Health facilities have not been paid since last year for services provided to cardholders. How do you expect them to continue treating them, he asked. Many have questioned the ministers public complaints instead of taking responsibility to make the scheme functional. A social media commentator, sharing her thoughts on the ministers statement, said, he appears to be talking like an outsider who is merely observing the situation without any ability to effect change within the system. If the NHIS is not functioning as it was before, who should take responsibility? Mr. Mahama continued, restating his position that Mr. Kwaku Agyeman Manu must resign. It is unacceptable for a minister to act as a passive observer on the sidelines. The collapse of the scheme occurred during his tenure and under his leadership. Accepting that the system is not working should be accompanied by a resignation. Source: Ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Head of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Nkojo-Iweala has encouraged young Ghanaians to take advantage of Ghana's booming digital trade, which she said is one of the fastest-rising in the world. The WTO boss is on an official visit to Ghana, and during a meeting with Trade Minister, K.T. Hammond, she commended Ghana's efforts at expanding her digital space, thus making digital trade thrive in the country, among the fastest in the world. "One of the most exciting happenings in the world today is the rise of digital trade," the WTO boss said. "Digitally delivered services are growing fastest and Ghana is doing quiet well from the numbers we can see." "Digitally delivered services in Ghana are doing well; whether it is a professional service business, trading, intellectual services or back office functions with others, or digital trading of women and also men on the Internet. That is growing very fast." "Because Ghana is doing so well, I want to encourage young men and women to do more of digital trade," she noted. Ghana digital progress is highly regarded internationally, following remarkable gains in several critical areas, inuding a national identity system, digital property address system, digitisation of government services, mobile money interoperability, among others. Ghana's seamless digital payment system, between mobile money wallets and bank accounts, has boosted online trade, as many public and private services, including petty trading, can be accessed online. 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 Two of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls have escaped after spending nine years in Boko Haram captivity. Sources told Daily Trust that the girls escaped from Sambisa forest, on Sunday, April 23, 2023, as a result of intense military operations. A security source said the escapees were identified as Hauwa Mutah and Esther Markus. One is from Chibok and the other one from Dzilang village, the source said. This has reduced the number of Chibok schoolgirls in captivity from 98 to 96. The terrorists had on April 14, 2014, abducted 276 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok. Earlier, the head of the Intelligence Unit of the Joint Military Task Force, Operation Hadinkai, Colonel Obinna Ezuipke, gave the number of the remaining Chibok girls in captivity as 98. Out of the 276 abducted Chibok girls, 57 girls escaped in 2014 while 107 girls were released in 2018. Three girls were recovered in 2019, two in 2021 and 9 were rescued in 2022, bringing the total of 178 girls out of captivity and 98 remaining in Boko Haram captivity. he stated. Source: LIB 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 Ist Vice President of Lajna Imaillah Dr. Fatima Eshun (left) presenting items to Senior Social Worker of Chance for Children Mr. Zakari Alhassan (right). The Ahmadiyya Muslim Womens Wing (Lajna Imaillah) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission celebrated the Edi-Ul-Fitr festival with street children at Chance for Children, an organization dedicated to providing safe space for the welfare of street children. Items worth over 10,000 cedis were donated to the management of the center. Members of Lajna Imaillah, on the 24th of April, visited Chance for Children at Hebron near Medie in the Greater Accra region to mark the end of the Ramandan Fast and also as part of its ongoing Centenary celebrations. The delegation donated assorted food items and drinks to support the children at the center. First Vice of Lajna Imaillah, Dr. Fatima Eshun who represented the National President of the Association, Hajia Anisa Nasirudeen Iddrissu in her remarks, said it is incumbent upon Muslims to share what they have with the needy. She quoted from the Holy Quran chapter 2 verse 216 where Allah Almighty says, They ask thee what they shall spend. Say: Whatever good and abundant wealth you spend should be for parents and near relatives and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer. And whatever good you do, surely Allah knows it well. She added that, as Muslims, we cannot be best if we do not spend on the needy as required of us by Allah. The members of Lajna Imaillah have been donating to various orphanage homes, hospitals, among others. The organization hopes that there will be no child on the street, and all children will be well taken care of by their families, Insha Allah. The National Welfare Secretary of the organization in the person of Hajia Mariam Osman also said that the organization is noted for its benevolent activities through humanity first which is an NGO within the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community that supports various people and communities with various needs. The organization believes in love for all and hatred for none and so extends its help to everyone in need. Members of the delegation also interacted with the street children and shared some pieces of advice with them. They were encouraged to be God-fearing and obey their guardians, be disciplined, love one another, do away with all forms of vices, be humble and respectful, and learn hard so that they can become good citizens in the future. Mr. Zakari Alhassan, who is the Senior Social Worker of Chance for Children expressed his gratitude to Lajna Imaillah adding that, it is the first time a Muslim organization has extended a hand to them. He continued that the organization was established in 1999 by one Ghanaian called Amon Kortey and later on a Swiss by the name of Daniella Sodjah joined him to take care of street children. They have a walk-in center where the street children go to have their bath and get a warm meal, some education, and training is also provided for them. They currently have 65 children who are all attending school and they take care of all their expenses. He continued that they need more people to support them so that they can continue to take care of these children, whom they eventually unite with their families. Dr. Fatima Eshun commended their efforts adding that they are doing what all believers are supposed to be doing. She prayed that the Almighty Allah continue to open more doors for them so that they can continue to support these street children. 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 Nana Akomea, Managaing Director of InterCity STC, has chided the Presidency for releasing a statement in reaction to Professor Frimpong Boateng's report on galamsey. Professor Frimpong-Boateng, in his report, indicted some government officials of intefering with his work on galamsey during his tenure as Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) and further accused the seat of government of their involvement in illegal mining. But the Office of the President has rubbished the claims saying "at the outset, it must be pointed out that the document being discussed was not an official report formally delivered to the Office of the President. On the contrary, it can only be rightly referred to as a catalogue of personal grievances and claims made by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, intended to respond to some issues he faced as Chairperson of the IMCIM". According to the Presidency, the document was handed to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President on March 19th 2021 "in an informal meeting, where Prof. Frimpong-Boateng complained about public attacks and criticisms made about his tenure as Chairperson of the IMCIM". "It is important also to point out that, whilst Prof. Frimpong-Boateng makes serious allegations against some government appointees, as having been involved in, supporting or interfering with the fight against illegal mining, not a single piece of evidence was adduced or presented to enable the claims to be properly investigated. Indeed, the allegations contained in the document are at best hearsay," the statement added. However, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has tasked the Police CID to investigate the claims by Professor Frimpong Boateng. Nana Akomea, contributing to Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, opined that the reply by the Presidency will make the work of the Police difficult. To him, "the letter or the reaction from the Jubilee [House] should have been neutral" but in his assessment, the Presidency's response is far from being neutral. "With how they've written the letter it looks like Jubilee House has already passed judgement on the Professor Frimpong-Boateng's report. When it happens like this and you tell the Police to investigate it, you make their work difficult...when you read the letter from the Jubilee, they say it is a hearsay not backed by evidence and his personal grievances, it means you have judged the matter, so how do you refer it to the Police?" he stated. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has exonerated the former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Professor Frimpong-Boateng and his son for their engagement in illegal mining, popularly referred to as galamsey. According to a Ghanaweb publication on Monday, April 24, 2023, a broadcaster named Gordon Asare-Bediako has alleged that Professor Frimpong-Boateng's son, Jojo Frimpong-Boateng, is deeply involved in galamsey but his father has conveniently remained silent on it and rather accusing the seat of government of their involvement in illegal mining. Also, in a publication by The Anchor newspaper dated Tuesday, April 25 and under the headline "Wounded Frimpong-Boateng Strikes Again...But Fails To Mention Son's Involvement In Galamsey Menace", it claims to have sighted an incriminating letter on Professor Frimpong-Boateng's son. The newspaper quoted that Jojo Frimpong-Boateng, who happens to be Director of Symphony Ltd, had addressed the letter to the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, reading that "Symphony is facing a few challenges, the most prominent being the withdrawal of two partners from our operations due to the prevailing global economic difficulties. Because of this and other reasons, we are compelled to shed off three of our concessions". But to Kwesi Pratt, "there is nothing in this letter which suggests that Professor Frimpong-Boateng's son is involved in galamsey". He wondered how one could possibly conclude on this letter to raise accusations against the former Chairman of the IMCIM and his son. "Indeed, what is clear is that we are confusing galamsey with legal small-scale mining because it is obvious that all the five concessions, it was given by Minerals Commission. Now, what is even more obvious is that, out of these five concessions, they returned three to the Minerals Commission that they cannot operate them, so they should have them back," he maintained while making his submissions on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' show. "How is this proof of Professor Frimpong-Boateng's involvement in galamsey? . . . this letter is not any proof of the involvement of Professor Frimpong-Boateng's son in galamsey?", Mr. Pratt asked shockingly. He asked the public to ignore these speculations, stating "throw it away; it's of no value". 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 Editor-in-Chief of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt says the Jubilee House statement in reply to Professor Frimpong Boateng's report which has "fingered" some officials at the seat of government to be involved in galamsey compromises the task of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to probe the allegations. Professor Frimpong Boateng, in his report on galamey, accused some government officials of interfering with his work while he was the Chairman of the ertswhile Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM). He also noted that the rot goes as high as the seat of government as some of the officials, he alleged, are involved in galamsey. Following his report, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, tasked the Police to investigate the issue and the CID is said to be in charge of the probe. However, the Presidency has released a statement refuting Professor Frimpong Boateng's claims. " . . it must be pointed out that the document being discussed was not an official report formally delivered to the Office of the President. On the contrary, it can only be rightly referred to as a catalogue of personal grievances and claims made by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, intended to respond to some issues he faced as Chairperson of the IMCIM," the Presidency posted on its website. It continued; "It is important also to point out that, whilst Prof. Frimpong-Boateng makes serious allegations against some government appointees, as having been involved in, supporting or interfering with the fight against illegal mining, not a single piece of evidence was adduced or presented to enable the claims to be properly investigated." The Presidency concluded that "the allegations contained in the document are at best hearsay". Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Mr. Pratt questioned the logic in the Presidency issuing a statement ahead of the Police investigations. He wondered how the Police CID is supposed to launch the probe into Professor Frimpong Boateng's report after the Presidency has concluded it is a hearsay, not backed by any evidence. "It clearly compromises Police investigations into the affair. After this report, the Criminal Investigations Department of the Police can no longer continue to investigate the matter. It has been compromised. Its report has been prejudiced and it's a dead end," he exclaimed. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The National Democratic Congress (NDC) appears to be feeding on the report by former Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister KwabenaFrimpong-Boateng, with its members firing all cylinders and demanding various probes to allegations contained therein. The report, which accuses some government officials of misconduct in the fight against illegal mining activities popularly known as galamseyin the country, has been described by the Office of the President as a compilation of personal grievances. But it seems it has provided arsenals for the main opposition party, with its members scoring cheap political points against President Akufo-Addo with it. It all started with South Dayi MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, who mocked the people identified in the report and afterwards petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to look into the matter. His solicitor, NiiKpakpo Samoa Addo, filed the petition with CHRAJ on Tuesday, April 25, asking for a public hearing. After the presentation, Samoa Addo told the press that the petition was received directly by the Commissioner of CHRAJ. According to him, the NDC MP feels that because all Ghanaians rely on the environment for survival, a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a fundamental human right and essential to the full enjoyment of a wide range of other human rights, including the right to life and dignity. It is the prayer our client that your office will give this petition the necessary attention it deserves, and investigate these claims to ascertain their truth or otherwise, and take all the appropriate steps to ensure that the persons named herein, if culpable, are dealt with in accordance with law, the petition indicates. Press Conference Just as the dust on the petition was about to settle, the National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, hurriedly organized a press conference to accuse the individuals named in the report of being galamsey kingpins. He told media in Accra on Tuesday, April 25, that many of President Nana Addo DankwaAkufo-Addos appointees were neck-deep in galamsey and indulged in the practice with wanton recklessness. He stated that the report highlighted the reality that illegal mining has been a free-for-all enterprise of government appointees. Sammy Gyamfi said the nephew of the President, Gabby AsareOtchere-Darko, for instance, acted with impunity and this must be called out and condemned by all. Shame to all the media personalities who are shamelessly defending the action of Gabby Otchere-Darko. He stated that the NDC would petition the Speaker of Parliament and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to investigate the incident. Our nation stands united crying for justice. Anything short of a bi-partisan inquiry into this matter will be fiercely resisted, Sammy Gyamfi asserted. Source: Daily Guide 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 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnessed on Wednesday the live fire drills of Philippine and United States troops in Zambales as he expressed hopes that Manila could further benefit from an enhanced cooperation with Washington. The exercise a combined joint littoral live fire which also included the sinking of an old Navy ship is part of the nations Balikatan drills this year. [The] president witnessed the live-fire sea drill, hoping the country could benefit from enhanced cooperation with the United States, Malacanang said following Marcos trip. The training event represented a tangible demonstration of the US-Philippine commitment to strengthen military capabilities and interoperability to meet shared modern-day security challenges, it added. It provides an opportunity for the two armed forces to enhance cooperation, increase capabilities and improve interoperability in conflict situation and disaster response. Around 1,400 military personnel from both countries participated in the training which involved detecting, engaging, and coordinating fires on a target ship using ground and air-based weapons systems. Key officials from the Philippine and US governments such as Armed Forces chief Gen. Andres Centino, National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Lindsey Ford, and US Exercise Director Lt. Gen. William Jurney also attended the event. Meanwhile, authorities said they have yet to verify the source of the reported interloper or intruder an aircraft sighted in the area where the joint drills were being held. Safety is always a primary consideration when we conduct the exercise, any interloper or any intrusion into the exercise that will endanger the lives of people whether its intentional or accidental is our primary consideration so as a general SOP we lift fires every time that there is an interloper, said Colonel Mike Logico, spokesperson of the Balikatan. The Bono East Regional Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prince Opoku Mensah alias Kofi Portuphy has launched a massive support for former President John Mahama dubbed "Operation 99.9%" in the Bono East Region. This operation is to call for an outright endorsement of the candidature of Mr. Mahama as the party gears up to elect their Presidential candidate. According to him, Ghanaians need a savior to save the nation from the mess created by governing New Patriotic Party and this savior is the former President, John Dramani Mahama. He also noted that Mr. Mahama stands tall above all the candidates running for the NDC flagbearship, hence calling on the delegates to vote massively for him during the primaries. He further admonished his executives to work harder to give the NDC a resounding victory in the 2024 elections. Source: Pious Baidoo/Peace News Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In many countries, the practice of hypergamy has shifted since the earlier research, and part of the reason has to do with the changing roles of women in education and the workplace. "We see that all over the world, this isn't true in every case, but the general pattern is that there's much less hypergamy than there has been in the past," says Schwartz, who contributed to an article on this topic, "The End of Hypergamy: Global Trends and Implications." Advertisement In plenty of societies, it is now more common for women to be more educated than men. That's been the trend in the United States since around the 1990s, but it wasn't really recognized until the early 2000s. But women in the United States now have higher average education attainment than men. That means women sometimes have little choice but to marry men with less education than they have. In fact, according to Margarita Chudnovskaya and Ridhi Kashyap, who wrote the academic journal article "Is the End of Educational Hypergamy the End of Status Hypergamy? Evidence from Sweden," in the United States and most European countries, "the prevalence of educational hypogamy (women 'partnering down') now exceeds that of educational hypergamy (men 'partnering down')." Add to that the 2020 finding from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that women make up more than half of the non-farm labor market in the U.S., and it might seem like hypergamy is on its way out, at least in America. But there is another factor to consider, and that is economic a gender pay gap to be more specific. "It is true that in the United States it's now more common for a woman to have more education than her husband than the other way around, but it's still less common for women to outearn their male partners," says Schwartz. For couples married between 2005 and 2009, just 30 percent of wives made more money than their husbands, she says. "There is a definitely a difference in the U.S. at least between education and income." Chudnovskaya and Kashyap's Swedish study found that in various types of couples, even when the woman had higher education, occupational prestige and social class, the man was still a higher earner. "One reasonable guess is that men's income advantage is due not to the persistence of hypergamy but rather to the gender wage gap, which sits at about 14 percent in Sweden," writes Hymowitz. Today, educational hypogamy is more common, but hypergamy still rules in the financial realm. " " Today in many countries it's more common for women to be more educated than men. That means women sometimes have little choice but to marry men with less education than they have. Peter Dazeley/Getty Images The Barnicle brothers began thinking about the project in 2013, and started in on producing it a year later. In its finished form, "This is a Robbery: The World's Biggest Art Heist" is a roughly four-hour series. (The brothers say a "Barnicle Cut" might last for days.) It showcases many of the story's more outrageous characters. There's the stoner security guard who allowed the thieves into the museum and was suspected, early on, of being part of an inside job. There's the notorious art thief, Myles Connor, who also was briefly considered a suspect and who helped the brothers shed light on a grimy world of crime bosses and their muscle. Advertisement There are mobsters (names like Whitey Bulger, Bobby Donati, Bobby Guarente and Carmello Merlino are all tossed out); dogged reporters and amateur sleuths; the respected curator of the museum, Ann Hawley; FBI agents, police, lawyers. All of them figure, in one way or another, in an intricate tale that rests largely on the premise that the artwork was stolen by members of a Boston organized crime syndicate. The belief: Jailed wiseguys can use priceless art to barter for their freedom, a kind of "Get Out of Jail Free" masterpiece for mobsters. Some of the suspects in the crime are now dead. Some have been cleared of suspicion. Some we may not even know about yet. But at this point, despite all the digging by law enforcement, local newspapers, several authors (including Stephen Kurkjian in "Master Thieves: The Boston Gangsters Who Pulled Off the World's Greatest Art Heist"), and the Barnicles themselves, the case couldn't be colder. You have to wonder now if we'll ever know who pulled off this heist or if we'll ever see the artwork again. Nick Barnicle wonders, too. But after all these years, he's keeping the faith. "The power of Netflix's platform is incredible, just the reach. To have the story go out globally, I don't think that's a small thing in terms of potentially solving the mystery," says Nick, who served as one of the executive producers of the film. "This is the first really big documentary on it to reach a large audience. "I think that [Boston reporter] Shelley Murphy says it best [in the film]: It may just be [solved with] an innocuous, 'Hey, grandpa's dead, look what we found,' next-generation type of thing." Does that mean he envisions a happy ending to the greatest art heist ever? "I wouldn't be so shocked to see one or two of the pieces [still] in the New England area. Are all 13 together? Probably not. Are all 13 coming back? Probably not," Nick says. "But we'd like to see one come back." Japanese history is broken down into eras and periods. Particularly relevant to our discussion are the Sengoku Period of 1467 to 1603 and the successive Tokugawa (or "Edo") Period that lasted until 1868. The Tokugawa Period takes its name from a shogun family that assumed control of Japan in 1603. Shoguns were hereditary military dictators who'd been ruling the country since 1192. On paper, they served Japan's emperors. Yet in practice, these figures were far more powerful and it was they who truly called the shots. Advertisement Earlier centuries had been plagued by constant warfare. But things stayed calm under the Tokugawa regime. International trade was tightly regulated and the shoguns took pains to discourage political squabbling. This was also a time when Japan redefined its relationship with samurai. As Thomas Conlan a professor of East Asian history at Princeton University told us via email, "The samurai became an identifiable social status only in the 1590s. Before then, all of society was militarized and there was no distinction between peasants and warriors." Such ambiguity didn't sit well with General Toyotomi Hideyoshi. A game-changing warlord, he issued a nationwide "Sword-Hunt Edict" in 1588. This prohibited farmers from owning weapons of any sort. Under the new rules, only samurai and samurai alone could bear arms. "Basically, people who were known to have fought in battles recently were considered samurai and were forbidden to go back to farming, and people who were known to be currently farming land had to surrender their weapons," says historian Nick Kapur of Rutgers University in an email. "In a lot of cases, it was self-reported and people basically got to choose." Hideyoshi's reforms carried over into the Tokugawa Period. In effect, they laid the groundwork for a rigid, hereditary caste-like system that put samurai above artisans, peasants and merchants. By then, the feudal wars that defined the Sengoku Period had long passed. With no battles to wage, the samurai were given bureaucratic and administrative roles. " " In late 1863, a photographer captured a delegation of four samurai from the Satsuma clan who went to Yokohama to discuss the murder of an English merchant, as well as to normalize relations between their clan and British diplomats. Digital image courtesy of the Getty's Open Content Program 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: Mammal biodiversity and sampling bias shape the geography of predicted interactions. (A) The total number of interactions recorded does not track the global distribution of mammalian richness with an overwhelming density of interactions in Europe. (B) Known zoonotic hosts are concentrated in the Amazon, an area with comparatively fewer known host-virus interactions; the distribution of known zoonotic hosts closely tracks the global richness of mammals. (C and D) Post imputation, the model predicts strong increases in the number of interactions (C) in the Amazon and Central Europe but an increase in the number of zoonotic hosts primarily concentrated in Africa (D). As a result, we expect the Amazon to be a hotspot of novel interactions and Africa to be a hotspot of novel zoonotic hosts (i.e., the increase is greater than expected, given the known quantities in these places). Credit: Patterns (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.patter.2023.100738 The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of closely monitoring viruses that could infect humans. In the early stages of the pandemic, Timothee Poisot and his colleagues were already developing an algorithm for predicting mammal-virus interactions. "We had been working on this project from the first few months of 2020, before the pandemic took off," said Poisot, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Universite de Montreal and a member of the Viral Emergence Research Initiative (VERENA), an international research institute based in Washington, D.C. Just over three years later, Poisot and colleagues have published the results of thousands of hours of calculations and validation in the journal Patterns. Making better predictions Poisot belongs to a multidisciplinary research team that hopes to make better predictions of interactions between mammals and viruses in general. When certain conditions are met, the passage of viruses from one species to another can ultimately lead to the emergence of a zoonosis, which the World Health Organization defines as "an infectious disease that has jumped from a non-human animal to humans." According to Poisot, "the basic problem is that we are only aware of between one and two percent of the interactions between viruses and mammals. The networks are scattered and there are few interactions, which are concentrated in just a few species." Trying to sample all interactions manually would be an enormous task, especially since there are thousands of species of mammals and even more thousands of virusesleading to literally infinite mammal-virus combinations. Poisot and his colleagues therefore sought to develop a new algorithm using machine learning, as a way of formulating hypotheses which would then serve to identify which host-virus interactions to explore further. "We want to know which species of virus is likely to infect which species of mammal, so we can establish which interactions are most likely to occur," said Poisot, who spent several thousand hours with his team creating the algorithm and refining. 'Out-of-date names and errors' "Some of the data sets we had were older: They contained out-of-date names for particular species, or they had errors because the data had been entered by hand," Poisot said. The first job was to clean up and standardize the dataa very time-consuming task. Once he and his colleagues created the algorithm, they then had to refine it. "One of the advantages of our algorithm is that you don't need a lot of information to use it," Poisot said. Deploying existing models to make predictions requires a lot of information on taxonomy, phylogenetic structure, data taken by sampling, and more. To deal with that, the algorithm developed by Poisot and his team represents the system as a network of interactions between viruses and mammals that the algorithm must then complete. "The algorithm takes the network we already know and projects it into a new space, a bit like shadow theater: It casts light on interactions in a new way," said Poisot. "This, in turn, allows us to make predictions." Even so, making these predictions required 10,000 hours of computing on Calcul Quebec's computers. Matching the results with known interactions, the model found 80,000 new potential interactions between viruses and hosts. "After that," said Poisot, "the main task was to determine the level of confidence we had in the model's ability to make predictions." The model had to be validated statistically, which in itself required the researchers to publish an article on validation methodology using very incomplete data. Monitoring 20 key viruses The research team then selected 20 key viruses worth monitoring, since they have the potential to jump the species barrier and infect humans. The team also identified "hot" regions where resources should be focused. "We had a lot of discussions on the team, because at first some of the results seemed strange to us," said Poisot. One of the viruses that came to light was murine ectromelia, which is related to smallpox in mice. "We were skeptical, but when we searched the literature, we found there had been cases in humans," said Poisot. One of the important results of this research project is the rediscovery of specific zoonotic viruses, which had already been the subject of scattered publications, but which had never been linked in databases. Another innovative aspect of the research is mapping the results to better understand virus-mammal interactions on a global scale. "Our model makes spatial predictions, but more precisely, the model indicates specifically in which group of mammals and in which location certain types of virus are likely to be found," said Poisot. Two regions to explore The team has identified two geographic regions to explore. First, the Amazon basin in South America, where the interactions between hosts and viruses are more original than elsewhere and where new interactions are more likely to be observed. Second, Central Africa, where new hosts have been found that are potential carriers of zoonotic viruses. "We are really shifting the places where we need to go and study mammals to discover new viruses," Poisot explained. These two regions should therefore be of interest to virologists who wish to understand the diversification of host-virus systems and the zoonotic risk they represent for humans, he added. The next step for Poisot and his research colleagues is to make the information easily accessible and user-friendly for partners in the field. "We want to make it easier for stakeholders to adopt our model. We now know which species to monitor, where and for what type of virus," he said. In the end, he believes, this research project could prove essential to preventing a future pandemic. More information: Timothee Poisot et al, Network embedding unveils the hidden interactions in the mammalian virome, Patterns (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.patter.2023.100738 Journal information: Patterns 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: Laboratory equipment transported into the rainforest. Credit: Martin Gilpin A major collaboration involving 80 scientists from Europe and South America has identified the regions of the Amazon rainforest where trees are most likely to face the greatest risk from drier conditions brought about by climate change. Based on the analysis, the scientists predict trees in the western and southern Amazon face the greatest risk of dying. They also warn that previous scientific investigations may have underestimated the impact of drought on the rainforest because those studies focused on the central-eastern part of the forest, which is the least vulnerable to drought. The latest study provides the first assessment across the entire Amazon Forest of how different areas are likely to respond to a climate that could get warmer and drier, and it comes as some studies predict the rainforest will experience increased periods of drought. Professor David Galbraith, from the University of Leeds who supervised the study, said, "The Amazon is threatened by multiple stressors, including deforestation and climate. Understanding the stress limits that these forests can withstand is a major scientific challenge. Our study provides new insights into the limits of forest resistance to one major stressordrought." Some parts of the Amazon have already seen changes in rainfall patterns. In the southern Amazon, there is evidence that the dry season has become longer, and temperatures in this region have increased more than in other parts of the Amazon. The changes in the southern Amazon are partially due to extensive deforestation. Dr. Julia Tavares, who led the study while undertaking a Ph.D. at Leeds and is now based at Uppsala University in Sweden, said, "A lot of people think of the Amazon as one large forest. But it is not. It is made up of numerous forest regions that span different climate zones, from locations that are already very dry to those that are extremely wet, and we wanted to see how these different forest ecosystems are coping so we could begin to identify regions that are at particular risk of drought and drier conditions." The research team said their findings were removing a "...major knowledge bottleneck of how climate change will impact this critical ecosystem." The paper, "Basin-wide variation in tree hydraulic safety margins predicts the carbon balance of Amazon forests," is published today (Wednesday, April 26) in Nature. Tree doctors The research team, known as the "tree doctors" to the communities living in the forest, took measurements and samples over a year from 11 separate sites across the western, central-eastern and southern Amazoncovering Brazil, Peru and Bolivia. The study involved data from 540 individual trees across 129 species. Image taken from the top of the forest canopy in Peru. Credit: Francisco Diniz The researchers wanted to determine how resistant different tree species and forests were to drought conditions. The scientists then used the data to test whether forest vulnerability to drought could predict its ability to accumulate and store carbon taken from the atmosphere. From the data, the research team was able to quantify how safe the trees were from drought-related death. Findings In the southern part of the Amazon Forest, where historically there have been declining levels of rainfall, the trees showed the greatest degree of adaptation to cope with drought. Despite that, though, the study revealed that the trees faced the biggest risk of dying due to drought. This is likely because the region has already seen rapid climate change and disruption to rainfall patterns caused by deforestation, which had pushed trees to the limits of their ability to cope. In contrast, the tree species in the wettest parts of the Amazon Forest showed the lowest level of adaptation to drought yet they were the safest in terms of the risks from future climate change because, so far at least, they had not been impacted by changes in rainfall. Equipped with this more nuanced view of how different parts of the Amazon Forest could respond to drought, the researchers warn that scientific investigations, which have tended to concentrate on the central-eastern region, where trees have shown some of the greatest adaptations to cope with drier conditions, may have underestimated how vulnerable other forest regions are to climate change. They say the findings of the new study should be used to help update and refine existing models on how the Amazon may be impacted by drier conditions. Scientists had to travel to some forest locations by boat. Credit: Martin Gilpin Carbon storage According to the researchers, the Amazon Forest holds between 10% and 15% of the carbon stored by vegetation globally, and it plays a key role in taking up carbon which would otherwise be in the atmosphere. Modeling revealed that as plant drought mortality risk increases, the ability of the trees to store carbon would be significantly reduced. The most water stressed part of the Amazon is in the south-eastern region. Analysis reveals that the trees in this location no longer act as a large-scale carbon store. Professor David Galbraith said, "This study reveals how forest risk to drought varies across the Amazon Basin and provides a mechanism for predicting carbon balance at the forest stand level. Forests that are 'safer' from drought-induced mortality are accumulating more carbon than those that face greater risk of drought-induced mortality. Professor Emanuel Gloor, also from the University of Leeds who co-supervised the study, added, "The pattern of resilience and risks identified among the different tree populations across the in the study will be used to build more effective and accurate climate models of the way the Amazon may change as the region responds to climate change." More information: Basin-wide variation in tree hydraulic safety margins predicts the carbon balance of Amazon forests, Nature (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05971-3. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-05971-3 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: An artist's rendering of quasar P172+18. Credit: ESO-M Kornmesser Scientists have unlocked one of the biggest mysteries of quasarsthe brightest, most powerful objects in the universeby discovering that they are ignited by galaxies colliding. First discovered 60 years ago, quasars can shine as brightly as a trillion stars packed into a volume the size of our solar system. In the decades since they were first observed, what could trigger such powerful activity has remained a mystery. New work led by scientists at the Universities of Sheffield and Hertfordshire has now revealed that it is a consequence of galaxies crashing together. The work is published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. The collisions were discovered when researchers, using deep imaging observations from the Isaac Newton Telescope in La Palma, observed the presence of distorted structures in the outer regions of the galaxies that are home to quasars. Most galaxies have supermassive black holes at their centers. They also contain substantial amounts of gasbut most of the time this gas is orbiting at large distances from the galaxy centers, out of reach of the black holes. Collisions between galaxies drive the gas towards the black hole at the galaxy center; just before the gas is consumed by the black hole, it releases extraordinary amounts of energy in the form of radiation, resulting in the characteristic quasar brilliance. The ignition of a quasar can have dramatic consequences for entire galaxiesit can drive the rest of the gas out of the galaxy, which prevents it from forming new stars for billions of years into the future. This is the first time that a sample of quasars of this size has been imaged with this level of sensitivity. By comparing observations of 48 quasars and their host galaxies with images of over 100 non-quasar galaxies, researchers concluded that galaxies hosting quasars are approximately three times as likely to be interacting or colliding with other galaxies. The study has provided a significant step forward in our understanding of how these powerful objects are triggered and fueled. Professor Clive Tadhunter, from the University of Sheffield's Department of Physics and Astronomy, said, "Quasars are one of the most extreme phenomena in the universe, and what we see is likely to represent the future of our own Milky Way galaxy when it collides with the Andromeda galaxy in about five billion years. "It's exciting to observe these events and finally understand why they occurbut thankfully Earth won't be anywhere near one of these apocalyptic episodes for quite some time." Quasars are important to astrophysicists because due to their brightness, they stand out at large distances and therefore act as beacons to the earliest epochs in the history of the universe. Dr. Jonny Pierce, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Hertfordshire, explains, "It's an area that scientists around the world are keen to learn more aboutone of the main scientific motivations for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope was to study the earliest galaxies in the universe, and Webb is capable of detecting light from even the most distant quasars, emitted nearly 13 billion years ago. Quasars play a key role in our understanding of the history of the universe, and possibly also the future of the Milky Way." More information: J C S Pierce et al, Galaxy interactions are the dominant trigger for local type 2 quasars, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2023). DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stad455 Journal information: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 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) and the Original P2PNet (B) models with postprocessing on a randomly selected in-field image. The images in dotted boxes are zoomed-in sections of images inside the solid boxes. Credit: Plant Phenomics Farming is one of the oldest activities in the world and has always been at the forefront of technological innovation. With mechanized equipment, modified seeds, and digital devices, every aspect of farming, from planting to harvesting is gradually getting optimized. These benefits have also translated to better crop yield estimation for crops such as soybean. Deep learning-based yield estimation models use approaches like regression, traditional bounding boxes, or density maps to make counting of seeds easier. Compared to manual counting, these methods are undoubtedly simpler, more accurate, and easy to implement. "P2PNet" is one such automated counting method which was recently proposed to simplify point counting of soybean seeds. However, this method demonstrated low performance for direct seed counting. Disturbance from background objects, substantial overpredictions, use of high-level features, and unaccounted scale of objects were identified as some drawbacks of this model. To counter the challenges associated with this model, researchers from Japan have developed a new model that adds to the list of agricultural technological innovations. It accurately counts the number of soybean seeds from field images of soybean plants, eliminating the labor-intensive seed counting process. The study was led by Associate Professor Wei Guo of the University of Tokyo and was published online in Plant Phenomics. "Soybean is an important protein source for animals and humans. Therefore, achieving high crop yields is a common criterion and goal in most breeding programs," explains Prof. Guo. The seed count is of particular interest to farmers as it can be used to ascertain both, the plant's yield and its breeding potential. Traditional image-based automated seed counting methods keep track of seeds in images by placing them in bounding boxes. However, in actual field conditions, the presence of complex backgrounds, overlapping pods, and varying lighting conditions can cause the bounding boxes to overlap, leading to inaccuracies in the seed count and position. (A) without postprocessing and (B) with postprocessing in predicting soybean seed number on an individual plant randomly selected from testing dataset. The images in dotted boxes are zoomed-in sections of images inside the solid boxes. Credit: Plant Phenomics Addressing these challenges, the team upgraded P2PNet to the new, improved model "P2PNet-Soy". It counts objects by identifying them as small points in the image. To obtain data for training the model for soybean seed identification, the researchers took 374 images of soybean plants grown in a field. They photographed two sides (front and back) of the plant to capture maximum seeds in the plant. Next, skilled technicians from the Field Phenomics Lab at the University of Tokyo carefully marked the seeds present in each soybean pod with dots. They ensured that only the seeds belonging to the target plant were annotated and those from neighboring plants and the background were excluded. The researchers then selected 181 images for training and used the other 193 images, which were taken from the opposite side, to evaluate the model. The researchers adopted several strategies to improve the performance of the model. First, both high- and low-level features were captured from the field images. The high-level features generally consider the context of the objects in the images, while the low-level features are much more useful in recognizing details and smaller objects. A scale-invariant feature extraction method known as atrous convolution was then used to enable the model to detect seeds of different sizes. In addition, spatial and channel attention mechanisms were applied to better differentiate the seeds from the background. The research team refined the predictions of the model by applying a postprocessing technique called k-d tree, an unsupervised clustering algorithm that determines the centers of closely located predicted seed locations, boosting the accuracy of the final prediction. These improvements resulted in an accurate seed counting and localization model that could detect and count seeds from simple images of soybean plants taken in the field. "The upgraded P2PNet-Soy method for more effective soybean seed counting and localization has much higher accuracy in comparison to not only the original P2PNet but also other soybean pod counting method," says Prof. Guo. Even as these improvements result in improved accuracy of seed prediction, the model has a few limitations which require redressal. Since the model is trained on images taken from both sides of the same plant, it can overestimate the number of seeds on the plant. Additionally, the model cannot detect seeds that are accidentally missed in the image. Nevertheless, the development of such advanced technologies is a promising step towards a more efficient agricultural industry. More information: Jiangsan Zhao et al, Improved Field-Based Soybean Seed Counting and Localization with Feature Level Considered, Plant Phenomics (2023). DOI: 10.34133/plantphenomics.0026 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 liver of wild boar is suitable as a bioindicator for PFAS contamination of the environment. Credit: Andre Kunzelmann/UFZ Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are considered to be forever chemicals. Many are toxic; others are highly mobile or accumulate in the food chain. However, all are extremely persistent and are spread throughout the environment. The contamination hot-spots of the PFAS can be proven only with a great deal of effort. This is why indicators are needed. According to an article in Science of The Total Environment written by a research team coordinated at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), the liver of wild boars can be used as a bioindicator for this purpose. It shows the level and the nature of the PFAS contamination. The researchers focused on 66 PFAS compounds for their study. These can be grouped into three categories: 1) PFAS groups that have been regulated for some time; 2) new PFAS that industry uses as substitutes for regulated PFAS; and 3) precursors that can degrade to other, more persistent PFAS. However, because these individual analyses can detect only a small fraction of the more than 10,000 PFAS used by industry and because many polyfluorinated compounds cannot be measured because of the lack of analytical standards, the research team also determined a sum parameter for PFAS in wild boar using a new advanced method, the TOP (Total Oxidizable Precursors) assay. "The sum parameter indicates the total number of precursor compounds in a sample that can still react to form persistent degradation products," says Jana Rupp, an environmental chemist at the UFZ and first author of the paper. However, the TOP assay does not provide information on the concentration level of the individual precursor compounds. The biomonitoring approach, which the UFZ developed together with the German Water Centre in Karlsruhe, was used at three locations in Germany with different conditions: One hot-spot is near the town of Rastatt in the region of Baden, where PFAS-contaminated paper sludge was probably spread on fields as recycled compost until the 2000s. The second hot-spot is an industrial area in southern Germany. The third study site in the north-east of Germany has no anomalies. The background levels of PFAS can thus be determined there. There are several reasons why the researchers chose wild boar liver. "The wild boar is widespread and hunted everywhere. The species can thus provide a good overview of hot-spots of PFAS distribution in Germany," says Rupp. Because wild boar are quite mobile and occupy an area of several square kilometers, they reflect the contamination over a larger area. This has an advantage over soil samples with which it is much more difficult to make statements about the PFAS contamination of larger areas. The liver is well suited because it is well supplied with blood: "PFAS do not accumulate in fatty tissue like most environmental pollutants but rather bind to proteins. That's why they circulate in the blood and are easy to detect in the liver," says Rupp. Compared with other land-dwelling species such as red deer, roe deer, or chamois, which could theoretically also be considered as indicator species for PFAS, the researchers had found in another study that PFAS concentrations are highest in wild boar liver. This is because the wild boar is omnivorous and at the top of the food chain. It feeds on mice, frogs, snails, or worms, which, in turn, are contaminated. It also burrows a lot in the soil and directly takes up PFAS through this. The analysis showed that the bioindicator wild boar liver can be used to map PFAS contamination in the habitat of the wild boar. "PFAS are widely distributedsometimes in large quantities. We were able to detect significantly increased levels in regions with known elevated PFAS contamination," says Prof. Dr. Thorsten Reemtsma, head of the UFZ Department of Analytical Chemistry and last author of the study. For example, the PFAS concentration in the vicinity of the industrial company in southern Germany was almost twice as high as on those areas where PFAS-contaminated paper sludge was used in agricultureand almost eight-fold higher than the concentrations on the areas with background contamination. Different distribution patterns of the different PFAS groups at the three sites were also determined via the liver. For example, the industrial site is still dominated by an older PFAS substance that is already banned but which can still be detected because of its extreme persistence. The researchers also found newer PFAS substances that are used by the industry as substitutes for banned PFAS groups. The other two sampling sites contain almost exclusively older PFAS substances. The researchers also found a similar contamination pattern in soil samples from the two hot-spotsmuch like a chemical fingerprint. "The comparison of PFAS contamination of wild boar and soils proves that wild boar liver is suitable as a bioindicator for PFAS contamination of the terrestrial environment," says Reemtsma. There is still a great deal of undiscovered local contamination in Germanyalso because of the considerable analytical effort involved in using soil samples. "With the liver of wild boars, the contaminated areas can be located and narrowed down in a much more straightforward way," says Reemtsma. More information: Jana Rupp et al, Comprehensive target analysis and TOP assay of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wild boar livers indicate contamination hot-spots in the environment, Science of The Total Environment (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162028 Journal information: Science of the Total Environment This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Loiko et al, Biology (2022). DOI: 10.3390/biology12010045 In agriculture, country houses and many other places without central sewerage, people use mobile toilets or dump wells. To prevent the foul smell in the bench-holes and during transportation of the contents to wastewater treatment facilities, biocides are added, which are chemical compounds that stop the activity of microorganisms. However, biocides can harm the environment and hinder the work of wastewater treatment facilities. Toxic biocides can also make waste unsuitable for further use as biofertilizers and biofuel production. Russian scientists have proposed the solution to this problem in the journal Biology. In Russia, about 22.6% of citizens live without central sewerage (according to Rosstat of 2019). In rural areas, this figure rises to 66.5%. Vacuum trucks pump out waste from dump wells and mobile toilets and take it to wastewater treatment facilities. Biocides, such as quaternary ammonium compounds and biguanide derivatives, help prevent the activity of odor-causing microorganisms during storage and transport of waste. Biocidal agents based on these compoundsfor example, Latrinaare very effective, but make the waste toxic because they decompose very slowly. Thus, they can harm the environment and kill microorganisms in wastewater treatment facilities. Scientists of the Russian Academy of Sciences compared various popular biocides and selected among the most effective ones, which are those that decompose into non-toxic components soon after they have fulfilled their function. "In dump wells and mobile toilets, urea decomposes slowly, emitting ammonium, which makes the environment alkalineits pH can grow up to 910. Biocides that decompose in an alkaline environment help to accomplish two goals at once: at first, they lower the activity of harmful bacteria, then break up and thus don't harm the environment. We checked the results after 10 daysthe period that is needed, for example, for full admission of toilets on main-line trains," says Yuriy Litti, Ph.D, of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Scientists selected six biocides that have no smell, are non-toxic in the used concentration and decompose when pH exceeds 7. Together with his colleagues, Yuriy Litti tested the effect of these biocides on the microorganisms, and also checked how well these agents decompose in the presence of alkaline during 10 days. From six often-used biocides, four turned out to be more environmentally sound: Bronopol (30 mgl), Sharomix (500 mg/l), sodium percarbonate (6 g/l), and the biocidal agent on the base of 2,2 -dibro-3-nitrilopropionamide (500mg/l). Whereas popular biocidal agents like, for example, Latrina, remain for a long time in the environment and do not decompose. Silver citrate and sodium salt of dehydroacetic acid were excluded from the experiment, although they also decompose rapidly in the alkaline environment. They were required in too high a dosage, so the scientists decided that, given the high cost, these options are very expensive for consumers. "In an alkaline environment, when pH reached 9, the minimal concentration of Bronopol , Sharomix ,and 2,2 -dibro-3-nitrilopropionamide necessary for stopping the growth of harmful microorganisms, increased by 1.5 to four times. It's useful for our purposes, because by decomposition of urea during its transportation, pH only grows. In the future we plan to study in more detail how selected biocides work not only in the laboratory, but in real conditions. If successful, vacuum cleaners will know which products work best and cause less damage to the environment," said Yuriy Litti. More information: Nataliya Loiko et al, Biocides with Controlled Degradation for Environmentally Friendly and Cost-Effective Fecal Sludge Management, Biology (2022). DOI: 10.3390/biology12010045 Provided by Russian Foundation for Basic Research China, Mongolia have to jointly fight against desertification 08:50, April 26, 2023 By Ganchudur Ts/Meng Gencang ( China Daily People ride on bicycles in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, April 10, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Severe sandstorms have hit the northern and northeastern parts of China, even some provinces south of the Yangtze River for several times this spring. They have affected the Republic of Korea and Japan, too, and forced residents in some places to stay indoors for health reasons. Sandstorms are not new to China, but this spring's sandstorms have been different from previous ones. First, they have been widespread, affecting 18 provinces in China, including some in southern provinces and municipalities such as Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui and Zhejiang provinces, and Shanghai. Second, this year's sandstorms have also been frequent four in one month and eight so far this year. Third, the sandstorms have lasted longer than usual, resulting in several days of heavy pollution in Beijing the first time that has happened in nearly a decade. Shanghai, too, has experienced hours of severe pollution. What causes heavy, severe sandstorms Sandstorms are caused, first, due to strong winds blowing from north to south, carrying with them huge volumes of sand across several provinces in China. The expansive desert region in northern China and the southern Mongolia is the second cause of the sandstorms. And third, lower precipitation and rising temperatures, which loosen the sand and soil on the surface, create the perfect conditions for heavy sandstorms. Desertification is a process where general climate transformation and inappropriate human activities exceed the ecosystem's rehabilitation capability in dry and less humid terrains, leading to a decrease in the biological productivity of land. In fact, desertification and soil degradation have become a crucial environmental issue around the world, not least because they can also influence political, social and economic issues. The lower precipitation level and high temperatures in the Gobi desert in southern Mongolia and northern, central and western parts of China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region are perhaps the direct factors for the extreme sandstorms this spring. Also, the influence of cyclones on southern Mongolia is conducive to the formation of extreme sandstorms. According to the Desertification Survey of Mongolia in 2015, conducted by the Division of Desertification Study Institute of Geography and Geoecology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, 77.8 percent of Mongolia's land is degraded, with 35.3 percent slightly degraded, 25.9 percent moderately degraded, and 6.7 percent and 9.9 percent severely and extremely degraded respectively. Based on the numeric index, environmental scientists prepared a map of the region, which highlights the major factors that cause desertification. As per the map, 10.4 percent of Mongolia's land doesn't show any effects of these factors or any signs of desertification, 1.9 percent of the effects of human activities, 16.0 percent of the natural factor, 13.8 percent of the climate factor, 20.8 percent of wind erosion, 0.1 percent of water erosion, 13.1 percent of the combined factors of human activities and climate, and 23.9 percent of the combined factors of wind and human activities. This means 10.4 percent of Mongolia's land area shows no sign of desertification, 39 percent is affected by human activities or a combination of factors, and 50.6 percent is affected by natural factors or a combination of natural and other factors. In other words, natural factors are responsible for heavy and very heavy desertification in 56 percent and human activities in 44 percent of the cases in Mongolia. The survey's results also show the overall area of desertification in Mongolia has not decreased, and the degree of desertification varies from region to region. As of today, desertification is particularly serious in the Dundgovi, v rkhangai, Govisumber, Dornogovi, Bayankhongor, T v, Govi-Altai and mn govi provinces. Also, desertification in Mongolia is influenced by many factors, including indirect factors such as population growth, socioeconomic development and international trade, and direct factors such as inappropriate use of land, as well as climate change. It is worth noting that recent environmental degradation in Mongolia is mainly man-made, for example, the over-exploitation of the limited natural resources. Need to strengthen ecological protection Although the most important measures to combat desertification in China over the past two decades, such as the environmental protection plan as part of the Three-North Shelterbelt Project, have produced remarkable results, the frequent occurrence of sandstorms this spring shows ecological protection needs to be further strengthened, especially through deeper cooperation between China and Mongolia on desertification control. The Division of Desertification Study Institute of Geography and Geoecology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences has been playing a leading role in deepening China-Mongolia cooperation on fighting desertification, and working out scientific projects in cooperation with many Chinese research institutions and universities. In 2017-19, in cooperation with the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Mongolian institute worked on a project called "Key Techniques for Sand Dune Stabilization and Vegetation Recovery in the Typical Regions of the Countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt". In 2018-20, in cooperation with the Inner Mongolia Normal University, and the agricultural and livestock products processing institute of Inner Mongolia, the Mongolian Academy of Sciences worked on a project titled "Application of Remote Sensing Monitoring and Repair Technology a Demonstration of Degraded Grassland in Mongolia". Also, in 2018-20, the Mongolian institute worked with the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on a project titled "China-Mongolia Cooperation Research and Demonstration on Grassland Desertification Control". And in 2022, in cooperation with the Institute of Geography and Natural Resources of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Mongolian researchers worked on a project called "Planting Trees and Shrubs to Stabilize the Movement of Sand". In other words, cooperation between China and Mongolia on desertification control is still in the initial stage. And hence, in the face of the recent extreme sandstorms, the two sides should jointly implement environmental protection measures. First, environmental diplomacy, namely, cooperation on environmental protection and desertification control, should be listed as an important topic of discussion by the two countries during high-level exchanges. During Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh's visit to China in 2022, the two heads of state agreed to strengthen cooperation on environmental protection and desertification control. And President Xi Jinping expressed support for Mongolia's "One Billion Trees" campaign, which is aimed at combating desertification, yellow dust storms, and land degradation. This is a good start for the two countries' high-level exchanges and cooperation on environmental protection and desertification control. Second, Chinese and Mongolian scientific research institutions should work together to develop a trans-boundary desertification map and monitoring system, which should take into consideration all natural and socioeconomic factors causing land degradation and desertification. Desertification assessment and monitoring are needed to determine whether desertification is taking place in only certain areas, and provide a basis for devising the right measures to control desertification and land degradation. Third, China and Mongolia should establish a special fund to jointly deal with regional environmental issues such as desertification control. This is important also because of the high environmental similarity between northern, central and western Inner Mongolia in China and the Gobi region in southern Mongolia. Also, the joint fund should support Chinese universities and environmental research institutions to provide necessary technical and program support for Mongolia's environmental protection and sustainable development. Besides, China should encourage researchers to visit Mongolia and spread knowledge about desertification and teach the people how to control desertification. And fourth, the two sides should encourage Chinese environmental NGOs, private enterprises and individual volunteers to participate in environmental protection projects in Mongolia. As for the Chinese and Mongolian governments, they need to conduct environmental diplomacy, while environmental NGOs, private enterprises and individual volunteers should promote people-to-people exchanges in order to prevent and control desertification. Ganchudur Ts is head of the Division of Desertification Study, Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences; and Meng Gencang is a professor at the China Research Center for Northeast Asian Languages, Dalian University of Foreign Languages. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) Former Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group chief PBGen. Narciso Domingo on Wednesday claimed that drug syndicates have succeeded in putting the blame on law enforcers being linked to the 990-kilo shabu haul. During a House committee hearing on the drug haul worth 6.7 billion in October 2022, Domingo said syndicates who actually own the massive drug supply succeeded in redirecting the course of the investigation. He noted that the people behind the shabu mess made some strategies to point the finger at him and to other police personnel. Domingo also said all efforts must be exhausted instead to identify big drug personalities. Earlier this month, Domingo was relieved from his post after his name was dragged into the alleged cover-up of the arrest of now-dismissed Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. He denied the allegations of a cover-up, saying if they were in connivance with Mayo, they would have destroyed the CCTV footage. Authorities arrested Mayo after they seized 990 kilos of shabu from an establishment allegedly owned by the former police officer. Aside from Domingo, 48 other personnel would face charges in relation to the shabu haul. 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 photo of the sturgeon scute (also called buckler) specimen. Credit: University of Portsmouth A fossil of a "royal fish"estimated to be more than 66 million years oldis the first ever to be found in Africa. Sturgeon have historically been found in the cooler waters of the Northern Hemisphere, excluding Africa, but this specimen was discovered in Morocco by a University of Portsmouth paleontologist. The discovery of this fossil in Africa is particularly significant because it is the first of its kind to be found on the continent, suggesting that sturgeons were once more widespread than previously thought. Professor David Martill noticed the fossil when he was visiting a well-known Moroccan fossil site during a field trip last November. He said, "I found a piece of rock with bucklers, the bony external plates found on these heavily armored fish, and I knew straight away it was a sturgeon. "It was a surprising discovery because all sturgeon species have been exclusively found in the Northern Hemisphere in the past. They've been located in North America, Europe, Russian Asia, Chinese Asia, but never in South America, Australia, Africa or India, which are the land masses that made up Gondwana, a supercontinent that existed around 336 million years ago and began breaking up around 150 million years ago." The paper is published in Cretaceous Research. Sturgeons have long been valued for their meat and roe, which are eaten as caviar. But as a result of overfishing, along with habitat loss, many species are critically endangered. And several are on the verge of extinction in the wild. Professor Martill said, "Russian beluga caviar is one of the most expensive in the world. Little did we know that at one time an extremely rare African sturgeon could have been a source of this delicacy." Sturgeon are often regarded as a living fossil because their ancestors date back to the same time that dinosaurs roamed, over 200 million years ago. They can grow up to seven meters in length and reach a weight of 1.5 tons, although such sizes are exceedingly rare today. In 1324 King Edward II declared them to be royal fish and any found in the waters around England and Wales are technically still owned by the British monarchy, along with whales and dolphins. Professor Martill added, "The very first sturgeons appear in the fossil record in the late Triassic period in China. But the oldest true sturgeon ever discovered is probably a specimen in the Steve Etches collection from Dorset's Jurassic Coast in England, which is mentioned in a book Steve and I wrote about fossils in the Kimmeridge Clay Formation. "This new Moroccan species complicates models of the location of the origin of this important group of fish that is typically so widespread in the Northern Hemisphere." The specimen is now in the collection of the University King Hassan II, Casablanca. More information: David M. Martill, A sturgeon (Actinopterygii, Acipenseriformes) from the Upper Cretaceous of Africa, Cretaceous Research (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105546 Journal information: Cretaceous Research This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Roman's primary structure hangs from cables as it moves into the big clean room at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Alt text: A large, silver and gold metallic structure is suspended from the ceiling in a bright, spacious room. The structure is hollow, and is smooth and circular on the inside. Its exterior has six sides, each covered with a diamond-like pattern. The structure is about 14 feet (4.3 meters) long, 12 feet (3.7 meters) wide, and 6.5 feet (2 meters) tall and hangs from long yellow cables. Three people in bunny suits look on in the foreground. Hundreds of pale pink squares line a wall in the background. Credit: NASA/Jolearra Tshiteya The primary structure that will serve as the "bones" of NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has moved into the big clean room at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The spacecraft bus, Roman's primary support element, will now be built upon this skeletal framework. When it launches by May 2027, Roman will help unravel the secrets of dark energy and dark matter, search for and image exoplanets, and explore many topics in infrared astrophysics. "This is a milestone several years in the making," said Caroline Griffin, a mechanical engineer at Goddard. "The Roman team carefully assembled nearly 2,000 individual components, many of them custom-designed by Goddard engineers, to create this structure." It's partly made up of a central cylinder with a top deck that will support most of the observatory. Each of its six sides has a compartment that will house key electronics and other hardware needed to operate the observatory. Major spacecraft elements, such as its power, attitude control, and propulsion systems, will be housed within the primary structure. The high-gain antenna will be installed beneath it, and the lowermost part of the primary structure will attach the spacecraft to the rocket during launch. The structure is mainly made of a special grade of aluminum that's strong, yet lightweight. To reduce the weight even further, most of its exterior is partly hollowed out in a triangular pattern called an isogrid. Even though it's largeabout 14 feet (4.3 meters) long, 12 feet (3.7 meters) wide, and 6.5 feet (2 meters) tallthe primary structure weighs just 3,600 pounds (1,600 kilograms). Engineers applied a protective coating to protect it from the environment on Earth and provide the right temperature profile in space. The team has also performed fit checks, ensuring all the components are precisely positioned so additional parts will connect together properly. The primary structure has now been placed on the Pantheona large assembly platform built specifically for Roman. The team is lacing it with the harness, which serves as the spacecraft's nervous system, and will connect the electronics together in June of 2023. 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: Plutchiks wheel of emotion (Mohsin and Beltiukov, 2019). Wheel of emotion showing the interconnection between different emotions. Credit: Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1057/s41599-023-01576-3 Popular culture plays an important role in shaping society's perceptions and attitudes around gender roles. We are fed images and stories through television, film, music and social media that can both enhance or challenge traditional gender roles. The film industry, which is one of the most influential media industries with an audience of billions of people around the world, plays a particularly central role in depicting gender roles. A team of international students of the Erasmus Mundus double degree program Engineering of Data-intensive Intelligent Software Systems (EDISS) at Abo Akademi University recently published an article entitled "Identifying gender bias in blockbuster movies through the lens of machine learning" in the Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. The student team consisted of Muhammad Junaid Haris, Aanchal Upreti and Melih Kurtaran. The work was advised by Sebastien Lafond and Sepinoud Azimi of the subject cluster Information Technology at Abo Akademi University with Filip Ginter of the University of Turku as a collaborator. In the study, students analyzed the manuscripts of 34 Hollywood films in a range of genres using mathematical and machine learning techniques, looking at how gender roles are presented and how emotions are expressed by male and female characters in the films. The results show that there are still specific patterns in the personality traits of male and female characters in films consistent with societal stereotypes. These patterns show that men on film are more aggressive, powerful, dominant and jealous, and women more loving, caring, happy and docile. The analysis also showed that gender representation in the last 20 years has become more equal. In the years 20002004 only 15 percent of characters were female, but in 2015-2019 that number increased to almost 44 percent. "As far as we know, this is the first time that characters' emotional expressions in blockbuster movie productions have been studied in greater depth. Although the female roles have evolved and been allowed more prominence on screen over the years, there are still many stereotypical gender roles beneath the surface," says Sepinoud Azimi. More information: Muhammad Junaid Haris et al, Identifying gender bias in blockbuster movies through the lens of machine learning, Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1057/s41599-023-01576-3 Provided by Abo Akademi University This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Andy Weir's bestselling 2011 book, "The Martian," features botanist Mark Watney's efforts to grow food on Mars after he becomes stranded there. While Watney's initial efforts focus on growing potatoes, new research presented at the 54th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference by a team of interdisciplinary researchers from the U of A suggests future Martian botanists like Watney may have a better option: growing rice. As outlined in the team's abstract, "Rice Can Grow and Survive in Martian Regolith with Challenges That Could be Overcome Through Control of Stress-Related Genes," one of the biggest challenges to growing food on Mars is the presence of perchlorate salts, which have been detected in the planet's soil and are generally considered to be toxic for plants. The team was able to simulate Martian soil using basaltic rich soil mined from the Mojave Desert, called the Mojave Mars Simulant, or MMS, which was developed by scientists from NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The teams then grew three varieties of rice, including one wild-type and two gene-edited lines with genetic mutations that better enable them to respond to stress, such as drought, sugar starvation or salinity. These varieties were grown in the MMS, as well as a regular potted mix and a hybrid of the two. While plants were able to grow in the Martian simulant, they were not as developed as those grown in the potting soil and hybrid mix. Replacing just a quarter of the Martian simulant with potting soil resulted in improved development. The team also experimented with the amount of perchlorate in the soil, finding that 3 grams per kilogram was the threshold beyond which nothing would grow, while mutant strains could still root in 1 gram per kilogram. Their findings suggest that there might be a way forward for genetically modified rice to find purchase in Martian soil. Next steps will include experimenting with a newer Martian soil simulant called the Mars Global Simulant, as well as other rice strains that have increased tolerance for higher salt concentrations. An important part of the research will be determining to what degree perchlorate may be leeching into the plant from the soil. Farther down the road, the researchers would like to introduce rice into a closed habitat chamber and place it in a Mars simulation chamber that replicates the temperature and atmosphere of the planet. Whether humans ever colonize Mars, the team's research could have applications here on Earth. Second author on the abstract, Abhilash Ramachandran, a post-doctoral fellow at the Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, noted that he spoke with an Australian researcher from an area where the soil had high salinity, and saw their work as a potential way to grow food there. He added, "We could use Earth as a terrestrial analog before the seeds ever get sent to Mars." First author on the abstract, Peter James Gann, a doctoral student in cell and molecular biology, said that the project began when he met Ramachandran for coffee in the student union. "He was new here at the university, and we shared the things we were doing in our respective laboratories. Since he works on planetary science, and I specialize in cell and molecular biology, we decided to try out plants." They were joined by co-authors Yheni Dwiningsih, a post-doctoral associate in plant sciences; Dominic Dharwadker, an undergraduate student in the Honors College; and Vibha Srivastava, a professor in the Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences who has a joint appointment with the U of A System Division of Agriculture. 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: Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) fit to calculate the return period of record events globally. Credit: Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37554-1 A new study has highlighted underprepared regions across the world most at risk of the devastating effects of scorching temperatures. The University of Bristol-led research, published in Nature Communications, shows that unprecedented heat extremes combined with socioeconomic vulnerability puts certain regions, such as Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and Central America most in peril. Countries yet to experience the most intense heat waves are often especially susceptible, as adaptation measures are often only introduced after the event. A high chance of record-breaking temperatures, growing populations, and limited health care and energy provision increase the risks. Beijing and Central Europe are also on the list of hotspots; if record-breaking heat waves occurred in these densely populated regions, millions of people would be adversely affected. In light of the findings, the researchers are calling for policy makers in hotspot regions to consider relevant action plans to reduce the risk of deaths and associated harms from climate extremes. Lead author, climate scientist Dr. Vikki Thompson at the University of Bristol Cabot Institute for the Environment, said, "As heat waves are occurring more often we need to be better prepared. We identify regions that may have been lucky so farsome of these regions have rapidly growing populations, some are developing nations, some are already very hot. We need to ask if the heat action plans for these areas are sufficient." Map showing where record breaking heatwaves are most likely. Regions of high risk have a current record return period under 100 years. Regions of low risk have already experienced heatwaves that appeared implausible before they occurred. Credit: University of Bristol The researchers used extreme value statisticsa method to estimate the return periods of rare eventsand large data sets from climate models and observations to pinpoint regions globally where temperature records are most likely to be broken soonest and the communities consequently in greatest danger of experiencing extreme heat. The researchers also cautioned that statistically implausible extremes, when current records are broken by margins that seemed impossible until they occurred, could happen anywhere. These unlikely events were found to have transpired in almost a third (31%) of the regions assessed where observations were deemed reliable enough between 1959 and 2021, such as the 2021 Western North America heat wave. Co-author Dann Mitchell, Professor in Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Bristol Cabot Institute for the Environment, said, "Being prepared saves lives. We have seen some of the most unexpected heat waves around the world lead to heat-related deaths in the tens of thousands. In this study, we show that such record smashing events could occur anywhere. Governments around the world need to be prepared." Human-induced climate change is causing an increase in the frequency, intensity, and duration of heat waves, which have the potential to lead to thousands more excess deaths globally. Improving our understanding of where society may not be ready for climate extremes can help prioritize mitigation in the most vulnerable regions. In recognition of the dangerous consequences of climate change, evidenced by the work of its climate experts, in 2019 the University of Bristol became the first UK university to declare a climate emergency. More information: Vikki Thompson et al, The most at-risk regions in the world for high-impact heatwaves, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37554-1 Journal information: Nature Communications This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A long-held belief among scholars and observers of Indian elections has been that voters in India do not view health as an important electoral issue. New research from King's India Institute and partners suggests this assumption is incorrect and health does influence voting decisions, particularly at the state level. A pilot survey of Indian voters conducted by Lokniti, Center for the Study of Developing Societies, revealed health is one of three priority areas for voters. While it is not the determining factor, it ranks alongside education and behind employment. Voters from poor and marginalized backgrounds were also more likely to identify health as a top priority. "It has long been assumed that low political prioritization of health in India reflects a lack of voter demand. This study demonstrates that when we unpack the idea of 'development,' voters see health as a crucial component of the fortunes of their household and their local area. For older voters and those from more disadvantaged backgrounds, it looms even larger as a priority," says Professor Louise Tillin, lead investigator and professor of politics. The researchers found that voters who perceive an improvement in public health services are 10% more likely to vote for the ruling party in state-level elections than voters who perceived no change or worsening health services. However, voting decisions in national-level elections appear to be less impacted by the perceived performance of government hospitals. Many voters were also unclear about which level of governmentlocal, state or nationalwas responsible for the condition of health care services, despite 80% of voters saying it was the government's responsibility to provide health care. Most (37%) correctly identified state governments as bearing responsibility for running hospitals, but a substantial number attributed responsibility to all three levels (21%), and to the central government (14%) or to the local government (17%). "The findings suggest that state-level governments do have incentives to invest in health services, given the latent demand from voters and the potential for electoral rewards. However, the unclear attribution of responsibility may blur lines of accountability with voters uncertain about who to credit or blame for health system improvements," says Professor Louise Tillin. The survey involved face-to-face interviews with 1,522 citizens across five Indian statesBihar, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradeshconducted between March to April 2022. It sought to answer four broad questions: How much do voters care about health? How satisfied are voters with the provision of health services in India? Who do voters credit (or blame) for the provision of health services? And, does health care impact voting decisions? The outcomes of the study have been published on the Lokniti-CSDS website and in The Hindu. 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: Stage structure of the populations varied over time. Populations that experienced high mortality (e.g., the highest predation treatment in the + parasite treatment) were dominated by juveniles. Credit: Ecology (2023). DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4063 Nature documentaries will tell you that lions, cheetahs, wolves and other top predators target the weakest or slowest animals and that this culling benefits prey herds, whether it's antelope in Africa or elk in Wyoming. This idea has been widely accepted by biologists for many years and was formalized in 2003 as the healthy herds hypothesis. It proposes that predators can help prey populations by picking off the sick and injured and leaving healthy, strong animals to reproduce. The healthy herds hypothesis has even been used to suggest that manipulating predator numbers to protect prey might be a useful conservation strategy. Even so, hard evidence supporting the hypothesis is scarce, and in recent years many of its assumptions and predictions have been questioned. In a study published online April 26 in the journal Ecology, a University of Michigan-led research team used a pint-sized predator-prey-parasite system inside 20-gallon water tanks to test the healthy herds hypothesis. Their study system consisted of predatory fly larvae that feed on the water flea Daphnia dentifera, which hosts a virulent fungal parasite. The researchers found that while high predation levels reduced parasitism in Daphniaproviding partial support for the healthy herds hypothesispopulations of those poppy seed-sized crustaceans were often dramatically reduced, as well. In some cases, Daphnia populations were nearly wiped out by predation. The findings may have implications for conservation efforts involving much larger animals, according to the study authors. Specifically, the results suggest that caution is warranted when wildlife managers manipulate predator numbers in the hopes of promoting healthy herds of prey. "The appeal of the healthy herds hypothesis lies in the alignment of multiple conservation goalssimultaneous conservation of predators, reduction of parasitism, and protection of vulnerable populationsas well as the potential to reduce spillover risk to other populations, including humans," said U-M aquatic and disease ecologist Meghan Duffy. "But even when predators reduce disease in their prey populations, that does not necessarily lead to increased prey population size, as our study shows," said Duffy, senior author of the new study and a professor in the U-M Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. One well-known example of "healthy herds" gone wrong involves the culling of badgers in the United Kingdom in an effort to reduce bovine tuberculosis in livestock. In that case, the culling can be viewed as a particularly efficient form of predation by humans. The assumption behind those campaigns was that higher predation of badgers, which are a wildlife reservoir of bovine tuberculosis, would drive healthy livestock herds. Instead, the campaigns increased bovine tuberculosis in cattle. In another example, the culling of bats to reduce the spread of rabies has not been effective at reducing rabies in domestic dogs or wildlife. Findings of the new study, and others like it, could help explain why some attempts to control disease by manipulating predators fail, according to the authors. "Unless we develop a more comprehensive understanding of when and how predators influence disease, management strategies that propose to reintroduce or augment predator populations could backfire," said study lead author Laura Lopez, a former postdoctoral researcher in Duffy's lab who now works for the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance in Australia. Duffy has used Daphnia as a model organism to investigate the causes and consequences of infectious disease outbreaks for nearly 20 yearswork that has included several studies of the healthy herds hypothesis. For the latest study, the researchers experimentally manipulated the density of a predator in their three-organism study system, then monitored Daphnia population sizes and infection levels. The predators were larvae of the phantom midge, which commonly prey on Daphnia in North American temperate lakes. The parasite was the virulent fungus Metschnikowia bicuspidata. The predator-prey-parasite interactions occurred inside 48 experimental water tanks called mesocosms, which also contained nutrients and green algae. At the highest levels, predation completely eliminated the fungal pathogen. However, the highest predation levels often dramatically reduced Daphnia population sizes, as wellan outcome that does not support the healthy herds hypothesis. "If your primary concern is the overall population size of a vulnerable animal species, then adding high levels of predation that eliminate disease could be detrimental," Duffy said. "Interestingly, intermediate predation levels reduced parasitism in our study without incurring a cost in terms of overall prey density. Any management decisions would need to weigh the potential costs and benefits associated with increasing predation." The authors of the Ecology study warned that achieving and maintaining a predation level that reduces parasitism without harming prey population size "might be equivalent to threading the proverbial needle." More information: Laura K. Lopez et al, A healthy but depleted herd: Predators decrease prey disease and density, Ecology (2023). DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4063 Journal information: Ecology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Physicists at the Australian National University (ANU) are using nanoparticles to develop new sources of light that will allow us to "peel back the curtain" into the world of extremely small objectsthousands of times smaller than a human hairwith major gains for medical and other technologies. The findings, published in Science Advances, could have major implications for medical science by offering an affordable and effective solution to analyze tiny objects that are too small for microscopes to see, let alone the human eye. The work could also be beneficial for the semiconductor industry and improving quality control of the fabrication of computer chips. The ANU technology uses carefully engineered nanoparticles to increase the frequency of light that cameras and other technologies see by up to seven times. The researchers say there is "no limit" to how high the frequency of light can be increased. The higher the frequency, the smaller the object we are able to see using that light source. The technology, which requires only a single nanoparticle to work, could be implemented into microscopes to help scientists zoom into the world of super small things at 10 times the resolution of conventional microscopes. This would enable researchers to study objects that would otherwise be too small to see, such as the inner structures of cells and individual viruses. Being able to analyze such small objects could help scientists better understand and fight certain diseases and health conditions. "Conventional microscopes are only able to study objects bigger than about a ten-millionth of a meter. However, there is growing demand across a range of sectors, including the medical field, to be able to analyze much smaller objects down to one billionth of a meter," lead author Dr. Anastasiia Zalogina, from the ANU Research School of Physics and the University of Adelaide, said. "Our technology could help meet that demand." The researchers say the ANU-developed nanotech could help create a new generation of microscopes that can produce much more detailed images. "Scientists who want to generate a highly-magnified image of an extremely small, nanoscale object can't use a conventional optical microscope. Instead, they must rely on either super-resolution microscopy techniques or use an electron microscope to study these tiny objects," Dr. Zalogina said. "But such techniques are slow and the technology is very expensive, often costing more than a million dollars. "Another disadvantage of electron microscopy is that it may damage delicate samples being analyzed, whereas light-based microscopes mitigate this issue." Beams of light that we perceive as different colors of the rainbow are electromagnetic waves that oscillate with different frequencies. What we see as red is the lowest frequency that our eyes can detect. Even lower frequencies not visible to the human eye are called infra-red. Violet has the highest light frequency that we can see. Ultraviolet, which has an even higher frequency, is invisible to the human eye. Although our eyes cannot detect infra-red and ultraviolet light, it is possible for us to "see" it using cameras and other technologies. Co-author Dr. Sergey Kruk, also from ANU, said researchers are interested in achieving very high frequencies of light, also known as "extreme-ultraviolet." "With violet light we can see much smaller things compared to using red light. And with extreme-ultraviolet light sources we can see things beyond what's possible using conventional microscopes of today," Dr. Kruk said. Dr. Kruk said the ANU technology could also be used in the semiconductor industry as a quality control measure to ensure a streamlined manufacturing process. "Computer chips consist of very tiny components with feature sizes almost as small as one billionth of a meter. During the chip production process, it would be beneficial for manufacturers to use tiny sources of extreme-ultraviolet light to monitor this process in real-time to diagnose any problems early on," he said. "That way manufacturers could save resources and time on bad batches of chips, thereby increasing yields of chip manufacturing. It's estimated that a one percent increase in yields of computer chip manufacturing translates into two billion dollars in savings. "Australia's booming optics and photonics industry is represented by nearly 500 companies and accounts for about $4.3 billion of economic activity, making our high-tech ecosystem well positioned to adopt new types of light sources in order to reach new global markets in nanotechnology industries and research." More information: Anastasiia Zalogina et al, High-harmonic generation from a subwavelength dielectric resonator, Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg2655. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adg2655 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: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Parental leave for fathers can decrease sexist attitudes and gender bias, according to new research from Rice University, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Oxford and ETH Zurich. "Fathers' Leave Reduces Sexist Attitudes" will appear in an upcoming edition of the American Political Science Review. The researchers, including Jonathan Homola, an assistant professor of political science at Rice, were interested in how parental leave for non-traditional caregivers impacts individuals' deeply ingrained attitudes about stereotypical gender roles and sexismwhich can have adverse consequences when it comes to personal socioeconomic status and politics. For the study, the researchers examined the attitudes of 1,362 new parents who were and were not directly affected by a policy reform in Estonia that tripled the amount of fathers' leave time for babies born on or after July 1, 2020. They found that families with fathers who received more parental leave saw an increase in belief in gender equality among both men and women. They also found that direct exposure to such policies raised support among women for pro-female policies such as requiring political parties to field more female candidates at the expense of male candidates. Indirect exposure to such policy reform didn't change attitudes, the researchers found. "We hope this study will show governments and organizations how direct exposure to progressive social policies can weaken sexist attitudes and be a practical and effective tool to reduce harmful biases," he said. The paper was co-authored by Margit Tavits of Washington University in St. Louis, Petra Schleiter of the University of Oxford and Dalston Ward of ETH Zurich and Stanford University. More information: Margit Tavits et al, Fathers' Leave Reduces Sexist Attitudes, American Political Science Review (2023). DOI: 10.1017/S0003055423000369 Journal information: American Political Science Review 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: Communication on social media must strike a delicate balance between attracting attention and consistency with brand positioning, according to a study by Sara Valentini, Bocconi Unversity, Milan. Credit: Weiwei Chen, Bocconi University, Milan A brand's communication through social media posts is all the more effective the more it is in line with the image and values the public associates with the brand. This is the subject of a recent article in the Journal of Interactive Marketing by Sara Valentini of the Bocconi University, Milan, co-written with Elisa Montaguti of the University of Bologna and Federica Vecchioni, data scientist at Reply. The study investigates what can drive followers to share promotional content posted by brands on social media and sheds light on what can influence the effectiveness of communication and the likelihood that a post will go "viral". A brand's presence on social networks is primarily intended to create "engagement," that is, interaction via posts. In particular, one aspect of engagement that brands find attractive is the spontaneous sharing of content by users themselves, in marketing parlance "rebroadcasting." When a follower shares commercial content with his or her network of acquaintances and friends, its impact, quite predictably, is much stronger because it is conveyed by the user and not directly by the brand, which can in turn take advantage of what is known in jargon as "earned media." Those who communicate through social channels are therefore constantly under pressure to try to achieve this result, and may resort to eye-catching content that has little or nothing to do with brand values. Companies, for example, often try to tie their content to popular online themes, such as puppies, aphorisms, facts or trendy celebrities. However, these themes often do not match the brand's story and positioning. Thus, if using these easy elements failed to generate engagement, the end result would be doubly negative, having contributed to diluting the brand's online positioning. The authors conducted three different empirical studies aimed at testing to what extent the congruence of posts with brand values and the presence of promotions within the posts are important for rebroadcasting. In the first study, they monitored and analyzed one year of social media posts by four major brands. The second study is a field test conducted in cooperation with Samsung Italy. In this case, the company allowed the authors to tweak the content of experimental posts on their own pages, precisely for the purpose of collecting relevant data for this research. Both studies showed that consistency between online content and the values that followers associate with the brand has a positive effect on rebroadcasting frequency. Consequently, companies should be careful about using social media strategies that include elements unrelated to their image, as this may pose a risk of losing the attention of their fans. Most interestingly, consistency with brand identity can generate a high number of shares even for posts containing price promotions. Indeed, it is not always easy for companies to persuade their fan base to share online content containing commercial cues such as discounts. However, they are about 109% more likely to get their followers to share a high-consistency post with a promotion than a generic post. In contrast, promotions associated with content out of tune with the brand turn out to be those with the lowest probability of spontaneous spread. The reasons for this phenomenon need to be explained. A third experiment, conducted using a panel of respondents provided by a market research firm, showed that the strongest driver for sharing a post with consistent promotional content is altruism. If people assume that a certain piece of content will be useful to their acquaintances, they will pass it around. Conversely, if a user feels manipulated, he or she will tend to do the opposite of what is desired, with an attitude known in cognitive psychology as "reactance". "Our results suggest that posts consistent with brand values are less likely to trigger reactance. Therefore, companies that post online content on their pages must maintain a delicate balance to attract the interest of their audience while avoiding elements that are not in line with the brand image," Sara Valentini explains. "At the same time, posts must spur the fan base to share communication with others. Including promotional incentives, for example, can elicit altruistic motivations in the fan base. However, it can also activate reactance; for this reason, it is important to match the incentive with cues that are consistent with the brand or in line with brand values." More information: Elisa Montaguti et al, Content That Engages Your Customers: The Role of Brand Congruity and Promotions in Social Media, Journal of Interactive Marketing (2022). DOI: 10.1177/10949968221129817 Provided by Bocconi University (CNN) A Singaporean man convicted of trying to traffic around 2.2 pounds of cannabis was executed on Wednesday, his family confirmed to CNN, a sentence lambasted by rights groups and campaigners for its severity at a time when many other nations, including neighboring countries, have adopted a more lenient approach towards drugs and capital punishment. While cannabis has been legalized in a growing number of nations worldwide, Singapore maintains some of the world's harshest drug laws and its government remains adamant that capital punishment works to deter drug traffickers and must remain in place to maintain public safety. Tangaraju Suppiah, a 46-year-old Singaporean, was hanged early on Wednesday in Changi Prison and the family have received a death certificate, his sister Leelavathy Suppiah told CNN. In the days leading up to him being sent to the gallows, family members and activists made public appeals for clemency and questioned the safety of his conviction. It was Singapore's first execution in six months. Tangaraju was first sentenced to death in 2018 for "abetting the trafficking of more than one kilogram of cannabis (1,017.9 grams)," according to a statement from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB). The court found he was in phone communication with two other men caught trying to smuggle cannabis into Singapore. Previous appeals against his conviction and death sentence were dismissed by the courts in 2019 while petitions for presidential clemency were also unsuccessful, CNB added. "Tangaraju was accorded full due process under the law and had access to legal counsel throughout the process," CNB's statement said while describing capital punishment as "part of Singapore's comprehensive harm prevention strategy." Family members and rights groups who took up Tangaraju's cause rejected the government's claims and detailed why they believed his death sentence conviction was unsafe. "Tangaraju's conviction relied mainly on statements from his police interrogation -- taken without a lawyer and interpreter present -- and the testimony of his two co-accused, one of which had his charges dismissed," Amnesty International said. "In countries that have not yet abolished this punishment, international safeguards require that the death penalty be imposed only when the guilt of the person charged is based upon clear and convincing evidence leaving no room for an alternative explanation of the facts -- and after a legal process which gives all possible safeguards to ensure a fair trial," Amnesty added. Tangaraju's sister Leelavathy spoke of her brother's anguish and determination before his death sentence was carried out. "Even from inside prison, he wanted to fight for his innocence," she told CNN. "He believed that there would be a fair trial and wanted to prove his innocence -- every step of the way." The Transformative Justice Collective (TJC), a local abolitionist movement, highlighted what they said were "serious problems" with evidence used to convict Tangaraju, describing it as "shockingly thin." "The case against Tangaraju is largely circumstantial and based on inferences," TJC said in a series of statements. "He never touched the cannabis he was accused of attempting to traffic. He was tied to the offense by two phone numbers found on the mobile phones of two men arrested by the CNB -- one of which had been used to coordinate the cannabis delivery." "Tangaraju was already in remand for a separate offense by the time he was linked to this case -- and his mobile phones were never recovered for analysis," the group added. Last year Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis following years of campaigning by activists on the ground. Meanwhile Malaysia, Singapore's closest neighbor, passed sweeping legal reforms earlier this month to remove the mandatory death penalty and trimmed the number of offenses, including drug crimes, punishable by death -- a move welcomed by rights defenders. "It's particularly outrageous that Tangaraju was arrested, convicted and executed for a cannabis related offense when much of the world is moving forward with cannabis legalization based on medical assessments," Phil Robertson, Asia deputy director of Human Rights Watch, told CNN. "Putting him to death also shows just how far Singapore has fallen behind Malaysia -- its leaders like to claim that their country is more modern and developed but in the case of criminal justice and the death penalty, Singapore is clearly the laggard," Robertson added. "Once again, Singapore shows how completely out of step they are with the basic concepts of human rights, proportionality in criminal punishments and justice," Robertson said. But the Singapore government has continued to resist calls for reform, carrying out eleven executions last year alone, all for drug related trafficking offenses. Under the law, anyone caught trafficking, importing or exporting certain quantities of illegal drugs like methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine or cannabis products receives the mandatory death sentence. "Singapore adopts a zero-tolerance stance against drugs and applies a multi-pronged approach to combat drugs," the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement responding to international criticism of Tangaraju's execution. "The death penalty is an essential component of Singapore's criminal justice system and has been effective in keeping Singapore safe and secure." The Ministry of Home Affairs also rejected the criticisms made by rights groups, arguing the case against Tangaraju had been "proven beyond a reasonable doubt" and that the evidence "clearly showed that he was the person coordinating the delivery of drugs, for the purpose of trafficking." The ministry's statement was published in response to overseas criticism of Tangaraju's imminent execution, including from British billionaire Richard Branson, an outspoken opponent of capital punishment. "Killing people for allegedly smuggling cannabis is particularly cruel and misguided, given that more countries are now introducing sensible drug policy by decriminalizing and regulating both medicinal and recreational cannabis," Branson wrote in a blog on his company's website. Australian lawmaker Graham Perrett also said Tangaraju's execution "violated international law standards." "Imagine being hanged by the neck until you are dead because of a bit of weed," Perrett, a member of the Labor Party, wrote on Facebook. "As is the case for many people currently on death row in Singapore, Tangaraju was forced to represent himself to seek a review of the Court of Appeal's decision to uphold his conviction. Singapore has a strong reputation as a rule of law country so this concerning omission is not normal," Perrett added. The European Union's delegation to Singapore also called on authorities to halt the execution. "The EU and our countries strongly oppose the use of capital punishment at all times and in all circumstances, which can never be justified -- and advocate for Singapore to adopt a moratorium on all executions as a positive first step towards its abolition," the block said in a statement. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: (A) Schematic diagram of the raw image acquisition system for the hemisphere references. (B) Schematic diagram of the raw image acquisition system for the plant. (C) Simulation of the plant leaf and the hemisphere reference tangent to each other and the relevant 3D light field features. In this case, the plant and the reference at the tangent point share the same 3D light field features. Here, di denotes the distance from the point to the light source, dv denotes the distance from the point to the camera optical center, i denotes the angle between the direction vector of the incident light and the normal vector of the surface where the point is located, v denotes the angle between the observation direction vector and the normal vector of the surface where the point is located, and denotes the angle between the projection vector of the incident light direction vector and the projection vector of the observation direction vector on the surface where the point is located. Credit: Plant Phenomics Modern cameras and sensors, together with image processing algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI), are ushering in a new era of precision agriculture and plant breeding. In the near future, farmers and scientists will be able to quantify various plant traits by simply pointing special imaging devices at plants. However, some obstacles must be overcome before these visions become a reality. A major issue faced during image-sensing is the difficulty of combining data from the same plant gathered from multiple image sensors, also known as 'multispectral' or 'multimodal' imaging. Different sensors are optimized for different frequency ranges and provide useful information about the plant. Unfortunately, the process of combining plant images acquired using multiple sensors, called 'registration,' can be notoriously complex. Registration is even more complex when involving three-dimensional (3D) multispectral images of plants at close range. To properly align close-up images taken from different cameras, it is necessary to develop computational algorithms that can effectively address geometric distortions. Besides, algorithms that perform registration for close-range images are more susceptible to errors caused by uneven illumination. This situation is commonly faced in the presence of leaf shadows, as well as light reflection and scattering in dense canopies. Against this backdrop, a research team including Professor Haiyan Cen from Zhejiang University, China, recently proposed a new approach for generating high-quality point clouds of plants by fusing depth images and snapshot spectral images. As explained in their paper, which was published in Plant Phenomics, the researchers employed a three-step image registration process which was combined with a novel artificial intelligence (AI)-based technique to correct for illumination effects. Prof. Cen explains, "Our study shows that it is promising to use stereo references to correct plant spectra and generate high-precision, 3D, multispectral point clouds of plants." The experimental setup consisted of a lifting platform which held a rotating stage at a preset distance from two cameras on a tripod; an RGB (red, green, and blue)-depth camera and a snapshot multispectral camera. In each experiment, the researchers placed a plant on the stage, rotated the plant, and photographed it from 15 different angles. (A) The flow chart of generating plant multispectral point cloud. Raw images such as depth image and multispectral image were registered, and multispectral image was reshaped as a multichannel image at the beginning of the procedure. Then, follow the point cloud generation that relies on the transformation from depth image coordinate system to the world coordinate system under the constrains of the camera intrinsic parameters. Finally, with the fusion of multiview point clouds and the mapping of corrected multispectral textures, the 3D multispectral point cloud model was constructed. (B) The flow chart of calculating the spatial distribution of the DN values of the references and correcting the plant spectral reflectance using ANN. In the stage of model training, the 3D light field features of references were extracted from depth image as independent variables and the spectral DN values as dependent variables. In the stage of model application, the 3D light field features of plant were set as input to obtain the predictions of the corresponding DN values of the reference. Finally, the reflectance image is corrected pixel by pixel based on this method to generate a mappable texture. Credit: Plant Phenomics They also took images of a flat surface containing Teflon hemispheres at various positions. The images of these hemispheres served as reference data for a reflectance correction method, which the team implemented using an artificial neural network. For registration, the team first used image processing to extract the plant structure from the overall images, remove noise, and balance brightness. Then, they performed coarse registration using Speeded-Up Robust Features (SURF)a method that can identify important image features that are mostly unaffected by changes in scale, illumination, and rotation. Finally, the researchers performed fine registration using a method known as "Demons." This approach is based on finding mathematical operators that can optimally 'deform' one image to match it with another. These experiments showed that the proposed registration method significantly outperformed conventional approaches. Moreover, the proposed reflectance correction technique produced remarkable results, as Prof. Cen highlights: "We recommended using our correction method for plants in growth stages with low canopy structural complexity and flattened and broad leaves." The study also highlighted a few potential areas of improvement to make the proposed approach even more powerful. Satisfied with the results, Prof. Cen concludes, "Overall, our method can be used to obtain accurate, 3D, multispectral point cloud model of plants in a controlled environment. The models can be generated successively without varying the illumination condition." In the future, techniques such as this one will help scientists, farmers, and plant breeders easily integrate data from different cameras into one consistent format. This could not only help them visualize important plant traits, but also feed these data to emerging AI-based software to simplify or even fully automate analyses. More information: Pengyao Xie et al, Generating 3D Multispectral Point Clouds of Plants with Fusion of Snapshot Spectral and RGB-D Images, Plant Phenomics (2023). DOI: 10.34133/plantphenomics.0040 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: Forest Ecology and Management (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121038 Spending $1.50 per hectare to prune climbing vines from the world's selectively logged forests could remove 800 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over 30 years, according to new research. University of the Sunshine Coast Professor Jack (Francis) Putz is so buoyed by the finding that he and nine international co-authors have called for all countries with tropical forestsincluding Australiato include the simple practice in their national carbon policies. "If we are to scale natural climate solutions at the pace needed to avoid a global climate catastrophe, we need effective, low-cost, no-regrets practices that can be implemented immediately," said the Professor of Forest Ecology and Management who recently joined UniSC to continue his work. "This research shows why we should cut lianas (woody climbing vines) and suggests how government and private landowners can do it, to achieve benefits for the environment and the economy via the timber industry. "Widespread adoption of liana removal is more likely if it is incorporated into national carbon policy frameworks." Professor Putz was senior author on a paper published on the research in Forest Ecology and Management with his previous University of Florida, as well as The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, Eastwood Forests in the United States and Science for Sustainability in Central America. "Lianas are great in some ways, but they compete with trees and other vegetation for sunlight," he said. "Liana infestations affect a quarter of the world's one billion hectares of selectively logged forest, primarily in the tropics, and this is intensifying with human interventions and climate change. "Our research found that cutting lianas from a minimal number of trees destined for harvestjust five trees per hectarewould increase carbon sequestration and contribute to timber yields to improve local livelihoods. "Forest managers with access to voluntary carbon markets could also diversify their incomes. "With the cost of the treatment estimated at less than $USD1 per ton of CO 2 , it's an attractive opportunity for countries to both meet their climate action goals andgiven current carbon market prices of $1020 per ton of CO 2 boost the economic potential of selectively logged forests." He said the same treatment could also benefit biodiversity in forests not destined for logging. More information: Francis E. Putz et al, Liana cutting in selectively logged forests increases both carbon sequestration and timber yields, Forest Ecology and Management (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121038 Journal information: Forest Ecology and Management Provided by University of the Sunshine Coast 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: Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering (2023). DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2023482 China has scored consecutive good harvests for years running, but there has been a problem of agricultural production that emphasizes weight rather than quality. The main manifestation is the long-term and high-intensity use of land resources and the massive application of mineral fertilizers and pesticides to meet the demand for increased production. This rough production method has induced a serious problem of agricultural surface pollution, which seriously restricts the sustainable development of Chinese agriculture. Promoting the transformation of agriculture to green development and achieving sustainable agricultural development has increasingly become a crucial part of China's agricultural supply-side structural reform. As one of the green production technologies, the application of organic fertilizer and biopesticides can effectively replace mineral fertilizers and pesticides, and improve the quality, efficiency and competitiveness of green agricultural development. Despite the large potential, the current adoption of organic fertilizer and biopesticides among farmers is relatively low. Good practice dictates that the promotion of technology is inseparable from the excellent attributes of the technology itself and the matching technical environment. The role of the technical environment is critical to the promotion of agricultural technology application. It is both a vital carrier for farmer technology adoption as well as a constraint, and guides farmer choices. It is imperative to investigate the influence of technical environment on farmers' organic fertilizer and biopesticides adoption behavior, but it has not been effectively explored. Associate Professor Ting Meng from China Agricultural University, as well as her research teams, examined how technical environment influences farmers' adoption behavior of organic fertilizer and biopesticides in Heilongjiang Province, China. Based on a survey of 1282 farmers, bivariate probit model was applied to comprehensively analyze the impact of technical environment on farmers' organic fertilizer and biopesticides adoption behavior and the potential for improvement, and further discussed the differences in the impact of technical environment on the technology adoption behavior among different groups of farmers. To start with, the study found that farmers adoption of organic fertilizer and biopesticides was significantly and positively correlated. In addition, the study also showed that the technical environment had a significant positive effect on farmers' adoption of organic fertilizer and biopesticides. Compared to farmers who have not received technical training, the probability that technical training recipients will use of organic fertilizer and biopesticides increased by 2.5% and 1.3%, respectively. Farmers who perceived the new technologies were easily accessible in their location have 3.4% and 1.2% higher probabilities of using organic fertilizer and biopesticides, respectively, than farmers holding opposite views. And exchanging information about production technologies with others usually increased the likelihood of adopting organic fertilizers by 6.2%. Last but not least, the study noted that the role of technical environment variables differed significantly among different farmer groups. Technical training promoted the adoption of biopesticides among farmers operating farms of different sizes. Moreover, technical information obtained through an exchange with family and friends appears to significantly increase the adoption of organic fertilizer and biopesticides among small-scale farmers. Technical training is an important factor that can influence the use of organic fertilizer among large-scale farmers. Family and friends as a source of technical information can effectively promote the adoption of organic fertilizer among farmers with a varied dependence on income from farming. This research sheds light on how the government can formulate relevant policies to promote promoting organic fertilizer and biopesticides. For future promotion efforts, three aspects can be helpful to improve farmers adoption behavior: bundling related green technologies, optimizing the technical environment, and developing differentiated promotion policies. Firstly, bundling the organic fertilizer and biopesticides for promotion can be effective. The actual adoption promotion program of organic fertilizer and biopesticides should guide farmers in their adoption choices by stressing the enhanced effect of the combination of both categories of technology on increasing yields and incomes. Secondly, improving the matching degree of technical environment and technical attributes is recommended. From one perspective, it is necessary to vigorously design and implement agricultural technology training for farmers to improve the matching of technical environment and technical attributes. From another perspective, it is also essential to reinforce the information network facilitating the exchange of agricultural production technology information. Local government is required to pay full attention to the vital contribution of rural information networks. To expand limited information sources on agricultural technology, the government can consider to build a public information exchange and mutual assistance e-platforms led by village cadres, agricultural specialists, farm experts and other professionals. Also, due to the significance of the exchange of information among family and neighbors in the diffusion of information in rural areas, it is indispensable to cultivate and support farm demonstrations of adoption of organic fertilizer and biopesticides, so as to normalize information channels for farmers. Thirdly, differentiation of promotion policies targeting farmer groups should be considered. Different groups of farmers may have heterogeneous agricultural business goals and motivations to use technology. Consequently, it is necessary to recognize the presence of various farmer groups before implementing diversified and differentiated policy tools, and incentives encouraging the adoption of new, environmentally-friendly agricultural technologies. This investigation not only provides an essential realistic reference for the reduction and substitution of mineral fertilizers and synthetic pesticides in Heilongjiang Province, China, but also has implications for developing countries facing similar challenges in the transformation to green development of agriculture. The work is published in the journal Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering. More information: Haoyue Yang et al, Impacts of technical environment on the adoption of organic fertilizers and biopesticides among farmers: evidence from Heilongjiang province, China, Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering (2023). DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2023482 Provided by Higher Education Press This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Sexual and substance use education that incorporates knowledge about trauma could improve developmental outcomes among justice-involved Black youth, according to a Rutgers study published in the journal Children and Youth Services Review. "For black adolescents in the justice system, childhood trauma greatly influences early life choices, particularly with sex, drugs and alcohol," said Abigail Williams-Butler, an assistant professor at the Rutgers School of Social Work. "Trauma-informed sexual health education, coupled with substance misuse awareness, can improve well-being and might even lower rates of incarceration for these youth." To determine how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) influenced the age of sexual debut (first intercourse), and substance use initiation (first experience with marijuana or alcohol) among incarcerated Black adolescents, Williams-Butler and Tyriesa Howard, an assistant professor of social work in the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, examined data from the Northwestern Juvenile Project (NJP). Launched in 1995, the NJP was created at Northwestern University to assess the mental health needs and outcomes of youth after they entered the juvenile justice system. A total of 368 Black adolescents (52.7 percent female) between ages 11 and 17 arrested in Cook County, Illinois, were surveyed as part of the NJP. Respondents self-reported history of sexual activity, substance use and adverse childhood experiencestraumas such as emotional, physical or sexual abuse; neglect; and household dysfunction (like an incarcerated relative). Using this original data, Williams-Butler, Howard and colleagues conducted analyses to determine the effects of adverse childhood experiences on sexual debut, substance use initiation and engagement in sex under the influence. What the researchers found was shocking: 97 percent of participants reported at least one adverse childhood experience and 82 percent reported a sexual debut before turning 15. More than 10 percent said they used alcohol or cannabis before they turned 11. The researchers also found having a history of adverse childhood experiences influenced whether respondents had engaged in sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol, suggesting that childhood trauma influences substance use behaviors that contribute to risky sexual behaviors. "What this data demonstrates is the need to include discussions about trauma in sexual health education," said Howard. "For this population, sexual health needs to emphasize what people's lived experiences look like and be intentional and direct about post-traumatic growth." While sexuality education curriculum varies widely by state, most programs tend to avoid discussions related to trauma, Williams-Butler said. This oversight is problematic for justice-involved youth, especially those arrested for activities that "may be seen as traumatic within themselves, such as engaging in survival sex or running away from physical violence in their home caused by childhood victimization," the researchers wrote. Bringing a trauma-informed approach to sexuality education "honors their experienceswhether they are good, bad or really uglyand acknowledges them in the rehabilitation process," said Howard. Williams-Butler said she hopes this research will eventually help expand trauma-informed adolescent sexual health programming, which in turn could reduce sexual harm, unplanned and unwanted pregnancies and sexual disease. More information: Abigail Williams-Butler et al, Adverse Childhood Experiences, sexual debut and substance use among Black justice-involved youth: The imperative of trauma-informed sexuality education, Children and Youth Services Review (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106847 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 Julong hot springs in the Changbaishan volcanic region release heat and carbon into the atmosphere. Credit: Si-Liang Li In a new study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, Zhong and colleagues discovered that a volcano in northeast China emits a small net amount of carbon each year. Over geological timescales, that could have a significant impact on our planet's carbon cycle. Volcanic areas continue to emit carbon dioxide long after eruptions are over. Conversely, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is constantly locked away into minerals on Earth's surface through a process called silicate weathering. Whether volcanoes release more CO 2 through degassing or capture more CO 2 through silicate weathering is an open question. The authors of the new study investigated whether the Changbaishan volcanic area in northeast China is a net source or sink of atmospheric carbon. The region has been active for at least 2.7 million years, but it has not erupted since 1903, making the area a prime spot for analyzing long-term carbon leakage. Over the course of two field seasons, in 2019 and 2020, the study authors scoured the Changbaishan region for rivers and streams. They collected water samples from around two dozen sites and used radiocarbon dating to estimate the amount of "deep carbon," meaning carbon from the depths of Earth, that had seeped into the water. They compared deep carbon estimates to estimates of carbon incorporated into minerals through silicate weathering. The researchers found that the Changbaishan region is a small net carbon source. Every year, the region releases at least 600 more tons of carbon than it incorporatesabout the amount that 41 average Americans put into the atmosphere on an annual basis. That seems small, but over geological timescales, the impact could be significant. The Changbaishan volcanic region is just one of many around the world, the researchers point out. Future work should examine wider areas to gain a full understanding of how volcanoes contribute to Earth's carbon cycle. More information: Jun Zhong et al, Assessing the Deep Carbon Release in an Active Volcanic Field Using Hydrochemistry, 13 C DIC and 14 C DIC, Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences (2023). DOI: 10.1029/2023JG007435 Provided by Eos This story is republished courtesy of Eos, hosted by the American Geophysical Union. Read the original story here. CHESTER A woman was arrested on Monday after police said she stole money from an elderly resident in her care. On Feb. 20, 2023, at 6:45 a.m., New York State Police received a complaint that money had been stolen from the home of an elderly Warren County resident. Police determined Erica Hitchcock-Smith, 40, of Chester, who worked for the victim as a home health aide, stole money on multiple occasions, totaling over $2,800. On Monday, state police arrested Hitchcock-Smith and charged her with fourth-degree grand larceny and petit larceny. She was issued an appearance ticket for the Chester Town Court in May and released. On Monday, Warren County leaders honored crime victims and those who help them during a ceremony commemorating National Crime Victims Rights Week. The Warren County District Attorneys Office held its annual observance of Crime Victims Rights, which included recognition for victims and those who assist them in their times of need. Warren County District Attorney Jason Carusone detailed the significance of National Crime Victims Rights Week and discussed the challenges faced by both crime victims and those who work to help them. No one chooses to be a victim of crime, but when crime occurs we need to do all that we can to support victims. We are fortunate to have many dedicated people working here in Warren County who are unwavering in their assistance to those who have been victimized, Carusone said. Honored during the ceremony were: An 11-year-old girl who was the victim of serious crime, who received the District Attorneys Offices annual Courage Award for her brave efforts in testifying against the person who victimized her. Local first responder agencies that were involved with a September 2021 double fatal crash on the Northway in the town of Chester. The driver who caused the collision was driving the wrong way and was intoxicated. Shy Watters, the director of Warren-Washington Counties Child Advocacy Resource and Education, or CARE, Center in Glens Falls. In addition, five bricks engraved with the names of local crime victims were added to the Warren County Crime Victims memorial, created in 2020, located in front of Warren County Municipal Center. The ceremony was attended by members of the Warren County District Attorneys Office, victims of crime and their loved ones, victim service providers, members of the Warren County Sheriffs Office, New York State Police and the Glens Falls Police Department. Several first responders from local agencies, members of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, local judiciary and representatives for state Sen. Daniel Stec and state Assemblyman Matthew Simpson, as the legislators could not attend because they were in legislative session in Albany. Warren County Board of Supervisors Chairman Kevin Geraghty read a proclamation passed on Friday by the Warren County Board of Supervisors, thanking those who assist victims of crime for their difficult work and proclaiming this week National Crime Victims Rights Week in Warren County. National Crime Victims Rights Week has been celebrated annually since 1981. The observance is dedicated to education about victimization, the effect victimization has on individuals, families, friends and the community, and to promote laws, policies, and programs to help victims of crime. The 2023 National Crime Victims Rights Week theme is Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change. This years theme calls upon communities to amplify the voices of survivors and create environments where survivors have the confidence that they will be heard, believed, and supported. WARRENSBURG A Warrensburg woman was arrested after police say she stole over $8,000 from an elderly person. On Feb. 1, 2023, at 8:31 p.m., New York State Police received a report from an elderly Warren County resident reporting fraudulent bank and credit card activity. According to police, investigators determined that 36-year-old Jennifer A. Winter, who is known to the victim, used the victims credit card multiple times without authorization. In addition, police said Winter also cashed a fraudulent check written to her from the victims bank account, which reportedly resulted in the theft of over $8,000. Winter was charged on Saturday with felony third-degree grand larceny. She was issued an appearance ticket for Queensbury Town Court in May and released. GLENS FALLS With 32 years of service under his belt, Glens Falls Fire Department Chief James Jamie Schrammel will soon be hanging up his gear. After joining the department in 1991, Schrammel climbed his way to the seat of chief 13 years ago and has played a large role in keeping the city safe, Mayor Bill Collins said. Over his 32-year career, he has worked with 93 firefighters, three secretaries, and seven mayors, countless other city officials ad employees, Collins said at the Common Council meeting on Tuesday. Although his official retirement date is May 6, Schrammel has agreed to remain with the department part-time until his position is filled. Collins commended Schrammel for his work and impact on the community. According to chief Schrammel, the department is a brotherhood. Firefighters first and foremost are there to support one another who need it. Banding together, enabling them to perform extraordinary tasks, the mayor said. In his retirement letter, he said he is proud to play a small part in the journey where we are today as a department is well positioned to continue to provide the same unsurpassed service it provides to our communities for the next three decades and beyond. I think thats an understatement. Those at the meeting gave the chief a standing ovation after the mayor spoke about him. Along with the announcement of his retirement, Schrammel gave an update on the fire departments status. He said they are now in the process of equipping a new ambulance and will bring their advanced life support fleet to three. We have to get all of the lettering done on it, the equipment on it, and contact New York State Department of Health so they can come do a review and inspection of it, he said. With the third ambulance being introduced, Schrammel said it will be an addition that should save calls being dispatched to outside ambulance service. To be able to have three ambulances will be able to boost our service not that we have to rely on mutual aid a lot for those types of calls but we could. If an advanced life support call comes in and we didnt have an ALS crew, wed have to rely on a volunteer ambulance to come and manage that for us, he said. As for services, the department is working towards training members of the squad for specific programs such as confined space rescue, swift water rescue and more. For staffing, in partnership with Warren County Civil Service, the fire department created a firefighter trainee program. Schrammel said the department is not immune to what the rest of the country is feeling when it comes to new hires. Our firefighters are not only firefighters, they also have to be paramedics, he said. The trainee program gives the department a chance to hire firefighters or EMTs and send them to paramedic school within three years following their hire date. We can onboard these people, get them trained, and at the end of the three years, they become a fully productive part of the department. Its something thats never really been done in the state before and other departments have now jumped on board with us by doing it, he said. Four vacant positions have been filled with three remaining. Retirements of older firefighters of recent years has also cleared out some program specializations. Some of these people were intricate parts of the technical rescue units we have. We run a swift water rescue program, trench rescue program, we have a lot of programs we have lost a lot of key people in, he said. Not only are we working on keeping our own people trained and make sure they receive proper refreshers, but we have to get some of the new people were getting in and handpick the people that are good at one of these technical disciplines. (CNN) Fierce fighting across Sudan has left hopes for a peaceful transition to civilian rule in tatters. Forces loyal to two rival generals are vying for control, and as is so often the case, civilians have suffered the most. At least 459 people have been killed and more than 4,000 injured in the unrest so far, according to the World Health Organization, while parts of the capital Khartoum have become a war zone. A 72-hour ceasefire agreed on by Sudan's Armed Forces (SAF) and Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) came into effect at midnight local time on Tuesday (Monday 6 p.m. ET). Volker Perthes, the UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Sudan, said Tuesday that the ceasefire "seems to be holding in some parts; however, reports of sporadic shooting are still coming in as well as reports of relocation of troops." Doctors' organizations and several eyewitnesses said medical facilities were being bombarded with military strikes in targeted attacks. Both sides later denied shelling hospitals, in comments to CNN. The unrest entered its 12th day on Wednesday as efforts to evacuate foreign diplomats and citizens intensified. Here's what you need to know. A power struggle is at the center of the fighting At the heart of the clashes are two men: Sudan's military ruler and head of the army Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (widely known as Hemedti), the country's deputy and head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group. Until recently, the two men were allies who worked together to topple ousted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and played a pivotal role in the military coup in 2021. However, tensions arose during negotiations to integrate the RSF into the country's military as part of plans to restore civilian rule. The key question: who would be subordinate to whom under the new hierarchy. These hostilities, sources told CNN, are the culmination of what both parties view as an existential fight for dominance. Sudan is no stranger to upheaval It is difficult to overstate how seismic Bashir's overthrow was. He had led the country for nearly three decades when popular protests that began over soaring bread prices toppled him from power. During his rule, South Sudan split from the north while the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Bashir alleged war crimes in Darfur, a separatist Western region. After Bashir's ouster, Sudan was ruled by an uneasy alliance between the military and civilian groups. That all ended in 2021, when the power-sharing government was dissolved by armed forces. Former Sudanese minister Ahmed Haroun, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes, said he and a number of former regime figures, left prison in Khartoum after chaos hit the facility on Sunday. Unconfirmed reports on Wednesday claimed Bashir was among those released. However, the media office of Sudan's Police and sources familiar with the matter told CNN Bashir remains in the custody of the Sudan Armed Forces at a military hospital in Omdurman, west of Khartoum. The RSF has a controversial past The Rapid Support Forces are the preeminent paramilitary group in Sudan, whose leader, Dagalo, has enjoyed a rapid rise to power. During Sudan's Darfur conflict in the early 2000s, he was the leader of Sudan's notorious Janjaweed forces, implicated in human rights violations and atrocities. An international outcry saw Bashir formalize the group into paramilitary forces known as the Border Intelligence Units. In 2007, its troops became part of the country's intelligence services and, in 2013, Bashir created the RSF, a paramilitary group overseen by him and led by Dagalo. Dagalo turned against Bashir in 2019, but not before his forces opened fire on an anti-Bashir, pro-democracy sit-in in Khartoum, killing at least 118 people. He was later appointed deputy of the transitional Sovereign Council that ruled Sudan in partnership with civilian leadership. Russian involvement Russia's mercenary group, Wagner, has involved itself in the conflict by boosting the RSF's missile supplies, Sudanese and regional diplomatic sources told CNN. The sources said the surface-to-air missiles have significantly buttressed RSF paramilitary fighters and their leader Dagalo. In bordering Libya, where a Wagner-backed rogue general, Khalifa Haftar, controls swathes of land, satellite imagery supports these claims, showing an unusual uptick in activity on Wagner bases. The bolster in support comes amid deepening ties between Moscow and Sudan's military leadership. A July 2022 CNN investigation found that Sudan's military leaders granted Russia access to the east African country's gold riches in exchange for military and political support. Dagalo's forces were a key recipient of Russian training and weaponry, and Sudan's military leader Burhan is also believed by CNN's Sudanese sources to have been backed by Russia, before international pressure forced him to publicly disavow the presence of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, in Sudan. The two rivals mirror each other Burhan is essentially Sudan's leader. At the time of Bashir's toppling, Burhan was the army's inspector general. His career has run an almost parallel course to Dagalo's. He also rose to prominence in the 2000's for his role in the dark days of the Darfur conflict, where the two men are believed to have first came into contact. Al-Burhan and Dagalo both cemented their rise to power by currying favor with the Gulf powerhouses. They commanded separate battalions of Sudanese forces, who were sent to serve with the Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen. Now they find themselves locked in a power struggle. 'Attempted coup' Speaking with CNN, Burhan, characterized the RSF offensive as an "attempted coup." "This is an attempted coup and rebellion against the state," Burhan told CNN by phone. He said that RSF leader Dagalo had "mutinied" against the state, and if captured, would be tried in court of law. Burhan alleged in the CNN interview that the RSF had tried to "capture me and kill me." When asked about that claim, an RSF spokesperson told CNN that the group was "seeking to capture him" and bring him to justice for "many treasons acts against the Sudanese people." "We are fighting for all Sudanese people," the spokesperson said in a statement. "We [are] going to bring all responsible parties to justice and give them a fair trial." When challenged on why the Sudanese people should trust him, given his former alliance with Dagalo, Burhan told CNN: "The Sudanese Army is the people's army. "It is not owned by specific people or specific organizations," he said. "It is a national institution, which is tasked with defending Sudan." Sudan faces an uncertain future Where the fighting will end is unclear. Both sides claim control over key sites and fighting has been reported across the country in places far from the capital Khartoum. While various official and non-official estimates place the Sudanese armed forces at around 210-220,000, the RSF are believed to number approximately 70,000 but are better trained and better equipped. International powers have expressed alarm, with the UN Security Council holding its first meeting on the crisis in Sudan on Monday. Apart from concerns over civilians there are likely other motivations at play -- Sudan is resource-rich and strategically located. Sudan's neighbors Egypt and South Sudan have offered to mediate, but in the meantime all that is certain is more misery for the Sudanese people. A grand jury on Monday indicted two Atlantic County corrections officers in the death of a man after he was lodged in the Atlantic County jail in 2019. Atlantic County Correctional Sgt. Eric Tornblom and Correctional Officer Mark Jenigen are charged with manslaughter. Tornblom also is charged with aggravated assault. Corrections Lt. Jesse Swartzentruver, Tornblom and Jenigen were all indicted on an official misconduct charge, Attorney General Matt Platkin said in a news release. In addition, the grand jury indicted Hamilton Township police Sgts. Michael Schnurr and Nicole Nelson, along with Officers Servando Pahang, Cory Silvio and William Howze, on official misconduct charges in connection with their handling of Mario Terruso on the day he died. Mario Terruso was in desperate need of medical help. He pleaded for that assistance, but he never got the help he so desperately needed, Platkin said in a statement. In New Jersey, our police officers show compassion and provide help to people dealing with problems and distress on a daily basis, dutifully and often quietly doing the work that makes theirs such a noble profession. But for Mr. Terruso, those sworn to protect him are the very people alleged to have abused him in his time of need leading the grand jury to determine that two of the officers involved are criminally responsible for his death. An investigation by the Attorney Generals Office of Public Integrity and Accountability found that township police officers opted against getting medical help for the victim, instead bringing him to the Atlantic County jail, where he experienced a medical episode as correctional officers were trying to restrain him. He later died at a hospital. According to the attorney generals narrative, Hamilton Township police detained Terruso, 41, of Mays Landing, about 1 p.m. Sept. 15, 2019, after responding to a report of an individual trespassing in a residence. After learning that Terruso had a warrant for his arrest, officers took him to the jail. Later that day, Terruso appeared agitated and ill in a cell, the report states. Just before 7 p.m., corrections officers attempted to prepare Terruso for transport to the hospital for his illness. Video captured on body-worn and handheld cameras shows officers trying to restrain Terruso, resulting in a struggle. The 15-minute video shows Terruso being treated by nurses at the jail and then falling to the ground as guards fight to put full-body restraints on him. Blood was visible both on the floor and the spit hood that was placed on Terruso. Near the end of the video, someone can be seen checking Terrusos neck for a pulse. At that point, guards begin hurriedly removing restraints and administering CPR. The attorney generals report states Terruso left the jail in an ambulance about 7:25 p.m. and arrived at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Mainland Campus in Galloway Township, about 7:50 p.m. He was pronounced dead at 2:19 a.m. Sept. 16, 2019. The municipal police officers who Mr. Terruso initially encountered brushed aside department policy and the victims medical needs to avoid being inconvenienced, said OPIA Executive Director Thomas Eicher. They improperly and unlawfully passed the buck to the county correctional system. It was there where Mr. Terruso was forcibly restrained and punched by those who should have been getting him the medical care he so desperately needed. Hamilton Township Mayor Carl Pitale expressed support of the legal process when asked about the case Wednesday, but did not discuss the details of the allegations. "I have faith in our justice system and when it's all said and done, I hope justice is served to all parties," Pitale said. With an indictment coinciding with a wrongful-death lawsuit, the Terruso family's legal team says it is closure to "obtaining the full measure of justice." We have great respect for the overwhelming majority of police, correctional officers, and healthcare workers who serve our communities, said Robert J. Mongeluzzi, of the Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky lawfirm. "However, we also have a solemn duty to represent the loved ones of innocent people like Mario Terruso who are, for no reason, deprived of their fundamental constitutional rights MAYS LANDING Atlantic Cape Community Colleges Student Support Services held the inaugural First-Generation Student Conference on April 19. Students from Camden County College and Rowan College of South Jersey were in attendance. The event helped foster relationships, encouraged peer-to-peer dialogue and gave meaning to the students' academic journey. Being a first-generation college student is a wonderful thing, and anytime you can be first is a wonderful thing, said Stacey Zacharoff, Atlantic Capes senior director for the Center for Student Success. The family concept is essential to helping you manage your college career, so create opportunities to have those candid one-on-one conversations with your peers and create those bonds, because they are a tool that is needed. Keynote speaker Terrence C. Jones spoke about the challenges in the lives of today's first-generation students. He encouraged the students to find somebody with a similar purpose in life to help guide your way." Breakout sessions followed the speech, with students hearing from Atlantic Cape faculty and staff members in areas such as mental health, financial literacy, social media and first-generation students with a disability. The day ended with a panel discussion in which participating students provided a glimpse into the challenges and successes of first-generation students. Atlantic Cape plans to continue offering the conference with additional professional and peer insight. For more information, visit atlantic.edu. ATLANTIC CITY Le Diner en Blanc is set to return to the resort June 24. Last year's event featured more than 2,500 people dressed all in white, and organizers Natanya DiBona and Kayli Moran anticipate the same attendance or more this year. Our guests raved about the beauty of the beach and ocean and the friendly, relaxed vibe created by the backdrop," DiBona said in a news release. "Kayli and I really enjoyed working with Mayor Marty Small and his team last year, and we are committed to planning a fantastic event that shows off Atlantic City to even more guests this year." Also known as the "Dinner in White," similar events have been held in about 140 cities in 40 countries worldwide. The first Diner en Blanc was held in Paris in 1988, and its location typically isn't known until the day of the event. A waiting list is available on the Le Diner en Blanc Atlantic City website. Tickets are expected to go on sale in mid-May, with an exact sale date to be announced online. A youth has been arrested by city police for torching vehicles in a society at Khandvenagar area of Lohegaon, Pune over a one-sided love affair. The accused identified as Shriram Ghadge, a resident of Wagholi area was arrested by police in the matter. The victims father has lodged a police complaint with Vimantal police station in the matter. According to the complaint registered with police by the girl's father, the accused was harassing his daughter for a long time and he had advised her to stay away from him. This advice seems to have angered the accused as he set on fire the girls two-wheeler and three four wheelers parked in the parking lot on Monday. Police have arrested the accused in the matter and have started further investigation. Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants have opposed the state governments policy decision that the State Services as well as the Maharashtra Non-Gazetted Group 'B' and Group 'C' main Exams will henceforth be conducted online. This year, the exams will take place on April 30. Though student organisations have threatened an agitation over the issue, MPSC officials said that the exam will happen online as per the schedule. MPSC candidates fear online leaking of question papers and admit cards as thousands of admit cards of MPSC candidates were hacked recently and posted on social media. Hence, they have demanded that the two main examinations should be conducted in the offline mode. Important posts such as deputy collector and deputy superintendent of police are filled through this examination. Though the MPSC has sophisticated cyber security systems, hackers could still leak a large number of admit cards. Candidates fear that question papers may also be leaked even while taking the exam in the online mode. Besides, many glitches were reported in the conduct of the online examination earlier in other states, including Maharashtra. Once a paper is solved online, it can be accessed again, claimed some candidates, They also said that the government did not take earlier hacking incidents seriously. So, there is a possibility of such leakages in the future also. Nitin Andhale, an MPSC aspirant, said, "In the background of the recent incident, the exam for the important state services posts should be conducted in the offline mode only." Savita Kamble, another aspirant, said, "We fear leakage of admit card data again. The MPSC has not assured about data safety, fair and transparent online exams. So, we request the commission that the main exams should be conducted offline." Mahesh Bade, coordinator, MPSC Sangharsh Samiti, said, "All aspirants should change with changing circumstances. The MPSC administration should take all precautionary measures for upcoming online exams. Not a single aspirant should suffer." Mahesh Gharbude, coordinator, Competitive Examination Coordination Committee, said, "We strongly oppose the MPSC decision to conduct the main exams online. It should conduct important exams in the offline mode. We will launch a public protest if our demand is not accepted." Swapnil Joshi, ethical hacker and cyber security expert, said, "There are remedies to make online exams fool-proof. The MPSC administration should instruct the IT companies concerned to take precautions. There is a possibility of data leak as new hacking techniques are developed on a daily basis. Data should be preserved on a special server." Kishorraje Nimbalkar, chairman, MPSC said, "All MPSC exams will be conducted as per the annual schedule. There is no change in this. I will not comment further." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Admit card hackers booked The MPSC has clarified that since the question papers of the competitive examinations are not posted online, there is no question of obtaining them in any way. A case has been registered against unidentified admit card hackers in the CBD, Belapur police station, Navi Mumbai. Antonia Vitale slowly poured sauce onto a flattened circle of dough before topping it off with shredded cheese. She wiped her hands on her red, flour-covered apron before walking toward the front of her restaurant, Antonella's. Seemingly overnight, the Mississippi River crept onto the parking lot at the Freight House in Davenport, where Antonella's is located "Wear your boots," she said with a laugh; a suggestion for customers looking to come in before the Italian restaurant closed on Friday. Vitale is one of many business owners preparing for more flooding in downtown Davenport, but her preparation has recently kicked into high gear. The city notified tenants of the Freight House building they must close by the end of the week. With parking limited and parts of River Drive covered in water, it would be unsafe to allow patrons to walk through the floodwaters, Davenport Public Works Director Nicole Gleason said. In 2019, the building was able to remain open, Vitale said. The water came up to the deck but never got inside. However, the parking lot was covered. "This becomes an island," she said, gesturing to the building at large. The restaurant remained open until Friday, when employees began packing up the fresh ingredients to be sent to the other family business, Sal Vitale's in Muscatine. For Vitale, flooding comes with the territory of doing business on the riverfront, but her main concern is for her employees. "You have expenses, and that's what I'm worried about ... but we're going to see if we can get them assistance. They need the check to get caught up," she said. The farmers' market's Wednesday-and-Saturday Summer Season was to begin May 6. It instead will debut this Saturday at the Scott County Administration Building, 600 W. 4th Street, where it will operate until floodwaters recede. "Our vendors are excited. They are disappointed we won't be home, but are excited, nonetheless," operations manager Melissa Carter said. Although the mandatory closure puts a wrench in the plans, Carter said, it's nothing new. In 2019, water reached the front steps but never breached the building. Carter is hopeful the same luck applies this year. "The vendors every year anticipate that it might happen, but now that we are to this point ... we have been preparing," she said. Tuesday evening, most of the items had been cleared out and the remaining vendor stands were being raised onto concrete blocks as a precaution. Everyone is adjusting well and had no worries about the future of the market, Carter said. Flooding is just one of the consequences vendors have to face in order to be on the riverfront. But the challenges have been overcome before and vendors have, "come out shining, almost every single time," she said. Sarah Underberg is learning that lesson currently. Her business, Paper Moon Mercantile, celebrated its one-year anniversary earlier this month. While she is not new to the world of entrepreneurship, Underberg is new to the Freight House. She knew what she was getting herself into when she decided to set up shop. "Thats a part of being in the Freight House and being on the river. Its something you have to expect," she said. While vendors are out for an indefinite amount of time, Underberg will be helping others get set up in the temporary space at the administrative building. Moving her own items would be too difficult, but she still wants to support fellow entrepreneurs. For Underberg, the Freight House is the only place she sets up her Paper Moon booth. Being out of business for a while will be a hit, but it's one she prepared for. "It's just a wait and see. It's really all up to the city and when they determine it's safe to go back inside," she said. "It's part of being a small-business owner, unfortunately. Things happen that are not within our control. There's not really anything we can do but pivot and try to make the best of every situation." That resilient attitude is contagious in the Freight House. Just as Vitale can't wait to get back and cook for the community, Underberg is looking forward to her opportunity to be back "home." "I will absolutely be back. That community and its outpouring of support of all the small business owners at the Freight House ... is really what keeps everything in motion. We offer services to the community that they can't get anywhere else," she said. Wednesday afternoon, the floodwaters covered the parking lot and slowly crept toward the building. Still, it's not enough to scare Underberg away. "The few bad floods really don't have an impact on whether or not I want to be there. I want to be there. I want to be part of that community," she said. "I want to be part of that vendorship, and most definitely I want to be part of the Freight House Farmers Market." Photos: Quad Cities continue to prep as Mississippi River continues to rise, Wednesday, April 26 Authorities have identified the body found on the Mississippi riverfront in Rock Island as that of an 83-year-old man. The man who died Monday in a three-vehicle crash in downtown Bettendorf was 32. Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson said Tuesday that the preliminary cause of death for Yosefu Bazaniye, 83, was presumed freshwater drowning. Police in Bettendorf on Tuesday named Jose Gallegos Cisneros, 32, of East Moline, as the driver who died in the crash early Monday morning at the westbound off-ramp of Interstate 74 at Grant Street. Cisneros was driving a 1997 Chevrolet Silverado. An investigation determined that Cisneros traveled through a red light before being struck by a Dodge Ram that was traveling through a green light at the westbound exit of Interstate 74 at Grant Street. The driver of the Ram was treated and released. The third vehicle was stationary when it was struck, and the driver was not injured. In the presumed drowning in Rock Island, a passerby spotted the body just before 1 p.m. in the 2000 block of 1st Avenue in Rock Island, according to a news release from the Rock Island Police Department. When police arrived, they found what initially was thought to be the body of a Black man who appeared to be in his 50s. Bazaniye was not reported missing, Rock Island Police Deputy Chief Tim McCloud said. Nothing has yet been ruled out in the case, he said. Based on the information investigators had as of Tuesday afternoon, however, they do not anticipate the case will result in criminal charges. McCloud and Gustafson said the investigation was ongoing and was getting crime-scene assistance from the Illinois State Police. Police have asked anyone with information about the case to contact investigators at 309-732-2677 or the Quad-Cities chapter of Crime Stoppers, which can be reached at 309-762-9500 or via the P3 Tips app. CAMBRIDGE, Ill. The defense in the murder case against a Granite City, Illinois, man accused in the death of a law enforcement official and charged in Henry County Circuit Court has filed two new motions. Daylon K. Richardson, 23, is accused of striking and killing Knox County Deputy Nicholas Weist with his vehicle on U.S. Highway 150 north of Alpha on April 29, 2022. Weist was putting out stop sticks to end Richardson's flight from Galesburg, where he had been seen with a gun at a gas station, police said. Judge Norma Kauzlarich gave the state more time to respond to the motions and set a June 7 hearing. In the defense motion to dismiss one of the two murder counts, which is based on the death occurring as the result of a forcible felony, attorney Bruce Carmen said the prosecution presumably is relying on the defendant's alleged firing of a gun at the pursuing Knox County deputies during the pursuit. Relying on forcible felonies that still are pending in another jurisdiction, he said, deprives Richardson of his right to a trial by jury on the charges. Further, he noted that the definition of murder as the result of a forcible felony states that in the course of or in furtherance of such crime or flight therefrom, the defendant or another participant causes the death of another person. Carmen said that Richardson contended the pursuit was in full flower before shots were allegedly fired at the pursuing officers and the pursuit was almost over when the shots were fired; consequently, he said, Richardson was not in flight therefrom. In the second motion, Carmen asked the court to compensate Richardson's accident-reconstruction expert witness in the event the judge rules that the forcible felony murder charge is inapplicable or that Weist was not a peace officer, acting within the scope of his official duties at the time of his death, as the defense contends. Weist had finished his shift and was off-duty at the time. Carmen said the state should bear the cost of the defense witness because Richardson's family had to pool resources to hire him, with Carmen drastically reducing the cost of his services. The Mississippi River continued its steady rise Tuesday, forcing more road closures and prompting more flood barriers to pop up throughout the Quad-Cities. The river at Rock Island had reached major flood stage of 18 feet on Monday. It rose to 18.74 feet by Tuesday afternoon, covering swaths of River Drive and riverfront parks in Davenport and Moline. During a daily flood outlook Tuesday, National Weather Service Hydrologist Matt Wilson said modeling shows water levels at Rock Island reaching 21.6 feet by the morning of Monday, May 1. It is then expected to rise a few tenths of a foot to reach its full crest on May 3 or 4. It's a nugget of good news the measure is about a tenth of a foot lower than Monday's forecast. A rain storm in southern Wisconsin forecast for the end of the week has moved out of the Mississippi River watershed, Wilson said. During the record flood of 2019, the river crested at 22.7 feet. Governor makes disaster declaration Iowa counties affected by flooding may get some help from the state. Governor Kim Reynolds has preemptively issued a disaster declaration 10 counties, including Clinton, Muscatine, and Scott. The declaration activates state and federal emergency response and resources to flooded communities along the Mississippi River. Nearly all of River Drive to close in Davenport, city's hauled more than 5,500 tons of sand for flood protection By the end of the day Wednesday, Davenport will close nearly all of River Drive between Highway 22/Rockingham through 8th Street in Bettendorf. Already, the riverfront thoroughfare was closed to the west, but after Wednesday, motorists driving along the river in eastern Davenport to Bettendorf will have to take another route. In Bettendorf, through traffic will be detoured at the intersection of 12th and Grant Street to Kimberly Road. Between 8th and 12th streets will be open only to local traffic. Rail company workers for Canadian Pacific Kansas City could be seen Tuesday along the Davenport riverfront railroad tracks, setting up concrete barriers and sandbags to protect their tracks. A Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway spokesperson said the company, which was recently renamed after the merger of the two namesake companies, "is closely monitoring spring conditions and the potential for flood impacts to our rail infrastructure." More temporary flood barriers went up Tuesday in Davenport. Sand-filled HESCO barriers were erected across Main Street and Brady Street near East River Drive as well as near the Village of East Davenport. City officials on Monday touted the city's new approach to its HESCO barrier wall on East River Drive in lower downtown. The new temporary wall is twice as wide and twice as tall as in 2019, when a single-line of the sand-filled baskets failed, triggering a rush of water into three blocks of lower downtown Davenport and causing millions of dollars of damages. Other HESCO barriers, such as the ones at Main Street and near the Village of East Davenport, are single-row due to being at higher elevation, Davenport Public Works Director Nicole Gleason wrote in an email. Businesses and residents may pick up sand from the city. Gleason said Davenport workers still are hauling, but at this point, the city has "haul tickets and purchase orders for approximately 5,500 tons of sand." What's closed in the Quad-Cities? April 25, 2023 Davenport River Drive will be closed by the end of the day Wednesday, April 26, from Highway 22/Rockingham through 8th Street in Bettendorf. All through-traffic will be detoured at the intersection of 12th Street and Grant Street to Kimberly Road. Davenport-owned is Rivers Edge closed beginning Tuesday, cancelling all programming, events, and reservations until floodwaters recede. Customer service staff will be temporarily relocated to Cottage 15 at the Annie Wittenmyer Complex. Davenport Compost Facility will close at the end of the day Wednesday. Yard waste may be dropped off at the Scott Area Landfill. The Freight House Market and businesses will close to the public by 5 p.m. Friday, April 28. The farmers market will be held at the Scott County Administration Center, 600 W. 4th St. on May 6 and May 7. Riverfront parks, including LeClaire, Veterans Memorial, Marquette dog park, are closed. As are the skate park, riverfront recreational trails, Credit Island, and the boat dock at Marquette Landing. Moline River Drive closed over the weekend from 23rd Street to 55th Street. Photos: Davenport, Buffalo prepare for flooding along Mississippi River Alisa Turner can readily remember the trepidation she felt a decade ago when her company made its first international sale to a Cabelas retail store in Canada. Turner is a co-owner and CEO of Ruff Land Kennels in Tea, which makes industry-leading, one-piece molded plastic kennels. At the time, the company wanted to build on its domestic business and expand beyond the border. Turner laughs about the process now but recalls how nerve-wracking it was. She and co-owner Lyle Van Kalsbeek paused before signing the documents to enter international trade relations with Americas neighbor to the north. Lyle said to me, You better hope you have that right, because youre signing that and its a federal offense punishable by jail time if anything is wrong, Turner recalled. I didnt sleep for weeks hoping it would cross the border and that I wouldnt go to prison. Turner, Van Kalsbeek and third co-owner Doug Sangl have since become relative experts at selling their kennels and other pet-carrying accessories overseas. Their continued foray into international trade is one driver of a recent growth spurt that has seen Ruff Lands annual revenues climb from $11 million in 2021 to $16 million in 2022 to an expected $23 million in 2023. The team broke into the international market on their own, mostly through resourcefulness, dedication and a large dose of trial and error. Starting this week, a new statewide nonprofit group called South Dakota Trade hopes it can make it far easier for other Rushmore State businesses to do business with international markets and generate new revenues and jobs along the way. The new public-private nonprofit trade association will be funded and supported by the Governors Office of Economic Development and through association members and other South Dakota entities already engaged in business development. The groups staff of three full-time and two part-time employees will cooperate with numerous partners inside and outside state government to develop a roadmap for both farm and non-farm businesses to expand into foreign markets. Luke Lindberg, president and CEO, said the group will use a wide range of existing resources and create new procedures to support South Dakota businesses on two basic levels: Help them find foreign markets where their products are wanted and to then take advantage of those selling opportunities. Find international buyers who might be interested in purchasing products made by South Dakota businesses and then arrange those commercial connections. Our main function is export promotion, and our core goal when we wake up in the morning will be, How do we sell more South Dakota products and services around the world? Lindberg said. Thats really our desire to build that culture of international trade, and get into new business or market segments that havent thought about this in a while or ever. GOED declined an interview request from South Dakota News Watch. South Dakota Trade will also use funding from the State Trade Expansion Program, an arm of the federal U.S. Small Business Administration that has provided $200 million to states to expand foreign trade. The state and other industry groups, such as Elevate Rapid City, have done a good job of promoting international trade in South Dakota, especially in the agricultural industry, Lindberg said. But the state has fallen behind others in the level of efforts made and number of resources available to help businesses expand into domestic markets, he said. South Dakota is home to the International Trade Center, run by Rock Nelson of Sioux Falls, which serves as an online hub for some export assistance. But until now, South Dakota was one of only two states without a formal international trade office, which has undoubtedly led to missed business opportunities, Lindberg said. Nelson will now be a staff member of South Dakota Trade. If you look at the non-ag data, our exports have been largely flatlined over the last decade. We have not seen a growth in real dollars particularly and maybe even negative growth in international exports in South Dakota, said Lindberg, recently a top official at the Export-Import Bank of the United States who is also the son-in-law of U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota. There is definitely room for us to get better in those export areas. According to data supplied by the trade group, South Dakota in 2012 had $5.3 billion in total global exports, which included $3.8 billion in agricultural sales and $1.5 billion in manufacturing sales. Those annual figures remained flat and even fell during 2015-2019 but have risen to $6.7 billion total in 2021. Food and kindred products were the largest export category in manufacturing with $680 million in sales in 2021, while soybeans were the top agricultural export product with $1.3 billion in sales in 2021. Recent surveys have shown that more than 40% of American small businesses have the opportunity at hand to expand into overseas markets, Lindberg said. Other data show that about 95% of global market opportunities exist outside the U.S., he said. One immediate goal of the new trade group will be to target 20 South Dakota businesses to enter into an Export 101 course that will provide them with a blueprint to fast-track efforts to expand into foreign markets, Lindberg said. Once the number of exporters and exports increase in South Dakota, it should create a platform for potentially rapid growth in the number of businesses that are capable of selling overseas and an increase in interest among other countries to buy products made in the state. Beyond finding new markets for their products, the group expects to provide South Dakota businesses with expertise in marketing, compliance, transportation and logistics related to international sales, Lindberg said. The group just learned it had received $175,000 in Small Business Association State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) funds, which can be used over the next 18 months to provide grants to South Dakota businesses trying to expand international sales, Lindberg said. The North Dakota Trade Office, led by executive director Drew Combs, is largely serving as a model for what Lindberg hopes to accomplish in South Dakota. To a person just starting out or whos not familiar with the global marketplace, its scary, Combs said. If theres a buyer in Spain who wants to buy your widgets, how does that work? What do I need to do to get that guy his container of widgets? Combs said expanding international trade is a 24/7 job that requires a wide range of efforts to grow markets and sales opportunities. His group formed in the early 2000s and regularly visits trade shows, maintains contacts with international buyers from around the world and has an extensive database of U.S. producers and foreign buyers. Back home, the group provides training and expertise to North Dakota businesses that want to enter or grow foreign trade. We give classes and can walk them through the process and legal hurdles, through import/export and customs, he said. Theres a vast array of resources we can tap into. Though he seeks to provide opportunities for all types of businesses, Combs said any Midwestern trade agency will naturally focus on the agriculture and energy industries. If people cant eat, theres a problem, he said. The world is relying on this region to help feed everybody, because you cant grow wheat in the desert or the jungle. Combs said he has been happy to help South Dakota get its foreign trade office up and running and to provide guidance and advice, even though the two states may be competitors on some level. Making contacts in the international trade community and creating relationships with key decision makers is a large part of what the trade group does to help businesses in North Dakota but also in other states that work collaboratively to expand U.S. exports on a larger scale, he said. For instance, a customer from Asia who has purchased precious metals from North Dakota in the past recently contacted Combs to ask about buying agricultural products, which deepened their relationship and enabled Combs to shift those sales to businesses in another state. He was looking for chickens, and we dont have chickens in North Dakota, but I hooked him up with some chicken guys I know, Combs said. Both neighboring states will benefit when the new South Dakota Trade association becomes active, Combs said. You were kind of missing the boat a little down there, and were excited you guys came on board, he said. Theres always enough money to go around, and especially if its our sister state, were eager to work together. As Turner recently talked about the new trade association in her office at the Ruff Land headquarters in Tea, two dogs slept on the floor and other canines scampered about the warehouse. Ruff Lands facility produces durable kennels that safely carry pets in vehicles or on trucks and are designed to last for years and protect animals even in rough travel conditions. The new trade group could be a valuable resource for many South Dakota businesses that arent aware of international opportunities or which might be intimidated by the complexity of the process, she said. I definitely think what we did is replicable, and that there needs to be something to help guide people because I was flying in the dark at first, Tuner said. I really think theres a huge opportunity for an organization like this to help, especially for small businesses, to get out there into new markets. While foreign sales still make up only 3% of Ruff Lands annual sales, expanding into overseas markets has been as invigorating as it has been challenging, Turner said. The rapid rise in sales has allowed the company to invest in building a strong future for the company that had five employees 10 years ago now has 26 people on staff. It also fuels the employment of a dozen or so other employees at other molding businesses. In the past two years, Ruff Land underwent a $2 million building expansion, added two new molding machines valued at $1 million, spent $1.6 million on new molds and bought a $260,000 robot that will cut ventilation holes in kennels to enable employees to avoid repetitive motion work. The company also recently invested in a computer program that allows foreign customers to buy kennels and accessories in their own monetary unit and pay for shipping and duties based on their specific location. As Turner and her colleagues have gained experience, Ruff Land has landed international sales in Japan and Ecuador, and recently added South Korea and Switzerland to its foreign sales roster. Turner recently took a class on working with companies in Australia and plans to attend an Aussie trade show in the fall. In March, the federal Small Business Administration named Ruff Land the 2023 Small Business Exporter of the Year in South Dakota. Each time I see a new international sale from our website, I just jump up and down, said Turner. I want everybody to have the opportunity to have one of our kennels and to have safety for their pets, no matter where in the world they live. This article was produced by South Dakota News Watch, a nonprofit journalism organization located online at sdnewswatch.org. (CNN) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Moscow's most important ally, in their first phone call since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "I had a long and meaningful phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations," Zelensky said. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV also reported the call, which comes after Xi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in March. China has claimed neutrality in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with Beijing calling for peace in the conflict. But it has also refused to condemn Russia's invasion or make any public call for Russia to withdraw its troops. Its officials have instead repeatedly said that the "legitimate" security concerns of all countries must be taken into account and accused NATO and the US of fueling the conflict. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks with Ukraines Zelensky for first time since Russias invasion." The family of a 17-year-old boy who died in a DUI rollover New Year's Eve 2022 said they forgive the driver, 20-year-old Nicholas Herman, of Custer, who was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison with six suspended for vehicular homicide. Herman pleaded guilty March 13 for the death of his friend, Carter Bader. The two other occupants of the vehicle were severely injured but survived the single-car rollover crash on East North Street in Rapid City. Before pleading guilty, Herman faced a DUI and two counts of felony vehicular battery for the injuries of the two other occupants. "Words can't begin to touch how sorry I am," Herman said. "Through this walk I want to honor Carter and his family. I don't want Carter to ever be forgotten." According to a blood test ordered by the court, Herman's blood alcohol content was .143. According to the Pennington County State's Attorney's Office, he had been drinking at Joe's Place Bar & Grill ahead of the crash, which occurred in the early morning hours of Dec. 31, 2022. "I don't think he understood his level of intoxication," said John Rusch, Herman's attorney, adding his client was, "young and sheltered and homeschooled." "Mr. Herman is an adult, and he made adult decisions that night," said Deputy Pennington County State's Attorney Jason Thomas before asking the court to sentence Herman to 15 years in prison with 10 suspended. "No death could be more needlessly or avoidably taken than in a vehicular homicide," Thomas said. "A drunk person need only make one decision not get into a vehicle while intoxicated and drive." Ethan Bader, Carter Bader's brother, was the first in the audience to get up and speak in front of the packed courtroom at the Pennington County Courthouse. He talked about his brother, who he called a "very good man" before reciting a Bible verse about forgiveness. "Forgive each other as the Lord forgives you," he said. "The only people I hate are the owners of the bar. They should be held accountable." Bader said his brother would want Herman out of prison. His sister, Madison Barta, described her late brother as "vivacious," "kind" and "giving." "My brother's life cannot be condensed into one paragraph," she said as she read a statement before the court. Barta also read a verse, Matthew 5:7, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." "It could have been Carter driving," she said. Barta echoed her brother's sentiments towards the bar. She said it had been 100 days since she lost her brother, and 100 days since "Joe's Place served and overserved four obvious minors." Mark Meyer, Carter's grandfather, said he hadn't met Herman until the day of the sentencing and he walked up to him "like a young man should" and introduced himself with a handshake. Meyer spoke of the pain the family has gone through, saying "we don't know how to stop the grief." The grandfather said all the family has left are "wonderful memories of a handsome young man with his whole life ahead of him." Despite the expressions of the pain and loss the family suffers, Meyer said, "my family has forgiven you." "We want you to make the best of your life. May God bless you and yours, Nick," he said. Circuit Court Judge Joshua Hendrickson said he shared the family's frustrations with the bar, stating Herman "should have never been allowed to have a drop of alcohol," but his role was only to deal with the case before him. Hendrickson likened the situation to "high school hypotheticals" meant to steer young people away from drinking and driving. The judge said the case was one of the "toughest" to sentence, but "actions have consequences." In addition to the prison sentence, Hendrickson ordered Herman to pay $116.50 in court costs, $70 in blood testing costs and $200,000 in restitution to one of the injured survivors. His attorney said Herman had insurance that would cover the restitution. The judge said Herman will be eligible for parole after a year in prison. The Journal reached out to Joes Place on Tuesday, and an employee said the owner was not immediately available for comment. According to South Dakota law, "the consumption of alcoholic beverages, rather than the serving of alcoholic beverages, is the proximate cause of any injury inflicted upon another by an intoxicated person." A clerk who serves someone underage can be charged with a misdemeanor however, and a business can be fined by the South Dakota Department of Revenue and have its alcohol license revoked after repeat violations of serving underage individuals. In 2020, the American Bar Association published a profile of the legal profession that highlighted the decreasing number of attorneys practicing in rural communities across the U.S. According to the report, there were, at the time, 54 counties or county equivalents in the U.S. that had no lawyers. Another 182 had one or two of them. Nearly 1,300 counties had less than one lawyer per 1,000 residents. Many of these areas are parts of legal deserts, or places where residents have to travel far to access routine legal services. Wyoming is no exception to this trend, Laramie attorney Kelly Neville, the past president and treasurer of the Wyoming State Bar, told lawmakers in the Joint Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. As our baby boomer generation attorneys are winding down their practices and starting to go into retirement, we are seeing Wyoming communities increasingly underserved by the number of attorneys that are there and available to serve the citizens. With the possibility of this shortage becoming more acute, lawmakers are taking a look at potential solutions that could compel lawyers to practice in the states underserved communities. Those solutions could potentially involve new legislation for the 2024 session; the Joint Judiciary Committee requested on Tuesday a bill draft based on language from South Dakota statute that would create a rural attorney incentive program. The committee still has two more meetings to consider that draft legislation before it can potentially be considered in next years session. The Wyoming State Bar has more than 1,600 active members in the state, according to data from the association. A whopping 70% of these lawyers work in just five Wyoming communities Cheyenne with 32%, Casper with 12.5%, Jackson with 11.5% and Laramie and Sheridan with the remaining 14%. The availability of lawyers in smaller Wyoming communities is lacking, to say the least. There are eight counties in the state Converse, Hot Springs, Lincoln, Uinta, Goshen, Weston, Big Horn and Crook counties that have fewer than 1.2 lawyers per 1,000 people. Another eight have fewer than 3.9 attorneys per 1,000 people. Not all of these attorneys necessarily offer services in the areas that people need, and roughly 60% of attorneys in underserved areas are over 55 years in age. Many dont have a successor lined up. Whats more, 70% of lawyers in the eight counties with the lowest attorney-to-population ratio reported having issues with representation conflicts, compared with 33% in the largest eight counties, Alan Romero, a University of Wyoming law professor, said. These rural areas have serious legal needs: People need lawyers to help them with social security and workers compensation matters, Neville said. They need wills, medical powers of attorney and financial powers of attorney. They need assistance with adoptions, divorces and custody matters. They need help dealing with estates when a parent passes away. There have been some initiatives in the state to address the attorney shortage in rural areas. In 2009, the University of Wyomings College of Law established its Rural Law Center, which aims to prepare students for rural practice and service. The Wyoming State Bar also donated $50,000 to the University of Wyoming Foundation to make the Wyoming State Bar Rural Practice Opportunity Fund. The donation was matched by state funds for a total of $100,000. That endowment will fund stipend and salary matches as well as travel and living expenses for law students taking part in the University of Wyomings Legal Liftoff Program and externships with rural attorneys in the state, with the aim of exposing students to rural practice opportunities. Neville said the state bar expects to distribute awards starting in summer of 2024. Wyoming can look to other states to see examples of what might work here. Neighbors like North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho and Montana have incentive programs to draw attorneys to rural areas, a memo from the states Legislative Service Office explains. The legislatures of North and South Dakota made rural attorney incentive programs that are run by their judicial branches. Idaho has a scholarship fund through the University of Idaho College of Law to help students develop connections in rural areas. And the Montana Legal Services Association, a private, nonprofit law firm, runs a Rural Incubator Project that encourages lawyers to offer affordable services to low-income residents of rural communities. For the past decade, Wyomings legal community has focused much of its attention on South Dakotas model. In 2013, South Dakota launched a pilot program to address its shortage of lawyers practicing in rural areas. The program has since been expanded to include municipalities with less than 3,500 residents and was made permanent in 2019. Attorneys who participate in the program receive five stipend payments of roughly $12,500 per year in exchange for five years of service in a rural community. South Dakota pays for the program through a blend of money from the unified judicial system, counties and municipalities and the state bar. Lawyers who breach the contract have to repay the incentive payments. There have been 31 participants under contract in the program. Of those 31 participants, 15 graduated out of the program, five terminated their contract and 12 stayed in the rural communities where they were practicing. I think thats really the important number there, Douglas attorney Pierce Peasley said of the 12 lawyers who stayed in their rural communities. Five years in one of these communities is a long time, and it allows those individuals to build a practice and to ingratiate themselves in that community and learn to appreciate those communities that they may not have at that time. Five South Dakota school districts have been awarded grants by the South Dakota Workforce Education Fund to develop career and technical education (CTE) programs in secondary schools, including the Wall and Edgemont school districts. In 2013, the South Dakota Legislature established the Workforce Education Fund, which was partly designed to give students the knowledge, skills and experiences to prepare them for postsecondary education and the workforce. The South Dakota Department of Education said partnerships among secondary education, postsecondary education, business and industry lay the foundation for modern career and technical programs. Wall School District received the largest sum $225,000 for the construction of a career and technical wing at the high school. The wing will include a woodworking shop, a wielding shop and two classrooms. The expansion will help address a shortage of subcontractor jobs in the area, according to Wall District Superintendent Pandi Pittman. She has been in her current position for two years and taught in the district for 12 years and said she has long wanted to offer more career and technical training to her students. "We need linemen, electricians, food services and there is a huge demand for HVAC," Pitman said, "So one of my missions as a superintendent is to get a sizable, functioning CTE wing for our students to meet the diverse workforce demand." Edgemont School District will use their nearly $85,000 grant to install two heavy equipment simulators for architecture, construction and agriculture programs. Edgemont School District Superintendent Amy Ferley said the simulators will give her students a leg up on training when they enter the workforce in a variety of industries. She said her staff worked closely with regional employers to offer simulated training that focuses on job opportunities in the area including agriculture, the National Forest Service, mining and oil refining. "We really have to thank the support that we got from our regional employers and industry leaders. I mean, the closest heavy equipment operator degree is in Watertown at Lake Area Tech," Ferley said. "Now students have a unique opportunity to operate equipment without the risk of safety or damaging expensive equipment they can just press reset." Not only did regional employers offer guidance on what equipment the simulator should offer, but many of them wrote letters to the DOE in support of the Edgemont School District. Ferley said the contributors include Western Dakota Tech, Rushmore Underground Utilities, Butler CAT, Builder's FirstSource, Wyoming Refining Company, the National Park Service and South Dakota Wildland Fire. Students will be able to operate a simulated excavator, payloader, articulated dump truck, grader, tree harvester, skid steer, forklift, telehandler and more, Ferley said. For the 20th consecutive year, the City of Rapid City has been recognized with the Secretarys Award for Drinking Water Excellence by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. City officials were notified last month of the distinction and City Water Superintendent Eric Boyda received the award recently at the annual South Dakota Section of the American Water Works Association conference in Yankton. Boyda said the award underscores the commitment of City workers to the priority of providing quality water to the community and its residents.. Its a great honor to be recognized for this achievement each year for the past 20 years, said Boyda. The award is a symbol of pride in the hard work and dedicated efforts put in by our water system specialists. Its a commitment we take very seriously and we appreciate the recognition. Mayor Steve Allender also shared his appreciation in the City receiving the award. The City of Rapid City is greatly honored to receive this recognition for twenty consecutive years, said Allender. Providing and maintaining quality drinking water to our community and area residents continues to be a top priority and I commend the hard work of our employees who work to achieve that goal and they deserve this honor. The City of Rapid City provides more than 78,000 customers an average of 10.1 million gallons of water per day, from both surface water and groundwater produced from local wells. The Water Division treats and distributes more than 3.6 billion gallons of water annually and provides utility billing and account services to more than 26,000 utility customers. The plaque award reads, "Secretarys Award 20 Years of Drinking Water Excellence. Through extra concern and endeavor Rapid City has met all state requirements for safe drinking water and has supplied 20 consecutive years of safe drinking water to the public it serves." The award is bestowed to the City by South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Secretary Hunter Roberts. To qualify for the Secretarys Award for Drinking Water Excellence, public water systems and their system operations specialists had to meet all of the compliance monitoring and reporting requirements, drinking water standards and certification requirements for 10 consecutive years or more. The free Montana Matters Youth Outdoor Experience on Saturday, May 6, will have more than 30 outdoor, wildlife and conservation organizations for a day packed with learning, activities, prizes and fun at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds. Activities include a climbing wall, fly casting, BB gun and archery ranges, a Miss Montana DC-3 fly over (depending on the weather), and Forest Service Ninemile pack string. Youth ages 7-17, will have chances to attend summer camps designed for them. Organizer Tom Powers said he started the event in 2013 with the help of many organizations as a response to a challenge issued at the annual National Wild Sheep Foundation convention. Our national youth education director challenged all the state organizations to get a program going that would benefit youth, Powers said. We gathered wildlife organizations and needed to do this early in May to connect kids to camps around the state. We kept adding more organizations and by 2019 had 19 different summer camps. We were sending 200 kids to summer camps verses the 20 we sent that first year. Other than the pandemic years when they didnt hold the MMYOE, it has been held early in May to get the details settled for the summer camps. The Ravalli County Farm Day is the first Friday of May and the MMYOE will be on the following day, Saturday. [For Ravalli County Farm Day] they bring in all the fourth-grade students from across the valley to the Ravalli County Fairgrounds, Powers said. Well have more room and have organizations set up for both days. We have all these camps and all of these kids and weve got to do it early in May. Fred Upchurch is also very much a big part of what we're doing. A special addition this year will be the fly-over of the Miss Montana, a restored Douglas C-47A/DC-3C, that dropped smoke jumpers into the Mann Gulch Fire in 1949 and flew to France in 2018 to participate in the 75th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion. Miss Montana is owned and operated by the Museum of Mountain Flying in Missoula. Final details are still being arranged. The U.S. Forest Service will also bring in the Ninemile pack mule string from the Ninemile Ranger Station. Youth will receive demonstrations on packing animals, correct use of bear spray, building bird houses, and how to trap critters. Youth attending the MMYOE event on May 6 will participate in demonstrations and by completing 12 will get to enter their name into a camp drawing. Every organization hosting a summer camps will be present to discuss the dates, age groups and the curriculum for their camps. Youth names for camps will be drawn at the end of the event. Summer camps are across western Montana from The Theodore Roosevelt Camp at Dupuyer to the Montana Matters Camp at the Magruder Ranger Station along the Selway River in Idaho. The Back County Horsemen has two camps, the Scapegoat Wilderness in Lincoln in July and the Great Bear Wilderness in Hungry Horse in August. The youth event on May 6 is free of charge and there is no camp cost to those attending any of the camps. Different organizations stepped up to do a variety of camps, said Frank Upchurch. We just got another one that includes five days kayaking down the Flathead River. We have camps for kids age 7-17. We start in May every year and we try to keep the kids engaged throughout the year. Upchurch said camps make a longer, deeper impact compared to a one-day event. In four to five days they start understanding the need for outdoor conservation, he said. Its not just doing a climbing wall but it is learning to camp and leave no trace. Teaching them to fly fish is fun but if you teach them to handle a fish someone else might get a chance to catch that fish. Powers said the organizations take care of all the camp details like free fishing permits and that the camps are diverse. Another example is a shooting event at the Whittecar Shooting Range west of Hamilton. All potential shooters sign up at the Mule Deer Pellet Gun Shooting Trailer at this May 6 event. There will be two shooting events this year in June and August with all the ammunition paid for, Powers said. Eighteen kids will be picked for each event ages 12 to 17. At the end of each event the two top shooters will be given brand new .22 rifles. Upchurch said that four years ago a student who had never shot a riffle before went on to be number four in the junior Olympics for shooting. Powers said that the Montana Natural Resources Camp, taught by staff from the University of Montana and Montana State University, will teach youth how to succeed at farming and after the camp, participants will float the Clark Fork River through the Alberton Gorge. We get a lot of satisfaction from a thank you letter, we get no pay, but the thank you letter means the whole world to us, Powers said. Upchurch agreed. To see a kid be so excited when they catch their first fish is an amazing moment that money cant buy, he said. We keep trying to expand and add new camps. We modify the motto, no kid left behind. Fairgrounds Manager Melissa Saville said the Montana Matters Youth Outdoor Experience event is wonderful for kids. They really promote these wonderful summer camps, she said. This gives youth in the Bitterroot Valley something else to do. It really teaches kids about agriculture and we are an agriculture community. She noted the event occurs the day after the Fourth Grade Farm Fair and the two events have a partnership. I think it is really cool that they are going to have someone jump out of the Miss Montana plane for their event, she said. They have come to the fairgrounds as a community asset. We are a year round facility, were blessed to be open year round. The free Montana Matters Youth Outdoor Experience from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, will be at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds, 100 Old Corvallis Road, in Hamilton. There will be food to purchase made by Mission Bistro (cash only). Participants and the general public will enter from the north entrance, there is handicapped parking through the west entrance. For more information contact Powers at 406-531-4224, or Upchurch at 406-369-1150. The lack of thaw in the Bitterroot Mountains means a delay in irrigation for agriculture producers in the Bitterroot Valley. The Bitter Root Irrigation District manages Lake Como. BRID Manager John Crowley said hes waiting for spring melt to occur and water to flow. He said weather and maintenance are huge delaying factors. We got a late start on maintenance as well as Lake Como not filling up, he said. Were out there getting last minute maintenance items done. We had a long fall that just went to winter. We usually have flows through winter but this year it was just very minimal. It was just a different season for us. He said predicting melt is the challenge and hes watching for warmer weather. It was a long winter which is probably like a winter a long time ago, Crowley said. It is just throwing us curve balls. He said in his 19 years he has not seen the lake still frozen in mid-April. Its just been a cold Montana winter, Crowley said. I know people are eager to get out there but we have to wait. Snowpack is up there and if we get some warm days, if it gets hot, we definitely want the water going. He said the prediction is for weather to be cooler until April 29. I watch it every day, Crowley said. Two weeks ago we had 80 degree weather that was nice, it shook a little water out. He said tributaries that he could usually pull from are also frozen. Lost Horse has decent water but we cant get in there because of all the snow on the north facing slopes, he said. Were still pretty chilly. I cant get any water from Lost Horse until that starts to clear up a bit and everything depends on the weather. He said it's been cold and windy at the lake. When you get the wind it starts to push the ice up against the rip rap on the up face of Como dam by the gate house, Crowley said. Normally, we start to see that in late March, were not seeing it. It is just a really different season. At 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 19, it was 37 degrees at a frozen over Lake Como as snowflakes fell. Around the edges of the lake the ice had melted a bit but water was far below the picnic and swim areas. Usually, irrigation season begins April 24, but this year will be delayed, Crowley said. Hopefully the soil has some moisture in it, he said. I know people are starting to plow their fields. When they start putting fertilizer down they like to have irrigation water. It is just hard because were waiting. In his recent letter to irrigators he said that the lake elevation is at 4,214 feet but that the lake spills at 4,246 feet, a difference of 32 feet. Como Lake stores 38,495 acre feet. The present acre feet in Como is 11,377 a difference of 27,118 acre feet, Crowley said. Snowpack at the Twin Lakes snowtel site is at 95% of average. With spring as cold as it is the snow is not melting and inflows into Como are minimal. He said several consistent days of warm weather are needed to start melting the snowpack to increase the inflows into Como Lake. Como Lake is 100% dependent on snowpack unlike some of the other irrigators that pull off the Bitterroot River, Crowley said. If we were to start pulling from Como, we would drain the lake within a couple of weeks without any inflows and no help from the eastside tributaries. So, hope for a more favorable forecast in the upcoming days. Hes eager to have enough water in Lake Como to release into the Big Ditch that irrigates thousands of acres on the east side of the valley but for now he is watching the weather and waiting. One of the two men currently charged with the arson murder of a Fallon resident pleaded not guilty to amended charges last week, making his initial appearance on the amended charges via Zoom from the Dawson County Correctional Facility. Jake Burghduff was charged with the addition of one count of deliberate homicide, a felony, for the January death of Isaac Carrier. Burghduff was previously charged with one count of arson and one count of tampering with physical evidence, both felonies. He again pleaded not guilty to those charges as well during his appearance last week. The other defendant in the case, Sterling Brown, previously pleaded not guilty to one count each of homicide and arson in his initial appearance on Feb. 21. Along with the amended charges, Burghduffs attorneys, Michael Haase and Hailey Forcella, filed a motion to dismiss the charges, arguing that Burghduff should not be held legally liable for the crimes Brown allegedly committed. During the hearing, Seventh Judicial District Court Judge Olivia Rieger acknowledged the defenses motion but no ruling has been made on it yet. The amended charges against Burghduff stem from information received following the first round of discovery in the case. Carrier was found dead in his apartment in Fallon following a fire on Jan. 23. The state alleges that Brown and Burghduff drove from South Dakota to Fallon that night while Brown had the intent to carry out the homicide. Brown is married to Carriers ex-wife, Katie Bivens, who was engaged in a high-conflict custody battle with Carrier for their young son, according to court documents. The situation had resulted in high tensions between Carrier and Brown, including at least one physical altercation, court documents note. Both Brown and Burghduff were initially interviewed in South Dakota by the Department of Criminal Investigations. Prosecutors in Montana received transcripts and recording of the interview through the discovery process. According to court documents, Burghduff admitted to knowing what Brown intended to do when he saw Brown had a gun in his possession the night they drove to Fallon but did not try to stop him because he did not believe Brown could be convinced to change his plan. In a letter posted online Tuesday night, Republican leadership in the state House said they will bring a motion Wednesday to impose a disciplinary action against Rep. Zooey Zephyr, a Missoula Democrat and one of the first transgender legislators elected to the chamber. Speaker of the House Matt Regier has refused to acknowledge Zephyr on the floor since last week, when in debate on a bill to ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors she told lawmakers they should be ashamed if they voted for the legislation. A protest Monday over Regiers actions ground House business to a halt temporarily and seven people were arrested and charged with misdemeanors. The letter cites a portion of the state Constitution that says each house may expel or punish a member for good cause shown with the concurrence of two-thirds of all its members. Republicans hold a two-thirds supermajority in the House with 68 of the chamber's 100 members. Its unclear specifically what GOP leadership plans to pursue. A House Republican spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for clarification Tuesday night. A spokesperson for House Democrats said Tuesday night they expect an attempt to remove Zephyrs floor privileges. There are eight days left in the legislative session. House Minority Leader Kim Abbott, a Helena Democrat, responded to the GOP letter late Tuesday in a press release. "The Republicans are doubling down on their agenda of running roughshod over Montanans' rights to free expression, to peaceful protest, to equal justice under the law, Abbott wrote. Montana Democrats will hold them accountable for every step they take in escalating their anti-democratic agenda." The letter said the House gallery will be closed to the public Wednesday, but people can watch the proceedings via the Legislature's website, or a committee room that will televise the session. The GOP letter stated Zephyr violated the rules, collective rights, safety, dignity, integrity, or decorum of the House. Zephyr is the first trans woman elected to the Legislature. Last week in addition to telling lawmakers they should "should be ashamed" if they supported the gender-affirming care ban, she also said: "I hope the next time there's an invocation when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands." Republicans have advanced several bills affecting trans people this session. After those statements, the 21 members of the Montana Freedom Caucus misgendered Zephyr in a press release calling for her censure. Earlier Tuesday, Regier canceled the chambers work for the day as the end of the legislative session looms next week. Regier addressed the press in the anteroom of the House, giving a minute-long statement and not taking questions before locking himself and other GOP leadership in his office. Regier did not say why he was canceling the floor session, where the House was set to debate 18 bills and take procedural votes on 32 more. Yesterday was a dark day in the Montana House of Representatives. Its also a dark day in the state of Montana, Regier said in the press briefing. During Mondays protest, seven people were arrested and charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct after Regier ordered the House gallery cleared and police forcibly removed people who were yelling Let her speak! and Whose House? Our House! Zephyr remained standing next to her seat on the floor, raising her microphone over her head and engaging with the crowd. Regier on Tuesday criticized media coverage of the protests and disputed that he or fellow Republicans had silenced anyone by refusing to acknowledge Zephyr on the House floor until she met Regiers request for an apology. During the press briefing Tuesday, Regier said all representatives are free to participate in House debate while following the House rules. The choice to not follow House rules is one that Rep. Zephyr has made. The only person silencing Rep. Zephyr is Rep. Zephyr. The Montana House will not be bullied. All 100 representatives will continue to be treated the same. Regier would not confirm to press he was canceling the floor session and his spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions asking about why the session was canceled and when work would resume. The House sergeant at arms told the press House members would not meet later that afternoon. Reporters waited for about an hour to ask Regier more questions and when he finally left his office he refused to answer. Abbott said Regiers handling of the situation so far is unlike anything shes observed in the Legislature. I think this is the most extreme action that I've seen a Speaker take against a member in the 20 years I've been around this building, Abbott said. Republicans have brought several bills this session that would change how transgender Montanans live in the state. Senate Bill 99, the bill where Zephyr made her original comments, would ban gender-affirming care for trans minors. Senate Bill 458 would define sex as only male and female in Montana, something trans people have testified would erase them from state code. Other adjacent bills include House Bill 359, which would originally have sought to ban minors from attending drag shows in Montana; and House Bill 234, which was aimed at what were deemed "obscene" materials in schools. All that legislation looks poised to pass the Legislature with only GOP support. Zephyr has advocated strongly against those bills. The optics of silencing the first trans woman that was ever elected to this body on issues that directly impact the trans community are bad, Abbott said. Rep. Casey Knudsen, a Malta Republican who heads the House Rules Committee, said Tuesday afternoon there was an appetite among the GOP caucus for some sort of disciplinary action. My opinion is this needs to be a statement from the body and not one member, Knudsen said. Abbott said Democrats agree Zephyr should be allowed to debate bills, but that there are a variety of options for the best path forward. We're a diverse caucus. The main thing that I know is everyone in our caucus believes that this is extreme, that its disenfranchising 11,000 people, and that the focus should be on the legislation that has moved through this body that is really harmful to the trans, non-binary, Two Spirit community, Abbott said. Before the protest Tuesday, Knudsen had voted against upholding the Speakers decision to not acknowledge Zephyr, saying he felt it was time to move past the issue. But the protest changed his view and requires some sort of response, he told the press Tuesday. After Tuesday, legislators have just over a week to finish up their work this session, which still includes passing a budget. Abbott said she was concerned about having enough time left to finish up everything left to do. A duly elected official has been silenced on the floor of the House. There's a lot happening in this building. This is one piece of it, and it's a major issue for the First Amendment of the Constitution, our democracy and the way that it works. So we have to take that seriously, and we do. And also we have a lot of legislation moving still, despite the fact that there are 32 of us (in the minority), Abbott said Since the protest, several high-profile Republicans have branded it as violent. I was disappointed in Republicans leadership statement yesterday that called the protestors violent, Abbott said. We all watched that together and thought it wasnt a violent protest. It was disruptive, it was chanting, but it absolutely was not violent and there was no need for a SWAT team. (Montana Highway Patrol) was doing their job just fine, so Im disappointed in the way that that protest was framed given the extreme action to silence a sitting member." Sgt. Jay Nelson with the Montana Highway Patrol, which holds the security contract for the building, said he was not told of any injuries during the protests nor damage to property. Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton on Tuesday released the names of those arrested and charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing. Those arrested include Dandilion Cloverdale, 43; Sean Mennell, 28; William Scheck, 27; McKenzie Carter, 25; Taylor McDermott, 28; and Paul Kim, 22; all of Missoula, and Hannah Pate, 24, of Great Falls. They must appear by May 3 in Lewis and Clark County Justice Court on the charges. Sam Wilson and Tom Kuglin contributed to this story. In late March, David Gianforte made an appointment to talk about three bills with Montanas Republican governor, Greg Gianforte, who happens to be his father. David, 32, sat down in the governors office on March 27 with a prepared statement about legislation affecting transgender Montanans and the LGBTQ+ community generally, to which David says he belongs. He wanted to talk about Senate Bill 99, a ban on gender-affirming health care for minors; Senate Bill 458, a bill to define sex as strictly binary in Montana code; and House Bill 359, a ban on drag performances in many public spaces. Sitting across from his father in the governors office, with Gianfortes top health adviser present, David said, he read his printed statement out loud. Hey Dad. Thanks for setting aside time to meet with me, it means a lot to me, David said. There are a lot of important issues passing through the legislature right now. For my own sake Ive chosen to focus primarily on transgender rights, as that would significantly directly affect a number of my friends I would like to make the argument that these bills are immoral, unjust, and frankly a violation of human rights. David, who identifies as nonbinary and uses he and they pronouns, is the governors second oldest of four children. In an April 25 interview, he said he didnt know what kind of impact lobbying his father, the governor, might have. But David said they felt strongly about using their connection and access to one of the states most powerful elected officials to bring more light to issues impacting LGBTQ+ Montanans. He said he initially reached out to his father over email, asking him as your constituent and your son to veto the legislation advancing toward his desk. I felt somewhat of an obligation to speak with him about it. Otherwise I would regret the missed opportunity, David said. The elder Gianforte responded hours later, according to an email exchange David provided to Montana Free Press, thanking David for writing about an issue that was important to him. I would like to better understand your thoughts and concerns. When can we get together to talk about it? the governor wrote, signing the email, Love, Dad. David Gianforte, a Bozeman resident with a background in computer science, hasnt previously spoken publicly about his gender identity or his relationship with his father, who in 2021 became Montanas first Republican governor in 16 years. He said his family, including siblings who live in other states, doesnt typically discuss politics. David said that after he first told his parents he was gay in 2020, the family never talked about it at length again. Throughout the current legislative session, David said, he closely tracked the bills as they passed through the Republican-held chambers toward his fathers desk. They said they weighed whether to broach the topic with their father, and what might be risked in the process. I do have a family relationship with my father that Im trying to preserve, David said, adding that he didnt engage with his father on legislation during the 2021 session. I felt that the best way to go about this would be to reach out to him in a more formal manner. And he was very willing to meet with me. The governors office responded to a request for comment about Davids characterizations in a brief statement Tuesday night. The governor loves his family and values their thoughts, ideas, and perspectives. Our office will not discuss private conversations between the governor and members of his family, said press secretary Brooke Stroyke. Throughout the session, much public and media attention has been focused on the bills David is concerned about. As of Friday, SB 99, the ban on gender-affirming health care for minors, is the first to land on the governors desk and is awaiting his signature or veto. In addition to hours of testimony and lawmaker debates, a legislative tally updated Tuesday morning counted more than 1,500 phone calls and messages to lawmakers in support of Senate Bill 99 and more than 1,800 in opposition. Roughly 1,300 people respectively registered their favor and disfavor for Senate Bill 458, which would define sex in state law. The drag show restriction, HB 359, has garnered comments from nearly 246 proponents and 608 opponents and prompted drag performers to gather at the state Capitol in April for a highly visible demonstration and story hour. The displays of emotion and tension the bills have caused in other parts of the statehouse havent triggered many public reactions from the governors wing on the second floor. Gianforte dodged questions at a March press conference about where he stands on SB 99. After being repeatedly pressed, Gianforte eventually told reporters that it is extremely important we take the input of constituents and hear from all sides, and added that he had met with transgender Montanans and their families about the bills. Days before those remarks, David was one of the people urging the governor to veto the bill. In emails and in conversation during their meeting, David said, his father was thoughtful and stated a number of reasons for supporting the legislation. Even with their divergent perspectives, David said, he left the office feeling like a weight was off his shoulders. Weeks later, David said, his mood shifted. The governor sent SB 99 back to the Legislature with amendments that, in Davids view, did not make the legislation better for the states LGBTQ+ community. The changes included revised definitions of sex to account for children with intersex conditions, Gianforte said, and tightened prohibitions on the use of public funds for minors gender-affirming medical treatments. David said they had asked their father to think about transgender Montanans with empathy and compassion, even if the governor didnt share their experiences. In his letter to lawmakers explaining the amendments, Gianforte referenced those same values empathy and compassion while also expressing support for the bill. To David, the letter didnt make sense. Its bizarre to me to read the press release that my father put out, David said. He talks about compassion toward children, the youth of Montana, while simultaneously taking away health care from the youth in Montana. Its basically a contradiction in my mind. David said he knows transgender people who have benefitted from the medical services SB 99 would restrict, such as hormone therapy, including some who started taking those medications as teenagers. The other bills, he said, amount to invasions of privacy and attempts to curb the right of self-expression. In committee hearings and floor debates, supporters of SB 99, the bill banning gender-affirming health care for minors, have focused on the governments obligation to protect minors from making consequential medical choices before they turn 18. Backers of SB 458, which would define sex in state code, have placed a high value on defining sex as exclusively male or female based on reproductive characteristics. Some lawmakers who have spoken in favor of the bill banning drag performances in certain spaces have cast such shows as inherently sexual and inappropriate for minors. All three bills have largely passed along party lines, with Republicans supporting the legislation and Democrats opposing. SB 458 awaits a final vote in the Senate before it can head to Gianfortes desk; HB 359 is scheduled for further deliberation by lawmakers from both chambers in a conference committee. Having grown up in a devout Christian household, raised on values his parents continue to publicly endorse, David said he attributes some Republican legislative support for the bills to lawmakers strongly held beliefs about how God created humans. He also said he sees the political party system as unaccommodating to diverse perspectives, and thinks that pressure to conform might be a factor influencing his father, too. He is concerned about his career. He has particular issues that he focuses on, such as jobs and the economy. And hes aware that being able to stay in the position of governor is dependent on him staying in favor of the Republican Party, David said. And I believe that that affects his decisions on some of these bills. In recent days, David began publicly sharing their political sentiments. On Twitter last week, they shared a post from Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, the transgender lawmaker whose attempts to speak on the House floor have been continuously refused by Republican leadership because of comments she made criticizing Gianfortes changes to SB 99, and any lawmaker who supported the amended bill. David also shared their own perspective. I stand in support of @ZoAndBehold and the entire LGBTQ+ community of Montana, which includes myself and many of my friends, David wrote. I have worked to oppose bills in the current MT Legislative session including SB 99 and SB 458. David said he doesnt expect that his public remarks, or his conversation with his father, will change the outcome of any bill. But, David said, he doesnt want to take part in sweeping issues under the rug. Only by speaking candidly and openly can people move forward, he said, in their own families or in the public sphere. I feel like I have a voice and I can be heard. And I feel, not only in communicating with my father, thats not necessarily the main point, but also just showing support for the transgender community in Montana, David said. I think that could be meaningful, especially at this time. " " Pretzels have a long history and are loved the world over. Owen Franken/Getty Images The world can thank a frustrated teacher with leftover bread dough for the invention of the soft pretzel. In 610 C.E., while baking bread, an Italian monk decided to create a treat to motivate his distracted catechism students. He rolled out ropes of dough, twisted them to resemble hands crossed on the chest in prayer, and baked them. The monk christened his snacks "pretiola," Latin for "little reward." Parents who tasted their children's classroom treats referred to them as "brachiola," or "little arms." From there the baked treats spread to Germany, where they were made with flour, malt, salt, baker's yeast, water and fat making them soft and chewy. Many of these Germans immigrated to Pennsylvania's Susquehanna Valley, where they became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch, bringing their pretzels with them. Advertisement While the origins of the pretzel may be debated, our love for them certainly is not. These crunchy snack treats are beloved the world over. Here are 10 twisted facts about your favorite pretzels. Its a striking image a young Black man, dressed in 18th-century French fashion, in a waistcoat and silk breeches, his hair braided in cornrows, holding a violin, the bow slung over his shoulder, the title Chevalier emblazoned below his feet. This movie poster almost looks like a Kehinde Wiley portrait, a radical reassertion of tradition, a disruption of the narrative weve been sold. Its a story thats been crushed under the brutal wheel of history, war and racism, and the film Chevalier, about composer and violinist Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, promises to unfurl this lost story in modern, exciting fashion. Kelvin Harrison Jr. plays Joseph Bologne, a role seemingly tailor-made for the lauded actor and musician. Bologne, the son of a French plantation owner and a Senegalese enslaved teenager, was born on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe and educated in France. He was a talented musician, composer and fencer, he forged high-profile friendships with Queen Marie Antoinette and Phillipe Egalite, Duke of Orleans, and he fought in the French Revolution. Its quite a life, but the script by Stefani Robinson cherry-picks only the tawdriest bits from his Wikipedia entry for this biopic. Directed by Stephen Williams with a sense of momentum and fluidity, its hard to shake the feeling during Chevalier that this version of his life story glides over the most interesting parts. His Caribbean childhood and education in a French music school are seen in only a few frames of montage; his leadership of the only legion of fighters in the French Revolution to include people of color is described in text at the end. Rather, the focus of Chevalier is on his complicated relationships with Marie-Josephine (Samara Weaving) and his ejection from the Paris Opera led by spurned diva La Guimard (Minnie Driver). Its unclear what kind of movie Chevalier wants to be. It flirts with being a contemporary pop retelling of Joseph Bolognes life story, but it also seems to want to be a true period piece that asserts the presence of Black people, and Black artists, in history, too often erased and whitewashed in films of this kind. Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the call that Officer Richard Johnson was responding to when the car crash occurred. This version has been corrected. The Richmond police officer involved in a car crash that killed two teenagers last year has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter. A jury in Richmond Circuit Court reached a unanimous verdict Tuesday after approximately two hours of deliberation, finding Officer Richard Johnson guilty on two felony counts of involuntary manslaughter and a misdemeanor count of reckless driving. A fourth charge of failing to yield the right of way, a misdemeanor, was dropped Monday. Johnson was responding to a burglary call April 7 when he sped through a red light at the intersection of Bells Road and Castlewood Road, hitting a Buick driven by Jeremiah Ruffin, 18. Ruffin and his passenger, Tracey Williams, 19, neither of whom were wearing seatbelts, were ejected from the car as a result of the crash and died of their injuries Williams that night, and Ruffin nearly two weeks later. Johnson, whose lights and sirens were engaged, was driving 25 miles per hour over the speed limit, and the Commonwealth presented evidence from state police suggesting that Johnson did not press the brake or otherwise slow down before approaching the red light. Johnsons defense team expressed disappointment in the verdict Tuesday, but did not respond to requests for further comment. Commonwealths Attorney Colette McEachin told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that Johnsons case was unusual as far as criminal trials for law enforcement officers go most involve the use of firearms and had been taxing for the families of Williams, Ruffin and Johnson. You approach it very delicately, McEachin said of handling an emotionally charged case involving law enforcement. She said this trial was not meant to be a referendum on policing in Richmond, but that a series of bad decisions and poor judgment by Johnson the night of the crash required action. Interim police chief Rick Edwards said in a statement before the trial began that the department respects whatever decision the jury reached and feels great sorrow for everyone involved in this tragic incident. I ask the Richmond community (to) keep Officer Johnson and the Ruffin and Williams families in your prayers knowing how much they have lost, Edwards said. Sentencing for Johnson begins Aug. 9. The two felony charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years each, and the reckless driving charge could result in an additional 12 months of imprisonment. Johnson was placed on administrative leave last July and will remain on leave until the court issues a sentence, Richmond police told the Times-Dispatch. Today in history: April 26 1964: Tanzania 1977: Studio 54 1984: Count Basie 1986: Chernobyl 1994: Nelson Mandela 2000: Howard Dean 2012: Charles Taylor 2017: Jonathan Demme 2018: Bill Cosby A northern Virginia man who traveled to Pakistan with four friends nearly 15 years ago seeking to engage in holy war pleaded guilty Wednesday to a terrorism charge, but he is likely to receive only a one-day jail sentence. The guilty plea from Ramy Zamzam comes after he and his friends spent nearly 13 years in a Pakistani prison following their arrest there in 2009. Rather than seek additional jail time, prosecutors are recommending a one-day jail term, coupled with 20 years of supervised release. In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors said that the time Zamzam and his friends served in Pakistan on similar terrorism charges provides an adequate deterrent and added that no more prison time is necessary. But prosecutors are pushing 20 years of supervision, noting the groups ability to avoid detection back when they made their plans in 2009. (T)hese defendants managed to make numerous preparations for their trip without arousing the suspicion of anyone. Not their families. Not their friends. Not their classmates. And not law enforcement, prosecutor John Gibbs wrote in a sentencing memorandum. The sentence will not be final until Aug. 1, when Judge Leonie Brinkema will formally sentence Zamzam and another man, Ahmed Minni. But Brinkema has indicated in pretrial hearings that she did not see a need for the men to serve any more jail time than what they served in Pakistan. There is little dispute that the time in Pakistani prison was difficult. One of the five, Aman Yemer, began suffering serious mental health issues while imprisoned. His lawyer and family members say he remains virtually incapacitated and uncommunicative after his return to the U.S. Legal proceedings against Yemer have taken place under seal, but Brinkema has made clear she plans to dismiss the charges against him. The court papers filed in Zamzam and Minnis cases have shed some light on a case that stunned northern Virginias Muslim community in 2009 when the group of five departed the U.S. Several of the five were students, including Zamzam, who was a dental student at Howard University. Once family members learned the five had flown out of the U.S., they reached out to the FBI, hoping the group could be brought back safely to the U.S. But it was too late. The five were arrested in Pakistan in December 2009, after spending about two weeks traveling to multiple cities and mosques looking for contacts who could help them across the border into Afghanistan to fight against U.S. troops. Henrico police ID victim, arrest man in Fairfield shooting Henrico Police have arrested the suspect in a fatal shooting Saturday night in the Fairfield district. Henrico police were notified just after 11:00 p.m. Saturday by police in Richmond that a gunshot victim had been brought to the emergency room at VCU Medical Center. Investigators determined that the crime scene was a residence in the 3700 block of Whitlock Avenue in Henrico. The victim, 19-year-old Timothy Hicks, died of his injuries in the hospital. Police located and arrested William Lamonte Johnson, 18, of Henrico County, in connection with the shooting. Johnson, who is being held without bond at the Henrico County jail, is charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The investigation is ongoing, and police ask anyone with additional information to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at (804) 780-1000. Recent court documents show that the five were recruited to Pakistan by an online contact they knew as Saifullah. Saifullahs real name was Jude Kenan Mohammad, an American from Raleigh, North Carolina, who was living somewhere on the Afghan-Pakistani border. Mohammad was later killed by a U.S. drone strike. According to court documents, after the five Virginians made their plans to travel to Pakistan, Saifullah twice advised them to stay in the U.S., where they would be more useful to the jihadi cause. But the five were undeterred and traveled to Pakistan, where they had difficulty connecting with Saifullah. They spent their two weeks in Pakistan following leads and suggestions in their quest to connect with militant groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, which the U.S. designates as a terrorist organization. According to court records, all five were arrested on Dec. 9, 2009, at a home in Sargodha, Pakistan. The arrest occurred shortly after a telephone call between Minni and Saifullah. Zamzam was 22 at the time. The five Virginians left a farewell video to their families titled A Final Message, in which they said they were obliged to defend Muslim lands from foreign invaders. The video shows film clips of U.S. soldiers in Iraq and photographs of wounded civilians. Zamzams voice is in the video, saying when Muslim lands are invaded, when Muslim children are terrorized, when Muslim women are raped, when our brothers and sisters are attacked and killed jihad becomes, by the consensus of the scholars, an individual obligation. Two of the five Waqar Khan and Umar Farooq are free in Pakistan, despite U.S. efforts to obtain their extradition. The Pakistani government is not always an easy partner to work with, Gibbs said at Wednesdays plea hearing in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. President Joe Bidens age is a significant issue as he begins his run for a second term, but it diminishes in importance if former President Donald Trump becomes the GOP nominee, setting up a rematch, Virginia political analysts said. Biden, 80, who announced his bid on Tuesday in a video, asserting that he wants to finish the job, is the oldest president in U.S. history. If he is reelected and completes his second term, he will be 86 when he leaves office in January 2029. I think its a major issue, said Bob Holsworth, a veteran Virginia political analyst and a former dean at Virginia Commonwealth University. Most Democrats nationally dont think Biden should be running again. More troubling, theres polling among independents that the age issue bothers them tremendously. The Associated Press recently reported that just 26% of Americans and 47% of Democrats want the president to run again, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted April 13-17. But the poll found that 78% of Democrats support the job Biden is doing, and 81% of Democrats said they probably or definitely would back Biden if he is the Democratic nominee. Trump, who was 70 at his 2017 inauguration older than President Ronald Reagan at his first inaugural would be 78 in January 2025. Biden would be 82. The good news for Biden is that while his approval ratings are under water in Virginia, Trump remains less popular in the state. In February, a Roanoke College poll found that just 27% of respondents said the country was on the right track, and 69% said it was on the wrong track. Biden had a favorable rating in Virginia of 40% and an unfavorable rating of 55%. But Trumps Virginia ratings were worse 33% favorable and 58% unfavorable. It seems to me the Democrats are placing a lot of their hopes on the prospect that Trump is the nominee, Holsworth said. During Trumps term from 2017 to 2021, Democrats made significant political gains in Virginia, sweeping statewide offices, flipping three congressional seats and taking complete control of the legislature. Following Bidens 10-point Virginia win over Trump, Virginia Republicans flipped the script in 2021, sweeping statewide offices and taking control of the House of Delegates. Holsworth said, A lot of people are turned off by the prospect of a Biden-Trump rematch, but he thinks Biden would top Trump in Virginia and nationally. Trump will be a larger problem for Republicans in Virginia than Biden will be for Democrats, he added. Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginias Center for Politics, said Bidens age is a serious issue, noting that as he neared his 80th birthday, the president said its totally legitimate for Americans to take it into account. Sabato says that while Biden sometimes looks old and shuffles when he walks, that does not mean hes not up to the job. He noted that producers of Bidens kickoff video worked to make the president appear vigorous, with quick cuts and images of Biden jogging. Age is not always a winning issue for a challenger in a presidential campaign. Sabato recalled that in 1984, Reagan, then the oldest president at 73, struggled in the first presidential debate. But at the second debate, when a reporter asked him about his age, Reagan neutralized the issue with a quip that drew a laugh from his Democratic opponent, former Vice President Walter Mondale. I will not make age an issue of this campaign, Reagan said. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponents youth and inexperience. (Mondale was 56 and had served 12 years in the U.S. Senate before he became President Jimmy Carters vice president.) Its one thing to consider Bidens age in a vacuum, analysts said. Its another to consider a one-on-one matchup in the context of issues, such as abortion, the economy and Ukraine policy. In the end, its what Biden always says, Sabato added: Dont compare me to the Almighty. Compare me to the alternative. Olusoji Akomolafe, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science at Norfolk State University, disagrees with the other analysts and does not think Bidens age is an issue. I am one of the people who believe age in this case is not a factor at all, because with age comes experience, he said. In terms of his legislative achievements, Biden has been compared to none other than Lyndon Johnson, said Akomolafe, adding: This guys not senile. Polls are not static, Akomolafe noted. Some voters who express concern about Bidens age today might well have a different view when they step into the polling place. When push comes to shove, at the end of the day, people will vote for what is in their best interest, he said. 47 election front pages from the Times-Dispatch archives 1904 1908 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1961 1964 1965 1968 1969 1972 1973 1976 1977 1980 1981 1984 1985 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 American jailed on drug charges after dog picks him out of Playa del Carmen ferry passengers Playa del Carmen, Q.R. A 33-year-old American man has been jailed in Playa del Carmen on narcotics charges. On Tuesday, the Seguridad Publica Solidaridad (SSP) of Solidaridad reported the detainment of the man from the central Playa del Carmen ferry dock. Police and their narcotics dogs monitoring passengers arriving from the island of Cozumel picked up on the man. According to the SSP, a drug dog alerted his handler to the man as he walked passed officers. When implementing narcotics prevention and detection tasks at the Fiscal Dock, police officers from the Solidaridad Public Security and Municipal Transit Secretariat seized a person of foreign origin in possession of 12 packages with the possible drug called tucibo and 10 with white powder resembling cocaine, they said in their statement. American, Lawrence N, 33, was arrested on the afternoon of April 24 by elements of the Tourist Police and the Canine Unit for possession of narcotics. INM Director Francisco Garduno heads to court to face charges in fire death of 40 migrants Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua An imputation hearing against the Director of the National Institute of Migration (INM), Francisco Garduno, was held Tuesday. During his hearing, charges were heard regarding a fire that killed 40 migrants in Ciudad Juarez last month. The director of the National Institute of Migration (INM) refused to comment upon arrival at the Federal Criminal Justice Center in Ciudad Juarez regarding his responsibility in that fire. Garduno was quickly escorted into the federal building without making any comment to the numerous media who were outside waiting for him. Garduno is facing charges laid by the Attorney General of the Republic (FGR) since he was in charge of the station where the migrants died on March 27. He is facing charges of improper exercise of public service. The FGR has accused Garduno and another high-ranking INM official of engaging in alleged criminal conduct by failing to comply with their obligations to monitor, protect and provide security to the people and facilities in their charge, promoting crimes committed against migrants. On March 27 of this year, 40 migrants were killed and another 27 injured in a fire that started inside the INM facilities. Video from inside the station show the migrants trapped behind metal bars trying to kick it open to escape from the flames while at least two security guards ignored their pleas for help. Unloading of Cuban stone at Puerto Morelos moved to Puerto Progreso Puerto Morelos, Q.R. Stone material that was being unloaded at Puerto Morelos is now being unloaded in Progreso. The Cuban vessel with the remaining 10,000 tons of stone is being relocated to Puerto Progreso in Yucatan, where it will be unloaded and the stone trucked to Quintana Roo for Maya Train use. According to Governor Mara Lezama, the decision to move the project from Puerto Morelos was made over the weekend during a visit by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. In the meeting we held, this issue was discussed. It was agreed that it will be brought from Puerto Progreso, said Lezama. The decision to move the unloading of stone from the Cuban vessels from Puerto Morelos to Puerto Progreso was made after a Yucatan judge ordered a suspension of the at-sea unloading of the stone at Puerto Morelos last week. The suspension was ordered after an environmental group filed an Amparo to have the unloading at sea stopped and the construction of an alternate road, that was to be built over mangrove, halted. The constitutional hearing of the Amparo, which was scheduled for April 21, has been rescheduled for May 18 because the responsible authorities, which are the Ministry of National Defense and the National Fund for Tourism Promotion (Fonatur), did not submitted the reports that were requested on the case. The porphyrite stone that is being shipped from Cuba will be crushed and turned into ballast to be used for sections 5, 6 and 7 of the Maya Train as planned. Rather than shipping it from Puerto Morelos, it will be shipped from Puerto Progreso, Yucatan and trucked back to Quintana Roo. LYNCHBURG A Roanoke man is facing a second-degree murder charge in the death of a Pennsylvania man after the discovery of human remains in Bedford County on April 18. Bedford County Commonwealths Attorney Wes Nance said Tuesday an investigation began after the remains were found within a burned out vehicle on Sandy Level Road off Virginia 24 in the Goodview area. The victim was identified as Ethan Bert, from York, Pennsylvania, Nance said. Joseph Richard Walker, 29, was charged with murder within two days of discovery, Nance said. Walker was arrested in Florida and the extradition process has begun, Nance said. Walker is expected to be back in Bedford County no later than the middle of next week, according to Nance. The victim and suspect are believed to be known to one another, Nance wrote in an email. This is an ongoing, and multifaceted, investigation, Nance said in the email. I would encourage anyone who has pertinent information to contact the Bureau of Investigations of the Virginia State Police in Salem or this office. I extend my thanks to the multiple agencies that have assisted in the investigation thus far. Virginia State Police have said York died by violent circumstances before the vehicle burned. Firefighters arrived at about 12:45 a.m. April 18 to find the vehicle fully in flames, state police has said. After the blaze was extinguished, crews found the remains and agents with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation responded to the scene. The Roanoke man who bit a female police officer and stole her patrol car in August pleaded guilty to grand larceny and assault charges Wednesday. A Roanoke grand jury indicted Terry F. Yerkey, 42, in November on two felony charges connected to the incident: grand larceny of a motor vehicle and assault and battery on a law enforcement officer. Yerkey pleaded guilty to both charges in Roanoke Circuit Court Wednesday, and the court scheduled his sentencing hearing for July 31. At the request of Yerkeys attorney, Seth Weston, Judge David Carson ordered that Yerkeys pre-sentence report include mental health and drug screenings. At about 10:45 p.m. Aug. 26, police responded to reports about a man acting strangely on Williamson Road, Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Ryan Hupp said Wednesday. Police were told the man was wearing boxer shorts and black socks. A female officer found Yerkey, who fit the clothing description, in the 5200 block of Williamson Road. Hupp played the officers body camera footage from that night for the court Wednesday. In the video, when the officer opens her car door, Yerkey greets her with an obscene remark. The officer asks if Yerkey can speak with her. She says into her radio, He is having some kind of breakdown, so have rescue staged, please. After a moment, the officer asks, Wheres my next unit? Then, she adds, Hes running. He wont stop for me. Hupp said the officer moved her patrol car forward, following Yerkey. He approached her drivers side door, which she opened partially. Yerkey opened it the rest of the way, and a physical scuffle ensued. Hupp said Yerkey bit one of the officers hands as she was trying to remove the keys from the ignition. The video captures the officer yelling, Taser, taser, taser! During the struggle, citizen Tony Peters passed by. He pulled his vehicle to the side of the road in front of the officers car. He tried to help her, but was injured. After biting the officer, Yerkey got in her police cruiser and drove away, crashing it into Peters car as he fled the scene. He just stole my car. Going south. Hit a car, the officer relays into her radio. Taser deployed. It did not work. Hupp played the officers dash camera video for the court Wednesday, too. That footage captures Yerkeys course away from the scene, through Roanoke, Roanoke County and into Botetourt County, where he crashed the vehicle. The prosecutor said a Botetourt County Sheriffs Office deputy conducting a traffic stop saw Yerkey speed by in the police car, lights and sirens activated. The deputy said later that the car traveled faster than 100 mph. After crashing the vehicle in the 1700 block of Lee Highway (U.S. 11) near Cloverdale, Yerkey got out and started to run, police reported. Another female police officer and her dog were the first on that scene. Hupp also played that officers body camera footage for the court. The video captures the officer running and shouting German commands to her dog to subdue Yerkey, the prosecutor said. The canine did so, Hupp said, and officers brought Yerkey to the ground, where he was handcuffed. In exchange for Yerkeys guilty pleas Wednesday, Carson agreed not to prosecute a drug possession charge lodged against Yerkey 10 days before the incident to which he pleaded guilty. Weston said he intends to present more evidence related to the Aug. 26 incident at Yerkeys sentencing hearing. Until then, Yerkey will remain at the Roanoke City Adult Detention Center. Roanoke Circuit Court documents provide additional details about Sundays fatal shooting at a downtown business. Roanoke police said Sunday that three people were shot about 1:20 a.m. in the 100 block of Campbell Avenue Southeast. One man, found by police on scene, later died at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Police charged Brandon Jamal Woods, 20, of Roanoke on Monday with second-degree murder in connection with the fatality. None of the victims has been identified by law enforcement. According to court documents, officers obtained and executed a search warrant at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday on 114 Campbell Ave. S.E., the site of the shooting. The address houses a restaurant, hookah bar and lounge called Shishka. There, police seized clothing, a phone, cartridge casings, bullets, firearm accessories, a recording device and swabs, according to the warrant. Witnesses told officers a Black man wearing a blue hoodie entered the restaurant, according to two other search warrant statements. A fight began at the bar, and then the man began to shoot into the crowd, affidavits relay. He ran on foot from the scene. Police seized electronic data early Monday from a purple iPhone belonging to a female that had relations with Woods, an affidavit reads. Through video surveillance, it was seen that her and Woods took photographs together at the bar, the affidavit reads. She also stated they communicated via her cellphone after the incident. The woman told police that after the incident she transported Woods from the scene. Shortly before noon Monday, police seized photographs from a white Toyota Camry, which was parked at the Roanoke police station. Woods next court appearance is scheduled for Roanoke General District Court on May 25. According to its Facebook page, Shishka was closed to customers for several days after the incident. But an employee said the bar would be reopened Wednesday afternoon. A firefighter was sent to the hospital Tuesday evening after a fire destroyed two abandoned houses in Vinton. Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department crews responded shortly after 11 p.m. to the 100 block of Highland Road. Units from Vintons fire station arrived first and found a two-story wood frame structure that was fully involved in fire, the department said in a press release. Witnesses confirmed the structure was an abandoned home and no one was inside, the department said. That fire then caught an adjacent abandoned two-story wood frame home on fire. The fire department said the fire was brought under control in approximately one hour with the help of multiple units from the Roanoke Fire-EMS Department. Because both structures were not occupied, no one was displaced. The firefighter who was transported to a hospital had injures that were not life threatening and was later released. The Roanoke County Fire Marshals Office is investigating the fires cause. Both houses will be a total loss, the department said, later adding that damages were estimated at $41,800. The city government has decided to buy the former Radford Foundry site currently owned by Virginia Castings, a move that officials say will boost economic development. The decision, which the city announced Monday night, follows six months of what it says was extensive environmental testing and assessment. The announcement said the Radford City Council, with support from its Economic Development Authority, believes there is no better time to buy the 80-acre property. This is an exciting day for the city of Radford as we make plans for the future of this great community, said Mayor David Horton. By investing in west Radford for future commercial development, we open the door for many possibilities for economic success and opportunities for our citizens. It is a big part of the continued renaissance and resurgence of Radford as we work across the city to maximize areas for prosperity and sustainability. The move follows Radfords decision in the fall to enter into a six-month option agreement on the property, a period provided to give the city time to complete updated and additional environmental testing on the site. The purchase price is $250,000, and Radford plans to apply for additional grants through the state for remediation and cleanup, said Kim Repass, the citys economic development and tourism director. Of the 80 acres, the city anticipates about 40 acres of that to be developable, Horton said Tuesday. The city also has 90 days to formally close on the property, he said. Established in the late 1800s as the Radford Iron and Coal Co., the Radford Foundry employed approximately 1,500 people at its peak during the late 1970s, according to the city. The foundry produced an array of ductile iron products ranging from water and sewer pipes to automobile parts until it closed in 2013. The sites closure a decade ago dealt Radford an economic blow due to a sudden drop in utility sales services the city directly provides and the loss of jobs. Horton said the closure further impacted the surrounding area because major employers usually help drive business at surrounding service industry retailers. But Horton said he expects the citys acquisition of the site to lead to a project that will itself help spur more economic growth in the area around West Main Street. The mayor said the city council and EDA will work to come up with a vision for the site. To see what we would like to try to do, what utilization could take place in the short, medium and long term, he said. Horton said he anticipates the site, over the next two decades, to bring in a number of businesses, hundreds of jobs and other developments such as the continued expansion of the Riverway Trail. That pathway currently goes through Bisset and Wildwood parks and extends to Radford Universitys Dedmon Center. As far as the cleanup work, Horton said he cant get into the specifics of each environmental challenge with the property. He said the city is still working through a lot of those details. Theres material on site that ultimately we want to find ways to mitigate. We want to make sure its a safe property for commercial, industrial and economic development, he said. The goal is to make this property functional for the citizens of the city of Radford, and for the community to generate revenue and jobs. The purchase received further praise from economic development officials. We believe this will play a pivotal role in Radfords economic future, providing a place for industrial development and job creation of both small and large businesses, said EDA Chairman Abram Williams. Repass also spoke on the purchase. This is a monumental day in Radford as we move forward on the acquisition of the former Foundry property, she said. The ability to bring new industry and commercial businesses in the future to this property will bring economic vitality, job creation and investment to the city of Radford. Virginia Western Community Colleges campus in Roanoke is the proposed location for a new state historic marker that details the civic link between desegregation and the creation of the states community college system. The new roadside marker was among five recently approved by the state Department of Historic Resources, and will be placed along Colonial Avenue. It will commemorate efforts to advance beyond the Jim Crow era of racially segregating public facilities and limiting access to education for Virginias Black citizens. The text of the new marker will read: From 1956 to 1959 Virginia mandated Massive Resistance against the U.S. Supreme Courts Brown decision desegregating public education. In 1958, business leaders from around the state created the Virginia Industrialization Group to oppose Massive Resistance and reverse the damage it had done to education and the economy. Their efforts helped establish a system of technical colleges in 1964 that evolved into the Virginia Community College System in 1966. Roanoke Technical Institute, a branch of Virginia Tech, was combined with the University of Virginias Roanoke Center to form what became Virginia Western Community College. This was the first community college to open under the new system. Nelson Harris, a Roanoke minister, historian and former mayor, was the markers sponsor, the Department of Historic Resources said in a press release on Tuesday. Among the other four markers will be one slated for Lexington that will cite the Negro Motorist Green Book, published from 1936 to 1966, a guide to lodgings, restaurants, and other public accommodations that welcomed Black travelers during the segregation era. Several Lexington businesses and places of lodging were listed in the book. Virginias historical highway marker program began in 1927 and is considered the nations oldest such program in the nation. Currently there are more than 2,600 state markers, mostly maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation, which must approve their location. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. A clown came to Marlene Warrens door on a May morning in 1990, handed her carnations and balloons, then shot her dead in front of her son. On Tuesday, a woman who would later marry Marlene Warrens husband pleaded guilty to being the killer even though she still insists she is not closing a case that is strange even by Florida standards. Former Abingdon resident Sheila Keen-Warren, 59, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a deal that will likely see her released from prison in no more than two years. Long suspected of being the shooter, Keen-Warren has been jailed awaiting trial on a first-degree murder charge since 2017, when Palm Beach County sheriffs investigators said improvements in DNA technology proved that a hair found in the clowns getaway car came from her. At the time of the shooting, Keen-Warren was an employee of Marlene Warrens husband, Michael, at his used car lot. Since 2002, she has been his wife; they eventually moved to Abingdon where they ran the Purple Cow, a popular restaurant in nearby Kingsport, Tennessee. Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg said in a statement that the plea deal obtained a measure of justice for Marlene Warren and her son. No public notice was given for Tuesdays plea hearing in West Palm Beach, which otherwise would have drawn a throng of reporters and spectators. Instead, it was handled quietly during Circuit Judge Scott Suskauers lunch break from another murder trial. Sheila Keen Warren has finally been forced to admit that she was the one who dressed as a clown and took the life of an innocent victim. She will be a convicted murderer for the rest of her days, Aronberg said. Her attorney, Greg Rosenfeld, said in a phone interview that this is an incredible win for Ms. Keen-Warren, still insisting she is not the killer. The deal calls for a 12-year sentence, but Keen-Warren has already served six years awaiting trial. Also, Florida law in 1990 allowed significant time off for good behavior, so Rosenfeld expects her to be released early next year. Her trial was set to start next month, and if convicted she would have received a life sentence. Originally, prosecutors sought a death sentence but eventually dropped that. The State of Florida originally wanted to execute her, but now she is going home in 10 months, Rosenfeld said. While it was difficult to plead guilty to a crime she did not commit, it was kind of a no-brainer when there is a guarantee that you will be home with your family. Aronbergs office disputes Rosenfelds claim, saying she will be in prison at least two more years. Marlene Warrens son, Joseph Ahrens, watched the proceeding online. Only 21 when he saw his mother murdered and now in his 50s, his only message to the court and Keen-Warren was, may God be with her. At the time of the shooting, Keen-Warren was an employee of Marlene Warrens husband, Michael, at his used car lot. Since 2002, she has been his wife; they eventually moved to Abingdon where they ran the Purple Cow, a popular restaurant in nearby Kingsport, Tennessee. Witnesses had told investigators in 1990 that Sheila Warren and Michael Warren were having an affair, though both denied it. Over the years, detectives said, costume shop employees identified Sheila Warren as the woman who had bought a clown suit a few days before the killing. And one of the two balloons a silver one that read, Youre the Greatest was sold at only one store, a Publix supermarket near her home. Employees told detectives a woman who looked like Warren had bought the balloons an hour before the shooting. The presumed getaway car was found abandoned with orange, hair-like fibers inside. The white Chrysler convertible had been reported stolen from Michael Warrens car lot a month before the shooting. Sheila Warren and her then-husband repossessed cars for him. Relatives said in 2000 that Marlene Warren, who was 40 when she died, suspected her husband was having an affair and wanted to leave him. But the car lot and other properties were in her name, and she feared what might happen if she did. She allegedly told her mother, If anything happens to me, Mike done it. But Rosenfeld said the states case was falling apart. One DNA sample somehow showed both male and female genes, and the other could have come from one out of every 20 women even Marlene Warren, he said. And even if that hair did come from Keen-Warren, it could have been deposited before the car was reported stolen. He said Ahrens and another witness also told detectives that the car they found wasnt the killers, though investigators insisted it was. Aronberg, in his statement, conceded that there were holes in the case, saying they were caused by three decades it took to get it to trial, including the death of key witnesses. Michael Warren was convicted in 1994 of grand theft, racketeering and odometer tampering. He served almost four years in prison a punishment his then-attorneys said was disproportionately long because of suspicions he was involved in his wifes death. He has never been charged. Warren did not return a call Tuesday seeking comment. LYNCHBURG Operation Ceasefire was the topic of discussion Tuesday at the University of Lynchburg, as Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares held a news conference to give updates on the initiative that was launched last fall. Operation Ceasefire is an approach to address violent criminal activity, among serious and repeat offenders by maintaining partnerships through the commonwealth by promoting firearm safety, investing in gang prevention and supporting community policing in high-crime neighborhoods, according to a release from the attorney generals office in October. The General Assembly allocated more than $5 million for Operation Ceasefire in the past years budget and Miyares said the extra resources means that our office is better able to tackle this issue that is affecting so many Virginians, and make sure the victims indeed have a voice. The attorney general said his office hired six designated special assistant attorneys general that are cross designated in the U.S. attorney generals office, and 13 prosecutors in the Virginia attorney generals office that are part of the operation. He added the operation is both about prevention and prosecution. I want to emphasize, we are simply not going to be able to arrest our way out of this, Miyares said. Miyares said one thing he and others have seen, through data that has been shared from local law enforcement and around the eastern part of the state, is overwhelmingly violent crime is driven by a small percentage of repeat violent offenders. He added that depending on the study and estimate, anywhere between 2% and 5% of violent offenders are committing, in a locality, roughly 50% of the violent crime. The other two key components are making sure law enforcement have the right data to make sure people are held accountable and prevention working within schools, to help students with life skills to make sure they dont fall into the siren call of illegal activity. Along with Miyares, U.S. Attorney for the Western District Christopher Kavanaugh and Lynchburg Commonwealths Attorney Bethany Harrison provided remarks. Kavanaugh said all law enforcement and officials present at the news conference agree theres a problem in communities around the state and they are dedicated to solving it. He said the work is far from done. My directive to my team is not to go out and arrest as many people as possible. We are seeking for the most high-quality value targets, the ones that are having the greatest impact on our communities, Kavanaugh said. Harrison said shes grateful to the attorney general for recognizing the need in the target cities and to be one of the cities receiving benefits from Operation Ceasefire. There are 12 ceasefire cities, four in the area Roanoke, Danville, Martinsville and Lynchburg. Harrison mentioned collaboration from Miyares office, law enforcement and also local help from organizations such as the Good Gangs initiative and the Jubilee Center are important collaborations in working toward keeping young people out of a life of criminal activity. She said some of Lynchburgs most violent offenders are young people involved in criminal street gangs who commit some of the most violent offenses and use firearms. Miyares said his office is pleased that they are fully ramped up with hiring, prosecutors and the distribution of grant money. There are more than 70 active cases that have been launched under Operation Ceasefire and the idea is to send a message that were not going to tolerate high levels of gun violence and gun crime, according to Miyares. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. " " En route to Warm Springs, Georgia, March 31, 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt stopped at the Tuskegee Institute, founded by Booker T. Washington, scientist and Tuskegee faculty member. Bettmann/Getty Images George Washington Carver was a scientist and inventor best-known for discovering 100 uses for the peanut, but that's only the tip of the iceberg in his remarkable life. He was born to enslaved parents on a Missouri farm at the close of the Civil War and kidnapped by raiders a week later, becoming an orphan in the process. Carver's former owners, Moses and Susan Carver, eventually located and returned Carver to the farm of his birth. In the years that followed, Susan Carver taught him to read and write because local schools did not allow Black students. Advertisement The experience sparked an interest in lifelong learning. Carver self-directed his way through high school and conducted biological experiments of his own design. Eventually, he enrolled in Iowa State Agricultural College's botany program, where he earned a master's degree and a reputation as a brilliant scientist, teacher and advocate for farmers. He then became an instructor at the famed Tuskegee Institute, working alongside Booker T. Washington. In addition to developing crop rotation methods for sharecroppers, many of whom were former slaves, Carver designed a horse-drawn classroom to illustrate his methods firsthand. He also pioneered a series of practical inventions that would make farming more profitable and less dependent on cotton, including more than 100 ways to monetize sweet potatoes, soy beans and peanuts with a conversion into dyes, plastics and fuel. Carver became an adviser on agricultural matters to President Theodore Roosevelt, and in 1916, one of the few American members of the British Royal Society of Arts. Carver died in 1943, at age 78 [source: Biography]. " " A road sign points the way to a patch of northern Mexican desert known as the Zone of Silence. Reuters/Corbis When it comes to conspiracy theories, there's a big difference between some harmless urban legends and a dangerous or potentially threatening belief. If I were to tell you that meteorite detritus rains down on the earth in a wispy web, you might think it's a spooky phenomenon and tell all your friends on the playground. However, if you were to believe that space aliens made the ancient Peruvian geoglyphs called the Nazca lines and then you trampled over them in an attempt to collect "samples" your fun little hobby would now be seriously damaging to the archaeological record. The "Zone of Silence" (or La Zona del Silencio) is a "mystical" spot in the Mapimi Biosphere Reserve in Durango, Mexico, where radio and TV signals allegedly do not work. In 1970, an American missile fired from the White Sands Missile Base somehow went off course and landed right in the middle of the reserve, 400 miles (644 kilometers) south of its intended target. U.S. Air Force officials hired a group of locals to search for the missile, keeping its location and details a secret. Once the missile was found in a sand dune, American workers rigged up a complicated system to dig it out, creating an extension from the railroad to the dune [sources: Corrales; Kaus]. The whole point was to keep operations a secret but that might only have made people wonder, what was there to hide? Advertisement After 28 days, the missile was dug out and the Americans left with their weapon, pulling up the railroad tracks. After that, it seems that one of the local workers decided that advertising the area as a location for strange and unusual happenings was a good way to drum up a little tourism money. The Zone of Silence was born, spurred on by tales of abnormal animals, plants and even some "communications" from other worlds. The founders of the myth and the tourist guides, collectively called zoneros, claimed that the reason the missile went astray was the magnetic waves in the area are so unique that radio transmission and compasses do not work [source: Kaus]. So, is there any truth to any of this? "Neither I nor anyone with whom I spoke (apart from the zoneros) had any trouble with either their radios or compasses while working in the Reserve," wrote Andrea Kaus, who did her doctoral dissertation about the Mapimi Biosphere Reserve. "The claims of mutations refer to natural phenomena; the triangles are a normal pattern variant in the Bolson tortoise populations and the pads of nopal coyotillo turn a shade of violet during a dry spell." As to why the missile went so off course, no one knows for sure. It might have been human error or faulty equipment, she speculated. " " The Zone of Silence is located within the Mapimi Biosphere Reserve, in Durango, northern Mexico. Jos Macouzet/Shutterstock For many years, tourists visited the area to see whether they would encounter any spooky goings-on, UFOs or aliens. Now, there are few visitors, in part due to the security situation in that area of Mexico [source: Wilson]. There is, however, a research station that studies the ecology of the area, and that research is hindered by people looking for aliens, leaving trash and generally showing environmental ignorance. Advertisement Originally Published: Mar 20, 2015 Frugal science lab. Credit: Georgia Tech In 2017, Gaurav Byagathvalli, a Lambert High School junior, reached out to Georgia Tech Assistant Professor Saad Bhamla. They had worked together as part of Lambert's synthetic biology program led by teacher Janet Standeven. Byagathvalli wanted to transform E. coli with engineered plasmids for an experiment and needed to use electroporation. Rather than purchase a $10,000 electroporator, the team brainstormed ideas to build a frugal version. With some ingenuity, a barbecue lighter became an electroporator and cost less than a dollar, enabling frugal cell transformations. More innovations like this exist in Bhamla's lab: an automated tracking microscope for STEM, a 3D-printed centrifuge, and an inexpensive cell lysis device for molecular biology. These inventions aren't just fun challengesthey're also part of frugal science research between Georgia Tech and Lambert High School. Creating accessible, affordable equipment to democratize research is the foundation of frugal science. Now, with a new five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bhamla and Standeven will pave the way to bring frugal science to high schools across Georgia. "We're trying to create the next generation of scientists, and we're going to cultivate their ideas into products, and students into inventors and authors," Bhamla said. Beginning the Collaboration Bhamla and Standeven first started working together six years ago through her leadership of Lambert's International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM) team. Although typically intended for college students, her high school students wanted to compete in the synthetic biology competition and reached out to Bhamla to use his open-source centrifuge to separate liquids using centrifugal force. Using a 3D printer, the team created a centrifuge for molecular biology research and won a gold medal in the 2018 iGEM competition. Their work was eventually published in the journal PLOS Biology in 2019, giving the high schoolers their first scholarly citation before they had even graduated. "It's inspirational for students at my school to see other teenagers getting to be first authors from an intense research experience," Standeven said. "I'm turning students away because I can't clone myself to have enough hours in their day to support the students who want to do research." Elio Challita, a Ph.D. student in bioengineering at Tech, has been mentoring students in the lab for the past four years, helping them refine their research questions, manage projects, and present findings for publication. The reason he got involved was much more personal, though. Growing up in Lebanon, Challita faced similar struggles as some of these high school students. "I thought that frugal science would democratize science for people who have the talent and drive, but who face the burden of not having money," he said. "So, I wanted to be more involved because it would also allow me to give back to the community, especially where I came from." Graduate assistant Rajas Poorna had a similar experience growing up in India and joined the Bhamla Lab to help, but also believes it makes him a stronger researcher. "As moved as I am by the humanitarian aspect of this, what excites the physicist in me is that enforcing 'frugal constraints' actually makes it easier to find elegant, simple mechanisms that solve the problem, regardless of cost," he said. Expanding Across Georgia The NIH grant aims to replicate Standeven's students' experience at Georgia Tech. The grant focuses on training not just students but also teachers on how to conduct academic-level research from anywhere. Each year of the grant, up to 10 high school interns and 16 teachers will learn frugal science skills. If the average high school science teacher works with 150 students, the program multiplies access to hands-on science experience. The frugal science program will also expand across the state. While teachers in metro Atlanta and other large cities often have access to university research labs, those in rural areas do not. Training teachers and providing them with frugal equipment can help close this gap. "We're going to create a really nice synergy between the needs of the rural teachers and the interns' inventions to enable the next generation in Georgia to become an engaged and empowered workforce," Standeven said. "It's about enabling teachers to provide immersive research opportunities at the high schools and then trickling down into middle schools. We're going to get a much better workforce that's engaged in STEM." Projects will be added to a website of open-source files that other classrooms can access for their experiments. Eventually, they will set up virtual networks of teachers and classrooms to test new designs and give critiques to the inventors, creating a feedback loop to improve the projects and data for possible publications. "There are students at every single high school who need these opportunities," Standeven said. "Eventually, every high school should support this engineering mindset and the opportunity to develop these tools, and eventually see that synthetic biology is doable, achievable, and a way to solve major world problems." SIDEBAR: Frugal Innovations Open Cell Aryan Gupta was a Lambert High School junior working on an iGEM project to find the DNA of a parasitic worm that can infiltrate water sources. He needed a bead homogenizer, a device that rigorously shakes high density beads within a sample to rupture cell walls and make intercellular contents, like DNA, accessible. It also costs thousands of dollars, but with the help of Bhamla's frugal science lab, they made their own. Their version not only decreases the cost to roughly $36, but also is simple enough that anyone can build it themselves. "The heart of any beater structure is you want to shake something vigorously, the same way you'd be mixing up a drink," Gupta said. "To get that from a motor that simply rotates, you need to translate that motion into a linear one." Inspired by how the moon orbits around the Earth, they used a gearing system that fixes the orientation of tubes as they orbit around the motor. When the device spins rapidly, the high density beads are moved up and down within the tubes, causing them to collide with cells and split them open. The success of the project and interaction with Georgia Tech pushed Gupta to apply, and he is now a second-year studying electrical engineering. "Having worked with Bhamla and his graduate students really showed me what Georgia Tech is about and what engineering as a science really means," he said. "We can take our projects and actually make an impact, and that was one of the most significant drives that made me want to attend Georgia Tech and not only further this project, but also to be in this environment of innovation and research." As he's continued with the project at Georgia Tech and worked on open sourcing the material and publishing, frugal science has influenced how Gupta pursues his scientific career. "All the different facets of this project have helped me grow my skills in engineering, like 3D printing and design work, but also scientific skills like collecting data, forming figures, and learning how to reach proper conclusions," he said. Trackoscope Priya Soneji has loved microscopes ever since her father got her one when she was 10 years old. As a Milton High School student, she worked on a tracking microscope as part of the Science Fair national student competition. "When you find an organism, it's very hard to follow it with just your hands, so with this tracking we're trying to see how to follow an organism for a long period of time," Soneji said. She first reached out to Bhamla as a high school junior, then joined his lab shortly after, and continued when she started at Georgia Tech in 2021. Relying on the knowledge she had from working on robotics teams since elementary school, she built a 3D-printed, three-axis actuator to move a microscope around. Since that initial idea, Soneji has built four prototypes, more precise with each iteration. Once Soneji figured out the mechanisms of the microscope, she created an open-source vision software system to perform object detection and communicate with the actuator. The whole device is only $300, hundreds if not thousands of dollars cheaper than a typical microscope, making it much more accessible to the high school labs in her area. Now as a second-year Tech student, Soneji is pursuing publication on the device. Overall, Trackoscope fits with Soneji's mechanical engineering studies and has helped her get into the field earlier than most of her peers. "Trackoscope is mainly a mechanical- and robotics-based project with an application in biology," she said. "This has helped a whole lot with me trying to go into robotics." ePatch When Gaurav Byagathvalli first started working with the Bhamla lab in 2017, he was a Lambert High School student competing in iGEM. Together, they built an electroporator based on a barbecue lighter. Their device shaved the cost down from thousands to a few dollars and led to Byagathvalli's first publication as a Georgia Tech undergraduate, but they were only just getting started. It turned out that the same technology they used as a delivery system for bacteria also works to get vaccines into cells in the body and mounts a strong immune response. "It's just like getting a package delivered somewhere. It's on a truck to its destination, and we used the same thing, but for bacteria," Byagathvalli said. "And now we're using that in animals. We need to get DNA or RNA into a cell so that the end user, which is the cell, can use the package for some purpose." The device is made of two mechanisms: the barbecue lighter electroporation system that sends electric pulses to create holes in the cell membrane to reach the cell's interior, and a microneedle electrode that can deliver these pulses into skin. The device is pressed next to the skin and clicked like a pen to deliver the RNA- or DNA-based vaccine. The five-year project has resulted in a startup, Piezo Therapeutics, launching later this year. RNA vaccines have been more popular lately because they only need to break past the cell membrane, but DNA also needs to enter the nucleus, and ePatch has this capability. The innovation could extend to other applications, including dermal gene therapies. Byagathvalli will explore the possibilities as head of the company after he graduates this year with a degree in industrial engineering. "When I started, I was just a high school student who wanted to do good research and try to contribute to the world, and that mission still stands today," he said. "But did I ever think that it would turn to the point where we're building a company that's gotten funding and is growing? There are very few jobs where you have that type of satisfaction from your work, knowing that you're actually making an impact, especially early on in your career, and this is one of them." Provided by Georgia Institute of Technology FLORENCE, S.C. Florence city staff and council members met with residents at the Florence Family YMCA on Tuesday to discuss and get feedback on the citys in-development stormwater master plan. The plan aims to map the citys existing stormwater infrastructure, current and past flooding issues and the citys waterways, according to Kevin Krick, an engineer at the consulting firm AECOM. He is on the team at AECOM that is developing the stormwater master plan for the city of Florence. Its kind of like a puzzle, Krick said. After taking each piece and putting it together, the plan will also make suggestions on how to improve stormwater infrastructure by taking a top-down look at problems, he said. Krick said the stormwater master plan is about halfway through its two-year development, but the team at AECOM already has a lot of information about the citys stormwater. The meeting on Tuesday and other meetings throughout the coming weeks will help the team gather more data from those who really live through the problems they are hoping to fix: city residents. Paper forms were given out to residents to write down their specific problems. Residents also spoke with the engineers working on the project directly, using maps from the early-in-development plan to talk about how water moves around their properties. You see whats going on in your neighborhood and on your street more than anybody else does on stormwater, and so we want to hear from you, Krick said. The meeting on Tuesday was just for those living in council District 3, but future meetings will be held for other districts: May 2 at 5:30 p.m. Northwest Community Center, 801 Clement St. May 4 at 5:30 p.m. Levy Park Community Center, 356 South Jeffords St. May 9 at 6:15 p.m. Briggs Elementary School, 1012 Congaree Dr. On the city of Florences website, residents can also give feedback on the stormwater problems in their area by visiting the stormwater management portal. If there was ever an opportunity to try and address concerns, nows the time, said George Jebaily, Florence mayor pro tempore. We have not had a citywide stormwater master plan underway until right now. This is the golden opportunity. The stormwater master plan is meant to be a living document, which means it is meant to be constantly used and updated, not just sit on a shelf, Krick said. It will inform how the city builds and upgrades stormwater infrastructure in the future. To develop suggestions for future infrastructure projects, the team at AECOM will first make computer models of the city using existing data and test it at different rainfalls. If the model lines up with actual conditions, the team will add theoretical stormwater infrastructure like pipes and ditches and see if they make an improvement. The plan will also look at water quality, Krick said. Its important that we stop flooding, but its also important that we protect the waterways, he said. To do this, the team is developing a watershed-based plan which will allow the city to seek grant money for water quality improvement projects. Assistant City Manager Clint Moore said the city already has received around $11 million in grant funding for infrastructure projects around the city. That is on top of the $7 million in bonds the city took out in 2021 for stormwater projects. Those dollars have gone to pay for the development of the stormwater master plan and for existing projects around the city, Moore said. City staff have already cleaned pipes around the city, and projects to improve pipes will begin soon. Weve got capacity issues with contractors. We can only put out so much work at a time, Moore said. Between Florence County, the South Carolina Department of Transportation and other state agencies, there are simply not enough contractors to go around, he said. The city already has the money allocated to the projects, he said. A common issue residents brought up at the meeting was the disconnect between the city of Florence and the state over stormwater infrastructure. Many residents said their yards flooded even after stormwater improvements were made because the state will not upgrade its own infrastructure under state roads. When they called the state, they were told it is the citys job to fix it. When they called the city, they were told it is the states job to fix it. Often, the state does not have the funds to fix every road, Jebaily said. The city is now stepping in to fix state infrastructure with its own money, but that still involves the state because the state owns it. Moore said most of the existing projects are being done on state stormwater infrastructure. Once complete, the master plan will also suggest ways to fix the stormwater system overall instead of patching things, which will lead to fewer inconsistencies, he said. If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). US Sentencing Commission releases another recidivism report examining "status points" in criminal history calculations | Main | Ohio Gov extends state's unofficial moratorium on executions June 27, 2022 SCOTUS ruling in Concepcion, while addressing crack cases, should also resolve circuit split on compassionate release factors There are many notable aspects to the Supreme Court's work this morning in Concepcion v. US, No. 20-1650 (S. Ct. June 27, 2022) (available here). The votes alone could justify many posts, with Justices Thomas and Gorsuch joining an opinion broadly praising broad district court sentencing discretion (citing historical cases for good measure), and with all the other conservative justices embracing a fairly impractical (and unjust) statutory construction without considering any statutory canons. More generally, in keeping with my prior complaints about the oral arguments in this case, I was struck that none of the opinions in Concepcion mention sentencing purposes or justice or fairness even once in a case that concerns efforts by Congress to give full effect to the Fair Sentencing Act through the FIRST STEP Act. The fundamental legal issue in Concepcion was whether a group of defendants (almost all of whom are persons of color) who have been serving, according to Congress, unjust and wrongful federal sentences for more than a dozen years should be limited in how they can now argue for more just and rightful sentences. And, given that the defendant in the case had already served 15 years (of a 19-year sentence) for a conviction based on selling a tablespoon of crack, there are an array of rich legal and human stories here that justify further attention. But, as the title of this post highlights, I am already thinking about what the Concepcion ruling means outside the crack context. Specifically, I think the decision resolves not only the circuit split surrounding crack resentencing cases, but also the circuit split surrounding what factors can serve as the basis for compassionate release after the FIRST STEP Act. Let me explain. As most recently highlighted via this post about a First Circuit ruling in February, there is a deep circuit split about whether non-retroactive changes in sentencing law may constitute "extraordinary and compelling reasons" for compassionate release. Ever the textualist, I have argued that non-retroactive changes in sentencing law can provide the basis for compassion release because nothing in the text of 3582(c)(1)(a) supports the contention that non-retroactive changes cannot ever constitute "extraordinary and compelling reasons" to allow a sentence reduction, either alone or in combination with other factors. But I believe the Third, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Circuits have all formally held otherwise. And yet, this language from the Supreme Court's opinion in Concepcion would seem to undercut any court efforts to invent extra-textual limits on sentencing or resentencing considerations: It is only when Congress or the Constitution limits the scope of information that a district court may consider in deciding whether, and to what extent, to modify a sentence, that a district courts discretion to consider information is restrained.... Federal courts historically have exercised this broad discretion to consider all relevant information at an initial sentencing hearing, consistent with their responsibility to sentence the whole person before them. That discretion also carries forward to later proceedings that may modify an original sentence. Such discretion is bounded only when Congress or the Constitution expressly limits the type of information a district court may consider in modifying a sentence.... The only limitations on a courts discretion to consider any relevant materials at an initial sentencing or in modifying that sentence are those set forth by Congress in a statute or by the Constitution.... Moreover, when raised by the parties, district courts have considered nonretroactive Guidelines amendments to help inform whether to reduce sentences at all, and if so, by how much.... Nothing express or implicit in the First Step Act suggests that these courts misinterpreted the Act in considering such relevant and probative information. All this language about a court's broad discretion not only at initial sentencing but also when considering a sentence modification is directly relevant to federal judges' consideration of so-called compassionate release motions. Concepcion makes plain, contrary to the problematic rulings of some circuits, that the "only limitation" on valid considerations are those in the Constitution or that Congress has expressly set forth. And thus the Supreme Court's textualist ruling here ought to not only benefit Carlos Concepcion, but also every federal prisoner moving for compassionate release on any and all possible grounds not expressly excluded by Congress or the Constitution. Prior related post: June 27, 2022 at 04:33 PM | Permalink Comments Professor, excellent argument that should persuade the courts. Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Jun 27, 2022 5:49:28 PM I have rock bottom expectations for this Court and can see them saying non-retroactive changes can't be part of determining an inmate's "eligibility" for a sentence reduction, but can be considered under the 3553(a) factors to deny or grant CR. That's what the Third, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth have held, I believe. I can see them looking back at Concepcion through those lens. Despite the good dicta you quoted, the issue in Concepcion seems to emphasis the post-"eligibility" analysis--i.e. once eligibility is shown, what can the court consider? But I hope you're right and that I'm wrong! Posted by: Tom Church | Jun 28, 2022 10:28:33 AM going to link to your analysis in a post on our blog, the Federal Docket, if that's alright with you! Posted by: Tom Church | Jun 28, 2022 10:29:10 AM Feel free to use my text in any way, Tom, and I understand your concerns about limits. But note some this key language from the Court: "It is only when Congress or the Constitution limits the scope of information that a district court may consider in deciding WHETHER, and to what extent, to modify a sentence, that a district courts discretion to consider information is restrained." Posted by: Doug Berman | Jun 28, 2022 11:15:31 AM Prof, I agree with you 100%. This was the first take away in my office after we read the opinion yesterday. It has far broader implications for 3582(c)(1)(A) motions. Most people who could file a Section 404 motion have already taken their shot. At least now you have a chance to try and re-open the door on 3583(c)(1)(A) in the 3rd, 7th, 8th, and 11th (6th is a mess and I wouldn't even bother there right now). Spot on analysis as per usual. Posted by: Zachary Newland | Jun 28, 2022 11:51:37 AM I'm filing an appeal to a compassionate release motion which was denied in the NDTX. I'm wondering - do you believe anything in this ruling speaks to the Circuits' "abuse of discretion" standard in reviewing compassionate release motions? Posted by: Liz | Jul 11, 2022 1:21:29 PM I am a Federally Retired United States citizen who has a loved one incarcerated who has petitioned the courts for compassionate release and reduction in sentencing. I just want to say how much I enjoy reading your blogs as it helps breakdown the law by all accounts. In regards to the July 11th Blog, this is what I summed up and you are welcome to tell me if I am on point because I am by no means a lawyer. Here it goes: Why do I get the feeling that some circuits are not trying to give defendants reduced sentences by justifying it with all this extra-textual bullshit. Are they not to focus on what Congress and the Constitution has already made clear that District Judges are allowed to reduce sentences based on ALL information to include the decisions made in the Concepcion case if you ask me. These Circuits are hung up on extra wording to make extraordinary and compelling appear less attractive because the circuits are just that ugly. Is the Third, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Circuit more powerful than Congress? New laws and decisions made by Congress and the Constitution ought to be enough to consider a matter extraordinary and compelling when Congress intervene about it. For a case to reach the heights of the Supreme Court is compelling and outstanding if you ask me!!! Smile Posted by: Regina Parker | Jul 13, 2022 1:35:12 PM Post a comment "Modernize the Criminal Justice System: An Agenda for the New Congress" | Main | US Sentencing Commission releases "geographic sentencing data" from FY22 April 26, 2023 "Gender, Violence, and the Death Penalty" The title of this post is the title of this new article available via SSRN authored by Sandra Babcock and Nathalie Greenfield. Here is its abstract: This article undertakes the first and only comprehensive analysis of gender-based violence (GBV) in the lives of all women currently on death row. We examine the prevalence of GBV and how it has shaped the lives and affected the criminal prosecutions of women facing execution. Our research reveals, for the first time, that almost every woman on death row in the United States has experienced GBV and that the great majority have experienced multiple incidents of GBV. Further, our research shows that both in the United States and around the world, defense attorneys frequently fail to present evidence of GBV in womens capital trials. When they do introduce such evidence, they fail to fully explain the nature of their clients victimization and the harm they have suffered as a result. Moreover, we show that prosecutors frequently rely on gendered tropes to discredit womens accounts of violence such as childhood sexual abuse, rape, and intimate partner violence. Consequently, those who sentence women to die rarely comprehend the extensive trauma that the women have endured throughout their lives, and how that trauma relates to their legal and moral culpability. April 26, 2023 at 04:40 PM | Permalink Comments Men are already discriminated against by the system as they make up an overwhelming majority on death row. Equity dictates that we need to increase the number of women on death row until they reach 51%. Its only fair. Posted by: TarlsQtr | Apr 26, 2023 8:34:14 PM Equity dictates we abolish capital punishment. It's only fair. Posted by: Anon | Apr 27, 2023 9:59:37 AM Post a comment 1.15 29% GDP2.7% IBM AI7800 90% 2108 University Hill 6%4.6% IMF4.6% CEO 2 10 20 0.09% 23% 3000 AI 51400 9.45%2% 56% 56%6% 17.48%11%2.12 31.4 61 5%3% 2.39%6% 1.15%2 106FRC 4210295 98.31% 525354 350375 University Hill1.65 23 MOORHEAD, Iowa Area Forester Jeff Seago described the number of trees that were burned by a recent fire in Loess Hills State Forest as "mind-blowing." The blaze downed many trees on April 13 and 14. Seago said some bur oak trees, which are between 40 and 50 feet tall, are "black clear to the top." He estimated that more than 100 acres of bur oak were "top-killed." "When we talk about fire in the forestry world, this one would be classified as a catastrophic stand replacing fire, which means the stand of trees that was there is replaced by a new stand of trees," Seago explained. "If we use that as our yardstick, you're looking at 100 to 125 years to get those bur oak back." Preparation Canyon Fire followup A pair of cyclists pedal past charred trees north of the Loess Hills Scenic Overlook along Oak Avenue in the Preparation Canyon Unit of the Lo More 3,700 total acres in Monona County were burned by the rapidly spreading fire, which began as a structure fire. Roughly 2,300 of the acres that were scorched are in the Loess Hills State Forest's Preparation Canyon Unit, a popular area for hiking, birdwatching and hunting. The forest, which is just north of the Little Sioux Scout Ranch, attaches directly to Preparation State Park. The park was largely unscathed, according to Seago. "There's a paved road running through there and we kept fire on the west side of the paved road. There were minor impacts on the state park property, but it might equal like four acres," said Seago, who is in the process of assessing damage to forest infrastructure, such as boundary fences, structures, trail signs and gateposts. He said the trails in the forest will remain closed until further notice. Preparation Canyon Fire followup Charred trees are shown just north of the Loess Hills Scenic Overlook in the Preparation Canyon Unit of the Loess Hills State Forest west of M At 3:30 p.m. on April 12, the Moorhead Fire Department was called to assist the Pisgah Fire Department with a structure fire near E-60 and Oak Avenue. From there, the fire continued to move north and led county officials to urge homeowners to be prepared to evacuate. No evacuation orders were ever issued. Due to the hilly terrain and windy conditions, special equipment, training and tactics were used to fight the blaze. Every fire department in Monona County responded to the fire and other agencies were called upon to assist. Volunteer fire departments and emergency management workers in Harrison County, as well as the Monona County Sheriff's Office, the Monona County Roads Department and local farmers provided aid. Preparation Canyon Fire followup Charred trees are shown just north of the Loess Hills Scenic Overlook in the Preparation Canyon Unit of the Loess Hills State Forest west of M By the evening of April 14, the blaze had been contained. Roughly 25 acres of eastern red cedar trees, which are considered a nuisance species in the area, were lost to crown fire, Seago said. A crown fire is a forest fire that spreads along treetops. "We probably lost an additional 50 acres of cedar trees because the fire burned so hot that it burned the cambium on those cedar trees. They're probably going to turn brown throughout the year," Seago said. "We're trying to get a plan in place to get that material removed to see if we can restore some of those areas back to prairie." Preparation Canyon Fire followup Charred trees are shown just north of the Loess Hills Scenic Overlook in the Preparation Canyon Unit of the Loess Hills State Forest west of M Preparation Canyon Fire followup Charred trees are shown just north of the Loess Hills Scenic Overlook in the Preparation Canyon Unit of the Loess Hills State Forest west of M Preparation Canyon Fire followup Charred trees are shown along Oak Avenue in the Preparation Canyon Unit of the Loess Hills State Forest west of Moorhead, Iowa, on Monday. Rocklin Manufacturing Co., 110 S. Jennings St., will receive the Treasure of Sioux City Award from the Sioux City Historic Preservation Commission at 3 p.m. May 19 at the Warrior Hotel. The date was incorrect in a story headlined "Sioux City prepares for Historic Preservation Week" on page A1 of the April 17 Sioux City Journal. FRESNO, Calif. A Sioux City man has been found guilty of murder in California. A Fresno, California, jury on Tuesday found Isaac Helms, 22, guilty of murder and second-degree robbery for a Sept. 26, 2019, robbery setup involving two other Sioux Cityans that resulted in the fatal shooting of a Fresno man. Helms faces a sentence of up to life in prison without parole. Sentencing was scheduled for June 27. Helms was charged with Precious Green, 22, and Hannah Haywood, 22, both of Sioux City, and Alexa Ramos, 23, of Firebaugh, California, and formerly of Sioux City. Green, Haywood, and Ramos all have pleaded guilty of second-degree robbery in exchange for the dismissal of the murder charge and their testimony against Helms at trial. They await sentencing. According to a story in the Fresno Bee, the three from Sioux City came to California to drop Haywood off in Firebaugh, where she was going to live with Ramos and attend college. A few days before the murder, the four were involved in a car crash. Without a car and believing the police were looking for them, they concocted a plan to make money by using a dating app to lure someone whom they could rob. The four set up a meeting with Tyrel Truss, 20, and while they were in a car, Helms used a stolen .22-caliber handgun to try and rob Truss, who refused to give them anything and threatened to kill them. The situation escalated, and Helms shot Truss from the backseat, the Fresno Bee reported. Helms, Green, Haywood and Ramos attempted to flee but were detained by officers dispatched to the scene. Detectives found the gun believed to have been used in the shooting, and Helms, Green, Haywood and Ramos were found in possession of Truss' items. Helms' attorney had argued the shooting was self-defense, according to the Fresno Bee. DES MOINES The Iowa Senate Ethics Committee chose not to take action on an ethics complaint against a GOP senator alleging a conflict of interest relating to a CO2 pipeline bill, but they did not fully dismiss it either. The complaint against Sen. Mike Bousselot of Ankeny, filed by progressive activist group Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI), stemmed from his decision not to schedule a subcommittee meeting on a bill that would have limited the eminent domain authority of carbon dioxide capture pipelines. The group alleged Bousselot has a conflict of interest because of his past work for Summit Agricultural Group the parent company of Summit Carbon Solutions, which is seeking a permit to build a CO2 pipeline across the state and his stint as former Gov. Terry Branstads chief of staff. Branstad is now a senior advisor for Summit Carbon. No further action on complaint The six-member ethics committee, divided evenly between Republicans and Democrats, voted unanimously on Wednesday to notify Bousselot that no further action will be taken unless further substantiating information is presented. The action is distinct from outright dismissing the complaint, and also from admonishing the lawmaker or beginning an investigation. The decision indicates the committee did not find a conflict of interest in Bousselots actions, but it leaves open the possibility of revisiting the question if more information is presented. The statute of limitations on ethics complaints is three years. Senator Bousselot has not worked for them for six years. So he has no financial stake investment with them, said committee chair Sen. Tom Shipley, a Republican from Nodaway. So if somebody has evidence to the contrary, then thats what wed look at. Group questions prior employment Iowa CCI has been urging Senate lawmakers to pass House File 565, which would require CO2 pipelines to obtain 90% of their route through voluntary sales before being granted authority to take land through eminent domain. Three pipelines are being proposed in the state, championed by the Iowa ethanol industry as vital for keeping the industry afloat. The pipelines would capture CO2 and ethanol plants and deposit it in reservoirs underground, taking advantage of federal tax credits and opening ethanol to low-carbon markets. Two pipeline companies, Summit and Navigator CO2 Ventures, have indicated intent to use eminent domain for their pipelines, while the third, Wolf Carbon Solutions, does not intend to use eminent domain. After the bill passed the House, Bousselot was assigned as chair of the three-member subcommittee on the bill, but a meeting was never held. Bousselot told the Cedar Rapids Gazette in March there was not enough time to get the bill through the legislative process before a deadline. The group making the complaint alleged Bousselots prior employment by Summit Agricultural Group and Branstad constitutes a conflict of interest. Bousselot was appointed Branstads chief of staff in 2015 after previously serving as a legal counsel, and was hired as a manager at Summit Agricultural Group in 2017. They also pointed to campaign donations from Summit CEO Bruce Rastetter and Branstad, who frequently donate to Republican candidates, as potential sources of influence. Rastetter made a $5,000 contribution to Bousselots campaign committee in 2022, and Branstad contributed $250. Sen. Pam Jochum, a Democrat from Dubuque, said Bousselot exercised questionable judgment, and at worst, engaged in the appearance of unethical conduct, and that he should have declined to be the bills subcommittee chair. She said having the subcommittee chair position presents a different level of influence compared to simply voting on a bill. Being a subcommittee chair or eventually floor manager is an official function of the Senate, which raises more serious questions than being one of 26 votes getting legislation over the line, she said. This is not a situation that any of us relish or wants to be in, but here we are. One member of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement was escorted out of the committee room by state troopers when he interrupted the meeting asking the senators to provide documents the group had requested. The group later said it requested communications between senators regarding the bill, but those documents are not subject to the states open records law. Bousselot: Frivolous and politically-motivated complaint In his response to the complaint, Bousselot said it was frivolous and politically motivated and filed by an extreme organization and failed political candidate. He noted Summit Carbon Solutions, the subsidiary of Summit Agriculture Group, did not exist when he worked for the parent company. He said the Senate ethics rules dictate a conflict of interest can only exist regarding current employment or monetary interest -- noting he has no financial stake in Summit or any other carbon pipeline company. This complaint proposes a standard as dangerous as it is ridiculous, he said in a statement on Wednesday after the committees decision. Alleging a violation for not acting on a piece of legislation is absurd in concept, limitless in its application, and impossible to adjudicate. The complaint is as preposterous and partisan as the organization who filed it. On Monday, May 1, at 3:30 p.m., the District 3 Representative is meeting with the South Sioux City Chamber of Commerce for a tour of the Norm Waitt Sr. YMCA facilities. "We are excited to share the vision for the new Early Learning & Youth Development Center, enabling us to serve even more children and provide them with the resources they need to thrive," Siouxland YMCA CEO Rhonda Robson said. "We are proud of the impact our programs and services have on the community and are excited to showcase the role the Y plays in building a stronger, healthier community for all." This is part of Say Yes to the Mess, a pop-up Slate series on the unsettled state of the American wedding in 2023. How to Do It is Slates sex advice column. Have a question? Send it to Stoya and Rich here. Its anonymous! Dear How to Do It, My fiancee of nearly two years asked me to stop having sex until our wedding day. Its not that far off (a few months) and Im sure I can jerk off to satisfy myself during that time, even though Im 100 percent not on board. But this request has angered me, and I am conflicted as to why that is and how to proceed. She has always been spiritual but now has decided, after nearly four years of awesome sex together, she wants to live her faith. I applaud that. But I am concerned this relationship rule change is just the first of many. I am not as religious as she is now or will be in the future, and I never will be. Is this just the first of many dynamic changes in our lives that I wont have a say in? How can I trust that she wont ask me to make other life changes that I do not agree with after were married? Will her growing faith, while I remain status quo, slowly erode our relationship? Some would say, If you truly loved her, youd be fine with waiting. Is that true? Am I being selfish for feeling so hurt, betrayed, and angered by this? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conflicted and Confused Dear Conflicted and Confused, People who would say If you truly loved her, youd be fine with waiting are people who prefer simple stories. You can, of course, be not OK with waiting because you love her and sex is part of the way you have expressed love up to this point. You can also on one hand love your partner and on the other, care about your own gratification. Those things are not necessarily at odds. What worries me here is how irrational her decision isas if a few months of chastity can absolve years of premarital sex; as if an all-knowing God could be duped by someone scrambling to put on the appearance of piety after living much differently. The God who will protect her in abstinence is the same God who watched over her while she was being sexually active. You cant reason with irrationality, and given the extent of it here, it might very well signal the future faith-based decisions that you fear. Advertisement I think instead of asking us the questions that you posed at the end of your letter, you should be asking them of your fiancee. Additionally: What does she imagine your mixed-faith dynamic will look like? Is she prepared for the tension over your dueling belief systems that youre already experiencing? Do you factor into her decision-making at all? It seems possible that she may regularly choose God over you. All the holiness in the universe may not prevent three from being a crowd in this case. Get the How to Do It Newsletter Sex advice from Rich and Stoya, plus exclusive letter follow-ups, delivered weekly. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Dear How to Do It, I am about to marry a wonderful man, Jake, an intelligent, hardworking entrepreneur. So patient, kind, and attentive to my needseverything Ive always wanted in a partner. Weve been together for over three yearslong distance for a couple of months, and then I moved across the country to live with him in his hometown. Life with Jake has been great, except for a couple of red flags. Advertisement Advertisement 1) About a year and a half ago, I saw a message from his ex-girlfriend pop up on his phone. Before confronting him, I checked his message historytexts were cleared, but the call history showed that for four months, there had been regular phone calls. He provided an explanation and I accepted it. I asked him if this was an innocent friendship, because I could get on board with that, but he said no, that she is emotionally volatile and he wants nothing to do with her. I asked him to not initiate contact with her for any reason moving forward and to tell me if she reaches out to him. Hes violated this agreement once (that I know of) and had some sort of weird reason; I was very upset, but since then, I havent seen any evidence of contact. He told me I can check his phone whenever I want. I do occasionally, but I told him I want to learn to trust in him and trust his privacy moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2) Jake has not been very interested in sex for the past six months or so, and when I politely inquired about his masturbation habits, he said he doesnt feel the need and apologized that his workweek has been so long and grueling that he hasnt had much energy for bedroom extracurriculars. Fine, I get it. Anyway, he loves Reddit, and sometimes when we scroll together, sexy soft-porn, big-boobed women pop up, and he always acts surprised. I told him I dont care if he looks at porn, that its fine and sometimes I do it too, but I would like to increase our sexual activity in general. 3) Last month, I went to our desktop computer to do some work, and I randomly checked his search history. I saw that he was frequently visiting a folder that had screenshots of some of this Reddit porn BUT also a few innocent screenshots of other women he dated in the past (fully-clothed selfies, smiling seductively). One of these screenshots was via a text message dated a couple of months ago of her at some Christmas party AND within this folder was a subfolder of old naked pictures of the ex-girlfriend previously mentioned, and he was opening this folder on average about once a week. I think the pictures are old, years before we met, but at least one of them looks like a more recent screenshot of them on FaceTime. I showed him what I found and explained that looking at porn (fine by me) and looking at naked pictures of his ex-girlfriend (wtf) are completely different and the fact that he chooses to do that regularly instead of having sex with me makes me feel worried about the health of our relationship. He was ashamed and permanently deleted those photos from his computer. I also told him I want to go to couples therapy. He has agreed, but so far we havent had time to make that happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I literally cannot imagine him having sex with other women during our relationship. It goes against everything I know about his character and his heart. Yet I know, after listing these details, that everyone is going to insist that the evidence is there. Am I an idiot to believe him when he says he hasnt cheated on me? And even if the worst is confirmed, am I stupid for wanting to go forward with the wedding anyway and continue to build our life together? He is an amazing partner in every other way. Hesitant Bride-to-Be Dear Hesitant Bride-to-Be, Hes an amazing partner in every way other than his lying and obfuscation. Just like people on the Titanic experienced a nice cruise except for that whole crashing-into-an-iceberg thing. Right? While I appreciate specificity and good faith, you cant really separate the wreckage from the bigger picture. Jake told you he wanted nothing to do with his ex, and yet he had been talking to her on the phone regularly, violated his agreement not to do so moving forward, and is looking at pictures of her, presumably for masturbation purposes. Hes providing none of the nuance you so generously have extended to your reading of him. Hes giving you a black-and-white story and then living in the gray. Theres a very clear disconnect between what hes presenting and what hes doing, and I think that is a much bigger issue than the overtly sexual issues here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most generous reading of Jake that I can muster is that hes effectively non-monogamous in his leanings and hes having a hard time expressing thismaybe its shame; maybe transgression is part of the fun; maybe, like many men, verbalizing feelings didnt play a big (if any) role in his socialization, so he never really developed the skills to do so. But hes nonetheless sending you messages about his inclinations, and I dont expect the messages to stop (or come via a more ethical method of delivery) without a real reckoning, which would require transparency on his part. I dont think offering his phone for your surveillance countsthis could just indicate that hes gotten more sophisticated at hiding his transgressions. Maybe clearing texts was just the tip of the you-know-what. Advertisement Advertisement Whether he has or hasnt cheated is nothing I could determine from what youve written here, but its my belief that the worst part of cheating is the dishonesty. Hes already shown himself to be plenty dishonest and for opportunistic reasons. I dont think youre stupid for wanting to follow your heart, but I do think your heart is on a foolish path. Given everything youve gleaned so far, you have to ask yourself what you would do if he did cheat. You should also ask yourself if you could tolerate an open arrangement, as that might satisfy Jakes apparent interest in novelty and contact with other women. If not, this probably isnt the relationship for you. Hes already told you he would change and then didnt. What has he done to warrant your unwavering faith in him? Advertisement Help us keep giving the advice you crave every week. Sign up for Slate Plus now. Dear How to Do It, Both of us have waited to have sex for our wedding day. Its soon, and I have no idea how to proceed on the night of. I dont really know what to say or even what to ask you. I just kind of need to know everything. Where do you start? How do I keep my wedding night from being awkward? Clueless Dear Clueless, Mmm, this question has an interesting harmony with our first letter. I hear angels singing. One of the big issues with the wait-until-marriage standard to which you and your fiance adhere is that it tends to come with the expectation that you will suddenly be ready and equipped to do everything in one night after doing absolutely nothing (or something like nothing interpretations of the concept of virginity vary). In a less restrictive environment, you can experiment as you go, at your own pace, and learn by trying, thereby cultivating your sexual taste. There neednt be a question of where to start because you can start wherever you like and there isnt a societal imperative such as monogamy and immediate breeding upon marriage weighing on your sexual development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Id say try to replicate that. No matter what is driving you to wait to have sex till your wedding day, the rules are probably less restrictive on talking about sex before that, so start there. Discuss what youre both potentially into. What do you want to try? What do you even know? Sex with someone you love (or even dont know) can be an extension of your communication, so get the bedrock ready well before you go to bed and talk about it. If something like intercourse is daunting or otherwise uninteresting to one of you, take it off the tableeven though movies and other greater cultural models say that when you wait until your wedding night, your genitals will automatically magnetize to each other, it really need not be the case. Advertisement I dont have the space to tell you everything you need to know if you dont actually know anything about sex. I cant tell you everything about how to do it herethats spread over more than four years worth of columns. The very basics: Set and setting (that is, a good mindset and comfortable environment) are key, and consent rules. You cant do anything your partner doesnt want, and you should create an atmosphere of open and honest communication. Advertisement For other basics, you can try Scarleteen, the sex-ed website that has a lot of thorough walkthroughs (you could start at Whats Sex? and work your way through other topics). One trusted book for beginner-level sex education is Hannah Wittons Doing It, so you could try that as well. Of course, The Joy of Sex is a classic for a reason. Heed the words of the title and find joy in what you dopressured, obligatory sex is not the way to get there. So take your time and find what youre into, and if it doesnt happen on your wedding night, its truly not a big deal. You and your spouse have the rest of your shared life ahead of you to play. Advertisement Advertisement Dear How to Do It, A few years ago, my husband snooped on my phone and read through all of my text messages. We had a little argument but both admitted that, if given the chance, we would snoop on each others devices. I typically just read up on the latest texts between him and his ex-fiancee. They were on-again, off-again for years until he met me. She is a serial cheater, hooking up with the next guy before dumping the current one. My husband made it clear on our third date that he wont let anyone tell him he cant be friends with her. Advertisement Advertisement They text each other about once a week. She frequently complains about her new husband and tells him she is doomed to be alone, he is her best friend, she misses him, and she wishes they could hang out. (They dont hang out anymore.) I confronted him about one of their text interactions a couple of years ago. She sent him a picture of when they were together and told him they look good together. He agreed and changed the subject. I told him we both know she was testing to see if she has a chance with him again and his answer should have been Im happy with my wife. I thought he would shut her down the next time, but tonight I found two texts that really upset me. After complaining again about her current husband, she told MY husband that they should have just waited things out together and gotten married. His reply was Mhmm. Then, on another day, she did the thing again of sending a photo of the two of them together and, this time without prompting, he told her that the photo made him happy. Advertisement Advertisement Which, for the first time, made me decide to delve into his photos on the cloud. There they were, a folder with pictures and videos of his nude exes. He has always insisted on deleting all nudes that I send to him, after taking a look. But these photos he has saved for over a decade! I was so upset at this point that I deleted them. The way I saw it, if he notices theyre gone, that means he was actively using them to masturbate. If he doesnt notice theyre gone, that means he saved them over a decade ago and just hasnt bothered to clean up his files since meeting me. I cant help feeling as if Ive done something wrong by deleting them, but on the other hand, Im his wife! The texts were upsetting, the photos and video even more so. I dont know if I should ignore their texts for now and just continue keeping an eye on them, or confront him again. I know hes not physically cheating on me, and I feel like they dont talk enough for this to be an emotional cheating either. He shows me on a daily basis how much he loves me. Its obvious that he has chosen me. Her texts show that if he wanted to be with her, he could. She was his first serious relationship, and I hate to admit this, but they were together during his happier youthful years. Naturally, hes going to be nostalgic about it. I also think her constant praise and hitting on him are beneficial to his self-esteem. (I know for a fact he isnt the only man she is texting.) Was I wrong to delete the nudes of his exes? Should I confront him about their texts, or is he just being nostalgic and getting a much-needed ego boost? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Equal-Opportunity Snooper Dear Equal-Opportunity Snooper, I cant fault your logicyour test to determine whether he uses/cares about those pics is clever. However, heres what I dont like about you deleting his texts: Youve added an element of destruction into your dynamic. With very few exceptions, a persons property is for them to manage, and when you go ahead and violate that, youre setting a tone. It would be terrible if he destroyed your property, right? Say during an argument he smashed something of yoursa vase, or even your computerbecause now, as a couple, you do that sort of thing? Certain lines arent worth crossing simply because you dont want to bring anyone over to that side. When you do things that are irreversible, sometimes people retaliate in kind. Advertisement But whats done is done. Hes not going to have much of an argument to push back with anyway, even if he does notice the pictures are gone and knows youre the one who made them go away. Whether you want to confront him further is up to you, but you should pick a side. If you can see a situation for what it is and feel that, despite its violation of your rules, its no actual threat to you, sometimes it really pays to be the bigger person and just let things be what they are. Im always going to favor letting the practical guide your actions over principles (especially the principles that are for principles sake). You could compromise and have the conversation, going into it with this accepting attitude. You can ask some pointed questions to ensure that your suspicions are correct and then tell him that you accept him talking to his ex for nostalgic and ego-fluffing purposes. It would be an incredibly generous way to allow him some leeway and expand your relationships purview beyond strictly monogamous ideals. If youre actually OK with thattake some time and make sure you arethats probably going to be a path to harmony. Rich Classic Prudie I wouldnt have been able to go to my half sisters wedding due to a work conflict. I wanted to show my support, so I bought her an expensive Hawaiian honeymoon package. Only a month before the wedding, the lovebirds broke up due to rampant cheating on both sides. This has caused our father a lot of embarrassment and cost a pretty penny. I managed to transfer the vacation package back to myself and made plans to go with a friend. It is nonrefundable, and my boss would be happier I dont take off Christmas. Only now my half sister is freaking out. Every couple has one core fight that replays over and over again, in different disguises, over the course of their relationship. In this series, couples analyze the origins and mechanics of their One Fight. To pitch your own One Fight (well also accept pseudonyms, if necessary), email us at humaninterest@slate.com. Tanya and Thomas have been married for a year and a half. They live in Denver. They previously discussed this fight on John Hodgmans podcast. This is part of Say Yes to the Mess, a pop-up Slate series on the unsettled state of the American wedding in 2023. Advertisement Tanya: It was 2021 when the proposal incident happened. Wed been together for about two and a half years. We were sitting on the couch in the house we bought together, and I was reading an article in the New York Times about how all the wedding venues were getting booked up because of the pandemic. The gist was basically that if you were even so much as thinking about getting married, you needed to book something now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You and I had casually talked about marrying each other, and as a planner, I took the article very seriously. So, I turned to you and said, Do you want to get married? Thomas: I did! So I said yes to your proposal. Advertisement Tanya: It was not a proposal! Thomas: Yes, it was! You asked if I wanted to get married. Tanya: No, I was confirming whether you wanted to get married in general. It was a logistics questionI was asking if it was a benchmark we should be planning for. Thats not a proposal. Thats a discussion. Thomas: Seemed like a proposal to me. Tanya: A real proposal is a commonly phrased Will you marry me? The will you is operativeit signals that the question is a proposal, not a logistical quandary. People dont just casually say, Do you want to get married? Proposals are also intentional. This was not! We were sitting on the couch. I was in my pajamas, thinking about organization and preparation. It was not thoughtfully planned out! If I was going to propose to you, it wouldnt have been like that. Advertisement Thomas: Well, I, for one, was very excited. When you asked me if I wanted to get married, I didnt even think about itI just said yes. I knew that we loved each other very much. Wed already established that we were both interested in marriage. Plus, we owned a house together, and you were looking at wedding venues, so this just seemed like a natural progression. I was happy. Advertisement Tanya: Since I had no idea Id proposed to you, I just blankly said OK and went back to reading. I thought nothing of it. I didnt text my friends. I didnt tell my family. I just went about my business, assuming that one day, one of us would propose, wed get engaged, and a wedding would follow. I had zero awareness that you took that seriously. Advertisement Advertisement Thomas: Later that day, I called my mom and told her we were engaged. She was very happy. She said Id never seemed happier than with you in my life. Tanya: For a day or two, you kept calling me your fiancee. I thought you were joking. When you called your mom to tell her we were engaged, I was like, Ha, yeah, whatever, Thomas. Youre quite funny, and youre always doing bitsespecially punsso I thought you were just playing around. Meanwhile, while you were telling people we were engaged, I was calling my parents to ask about Hindu wedding requirements. Part of a Hindu ceremony requires an open flame, so I wanted to know if they had any thoughts about the right type of venue. To my surprise, my brother called me the next day, enraged. Hed heard that you and I were engaged and discussing wedding venueshe was so upset I hadnt told him. My brother and I are very close, and we tell each other everything. He couldnt believe I hadnt come to him with the big news. I was like, What are you talking about? We are not engaged! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When he asked me to explain, I told him that you and I had simply been looking at venues and Id asked you if you wanted to get married. My brother was like, OK, youre an idiot. You proposed to him. Youre engaged. Thats about the time I had a full-on breakdown. I burst into tears. Snot was pouring out of my nose. It wasnt pretty. I was so confused. In my mind, I hadnt proposed, but everyone thought I had. I was the last person to know! Thomas: It was so hilarious and cute when you started crying. I had to document the moment and started taking pictures. Advertisement Tanya: I was just upset because Im the type of person who obsessively prepares for things. Im an academic. I do research, I organize, I plan. When you and I first started dating, I literally kept a list of all the dates we went on, including how long they lasted and what we did. It would be totally unlike me to let such a consequential question fly off the cuff. Advertisement Were I to propose for real, I would have been detailed and considerate about it. I probably wouldnt have gotten down on one knee or anything, but Id at least be wearing something other than pajamas! But I never got the chance to do it properly, and now we were supposedly engaged. It wasnt that I wasnt happyI was thrilled to be getting married to you. I just didnt think the proposal counted, and the whole situation was just nuts. Advertisement Thomas: In my defense, that night I did propose to you. I got down on one knee and said, I dont have a ring, but I can give you my heart. Tanya: Yes, but that was a pity proposal! I was sobbingI thought you were just doing that to get me to stop crying. Advertisement Of course, we did eventually get married at the courthouse on October 23, 2021. In a lot of ways, it was as nontraditional as the proposal. We had our dogs put their paw prints on the witness lines of our marriage certificate, and we blended some Hindu elements in. Your mom Zoomed in. But even though were married, we can never agree on the proposal thing, so we actually took the issue to Judge John Hodgman, who has a podcast where he settles issues once and for all. Im a huge fan of the show. When I heard they were coming to Denver, you and I decided to submit our case for the live show. Instead, we got picked for a whole episode! The judge decided that there was a reasonable misunderstanding. Although he was incredulous that I didnt realize how you could have interpreted it as a proposal, he ruled that I didnt knowingly propose and gave me an opportunity to intentionally propose on the show! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be fair, you did try to propose to me a few months afterwards. You even gave me the most amazing charm for my charm bracelet (there was no ring). I think it was sweet, but I remember almost none of it! I honestly never even heard you ask me to marry you, so I didnt think that counted either. Thomas: Oh, that one definitely counted! I dont see how you missed it, but I also get it: Neither of us are big on grand gestures. We show our love and appreciation in small ways, by doing things that only you or I would understand. It makes sense that us proposing to each other wouldnt look like most peoples proposals. We tend to do things our own way. Advertisement Tanya: As I mentioned, Im Hindu, and I come from a culture where arranged marriages are common and proposals arent really a thing. Ive always been fairly aromantic, and I was never interested in marriage or partnership to begin with. I never envisioned myself in a relationship before I met you, so its not like I was sitting around dreaming of classic American proposals to begin with. Advertisement Im also sort of uninterested in the gender roles of those proposals. I feel like theres this assumption that things happen to women, as opposed to them making things happen themselves. That didnt appeal to me, my perfect proposal was never a guy getting down on one knee, handing me a diamond. That whole concept was just so foreign me that it never felt real. And for you, a proposal could have been anything you felt was sincere from a partner. Advertisement Thomas: Right. I was never interested in doing things the traditional way either, which is why this all felt special. Advertisement Tanya: And for a long time, there was nothing Id have done differently about it. I loved that things happened our way. We both got the result we wanted, after all. But I started to feel differently in February of 2023, when my mom passed away. She always wanted a big, traditional wedding for me because she never got to have one herself. She and my dad had a love marriage, and most of their family didnt support it. She didnt have a grand ceremony. There were no rings. There werent many bridal gifts. Her in-laws didnt accept her. So when she heard you and I were getting married and she saw how good our relationship was, she felt incredibly proud. She really wanted a wedding that showed people how important I was to others, because she never felt that way. She wanted to show people my ring, and she wanted me to have an engagement moment. Of course, thats not quite what happened. You and I just just went around for a while with you thinking we were engaged and me thinking we werent. I was just like, Oh, were planning to get married. And we did start to planwe just did so with different ideas about how we got there. Ultimately, I think I ended up with an incredible engagement moment. I wish I could have shared the podcast episode with my mom. Thomas: Its sort of a strange story, but its our story. Neither you or I really care what people think of us, and were not particular about traditions or conventions. We were both happy being solo before we met. Neither of us had any grand ideations about marriage or proposals to begin with, so were thrilled to have done things our way. Tanya: We had a friend sum it up best: This would never happen to anyone other than you guys. SLATE ELECTION NEWS STORYPREWRITTEN APRIL 2023PRINT WHEN POLLS CLOSE ON NOV. 5, 2024, OR THEREAFTER Incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden has won reelection over Republican challenger Donald Trump, major networks and newspapers [DELETE IF NEWSPAPERS NO LONGER EXIST] are projecting. In the end, despite speculation about the possibility that the race would be impacted by [ADJUST AS NEEDED] the candidates health problems / Tucker Carlsons third-party candidacy / the recent attack on the Eastern Seaboard by lizard people and giant spiders, the matchup between Biden, Trump, and their running mates (Vice President Kamala Harris and Belgian actor/kickboxer Jean-Claude Van Damme, respectively) ultimately proved a predictable one, as a polarized and stalemated American political electorate delivered Biden a small but safe victory. [CUT SAFE IN EVENT OF NAZI RIOTS] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The win has been officially in the making since Tuesday, April 25, 2023, when Biden announced, in a three-minute video, that he would run for reelection: Advertisement The video asked Americans not to believe in a better future, but to finish the job of fighting off MAGA Trump Republicanismin effect leveling with a public that has continued to ask itself, ad nauseam, Am I stuck in 2020? At that point, despite the election still being some 18 months away, the likely outcome of the race felt established to a degree rarely seen in presidential cycles. Advertisement Despite tepid approval ratings and concerns about his age81 as of election nightit had been all but assured since the Democrats strong 2022 midterm performance that Biden would be the partys nominee. He did face token competition from fringe candidates Marianne Williamson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose candidacy was deflated when [ADJUST AS NEEDED] he contracted COVID / QAnon cultists accused him of being his own father in disguise / early supporter and fellow vaccine skeptic Aaron Rodgers emerged from a second cave retreat to announce that he planned to start following the consensus advice of the medical community, wanted to act more normal again in general, and under no circumstances would be playing any more games for the New York Jets. Advertisement Advertisement On the other side of the aisle, the situation was only slightly more complicated. Despite having been indicted in early 2023 for falsifying records related to a payment he made to pornographic actress Stormy Danielsand facing further indictment for conspiring to commit election fraud in 2020 and hiding classified documents in a hall closetTrump was still the GOP primarys front-runner at the time of Bidens announcement and would remain so. While media and donor attention initially pegged Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a potential alternate nominee, Trumps popularity with the MAGA base proved too persistent to overcome as he buried the charisma-challenged DeSantis with a series of personal attacks and derisive references to an incident during which DeSantis reportedly ate pudding with his fingers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, as of April 2023, Trump had already opened up a 37 percent polling lead over DeSantis, who at that time was also, according to the New York Times, on the verge of losing the backing of influential billionaire donor Ken Griffin. And yet, despite his hold on his party, Trumps reputation with swing voters would prove too toxic to repaira political reality that was already evident at the time of Bidens announcement video, and was emphasized in its choice of subject matter. While reelection campaigns are often premised on celebrating an incumbents accomplishments, the Biden announcement instead revolved around examples of right-wing extremismthe Jan. 6 riots, post-Roe abortion bans, the removal of books about racism from school libraries, and moreassociated in the median voters mind with Trump and his allies. [CHANGE IF WHITE HOUSE UPDATES ITS MESSAGE IN ANY MEASURABLE SENSE] Advertisement While Bidens own popularity would remain limited throughout the race by a so-so economy and the gravitational long-term trends of American politics, independent voters in crucial states like Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin simply viewed his opponent as too unlikable and too chaotic of a presence to vote for. (As the Washington Posts Philip Bump put it, Bidens goal in seeking reelection was always to win an unpopularity contest over Trump and the Republicans.) The GOP electorate did not help matters, of course, by renominating Trumpnor did Trump help himself by focusing his platform on [ADJUST AS NEEDED] restricting transgender rights / voting-machine conspiracy theories / the National Basketball Associations alleged bias against white players / the role of wokeness in triggering giant spider attacks and other niche issues. Polls currently show that 97 percent of Republican voters believe that Trump should be nominated again in 2028. Millions of Americans were using telehealth company and prescription drug provider GoodRxyet probably didnt know that it was sharing their prescription medications and health conditions with Facebook, Google, and other third parties. The adult and child users of a popular family safety app likely didnt realize that the company was quietly selling their location data. These and many other cases have a common thread: data brokerage, or the multibillion-dollar, virtually unregulated ecosystem of companies collecting, inferring, aggregating, and then selling and sharing Americans data. Advertisement Data brokers have been around for years. These companies have not received as much attention as the Facebooks and Googles (or TikToks) of the worldbut theres some indication that that may be changing. Last week, I testified in a congressional hearing on the subject, which ended up being a strongly bipartisan discussion of an underexplored privacy problem that affects hundreds of millions of Americans. U.S. data brokers surreptitiously gather and sell personal information ranging from peoples health and mental health conditions to their income and credit score, political affiliation, and smartphone locations. For example, Arkansas-based data broker Acxiom advertises data on 2.5 billion people worldwide. Health insurance companies, financial institutions, marketers, law enforcement agencies, criminal scammers, abusers, and other actors can buy these prepackaged data sets to profile, track, and target the people in them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data brokers acquire information about people in three main ways. Many brokers gather information on individuals directly, such as by acquiring companies, apps, and websites that collect information on people, which is then fed into data brokers databases. These companies also sometimes pay app developers to include their software development kits, SDKs, or pre-made software toolkits, in appswhich then allows the broker to sit within the apps and siphon data on users. When a user installs an app, they might agree to the app accessing their phones location or contacts without realizing that a data broker SDK is acquiring that data too. The second collection vector is indirect. Data brokers will scrape public records, including voting registries and property records, to acquire data points like home address and phone number. People-search or white pages websites are data brokers that scrape these records, extract the data, and post it online for search and sale. Indirect collection also includes data brokers paying app developers to sell data on their own users (without bothering to include data broker SDKs in their apps). For example, Life360, marketed as a family safety app, was selling location data about its parent and child users to data brokers (and in 2020 made about 20 percent of its revenue from that activity, according to reporting by the Markup). Advertisement Advertisement The third way brokers get data is through inferenceusing algorithms and other techniques to predict data points they havent technically gathered, such as using purchase and ZIP code data to make predictions about household income. The practice of inference means that information that consumers may have never typed into a form, and have no idea is collected by data brokers, is for sale on the open market. Sometimes inference is simple, like seeing which apps are installed on a device. If someone has a Christian news app or a Muslim prayer app on their phone, thats likely a strong indicator of their religion. The presence of LGBTQ+ dating apps on a phone, similarly, is likely a strong indicator that said person belongs to the LGBTQ+ community. A data broker could purchase user lists from the app, or acquire data about a devices app downloads another way, and use that single data point to mark down a persons religion and sexual orientation, which it can then sell. Other times, inference could be more complex: Part of the invasiveness of gathering location data is that it can be used to follow individuals as they visit medical facilities, divorce attorneys, payday loan offices, gay bars, places of worship, their childrens school, and much more. Data brokers with thousands of data points on a single individual can also build models to derive additional information from that data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The harms of this data collection, inference, and sale are clear. Data brokers have for decades scraped public records and published Americans home addresses and other information for search and sale online. Abusive individuals have then bought this data and used it to hunt down and stalk, harass, intimidate, assault, and even murder other people, predominantly women and members of the queer community. These companies have also for years sold data to criminal scammers, who then targeted groups such as World War II veterans and stole millions of dollars from elderly Americans and people with Alzheimers. Health insurance companies have purchased data from data brokersincluding data on race, education level, marital status, net worth, social media posts, payments of bills, and moreto profile consumers and predict the costs of providing health care to those people. Selling data on people suffering from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, attention disorder, and more threatens to enable incredibly predatory targeting of people who already face stigma and barriers to accessing mental health care. Scammers have bought payday loan applicants financial information, which at least one data broker illegally sold, to steal millions of dollars from those people. Law enforcement and security agencies have purchased broker data on U.S. citizens, ranging from home utility data to real-time locations, without warrants, public disclosure, and robust oversight. Advertisement Advertisement Although brokers gather, infer, and sell data about hundreds of millions of people in the United States, their activity is largely unregulated. For example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, often referred to as the U.S. health privacy law, applies only to certain covered entities (including health care providers and health care clearinghouses) and their business associates. If you tell your doctor your throat hurts, they cant write that up and sell it on the street corner; in kind, if your hospital makes a mobile app to schedule appointments, that is also HIPAA-covered. But HIPAA does not cover many apps, websites, data brokers, social media companies, advertising technology startups, and other actors that do not have business relationships with covered entities. Hence, its entirely legal for a non-HIPAA-covered mental health app to collect data on 14 to 17 year olds with depression and then sell that information, with names attached, to all kinds of third parties. Some prescription drug providers could even legally sell your prescription information, so long as they are not doing so deceptively, at which point there is no way for you to know whats happening with the data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The harms and risks affect every American, but they fall hardest on vulnerable populations, including Black and brown communities, the poor, elderly Americans, people with Alzheimers and dementia, survivors of gendered violence, pregnant people, kids, people with mental health conditions, and veterans afflicted by trauma or struggling to make ends meet. Last Congress, the American Data Privacy Protection Act received strong bipartisan support and, by many accounts, was the closest the U.S. legislature had ever come to passing a comprehensive privacy law. Debates about a newly introduced version are ongoing. On top of putting controls on data brokerage in a comprehensive privacy law, the U.S. needs specific, total bans on the sale of health and location data, which are incredibly intimate to individuals, easily linked to specific people, and highly susceptible to abuse. This should be paired with legislation to stop data brokers from using inference to circumvent those controlsmaking nonsensical semantic distinctions to comply with the law but still derive health data or location data anyway. Advertisement The shadowy collection, inference, and sale of data on Americans has gone on for far too long. While there are some personal-information deletion services that consumers can use to get their information removed from people-search websitestemporarily and partially at bestthose services cannot help individuals remove their information from privately held data broker databases (except, in a few narrow cases, in California and other states with privacy laws). But the real point is simple: The burden should not be on individuals to fight an opaque, multibillion-dollar surveillance industry. Congress needs to act, or the harms to Americans will only persist. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. WASHINGTON (April 25, 2023)Maryland Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen have joined 19 of their colleagues in introducing legislation that would prohibit members of Congress, their spouses and dependent children from trading stocks. "Ethics matter. Members of Congress are public servants who should not be making a profit off of the official information we gain by doing our jobs," Cardin said in a statement. The Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act was introduced last week by Democratic Sens. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Sherrod Brown of Ohio. "Members of Congress have a responsibility to act in the best interest of the American peoplenot their personal financial portfolios," Van Hollen said in a statement. "By removing any financial conflicts of interest and increasing transparency, Congress can better serve our constituents and uphold the public trust." Identical legislation was introduced in the House by Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois, and Michael Cloud, R-Texas. In January, a bipartisan group of House members reintroduced the Transparent Representation Upholding Service and Trust in Congress (TRUST) Act. The bill would ban members of Congress from trading stocks while in office, but still would permit them to put certain assets in a blind trust. Supporters of the bill ranged from Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, to Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The Project On Government Oversight (POGO), a nonpartisan watchdog organization, backs the ETHICS Act. "It's, frankly, a class divide," Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, POGO government affairs manager, told Capital News Service. "If you're a wealthier member of Congress, you're often a little bit more opposed to these kinds of things because you have a lot more to lose from these restrictions." Hedtler-Gaudette said restricting lawmakers from trading stocks has broad public support, which could increase the likelihood of the bill's passage. A poll conducted by the Trafalgar Group found that 70 percent of Democrats, 78 percent of Republicans and nearly 80 percent of independents say members of Congress should not be allowed to trade stocks. "People need to have confidence that policymakers are making decisions about what's best for the country, not what's best for their stock portfolios," Brown said in a press conference last Tuesday. Although stock trading is not currently prohibited, members of Congress are required to publicly file and disclose any financial transaction within 45 days of its occurrence, according to a law passed by lawmakers and signed by President Barack Obama in 2012. That law, called the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act, currently requires members of Congress to pay $200 for every 30 days that they fail to comply with the rules. The ETHICS Act would change the fine to $500 per case when a member of Congress does not comply with the STOCK Act. Unable to stop the cascade of anti-LGBT attacks flowing from a Republican-dominated statehouse in Tallahassee, the fight moves to the courts and organizing for a contentious election year in 2024. At stake is a chance to vote out Sen. Rick Scott and wrest back some seats in the state legislature and deny Republicans a continuing supermajority. But that takes money and awareness. Both are evident in the list of recipients of the Our Fund Foundation and Community Foundation of Browards LGBTQ+ Social Justice & Equity Funders Collaborative Awards. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars was doled out to eight nonprofits that support social equity and civil liberties of LGBT in Broward County. Grants ranged between $29,000-$50,000. The groups formed the project last year in the face of growing animus towards LGBT in South Florida. This is a distressing time for all of us, not just those who identify as LGBTQ+, said David Jobin, president and CEO of The Our Fund Foundation. With our state and national politicians launching hateful attacks against the gay community and vowing to repeal our basic civil liberties, it is critical to the well-being of all Broward residents that we work collectively to end discrimination against all people. 2023 LGBTQ+ Social Justice & Equity Funders Collaborative Grant Recipients Include: -Equality Florida Safe & Healthy Schools in Broward -YES Institute Inclusive Futures in Broward County -American Civil Liberties Union Ensuring Healthcare & Education Without Erasure for LGBTQ+ People in Broward and Beyond -Barry University Project Transcend - Transcending Disinformation & Bias to Protect Trans Health Care in Broward County. Project Transcend addresses threats to gender-affirming care for trans/non-binary people -Hued Songs Building Belonging: An Artist Residency for Change -Museum of Discovery and Science MODS Inclusivity Initiative -Ujima Mens Collective BROTHAS Project -World AIDS Museum and Educational Center Fighting Stigma and Building Community Through the Arts For nearly four decades, support for LGBTQ+ residents has been integral to the Community Foundations work to champion diversity, equity and inclusion in Broward, Community Foundation President/CEO Jennifer OFlannery Anderson, Ph.D said. This must be a place where everyone feels welcome and has a real opportunity to thrive. Vague new pedestrian crossing law, why yoga is a universal language, and a ranking of developers. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, April 26 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes. Measles warning after fall in vaccinations Infectious disease experts warn against the return of measles epidemic. (Source: Adobe Stock) Infectious disease experts have warned of possible measles epidemics in Slovakia as vaccination rates in some parts of the country dip below the threshold needed for collective immunity to be maintained. Measles is not a simple childhood disease and can be fatal, experts point out. Since the beginning of 2023, five cases of measles have been confirmed in Slovakia. Lingering Covid pandemic concerns, a global increase in the rejection of vaccinations, and fears of potential side effects might have contributed to a recorded dip in vaccinations against measles, mumps and rubella, says chief hygienist Jan Mikas. More stories from The Slovak Spectator website TRAFFIC: Proposed law on pedestrian crossings criticised. Similar proposal in the Czech Republic designed to make it safer for pedestrians had the opposite effect. CHURCH: In this temple, one feels like in the bowels of a ship. It is also home to a remarkable confessional. OPINION: Yoga finds you wherever you are. It is like a universal language that makes you feel at home anywhere. ADVERTORIAL: How will the EUs new green buildings law affect the construction market in Slovakia? If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you. FEATURE STORY FOR WEDNESDAY Bratislava developers dominate New residential and office projects change the skyline of Bratislava. (Source: TASR) In 2022, real estate market conditions changed significantly. Who built most and who sold most? Has power among developers shifted? Our ranking of the largest residential developers, compiled by The Slovak Spectator as part of The Largest in Business series of rankings, answers these questions. EVENT FOR THURSDAY Korben Dallas starts spring tour video //www.youtube.com/embed/1hOqOJp8ECI Bratislava-based band Korben Dallas is starting a spring tour to promote its latest album, Deti Ryb (Children of the fish). The group is playing at the Pink Whale venue on the river Danube in Bratislava tomorrow. In addition to songs from the new release, Korben Dallas will also perform their best-known hits. More information in Slovak here. In other news Checks on Slovakia's borders with Austria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and at international airports will be carried out between May 24 and June 8 for security reasons during the Globsec 2023 conference. between May 24 and June 8 for security reasons during the Globsec 2023 conference. Slovakia's recovery plan is to be updated. The volume of money to be provided for its original five areas will decrease by over 500 million, while a new chapter called 'REPowerEU' amounting to 403 million will be added. This will reduce the total sum allocated for Slovakia slightly to 6.410 billion. The volume of money to be provided for its original five areas will decrease by over 500 million, while a new chapter called 'REPowerEU' amounting to 403 million will be added. This will reduce the total sum allocated for Slovakia slightly to 6.410 billion. Industrial spaces developer Panattoni is to build a 40,000 square-metre logistics park on the outskirts of Levice , southeastern Slovakia, creating 300 jobs. Construction will begin in autumn. 40,000 square-metre , southeastern Slovakia, creating 300 jobs. Construction will begin in autumn. The Twin City Liner river route, which connects Bratislava and Vienna via the Danube River, transported its two millionth passenger from the Austrian capital to Bratislava on Wednesday. The ratio of passengers from Vienna to Bratislava and vice versa is approximately one to one. Blooming rapeseed in a field near Trnava. (Source: TASR) WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: A level 1 warning for ground frost is in place for the entire country tonight until 6 AM. Throughout the day cloud cover will change with occasional light precipitation, with snow expected from 900 metres and higher. Daily temperatures will be between 7C and 16C (SHMU). Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us. P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook, Instagram (@slovakspectator) and Twitter (@slovakspectator). https://sputnikglobe.com/20230425/one-in-7-frenchmen-reportedly-fighting-in-ukraine-have-died-1109831934.html One in 7 Frenchmen Reportedly Fighting in Ukraine Have Died One in 7 Frenchmen Reportedly Fighting in Ukraine Have Died Ten of the 70 Frenchmen fighting in the Ukrainian foreign legion have died since the start of the conflict and the flow of fresh blood is drying out, survivors told French newspaper. 2023-04-25T22:17+0000 2023-04-25T22:17+0000 2023-04-25T22:17+0000 world france ukraine conflict casualties /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/17/1109771770_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_3a7d192ec91bc020152526fda4e6369b.jpg The French daily spoke to three men who have fought alongside Ukrainian ground forces. It said the numbers could not be independently verified.The fighter identified as Pierre estimated that only a third of foreign fighters had military training before coming to Ukraine. Many joined the fray in search of "adventure and adrenaline."The French are a minority, the man admitted, adding this made him feel disappointed. He said the conflict could draw out.Fewer fighters have reportedly been going to Ukraine in recent months, despite Ukraine's preparations for a much-touted spring offensive, and some of those coming home face criminal investigation.Many European countries have a ban on foreign fighting in place. France views cases of its nationals who are foreign fighters on a case-by-case basis. Two Frenchmen have been arrested after returning to France this month on suspicion of involvement in extremism. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221206/british-mercenary-condemns-widespread-theft-corruption--desertion-among-ukrainian-forces-1105081362.html france 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 ukrainian foreign legion, foreign mercenaries in ukraine conflict, ukraine conflict, russian military operation, french military https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/biden-announces-2024-run-poland-germany-war-brewing-blinken-emails-hunter-biden-1109834356.html Biden Announces 2024 Run; Poland Germany War Brewing?; Blinken Emails Hunter Biden Biden Announces 2024 Run; Poland Germany War Brewing?; Blinken Emails Hunter Biden Poland has begun military drills on its Western border, which many observers see as a threat to Germany. 2023-04-26T05:09+0000 2023-04-26T05:09+0000 2023-04-26T12:35+0000 the critical hour radio germany poland taiwan syria nato kim dotcom sudan /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1a/1109834199_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_2fb3f74c9a53d18cfc6a361ab8ad19dc.png Joe Biden Announces 2024 Run; Poland Germany War Brewing?; Blinken Emails Hunter Biden Poland has begun military drills on its Western border, which many observers see as a threat to Germany. Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss Ukraine. President Biden is preparing for Ukraine's spring offensive to fail. Also, Sergey Lavrov's Latin America tour was a success.Jim Kavanagh, whose work can be found at Jim Kavanagh's Substack, thepolemicist.net, and Counterpunch, joins us to discuss government corruption. Antony Blinken and his wife emailed Hunter Biden on many occasions. Also, the Biden DOJ indicted Americans for "weaponized" free speech.Thomas Mountain, journalist, and historian, joins us to discuss Sudan. A cease-fire in Sudan is holding. Also, the US has war material positioned to intervene in the Sudan conflict.Dan Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "America's Undeclared War," joins us to discuss the EU. Tempers are flaring as Poland holds military exercises seemingly aimed at Germany. Also, NATO is designed to be an instrument of confrontation.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon, joins us to discuss the Middle East. 15,000 people attend a joint Israeli Palestinian Memorial Day event.Dr. Tony Monteiro, scholar and activist, joins us to discuss building an anti-war movement. RFK Jr takes a solid antiwar stance as President Biden files to continue his warmonger administration to a second term.Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of Economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, joins us to discuss domestic politics. President Biden launches his 2024 election campaign. Also, US military spending increases as the economy tanks.Jon Jeter, journalist and author, joins us to discuss the Global South. The US will send a high-level delegation to Colombia for a conference on Venezuela. Also, Juan Guaido leaves Colombia and flies to the US.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. germany poland syria sudan 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, biden's 2024 campaign, ukraine counter offensive plans, why does blinken help hunter biden, what is happening in sudan, what sudan conflict is about, why does poland hate germany, what nato stands for, why nato was created, is there an anti-war movement in the us, who is juan guaido, us latin america intervention, united states involvement in regime change https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/biden-is-running-again-trump-trashes-fox-and-the-establishment-celebrate-censorship-1109833045.html Biden is Running Again, Trump Trashes Fox, and The Establishment Celebrate Censorship Biden is Running Again, Trump Trashes Fox, and The Establishment Celebrate Censorship On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including South Africa proposes leaving the ICC, and Joe Biden announces his reelection bid. 2023-04-26T05:10+0000 2023-04-26T05:10+0000 2023-04-26T12:22+0000 the backstory radio free speech fara doj cia canada vaccines big pharma /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/19/1109832887_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_03099b28deaa3b398c44ac58fe39ca1f.png Biden is Running Again, Trump Trashes Fox, and The Establishment Celebrate Censorship On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including South Africa proposes leaving the ICC, and Joe Biden announces his reelection bid. Ian Shilling - Geopolitical Analyst, Researcher, and Blogger | Did Big Pharma Take Out Tucker Carlson, The Democrat Strategy for Elections, and Justin Trudeau Lies His Butt Off Wyatt Reed - Digital Media Producer with Sputnik | Thought Crimes are Back, Tucker was Taken Out, and The First AmendmentIn the first hour, Lee and Jason Goodmanhj spoke with Ian Shilling about Robert F. Kennedy Jr's book about Dr. Fauci, big pharma influence, and Rupert Murdoch. Ian commented on Justin Trudeau's lies about his COVID-19 vaccine mandates and how the left should be in support of Robert F. Kennedy's environmentalism. Ian spoke about the Canadian press and how they are releasing stories about young people dying suddenly. In the second hour, Lee and Jason Goodman spoke with journalist Wyatt Reed about journalistic standards, Tucker Carlson, and the hyped up Ukraine counter-offensive. Wyatt talked about Tucker Carlson and how Carslon propped up the legacy media. Wyatt explained the propaganda surrounding the Ukrainian counter-offensive and the political establishment celebrating censorship.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. canada ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png the backstory, biden's 2024 campaign, why did tucker carlson leave fox news, democrat strategy for elections, justin trudeau's lies about covid-19, what are the journalistic standarts, why does establishment want censorship, ukrainian propaganda https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/carlson-ouster-marks-fox-news-transition-into-graveyard-of-conservative-media-titans-1109836267.html Carlson Ouster Marks Fox News' Transition Into 'Graveyard of Conservative Media Titans' Carlson Ouster Marks Fox News' Transition Into 'Graveyard of Conservative Media Titans' Tucker Carlson left Fox News in a surprise announcement made by Fox on Monday. Carlson was one of the most vocal critics of US foreign policy on a major news network. 2023-04-26T02:37+0000 2023-04-26T02:37+0000 2023-04-26T07:18+0000 tucker carlson glenn beck ukraine fox news fox don lemon analysis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0a/13/1090039186_0:213:2048:1365_1920x0_80_0_0_f8a0f683ce9e2dabe8eb783b706a7faf.jpg Tucker Carlsons departure from Fox News may spell the end of oppositional media and journalism as the most popular cable news station becomes a graveyard of conservative media titans," Dr. Nicholas Waddy, political analyst and associate professor of history at SUNY Alfred, told Sputnik.According to Waddy, with Carlson's departure, Fox News is establishing itself as the graveyard of conservative media titans. First Bill O'Reilly was ousted, then Megyn Kelly, and now Tucker Carlson. Whether Fox can survive this latest bout of self-harm is an open question.Carlson was ousted in a surprise announcement made by Fox News on Monday. The statement said that Fox and Carlson agreed to part ways but his sudden removal, without the benefit of a planned final broadcast, has led many to suspect the breakup was not amicable. Carlson has remained quiet since leaving the network.Waddy speculated Carlsons ousting could have grave consequences for debate in the country.Carlson, Waddy points out, was one of televisions biggest critics of US foreign policy, particularly when it comes to the Ukraine conflict. Without him at the network, Waddy expects his removal will solidify the neo-conservative, hawkish orientation of Fox News, but that Carlson may become more powerful than before. Glenn Beck, another former Fox News personality, launched BlazeTV in 2011 after he departed from Fox. While the move has undoubtedly paid off for Beck financially, it is debatable if he has more influence through his platform than he had on Fox.Carlson was fired a week after Fox News settled a defamation lawsuit for $787.5 million in which comments by the Fox News host were heavily featured.While Waddy believes Carlsons substantial following - he hosted the highest-rated cable news show - will ensure he will continue to be a force in the media, the analyst believes the move is ultimately bad for debate and the free exchange of ideas.Dissent may become more problematic and difficult in general, if the Left and the establishment succeed in destroying or transforming major conservative media organizations like Fox News," he said.Shortly after Carlsons departure was announced, news broke that longtime CNN host Don Lemon had also been given the boot from his network. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230425/whats-behind-tucker-carlsons-ouster-from-fox-news-1109821661.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ian DeMartino Ian DeMartino 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 Ian DeMartino tucker carlson, fox news, ukraine, media censorship, fired https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/china-to-hold-live-fire-drills-in-east-china-sea-on-wednesday-1109842174.html China to Hold Live-Fire Drills in East China Sea on Wednesday China to Hold Live-Fire Drills in East China Sea on Wednesday China will hold exercises with the practical use of weapons in one of the areas of the East China Sea on Wednesday, the Maritime Safety Administration of China said. 2023-04-26T04:51+0000 2023-04-26T04:51+0000 2023-04-26T04:51+0000 military china military drills taiwan /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/04/1b/1082739692_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_b930ca09adeb47c2bab84f42ebc1c29f.jpg According to the statement, the exercises will be held from 11.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. local time (from 03:00 to 10:30 GMT). Ships will be barred from entering the area of the drills, the maritime administration said, without providing further details. The situation around Taiwan has recently escalated once again after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier in April, 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. 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 east china sea, china exercises, situation around taiwan https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/egypt-evacuated-over-1500-nationals-from-sudan-in-recent-days---foreign-ministry-1109837682.html Egypt Evacuated Over 1,500 Nationals From Sudan in Recent Days Egypt Evacuated Over 1,500 Nationals From Sudan in Recent Days The Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced that more than 1,500 Egyptian nationals have been evacuated from Sudan during clashes and unrest in the country. 2023-04-26T03:01+0000 2023-04-26T03:01+0000 2023-04-26T04:22+0000 africa sudan egypt khartoum rapid support forces (rsf) egyptian foreign ministry /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/16/1109768673_0:214:2881:1834_1920x0_80_0_0_3eca628e36fda2c7a109b393650f9b33.jpg The Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced Sunday that the country had begun evacuating its citizens from safe areas in Sudan. According to the statement, on Tuesday, 446 Egyptian citizens were taken out of Sudan by land and 189 by air. On April 15, violent clashes between the Sudanese regular armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group broke out, with the epicenter in Khartoum. Government forces accused the RSF of mutiny and launched airstrikes against their bases. Abdel Fattah Burhan, the head of the Sudanese military, issued a decree disbanding the RSF. The sides agreed to a three-day truce starting April 21 in connection with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. So far, around 600 people have died in the clashes, the Sudanese Health Ministry has said. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has reported over 450 deaths and said more than 4,000 people had been injured. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/un-chief-power-struggle-in-sudan-putting-countrys-future-at-risk-1109837537.html africa sudan egypt khartoum 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 egypt evacuation of sudan, sudan civil war, sudan coup https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/erdogans-office-denies-turkish-president-suffered-heart-attack-1109863659.html Erdogans Office Denies Turkish President Suffered Heart Attack Erdogans Office Denies Turkish President Suffered Heart Attack The center against disinformation at the administration of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday denied reports that the president suffered a heart attack. 2023-04-26T21:03+0000 2023-04-26T21:03+0000 2023-04-26T21:04+0000 world recep tayyip erdogan turkiye misinformation heart attack stomach bug /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/11/1108514410_0:0:3083:1734_1920x0_80_0_0_9ce7e9d31b5559ef6ee14eecf0fd836b.jpg Earlier media reports suggested Erdogan had undergone a heart attack hours after detailing he was suffering from a stomach flu; however, reports failed to provide sufficient evidence. Additionally, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay told Turkish media that the president was in good condition. "The state of health of our president is very good. We are in constant contact. He had a mild cold," he said.Erdogan's interview on a local broadcaster was abruptly cut late Tuesday as the Turkish leader felt unwell during the live program. After a long break, which sparked turmoil on social media, Erdogan indicated that he had caught the stomach flu while intensively campaigning. Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin later said that Erdogan was in good health.The latest comments come as it was announced that Erdogan would be remotely attending the ceremony for nuclear fuel loading at Turkiye's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) on April 27, and that a Thursday rally would be rescheduled. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/video-turkiyes-erdogan-cuts-off-live-interview-due-to-stomach-flu-1109835574.html turkiye Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International turkish president recep tayyip erdogan, heart attack, disinformation, misinformation, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/g7s-kamikaze-like-export-ban-on-russia-to-backfire-on-west-torpedo-peace-prospects-1109853768.html G7's 'Kamikaze-Like' Export Ban on Russia to Backfire on West, Torpedo Peace Prospects G7's 'Kamikaze-Like' Export Ban on Russia to Backfire on West, Torpedo Peace Prospects The West seems to be at its wit's end regarding sanctions against Russia. It now even seeks a kamikaze-like ban on Russia to increase the suppression, depriving the world of a possible earlier end to the crises and war. 2023-04-26T13:58+0000 2023-04-26T13:58+0000 2023-04-26T13:58+0000 economy g7 g7 summit dmitry medvedev zhang hong export russian economy under sanctions western sanctions /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/17/1108708974_0:182:2933:1831_1920x0_80_0_0_13c8a6e4cb8eece453e2552a08fb8d50.jpg The Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, warned on Sunday that if the G7 approves an export ban on Russia, Russia will respond by terminating the Black Sea Grain Initiative that allows Ukraine to ship its grains from its Black Sea ports.On Friday, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported that the G7 countries are considering "banning almost all exports to Russia," citing a Japanese government source. The proposal under discussion would "flip the existing sanctions regime around, with all exports banned unless exempted," according to Bloomberg.As the leader of the West, the G7 sets the standards and norms for sanctions against Russia. Yet, the West has reached a point where it feels that it has exhausted all of its options, since the current approaches haven't worked. As an entirely destructive last strike, the near-total ban on exports to Russia is the G7's latest attempt to crush the Russian economy completely.However, the G7's proposal is more about political posturing, because countries in the bloc would also suffer from the decision. Japan, for example, is heavily dependent on Russian energy and does not want to give up its shares in Russian energy companies, according to experts.If the G7 countries do adopt an almost complete ban, Moscow will undoubtedly take tougher means to retaliate, which will have a massive impact on Western enterprises.Zhang Hong, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that Moscow's countermeasures will also harm the Ukrainian economy, particularly the suspension of the Black Sea grain export deal.In fact, if such a decision is made, the world will only see severer energy, food and economic crises. In that case, no one would be the winner - neither Russia, Ukraine, the G7 nor the US. It would only plunge humanity into more global conflicts and problems.Besides, such a proposal is unlikely to gain broad support from the international community, including the EU countries. The vast majority of these countries have already participated in the sanctions against Russia, and due to that, they are facing various problems at home and internationally. Seeking a greater export ban at this time will certainly lead these European countries to more difficulties.However, it seems impossible for the G7 at the core of the West's collective hegemony to abandon its unhealthy obsession with crashing Russia down entirely. The G7 feels it's necessary to put forward such a policy to emphasize its determination to confront Russia, even if it means a lose-lose situation.Reality proves that sanctions from the US-led Western countries are like spent arrows that have long lost their initial power. Now the G7 promotes creating a new momentum of sanctions, but it is afraid that the effect will be disappointing. Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, believes that if the US-led West has gone this far, it only shows that the bloc's policy of supporting Ukraine has gone bankrupt.Washington is now deep in anxiety. It fears that Moscow will survive the West's sanctions and continue to develop. This will naturally threaten the West's collective hegemony, especially the US. As the saying goes, a drowning man will clutch at a straw. With such anxiety, the US-led West is doing such a thing, but the straw it grabs is certainly too fragile.The G7 will never ease its sanctions against Russia, not even slightly. Instead, it will upgrade its suppression of Russia through various means. But since the decline of US hegemony is imminent, the failure of the US and its core allies in the West will also be inevitable. Let time tell us who will be hurt the most from the G7's kamikaze-like ban. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230420/g7-mulls-outright-ban-on-most-exports-to-russia-as-sanctions-fall-flat-1109705615.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230421/g7-currently-not-discussing-complete-ban-on-exports-to-russia-1109743129.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 survives western santions, chinese experts about sanctions on russia, dmitry medvedev said, western sanctions don't work, g7 to ban exports from russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/japans-first-private-lunar-mission-fails-to-confirm-successful-landing-1109835023.html Japan's First Private Lunar Mission Fails to Confirm Successful Landing Japan's First Private Lunar Mission Fails to Confirm Successful Landing Japanese private space company ispace said on Tuesday it could not confirm the landing of its pioneer lunar mission, as contact with the HAKUTO-R lander had been lost. 2023-04-26T01:16+0000 2023-04-26T01:16+0000 2023-04-28T22:47+0000 beyond politics science & tech moon lunar mission lunar program japan uae /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1a/1109834522_0:0:2968:1671_1920x0_80_0_0_d1eafcd6b3953323378079aeb15718f1.jpg "Our HAKUTO-R Mission 1 Lunar Lander was expected to land on the surface of the moon at 1:40 am JST on April 26, 2023 [16:40 GMT April 25]. At this time, our Mission Control Center in Tokyo has not been able to confirm the success of the lander," the company tweeted. An earlier livestream of the landing event captured the immediate reaction of individuals involved in the project, capturing many officials sporting somber faces.The company said on its social media accounts earlier in the day that the primary landing site for their HAKUTO-R Mission 1 module would be the Atlas Crater located in the northeastern quadrant of the moon.Officials chose the location because it "meets the technical specifications of the lander technology demonstration mission, the scientific exploration objectives for the [Emirates' Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center] mission, as well as the mission requirements of our other customers."The company will make a final announcement about the status of the mission on April 26.The HAKUTO-R Mission 1 module was intended to become the first part of the Hakuro-R moon exploration program initiated by the firm.Billionaire Elon Musk's Falcon 9 rocket SpaceX launched the ispace lander toward the moon back in December 2022, and was the first private spacecraft among several missions scheduled to land on Earth's satellite in 2023. The main task of the Japanese lander was to search for water at the landing site and test technology for future missions to the moon.The Japanese lander had delivered other vehicles to the moon on behalf of third-party customers, which included the Rashid four-wheel rover sent by the United Arab Emirates.The Rashid rover is half a meter long and weighs only 10 kilograms, and was supposed to operate for 14 Earth days. Rashid was carrying four Langmuir probes - devices that will measure the temperature and density of charged particles that cause dust movements on the lunar surface.The European Space Agency earlier indicated that the rover was "equipped with one high resolution camera on its front mast and another mounted on its rear, as well as a microscopic camera and thermal imaging camera." japan uae 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 hakuto-r, uae lunar rover rashid, private for profit lunar missions, japanese lunar mission 2023, spacex falcon 9, private space exploration https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/kiev-endangering-europes-nuclear-security---former-ukrainian-pm-1109850729.html Kiev Endangering Europe's Nuclear Security - Former Ukrainian PM Kiev Endangering Europe's Nuclear Security - Former Ukrainian PM The Ukrainian military regularly attack the largest nuclear power station in Europe, the city of Energodar and closely located nuclear power plant in Zaporozhye, which has been under Russian military protection since March 2020. 2023-04-26T15:47+0000 2023-04-26T15:47+0000 2023-04-26T15:47+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine special operation nuclear plant zaporozhye npp mykola azarov nuclear incident /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1a/1109855031_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_f0b406a53a53ec671933b069b1dd7aee.jpg Nikolay Azarov, a former Ukrainian prime minister, claims that the current authorities in Kiev are putting the nuclear security of the whole continent at risk by "destroying nuclear facilities" without considering the consequences. He also argues that Kiev's stance is putting the safe operation of nuclear power plants in Ukraine in jeopardy, thus increasing the likelihood of accidents.Russia's Foreign Ministry has said Russian control of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is to prevent nuclear and radioactive material leaks. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has argued that the Kiev regime is deliberately shelling the facility in order to create the appearance of a nuclear catastrophe threat. The International Atomic Energy Agency has called for the creation of a safety zone around it.Earlier in the month, it was reported that a drone belonging to Ukrainian militants crashed in close proximity to the ZNPP. The drone was identified as a Polish-made Warmate carrying a two-kilogram explosive munition.The ZNPP is located on the left bank of the Dnepr River near the city of Energodar. It is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe in terms of the number of units and installed capacity, with six power units each generating one gigawatt of electricity. In October 2022, the nuclear power plant came under the ownership of the Russian Federation, and since then has regularly been a target of Ukrainian forces. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230328/what-is-the-current-situation-at-zaporozhye-nuclear-power-plant-1108857839.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukraine shells zaporozhye nuclear facility, russian control over npp, nikolay azarov commented on the zaporozhye nuclear power plant https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/lavrov-spoke-on-palestinian-israeli-settlements-reaffirmed-uae-ties-during-unsc-meet--1109835746.html Lavrov Spoke on Palestinian-Israeli Settlements, Reaffirmed UAE Ties During UNSC Meet Lavrov Spoke on Palestinian-Israeli Settlements, Reaffirmed UAE Ties During UNSC Meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke on the Palestino-Israeli settlements and Moscow's trade and energy ties with the UAE during the Tuesday UNSC meeting. 2023-04-26T02:24+0000 2023-04-26T02:24+0000 2023-04-26T02:21+0000 world sergey lavrov uae israeli-palestinian conflict un security council (unsc) meeting /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1a/1109835919_0:0:2769:1557_1920x0_80_0_0_32e7568034e2d7bddb6c06304ad34e71.jpg "The sides exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East region with an emphasis on the state of affairs in the Palestino-Israeli settlement," the ministry said.During the meeting in New York on April 25, the sides also discussed further development of Russian-Palestinian ties, stating a mutual focus on their further strengthening. Lavrov on the same day chaired a meeting of the UN Security Council on the Middle East and the Palestinian-Israeli issue. But Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan walked out. Erdan told Sputnik on Tuesday that he refused to participate in the Security Council session on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over extreme bias and because it was scheduled on the same day as Israels Memorial Day. Russia's top diplomat, commenting on this situation during a press conference, said the meeting of the UN Security Council was not of an anti-Israeli nature, and was agreed in advance.The ministry also detailed that Lavrov spoke with UAE Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar and reaffirmed their countries' commitment to trade and energy cooperation.It was said that during the earlier meeting that both sides also considered some key aspects of the international and regional agenda. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/jcpoa-revival--de-dollarization-what-did-lavrov-say-after-unsc-meeting--1109832212.html uae Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International sergey lavrov, palestinian-israeli settlements, united arab emirates, cooperation, regional ties, unsc, united nations security council https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/mainstream-media-sees-exit-of-tucker-and-don-lemon-whats-next-1109826891.html Mainstream Media Sees Exit of Tucker and Don Lemon: What's Next? Mainstream Media Sees Exit of Tucker and Don Lemon: What's Next? On this episode of The Final Countdown, hosts Manila Chan and Ted Rall discussed hot topics, including the ousting of news personalities Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon. 2023-04-26T04:05+0000 2023-04-26T04:05+0000 2023-04-26T11:49+0000 the final countdown tucker carlson fox news don lemon cnn joe biden donald trump kevin mccarthy 2024 us presidential elections ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/19/1109826734_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_ac1908df1bb402aada1f1b949d23dd94.jpg Mainstream Media Sees Exit of Tucker and Don Lemon: What's Next? On this episode of The Final Countdown, hosts Manila Chan and Ted Rall discussed hot topics, including the ousting of news personalities Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon. Rick Sanchez: Veteran journalist & news anchor, Former CNN Host, Host of Direct Impact on RTScott Stantis: Editorial Cartoonist for The Chicago TribuneMargaret Kimberly: Senior Columnist and Editor for Black Agenda ReportMark Sleboda: International Relations & Security AnalystJoe Lauria: Veteran Journalist, Editor at Consortium NewsIn the first half hour, the hosts were joined by veteran journalist & former CNN host Rick Sanchez along with Editorial Cartoonist Scott Stantis to discuss the firings of Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon. They also touch upon Nina Jankowicz, a former "disinformation expert", suing Fox News.In the second half of the hour, Margaret Kimberly, Senior Columnist and Editor for the Black Agenda Report joins to talk about Biden's re-election campaign for 2024.In the last hour, The Final Countdown talked to Mark Sleboda, International Relations and Security analyst to discuss the Biden Administration's lacking confidence in the Ukraine counteroffensive.Later in the hour, The Final Countdown was joined by Joe Lauria, a veteran journalist, to discuss Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the UN.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik. ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ted Rall https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125340_0:0:360:360_100x100_80_0_0_1ed1a3494a53cde87e19521c3658fe92.jpg Ted Rall https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125340_0:0:360:360_100x100_80_0_0_1ed1a3494a53cde87e19521c3658fe92.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ted Rall https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125340_0:0:360:360_100x100_80_0_0_1ed1a3494a53cde87e19521c3658fe92.jpg the final countodown, what's next for tucker carlson, don lemon fired, who is nina jankowicz, how old will biden be in 2024, how old is biden, lavrov's speech at the un https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/moscow-west-intends-to-turn-ukraine-into-radioactive-landfill-as-part-of-all-out-escalation-1109846585.html Moscow: West Intends to Turn Ukraine Into 'Radioactive Landfill' as Part of 'All-Out Escalation' Moscow: West Intends to Turn Ukraine Into 'Radioactive Landfill' as Part of 'All-Out Escalation' The UK will not succeed in shifting blame for the toxic depleted uranium (DU) munitions it has already placed in the hands of the Kiev regime, Moscows embassy in London stated. 2023-04-26T16:06+0000 2023-04-26T16:06+0000 2023-04-26T16:06+0000 ukraine russia uk depleted uranium challenger 2 vladimir putin russia's special operation in ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104534/81/1045348192_0:140:2048:1292_1920x0_80_0_0_cafc811593b8daa591f5e48a9d4f1880.jpg The United Kingdom will not be able to "get off scot-free" and succeed in shifting blame for the toxic depleted uranium munitions it has already placed in the hands of the Kiev regime, Moscows Embassy in London stated on Tuesday. The move by Britain to send DU shells for Challenger 2 main battle tanks already delivered to Ukraine marks an all-out escalation," an official statement by the embassy said. As for the remarks of UK Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey shrugging off any accountability for the potent anti-tank munitions, Moscow underscored this was further proof of the cynicism of the UK authorities.Heappey, known for previously cynically wielding a 2007 government study and claiming that depleted uranium carries only low health and environmental risks, revealed in a written answer to a parliamentary query from Scottish MP Kenny MacAskill that the UK had already sent "thousands of rounds of Challenger 2 ammunition to Ukraine, including depleted uranium armour-piercing rounds." Heappey stopped short of offering an estimate of Kiev's "usage rates for the rounds provided," citing operational security reasons. He also admitted that the UK was not monitoring the locations from where these rounds were fired and added that his country was not obligated to help Ukraine clear up the depleted uranium rounds post-conflict. The UK official's remarks serve as indication that Britain intends to leave all responsibility for use of the shells that poison the soil, pollute nature, and cause cancer both among civilians and military personnel with their eager Kiev clients.The UK needs to be aware of its responsibility for supplying Ukraines Armed Forces with shells containing depleted uranium, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned on April 25 at a press conference following his visit to New York to chair a meeting of the UN Security Council.London announced its plan to supply the regime holed up in Kiev with armor-piercing rounds that contain depleted uranium on March 21. At the time, Minister of State for Defense Baroness Annabel Goldie stressed that "such rounds are highly effective in defeating modern tanks and armored vehicles."There exists multiple grim testimony to the danger that depleted uranium poses. DU tank and artillery shells as well as air-dropped bombs contain the uranium byproducts left over from the production of nuclear energy. DU shells and bombs were deployed during the Gulf War in 1991, in the bombardment of Bosnia and the rump state of Yugoslavia in 1995 and 1999, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the 2001-2021 occupation of Afghanistan, the dirty war against Syria, and, allegedly, the 2011 NATO air campaign in Libya.Following the use of DU ammo in Yugoslavia and Iraq, these countries have registered surging rates of cancer, including cancer among children. Furthermore, both sides of a conflict stand to suffer perilous fallout from the use of such ammunition, as evidenced by NATO soldiers whose commanders failed to inform them about the potential health risks.Moscow has repeatedly urged the so-called collective West to cease all weapons shipments to Ukraine, arguing that the military aid will only prolong the conflict. After the UK announced its decision to supply depleted uranium ammunition to Kiev, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Western nations wanted to "see Ukraine completely destroyed." Russia's President Vladimir Putin dismissed Britains assurances that the munitions wouldnt cause any health effects. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230425/uk-gave-ukraine-thousands-of-shells-including-depleted-uranium-rounds-1109828799.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230322/depleted-uranium-tank-shells-how-do-they-work-1108702334.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230328/use-of-depleted-uranium-in-ukraine-could-spark-global-health-crisis-heres-why-1108844529.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230329/fractured-ukraine-poisoned-by-depleted-uranium-win-scenario-for-pentagon-says-ex-dod-official-1108935140.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko uk depleted uranium munitions, du shells for abrams tanks, du shipments to ukraine, toxic depleted uranium munitions, moscows embassy in london, challenger 2 battle tanks, all-out escalation, uk minister for armed forces, james heappey, uk shrugging off any accountability, anti-tank munitions, anglo-saxons policy, all-out escalatio, proxy conflict, an anti-russian military shooting range, radioactive landfill https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/nato-could-send-troops-to-western-ukraine-if-kievs-spring-offensive-fails---heres-why-1109858694.html NATO Could Send Troops to Western Ukraine if Kievs Spring Offensive Fails - Here's Why NATO Could Send Troops to Western Ukraine if Kievs Spring Offensive Fails - Here's Why Mainstream reporting related to the so-called Pentagon leaks about the DoDs sobering assessment of the real state of the NATO-Russia proxy conflict in Ukraine has brought the do or die pressure facing Kiev into focus. Without a decisive victory, Kiev may be pushed into ceasefire talks, says international affairs expert Mark Sleboda. 2023-04-26T17:04+0000 2023-04-26T17:04+0000 2023-04-27T09:59+0000 analysis ukraine odessa donbass crimea us nato russia offensive army offensive /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104294/31/1042943100_78:0:5324:2951_1920x0_80_0_0_21863528695d190264cf100ef937f2da.jpg Anonymous Biden administration officials told US media this week that the White House is quietly preparing for the contingency of Ukrainian forces failing to gain any significant ground against Russia during Kievs much-hyped spring offensive, and for the reputational blow this might have for Washington via-a-vis other allies and clients. Administration officials reportedly also fear that a failed or stalled offensive could result in attacks on the White House at home both by hawks pushing for even more aid to Kiev, and doves arguing that the Ukrainian Armys failure would prove that Russia cant be ejected from Crimea, Donbass, and its new territories.Officials are reportedly mulling pushing Zelensky into a ceasefire to enable Kiev to retool and reequip for a resumption of the conflict at a later date, with measures meant to prod the Zelensky government into accepting including "NATO-like security guarantees," EU economic support, and more military aid.I think this is actually one in a series of articles that have come out in the last few weeks, including the so-called Pentagon Leaks which I think most Russian analysts believe are just another narrative management tool, Mark Sleboda said, speaking to Radio Sputniks The Final Countdown radio show on Tuesday.The latest piece in the MSM hyping the prospects of a possible Ukrainian defeat isnt the first, Sleboda recalled, pointing to another recent legacy media piece from last week warning that a breakthrough in the conflict may not come at all in 2023, and that observers should lower their expectations of Ukraine advancing more than 30 km.Characterizing the expected Ukrainian offensive as the most telegraphed offensive in history, Sleboda said that naturally, reality cannot possibly live up to the hype as far as objectives are concerned.And again, the mainstream media, The Washington Post, The New York Times have done features about how Russia has been, for the last half year, building up extensive layered trench networks, fortified concrete fortifications, pillboxes, tank obstacles like dragon teeth, etc., and very extensive minefields laid out in advanceWe have seen the Kiev regime go on the offensive before against Russian troops that werent even half as well dug-in in Kherson. And its now acknowledged that Russian forces withdrew, but without taking any significant casualties. They withdrew tactically to avoid being enveloped, but they inflicted crippling casualties because the Ukrainian forces were charging across open steppe into superior artillery, rocket systems, and air dominance, the analyst said.Russia could afford to give up territory in the past because theyre fighting a different type of conflict, according to Sleboda, prioritizing force preservation and attrition warfare meant to grind down the Kiev regimes military and now effectively NATO as well, because NATO is 100% supplying the regime at this point.Talking Smack About CrimeaAmong Kievs formal priorities is a long-promised attack on Crimea. Thats a fantasy, Sleboda believes, since even without a Kherson-Zaporozhye "land bridge" linking Crimea to the Russian mainland, the peninsula is just too tough a nut to crack.Of course, they talk a lot of smack about Crimea, which is ridiculous, because Crimea is a peninsula, geographically a very difficult target to attack, very heavily defended with a 95% pro-Russian population. Its ridiculous, the observer stressed. The reality, he added, is that even officials like Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley have recognized that Kiev has no chance of retaking the peninsula.Sleboda pointed to the Times admission that the 12 new Ukrainian combat brigades of 4,000 troops apiece formed for the spring offensive which are expected to be ready by the end of the month, are raw recruits with a small core of experienced veteran soldiers, and that they are equipped with handfuls of more modern NATO tanks and armored vehicles accompanied by much older equipment, and facing a big disadvantage in artillery and control of airspace.Even the debate over deliveries of the much-vaunted F-16 fighters to Kiev is all political, according to the observer, because it takes years to train to use them, and Washington may prefer to save them, along with the ATACMS missiles long demanded by Kiev, for a possible war against China in the Pacific.New Domino Theory and Danger of WWIIIPointing to the new domino theory thats being pushed by neocons and neoliberals in Washington on the need to prop up Kiev at all costs, or face Taiwan falling to China, Sleboda fears that if push comes to shove and Kiev suffers a major defeat on the battlefield, NATO may be tempted to intervene directly in the crisis to prevent its global defeat.I believe that if the Kiev regime suffers a catastrophic defeat and NATO cant filter more weapons useful to them through them, they might consider what Ive talked about for maybe half a year now sending US and Polish troops, maybe Romanians, the Baltics, the Brits a new coalition of the willing as peacekeepers into western Ukraine. To tell you the truth Russia would probably yell and scream, but they dont really want to occupy West Ukraine because unlike East Ukraine, they really do hate Russia over there. It would be very hostile guerilla territory. Thats the part of Ukraine that sided with Nazi Germany in World War II and is resurrecting all of that type of anti-Russian, Banderite fascist glorification today, Sleboda said.If you want to learn more about Mark Sleboda's thoughts on why the Biden administration believes the US-led Western global hegemonic order may be at stake in Ukraine, check out our Telegram post here. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230422/lack-of-arms-start-of-ukraines-counteroffensive-reportedly-postponed-indefinitely-1109753863.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/us-congressman-ukrainian-spring-offensive-to-show-whether-crimea-off-table-for-kiev--1109247941.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230408/russian-air-defense-shoots-down-ukrainian-missile-over-crimea-1109266987.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230424/kievs-recent-strikes-on-humanitarian-corridor-threaten-extension-of-grain-initiative---moscow-1109804952.html ukraine odessa donbass russia 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 ukraine, ukrainian crisis, russia, united states, us, proxy conflict, proxy war, odessa, donbass, crimea, kherson, zaporozhye https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/polish-prosecutors-seize-money-from-russian-embassys-accounts-1109858271.html Polish Prosecutors Seize Money From Russian Embassy's Accounts Polish Prosecutors Seize Money From Russian Embassy's Accounts The Polish Prosecutor's Office has seized money from the accounts of the Russian embassy and the trade mission, Russian ambassador in Warsaw Sergei Andreev told Sputnik on Wednesday. 2023-04-26T15:56+0000 2023-04-26T15:56+0000 2023-04-26T15:56+0000 world russia warsaw poland vienna convention on diplomatic relations russian embassy international law /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101719/45/1017194519_0:152:2921:1795_1920x0_80_0_0_d80e203e358636a7f1a7750b555493de.jpg Polish prosecutors seized money on suspicion that it allegedly could be used for "money laundering or terrorism".According to the envoy, "a significant amount" of money in US dollars and Polish zlote were seized. The diplomat called the Warsaw's decision "a fragrant violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230408/poland-is-losing-big-from-escalation-in-ukraine-and-growing-dependence-on-washington-1109268182.html russia warsaw poland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International poland seized money from russian embassy, poland violated vienna convention, russian ambassador comments on money seizure https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/putin-signs-decree-on-response-measures-if-russian-assets-abroad-seized-1109835192.html Putin Signs Decree on Response Measures if Russian Assets Abroad Seized Putin Signs Decree on Response Measures if Russian Assets Abroad Seized Russian President on Tuesday signed a decree on the transfer of foreign assets to temporary management of Russias Federal Agency for State Property Management if Russian assets abroad are seized. 2023-04-26T01:55+0000 2023-04-26T01:55+0000 2023-04-26T02:55+0000 russia russian economy under sanctions vladimir putin presidential decree fortum /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0c/1109394808_0:0:2995:1685_1920x0_80_0_0_510563dc563ab453315a4189c14ed424.jpg According to the decree, German energy company Unipers shares in its Russian subsidiary Unipro and shares in Russian subsidiaries of Finnish energy company Fortum are among foreign assets that can be transferred to Rosimushchestvo.The preamble to the decree states it is caused by "the need to take urgent measures" in response to illegal US actions and those of other countries aimed at the deprivation or restriction of property rights of the Russian Federation, its companies and citizens.Movable and immovable property, securities, shares in authorized capitals, and property rights may fall under temporary administration. The Rosimushchestvo is appointed temporary manager of such assets, but another entity can be appointed by the president's decision. The interim manager exercises the powers of the owner of these assets, with the exception of the power to dispose of property.According to the decree, 83.73% of Unipro's assets, 69.8807% of Fortum's assets owned by Fortum Russia, and 28.3488% of the company's assets owned by Fortum Holding were transferred to temporary management of Rosimushchestvo.As of February 2023, the confiscated property of Fortum was estimated at 1.7 billion euros ($1.87 billion), according to the company's financial report.The company said on February 7 that Russian assets were impaired by about 990 million euros, and the value of Russian net assets after the impairments totaled some 1.7 billion euros. As of April 25, Fortum's market capitalization was 12 billion euros, according to the company's website.In May 2022, Fortum announced its decision to withdraw from the Russian market and the sale of its assets. However, Putin's decree, signed on August 5, 2022, prevented Fortum from completing the sale of its assets in Russia. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230425/eu-japan-oppose-us-plan-for-almost-total-ban-on-g7-exports-to-russia---reports-1109818337.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 russian president, putin decree about seized actives, rosimushchestvo, german uniper unipro shares, finnish fortum russian subsidiaries shares, sanctions against russia, russias federal agency for state property management https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/russia-investigating-crimes-of-french-mercenaries-against-russian-pows-1109847351.html Russia Investigating Crimes of French Mercenaries Against Russian POWs Russia Investigating Crimes of French Mercenaries Against Russian POWs Russia is investigating the crimes of French mercenaries against Russian prisoners of war (POWs), the Russian Investigative Committee said on Wednesday. 2023-04-26T09:53+0000 2023-04-26T09:53+0000 2023-04-26T09:53+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia russian investigative committee mercenaries ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107714/08/1077140885_0:163:3063:1886_1920x0_80_0_0_d008469d14dbf688a05d11b84aa10d02.jpg "The Russian Investigative Committee will investigate the crimes of French mercenaries against Russian prisoners of war... The Investigative Committee of Russia will establish all the circumstances of the incident in order to bring to justice those involved in committing the crimes," the Investigative Committee said on Telegram. French mercenaries participated in hostilities on the side of Ukraine in the ranks of the Azov regiment* and brigades of the Ukrainian armed forces. One of the mercenaries published a photo of him shooting three Russian prisoners of war at point-blank range.* a terrorist organisation banned in Russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20230125/two-uk-mercenaries-who-fought-on-the-side-of-ukraine-reportedly-killed-near-soledar-1106672051.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian investigative committee, french mercenaries, russian prisoners of war https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/russia-never-limited-ukrainian-grain-export-via-black-sea---russian-un-envoy-1109848146.html Russia Never Limited Ukrainian Grain Export Via Black Sea - Russian UN Envoy Russia Never Limited Ukrainian Grain Export Via Black Sea - Russian UN Envoy Russia did not artificially limit the export of Ukrainian grain under the Black Sea Initiative, contrary to current allegations, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva Gennady Gatilov said on Wednesday. 2023-04-26T10:19+0000 2023-04-26T10:19+0000 2023-04-27T10:08+0000 istanbul grain deal russia ukraine grain deal /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/08/03/1098077900_0:0:1280:720_1920x0_80_0_0_a97b7be7a1e217a4b2be12d1c6af1c0d.jpg Export data show that Moscow has never artificially restricted the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, Gatilov said at a briefing with the Association of Accredited Correspondents at the United Nations (ACANU).The Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed between Russia, Turkiye, Ukraine and the United Nations amid the military conflict in Ukraine in July 2022, provides for exports of Ukrainian grain, food and fertilizers over the Black Sea from three ports, including Odessa. The package agreement also includes a memorandum of understanding between Russia and the UN to unblock Russian grain and fertilizer exports via the Black Sea, which, according to Moscow, has not been implemented amid Western sanctions. In March, Russia extended the deal for 60 of possible 120 days.Russia requested that in order to further extend the grain agreement after its expiration on May 18, the normalization of Moscows agricultural exports, including bank payments, transport logistics, insurance, unfreezing of financial activities and the supply of ammonia through the Tolyatti-Odessa pipeline, must be ensured. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230423/g7-farm-ministers-recognize-importance-of-grain-deal-support-extension-1109772060.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian grain, black sea initiative, black sea https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/russia-to-take-measures-if-finland-fails-to-resolve-issue-with-russian-property-1109838958.html Russia to Take Measures if Finland Fails to Resolve Issue With Russian Property Russia to Take Measures if Finland Fails to Resolve Issue With Russian Property Moscow will be forced to take response measures if Helsinki fails to resolve the issue regarding property used by the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Finland, the Russian Foreign Ministry has told Sputnik. 2023-04-26T04:28+0000 2023-04-26T04:28+0000 2023-04-26T04:25+0000 world russia finland russian foreign ministry /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102694/02/1026940240_0:40:1024:616_1920x0_80_0_0_4fb7d063c0effa76e8c22e5ba12ca529.jpg "In the mid-April of this year, the Russian Center of Science and Culture (RCSC) in Helsinki received notices from the National Enforcement Authority Finland about the temporary (for up to three weeks) ban on any real estate activities concerning the land used by RCSC, the service building located there, as well as several apartments in Helsinki used by the RCSC," the ministry said."The Finnish side justified its actions by the intention to examine whether these properties were assets that are subject to arrest under the sanctions decisions of the EU."The ministry said that "in connection with these illegal actions, the Russian Embassy sent a note to the Finnish Foreign Ministry, which outlined that the property in question is owned by the Russian Federation, and demanded an explanation of how, in such a case, the decision of the National Enforcement Authority correlates with international legal norms." Following the action, the decision on the land and the building of the RCSC in Helsinki was reversed, according to the ministry. "According to the currently available information, there are no grounds for the seizure of this property," the ministry said, citing the Finnish authority. "However, the situation around the apartments used by the RCSC remains unsettled. No explanations on this issue have not yet been received from the Finnish authorities," the ministry said, expressing surprise that it took the Finnish authority so long to verify information about the owner of the land and the RCSC building.The ministry said that Moscow considers the actions of the Finnish National Enforcement Authority "as another sentiment against Russia." "Russia will be forced to take response measures in the event of refusal to resolve the current situation," the ministry 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 russia, russian foreign ministry, finland, russian property, resolution, russian center of science and culture in finland https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/sacked-carlson-and-lemon-could-go-independent-in-boost-for-alternative-media-1109858155.html Sacked Carlson and Lemon Could Go Independent in Boost for Alternative Media Sacked Carlson and Lemon Could Go Independent in Boost for Alternative Media US Conservatives and Liberals alike were shocked by Monday's news that Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon hade been sacked. Rick Sanchez and Scott Stantis said digital media had created a space for journalists to go independent. 2023-04-26T18:18+0000 2023-04-26T18:18+0000 2023-04-30T05:40+0000 americas tucker carlson don lemon cnn fox news us rupert murdoch donald trump censorship /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/18/1109806490_0:0:1379:776_1920x0_80_0_0_f52fe2176824ed6b4b9d255fe782556f.png The firings of two top US media pundits from opposite ends of the political spectrum could make them independent media stars, journalists say.Monday saw Fox News announce that it was "parting ways" with its firebrand current affairs host Tucker Carlson, while CNN announced the sacking of its prime-time anchor Don Lemon after 17 years.Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. owns Fox, is reported to have personally ordered Carlson's dismissal. Meanwhile, former president Donald Trump celebrated Lemon leaving CNN.Journalist Rich Sanchez and political cartoonist Scott Stantis gave Sputnik their views on the Monday media massacre. Sanchez said he believed Carlson's exit was linked to Fox's out-of-court defamation settlement of almost $800 million to the Dominion Voting Systems over allegations by Carlson and four other presenters that its machines could have been used for ballot-rigging in the 2020 presidential election. Carlson wrote an email admitting that the claims were unfounded, Sanchez said, which creates "material issues in further cases that are going to come forward against Fox News."Asked whether Carson's sacking was part of the settlement with Dominion, Stantis said he wouldn't be surprised if there was a "gentlemen's agreement, a handshake in the back room saying, yeah, you got to get rid of this guy."But he stressed that Lemon's departure from CNN came during a "major contraction" in the media business "across the spectrum""Don Lemon, clearly, he had outlived his welcome at CNN," Stantis added "And rather than being, you know, a team player, he decided not to take take his ball and go home. Well, unfortunately, CNN owned the ball as well."Sanchez pointed to a recent article in showbiz magazine Variety that detailed Lemon's "diva-like behaviour" at CNN and misogyny towards fellow staff and figures such as former US ambassador to the UN Nikki Hayley."Obviously that's the reason they fired him," the RT host said, pointing out that the network had earlier stated its willingness to resolve differences with Lemon.Both media figures are likely to do well despite losing their high-paid TV gigs, the commentators said.Lemon is "going to land on his feet" Stantis said, whether at another national network like MSNBC or on local news, while "Tucker Carlson could follow the Scott Adams model" referring to the Dilbert cartoonist whose strip was dropped by newspapers after he tweeted allegedly racist comments."He also had a place for his followers to land and subscribe to his website and subscribe to his product there. And that means Scott Adams is going to make tens of millions of dollars," he said, noting that Carlson is at least a part-owner of alternative media website The Daily Caller.For more cutiing-edge commentary, follow our Sputnik Radio show The Final Countdown. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/carlson-ouster-marks-fox-news-transition-into-graveyard-of-conservative-media-titans-1109836267.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/tucker-carlson-could-no-longer-be-tolerated-by-corrupt-us-media-political-elite-1109845389.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 tucker carlson, don lemon, fox news, cnn, rupert murdoch, donald trump, sackings, why did fox fired tucker, why did tucker carlson leave fox, why tucker left, tucker carlson leaving fox news Russian, Iranian, Syrian, Turkish defense ministers discuss Syrian security Xinhua) 09:05, April 26, 2023 MOSCOW, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Defense ministers of Russia, Iran, Syria and Turkiye held quadripartite talks in Moscow on Tuesday to explore measures aimed at strengthening security in Syria and normalizing Syrian-Turkish relations. The participants paid special attention to the issues of countering all manifestations of terrorist threats and the fight against all extremist groups in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. Following the talks, the parties reaffirmed their desire to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria as well as the need to intensify efforts for the speedy return of Syrian refugees to their homeland, the statement read. The heads of defense departments considered the dialogue held in the four-party format as constructive and agreed to continue it in a bid to further stabilize the situation in Syria and the region as a whole, the ministry said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/taliban-killed-key-daesh-member-responsible-for-2021-afghan-airport-bombing---us-official-1109835314.html Taliban Killed Key Daesh Member Responsible for 2021 Afghan Airport Bombing - US Official Taliban Killed Key Daesh Member Responsible for 2021 Afghan Airport Bombing - US Official The individual suspected by the US as being behind the airport attack that killed 170 Afghan civilians and 13 US service members, according to US officials 2023-04-26T01:44+0000 2023-04-26T01:44+0000 2023-04-26T01:41+0000 world hamid karzai international airport afghanistan taliban isis-k daesh /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/08/14/1083667587_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_674ba06e753c111348bf16940eeac606.jpg The Daesh-Khorasan* (also known as ISIS-K) member who was most responsible for the deadly 2021 bombing at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in 2021 has been killed by the Taliban**, a senior Biden official has revealed.Citing an administration official with knowledge of the development, US media reported Tuesday that the Daesh-K member was killed in recent weeks but that it took weeks for the government to confirm the individual killed was the one they believe was responsible for the airport attack.The official said the US did not coordinate with the Taliban in the operation and found out about it through other sources, adding the Taliban has not claimed responsibility for the operation.The individual further declined to provide the name of the Daesh-K member who was killed but insisted he was a key member of the organization before and after the attack.The Taliban opposes Daesh operating in the country, but the senior official said he was unsure why the organization is not claiming responsibility for the death of a key figure of its opposition.The Taliban has been in control of Afghanistan since the US military withdrawal in September 2021. The withdrawal has been heavily criticized by Republicans and other critics of the Biden White House for being badly planned and chaotic. It left behind an estimated 78,000 Afghan allies who had worked with the United States.The withdrawal was delayed for months by the Biden administration after former US President Donald Trump had initially set a May 2021 withdrawal date in a peace treaty with the Taliban. Bidens delay angered the Taliban and despite the extra time to prepare, the withdrawal was proved hectic and unorganized. House Republicans have launched an inquiry into the withdrawal.*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist organisation outlawed in Russia and many other states.**The Taliban is an organization under UN sanctions for terrorism. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230409/retired-us-marines-berate-kirby-for-refusing-to-admit-chaotic-afghanistan-exit-1109292065.html hamid karzai international airport afghanistan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ian DeMartino Ian DeMartino 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 Ian DeMartino isis-k, taliban, afghanistan airport bombing, daesh-k https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/un-chief-power-struggle-in-sudan-putting-countrys-future-at-risk-1109837537.html UN Chief: Power Struggle in Sudan Putting Countrys Future at Risk UN Chief: Power Struggle in Sudan Putting Countrys Future at Risk UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday that the ongoing conflict in Sudan may set development efforts back years. 2023-04-26T02:55+0000 2023-04-26T02:55+0000 2023-04-26T02:55+0000 africa sudan khartoum rapid support forces (rsf) the united nations (un) antonio guterres /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0f/1109563037_332:554:1457:1187_1920x0_80_0_0_df343e7315d51362a7cb4d32e48ac1e3.jpg The UN Secretary-General emphasized that efforts must be made to stop the conflict in Sudan immediately. Earlier on Tuesday, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group was reported to have seized the building of the Oman embassy in Khartoum and stole a car belonging to the countrys diplomatic mission. In addition, the Sudanese armed forces said the RSF had attacked a convoy organized by the French Embassy to evacuate French citizens from Sudan. On April 15, clashes broke out between the Sudanese armed forces and the RSF in and around Khartoum. The military accused the RSF of mutiny and launched airstrikes against their bases. Abdel Fattah Burhan, the head of the Sudanese military, issued a decree disbanding the RSF. The parties have since introduced a number of temporary nationwide ceasefires but the conflict has not been settled yet. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230425/netherlands-shutters-embassy-in-sudan-amid-mass-evac-operations---foreign-ministry-1109807901.html africa sudan khartoum 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 civil war, sudan conflict, rapid support forces, paramilitary in sudan, sudan coup https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/us-lab-matches-newly-found-remains-to-suspected-mississippi-lynching-case-1109863020.html US Lab Matches Newly Found Remains to Suspected Mississippi Lynching Case US Lab Matches Newly Found Remains to Suspected Mississippi Lynching Case The Mississippi Crime Laboratory informed the family of deceased Rasheem Carter that a third set of recovered remains has been matched to their son, attorney Benjamin Crump said Wednesday. 2023-04-26T20:01+0000 2023-04-26T20:01+0000 2023-04-26T19:58+0000 americas mississippi us remains hate crimes us justice department investigation autopsy lynching /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107814/77/1078147718_0:118:2048:1269_1920x0_80_0_0_31e92449ea6b47ff6ae64bbc945fa223.jpg "The family of Rasheem Carter, while still in deep grief, is being denied adequate information and closure from the Mississippi officials overseeing the case," Crump said in the statement. Crump underscored it is unacceptable the family had to find out through an email that more of Rasheems remains have been found without being told any other information."They continue to be stonewalled at every turn. The family wants to find out what happened to Rasheem and say their goodbyes - they ask that the additional remains be returned to them so they can lay him to rest," he said. Crump said that Rasheem was likely lynched and the Carter family demands a more thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death last year. Tiffany Carter, Rasheem's mother, said in a news conference that he called her last October and complained of being followed and chased by white men in trucks who were yelling racial slurs at him in the town of Laurel.Crump said an autopsy by the state Medical Examiners Office found Rasheems head had been severed from his body, his spine was found in another place and other body parts were found in different locations, and some of his body parts are still missing.The medical examiner ruled that the cause and manner of Carters death is undetermined.Crump said Rasheems death was a nefarious and evil act and the US Justice Department must take over the investigation as a civil rights case and determine whether what happened classifies as a hate crime. americas mississippi 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 rasheem carter, mississippi crime laboratory, recovered remains, benjamin crump, us, department of justice, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/us-should-provide-cluster-bombs-to-ukraine--congressman-1109860400.html US Should Provide Cluster Bombs to Ukraine Congressman US Should Provide Cluster Bombs to Ukraine Congressman The Biden administration should consider providing Ukraine with cluster bomb munitions as there are two million available in US stocks, Congressman Joe Wilson said 2023-04-26T17:16+0000 2023-04-26T17:16+0000 2023-04-26T17:17+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine us ukraine ukrainian crisis russia cluster bombs cluster bombs joe wilson /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104086/45/1040864513_0:0:2048:1152_1920x0_80_0_0_94dbccf142b17b008ba1d65dbf9f87f5.jpg This is not the first time US lawmakers have called on the Biden administration to send cluster munitions to Kiev. In March, a group of Republican lawmakers sent a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to send cluster munitions to Ukraine for use amid Russia's special military operation there. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has responded by calling on the United States not to follow the path of escalation. He added that US congressmen calling for the supply of cluster munitions to Kiev do not realize what the consequences for the attackers could be. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/lethal-bomblets-what-are-cluster-munitions-and-why-does-ukraine-want-them-1108149745.html ukraine 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 cluster bombs, did us send cluster bombs to ukraine, cluster munition, cluster missile, what us sends to ukraine, us spending on ukraine, how much us spends on ukraine military aid https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/watch-russias-t-90m-tanks-in-combat-action-in-donbass-1109844944.html Watch Russia's T-90M Tanks in Combat Action in Donbass Watch Russia's T-90M Tanks in Combat Action in Donbass The Russian Defense Ministry has released a video of a T-90M "Proryv" tank crew of the Western Military District destroying a T-80 tank of the Ukrainian army approaching Russian positions in Donbass from a closed firing position. 2023-04-26T11:07+0000 2023-04-26T11:07+0000 2023-04-26T12:00+0000 military t-90m russian defense ministry russia ukraine donbass russian ground forces video /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105578/88/1055788881_0:134:2746:1679_1920x0_80_0_0_2071038d9e2d6848c753bc239f405a5c.jpg Russia's Defense Ministry has released footage of a T-90M "Proryv" tank crew of the Western Military District destroying a T-80 tank of the Ukrainian army approaching Russian positions in Donbass from a closed firing position. The reconnaissance officers refined the work with the help of a drone. The T-90M is a heavily upgraded version of the T-90 main battle tank, equipped with a more powerful engine and improved armor protection. It can also launch anti-tank guided missiles and has improved fire-control systems.The tank is primarily used by the Russian Ground Forces, but has also been exported to several other countries. It is designed to operate in a variety of environments, including desert, arctic and urban landscapes. russia ukraine donbass 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 Russia's T-90M tanks in combat in Donbass Russia's T-90M tanks in combat in Donbass 2023-04-26T11:07+0000 true PT0M53S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian tank, russian defense ministry, t-90m "proryv" tank https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/watch-russias-tu-160s-flying-over-neutral-waters-of-barents-norwegian-seas-1109843717.html Watch Russia's Tu-160s Flying Over Neutral Waters of Barents, Norwegian Seas Watch Russia's Tu-160s Flying Over Neutral Waters of Barents, Norwegian Seas The Russian Defense Ministry has released a video of Tu-160 strategic missile carriers of the Russian Air Force flying over the neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas. According to the ministry, the pilots spent more than 14 hours in the air. 2023-04-26T08:04+0000 2023-04-26T08:04+0000 2023-04-26T12:28+0000 military tu-160 russian defense ministry russia baltic sea video /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/11/1106431087_0:57:2141:1261_1920x0_80_0_0_b7ad28c76545342a6539f58584e7d719.jpg Russia's Defense Ministry has released footage of the Russian Air Force's Tu-160 strategic missile carriers flying over the neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas. According to the ministry, the pilots spent more than 14 hours in the air.During the flight, the crews of the long-range aircraft carried out night and day aerial refueling. "Fighter escort was provided by crews of MiG-31 aircraft of the Northern Fleet Air Force and Air Defense Association," the ministry added. The Tupolev Tu-160, nicknamed the 'White Swan', is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing strategic bomber designed and produced by Russia. It is the largest and heaviest combat aircraft in the world and is capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear payloads. The Tu-160 has a maximum speed of Mach 2.05 and can fly up to 12,300km without mid-air refueling. It is equipped with advanced avionics and weapons systems, making it a formidable asset in modern warfare. The Tu-160 has been in service with the Russian Air Force since 1987 and is expected to remain in operation for several more decades. russia baltic sea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Two Russian Tu-160 bombers performed 14 hours flight over Barents and Norwegian Seas Two Russian Tu-160 bombers performed 14 hours flight over Barents and Norwegian Seas 2023-04-26T08:04+0000 true PT1M21S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International tu-160 strategic missile carriers, russian air force, barents and norwegian seas https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/which-countries-are-sending-weapons-to-ukraine-1109854081.html Which Countries are Sending Weapons to Ukraine? Which Countries are Sending Weapons to Ukraine? NATO has sent tens of billions of dollars in security assistance to Ukraine over the past year. What does this aid consist of? Who sent it? Sputnik explores. 2023-04-26T13:48+0000 2023-04-26T13:48+0000 2023-04-26T14:13+0000 military ukraine nato weapons arms russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/07/1092099019_0:60:3072:1788_1920x0_80_0_0_fccdf8a6524f8710496274ca6767253d.jpg "In total, the members of this Contact Group have provided more than $55 billion in security assistance for Ukraine. Thats a tenfold increase since we first met," Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin boasted at a meeting of NATO defense ministers at the Ramstein Air Base in southwestern Germany last week.Announcing a $325 million package of additional weapons aid, including more ammo for Ukraines HIMARS artillery, 105 and 155 mm shells, and important anti-armor capabilities, Austin said that the US alone had contributed over $35 billion in security assistance to Kiev since February 2022.Who Has Provided the Most Weapons to Ukraine and Helped Kiev the Most?The Kiel Institute for the World Economy has been monitoring the Wests military, economic, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since January 2022. According to its figures, between January 2022 and February 24, 2023 alone, the United States has actually committed the equivalent of over $39.1 billion in military assistance to Kiev.The UK comes in a distant second, devoting $5.97 billion. The European Union and Germany are next, accounting for about $3.25 billion apiece. Poland and the Netherlands are next, accounting for about $2.67 and $2.6 billion, respectively. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Canada round out the top ten, contributing between $883.5 million and $1.54 billion, respectively.Which Other Countries Are Helping Ukraine Militarily?The abovementioned countries arent the only ones that have sent military aid to Ukraine, with over 30 donor countries in total. Among them are Finland, Italy, France, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Australia, Latvia, Spain, Turkiye, Luxembourg, Estonia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Greece, Croatia, Portugal, Slovenia, New Zealand, Austria, South Korea, and Romania (the latter dozen or so nations have contributed $200 million or less).Who Has Sent Tanks to Ukraine?Main battle tanks are among the most expensive and deadly weapons delivered to Ukraine to date. About 16 countries have delivered or approved the delivery of heavy armor. These include hundreds of Soviet tanks, mainly modifications of Soviet T-72s and T-55s, sent by Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, North Macedonia, Poland, and Slovakia, as well as upgraded Cold War-era NATO armor.This includes over 100 Leopard 1 MBTs sent by Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands, plus dozens of more advanced Leopard 2A4 and 2A6 tanks (8 committed by Canada, 14 by Denmark and the Netherlands, 18 by Germany, 8 by Norway, 14 by Poland, 3 by Portugal, and 10 by Spain). Sweden has also promised to send 10 of its Leopard 2 mod tanks, known as the Stridsvagn 122. The UK has committed 14 Challenger 2 tanks, armed with toxic depleted uranium munitions, while the US has promised to provide Ukraine with 31 M1 Abrams.How Much Aid Has Germany Given to Ukraine and What Weapons Have They Sent?EU economic powerhouse Germany has arguably the most to lose from NATOs proxy war with Russia, with the closure of a major gas pipeline running through Poland and the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines last fall robbing Berlin of access to trillions of cubic feet in reliable and competitively-priced Russian natural gas to power its industrial base.Nonetheless, Berlin has faithfully towed the line on arms deliveries to Kiev, with its $3.9 billion in weapons aid including a plethora of advanced weapons, from Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers, mine clearing and armor recovery vehicles, tank transporters, ammunition for small arms and artillery, explosives, drones and anti-drone weapons, advanced radar, and hundreds of trucks.What Has Canada Done for Ukraine?Canada, home to a large Ukrainian minority, has also made effective use of its $1.5+ billion in assistance to pump Ukraine up with weapons, sending armored personnel carriers and armored cars (including the Canadian-built Roshel Senator), as well as anti-tank weapons, howitzers, anti-air missiles, a variety of small-arms, ammunition, and support equipment.How Much Military Assistance Has NATO Sent to Ukraine?While the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has consistently dismissed Moscows allegations that the conflict in Ukraine is a NATO proxy war against Russia, its officials have simultaneously bragged about the billions upon billions in weapons, training, and intelligence support sent to Kiev by the bloc.We are now delivering more jets, tanks, and armored vehicles. And NATOs Ukraine fund is providing urgent support, including medical supplies, mobile satellite systems, and pontoon bridges. All of this is making a real difference on the battlefield every day, Stoltenberg added.The NATO chief is not wrong about the arms making a real difference. Having sabotaged Russian-Ukrainian peace negotiations last spring, the US and its allies succeeded in staving off a ceasefire, thus ensuring the deaths of tens, if not hundreds of thousands, of Ukrainian and Russian troops and Donbass civilians, all for the sake of what Lloyd Austin admitted was a crusade designed to weaken Moscow militarily.Are Russian Strategic Partners Like China and Iran Supporting Russia Militarily?At the same time as they have sent tens of billions of dollars in advanced military hardware to Ukraine, NATO powers have accused some of Moscows strategic partners, particularly China and Iran, of selling arms to Russia.Both countries have rejected these claims, with Beijing instead coming up with a 12-point peace plan designed to settle the Ukraine crisis, and Tehran blasting the West for its campaign of the pot calling the kettle black. Last month, Ukrainian military intelligence admitted that it had found no evidence of China providing Russia with any arms. Meanwhile, Irans Defense Ministry has complained that Kiev has failed to provide Tehran with any documentation whatsoever about the purported use of Iranian drones in Ukraine.How Do Russians Feel About NATOs Military Aid to Ukraine?For many Russians, and for Europeans generally, for that matter, NATOs delivery of advanced weaponry to Ukraine brings up painful memories of Western aggression against Russia historically. As Russian and German media, historians, and politicians pointed out ad nauseam in January after NATO approved sending heavy armor to Kiev, the present crisis is the first time that Russian forces have to face Western tanks in the fields of Ukraine since the Second World War. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230421/us-defense-secretary-us-expediting-abrams-delivery-to-ukraine-tanks-will-arrive-in-germany-soon-1109743317.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230422/germany-plans-to-open-lng-terminal-linked-to-nord-stream-pipeline-network---reports-1109762958.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230303/sure-we-believe-you-biden-reportedly-tells-allies-us-isnt-interested-in-regime-change-in-russia-1107993541.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230412/russia-knew-nato-states-engaged-in-hostilities-in-ukraine-before-pentagon-leaks-kremlin-1109381526.html ukraine russia 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 which countries are supplying weapons to kkraine, total aid to ukraine by country, latest weapons to ukraine, list of countries that support ukraine, german weapons to ukraine, ukraine weapons list, tanks to ukraine by country, which countries helping ukraine, uk weapons to ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/will-zelensky-cause-chernobyl-20-1109853554.html Will Zelensky Cause Chernobyl 2.0? Will Zelensky Cause Chernobyl 2.0? The Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine suffered a catastrophic accident on April 26, 1986. 2023-04-26T16:18+0000 2023-04-26T16:18+0000 2023-04-26T16:19+0000 world chernobyl nuclear power plant ukraine international atomic energy agency (iaea) fukushima world health organisation exclusive /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106056/68/1060566855_0:132:3000:1820_1920x0_80_0_0_55ffd2e0369e334ed9a7366429fffee7.jpg Dr. Chris Busby, physical chemist and scientific secretary of the European Committee on Radiation Risk, who has worked for the UK government's uranium committee, has expressed his opinion about the Chernobyl accident and some lessons for the Zaporozhye NPP issue:The Chernobyl nuclear disaster in April 1986 was the first very serious energy reactor accident to occur on the planet. (I leave aside the Windscale UK fire). The second was Fukushima in 2011. Both involved nuclear (not steam) explosions that contaminated the biosphere with the contents of the reactors, hundreds of tons of Uranium fuel contaminated with the radioactive fission products like Caesium-137, Strontium-90 and activation products like Plutonium-239. Focusing on Chernobyl, the disaster arguably destroyed the Soviet Union, caused more than a million cancer deaths in Europe, together with a significant increase in genetic diseases, and premature ageing in the most exposed populations like those of Belarus and Ukraine.What the accident also revealed was the failure of the radiation risk model based on the Hiroshima cancer lifespan study to predict or explain the health effects. Since, in the West anyway, the legal limits for exposure, based on this risk model (that of the International Commission on Radiation Protection, ICRP), were challenged by what was clearly emerging from the contaminated territories as a health meltdown, the cover-up cavalry took over. I was in Kiev in 2001 at the World Health Organization conference giving an invited paper on infant leukemia, where I saw the IAEA scientists controlling the information.From the audience Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian doctors and researchers were trying to show what was happening, whilst the IAEA and WHO controllers were trying to shut them up. It was theater, and recorded for posterity by Wladimir Tchertkoff in his video documentary "Nuclear Controversies." Tchertkoff died last week; another one bites the dust. In 2001, there was Alexey Yablokov, Wassily Nesterenko, Elena Burlakova, another brave scientist who consistently showed that the fallout from Chernobyl and other radioactive contamination was systematically destroying life on Earth.All dead now, and I am the Last of the Mohicans. Before he died, Yablokov wrote two books about the health consequences of the Chernobyl accident, one with me, and both filled with data on the dead, the sad, the sick, the babies, the cancer, the leukemia, the premature ageing, that followed internal radioactivity from the air, the food, and the water.In the West, Chernobyl victims' lives were cast as a consequence of "radiophobia" since the Hiroshima model failed to predict anything. The "Dose was too low."Prof. Yablokov and I, with some other independent scientists, addressed the risk model failure by founding the European Committee on Radiation Risk in 1998. At that time, we also had Prof. Alice Stewart and Dr. Rosalie Bertell. Of the original core group, only Prof. Inge Schmitz Feuerhake and I now remain. But through the help of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, and a few other charities including the Goldsmith Foundation and also contributions from my USA attorney friend Stuart Smith (who died last year), we managed to develop an alternative model which does predict and explain the consequences of the Chernobyl contamination and also Fukushima explosions. It also explains the origin of the global cancer epidemic that began in 1980atmospheric nuclear testing, the downstream genetic effects of exposure to Depleted Uranium (DU) weapons."The British and the Americans continue to cling to their crazy theory that these radioactive substances which bind to DNA are effectively harmless and have no genetic or indiscriminate effects on populations"Since Fukushima, more and more evidence has appeared both in the scientific peer review literature and in gray literature, that the radiation exposure issue is the most important failure of science and policy in human history. It is easy to show, using the numbers, using epidemiology, that more than 300 million people have developed cancer ascribable to the atmospheric weapons fallout of the 1960s. The ICRP risk model is in error for internal exposures by upwards of 10,000-fold. Yet nothing is done, and the evidence is suppressed.Much of this evidence derives from Chernobyl studies. But attempts to publish the evidence in the scientific literature are consistently blocked by reviewers, and when the issue is taken into courts, the defense always pays up before it gets to a trial. Why? Because the world needs nuclear energy, and the military needs nuclear bombs, nuclear submarines, and Depleted Uranium weapons.But from my perspective, as a scientist who has worked in this field for 30 years, Chernobyl is the pivot upon which the truth about radiation and health rests. In 1996, the European Commission created the Radiation Basic Safety Standards Directive BSS 96/29. The Greens asked for my advice. I anticipated health effects from the Chernobyl disaster (indeed, I had been advised of some horrifying Chernobyl data from Petra Kelly of the German Greens in 1992), and suggested they introduce a suicide clause. This they did, and it appeared in the finalized legal instrument. It has remained in versions of this BSS ever since, and is also in the UK version after Brexit. It states that if new and important information appears that makes the scientific basis of the BSS law (the ICRP model) unsafe, all processes involving exposure must be reassessed and justified (i.e. cost benefit). But governments do nothing; the law is ignored.Since 2016, evidence has emerged (and published in the scientific literature) that the Japanese Lifespan Study of the Hiroshima victims was dishonestly manipulated by dismissing the control group who were not in the city at the time of the bomb. Additionally, evidence has emerged that the main cause of the cancers in the Japanese at Hiroshima was not the external prompt gamma radiation, but exposure to the Black Rain, radioactive microparticles of Uranium-234 from the unfissioned remnants of the bomb. The Japanese government conceded this in 2021, when it lost the case taken by the Black Rain hibakushas who developed cancer, but had been too far from the detonation to have any external dose.Despite all this, and other evidence, new and important evidence government agencies in Europe and the UK sit on their hands whilst people die.So, what does all this mean for us today? What is its relevance to what is happening in Ukraine? There are three points. They all follow from the huge errors in the radiation risk model. The first is that a nuclear war is unwinnable and will destroy whats left of the genetic integrity of life on Earth. But lets hope that doesnt happen. What may happen is bad enough.Start with Depleted Uranium. I studied DU effects in Iraq and in Kosovo. The levels of cancer and genetic birth defects were astronomical, higher than seen at Hiroshima. I have written elsewhere about this. So, if the West (or anyone) uses DU, the same effects will appear locally and also remotely wherever the wind blows. We have seen the effects of Chernobyl on childhood leukemia in Wales and Scotland, where the particles came down in the rain. I have an epidemiological paper on this submitted to a journal right now. And another paper where I show that someone has been using Uranium weapons in Ukraine already, with increases in Uranium particles in the air filters deployed near the Atomic Weapons Establishment in Reading, UK.Then there is Zaporozhye. This one is a very real and potential nightmare. The nuclear energy site on the East bank of the Kakhovka lake involves six VVER 1000MW pressurized water reactors together with their spent fuel pools and spent fuel dry storage systems. All reactors are currently in cold shutdown, but that does not make them safe, and particularly it does not make the spent fuel pools and spent fuel dry storage assemblies safe. When you take the spent fuel out of one of these reactors, you are talking about 312 rod assemblies totaling 66 tons of spent enriched Uranium, containing a list of very radioactive fission products and neutron activation alpha emitters like Plutonium. These go into a water pond to cool, and when a bit cooler, they go to dry storage where they are cooled to about 350 degrees. How long they stay in the water, and how long they are in the dry storage I dont know. But since they have nowhere else to go, presumably until there is some solution developed where they are stuck in the ground, like the Swedish Forsmark operation that I have had a lot to do with, they are still there. The half-life of the longest element, U-238, is about 4.7 billion years (Yes).OK, so whats the problem? If the cooling fails, then the assemblies melt, and when this happens, they pool in the bottom of the containment vessel, the neutron flux goes vertical, and you have an atomic explosion. Such an explosion would certainly make it impossible to cool the other assemblies and they also would melt and explode. In the six reactors, which have run for about 30 years, there are theoretically 6 x 30 x 66 x 2 tons assuming two refuelings a year. Where is my calculator? Ah, that is 23,760 tons of Uranium, plus the trimmings. Well I may have this a bit wrongbut you get the picture.This would certainly wipe out Ukraine, and quite possibly Europe, perhaps further afield.An early version of a single exploding spent fuel tank scenario was the Chelyabinsk (Kyshtym) explosion in 1957, which cause the contamination of 52,000 sq. km with hot particles and where 10,000 people were evacuated. Those who have watched Tarkovskys Stalker will see the landscape.This is all possible. Loss of coolant is the problem. So how could that happen?A direct hit on a water fuel pool is unlikely: these are inside the main reactor containment. A direct hit on the Dry Storage systems? Well, I dont know how well protected these are.A wipeout of all the backup electricity for the pumpsthey have backup diesel generators. But what if those also go down, as they did in Fukushima? Well, also very unlikelybut recall Murphys law. If it can go wrong, it will go wrong.No. There is one very nasty possibility. If the dam holding back the lake is blown, then there is no cooling water. And this is something that is entirely feasible. Then, as far as I can see, away we go, goodbye Europe.What can be done to avert this?Well, I can see that the IAEA is freaking out. They want to take control of the NPP. But I cant see that averts the possibility of the loss of the lake. I see the IAEA as a project aimed at supporting NATOs project in Ukraine with some radiation fig leaves. I have dealt with the IAEA and do not trust them an inchthey are an emanation of the United States and do not believe that DU is dangerous.What must be done is that the possibility of Ukraine destroying the dam must be made to be zero. And quickly.British and US officials insist their depleted uranium weapons sent to Ukraine are safe, but what does the evidence say? Watch a fragment of an exclusive Sputnik interview with Dr. Chris Busby to find out more! https://sputnikglobe.com/20230329/fractured-ukraine-poisoned-by-depleted-uranium-win-scenario-for-pentagon-says-ex-dod-official-1108935140.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230328/use-of-depleted-uranium-in-ukraine-could-spark-global-health-crisis-heres-why-1108844529.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230405/ukraines-strike-drone-falls-from-skies-near-zaporozhye-npp-1109135963.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230330/russia-conveys-to-iaea-its-vision-on-functioning-of-security-zone-around-znpp-moscow-says-1108949943.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 Dr. Chris Busby on the falsity of statements about the "harmlessness" of uranium ammunition Dr. Chris Busby on the falsity of statements about the "harmlessness" of uranium ammunition 2023-04-26T16:18+0000 true PT1M00S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International chernobyl nuclear power plant, nuclear disaster, radioactive material, zaporozhye npp The Culpeper County Sheriffs Office has again earned national recognition for commitment to recruiting military veterans among its forces. VETS Indexes announced winners April 13, in its third annual Employer Awards. As in the previous two years, CCSO earned the highest 5 Star Employer designation for commitment to recruiting, hiring, retaining, developing and supporting veterans and the military-connected community. Only one other law enforcement agencyOrange County Sheriffs Office in Orlando, Fla.got the 5 Star designation. VETS Indexes, based in New York City, is an independent provider of custom indexes within the environmental, social and governance arena. VETS Indexes provides a social impact via public companies that support the hiring and professional development of military veterans, according to vetindexes.com. This is our Veterans award, said Sheriff Scott H. Jenkins in a news release April 20, on social media. Its my intent to always honor, appreciate, say thank you for your military service and for your law enforcement service. I thank you for what you bring to the table, naturally, based on your experience: the added value that you give to serving alongside us in the Sheriffs Office. Since Jenkins took office in 2012, Culpeper County Sheriffs Office has twice obtained Virginia Values Veterans certification from the Commonwealths Department of Veterans Services for its commitment to recruit, hire, train, and retain veterans, and the agency has a nine-time award-winning veterans program, according to the release. Culpeper County Sheriffs Office stands out from the pack as one of the best employers nationwide for veterans, members of the National Guard and Reserves and military spouses, said George Altman, managing director of VETS Indexes, in the release. As more and more employers recognize the cutting-edge technical skills and soft skills veterans bring to the workplace, the race to attract military-connected talent gets increasingly competitive, he stated. Two people were injured Tuesday afternoon when a collision caused a rollover on Lake Minatare Road. Shortly after 4:20 p.m., emergency personnel responded to the area of Lake Minatare Road and County Road 24, where a two-vehicle crash involved a rollover with several victims, according to the Scotts Bluff County Sheriffs Office. Investigation found that an eastbound Ford pickup crossed the center line of Lake Minatare Road, colliding with a westbound Ford Explorer. The driver of the Explorer, a 16-year-old male, swerved and avoided a head-on collision, but the vehicles did collide, causing the Explorer to roll. Occupants of the Explorer included three juveniles and their mother, all from the same family. A 13-year-old boy and his mother, Claudia Diaz, 39, of Scottsbluff, were transported to Regional West Medical Center by Valley Ambulance. The boy was transferred to Denver for treatment of an arm with multiple fractures. Diaz was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The pickup driver, Dennis Little, 75, of rural Minatare, was uninjured but was cited for driving left of center and careless driving, according to the Sheriffs Office. All occupants from both vehicles were wearing their seat belts. The Scottsbluff Rural Fire Department assisted with this incident. Discover Northwest Nebraska presented its first regional tourism industry awards to outstanding volunteers, frontline employees and businesses last week. We implemented the awards to showcase the people and places who are going above and beyond to make visitors feel welcome and inspire them to return, said Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp said in a press release. Our winners this year exemplify the friendliness and dedication northwest Nebraska is known for. The Business/Attraction of the Year award was given to Prairie Agate Rock Shop in Crawford. The business, owned by Gary and Valerie Homrighausen, received multiple nominations that noted the couples efforts to engage with customers, helping them understand local geological resources while offering a wide range of items in their shop. The business has generated repeat visitors from across the country, and the Homrighausens play a large role in the planning of the states largest outdoor rock show year after year, the Crawford Rock Swap, held over Labor Day weekend. The Sioux County Fair and Rodeo Board picked up the Tourism Volunteers of the Year award. This group of men and women has focused on organizing Harrisons signature annual event since 1896. The fair features 4-H exhibits, livestock shows, a two-day rodeo, a dance, a parade, an art show, hog wrestling and a demolition derby. Finally, Laure Sinn of the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center won the Frontline Employee of the Year award. Sinn greets the centers visitors with warmth and enthusiasm and happily shares her knowledge of the region as she showcases the centers exhibits. She promotes other tourism stops in the area, suggesting attractions and restaurants, encouraging guests to stay in the area longer or come back for another visit. Sinn also has also served as the voice of the parade at the Crawford Fourth of July celebration and is the voice of the Harvest Moon Fall Festival each year. We had outstanding nominations in all three categories this year, Rempp said. Our winners rose to the top of an esteemed group, and all of our nominees deserve recognition for their efforts. The rest of the nominees included: Bean Broker Coffee House and Pub for Business/Attraction of the Year, the Dawes County Historical Museums Board of Directors and volunteers and Dave Hockenbary of Fur Trade Days in the Tourism Volunteers category, and Courtney Kouba of the Sandoz Center, Kennady Stack of Bean Broker, Pam Wing of Country Kitchen and Brooklyn Anderson of Just Love Coffee in the Frontline Employee category. The awards were presented at Discover Northwest Nebraskas Treasure Chest of the Northwest industry workshop, co-hosted by Chadrad Communications and the Heartland Centers committee for Rural Prosperity in Northwest Nebraska. More than 70 professionals in the regional tourism industry gathered for the event at the Dawes County Fairgrounds. The workshop provided networking opportunities, a brochure exchange and presentations on hospitality, mutual promotion and collaboration, and diversified marketing strategies. In addition to recognizing outstanding professionals, the event is a great way for our industry professionals to learn about each other and prepare for the upcoming tourism season, Rempp said in the press release. Residents and visitors can nominate businesses, employees and volunteers for next years awards until March 1, 2024, by visiting discovernwnebraska.com/industry-awards. (Courtesy of Greater Omaha Chamber) LINCOLN The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce issued a statement Wednesday saying that in the interest of diversity, equity and inclusion, the Nebraska Legislature should steer clear of bills that threaten Nebraska as the warm and welcoming state we know it to be. Inclusivity is the right thing to do, says the statement from the Chamber, citing recommendations from a statewide, economic development report from 2021 called Blueprint Nebraska. Aimed at LB 574 The statement, signed by Chamber President Carmen Tapio and interim President/CEO Tim Burke, did not name a specific bill, but was clearly aimed at a proposal that would ban gender-affirming care for minors. A Chamber spokesman later told the Examiner that while the letter was general in nature, it was intended as a comment on the transgender proposal. That measure, Legislative Bill 574, has sparked controversy throughout the 2023 session. Despite a series of sometimes emotional filibusters, the measure has advanced to the final round of debate. Amendment being discussed Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth, the main sponsor of LB 574, is currently working with a committee of fellow senators to see if theres an amendment that would improve support for the bill. The Chamber statement said that the business organization was not equipped to weigh in on issues that involve personal medical care decisions or medical decisions regarding parents, their children and their health care professionals. The organization remains fully committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in recruiting and retaining a talented workforce, the statement said. We ask our elected officials to focus their work on being part of the long-term solution on the policy matters of the highest importance to Nebraskans. the statement said. An explosion was reported at a metal company on Salisbury Road in Statesville on Wednesday. The explosion was reported shortly after 11 a.m., according to a news release from the city of Statesville. The Statesville Fire Department was dispatched to L. Gordon Iron & Metal Co. located at 1300 Salisbury Road. The explosion was in an outside machine that resulted in a fire, the release said. One employee received medical treatment for smoke inhalation. The fire was considered controlled in 30 minutes, the release said. The release did not provide any specifics about damage caused by the fire. Here are my notes on, Up From Slavery, By: Booker T. Washington. If I have done anything in life worth attention, I feel sure that I inherited the disposition from my mother. The lesson that my mother taught me in this has always remained with me, and I have tried as best I could to teach it to others. I have always felt proud, whenever I think of the incident, that my mother had strength of character enough not to be fed into the temptation of seeming to be that which she was notof trying to impress my schoolmates and others with the fact that she was able to buy me a store hat when she was not. I have always felt proud that she refused to go into debt for that which she did not have the money to pay for. Since that time I have owned many kinds of caps and hats, but never one of which I have felt so proud as of the cap made of the two pieces of cloth sewed together by my mother. I have noted the fact, but without satisfaction, I need not add, that several of the boys who began their careers with store hats and who were my schoolmates and used to join in the sport that was made of me because I had only a homespun cap, have ended their careers in the penitentiary, while others are not able now to buy any kind of hat. In later years, I confess that I do not envy the white boy as I once did. I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed. Looked at from this standpoint, I almost reach the conclusion that often the Negro boys birth and connection with an unpopular race is an advantage, so far as real life is concerned. With few exceptions, the Negro youth must work harder and must perform his task even better than a white youth in order to secure recognition. But out of the hard and unusual struggle through which he is compelled to pass, he gets a strength, a confidence, that one misses whose pathway is comparatively smooth by reason of birth and race. One day, during the last week of my stay in the restaurant, I found under one of the tables a crisp, new ten-dollar bill. I could hardly contain myself, I was so happy. As it was not my place of business I felt it to be the proper thing to show the money to the proprietor. This I did. He seemed as glad as I was, but he coolly explained to me that, as it was his place of business, he had a right to keep the money, and he proceeded to do so. This, I confess, was another pretty hard blow to me. I will not say that I became discouraged, for as I now look back over my life I do not recall that I ever became discouraged over anything that I set out to accomplish. I have begun everything with the idea that I could succeed, and I never had much patience with the multitudes of people who are always ready to explain why one cannot succeed. I have always had a high regard for the man who could tell me how to succeed. I determined to face the situation just as it was. At the end of the week I went to the treasurer of the Hampton Institute, General J. F. B. Marshall, and told him frankly my condition. To my gratification he told me that I could reenter the institution, and that he would trust me to pay the debt when I could. During the second year I continued to work as a janitor. At the end of my second year at Hampton, by the help of some money sent me by my mother and brother John, supplemented by a small gift from one of the teachers at Hampton, I was enabled to return to my home in Malden, West Virginia, to spend my vacation. When I reached home I found that the salt-furnaces were not running, and that the coal-mine was not being operated on account of the miners being out on a strike. This was something which, it seemed, usually occurred whenever the men got two or three months ahead in their savings. During the strike, of course, they spent all that they had saved, and would often return to work in debt at the same wages, or would move to another mine at considerable expense. In either case, my observations convinced me that the miners were worse off at the end of a strike. Before the days of strikes in that section of the country, I knew miners who had considerable money in the bank, but as soon as the professional labour agitators got control, the savings of even the more thrifty ones began disappearing. It was hard for me at this time to understand how a woman of her education and social standing could take such delight in performing such service, in order to assist in the elevation of an unfortunate race. Ever since then I have had no patience with any school for my race in the South which did not teach its students the dignity of labour. Second, at Hampton, for the first time, I learned what education was expected to do for an individual. Before going there I had a good deal of the then rather prevalent idea among our people that to secure an education meant to have a good, easy time, free from all necessity for manual labour. At Hampton I not only learned that it was not a disgrace to labour, but learned to love labour, not alone for its financial value, but for labours own sake and for the independence and self-reliance which the ability to do something which the world wants done brings. At that institution I got my first taste of what it meant to live a life of unselfishness, my first knowledge of the fact that the happiest individuals are those who do the most to make others useful and happy. The ministry was the profession that suffered mostand still suffers, though there has been great improvementon account of not only ignorant but in many cases immoral men who claimed that they were called to preach. In the earlier days of freedom almost every coloured man who learned to read would receive a call to preach within a few days after he began reading. At my home in West Virginia the process of being called to the ministry was a very interesting one. Usually the call came when the individual was sitting in church. Without warning the one called would fall upon the floor as if struck by a bullet, and would lie there for hours, speechless and motionless. Then the news would spread all through the neighbourhood that this individual had received a call. If he were inclined to resist the summons, he would fall or be made to fall a second or third time. In the end he always yielded to the call. While I wanted an education badly, I confess that in my youth I had a fear that when I had learned to read and write well I would receive one of these calls; but, for some reason, my call never came. This reminds me of a conversation which I once had with the Hon. Frederick Douglass. At one time Mr. Douglass was travelling in the state of Pennsylvania, and was forced, on account of his colour, to ride in the baggage-car, in spite of the fact that he had paid the same price for his passage that the other passengers had paid. When some of the white passengers went into the baggage-car to console Mr. Douglass, and one of them said to him: I am sorry, Mr. Douglass, that you have been degraded in this manner, Mr. Douglass straightened himself up on the box upon which he was sitting, and replied: They cannot degrade Frederick Douglass. The soul that is within me no man can degrade. I am not the one that is being degraded on account of this treatment, but those who are inflicting it upon me. The more we talked with the students, who were then coming to us from several parts of the state, the more we found that the chief ambition among a large proportion of them was to get an education so that they would not have to work any longer with their hands. This is illustrated by a story told of a coloured man in Alabama, who, one hot day in July, while he was at work in a cotton-field, suddenly stopped, and, looking toward the skies, said: O Lawd, de cotton am so grassy, de work am so hard, and the sun am so hot dat I blieve dis darky am called to preach! As I look back now over that part of our struggle, I am glad that we had it. I am glad that we endured all those discomforts and inconveniences. I am glad that our students had to dig out the place for their kitchen and dining room. I am glad that our first boarding-place was in that dismal, ill-lighted, and damp basement. Had we started in a fine, attractive, convenient room, I fear we would have lost our heads and become stuck up. It means a great deal, I think, to start off on a foundation which one has made for ones self. When our old students return to Tuskegee now, as they often do, and go into our large, beautiful, well-ventilated, and well-lighted dining room, and see tempting, well-cooked foodlargely grown by the students themselvesand see tables, neat tablecloths and napkins, and vases of flowers upon the tables, and hear singing birds, and note that each meal is served exactly upon the minute, with no disorder, and with almost no complaint coming from the hundreds that now fill our dining room, they, too, often say to me that they are glad that we started as we did, and built ourselves up year by year, by a slow and natural process of growth. In all my acquaintance with General Armstrong I never heard him speak, in public or in private, a single bitter word against the white man in the South. From his example in this respect I learned the lesson that great men cultivate love, and that only little men cherish a spirit of hatred. I learned that assistance given to the weak makes the one who gives it strong; and that oppression of the unfortunate makes one weak. The white man who begins by cheating a Negro usually ends by cheating a white man. In order to be successful in any kind of undertaking, I think the main thing is for one to grow to the point where he completely forgets himself; that is, to lose himself in a great cause. In proportion as one loses himself in this way, in the same degree does he get the highest happiness out of his work. My experience in getting money for Tuskegee has taught me to have no patience with those people who are always condemning the rich because they are rich, and because they do not give more to objects of charity. In the first place, those who are guilty of such sweeping criticisms do not know how many people would be made poor, and how much suffering would result, if wealthy people were to part all at once with any large proportion of their wealth in a way to disorganize and cripple great business enterprises. If no other consideration had convinced me of the value of the Christian life, the Christlike work which the Church of all denominations in America has done during the last thirty-five years for the elevation of the black man would have made me a Christian. Right here, perhaps, I ought to add that I make it a rule never to go before an audience, on any occasion, without asking the blessing of God upon what I want to say. No race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem. It is at the bottom of life we must begin, and not at the top. Nor should we permit our grievances to overshadow our opportunities. I have found that the happiest people are those who do the most for others; the most miserable are those who do the least. BEFORE going to Europe some events came into my life which were great surprises to me. In fact, my whole life has largely been one of surprises. I believe that any mans life will be filled with constant, unexpected encouragements of this kind if he makes up his mind to do his level best each day of his lifethat is, tries to make each day reach as nearly as possible the high-water mark of pure, unselfish, useful living. I pity the man, black or white, who has never experienced the joy and satisfaction that come to one by reason of an effort to assist in making some one else more useful and more happy. LOS ANGELES Walt Disney Co. sued Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, asking a court to overturn state efforts to exert control over the companys Walt Disney World theme parks in Orlando, intensifying a political battle between one of the largest U.S. companies and a potential White House contender. The lawsuit marks the companys response to escalating efforts by DeSantis and his supporters to bring to heel Disney, which draws millions of visitors every year to its massive amusement parks, the first of which opened in 1971. The company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials, the company said in its lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that a newly formed DeSantis-appointed tourist board violated Disneys contract rights, and did so without just compensation and deprived it of due process. Disney also argues it was denied its First Amendment rights to free speech. The company is asking the court to declare Floridas legislative action unlawful. The battle began last year after the company criticized a state law banning classroom discussion of sexuality and gender identity in schools. Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger has called the retaliation against the company anti-business and anti-Florida. The company employs roughly 75,000 people in the state. A spokesperson for DeSantis did not immediately respond to a request for comment. DeSantis, who is seen as a likely candidate for the Republican 2024 presidential nomination, is currently traveling in Asia as part of a visit to several other countries. Disney shares were up marginally on Wednesday. State Republicans last year targeted Disney after it publicly clashed with DeSantis, widely considered a 2024 presidential candidate. Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disneys virtual autonomy in developing 25,000 acres in central Florida where its theme parks are located. But before the takeover by DeSantis appointees, Disney pushed through changes to the special tax district agreement that limit the boards action for decades. Shortly before news of the lawsuit broke, Floridas new oversight board said Disneys plans for potential expansion of the Walt Disney World Resort did not comply with state law, and declared that agreement void. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board unanimously supported an attorneys findings of legal flaws in the developers agreement Disney reached in February with a previous board, including a lack of proper public notice. What our lawyers have told us is, factually and legally, what they created is an absolute legal mess, said board Chairman Martin Garcia. It will not work. The tussle could boost DeSantis support among U.S. Republican voters, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found, but also hurt him among the wider electorate. Seventy-three percent of respondents including 82% of Democrats and 63% of Republicans said they were less likely to support a political candidate who backs laws designed to punish a company for its political or cultural stances. Tesla Inc. supervisors at a Florida service center violated U.S. labor law by telling employees not to discuss pay and other working conditions or bring complaints to higher level managers, a U.S. labor board official has ruled. Managers at the Orlando repair shop illegally silenced workers in 2021 after some of them complained that new hires were being paid more, according to the decision issued Tuesday by National Labor Relations Board Administrative Law Judge Michael Rosas. The judge ordered Tesla to cease and desist from violating workers rights and to post notice of the violations in the service center and email it to employees. The ruling is the latest loss for Tesla before the labor board as it also faces lawsuits alleging widespread race and sex discrimination at its assembly plants. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to the decision, in late 2021 employees became aware that new hires at the collision center were being paid a higher hourly rate than existing workers. Several workers complained, including a technician who contacted a Tesla vice president and had his complaint forwarded to the companys head of human resources, according to the ruling. Supervisors at the service center held a meeting where they instructed the facilitys 25 employees not to discuss their pay and other working conditions and not to file complaints with higher level managers, Rosas said. Weeks later, the technician who had complained was fired, according to the decision. The technician filed a complaint against Tesla with the NLRB last year, and Tuesdays ruling came after Rosas held a hearing in February. Tesla had argued that it had quickly repudiated the managers comments by posting a notice in the service center that Tesla policy allowed workers to discuss their pay. The judge said that attempting to silence employees violated their fundamental right under U.S. labor law to band together to advocate for better working conditions. The decision came about a month after a U.S. appeals court upheld an NLRB ruling that Tesla CEO Elon Musk broke the law by tweeting that employees would lose stock options if they joined a union. The company is also appealing an NLRB decision that said it unlawfully barred factory workers from wearing union t-shirts. The worlds most valuable automaker is also facing a series of race discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuits, most involving its flagship assembly plant in Fremont, California. Tesla has denied wrongdoing in those cases. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) North Carolinas dominant health insurance provider could transfer billions to a holding company instead of returning portions of that surplus to policyholders, under legislation that advanced Tuesday in the state House. The House Health Committee passed a bill with broad bipartisan support that would restructure Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, the largest nonprofit provider in all 100 counties, and allow it to behave more like its for-profit national competitors. The House Insurance Committee will debate the bill Wednesday. While supporters argued it would eliminate a competitive disadvantage, state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey blasted the bill as an attempt to undermine his regulatory authority and swindle more than 4 million North Carolinians out of money guaranteed to them under state law. It's not Blue Cross's money this is the people's money, he told legislators before the vote, urging them to protect his ability to hold insurers accountable to their consumers. Causey, a Republican, told reporters Monday that he views the bill as Blue Cross' attempt to circumvent a state law that limits its reserves and would eventually require the company to refund some of that money to policyholders or lower its rates. The bill would allow Blue Cross and the state's only other hospital service company, Delta Dental, to essentially create a shell company with the same executive leadership that would have more flexibility to move and use money. The state Department of Insurance would have little oversight over that parent company, Causey said, which could enable Blue Cross to hoard its nearly $4.6 billion in reserves. Both companies would remain fully taxed nonprofits. The agency would be required under the bill to review and approve the reorganization to ensure it complies with state law. Causey would have authority to ensure the company focuses its investments on the health needs of North Carolinians. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina criticized Causey on Tuesday for his mischaracterizations of the legislation, arguing that the bill will allow it to improve efficiency and make investments that can better meet the needs of customers and communities. Blue Cross NC members deserve more than bureaucracy and burdensome regulations that make health care even more expensive, the company said in a statement. Founded in the 1930s, the nonprofit was able to accumulate assets tax-free until a federal law ended its decades-long tax exemption in 1986. In continuing to maintain its nonprofit status, the company is subject to more regulations than for-profit companies operating in the state. It's currently required to have more in reserves than its competitors, which would not change under the bill. The holding company would need to file annual financial statements with Causey's office. Blue Cross already has tremendous business flexibility" and "dominates" the health insurance market with the largest market share of any insurer in the state, argued Rep. Donna White, a Johnston County Republican. She raised concerns Monday that the bill could stifle competition. What we want to make sure of is that citizens of North Carolina that have depended on this company ... have access, affordability and know that theyve got health coverage thats going to be taken care of when they need it, White said. And that theyre not going to have to sue to get it. The state treasurer announced in January that Blue Cross will no longer be the administrator of the health insurance plan for more than 740,000 state government employees, teachers and their families, starting in 2025. Pushed out by Aetna after administering the plan for over 40 years, Blue Cross has pointed to the for-profit national insurance giant as the kind of company it must modernize to compete with. Rep. John Bradford, a Mecklenburg County Republican and a primary sponsor, said the proposal levels the playing field and serves as an economic development tool for Blue Cross to grow so it can create more jobs in the state. Existing laws, he said, put Blue Cross and Delta Dental in a position where they have to ask the Department of Insurance and sometimes the attorney general's office for "permission to be able to use their own money. If they want to make investment, they have to go seek approval, versus their competitors can do it much quicker, Bradford said. But Causey argues that money isn't theirs to invest. He demanded lawmakers kill the bill or implement his recommendations to better protect consumers ideas he said have been largely discounted by lawmakers and lobbyists alike. Blue Cross NC should not be able to invest policyholder money with the freedom of a for-profit company using investor money, Causey said after a Monday news conference. Behind him, a large screen read, "This bill is about corporate greed. This story has been updated to remove an erroneous reference to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina saying it would purchase other insurers to expand services. Hannah Schoenbaum is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Disability rights advocates sued Tuesday to overturn Californias physician-assisted death law, arguing that recent changes make it too easy for people with terminal diseases whose deaths arent imminent to kill themselves with drugs prescribed by a doctor. Californias original law allowing terminally ill adults to obtain prescriptions for life-ending drugs was passed in 2016. Advocates say the revised version that took effect last year removes crucial safeguards and violates the U.S. Constitution and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles County, argue that life-ending drugs are more likely to be used by people with disabilities and racial and ethnic minorities because those groups are less likely to receive proper medical and mental health care. The advocates fear that vulnerable people could be pressured into taking their lives by family members or caretakers or feel pressure themselves because they dont want to be a burden. The lawsuit contends that Californias approach, known as the End of Life Option Act, harks back to the discredited practice of eugenics, which once sought to keep people with disabilities and other minority groups from reproducing. The system steers people with terminal disabilities away from necessary mental health care, medical care, and disability supports, and towards death by suicide under the guise of mercy and dignity in dying, the suit argues. The terminal disease required for assistance is, by definition, a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, it says. The law violates constitutional equal protection and due process safeguards designed to protect people from discrimination and exclusion, said Michael Bien, one of the attorneys who sued on behalf of the United Spinal Association, which has at least 60,000 members with spinal cord injuries or who use wheelchairs, including 5,000 in California; Not Dead Yet, which opposes physician-assisted death; the Institute for Patients Rights, which advocates for those at the end of life facing health care disparities; and Communities Actively Living Independent & Free, an independent living center in Los Angeles County. Bien pointed to statistics showing inequities in infant and maternal mortality, and covid-19 deaths. This is how our system works, and end-of-life care has the exact same problems, Bien said. People who choose to use drugs supplied by a doctor to kill themselves may not realize they could instead receive help managing their pain, potentially including sedation that can render them unconscious, said Ingrid Tischer, one of two individual plaintiffs in the lawsuit. It really does create two classes of people based on whether they are perceived to be terminally ill, said the 57-year-old Berkeley resident. One side gets [suicide] prevention, one side gets a [life-ending] prescription. And that is discriminatory. Tischer was born with a type of muscular dystrophy, a progressive disease that now makes it difficult for her to breathe and requires her to use a walker or a wheelchair. I want the care that people get at the end of life, including my own, to be much better, she said. And I dont want assisted suicide to become the new American way of death. California is one of 10 states, along with Washington, D.C., that have so-called aid-in-dying laws. The others are Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Bien said his clients were looking for a way to challenge the laws and settled on Californias 2022 statute because it removed safeguards in the original law. The revisions reduced the minimum waiting period required between the time patients must make two oral requests for medication from 15 days to 48 hours. The suit notes that, by contrast, California has a 10-day cooling-off period between buying a gun and taking possession of it. The law also eliminated requiring patients to make a written attestation within 48 hours before taking life-ending medication. Proponents of the revised law said those safeguards had become unnecessary, time-consuming barriers and that other protections remain in the statute. Compassion & Choices Action Network, which advocates for assisted death laws, cited a 2017 study that found 21% of people died or became too ill to proceed with the steps. Supporters of the law said they werent aware of any abuse or coercion. The suit argues that people who could live indefinitely with proper medical care can be considered terminally ill and thus eligible for the drugs if they likely would die within six months without such care. That, it says, could include diabetes patients who refuse insulin or people with kidney disorders who refuse dialysis. Bien cited a doctor in Colorado who wrote in a medical journal that she had steered two patients with anorexia to take prescribed life-ending drugs. Compassion & Choices said that violates the law. Even doctors unwilling to assist patients in killing themselves are required under Californias law to document the patients request, which still counts as the first of two required spoken requests. Christian Medical & Dental Association sued over that requirement and a federal judge blocked that portion of the law in September. The state is appealing the ruling. This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF. USE OUR CONTENT This story can be republished for free (details). WILLISTON, Vt. (AP) One of the co-founders of Ben & Jerry's has gone from ice cream to blunts, promising a line of marijuana products with a social mission. Ben Cohen has started Ben's Best Blnz, a nonprofit cannabis line with a stated mission of helping to right the wrongs of the war on drugs. The company says on its website that 80% of its profits will go to grants for Black cannabis entrepreneurs while the rest will be equally divided between the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance and the national Last Prisoner Project, which is working to free people incarcerated for cannabis offenses. The War on Drugs (first so named by President Richard Nixon) has targeted lower income Black and Brown people thru over policing, discriminatory prosecution, and discriminatory sentencing, the website states. Thats why despite using pot at the same rate, Black people are 4 times more likely to be arrested than Whites. Ben's Best Blnz, or B3, says it licenses its formulas, packaging, trademarks, and marketing materials to for-profit businesses that pay a royalty. After expenses are deducted, the royalties are donated to the cause. The cannabis is grown in soil using no nonorganic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides, the website states. The B3 products, including pre-rolled joints with lower levels of the psychoactive compound THC, are expected to be available in cannabis shops in Vermont next month. ATLANTA (AP) Georgia is creating a $750,000 grant program to support mental health programs for military service members, veterans and their families through a law signed Tuesday by Gov. Brian Kemp. Georgia's Department of Veterans Service will offer grants to nonprofit groups to provide mental health and addiction services to those groups under House Bill 414. The Republican Kemp told a group of lawmakers and veterans at a state Capitol ceremony in Atlanta that the effort is modeled on a clinic in Hinesville, near Fort Stewart, that opened last year. The Cohen Family Clinic provides free services to military members, veterans and their families and is run by Aspire Health Partners. The Florida-based nonprofit runs a similar clinic in Tampa. For far too long, many of those who have sacrificed so much for freedoms have struggled with mental health challenges in silence," Kemp said Tuesday. Whether due to the stigma, or lack of resources, or any number of other obstacles, these heroes have been unable to receive the help they need and deserve. To win a grant, an applicant must show that it uses evidence-based practices, trains staff members to understand the military, and connects clients to other mental health services upon discharge. Priority will be given to locations within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of a military base. Applications for grants are supposed to be available soon. Kemp on Tuesday also signed Senate Bill 21, which overhauls the board of the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation, and House Bill 175, which creates a retired military license plate and allows disabled veterans to exempt their vehicle from taxation even if they don't use the current disabled veteran plate. At least 90 bodies have been found at the ranch of a pastor in Kenya who is accused of telling his followers to starve themselves to death to meet Jesus, and the death toll could rise with the Kenya Red Cross Society saying 213 people are missing. It has sparked memories of some of the world's worst cases of cult-related mass deaths. JONESTOWN More than 900 men, women and children died when American preacher and Peoples Temple leader Jim Jones orchestrated a ritual of mass suicide and murder by ordering followers to drink a cyanide-laced grape drink at their jungle settlement in Guyana in 1978. The settlement and the cult deaths gained worldwide infamy as Jonestown. Although the deaths were initially referred to as mass suicide, survivors claimed some followers were shot, injected with poison, or forced to drink the beverage by guards. The deaths followed a visit to the settlement by a San Francisco congressman. As Rep. Leo Ryan was about to return to the United States with journalists and temple members who wanted to leave, they were ambushed on an airstrip. Ryan, three journalists and a defector were killed. Jones then urged 912 followers to drink the grape punch. The gruesome mass deaths ritual was captured on the Death Tape, an audio recording on a cassette tape believed to have been set up by Jones. He was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head, leaving speculation as to whether it was suicide or murder. WACO A 51-day standoff between federal agents and members of the Branch Davidians religious group led by David Koresh ended in a huge fire at their ranch compound just outside Waco, Texas in 1993. More than 70 Branch Davidians, including Koresh, died inside the compound. Authorities said the Branch Davidians started the blaze. The nearly two-month siege began when agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms attempted to execute search and arrest warrants at the Mount Carmel Center ranch on Feb. 28, 1993, suspecting Koresh of stockpiling weapons. The botched raid resulted in a gun battle that left an initial six Branch Davidians and four agents dead. The FBI and Koresh entered into weeks of negotiations, during which Koresh allowed some women and children to leave. He told federal agents he was waiting for further instruction from God." The FBI finally led an assault on the ranch on April 19, during which the buildings were burned to the ground. Some of the Branch Davidians were found fatally shot by other members, some died of suffocation and smoke inhalation. Koresh was found dead with a gunshot wound to the forehead. HEAVEN'S GATE When Sheriff's deputies went to a million-dollar mansion in the San Diego suburb of Rancho Santa Fe in March 1997, they discovered the bodies of 39 men and women lying on bunks wearing identical black clothing and black and white shoes, their faces and chests covered with a triangular shroud of purple cloth. Investigators ultimately pieced together a mass suicide by the Heaven's Gate cult led by Marshall Applewhite, who was also one of the dead. He had recorded videos of himself saying that mass suicide was the only way for him and his followers to evacuate Earth, and they were timing their deaths to coincide with the appearance of the Hale-Bopp comet, which was a warning that heaven's gate was closing. The comet would be followed by a spacecraft that would take their souls to a higher level of existence, Applewhite said. To prepare, Applewhite and his 38 followers took the anti-seizure drug phenobarbital mixed with apple sauce or pudding. Most of them also drank vodka to enhance the drugs potency and they tied plastic bags over their heads so they would suffocate. UGANDA DOOMSDAY SECT Authorities first believed that more than 500 members of a reclusive sect in southwest Uganda known as the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God died in a mass suicide in 2000 when their chapel was set alight and they burned alive. But when the bodies of six men were discovered nearby with stab wounds and evidence of strangulation, it changed to a mass murder investigation. More bodies were also discovered in mass graves at other sites. Ultimately, more than 700 people died in the Kanungu cult massacres. It's believed that cult leader Joseph Kibweteere had convinced followers to confess their sins and sell their possessions in preparation for the end of the world on Jan. 1, 2000. When that didn't happen, followers became disillusioned. Kibweteere chose a new date for the end of the world; March 17. After a party, where followers ate meat and drank coca-cola, 530 died in the fire in the church. Authorities later found that the windows and doors had been boarded up to prevent anyone escaping. Leaders of the sect are also suspected of killing hundreds of followers at other sites by poisoning them. No one has been held accountable and Kibweteere disappeared on the day of the church fire. WASHINGTON (AP) Over the past year, the U.S. Treasury Department has used its sanctions powers to impose wide-ranging financial penalties on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine turning Russia into the most sanctioned country in the world. Now, the federal agency is facing increasing pressure, including from legislation introduced Tuesday in the Senate, to use those tools with similar vigor against the people, financial institutions and companies that have participated in the explosion of fentanyl use and distribution in the U.S. As a matter of policy we are dealing with drug cartels who have tremendous economic gain to be made, said Paul DelPonte, executive director of the nonprofit National Crime Prevention Council, which is pushing for tougher action against those behind the scourge of drug overdose and death. There are a lot of hands involved in this crime." Fentanyl is the deadliest drug in the U.S. today. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 71,000 people died from overdosing on synthetic opioids such as fentanyl in 2021, up from almost 58,000 in 2020. Mexico and China are the primary source countries for fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked directly into the U.S., according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, which is tasked with combating illicit drug trafficking. Nearly all the precursor chemicals that are needed to make fentanyl are coming from China. Growing tensions between the U.S. and China on multiple fronts have made efforts to stop the importation of illicit fentanyl more difficult, a Congressional Research Service report states. China officially suspended its counternarcotic and law enforcement cooperation with the U.S. last August. Treasury hasn't been idle. The department has imposed sanctions on fentanyl producers and traffickers in recent years and as recently as this month issued a set of sanctions on a group of Mexican and Chinese fentanyl distributors. But with the number of overdose deaths exploding in recent years, there are calls for more action, including a national emergency declaration similar to the one at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Such a declaration could lead to tougher sanctions, DelPonte said. It would empower the CDC to collaborate with people at Treasury, for instance, to save some very young innocent people." Lawmakers are making a bipartisan effort to get that declaration, with legislation sponsored by the leaders and ranking members of the Senate Banking and Armed Services Committees that was introduced Tuesday. That bill would compel the Biden administration to prioritize the fight against fentanyl trafficking and prod Treasury to use its sanctions authority to quell the proliferation of the drug in the U.S. Declaring international fentanyl trafficking a national emergency, the legislation would require Treasury to sanction drug cartels It also would impose reporting requirements and enable the president to confiscate sanctioned property of fentanyl traffickers to use for law enforcement efforts. This legislation takes decisive action to cut off the deadly flow of fentanyl at the source," said Sen Tim Scott of South Carolina, the ranking Republican on the Banking Committee and a potential GOP presidential candidate. Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said he hears "over and over that we need new, more powerful tools to prevent the flow of fentanyl into our neighborhoods. Fentanyl was involved in 81% of 2020 overdose deaths in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Health. This bipartisan bill will add effective new sanctions to target the illicit fentanyl supply chain, from China through Mexico, to help stop increasingly dangerous forms of this drug before they ever reach our communities, Brown said. But critics say that's not enough. When it comes to drug-trafficking, we havent enforced sanctions against banks seriously, said David Asher, a senior fellow at the conservative Hudson Institute specializing in U.S. foreign policy and law enforcement. If we can sanction Russian oligarchs and banks, why cant we do the same thing to Mexican drug lords and their bankers and bank accounts and banks especially when we know who they are. Treasury had no comment on the proposed new legislation. Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, called for wider sanctions on Chinese firms. I don't think sanctions will change the behavior of the Chinese government, to willingly enforce drug laws within China, she said, But I do believe there is potential that sanctions will impact Chinese industry actors if sanctions are done in fairly large numbers. Sanctions are a tool that would most motivate Chinese industry actors to start observing best practices, to ensure that they're not selling to cartels," she said. Jessie Abell, a vice president at Sayari a commercial platform that compiles publicly available data on firms, said Chinese chemical and trading companies that supply Mexican criminal organizations with fentanyl precursors often operate within extended networks of related companies, making it possible to track the criminal organizations. Publicly available data "can uncover these illicit networks and illuminate how they adapt, she said. OLYMPIA Wash. (AP) Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a trio of bills meant to address gun violence Tuesday, one banning the sale of certain semi-automatic rifles, one imposing a 10-day waiting period on firearms purchases and one clearing the way for lawsuits against gun makers or sellers in certain cases. A crowd of gun-control activists and Democratic lawmakers broke into cheers as Inslee signed the measures, which he said would not solve all gun violence but would save lives. Just because they dont solve all the problems does not mean the state of Washington does not take action, Inslee said. Inaction against gun violence is unacceptable. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre praised state officials for passing the ban on selling specific semi-automatic weapons. President Joe Biden, who has been pushing for additional gun control measures, "commends the leadership of Washington Governor Jay Inslee and legislative leaders as well as the advocates, survivors and elected officials who fought for years to make today a reality, she said. The sales ban, which took effect immediately, drew a quick legal challenge from the Second Amendment Foundation, based in Bellevue, Washington; and the Firearms Policy Coalition, based in Sacramento, California. The groups sued in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on Tuesday, saying the law violates the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. The State of Washington has criminalized one of the most common and important means by which its citizens can exercise their fundamental right to self-defense, the plaintiffs said. Inslee and state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, both Democrats, pushed for the Democratic-controlled Washington Legislature to pass the ban on many semi-automatic weapons this session after years of failed attempts. The U.S. is setting a record pace for mass killings this year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. All of this year's mass killings have involved firearms. Washington's new law prohibits the future sale, distribution, manufacture and importation of more than 50 types of guns, including AR- and AK-style rifles. The measure does not bar the possession of the weapons by people who already have them. Washington is the 10th state including California, Hawaii, Illinois and New York to enact such a law. The bill concerning lawsuits against gun manufacturers and sellers requires them to exercise reasonable controls in making, selling and marketing weapons, including steps to keep guns from being sold to people known to be dangerous or to straw buyers who might buy weapons on someone else's behalf. It allows the attorney general or private parties, such as the family members of victims, to sue over violations or damages. The third measure, including the 10-day waiting period, will create an important buffer between people in crisis and a firearm, Inslee said. That measure also requires all gun buyers to show theyve taken safety training. Washington has moved to tighten the states gun laws in recent years, after a young man in 2016 used a newly purchased AR-15 semi-automatic rifle with a 30-round magazine to kill three teens and wound another at a house party north of Seattle. Inslee last year signed a package of bills including one that banned the manufacture, distribution and sale of firearm magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. It doesnt prohibit the possession of such magazines. ___ Associated Press reporter Gene Johnson contributed from Seattle. Lisa Baumann reported from Bellingham, Wash. North Dakota has become the latest state to ban abortion in most cases again. Gov. Doug Burgum on Monday signed a ban that has narrow exceptions: Abortion is legal in pregnancies caused by rape or incest, but only in the first six weeks of pregnancy. Abortion is allowed later in pregnancy only in specific medical emergencies. The law is intended to replace a previous ban that is not being enforced while a state court weighs its constitutionality. Ten months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and a nationwide right to abortion, actions by lawmakers and in courts and the interplay between them continue to create confusion. Here is a look at what is known and not known about where abortion policy stands in North Dakota and where it falls in the national landscape. WHAT LAWS ARE IN PLAY IN NORTH DAKOTA? The state adopted a trigger law in 2007 to ban abortion in the event that Roe was overturned. But soon after last years Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health decision did just that, a judge said the blanket abortion ban could not be enforced while courts decided if it complies with the state constitution. In March, the state Supreme Court kept enforcement on hold. That left in place a ban on abortion after 22 weeks of pregnancy. But in the sparsely populated state, the impact of any policy change is muted. Until Dobbs, the state had only one abortion clinic. After the ruling, the clinic moved from Fargo to nearby Moorhead, Minnesota. The state averaged about 75 abortions a month in the first half of 2022. But since the only clinic left the state, the state Department of Health says there have been no "reportable" abortions. WHATS NEXT? While the latest ban's sponsor and lawyers critical of it say the law is now in effect, the state attorney general was not available Tuesday to comment on how and when the state would enforce the new law. The director of Red River Womens Clinic, which sued over the previous ban, said lawyers at the Center for Reproductive Rights are assessing the new one and considering whether to challenge it in court, too. The director, Tammi Kromenaker, said in a message to The Associated Press that the new law leads patients to wonder if they are doing something criminal by accessing healthcare. No patient should be faced with that feeling. In a statement Tuesday, Center for Reproductive Rights director Elisabeth Smith suggested there could be grounds to challenge the new law. North Dakota lawmakers are attempting to bypass the state constitution and court system with this total ban, Smith said. They are simply trying to repackage a ban that the North Dakota Supreme Court recently said likely violates North Dakotans fundamental rights under the state constitution. HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO OTHER STATES? Thirteen other states have in place bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy. They are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Four other states have bans throughout pregnancy where enforcement is blocked by courts. The majority of these bans were adopted in anticipation of Roe being overturned, and most do not have exceptions for rape or incest. Exceptions have been a major point of contention in Indiana and West Virginia laws. They are now being considered in Louisiana and have been added to a new, more restrictive ban in Florida. The idea of trying again after a court blocks enforcement isn't unique to North Dakota. The Republicans who control South Carolinas legislature are at odds about what kind of ban to put in place after the states top court blocked one in January. WHAT ACTION HAVE OTHER LEGISLATURES TAKEN? Since Dobbs was adopted, some of the biggest state-level abortion debates have not been about whether to allow abortion, but rather on related policies. In Wyoming, abortion pills were specifically banned in March. This month, Idaho lawmakers made it illegal for an adult to help a minor obtain an abortion without parental consent. The Democratic governor in Kansas has vetoed measures to fund anti-abortion centers and require clinics to tell patients that medication abortion can be reversed with a regimen rejected by major U.S. medical groups. Some Democrat-controlled states, including Colorado, Minnesota and Oregon, are moving in the opposite direction: adopting or considering measures intended to protect people who travel from states where abortion are illegal to obtain one and the doctors and others who help. DO THE POLICY CHANGES CREATE CONFUSION? Theres some evidence that they do. A new report by groups that advocate for access to abortion used researchers posing as patients to ask Oklahoma hospitals about emergency obstetric care policies. The groups Physicians for Human Rights, Oklahoma Call for Reproductive Justice and the Center for Reproductive Rights said that none of nearly three-dozen hospitals they contacted could outline a clear, consistent policy about the decision-making process for abortions necessary to save the life of the woman. Trisha Ahmed is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Trisha Ahmed on Twitter: @TrishaAhmed15 An artificial womb resembling a plastic bag has been used to keep premature lambs alive for four weeks outside of their own mother's womb and could one day be applied to premature babies. The sealed bag, made of polythene, contains amniotic fluid to provide all the nutrients and protection needed for growth, an interface delivering oxygen just as an umbilical cord would, and exchanging gases just like a placenta. The system works to mimic the environment of a natural womb and the team hopes to one day adapt the technology for use on premature babies. "We've developed a system that, as closely as possible, reproduces the environment of the womb and replaces the function of the placenta," said Dr. Alan Flake, a fetal surgeon and director of the Center for Fetal Research in the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) who led the research, published Tuesday. "This, in theory, should allow support of premature infants," he said, adding that his team's goal is to "meet the unmet need of extreme prematurity." One in ten US births are premature (younger than 37 weeks gestational age), according to the team. And about 30,000 per year are critically preterm, meaning they are born younger than 26 weeks. The average human gestation period is 40 weeks. Flake adds this level of extreme prematurity is the leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity in the US, accounting for one-third of all infant deaths and one-half of all cases of cerebral palsy attributed to prematurity. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in the UK also report poor survival of babies born at gestations below 24 weeks, despite great progress in neonatal care. Globally, more than one in 10 pregnancies will end in preterm birth. In babies born preterm, the chance of survival at less than 23 weeks is almost zero, while at 23 weeks it is 15%, at 24 weeks 55% and at 25 weeks this increases to about 80%, according to UK maternal and fetal research charity, Tommy's. Flake's team hope their new system may improve survival rates among this group of babies in the future, but acknowledge it will take at least a decade. How it works To show the potential of their system, the CHOP team worked with six premature lambs aged 105 to 111 days, as they are developmentally similar to a human fetus at 23 weeks, said Flake. "We supported these lambs in a very stable fashion for up to four weeks," he said. The system was comprised of a few main factors to support stable development: a circulatory system, a closed fluid environment and use of the fetus' own heart to pump blood around the system -- not an external pump. It all works together so that blood flows to and from the fetus, through a gas-exchange interface similar to what would occur across a placenta, while the fetus remains in a stable fluid environment. "Fluid is very important in terms of fetal lung development," said Flake. It also helps insulate and protect a fetus from infection and maintains temperature, pressure and light. "It continuously exchanges amniotic fluid ... in the same way that amniotic fluid is exchanged in the uterus," he said during a press briefing. And the team's efforts were successful, with the lambs showing normal circulation, blood pressure, metabolic processing, growth, lung development and brain development after four weeks inside the artificial womb. "All the parameters that we measured in the fetal lamb system appeared normal. Our intent is to support premature infants in that very early range," said Flake, adding "it may ultimately have other applications as well, relating to fetal transition." Moving forward, slowly The team at CHOP now plan to refine the system by downsizing it for human infants who are one-third the size of the lambs, as well as develop the ideal amniotic fluid for human use. But it will take time. Flake hopes it could be used clinically in humans in a decade. "This is a really attractive concept, and this study is a very important step forward. There are still huge challenges to refine the technique, to make good results more consistent and eventually to compare outcomes with current neonatal intensive care strategies," said Colin Duncan, professor of reproductive medicine and science at the University of Edinburgh, who was not involved in the research. "This treatment will not enter the clinic anytime soon," Duncan added, citing the example of steroid injections for women at risk of delivering a premature baby now used to help accelerate fetal lung development, which was discovered using sheep models. "That treatment took well over 20 years to get into clinical practice," he said. TUESDAY, April 25, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Uncertainty in work schedules is associated with serious psychological distress among workers aged 18 to 64 years, according to an April data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics. Laryssa Mykyta, Ph.D., from the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Maryland, examined differences in serious psychological distress in the past 30 days by work conditions, including shift work, variation in monthly earnings, perceived job insecurity, and work schedule flexibility for working adults aged 18 to 64 years in the United States. Data were extracted from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey. Mykyta found that the likelihood of experiencing serious psychological distress was increased for working adults aged 18 to 64 years who usually worked the evening or night shift or a rotating shift compared with those working a day shift (4.8 and 3.9 percent, respectively, versus 2.3 percent). As monthly variation in earnings increased, there was an increase noted in the percentage of workers experiencing serious psychological distress. Workers who reported difficulty changing their work schedule had higher serious psychological distress than those who reported it was easy or somewhat easy to change their schedule (4.2 versus 2.2 percent). The likelihood of experiencing serious psychological distress was increased for adults who worked when they were physically ill in the past three months compared with those who did not (5.8 versus 1.9 percent). JEFFERSON CITY Republicans who control the Missouri Senate on Tuesday launched what could become a late-night slog over a massive spending plan fueled by the post-pandemic economic surge. Bolstered by an estimated $5 billion surplus, the Senate budget blueprint for the fiscal year beginning July 1 includes nearly $50 billion in spending, including a long-sought $2.8 billion widening of Interstate 70 and a diverse array of expansions affecting pre-kindergarten programs, pay for mental health workers and a 7% boost for state universities and community colleges. Republicans aligned with Senate leadership worked to turn back an early push by a faction of hard right conservatives to add controversial anti-diversity, equity and inclusion language that had been included in the House package, but stripped by the Senate Appropriations Committee when it arrived in the upper chamber. Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, introduced an amendment to place DEI policies back in the budget in a more limited manner. Rather than affecting state contracts with private businesses, the proposal would only focus on initiatives within state government. I think we have some of these concepts that are going on in our state agencies right now. Many of my constituents are fed up with the woke DEI, Hoskins said. Sen. Bill Eigel, a Weldon Spring Republican who is considering a run for governor, slammed Senate leaders and Gov. Mike Parson for failing to embrace the anti-diversity push, which is one element of an ongoing culture war campaign embraced by some in the GOP. The status quo does not want to let go, Eigel said. Sen. Lincoln Hough, a Springfield Republican who leads the budget panel, said the language could derail major state contracts and affect state efforts to recruit a diverse workforce at a time when the state is struggling to fill front-line positions. When you are crafting a $50 billion budget ...uncertainty causes me concern, Hough said. Because of the overall differences between the House and Senate, negotiations on a final version will be hammered out by a joint committee next week as they rush toward a May 5 constitutional deadline to finish the plan. Hough suggested the plan could have been even bigger because the committee left $2.5 billion in the bank for another year or a significant emergency. There were billions of dollars of asks that the committee did not approve, Hough said. Were in a unique position ... because of the influx of new money. The Senates I-70 proposal differs from what Gov. Mike Parson had sought when he unveiled his spending priorities in January. The governor, who helped usher in an increase in the states gasoline tax two years ago to pay for more road building, had called for a limited expansion focusing on three busy segments along the corridor, Wentzville, Columbia and near Blue Springs on the eastern outskirts of Kansas City. The House version of the budget earmarked $859 million for the work. The Senate plan, however, would spend $1.4 billion from general revenue to build additional lanes in each direction on the 190 mile stretch in between Wentzville and Blue Springs, and finance the remaining $1.4 billion with bonds to be repaid over 15 years at an estimated annual cost of about $135 million. Other spending initiatives inserted by the Senate include restoring Parsons call for $78 million to boost pre-kindergarten programs in the states school districts. Also included was a $461 million Democratic priority aimed at increasing the pay of personal care workers. Under the plan, the base rate of pay for workers who assist people with developmental disabilities would be at least $17 per hour. The legislation is House Bills 1-15. Kurt Erickson 573-556-6181 @KurtEricksonPD on Twitter kerickson@post-dispatch.com UPDATED with bail information, other details from state's attorney spokesman ST. CLAIR COUNTY A man from Belleville has been charged with a 2017 murder at the Norman Owens housing complex in East St. Louis. U.S. marshals and officers with the Illinois State Police arrested James D. O'Neal Jr. on Tuesday, on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm. He is being held on $1 million bail. O'Neal, 33, is accused of shooting two men on Aug. 13, 2017, in a robbery attempt on the parking lot of the housing complex. Phillip S. Smith, 21, of East St. Louis, died after being shot in the head and chest as he sat in a parked car. His backseat passenger, Teon Slaughter, also 21, survived but was severely hurt after being shot in his upper body. The St. Clair County state's attorney filed the charges Monday. Two co-defendants, Devonte Lindsey and Shavon Brownlee, were charged and convicted years ago. O'Neal's name surfaced in the cases years ago and his role was alleged in court documents related to Brownlee's appeal. It wasn't clear why O'Neal is only now facing charges. Chris Allen with the St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office told the Post-Dispatch that the charges this week against O'Neal are based on a "followup investigation by the Illinois State Police." These charges are the first filed against O'Neal for the death of Smith, Allen said. The Illinois State Police refused to answer any questions Wednesday about their probe, referring a reporter to the prosecutor. O'Neal's defense attorney, Porsha O'Neal, said she was still waiting for discovery documents from prosecutors and declined comment for now. Court documents in Brownlee's case said Slaughter told police that he had been asleep in the back seat of Smith's car. He woke up to find that he was injured and Smith was dead. He couldn't use his phone to call for help because his wrists were injured, so he walked to the nearest apartment for help and banged on the door with his head. Brownlee told police that he, Lindsey and O'Neal approached a man sleeping in a car at the housing complex and tried to take a bag from the car, court records said. When Lindsey reached through the passenger side window for the bag, Smith woke up and was attacked, according to an Illinois appeals court document in Brownlee's case from last September. Lindsey was sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison on two counts of aggravated battery, Allen said. Brownlee pleaded guilty of first-degree murder and was initially sentenced to a 40-year prison sentence. He later tried to withdraw his plea; the court wouldn't let him but did reduce his sentence to 35 years in prison. ST. LOUIS A former prosecutor says she wants to turn over evidence in a lawsuit that seeks to oust her former boss, but the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office is trying to stop her. Natalia Ogurkiewicz resigned from the circuit attorneys office on April 14 after handling homicides and other violent felonies. Before she left, the Missouri Attorney Generals Office, which filed suit earlier this year to remove Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner from office, ordered Ogurkiewicz through a subpoena to turn over documents about her training, authority to make offers for plea agreements, and other case data. But attorneys for Gardners office filed a motion to throw out several subpoenas, including the one for Ogurkiewicz, claiming they were overly broad and violated state law. Ogurkiewicz says they have no authority to do so, and she wants to turn over the documents. Ms. Ogurkiewicz recognizes the importance of the issues at stake to those she took an oath in this litigation, and accordingly intends to comply with the subpoena directed to her, the filing states. The filing is the latest jab in a legal battle over the future of the Circuit Attorneys Office. Gardner has faced criticism for years for understaffing and dysfunction in her office. Those complaints came to a head in February when Daniel Riley, a 21-year-old who was out on bond in a pending robbery case despite violating the conditions of his GPS monitor dozens of times, was charged in a car crash that injured a teen volleyball player visiting St. Louis. Politicians of all persuasions called for Gardner to stop down. The state legislature ramped up an effort to strip her of most of her power, and Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a lawsuit to remove her. Last week, Gardner appeared for the first time in the removal suit. Attorneys for her office said they should not have to turn over the bulk of items listed in a 59-point subpoena from the attorney generals office. On Wednesday, they doubled down on many of those points in a filing, arguing that Baileys office had deliberately created a scenario of overbroad requests. He asks for that which he cannot receive, hoping to complain of not receiving it, attorneys wrote. But Ogurkiewicz questioned whether those attorneys one from a Washington D.C.-based law firm and the offices chief warrant officer, Chris Hinckley could even argue subpoenas be quashed at all. The Circuit Attorneys Office, she argued, operates as a branch of the city that should be represented by the city, not a standalone entity that can hire its own attorneys. They do not have the authority to stop her from turning over documents Ogurkiewicz has compiled herself, the filing states. Ms. Ogurkiewicz is ready, willing and able to comply, it says. Attorneys for all parties are set to appear again Tuesday for another hearing in the case. JEFFERSON CITY If Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey is successful in removing St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner from office for failing to uphold her duties, she could go back to voters in the next election and ask for another term. But, under a proposal floated by a south St. Louis County lawmaker Wednesday, the embattled Democratic prosecutor would be barred from running for circuit attorney again if shes booted from office. I cant believe it wasnt law before I looked into it, said Rep. Brad Christ, R-Sappington. The proposal was added into a crime bill being crafted in the House in the final weeks of the annual legislative session. The package needs another vote in the House before it heads back to the Senate for further debate. Along with Christs amendment, the legislation also would allow Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, to appoint a special prosecutor for certain types of violent crimes in St. Louis and other high-crime jurisdictions in the state. Gardner, a former member of the Missouri House, has faced criticism for years for mishandling cases, understaffing and organizational dysfunction. The criticism spiked in February when a 17-year-old volleyball player visiting downtown St. Louis from Tennessee was pinned between two cars in a crash. Both of the girls legs were amputated. The man charged in the crash was free on bond in a pending robbery case despite violating the conditions of his GPS monitor several dozen times. Bailey, who was appointed attorney general by Republican Gov. Mike Parson, filed a lawsuit soon after the incident, saying she needs to be removed from the job for failing to prosecute cases by dismissing charges and allowing others to languish, failed to keep victims informed and failed to review thousands of cases submitted by St. Louis police. Gardner said Bailey is attempting to thwart the will of St. Louis voters, who have elected her twice. The two sides are preparing for a possible trial in September. Christs bill would affect all public officials who are removed from office through the proceeding being employed by Bailey. Its a rare occurrence in Missouri. An attorney for Gardner said last week that only 13 previous public officials in the state have been ousted using a legal process known as quo warranto. Those removals included corrupt officials who misstated public funds, gave kickbacks to friends or intentionally turned a blind eye toward notorious organized crime due to their own involvement in those same offenses, the attorney said. During debate Wednesday, Rep. LaKeySha Bosley, D-St. Louis, raised concerns that a white lawmaker was targeting a Black prosecutor. Theres nothing about race in this legislation, Christ said. Rather, he said, You must have done something egregious to be removed. The legislation is Senate Bill 186. ST. LOUIS A man pleaded guilty Monday to drug trafficking after city prosecutors agreed to drop multiple charges, including first-degree murder. Roland McKinney, 62, had been been accused for roughly four years in the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Sparkle Maxie, who was found dead in the city's O'Fallon neighborhood. McKinney's trial was set to begin Monday, but prosecutors did not have key witnesses available to testify, said McKinney's attorney, Bobby Bailey. They offered a deal to drop the murder charges. "I don't think Roland was involved in the shooting at all," Bailey said. Maxie was found by police around 12:45 a.m. Sept. 7, 2019 lying in the street near the intersection of North Newstead and Lee avenues. Investigators found surveillance video from a nearby building that showed the shooting, including McKinney's Dodge Nitro arriving on the scene. Prosecutors said in 2019 the video showed McKinney getting into a confrontation with a woman and firing three or four shots, but Bailey said Tuesday the video was unclear. It showed multiple people were behind a car and firing their weapons. He also said the witnesses who blamed his client were unreliable. One of them is currently facing a different murder charge, he said. Police flagged McKinney's vehicle on Sept. 10 and arrested him, finding 12.54 grams of crack cocaine in his vehicle and $2,000 in cash. He was indicted in federal court for possession with intent to distribute and was later sentenced to 2 years in prison. He pleaded guilty Monday in St. Louis Circuit Court to a single count of drug trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Bailey said he hoped his client would be able to participate in drug court. Prosecutors are free to argue for any sentence. McKinney's sentencing is set for June 16. UNIVERSITY CITY A three-alarm fire early Wednesday destroyed a popular pub and the apartments above it on the Delmar Loop. One University City firefighter suffered minor injuries when the roof of the Three Kings Public House at 6307 Delmar Boulevard collapsed. No one else was hurt in the fire, which broke out around 3:30 a.m., while the pub was closed. Residents living in apartments above the pub were evacuated safely. Authorities say the fire may have started in the kitchen, which was in a single-story annex extending out from the main building into the rear lot. That annex collapsed in the fire. The rest of the three-story building housing the Three Kings, a mainstay in The Loop business district since it opened in 2011, was charred and hollowed out. But the pubs owners vow to return to the Loop, the flagship location for a business that expanded to additional locations in Des Peres, south St. Louis County and St. Louis Lambert International Airport. We chose the Loop because of the eclectic, vibrant and diverse nature of the area owners Derek Deaver, Derek Flieg, and Ryan Pinkston said in a written statement. The Loop is our home, and we love it here. The Three Kings Public House will be back. We will be even better, and we will always be an active part of this amazing community in University City. Firefighters found a heavy fire on the roof of the pubs rear annex when they were called to the scene about 3:30 a.m., University City Fire Chief Bill Hinson said. The age of the building posed a challenge to firefighters because there were several layers of floors and roofs built in over the years that left voids for flames to travel into, Hinson said. The structure was originally erected in 1920, according to property records. The rear annex also included a rubber membrane that kept water from going through the roof into the building below until it collapsed partially, Hinson said. And firefighters had to work around utility poles and electrical wires in the back alley that blocked fire trucks from getting close to fight the flames, Hinson said. It took a little longer than we would like for it to set up a ladder truck here, just because we were dodging electrical lines, he said. Fire trucks also had to position around electrical lines from Loop Trolley, which runs down Delmar Boulevard, but the Trolley wires did not pose an obstacle, Hinson said. We know its here, we trained for it to be here, so it really wasnt in the way, Hinson said. Fire crews ensured electricity from the Trolley lines was shut off before battling the fire. Bi-State Development Agency, which operates the Trolley, expects to resume service Thursday after a winter hiatus. Firefighters were able to save Iron Age tattoo parlor and apartments just next door to the pub from any significant damage, Hinson said. The St. Louis County bomb and arson squad is investigating the cause of the fire. Hinson said the unit usually investigates fires of this size, and there is no indicated the fire was suspicious. Fire crews from St. Louis and St. Louis County assisted in battling the blaze. George Kidera, a co-owner of Nobu restaurant down the street, came in to work shortly before 10 a.m. to find the pub up in smoke. Im relieved that no one was hurt, but as a restaurant owner, its devastating, Kidera said. Kidera, whose restaurant opened in the Loop last year, said Deaver then president of The Loop Special Business District was instrumental in helping Nobu relocate after its prior location near Olive Boulevard and Interstate 170 was cleared the area to make way for new Costco-anchored development. Three Kings is a landmark here, Kidera said. I hope theyll be able to bounce back. Delmar remained closed to vehicle traffic until Wednesday afternoon. Passerby watched firefighters as they worked. Its a real blessing that no one was hurt, said David Woods, of west St. Louis County. Woods, a member of Jehovahs Witnesses, was visiting the Loop as part of the denominations public ministry. Hed been to Three Kings several times for good food, he said. It seems like theyre a solid part of the Loop, he said. I would think they would come back. Editor's note: This report was updated Thursday to correct an opening date for The Three Kings on Delmar. Kim Bell of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. Photos: Three-alarm fire destroys Three Kings pub in University City ST. LOUIS Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said Tuesday that the state of the city is good, and getting better. But she said it could do without the far right-wing Republicans in Jefferson City whose policies undermine St. Louis. Jones, a Democrat who is passing the midpoint of her four-year term, spent a good chunk of her second annual State of the City address blasting GOP officials on a raft of culture war issues like abortion, transgender rights and gun policy. She cast efforts to curb teachings on racism in public schools as attempts to whitewash history and lie to students. She said new rules curbing access to transgender health care for minors were attacks on children and their families. And she said doing all that while refusing to restrict access to guns for youths was the height of absurdity. To Jefferson City, she said, a 12-year-old receiving gender-affirming health care is a bigger threat than a 12-year-old with an assault rifle. It was red meat for the mayor's progressive base and a crowd of fellow Democratic elected officials, staff and supporters gathered at St. Louis University for the midterm update, who cheered as Jones vowed to do everything she could to support abortion rights, transgender residents and gun control. And they got another round as Jones lambasted officials pushing a plan to put a board controlled by the governor in charge of the city police department after a decade under the mayors office, saying it would do nothing to make St. Louis safer. She pointed out that Kansas City has a similar board, and just had one of its most violent years on record. We have 99 problems, she said, and the state stepping in and taking over our criminal justice system aint one. Alderman Rasheen Aldridge, a Democrat who until recently was a state representative, applauded the broadside. St. Louis is under attack, he said, and we need to speak up. But her speech drew criticism from state Rep. Brad Christ, R-south St. Louis County, whos been calling for a state takeover of city police. Tonight, instead of offering a new approach that recognizes and addresses our greatest challenges, Mayor Tishaura Jones doubled down on failed approaches, misguided ideas and extreme ideologies, he said in a statement. There is no plan for crime. New initiatives Jones also spent time touting progress on her priorities. She highlighted the passage of bills through the Board of Aldermen budgeting hundreds of millions of dollars to aid lower-income residents and rebuild struggling neighborhoods, including several on the long-suffering, majority Black North Side. She pointed out that she pushed for across-the-board pay raises for city employees in the current years budget and the proposed plan for next year as her administration works to fill its many vacancies. She also talked up her new police chief, Robert Tracy, lauding him for getting more than 75 community meetings in his first 100 days on the job and posting some encouraging numbers to start the year. Homicides are down 18% year-over-year as of Monday, and reports of robberies and aggravated assaults down through March. Reports of property crimes have also dipped after spikes in January and February. And while stolen vehicles remain a problem, Jones said the city was addressing that by suing Kia and Hyundai for declining to install common anti-theft measures in their cars and making them easy targets for thieves. Jones also announced some new initiatives, like a plan to create an Office of New Americans in the mayors office dedicated to making St. Louis more welcoming for refugees, like the more than 700 Afghans who came to the city last year. She said her team is also working to reimagine the site of the old city jail known as the Workhouse, in far north St. Louis. Jones emptied the facility, which she and activists called inhumane, last summer, sending all inmates to a new facility downtown. She offered few details on her vision for the site, but invited the public to fill out a survey to share theirs. The survey, found at www.aftertheworkhouse.com, asks visitors if the jail should be demolished, redeveloped or sold. It also asks if part of the site should be turned into a memorial. Jones conceded ongoing, high-profile challenges. She said understood residents frustrations with inconsistent or unreliable trash collection. She said the city is still working on fixing a 911 system known for lengthy delays. And she said the city is still struggling with a labor shortage and a human resources department constrained by decades-old hiring procedures designed to defend against patronage. There is still a lot of work to do to bring city operations into the 21st century, she said. But she said her administration is working on that, day by day. She said the city is pushing raises for trash truck drivers to aid recruitment and retention and putting money toward a new 911 dispatch center. And she said in the past month, the Personnel Department took a big step forward by introducing computers to track employment history, retiring the old typewriters. I wanted to bring a typewriter and destroy it on stage for you all tonight, but my staff said no, she told the audience, to laughs. We apparently still need the parts. ST. LOUIS Monsignor Sal Polizzi, whose efforts to organize and preserve The Hill neighborhood in the city gained national attention in the 1970s, died Monday night at Mother of Good Counsel nursing home in Northwoods. He was 92. Polizzi, while associate pastor of St. Ambrose Catholic Church, was a founder of The Hill 2000 booster organization still active today in the heavily Italian-American enclave. In 1981, Polizzi was reassigned a few miles north to St. Roch Catholic Church in the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood, where he was pastor until his death. He also was active in community revitalization efforts there. But it was on The Hill where Polizzi made his name. In 1971, he played a key role in community efforts that, against all odds, got federal officials to approve an overpass connecting two parts of the neighborhood that would have been split by the new Interstate 44. Three years later, because of that push and his other fights to maintain the area, he was chosen by Time magazine as one of Americas 100 most promising leaders. Among his other efforts was working to stop a proposed drive-in theater. The Hill 2000 group under his tutelage was involved in initiatives such as planting trees, opening a day care facility and youth centers and building a park. The Hill is where it is today because of him, said Joe Vollmer, the neighborhoods longtime alderman. To make this continue, there has to be a plan. No one else saw that. He was in charge. Vollmer said among other things, Polizzi would match people interested in living on The Hill with houses becoming available. Thats what kept continuity, Vollmer said. Joe DeGregorio of south St. Louis County, who grew up on The Hill and gives tours of the area, said Polizzi was a catalyst for spurring pride in our Italian heritage and in keeping up the neighborhood and making it safe. He said he and others hope to get a plaque in his honor installed at the overpass. Polizzi, in a Post-Dispatch interview in 1980, explained his triangle approach to organizing: The church, the elected officials and the people of the neighborhood, all working together. Salvatore Polizzi, one of 11 children of Sicilian immigrants, grew up in the now-defunct Italian neighborhood north of downtown St. Louis. He went to St. Louis Preparatory Seminary and Kenrick Seminary and was ordained in 1956. He later earned a masters degree in urban planning at St. Louis University and was the first priest to receive the schools alumni merit award. He was first assigned to St. Ambrose from 1956 to 1959, then was associate pastor at the old St. Catherine of Alexandria Church in north St. Louis County before serving again at St. Ambrose from 1964 to 1981. At St. Roch, a longtime friend said, he worked to stabilize housing and was known for offering scholarships at the parish school. He was a founding member of Operation Food Search and was a former member of the boards of the city Land Reutilization Authority and the old St. Louis Regional Medical Center. Among his survivors are a sister, Patricia Daher of Creve Coeur. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at St. Roch Church, 6052 Waterman Boulevard, and from about 8:45 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. Tuesday at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, 4431 Lindell Boulevard. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at the cathedral at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. The day they took Father Polizzi from The Hill During the 1970s the Rev. Salvatore E. Polizzi had become a national figure for his work in The Hill neighborhood of St. Louis. Residents were shocked when news came that he was being reassigned. LOS ANGELES Ginnie Newhart, who was married to comedy legend Bob Newhart for six decades and inspired the classic ending of his "Newhart" series, has died. She was 82. Publicist Jerry Digney said Newhart died Sunday in Los Angeles after a long illness. No further details were available. The couple recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Ginnie Newhart is credited with providing the idea for the 1990 "Newhart" finale that included a clever callback to her husband's "The Bob Newhart Show." The later show, which featured Newhart as a Vermont innkeeper, ended with him waking up in Chicago next to his on-screen wife from "The Bob Newhart Show," revealing the second series to be dream. Ginnie Newhart suggested the idea to her husband at a Christmas party attended by Suzanne Pleshette, his on-screen wife in "The Bob Newhart Show." That series ran for six seasons from 1972 to 1978 and helped cement Bob Newhart's status as a legend of television comedies. She is survived by Bob Newhart, 93, their four children, and 10 grandchildren. The Newharts met on a blind date set up by actor-comedian Buddy Hackett, according to details provided by Digney. The Newharts were close friends with comedian Don Rickles and his wife, Barbara, frequently traveling together. In interviews, the Newharts said laughter was the secret of the longevity of their marriage. Born Virginia Lillian Quinn, Ginnie Newhart was the daughter of character actor Bill Quinn, who appeared in "The Birds," "Twilight Zone: The Movie" and had more than 230 other film and television credits. Digney said a private funeral will be held for Ginnie Newhart. The 25 best comedy TV shows of the 70s Best comedy TV shows of the 70s #25. Maude #24. The Dukes of Hazzard #23. Mork & Mindy #22. To the Manor Born #21. The Sylvester & Tweety Show #20. Happy Days #19. The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour #18. Open All Hours #17. Minder #16. Rising Damp #15. The Two Ronnies #14. The New Tom & Jerry Show #13. The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin #12. Not the Nine O'Clock News #11. The Professionals #10. The Good Life #9. Are You Being Served? #8. Saturday Night Live #7. The Persuaders! #6. Porridge #5. Soap #4. The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show #3. The Muppet Show #2. SCTV #1. Fawlty Towers NEW YORK (AP) A nearly 30-year-old rape claim against Donald Trump went to trial Tuesday as jurors in the federal civil case heard a former advice columnists allegation of being attacked in a luxury department store dressing room. The former president says nothing happened between them. E. Jean Carroll will testify that what unfolded in a few minutes in a fitting room in 1996 would change her life forever, one of her lawyers, Shawn Crowley, said in an opening statement. Filled with fear and shame, she kept silent for decades. Eventually, though, silence became impossible, Crowley said. And when Carroll broke that silence in a 2019 memoir, the then-president used the most powerful platform on Earth to lie about what he had done, attack Ms. Carrolls integrity and insult her appearance. Trump who wasn't in court but hasn't ruled out testifying - has called Carroll a nut job who fabricated the rape claim to sell her book. Defense attorney Joe Tacopina told jurors Tuesday that her story was wildly implausible and short of evidence. He accused her of pursuing the case for money, status and political reasons, urging the jurors from heavily Democratic New York to put aside any animus they themselves might hold toward the Republican ex-president and ex-New Yorker. You can hate Donald Trump. Thats OK. But theres a time and a secret place for that. Its called a ballot box in an election. Its not here in a court of law, Tacopina told the six-man, three-woman panel. Nobodys above the law, but no one is beneath it. The trial stands to test Trump's Teflon Don reputation for shaking off serious legal problems and to reprise accounts of the type of sexual misconduct that rocked his 2016 presidential campaign as he seeks office again. Trump denies all the claims, saying they are falsehoods spun up to damage him. The trial comes a month after he pleaded not guilty in an unrelated criminal case surrounding payments made to bury accounts of alleged extramarital sex. Carroll's suit is a civil case, meaning that no matter the outcome, Trump isn't in danger of going to jail. She is seeking unspecified monetary damages and a retraction of Trump statements that she alleges were defamatory. Among his comments: Shes not my type," which her lawyers say was tantamount to calling her too unattractive to assault. Jurors whose names are being kept secret to prevent potential harassment range in age from 26 to 66 and include a janitor, a physical therapist and people who work in security, health care collections, a library, a high school and other settings. They were questioned about their news-watching habits (which vary from watching everything to ignoring it all), political donations and support for any of a roster of right- and left-wing groups. They were asked, too, whether they used Trumps social media platform, read Carrolls former Elle magazine column and even if theyd seen Trumps former reality show The Apprentice and whether any of these and other matters would make it difficult for them to be fair. Carroll, 79, is expected to testify as soon as Wednesday that a chance encounter with Trump, 76, turned violent, and that he defamed her when responding to the rape allegations. She says that after she ran into the future president at Manhattan's Bergdorf Goodman on an unspecified spring Thursday evening in 1996, he invited her to shop with him for a woman's lingerie gift before they teased one another to try on a bodysuit. Carroll says they ended up alone together in a store dressing room, where Trump pushed her against a wall and raped before she fought him off and fled. Her suit argues that she was psychologically scarred by the alleged attack, and then subjected to an onslaught of hateful messages and reputational damage when Trump painted her as a liar. This case is Ms. Carroll's chance to clear her name, to pursue justice, Crowley said. Tacopina countered that it was an affront to justice. He suggested her account of being violently raped in the Fifth Avenue store, with no one around, was preposterous. Also, Tacopina noted, there was no record that Carroll had any injuries, sought out a doctor or therapist, asked the store about surveillance video or even wrote about the alleged attack in her diary. It all comes down to: Do you believe the unbelievable? he asked in his opening statement. Jurors are also expected to hear from two other women who say they were sexually assaulted by Trump. The jury will also see the infamous 2005 Access Hollywood video in which Trump is heard asserting that celebrities can grab women sexually without asking. Carroll's allegations normally would be too old to bring to court. But in November, New York state enacted a law allowing for suits over decades-old sexual abuse claims. Regulations sometimes make the world a safer, more orderly place. When I drive on I-70, I do so with other motorists who had to demonstrate some basic competence to obtain their licenses. Unfortunately, as we all know, regulations can make our lives worse. They can be misguided. They can be impractical. They can be cruel. Occasionally, they hit the hat trick and are all three. Such is the case for Attorney General Andrew Baileys emergency regulations that prohibit transition health care for adults in Missouri. Whatever ones feelings on gender transition for children, these regulations go far beyond that. Everyone deserves to receive medicine based on sound science, especially vulnerable populations. As an academician whose research focuses on helpful and harmful psychological treatments, as well as a practicing psychologist, I hold that belief deeply. But to the extent there is good faith debate about adult transition, these regulations are not situated within its bounds. Even the biggest scientific critics of adult gender transition, like psychologist Ray Blanchard, concede that transition can be helpful for some adults. Blanchards position represents one pole in this debate. No scientifically minded medical professional is seriously contending that adult transition should never be allowed or that all adults already in transition should have their medical services terminated. Those, though, are the end results of Baileys decree. These bizarre policies make transition de facto illegal in Missouri. For example, the regulations indicate mental health problems must be resolved for transition to occur. Resolved is not an established medical term. Does it mean remission? Does gender care have to wait until a patients phobia of, say, spiders has vanished? Ive worked with military veterans who are transgender. They served our nation for years. How many more years do they have to wait for their combat PTSD to resolve before they can receive gender services? The regulations also say that adverse effects from gender transition must be monitored for 15 years. Anyone who works in health care immediately sees the gallows humor in this Sisyphean task. What happens when the patient moves out of state? What happens when they stop responding to my inquiries on their wellness? (I reached out to Baileys office on April 20 for clarification on this point. I havent heard back.) Perhaps bands of physicians, nurses and pharmacists will refuse to kowtow to the regulations, risk the loss of their licenses and legal penalty, and provide gender transition care anyway. We shouldnt, though, have to rely on a conspiracy of medicine to fix a problem created by public policy. Those most affected by Baileys proclamation are those Missourians already receiving transition care. They have been on medications for years, medications they need to function and to which they no longer have access. These people are our neighbors. Some you may know as trans. Others may identify as such but have never told you or anyone else. You may disagree with their politics. Some you may not like as people. But I bet you dont wish them harm. Most Missourians do not. Regrettably, thats exactly what these regulations are doing: needlessly and callously hurting people. These people live far beyond Baileys offices in Jefferson City. They may suddenly find themselves having to uproot themselves and their families just to receive care. They face the morbid trade-off between stability and their health. The solution is straightforward for Bailey, if not palatable: He can eliminate his emergency regulations entirely. If that is too difficult for him, he can at least modify them to exempt people already receiving gender transition services. I bet he doesnt want to harm Missourians, either. But if I bet wrong, trans people may not be the only ones in Jefferson City needing to find medical care elsewhere. Politicians with weird, fringe views tend to underperform electorally. Support for stomach-turning restrictions like this on health care for trans adults, unthinkable otherwise in the Western world, may endanger otherwise-safe Republicans electoral prospects. (I am cheered to find myself in agreement with Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. He disagrees with Baileys peculiar intrusions into Missouri adults lives.) To borrow and paraphrase a turn of phrase from the conservative writer Jonathan Last, extremist policies are so distasteful to most Americans that Bailey might consider where he himself will find healthcare if the voters kick him out of Jefferson City. Dr. Alexander Williams is a licensed psychologist in Missouri, teaching professor at the University of Kansas and leading researcher on the credibility of psychological treatments. Two of the loosest cannons in Americas cable news fleet were unceremoniously rolled overboard Monday, and the country will be better for it. Though unrelated, the sudden, simultaneous firings of Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon from, respectively, Fox News and CNN appear to share some themes: Both hosts had quasi-journalistic perches from which they routinely disseminated ideologically strident opinion (and, in Carlsons case, dangerous disinformation) and in both cases, their own undisciplined mouths got them in trouble with their bosses. Its too early to tell if their firings represent a movement in cable news away from the ramparts of the culture wars and back toward balanced reporting, but its an encouraging sign. Debating opinions is the whole point of editorial pages like this one, while televised news shows are in theory supposed to be primarily about offering the latest news or at least they once were. But cable talking heads like Carlson and Lemon have for years now pioneered a kind of hybrid position, somewhere between traditional news anchor and openly opinionated commentator, presenting elements of both. The competition between their networks often caused them to ratchet up the outrage in the quest for ratings. In these hotly partisan times, Americans sort themselves in all kinds of ways, including what kind of ideological spin they want on their news. The straight-up-the-middle, Walter Cronkite model can still be found on the legacy network newscasts, but many cable news personalities are fully engaged participants in todays ideological skirmishes. None more so than Carlson, whose irresponsible spreading of blatant lies regarding the pandemic, the Capitol insurrection and the Ukraine war as well as a level of racist animus rarely so openly expressed in mainstream media today has palpably contributed to Americas divisions. Its disturbing that he was apparently fired not for any of that but for his contempt for Foxs management, as revealed by the recent Dominion libel suit against the network. Still, the cableverse will be a safer place for however long this rhetorical terrorist is out of it. Despite some commonalities from their opposite ends of the political spectrum, Carlson and Lemon werent two sides of the same coin. Lemons liberal commentary was often out of line during reporting on serious news events like the Ferguson riots of 2014, but he didnt engineer blatant, potentially deadly lies in the way Carlson did. From CNNs viewpoint, Lemons primary offense was his penchant for embarrassing, foot-in-mouth moments like his recent declaration that women are only in their prime through their early 40s. So, yes, the cable networks that for years put up with Lemons left-leaning activism and Carlsons white-nationalist-coddling lies ultimately fired them for what wed argue were lesser offenses. Thats not ideal, but if it prompts other cable personalities toward the kind of responsible behavior that eluded their two dismissed colleagues, its worth something. Actor Joe Manganiello may be known for his hit roles on Magic Mike and True Blood, but hes now sharing the story of his familys history, roots, and Armenian culture, Fox 11 reported. He spoke about his familys past in Armenia during an Armenian Genocide commemorative event at the Alex Theater in Glendale Monday night. He told the story of his great-grandmother who survived the 1915 Armenian Genocide and moved to America. In 1915, 1.5 million Armenians were massacred at the hands of the Ottoman Empire (modern day Turkey). Armenians were taken from their homes, tortured, starved, and killed. The land in Western Armenia was also taken by the Ottoman Empire. His great-grandmother survived, but was sent to live in a relocation camp and was impregnated by a German officer. She gave birth to a German-Armenian girl, Manganiellos grandmother, and eventually moved to Worcester, Massachusetts and married an Armenian man. Manganiello said its important to share the stories of our ancestors and spread awareness of the issues. "I didnt realize how underrepresented the Armenian story is out there, I didnt realize how me telling my great-grandmother's story, just simply she survived therefore I can be here today to tell her story and say her name and have a show like Dr. Gates show Finding your Roots, to have the ability to have me tell her story. I didnt realize how many of those stories havent been heard and how many people dont know the story of the Armenians," he said at the event. April 24, 2023, marked the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. To this day the Turkish government denies that the genocide occurred. In 2021, President Joe Biden became the first US president to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide. And even though the genocide occurred over a century ago, an ethnic cleansing of Armenians is occurring now in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh. "There are still atrocities happening now. It is definitely true for the Armenians; if there could have been some sort of repercussion you wonder if what happened in World War II couldnt have been avoided," Manganiello stated. "When you have a Diaspora, when you have a displacement of a group of people, it then gets kept alive through food, through culture, through language, through religion. So, the idea that my great-grandmother escaped and took that with her, I understand why it was so important for her." Manganiello found out about his familys past and multicultural roots through the genetics test 23 and Me. He also shared his story and learned more about it when he appeared on an episode of the PBS show Finding your Roots with Henry Luis Gates. He said the entire process took him about 10 years. His ancestry includes African, Armenian, German, and Italian. "So, like I said, it's been this big discovery process. But I think as an artist, what's amazing to me is that now I know. And now I can spend my time exploring all of those things and then finding ways to talk about them in different ways," he said. His mother was Armenian, so Manganiello and his brother grew up surrounded by Armenian food, culture and language. "My mother was Armenian, and so, you know, thats the food I grew up with. I grew up with grape leaves, I grew up with lahmajoun, I grew up with sujuk and eggs, I grew up with pilaf and tabbouleh, which is not my thing, but I ate tons of it. And being around my mother, thats what she cooked for us." Manganiello and his brother also used to protest in front of the Turkish Consulate. He hasnt visited Armenia yet but plans to visit soon with his brother due to a new project hes working on. He said knowing his familys history and sharing it with the world makes him complete and encourages all people to share their ancestors story and to not forget where you came from. "I will always be proud of what my great-grandmother went through so that I could be here. I will always carry that with me, and I think that every Armenian should be proud of their ancestors and what they did so that we could all be here". Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Registration is now open for Virginias inaugural Community Schools Conference set to take place at the Higher Education Center in Abingdon from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on June 13. The conference centers around Community Schools, a nationwide initiative seeking to make public elementary or secondary schools partner with community organizations and use additional staff to meet the educational, physical, and emotional needs of students, their families, and the community. The Virginia Department of Education awarded over $2.5 million to six school districts in Southwest Virginia in January, naming United Way of Southwest Virginia as the division-level coordinator for the Community Schools initiative. Partners include local school systems, Communities in Schools of Appalachian Highlands, local Community Service Boards, the Department of Criminal Justice, the International Institute for Restorative Practices, the Institute for Educational Leadership, and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. We are excited for the opportunity to be a collaborative partner and the district-level coordinator in the Community Schools framework, said Travis Staton, president and CEO of United Way of Southwest Virginia. Community Schools allow us to better support children and families in Southwest Virginia and work more upstream of issues, which is something that remains core to our work. We believe this conference will make a sizable impact on not just the teachers in attendance, but also those students who will benefit from the knowledge and lessons teachers gain. The conference will be highlighted by a keynote address from Hasan Davis, a motivational speaker who has been recognized for his professional and personal efforts in serving the needs of youth through his work in education, juvenile justice, and the arts. He is a Rockefeller Foundation, Next Generation Leadership Fellow, a Council of State Governments, Henry Toll Fellow, and an Annie E. Casey Foundation, Children and Family Fellow. Davis keynote, titled Calling All Hope Dealers! Everyone Has a Story, Every Story Deserves Heroes, will focus on his experience of often interrupted transitions through education, justice, and social support systems, and will share some of the core strategies and creative thinking that these Hope Dealers deployed to help him find the courage to complete what he calls the JD shuffle going from Hasan Davis, juvenile delinquent to Hasan Davis, Juris Doctor. Business leaders, healthcare professionals, faith-based organizations, community partners, local governments, and school systems are invited to participate in the conference. Registration is now open with special early bird pricing for a limited time. Tickets are $85 through Monday, May 1, before moving to regular pricing at $100 per ticket. All conference-related materials and lunch are included in the price of admission. To register for the conference, visit United Way of Southwest Virginias website. Syria TV is saying that the talks held in Moscow yesterday focused on Syria's territorial integrity and the return of Syrian refugees. The quadripartite meeting held in Moscow, with the participation of the defense ministers of Russia, Turkey, Iran, and the Syrian regime, concluded on Tuesday with a focus on Syrias territorial integrity and the return of Syrian refugees. The Turkish Defense Ministry emphasized that the meeting aimed to enhance Turkish-Syrian relations, with concrete steps discussed towards normalization. The parties also discussed combating terrorist organizations and extremist groups in Syria, while underscoring the need for continued quadripartite meetings to maintain stability in Syria. Meanwhile, the Syrian regimes Ministry of Defense stated that the meeting also addressed the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syrian territory and the implementation of the M-4 international road agreement. The meeting was attended by Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtian, and Syrian Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas. The heads of intelligence of the four parties also participated in the constructive meeting. As per a statement released by the Russian Defense Ministry, the upcoming meeting is a continuation of the talks held on January 28 in Moscow between the four parties. Turkish Defense Minister Akar announced the meeting in a televised interview on Monday, expressing hope for positive outcomes. He emphasized that the meetings are being conducted with mutual respect between the parties and aimed at resolving outstanding issues through dialogue to bring peace and stability to the region as soon as possible. Akar also stated that Turkey is committed to doing its best for regional peace and expects some positive developments to emerge from the meeting. 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. American analysts are blaming the Biden administration for not opposing seriously normalisation efforts towards the Syrian regime, Al-Souria net reports The debate over the negligent US policy towards the Middle East was sparked by the visit of the Saudi Foreign Minister to Damascus and his meeting with Assad, analysts said. This stands in contrast to the previous Obama and Trump administrations, which took a tougher stance. In an interview with Fox News, Michael Rubin, a Middle East expert at the American Enterprise Institute, Bidens mismanagement of relations in the Middle East, particularly with Arab countries, was evident in the failure to prevent Arab normalization efforts with Assad. Rubin further stated that Biden is politically and diplomatically absent on Syria, rather than imposing a compromise or normalization. Rubin argued that previous Arab demands for reforms and justice have been pushed aside, and that Bidens mad attack on Saudi Arabia over the killing of a former intelligence agent now comes at the cost of denying justice to millions of Syrians. Bidens team is also blind to what comes next: Will the Arab bloc oppose the United States and green light the U.N. channelling reconstruction funds though Assads hands? In essence, will the international community, including the U.S. indirectly through its support of the U.N., allow Assad to profit from murder to the tune of billions of dollars, he added. In Rubins view, there is a cynical tragedy for Biden, who came into office talking about human rights, but his top advisers naivety, arrogance, and stupidity have ensured that his legacy will be the biggest human rights disaster. Cost-free normalization Joel Rayburn, a former deputy assistant secretary of state who served in the Obama and Bush administrations, recently commented on the situation in Syria, telling Fox News that Syria is slowly being brought back into the fold in the Middle East, but its not worth it because Assad has done nothing to deserve greater ties in the region. Rayburn went on to say that Washington should rely more on diplomatic efforts with its Middle Eastern allies to find new and innovative ways to pressure adversaries like Assad, so that any further rehabilitation of this tyrant comes with a cost. 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 situation is increasingly dire for Syrians residing in Sudan as Orient Net reports. An armed Sudanese militia killed a Syrian refugee, who was travelling with his family and a group of other Syrians in four cars, on their way to Atbara, north of Khartoum. The incident occurred on Monday, as the group was trying to leave Sudan for Port Sudan. The victim, identified as Syrian engineer Omar Arata, was attacked by the armed group, which robbed him and attempted to harm his family. The groups belongings and money were taken by the gunmen, who intercepted their cars on Rescue Street near al-Baraha Hospital. The gunmen searched the women for the purpose of robbing them, and when the victim confronted them and argued, they murdered him in front of his wife and children. The body was later transferred to the Jili area, where Sudanese locals hosted the victims family and assisted in his burial ceremony. Dr. Heba Ali al-Muhaid, a Syrian doctor residing in Khartoum, has appealed to the public through Orient Radio to help rescue the stranded Syrians amidst the ongoing violent clashes and suspension of all services, including medical. She stressed that the capital has turned into a ghost town, with rampant gangs and theft. 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 meeting would also include the Russian and Iranian presidents and be held possibly before the Turkish elections, Baladi News reports. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has announced that a summit meeting between the presidents of Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the Syrian regime may take place in early May. According to the Mehr News Agency, Cavusoglu revealed during an interview with TV100 on Monday that there were proposals for dates in May, which were very close to the Turkish elections. However, there was a proposal for early May, and the date has not yet been finalized as Iranian President intends to visit Syria during that period. Work is ongoing to determine the exact date for the meeting, as emphasized by the Turkish minister. Cavusoglus announcement came ahead of a quadripartite meeting in Moscow on Tuesday involving defense ministers and intelligence chiefs of the four countries. The aim of the meeting, according to Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, is to discuss resolving outstanding issues through negotiations in order to ensure peace and tranquility in the region. On December 28, 2022, the first high-level bilateral contact between Ankara and the Assad regime since the start of the Syrian conflict occurred in Moscow. Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Intelligence Chief Hakan Fidan met with Assads Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas and his intelligence chief, Hossam Luke. Following this initial meeting, an agreement was reached to expand the Turkish-Syrian dialogue to include political relations. In January, discussions were held, and a trilateral meeting was planned for February involving the foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia, and the Syrian regime. However, this meeting was indefinitely postponed due to Irans desire to participate, as well as pressure on the parties to include Iran. The postponement was further compounded by the earthquake that occurred on February 6, which affected both Turkey and Syria. 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. Damascus condemns EU sanction listings Damascus is upset with the latest wave of EU sanction listings. An unnamed official source at the foreign Ministry said in a statement to SANA Tuesday that his government condemns in the strongest terms the new decision of the European Union to boost the unilateral coercive measures against the country, in the framework of its hostile policy in the war on Syria. The European Union repeats its lies when it claims that the sanctions imposed on Syria do not impede delivery of humanitarian aid or access to foodstuffs and medical equipment, the official said. The source added the EU policies pose serious threat to the lives and livelihood of Syrians and negatively reflect on the countrys economy, and the exceptions that the European Union claims about are only for media propaganda and to hide the truth of its policies towards Syria. Turkey, Russia, Iran, Syria hold constructive talks The defense ministers and intelligence chiefs of Iran, Russia, Syria and Turkey held talks on Tuesday that Ankara and Moscow described as constructive, as part of efforts to rebuild Turkey-Syria ties after years of animosity during the Syrian war. No details have been publicized of the meeting so far. SANA issued a brief statement, in which it said, The Syrian, Russian, Iranian, and Turkish defense ministers held quadripartite meeting on Tuesday to discuss withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syrian territory and implementation of the agreement on the M4 International Highway, the Defense Ministry said. The Ministry had announced on 28th of the last December in a statement that a meeting was held among Syrian Defense Minister, Director of Syrian General Intelligence Administration with their counterparts, the Turkish Defense Minister and Turkish Head of Intelligence Apparatus in the Russian capital of Moscow with the participation of the Russian side. They discussed a number of issues, and the meeting was positive. But Reuters reported that the ministers and intelligence service chiefs discussed strengthening security in Syria and the normalization of ties between Ankara and Damascus, the Turkish and Russian defense ministries said in separate statements. All four countries reaffirmed their desire to preserve Syrias territorial integrity and the need to intensify efforts for the speedy return of Syrian refugees to their country, the statements said. The Syrian and Turkish defense ministers previously held talks in Moscow in December, marking the highest-level encounter between the two countries since the war began. Turkeys foreign minister last week said that a meeting of foreign ministers of the four countries that would build on the December talks may take place in early May, but he later said it was postponed because the parties could not agree on an exact date. In the meantime, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu reiterated plan to stay in Syria until stability ensured. Terminating counterterrorism operations and withdrawing from northern Iraq and Syria would mean terrorists could amass at Turkeys borders and threaten its perpetuity, according to Cavusoglu. Turkeys exit from the region would create a power vacuum that terrorists would rush to fill, Cavusoglu said in a televised interview on Monday evening and stressed that Ankara will not do so until stability is facilitated in its war-torn neighbor. Cavusoglu argued that abandoning the 30-kilometer-deep (18-mile) security strip Turkish troops have been working to establish along the Syrian border would see terrorists piling up at our borders and God forbid, something would blow up in Turkey every other day. Emphasizing that Turkeys national security was more important than anything, Cavusoglu said, Were paying the price every day to keep our land safe, not because were enjoying it or we covet Syrian territory. He explained that Ankara would consider exiting Syria once total security and civil peace are established in the region, but it is currently impossible as it would spark serious threats. Scandal of Syrias stolen homes: fraudsters use courts to legitimize thefts from refugees The UK Guardian published on Tuesday a long report on how Assads militias and shabiha are stealing refugees houses in Syria. Refugees fleeing Syrias civil war are finding that their homes have been stolen by corrupt networks profiting from the conflict by stripping property from those displaced. Forging sales documents and forcing them through the courts without the owners knowledge, the networks can have up to 50 members, from lawyers and judges to military officials. In the absence of centralised court records, there is no data on the scale of property thefts in Syria, but one lawyer has discovered 125 cases of stolen homes in Damascus alone in the first half of 2022. Syria says it suffers from exploitation of UN system by western countries Syrias permanent representative to the UN, Bassam Sabbagh, has called for the UN to review its working mechanisms and prevent their exploitation by some Western countries in the service of their destructive policies and agendas, SANA reported. Speaking at a session of the UN Security Council, Sabbagh accused some countries of exploiting the UN system to serve their hostile and interventionist policies in Syrias affairs. He pointed out that Syria has fallen victim to the loss of true pluralism and that its national wealth and resources are being plundered by foreign forces. Sabbagh stressed that preserving true pluralism requires reforming current structures, such as expanding the Security Council to reflect the new reality of international relations, as well as reforming international financial institutions. He added that the essential elements to advance the work of the UN are to promote the values of peace, settle disputes by peaceful means, ensure equality in sovereignty between all member states, and promote economic development and cooperation. Sabbagh concluded his speech by noting that the UN multilateral system has faced many challenges in dealing with a series of political, economic and social crises over the past two decades, and he called for more effective action to tackle the ongoing issues. Gurmeet Singh Kohli Vs Commissioner of Customs (Export) (CESTAT Delhi) The facts of the case are the appellant is a trader of automobile parts and met one Rajat Gulati of M/s Super Trading , Kashmiri gate and through him got into the business of trading in DEPB licences for a commission. The Marine and Preventive Wing of the Customs commenced investigation into DEPB licences and found that the DEPB licences sold by the appellant were based on fabricated documents showing export of goods to Bangladesh through the Land Customs Station. These fabricated licences were sold by the appellant to M/s. Whirlpool India which imported the goods against them. It is undisputed that the appellant had sold these DEPB licences to M/s. Whirlpool India and these licences were obtained from DGFT by submitting forged documents. In his statement dated 7.1.2013, the appellant admitted to having sold these DEPB licences but said that he was not aware that they were obtained based on forged Bank Realisation Certificates. He also said that he kept no record of the licences which he sold and received commission in cash. In the subsequent statement dated 10.4.2014, he agreed that he had prepared/created forged Bank Realisation Certificates against exports and submitted them to DGFT and obtained DEPB licences and sold them. For these reasons penalty of Rs.3,00,000/- was imposed on the appellant under section 114AA of the Customs Act, 1962 which was upheld by the impugned order. Evidently, the appellant has, by his role discussed above, caused fraudulently obtained DEPB certificates to be used in the Bills of Entry filed by the importer which, in our considered view, falls squarely within the scope of Section 114AA. In this case, the DEPB certificates obtained based on forged bank realization certificates were sold by the appellant to the importer and thereby caused the importer to make incorrect declarations in the Bills of Entry. For all these reasons, CESTAT upheld order imposing penalty. FULL TEXT OF THE CESTAT DELHI ORDER This appeal is filed by Shri Gurmeet Singh Kohli to assail the Order-in-Appeal1 dated 14.6.2019 passed by the Commissioner (Appeals) whereby he rejected the appellant s appeal and upheld the order of the Joint Commissioner. None appeared on behalf of the appellant. It is found that nobody has been appearing during the past few hearings also. On 28.2.2023, the following order was passed. None appeared on behalf of the appellant. Learned authorized representative for the Revenue submits that the issue is covered by the precedent decisions of this Tribunal. List on March 23, 2023. As the matter has been listed on several dates the appellant does not appear, the matter may be decided on merits on the basis of the records. 2. Today, when the matter was called none appeared on behalf of the appellant. There is also no request for adjournment. We have heard learned authorised representative for the Revenue and perused the records. We find that there is no prayer in the appeal. There are Statements of Facts and Grounds of Appeal followed by However, at S.No. 24 of the Appeal Memorandum, against Reliefs claimed in appeal, the appellant mentioned as follows: i) To set aside the impugned Order-in-Appeal No. CC(A)/CUS/D-I/Exp/NCH 256/2019-20 dated 14.6.2019 with consequential relief. ii) Any other order/relief in the facts and circumstances of the case may be passed. 3. The facts of the case are the appellant is a trader of automobile parts and met one Rajat Gulati of M/s Super Trading , Kashmiri gate and through him got into the business of trading in DEPB licences for a commission. The Marine and Preventive Wing of the Customs commenced investigation into DEPB licences and found that the DEPB licences sold by the appellant were based on fabricated documents showing export of goods to Bangladesh through the Land Customs Station. These fabricated licences were sold by the appellant to M/s. Whirlpool India which imported the goods against them. 4. After completing investigation, a Show Cause Notice2 dated 3.9.2015 was issued to M/s. Whirlpool India and to the appellant which culminated in the issue of an Order in Original dated 30.12.2016 by the Joint Commissioner the operative part of which is as follows: (1) I deny the benefit of DEPB License No. 0310687088 dated 20.03.2012 and confirm the Customs duty amounting to Rs. 3,05,997/- (Rupees Three Lakhs Five Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety Seven) under section 28 (1) of the Customs Act, 1962 for import made under bill of entry No. 6676015 dated 28.04.2012 by M/s Whirlpool of India Ltd. and interest, at appropriate rate, thereof under section 28AA of the said Act. (2) I order for confiscation of the goods valued at Rs. 11,71,096/- imported under bill of entry No. 6676015 dated 28.04.2012 under Section 113 (d) of the Customs Act, 1962. However, I allow the said confiscated goods to be redeemed against payment of Redemption fine of Rs. 1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) in terms of the provisions of Section 125 of the Customs Act, 1962. (3) I impose penalty of Rs. 1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) upon M/s Whirlpool of India Ltd. (the Importer) under Section 114AA of the Customs Act, 1962. (4) I impose penalty of Rs. 3,00,000/- (Rupees Three Lakh only) upon M/s Super Trading Co. (the Exporter) under Section 114AA of the Customs Act, 1962. (5) I impose penalty of Rs. 3,00,000/- (Rupees Three Lakh only) upon Shri Gurmeet Singh Kohli under Section 114AA of the Customs Act, 1962 for his acts of omissions & commissions. (6) I impose penalty of Rs. 3,00,000/- (Rupees Three Lakh only) upon Shri Ramesh Gurbux Singh under Section 114AA of the Customs Act, 1962 for his acts of omissions & commissions. 5. The only part of the order relevant to this appellant is the imposition of a penalty of Rs. 3,00,000/- on him under section 114AA of the Act for his omissions and commissions. On appeal, the Commissioner has, by the impugned order, upheld this part of the order. 6. This appeal is filed on the following grounds: a) The impugned order is ex-facie illegal and shows non application of mind and by ignoring specific grounds urged before him. b) The Commissioner (Appeals) did not consider the ratio of the judgment of Gujarat High Court in CC versus Sanjay Agarwal3. c) The Commissioner (Appeals) did not consider the judgment of the Tribunal in Fast Cargo Movers versus CC Jodhpur4. d) The Commissioner (Appeals) referred to the statement of the appellant dated 10.4.2014 regarding preparing/ creating forged bank realization certificates but it did not pertain tot his case. e) The Commissioner (Appeals) relied on three other cases involving the sale of various DEPB licences obtained from DGFT based on forged documents which is highly 7. Learned authorised representative for the Revenue submits that the impugned order is correct and calls for no interference and there is no force in the appeal. He also points out that since there is not even a prayer in this appeal nor has anyone appeared, the Tribunal cannot grant any relief. 8. We have considered the submissions and perused the records. It is undisputed that the appellant had sold these DEPB licences to M/s. Whirlpool India and these licences were obtained from DGFT by submitting forged documents. In his statement dated 7.1.2013, the appellant admitted to having sold these DEPB licences but said that he was not aware that they were obtained based on forged Bank Realisation Certificates. He also said that he kept no record of the licences which he sold and received commission in cash. In the subsequent statement dated 10.4.2014, he agreed that he had prepared/created forged Bank Realisation Certificates against exports and submitted them to DGFT and obtained DEPB licences and sold them. Based on the statements, the role of the appellant was recorded in paragraphs 8.2 and 8.3 of the order in original as follows: 8.2 Thus it appeared that Shri Gurmeet Singh Kohli was deeply involved in creation of fake documents and seek authorizations to draw undue benefit there from and that the persons named by him are also involved in the said act. Shri Gurmeet Singh Kohli and Shri Ramesh Singh appear to have a syndicate interalia involving themselves in acts of : i) Operating IEC codes taken from DGFT in the name of other person; ii) Operating the said export firms and their bank accounts, iii) Forging the export documents such as shipping bills etc. by using bogus rubber stamps and forged signature of Customs officers ; iv) Preparing forged Bank Realisation Certificates by using bogus rubber stamps of the banks and forged signature of the bank officers though the amount is not realized; v) Submitting these bogus and forged documents to the DGFT to obtain export incentive authorizations such as DEPB, Focus Market Scheme, etc. vi) Selling such authorizations to the unsuspecting importers through market based brokers and commission agents; vii) Enjoying the benefit of sale proceeds of such fraud. 8.3 The gist of the quantum of the Customs fraud committed by Mr. Gurmeet Singh Kohli and his accomplices/associates, detected by Marine and Preventive Wing, Mumbai is as below : (Rs. In lakhs) Sr. No. Export firm Customs duty credit involved Remarks 1. M/s Great India Exports Imports (IEC 0309069319) 15.95 (pertaining to two licenses now under investigation) 7 DEPB licenses involving Rs. 55.89 Lakhs of duty benefits were obtained from DGFT, Mumbai on the basis of forged documents. All were sold to unsuspecting importers. 2. M/s Craft International (IEC 0310072042) 23.56 3 DEPB licenses were obtained from DGFT, Mumbai on the basis of forged documents. Out of this, two DEPB authorizations were sold to unsuspecting importer which were used for imports wherein the Customs duty foregone is about Rs. 14.13 lakhs. 3. M/s Super Trading Co. New Delhi (IEC 0508062004) 117.29 16 post Export DEPB authorizations and 1 Focus Market Scheme license were obtained from DGFT, Mumbai on the basis of forged documents. 15 licenses sold to unsuspecting importer which were used for imports wherein the Customs duty foregone is Rs. 94 lakhs. 9. For these reasons penalty of Rs.3,00,000/- was imposed on the appellant under section 114AA of the Customs Act, 1962 which was upheld by the impugned order. Section 114 AA reads as follows: Section 114AA. Penalty for use of false and incorrect material. If a person knowingly or intentionally makes, signs or uses, or causes to be made, signed or used, any declaration, statement or document which is false or incorrect in any material particular, in the transaction of any business for the purposes of this Act, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five times the value of goods. 10. Evidently, the appellant has, by his role discussed above, caused fraudulently obtained DEPB certificates to be used in the Bills of Entry filed by the importer which, in our considered view, falls squarely within the scope of Section 114AA. The judgment of the Honble High Court of Gujarat in Sanjay Agarwal relied upon by the appellant was in the context of penalty under section 112 and not under section 114AA. At the time the SCN was issued in that case (on 24.9.2001), section 114AA did not even exist. Section 114AA was introduced with effect from 13.7.2006. Therefore, this case law does not carry the case of the appellant any further. 11. The decision in Fast Cargo Movers relied upon by the appellant was on a completely different footing. In that case, the appellant was a Customs Broker which filed the Shipping Bills in good faith on the basis of the documents provided to it by the On examination by DRI, it was found that the containers had Red Sanders whose export is prohibited. An SCN was issued and after adjudication, penalty was imposed under Section 114AA on the Customs broker. The Tribunal found that the appellant had filed the Shipping Bills in good faith based on the documents provided to it and in such circumstances, set aside the penalty. In this case, the DEPB certificates obtained based on forged bank realization certificates were sold by the appellant to the importer and thereby caused the importer to make incorrect declarations in the Bills of Entry. 12. For all these reasons, we find that the impugned order is just and fair and calls for no interference. The impugned order is upheld and the appeal is dismissed. (Order pronounced in open court on 11/04/2023) Notes: 1. Impugned order 2.SCN 3. 2011 (269) ELT 153(Guj) 4. 2018(362) ELT 184 (Tri-Del) Pratap Joisher Vs ACIT (ITAT Mumbai) ITAT Mumbai held that assessment framed on the basis of base note without preferring to collect evidence based on consent waiver form is not sustainable in the eyes of law. Facts-On receiving information by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) from French Authority under Article 28 of the Indo France Fiscal Convention (Treaty) of 29th September 1992 qua banking relationship maintained by the assessee at HSBC Bank, Geneva, Switzerland which he has not disclosed in his return of income. The assessee was called upon to explain as to why the bank account with HSBC Bank, Geneva, Switzerland should not be treated as undisclosed bank account and amount of Rs.5,47,49,792/- & Rs.9,85,58,995/-for A.Y. 2006-07 & 2007-08 respectively found as peak credit balance be not added in his income for A.Y. 2006-07 & 2007-08. Declining the contentions raised by the assessee that the assessee is not having any bank account as alleged and the information referred to as base note has nothing to do with the assessee the AO reached the conclusion that the assessee has bank account with HSBC Bank, Geneva, Switzerland. Conclusion-Held that vide the consent waiver form the assessee has given unconditional consent for providing documents pertaining to the bank accounts in question to the Income Tax Department, Government of India, in both paper and electronic form, however the AO has not preferred to collect the evidence which was readily available but proceeded to frame the assessment on the basis of base note which is not sustainable in the eyes of law. FULL TEXT OF THE ORDER OF ITAT MUMBAI Both the aforesaid inter-connected appeals pertaining to A.Y. 2006-07 & 2007-08 bearing common question of law and facts are being disposed of by way of composite order to avoid repetition of discussion. 2. The appellant, Shri Pratap Joisher (hereinafter referred to as the assessee) by filing the present appeals, sought to set aside the impugned orders both dated 20.03.2019 passed by Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), Mumbai [hereinafter referred to as the CIT(A)] qua the assessment years 2006-07 & 2007-08 on the identically worded grounds inter-alia that (grounds are taken from A.Y. 2006-07):- 1. On the facts and under the circumstances of the case and in law, the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) erred in confirming the action of AO of reopening the assessment u/s 148 beyond four years by stating that since the asset is located outside India the provision of section 149(1)(c) relating to assessment beyond four years but within sixteen years is applicable to the appellant without appreciating the fact that no foreign bank account was held by the appellant and hence the provision is itself not applicable to the appellant. Hence reopening the assessment u/s 148 of the Act beyond four years is bad in law. The amendment to section is prospective in nature and reopening for AY 2007-08 is not valid as time limit of six years have lapsed. 2 a) On the facts and under the circumstances of the case and in law, the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) erred in confirming the action of AO of rejecting the objections raised by the appellant that the appellant has no bank account abroad and the department has no proof except the base note The appellant cannot be prove the negative. The department has failed to bring any material on record. 2 b) On the facts and under the circumstances of the case and in law, the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) erred on the facts and in law in not appreciating that the assessing officer passed the assessment order in undue haste and in gross violation of principles of natural justice. 2 c) That the CIT(A) erred on facts and in law in confirming the above addition without appreciating that the assessing officer has admitted in the assessment order that authentic information/ communication regarding the alleged foreign bank account was still awaited from the Swiss Authorities. 2 d) That the CIT(A) erred on facts and in law in not appreciating that (a) the above alleged foreign bank account did not belong to the appellant; (b) none of the deposits,as alleged, related to the appellant; and 2 e) That the CIT(A) erred on facts and in law in not appreciating that no transaction was made by the appellant, and that the above addition made in the hands of the appellant is without any evidence or basis. 3) On the facts and under the circumstances of the case and in law, the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) erred in confirming the action of AO for addition made of peak balances of Rs.5,47,49,792/- & Rs.9,85,58,995/- for A.Y. 2006-07 & 2007-08 respectively in HSBC Bank Switzerland u/s 69 on followings grounds: a) By treating the information which is received in the form of document (referred to as the Base Note) as genuine information without appreciating the fact that the said information is not authenticated or certified by any credible statutory authority or the bank in question and therefore cannot be any admissible as evidence. It is also relevant that the source of the evidence since inception is illegal (being stolen) and is inadmissible as being unauthenticated and unproven. b) By stating that details such name, address, passport details etc were mentioned in the Base Note received from the Investigation Wing and the same were confirmed by the assessee without appreciating the fact that the document shown to Premal Joisher (son of the appellant) was some printed information in the language not known to him and no stamp of HSBC Bank was mentioned in the document. c) By simply relying on the information received from the Investigation without making any independent inquiry and the document on which AO has relied was shown to the assessee during the search proceedings and no copy of such document was ever provided to the appellant inspite of repeated request. 4) On the facts and under the circumstances of the case and in law, the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) erred in confirming the action of AO of not providing the opportunity of cross examination of the source of document relied by AO thus denying natural justice to the appellant. 5) The appellant craves for leave to add to alter and/or withdraw the above ground of appeal, if necessary. 2. Briefly stated facts necessary for consideration and adjudication of the issues at hand are : the assessee filed his original return of income declaring total income of Rs.3,72,872/- and Rs.6,74,637/- for A.Y. 2006-07 & 2007-08 respectively which were processed under section 143(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short the Act). Subsequently on receiving information by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) from French Authority under Article 28 of the Indo France Fiscal Convention (Treaty) of 29th September 1992 qua banking relationship maintained by the assessee at HSBC Bank, Geneva, Switzerland which he has not disclosed in his return of income. The assessee was confronted with the aforesaid information received, statement on oath under section 131 was recorded of Shri Premal Pratap Joisher, son of the assessee (appearing on behalf of his father) wherein he was specifically asked qua the detail of foreign bank account held by him/his family members abroad, in HSBC Bank, Geneva. However, Shri Premal Pratap Joisher, son of the assessee responded to question nos.5 & 6 of the statement that to the best of his knowledge neither he nor his father nor any of his family members are having any bank account in HSBC Bank, Geneva or any bank abroad. However, he has confirmed the personal details given in the information obtained such as his fathers name, date of birth, residential address etc. Thereafter, he consulted his father and further stated that these details have nothing to do with them as his father has not maintained any such bank account. 3. On the basis of aforesaid information, copy of statement recorded under section 131 of the Act, the Assessing Oofficer (AO) recorded reasons for reopening and initiated the reopening proceedings under section 147 of the Act by issuance of notice under section 148 of the Act. Declining the contentions raised by the assessee that notice under section 148 of the Act is time barred the AO proceeded to initiate the assessment proceedings. The assessee opted to treat the return of income already filed as return filed in response to notice under section 148 of the Act. Objection filed by the assessee to the reopening disposed of. The assessee was called upon to explain as to why the bank account with HSBC Bank, Geneva, Switzerland should not be treated as undisclosed bank account and amount of Rs.5,47,49,792/- & Rs.9,85,58,995/-for A.Y. 2006-07 & 2007-08 respectively found as peak credit balance be not added in his income for A.Y. 2006-07 & 2007-08. Declining the contentions raised by the assessee that the assessee is not having any bank account as alleged and the information referred to as base note has nothing to do with the assessee the AO reached the conclusion that the assessee has bank account with HSBC Bank, Geneva, Switzerland with following details: > Name of the assessee- Joisher Pratap Chhaganal > Date of birth of the assessee as 19.11.1939 which has been corroborated with the Passport of the assessee as well as from his return of income. > Place of Birth is given to be Godhara (Gujarat) which is also the same as mentioned in the passport. > Passport details are mentioned as 2112783 issued on Bombay on 20.09.2000 This is the old passport of the assessee and the same is mentioned in the last page of the new passport. The file number of the old passport is also mentioned as BOMS001204 Other details like place of issue, date of issue, number are all correct and corroborated with copies of record. > Legal address of the assessee is 102, Udaybhariu Apts, M.G. Road, Rajawadi, Ghatkopar East, Mumbai-400077. The address is same as mentioned in all letters of the assessee which are on record. > The Name of the Client Profile (Non du Profil client in French) is mentioned as Contabel Holding LTD, the beneficial owners. This apparently means that the HSBC Bank Account in the case of the assessee, could be a joint account which may be operated by any of them. > The Code of Client Profile (Code Profil Client in French) is 5091327488. > The list of IBANs mentioned is IBAN CH CH15 0868 9050 9120 78536/CH2S 0868 9050 9111 13303/CH39 0868 9050 9111 2022 9/CH41 0868 9050 9126 80147/CH67 0868 90509122 8362 8 > The BUP_SIFIC_PER_ID is 5090160947, PER_ID-96347, PER NO.-160947. 4. So the AO reached the conclusion that the particulars mentioned in the base note belong to the assessee which he has not disclosed to the Income Tax Authorities. The AO also treated base note as admissible document under section 11 of the Indian Evidence Act as the original documents are in possession of the bank outside jurisdiction of Government of India which the Swiss bank has not parted with. The AO after examining the base note which is a bank statement in the name of assessee containing month wise summary of investment made in bonds, mutual funds, liquid assets, funds in shares, fiduciary deposits etc., the detail of which is as under: S.No. Month Balance at the end of the month ($) 1 November, 2005 7,86,893.63 2 December, 2005 8,07,725.87 3 January, 2006 12,14,451.09 4 February, 2006 11,86,647.19 5 March, 2006 12,27,298.63 5. So the AO considered the value of these investments as income of the assessee for the financial years under consideration and added to his income under section 69 of the Act. The AO taken peak balance in the account for the month of March as $12,27,298.63 equivalent to Rs.5,47,49,791.88 and $ 22,09,346.68 equivalent to Rs.9,85,58,955/- for A.Y. 2006-07 & 2007-08 respectively and made addition thereof by framing assessment under section 143(3) read with section 147 of the Act. 6. The assessee carried the matter before the Ld. CIT(A) by way of filing appeals who has confirmed the addition by dismissing the appeals filed by the assessee for A.Y. 2006-07 & 2007-08. Feeling aggrieved with the impugned orders passed by the Ld. CIT(A) the assessee has come up before the Tribunal by way of filing present appeals. 7. We have heard the Ld. Authorised Representatives of the parties to the appeal, perused the orders passed by the Ld. Lower Revenue Authorities and documents available on record in the light of the facts and circumstances of the case and law applicable thereto. 8. Undisputedly the AO has framed the assessment by making addition in question on the basis of base note by treating the same as admissible evidence under section 11 of Indian Evidence Act, 1872. It is also not in dispute that all the original documents pertaining to the bank account maintained by the assessee with HSBC Bank, Geneva are in possession of Swiss Bank and beyond the jurisdiction of Government of India which cannot be parted with except with the statement of the assessee. 9. However, now the Ld. A.R. for the assessee stated that the assessee has signed consent waiver form on 30.07.2013 for both A.Y. 2006-07 & 2007-08, however, it is surprising as to why the AO through Government of India has not obtained the original documents on the basis of consent waiver form signed by the assessee from HSBC Bank, Geneva. 10. In these circumstances, we are of the considered view that when consent waiver form has already been signed by the assessee way back on 30.07.2013 the AO is required to get all the original documents pertaining to the bank account in question maintained by the assessee with HSBC Bank, Geneva and then framed the assessment afresh. No doubt during the assessment proceedings the assessee has vehemently denied to have any such accounts maintained with HSBC Bank, Geneva which is apparently in the name of the assessee with his date of birth and passport number, legal address and his complete profile with code of client profile, but now the assessee has given the consent waiver form. Copy of consent waiver form is available at page 10 to 11 of the paper book whereby the assessee has given unconditional consent for providing documents pertaining to the bank accounts in question to the Income Tax Department, Government of India, in both paper and electronic form, however the AO has not preferred to collect the evidence which was readily available but proceeded to frame the assessment on the basis of base note which is not sustainable in the eyes of law. 11. So without entering into the merits of the order passed by the Ld. CIT(A), we are of the considered view that the impugned orders are liable to be set aside and the AO is directed to frame the assessment afresh after obtaining the original documents on the basis of consent waiver form given by the assessee from HSBC Bank, Geneva. Both the Ld. A.Rs for the parties to the appeals have concurred to the proposal that to impart complete justice and to decide the issue once for all, the impugned orders are liable to be set aside. So the impugned orders passed by the Ld. CIT(A) are set aside. 12. Resultantly, both the appeals filed by the assessee are allowed for statistical purposes. Order pronounced in the open court on 28.03.2023. Days after lawmakers in the 2023 Washington state Legislature guaranteed school districts more funding for special education, the Longview School Board heard how to make those programs more equitable, well-staffed and able to serve more students. The end of the legislative session ushered in a new law that will funnel $417 million in special education funding into districts across the state. It goes into effect in the 2023-24 school year. Elizabeth West, executive director of special education in Longview, told the board Monday evening the number of students who have disabilities that make them eligible for special education has increased the last few years. Data from the district shows between 2021 and 2022, 28 more students had a specific learning disability, seven more were diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum, and five more had multiple disabilities. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to The Daily News. Most of the time when a student is identified as possibly needing special education, West said, the referral comes from teachers and other school staff. The district is adjusting how it provides services to these students, West said. This means getting more students into general education classes, using new research-backed technology and having more certified specialists. We have the ability now to provide that additional support, West said, and its been going incredibly well. Special education funding The cap at which the state stops funding special education sat at 13.5% until this year, when state lawmakers before the end of the 2023 state Legislature signed off on a bill that would raise this cap to 15% that is, the state covers the cost of special ed as long as it serves no more than 15% of the student population. Its a half-success for local school districts, Longview included, where officials expressed they wanted to get rid of the cap altogether. An earlier version of the bill would have done this over the course of the next three school years but was amended later. With this new law, if a school district has more than 15% of its students who need special education, the district still shoulders the cost for those students. For Longview schools, this means tapping into the levy or federal dollars to make up the gap. District data shows 25% of Kessler Elementary School students are considered to be in need of special education services the highest percentage between Longviews elementary, middle and high schools. That leaves 10% who will not be covered under the new law. By nature of being a specialized early learning center, the Broadway Learning Center technically has 100% of its students who are special needs, West noted. Of the districts 16 schools, three-quarters of them saw an increase between 2022 and 2023 in the number of special learning needs students. Only one Mark Morris High School saw a decrease, dropping from 16% last year to 15% this year. Under the new law, all of Mark Morris special education students will have all of their learning paid for by state dollars. Broadening special learning West said the district continues to look for more certified staff and create a least restrictive environment, which means to put students with disabilities in a regular educational environment. The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction set a goal to have 60% of special education students in this environment by spring 2021. The Longview School District was just shy of meeting this goal on time, but in 2022 reported it had reached this 60% threshold. This marked an increase from 2018, which saw it at 47%. Given the needs in our community, its pretty exciting, West said. Our data right now looks the best in the state just based on the growth over time. Stigma still surrounds students who need special learning, West told The Daily News in March. By opening paths for students to be in a general education class at least some of the time, West said they can give students a chance to feel less isolated. The district is also doing this outside the classroom. The Axes Cafe housed behind the cafeteria of R.A. Long High School is run almost entirely by special education students and sees them deliver orders around the school. In 2022, the district had 300 staff certified by the Crisis Prevention Institute and more who were certified in trauma-informed crisis management. They also established a behavioral support team with crisis management staff. OpenAI is introducing what one employee called an "incognito mode" for its hit chatbot ChatGPT that does not save users' conversation history or use it to improve its artificial intelligence, the company said Tuesday. The San Francisco-based startup also said it planned a "ChatGPT Business" subscription with additional data controls. The move comes as scrutiny has grown over how ChatGPT and other chatbots it inspired manage hundreds of millions of users' data, commonly used to improve, or "train", AI. Italy last month banned ChatGPT for possible privacy violations, saying OpenAI could resume the service if it met demands such as giving consumers tools to object to the processing of their data. France and Spain also began probing the service. Mira Murati, OpenAI's chief technology officer, told Reuters the company was compliant with European privacy law and is working to assure regulators. The new features did not arise from Italy's ChatGPT ban, she said, but from a months-long effort to put users "in the driver's seat" regarding data collection. "We'll be moving more and more in this direction of prioritizing user privacy," Murati said, with the goal that "it's completely eyes off and the models are super aligned: they do the things that you want to do". User information has helped OpenAI make its software more reliable and reduce political bias, among other issues, she said, but added that the company still has challenges to tackle. Tuesday's product release lets users switch off "Chat History & Training" in their settings and export their data. Nicholas Turley, the OpenAI product officer who likened this to an internet browser's incognito mode, said the company still would retain conversations for 30 days to monitor for abuse before permanently deleting them. In addition, the company's business subscription available in the coming months will not use conversations for AI model training by default. Microsoft Corp, which has invested in OpenAI, already offers ChatGPT to businesses. Murati said that service would appeal to the cloud provider's existing customers. KPMG in India and Saviynt announced that they are partnering together, to offer customers improved identity management and security threat protection solutions, by leveraging Saviynts Enterprise Identity Cloud platform. The platform is a converged cloud identity platform that provides intelligent access & governance for various applications, identities, and clouds, thereby helping organisations modernise their identity programme and build a zero-trust foundation. Enterprises are adopting cloud, and along with the proliferation of newer technologies and critical applications, they have transformed the way they operate in todays business environment. As enterprises attempt to innovate at the speed of business and gain a competitive edge, advancements in cloud-first initiatives have meant significant IT and security risk challenges. Identity is becoming a must-have cornerstone for enterprises wanting to build a successful business and cloud transformation programme. Saviynts innovative technology which includes identity governance, privileged access and access risk analytics capabilities combined with KPMG in Indias expertise and experience in providing strategic business solutions makes the joint offering for customers a great value proposition. The joint proposition will see KPMG in India and Saviynt working together with customers to establish a framework for a least-privilege and zero trust-based identity architecture to manage todays evolving cyber risks. Other benefits of the joint value proposition include: Fast tracking of digital transformation and cloud initiatives, wherein customers get cloud-first solutions that can tackle complex identity use-cases, delivered, and managed efficiently. Helping customers to navigate complex digital transformations from assessment, design, implementation to operations in a much smoother way. Assisting customers in adapting to the rapidly changing market needs by combining the strengths of two global organisations that can jointly offer wide-ranging digital solutions. KPMG in Indias cyber transformation capabilities, backed by technology expertise and experienced professionals, combined with Saviynts innovative and intelligent identity and access governance solutions, can help customers with controlling and managing access governance and also establishing robust processes that reduce risk, achieve compliance and enhance operational efficiency. Customers today seek a more comprehensive and holistic approach to cyber risk where digital identity is at the core and is fundamental to how security capabilities can be better managed and implemented, said Atul Gupta, Partner and Head, Digital Trust and Cyber Security Services, KPMG in India. We look forward to mutually supporting our clients and customers in their journey to develop evolve and nurture their digital identity capabilities. added Atul Gupta Raghavendra BV, Partner and Head, Cyber Transformation Services, KPMG in India said KPMG in India has partnered with Saviynt to assist clients to manage the evolving cyber risks, where identity plays a crucial role in establishing a zero-trust based architecture. Together with Saviynt, our aim is to develop and create an approach that is dynamic and allows us to implement and efficiently manage digital identities. Dan Mountstephen, Senior Vice President, Saviynt, said, As identity becomes the new perimeter of cybersecurity, organisations need to evolve beyond the limitations of legacy IAM solutions. Saviynts Enterprise Identity Cloud and KPMG in India will enable organisations to meet their business goals faster with a low total cost of ownership. 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: Professor Anthony Hoete. Credit: University of Auckland Recent research conducted by Professor Anthony Hoete has proven that endangered Matauranga Maori construction techniques, can withstand major earthquakes. He plans to use this knowledge to rebuild a historic Bay of Plenty wharenui. The original Tanewhirinaki wharenui on Opeke marae near Opotiki was the inspiration behind the study, following Ngati lra o Waioweka who built the wharenui after the 1860 New Zealand Wars. The iwi later witnessed its demise in a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 1931. The most important carvings representing the iwi's ancestors were saved from the wreckage and remarkably stored in various sheds at the marae for nine decades. However, three attempts to re-stand the whare in subsequent decades failed, due to the loss of Matauranga (knowledge) on how to reassemble Tanewhirinaki. Hoete says that the original timber had deteriorated over 90 years and would not be able to carry the loading of a new wharenui. "So instead, we will design a new structure that will act like an outer whare to which we will sensitively attach the original carvings to the inside of this new structure." The project was to enhance the seismic resilience of the new wharenui and its community. In collaboration with a team from Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland, Hoete used endangered construction knowledge called "mimiro" to create a full-scale timber structure and tested the prototype against earthquake requirements for modern buildings. "Our seismic tests have demonstrated the structure can withstand much stronger earthquakes than the one that caused critical damage to the original wharenui in the Napier earthquake in 1931," Hoete says. Senior lecturer and Maori architectonic researcher Dr. Jeremy Treadwell designed and built the timber portals by using interlocking compression joints, instead of bolting parts together. At the same time, ropes were used to pull the structure to the ground like a tent. Hoete also collaborated with the Faculty of Engineering to pull the vertical portals sideways and test the horizontal strength of the structure, using a winch off Professor Jason Ingham's jeep, while the vertical strength was tested using water weights. Hoete says the origins of mimiro can be traced back to the ships and strong sail lashing that his ancestors used to travel across the Pacific. "They had a deep knowledge of building and creating strength and tension in structures, so we have recreated those techniques that have been lost and use them to give our wharenui greater seismic resilience," said Hoete, who extended the sailing connection by using modern sailing ropes and grinders to create the tension on the timber structure. The team worked closely with Ngati lra o Waioweka, who built the original Tanewhirinaki wharenui on Opeke Marae near Opotiki after the 1860 New Zealand Wars, and later became witness to its demise in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 1931. Hoete says that local hapu, Ngati Ira, is integral to the project and many local community members assisted in the construction and testing this week. Riki Kurei, is the restoration project leader for the hapu and says Ngati Ira is grateful for the support by the University of Auckland and Toka Tu Ake EQC to help his community restore their wharenui. "The original house was built in 1874, and the inter-locking system at the time was unique compared to any other house in Aotearoa," Kurei says. "The ultimate goal for us is to have it standing again in three to five years. That was the dream of our kaumatua since it was pulled down. We will make a reality for our hapu." Kurei adds that Ngati Ira are actively looking for sponsors and support for the restoration of this unique historic wharenui. "Toka Tu Ake EQC wants to create more resilient communities through the design and construction of stronger buildings. Professor Hoete's work aligns well with our goal to improve Aotearoa New Zealand's resilience to natural hazards," Toka Tu Ake EQC Chief Resilience and Research Officer Dr. Jo Horrocks says. "Investing in Maori researchers and matauranga Maori has been a key focus of this year's biennial grants, so we are proud to be able to support this amazing project." 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: Madrid wants to ramp up production of emissions-free fuel like green hydrogen. Major green energy projects are sprouting up across Spain as it seeks to position itself as a future green energy leaderbut experts have urged caution over costs and demand uncertainty. Spanish firms are ramping up production of emissions-free fuel and ploughing investment into green energy projects, despite fears over the high price of production. "Everything is going very fast," said Miguel Angel Fernandez, technical director at the Spanish National Hydrogen Centre, a public research centre based in central Spain. "There are so many projects, it is impossible to keep track of them all." Most hydrogen is currently produced using polluting fossil fuels but so-called "green hydrogen" is made entirely using renewable energy such as wind, solar and hydropower. While fossil fuels emit harmful greenhouse gases when they burn, hydrogen only emits water vapour. Madrid launched a 1.5-billion-euro ($1.7-billion) plan in in 2021 to support green hydrogen projects, using a European Union Covid recovery fund. Spain is now home to 20 percent of the world's green hydrogen projectssecond only to the United States. Last year Spanish energy giant Iberdrola started operating what it says is the largest green hydrogen plant for industrial use in Europe, in the former mining town of Puertollano. The plant uses 100 megawatts of solar panels to produce green hydrogen, which is stored in huge white storage tanks. So-called 'green hydrogen' is made entirely using renewable energy such as wind, solar and hydropower. The initial goal is for it to provide 10 percent of the energy needed by a neighbouring factory belonging to fertiliser maker Fertiberia. This will prevent the release of 48,000 tonnes of planet-warming carbon dioxide per year according to Iberdrola. If the pilot project works, Iberdrola will launch a "much more important second phase" to meet 100 percent of the fertiliser plant's energy needs, said Javier Plaza, head of Iberdrola's green hydrogen division. Hydrogen valley Rival Spanish energy firms such as Cepsa and Repsol have in recent months launched similar projects. In Spain's sunny southern Andalusia region, three billion euros is being invested to create a "green hydrogen valley" where two large factories will produce 300,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year from 2027. In the northern region of Asturias 15 solar power parks will be built by 2030 to enable the annual production of 330,000 tonnes of green hydrogen. Rafael Cossent, research associate professor in energy economics at Madrid's Comillas Pontifical University, said there was an "effervescence" in the sector putting Spain in a leading role in green hydrogen production. This is partly due to Spain's abundant sun and wind power capabilities, he added. The Spanish Hydrogen Association estimates there are currently 50 green hydrogen projects under development in the country. Spain could potentially produce enough green hydrogen to cover its own needs and export to northern Europe, the association argues. The government is counting on a planned underwater pipeline between Barcelona and Marseille, dubbed H2Med. 'Long-term race' A major drawback for green hydrogen, however, has been the high cost of producing it. While the price of the renewable energy used to make it has come down due to technological advances, green hydrogen has still not proven itself to be economically viable. Massive use of green hydrogen will also require "complex transformations" by vehicles and industrial plants which make future demand for the fuel uncertain, said Cossent. A green hydrogen economy will need a robust transportation infrastructure to transport itwhich Spain is currently lacking. The government is counting on a planned underwater pipeline between Barcelona and Marseille, dubbed H2Med, which is expected to transport some two million metric tonnes of hydrogen annually. Hydrogen is difficult to contain without leakage however, making it challenging to store and transport, so delays to the pipeline are widely expected. But the giants of the green hydrogen market are undeterred. Iberdrola's Plaza said it is important to get into green hydrogen early because "whoever starts first has the advantage". "We are talking about a long-term race," he added. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain An expanded renewable energy zoning database from the University of Michigan brings together more than 1,600 local ordinances from six Great Lakes states. The Energy Zoning Database is designed to simplify matchmaking between renewable energy developers and interested host communities in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Recent federal policy incentives coupled with declining prices have increased the market for renewable energy, with companies and utilities eager to add more wind and solar to the energy mix. But until now, information about renewable energy zoning ordinances has been scattered across small local-government websitesor in the case of many rural communities, in paper files. With thousands of local governments across the country setting the rules for siting solar and wind developments, searching for potential matches has been a labor-intensive process. The expanded Energy Zoning Database is designed to inform and improve decision making. It can be used by communities undergoing the rezoning process, developers seeking host communities and academics engaging in community-based research. The data covers zoning jurisdiction, zoning ordinance collection and zoning ordinance analysis and is presented with the visual aid of interactive maps for each state. Users have filterable, sortable access to each community's ordinances to read firsthand. For communities that regulate principal-use solar energy systems, the database identifies 17 characteristics commonly found in solar energy zoning regulations. This newly expanded public resource, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office, builds on a Michigan-focused project started in 2019 with funding from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. The database was created by a University of Michigan research team and includes a precise guide to recreating the tool with other datasets. "We're already getting interest from NGOs and researchers at other universities who want to extend our approach to other states," said Madeleine Krol, clean energy land use specialist at U-M's Graham Sustainability Institute and a member of the research team. The Energy Zoning Database is part of a larger Department of Energy project designed to trace how knowledge of solar energy informs zoning and provides local officials with tools to create zoning ordinances that reflect community values. The project is led by Michael Craig, an assistant professor in energy systems at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability. Craig, an energy modeler, will use the detailed analysis of solar attributes to determine how zoning decisions impact the ability to meet the demand for and deploy renewables. "The media turns its attention to communities with restrictive zoning, calling for state governmentsincluding Michiganto rein in local governments," he said. "By analyzing the robust collection of ordinances in the Energy Zoning Database, we can determine the true impact of local regulations on states' and utilities' ability to meet renewable energy targets." The Energy Zoning Database team of six undergraduate and graduate students, plus Krol and Sarah Mills, senior project manager at the Graham Sustainability Institute, continues its work. The 1,600+ zoning ordinances currently in the database represent 50% of the region, and the team aims to cover at least 90% of rural areas in these six states in the next several months. 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 Add one more vulnerability to the list of side-channel attacks that have long dogged Intel CPUs. Researchers at Tsinghua University, the University of Maryland and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications said they have uncovered a previously undetected flaw in Intel processors that permits data leakage through the EFLAGS register. Their work is published on the arXiv preprint server. Unlike a host of previous side-channel vulnerabilities, this new exploit does not rely on the cache system. Rather, it focuses on timing analysis of transient executions. This approach makes it more difficult to detect such attacks. Yu Jin, a co-author of the paper released last week, said a change of the EFLAGS register in transient execution could slow down subsequent JCC instructions. The vulnerability, which the team used in conjunction with a Meltdown attack, allows intruders to use timing analysis to decipher code it would otherwise not have access to. The team demonstrated the vulnerabilities on Intel Core i7-6700, i7-770 and i9-10980XE CPUs. Jin said, "The increasing complexity and aggressive optimizations of modern CPUs, with their many microarchitectural features are the root cause of many security issues, including side-channel attacks." Side-channel attacks can come in many forms. They are not viruses, but rather intrusions into computer systems that gain access by reading non-code-related patterns such as timing, power consumption, and electromagnetic and acoustic emissions. Daniel Genkin, a University of Michigan professor, explained in a 2020 interview, "Usually when we design an algorithm, we think about inputs and outputs. We don't think about anything else that happens when the program runs. But computers don't run on paper, they run on physics. When you shift from paper to physics, there are all sorts of physical effects that computation has: time, power, sound. A side channel exploits one of those effects to get more information and glean the secrets in the algorithm." Side-channel attacks in recent years include Meltdown, Spectre, Fallout and Zombieload. The team states it is not certain of the specific cause of the vulnerability. "The root causes of this attack are still not fully understood," Jin said. "We guess that there is some buffer in the execution unit of the Intel CPU which needs some time to revert if the execution should be withdrawn. This withdrawal process will cause a stall if the following instruction depends on the target of the buffer." Jin also indicated that this vulnerability relies on other transient execution attacks to effect "a real-world attack." "But it is still a new side-channel attack and worth further exploration," he said. "This attack may bring insight for new microarchitecture attacks and give a new way to build side-channel attacks in cache side-channel resistant CPU." Intel 11th generation CPUs appear to be more resistant to such attacks. Moreover, Intel's new 13th generation vPro processors are equipped with stronger defenses against side-channel attacks. More information: Yu Jin et al, Timing the Transient Execution: A New Side-Channel Attack on Intel CPUs, arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2304.10877 Journal information: arXiv 2023 Science X Network Texas A&M students were able to Take Back the Night during the third annual gathering of multiple university groups to raise awareness about sexual assault and survivor organizations in honor of Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Month. The Tuesday night gathering was moved from Aggie Park to the Student Rec Center on the Texas A&M campus due to the possibility of inclement weather. However, according to Denise Crisafi, health promotion coordinator with A&Ms Offices of the Dean of Student Life, the weather did not stop students from attending. Take Back the Night is an international movement and organization to bring awareness to the grassroots movement of sexual violence prevention and how it really came to be in terms of advocacy, and how they educate on campus, Crisafi said. It started as a violence against women movement, and now we know obviously that there are men, non-binary and transgender individuals impacted by this and also when we break down identity it gets even bigger than that, Crisafi said. So really bringing our populations who are affected and discussing what we should be doing as a community to address it. According to its website, the mission of the international nonprofit Take Back the Night Foundation is to create safe communities and respectful relationships through awareness events and initiatives, with the goal of ending all forms of sexual violence. Speakers from the Sexual Assault Resource Center of Brazos Valley, Scottys House, Twin City Mission Domestic Violence Services and UnBound Bryan-College Station spoke during the event to promote and spread awareness regarding the services they provide. About 20 advocacy groups were present to meet with students and share resources. Texas A&M student Madison Griffin, a member of Feminists 4 Aggies, said her group is an intersectional feminist group that helps to create an inclusive and diverse group of individuals to create a safe space. In light of what has happened, when it comes to certain resources or information with certain laws when it comes to reproductive health, there are restrictions as to what we can share and the context of certain things, she said. We have to put that into consideration when talking to individuals now, especially with the overturn of Roe v. Wade, especially with all of these different reelections coming up and with a lot of our lives and values being put on the table, that is something that there has been a little bit more of a strike against or friction in trying to move forward. But it is something that regardless we are able to push forward with. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, turning abortion laws over to individual states. Caroline ONeal, president of the American Association of University Women at Texas A&M, said her advocacy group promotes female leadership by providing essential tools and skills for leaders, and enhance awareness about global womens issues. Whenever members of the organization are upset about news that is unsettling regarding womens rights, they find community in their group. Right after Roe v. Wade fell we went and had some protests here and in Austin. We try to just have a space for people, because we are not a super politically involved organization, we are technically nonpartisan so that can be kind of tricky, she said. We talk about the things we believe, but we kind of have to leave it at that and just try to welcome people and make sure everyone is on the same page. ONeal said her group has faced some backlash on campus when they partake in outreach programs, with one called I need feminism because Men walk up, it is mostly men but sometimes women and they say I cant think of a single reason. And we feel that kind of applies to our entire organization, because we are a feminist community and everything branches out of that and the need for equal wages and for everything that we do, she said. We kind of just know that they are wrong and if they dont understand. It is hard to even do it because we know as women the things that require feminism, and we cant just argue with every person and try to give them something to take on but most of the time; they are just a lost cause. Arely Mancilla, Class of 24, is an international studies major, and was one of the attendees and she found that one of the best ways for prevention is information. Megan Woodfield, a health promotion specialist at Texas A&M and planning team member for Take Back the Night, said sexual assault awareness and advocacy is still a very taboo topic. Not a lot of people feel comfortable talking about sexual assault, talking about violence prevention, and we know that it is impacting way too many folks within our community, she said. I think this event does a really beautiful job of showing those who have been impacted on our campus, how many people are truly here supporting them and helping them walk through this journey. Whatever point they are in healing, there is someone here who is going to be able to help them and support them through that. Crisafi also said it should be noted that survivorship is not propaganda, it is vulnerability. I think at the bare minimum we would have to agree that this is a problem that nobody would want to see or experience in their community, she said. But when we politicize this issue, because people are experiencing it regardless of what those boxes might be, the problem is we put ourselves into boxes and we are not really willing to listen or acknowledge what the real problem is and that is that all individuals from all identities have been experiencing this for a really long time. The dynamics of that and the ways that we need to talk about it are changing, so it is putting ourselves in a space to acknowledge a difficult issue exists, but not confuse that survivorship with something that needs to be overly politicized because it doesnt. For more information and resources, visit studentlife.tamu.edu/hp/sapam/take-back-the-night/. ORLANDO, Fla. The most powerful rocket to ever launch from Earth left a crater at the SpaceX launch site last week, but Elon Musk said teams could be ready to try another Starship launch in as little as one to two months. Meanwhile, SpaceX continues to build out a backup site for human launches on the Space Coast to assuage NASA fears of potential Starship damage for when it starts flying from Kennedy Space Center. Those launches wont come until SpaceX completes testing from SpaceXs Starbase launch site in Boca Chica, Texas, where the first integrated launch of the Starship and its Super Heavy booster took place last Thursday. While it didnt make it to space, the boosters 33 Raptor engines that can produce more than 17 million pounds of thrust cleared the launch tower. About four minutes after flying only to about 24 miles and tumbling back to Earth, SpaceX sent the self-destruct command resulting in the rocket exploding over the Gulf of Mexico. The vehicle experienced multiple engines out during the flight test, lost altitude, and began to tumble, reads an update on the SpaceX website. The flight termination system was commanded on both the booster and ship. While Musk had tempered expectations for the Starship mission to complete its goal of making it to space and flying two-thirds of the way around the Earth on a suborbital flight path, teams said clearing the launch pad was their No. 1 goal, and part of a testing approach by the company that expects hardware to fail through more frequent test launches. While the failing engines and lack of a planned stage separation are two big problems for the next launch attempt, repairing the major damage from the launch site will be needed first. All thats left of the concrete lateral support beam is the rebar! Hopefully, this didnt gronk the launch mount, Musk posted on Twitter to images comparing the launch sites construction to post-launch damage. Musk said the company had prepared for a massive water-cooled, steel plate to go under the launch mount, but that it was not ready in time for the test launch. He said we wrongly thought the launch pad concrete would survive the launch based on data from a static fire performed in February that saw 31 of the 33 engines manage a successful test burn. Still early in analysis, but the force of the engines when they throttled up may have shattered the concrete, rather than simply eroding it, he wrote on Twitter. The engines were only at half thrust for the static fire test. Video from around the launch site showed chunks of concrete flying all over the place including several pieces into the surf just over a quarter mile away. One piece slammed into an unoccupied minivan for website NASASpaceflight.com that was parked close to the pad to shoot video prompting tweets of RIP NSF Van. The two cameras we placed on the roof of the van got hit and were taken out. Obviously, this was all at our own risk which was well understood, posted Michael Baylor, part of the live stream team for the website. Images of the rocket lifting into the sky showed only 27 of the 33 engines lit up a minute into flight, and more failed before the mission concluded. Its unclear if any were damaged by debris on liftoff. With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and we learned a tremendous amount about the vehicle and ground systems today that will help us improve on future flights of Starship, the company posted on it site. Starships power was nearly twice that of NASAs Space Launch System that still holds the record at 8.8 million pounds of thrust for a rocket that actually made it to space during its launch from Kennedy Space Center last November on the Artemis I moon mission. The damage SLS did to the Mobile Launcher at Kennedy Space Centers Launch Pad 39-B has led to what continues to be months of repair work as teams get it ready for Artemis II in 2024. The sheer power of Starship for whats planned to be future launches from KSC at SpaceXs Launch Pad 39-A raised NASA concerns last year with the uncertainty of what sort of damage it might do to the pad. SpaceX is continuing to build out a Starship launch tower at 39-A for when the spacecraft is ready for operational flights. The problem, though, without Boeings Starliner as a backup yet, NASA relies on SpaceX with its Crew Dragon spacecraft as its sole U.S.-based transport of astronauts to the International Space Station. Those launches for now can only take place from 39-A, and the potential threat of Starship launch pad damage has driven SpaceX to work on upgrading its nearby launch site at Cape Canaveral Space Force Stations Space Launch Complex 40 so it could fly the Dragon spacecraft as well. SpaceX and the NASA team has done an incredible job laying out the crew and cargo capability from pad 40, said NASAs Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich in February. SpaceX has started groundbreaking on that pad, and actually the initial work to clear the site and then pour the pilings for the crew tower. SpaceXs Dragon mission management director Sarah Walker said she expects the site to be ready this fall for initial launches with just cargo. Weve think it enables even greater flexibility to our Dragon customers, she said. Our primary focus first will allow cargo missions to launch and just allow them to be interchangeable between the two pads, 39 and 40. And then well add the final certification elements for human spaceflight capability soon after, but were seeing good progress. NASA has a vested interest in Starship progress as well, though, as it will rely on a version of it to act as the Human Landing System for the Artemis III mission as soon as 2025, which aims to return humans including the first woman to the surface of the moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson congratulated the SpaceX team last Thursday posting on Twitter despite the mission ending in a fireball. Every great achievement throughout history has demanded some level of calculated risk, because with great risk comes great reward, he posted. Looking forward to all that SpaceX learns, to the next flight test and beyond. The philanthropic spirit of the Brazos Valley was celebrated Tuesday at the 18th annual Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley Tribute Luncheon at Hilton College Station. Four community members Ben Downs of Bryan Broadcasting, Gina and Bill Flores and Phoebe Watts were selected as this years honorees for their generosity and impact on the community. Today, we honor Phoebe Watts, Gina and Bill Flores and Ben Downs for their dedicated service, spirit of volunteerism and philanthropic sense of giving to many important quality of life needs within our community, emcee Mike Wright said. Wright said each honoree received a proclamation from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, State Representative John Raney, Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez, College Station Mayor John Nichols and Brazos County Judge Duane Peters declaring April 25, 2023, Phoebe Watts Day, Bill and Gina Flores Day and Ben Downs Day. Each honoree was introduced by a family member or friend and presented with a video tribute. Giving her time and resources to others is truly in Phoebes DNA, Byron Soules, Watts son, said as he introduced his mother. It has always been that way. Soules spoke highly of his mother and father, Dale, who died unexpectedly in 2012. Following her husbands passing, Soules said Watts had a choice: scale back her involvement in the community, or pick up the torch and march forward in fulfilling their philanthropic mission. The fact that were here honoring her today tells you what her choice was, Soules said. Watts said she was honored and humbled to be an honoree and gave much of the credit to her late husband. He was the foundation, Watts said. He taught me philanthropy. John Flores introduced his parents and honorees, Gina and Bill, with an emotional speech about this recognition being more about whom they are rather than what they do. He stated that they have been generous because they are generous. Their value and their worth is not because of what they have done or the things that you all have seen him do, John said. Their value and worth is because of who they are. Gina said she always knew she and Bill, a former U.S. representative, would retire in Aggieland and were quickly welcomed into the community, one that was full of givers, upon arriving in 2006. Thank you for recognizing all of us, Bill, who served as a congressman from 2001 to 2011, said. Its great to be with community leaders and servants like all of you here today; we wouldnt be able to do this without folks like you. Glen Brewer, President/CEO of the B-CS Chamber of Commerce, introduced his friend and honoree Downs, who preceded him as chair of the chamber board of directors. Brewer said the term community leader is too small of a term to describe what Downs means to everyone in the room. Bryan-College Stations a great place to make a home because of people like all of you in this room, Downs responded. Others were recognized at Tuesdays luncheon, including former tribute luncheon honorees, event sponsors, elected officials and distinguished guests. Patricia Gerling, president/CEO of the foundation, said 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the foundation, which was established in 2003 by Sam Sharp, Chuck Ellison and Larry Holt. As of Dec. 31, 2022, Gerling said the foundation stewards more than 120 charitable endowments at $11.4 million in assets. Additionally, the foundation has distributed more than $5.03 million in grants over the past 20 years. Our mission is simple: we serve as your trusted community partner in philanthropy, and were here to be here forever to steward your gift to benefit our community forever, Gerling said. Gerling presented the 2023 Community Champion Award, awarded to businesses, organizations, civic groups and others who support Brazos Valley nonprofits. This year, the foundation is excited to celebrate a local business who contributes to many nonprofits by providing thousands of dollars of floral donations to support local nonprofit events and fundraisers just as you are enjoying on your tables today, Gerling said prior to announcing Debbie Brooks of Postoak Florist as this years community champion. Those in attendance also had the opportunity to enter the Philanthropist of the Day raffle, wherein a winner was selected to choose a local nonprofit to establish a $15,000 charitable endowment. College Stations Kay and Britt Rice won the raffle and chose to support members of the community who are diagnosed with breast cancer. Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE:ARE Get Rating) was upgraded by StockNews.com from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report issued on Tuesday. Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Mizuho reduced their price target on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $180.00 to $145.00 in a report on Monday. JMP Securities reiterated a buy rating and issued a $180.00 price target on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a report on Tuesday, January 31st. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $162.00 to $174.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $176.00 to $177.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $155.00 to $144.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $168.25. Get Alexandria Real Estate Equities alerts: Alexandria Real Estate Equities Trading Down 2.8 % Shares of NYSE:ARE traded down $3.51 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $120.54. The company had a trading volume of 1,787,224 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,076,881. The stock has a market cap of $20.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 0.93. Alexandria Real Estate Equities has a one year low of $114.94 and a one year high of $194.46. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $133.38 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $143.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 0.35 and a quick ratio of 0.35. Insider Buying and Selling at Alexandria Real Estate Equities Alexandria Real Estate Equities ( NYSE:ARE Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.15 by ($1.71). Alexandria Real Estate Equities had a return on equity of 2.80% and a net margin of 20.15%. The business had revenue of $700.80 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $686.70 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.05 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 13.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Alexandria Real Estate Equities will post 8.95 earnings per share for the current year. In other Alexandria Real Estate Equities news, EVP Marc E. Binda sold 3,298 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $167.21, for a total transaction of $551,458.58. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 67,005 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,203,906.05. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Alexandria Real Estate Equities news, EVP Marc E. Binda sold 3,298 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $167.21, for a total transaction of $551,458.58. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 67,005 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,203,906.05. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Hunter Kass sold 3,803 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $167.45, for a total value of $636,812.35. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 87,850 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,710,482.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 16,101 shares of company stock valued at $2,700,271. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of Alexandria Real Estate Equities A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 25,749,043 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,609,759,000 after purchasing an additional 253,345 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Alexandria Real Estate Equities during the 4th quarter worth about $2,277,135,000. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,161,961 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,125,554,000 after acquiring an additional 44,792 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board lifted its position in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 29.2% during the 3rd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 3,913,856 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $548,683,000 after acquiring an additional 885,711 shares during the period. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 14.4% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,536,788 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $516,442,000 after acquiring an additional 446,033 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.81% of the companys stock. Alexandria Real Estate Equities Company Profile (Get Rating) Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc engages in the business of providing space for lease. The firm is also an owner, operator, and developer of life science, agrotechnology, and technology campuses in Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, and Research Triangle. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Alexandria Real Estate Equities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alexandria Real Estate Equities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. O-I Glass (NYSE:OI Get Rating) released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The industrial products company reported $1.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.83 by $0.46, Briefing.com reports. O-I Glass had a return on equity of 27.42% and a net margin of 8.52%. The company had revenue of $1.83 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.78 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.56 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 8.2% on a year-over-year basis. O-I Glass updated its Q2 guidance to $0.80-0.85 EPS and its FY23 guidance to $3.05-3.25 EPS. O-I Glass Price Performance O-I Glass stock traded down $0.37 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $21.05. 1,251,303 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,252,441. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $22.03 and a 200-day simple moving average of $19.11. O-I Glass has a 12 month low of $11.60 and a 12 month high of $23.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.86, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.74. The firm has a market cap of $3.27 billion, a PE ratio of 5.74, a PEG ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 1.36. Get O-I Glass alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes OI has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada raised O-I Glass from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and raised their price objective for the company from $20.00 to $34.00 in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Citigroup raised their price objective on O-I Glass from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. KeyCorp raised their price objective on O-I Glass from $12.00 to $15.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on O-I Glass from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on O-I Glass from $18.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $23.50. Insiders Place Their Bets Hedge Funds Weigh In On O-I Glass In other O-I Glass news, SVP Arnaud Aujouannet sold 2,510 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.33, for a total transaction of $56,048.30. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 55,368 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,236,367.44. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . In other news, insider Vitaliano Torno sold 17,299 shares of O-I Glass stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.22, for a total value of $384,383.78. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 158,010 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,510,982.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, SVP Arnaud Aujouannet sold 2,510 shares of O-I Glass stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.33, for a total value of $56,048.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 55,368 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,236,367.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Corporate insiders own 1.34% of the companys stock. Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. APG Asset Management N.V. bought a new stake in O-I Glass during the 1st quarter worth $268,000. Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its position in O-I Glass by 19.8% during the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 19,589 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $258,000 after acquiring an additional 3,244 shares during the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its position in O-I Glass by 10.8% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 19,393 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $256,000 after acquiring an additional 1,887 shares during the last quarter. Prelude Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in O-I Glass during the 3rd quarter worth about $255,000. Finally, United Services Automobile Association acquired a new position in O-I Glass during the 2nd quarter worth about $233,000. Institutional investors own 93.60% of the companys stock. O-I Glass Company Profile (Get Rating) O-I Glass, Inc engages in manufacturing of glass products. It offers products to the food and beverage sectors. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific. The company was founded in 1929 and is headquartered in Perrysburg, OH. Read More Receive News & Ratings for O-I Glass Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for O-I Glass and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Washington Trust Bank bought a new position in shares of Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE:INSP Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 1,200 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $302,000. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of INSP. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Inspire Medical Systems by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 14,952 shares of the companys stock worth $2,652,000 after purchasing an additional 699 shares in the last quarter. Putnam Investments LLC raised its position in shares of Inspire Medical Systems by 14.6% in the 3rd quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 13,768 shares of the companys stock worth $2,442,000 after buying an additional 1,752 shares during the period. Duality Advisers LP acquired a new stake in Inspire Medical Systems in the 3rd quarter valued at $1,937,000. Allianz Asset Management GmbH acquired a new stake in shares of Inspire Medical Systems during the third quarter valued at about $3,373,000. Finally, EFG Asset Management North America Corp. lifted its holdings in Inspire Medical Systems by 5.6% in the third quarter. EFG Asset Management North America Corp. now owns 11,119 shares of the companys stock worth $1,975,000 after acquiring an additional 585 shares during the last quarter. 97.04% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Inspire Medical Systems alerts: Insider Activity at Inspire Medical Systems In other news, COO Philip Ebeling sold 7,000 shares of Inspire Medical Systems stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $275.00, for a total transaction of $1,925,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 243 shares in the company, valued at approximately $66,825. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Inspire Medical Systems news, CTO John Rondoni sold 3,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.20, for a total value of $875,700.00. Following the transaction, the chief technology officer now owns 11,591 shares in the company, valued at $2,900,068.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, COO Philip Ebeling sold 7,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $275.00, for a total value of $1,925,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 243 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $66,825. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 19,119 shares of company stock worth $5,153,856 in the last three months. 4.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Inspire Medical Systems Price Performance A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on INSP shares. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on Inspire Medical Systems from $290.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of Inspire Medical Systems from $300.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of Inspire Medical Systems from $310.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Inspire Medical Systems from $271.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Finally, KeyCorp upped their price target on shares of Inspire Medical Systems from $287.00 to $303.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 13th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $305.67. NYSE:INSP opened at $266.50 on Wednesday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $251.65 and its 200-day simple moving average is $237.27. Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. has a 12-month low of $142.74 and a 12-month high of $282.31. Inspire Medical Systems (NYSE:INSP Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 7th. The company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.54) by $0.64. The company had revenue of $137.90 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $137.75 million. Inspire Medical Systems had a negative return on equity of 12.66% and a negative net margin of 11.00%. The firms revenue was up 75.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted ($0.09) earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. will post -1.32 earnings per share for the current year. Inspire Medical Systems Company Profile (Get Rating) Inspire Medical Systems, Inc engages in the development and commercialization of minimally invasive solutions for patients with obstructive sleep apnea. It offers inspire therapy, which consists of a remote control and implantable components that includes pressure sensing lead, a neurostimulator, and a stimulation lead. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Inspire Medical Systems Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Inspire Medical Systems and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American Express (NYSE:AXP Get Rating) Equities researchers at Seaport Res Ptn upped their Q4 2023 EPS estimates for American Express in a research report issued on Monday, April 24th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst W. Ryan now anticipates that the payment services company will post earnings per share of $3.05 for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $2.89. The consensus estimate for American Express current full-year earnings is $11.22 per share. Get American Express alerts: Several other analysts also recently weighed in on AXP. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of American Express in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of American Express from $175.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of American Express from $158.00 to $178.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. Credit Suisse Group boosted their price objective on shares of American Express from $132.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. Finally, Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of American Express from $172.00 to $205.00 in a research note on Sunday, January 29th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $175.67. American Express Stock Performance American Express stock opened at $156.12 on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $166.51 and a 200-day moving average price of $158.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 1.62 and a current ratio of 1.55. American Express has a fifty-two week low of $130.65 and a fifty-two week high of $183.91. The company has a market capitalization of $116.03 billion, a PE ratio of 16.42, a P/E/G ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.18. American Express (NYSE:AXP Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 20th. The payment services company reported $2.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.66 by ($0.26). The firm had revenue of $14.28 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.02 billion. American Express had a return on equity of 29.44% and a net margin of 13.00%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 21.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.73 EPS. American Express declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, March 8th that authorizes the company to buyback 120,000,000 shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the payment services company to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued. American Express Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.60 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 5th. This is a positive change from American Expresss previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.54%. American Expresss payout ratio is 25.24%. Insider Activity In other American Express news, insider Howard Grosfield sold 5,456 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.52, for a total value of $952,181.12. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 7,045 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,229,493.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other American Express news, insider Howard Grosfield sold 5,456 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.52, for a total value of $952,181.12. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 7,045 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,229,493.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Denise Pickett sold 28,688 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $180.78, for a total transaction of $5,186,216.64. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 12,557 shares in the company, valued at $2,270,054.46. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 49,361 shares of company stock valued at $8,773,678 over the last ninety days. 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. American National Bank raised its position in shares of American Express by 38.3% in the first quarter. American National Bank now owns 3,854 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $636,000 after acquiring an additional 1,067 shares during the period. Xcel Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of American Express in the first quarter worth about $2,066,000. Everhart Financial Group Inc. raised its position in shares of American Express by 32.8% in the first quarter. Everhart Financial Group Inc. now owns 2,117 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $349,000 after acquiring an additional 523 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of American Express by 4.4% in the first quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 12,410 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $2,047,000 after acquiring an additional 519 shares during the period. Finally, Amarillo National Bank raised its position in shares of American Express by 0.9% in the first quarter. Amarillo National Bank now owns 8,389 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $1,384,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.30% of the companys stock. About American Express (Get Rating) American Express Co engages in the provision of charge and credit card products and travel-related services. It operates through the following segments: U.S Consumer Services (USCS), Commercial Services (CS), International Card Services (ICS), Global Merchant and Network Services (GMNS), and Corporate and Other. Read More Receive News & Ratings for American Express Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Express and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA Get Rating) by 45.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 51,984 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 16,152 shares during the quarter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $3,412,218,960,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in EFA. Board of Trustees of The Leland Stanford Junior University lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 55.4% in the 3rd quarter. Board of Trustees of The Leland Stanford Junior University now owns 8,785,451 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $492,073,000 after buying an additional 3,132,027 shares during the period. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 6,542.8% during the 3rd quarter. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,804,140 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $735,000 after purchasing an additional 2,761,927 shares during the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 2,717.6% during the 3rd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 2,358,345 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $132,064,000 after purchasing an additional 2,274,645 shares during the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 361.6% during the 3rd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,214,925 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $124,058,000 after purchasing an additional 1,735,125 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 5,862.4% during the 4th quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC now owns 1,461,377 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $95,925,000 after purchasing an additional 1,436,867 shares during the last quarter. 80.78% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get iShares MSCI EAFE ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Trading Up 0.5 % Shares of NYSEARCA EFA traded up $0.34 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $73.13. 5,683,095 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 19,540,844. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a 1 year low of $54.61 and a 1 year high of $73.85. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $70.67 and a 200 day moving average of $67.39. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Funds investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of its underlying index, MSCI EAFE Index (the Index). The Index has been developed by MSCI Inc as an equity benchmark for its international stock performance. See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Armstrong World Industries (NYSE:AWI Get Rating) announced its earnings results on Tuesday. The construction company reported $1.12 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.06 by $0.06, Briefing.com reports. Armstrong World Industries had a return on equity of 41.59% and a net margin of 16.45%. The business had revenue of $310.20 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $310.86 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.02 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. Armstrong World Industries updated its FY23 guidance to $4.80-5.05 EPS. Armstrong World Industries Trading Down 0.2 % Shares of AWI stock traded down $0.13 on Wednesday, hitting $68.04. 176,872 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 381,003. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a current ratio of 1.95. Armstrong World Industries has a twelve month low of $66.06 and a twelve month high of $94.94. The firms 50-day moving average price is $72.61 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $74.28. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.09 billion, a PE ratio of 15.69, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 1.11. Get Armstrong World Industries alerts: Armstrong World Industries Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 18th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 4th will be paid a $0.254 dividend. This represents a $1.02 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 3rd. Armstrong World Industriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.34%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Insider Activity at Armstrong World Industries A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Credit Suisse Group restated an outperform rating and set a $100.00 price objective on shares of Armstrong World Industries in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $97.00 to $86.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 12th. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on Armstrong World Industries from $95.00 to $90.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on Armstrong World Industries from $77.00 to $78.00 in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Bank of America lowered their price target on Armstrong World Industries from $90.00 to $87.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Armstrong World Industries presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $83.63. In other Armstrong World Industries news, SVP Mark A. Hershey sold 6,835 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.14, for a total value of $547,756.90. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 38,218 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,062,790.52. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 1.80% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Trading of Armstrong World Industries Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in AWI. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new position in Armstrong World Industries in the second quarter worth approximately $38,000. Covestor Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 89.9% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,272 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $115,000 after purchasing an additional 602 shares during the last quarter. State of Wyoming grew its holdings in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 296.5% during the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 2,347 shares of the construction companys stock worth $161,000 after purchasing an additional 1,755 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Armstrong World Industries during the 1st quarter worth about $178,000. Finally, Howe & Rusling Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Armstrong World Industries during the 4th quarter worth about $203,000. About Armstrong World Industries (Get Rating) Armstrong World Industries, Inc engages in the design, manufacture, and trade of commercial and residential ceiling, wall, and suspension system solutions. It operates through the following segments: Mineral Fiber, Architectural Specialties, and Unallocated Corporate. The Mineral Fiber segment produces suspended mineral fiber and soft fiber ceiling systems for use in commercial and residential settings. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Armstrong World Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Armstrong World Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Asante Gold Co. (OTCMKTS:ASGOF Get Rating) saw a significant increase in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 600 shares, an increase of 500.0% from the March 31st total of 100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.7 days. Asante Gold Trading Up 14.9 % Shares of ASGOF traded up C$0.21 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting C$1.62. 2,965 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,065. Asante Gold has a 1-year low of C$0.70 and a 1-year high of C$1.62. The business has a fifty day moving average of C$1.13 and a 200-day moving average of C$1.07. Get Asante Gold alerts: Asante Gold Company Profile (Get Rating) Read More Asante Gold Corp. operates as a gold exploration and development company. The firm focuses on developing high margin gold projects including the Bibiani and Kubi Gold mines located on the prolific Bibiani and Ashanti Gold Belts. It has portfolio of projects in Ghana, Africas largest and safest gold producer. Receive News & Ratings for Asante Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Asante Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cousins Properties Incorporated (NYSE:CUZ Get Rating) Analysts at Jefferies Financial Group issued their Q1 2023 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Cousins Properties in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, April 20th. Jefferies Financial Group analyst P. Abramowitz expects that the real estate investment trust will post earnings of $0.64 per share for the quarter. Jefferies Financial Group currently has a Hold rating and a $21.00 target price on the stock. The consensus estimate for Cousins Properties current full-year earnings is $2.57 per share. Jefferies Financial Group also issued estimates for Cousins Properties Q2 2023 earnings at $0.63 EPS, Q3 2023 earnings at $0.64 EPS, Q4 2023 earnings at $0.64 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $2.55 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $2.60 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $2.56 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $2.56 EPS. Get Cousins Properties alerts: Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of Cousins Properties from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Mizuho downgraded Cousins Properties from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $29.00 to $22.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 4th. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on Cousins Properties from $31.00 to $32.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Barclays lowered their price target on Cousins Properties from $36.00 to $28.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Cousins Properties from $28.00 to $24.00 in a report on Monday, March 20th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $26.00. Cousins Properties Stock Performance Cousins Properties Announces Dividend Shares of CUZ stock opened at $20.82 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $22.22 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $24.04. Cousins Properties has a 12 month low of $18.06 and a 12 month high of $39.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.16 billion, a PE ratio of 18.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.12. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 14th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 5th were issued a $0.32 dividend. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.15%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, April 4th. Cousins Propertiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 115.32%. Insider Activity at Cousins Properties In other Cousins Properties news, EVP John S. Mccoll sold 36,975 shares of Cousins Properties stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.93, for a total value of $921,786.75. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 30,814 shares of the companys stock, valued at $768,193.02. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Cousins Properties A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of CUZ. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Cousins Properties by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 240,513 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $5,142,000 after buying an additional 2,426 shares during the last quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale lifted its holdings in Cousins Properties by 94.5% during the first quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 108,373 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,261,000 after purchasing an additional 52,663 shares during the last quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division boosted its position in Cousins Properties by 27.9% during the first quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 11,025 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $236,000 after purchasing an additional 2,402 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its stake in shares of Cousins Properties by 14.9% in the first quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 78,748 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,684,000 after purchasing an additional 10,231 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State of Alaska Department of Revenue increased its stake in shares of Cousins Properties by 2.1% in the first quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 99,483 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,125,000 after purchasing an additional 2,087 shares in the last quarter. 97.15% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Cousins Properties Company Profile (Get Rating) Cousins Properties, Inc engages in the development, acquisition, leasing and management of real estate assets. It invests in urban office towers located in Sunbelt markets. The company was founded by Thomas G. Cousins in 1958 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Cousins Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cousins Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CACI International (NYSE:CACI Get Rating) issued an update on its FY23 earnings guidance on Wednesday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of $18.09-$18.72 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $18.05. The company issued revenue guidance of $6.675-$6.750 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $6.62 billion. CACI International Stock Down 1.1 % CACI International stock traded down $3.33 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $300.73. The company had a trading volume of 255,269 shares, compared to its average volume of 156,591. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 1.20. The firms fifty day moving average is $295.99 and its 200-day moving average is $295.71. CACI International has a fifty-two week low of $245.32 and a fifty-two week high of $319.33. Get CACI International alerts: CACI International (NYSE:CACI Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 25th. The information technology services provider reported $4.28 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.35 by ($0.07). The company had revenue of $1.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.60 billion. CACI International had a net margin of 5.63% and a return on equity of 13.59%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $4.39 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that CACI International will post 17.99 earnings per share for the current year. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Insider Buying and Selling Several research firms have commented on CACI. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of CACI International from $355.00 to $357.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. StockNews.com raised shares of CACI International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Cowen boosted their target price on shares of CACI International from $313.00 to $330.00 in a research report on Monday, January 9th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $338.20. In related news, Director William L. Jews sold 1,018 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $284.43, for a total transaction of $289,549.74. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 8,065 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,293,927.95. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 1.23% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Trading of CACI International A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of CACI. Zions Bancorporation N.A. boosted its holdings in CACI International by 37.3% in the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 2,762 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $832,000 after purchasing an additional 751 shares during the period. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. boosted its holdings in CACI International by 47.7% in the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 288 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $87,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the period. Neuberger Berman Group LLC boosted its holdings in CACI International by 43.8% in the 1st quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 1,911 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $576,000 after purchasing an additional 582 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its holdings in CACI International by 435.5% in the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 4,943 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,393,000 after purchasing an additional 4,020 shares during the period. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its holdings in CACI International by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 13,625 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $3,557,000 after purchasing an additional 122 shares during the period. 87.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About CACI International (Get Rating) CACI International, Inc operates as holding company, which engages in the provision of information solutions and services in support of national security missions and government transformation for intelligence, defense, and federal civilian customers. It operates through the Domestic Operations and International Operations segment. See Also Receive News & Ratings for CACI International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CACI International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG Get Rating) had its price objective increased by investment analysts at BMO Capital Markets from $1,800.00 to $1,950.00 in a report released on Wednesday, The Fly reports. The brokerage presently has a market perform rating on the restaurant operators stock. BMO Capital Markets price objective indicates a potential downside of 3.20% from the stocks previous close. Several other research firms have also issued reports on CMG. Argus increased their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,800.00 to $1,900.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 9th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,800.00 to $1,960.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,900.00 to $2,050.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday. Loop Capital increased their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,700.00 to $1,850.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,664.00 to $1,743.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $1,998.46. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Chipotle Mexican Grill Price Performance CMG stock traded up $234.46 on Wednesday, hitting $2,014.46. 602,914 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 283,465. Chipotle Mexican Grill has a twelve month low of $1,196.28 and a twelve month high of $2,047.31. The businesss fifty day moving average is $1,636.17 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1,556.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $55.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 63.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.32. Insider Buying and Selling Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The restaurant operator reported $10.50 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $8.89 by $1.61. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 10.41% and a return on equity of 40.96%. The firm had revenue of $2.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.34 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $5.70 earnings per share. Chipotle Mexican Grills revenue for the quarter was up 18.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Chipotle Mexican Grill will post 41.46 earnings per share for the current year. In related news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 5,636 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,646.82, for a total value of $9,281,477.52. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,448,306.54. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 2,193 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,633.11, for a total transaction of $3,581,410.23. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,128,219.17. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 5,636 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,646.82, for a total transaction of $9,281,477.52. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,448,306.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 10,856 shares of company stock valued at $17,938,741 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 1.01% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Chipotle Mexican Grill Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of CMG. Panagora Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 79.5% during the 1st quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 948 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,500,000 after buying an additional 420 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 15.5% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 171 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $271,000 after buying an additional 23 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board increased its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 7.3% during the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 3,032 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $4,796,000 after buying an additional 205 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 6.1% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 777 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,229,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 38.9% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 218 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $345,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.26% of the companys stock. Chipotle Mexican Grill Company Profile (Get Rating) Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc engages in the development and operation of classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. It offers a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads prepared using classic cooking methods. The company was founded by Steve Ells in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, CA. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG Get Rating) had its price objective lifted by Raymond James from $1,900.00 to $2,100.00 in a report issued on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Raymond James price target suggests a potential upside of 17.98% from the companys previous close. A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on CMG. Oppenheimer boosted their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,875.00 to $1,940.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,713.00 to $1,657.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 13th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,600.00 to $1,800.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Wedbush upped their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,080.00 to $2,200.00 in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,900.00 to $1,850.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $1,972.96. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Down 0.9 % Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill stock opened at $1,780.00 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $49.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.52, a P/E/G ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.32. Chipotle Mexican Grill has a 12 month low of $1,196.28 and a 12 month high of $1,816.96. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $1,636.17 and its 200-day moving average price is $1,556.61. Insider Activity at Chipotle Mexican Grill Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The restaurant operator reported $10.50 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $8.89 by $1.61. The firm had revenue of $2.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.34 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a return on equity of 40.96% and a net margin of 10.41%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 18.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $5.70 EPS. Analysts forecast that Chipotle Mexican Grill will post 41.46 earnings per share for the current year. In related news, CMO Christopher W. Brandt sold 1,013 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,795.00, for a total transaction of $1,818,335.00. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer now owns 8,125 shares in the company, valued at $14,584,375. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CMO Christopher W. Brandt sold 1,013 shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,795.00, for a total value of $1,818,335.00. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 8,125 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,584,375. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 5,636 shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,646.82, for a total value of $9,281,477.52. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,448,306.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 10,856 shares of company stock valued at $17,938,741. Corporate insiders own 1.01% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Chipotle Mexican Grill A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in CMG. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 4.6% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,620,725 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $3,938,320,000 after purchasing an additional 114,699 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 1.2% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,966,428 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $2,955,068,000 after acquiring an additional 23,107 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,058,549 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,590,745,000 after acquiring an additional 5,450 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 555,959 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $769,954,000 after purchasing an additional 14,505 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jennison Associates LLC grew its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 542,847 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $815,769,000 after purchasing an additional 3,709 shares in the last quarter. 93.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Chipotle Mexican Grill (Get Rating) Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc engages in the development and operation of classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. It offers a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads prepared using classic cooking methods. The company was founded by Steve Ells in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, CA. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Credit Suisse Group (NYSE:CS Get Rating) released its quarterly earnings results on Monday. The financial services provider reported $3.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, reports. The company had revenue of $19.96 billion during the quarter. Credit Suisse Group had a net margin of 15.12% and a return on equity of 25.35%. Credit Suisse Group Stock Up 1.1 % CS traded up $0.01 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $0.87. The company had a trading volume of 24,047,140 shares, compared to its average volume of 41,812,438. The company has a market capitalization of $2.71 billion, a PE ratio of -0.32 and a beta of 1.26. Credit Suisse Group has a one year low of $0.82 and a one year high of $7.35. The firms 50-day moving average price is $1.78 and its 200 day moving average price is $3.01. The company has a quick ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.47. Get Credit Suisse Group alerts: Credit Suisse Group Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 24th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 11th were given a $0.0547 dividend. This is a boost from Credit Suisse Groups previous dividend of $0.05. This represents a yield of 4.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, April 10th. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Credit Suisse Group Analyst Ratings Changes Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Kovack Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Credit Suisse Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $87,000. PDS Planning Inc bought a new stake in shares of Credit Suisse Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $48,000. Koss Olinger Consulting LLC raised its holdings in shares of Credit Suisse Group by 77.1% in the 3rd quarter. Koss Olinger Consulting LLC now owns 175,982 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $690,000 after purchasing an additional 76,605 shares during the period. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Credit Suisse Group by 184.5% in the 3rd quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. now owns 32,529 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $128,000 after purchasing an additional 21,096 shares during the period. Finally, Focused Wealth Management Inc raised its holdings in shares of Credit Suisse Group by 67.2% in the 3rd quarter. Focused Wealth Management Inc now owns 18,541 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $73,000 after purchasing an additional 7,450 shares during the period. 11.20% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Credit Suisse Group from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday. Kepler Capital Markets cut shares of Credit Suisse Group from a hold rating to a reduce rating in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Credit Suisse Group from CHF 4 to CHF 2.90 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 13th. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of Credit Suisse Group in a report on Friday, January 27th. They issued an equal weight rating for the company. Finally, Citigroup lowered shares of Credit Suisse Group from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 16th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $5.14. About Credit Suisse Group (Get Rating) Credit Suisse Group AG is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following four divisions: Wealth Management, Investment Bank, Swiss Bank and Asset Management and four geographic regions: Switzerland, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific, and Americas. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Credit Suisse Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Credit Suisse Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nestle (OTCMKTS:NSRGF Get Rating) and Sudzucker (OTCMKTS:SUEZY Get Rating) are both consumer defensive companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, risk, valuation, earnings, institutional ownership and dividends. Profitability This table compares Nestle and Sudzuckers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Nestle alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Nestle N/A N/A N/A Sudzucker N/A N/A N/A Dividends Nestle pays an annual dividend of $2.15 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.7%. Sudzucker pays an annual dividend of C$0.17 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.4%. Nestle pays out 72.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Sudzucker pays out -714.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Sudzucker is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Nestle 0 0 1 0 3.00 Sudzucker 0 1 0 0 2.00 This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Nestle and Sudzucker, as reported by MarketBeat. Nestle presently has a consensus price target of $120.00, suggesting a potential downside of 5.88%. Sudzucker has a consensus price target of C$14.00, suggesting a potential upside of 95.80%. Given Sudzuckers higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Sudzucker is more favorable than Nestle. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Nestle and Sudzuckers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Nestle N/A N/A N/A $2.98 42.81 Sudzucker N/A N/A N/A C($0.02) -301.04 Sudzucker is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Nestle, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Institutional and Insider Ownership 27.2% of Nestle shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Summary Nestle beats Sudzucker on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Nestle (Get Rating) Nestle SA is a nutrition, health, and wellness company, which engages in the manufacture, supply, and production of prepared dishes and cooking aids, milk-based products, pharmaceuticals and ophthalmic goods, baby foods, and cereals. The company products portfolio includes baby food, water, cereals, chocolate and confectionery, coffee, culinary, chilled, and frozen food, dairy, drinks, food service, healthcare nutrition, ice cream, and petcare. It operates through the following segments: Zone North America (NA), Zone Europe (EUR), Zone AOA, Zone LATAM, Zone GC, Nespresso, and Nestle Health Science. The company was founded by Henri Nestle in 1866 and is headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland. About Sudzucker (Get Rating) Sudzucker AG engages in the production and distribution of sugar and related products. It operates through the following segments: Sugar, Special Products, CropEnergies, Starch, and Fruit. The Sugar segment offers production and refinement of sugar, as well as includes the agriculture, animal feed, and beet cultivation divisions. The Special Products segment is composed of specialty ingredients for food, feed, pharmaceuticals, and non-food applications as well as deep-frozen, chilled, starch, and special starch products. The CropEnergies segment produces bioethanol for the fuel sector, protein-based food and animal feed, as well as liquid carbon dioxide. The Starch segment supplies starch and renewable ethanol for food and non-food sectors. The Fruit segment is involved in fruit preparation and supplies products such as fruit juice concentrates for the beverage, dairy, pastry, and ice cream industry. The company was founded on April 26, 1926 and is headquartered in Mannheim, Germany. Receive News & Ratings for Nestle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nestle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DHT Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:DHT Get Rating) Jefferies Financial Group decreased their FY2023 EPS estimates for shares of DHT in a research note issued to investors on Monday, April 24th. Jefferies Financial Group analyst O. Nokta now forecasts that the shipping company will earn $1.35 per share for the year, down from their previous estimate of $1.36. Jefferies Financial Group has a Buy rating and a $12.00 price objective on the stock. The consensus estimate for DHTs current full-year earnings is $1.14 per share. Get DHT alerts: DHT (NYSE:DHT Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 8th. The shipping company reported $0.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $116.74 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $110.42 million. DHT had a net margin of 13.55% and a return on equity of 4.69%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 136.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned ($0.05) EPS. DHT Stock Down 4.4 % Other analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of DHT from $11.00 to $12.00 in a research report on Tuesday. StockNews.com raised shares of DHT from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, TheStreet raised shares of DHT from a c rating to a b- rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. DHT stock opened at $9.80 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 3.15 and a current ratio of 3.66. The firm has a market cap of $1.60 billion, a PE ratio of 25.79 and a beta of -0.19. DHT has a twelve month low of $4.98 and a twelve month high of $12.13. The firms 50 day moving average price is $10.71 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $9.67. Institutional Trading of DHT Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Congress Asset Management Co. MA boosted its holdings in shares of DHT by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA now owns 405,562 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $3,601,000 after buying an additional 3,190 shares during the period. Navellier & Associates Inc. bought a new stake in DHT in the 3rd quarter valued at $883,000. Ellevest Inc. boosted its holdings in DHT by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 46,915 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $417,000 after purchasing an additional 1,597 shares during the period. USA Financial Portformulas Corp bought a new stake in DHT in the 3rd quarter valued at $90,000. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in DHT in the 4th quarter valued at $582,000. 54.61% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. DHT Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 17th were issued a dividend of $0.38 per share. This is an increase from DHTs previous quarterly dividend of $0.04. This represents a $1.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 15.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 16th. DHTs dividend payout ratio is currently 400.01%. DHT Company Profile (Get Rating) DHT Holdings, Inc engages in the operation of a fleet of crude oil tankers. It operates through its integrated management companies in Monaco, Singapore, and Oslo, Norway. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for DHT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DHT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:GNZUF Get Rating)s stock price was down 2.4% on Monday . The stock traded as low as $0.62 and last traded at $0.62. Approximately 10,100 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 44% from the average daily volume of 7,013 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.63. Guangzhou Automobile Group Price Performance The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $0.64 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $0.67. About Guangzhou Automobile Group (Get Rating) Guangzhou Automobile Group Co, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of vehicles and motorcycles, and parts and components; and provision of commercial and financial services in Mainland China and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Vehicles and Related Operations, and Others. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Guangzhou Automobile Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Guangzhou Automobile Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hartline Investment Corp acquired a new position in shares of Crown Castle Inc. (NYSE:CCI Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 5,233 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock, valued at approximately $710,000. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of CCI. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. purchased a new stake in shares of Crown Castle during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Retirement Financial Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Crown Castle during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Byrne Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Crown Castle during the 4th quarter valued at $36,000. Duncker Streett & Co. Inc. purchased a new stake in Crown Castle during the 4th quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, DT Investment Partners LLC raised its holdings in Crown Castle by 453.7% during the 4th quarter. DT Investment Partners LLC now owns 299 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 245 shares during the period. 90.27% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Crown Castle alerts: Crown Castle Stock Down 0.5 % CCI stock traded down $0.60 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $121.63. 434,014 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,989,484. Crown Castle Inc. has a 12 month low of $121.05 and a 12 month high of $193.95. The company has a market capitalization of $52.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.63 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.98, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a current ratio of 0.52. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $131.45 and a 200 day simple moving average of $135.99. Crown Castle Announces Dividend Crown Castle ( NYSE:CCI Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.85 by ($0.88). The firm had revenue of $1.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.76 billion. Crown Castle had a return on equity of 22.12% and a net margin of 23.81%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.87 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Crown Castle Inc. will post 7.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 15th were given a dividend of $1.565 per share. This represents a $6.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 14th. Crown Castles dividend payout ratio is currently 162.18%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts recently weighed in on CCI shares. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Crown Castle from $159.00 to $151.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on Crown Castle from $162.00 to $144.00 in a report on Wednesday. Truist Financial decreased their price target on Crown Castle from $230.00 to $175.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 13th. Raymond James decreased their price target on Crown Castle from $154.00 to $147.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Cowen increased their target price on Crown Castle from $149.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $155.94. Crown Castle Company Profile (Get Rating) Crown Castle, Inc is a real estate investment trust company, which engages in the provision of access to wireless infrastructure via long-term contacts. It operates through the Towers and Fiber segments. The Towers segment offers access, including space or capacity towers dispersed throughout the United States. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CCI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Crown Castle Inc. (NYSE:CCI Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Crown Castle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Crown Castle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Haverty Furniture Companies (NYSE:HVT.A Get Rating) will be announcing its earnings results after the market closes on Tuesday, May 2nd. Haverty Furniture Companies (NYSE:HVT.A Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 21st. The company reported $1.39 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $280.56 million for the quarter. Get Haverty Furniture Companies alerts: Haverty Furniture Companies Price Performance Shares of NYSE HVT.A opened at $30.47 on Wednesday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $33.58 and its two-hundred day moving average is $31.96. Haverty Furniture Companies has a 1-year low of $24.55 and a 1-year high of $37.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $492.09 million, a P/E ratio of 5.83 and a beta of 1.17. Haverty Furniture Companies Dividend Announcement Haverty Furniture Companies Company Profile The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were paid a dividend of $0.26 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.41%. Haverty Furniture Companiess payout ratio is currently 19.89%. (Get Rating) Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc operates as a specialty retailer of residential furniture and accessories in the United States. The company offers furniture merchandise under the Havertys brand name. It also provides custom upholstery products and eclectic looks; and mattress product lines under the Sealy, Tempur-Pedic, and Serta names, as well as private label Skye name. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Haverty Furniture Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Haverty Furniture Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hess Midstream (NYSE:HESM Get Rating) updated its first quarter earnings guidance on Wednesday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $0.47 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $0.52. The company issued revenue guidance of $305 million, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $312.49 million. Hess Midstream Stock Performance HESM traded up $0.03 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $28.51. 63,942 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 377,959. The company has a market cap of $1.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.17 and a beta of 1.60. Hess Midstream has a 12-month low of $24.33 and a 12-month high of $34.99. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $28.21 and a 200 day simple moving average of $28.97. Get Hess Midstream alerts: Hess Midstream (NYSE:HESM Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The company reported $0.49 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.50 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $314.60 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $333.21 million. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Hess Midstream will post 2.29 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Hess Midstream Increases Dividend Analysts Set New Price Targets The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 12th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 4th will be issued a $0.5851 dividend. This represents a $2.34 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.21%. This is a boost from Hess Midstreams previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 3rd. Hess Midstreams payout ratio is 113.43%. Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Raymond James assumed coverage on Hess Midstream in a report on Friday, April 21st. They set an outperform rating and a $35.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Hess Midstream from $34.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, January 9th. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, COO John A. Gatling sold 3,062 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.38, for a total value of $83,837.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 49,809 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,363,770.42. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, COO John A. Gatling sold 3,062 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.38, for a total transaction of $83,837.56. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 49,809 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,363,770.42. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Jonathan C. Stein sold 3,973 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.38, for a total value of $108,780.74. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 43,197 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,182,733.86. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 10,786 shares of company stock worth $298,622. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hess Midstream Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its position in shares of Hess Midstream by 6.5% during the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 5,825 shares of the companys stock valued at $174,000 after purchasing an additional 358 shares during the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc grew its position in Hess Midstream by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 11,672 shares of the companys stock valued at $349,000 after acquiring an additional 360 shares during the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System grew its position in Hess Midstream by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 28,844 shares of the companys stock valued at $865,000 after acquiring an additional 411 shares during the last quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC grew its position in Hess Midstream by 5.6% in the 1st quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 9,602 shares of the companys stock valued at $288,000 after acquiring an additional 510 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NBW Capital LLC grew its position in Hess Midstream by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. NBW Capital LLC now owns 185,916 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,563,000 after acquiring an additional 556 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.59% of the companys stock. About Hess Midstream (Get Rating) Hess Midstream LP engages in the ownership, development, and acquisition of midstream assets to provide services to third-party crude oil and natural gas producers. It operates through the following segments: Gathering, Processing and Storage, and Terminaling and Export. The Gathering segment consists of natural gas gathering and compression, crude oil gathering, and produced water gathering and disposal. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Hess Midstream Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hess Midstream and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hills Bank & Trust Co raised its holdings in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Get Rating) by 1.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 15,942 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after purchasing an additional 216 shares during the period. Hills Bank & Trust Cos holdings in EOG Resources were worth $2,065,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in EOG. HM Payson & Co. boosted its stake in EOG Resources by 54.3% during the 3rd quarter. HM Payson & Co. now owns 233 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Lumature Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in EOG Resources during the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC purchased a new stake in EOG Resources during the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Larson Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of EOG Resources during the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Eagle Bay Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of EOG Resources in the 2nd quarter worth $33,000. 87.40% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get EOG Resources alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets EOG has been the topic of a number of research reports. Truist Financial raised their price target on EOG Resources from $146.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Citigroup dropped their price target on EOG Resources from $160.00 to $122.00 in a research note on Friday, March 17th. Barclays dropped their price target on EOG Resources from $152.00 to $145.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on EOG Resources from $140.00 to $132.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Finally, UBS Group initiated coverage on EOG Resources in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. They issued a buy rating and a $152.00 price target on the stock. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $150.38. EOG Resources Stock Down 2.1 % NYSE EOG opened at $116.67 on Wednesday. EOG Resources, Inc. has a one year low of $92.16 and a one year high of $150.88. The company has a market capitalization of $68.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.83, a P/E/G ratio of 0.36 and a beta of 1.53. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $115.75 and a 200-day moving average price of $126.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 1.71 and a current ratio of 1.90. EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Friday, February 24th. The energy exploration company reported $3.30 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.31 by ($0.01). EOG Resources had a return on equity of 34.95% and a net margin of 30.19%. The business had revenue of $6.72 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.09 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.7 EPS for the current fiscal year. EOG Resources Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be given a dividend of $0.825 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.83%. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 24.98%. About EOG Resources (Get Rating) EOG Resources, Inc engages in the exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas. It operates through the United States, Trinidad & Tobago, and Other International segments. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EOG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for EOG Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EOG Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ifrah Financial Services Inc. cut its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) by 2.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 12,346 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 291 shares during the quarter. Ifrah Financial Services Inc.s holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $888,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BMY. Boston Financial Mangement LLC lifted its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.9% in the third quarter. Boston Financial Mangement LLC now owns 15,468 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,100,000 after buying an additional 133 shares during the period. Accredited Investors Inc. lifted its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.9% in the third quarter. Accredited Investors Inc. now owns 15,461 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,099,000 after buying an additional 134 shares during the period. Lincoln National Corp raised its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.4% in the third quarter. Lincoln National Corp now owns 36,282 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $2,579,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the period. CWA Asset Management Group LLC raised its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.4% in the third quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 10,053 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $715,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the period. Finally, Elmwood Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.0% in the third quarter. Elmwood Wealth Management Inc. now owns 13,686 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $973,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the period. 75.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts have weighed in on BMY shares. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Monday, March 6th. They issued a hold rating and a $62.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $70.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Atlantic Securities increased their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. They set an overweight rating and a $95.00 price objective for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Bristol-Myers Squibb presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $80.00. Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance Bristol-Myers Squibb stock traded down $2.05 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $68.19. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,690,235 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,744,740. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1-year low of $65.28 and a 1-year high of $81.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $69.14 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $72.75. The company has a market cap of $143.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.81, a PEG ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.45. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.11. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 13.71% and a return on equity of 51.60%. The business had revenue of $11.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.20 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.83 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.08 earnings per share for the current year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 10th will be given a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is presently 77.29%. Insider Activity In other news, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total value of $17,916,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 236,104 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,625,163.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total value of $835,258.27. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,043 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,721,081.67. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total transaction of $17,916,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 236,104 shares in the company, valued at $17,625,163.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Bristol-Myers Squibb Profile (Get Rating) Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. International Land Alliance, Inc. (OTCMKTS:ILAL Get Rating) saw a significant growth in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 15,000 shares, a growth of 14,900.0% from the March 31st total of 100 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 143,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.1 days. International Land Alliance Price Performance Shares of ILAL stock remained flat at $0.14 during trading hours on Wednesday. 3,100 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 63,546. The company has a market cap of $6.25 million, a PE ratio of -0.82 and a beta of 2.82. International Land Alliance has a twelve month low of $0.06 and a twelve month high of $0.50. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $0.11 and a 200-day moving average price of $0.15. Get International Land Alliance alerts: International Land Alliance Company Profile (Get Rating) See Also International Land Alliance, Inc operates as a residential land development company with target properties located primarily in the Baja California, Northern region of Mexico, and Southern California. Its principal activities include purchasing properties; obtaining zoning and other entitlements required to subdivide the properties into residential and commercial building plots; securing financing for the purchase of the plots; improving the properties' infrastructure and amenities; and selling the plots to homebuyers, retirees, investors, and commercial developers. Receive News & Ratings for International Land Alliance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Land Alliance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Full Sail Capital LLC lessened its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA Get Rating) by 10.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 81,989 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 9,658 shares during the period. Full Sail Capital LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $5,382,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. VitalStone Financial LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Baron Silver Stevens Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at about $201,000. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA raised its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 172.9% in the 4th quarter. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA now owns 464 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 294 shares during the last quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, Field & Main Bank grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 189.7% in the 4th quarter. Field & Main Bank now owns 504 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 330 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.78% of the companys stock. Get iShares MSCI EAFE ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Stock Performance Shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF stock traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $72.78. The stock had a trading volume of 10,026,041 shares, compared to its average volume of 19,599,080. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $70.67 and a two-hundred day moving average of $67.39. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a 12-month low of $54.61 and a 12-month high of $73.85. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Profile iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Funds investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of its underlying index, MSCI EAFE Index (the Index). The Index has been developed by MSCI Inc as an equity benchmark for its international stock performance. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD Get Rating) Stock analysts at Jefferies Financial Group dropped their Q2 2023 earnings estimates for Lithia Motors in a research note issued on Wednesday, April 19th. Jefferies Financial Group analyst B. Jordan now expects that the company will post earnings per share of $9.38 for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $9.86. The consensus estimate for Lithia Motors current full-year earnings is $34.21 per share. Jefferies Financial Group also issued estimates for Lithia Motors Q3 2023 earnings at $8.73 EPS, Q4 2023 earnings at $7.61 EPS and FY2023 earnings at $34.17 EPS. Get Lithia Motors alerts: Lithia Motors (NYSE:LAD Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The company reported $8.44 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $8.79 by ($0.35). Lithia Motors had a return on equity of 22.30% and a net margin of 3.99%. The firm had revenue of $6.97 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.28 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $11.96 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Lithia Motors Trading Down 2.5 % Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Guggenheim dropped their price objective on shares of Lithia Motors from $332.00 to $320.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 20th. TheStreet upgraded shares of Lithia Motors from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Lithia Motors from $233.00 to $262.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, February 16th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of Lithia Motors from $200.00 to $198.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 17th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Lithia Motors in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $300.56. Shares of NYSE:LAD opened at $219.75 on Monday. Lithia Motors has a 12 month low of $180.00 and a 12 month high of $314.83. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $233.28 and its 200 day simple moving average is $227.86. The firm has a market cap of $6.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.38, a PEG ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 1.39. Lithia Motors Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 11th. This is a positive change from Lithia Motorss previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.91%. Lithia Motorss payout ratio is currently 4.12%. Insider Transactions at Lithia Motors In other news, Director Shauna Mcintyre sold 167 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $260.00, for a total transaction of $43,420.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,672 shares in the company, valued at approximately $434,720. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 1.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of LAD. Inspire Investing LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Lithia Motors by 4.1% during the 1st quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 1,395 shares of the companys stock worth $319,000 after buying an additional 55 shares during the period. Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its holdings in shares of Lithia Motors by 32.8% during the 1st quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 247 shares of the companys stock worth $57,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the period. Camelot Portfolios LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Lithia Motors by 6.2% during the 1st quarter. Camelot Portfolios LLC now owns 3,048 shares of the companys stock worth $698,000 after buying an additional 177 shares during the period. Carmel Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Lithia Motors during the 1st quarter worth about $82,000. Finally, Chicago Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Lithia Motors by 8.4% during the 1st quarter. Chicago Capital LLC now owns 213,119 shares of the companys stock worth $48,789,000 after buying an additional 16,502 shares during the period. 98.21% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Lithia Motors Company Profile (Get Rating) Lithia Motors, Inc engages in the operation of automotive franchises and retail of new and used vehicles. It operates through the following segments: Domestic, Import and Luxury. The Domestic segment consists of retail automotive franchises that sell new vehicles manufactured by Chrysler, General Motors, and Ford. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Lithia Motors Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lithia Motors and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kentucky Retirement Systems grew its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) by 0.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 137,684 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after buying an additional 602 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $15,116,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Mattern Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Mattern Wealth Management LLC now owns 36,046 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $3,957,000 after buying an additional 235 shares during the period. GYL Financial Synergies LLC grew its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 14.4% during the 4th quarter. GYL Financial Synergies LLC now owns 3,891 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $427,000 after buying an additional 491 shares during the period. Hills Bank & Trust Co grew its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Hills Bank & Trust Co now owns 42,546 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $4,672,000 after buying an additional 837 shares during the period. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 16.0% during the 4th quarter. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 5,794 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $636,000 after buying an additional 799 shares during the period. Finally, Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter valued at $236,000. 72.93% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, SVP Randel William Woodgrift sold 1,032 shares of the 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 sale, the senior vice president now owns 52,203 shares in the company, valued at $5,256,842.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 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 value of $103,922.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 52,203 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,256,842.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total transaction of $68,375.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 70,427 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,091,998.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 1,971 shares of company stock worth $199,140 over the last quarter. 1.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Abbott Laboratories Stock Down 1.0 % Shares of Abbott Laboratories stock traded down $1.05 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $108.92. The company had a trading volume of 908,780 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,312,355. The company has a market cap of $189.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.95 and a beta of 0.67. The firms fifty day moving average is $102.29 and its 200-day moving average is $104.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.63. Abbott Laboratories has a fifty-two week low of $93.25 and a fifty-two week high of $118.74. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $9.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.64 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 13.98% and a return on equity of 22.48%. Abbott Laboratoriess quarterly revenue was down 18.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.73 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.38 EPS for the current year. Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.87%. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.01%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages recently weighed in on ABT. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $140.00 to $136.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. SVB Leerink upped their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $90.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, March 31st. Finally, Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $122.37. About Abbott Laboratories (Get Rating) Abbott Laboratories engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of a broad and diversified line of health care products. It operates through the following business segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment refers to the international sales of a line of branded generic pharmaceutical products. Featured Stories 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. Klondex Mines Ltd. (TSE:KDX Get Rating) was up 1.3% on Monday . The company traded as high as C$3.09 and last traded at C$3.07. Approximately 1,962,298 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 193% from the average daily volume of 669,999 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$3.03. Klondex Mines Price Performance The stocks 50-day simple moving average is C$3.07. About Klondex Mines (Get Rating) Klondex Mines Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, acquires, explores, develops, and produces mineral properties in the United States and Canada. It primarily explores for gold and silver deposits. The company holds 100% interests in the Fire Creek mine covering approximately 19,000 acres located in Lander County; the Midas mine and ore milling facility covering approximately 30,000 acres situated in Elko County; and the Hollister mine approximately 18,000 acres located in Elko County. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Klondex Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Klondex Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mattern Wealth Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE Get Rating) by 3.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,857 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 405 shares during the quarter. Mattern Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Intercontinental Exchange were worth $1,114,000 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 ICE. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in Intercontinental Exchange by 1,190.5% during the third quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 4,072,850 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $367,982,000 after buying an additional 3,757,258 shares during the period. Boston Partners purchased a new stake in shares of Intercontinental Exchange during the third quarter valued at $152,011,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Intercontinental Exchange by 59.2% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 4,275,418 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $564,869,000 after purchasing an additional 1,589,999 shares during the period. Veritas Asset Management LLP boosted its stake in shares of Intercontinental Exchange by 55.0% during the third quarter. Veritas Asset Management LLP now owns 4,278,419 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $386,555,000 after purchasing an additional 1,517,876 shares during the period. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec boosted its stake in shares of Intercontinental Exchange by 3,801.0% during the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 1,320,464 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $119,304,000 after purchasing an additional 1,286,615 shares during the period. 87.28% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Intercontinental Exchange alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Intercontinental Exchange from $110.00 to $117.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. TheStreet raised shares of Intercontinental Exchange from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their target price on shares of Intercontinental Exchange from $134.00 to $131.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 11th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Intercontinental Exchange in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Rosenblatt Securities reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $168.00 price objective on shares of Intercontinental Exchange in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $131.55. Insider Activity Intercontinental Exchange Stock Down 1.1 % In other news, SVP Douglas Foley sold 1,600 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.80, for a total transaction of $167,680.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 21,481 shares in the company, valued at $2,251,208.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . In other news, SVP Douglas Foley sold 1,600 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.80, for a total transaction of $167,680.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 21,481 shares in the company, valued at $2,251,208.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, CEO Jeffrey C. Sprecher sold 81,827 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.02, for a total transaction of $8,511,644.54. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,203,104 shares in the company, valued at approximately $125,146,878.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Intercontinental Exchange stock traded down $1.18 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $105.16. The stock had a trading volume of 223,398 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,607,101. The company has a market cap of $58.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.38, a PEG ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 1.05. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $103.33 and its 200-day moving average price is $102.94. Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. has a 52 week low of $88.60 and a 52 week high of $119.60. Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE:ICE Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The financial services provider reported $1.25 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.26 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $1.77 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.78 billion. Intercontinental Exchange had a return on equity of 13.11% and a net margin of 15.01%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.34 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. will post 5.46 EPS for the current year. Intercontinental Exchange Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 17th were issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 16th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.60%. This is an increase from Intercontinental Exchanges previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. Intercontinental Exchanges dividend payout ratio is 65.37%. Intercontinental Exchange Profile (Get Rating) Intercontinental Exchange, Inc engages in the provision of market infrastructure, data services and technology solutions. It operates through the following segments: Exchanges, Fixed Income and Data Services, and Mortgage Technology. The Exchanges segment includes trading and listing revenue from the global futures network, the New York Stock Exchange and other registered securities exchanges. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ICE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Intercontinental Exchange Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Intercontinental Exchange and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Milestone Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor acquired 5,765 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $211,000. Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Psagot Value Holdings Ltd. Israel bought a new stake in iShares Gold Trust during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC grew its position in iShares Gold Trust by 73.5% during the 4th quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 928 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 393 shares during the last quarter. Accurate Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in iShares Gold Trust during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Valley National Advisers Inc. grew its position in iShares Gold Trust by 98.2% during the 3rd quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 1,092 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 541 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fiduciary Alliance LLC bought a new stake in iShares Gold Trust during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. 62.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get iShares Gold Trust alerts: iShares Gold Trust Stock Down 0.6 % NYSEARCA IAU traded down $0.24 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $37.65. 1,712,638 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,305,336. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $36.56 and a 200-day moving average of $34.86. iShares Gold Trust has a one year low of $30.69 and a one year high of $38.84. About iShares Gold Trust iShares Gold Trust (the Trust) is to own gold transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (Shares). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist of gold held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IAU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Gold Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Gold Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Morneau Shepell Inc. (TSE:MSI Get Rating) crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of C$0.00 and traded as high as C$32.40. Morneau Shepell shares last traded at C$32.25, with a volume of 167,076 shares. Morneau Shepell Price Performance The firm has a 50-day moving average of C$32.25. The company has a market cap of C$2.22 billion and a P/E ratio of 83.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 86.17, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.16. Morneau Shepell Company Profile (Get Rating) Morneau Shepell Inc provides technology based human resources consulting services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It provides health and productivity, administrative, and retirement solutions to assist employers in managing the financial security, health, and productivity of their employees. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Morneau Shepell Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Morneau Shepell and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pivotree Inc. (CVE:PVT Get Rating) Equities researchers at National Bank Financial issued their Q1 2023 EPS estimates for Pivotree in a research report issued on Thursday, April 20th. National Bank Financial analyst J. Shao forecasts that the company will earn ($0.01) per share for the quarter. The consensus estimate for Pivotrees current full-year earnings is ($0.11) per share. Get Pivotree alerts: A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on PVT. Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their target price on Pivotree from C$5.00 to C$5.50 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Cormark cut their price objective on Pivotree from C$7.00 to C$5.50 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Pivotree Trading Down 0.3 % Pivotree Company Profile Pivotree stock opened at C$3.05 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of C$81.19 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -8.71 and a beta of 0.65. Pivotree has a 1 year low of C$3.00 and a 1 year high of C$4.64. The firms 50 day moving average price is C$3.52 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$3.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.57, a quick ratio of 1.95 and a current ratio of 2.16. (Get Rating) Pivotree Inc designs, integrates, deploys, and manages digital platforms in commerce, data management, and supply chain for retail and branded manufacturers in Canada and internationally. It operates in two segments, Professional Services and Managed Services. The company offers a combination of application support and managed hosting with digital strategy and software implementation services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Pivotree Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pivotree and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nicollet Investment Management Inc. decreased its position in EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Get Rating) by 4.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 27,439 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after selling 1,145 shares during the quarter. EOG Resources accounts for approximately 2.1% of Nicollet Investment Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 15th biggest holding. Nicollet Investment Management Inc.s holdings in EOG Resources were worth $3,554,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in EOG Resources by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 53,571,626 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $5,985,558,000 after acquiring an additional 584,133 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of EOG Resources by 196.1% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,859,925 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $1,175,599,000 after acquiring an additional 6,529,464 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its position in shares of EOG Resources by 3.1% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 8,190,712 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $915,149,000 after acquiring an additional 245,996 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of EOG Resources by 7.8% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 6,972,949 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $779,089,000 after acquiring an additional 503,003 shares during the period. Finally, Findlay Park Partners LLP raised its position in shares of EOG Resources by 41.2% in the 3rd quarter. Findlay Park Partners LLP now owns 4,065,758 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $454,267,000 after acquiring an additional 1,185,883 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.40% of the companys stock. Get EOG Resources alerts: EOG Resources Trading Down 2.1 % EOG stock opened at $116.67 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 1.90 and a quick ratio of 1.71. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $115.75 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $126.46. EOG Resources, Inc. has a one year low of $92.16 and a one year high of $150.88. The stock has a market cap of $68.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.36 and a beta of 1.53. EOG Resources Announces Dividend EOG Resources ( NYSE:EOG Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 24th. The energy exploration company reported $3.30 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.31 by ($0.01). EOG Resources had a return on equity of 34.95% and a net margin of 30.19%. The company had revenue of $6.72 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.09 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 11.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.7 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be given a dividend of $0.825 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. This represents a $3.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.83%. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 24.98%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages recently weighed in on EOG. Mizuho cut their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $160.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Friday, March 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $139.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $160.00 to $122.00 in a report on Friday, March 17th. Piper Sandler dropped their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $174.00 to $171.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. Finally, Raymond James raised their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $140.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $150.38. EOG Resources Company Profile (Get Rating) EOG Resources, Inc engages in the exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas. It operates through the United States, Trinidad & Tobago, and Other International segments. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EOG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for EOG Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EOG Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG Get Rating) had its price target upped by investment analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $160.00 to $165.00 in a research note issued on Monday, The Fly reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts price target suggests a potential upside of 17.50% from the stocks current price. PPG has been the topic of several other research reports. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on PPG Industries from $124.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, April 4th. Barclays increased their price target on PPG Industries from $142.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised PPG Industries from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and increased their price target for the stock from $130.00 to $156.00 in a research report on Monday. Mizuho raised their target price on PPG Industries from $142.00 to $151.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group raised their target price on PPG Industries from $128.00 to $133.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $147.74. Get PPG Industries alerts: PPG Industries Stock Down 1.8 % NYSE:PPG opened at $140.43 on Monday. PPG Industries has a 1 year low of $107.06 and a 1 year high of $145.51. The company has a current ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. The stock has a market cap of $33.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.20, a PEG ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.17. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $132.28 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $127.66. Insider Transactions at PPG Industries PPG Industries ( NYSE:PPG Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 21st. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.27. The company had revenue of $4.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.39 billion. PPG Industries had a return on equity of 24.15% and a net margin of 7.18%. PPG Industriess revenue for the quarter was up 1.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.37 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that PPG Industries will post 7.08 earnings per share for the current year. In other news, Chairman Michael H. Mcgarry sold 61,867 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.96, for a total value of $8,040,235.32. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 183,645 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,866,504.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 0.55% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On PPG Industries A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of PPG Industries by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,472,227 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $2,266,070,000 after purchasing an additional 68,359 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in shares of PPG Industries by 5.5% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 17,843,159 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $2,243,597,000 after purchasing an additional 931,097 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of PPG Industries by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,748,598 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $595,991,000 after purchasing an additional 117,868 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of PPG Industries by 163,082.5% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,157,889 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $522,813,000 after purchasing an additional 4,155,341 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of PPG Industries by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,193,621 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $418,589,000 after purchasing an additional 65,996 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.04% of the companys stock. About PPG Industries (Get Rating) PPG Industries, Inc engages in the manufacture and distribution of paints, coatings, and specialty materials. It operates through the Performance Coatings and Industrial Coatings segments. The Performance Coatings segment supplies a variety of protective and decorative coatings, sealants, and finishes along with pavement marking products, paint strippers, stains, and related chemicals, as well as transparencies and transparent armor. See Also Receive News & Ratings for PPG Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PPG Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Retirement Systems of Alabama lowered its stake in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM Get Rating) by 1.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 355,525 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 5,266 shares during the period. Retirement Systems of Alabama owned approximately 0.09% of Waste Management worth $55,775,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in Waste Management by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 36,984,227 shares of the business services providers stock worth $5,925,244,000 after buying an additional 1,016,798 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its position in shares of Waste Management by 194.9% during the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,217,592 shares of the business services providers stock worth $192,988,000 after purchasing an additional 804,708 shares during the period. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 3,120.2% in the 3rd quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 600,443 shares of the business services providers stock worth $96,197,000 after purchasing an additional 581,797 shares in the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec grew its position in Waste Management by 21.5% in the 3rd quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 2,605,293 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $417,394,000 after purchasing an additional 461,425 shares during the period. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. increased its stake in Waste Management by 67.5% during the 3rd quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 966,026 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $154,772,000 after purchasing an additional 389,400 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.48% of the companys stock. Get Waste Management alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades WM has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. UBS Group lowered shares of Waste Management from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $190.00 to $165.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Waste Management from $158.00 to $167.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Waste Management from $179.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Raymond James decreased their price target on Waste Management from $167.00 to $166.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 6th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on Waste Management from $157.00 to $151.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 6th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six 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 price target of $174.67. Insider Transactions at Waste Management Waste Management Stock Performance In related news, CFO Devina A. Rankin sold 6,800 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.00, for a total transaction of $1,054,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 57,517 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,915,135. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . In related news, CFO Devina A. Rankin sold 6,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.00, for a total value of $1,054,000.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 57,517 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,915,135. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Also, SVP Tara J. Hemmer sold 7,515 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.00, for a total transaction of $1,164,825.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 46,542 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,214,010. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 30,743 shares of company stock valued at $4,762,320. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Shares of WM stock traded down $1.23 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $164.34. 198,779 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,802,750. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $66.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.72, a P/E/G ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.73. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $156.92 and a 200 day simple moving average of $157.79. Waste Management, Inc. has a 52-week low of $138.89 and a 52-week high of $175.98. Waste Management (NYSE:WM Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The business services provider reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.39 by ($0.09). Waste Management had a return on equity of 32.91% and a net margin of 11.36%. The firm had revenue of $4.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.97 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.26 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Waste Management, Inc. will post 6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Waste Management Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 10th were given a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. This is a boost from Waste Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.70%. Waste Managements dividend payout ratio is currently 51.95%. Waste Management Company Profile (Get Rating) Waste Management, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of waste management environmental services. It operates through the following segments: East Tier, West Tier, and Other. The East Tier segment consists of Eastern U.S., the Great Lakes Region, and Canada. The West Tier segment includes the upper Midwest region and British Columbia, Canada. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Waste Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Waste Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Retirement Systems of Alabama reduced its stake in shares of International Business Machines Co. (NYSE:IBM Get Rating) by 1.1% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 937,148 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 10,343 shares during the period. International Business Machines accounts for about 0.6% of Retirement Systems of Alabamas holdings, making the stock its 28th largest position. Retirement Systems of Alabamas holdings in International Business Machines were worth $132,035,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P grew its stake in shares of International Business Machines by 97.6% during the first quarter. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P now owns 257,335 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $33,459,000 after buying an additional 127,093 shares during the last quarter. Roundview Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of International Business Machines during the first quarter worth $203,000. Sei Investments Co. increased its position in shares of International Business Machines by 35.7% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 177,599 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $23,157,000 after acquiring an additional 46,756 shares during the period. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. increased its position in shares of International Business Machines by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 95,662 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $12,438,000 after acquiring an additional 1,821 shares during the period. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its position in International Business Machines by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 382,232 shares of the technology companys stock worth $49,698,000 after purchasing an additional 5,506 shares during the period. 55.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get International Business Machines alerts: International Business Machines Stock Performance NYSE IBM traded down $0.71 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $125.18. The companys stock had a trading volume of 580,875 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,955,239. International Business Machines Co. has a twelve month low of $115.54 and a twelve month high of $153.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.48, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.16. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $128.68 and its 200-day moving average price is $135.71. The firm has a market cap of $113.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 63.90, a P/E/G ratio of 3.30 and a beta of 0.85. International Business Machines Increases Dividend International Business Machines ( NYSE:IBM Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The technology company reported $1.36 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.27 by $0.09. International Business Machines had a net margin of 3.03% and a return on equity of 39.86%. The company had revenue of $14.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.33 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.40 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up .4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that International Business Machines Co. will post 9.33 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, June 10th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 10th will be issued a $1.66 dividend. This represents a $6.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.30%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 9th. This is an increase from International Business Machiness previous quarterly dividend of $1.65. International Business Machiness dividend payout ratio is 335.03%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on IBM shares. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on shares of International Business Machines from $150.00 to $140.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on shares of International Business Machines from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Moffett Nathanson upgraded shares of International Business Machines from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $140.00 price target for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 24th. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of International Business Machines from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 26th. Finally, Evercore ISI decreased their price target on shares of International Business Machines from $150.00 to $140.00 and set an inline rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $139.20. International Business Machines Company Profile (Get Rating) International Business Machines Corp. is an information technology company, which engages in the provision of integrated solutions that leverage information technology and knowledge of business processes. It operates through the following segments: Software, Consulting, Infrastructure, Financing, and Other. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IBM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for International Business Machines Co. (NYSE:IBM Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for International Business Machines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Business Machines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG Get Rating) had its price target lifted by Robert W. Baird from $150.00 to $160.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, The Fly reports. Robert W. Bairds target price would suggest a potential upside of 13.94% from the stocks current price. A number of other research analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on shares of PPG Industries from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Argus lifted their target price on shares of PPG Industries from $144.00 to $149.00 in a report on Monday, January 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of PPG Industries from $133.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, April 4th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of PPG Industries in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of PPG Industries from $139.00 to $138.00 in a report on Sunday, January 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $147.74. Get PPG Industries alerts: PPG Industries Trading Down 1.8 % Shares of NYSE PPG opened at $140.43 on Monday. PPG Industries has a 1 year low of $107.06 and a 1 year high of $145.51. The stock has a market cap of $33.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.17. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $132.28 and a 200 day moving average of $127.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 1.15. Insider Activity at PPG Industries PPG Industries ( NYSE:PPG Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 21st. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.55 by $0.27. PPG Industries had a net margin of 7.18% and a return on equity of 24.15%. The company had revenue of $4.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.39 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.37 EPS. PPG Industriess revenue was up 1.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that PPG Industries will post 7.08 EPS for the current fiscal year. In related news, Chairman Michael H. Mcgarry sold 61,867 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.96, for a total transaction of $8,040,235.32. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 183,645 shares in the company, valued at $23,866,504.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.55% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of PPG Industries Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Parallel Advisors LLC grew its position in PPG Industries by 7.7% during the first quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 1,368 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $183,000 after buying an additional 98 shares during the period. Eudaimonia Partners LLC bought a new stake in PPG Industries during the first quarter valued at approximately $260,000. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV grew its position in PPG Industries by 14.7% during the first quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 2,554 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $341,000 after buying an additional 328 shares during the period. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of PPG Industries by 12.8% in the first quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,545 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $474,000 after purchasing an additional 402 shares during the period. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in shares of PPG Industries in the first quarter worth approximately $723,000. 80.04% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About PPG Industries (Get Rating) PPG Industries, Inc engages in the manufacture and distribution of paints, coatings, and specialty materials. It operates through the Performance Coatings and Industrial Coatings segments. The Performance Coatings segment supplies a variety of protective and decorative coatings, sealants, and finishes along with pavement marking products, paint strippers, stains, and related chemicals, as well as transparencies and transparent armor. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for PPG Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PPG Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited (OTCMKTS:BKKLY Get Rating) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 8,100 shares, a growth of 523.1% from the March 31st total of 1,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 5,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.5 days. Bangkok Bank Public Price Performance BKKLY stock traded down $0.13 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $22.87. 2,046 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,660. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $22.96 and a 200 day simple moving average of $21.90. Bangkok Bank Public has a 12 month low of $17.17 and a 12 month high of $24.86. Get Bangkok Bank Public alerts: Bangkok Bank Public Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.3404 per share. This represents a yield of 2.08%. This is a boost from Bangkok Bank Publics previous dividend of $0.16. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 20th. Bangkok Bank Publics payout ratio is presently 28.51%. About Bangkok Bank Public Bangkok Bank Public Co Ltd. engages in the provision of commercial banking services. It operates through the following business segments: Domestic Banking, International Banking, Investment Banking, and Others. The Domestic Banking segment provides loans, deposits, trade finance, remittances and payments, electronic services, credit cards, debit cards, and related other financial services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Bangkok Bank Public Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bangkok Bank Public and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China unveils blueprint for deep-space exploration development Xinhua) 09:06, April 26, 2023 The China National Space Administration and the Chinese Academy of Sciences jointly release a series of global color images of Mars obtained from the country's first Mars exploration mission at the launch ceremony of the Space Day of China in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, April 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan) HEFEI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China has drawn a blueprint for future deep-space exploration development involving probing the moon, asteroids, comets, and other planets in our solar system. China will launch the relay satellite Queqiao-2 or Magpie Bridge-2, and Chang'e-6 probe around 2024 to collect samples from the far side of the moon and bring them back to Earth, Wu Yanhua, chief designer of the major project on deep space exploration, said on Tuesday during the International Deep Space Exploration Conference held in Hefei, the capital of east China's Anhui Province. China plans to launch the Chang'e-7 probe around 2026 to implement the resource exploration of the lunar south pole, and launch the Chang'e-8 around 2028 to build the basic model of the International Lunar Research Station, said Wu. China plans to launch the Tianwen-2 mission around 2025 to collect samples from a near-Earth asteroid and explore a main-belt comet. He also mentioned that China plans to launch the Tianwen-3 mission around 2030 to collect Martian samples and launch the Tianwen-4 around 2030 to explore the Jovian system and Uranus. In the past 20 years, China successfully carried out a three-step lunar exploration program and realized sending a probe to orbit, land, and rove on Mars in one mission. The country has obtained global lunar images in 7-meter resolution and global images of Mars in 76-meter spatial resolution. Wu said scientific discoveries from the lunar and Martian exploration missions have updated human knowledge about the moon and the red planet. Since the country initiated its lunar exploration program in 2004, China has conducted space cooperation with 19 countries and regions in forms such as carrying scientific payloads, sharing detection data, mutual support for measurement and control, and joint scientific research, according to Wu. China will further promote international cooperation in building the International Lunar Research Station and deep space exploration, Wu added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Ropes Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA Get Rating) by 12.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 6,748 shares of the aircraft producers stock after acquiring an additional 732 shares during the period. Ropes Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Boeing were worth $1,285,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Barclays PLC boosted its holdings in shares of Boeing by 189.7% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,894,753 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $229,414,000 after purchasing an additional 1,240,669 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Boeing during the first quarter worth approximately $135,429,000. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Boeing by 1.5% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 45,200,241 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $5,472,845,000 after purchasing an additional 670,698 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in shares of Boeing by 125.0% during the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,139,143 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $218,147,000 after purchasing an additional 632,913 shares during the period. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Boeing by 1,588.5% during the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 558,140 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $67,580,000 after purchasing an additional 525,085 shares during the period. 57.07% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Boeing alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $225.00 target price on shares of Boeing in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Boeing from $222.00 to $248.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of Boeing from $210.00 to $250.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Boeing from $240.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Boeing from $240.00 to $230.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 22nd. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Boeing presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $223.59. Boeing Price Performance NYSE:BA traded up $6.20 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $208.39. 6,659,008 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,204,693. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $206.80 and its 200-day simple moving average is $190.62. The Boeing Company has a one year low of $113.02 and a one year high of $221.33. Boeing (NYSE:BA Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 25th. The aircraft producer reported ($1.75) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.05 by ($1.80). The company had revenue of $19.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.10 billion. The businesss revenue was up 35.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned ($7.69) EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that The Boeing Company will post -0.07 EPS for the current fiscal year. Boeing Profile (Get Rating) The Boeing Co is an aerospace company, which engages in the manufacture of commercial jetliners and defense, space, and security systems. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Airplanes (BCA), Defense, Space and Security (BDS), Global Services (BGS), and Boeing Capital (BCC). The Commercial Airplanes segment includes the development, production, and market of commercial jet aircraft and provides fleet support services, principally to the commercial airline industry worldwide. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Boeing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boeing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Get Rating) announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, April 26th, RTT News reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th will be paid a dividend of 0.25 per share by the financial services provider on Friday, May 26th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.98%. Charles Schwab has raised its dividend payment by an average of 7.3% annually over the last three years and has raised its dividend every year for the last 2 years. Charles Schwab has a dividend payout ratio of 24.0% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect Charles Schwab to earn $4.47 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.00 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 22.4%. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Charles Schwab Stock Performance Shares of SCHW stock traded down $0.43 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $50.60. 11,114,604 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 22,883,613. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $61.82 and a 200 day simple moving average of $72.85. The company has a current ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. Charles Schwab has a 52-week low of $45.00 and a 52-week high of $86.63. The stock has a market capitalization of $90.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.94, a P/E/G ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 0.88. Analyst Ratings Changes Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.03. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 34.82% and a return on equity of 27.36%. The company had revenue of $5.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.13 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.77 EPS. Charles Schwabs quarterly revenue was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Charles Schwab will post 3.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $61.00 to $56.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $98.00 to $75.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $86.00 to $85.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Bank of America reduced their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $53.00 to $51.00 in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Finally, Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $83.00 to $75.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $69.21. Insider Transactions at Charles Schwab In other news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 188,670 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.07, for a total transaction of $15,106,806.90. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 30,856,646 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,470,691,645.22. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 188,670 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.07, for a total transaction of $15,106,806.90. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 30,856,646 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,470,691,645.22. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Walter W. Bettinger acquired 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $59.31 per share, with a total value of $2,965,500.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 656,501 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,937,074.31. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders purchased 81,000 shares of company stock valued at $4,706,960 and sold 676,962 shares valued at $53,960,539. 6.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Morgan Stanley grew its position in Charles Schwab by 62.5% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 22,255,649 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,853,005,000 after acquiring an additional 8,563,389 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Charles Schwab during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,325,555,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in Charles Schwab by 10.9% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 13,495,161 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $969,896,000 after acquiring an additional 1,322,868 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Charles Schwab by 2.6% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 6,839,676 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $576,654,000 after acquiring an additional 173,073 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in Charles Schwab by 91,051.8% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,365,193 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $446,706,000 after acquiring an additional 5,359,307 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.49% of the companys stock. About Charles Schwab (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. Further Reading 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. The Edinburgh Investment Trust plc (LON:EDIN Get Rating) declared a dividend on Wednesday, April 26th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 4th will be given a dividend of GBX 6.70 ($0.08) per share on Friday, May 26th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.98%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 4th. This is a positive change from The Edinburgh Investment Trusts previous dividend of $6.40. The official announcement can be accessed at this link. The Edinburgh Investment Trust Stock Performance Shares of LON:EDIN traded down GBX 5 ($0.06) during trading on Wednesday, reaching GBX 676 ($8.44). The company had a trading volume of 136,695 shares, compared to its average volume of 281,280. The firm has a market capitalization of 1.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1,154.24 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.96, a current ratio of 4.35 and a quick ratio of 3.88. The stocks fifty day moving average price is GBX 667.87 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 643.84. The Edinburgh Investment Trust has a fifty-two week low of GBX 537 ($6.71) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 690 ($8.62). Get The Edinburgh Investment Trust alerts: Insider Activity In other The Edinburgh Investment Trust news, insider Elisabeth Stheeman purchased 2,950 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 678 ($8.47) per share, for a total transaction of 20,001 ($24,979.39). Corporate insiders own 0.90% of the companys stock. About The Edinburgh Investment Trust The Edinburgh Investment Trust plc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Majedie Asset Management Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United Kingdom. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund primarily invests in dividend paying growth stocks of companies. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for The Edinburgh Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Edinburgh Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Transatlantique Private Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB Get Rating) by 8.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 32,463 shares of the pipeline companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,530 shares during the quarter. Transatlantique Private Wealth LLCs holdings in Williams Companies were worth $1,069,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of WMB. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in shares of Williams Companies by 85.8% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 16,352,215 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $546,327,000 after purchasing an additional 7,551,749 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in Williams Companies by 200.1% during the 2nd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 5,286,535 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $164,993,000 after acquiring an additional 3,525,097 shares during the period. Bahl & Gaynor Inc. lifted its position in Williams Companies by 1,104.3% during the 3rd quarter. Bahl & Gaynor Inc. now owns 2,747,911 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $78,673,000 after acquiring an additional 2,519,734 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership acquired a new stake in Williams Companies during the 1st quarter worth about $76,303,000. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky acquired a new stake in Williams Companies during the 3rd quarter worth about $39,553,000. 85.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Williams Companies alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director William H. Spence acquired 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $29.61 per share, with a total value of $148,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 48,521 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,436,706.81. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.44% of the stock is owned by insiders. Williams Companies Price Performance Shares of Williams Companies stock traded down $0.20 on Wednesday, hitting $29.73. 1,408,261 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,869,594. The stock has a market capitalization of $36.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.04 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $29.96 and a 200 day moving average price of $31.62. The Williams Companies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $27.80 and a 1-year high of $37.97. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57. Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 20th. The pipeline company reported $0.53 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.47 by $0.06. Williams Companies had a return on equity of 16.02% and a net margin of 18.69%. The firm had revenue of $2.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.18 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.39 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that The Williams Companies, Inc. will post 1.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Williams Companies Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 13th were paid a dividend of $0.4475 per share. This represents a $1.79 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.02%. This is a boost from Williams Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 10th. Williams Companiess dividend payout ratio is 106.55%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth WMB has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Williams Companies from $37.00 to $36.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. US Capital Advisors upgraded Williams Companies from a hold rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 31st. Scotiabank restated a sector perform rating and issued a $35.00 price target on shares of Williams Companies in a research note on Friday, April 14th. StockNews.com began coverage on Williams Companies in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Williams Companies from $36.00 to $35.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $35.42. Williams Companies Profile (Get Rating) The Williams Cos., Inc operates as an energy infrastructure company, which explores, produces, transports, sells and processes natural gas and petroleum products. It operates through the following segments: Transmission and Gulf of Mexico, Northeast G&P, and West. The Transmission and Gulf of Mexico segment consists of interstate natural gas pipelines, the Transco and Northwest Pipelines, as well as natural gas gathering and processing and crude oil production handling and transportation assets in the Gulf Coast region. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Williams Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Williams Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Warrior Met Coal, Inc. (NYSE:HCC Get Rating) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, April 26th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 5th will be paid a dividend of 0.07 per share on Friday, May 12th. This represents a $0.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.80%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 4th. Warrior Met Coal has increased its dividend payment by an average of 6.3% annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 2 consecutive years. Warrior Met Coal has a payout ratio of 4.6% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Warrior Met Coal to earn $6.01 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.28 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 4.7%. Get Warrior Met Coal alerts: Warrior Met Coal Stock Performance Shares of NYSE HCC traded up $0.06 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $34.80. 385,395 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 597,168. Warrior Met Coal has a 52-week low of $26.11 and a 52-week high of $42.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 7.66 and a quick ratio of 6.66. The company has a 50-day moving average of $37.25 and a 200-day moving average of $36.43. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 1.04. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Warrior Met Coal Warrior Met Coal ( NYSE:HCC Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 15th. The company reported $1.90 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.88 by ($0.98). Warrior Met Coal had a net margin of 36.88% and a return on equity of 52.03%. The firm had revenue of $344.75 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $429.99 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.17 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 17.0% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Warrior Met Coal will post 9.04 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Point72 Middle East FZE bought a new position in Warrior Met Coal in the 4th quarter worth about $45,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd increased its stake in Warrior Met Coal by 4,220.4% in the 2nd quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 2,117 shares of the companys stock worth $65,000 after acquiring an additional 2,068 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its stake in Warrior Met Coal by 86.8% in the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 3,863 shares of the companys stock worth $143,000 after acquiring an additional 1,795 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in Warrior Met Coal by 23,505.9% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 4,013 shares of the companys stock worth $149,000 after acquiring an additional 3,996 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Prelude Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Warrior Met Coal in the 3rd quarter worth about $201,000. 98.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. B. Riley increased their price objective on Warrior Met Coal from $50.00 to $55.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. Citigroup increased their price objective on Warrior Met Coal from $35.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 17th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Warrior Met Coal presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $46.00. About Warrior Met Coal (Get Rating) Warrior Met Coal, Inc engages in the production and export of metallurgical coal. The company was founded on September 3, 2015 and is headquartered in Brookwood, AL. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Warrior Met Coal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Warrior Met Coal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Washington Trust Bank bought a new position in shares of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 369 shares of the asset managers stock, valued at approximately $261,000. Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Horan Securities Inc. raised its stake in shares of BlackRock by 72.7% during the 4th quarter. Horan Securities Inc. now owns 38 shares of the asset managers stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 16 shares during the last quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd acquired a new position in shares of BlackRock during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. HBC Financial Services PLLC raised its stake in shares of BlackRock by 55.6% during the 4th quarter. HBC Financial Services PLLC now owns 42 shares of the asset managers stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. raised its stake in shares of BlackRock by 275.0% during the 3rd quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 45 shares of the asset managers stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of BlackRock by 168.1% during the 4th quarter. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC now owns 47 shares of the asset managers stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. 77.69% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get BlackRock alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes BLK has been the subject of several analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of BlackRock in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on shares of BlackRock from $763.00 to $770.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, April 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of BlackRock from $800.00 to $779.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of BlackRock from $829.00 to $861.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group boosted their target price on shares of BlackRock from $662.00 to $673.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, BlackRock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $756.45. Insider Activity at BlackRock BlackRock Stock Down 2.1 % In related news, Director Stephen Cohen sold 390 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $756.26, for a total transaction of $294,941.40. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 4,357 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,295,024.82. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . In other news, Director Stephen Cohen sold 390 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $756.26, for a total value of $294,941.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 4,357 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,295,024.82. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, Director J. Richard Kushel sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $742.31, for a total value of $742,310.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 74,307 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $55,158,829.17. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 42,563 shares of company stock valued at $29,723,221. Corporate insiders own 1.06% of the companys stock. NYSE BLK opened at $659.71 on Wednesday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $670.77 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $689.74. BlackRock, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $503.12 and a fifty-two week high of $785.65. The stock has a market cap of $99.11 billion, a PE ratio of 20.46, a P/E/G ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a quick ratio of 2.99, a current ratio of 2.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Friday, April 14th. The asset manager reported $7.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $7.71 by $0.22. BlackRock had a return on equity of 13.69% and a net margin of 28.13%. The company had revenue of $4.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.24 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $9.52 EPS. BlackRocks quarterly revenue was down 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that BlackRock, Inc. will post 34.27 EPS for the current fiscal year. BlackRock Company Profile (Get Rating) BlackRock, Inc engages in providing investment management, risk management, and advisory services for institutional and retail clients worldwide. Its products include single and multi-asset class portfolios investing in equities, fixed income, alternatives, and money market instruments. The company was founded by Susan L. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BLK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe MONETA Move over laws that protect emergency personnel on Virginias roads will now be enforced on its waters this summer. Boaters not complying with the new law could face serious fines. The new law, which became effective Jan. 1, requires every motorboat approaching or passing within 200 feet of any law-enforcement vessel or emergency services vessel that is displaying flashing blue or red lights to slow to no-wake speeds so that the wake does not disturb their activities. Any boat operator who fails to do so may be charged with a class 3 misdemeanor. That could mean a fine of as much as $500 if convicted. Those convicted will also have to complete a boater safety education course. If you are on the water and you see lights, you should immediately throttle back, said Smith Mountain Lake Marine Volunteer Fire Department Chief Todd Ohlerich. Boaters not paying attention to emergency vehicles has been a problem at Smith Mountain Lake for several years, according to Ohlerich. He said boaters have sped past scenes creating wakes while they are attempting to provide assistance and have even raced alongside them when they are responding to accidents. Sgt. Michael Morris with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources said boat traffic speeding has sometimes been so bad that officers have to stop what they are doing to brace for wakes. Under previous laws, boaters were only required to maintain 50 feet from other boats, including emergency vessels. It is certainly overdue, Morris said of the new law. We are definitely in support of it. Morris said the new law will help them to perform their work more safely on the water. In past years they have had to get other patrol boats or emergency boats to create a barrier around a scene when they respond to emergency. It will be one less thing we have to worry about, Ohlerich said of the new law this summer. Morris said that, while the law states that boats must slow to no-wake speed when approaching law enforcement or emergency vessels, he would recommend that boaters should attempt to move 200 feet away from the scene or more to avoid any unnecessary wakes. The additional distance will assure that officers are able to safely do their job. The DWR and SML Marine Volunteer Fire Department are working to get the word out on the new law as the temperatures warm and the number of boats begins to increase on the lake. Morris said they are anticipating another busy summer on the lake. Conservation officers will be out in force with between three and four boats patrolling the lake on the weekends and as many as six or seven boats on patrol during major holiday weekends. LYONS He picks up the phone on the fifth ring, sounding like any other small-town Nebraskan who retired to Florida. The former police chief says its been a long time and hes not really interested in talking about it. But then Greg Webb, the one-time police chief in Lyons, changes his mind. Yes, he will answer questions about the 1986 murder of Anna Anton, a murder that shocked that northeast Nebraska town. Yes, he will discuss how he vanished soon after authorities realized that the slain woman was Webbs neighbor and one-time girlfriend. And yes, there is the small matter of him living under an assumed name, evading arrest for seven years in Florida until his former boss recognized him on a 1993 episode of Unsolved Mysteries. The mystery didnt stay unsolved. Instead, Webb, facing a first-degree murder charge, eventually agreed to plead no contest to manslaughter. A no contest plea is equivalent to a guilty plea, but the person doesn't accept responsibility. Thirty years after being caught for a killing that stunned Nebraska, Webb still doesnt accept responsibility. "My lawyer wanted to go to trial," Webb said during a phone interview from his home in DeLand, Florida. "He thought we had viable alternate suspects. When I asked him if we would win, he said, 'Well, you never know how it will go.'" Webb says he agreed to the deal because he didnt want to roll the dice with a jury. Former Nebraska State Patrol investigator Jerry Krieger doesnt buy Webbs story. Krieger focused on the small-town police chief from the start, because the person who killed Anton had to understand forensics the sort of things a police chief might understand. Cleaning the body, Krieger says. Disposing of the clothes dumping the body in the middle of nowhere. A regular person wouldnt think of those things. Anton first met Webb in a bar near Lake Okoboji, Iowa. They enjoyed partying together. She decided to rent the first-floor apartment in the duplex where he lived, a short walk from Lyons' main drag. Anton allegedly feared her ex-husband, and told people that living near a police officer would protect her. Lyons, then with a population of about 1,200, is a town where everyone knows everyone, Mayor Mary Piper told "Unsolved Mysteries. But Anton didn't know anyone besides Webb. Anton walked with a cane due to a car accident. She got rides to the grocery store from parishioners at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. After moving into the duplex in early October, Anton befriended Shirley Edgecomb, who lived across the street. Anton was last seen Dec. 15, when she bought groceries. Edgecomb stopped by the apartment two days later, and grew worried when her friend didn't answer the door. She called the first person she could think of: The police chief. Webb arrived and walked through the apartment with Edgecomb. Antons clothes for the next day were laid out neatly on the bed, unworn. Webb told Edgecomb he would investigate, and filed a missing persons report. At the time, Anton's body lay in high grass along County Road G on the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) Reservation 20 miles north of Lyons. A Thurston County farmer hauling hay found her body two days after Christmas 1986. "He saw something sticking out of the grass," said Krieger, the Nebraska State Patrol investigator. "It was her arm." Frost covered parts of Anton's body, which was pierced by three bullet holes fired from a .38-caliber revolver. Webb said during the interview with the Flatwater Free Press that he gave her a .38 for protection. Days later, an assortment of police authorities sat around a table at the Hi-Way Diner in Lyons to sort out the cases tricky legal jurisdiction. Krieger and other Nebraska State Patrol investigators were there. So were Thurston County officials and Burt County Sheriff Leonard Canarsky. One other officer of the law showed up: Lyons Police Chief Greg Webb. Krieger, knowing that Webb lived above the woman, asked Webb if they had been intimate. Webb said no. A few minutes later, he asked again. This time, Webb admitted to a single sexual encounter. The police around the table asked him to leave. Krieger quickly knew he had his prime suspect. Before Webb left, Krieger showed the police chief a black-and-white photo of Antons face. Webb acted as if he didnt recognize her, Krieger said. Edgecomb, by contrast, immediately recognized her friend, he said. Investigators searched Antons apartment Dec. 29. They used Luminol, a spray not commonly used in small-town Nebraska until the 1980s, that shows blood even if its been cleaned. They quickly found blood stains. As they worked, investigators could hear Webb moving around upstairs. He was nervous, Krieger said of the police chief. It seemed like he was trying to listen to us. He eventually came downstairs and left. Then they checked the stairway leading to Webbs apartment. A blood trail on the hallway floor and walls led to Webbs home, Krieger said. Once a warrant was issued, investigators used Luminol on Webbs apartment. A large blood stain was found on the living room floor, along with splatters in each room and stains in the shower, Krieger said. It lit up like the Fourth of July, former Burt County Attorney Clarence Mock said. Webb then admitted to disposing of Antons body and cleaning up the crime scene. We had been drinking a lot that night, Webb told the Flatwater Free Press during his phone interview. I woke up to the sound of two gunshots. I was still drunk when I found her body. Antons autopsy showed her blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit when she died. Webb claims that, fearful he would be blamed for Antons death, he cleaned her body in the bathroom and wrapped it in a sheet. He carried the body down the stairs, placed it in the trunk of his personal car and drove away. As the sun rose, Webb said he noticed he had blood on his face when he looked in the rearview mirror. He had planned to dump the body on the Iowa side of the Missouri River, so investigators wouldnt suspect him. When he saw the blood, he changed plans. I saw this old, gravel dirt road and went down it. He threw the gun in the Missouri River and hid her cane in an abandoned farm building, Webb said. Krieger didnt buy Webbs stories then or now, 30 years after his capture. Its an unmaintained road, he said. You just dont drive down it on a whim. You have to know how to dispose of a body and that it was a good area to do it. During his phone call with the Flatwater Free Press, Webbs tale got even stranger. He said that, a few days after dumping Antons body, he realized his error. I needed to get the body and bring it back and get things straightened out, he said. I planned to call the sheriff and wed go from there. But I couldnt find the body. I drove all over looking ... I realized I was totally screwed no matter what happened. This much isnt in dispute: On Dec. 23, Webb withdrew his savings, $3,500, from the First National Bank of Lyons. On Dec. 30, he vanished. In his final act as county attorney, Mock filed first-degree murder charges against Webb on Jan. 6, 1987. It would be another six years before Krieger and the Nebraska State Patrol would close the case. Webb traded in his car for another at a Fremont dealership and consulted a travel agent about traveling to Central and South America. The new car was found, abandoned, in a Houston airport parking lot. Webb flew to Belize, then traveled to Guatemala and Costa Rica. But Webb soon hopped on a bus bound for Mexico, where he crossed back into the United States, eventually settling in Daytona Beach, Florida. There he altered his birth certificate, changing Gregory John Webb to Gregory James Jim Webber. Just three months after bolting from Lyons, he got a Florida drivers license under his new assumed name. Now known as Jim Webber, Webb used phony Social Security numbers to get construction jobs. If a question arose, hed quickly move on. I feared being caught all the time, Webb said. I was even stopped by the police a few times. That worked for six years, until it didnt, thanks to Unsolved Mysteries host Robert Stack. John Brereton had employed Webb at his construction company, at one point calling Webb in because of a concern about his Social Security number. Webb said he gave Brereton another fake number. When that didnt work, Webb quit. Then, in mid-February 1993, Brereton watched one of his favorite shows Unsolved Mysteries. The story focused on rural Lyons and its police chief. He quickly recognized that the construction worker he knew as Jim Webber looked very much like wanted murderer Greg Webb. He called police the next day. Webbs wasnt hard to identify. Hes 6-foot-5 with a Lurch-like appearance, Canarsky said, comparing Webb to the Addams Family character. Soon, Krieger was planning his own trip to Florida. The investigator contacted Webbs latest employer, asking that he be summoned to the company office. Then he called the FBI and local police. They asked me how I wanted it to go, and I said all I wanted was to put the cuffs on him, Krieger said. They compromised. On Feb. 23, 1993, when Webb entered the construction company office, police officers were there to meet him, Krieger said. A local officer put the first handcuff on him. Krieger said he then walked into the office, said Hi Greg, remember me? and clicked on the second handcuff. He replied, What took you so long? Krieger said. Word spread like wildfire of the ex-police chiefs arrest in Lyons. Burt County officials worried about spending an estimated $100,000 on a murder trial at a time when the county was cash-strapped. In the end, Webb took the manslaughter plea. Burt County Attorney Nora Goll didnt respond to messages seeking comment on the plea deal. Former county attorney Mock said he understands it. It might have been a bit difficult to establish to that degree of intent, where manslaughter would clearly be right on the money, Mock said. But the deal meant that Webb, after serving eight years, walked out of the Nebraska State Penitentiary a free man in August 2002. Now hes retired and living near Daytona Beach. Krieger, who retired from the Nebraska State Patrol a few months after Webbs arrest, is frustrated that the former police chief is free. He believes Webb premeditated the killing after he got another girlfriend. They were worried that Anton would report them to child welfare, Krieger said, because Anton knew that the girlfriend was leaving the child home alone while she visited Webb. He was a law enforcement agent, Krieger said. He should have been sent to prison for murder, because I still believe he planned it. Canarsky, the old Burt County Sheriff, isnt so sure. He now believes the State Patrol investigator focused too quickly on Webb instead of considering other suspects, like the girlfriend from Oakland. If (Webb) did it, I think it was because he blacked out from drinking, the retired sheriff said. And Webb himself, who offered several long, meandering stories during the phone interview, had a short, simple answer to the crucial question 30 years after his capture. The Florida retiree is asked if he has any remorse. I dont believe I killed her, he said. The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter. Cities with the worst commute in Nebraska Cities with the worst commute in Nebraska #16. Scottsbluff #15. Norfolk #14. South Sioux City #13. Kearney #12. Hastings #11. Beatrice #10. Lexington #9. Bellevue #8. Grand Island #7. La Vista #6. Omaha #5. Papillion #4. North Platte #3. Lincoln #2. Columbus #1. Fremont State Sen. Joni Albrecht reads from notes about her Legislative Bill 626, a bill that would ban abortions in Nebraska after an ultrasound detects embryonic cardiac activity. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers released a legal opinion Tuesday disputing two top concerns about a proposed abortion ban tied to the ultrasound detection of embryonic cardiac activity. The Legislature is expected to begin a pivotal second round of debate over State Sen. Joni Albrechts Legislative Bill 626 on Thursday. Hilgers and Solicitor General Eric Hamilton wrote that LB 626 would not result in doctors being charged with a crime for performing an abortion if they meet the proposals roughly six-week timing or longer exceptions for protecting the mothers life or in cases of rape or incest. Exceptions apply to both the post-viability and 20-week bans, the opinion says. The Act does not amend these statutes or any other provision in the Nebraska Criminal Code. State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha and several other lawyers in the Legislature who oppose LB 626 have argued that a separate section of state law, 28-336, risks changing the definition of an acceptable medical procedure for abortions and could put doctors at legal risk. The opinion also says doctors would not have to report sexual assault allegations before performing abortions. They could do so afterward, and without revealing personal details, it states, as long as the woman is an adult, defined as 18 or older. State law requires doctors and nurses to immediately report allegations and evidence of sexual assaults involving minors. It also requires providers to report evidence of adults being harmed physically, but the law leaves the decision on reporting rape to adult victims. State Sen. Jen Day of Omaha and others opposed to LB 626 have argued that ambiguity in the way LB 626 is written and its interplay with other state statutes could be read to require the reporting of rape to law enforcement. The bill passed the first round of debate with exactly the 33 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Abortion-rights advocates are trying to peel off a single vote. Their best chance may depend on how senators handle an amendment from State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston. Riepes amendment would shift LB 626 to a 12-week ban. Riepe, however, has said he would support LB 626 as written if the alternative was staying at the states current abortion ban limit of 20 weeks. The Civil Air Patrol will hold an open house celebration as it launches the newly chartered Orangeburg Composite Squadron from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday. The event will be held at the Orangeburg Municipal Airport at 1811 Airport Road, Orangeburg. Visitors can learn how they can become a proud volunteer member of the United States Total Force with the Civil Air Patrol through its three programs: Aerospace education Cadet programs Emergency services For more information, contact Capt Donna Holman, deputy commander, at donna.holman@scwgcap.org or 803-383-6744. The group is seeking cadets ages 12-17 and senior member volunteers who wish to serve their local communities, state and nation. NORWAY Norway Town Council will hold its next meeting at town hall, not the Old Willow School, according to Town Clerk Dee Gore. Council will hold a public hearing to discuss the 2023-2024 budget at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 1 at the town hall, located at 8403 Savannah Hwy. The council meeting will follow at 7 p.m. The agenda for the meeting will be posted on the Town of Norway's Facebook page on Thursday at this link: www.facebook.com/Town-of-Norway-SC-1013716612050884. The public is invited to attend the meeting. For more information, email norwaytownclerk@gmail.com. COLUMBIA Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said she sees a federal role in the debate over abortion rights but stopped short of endorsing a national ban on the procedure in a speech Tuesday at the headquarters of a leading anti-abortion group. Haley also described the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade last year as a return to state-by-state regulations on the procedure the way the issue was decided in our country for nearly two centuries," she said. I do believe there is a federal role on abortion," Haley said at the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. "Whether we can save more lives nationally depends entirely on doing what no one has done to date finding consensus. Thats what I will strive to do. Haley was not specific on what the federal role should be. The speech by Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, came just days after the Susan B. Anthony group blasted former President Donald Trump over his contention that abortion restrictions should be left up to individual states, not the federal government. The group has said it would not support any White House candidate who did not at a minimum support a 15-week federal abortion ban. Introducing Haley on Tuesday, the group's president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, said the post-Roe environment demands powerful, national leadership on the most fundamental right each of us has: the right to live. Commending Haley as such a leader, Dannenfelser said she has decided something very important, and that is to lead, to go toward the issue, and not to run away. All of the candidates running in the Republican presidential primary or moving toward a bid have supported state bans on abortion, but most like Haley have been more cautious about staking a position on a nationwide ban or in naming an exact week in a pregnancy at which abortions should be restricted. Part of that is a recognition that abortion restrictions may be popular in a Republican primary but present a conundrum for candidates in a general election. A majority of Americans say Congress should pass a law guaranteeing access to legal abortion nationwide, according to a poll by The Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research taken shortly after Roe was overturned. Haley on Tuesday criticized the focus on week-by-week restrictions and said the more important issue was finding an appropriate agreement on the issue. Everyone goes to the barricades and attacks the other side. Theyve turned a sensitive issue that has long divided people into a kind of gotcha bidding war, she said. 'How many weeks are you for? How many exceptions are you for?' And so on. But these questions miss the point if the goal is saving as many lives as possible. You dont save any lives if you cant enact your position into law, she continued. And you cant do that unless you find consensus. Haley also discussed her record on abortion, which she called long and clear. As a state House member, Haley said she voted for every pro-life bill that came before me, including a 24-hour waiting period for people seeking abortions. As governor, she signed a measure into law prohibiting abortions after 20 weeks a measure that is still in effect as more restrictive measures in other states have been overturned in the courts. Haleys pitch was also personal, drawing on stories of her husband Michaels adoption, her own struggles with infertility and a friends rape. I often think about what would have happened if Michael had not been so blessed, if his biological mother had chosen a different path, Haley said. My husband is reason No. 1 that I stand for life. Every day that I get to spend with the love of my life reminds me that I am blessed that someone saved his life. Haley also did something shes rarely referenced in her campaign events, discussing her call in 2015 for the removal of a Confederate battle flag after the racist killings of nine Black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, by a white supremacist. We found consensus on a very tough issue, Haley said. What was true then with the flag can be true now with abortion. This shouldnt be about one movement winning and another one losing. ... Its about saving babies and supporting moms. Im fighting for all of them, and I will work with anyone to do that. (TBTCO) - Voi viec S&P 500, chi so ai dien cho thi truong chung khoan My, o luong muc o von hoa cua 500 cong ty ai chung lon nhat nuoc My, roi vao thi truong gau (thi truong gia xuong) dai nhat ke tu nam 1973, mot so nha au tu ca nhan cho biet a hoc uoc mot vai ieu ve viec au tu trong qua trinh nay. 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 national animal exploitation watchdog group filed a federal research misconduct complaint this week against University of Wyoming staff after the institution called for the retraction of at least 33 papers by a former research professor. Last year, the university recommended the retraction of several papers by former professor Jun Ren following an investigation that found data irregularities inconsistent with published conclusions in his research, UW said in a statement. The university called for 33 retractions, of which about two dozen have occurred, Stop Animal Exploitation Now said in a statement. Stop Animal Exploitation Now, which investigates animal abuse and illegal activities at U.S. research facilities, is alleging these data irregularities meet the federal definition of research misconduct. The nonprofit group called for a full federal probe in a complaint sent to the Office of Research Integrity under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The sheep and mice who died for these fraudulent experiments, whose hearts were literally cut out, died to produce falsified data, co-founder Michael A. Budkie said in the statement. The Office of Research Integrity should throw the book at Jun Ren and his colleagues who were involved in this Research Misconduct. Ren made Clarivate Analytics list of the worlds most highly cited researchers before having multiple scientific papers retracted and leaving the university sometime during the 2019-2020 academic year. The Office of Research Integritys official definition of falsification includes manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record, the statement said. UW noted evidence of data irregularities and image reuse that significantly affected the results and conclusions reported in the manuscript, the statement said. According to the UW retraction notice, there have been recent institutional findings of research misconduct against a former employee, Dr. Jun Ren, the statement said. At least one of the retracted studies lists Ren as collaborating with a facility in China. He may now be affiliated with a different facility in China since leaving the university the Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases at Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, the statement said. SAEN is asking for the federal office to investigate all of the UW authors associated with the retracted papers and for a response to the complaint within five days. This is a huge case of Research Misconduct/Fraud, and it must be dealt with swiftly, the complaint states. Chad Baldwin, a spokesperson for the university, provided a statement distributed last year regarding the retractions of Rens work. Ren has been found guilty of research misconduct by UW in 2015 and 2021 in two separate investigations. In an effort to correct the literature, 4 retractions have been requested based on findings of research misconduct, the statement said. A state board is awarding the Casper Housing Authority $1.65 million in federal pandemic relief money to go toward a new workforce training and child care facility. The Envision Willard Center which will operate out of the former Willard Elementary School is pitched as a resource hub for low-income families. Parents and guardians can acquire things like job skills and financial and digital literacy, and younger kids have somewhere to go for day care. During the pandemic, we had a lot of people who lost their jobs, we had a lot of people who lost their stability and are now facing a hard time, Becky Atchley, the director of nonprofit Casper Housing Authority CARES, told the State Loan and Investment Board in an April 7 meeting. Theyre finding that theres a gap in transferable skills, and this training center would allow us to really fill that gap. And Casper is in desperate need of that kind of support, Atchley said. She said the communitys lost a lot of local job training programs since the start of the pandemic. Meanwhile, the housing authority has reported an increase in demand on its service. The wait list across all of the agencys housing programs consistently sits at about 1,800, Casper Housing Authority Executive Director Kim Summerall-Wright said in an email to the Star-Tribune earlier this month. The Envision Willard Centers daycare will serve 70% low- and extremely low-income families, abused children and foster children, according to information shared with the Casper City Council in September. The $1.65 million awarded to the Casper Housing Authority for the project comes out of the roughly $500 million in direct American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) relief money set aside for Wyoming by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The State Loan and Investment Board, which is chaired by Gov. Mark Gordon, is tasked with overseeing multiple ARPA-funded grants created by state lawmakers during the 2022 and 2023 legislative sessions. In addition to Gordon, Secretary of State Chuck Gray, Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder, State Auditor Kristi Racines and State Treasurer Curt Meiers also hold seats on the board. Of the $500 million, the legislature earmarked $125 million specifically for grants for health and human services providers. Thats the pot of money the Casper Housing Authoritys award comes from. As a requirement of the grant, the Casper Housing Authority must match the $1.65 million by at least 20% (in this case, roughly $330,000). The Casper Housing Authority originally applied for $2.5 million for the project. According to discussion during the April 7 meeting, the organization hoped to use the money not only for child care and job training but also to support the facilitys administrative offices. Members of the State Loan and Investment Board had misgivings about funding administrative positions, however, so they voted to award $1.65 million in lieu of the full request. That amount joins another $500,000 grant to the Casper Housing Authority for the Willard project last year. That money came from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developments Community Development Block Grant program. According to State Loan and Investment Board meeting minutes from 2022 and 2023, the grant for $1.65 million marks the first time the boards given an ARPA grant to a housing organization. After all, up until very recently, none of the ARPA grants overseen by the board could go directly toward housing needs. The Casper Housing Authority only qualified for the health and human services grant because the Envision center is providing child care, Racines said during the April meeting. This one, I think from the beginning, has seemed a little bit weird or different to us because it is endeavoring to do something that most of the other projects are not doing, she said. Where the others are addressing the actual COVID affecting the body, this is affecting more of some of the horrific social impacts we saw. During the 2023 legislative session, state lawmakers voted to set aside $5 million in ARPA money for a new housing infrastructure grant for local governments. That grant, too, will be overseen by the State Loan and Investment Board. While that money cant be used to build housing units, its meant to go toward things like water, sewer and utilities projects, which are needed to pave the way for future housing developments. With the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and other pandemic relief programs winding down, the pressure is on to find new ways to help low-income and homeless people in Wyoming. They may become homeless now that ERAP is ending. This is our most vulnerable population. I am not sure how to help these folks stay housed, Shari West, executive director of the Sweetwater Family Resource Center, said in a Friday newsletter published by the Wyoming Department of Family Services. We need more income-based housing opportunities for those facing income barriers. ROCK SPRINGS (WNE) A SWAT standoff with a man barricaded in his vehicle on the interstate ended with his arrest on Friday, April 21, according to the Sweetwater County Sheriffs Office. David Eugene Furman, 52, of Washington, was traveling eastbound on Interstate 80 when he was stopped by a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper near mile marker 50 in neighboring Uinta County, Wyoming. Upon contact with him, Furman fled in his vehicle toward Green River, leading law enforcement on a miles-long high-speed pursuit. After successfully stopping the vehicle near mile marker 85, west of Green River, Furman, who was traveling with an aggressive dog, barricaded himself inside, refusing to comply with officers and threatening violence against them. At around 4 pm troopers called a joint tactical response team comprised of sheriffs deputies and officers from the Green River and Rock Springs police departments to assist. During the two-hour standoff, crisis negotiators repeatedly attempted to convince Furman to surrender, but he refused. At around 5:45 p.m., as the SWAT team prepared to deploy chemical munitions into his vehicle, Furman decided to give himself up and was taken into custody without injury and without further incident. WHP troopers subsequently booked Furman into the Sweetwater County Detention Center, where he awaits, without bond, his initial appearance in court. Workers must take disciplined mass action to defend their interests, said Movement for Social Justice political leader David Abdulah as the labour movement marks May Day today. May Day commemorates the historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement and is observed on May 1 annually. Passion, the exhibition which celebrates the life of late artist Glenn Roopchand, is being held at Arnims Art Galleria Limited, 27 Tragarete Road, Port of Spain, until May 12. Roopchand died last year. He was a 30-year veteran and apprentice of artist Carlisle Chang. 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. NGC celebrates: Energy Minister Stuart Young, second from left; president and country manager, DNV Trinidad and Tobago Ltd, Graeme Pirie, right; vice-president, Operations, NGC, Ramesh Harrylal, second from right; and president, NGC, Mark Loquan after NGCs commemoration of its asset integrity journey at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad hotel, Port of Spain, yesterday. See Page 10 Photo: ISHMAEL SALANDY Race has nothing to do with home invasions but the evidence shows that victims are East Indi MEETING THE MINISTER: Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, centre, meets with pupils and staff at one of the 11 schools she visited in Central Trinidad yesterday. Photo: Ministry of Education My first response when I read the article on the ruling of the court in the matter of Brent Fox News loses more than $500 million in value after parting ways with star host Tucker Carlson The announcement follows a settlement between the right-wing media outlet and Dominion Voting Systems Fox agreed to pay $787 million and acknowledged that its coverage of the 2020 elections was false Fox News lost more than $500 million in value after announcing that it was parting ways with its star host Tucker Carlson following a massive $787 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems. The Monday announcement raised questions regarding the future of the right-wing media outlet as well as the network's prime-time lineup. Carlson, whose last show aired on Apr. 21, parted ways with Fox despite being a top-rated host. He drew in 334,000 viewers in the 25- to 54-year-old demographic in the 8:00 p.m. slot for the week that ended on Apr. 20. Tucker Carlson Leaving Fox News That number was more than twice the audience that Carlson's competitors at CNN and MSNBC got in the same hour. Furthermore, it represented a bigger audience than other right-wing media hosts, such as Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham, as per CBS News. Fox's shares dropped 0.6% (17 cents) on Tuesday, going down to a value of $29.74, and has seen a stock decline of 3.5% since the close of trading on Friday. Carlson's sudden departure from Fox came less than a week after the settlement in the case between the right-wing media outlet and Dominion. Read Also: Tucker Carlson: A Career Path From CNN, PBS to Fox News Dominion initially filed a lawsuit against Fox that was seeking $1.6 billion over alleged defamation of the complainant. The issue at hand was the right-wing media outlet's coverage of the 2020 elections. The financial impact of the situation on Fox News may be minimal in the short term due to advertisers booking their slots in advance. However, if the "ratings really crater," the media outlet could face an issue, said a senior securities analyst at Argus Research, Joseph Bonner. A Slew of Issues Carlson was known for embracing conservative issues and delivering his views on issues using a style that made his "Tucker Carlson Tonight" prime-time show successful. According to Reuters, Dominion's lawsuit also noted that the star host allowed debunked election-fraud claims regarding the voting technology firm to air on his show. Dominion also claimed that Carlson cast doubts on the possibility of those claims in private messages later seen in legal filings. The host was also key to further legal battles that Fox is facing, including one lawsuit that Carlson's former head of booking, Abby Grossberg, filed. The parting ways of Fox and its star host came as Carlson's staff culture was also facing scrutiny. This resulted from Grossberg claiming that she was subjected to sexist treatment while working for Carlson. Furthermore, messages that the lawsuit revealed showed the Fox host calling Sidney Powell a "c**t." However, a person familiar with the matter who remained anonymous said that Carlson's comments regarding his colleagues at Fox, which were also partly revealed in the case with Dominion, played a role in the development, said the Washington Post. Related Article: Trump Facing Another Legal Battle as Rape Case Trial Begins @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music will remember one of its own with a performance Sunday, April 30, of Brahmss comforting Ein Deutsches Requiem (German Requiem), a large-scale work for orchestra and choir. Arizona Symphony Orchestra and UA Symphonic Choir will join forces in the 3:30 p.m. performance at Crowder Hall, at East Speedway and North Park Avenue on the UA campus, with UA alumni soprano Asleif Willmer and baritone Octavio Moreno as soloists. The concert will be dedicated to retired piano professor Paula Fan, who died in February while on tour with baritone Jeremy Huw Williams in Australia. She was 71. Brahms intended it as a requiem to comfort and solace the living so it has a universal theme, said UA Choral Director Elizabeth Schauer. Paula touched so many lives that it is appropriate that this universal work should be performed in her honor. Brahms seven-movement German Requiem, composed between 1865-68, was his longest composition, clocking in at nearly 80 minutes, and was inspired by the death of his mother in 1865 and his lingering grief over the death of Robert Schumann nine years earlier. But unlike other composers of his day whose requiems were based on Biblical liturgy, Brahms saw the requiem as an opportunity to celebrate the dead while comforting those left behind. While it is based on sacred texts, the work is non-liturgical. How's it growing folks?! The Here Weed Go! podcast interview this week features Josh Hirschey, the president of Timeless, a marijuana vape company based here in Arizona. Timeless started its corporate life originally as a cannabis lifestyle company that was founded in 2013. After beginning life as a sort of hybrid head shop/skate shop merchant, the brand expanded in the medical cannabis vape space, becoming one of the OG brands in Arizona to get into the industry. Since then, cannabis has been legalized for adult-use in Arizona, and Timeless has expanded its offering of vape products and associated brands while dipping its toes in the marijuana pre-rolled joint market as well. Hirschey and I take a deep toke on Timeless lifestyle brand past and its move back towards that distinction over the last few years, how the vape market has grown so quickly since the early 2010s, and what timeless plans are for the future when it comes to expanding its reach, both in terms of products and geography. MORE INFO For more about Timeless: https://www.timelessvapes.com/ For more Here Weed Go! content, including the weekly newsletter: https://linktr.ee/hereweedgo For the entire Here Weed Go! podcast library: https://omny.fm/shows/here-weed-go Two Western senators introduced legislation Tuesday to override federal court rulings that blocked the Rosemont Mine near Tucson and a molybdenum mine in Nevada from starting construction. The bill would make it clearly legal for mining companies to dispose of their waste rock and tailings on federal land, even on land for which the company hasnt established the presence of valuable minerals. A judges ruling that mine wastes and tailings cannot be disposed on federal land that doesnt have valuable minerals on site has been the biggest legal stumbling block for Rosemont since 2019 and threatens to derail other Western mining projects on public land. The legislation, introduced by senators from Nevada and Idaho and co-sponsored by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, would insure that mining companies can dump waste on federal land when they dont have valid claims to extract minerals from adjoining federal land. The bill, called the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act, would amend a 1993 law involving budgetary issues, but its language primarily clarifies definitions of activities and rights central to the 1872 Mining Law, which opened up public lands in the West to mining. National mining industry spokesmen welcomed the bill, saying its a necessity to insure orderly production of minerals such as copper and lithium they call critical for producing green energy in solar panels and electric cars. Environmentalists denounced the measure as a giveaway to the mining industry that they said would allow companies to turn public lands into toxic mining waste dumps. A 2019 ruling by Tucson-based U.S. District Court Judge James Soto, upheld by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2022, said the proposed Rosemont project in the Santa Rita Mountains southeast of Tucson couldnt start construction. The rulings concluded Hudbay Minerals Inc., which proposed building Rosemont, couldnt dispose waste rock and tailings on 2,447 acres of national forest because it hadnt shown that land contained valuable minerals. Mine opponents persuaded the judge that under the 1872 Mining Law, federal mining rights apply only on public lands containing valuable minerals. Rosemont, slated for the Santa Ritas east slope facing the Sonoita highway, would have mined copper from an open pit spanning 955 acres and going down more than a half-mile, on both private and public land. Due to the unfavorable rulings, Hudbay has folded it into a much larger project, called Copper World, that would use exclusively private land on the ranges west slope and private and public land on the east slope for mining copper and disposing of waste rock and tailings. Its officials have said they still hope to use the Rosemont land for mining and waste disposal, but that their top short-term priority is to get mining going on private land on the west slope facing Sahuarita and Green Valley. The ramifications of those rulings and two others affecting Nevada mining proposals are worrisome, however, for President Bidens clean energy agenda and for key projects to mine lithium, cobalt and other materials needed to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles, the Associated Press has reported. The bill reaffirms what its backers say are long-held practices and previous legal interpretations that some public land use under a mining claim inherently accompanies exploration and extraction activities for other mining support activities, said bill co-sponsor Catherine Cortez-Masto, D-Nevada. Idaho Sen. James Risch, a Republican, joined Cortez-Masto in introducing the bill. Sinema, an independent from Arizona, joined Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Nevada Democrat, and Mike Crapo, an Idaho Republican, as cosponsors. Referring to the 2019 court ruling blocking Rosemont, Cortez Masto said, This misguided decision would force all mining activities, even the storage of waste, to happen on mineral-rich land, which could impede critical mineral production all across the country. This bipartisan legislation will undo the damage of this decision, allow mining operations to continue under long-standing and historic application of the law and protect the good-paying jobs this industry supports in our state. In a statement to the Arizona Daily Star, Sinema said of the bill, Were fixing a federal courts ruling to protect responsible critical mining projects in Arizona as we continue to strengthen Americas energy security and independence from foreign adversaries. Lauren Pagel, policy director of the Washington,-D.C.-based Earthworks, said the legislation would further entrench the legacy of injustice to indigenous communities and damage to public lands held in trust for future generations. We need mining reform that serves the needs of mining-impacted communities and taxpayers. Instead of making it easier for irresponsible mining companies to exploit our public lands, we should modernize our mining laws to deliver a more fair, just and equitable hardrock mine permitting process, Pagel said. Blaine Miller-McFeeley, of the group EarthJustice, which has fought Rosemont and Copper World in court, said, Mining companies have long abused this mining law, unlawfully claiming a right to destroy public lands to maximize profits. This proposal would condone that illegal practice, essentially giving mining companies a free pass to occupy public lands and lock out other uses. Sen. Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat, said through a spokesperson that he will review the new legislation closely, and didnt take an immediate stand on it. He also declined to respond to a question from the Star as to whether he supports or opposes the Rosemont Mine. Senator Kelly knows mining is an important part of Arizonas history and economy, and that it has to be done responsibly with consideration of the impacts on our local environment and community, especially the clean water supply as we face drought in the West, his spokesperson said. Senator Kelly also understands that the business community and Arizonans need certainty when it comes to federal regulations. National Mining Association President and CEO Rich Nolan said, in support of the bill, Without strong leadership, the nations alarming mineral import dependence is poised to go from bad to worse as demand for minerals essential to our manufacturing and energy futures, as well as our national security, skyrocket. The bipartisan Mining Regulatory Clarity Act is critically important to ensuring that the U.S. can use our vast domestic resources to build the essential mineral supply chains we know we must have. When Soto issued his ruling at the end of July 2019, legal experts with varying pro-mining and pro-environmentalist sympathies predicted it would have national ramifications if upheld in higher courts. Two court rulings this year involving proposed Nevada mines relied on Sotos and the 9th Circuits decisions, stirring more fears among mining interests that the earlier rulings could cast a major shadow over future mining operations on federal land. In February, U.S. District Judge Miranda Du in Reno ruled that the Bureau of Land Management has violated the law by approving Lithium Americas plans for Thacker Pass mine near the Nevada-Oregon line. But the judge allowed mine construction to start last month, while the bureau works to bring the project into compliance with federal law. Environmentalists have appealed the judges refusal to halt the mine, and a court hearing on the appeal is scheduled for June 26. Last month, U.S. Judge Larry Hicks in Reno vacated the BLMs approval of Eureka Molys planned molybdenum mine about 250 miles east of Reno. In his ruling, Hicks said he found no meaningful difference between the BLMs arguments justifying mining at the Nevada site and the U.S. Forest Services arguments regarding its approval of Rosemont. The new bill is intended to insulate mines from the more onerous and likely more expensive standards imposed on the industry by Sotos and the 9th Circuit ruling. The bill would give a party filing a mining claim the right to use, occupy and conduct operations on public land, with or without the discovery of a valuable mineral deposit, under certain conditions. One condition is that the mining claimant pays fees customarily owed to the feds for the right to extract minerals from the claimed land. Or, under certain circumstances a claimant would also have to comply with mining law requirements for doing assessment work on the public parcels in question. PHOENIX A Tucson lawmaker apologized Wednesday to colleagues for moving and hiding copies of the Bible in the House members lounge, saying she was trying to make a playful point about the separation of church and state. But the apology by Democratic Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, coming after her actions became public because of a hidden security camera, may not end the controversy. Conservative activist Merissa Hamilton filed a request that lawmakers investigate her for violating House ethics rules against disorderly conduct. House Speaker Ben Toma, a Peoria Republican, told Capitol Media Services he has no plans to pursue a complaint. But he said Stahl Hamiltons actions did fall into the category of disorderly conduct and that it will be up to other lawmakers to decide whether to seek action against her. Some legislators noticed last month that the two Bibles, which are usually placed on tables in the lounge just outside the House of Representatives chambers, were missing. A search by security staff turned them up underneath the cushions of chairs. About a week later, a Bible was found in a refrigerator in the lounge. Toma then authorized the placement of a hidden camera, which recorded a video on April 10 of Stahl Hamilton moving the books. When the video was aired Tuesday by a Phoenix TV station, Stahl Hamilton briefly explained her actions to Capitol Media Services as just a little playful commentary on the separation of church and state. I am a Presbyterian minister so I obviously dont have a problem with the Bible, she added. Intent wasnt to desecrate or offend On Wednesday, Rep. Lupe Diaz, R-Benson, a pastor of Grace Chapel, opened the House session with a 2 1/2 minute commentary on the Bible, calling it Gods love letter to humanity. Over the millennia, tyrants have tried to eliminate it, burn it, bury it, hide it and keep it from people because it has the power to transform, Diaz said. His comments were followed by the customary daily prayer. Stahl Hamilton then addressed her colleagues. I stand here today wanting to acknowledge the offense I committed by my actions of hiding Bibles in the members lounge, she said. The intent was never to be destructive, to never desecrate or to offend. Hiding the books from being easily found, she continued, was not the best way to raise the issue of Bibles in the House lounge. I acknowledge that a conversation about the separation of church and state should have began with a conversation, Stahl Hamilton said. She has a masters of divinity from Princeton Theological Seminar and said she holds scripture very near to my heart. It is what guides me, Stahl Hamilton said. It is what shapes and informs the decisions I make. She said she has the utmost respect for people of all faiths and for those who have no religious beliefs. And because of that respect, I recognize my actions could have been seen as something less than playful, and (as) offensive, Stahl Hamilton said. Seen as ethical violation Toma said her actions cross the line of acceptable conduct. Removing any item from the House is an ethical violation without permission, he said. Although she didnt actually remove the items from the House or its lounge, Toma said, Do you think its OK to take a Bible, stick it under a couch or stick it under a refrigerator? Its kind of a common-sense question. If nothing else, he said, its inappropriate. The speaker said he cant say if there will be a formal ethics complaint. I think now that its public, our members know, each member is free to do whatever theyre going to do, Toma said. Im assuming some of them may be interested in filing a complaint. Any complaint against her, particularly coming from the more conservative members of the House, could be considered a bit of payback. It was Stahl Hamilton who filed the recent complaint against former Chandler Republican Rep. Liz Harris, accusing her of disorderly conduct for encouraging and allowing testimony by a known election denier during a hearing in February. That testimony included claims made without evidence that the governor, judges, state officials and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints were all involved in criminal conspiracies including drug smuggling and money laundering. Harris was found to have violated House ethics rules and expelled on a 46-13 vote. Deeply ingrained bigotry In her letter hand-delivered Wednesday, Merissa Hamilton, a political ally of Harris, asked that a formal complaint be filed against Stahl Hamilton for violating prohibitions in House rules against disorderly conduct. The letter went to Rep. Judy Schwiebert, D-Phoenix, who is Hamiltons state representative, with copies to other House Republican and Democratic leaders. Hamilton cited state constitutional provisions about religious toleration and the state not interfering with the rights of others. Not only did Rep. Stahl Hamilton intentionally prohibit religious practice by her colleagues during the most critical moments of needed guidance, but she disrupted the peace, morality and good order of the body to the extent security cameras needed to be purchased and installed, Hamilton wrote. She did so not as a joke, but because she holds deeply ingrained bigotry against her Christian colleagues that utilize the Bible in service to our state. Hamilton said that is shown by her Twitter history. So far lawmakers responses appear to be limited to comments and not formal complaints. Dems wanted to claim a moral high ground with an ethics complaint against Liz Harris and now they are literally stealing Bibles the next week? Rep. Cory McGarr, R-Marana, wrote on his Twitter account. A tweet by Rep. Justin Heap, R-Mesa, called Stahl Hamilton an ordained minister who hates Bibles because she was hiding them. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people across the country have been covered by Medicaid due to a public health emergency (PHE) declaration enacted in January of 2020. This access to Medicaid has allowed individuals, families, and children to maintain insurance coverage throughout the pandemic and has provided critical healthcare protections to more than 2.4 million children and vulnerable adults in Arizona alone. With the end of the federal mandate requiring states provide continuous coverage to Medicaid enrollees during the PHE, an estimated 600,000 Arizonians need to update their Medicaid information for themselves or their children to ensure they have continued healthcare coverage, either through Medicaid or other insurance options. The good news is that many people will remain eligible for Medicaid. However, the renewal process can take time, so individuals should take action now by visiting www.healthearizonaplus.gov. Our role to play in maintaining continued coverage Everyone who is currently receiving Medicaid should check their eligibility and determine if they need to take action to maintain their coverage. We all have an important role to play in ensuring those covered by Medicaid are aware of the steps they need to take to maintain access to continuous healthcare coverage. Community-based organizations, healthcare providers and non-profits that support individuals on Medicaid are uniquely positioned to help educate people on the importance of the Medicaid renewal process and walk them through it. By assisting members with updating information online and over the phone, providing English and Spanish informational fliers, and giving people access to internet, computers, and phones, our very own Arizona community-based organizations, like Gellert Health and others, are removing barriers to help people renew their coverage. And to ensure continuous coverage for complex medical and behavioral conditions, these organizations are committed to providing members with health navigation to ensure uninterrupted access to quality care. While Medicaid renewals are not new, the process may be new for many due to the end of the continuous enrollment requirement. We must work together to educate Arizonians and help them maintain access to healthcare coverage. Routine care remains foundational for better health Regular doctor visits allow individuals to obtain preventive care, critical screenings and the services needed to achieve their best health. For both children and adults, healthcare delays may mean missed opportunities to better manage chronic conditions, receive timely routine vaccinations or diagnose new conditions, which could negatively impact a persons long-term health and well-being. It is critical that we bring awareness to the redeterminations process and other coverage options available to ensure the people of Arizona are able to obtain the routine care they need. How to stay covered In Arizona, the Medicaid program is provided through AHCCCS and its childrens program is called KidsCare, individuals can renew their coverage online at www.healthearizonaplus.gov. But not everyone has access to the Internet as many as 32% of Arizonians lack Internet at home. The state provides a phone number that people can call to renew, update their address and have renewal paperwork mailed to them: (855) HEA-PLUS or (855) 432-7587. The call center is open weekdays, 7 a.m. 6 p.m. People who dont qualify for Medicaid may find that private insurance available through the Marketplace is more affordable than they expected. Options are listed at www.healthcare.gov, and the phone number is (800) 318-2596. Everyone should have access to high-quality equitable care, without having to worry that they will be unable to afford the bills. It is especially heartbreaking when families avoid annual well visits and routine immunizations for their children because of the costsand do not realize help is available. At UnitedHealthcare, we are dedicated to supporting our members and connecting all Arizonians with resources to ensure they retain access to the care they need to live healthier lives. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Foreign governments like China and Russia would be barred from purchasing agricultural land in North Carolina or tracts near the state's military installations in legislation that received unanimous state House approval on Wednesday. The bill, which now heads to the Senate, is among similar measures being debated nationwide after a suspected Chinese spy balloon recently floated over U.S. territory and was brought down off the South Carolina coast. Under the measure, an adversarial foreign government as defined by the U.S. Secretary of State would be prohibited starting next year from purchasing, leasing or holding interest in land used for agricultural production purposes or land located within a 25-mile radius of an installation. Any such land transfer would be voided. "This legislation will mitigate an unnecessary threat to our national and food security, House Majority Leader John Bell, a Wayne County Republican, said in a news release after the 114-0 vote. Iran and Cuba also are on the current list of foreign adversaries, which are defined as having engaged in a long-term pattern or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to the national security of the United States or security and safety of United States persons. Rogers State University Department of Communications students took home honors from the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters/Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association conference in Tulsa. This event includes the annual student-produced media awards for content produced in 2022. This year, communications students took home nine awards, including four first prizes. An RSU student from Owasso, Jordan Capron, was among seven who earned recognition. Capron received first place in Audio PSA and third place in Audio Station Promo. The competition is open to all universities in the state. Based in Oklahoma City and governed by a 12-member board, the OAB is a nonprofit organization of commercial radio and television stations organized to serve the public interest and promote the cooperation and prosperity of its members. The OBEA provides a platform where the talent of the states media and communication students can be displayed and recognized. Derek Bray was perfectly content with running Wiz Hot Dog Co., the hot dog restaurant he and his wife, Alex, opened a year ago in downtown Tulsa, when a temptress named Rosa came calling. Honestly, I had zero interest in another restaurant, Bray said. One of the reasons we opened (Wiz Hot Dog Co.) was because we have a young family, and we didnt want to have to put in all the long hours you have to do if you have a place thats open all day. However, as the partners in the recently former Bain Marie Restaurant Group laid out their plans for a new concept that would take over what had once been home to the night spot MixCo., Brays resolve began to weaken. To be honest, he said, every meeting we had about this place made it very difficult to say no. All the tools Id need, the support systems, the talent they brought in it really was an offer I couldnt refuse. Rosa opened in late March with a menu focusing on shareable snacks, gourmet tacos and what it bills as Damn Strong Drinks. What Bray says sets it apart from a number of other restaurants specializing in similar fare is the attention to detail at every step of the culinary process. The last thing I wanted to do was another quirky taco joint, he said. I did something like that for 10 years in Colorado before we moved here. And I also had zero interest in running a full-service Mexican restaurant. For one thing, there are a lot of places in Tulsa that already do that and are really good at it. So we decided that every element gets the chefs touch, Bray said. Instead of shredded lettuce, we would use pickled vegetables that add a different texture and flavor. Instead of cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, we would use Mexican cheeses cotija, chihuahua, asadero. We tried to be more traditional in our approach or as traditional as I can let myself be. My companion and I stopped by for an early meal, selecting from the Snacks portion of the menu the Queso Crock ($8), along with two of the 11 choices for tacos: the Cantina Fish ($12) and the Fried Shrimp and Smoked Chorizo ($14). Each order includes two tacos as well as a small metal ramekin of a mild salsa verde and a substantial pile of tortilla chips. The queso (which can be augmented with chorizo or esquites for an additional charge) was topped with a sprinkle of finely crumbled cojita cheese, chopped tomatoes and sliced scallions and was served with fresh, well-salted tortilla chips. The queso itself was thick and creamy, full of flavor and just a hint of peppery heat, and we left little, of any, of it behind. The fish in the Cantina Fish tacos was grilled catfish, which on its own was remarkably clean-tasting. It was topped with a cabbage-based slaw with a citrusy dressing, a jalapeno-infused tartar sauce that gave it heat and avocado to smooth things out. The shrimp had a cornmeal-based breading that retained its crunch amid the pico de gallo, the chipotle aioli and the pickled red cabbage, which brought a tangy sweetness to everything, including chorizo with its slow-burning heat. We get our chorizo from the same smokehouse in Colorado that provides us with the dogs we use at Wiz Hot Dog, Bray said. The fish tacos were served on doubled corn tortillas, the shrimp and chorizo in flour tortillas. The tacos were generously filled, which made gathering them up to take a proper bite something of a challenge. But it was a challenge worth the effort and potential mess, as the various flavors in each taco were well-balanced. During the photo shoot for this article, we were able to sample the Short Rib Barbacoa ($14) and the Carne Asada ($14) tacos. We especially liked the barbacoa taco, and the bourbon chipotle barbecue sauce that Bray uses to finish the short rib. Rosa Cantina offers three margaritas, including the Frozen Rosa ($12), topped with a swirl of sangria. Among the choices of Damn Strong Drinks is the All Rye, All Rye, All Rye ($12), the houses version of a Manhattan. Ally Woulken, whos our general manager, and Andrew Aguero, who works with 1907 Cantina, put together our bar menu, Bray said. And they took the same care with our drink offerings as we do with what comes out of the kitchen. Our drinks are made with very carefully curated ingredients, and it took a lot of time to come up with the finished products. Also available are a variety of local and regional beers on tap, as well as Mexican and domestic brews in cans. Rosa Cantina has a happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, which features drink specials such as signature margaritas for $7, and $6 snacks, including some items not found on the regular menu, such as pulled pork nachos and truffle fries. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The restaurant also has an outdoor area partitioned off from the parking lot by a pink picket fence. The interior has been brightened considerably from its MixCo. days, with white walls. However, the concrete walls and floors have a tendency to amplify every sound. Its location, just across the street from the BOK Center, has already had an effect on business. The first weekend we were open, Bray said, the BOK Center had Journey and Toto one night, and the Turnpike Troubadours the next. I think we ended up serving more than 300 people each night. I can only imagine what its going to be like when Madonna comes to town. OKLAHOMA CITY A bill about teaching the civil rights movement on Tuesday drew the ire of two Black senators. The measure, House Bill 1397, passed by a vote of 35-9, with Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Tulsa, joining Democrats in voting against the measure. The measure now goes to Gov. Kevin Stitt for consideration. Senate author Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, said the measure would direct the Oklahoma State Department of Education to develop or make available a curriculum that reflects upon the civil rights movement between 1954 and 1968 and includes the principles Martin Luther King Jr. taught concerning nonviolence, bigotry and Jim Crow laws. Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, said he was disappointed that Bergstrom hadnt consulted him a Black colleague concerning the bill, which he called narrow in scope. Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City, said the legislation could do some good but that King would not have voted for it. Young said the civil rights movement was about so much more than the period between 1954 and 1968. The 13th Amendment, adopted in 1865, abolished slavery in the United States. The 14th Amendment, adopted in 1868, granted citizenship and civil and legal rights to African Americans, including emancipated slaves. Young said the country was built on stolen land and that its economic system was built on the backs of stolen people. Telling a portion of that story is not going to be very helpful, Young said. But Bergstrom said the bill would not prevent teaching about the history of slavery. Other critics said the measure goes against House Bill 1775, a law passed in 2021 that prohibits teaching that one race or sex is inherently superior to another and that anyone, by virtue of race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously. Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, said HB 1775 prohibits making students feel uncomfortable about race. She questioned how teachers can provide accurate information about the 1954-1968 era and comply with House Bill 1775. Bergstrom said HB 1397 is not in violation of HB 1775. But Hicks said the bill takes a snapshot of events and whitewashes them. She noted that two members of color in the chamber have risen in opposition to the measure. If that is not telling, I dont know what is, Hicks said. Bergstrom said the bill doesnt limit what can be taught, but he said that era is so important in national and state history that it should have its own curriculum. We need to focus on the fact that Dr. King led the fight in a peaceful and respectful manner, things we desperately need in our society today and could benefit students, Bergstrom said. May 2021 video: Oklahoma governor signs controversial bill that limits in-school instruction on race, gender and history A Broken Arrow woman has gone to federal court to challenge a state appellate court ruling that has landed her in jail, two years after her five manslaughter convictions and 107-year prison sentence were dismissed. Kimberly Elizabeth Graham, 52, has asked a judge to grant her bail while her Tulsa federal court challenge is pending, according to an application for a writ of habeas corpus filed Tuesday on her behalf. Graham surrendered to Tulsa Jail authorities Thursday, two days after the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ruled in a split 3-2 decision that the reinstatement of her convictions was authorized by law. Graham was released from prison April 8, 2021, the same day a Tulsa County District Court judge granted her post-conviction release based on the U.S. Supreme Courts McGirt ruling in 2020. At the time, Graham had served 14 years of a 107-year prison term imposed in 2009 after a jury found her guilty of five counts of first-degree manslaughter and one count of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. The McGirt ruling established that the Muscogee Nation reservation was still intact and that major crimes committed by tribal members within the reservation were the jurisdiction of tribal or federal prosecutors, rather than the state of Oklahoma. Graham is a member of the Cherokee Nation, while the deaths occurred within the Muscogee Nation reservation. During her trial, a prosecutor maintained that Graham was impaired by alcohol on Nov. 9, 2007, when she drove a Dodge Ram pickup into a group of people who had gathered on Memorial Drive to help an injured motorcyclist. Killed were De Anna Rosser-Coatney, 42; her husband, Ronald Coatney, 49; Anita Pauline Polly Foote, 50; Casey Jones, 29; and Shannon Montgomery Lacey, 36. Graham seeks an order from this court to nullify the unprecedented and lawless action of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, Grahams attorney, Richard OCarroll, wrote in the habeas corpus application. The application names Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado and Tulsa County District Judge Tracy Priddy, who issued the original order freeing Graham. When Graham was freed originally, it was based on Court of Criminal Appeals rulings that stated she was entitled to relief under post-conviction relief statutes despite her original conviction having long been final. That all changed in August 2021 when the Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that persons whose cases were deemed final were not entitled to post-conviction relief under the McGirt ruling. Based on that decision, Priddy in November 2021 ordered Grahams conviction and sentence reinstated. The OCCA ruling April 18 upheld Priddys 2021 decision ordering Grahams convictions and sentence reinstated. OCarroll wrote in the application that when Graham was ordered freed from prison, the law at the time supported her release. It wasnt until one day later, April 9, that the appellate court temporarily recalled a ruling in another McGirt-related case, effectively ordering those cases stayed until the appellate court issued another ruling in August 2021 that effectively outlawed post-conviction appeals on McGirt grounds like Grahams, according to OCarroll. OCCAs attempt to whitewash its aberrational ruling deprived the petitioner of her liberty interest and her right to 14th Amendment Due Process, OCarroll wrote in the application. Graham still faces similar charges in Muscogee tribal court. Tribal prosecutors charged Graham after her state convictions and sentences were dismissed. Federal officials said the statute of limitations had already expired on any federal charges Graham might have faced. McGirt v. Oklahoma: Supreme Court decision and aftermath June 19, 2022: Power generating company drops McGirt-based challenge to property taxes June 2, 2022: Cherokee Nation drops plan to turn north Tulsa property into a courthouse April 24: Gov. Stitt concerned about what McGirt ruling doesn't say, its far-reaching interpretations April 13, 2022: City can still issue traffic citations to Native citizens March 31, 2022: Gov. Stitt calls McGirt ruling 'preposterous' on Fox News' 'Tucker Carlson Tonight' March 9, 2022: City of Tulsa says McGirt ruling makes tribal members second-class citizens Feb. 23, 2022: Supreme Court won't hear McGirt arguments from state of Oklahoma Feb. 22, 2022: Federal lawsuit challenges Oklahoma's right to tax Native Americans Feb. 7, 2022: Gov. Stitt says Thats not fair' regarding McGirt-related case at State of the State Feb. 2, 2022: 'It is not too late for us to begin anew,' Muscogee Nation Chief says Jan. 22, 2022: Supreme Court lets McGirt ruling stand, will consider letting Oklahoma share jurisdiction Jan. 9, 2022: Most released due to McGirt have been charged either federally or tribally, Tulsa World analysis finds Dec. 14, 2021: Tribal leaders sound off as Stitt seeks change to hunting, fishing license compacts Dec. 12, 2021: Cherokee Nation disputes state's claim McGirt ruling has caused 'chaos' Oct. 28, 2021: Tulsa Indian Affairs Commission asks city to withdraw brief on McGirt Oct. 21, 2021: State appellate court extends McGirt ruling to include Quapaw Nation Sept. 18, 2021: Oklahoma AG asks Supreme Court again to reverse or limit McGirt Aug. 27, 2021: Gov. Kevin Stitt says McGirt legal decision is state's 'most pressing issue' Aug. 26, 2021: Man at center of McGirt landmark legal case sentenced to 3 life sentences Aug. 6, 2021: State asks U.S. Supreme Court to overturn landmark McGirt decision Aug. 1, 2021: U.S. House rejects $154 million for tribal judicial systems July 19, 2021: Gov. Stitt sues federal government July 19, 2021: Osage Nation seeks court affirmation that its reservation also was never disestablished July 13, 2021: Contentious McGirt forum ends early after shout-down from audience July 9, 2021: Cherokee Nation highlights expansion of legal system on anniversary of ruling July 8, 2021: 'McGirt v. Oklahoma Community Impact Forum' set for July 13; tribal leaders irked June 10, 2021: '80s serial rapist's claim he is 'Indian' for criminal jurisdictional purposes rejected May 26, 2021: U.S. Supreme Court signals they could limit ruling May 19, 2021: State-Tribal Litigation Fund bill passes May 17, 2021: How Cherokee Tribal courts are handling the surge in cases May 11, 2021: Oklahoma congressman's bill would allow tribes to compact with state on criminal jurisdiction May 10, 2021: Cherokee, Chickasaw tribal chiefs announce support for federal legislation April 29, 2021: State appeals court overturns two more death sentences April 28, 2021: AG seeks to intervene in case of power plant objecting to property taxes April 15, 2021: Appellate court rejects claims of two who failed to prove ancestry April 14, 2021: Chickasaws question Gov. Stitt's rhetoric about McGirt impact April 9, 2021: Four serving life sentences in state prison to get new trials April 8, 2021: Death-row inmate's state conviction, sentence are in jeopardy April 8, 2021: State appellate court dismisses five more cases on jurisdictional grounds April 6, 2021: Cherokee AG says some cases dismissed by ruling could go unretried April 1, 2021: State appellate court expands McGirt ruling March 31, 2021: 'Fracture' in criminal system created by decision, Tulsa County DA says March 18, 2021: Manslaughter conviction for ex-Tulsa Police officer overturned March 14, 2021: Broken Arrow power plant claims county has no authority to levy property taxes March 11, 2021: Court ruling means hundreds of state criminal cases will be shifted to tribal or federal courts March 11, 2021: Cherokees expanding criminal justice system for larger role March 7, 2021: Former principal chief isn't happy as McGirt decision hits home March 4, 2021: Rogers County judge dismisses over 100 criminal cases Feb. 1, 2021: Gov. Stitt takes on McGirt ruling during State of the State address Jan. 28, 2021: McGirt decision impact on state oil and gas industry examined during OEPA briefing Jan. 23, 2021: Oklahoma governor urges tribes to begin negotiating issues Jan. 15, 2021: Tribes want Congress to allow criminal justice compacts with Oklahoma Jan. 8, 2021: Former Tulsa police officer's double-jeopardy, statute-of-limitations claims denied Jan. 4, 2021: McGirt decision results in record number of criminal federal filings in 2020 Nov. 7, 2020: Federal jury finds McGirt guilty in retrial Oct. 23, 2020: Gov. Stitt panel releases principles for state-tribe relations Oct. 5, 2020: McGirt ruling could have impact on state tax collections Oct. 1, 2020: Attorney General Bill Barr meets with Cherokee Nation leadership, local federal prosecutors Aug. 29, 2020: Man charged in 1990s rapes freed due to McGirt ruling Aug. 14, 2020: McGirt makes federal court appearance in child sex abuse case Aug. 7, 2020: McGirt-related murder cases increase Tulsa federal court's caseload Aug. 1, 2020: Feds file charges against two men whose state convictions were overturned July 29, 2020: Attorneys general for Oklahoma, Cherokee Nation discuss ruling on 'Let's Talk' July 21, 2020: Gov. Stitt forms commission to study impact of decision on state July 20, 2020: Oklahoma AG tracking scores of appeals that could be affected by decision July 17, 2020: Attorney general, tribes reach agreement on jurisdictional issues July 15, 2020: Ruling could affect case of mother charged with killing children July 14, 2020: Homicide in Tulsa 'first real test' of decision July 12, 2020: Decision to have little impact on nontribal residents, TU law professor says July 10, 2020: Tribal law expert calls ruling 'most important' in state history July 9, 2020: U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision December 2019: U.S. Supreme Court to hear McGirt v. Oklahoma McGirt v. Oklahoma: Supreme Court decision and aftermath The US Elections 2024 is near as Sen. Bernie Sanders gave President Joe Biden his endorsement for reelection. Sanders previously rivaled Biden for the Democratic nomination during the 2020 elections. In the past, the Senator of Vermont also criticized Biden for his policies. But this time, he supports the bid of the Democratic leader to pursue his second term in the White House. US Elections 2024: Bernie Sanders Endorses Biden Reelection As per a report by Associated Press News, Sander confirmed to the news outlet that he supports the reelection bid of Biden. His confirmation came after Biden announced his plans to run second term despite the poll results, suggesting that both Democrats and Republicans are no longer in favor of his reelection. A CBS News poll says that most people are concerned with his age. The current President of the United States (POTUS) is already 80 years old. Sanders, who was once the rival of Biden, warned against the White House comeback of former US President Donald Trump or the victory of other Republicans, Fox News reports. The Democrat Senator states, "The last thing this country needs is a Donald Trump or some other right-wing demagogue." He adds that they will "try to undermine American democracy or take away a woman's right to choose, or not address the crisis of gun violence, or racism, sexism or homophobia." With all that said, Sanders says he will "do everything [he] can to see the president is reelected." In other words, he will support Biden as he aims to continue his term in the White House. However, AP News notes that he did not disclose his role in the upcoming reelection campaign. The Senator says it is still too early to tell. But based on his remarks, it seems that he will take on a massive role in the 2024 bid. Read Also: Biden Signs Bill Ending COVID-19 National Emergency in the US Bernie Sanders Forgoes Presidential Run in 2024 It is worth noting that Sanders is a two-time presidential candidate. He ran for the top post in 2016 and 2020. In the latter, he is a strong contender in the Democratic presidential primary. But things have changed. Sanders has confirmed that he will not again run for the presidency in 2024. Instead, he would support Biden's reelection bid, bidding farewell to his third run for the White House for the elections next year. CBS News notes that at age 81, it seems like Sanders would no longer vie for the presidency. When asked if he would seek reelection as Senator of Vermont, he answered without ruling out anything for now. He says, "people in Vermont have not been asking that, only the media here in Washington." Related Article: US 2024 Elections: New Voting System for Poll Technology Launches Late 2023 @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Tulsa man will receive a 40-year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to second-degree murder in Indian Country in connection with a November fatal shooting if his plea agreement is accepted. Rahmon Lawrence Macon Jr., 31, admitted fatally shooting Aliza Renea Crook on Nov. 6 near an east-Tulsa convenience store. I intentionally used a firearm to fire two shots at a vehicle occupied by Aliza Renea Crook, Macon wrote in his plea. Crook, 19, was a passenger in a vehicle when she was shot in the head while traveling near 11th Street and Garnett Road. Prior to the shooting, Macon had met with the driver of Crooks vehicle, who identified himself to emergency responders as Crooks boyfriend, at a gas station near the intersection shortly before following their vehicle out of the parking lot, authorities alleged. The boyfriend, who initially gave police a false name and was later arrested on federal warrants, told detectives he heard glass break as he was driving west near the intersection and saw Crook slump in the front passenger seat, the complaint states. Other people told federal agents that Crooks boyfriend was a drug dealer and that Macon owed him money, according to the complaint. Macon told investigators he was acting in self-defense, but he allegedly told another person in a cellphone conversation that he aint playing no games regarding earning respect from Crooks boyfriend. Macon was initially charged Nov. 22 with second-degree murder in Indian Country. A grand jury Dec. 21 issued a superseding indictment that added seven more counts, including assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm in Indian Country and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. On Tuesday, prosecutors filed felony information charging Macon with just the original charge of second-degree murder in Indian Country. The plea agreement is subject to judicial approval at his sentencing date, which has not been set. WARNER Citing the ongoing teacher shortage, State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced a pilot program Wednesday afternoon to provide one-time signing bonuses for specific instructional areas. Paid for with federal funds provided through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the one-time program will allocate $16 million in the Oklahoma State Department of Educations discretionary funding for signing bonuses starting at $15,000 to educators who commit to teaching special education, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first, second or third grade in an Oklahoma public school for at least five years, with additional amounts awarded to teachers who agree to teach in a rural district or one where at least half of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. As announced Wednesday, the program calls for sign-on bonuses of up to $50,000 for teachers with more than five years of classroom experience. To qualify, a teacher would have to either have received certification within the last three years, have previously left the profession or currently hold certification from another state. Any recipient who voluntarily leaves their school district during that five-year window would be required to repay the bonus. However, with applications subject to review by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, the plan includes a cap on the total amount of signing bonuses awarded per district at $150,000. We want to make sure everyone has an opportunity to get these funds, Walters said. We have some large districts that, with a program like this (without the cap), they have the potential to go in and get all these funds. Including the 58 emergency teaching certificate requests on the consent agenda for Thursdays Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting, more than 4,000 educators across Oklahoma have received an emergency certificate since the start of the fiscal year on July 1, including 1,086 for elementary education and 599 for early childhood education. The sign-on bonus application went live on the State Department of Educations website Wednesday afternoon. Additionally, the Oklahoma State Department of Education will be launching a privately funded nationwide advertising campaign featuring the signing bonus in an effort to bring in more teachers, Walters said. He declined to provide specifics about the campaign, including its funders. Despite repeated reassurances from Walters that the one-time bonuses will be enough to encourage new teachers to stay around long enough to get acclimated to the classroom, the plan was met with public skepticism from at least one administrator. What is it going to look like if they leave after those five years? Warner Elementary School Principal Alan Gordon asked. Are we going to be back at square one, where were looking for another person to come here? I may have a person here whos been teaching for 25 years wholl lose the chance to get this, and we could lose someone who is really loyal. Weve got to take care of those teachers whove been here, giving us their all all the time. What does this look like for those teachers? I was in the classroom for 12 years and know what its like to only get paid once a month and then be broke after paying the bills. For a person to come in here, do this for five years, say, Im gonna get my 50Gs and Im outta here, thats a slap in the face of the teachers whove been working their behinds off daily. Another plan from Walters calls on the Legislature to provide an additional $150 million to go toward merit-based pay raises. According to a meeting notice released Wednesday afternoon, the House of Representatives Appropriations and Budget Committee is slated to hold a hearing Monday afternoon on the Oklahoma State Department of Education. During Wednesdays session, Walters told attendees that his department is committed to working with the Legislature to increase education funding. However, he has previously declined to appear before legislators to answer their questions about the agency he leads. On top of the sign-on bonuses and proposed merit raises, Walters announced Wednesday that the State Department of Education will create additional certification levels that will provide incentive pay raises of up to $40,000 under the terms of House Bill 4388. Approved in 2022, HB 4388 directs that lottery proceeds above $65 million go to the Teacher Empowerment Fund to pay for raises for teachers who meet certain criteria. However, the number of teachers who would be eligible for such a raise would be capped at 10% per district, and the teachers would have to be renominated each year to receive the pay increase. Additionally, that plan is contingent upon school districts' providing matching money, which is problematic for Warner Superintendent David Vinson. My issue as a superintendent is that we havent done anything to address the inflation weve had since 2019, he said. Thats going to catch up with us, and those matching dollars arent there. The only way Id be able to start matching what these teachers are applying for is to take away from other areas in my district, because I dont have new money to work with. I love the idea I can name teacher after teacher right now in Warner Public Schools who deserves more money, and Id be more than happy to pay for it. Im just telling you right now that as a school district I would not be able to come up with that money. Video: Oklahoma House passes six weeks of paid maternity leave for state employees OKLAHOMA CITY The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board on Wednesday denied clemency for a high-profile death-row inmate despite the states top prosecutors rare plea for mercy. The board voted 2-2 to deny clemency for Richard Glossip, who was convicted of first-degree murder for allegedly orchestrating the 1997 beating death of his boss, Oklahoma City motel owner Barry Van Treese. The Pardon and Parole Boards decision appears to leave Glossip limited options to block his May 18 execution. His attorneys have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene. Glossips attorney, Don Knight, called on Gov. Kevin Stitt to delay his clients upcoming execution. We will pursue every avenue in the courts to stop this unlawful judicial execution, Knight said in a statement. During the hearing, Knight objected to the five-member Pardon and Parole Boards voting with one member absent. Had the board recommended clemency for Glossip, the final decision would have gone to Stitt. Without a recommendation from the board, the governor cant commute Glossips sentence, although he can issue a stay of execution. A spokeswoman for Stitt said the governor was aware of the Pardon and Parole Boards vote, but she declined to comment further. Members of the Van Treese family begged the board members to deny clemency. I feel like justice has finally been served after 26 years, said Donna Van Treese, the victims wife. Attorney General Gentner Drummond, in what may be a first, asked the Pardon and Parole Board to grant clemency for Glossip. Typically, the Attorney Generals Office lays out the case for why the Pardon and Parole Board should deny clemency for death-row inmates. Two independent reviews of Glossips case, including one requested by Drummond, have determined that a jury would be unlikely to convict Glossip today. After Drummond obtained an independent review that cast doubt on Glossips conviction, the attorney general requested that the state Court of Criminal Appeals overturn the conviction. The appeals court unanimously rejected that request and directed the state to move forward with Glossips execution. Drummond said he does not believe that Glossip is guilty of first-degree murder beyond a reasonable doubt. He said it would be a grave injustice for the state to move forward with the execution. I believe death to be an excessive sentence for the man who did not commit this violent act, Drummond said. Drummond also noted that newly elected Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna recently instituted new procedures outlining when a death sentence is appropriate. Under those new policies, Glossips case would not qualify for the death penalty today, Drummond said. Glossip has long proclaimed that he was framed for Van Treeses murder. His attorneys claim that their client was set up by a motel maintenance man, Justin Sneed, who they argue killed Van Treese during a botched robbery and shifted the blame to avoid getting the death penalty himself. Glossip was twice convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death after an appeals court tossed his first conviction due to ineffective counsel. In both trials, Sneed was a key witness for the state, and he admitted to robbing and killing Van Treese but claimed to have done so only after Glossip promised to pay him $10,000. Sneed was sentenced to life in prison. Glossip videoconferenced into the meeting to ask the board to grant his request for clemency. In his brief remarks, he apologized and thanked his supporters. Im not a murderer, and I dont deserve to die for this, Glossip said while getting choked up. Drummond ceded most of his time in the hearing to an attorney and a former prosecutor to give details of the two independent reviews, both of which concluded that a jury would be unlikely to convict Glossip in light of new evidence that wasnt presented at trial. Drummond asked former prosecutor Rex Duncan to review Glossips case after a group of pro bono attorneys issued a report detailing lost or destroyed evidence in the case and raising questions about the credibility of Sneed, the states star witness. A group of pro-death penalty GOP lawmakers led by Rep. Kevin McDugle, R-Broken Arrow, had requested the first independent review from the Texas-based Reed Smith law firm. McDugle was one of two lawmakers to speak on behalf of Glossip at the hearing. He said the Reed Smith report convinced him that Glossip is innocent and that the state erred in convicting him. The Oklahoma Standard should be to hold ourselves accountable and admit our mistakes, McDugle said. Members of the Van Treese family said the legal process has drawn out long enough. Two juries made up of 24 members of the public heard the same evidence and found Glossip guilty of murder, said Derrick Van Treese, one of Barry Van Treeses children. This case has been pushed from being a legal matter to being a political issue, he said. Its been pushed from a court of law to the court of public opinion, and enough is enough. Members of the Van Treese family also took Drummond to task for advocating on behalf of Glossip. Alana Van Treese Mileto, the victims sister, called the clemency hearing one-sided. Typically, the Attorney Generals Office coordinates closely with the victims family members prior to the hearing. It feels like a giant stab in the back because we have not been represented, she said. Glossip has been on death row for about 25 years. He has been within hours of being put to death by lethal injection on several occasions before his execution was postponed. He has eaten his last meal three times and was previously denied clemency before his first execution date in 2014. Board members Edward Konieczny and Calvin Prince voted in favor of granting Glossip clemency, while Richard Miller and Cathy Stocker voted against. All of the appointees other than Miller were appointed to the board by Stitt. Board member Richard Smothermon recused himself from the hearing. His wife was the lead prosecutor during Glossips second trial. OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahomas new laws banning abortions have caused unprecedented confusion among providers and patients, and the states hospitals havent been able to articulate clear or consistent policies for emergency obstetric care since the laws were enacted, a study released Tuesday indicates. The study was done by Physicians for Human Rights, Oklahoma Call for Reproductive Justice and the Center for Reproductive Rights after Oklahoma passed laws last legislative session banning abortion. Two of the groups have sued the state over laws putting restrictions on abortions. The study involved 34 of the states 37 hospitals that provide prenatal and peripartum care. The report found that 65% of the hospitals could not provide information about procedures, policies or support to doctors when it is clinically necessary to terminate a pregnancy to save the life of a pregnant patient. In 14 cases, hospitals provided unclear and/or incomplete answers about whether doctors require approval to perform a medically necessary abortion, the report says. Four hospitals said they have formal approval processes that clinicians must go through if they deem it medically necessary to terminate a pregnancy. Three hospitals indicated that they have policies for these situations but refused to share information about them. Three hospital representatives reportedly said their facilities do not provide abortions, even though abortion remains legal in the cases of medical emergencies to preserve the life of the mother. Four hospitals provided information that was factually wrong, according to the report. Hospitals affiliated with Native American tribes were excluded from the study. Oklahoma is one of 13 states and counting where abortion is illegal, noted Rabia Muqaddam, Center for Reproductive Rights senior staff attorney. Oklahomas current, overlapping bans have caused unprecedented confusion among providers and patients, she said. People facing imminent death are being forced to leave their state for abortions, she said. There is nothing prolife about forcing patients to risk their lives, Muqaddam said. The state should never be able to force people against their will to serve as incubators, in the words of one hospital staffer quoted in the report. This is nothing less than a grave human rights violation. The laws are so vague and confusing that patients and health care providers do not know what their rights are and what is allowed, said Tamya Cox-Toure, chairwoman of Oklahoma Call for Reproductive Justice. Medical care has been taken out of the hands of doctors and put right directly in the hands of hospital lawyers and administrators, Cox-Toure said. They are deciding if patients can obtain an abortion, even in cases of medical emergencies. The poorly written and confusing laws have put hospitals in a very precarious position, she said. We blame the Oklahoma Legislature, Cox-Toure said. Dr. Michele Heisler, medical director at Physicians for Human Rights, said that overall, hospital staff could not articulate their emergency policies under Oklahomas abortion bans. Oklahomas abortion laws conflict with one another, leaving physicians in the dark about the circumstances under which an abortion may be performed, the Oklahoma State Medical Association told the Tulsa World. We again call on the Legislature to clarify the statutes to ensure lifesaving treatment is available when necessary. The Oklahoma Hospital Association did not respond to a request for comment on the report. July 2022 video: Lankford says abortion-rights activists riling people up with what-ifs Legislation that may or may not grease the skids for taxpayer support of religious schools is in transit to Gov. Kevin Stitt after Senate Bill 404 passed the House of Representatives 64-27 on Tuesday following two hours of discussion and debate. SB 404 by Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, was described by House sponsor Jon Echols as a religious discrimination cure, but opponents including seven Republicans werent so sure. They suspected it of being a semi-stealth attempt to help the Oklahoma City Catholic Archdiocese prevail in its efforts to secure state funding for a Catholic virtual charter school. Those suspicions were raised by Daniels and Echols statements that the archdiocese was involved in the bills creation and their inability to give concrete examples of why the change is necessary given that the state already has a religious freedom act on the books. Either this bill does nothing or it will do something we do not wish to see, said Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa. Echols brushed aside most questions as to SB 404s possible intent and effects as irrelevant. But he did say the bill would not give religious organizations automatic access to taxpayer funds. You cant discriminate solely based on religion, but there are a million other reasons you can say no, Echols said. You could discriminate based on proselytization. You could discriminate based on them not having the systems in place to follow the other rules. Rep. Forrest Bennett, D-Oklahoma City, seemed to find Echols answers a little too slippery. Come on, man, Bennett said. The reality is, if this law were to change tomorrow, if a religious charter school asked for funding, what would be the only reason the state would say no? What would be the only reason? A series of reasons, Echols replied. They wouldnt be able to do it without proselytizing theres a statutory provision (barring that). But change the law or not, (the state) could still say yes. The First Amendment is what deals with the charter school issue. Some Democrats who argued against the bill maintained that Daniels said during the March 7 Senate discussion that she had worked with church officials to develop SB 404 as a way around the states constitutional and statutory barriers to taxpayer-funded religious instruction. No such statement can be heard on recordings of that discussion or the Feb. 23 Senate committee hearing on the bill, however. Daniels did say the archdiocese had a hand in writing the bill. The bill itself is quite brief. It would insert one sentence into existing statute: It shall be deemed a substantial burden to exclude any person or entity from participation in or receipt of governmental funds, benefits, programs, or exemptions based solely on the religious character or affiliation of the person or entity. It also would delete an existing sentence: As used in this subsection, granting government funds, benefits, or exemptions shall not include the denial of government funding, benefits, or exemptions. All seemed to agree, though, that the effect of those two changes is to shift the burden of proof from a religious organization claiming discrimination to the state. Earlier Tuesday, the House passed SB 193, by Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, which in its current form would provide six weeks of paid maternity leave for state employees. Although a Republican bill, all 21 nays were by Republicans, some of whom seemed concerned that the maternity leave would be unfair to those who didnt or couldnt use it. There was also a hint that it might make hiring and retaining workers harder for private employers. House sponsor Nick Archer, R-Elk City, said the $3 million the benefit is expected to cost the state would be more than offset by workforce retention. He also said it fits conservative policy goals. I believe this would make Oklahoma a very pro-life and pro-family state, he said. SB 193 now goes back to the Senate. The United States firms doing business in Vietnam have affirmed that they are willing to accompany Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast Asian country as a whole to develop the southern metropolis into an intellectual and hi-tech destination, heard a meeting in the city on Tuesday. The city is pooling opinions and suggestions from firms, associations, and economic experts for a project to beef up the efficiency of foreign direct investment attraction in the 2023-25 period with a vision toward 2030 to boost its economic growth, Ho Chi Minh City chairman Phan Van Mai told a dialogue between city leaders and the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham Vietnam). The project is aimed at turning Ho Chi Minh City into a modern service-industry city, a digital economic and social center, and a financial, economic, commercial, technology, and cultural hub in Southeast Asia by 2030. The city always attaches much significance to its responsibility for accompanying local and international enterprises and improving infrastructure, policies, manpower, and the business climate to back the production and business development of the corporate community here, Mai said. Speaking at the dialogue, Gregory Testerman, chairman of AmCham Vietnam, said that American firms in Vietnam are still confident in the countrys long-term economic growth. However, Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam are facing big challenges caused by high risks of economic depression in the United States, North America, and Europe. U.S. firms are showing much interest in the citys plan to call for investment in high technology and innovation in Thu Duc City, and its project to build a financial hub in the region and the world as well, said Testerman. U.S. firms join hands with Ho Chi Minh City to grasp new opportunities American businesses expected Ho Chi Minh City to open a wider door for foreign investors to tap the financial market. They also suggested the city should focus on sustainable development as foreign investment tends to flow into destinations that meet high standards and requirements on environmental protection, administration, and social development. The AmCham Vietnam representative also proposed the city continue improving visa issuance steps to make life easier for foreign investors to enter the city so as not to lose any foreign investment. This time is very meaningful and important to the Vietnam-U.S. relations, said Susan Burns, U.S. Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City. Last week, two U.S. secretaries visited Vietnam, while a new U.S. embassy compound got off the ground in Hanoi, she added. U.S. firms have played a key role in the growth of bilateral relations," Burns said. "AmCham Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City has operated for 27 years since the establishment of bilateral ties. "AmCham has over 2,000 members, pouring billions of U.S. dollars into the city. "The investment has helped the citys products join the global supply chain and created jobs for local workers, boosting innovation in the city." Despite several challenges, in the coming time, U.S. firms will always accompany the city to weather short-term difficulties and seize long-term opportunities to transform Ho Chi Minh City into an intellectual and hi-tech destination. At the dialogue, city leaders also answered questions from American firms about funds, financial services, digital economy, production, logistics, energy, supply chains, healthcare, and education. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The United States firms doing business in Vietnam have affirmed that they are willing to accompany Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast Asian country as a whole to develop the southern metropolis into an intellectual and hi-tech destination, heard a meeting in the city on Tuesday. The city is pooling opinions and suggestions from firms, associations, and economic experts for a project to beef up the efficiency of foreign direct investment attraction in the 2023-25 period with a vision toward 2030 to boost its economic growth, Ho Chi Minh City chairman Phan Van Mai told a dialogue between city leaders and the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham Vietnam). The project is aimed at turning Ho Chi Minh City into a modern service-industry city, a digital economic and social center, and a financial, economic, commercial, technology, and cultural hub in Southeast Asia by 2030. The city always attaches much significance to its responsibility for accompanying local and international enterprises and improving infrastructure, policies, manpower, and the business climate to back the production and business development of the corporate community here, Mai said. Speaking at the dialogue, Gregory Testerman, chairman of AmCham Vietnam, said that American firms in Vietnam are still confident in the countrys long-term economic growth. However, Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam are facing big challenges caused by high risks of economic depression in the United States, North America, and Europe. U.S. firms are showing much interest in the citys plan to call for investment in high technology and innovation in Thu Duc City, and its project to build a financial hub in the region and the world as well, said Testerman. U.S. firms join hands with Ho Chi Minh City to grasp new opportunities American businesses expected Ho Chi Minh City to open a wider door for foreign investors to tap the financial market. They also suggested the city should focus on sustainable development as foreign investment tends to flow into destinations that meet high standards and requirements on environmental protection, administration, and social development. The AmCham Vietnam representative also proposed the city continue improving visa issuance steps to make life easier for foreign investors to enter the city so as not to lose any foreign investment. This time is very meaningful and important to the Vietnam-U.S. relations, said Susan Burns, U.S. Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City. Last week, two U.S. secretaries visited Vietnam, while a new U.S. embassy compound got off the ground in Hanoi, she added. U.S. firms have played a key role in the growth of bilateral relations," Burns said. "AmCham Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City has operated for 27 years since the establishment of bilateral ties. "AmCham has over 2,000 members, pouring billions of U.S. dollars into the city. "The investment has helped the citys products join the global supply chain and created jobs for local workers, boosting innovation in the city." Despite several challenges, in the coming time, U.S. firms will always accompany the city to weather short-term difficulties and seize long-term opportunities to transform Ho Chi Minh City into an intellectual and hi-tech destination. At the dialogue, city leaders also answered questions from American firms about funds, financial services, digital economy, production, logistics, energy, supply chains, healthcare, and education. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Murali Mohan Sastry is waiting peacefully for death on the banks of the Ganges River in India's northern city of Varanasi, revered by millions of Hindus. More than a decade ago, the 82-year-old former college teacher and his wife left behind comfortable lives in the southern city of Hyderabad. Now he hopes that by dying in Varanasi, he can break the tenuous cycle of death and rebirth, an article of faith for many Hindus, in order to attain salvation. "We invite death," Sastry said soon after chanting his dawn prayers while dipping fully clothed into the waters of the river three times. "And he's our guest, actually. So we are proud that we are going to die here." Ram Pyari, a resident of Mumukshu Bhavan, a community home for elderly wishing to live and end their twilight years in the sacred city of Varanasi, sits in her doorway way in Varanasi, India, March 7, 2023. Photo: Reuters The couple, who live in one of the spartan community homes across the sacred city meant for those seeking to live out their twilight years there, were inspired by the example of his mother, who had lived in the same place. Although Western-style retirement homes are growing popular, Sastry has no interest in worldly comforts, preferring to spend his final days immersed in study and prayer. "Our Indian philosophy is, those who seek worldly comforts can never go to God, can never reach God," said the white-haired Sastry, his shoulders draped in a yellow shawl with scriptural phrases picked out in saffron. "As far as possible, shun all these things. Dont go for them. Go only for God." Hindu priests twirl censers over the Ganges during the nightly 'Ganga Aarti' prayer in Varanasi, India, March 7, 2023. Photo: Reuters More than a million people live in the ancient city famed for its temples and bathing spots beside Hinduism's holiest river to which the devout flock from all over the country for rituals marking events from birth to death. "Now I don't feel like living in this world anymore," said Ram Pyari, another resident of the home, as she prepared a meal for her husband, who is mostly confined to bed in what he is certain are his final days. "One has to face so much suffering that one gets fed up. So you feel that if you attain salvation then you won't have to suffer anymore," added Ram Pyari, who is in her 80s. Hindu priests twirl censers over the Ganges during the nightly 'Ganga Aarti' prayer in Varanasi, India, March 7, 2023. Photo: Reuters The manager of the home, Mumukshu Bhavan, which dates from the 1920s, says it has reached full capacity, with more than 80 residents, although demand for places remains high. "More and more old people want to come and stay in Varanasi," said the official, Manish Kumar Pandey. "But we can only accommodate a limited number." Still, the devout unable to breathe their last in the holy city can take solace from the Hindu belief that will come a step closer to salvation if their remains are cremated there. A resident of Mumukshu Bhavan, a community home for elderly wishing to live and end their twilight years in the sacred city of Varanasi, asks for release from physical pain from a holy man in Varanasi, India, March 7, 2023. Photo: Reuters Murali Mohan Sastry is waiting peacefully for death on the banks of the Ganges River in India's northern city of Varanasi, revered by millions of Hindus. More than a decade ago, the 82-year-old former college teacher and his wife left behind comfortable lives in the southern city of Hyderabad. Now he hopes that by dying in Varanasi, he can break the tenuous cycle of death and rebirth, an article of faith for many Hindus, in order to attain salvation. "We invite death," Sastry said soon after chanting his dawn prayers while dipping fully clothed into the waters of the river three times. "And he's our guest, actually. So we are proud that we are going to die here." Ram Pyari, a resident of Mumukshu Bhavan, a community home for elderly wishing to live and end their twilight years in the sacred city of Varanasi, sits in her doorway way in Varanasi, India, March 7, 2023. Photo: Reuters The couple, who live in one of the spartan community homes across the sacred city meant for those seeking to live out their twilight years there, were inspired by the example of his mother, who had lived in the same place. Although Western-style retirement homes are growing popular, Sastry has no interest in worldly comforts, preferring to spend his final days immersed in study and prayer. "Our Indian philosophy is, those who seek worldly comforts can never go to God, can never reach God," said the white-haired Sastry, his shoulders draped in a yellow shawl with scriptural phrases picked out in saffron. "As far as possible, shun all these things. Dont go for them. Go only for God." Hindu priests twirl censers over the Ganges during the nightly 'Ganga Aarti' prayer in Varanasi, India, March 7, 2023. Photo: Reuters More than a million people live in the ancient city famed for its temples and bathing spots beside Hinduism's holiest river to which the devout flock from all over the country for rituals marking events from birth to death. "Now I don't feel like living in this world anymore," said Ram Pyari, another resident of the home, as she prepared a meal for her husband, who is mostly confined to bed in what he is certain are his final days. "One has to face so much suffering that one gets fed up. So you feel that if you attain salvation then you won't have to suffer anymore," added Ram Pyari, who is in her 80s. Hindu priests twirl censers over the Ganges during the nightly 'Ganga Aarti' prayer in Varanasi, India, March 7, 2023. Photo: Reuters The manager of the home, Mumukshu Bhavan, which dates from the 1920s, says it has reached full capacity, with more than 80 residents, although demand for places remains high. "More and more old people want to come and stay in Varanasi," said the official, Manish Kumar Pandey. "But we can only accommodate a limited number." Still, the devout unable to breathe their last in the holy city can take solace from the Hindu belief that will come a step closer to salvation if their remains are cremated there. LISBON - Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said on Tuesday his country should apologise and take responsibility for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, the first time a leader of the southern European nation has suggested such a national apology. From the 15th to the 19th century, 6 million Africans were kidnapped and forcibly transported across the Atlantic by Portuguese vessels and sold into slavery, primarily to Brazil. But so far Portugal has rarely commented on its past and little is taught about its role in slavery in schools. Rather, the country's colonial era, which saw countries including Angola, Mozambique, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor as well as parts of India subjected to Portuguese rule, is often perceived as a source of pride by most Portuguese. Speaking at Portugal's annual commemoration of the 1974 "Carnation" revolution, which toppled the country's dictatorship, Rebelo de Sousa said the country should go beyond just an apology, though he did not offer up any specifics. "Apologising is sometimes the easiest thing to do: you apologise, turn your back, and the job is done," he said, adding the country should "assume responsibility" for its past to build a better future. Paula Cardoso, founder of the Afrolink online platform for Black professionals in Portugal, said Rebelo de Sousa's remarks were "symbolic" but important as they brought the issue to the table. "(But) I would have liked to hear something more concrete from the president," Cardoso told Reuters. "To have some impact, these reflections...have to be accompanied by measures and commitments." Reparations and public policies to fight inequalities caused by Portugal's past were essential, Cardoso said. Rebelo de Sousa made the remarks after Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was in Portugal on his first visit to Europe since assuming the office, addressed the Portuguese parliament. Brazil gained independence from Portugal in 1822. He said the colonisation of Brazil also had positive factors, such as the spread of Portuguese language and culture. "(But) on the bad side, the exploitation of Indigenous people...slavery, the sacrifice of the interests of Brazil and Brazilians," he said. Brazil's human rights minister, Silvio Almeida, said Rebelo de Sousa took an "extremely important" step. "We continue to suffer in Brazil the effects of a legacy of slavery," Almeida said in a statement. "Recognising the exploitation of millions of enslaved people for more than 300 years is a step towards moving towards a less unequal society." Europe's top human rights group previously said Portugal had do more to confront its colonial past and role in the transatlantic slave trade in order to help fight racism and discrimination today. LISBON - Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said on Tuesday his country should apologise and take responsibility for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, the first time a leader of the southern European nation has suggested such a national apology. From the 15th to the 19th century, 6 million Africans were kidnapped and forcibly transported across the Atlantic by Portuguese vessels and sold into slavery, primarily to Brazil. But so far Portugal has rarely commented on its past and little is taught about its role in slavery in schools. Rather, the country's colonial era, which saw countries including Angola, Mozambique, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor as well as parts of India subjected to Portuguese rule, is often perceived as a source of pride by most Portuguese. Speaking at Portugal's annual commemoration of the 1974 "Carnation" revolution, which toppled the country's dictatorship, Rebelo de Sousa said the country should go beyond just an apology, though he did not offer up any specifics. "Apologising is sometimes the easiest thing to do: you apologise, turn your back, and the job is done," he said, adding the country should "assume responsibility" for its past to build a better future. Paula Cardoso, founder of the Afrolink online platform for Black professionals in Portugal, said Rebelo de Sousa's remarks were "symbolic" but important as they brought the issue to the table. "(But) I would have liked to hear something more concrete from the president," Cardoso told Reuters. "To have some impact, these reflections...have to be accompanied by measures and commitments." Reparations and public policies to fight inequalities caused by Portugal's past were essential, Cardoso said. Rebelo de Sousa made the remarks after Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was in Portugal on his first visit to Europe since assuming the office, addressed the Portuguese parliament. Brazil gained independence from Portugal in 1822. He said the colonisation of Brazil also had positive factors, such as the spread of Portuguese language and culture. "(But) on the bad side, the exploitation of Indigenous people...slavery, the sacrifice of the interests of Brazil and Brazilians," he said. Brazil's human rights minister, Silvio Almeida, said Rebelo de Sousa took an "extremely important" step. "We continue to suffer in Brazil the effects of a legacy of slavery," Almeida said in a statement. "Recognising the exploitation of millions of enslaved people for more than 300 years is a step towards moving towards a less unequal society." Europe's top human rights group previously said Portugal had do more to confront its colonial past and role in the transatlantic slave trade in order to help fight racism and discrimination today. Vietnam always attaches great importance to its bilateral relations with Argentina and aims to foster the comprehensive partnership between the two nations, Vuong Dinh Hue, chairman of the Vietnamese lawmaking National Assembly, told an event to mark the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-Argentina diplomatic relationship in the Latin American nation on Tuesday evening (local time). Speaking of global situations, Hue said that the world, despite enormous potential and advances, is facing multiple challenges. He expected nations worldwide to unite and join hands to respond to global challenges. The challenges are big, but they act as a motivation for nations worldwide to develop and innovate, he said. The top Vietnamese legislator believed that Vietnam and Argentina in particular, and Southeast Asian and Latin American nations in general, will significantly contribute to the process of overcoming global hardship. Vietnam is following an independent, self-defense, peaceful, friendly, and cooperative diplomatic strategy, he noted. The country also proactively boosts in-depth international integration, making it a reliable partner and a positive and responsible member of the global community. In the context of fierce and complicated strategic competition among major nations, Vietnam decisively selects reason and international law rather than a certain side," Hue underlined. "Vietnam proactively promotes its position in multilateral relations. The country also actively joins hands with partners to build a peaceful and stable world and ensure the benefits of the people with respect for international law and the United Nations Charter." The 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam set a goal for Vietnam that it will be a developing country with modern industry and a high average per capita income by 2030, which marks the 100th anniversary of Vietnams Communist Party. In 2045, which marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the country, Vietnam will become a developed nation. During the countrys innovation and international integration period, the National Assembly has played a leading role in legislating on strategies and political policies, making decisions on important issues, and monitoring compliance with laws. Hope for strengthened comprehensive partnership with Argentina The top Vietnamese legislator affirmed that Vietnam always esteems its partnership with Latin American countries. A photo shows National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue meeting with Vietnamese officials and the Vietnamese community in Argentina. Photo: Le Tuyet / Tuoi Tre Vietnam has diplomatic relations with all the 33 nations in Latin America. Given the ongoing complicated global situation, Vietnam expects Latin American countries to enhance cooperation to multiply strength. The Vietnamese National Assembly chairman underlined that Vietnam appreciates the relationship with Argentina and desires to deepen the comprehensive partnership with the latter. Concluding his speech at the event, Hue said that the best way to predict the future is to build it! To picture the Vietnam-Argentina relations in the next 50 years, we should beef up cooperation to create the future of this relationship. Once we unite, our will alone will be able to eliminate all hindrances for a better future. We have sufficient basis to believe that the two countries and the two regions will cooperate comprehensively, closely, and practically to produce achievements. The two nations will continue seeing their partnership flourish in the next 10-50 years. Hue met with Vietnamese officials, the staffers of the Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina, and the Vietnamese community in the Latin American nation on Wednesday. The official and a high-ranking delegation arrived in Argentina on Sunday to start his official visit to the country. Argentina is the second destination on the top Vietnamese legislators trip to three Latin American countries, Cuba, Argentina, and Uruguay, between April 18 and 28. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam always attaches great importance to its bilateral relations with Argentina and aims to foster the comprehensive partnership between the two nations, Vuong Dinh Hue, chairman of the Vietnamese lawmaking National Assembly, told an event to mark the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-Argentina diplomatic relationship in the Latin American nation on Tuesday evening (local time). Speaking of global situations, Hue said that the world, despite enormous potential and advances, is facing multiple challenges. He expected nations worldwide to unite and join hands to respond to global challenges. The challenges are big, but they act as a motivation for nations worldwide to develop and innovate, he said. The top Vietnamese legislator believed that Vietnam and Argentina in particular, and Southeast Asian and Latin American nations in general, will significantly contribute to the process of overcoming global hardship. Vietnam is following an independent, self-defense, peaceful, friendly, and cooperative diplomatic strategy, he noted. The country also proactively boosts in-depth international integration, making it a reliable partner and a positive and responsible member of the global community. In the context of fierce and complicated strategic competition among major nations, Vietnam decisively selects reason and international law rather than a certain side," Hue underlined. "Vietnam proactively promotes its position in multilateral relations. The country also actively joins hands with partners to build a peaceful and stable world and ensure the benefits of the people with respect for international law and the United Nations Charter." The 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam set a goal for Vietnam that it will be a developing country with modern industry and a high average per capita income by 2030, which marks the 100th anniversary of Vietnams Communist Party. In 2045, which marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the country, Vietnam will become a developed nation. During the countrys innovation and international integration period, the National Assembly has played a leading role in legislating on strategies and political policies, making decisions on important issues, and monitoring compliance with laws. Hope for strengthened comprehensive partnership with Argentina The top Vietnamese legislator affirmed that Vietnam always esteems its partnership with Latin American countries. A photo shows National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue meeting with Vietnamese officials and the Vietnamese community in Argentina. Photo: Le Tuyet / Tuoi Tre Vietnam has diplomatic relations with all the 33 nations in Latin America. Given the ongoing complicated global situation, Vietnam expects Latin American countries to enhance cooperation to multiply strength. The Vietnamese National Assembly chairman underlined that Vietnam appreciates the relationship with Argentina and desires to deepen the comprehensive partnership with the latter. Concluding his speech at the event, Hue said that the best way to predict the future is to build it! To picture the Vietnam-Argentina relations in the next 50 years, we should beef up cooperation to create the future of this relationship. Once we unite, our will alone will be able to eliminate all hindrances for a better future. We have sufficient basis to believe that the two countries and the two regions will cooperate comprehensively, closely, and practically to produce achievements. The two nations will continue seeing their partnership flourish in the next 10-50 years. Hue met with Vietnamese officials, the staffers of the Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina, and the Vietnamese community in the Latin American nation on Wednesday. The official and a high-ranking delegation arrived in Argentina on Sunday to start his official visit to the country. Argentina is the second destination on the top Vietnamese legislators trip to three Latin American countries, Cuba, Argentina, and Uruguay, between April 18 and 28. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Lam Dong Province, located in Vietnams Central Highlands, have detained and initiated legal proceedings against two men accused of trafficking eight Vietnamese people to Cambodia to work for Chinese companies. The two are Pham Xuan Thanh, 39, and Doi Quang Luu, 35, both residing in Ward 7, Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province, the provincial police said on Tuesday. The two were prosecuted on charges of human trafficking. Thanh worked as a chef in Cambodia between March and April last year. He knew that some Chinese companies there wanted to seek laborers. He contacted Luu through social media to ask the latter to look for, and introduce him to, jobless, orphaned, and agile people who know how to type. He offered a monthly salary of US$700. Luu found eight young men residing in Lam Dong and north-central Thanh Hoa Province before taking them to Ho Chi Minh City for passport application and then to Moc Bai International Border Gate in Tay Ninh Province, a neighbor of Ho Chi Minh City, to complete procedures to reach Cambodia. Police investigation showed that Thanh smuggled the eight young men to Chinese companies in Cambodia for US$2,000 each. Thanh paid Luu VND5 million ($214) for each person. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Lam Dong Province, located in Vietnams Central Highlands, have detained and initiated legal proceedings against two men accused of trafficking eight Vietnamese people to Cambodia to work for Chinese companies. The two are Pham Xuan Thanh, 39, and Doi Quang Luu, 35, both residing in Ward 7, Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province, the provincial police said on Tuesday. The two were prosecuted on charges of human trafficking. Thanh worked as a chef in Cambodia between March and April last year. He knew that some Chinese companies there wanted to seek laborers. He contacted Luu through social media to ask the latter to look for, and introduce him to, jobless, orphaned, and agile people who know how to type. He offered a monthly salary of US$700. Luu found eight young men residing in Lam Dong and north-central Thanh Hoa Province before taking them to Ho Chi Minh City for passport application and then to Moc Bai International Border Gate in Tay Ninh Province, a neighbor of Ho Chi Minh City, to complete procedures to reach Cambodia. Police investigation showed that Thanh smuggled the eight young men to Chinese companies in Cambodia for US$2,000 each. Thanh paid Luu VND5 million ($214) for each person. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Taliban said it killed the ISIS leader responsible for the 2021 Kabul Airport suicide bombing The horrific incident resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. troops and as many as 170 civilians U.S. intelligence analysts were first made aware of the death of the insurgent earlier this month The Taliban revealed that they killed an ISIS leader responsible for the 2021 Kabul Airport suicide bombing that resulted in the deaths of 13 United States troops and as many as 170 civilians. The news, announced by the White House on Tuesday, Apr. 25, added that U.S. intelligence analysts were made aware earlier this month that the attack's mastermind lost his life in an operation in Afghanistan led by the Taliban group. Taliban Kills ISIS Leader However, it remained unclear whether or not the de facto rulers of Afghanistan were specifically targeting the ISIS leader or he was only collateral damage in a series of fighting between the Taliban and Islamic State fighters, as per the New York Times. The spokesman for the National Security Council, John Kirby, has called the Taliban's operation "another in a series of high-profile leadership losses" that the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) has suffered this year alone. Based on the intelligence reports that were believed to have come from informants, electronic intercepts, or information retrieved from allied spy services, analysts could confidently conclude that the individual responsible for the Kabul Airport bombing was killed. However, no evidence was provided to support the claim or other details of the alleged incident. Read Also: Haiti Gang Wars: Mob Attacks, Burns 13 Alleged Gangsters On Monday, Apr. 24, the Joe Biden administration started calling the relatives of U.S. troops who died in the Kabul Airport attack to tell them about the news of the death of the ISIS leader. American officials spared some details that they shared with the victims' families. The 2021 Kabul Airport suicide bombing struck the Abbey Gate entrance of the Hamid Karzai International Airport. The horrific incident was conducted during the chaotic withdrawal of United States military troops from Afghanistan, according to Aljazeera. The Man Behind the 2021 Kabul Airport Suicide Bombing Several U.S. officials and a senior congressional aide confirmed the accounts of the victims' families. They discussed some details of the situation under the condition of anonymity because the information they were sharing had not yet been officially released to the public. One of the officials said the identity of the ISIS leader killed in the Tablian operation has not been released. Furthermore, they added that the group's fighters were unaware of the identity of the person they killed at the time of the attack. The father of Marine Staff Sergeant Taylor Hoover, Darin Hoover, was among the family members notified about the death of the ISIS leader. He said officials could not give him many details regarding the incident but argued that the sources who provided the information were "highly trusted." Following the 2021 Kabul Airport suicide bombing, the United States launched a drone strike in the area, saying it was targeting another suicide bomber. However, officials later admitted that the missile mistakenly caused the death of 10 civilians, including seven children, said BBC. Related Article: WHO Warns of Biological Hazard Risk Amid Sudan Violence @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Three large verdant flamboyant trees in the yard of a high school in Ho Chi Minh City have been cut down as they were found to be hollow. The hollows have a diameter of up to 80-90 centimeters in some sections. Many students of Bui Thi Xuan High School in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City were surprised at the hollows in the trees, which were 40-50 years old. The flamboyant trees are green and flowering, so I do not think that they are so largely hollow that two people could stay inside at the same time," Cao Thanh Danh, a student of the school, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. "They might have fallen in strong winds. The hollow is so large that an adult can fit inside. Photo: My Dung / Tuoi Tre Large termite mounds were also found inside these trees. The school weighed the decision heavily before chopping down the trees as they were witnesses to the schools history, said principal Huynh Thanh Phu. However, the safety of students must be the top priority, Phu added. We invited experts from Ho Chi Minh City Greenery Parks Co. Ltd. to check the trees and they found that the flamboyant trees were hollow," the principal noted. A large termite mound inside a flamboyant tree. Photo: My Dung / Tuoi Tre After cutting down and sawing the trees, we realized that our decision was right. It is fortunate that there is no incident. Other schools growing flamboyant trees in their yards should take note. Bui Thi Xuan High School will plant creepers to provide shade for students and create green spaces for the school. Flamboyant trees in the yard of Bui Thi Xuan High School in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City are still green and flowering before being chopped down. Photo: My Dung / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Three large verdant flamboyant trees in the yard of a high school in Ho Chi Minh City have been cut down as they were found to be hollow. The hollows have a diameter of up to 80-90 centimeters in some sections. Many students of Bui Thi Xuan High School in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City were surprised at the hollows in the trees, which were 40-50 years old. The flamboyant trees are green and flowering, so I do not think that they are so largely hollow that two people could stay inside at the same time," Cao Thanh Danh, a student of the school, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. "They might have fallen in strong winds. The hollow is so large that an adult can fit inside. Photo: My Dung / Tuoi Tre Large termite mounds were also found inside these trees. The school weighed the decision heavily before chopping down the trees as they were witnesses to the schools history, said principal Huynh Thanh Phu. However, the safety of students must be the top priority, Phu added. We invited experts from Ho Chi Minh City Greenery Parks Co. Ltd. to check the trees and they found that the flamboyant trees were hollow," the principal noted. A large termite mound inside a flamboyant tree. Photo: My Dung / Tuoi Tre After cutting down and sawing the trees, we realized that our decision was right. It is fortunate that there is no incident. Other schools growing flamboyant trees in their yards should take note. Bui Thi Xuan High School will plant creepers to provide shade for students and create green spaces for the school. Flamboyant trees in the yard of Bui Thi Xuan High School in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City are still green and flowering before being chopped down. Photo: My Dung / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Visitors to the Imperial City located within the citadel of Hue in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam will be exempted from entrance fees during evening visits from Thursday to Saturday. The Hue Imperial City will offer visitors free admission between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm for the next three days, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center announced on Tuesday afternoon. During this period, visitors can take a tour to the Imperial City via the Chuong Duc and Hien Nhon gates at no charge. The offer is part of an exhibition of ornamental plants and orchids coming from the three regions of Vietnam. The exhibition will take place in the Hue Imperial City from April 27 to May 2. This is the third time that the Hue Monuments Conservation Center has offered free night admission to the Imperial City. In 2017, the center piloted offering night tours to the Imperial City in an attempt to diversify night-time tourism activities in the provinces Hue City. However, unfavorable weather conditions and the lower-than-expected number of visitors forced the center to suspend the trial night tours. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Visitors to the Imperial City located within the citadel of Hue in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam will be exempted from entrance fees during evening visits from Thursday to Saturday. The Hue Imperial City will offer visitors free admission between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm for the next three days, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center announced on Tuesday afternoon. During this period, visitors can take a tour to the Imperial City via the Chuong Duc and Hien Nhon gates at no charge. The offer is part of an exhibition of ornamental plants and orchids coming from the three regions of Vietnam. The exhibition will take place in the Hue Imperial City from April 27 to May 2. This is the third time that the Hue Monuments Conservation Center has offered free night admission to the Imperial City. In 2017, the center piloted offering night tours to the Imperial City in an attempt to diversify night-time tourism activities in the provinces Hue City. However, unfavorable weather conditions and the lower-than-expected number of visitors forced the center to suspend the trial night tours. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! May will be an amazing time to be in Britain with the Coronation next week and the Eurovision Song Contest to follow soon after. But who knew the King was a Eurovision fan? King Charles III will officially turn the lights on to reveal what the Eurovision stage will look like in Liverpool. The King along with Camilla, the Queen Consort will tour the M&S Bank Arena later today ahead of it hosting the event next month. As well as revealing the stage set-up they will meet show presenters and Mae Muller, who is representing the UK. The stage design is intended to give the impression of the contest opening its arms to Ukraine, organisers have previously said. The Royal couple will meet the creatives behind the event, along with the shows Ukrainian host Julia Sanina, UK host and Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham and BBC Radio 2s Eurovision presenters Scott Mills and Rylan Clark. They will meet people involved in both a two-week cultural festival running alongside the contest and Eurolearn a Eurovision-inspired education programme for primary and secondary pupils. Source: BBC Nine has entered a pre-sale deal for a new factual series, First on Scene, which captures unbelievable acts caught on camera from Americas bravest news cameramen and women. Produced by Australias WTFN, the 20 part series captures jaw-dropping accidents, and outrageous moments of life after dark in Los Angeles, Houston, San Diego and Chicago. Each half-hour episode features eight thrilling news items car pursuits, hit and runs, head-on collisions, out-of-control flooding, animals on the loose, massive blazes, urban shootings, highspeed freeway occurrences, backyard infernos, plane crashes, wild weather. Each story is retold and dissected through master interviews with a cast of returning on-scene experts camera journalists, ex-Los Angeles police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and crime reporters Jimmy Elkington from distributor Fred Media said, First on Scene is a fast-paced, absorbing and bingeable series that brilliantly both documents and deconstructs a wide range of impactful moments. WTFN has used its expertise in producing emergency and blue-light programming to craft a hugely exciting show that never fails to put viewers front and centre with the action. These pre-sale commitments are testament to the undeniable appeal that broadcasters and platforms see for their audiences, and we look forward to sharing this series more widely in the international marketplace over the coming months. In addition to Nine the series has been pre-sold to TVNZ (New Zealand), ProSieben (Germany), Play Media (formerly SBS, Belgium) and Viaplay (for the Nordics, Baltics, the Netherlands and Poland). SKY News program Outsiders has fallen in breach of the Subscription TV Code of Practice for failing to provide accurate information around climate change. Media watchdog the Australian Communications and Media Authority received 80 complaints related to 10 Outsiders episodes, led by host Rowan Dean, broadcast between October and December 2021. While many of the complaints doubled up on factual issues, the watchdog has reported on four broadcasts with the themes: 1. Misrepresentation of research 2. Concerns regarding the credibility of expertise and sources of information 3. Inaccurate reportage. The topics discussed related, variously, to global temperatures, UK govt policy on gas heaters and coral reef recovery on the Great Barrier Reef. Foxtel endeavoured to maintain Outsiders was not a news programme but a no holds barred commentary on politics and other topical issues. ACMA ruled that opinion fell under current affairs and insisted it must comply with codes. Foxtel also maintained that the broadcast was beyond the Licensees control and would therefore not constitute a breach under ASTRA Codes -but ACMA was having none of that and said responsibility to comply with the Codes cannot be divested through contractual arrangements with a channel provider. Broadcasters cannot outsource their compliance responsibilities to a third party. It is important that Australian audiences are able to trust that the information presented in current affairs programs is accurate and factual. Chair Nerida OLoughlin said. Amongst various breaches found the show drew upon analysis sent in by an Ice Age Watch fan. By analysing ice cores harvested at Vostok near the South Pole we can look back through time to see what the climate was like and what it was doing, said the shows host. They continued, Clearly, the temperature drives carbon dioxide, not the other way around. But ACMA said an emphatic eureka insight used to cast doubt on the consensus scientific position that carbon dioxide increases drive global warming did not clearly distinguish between analysis or commentary, and factual material. A separate broadcast, also in Weather and the Sceptics Ice-Age Watch segment discussed heat pumps being mandated in the UK. Boris Johnson, who [] is mandating that everyone in Britain get rid of their perfectly good gas heaters and replace them with desperately inefficient eco heat pumps at around 10 to 20 thousand pounds a pop, said the host. But ACMA did not agree Foxtels claim that the statement referred to future government policy or to future actions required of UK citizens. Information provided by the host was underscored by the use of additional phrases such as is mandating, as he huddles under the doona and not a single one of his own 31 cabinet ministers actually owns one. Another episode on coral reefs on the Great Barrier Reef drew upon an Australian Maritime Institute report. The coral reefs are looking fantastic. Theyve done a report. The Australian Maritime Institute [sic] has done a report. Theyve come out and said theres never been so much coral. [Mr Rs] out there saying, Ive been telling you this, its great news, great coral the program stated. ACMA rules that while the AIMS report did find that coral coverage had increased in the most recent survey period, the report nevertheless found that the recovery was fragile and at risk and that the longer-term prognosis was uncertain. Because none of this important context was provided, a viewer would be left with the idea that the AIMS report had demonstrated that the proposition that reef health was at serious risk. There was a further breach around statements made on temperature data from Tokyo, Osaka and Sapporo in an unfair manner. Following the breaches Foxtel has expressly acknowledged to the ACMA that as licensee it is responsible for meeting its code and statutory obligations with respect to all material that is broadcast, even if it is material supplied by a third-party provider. Foxtel will also review the systems it has in place to ensure that content sourced from third-party providers is compliant with the code. It will report back to the ACMA within four months on the outcome of this system review, including the staff training, processes and arrangements it has undertaken to ensure future compliance with the code. Because Outsiders was broadcast on WIN and SCA both regional broadcasters must also report to ACMA within four months on the measures they are taking to comply with the Commercial TV Code of Practice. Updated: SKY News in a statement said the complaints were submitted to ACMA by political staffer Jared Owens, whose LinkedIn profile states that he currently works for the Australian Government as Adviser to Kevin Rudd. Mr Rudd made 80 complaints to the ACMA over a three-month period in 2021 regarding the Outsiders program, of which the majority were rejected by the regulator, a SKY News Australia spokesperson said. Outsiders is a Sunday morning commentary and discussion program which by virtue of its name sheds light on alternative perspectives on current events. We are delighted Mr Rudd is apparently such a devoted viewer of the Outsiders. He will be pleased to know he can continue watching the program from his new Washington address via our international service Australia Channel. A spokesperson for ACMA told Weekly Beast: ACMA did not dismiss 90% of the allegations. FILE PHOTO: The logo of Belgium's national postal deliverer bpost is pictured outside the company's headquarters in Brussels BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The Belgian government will launch an investigation into its contracts with postal operator Bpost, a minister said on Wednesday, after the company said it may have been overpaid for the work. Following a compliance review of its services, Bpost said on Monday it may have been overpaid for the contracts over several years and withdrew its full-year financial guidance. It said the "impact" of the issue on its 2023 operating profit could be 25-50 million euros ($28-55 million). "It is self-explanatory to me that every euro overpaid must be refunded. If abuses have occurred, then there will be inevitable consequences," minister for public administration Petra De Sutter said in a statement. A spokesperson for Bpost declined to comment on the government investigation, but said it would cooperate while continuing its own investigations. The company has given no details on how the potential overcharging might have happened. Shares in Bpost, in which the government owns a stake of just over 50%, were down 6.8% at 4.22 euros at 1437 GMT, having earlier touched a record low of 4.086 euros. ($1 = 0.9025 euros) (Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Mark Potter) Fabio Carvalho and Darwin Nunez of Liverpoo Credit: Alamy Jurgen Klopp has revealed what he thinks about Liverpool midfielder Fabio Carvalho after the 20-year-old was linked with a shock early exit from Anfield. After failing to sign Carvalho from Fulham in January 2022, Liverpool eventually got their man last summer. According to BBC Sport, they spent an initial 5million on the highly rated youngster, though the deal had the potential to rise to 7.2m as a result of add-ons. Carvalho was hoping to follow in Harvey Elliotts footsteps by making a decent impact at Anfield after joining Klopps side from the Cottagers. However, Carvalho has spent large periods of time warming the bench this season. While he has made 20 appearances in all competitions, only five of these have lasted longer than an hour. The Portugal U21 international has often been used as a substitute in the last half an hour of matches, which has impacted his effectiveness in front of goal. After scoring 11 goals for Fulham last season, he has only managed to find the back of the net three times this campaign. Surprisingly, Carvalho may depart Liverpool after just one season. On April 19, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano discussed the players future on his Here We Go podcast. Fabio Carvalho, I am told, is also leaving, the journalist declared. READ MORE: Chelsea to break Liverpool hearts as Todd Boehly lines up blockbuster move for Klopp favourite amid great opportunity We have to see what solution they will find but he is young and he is never playing so it is important to clarify these things. This has led to concern Liverpool might ditch Carvalho by selling him, despite the fact he still possesses huge potential. Fabrizio Romano reveal prompts Klopp response However, Klopp has moved to calm down such rumours. Ahead of the league clash against West Ham, the manager labelled Carvalho outstanding and revealed how he would only be allowed to leave Liverpool once he talks about his future with Klopp himself. Id like to make all of these decisions with the boys before we talk about it. There is no decision in either direction yet, he said (via Romano). Story continues What I can say, is that this week he was exceptional in training. Fabios really outstanding. It seems Klopp and Liverpool have yet to make a final decision on where Carvalho will be next season. The playmaker could be in line for some game time before the current season is out if he keeps impressing Klopp in training. It would make sense for Carvalho to achieve a loan transfer in the summer so he can pick up more senior game time next term. He has the ability to do well for a mid-table Prem outfit, and this kind of move would also given him valuable top-flight experience. Carvalho could then return to Anfield next summer as a more mature and better rounded player. While Carvalhos Liverpool spell has not been a huge success so far, he could still become a big hit on Merseyside over the next few years. Meanwhile, Liverpool are ready to present an offer as they aim to sign an impressive Dutchman before Newcastle, as per a report. The article Jurgen Klopp hits back at exit rumours surrounding outstanding Liverpool ace and reveals only time player will be allowed to leave appeared first on Teamtalk.com. (Alison Leslie Gold/EPA/National Geographic/Disney/The Independent) Years ago, decades after the establishment of the Anne Frank House as a museum in Amsterdam, an American writer and an older Dutch woman bypassed the lines outside and attempted to walk right in. They were stopped. I sort of stammered, Dont you know who that is? the writer, Alison Leslie Gold, tells The Independent of her companion. And they didnt. She was just another old Dutch lady. That lady was, in fact, Miep Gies, the Otto Frank employee whod spent day after day for 25 months walking into and out of the very same building as she helped hide her boss and his family from the Nazis during the Second World War. It was Miep who, after the fugitives were tragically discovered, preserved the diary of Anne Frank and the young writers other works eventually presenting them to Mr Frank, the familys sole survivor, with the words: This is the legacy of your daughter. Miep lived to be 100, dying the month before her 101st birthday in 2010, and in that century exhibited stoic heroism rivaled by few but modestly downplayed by Miep and her husband, Jan. For years, towards the end of her life, Miep remained the sole survivor with memories from those furtive times in the annex, as the Franks and their friends endured perpetual terror in secret rooms while Miep and other helpers braved the occupied, heavily-surveyed streets. Now, the new Disney+/NatGeo series A Small Light explores Mieps life before and during those times, shining a light on the spirited Miep, her story and her place in history in a drama starring Liev Schreiber and Bel Powley from the team behind Greys Anatomy. Many people know the story of what happened inside the annex from Annes diary, but what was happening outside, Miep and Jan were hiding other people in and around Amsterdam, co-creator Joan Rater tells The Independent. So theres this coming of age story on one side of the bookcase, and theres another coming of age story on the other side. Story continues Miep Gies was born Hermine Santruschitz on 15 February 1909 in Vienna, where she lived with her family until she was about 11. Then, sickly and undernourished after food shortages during the First World War, she was sent to live with a foster family in the Netherlands and never moved back. Miep became her nickname, she quickly learned Dutch, she enjoyed life with her foster family and the Netherlands became her home. Miep was spunky, stylish and trendy, happily reporting in her autobiography Anne Frank Remembered cowritten with Ms Gold that she was one of the first girls in Amsterdam to learn the Charleston. She was a liver; she loved to live, says Ms Gold, who became a close friend of Miep and Jan as they toiled together over the book. She was pretty. She was doing the best she could in a hard time to try to earn a living. She loved the Netherlands. I mean, she was young and and acted young ... she was kind of a live wire, and she even was at the end of her life. Miep was 24 and had been jobless for several months after losing her office position at a textile company in 1933 at a time of high unemployment and uncertainty when she heard about a possible opening at Mr Franks company. She writes about her freshly washed and ironed skirt and blouse in Anne Frank Remembered, determined to make a good impression on her prospective employer. She did. They particularly bonded over the German language, which Miep had grown up speaking in Austria and which was Mr Franks native tongue. He had just moved to Amsterdam from Frankfurt and his wife, Edith, and daughters, Anne and Margot, had yet to join him. Mr Frank hired Miep for office work, first insisting that she learn to make jam to expertly answer calls from desperate housewives having trouble with the products. Miep and Jan Gies, years later, stand by the bookcase that hid a secret entrance to the hiding place of Anne Frank, her family and four others in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam (EPA) That meeting would not only change Mieps life, but also help her to save others. Shed worked for Mr Frank for nearly a decade and had become friendly with his family, accepting home dinner invitations with her future husband, Jan when the ever-deteriorating situation for Jews forced him to ask her a favour like no other. I dont know exactly how theyre going to do it in this series, but when Otto Frank asked Miep to help ... she just says yes, period, Ms Gold tells The Independent. I mean, knowing [Miep and Jan], once I got to know them, you believe that. And one of the things that was the most beautiful to me, in a way, about the whole thing, was: This was about friendships. I mean, yes, [Miep and Jan] were political; they were left wing, she says. They were socialists and anti-Hitler and all that, but ... before the war, they werent really involved. He was a social worker. But they were not really political. And this was just about their friends. Miep, still an Austrian citizen, had married the Dutchman the year before the Franks went into hiding in secret rooms within the Opekta office building. An adolescent Anne Frank had found their courtship and wedding fiercely romantic; she was 20 years and four months younger than Miep. The young diarist and her fellow fugitives looked to Miep for not only food and protection but also news of the outside world and anything to break the terrified monotony. Liev Shreiber, left, plays Otto Frank, while Bel Powley, right, plays Miep Gies, who was an employee and friend of the Franks before the war (National Geographic for Disney/Martin Mlaka) All the time, Miep, Jan and others were attempting to avoid arousing suspicion as they hid their friends and conducted other covert work, the full extent of which may never be known. Part of the whole deed that they did, [it] wasnt just [like] they grabbed somebody whos about to be hit by a car; this went on for 25 months, day after day after day, that they had to keep that promise, says Ms Gold, who stayed in Mieps home on the night Jan died in 1993. They kept their promise, with all that hardship and danger ... it wasnt a whimsical, Oh, yes, of course, Ill help you. They really had to put their money where their mouth was. Ms Gold met Jan and Miep in the 1980s, first contacting them when she was working in California to appear on a television show. They declined, but something made me keep their phone number and their address, she says. Some time later, when she was considering her next professional move after the television show ended, the couple sprang to her mind. I sort of got the sense that, remembering as much history as I remembered about that period, that Miep and Jan, I had no idea they were still alive, says Ms Gold, now 77. The war seemed a million years ago. And it occurred to me, they were really old (and ironically, Im exactly that age) ... it occurred to me, really, that suddenly, somebody needed to tell that story and get them to tell their side of the story. And it was just a little white light moment and thats sort of how the door inched open a little bit. She flew to Amsterdam to interview Miep and Jan for an article, and book offers quickly followed. Ms Gold and the couple agreed to collaborate on the book which seems to somehow still surprise the author to this day, since she was a veritable stranger and, in the process, became very close friends. The American mother-of-one was drawn into their meticulous Dutch routine, listening in awe as they recounted incredible events with unruffled stoicism. American writer Alison Leslie Gold, right, became close with Miep and Jan Gies, pictured, as they co-authored Mieps story for the book Anne Frank Remembered (Alison Leslie Gold) They kept saying, you know, We did nothing. Theres so many people who did much more, Ms Gold says. Its undeniable, however, that Miep, Jan and others in their close circle risked their lives and went above and beyond over and over amidst the constant dangers of Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. She had to find food; she had to feed these people, says Ms Gold, pointing out a challenge that was nearly insurmountable as Nazi soldiers and eagle-eyed spies suspiciously surveyed food purchases. Miep, a married but still childless woman, had to secure enough provisions to sustain eight people in addition to herself and Jan who was busy with other underground work, as well. They had ration cards because of him, she says. He brought books from the library, he visited the hiding place every day and went up and kept them company because they were lonely. He found [a] hiding place for the landlady and others. Ms Gold says that Jan was like a double trouble, because you dont even know what else he did and youll never know ... he was too modest to even tell anyone much of anything. The couples only son, Paul Gies, died last year; his widow and children remain committed to preserving their grandparents legacy. So is Ms Gold, who chronicled her close and unexpected relationship with Miep and Jan in her book Found and Lost: Mittens, Miep and Shovelfuls of Dirt. She believes the couple would be very touched by the new series and continued interest in the story of their lives, the Franks and the others they helped. There are courses in universities on the altruistic personality, and shes sort of a classic of someone who has received human kindness and gave it later, Ms Gold tells The Independent. The new series is inspired by the heroic actions of Miep and Jan Gies, portrayed by Powley and Joe Cole, above; the program creators say they felt a huge responsibility in bringing their stories to the screen (National Geographic for Disney/Dusan Martincek) In an afterword for Anne Frank Remembered titled My 100th Birthday, Miep addressed the importance of her legacy and that of the others involved in the annex secrecy. Despite our age, Jan and I did what was asked of us after the book was published, she wrote. We travelled to many countries and met many Holocaust survivors. When we met with school children in Germany and Austria, some of whom were descendants of Nazis, some said to us, Our parents wont talk about what happened in the war. Our grandparents wont either. Please tell us what happened. Because I could speak to them in German, and because I was originally from Vienna in other words, because I was one of them and not an outsider I was able to tell them the true story of what happened. I could and did tell details that their parents and grandparents had chosen not to discuss with them. It was at this moment that Jan and I were truly glad that we had let Alison persuade us to tell our story, the Dutch centenarian continued. We realised that telling the truth of what happened from our perspective was necessary, and that speaking with these schoolchildren was the last important task of our lives. The team behind the new Disney+ series, too, say they felt huge responsibility when creating the show. These are people we admire, says Ms Rater, who worked on the series with her husband, Tony Phelan, and director Susanna Fogel. These are people that the world knows; this is tragedy. So all of that, we feel huge responsibility to honor these people, to tell their stories well, to do right by them. Writer Alison Leslie Gold says of her friend Miep: There are courses in universities on the altruistic personality, and shes sort of a classic of someone who has received human kindness and gave it later (Alison Leslie Gold) Quite a bit of that involves continuing to ensure that younger generations learn and remember the story of what happened not only around the Amsterdam annex but also the Holocaust in general. Our daughter watched parts of the series, and she kept saying, Did this really happen? Did this really happen? She couldnt believe it, Ms Rater says of her 20-year-old. And so we want to keep sharing the story. Her husband, Mr Phelan, chimes in, highlighting the fact that Miep did these small acts of kindness. I mean, she was shopping for them, she was bringing them food, she was bringing the medicine, she was also their emotional support. She was their only source of news ... but all of her actions are not so totally out of our everyday experience that make her remote. All three of us firmly believe that the inspiration in this story and Miep made a lot of this herself is that she is so ordinary, and that anyone can do this. When asked what shed want people to learn from and remember about her friend Miep, Ms Gold addresses that very same point. Miep proved that its possible, she says, to stick your neck out ... that its admirable to have the guts to stick your neck out and in a modest way to not make a show about courage and that friendship is worth risking your life for, when your friends are in trouble. I mean, thats really what they both said over and over, Ms Gold says of Miep and her husband: Our friends were in trouble. With spring not exactly springing here in the UK, coupled with our rising bills and general meh-ness that comes after years of austerity and a pandemic, youd be forgiven for thinking the grass may be greener somewhere hot and sunny. Which has led more of us than ever to search out a life in the sun where we can achieve the ultimate work-life balance as a digital nomad. Searches for digital nomad visas are up 311% from last year and have had a 40% bump even in the last month, showing that youre not alone if youre been dreaming of travelling. The UK is one of the most comfortable countries to live in ranking 22nd on the Global Quality of Life Index. However, it comes at a price, because the UK is also one of the most expensive countries in the world with an average cost of living of 1,461. With exorbitant local prices for everything from Lurpak (remember when it was nearly a tenner?!) and fuel, its no wonder that one in ten of us move abroad seeking a better life and already make up 8% of the global digital nomad population. This all led us to thinking where is the best place to live if youd like great quality of life and a lower cost of living? The team at Laba, an online learning platform, wanted to find out the same. They analysed the cost of living index, quality of life index, rent index, and tax rates of all European countries that offer digital nomad visas, and found the top seven destinations for British digital nomads. While the pandemic may be over, more and more people are still embracing remote work, says Eugene Feldman, co-founder and CEO of Laba. The digital nomad movement continues to rise along with the cost of living in the UK. Now is the perfect time to seize the opportunity to work remotely from a dream destination, where you can enjoy a high quality of life and live like royalty with the same income and perhaps even return to the UK one day with some massive savings. So, pack your bags and grab your passport and pick your favourite location from the list below Story continues Croatia Gorgeous Croatia, with its stunning coastline and limestone buildings has a cost of living of 725 (vs 1,461 for the UK) and a quality of life index of 163. The most popular destinations are areas like Zadar, Dubrovnik and Split, but further away from the tourist trail youll find even cheaper rental prices. Estonia At number 172 on the quality of life index and with a cost of living of 826, Estonia is not only one of the most digitally advanced nations in the world but also has more saunas than cars so you can sweat your troubles away (not that youll have any, with their rent prices). Portugal If youre looking for some sun, youd be hard pressed to find anywhere better than Portugal, with their 300 days of sunshine on average a year. We can barely count on 300 minutes in the UK! And with a cost of living of 792 and a quality of life index of 164 to boot, Portugal is looking super attractive right now. Head to Lisbon for a slice of city life but with a short commute to the beach, or head down to the Algarve where you can enjoy sleepy seaside towns and a bohemian vibe. Spain With a cost of living of 924 and a quality of life index of 174, Spain has more than 3,000 beaches to soak up the sun and, of course, the tradition of the siesta. A mid-afternoon nap sounds good to us. The Czech Republic This fairytale-like location with hundreds of ancient castles and some of the finest beers in the world will take your breath away, and comes with a cost of living of 817 and a quality of life index of 164 to boot. Charming Prague is the most popular city, with picturesque streets lined with quaint bars and cafes you can work from. Latvia With a cost of living of 696 and a quality of life index of 153, here you can witness the spectacular Northern Lights and breathe in the fresh pine-scented air of one of Europes greenest (and most Instagrammable) countries. Italy Italy need we say more? With a cost of living of 989 and a quality of life index of 141, Italy is the place for hedonists on Vespas who know that Aperol Spritz is the answer to all of lifes problems! And theres parks, cafes and bars galore to set up your laptop in. Related... Daniel Radcliffe, popularly known for his Harry Potter lead role, has welcomed his first child with his long-time partner Erin Darke. The agent of the actor confirmed the news on Monday, Apr. 24. So it is now official, Radcliffe, the lead star of the massive Potter franchise based on the books of JK Rowling, is now a dad. The couple are first-time parents. 'Harry Potter' Star Daniel Radcliffe Welcomes His First Child According to BBC, the news broke when Daily Mail published photos of the former child actor, Radcliffe, pushing a baby stroller in the streets of New York. However, a blanket covered their firstborn from head to toe. After the photograph was published, the official announcement came. The publicist of Radcliffe confirmed on Monday that the couple welcomed their first baby. The couple have yet to speak about it. For now, the sex of the baby has not yet been determined. In March, the Harry Potter star and his partner Darke disclosed that they were both expecting to be first-time parents. But they have kept mum about it since then. Well, the two have been consistently low-profile these days. USA Today reports that Radcliffe prefers life away from the spotlight. He previously said that he was to protect his future child from the life of the rich and famous. The former child star says, "it's really the fame side of it that should be avoided at all costs." Despite that, he still wants his children to work in the film industry, following in his footsteps. But rather than facing the cameras, he aspires for them to work behind the scenes. And as such, it looks like the Harry Potter actor wants to be lowkey nowadays. Read Also: HBO Max's New Name Is 'Max' as it Merges With Discovery+: 'Harry Potter' Series on its Way? Daniel Radcliffe and Erin Darke The long-time couple Darke and Radcliffe have been together for nearly a decade. As per WFTV 9, the two got acquainted in 2013 amid shooting their drama and romance film, "Kill Your Darlings." The Harry Potter star told Playboy Magazine in an interview last October 2015 that the 2013 film is "a wonderful record of us flirting for the first time." He also said he did not have to act in their romance scenes. BBC notes that Darke is popularly recognized for starring in "Good Girl Revolt," a 2015 Amazon Prime Original. In more recent times, she is known for her role in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," which also aired on the streaming service of the giant retailer. Related Article: Daniel Radcliffe Baby News Sparks Harry Potter Reactions from Fans @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The University of North Georgia (UNG) is proud to partner with Amazon's Career Choice program to provide affordable, quality and accessible education. Amazon Career Choice is an education benefit that empowers employees to learn new skills for career success at Amazon or elsewhere. It provides a variety of education and upskilling opportunities including prepaid college tuition, industry certifications designed to lead to in-demand jobs, and foundational skills such as English language proficiency, high school diplomas and GEDs after working for the company for 90 days. Beginning in summer 2023, eligible Amazon employees can receive tuition assistance and degree support through UNG that lead to new career opportunities. Qualifying Amazon employees start the process by applying for admission to UNG. After being accepted, the employees register for classes through the university's student information system (Banner). Following class registration, the employees sign into the Amazon Career Choice portal to enter their registration details. Once the request is in the Amazon Career Choice portal, UNG will see and approve a student's request for a tuition payment, which will be pre-paid by Amazon on the student's behalf. In the U.S., Amazon is investing $1.2 billion to upskill more than 300,000 employees by 2025 to help move them into higher-paying, in-demand jobs. HA NOI Viet Nam attracted 750 new foreign-invested projects, worth over US$4.1 billion in the first four months of this year, up 65.2 per cent in the number of projects and 11.1 per cent in the level of capital, according to Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment. The growth of the number of new projects was much higher than that of investment capital, which demonstrated that small and medium-sized foreign investors continued to believe in the country's investment environment, the FIA has said. It added that new foreign-invested projects still focused on provinces and cities that had many advantages in attracting foreign investment including good infrastructure, stable human resources, efforts to reform administrative procedures and effective investment promotion. Among these localities were Ha Noi, Bac Giang, HCM City, Binh Duong, ong Nai, Bac Ninh and Hai Phong. During the period, the country allowed 386 operating projects to raise their capital by nearly $1.66 billion, up 19.5 per cent in volume but down 68.6 per cent in value. A decline in adjusted capital in four months, however, was lower than 70.3 per cent seen in three months; 85.2 per cent in two months and 76 per cent in the first month, according to the agency. Besides, the number of operating projects which saw capital added increased sharply instead of a modest rise of 2.6 per cent in three months and a slump of 6.3 per cent in two months. That once again confirmed investors' confidence in Viet Nam's investment environment and continued to expand their existing projects in the country, the FIA noted. At the same time, foreign businesses were also approved to pay over $3.1 billion for capital contribution and share purchases in a total of 1,044 transactions, marking yearly increases of 70.4 per cent in value and 2 per cent in volume. However, disbursement of foreign investment saw a slight decline of 1.2 per cent, to an estimated $5.85 billion in the period, the FIA said. Six traditional investment partners of Singapore, Japan, mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea accounted for 75.1 per cent of the country's total investment capital in January-April. Of them, Singapore ranked first with nearly $2.2 billion, equivalent to 24.7 per cent of the total, ahead of Japan with around $2 billion or 22.1 per cent, and mainland China with nearly $752 million or 8.5 per cent. The manufacturing and processing sector attracted the lion's share of foreign investment with over $5.1 billion, down 17 per cent year-on-year or equivalent to 57.8 per cent of the total. Banking and finance came next with over $1.5 billion, increasing more than 12 times over the same period last year or making up 17 per cent of the total. Real estate and wholesale and retail sectors were the runner-ups with nearly $972 million, down 65.5 per cent and $372 million, down 44.3 per cent, respectively. During a meeting with foreign investors in Ha Noi late last week, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said FDI was an important resource to contribute to promoting growth, ensuring jobs for the people. Viet Nam would continue the effort to build a safe, transparent, and highly competitive business environment so that enterprises could feel safe and secure to invest in Viet Nam for mutual benefit, ensuring social responsibility and environmental protection, the PM said. Viet Nam was now selective in attracting FDI with the focus placed on quality, efficiency, technology and environmental protection, PM Chinh said, adding that priorities would be given to projects in high technology, innovation, research and development, projects which enabled Vietnamese enterprises to participate in value chains, and projects which promoted digital economy, green economy, circular economy and sustainable development. Investors would be offered the best business environment in line with OECD standards, including maintaining socio-political and macroeconomic stability, removing bottlenecks and difficulties in terms of legal institutions, infrastructure and human resources, developing supply chains, reducing transaction costs, and developing a stable, predictable policy environment with high transparency and accountability, he said. He also urged enterprises to develop long-term business strategies in Viet Nam with a focus on sustainable development, environment protection and emerging sectors including digital transformation, green transition, circular economy, innovation, knowledge economy and climate change adaptation. VNS President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will attend the G7 Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima, Japan on May 19-21. The President and G7 leaders will discuss a range of the most pressing global issues, including the G7's unwavering support for Ukraine, addressing the dual food and climate crises, securing inclusive and resilient economic growth, and continuing to lead a clean energy transition at home and for our partners around the world. READ NEXT: Statement from President Joe Biden on the 55th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act On May 24, President Biden will attend the third in-person Quad Leaders' Summit in Sydney, Australia, with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia. The Quad leaders will discuss how they can deepen their cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, maritime domain awareness, and other issues that matter to the people of the Indo-Pacific. READ MORE: Readout of President Joe Biden's Meeting with President Michael Higgins of Ireland @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. HCM CITY Saigon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Sacombank) targets a 50 per cent increase in profit before tax of VN9.5 trillion (US$406 million) and a non-performing loan ratio of less than 2 per cent this year. It also targets an increase of 11 per cent in total assets and deposits to VN657.8 trillion ($28.14 billion) and VN 574.6 trillion ($24.58 billion). It eyes a 12 per cent increase in loans outstanding to VN491.6 trillion ($21.03 billion). All these and some important proposals were approved at the lenders annual general meeting in HCM City on April 25. Nguyen uc Thach Diem, the CEO, said Sacombank met all its targets last year. Its profit was over VN6.3 trillion ($269.5 million), which beat the target by 20 per cent and increased by 44.1 per cent from the previous year. Its NPL ratio was 0.93 per cent as against the target of below 2 per cent and 0.55 percentage points lower than in 2021. It had deposits of VN519.1 trillion and loans outstanding of over VN438.7 trillion, up 11.8 per cent and 13 per cent. The profitability ratios were the best ever in 10 years, with returns on assets and equity at 0.91 per cent and 13.83 per cent, up 0.23 and 3.04 percentage points. The lenders safety performance indicators met State Bank of Viet Nam norms, especially capital adequacy ratio, which was at 9.49 per cent as against a minimum requirement of 8 per cent. Earnings per share was VN2,674, an increase of 63.8 per cent. The bank recovered VN15.88 trillion ($682.1 million) worth of bad and outstanding debts, including over VN11 trillion under the restructure scheme. Entering 2023, Sacombank was ready to embark on a new business cycle with comprehensive digital transformation goals and strategies, Diem said. We will work towards achieving sustainable development, and always innovate to keep up with the market. Based on the positive results in the past Sacombank is confident that it can complete its restructure ahead of the scheduled 2025 end." The bank would strengthen risk management and credit quality, develop novel and differentiated products and services to enhance its competitiveness, deliver better customer experiences and satisfaction, and improve labour productivity and human resources quality, she added. Answering shareholders questions about dividends, chairman Duong Cong Minh said banking was a conditional business and so the bank could only pay dividends to shareholders if approved by the SBV. Since Sacombank was in the process of restructuring, it could not pay dividends, he said. The bank had basically resolved bad debts under the restructure scheme, with the only remaining problem related to shares owned by Tram Be, its former deputy chairman. Sacombank had sought SBV permission to buy his shares and auction them. We will strive to complete the share auctions in the four quarters of this year to complete the restructure by the end of this year so that we can pay dividends next year, Minh said. Diem said the bank had accumulated profits of VN12.7 trillion ($543 million), and was ready to pay it out as dividends after getting SBV approval. VNS HCM CITY Vietnamese and foreign tourists will have a chance to visit the headquarters of the People's Committee and Peoples Council of HCM City, a national-level architectural and artistic monument, on the upcoming national holidays. Accordingly, people are offered to visit the municipal People's Committee and Peoples Council headquarters one of the city's most well-known architectural heritages on April 29 and 30 for free of charge, the municipal Department of Tourism announced on April 24. This move is part of the celebratory activities for the national holidays of Hung Kings Commemoration Day (April 29 the 10th day of the third lunar month), National Reunification (April 30) and May Day (May 1). It is also aimed at introducing the city's history of formation and development, contributing to building the image of a friendly and open city administration. Domestic and foreign tourists in groups who have pre-registered with the municipal Department of Tourism, members of the association of veterans, children, outstanding youth union members, and reporters of news agencies with invitations are eligible for the sightseeing trip in the headquarters at 86 Le Thanh Ton Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1 from 8 am to 5 pm on April 29 and 30. These above-mentioned people are allowed to visit a part of the headquarters including the main lobby on the ground floor, main stairs, international reception rooms, meeting rooms, and balconies in 60 minutes. They are required to ensure the security, safety, and integrity of the monument as well as strictly comply with regulations on the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic. The old building of the municipal People's Committee and Peoples Council was built from 1898 to 1909. It was recognised as a national-level architectural and artistic monument in 2020. VNS Israeli Ambassador Yaron Mayer writes to Viet Nam News on Israeli Independence Day (April 26, 2023) On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel, pronounced the declaration of independence of the State of Israel, following the United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for the establishment of a Jewish State. This milestone was the culmination of a 2,000-years-long aspiration of the Jewish people to achieve political freedom in their sovereign homeland. Throughout the course of history, the Jewish people, scattered all over the world, faced deep hostility, prejudice and discrimination, known as antisemitism. The most extreme form of antisemitic ideologies and policies led to the Holocaust, during World War II. The return of the Jewish people to their homeland was therefore, not only a significant achievement for the Jews, it was a meaningful event in human history. A community that had endured centuries of discrimination and subjugation at last succeeded in erecting a sovereign entity and created new opportunities for themselves and for future generations. Looking back at that occasion, it was no coincidence that the Vietnamese presence in the formation of the state of Israel stays etched in memory. To this day, we keep telling the story of the meeting of the two great leaders of Israel and Viet Nam who had a vision for their people, David Ben-Gurion and Ho Chi Minh. According to David Ben-Gurion, the two met in Paris in 1946 and had informal talks. Ho Chi Minh, in his big heartedness, offered Ben-Gurion to establish a Jewish government-in-exile in Viet Nam. Ben-Gurion politely declined saying that the Jewish people need to complete the struggle by themselves, but promised to accept Ho Chi Minhs kind offer, if needed. At 75 years of independence, Israel has demonstrated remarkable progress in building a prosperous and thriving nation. Today, Israel is in a leading position in technological advancements, innovation, and business enterprises. It tops the world in water management and technology, with its internationally well-known drip irrigation, for instance, or agricultural solutions, such as applying AI in cultivation and harvesting. It serves as a centre of originality and new inventions. The nation of Israel also prides itself on promoting diversity and tolerance. Born and raised in a kibbutz, a type of communal agricultural collective, I experienced first-hand how people from diverse origins and customs can live and work together with shared values and aspirations. From its very beginning, Israel faced many challenges, and suffered profuse adversity and struggle, which prompted its dedication to protect its nation. Sadly, those threats from outside have not disappeared totally, however, these challenges have prompted us to actively seek peace with our neighbours. About three years ago, we signed the Abraham Accords, an agreement between Israel and multiple Arab nations to establish normalcy in relations and initiate a new phase of harmony and collaboration in the Middle East. This significant achievement serves as evidence of the unwavering commitment of Israel towards a new and prosperous Middle East. As the Israeli Ambassador to Viet Nam, I am pleased to acknowledge the flourishing bond between Israel and Viet Nam based on our shared values of novelty, inventiveness, and enterprise. We also share a common aspiration for peace based on trust, and economic prosperity, social development, and regional stability. Moreover, we share a deep understanding and respect for each others rich cultural and historical heritages. In recent years, there has been a notable surge in collaboration between our two nations, with a particular focus on advancing technology, agriculture, and education. Enterprises from Israel are working on revolutionary technologies and groundbreaking ideas with the aim of advancing solutions to some of the most challenging issues facing our global community. Our upcoming Free Trade Agreement will open our markets to unparalleled levels. Since its independence, Israel has always been a beacon of hope and resilience, and we will continue to work towards a better future for ourselves and for all people. VNS TAY NINH Vietnamese and Cambodian Deputy Prime Ministers agreed to effectively develop the land border gate system between the two countries, including opening and upgrading the agreed border gate pairs. Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior Krolahom Sar Kheng co-chaired the 12th Conference on Cooperation and Development of Border Localities between Viet Nam and Cambodia in southern Tay Ninh Province on Tuesday. They vowed to foster investment in infrastructure and transport facilities connecting the two countries border areas and connecting the border gate area with the major economic hubs of each country. The two deputy PMs acknowledged that since the 11th Conference on Cooperation and Development of Viet Nam-Cambodia Border Localities in October 2021, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the complicated global and regional situation, the two countries have maintained close coordination in all fields and at all levels from central to local levels, including border provinces. Regarding provincial cooperation, authorities and people of border provinces regularly exchange delegations, maintain cooperation channels, and support each other in economic development, infrastructure construction, health care, education, and social security. The two countries' authorised forces and local authorities have joined hands to cooperate and maintain security and order in the border area. The two countries signed a border trade agreement on the occasion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Cambodia in November 2022 to facilitate bilateral trade cooperation. The pairs of border gates have been gradually upgraded with investment in infrastructure, improved administrative procedures, and shortened clearance time. The two leaders agreed that relevant ministries and localities of the two countries should continue to coordinate to improve and build legal frameworks and appropriate cooperation mechanisms to create favourable conditions for cooperation between bordering provinces. The two sides agreed to continue the principle of not allowing any hostile force to use the territory of one country to harm the interests of the other. They also agreed to closely coordinate to effectively implement legal documents related to land borders and disseminate relevant land border information to people and authorities of border provinces. The two sides are determined to maintain the growth of bilateral trade, particularly border trade activities. They agreed to promote the effective implementation of the Border Trade Agreement signed in November 2022 and encourage businesses of the two countries to seek opportunities to jointly develop Cambodia-Viet Nam Special Economic Zone located in Cambodian provinces bordering Viet Nam. The two sides encouraged border provinces to continue promoting cooperation in transportation, agriculture, forestry and fishery, water resources and meteorology, energy, education, social work, culture and sports. Economic, trade and investment cooperation is one of the bright spots of the Viet Nam-Cambodias bilateral relationship. Trade between the two countries grew strongly, reaching over US$10.57 billion in 2022, up nearly 11 per cent compared to 2021. Viet Nam is Cambodia's third largest trading partner after China and the US. Viet Nam is also Cambodia's largest trading partner in ASEAN. Viet Nam has had 205 valid investment projects in Cambodia with a total registered capital of $2.94 billion, ranking first in ASEAN and among the top five countries with the largest direct investment in Cambodia. Cambodia ranks second among 79 countries and territories where Viet Nam makes foreign investments. The two sides maintained regular high-level visits and effectively implemented important cooperation mechanisms, including the 20th meeting of the Viet Nam-Cambodia Joint Committee on Economic, Cultural and Scientific-Technological Cooperation in March 2023 in Ha Noi. Cooperation in other fields such as defence, security, energy, transport connectivity, agriculture, forestry and fishery, education and training, culture, information, and tourism has been actively promoted. The two countries have successfully coordinated to organise several activities to celebrate the Viet Nam- Cambodia Friendship Year and the 55th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations (June 24, 1967-June 24, 2022). The 13th conference on cooperation and development of border provinces between Viet Nam and Cambodia will be held in Cambodia in 2024. VNS HA NOI A ceremony was held in Buenos Aires on Tuesday (local time) to mark the 50th founding anniversary of Viet Nam-Argentina diplomatic relations with the theme "Present and Future". In his speech at the ceremony, National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong inh Hue shared his viewpoints on the current world situation, Viet Nams external policy and the Viet Nam-Argentina ties. The NA leader briefed participants on the socio-economic situation and Viet Nam's external policies after 37 years of implementing the "oi Moi" (Renewal) cause. He underscored Viet Nam's consistent external policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, diversification and multilateralisation of relations, with active and proactive integration into the world. He affirmed that amid the complicated and fierce competition among world powers, Viet Nam is determined not to take sides but to choose the right, based on international law. Viet Nam actively participates in and promotes its role in regional and international multilateral mechanisms, especially the ASEAN, UN, UNESCO, APEC, ASEM and FEALAC, while actively and responsibly contributing, together with partners, to building a peaceful and stable international order, ensuring the legitimate interests of all peoples on the foundation of respect for international law and the UN Charter. The NA leader spotlighted the leading role of the Vietnamese NA in institutionalising political orientations and political policies, and deciding important issues of the country, as well as in law building and supervising the implementation of the law and policies. Chairman Hue also pointed out that in the Latin American region, Cuba is still under the pressure of embargos. He called for the early lifting of the embargo against Cuba, and the resumption of dialogues between concerned parties with goodwill and constructive attitude so as to enhance mutual understanding, narrow differences and seek fields for win-win cooperation. The Vietnamese NA Chairman stressed that Viet Nam attaches great importance to and wishes to further promote the comprehensive partnership with Argentina, noting that 2023, which marks the 50th year the two countries foster their friendship, is a milestone in bilateral ties. He held that the common noble values and warm feelings between the two countries are invaluable assets as well as a natural glue and strong motivation for them to take their relationship to a new stage of development with a new vision for the next 50 years in three main aspects. First, in the political-diplomatic field, the two countries should strengthen the ties between their leaders through high-level visits and meetings at regional and international forums, and optimising the role of the parliament and political party channel. Second, in the economic-trade aspect, the two countries should optimise the role of the inter-government committee, complete the legal framework and create the best possible conditions for market access to each others goods. Viet Nam and Argentina should also connect their business communities and encourage investment in each others market, consider and push for the opening of direct flights between Ha Noi, HCM City and Buenos Aires, and promote cooperation between localities as well as people-to-people exchange and tourism. The NA Chairman suggested the two countries make the best use of free trade frameworks and agreements, particularly the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and work toward an FTA between Viet Nam and the Mercosur. The third field is culture-education-tourism, Hue said, proposing intensifying cooperation on training between universities and research establishments. He asked Argentina to grant scholarships in Spanish language learning for Vietnamese students and promote collaboration in sports, tourism promotion and sharing of experience in tourism management and development. On the morning of the same day, Hue and delegates of the two countries witnessed the signing of cooperative documents, including agreements on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, extradition and the transfer of sentenced persons, a cooperation agreement between the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the Argentine National News Agency (Telam), and an MoU on promoting cooperation in trade and investment. Meeting Vietnamese community During a meeting with the Vietnamese Embassy staff and Vietnamese community in Buenos Aires the same day, Hue expressed hope that the Vietnamese community will integrate well into the host society, while preserving the language and culture of Viet Nam. He asked the Vietnamese Embassy to focus on promoting economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, paving the way for the opening of a direct air route between the two sides. The NA leader also affirmed the Party and State's constant policy of considering the Vietnamese community abroad as an inseparable part of the nation. He said the Politburo's conclusion 12-KL/TW on overseas Vietnamese affairs has laid emphasis on promoting the teaching of Vietnamese and the building of Vietnamese cultural establishments overseas and an innovation network for the community to make contributions to the homeland. He said that the NA is working to review, adjust and supplement the legal system to create optimal conditions for the community to return to the homeland, with favourable policies in entry, exit and residency. On the occasion, NA Chairman Hue presented the Friendship Order of Viet Nam to the Argentina-Viet Nam Culture Institute (ICAV) and its President Poldi Maria Sosa. The ICAV leader said that she has worked at the institute for 26 years, and has a great love for Viet Nam, considering the country her second homeland. Viet Nam-Argentina business forum NA Chairman Hue attended the Viet Nam-Argentina business forum in Buenos Aires on Tuesday (local time), as part of his ongoing official visit to the Latin American country. Addressing the Viet Nam-Argentina business forum in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, Cecilia Todesca Bocco, Secretary for International Economic Relations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of Argentina, said there is plenty of room for the two sides to promote collaboration, underlining the need for them to strengthen cooperation among ministries, sectors and localities. NA Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong said Argentina is one of the leading suppliers of corn and animal feed to Viet Nam. Regarding investment, Argentina currently has five projects in Viet Nam, ranking 122nd among the 140 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam. The two sides have conducted many joint projects in agriculture, anthropology-forensics, science and technology, he said. NA Vice Chairman Phuong said that Viet Nam is ready to work with other countries, including Argentina, to seek measures to recover the global trade and supply chain. He said he hopes Argentina, as a member of the Mercosur, will serve as a gateway for Vietnamese goods to enter the South American market. Meanwhile, Viet Nam will act as a bridge connecting Argentina and ASEAN as well as the Asia-Pacific region. Viet Nam wishes to increase the export of high-quality products of its strength meeting the needs of the Argentine market such as textile products, leather and footwear, agricultural and aquatic products, wood and furniture, and construction materials. Meanwhile, Argentina can continue to export corn and soybeans with stable supply and prices to Viet Nam, he proposed. At the forum, under the co-chair of Cecilia Todesca Bocco, Argentine Secretary for International Economic Relations, and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade o Thang Hai, participants exchanged information on each other's market and explored business and cooperation opportunities, especially in the areas of each other's strengths and demands. VNS HA NOI There have been numerous incidents of students requiring emergency medical attention due to nicotine poisoning and other chemicals present in e-cigarettes and heated cigarette products, according to the Ministry of Healths Medical Examination and Treatment Department. The department said in a document sent to Departments of Health in provinces and cities that the use of electronic nicotine delivery (END) products and heated tobacco products (HTPs) is on the rise among students. Many students have had to be rushed to the emergency room due to nicotine poisoning and the harmful substances in e-cigarettes and heated cigarettes. The department said, besides the well-known harmful effects of regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes and heated cigarettes also pose potential risks and contribute to social evils, such as drug abuse and other addictive behaviours, which adversely affect the health and lifestyle of adolescents. Moreover, these products cause immediate and long-term harm to health, the economy and society. The department urged more communication and awareness-raising efforts about the dangers of these products. To further reinforce communication and prevent the use of all tobacco products, the department suggested that provinces and cities' health departments advise the People's Committees of provinces and cities to issue directives, instructing departments, branches, and media agencies to regularly propagate the harmful effects of ordinary cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and heated cigarettes. Localities should promptly enforce regulations to prohibit the use of these products in agencies, offices, and educational and training institutions; enhance inspection activities; and strictly deal with cases of buying, selling, and using e-cigarettes, heated cigarettes, and shisha. Departments of health should collaborate with relevant media agencies and units to disseminate information on the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and heated cigarettes to civil servants, public employees, and employees at agencies and organisations, as well as people in the area. The content can be integrated into meetings, seminars, conferences, agencies, units and community events. Furthermore, health departments should work closely with education and training departments to provide information and widely disseminate the harmful effects of new tobacco products to pupils, students, officials, and teachers at educational institutions. Healthcare facilities should also actively provide information about the harmful effects of new tobacco products to patients, their family members, and people in the community. During a scientific conference organised by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Training in 2022 to share research results on tobacco use among students aged 13-15 years old in Viet Nam, data revealed that the rate of tobacco use among this age group increased from 0.2 per cent in 2014 to 0.8 per cent in 2022. The use of new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and heated cigarettes is also on the rise among young people. The rate of e-cigarette smoking among those over 15 years old increased from 0.2 per cent in 2015 to 3.6 per cent in 2020, with an especially high rate of 7.3 per cent among the 15-24 age group. Among students aged 13-15 years old, the rate of e-cigarette use is 3.5 per cent, with male students at 4.3 per cent and female students at 2.8 per cent. E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products contain nicotine, along with approximately 15,500 flavourings, many of which are toxic and can have negative health effects. They also pose a risk of fire and explosion and can be mixed with other substances, such as cannabis. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that e-cigarettes are more harmful than traditional cigarettes and can cause premature health effects or interstitial lung disease, which progresses rapidly and has a worse prognosis than lung cancer. Furthermore, e-cigarettes do not have the same effect as regular cigarettes in aiding smoking cessation. VNS HA NOI Developing a transparent, responsible and sustainable food system requires the participation of relevant departments, domestic and international organisations, and non-governmental organisations, Dr. ao The Anh, vice director of the Viet Nam Agriculture Institute said at a discussion session on Changing Production and Consumption Patterns at the Conference on Sustainable Food Systems in Ha Noi on Tuesday. An inclusive approach to sustainable food systems is a very important goal. Viet Nam has held a number of consultations to be able to mobilise stakeholder contributions, Anh said. Recently, the Vietnamese Government issued an action plan to create a transparent, accountable and sustainable food system, he said. According to the vice director, Viet Nam is a country exporting agricultural products and importing a lot of raw materials for processing but its intensive agriculture has caused certain effects such as soil and water pollution. The country is also facing challenges with high rates of malnutrition in mountainous regions and obesity in cities. Anh said that it is necessary to support small farmers by providing them with advice on scientific models as well as inputs. Therefore, Viet Nam urgently needs the support of all international organisations to share experiences on this issue, said Anh. Facing the trend of large-scale agricultural production applying mechanisation, science and technology, and the effective use of pesticides, Robert Cole, expert from Mekong Region Land Governance, said that large-scale farming plays an important role but also causes major environmental damage such as greenhouse gas emissions. In that context, the role of small-scale farmer models is equally important. Small-scale farmers also want sustainable production practices because they are associated with long-term livelihoods. We need to pay more attention to this force, one of the first important links in the food supply chain, he said. In the discussion session, Rebecca Shaw, senior vice president of World Wildlife Fund (WWF), said that recent biodiversity indicators are showing signs of decline while biodiversity is the most important factor in ecosystems such as livestock, fisheries, wood production and carbon. WWF research shows that the food system has a notable impact on climate and biodiversity, and is responsible for 27 to 30 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions and 70 per cent of freshwater exploited. The food industry is also one of the main causes of deforestation and biodiversity loss as well as the increasing trend of pandemics, she said. The pieces of the food production and consumption system need to be chained and integrated among each community to solve problems related to climate change, biodiversity loss and human health. It is a global challenge, the WWF representative said. To provide solutions to the puzzle pieces of the food system at the grassroots level, Shaw introduced a thinking model of 5i of Information, Institutions, Integration, Inclusion and Inspiration. From Cambodia's experience in solving the problems of building a sustainable food system, Sok Silo, Secretary-General of the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), told the meeting that the biggest challenges have been managing major State policies and national strategies as well as restructuring the agricultural sector. New thinking on transforming food systems requires transformation from other systems in society. Cambodia has action plans among ministries and sectors to implement a national strategy to transform the food system. From there, it is possible to make the most of resources to ensure a healthy source of nutrition for the people, he said. To be able to solve the big challenges in transforming the current food consumption system, countries and organisations need to call for the participation of businesses to optimise costs and improve quality, and in particular, it is necessary to focus on changing social thinking, enhancing the modernisation of the agricultural sector, ensuring nutrition security and adapting to climate change, he added. VNS So far this year, foreign direct investment (FDI) channeled into Vietnam neared 8.9 billion USD, with new capital surging after a slight decrease in the first three months. According to the Ministry of Planning and Investments Foreign Investment Agency (FIA), there were 750 new projects granted investment licences worth over 4.1 billion USD, up 65.2 per cent and 11.1 per cent annually, respectively. A total of 386 projects had their capital added for a total of 1.66 billion USD, a 19.5 per cent increase in quantity and reduction of 68.6 per cent in value against the same period last year. The growth, despite the associated decrease, reflected investors confidence in Vietnams business climate and decisions to expand their existing projects. Also in the four months, foreign investors did 1,044 transactions of capital contribution and share purchases, with their contributed capital exceeding 3.1 billion USD, up 70.4 per cent year-on-year. They invested in 18 economic sectors, mostly in processing and manufacturing with over 5.1 billion USD or 57.8 per cent of their total investment. The number of countries and territories investing in Vietnam in the period amounted to 77. Singapore took the lead by pouring close to 2.2 billion USD in the market, followed by Japan with nearly 2 billion USD and China with 752 million USD. Hanoi was the top FDI investment destination with more than 1.1 billion USD. Bac Giang came second, followed by Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai. The FIA said although exports of the FDI sector decreased, it still offset the trade deficit of nearly 8.3 billion USD of the domestic business sector and helped the country gain a trade surplus of about 5.2 billion USD in the first months of the year. vir OplaCRM has announced that it has received a seed funding investment from GOSU Online Joint Stock Company, one of the top 5 game publishers in Vietnam. 13 GOSU has more than 37 million users in its ecosystem and has launched over 26 game products. The investment will be used to develop OplaCRMs business team and expand its products into the US market. Founded in 2022 by Nam Nguyen and three friends who studied with him at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, OplaCRM is a software system that serves sales and business departments for businesses in various industries, including the chemical industry, iron and steel, construction equipment, import and export, information technology solution consulting, and marketing agency. Before receiving the investment, OplaCRM was used by many businesses, including KTG Electric, a supplier of electrical and lighting equipment. KTG recorded a significant improvement in productivity and working efficiency of the team, with a 30% increase in project success rate and 20% increase in sales after using OplaCRM products for six months. Nam Nguyen, founder of OplaCRM told Vietnam Insider that, the investment will be used to develop the business team and products to expand into the US market. He believes that the strategic investment from GOSU Corp not only makes financial sense but also helps leverage the strengths of user experience building through gamification, international selling, security, and GOSU Corps big data processing performance. Nam Nguyen, founder of OplaCRM Le Thanh Minh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of GOSU Online Corporation, said, This is a strategic investment that GOSU Corp has great expectations about the internal resources and ways of building and developing products of the OplaCRM team. GOSU Corp believes, accompanies, and commits to providing maximum support in terms of experience and resources to enhance the operational efficiency of OplaCRM in its journey to conquer foreign markets. Nam Nguyen has more than 12 years of experience in consulting and selling the worlds leading CRM solutions following the SaaS model. He used to be a Principal Solution Consultant at Oracle Vietnam and Lead Solution Engineer at Salesforce Singapore, consulting and implementing CRM for hundreds of large customers in the country and Southeast Asia. OplaCRMs mission is to help sales staff Enjoy your work by optimizing measurement indicators. The company aims to create a different generation of CRM that is more suitable for todays generation of dynamic salespeople. The investment from GOSU Online Joint Stock Company is expected to boost OplaCRMs growth and expansion into foreign markets. Car tyres being produced at Sailun Vietnam Co in Tay Ninh Province. VNA/VNS Photo Hong Dat The growth of the number of new projects was much higher than that of investment capital, which demonstrated that small and medium-sized foreign investors continued to believe in the country's investment environment, the FIA has said. It added that new foreign-invested projects still focused on provinces and cities that had many advantages in attracting foreign investment including good infrastructure, stable human resources, efforts to reform administrative procedures and effective investment promotion. Among these localities were Ha Noi, Bac Giang, HCM City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Bac Ninh and Hai Phong. During the period, the country allowed 386 operating projects to raise their capital by nearly $1.66 billion, up 19.5 per cent in volume but down 68.6 per cent in value. A decline in adjusted capital in four months, however, was lower than 70.3 per cent seen in three months; 85.2 per cent in two months and 76 per cent in the first month, according to the agency. Besides, the number of operating projects which saw capital added increased sharply instead of a modest rise of 2.6 per cent in three months and a slump of 6.3 per cent in two months. That once again confirmed investors' confidence in Viet Nam's investment environment and continued to expand their existing projects in the country, the FIA noted. At the same time, foreign businesses were also approved to pay over $3.1 billion for capital contribution and share purchases in a total of 1,044 transactions, marking yearly increases of 70.4 per cent in value and 2 per cent in volume. However, disbursement of foreign investment saw a slight decline of 1.2 per cent, to an estimated $5.85 billion in the period, the FIA said. Six traditional investment partners of Singapore, Japan, mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea accounted for 75.1 per cent of the country's total investment capital in January-April. Of them, Singapore ranked first with nearly $2.2 billion, equivalent to 24.7 per cent of the total, ahead of Japan with around $2 billion or 22.1 per cent, and mainland China with nearly $752 million or 8.5 per cent. The manufacturing and processing sector attracted the lion's share of foreign investment with over $5.1 billion, down 17 per cent year-on-year or equivalent to 57.8 per cent of the total. Banking and finance came next with over $1.5 billion, increasing more than 12 times over the same period last year or making up 17 per cent of the total. Real estate and wholesale and retail sectors were the runner-ups with nearly $972 million, down 65.5 per cent and $372 million, down 44.3 per cent, respectively. During a meeting with foreign investors in Ha Noi late last week, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said FDI was an important resource to contribute to promoting growth, ensuring jobs for the people. Viet Nam would continue the effort to build a safe, transparent, and highly competitive business environment so that enterprises could feel safe and secure to invest in Viet Nam for mutual benefit, ensuring social responsibility and environmental protection, the PM said. Viet Nam was now selective in attracting FDI with the focus placed on quality, efficiency, technology and environmental protection, PM Chinh said, adding that priorities would be given to projects in high technology, innovation, research and development, projects which enabled Vietnamese enterprises to participate in value chains, and projects which promoted digital economy, green economy, circular economy and sustainable development. Investors would be offered the best business environment in line with OECD standards, including maintaining socio-political and macroeconomic stability, removing bottlenecks and difficulties in terms of legal institutions, infrastructure and human resources, developing supply chains, reducing transaction costs, and developing a stable, predictable policy environment with high transparency and accountability, he said. He also urged enterprises to develop long-term business strategies in Viet Nam with a focus on sustainable development, environment protection and emerging sectors including digital transformation, green transition, circular economy, innovation, knowledge economy and climate change adaptation. Bizhub Death toll from NW Pakistan explosions rises to 17 Xinhua) 09:08, April 26, 2023 Damaged buildings of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station are seen following twin explosions in Swat, Pakistan, on April 25, 2023. The death toll from Monday's twin explosions in a police station in Swat district of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province rose to 17 on Tuesday, with at least 70 others injured, health and police officials said. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua) ISLAMABAD, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Monday's twin explosions in a police station in Pakistan's Swat district of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province rose to 17 on Tuesday, with at least 70 others injured, health and police officials said. Confirming the casualties, KP Health Secretary Mahmood Aslam Wazir told Xinhua that the death toll increased after several injured succumbed to their injuries and more bodies were recovered from the debris of the police station building that collapsed following the powerful blasts. He said that at least eight people among the injured are in critical condition, adding that hospitals across the district have been put on high alert and all the medical staff are directed to report to their respective duties in order to cope with any emergencies. The deceased included nine policemen, three civilians, and five prisoners in the twin blasts that occurred in the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station in the Kabal area of Swat. Search and rescue operation is still underway at the blast site for the second day, and rescue officials are working on removing the debris as nearby buildings including houses, a mosque, and a school were also damaged due to the impact of the explosions, Shafiqa Gul, a rescue official from the state-owned Rescue 1122, told Xinhua. More than 100 rescue personnel and heavy machinery have been taking part in the rescue operation, said the official, adding that patients with severe burn injuries have been shifted to Burns and Trauma Center in neighboring Peshawar city. Commenting on the nature of the explosions, CTD Deputy Inspector General Khalid Sohail ruled out the possibility of suicide attacks or other acts of terrorism as suggested by some officials and media reports earlier. "There was a store where we had a huge quantity of weapons, explosives and suicide vests recovered from terrorists ... there might have been some blast in it due to some carelessness," he said, adding that the shock waves caused the complete collapse of the CTD building. A committee has been formed to investigate the matter and ascertain the cause of the explosions and the subsequent collapse of the police station. Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan expressed sorrow over the loss of precious lives. Security officials examine damaged buildings of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station following twin explosions in Swat, Pakistan, on April 25, 2023. The death toll from Monday's twin explosions in a police station in Swat district of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province rose to 17 on Tuesday, with at least 70 others injured, health and police officials said. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua) Damaged buildings of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station are seen following twin explosions in Swat, Pakistan, on April 25, 2023. The death toll from Monday's twin explosions in a police station in Swat district of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province rose to 17 on Tuesday, with at least 70 others injured, health and police officials said. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua) A victim's shoe is seen following twin explosions in Swat, Pakistan, on April 25, 2023. The death toll from Monday's twin explosions in a police station in Swat district of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province rose to 17 on Tuesday, with at least 70 others injured, health and police officials said. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua) Damaged buildings of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station are seen following twin explosions in Swat, Pakistan, on April 25, 2023. The death toll from Monday's twin explosions in a police station in Swat district of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province rose to 17 on Tuesday, with at least 70 others injured, health and police officials said. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua) Damaged buildings of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station are seen following twin explosions in Swat, Pakistan, on April 25, 2023. The death toll from Monday's twin explosions in a police station in Swat district of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province rose to 17 on Tuesday, with at least 70 others injured, health and police officials said. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua) Damaged buildings of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station are seen following twin explosions in Swat, Pakistan, on April 25, 2023. The death toll from Monday's twin explosions in a police station in Swat district of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province rose to 17 on Tuesday, with at least 70 others injured, health and police officials said. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Minnesota House passes new bill legalizing the recreational use of marijuana for adults aged 21 and older The bill, which passed 71-59, received support from two Republicans who joined forces with all but one Democrat Now, the proposal will head to the Senate and be considered to be passed into law The Minnesota House passed a recreational marijuana bill with a vote of 71-59 on Tuesday, Apr. 25, that would allow adults aged 21 years and above to buy, sell, and use cannabis without facing criminal prosecution. The decision allows the state to join nearly two dozen other regions that have legalized marijuana for recreational use. The bill passed with two Republican lawmakers joining all but one Democrat in supporting the bill. Minnesota House Passes New Marijuana Bill United States authorities started the debate regarding the proposal on Monday night before adjourning and resuming talks the following day. In a statement, Rep. Zack Stephenson, the bill's author, said that Minnesota residents deserve the freedom and respect to make their own decisions regarding the recreational use of marijuana, as per CBS News. With the bill's passing, officials will create a new state Office of Cannabis Management, which will be responsible for oversight. Residents in Minnesota looking to start new businesses with cannabis are required to apply for state licenses to grow, manufacture, or sell cannabis at dispensaries. Read Also: Bernie Sanders Endorses Biden for President Re-election The newly-passed bill would allow anyone to keep 1.5 pounds of cannabis flower in their homes, grow up to eight plants at a time, and have two ounces in a public place. The legislation is the culmination of hours-long testimony and 16 committee hearings. It would automatically remove low-level cannabis convictions and create an expungement board that would consider felony offenses. Supporters of the bill said that it reflects a core goal of the proposal: correcting the mistakes of cannabis prohibition that disproportionately harmed people of color. Disproportionately Affecting People of Color During a floor debate on Monday prior to the passing of the bill, Stephenson said that current laws have failed. He added that decades' worth of data showed that Minnesotans are entitled to the legal use of cannabis because old regulations are doing more harm than good, according to Marijuana Moment. The delay in the process of passing the bills came as lawmakers considered public feedback and worked to revise policies surrounding topics such as tax structures for the market and tighten up the language. Stephenson added that for the last three years, Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) members have worked and listened to create a state-specific model for the legalization of cannabis. He noted that the recent bill would create a safe and well-regulated legal marketplace for marijuana. The lawmaker added that the bill includes the best practices for consumer protection, health, and public safety. It also focuses on a robust expungement program that would allow individuals disproportionately affected by previous laws to move on with their lives, said Fox9. Related Article: 3M to Slash 6,000 Jobs Worldwide as 'Scotch' Tape Maker Undergoes Restructuring @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hues visit to Uruguay is expected to open up opportunities for stronger economic and trade ties, and win-win cooperation between Vietnam and the Latin American country. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hues visit to Uruguay is expected to open up opportunities for stronger economic and trade ties, and win-win cooperation between Vietnam and the Latin American country. According to Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai, Uruguay is one of Vietnam's potential trade partners in Latin America. However, trade cooperation between the two countries remains modest and has yet to be commensurate with their potential. According to the Europe-American Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), two-way trade between Vietnam and Uruguay hit 190.5 million USD in 2022, up 106.5% year-on-year. Vietnam earned 102.9 million USD from exports to Uruguay, while spending 87.6 million USD on imports from the Latin American nation, up 76.7% and 157.2%, respectively. Uruguay's data showed that Vietnam's exports to the country in January 2023 reached more than 5.7 million USD, up 2.4% over the same period in 2022. Meanwhile, Uruguay's imports from Vietnam totaled over 1.6 million USD, down 48.17% year-on-year. High per capita income, the development of the service industry, and frequent shopping habits of Uruguayan people are considered as favourable factors for Vietnam's exports. Notably, during the third meeting of the Joint Committee for Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation of Vietnam and Uruguay on April 14 this year, the two sides agreed on many practical solutions to solve obstacles in bilateral trade and investment relations, and proposed trade promotion measures to facilitate activities of the two countries businesses. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai and Uruguayan Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicolas Albertoni agreed to continue working closely to effectively implement the contents agreed upon at the meeting, towards the 30th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Uruguay is a potential market and one of the important partners of Vietnam in the region, Hai said, adding that the country has an important voice in Latin America as it is one of the founding members of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur - including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay). Hai said the two sides should further step cooperation within bilateral and multilateral frameworks; and focus on persifying the structure of import and export products, promoting trade promotion activities, and supporting the business community in exploring the market and seeking business opportunities, thus further strengthening the bilateral trade. At the meeting, the two sides also proposed new cooperation areas, including food safety, customs, science and technology, software, wood exploitation and processing. To boost exports to the Uruguayan market, the MoIT advised Vietnamese businesses to actively seek market information and update economic-trade-investment policies of both countries through the MoIT, the Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina which is also in charge of Uruguay and Paraguay, the Embassies of Argentina and Uruguay in Vietnam, and trade promotion centres of provinces and centrally-run cities. They should also actively participate in market survey activities, and face-to-face and online trade-investment promotion events with Uruguayan partners to seek business opportunities; pay heed to improving the quality and competitiveness of products and developing new products. The MoIT, and relevant ministries and sectors, and the Vietnam Trade Office in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay will provide market information, serve as a bridge connecting the Vietnamese business community with partners in these markets, and help address difficulties facing Vietnamese firms in making inroads into the countries./. Source: VietnamPlus Australia is Vietnam's second largest shrimp import market in the CPTPP market after Japan, accounting for 27% of Vietnam's total shrimp export value to this market. According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in February 2023, Vietnam's shrimp exports to Australia recorded a growth signal, reaching 19 million USD, up 7%. However, in January 2023, shrimp exports to this market decreased sharply due to the Lunar New Year, so by the first half of March 2023, shrimp exports to this market reached 36 million USD, down 31% compared to the same period in 2022. According to the analysis of Ms Kim Thu, a shrimp market expert of VASEP, Australia is the second largest shrimp import market of Vietnam in CPTPP after Japan, accounting for 27% of Vietnam's total shrimp export value to this market segment. Australia is also Vietnam's 5th largest shrimp import market, accounting for 8%. In 2022, Vietnam's shrimp exports to Australia recorded the second-highest growth after China. As a result, the export value to the Australian market in 2022 reached USD 272 million, up 44% compared to 2021. While import demand from the US and EU decreased in the last quarter of 2022, import demand from Australia remained steady since the beginning of the year. In the 5 years (2018-2022), Vietnam's shrimp exports increased from USD 115 million in 2018 to USD 272 million in 2022, an increase of 137%. The average annual growth rate is 25%. During these five years, shrimp exports to Australia grew 11-44%. The highest growth milestone of 44% was recorded in 2022, proving that measures to promote the export of goods from Vietnam to Australia through diplomatic activities, trade promotion, and support from FTAs have resulted in good results. In five years, the export of live, fresh and frozen white shrimp and giant tiger prawn products recorded a strong 3-digit growth, especially the export value of live/fresh/frozen white shrimp in 2022 recorded a growth of 740 % compared to 2018. After five years, the export value of processed white shrimp grew less while the export of processed giant tiger prawns recorded a decrease. In 2022, in the structure of Vietnamese shrimp products exported to Australia, white shrimp accounted for 95.5%, marine shrimp accounted for 4.2%, and giant tiger prawn accounted for 0.3%. After five years, the proportion of white shrimp exports to Australia increased sharply while the proportion of marine shrimp and giant tiger prawns tended to decrease. In the Australian market, Vietnamese shrimp have competitive supplies from Thailand and China. From 2015 to now, Vietnam has firmly maintained its No. 1 position in shrimp supply to Australia, with the market share of Vietnamese shrimp increasing from 32% in 2015 to 69% in 2022, while Thailand's market share decreased from 23 % in 2015 to 14%, China's market share fell from 28% to 8%. Along with the three agreements AANZFTA, CPTPP and RCEP between Vietnam and Australia, Vietnamese shrimp products exported to Australia enjoy 0% tax incentives. However, Vietnamese shrimp entering Australia, especially undercooked shrimp, are still subject to strict inspection steps in Australia. In the context of shrimp exports facing many difficulties due to the decline in import demand from main markets such as the US and EU, with 3 FTAs with Australia and opportunities for positive cooperation relations, Australia is still considered an important market for Vietnamese shrimp shortly. According to Ms Le Hang, Communications Director of VASEP, the open market and tariff incentives from the CPTPP offer opportunities to increase seafood exports to Australia in recent years, which is also a potential for seafood export enterprises in the current difficult period. Source: Customs News As an active member of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) Argentina can be the gateway for Vietnamese goods to make inroad into the South American market, while Vietnam will always be a solid bridge for Argentina to enter the ASEAN market, as well as the Asia-Pacific region. National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue attended the Vietnam- Argentina Business Forum held on April 25 in Buenos Aires as part of activities taking place within the framework of his official visit to the Latin American country. In a speech given at the event, Cecilia Todesca Bocco, secretary for International Economic Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, said that trade turnover and the support of the two countries' economies has contributed to strengthening economic and trade ties between both sides over recent years. The past five years has seen bilateral trade turnover grow by 54%, with Vietnam being Argentina's sixth trade partner with an export turnover of US$3.2 billion and imports of US$1.24 billion from Vietnam. Bocco assessed that the two countries still have plenty of room to achieve broader co-operation, with the Argentinian side able to add a lot of export items for the country to expand and diversify its economic and trade relations, she added. Therefore, both sides must seek to further ramp up links between provinces, cities, ministries, and sectors. On the Argentine side, many delegations have been sent to Vietnam, including 32 representative enterprises operating in meat, pork, beef, lamb production, citrus fruits, and cattle meat. Recalling the comments recently made by the Argentinean President and NA Chairman Hue when they said that both nations have specific opportunities for co-operation in the field of renewable energy, especially in the context of Industry 4.0, Bocco said the forum also aims to specify that agenda with projects that can be done jointly. She also highlighted the forum as a place for the two sides to outline orientations for the next 50 years of co-operation. NA Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong said that over recent time, trade and investment promotion activities have been actively implemented by the two sides, with the Vietnamese side organising two business delegations to survey the Argentinean market in 2017 and 2018. Indeed, Argentina organised many delegations, especially a delegation of more than 20 business representatives to Vietnam to attend the International Food Industry Exhibition (FoodExpo) in 2022. The two sides have also collaborated to effectively implement technical co-operation projects in the fields of agriculture, anthropology-forensics, science and technology to create comprehensive links across multiple areas where both sides have strengths and needs. Despite geographically distance, both countries share plenty of similarities as both have great potential to become transit points for goods and investment flows that connect with countries throughout the region and the world. According to NA Vice Chairman Phuong, the two countries business communities still face obstacles due to the remote geographical distance without direct transport of goods and passengers, thereby leading to a delay in transportation. Other hurdles include long transportation and travel times, high costs, and differences in both language and business practices. As a way of further strengthening economic, trade, and investment relations and taking advantage of opportunities in the new context, NA Vice Chairman Phuong suggested the two sides pay greater attention to diversifying traditional import and export products in order to increase turnover and gradually balance the bilateral trade balance. Specifically, Vietnam wishes to promote the export of strong and high-quality products that are suitable for the needs of the Argentine market, such as apparel products, footwear, agricultural and aquatic products, timber products and furniture, as well as construction material. In the opposite direction, the Argentinean side continues to export corn, and soybeans with a stable supply and prices to the Vietnamese market. Along with trade co-operation, relevant agencies and businesses of the two countries are considering and expanding technical ties and investment links in potential fields such as high-tech agriculture, mining and lithium production, agricultural product processing, high-tech agricultural green hydrogen gas production technology, and agricultural product processing. This is along with biotechnology, health care, green energy, and AI technology serving the digital transformation of each country to increase comprehensive co-operation and long-term association. The two sides need to work together in implementing trade-investment promotion activities, providing information to the business community of the two sides about each other's markets, helping businesses to attend trade connection activities in the form of face-to-face or online meetings, holding exchanges, and seeking further co-operation opportunities. The Vietnamese side remains ready to welcome and create optimal conditions for the Argentine business community to explore business and investment opportunities in Vietnam. In order to facilitate the promotion of bilateral trade and investment, NA Vice Chairman Phuong wished that both nations would strive to accelerate negotiations for a free trade agreement, as well as between the Vietnamese side and the MERCOSUR bloc. This agreement would create an important breakthrough for businesses of the two countries to have a competitive advantage in accessing each other's markets. NA Vice Chairman Phuong also voiced his hope that this forum will have substantive and effective exchanges between ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses of the two sides, thereby opening up new opportunities and creating long-term cohesion for the benefit of both nations. Source: VOV Minister for Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond, is calling for improved systems that will enable developing countries like Ghana to effectively participate in negotiations of the World Trade Organisations (WTO). Mr. Hammond also wants the restoration of a fully functional two-tier dispute settlement mechanism. This, he proposed should be made up of Panels and the Appellate Body to give the multilateral trading system (MTS) the needed predictability and certainty. Additionally, Mr. Hammond is pressing for transparency of governments trade measures, especially as it pertains to export prohibitions and restrictions as witnessed during the height of the COVID crisis. An issue of much concern as I welcome you to Ghana, your Excellency there seems to be lack of proper dispute settlement due to the collapse of the appellate body some time ago which didnt give parties more room to appeal on their issues. I will like to urge you to take a critical look at it and find a lasting solution to it so that we have a proper adjudicator system he said. Mr. Hammond made these pronouncements in a meeting with the Director General of the WTO, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala when she paid a courtesy call as part of her Africa tour which begun from Ghana. As part of measures to reform the organisation, the Minister is also advocating for positively reviewing the special and preferential treatment for developing countries and ensuring that existing flexibilities in the Agreement on Agriculture, especially those pertaining to Article 6.2, are fully preserved to help confront the challenges of food insecurity and, reinvigorating the WTOs negotiating function. On her part, Dr Okonjo-Iweala expressed confidence that the matter will be dealt with in earnest since it has been under consideration for some time. She disclosed that the lack of judges at the WTO is a major challenge to dispute settlements. She used the opportunity to urge entrepreneurs to take advantage of the good environment for digital trading since Ghana has advanced among its peers on the continent. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala appealed to the government and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture to ratify the new regulation on fishing trade for member countries. She stated that Ghana is a key member of the organization, hence its ratification will go a long way to help the over 12 million population that depend on fishing for their livelihoods. Yes we are on course to enhance the trade facilitation and dispute settlement, but I must say the first layer of the settlement mechanism is working. The only challenge is that the second layer is not functional because of unavailability of judges to sit on that panel, however I can assure you that we shall get it resolved soon she assured. Mr. Hammond congratulated her for being the first African, and the first woman, to assume the position. Source: Myjoyonline Despite being quite shy about new investments, foreign investors still increase investment capital for effective projects in Vietnam, showing their confidence in the prospects of investment projects in Vietnam. Nearly 43% of FDI enterprises reported profit The Provincial Competitiveness Report (PCI) 2022 has stated that foreign-invested enterprises (FDI) are on a stable recovery track after the pandemic with positive business activities. While 2021 saw the rate of FDI enterprises reporting profits at a record low of 38.72%, by 2022, this rate has increased significantly to 42.77%. However, in the context of unpredictable global market fluctuations, FDI enterprises are being cautious about their expansion plans. Only 6.24% of FDI enterprises participating in the survey said they had increased their investment capital in 2022, the lowest level since 2014. The thermometer of FDI enterprises shows that 33% of FDI enterprises plan to increase their scale in the next year. This is a sharp decrease compared to 47.7% in 2021 and much lower than the pre-pandemic level, this number has never dropped below 45% in the period from 2014 to 2019. In fact, in the first quarter of 2023, the total registered foreign investment capital into Vietnam reached USD 7.8 billion, down 19.3% over the same period last year. Realized FDI in Vietnam in the first three months of 2023 was estimated at USD 4.32 billion, down 2.2% over the same period last year. However, FDI enterprises still place high expectations on the prospects and recovery of Vietnam's economy. According to the Doing Business Index (BCI) report based on a survey of 1,300 members of the European Business Association in Vietnam (EuroCham), the BCI index in the first quarter of 2023 remained stable at 48.0 points, but there are already promising signs of a positive change in the economic outlook of the European business community. Mr. Gabor Fluit, President of EuroCham, said that member businesses are feeling positive about the future of Vietnam's economy with the expectation that the upcoming reforms to work permit and tourist visa procedures will be able to have a direct impact on growth. In addition, the Government's solutions to improve liquidity and access to finance will also boost the spirit of the business community. Similarly, Mr. Steven Cranwell, General Manager of the Americas and Regional Director of Corporate Banking for the Americas, Standard Chartered Bank, said that despite uncertainties in the global economy, the US businesses still believe in Vietnam's prospects thanks to its friendly business environment, strategic location as a gateway to other fast-growing markets, abundant and skilled labor, and competitive labor costs and many preferential policies. According to a survey by Standard Chartered, 92% of 500 business leaders in the US currently have plans to expand their business in the ASEAN region, and 51% of them currently have plans to invest in manufacturing in Vietnam. In addition, Vietnam is participating in many Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), so it also supports Vietnam in the process of participating in the world and regional supply chains, and at the same time, helps businesses operating in Vietnam diversify and access more markets with favorable conditions. Promote improvements in administrative procedures and infrastructure In the general assessment of Vietnam's business environment, the survey results of FDI enterprises show that the burden of regulatory compliance has decreased to nearly the level before the pandemic; among enterprises that responded to the PCI-FDI 2022 investigation, not a single enterprise was unduly audited. Moreover, administrative procedures in the fields of social insurance, investment registration, business registration and import and export are assessed to have improved significantly. Informal costs have continued their downward trend in recent years. However, FDI enterprises still reflect that some areas need to continue to promote administrative procedure reform; the improvement of infrastructure shows signs of slowing down in 2022 and needs more attention. Notably, the quality of human resources has not yet met the needs of employers. FDI enterprises still face difficulties in recruiting workers, especially for positions requiring high qualifications such as managers and executives. Mr. Steven Cranwell said that American businesses want Vietnam to improve infrastructure, especially ports, transport infrastructure and the capacity of the logistics industry to maintain growth. Moreover, Vietnam needs to reduce its dependence on raw materials from China because it can reduce the diversification efforts of enterprises. Source: Customs News The Civil Aviation Authority has just submitted a report to the Ministry of Transport reflecting the extra fees and waiting times for passengers taking taxis at Tan Son Nhat International Airport when entering the country. 31 Taxi pick-up area at Tan Son Nhat airport. Photo: Quynh Danh. Regarding the information that passengers taking taxis at Tan Son Nhat International Airport have to pay extra fees, the Civil Aviation Authority has requested that the Southern Airports Authority coordinates with relevant agencies and units to verify the cause and implement solutions to address the information reflected by passengers. Tan Son Nhat International Airport will proceed to select passenger transport units by car according to the approved selection plan with a minimum service price. After completing the selection of transport units, this unit will have a reporting document. Regarding the reflection of passengers waiting to pick up their luggage upon entering the country, the Southern Airports Authority has cooperated with Tan Son Nhat International Airport to survey some flights. Specifically, the time to return luggage from when the plane is parked near positions (13,14,15,16) for the first item of luggage is 8-15 minutes, and the last item is 27-43 minutes; from when the plane is parked at far positions (76,80,87,91) for the first item of luggage, it takes 27-42 minutes, and the last item takes 38-71 minutes. Through actual survey work and the current state of infrastructure at Tan Son Nhat Airport, the cause of the prolonged luggage return time is due to the increasing number of international flights and the high volume of passengers. During some peak hours, passengers have to wait to complete immigration procedures before picking up their luggage, resulting in a longer total time for passengers to enter the country and retrieve their luggage. Furthermore, due to the characteristics of this airport having many far parking positions, when luggage trolleys move to the luggage conveyor area, it takes 15-17 minutes. In addition, the infrastructure of the passenger terminal is still limited. The domestic passenger terminal at the airport was built many years ago, has been renovated several times, and the area of the luggage conveyor is still limited, making it difficult for passengers to access the conveyor, leading to the release of luggage on the conveyor for some flights with many passengers or much luggage, causing delays. In this situation, the Civil Aviation Authority has requested the airport authority to work with relevant units and require these units to implement solutions to address the situation. Earlier, the press reported that when taking a taxi from the airport, passengers had to pay an extra fee of 24,100-34,100 VND per trip for two types of fees, including entrance fee (10,000 VND), airport fee (9,100 VND/trip, not including tax), and taxi fee transit for the TCP transport unit (5.000-15.000 VND). Therefore, the Ministry of Transport has requested Tan Son Nhat International Airport and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport to study the feedback on additional fees for airport taxi passengers. In addition, the agency has also urged the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam and the Vietnam Airport Corporation to urgently study and work with customs and immigration authorities on the issue of passengers waiting long to retrieve their luggage upon arrival. From April 28 to May 3, Tan Son Nhat International Airport is expected to operate nearly 4,500 domestic and international flights, equivalent to nearly 760,000 passengers. Thus, the total number of flights through Tan Son Nhat increases by nearly 19% and the total number of passengers increases by nearly 33% compared to the same period in 2022. On the peak day of the holiday period, the airport will operate up to 810 flights. This is also one of the pressures on the airport in the context of limited airport infrastructure, a representative of Tan Son Nhat Airport told Zing. @Zing News The conference is being held in Ho Chi Minh City on April 26 and 27 with hotel industry professionals from Marriott International, Accor, and The Ascott Limited, among others, in attendance. The 2023 Vietnam Hospitality Conference In her opening remarks, Gloria Wong, executive director of the Hospitality Asia event series, said, "Vietnam's tourism industry is not immune to global trends and is experiencing similar effects to those in other markets." David Jackson, CEO of Colliers Vietnam, noted, "The global hospitality market has shown signs of improvement, but international travel has not yet returned to pre-COVID levels. In Asia-Pacific, our growth rate is 63 per cent, but we are 37 per cent behind 2019." The National Administration of Tourism reports that the number of international tourists has increased by almost 30 per cent, and domestic visitors continue to soar, reaching 27.7 million in the first quarter of 2023. "As a result, the industry is evolving and adapting to meet the demands of an ever-changing market," Wong said. According to the Vietnam Association of Realtors, more than 19,000 new tourism and resort real estate ventures were developed in Vietnam last year. About 42 per cent of the market's total supply originated from the Central region, which supplied nearly 8,000 products. In addition to popular areas like Nha Trang, Danang, and Phu Quoc, international and regional operators are paying close attention to emerging regions such as Ho Tram, Quy Nhon, and Phu Yen. The properties are all luxury status developed by renowned investors in response to the substantial growth of the Vietnam's upper class and the shift in consumer behaviour towards physical and mental well-being. New urban resort and hospitality company launched in Vietnam The Wafaifo Resort, a five-minute walk from Hoi An in central Vietnam, will be the first project for the ambitious hospitality consultancy firm. Hospitality industry looks to level up Savills Hotels, in partnership with WeHub, hosted a Meet The Experts event in Ho Chi Minh City on March 30. More than 40 speakers held lively discussions with international developers, hotel owners, and professionals while the industry's performance was reviewed and market prospects were discussed. As a leader in the development of clean energy solutions in Asia, ACC helps international and domestic firms decarbonise their energy supply and meet internal and transnational environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets. The investment from SUSI Partners will allow Asia Clean Capital Vietnam to help multinational and leading domestic companies decarbonise their energy supply ACC has developed over 165MW of commercial and industrial rooftop solar and over 30MW of ground energy projects in partnership with many of the worlds top multinationals. Over 90 per cent of the clean electricity produced is consumed by ACCs clients. Its local and international management teams bring many years of rooftop solar and ground energy project design, development, and operational experience to Vietnam. ACCV and SUSI Partners share a belief that embedding ESG standards across business operations and investment activities creates sustainable value for all stakeholders. ESG practices have always been a focus for ACC. The MNC clients that ACC serves have very demanding ESG targets and the clean energy solutions that ACC provides directly reduces its clients carbon footprint while the blockchain sustainability data management software that ACC deploys provides auditable, verifiable data for sustainability management, reporting and green finance. ACCs ESG performance and compliance is market leading, having been developed in partnership with the global financial institutions that have supported ACC through its growth. ACCVs mixed ground-mounted and rooftop solar project at SC VivoCity Mall (District 7, Ho Chi Minh City) SAETFs investment will allow ACCV to help multinational and top domestic companies decarbonise their energy supply. "ACC parties with large foreign-invested corporations to decarbonise their energy supply and contribute to Vietnams commitment to achieving Net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We are dedicated to bringing innovative renewable energy solutions to the market, and believe in the power of on-site climate technologies to lead the transition to a cleaner future," said CEO Michael Viet Luong. "With SUSI Partners, we have found a partner whose longstanding track record and exclusive focus on energy transition investments aligns perfectly with our ambition to support global climate targets." SUSI Partners is a Swiss-based investment manager specialised in energy transition infrastructure investments, with $2.07 billion in capital commitments from institutional investors. The firm invests globally through dedicated equity and credit strategies. Our mandate aims to enable emerging economies in Southeast Asia to grow sustainably. Together with ACCV, we look forward to accelerating the urgently needed buildout of clean energy supplies in Vietnam, which is rapidly becoming one of the most important manufacturing centers in the world, said Wymen Chan, head of Asia at SUSI Partners. Founded in 2009, SUSI Partners is a Swiss fund manager specialised in sustainable energy infrastructure investments with 1.9 billion euros in capital commitments from institutional investors. The firms investment strategy focusses on private equity and credit opportunities across the energy transition spectrum, including clean energy generation, energy efficiency measures, and solutions enabling clean energy use. With a successful track record of more than 140 transactions in over 20 countries to date, SUSI Partners seeks to achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns for its clients and their beneficiaries while contributing meaningfully to achieving global climate neutrality. ACCV is the Vietnam-based affiliate of the Asia Clean Capital Group, a leading distributed solar developer focused on the commercial and industrial market in Asia. Core clients include Nestle, Coca-Cola, Danone, Volkswagen, Schindler, Unilever, Andritz, Fujitsu, Mapletree, Universal Alloy Corporation and many more. Focused on carbon reduction, data management and energy efficiency solutions, ACCV invests 100 per cent of the project costs and provides the design, engineering, equipment, government approvals, installation, and long-term operation and maintenance of solar, energy storage and data management systems. ACCV generates and sells clean electricity to clients at below-grid prices under long-term agreements. ACCV's project sites are typically extensive production facilities with electricity demand ranging up to 20 megawatts. The company has offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Ho Chi Minh City. Indian research intern: Vietnams clean energy transition accelerates Vietnam is undergoing clean energy transition at an accelerating rate and is considered the leader of clean energy transition in Southeast Asia, Shubham Rai, a research intern in the Southeast Asia and Oceania Centre at Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), India, wrote in an article. Vietnam among top 10 most attractive destinations in Asia: The Travel The Travel, a well-known travel site in Canada, has ranked Vietnam in the fifth place on a list of the top 10 most attractive destinations in Asia. According to the International Trade Administration, the electric vehicle industry in Vietnam is still in its nascent stage but shows significant prospects. Vietnam is the world's fourth-largest motorcycle market and shows great potential to transition to electric motorcycles. The country has a young and growing population who are interested in advanced technologies, fuel savings, and environmental awareness. Motorcyclesdata.com - a trusted motorcycle review website - reported on a growth rate of 10 per cent in Vietnam's electric motorcycle sales in 2021, which was more than triple the figure of 2018, which saw 2.9 per cent. The sector saw rapid growth despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through its collaboration with Selex, BAEMIN aims to support riders looking to switch from traditional gasoline vehicles to electric motorcycles. The use of electric motorcycles optimises operating costs and provides a quiet and smoke-free experience for riders and pedestrians alike. During the initial trial phase, BAEMIN riders will use Selex's electric motorcycles and provide feedback on their experiences. After that, the BAEMIN team will decide on the appropriate collaboration policies and provide rider support. Once the trial phase ends, the riders with the best delivery records for BAEMIN will receive electric motorcycles directly from the Selex team. Selex Motors is a leading electric vehicle manufacturer with an optimised ecosystem for delivery, providing breakthrough solutions in battery charging. Users can save up to 40 per cent of their operating costs and improve delivery performance through the bikes' specialised design and Internet of Things technology integrated into the mobile application. BEAMIN riders can change batteries at designated stations in under 2 minutes instead of waiting for a full charge. Currently, the Selex battery exchange system has more than 30 locations in Hanoi and more than 20 locations in Ho Chi Minh City, offering an optimal service for delivery drivers for whom time management is crucial. Selex provides the only commercial electric vehicles in Southeast Asia with outstanding carrying capacity, 50 per cent higher in weight and volume than other models, with only half the maintenance costs of gasoline-powered vehicles. Nguyen Huu Phuoc Nguyen, CEO of Selex Motors said, "Selex pursues a mission to promote green logistics, protect the environment, and help riders increase income by reducing energy and maintenance costs. We expect to cover every delivery route in Vietnam in the near future, bringing optimal services and reliable vehicles to riders." In the same vein, Jinwoo Song, CEO of BAEMIN Vietnam said, "This collaboration with Selex is the next step in our journey towards sustainable development. Currently, BAEMIN is the top-ranked app in terms of customer satisfaction and is present in 21 provinces and cities serving a large number of users." "This collaboration with Selex demonstrates the contribution of both parties in implementing the government's policy towards a net-zero emissions goal by 2050," Song added. BAEMIN launches B2B Mall for eco-friendly packaging BAEMIN application signed the cooperation agreement with SERVEONE Vietnam to launch B2B Mall initiative "Bach hoa BAEMIN" to provide environmentally friendly packaging products to merchant partners. BAEMIN Vietnam CEO bullish on food delivery sector Thanks to Vietnam's rapid growth, emerging modern infrastructure, and user readiness, BAEMIN Vietnam's CEO is upbeat about the potential of the country's food delivery market compared to other countries in the region. The construction of Siem Reap Angkok International Airport project has 92 per cent of workload completed. (Photo source: khmertimeskh.com) Phnom Penh - Cambodias new international airport in Siem Reap province will be ready for official inauguration in October 2023. The information was heard in a recent meeting between Tekreth Samrach, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State at the Office of the Council of Ministers; and Zou Yuhui, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yunnan Air investment Cambodia Airport management (YACA). The sides said the construction of the Siem Reap International Airport is now 92 per cent complete and will be opened for flight validation in mid-May 2023. The airport is located in Tayek commune, Sotr Nikum district, about 51 kilometres from Siem Reap provincial city and 40 kilometres from Angkor Wat Temple. The construction of the airport began in March 2020 and the 880 million USD worth airport is a 4E class that can handle long-haul aircrafts. Cambodia breaks Guinness world record for largest display of origami hearts Cambodia's display of origami hearts was included in the Guinness Book of Records on April 11 as the world's largest show of origami hearts, breaking the previous record held by Britain, a Guinness World Records adjudicator announced. Japanese company ispace attempted a commercial landing on the lunar surface that ended in radio silence of the spacecraft The HAKUTO-R mission launched with the help of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket in December 2022 The spacecraft joins the ranks of other landers, such as Israel's Beresheet and India's Vikram that failed similar attempts in 2019 Japanese company ispace attempted to land a spacecraft on the lunar surface in a moon landing program that ended in radio silence that they suspect was caused by a crash landing of the vessel. The mission marks the first attempt at a commercial landing on the surface of Earth's satellite. However, mission controllers later could not establish communications with the spacecraft after the scheduled landing. Japanese Company's Failed Moon Landing Mission The company designed the mission, dubbed HAKUTO-R, and launched the spacecraft onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in December last year. However, it suffered a failed landing on Apr. 25, resulting in the vessel becoming the latest to crash into the lunar surface, as per Scientific American. In a statement during a live broadcast of the landing attempt, ispace CEO Takeshi Hakamada said they were assuming they would not be able to complete the landing on the moon's surface. Currently, it is not yet clear exactly what went wrong with the HAKUTO-R mission's automated landing process. The company's lander is known as Mission (M1) and was set to land in Atlas Crater located in the Mare Frigoris region on the moon's northern hemisphere. Read Also: China's Tianwen-1 Orbiter Captures Stunning Photos of Mars Hakamada argued that the team in charge of the spacecraft maintained communications until the final moments when it went radio silent. He added that they were able to acquire flight data that they will use to increase the chances of success of future missions. Engineers with ispace are now investigating the incident and are trying to determine the cause of the crash. The 22-pound rover in the mission, dubbed Rashid, was manufactured by Dubai's Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center, according to Tech Times. Rashid Rover's Crash Landing The Japanese company went with an unusual approach for its lunar landing mission compared to others before it. It sought to land the spacecraft on the moon as a for-profit enterprise rather than being managed by a single country. ispace was among several businesses competing for the $20 million prize in the Google Lunar XPrize. The competition required the landing of a robotic rover on the moon's surface and having it travel a few thousand feet and successfully send data back to Earth. The failed mission comes as two commercial landers built by American companies and given funding by NASA are set to launch and travel to the moon in the next few months. The American space agency established its Commercial Lunar Payload Service Program (CLPS) in 2018. It was done due to rides on private spacecraft for sending instruments and equipment to the moon, which were estimated to be cheaper than building its own crafts. Furthermore, NASA wants to influence the creation of a new commercial industry around the moon, the costs of which would most likely go down if there is competition between lunar companies, said the New York Times. Related Article: Japan's Ispace Gets Ready for First Commercial Moon Landing Mission @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The rising cost of living around the world has made consumers more cautious in their spending habits, and Vietnamese consumers are no exception. Cafes of all shapes and sizes in Vietnam are booming again, and some chains want to capitalise with new offerings and locations, photo Le Toan According to the 2023 PwC Consumer Insights Survey in Vietnam released last week, 62 per cent of consumers are reducing consumption of non-essential items, which is lower than the global average of 69 per cent. The spending cuts hit non-essential items the most, including luxury goods with 54 per cent, followed by travel with 42 per cent and electronics with 38 per cent. Only 18 per cent of Vietnamese consumers plan to cut spending on groceries and food, lower than the global average of 24 per cent. Statistics from payment platform Payoo also indicated that food and beverage (F&B) revenue in Q1 held positive growth. The catering business of mid-range restaurants and fast-food chains with a spending level of $6.50-13 has grown by 30 per cent compared to the previous quarter. Particularly, the group of milk tea and coffee products with an average unit price of $1.50-3 increased slightly by nearly 5 per cent compared to the previous quarter. High-end restaurants with a spending level of at least $43 per person for each meal are steadily growing, even attracting more customers, although the average value of each order increased by 7 per cent compared to Q4 last year. Economic challenges may affect most consumers, but not all. There are always those who are immune to the crisis because their wealth and spending power are huge. That is the reason why although many common items have decreased in purchasing power, some spending on goods and services has remained stable, and even increased slightly, a representative of Payoo shared. At the end of March, Golden Gate, a restaurant chain with nearly 400 stores throughout the country and serving about 18 million customers per year, released its financial statement for 2022, reporting spectacular growth in both revenues and profit. The companys net revenues reached $296.85 million, equivalent to more than $826 per day, double on-year. Of this, revenues from selling food and drinks were $296.4 million and gross profit was $187 million, up 124 per cent, the highest in the past eight years. Pizza 4Ps, after two consecutive years of losses, reported a profit of nearly $3.6 million last year. Pizza 4Ps currently has a total of 30 branches, including 14 in Ho Chi Minh City and 10 in Hanoi. Phuc Long, a coffee and beverage chain belonging to Masan Groups retail ecosystem, is currently leading in terms of number of points of sale in the F&B segment in Vietnam, with 132 stores and more than 1,000 kiosks. It also recorded positive business results with $68 million in revenues and $8.4 million in pre-tax profit in 2022. Masan Group forecasts that Phuc Longs net revenue in 2023 could reach $108-130 million, a solid growth of as much as 90 per cent against last year, mainly thanks to the successful opening of around 90 new stores. In addition, Phuc Long will also begin loyalty integration into Masans WIN membership initiative, providing customers with more benefits. It is also considering renewing its menu in the second half of this year to give consumers more interesting choices. Although its specific revenues and profit have not been disclosed, the steady growth of the sector is also the main reason why Starbucks plans to increase the number of stores from 87 to 100 this year, and continues to look for business opportunities to extend its footprint in new locations outside its existing cities. Starbucks expects to open its 100th store in Vietnam this year, but that doesnt mean it will stop there, said Patricia Marques, general manager of Starbucks Vietnam. According to a report published by iPOS.vn in early 2023, Vietnams F&B sector possesses great growth potential, with a market value forecasted to reach nearly $43 billion by 2026. The report also indicates that the revenue of the F&B market in Vietnam recovered close to pre-pandemic levels at the end of last year, reaching more than $14 billion. The number of guests returning to eating out has increased greatly, making the spending rate also increase. Vietnamese consider food as a cultural feature, so eating out is also a major connection, said Vu Thanh Hung, general director of iPOS.vn. By the end of 2022, Vietnam had nearly 338,600 restaurants and cafes. The number of F&B restaurants in Vietnam is set to increase gradually, with a growth rate of about 2 per cent annually. World opening eyes to exciting Vietnamese offerings in F&B Vietnamese food and beverage groups are increasingly making their presence felt in numerous countries worldwide thanks to the remarkable quality improvement of goods, with a huge trade fair this week set to put even more of these goods on show. F&B mainstays taking digital direction Vietnams food and beverage sector is increasing cooperation with cashless payment solution providers to offer better customer service and accelerate such payments across the country. Customers in Hanoi can now book an e-taxi through Green SM using an app or hotline number. According to Green and Smart Mobility JSC (GSM), Vietnams first pure electric taxi company, the service will be expanded to at least five provinces and cities this year. Green SM in pole position to take e-taxi market share Nguyen Van Thanh, CEO of GSM said, Green SM was established in response to the national climate objectives, which include efforts to reduce transportation emissions. We offer a new standard of transportation service with outstanding quality, not just serving people but also connecting and forming a green and smart mobility ecosystem across Vietnam. Green SM provides customers with two service options: GreenCar, a standard taxi service, and LuxuryCar, a premium taxi experience that uses the VinFast VF34 and VF8 models. It aims to add the VinFast VF 5 Plus model to the GreenCar fleet shortly as well as increase the number of segments, depending on demand. While traditional taxi companies have struggled since the pandemic, many tech taxi companies have spent millions of dollars to head the market in ride-hailing tech. The taxi business is now full of big businesses such as Grab, Be, Gojek, and now Vingroup. Traditional taxi companies will have to focus on improving service quality, and if they are still fragmented as before, they will not be able to compete. In the long run, traditional taxi companies are forced to merge to improve their competitiveness and gain market share, said Nguyen Cong Hung, chairman of the Hanoi Taxi Association. Electric vehicles (EVs) replacing petrol-based ones is an inevitable trend in passenger transport, and taxi companies also need to calculate this in their development strategies. The Vietnamese government requires all new taxis put into use after 2030 to run on electricity. While converting vehicles to use clean fuel to reduce environmental pollution is necessary, Hung added that the process will not be straightforward. The electrification of taxis needs mechanisms and policies, as well as a large source of support from the state, otherwise it will be difficult for businesses to have enough resources, Hung explained. Each month, an EV will cost nearly VND20 million ($850) for service and depreciation. With hundreds of vehicles to be converted, most businesses find it difficult to access them. In addition, there are other barriers such as charging station infrastructure. Budget e-vehicle plans could provide VinFast competition A new e-vehicle competitor to VinFast may be around the corner after a Chinese manufacturer agreed to team up with Vietnams TMT Motors to launch budget models. Vietnamese electrical vehicles reach US customers Vietnamese electrical carmakers VinFast on March 1 delivered its first 45 VF 8 City Edition electric SUVs to US customers at nine California showrooms, marking its official entry into the US automobile market. HDBank's 2023 AGM HDBank held its AGM on April 26 where it pledged to continue its participation in the Credit Institutions Restructuring Program, in compliance with the State Bank of Vietnam's (SBV) resolution on restructuring the credit system. Related to this, the Board of Directors presented and authorised the completion of HDBank's acquisition of a weak Vietnamese bank, in accordance with legal regulations and guidance from the necessary state agencies. In addition to this acquisition, HDBank is expected to seek shareholder approval for the purchase of a securities company, in anticipation of the immense growth potential of the Vietnamese stock market. However, whether HDBank will be able to increase its foreign ownership limit (FOL) to 49 per cent remains unclear. According to Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, standing vice chairwoman of the Board of Directors at HDBank, "There are provisions set by the government and the SBV to enable credit institutions to acquire weak banks and lift FOL to 49 per cent, but there are still many undisclosed details. Therefore, the bank is unable to confirm the move at present and will inform its shareholders at an appropriate time." Speaking about the bank's investment bond activities, Pham Quoc Thanh, CEO, shared that the bank has allocated approximately 8 per cent of its financing to the lowest-rated real estate projects, mostly in the low-income housing sector. The bank has successfully sponsored five social housing projects, demonstrating its risk appetite to be in line with sustainable development objectives. Thao further stated that even during the recent volatility, HDBank's customers have always paid on time and bonds have not been discounted below par. With 14 million customers, HDBank's trust index and continued usage commitment stand at over 99 per cent, reflecting the bank's robust reputation. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, standing vice chairwoman of the Board of Directors at HDBank In response to an inquiry pertaining to the current status of the non-performing loan (NPL) coverage ratio and asset quality of HDBank, Thanh asserted, The bank maintains effective control over the quality of its loan portfolio, with a well-distributed risk profile, and a NPL provisioning ratio of 70-75 per cent, which is deemed reasonable. As conditions permit, the bank will increase its bad debt provisioning rate." "HDBank's risk appetite is quite conservative, and all loans are secured with high-quality collateral. As a result, the bank's bad debt coverage ratio is impressive compared to the rest of the industry," Thao added. "This is further evidenced by the bank's continuous bad debt ratio of below 1 per cent for many years." HDBank plans to launch new services in the strategic, high-end market segment in May to focus on servicing this customer group with the utmost care and efficiency, which it had previously not been able to do. MSB shareholders reject M&A proposal with another Vietnamese bank With only a paltry 56 per cent of shareholders having voted in favour of the merger, the proposed collaboration between MSB and another Vietnamese bank, allegedly PGBank, has failed to meet the required threshold of 65 per cent, thereby casting a shadow of doubt over a potential merger and acquisition (M&A) deal. Concocting a defensive M&A strategy to build resilience Todays economic situation can be a catalyst for opportunity through mergers and acquisitions to facilitate businesses to build resilience. Le Viet Anh Phong, financial advisory lead at Deloitte Vietnam, spoke with VIRs Luu Huong about the strategies expected to prevail this year. Indonesia moves to push de-dollarisation Jakarta - Indonesia is following the lead of BRICS (an acronym for five leading economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) in de-dollarisation and seeking ways to stop paying for global trade in the US dollar. According to the SINDOnews, the country plans to introduce the IDR to settle cross-border transactions with the aim of relying less on the USD and promote its currency for international trade. President Joko Widodo has urged the finance ministry to diversify trade transactions in rupiah with Asian countries. The Bank of Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo said that Indonesia aims to create local currency trading (LCT) transactions to diversify payments on the international stage. Indonesia will implement the LCT with countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, China, and Japan. It also plans to add the Republic of Korea and India for local currency trading in the coming months. Indonesia: Kura Kura Bali SEZ investors to get tax incentives After Indonesia's Kura-Kura Bali was officially designated as a special economic zone (SEZ) on April 5, investors and business owners investing in the region will be exempt from paying income tax (PPh) for a certain period of time. Japan is not only the second-largest contributor of foreign direct investment to Vietnam, but also one of the main labour export markets of Vietnam. What results has the cooperation relationship between the two countries in labour and employment achieved in recent years? Pham Viet Huong, deputy director of the Department of Overseas Labour under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Since the establishment of the official relationship in 1973, the exchange and cooperation relationship between the two countries has developed rapidly and is increasingly effective in politics, economy, culture, and society. Cooperation in labour and human resource development between the two countries has been increasingly valued and has developed significantly in recent years. Many programmes and projects such as technical intern-specific skilled workers training, and sending nurses and caregivers to Japan under the Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, have been implemented by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam and Japanese agencies, and have reaped significant achievements. In recent years, the number of Vietnamese labourers sent to Japan accounts for more than half of the total people working abroad every year. At present, nearly 200,000 Vietnamese workers and trainees are working in Japan, accounting for more than half of the number of foreign trainees there. This is a very positive result. What are the new points in the scheme to send Vietnamese interns and workers to work in Japan? In 2022, the Department of Overseas Labour held a number of conferences to implement new regulations on sending Vietnamese interns and workers to Japan for dispatching enterprises in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. It coordinated with the Organisation for Technical Intern Training and the Japan International Training Cooperation Organisation to introduce new regulations for trade unions and enterprises in Tokyo and Osaka. In sending Vietnamese trainees and workers to Japan, there are some new points, including regulations on conditions for enterprises sending people; conditions for the nursing profession; general provisions on labour contracts and other documents; specific regulations on expenses to be paid by the receiving side; and regulations on the responsibility to pay fees for interns and workers. What policies does Vietnam have to promote cooperation, exchange, and human resource development not only with Japan but also with many other countries? In 2020, the National Assembly promulgated the Law on Vietnamese Guest Workers, and the government and relevant ministries and branches issued legal guidance documents, creating a legal corridor for this activity. The law adjusted and supplemented new content in line with the reality and development of migrant workers and included some key new points. Firstly, policies related to Vietnamese working abroad under contracts are ratified. Additional policies are added to ensure the states support mechanism during the process before, during, and after returning to Vietnam, encouraging the improvement of professional and technical qualifications of workers, and ensuring equal and non-discriminatory employment opportunities. It also provides investment support for vocational education institutions involved in the maintenance and improvement of vocational skills and foreign languages. The law also added a number of prohibited acts for Vietnamese workers working abroad, including defrauding workers, human trafficking, exploitation and forced labour, and discrimination, among other points. Next, it expanded the scope of application of the law and supplemented regulations to better protect the rights of Vietnamese workers abroad. Vietnamese citizens entering into labour contracts after exiting the country can register online with Vietnamese state agencies to receive support and benefits from the Fund for Overseas Employment Support, for example. Furthermore, the law improves service operation conditions and responsibilities of enterprises, agencies, and organisations sending workers abroad. It supports a number of conditions for enterprises to obtain the operation licence to provide services. Accordingly, enterprises must pay the entire remuneration under the brokerage contract to the foreign party receiving the labour and may not require the employee to partially refund this amount. Finally, the law supplements regulations on the construction and operation of a database system on Vietnamese workers abroad. It simplified and reduced admin procedures and shortened the time limit for handling procedures such as granting and re-granting a licence, and registration of labour contracts. Forum promotes ties between Vietnam and Japan The 2023 Vietnam-Japan Economic Forum marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam and represents an opportunity for business leaders from the two countries to meet, exchange, and seek cooperation on future development plans. Vietnam and Japan cooperate for a net-zero carbon future Japan is promoting green growth cooperation with Vietnam, with low-carbon value chains considered one of the leading priorities. On April 25, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization organised the Industrial Clusters towards a Sustainable Food System in Vietnam event, bringing together representatives of regulatory agencies, experts, and businesses to discuss and find solutions for building agro-economic clusters to promote the transformation of Vietnam's food system. Chris Hogg, head of Sustainability and Communications for Asia, Oceania, and Sub-Saharan Africa at Nestle, said that the company is currently supporting farmers in many countries, including Vietnam, to transition to a regenerative food system. The change aims to protect and contribute to the restoration of the environment and enhance the livelihoods of farmers. Accordingly, Nestle implements many initiatives to promote regenerative agriculture for livestock and farming. It commits to sourcing half of its key ingredients through regenerative agriculture methods by 2030. Nestle has recently announced the Nescafe Plan 2030 to support the transition to regenerative agriculture and help realise the firm's commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. Vietnam is one of the seven main markets where the Nescafe Plan 2030 is being implemented. This involves about 600,000 farmers around the world, mostly smallholders, and each region and farm are unique, so regenerative farming practices are designed by Nestle or its agricultural experts to suit the different conditions. However, these practices remain easy to implement at a reasonable cost and can be replicated across different regions. In Vietnam, the plan was launched in 2011, and it has successfully attracted 21,000 coffee farmers in the Central Highlands. The scheme has contributed to improving the quality of Vietnamese coffee beans, while also helping to increase farmers' incomes by 30-100 per cent and reducing CO 2 emissions per kilogram of harvested coffee. Hogg said, "To assure the efficiency of the transition, we need to put farmers and farmworkers at the heart when designing programmes. We also need to make sure these initiatives benefit communities and the planet." From his experience implementing regenerative agriculture in other countries, Hogg added that the biggest challenge when applying new farming methods is the trust of the farmers. This is the decisive factor for the success of the transition. Any changes must bring real benefits to farmers, society, and the environment. Therefore, Nestle has piloted the programme on a small scale to evaluate its effectiveness before scaling it up to create a really positive impact, thereby gaining the trust of farmers. At the same time, the company also applies the training the trainer method. Accordingly, each group of 50-100 farmers will appoint a representative to participate in the Nestle training programme. This representative will then retrain the members of their farmer group. However, there are many other challenges in converting agricultural models to make them more sustainable. It is difficult to convince farmers to change their farming habits that have existed for many generations. For example, they do not believe that reducing the use of inorganic fertilisers improves soil quality, which in turn increases crop yields. In Vietnam, the Nescafe Plan course has proven to reduce the amount of irrigation water by 40 per cent and the amount of chemical fertilisers and pesticides by 20 per cent, while still ensuring crop yields. Hogg finished by saying that multilateral cooperation will help governments, organisations, and the private sector to understand regenerative agriculture. As a result, farmers can receive the proper advice and guidance to replicate the model. The Nescafe Plan is implemented by Nestle in Vietnam through a public-private partnership model in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Agricultural Extension Centre of the Central Highlands, and the Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute. Nestle boosts exports of high-value products made in Vietnam Nestle Vietnam continues to strengthen production and diversify export products to help Vietnam become a centre of global food and beverage (F&B) supply. The company expects its export activities to achieve double-digit growth in 2023. Nestle recognised for efforts to protect forests According to Global Canopys Forest 500 report, Nestle is ranked as one of the Top 3 businesses with a strong commitment to minimising the risks of deforestation. This year marks 50 years of official relations between Australia and Vietnam. How do you evaluate this milestone, and what is your plan for more cooperation? Australian minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell Theres been a wonderful relationship between Australia and Vietnam over the last 50 years. This is my third visit to Hanoi and every time I visit, it becomes more and more beautiful. Im deeply impressed with how Vietnam has grown its economy and lifted the living standards of its people. Australia wants to work with the Vietnamese to continue that growth in living standards so that you can meet your ambition by 2045 of being a fully developed economy. There are lots of ways in which Australia and Vietnam can work together, whether its in the education sector, in tourism, in critical minerals, or in the hydrogen sector. Weve done some wonderful things together, but in the future, we can do a whole lot more. The trade between Australia and Vietnam has grown rapidly in recent years. What are the key drivers of the trade relationship? Recently, I was very privileged to meet the Vietnamese prime minister and a number of other important ministers in the trade and tourism sector. We want to build on the relationship that we have already developed between Australia and Vietnam. One of the ways that were going to do that is through our free trade agreements (FTAs). One of those agreements, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, is very important for both Australia and Vietnam. And for the first time, weve added the United Kingdom to that partnership. We believe the very high standards that Vietnam has committed to will continue to ensure a strong, robust, and prosperous trading relationship between Australia and Vietnam. Were also working very closely with Vietnam on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, and that gives us an opportunity to jointly have an agreement with many other countries in this region, but also the US. So, we think that there are many opportunities where Australia and Vietnam can build on the relationship that weve got already to improve the prosperity of both of our nations. What can be done to increase investment in each country and reach the partnerships potential? Both of our prime ministers have agreed to move towards a comprehensive strategic partnership thats going to improve the level of business opportunities between our two countries. Its one thing to have words on a piece of paper. Its another thing to actually translate those words into practical outcomes for businesses in Vietnam and businesses in Australia. We think that the very strong ties that have grown up between our two countries, particularly over the last 12 months, mean that there will be lots of opportunities for Vietnamese companies to develop their businesses in Australia. We want to see that and we want to encourage that. They are good business operators, and we think we can do a lot together. How can both nations work together to further promote and attract more travel between the two? Pre-pandemic, something like 400,000 Australians used to travel to Vietnam for holidays. And about 120,000 Vietnamese came to Australia for holidays, and lots of those people visited their family and friends in Australia. We want to get back to those levels and exceed them. The first thing we need to do is get more airlines flying between us, and thats already happening. It hasnt been easy to get people travelling again, but theres a lot of pent-up demand. Theres a lot of demand by Vietnamese to come to Australia, particularly theres a lot of demand by Australians to come to Vietnam. Weve got to encourage that. Weve also got to push down the price of travel, which has been too expensive, and weve got to increase the number of flights between our two countries. I think were well on the way to doing that. And Im very confident that within a very short space of time, our traveller numbers will be higher than they were before. What would be the significance of upgrading the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides? Regarding the Governor General visit to Vietnam, that was obviously an excellent sign of the high-level contact between our two countries. Both of us have committed to a net-zero policy by 2050. Thats ambitious for Australia and its especially ambitious for Vietnam. But Australia is fortunate in that we have most of the worlds reserves of critical minerals and rare earths, and these are the products that were going to have to use to make that transformation from a fossil fuel economy to a renewable economy. I think this is a key area where Australia and Vietnam can work together to bring about that net-zero. Australia has the ambition of becoming a renewable superpower. We think we can work in partnership with Vietnam to achieve that. Western Australia launches its first representative office in Vietnam On March 8, Deputy Premier of Western Australia, Roger Hugh Cook, arrived on an official visit to Vietnam and announced the launch of a new Western Australian Investment and Trade Representative Office in Ho Chi Minh City. More robust trade mechanisms aid Australian ties Vietnam and Australia are set to elevate their existing ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, with deeper investment and trade flows thanks to various free trade agreements already taking effect. Vietnam, Australia foster economic partnership The third Vietnam-Australia Economic Partnership Meeting was held in Hanoi on April 17 under the co-chair of Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung and Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell. Some of the drugs hidden in toothpaste tubes carried by four Vietnam Airlines flight attendants from France to Tan Son Nhat Airport on March 16. (Source: HCM City Customs Department) HCM City Police of Ho Chi Minh City have launched investigation into 22 cases involving 65 persons for drug-related charges and dealt with 12 persons involved in administrative violations, while probing into some flight attendants smuggling of drugs from France to Tan Son Nhat Airport on March 16. Police said they found that the four female flight attendants linked with this case had been taken advantage of by some overseas Vietnamese to smuggle drugs from France to Vietnam.In 30 days, police in coordination with other forces uncovered six more related batches of goods with drugs hidden inside carried from France to different airports in Vietnam.Drugs were concealed in parcels of goods such as toothpaste or nutritional supplements. After arriving in Vietnam, they would be sent via domestic express delivery services to places in HCM City, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai, among others as directed by overseas ringleaders, according to police.On March 16, customs officers of Tan Son Nhat International Airport detected suspicious signs in the luggage of four Vietnam Airlines attendants boarding Flight VN10 from France. They checked and found more than 8kg of ecstasy pills and over 3kg of cocaine and ketamine (the most expensive type of drugs).The attendants said they had agreed to bring 60kg of goods from France to Vietnam in exchange for over 10 million VND (426 USD). Due to tiredness after a long flight, they only took a cursory glance at some of the goods and did not notice any suspicious signs. Authorities in France also did not discover drugs in their luggage.On March 22 evening, after six days of investigation, the four flight attendants were freed as HCM City police concluded that they had not known drugs had been hidden in 157 of the toothpaste tubes they carried. Police also launched an investigation into this drug trafficking case and put two suspects into temporary detention.There could be up to 100 persons involved in this particularly big drug trafficking ring from Europe to Vietnam, HCM City police estimated. Supporting foreign workers to reduce pressure, especially related to the cost of working abroad, is one of the important goals in the sustainable development strategy of Teijin Frontier Corporation (TFR), a multi-industry trading and export corporation headquartered in Osaka. TFR currently has 22 branches worldwide with nearly 900 employees, most of which are foreign workers. Associations want to make it easier for Vietnamese to work in Japan, Photo: Le Toan Masato Okamoto, head of Environmental Safety and Quality Assurance of TFR, said that about 40 per cent of Chinese and Vietnamese trainees who come to work for the company arrive in debt. Trainees have to pay an application fee and deposit to the sending organisations in their home country, he said. Many people tell us that all their salary in the first year of coming to Japan is used to pay off debt, and they dont save a dime. According to Okamoto, trainees are not allowed to change jobs during the internship period, so it is also difficult for them to speak up about working conditions. I think it is necessary to take measures to support foreign technical intern trainees to solve these problems to help them reduce the pressure to work better, thereby also contributing to reducing legal violations, he said. TFR is not the only Japanese company that proposes to reduce the economic burden on export workers and trainees from Vietnam. Many businesses and organisations operating in Japanese human resource supply are also discussing this issue with Vietnamese management units. The reason trainees from Vietnam are accounting for an increasing proportion of workers in Japan is they are mainly from poor rural areas and are willing to pay exceptionally high fees to work abroad. According to Ingrid Christensen, director of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Vietnamese workers have to pay at least $8,000 to access their first job in Japan. This contradicts international standards on migration which indicates that no recruitment fees or related costs should be charged to, or otherwise borne by, workers or jobseekers, she said. She said ILO research often revealed that payment of recruitment fees by workers increased their risk of ending up in forced labour. The payment of high recruitment fees contributes to the increased vulnerability of workers as they have to repay their debts for several months, or even years. And resigning prematurely from a job was not an option as the debt remains. Japan is a very attractive destination for Vietnamese workers and also benefits the country. It tackles a labour shortage and contributes significantly to Japans economy, according to the Japan International Friendship Association (JIFA). Data from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam shows that, out of 15 countries that send interns to Japan, Vietnam is the leading country. By 2022, the number of Vietnamese trainees entering Japan had reached about 68,000. Vietnamese account for the largest proportion of foreign workers working in Japan, at 25 per cent of the total. As of June last year, the number of Vietnamese living in Japan had reached 480,000. Vietnamese workers are highly appreciated for their diligence, hard work, and enthusiasm. This is an important and indispensable community in the current socioeconomic development of Japan, said Ishii Chikahisa, first secretary at the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam. However, human resource exchange between the two countries still has problems. The fact that many Vietnamese workers have to pay a large fee before coming to Japan is one example. JIFA president Ikeda Setsuko added, Employees have to borrow a lot of money to pay brokerage fees and services to middlemen, and these loans often carry very high interest. The cost that Vietnamese workers have to pay to intermediaries before coming to Japan is among the highest anywhere. In China it is $4,400, Indonesia $1,700, and the Philippines $710, according to Setsuko. Among reasons people from Vietnam may not perform well are poor foreign language training, inadequate orientation, and collecting service fees higher than the prescribed level. According to Shishido Kenichi, special assistant to the president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the financial burdens lead to a high number of Vietnamese workers fleeing. In 2022, Vietnam had over 5,570 technical trainees go missing. Last December, Japanese agencies began to discuss a new mechanism to let foreign workers go to Japan at no cost, work with peace of mind, and develop sustainably, said Shishido. JICA has also proposed creating an international standard recruitment policy, so employees do not have to pay costs. Private Japanese companies will pay the service costs, and service businesses will not let brokers interfere in the recruitment process and comply with the law. According to the ILO, Vietnamese workers in Japan send home about $3 billion per year, and both Japan and Vietnam are making efforts to protect rights, moving towards eliminating recruitment fees and related costs for migrant workers. Japan, RoK, Taiwan welcome back Vietnamese guest workers Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan (China) have announced their plans to resume the reception of Vietnamese labourers from November as many foreign labour markets have reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic is basically controlled. 93,000 foreigners currently have work permits in Vietnam There are currently more than 93,000 foreigners with work permits in Vietnam, according to data from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. Nguyen Thi Thuy Chung, senior partner, ASL Law Legal regulations on the protection of personal data have been promulgated by many countries around the world to protect rights in recent years, which help prevent violations and affect the rights and interests of individuals and organisations. Facing the same urgent situation, in February 2021 the Ministry of Public Security (MoPS) issued the first draft of the decree on personal data protection to submit to the government. Although this was a government decree, Vietnam has no law or ordinance related to this issue. Therefore, the issuance of Decree No.13/2023/ND-CP had to be approved by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly; and in April 2023 the government officially issued Decree 13, which will take effect from July 1. Decree 13 provides, the first time, several provisions which have been referred to in the draft to some extent. First off, it broadens the territorial scope of application. The decree is applied for all entities that directly involved in or related to personal data processing operations in Vietnam, including: Vietnamese and foreign agencies, organisations, and individuals; Vietnamese groups or individuals operating abroad; and foreign groups or people directly participating in or related to such processing activities in Vietnam. Extensions and requirements The definition of personal data and data processing is also extended in this Decree. According to the Article 2.1, it is divided into two groups of basic personal data and sensitive personal data. Decree 13 defines the list of each group in details. Specially, the list of sensitive personal data is extensive but not all-inclusive. Decree 13 extended the categories of regulated subject which are mentioned in the draft version of Cybersecurity Administrative Sanctions Decree. Accordingly, the terms "data controller" and "data processor" are recognised in the decree. The concept "data controlling and processing entity" is also regulated. In addition, there are also newly introduced regulations which both data subjects and controllers/processors should be aware of, such as applying protection of personal data in the business of marketing and products promotion business; and keeping a record of processing impact assessments from the time when such processing begins. The decree also regulates new requirements for a valid consent, sensitive personal data processing, and cross-border transfer. Before carrying out and throughout the processing, the personal data controller and processor need the consent of the data subject which applies to all activities, unless otherwise provided by law. The consent of the subject must be expressed clearly, and may be printed or reproduced in writing, including in electronic or verifiable formats. It should be noted that the data subject's silence or non-response is not considered as consent. However, in order to ensure the harmonisation of the rights and interests of data subjects and public interests, this decree also provides exceptions when processing personal data without the consent of subjects in Article 17. For example, in the case of an emergency, it is necessary to immediately process relevant personal data to protect the life and health of the data subject or others, but the data controller or processor or third parties are responsible for proving this. The processing of data by competent state agencies in the event of a state of emergency is also classed under exemption; as is a threat to security and national defence but not to the extent of declaring a state of emergency. Exemptions are also possible to prevent and combat riots and terrorism, or to prevent and combat crime; to fulfill the contractual obligations of the data subject with relevant agencies, organisations, or individuals; and for the activities of state agencies prescribed by specialised laws. In the case of sensitive data processing, the processor must designate a department with the function of protecting personal data, appoint personnel in charge and exchange information about the department and individual in charge with the Personal Data Protection Authority. Similar to the case of transferring such data of Vietnamese citizens abroad, the data transferor abroad shall prepare a dossier to assess the impact of transferring the abroad. A dossier of assessment of the impact of doing so must always be available for the inspection and evaluation activities of the MoPS. Management and exemptions In order to ensure the ability to protect personal data rights and prevent breaches, Articles 26-28 of the decree stipulate protection measures to be applied from the time of writing and during the processing of personal data. This included management and technical measures taken by organisations and individuals related to the processing of personal data; and both investigative and procedural measures taken by competent state management agencies in accordance with this decree and relevant laws. Decree 13 also provides the legal ground to establish a portal for the protection of personal data protection in Vietnam. The specialised agency for such protection will be the Department of Cybersecurity and High-tech Crime Prevention under the MoPS. The country's personal data decree forbids all activities of buying and selling such data in any forms. According to the provisions of Article 4, agencies, organisations, and individuals that violate regulations on protection of personal data, which include activities of preventing, detecting, stopping and handling violations relate to personal data in accordance with the law and responsibility for protection, depending on the severity, may be disciplined, administratively sanctioned, criminal handling according to regulations. According to Article 49, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises as well as startups are allowed to choose to be exempt from regulations on personal designation and personal data protection for the first two years of establishment, except for those enterprises directly engaged in personal data processing activities. In the explosive period of IT, personal data, especially in cyberspace, has become a valuable resource that criminals could collect, trade, and use to commit acts of infringing upon human rights, civil rights, and more. Therefore, Decree 13 will play an important role in personal data protection in Vietnam effectively, but it will also require many parties to increase their responsibility in the enforcement of these regulations. TikTok is working on a new generative AI avatar creator, allowing users to personalize their profiles on another level as it incorporates a new burgeoning technology. The upcoming AI-generation profile picture feature saw the light of day in a recent leak, which social media consultant, Matt Navarra, shared on Twitter. He posted images and videos of the new personalization function that TikTok is working on behind the scenes. TikTok Generative AI Avatars Leaked TikTok paved the way to create a trend when it pioneered the vertical scrolling format. It goes against the tide of the typically swiping layout that Snapchat popularized years ago as Stories, which Instagram and Facebook heavily adopted. The two Meta-owned apps soon embraced the new trend that TikTok popularized by introducing Reels on both platforms. This time, it looks like TikTok is brewing something new, which other giant social networks have yet to introduce, AI-generated avatars. According to The Verge, the upcoming feature looks similar to how the Lensa app of Prisma Labs works. There is a striking resemblance on the face of it. However, the recent leak reveals it is a new tool from the TikTok app. Social media expert, Navarra, shared some screenshots and screen recordings of the new AI tools that the Chinese social network is quietly working on. Once the new feature is up and running, it should deliver a generative AI avatar creator straight from the TikTok app. In other words, users no longer have to download a third-party app to produce an AI-created profile picture. On top of that, TikTok might soon be flooded with various AI-generated avatars once its users start using it. So do not be surprised if you start seeing a couple of generative profile photos when scrolling on your "For You" feed. Read Also: TikTok Influencer, Tutor Brooke Lim Posts Apology Video for Blog Essay Plagiarism Issue How Does TikTok's AI-Generated Profile Pictures Work The recent leak not only revealed what TikTok is secretly working on, but it also showed how it could potentially work once it rolls out. Gizmodo reports that Navarra disclosed that the AI avatar creator would have some limits at first. TikTok users may only produce their generative profile picture using it at least once a day. For it to work, the social media expert says that TikTok requires users to upload multiple images of themselves. The tool needs roughly three to 10 photos to produce a whopping 30 avatars right off the bat. Before proceeding, the creator lets users pick at least five various art styles depending on their tastes. Social Media Today notes that the leak also hints that TikTok is also working on a subscription platform, apart from the new AI feature, amid the emergence of Twitter Blue and Snapchat Plus. It is still unclear what the potential paid service offers. Related Article: Is TikTok Banned in China? Here's Why It's Not Available There @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. State-owned MobiFone Corporation saw its parent companys revenue of VND6.63 trillion ($288.26 million) in the first quarter, meeting 23.1 per cent of the yearly target and down 5.4 per cent on-year. Its pre-tax profit reached nearly was $36.7 million, meeting 38.9 per cent of the yearly target and down 27.2 per cent on-year. Vietnams telecoms giants venture further into digital, photo Le Toan MobiFones parent company state budget contribution also fell 42.6 per cent on-year to $24.04 million, fulfilling 26.3 per cent of the yearly target. According to Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung, MobiFone is in a deadlock in terms of growth and new development space. There are two major problems occurred with MobiFone. The first is within the internal organisation and the second issue comes from external industry challenges, he said. Overcoming these two challenges, MobiFone will innovate both from the inside and from the outside. It should consider these two major problems as two important nudges to innovate, and to reinvent themselves. The minister made the statement when attending the corporations meeting to celebrate its 30-year anniversary on April 14. The issues have driven back the companys growth for a year. In 2022, the mobile network operator failed to meet the yearly targets, although it set lower targets than 2021. The difficulties continue in the first months of 2023 with the poor performance. According to the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC), MobiFone cut its pre-tax profit target for this year by half. In a move to change the situation and tap into the digital transformation trend in 2023, MobiFone will implement a strategy to promote business in new fields such as digital finance, health, and education. Strengthening cooperation at home and abroad is key to MobiFones strategy. For example, it attended the Mobile World Congress in Spain, signed a cooperation agreement with Nokia, and joined the China visit by the delegation of the CMSC. Other big telecommunications businesses in Vietnam are in similar situations, growing below the countrys GDP growth. Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) made consolidated revenue of $590.43 million in the first three months of the year, of which the parent companys revenue reached $413.47 million, or 22.6 per cent of the yearly plan. The groups before-tax consolidated profit was estimated at $70 million during the period, of which the parent companys pre-tax profit was $52.6 million, or 22.9 per cent of the plan, up 3.2 per cent on-year. VNPT has embraced the digital age. It signed comprehensive cooperation agreements with a number of cities and provinces and cities, and promoting strategic cooperation with a number of private economic groups and local banks such as Vietinbank, Vietnam Airlines, and others. The group has been deploying the digital government ecosystem for all provinces and cities as well as a digital health ecosystem for nearly 2,000 hospitals, and accessing and providing services via online channels for more than 50,000 small- and medium-sized enterprises. VNPT also has a policy of converting invoices to electronic invoice from cash registers to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Finance and General Department of Taxation. It standardises mobile subscribers information in line with the National Population Database, according to the regulations of the Ministry of Information and Communications. Similarly, Vietnamobile Telecommunications JSC saw first-quarter revenue of $6.57 million, down 69 per cent on the same period last year. Made by FPT digital platforms win Make in Vietnam Digital Award 2020 AkaBot and FPT.AI developed by FPT Group have won the Make in Vietnam Digital Award 2020 for excellent digital platforms and products announced at the national forum on the development of Vietnamese digital technology enterprises. GIB Global Investment Digital Bank to bid for digital banking licence in Vietnam Leading Hong Kong-based investment bank GIB Global Investment Digital Bank announced intentions to enter the digital banking space in Vietnam by teaming up with Vimo and local payments providers. Financial wellness and digital money management apps to ignite digital banking Financial wellness and digital money management apps are potential future sparks for igniting Vietnams race for digital dominance in the retail banking sector. Vietnam, UK enhance cooperation in digital economy, digital transformation Vietnamese Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung and the UKs Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Chris Philp signed a Letter of Intent on cooperation in digital economy and digital transformation on November 1 (London time). BAV - MB Digital Hub: Top-notch digital banking experience for Banking Academy students Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB) inaugurated and handed over the Digital Hub project at the Banking Academy of Vietnam (BAV) in November, a crucial part of MB Digital Hub's synchoronous ecosystem to offer tremendously favourable conditions for students experiencing first-class digital banking services. Pham Hong Phuong, deputy general director of Electricity of Vietnam, stated earlier this month that it is implementing planning stages for the first offshore wind power project in the Gulf of Tonkin, which will have a total capacity of approximately 800MW. Voices grow louder for energy plan approval, Photo: Le Toan Through the German Development Agency, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action is also assisting Vietnam in attaining its ambitious plan to develop 7GW of offshore wind power by 2030. Offshore wind power development was formally established in order to set up a dialogue channel for sharing international experiences and best practices to support offshore wind power development in Vietnam. Compared to previous wind and solar power development, both investor interest and policy attitudes are distinct. However, it may be some time before offshore wind energy projects in Vietnam explode. According to analysts, provinces that need to develop offshore wind power have not yet accomplished their objectives at the current rate of policy revisions. The government has also not yet authorised the Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8), nor has it approved the National Marine Spatial Plan for 2021-2030. In addition to exploiting the vast energy potential, the development of offshore wind power assures the realisation of the marine economic development vision of Vietnams coastal communities. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) received proposals for offshore wind energy projects with a total capacity of 129,000MW at the end of 2021, in which the northern province of Nam Dinh proposed to add 12,000MW, Haiphong city increased its capacity to 39,000MW between 2029 and 2037. The October 2022 version of the PDP8 draft sets wind power capacity targets of 7GW by 2030 and 17GW by 2035. According to Nguyen Duc Cuong, senior energy expert at T&T Group, offshore wind power is a new sector with limited understanding at both the management and investor levels. According to him, the proposal by some localities to develop offshore wind power projects in the ocean can generate 3-4 times the capacity, which may result in a less future exploitation of sea surface area than anticipated. Cuong stated that Vietnam requires an appropriate plan for offshore wind power to generate maximum power for the region and reduce investment costs for long-distance transmission. In 2021, 20 of the 28 coastal provinces registered with the MoIT to develop offshore wind power projects with a capacity of 70,000-80,000MW; however, only one-third are localities with the orientation to maximise the local area, such as Quang Ninh, Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, and Haiphong, which are concentrated in the north. The development of region-specific electricity purchase tariffs is crucial for attracting investment. The average wind speed in the central region of Vietnam is 10m/s, while the north and south average 8m/s. If the nationwide one-price mechanism is maintained, offshore wind power investment will be disproportionate and concentrated in the central region, Cuong said. In the past, the regulation of the wind power purchase price of 7.8 cents per kWh in accordance with Decision No.37/2011/QD-TTg has led to a succession of investment initiatives in wind power based on specific characteristics and untapped potential for the 2018-2019 period. Vietnams electricity demand is rising. However, developing 7GW by 2030 is a challenging objective, as it requires timely marine spatial planning and an environmental legal framework to be realised. In addition, an offshore wind power project requires 8-9 years to complete everything from surveys, geological research, and feasibility assessments to design, construction, and testing. The implementation of offshore wind energy initiatives is also technically complex and requires substantial financial investment. However, 7GW of offshore wind development is still deemed feasible by 2030. Dr. Du Van Toan of the Vietnam Institute of Seas and Islands under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said, State agencies responsible for marine and energy should immediately approve the overall and long-term development creating opportunities for offshore wind power, as well as associated activities such as maritime industry, national security and defence, marine conservation zones, and fishing grounds, combined with other marine economic sectors. Toan cited the fact that the policy of designating sea areas to enterprises for wind surveying and measurement has not yet been finalised, resulting in many conducting surveys in the same area, resulting in expensive costs. The cost of offshore wind measurement is approximately $2 million, excluding the cost of administrative procedures and other surveys, which total approximately $15 million per project. In the event that the state lacks the financial capacity to conduct project surveys, the exclusive assignment of such duties to the private sector is vital, Toan added. He urged marine and energy management agencies to pay attention to marine area surveys, and suggested that designating the exclusive responsibility of surveying a particular marine area to private businesses would prevent the waste of resources. Ramla Khalidi - Resident representative United Nations Development Programme in Vietnam Accelerating marine spatial planning is essential to unleash the enormous potential of offshore wind power development in Vietnam, and it will also contribute to the implementation of the objectives for sustainable development and climate change. We acknowledge that there is no singular planning model for marine environments. Each country must define its own model based on its strategic priorities, extant data, and international experience. In May 2022, the United Nations Development Programme and the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands published the report Blue Economy Scenarios of Vietnam. Consequently, if the blue scenario is applied, it is estimated that Vietnams marine economic sectors will account for 34 per cent of its GDP ($23.5 billion) by 2030, while the gross national income per capita of workers in these industries will increase by up to 77.9 per cent ($7,100) compared to the business-as-usual scenario. Pham Hong Phuong - Deputy general director Electricity of Vietnam According to projections, Vietnams GDP growth rate of 6.5-7.5 per cent per year between now and 2030 will result in a rapid expansion of the energy industry, which is expected to reach 140 million tonnes of oil equivalent, which is double the demand of 2015. To satisfy the requirements of economic growth, it is believed that energy in general must always be one step ahead. In recent years, electricity consumption has increased at a rapid rate; the growth rate from 2016 to 2020 was 10.3 to 11.3 per cent per year, and the growth rate during 2021-2030 will be approximately 8.0-8.5 per cent per year. When primary energy sources such as hydroelectricity, coal, oil, and gas have been fully exploited or are being depleted, and cannot meet domestic demand, our nation faces a formidable challenge. The implementation of Vietnams strategy to guarantee energy security is further hampered by stringent environmental protection regulations. Markus Bissel - Director GIZ Energy Support Programme Vietnam has significant potential for offshore wind energy development. However, offshore wind energy is novel to Vietnam. According to estimates by the World Bank, Vietnams offshore wind power has a technical potential of up to 500GW. As it takes many years before the nations first offshore wind power facility can become operational, there is an imperative need to revise the policy and regulatory framework in order to achieve the set goals. Germany is willing to share its offshore wind power experience, knowledge, and technology in order to assist Vietnam in its energy transition. Jesper Krarup Holst - Senior vice president and CEO Copenhagen Offshore Partners Korea It is essential that the Vietnamese government start the process now so that we can deliver these projects. One offshore project requires investment of around $5 billion for its development. To make investments, we need a strong legal framework to be put in place by the Vietnamese government. This is an example of how they would run a competitive process to select the developers. What the government needs to focus on now is the political and legal framework that is put in place so that developers can actually start the survey work. At that point, we and other developers would be ready to start making the initial investments needed. Vietnam has massive potential for offshore wind energy Vietnam has the potential to offer an economical and environmentally friendly energy source for economic growth, according to attendees at a recent workshop discussing offshore wind power. MoNRE finalises regulations for offshore surveys Unclear regulations related to offshore survey licences for offshore wind projects in Vietnam are likely to be removed as the National Marine Spatial Planning for 2021-2030 will be approved in June. No time to waste in building the offshore wind industry Action on accelerating offshore wind power projects is urgently needed if the government is to meet its targets for the decade. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas schools could offer stipends of up to $25,000 to staff members who add the role of armed campus sentinels to their regular duties under a proposal advanced Tuesday by state lawmakers in response to the Uvalde classroom attack last year. With U.S. mass shootings on a record pace so far in 2023, there have been new calls among some lawmakers for more armed personnel in schools. Also on Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida proposed an $80 million federal program to fund armed officers in all U.S. schools. Texas already lets teachers carry guns under a voluntary program that requires firearm lessons but has drawn relatively few takers. Under the new proposal, armed personnel must also train in identifying students with mental health issues. What I want to pay them for is hopefully getting the training needed to spot the children before we have a problem, said Republican state Rep. Ken King, who authored the bill. The legislation, which overwhelmingly passed the Texas House with bipartisan support, now goes to the Senate where its prospects are uncertain. Texas lawmakers have only a few weeks left to pass any school safety measures before adjourning on May 29. That is just a few days after the anniversary of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, where a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers. Some of the families have spent months pleading for tougher gun laws in particular one that would raise the age to purchase semi-automatic rifles but GOP leaders have made clear they do not support new restrictions. Under the Texas bill, teachers and staff of public and open-enrollment charter schools would be eligible to earn up to $25,000 extra for opting to be armed for campus security. They would also need to take courses in first aid, firearms training and mental health training, which would be added to the mental health training Texas lawmakers want to require for all school employees. Other new school safety measures advancing in Texas would require at least one armed person ranging from a police officer to a school staff member on all public school campuses. A bill requiring silent panic buttons in classrooms is now headed to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature. Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat and former teacher who voted against Tuesdays proposal, said he worried the bill would create an incentive for teachers struggling financially to start carrying weapons. Even teachers who dont want to carry guns may feel like they are financially pressured to do so just so they can provide for their families, Talarico said. After the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in 2012, Texas created a voluntary school marshal program in which applicants must first be approved by their school districts, pass a psychological exam and receive 80 hours of training, including in live-shooter scenarios. In its first four years, the program certified just 33 school marshals across the state, which has about 9,000 campuses. By summer 2022, shortly after Uvalde, there were still fewer than 400. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders were looking at ways to crack down on illicit pot shops threatening the state's fledgling legal market for recreational marijuana as part of negotiations on the overdue budget. Hochul, a Democrat, told reporters at the state Capitol on Tuesday that she expected the budget negotiations to wrap up soon. It was due April 1. Its been a long process, she said. I do see a path to ramp up the state budget, perhaps as early as the end of this week. Hundreds of unauthorized pot shops have opened in New York City competing with legal dispensaries whose products are heavily taxed. The illicit stores and trucks have been multiplying even as New York slowly works to get its legal market established. Hochul said she wants to give state tax officials and the Office of Cannabis Management enforcement tools to shut down or fine illegal pot shops, a proposal outlined in a bill she unveiled last month. We are trying so hard to stand up to the illegal industry. This is not easy to do. But when you set up these businesses to fail already because of illegal competition, we have to take some dramatic steps now, Hochul said. Legislators missed the deadline for adopting a state budget in part because of disagreements over the governor's proposals to change bail rules and her ambitious plan to spur the creation of 800,000 new homes statewide over the next ten years. It's common in New York for policy issues to be included in state budgets. Hochuls housing plan was ejected from the budget amid opposition from suburban lawmakers concerned about local zoning mandates. Hochul said she will push some of her plan's elements this legislative session after the budget is passed. Hochuls proposed budget includes a change to the current bail law to give judges greater discretion by removing the least restrictive means standard to ensure a defendant returns to court. Hochul describes it as a clarification of guidelines, but liberal lawmakers have resisted further changes to the states bail law. Hochul declined to comment on whether an agreement had been reached on bail, but said she is satisfied with where we are today. Michael Hill in Albany, New York contributed to this report. Maysoon Khan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Maysoon Khan on Twitter. A mixed-use development called The Concourse would bring a hotel, grocery store, shopping center and town homes to an 88-acre site along Highway 84, with officials saying it could spur more commercial growth along the corridor that links Waco, Woodway and McGregor. Austin-based KBar Group, a family-run organization involved in land development for 90 years, is spearheading efforts to create The Concourse, an upscale endeavor in McGregors city limits but with Wacos involvement due to an intercity contract that settled a legal squabble in 2004. McGregor City Planner Bryan LeMeilleur said Phase 1A would feature some kind of grocer, but not just any brand would fit the bill. Wed like something a little more like Trader Joes, Whole Foods or H-E-Bs Central Market. I think they are possibilities, LeMeilleur said. Im not in those discussions, but I think location and demographics would make the site suitable for something of that caliber. The developer also envisions high-end retail a more upscale shopping anchor. Then there is a 120-key hotel that would have a water feature, something like The Domain in Austin or La Cantera in San Antonio, though a mini-version, not as sprawling. Travis Krause, a Baylor University graduate and spokesperson for KBar Group, met Monday with McGregor, Waco and McLennan County officials to present his vision for The Concourse. He said in an interview he and his family long have eyed the development potential along U.S. Highway 84. He said Waco and McGregor are both booming, and a major development near each would contribute to the area becoming the next major metroplex in Texas. An information packet distributed at Mondays meeting shows a land plan and zoning breakdown for the 88-acre site near McGregor Executive Airport. It calls The Concourse an Urban Lifestyle Community, whose 32-acre Phase 1A would accommodate a grocery store, offices and pad sites, while a 7-acre Phase 1B envisions a hotel and shopping center. Phase 2 would have patio homes, town homes and apartments covering 28 acres. All would materialize on the highways north side, at 27300 West Highway 84. We are excited, but we are in the early stages, and there are a lot of different moving pieces, McGregor Mayor Jim Hering said. Residential development is moving briskly in the community about a 20-minute drive from Waco, Hering said. He said at least two subdivisions are taking shape on Highway 84 and another is moving forward on Highway 317, all having more than 100 homes. SpaceX continues to grow its presence in McGregor, and Hering said Knauf Insulation is building a 650,000-square-foot plant there. He said McGregor stands to gain from The Concourse, but Waco perhaps more so, because surrounding acreage is in the Waco city limits. The site sits right across Highway 84 from the Sunwest Village subdivision, and across Bosque Lane from the Meadowland Estates community. The Dwyer family whose patriarch, Don Dwyer, founded the Dwyer Group owns the 89 acres. The Waco-based company has become Neighborly, which franchises more than 30 home repair and maintenance companies. 2004 agreement Waco and McGregor are legally linked as they pursue the highest and best use of the property. The neighboring cities in 2004 agreed to a compromise after hard feelings inflamed into legal action. Waco City Council voted to annex the McGregor airport property in November 2001 after McGregor sold some of the land to a bank, according to Tribune-Herald reporting. In doing so, McGregor nullified a 1977 pact in which Waco ceded the territory in exchange for a promise the land would only be used for aviation and agriculture. Waco officials argued that the land reverted to its pre-1977 status, coming into Wacos extraterritorial jurisdiction. Waco officials said annexation did not affect McGregors ownership of the airport. McGregor filed suit in May 2002, asking 74th District Judge Alan Mayfield to nullify the annexation and declare the airport in its city limits. To dislodge the impasse, Waco and McGregor entered agreements setting up an airport zoning board and board of adjustment that would be jointly controlled by Waco and McGregor. The airport zoning board met Monday to hear KBars presentation. Representing McGregor were Mayor Jim Hering and Council Member Sherry Adams. Representing Waco were Mayor Dillon Meek and Council Member Jim Holmes. They chose McLennan County Judge Scott Felton to serve as the fifth board member, and he presided at the meeting. The board would act on zoning change requests and other issues relating to land use for the project. It would have ultimate authority, and would hold public hearings to receive input on land use changes. Clint Peters, who oversees Wacos planning services department, said he and McGregor staffers are working together on the project, one goal being to get rid of the industrial land use designation and to expand commercial and retail. Waco will provide water and sewer service to the development, while McGregor will collect taxes and provide city services such as police and fire protection. Peters said it becomes the developers responsibility to make any infrastructure upgrades to meet water and sewer demands. I think this will be a top-notch production, LeMeilleur said. It gives McGregor some commercial, of course, but also provides more residential in the area. It plugs a hole between the two communities, serving as a catalyst for both, but in a different capacity in each. All good things involved. Krause would not get specific on price tags for The Concourse. He said he would love to break ground as quickly as possible but knows much planning remains. Hewitt City Council Ward 1 candidates R.J. Pase and Bradley Turner said theres a mutual respect within the race, but they differ in their background and their approach to city services and taxation. Pase and Turner are facing off in Hewitts May 6 city council election, which is being held alongside more than a dozen other city council and school board elections in the county. Turner, 40, is an environmental science professor at McLennan Community College and has lived in Hewitt for all but two years of his life. He comes from a political family as the son of Charlie Turner, a former Hewitt mayor who served in the Ward 1 council seat until his unexpected death in November. Bradley Turner serves on the citys board of adjustment, is a member of the Greater Hewitt Chamber of Commerce and attends First Baptist Church of Hewitt. Pase, 32, an estimator for PermianLide in Troy, has always lived in Texas, but moved with his wife and 3-year-old son to Hewitt about a year and a half ago. He said his shorter stint in the city shouldnt deter voters, as his passion will prove it doesnt matter. Pase is the chair of the McLennan County Libertarian Party and is an involved church member at Trinity at Badger Ranch. Turner said he does come from a political household, but he is his own person. With an education in political science and understanding of public works, he believes in the leadership the city currently has and wants to continue supporting its work, he said. I also feel that to run before now wouldve been too much Turner on the council, and I felt like it wasnt my time or place, Turner said. And I had several people encourage me who are in city leadership and felt I would do a good job because I have a very good introductory working knowledge of how the city works. Turner said he wants to support city employees and give them the necessary tools to increase the quality of life for all of Hewitts residents. I feel that the main thing that I need to do is support what is in place, Turner said. Theres a reason why people want to move there, reason why property values are great, reason why its the second-most populous city in the county. Pase said the Midway Independent School District was a draw for his family when choosing to move to the Hewitt area, but the district contributes to high taxes for the areas residents. Since the schools tax rate is a larger problem, he said people focus less on the city rate. Hewitts tax rate has stayed steady at 54.01 cents per $100 valuation for several years, though rising property appraisals have increased the overall tax burden. Though he is not able to affect the school tax, Pase hopes to offset the strain by calling attention to and lowering the city tax rate. My main priority is to help lower the tax burden for the residents of Hewitt, Pase said. I believe that the city of Hewitt right now is running in a good manner, but we can always do better. Pase said the city is doing a great job as it is, but he would attempt to persuade fellow council members to home in on areas that can be cut back to lower the tax rate, such as personnel or potential parks amenities. With a thriving local job market, he said any city staffers that lost jobs would be able to land on their feet. Finding ways to make systems run more efficiently is something Pase said he takes pride in, and the city could use some fine tuning to identify its wants versus its needs, especially as it enters budget season. We really have to focus on wants vs. needs because a lot of stuff departments bring forward sounds really nice, but is it something that we really need to provide for the residents of Hewitt or would it just be really cool? Pase said. Turner said he wont fully know the citys needs until budget workshops in July, but it is irresponsible for someone to reference trimming the fat without fully understanding the needs. Because whats considered fat in some situations isnt necessarily the case, especially when youre talking about jobs and careers and salaries that support the city, Turner said. Based on what I know, I cant say if [the tax rate] will go up or go down. He said there may be splurging at a state or federal level, but the city of Hewitt has not been wasteful with tax revenue. Communities need culture through things like libraries and parks, but those things cost money, he said. Pase said win or lose, he plans on being an open book with his ideas. Being a newer resident with less public visibility, he said he understands and respects he has a much steeper hill to climb. I dont have all the answers right now. I can admit that, he said. My goal through the term if elected would be to, hopefully by the end of that term, have a more clear understanding and path moving forward. Early voting Early voting started Monday in the May 6 city and school elections and will continue through May 2 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 hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, then 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 29, May 1 and May 2. Through the first two days of early voting, 524 people cast an early ballot in-person in the elections the county is conducting for 15 entities, and another 104 mail-in ballots have been submitted in those elections. CAIRO (AP) Sudanese and foreigners streamed out of the capital of Khartoum and other battle zones, as fighting Tuesday shook a new three-day truce brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Aid agencies raised increasing alarm over the crumbling humanitarian situation in a country reliant on outside help. A series of short cease-fires the past week have either failed outright or brought only intermittent lulls in the fighting that has raged between forces loyal to the country's two top generals since April 15. The lulls have been enough for dramatic evacuations of hundreds of foreigners by air and land, which continued Tuesday. But they have brought no relief to millions of Sudanese caught in the crossfire, struggling to find food, shelter and medical care as explosions, gunfire and looters wreck their neighborhoods. In a country where a third of the population of 46 million already needed humanitarian assistance, multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations and dozens of hospitals have been forced to shut down. The U.N. refugee agency said it was gearing up for potentially tens of thousands of people fleeing into neighboring countries. Calls for negotiations to end the crisis in Africas third-largest nation have been ignored. For many Sudanese, the departure of diplomats, aid workers and other foreigners and the closure of embassies are terrifying signs that international powers expect the mayhem to only worsen. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the power struggle between rival generals and their military forces is not only putting Sudan's future at risk, it is lighting a fuse that could detonate across borders, causing immense suffering for years, and setting development back by decades. The U.N. chief urged the Sudanese military, commanded by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the rival Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, to silence the guns immediately. ""The conflict will not, and must not, be resolved on the battlefield," Guterres told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council late Tuesday. U.N. special envoy for Sudan Volker Perthes, who moved from Khartoum to Port Sudan with most U.N. staff and many humanitarian organizations, accused both warring parties of fighting with disregard for the laws and norms of war, citing attacks on densely populated areas. With supply lines running out, he said, there is mounting fear of increased criminality, and reports of prisoners being released from detention centers across Khartoum have compounded these fears. Thousands of Sudanese have been fleeing Khartoum and its neighboring city of Omdurman. Bus stations in the capital were packed Tuesday morning with people who had spent the night there in hopes of getting on a departing bus. Drivers increased prices, sometimes tenfold, for routes to the border crossing with Egypt or the eastern Red Sea city of Port Sudan. Fuel prices have skyrocketed, to $67 a gallon from $4.20, and prices for food and water have doubled in many cases, the Norwegian Refugee Council said. Those lucky enough to reach the border crossings face additional hardships. Moaz al-Ser, a teacher, arrived at the Arqin border crossing with Egypt early Tuesday with his wife and three children after a harrowing trip from Omdurman. They were among hundreds of families who were waiting to be processed. Many had spent the night in an open area near the border. The crossing point is overwhelmed and authorities on both sides dont have the capacity to handle such a growing number of arrivals, he said. Secretary-General Guterres cited reports of armed clashes across the country, with people fleeing their homes in Blue Nile and North Kordofan states and across Western Darfur as well. Terrified people remain trapped indoors with dwindling food, water, medicine and fuel, and health services near collapse, he said. Joyce Msuya, the assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said at least 20 hospitals have been forced to close due to damage, military use or lack of resources. She also told the council there have been numerous reports of sexual and gender-based violence. The 72-hour cease-fire announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was to last until late Thursday night, extending a nominal three-day truce over the weekend. The rival forces said Tuesday they would observe the cease-fire. In separate announcements, they said Saudi Arabia played a role in the negotiations. But fighting continued, with explosions, gunfire and the roar of warplanes overhead around the capital region. They stop only when they run out of ammunition, Omdurman resident Amin Ishaq said. Al-Roumy, a medical facility in Omdurman, said it suspended its services after it was hit by a shell Tuesday. They dont respect cease-fires, said Atiya Abdalla Atiya, a senior figure in the Sudan Doctors Syndicate, a group that monitors casualties. Dr. Bushra Ibnauf Sulieman, a Sudanese-American physician who headed the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Khartoum, was stabbed to death outside his home, the Doctors' Syndicate said. He had practiced medicine for many years in the United States, where his children reside, but had returned to Sudan to train doctors. Colleagues said he had been treating those wounded in the fighting in recent days and that it was not known who killed him. The World Heath Organization, meanwhile, expressed concern that one of the warring parties had seized control of the central public health laboratory in Khartoum. That is extremely, extremely dangerous because we have polio isolates in the lab. We have measles isolates in the lab. We have cholera isolates in the lab, Dr. Nima Saeed Abid, the WHO representative in Sudan, told a U.N. briefing in Geneva by video call from Port Sudan. He did not identify which side held the facility but said they had expelled technicians and power was cut, so it was not possible to properly manage the biological materials. There is a huge biological risk. Clashes meanwhile escalated in the western Darfur region, residents said. Armed groups, wearing RSF uniforms, attacked several areas in Genena, a provincial capital, burning and looting properties and camps for displaced people. Fierce battles are raging all over the city, said a doctor in Genena, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. "All eyes are on Khartoum but the situation here is unimaginable. Women and children were fleeing homes in the city center, and the city's main hospital has not functioned for days, with unknown numbers of dead and wounded, she said. More fighters on motorcycles and horses have flowed into the city to join the battles, with dead bodies lying in the streets, according to Darfur 24, an online news outlet focusing on covering the war-wrecked region. The RSF has its roots in Darfur, where it emerged from the notorious Janjaweed militias that committed atrocities there while putting down a rebellion in the 2000s. At least 459 people, including civilians and fighters, have been killed, and over 4,000 wounded since fighting began, the U.N. health agency said, citing Sudans Health Ministry. Among them were 166 deaths and over 2,300 wounded in Khartoum, it said. Secretary-General Guterres said four U.N. staff were killed. The U.N. said they were three Sudanese working for the World Food Program and one Sudanese working for the International Organization for Migration. Those who are able have made their way to the Egyptian border, Port Sudan or relatively calmer provinces along the Nile. But the full scale of displacement has been difficult to measure. Msuya said the U.N. has received reports of tens of thousands of people arriving in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Mohammed Mahdi, of the International Rescue Committee, warned that resources were growing thin at the Tunaydbah refugee camp in eastern Sudan after 3,000 people fleeing Khartoum took refuge there, joining some 28,000 refugees from Ethiopia. At least 20,000 people have fled from Khartoum to the city of Wad Madani, 160 kilometers (100 miles) to the south, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. Some 20,000 Sudanese have fled to Chad and around 4,000 South Sudanese refugees living in Sudan have returned home, according to the U.N. refugee agency, which is gearing up for tens of thousands more to flee to neighboring countries. WAHOO Like you and your internet payment, the Saunders County Board of Supervisors is realizing there may be more costs associated with its new 911 emergency radio system than they expected. When the board signed the contract with Motorola last August to install the new system which is expected to increase radio system channel capacity and allow for communications within the Omaha Regional Interoperability Network (ORION) they were under the impression that the county would be able use several existing radio towers with little cost attached. Thats not turning out to be the case, as the board has learned in recent weeks of unexpected costs to install necessary equipment and infrastructure at towers near Ashland, Valparaiso and Ceresco. The countys $10.8 million contract with Motorola specifies that $7.7 million would be used to pay for construction and equipment installation. The news was relayed to the board at its April 18 meeting by County Emergency Manager Terry Miller, who has been tasked with helping secure tower sites for the radio system. Miller was joined at the meeting via Zoom by Dave Pieczynski of Rey Freeman Communications Consulting, which has guided the board since early discussions of the new radio system. We covered this last month with the board, but we want to kind of reiterate some of the surprises that were finding that werent identified by Motorola early on, Pieczynski said. The majority of those surprises, he said, are associated with the Ashland tower, which is owned by OPPD and located along State Highway 66, just west of the Ashland Gun Club. Pieczynski said OPPD has given verbal approval to allow the county to attach radio equipment to the tower. But the nearby tower shelter, where the county had hoped to store generators and additional radio equipment, is at capacity. That would mean the county would have to build another shelter, either on the land that OPPD leases from a nearby property owner or on an adjacent piece of land that the county would lease itself. Pieczynski estimated that building the new shelter and acquiring the land would cost $120,000. Board member John Smaus suggested the county could instead use a tower near Mead owned by the University of Nebraska. But board chair David Lutton said the OPPD tower site was preferred because of Ashland first responders need for radio coverage near Interstate 80. The Mead tower would likely not provide coverage in that area. Pieczynski said the Ceresco tower, which is located just south of the county border in Lancaster County, also has a full shelter, so the county would have to build a new shelter at that site as well. Saunders County has used the tower in its current radio system at no cost. But the tower has changed hands to Florida-based SBA Communications, who told Miller they would charge the county $2,000 per month to use. The most recent agreement was made under the old tower owner, so when SBA took over the tower, they grandfathered that in with the knowledge that anything that gets added to it will have a cost associated with it, Pieczynski said. Such monthly leases are typical of large telecommunications towers, Miller said, and the county already benefits from a similar agreement with U.S. Cellular, which leases the county-owned tower near Prague. For several months, the county was awaiting the results of structural analyses of the Ceresco and Valparaiso towers, and while the Ceresco tower met load-bearing requirements, the Valparaiso tower did not. The Valparaiso tower, which has been referred to as the KZKX tower, is actually owned by Vertical Bridge, another telecommunications tower company based in Florida. Costs to reinforce the tower to support the countys radio system equipment would be close to $100,000, Pieczynski said. Pieczynski also said Vertical Bridge had floated the option that it could pay for a new tower in the same area, but the countys lease on the tower would rise from $2,000 per month to $3,000 per month. Another option we talked about was, rather than putting that money into ongoing leases and refurbishing that tower, maybe just have the county build a tower near it, Pieczynski said. He estimated that a brand new tower would cost $500,000. Previously, the board had discussed building a tower between Valparaiso and Ceresco to replace both of those villages towers, because of the Ceresco towers location in Lancaster County and the Valparaiso towers structural issues. Pieczynski said that plan was scrapped, however, because a tower located between Ceresco and Valparaiso would not cover either area as broadly as two towers. I think we should figure out ways where they are ours, other than maybe the OPPD tower, Supervisor Scott Sukstorf said of the Ceresco and Valparaiso towers. But the rest of them, I think we should look at our own sites. Lutton pointed out that the costs to upgrade the Valparaiso tower and build a new shelter at the Ceresco tower, as well as to lease both towers, would add up over time to the point that building two county-owned towers would make financial sense. It would also be possible then for the county to generate its own income by leasing the new towers to third parties. Its kind of no-brainers to go new and big and we have our own and we can lease the spots, Lutton said. If the county builds new towers near Valparaiso and Ceresco, it would have one other tower to build one that would provide coverage to Wahoo. Initially, plans were to build a Wahoo tower in town at the northwest corner of the 15th and Hackberry streets intersection, but that site did not fulfill Wahoos residential zoning regulations. Miller has since been studying privately owned sites that the county could purchase or lease. Another proposed Wahoo site was on county-owned land north of the Saunders Medical Center, and that site had initially been ruled out because it was thought to be within the flight path of the Wahoo Municipal Airports landing strip. However, the Federal Aviation Administration recently approved the countys request to use the medical center land to build a new tower. The next step, Lutton said, is to determine the locations of the new Ceresco and Valparaiso towers. The United States and South Korean presidents would sign a deal enabling US nuclear submarines to dock in South Korea after 40 years to prevent North Korea from assaulting its neighbor, per top sources in the Joe Biden administration. In light of mounting worries over North Korea's nuclear threats and recent ballistic missile tests, the agreement, known as the "Washington Declaration," will be made public during South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's official visit to the US, according to AP News. According to a senior White House source, the Washington Declaration aims to "strengthen US deterrence commitments" to South Korea in the face of ongoing nuclear threats from North Korea. Three senior Biden administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity before the official announcement, Joe Biden and Yoon's aides, have been working on the plan for months and have agreed that occasional and clear displays of US extended deterrence capabilities are vital to the agreement. One of the officials said that they planned to frequently deploy strategic assets, such as a US nuclear ballistic submarine visit to South Korea, which has not happened since the early 1980s, to increase the visibility of their deterrent. Read Also: Sudan Violence: WHO Warns of Biological Hazard Risk US-South Korea Nuclear Sub Deal Highlights President Yoon's US Visit One official also noted that the agreement would also establish a new US-South Korean nuclear consultation group (NCG) to enhance the exchange of nuclear-related information, the New York Post reported. The Washington Declaration agreement will be the high point of Wednesday's state visit by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to the White House. The Federation of American Scientists claims that during the Cold War in the late 1970s, when the United States had hundreds of nuclear warheads stationed in South Korea, the US nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines frequently visited ports there, making as many as two or three visits per month. But when the United States evacuated all its nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula in 1991, Pyongyang and Seoul agreed to sign an agreement committing not to "test, manufacture, produce, receive, possess, store, deploy or use nuclear weapons," according to ABC News. North Korea has consistently violated the joint statement, causing South Korea to advocate the US returning nuclear weapons to the nation. Related Article: NATO Allies Intercept 3 Russian Military Planes @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By Charlotte Bailey The Fighter Collections famous Flying Legends Airshow previously held at Imperial War Museum Duxford will return for 2023 at Leeds East Airport (formerly RAF Church Fenton) in Yorkshire, England, a new venue for the show. Come and join us at the biggest and best classic aviation event in the world, the organizers noted via social media; an invitation which many fans of this iconic warbird and historic aviation show are eagerly looking forwards to accepting. The 2023 show will take place over the weekend of 15th/16th July, 2023, with organizers promising over 50 World War II fighters in a unique and exciting aerial demonstration! A diverse array of aircraft already feature in the lineup, with more confirmations expected to follow. Some of these aircraft have never been seen before in the UK, the organizers noted, potentially hinting at further exciting additions. Flying Legends is well known for secretly bringing in unusual aircraft types from around the world, presenting them as a last minute surprise at the event, so this show promises to be a not-to-miss event of the 2023 air show season! For a complete list of aircraft, click HERE. A number of entries into the flying program come courtesy of Duxford-based operators and show organizers The Fighter Collection, including a Curtiss P40F Warhawk, a Curtiss Wright P-40C, a Goodyear Corsair FG-1D, and a Grumman Wildcat FM-2. A Hawker Hurricane Mk.I, Hawker Sea Fury FB.11, North American P-51D Mustang, and a Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX are also currently scheduled to participate. Between 1993 and 2019, Flying Legends took place annually at IWM Duxford, but a change in the relationship between the organizers and the venue brought that to an end in 2019. Although the 2021 event was scheduled to take place at Sywell, the pandemic ended up preventing that from happening, and no suitable venue was available for a 2022 show. However, in February 2023, Flying Legends announced their new venue, the former RAF Church Fenton, now known as Leeds East Airport. Church Fenton opened in April 1937 and served as a fighter base, with No.71 Squadron operating the Gloster Gladiator indeed The Fighter Collections Gladiator Mk.II N5903 is scheduled to perform at this years event. Post-war, the base was largely relegated to a training role, with the RAF finally relinquishing the site in 2013. In February 2015, new owners announced that the airport would re-open under civilian control as Leeds East Airport; The Yorkshire Air Show took place there in 2015. Entry is by advance ticket only, and purchasing details are expected to be announced shortly. Although some enthusiasts have noted their disappointment that the weekend clashes with the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) held annually at RAF Fairford, many excited comments on Flying Legends Facebook page pay testimony to the events popularity and the excitement its return surely brings. For more information and tickets, visit www.flyinglegends.com WATERLOO-Gene Elmer York, 81, of Waterloo, Iowa, passed away after complications of a stroke at his home on Monday, April 24, 2023, surrounded by his family. A celebration of Genes life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday April 29, 2023, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 810 Kimball Avenue, in Waterloo, Iowa, where the family will greet friends and family one hour prior to the service. A committal service is being planned later next month for Memorial Day Weekend, at Goodhue Lutheran Church Cemetery, in Florence, South Dakota. WATERLOO The fate of a Waterloo man accused of shooting and killing a man in a garage in 2020 is now in the hands of a jury. Prosecutors allege Robert Lee Williams Jr., 34, shot and killed Vincent Hemenway, 49, when a robbery plot fell apart. He is charged with first-degree murder. The defense said Williams was in the area to collect a drug debt and, when the person he was seeking wasnt home, went to the nearby garage on Adrian Street to ask to use a lighter. Williams then had to shoot in self-defense when those inside began to hassle him with racial taunts and lunged for him. Jurors adjourned for the day Tuesday afternoon following four days of evidence and are slated to return to the courthouse on Wednesday to begin deliberations. During closing arguments, defense attorney Matthew Hoffey said the states robbery theory didnt make any sense because no demands had been made of Hemenway and the three others in the garage who were adjusting the lifters on a motorcycle. The men in the garage didnt talk about a robbery, Hoffey said. He said those in the garage threatened to assault Williams, so Williams drew a pistol to deescalate the situation. Hemenway reached for the weapon and the others came at Williams, who fired in reaction, the defense said. By all accounts, this happened too fast. It was almost an instinctive reaction, said Hoffey. The attorney argued for acquitting Williams because he acted in self-defense or, alternatively, finding him guilty of a lesser manslaughter charge instead of murder. Assistant Black Hawk County Attorney Jeremy Westendorf said the self-defense argument doesnt apply because Williams was carrying out a robbery and engaged in the crime of intimidation with a weapon when he fired. Collecting a debt by use of force with a weapon, thats what we call a robbery, Westendorf said. He said it was Hemenway who was defending himself and his friends and died as a result. Under the states theory, Williams and his brother had planned to rob a drug stash house on Dearborn Avenue around midnight. Lights in the home werent on, but they noticed people in the garage on Adrian Street and mistakenly assumed their targets were there. Williams used the cigarette lighter request as a ruse to approach people in the garage his brother actually had two working lighters in his pocket and get in place for the robbery, Westendorf said. He said Williams pulled out his gun and was in the process of herding the men to one side of the garage to keep a better eye on them and didnt have time to ask them to empty their pockets when Hemenway sprang into action and grabbed for the gun. Two bullets hit Hemenway, killing him. Prosecutor Michael Hudson noted that a grazing shot that punctured one of the other mens leather vest and scraped the back of his shoulder showed they were fleeing from the gunfire, not rushing Williams. During trial, the ballistics evidence linked shell casings at the scene to a 9 mm Smith and Wesson pistol later found in a nearby tree line, not far from Williams phone and a face mask with his DNA. The state also showed photos of Williams holding an identical pistol, photos that were found on his cell phone. The phone also showed an ongoing text message discussion with another person about going to the Dearborn Avenue house and bringing guns to get cash and illegal substances. Following the shooting, Williams agreed to a police interview and said he fired when people in the garage wouldnt cooperate with him. He didnt mention racial slurs during the police interview. Photos: Homicide Aug. 15, 2020 081820jr-adrian-homicide-1 081620jr-homicide-search-1 081620jr-homicide-search-2 081620jr-homicide-search-3 081620jr-homicide-search-4 040622jr-robbery-trial-2 040622jr-robbery-trial-1 040622jr-robbery-trial-3 040622jr-robbery-trial-4 040622jr-robbery-trial-5 040722jr-robbery-trial-1 040722jr-robbery-trial-3 040822jr-robbery-verdict-1 042023jr-williams-trial-1 042023jr-williams-trial-4 042023jr-williams-trial-3 042023jr-williams-trial-2 042023jr-williams-trial-5 041923jr-williams-trial-2 041923jr-williams-trial-1 041923jr-williams-trial-3 041923jr-williams-trial-4 042123jr-williams-trial-4 042123jr-williams-trial-1 042123jr-williams-trial-2 042123jr-williams-trial-3 042423jr-williams-trial-1 042423jr-williams-trial-2 Robert Lee Williams Jr. verdict Medvedev: Do you really care about the climate to that extent? In my opinion, this is nothing compared to the prospect of being at the epicenter of an explosion with a temperature of 5 thousand kelvins, a shock wave of 350 meters per second and a pressure of 3 thousand kg per square meter, with penetrating radiation, that is, ionizing radiation and electromagnetic impulse. Is there such a prospect today? Alas, yes. And it grows every day for known reasons. *** Medvedev: The leaders of Poland all these Dudas, Marovetskys are already talking with the Ukrainian leadership about a confederation. It is not far from here to the union, as it used to be. And there is a reason. If you dont take into NATO and the European Union all the Ukrainian girl who has fallen at the feet of the owners, we will take the remaining regions there in parts. I will express a seditious thought. A quiet partition is better than Ukraine in NATO or a world war. Greed and anger, hatred, ambition are often stronger than reason and common sense. WtR What went on? Moscow hosts four-party talks gathering defence ministers of the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Syrian Arab Republic, and the Republic of Turkiye. During the meeting, the attendees discussed practical steps towards strengthening security in the Syrian Arab Republic and normalising SyrianTurkish relations. Particular attention was given to countering all manifestations of terrorist threats, fighting all extremist groups on the territory of Syria. As a result of the talks, the sides reaffirmed the desire to preserve Syrias territorial integrity and the need to intensify efforts for the speedy return of Syrian refugees to their homeland. The heads of defence ministries emphasised the constructive nature of the dialogue in this format and the need to continue it in order to further stabilise the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic and the region in general. @mod_russia_en Update: Center for Combating Disinformation under the Turkish Presidential Administration: Allegations that President Erdogan had a heart attack and was hospitalized are not true. The President will take part in the ceremony of the first loading of fuel at the Akkuyu NPP, which will be held tomorrow, through a live broadcast I guess time will tell what the truth is? I hope he is okay Erdogan and rumors about deterioration after a heart attack: President Erdogans wife and family members were asked to come to the hospital. Turkish President Erdogan suffered a myocardial infarction today and is currently hospitalized in critical condition. The Turkish leader is reported to be in critical condition. It is also reported that the wife of President Erdogan and family members were asked to urgently come to the hospital. President Erdogans wife and family members went to the hospital. Unconfirmed reports of a significant deterioration in the health of Turkish President Erdogan. At the same time, the Turkish leader is scheduled to have a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin tomorrow. WtR A revised flood estimate predicts the Mississippi River will now crest midweek in Winona and La Crosse on Wednesday and Thursday respectively, according to forecasts by the National Weather Service. The river is expected to reach the major flood stage of 15.5 feet Sunday in La Crosse and peak at 16 feet Thursday, where it will remain until water begins to recede over the following weekend. In Winona, the flood will reach the major stage of 18 feet Sunday and is anticipated to peak at 19.1 feet by Wednesday. The last time either city saw flooding of such severity was in 2001, when river levels reached 16.4 feet in La Crosse and 20 feet in Winona. The 2001 flooding is the second highest on record for both areas. The National Weather Service in La Crosse issued a flood warning for the Black River at Galesville, where river levels surpassed the initial flood stage of 10 feet. Water levels are currently at 11 feet and are expected to peak at 13.8 feet Sunday. Public works departments for both Winona and La Crosse have been pumping water since the start of the week to mitigate flooding behind protective flood barriers. La Crosse Fire Chief Jeff Schott, who is responsible for emergency management, said his biggest concern is keeping the public safe. We are always focused on public safety, Schott said. (Were) trying to keep people out of the places we know will get the most flooding. The citys parks department has already closed a number of trails in the La Crosse River Marsh. Schott said upgrades to the pump station on Causeway Boulevard completed earlier this year were critical to being prepared for this flood season. The city has about 16 water pumps located across the North Side. Winona Public Works Director Brian DeFrang said the flood situation is under control due to the hard work of many city employees. Thats the biggest thing right now, DeFrang said. If you look back a week, the projection was like 17.3 feet and now its 19.1. Two feet is real; its a big deal to where different protocols have to be done because of the higher elevation. Since flooding surpassed the 16-foot stage, different protocols are in effect in Winona. More levees are closed now and an around-the-clock flood water watch is in place along the 9 miles of levees protecting the city. Staff monitors for any soft spots on the levee that could lead to a breakthrough or water that is boiling up on the other side, which could indicate a weak spot in the levee that needs to be addressed quickly. The La Crosse Fire Department is urging residents to be prepared for flooding ahead of time and to stay out of flood areas. La Crosse city residents can get sand from the parking lot at the corner of Marco Drive and Hood Street. Residents can also get sand, fillable bags and pre-filled bags from local hardware stores, including Kroners, Menards, Home Depot and Ace Hardware. Sand and sandbags are also available for residents on French Island at the Campbell Town Hall. The city encourages community members to consider the following tips: Know your flood risk. Assess your propertys proximity to flooding waterways. Is it in or near the floodplain? Do you have a basement or other buildings that may be at risk? Make an emergency plan. Have a meeting place for your family, bring a list of emergency contacts, include pets in the plan, consider what medications you need to take, and bring a power supply. Build a Go Kit. Include items like nonperishable food, water, cash and medications. Move valuables out of the basement. Elevate or flood-proof appliances as much as possible. Stay informed about the river levels and forecasts at www.weather.gov/arx/MississippiRiver_SpringFlood_2023 IN PHOTOS: Mississippi River flooding Many students at Beaver Dam Middle School were able to meet Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday when he visited the school and toured four classrooms. Evers visited the school as state government is focusing on the 2023-25 state budget. The governor has made recommendations to improve reading and literacy outcomes, expand access to mental health services and school nutrition, address staffing shortages to help keep class sizes small, and increase per pupil and special education aids. The governors plan would provide more than a $2.6 billion increase to K-12 education. Evers visited the sixth-grade social studies class, eighth-grade multimedia productions class, eighth-grade science technology room and the eighth-grade German class. The governor answered students questions as well as learned about their projects while touring the 100-year-old school. It is certainly the best job I ever had, Evers said while answering one students question about what it was like being governor. I like it. It is fun. I like to go to schools and listen to people. Then I go to businesses and hear what their needs are. It is a lot of fun, but it is a lot of work. Eighth-grader Lucy Mercier told Evers about the websites she and her classmates were creating in multimedia productions. We have to make a logo, Mercier said. It is basically a portfolio of all the art we have done. Evers told the students that one of the reasons he was at the school was because it was important to him that schools have all the resources they need. The money they need is to make sure they can do a good job, Evers said. I was a teacher at one time, but I would bet you that I have been to 1,000 schools. Evers said he chose Beaver Dam Middle School because he had heard good things about the school. I have heard really good things have been going on here, and this class is really unique, Evers said. Evers spoke to the press after his visit with the students and shared his hopes for the proposed shared revenue plan that Assembly Speaker Robin Vos hopes will be released on Thursday. It would look like 20% of sales tax would go directly to local municipalities, Evers said. That would be important and of course, I believe there would be accommodations for Milwaukee and Milwaukee County to have access to additional sales tax. Evers said he believes that Democrats and Republicans will work together on the funding issues that are affecting schools. Beaver Dam High School prom king and queen announced Prom001.jpg Prom002.jpg Prom003.jpg Prom004.jpg Prom005.jpg WAUPUN Inmates in Waupun Correctional Institution have remained under modified movement for almost a month following a lockdown that occurred at the facility on March 30. Anytime we modify movement at a facility, it is generally done to ensure the safety of staff and the persons in our care, Wisconsin Department of Corrections Director of Communications John Beard said. WCI will return to normal movement and operations when it can be done in a manner that supports safety of staff and people in our care. Essential and important operations continue, including showers, telephone use, medication delivery, laundry, and access to psychological and health care, Beard added. At this point, inmates can contact their loved ones over the phone, but they have not restarted in-person visitations, Beard said. The maximum-security facility, which houses 962 inmates, was under lockdown the night of March 30 and went under the modified movement order the next morning. At the time, Beard said that action was taken because some of the population of Waupun Correctional had been breaking rules that were put in place for everyones safety. GALLERY: WAUPUN PRISONS HIGHLIGHTED IMG_7412.JPG IMG_7413.JPG IMG_7415.JPG IMG_7416.JPG IMG_7417.JPG Waupun prisons highlighted IMG_7420.JPG IMG_7421.JPG IMG_7422.JPG IMG_7423.JPG IMG_7424.JPG IMG_7428.JPG IMG_7429.JPG IMG_7431.JPG Florida authorities said on Tuesday, April 25, that they had arrested a man in connection with the murder and dismemberment of an Uber Eats driver who had delivered meals to the alleged killer's home. According to AP News, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco declared during a press conference that 30-year-old Oscar Solis Jr. had been charged with murder in the death of a delivery driver last Wednesday, April 19, at a residence in Holiday, Florida. A police affidavit states that the remains were discovered in garbage bags and a cooler inside the residence, along with a receipt with Solis' name. "This was a horrific crime of passion," Nocco told the press. "What he did was demonic." The Murder Night's Events In a report by CBS News, police claimed the victim is a delivery driver for Uber Eats and DoorDash. Reportedly last week, he contacted his wife to let her know he had only one more delivery to make before heading home. When she did not hear from him for a while, she tried texting him again but got no reply. After a couple more hours of unanswered messages, the wife reported him missing. The police proceeded to the last known delivery address two days later, and there they obtained video evidence of the victim from the suspect's roommate. At a news conference on Tuesday, Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco stated, "You can actually see the victim walking up to the house to deliver food, but the video cuts off at that point." This occurred just before 7:00 PM on April 19. Nocco claims surveillance video shows the perpetrator and a second individual removing garbage the next day. Nocco adds that investigators discovered human bones when they looked through the garbage. Oscar Solis Jr., the Criminal After being released on parole in Indiana and relocating to Florida in January, Oscar Solis was promptly apprehended for failing to register as a felon with the county, as reported by Fox News. Solis was said to be an MS-13 gang member who spent four years in burglary and assault. He was accused of stabbing another inmate while he was behind bars. See Also: Haiti Gang Wars: Mob Attacks, Burns 13 Alleged Gangsters The Night of Arrest On Monday night, April 24, police searched Solis' home and discovered the victim's wedding ring and vehicle keys, leading to Solis' arrest for "felony murder in conjunction with the robbery." Police claimed they located the victim's car one-third of a mile from the residence. CBS News has acquired an affidavit from the police that said they discovered "apparent blood-soaked rags," a red DoorDash bag, and paper towels in the trunk of the automobile. A time card punch-out receipt in Solis' name from the gentleman's club where he claimed detectives he worked security was also discovered in the trash bag, as stated in the declaration. Police say the roommate was away when the murder occurred, so it was unclear who helped take away the garbage. See Also: Ex-UFC Star Nate Diaz Charged with Second-Degree Battery, New Orleans Police Say @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tanya Cutsforth began a college preparatory program at the end of 2022, and Wisconsin Dells High School is the first to benefit from it. Embark Seminars founder, a Madison resident who received her education at UW-Madison and has worked in various capacities at the university since, was inspired to start Embark Seminar as a means to bridge the gap for access to college preparatory materials and information. I think students often have a pretty good why about pursuing higher education, but figuring out like, how do I actually get there and what am I actually supposed to do, those parts can be a little bit murkier, said Cutsforth. The seminar is a four-week course that helps college-bound students with academic and career planning. Students take a flexible online course for one to two hours per week and attend two, four-hour, in-person workshops at their high school. Course requirements, professional communication, social identity, fit finding, and time management are among topics covered. I created Embark to help students know what to seek out on their college campuses (especially as incoming students) and develop the skills they need to make opportunities happen (like how to write an email to a professor), said Cutsforth in an email. This combination of skills and knowledge can go a long way to bolster students confidence and encourage them to take advantage of the opportunities college presents from day zero. Embark Seminar is free for all students who attend partnered high schools. Students explore two- and four-year, post-secondary education options during the program. They learn about studying abroad, internships, student organizations, networking, and other educational and professional opportunities. Support from mentors who have been through and helped others navigate the transition from high school to college is also offered. Youre mostly learning about how to deal with college emotionally, physically, financially, said Zoe Crowder, a WDHS senior enrolled in Embark Seminar, adding that her mother wished a similar program was available when she was a senior in high school. Crowder is seeking veterinary education, with specific interest in marine animals, particularly sharks. She plans to spend two years of post-secondary education at Madison College for a veterinary technician degree and hopes to move to Boston or Florida to finish a marine biology degree. I think its been really cool to see how willing the students are to communicate the things theyre excited about and worried about and really dialogue with their peers and me, said Cutsforth. Chris Cuahuey-Ruiz, another WDHS senior and longtime friend of Crowders, is attending Madison College as well to pursue a culinary arts degree. He is initially planning on spending two years in college, but may do four. It kind of helps with how youre going to get used to the system and how youre going to learn when you go to college, said Cuahuey-Ruiz. Were trying to feel for college and see if were mentally prepared for it, said Crowder, adding that Embark Seminar is helping her and Cuahuey-Ruiz to more easily understand what the transition to college will be like. A native of Portage, Cutsforth credits her experience working at Del-Bar in Lake Delton during her high school and college years for early professional skill building, namely customer service and multitasking. Many summer jobs are more than a paycheck, but only if we give students the tools to unpack the experience and make meaning from it, said Cutsforth in her email. More information on Embark Seminar and its offerings, as well as student testimonies, is on the programs website. Cutsforth left UW to start the program after spending over 10 years assisting freshmen with their first year at the university. In 2018, she started QuickStart, a program within UWs College of Agricultural and Life Sciences helping first-year students with connections and exploration of university offerings. In my career at UW, most students brought a lot of experience and knowledge to campus, but many were overwhelmed with the transition from high school to college, said Cutsforth in her email. A ton of information, opportunities, and decisions are thrown at first-year students, including some stuff that transpires well before they arrive on campus. The Embark Seminar founder received a bachelors degree in agricultural science education and a masters in life sciences communication, as well as career development facilitator training at UW from 2008 to 2013. Cutsforth also worked as an instructor for CALS, the College of Engineering, and the Wisconsin School of Business. She currently works for UW as a part-time consultant for educational innovation projects. Gallery - WDHS Technical Education Program WDHS Technical Education program WDHS Technical Education program WDHS Technical Education program WDHS Technical Education program WDHS Technical Education program WDHS Technical Education program WDHS Technical Education program WDHS Technical Education program WDHS Technical Education program WDHS Technical Education program WDHS Technical Education program WDHS Technical Education program WDHS Technical Education program Wisconsinites receiving public health care assistance through BadgerCare Plus would no longer be automatically reenrolled in the system and would have to renew their status with the state every six months under a GOP bill that passed the Assembly Tuesday. The proposal, Assembly Bill 148, largely mirrors legislation last session that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers vetoed. He's also likely to veto this bill, which is now headed to the Senate. Proponents of the bill, which passed 60-35 along party lines, say the changes aim to reduce the number of ineligible individuals receiving public benefits and reduce state spending. "There are people on this program that are eligible for other programs that are taking money from people that need to be on this program," Rep. Donna Rozar, R-Marshfield, said. She said the measure wasn't an attempt to kick people off of health insurance. "This bill is about protecting the integrity of Wisconsin's Medicaid program," added bill author Rep. William Penterman, R-Columbus. More than 1.6 million Wisconsinites are enrolled in BadgerCare or Medicaid programs, which are provided to low-income, pregnant, disabled and elderly individuals, according to state data. Critics say the measure could jeopardize the state's chances of receiving federal funds. In his veto message in last year's bill, Evers said, individuals who otherwise meet existing eligibility criteria are entitled to these program benefits under federal law. "This was not a bill that was intended to be signed into law," said Rep. Robyn Vining, D-Wauwatosa, who pointed out its similarity to last year's vetoed bill. Vining said Republicans rushed the bill to receive an Assembly vote even though there was no fiscal estimate on the measure's impact when it received a public hearing. A since-released fiscal estimate from the Department of Health Services stated the measure would cost over $56.5 million annually with a $2.25 million one-time initial cost. The bill would bar the Department of Health Services from automatically renewing eligibility for BadgerCare recipients. DHS would also have to determine an individual's eligibility every six months and would be prohibited from filling out eligibility forms for recipients in advance. In addition, any BadgerCare recipient who fails to timely report to DHS any changes that may affect their eligibility would become ineligible for benefits for six months. The bill's passage came as COVID-19-triggered federal public health emergencies are scheduled to end May 11, meaning people no longer eligible for Medicaid around the country will lose coverage over the coming year. Wisconsin has seen BadgerCare enrollment increase 49% since March 2020, with 1.2 million residents now in the state's main Medicaid program. An estimated 309,000 people are expected to lose coverage by June 2024, according to a report in December from the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Most of those people now have incomes that exceed 100% of the federal poverty level or 300% for pregnant women and children, the state Medicaid cutoffs that depend on family size. Or they now have access to employer insurance. A man being sought in the Monday afternoon killing of a 43-year-old woman on Madison's West Side has fled the country with the couple's young daughter, according to Madison police. Jose Duenas-Quinonez, the victim's husband, was being sought by police for questioning. A 6-year-old girl, the daughter of the victim and Duenas-Quinonez, was initially unaccounted for, but the FBI later determined the child had left the U.S. with her father, police said in a statement. Police are not calling Duenas-Quinonez a suspect but he is a person of interest at this time, spokesperson Alyssa Cains said Tuesday. Police responded just after 4 p.m. Monday to a business at 1330 S. Midvale Blvd., where officers found the 43-year-old woman's body. Authorities declined to identify the woman before her identity and cause of death are released by the Dane County Medical Examiners Office. But a close friend confirmed the dead woman was Micaela Juarez, who owned Spark Nutrition, which served protein shakes, teas and snacks. The city's Violent Crime Unit is working on the homicide investigation along with the FBI, Madison police said. On Monday afternoon, police prepared to issue an Amber Alert for the missing child, Avril Duenas Juarez, and a statewide Wisconsin Crime Alert Bulletin was issued. "When it was determined that Mr. Duenas-Quinonez left the country with his daughter, the Alert was canceled due to the restricted broadcast geography of the Alert," Madison police said in a statement. Authorities did not say where they believed Duenas-Quinonez was or how he had traveled there. 'Gave her heart' Kristy Blossom Heine, who co-owns Marigold Kitchen in Madison, said Juarez was a former employee who had worked with her at the popular Downtown cafe for almost two decades. "I knew her for 18 years," she said. "She was just like a family member. She and I were hand-in-hand for a very long time." Juarez, who went by "Miky," had four children and two grandchildren, Blossom Heine said. "She taught Zumba and gave her heart to the dance fitness community," she said. "After studying for her GED she had left Marigold to pursue her own entrepreneurship and opened 3 Soles (Mexican restaurant). She then went on to opening Spark Nutrition." Blossom Heine, who bought Marigold with her husband in 2021, but has worked there since 2001, said she and Juarez went through life together. She said the news has her completely shaken and she didn't want to say too much other than she was "pretty near and dear to our hearts." Nearly 24 hours after the homicide, the strip mall where it happened near the Beltline was open Tuesday afternoon and customers were going to the nearby hardware, sporting goods and grocery stores. Gray drapes covered the interior of the large windows at Spark, which advertises "Protein Spot shakes, energy, snacks, waffles, crepes, bowls, pies." 'Very upsetting' A hand-printed sign provided a phone number for donations to support Juarez's family. When a Wisconsin State Journal reporter called the number, the person answering hung up. Its been a very upsetting thing for all the neighbors. Weve been really startled by it, said Steve Schwartz, who lives in the area and paused to read the sign. Schwartz said he frequents the Mexican restaurants and ice cream shop in the strip mall. The hardware store and the nearby Le Tigre Lounge are neighborhood staples, he said. This is an important part of my community. Donna Maysack, an employee at Dorn True Value Hardware, said that after police arrived Monday afternoon and went into the storefront where the victim was found, no more customers were allowed into the shopping area. The hardware store normally closes at 6 p.m., she said. At several other nearby businesses, employees said they did not want to comment or did not know Juarez. State Journal reporters Samara Kalk Derby and Lucas Robinson contributed to this report. Safest cities in America 2023: Violent crime rate increases drive per capita cost of crime Safest cities in America 2023: Violent crime rate increases drive per capita cost of crime The 15 Safest Cities in America The 15 Most Dangerous Cities Methodology The 11 orthopedic surgeons who left SSM Health Dean Medical Group last year to start a competing practice, two of whom have been sued by SSM Health, are now suing SSM Health. In a lawsuit filed Monday, the doctors ask Dane County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Ehlke to block a clause in their former employment contracts at SSM Health saying they cant treat or solicit patients they saw there in the previous three years. Even if the clause is found to be valid, they say the judge should rule that the doctors havent violated it, contrary to allegations by SSM Health that three of the doctors breached the clause. The clause prevents the doctors from engaging in the type of competition for patients that a stranger could engage in, alleges the suit by the doctors, whose Orthopedic and Spine Centers of Wisconsin opened in Madison in February. SSM Health spokespersons didnt respond to a request for comment Tuesday. In November, SSM Health sued Dr. Jason Sansone and Dr. Brian Keyes, two of the surgeons, saying they violated their employment contracts through actions designed to disrupt, sabotage and harm Dean Medical Group. That case is before Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford. Sansone, the leader of the independent practice, told the Wisconsin State Journal earlier in November that the group plans to build a specialty orthopedics hospital and an ambulatory surgery center in Dane County within two years. Additional surgery centers are planned, likely in the Janesville and Baraboo areas and possibly elsewhere in the region, Sansone said. Some of the surgeons are working at hospitals in Beaver Dam, Platteville and Edgerton. The group, which is managed by Phoenix-based Healthcare Outcomes Performance, or HOPCo, aims to provide value-based care, Sansone said. That typically involves taking on the financial risk with insurers and employer groups, accepting gains or losses through set payments per patient for whatever orthopedic services are needed. Orthopedics is one of the most lucrative parts of health care. The other former SSM Health surgeons in the group, who are named in the new lawsuit, are Kashif Ali, Aaron Carpiaux, Rajit Chakravarty, Richard Glad, Brian Keyes, Dayton Opel, James Prosser, Joseph Sizensky, Brian Steffin and David Wolff. Dr. Tom Zdeblick, the longtime head of UW-Madisons orthopedics department who resigned as chair last year and retired from the university, also has joined the group. Shortly after the new practice opened, UW Health and SSM Health announced that UW Health orthopedic surgeons would start operating at SSM Healths St. Marys hospitals in Madison and Janesville. Lawsuit filed In the new suit, the surgeons acknowledge that their former contracts said that for two years after leaving SSM Health, they couldnt treat or solicit patients they had seen in the previous three years. Since leaving late last year, they say they have agreed to take all reasonable steps to abide by the clause. But at SSM Health, they say they provided consultations for other doctors about some patients and saw other patients in urgent care or the emergency room, in addition to clinic visits and surgeries. That makes the scope of the clause too broad under state law, they argue. The clause could include patients who have no cognizable or significant prior relationship with the surgeons, the suit says. It asks the judge to find the clause unenforceable. Last month, according to the suit, SSM Health sent a cease and desist letter to the homes of Chakravarty and Opel, saying the doctors had violated the clause by soliciting and treating a particular, unnamed patient. An administrator at SSM Healths St. Clare Hospital accused Carpiaux of improper patient solicitation because he provided a Provider Bio Sheet to some nurses, the suit says. Chakravarty and Opel havent seen patients covered by the clause, and Carpiaux gave the nurses a bio sheet they requested, the suit says. SSM Health also flagged medical charts of patients it believes fall under the clause, to prevent schedulers from connecting the patients with the doctors in their new practice, the suit says. But the flag doesnt specify which of the doctors the patients saw before, which has caused schedulers to wrongfully believe that the patient could not be scheduled with any of the doctors, the suit says. The Republican-controlled Assembly adopted several bills Tuesday to reduce unemployment benefits and make it harder to qualify for them, something that they say would mend the state's ongoing labor shortage. The proposals, which passed along party lines, mirror bills that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers vetoed last legislative session. He is likely to also veto these bills, which are now headed to the Senate. Republicans unveiled the unemployment package in early April, days after more than 78% of Wisconsin voters approved a nonbinding question on the April 4 ballot asking voters: "Shall able-bodied childless adults be required to look for work in order to receive taxpayer-funded welfare benefits?" I heard Gov. Evers in his inaugural address where he said, The will of the people should be the law of the land," Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said before the session. Well, heres a prime example. Hopefully hes changed his mind. Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, said lawmakers shouldn't cut unemployment benefits but instead address workforce challenges by passing affordable child care policies and expanding low-income housing and paid family leave. "We feel like the bills on the floor today in the Assembly do not address the real challenges that Wisconsin is facing," Neubauer said. Bill opponents also said the April referendum, focusing on welfare programs, had nothing to do with the bills before the Assembly on Tuesday, which relate to an insurance program. Preliminary data from the state Department of Workforce Development show the state's unemployment rate at 2.5% in March. Employers statewide have been struggling to find workers. And there will be 130,000 fewer working Wisconsinites by 2030 if recent migration patterns continue, according to the Wisconsin Counties Association's nonpartisan research arm Forward Analytics. Among the bills passed Tuesday, AB 147 would update the Wisconsin laws outlining the conditions for people to be fired from their jobs for misconduct, temporarily eliminating them from unemployment benefit eligibility. Under the bill, those conditions for misconduct would include the destruction of an employer's records, theft or unauthorized possession of property, a violation of the employer's absenteeism policy or a violation of the employer's social media policy. AB 149 would require employers to inform the state workforce department of any ineligibility questions when notified of a claim for unemployment insurance. The bill would require the workforce development agency to consider reports of an individual declining a job offer or failing to attend a scheduled interview when determining a claimant's eligibility for benefits. Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, said the proposal would eliminate unemployment benefits for people who miss an interview because of a last-minute emergency. Rep. Nik Rettinger, R-Mukwonago, said the measure would ensure unemployment insurance would only assist those who need it. AB 150 would change references to "unemployment insurance" in state statutes to "reemployment assistance." The bill also would require the Department of Workforce Development to enforce federal drug-testing requirements for individuals claiming unemployment benefits in certain occupations. An individual who fails a drug test would be ineligible for benefits "until certain requalification criteria are satisfied or unless he or she enrolls in a substance abuse treatment program and undergoes a job skills assessment, and a claimant who declines to submit to a test is simply ineligible for benefits until he or she requalifies," according to the bill. Under the bill, DWD would have to create rules identifying occupations for which drug testing is required. Another measure that passed, AB 152, would make various changes to how DWD operates, including requiring benefits claimants to provide proof of identity when filing an initial unemployment insurance claim. The bill also would require DWD to expand call center hours if the volume of calls received increases dramatically. Lawmakers didn't vote, however, on another bill scheduled for Tuesday's session, AB 153, which would tie the number of weekly unemployment benefits an individual could receive to the state's overall unemployment rate. Currently, an individual can receive up to $370 in weekly state unemployment benefits for 26 weeks. Under the bill, the maximum number of weeks a claimant could receive benefits would be based on the state's unemployment rate. Claimants would receive 26 weeks of benefits if the state unemployment rate was greater than 9%, while the number of weekly benefits would be reduced to as few as 14 weeks if the rate was at 3.5% or lower. Fave 5: Reporter Kimberly Wethal shares her favorite stories of 2022 In the weeks before I joined the Wisconsin State Journal in September, I was told this: Remember that a higher education institution is like their own city. It has its own character and struggles, defined by the students who learn there and the faculty who teach them. I have seen this over and over again, and it was particularly clear when I visited UW-Platteville at Richland a week after the University of Wisconsin System ordered degree-fulfilling classes to cease because of low enrollment. During my visit, I found many of the devastated students to be emotionally invested in their campus community and committed to saving it. It's why Richland Center grieving the loss of its once-vibrant campus is my top story of 2022. UW-Madison has its own slate of issues. There, a growing population is pitted against on- and off-campus housing availability. I wrote about the tactics used to clear returning students out of the dorms to make room for freshmen, and the frenzy that ensued as students put their lives on hold to secure housing for next fall. At Madison Area Technical College, a key issue is how to alleviate barriers their students face just to get into the classroom. Finding adequate child care is one of them I wrote about the efforts to expand future access at the Goodman South Campus and its four rural campuses. Much of my beat is hard news, but some of my favorite stories are features of students who make up the character of campus. I wrote about Kirstan Gimse, the student commencement speaker who's achieving her dream of being a scientist that she saw as unattainable. I'm looking forward to diving deeper into the beat in 2023 and am so grateful for the support of State Journal subscribers that allows me to be one of the few reporters in the state dedicated solely to covering higher education. Weather Alert ...Cooler, Unsettled Weather this Week... * A slow moving low pressure system will provide daily chances for a mix of rain, snow, and pellet showers this week with rain-snow lines lowering to 5500-7000 feet by Tuesday morning. A few thunderstorms will also be possible each day (20-30% chance). * Be prepared for snow showers in the Sierra. While warm road temperatures and the early May sun angle may limit accumulations on paved surfaces, bursts of heavy snow and/or snow occurring during the overnight hours could bring travel impacts to mountain passes. * Expect gusty southerly winds to develop through mid-week with the strongest winds targeting portions of Churchill, Mineral, Lyon, and Mono Counites with potential crosswind travel impacts to US-395 and US-95. * Temperatures will dip down 5 to 10 degrees below early May normals through much of the upcoming week. * Additional low pressure systems may track across the region by next weekend which could yield continued cool and breezy conditions. This may yield more rain and snow showers with snow levels remaining around 6000 to 8000 feet. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Chinese President Xi Jinping had their first known communication since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war on Wednesday. Volodymyr Zelensky expressed confidence that the "long and meaningful" conversation will help the ties between Ukraine and China to advance. According to CNN, Andrii Yermak, the director of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, referred to the phone call as "an important dialogue" in a Telegram message. State-run CCTV said that Xi Jinping has acknowledged dispatching an ambassador to Ukraine to engage in "in-depth communication" with every side to find a political solution to the Ukrainian conflict. According to the presidential office of Ukraine, more information on what was stated will be revealed later in the day. . , , . (@ZelenskyyUa) April 26, 2023 Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry, praised China's strategy but was critical of Ukraine's stance. Read Also: Joe Biden to Run Again for US President She criticized Kyiv for rejecting "any sound initiatives aimed at a settlement." She complimented Beijing for its "readiness" to make efforts toward establishing peace discussions to end the Russia-Ukraine war, per AP News. After China issued a 12-point plan to stop the war, talks between the two leaders had been expected for weeks. China took another step with the phone conversation toward a greater level of participation in settling the Russia-Ukraine war. Xi Jinping Maintains Neutrality But Friendly Towards Putin China has not yet condemned the Russian incursion, maintaining its neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war. Xi Jinping recently paid a state visit to Russia, where he addressed Vladimir Putin as his "dear friend," unveiled a 12-point peace plan, and stressed China's alignment with history's correct direction. He did not, however, commit to providing Russia with arms, according to the BBC. President Volodymyr Zelensky invited President Xi to Kyiv for talks shortly after this visit, pointing out that they had spoken before the war broke out in full in February 2022 but had not spoken since. Related Article: US to Deploy Nuclear-Armed Submarines to South Korea @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In the new HBO series White House Plumbers, veteran actress Kathleen Turner, 68, plays Dita Beard, the foul-mouthed lobbyist who ended up entangled in some dirty deals with the Nixon administration. The five-part series, premiering May 1 and featuring Woody Harrelson as E. Howard Hunt and Justin Theroux as G. Gordon Liddy, tells the true story of how Nixons own political masterminds ended up toppling his presidency. 1. Dita Beard was quite a character. Was she fun to play? It was terrific. I loved it. I will never forget running through the airports with Justin Theroux pushing me with an oxygen tank and a cigarette. I have to say, I had an absolute ball doing White House Plumbers, but the most extraordinary thing to me is how this is all factual. These guys actually thought they could do this crap and not be caught. ... It just seems insane. 2. Had you worked with Justin or Woody before? No. I knew Woody. We met several times. We were next door to each other in theaters in London. He was doing [Night of the] Iguana and I was doing [Whos Afraid of] Virginia Woolf? I didnt know Justin, and I was very, very pleased. Im not content to meet people for the first time on set when you start working with them. So Ill go to their trailer and Ill meet them in the makeup trailer or Ill find a way to just be with them before. Well, Justin came to my trailer. I didnt even know he was on set yet, and he came to my trailer and said he wanted to introduce himself. Good on you, man. One of the things Im trying to teach I am teaching more and more is a kind of tradition and courtesy and the way you treat other actors and people in the industry with respect, whether they are above or below the line, because it makes for so much of a different atmosphere on set or backstage. Really, truly, it can add so much to the production value. 3. Where are you teaching? Ive taught at NYU and other master classes at other universities, but I got more serious about it during the pandemic. We set up Zoom sessions, and that way I could do [classes for students in] L.A. and New York. Although the poor L.A. people had to start acting at like 8 a.m., which personally I would not be able to do, but God bless them. All last fall I was teaching one week a month down at University of Virginia with their graduate acting students. And this year, Im going to teach down at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This is something I really want to develop more because its the community of the faculty I like; working with young people, I love. Im really, really excited about it. 4. Are the students a little starstruck when they first see you? You have to give them the first half hour to get over their nonsense. The Republican-led House in Montana will vote on Wednesday to evaluate the behavior of a transgender legislator during a protest that took place after the Republican Speaker forbade her from speaking in several hearings this week. Rep. Zooey Zephyr, a Democrat from Missoula, was informed of the "disciplinary consequences" for her conduct on the House floor during Monday's protest via a letter from Republican House leaders on Tuesday. The letter was signed by House Speaker Matt Regier of Kalispell, according to UPI. Rep. Regier has set the motion for a vote at 11 a.m. EDT on Wednesday. The objective is to investigate whether Zephyr breached the rules, "collective rights, safety, dignity, integrity, or decorum of the House of Representatives," and if so, to determine whether disciplinary action should be taken against her. Read Also: Florida Man Arrested for Killing, Dismembering Uber Eats Driver Transgender Lawmaker Refuses To Apologize Zooey Zephyr shared on social media a letter she had received from House leaders on Tuesday evening, informing her of the intention to have disciplinary action taken against her. The transgender Montana legislator tweeted, "I've also been told I'll get a chance to speak," and added that she would keep upholding her responsibility to stand up for her residents and protect her neighborhood, per the National Post. I have been informed that during tomorrows floor session there will be a motion to either censure or expel me. I've also been told I'll get a chance to speak. I will do as I have always donerise on behalf of my constituents, in defense of my community, & for democracy itself. pic.twitter.com/8gD3UWPBkS Rep. Zooey Zephyr (@ZoAndBehold) April 26, 2023 Rep. Zooey Zephyr, a 34-year-old Democrat, has been prevented from speaking on the state House floor since she said on April 18 that lawmakers who voted to outlaw gender-affirming medical treatment would have "blood on your hands." Republican House Speaker Matt Regier has refused to let Zephyr speak until she retracts her remarks, but Zephyr has said she will not apologize and stands by her statements, per CBS News. On Monday, riot police detained seven Zooey Zephyr supporters for rallying inside the halls of the Montana House of Representatives while dozens more demonstrated on the state Capitol steps. Related Article: Minnesota State House Legalizes Cannabis @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Quarterly Activities Report 31 March 2023 Perth, April 26, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Horizon Minerals Limited ( ASX:HRZ ) is pleased to provide the March 2023 Quarterly Activities Report. Horizon is an exploration and production company within the Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie regions of Western Australia. A key focus for the Company is on near term production and exploration upside within our 1,100km2 tenement package with up to three drill rigs operating as part of the large-scale new discovery and project generation exploration program. Horizon holds numerous multi - commodity assets including listed investments in the world class 1.8Bt Richmond vanadium project in northwest Queensland. Primary activities during the Quarter included exploration field work at the core Greater Boorara Cannon - Golden Ridge project area, Binduli and Rose Hill and drill planning and preparations for the Penny's Find strike and depth extension program. In addition, the Company has completed resource modelling and mine optimisation studies for Ore Reserve estimation, advancement of the high-grade Cannon, Penny's Find and Rose Hill underground developments, statutory approval work, joint venture assessment and review of further consolidation and divestment opportunities. During the Quarter, mining approval was received for the Cannon underground development with Penny's Find already approved for potential sequential mining and production. During the Quarter, the Company prioritised development studies on the high-grade low tonnage underground projects at Cannon, Penny's Find and Rose Hill under a contract / JV mining and milling model. The advanced Cannon gold project is located 30km east-southeast of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and 15km east of Boorara on existing roads. Regionally, Cannon is in the western part of the Bulong ultramafic complex in the Boorara Domain. The Bulong complex consists of 5km thick sequence of komatiitic lava flows made up of a thick serpentinised peridotite in the centre of the complex, flanked by thin spinifex-textured komatiitic flows at the top of the sequence. High-Mg basalts and interflow sediments are intercalated with the thin flow facies komatiites. Komatiitic basalt and high-Mg basalts have a variety of textures which include pillowed, pyroxene spinifex textured and variolitic textured. The Cannon mineralisation is structurally controlled and strikes north-easterly, dipping steeply to the north-west; higher grade zones within the mineralised envelope appear to have a steep northerly plunge. Gold-related alteration consists of biotite-calcite-chlorite-pyrite alteration with an inner core of albite-silica-carbonate-biotite-pyrite-gold replacement of the high Mg basalt and intermediate intrusions. The Cannon gold deposit is hosted within a sequence of ultramafic and high-Mg basaltic rocks intruded by a mafic-intermediate suite of lamprophyre dykes, and rarer dacitic dykes. Open pit mining was completed in June 2017 with 576,400t mined at 2.98g/t for 55,143 ounces, almost a 100% reconciliation back to the resource. An adit at Cannon was mined in the east pit wall below the ramp to recover a parcel of ore that became inaccessible via open pit mining. Development of the adit began in May 2017 and production was completed in June 2017. A total of 10,640 tonnes at 9.15g/t Au for 3,131 ounces were recovered; a significant improvement on the reserve figures of 13,313 tonnes at 6.92 g/t for 2,962 ounces. The Company acquired the project in 2021 and completed a detailed review of all geological information enabling compilation of an updated Mineral resource estimate for the underground deposit immediately beneath the existing open pit In the March Quarter 2022, the Company released the results of the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) comprising underground decline development from a portal within the historic open pit under a contract / JV mining and toll milling model. *To view the full Quarterly Report, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/WVSNLC2N About Horizon Minerals Limited Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed. Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline. Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage. If you asked Rico Dukes, his career as a Bernalillo County deputy was going swimmingly: He went from the graveyard to morning shift, had a gas card and got a recent upgrade to a Chevy Tahoe patrol vehicle. His Tinder profile showed him in uniform with the badge, gun and cuffs. Another photo showed the Bernalillo County Tahoe. But the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office found Dukes online persona arresting for another reason investigators say it was all make-believe. Now the 26-year-old Albuquerque man is behind bars after being taken into custody by legitimate BCSO deputies and charged with impersonating a peace officer and unauthorized wearing of uniform or badge. Dukes told deputies he got the outdated BCSO hat and uniform from Kaufmans West, which sells uniforms, and bought the gun, magazines and ammunition from ABQ Guns in early March, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. It is unclear if Dukes has an attorney. Court records show Dukes has been involved in two custody battles that involved restraining orders, including in 2021 when the mother of one of his children alleged Dukes threatened her and had previously been admitted to Kaseman Hospital for mental health concerns and was not in his right mind. The investigation into Dukes online persona began after a woman was scrolling Tinder a popular dating app on Sunday when she came across Dukes profile and swiped right, according to the complaint. The two began messaging with Dukes telling the woman he did one year with (Albuquerque police) that was horrible so he transferred to BCSO. Dukes apparently didnt know the woman was a Bernalillo County employee. Deputies said Dukes told the woman his patrol areas and bragged about having his BCSO Ford Explorer upgraded to the Tahoe. The woman responded, ohhh the one in your pic? Thats such a pretty car with an emoji. At some point, the woman reached out to BCSO to confirm Dukes story and a detective took over messaging him, pretending to be the woman. Dukes agreed to meet at Monroes restaurant near Downtown and showed up in the full BCSO getup, but driving a Toyota Camry. Lapel video showed a group of BCSO and federal officers surround Dukes vehicle with guns drawn. One yells, Close your door and walk toward me. If you reach for that gun you will be shot. The video shows them handcuff and disarm Dukes whos wearing a BCSO polo and a duty belt with an officer telling him, Ill explain everything in a minute. Dukes told deputies he made the Tinder post in February and, according to the complaint, bought the uniform from Kaufmans months earlier by telling them he was going to make promotional video for BCSO. Deputies said Dukes told them he bought the Glock 17, magazines and ammo from ABQ Guns in March. Meanwhile, social media had a field day when BCSO posted a video of Dukes Tinder photos alongside arrest details on Facebook. One woman wrote, Took Halloween way too far bro. Another added at least he uses his real name. One person simply wrote Im here for the comments Jacqueline Vigil defied her attacker in the final moments of her life by honking her car horn, prosecutors told jurors in closing arguments Tuesday in the trial of her alleged killer. Luis Talamantes-Romero entered the garage of Vigils West Side home in 2019 and pointed a .40-caliber handgun through the drivers side window of her Cadillac with the intention of robbing the woman, Assistant Attorney General Greer Staley said. Why else would he have gone up to that car if not to rob Jacque, Staley told jurors using Vigils nickname. Rather than cooperate, Vigil honked her horn, possibly to get the attention of her husband inside the couples home on Corte de Loma NW, she said. Shes honking, shes drawing attention, Staley said. She defied him in that moment. Talamantes-Romero weighed his option and fired a single gunshot that struck Vigil in the left side of her head. The 2nd Judicial District Court jury will begin deliberations Wednesday. Talamantes-Romero, 35, is charged with first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated burglary and other charges he allegedly committed Nov. 19, 2019, during what prosecutors describe as crime spree that led to Vigils killing. Prosecutors allege Talamantes-Romero fatally shot Vigil as she attempted to back out of the driveway on her way to the gym. Vigil, 55, was the mother of two State Police officers. The case gained national attention when Sam Vigil and his sons attended a news conference at the White House, where then-President Donald Trump announced the case would be included in the federal crime fighting initiative, Operation Legend. Defense attorney Kathleen Rhinehart offered jurors an alternative theory that Talamantes-Romeros co-defendant, Isaac Ramirez, was the gunman who killed Vigil. The states star witness is in fact the killer in his case, Rhinehart told jurors. In more than a week of testimony, prosecutors offered no evidence that Talamantes-Romero entered the garage where Vigil was fatally shot, Rhinehart said in her closing argument Tuesday. It was Isaac (Ramirez) that was in that garage, she said. Rhinehart reminded jurors that Ramirez reached a plea deal that limits his sentence to seven years in prison and required him to testify in Talamantes-Romeros trial. His concern for his own future is motivating him to do whatever he can to convict Mr. Talamantes, she said of Ramirez. Prosecutors highlighted Ramirezs testimony as a key factor in the case. Ramirez told jurors last week that he was with Talamantes-Romero that morning and witnessed Vigils killing from the passenger seat of the Jeep. Ramirez told jurors last week he and Talamantes-Romero saw the garage door open at the Vigils home on Corte de Loma NW and decided to steal Vigils Cadillac. When Ramirez refused to participate in the robbery, Talamantes-Ramero pulled a handgun, loaded a round in the chamber and told Ramirez, dont tell me what to do. Talamantes-Romero then pulled the Jeep directly behind Vigils Cadillac and approached the drivers side window, Ramirez told jurors. He then heard the honk of a car horn followed immediately by a gunshot, he said. Prosecutors also replayed for jurors a desperate and tearful 911 call that Sam Vigil made the morning of the killing. Vigil told a dispatcher he heard a car horn and went into his garage to find his wife slumped in the drivers seat. Somebody shot my wife, a frantic Sam Vigil told the 911 dispatcher. She was going to the gym. Vigil said he heard a car honk. When I got out there I saw a Jeep backing up and took off really fast around the corner. Assistant Attorney General John Duran said Talamantes-Romero has shown his willingness to use violence in response to anyone who opposes his will. You get in Luis Talamantes way, and you die, Duran told jurors. On Tuesday morning, Rhinehart wrapped up her defense in about 10 minutes, offering testimony from a single witness. Albuquerque Police Department detective Jessie Carter told jurors that he was ordered to review APDs investigation in March 2020. Carter did so reluctantly and found it lacking key details, he said. Asked by Rhinehart if important information was missing from the APD case file, Carter replied, yes, but offered few details during his 10-minute testimony. Carter filed a whistleblower lawsuit last year alleging that APD violated Talamantes-Romeros constitutional rights during a 2020 interview. The lawsuit alleges that APD investigators who questioned Talamantes-Romero following his arrest in San Antonio, Texas, in January 2020 failed to inform him of his constitutional rights, the suit alleges. The city of Albuquerque is seeking a 40% pay cut for the team overseeing the Albuquerque Police Departments reform efforts, citing a lighter workload and the progress made with recent compliance gains. Albuquerque Chief Administrative Officer Lawrence Rael proposed lowering the fee of attorney James Ginger and his Independent Monitoring Team to $80,000 a month. In the letter sent to Ginger on April 17, Rael said the pay cut was appropriate with APD making significant strides in its Court Approved Settlement Agreement, or CASA. He said the department is also now self-assessing on dozens of requirements of the CASA, which Rael said has reduced Gingers workload as monitor. If the (Independent Monitoring Team) feels that a different amount is appropriate, we ask that you provide documentation to justify the requested amount, Rael wrote, asking Ginger to respond whether these terms are agreeable by Thursday. Ginger could not be immediately reached Tuesday. The city and APD have made a significant amount of progress, which the Department of Justice and the Independent Monitoring Team has acknowledged, APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said in a statement Tuesday. The time is right to reduce the compensation to the Monitoring Team so we can invest that money into Mayor (Tim) Kellers plan to boost pay for new police cadets and put more officers on the streets to fight crime. City Councilor Pat Davis said it was disingenuous for the city to say they dont need as much monitoring due to making gains in compliance. Davis said he worried less monitoring would slow the process down. I would rather have 100% of the monitoring resources focused on the last 20%, he said, noting that APD has done a good job of moving forward but compliance is a matter of you are or youre not. Shaun Willoughby, president of the police union, said he completely agreed with the citys pay cut request, adding that Ginger is doing nearly 40% less work with the departments progress in self-monitoring. I think the taxpayer for the city of Albuquerque is long overdue from relief for this process It is 100% natural and acceptable for him to be getting less money, he was hired to do a job, that job is getting completed, he said. Albuquerque entered into the CASA in 2014 after a Department of Justice investigation found officers displayed a pattern of using excessive force against civilians with insufficient oversight, inadequate training and ineffective policies contributing to the practice. Since then, Ginger has issued 16 reports tracking APDs progress. In his most recent released in November Ginger found APD had reached 80% operational compliance, which tracks whether officers are following policies and being corrected when they dont. The significant progress report also came in 2022, a year when Albuquerque police shot at a record high of 18 people, with 10 of those incidents being fatal. A review of those shootings by APD leadership found that, in some of those cases, officers failed to de-escalate, use less-lethal weapons or exhibited other shortcomings. Councilor Louie Sanchez pointed out the city was trying to save money on the police reform effort but he wondered how much may be eventually paid out for lawsuits related to the recent spike in shootings, in which multiple suits have been filed. How do these shootings still happen? When we supposedly have layers upon layers of protection and training against this, are we just going through the motions of compliance? he asked. In his letter, Rael said the city has a duty to ensure that the IMTs compensation is just and appropriate. There have been significant developments, in recent years, that have reduced the workload of the IMT, Rael wrote. In particular, the City has made significant strides toward full and effective compliance under the CASA. Rael cited the 80% compliance in Gingers 16th report and a further increase in a draft of his next report, which has not been released publicly. He also said 37% of the paragraphs in CASA were being self-monitored by APD. Rael said both have reduced the IMTs workload and said the IMT no longer performs specific tasks, and no longer incurs specific expenses, that were anticipated when the IMT prepared the current budget. He said the IMTs fee would be subject to further reduction in the future as the workload lessens. Rael asked that, if Ginger doesnt agree to the amount, that he provide documentation of expenses and hours worked by each member of the IMT. If Ginger agreed to the pay cut, according to Rael, it would take effect June 1. EDGEWOOD After an eight-and-a-half hour long public meeting Tuesday night continuing until the early morning hours of Wednesday including more than two hours of executive session while officials consulted with attorneys and three hours of public comment the Edgewood town commission voted 4 to 1 to pass an ordinance restricting the operation of abortion clinics. A couple hundred people filed into Edgewood Town Office for the meeting, filling the commission chambers until there was standing room only and spilling over to an overflow room. A line 20-deep formed as people waited to get in the doors. With scattered applause, laughter and mumbles of agreement the mayor repeatedly warning the crowd to stay respectful attendees in the chamber signaled their support of the ordinance. Its standing room only at the Edgewood Commission Chambers tonight as officials consider an ordinance that restricts access to abortion. The town is the first to take up such an ordinance following the passage of House Bill 7. pic.twitter.com/Sghqr1Vjna Elise Kaplan (@EliseKapNM) April 26, 2023 It was the first time a governing body had debated what supporters call a de facto abortion ban after state legislators passed House Bill 7, which prohibits municipalities from restricting access to reproductive health care. That bill goes into effect in mid June. After a round of applause when the ordinance passed around 1:30 a.m. commissioner Ken Brennan warned that it was setting up the town for a costly and time-consuming legal fight. This is going to be a long battle, its going to be a long fight and its going to be expensive, he said. Im holding everybody who has already said it today and in the last meeting that we had that theyre going to support us with their voices and their checkbooks. This is going to be difficult and its going to be hard. I pray to God that we all survive and that we make this a better place for everybody. Commissioners Brennan, Jerry Powers, Sterling Donner who introduced the ordinance and mayor Audrey Jaramillo voted for the ordinance. Commissioner Phil Anaya voted against it, because of the home rule. One of the defenders of the state bill, Rep. Andrea Romero, D-Santa Fe, said she attended the meeting in support of those who are in opposition to the ordinance and to promote the understanding of the laws that we have in the books and the protections that we have in place for choice. Speaking with the Journal while the four commissioners and mayor were in executive session consulting an attorney from Texas, Romero said that if the ordinance passes it will be in violation of the law. But she also acknowledged that the state is entering uncharted territory as there are multiple legal disputes winding through the courts. This has been very clear throughout the meeting that this law was proposed by someone who has been proposing these laws in Texas and now hes brought them to Edgewood, Romero said. Theyre coming from out of state and theyre playing out these very litigious wars in our own state. Commissioners heard more than three hours of public comment, after voting down an earlier motion to wrap it up by 10 p.m. Among the roughly 30 Edgewood residents who spoke about half were in favor of the ordinance and half were against. Among those who hailed from around the state the majority spoke in favor. We love what theyre doing Tanya Watkins and her husband John drove in from Rio Rancho and expressed disappointment that their own city government wasnt taking up a similar ordinance. We decided to come and support them. We love what theyre doing, I would like to see this ignite little fires all over the state of New Mexico, said Watkins, from the Coalition of Conservatives in Action. I think that for the most part New Mexico does have conservative values and I think that our government is not representing our values. Others came in from Clovis, Tijeras, Cedar Crest, Moriarty and elsewhere. Even more participated via Zoom. Mark Lee Dickson, an anti-abortion activist from Texas who has been traveling the country helping jurisdictions with similar ordinances, was also in attendance. He told the Journal he was simultaneously monitoring a city council meeting debating the issue in Illinois. Elvira Maxwell, of Edgewood, said she had been to commission meetings before but this was the hottest issue. You cant be in the middle, you cant say Its my body, I should have a choice, its my body. Well, God didnt design us like that, said Maxwell who sat in the front row with her friend from Sandia Park. You say This is right this is wrong.' However Linda Burke, of Edgewood, said she didnt think the crowd of supporters of the ordinance was representative of how residents of the town feel. Why put us through this? Why cause the legal turmoil its going to cause? Why cause the distraction away from all of the work that needs to be done? Burke said. All of our staff, if theyre distracted from finding funding and making sure things are happening, how does that bode well for our town? Similar ordinances passed The town of a little more than 6,000 is the latest New Mexico jurisdiction to consider restricting abortion care. The move comes on the heels of similar ordinances passed in Lea and Roosevelt Counties and the cities of Hobbs, Clovis and Eunice. Like the others, Edgewoods ordinance is based on the Comstock Act federal legislation from the 1870s that prohibits the mailing of obscene material, including medication or equipment used in abortions. Edgewoods ordinance allows private citizens, with some exceptions, to sue someone who violates the act and allows for the plaintiff to be awarded at least $10,000 as well as costs and attorney fees. An earlier version of the ordinance had allowed $100,000 in damages. The other municipalities with similar ordinances are already embroiled in court cases. In January, state Attorney General Raul Torrez asked the New Mexico Supreme Court for a ruling to prohibit Lea and Roosevelt Counties and the cities of Hobbs and Clovis from enacting their ordinances on the grounds that they violate civil rights guaranteed by the state Constitution and infringe on the states authority to regulate health care. Late last month, the state Supreme Court issued a ruling temporarily blocking the ordinances while it considers the case. It specifically asked the parties to address the impacts of House Bill 7. The city of Eunice was not named in Torrezs petition because it passed its ordinance the same day that the petition was filed. But last week, it filed suit against him and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, claiming that the federal Comstock Act trumps the states law. That lawsuit will be heard in state district court in Lea County. In response to questions about Edgewoods ordinance, the Attorney Generals Office has said that once the state Supreme Court resolves the outstanding legal questions it is prepared to take formal legal action to prevent jurisdictions from adopting ordinances restricting access to abortion. More abortion news: A jury on Wednesday found Luis Talamantes-Romero guilty of first-degree murder and eight other felonies in the 2019 shooting death of Jacqueline Vigil outside her West Side home. Some members of Vigils family wept and comforted each other as 2nd Judicial District Judge Britt Baca-Miller read the verdicts. Vigils husband, Sam Vigil, and other family members who have attended the trial each day since testimony began April 18, hugged and wept as Talamantes-Romero, 35, was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs. He showed little emotion as the verdicts were read. Jurors deliberated about four hours before finding Talamantes-Romero guilty of nine felony crimes, including first-degree murder in the killing of 55-year-old Jacqueline Vigil. Jurors also found him guilty of two counts of aggravated burglary, attempted armed robbery, tampering with evidence, conspiracy and other charges. For the first-degree murder charge alone, he faces a minimum of 30 years in prison before he is eligible for parole. In addition, he faces up to 31 years for the other eight felony convictions, prosecutors said. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 31. Jacqueline Vigil, the mother of two New Mexico State Police officers, was shot once in the head about 5 a.m. Nov. 19, 2019, as she attempted to back out of her driveway on her way to the gym. I would say Jacque is at peace at this point in time, Sam Vigil said at a press conference Wednesday after the trial. She obviously didnt deserve to die the way she did. Through the last three, four year weve been trying to get some justice for her. Vigil thanked the New Mexico Attorney Generals Office, which prosecuted the case, and jurors for really listening to the evidence. The case gained national attention in July 2020 when Sam Vigil and his sons attended a news conference at the White House, where then-President Donald Trump announced the case would be included in the federal crime fighting initiative, Operation Legend. We have been waiting for this moment since Nov. 19 (2019) since my mom was taken from us, Vigils son, New Mexico State Police Officer Kevin Dieguez, said at the press conference. This week and a half its been tough for everybody, for the family, and we finally got justice for mom. Harrowing testimony During closing arguments Tuesday, prosecutors played for jurors a recording of Sam Vigils desperate 911 call in the minutes after he found his wife slumped in the drivers seat of her Cadillac. Somebody shot my wife, a panicked Vigil told the 911 dispatcher. I dont think shes breathing. Sam Vigil told the 911 dispatcher he saw a brown Jeep Cherokee back out of his driveway and speed out of the Vigils cul-de-sac at Corte de Loma NW, near Unser and Ladera. Prosecutors told jurors that Talamantes-Romero was driving the Jeep Cherokee as he and a second man, Isaac Ramirez, were driving around the West Side burglarizing cars, culminating in Vigils killing. A day later, Talamantes-Romero fled New Mexico to San Antonio, Texas, his former girlfriend testified last week. There, federal officials arrested him in January 2020 on immigration violations. Jurors apparently rejected a theory offered by Talamantes-Romeros attorney, Kathleen Rhinehart, who alleged in closing arguments this week that Vigil was shot by Ramirez, Talamantes-Romeros co-defendant. Ramirez, identified as Ramirez-Soto in court records, was a key witness in the trial who testified last week that he saw Talamantes-Romero use his Jeep to pin Vigils Cadillac in the driveway, approach drivers window with a .40-caliber pistol, and fire a single gunshot. Albuquerque Police Department Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock told jurors last week that the eyewitness account Ramirez provided in 2020 was a breakthrough that allowed the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys office charge Talamantes-Romero in Vigils killing. Ramirez has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary for his role in Vigils killing. He also pleaded guilty to attempt to commit aggravated burglary and larceny for other crimes he committed in the hours before the killing. Ramirez faces up to seven years in prison. His sentencing hearing was deferred until after the trial. Sam Vigil said Wednesday that he and other family members will always live with the horror of his wifes killing. Those of us that are victims of this horrible crime, its a step forward, Vigil said of the conviction. But, you know, there will always be that void. We just have to learn how to live with it. Virgin Galactics long-delayed commercial flights to space from New Mexico took another step closer to becoming available on Wednesday with a successful glide test. Virgin Galactic on Wednesday announced that the companys mothership, VMS Eve and the VSS Unity spaceship completed the test earlier in the morning. The ships took off from Spaceport America at 6:53 a.m. and reached an altitude of 47,000 feet when Unity released from Eve at 7:47 a.m. and glided back to earth, landing safely at 7:56 a.m. If the rocketship was trying to fly to space, it would have powered up its motors and flown into suborbit instead of floating back down to earth. Releasing Unity for a glide flight today is one of the final steps towards commercial spaceline operations, Mike Moses, president of Spaceline Missions and Safety at Virgin Galactic, said in a press release. The ability to conduct glide flights allowing us to gain critical performance metrics without the need for rocket power is one of the benefits of our distinctive flying systems. The data from this validation flight will clear the way for our return to space and, ultimately, lead to the launch of commercial service. In July 2021, company founder Sir Richard Branson and a Virgin Galactic crew flew into suborbit from Spaceport America. Since then, both ships have undergone lengthy maintenance upgrades. Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier previously said in February that the company remains on pace to start offering commercial space flights sometime this spring. The goals of the flight on Wednesday were to gather data, evaluate performance and evaluate handling qualities and flight controls, the company said. Cover Images/Tony DiMaio Celebrity When announcing in a statement that his partner of 60 years, Ginnie Quinn Newhart, passed away on Sunday, April 23, the 93-year-old comedian calls her his 'rock.' Apr 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Bob Newhart's wife has died aged 82. The iconic comic said in a statement on Monday, April 24, he was devastated at the passing of Ginnie, his partner of 60 years, which he said came after a long fight with illness. Bob, 93, tweeted, "We lost our beloved Ginnie Quinn Newhart - Wife, Mother and Grandmother on April 23rd, 2023 after a long battle with illness. She was our rock and we miss her terribly." Bob Newhart confirmed the passing of his wife Ginnie. Ginnie's death comes three months after she and Emmy-winning Bob celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in January. The comic told PEOPLE in 2019 about how they met on a blind date arranged by their mutual friend, actor Buddy Hackett, "Buddy said, 'I've got a girl for you. She's going with another guy, but I dont think he's right for her, so I'm going to fix you up on a blind date. You'll meet her and you'll date and you'll get married. Then you'll have kids and you'll call one of the kids Buddy.' 'Which we did.' " The pair married a year after they met and had four children, crediting the longevity of their marriage to being able to laugh together. Bob added last year to Parade, "The marriages of comedians, no matter how stormy, seem to last a long time, and I attribute it to laughter. No matter how intense the argument you're having, you can find a line, and then you both look at each other and start laughing. It's over, you know? I think that sense of humour is very important to the longevity of a marriage." Ginnie, the daughter of character actor Bill Quinn, is credited with creating the finale of her husband's show "Newhart" in 1990, on which his character Dick wakes up as Bob Hartley who suggests the second CBS series was a dream. She told PBS in 2005, "Comedians are just fun to be with. They seem to have longevity in their marriages." You can share this post! China has approved an updated counterespionage law that expands what is viewed as spying. This could affect foreigners that are doing business in the country as they will be put under a greater risk of scrutiny by authorities. The law was enacted in 2014, but the revisions were passed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, which will take effect on July 1st, as reported by Nikkei Asia. What It Means The draft of the revised legislation that was released in 2022 expands the original text of the law to include buying or illegally providing documents, data, materials, or items related to national security, along with illegally providing state secrets. The draft also aims at cyberattacks against state bodies or important infrastructure by espionage organizations and their agents. Additionally, it aims to crack down on leaking information on vulnerabilities in these systems. With this, the powers of state security forces will be expanded, which will allow them to forcibly search the belongings and electronic devices of individuals suspected of involvement in spying. The authorities can ban citizens who may endanger national security from leaving the country or foreign nationals from entering. It also states that Chinese citizens should report any acts of espionage to authorities. Those who make outstanding contributions to counterespionage activities will be given commendations. In addition to this, transportation and telecommunications companies will be required to provide technical support for anti-spying efforts. However, there is no clear definition in the draft of what constitutes China's national security or interests, and foreign individuals and businesses in the country are worried that the law will affect them significantly. Read also: China Sends Serious Warning to US Over Russia-Related Sanctions How will this affect foreign businesses? Foreign businesses operating in China may face increased scrutiny and potential restrictions under the new anti-spying law. The expanded powers of state security forces may lead to increased inspections and seizures of electronic devices, which could potentially compromise confidential business information. The lack of a clear definition of what constitutes China's national security or interests may also leave foreign businesses vulnerable to accusations of espionage or other activities deemed harmful to national security. The law may create a more challenging business environment for foreign companies in China. The requirement for transportation and telecommunications companies to provide technical support for anti-spying efforts could place an additional burden on foreign firms that already face challenges navigating China's regulatory environment. This provision may require them to share proprietary information or implement costly measures that could negatively impact their bottom line. (Photo: by GREG BAKER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Security officers stand guard inside the Great Hall of the People ahead of the fourth plenary session of the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing on March 11, 2023. The increased focus on counterespionage activities under this new law is part of a broader trend towards greater state control over business operations in China. Foreign firms have faced increasing pressure from Chinese regulators regarding data privacy concerns, intellectual property rights violations, and compliance with local laws. Overall, while the intention behind this anti-spying law is understandable, given growing global concerns around cybersecurity threats, it remains unclear how these regulations will be enforced against foreign entities operating within China's borders. As such, it represents yet another challenge facing businesses seeking opportunities within one of Asia's largest markets - posing potentially significant risks both operationally and also reputationally should they fall foul at any point along its lengthy supply chain network. Related article: Beijing Bolsters Chinese Military Build-up in South China Sea; Images Reveals Western Alliance Severely Outmatched @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tri-Star Pictures Movie The 'Renfield' actor reveals in a '60 Minutes' interview that he thinks he 'frustrated' his co-star with his 'Gumbly'-style voice for his character Charlie in the 1986 comedy. Apr 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Nicolas Cage has admitted his Gumby-style voice in "Peggy Sue Got Married" was at the heart of his feud with Kathleen Turner on the set of the film. The "Face/Off" actor, 59, starred with the actress, 68, in the 1986 comedy that sees her character transported back to her high school days where she reconnects with her old love Charlie, played by Nicolas. He told CBS' "60 Minutes" about their constant clashes over his choice to give Charlie a cartoonish voice, "I grew up watching 'Gumby' and listening to Pokey. And I thought, 'Well, that would be a good voice for a character, especially in this movie.' And so I thought, 'If I do that, that wont be boring. That'll be like, what the hell is he doing?' " Journalist Sharyn Alfonsi remarked, "And Kathleen Turner said like, 'What the hell is he doing?' " Nicolas replied, "I think I frustrated her with the performance, but I adored her." When Sharyn asked, "Did she ever say like, 'Knock it off?' ", Nicolas admitted, "Oh yeah." In 2008, Nicolas won an apology and damages from Kathleen at London's High Court after she wrote in her 2008 autobiography "Send Yourself Roses: My Life, Loves and Leading Roles" he had dog-napped a Chihuahua and been arrested twice for drink driving. Reuters reported about the hearing, at which neither were present, "Cage's lawyer Simon Smith told the court that the offending passages from Turner's autobiography 'Send Yourself Roses' had appeared in the Daily Mail and on its website under the headline, 'Why I detest Burt Reynolds and Nicolas Cage.' They were based on the 53-year-old's experiences on set with Cage while making the 1986 hit 'Peggy Sue Got Married'." The lawyer reportedly stated Nicolas was accused by Kathleen of being "arrested twice for drunk-driving" and "for stealing a dog," before stating the actor had simply "come across a Chihuahua he liked and stuck it in his jacket." The lawyer branded the allegations false and said they had "caused damage to the claimant's personal and professional reputation." Kathleen and two publishing groups accepted the allegations were untrue and would pay Nicolas' legal costs and make a "substantial" donation to charity. She agreed to make a payment to the National Adult Protective Services Foundation, a U.S. charity that benefits vulnerable adults. Kathleen also said in her memoir about her hatred of working with Nicolas on "Peggy Sue", "Oh, that stupid voice of his and the fake teeth! Honestly, I cringe to think about it. Nicolas didn't manage to kill the film, but he didnt add a lot to it, either." You can share this post! Cover Images/Faye's Vision Celebrity After learning of the death of Len, who passed away following a secret battle with bone cancer aged 78, the 32-year-old model remembers how he would 'always' visit her dressing room and entertain her eldest. Apr 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Samantha Harris has recalled how Len Goodman could make "anyone smile." After learning of the death of judge Len Goodman, who passed away on Saturday, April 22, following a secret battle with bone cancer aged 78, the 32-year-old model remembered how he would "always" visit her dressing room and entertain her eldest. Samantha, has 15-year-old Josselyn with husband Luke Hunt and they were expecting now-seven-year-old Hillary when she was competing on the Australian version of "Dancing with the Stars" in 2015, told ExtraTV, "My fondest memory of Len was I was pregnant on 'Dancing with the Stars' with my oldest daughter, who's now 15, and so from birth until about a little over age two, she would come to visit me on set and sit on my lap during hair and makeup." "He would walk past my dressing room and without fail, he would always poke his head in and he would make my toddler light up so. He had that magnetic personality that could make anyone of any age happy and smile. That's what I'll take, as I think of him hopefully dancing the heck out of heaven," she continued. Samantha, who was eliminated third of the 15th season of the show eventually won by TV and radio host Emma Freedman, added that she "cannot help but smile" when she thinks of the legendary ballroom dancer and explained that Len was a key factor in the "Dancing with the Stars" franchise around the globe. She added, "I mean, I can't help but smile when I even just hear his name - he had that incredible high-wattage smile that lit up every single room despite whether or not he was onstage, backstage, at home, everywhere he went. It definitely made for those fun moments on the show He was always a stickler for precise, you know, really focused work, and so what I loved about Len as just a judge on a professional standpoint was that, first of all, he always kept things positive, and as a positive person myself I appreciated that about him." She added, "He didn't want to cut people down just to cut them down, and I think that's what made the show work so well and what made him such a success both on our 'Dancing with the Stars' and on 'Strictly Come Dancing' over in the U.K." You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity While attending the Dorit Kemsley's Homeless Not Toothless Hollywood Gala, the 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star weighs in on the Ozempic craze in the Hollywood circles. Apr 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Crystal Kung Minkoff was tempted to try Ozempic as she dealt with her eating disorder struggles. "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star weighed in on the craze over the FDA-approved prescription medication when attending Dorit Kemsley's Homeless Not Toothless Hollywood Gala. "Of course I've thought about it," the 40-year-old began to spill to Page Six when she came to the event held at Los Angeles' Beverly Hilton on Saturday night, April 22. She went on to say, "But it's not a good place for me, personally, for my recovery." Crystal, who had unveiled her longtime battle with body dysmorphia and bulimia on the Bravo reality series, additionally explained, "From someone who has struggled [with an eating disorder] their whole life, I've always looked for things to fix it for me." The TV personality continued, "I've never judged or looked down on anyone that finds different avenues for [weight loss]. I would be lying if [I said] I haven't thought about it. And then I have to check myself if that's right for my recovery and I'm in a very specific situation." Further sharing her thoughts on the notion that the drug was being used for vanity, she stated, "From what I understand, there's a shortage for people with diabetes, in which case I think people should completely stop using it for just vanity if that's really the case." "That's my issue with it. It's really about making sure people who really need it first get it. Other than that, it's really people's decision. It can be private, it can be public, it's on them," the wife of movie producer Rob Minkoff added. Elsewhere in the interview, Crystal declared that she is in a "really good place" on her recovery from eating disorder. "I think that's really where I use my platform, to share with people that, like, it's one minute at a time and it's OK if you have a minute that wasn't great because the next one can be. And I go through that all the time," she then pointed out. Crystal has been open about her eating disorder. After discussing her struggles with co-stars Kyle Richards, Lisa Rinna, Dorit Kemsley and Sutton Stracke, she told PEOPLE in August 2022, "I was never going to deep dive into it. I ended up being okay talking about it on camera, but it was intense." "It's hard to understand an eating disorder if you don't have one. It's complicated and nuanced and everybody's experience is different across the board. I've been in therapy since I was 11. It's mentally exhausting," she admitted. "But I don't feel shame anymore because I've spent so much time working on it. I'm doing my best." You can share this post! #ARM Worldwide, Indias prominent digital marketing & communication specialist, has bagged the digital mandate for Modi Naturals, the largest natural oil processor in India. Team ARM will be leading social media, paid media and will be assisting with creatives for products such as Oleev, PIPO, and Oleev Kitchen. ARM will also be working towards uplifting the brands positioning across all social channels. #ARM Worldwide is elated to be partners in the growth story of Modi Naturals and further enhance, build and strengthen their brand position in the market. Elaborating on the occasion, (Mukesh Ghuraiya, CMO, Modi Naturals says We are delighted to welcome ARM worldwide to the Modi Naturals family, their expertise and innovative approach to digital marketing align perfectly with our brand's vision. ARM Worldwide has a strong track record of adding value through the right talent, creativity, and technology; with their help, we are confident that we can continue to reach new heights and engage with our audience in exciting new ways. We are looking forward to this partnership delivering the seamless integration between awareness and performance through customer-centric differentiated media strategy, effective planning, and optimal media investment decisions. Speaking on the collaboration, Manas Gulati, Co-Founder and CEO, ARM Worldwide says We are very excited to work with Modi naturals. They have an amazing team which has been doing some great work in the space. Be it Oleev which is a market leader to pipo which helps us showcase our creative prowess. It is up our alley and we are looking forward to doing some great work together. The highly anticipated Hindi play, Baaghi Albele, by Aadyam Theatre- an Aditya Birla Group Initiative is coming to Delhi, for its 6th season. With the celebrated theatre director Atul Kumar at its helm, this play is guaranteed to captivate the audiences with its dramatic yet whimsical storytelling and promises to be a treat for all the theatre connoisseurs in Delhi. Set in Ludhiana, Punjab, in North India, Baaghi Albele showcases its narrative through a satirical comedy. The play explores the struggle of artists and intellectuals in a time of government repression and reflects on the relevance of art and artists in contemporary times. It follows the journey of husband and wife actors Johny and Minnie Makhija as they find themselves at the centre of a dangerous situation when a soldier from an underground rebel organisation seeks their help. With the threat of prosecution and death looming, the couple, along with their troupe of actors, must use their wit and theatrical skills to stay one step ahead of the government spy on their trail. The play combines humour and absurdity with a dark reality as the theatre troupe works to flee to England while navigating the challenges posed by a government spy and a corrupt inspector. While the story is based on the motion picture To Be or Not to Be by Ernst Lubitsch and adapted from the dramatic text of the same name by Nick Whitby, much of the play has been re-created and improvised by the plays actors and writers alike. The adaptation of the story is by Saurabh Nayyar, with the script by Gagan Dev Riar. The plot is intense, however, the play itself is a full-fledged comedy featuring eccentric characters that propel the story forward, cleverly underscoring the ongoing struggle of artists to navigate societal limitations. The play deftly blends humor with a dramatic undercurrent, offering a witty commentary on the challenges faced by artists since time long past. Furthermore, Atul Kumars exceptional stagecraft and a stellar cast of proficient actors, including Gagan Dev Riar, Ayesha Raza, Taranjit Kaur, Ujjwal Chopra, Saurabh Nayyar, and Harsh Khurana, amongst many others, will bring these hard-hitting implications of the narration spectacularly and comically to life. Bconnect Communication, a new-age integrated media and public relation firm based out of New Delhi, announced the appointment of Ankit Sawhney as Strategy Head and Co-founder. In his new role, Ankit will be spearheading the overall operations of the firm , maximising the companys operating performance. In his new role, Ankit will look forward to client strategy & new business acquisition as well. Whereas, he will work closely with the leadership team to drive the firm's growth and success. Ankit brings 15+ years of experience of working in sectors like FMCG, Consumer Durables. IT, ITES and is widely recognized for his expertise in business building, brand building, marketing & strategy. Prior to joining Bconnect Communications, Ankit has worked with some renowned industry names like Del Monte, Philips and P&G at senior level. On his appointment, Neha Bhari, Co-founder at Bconnect Communication said, " Being a covid born organisation, the firm has witnessed tremendous growth over the years. Onboarding of Ankit is aligned with the Bconnect Communication vision for the future. The expertise of strategy making & marketing will further enhance the organization growth in a structural manner. We look forward to this great partnership" Talking about the new role, Ankit Sawhney said, I am incredibly excited to join Bconnect Communication and work with the talented team here. I believe that we have a unique opportunity to disrupt the PR industry space and bring innovative opportunities for our clients. I look forward to working closely with Neha Bhari and the rest of the leadership team to deliver exceptional results for our clients and help our business grow and thrive." Bconnect Communication is a fastest growing public relations firm that specialises in providing cutting-edge solutions to clients across various industries. Ankit is based out of Delhi. He holds a Masters degree from Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi University. Lay's Gourmet, the premium range of slow-cooked kettle chips from Lays, is reaching new heights with the superior snacking experience being offered through the royal flavours within the portfolio. The premium experience is all set to be scaled, with the brand announcing the Nawab of Bollywood, Saif Ali Khan, as its brand ambassador. The partnership aims to magnify the exquisite taste and finesse of Lays Gourmet chips that are made from carefully selected, high quality potatoes, cooked with care for those perfect golden curls and seasoned with lip-smacking flavours and aromas. The actor will bring his charm and flair, reinforcing that Lays Gourmet is not just a regular chip, but a delicately crafted snacking experience that deserves to be savoured. The TV commercial, artfully directed by Vivek Kakkad, begins with Saif walking through a luxuriously decorated corridor to meet journalists Aditi and Anjali, who are waiting to interview him. The grandeur of Saifs home leaves the journalists awestruck. They discuss the possibility of the house having multiple chandeliers in each room, a legion of butlers at his service, and even a lion as his companion. Oddly enough the things that they imagine suddenly start emerging around Saif, leaving him confused. Aditi intervenes, reminding Anjali that Saifs exquisite taste should not be judged solely by his opulence. Intrigued, Anjali wants to learn more about his extraordinary taste, and at that moment, he surprises them by placing packs of Lays Gourmet on the table, giving them a glimpse of his fine taste. Anjali, excitedly exclaims, Chips! Oh, I love chips. But Aditi corrects her, saying, These are not chips, Anjali. They are Lays Gourmet. Talking about Saifs appointment as the brand ambassador, Shailja Joshi, Director-Marketing, Potato Chips Category, PepsiCo India said, We are thrilled to welcome Saif once again as a member of the Lays family, this time as the face of our range of slow-cooked premium kettle chips, Lays Gourmet. His impeccable taste and refined choices in life make him the perfect partner to showcase the crafted experience of Lays Gourmet. Our new TV commercial seamlessly establishes this correlation as it gives a sneak peek into what actually defines Saif as the connoisseur of finer things. Were confident that our fans will embrace him as the face of Lays Gourmet, just like theyve been savouring the well-deserved experience and rich taste of these delightful chips. Sharing his excitement, celebrated actor and face of fine taste, Saif Ali Khan expressed, My previous association with Lay's was for many years and is very memorable to me. I am equally thrilled to rejoin the family as the first-ever brand ambassador for Lay's Gourmet. These aren't just chips, they're the perfect accompaniment for moments of finesse. I am sure that the audiences will appreciate the exceptional taste and quality of Lay's Gourmet chips, just as much as I do." "When we think of royalty, we often associate it with opulence and grandeur. However, true royalty is characterized by a focus on quality and perfection, which is precisely what makes Lays Gourmet stand out. Crafted from fine ingredients, each chip is a testament to the pursuit of the best flavour and experience. And who better than the Nawab of Pataudi himself, Saif Ali Khan, who embodies the spirit of quality and sophistication, to bring alive the experience of Lays Gourmet, remarked, Rajdeepak Das, CEO & Chief Creative Officer, South Asia, Leo Burnett. The TVC launch will be followed by a robust 360-surround plan and Saif will continue to be a pivotal part of future Lays Gourmet campaigns. Founded in 1959 to honor excellence in advertising, the Clio Awards today celebrates bold work that propels the advertising industry forward, inspires a competitive marketplace of ideas and fosters meaningful connections within the creative community. At the CLIO Awards ceremony held on 25th April in New York. McCann Worldgroup India the only agency to win a GRAND CLIO from India. Each judging session concludes with a discussion round where the jury has the option of awarding the highest program honor, the Grand Clio Award, to one truly exceptional piece of work in a medium/entry type (ie film public service, B2B or product/service) from the chosen Gold statue winners. The prestigious GRAND CLIO was awarded to the campaign titled Shagun Ka Lifafa, this year in the Creative Commerce medium (Cultural Experience category Product/Service.) Other than this McCann also won one Gold and once Bronze for the same campaign. Commenting on the GRAND win Prasoon Joshi Chief Creative Officer McCann India said, We are really proud of the work done for Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (Shagun ka Lifafa) When an idea is born out of culture and finds a meaningful role in people's life it's bound to have a positive impact. This idea does exactly that. Our talented team led by Ashish Chakravarty, Sambit Mohanty along with Rathish Subramaniam, Karthik R, Vikash Ravi and Suresh PV put in a great effort to make this idea and work come alive. Special thanks to Vineet Mahajan for his contribution for directing the video. Getting recognition at Clio is a wonderful milestone in the journey of creative excellence. The newly appointed foreign minister of Nepal stated on Wednesday, April 26, that the country's new communist prime minister is committed to improving ties with both India and China. The nation has also promised not to play one country off the other for its personal advantage. Nepal's Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud recently informed AP News that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal would be making his first international trip to India since assuming office earlier this year. Commitment to Avoid Conflict Nepal has an open border with India on three sides and is surrounded by Indian territory, while the highest Himalayan peaks are split between Nepal and China. Both of these Asian giants are vying for control over the country by lavishing assistance and investments upon it. However, according to Fox News, Saud assured the public that the government would not take any action to strain relations with any neighboring country. "We will never use the two nations against each other for our own benefit. We will not interfere with the internal matters of their countries, and we would also want that no other country should interfere with our internal issues," Saud stated. Relations with India and China Until recently, India has been Nepal's most influential neighbor, but the impact of China is gradually expanding. China has spent a lot of money on infrastructure projects, including airports, roadways, and hydroelectric dams. However, Nepal must rely on India for all of its energy and most of its supplies and medications. The competition between India and China for sway in Nepal is a reflection of a much larger power struggle in the area. China's Belt and Road Initiative, which revives the ancient Silk Road in order to link China to the West, sees Nepal as pivotal to its success. Nepal has been on India's radar as a potential threat since a communist government was elected in 2017. Late in 2022, after another election, a coalition government led by a communist prime minister took power. At the end of 2015, tensions between the two countries reached a new low as India sponsored demonstrations by ethnic groups in southern Nepal against a new constitution. It even helped implement an unofficial economic blockade, cutting down the flow of oil and products over the border. Nepal and India have each established committees to address outstanding problems such as border disputes, river water sharing, and the evaluation of a friendship treaty. Also Read: Russia-Ukraine War: Xi Jinping, President Zelensky Hold 'Long' Phone Call The Anticipated Visit to India It has not been decided when Nepal's prime minister will go to India, but according to Saud, it will be within the next several weeks. During the visit, important discussions would take place on initiatives including water resources, commerce, and the export of electricity to foreign nations. Saud remarked, "There are several mechanisms for discussions on issues concerning the two nations, which have been stalled and unable to be active for several reasons, including COVID-19. We are going to try and activate those mechanisms." Also Read: US to Deploy Nuclear-Armed Submarines to South Korea for First Time in 40 Years @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Federal Council Bern, 26.04.2023 - From counterfeit luxury watches to designer handbags: thanks to a new procedure, it will be easier to destroy fake products arriving in Switzerland in small consignments in future. On 26 April 2023, the Federal Council noted the outcome of the consultation procedure and adopted the dispatch and the draft of the Federal Act on the Introduction of a Simplified Procedure for Destroying Small Consignments in Intellectual Property Law. Over 90 per cent of counterfeits intercepted at the border are in small consignments containing up to three objects. The current procedure for destroying these goods is very labour intensive for the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) because both the rights holders and the buyers have to be informed. It also places an administrative burden on rights holders. This usually proves to be unnecessary because, in the vast majority of cases, the buyer admits that they have purchased a counterfeit and agrees for it to be destroyed. Choice between ordinary and simplified procedure For small consignments, rights holders will have two options in future: they will be able to apply for the goods to be destroyed in accordance with the existing ordinary procedure, or, when applying for customs assistance, they can simultaneously ask for the new simplified procedure to be applied. In the simplified procedure, only the person who ordered the goods will be informed of the interception at the border at first. If they consent, the counterfeit will be destroyed. Only if they object to its destruction will the rights holder be informed so that the rights holder can take the next steps. The bill stipulates that the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) will now be responsible for both the simplified and the ordinary procedure. The authority that is currently responsible, the FOCBS, will send the IPI the detained counterfeits, which will then carry out the next steps in the procedure up to the destruction of the goods. Major damage due to infringement of intellectual property rights The bill was met with wide approval in the consultation. Infringements of trade marks, patents, designs and copyright are increasing worldwide and causing significant damage. This ranges from losses in profit and shortfalls in tax and social security payments to health risks for consumers. The Swiss economy is disproportionately affected, with Swiss rights holders occupying fourth place among companies whose intellectual property rights are most infringed by imitations worldwide. The exponential growth of online retail has compounded the problem. With the click of a mouse, buyers can easily order counterfeit goods from abroad to be delivered to their home. Address for enquiries Irene Schatzmann, Deputy Head of Legal Services General Law, Designs and Enforcement, T +41 31 377 72 38, irene.schatzmann@ipi.ch Sibylle Wenger, Legal Services General Law, Designs and Enforcement, T +41 31 377 72 50, sibylle.wenger@ipi.ch Publisher The Federal Council https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html Federal Department of Justice and Police http://www.ejpd.admin.ch Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property http://www.ige.ch Federal Office for Customs and Border Security https://www.bazg.admin.ch The Federal Council Bern, 26.04.2023 - At its meeting on 26 April, the Federal Council took note of the Public-Private Partnership for Sharing Information to Fight Terrorist Financing and Money Laundering in Switzerland report. Based on this report, the Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland at the Federal Office of Police will develop a strategic partnership for the purpose of sharing information between the public and private sector in order to combat terrorist financing and money laundering. A public-private partnership (PPP) can make a vital contribution towards fighting crime. Based on this conclusion by the Federal Office of Police fedpol, the Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS) was instructed by the Federal Council to examine the possibility of introducing such a partnership in Switzerland. The aim of this partnership is to share financial information in order to enhance the ability to tackle terrorist financing and money laundering. To this end, MROS carried out discussions with various authorities as well as banking and financial experts. The financial sector supports the introduction of a public-private partnership and has signalled its willingness to actively contribute towards developing one. Today, 20 of the 30 most important financial centres in the world have already established public-private partnerships and have had positive results, in particular with regard to prevention. The Federal Council welcomes the efforts being made towards establishing a PPP. Such a partnership is in line with the 2020-23 crime-fighting strategy of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP), which sees closer cooperation between the public and private sector as a cornerstone in combating crime effectively. Foundation for a partnership Based on its report, MROS will work together with the financial sector to develop a strategic partnership for sharing information between the public and private sectors in order to combat terrorist financing and money laundering. In developing this partnership, the legal provisions in Switzerland (e.g. bank-client confidentiality) will be taken into account. The partnership will involve using strategic analysis to identify methods, trends, threats and risks in terrorist financing and money laundering, and sharing statistical data, indicators and typologies to enable the private sector to better identify suspicious cases. This, in turn, will aid the authorities in prevention and law enforcement. In the next phase, the form, the concrete objectives, the legal basis and the composition of the partnership will be defined. MROS's authority to explore the possibility of a public-private partnership is based on a Federal Council mandate of 17 November 2021. The mandate instructed the FDJP, together with the Federal Department of Finance (FDF) and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), to examine the feasibility of a public-private partnership to share information for the purpose of enhancing the fight against terrorist financing and money laundering in Switzerland. Address for enquiries fedpol Communications, T +41 58 463 13 10, media@fedpol.admin.ch Publisher The Federal Council https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html Federal Department of Justice and Police http://www.ejpd.admin.ch Federal Office of Police http://www.fedpol.admin.ch/fedpol/en/home.html State Secretariat for International Financial Matters http://www.sif.admin.ch The Federal Council Bern, 26.04.2023 - The Federal Council is committed to ensuring that the victims of National Socialist persecution and the Holocaust are not forgotten. At its meeting on 26 April, it approved CHF 2.5 million for a memorial for the victims of National Socialism. The memorial is to be erected in the city of Bern and will be accessible to all. The FDFA has been instructed to draw up a corresponding cooperation agreement with the city of Bern by the summer of 2023. The demand for a place in Switzerland to commemorate the victims of National Socialism goes back to two motions from 2021 (Mo Heer 21.3181 and Mo. Jositsch 21.3172). The Federal Council considers it of great importance to keep alive the memory of the consequences of National Socialism, namely the Holocaust and the fate of the six million Jews and all other victims of the National Socialist regime. This is particularly important today, as hardly any survivors or contemporary witnesses remain alive, and Holocaust relativisation and antisemitism are on the rise again. Memorial in the city of Bern In recent months, the FDFA has held talks with various interested groups and institutions about a possible location for the memorial. Finally, an ideal partner for the realisation of the memorial was found in the city of Bern. The memorial is to be erected at a central location in the city of Bern that is accessible to all. The Confederation is contributing CHF 2.5 million to the design, the public competition and the realisation of the memorial. The city of Bern will be responsible for the maintenance of the memorial. A strong symbol In erecting this memorial, the Confederation, together with the city of Bern, is creating a strong symbol against genocide, antisemitism and racism, and for democracy, the rule of law, freedom and basic individual rights. The memorial is also intended to promote discussion and debate and to have an impact beyond the country's borders. The Federal Council, in cooperation with the Canton of St. Gallen, also supports the planning and realisation of a national cross-border mediation and networking site. The FDFA was instructed to propose to the Federal Council by the end of the year options for a joint funding arrangement for a national project in St Gallen. Address for enquiries For further information: FDFA Communication Tel. +41 58 462 31 53 Tel. Press service +41 460 55 55 kommunikation@eda.admin.ch Publisher The Federal Council https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html Federal Department of Foreign Affairs https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html The Federal Council Bern, 26.04.2023 - On 26 April the Federal Council adopted an ordinance to implement the humanitarian exemption introduced by UN Security Council Resolution 2664 (2022). This exemption from the application of targeted financial sanctions applies to all UN sanctions regimes. At the same time, the Federal Council is adopting the humanitarian exemption for Afghanistan provided for in Resolution 2615 (2021). The amendment to the relevant ordinances will enter into force on 1 June. On 9 December 2022, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2664 (2022), thereby establishing a permanent and standardised humanitarian exemption to targeted financial sanctions that it had imposed. This decision is a major step forward for the humanitarian sector. It helps to strengthen the legal certainty of humanitarian organisations and commercial service providers involved in delivering aid in contexts subject to UN sanctions. In taking this decision, the Federal Council is amending 13 of its ordinances establishing UN sanctions regimes to include the humanitarian exemption provided for in Resolution 2664 (2022). It is also implementing Security Council Resolution 2615 (2021), which provides for a similar humanitarian exemption specifically designed to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Certain categories of humanitarian actors may now enter into business relations with, make payments to, or transfer goods to sanctioned individuals or companies where this is necessary for the delivery of humanitarian assistance or other activities to meet basic human needs. This also applies to all humanitarian actors operating in Afghanistan when faced with the need to establish business relationships with, or make transfers to, persons or entities listed under the sanctions regime against the Taliban. Commercial service providers may now provide authorised humanitarian actors with all types of goods and services necessary to carry out the activities covered by the new exemptions. The legal provisions applicable to the export, sale or brokering of goods and services are however reserved. The Federal Council reiterates that Security Council Resolutions 2664 (2022) and 2615 (2021) call upon organisations and entities that intend to make use of these exemptions to take reasonable efforts to ensure that benefits prohibited by the sanctions that designated persons or entities might derive, whether as a result of direct or indirect provision of assistance or misappropriation, are minimised, including by strengthening risk management and due diligence strategies and processes. It also stresses that both resolutions provide for monitoring mechanisms to detect any possible misuse of exemptions. Address for enquiries EAER Communications info@gs-wbf.admin.ch +41 58 462 20 07 Publisher The Federal Council https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research http://www.wbf.admin.ch A Gulf Shores attorney has entered into a plea agreement with federal prosecutors through which he will plead guilty to charges he smuggled synthetic marijuana into the Monroe County Detention Center. Michael Santos, a criminal defense attorney, signed a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorneys Office under which he will plead guilty to one count of providing prison contraband. According to federal court documents, beginning in November 2021 Santos worked with an inmate, who he had represented, at the Monroe County jail to smuggle pieces of paper soaked in spice, a synthetic marijuana, into the prison, which the inmate would then sell for profit. In February 2022, Santos visited the inmate (unnamed in court documents) in an attorney visiting room at the jail. Corrections officers had searched the inmate prior to the meeting and found no contraband. After the meeting, however, the inmate was searched again, with corrections officers finding papers inside his socks. The papers were sent for a toxicology test and came back positive for synthetic cannabinoid. Surveillance video from inside the room where Santos and the inmate met show Santos handing the inmate pieces of paper, which the inmate then placed in his socks. After the discovery, Santos was taken into custody and prison officials notified federal agents. A search of Santos vehicle uncovered items including prepackaged baggies containing tobacco, phones, charging cables and other items consistent with contraband smuggling. One phone recovered contained text messages linking Santos to contraband smuggling. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Santos faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison, one year of post-release supervision and up to a $100,000 fine. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors will forego any additional charges against Santos and will recommend he be sentenced at the lower end of the federal sentencing guidelines. In addition to agreeing to plead guilty, Santos has also agreed that he will no longer represent criminal defendants in any United States jurisdiction, including but not limited to any federal, state, local or municipal courts, according to the court documents. Santos is also required to report the guilty plea and the agreement to the bar associations of any United States jurisdiction in which he is licensed to practice law. The White House announced on Wednesday that a second American has died in Sudan due to ongoing clashes and that the Biden administration is assisting a small number of US citizens in leaving the country. According to Reuters, John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, stated that the US government is working with both sides of the Sudan conflict to strengthen the ceasefire and enable more humanitarian aid. Kirby also said President Biden had requested all options to help as many Americans as possible. The White House is also reporting that some US citizens have arrived in Port Sudan to flee from the country. According to Kirby, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has dispatched personnel to the region and is prepared to offer humanitarian aid. The White House's remarks came after combat erupted between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group on the outskirts of Khartoum, the country's capital, despite an 11-day ceasefire. Read Also: Nepal to Prioritize Improving Ties With India, China Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) is evaluating the danger posed to public health after militants occupied a national laboratory in Khartoum holding samples of deadly diseases. Al Jazeera reported that WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concerns that the individuals holding the research facility could be accidentally exposed to the pathogens stored there. Ex-Sudanese Minister Ahmed Charged With War Crimes Charges Freed From Jail In other news, Ahmed Haroun, a former high-ranking member of the National Congress Party of Sudan who the International Criminal Court accused of committing over 40 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, was recently released from a Khartoum jail as per a CNN report. Haroun was accused of committing these crimes in Darfur in the early 2000s while holding the positions of Sudan's State Minister for the Interior and State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs. The chaos that erupted in Kober prison led Haroun to leave prison, where prisoners protested a lack of food and water, burning two cars inside the facility. Related Article: Xi Jinping, President Zelensky Hold 'Long' Phone Call @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Leaders of the nations primary national early childhood education organization are pushing back against Gov. Kay Iveys recent denunciation of training materials and firing of a state official who endorsed them. The National Association for the Education of Young Children, NAEYC, has not recently offered statements on national or state political issues. But on Monday, a group of 11 current and former executives called Iveys recent actions a renewed attack on educators. Gov. Kay Ivey forced Early Childhood Education Secretary Barbara Cooper to resign Friday. Ivey said she had received a complaint about so-called woke concepts in a book, the fourth edition of NAEYCs Developmentally Appropriate Practices manual, which is used in preschool teacher training. It is unclear how many Alabama child care centers actually had received the material. Ivey specifically objected to book passages that referenced to white privilege, systemic racism and LGBTQIA+ families. NAEYCs letter and petition defends Cooper and supports the training manual, which they said has helped hundreds of thousands of early childhood educators create joyful learning environments for children. Decades of research and evidence have confirmed the principles that children cant learn math, science, and reading if they dont feel seen, safe, and supported which is what developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) is all about, the group wrote. NAEYC is a national resource for early childhood educators that has been around for nearly 100 years. Several states, including Alabama, have long used NAEYC-aligned early childhood standards and promote NAEYC-accredited child care facilities. Our nation has a long history of educators, parents, and policymakers who have put their lives and livelihoods on the line in support of progress for children and families, the letter continued. Dr. Barbara Cooper, one of NAEYCs Governing Board members who was forced out of her state leadership position in Alabama over the use of NAEYCs Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) book, is the latest but likely not the last. We honor and stand in community with her defense of those principles, and with all the educators who make unique and everyday sacrifices from their tireless work in the pandemic to their low compensation that subsidizes the cost of child care even as we collectively work towards the day when these sacrifices will not be needed. The challenges to developmentally appropriate practice are not new, nor are they about one organization, one leader, or one state, they added. They are about all of us, our best practices, and our collective ability to support, educate, and care for all of our children and their families. The Division for Early Childhood, a national organization that supports children with disabilities and works closely with NAEYC, also offered a statement of concern, saying that academic success depends on educators support for all children and families. What is most concerning is that what happened in Alabama puts the knowledge of our field, the science, the experience of thousands of educators and other professionals under attack, director Peggy Kemp said. Using state resources to remove a book designed for adults from adults sets a dangerous precedent. ... This is about value, trust, and respect for [early childhood] professionals. This is about honoring the diversity of families and professionals. The DAP is a resource that supports professionals to be the best they can be at supporting young children and their families. It is not a book that is used with children but rather informs how early educators engage with children and families. It combines the wisdom of decades and of thousands who do this job. Other reactions Republican Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter said Ivey should be able to hire and fire her cabinet. He said he didnt know the details other than Ivey was unhappy with the materials. So she did what she thought was right. And I certainly agree with it that we need to have literature in our schools that teaches the way it is, not making fiction up, he said. Allison Sinclair, president of LOCAL Alabama, a conservative parent group, said she supports Iveys decision and also questions why Ivey appointed Cooper in 2020. Its far past time to remove bureaucracy and activists from our childrens education, Sinclair said. The education system in this state is failing because the people in charge are too worried about promoting their woke ideology, not reading, writing and arithmetic. Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, said she believes Cooper was fired because she is a Black female. You took a woman, again, as decorated as Dr. Cooper is, and you strip her down and publicly humiliate her, she said. There was nothing that the governors office could demonstrate that she failed to do her job, Givan told reporters Tuesday. There was no malfeasance. There was no breach of any fiduciary duty. It was simply a book, ultimately a book. They are saying that we are here promoting gay folks, Givan said. Were here promoting Black history. Were here promoting an era in Alabamas history that folks want to sweep under the rug. Were here promoting democracy. So, when they use that word woke, thats what theyre saying woke is. Democrats are planning further discussions and have questions for Ivey, Givan said. The governors act was a public lynching of Dr. Cooper, whose background, experience, professionalism, and expertise have all been repetitively lauded by the governor herself, according to Lenice Emanuel, Executive Director of the Alabama Institute for Social Justice. Emanuel said rejecting NAEYCs resource book is nothing short of preposterous. Governor Kay Ivey has sent a resounding message that anyone who seeks to operate in a manner that centers equity will be met with harsh consequences, Emanuel said. Such a move could only be intended to teach others a lesson, that is, anyone seeking to empower those that have been perpetually disenfranchised will be punished. The ACLU of Alabama issued a statement from Executive Director JaTaune Bosby Gilchrist: Censorship has no place in Alabama classrooms at any level and is harmful to students, educators, and administrators. Dr. Cooper worked with teachers to set up an inclusive and welcoming classroom for all students - centering equality, dignity, and worth. The governors actions are divisive and detrimental to free speech and are a disservice to all students and teachers. The Southern Poverty Law Center said Iveys decision to fire Cooper and reject NAEYCs resources are far-reaching. It signals the governors plans to undermine the education of Alabama students by discouraging educators to acknowledge the histories and lived experiences of Black, Brown and LGBTQ+ people, Jalaya Liles-Dunn, the groups Learning for Justice director, wrote in a statement Monday. Liles-Dunn said educators, not politicians, are the right people to determine how to fully prepare students to thrive in a multiracial, inclusive democracy. If Governor Ivey truly cared about the education of all children in Alabama, then she would not be perpetuating this nationwide coordinated effort to censor instruction and content that is inclusive of all children in our public schools. AL.com reporter Mike Cason contributed to this reporting. Updated 9:30 a.m. to correct attribution of quote. An early manuscript of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther Kings Letter from Birmingham Jail is up for sale at a book fair in New York City this week. The typed manuscript copy that belonged to Kings literary agent, Joan Daves, will be on display from April 27-30 at The New York International Antiquarian Book Fair. The book fair, in its 63rd year, will be held at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City. The antiquarian book fair features about 200 exhibitors. James Cummins Bookseller will exhibit the newly rediscovered draft of Kings Letter from Birmingham Jail. On April 16, 1963, after King was arrested for leading protests against segregation, he began writing the letter in his Birmingham Jail cell. The original document was handwritten on the margins of newspaper pages, on small scraps of paper and even on pieces of toilet paper, none of which have survived. The scraps of paper were given to Kings attorneys, who took them to the Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker, one of Kings lieutenants with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Walker and his secretary, Willie Pearl Mackey, compiled, edited and typed up the manuscript, which King was later able to finish using a legal pad furnished by his lawyers. The pre-publication copy owned by his literary agent is one of the earliest obtainable copies in existence. It will be offered for sale for $225,000. The letter is considered the foundational document of the civil rights movement. King addressed the letter to eight clergy who had written a letter the day King was arrested, April 12, 1963, asking him to delay demonstrations in Birmingham. The eight clergy were moderate religious leaders who worried that moving too fast on integration would unleash violence in the city. They wanted King to wait until newly elected Mayor Albert Boutwell had a chance to make changes. Boutwell had called King an outside agitator, which King refuted in his letter by noting that he was invited by local leaders. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, he wrote. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds. Kings letter eloquently stated the case for racial equality and the immediate need for social justice. I had hoped, King wrote at one point, that the white moderate would understand that the present tension in the South is a necessary phase of the transition from an obnoxious negative peace, in which the Negro passively accepted his unjust plight, to a substantive and positive peace, in which all men will respect the dignity and worth of human personality. Actually, we who engage in non-violent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. We bring it out in the open, where it can be seen and dealt with. There would be no waiting for justice, King wrote. We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. King began writing his letter in the Birmingham jail, but it was finished and published later, with excerpts published in May and full texts appearing in magazines in June 1963, and in Kings 1964 book, Why We Cant Wait. See also: Civil rights leader Wyatt Tee Walker compiled, edited MLKs Letter from Birmingham Jail In April 1963, eight clergy asked the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to delay demonstrations Bishop Calvin Woods recalls lunch counter sit-in arrests of April 3, 1963 Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow on Tuesday addressed the shocking news of former CNN This Morning cohost Don Lemons departure from the cable news network this week. Lemon on Monday announced on Twitter he had been fired by the network. He had worked for CNN for 17 years. I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN, he wrote. I am stunned. Lemon said the news did not come directly from anyone at the network. After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly, he said. At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network. It is clear that there are some larger issues at play. READ: Don Lemon out at CNN: I am stunned CNN said via Twitter Lemons statement was inaccurate and that he was given a chance to meet with management. Don Lemons statement about this mornings events is inaccurate, the networks PR account tweeted. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter. Lemon also thanked his CNN coworkers. With that said, I want to thank my colleagues and the many teams I have worked with for an incredible run, he wrote. They are the most talented journalists in the business, and I wish them all the best. In September 2022, CNN announced Lemon would serve as co-anchor with Alabama native Collins and Poppy Harlow on the networks reimagined morning show CNN This Morning. Collins and Harlow opened Tuesdays episode of the morning show with remarks on Lemons departure. Harlow shared CNN chairman and CEO Chris Lichts public statement on Lemon, which said, Don will forever be a part of the CNN family. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors. Then Collins chimed in. Don was a big part of this show over the last six months, she said. He was one of the first anchors on CNN to have me on his show. Thats something Ill obviously never forget. I agree with Chris. We wish him the best. Yeah, we certainly do, Harlow said. Don was one of my first friends here at CNN. Im so thankful to have worked alongside him and for his support for nearly 15 years here, and I wish him all good things ahead. Harlow said she and Collins are really proud of CNN This Morning, including the dedicated team that works around the clock to produce the show and emphasized their priority is you, the viewer. Lemon, formerly one of CNNs most recognizable personalities, joined the network in September 2006. He served as primetime anchor of Don Lemon Tonight for more than eight years. He shut down his nightly program Don Lemon Tonight to headline the new morning show in 2022. RELATED: CNNs Don Lemon snapped at Kaitlan Collins for interrupting him In February, Lemon received backlash for remarks he made about presidential candidate Nikki Haley on the air during CNN This Morning, saying Haley isnt in her prime at age 51 during a discussion about Haleys support of mental competency tests for politicians over 75. A woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s, Lemon said, citing Google search results. Co-host Poppy Harlow responded, Are you talking about prime for, like, childbearing or are you talking about prime for being president? Lemon issued an apology later that day. A womans age doesnt define her either personally or professionally, Lemon tweeted at the time. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day. CNN later announced Lemon would undergo formal training before returning to the morning show. I appreciate the opportunity to be back on @CNNThisMorning today, Lemon tweeted before returning to air. To my network, my colleagues and our incredible audience Im sorry. Ive heard you, Im learning from you, and Im committed to doing better. See you soon. Variety in April also reported on Lemons diva-like behavior at the network, citing incidents with several female employees including Nancy Grace, Kyra Phillips and Soledad OBrien. More on Kaitlan Collins: Kaitlan Collins, a die-hard Alabama football fan, has perfected her gameday routine Kaitlan Collins talks huge differences between Donald Trump and Joe Biden administrations Kaitlan Collins says Nick Saban is underpaid after $93M contract, fact-checks on Alabama football titles Tomato season has arrived early this year at Birminghams Hot and Hot Fish Club. The Hot and Hot Tomato Salad, a seasonal favorite at the restaurant, returns to the menu tonight, a week ahead of time. Typically, tomatoes for the restaurants signature appetizer arent in season until the first week of May. But this year, chef Chris Hastings had a premonition that was confirmed when he visited his tomato guy Shawn House of Farm House Produce at the Alabama Farmers Market on Finley Avenue. I had kind of a sixth sense like, Hey, I need to get to the farmers market and talk with my guy Shawn at Farm House Produce and cut some tomatoes and find out whats happening, Hastings said this morning. And sure enough, he had some beautiful tomatoes -- exactly what you would hope would be happening right (around) the first of May, which is generally the start time. But after finding those tomatoes and having the fresh pinto beans there and the okra was looking beautiful, the corn was sweet and delicious -- everything was 100 percent right. RELATED: Ode to an Alabama classic, the Hot and Hot Tomato Salad One of the Alabama Tourism Departments 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama, the Hot and Hot Tomato Salad has been on the menu since Hastings and his wife, Idie, opened their Southern-inspired fine-dining restaurant in 1995, and its arrival every year is kind of a big deal for the staff and their guests. The salad features thick slices of tomato tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette and layered one on top of another. They are garnished with pinto beans, peaches-and-cream corn, and fried Chilton County okra; crowned with Nueskes applewood smoked bacon; and then drizzled with a chive aioli. The tomato salad is also available as an entree that features two stacks of tomatoes served with Alabama Gulf shrimp from Bayou La Batre. Both the appetizer and the entree will be on the menu through the end of September -- after which time youll have to wait until next year for tomato salad season to return. Hot and Hot Fish Club is at 2901 Second Ave. South in Birmingham. The phone is 205-933-5474. Hours are 5 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. For reservations and more information, go here. READ MORE ON ALABAMA FOOD: Iconic ice cream is back at century-old Alabama soda fountain This food trucks connection to a beloved Birmingham restaurant BBQ is in the name but tacos are the game for this Alabama food truck This Alabama restaurant takes pimento cheese to the next level BOISE, Idaho (AP) Interior Secretary Deb Haaland defended her departments approval of the contentious Willow oil project on Friday, saying that despite President Joe Bidens campaign promise to end new drilling on federal lands, Were not going to turn the faucet off and say were not drilling anymore. Speaking to the annual conference of the Society of Environmental Journalists, Haaland said the Biden administration is following the science and the law when it comes to everything we do, and that includes gas and oil" leases considered by her agency, which oversees U.S. public lands and waters. Despite Bidens pledge, Were not going to say were not going to use gas and oil. Thats not reality," Haaland said. So we are doing the best we absolutely can." Haalands comments came after the administration faced sharp criticism from some of its strongest supporters especially young climate activists after Interior approved the $8 billion Willow project on March 13. The massive drilling plan by oil giant ConocoPhillips could produce up to 180,000 barrels of oil a day on Alaskas petroleum-rich North Slope. Leaders of major environmental organizations and Indigenous groups had pleaded with Haaland, the first Native American Cabinet member, to use her authority to block the drilling project, which they say contradicts Bidens agenda to cut planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. Environmental groups call Willow a carbon bomb and have mounted a social media #StopWillow campaign that has been seen hundreds of millions of times. Haaland, who opposed Willow when she served in Congress, joked Friday that as Interior secretary, often I dont have personal feelings." Still, Haalands views seemed apparent. She did not sign the secretarial order approving the project, leaving that to her deputy, Tommy Beaudreau, and declined multiple opportunities to say she personally supported the decision. In response to questions from hundreds of assembled journalists, Haaland said the Willow decision was countered by approval of a host of clean-energy projects, including a recent plan to produce solar power from the deserts of Arizona to communities all over the West. Were in a climate crisis everyone, and so we are taking that part very seriously," she said. In an online video released 10 hours after the March 13 decision was made public, Haaland said she and Biden, both Democrats, believe the climate crisis is the most urgent issue of our lifetime. On Friday, Haaland called Willow a very long and complicated and difficult decision to make," and noted that ConocoPhillips has long held leases to drill for oil on the site, in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. You know, legal, existing rights are a thing in this country. And so we have to honor those in some respects. What we did really try to do is make it smaller, right, to protect the stakeholders and do whatever we could to help the situation to be more amenable to the wildlife and the ecosystems in Alaska." The final approval reflects a substantially smaller project than ConocoPhillips originally proposed and includes a pledge by the Houston-based oil company to relinquish nearly 70,000 acres (28,000 hectares) of leased land that will no longer be developed. Biden said last month he ha d a strong inclination to disapprove Willow, b ut was given legal advice that the oil company could win in court. Instead, his team forced concessions that included conservation of millions of acres in Alaska and the Arctic Ocean. And so I thought the better gamble and a hell of a tradeoff to have the Arctic Ocean and the Bering Sea and so many other places off limits (from oil drilling) forever now," he said March 24 during a visit to Canada. What I really want to do ... is conserve significant amounts of Alaskan sea and land forever." Asked if she wished Biden had spoken out more on Willow Haaland said, Of course that is a question for President Biden." Activists said Friday they were not satisfied with Haalands response. The Biden administration depends on voters under 30. Thats just a fact. And if they continue to greenlight disastrous fossil fuel projects and unnecessary lease sales, then they risk losing a key constituency in 2024, said Cassidy DiPaola, spokesperson for Fossil Free Media, a group that opposes oil and other fossil fuels. By MATTHEW DALY Associated Press Authorities in the Mexican resort of Cancun said Tuesday they are trying to identify eight bodies found dumped in the Caribbean resort. Speaking to families of missing people, Oscar Montes de Oca, the head prosecutor of the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo pledged to carry out more searches and identifications. The bodies were found in searches over the weekend in which police looked in wooded lots and even sinkhole ponds known as cenotes. More than 112,000 people are listed as missing in Mexico, and searches for clandestine grave sites have become common throughout the country. What is unusual is that they are now being carried out in Cancun, the crown jewel of Mexicos tourism industry. The clandestine body dumping grounds are often used by drug cartels to dispose of bodies of their victims. Several cartels are fighting for control of the Caribbean coast and its lucrative retail drug trade. Montes de Oca said five of the bodies were found at a building site that had apparently been abandoned. The bodies had been dumped there between one week and two months ago; three have been identified as people reported missing previously. At another site in a wooded area on the outskirts of Cancun, authorities found three sets of skeletal remains. They have not yet been identified. The bodies were found in a poor neighborhood about 10 miles from Cancuns beach and hotel zone, but relatively closer to the resorts airport. Similar searches were also carried out in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, a town south of Tulum. Volunteer searchers, including the relatives of missing people, and specially trained dogs also participated with investigators in the searches. Feuding drug gangs have caused violence in Cancun and the resort-studded Caribbean coast south of it. Earlier this month, four men in Cancun were killed in a dispute related to drug gang rivalries. The dead men were found in the citys hotel zone near the beach. A U.S. tourist was shot in the leg in the nearby town of Puerto Morelos in March. The U.S. State Department issued a travel alert that month warning travelers to exercise increased caution, especially after dark, at resorts like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. In 2022, two Canadians were killed in Playa del Carmen, apparently because of debts between international drug and weapons trafficking gangs. In 2021, in Tulum, two tourists one a California travel blogger born in India and the other German were killed when they apparently were caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between rival drug dealers. Former Fox News producer Abby Grossberg has accused former Fox News host Tucker Carlson of overseeing a hostile work environment, where antisemitic banter and chauvinism were commonplace. Fox News announced Monday morning it would part ways with Carlson a network star who drew solid ratings while promoting incendiary and often misleading rhetoric. Grossberg filed a lawsuit against Fox News last month shortly before being cut loose by the right-wing cable operation. According to the New York Times, her suit claims the 53-year-old host lorded over an operation where doctored images of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wearing a plunging swimsuit greeted the producer on her first day working for Carlson. Grossberg previously worked for Fox News personality Maria Bartiromo. She was also allegedly asked if Bartiromo was having sex with a prominent Republican lawmaker. Fox News told the Times it would vigorously challenge Grossbergs unmeritorious legal claims, which the network called riddled with false allegations. Last week, the right-wing cable station settled a $787.5 million defamation suit with Dominion Voting Systems after hosts including Bartiromo endorsed false claims that election equipment used in the 2020 presidential election was compromised. Voting technologies company Smartmatic is suing Fox News over similar allegations. Grossbergs suit against Carlson also names Fox News, its parent company and several individuals, according to the Times report. An attorney for Grossberg reportedly said Carlsons departure from Fox News was in part, an admission of the systemic lying, bullying and conspiracy mongering claimed by our client. Carlsons seemingly sudden exit was cheered by the hosts of ABC morning program The View, where the studio audience sang the 1969 Steam tune Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye. Conservative figures including former Fox News host Megyn Kelly tweeted support for the former Tucker Carlson Tonight ringleader. Fox News sordid history of chauvinism was dramatized for the big screen in the 2019 film Bombshell, where Kelly is played by Academy Award winner Charlize Theron. 2023 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Alabama Legislature has passed a bill to ban smoking or vaping in a vehicle that is carrying passengers 14 or younger. The Senate on Tuesday passed the bill by Rep. Rolanda Hollis, D-Birmingham, who has sponsored it for six years. Violators of the law would face a fine of up to $100. The bill makes the law a secondary violation, meaning that police could only charge a violator if they have stopped a vehicle for a separate violation, like speeding, and issue a ticket for that. The prohibition on smoking applies regardless of whether the vehicle windows are rolled down or whether the vehicle is in motion or at rest. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey, who can sign it into law. Hollis said the goal is to protect children from the effects of second-hand smoke, especially those who suffer from allergies and asthma. Hollis said she got the idea to sponsor the bill after an incident where she had difficulty breathing in her husbands truck because he smoked in it. I jumped up in his truck and he was a smoker and I could not breathe, Hollis said. And I jumped out of the truck. And I was thinking, I can get out. I can jump out and say Im not riding in the truck. But what about our kids? If it was a kid, they could not jump out of the truck the same way I did. The Senate passed the bill 30-0 on Tuesday. The House passed it 84-15 on April 4. Hollis said she never heard from anyone in her district opposed to the bill and that she was determined to bring it back every year until it passed. Im excited. The only thing were waiting on now is for the governor to sign this bill. And it will be a bill thats going to save a lot of our children, Hollis said. Read more: Bill increases funding for Alabama sheriffs to offset loss of concealed carry permit fees Alabama House unanimously passes record $3 billion General Fund budget A 49-year-old Alabama was convicted Wednesday of capital murder in the brutal 1999 murders of two high school seniors in the Wiregrass. A jury convicted Coley McCraney who lived his life crime-free and built a family in the 20 years following the murders of four counts of capital murder in the shooting deaths of Tracie Hawlett and J.B. Beasley. The convictions are for two counts of capital murder-vehicle, one count of capital murder-rape, and capital murder of two or more persons. He was arrested for the slayings in 2019 after authorities say a DNA match was found through a family DNA website in a genealogy search. McCraneys trial began April 17, and the sentencing phase of the trial will begin on Thursday. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. The murders of the girls haunted the Wiregrass region for decades and been given national exposure on television networks throughout the years. The friends, both 17, were on their way home from Beasleys birthday party when they got lost in Ozark on July 31, 1999. According to Hawletts mother, Carole Roberts, the girls had been lost and could not understand the directions they were given before stopping at a convenience store in Ozark. They had been on their way home from a party in Headland. The girls were found the next day inside the trunk of Beasleys black Mazda 929, on the side of Herring Avenue about one block away from the Dale County hospital. Both girls had each been shot once to the head, but there were no other signs of foul play. The girls jewelry, purses and money were not missing and state forensics experts at the time said neither girl had been raped. Within a week, police announced a nationwide, 24-hour hotline to received tips and a reward fund quickly grew to $15,000 in donations from area residents. Then-Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman announce another $10,000 in state funds. In the years immediately after the killing, investigators conducted more than 500 interviews, overworked forensics experts and tested the DNA of more than 70 potential suspects. Tracie Hawlett and J.B. Beasley were found murdered in the trunk of Beasley's car on Aug. 1, 1999. Authorities have have found a DNA match linking the suspect to a murder that has haunted the Wiregrass region for two decades. (file photo). At the time of McCraneys 2019 arrest, Ozark Police Chief Police Chief said the 2018 arrest of the alleged Golden State Killer through use of a genealogy and DNA database sparked the chain of events that led to the break in the Alabama cold case. The department reached out to Parabon NanoLabs in Virginia, which specializes in DNA engineering. Walker said they started the process in August 2018, and it culminated in the arrest of Coley McCraney, a truck driver who spent some time in the military and has led a crime-free, low-profile life up until the time he was taken into custody. McCraney took the stand in his own defense during the week-long trial. WDHN reported that McCraney testified that he had consensual sex with Beasley. He said they had previously met her at the Wiregrass Commons Mall almost two months prior to the murders, and the two planned to meet at the Ozark gas station at 10 p.m. on July 31, 1999. A 45-year-old Dothan man - Coley McCraney - has been charged with five counts of capital murder and one count of rape int he 1999 murders of 17-year-old friends Tracie Hawlett and J.B. Beasley, whose bodies were found in the trunk of Beasley's car. Both had been shot in the head. Their deaths have haunted the Wiregrass region for decades. When Beasley was late, he said he went to his mothers house to wait on a call from Beasley but never received one. McCraney says after leaving his mothers house at around 11:30 p.m. to head home, his alternator gave out and the car broke down at the same gas station where he finally saw Beasley and Hawlett at a pay phone, the television station reported. After talking to Beasley for a few minutes, he got in her car and gave the girls directions to Highway 231, after which they stopped at another gas station next to the highway where his semi-truck was parked, where he and Beasley had sex in the cab of his truck. McCraney testified that after he and Beasley had consensual sex, the girls drove him to his house at around 12:45 a.m. and they went their separate ways. AL.com has hired a new reporter to contribute to ongoing coverage of community violence prevention in Birmingham. Alaina Bookman will contribute to the Beyond the Violence project, a collaboration between AL.com, The Birmingham Times and CBS42. Her role will be crucial as the newsroom continues to cover homicides, assaults and violence in Birmingham and the many ways that families, communities and government organizations are fighting violence in the metro. Bookman was born and raised in Dallas and is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. She has experience working as a journalist for the Houston Defender and as an archivist at the University of Texas. Bookman said her desire to see better representation of all communities in newsrooms across the country has pushed her to report on underserved and misrepresented communities and explore how these citizens are finding solutions to some of the worlds most pressing social and political problems. Her role is supported by Report for America, a nonprofit that aids local newsrooms. Were grateful for the support from Report for America to help us report and lead this conversation in Alabama, said Kelly Ann Scott, vice president of content for Alabama Media Group. AL.com already hosts two other Report for America journalists, Rebecca Griesbach and Savannah-Tryens-Fernandes, who are on the Education Lab team. They are entering their third year with AL.com. Sarah Swetlik, a gender and politics reporter, is finishing her first year at AL.com. Bookman will join AL.com in July. Her role is partially grant- and donor-supported. Readers can support Bookmans work and the AL.com newsroom by contributing financially. Contributions to AL.com are partially matched by Report for America. Support her work and the future of sustainable, local journalism here. Sign up to read future coverage through AL.coms free newsletter, Beyond the Violence. China deepens cooperation with World Intellectual Property Organization Xinhua) 10:21, April 26, 2023 BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on Tuesday signed an updated memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bilateral cooperation. The updated MoU aims to consolidate the existing exchanges and cooperation in the field of copyright and expand the bilateral cooperation in formulating and implementing international copyright treaties, discussing digital copyright protection issues, improving the risk prevention and control capacity of the copyright industry, sharing copyright to encourage creation and innovation among the small and medium-sized enterprises, and promoting the inheritance and development of folk literature and art. The NCAC and WIPO have been cooperating in international copyright affairs. Since the two sides signed the MoU in 2015, they have made fruitful achievements in strengthening international copyright exchanges and cooperation. On April 28, 2020, the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances, the first international intellectual property treaty named after a Chinese city, took effect. The Marrakesh Treaty, the first and only human rights treaty with copyright so far, came into force in China on May 5, 2022. This year marks the 50 anniversary of the cooperation between China and WIPO. The NCAC and WIPO have pledged to further deepen their relations. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Colorado investigators from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office used mobile device forensics to track down and apprehend three Arvada high school seniors suspected of being involved in the rock-throwing slaying of 20-year-old Alexa Bartell. 3 Identified Suspects On Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, April 25 and 26, detectives went to the Arvada homes of the three suspects and took custody of them, together with the three parents, The Denver Post reported. Joseph Koenig, Nicholas "Mitch" Karol-Chik, and Zachary Kwak were all detained without bond. The allegations against them, including first-degree murder with extreme indifference, will be presented before them on Thursday, April 27, according to the press release from Jefferson County authorities. The three are accused of hurling rocks at seven people last week, including Bartell, who was murdered when one smashed through the glass of her yellow Chevy Spark and struck her while she was on the phone. A spokesperson for the First Judicial District Attorney's Office indicated on Wednesday that further charges are likely to be brought depending on their findings. Investigators from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office collaborated with the police departments of Westminster, Arvada, and the Boulder County Sheriff's Office to track down and apprehend the criminals. Reportedly, mobile device forensics using cell phone towers was crucial in investigating, identifying, and locating the culprits. More than 300 tips from the public offered supporting information that assisted police in identifying the perpetrators. See Also: Florida Man Arrested for Killing, Dismembering Uber Eats Driver Deadly Rock-Throwing Spree The perpetrators reportedly moved from one location to another while hurling massive rocks through the windows of passing cars. Jacki Kelley, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office, said this was the first time they had ever seen anything like that. "This was a beautiful young woman with her whole life in front of her who was simply driving home," Kelley added, referring to Bartell. The police have also identified the suspect car, a black 2016 Chevrolet Silverado. Kelley said detectives think all three suspects tossed rocks, but it is still unclear who was driving during the rock-throwing frenzy last week. All three accused grew up as pals in different houses. One of them graduated from Ralston Valley High School, and one went to Stanley High School. It was reported that the other was attending classes via an online platform. On the evening of April 19 at 10:45 PM, Bartell was slain while traveling north in the 10600 block of Indiana Street. A rampage that started about 10:00 PM that night in Westminster resulted in her Chevy Spark being struck with "large landscaping rocks," according to officials. In a report by CBS News, two drivers who were attacked in the other incidents only sustained minor wounds. The attack impacted seven cars. "We have a safer community this morning," Kelley remarked after the arrests were made. "We were concerned this was a crime that could potentially happen again." See Also: Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting: Trial Starts For The Deadliest Antisemitic Attack in US History @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Overtime pay would be exempt from Alabamas state income tax under a bill that won approval this morning in an Alabama House committee. The bill, by House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, is one of many tax cut proposals pending in the Legislature. HB217 says earnings received by a full-time hourly employee for work performed in excess of 40 hours in a week does not count as gross income for purposes of the state income tax, which carries a 5 percent rate. Daniels said the chance for employees to keep more of what they earn would be a work incentive. This increases the workforce participation rate. But also provides an incentive for participating, experienced and trained workforce to work additional hours and be able to take home more, Daniels said. The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved the bill on a voice vote with no opposition. Several members of the committee praised the bill as innovative. The committee added an amendment by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, the committee chair, that would end the tax exemption after three years unless the Legislature extended it. Garrett said he supported the bill as an incentive to encourage work. He said the idea was new so it would be important to gauge its impact over time. The income tax is the largest source of state money for public education. The fiscal note from the Legislative Services Agency estimates that the bill would reduce revenue to the Education Trust Fund by $45 million a year. But Daniels said employees would spend what they save from the tax exemption on goods and services that would add to sales taxes and other revenues, including those that support cities and counties. So what you lose in income tax you actually gain some back in sales tax, Daniels said. The committee approved a second tax cut bill, HB117, sponsored by Garrett. It would expand an exemption to the state income tax for people 65 and older that applies to withdrawals from 401(k)-type accounts and individual retirement accounts, known as defined contribution retirement plans. The Legislature passed a bill last year to exempt up to $6,000 in defined contribution income for people 65 and older. HB117 would raise that to $10,000. It would reduce money going to the ETF by an estimated $13.7 million a year, according to the fiscal note. Income from traditional pensions, called defined benefit plans, have been exempt from Alabamas state income tax for decades, including those from both public and private employers. Garrett said HB117 is an example of targeted tax cuts the Legislature passed over the last few years. But defined contribution plans are taxable under the state income tax. As the U.S. Census and AmeriCorps report dropping volunteer numbers nationwide, one man says his heart has been planted in the East Birmingham neighborhood of Kingston. Former U.S. Marine Cassidy Bonner has volunteered in the Birmingham area for over a decade with the citys warming stations, United Way, and the Salvation Army where he drives a van of men to free barber services twice a month. In 2017, Bonner was the first to win Volunteer of the Year at the United Way Hands on Ignite Awards for people who serve their communities. But it wasnt until the pandemic that Bonners life truly changed for good. When Covid hit, Meals on Wheels lost many of their volunteers, wrote Bonner in an email to the Lede. House Republicans passed sweeping legislation Wednesday that would raise the governments legal debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion in exchange for steep spending restrictions, a tactical victory for Speaker Kevin McCarthy as he challenges President Joe Biden to negotiate and prevent a catastrophic federal default this summer. The bill passed by a razor-thin 217-215 margin, with four Republicans voting no. They were: Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona; Ken Buck of Colorado; Tim Burchett of Tennessee; and Matt Gaetz of Florida. Biden has threatened to veto the Republican package, which has almost no chance of passing the Democratic Senate in the meantime, and the president has so far refused to negotiate over the debt ceiling which the White House insists must be lifted with no strings to ensure America pays its bills. But McCarthys ability to unite his slim majority and bring the measure to passage over opposition from Democrats and even holdouts in his own party gives currency to the Republican speakers strategy to use the vote as an opening bid forcing Biden into talks. The two men could hardly be further apart on how to resolve the issue. The hour has come, we have to work together to restore fiscal sanity in this place before its too late, said Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, leading the debate. As the House debated the bill, Biden on Wednesday indicated he was willing to open the door to talks with McCarthy, but not on preventing a first-ever U.S. default that would shake Americas economy and beyond. Happy to meet with McCarthy, but not on whether or not the debt limit gets extended, Biden said. Thats not negotiable. Passage of the sprawling 320-page package in the House is only the start of what is expected to become a weekslong political slog as the president and Congress try to work out a compromise that would allow the nations debt, now at $31 trillion, to be lifted to allow further borrowing and stave off a fiscal crisis. The nation has never defaulted on its debt, and the House Republican majority hopes to maneuver Biden into a corner with its plan to roll back federal spending to fiscal 2022 levels and cap future spending increases at 1% over the next decade, among other changes. McCarthy worked nonstop to unite his fractious Republican majority, the five families including the conservative Freedom Caucus and others, making post-midnight changes in the House Rules Committee in the crush to win over holdouts. Facing a revolt from Midwestern Republicans over doing away with biofuel tax credits that were just signed into law last year by Democrat Biden, GOP House members relented and allowed the tax credits to stay on the books in their bill. Our delegation has stood united for Iowas farmers and producers fighting to amend the bill to protect biofuels tax credits, said the four House Republicans from Iowa in a joint statement announcing their support for the bill. Republicans also agreed to more quickly launch the bolstered work requirements for recipients of government aid, starting in 2024 as proposed by another holdout, Freedom Caucus Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who has led previous challenges to McCarthy. Republicans hold a five-seat House majority and faced several absences this week, leaving McCarthy with almost no votes to spare in the face of Democratic opposition. This bill is unacceptable, its unreasonable, its unworkable, its unconscionable and its un-American, said the Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Thats why we oppose it. Democrats derided the Republican plan as a ransom note, a shakedown and an unserious bill that was courting financial danger. But as McCarthy worked to shore up support, some of the most conservative rank-and-file Republican members who have never voted for a debt ceiling increase in their quest to slash spending said they were preparing to do just that, rallying behind the speakers strategy to push Biden to the negotiating table. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., a member of the Freedom Caucus, said he wanted double the deficit savings contained in the bill but would vote for it because it starts the ball, it gets us in the arena to solve the debt problem. Its a first big test for the president and the Republican speaker, coming at a time of increased political anxiety about the ability of Washington to solve big problems amid the need to raise the federal debt limit in a matter of weeks. The Treasury Department is taking extraordinary measures to pay the bills, but funding is expected to run out this summer. Economists warn that even the serious threat of a federal debt default would send shockwaves through the economy. In exchange for raising the debt limit by $1.5 trillion into 2024, the bill would roll back overall federal spending and: Claw back unspent COVID-19 funds. Impose tougher work requirements for recipients of food stamps and other government aid. Halt Bidens plans to forgive up to $20,000 in student loans and End many of the landmark renewable energy tax breaks Biden signed into law last year. It would tack on a sweeping Republican bill to boost oil, gas and coal production. A nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analysis estimated the Republican plan would reduce federal deficits by $4.8 trillion over the decade if the proposed changes were enacted into law. Several Republicans from the partys right wing, eager for even stricter spending cuts, said the bill was at least a starting point as they prepared to vote for McCarthys strategy and bolster his hand in talks with Biden. Freshman Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., said: Its our obligation to get Speaker McCarthy to the table. Others though, remained noncommittal or flat-out nos. Rep. Andy Biggs, the former chairman of the Freedom Caucus, said he had wanted Republicans to do more to end deficit spending. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., said of the nations nearly $32 trillion in debt, thats my major concern. In the Senate, leaders were watching and waiting. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said House passage of the legislation would be a wasted effort and that McCarthy should come to the table with Democrats to pass a straightforward debt-limit bill without GOP priorities and avoid default. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who stepped aside to give McCarthy the lead, said the speaker has been able to unite the House Republicans. Now, he said, Biden and McCarthy must come to agreement. Otherwise, he said, Well be at a standoff. And we shouldnt do that to the country. The Walt Disney Co. on Wednesday filed a First Amendment lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for orchestrating a campaign of government retaliation for the companys opposition to the Dont Say Gay legislation. The lawsuit marks an escalation in the yearlong battle between DeSantis and Disney, and comes as the governors allies are preparing a new round of legislation to assert control over Disneys Orlando theme parks. Disney filed the suit in federal court in Florida. It asks a judge to declare that the state takeover of the Reedy Creek Improvement District is unlawful and unenforceable because the purpose was retaliation for Disneys political speech in violation of the First Amendment. In the lawsuit, Disney said it regretted that it could not reach a resolution with the governor and had to go to court. Disney finds itself in this regrettable position because it expressed a viewpoint the Governor and his allies did not like. Disney wishes that things could have been resolved a different way, the lawsuit states. But Disney also knows that it is fortunate to have the resources to take a stand against the States retaliation--a stand smaller businesses and individuals might not be able to take when the State comes after them for expressing their own views. In America, the government cannot punish you for speaking your mind. DeSantis took control in February over the newly named Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which took over the responsibilities of the old Reedy Creek district. At the time, Disney signaled that it was ready to work within this new framework. But hostilities between Disney and the governor have only escalated since then. DeSantis appointed five allies to the board of the oversight district, including a leading figure in the parental rights movement. The tensions escalated further at a recent meeting, when the new appointees discovered that Disney had entered into a series of development agreements with the old Reedy Creek board that limited the new boards powers. Since then, the new appointees have taken steps to void those agreements. In the lawsuit, Disney alleges that those steps are unconstitutional, because the state is not allowed to impair the obligations of contracts. More from Variety 2023 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC Five of the six people each charged with four counts of reckless murder in the Dadeville Sweet 16 birthday party that left four people dead and 32 injured will be held without bail until trial, a judge ruled on Wednesday. Those charged with reckless murder and being held in the Tallapoosa County Jail are: 20-year-old Johnny Letron Brown of Tuskegee; 19-year-old Willie George Brown Jr. of Auburn; 20-year-old Wilson LaMar Hill Jr. of Auburn, and brothers Ty Reik McCullough, 17, and Travis McCullough, 16, of Tuskeegee. A 15-year-old, who has not been publicly identified, is also charged and is being held without bond. District Attorney Mike Segrest said he is seeking to have him tried as an adult. Killed in the shooting were Philstavious Phil Dowdell, 18, Shaunkivia Nicole Keke Smith, 17, Marsiah Emmanuel Siah Collins, 19, and Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23. Judge Clayton Kim Taylor wrote in the order that the six posed a flight risk and that their being free pending trial could a real and present danger to themselves and others. An Aniahs Law hearing was held Tuesday. Aniahs Law passed in 2022 in response to a crime that attracted statewide attention. Aniah Blanchard, a 19-year-old college student from Homewood, was abducted from a convenience store in Auburn in October 2019. A month later, authorities found Blanchards body in rural Macon County. The law expanded the list of crimes for which defendants can be held without bail. Days after being let go from Fox News, Tucker Carlson offered his first statement albeit a short one regarding reaction to his departure. Carlson and Fox News Media parted ways Monday, though the exact reasons are unclear. Carlson, who had been with the network 14 years, headlined Tucker Carlson Tonight, a lead in to Sean Hannitys Fox News show Hannity. Carlson, as well as Don Lemon, the CNN hosted fired the same day, have hired top Hollywood lawyer Bryan Freedman. According to the New York Times, Freedman represents Chris Cuomo, the former CNN anchor who is seeking $125 million for wrongful termination after he was fired in 2021 and secured a payout of Megyn Kellys full contract when she left NBC. Department of Defense officials celebrate? Carlson has not responded to the Fox ouster but he did provide a comment on a Politico report that claimed Department of Defense officials were celebrating his exit. News of Carlsons firing was met with delight and outright glee in some corners, Politico reported. Were a better country without him bagging on our military every night in front of hundreds of thousands of people, said an anonymous senior Pentagon official. Good riddance, another added, according to the report. Carlson responded via text to Politicos request for comment on reports DOD officials were glad he was gone. Ha! Im sure, he said, declining to comment further. Carlson has frequently criticized military leadership, taking exception with Pentagon diversity efforts and blasting what he said was a focus on personnel policies over military readiness. You can read the complete Politico report here. Sammy Hagar once mocked the National Maximum Speed Law with the 1984 song, I Cant Drive 55. For Alabama 181 motorists in Baldwin County, they only wished the speed limit was 55 mph. The four-mile stretch of state highway from Daphne to Fairhope remains 35 mph, despite the highway going from two to four lanes in a project that was officially opened last month. And motorists are getting grumpy on social media, blasting public officials, and calling the entire concept stupid. Daphne City Councilman Ron Scott, during Wednesdays Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting, said hes seen the comments. And hes hoping the public messaging gets through: The 35 mph is only temporary and will change as soon as work crews are finished with the paving. If we can advertise that it will remain 35 until the contractor is off the job, it will help others from being called idiots, said Scott, who joked. Which, Im used to. Construction continues along Alabama State Route 181 in Baldwin County on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). Alabama 181 reopened to four lanes of traffic in late March, largely capping a 4-1/2-year-long project that cost $30 million. The extra lanes were added to accommodate the rapid growth through the Eastern Shore area of Baldwin County, which has seen more than 27% growth since 2010. But state officials never said the project was totally complete and, at the time, urged motorists to be patient until the construction was finished. That remains the case. And as such, the speed limit is not going up. It will be (35 mph) for the remainder of construction, said Matt Ericksen, Southwest Region Engineer with the Alabama Department of Transportation. That will be for about the next two weeks. Its really (due to) the paving. There are a lot of intersections and side streets. Its time-consuming work. The mayors of Fairhope and Daphne said they have not received direct complaints about the speed limit. Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan said that, overall, the city has ramped up speed enforcement throughout the city. We are running patrols everywhere, Sullivan said. Weve probably given out more tickets in the past couple of months (as compared to the recent past). People just have to slow down. But slowing down on the newly widened Alabama 181 is not something motorists anticipated, at least those expressing their discontent on social media. James Gordon, a spokesman with ALDOTs Southwest Region, said hes seen the comments from people wanting to know why the speed limit remains at 35 mph. He said it has to do with worker safety. His comments come after National Work Zone Awareness Week was held last week, during a nationwide push to urge people to slow down. The website 24/7 Wall St., in analyzing data from 2016-2020, ranked Alabama No. 12 in the nation for the most work zone car crashes resulting in a fatality. The law is that when there is a work zone, (the lowered speed limit) is in place until the work is complete, Ericksen said. The handyman who fatally beat the elderly owners of an Irondale motel with his hammer, and slit the throat of one of them, has been sentenced to death. A Jefferson County jury unanimously recommended a death sentence for 32-year-old Steven Richard Mulkey in the 2018 slayings of Siumei Kao, 76, and Ching Kao, 77, at the Siesta Motel in Irondale. The jury on Monday after a week-long trial - convicted Mulkey of capital murder of two or more persons. He was found not guilty of capital murder during a robbery and a burglary. On Monday afternoon, the sentencing phase of the trial began. After 1 /2 days of testimony in the phase, the jury on Wednesday deliberated 35 minutes before recommending death. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Alaric May then went with the jurys recommendation and imposed the death sentence. Jefferson County Chief Deputy District Attorney Joe Roberts and Assistant District Attorney Neal Zarzour prosecuted the case. They said they were pleased with the verdict and the sentence. We recognize that a death sentence is an extreme and final sentence, but the defendant earned this sentence with the senseless, brutal murder of Mr. and Mrs. Kao, Roberts said. The jury took this case very seriously. They were very attentive and considered all the evidence and worked hard to reach the correct result. We thank them for their service, Roberts said. We want to thank the Irondale Police Department for their hard work and the Ko family who trusted us to prosecute this case and get justice for their family. This is the first time in at least several years that the death sentence has been handed down in Jefferson County. Were happy with the verdict and obviously the victims family is as well, said District Attorney Danny Carr. Joe and Neal did a great job holding him accountable for the horrific crime he committed. Mulkey was defended by attorneys Chris Daniel and Scott Brower. They declined to comment on the outcome. The brutal murders happened inside the Siesta Motel in Irondale on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. The Kaos were immigrants who came to Alabama in search of the American Dream. The Kaos wrapped, decomposed bodies were found more than a week later in a remote area in Leeds. There was no dispute that Mulkey carried out the horrific crime. The killings took about 15 minutes, and each minute was captured on the couples motel surveillance video. The couple was fatally bludgeoned with Mulkeys hammer, and Mrs. Kaos throat slit. Jurors had to decide if Mulkey knew right from wrong at the time of the murders. He had pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Normally in a murder case, you dont get to see exactly what happened. We have to take eyewitnesses, direct evidence, circumstantial evidence, physical evidence from the scene, we take all those things, and we try to paint a picture for you guys to try to help you see and understand and image what happened and how bad it was, Roberts told jurors in opening statements last week. That wont be necessary in this case, Roberts said. The video shows exactly what happened. And it shows that this defendant is a cold-blooded killer. Mulkeys attorneys disagreed. Youre going to see evidence of drug addiction for Steven Mulkey, a lifetime of mental illness, poverty, homelessness. What youre never going to hear (from the defense attorneys) that this is right or good or justified. Were never going to tell you that, Daniel told the jury. This isnt a case about justification, Daniel said. Its about understanding. Mulkey took the stand in his own defense, testifying for more than an hour Friday morning. He told jurors he blacked out during the murders. My body just took over, Mulkey testified. Its just animosity, aggression. It wasnt me. It was not me. I cant explain it. I didnt realize what I did until I woke up and looked around and I was like, Whoa. What have I done? There was extra security in the courtroom as Mulkey took the stand, including two deputies standing just feet from him. Under questioning by Daniel, one of his attorneys, Mulkey explained that he suffered from behavioral problems beginning at an early age and spent much of his childhood in and out of group homes and institutions. He said he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, ADD and ADHD. Mulkey said he began using drugs at the age of 12, including alcohol, marijuana and methamphetamine. Anything a teenager could get his hands on, he said. During his testimony, Mulkey chronicled the events leading up to the murders, and the hours and days after when he dumped their bodies and fled the state to avoid prosecution. He was captured by U.S. Marshals in Virginia. Asked by his attorney if he killed the Kaos while he was high on meth, Mulkey said, I honestly dont know what overcame me, man. Mulkey testified he remembered the argument that led up to the killings a dispute about what the couple owned him for cutting grass - and the moments after the killings, but doesnt remember the murders at all. Do you see that thats kind convenient that you say, I remember everything right up to the murders and then I remember everything after the murders, but I just blacked out when the terrible thing happened that I did and I cant talk about it because I dont remember, Roberts said. You see how thats convenient for the jury where (they dont) get to hear your version of what happened? " Mulkey replied that, When youre doing drugs like that, it just overtakes you all of the sudden, out of the blue. One of the men accused in the 2020 murder of seven people in rural Morgan County asked the judge overseeing his case to allow him to attend church, according to court documents. In a handwritten letter on notepaper submitted earlier this month, John Michael Legg told Morgan County Circuit Judge Stephen Brown he had been removed from Sunday church services. Legg, 22, of Hartselle, along with Frederic Allen Rogers, 24, of Woodville, is charged with capital murder in the June 4, 2020 shootings of seven people in a house on Talucah Road in Valhermoso Springs in eastern Morgan County. The defendants have been in the Morgan County Jail with no bail since their arrests in Marion County, Oregon, on June 21, 2020. A status hearing is set for both Legg and Rogers on October 2 at 11 a.m. In a one-page letter, Legg wrote to Brown: Ive made some mistakes since Ive been in jail, but fellowship is an important part of being a Christian. Im trying to better myself through attending church and other faith based classes. Please dont let my lapse in judgment affect my growth in grace. Legg went on to ask Brown, Please your honor, allow me to return to fellowship with those who come here from Beltline Church of Christ. It is unclear what prompted the letter. An order from Brown on April 4 directed Legg to address any motions or communication through his attorneys. Legg attempted last year to escape from jail, according to authorities. At a preliminary hearing on Aug. 15, 2021, FBI investigator Chris Hendon testified that Rogers gave a written statement that said he fatally shot James Wayne Benford, 22, of Decatur, Jeramy Roberts, 31, of Athens, Roger Lee Jones Jr., 20, of Decatur, and William Zane Hodgin, 18, of Somerville. Rogers statement, according to Hendon, said Legg was responsible for the shooting deaths of homeowner Tammy England Muzzey, 45, Emily Payne, 21, and Dakota Green, 17, all of Valhermoso Springs. Authorities found about 60 spent bullet casings in the house, and a witness said all of the victims died of multiple gunshot wounds. A small dog was also fatally shot. According to a search warrant affidavit, a witness said Legg and Rogers were members of a club called 7 Deadly Sins, which also included at least three of the homicide victims. Rogers and Legg became upset, particularly Legg, over the perceived disobedience towards the club and the theft of several of his firearms a few hours before the homicides, according to the affidavit. The witness stated that Rogers and Legg stated something to the effect of, Were going in there by force and wipe the slate clean. The witness stated that Rogers and Legg continued to state that the club would be dismantled by the end of the night. Shortly after the shootings, according to the affidavit, the witness received a text from Rogers that said, Everything has been dealt with. Huntsville police say one person was stabbed this afternoon. According to police, officers responded to a call at the intersection of Derrick Street and Hall Ave. around 1:50 p.m. HEMSI transported one person from the scene to Huntsville Hospital. Police say the victim has life-threatening injuries. Krystal Marie Tysa Thomas, 28, was charged with aggravated assault. Investigators say they believe an argument led up to the stabbing. Thomas was booked into the Madison County Jail on the listed charge. Microsoft will no longer include its own messaging app, Teams, in its Office productivity bundle. The Redmond tech giant is reportedly making this move to address the concerns raised to regulators regarding alleged antitrust practices. Given Microsoft's cases with regulatory boards in different parts of the world, choosing to un-bundle Teams seems to be its easiest way out of a court battle. Microsoft Unbundling Teams from Office Likely a Response to Slack's Antitrust Complaint As reported by Financial Times, Microsoft's decision to unbundle Teams could be an attempt to prevent further conflict with EU regulators. Salesforce, the tech company that currently owns Team's close rival Slack, filed a complaint before the regulatory board in 2020 about Microsoft selling Teams in a package with the Office suite. According to Salesforce, this practice is a clear violation of the EU's antitrust laws. "We're asking the EU to be a neutral referee, examine the facts and enforce the law," a Salesforce general counsel stated as per Engadget. As Microsoft is facing a possible full-blown EU antitrust investigation, making it the tech company's biggest regulatory concern in almost a decade, unbundling Teams appears to be the best choice for the tech company. Based on the Financial Times' report, Microsoft will allow individuals and organizations to purchase Office without Teams. However, it remains to be seen how this new system will be applied. When asked about the company's status with EU regulators, Microsoft said that the talks are currently ongoing but no deal has been made as of now. "We are mindful of our responsibilities in the EU as a major technology company. We continue to engage cooperatively with the commission in its investigation and are open to pragmatic solutions that address its concerns and serve customers well," Microsoft said. Nonetheless, Microsoft is hopeful that removing Teams from the Office suite bundle would stop the pressure from regulators. If the company's move achieved this outcome, other tech companies facing the same antitrust issues could follow Microsoft's lead and provide unbundled packages for their products and services. Related Article: New Microsoft Teams Will Perform Better than Its Predecessor Microsoft's Possible Antitrust Case with the EU Not Its First Regulation Conflict Slack's antitrust complaint before the EU is not the first time that Microsoft faced a regulatory issue. In 2009, the Big Tech entered a settlement deal with the European Commission to allow its customers to avail of an alternative web browser. However, Microsoft was unable to comply with that deal consistently and the company was given a 561 million fine in 2013. In 2001, Microsoft was forced to agree with sharing APIs with third-party software developers and allowing the installation of non-Microsoft software on its computers. The most recent gaffe of Microsoft with regulators happened just recently when its plans to purchase Activision Blizzard for $69 billion came to a halt due to regulators in the EU and UK interfering with the deal. Microsoft also has to settle with the US Federal Trade Commission to proceed with the purchase. There are no words yet from the regulators if Microsoft will be allowed to complete the transaction. However, it is a high stake for Microsoft since buying Activision will make it a formidable force in the gaming industry, with Activision's huge franchises including "Call of Duty" and "Halo" being part of the deal. Read Also: Elon Musk to Sue Microsoft Over Dropping Twitter from Its Advertising Platform Some Alabama lawmakers are trying to increase restrictions on conversations about LGBTQ issues for students in public schools across the state. HB354, sponsored by Rep. Mack Butler of Rainbow City, states that such conversations would have to be age and developmentally appropriate, though those terms are not specified in the bill. It would also require schools to notify parents if there are any changes in the students services or monitoring relating to the students mental, emotional or physical health. Parents should be notified about health care services available at the start of each year and have the option to opt out, according to the bill. Butlers bill awaits review from the House Education Policy Committee. Currently, it is not yet scheduled to appear before the committee. Similar legislation passed in Alabama during the 2022 legislative session, though it only applied to children fifth grade and younger. The law mirrored language in a recent Florida law, dubbed Dont Say Gay by critics. The 2022 law came as a surprise amendment on a bill requiring students to use the bathroom that is consistent with the gender on their birth certificate. After it passed, Alabama state superintendent Eric Mackey said teachers would likely need guidance on how to handle classroom discussions if gender identity or sexual orientation came up. Lawmakers and advocates expressed concern over potential impact, and officials struggled to offer guidance to schools, who often offer a wide variety of mental health services, social services and counseling services to students and families. LGBTQ advocates reported incidents of teachers being asked to take down Pride flags and students being denied access to bathrooms that aligned with their gender identity. Last year, Alabama officials have said that if a student changes their birth name or pronouns, schools should honor the students wishes. School faculty also voiced concern that parent complaints could lead to teachers and counselors losing their jobs based on the states new law. Critics of the new law have also asked how it will affect sex education, along with instruction about reproductive health and sexual activity. Butlers bill would also require local boards of education to obtain parental permission before administering certain health screenings and questionnaires. The State Board of Education would also be required to define and adopt procedures for notifying parents of changes in a students services relating to mental, emotional or physical health. Local boards would be prohibited from enacting contrary practices. Parents who are concerned about their childs school in relation to this bill would be instructed to notify the principal. If their concern was not resolved, parents could seek the appointment of a special magistrate appointed by the State Superintendent of Education to recommend a resolution to the issue or bring a cause of action against the local board of education, the bill states. The cost of the special magistrate would be footed by the school district. Butlers bill follows requests from judges for some parents to turn over their childrens medical records in a court case, as well as bans forcing trans athletes at both the K-12 and collegiate levels to play on teams that align with the gender on their birth certificate. Neighboring states Georgia and Florida have pushed for similar classroom bans. In Florida, a lawmaker also is attempting to ban schools from using pronouns that align with a transgender students gender identity. Butlers bill must receive a favorable report in committee before it can head back to the House floor for a vote. Rep. Mark Gidley, R-Gadsden, one of the bills cosponsors, sits on the 15-member Education Policy Committee, along with Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, who sponsored the bill forcing transgender athletes to play on teams consistent with the gender listed on their birth certificate. When Ann Bedsole pitched legislation in Montgomery more than 30 years ago to create a magnet school for gifted math and science students, she never dreamed she would be walking into the school at age 93 and receiving a diploma. But thats exactly what happened Tuesday inside the schools cafeteria in midtown Mobile. Related story: Renaissance woman, trailblazer: Why Ann Bedsole will be honored in Mobile today Heavens, no, said Bedsole, reacting to a question on whether she could have predicted the days events back in 1989, when she was the Senate sponsor of a bill that created the school. Absolutely not. But Im very proud of getting a diploma. Been needing a diploma for all these years. 23 Ann Bedsole Day Bedsole was honored at the school with an honorary degree and graduation gown stole during Ann Bedsole Day as part of the institutions 30th anniversary of its first graduating class in 1993. The school was created through legislation that was adopted in Montgomery in 1989. Bedsole, the first woman ever elected to the Alabama Senate, was the bills sponsor who helped make the school a reality a few years after then-Gov. George Wallace asked Bedsole to begin investigating the creation of a gifted boarding school. The most valuable thing the Alabama School of Math and Science can bestow on anyone is to make you a graduate, said John Hoyle, the president of the school, created through a public-private partnership, which provides a focus on math and science learning to Alabama students in grades 10-12. He said the school will provide honorary degrees going forward and will name those degrees after Bedsole, who is credited as the schools founder. The building on the schools midtown Mobile campus is named after Bedsole. She has championed this school at every twist and turn, and sometimes strong-armed mayors and governors to make sure students have what they needed to succeed, said Hoyle. Standard of excellence Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey speaks during a luncheon to honor the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science's founder, Ann Bedsole, on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Mobile, Ala. The luncheon was held inside the school's cafeteria and was part of the institution's week-long 30th anniversary event. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com) Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, who gave Bedsole a challenge coin, said the goals set by Bedsole and the bills House sponsor the late state Rep. Steve McMillan of Gulf Shores, who died last year at age 80 have not only been accomplished, but exceeded as well. This school has set the standards for excellence in the state of Alabama, she said. Iveys appearance comes as school-related issues are a hot topic in Montgomery. A school choice measure is expected to be debated at the State House this week. Criticism is also being directed at Ivey for her decision last week for the abrupt resignation of Barbara Cooper, secretary of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, over concerns from the governors administration about the content within a resource manual for pre-K teachers. According to Iveys staff, the book contained what they called woke concepts. Ivey did not touch upon those issues and kept her comments brief before leaving to the school luncheon without taking questions from the media. Leave Your Footprint Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, meanwhile, called Bedsole a giant and praised her recently released autobiography, Leave Your Footprint. He said he was captivated by the book and said it should be must-reading for freshmen legislators in Alabama. Stimpson then referenced a chapter of the book in which Bedsole once lamented about Mobile as a city that could not achieve much. With your permission, I declare that Mobile is no longer that city of perpetual potential, Stimpson said. Bedsole said she has been pleased to see Mobiles changes over the years. But she told AL.com on Monday that her No. 1 hope for the city is to move forward with a proposed annexation plan that is backed by the Stimpson administration. It hurts to see your city fall out from being the second largest city, said Bedsole. To be fourth or something like that we are a great city. We should be No. 1, and not way down the line. The proposal from the Stimpson administration is to annex properties to the west and northwest of Mobile and adding in as many as 25,806 residents. The proposals, if adopted, could allow Mobile to leapfrog Montgomery and Birmingham and become the second largest city in Alabama trailing only fast-growing Huntsville. The proposal needs approval from the Mobile City Council first before a special election can be set allowing for the residents in the unincorporated areas of the city to vote on it. If a majority of voters support annexation, the properties will be added into the citys municipal boundaries. Fugees rapper Pras Michel was convicted in federal court in an illegal lobbying case that included testimony from former Alabama Sen. and ex-U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Michel was charged in 2021 by federal prosecutors in Washington with participating in an illegal lobbying campaign to have a dissident Chinese businessman deported and for DOJ officials to drop an embezzlement investigation involving a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund on behalf of financier Low Taek Jho. Sessions, who was attorney general at the time of Michels offenses, took the stand for the defense last week in D.C. federal court. Sessions recalled two meetings where DOJ officials discussed deporting the dissident, Guo Wengui, including one requested by a Chinese vice minister for public security, Politico reported. But Sessions said Guo wasnt deported when he was attorney general and he never took the meeting requested by the Chinese official. Sessions, the longtime former U.S. Senator from Alabama, also testified that he was unaware of ever meeting Michel. I dont recall ever having met him, Sessions said, according to Politico. Still, said Sessions, Michels request for a meeting did not have an air of impropriety on its face. I think thats an appropriate action, although the State Department would have an important role to play in that and others, perhaps Homeland Security, since this figure was important to China, he said. Sessions wasnt the only high-profile witness in the case. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio testified for the prosecution on his relationship with Low in a bid by prosecutors to show that Low used stolen money to curry favor with actors, models and politicians in the United States, according to CNN. Michel was also accused of funneling money from a now-fugitive Malaysian financer through straw donors to Barack Obamas 2012 reelection campaign, then trying to squelch a DOJ investigation and influence Guos extradition case on behalf of China under the Trump administration. The defense argued the Grammy-winning rapper from the 1990s hip-hop group the Fugees simply wanted to make money and got bad legal advice as he reinvented himself in the world of politics. The Associated Press contributed to this report. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville on Tuesday vowed to keep his hold on Department of Defense nominees over his objections to the agencys new abortion policy as Sen. Elizabeth Warren became the latest Democrat to slam Tubervilles stance. I want to start by reminding everyone why this is happening. Its not about abortion. Its not about the Dobbs decision. This is about a tyrannical executive branch walking all over the United States Senate and doing our jobs, Alabamas senior senator said Tuesday on the Senate floor, referring to the Defense Departments policies that allow service members to request administrative absence for non-covered reproductive health services, which includes elective abortions and IVF, for themselves or to accompany their partners. The policies also provide transportation allowances to travel to states where reproductive care is more expansive. Tuberville contends that the policies are unlawful and that current law only allows the agency to fund abortions in cases of rape, incest, or the life of the mother is threatened. I warned [Defense] Secretary Austin that if he did this ... I would put a hold on his highest-level nominees. Secretary Austin went through with the policy anyway in February of this year. So, I am keeping my word, the senator said. This was Secretary Austins choice, not mine. he knew the consequences for several months. Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, attempted to break Tubervilles hold, claiming the move damages military readiness. She also said Tuberville could introduce legislation to reverse the agencys policies instead of putting a hold on 186 military nominees. That is how democracy works, she said. But Tuberville stayed firm. Im not going to budge, he said. I will come here as many times as it takes, day and night, to vote. He also said the military readiness argument from Warren and other Democrats who criticized the holds, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, is not valid. Democrats keep repeating the same talking points and the same opinion. But not one of them has cited any facts. Not one. Ive even asked the Pentagon to explain to me how this affects readiness. All Ive heard is opinions, he said. My hold has no effect on readiness. None. In an Armed Services Committee hearing last week, Chairman Reed asked two of the militarys top combatant commanders what impact would my hold gave on readiness. Admiral John Aquilino said, quote, no impact. General Paul LaCamera agreed. There is no impact on readiness or operations. Tuberville also cited numerous news articles going back a decade maintaining that the military is top heavy. We do not suffer from a lack of generals, he said. And while Democrats complain about Tubervilles delay in confirming military nominees, the senator said those Democrats have little to no concern about the military recruitment crisis, pointing out that the military missed its recruitment goal last year by 20,000 enlisted soldiers. Part of Gov. Kay Iveys job is as a saleswoman, pitching the state to businesses and attempting to drum up investment in Alabama. On Tuesday, the governor was selling something else -- real women koozies featuring her likeness sold on Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders website in response to Bud Lights sponsoring of trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney that became another front in the conservative culture wars. Not everyone is cut out to be a woman. But ladies, weve got your back (and your cold beverage)! Ivey wrote on her campaign Twitter account Tuesday. Evidently, corporate America needed a reminder of what a real woman is. Help remind them, and order your koozie today! Not everyone is cut out to be a woman. But ladies, weve got your back (and your cold beverage)! pic.twitter.com/3h61LoBPNs Kay Ivey (@kayiveyforgov) April 25, 2023 Sanders and Ivey are among four Republican female governors featured in the Real Women campaign, which Sanders launched Sunday when she tweeted Real women dont have to fake it, and spoofs Bud Lights Real Men of Genius ad campaign: Real women dont have to fake it. WATCH pic.twitter.com/fAOClq5c1S Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) April 24, 2023 The koozies featuring the four women are on sale on Sanders website for $15 for two. While not mentioning the company by name, Sanders ad seemingly references the controversy surrounding Bud Lite and maker Anheuser-Busch partnering with Mulvaney, a move that led to a boycott and at least two of the drink-makers executives taking leaves of absence. After the Mulvaney issue errupted, Anheuser-Busch Brendan Whitworth said the company never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people. We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer. I care deeply about this country, this company, our brands and our partners. I spend much of my time traveling across America, listening to and learning from our customers, distributors and others. Moving forward, I will continue to work tirelessly to bring great beers to consumers across our nation, Whitworth said earlier this month. Artificial intelligence has been increasingly smarter thanks to its developers, and it has come to the point that AI can come up with inventions on its own. While some believe that the technology should be given credit, the federal and US Supreme Court disagrees. US Supreme Court Rejects Petition for Review Stephen Thaler, the man who wants his AI to get the credit for inventing two products, filed the petition to the US Supreme Court, hoping to overturn the federal court's decision regarding an AI's right to be an inventor. Unfortunately for the computer scientist and founder of Imagination Engines, the Supreme Court rejected the petition, making it appear like the latter agrees that AI cannot be identified as inventors. The "inventor" AI system in question is called DABUS. The inventions that Thaler wanted to credit DABUS with were a fractal food container and a unique pattern for the emergency light beacon, as mentioned in Interesting Engineering. Upon filing a patent with the US Patent and Trademark Office, Thaler listed DABUS as the inventor. Since USPTO's applications only allow "natural persons," Thaler's filing was rejected. This resulted in him suing the director of the agency, Andrei Iancu. After two years, the federal court in eastern Virginia decided to side with USPTO. Thaler, refusing to accept the decision, took the case to the US Court of Appeals, to which he was also unsuccessful. The computer scientist then proceeded with the petition to the US Supreme Court, which also did not go his way. The last resort would be the decision of the US Congress to allow machines when regarding inventor status, but all Thaler can be for it is optimistic. He believes that the rejection of AI as inventors could disrupt progress since developers will not have access to intellectual property. He does have a point in one aspect, which is humans not being able to take credit for something that AI created if the technology can be identified as the inventor. As AI issues have only become prominent as of late, it might be a while before his issue is addressed. Read Also: Google Announced that AI Features Will Be Added to Workspace Apps Giving AI Credit AI has been generating a lot of convincing content lately, and many of them can be passed off as human-made. While some users indicate it when AI created or assisted in the creation process, some might exploit the AI's capabilities. With the emergence of smarter and more advanced AI, it can provide realistic photos based solely on commands or instructions given by a user. It can also generate code that can successfully create functional websites. One of the biggest issues talked about regarding AI is the generation of art. It's not easy to identify whether an artwork is created by the artist alone, used AI to enhance it, or if they used AI entirely. In one case, a photographer from Berlin refused an award for his photo due to it being "co-produced" by AI using AI image generators, according to PetaPixel. The photo won 1st place in the creative category of the Sony World Photography Awards 2023. Related: Google Will Soon Add an Image Generator, Browser Chatbot Using some Google Workspace apps just became easier. Google recently added an enhanced tool finder at the top of some Google Workspace apps to make using them easier for users, especially those trying them out for the first time. The feature is now available on the Google Workspace apps the company added it on. Google Enhanced Tool Finder Details Google mentioned in its latest Workspace Updates blog that it added an enhanced tool finder at the top of three of its most widely used Workspace apps to make it easier for users to find and discover commonly used tools and features. The Workspace apps that received this new and improved tool finder are Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides. The tech giant expects the new and enhanced tool finder will save time and users' workflow by helping them find the exact feature or tool much quicker than normal. Before the update, users could locate various features and tools on the previously mentioned Workspace apps by going to their Hep menu and selecting Search - a cumbersome solution to find certain features, especially in a hurry. What's special with this new tool finder is that users can use their own words to locate relevant features or functionality quickly. For example, searching for "who last viewed this document" will make the Activity dashboard appear, allowing users to view who last saw the document in question. Read More: Twitter Blue Verification Badges Appear on Accounts of Deceased Celebrities Opening the enhanced tool finder immediately after creating a new file makes suggestions for common actions taken when preparing a new document, spreadsheet, or presentation appear. For instance, Google Docs' tool finder will suggest opening Page setup, Dropdown, and opening Meeting Notes, while Google Sheets' will suggest inserting rows/columns, merging cells, and/or freezing them. Google Slides' tool finder would suggest opening Page Setup, Spell Check, and Edit Theme upon creating a new presentation, similar to Google Docs' and Google Sheets'. The Verge reports that this new tool finder comes with a pill-shaped design consistent with Google's recent Material Design 3 overhaul, giving the new feature a look that doesn't stand out from the design of these Google Workspace apps. Google mentioned it is gradually rolling out its new and enhanced tool finder to all users. However, the company said it would start rolling the feature out on Rapid Release domains on Apr. 25, while it would do the same to Scheduled Release domains on May 10. Google Workspace Apps' New UI Google's addition of its new and enhanced tool finder is part of its efforts to make its Workspace apps easier to use than before. These efforts include the apps' new user interfaces that let users access their features more easily. This new UI design also fits the company's Material Design 3 language, per an earlier report of The Verge. This new UI makes the productivity apps look similar to Gmail's UI, removing the clutter and adding a few improvements and additions along the way. Related Article: Google Officially Launches New UI for Its Productivity Apps Let us suppose you draw water and sediment in small quantities from a stream bed. After removing some solid material, you let the remainder flow back into the stream without adding anything. Are you polluting the stream? Common sense dictates one answer. But an overzealous Idaho green group and a federal court do not see it that way. So Shannon Poe, a suction dredge miner, ended up paying a $150,000 fine after a citizen suit was brought against him in 2018 by the Idaho Conservation League (ICL). Technically, the fine, imposed by Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Raymond E. Patricco in September 2022, was for not obtaining permits for suction mining (NPDES permit IDG370000). Which means the activity isnt banned outright as polluting. But before that, Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald E. Bush (see page 11 of his judgement) had determined that the very nature of Mr. Poes suction dredge mining added pollutants to the South Fork Clearwater River. In March this year, Poe appealed the ruling in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is being defended by the pro bono law firm Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF). The foundation says that in fining Poe, the U.S. District Court in Idaho relied on a 1990 judgement of the Ninth Circuit court that went by the Environment Protection Agencys (EPA) dubious interpretation of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The PLF maintains this is indefensible, and points out that the 33-year-old ruling has essentially been overruled by the Supreme Court on at least two occasions. The crux of the issue is whether arbitrary interpretation of the law by an independent executive agency like the EPA, run by bureaucrats and experts and insulated from elected authority, holds weight. More broadly, whether it must be allowed. Unelected bureaucrats constituting the administrative state have imposed thousands of regulations on many aspects of our lives. This subverts the principle of government of, by, and for the people. Too often, the liberty of citizens like Poe is curtailed; they find themselves fighting the weight of the federal government and facing fines and imprisonment. Poe, who serves on the Mariposa (CA) County Board of Supervisors, has been suction dredge mining since 2007. In the pioneering American tradition of the Forty-niners, he and thousands of small-scale dredge miners make a living from gold isolated from sediment. They use high-pressure gasoline-powered pumps, about the size of a lawnmower, to pass water and gravel into a sluice, which retains the gold and expels everything else. A gold suction dredge (Photo credit: US Forest Service CC BY 2.0 license) In the process, heavy elements, including lead and mercury, get trapped. So the process actually cleans streams. If a fish is sucked up, it passes through the sluice and returns to the water unharmed. Poe demonstrates the occurrence in a video using a variety of fruit that exit the sluice intact and unbruised. He cites a biologists conclusions that fish thrive in dredged environments, and that the activity in fact creates fish habitats, making it easier for them to find or make holes to hide from predators. Two former EPA scientists, Joseph C. Greene and Claudia Wise, have frequently given expert opinion that suction dredge mining does not harm fish. Two of their in-depth reports are on pages 31-47 of Appendix K to the Suction Dredging Scoping Report, submitted to the California governor, and available here. Indeed, the first time Poe faced opposition (in 2009) was over harming fish in the Merced River in California. Then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had banned suction dredge mining, claiming that it killed salmon, though a dam prevents salmon from entering the Merced. Realizing that many battles lay ahead, Poe founded the American Mining Rights Association in 2012 to promote and preserve rights to access and mine on public lands. It has more than 10,000 dues-paying members, according to a submission to the Supreme Court (page 8). Meanwhile, green groups, more passionate than informed, have been able to restrict suction dredge mining in several western states. Poes position that suction dredge mining does not pollute waterways is supported by the Supreme Court decisions in Los Angeles County Flood Control District v. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Inc (2013) and South Florida Water Management District v. Miccosukee Tribe (2004). In the former, environmental group NRDC had alleged that Los Angeles County, by transporting stormwater through rivers and channels flowing to the Pacific Ocean as part of its flood-control function, was discharging pollutants and could not do so without a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The high court ruled that there was no discharge of pollutant and so no permit was required. In its defense, Los Angeles County had cited the latter judgement of the court. The Miccosukee tribe had contended that by pumping water from a canal into a reservoir, South Florida was causing pollution and hence breaking the law by operating without an NPDES permit. The court had ruled that when water even if it is polluted to begin with is transferred within a single water body, there is no addition of pollutant. So the permit is not required. Suction dredge mining can be viewed as an extremely scaled down instance of such transfer. That is for the Ninth Circuit Court to decide. The larger issue remains, however, of the growing power of the administrative state, deeply influenced by activist groups and so-called experts in all fields who have arrogated power from the peoples representatives in Congress to legislate. The last thing on their minds is accountability. Suspect science is imposed arbitrarily as binding decisions, and debate is discouraged or overridden. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, for example, diverted water from farmers to protect an allegedly endangered fish without the consent of the people or any independent oversight and verification from the scientific community. Another example is the LaPant v. Corp of Army Engineers case, in which a farmer received a cease-and-desist letter to suspend operations for illegally filling wetlands on a wheat field. All Jack LaPant had done was move dirt in the normal course of farming; he ended up paying fines and legal fees. In Sackett v. EPA, property owners have been unable to build a home on their land as it was declared a protected wetland with regulated navigable water though there is no connection to any waterway. The epitome of such arbitrary mandates was when former President Obama ran into Congressional resistance to drastically change the nations power grid with a cap-and-trade bill, ostensibly to combat climate change. He proceeded to act on his own through an executive order and working with the EPA. His imperious statement on resistance had been, Ive got a pen and Ive got a phone and I can use that pen to sign executive orders, and take executive actions and administrative actions that move the ball forward. Fortunately, he was thwarted by the Supreme Court. Poe and all conservatives who believe that action originating in environmental alarmism must not affect peoples livelihoods await the Ninth Circuit Courts decision. His challenge to the EPAs interpretation of law is a challenge to the administrative state. It is heartening that many individuals and groups are fighting to end its hold on Americans lives. Despite the predominance of identity politics -- where the skin and/or non-Western religious identity of any victim is constantly highlighted -- the identity of that one group most persecuted around the world -- Christians -- is always dissembled over whenever they are slaughtered (which is daily, globally speaking). Consider the establishments reaction following the March 27, 2023 killings in Nashville, where a woman claiming to be a man (aka transgender) stormed her former Christian school and murdered three nine-year-old children and three staffers. Although she left a manifesto spelling out her motive, American authorities -- including the FBI, ATF, National Police, and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland -- concluded that the murderers motive is unknown. At the same time, and bowing to pressure from the lgbt-etc lobby, they have refused to release her manifesto to the public. Of course, for those whose common sense is still intact, the motive is as clear as day; no manifesto required. As (the now canceled) Tucker Carlson had put it: [The] victims were murdered because they were Christians. Its that simple. Transgenderists hate Christians above all not because Christians are a physical threat -- the third graders [killed] were not a physical threat -- but because Christians refuse to join every other liar in our society and proclaim that transgenderists are gods with the power to change nature itself. Christians are not allowed to say that, they have their own God. And for that refusal, that unwillingness to bow down and worship a false idol, in this case of transgenderism, they were murdered. Such obvious connections were missed by none other than the commander-in-chief, Joe Biden. When asked if he thought the slain victims of the Nashville shooting were targeted due to their Christian identity, Biden replied I have no idea. This is the same man who, with zero evidence, suggested that the killer of Muslims in Arizona must be a white supremacist. (It was later revealed that the killer was a Muslim.) For those aware of how the establishment covers -- or rather covers up -- the Muslim persecution of Christians, the response to and coverage of the Nashville murders should be very familiar. On the one hand, the establishment is trying to downplay the identity of both the (trans) murderer and her (Christian) victims. This is always the case when Muslims slaughter Christians. Over the last two decades, I have read countless media reports of terrorist attacks that kills dozens of people only to find at the very end of the report, or by reading between-the-lines, that those slain were Christians, and those targeting them, the hitherto generic terrorists, were Muslims. On those rare occasions that the terror-strike on Christians is spectacularly large enough to demand a response from the establishment, identity is again dissembled. When Muslims bombed three churches in Sri Lanka during Easter Sunday, 2019, killing some 300 Christians, Democratic leaders, including Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton, could not even bring themselves to identify the slain victims as Christians. Instead, they condemned a terror attack on Easter worshippers. T he unknown motive currently being used for the Nashville murders is also a mainstay whenever the Christian identity of Islams victims surfaces. In the Congo, for example, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which, despite its name -- or perhaps in keeping with it -- is closely allied to the Islamic State, has for years been terrorizing that overwhelmingly Christian-majority nation in an effort to create a caliphate. Although the ADF has slaughtered countless Christians in the name of jihad, while recently reporting on one of its more lethal attacks on Christians, Reuters declared: There was no indication as to the motive. Another tactic that the establishment resorts to whenever forced to acknowledge the identity of slain Christians is to somehow reverse the roles and present the victims as oppressors and the murderers as victims As Tucker said in the same segment: Transgenderists and their allies spent today attacking Christians, just days after a transgenderist murdered Christian children. Indeed, many in the media implied that Christians had it coming. One published statement claimed that the trans murderers life was made difficult by anti-trans legislation promulgated by Christians, and, therefore, anti-trans hate has consequences. Similarly, immediately after reporting on the Nashville murders and the trans identity of the murderer, ABC News Terry Moran stressed that earlier this month Tennessee passed a bill banning transgender care for minors -- again, implying a cause and effect relationship. According to this logic, because Tennessee Christians banned the sexual mutilation of children, a trans person only naturally sought vengeance. Even some of the media headlines seemed intentionally misleading, including (no surprise) Reuters: Former Christian school student kills 3 children, 3 staff in Nashville shooting. Anyone just reading the headline -- as most people increasingly do -- would likely conclude that a Christian targeted non-Christians. Such misleading headlines and worse are par for the course whenever Christians are targeted by Muslims. Thus the New York Times headline for a 2011 Islamic terror attack on an Egyptian church that left 21 worshippers dead was Clashes Grow as Egyptians Remain Angry after an Attack -- as if frustrated and harried Christians (referred to by the generic Egyptians) lashing out against their persecutors was the big news, not the unwarranted butchery they just experienced. Similarly, NPR once ran a report accompanied by a large photo of what appeared to be a fanatical Christian mob waving a crucifix -- not what prompted that particular display of Christian solidarity: the nonstop persecution of Copts in Egypt. Or consider a 2012 BBC report on a church attack in Nigeria that left three Christians, including an infant, dead. It objectively states the bare-bone facts before jumping to the really big news: the bombing sparked a riot by Christian youths, with reports that at least two Muslims were killed in the violence. The two men were dragged off their bikes after being stopped at a roadblock set up by the rioters, police said. A row of Muslim-owned shops was also burned The report goes on and on, with an entire section about very angry Christians till one confuses victims with persecutors, forgetting what the Christians are very angry about in the first place: nonstop terror attacks on their churches and the slaughter or enslavement of their women and children. Incidentally, since that 2012 church attack, literally thousands more churches have been attacked, torched, or bombed by Muslims in genocidal Nigeria, where one Christian is killed every two hours. But the establishment continues to point to anything and everything for a motive -- most recently, climate change. Theres a global war on Christians. As recent events in Nashville make clear, it is well ensconced in America. And the enemies of Christians -- whether Muslims or trans, whether the establishment or media -- are legion. Raymond Ibrahim, author of Defenders of the West and Sword and Scimitar, is the Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum. Image: firemutualaid It finally happened. Out of frustration, Gray Television's Jon Decker, a member of the White House press corps, flat-out asked White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre: "Is the administration trying to protect the president from our questions?" "Absolutely not. Absolutely not," Ms. Jean-Pierre insisted. Decker then pressed Jean-Pierre on why Biden had nothing formal in place on the calendar for the press to ask him questions. "So why the lack of any interaction in a formal setting to have a press conference?" he asked. "I mean, the president takes shouted questions," responded Jean-Pierre, her verbal dodge recognized for what it was by the other reporters present. Noting previous presidents, Decker continued, telling Jean-Pierre, "This is not the norm. The norm is, we do get an opportunity to ask the questions to the president about domestic and foreign policy issues in a formal setting at some point, and you choose that point, but we haven't had that opportunity in quite some time." The reporter's questions are fair and thoughtful. When was the last time the American public saw President Biden sit down with reporters and allow them to ask a wide range of unfiltered questions on the big issues of the day, with him conversant and in his own words? But press avoidance has been President Biden's modus operandi since before taking office. After campaigning from his basement, it took President Biden until late March 2021 to hold his first press conference, more than two months after his inauguration and the longest a new president had gone without holding a press conference in a century. Now over 150 days have passed since Biden's last stand-alone press conference at the White House, meaning he has participated in fewer conferences than the last five presidents. For his last solo press conference on U.S. soil, customarily open to the entire press corps, one must go back to Nov. 9 of last year, after the midterm elections. His last press conference was held on November 14 on the margins of the Group of 20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, after his much-anticipated first presidential in-person meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Maybe more concerning should be that the U.S. president has declined speaking with any reporter not on a very short, pre-approved White House list in the past five months. Despite Ms. Jean-Pierre's forced assertion that President Biden is responsive, the obvious, visible, and extraordinarily tight control on President Biden's appearances belie a palpable fear and trepidation in White House officials of his abilities and what he might say (or not) and do if left alone to speak extemporaneously and without aids such as a teleprompter or detailed note cards. Signs of his staff's fear and control abound. A White House staffer dressed as the Easter Bunny hovers close to the president to usher him away from White House guests when he begins speaking with them. His wife, Jill Biden, walked him away from reporters when they asked questions about classified documents. He frequently departs from an event podium or forum without taking questions. Carefully scripted note cards with instructions for what to do and say at literally every turn are ubiquitous. When he does take questions, he is apt to call on only preselected reporters from in his own words "a list I've been given." The president has also developed a bad habit of not being available to the press during visits with foreign leaders. While "joint pressers" often called "two-by-twos" are not held with every head of state visit, it is uncommon not to offer one when a G-7 leader or another key ally comes to Washington. To wit, the president declined to host a joint press conference for German chancellor Olaf Scholz's March 3 visit to the White House and didn't conduct a press conference while hosting U.K. prime minister Rishi Sunak and Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese in San Diego on March 13, but he did participate in a short press conference with Canadian prime minister Trudeau on 23 March. More recently, the president was taken to task by the press for not having any customary availability or taking any questions during the Saint Patrick's Day visit of the Irish prime minister. In fact, President Biden ignored and even laughed off press questions at the meeting, declining to engage despite major crises including a Russian jet downing a U.S. drone, bank failures, and revelations from GOP probes of his family's foreign business dealings. This particular media duck came despite press secretary Jean-Pierre's attempts to assuage reporters over the lack of a planned press conference by hinting the day prior that President Biden might actually take questions in the Oval Office. And his just-completed trip to Ireland further lacked the customary and expected news conference, where the president and the host nation's leader entertain questions from both the local and U.S. press. The American public realizes something is amiss that it is not just grumblings of reporters in the White House press room trying to make deadlines that President Biden is too frequently kept from answering questions. Is it too much to ask of the president for him to sit down with the press deputized for the American public and answer their pointed questions? Then for him to explain his policies and decisions the "whys" while speaking in his own words, sans teleprompters, note cards and hovering aides, on the major issues facing the nation? Is it unreasonable for Americans to expect a periodic dialogue not a scripted speech, but a conversation with him to tell us where he is taking this nation? Given presidential roles as both the nation's "chief executive" and "chief citizen," he should be able to answer questions with comprehensive, reasoned, and considered answers on his own. His oft-employed one-word replies to the "shouted questions" touted by his press secretary don't pass muster. Ultimately a public servant, with a paycheck signed by the American taxpayer, a president any president is derelict in his duties and lacking accountability to the American people if he refuses to face the press. So, Mr. President, how about a press conference? Colonel Chris J. Krisinger, USAF (Ret.) served a tour as the military adviser to the undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs at the Department of State. He is an honors graduate of the U.S. Naval War College and was also a National Defense fellow at Harvard University. If you would like to continue the conversation, contact him at cjkrisinger@gmail.com. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Earlier this month, ProPublica attempted to smear Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, implying in its reporting that he was compromised due to his friendship with real estate mogul and billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow based on the holidays the Thomas family spent with the Crow family. It led many Democrats who themselves have engaged in ethically questionable behavior to besmirch Thomas. The high priestess of liberal hypocrisy, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), a.k.a. AOC, who is being investigated by the House Ethics Committee for possible violation of congressional rules for accepting impermissible gifts, is one of the loudest advocates of branding Thomas as corrupt and demanding his impeachment. The mainstream news media, which is a P.R. wing of the Democrats, amplified the chaos. The target now is Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. Just yesterday, Politico carried a hit piece with a provocative headline: Law firm head bought Gorsuch-owned property. The gist of the claims in the piece is as follows: Gorsuch was seeking a buyer for a 40-acre tract of property he co-owned in rural Granby, Colorado since 2015. In 2017, nine days after Gorsuch was confirmed by the Senate on the Supreme Court, the property found a buyer in Brian Duffy who is the CEO at Greenberg Traurig, one of the biggest law firms in the US. Duffy and his wife purchased the property for an amount of $1.825 million;according to a deed in the countys record system. Gorsuch, who held a 20 percent stake, reported making roughly between $250,001 and $500,000 from the sale on his federal disclosure forms. Gorsuch didnt disclose the identity of the buyer in his disclosure form. Greenberg Traurig has been involved in at least 22 cases before or presented to the court. In the 12 cases where Gorsuchs opinion is recorded, he sided with Greenberg Traurig's clients eight times and against them four times. The implication here is a conflict of interest and a deliberate and malicious concealment of information. So let's look at the concealment allegation first and Gorsuch revealing the income from the sale in federal disclosure forms. This is hardly a malicious suppression of vital information. The Federalists David Harsanyi examined all the disclosure forms of other Supreme Court Justices in 2017, "and none of them made a single notation in that column for any transaction." For instance, Justice Sotomayor receives rent but there is no mention of the names of the tenant, perhaps for confidentiality purposes. The Gorsuch disclosure seems consistent with the existing standards. Now about the accusation of conflict of interest. The Politico piece mentions that Brian Duffy said he has never met or spoken with Gorsuch. Harsanyi revealed that Duffy appears to be a Democrat who donates mostly to other Democrats such as Raphael Warnock, Hillary Clinton, Charles Schumer, and Barack Obama. Politico presented no evidence that Gorsuch was compromised. Politico hasnt provided any proof that Gorsuch has adjudicated in favor of Duffys clients despite there being overwhelming evidence of Duffys clients' guilt. Politico doesnt mention any specific laws or ethical standards that Gorsuch violated. Much like the Pro-Publica hit piece on Thomas, the report relies on innuendo and implication, allowing the reader to infer that there is something fishy. Thomas and Gorsuch are being attacked for the same reason that Trump is, was, and always will be unfairly attacked. Anyone who is a challenger to the D.C. Democrat establishment and its groupthink will be the target of a persistent smear campaign. The goal is to create a perception. Whenever Gorsuchs name is mentioned, they provide the context that he was accused of a conflict of interest, they can mention the sale of a property of $1.825 million without making it clear that he co-owned the property. In the mind of casual news consumers, the narrative is that Gorsuch surrendered judicial independence for a sum of $1.825 million. A lie told a million times eventually becomes the truth. Few bother to fact-check, they believe all they see in the media. Similar claims were made about Thomas and will doubtlessly be made about other conservative justices. This debunks the theory that Trump is a target because of his 'baggage,' i.e., Trumps mean Tweets and brutish behavior. They are a target because of their behavior or utterances, but because of what they stand for. The other reason for this focused targeting is that the Supreme Court has a clear conservative majority which makes them a formidable impediment against their tyranny. They cannot punish their political opponents or send someone to jail for misgendering until they have control of the Supreme Court. If they manage to force Thomas or Gorsuch out, they hope he will be replaced by a liberal justice. If they cannot evict Thomas and Gorsuch from the Supreme Court, they hope to at least creates such a strong perception that the judges are forcing them to recuse themselves from key rulings which will tilt the balance in favor of liberals. It began with President Trump, then the targeted Supreme Court Justice Thomas, the day before it was Tucker Carlson, yesterday it was Gorsuch, tomorrow it could be you and your loved ones. Their end goal is to outlaw dissent and have a single-party system. The time of passive reactions, refutations, and condemnations is long gone. Its time for the GOP and the conservative media to be on the offensive and drive, not react, to the narrative. Remaining neutral in a battle of morals is siding with the tyrant. Image: Franz Jantzen, Collection of the Supreme Court of the U.S., via Picryl // public domain Libraries represent the heart of an academic institution and reflect its values. The magnificent Widener Library at Harvard is one of the world's greatest. It is the flagship library of the Harvard Library system of more than 20 million physical books and digital items, named for Harry Elkins Widener (Harvard Class of 1907), who went down with the Titanic in 1912. Harry was part of a privileged generation that, despite all its faults, died believing in ideals that are detested by the left today, including chivalry, as encapsulated by the phrase "Women and children first..." Image: Wikipedia, public domain. Ornate marble columns border the special room dedicated to his memory, which contains Harry's personal library of rare books, as well as a Gutenberg Bible, which, by any standard, is the foundation stone of Western civilization. One can only peer into this room; its volumes do not circulate. Image: Wikipedia, public domain. In glaring contrast, just yards from the Harry Elkins Widener room, is another room with a sign that reads, "Welcome to the heart of Harvard Library: Centering marginalized voices," or, as I call it, "The Woke Room." The sign continues: "This space is a portal to a selection of our collections focused on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Antiracism values and scholarship." Welcome to the new sanctum sanctorum (secular "holy of holies") of antiracist ideology at Harvard. If the first room reflects philanthropy, with a focus on the great books of Western civilization, this one proclaims socialism, woke propaganda. and radical chic. By Harvard's own admission, this is now the "heart" of the university library system and its core value of building "an exemplary antiracist research library." But what does building "an exemplary antiracist research library" really mean? It's a catch-all phrase built on a negative construct that can be stretched to mean almost anything. Its key characteristic is devotion to "the cause." That devotion provides a sense of ideological commitment but never ultimate fulfillment. It also generates competition, as in "I'm more antiracist than you are; therefore, I'm more dedicated, which really makes me a better person." Surveying The Woke Room, as I did recently, reminded me very much of past Marxist-Leninist bookstores. I have visited many of those in my lifetime little radical bookshops scattered in various urban enclaves around the world. As a former Pentagon Soviet affairs analyst who has studied "the other side" extensively, I know them well. And while it's true that The Woke Room does not proclaim Marxism-Leninism directly, its worldview is largely derived from the same sources, only placed in new wineskins under new names. Conservative radio commentator Mark Levin covers this phenomenon quite extensively in his bestselling book American Marxism (2021). I wrote about Harvard previously in "Harvard on the Way Down." Here are a few examples. In one part of The Woke Room, labeled "Antiracism and Human Rights," one finds several books about the Black Panthers, but certainly not David Horowitz's 2019 book Dark Agenda: The War to Destroy Christian America, where David tells how he recruited a friend, Betty Van Patter, then a mother of three, to be the Black Panthers' bookkeeper. Betty later discovered some serious financial discrepancies in the Black Panthers' books, but when she sought to have those corrected, she was murdered. David was later shattered to learn that the "people who had murdered Betty ... were my progressive comrades." The whole experience transformed him from being a hardcore Marxist into a strong conservative. However, students who do not know where to look will never hear this story. Another example is Nikole Hannah-Jones's deeply flawed book The 1619 Project, sponsored by the New York Times, which has characterized American history as a "slaveocracy." It is prominently displayed in The Woke Room. But a reader will not find Mary Grabar's well documented critique of Hannah-Jones, Debunking The 1619 Project: Exposing the Plan to Divide America (Regnery History, 2021) nearby the latter is available to students online, but one would not even know that this book exists unless one knows where to look. In another section of The Woke Room we find the late leftist activist Howard Zinn's tome, A People's History of the United States. Zinn has been credited with initially leading the effort to replace Columbus Day with "Indigenous People's Day." Grabar has subtitled a critique of Zinn's book as "Exposing the Fake History That Turned a Generation against America." Like most revolutionary movements, historical truth and accuracy are not as important as "moving the needle" in a certain direction. Other sample books in The Woke Room collection include titles such as Breaking White Supremacy and Whiteness in Plain View. One section of the room is dedicated to books on the so-called "Prison-Industrial Complex," and so on. There was one book in The Woke Room that I personally found of great interest. It is titled Plymouth Colony (The Library of America, 2022). It is a new, important compilation of early American historical documents. But why was it here? Well, the subtitle makes that clear: "Narratives of English Settlement and Native Resistance from the Mayflower to King Philip's War." Enough said. The overall Harvard Library System is the largest academic library in the world. Its stated purpose is to "champion curiosity for the betterment of the world," while its mission statement reads, "Our mission is to advance the learning, research, and pursuit of truth that are at the heart of Harvard." Nice-sounding words, but they fall far flat. One can't have a real pursuit of truth when the sources that critique or contradict the ruling ideology of an institution are buried. Such an approach also directly contradicts the grand purpose expressed by Harvard's official motto, Veritas Latin for "The Truth," or the search for the truth. This is the poisonous stew that future elites are now consuming. It is one thing for student groups to explore radical ideas and to protest what they see as society's ills. For many, this used to be part of the process of growing up. It is quite another, however, for a university itself to do so through its library system without proper critique or balance, thereby giving its stamp of approval to ideological indoctrination instead of civilized debate in a free society. A.J. Melnick is a 1977 graduate of Harvard's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and is a former Pentagon analyst. Anything the Bidenites can do, the radical leftists running Chile can do better. Which takes us from the world of Sam Brinton managing U.S. nuclear waste in the states, to (hold muh' pisco), Chile nationalizing its lithium mines and bringing in a purple-haired feminist activist social-worker academic to regulate their activities instead. Get a load of Chile's new "Seremi," or, secretary of the regional ministry, for the mighty mining province of Antofagasta, Macarena Barramuno, who's been named for that job in Chile's desert north. Una pregunta con mucho respeto........QUE CHUCHA sabe de mineria esta pokemona comunista designada como SEREMI de mineria? Natalia Valdebenito Karen Araya Iraci Matias del Rio Martin Pradenas #Concepcion #Rancagua Sierra Bella Tacna Macul Panguipulli #SinFiltros #sinfiltros_tv pic.twitter.com/mwCeKcCtMd carlos (@carlos81956718) April 25, 2023 Antofagasta is home to Chile's gargantuan lithium mining reserves, the world's second-largest, whose extraction is used create batteries for Joe Biden's much-promoted electric cars. A Google Translate of an item that ran in local PiTV Noticias Calama in neighboring Atacama reads (I left the translation imperfect): MACARENA BARRAMUNO ASSUMES AS NEW MINING SEREMI IN ANTOFAGASTA The social worker took over today, replacing Ruth Rodriguez, who declined to assume the position due to problems. During the morning, Macarena Barramuno Gonzalez, a social worker by profession and Master of Development studies specialization of Gender, from the University of Melbourne, took over as the new Mining Seremi for the Antofagasta region, who has developed her career mainly in community management designing , coordinating, and directing initiatives with the purpose of transforming and improving communities. The Presidential Delegate Karen Behrens received Barramuno at the DPR premises to talk about projections and regional needs in relation to the position that she will begin to exercise from today, wishing her success in her management. Both agreed on the relevance of this portfolio for the Antofagasta Region, given its characteristics as a mining area, within the framework of a transformative government program that places a new development model built from local communities at the center of its policies. It is necessary to highlight that Ruth Rodriguez was unable to assume the position due to health problems. And as one might expect, Chile's locals weren't impressed. According to Google Translate: A question with a lot of respect........WHAT THE F*** knows about mining, is this communist pokemon designated as mining SEREMI? Natalia Valdebenito Karen Araya Iraci Matias del Rio Martin Pradenas #Concepcion #Rancagua Sierra Bella Tacna Macul Panguipulli #SinFiltros #sinfiltros_tv As a Brazilian observer noted, it's a new addition to President Gabriel Boric's "troop of imbeciles." Other Chileans noted in the comments thread (Google Translate again): They are going to choose the mineral with a gender approach, they are not going to get a ton of trans copper!! It is that she has studies in gender. She meets the requirements in friends or relatives of the lighter [The word used is 'mechero' which best I can tell, is a reference to leftist rioters or flash-mob looters who target retail establishments]. Social worker in mining, what did they expect if we have a lighter [looter] for president, a geologist for spokesperson and add and go on the list of incompetents in positions nothing to do with. He gives a gender perspective to the extraction of the mineral. Something obviously very stupid, as stupid as claiming human rights violations in the Dictatorship with a stick of dynamite in your pocket. The pituito's [ political crony is ] scratching, another unfulfilled campaign promise. How within their ranks they will not have a mining engineer who is up to the job. The Chileans continue in the same vein, on and on. Who is this new chieftain for Chile's largest mining state, Macarena Barramuno? According to her LinkedIn profile , she's a freelance guest lecturer at the University of Melbourne in Australia, and her skill set is described as: Community engagement manager with wide experience designing, overseeing, and mobilizing initiatives to transform communities. Capable to lead projects that create social impact and generate awareness towards gender equality. A passionate advocate of feminism with a genuine interest in impacting the creation of public policies and programs aimed to contribute to the sustainable improvement of the living conditions of women across the world. Proven ability to actively engage with communities, organise events, assist with setting goals and responding to needs by empowering communities and encouraging active participation. She is or has been a social worker, a feminist activist, a research assistant for the United Nations, a self-described woke activist and a participant in the network of "chilenxs feministas migrantes" -- a rare Latin American who prefers that wokester 'x' as is used in 'Latinx.' Fine and dandy, but her appointment comes at a mighty sensitive time -- a few days after Chile's radical left-wing government announced that it would be nationalizing the country's lithium mines, which made the markets swoon . Lithium is what makes all those Teslas and Volts and other electric cars go. Experience shows that once an industry is nationalized for political purposes -- expect a lot less of that industrial production. Ask anyone who ever lived in the Soviet Union, Venezuela, Cuba, or any socialist hellhole. But that experience has never stopped a leftist. According to Reuters SANTIAGO, April 20 (Reuters) - Chile's President Gabriel Boric said on Thursday he would nationalize the country's lithium industry, the world's second largest producer of the metal essential in electric vehicle batteries, to boost its economy and protect its environment. The shock move in the country with the world's largest lithium reserves would in time transfer control of Chile's vast lithium operations from industry giants SQM (SQMA.SN) and Albemarle (ALB.N) to a separate state-owned company. It poses a fresh challenge to electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers scrambling to secure battery materials , as more countries look to protect their natural resources. Mexico nationalized its lithium deposits last year, and Indonesia banned exports of nickel ore, a key battery material, in 2020. "This is the best chance we have at transitioning to a sustainable and developed economy. We can't afford to waste it," Boric said in an address televised nationwide. This position paper on transporting electricity through Antofagasta, a very important thing in a mining state in the world's dryest desert, shows just how above-and-beyond important Antofagasta is to the world's lithium consumption. Well, now they've got Macarena with her purple hair and feminist social worker credentials in charge of the regulation in Antofagasta in terms of global lithium production and supplies, what could go wrong? Seems that Chile is imitating the Joe Biden model of employing only the craziest and least-qualified leftists, chosen for their wokesterly correctness, with its expansion of big government, utterly indifferent to results. This may explain why that government is as unpopular as Joe Biden's is here in the states. What's fascinating is how this is bound to collide with Biden's plans to foist electric cars onto the public. Less lithium, fewer electric cars, and no Trump to blame for it. It all comes down now to a purple-haired academic wokester who knows as much about mining as Hunter Biden knows about energy. Good luck with that one, Joe. One of the worst things thats happened in America since Obama began his presidency is that the Pentagon began to abandon its constitutional non-partisan and apolitical stance. This dangerous trend revealed itself again today as Pentagon officials, hiding behind anonymity, gloated to Politico about Tucker Carlsons departure from Fox. For centuries, the American military has been studiously non-partisan. Its job is to defend the Constitution and the American people, and its commander-in-chief is not a party but, instead, the person that the American people elected as president. Shortly before the 2016 election, Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff made this clear to all active duty military personnel: Whoever becomes president of the United States on Jan. 20 needs to have trust and confidence that the military is completely loyal and completely prepared to do what must be done, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said yesterday. Importantly, as an institution, the American people cannot be looking at us as a special-interest group or a partisan organization, Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford told reporters traveling with him. They have to look at us as an apolitical organization that swears an oath to the Constitution of the United States -- not an individual, not a party, not a branch of government -- the Constitution of the United States. In the old days, officers who violated this obligation were swiftly relieved of command for making overtly political comments (i.e., criticizing the president). Nowadays, of course, theyre relieved of command for publicly criticizing policies that may affect military readiness (i.e., expressing concern about equity initiatives). Image: The Pentagon. Public domain. With increasing frequency, high military officials are trumpeting their political party allegiances. While the troops loved Trump, several Pentagon officials made no secret that they did not feel they owed him any allegiance, while the ones who might have supported him were seemingly purged. And of course, the most obvious example of the abandonment of constitutional loyalty to the president is Mark Milleys assurance to China that, should Trump exercise his constitutional prerogative to order a strike, Milley would forewarn it. This troubling politicization showed itself again in a Politico report about celebrations in the Pentagon upon learning that Tucker Carlson, an obviously political figure who criticized the Pentagons conduct, was leaving Fox: From maternity flight suits to diversity policies to Ukraine aid, the military was a favorite punching bag for Tucker Carlson. Now that hes off the air, some Pentagon officials are quietly cheering his departure. Carlsons criticism of Biden-era personnel policies appealed to many of the rank-and-file, which has a large bloc of conservative members. But at the upper levels of the Defense Department, news of Carlsons firing from Fox News on Monday was met with delight and outright glee in some corners. Were a better country without him bagging on our military every night in front of hundreds of thousands of people, said one senior DoD official, who like others interviewed for this story was granted anonymity to discuss a politically sensitive topic. Good riddance, said a second DoD official. Asked to respond to the news that DoD officials are pleased by his departure from Fox, Carlson responded by text message: Ha! Im sure. He declined to comment further. I especially love that line about Politico granting these officials anonymity to discuss a politically sensitive topic. This is not about sensitivity. This is about the officials failure to refrain from discussing any political topics. Again, ours is supposed to be a non-partisan, apolitical military, one that sees active-duty officers and other officials keeping their mouths shut. Once, the military was the most trusted institution in America. Because Democrats have politicized it, Americans trust in the military is rapidly declining, and deservedly so. At least half of America feels that the military has abandoned its mission of defending the Constitution and our nation and, instead, is dedicated to using social justice policies to turn it into the military branch of the Democrat party. Seeing the military celebrate Tuckers departure will only increase this decline in respect and growing fear of the institution. Once upon a time, most of the Western world, including the U.S., feted Juan Guaido as Venezuela's authentic president, following 2018's fraudulent elections that "re-elected" far-left Nicolas Maduro to that office. Today? He got kicked out of Colombia during a Colombia-sponsored international conference on the crisis in Venezuela as a nuisance, and an illegal alien to boot. According to the Associated Press: CARACAS, Venezuela Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido said he was expelled from Colombia hours after he crossed the border from Venezuela to try to meet with some participants at an international conference Tuesday to discuss his country's political crisis. In a video posted on Twitter, Guaido said he entered Colombia trying to escape Venezuelan government persecution, but that now he also felt he was being persecuted by President's Nicolas Maduro in Colombia. Colombia's Foreign Ministry said late Monday in a press release that Guaido was "irregularly" in the country so immigration authorities escorted him to the international airport to take a plane bound to the U.S. The conference was supposedly all about far-left president Gustavo Petro's wonderful "peacemaking" skills as mediator for all sides in Venezuela's ongoing political crisis. According to the Associated Press: BOGOTA, Colombia Diplomats from 20 countries gathered Tuesday in Colombia to discuss the political crisis in Venezuela, where Nicolas Maduro's socialist administration has strengthened its autocratic rule despite international efforts to expand political freedoms in the South American nation. The conference was hosted by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who has called for sanctions on Venezuela's government to be lifted, but also for policies that ensure "more democracy" in Venezuela. It was obviously a bid by Petro to cast himself as a regional version of China, a mediator, a peacemaker, an alternative to the U.S., in making "peace." The top Venezuelan opposition leader shows up at this thing, slogging 60 miles on foot through the Colombian swamps and jungle to get there, and well... Let's just note that ironies abound here. Colombia has always made "peace" agreements with all sorts of gamy characters, including its notorious FARC Marxist cocaine terrorists (which didn't work out the way they thought it would, and not just once) and, for that matter, Petro's own Marxist M-19 terrorists, a foul group once affiliated with Pablo Escobar himself that in 1985 burned down Colombia's supreme court building, killing half the justices held hostage in it, but this guy Guaido was just too dirty for their dainty sensibilities. As for Colombia's sudden concern about immigration law, well, that's ironic, too. Colombia has accepted literally millions of fleeing Venezuelan illegal aliens into its country, but well, this one needed to go. Let's just say this conference isn't about bringing peace to Venezuela. It's a sham Potemkin bid to bring "peace," given the expulsion of Guaido, yet it was attended by the U.S. as if nothing were wrong. It probably could never be anything serious, given that the Colombia government is ruled now by a far leftist whose impeccable guerrilla credentials made him a hero to the late Hugo Chavez, as well as his successor, the odious Maduro. He's not exactly a guy who's got much cred as an impartial mediator. His cred is being a radical leftist. Yet, wanting to be respectable to the euro-crowd, at least, he now claims he never expelled Guaido as an illegal alien, which is laughable, given the other statements from his minions. As for the U.S. under Biden, Petro's act has the U.S. now cast into the role as the bumbling fool. Where's the thunder from the U.S. about Colombia's failure to extend this man asylum? Why the sudden and newfound interest from Colombia in enforcing its immigration laws? He's exactly the guy asylum laws were written for. Why didn't the U.S. delegation walk out after hearing that the man they recognized as Venezuela's true leader for years was not let into the conference and actually expelled as an illegal alien? There've been no statements from the U.S., and with U.S. foreign policy toward Venezuela being run by a group an experienced diplomat called "the three stooges," there probably won't be. It's all about coddling that regime. Now it's about to get even trickier. Guaido is in Miami now and says he doesn't want U.S. asylum. That's Joe Biden's magic word for allowing anyone to stay, and asylum laws were actually written for guys like him. That likely signals that Guaido intends to continue to work as Venezuela's opposition leader because people who get asylum in the U.S. are supposed to stay out of politics. While that's not actually enforced here, Guaido is law-abiding and has high visibility. This means the U.S. now has a hot potato on its hands, thanks to its pal Petro. It can expel Guaido as an illegal, too, which would be quite a scene, kicking out Venezuela's top opposition leader, as Colombia did, try to force him to go someplace else, playing actual hot potato with him, or it can just leave him there and pretend not to notice, as it does with a lot of illegals and as Guaido politicks for Venezela's democracy. That of course will enrage Maduro, and Maduro's the one they want to bail them out by pumping oil for them, so this won't work out well at all. A fine mess they've got themselves in, to paraphrase Laurel and Hardy, courtesy of Biden's three stooges. Stay tuned for more lunacy. Image: Insomnia Cured Here via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. A mob assaults a woman and holds her for ransom. The violence is caught on video, but no arrests are made. And a San Francisco State University official praises the criminals. Is it any surprise that crime is running rampant in San Francisco and California? The politicians can't figure out who the criminals are. Earlier this month, a transgender mob assaulted Riley Gaines, a former NCAA women's swimming champion, who, unlike "Lia" Thomas, is a woman. It happened after she gave a speech at San Francisco State University talking about protecting women's sports. Upon leaving, a mob "ambushed" her in the hallway, and she was "hit by a man wearing a dress." Video captured much of the chaos as Gaines was rushed into another room for her safety. Gaines confirmed on social media that she had been "ambushed and physically hit twice by a man." "The prisoners are running the asylum at SFSU...I was ambushed and physically hit twice by a man. This is proof that women need sex-protected spaces," she wrote in a tweet. The prisoners are running the asylum at SFSU...I was ambushed and physically hit twice by a man. This is proof that women need sex-protected spaces. Still only further assures me I'm doing something right. When they want you silent, speak louder. pic.twitter.com/uJW3x9RERf Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 7, 2023 However, despite university police being present and videos of the mob posted, no arrests were made. Why not? If this had been a Democrat woman saying she had been assaulted and held for ransom, a huge investigation would have been launched. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Rep. Nancy Pelosi would have run for the nearest television camera to denounce the violence. The president of the college would have apologized and expelled anyone involved. Instead, we have Jamillah Moore, SFSU vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, issuing a statement that said in part, "Thank you to our students who participated peacefully in Thursday evening's event. It took tremendous bravery to stand in a challenging space." Bravery? They were dozens protesting against one woman. That is bullying. Nowhere in her statement does Moore apologize to Gaines for what happened to her. No, in her mind, Gaines is to blame for creating a challenging space. Note that even Moore doesn't go so far as to say that Gaines was creating a dangerous space. The best she can come up with is that Gaines challenged the students, and they failed to rise to the challenge, despite what Moore thinks. They could have engaged Gaines in debate, asked questions backed by facts, or even protested peacefully. They did none of that. Gaines disagreed with them, so she needed to shouted down and driven away because they couldn't stand having their thinking challenged. By supporting the actions of the student mob in her official capacity with SFSU, Moore has made the college legally vulnerable to the legal actions Gaines has promised. It doesn't help that the university police have dropped the ball because they have not made any arrests so far. Maybe they are out of their depth, or maybe they buy into the administration line that calls this a "disruption." So, in the view of the left, if a Republican man happened to brush by a Democrat woman in a hall, that is assault, but if a woman is hit multiple times, is held against her will in a room for three hours, and has money demanded from her to be released by a Democrat mob, it is simply a "disruption." By holding back the investigation of this incident, the Democrats get a two-fer. They have allowed their mob to get away with crimes, and they make the police look bad because they aren't allowed to investigate the crimes. What they fail to realize is that a hate crime has taken place on a campus that receives federal funds. If the state fails to take proper action, the federal government has a reason to step in. Michael A. Letts is the CEO and founder of In-VestUSA, a national grassroots non-profit organization helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. Photo credit: Twitter video screen grab (cropped). K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty / Yonhap K-pop rookie Fifty Fifty ranked at No. 50 in its fifth week on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart with its new single "Cupid." According to the latest chart unveiled Tuesday (U.S. time), "Cupid" rose 10 spots from 60th last week. The quartet debuted on the chart at No. 100 on March 28, becoming the fastest group to enter the chart after its debut in November. It has since climbed up to 94th, 85th and 60th and now to 50th. The group recently formed a partnership with Warner Records, one of the most influential record labels in the United States, in a deal expected to open the way for its advance into the North American market. Jimin, a member of the K-pop supergroup BTS, ranked No. 58 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with his first solo album "Face" and No. 85 on Hot 100 with "Like Crazy," the main track from the album, this week. (Yonhap) I am dismayed that Donald Trump seems to be adopting the tactics of the Biden-dominated DNC and rejecting the opportunity for voters to hear directly from candidates for their parties' nomination in a presidential debate. In a post on Truth Social, he writes: I see that everybody is talking about the Republican Debates, but nobody got my approval, or the approval of the Trump Campaign, before announcing them. When you're leading by seemingly insurmountable numbers, and you have hostile Networks with angry, TRUMP & MAGA hating anchors asking the "questions," why subject yourself to being libeled and abused? Also, the Second Debate is being held at the Reagan Library, the Chairman of which is, amazingly, Fred Ryan, Publisher of The Washington Post. NO! Every honest observer of politics realizes that Biden must shun debates because he is afflicted with dementia and cannot even announce his candidacy for re-election in a live event. Many progressives and Democrats are appalled by this. The DNC refusing to hold a single primary debate is undemocratic and robs the voters of choice. No one who feels confident in their record and/or ideas would hesitate to stand on them. The DNC should hold debates. This is supposed to be a democratic process. Nina Turner (@ninaturner) April 24, 2023 DNC has already announced that it will not allow any debates in 2024 primary. Biden is not to be challenged. Everyone on the Democratic side must shut up and fall in line. Not having debates is undemocratic and ridiculous. No progressive should agree to this kind of power grab. Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) April 24, 2023 If Trump is the nominee, Biden (assuming he still runs and is the nominee) will refuse to debate him for the same reason he doesn't want to debate Democrat challengers. But by rejecting Republican debates, Trump loses the ability to chastise Biden on this point and even raises the prospect of his own mental impairment for age-related reasons. Certainly, that's a point that Biden's puppet masters will want to emphasize. Trump's attitude is rather imperious, suggesting that his permission is necessary before even announcing debates. Since when do parties need to obtain approval from candidates to schedule debates? The Right Scoop suggests that Trump is setting up a bargaining process: I think a likelier rationale is that Trump is trying to leverage his candidacy to have more influence over the debates. Trump will suggest that he's not showing up in order to get some changes he wants to see happen during the debate...or something to that end. That's plausible, but my sense is that Trump is outraged at the very idea that anyone with gravity in the party would challenge him for the nomination. By this I mean Ron DeSantis, against whom Trump appears to have declared total war, ever resorting to Democrat talking points to attack the governor of his state of residence, Florida. I have been a huge supporter of Donald Trump, but this is not the first time I have been dismayed by his approach to 2024. I don't think this attitude serves him well. Graphic credit: Pixabay license. Those on the left like to smirk and with a knowing smile accuse those of us on the right of delusional paranoia when we voice concerns of a leftist coup of government. Who leads it? Obama? Soros? Hardly likely! A cabal of faceless, global revolutionaries who hold secret meetings in Bulgaria? Ha, ha! Without definable leadership, there can't be an insurgency. The only insurgency threat is from Trump and MAGA. We are conspiracy theorists. Does it take a Lenin, a Mao, a Hitler to spearhead an insurrection? The Center for Responsive Politics reports that in the 2020 election cycle, employees of federal agencies blessed the Democrat party with 72.6% of its political donations, 24.5% going to Republicans. Among the most generous were Health and Human Services at 93%, DOJ at 87%, Dept. Of Energy at 93%, Dept. Of Education at 97%, the FCC at 99%, Dept. Of Interior at 91%, Dept. Of Labor at 92%, the EPA at 90%. The Hill reported that Federal government employees are opening their wallets to help Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump on Nov. 8. Of the ~$2m given by 14 federal agencies, 95% went to Clinton, with the Dept. of State, the DOJ, and the IRS overwhelmingly supporting Hillary. Gallup found that 46% of state government employees identify as Democrat and 24% as Republican, the rest as independent (most likely to conceal partisanship). Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook and Twitter employees and leadership donate almost exclusively to Democrats. In the 2022 midterms, Twitter employees donated 99% to Democrats. The NEA teachers' union in 20202021 donated $374m. to political i.e., Democrat causes, making 32% of its expenditures. Nine percent of its support went to direct assistance for its members. It is quite apparent that the left comprises half the electorate, progressive politicians, the federal bureaucracy, the media, and the education system. A 2021 report from U. of C. Berkeley found a higher proclivity for public service among Democrats and a tendency to stay in government careers longer. One can only speculate as to the psychic motivations that drive those on the left into government service, the media, and education. But the goal is clear: it puts them in a position to manipulate and control the thoughts and actions of others, a role that does not appeal to most conservatives. As Jonathan Gruber explained regarding the passage of the ACA, "lack of transparency" and "the stupidity of the American voter" are a huge political advantage. Its political support history and its predominantly progressive composition make it quite clear that the federal bureaucracy is an instrument of the left the "Deep State," "permanent Washington" to the empowerment of the progressive Democrat party. Overt politicization of their operations is a natural extension of their agenda. Before leaving office in his attempt to "drain the swamp," Trump issued an executive order, Schedule F, which would enable a sitting president to fire designated members of the bureaucracy. Schedule F was rescinded by Biden immediately upon assuming office. Any element in the echo chamber of commonly purposed progressive politicians, civil servants, educators, and media pundits is quite capable of waging war on free speech and creating cultural chaos by fabricating injustices, perpetrated by an evil, immoral "system," that must be fundamentally changed. The M.O. is simple. Divide society into oppressor and oppressed factions via identity politics. Vilify the oppressors and exalt the oppressed. Incite rebellion against the oppressors. Anyone having an axe to grind about anything has his anger channeled against "the system." That does not require the sinister plotting of an occult cabal in Bulgaria just persistent pressure and manipulation by a nidus of those positioned to and intent upon bringing down a society they want to control. It is not necessary to be able to identify individuals or a clearly defined group as the force behind a social or political movement. No single person or group stands out as perpetrator of the counterculture movement of the sixties. Who started the American Revolution? From a leftist perspective, insurgencies and insurrections can be perpetrated only by far-right fascists with clearly identifiable leaders. What we are seeing now is nothing more than an anonymous, groundswell, grassroots quest of long overdue social reform democracy in action! So which is it? Are conservatives paranoid conspiracy theorists, or are liberals in denial of a predictably devastating outcome of a movement they find presently gratifying? Image: Chris Dodds via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. The mRNA gene therapies sold to the public as "vaccines" don't prevent the spread of the COVID virus, as even CDC director Rochelle Walensky testified under oath, and have led to serious side-effects. It doesn't take a genius to anticipate that a reckoning is coming for those who hyped the jabs, downplayed alternatives, and even coerced people into receiving the drugs whose long-term side effects are unknown. One non-genius who sees this is Justin Trudeau, Canada's prime minister. Speaking at a public forum in Ottawa, he engaged in what intelligence jargon calls a "limited hangout," meaning a form of propaganda in which a selected portion of a scandal, criminal act, sensitive or classified information, etc. is revealed or leaked, without telling the whole story. The intention may be to establish credibility as a critic of something or somebody by engaging in criticism of them while in fact covering up for them by omitting many details; to distance oneself publicly from something using innocuous or vague criticism even when one's own sympathies are privately with them; or to divert public attention away from a more heinous act by leaking information about something less heinous. This is a common tactic used by political extremist groups on both ends of the political spectrum, as well as by government intelligence agencies caught in scandals. Here is what he said (rush transcript by Grabien): Misinformation and disinformation is carrying people to believe things that are untrue. And vaccinations is a perfect example of it. Like any modern bit of medical advancements, there are potential side effects in vaccinations, and there are people who probably gotten very sick from vaccinations on the billions of people have been vaccinated against Covid over the past few years. There are far more people who obviously have died due to Covid, died from not getting vaccinated. And the idea that people can fly in the face of science, well, individuals are allowed to make their own choices. There may be all sorts of different reasons why someone is hesitant to get vaccinated, but I make a distinction, I always have, between someone choosing for personal reasons to choose not to get vaccinated and someone deliberately using misinformation to mislead and scare other people with so-called facts that aren't facts at all, that lead them to make a choice that endangers their lives and the lives of other citizens. So, as prime minister, through the greatest public health crisis that we faced in a hundred years in this country, since the Spanish flu, my responsibility was to keep as many Canadians alive as possible. And all of the scientists and the medical experts and researchers, not just in Canada but around the world, understood that vaccination was going to be the way through this. And therefore, while not forcing anyone to get vaccinated, I chose to make sure that all the incentives and all the protections were there to encourage Canadians to get vaccinated and that's exactly what they did. We got vaccinated to a higher level than just about any other of our peer countries. And that's why we had a less deadly pandemic than most other countries. He is mixing truth (vaccines have harmed people) with lies and evasions. People died of COVID, yes, but to attribute their COVID deaths to not getting vaccinated is verbal sleight-of-hand. It ignores the other therapies that could have been used if they were not suppressed in favor of pushing vaccines (to the immense profit of drug-makers). And his statement that "all of the scientists and the medical experts and researchers" agreed that vaccines were the way to go is an outright lie. So is his disingenuous claim that he didn't force anybody to get vaccinated, but only provided "incentives." This kind of rationale can be used by anyone forcing people into actions that they don't want to take. Not getting fired is both an incentive and a coercion, amounting to force. Notably, Trudeau says nothing about the totalitarian repression of the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa. That is a reckoning that ought to be on its way. Photo credit: Grabien video screen grab. Percival Lowell, the American astronomer whose name bears an observatory in Arizona, made several very significant observations of the planets. His biggest contribution being the hunt for Planet X beyond the orbit of Neptune. Although his search was unsuccessful, Pluto was eventually discovered near the place Lowell had predicted the missing planet would be, using the very observatory Lowell founded to study Mars. The red planet fascinated Lowell, and it was his observations of Mars and the inference he drew from it for which Lowell is remembered the most. Lowell was convinced that there are intelligent beings on Mars, for he could see through the telescope a maze of canal like structures on the surface of the planet. The astronomer theorized that an advanced civilization indigenous to Mars built the canals to bring water from the polar ice caps to the equatorial region in a last ditch attempt to survive in an inexorably drying planet. A map of Mars drawn by Italian astronomer Giovani Schiaparelli in the 1880s, showing waterways on the planets surface. It was Schiaparelli who first proposed the canal theory. From the book A Popular Handbook and Atlas of Astronomy by William Peck, 1891. Lowells vision of a dying race fighting an unwinnable war towards an inevitable end excited the public and influenced the likes of H.G. Wells to speculate how different the life of Martians would be from that of earthlings, and how their evolutionary progress might compare to us. Wells theorized that in a planet as hostile as Mars, creatures would have no digestive system and no hands, but tentacles, which they would use to put the blood of other beings in their veins to survive. Ludicrous as it may sound, these ideas culminated into one of Wells most famous worksThe War of the Worlds. Lowells writing continued to influence science fiction writers well into the middle of the 20th century. Martian canals figure prominently in Red Planet by Robert A. Heinlein (1949) and The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (1950). Even today, the vision of Mars derived from his theories remains enshrined in the works of many authors and are still read widely as classics of science fiction. Percival Lowells interpretation of the canals of Mars. The notion of canals and intelligent life on Mars was finally put to rest only in 1972, when NASAs Mariner 9 spacecraft sent close-up pictures of Marss surface, showing that there is no such structures on the red planet. Some of his other ideas took even longer to resolve. The Spokes of Venus Percival Lowell In 1896, soon after Lowell had acquired a new 24-inch refracting telescope and installed it at his Flagstaff observatory, the controversial astronomer began studying Venus. Lowell noticed that when he stopped down the aperture of the telescope, a mysterious dark spot materialized on the planets surface with spoke-like structures emanating from it. Lowell knew that Venus had a thick atmosphere thats impossible to penetrate optically, yet he saw these markings that could only have been on the surface. Stranger still, these features always seem to face the earth, which meant that Venus must be in synchronous rotation with the Sunan inference which didnt tally with other observations. The most puzzling was the fact that no one else, other than Lowell, could see these markings. The scientific society derided Lowells findings but they couldnt help but wonder exactly what Lowell had seen, and why only he could see it. The matter was left unsettled for more than a century until a couple of amateur astronomers proposed a theory: Lowell was gazing into his own eye! Lowell often observed the planet high in the daytime sky with the telescope's lens stopped down to under 3 inches in diameter to reduce the effect of the turbulent daytime atmosphere. With that setup, Lowell shrank the telescope's exit pupil in front of his eye to a pinhole of diameter less than 0.5 millimeter, effectively turning the telescope into a giant opthalmoscope that optometrists use to examine eyes of patients. Percival Lowells drawing of Venus and its spokes (left) somewhat resemble the back of the human eye (right) Andrew T. Young of San Diego State University explained that a small exit pupil often casts shadows of blood vessels on the retina, making them visible. As the eye pupil moves with respect to the small telescope pinhole, the angle at which rays arrive at the retina changes, so that features [that are] within the eye but a little removed from the retina may cast shifting shadows on the latter and be seen. To state it plainly: what Lowell saw as spokes were actually shadows of the blood vessels and other structures in his own retina. So instead of mapping the surface of Venus, Lowell had been mapping the structures in his own eye. While this may sound all very strange, this phenomenon is a well-known annoyance among astronomers observing planets at very high magnification. When the late Carl Sagan spoke at the University of Glasgow in 1985 during Gifford Lectures, he used Lowells example of an over-productive mind as a cautionary tale about the power of belief and yearning to trump science and reason. Ironically, Lowell is sometimes compared to Sagan himself. In a paper published in Space Science Reviews in 2007, the authors described Percival Lowell as the most influential popularizer of planetary science in America before Sagan. References: # William Sheehan, Venus Spokes: An Explanation At Last?, Sky & Telescope # Leon Jaroff, What Lowell Really Saw When He Watched Venus, New York Times # Kat Eschner, The Bizarre Beliefs of Astronomer Percival Lowell, Smithsonian Magazine # Kevin Zahnle et al, Emergence of a habitable planet, Space Science Reviews Marine animals such as whales and dolphins, amphibians such as frogs and salamanders, and fish are difficult to taxidermy because their skins are harder to treat and keep stable. Although technically it is possible to skin a whale, remove the fat, and drape the skin over a fiberglass or wooden form, its a pointless exercise. A whale has no fur and without hair to keep cover, the skin would lose its color and in a few years turn a drab gray. That doesnt mean it hasn't been tried before. At the Gothenburg Natural History Museum in Sweden, there is such a taxidermied whale, nicknamed the Malm Whale. The Malm Whale at the Gothenburg Natural History Museum in Sweden. Photo: Jopparn/Wikimedia In 1865, a young blue whale washed up on the shores of Askim near the city of Gothenburg. The whale was about seven months old, and at sixteen meters it was not quite fully grown but large enough to excite the locals, many of who had never seen a whale before. The fishermen who spotted the whale proceeded to slaughter the creature by first poking its eyes out so that it would not be able to see us, and then stabbing it with harpoons and hacking it with axes. Carl Hansson, one of the two fishermen who first discovered the whale, describes the barbaric way in which the whale was killed: I then climbed up on its enormous head, and with an axe I cut a gash behind the two holes it was breathing through. The whale was very slippery to hold on to, and since it was twitching violently, I had to get back into the boat again on several occasions. I cut it like this with the axe from ten oclock until half past three in the afternoon. The next morning... I stabbed it with a scythe deep in the eye and belly. When August Wilhelm Malm, the taxidermist and curator of the Gothenburg Museum, heard about the whale, he rushed to purchase the beast for his museum collection. Having closed the deal with its killers, Malm began the task of transporting the enormous mammal to Gothenburg. The transportation required the use of three steamboats and two coal barges, and drew a large crowd of curious onlookers upon arrival. Seeing the enthusiasm of the crowd, Malm climbed up on the back of the carcass and gave a brief lecture on whales. The Malm Whale arrives in Gothenburg. Photo: National Library of Sweden At first, Malm intended to keep only a couple of feet of the skin for the museum, but at the very last moment decided that he would preserve the entire whale. Malm hired a team of butchers to cut up the whale, and remove the blubber and the organs. Parts of the whale, including the heart, one eye, larynx, rectum, and parts of the intestines, were preserved with glycerine and alcohol. The skin was processed with salt, fat-absorbing sawdust, and pulverized pipe clay, and then coated on the inside with a saturated arsenic solution. After the skin had dried, it was coated with an additional layer of mercury chloride and then a layer of transparent copal varnish. Meanwhile a great wooden frame was built in the shape of a whale and the skin was stretched over the frame, held together by 30,000 zinc and copper pins. The neck was equipped with hinges, allowing the jaw to be opened and visitors to climb into the belly of the beast. The inside was converted into a sitting room with benches, carpeting, and wall hangings. Some sources claim that the interior of the whale had once functioned as a small cafe where coffee and punch were served, among other things, but there are no reliable sources to confirm this. The head, breast and tail segments of the Malm whale built in sections on beams, in the eastern half of the whale hall. Photo: Gothenburg's Natural History Museum In the past, it was possible to climb into the whales mouth at any time, but sometime in the 1930s a couple was found making love inside, and after that incident the jaw was closed shut and only opened on special occasions. The mouth was opened in 1940 during the 75th anniversary of the Malm Whale and again in 1955 at the 90th anniversary, and once more in 1965 at the 100th anniversary. When the museum commemorated the whales hundredth birthday in 1965, more than 11,000 people visited it during the ten-day celebration. Newspapers reported that American tourists were especially interested, entering the belly of the whale for religious reasonsthey want to follow in the footsteps of the prophet Jonah, and they have their pictures taken when deep in prayer. The whale is still there at the Gothenburg Natural History Museum, where it completed 150 years in 2015. The Malm Whale being moved from East Indian House to its newly built premises at Gothenburg Natural History Museum, 1 November 1918. Photo: Elisabet Petersson. The Malm Whale being moved from East Indian House to its newly built premises at Gothenburg Natural History Museum, 1 November 1918. Photo: Elisabet Petersson. The whale in three segments, various horns and moose heads lying on the floor, during the zoological department's move-in. Photo: Gothenburg Natural History Museum The Malm Whale lying next to its skeleton at the Gothenburg Natural History Museum. Photo: Dr. Mirko Junge/Wikimedia References: # The Gothenburg Leviathan, Cabinet Magazine # The Malm Whale, The Gothenburg Museum of Natural History Zero-day flaws are at the top when it comes to online security risks, as they allow hackers to exploit a vulnerability that is unknown to the software vendor. Recently, Googles Cloud Platform (GCP), a popular data storage and management tool, became the target of one of these exploits, allowing attackers to gain access to peoples Google accounts, including data in Gmail, Drive, Docs, Photos, and more. Although the Israeli cybersecurity startup Astrix Security discovered and reported the vulnerability back in June 2022, Google is now rolling out a patch to address the issue. How does the vulnerability work? Dubbed GhostToken, the vulnerability allowed hackers to make a malicious GCP app of their own and advertise it through the Google marketplace. Therefore, if a user installed the malicious GCP app and authorized it by linking it to an OAuth token, hackers would then gain access to the users Google account. Additionally, to make it impossible for the victims to remove the app, hackers could hide it by deleting the linked GCP project, putting the app in a pending deletion state and making it invisible on the Google application management page. To make matters worse, attackers could repeat this process of hiding and restoring the malicious app every time they needed access to the victims data. Advertisement While the impact of the attack depended on the permissions a victim gave to the app, once the attackers had access to the Google account, they could hold a ghost token, which granted them access to the data indefinitely. Googles solution Googles recent update has finally fixed the vulnerability by making sure that GCP OAuth applications in a pending deletion state will now appear on the Apps with access to your account page. Therefore, allowing users to remove these applications and prevent any attempts at hijacking their accounts. Moreover, to help stay protected from future vulnerabilities and exploits, users should also regularly check their app management page to verify that all third-party applications only have the necessary permissions for their intended functions. Samsung's office buildings where Samsung Life Insurance headquarters are located / Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung Samsung Life Insurance was issued an administrative warning from the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) over its poor internal control and risk management system. The watchdog recently sent the message of warning to the insurer, urging it to autonomously improve its risk management capabilities. This came after the Samsung affiliate was designated as a group of a financial conglomerate last year. Any companies classified into the group should build tighter internal control systems on their own against possible financial accidents, such as insider trading. But the FSS supervision showed that Samsung Life has not set up any specific division dedicated to fulfilling the role and has conducted internal control with only a few officials. In November 2021, the company created the division, but its specific role and responsibility have not been reflected in Samsung Life's bylaws until the FSS inspection. "Given Samsung Life's corporate size and diverse business areas, the company should strengthen the workforce of the division," the FSS said. "The company should also specify the authority of the organization in its corporate bylaw and enhance the system of the internal control unit." The FSS also took issue with Samsung Life's capital adequacy ratio. The figure reached 244.6 percent in June last year, but it had been on a gradual decline since June 2021 when the ratio came in at 309.1 percent. "The company remains negligent in managing the ratio," the FSS said. "Samsung Life should also be wary of possible risks surrounding the insurance business amid widening interest volatility." Amal Clooney has said UK laws must be reformed to prevent Russian war criminals and perpetrators of genocide visiting the country without fear of prosecution. The human rights lawyer wants genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes to be prosecuted in the UK regardless of the suspects nationality or residence. MPs have warned the International Criminal Court Act 2001 currently only applies to such crimes either committed in England or Wales, or outside the UK by a UK national, a UK resident or a person subject to UK service jurisdiction. The Universal Jurisdiction (Extension) Bill has been tabled in the House of Commons by SNP MP Brendan OHara (Argyll and Bute), who said his proposals seek to tighten up existing legislation and pave the way for more prosecutions in the UK against people responsible for the worlds most heinous crimes. Mr OHara added the accused person or victim would not need to have any specific connection to the UK. Concerns have been expressed that Russian generals responsible for atrocities in Ukraine could still travel to the UK without facing the risk of arrest unless the reforms are introduced. The Clooney Foundation for Justice and Redress, co-founded by Ms Clooney and her actor husband George Clooney, is expected to release a report later this year on the issue. Ms Clooney told the PA news agency: National courts around the world can put war criminals on trial. But in the UK genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes can only be prosecuted if the suspect is a resident or national of the UK. And only two trials for international crimes have resulted in convictions. It is time to reform our laws so that Russian war criminals can be arrested at Heathrow and perpetrators of genocide know there is no safe haven on UK shores. SNP MP Brendan OHara (David Woolfall/UK Parliament) Mr OHara, moving his Bill on Tuesday, said the reforms would allow legal systems across the UK to take action irrespective of where the crimes were committed and regardless of the nationality or the location of the perpetrators or the victims. He told MPs: In short, this Universal Jurisdiction (Extension) Bill is about saying to the worlds worst criminals that there is no hiding place and there will be no immunity. Mr OHara added: As the Clooney Foundation for Justice report will set out, our courts already have universal jurisdiction when it comes to torture and certain other crimes which can be prosecuted regardless of the defendants nationality. So there is no convincing explanation for the distinction thats drawn between the law on torture and those other international crimes. And, as they say, one consequence of this loophole could well be that Russian generals with blood on their hands could potentially still travel to the UK, go shopping in Knightsbridge, undergo medical treatment and dine out in Londons best restaurants without facing the risk of arrest for the most serious and heinous crimes in the world. They argue this must change and I wholeheartedly agree. Mr OHara asked for his Bill to be considered further at second reading on November 24 although it is unlikely to make progress in its current form due to a lack of parliamentary time. MP Andrew Bridgen has been expelled from the Conservative Party for comparing Covid-19 vaccines to the Holocaust. He accused the Tories of kicking him out under false pretences and said he intends to run against the party at the next election, as he hit out at corruption, collusion and cover-ups. The MP for North West Leicestershire had already lost the party whip, meaning he was sitting in the Commons as an independent. My expulsion from the Conservative Party under false pretences only confirms the toxic culture which plagues our political system. Above all else this is an issue of freedom of speech. No elected Member of Parliament should ever be penalised for speaking on behalf of those who https://t.co/bJOOyy6wia Andrew Bridgen (@ABridgen) April 26, 2023 The Tories announced on Wednesday that they had stripped him of his party membership as well. Mr Bridgen was expelled from the Conservative Party on April 12 following the recommendation of a disciplinary panel. He has 28 days from this date to appeal, a spokesman said. It was understood that the disciplinary panel found against him for claiming vaccines were the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust, rather than for breaching lobbying rules. Mr Bridgen went on to have an angry confrontation with deputy party chairman Lee Anderson in a parliamentary restaurant after his expulsion was made public before the appeal date. In a statement, the MP said: My expulsion from the Conservative Party under false pretences only confirms the culture of corruption, collusion and cover-ups which plagues our political system. I have been a vocal critic of the vaccine rollout and the party have been sure to make an example of me. I am grateful for my newfound freedom and will continue to fight for justice for all those harmed, injured and bereaved due to governmental incompetence. I will continue to serve my constituents as I was elected to do and intend to stand again at the next election. He later added that he was prepared to run against the Conservatives, but did not say whether he would do as an independent or for a rival party. The regular critic of vaccines lost the whip in January after claiming they were the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the comments as utterly unacceptable. Earlier that month, Mr Bridgen was handed a five-day suspension for breaking the MPs code of conduct banning lobbying. He was found to have committed a series of breaches including an unacceptable attack upon the integrity of then standards commissioner Kathryn Stone. The Duke of York sought permission from the Queen to be questioned about his association with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, TV presenter Emily Maitlis has claimed. Andrew came under intense scrutiny following his disastrous BBC Newsnight interview in 2019 over allegations that Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre was trafficked to have sex with the royal when she was 17. In a new two-part Channel 4 documentary, Andrew The Problem Prince, former BBC journalist Ms Maitlis said the negative implications of the interview dawned on the Queen before they dawned on him. Following the BBC broadcast in November 2019 and the furore over Andrews friendship with Epstein, the duke stepped down from public life. Last year, he reached an out-of-court settlement with Ms Giuffre reportedly worth up to 12 million US dollars (9.6 million) following her civil sex claim against him in the US. He continues to deny any wrongdoing. Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan in August 2019 while he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges (US Department of Justice/PA) Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan in August 2019 while he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide. Ms Giuffres lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, told the documentary that the Newsnight interview gave her client the roadmap to tear him apart in the civil claim. Despite the BBC interview eventually leading to Andrew being stripped of his patronages and military affiliations, former Newsnight producer Sam McAlister claimed the royal was euphoric afterwards because he thought it had gone really well. Ms Maitlis told the Channel 4 documentary that people came into the room afterwards to invite her to a cinema night at the Palace. A whole load of people came in and I said Whats going on?' she said. They said OK, Thursday evenings we have the cinema night at the Palace. You can stay if you want. At that point, I just thought Ive got to get away from here. I needed the space to work out what just happened. During the original Newsnight broadcast around four years ago, the duke denied he had had sex with Ms Giuffre, said he had no recollection of ever meeting her and that he had spent the day in question at Pizza Express in Woking, Surrey, at a party with one of his daughters. Ms Giuffre said Andrew sweated heavily as they danced at London nightclub Tramp in one alleged encounter. The duke told Maitlis his Falklands War service had caused a medical condition, at the time, which meant he did not sweat. Virginia Giuffre claimed she was trafficked to have sex with the Duke of York when she was 17 (BBC/PA) The infamous interview is also being adapted by Netflix, with Sex Education star Gillian Anderson playing Ms Maitlis and The Man In The High Castle actor Rufus Sewell as Andrew. Ms McAlister revealed to the Channel 4 documentary that the duke had taken his daughter, Princess Beatrice, with him to the final negotiations with the BBC over what should be included in the interview. Can you imagine being in Buckingham Palace, about to talk to a member of the royal family about sexual offences? Thats pretty tricky and now Ive got to do it in front of his daughter, the producer said. During the negotiations, Ms McAlister and Ms Maitlis said Andrew had asked Should I tell you why I cant sweat? as he sought to explain why Ms Giuffres allegations against him were false. I remember thinking Wow, you know, if he says that, thats it' Ms Maitlis told the documentary. Before going ahead with the interview, the presenter said Andrew had told her he had to seek approval from higher up. She said: Of course, hes talking about the Queen. Youre asking your mum if its a good idea. This is a decision thats going right to the top. During the documentary, the former BBC journalist said Newsnight had turned down an interview with Andrew three times due to his team attempting to place editorial restrictions on them. Epstein was a red line and we were not to ask about him if we did the interview, Ms McAlister said of one of her initial negotiations with the dukes chief of staff. Commenting on Newsnights earlier decision not to go ahead with an interview after the Epstein restrictions were imposed, Ms Maitlis said: Thank God we dropped the whole thing. Because how stupid would we have looked to have done that whole interview knowing that we couldnt ask about Epstein only to find that he was suddenly front-page news? The Defence Secretary has faced calls to reveal to MPs how the UK is responding to a Russian spy ship which has patrolled in UK waters. Liberal Democrat MP Jamie Stone raised concerns about sightings of the Admiral Vladimirsky, a Russian ship which was spotted off the coast of his Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency in northern Scotland. While officially classified as an ocean research vessel, a joint investigation by European broadcasters says it is part of a fleet which is examining key energy sites for possible sabotage. A Danish news crew recently published a video of a close encounter with the vessel in November last year, which showed a man, wearing a balaclava and military gear, and carrying an assault rifle, appearing on the deck of the ship. The ship is thought to have entered the Moray Firth on November 10 last year, as part of a month-long journey across the Baltic Sea and North Sea. File photo of the Royal Navy monitoring a Russian ship (royal Navy/MoD/PA) Mr Stone called for Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to come to the Commons to reveal how the Government was responding to the incursions. He said: It is not a trawler, it is not a pleasure boat, it is a spy ship complete with armed guards. It has been snooping around the Beatrice oil field and examining the interconnector to my constituency. It has been snooping around the oil stations in the North Sea and the oil pipelines. Mr Stone also referred to last years as-of-yet unexplained Nord Stream gas pipeline explosion, which is still subject to investigation but is believed to have been intentional. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (Jordan Pettitt/PA) He added: We all know what happened in recent times in the Baltic with the gas pipeline. I do not take kindly to this happening and I regard this as a very important security issue. It affects the United Kingdom and our security in terms of energy. What advice can you give me, Madam Deputy Speaker, in getting the Secretary of State for Defence to come to this place and make a statement in view of this urgent situation? Deputy speaker Dame Rosie Winterton replied: I am sure he knows that there are routes where he can request a statement to be made, but I have to tell him that at this point we have had no notice of a statement. Again his comments will have been heard and I am sure that they will be fed back to the Secretary of State. A Government spokesperson said: Our priority will always be maintaining our national security. That is why we increased Royal Navy presence patrols after the Nord Stream incident and have invested 65 million in the first of our two Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance ships. Suella Braverman has appeared to rule out introducing safe and legal routes to the UK for refugees trying to escape the conflict in Sudan. The Home Secretary confirmed on Tuesday the Government has no plans to consider making provisions for civilians from the war-torn country to access Britain. During a visit to Northamptonshire, Ms Braverman was asked about the prospect of turning efforts towards helping those trying to flee Khartoum once the evacuation of British nationals has been completed. She replied: We have no plans to do that. Our focus first and foremost right now, and bearing in mind this is a fast-moving situation and a complex situation, is to support British nationals and their dependents. Home Secretary Suella Braverman meets police recruits during a visit to Northamptonshire Polices Giffard House Training Centre (Joe Giddens/PA) The British evacuation mission from Sudan has lifted 301 people to safety over four flights as the military races against time to rescue citizens while a fragile ceasefire holds. Another RAF flight was preparing to depart the Wadi Saeedna airstrip near the capital of Khartoum on Wednesday afternoon, with a further three flights expected later in the day. Downing Street said the flights have been full or close to full, with no significant issues being faced by the evacuees who have been told to make their own way to the airfield. More than 2,000 British nationals have registered in Sudan under evacuation plans, but thousands more could be in the country. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said the operation in Khartoum is running smoothly, while there is currently no issue with capacity. Downing Street hopes to carry on with flights throughout the week and does not believe there will be a need to leave the airport imminently. A 72-hour ceasefire brokered by the warring rival generals has largely held since it began in the early hours of Monday. It is understood that if fighting resumes the evacuation operation will not necessarily end, but it will present a greater risk to the safety of evacuees, troops and officials. Rishi Sunak was urged by SNP leader Stephen Flynn whether he would deport child refugees who arrive in the UK without authorisation under plans to stop the boats. The Prime Minister told the Commons the country has a proud record of supporting asylum seekers, but did not commit to a new safe and legal route for those fleeing Sudan. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo delivers a congratulatory address during the Institute for Global Economics (IGE) 30th Anniversary Special International Conference held at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, Wednesday. Yonhap Senior officials, global scholars discuss changing world order in IGE's 30th Anniversary conference By Anna J. Park Amid the ever-increasing importance of the economy in current geopolitical landscapes, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration will continue pushing for reforms that aim to promote an economy led by the private sector, Prime Minister Han Duk-soo said. In his congratulatory address at a special international conference marking the 30th anniversary of the Institute for Global Economics (IGE) held in southern Seoul on Wednesday, the prime minister emphasized that the Yoon Suk Yeol administration is conducting structural reforms in various areas of the Korean economy to boost the country's efficiency and economic vitality. "The Yoon administration has embarked on a private-led economy that's driven by technological innovation and dynamic investment to achieve further growth. We're pursuing structural reforms in labor, education and pension system to boost efficiency and vitality of the economy," Prime Minister Han said during the address, explaining that the government is taking bold measures to reform unnecessary practices and systems that lag behind from the perspective of the global standards. Institute for Global Economics Chairman and CEO Jun Kwang-woo delivers an opening address during the Institute for Global Economics (IGE) 30th Anniversary Special International Conference held at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, Wednesday. Yonhap Stressing that preserving Korea's freedom and prosperity should start from a level-headed analysis of the rapidly changing world order, he emphasized that the Yoon administration has set a clear vision for the free and dynamic economy led by the private sector. He added that the government will continue exploring effective strategies to weather through this new era of consistently shifting, fragmented yet strongly interconnected geopolitical landscapes. "Korea will continue to engage in core technologies, while enhancing competitiveness by nurturing key sectors," he said, adding that the government will also put make utmost efforts to build a strong social safety net, while fighting social problems, such as low birth rate and regional imbalances. Titled "Geopolitics, Climate Change, and the World Economy," Wednesday's international conference commemorating the IGE's 30th anniversary since its foundation in 1993 was attended by some of the world's leading scholars as well as Korea's senior public officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Choo Kyung-ho, Anne Krueger, former first deputy managing director of the IMF, Robert Zoellick, former president at World Bank and former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, and Michael Spence, senior fellow at Hoover Institution, who's also a Nobel laureate in Economics. Fred Bergsten, President Emeritus at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE), who spent the last four decades serving various government and congressional roles in the U.S., including assistant secretary for international affairs of the U.S. Treasury, undersecretary for monetary affairs at G-5 deputy and G-7 sherpa, and the Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations through the 2010s, appointed by both former Presidents Obama and Trump, joined the conference online, delivering his keynote speech. Fred Bergsten, President Emeritus at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE), delivers his online keynote speech at the Institute for Global Economics (IGE) 30th Anniversary Special International Conference held at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Anna J. Park He started his keynote speech, by commenting that the think tank has provided a significant platform for Korea's growth as a major global power during the past 30 years. He went on to say that the U.S.-China conflict has been shifting the current world order, yet it's still paramount to make progress by focusing on global economic cooperation. He called the optional cooperative strategy a "functional decoupling," which allows the two rival countries to disagree on certain topics, yet agree on global economic and environmental issues. "The functional decoupling is where we take conscious decisions to treat different issues in different ways. It is feasible, of course. It happens all the time. Countries decouple different parts of their relationship with each other," Fred Bergsten said during the keynote address, adding that the key is to recognize that the economic issues need cooperation between the U.S. and China to resolve global threats in constructive ways. He emphasized that Korea will be assuming a bigger role in facilitating mutually beneficial global economic orders and the world trading system as the U.S. and China work their way through the functional decoupling to cooperate amid rising tensions from the rivalry. Hur Dong-soo, Honorary Chairman of GS Caltex, delivers a welcoming address during the Institute for Global Economics (IGE) 30th Anniversary Special International Conference held at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, Wednesday. Yonhap Suella Braverman has failed to offer statistical evidence to back her claim that migrants crossing the English Channel are linked to heightened levels of criminality as the Governments immigration legislation cleared the Commons. The Home Secretary said people arriving in the UK in small boats have values which are at odds with our country ahead of MPs debating the Illegal Migration Bill. Asked later whether she had figures to support the statement, she said it was based on information she had gathered from police chiefs. It came as senior backbench Tories, including former prime minister Theresa May and ex-party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, voiced concerns in Parliament about the impact the Governments flagship immigration reforms could have on modern slavery protections. But the Bill cleared the House of Commons without any drama in the votes after MPs gave it a third reading by 289 votes to 230, majority 59. I think that the people coming here illegally do possess values which are at odds with our country, the Home Secretary said earlier. At an event later in Westminster, she added: Not in all cases, but it is becoming a notable feature of everyday crime-fighting in England and Wales. Many people are coming here illegally and theyre getting very quickly involved in the drugs trade, in other forms of exploitation. Asked whether that claim was based on empirical evidence, she said: I consider police chiefs experts in their field and authoritative sources of information. The Illegal Migration Bill will change the law so people who arrive in the UK illegally will be detained and then promptly removed, either to their home country or a safe third country such as Rwanda. Critics of the Bill have dismissed the proposed legislation as unworkable, while right-wing Tory MPs believe it does not go far enough. Other Tories want greater protections for minors and victims of human trafficking. Ministers have already given in to some demands to avoid potential revolts, with a series of Government amendments approved in the Commons. The Government was unable to say whether the legislation complies with the European Convention on Human Rights. In preparation for the Report Stage of the Illegal Migration Bill taking place today, we have produced a briefing to advise MPs about the equality and human rights implications of the proposed law. Read more: https://t.co/VcWOfPFc5L pic.twitter.com/KKb8D93vn3 EHRC (@EHRC) April 26, 2023 Although the Bill cleared the Commons, it will face a stiff test in the Lords when it undergoes further scrutiny. Mrs May warned that it will leave more people in slavery in the UK, calling it a slap in the face for anyone who cares about victims of human trafficking. She told the Commons: Modern slavery is the greatest human rights issue of our time. The approach in this Bill, I believe, will have several ramifications. I believe it will consign victims to remain in slavery. Sir Iain said: We need to send the right signals about this and I think the problem with this Bill right now is its unnecessarily now targeting a group of people that are not the problem, themselves will suffer, and ironically we will fail as a Government through the home affairs end of it because the police simply wont be able to get those prosecutions. Labour condemned Ms Bravermans comments about migrants values, with a spokesman calling it the sort of invective that signals that the policies being promoted have failed. Campaigners accused her of pouring petrol on a xenophobic and racist fire they (the Government) themselves have lit. Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty International UKs refugee and migrant rights director, said: Suella Bravermans dog-whistle remarks about the values of migrants being at odds with British norms are appallingly divisive and shamelessly intended to stoke fear and hatred of people seeking refuge in this country. No-one should suffer such blatant exposure to prejudice and hostility, especially not in the form of highly insensitive remarks from the Home Secretary. The Governments draconian asylum legislation is already set to tear apart legal protections in this country for refugees, victims of human trafficking and many other people, while Suella Braverman continues pouring petrol on a xenophobic and racist fire they themselves have lit. The British evacuation mission from Sudan has lifted 301 people to safety over four flights as the military races against time to rescue citizens while a fragile ceasefire holds. Another four RAF flights were expected to depart the Wadi Saeedna airstrip near the capital Khartoum on Wednesday afternoon, as the first flight of UK nationals arrived back in Britain. Military chiefs have told Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at least 500 people a day can be airlifted and they can continue for as long as we need to even if the 72-hour pause in fighting agreed between rival generals breaks. But British citizens in Sudan have described having to make a chaotic and dangerous journey to the airstrip they have been told to make without a military escort. Downing Street said the airlifts have been full or close to full, with no significant issues being faced by the evacuees. More than 2,000 British nationals have registered in Sudan under evacuation plans, but thousands more could be in the country. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said the operation in Khartoum is running smoothly, while there is currently no issue with capacity. He told journalists that 301 people have been lifted to safety on four flights, with the total number of RAF planes to depart Khartoum due to double on Wednesday. The official said the majority of the people on the planes were British nationals but that some will be citizens of allied countries. He had not been informed of large-scale problems of non-British passport holders turning up and being told they are not eligible. Despite nationals being told to make their own way to the airstrip, he said we are not seeing those who are making that travel having significant issues. (PA Graphics) However, Sudanese-British citizen Tarig Babikir, 42, who used to live in Coventry, told of the challenge of making it to Wadi Saeedna amid gunfire. Its complete anarchy right now, complete chaos. Anyone can rob you, anyone can shoot you, he told the PA news agency. Downing Street hopes to carry on with flights throughout the week and does not believe there will be a need to leave the airport imminently. The ceasefire has largely held since it began in the early hours of Monday. Brigadier Dan Reeve, chief of joint force operations, said at least 500 people can be lifted from the airstrip every day and that the evacuation window is not conditional on that ceasefire holding. I can see no reason at the moment why we cant continue to do that for as long as the Prime Minister wants us to, he told journalists. The first flight of British nationals arrived back in London Stansted on Wednesday afternoon, having left Larnaca in Cyprus, where they were initially evacuated. Mr Sunak was asked by the SNPs Westminster leader Stephen Flynn whether he would deport child refugees who arrive in the UK without authorisation under plans to stop the boats. The Prime Minister told the Commons of the countrys proud record of supporting asylum seekers, but did not commit to a new safe and legal route for those fleeing Sudan. People evacuated from Sudan arrive on a flight from Cyprus into Stansted Airport (Paul Marriott/PA) HMS Lancaster is progressing towards Port Sudan, the Red Sea dock some 500 miles from Khartoum that could possibly be used in a seaborne operation. But with UK nationals being told to make their own way to evacuation sites, that trip would be made particularly challenging by fuel shortages and the traffic of people fleeing. In an apparent swipe at the UKs approach, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians to their own devices as it completed its evacuation. She said that unlike in other countries, Germanys evacuation had included all its nationals and not just embassy staff, whom the UK airlifted to safety on Sunday. The Prime Minister has argued it was right that diplomats were prioritised because they were being targeted. A UK-born student attempting to flee Sudan said she does not have enough petrol to make the dangerous one-hour drive from the outskirts of Khartoum to the airstrip. Samar Eltayeb, 20, from Birmingham, told the PA news agency: Im trying to get there. UK nationals disembarking from an A400M transport plane at Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus (Ministry of Defence/PA) But the problem is the vehicles that we have have no gas, and the petrol stations are empty. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck. British forces are expected to take over command of the operation in Wadi Saeedna from German troops on Wednesday. Some 160 British service personnel have been sent to the airfield, but the security of the site is being maintained by the Sudanese armed forces. The military is ready to use force if needed if the site comes under attack, although the troops are primarily there to help with logistics and providing air traffic control. Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, are being prioritised for the flights. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible. Nationals have been warned all travel within Sudan is conducted at your own risk. A British businessman trying to escape Sudan has described hiding in basements for three days with no food or water to avoid the fighting in Khartoum. Ibrahim Ali Ibrahim, who owns a security firm in Birmingham, travelled to Sudan in February to visit family for the first time in nearly a decade leaving his wife and four children at home. The 37-year-old was on his way to purchase a return plane ticket from a travel agency in the centre of the Sudanese capital when fighting broke out between military and militia forces on the morning of April 15. Speaking from an airbase near Khartoum, he told the PA news agency: Suddenly everybody was running. I saw a lot of people get shot and dying in front of my eyes, people getting injured it was really terrible. Mr Ibrahim hid in the basements of abandoned buildings for three days, covering himself with sheets of carboard or plywood. To avoid detection, he only moved at night. I was hiding for three days with no food, no water, he said. You go to the wrong road, youre going to get shot. One way youve got the army, the other youve got militia. I tried to move in the middle of night slowly, slowly until I got out [of central Khartoum]. I couldnt tell what day it is. Everywhere there is guns shooting, tanks and bombing. I worried a lot about not seeing my children and my wife again. (PA Graphics) My family was worrying and tried to call me but my batterys dead. Everybody I know was trying to call me to help me to escape. After three days, he knocked on the door of a family who took him in, gave him food and water and allowed him to charge his mobile phone. Having contacted the British Foreign Office, Mr Ibrahim travelled to an airstrip on the outskirts of Khartoum on Wednesday morning, hoping to be evacuated. Eight flights are expected to evacuate people from Sudan to Cyprus throughout Wednesday. The first flight carrying 250 people from Larnaca Airport in Cyprus arrived at Stansted Airport on Wednesday afternoon. He said: Ive seen a lot of bad things. Ive seen injured people crying and nobody knows how to help them. Ive seen people die in the street and nobody picks up the bodies. You could smell it everywhere. He added: I miss my wife and children a lot. I miss everybody back home in the UK and I hope my family in Sudan are all safe. I hope the war stops soon as possible. British nationals evacuated from Sudan have been reunited with relatives and loved ones at Stansted Airport, with one man describing the conflict as a nightmare. Women with small children and babies in prams were among approximately 300 people who were flown from Sudan, as well as elderly individuals in wheelchairs. Many clutched Red Cross parcels as they left the buses taking them into the airport. Family members and friends were waiting anxiously in the arrivals lounge and car park for the flight to arrive. People evacuated from Sudan arrive on a flight from Cyprus into Stansted Airport in Essex (Paul Marriott/PA) One man from Sudan, who did not give his name, described his experience as a nightmare. Speaking outside the airport, he said: Its absolutely fantastic to be back. Its been a nightmare. Weve never seen anything like it before. We saw it on the television before but we never thought it was going to happen to a peaceful country like Sudan. Khartoum is like a ghost city, everyone is leaving Khartoum now. We are very grateful to the British servicemen and women who risked their lives to come to Sudan and help us out. There are more people stranded there and I think there should be more awareness to those stranded. We were very lucky but not everyone was as lucky we are. I was in the middle of the conflict. There was bombing and shelling, the house next to us was shelled. It was like a Bond movie, Ive never seen anything like it before. British nationals in Khartoum are facing dangerous journeys to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip in the hope of boarding an evacuation flight out of Sudan. One Sudanese-British citizen said some people are too scared to make the trip as another described complete chaos on the streets. Eight flights were expected to have left by the end of Wednesday to lift people to safety as the military races against time to rescue citizens while a fragile ceasefire holds. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told UK nationals on Tuesday that they must make their own way to the airstrip. Tarig Babikir, 42, who used to live in Coventry, is taking on a four-hour walk alone to get there. He told the PA news agency before setting off: It all goes down to your instinct, you have to figure out where the fires coming from and try to find a different route. Im going to go through national army checkpoints and paramilitary checkpoints, and most likely Im going to encounter some armed gangs as well. Im carrying no cash as you can get robbed on the streets, and Im going to hide my cell phone. Tarig is passing through empty streets on his way to the airstrip (Tarig Babikir/PA) Mr Babikir had been living in a district near to the airstrip but was forced to flee after heavy bombardment. His Ukrainian mother and Sudanese father both have expired UK visas, so he will have to leave them behind with other relatives. My dad is recovering from a stroke, but the best option right now is to leave and I will probably come back in a months time, he said. Mr Babikir said he would be staying with a friend in Kent after arriving back in the UK. He added: Its complete anarchy right now, complete chaos. Anyone can rob you, anyone can shoot you. Dr Ehab Al-Moubarak is currently on his way to the airfield from his parents home in Wad Madani, around 195km south of the Sudanese capital. He had originally travelled to the country from his home in Bristol to visit his mother and father during Ramadan and Eid. Dr Ehab Al-Moubarak is travelling from the city of Madani in hopes of being evacuated (Dr Ehab Al-Moubarak/PA) He told PA: The issue with security is that it is very difficult to get or evaluate information and as such every rumour needs to be considered. The rumour is that there is clashes here and theyre within the route (to the airfield). After waiting for a minibus with around 25 to 30 other British citizens, Dr Al-Moubarak said the number dwindled to just two as many decided not to take the risk on the estimated eight-hour journey. We dont know how long it will take, he said. To be honest, normally the drive would take around three hours to get there but now it could take eight hours if we get there. Its difficult to get a minibus because no one wants to drive there. The 46-year-old, who works as a scientist at the University of Bristol, has been forced to leave his mother and father behind. He said: I never thought something like this would happen. People are very shocked about the scenes here. I live in a city thats quite safe but many people in this city are working or studying in Khartoum. Ehabs bus journey to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip will take around eight hours (Dr Ehab Al-Moubarak/PA) Every family has a family member in Khartoum where it is bad. Theres no fuel in Khartoum or Wad Madani. He added: My father is really ill and I wanted to take my mother and father to the UK. I asked the question but its not possible, the Government said no as they dont have a visa. He has diabetes and dementia and also cant move as well. He needs 24/7 assistance from my mother. He needs a lot of nursing in the house. The first plane bringing UK nationals back from Sudan landed at Stansted Airport from Larnaca, Cyprus at around 2:30pm on Wednesday. The Prime Ministers official spokesperson said 301 people have been lifted to safety on four flights so far, with the total number of RAF planes to depart Khartoum due to double on Wednesday. A budget for Northern Ireland expected to result in swingeing cuts to public services is set to be laid before Parliament on Thursday. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, who has responsibility for setting the Stormont budget in the absence of powersharing, is expected to outline departmental allocations for 2023/24 in a written ministerial statement at Westminster. Civil servants running public services in the absence of devolved elected ministers are bracing themselves for a potentially brutal settlement. When local ministers left office last year, Stormont was facing an approximate 600 million black hole. Permanent secretaries were forced to make a range of in-year savings and the Treasury provided a 300 million advance down-payment to help bridge the financial gap. However, with that 300 million having to be recouped in this financial year, the picture looks even more bleak for the 2023/24 budget. Stormont permanent secretaries insist they should not be placed in the position of having to make significant cuts, potentially impacting the most vulnerable in society. They have urged the Government to issue ministerial directions for any major cuts that are implemented. However, Mr Heaton-Harris has made clear he does not intend to issue such directions, which means the decisions will fall on the civil service until such time as powersharing returns to Stormont. Devolution is in abeyance at Stormont as a result of a DUP boycott of the institutions in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements. Mr Heaton-Harris is due to meet the main parties at Hillsborough Castle on Thursday to discuss the budgetary picture. Michelle ONeill has expressed concern at the likely cuts in the budget (Niall Carson/PA) On Wednesday, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill called on the UK Government to divert more money to Northern Ireland. I just think its not good enough that we dont have the executive up and running right now, we need to be there, she said. And all the political parties need to be facing one direction and that is a direction pushing back against the Tory savagery. The cuts that they have brought forward have been eye-watering and really impacting on our communities and the people that live here. But alongside a reformed executive, which I am determined and what I want to achieve, what we need is additional finances, because weve just dealt with 12-plus years of Tory austerity, theyve decimated public services, our public sector workers are on strike today, they shouldnt have to be there. But this is the reality of the Tory austerity that they have brought upon us. But we need to fight back against it. And we need to fight for additional funding for a reformed executive that allows us to actually make better political choices in the best interests of the people that we serve. Gavin Robinson has said the problem is not a lack of powersharing (Liam McBurney/PA) The DUP has called for reform of how Northern Ireland is funded. This week, DUP MP Gavin Robinson raised the issue with Mr Heaton-Harris when he appeared before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. The primary problem is not a lack of Stormont, it is a lack of money. That is a decision made by Treasury, he said. I have been warning for some time that the Barnett formula used for divvying up the budget for the UK regions is unfair to Northern Ireland and will continue to get even worse in coming years. There needs to be a complete reform of the funding model. The Treasury contribution to fund public services in Northern Ireland is going down rather than rising. The King and the Queen Consort will unveil the staging for the Eurovision Song Contest and tour the arena in Liverpool on Wednesday. Charles and Camilla will be shown around the M&S Bank Arena and meet Mae Muller, the UKs contestant, as well as celebrity presenters and creative teams, ahead of the contest next month. The grand final of the competition is due to take place on May 13, a week after the coronation ceremony. Eurovision 2023 will take place in Liverpool after the UK was chosen to host the competition on behalf of war-torn Ukraine. It will be the first time the competition has been held in the UK for 25 years. On Wednesday, Charles and Camilla will be met at the arena by BBC director general Tim Davie, BBC director of content Charlotte Moore and managing director for BBC Eurovision 2023 Martin Green. In the foyer, they will meet representatives from the BBC Board, BBC Studios and managing director of the arena Faye Dyer. They will be given a tour backstage to meet production staff before being invited to light and animate the arena, revealing the competition staging for the first time. The couple will also be introduced to Eurovision hosts Julia Sanina, Hannah Waddingham, Scott Mills and Rylan Clark, before meeting with this years UK entrant, Mae Muller, alongside Blue Peter presenters. Eurovision hosts Hannah Waddingham (centre) and Julia Sanina (right), with Alesha Dixon at the Eurovision media launch (James Stack/PA) Charles and Camillas visit to the arena is one of several royal engagements in Liverpool, recognising the cultural partnership of the UK and Ukraine and celebrating Eurovision. They will also visit Liverpool Central Library to officially mark its twinning with Ukraines first public library, the Regional Scientific Library in Odesa. They will meet key partners involved in both a two-week cultural festival running alongside the contest, and Eurolearn, a Eurovision-inspired education programme for primary and secondary pupils. Chief executive of Liverpool City Council, Theresa Grant, and director of Culture Liverpool and Major Events, Claire McColgan will guide the royal pair around the external exhibits. Mae Muller (Yui Mok/PA) A recital of Poem For Eurovision by poet Levi Tafari, written with the help of secondary pupils from several of Liverpools Schools of Sanctuary, will take place in the librarys atrium. Touring the library space, Charles will meet Ukrainian refugees and their host families who have been supported by The Princes Trust while Camilla meets young people as part of a story telling session. The pair will then together meet members of the Ukrainian Community in Liverpool and their host families. Charles will later reveal a plaque to mark the twinning of the libraries, during a live link with the site in Odesa, and the visit will end with a performance by English National Opera. Prince Charles became the first child in British history to witness their mothers coronation as sovereign when he attended Queen Elizabeth IIs 1953 ceremony at the age of just four. The heir to the throne watched the proceedings seated between his widowed grandmother, the Queen Mother, and his aunt, Princess Margaret, looking down on the spectacle from the royal box. A bored-looking Prince Charles at his mothers coronation (PA) He frequently tugged at the Queen Mothers glove with excitement but was also pictured looking bored at times, resting his head on his hand during the three-hour deeply religious proceedings. At one point, the prince disappeared from view, with the Queen Mother and Margaret turning round to attend to him. Prince Charles (top left) in the royal box at Westminster Abbey as the Archbishop of Canterbury places St Edwards Crown on the Queen (PA) The prince, who was between the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, disappeared for a moment during the ceremony (PA) Charles, now King, would later tell his biographer Jonathan Dimbleby he had vague recollections of glorious music and coronets being doffed in unison, but his overriding memory of the coronation was how the Palace barber cut his hair too short and plastered it down with the most appalling gunge. He remember pulling at the Queen Mothers sleeve but could not recall what had piqued his curiosity. There had been much speculation about whether the prince would be at the service and, in the end, the Queen decided he should but only as a spectator because of his age. Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Princess Anne and family and guests pose at Buckingham Palace after the coronation (PA) In 1937, both Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret attended the coronation of their father George VI and Queen Elizabeth, but never before had a royal youngster watched their mother be crowned a Queen Regnant a Queen who reigns in her own right. Charless sister Princess Anne, who was only two, stayed at home because she was considered too young but she later joined the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony. The day before the coronation, Charles was spotted using binoculars at a window in the Palace as he watched the historic preparations unfold. Charles watching the scenes outside Buckingham Palace on June 1 1953(PA) The now monarch in a tribute paid to his mother on her 80th birthday recalled how on the eve of the big event the Queen had practised wearing her heavy crown as she said goodnight to him and his sister during their bathtime. He also told how the crowds camped out on The Mall kept him awake calling for their sovereign. I have vivid memories of the coronation; of my mother coming to say goodnight to my sister and me while wearing the crown so that she could get used to its weight on her head before the coronation ceremony; of thousands of people gathered in The Mall outside Buckingham Palace chanting We want the Queen and keeping me awake at night, he said. The Queen after being crowned in Westminster Abbey on June 2 1953 (PA) During the service, the television cameras turned to the little future king soon after St Edwards Crown was placed on the Queens head. Commentator Richard Dimbleby remarked: The Duke of Cornwall sees his mother crowned. Charles was standing close to and speaking to his grandmother, resting his arms on the edge of the royal box as he turned his head, taking in the proceedings. He had automatically become the Duke of Cornwall on the Queens accession but was not yet the Prince of Wales. Charles points to the planes during the coronation flypast (PA) The prince afterwards went to the front of the Palace with his parents and Anne, the Queen Mother and the coronation maids and pages, to greet the crowds and watch a flypast. He pointed at the aircraft as the planes roared through the skies. Charless appearance on the balcony that day as the well-wishers cheered in celebration of the newly crowned Queen had a lasting impact on him with the realisation of his unique position. This exposure to the force of public emotion formed an elemental part of the process by which he came to appreciate how very different he was from other children, Dimbleby wrote. Seventy years later, that once young prince is preparing for his own coronation after acceding to the throne and beginning his reign as King Charles III. Senior Conservative MPs have labelled the expected attendance of Chinas vice-president at the Kings coronation as outrageous. Han Zheng, who was recently appointed as president Xi Jinpings deputy, is set to represent China at the May event, Politico reported. Former Tory leader and longstanding China-critic Sir Iain Duncan Smith described him as responsible for trashing Chinas Hong Kong treaty with Britain by overseeing a crackdown on the territorys freedoms. Tim Loughton, a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said his presence would be an insult to the freedom loving people of Hong Kong. Mr Han led Hong Kong affairs for Beijing between 2018 and March this year, during which time it imposed the national security law following mass protests in the city, stifling opposition and criminalising dissent. The move strained relations with the UK, and led to the creation of a visa scheme allowing Hong Kongers to come to Britain. Mr Hans attendance at the celebrations for the King will further antagonise Tory China hawks already angered by the Governments approach to Beijing. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the UK must engage directly with China in a speech on Tuesday, calling for a constructive but robust relationship. Sir Iain told the PA news agency: This is the man responsible for trashing the international treaty the Sino British accord. In the course of which the Hong Kong authorities have persecuted peaceful democracy campaigners. Having this man here given his role is outrageous. Mr Loughton said: We have lobbied ministers not to allow this. It would be an insult to the freedom loving people of HK. Serious concerns were previously raised when an invitation to the Queens funeral was extended to representatives from China last September. Beijing was ultimately represented by Mr Hans predecessor, Wang Qishan, at the state funeral, while a delegation from the country also attended the Queens lying in state in Westminster Hall. Wang Qishan, Chinas then-vice-president, at the Queens state funeral (Peter Byrne/PA) The Prime Ministers official spokesman told reporters: The Foreign Office have an approach on how invites are decided. You will see a whole host and a wide array of world leaders. Asked if Rishi Sunak would meet the Chinese official, the spokesman said: Im not aware of any plans. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which declined to comment, has extended invitations to the coronation to the heads of state of all nations with whom the UK has full diplomatic relations. The UK says China remains in breach of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, under which it had a duty to uphold Hong Kongs high degree of autonomy and rights and freedoms. Hong Kong was handed over from the UK to China in 1997 with a promise by Beijing to keep Western-style liberties under a one country, two systems framework. The possibility of budget cuts to police and community services may damage efforts to tackle paramilitarism, MPs have been warned. Members of the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) issued the warning as they addressed the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. The IRC was established jointly by the UK and Irish governments to report on progress towards ending paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland. In the absence of a functioning Stormont executive, Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris is responsible for setting the budget for Northern Ireland. When the budget is announced, departments are expected to face significant cuts due to a nearly 300 million overspend in public finances last year. John McBurney, from the IRC, said it would be damaging to the goal of tackling paramilitary activity if the PSNI experienced significant cuts. It will be very, very damaging if the funding for the Paramilitary Crime Task Force is cut back, it will be very, very damaging to the whole endeavour to bring about the ending of paramilitarism and terrorism throughout Northern Ireland, he said. If neighbourhood policing is significantly cut back that will be very, very damaging to the entire endeavour. And I think the Chief Constable and his top team of officers, they appreciate that very, very intently. The IRC commissioners were giving evidence to the committee on the effect of paramilitary activity and organised crime on society in Northern Ireland. The terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland was raised to severe last month, meaning an attack is highly likely. Mr McBurney said the work of the IRC is dependent on the continuation of community programmes tackling paramilitarism. Were now teasing out the issues around the possibilities relating to group transition and the independent person and all of that, he said. We cant be doing all of that and then discover that the structures that have been put in place to carry all this forward are then being allowed to wither on the vine and even disappear. Mr McBurney also said that cuts to community groups that aim to prevent young people becoming involved in paramilitary crime were leaving these groups emaciated. There are youth services which are diverting young people from being drawn into these paramilitary groups, there are youth services that are now on their knees in terms of funding, he said. Mr McBurney added: These are youth workers who have been doing sterling work in diverting young people away from being drawn into these paramilitary groups and diverting them away from trouble at flashpoint times for various reasons, connected to different events through the year. We step back and we witness these being emaciated, being diminished in their resources and all of that is a great, great concern if we are serious about prioritising the ending of paramilitarism. IRC commissioner Tim OConnor appealed directly to the chair of the committee, Conservative MP Simon Hoare, to ensure that the PSNIs resources are protected amid the expectations of budgetary cuts. We would be making the plea to you through your good offices, and I know youve had the Secretary of State with you earlier in the week, that we have to, at every opportunity, keep reinforcing how fundamentally important that is that resources continued to be supplied to, in this case the PSNI, but also all the other dimensions, because what this issue has proven itself to be is resilient, he said. We know that economically its tough times but we would be asking you to continue to bring your offices to bear there to make sure that these resources are protected. Mr Hoare responded: We will do our best, certainly. Alliance MP Stephen Farry asked the commissioners about the impact of the budget crisis on tackling paramilitary activity. Mr OConnor said that cuts to resources aimed at tackling paramilitarism could jeopardise the journey to a peaceful society. Under the tackling paramilitarism programme, all the various initiatives that have been done, we now actually have a framework in place, if I can use that word, towards bringing this to a conclusion, he said. And I think it would be a huge mistake, now, if actually we were to kind of start dialling back on the resources, theyre more necessary than ever, if were going to get to the fully peaceful society that we all seek to achieve. Fellow commissioner of the IRC Monica McWilliams also said that community and youth services were necessary to transition those in paramilitary groups. If you dont tackle it with mental health services, employability, opportunities for the future, then you wont get the transition, she said. And if thats being taken away, particularly the youth services, which I just heard about today, what kind of services are we going to provide this summer? Participants from private and public sectors attend the first session of the ReWorld Forum in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of SDX Foundation ReWorld Forum examines new assignments and opportunities for sustainable financial industry By Lee Yeon-woo As international attention focuses on achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, financial firms with the capacity to pursue opportunities in this area are expected to reap sizeable profits in the global market. By 2030, the scale of "transition finance" financial activities that support the transition of industries, companies and economies to low-carbon, sustainable models is expected to reach $37 trillion in Asia and $68 trillion globally. "While domestic financial firms have made international-level of policy commitments to reduce carbon emissions, there is a long way to go when it comes to implementing feasible action plans," said Choi Jung-kiu, a managing director and partner at Boston Consulting Group, Singapore, during his keynote address at the ReWorld Forum. Choi explained that financial firms should step in more before and after the loan process, such as requesting carbon reductions from corporations as a loan condition, rather than just lending money and finishing the process. The firms could also connect corporations with companies that hold the necessary technology to achieve the goal and monitor whether corporations are making necessary efforts. Choi Jung-kiu, a managing director and partner at Boston Consulting Group, Singapore, delivers the keynote address at the ReWorld Forum in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of SDX Foundation Around 300 experts from both the private and public sectors gathered at Seoul Dragon City, Wednesday, to discuss the future focus of Korean financial firms: transition finance. The forum was hosted by the SDX Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to sustainable development through digital transformation. "If Korean financial firms fail to offer such solutions to domestic corporations, the corporations may have no choice but to transact with overseas firms that offer solutions to achieve net-zero standards to survive in the global market," said Choi. "Moreover, if a majority of loans in Korean financial firms are directed toward industries that emit significant amounts of carbon, overseas financial firms may find it challenging to conduct transactions with them as well." Throughout the first session, experts expressed regret that the industry as a whole does not seem to recognize the urgency of the issue. "There is a disparity in the level of preparedness among companies. While banks are thoroughly prepared, others still consider transition finance as promotional agenda," said Kim Jin-you, a partner at Samil PwC. "A certain overseas country is going to establish wind power plants worth trillions of won over the past decade, but only the Industrial Bank of Korea participates in the project," said Kim Seong-ju, the head of the environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) team at the Financial Supervisory Service. "This demonstrates that many firms lack understanding of these types of projects and the relevant information. To address this issue, we are communicating with overseas embassies to create opportunities for domestic firms." Experts hoped that domestic financial firms can regard the situation as an opportunity. The transition finance market is still at a nascent stage, and major overseas financial firms are also making efforts to establish a foothold. "If Korean financial firms partner with major corporations with high global rankings, they have a great opportunity to lead the global market, just like K-pop or K-movie," said Choi. Head of the Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Kim Sang-hyup echoed the sentiment. "In the market economy, the ultimate drive for change comes from the money flow. In that sense, I believe net-zero finance is like a trigger to cause the green big bang." SDX Foundation Chairman Jhun Ha-jin speaks during the opening ceremony of ReWorld Forum in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of SDX Foundation Direct engagement with paramilitary groups is necessary to achieve disbandment of the organisations, MPs have been told. Members of the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) addressed the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, defending their proposal of direct engagement with paramilitary organisations. In its most recent report, the IRC recommended that the UK and Irish governments consider appointing an Independent Person who would be authorised to speak to the various interested parties, including paramilitary groups, to gather their views on how to move towards disbandment. IRC commissioner Tim OConnor said the independent person would act as a preparer of the ground. He added: We know that its a challenging idea, but after six years or so together we would love if there was some alternative but we dont see how we can achieve this goal of ending paramilitarism once and for all, without some kind of a process like that. Thats the view we have come to collectively. IRC commissioner John McBurney told the committee that engaging directly with paramilitary organisations was an idea worth testing. Clearly, there will always be people who will be very sceptical to the notion of engaging directly with the remaining paramilitary groups, with a view to constructing a process towards disbandment, towards the permanent end of all the paramilitary groupings that we have, there will always be a scepticism about that, my view on that is that it is worthy of being tested, he said. He added: I still come back to the notion that if paramilitary leaders are saying, we will engage meaningfully with an independent person and with a wider transition endeavour, dealing with the ending of recruitment, decommissioning of weaponry, engagement with legacy bodies, allowing people to leave the organisation without repercussion, and so forth. If theyre prepared to engage in such a process, then I think we have to seriously consider that as a viable step forward at this point. The commissioners were asked by the chair of the committee, Conservative MP Simon Hoare, if there was any outreach from the Northern Ireland political parties to involve paramilitary groups in democratic processes. Mr McBurney said such a process did not exist, and would be difficult to establish due to criticism parties would face. There is a complete absence of cover to do what you have just described, because its not within a process, bringing these organisations to a completely different, non-violent, non disciplined, organised structure away from that, he said. So in the absence of a process, any political party, any central political party, engaging with paramilitary leaders, or any organisation thats linked to the paramilitary groupings, is then at risk of being severely criticised for that engagement. There is no context of achieving disbandment because theres no process. Mr McBurney also said that policing alone would not be able to prevent more young people engaging with paramilitary organisations. He said: I think that the years that have passed have shown us that it is impossible in Northern Ireland terms, to see the end of all paramilitary and terrorist activity by purely policing and security service endeavours. He added: We cannot arrest our way out of the thousands of continuing members of the various groups and individual transition, which is a worthy cause in and of itself, where someone leaves an organisation. Today if someone leaves an organisation, by old age or whatever, two young men might well be brought in as newly fledged recruits who didnt even live through the conflict and maybe were born after the agreement and so forth. So thats a cycle that has to be broken and dismantling organisations which would achieve the same things as disbandment. IRC Commissioner Monica McWilliams, who was involved in the negotiations of the Good Friday Agreement, said that some paramilitary groups are open to transition and need help to achieve this. We have always said you would need to put clear blue water between those people who say theyre up for this in terms of transition, and then we would have much more intelligence about the groups that arent, she said. At the minute, I think theyre all being tarred with the same brush and from our discussions, were trying to get a picture of those who show willingness, and to test that and isnt that something we ought to be doing now? Rather than just having the current stalemate. Its also the case that those groups who approach us do need help. They dont have their own roadmap out of this. Theresa May has warned more people will be left in slavery in the UK by Government reforms aimed at deterring migrants from crossing the English Channel. The Conservative former prime minister held talks with the Government over her concerns, but described an amendment tabled by ministers as a slap in the face for those who care about the victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. Temporary protection against removal from the UK is currently given to suspected victims of modern slavery or human trafficking while their case is considered. But the Illegal Migration Bill removes this protection for those judged to have entered the UK illegally. It contains an exception for people co-operating with a criminal investigation, but Government amendment 95 adds it is not necessary for a person to be present in the UK to co-operate with such proceedings unless there are judged to be compelling circumstances. Mrs May and Conservative former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith are behind a separate amendment seeking to protect victims of modern slavery in the UK from removal and being barred from returning. Mrs May said of amendment 95: Far from making the Bill provisions better for the victims of modern slavery, (it) makes it worse. I believe (immigration minister Robert Jenrick) was talking to me in good faith but I have to say its hard to see this Government amendment 95 as an example of good faith Id say rather its a slap in the face of those of us who actually care about the victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. Mrs May said the change also suggests those dealing with the Bill simply do not understand the nature of these crimes or the position of victims. The MP for Maidenhead said the Government amendment will make it much harder to investigate and prosecute traffickers and slavedrivers given victims need to feel safe and have confidence in the authorities. Mrs May said: Sending victims back to their own country or a third country like Rwanda will simply, at best, make them feel less secure, and therefore less able or willing to give the evidence needed, and at worst will drive them back into the arms of the traffickers and slavedrivers. She added: Modern slavery is the greatest human rights issue of our time. The approach in this Bill, I believe, will have several ramifications. I believe it will consign victims to remain in slavery. The Government will be ensuring that more people will stay enslaved and in exploitation as a result of this Bill because it will give the slavedrivers, it will give the traffickers, another weapon to hold people in that slavery and exploitation, because itll be very easy to say to them, Dont even think about trying to escape from the misery of your life, from the suffering were subjecting you to because all the UK Government will do is send you away and probably send you to Rwanda. The Modern Slavery Act gave hope to victims, this Bill removes that hope. I genuinely believe that, if enacted as it is currently proposed, this Bill will leave more people, more men, women and children, in slavery in the UK. Former minister Sir Iain warned of unintended consequences in the Bill in relation to modern slavery victims. He said: We need to send the right signals about this and I think the problem with this Bill right now is its unnecessarily now targeting a group of people that are not the problem, themselves will suffer, and ironically we will fail as a Government through the home affairs end of it because the police simply wont be able to get those prosecutions. So on every grounds this is wrong and, I have to say for their new amendment 95, is a disastrous attempt to make it almost impossible for anyone to feel confident of the country before they give evidence and I really, really ask the Government before we make a decision about whether this (amendment four) is moved, to make it very clear at the end of this debate that they will take this away and they will genuinely look to see what those unintended consequences are now coming together to become. Mr Jenrick earlier said amending parts of the Bill to create exemptions could lead to abuse of our modern slavery protections. The immigration minister added: I understand, of course, (Sir Iain, Mrs May) and others in the preparation of their amendments have thought in particular about how we can prevent individuals who have been in the UK for a sustained period of time from being exploited by human traffickers, or if they are already being (exploited), from being deterred from escaping that modern slavery or raising concerns with civil society or law enforcement bodies. Those are serious issues and ones that I want to take forward with them, listening to their unrivalled expertise through the passage of the Bill and seeing if there are ways in which we can address and assuage their concerns. Its for this reason that we will look at what more we can do to provide additional protections to individuals who suffered exploitation in the UK. A British-Sudanese father of three has said he told his children it was like a hide-and-seek game when his home was caught in the middle of a gunfight in Sudan. Munzir Salman was at home in Khartoum with his three children when Sudanese armed forces soldiers were ambushed by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) officers outside his block of flats. The 37-year-old, who has dual citizenship, spoke to the PA news agency while he and his children waited to fly to the UK via Larnaca, Cyprus. Damage to a window at Munzir Salmans home (Munzir Salman/PA) He said: What happened was some army soldiers were coming through and they were ambushed by the RSF. They then ran behind my house, and they were shooting at each other, I was in the middle. It was horrendous and, unfortunately, its not the first time Ive had gunshots around me. Im a single father of three kids so I had to stay calm for them. I had to tell them it was like a game and told them it was like a hide-and-seek game. It was an experience they had never been through before, it was very scary but I tried to make it a game for them. I explained the danger before trying to make it like Tom and Jerry where the people outside were Tom and we were Jerry. Mr Salman lived in Sudan until he turned 10 years old before moving to Toxteth in Liverpool, where he lived for 16 years. He then moved to Dubai before moving back to Sudan in 2013 where he had his three children, Siddig, 11, Shaden, eight, and Yasmin, six, with his wife, who died during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. (PA Graphics) British nationals have faced dangerous journeys to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip in the hopes of being able to board an evacuation flight out of the country. Eight flights were expected to have left by the end of Wednesday to lift people to safety as the military races against time to rescue citizens while a fragile ceasefire holds. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told UK nationals on Tuesday that they must make their own way to the airstrip. Mr Salman, a builder, said: It was hard to explain to them that its a dangerous journey. The first part was that the RSF were trying to spot us as we travelled through neighbourhoods. They spotted us four times but because they saw I had children they let us go. In a normal situation, the journey would have been 20 miles but because of what is going on we travelled 60 miles to get here. A former Metropolitan Police officer accused of using dead peoples bank card details to buy goods and sell them on has appeared in court following a corruption probe. Muhammed Mustafa Darr, 37, also allegedly stole a laptop and a bag from a Mercedes belonging to a suspect who had been arrested by his colleagues. He is further accused of using police computer systems to look up information about himself and others and advising a man to destroy evidence linking him to an investigation. Darr was charged with three counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of perverting the course of justice between December 2018 and June 2020, while he was a constable on a response unit, after an investigation into alleged corruption. He pulled a hood over his head and covered his face with a medical mask when he arrived at Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address in Walthamstow, east London. Darr, who was based at the Mets North Area Basic Command Unit, was not asked to enter pleas to any of the charges, which are indictable only, meaning they can only be tried in the Crown Court. Police signage (Joe Giddens/PA) One of the misconduct charges states he is accused of abusing his position to acquire credit/debit card details of deceased members of the public. Darr allegedly used the details to acquire or seek to acquire goods or money transfers for himself or others by fraud, and to sell on goods obtained fraudulently. Another misconduct charge alleges he used police computer systems to look up information about himself and others without any legitimate policing purpose. The third states he stole a laptop computer and a bag and its contents from a Mercedes belonging to a suspect who had been arrested by his colleagues. Darr also allegedly perverted the course of justice between March 22 2020 and June 6 2020 by using his access to look up the progress of a police investigation linked to Asif Mushtaq. The charge states Darr then spoke to Ali Ikram and Asif Mushtaq, advising Asif Mushtaq to conceal or destroy evidence linking him to the investigation. District Judge Briony Clarke granted Darr bail ahead of his next appearance at Southwark Crown Court on May 24 on the condition he resides at his home address. Darr was charged following an investigation carried out by the Mets directorate of professional standards under the direction of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). A file of evidence was then passed to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised criminal charges. Georgia Toff Toffolo was faced with the brutal decision of banishing one of her fellow Im A Celebrity South Africa contestants from main camp, in the latest episode of the ITV reality show. Toffolo, who was crowned Queen of the Jungle in Australia in 2017, entered the show with Coronation Street star Andy Whyment and Myleene Klass on Wednesdays episode. She was later chosen by the other contestants to immediately take part in a challenge, during which she was forced to crawl through a filthy drain system to collect stars. Come back they said, it'll be fun they said #ImACeleb pic.twitter.com/u2GLLQA79F I'm A Celebrity (@imacelebrity) April 26, 2023 After successfully recovering eight of 11 stars, she was told by hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly that she would be returning to the main camp but had to choose a celebrity to replace. The chosen contestant would then be sent to join Klass and Whyment in the more basic Savannah Scrub camp. Speaking in the Bush Telegraph, Toffolo expressed her dismay at having to make the decision, saying who on earth do I bump off? Her fellow campmates reacted with shock and surprise after learning of her task, with Phil Tufnell exclaiming thats brutal. But the closing credits rolled just as Toffolo was about to deliver her verdict, leaving viewers on a cliff-hanger for Thursdays episode. Earlier in the episode, in a pre-recorded segment ahead of her arrival, the 28-year-old former Made In Chelsea star imagined winning the show for a second time. Who do you think Toff will banish to Savannah Scrub? Guesses below #ImACeleb See you back here tomorrow at 12pm for The First Look I'm A Celebrity (@imacelebrity) April 26, 2023 Theres something about the magic of this show to be asked to do it again, its too good an opportunity for me to miss, she said. Can you imagine winning it for a second time? Its obviously a huge pipe dream. Its not going to happen, but its nice to be in the running. Elsewhere on Wednesdays episode, TV personality Gillian McKeith told the other celebrities that they need to have a toilet talk. The 63-year-old said: Every time we go in there, theres widdles all around the edge. Im having to clean up widdles of people I dont even know. US model Janice Dickinson, 68, added: Dont sprinkle it on the seat, please. We have to sit on it. You can aim. Former Countdown presenter Carol Vorderman and former royal butler Paul Burrell also took on a challenge to earn a treat for the camp. Im A Celebrity South Africa returns on Thursday on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm. Promises to tackle violence against women and girls will be seen as meaningless unless the issue of forced marriage is confronted by Government, a review has warned. Ministers have been urged not to shrink from the challenge of addressing the pernicious and unlawful practice which has seen insufficient action against it to date, the independent review into faith engagement said. Report author and the Governments faith engagement adviser, Colin Bloom, said forced marriage and other issues such as faith-based extremism, financial exploitation, and child safeguarding should not be put in the too difficult box. In his 159-page report, Mr Bloom made clear that of all the issues the review addressed, his top priority is to see better efforts to tackle forced and coercive marriage. He wrote: There is one burning injustice that this Government should not shrink from, which is the issue of forced and coercive marriages. Successive governments have rightly spent a lot of time discussing violence against women and girls. Indeed, in recent years the tackling violence against women and girls strategy has been given greater prominence as a priority for government and its agencies to address. However, unless government is prepared to really tackle forced and coercive marriage, then its fine words around the tackling violence against women and girls strategy will be seen by many as meaningless. If only one thing is achieved from this report, confronting the pernicious and unlawful practice of forced and coercive marriage once and for all should be the goal. His recommendations include bringing the Forced Marriage Unit which is currently a shared unit functioning across the Home Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office within a single department answering to a single secretary of state. Mr Bloom suggested this would enable it to better engage with other Government departments, ensuring policy and operational arms can quickly adapt to perpetrators evolving tactics and provide a stronger political voice for addressing this issue. He said: Despite many waves of societal, political and journalistic interest, there has been insufficient action to date on forced marriage. This reviewer believes that such crimes would be more effectively tackled if a single government department took sole responsibility of an adequately resourced Forced Marriage Unit. He noted that while forced marriage is a criminal offence, many of those with the ability to intervene, including teachers appear either untrained or afraid of challenging perceived social norms, possibly because of the fear of causing offence. Mr Bloom said there appeared to be a false narrative around the religious and ethnic profile of victims of forced marriage with eight-year-old campaigning material on the subject disproportionately portraying seemingly Muslim cases. He said a lack of religious and ethnic group data collection and the lack of overall understanding of the prevalence of forced and coercive marriage in the UK severely hampers the production of effective educational resources and advice. He called for the Forced Marriage Unit to be appropriately structured, resourced and supported across Government. Mr Bloom accused the Department for Education of having been far too slow in responding to the challenge of illegally unregistered faith-based schools possibly because of a reluctance to tackle what they perceive to be a difficult subject. He suggested the Government should go further in its efforts to register and regulate out-of-school settings, considering what more could be done to hold the hardest-to-reach out-of-school settings to account, including measures such as a mandatory safeguarding reporting regime, governed by a centralised oversight body. He acknowledged this would not be simple and would involve difficult questions regarding the regulation of places of worship and the thresholds for regulation but insisted that the mental and physical safety of our children should be paramount. Among other recommendations, the report said the Government must redouble its efforts to reinforce the distinctions between extremist Islamism and Islam and between Islamist extremists and Muslims. It urged the Government to continue to find ways of ensuring that British Muslims do not feel unfairly associated with violent Islamism or Islamists who operate with violent or subversive tactics. Mr Bloom said: Our Governments understanding of the role of faith in society must remain both current and alive to its evolutionary changes. It must also not shy away from some of the challenges that exist in small pockets within faith communities, from forced and coercive marriages to faith-based extremism, financial exploitation, and child safeguarding. These must not be consigned to the too difficult box. Greater understanding of faith in all its diversity will ensure that we remain a country that respects, celebrates and understands people of all faiths, beliefs and none. Faith minister Baroness Scott said: As faith minister I will continue to shine a light on the important work of faith groups across the country, who play such an important role in public life. I welcome this review and thank Colin for his work we will carefully consider the recommendations and Ill make it my mission to continue to work closely with those of all faiths. The review, which was commissioned in 2019, saw more than 21,000 people respond to the public consultation and has made a total of 22 recommendations to the Government. The Duke of Sussex was kept out of the loop regarding alleged unlawful information gathering by tabloid newspapers in relation to the royal household, the High Court has heard. Harry, 38, is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN) over alleged unlawful information gathering at two of its titles, The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World claiming that his private information was unlawfully accessed. NGN is bringing a bid to have Harrys case thrown out, along with a similar claim by actor Hugh Grant, at a three-day hearing in London which started on Tuesday, arguing they have been brought too late. Actor Hugh Grant is also involved in the litigation (Ian West/PA) But, responding to the publishers strike out application, Harrys lawyers said it is an attempt to go behind a secret agreement between the royal family as an institution and NGN, which the duke was informed of in 2012. David Sherborne, representing Harry, told the court on Wednesday that, before 2012, the duke believed there was only one voicemail which his brother the Prince of Wales left for him that had been intercepted. The barrister said Harry thought the tabloid press wouldnt have been stupid enough to go after his messages, given the security services involvement, and that there were members of royal staff who he was aware believed they had been hacked but he was kept out of the loop. He was told more in 2012 but that was essentially dealt with by his family, the institution as he described it. That is no criticism of the (late) Queen or his family, that is how it was done and he accepted it. One also has to remember at the times he was on active service in Afghanistan. The barrister said Harry did not have access to The Guardian newspaper, which reported extensively on the phone hacking scandal, while there. Mr Sherborne added: Mr Hudson (Anthony Hudson KC, for NGN) described him as being at the epicentre (of hacking claims). Instead, he was kept out of the loop personally. The barrister told Mr Justice Fancourt, hearing the case, that what Harry did know by 2012 was that an agreement (had been) reached between the institution and News Group. He continued: It was a secret agreement and it meant that his claim and the claim of his brother the claims which would be hugely embarrassing for News Group, would be dealt with once this litigation came to an end. This secret agreement applied to his claim and that of his brother, and that explains why they did not bring their claims at an earlier stage. It became clear to the Duke of Sussex, whose wife was coming under abuse from The Sun, and he wanted to push forward on his claims because it seemed the defendant was stalling. The barrister said that, if NGN loses its application and the case goes to a planned trial in January, senior News Group executives Rebekah Brooks and Robert Thomson who were involved in the secret agreement and subsequent negotiations will have to give evidence. Mr Sherborne told the court, as was revealed during the first day of the hearing on Tuesday, that the Prince of Wales also brought a claim against NGN over hacking claims and that it was settled by the publisher. He added: It is precisely because of the secret agreement that no claim was brought before 2019. It is why no claim was brought earlier. We now know that His Royal Highness William brought a claim that has been settled by the defendant without any attempt to strike it out. In a 31-page witness statement prepared by the duke for the hearing, which began just 11 days before his fathers coronation, Harry said Williams claim was settled for a huge sum. The Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex (Henry Nicholls/PA) He said in the statement: My brother appeared to know an awful lot more than I did on the subject of phone hacking although he did not tell me if that was the case. However, NGN still settled his claim for a huge sum of money in 2020 without subjecting him to a similar strike out application, without any of the public being told, and seemingly with some favourable deal in return for him going quietly so to speak. Kensington Palace has declined to comment on behalf of the Prince of Wales. Mr Sherborne said both Harry and Mr Grant were following the case by video link and Mr Grant, who currently has filming commitments, is due to attend the third day of the hearing on Thursday. The barrister added: The Duke of Sussex has asked me to express his disappointment at being unable to be here. He was unable to be here for these three days but he is also following by video link, despite the challenges of the time difference. He said the judge would understand the strength of feeling of both, in relation to their claims, which he told the court are obviously very important to them. NGN has previously settled a number of claims since the phone hacking scandal broke in relation to The News Of The World, which closed in 2011, but has consistently denied that any unlawful information gathering took place at The Sun. The publishers lawyers argued on Tuesday that Harry was at the epicentre of the scandal since as long ago as 2006 and therefore aware he could have brought a claim sooner, and said his evidence that he was prevented from doing so by a secret agreement is without merit in fact or law. In documents before the court, Mr Sherborne, representing Harry, said the late Queen was involved in discussions and authorisation of the agreement, which was that members of the royal family would not pursue claims against NGN until after the conclusion of the litigation over hacking. Mr Sherborne said in written arguments that the agreement meant that the claimant could not bring a claim against NGN for phone hacking at that time. Anthony Hudson KC, for NGN, said the publishers position is that there was no such secret agreement. Mr Hudson told the court on Tuesday that Harry and Mr Grant have been front and centre of claims against the publisher over hacking and therefore could not possibly have failed to realise they had a potential damages claim much sooner. The hearing is expected to conclude on Thursday and the judge will determine whether their claims will progress to a trial, which is due to be heard in January next year. The claim is one of a number of legal actions currently being brought by the duke, who appeared in person at the High Court last month for a preliminary hearing against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of The Mail and Mail On Sunday. He is also expected to give evidence at a trial over allegations of unlawful information gathering against tabloid publisher Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), due to begin next month, with Harry due to appear in court in June. Heathrow airport has insisted passengers will be able to travel as normal during the Kings coronation despite further strike action planned next month. The group said robust contingency plans kept the airport running smoothly throughout the Easter break in spite of walkouts by members of Unite union. About 1,400 airport security guards are set to stage eight strikes in a dispute over pay, including during the coronation of the King. Heathrow said: Passengers can expect to travel as normal during the coronation and half term peaks, regardless of further unnecessary strike action by Unite. The group said it remained in the red during the first three months of the year, with underlying pre-tax losses of 139 million, though this was down sharply on the 223 million losses seen a year earlier. Heathrow blamed this on the revenue allowance under the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) settlement which caps the average charge levied against airlines per passenger which it said was set too low. Charges are paid by airlines but are generally passed on to passengers in air fares. The airport has asked competition regulator the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to review the CAAs decision. Heathrow claimed it remained Europes busiest airport in the first quarter, with a 74% jump in passengers to 16.9 million. Chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: 2023 has got off to a strong start. Mr Holland-Kaye reiterated an appeal to the Government to reinstate tax-free sales for overseas visitors. He said: We are building our route network to connect all of Britain to the growing markets of the world now we need the Government to lure international visitors back to the UK by scrapping the tourist tax. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt reversed a plan to remove VAT from airport shopping last autumn. His predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng had promised tourists to the UK would be able to claim a VAT refund on goods after it was first scrapped in 2021. An existing HIV drug has been found to protect against the dangerous build-up of proteins in dementia, according to early-stage research. Research by University of Cambridge scientists indicates how the brains ability to clear out toxic proteins is impaired in Huntingtons disease and other forms of dementia. In the new study, conducted in mice, a repurposed HIV drug, called Maraviroc, was able to restore this function, helping prevent this dangerous build-up and slowing progression of the disease. Professor David Rubinsztein, from the UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, the studys senior author, said: Were very excited about these findings because weve not just found a new mechanism of how our microglia hasten neurodegeneration, weve also shown this can be interrupted, potentially even with an existing, safe treatment. Maraviroc may not itself turn out to be the magic bullet, but it shows a possible way forward. During the development of this drug as a HIV treatment, there were a number of other candidates that failed along the way because they were not effective against HIV. We may find that one of these works effectively in humans to prevent neurodegenerative diseases. A common characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntingtons disease and various forms of dementia is the build-up in the brain of clusters known as aggregates of misfolded proteins, such as huntingtin and tau. These aggregates lead to the degradation and eventual death of brain cells and the onset of symptoms. One of the ways the body rids itself of toxic materials is autophagy, or self-eating. This is a process whereby cells eat the unwanted material, break it down and discard it. However, this mechanism does not work properly in neurodegenerative diseases, meaning the body is no longer able to get rid of the misfolded proteins. Dr Rosa Sancho, from Alzheimers Research UK, the main funder of the research, said: Over a million people in the UK are living with a neurodegenerative disease. Drugs that could protect the brains natural ability to keep itself healthy would have huge potential for limiting the number of people whose lives are devastated by conditions like dementia. This sort of promising, early-stage research is a vital building block towards future treatments, which depend on innovative approaches like this emerging from labs. In the study published in Neuron, the researchers carried out their research using mice that had been genetically-altered to develop forms of Huntingtons disease, or a type of dementia characterised by the build-up of the tau protein. The brain and central nervous system have their own specialist immune cells, known as microglia, which should protect against unwanted and toxic materials. The study in mice showed that in neurodegenerative diseases, microglia release molecules which activate a switch called CCR5 on the surface of cells. When activated, this switch impairs the ability of the brain to rid itself of the toxic proteins. These proteins then build up and begin to cause irreversible damage to the brain. When the researchers used mice bred to knock out the action of CCR5, they found the animals were protected against the build-up of misfolded huntingtin and tau. Researchers say this discovery offers clues as to how this build-up could in future be slowed or prevented in humans. The CCR5 switch is also used by HIV as a doorway into our cells, scientists say. The team used maraviroc to treat the Huntingtons disease mice, administering the drug for four weeks when the mice were two months old. When the brains of the mice were analysed, the researchers found a significant reduction in the number of huntingtin aggregates when compared to untreated mice. However, as Huntingtons disease only manifests in mice as mild symptoms by 12 weeks even without treatment, it was too early to see whether the drug would make an impact on the mices symptoms. The same effect was observed in the dementia mice. In these mice, not only did the drug reduce the amount of tau aggregates compared to untreated mice, but it also slowed down the loss of brain cells, the study found. According to the scientists, the treated mice performed better than untreated mice at an object recognition test, suggesting that the drug slowed down memory loss. A 33-year-old man who killed his wife before being found at Londons Euston station with multiple self-inflicted stab wounds has been found guilty of murder. Phillip Dafter stabbed Diana Dafter, aged 36, at their home in Lawrence Court, Northampton, using such force that the blade of the knife broke, Northamptonshire Police said. CCTV footage shown to jurors captured Dafter driving his car to the nearby Asda to purchase a new set of kitchen knives after the killing on October 7 2022. He then returned home and used one of the knives to stab himself several times, before driving to Northampton train station, where he boarded a service to Euston, staying on the train once it had arrived and telling the train conductor that he needed to speak to the police. Prosecutors said Dafter was discovered drunk and bleeding, having stabbed himself in the stomach and consumed a large amount of whisky before getting onto the train. At Euston, he claimed to be evil and a bad man and told British Transport Police he had killed his wife, a trial at Northampton Crown Court was told. Officers from Northamptonshire Police were immediately sent to Lawrence Court and found Mrs Dafters body. She had been stabbed five times and a post-mortem examination found she had died from a single stab wound to the heart. During his trial, Dafter denied murder but admitted to manslaughter, arguing loss of control and diminished responsibility. But jurors found Dafter, who will be sentenced on May 19, guilty of murder on Wednesday. Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Adam Pendlebury, said: I am really pleased that Phillip Dafter has been found guilty of murder today and that the jury did not accept his plea of manslaughter. This was an extremely violent and prolonged attack that could not have come about without a very real intention to cause Diana serious harm. It is important to remember Diana Dafter for who she was. And that is so much more than just Phillip Dafters wife. She was a loving mother, daughter and friend. A student nurse with a real passion for care, hardworking, and someone very easy to get along with. Though todays verdict will be a small comfort to her family and those who loved her, I hope it will help to know that Phillip Dafter is now facing an exceptionally long stretch in prison for what he has done. Customs commissioners from participating countries attend a roundtable presided over by Korea Customs Service (KCS) Commissioner Yoon Tae-sik on the opening day of Korea Customs Week 2023 at The Shilla Seoul hotel in central Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap Seoul declaration adopted to bolster administrative cooperation, digitalization By Yi Whan-woo Korea hopes to foster a favorable trade environment for exporters through Korea Customs Week 2023, a three-day international gathering in Seoul that discusses ways to lower tariff barriers, the chief of the country's customs regulatory body said Wednesday. Korea Customs Service (KCS) Commissioner Yoon Tae-sik also said the Seoul event could hopefully contribute to consolidating multilateral cooperation against drug trafficking and smuggling of firearms as well as other prohibited goods across the borders. "The main purpose of Korea Customs Week 2023 is to create a friendly business environment overseas for our export-oriented companies here amid growing protectionism and foreign policy prioritizing self-interests of individual countries," Yoon said during a press conference to mark the opening of the gathering at The Shilla Seoul hotel in central Seoul. Hosted by the KCS, the Seoul event is running through Friday with the participation of more than 600 customs administers and experts from 78 countries. The KCS has organized the meeting for the first time, to strike "a delicate balance" between legitimate trade and border protection against illegal goods under a broader goal of deepening administrative collaboration and digitalization of customs clearance systems. The meeting is themed "Challenges and Tasks for Digital Customs and Global Customs Cooperation," consisting of a roundtable, eight seminars, briefings on customs administration-related technologies, bilateral and multilateral dialogues among customs commissioners, business meetings and a field trip. Korea Customs Service (KCS) Commissioner Yoon Tae-sik, center, speaks as he presides over a roundtable on the opening day of Korea Customs Week 2023 at The Shilla Seoul hotel in central Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap The KCS chief highlighted the need to lower tariff barriers among the six areas of shared interest addressed in the so-called "Seoul Declaration." The six areas are; the facilitation of cross-border movements of goods by enhancing customs clearance systems and simplifying customs procedures; collaboration to expedite the digitalization of customs by integrating innovative technologies; cooperation in technical assistance and capacity building to ensure efficient customs administration; exchange of information and data among customs administrations for fair trade; establishment of consistent and harmonized practices concerning cross-border trade issues; and multi-layered cooperation among international organizations, border agencies and the private sector to enhance the efficiency of customs administration and improve the overall business environment. The declaration was announced during the roundtable presided over by Yoon earlier in the opening day, with a consensus among customs commissioners from 56 out of 78 countries. Concerning drugs, Yoon said representatives from 18 Asia-Pacific countries agreed on another joint declaration to facilitate the exchange of human resources and information on the crackdown of narcotics. The Asia-Pacific region accounted for 76 percent of drug smuggling cases in Korea last year, according to Yoon. "Taking this into account, the joint declaration among the 18 countries will be significant in fully banning the smuggling of narcotics into the country," the KCS chief said. International participants listen to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo delivering a speech during the opening ceremony of Korea Customs Week 2023 at The Shilla Seoul hotel in central Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Yi Whan-woo The Jehovahs Witness organisation has won a Supreme Court appeal after a High Court judge ruled that a rape victim should get damages. Judges had been told that the woman was raped by a fellow Jehovahs Witness after going door-to-door evangelising near Cardiff more than 30 years ago. Her attacker was an elder of the Barry Congregation of Jehovahs Witnesses, judges heard. She had sued for damages and claimed that the Jehovahs Witness organisation was responsible in law for the rape. A High Court judge, who made a damages award, and Court of Appeal judges had ruled in her favour. But Supreme Court justices on Wednesday ruled against her and concluded that the Jehovahs Witness organisation was not vicariously liable. Trustees of the Barry Congregation of Jehovahs Witnesses, part of the Jehovahs Witness organisation, had asked the Supreme Court to consider the case. Five justices had considered arguments at a Supreme Court hearing in London in February. They said, in a summary of their ruling, that they had to decide whether Court of Appeal judges wrongly found that the Trustees of the Barry Congregation, part of the Jehovahs Witness organisation, were vicariously liable for a rape committed by one of their elders. Justices said they had unanimously allowed the appeal by the trustees and concluded that the Jehovahs Witness organisation is not vicariously liable for the rape. They have not named the woman who is referred to as Mrs B in the ruling and said she could not be identified in media reports of the case. But they have named the man who raped her as Mark Sewell. He had raped her at his home after they had been out evangelising together, justices said. They said Sewell had been convicted of raping Mrs B and of indecently assaulting two other people. In 2017, Mrs B brought a claim for damages against the worldwide governing body of the Jehovahs Witnesses, Watch Tower and Bible Tract Society of Pennsylvania, and the Trustees of the (Barry) Congregation, said the justices in the summary of their ruling. She claimed that they were responsible in law, or vicariously liable, for the rape, because of the nature of their relationship with Mr Sewell and because of the connection between that relationship and the commission of the rape. A High Court judge had found them vicariously liable for the rape and awarded Mrs B 62,000 general damages, justices said. Court of Appeal judges had upheld that decision. Justices said they had unanimously allowed an appeal by the Barry trustees and concluded that the Jehovahs Witness organisation is not vicariously liable for the rape. A High Court judge had made a damages award in early 2020, after considering evidence at a High Court trial in London. Mr Justice Chamberlain heard that a judicial committee of Jehovahs Witnesses elders had, in 1991, found the womans allegations against Sewell not proven at an internal inquiry. But more than 20 years later Sewell was investigated by police. Following a trial in 2014 he was convicted of rape and indecent assault and given a 14-year prison sentence. The woman, who is no longer a Jehovahs Witness, said she suffered depression as a result of the rape. She said a proper internal inquiry had not been carried out and said leaders of the Jehovahs Witnesses were vicariously liable. The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, which is based in New York and is the worldwide governing body of the Jehovahs Witnesses, and the trustees of the Barry congregation, the congregation of which the woman was a member, did not accept that they were vicariously liable. But Mr Justice Chamberlain concluded that her psychiatric injuries were attributable to the rape. The five Supreme Court justices Lord Reed, Lord Hodge, Lord Briggs, Lord Burrows and Lord Stephens said judges had made errors when reaching earlier decisions. Lord Burrows said, in the Supreme Court ruling, that the rape had not been committed while Sewell was carrying out any activities as an elder on behalf of the Jehovahs Witnesses. He said that in contrast to some child sex abuse cases, Sewell had not been exercising control over Mrs B because of his position as an elder. The rape was not so closely connected with acts that Mark Sewell was authorised to do that it can fairly and properly be regarded as committed by him while acting in the course of his quasi-employment as an elder, said Lord Burrows. There is no convincing justification for the Jehovahs Witness organisation to bear the cost or risk of the rape committed by Mark Sewell. Clearly the Jehovahs Witness organisation has deeper pockets than Mark Sewell. But that is not a justification for extending vicarious liability beyond its principled boundaries. The four other justices said they agreed with Lord Burrows. Abbey Clancy has revealed how her daughter suffered viral meningitis symptoms while on holiday. (Getty Images) Abbey Clancy has shared her "trauma" after her daughter experienced symptoms of viral meningitis that saw her rushed to hospital. The star, 37, revealed how she was enjoying an Easter holiday to Portugal with her family when her eldest child Sophia, 12, became poorly. Speaking on The Therapy Crouch podcast, which she hosts with her husband Peter Crouch, she said: "The school holidays have been tough. "We got to Portugal and Sophia was in hospital with meningitis which was just the scariest thing on earth being in a foreign hospital, language barriers, the words like meningitis being thrown around, lumber punctures, brain scans. "It was horrific I felt so vulnerable and scary. But I must say the medical care over there was just out of this world." What's more, she and Peter became further concerned when their three other children daughter Liberty, seven, son Johnny, five, and three-year-old son Jack also became unwell. Read more: Schoolgirl's 'cold symptoms' could have killed her The mother-of-four was particularly worried when her youngest child started having a severe cough and breathing issues. She continued: "Having three babies at home I was thinking, 'What if they catch it?'. So we were on like high alert. We didn't sleep at all. I was watching every child like a hawk. It was just terrifying. "The other three all got sick. They all got flu and coughs. "Sophia was out the hospital and we were back in the hospital with them because I was thinking, 'I've got three other children, can they catch this viral meningitis?' It was traumatic." Abbey revealed that she and Peter only got around four hours of sleep in 30 hours because they were so "scared". What is meningitis? According to the NHS, meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. The condition which can affect those of all ages can be very serious if not treated quickly and is potentially life-changing. Abbey's daughter experienced viral meningitis, which is where the infection is caused by a virus. Read more: Womans Covid symptoms turned out to be meningitis signs of the illness However, it is also possible to contract bacterial meningitis, where the infection is caused by bacteria, which can also be life-threatening. The NHS states: "Meningitis is usually caught from people who carry these viruses or bacteria in their nose or throat but are not ill themselves. It can also be caught from someone with meningitis, but this is less common." Infection can be spread through sneezing, coughing and kissing. In February, it was revealed by the charity Meningitis Now, who analysed UK Health Security Agency data, that meningitis cases had almost doubled in a year in England. Meningitis symptoms The signs of meningitis can present fast and in any order, warns the NHS. The main things to look out for are: A high temperature (fever) Being sick A headache A rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop) A stiff neck An aversion to bright lights Drowsiness or unresponsiveness Seizures (fits) Meningitis vaccine There are a number of vaccinations, say the NHS, that can offer a certain amount of protection against particular meningitis causes, including: MenB vaccine offered to babies aged eight weeks, followed by a second dose at 16 weeks and a booster at one year 6-in-1 vaccine offered to babies at eight, 12 and 16 weeks of age Pneumococcal vaccin e two doses offered to babies at 12 weeks and one year, and a single dose offered to adults aged 65 or over Hib/MenC vaccine offered to babies at one year of age MMR vaccine offered to babies at one year and a second dose at three years and four months. MenACWY vaccine offered to teenagers, sixth formers and 'fresher' students going to university for the first time. Watch: UNICEF issues red alert on childhood jabs, blaming anti-vax myths and misinformation Naming Heathrows Terminal 5 after the King would create nice symmetry, the airports boss said, following a report that such an offer was rejected due to Charles reluctance. Chief executive John Holland-Kaye told the PA news agency that the UKs busiest airport has a long association with the royal family. Heathrow wanted to mark the coronation by renaming Terminal 5 after the King, according to The Times. Charles visited Heathrow Airport in March 2018 (Chris Jackson/PA) But Charles was said to be reluctant to accept so Buckingham Palace called in ministers to turn down the airports offer, the newspaper reported. Terminal 2 at the west London airport has been known as the Queens Terminal since a rebuilding project was completed in 2014. Asked about the potential naming of Terminal 5, Mr Holland-Kaye said: There would be a nice symmetry I think to have our two main terminals Terminal 5 and Terminal 2 named the Kings Terminal and the Queens Terminal. But thats a matter for the Cabinet Office. The Queen opened the rebuilt Terminal 2 in 2014 (Steve Parsons/PA) He added: Weve had a long association with the royal family. Were very proud of that. I think its great that we celebrate the coronation and so we will be doing this in other ways. There will be flags, bunting and a party atmosphere at the airport over the coronation weekend, Mr Holland-Kaye said. He continued: It is a big moment for the country. Its also a fantastic catalyst for people to want to come and visit the UK. I hope well see a lot of visitors from America coming over. PA understands that Heathrows offer in relation to the naming of Terminal 5 was not rejected on environmental grounds. A Government spokesperson said applications for attributing royal titles are assessed against a strict criteria and are very rarely approved. There have been no significant approvals in the last year, the spokesperson added. One of the most recent was in 2017 when a jetty in Portsmouth was named after the Princess Royal. Buckingham Palace was approached for a comment. Microsofts 68.7 billion dollar (55 billion) takeover of gaming firm Activision Blizzard has been blocked by the UK competition watchdog, in a potentially fatal blow to one of the technology industrys biggest ever deals. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it has prevented the mammoth buyout over concerns in the cloud gaming sector. Xbox owner Microsoft struck a deal to buy the maker of Candy Crush and Call Of Duty in January 2022. Microsoft and Activision have both said they will appeal the decision. Weve prevented @Microsoft from purchasing @Activision over concerns the deal would damage competition in the #CloudGaming market, leading to less innovation and choice for UK #gamers. https://t.co/SdXt1rYAkZ pic.twitter.com/prWcDI7Evt Competition & Markets Authority (@CMAgovUK) April 26, 2023 Activision, which also makes the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro games, said it will reassess our growth plans for the UK as a result. Microsoft meanwhile warned that the move discourages technology innovation and investment in the UK. The CMA argued that the groups failed to address its worries over protecting innovation in the fast-growing cloud gaming market. The watchdog said the move will make Microsoft stronger in cloud gaming where video games are played using remote servers and have no need for downloads stifling competition in this growing market. It claimed that Microsoft already accounts for between 60% and 70% of cloud gaming services. Microsoft submitted a proposal in an effort to address concerns but the regulator said this contained a number of significant shortcomings. Martin Coleman, chair of the independent panel of experts conducting the CMA investigation, said: Microsoft already enjoys a powerful position and head start over other competitors in cloud gaming and this deal would strengthen that advantage, giving it the ability to undermine new and innovative competitors. Microsoft engaged constructively with us to try to address these issues and we are grateful for that, but their proposals were not effective to remedy our concerns and would have replaced competition with ineffective regulation in a new and dynamic market. Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft, said: We remain fully committed to this acquisition and will appeal. The CMAs decision rejects a pragmatic path to address competition concerns and discourages technology innovation and investment in the United Kingdom. We have already signed contracts to make Activision Blizzards popular games available on 150 million more devices and we remain committed to reinforcing these agreements through regulatory remedies. Were especially disappointed that after lengthy deliberations, this decision appears to reflect a flawed understanding of this market and the way the relevant cloud technology actually works. A spokeswoman for Activision Blizzard said: The CMAs report contradicts the ambitions of the UK to become an attractive country to build technology businesses. We will work aggressively with Microsoft to reverse this on appeal. The reports conclusions are a disservice to UK citizens, who face increasingly dire economic prospects. We will reassess our growth plans for the UK. Global innovators large and small will take note that despite all its rhetoric the UK is clearly closed for business. The UK should be willing to walk away from trade negotiations with Gulf states rather than accept an agreement that fails to address human rights and environmental concerns, MPs have said. A report from the Commons International Trade Committee on negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) raised significant concerns about human rights abuses in the region and urged the Government to use its leverage to improve conditions before signing an agreement. Concerns included the continued repression of women, the repression of the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, and a crackdown on activists and the civic space, while two members of the bloc Saudi Arabia and Bahrain were listed as Human Rights Priority Countries by the Foreign Office in 2021. The committee said: We urge the UK government to be openly prepared to end the negotiations rather than accept an unsatisfactory agreement. As well as binding commitments on human rights, the committee called for any free trade agreement with the GCC to include pledges on decarbonisation and for the Government to tighten modern slavery laws to prevent the UK becoming complicit in rights abuses. The committee also noted that human rights concerns had prevented the EU from reaching a free trade agreement with the GCC, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. SNP MP and committee chairman Angus Brendan MacNeil said: A trade deal with the GCC, like any major free trade agreement, of course represents a potential economic opportunity for the UK. But this particular deal is about something even more important. The approach we take here will be about how we see ourselves as a society, how we are seen around the world and whether we are willing to put our values on human rights and the environment on the negotiating table. We have heard promises in the past that more trade will not come at the expense of human rights. But the UK is negotiating a trade deal with a bloc including countries that the Government itself has assessed as having particularly concerning human rights issues. In its response to written questions from the committee, the Government said the UK was a leading advocate for human rights but free trade agreements are not generally the most effective or targeted tool to advance human rights issues. The Government opened negotiations with the GCC in June 2022, saying a deal could boost the UK economy by up to 1.6 billion a year. Trade between the UK and the GCC is already worth 33.1 billion, making it the UKs seventh largest trading partner, and the blocs demand for international goods and services is expected to increase 35% in the next 13 years. But while the International Trade Committee acknowledged a deal presented a good opportunity for UK businesses in food, green technology and financial services, it questioned whether the UK should be pursuing negotiations with the GCC at all. It said: Given the differing legal systems within the GCC and the blocs history as a trade actor, we believe that, in this instance, bilateral agreements would allow us to push individual states further to be more ambitious with, for example, human rights provisions, rather than settling for a lowest common shared standard. The committee also renewed its criticism of the Department for International Trade now merged into the Department for Business and Trade for dodging parliamentary scrutiny by failing to send a minister to give evidence and responding to written questions late. Mr MacNeil said: The Government needs to make plain what sort of trading nation we want to be. A trade strategy and transparent approach to scrutiny from a minister would have been helpful in this regard, but with no strategy forthcoming and the departments refusal to send a minister to speak to our committee, it is difficult to assess whether we will be getting the right deal which will benefit the UK and its people. A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said: We are negotiating a modern, ambitious deal with the GCC, which could increase trade by 16% and add 1.6 billion a year to the UK economy. The UK is a leading advocate for human rights. We continue to show global leadership in encouraging all states to uphold their international obligations and hold those who abuse human rights to account, including through our independent global human rights sanctions regime. US and Canadian pensioners are getting more benefit from UK companies than British pensioners are, MPs have been told. Lord Hill of Oareford, who led a review into the UKs public listing scheme, also warned that some people are accumulating more money and a lot of that is going abroad. One of the consequences of what has happened I think, is that wealth has been concentrated in the hands of fewer and fewer people, he told MPs on the Treasury Select Committee. And its also being concentrated in the hands of people not in Britain. And neither of those seem to be very good social and political objectives. I mean pensioners in the US and Canada if I put it very crudely and simplify are doing better out of British companies than British pensioners. And that doesnt seem to me a very healthy state of affairs. He said that technological change should make it easier for regular people to participate in the stock exchange. MPs also heard from the Lord Mayor of London Nicholas Lyons that around 60% of the capital that is invested in UK companies comes from foreign investors, that is compared to the US where companies get around 85% of their capital from domestic investors. Julia Hoggett, the chief executive of the London Stock Exchange, said that British pension funds should feel able to take the same kind of risk that ones in many other countries do. I rather flippantly say there may be more teachers in Ontario financing start-ups in this country than teachers in Aberdeen, Belfast, Cardiff or Dover, she said. A single Canadian pension fund invested more in one UK private company in 2021 than all of our pension funds did in private companies in the UK in the same year. So were not asking for radical risk taking, were actually just asking that our pension funds do what other established (funds such as) the superannuation fund in Australia or CPPIB in Canada or the Wellcome Trust does or major endowments do. But somehow we have, in a sense, got to a point where we have stopped doing that, and then created a narrative that this is extreme risk taking. I think it is risky not to invest in our own futures. A mother accused of killing her three-year-old son through religious fasting told police she had locked herself away during the Covid-19 pandemic. Olabisi Abubakar, 42, from Cardiff, is on trial charged with manslaughter and two counts of child cruelty relating to the death of Taiwo Abubakar. Cardiff Crown Court heard that police forced entry to her flat in the Cathays area on June 29 2020 after a friend raised concerns for her welfare. Abubakar, who was thin, malnourished and dehydrated, was found lying on a sofa bed next to the body of her son, Taiwo. Cardiff Crown Court heard Taiwo weighed 9.8 kilos (22 pounds), with pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbetter finding his death was caused by malnutrition and dehydration. The court heard Abubakar was sectioned on June 30 2020 and has remained detained in hospital, where she is being treated for paranoid schizophrenia. Peter Donnison, prosecuting, told jurors that Abubakar was deemed fit for police interview in October 2020 and was interviewed by officers on eight occasions. In one interview, Abubakar described the effect on her of the pressures of not having help, fearing coronavirus for herself and her child, and her immigration status, the court heard. Mr Donnison said: She described them as depressing. She said she was a religious woman and prayed to God and believed he had heard her and answered prayers and kept them safe. She had been taking her child out daily but she had to stop doing that due to the coronavirus. She described herself as locking herself away due to the coronavirus and her neighbour. Abubakar had been having issues with a neighbour at the property she was living at in Cwmdare Street, Cardiff, and was an asylum seeker. The court heard she is a devout Pentecostal Christian and fasts as part of her faith. Prosecutors allege that Abubaker caused her young son to fast of both food and water along with her, due to fears over the coronavirus pandemic and personal pressures. However, in police interviews Abubakar repeatedly denied this and said children should not fast until the age of 12. Mr Donnison said: She said she would dry fast when she wanted to speak to God and hear something from God. She said her child did not fast, he did eat, and she gave him food to eat. Abubakar told police she had fallen asleep on June 26 and believed she had gone to heaven before being brought back to life when her neighbour and police officers arrived. Mr Donnison said: Olabisi Abubakar said she couldnt explain what happened to her. She was asleep on the bed and that is what she remembered last. She said she believed she was being punished by God. In a police interview, Abubakar said: I saw myself among the dead in heaven. I was saying, I dont want to die. Then I saw the angels of God and they brought me back to life. The court heard a series of facts agreed by the prosecution and defence in the trial, read by Mr Donnison. This included evidence that health visitors saw Abubakar and Taiwo before the pandemic and had no concerns, including in relation to her religion and religious practices. They were not seen by healthcare professionals during the Covid-19 lockdown. In February 2020, a police officer was called to a noise complaint by Abubakars neighbour and attended her room, which he described as clean and warm. Taiwo was seen playing loudly and appeared very energetic and healthy, Mr Donnison said. Police searched the property after Taiwos body was discovered on June 29 and found a note on food in a fridge, stating: Do not touch anything, whooping cough, virus, save yourself. Abubakar wrote a series of notes while in an ambulance and in hospital, stating she was very hungry and cant stand up as well that Taiwo was dead. In hospital, Abubakar told a police officer: I dont eat, I cant cook, because of coronavirus I cant go and buy food. Doctors found Abubakar was suffering delusions and she was sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983 on June 30 2020, with detention in hospital still ongoing for her to receive treatment. The jury has been told it is not disputed that Abubakar, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and moved to London in 2011, neglected her son but the issue is her state of mind at the time. They will have to decide whether Abubakar may have been insane, which would make her not guilty of charges against her by reason of insanity. Caroline Rees KC is expected to open the defence case for Abubakar, who denies manslaughter and two counts of child cruelty, on Thursday afternoon. The trial continues. Thousands of British nationals in Sudan have been warned that there is no guarantee on further evacuation flights once the ceasefire expires on Thursday night. Military chiefs said at least 500 people a day can be rescued from an airfield near the capital Khartoum, amid fears bloody clashes will resume when the fragile truce between the warring factions ends. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned the UK cannot guarantee how many further flights will depart after the deadline is reached at midnight local time. He urged UK nationals who wish to leave Sudan to make their way to the Wadi Saeedna air strip as soon as possible. The 72-hour ceasefire in Sudan ends tomorrow night (April 27). We cannot guarantee how many further flights will depart once the ceasefire ends. James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) April 26, 2023 More than 530 people had been airlifted to safety on six flights as of 9pm on Wednesday, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said. The first plane carrying UK citizens touched down on British soil earlier in the day, having left Larnaca in Cyprus, where they were initially evacuated. More than 2,000 British nationals in Sudan have registered with the FCDO under evacuation plans, but thousands more could be in the war-torn nation. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was told by military chiefs that flights can continue for as long as we need to even if the US-brokered pause in fighting breaks. Mr Cleverly tweeted: The 72-hour ceasefire in Sudan ends tomorrow night (April 27). We cannot guarantee how many further flights will depart once the ceasefire ends. If you plan to leave Sudan please travel to the British Evacuation Centre as soon as possible. (PA Graphics/PA) Africa minister Andrew Mitchell said the evacuation mission was going very smoothly with no great backlog, no great congestion at the air strip. But he warned we are absolutely in the hands of the ceasefire. Mr Mitchell told Sky News: We are doing everything we can to make sure its prolonged and on the wider stage, too, trying to negotiate for a longer ceasefire, because if the combatants dont lay down their arms and return to barracks, theres going to be a humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan. He said that at the moment those safe and legal routes dont exist for refugees from Sudan to claim asylum in the UK. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible for evacuation. But Alicia Kearns, the Tory chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said elderly people dependent on children who are British citizens should also be admitted. She told the BBC: In the same way we treat children who are dependent on their parents, we should respect that some elderly people are dependent on their children. So, I think it is important that we are bringing people out who would otherwise be left destitute and really vulnerable. People evacuated from Sudan arrive on a flight from Cyprus into Stansted airport (Paul Marriott/PA) The UK was reportedly accused of delaying Germanys efforts to evacuate its citizens from Sudan with its mission to rescue British embassy staff at the weekend. The BBC reported that it was told by senior German political sources that British forces landed in the country without the permission of the Sudanese army, so angering them that they temporarily barred access to the airfield that European nations were hoping to use. However, a defence source dismissed the claim the UK military arrived without authorisation as complete nonsense, while the Ministry of Defence denied that Britain was responsible for any delay. The Government is working to provide other routes out of Sudan, with HMS Lancaster progressing towards Port Sudan, the Red Sea dock some 500 miles from Khartoum that could possibly be used in a seaborne operation. But with UK nationals being told to make their own way to evacuation sites, that trip would be made particularly challenging by fuel shortages and the traffic of people fleeing. People arriving at London Stansted Airport on the first evacuation flight were reunited with loved ones in emotional scenes. Women with small children and babies in prams, as well as elderly individuals in wheelchairs were among those met by family members and friends waiting anxiously in the arrivals lounge. One man from Sudan, who did not give his name, described his experience as a nightmare. Speaking outside the airport, he said: Its absolutely fantastic to be back. Its been a nightmare. Weve never seen anything like it before. We saw it on the television before but we never thought it was going to happen to a peaceful country like Sudan. Khartoum is like a ghost city, everyone is leaving Khartoum now. We are very grateful to the British servicemen and women who risked their lives to come to Sudan and help us out. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and deputy chairman of the Conservative Party Lee Anderson have locked horns in bad-tempered exchanges during questioning by MPs. Mr Anderson accused Sir Mark of walking around with his eyes closed when the Met chief refused to be drawn on whether he had witnessed examples of racism or sexism during his policing career. As Sir Mark appeared at the Commons Home Affairs Committee on Wednesday, the Ashfield MP said: I find it pretty hard to believe that a police officer with years and years of service with an organisation has not witnessed any of this when we know it goes off, because if you have (not) you must be walking around with your eyes closed. Sir Mark said he had only worked in the Met for six years as a very senior officer so people would not have misbehaved in front of him, and he had seen things earlier in his career that would not fit todays standards but wanted to focus on reform now. Further tetchy exchanges followed with Mr Anderson telling Sir Mark to leave his ivory tower to deal with protesters in Westminster, while the senior officer retorted that the MP had only a partial understanding of the law. Mr Anderson said: Do you think its time that you left the ivory tower and got out there on Whitehall and sorted these people out because, you know, people of London, the tourists, the people that work at this place and, you know, the taxi drivers, the bus drivers, theyre getting fed up of it, and youre just letting it happen. Youve got the powers now to do this. He wrongly insisted that the protesters could be arrested for obstructing the highway. Lee Anderson at the Home Affairs Select Committee (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) Sir Mark replied: Youre making selective comments based on a partial understanding of the law. I do not want Londoners disrupted any more than anybody else does. But the law is very clear that protest is disruptive and to a certain extent, that is allowed. That is what the law says at the moment. Now, you might not like that, but I have to work to the law rather than whim. Mr Anderson said he would have preferred the commissioner, who rejoined the Met in the top job in September, to have stayed away from the force. He said: Ill make one more statement because I feel like Im wasting my time with you, to be honest. You say you took five years out of the force. Theres probably people listening to this today who wish it was a lot longer, and Im one of them. Do you think youve got the confidence of the public? Sir Mark replied: If people want to be personally offensive then write it in newspapers, but Im not going to answer those questions. Jung Min-ho, right, staff reporter at The Korea Times and head of the international relations department of the Journalists Association of Korea, speaks during a discussion session of the World Journalists Conference 2023 in Seoul, Tuesday. More than 50 journalists from 47 countries have gathered in Korea to discuss various challenges regarding the future of journalism and promote friendship. During the six-day event that runs until April 29, the participants will visit Busan, Incheon and Suwon as well as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to learn about Korea. Courtesy of Journalists Association of Korea Ringleaders of an organised crime group have been jailed in France for smuggling migrants to the UK on small boats, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has said. Rozi Khan Sarwari, age unknown, Zaman Zahid, 31, Arman Kuba, age unknown, and Mohammed Fazel Ahmadi, 39, were jailed for a total of 21 years and fined a total of 105,000 euros. They will be banned indefinitely from French territory after serving the sentences. The gang were dismantled after a joint operation between the NCA and French law enforcement (Kirsty OConnor/PA) A total of nine men, all Afghan nationals, were convicted of immigration and organised crime offences on April 21 following a trial in Paris. Rokai Ahmadi, 21, Nesar Ahmad, 28, Shir-Ahmad Husseinkhel, 27, Fahim Ahmadi, 31, and Zahid Azizi, 28, were handed a combination of smaller jail terms, suspended sentences and lower level fines. All nine were each convicted of aiding the illegal residence of a foreigner in France as part of an organised crime group and criminal conspiracy under French law. According to the NCA, the gang based in the Paris area would buy second-hand boats and lifejackets online before travelling to the northern French coast to bury equipment in sand dunes near Wimereux, in the Pas-de-Calais region. Each inflatable boat could carry between 10 and 15 migrants, usually Vietnamese or Afghan nationals, who would be charged between 1,500 and 4,000 euro (1,327 and 3,540) each to get to the UK. The NCA believes the group made between 79,000 and 212,000 euro (69,910 and 187,611) from the venture. They were linked to at least four small boat events aimed at smuggling migrants to the UK. The gang was dismantled after a multi-agency operation involving the NCA and French law enforcement which launched an investigation into the network in November 2020. French police made arrests in the Yvelines region, west of Paris, in March 2021, ending the groups activities. NCA deputy director Oliver Higgins said: Tackling organised immigration crime is top priority for the NCA, and we now have more than 90 active investigations into people smuggling or trafficking. Much of the criminality involved in these small boat crossings lies outside the UK, so we have built up our intelligence-sharing effort with law enforcement partners in France, Belgium and beyond. This includes having NCA officers based in those countries, sharing intelligence and working side by side on joint investigations. And, as this case demonstrates, this is bringing operational results in the form of arrests and prosecutions. We are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle these networks, who are putting lives at risk. Sarwari was jailed for six years and fined 30,000 euro (26,500) while Zahid, Kuba and Mohammed Fazel Ahmadi were each jailed for five years and fined 25,000 euro (22,120). Rokai Ahmadi, Ahmad and Azizi were each given a one year suspended jail sentence. Azizi was additionally fined 1,500 euro (1,327). Husseinkhel was sentenced to eight months suspended imprisonment and fined 1,000 euro (884). Fahim Ahmadi was jailed for one year, handed an additional four year suspended prison sentence and fined 15,000 euro (13,274). Rishi Sunak was urged to scrap his beloved non-dom status, as he faced accusations at PMQs of being out of touch with the public. Sir Keir Starmer branded the Prime Minister Mr 24 tax rises and claimed he did not understand the publics struggle with the cost of living, after he described Labours attack on the special tax status as this non-dom thing. But Mr Sunak hit out at the Labour leaders special pensions tax arrangement from his time as the director of public prosecutions, claiming it was literally one law for him and a tax rise for everybody else. Mr Sunaks wife Akshata Murty previously benefited from non-dom tax status, which means an individual only has to pay tax on money earned in the UK, but not on foreign income. At Prime Ministers Questions Sir Keir said: This is Mr 24 tax rises. Ive never heard anything so out of touch as the answer that he has just given, and its not just his refusal to take any responsibility for the damage theyve done, the crashed economy, the hit to living standards, its also he refuses to take the action thats needed. He could stop the handouts hes giving to oil and gas giants. He could scrap his beloved non-dom status. He could put that money back in the hands of working people and get the NHS back on its feet, thats what a Labour government would do, why doesnt he? Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) Mr Sunak replied: The record is clear, look at it right now. Record numbers of people in work. Inequality now lower, the number of people in poverty lower. Those in low pay, the lowest numbers on record. He talks about this non-dom thing, I think hes already spent the money that he claims hed raise on five different things because its the same old Labour Party. Theyre always running out of other peoples money. Sir Keir responded: He calls it this non-dom thing, lets be honest about what his refusal to scrap the non-dom status means. It means that at every possible opportunity he has voted to put taxes up on working people while at the same time taking every possible opportunity to protect a tax avoidance scheme that helped his own finances. Rishi Sunak alongside his wife Akshata Murty (Ian West/PA) The Prime Minister responded by highlighting Sir Keirs pension arrangements as a former chief prosecutor, telling MPs: The rank hypocrisy of it, as we saw last week when it comes to his own special pensions scheme. I said it last week, but I will say it again, it is literally one law for him and a tax rise for everybody else. Sir Keir replied: Heres the difference, I would scrap his pension giveaway whether it affected me or not. He refuses to scrap the non-dom status that benefits him and his family. Echoing the Prime Ministers words, he added: I can see why he is attracted to this non-dom thing. The Labour leader continued to claim Rishi Sunak was out of touch, adding: So out of touch that he looks at a petrol pump and a debit card like theyve just arrived from Mars. He went on: Is it any wonder that he smiles his way through the cost-of-living crisis while putting other peoples taxes up? Is it any wonder he doesnt have a clue how food prices are hammering families across country? And is it any wonder that under him people are paying more and more and getting less and less? The Prime Minister responded by laying out Labours recent record in Parliament, telling MPs: Lets just look at whats happened just in this week, where the Labour Party have put themselves. On Monday in the House of Lords they decided to side with extremist protesters, just yesterday they sided with polluters, and tonight we will see them siding with the people smugglers. Stricter rules for taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) driver licensing will be introduced to boost the safety of passengers. A national database for England will prevent drivers who lose their licence from applying elsewhere without other local authorities knowing about previous wrongdoing, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced. Around three out of four councils previously used the system voluntarily, but it becomes mandatory on Thursday. Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: The safety of passengers, especially women and girls, is paramount. Thats why Im bringing in tough new measures to ensure that when you catch a cab, you can be confident your driver will take you from A to B safely and without incident. While the vast majority of drivers are hardworking and honest, were taking steps to remove the few who abuse their position and pose a risk to passengers. Examples where the database has been successful include a case in Luton where a driver failed to disclose that they had previously had a licence removed over safeguarding concerns. Their application was rejected after this information was revealed by the system. In another case, someone who had previously assaulted another taxi driver in Southampton was prevented from regaining a licence in nearby Winchester. Mandating use of the database comes under the Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safety and Road Safety) Act 2022. The family of Sian OCallaghan, who was murdered by a PHV driver in Swindon, Wiltshire in 2011, aged 22, welcomed the new policy. Sian OCallaghan was murdered by a taxi driver (Wiltshire Police/PA) They said in a statement: To see this law being implemented and rolled out today across all local authorities is testament to Sian, it was in her nature to help others and this means so much to us personally. Her name is now linked to a drastic improvement in passengers safety within taxis and PHVs, whilst also better protecting hard-working, law-abiding drivers themselves. The database, hosted by the National Anti-Fraud Network, records all instances where taxi and PHV driver licences have been suspended or revoked, or applications have been refused, on safeguarding or road safety grounds. All taxi and PHV driver applications must be checked on the system from Thursday. Suky Bhaker, chief executive of personal safety charity the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, described the new requirement as a milestone. She continued: We hope this important step will pave the way to introducing a single consolidated legislative framework throughout England and Wales outlining clear and specific minimum standards for licensing taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to ensure consistency across all licensing authorities. Steve Wright, who chairs the Licensed Private Hire Car Association, a trade body representing operators, said: This measure will help join up enforcement and compliance nationally between licensing authorities, to prevent the unacceptable movement from one authority to another of those who are unfit to be in the sector. Schools across Liverpool and its surrounding areas have been provided with funding to celebrate Eurovision. EuroGrant funding of up to 2,000 has been given to 27 schools to host events that celebrate the song contest, the citys relationship with Ukraine, and its European heritage. Schools from across Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Halton, St Helens and Knowsley to apply for grants were invited by Spirit of 2012, Liverpool City Councils Culture Liverpool team, to apply for the grants. Among the successful schools is Our Lady of Compassion Catholic Primary School in Formby. Each class will represent a country taking part in this years contest, and will be responsible for making local cuisine from their country which will be shared at a European street food market. The school will also perform We all live in a blue and yellow submarine, in a tribute to Ukraine. Pupils at St Charles Catholic Primary School in Liverpool will create music videos. The King and the Queen Consort stand on the stage after switching on the stage lighting, during a visit to the M and S Bank Arena, the host venue of this years Eurovision Song Contest (Phil Noble/PA) Rachel Farrell, a teacher from Our Lady of Compassion Catholic Primary School, said they were delighted to receive the funding. We are delighted to have received EuroGrant funding to realise our ideas, she said. We want children to understand the significance of such a weird and wonderful event being held in our city and appreciate that this truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The opportunity to celebrate a contest that is based on individuality and celebrating diversity will be incredible for our pupils. Claire McColgan CBE, director of Culture Liverpool, said that schools across the region have creativity in abundance. If theres one thing we know the schools across Liverpool City Region have in abundance, its creativity and we werent disappointed with their applications for EuroGrant, she said. The successful projects provide an opportunity for children to learn about different cultures though music, fashion, food, dance, drama, visual art, filmmaking and much more. Young people from nurseries to secondary schools will not only have a chance to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration which will see their hometown host the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine, but theyll also pick up some new skills along the way. Striking teachers in Northern Ireland feel their contribution to society is being dismissed as worthless, a rally has heard. That was one of the messages delivered from the stage as hundreds of teachers and other public sector workers gathered at Belfast City Hall on a day of large-scale pay-related industrial action in the region. Nipsa (Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance), the largest union in Northern Ireland, was joined by members of the PCS, GMB, Unite and teachers unions at picket lines on Wednesday. All five teaching unions in Northern Ireland were involved, with the National Association of Head Teachers striking for the first time in its history in relation to pay. As a result, most schools in the region were closed on Wednesday. Courts, ports, vehicle testing centres and government offices were also affected by the action involving numerous civil servants. Jacqui White, general secretary of the Ulster Teachers Union (UTU), commended them for stepping out of their comfort zone and showing courage and determination to take strike action. This a significant day for the teaching profession, this is the first day that weve all stood together and when all of teaching unions joined forces and said enough is enough, she told the City Hall rally. Ms White said pay rates for teachers in the region are totally unacceptable as she criticised the failure of the authorities to resolve a long-running pay dispute. The message coming to our teachers: our contribution to society is worth nothing. The ultimate insult to add to the injury already suffered, she said. People take part in a rally outside Belfast City Hall (Niall Carson/PA) Nipsa said Wednesdays strike took place against a backdrop of a sharp decline in the real value of public service pay, a looming Stormont budget that will deliver significant cuts and an overwhelming cost-of-living crunch hitting working-class communities. A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said it was not possible to make a fresh pay offer to teachers until clarity was secured on the funding allocation for this financial year. Active engagement has been taking place for many months between management side and teachers side of the Teachers Negotiating Committee (TNC) on a teachers pay settlement for 2021/22 and 2022/23, she said. However, in the context of the very challenging DE budget position and the significant cost of a teachers pay increase, it is not possible to make a pay offer to teachers within current constraints. This will be reviewed when the outcome of the 2023/24 budget is known and discussions will continue between the department, other management side colleagues and the teachers unions. Hundreds of Britons have been evacuated from Sudan as the military races against time to bring people to safety before a ceasefire ends. Flights began landing in Cyprus on Tuesday evening and continued through the night, with more planned on Wednesday. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said on Wednesday morning that 200 to 300 people had been brought out so far. She said: We are now commencing an extensive operation, working with over 1,000 personnel from the RAF and the armed forces. With British citizens, dual nationals and their dependents forced to make their own way to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip where the evacuation flights are taking off from, Ms Braverman defended the UKs response to the crisis. The Government had to cope with a larger cohort of British nationals in Sudan compared to many other countries, she said. The Ministry of Defence said three flights had so far landed in Cyprus since the evacuation started. British forces are expected to take over control of running Wadi Saeedna from German troops, something which could require a larger UK military presence on the ground. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said 120 British troops have already been supporting the operation there. The UK military could be ready to use force if needed to protect the air base in the event it comes under attack during the airlift, although the troops are primarily there to help with logistics and providing air traffic control. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (Jordan Pettitt/PA) The Government is also considering other options, including a possible seaborne evacuation from Port Sudan, some 500 miles from the capital. HMS Lancaster and the RFA Cardigan Bay have been sent to the region. Announcing the completion of Germanys evacuation efforts, the countrys foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians to their own devices, in an apparent swipe at the UKs approach. She said that unlike in other countries, Germanys evacuation had included all its nationals and not just embassy staff. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was right that diplomats were prioritised because they were being targeted. The mission was launched during a ceasefire brokered between the warring factions. But Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned the extraction of UK nationals is inherently dangerous as we cannot be sure for how long it will hold. A UK-born student attempting to flee Sudan said she did not have enough petrol to make the dangerous one-hour drive from the outskirts of Khartoum to the airstrip. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly meet Whitehall teams coordinating the evacuation of British nationals from Sudan (Hannah McKay/PA) Im trying to get there. But the problem is the vehicles that we have have no gas, and the petrol stations are empty, Samar Eltayeb, 20, from Birmingham, told the PA news agency. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck. More than 2,000 British citizens have registered in Sudan with the FCDO. Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, will be prioritised for the flights. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible. Nationals have been warned all travel within Sudan is conducted at your own risk. The first flight of evacuees from Sudan is on its way back to Britain as the military races against time to lift people to safety during a fragile ceasefire. RAF flights from near the capital, Khartoum, were continuing throughout Wednesday after hundreds of UK nationals were taken to safety in Cyprus. A chartered jet flying a first group back to London Stansted left Larnaca in the morning, with officials working to rescue more than 2,000 citizens who have registered in Sudan. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said 200 to 300 people have left from the Wadi Saeedna airstrip so far. But with potentially thousands more British nationals in Sudan who have not notified the Foreign Office of their presence, the race is on to lift them to safety. A 72-hour ceasefire brokered by the warring rival generals has largely held since it began in the early hours of Monday. It is understood that if fighting resumes the evacuation operation will not necessarily end, but it will present a greater risk to the safety of evacuees, troops and officials. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said 120 British troops have been supporting the operation at the Wadi Saeedna airfield, north of Khartoum (Jordan Pettitt/PA) HMS Lancaster is progressing towards Port Sudan, the Red Sea dock some 500 miles from Khartoum that could possibly be used in a seaborne operation. But with UK nationals being told to make their own way to evacuation sites, that trip would be made particularly challenging by fuel shortages and the traffic of people fleeing. Ms Braverman defended the extensive operation from criticism that Britons are not receiving escorts on their journeys and that allies have removed their citizens quicker. UK nationals waiting to disembark from an A400M transport plane at Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus (MoD/PA) The Government had to cope with a larger cohort of British nationals in Sudan compared to many other countries, she said. In an apparent swipe at the UKs approach, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians to their own devices as it completed its evacuation. She said that unlike in other countries, Germanys evacuation had included all its nationals and not just embassy staff, whom the UK airlifted to safety on Sunday. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had argued it was right that diplomats were prioritised because they were being targeted. A UK-born student attempting to flee Sudan said she does not have enough petrol to make the dangerous one-hour drive from the outskirts of Khartoum to the airstrip. Im trying to get there. But the problem is the vehicles that we have have no gas, and the petrol stations are empty, Samar Eltayeb, 20, from Birmingham, told the PA news agency. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly meet Whitehall teams co-ordinating the evacuation of British nationals from Sudan (Hannah McKay/PA) The Ministry of Defence said three flights have so far landed in Cyprus since the evacuation began. British forces are expected to take over command of the operation in Wadi Saeedna from German troops on Wednesday, but the security of the site is being maintained by the Sudanese armed forces. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said 120 British troops have already been supporting the operation at the airfield north of Khartoum. The military is ready to use force if needed if the site comes under attack, although the troops are primarily there to help with logistics and providing air traffic control. Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, are being prioritised for the flights. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible. Nationals have been warned all travel within Sudan is conducted at your own risk. The Prime Minister refused to apologise for the UKs role in historical slavery and colonialism, and rejected a call to commit to reparations when challenged in the Commons. Rishi Sunak said he was committed to ensuring the UK is an inclusive and tolerant society, and said trying to unpick our history is not the right way forward. He was answering MPs at Prime Ministers Questions when challenged on the issue by Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Streatham). She said: This month marks 23 years since the passing of the late, great, Bernie Grant, a former member of this House, and the founder of the UK reparations movement in the UK. In his last Prime Ministers Questions before his death he asked for an apology to the people of African descent living and dead for our countrys role in slavery and colonialism. But since then, prime ministers and heads of state have only ever expressed sorrow or deep regret. These are not sentiments that are befitting one of the greatest atrocities in human history. There has been no acknowledgement of the wealth that has been amassed or the fact that our country took out the largest loan it ever has to pay off the slave owners, and not the enslaved. She asked: Will he do what Bernie Grant asked all those years ago, what I have asked, and what countless others have asked since, and offer a full and meaningful apology for our countrys role in slavery and colonialism, and commit to reparatory justice? Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Jonathan Brady/PA) Mr Sunak said: No. What I think our focus should now be on doing is, of course, understanding our history and all its parts, not running away from it, but right now making sure that we have a society which is inclusive and tolerant of people from all backgrounds. Thats something that we on this side of the House are committed to doing and will continue to deliver, but trying to unpick our history is not the right way forward, and its not something that we will focus our energies on. A Labour spokesman said Ms Ribeiro-Addys call for reparations was not party policy. The spokesman said she is right to highlight the appalling history of the slave trade but on the specific point of reparations, the point that she was making is not Labour Party policy. Earlier this week, The Guardian reported that a group called Heirs Of Slaver, made up of descendants of some notable British slave owners, launched a campaign to seek apology, dialogue, reconciliation and reparative justice and support campaigns for institutional and national reparative justice for the transatlantic slave trade. Tony Blair, when he was prime minister and challenged and challenged over whether he was prepared to say sorry for the slave trade, said: I have said we are sorry and I say it again. Mr Blair was speaking in 2007 as the government prepared to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade. The UK has reportedly been accused of delaying Germanys efforts to evacuate its citizens from Sudan at the weekend. The BBC reported that it was told by senior German political sources that Britains mission to extract its embassy staff led to a temporary blockade of the airfield near the capital Khartoum from which subsequent evacuation flights have taken off. The sources alleged that British forces landed without the permission of the Sudanese army, angering them that they barred access to the site. However, a defence source dismissed the claim as complete nonsense. German rescuers lost at least half a day as negotiations to use the airstrip took place, according to the broadcaster. British Nationals depart a military aircraft at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, after being evacuated from Sudan (MoD/PA) The British were forced to pay the Sudanese army before leaving, one source told the BBC. Germany and other European nations were hoping to use the Wadi Saeedna airfield to fly their citizens to safety. The Ministry of Defence denied that Britain was responsible for any delay. A spokesperson for the department said: It is not accurate to suggest that Britains efforts to evacuate embassy staff from Sudan last weekend slowed down Germanys plans. Operating in such complex circumstances will always come with challenges, but we have worked extremely closely with our French, US and particularly German partners who have facilitated access to the airfield throughout this week, and of course we remain grateful to the Sudanese Armed Forces. A defence source said: It is complete nonsense to claim that we landed in Sudan without permission from the Sudanese army. We had permission. In an apparent swipe at the UKs initial handling of the crisis, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians to their own devices as it completed its evacuation. Announcing the completion of Germanys evacuation efforts on Tuesday, she said that unlike in other countries, it had included all German nationals and their partners and not just diplomatic personnel. The UK started its mission to evacuate when a ceasefire was brokered between the warring factions. Xi sends congratulatory letter on 50th anniversary of cooperation between China, WIPO Xinhua) 13:05, April 26, 2023 BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to a commemorative event marking the 50th anniversary of cooperation between China and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on Wednesday. Xi noted that, over the past 50 years, China has been firmly committed to upholding the multilateral system of international intellectual property rights (IPR), and the country's cooperation with the WIPO has been expanded and deepened with fruitful results. China has always attached great importance to IPR protection, and exerted efforts to make the country strong in intellectual property. China has strengthened the legal protection of IPR, improved the IPR management system, strengthened IPR full-chain protection, and continued to improve the innovation and business environment, Xi stressed in the letter. China is willing to further deepen the friendly cooperation with the WIPO, and work together to make the global intellectual property governance system fairer and more equitable and better improve the well-being of humankind, said Xi. The commemorative event was held in Beijing on Wednesday. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) President Yoon Suk Yeol pays his respects to fallen U.S. service members by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C., April 25. Yonhap President Yoon Suk Yeol visited Arlington National Cemetery near Washington on Tuesday and paid tribute to American service members buried there. Yoon is on a six-day state visit to the United States to hold a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden and mark the 70th anniversary of the bilateral alliance. Yoon laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and visited an exhibition room where he presented a plaque commemorating the American service personnel who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War, according to presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon. The plaque is emblazoned with the words, "We will never forget, forgotten no more," the flags of the two nations and a logo marking the 70th anniversary of the alliance. The British evacuation mission from Sudan has lifted 536 people to safety on six flights, amid warnings there is no guarantee on further flights once the fragile ceasefire expires. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said in a fast-moving situation these were the figures at 9pm on Wednesday with further flights to come. The military is racing against time to rescue citizens before the truce between the warring factions ends on Thursday night. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned the UK cannot guarantee how many further evacuation flights will depart after the deadline is reached, as he urged UK nationals who wish to leave Sudan to make their way to the Wadi Saeedna air strip near the capital Khartoum as soon as possible. The 72-hour ceasefire in Sudan ends tomorrow night (April 27). We cannot guarantee how many further flights will depart once the ceasefire ends. James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) April 26, 2023 Another two RAF flights were expected to take off from the Wadi Saeedna air strip near the capital Khartoum on Wednesday, as the first flight of UK nationals arrived back in Britain. Mr Cleverly tweeted: The 72-hour ceasefire in Sudan ends tomorrow night (April 27). We cannot guarantee how many further flights will depart once the ceasefire ends. If you plan to leave Sudan please travel to the British Evacuation Centre as soon as possible. Africa minister Andrew Mitchell said the evacuation mission was going very smoothly with no great backlog, no great congestion at the air strip. But he warned we are absolutely in the hands of the ceasefire. Mr Mitchell told Sky News: We are doing everything we can to make sure its prolonged and on the wider stage, too, trying to negotiate for a longer ceasefire, because if the combatants dont lay down their arms and return to barracks, theres going to be a humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan. He said that at the moment those safe and legal routes dont exist for refugees from Sudan to claim asylum in the UK. Military chiefs have told Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at least 500 people a day can be airlifted and flights can continue for as long as we need to even if the 72-hour pause in fighting agreed between rival generals breaks. (PA Graphics/PA) More than 2,000 British nationals in Sudan have registered with the FCDO under evacuation plans, but thousands more could be in the country. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible for evacuation. But Alicia Kearns, the Tory chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said elderly people dependent on children who are British citizens should also be admitted. She told the BBC: In the same way we treat children who are dependent on their parents, we should respect that some elderly people are dependent on their children. So, I think it is important that we are bringing people out who would otherwise be left destitute and really vulnerable. People evacuated from Sudan arrive on a flight from Cyprus into Stansted airport (Paul Marriott/PA) British nationals evacuated from Sudan were reunited with loved ones after the first flight arrived, via Cyprus, at Stansted Airport. Women with small children and babies in prams, as well as elderly individuals in wheelchairs were among those met by family members and friends waiting anxiously in the arrivals lounge. One man from Sudan, who did not give his name, described his experience as a nightmare. Speaking outside the airport, he said: Its absolutely fantastic to be back. Its been a nightmare. Weve never seen anything like it before. We saw it on the television before but we never thought it was going to happen to a peaceful country like Sudan. Khartoum is like a ghost city, everyone is leaving Khartoum now. We are very grateful to the British servicemen and women who risked their lives to come to Sudan and help us out. The first evacuation flights carrying British nationals have taken off from Sudan as UK troops prepare to take over the running of the airfield. Two Royal Air Force planes have landed at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus as of 6.30am on Wednesday, with the first charter flight back to London set to depart later in the day. Families with young children were among those on the first flights that landed in Cyprus with a British man telling the BBC that his sister, who left Sudan overnight, felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Three planes were due to have left conflict-torn Khartoum for Cyprus by Wednesday morning, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledging many more would follow as he warned of a critical 24 hours. The first military flight, supporting @FCDOGovUK in evacuating civilian UK nationals from Sudan, has landed in Cyprus with support from @bfcyprus. Further flights will follow throughout tonight and tomorrow as work continues to move UK nationals to safety. pic.twitter.com/bqCYcyv8Fh Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) April 25, 2023 Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the UK would take charge of the Wadi Saeedna airstrip near the capital from German forces, after Berlin said its final evacuation flight would leave on Tuesday night. He said 120 British troops have already been supporting the operation there. Around 260 people were expected to be flown out overnight on three flights, the first landing on Tuesday evening with around 40 people on board. British nationals have been told to make their own way to the site with some fearing they will not make it due to a petrol shortage. The UK military could be ready to use force if needed to protect the air base in the event it comes under attack during the airlift, although the troops are primarily there to help with logistics, the i paper reported. Mr Wallace told LBC Radio: The Germans are leaving tomorrow, and we will take over the facilitation at the airfield. And the reason the Germans are leaving is people have stopped coming in large numbers. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (Jordan Pettitt/PA) He said only one nation can facilitate the airfield at a time, adding: If the Spanish or the Italians or anyone else wants to fly, well be the ones giving permissions effectively. There is some risk that some of the planes are not full, he said, as there are not thousands at the gate as in the evacuation from Afghanistan. The Government is considering other options, including a possible seaborne evacuation from Port Sudan, some 500 miles from the capital. HMS Lancaster and the RFA Cardigan Bay have been sent to the region. Announcing the completion of Germanys evacuation efforts, the countrys foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians to their own devices, in an apparent swipe at the UKs approach. She said that unlike in other countries, Germanys evacuation had included all its nationals and not just embassy staff. Mr Sunak defended the UKs efforts, saying it was right that diplomats were prioritised because they were being targeted. The security situation on the ground in Sudan is complicated, it is volatile and we wanted to make sure we could put in place processes that are going to work for people, that are going to be safe and effective, the Prime Minister said at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) crisis centre. He told teams working on the evacuation efforts that the next 24 hours are absolutely critical. The mission was launched during a ceasefire brokered between the warring factions. But Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned the extraction of UK nationals is inherently dangerous as we cannot be sure for how long it will hold. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly meet Whitehall teams coordinating the evacuation of British nationals from Sudan (Hannah McKay/PA) A UK-born student attempting to flee Sudan said she does not have enough petrol to make the dangerous one-hour drive from the outskirts of Khartoum to the airstrip. Im trying to get there. But the problem is the vehicles that we have have no gas, and the petrol stations are empty, Samar Eltayeb, 20, from Birmingham, told the PA news agency. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck. More than 2,000 British citizens have registered in Sudan with the FCDO. Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, will be prioritised for the flights. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible. Nationals have been warned all travel within Sudan is conducted at your own risk. NEW YORK (AP) Before pulling back from the brink of a trial, Fox News and Dominion Voting systems faced a stern deadline not from an impatient judge or jury, but from a man on a Danube River cruise with his wife half a world away. A mediator hired late Sunday pushed the two sides toward a $787 million settlement that brought a stunning end to the most-watched media libel case in decades, one that sought to put a price on lies told about the 2020 presidential election on conservative America's most popular news outlet. It's a deadline that I always impose because I know that once a jury is empaneled and opening statements are made, then one or other of the parties will dig into their positions, Jerry Roscoe, of the Washington-based JAMS mediation service, said Wednesday. It makes negotiations much more difficult. As the haggling went on, over the phone and in back rooms of a Delaware courthouse, lawyers, journalists and spectators waited as a scheduled 1:30 p.m. start of the trial came and went Tuesday. Finally, two minutes before 4 p.m., Superior Court Judge Eric Davis emerged with an almost matter-of-fact announcement, given the stakes. The parties have resolved their case, he said. It was a settlement months in the making, since the Colorado-based voting technology firm sued Fox for $1.6 billion, alleging its business was harmed and employees threatened when it was baselessly accused of rigging its voting machines against former President Donald Trump in 2020. In the two months prior to the scheduled start of the trial, a mountain of evidence some damning, some merely embarrassing showed many Fox executives and on-air talent didn't believe allegations aired mostly on shows hosted by Maria Bartiromo, Lou Dobbs and Jeanine Pirro. At the time, they feared angering Trump fans in the audience with the truth. Davis had ordered the two sides to try to mediate their differences last December, but it was a non-starter for Dominion. The company didn't want the case to end without all of the evidence it had gathered made public. That happened through February and March, with document dumps that essentially outlined the case Dominion would have presented at trial. That was something we had committed to from the beginning, Dominion CEO John Poulos said Wednesday on ABC's Good Morning America. We had complete support with our partners, and it's something that we owed to our customers. Fox had argued that it was airing newsworthy allegations made by Trump aides, and that Dominion's case was an attack on press freedom. Libel is tough to prove a jury must find journalists knowingly published false information or with a reckless disregard for the truth. Yet Fox's path to victory narrowed, both through the evidence presented and rulings by Davis, who said that the allegations against Dominion were unquestionably false, and that newsworthiness was no defense against defamation. Attorneys for both sides, Justin Nelson for Dominion and Dan Webb for Fox, quietly began to seek a deal before trial. With the two sides far apart, they reached out to mediator Roscoe, then cruising between Budapest and Bucharest with his wife. He agreed to take the case on, using much of Monday to read through the evidence. My job is to create options and to give them choices, Roscoe said. He spoke on the phone constantly from the boat, mostly with lawyers other than Nelson and Webb Tuesday, as they were preparing for opening statements, and principals like Poulos, ensconced in a conference room at the courthouse. Davis gave the two sides Monday off to talk. On Tuesday morning, a jury was selected that included five Black men, four white women, two Black women and one white man. It was a majority Black jury deciding the financial fate of a network whose audience is 94% white and 1% Black, according to the Nielsen company. Jury selection can be a key moment in pushing two sides toward a last-minute settlement, said Lee Levine, a veteran First Amendment attorney. There's a strong possibility that Fox had decided to wait and see what kind of jury it drew and to see if they had a couple of people on the jury they had good feelings about being holdouts, Levine said. Fox privately resisted the idea that jury selection was key to a deal, saying instead that there were complicated negotiations that had to play out. Meanwhile, after a lunch break, people returned to a courtroom cluttered with boxes filled with evidence. Webb spoke on a cellphone and approached Nelson to quietly talk more than once. At one point, Webb was seen walking out of the courtroom with a wide smile on his face. Levine was walking on a beach in North Carolina with his wife, wearing ear buds to catch the audio feed of opening statements. When court hadn't resumed by 2:30 p.m., his instincts told him that a settlement was near. When did Roscoe have that feeling? When it came together and not a moment before, the mediator said. The parties had different analyses of the law and the facts and were vigorous advocates for their positions all along the negotiations. The agreement was reached before 3 p.m. in Delaware, or 10 p.m. on Roscoe's boat. The negotiations were primarily financial. Fox had issued a public statement Monday saying that Dominion had reduced its estimate of damages by $600 million. Dominion disputed that, but the eventual deal was closer to what Fox said was the adjusted figure. Some Fox critics were angry about the deal, wanting instead to see a trial with Fox figures forced to testify in public, or at least Fox personalities compelled to apologize to Dominion on the air. Instead, Fox issued a statement that said it acknowledged Davis' findings that certain claims about Dominion were false. This settlement reflects Fox's continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards, Fox said. Levine sees it this way: At the end of the day I think a reasonable reading of what happened was there was a line that Fox wouldn't cross or couldn't cross because of their business model. They couldn't have their anchors go on the air and tell (viewers) they lied to them, he said. I don't think a forced apology is worth a nickel, said Stephen Shackelford, Dominion's co-lead counsel. He said that following a legal threat in December 2020 by another technology firm, Smartmatic, Fox aired an interview with an election expert debunking fraud claims, and it had little effect on Fox's audience or how Fox operated. Smartmatic has a pending lawsuit against Fox that is similar to Dominion's. You can't change their culture and approach from the outside, Shackelford said. They have to do it themselves. Asked for comment, Fox said the company has expanded its newsgathering capabilities both domestically and abroad, and has added other resources to enhance coverage. We're confident of the editorial systems we have in place, Fox said. In making the deal, Poulos said he had to take into account employees and customers who had suffered from harassment following the false claims. He noted that Fox had acknowledged the court's rulings that the allegations were false. Given the challenges he faced trying to bring Fox and Dominion together with their disputes over the facts and legal theory, Roscoe said it's one of the most meaningful cases he's worked on in his career. His wife may insist upon another vacation, though. She was probably on the Internet looking for another husband, he joked. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) Michelle Yeoh says she is looking for new challenges including as a producer, as she credited perseverance, hard work and passion for her historic Oscar win last month. The 60-year-old became the first Asian to win the Academy Award for best actress for her performance as a laundromat owner in Everything Everywhere All at Once. The movie won a total of seven awards, including best picture. Returning to her native Malaysia to celebrate her mother's birthday, Yeoh said she felt a sense of relief after clinching the award. It was a roller coaster ride that started last year when the movie first came out. It was a whole year of not knowing, wanting, hoping, wishing, she told a news conference. During the journey, everyone was asking, Do you want the Oscar? I said, hell, yes, of course I want the Oscar. Who doesn't? I am not going to beat around the bush and say no because it represents so much to so many of us. Yeoh reiterated that her Oscar victory was a beacon of hope for Asian women. It shows us it can be done and all of you can do it, she said. Yeoh, who started her career in Hong Kong before becoming a Hollywood star, said she was blessed to have been able to work on diverse movies and with forward thinking filmmakers to fight for what I truly believe in representation, diversity, especially empowerment of women. She said she refuses to be boxed in stereotypical roles but believes in pushing the envelope in her career. While she has no interest in directing, she said she may branch out again as a producer. Directors have no life. I love my life too much, she said in jest. I love producing. I have produced before and now I can start to do so again now I am able to branch out more because people have started to listen, and appreciate what you can bring forward. As an actor, I love what I can do. I am so lucky to be able to say its not a job, it's really a passion. Yeoh said she will be heading back to London to complete the filming of Wicked, a two-part movie adaptation of the hit Broadway musical directed by Jon Chu. She said she hopes to return to Asia in the next few months. I am always looking for a challenge," Yeoh said. "I believe there is so much to do in our part of the world. All of us collectively. Don't isolate yourself. Don't feel that I must always tell my story. We are collaborators, we are storytellers. Let's work together and do great things. City of Dreams, by Don Winslow (William Morrow) City of Dreams is the middle book in a planned trilogy that began when a stunning woman emerged from the surf at a Rhode Island beach in last years City on Fire and sparked a war between the states Irish and Italian crime families. Now, as the latest installment opens, Danny Ryan leads whats left of the defeated Irish mob on an epic, cross-country journey in search of a new home and a measure of safety from the Italian gangsters, the Rhode Island State Police, FBI agents and a growing number of other pursuers dead set on putting them in the ground. Ryans not sure where they are going, author Don Winslow writes, just that they have to get the hell out of Rhode Island. If the story reminds readers of Homers The Iliad and Virgils Aeneid, in which jealousy over a beauty named Helen sparked a war between the Greeks and the Trojans, it should. Winslow peppers his yarn with allusions and quotes from the epic Greek poems, casting Ryan in the role of a modern-day warrior at odds with his fate. After a series of close calls, the fugitives settle in California, some of them risking their lives by ignoring Dannys order to lay low. Eventually, however, Danny violates the order himself. Through a series of circumstances, he ends up investing in a Hollywood movie based on his own life, falling in love with its female lead, making a new enemy of the Los Angeles crime family and putting himself and his crew of expats in mortal danger. By the end of the new novel, Danny and the few friends he has left are on the run again, setting the stage for the trilogys upcoming conclusion, City in Ruins. With 23 novels to his credit, Winslow has earned a reputation as one of the finest crime novelists writing in English. Earlier novels, including The Death and Life of Bobby Z and California Power and Light, were beautifully written and inventively plotted, but with each subsequent book, the authors ambition has grown, leading to much longer, critically acclaimed novels including a powerful trilogy about the war on drugs: The Power of the Dog (2005), The Cartel (2015), and The Border" (2019). With the Danny Ryan trilogy, Winslow seems destined to claim a place beside Mario Puzzos The Godfather on the Mount Rushmore of American crime fiction. ___ Bruce DeSilva, winner of the Mystery Writers of Americas Edgar Award, is the author of the Mulligan crime novels including The Dread Line. NEW YORK (AP) From simple geometric shapes to the intricately wrought details of daily life, the quilt designs in a show now running at the American Folk Art Museum show how powerfully this art form has told stories for centuries and been a vehicle for creativity. What That Quilt Knows About Me comprises 35 quilts and related works in an intimate gallery space. Some tell stories about the makers life or process. Others explore quilting technique, using different materials. One quilt estimated to be from the early 1800s bursts with details, including tropical flowers and pugs with fancy collars. Curators dont know who the artist was, but the appliqued imagery reflects popular pastimes of women in the 19th century. Another quilt in the exhibit is the work of Carl Klewicke, who ran a tailoring business in Corning, New York, in the early 1900s. The piece, made of vivid bits of silk, faille, taffeta and satin, depicts starry constellations, kites and doves a joyful and precisely crafted celebration of life that took Klewicke 20 years to finish. He and his wife gave it to their daughter on her wedding day. Sade Ayorinde, one of the curators, says her favorite piece is the Whig Rose and Swag Border Quilt. For decades, it was attributed to a white woman who owned a Kentucky plantation, but an old note pinned to the back reveals the truth: Enslaved women in the household were the real crafters. Two possible makers have been identified, sisters whose mother cared for the plantation owners children. Its incredible to be able to point to the material contributions of Black people in the 19th century as special, valuable and beautiful, says Ayorinde. What this quilt knows and exposes is a bit about Black-lived experiences and artistic excellence, even under oppressive circumstances. Emelie Gevalt, the museum's curator of folk art and curatorial chair for collections, was especially drawn to one quilt from West Chester, Pennsylvania. The Sacret Bibel is known by the makers phonetically spelled inscription at the top. The name Susan Arrowood is inscribed at the bottom, but nobody knows who Susan might have been, despite extensive research in the area where the quilt was found. Its a busy, color- and imagery-packed, appliqued picture book of vignettes drawn from Bible stories, and perhaps from people and experiences in the quilters own life. Every time I look at it, I find something new, says Gevalt. Her composition explodes with creativity. Even though we dont know much about this quilter, you look at her work and have to imagine that the exuberance of her vision captures something about the makers personality and experience. Another powerful piece is the Soldiers Quilt: Square Within a Square. It's made of the thick red, yellow and black wool used in military uniforms, and curators say the tight geometric motif of small squares was similar to woodworking patterns, perhaps an allusion to an activity considered masculine. There was a tradition among British soldiers during the Crimean War in the mid-1800s to create quilts as a way to pass the time while awaiting orders or recovering from injuries. The craft was encouraged by leadership as an alternative to gambling and drinking. Imagine weary groups of soldiers piecing and stitching a creative testament to their war-battered years. Noahs Ark was a popular theme in late 19th century quilts, and theres a fine example in the show, from either Nova Scotia or Quebec. Instead of the usual design, with the ark on top and the animal twosomes parading in a circle around the quilt, this one has the ark in the center, with the couples lined up in rows. Creatures have been scaled playfully; insects are the size of penguins, and cats are bigger than pigs. Another distinctive feature: The quilter included Noahs whole family. From Tokyo, a quilt gifted to the museum by artist Setsuko Obi is called Light from Far-Away Space. Standing a distance away from it gives you the impression of a glowing galaxy surrounded by brightly colored stars. But up close, you see that each block in the quilt is folded like origami, with hand-woven silks and fabrics from antique kimonos. The exhibition also includes several colorblock quilts that look remarkably modern, including an early 20th century Diamond in the Square thats probably Amish. Amish quilters preferred simple, geometric patterns and colors; the community frowned on overly pictorial motifs and multicolored patterns. Another stunning yet simple piece is the Calamanco Quilt with Border, from the early 1800s. Its wool, made in England using a hot-iron process that created a glazed surface, is dyed two shades of brilliant indigo. Looking at the nearly 8-square-foot quilt gently glowing under the museums cleverly unobtrusive lighting is like peering into the depths of the sea. - What That Quilt Knows About Me runs at the American Folk Art Museum until Oct. 29. - New York-based writer Kim Cook covers design and decor topics regularly for The AP. Follow her on Instagram at @kimcookhome. - For more AP Lifestyles stories, go to https://apnews.com/hub/lifestyle. ROME (AP) A Texas-born princess piled her four yapping bichon frise dogs into a taxi Thursday after being evicted, following a bitter inheritance dispute, from a historic villa in Rome that contains the only known ceiling painted by Caravaggio. Princess Rita Jenrette Boncompagni Ludovisi, nee Rita Carpenter, abandoned the Casino dellAurora off the swank Via Veneto hours after Carabinieri police arrived to enforce a court-mandated eviction order. Before she had even left, a locksmith changed the locks on the big green front door. Her dramatic exit one of the dogs briefly escaped as she spoke to journalists on the street capped a remarkable, years-long soap opera that exposed the dirty laundry of one of Romes aristocratic families. The Boncompagni Ludovisi are perhaps best known for having produced Pope Gregory XIII of Gregorian calendar fame. But lately they have attracted more attention due to the inheritance dispute and court-mandated auction of their famous villa in the heart of Rome. I feel like Im in a surreal movie, like Sartres No Exit, the princess said on the street, interrupted repeatedly by a barking fluffy white dog in her arms and three others at her ankles. Casino dell'Aurora, also known as the Villa Ludovisi, has been in the Ludovisi family since the early 1600s. After Prince Nicolo Boncompagni Ludovisi died in 2018, the villa became the subject of an inheritance dispute between the children from his first marriage and his third wife, the San Antonio, Texas-born Princess Rita, whom he married in 2009. Previously, she had been married to former U.S. Rep. John Jenrette Jr. of South Carolina. The children have argued that the home, built in 1570, belongs to them, that their grandfather intended for them to inherit it, and that their late father abused them and mismanaged his fortune. They mounted a multi-pronged legal campaign to get control of the property so it can be sold. The latest chapter in the saga came in January after Rome Judge Miriam Iappelli issued an eviction order, accusing the princess of having violated a previous order forbidding her from conducting guided tours of the property. Boncompagni Ludovisi has said the tours were necessary to raise money to maintain the villa. In addition, the judge found that the princess had failed to maintain the home in a good state of conservation after an exterior wall crumbled. One of the heirs, Prince Bante Boncompagni Ludovisi, was on hand Thursday at the villa to watch that woman, as he refers to his fathers widow, leave the property. This house needs renovations. The pipelines of water need to be restored and the frescoes are in danger, he told reporters. This is a country: We have our police, we have our judges and you need to respect our country and our laws if you stay here. Its not clear who will now undertake the work on the house, which needs at least 11 million euros in renovations to bring it up to code. The villa was put on the court-ordered auction block last year as part of the inheritance dispute and assigned a court-appraised value of 471 million euros ($533 million), in large part due to the Caravaggio. After the minimum bid of 353 million euros ($400 million) failed to get any takers in the first auction, the price was progressively lowered in a series of successive auctions, with more scheduled until a buyer is found. The Caravaggio ceiling graces a tiny room off a spiral staircase on the second floor. It was commissioned in 1597 by a diplomat and patron of the arts who asked the then-young painter to decorate the ceiling of the small room being used as an alchemy workshop. The 2.75-meter (9-foot) wide mural, which depicts Jupiter, Pluto and Neptune, is unusual: Its not a fresco, but rather oil paint on plaster, and represents the only ceiling mural that Caravaggio is known to have painted. While the villa's fate is uncertain, so too is that of the princess. Vowing that the truth will eventually come out (and announcing a book deal), Boncompagni Ludovisi insisted she had cared for the villa during her two decades living there and digitized the family's archive, with the help of Rutgers University. I see no logic in this. I was a good custodian for the villa, she said. She didnt say where she would go next, though she noted that the Episcopal Church in Rome had reached out to help. I love Italy and Im so sorry to have such a brutal ending to what has been a labor of love for 20 years, she said. Her book, on the villa and its famous ceiling, is expected to be published at the end of the year. "Its dedicated to my husband, Nicolo," she said, before speeding off with the dogs in a taxi into the Roman traffic. Disney (DIS) filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his hand-selected Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board. In a four-count civil lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Disney asked the federal court to intervene and order DeSantis to stop punishing the company for what it says is constitutionally protected free speech. The news comes shortly after the board passed a resolution to nullify Disney's last minute agreements that allowed it to retain control of its long-standing special tax district, formerly known as Reedy Creek. "This government action was patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional," Disney said in the complaint, obtained by Yahoo Finance. "The Governor and his allies have made clear they do not care and will not stop." Disney is asking the district court to step in and order that its contracts remain effect and declare that DeSantis actions are constitutionally unlawful and unenforceable. Disney is also requesting that the courts order block DeSantis from enforcing Senate Bill 4C and House Bill 9B, which would dissolve all special tax districts established prior to November 1968, including Reedy Creek, and authorize a reestablishment period to either amend them, or keep them dissolved. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Heritage Foundation 50th Anniversary Celebration leadership summit, Friday, April 21, 2023, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Wednesday's filing is the latest bombshell move in a tit-for-tat that has captured the attention of lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle as DeSantis attempts to thwart Disney's plans. "They are not superior to the laws that are enacted by the people of the state of Florida," DeSantis said at a press conference last week. "Thats not going to work, thats not going to fly." In a statement sent to Yahoo Finance in response to the lawsuit, DeSantis' Communications Director, Taryn Fenske said, "We are unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state. This lawsuit is yet another unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law." DeSantis, who announced new legislation that would require Disney to adhere to further inspections of its theme parks, added he's open to developing land near Disney as a way to exercise further control, floating possibilities like a state park or even a state prison. He also suggested the board should consider raising taxes on the company. Disney's lawsuit categorized DeSantis' fight as a "targeted campaign of government retaliation orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disneys protected speech [that] now threatens Disneys business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights." According to Disney, DeSantis is responsible for a series of retaliatory actions against the company, including illegally pressuring Floridas oversight board to void Disneys lucrative development contracts. In thwarting two multi-billion dollar contracts, which would expand its theme parks footprint, Disney says, DeSantis violated constitutional protections that safeguard contracts and prohibit government property seizures. "Disney regrets that it has come to this," the complaint continued. "But having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution, the Company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials." A statue of Walt Disney and Micky Mouse stands in front of the Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Jan. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File) The fight stems from what has largely been seen as a politically-targeted response over Disney's reaction to the so-called "Don't Say Gay" law, which forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade. In 2022, then-Disney CEO Bob Chapek condemned this law at the company's annual shareholder meeting after initially deciding not to speak publicly on the matter. That decision set off a political firestorm which continues today, with current Disney CEO Bob Iger defending the company's actions and denouncing DeSantis' practices during its annual meeting of shareholders held earlier this month. "A company has a right to freedom of speech just like individuals do," Iger said at the time, describing DeSantis' policies as "anti-business" and "anti-Florida." "Disney finds itself in this regrettable position because it expressed a viewpoint the Governor and his allies did not like," Wednesday's complaint reads. "Disney wishes that things could have been resolved a different way. But Disney also knows that it is fortunate to have the resources to take a stand against the States retaliationa stand smaller businesses and individuals might not be able to take when the State comes after them for expressing their own views. In America, the government cannot punish you for speaking your mind." Alexandra is a Senior Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alliecanal8193 and email her at alexandra.canal@yahoofinance.com Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance The Colombian government deported Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido late on Monday, saying he had entered the country illegally, and put him on a commercial flight bound for Miami after being told by a high-ranking U.S. official of his whereabouts, Colombias foreign minister said. The opposition leader, who arrived in Miami early Tuesday morning, had entered Colombia hoping to meet with some of the delegations sent to Bogota to participate in a diplomatic summit organized by leftist Colombian President Gustavo Petro to discuss the crisis in Venezuela. But Guaido entered Colombia without going through regular immigration channels, which prompted local officials to start searching for him, Colombian Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva told reporters. We knew he was here because of all the noise he was making, that he was going to stage a protest. ... Naturally, immigration set out to find out what had happened. Finally, it came to be known from a high-ranking U.S. official where he was, which allowed immigration to reach him, Leyva said. Guaido was then taken to El Dorado International Airport. The opposition leader was accompanied to the airport by U.S. officials and the air fare was paid by the United States, Leyva said, stressing that Colombia needed to place Guaido in a plane out of Colombia because they had to enforce the law and that the United States helped because they did not want to see the Bogota gathering disrupted. Leyvas comments were a different version of events from the account given by Petro, who hours earlier had denied that Guaido had been forced to leave Colombia. Mr. Guaido was not expelled, Petro said on Twitter. it is better that lies do not appear in politics. Mr. Guaido had an agreement to travel to the US. We allow it for humanitarian reasons despite the illegal entry into the country. Until Petros election last year, Colombia was one of the strongest supporters of Guaido, recognizing him along with the United States and dozens of other nations as the legitimate president of Venezuela, after the Venezuelan National Assembly declared that strongman Nicolas Maduro had usurped the presidency. Guaido said upon arriving at Miami International Airport that he was concerned about the safety of his wife, Fabiana, his family and followers. I am very worried about my family and my work team because they have already seen the consequences of a dictatorship. They have been tortured, persecuted and at this moment directly threatened, not only against Fabiana but also against my family directly, Guaido said after arriving in Miami. Today, unfortunately, I can say that the persecution has spread to Colombia, he added. My expectations now are that the countries participating in the summit speak about human rights, about the Venezuelans who are seeking refuge, that they raise their voices at a summit organized by President Petro, who in one way or another has already established a position on what is happening in Venezuela. Guaido said it had taken him some 60 hours of travel, evading the persecution of the Maduro regime, to meet with visiting diplomats in Bogota. Guaidos prestige has been greatly diminished after leading the Venezuelan opposition for four years and after the National Assembly had named him interim president to replace Maduro in January 2019. Guaido, however, never had control over Venezuelan institutions, and despite receiving widespread recognition among Western democracies, he was unable to affect the Venezuelan strongmans hold on power. That made him unpopular among Venezuelan exiles in Miami. He embodies the failure of the Venezuelan opposition, said Jose Antonio Colina, president of Politically Persecuted Venezuelans in Exile. He had an opportunity to do much, but in the end, did very little, and now he joins the vast numbers of Venezuelans forced to flee into exile. The gathering in Bogota about Venezuela was called by Petro, who met President Joe Biden last week in Washington at the White House to convince him that it is possible to organize free elections in Venezuela if the United States lifts sanctions imposed on the Caracas socialist regime. The administration said U.S. diplomats will participate in the summit and engage in discussions with diplomats from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Bolivia, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, Honduras, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Turkey and South Africa. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) speaks to reporters before entering the Senate Chamber on Feb. 14. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Is President Biden, 80, too old to run for reelection, as he announced today? Is it time for ailing California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 89, to step aside? In the strange world of politics, we elect and reelect candidates well past the one-time retirement standard of 65, even as we keep asking ourselves if theyre too old to serve. In an NBC poll, half the voters who didnt want Biden to run again listed age as a major concern. Biden would be approaching 86 at the end of a second term. But former President Trump, whos apparently bored to death with retirement and is scratching at the doors of the White House, is only 3 years younger. It wasnt long ago that Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, a youngster of 51, called for mandatory mental health competency tests for politicians older than 75. I have to say I am not opposed to mental health competency checks for politicians, but rather than base it on age, Id begin with those who keep insisting the last presidential election was stolen. The problem with conversations about when its time to punch out, in politics or any other line of work, is that we do not all age on the same schedule. And theres another consideration, which, as the population ages, needs to be stated, repeated and understood: Aging is not inherently a negative experience. A lot of our stereotypes are flat-out wrong, says Dr. Laura Mosqueda, an elder abuse authority and professor of geriatrics and family medicine at USCs Keck School of Medicine. Lived experience and emotional intelligence are invaluable assets. That doesnt mean age should never be a consideration on the job. Youth has its obvious advantages, and I dont think many people would be comfortable seeing a 90-year-old pilot step into the cockpit of a commercial airliner, or an 85-year-old police officer chasing a burglary suspect. Im very concerned about ageism in the workplace, but Im also concerned about people who think they have to work forever, said Caroline Cicero, a gerontology professor at USC. Giving people permission to retire is something I think we need to do." Im on the record saying that at a certain age maybe 75 or 80 we ought to be required to take a driving test in order to get our license renewed. Its tough to come up with a specific age, because as I said, we do not ALL follow the same calendar when it comes to aging. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, 53, suffered a stroke during his campaign and was hospitalized for depression post-election. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, who like Feinstein, is 89, is jogging and doing pushups. Its more than a little obvious that groundbreaking Sen. Feinstein the first female mayor of San Francisco and first female senator from California is not the force she once was. Theres a clamor, even among liberals, for Gavin Newsom to make good on his promise to appoint a Black woman to succeed Feinstein if she resigns. U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, 76, whos running to replace Feinstein, would be an obvious choice. Feinstein has so far said no thanks shell hang around until her term ends in two years. But physical issues have kept her away from the job at a critical time, delaying progress on legislative matters and judicial and political appointments. Some have accused Feinstein of stubbornly jeopardizing her own legacy. She has not cast a vote since mid-February, and she has said her recovery from shingles has been hampered due to unspecified complications. And here's where the story takes a turn to something sadder and scarier: The San Francisco Chronicle has reported that colleagues and staff members have seen evidence of cognitive decline for some time, and some have said Feinstein is now unable to do her job without assistance. I think Feinstein is entitled to a small degree of privacy about the specifics of her condition. But as a public servant in a supremely vital position, either we need to see evidence that shes OK, or she needs to gracefully surrender the reins of power, head held high. Not because of her age. Not because shes a woman (sexism is alive and well in Washington and beyond, and might well be a factor here). But because of her health. I dont care if shes 85 or 25. This is not an age-based issue, said Dr. Mosqueda. This is: Can you do your job? And if she indeed has no problems with her cognitive capacity, then I think wed like some evidence of that. In the case of Biden, Mosqueda said, she sees no evidence that hes unable to do his job. But with Feinstein, Mosqueda is particularly concerned about reports that aides are fulfilling some of her duties. I didnt vote for her staff. I voted for her, and I think shes been a wonderful senator, Mosqueda said. And when you can no longer do your job, for whatever reason and at whatever age, you need to stop doing that job. ... I dont think this is bias against women or older adults. I think its just common sense. I do hope the people closest to Feinstein are having honest conversations with her about her health, just as we all need to do with our loved ones when they begin to falter, whether it's about work, or driving, or being alone. Feinsteins service is unquestionable, her achievements are many, her record is ageless. Hard though it may be and scary as well there is dignity in moving on. steve.lopez@latimes.com This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. President Yoon Suk Yeol, rifht, confers the Taegeuk Order of Military Merit on retired Navy Capt. Elmer Royce Williams during a luncheon celebrating the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance at a hotel in Washington on April 25. Yonhap President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday awarded Korea's highest military order to three American veterans of the 1950-53 Korean War. Retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett, retired Navy Capt. Elmer Royce Williams and the late Baldomero Lopez, a first lieutenant who served in the Marine Corps, were awarded the Taegeuk Order of Military Merit during a luncheon celebrating the 70th anniversary of the bilateral alliance. A nephew received the order on behalf of the late Lopez. "If it had not been for the sacrifice of Korean War veterans, the Republic of Korea of today would not exist," Yoon said after conferring the awards, referring to Korea's formal name. The president is currently on a state visit to the U.S. "The Korean War is not the forgotten war, but a victorious war and a war that must be remembered. All of you are heroes and our true friends, who made the Republic of Korea of today possible," he said. Puckett led the Eighth Army Ranger Company through the battle for Hill 205 on November 25, 1950, while Williams is known for his solo dogfight with seven Soviet pilots in November 1952. Lopez heroically smothered a hand grenade with his own body during the Incheon Landing on Sept. 15, 1950, and saved his subordinates' lives. "The Korea-U.S. alliance forged in blood has built the most successful and powerful alliance relationship in the world over the past 70 years," Yoon said. "We will forever remember the dedication and friendship of all of you who fought together for the Republic of Korea's freedom." Yoon promised the Korean government's continued efforts to recover the remains of U.S. service members killed or gone missing during the Korean War, and vowed to fulfill the country's responsibility and role for freedom and peace in the world. The luncheon was attended by more than 360 people, including U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Charles Brown, Jr., Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command chief Gen. Paul LaCamera, a grandson of Gen. James Alward Van Fleet, commander of the U.S. 8th Army from 1951-53, and the eldest daughter of Gen. Paik Sun-yup, the late former commander of the Korean Army's 1st Division and a Korean War hero. (Yonhap) A bipartisan group of state lawmakers, sheriffs and a solicitor on Tuesday zeroed in on one legislator to make a point about why they say South Carolina should change the way it vets and elects its state judges. The poster child of the groups attack was state Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Richland, who as an attorney and a legislator is a gatekeeper of who becomes a state judge, a post with an approximate $200,000 annual salary. Rutherford sits on the 10-member Judicial Merit Selection Commission and is one of six lawyer-legislators on panel the who decide who gets to run for judge. Last week, it was disclosed that Rutherford secretly orchestrated with former Judge Casey Manning and 5th Circuit Solicitor Byron Gipson the quiet prison release of killer Jeroid Price 16 years before he was scheduled to get out. Price was released from prison in mid-March. The in-chambers, secret sealed order obtained by a member of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission that allowed a cold-blooded murderer to be released from prison cannot happen in a true justice system, 1st Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe said at a Tuesday news conference in the State House lobby, calling for changes to the way state judges are selected in South Carolina. Prices early release was an injustice so blatant that I am confident that our Supreme Court is going to act quickly to correct it, Pascoe said. Also appearing Tuesday at the press conference were Lillie and Carl Smalls, of Charleston, retired U.S. Army veterans whose son Carl Jr. was shot to death by Price as he lay on the floor of a Columbia nightclub in 2002. They were informed March 15, several hours before Prices release, that their sons killer was being released 16 years early, they said. The state Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday afternoon from Rutherford and Attorney General Alan Wilsons office on whether Price should have been released. Rutherford will argue the release was lawful, while Wilson has said in a court filing the release was illegal and Price should be arrested and taken back to prison. In a related matter, Gov. Henry McMaster for the first time stepped into the controversy, expressing his alarm about the situation which threatens public safety, in a Tuesday letter to Bryan Stirling, director of the S.C. Department of Corrections. In his letter, McMaster asked whether Prices release was an isolated incident, and if not, to identify any other similar early release orders. The early and unsupervised release of this inmate under the circumstances, particularly without SCDCs awareness or input, was seemingly contrary to law and obviously at odds with common sense, McMaster wrote. McMaster, a former prosecutor, U.S. attorney for South Carolina and state attorney general, did not address the lawyer-legislator dispute in his letter. McMaster in January expressed to legislators that he would like the governor to have a role in judicial appointments, with Senate approval. But his new involvement in the Price matter signals Prices release has become a more high-profile issue. Two bills are pending in the Legislature that would allow McMaster and future governors to appoint up to six members of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission measures that, if approved, would take steps toward removing the conflicts of interest that now exist. (One bill would also prevent lawyer-legislators from being on the screening commission.) Only a handful of lawmakers are now supporting the legislation, said Pascoe, including freshman Rep. Heather Bauer, D-Richland; Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg and freshman Rep. Joe White, R-Newberry; all of whom attended Tuesdays press conference with about eight members of the House Freedom Caucus, a conservative group of legislators. Lawmakers who arent supporting the bills need to get some courage, Pascoe said. The bills are currently sitting in House and Senate judiciary committees. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, one of two sheriffs at Tuesdays press conference along with Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster, said secretly shaving 16 years off the prison sentence of a killer like Price makes a mockery of the justice system. Prison is where he should have stayed, Lott said. Holding a sheaf of documents aloft, Carl Smalls, 66, told reporters they concern various appeals by Price over the years in his efforts to get his sentence overturned or reduced. Although he was told that the appeals represent a convicted criminals right to challenge a trials outcome, Smalls said the continued efforts by Price to get out of prison made me look at it as more a criminal assistance system instead of a criminal justice system. On March 15, Smalls said, when Price was released from prison, he got a call from a victims advocate, who told him there had been an order signed by a judge and it was a done deal, and we would just have to deal with it, Smalls said. He added he learned that Price would have no probation, no supervision or restrictions. It was tough to take, he said. On April 17, Smalls said, he got a call from Richland County Deputy Chief Stan Smith, who at Prices 2003 murder trial had been a lead investigator on the case, saying Smith had just found out about Prices release. Smalls said he also learned that Pascoe, who as a Richland County assistant prosecutor in 2003 had convicted Price, also did not know about the release. This was a secret deal, Smalls said. Smalls said that he and his wife have two main goals: To make sure Price is returned to prison, and to help bring changes to the way judges are selected in South Carolina that will prevent another family from having to endure this miscarriage of justice. Pascoe said the Smalls family trusted in the judicial system, but the only thing that trust got them was a phone call two hours before their sons killer was released from prison. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) urged Russia and Ukraine to reach a ceasefire, making the comments during a visit to Japan on a multi-stop international tour. You dont want to end up in like a [Battle of] Verdun situation, where you just have mass casualties, mass expense and end up with a stalemate, DeSantis said in a Tokyo interview with outlet Nikkei Asia, making reference to the major World War I battle. Its in everybodys interest to try to get to a place where we can have a cease-fire, DeSantis said. Russias war on Ukraine passed its one-year mark earlier this year, and Kyiv is reportedly prepping for a possible spring counteroffensive. DeSantis stopped in Tokyo and spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as part of a four-country tour to Japan, South Korea, Israel and the United Kingdom to build on economic relationships Florida has with each country, his office said. The Florida governor sidestepped a question in Japan on Monday about 2024 presidential election polling, and hasnt formally announced whether hell run for higher office. But the international trip adds to speculation that DeSantis is upping his international profile ahead of a possible presidential bid. DeSantis in the Nikkei Asia interview also called out countries in Europe, urging them to do more when it comes to the conflict in Ukraine. The Europeans really need to do more [on Ukraine]. I mean, this is their continent. The U.S. has provided security for them. And yes, Poland theres some that are doing stuff, and that should be appreciated. But Germany, theyre not doing anything, DeSantis said. Germany has committed 1.20 billion, or $1.16 billion, in military aid to Ukraine, ranking third behind the United Kingdom and Poland in terms of spending, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The U.S. has directed more than $75 billion in assistance to Ukraine, which includes humanitarian, financial, and military support, since the war began. DeSantis had controversially referred to the Russia-Ukraine war as a territorial dispute, but later said his comment was mischaracterized and called Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Anna Tong, Alexandra Ulmer and Jeffrey Dastin SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Tech billionaire and Republican megadonor Peter Thiel, an early backer of former President Donald Trump who later broke with him, has told associates he is not planning to donate to any political candidates in 2024, according to two people close to the businessman. Thiel is unhappy with the Republican Party's focus on hot-button U.S. cultural issues, said one of the sources, a business associate, citing abortion and restrictions on which bathrooms transgender students can use in schools as two examples. Thiel came to this conclusion by late 2022, the sources said. He believes Republicans are making a mistake in focusing on cultural flashpoints and should be more concerned with spurring U.S. innovation - a major issue for him - and competing with China, the business associate said. Thiel's plans for the Republican primary and general election have not been previously reported. Online news site Puck previously reported Thiel was most likely either to support Trump or sit out the primary. Thiel declined a Reuters request for an interview. When Thiel spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention, he had more hope that the party would concentrate on economic issues, his business associate said. "I am proud to be gay," Thiel said on stage. "But most of all I am proud to be an American. I don't pretend to agree with every plank in our party's platform, but fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline, and nobody in this race is being honest about it except Donald Trump." Four political sources also told Reuters that Thiel is taking a step back from U.S. politics. Thiel, who diverged from his Silicon Valley peers with his embrace of conservative causes, identifies as a supporter of libertarianism, a political philosophy that stresses the importance of individual freedoms. DONORS HESITATE The German-born entrepreneur has a fortune estimated at around $4.2 billion after co-founding PayPal and Palantir and investing early in Facebook. He has contributed around $50 million to state and federal political candidates and campaigns since 2000, and he was the 10th largest individual donor to either party in the 2022 midterm congressional elections, according to the non-profit OpenSecrets. Thiel's decision underlines how the Republican Partys swing to the right on social issues is alienating some prominent, business-minded donors. Several top donors have said they are hesitant to support Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is expected to announce a run for the White House soon, after he signed a bill into law that bans most abortions after six weeks in Florida. None said they intended to sit out the entire 2024 election cycle as a consequence. In 2012, Thiel backed libertarian lawmaker Ron Paul, and in 2016 he donated some $1.25 million to the campaign efforts of Trump, who is the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination. In 2020, Thiel did not financially back Trump's re-election efforts, according to OpenSecrets. Thiel liked some of Trump's policies while in office but disapproved of the chaos surrounding the former reality TV star's presidency, said one of the sources, who is close to Thiel personally. In the 2022 election cycle, however, Thiel emerged as a potential Republican kingmaker, contributing more than $35 million to 16 federal-level Republican candidates, according to OpenSecrets. Twelve of those candidates won. To be sure, Thiel could yet change his mind on political contributions for the 2024 cycle, although both sources familiar with his donation plans said they had heard Thiel declare on multiple recent occasions that he had withdrawn from U.S. politics. The source who knows Thiel personally said he had cautioned that he could still support candidates who have worked for him, as he did in 2022, when the bulk of his $35 million in donations went to two former colleagues running for the Senate as Republicans: J.D. Vance, who won, and Blake Masters, who lost a race pundits considered winnable even though he received some $20 million from Thiel. The business associate said he was not aware of any special proviso for former employees. Thiel is married to businessman Matt Danzeisen, with whom he has two toddlers. Concerns about his family's safety have weighed in Thiel's decision to step back as well, the source who knows him personally told Reuters. (Reporting by Anna Tong, Alexandra Ulmer and Jeffrey Dastin, Editing by Ross Colvin and Alistair Bell) Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan walked out of Tuesday's U.N. Security Council Meeting and slammed the organization as "biased" following requests to reschedule the debate that took place the same day as Israel's Memorial Day. "We made numerous requests to reschedule todays debate, describing the deep importance of the day, yet tragically, this council refused to budge. The decision to nonetheless hold this debate on today of all days only further proves what Israelis already know and feel about this biased organization," Erdan said. "Today, on this hallowed day, every Israeli remembers those courageous sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers and dear friends who lost their lives defending Israel. Yet while Israelis mourn, this council as usual will hear more blatant lies condemning the State of Israel and falsely painting it as the root of all the regions problems." In protest, Erdan proceeded to read the names of those who have fallen this year before dedicating his speech to their memory. US, ISRAEL MUST STAND UNITED ON IRAN NUCLEAR ISSUE TO AVOID '9/11 WITH NUCLEAR BOMBS' Gilad Erdan, the permanent representative of Israel to the United Nations, attends a U.N. security council meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at U.N. headquarters in New York April 25, 2023. "I light this candle, Mr. President, to honor them and may their memory be blessed. I'm sorry, but I refuse to spend this sacred day listening to lies and condemnation," Erdan said as he lit a candle and placed it in front of him. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "This debate disgraces the fallen, and Israel will not take part in it." Erdan then stood and and exited the chamber. ISRAELI HISTORIAN, AUTHOR FEARS JUDICIAL REFORM COULD IMPERIL ELECTIONS, END FREE PRESS: 'ROAD TO DISASTER' Erdan had previously sent a letter to this month's council president, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, dated April 3, requesting the debate be rescheduled on any other day except April 25 or Israel's Independence Day on April 26. "As president of the Security Council, the Russian Federation is required to play a neutral role, yet scheduling an open debate, in which Israel is requested to participate, on Israels Remembrance Day, shows indifference and dishonor to this hallowed day and will directly impact my ability to represent Israel accordingly," Erdan wrote. NETANYAHU THROWS SHADE ON BIDEN AFTER PRESIDENT SAYS HES VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ISRAELS JUDICIAL REFORMS "Due to the fact that this is a matter of utmost importance, it is now being raised on the ambassadorial level. I request that the open debate be rescheduled so it does not fall on either Remembrance Day on April 25 or on Israels Independence Day on April 26," Erdan closed the letter. Gilad Erdan, permanent representative of Israel to the United Nations, departs after a U.N. security council meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the U.N. headquarters in New York April 25, 2023. Nebenzia responded in a letter several days later "expressing concerns with the timing of our signature events." "We immediately conveyed your message to our capital," Nebenzia wrote. "As far as I understand, the answer has been already communicated to the Israeli side bilaterally." Tuesday marked Yom Hazikaron, Israel's Memorial Day, when the country mourns the thousands of soldiers who have died defending Israel. In recent years, it has also included thousands of civilians killed in terror attacks. The Security Council meeting was chaired by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and was attended by the Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad al-Maliki. Nima Momeni stands up to exit the courtroom after an appearance at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Momeni has been charged with murder in the death of tech entrepreneur Bob Lee. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The arraignment of the tech consultant charged with the killing of Cash App founder Bob Lee was delayed until next week after his defense attorney told a San Francisco judge Tuesday that prosecutors have not shared all their evidence with her. Nima Momeni, 38, was charged with murder with a sentencing enhancement of using a knife in the April 4 stabbing death of Lee. Momeni, who is being held without bail, was scheduled to return to court on May 2. Prosecutors say Momeni drove Lee to a secluded spot and stabbed him over a dispute related to the suspects sister. Paula Canny, Momenis defense attorney, said he will enter a plea of not guilty and deny the special allegation. She said she will ask the judge that Momeni be allowed to remain free during his trial. My argument is going to be that Nima is not dangerous to society and Nima is not a flight risk. Under the law, if those two criteria are met, he should be released from custody," Canny said. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said her office has shared all evidence with the defense, except for an autopsy report that can take the medical examiner up to 60 days to complete. She said prosecutors will continue to argue Momeni needs to remain in custody because he is a flight risk and poses a danger to society. Somebody that we believe committed murder is an extreme threat to the public safety. In this situation, we have an individual who stabbed Mr. Lee multiple times, including in his heart. That is about as dangerous as it gets, Jenkins said. Lee's killing drew national attention after tech leaders like Elon Musk took to Twitter to mourn Lees death and blame San Francisco for what they called the citys lax attitude toward crime. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday takes in a flooded field outside of Alpaugh, Calif. (Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press) Water lapped Tuesday at the edges of 6th Avenue, where thousands of acres of once-fertile farmland sat sodden beneath several feet of stagnant floodwater. The problem, state officials said, is only going to get worse in the days and weeks to come as temperatures rise and record-deep snowpack in the southern Sierra Nevada begins to melt and make its way downhill. "You can look at a scene like this and think the worst is going to recede, the worst is behind us, but in fact, quite the contrary," said Gov. Gavin Newsom, who was visiting Corcoran to survey flood damage from winter storms. In the distance, a farmer steered a boat through the flooded Tulare Lake Basin, which only weeks ago was home to cotton plants, corn, wheat, tomatoes and other crops. "Every day, you're seeing an incremental half-inch or inch of more water, new water, present itself here in this basin," Newsom said. "As a consequence, we not only need to maintain our vigilance, but we can't be impatient in terms of the impending floods and the damage that will occur here in a very short order." The flooding that has already occurred was the result of dozens of powerful atmospheric rivers at the start of this year that caused more than $40 million worth of damage in Tulare County alone, said county Supervisor Eddie Valero. Included in that calculation were 50 breached canals, 37 destroyed homes and 13 damaged bridges. Adding to the challenge is an imminent heat wave, with temperatures around the San Joaquin Valley expected to reach nearly 100 degrees by Saturday. The National Weather Service has already issued a flood watch in Yosemite National Park, where the Merced River is expected to overflow due to rapid runoff from melting snow. Newsom said runoff could trickle into the Tulare Lake Basin for the next 16 weeks. But water in the lake bed which now sits like a bathtub with essentially nowhere to drain could stick around for as long as two years. The state is taking steps to help, including providing shelter assistance for displaced residents and aid for affected farmworkers, as well as supplying millions of sandbags, portable barriers called muscle walls and other flood prevention supplies, Newsom said. But he and other state officials said much of the response will fall to the four Tulare Basin counties Kern, Tulare, Kings and Fresno which are not part of the Department of Water Resources' Central Valley Flood Protection Plan. That plan, which runs from the Sacramento Valley down to Fresno County, tasks the DWR with collecting and analyzing data on hydrology, climate, flood impacts and levees, which can help with planning and response during disasters. DWR Director Karla Nemeth said Tuesday that the agency does "not have significant information about these four counties and where [their] water moves." The counties' absence from the flood plan is the result of decisions made years ago, when the plan was being drafted, and they shied away from state oversight, she said. "The one way we will be successful is if the state, federal and local governments form a very strong partnership, establish plans and communicate those plans with the public to keep them safe as the snow starts to melt over the course of the next 16 weeks," Nemeth said. Calls have been mounting for the state to help fortify the Corcoran levee a critical piece of flood control infrastructure in Kings County but Nemeth said the agency has not received a specific request from the county. Newsom said he and other state officials would be meeting with representatives from local groups to determine the best path forward. "There have been a lot of questions about cost, scale, scope of that project different points of view, different opinions," the governor said. "I can assure you being on the same page with regard to local decision makers is important, but also getting on the same page with legislative leaders and our federal partners as well, in a concurrent manner." The seeming lack of activity has left some residents frustrated. Jordan Silva, a local farmworker, landowner and custom harvester, said he took a boat onto the flooded basin Tuesday to try to recover some of his equipment from beneath the water. "We've heard about a bunch of stuff that might come monies and stuff that might show up here but no, we haven't gotten any," he said. "I threw my name in the hat to possibly, eventually, get some." Silva, who said he anticipates a significant economic hit from lost crops this year, noted that the water in some places is as deep as 30 feet. He said it makes him reconsider his future in the state; he has thought about moving to South Dakota, where "it's easier." "There will be water here for two years at least," Silva said. "It does make a person rethink a little bit." Calls for assistance are also coming from government officials. A group of 12 California Assemblymembers called on Newsom Tuesday to dedicate funds for the development of floodplains, a flat area of land beside a river or stream. "We are writing to urge you to dedicate $100 million to restore previous and current year funding that was diverted and cut from San Joaquin River floodplain restoration, and we ask that you commit an additional $100 million to provide disaster relief to devastated counties," wrote the group of Democratic and Republican legislators, many representing districts in the Central Valley. "Restoring floodplains is a critical and cost-effective flood prevention tool," they wrote. "As water levels in rivers rise due to rain and snowmelt, floodplains offer opportunities to divert that water to mitigate flooding. Floodplains allow water to flow outside of a rivers main channel and temporarily store it to prevent damage. They also provide space for recreation, habitat for wildlife, and can recharge groundwater to improve water supplies. Floodplains will help protect exposed vulnerable communities." State and federal officials said there are ongoing efforts to deal with floodwater and prepare for incoming runoff, including more than 50,000 acre-feet of floodwater that has already been diverted into areas where it can seep into the ground and recharge groundwater supplies. DWR has also initiated a program to provide more pumps and siphons for local agencies that have maximized their ability to divert water for recharge, including the Fresno Irrigation District, Nemeth said. "Flood, as a general matter, is a landscape scale it is a regional challenge. It just screams regional coordination to make it actually work," she said. Federal agencies are also responding to the runoff by making strategic releases from the basin's four major dams at Lake Success, Lake Kaweah, Lake Isabella and Pine Flat to ensure there is room for incoming snowmelt. "There's definitely space to take in water in all four of those reservoirs," said Kenneth Wright, a spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers, which owns and operates the dams. "We've been working daily for weeks months, really to create and sustain flood control space." He said the expected heat wave "doesn't come as a big surprise," and everyone at the local and federal levels has been bracing for runoff from warming temperatures. "We're not veering from our plan we're doing what we always do, especially at times like these," Wright said. "We're coordinating with our local, county, state and sometimes federal partners ... to coordinate the appropriate and safe releases." An emergency declaration from Newsom and a presidential disaster declaration from President Biden remain in effect and will continue to enable additional assistance for disaster preparation, response and recovery, officials said. (Farmworkers and other affected residents can go to cdss.ca.gov for more information about assistance programs.) But while groundwater diversions will make a difference, "we will have, in all likelihood, a degree of a standing lake" in the Tulare Basin for the foreseeable future, Nemeth said. "We are here in the Tulare lake bed because, as we all are acutely aware, all of that snowmelt, without interruption, ends up right here," she said. The next phase of the state's response will include efforts to evacuate water from the lake bed over time. However, future planning will also depend on hydrology, as forecasts are calling for the emergence of a strong El Nino pattern this winter, she said. The pattern is often associated with increased rainfall in California, though it is not a guarantee. But even as the water level continues to rise, some Corcoran residents said they're not concerned. Lup Ramirez, who has lived in the area his entire life, said he has seen worse flooding in the past. "I'm not scared," said Ramirez, 72, as he rested on his bicycle beneath some shade downtown. He said the Boswell Co. the cotton-growing giant that remains the town's most influential employer would ensure that things don't get worse. "This is Boswell's town, and they've got it pretty well under control," he said. "They have a lot invested here they're not going to let it go under." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Desiigner has been charged with misdemeanor indecent exposure after an alleged plane incident. (Scott Roth / Invision / Associated Press) Grammy-nominated rapper Desiigner was charged this week with indecent exposure after an alleged incident during a flight from Japan to Minnesota. Federal prosecutors charged Desiigner, whose real name is Sidney Royel Selby III, with misdemeanor indecent exposure on an aircraft, accusing the 25-year-old of exposing himself and masturbating in front of female flight attendants during the international flight last week, according to the criminal complaint and affidavit filed Monday and obtained by The Times. A representative for Selby could not immediately be reached Tuesday. The "Panda" performer shared Tuesday on Instagram that he would be entering a mental health care facility. "Going in facility todaythanks for all prayers," he wrote on his story. He had previously addressed the incident last week in a separate Instagram story in which he said, "For the past few months i have not been ok, and i have been struggling to come to terms with what is going on," according to TMZ. While overseas for a concert i performed at, i had to be admitted in to a hospital, i was not thinking clearly," Selby wrote. They gave me meds, and i had to hop on a plane home. I am ashamed of my actions that happened on that plane. I landed back to the states, and am admitting my self in a facility to help me." He added that he would be canceling his shows and obligations to focus on his treatment. Selby was a first-class passenger on an April 17 Delta flight from Tokyo to Minneapolis, according to the affidavit prepared by federal agent Charles Burnham, who interviewed Selby, his security guard and flight crew. Burnham alleged in the affidavit that Selby exposed himself in front of a female flight attendant, to which she told him "No." Selby then covered himself up. But later, while the flight attendant and her coworker were servicing the cabin, they saw the artist revealing himself again and this time, he was masturbating, according to court documents. Once he was told no again, he covered himself up, the documents said. A lead flight attendant approached Selby and told him he would be arrested. Selby is accused of exposing himself a third time to flight attendants, who then told him that what he was doing was a federal crime, court documents said. This time, Selby apologized and was instructed to move to the back of the plane, where he was monitored by his travel companions, including his security guard, according to documents. After landing, Selby apologized to the flight crew. Selby was detained by federal authorities in Minneapolis but was let go without any arrest after an interview with Burnham. During the interview, Selby said that he exposed himself because "she was turning me on," referring to the first flight attendant and that he "didn't have anything in like a week," according to the affidavit. He then allegedly told the agent that he exposed himself again to the second flight attendant, thinking he was "giving her encouragement to keep pushing ... to keep striving for it." Selby had prescription medications on him from a Bangkok hospital, though the agent noted that the performer did not appear to be impaired and was coherent throughout the interview. Desiigner is a former Kanye West protege and signee of West's Good Music imprint under Def Jam Records, and his big break came with his feature on West's album "The Life of Pablo." At age 18, his single "Panda," originally released on Soundcloud, shot to the top of the charts and earned a Grammy nomination for rap performance in 2017 and won top rap and streaming songs at the Billboard Music Awards that same year. He left Def Jam and became independent in 2019, continuing to perform. He also turned to acting, making an appearance in the 2018 heist film "Oceans Eight" and the FX comedy "Dave." In 2016, Desiigner also faced misdemeanor drug possession and menacing charges stemming from a road rage incident in New York. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Chief Justice John Roberts has declined an invitation to testify before the Senate about the Supreme Courts ethical standards, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Tuesday. In a letter responding to Durbin, Roberts wrote I must respectfully decline your invitation and noted a sitting chief justice has testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on only two occasions in the past 102 years. Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee by the Chief Justice of the United States is exceedingly rare, as one might expect in light of separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence, Roberts wrote. He noted that Chief Justice William Howard Taft and Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes testified before the panel on routine matters of judicial administration related to judgeships in lower courts and jurisdiction over appeals from lower court injunctions in 1921 and 1935, respectively. Roberts attached a Statement of Ethics Principles and Practices, to which he said all current members of the court subscribe. The statement notes members of the Supreme Court in 1991 voluntarily adopted a resolution to follow the substance of the Judicial Conferences code of conduct, which provides broadly worded principles that inform ethical conduct and practices for the federal judiciary. Durbin and other Democrats on the committee invited Roberts to testify at a May 2 hearing on Supreme Court ethics reform. He noted in a letter to Roberts last week that Supreme Court justices appeared before the Judiciary panel in October 2011 to discuss the courts approach to ethics matters. The opportunity for the American people to hear from justices in this setting presents a moment that could strengthen faith in our public institutions, Durbin wrote the April 20 letter. The time has come for a new public conversation on ways to restore confidence in the Courts ethical standards. I invite you to join it, and I look forward to your response, he wrote. Durbin offered that Roberts could designate another justice to attend the hearing in his place. The Illinois Democrat scheduled the hearing in response to reports by ProPublica that conservative Justice Clarence Thomas accepted luxury travel, hospitality and other favors from Texas billionaire Harlan Crow over more than 20 years. Democrats say that Thomas was required by law to publicly disclose the trips he took in Crows Bombardier Global 5000 private jet. ProPublica also reported that Thomas failed to disclose the sale of a property in Savannah, Ga., in which he had a one-third interest, to one of Crows companies. Durbin responded to those reports by sending a letter to Roberts earlier this month urging him to immediately open an investigation and take all needed action to prevent further misconduct. He warned, If the court does not resolve this issue on its own, the committee will consider legislation to resolve it. Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee last week accused Democrats of trying to embarrass Thomas and urged Roberts to skip the hearing. I would not recommend that the chief accept his invitation because it will be a circus, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said in response to Durbins invitation for Roberts to testify. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FILE - Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts arrives before President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Washington. The Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary has invited Supreme Court Justice John Roberts to testify next month at a hearing on ethics standards. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool) WASHINGTON (AP) Chief Justice John Roberts has declined a request from the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify at a hearing next week on ethical standards at the court, instead providing the panel with a statement of ethics reaffirmed by the court's nine justices. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., invited Roberts' testimony last week, saying that there had been a steady stream of revelations regarding Supreme Court justices falling short of ethical standards expected of other federal judges. The invitation came after news reports that detailed a close relationship between Justice Clarence Thomas and a conservative donor from Texas. The donor, Dallas billionaire Harlan Crow, had purchased three properties belonging to Thomas and his family in a transaction worth more than $100,000 that Thomas never reported, according to the nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica. In a letter to Durbin on Tuesday, Roberts said he would respectfully decline the committee's request. Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee by the Chief Justice of the United States is exceedingly rare, as one might expect in light of separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence. Accompanying the letter to Durbin was a Statement on Ethics Principles and Practices signed by all nine justices describing the ethical rules they follow about travel, gifts and outside income. While the rules did not appear to be new, the statement said that the undersigned justices today reaffirm and restate foundational ethics principles and practices to which they subscribe in carrying out their responsibilities as Members of the Supreme Court of the United States. The statement details standards for justices' activities outside the court and describes the recusal process, which is generally up to each individual justice. It does not require any justice to say why they are recusing from a case. Durbin said in a statement that he had received the letter and would proceed with the hearing, which will review common sense proposals to hold Supreme Court justices more accountable to ethics guidelines. Make no mistake: Supreme Court ethics reform must happen whether the Court participates in the process or not, Durbin said. Durbin said the statement of ethics sent to the committee by Roberts ignores the obvious. The actions of one Justice, including trips on yachts and private jets, were not reported to the public, Durbin said. That same Justice failed to disclose the sale of properties he partly owned to a party with interests before the Supreme Court. ProPublica also revealed that Crow gifted Thomas and his wife Ginni with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of annual vacations and trips over several decades including international cruises on his mega-yacht, private jet flights and stays at Crows invitation-only resort in the Adirondacks. But the 2014 real estate deal is the first public evidence of a direct financial transaction between the pair. Ethics experts have offered conflicting views about whether Thomas was required to disclose the luxury trips funded by Crow. Thomas said in a statement that he was advised by colleagues that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable. Thomas did not name the other justices or those in the judiciary with whom he had consulted. Last month, the federal judiciary bolstered disclosure requirements for all judges, including the high court justices, although overnight stays at personal vacation homes owned by friends remain exempt from disclosure. The ethics statement sent to Durbin notes that the Judicial Conferences Committee on Financial Disclosure had provided clarification on the scope of the personal hospitality exemption to the disclosure rules." The original letter from Durbin had asked Roberts or another justice to appear before the committee on May 2. He told Roberts that the scope of his testimony would be limited to the ethics rules governing justices of the Supreme Court and potential changes to those rules. Roberts refusal to testify is the latest hitch for Democrats on the Judiciary panel. With Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California absent indefinitely, the committee has a tied number of Democrats and Republicans and cant move certain judges to the floor - or presumably subpoena Roberts, if Democrats wanted to. In declining to testify, Roberts ignored Durbins invitation to have another justice appear instead. The last time justices met with the Senate Judiciary Committee was in October 2011, when Justices Antonin Scalia and Stephen Breyer testified. ___ Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed to this report. Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, stands on the steps of the Montana State Capitol during a rally, in Helena, Mont., Monday, April 24, 2023. Republican legislative leaders in Montana persisted in forbidding the Democratic transgender lawmaker from participating in debate for a second week as her supporters brought the House session to a halt Monday, chanting "Let her speak!" from the gallery before they were escorted out. (Thom Bridge/Independent Record via AP) HELENA, Mont. (AP) Montana Republican leaders will vote Wednesday on censuring or expelling lawmaker Zooey Zephyr, a transgender state representative who has been silenced in the House since last week after telling colleagues that if they voted for a bill to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender children they would have blood on their hands. On Tuesday night, Zephyr tweeted a letter she received from House leaders informing her of the plan to consider disciplinary action against her during Wednesday's session. Ive also been told Ill get a chance to speak," Zephyr tweeted. "I will do as I have always done rise on behalf of my constituents, in defense of my community and for democracy itself. Montanas House speaker canceled Tuesday's floor session without explanation, the latest development in a standoff over whether Montana Republicans will let the lawmaker from Missoula speak unless she apologizes for her remarks last week on a gender-affirming care ban proposal. Much like events in the Tennessee Statehouse weeks ago where two lawmakers were expelled after participating in a post-school shooting gun control protest that interrupted proceedings Zephyrs punishment has ignited a firestorm of debate about governance and democracy in politically polarizing times. Republicans are doubling down on their agenda of running roughshod over Montanans rights to free expression, to peaceful protest, to equal justice under the law," House Minority Leader Kim Abbott said of the plan to discipline Zephyr. Zephyrs remarks, and the Republican response, set off a chain of events that culminated in a rally outside the Capitol at noon Monday and seven arrests later that afternoon when protesters packed into the gallery at the Statehouse brought House proceedings to a halt while chanting Let her speak. The scene galvanized both those demanding she be allowed to speak and those saying her actions constitute an unacceptable attack on civil discourse. Such a protest won't be allowed to happen on Wednesday. Republican leaders said in the letter sent to Zephyr that the gallery will be closed to maintain decorum and ensure safety. Speaker Matt Regier did not take questions on Tuesday or explain why lawmakers were not returning to the floor, but in a brief statement called the disruptions a dark day for Montana. Currently, all representatives are free to participate in House debates while following the House rules, Regier told reporters. The choice to not follow the House rules is one that Rep. Zephyr has made. The only person silencing Rep. Zephyr is Rep. Zephyr. The Montana House will not be bullied. Republican Rep. Casey Knudsen, the chair of the House Rules committee, said Tuesday's cancellation gave leadership time to respond to Mondays events. Abbott said she saw leaderships decision to cancel as giving lawmakers some time to regroup. Under Regier's leadership, the House has not allowed Zephyr to speak since last week when she said that those who voted to ban gender-affirming care for young people would have blood on their hands. He and other Republicans said the remark was far outside the boundaries of appropriate civil discourse and demanded she apologize before being allowed to participate in legislative discussions. The events have showcased the growing power of the Montana Freedom Caucus, a group of right-wing lawmakers that has spearheaded the charge to discipline Zephyr. The caucus re-upped its demands and rhetoric Monday. In a statement they said that Zephyr's decision to hoist a microphone toward the gallery's protesters amounted to encouraging an insurrection." Although several protesters resisted law enforcement officers trying to arrest them on Monday, Abbott pushed back at characterizing the activity as violent. She acknowledged it was disruptive, but called the demonstration peaceful. She said public protests were a predictable response to a lawmaker representing more than 10,000 constituents not being allowed to speak and questioned bringing in officers in riot gear to handle the chanting protesters. It was chanting, but it absolutely was not violent," she said. Sometimes extreme measures have a response like this." There were no reports of damage to the building and lawmakers were not threatened. On Monday, Zephyr said the seven arrested were defending democracy and in an earlier speech said that the sequence of events that followed her remarks illustrated how they had struck a chord with those in power. "They picked me in this moment because I said a thing that got through their shield for a second," she told a crowd of supporters gathered on the Capitol steps near a banner that read Democracy dies here. She said she does not intend to apologize and argued that her blood on your hands remark accurately reflected the stakes of such bans for transgender kids. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Rep. Casey Knudsen is not a member of the Montana Freedom Caucus. President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden pay tribute at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., Tuesday (local time). Yonhap By Lee Hyo-jin President Yoon Suk Yeol said the U.S. government's alleged surveillance of his senior officials will not shake the ironclad trust between the two nations, downplaying the spying scandal ahead of his summit with U.S. President Joe Biden. "I believe that this matter is no reason to shake the ironclad trust that supports the U.S.-South Korea alliance, because it is based on shared values like freedom," Yoon was quoted as saying in an interview with NBC released on Wednesday, when asked about recent allegations that the Pentagon spied on South Korean officials. In response to a straightforward question by the anchor asking, "Do friends spy on friends?" the president replied, "Generally speaking, I don't think that in the real world, it is something that is prohibited in state affairs," defending Washington's apparent spying on its ally. He added, "The most important thing is trust. When you have that trust, you don't get shaken." Pentagon documents leaked earlier this month contained conversations between top security officials in Korea who were grappling over a request from Washington to provide ammunition to Ukraine. South Korea has maintained its official position of not providing lethal weapons to Kyiv. Another leaked document showed concerns among senior South Korean presidential officials that artillery shells Korea was selling to the U.S. may end up in Ukraine. Yoon, Biden adopt statement on identification of fallen US soldier Yoon, Biden pay respects at Korean War memorial Yoon awards top military medals to Korean War heroes During the interview, Yoon also said Korea is not under any pressure from the White House to step up aid to Ukraine, shaking off speculations that Seoul is coming under mounting pressure from its Western allies to provide lethal weapons to Kyiv. Yoon's interview with the American media outlet came hours before the leaders of the two nations held a summit at the White House on Wednesday evening (local time). Yoon is currently on a state visit to Washington marking the 70th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. alliance. President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee look around a photo exhibition held to celebrate 70 years of alliance between South Korea and the U.S., at a hotel in Washington, Tuesday (local time). Joint Press Corps The president's remarks were seen as the latest move by the Korean government to minimize the severity of the U.S. surveillance incident. When allegations were first raised some two weeks ahead of Yoon's state visit to the U.S., Korea's Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said that a considerable amount of information in the leaked documents was fabricated. The presidential office said Washington did not have any "malicious intent" regarding the spying allegations. Hong Hyun-ik, former chancellor of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, believes that by defending the U.S. over the espionage allegations, the Korean government lost a chance to use the sensitive issue for its own benefit. "Surveillance is a serious diplomatic discourtesy. Rather than just pushing down the allegations, the Yoon government should have strategically used it as a diplomatic card in negotiations with the U.S." Hong said. Meanwhile, during the interview with NBC, Yoon also touched on the Taiwan issue, reiterating that he "opposes any attempt to change the status quo by force." Yun Sun, a senior fellow and co-director of the East Asia Program at the Stimson Center, thinks that the Yoon government clearly prefers strengthening the security alliance with the U.S., sometimes at the cost of its relations with China. "Closer alignment with the U.S. and a balancing act between U.S. and China, these are two different paths," she said, adding that Yoon is clearly leaning toward Washington. "That is a policy choice of a sovereign government." The White House unveiled the menu for this weeks state dinner for South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, revealing that crab cake, ribs and a trio of wines will be served. President Biden and first lady Jill Biden will host Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, on Wednesday for the second state visit of the Biden administration. The first lady worked with guest chef Edward Lee, White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford and White House Executive Pastry Chef Susie Morrison to develop the menu. The chefs talk about the menu during a preview, Monday, April 24, 2023, for Wednesdays State Dinner with South Koreas President Yoon Suk Yeol at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) The first course will consist of Maryland crab cake, cabbage, kohlrabi, fennel and cucumber slaw along with yellow squash soup with cured strawberries and perilla leaf oil. Braised beef short ribs with a side of butter-bean grits, sorghum-glazed carrots and pine nuts will be served for the main course. Guests will be offered a banana split and lemon bar ice cream with fresh berries, mint ginger snap cookie crumble and doenjang caramel for dessert. Jill Biden said on Monday that her favorite course will be the first, while the presidents will be the last. The first. Its so American the crab cake. But I love them all. Joes favorite will be the last, she said. First lady Jill Biden, right, standing with, the chefs to talk about the menu during a preview. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) The guests will be offered a 2020 Ferdinand Albarino during the first course, a 2020 Januik Merlot during the second and a 2019 Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs during dessert. The guests at the dinner will hear performances from Broadway stars Norm Lewis, Lea Salonga and Jessica Vosk and from the U.S. Marine Band Chamber Orchestra and U.S. Army Band Herald Trumpets. When the President and I have traveled to the Republic of Korea in the past, we have been welcomed with open arms. Its my intention to bring as much warmth and joy to President Yoon and Mrs. Kim Wednesday evening. We hope to honor both the people of their home nation and the generations of Americans who share their roots, Jill Biden said in remarks to reporters ahead of the dinner. President Biden and Yoon will likely speak about managing China and North Korea during the visit. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. For almost 33 years, Sheila Keen-Warren insisted she wasnt the murderer who dressed as a clown and shot Marlene Warren in the face on Memorial Day Weekend 1990. Keen-Warrens story never changed even as she married Warrens widowed husband, Michael Warren, in 2002 and when Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office detectives arrested her in 2017. Legally, that changed on Tuesday, when Keen-Warren, 59, changed her plea to guilty to a charge of second-degree murder. Thirty-three years after the murder of Marlene Warren, today we have obtained a measure of justice with the conviction and sentencing of her killer, Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg said in an emailed statement. After years of professing her innocence, Sheila Keen-Warren has finally been forced to admit that she was the one who dressed as a clown and took the life of an innocent victim. She will be a convicted murderer for the rest of her days. With what court documents say is an agreed-upon 12-year sentence, and given credit for 2,039 days (just over 5 1/2 years) in Palm Beach County Jail, Keen-Warren likely will be out of prison by the end of 2025. READ MORE: A killer clown shot a woman to death. An arrest has been made 27 years later Keen-Warrens defense attorney, West Palm Beachs Greg Rosenfeld, gave a pragmatic description to the change of plea. Ms. Keen-Warren was facing 25 years to life. The state offered her 12 years, Rosenfeld said in an email to the Miami Herald. With gain time, which is calculated based on the law in 1990, shell be released in 16-18 months. While she was certainly hesitant to plea because shes innocent, it was too good of an offer to turn down. Needless to say, its a huge win for Ms. Keen-Warren. To convict Keen-Warren, prosecutors wouldve had to make a beyond-reasonable-doubt case 33 years after the murder. The decision to negotiate a guilty plea was made after considering the age of this 33-year-old case, particularly the death of key witnesses, Aronberg said. For example, the death of the lead crime scene investigator broke the chain of custody for critical evidence that could no longer be authenticated. Aronberg said Marlene Warrens son, Joe Ahrens, approved the plea terms. Ahrens told Palm Beach NBC affiliate WPTV via Zoom that I didnt see any remorse, and thats all I have to say, although he did also say of Keen-Warren, God be with her. READ MORE: A Florida city fired an inspector who found sewage in the drinking water. The city owes her $818,000 Deadly clown and flowers Ahrens was 22 and sitting at the breakfast table with his friends and his mother when someone dressed as a clown rolled up to their Wellington home in the 15400 block of Takeoff Place on May 26, 1990. The clown got out of a Chrysler LeBaron and, when Marlene Warren answered a knock, offered Warren flowers. As Warren took the flowers, the clown shot her in the face. She died two days later. Marlene Warren is the only one on the state paperwork for West Palm Beachs Bargain Motors, but she owned it and a rental car agency with husband, Michael Warren. Michael was a regular customer of Sheila Keen and estranged husband Richard Keen, who ran a car repossession business. Witnesses at a costume shop gave a tentative identification of Sheila Keen as buying a clown costume two days before Warren was shot. Also, Publix employees told investigators a woman fitting Keens description bought flowers and balloons 90 minutes before the murder. Detectives told the public all along that Keen and Michael Warren were their lead suspects. Warren did prison time from March 1994 to December 1997, but for convictions on racketeering, grand theft and odometer tampering charges. He called it selective prosecution by a state attorneys office that felt he hadnt helped enough in finding his wifes killer. Marlene Warrens murder investigation turned cold. Michael Warren and Sheila Keen married in 2002. Investigators learned about that and the restaurant Warren and Keen-Warren operated in Kingsport, Tennessee (The Purple Cow) when the PBSOs cold case unit reopened the investigation in 2014. While witnesses and memories were now 24 years old, DNA analysis of hairs and fibers left behind in the Chrysler LeBaron was new. A grand jury indicted Keen-Warren on a first-degree murder charge on Aug. 31, 2017. Keen-Warren was arrested on Sept. 26, 2017 in Virginias Washington County, where she owned a home about a 50-minute drive from Kingsport. Michael Warren proclaimed his wifes innocence to the reporters talking to him for a 2017 episode of the ABC-TV newsmagazine 20/20 on the murder investigation. A structure at Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park in late February. (National Park Service) Fear of flooding as Yosemite's record-setting snowpack begins to melt has prompted officials to close a large swath of Yosemite National Park to the public starting Friday evening. The closures will last until at least the following Wednesday and may be extended. Reservations for campgrounds and lodging in the eastern Yosemite Valley will be automatically canceled and refunded, according to a National Park Service notice. It has been a tumultuous time in the area because of California's extreme winter storms that blanketed the Sierra Nevada in snow. The park was closed for nearly a month from late February to mid-March, during which at least two snowfall records one for the valley floor, the other in the park's high country were broken. The snowpack in the southern Sierra is still measuring 256% of normal. With a heat wave coming this weekend, areas throughout the Central Valley are bracing for the big melt, with snow likely to dissolve at a dramatically higher rate. Some areas under threat of flooding have already been inundated once this year, such as the Tulare Lake Basin, where the once-dry lake submerged farmland. Flows on the Merced River at Pohono Bridge in Yosemite National Park, which currently measure 7.6 feet, are expected to reach the flood stage of 10 feet Friday. "Snowmelt due to much warmer than normal temperatures are projected to melt snow, leading to rises in creeks, streams, and rivers through the park," tweeted the National Weather Service office in Hanford, Calif., which issued a flood watch for the park effective early Thursday. Other parts of the park will remain open, park officials said on Instagram, including Wawona, Mariposa Grove (via hike only) and the Crane Flat area. The closure will be at the El Capitan crossover, and there will be no access, including for pedestrians, east of that road. Officials warn that parking in western Yosemite Valley will be extremely limited, and no services will be available there. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, left, and Lt. Gen. Willard M. Burleson, commander of the Eighth U.S. Army, raise their glasses for a toast at an event celebrating the 70-year bilateral alliance between South Korea and the United States at the Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap Seoul in festive mood to celebrate 70 years of 'expanding' partnership By Jung Min-ho South Korea's National Assembly speaker on Wednesday called for the formation of a joint body with the United States for lawmakers as the two democratic allies seek to reinforce cooperation in combating growing external threats to democracy. During an event celebrating the 70-year bilateral alliance at the National Assembly, Speaker Kim Jin-pyo stressed the need to create a "new platform" for the further development of the diplomatic relationship. His statement came amid President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to Washington, where ruling party lawmakers, led by People Power Party (PPP) floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young, are set to meet with members of the U.S. Congress on Thursday (local time) to talk about the possibility of such a platform. If launched, the body is expected to play a central role in parliamentary diplomacy, for which South Korea's lawmakers have been stepping up efforts in recent years. In February, the Assembly passed a bipartisan resolution calling for a stronger South Korea-U.S. alliance. Its two other organizations of that kind with Japan and China have not been able to attract such united support. Amid growing threats from authoritarianism, democracy, in which the legislature plays a pivotal role, has become a more symbolically important word in diplomacy under U.S. President Joe Biden. South Korea was, along with the U.S., one of the five co-hosts of the second Summit for Democracy this year and will host its third event in 2024. YEREVAN, APRIL 26, ARMENPRESS. The United States State Department is deeply concerned about the establishment of the Azeri checkpoint on the Lachin corridor, State Department Principal Deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel has said. ..this issue in the South Caucasus is something that the Secretary himself deeply values and places a lot of importance on. And as you saw us say over the weekend, the department is deeply concerned about the establishment of a checkpoint on the Lachin corridor, he told a reporter at a press briefing when asked on Armenia-Azerbaijan. The establishment of the checkpoint undermines efforts to establish confidence in the peace process, and we are of the viewpoint that there should be free and open movement of people and commerce on the Lachin corridor, Patel added. The United States will continue to remain deeply engaged on this. The Lachin Corridor has been blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022. The United Nations highest court the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - ordered Azerbaijan on February 22 to take all steps at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. Azerbaijan has so far ignored the ruling. Vice President, Development Orchestra Lumos, Inc Location: Stamford, CT. Office based with flexibility for virtual working. Travel expected to predominantly within Fairfield County and surrounding areas Type: Regular full-time, exempt position with required evenings and weekend hours Reports to: President and CEO Manages: Grants Manager (part time independent contractor handling government, sponsorship, and foundation giving) and volunteer support for clerical assistance Salary: In the range $95,000-$120,000 more may be available for an exceptional candidate, plus a 2% contribution to a retirement account Vacation: The Orchestra offers four weeks of paid holiday in addition to which the office is closed between Christmas and New Year and on Fridays from July 4 to Labor Day. The organization is mindful of ensuring a good work/life balance with great flexibility for personal issues and time off as required. Submit your resume and cover letter supporting your application as soon as possible to Orchestra Lumos President and CEO Russell Jones at rjones@orchestralumos.org Context of the post Formerly the Stamford Symphony, Orchestra Lumos was the outcome of a re-imagining and rebranding exercise to reflect a new vision for the Orchestra through which it will seek to engage with everyone in the Fairfield County community, with a particular emphasis on new and diverse audiences. The Orchestra provides: High quality classical concerts under Music Director Michael Stern at its home The Palace Theatre in Stamford, with artists such as Joshua Bell, Midori, Alisa Weilerstein, Pinchas Zukerman, Gil Shaham, and Awadagin Pratt Ten Small Space (chamber music) presentations offered in churches, libraries, and nature centers from Greenwich to Bridgeport A comprehensive education and community engagement program established under Nicolas Gonzalez, the Orchestras first full time Director of Learning and Community Engagement who formerly served with the Chicago Symphony A new pops season for 2023/24 including a Holiday Concert and the showing of Bugs Bunny at the Symphony, presented with the Orchestra playing the soundtrack live The 2023/24 season may be viewed at https://orchestralumos.org/new-season-2023-2024/ The Orchestras budget has grown from $1.5m in 2019/20 to $2.1 for the 23/24 season. This growth has been funded by the Crescendo Campaign for the Future of Orchestra Lumos which to date has raised $4m in multi-year pledges of which $2m is new money. In deep collaboration with the President and CEO, a former full time fundraiser, this new management position will be instrumental in achieving the next objective of the Campaign to add an additional $400,000 per year to the organizations budget, principally from individuals, and make Orchestra Lumos a model of what a 21st century orchestra can be for its community. The VP, Development (VP) is responsible for the conception, management, implementation, and evaluation of a fundraising program capable of raising $1.5M annually. The VP will plan and execute all annual, sponsorship, and planned giving programs, fundraising events, donor benefits, and is responsible for overseeing the research and grant applications to government, foundation, and corporate entities. The VP will recommend fundraising strategies, policies, and procedures to the CEO and relevant Board committees; will ensure that goals and objectives are met, and will call on prospects and donors in order to cultivate, solicit, and honor their support, regularly involving Board members, volunteers, the Music Director, and the CEO. On a regular basis, the VP will be in contact with the Orchestras entire constituency: stewardship and relationship building with current and potential donors, Board, musicians, vendors, and the public at large will be of paramount importance. The position allows for great flexibility for the right candidate to be successful. The Orchestra will look favorably on innovation in fundraising methods and seeks an individual with entrepreneurial flair. Essential Job Functions: Fundraising Plan, manage, and implement all phases of the annual fund campaign including cultivation, direct solicitation of key donors (in collaboration with the CEO and other key volunteers) and acknowledgement process. Ongoing identification, acquisition, and cultivation of donors and prospective donors Oversee the institutional giving program, including research activities and preparations of grant applications to for corporations, foundations, and government agencies, including post-award grant management reporting Plan and execute all donor patron receptions, special fundraising events, galas, and benefits, overseeing revenue and expense budget preparation in order to maximize revenue Work with VP, Revenue and Customer Experience who coordinates Communications PR in the development and production of all materials used to support the Orchestras fundraising campaigns and events Attend all subscription and Small Space concerts, and other presentations as required Budgeting and Planning With the President and CEO develop annual fundraising goals for all campaigns and special events, and achieve budgeted revenue goals Develop and oversee annual department expense budget Assist in long-range planning, including revenue and expense projections Board of Directors and Volunteers Provide staff support to the Development Committee and to other volunteers in the development program Regularly report the progress of all fundraising campaigns and events Develop and recommend fundraising strategies, policies, and procedures with the specific goal of maximizing revenue Attend all Board and committee meetings as assigned As necessary, attend League of American Orchestras meetings and functions to facilitate learning, communication and cooperation Administrative Manage Grants Manager, and volunteers to execute all fundraising campaigns and events Ensure all sponsorship benefits and responsibilities to sponsors are met Establish and maintain all donor files and records, develop and administer all donor benefits programs in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws Report regularly to CEO on all campaigns and events With the VP, Revenue and Customer Engagement oversee preparation, as needed, of all reports and donor recognition lists In consultation with the Treasurer and Finance Director, establish procedures for processing contributions and sponsorships that meet proper accounting and reporting requirements Accurately account for and acknowledge all contributions in a timely manner Establish and maintain accurate contributor files Establish and maintain prospect profiles Identify sources, solicit, and manage trade and/or in-kind agreements with vendors Other Develop and maintain internal and external contacts in order to optimize fundraising efforts Be familiar with fundraising best practices within the orchestra industry and also across arts and other non-profit organizations in Fairfield County to ensure that we remain competitive Maintain ongoing contact with contributors, corporate sponsors, foundation leaders, business and community leaders, and government funders Maintain professional growth and development through seminars, workshops and professional affiliations Attend civic and cultural events in the community, represent the Orchestra by speaking at public events as assigned and/or requested Demonstrate knowledge of and comply with Orchestra Lumos policies, procedures, regulations, goals and mission Performs other duties as necessary or assigned Qualifications Bachelors Degree Five to seven years of successful, demonstratable person-to-person and business-to-business fundraising success required arts environment preferred Significant experience with annual giving, major gifts and special events Familiarity with planned giving is desirable Must possess the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, excellent organization skills, attention to detail, and the ability to inspire volunteer leadership Must have excellent communication skills (written, verbal and interpersonal) and possess the ability to function effectively in a fast-paced environment with multiple demands/deadlines as well as an appreciation of the artistic and financial goals of Orchestra Lumos Passion for the arts and desire to further the appreciation of music in the community Ability to communicate with a high level of diplomacy in varied settings Excellent computer literacy with the following programs: excel, word, Google applications and major CRM software, Orchestra Lumos operates Spectrix Initiative and strong problem resolution skills Ability to lift 30 pounds as well as stand, walk, carry and reach, operate a motor vehicle and work both indoors and outdoors CFRE preferred Orchestra Lumos RJ April 2023 MORE President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden after signing a photo book on the history of the two countries' 70-year alliance at the White House, Washington, D.C., Tuesday (local time). Joint Press Corps Alliance enhanced through new ROK-US nuclear consulting group, regular deployment of nuclear assets By Nam Hyun-woo WASHINGTON, D.C. Presidents Yoon Suk Yeol and Joe Biden will adopt a new joint statement called the Washington Declaration during their summit slated for Wednesday (local time), which will include details on establishing a new South Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon said, Tuesday. The NCG will be a regular bilateral consultation mechanism focusing on nuclear and strategic planning issues. The declaration will also include Washington's intention to make its deterrence commitments to Seoul more visible through the regular deployment of strategic assets, including visits by a U.S. nuclear submarine to its vital and longstanding strategic ally, according to senior officials of the Biden administration, who said it is a step that has not been taken since the early 1980s. "During their summit tomorrow, Presidents Yoon and Biden will adopt the Washington Declaration, which contains stronger extended deterrence measures, including plans to establish a new South Korea-U.S. NCG," Lee said in a written briefing released ahead of the summit. "We expect that this will help the mechanism for information sharing, joint planning and joint execution of extended deterrence to operate more systematically." The declaration is assumed to be a special document on extended deterrence that both Seoul and Washington said their leaders will sign during the summit. Yoon has been in Washington, D.C. since Monday as part of his state visit to the U.S. According to the U.S. officials, the declaration comes as the two countries are exploring ways to evolve their 70-year-old alliance to cope with "problems of tomorrow," especially growing challenges posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. The officials said the declaration will include steps "designed to strengthen U.S. extended deterrence commitments" and "strengthen the clarity with which they are seen by the [South] Korean public" in the wake of ongoing threats of nuclear strikes by North Korea. Highlighting the declaration is the establishment of the new NCG that will "focus on nuclear and strategic planning issues." Till we achieve global climate stability, encouraging the young to think before becoming a parent is fairly sound advice An India, more populous than China this year, and growing to 1.66 billion people by 2050, is touted as good news by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), an agency which monitors population trends and its implications for the global economy. Most Indians, though, have mixed feelings about adding 240 million-odd people to what is already a large and tough to sustain population. Indians, in general, perceive a dearth of opportunities relative to their aspirations. They worry that the available amount of land cannot sustain a growing population. Migration for work, within the country, is a way of life. A staggering one-fourth relocate from their place of birth. The demand for overseas jobs is limited only by the extent to which advanced economies grant visas. Most developing countries are similarly constrained. UNFPA notes that the majority of citizens in Brazil, Egypt and Nigeria feel the same, despite these countries being far less densely populated. India has a population density (number of people per sq km) of 470, compared to just 26 in Brazil -- although conserving the Amazon eco system reduces the availability of land for development, 108 in Egypt -- but their land is far less fertile than Indias, and 228 in Nigeria, an oil producer. The UNFPA terms this fear Population Anxiety. High population density induces a fear of further population growth: Densely populated regions and countries are right to feel anxious about population growth. South Asia with 395 people per sq km, is the most densely populated global region, which includes Bangladesh, the most densely populated large country in the world, at 1,286 people per sq km, and India. East Asia and the Pacific has a lower population density of 96, with South Korea at 531, Japan at 346 and China at just 150. Compare this with the European Union at 112, Sub-Saharan Africa at 48, Latin America and the Caribbean at 32 and North America at an even lower 20 people per sq km. Population growth -- mostly an outcome of successful development: UNFPA is optimistic about the increasing global population now eight billion and counting because population growth implies that we are also getting better at maintaining peace and stability, providing health and education, and reducing poverty in the developing world, where population growth is highest. On the flip side, sadly, population growth is also related to low gender empowerment. 44 per cent of partnered women are unable to make their own decisions over their health care, contraception and whether or not to have sex. Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended. Just one quarter to one-third of women in low- and middle-income regions manage to stick to their plan for the speed and number of children. In the advanced economies, development liberated women. Higher shares for women in the workforce and the ensuing higher economic power, translated into falling fertility rates. For population growth to slow in developing economies, women must be liberated from social prejudices which curtail their rights versus men -- often embellished by public policy, religion or custom. Gender equity would mean fewer babies being born, more living beyond infancy, more benefiting from early nutritional adequacy and growing into more productive adults. A conditional yes for babies: Today, international opinion abhors the seemingly quick wins solution, adopted in the second half of the previous century, to cull population growth, via involuntary (state sponsored) sterilisation and abortion. China severely regulated the birth of children and disincentivised population growth. It outpaced India in GDP growth since the 1980s, under the economic reforms of Deng Xiaoping, though the growth impetus appears to have petered out since 2014. In contrast, India did not actively curb population growth after 1975-77 and grew slower than China, though growth has converged after the Covid-19 pandemic. There is no causal link between slow population growth and high GDP growth. The latter is associated with multiple factors. Nevertheless, incentivising population management to fit the available public resources, remains a reasonable policy objective. That this approach is actively followed worldwide is illustrated by the first response of advanced economies to economic downturns, which is to clamp down on in-migration. No free lunches for labour: Of the three inputs into economic growth, investment can be considerably financed by private debt -- the most easily available financial resource. Innovation led productivity, another growth input, is better facilitated by venture capital finance, in turn driven by the prospects of supra normal profits, as in start-ups. But labour must add enough value from the start, to pay for their salaries and for future pensions. If the workforce productivity is low, as in India, the government has to provide basic income support and build skills over time. This leads to the medium-term circular problem that poor economies have low tax revenues. Scarce government resources cannot provide fully for quality public services, resulting in low and unequitable growth and continuing poverty. Technology generates only high-quality jobs: An added complication is that the ongoing technology revolution creates far less new jobs than the ones it makes redundant. This is how productivity gains are often wrongly measured -- more output per worker. It also tilts the jobs market towards those with higher productive skills. The income constraints on households is best illustrated by household savings in India (a loose proxy for well-being) declining from 23.7 per cent of GDP in 2012 to 17.15 per cent by 2018. Medical science and technology are enhancing the productive longevity of humans and redefining the earlier association of negative economic consequences with a greying population. Add to this the fracturing globe. Capital remains mobile but large scale, incremental migration of people seems unlikely -- reducing overseas jobs for people from worker surplus economies. Finally, the threat of climate change requires a drastic rollback in carbon and other GHG emissions -- which have anthropogenic roots. Climate threats can induce large-scale domestic migration from coastal erosion, desertification, or chronic water scarcity to safer areas. This will increase the population pressure in already high population density Asian nations, including India, as the liveable land area reduces. Making the existing global population more productive remains the critical, unachieved, objective. We know that todays global consumption levels are not sustainable if they are extended to all eight billion humans on a sustainable basis. The transition to decarbonize consumption could span half a century. Till we achieve global climate stability, encouraging the young to think before becoming a parent is fairly sound advice. The PM is eyeing a third term, and strangely it is looking like the road to New Delhi will lie via Bengaluru Karnataka is now a key battleground for the Modi-Shah duo to shake off the Opposition challenge amid the growing Congress belligerence. (Photo: PTI) Something is amiss for the BJP in poll-bound Karnataka, if the reports from Bengaluru are any indication. The state that saw the protracted hijab row is making the ruling party break out in cold sweat in its Gateway to the South. It is not the style of poll preparations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah. They are known for their iron hand. They do not tolerate much uproar, rebellion, dissent and desertion. They excel in springing surprises on their detractors, and it is almost never the other way around. Never in the past nine years has any poll-bound state so much turmoil within the BJP. It suddenly appears clueless about what is happening, unmindful of the fact that the majority of the media is treating it with kid gloves, lest it gets a punch. But the overall picture punctures the myth of the double engine government on the one hand and the BJP gaining Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vishwas. The biggest damage is to the image of the Prime Minister, who has been faced with acute embarrassment. The problem is further compounded by the fact that the PM cant show anger and has to just grin and bear it. The grandeur projected of the worlds largest party and its strong leader after the record victory in Gujarat is given away in Bengaluru much before the match. The moot question is whether Mr Modi as the vote catcher is suddenly seeing diminishing returns. Does such an exodus mean that the partymen are smelling defeat? Time will tell, but the fact that prominent among some of those denied tickets have even turned to H.D. Deve Gowdas JD(S) tells its own story. The BJP has done everything to polarise the poll battle. Only recently, the Karnataka government announced its decision to scrap the four per cent quota for Muslims and add it to the existing quota of two dominant communities of the state. Some six months back it had come out with controversial anti-conversion laws. Its said that there is a Savarkar versus Tipu Sultan tussle in Karnataka. The situation in Karnataka could be part of a deeper malaise. Just two instances. In neighbouring Maharashtra, the BJP has been in power since last year after engineering a split in Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena, but it has failed to stabilise. It is still unclear whether the Eknath Shinde experiment proved to be an asset for the BJP. Mr Shindes fate hangs in the balance as the Supreme Court ruling in the Maharashtra government formation case is expected anytime soon. In faraway Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP is tight-lipped on when the Assembly polls in the newly-formed Union territory would occur despite carrying out what it felt as epoch-making changes by scrapping the Article 370 special status. The propping up of Ghulam Nabi Azad in recent months is another signal that the saffron party is unsure which way the cookie will crumble. Interestingly, the Karnataka elections are being held when the BJP has either acted or has initiated action on all three core planks -- scrapping of Article 370, building a magnificent Ram temple at Ayodhya and the Uniform Civil Code. Several BJP-ruled states have formed committees on the issue of the formation of the code. Despite this, the BJP is looking shaky in Bengaluru. If it remains so, then Karnataka could have a cascading effect on the entire South where the party has intensified efforts to further its footprint. It has emerged as the rival to K. Chandrasekhar Raos BRS in Telangana, replacing Congress. Besides, it could cast a shadow in the Assembly polls of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, two of which are now ruled by the Congress while the Congress is raring to give a tough fight in the third. The Opposition uproar over the Adani issue refuses to die down. The demand for a JPC on the scam is being pressed relentlessly despite Sharad Pawar playing truant. What the government has to offer is only silence. So far, the PM has not spoken on the subject. Former J&K governor Satyapal Malik, once seen as close to the PM, has made damning revelations on the Pulwama incident, making it clear that Mr Modi and his national security adviser could not wash their hands off. Even a former Army Chief, Gen. Shankar Roychowdhury, has clearly suggested that the PM and NSA have much to answer for. But here too, there is a mysterious silence. Amid increasing attacks, the Prime Minister, who waxes eloquent on Mann ki Baat and Pariksha pe Charcha, has turned maunibaba amid growing Opposition charges targeting him. Karnataka is now a key battleground for the Modi-Shah duo to shake off the Opposition challenge amid the growing Congress belligerence. Defeat is a dirty word for them. A section of BJP loyalists, however, insists that the change of tickets of over 100 candidates is a masterstroke. Karnataka was not even a contest before the BJP decided to take a bif risk by changing more than 100 candidates, goes their argument. Even big national parties can bring about change as long as they have their ideological moorings rooted in a civilisational ethos, or so goes their rationale. At the same time, it is clear the PMs writ is being challenged in a party known for its ideological conviction and discipline. This could intensify if the BJP does not perform as per expectations in Karnataka. The PM is eyeing a third term, and strangely it is looking like the road to New Delhi will lie via Bengaluru. Yang Chih-yuan, deputy chair of the Taiwan National Party, has been in solitary confinement since in August 2022. His political work was limited to the island. By arresting and indicting him, China is stepping up its crackdown. Other activists and political leaders face the prospect of possible extradition requests from third countries. Beijing (AsiaNews) Chinese authorities announced the formal arrest and indictment of a Taiwanese politician in favour of Taiwanese independence on secession charges, amid growing political, diplomatic and military pressure against Taiwan. Yang Chih-yuan, deputy chairman of the Taiwanese National Party (TNP), was arrested in August last year and has been held in solitary confinement ever since. The criminal case against him is based on his activities related to the island, with charges focused on alleged violations of Chinas infamous national security law. The arrest, last summer, came in the aftermath of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, which angered China, followed by days of massive Chinese military exercises in the waters surrounding the island. Security police arrested the politician in Wenzhou, a city on the south-eastern coast of mainland China, and indicted for founding the pro-independence Taiwanese National Party and promoting Taiwans membership in the United Nations as a "sovereign and independent country". Yang was placed in "residential surveillance at a designated location" on 4 August 2022, in the eastern province of Zhejiang, with no access to a lawyer or to family visits for months. State media accused Yang of actively scheming towards formal independence for Taiwan, which mainland China considers a rebel province, part and parcel of its national territory. In the past he was also accused of "colluding" with separatist forces in Hong Kong, particularly during the 2019 street protests, a charge that appears to have been dropped. The prosecutor explicitly said that the defendant was suspected of the "crime of secession" of Taiwan. His arrest was formally approved by the Wenzhou Municipal People's Procuratorate, while his trial is expected shortly. All of Yang's political work took place on the island, noted Lee Ming-cheh, a Taiwanese academic who served a five-year prison sentence in China for "subversion" linked to his active support for Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party. Yangs arrest and prosecution is a warning to any Taiwanese active in politics, Lee explained. In fact, for him, "The risk of something like this happening to Taiwanese people isn't confined to China, Hong Kong or Macau. Now Anyone who is regarded by them as a Taiwan independence activist could wind up getting extradited from any country that has extradition agreements with China or Hong Kong," he added. For Lee, who was the first Taiwanese to be jailed under China's national security law, Yang's case is a clear example of Beijing's iron fist towards pro-independence Taiwanese. Wang Chih-sheng, secretary general of the China Asia-Pacific Elite Exchange Association, said the sort of activities Yang engaged in are totally normal behaviour in a democratic environment like Taiwan. by Melani Manel Perera These are capuchin macaques, a primate very similar genetically to humans, ideal guinea pigs for drug and vaccine experiments. The Chinese embassy has denied the news, saying it is disinformation, but environmentalists continue to express concern about the proposal. In favour, on the other hand, are the farmers who are increasingly worried about the damage these animals cause to crops. Colombo (AsiaNews) - The Sri Lankan government has announced that it has received a proposal from China to export 100,000 cape macaques, sparking protests from environmentalists who, in opposing the decision, point out that there are no legal provisions for exporting large numbers of wild animals to other countries. "The export of wild animals will not help bring foreign currency to the country. According to the law, our country cannot export animals for profit as we have signed an agreement not to sell wild animals,' said environmental activist Nayanaka Ranwella. Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera claims to have received the proposal from a Chinese delegation visiting Sri Lanka and said that the primates would be destined for 1,000 Chinese zoos. While environmentalists fear that the animals will be used for scientific experiments or even as food, the Chinese embassy in Colombo issued a press release denying the news, saying it was a 'disinformation' campaign. The bonnet macaque is an endemic species in Sri Lanka, and although it is not protected by the country, it is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list as endangered. According to environmentalists, an order for a large number of monkeys was also received from the United States, which imported 482,000 specimens for experimental purposes from 2000 to 2020. Caped macaques are in fact legally and illegally traded internationally because of their genetic similarity to humans, making them ideal guinea pigs for drug and vaccine testing. According to Amaraweera, Sri Lanka has a population of 3 million cap macaques (a figure environmental activists claim is only 200,000). This animal species is also the talk of the town because of the damage it causes to crops, which according to some estimates would result in a loss of USD 19.3 million. 'Exporting monkeys is not a solution,' Ranwella explained. "We have already proposed other ways to protect crops, but no one in government is willing to listen to us." Many farmers, however, agree with the government's proposal. Some farmers in the Anuradhapura area told AsiaNews that the problem is not new: 'We have had problems with monkeys in the past too. Now the situation has simply worsened'. As a result, the government has allowed farmers to kill a number of animals that damage crops by removing them from the list of protected animals. by Steve Suwannarat The last executions were carried out a year ago. Local authorities argue that most Singaporeans are in favour of the noose, but research casts doubt on their claim. Critics slam local courts that impose punitive order costs on lawyers who represent death row prisoners. Singapore (AsiaNews) Tangaraju Suppiah was hanged this morning after he was convicted of smuggling a kilo of cannabis from Malaysia. The death of the 46-year-old man, a year and a day after that of Nagaenthran Dharmalingam and 11 other people guilty of drug-related crimes, ended a week of desperate attempts to have his sentence suspended. During the COVID-19 pandemic executions were suspended for two years. According to the Singapore government, the death penalty has overwhelming support among Singaporeans at 83 per cent. Other surveys cited by the authorities in response to criticism indicate that people believe that the death penalty is a more effective deterrent than prison sentences against drug trafficking in the country. Yet, for government critics, polls show more the authorities power to influence the population than that latters informed opinion; in fact, research by the University of Singapore found that in 2018, 60 per cent of respondents said they knew "little or nothing" about capital punishment. Still, today's execution has put the death penalty back in the spotlight. The legal battle to suspend the sentence failed in the end, but highlighted a series of legal shortcomings in the way evidence is collected, confession obtained and trials conducted. The appeals of local and international groups opposed to the death penalty were also unheeded, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Opposition by people like Virgin Group owner Richard Branson was seen as undue interference in Singapores domestic affairs. On his blog, the British entrepreneur got in a tiff with the authorities in Singapore, where capital punishment has already been in the spotlight due to its disproportionate use on minorities, [and] an obsession with small-scale drug traffickers. By way of a response, Singapore officials called the UK billionaires claims patently untrue. Nevertheless, last year, the International Commission of Jurists slammed the city-state for imposing punitive cost orders on lawyers who have represented clients on death row, calling for an end to this practice, which obstructs death-row inmates access to justice and effective remedies, their right to legal counsel, with several forced to represent themselves in court. by Vladimir Rozanskij The ruling party in Tbilisi is celebrating the anniversary of its founding. Since 2021 its initiator, the pro-Russian oligarch Bidzina Ivanisvili, has completely withdrawn from public life and all office, although he continues to control this political force. The criticism of the opponents: a country that cannot free itself from the ruling clans and the weakness of the alternatives, linked only to Saakasvili. Tbilisi (AsiaNews) - These days Tbilisi's ruling party of the 'Georgian Dream' celebrates eleven years since its foundation, when pro-Russian oligarch Bidzina Ivanisvili presented his brand new team to triumph in the 2012 elections. The leaders then and now reiterate their promise to act in such a way that 'power consistently defends the homeland, the church and national values', even though the opposition believes they have long since renounced these same principles, out of self-interest and submission to the will of the Kremlin. The party's full name is 'The Georgian Dream: a democratic Georgia', which originated from the initiative of the now 67-year-old billionaire, who started making his fortune selling computers in post-Soviet Russia in the early 1990s, of which he retained the citizenship, only to return home during the 'rose revolution' of 2004. Ivanisvili decided to enter politics when President Mikhail Saakasvili, now in prison and in serious health, tried to change the constitution to stay in power longer. In retaliation, the latter deprived him of his Georgian citizenship (he also held French citizenship), and the new party was formally led by his wife, Ekaterina Khvedelidze. After winning the elections, gaining 55% of the vote with a coalition of various groups, Ivanisvili remained prime minister for only a year and a half, until the end of 2013, and then devoted himself to the 'social sector' of politics, and also to avoiding conflicts of interest, as the opposition claims, and since 2021 he has completely withdrawn from public life and all office, although he de facto continues to control the party and to a large extent the government itself. Today, all the leaders of the Georgian Dream enthusiastically thank him on various official or unofficial occasions, and through all social channels, for having freed the country from the 'bloody regime' of Saakasvili's National Movement, accused of wanting to continue armed clashes with Russia, to take back Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The most authoritative congratulations came from Prime Minister Iraklij Garibasvili, according to whom, 'the winning coalition of 2012 was the beginning of the most important processes in the political and social life of our country, because we were able to conduct a true national policy, strengthen our sovereignty, guarantee peace and the freedom of our citizens, and save Georgia from total destruction'. The current president of the party, Iraklij Kobakhidze, obviously joined in, recalling that the Georgian Dream government "is the only one that has led the country without waging wars, from the moment of independence, preserving peace in the extremely difficult geopolitical conditions of the entire region", referring also to the war in Ukraine, for which the current government in Tbilisi is trying to keep a balance between the parties. However, Georgian political scientist Gija Khukhasvili, one of the inspirers of the formation of the new party 11 years ago, is now very critical of the ruling leadership, which has allegedly betrayed the expectations of renewal over the years: 'the protagonists of the great victory of 2012 have been progressively eliminated from the party, today there is no one left, and others have come forward since 2016, sterilising even the influence of Ivanisvili himself'. In fact, instead of reforming institutions, the leaders of the Georgian Dream "were only interested in their own stay in power, and all reasonable politicians distanced themselves... today we have an oclocracy, directed by puppeteers behind the scenes". Georgij Vasadze, president of the 'Agmasenebeli Strategy' party, which refers to the most glorious Georgian monarch of the 12th century, the holy builder of the capital Tbilisi itself, likens the government of the past 11 years to a 'continuous shipwreck and resurfacing of the country, like a Titanic reappearing from the ice without being able to resume its course'. Georgia is unable to restore justice and free itself from the ruling clans, all dependent on Russian influence. Like Khukhasvili himself, Vasadze laments above all the weakness of the oppositions, linked only to the controversial personality of Saakasvili, who are unable in any way to stop the celebratory banquets of the 'Georgian Dream'. Photo: Flikr/Marco Fieber Today's headlines: Japanese company fail at first attempt at moon landing; The Taliban kill Isis leader responsible for the Kabul airport bombing almost two years ago; The WHO issues a new warning about Indian syrups; In Myanmar and Thailand, Karen language schools are back; Turkmenistan bans the mother of an activist from making a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. TURKEY Yesterday, three weeks before the upcoming presidential elections, Turkey arrested 126 Kurdish activists and journalists, claiming to have conducted 'anti-terrorist' operations in 21 provinces of the country. Police detained people suspected of financing the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) or recruiting new members. JAPAN The Japanese company Ispace confirmed that its first moon landing attempt failed, admitting that it lost contact with the Mission 1 lander of the Hakuto mission, which probably crashed on the lunar surface. The launch had taken place in December from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and if successful would have been Japan's first moon landing. AFGHANISTAN The Taliban killed the Islamic State leader responsible for the August 2021 Kabul airport bombing that took place during the retreat of US and international forces from the country and in which more than 170 people died. The news was confirmed by US officials, but the name of the leader has not been revealed so far. INDIA The World Health Organisation has raised the alarm over a new batch of cough syrups from India exported to the Marshall Islands and Micronesia: tests on samples produced by Punjab-based QP Pharmachem showed excessively high levels of two compounds toxic to humans. India is the world's largest exporter of generic drugs, sending its products mainly to developing countries. So far, contaminated syrups have caused 66 deaths in The Gambia, 18 in Uzbekistan and three in the US. MYANMAR More than 130,000 children attend ethnic Karen schools on the border between Myanmar and Thailand, taking advantage of literacy in their mother tongue. Since the 1960s, courses of study in the Burmese language had been imposed by the Ministry of Education using the Karen language. After the coup in February 2021, teachers resumed old curricula, providing education to children even in refugee camps. RUSSIA - ITALY The international philological conference 'Homo Loquens' was held in St. Petersburg at the Christian-Humanistic University, with the participation of Italian Russianists and philosophers. In the words of Italian linguist and philosopher Stefano Capilupi, who works permanently in Russia, 'there were many dialogues in the night, and a great desire for rebirth and freedom'. TURKMENISTAN The Turkmenistan authorities forbade the mother of Khamida Babadzanova, a humanitarian activist who has now emigrated to Turkey, from travelling to Saudi Arabia for the Muslim pilgrimage. Since the spring of 2021, she has continued to disseminate videos and photos showing the country's severe economic crisis and violations of citizens' rights. Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden shake hands during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House Wednesday, April 26, in Washington, D.C. AP-Yonhap South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden praised the strength of the bilateral alliance Wednesday as they marked its 70th anniversary ahead of a summit at the White House. Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee were greeted by Biden and first lady Jill Biden as they arrived on the White House South Lawn to take part in an official arrival ceremony honoring Yoon's state visit to the United States. The ceremony was attended by senior government officials from both sides, including U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and included the playing of the two countries' national anthems and a review of an honor guard. Speaking from behind a podium, Biden welcomed Yoon to the White House. "This year marks the 70th anniversary of the alliance between our two nations. It's an unbreakable bond forged in bravery and the sacrifice of our people, sanctified by the blood of American and Korean troops who fought and defended liberty, and I'm proud we're joined today by veterans of the Korean War," he said. Pitkin County government has determined that the existing jail can be expanded by 3,100 square feet by adding a second floor above the cell block. An additional 4,500 square feet could be added if other parts of the roof are strengthened. Louisiana Woman Sentenced for Staged Auto Collision Scheme Published April 26, 2023 Lois Russell, 63, of Gibson, LA, was sentenced April 20 after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, arising out of staged automobile accidents with tractor-trailers occurring in New Orleans, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced. According to court documents, on March 27, 2017, Russell conspired with Tanya Givens, John Diggs and James "Curtis" Williams to stage an accident with a tractor-trailer at the intersection of Chef Menteur Highway and Downman Road. Damien Labeaud and Roderick Hickman, who have already pleaded guilty to staging other accidents, also participated in this accident. Hickman, while driving Russells car, intentionally struck the 18-wheeler and then fled the scene with Labeaud. Russell advised NOPD she was the driver. Thereafter, Russell, along with Givens, Williams and Diggs, made claims for personal injuries. In total, the victim trucking and insurance companies paid out $272,500 for these fraudulent claims. U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced Russell to five years probation and imposed a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. The U.S. Attorneys Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the FBI, Louisiana State Police and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward J. Rivera, Maria Carboni and Brandon Long of the Financial Crimes Unit, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, chief of the Financial Crimes Unit. Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana While the reinvented (L663) Defender didn't have an easy life in the beginning, as traditional Land Rover fans wanted the luxury 4x4 to be more rugged and spartan like its predecessor, all the adversity (and many recalls) ended up making it more robust than ever with a renewed cult following. As such, no one should be surprised that parent company Jaguar Land Rover (rumored to reinvent itself into a simpler JLR) has faith in the Defender to call it a "Defender brand" rather than just another series in the automaker's lineup.Recently unveiled as a 2024 model year, the Defender expands its scope and reach with "a host of new offerings," chief among them being the new County Exterior design pack for the Defender 110 models that builds on the nameplate's heritage, the Defender 130 with the 500 ps (493 hp) supercharged V8 engine, plus the luxurious yet adventurous Defender 130 Outbound. The latter seeks "an unprecedented combination of luxurious interior space and all-terrain capability" and is only offered with five seats, a Shadow Atlas Matt finish for specific exterior details, Anthracite side vents, and 20-inch Gloss Black or optional 22-inch Shadow Atlas Matt wheels.Customers can choose between Fuji White, Santorini Black, Carpathian Grey, and Eiger Grey exterior hues with or without a Satin Protective Film. Inside, meanwhile, there is a selection of full Windsor leather or Resist fabric, an Ebony Morzine headliner, Robustec veneer, and "Defender's signature cross-car beam in Satin Black Powder Coat Brushed finish" plus rubber floor mats, and "unstoppable 4x4 capability." The catch is that you can't have the new Defender 130 V8 as an Outbound, and instead, the latter comes with the P400 or D300 mild hybrid powertrains.On the other hand, the new Defender 130 V8 has what it takes to prove itself as a capable full-size luxury 4x4 in a sea of Tahoe or Yukons, thanks to its 5.0-liter supercharged V8 that's good for 500 ps (493 hp) and 610 Nm (450 lb-ft) for an acceleration time of 5.7 seconds to 100 kph (62 mph) or 5.4 seconds to 60 mph (96 kph). It now further complements the choice, which previously included the six-cylinder Ingenium P400 or D300 diesel mills. As for the County Exterior Pack for Defender 110s, the vintage design ideas are all that matter, as the new option is a tribute to the original Defender County available across the trim range (110, S, SE, and HSE grades).Additional upgrades for the 2024 model year Defender include a standard Loadspace Floor Tray for all Defender 90s and the eight-seat Defender 130. The compact Defender 90 also gets easier access to the second row ("a new parachute grab handle, a quick fold and slide row one passenger seat"), plus a new row two 40:20:40 folding rear seats option, complete with center armrests. By the way, Land Rover says all new introductions are available to order right now, but we have yet to get the regional pricing details. kW Its premium compact proportions place it in the same zone as the Porsche Macan, BMW X3, Mercedes GLC, and Audi Q5. It's instantly recognizable as something made by the Italian car marque and builds on FCA's Giorgio platform. This makes it mechanically identical to the Giulia and the latest-gen Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Maserati Grecale, aka the Levante's smaller sibling, is also based on this architecture.Presented at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show and put into production at the end of the same year at the Lazio facility, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio was recently given a mid-cycle refresh. The facelifted iteration was unveiled last fall alongside the Giulia, sporting an evolutionary design with new front and rear fascias. Some traits were inspired by those of the smaller Tonale. On the inside, the Giulia and Stelvio get the same 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster as the Tonale and NFT digital record showing their provenance and service history.A very generous host of options can be added to the premium compact crossover, which varies depending on the selected model. For instance, the Ti grade can be enhanced with the Veloce Pack, whereas the Super version, aka the entry-level model, can be specified with the Sprint Pack for additional sporty details. New to the lineup is the Competizione trim level available on both vehicles. Some believed the Quadrifoglio would not make a comeback for the mid-cycle update, but it has.The sporty trim level has a bit more power, with the twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 producing 520 ps (513 hp/382) in the 100 Anniversario, a special edition version of both the Stelvio and Giulia. The 10 ps (10 hp/7 kW) boost is only valid in Europe and China. An eight-speed transmission from ZF delivers the thrust to the rear wheels in the Giulia Quadrifoglio and the all-wheel drive system in the Stelvio Quadrifoglio Now that we've reminded ourselves about some of the highlights of the 2023 Stelvio, it's time to check out another rendering of the car. It came from kelsonik on Instagram, and it imagines the crossover with a new face that further ties it to the Tonale. It has much slimmer headlights with integrated DRLs, a new bumper with a large central air intake, and bigger wheels that fill the arches much better than the stock ones. Honestly, it's a more exciting design for the Stelvio, but do you agree? Hit the comments area and let us know. In 1947, the Bell X-1, piloted by Captain Chuck Yeager, first broke the sound barrier at the Edwards Air Force Base. The X-15 became a pioneer at the exact location after flying at Mach 4.5 and 6. These are just a couple of the aerospace milestones connected to this military base, the second-largest in the US Air Force (USAF). Next year will add another aviation-first the first electric air taxis stationed at an American military base.The California-based eVTOL maker Joby is gearing up to deliver the first units stationed at the Edwards Air Force Base. The first two air taxis are expected to arrive at the beginning of 2024, with seven more to follow.Joby will deliver and operate the future air taxi fleet at Edwards. The first units to arrive there will initially demonstrate potential use cases related to logistics. These five-seat, fully-electric aircraft will show what they can do for passenger transportation and cargo applications.This exciting milestone results from a five-year collaboration between Joby and the Department of Defense. The Californian startup was one of the AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) companies that benefited from the innovative Agility Prime program.The DOD launched Agility Prime in 2020 to explore the potential of eVTOLs for all military branches. Through this program, Joby had sufficient funds to further the development of its aircraft, also gaining access to military testing facilities.Four Air Force pilots were invited to Joby's facility in Marina, California, a few days ago. This became the location of another first for the AAM sector and the USAF. For the first time, an Air Force pilot flew an eVTOL as the sole pilot-in-command for the entire flight. This included the aircraft's transition from vertical to airplane-like (wingborne) flight. Before that, the USAF personnel had to complete theoretical and simulator training.In terms of money, the collaboration between Joby and the DOD has reached more than $130 million after the latest $55 million boost (in the form of a contract extension).Meanwhile, the Californian startup is closer to launching commercial services in 2025. Earlier this year, it also became the first in the AAM sector to test its eVTOL at the famous National Full-Scale Aerodynamic Complex (NFAC), the world's largest wind tunnel testing facility. As soon as next year, it could become the first manufacturer to operate electric air taxis at a military base in the US. The announcement comes at a time when the adoption of mobile phone projection reaches new records in cars. The latest Apple data reveals that CarPlay is available in 800 vehicle models sold in the United States.General Motors will replace the two apps with Android Automotive, a fully featured operating system that comes with integrated Google services and provides the carmaker with access to more data. Given that the operating system powers the infotainment capabilities, Android Automotive can also run Android Auto and CarPlay. GM will block these features, as its going all-in on the full experience.Customers didnt receive the news very well, and many threatened to stop buying GM cars unless the company reverted its decision.The plan already seems set in stone. GMs CFO Paul Jacobson recently explained that the company wants to build an alternative to CarPlay and Android Auto that will make the two apps feel unnecessary. Jacobson says that customers will love the new experience, as GM is specifically working with Google to create a more compelling customer package.At the same time, the GM executive reminds the world that his company isnt the only one not offering CarPlay. Tesla and Rivian are two of the biggest names still ignoring mobile phone projection in their vehicles despite customer feedback requiring such capabilities.Many believe that GMs long-term goal with the removal of Android Auto and CarPlay is to turn its infotainment system into a money-making machine. By blocking the two systems, General Motors gets access to more data that can eventually be monetized.However, the company guarantees that customers wouldnt be charged a single cent for using Android Automotive in their new cars. The free promo covers the first eight years after the vehicle is purchased. General Motors hasnt detailed what happens after the eight-year promo comes to an end. The company already insisted on several occasions that it wont backtrack on this controversial decision.In the meantime, other carmakers rushed to confirm their commitment to keeping Android Auto and CarPlay in their cars. With a phone in everybodys pocket, running such apps is extremely convenient, especially as the number of supported apps keeps growing. Both Android Auto and CarPlay opened their doors to new app categories most recently, Android Auto started accepting IoT apps that allow users to control their smart homes from the infotainment screen. Dominos Pizza launched its food-ordering app on CarPlay as well, so drivers can send a new order without touching their phones. South Korea and the United States agreed to take "swift, overwhelming and decisive" action using all of their military capabilities, including U.S. nuclear weapons, in the event of North Korea's nuclear attack, President Yoon Suk Yeol said Wednesday. Yoon announced the agreement during a press conference following a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House. kW Made in 1989, two years after the assembly of the model kicked off at Maranello, it was registered in France in February of 1990 by Alain Prost . The legendary F1 driver, who had just joined Scuderia Ferrari, barely drove it and sold it shortly after taking delivery.Its next owner is still active in the Ferrari Challenge Series, and when he purchased it, he asked Prost to sign it. Covered in a thick clear coat, his signature on the roof is still visible today. The F40 spent its days in the United Kingdom and was then shipped to the United States in 1995, having its odometer changed to miles from kilometers. Four years later, it was returned to the UK and was eventually sold.Over the next few years, the iconic supercar changed hands a few times, and in 2016, it found a new home. It was that same year that it obtained Ferrari Classiche certification. It retains the original bodywork, engine, gearbox, and chassis, and four years ago, it received new fuel bladders during a major service. There is a new set of tires waiting to be fitted to the car, replacing the ten-year ones, and with less than 2,900 miles (4,667 km) under its belt at the time of cataloging, this classic beast is ready to hit the road again.Back in the day, the F40 was capable of sprinting to 62 mph (100 kph) from 0 in just 4.1 seconds. It could do 201 mph (324 kph) flat out and was dealing with the -mile in less than 12 seconds. Powering it is a 2.9-liter V8 engine with two turbos. The output stood at 471 hp (478 ps/352) at 7,000 rpm, and it produced 426 pound-feet (577 Nm) of torque at 4,000 rpm. That's mighty impressive for a car developed in the 1980s, though at the time, it was the fastest street-legal vehicle ever made.Advertised by RMSothebys, it will go under the gavel two weeks from today, on May 10, and it is accompanied by a set of tools and the original Schedoni luggage. The auction house hasn't provided an estimated selling price, but as everyone knows, the Ferrari F40 costs a fortune. The finest examples tend to fetch in excess of $2 million, with the greatest ones exceeding the $3 million mark. So, are you fortunate enough to afford this one, and if so, what would your cap be? Photo: Toyota Photo: Toyota Toyota is one of the companies that looks fully committed to keeping mobile phone projection in their cars, and as such, Android Auto and CarPlay are currently essential features of new models.Setting up Android Auto in a brand-new car is a fairly straightforward process. While carmakers cant yet provide users with a plug-and-play experience, mostly because Android Auto needs special permissions to work properly, following a few steps displayed on the screen should get everything up and running in minutes. Compared to Hyundai , Toyota simplified the out-of-the-box approach by reducing the number of steps required for the first launch. As such, Toyota cars dont come with any special settings on the infotainment system to enable Android Auto or mobile phone projection.The only thing youll see when running Android Auto for the first time is a prompt on the infotainment system asking if you want to allow the connection. Otherwise, everything is rather straightforward and convenient and starts with connecting the phone to the head unit.This step is required regardless of the Android Auto version installed in the car. Android Auto wired should be used with a high-speed cable typically, the one in the phone's box should do it. However, as every Android Auto user figures out at one point, theres no such thing as a perfect cable in the Google world. As a result, try to always stick with high-quality cables, and if the app stops working, checking out the cord is the first thing to do.When the connection between the phone and the head unit is established, Android Auto should launch on your mobile device. The app presents the user with a series of steps that must be completed before its activated in the car. The process is simple and includes basic information and permission requests to make sure Android Auto runs flawlessly.Once the initial configuration is complete on the mobile device, an Android Auto prompt should appear on your Toyota screen. This is a confirmation you configured Android Auto properly, and now, its ready to launch. Your infotainment system must allow the app to run in the car. Select Yes when asked if you want to run Android Auto. Afterward, an Android Auto icon should load on the vehicles infotainment display, and tapping it launches the app instantly.Setting up Android Auto wireless requires a few additional steps. This is mostly because the wireless version of the app requires a Bluetooth connection between the mobile device and the head unit.The first thing you must do for a wireless connection is pair the phone with the car. Start by enabling Bluetooth on the Android device. Then, on your vehicles multimedia screen, go to Settings and look for a Bluetooth menu. Tap it, and you should see an option called Add another device. When you launch this option, the car should start scanning for nearby Bluetooth devices. The mobile phone should appear at the top of the list, so tap it to start the pairing process. The process doesnt take more than a few seconds, though you might be required to manually enter a pairing code displayed on one of the two devices.Afterward, you must follow the same steps as in the case of Android Auto wired. When the app is ready to launch, the same prompt will be displayed on the vehicles infotainment unit, so click Yes to continue. Android Auto should display an icon on the media receivers home screen when everything is properly configured.If youre unsure what Android Auto connectivity is available in your car, the best way to find out is to ask your dealer. Otherwise, you could try setting up a wireless connection and see if Android Auto can be launched without a cable.Android Auto comes standard on MY 2020 Toyota cars, while the wireless version is available on select MY 2022 and newer models.The main benefit of running Android Auto in the car is easy access to messaging, music, and navigation. Thanks to Google Assistant integration, drivers can interact with these apps hands-free, reducing distraction significantly.The debut of Coolwalk, a major Android Auto redesign now rolling out to users, allows running multiple apps side-by-side on the same screen, regardless of the infotainment screens dimensions. The interface is divided into cards for navigation solutions, audio apps, and phone calls. This increases safety, as drivers no longer need to toggle between apps to access certain information. Coolwalk is not yet available for all users, as Google enables the new experience in stages for devices worldwide. However, always running the latest Android Auto version helps increase the chances of getting Coolwalk faster, while also making sure that known bugs are already resolved. But, of course, the most significant release this spring will be the 2024 E-Class , the sixth generation by its name. With a lineage spanning no less than seven decades, the executive sedan has many stories under its belt and no less than six iterations with the same moniker based on the W124, W210, W211, W212, W213, and W214 internal codes.Interestingly, this new release might be the talk of the town not just for positive reasons such as the tech galore and mighty plug-in hybrid options but also for its awkwardness, including the Angry Birds games from inside, the drippy front lights, or the kitschy taillight LEDs. For sure, this will be a highly polarizing series as some will appreciate the S-Class vibes while others will undoubtedly lament the inherent blandness of having the C, E, and S-Class series resemble each other more than ever.But remember that previous generations also sparked outrage like the W210 of 1995 when it introduced the separate, egg-shaped four-unit headlights. And that does not mean it will be any less successful. In fact, we are pretty sure that aftermarket companies knowing the popularity of the W223 S-Class with tuning, customization, and personalization fans are already eagerly thinking about the lucrative business opportunity presented by the redesigned smaller sibling.And while the German automaker is far from ready to unleash the W214 E-Class on the market, there is no need to worry about previewing the upcoming aftermarket glory days. The imaginative realm of digital car content creators will soon take care of that. So, after seeing the sedan get CGI-sliced and diced into becoming a more practical, family-oriented five-door station wagon , it is also time for the first digital tuning job.Nikita Chuicko, the virtual artist tucked under the kelsonik moniker on social media, thinks now is the right CGI time to fiddle with the 2024 E-Class and treat it to his signature 'Shadow Line' transformation. Long story short, the latter nameplate signals we are dealing with a full chrome delete aimed at making the Mercedes executive sedan a tad darker and menacing although it's not fully 'murdered-out' just yet, thanks to the color reel's lighter gradient.Naturally, the 'Shadow Line' changes are best put into the proper custom perspective with a lower suspension setup, a nice window tint, plus a set of 22-inch HF-2 aftermarket wheels from Vossen. So, do we like these subtle transformations enough to give this digital project our CGI hall pass, or is the Mercedes E-Class already too quirky to attempt and save it? Photo: Radical Photo: Radical Photo: Radical ECU Photo: Radical They started in 1997 with one chassis powered by a Kawasaki 1,100 CC engine. Now, they have a line-up of seven production models (plus another 2024-scheduled racer). From the entry-level SR1 to the extreme RXC GT3, the range meets all track requirements, from rookies to season veterans.Radical claims they're the worlds largest manufacturer of race cars, with over 2,800 units sold in the past 26 years. They're so successful that Radical has its single-marque competition series, with ten individual Radical Cup events worldwide.Let's put it into perspective: the first road-legal car to drop below the seven-minute mark on the Happy Hunting-Ground circuit of Nurburgring in Germany. That was in 2009, and the Radical SR8 LM reigned undefeated for eight years.The Radical SR1 is the base car of the British manufacturer, and now it got upgraded with the XXR performance package. If SR1 means nothing to you, consider it a go-kart with wheel wells. And Lucifer's hellfire in the engine. And an atomic-weapon-grade critical mass. And the responsiveness of a rattlesnake.The XXR update is, according to the maker, the most radical (pun inevitable) received by this model in six years. Before getting into this, look at the "casual SR1, the Radical race car introduced in 2012.It weighs 1,080 lb (490 kilograms) and is about the size of a queen-sized bed mattress: 3,860 mm long x 1,560 mm wide x 1,020 mm tall (152 in x 61.5 in x 40 in). And yet Radical managed to squeeze two seats in this open-cockpit racer. This double-occupancy chassis architecture is a staple of the company. However, higher-end models come with seating for one, but offer passenger accommodation options.It has no roof, as I said, so the forward-facing stays and composite halo head restraints are standard (and mandatory). The most prominent feature of the fiberglass body is the downforce-generating rear wing (although the overall design leaves no room for doubt about this car's purpose in life).The business end of the car is the four-cylinder Suzuki Hayabusa-inspired engine that outputs 199 ps and 201 lb-ft of torque (196 hp and 273 Nm) at 10,000 RPM and 7,500 RPM, respectively. The screaming four-pot motor weighs just 83 kilograms (183 lb). The six-speed sequential gearbox is controlled via the paddle shifters (and governed by an auto-blipper system).The mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive SR1 puts the power down via a limited-slip differential. The fully adjustable Nik-link suspension features front and rear unequal-length top and bottom wishbones, fabricated uprights, and front and rear adjustable pushrods.Optionally, the SR1 can have a quiet track day silencer or a loud exhaust depending on the occasion LED race lights, an oil preheater, a fuel sampling/drain kit, or a brake bias adjuster (conveniently mounted on the dash).For precise engine management, theoffers detailed interrogation functions (for maintenance and analysis). The Enhanced Data Pack includes a SmartyCam video system with GPS and race data logging (brake pressure and steering monitoring).The XXR upgrade adds a stabilizing vertical fin behind the air inlet. It drastically improves (or so Radical brags) the engine service intervals. The liquid-cooled inline-four powerplant's overhaul periods are 25% longer than the previous generation, with oil change extended from six to ten operating hours. The new scavenge pump enhances the lubrication of the engine's internals; many are redesigned for better performance.Lightweight connecting rods, crankshaft pins, and ignition increase engine responsiveness and drivability without sacrificing reliability . With a reworked dry sump, cooling, coil-on-plug ignition, and a new electronic drive-by-wire, the fifth-generation engine from Radical Precision Engineering should offer more track time without scheduled maintenance interruptions.Since its launch 11 years ago, over 200 SR1s have lined up at the start grid in Radical Cup competitions worldwide in the PRO SR1 class. The XXR upgrade keeps all the racing privileges intact, so clashes between regular SR1-equipped race teams and high-end spec'd versions are something to look forward to.Built as an introductory track machine for beginners seeking their first taste of professional motorsport, the Radical SR1 sticks to the company ethos of lightness, aerodynamics, and powerful hand-built engines.The SR1's XXR installment follows Radical's last few months' trends of upgrading the SR3 and SR10 race cars with the same performance package. The up-tuned SR1 will enter production this summer and is already available for order through the Radical dealership network. Photo: Goodyear Photo: Goodyear Photo: U.S. Army Today, the same desire to offer civilians, even untrained ones, the ability to take off at a few minutes' notice and with minimal training or preparation is feeding the "flying car" frenzy . VTOLS, vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, whether electric or not, are hailed as the future of personal urban mobility and viable car replacements, but it's ok if you're not exactly holding your breath for them. Even optimists will tell you that they're far away into the future and will have to overcome huge hurdles to get there.What today's dream of flying cars has in common with the Inflatoplane is the desire to make man fly . The difference between the two is that the Inflatoplane started that way but soon changed course, as Goodyear realized it could have applications in the military, whether for surveillance and aerial recognizance or rescue operations. More specifically, the U.S. military considered the Inflatoplane a viable solution for self-rescue operations in cases of downed pilots behind enemy lines.The idea of an inflatable plane might seem ridiculous today, but it was one that held strong appeal for inventors back in the day. The first patented inflatable aircraft was the creation of Taylor McDaniel, which was a glider that bounced off upon impact in case of a crash, allowing the pilot to emerge more or less unscathed from an otherwise fatal crash. Russia and the UK picked up on the idea and did their own versions of the aircraft , though nothing concrete came out of their tests and prototypes.That's because these inflatable aircraft, though sound in theory and with some proven functionality in real-life scenarios, lacked structural rigidity and were too slow. They were airplane-shaped balloons and acted that way when you least wanted them to, i.e., in case of an unforeseen event that resulted in a crash. A thicker and more rigid material was needed, and as luck would have it, Goodyear had just invented it.That material was Airmat, a new type of composite with a rubber layer sandwiched between two layers of fabric, with a neoprene layer on top. Use that to make a plane, and you got an aircraft that had more structural rigidity and was more aerodynamic. So this is exactly what Goodyear did, starting in 1956.The media called it Flying Dumbo, The Flying Mattress, The Pocket Airplane, The Flying Inner Tube, and Bag O' Wind, but Goodyear called it the Inflatoplane. It was a one-person aircraft with the tail, fuselage, and cockpit made of two walls of Airmat connected by nylon threads and only a handful of metal parts.Initially powered by a two-cycle, 40 hp engine, later upgraded to a 42 hp one, the Inflatoplane could be inflated halfway with a hand pump, and then you'd turn on the engine that would do the rest of the work. Compact, it could fit into the back of a car, so Goodyear imagined a future when regular Joes could beat workweek traffic by simply taking it out, inflating it, and flying where they needed to be. From the moment you took it out to the moment of takeoff, it was a 10-minute, one-man job.The Inflatoplane needed a stretch of 350 feet (106.5 meters) to land and 250 feet (76.2 meters) for takeoff. Weighing 205 lbs (93 kg) empty, it carried a fuel tank of 20 gallons (75.7 liters) and had a maximum payload of 329 lbs (149.2 kg). Range was 390 miles (627 km) or 6.5 hours, and it would cruise at 60 mph (96.5 kph) and 10,000 feet (3,048 meters). It wasn't very fast , but it was precisely what Goodyear wanted: a one-person aircraft you could inflate and fly right away with.Between 1956 and 1959, Goodyear built 12 such Inflatoplanes, one of which was a two-person version with a more powerful 60-hp McCulloch engine. Ten of these were sent over to the U.S. military for testing for a possible application in rescuing downed pilots. The U.S. Army believed they could drop the Inflatoplane package out of passing jets, so the pilot caught behind enemy lines would have something to help him in his attempt to get back to safety.It would be a few years later before they realized that if that pilot's jet had been shot down, the Inflatoplane would be a much easier target, being considerably slower. In all fairness, the Inflatoplane wasn't easy to shoot down since the engine would keep pressure constant within the frame. It would continue flying even after taking mild fire.Still, the Inflatoplane never caught on. As the military continued conducting tests, two accidents occurred, in which the wing got caught in the propeller, and one resulted in the pilot's death. Whatever big plans the Army had for the Inflatoplane came to a stop then, and Goodyear lost hope: if you can't get the military sold on such an idea, what's the chance Joe at home would be interested in the "vacation kit"?Still, Goodyear continued testing until 1972 but officially shut down the program in 1973. Of the 12 Inflatoplanes built, only three have survived. They can now be seen at the Smithsonian Institution, the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, and the Ohio Historical Society in Columbus.The air went out of this Bag O' Wind Photo: Cecil Wright Photo: Cecil Wright Photo: Cecil Wright If you hear of a luxury yacht with a Japanese name, chances are it belongs, or it once belonged to tech mogul Larry Ellison. The famous Oracle co-founder is known as a serial yacht owner who gave Japanese-inspired names to all his pleasure craft. Ronin (currently Zeus), Rising Sun, and Musashi are the most well-known yachts in his fleet, all with impressive proportions and built at some of the top luxury shipyards in the world.Throughout the years, several other stunning pleasure craft were also rumored to have been owned by the tech billionaire for a short time. The beautiful Zenji, built by Perini Navi almost two decades ago, is one of them.It stands apart in the billionaire's collection as a sailing motor yacht, but that's not surprising. Ellison's boating passion expanded to yacht racing also. Precisely 20 years ago, Oracle Team USA competed in America's Cup for the first time. It would participate again in 2010 and 2013 before eventually ending its presence in the racing world in 2018.Zenji was designed as a powerful racing yacht, and the name and pedigree seem to confirm a connection with Ellison. Originally named Santa Maria, the 184-foot (56-meter) boat still holds its new Japanese name, even though it was sold at the beginning of last year.Soon after the sale, Zenji got a fresh look. Considering its age, it was about time. It arrived at the Safe Harbor Rybovich Marina in West Palm Beach, Florida, at the end of January 2022 and emerged four months later in top shape, just in time for the summer season. It got brand-new winches and rigging, and its teak decks were re-sanded.In terms of looks, the Italian-built yacht changed its style in the hands of an interior designer who the new owner chose. The nautical theme is obvious, reflected in the vibrant blue and white color scheme, plus maritime-inspired decor items. The refreshed yacht also looks more modern, even though it also kept the classic-inspired wood paneling, made initially from American cherry.As a result of the refit, Zenji was relaunched on the luxury charter market, looking like a floating resort. Thanks to its impressive size and especially the ingenious configuration, this sailing yacht claims to be just as welcoming and opulent as contemporary superyachts.It can accommodate a total of 12 guests and a 10-people crew. Guests have six staterooms to choose from, including the master suite, two doubles, and three twins, with two Pullman berths providing additional accommodation. All the cabins boast modern, nautical-inspired decor and marble en-suite bathrooms.Zenji is ready to entertain its guests, from sipping cocktails by the pool or watching movies to al-fresco dining and sun lounging close to the water level. Inside, it reveals a large salon with a sophisticated dining room and a well-equipped media lounge. Outside, people onboard are welcome to enjoy al-fresco dining for 12 and a second large TV screen, elegantly disguised by artwork when it's not being used.The spa pool and the comfy sun pads benefit from spectacular views up in the flybridge area. Closer to the water level, a fold-down transom becomes a generous bathing platform (two meters/6.5 feet wide) fitted with handrails, a swim ladder, and a shower at the entrance.Although as comfortable as a floating luxury resort, Zenji is still a racer at heart. It regularly participated in the St. Barth Bucket and the Perini Navi Cup for many years. Today, it's still a notable presence on the French Riviera and in places like Ibiza and Corsica, it shows off only its beauty, not its prowess.The twin Deutz engines can still propel it at 16 knots (18.4 mph/29.6 kph). At an economical speed, it can easily cover 4,000 nautical miles (7,308 km).Zenji has proven to have all the ingredients for long-term success. It came from the hands of an acclaimed designer (Ron Holland) and a reputable shipyard (Perini Navi). Soon after its launch, it became a ShowBoats Award finalist for "Best Sailing Yacht Interior" and started competing. It's easy to see why this Italian-built sailing beauty might have once been part of Ellison's collection.For the past ten years, it operated as a famous charter yacht. Following its recent refit, it's ready to continue on that path with even more success. The only bad news is that it's not available for charter in the US. Those lucky enough to visit the infamous millionaire playgrounds in the Mediterranean can find out what it's like to cruise onboard Zenji for 240,000 ($263,000) per week. SUV AMG And everyone can be pretty sure that the behemoth crossover was the one that helped the BMW Group subsidiary reach such 'astonishing' figures at least when compared to other ultra-luxury peers like Aston Martin, McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Bentley, among others. Speaking of many of them, the competition in the stratosphere of SUVs has never been more intense now that the Aston Martin DBX707, Bentley Bentayga, Lambo Urus, and Rolls-Royce Cullinan are also getting crowded at the posh party by the impending arrival of the 715-hp V12-powered Ferrari Purosangue and the freakish 738-hp BMW XM plug-in hybrid.But, no worries, the folks who earn in three days the cash needed for a Rolls-Royce Cullinan ( Erling Haaland , ahem, ahem!) always find creative new ways of ensuring their elephant, sorry, ultra-luxury super-stands out in the proper game reserve or crowd. And it's all thanks to the imaginative aftermarket realm, of course. Sometimes you don't even need a feistier 591-horsepower Black Badge to attract attention, and the V12 Cullinan with 563 horsepower will be more than enough to impose your ride anywhere you go.And that is all courtesy of the good folks over at Hollywood, California-based RDB LA , who have an overabundance of modified luxury and super-SUVs, so nobody should be surprised by the wide one! As such, in between many Range Rovers, Mercedes-G63 4x4 Squared heroes, and even the occasional all-black Land Rover Defender 130 with added accessories and Aerodisc-style RDB Wheels, there is always room for one more Brit. That would be a wide Brit, thank you, given the allure of the widebody Rolls-Royce Cullinan that is all dressed in black save for the essential details, which include the badges, Spirit of Ecstasy, exhaust outlets, and the giant 50-spoke RDB aftermarket wheels!Frankly, after seeing so many murdered-out ideas , including a crazy one that mixed Forgiato 'steelies' with Nitto Tire's Ridge Grappler all-terrain tires, we are inclined to believe this is precisely how posh Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUVs are supposed to look: as wide as possible, slightly lowered, primarily black, and riddled with chromed details. Oh, and let us not forget about the additional contrasting atmosphere the cabin provides, which seems to feature a ritzy combination of a subtle nuance of yellow, carbon fiber trim, and some matching black bits and pieces. Frankly, the Purosangue and XM are in for the upcoming fight of their life if they seek to dethrone the Cullinan from the aftermarket preferences of customers! Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Kim Seung-kyum, center, attends the fifth Indo-Pacific Security Forum via video link on Wednesday. Courtesy of JCS Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Kim Seung-kyum attended a multi-national security forum Wednesday to discuss security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, his office said. He joined the fifth Indo-Pacific Security Forum, hosted by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, via a video link, according to the JCS. Senior military officials from 23 other countries in the region, including Japan, China, Australia and India, also attended the session. Kim cited Pyongyang's nuclear and missile threats, and transnational non-military threats as the most concerning challenges to the region, and stressed the importance of a collective response to them, the JCS said. The participants also discussed the possible agenda items for the Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense conference to be held in Fiji in August, it added. (Yonhap) The phone call came three days after Azerbaijan installed a checkpoint at the entrance to the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh, thus tightening an effective blockade around the mostly Armenian-populated region where Russia deployed its peacekeepers after brokering a ceasefire in a 2020 Armenian-Azerbaijani war. According to an official statement released by the Armenian prime ministers office, issues related to the Lachin corridor and the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh were discussed during the phone call. The Kremlin also reported the phone call, saying that the two leaders discussed the developments around Nagorno-Karabakh with an emphasis on solving practical tasks to ensure stability and security in the region. In the context of the current tensions in the Lachin corridor, the importance of strict compliance with the entire range of fundamental agreements between the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan was reaffirmed, the Russian presidents office said, adding that the two leaders agreed that Russian-Armenian contacts would continue at various levels. The phone call between Pashinian and Putin came amid reports about the replacement by Moscow of the commander of the Russian peacekeeping force in Nagorno-Karabakh. According to sources in Stepanakert, Colonel-General Alexander Lentsov, who has served as an advisor to Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, had already arrived in the region to replace Major-General Andrey Volkov as the commander of the peacekeeping contingent. Russias Defense Ministry confirmed the appointment of Lentsov later on Wednesday. Representatives of ethnic Armenian authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh do not conceal in their public remarks that they expect Russia to take more active steps in unblocking the road to relieve the humanitarian situation in the region that has already seen restricted supplies since December when a group of Azerbaijanis calling themselves environmental activists blocked the road at a junction not far from Stepanakert. According to Stepanakert, Russian peacekeepers managed to bring some humanitarian goods to the region late on Tuesday for the first time in nearly three days of a complete blockade. Yerevan and Stepanakert insist that the installation by Azerbaijan of a checkpoint on the Lachin corridor contradicts the terms of the Moscow-brokered ceasefire agreement that designates the five-kilometer-wide strip of land connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia as an area of Russian peacekeepers responsibility and control. Official Moscow has also described unilateral steps in the Lachin corridor as unacceptable. The United States and France, which along with Russia have spearheaded decades-long efforts to broker a solution to the protracted conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, have voiced their concerns about the developments in the Lachin corridor, saying that an Azerbaijani checkpoint there undermines efforts to establish confidence and damages the peace process between Baku and Yerevan. European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell also assessed Azerbaijans installation of a checkpoint in the Lachin corridor as an act contrary to the EUs call to reduce tensions. Incidentally, Prime Minister Pashinian on Wednesday also held a phone call with President of the European Council Charles Michel. His office said that the sides exchanged thoughts on the military-political and humanitarian situation in the region. Pashinian reportedly charged that Azerbaijans steps in the Lachin corridor are aimed at the consistent implementation of its policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh and complete eviction of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. An official statement by the Armenian premiers office said that the sides also exchanged thoughts on the Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiation process and highlighted the importance of consistent efforts aimed at ensuring stability and peace in the region. Azerbaijan brushes aside accusations from the Armenian side, insisting that when installing the border checkpoint, it acted on its sovereign territory. Baku has also pledged that necessary conditions would be created for a transparent and orderly passage of Armenian residents living in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in both directions. 26 April 2023 12:00 (UTC+04:00) Sabina Mammadli Read more Overlooking the unrest on the streets of its cities and its long history of genocidal policy, France is a loud player in the South Caucasus, claiming to be a supporter of peace negotiations. In this premise, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna is expected to visit Baku from April 26 to 28 following visits to Yerevan and Tbilisi. It is expected that during the visit Catherine Colonna will hold a meeting with her Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov. During her visit to Armenia, Colonna will visit the headquarters of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Jermuk. The said minister has previously tweeted that the upcoming visits are intended to convey the message of her criticism of the so-called 'closure' of the Lachin road by Azerbaijan. Despite such a provoking statement, Colonna also talked about her determination for continuous negotiations in the South Caucasus and peace in the region. The fact that both statements are contradictory to each other does not seem to raise any questions amidst the French government, which whole policy is based on contradictions. The French government which claims to know the importance of preserving peace in the Caucasus has repeatedly condemned the so-called blockade of the Lachin road and the recent establishment of a checkpoint by the Azerbaijani side, along with other Western diplomats. In a comment to Azernews, Pakistani analyst, author, political expert Prof Shazia Anwer Cheema talked about the upcoming visit of the French foreign minister and the Western perspectives on the Azerbaijani-Armenian negotiation process. It said that Frances purpose in the visits to Azerbaijan and Armenia is to demonstrate France's commitment to supporting negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan to achieve a just and lasting peace while respecting territorial integrity and the principles of international law. I think the French articulation of Western perspectives about Azerbaijan and Armenia is a slippery slope, the pundit emphasized. Cheema pointed out that on the one hand, France is in the region with the agenda of having peace by respecting the territorial boundaries between both countries and on the other hand, France is pepping Armenia for its propagated self-claimed suffering. The Pakistani expert emphasized that there will be no peace until Armenia stops the aggressive provocation towards Azerbaijan. Armenia has to respect the territorial integrity, on the contrary, Armenia is installing Defense Infrastructure across more than 500 km of the new border line, and no country looking for a peaceful solution would go to this length of provocation, she stated. Talking about the upcoming visit of Colonna, the pundit noted that she doesnt expect anything substantial coming out of this diplomatic visit because as the visit agenda itself suggests France is not looking for concrete steps to resolve the issue instead it is just beating the bush. The peaceful Caucasus requires a firm stance to stop Armenias aggressive approach in the region. If the West is interested in that, they have to change their politically correct strategy and need to address the real problem which is Armenias ingrained hatred towards its neighbor, she added. The analyst also stressed that Frances ambiguous stance on the Azerbaijan and Armenia conflict will certainly affect Azerbaijan-France future relations. --- Sabina Mammadli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SabinaMmdl Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 April 2023 17:04 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The delegation of the Azerbaijan National Aerospace Agency (Azercosmos) is participating in the Space Technologies Conference held on April 25-27 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport (MDDT). MDDT noted that space agencies of the region and interested parties of the international space community are represented at the event. The agenda of the conference included discussions on international cooperation, opportunities of the rapidly growing global space industry, observation and communication satellites, their application areas, innovations in space, and investments in this area. On the first day of the conference, the second business meeting of the heads of space agencies and institutions of the Turkic states was held. The meeting held as a continuation of the First Baku Forum of Space Representatives of Turkic States had been held in Baku in 2021. The meeting discussed new cooperation in the space field, the establishment of mutual business relations for peace and commercial purposes from space, and new space technologies and applications. The Chairman of Azercosmos Samaddin Asadov spoke at the session dedicated to "Regional cooperation, international investment and sustainable development of the space industry". In his speech, Samaddin Asadov talked about the importance of the space field for Azerbaijan, the activities of Azerbaijan in the space field over the last 10 years, the projects and new opportunities implemented in Europe, Africa, and Central Asian countries through the resources of satellites. At the event, the guests were told that the 74th International Astronautical Congress, which will be held in Baku in 2023, will stimulate the development of space in Azerbaijan, especially in the region. Through the meeting, the space community of the Turkic states, including the youth, was invited to the Congress to be held in Baku. In the next days of the Space Technologies Conference, which continues with panel discussions, the regional and international market trends of the space industry, the role of geographic information systems in digital transformation, and the possibilities of satellites in the sustainable socio-economic development of countries will be discussed. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 April 2023 17:41 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more STP Group of Companies, a resident of the Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park under the management of the Economic Zones Development Agency (EZDA), signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hungarian Ikarus company, Azernews reports, citing EZDA. Access to paid information is limited Find the plan that suits you best. 26 April 2023 14:00 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Known for its historical and cultural significance, Shusha has been declared the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2023. Numerous cultural events are being organized in Azerbaijan's cultural center and other countries in this regard. Azerbaijan Culture Days have been successfully held in Belgrade as part of the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2023. The diplomatic corps accredited in Belgrade, state officials, cultural and artistic figures, members of the Serbia-Azerbaijani Friendship Society, participated in the event held by the Azerbaijani Embassy in Serbia and with the support of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY). Speaking at the event, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Serbia Kamil Khasiyev drew attention to the existence of high-level and dynamic ties between the two countries. He stressed the importance of developing relations in the cultural field. The large-scale event featured a gala concert and exhibition. Azerbaijani traditional costumes, carpets and art works were demonstrated as part of the celebration. Director of the Azerbaijan Cultural Center, prima soprano of the Serbian Opera and Ballet Theater Yasmina Trumbetash performed the song "Golden Ring" by the well-known Azerbaijani composer Tofig Guliyev. The soloists of the Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic Hall and the State Song and Dance Ensemble Honored Artist Victoria Shahmuradova and veteran of the 44-day Patriotic War Firdovsi Eyvazov delighted the audience with their performances. Earlier, the Days of Shusha were held in Uzbekistan in connection with the declaration of Shusha as the 2023 Cultural Capital of the Turkic World. The anticipated event was held under the auspices of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation and on the basis of a joint project with the Heydar Aliyev Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Uzbekistan. The event program included a screening of a documentary about Shusha's culture, literature, art and history, an exhibition of photographs and books, a fashion show dedicated to Karabakh national costumes, artistic and poetic compositions and gala concerts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 April 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more Yesterday, the working visit of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Bulgaria could be marked as one of the most important events. Welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policies, Minister of Transport and Communications of Bulgaria Hristo Aleksiev, Foreign Policy Secretary of the President of Bulgaria Roussi Ivanov and other officials, the head of state then took part in the most important stage of the day - the document signing ceremony between the SOCAR company and its partners from Bulgaria (Bulgartransgaz), Hungary (FGSZ), Romania (Transgaz) and Slovakia (Eustream). Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev attended the signing ceremony as well. The Memorandum of Understanding signed by Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Parviz Shahbazov, Minister of Energy of Bulgaria Rossen Hristov, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Energy of Romania Virgil-Daniel Popescu and Minister of Economy of Slovakia Karel Hirman was of another great event in terms of Azerbaijans paving the way for a new stage of economic relations with the Eastern Europe. Six months ago, I visited Bulgaria on an official visit. So, I'm back in six months. At that time we participated in the ceremony of inauguration of the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector project. The project, which made it possible to expand European geography of Azerbaijans natural gas supplies, and the project, which helps already to strengthen the European energy security, the Azerbaijani President said as he addressed the ceremony. President Ilham Aliyev also mentioned President Radevs visit to Azerbaijan just a month ago. One month ago, President Radev was our guest in Azerbaijan. So, this really demonstrates the level of cooperation between our countries. It demonstrates the dynamism of our political dialogue, and also demonstrates that Bulgaria and Azerbaijan are not only strategic partners, but also two friends, the President said. In his speech at the signing ceremony President Ilham Aliyev also underlined EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simsons words expressing the importance of signing the memorandum of understanding between the abovementioned countries. As the Azerbaijani President said our country as a reliable energy exporter is capable of increasing gas export to a number of European states, he also touched on the previously signed agreements with nine EU member states so far. The MoU signed today, when implemented, will definitely strengthen energy security in Europe, and allow Azerbaijan to export more gas to many more European countries. As it was already said today by Madame Kadri Simson, Energy Commissioner, and other officials from the European Commission and other friends, Azerbaijan is a reliable partner of Europe, I would say, not only in the area of energy, but also in many other areas. Also, I'd like to inform you that with nine EU member states, Azerbaijan signed and adopted agreements or declarations on strategic partnership. So that means that one third of member states of the EU are strategic partners of Azerbaijan, and this partnership has a very important future, the head of state added. Obviously, all the efforts and steps taken are not in vain. Azerbaijan's provision of gas and energy to Eastern European countries amidst the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, is also in the center of attention of the other side. The kind words addressed to the head of the country by the President of Bulgaria in this regard confirm once again that Azerbaijan is a true and most reliable partner country in the literal sense of the word. President Aliyev has proved that Azerbaijan is a reliable trade partner. There is nothing to add to the fact that Bulgaria has been reliably supplied by Azerbaijan for more than a year, according to the agreement we signed more than 10 years ago. Despite all the global political facts, Azerbaijan has rigorously complied with the terms of the agreement. Azerbaijan is a strategic partner not only of Bulgaria, but also of the entire European Union. This was confirmed in July of last year, when Azerbaijan signed a Memorandum with the European Commission on strategic cooperation in the energy sector and, in particular, on the supply of additional gas to the European Union, the Bulgarian President stressed. The opinions expressed at the signing ceremony once again showed that over the past years, Azerbaijan has established itself as an important and reliable energy partner of Europe. Even today, the demand for Azerbaijani gas in the European energy market is constantly increasing. It is no coincidence that our country plays a special decisive role in the realization of the Solidarity Ring. The steps taken regarding the Solidarity Ring, after the TAP project, mean a new page in the energy policy of President Ilham Aliyev. If Azerbaijani gas covered Italy through TAP, passing through Greece, Azerbaijan will contribute to the energy supply of more than 10 European countries with the implementation of these new projects. It should also be noted that the Solidarity Ring includes all partner countries in Eastern Europe. In this regard, President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Albania last year and his one-on-one meeting with Albanian President Bajram Begaj and a series of negotiations related to energy supply during the meeting are very important. An example of this is the fact that the head of state mentioned Albania at the signing ceremony in Bulgaria. We are in the process of negotiations with Albania to build a local gas distribution system, because the Southern Gas Corridor crosses Albanias territory. As a member of the Solidarity Ring, I'm sure, Slovakia will soon become our partner in energy as well. We will increase the geography of our gas supplies from 6 to at least 10 countries. I say at least, because I think this is not the end of the story. We plan to expand furthermore our presence on the European gas market. I'd like to underline the special role of President of Bulgaria Mr. Radev in the initiative to create this solid team of partners. The Solidarity Ring, I'm sure, will play an important role in the implementation of our joint ambitious plans, the President underlined. It is woth noting that the implementation of the Solidarity Ring, in addition to moving the relations between the European Union and our country to a new stage, also opens a new page in the relations between Azerbaijan and the Balkan countries. It is through Albania that the Trans-Adriatic Gas Pipeline, TAP, the backbone of the energy architecture of Southern Europe and the Western Balkans, transports Caspian hydrocarbons to Italy. President Ilham Aliyev and President Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia signed a declaration on their strategic partnership and alliance at the end of November, strengthening relations between the two countries at higher level. Besides, Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina are also connected by more than just shared cultural heritage; both countries also suffered greatly as a result of ethno-territorial conflicts. Minefields, war, and forced displacement are all familiar recollections for Azerbaijanis and Bosnians. These two countries have consistently stood by one another during hard times, for each others causes. In a nutshell, Azerbaijan and the Balkan countries have more opportunities and potential to improve relations. The meeting that took place in Bulgaria yesterday and the important documents that were signed can be considered a decisive tool for realizing these possibilities. --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz U.S. Navy's nuclear ballistic missile submarine, USS Henry M. Jackson/ Courtesy of U.S. Submarine Force Pacific Presidents Joe Biden and Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday will sign an agreement that includes plans to have U.S. nuclear-armed submarines dock in South Korea for the first time in more than 40 years, a conspicuous show of support to Seoul amid growing concern about nuclear threats by North Korea, according to senior Biden administration officials. The planned dock visits are a key element of what's being dubbed the "Washington Declaration," aimed at deterring North Korea from carrying out an attack on its neighbor. It is being unveiled as Biden is hosting Yoon for a state visit during a moment of heightened anxiety for both leaders over an increased pace of ballistic missile tests by North Korea over the last several months. The three senior Biden administration officials, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity ahead of the official announcement, said that Biden and Yoon aides have been working on details of the plan for months and agreed that "occasional" and "very clear demonstrations of the strength" of U.S. extended deterrence capabilities needed to be an essential aspect of the agreement. The agreement seeks to allay South Korean fears over the North's aggressive nuclear weapons program and to keep the country from restarting its own nuclear program, which it gave up nearly 50 years ago when it signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Yoon earlier this year said his country was weighing developing its own nuclear weapons or asking the U.S. to redeploy them on the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. and South Korea also would coordinate more deeply on nuclear response strategy in the event of the North attacking the South but operational control of such weapons would remain in U.S. control, and no nuclear weapons are being deployed onto South Korean shores. Biden and Yoon did not directly address the agreement during their remarks at a pomp-filled arrival ceremony before nearly 7,000 guests on the White House lawn nor during a brief appearance before reporters at the start of their Oval Office talks. Biden stressed that both nations are committed to "doubling down on our cooperation as allies" as North Korea "ramps up its challenges." "We're taking on the challenges of the world, and we're taking them on together," Biden said. The state visit comes as the U.S. and South Korea mark the 70th year of the countries' alliance that began at the end of the Korean War and committed the United States to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea. Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are currently based in South Korea. U.S. President Joe Biden, center, and first lady Jill Biden, right, greet Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol as he arrives for an official White House State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., April 26. Reuters-Yonhap "Why did they sacrifice their lives for this faraway country and for the people that you've never met?" Yoon said of the U.S. troops who served during the war. "That was for one noble cause: to defend freedom." The agreement also calls for the U.S. and South Korean militaries to strengthen joint training and better integrate South Korean military assets into the joint strategic deterrence effort. As part of the declaration, South Korea will reaffirm its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, an agreement signed by several major nuclear and non-nuclear powers that pledged their cooperation to stem the spread of nuclear technology, the officials said. As a candidate for the presidency last year, Yoon said he would call for the increased deployment of U.S. bombers, aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines to South Korea as he looked to offer a firmer response to the North's threats than his predecessor Moon Jae-in. In the midst of the Cold War in the late 1970s, U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines made frequent port visits to South Korea, sometimes two to three visits per month, according to the Federation of American Scientists. It was a period when the U.S. had hundreds of nuclear warheads located in South Korea. But in 1991, the United States withdrew all of its nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula, and the following year Seoul and Pyongyang signed a joint declaration pledging that neither would "test, manufacture, produce, receive, possess, store, deploy or use nuclear weapons." But as the North has repeatedly violated the joint declaration over the years, there's been increased support in South Korea for the United States to return nuclear weapons to the country. One Biden administration official cautioned it is "crystal clear" that there are no plans by the administration for "returning tactical or any other kind of nuclear weapon to the Korean Peninsula." Instead, administration officials said they envision that the visit of ballistic missile submarines will be followed by the U.S. military more regularly deploying assets such as bombers or aircraft carriers to South Korea. North Korea's increasing nuclear threats, along with concerns about China's military and economic assertiveness in the region, have pushed the Biden administration to expand its Asian alliance . To that end, Biden has thrown plenty of attention at Yoon as well as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Next week, Biden will host Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for Oval Office talks. In the past year, North Korea has been steadily expanding its nuclear arsenal, while China and Russia repeatedly block U.S.-led efforts to toughen sanctions on the North over its barrage of banned missile tests. The stepped-up testing by North Korea includes the flight-testing of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time earlier this month. The recent test is seen as a possible breakthrough in the North's efforts to acquire a more powerful, harder-to-detect weapon targeting the continental United States. President Yoon Suk-yeol shakes hands with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during their meeting at the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid, Spain, June 30. Joint Press Corps 26 April 2023 15:00 (UTC+04:00) By Vusala Mustafayeva The international community must strongly condemn terrorism and take measures to ensure peace and tranquility in the region. According to Azernews, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan issued a statement on the monument to the 'Nemesis' operation in Armenia. "We strongly condemn the unveiling of a monument to the terrorist Nemesis operation in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, on April 25 of this year," said the ministry. According to the ministry, building this monument with the permission and approval of the relevant government agencies of Armenia, the participation of the Deputy Mayor of Armenia who is a member of the ruling party, as well as other officials in the unveiling ceremony is the promotion of the terrorist policy by Armenia and the propaganda of terrorist acts carried out throughout the history. During the terrorist Nemesis operation targeting the officials of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, as well as the Ottoman Empire, in 1920-1922, along with officials of the Ottoman State, former Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Fatali Khan Khoyski, former Deputy Chairman of the Parliament of Azerbaijan Hasan Bay Aghayev, Former Minister of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan Behbud Khan Javanshir, former Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Nasib Bey Yusifbeyli were killed. Referring to a statement, it is well-known to all that, terrorism promoted in Armenia at the state level, as well as ASALA and other Armenian terrorist organizations committed more than 22 terrorist acts in 235 countries of the world and killed 24 Turkish diplomats in 1970-1980. Since the end of the 1980s, Armenia has committed about 30 large-scale terrorist acts against Azerbaijan, including the bombings of public buses and metro trains, as well as the civilian population has been targeted by terrorists. It is known that ASALA and its sub-branches Arabo and Aramo terrorist groups were closely involved in committing Khojaly genocide against Azerbaijanis. Heroization of Armenian terrorist, ASALA member Hampig Sassounian, who is the murderer of the Turkish diplomat Kemal Arikan, Nazism propagandas constitution of an integral part of the state policy in Armenia, the propaganda of SS General Garegin Nzhdeh and Drastamat Kanayan (known as Dro) as a national hero, the perpetuation of their names and the promotion of Nzhdeism clearly show the true essence of the Armenian regime. As cited in the source, the support of terrorism at the state level, which has been used by radical Armenian groups throughout history, must be strongly condemned by the international community, and in order to ensure peace and tranquility in the region, the policy of terrorism should be stopped by Armenia. Armenian terrorism, extremism, aggressive separatism, and all forms and manifestations of racial discrimination must be fought decisively without any ambiguity or double standards. As the ministry noted, such steps by Armenia seriously question the country's alleged sincerity and goodwill in connection with the ongoing normalization negotiations with Azerbaijan and Turkiye. It should be noted that the path to peace and reconciliation does not lie in the further glorification of crimes and mistakes but in the recognition of them. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 April 2023 13:19 (UTC+04:00) Rena Murshud Read more Armenia has launched another provocation allegedly publishing news on suspending works at the Sotk gold mine. According to so called information in Armenian media, a few days ago, up to 800 workers stopped working, and claimed that they have fled to the sound of bullets from the Azerbaijani armed forces in the direction of SOTK. It is significant to note that due that information Azerbaijan Defense Ministry had refuted the abovementioned information based on no evidence. Trying to pretend to be right in the matter, Armenians claim that they left the area as though for security purpose. At present, most of the workers have stopped working, it is reported that even 40 of them have left for Russia, Azernews reports. The Sotk gold mine, known in Azerbaijan as the Zod gold mine is the largest mine in Azerbaijan and Armenia in terms of pure gold reserves. It is located in the vicinity of the Sotk village in Azerbaijan's historical Basarkecher (Vardenis) region and then Armenia's Gegharkunik Province, and the adjacent part of the Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan. According to Azerbaijani officials, 74 percent of the gold mine lies on Azerbaijani territory. The mine was discovered in 1951 and has been in operation since 1976. In 1993, during the First Karabakh War, the Kalbajar region of Azerbaijan (including the Azerbaijani part of the mine) passed under full control of Armenia and remained so until November 2020. In 2007, Armenia unilaterally granted the Russian company GeoProMining the right to exploit the mine. 320,500 tons of gold ore were mined in 2009, 490,000 tons in 2010, 880,000 tons in 2011. Between 350 and 400 workers were employed at the mine. The ore has been processed at the Ararat Gold Extraction Plant, where it is transported by rail. Pure gold reserves at the mine are estimated at more than 120 tons. The minimum profitable content of precious metal in the ore is equal to 0.8 g per ton. --- Follow Rena Murshud on Twitter: @RenaTagiyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 April 2023 18:00 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more A new commander has been appointed on the Russian peacekeeping troops temporarily stationed in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan in accordance with the November 9 Statement in 2020. Andrey Volkov, who headed the troops until today, hands over his chair to the newly appointed Colonel-General Aleksandr Lentsov. However, the 67-year-old new commander has an interesting dossier. Colonel-General Lentsov has started his career in Afghanistan, served in Donetsk, Ukraine in 2014-2015, and took part in Russian operations in Syria in 2016. He was the commander of the 98th Guards Airborne Division. Between 2009 and 2013 he served as deputy commander of the Russian Airborne Forces, and from 2013 to 2020 as deputy commander of the Russian Ground Forces. Besides that, it said he is a trusted man and advisor of Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu. It is also an interesting point that Russia has been replacing the commander of the peacekeeping contingent for the 4th time in the past three years - and Lentsov is the fifth one. Nevertheless, the frequent replacements in the very short time has not been accepted unequivocally either in Azerbaijani or Armenian societies. Especially the coincidence of the last replacement with the establishment of the border checkpoint at the start of the Lachin-Khankendi road by Azerbaijan has put the limelight on some questions. In a comment for Azernews on the issue the Former Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Tofig Zulfugar clarified all the dark points as follows: "I not think that the last replacement relates to the establishment of the border checkpoint," the diplomat said. "Azerbaijan had been doing preparations for a long time in this matter. The establishment of the checkpoint was in the agenda. Even Andrey Volkov, the former head of the peacekeepers, voiced it. In fact, this should have happened a long time ago. The peacekeepers do not conduct border guard and there is no such international experience. They usually deal with security issues. This function should have been taken from them. I do not believe that Volkov's replacement is related to this issue. However, in order to calm the Armenians, perhaps they will spread such information that Russia was not aware of it [the establishment of the border checkpoint]. Or it is Volkov's arbitrary decision. I do not rule out the spread of similar images. Even the Armenians were aware of this because they installed their border checkpoints before us. Now, if the Armenian side claimed that they had not known, it will not be believable. We are just dealing with a wave of propaganda, but the reality is that this is a process that should have happened a long time ago. The main purpose of the established border checkpoint is to stop radicalism and terror. The movement of radicals will now be under control." the former minister noted. As for the frequent replacements, the former foreign minister noted that it could have different reasons. "As it is known, the contingent is under the Ministry of Defense, and now the main priority of the Ministry of Defense is the war in Ukraine. The Rotations that are happening may have something to do with it. Certain personnel may be needed in Ukraine. Secondly, the leadership of the Russian Defense Ministry or the political leadership of Russia is dissatisfied with the work style of the military personnel in Karabakh. From this point of view, these changes could occur. Thirdly, it may be related to the fact that the troops in Karabakh have come under the influence of the local Armenians due to subjective reasons. I mean, in exchange for financial interests and it could dissatisfy the Azerbaijani side and dissatisfy the Russian Ministry of Defense," ex-minister opined. He stressed that the appointment of Colonel-General Aleksander Lentsov will not affect the process politically in the region because military personnel perform a technical function. In this regard, it is not right to expect some new steps from them. The former minister added that the Azerbaijani side may require him to help in some processes such as integration issues. However, the peacekeepers do not have the power, nor do they have the leverage, to seriously change the nature of the ongoing processes. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 April 2023 16:18 (UTC+04:00) Rena Murshud Read more NATO's highest military body, the Military Committee, will meet in person on 10 May 2023 in Brussels with attendance of 32 chiefs of general staffs, Azernews reports with reference to the statement of the alliance. The meeting is expected take place in Brussels, Belgium. Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the Military Committee, will preside over the meeting, which will be attended by the Allied Chiefs of Defence and their Invitee counterpart from Sweden. They will be supported by General Christopher Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), and General Philippe Lavigne, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT). The meeting of the NATO Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session (MCCS) will enable the 32 Chiefs of Defence, to meet and discuss issues of strategic importance to the Alliance. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will join the Military Committee for the first session to address the Alliance's key priorities and challenges. The second session will see the Chiefs of Defence discuss Russia-Ukraine. The third session will focus on strengthening the Alliances deterrence and defence posture ahead of the Vilnius Summit decisions and beyond. The Chiefs of Defence will discuss the implementation and the sustainment of this strengthened posture. Sessions four and five will see the Military Committee provide additional direction and guidance regarding the major overhaul of NATOs defence posture, agreed at the Madrid Summit. --- Follow Rena Murshud on Twitter: @RenaTagiyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 April 2023 19:48 (UTC+04:00) Atkhamjon Ubaidullayev, head of the main department of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, said that the country is constantly cooperating with Russian companies, including Gazprom, Lukoil and Tatneft. Uzbekistan constantly cooperates with Russian partners in the oil and gas sector, in particular, an agreement was recently reached with Gazprom Neft on the supply of 300,000 tons of oil in 2023. This was announced on Tuesday by the head of the main department of the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan Atkhamjon Ubaidullaev. We are constantly working with our Russian partners, for example, an agreement was reached with Gazprom Neft to supply 300,000 tons of oil to the republic in 2023, Ubaidullaev said at the Innoprom. Central Asia, held in Tashkent. According to him, work is underway with other Russian companies, in particular, with Tatneft, which has three filling stations in the republic, negotiations are underway to expand its activities in the republic. Ubaidullayev also said that more than 30% of oil and gas companies in Uzbekistan were created with the participation of Russian capital. To date, the largest investor in the republic's oil and gas industry is the Lukoil company, which has already invested more than US$10 billion in two projects implemented on the basis of a production sharing agreement, Ubaidullayev said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 April 2023 21:16 (UTC+04:00) At least six people were killed as their vehicle turned upside down in Afghanistan's eastern Parwan province on Monday, provincial police spokesman Mohammad Kamran Zaid said Tuesday. While blaming reckless driving for the deadly accident, the official told reporters that the six people killed on the spot were on a sightseeing trip in Parwan's mountainous Sheikh Ali district on Monday afternoon. This is the third road accident in Afghanistan since Sunday. Earlier two road accidents claimed the lives of two travelers in the central Daykundi province late Sunday and early Monday. More than a dozen people have been confirmed dead and more than 200 others injured across Afghanistan due to reckless driving on congested roads since Friday, the first day of the Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in the country. Dilapidated roads, reckless driving and lack of safety measures during travels are often blamed for deadly road accidents in Afghanistan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 April 2023 02:07 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more News is circulated in Armenian media about dozens of villages in Syunik (Zangazur) which are said to have been devastated. It is noted that the main reasons that prompted the Armenian population to leave Zangazur are the lack of certainty and the failed policy of the state. In two years, the population of Zangazur decreased by 2800 people, in 5 years - by 4400 inhabitants. In total, over the past 10 years, the population has decreased by 7,200 people. It is also noted that, according to expectations, the negative trend will continue and this trend will lead to an aggravation of the demographic crisis in the region. As mention to Armenian economy, Armenia poverty rate for 2020 was 53.50%, a 1.2% increase from 2019. Armenia poverty rate for 2019 was 52.30%, a 3.4% increase from 2018. According to some reliable sources, one of the main causes of poverty in Armenia is a lack of jobs. This is demonstrated through the number of workers who emigrate. The majority of men leave the country to earn wages in Russia. Some researchers estimate that almost 14 percent of the Armenian population has emigrated to find employment elsewhere. Another reason for stagnation in Armenia's economy is weak agricultural system. The agricultural system in Armenia does not create enough jobs or affordable food. When the Soviet Union collapsed, Armenia had to replace some of its industrial economy with agriculture to feed its people. The government rapidly created small farms and sold them to citizens. Many of the newly minted farms were created in mountain regions with difficult terrain. Farmers often lack agricultural knowledge. In addition, many of the small farms do not have adequate infrastructures or access to farming technology. Government policy has not bolstered the efficiency of farms; instead, changing regulations and policies have damaged the agricultural sector. According to the reports from Asian Development Bank (ADB) Armenian economy has been in dire situation, and it extremely needs to diversify its economic growth and widen inclusiveness. Armenia desperately needs to reform engagements in infrastructure, human capital, and regional cooperation and integration. Unfortunately, with the ongoing conflict in the region and Armenia's unstable political course has strayed it from the right direction. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Generally cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 64F. S winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 48F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. The Changwon District Court's Masan branch / Screen captured from Changwon District Court website The CEO of Hankook Steel Mill was sentenced to one year in prison and put behind bars Wednesday in connection with the death of a worker at its plant, becoming the first corporate head to be punished with a prison term for lax industrial safety controls. The Changwon District Court's branch in the southeastern city of Masan, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, convicted the CEO of providing insufficient safety measures in connection with the death of an employee in March last year. The CEO was arrested at the courtroom and put into prison upon sentencing. The worker in his 60s died at the company's plant in the nearby Haman county after his legs were crushed below a 1.2-ton steel plate. It marks the first time a corporate head has been imprisoned for violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act under which business owners or CEOs of companies with 50 or more employees are subject to at least one year in prison or up to 1 billion won ($747,663) in fines in the event of deadly on-duty disasters caused by lax workplace safety measures. The law went into force in January 2022. (Yonhap) Iran says U.S. unilateral actions weaken UN Charter, threaten multilateralism Xinhua) 14:31, April 26, 2023 TEHRAN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) said the U.S. unilateral withdrawal from a 2015 nuclear deal and reimposition of the "illegal" sanctions against Tehran are flagrant instances of unilateralism that undermine the UN Charter and threaten multilateralism. Amir Saeid Iravani made the remarks on Monday in an address to a UN Security Council debate on multilateralism, the official news agency IRNA reported on Tuesday. The Iranian envoy cited several instances of U.S. unilateralism that include forcing countries into supporting and taking part in its "illegal" actions and defying the rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), noting that such unilateral actions have also weakened the UN system. On March 30, the ICJ ruled that the United States had "illegally allowed its courts to freeze Iranian companies' assets" and ordered Washington to pay compensation to Iran, the amount of which will be determined later. The Iranian diplomat added that using unilateral coercive measures, including their extraterritorial implementation, is yet another worrisome example of harmful unilateral actions that are in contradiction to the fundamental principles of international law, the UN Charter, and basic human rights. Iravani said such "illegal actions" have far-reaching humanitarian impacts and can weaken diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving differences and enhancing cooperation among countries. In May 2018, the United States unilaterally pulled out of the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed between Iran and world powers in July 2015, and reimposed its unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to reduce some of its nuclear commitments under the deal. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) People walk around the district of Myeongdong in central Seoul, April 23. Korea Times photo by Choi Ju-yeon The number of Koreans moving to other regions slightly moved up in March from a year earlier, data showed Wednesday, as the local housing market showed signs of a rebound. Around 589,000 people changed their residences last month, up 0.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea, snapping the 26th consecutive month of decline posted through February. Korea's housing market had been experiencing a downturn in recent months due to the central bank's aggressive monetary tightening measures. However, since the bank's decision to maintain rates in February, the market has shown indications of recovery. According to data from the Korea Real Estate Board, the number of houses traded in February was 41,191, a 4.6 percent decrease from the previous year. Despite this decline, the figure represented a nearly 60 percent increase from the preceding month. The population mobility rate the percentage of those relocating per 100 people reached 13.5 percent in March, up 0.1 percentage point on-year. Incheon, just 40 kilometers west of Seoul, reported a net inflow of 2,839 people, followed by Gyeonggi Province with 2,315 and South Chungcheong Province with 1,644. South Gyeongsang Province, on the other hand, lost 2,116 people, with Gwangju, 329 kilometers southwest of Seoul, and Daegu, 302 kilometers southeast of the capital city, losing 1,272 and 1,247, respectively, over the period. Seoul posted a decrease of 878. (Yonhap) Deeper Into Arch Cape Opens Up Oregon Coast History, Curious Noises and Sights Published 04/19/23 at 4:42 AM By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Cannon Beach, Oregon) - A couple of miles south of Hug Point (just south of Cannon Beach), and just north of Manzanita, this is where the north Oregon coast all of a sudden becomes one big stretch of hidden spots and unspoiled splendor. A dark curtain of thick trees is drawn over much of this landscape, as the highway weaves up and down wave-like changes in elevation. Periodic glimpses of the waves below are given now and then, and just before you enter the cavernous Arch Cape Tunnel from the north, an abrupt but quite brief flash of beach comes into view. (All photos Oregon Coast Beach Connection) This is what happens when you encounter the lovely little beach interlude known as Arch Cape. It's a tiny community that consists of a few homes and one or two businesses right on 101. But mostly it's a couple of beach accesses hidden behind some neighborhood streets - and it's one truly romantic beach walk. And like the fact there's much more to it than the lightning-fast blip at the tunnel, there's more to Arch Cape's story than meets the eye. It has played an integral part in north Oregon coast history. This beach, a mix of cobblestones and sand, reaches north all the way to near Hug Point (which is totally accessible at low tide after a two-mile walk.) Yet on its south side, up against the great cliffs of Cape Falcon, you'll find a small grouping of rock structures hugging a basalt point. At lower tides, you can walk between these and the cliffs and explore a rocky beach full of boulders, dramatic structures and that glorious object that got the place its name: a sizable arch. See all those boulders surrounding this hole in the rocks? Those are part of what used to be three or so arches clumped together, creating a kind of spider-like formation. That's what originally gave Arch Cape its name, but it fell apart in the '40s. Now those rocks host all kinds of tidepool life. To find a totally hidden spot adjacent to Arch Cape, you may be able to walk past those rock structures to a bit of secret paradise. Or, drive through the Arch Cape Tunnel about a mile, until you spot a sign signaling "Falcon Cove Road." This is a residential district, so you'll want to be respectful here as you park near a somewhat slippery, muddy beach access. This is an unusual spot, comprised of large, polished cobblestones that make a rattling noise when touched by the tides. Falcon Cove Beach has been given the nickname of Magic Rocks Beach (hear the noise at this link) because of it. Stay away from it in winter for safety's sake, but in summers and higher-sand-level times of the year it's accessible and a kick in the pants. At Arch Cape itself, Leech Lane is the main access and the one most visible, but to find any others you have to drive a bit north back on 101 and then take one of those tiny roads back in. There's a couple such accesses here, but they're hard to find, with the most obvious being about 40 feet from Sharks Lane. In this northern section, you get a different view of Arch Cape, where the beach widens a little more comfortably. The street is not named for the big, bitey fish, by the way. It's named for the USS Shark that crashed at Astoria in the 1850s, and two of its cannon were found here later in the century. One disappeared into history. In fact, originally this place was Cannon Beach because of those two great guns. Then it bagged that name and went for Arch Cape early in the 20th century. By 1922, the larger town to the north picked up the name Cannon Beach. Quirky Oregon Coast History: How Cannon Beach Got Its Name That mysterious missing caronade? It was discovered in 2007 by a teenager walking this beach, opening up yet another chapter in Oregon coast and shipwreck history. Cannon That Gave Oregon Coast Town Its Name Leaves the State Hotels in Cannon Beach - Where to eat - Cannon Beach Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast. LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted New, Rare Sand Feature Atop Cape Kiwanda Floors Oregon Coast Geologists - Video Published 04/23/23 at 7:02 AM - Updated 04/30/23 By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Pacific City, Oregon) [Updated with new links to latest on the grooves] --- It's pretty rare when Oregon coast geological experts uncover something new on these shores or that they spot something they have not seen in their profession. Yet just that happened this week when Portland musician Pilar French found something on top of Cape Kiwanda and passed it onto Oregon Coast Beach Connection. (Photos and video courtesy Pilar French) Showing it to PSU geologist Dr. Scott Burns, he flipped. He's studied Kiwanda's sands quite a bit, and he actually said this made his day as he'd never seen it before. Then later, after showing this to other geologist colleagues, French's images also made their days, Burns told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Near the top of Cape Kiwanda, on one dune, are these elegant, intricate lines. While not an Earth-shaking discovery, it is new and rare around here. And no one knew it was happening on Cape Kiwanda. They even gave it its own name: linear earthflows. And no, it has nothing to do with the sinkhole (Cape Kiwanda Sinkhole: Why, How and Its Future). What's weird here, Burns said, is a few things. One, it's a sign of rain sculpting these unique shapes down the slope instead of just falling through into the dune. All those lines going down (and they are complex as well) are so thin and close together which is very unusual. There are also signs this keeps happening over and over. So what this tells Oregon coast experts is that rain isn't interacting with the dune in normal ways. You can see water flowing down one of these grooves in the video. We agree that they are all linear earthflows in the sand caused by the high rainfalls on the sand in recent weeks, Burns told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. There is probably some silt that has blown into the sand dunes locally therefore giving a little 'binder' to the sand to allow the flows to form. Silt is a granular substance with grains somewhere in size between clay and sand. It's a common thing in soils. How it got up here isn't a huge surprise, Burns said, as he's studied the sand content at Kiwanda himself. But what it's doing is a new one here. There have been some dust events recently out here, Burns said, so that probably kicked up silt into the famed north Oregon coast dune. [Complete Guide: Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area] So when it rains, normally what happens is the water just goes right straight into the sand, and it doesn't move the sand, he said. What's happening here is each of those lineations are moving sand down the slope. Burns keeps reiterating that he was blown away by this find. One of the biggest distinctions about these sandforms is that they are small versions of what you normally find. Usually if you see something like this, it's a big ridge or bump in the sand with rounded lobes at the end. The thing is that they're so skinny, Burns said. I've never seen them that skinny. Normally, these things are ten, fifteen feet wide and the whole thing is a big lobe that is coming down. These are very close together. Wow. And so I've never seen anything like that, and I've seen a lot of slopes and what we call slope geomorphy landforms. These are water-generated flows and they have a nice little rounded end at the bottom. This, in turn, reveals something else about these linear earthflows atop Kiwanda. The lines will dry up and blow away with a bit of dry weather, and so it's entirely possible they're already gone. However, they could be back. Burns said to look carefully just below the lobes: you'll see the outline of others in the past. Below the ends of all of the lobes, there you can see where older ones have been before, he said. But they've eroded away: it's just kind of the imprint of them. They're flat, and you can see they have been forming in the past. Like that one Sci-Fi show said: All this has happened before and will happen again. Except that this is all science and no fiction: if they've formed right in that spot in the past, you'll eventually see others again. The bottom line: these are rare in the world, and it turns out they've been happening here periodically. If Cape Kiwanda had a cap, this would be a feather in it. They won't last long, however. French said she wouldn't walk up that dune just to preserve the cool designs, but of course others won't even consider that idea. [See them a week later One Week Later, Rare Sand Shapes Atop Oregon Coast Cape Are Fading But Evident] Hotels in Pacific City - Where to eat - Pacific City Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast. LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Japan will continue to purchase Russian crude oil above the $60 per barrel price cap imposed by G7 nations last year.The break from the sanction created by Western nations in reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine was approved by the United States but marks a faltering in the G7 alliance, which includes the two nations as well as Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Japan, an island nation with lackluster energy reserves, will continue to purchase crude oil from the Sakhalin-2 project in the far eastern portion of Russia such that Japan continues to have access to the natural gas present at the site.an official from the Japanese economy ministry said in a statement to The Wall Street Journal. He noted that a small quantity of crude oil is extracted alongside the natural gas at Sakhalin-2, which Japan must continue to purchase to ensure access to the latter energy product.The price cap policy only allows maritime services industries in the G7 nations, the European Union, and Australia, which include sectors such as insurance and trade finance, to offer their services for Russian oil sold below the benchmark. Brent crude oil, the price benchmark for fuel drilled in the Atlantic Ocean, was $81 per barrel as of Monday morning.Mitsui and Mitsubishi, two prominent Japanese companies, own nearly one-quarter of the Sakhalin-2 initiative and successfully fought to maintain their shares of the project last year.Japan has been more hesitant than other G7 nations to express full-throated support for Ukraine, given their dependence on Russian energy resources. Russia provides roughly one-tenth of Japanese natural gas imports; Germany, which depended on Russia for more than half of natural gas imports before the invasion began early last year, rushed to secure other power sources as the cost of electricity soared more than tenfold last fall.Hirokazu Matsuno, the chief spokesman for the Japanese government, nevertheless insisted that his nation supports Ukraine. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to express solidarity with the Ukrainian war effort next month at the G7 conference in Hiroshima.Matsuno said.The United States Treasury Department asserted last year that the price cap isas Russia hasthe rate. To shirk the price cap, Russia must depend upon maritime service providers outside of the G7, which are more expensive and less reliable.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a speech regarding the policy.The United States has sent more than $75 billion in combined humanitarian, military, and financial aid to Ukraine as of January, according to an analysis from the Council on Foreign Relations. Institutions of the European Union, on the other hand, have sent nearly $32 billion, while the United Kingdom and Germany have sent a combined $15 billion. Recently, federal and state government officials and wind energy advocates tried to quell Brunswick County residents' serious economic concerns about offshore wind turbines spoiling ocean views and harming tourism Earlier federal government reports found there would be significant viewshed disruption - and by much smaller turbines than would be used now The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is visible at the same distance coastal residents were told they'd need "binoculars" to see wind turbines over four times its height Offshore wind energy facilities fielding vast arrays of huge wind turbines would ruin the crystal blue horizon that vacationers prize. Tourism is one of the two top industries in coastal communities (the other is fishing, which is also severely threatened by offshore wind).Nevertheless, in his first week in office, Pres. Joe Biden threw caution to the wind and ordered afollowing it up by announcingand bring aboutIn line with those orders, Gov. Roy Cooper soon afterward ordered the State of North Carolina toto develop 8.0 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2040.Wilmington East and Wilmington West offshore wind energy areas () and proximity to shoreNorth Carolina coastal communities that would be affected by these rash political goals have significant economic concerns. Recently, officials in the Biden and Cooper administrations teamed up with wind energy advocacy groups and sympathetic media to try to tamp them down.On March 21, Cooper's(NC Towers) broughtto try to quell Brunswick County residents' concerns about offshore wind. From the sounds of it from WRAL'sattendees to the presentation were made to think that the turbines would be barely visible. For example:Only with binoculars? That's simply not accurate at all. There are plenty of reasons to expect large wind turbine arrays a few nautical miles offshore to be arresting features on the horizon, destroying residents' views and sending tourists to unspoiled coastlines in other states.BOEM viewshed analysis, 2015In 2015, viewshed analysis for New York offshore wind projects conducted for the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (under Pres. Barack Obama) had shown that, from most vantage points, wind turbines up to 24 nautical miles (NM) off shore wouldowing to theirto the horizon - and from some vantage points wind turbines wouldthe view. These problems, the BOEM study noted, would be worse at night because of the lights attached to the turbine blades and towers to alert aircraft.It's important to point out that the BOEM viewshed analysis was of turbines 577 feet tall, from sea level to blade tip. The turbines currently in discussion off the Brunswick beaches (for thealso called the Wilmington East and West wind energy areas) would be 853 feet tall. Turbines being discussed in the Kitty Hawk wind energy area would be 1,042 feet tall. It's not unlikely that those taller turbines might later be chosen for the Carolina Long Bay area.If turbines at 577 feet tall would be so visually arresting from areas up to 24 nautical miles, then arrays of turbines that are 48 to 80 percent taller and within 20 nautical miles would not suddenly require binoculars to see. Especially not at night.BOEM offshore lighting guidance, 2016In 2016, a study conducted for BOEM for determining lighting guidance for offshore wind towers and blade tips noted that it wasThis finding does not even account forIn other words, BOEM found that turbines as small as 328 to 492 feet tall could be seen unaided on a clear day from as far away as 23.5 to 27.8 nautical miles. Again, the turbines in discussion off the coast of North Carolina range in height from 853 to 1,042 feet tall.The following graphs were included in that BOEM report:Effect of Earth Curvature on Visibility (Includes Refraction) - BOEM IllustrationVisibility Distances of Offshore Wind Turbines, By Height (Includes Refraction)* Note: Turbine heights in this graph range from 328 to 492 feet, and distances range from 23.5 to 27.8 nautical milesVisibility of lighthousesSome objects are intended to be seen at sea level across long distances: lighthouses, which are erected across the coastline to help mariners navigate and avoid dangerous shoals. Perhaps the most iconic lighthouse in North Carolina is the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. It is 198 feet tall and reaches 210 feet above mean sea level.In other words, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is not even one-fourth the height of the turbines planned off the shores of Brunswick County, and not even one-fifth the height of the turbines planned for the Kitty Hawk wind energy area.How far away can the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse be seen? According to its National Park Service page,So someone could see a light atop a tower 210 feet above sea level for up to 20 nautical miles. That's the same distance Brunswick County residents were told they'd need binoculars for seeing towers 853 feet above sea level.It's tempting to think that the intensity of the beacon is the deciding factor, but the human eye is extraordinarily perceptive of light. Research from Texas A&M University, discussed in MIT Technological Review, has shown that the human eye can readily distinguish a candle's flame up to 1.6 miles away. As the National Park Service points out, the range of the lighthouse is more dependent on its height (and a clear sky).The wind turbines would more than quadruple the lighthouse's height - and they would be required to be fitted with lights on the towers and blade tips that all flash simultaneously 30 times per minute in all directions.ConclusionCoastal residents have significant reasons to worry about viewshed disruption from large arrays of enormous wind turbines off the coast - regardless of what self-interested government officials and advocacy groups try to tell them.The next brief in this series will delve more into viewshed disruption by offshore wind turbines and estimate how visible they could be. Allen Thiel Mr. Allen Thiel, age 72, a resident of Washington, passed away Saturday, April 15, 2023, at ECU Health Inpatient Hospice in Greenville. By: Announcements Search Terms: washington obituary Search Terms: allen thiel "Good company, good wine, good welcome can make good people," says a courtier to King Henry VIII in Shakespeare's play about the notorious monarch. At the Drunk Shakespeare Society, good company and good wine may not necessarily lead to good people, but it'll at least make for a memorable performance. The society, which added Houston to its roster of cities in January, aims to bring Shakespeare to the people through a 90-minute performance of the Bard's work, during which one actor (and likely several audience members) are under the influence of alcohol. The event got its start in New York City in 2015, and has since expanded to Chicago, Washington D.C., Phoenix, and now Houston. The Bayou City iteration, which takes place at Downtown's Emerald Theatre, has been so popular that the troupe is expanding its performance schedule and its roster of actors starting in May, according to Houston manager Zac Kelty. At the start of each performance, one of the actors (there are five in the play) is given five shots of whiskey. They down four, and give one to an audience member "to prove it's real alcohol," Kelty says. The remaining sober actors attempt to keep the play on track, even as the drinking actor forgets lines, marks, or what they were supposed to be doing altogether. "It's controlled chaos," Kelty says. The audience also gets to drink, with a full-service wait staff serving throughout the show, and sometimes contributing to the performance. Though the organization likes to stay close-lipped about what Shakespearean work they perform, Kelty said the performance is an abridged version of a popular play, with elements of other works thrown into the mix. Actor Anastasia Zavitsanos gives a further hint: "Sometimes the best comedy is borne out of tragedy." Like many of the actors in the troupe, Zavitsanos has classical Shakespearean training. Originally from Houston, she moved back to the Bayou City during the pandemic after studying acting at the University of Michigan and working for a while in New York City. She auditioned for a role at the Alley Theatre with a Shakespearean monologue, and though she didn't get that part, Alley's creative director told her that Drunk Shakespeare was looking for actors for its expansion to Houston. "I thought, this sounds bizarre, and I love Shakespeare. And I love to make people laugh," she says. "I've really been so pleased with the company. It's become such a family." Drunk Shakespeare Each performance is unique, Kelty says, with the actors switching out roles and taking turns being the intoxicated one. The performances also include jokes and references to Houston. Though the gimmick is the alcohol, the Drunk Shakespeare Society is adamant that the actors are monitored at all times, and that there are failsafes to help keep the show on track. (The organization was also tight-lipped about what those failsafes are, but Kelty said the Society always makes sure actors have a safe ride home, eat a big meal before drinking, and take care of themselves during and outside of the show.) Many, though not all, of the actors also have improv training, Zavitsanos says, which helps them deal with a variety of situations, including heckling, overly-drunk audience members, and anything else that might pop up in the course of a performance. Audience members are sometimes invited to participate in the performancesay, speed-chugging beer against the drunk actor, or deciding what might happen next in the play. "The audience takes on its own energy," she says. "Not only do we have to deal with an intoxicated actor, the audience is also intoxicated. I do think I'm quick-witted though, so I get to exercise that a lot." Kelty says that's part of the timeless appeal of Shakespeare. "The best Shakespearean actors really bring themselves to the performance," he says. "But the text also has this rhythm, and the audience really rides the wave of that rhythm with them." One of those audience participation roles is known as The King. For $500, the "king" and a guest get to sit on a massive throne on stage, wear crowns, are treated to a full bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne, caviar, and other treats, and get decision-making powers during the play. Kelty said details like that have brought multiple returning patrons to the performance, and have allowed Drunk Shakespeare Houston to expand its calendar. With that, he hopes more people will come to experience the play, which he calls a "fast-paced, 90-minute sprint." "Our goal is to become a Downtown staple." Tickets for Drunk Shakespeare start at $40, with performances Wednesday through Sunday at the Emerald Theatre, 412 Travis Street. For more information, visit the Drunk Shakespeare website. Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers a congratulatory speech at the U.S.-Korea Business Forum at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, April 25. Yonhap President Yoon Suk Yeol has said the South Korea-U.S. alliance will not be shaken by allegations of eavesdropping contained in recently leaked Pentagon documents, according to an interview Tuesday. Yoon made the remark in an interview with NBC News on Monday as he is on a state visit to Washington. "This matter is no reason to shake the ironclad trust that supports the U.S.-South Korea alliance, because it is based on shared values like freedom," he was quoted as saying. "When you have that trust, you don't get shaken." The leaked documents reportedly contained the contents of tapped conversations at South Korea's presidential office about whether to provide lethal aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia. After 1,600 hours and seven months of work, Ethan Van Delden, a 17-year-old San Antonio resident, took home the grand prize for best antique tractor restoration in the nation. Judges have been impressed with his 1965 Oliver 770. Hell add the $10,000 check to the scholarship money from other regional competitions in Texas, where he won in six out of the seven that he entered. The national Chevron Tractor Restoration Competition was held in Indianapolis, Indiana this year as part of the 95th Future Farmers of America Convention in mid-November. Van Delden was among 10 finalists invited to present his tractor to four experts. Coming out, the high school junior thought he had fallen short. They really got me on some questions, and I felt like I didn't have it, Van Delden said. He was asked, for example, about the chemical bonds in his paint I didnt know where to start on that one, he said. But he won. And the Oliver was the first tractor he has ever tried to restore. Van Delden said he was helped by his fathers mentorship, access to tools at his fathers construction company and years of working on his own truck. Plus, he had been on the tractor tech team at the Agriculture Science and Technology Academy, the Northside Independent School District magnet high school he attends in Helotes. Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox With his truck, Van Delden can just fiddle around. But the tractor had to be stripped and rebuilt. He worked on it every day after school and every weekend It was all tractor. I did nothing else. It was always me out there working on it, Van Delden said. I physically take every bolt out. Everything's in a million pieces. The engine comes apart. The transmission is fully stripped. Before this project, he would spend weekends hunting and fishing with his brother and was a member of the tractor tech and wildlife teams, but he had to stop all of those to get the tractor done. Van Delden started entering, and winning, competitions this year. The Chevron contests easy application process required a 100 page booklet with photos of the tractor, an essay about himself and labor and expense reports, he said. The hardest part of the restoration, in Van Deldens opinion, was the show finish, or the paint. All parts had to be blasted down to bare metal, dust removed and the paint applied as meticulously as possible. Van Delden is already well into his next project, a 1967 Minneapolis Moline G900 LP that he bought for $2,500 and began restoring in March and its way more difficult than the Oliver. The Oliver's transmission is pretty simple. This one has a torque amplifier. It has 10 gears. The Oliver only had six. And then everything is 10 times bigger. There's more of everything, he said. Van Delden doesnt see himself restoring tractors for a living he wants to start a cattle ranch with his older brother once they both graduate college. Machinery is vital to ranch life, though, and he enjoys the process of figuring each tractor out. For now, he has a great finished product: an attractive antique that currently takes up all the space in his grandmas garage, Van Delden said. NOTE: This story has been updated to correct the description of the Agriculture Science and Technology Academy. elizabeth.sander@hearst.com Aaron Wohl, MD, was arrested for attempted kidnapping and battery of an unnamed female at a residence in Florida, NBC2 reported April 24. Dr. Wohl is a physician at Fort Myers, Fla.-based Elite DNA Behavioral Health. He has since been placed on administrative leave while the allegations are being investigated, according to a statement from Elite shared with the news outlet. His official charges are for false imprisonment and battery touch or strike after he allegedly did not allow the victim to leave the residence, confiscated her phone and caused her physical harm multiple times, according to the publication. Licensing barriers are making it difficult for more dental therapists to practice in the state, the Lund Report reported April 25. Four things to know: 1. Oregon legislators authorized dental therapists to practice in the state in 2021 as a way to alleviate workforce shortages and expand care in underserved areas. 2. Only 13 dental therapists have been licensed in the state so far through two pilot programs, according to the Oregon Dentistry Board. 3. Two pilot programs providing certification will end in 20 months and there is no other accredited training program in the state, meaning prospective dental therapists must be trained at an accredited program in Alaska or Washington to be licensed. 4. A training program being developed at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., needs $1 million in funding before it can move forward. If the program is approved and accredited, the school could admit its first class in the fall of 2025 and students would graduate by 2028. Construction on the first all-electric hospital in the U.S., UCI Medical Center Irvine-Newport (Calif.), is set to be fully operational by 2025, the Los Angeles Times reported April 25. The 144-bed hospital broke ground in November 2021. On April 21, media members toured the facility. The hospital will be powered entirely by electricity via a plant that does not rely on natural gas or carbon combustion, according to the report. However, it will have backup diesel generators in case of power failure. The medical center will use "chillers" to cool the acute care hospital. The advanced care center could be open as soon as next spring. The closure of Upland, Pa.-based Crozer Health's Delaware County Memorial Hospital in suburban Philadelphia last fall has created a ripple effect across the region's healthcare system, CBS News reported April 24. "Everybody's feeling this," a local EMS chief told CBS. "This really hit hard." The paramedic told the outlet that nearby emergency rooms are being "slammed" by increased visits and his department's call volumes have increased 25 percent this year. Bryn Mawr, Pa.-based Main Line Health told CBS that monthly emergency department visits at its hospitals in the area were up by around 14 percent. Crozer scaled back services at the 168-bed hospital in Drexel Hill, Pa., throughout 2022, with plans to halt all services by late November. The closure was complicated by alleged violations of health regulations, which prompted an order in early November from the state's health department to bar admissions and suspend emergency room services. According to CBS, the facility was also ordered to close because of inadequate staffing. Crozer also adjusted services at its 25-bed Springfield (Pa.) Hospital, which now only provides outpatient services. Crozer includes four hospitals. It was acquired by Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical Holdings in 2016. Its Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland and Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park continue to operate as acute care hospitals. Prospect Medical Holdings told CBS it had "not been notified by EMS or any state agency that there has been a significant increase in EMS response times or that other local hospitals have been significantly impacted by the closure" of Delaware County Memorial. Alta Vista Regional Hospital in Las Vegas, N.M., will end intensive care unit services, effective June 3, according to a hospital news release shared with Becker's. The hospital said the change will allow it to focus on its highly utilized medical-surgical unit. "This is not a decision we make lightly, and we understand the impact on employees, patients and families in our community," Caleb O'Rear, CEO of Alta Vista Regional, said in the release. "Rural hospitals rely on people using the local hospital for their healthcare needs. Unfortunately, continued decreases in patient volumes have made ICU services unsustainable." According to the hospital, its ICU admitted 10 patients in the last four months, and all other admitted patients received care in the medical-surgical unit. Alta Vista Regional's emergency room will remain available to patients. The hospital also has transfer agreements with other facilities for patients who need higher acuity intensive care after emergency stabilization. Yolanda Ulmer, a local representative for District 1199NM, New Mexico's chapter of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, told The New Mexican that ending ICU services at the hospital could result in nine ICU nurses being reassigned to other hospital areas or laid off entirely. Mr. O'Rear said in the hospital news release: "We are grateful to the employees of our ICU services for their compassionate care for patients and their families and have encouraged impacted employees to consider open positions at the hospital." A fire at Greenville, S.C.-based Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital led to patient evacuations and closure of its outpatient building on April 26. The fire started around 10:30 a.m. in a cart washer, which cleans and sterilizes surgical instruments. Within minutes, alarms and sprinkler systems were activated and the local fire department was dispatched, Jennifer Robinson, a hospital spokesperson, told Becker's in a statement. All patients, visitors and staff were safely evacuated. The fire was isolated to the sterile processing department and did not cross into patient areas. The outpatient center was closed for the remainder of April 26 while some water and smoke damage was being assessed, with hopes to reopen the center by the next business day, Ms. Robinson said. "Bon Secours would like to thank our clinical staff for their quick work to evacuate patients and ensure continuity of care," she said. "We're also very grateful to the local fire departments, our environmental service crews and the team that mobilized immediately to reduce this event's impact on the high quality and compassionate care delivered at Bon Secours St. Francis Downtown." The hospital remains open with normal operations. Two hospitals have filed for bankruptcy so far in 2023, and both are located in California. Madera (Calif.) Community Hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy March 10. Madera Community officially closed at midnight Dec. 30, after Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health's plan to buy the hospital fell through. Trinity already owns and operates Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, Calif. Madera Community leaders had hoped to avoid bankruptcy and explored a number of options, including looking for another organization to take over operations. However, without a potential buyer coming forward, the hospital moved ahead with the bankruptcy filing. Montebello, Calif.-based Beverly Hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy April 19 as it hoped to pursue a buyer and avoid closure. The hospital had secured $13 million in financing to keep operating as it searched for a buyer. Hospital officials said rising costs outpacing government reimbursement rates were to blame for the situation. Beverly had unsuccessfully attempted to merge with three systems. Hospital officials blamed the failed mergers on the review process by the California attorney general. A Kaufman Hall report released April 11 found that 20 percent of California hospitals are at risk of closure. In 2022, total expenses for California hospitals were $23.4 billion higher than prepandemic levels and outpaced increases in revenue. CMS has issued fines to two hospitals for alleged price transparency violations. Rochester, N.H.-based Frisbie Memorial Hospital was issued a $102,660 fine April 19. Wichita Falls, Texas-based Kell West Regional Hospital was issued a $117,260 fine that same day. The fines are the third and fourth CMS has issued to hospitals for violating federal price transparency laws. Atlanta-based Northside Hospital was fined $883,180 and Northside Hospital Cherokee in Canton, Ga., was fined $214,320 in June. According to the notice CMS sent to Frisbie, the agency first issued a warning notice to the hospital on Aug. 25, 2021. It reviewed Frisbie's machine-readable file again on Oct. 24, 2022, and determined the hospital remained noncompliant with the price transparency requirements. CMS issued a corrective action plan request Nov. 2. CMS said in the notice that Frisbie has not submitted a corrective action plan and has not responded to the agency's attempts to contact the hospital. According to the notice CMS sent to Kell West, the agency issued a warning notice to the hospital on July 27, 2022. After another review, CMS issued a corrective action plan request on Nov. 7. Kell West submitted a plan on Dec. 22 with a proposed completion date of Feb. 15. CMS requested a revision Jan. 6 and the revised plan was approved by the agency Jan. 25. CMS completed a review of Kell West's website on March 31 and found the hospital remained out of compliance with requirements for standard hospital charges and displaying shoppable services in a consumer-friendly manner. The hospitals have 30 days from the issuance date to appeal the fines. Frisbie and Kell West did not immediately return messages from Becker's seeking comment regarding the fines. CMS said in an April 26 news release that it has issued more than 730 warnings and issued 269 corrective action plan requests to hospitals not complying with price transparency laws as of April 2023. South Bend, Ind.-based Beacon Health System has instituted a hiring freeze and will reduce hourly pay for many contracted workers, according to an internal letter sent to staff obtained by NPR member station WVPE. The reduction in pay is slated to begin in late May, according to the letter. The change comes as Beacon reported a net operating loss of $18.8 million in the fiscal year ended Dec. 31. It also comes after the health system raised its base entry-level pay to $15 per hour, effective Oct. 10, 2021. The pay increase applied to current employees and all new hires across more than 170 different titles. Beacon also boosted its pay for nurses by up to $17 in 2021, according to WVPE. In a written statement shared with Becker's, the health system said it evaluated the pay rates for certain clinical roles that were elevated significantly during the pandemic and "determined we cannot continue to pay those elevated rates and have notified and are meeting one-on-one with the affected clinicians. We are committed to staying competitive and ahead of market average pay for these clinical roles." Hourly pay for workers will be reduced by $3 for those with a three-year contract and by $7 for those with a five-year contract, Beacon said, according to WVPE. Following the announcement about the pay decrease, some nurses are discussing unionization, according to ABC affiliate WBND Beacon is making other cost-cutting efforts as well. Beacon Medical Group Edwardsburg (Mich.) will be closing on May 30, and Beacon Medical Group Pediatric Endocrinology services will end on July 2, the health system said. Beacon added that it is "making these adjustments so our focus can remain on delivering outstanding care, inspiring health and connecting with heart in the communities we serve for well into the future." Beacon's website states the health system has more than 7,000 employees in Indiana and Michigan. President Yoon Suk Yeol awards Taegeuk Order of Military Merit to retired U.S. Navy Capt. Elmer Royce Williams during a ceremony honoring Korean War veterans at a hotel in Washington, D.C., Tuesday (local time). Yonhap By Nam Hyun-woo WASHINGTON, D.C. President Yoon Suk Yeol awarded South Korea's top military medals to American veterans who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., Tuesday (local time). Yoon held the event at a luncheon with 300 representatives from South Korea and the U.S. and awarded the Taegeuk Order of Military Merit to three American servicemen who fought for the South during the Korean War retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett, retired Navy Capt. Elmer Royce Williams and Baldomero Lopez, a first lieutenant who served in the Marine Corps. His nephew received the merit on behalf of the late Lopez. "The dazzling prosperity of South Korea, which has risen from the ashes of war to a global leading country, stands on the sacrifices and dedication of countless young Americans They made noble sacrifices for a country and people they had never met before, all for the mission of protecting freedom," Yoon said. President Yoon Suk Yeol pushes a wheelchair carrying retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett during a luncheon with Korean War veterans at a hotel in Washington, D.C., Tuesday (local time). Yonhap Over the last six months, 31 patients at Seattle-based Virginia Mason Medical Center have been infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae and four have since died, NPR affiliate KUOW reported April 25. Klebsiella pneumoniae is a bacteria commonly found in healthcare settings that is antibiotic resistant. It can cause pneumonia, meningitis and wound or bloodstream infections. Public health officials said the outbreak is ongoing but that the number of new cases is decreasing. Infected patients were hospitalized in various departments and the hospital has not discovered the source of the bacteria, according to the report. The ongoing risk to Virginia Mason patients is unknown because it can take months for an infection to show up as an illness, public health officials told KUOW. The patients who died came to the hospital with complex diagnoses, so it is unknown whether the bacteria caused their deaths. Virginia Mason is implementing increased safety measures and treating infected patients. It has also sent letters to patients who may have been exposed. "Beginning in October 2022, Virginia Mason Medical Center detected an increase in cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria at our downtown campus," Sydney Bersante, interim president at Virginia Mason Medical Center, said in a statement. "We immediately implemented increased safety measures, notified patients who had tested positive for the bacteria, and promptly provided treatment where necessary. While the risk of transmission is extremely low for patients, we continue to take proactive steps to avoid additional transmission. We are continuing to investigate the source of this outbreak jointly with local and state public health partners." Disability rights advocates are suing to overturn California's physician-assisted death laws, claiming recent changes have made assisted suicide too accessible to people with terminal diseases, KFF Health News reported April 25. California's original law was passed in 2016, and a revised version took effect last year, which the lawsuit says removed crucial safeguards and violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and the U.S. Constitution. The terminal disease required to qualify for life-ending drugs is a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the lawsuit says. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit say life-ending drugs are more likely to be used by people with disabilities and racial minorities because these groups are less likely to receive proper medical and mental health care. Advocates fear vulnerable people would be pressured to take their lives by family members or caregivers. The system "steers people with terminal disabilities away from necessary mental health care, medical care, and disability supports, and towards death by suicide under the guise of 'mercy' and 'dignity' in dying," according to the suit. Sean Crowley, a spokesperson for Compassion & Choices, a nonprofit organization which backs the California law, said a 2007 study found "no evidence of heightened risk" for vulnerable groups. A group of 20 New Hampshire hospitals is calling on the state to shorten the timeline to end its practice of boarding psychiatric patients in hospital emergency rooms after a federal judge ruled that the practice is illegal, NHPR reported April 25. U.S. District Judge Landya McCafferty allowed the state and hospitals to determine their own timeline for ending the practice. State officials say they will need up to two years to end the practice, while the group of hospitals wants the state to stop ER boarding within one year. The state says that the lack of beds for behavioral health patients and a labor shortage make the longer timeline necessary. A physician has filed a lawsuit alleging that executives at an Iowa hospital discriminated against those who do not share their religious beliefs and political views, according to court documents accessed by Becker's. Amanda Moreno, DO, a woman and an atheist, is the plaintiff in the lawsuit, filed April 17 in federal court. Mahaska Health Partnership, which operates Oskaloosa-based Mahaska Health hospital, is named as a defendant. CEO Kevin DeRonde; David Cornelder, DO, the hospital's emergency room medical director; Timothy Breon, MD, the chief medical officer of the hospital; and select members of the hospital board are also named as defendants. "Mahaska Health has been providing quality and compassionate medical care to the citizens of rural Iowa for nearly 116 years," the law firm representing the hospital said in a statement shared with Becker's. "Mahaska Health declines to comment on the specifics of [Dr.] Moreno's claim due to the pending litigation. However, Mahaska Health denies the allegations that have been made against it and intends to firmly defend the litigation. Mahaska Health is confident the pending litigation will be appropriately resolved through the legal process." Dr. Moreno said in the lawsuit she began working at the hospital in February 2013 as an emergency room physician and continued working there for eight years. Mr. DeRonde joined Mahaska Health as CEO in February 2018. He resigned in 2021 and was later reinstated after the circulation of a petition supporting his return. Several board members submitted their resignations in light of the reinstatement, according to Dr. Moreno's lawsuit. Dr. Moreno alleges Dr. Breon, Mr. DeRonde and Dr. Cornelder "have a history of taking discriminatory acts against female employees and those that do not share their religious faith and political views. Their goal was to replace the current female employees with male employees who share their religious beliefs and political opinions." She also alleges that Mr. DeRonde and Dr. Breon "often spoke about religion and pushed their religious ideas and practices onto employees. Their religious beliefs informed their political ideology." At one leadership meeting, defendants created a PowerPoint presentation about why the attendees needed to vote for former President Donald Trump, her lawsuit claims. In October 2021, the emergency medicine department had five physicians: four women and Dr. Cornelder, according to the lawsuit. Dr. Moreno said she and two of her female colleagues were served with termination notices in October 2021, stating that their employment contract would end Dec. 31, 2021. Dr. Moreno claims that in November 2021, she "was unfairly and unlawfully suspended" and that, in her and the other female physicians' place, the hospital hired a male general surgeon without emergency room experience. Dr. Moreno seeks unspecified damages related to the alleged religious discrimination and retaliation. Kristin Wolkart, RN, has spent much of the past year doing what she loves learning. After spending the past two decades in various leadership roles at Baton Rouge, La.-based Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, Ms. Wolkart was tapped to serve as the system's inaugural executive vice president and chief nursing officer in May 2022. "I've enjoyed being able to broaden my knowledge and skillset to understand what it's like in different environments across our health system," she told Becker's. Ms. Wolkart first joined FMOL Health System in 2000 when the system acquired St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales, La., and she stepped into a department director role over the emergency room and intensive care unit. In 2007, she became chief nursing informatics officer of the health system and, in 2014, was tapped to serve as COO of St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, La., before being named CEO a year later. Ms. Wolkart recently spoke with Becker's about her first year in her new CNO role, the health system's plans to launch an in-house staffing agency and the importance of finding joyfulness in work. Editor's note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Question: What piqued your interest in the nursing or healthcare profession? Kristin Wolkart: One summer, I was about 16 years old and my aunt asked me to come spend the summer with her. She was in nursing school and she just wanted me to be there to watch her three young kids during the day. In the evening, after the kids would go to bed, she asked me to help her study. She was so excited and passionate and had so much love for nursing. I always knew I wanted to be in the medical field, but I hadn't really narrowed it down to becoming a nurse until that summer. Her excitement and her passion and letting me be a part of her studies that's really what lit the spark for me. Q: I know we are coming up on the one-year anniversary of your CNO appointment. What has been the most important leadership lesson you've learned in the past year? KW: My entire nursing career has been in the state of Louisiana, so what I've learned the most is that different states have different rules and different personalities when it comes to nursing. Over the course of the last year, I've been forging relationships with each of the chief nursing officers across all of our markets and their senior nursing leadership teams. We've created a model of shared learnings and shared best practices. I've enjoyed being able to broaden my knowledge and skillset to understand what it's like in different environments across our health system. We're very similar but yet we all have unique issues, unique opportunities and challenges. Q: What are you most excited about right now? KW: We're standing up our own internal agency. One of the biggest expenses as a health system that we've experienced since COVID-19 was the rise of contract labor. We're thankful to have them in times of shortage, but they're not committed to our organization. So how can we take the middleman of that external agency out of the picture, and have team members that want to work in that contract mind frame? They don't want to necessarily have a full-time job. They want to be able to pick up contracts as the needs for their personal life fit in that model of staffing. We're starting with nursing, but it will be an agency for all needs for contract-type labor across two states. That project went live at the end of March, and our first orientation class will be June 4. Our goal is to hire 100 nurses in 100 days to our agency, so that we don't have to rely on external contract labor. And that is just a phenomenal program, and I'm so excited about the future and what it may hold. Q: How else are you striving to offer nurses and other clinicians more flexibility? KW: We are dusting off all kinds of different flexible options. How can we create not just staffing models but options for nurses and other caregivers so that we become the employer of choice because we've created flexible models? Some folks don't want the benefits package, so how can we offer a full-time no-benefits option? How can we have float pools where people don't necessarily always want to work in the same unit every day, where they want to be able to have that flexibility to experience different types of nursing care? How can we offer growth opportunities? We're giving our certified nursing assistants or medical assistants a career path to become an LPN or RN through contracts and programs with local community colleges and our own university. We also have some mature nurses doing virtual nursing, so they're taking care of patients over a camera setup to help the more novice nurse at the bedside have that real-time expertise at the touch of a button. But the patient also has the added benefit of a highly experienced nurse continuously monitoring them. So creativity in models of care and use of technology and growth in development and scheduling options. We have changed the way we practice certainly inside the hospital and continue to change and grow and create new programs to try to meet the needs of our team members, our future employees and our patients. Q: What has changed the most about nursing since 1995, and what still needs to change? KW: When I graduated in 1991, everything was on paper computers were just starting to come into hospitals, but not for documentation. It's been interesting to see how technology has enhanced and hindered bedside care. It provides us with so much more information and can help us take better care of our patients, but it's also intrusive and sometimes can be a barrier between the patient and the provider if we're too focused on documenting things in the computer and not providing hands-on high-touch care, so it's a blessing and a curse. It's an iterative process of how much is too much? What do we mandate? What do we not mandate? How can we use the technology to be an enhancement and help, rather than be a burden? So it is a journey, and I'd say that's the biggest change I've seen over my career. Q: If you could pass along a piece of advice to new hospital nursing leaders, what would it be? KW: Listen more than you speak. Listen to the voice of the bedside caregivers about what they truly need. And do your best to follow through or follow up. Sometimes we can't meet every request, but instead of saying no, try to find ways to meet the need, maybe differently than what they've asked for. The staff at the bedside know what works and what doesn't work, and they are our best voice to help guide us into the future The only other thing that I would say has made me successful in my career is one of our core values at FMOL Health System, and that is joyfulness of spirit. COVID-19 took us away from doing some of those things that allowed us to connect human-to-human as team members or with our patients. I'm looking forward to Nurses Week where we're going to have celebrations across each of our markets. We're gonna celebrate our nurses and all of our nursing caregivers and try to do it in a way that truly shows that appreciation with our work family. So getting back to taking care of each other in a meaningful way live and in-person and less reliance on email and texting. Anthony Fauci, MD, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, detailed his take on the COVID-19 pandemic, what went wrong, what went right and how it all ties back to the overarching picture of public health in the U.S. during a lengthy interview published April 24 in The New York Times. With more than 1.1 million deaths from COVID-19 and one of the lowest vaccination rates of developed countries at just 68 percent Dr. Fauci blamed these "unacceptable" statistics not on political divides or even misinformation alone, but rather said, "it has to do with the fracturing of our health care delivery system in this country," he told the Times. "We have let the local public-health and health care delivery system really suffer attrition. And the health disparities racial and ethnic health disparities. Every country has a little bit of that, but we really have a lot of it." While every country struggled navigating a global pandemic, the U.S. ranked as one of the worst during the pandemic for excess mortalities, according to the Times. Dr. Fauci pointed out "inadequacies in both preparedness and response that varied among different nations," but suggested making significant improvements in two areas: scientific preparedness and response as well as public health preparedness and response he told the Times. As a physician who became the face of the U.S. pandemic response, Dr. Fauci also addressed the criticisms against him, noting that as a whole, communication from every angle, including from him directly to former President Donald Trump, could have been better. "When I was [accused of] 'changing the numbers,' it was a garbled conversation," Dr. Fauci said. "What I was trying to tell Donald was that we dont know what the threshold of herd immunity would be. But I probably could have been more clear that we were talking about a moving target, because we didnt know how transmissible the virus was." As for the future of public health preparedness in the face of another eventual pandemic, the reforms needed in the sector are many, he said, but what is not needed in the future is "an infinite budget," rather, it is "a sustained commitment to science and public health." The Becker's Hospital Review website uses cookies to display relevant ads and to enhance your browsing experience. By continuing to use our site, you acknowledge that you have read, that you understand, and that you accept our Cookie Policy and our Privacy Policy Orthopedic surgeon Andrew Dowd, MD, was sentenced to 102 months in prison for his role in a "trip-and-fall" fraud scheme, the U.S. Justice Department said April 25. Dr. Dowd, along with injury lawyer George Constantine, was convicted in December 2022 of multiple fraud counts, the Justice Department said. Between 2013 and 2018, they ran an extensive fraud scheme with more than 400 patients who were told to falsely say they had tripped and fallen at a certain location. Eventually that escalated to the duo staging accidents, instructing patients to go to a location and deliberately trip and fall. After the staged falls, patients were referred to attorneys, including Mr. Constantine and Marc Elefant, who then filed fraudulent personal injury lawsuits. Patients were also told to see physicians, including Dr. Dowd, who performed unnecessary surgeries to boost settlement fees. The entirety of the scheme racked up more than $31 million. Along with his sentence, Dr. Dowd will have to pay $2.9 million in forfeiture. Mr. Constantine was sentenced to 102 months and $4.8 million in forfeiture. Mr. Elefant was sentenced to 24 months in prison and $955,281.54 in restitution. The orthopedic surgeons who left SSM Health Dean Medical Group in Madison, Wis., are now suing the hospital. The 11 surgeons filed their lawsuit April 24 in Dane County Circuit Court and are asking a judge to block a clause from SSM Health, their former employer, saying they can't treat patients they saw in the last three years, according to court documents. The surgeons left SSM Health in 2022 and recently opened their own independent practice. However, SSM Health's clause restricts the physicians from soliciting their existing patients at the competing practice. In the new lawsuit, the surgeons say they chose to "take all reasonable steps to abide by those provisions." When they were at SSM Health, they provided consultations for other physicians and saw some patients in urgent care or the ER, which makes the clause too broad, the lawsuit said. According to the lawsuit, the clause could include patients with no previous relationship. The surgeons are asking a judge to declare SSM Health's clause unenforceable. Two of the surgeons were previously sued by SSM Health in November. That case is before another Dane County Circuit Court judge, The Wisconsin State Journal reported April 25. A spokesperson for SSM Health didn't immediately respond to an April 25 email from Becker's. Detroit police are investigating the death of a neurosurgeon who worked at Ascension St. John Hospital, ABC News reported April 25. Police responded to a well-being check April 23 when they found Devon Hoover, MD, fatally shot. Investigators couldn't confirm Tuesday if the shooting was targeted, ABC affiliate WXYZ reported April 25. Dr. Hoover specialized in neck and back disorders. A former patient who saw him in 2007 told WXYZ that Dr. Hoover helped her keep her ability to walk after suffering spine pain. "I respect him," she said. "I thank him because my life in the last 15 years could've been way different without him. And he kept me moving for my kids, now for my grandson, so he's changed my life." Another past patient said Dr. Hoover treated his degenerative disc disease and said the neurosurgeon had a kind bedside manner. "Those three days in the hospital, he'd come in the morning to check on you, call you after your discharge to check on you," he told WXYZ. "You just don't see that anymore." An arrest hasn't yet been made. A spokesperson for St. Louis-based Ascension said in an April 26 email to Becker's that Dr. Hoover was "a dedicated and well respected member of the Ascension Michigan family." "Our sincerest condolences and heartfelt prayers are with his family, friends and fellow associates during this incredibly difficult time," the statement said. This is a developing story. President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee disembark from the presidential jet at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Monday (local time), for a six-day state visit to the United States. Yonhap By Jun Ji-hye More than 50 percent of Koreans said that they don't feel particularly hopeful about President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to the United States, according to an opinion poll released Wednesday. President Yoon arrived in Washington on Monday (local time) for a six-day visit during what is a symbolic year, with the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance on the horizon. In the poll of 1,010 adults over the age of 18, 54.5 percent of the respondents said Yoon's state visit would not be helpful for the country. The poll was conducted jointly by Kookmin Research Group and Ace Research from Saturday to Monday. Those who said the state visit would benefit the nation accounted for 42.8 percent. By region, there was a more negative outlook in all parts of the country, except the conservative strongholds of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province. Still, these regions posted no significant differences between the positive and negative outlooks 48.1 percent to 47.2 percent respectively. Assembly speaker calls for formation of joint lawmakers' body with US Yoon, Biden to announce Washington Declaration after summit Korea-US alliance will thrive also in space: President Yoon First lady's eco-friendly vegan bag draws attention By age group, people in their 60s or older were the only respondents who gave a more positive response (55.4 percent) to Yoon's state visit. Among supporters of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), 85.4 percent gave negative responses, while 84.1 percent of supporters of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) replied positively. Among political independents, 63.5 percent were negative, and 31.5 percent were positive about Yoon's state visit. Meanwhile, a separate poll by the same pollsters showed that Yoon's approval rating, which had been on a downward slide in recent weeks, rebounded slightly to 36.7 percent, up 0.8 percentage points from the second week of April. "The figure partially reflects people's expectations towards Yoon's state visit to the United States," Kookmin Research Group and Ace Research said in their report. "If synergy effects of this visit become visible, the figure is expected to rise further." The highest approval rating of 44.1 percent came from Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, followed by 39.3 percent coming from Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province and 38.8 percent from Incheon and Gyeonggi Province. By age group, those aged 60 and older offered the highest approval rating of 51.7 percent to President Yoon, followed by 33.6 percent from people in their 50s and 32 percent from people in their 30s. Among PPP supporters, 76.9 percent supported President Yoon, while 91.9 percent of DPK supporters did not approve of him. Among political independents, 23.1 percent were supportive of the president, while 71.5 percent were unsupportive. When asked the reasons for a positive response toward President Yoon, 28.9 percent cited his determination in pushing international and domestic issues, while 25.7 percent and 15.2 percent cited his efforts to enhance the Korea-U.S. alliance and reform the labor sector, respectively. Our hotel will drive tourism in Derry, which is 40 years behind where it should be Small businesses were able to take out loans of up to 50,000 during the pandemic. (Aaron Chown/PA) Aaron Chown The Government has increased the risk that taxpayers will lose money in the way it has treated banks who lent during its Covid-era loan scheme for small businesses, a group of influential MPs have said. In a report published on Wednesday the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) accused the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis) of taking a laissez-faire approach. It is not clear how the Department holds to account third parties that deliver multibillion-pound programmes on its behalf, the MPs said. The Committee is concerned that a laissez-faire approach may lead to failure to properly protect taxpayers money. The MPs added that the department was only making slow progress in combating fraud in the Bounce Back Loan scheme, which was launched during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. The loans of up to 50,000 were paid out with minimal checks in order to ensure that they could be paid out rapidly and at scale. The loans were paid out by normal banks, but with a guarantee that if the borrower could not pay back then the Government would compensate the bank. But the MPs said that the department lacked curiosity about how the banks were performing. There were limited requirements for the data that lenders should collect and share with the Government, the MPs said. PAC chair Dame Meg Hillier said: At a time of financial crisis the department for business has lost billions of taxpayers desperately needed funds. It shows no real signs of making the improvements that would prevent the big mistakes it has made over many years, especially during the pandemic, happening all over again. In the wide-ranging report into the department, the MPs also said that it was being too slow compensating people who were impacted by the Post Office Horizon scandal. Beis expects to pay out around 579 million to the Post Office so it can compensate the victims and still stay afloat. But according to reports, victims are only getting partial payments, and the committee said that Beis should set a date for when it expects all claims to be settled. Ms Hillier said: Its moving too slowly to compensate people for the lives ruined through the Post Office Horizon scandal. The new boss of the Confederation of British Industry has taken the reins at the influential trade body which has been shaken by allegations of widespread sexual harassment. Rain Newton-Smith faces a battle to reform the group after many questioned the wisdom of appointing a CBI insider to the top job. Technically she joined from Barclays where Ms Newton-Smith had been managing director for strategy and policy, sustainability and ESG. But she only took that job last month. Before then she had served as the CBIs chief economist for close to nine years. Tony Danker (Jacob King/PA) Jacob King So her appointment raised eyebrows, not least because the CBI itself admits that it mismanaged the culture inside the organisation. While few questioned Ms Newton-Smiths credentials, her status as a CBI insider caused murmurs among members. Members did not directly criticise her appointment on the record, but speaking anonymously to reporters some said that appointing an insider so quickly was not likely to bring about the changes needed. The decline of the CBI started in early March when the Guardian newspaper published accusations of misconduct against then director general Tony Danker. A month later the newspaper published another article saying that more than a dozen women who worked for the CBI had approached it claiming they had been sexually harassed by colleagues. One woman said that she had been raped. 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 Days later, after outside lawyers had concluded the first part of their report into the CBI, Mr Danker was fired and Ms Newton-Smith was announced as the new boss. Mr Danker later hit out at the CBI, saying he was the fall guy and that his reputation had been totally trashed. Members were already becoming concerned at this point, and the Government started to wind down its engagement with the lobby group. But the final straw came last Friday when the Guardian published a second allegation of rape and a new allegation of stalking against CBI staff. Within hours, Aviva, one of Britains biggest insurers, said it would cancel its membership of the CBI. This opened the floodgates and by the end of the day dozens of the biggest companies in the UK, including Tesco and John Lewis, had walked away. 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 Later that evening the CBI decided to suspend all policy and membership activities. Ms Newton-Smith now faced a tough task. On Monday, CBI president Brian McBride made a series of promises of reforms at the organisation. The changes that will be made are set to be discussed in June at a meeting of the CBI membership. We have asked Rain Newton-Smith to be our director general, and she has shown great courage in accepting this position at a very difficult time, Mr McBride said on Monday. Many of you know Rain personally, and have welcomed her return. We asked Rain to return to the CBI, not only because of her very considerable economic and policy expertise, but because the employees of the CBI deeply trust and respect her. Supported by others, Rain will lead the changes necessary at the CBI. Im profoundly grateful to her for stepping up at this time. A still of Michelle cooking in series 19 of Masterchef. BBC/Shine TV Ltd A Northern Irish chef is through to the next round of BBCs MasterChef on Tuesday night. The prestigious BBC programme sees amateur cooks battle it out to be named MasterChef. Michelle, 36, is a special education needs assistant within a primary school. She lives in Dundonald with her husband and three daughters. Speaking to the BBC, she described her cooking style as home style cooking with an Irish twist. She said: I really enjoy finding ingredients that I havent used before and creating new dishes and recipes. While travelling on holidays etc I will always try their local delicacies and try and eat where the locals eat because almost every time its the best. I enjoy the challenge of trying to recreate food from my travels and making the dishes for my family. She entered Masterchef because her eldest daughter Leah applied for her, and said she was extremely proud to be given the chance. Things like this dont happen to people in my little town so its a real pinch me moment, she added. She also spoke of her dream to work with food within her local community, and said she would like to be a food critic some day. I would do something within my local community, not sure what yet but I would love be a food critic and get opportunities to taste more food. Travelling around restaurants in Ireland and even around the world, writing up reviews would be amazing, she continued. Being a mum of three, Id also love to opportunity to share easy family recipes that be cooked for children, some of mine are a bit weird and wacky but the girls love them! MasterChef airs on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays on BBC1 at 8pm. Its hard to resist the age-old etiquette demanding no dancing in the aisles of the National Theatre when the Mundy sisters launch into a hedonistic abandon in Brian Friels modern classic Dancing At Lughnasa. Ardal OHanlon as Jack (Johan Persson/National Theatre) Michael Evans (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor) recounts a childhood summer at an aunts house in the fictional village of Ballybeg in County Donegal in 1936. Uncle Jack (Ardal OHanlon) has returned from life as a missionary in Uganda an ailing and out-of-place man. His five unmarried sisters flirt with finding romance during the Celtic festival of Lughnasa but feel the constraints of upholding the home and family reputation built largely by their brother. Tom Vaughan-Lawlor (Johan Persson/National Theatre) But a temperamental gramophone provokes sweet relief from maintaining the decorum. Siobhan McSweeney brings infectious humour to Maggie, one of the aunts based on Friels own family. Her Derry Girls co-star Louisa Harland gives a riotous streak to sister Agnes. Justine Mitchell reveals the pressure incumbent on the elder that makes Kate the enforcer of her sisters, as well as on the religious norms expected of Jack. OHanlon avoids playing him as an old fool fit for mockery and shows Jack as a rebellious and well-intentioned elder shunned for his unorthodoxy. The cane-twirling of Fred Astaire tops off the charisma of Gerry, the caddish father of Michael, who manages to charm the boys mother Christina (an entrancing Alison Oliver) despite his glaring flaws. Gerry, played with begrudgingly likeable toffish charm by Tom Riley, seizes the opportunity to establish a sense of purpose by joining the Spanish civil war to fight against Francos forces, which would be backed by the Catholic church. Louisa Harland with Tom Riley (Johan Persson/National Theatre) Vaughan-Lawlor masterfully reveals the warmth of the memories he is recounting while delivering Friels emotive monologues on memory and ceremony. He does not so much cherish the nostalgia but inspects it and he is aided by a shimmering set that evokes misty memories of the gentle summer heat of childhoods. Director Josie Rourke has done justice to a play by one of the greats of Irish theatre with a staging that is both thoughtful and funny. Dancing At Lughnasa runs at the National Theatre until May 27. The Duke of Sussex was kept out of the loop regarding alleged unlawful information gathering by tabloid newspapers in relation to the royal household, the High Court has heard. Harry, 38, is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN) over alleged unlawful information gathering at two of its titles, The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World claiming that his private information was unlawfully accessed. NGN is bringing a bid to have Harrys case thrown out, along with a similar claim by actor Hugh Grant, at a three-day hearing in London which started on Tuesday, arguing they have been brought too late. Actor Hugh Grant is also involved in the litigation (Ian West/PA) Ian West But, responding to the publishers strike out application, Harrys lawyers said it is an attempt to go behind a secret agreement between the royal family as an institution and NGN, which the duke was informed of in 2012. David Sherborne, representing Harry, told the court on Wednesday that, before 2012, the duke believed there was only one voicemail which his brother the Prince of Wales left for him that had been intercepted. The barrister said Harry thought the tabloid press wouldnt have been stupid enough to go after his messages, given the security services involvement, and that there were members of royal staff who he was aware believed they had been hacked but he was kept out of the loop. He was told more in 2012 but that was essentially dealt with by his family, the institution as he described it. That is no criticism of the (late) Queen or his family, that is how it was done and he accepted it. One also has to remember at the times he was on active service in Afghanistan. The barrister said Harry did not have access to The Guardian newspaper, which reported extensively on the phone hacking scandal, while there. Mr Sherborne added: Mr Hudson (Anthony Hudson KC, for NGN) described him as being at the epicentre (of hacking claims). Instead, he was kept out of the loop personally. The barrister told Mr Justice Fancourt, hearing the case, that what Harry did know by 2012 was that an agreement (had been) reached between the institution and News Group. He continued: It was a secret agreement and it meant that his claim and the claim of his brother the claims which would be hugely embarrassing for News Group, would be dealt with once this litigation came to an end. This secret agreement applied to his claim and that of his brother, and that explains why they did not bring their claims at an earlier stage. It became clear to the Duke of Sussex, whose wife was coming under abuse from The Sun, and he wanted to push forward on his claims because it seemed the defendant was stalling. The barrister said that, if NGN loses its application and the case goes to a planned trial in January, senior News Group executives Rebekah Brooks and Robert Thomson who were involved in the secret agreement and subsequent negotiations will have to give evidence. Mr Sherborne told the court, as was revealed during the first day of the hearing on Tuesday, that the Prince of Wales also brought a claim against NGN over hacking claims and that it was settled by the publisher. He added: It is precisely because of the secret agreement that no claim was brought before 2019. It is why no claim was brought earlier. We now know that His Royal Highness William brought a claim that has been settled by the defendant without any attempt to strike it out. In a 31-page witness statement prepared by the duke for the hearing, which began just 11 days before his fathers coronation, Harry said Williams claim was settled for a huge sum. The Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex (Henry Nicholls/PA) Henry Nicholls He said in the statement: My brother appeared to know an awful lot more than I did on the subject of phone hacking although he did not tell me if that was the case. However, NGN still settled his claim for a huge sum of money in 2020 without subjecting him to a similar strike out application, without any of the public being told, and seemingly with some favourable deal in return for him going quietly so to speak. Kensington Palace has declined to comment on behalf of the Prince of Wales. Mr Sherborne said both Harry and Mr Grant were following the case by video link and Mr Grant, who currently has filming commitments, is due to attend the third day of the hearing on Thursday. The barrister added: The Duke of Sussex has asked me to express his disappointment at being unable to be here. He was unable to be here for these three days but he is also following by video link, despite the challenges of the time difference. He said the judge would understand the strength of feeling of both, in relation to their claims, which he told the court are obviously very important to them. NGN has previously settled a number of claims since the phone hacking scandal broke in relation to The News Of The World, which closed in 2011, but has consistently denied that any unlawful information gathering took place at The Sun. The publishers lawyers argued on Tuesday that Harry was at the epicentre of the scandal since as long ago as 2006 and therefore aware he could have brought a claim sooner, and said his evidence that he was prevented from doing so by a secret agreement is without merit in fact or law. In documents before the court, Mr Sherborne, representing Harry, said the late Queen was involved in discussions and authorisation of the agreement, which was that members of the royal family would not pursue claims against NGN until after the conclusion of the litigation over hacking. Mr Sherborne said in written arguments that the agreement meant that the claimant could not bring a claim against NGN for phone hacking at that time. Anthony Hudson KC, for NGN, said the publishers position is that there was no such secret agreement. Mr Hudson told the court on Tuesday that Harry and Mr Grant have been front and centre of claims against the publisher over hacking and therefore could not possibly have failed to realise they had a potential damages claim much sooner. The hearing is expected to conclude on Thursday and the judge will determine whether their claims will progress to a trial, which is due to be heard in January next year. The claim is one of a number of legal actions currently being brought by the duke, who appeared in person at the High Court last month for a preliminary hearing against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of The Mail and Mail On Sunday. He is also expected to give evidence at a trial over allegations of unlawful information gathering against tabloid publisher Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), due to begin next month, with Harry due to appear in court in June. A teenager has been accused of taking part in a break-in that led to a householder barricading himself in a bedroom. At Newtownards Magistrates Court, 18-year-old Darren Higgins was charged with two offences arising from an incident on March 3 last year, including burglary of a house at Enler East Walk in the Ballybeen estate, Dundonald. He is also accused of intending to cause damage and attempting to intimate the resident from his home. Previous courts heard how the complainant was awoken by a bang and used his bed to barricade himself in the room as up to five intruders smashed up his home and informed him he had 24 hours to get out. It is the police case that Higgins, from Tamery Pass in east Belfast, took part in the break-in based on forensic evidence after DNA from blood found at the property was found to match his profile. Arrested and interviewed, Higgins told detectives he could have been anywhere at the time due to his party lifestyle. In court today, defence solicitor Andrew Russell accepted the Crown submission that Higgins had a case to answer, while the defendant declined to comment on the charges. Freeing Higgins on continuing bail, District Judge Mark Hamill returned the case to Downpatrick Crown Court but did not set a date for arraignment. By Yi Woo-won Mother, when you were pregnant with me, you told me once when I was a child, your doctor had counseled you to terminate the pregnancy because the fetus was so weak and might be born prematurely, thereby possibly endangering your own life. But you refused to listen to his advice and risked your own life to bring me into this world. You were so happy and proud to have a second son after five daughters. When you had given birth to the fifth daughter, dad brought home his second wife, whom we called "small mother," to live with us. I believed we had to call her small mother as a gesture of our approval of her being a mother, yet to recognize your seniority in the hierarchy. Though you were a lawful wife to my father, you couldn't oppose the unjust and humiliating circumstances brought upon you, because you couldn't bear a male child to succeed his family lineage in that Confucian patriarchal society. Unfortunately for you, your first son, who was my elder brother, was born only after our small mother had moved into our house. But he also died at an early age like my three other elder sisters of our nine siblings. I learned much later that infant mortality was very high and prevalent in those years. When dad gave little attention to you, then had less concern about your children for that matter, you decided to earn a living by yourself to support us. One of the many jobs you did was guarding rice paddies against thieves at night before harvests a hard job even for a tough man. I wished I had been born a bit earlier and was there with you on those desolate nights. Mother, I know you never had a formal education in your life. This was because you grew up in the old traditional society of Confucian ideology when women were discouraged from learning anything but the maternal duties at home. But you couldn't tolerate illiteracy and taught yourself how to write and read our amazing language, "Hangeul," and also some Chinese characters. As a result, we enjoyed writing to each other when I was working away from home. And, later in your life, you indulged yourself in reading those Buddhist scriptures, the words of Buddha with your thick glasses on. It was one of the most admiring images of you that I still bear in my mind. When the Korean War broke out, I was a senior in high school. Dad suddenly became ill with an unknown disease and died shortly before the war. You were utterly devastated by the loss of your husband and breadwinner, but you never lost your courage. You started peddling wares across the country to feed my two little brothers. It was a painful job you had never done in your life. You had to travel, often on foot, all the way to the southwestern province of Jeolla, to the granary to trade the tin wares you carried with their grain the bare necessity for survival. When I got my first teaching job at a high school after the war, you were so proud of me and had a new suit made for me as a gift. I still have a vivid memory of that grayish-green color of the suit. I was so excited about my first tailor-made suit but didn't think about how it came about. Although you had never said a word about how you got the money, I knew you couldn't make that much money overnight. Over the next few months, I saw you working on your sewing machine constantly day and night. Then you fell ill for days. Ever since I was born, your primary and enduring concern about me was my poor health, frailty and possibly, short life. When you went to the temple, I knew your prayers to Buddha were only for my good health and longevity. Then, finally, you even swore off smoking, your only enjoyment, in exchange for my longevity. When you died at age 84, I was at your bedside. I held your hand, which was still holding the prayer beads that you had counted ceaselessly all your life. Yi Woo-won (yiwoowon1988@gmail.com) lives in Waegwan, North Gyeongsang Province and has been writing since 1986. An alleged burglar accused of stealing almost 20,000 worth of iPhones from a Co Down supermarket storeroom has been ordered to stand trial. At Newry Magistrates Court today, 28-year-old Thomas Donohue confirmed he was aware of the two charges against him. Originally from Dublin but with a bail address at Parkmore in Craigavon, Donohue is charged with burglary of a Tesco storeroom at the Boulevard Shopping Centre, Banbridge. It is claimed he stole iPhones worth 18,900. He is also accused of driving dangerously on the Belfast Road in Newry on July 14 last year. None of the facts were opened today, but a PSNI officer told the court when Donohue was first charged, a police interceptor call sign had flagged a black Mazda 3 as suspicious and that a neighbourhood call sign spotted it in the car park of the Boulevard Retail Park and kept it under observation. Donohue, who was the driver, became aware of the police and left but was stopped a short distance away. When the car was searched, a backpack containing multiple iPhones was retrieved. Police enquiries suggested Donohue and another man had been captured on Tescos CCTV allegedly breaking into a storeroom and using a backpack lifted from a nearby shelf to steal the devices. A prosecuting lawyer submitted there was a case to answer, which was conceded by defence counsel. District Judge Eamon King freed Donohue on continuing bail and returned the case to Newry Crown Court with an arraignment set for May 23. Thousands of public sector workers go on strike over fair pay, working conditions and investing in the future for young people Most schools in Northern Ireland are to close today due to a teaching strike over pay. All five teaching unions in Northern Ireland are joining the strike action, with the National Association of Head Teachers striking for the first time in its history in relation to pay. The full-day strike action follows a half day of strike action in schools in February, with members in further-education colleges joining their teacher colleagues. Trade unions have described the action as the biggest in over a decade. Hazelwood Integrated Primary and Nursery School in Newtownabbey striking (Photo by Aodhan Roberts for Belfast Telegraph) Aodhan Roberts Other services are likely to be affected as civil servants and other public sector workers also take part in walk outs. Members of both Unite and GMB unions are set to join wider civil service industrial action involving NIPSA and PCS following ballots of 91% and 80% respectively among their members. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood tweeted his support for the strike, blaming decades of wage injustice for the industrial action. He said: Decades of wage injustice in Northern Ireland's public sector has led to our civil servants & teachers taking rightful industrial action. "The current pay award is worse than derisory, devaluing those working to keep society going. It's time for action. Support the strikes. 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 unions say the scale of action means people across Northern Ireland will be directly impacted. A pay award amounting to 552 a year for some civil servants was offered by the Government at the start of the month, but talks with health unions around the same time did result in an offer. NIPSA say the strike will take place against a backdrop of a sharp decline in the real value of public service pay, the Northern Ireland public service budget crisis and overwhelming cost of living crunch hitting working class communities. Picket lines will be in place at the Millennium Forum in Derry and at Belfast City Hall. Hazelwood Integrated Primary and Nursery School in Newtownabbey striking (Photo by Aodhan Roberts for Belfast Telegraph) Aodhan Roberts NIPSA general secretary Carmel Gates said the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris was imposing sanctions on public services to try and force Northern Ireland political parties to return to the assembly. "The action has been forced in large measure by the government's decision to implement sanctions in Northern Ireland," she said. "The sanctions imposed by the Secretary of State and Westminster are designed to force Northern Ireland political parties to return to Stormont. In effect, these sanctions only hurt ordinary people and will cause permanent damage to public services. "The pay award to our members of 552 is insulting and derisory and adds to the wage cut of more than 20% in 10 years. More than 60% of civil servants now earn below the NI median wage. "It is time for the trade union movement to say enough is enough. We will build a mighty campaign for pay justice and for an end to cuts in public services. "I call on every working-class community to join us in this struggle." Members of all five Northern Ireland teaching unions and other public sector workers gather at Belfast City Hall Jonathan Porter / Press Eye Edel McInerney is the head of the physics department at Campbell College in Belfast, but shes also a mum of three. Six weeks ago, her youngest son, Fionn, was going through open-heart surgery at a hospital in Dublin. Unable to secure a replacement teacher, she was online with her classes of A-level and GCSE students while Fionn was in theatre and, later, going through recovery. It was planned, but the school couldnt get a physics sub. They did get a sub teacher, but not a specialist sub teacher. I had to send work to the pupils, she said in Belfast city centre yesterday. My colleagues had to jump out of classes and teach for 10 minutes when they could. I had to do reports when I was beside the hospital bed. Thats the reality of teaching. Its because we care that it cant go on. Why should students suffer for months before their exams? Thats why I did what I did. Thats how chronic things are. The school was brilliant and didnt expect me to do that, but I couldnt leave my students without work to do or without being there to give them the advice and help they needed. Fionn was among the kids along for the day, all outside watching a giant balloon. All options were considered to make an impression for the strike, and one of the themes was shrinking knickers. A streamer hanging across a doorway charts the history of underwear, from the oversized bloomers of the early 20th century to the G-strings of today. The streamer is symbolic of the shrinking wages and lack of cover in the profession. I thought that might get a bit of attention, said Bronagh Wright, head of EOTAS (education other than at school) at the local branch of National Education Union. We would prefer for this not to be happening. We are living in a world where budgets are being eaten away. Teachers are just not there, and specialist teachers can make a real difference. We need to train them, we need to recruit them and we need to reward them and give them the resources to be able to do the work. None of that is happening. Few are more aware of the pressures facing schools than special education teachers. Denise Moore and Rhian Phelan Denise Moore, who has worked in the sector for two decades, said what used to be the steady crumbling of the system had become a landslide. She added: This is not the time to be cutting funding, Theres a growing demand for special needs places. The list is getting longer and longer. The resources are not there, the training is not there and the substitute teachers are not there. Its the children who suffer. Colleague Rhian Phelan has children ready to sit their A-levels and GCSEs. She said: Ive been nearly 20 years in special education and I dont want to be on strike, but I want to see resources there for the children. They are our priority. This is about the education system falling into ruin. We dont want to sit back any longer and just let it happen. That was the general feeling across the teachers who turned up to support the rally, but there were other issues at play too. A protester called Charlotte Carson said: A big focus for us is that these cuts are affecting a workforce which is predominantly women. The divisive nature of education is being made worse. If its not funded properly, it doesnt do its job properly. Disadvantaged children have a much harder time. The religious divide is well known, but the economic divide is growing. When education struggles, it hits the poorest hardest. Edel McInerney and Bronagh Wright Walking up Great Victoria Street, the striking teachers were greeted by cheers. They admitted they felt a little like rock stars walking onto a stage, but that feeling was all too brief. The reality returned as soon as the speeches started. Today, they will be back in class, facing the same problems, not knowing what cuts are coming down the track next. While the smiles of solidarity were a welcome distraction, there was a sense they will likely be at similar rallies in the future. Earlier, in the backstreets of Belfasts Cathedral Quarter, flags, stickers and badges were handed out on arrival. It was not a working day for the teachers who made their way to the Oh Yeah Music Centre. It was more important than that. Many had families along with them for the strike, kids arriving with parents. Life as a teacher revolves around children inside and outside the classroom, a fact that can quickly be forgotten. The faces of the youngest arrivals were painted as their mums and a few dads got on with the business for the day. There was tea, coffee and cans of Coke and Fanta. It felt, in many ways, like a grand day out. But it was a day teachers spent wishing they were back in their classrooms, doing the jobs they love with all the support they need to do them, getting paid as much as teachers in England and Scotland and having a better work/life balance. The National Education Union hosted the gathering, which was specifically aimed at women, who make up 77% of the local teaching workforce. It was organised by Charlotte Carson, a teacher in north Belfast. Later, teachers from across Belfast and beyond would gather at City Hall to hear speeches by union officials and wave flags in a show of strength. But its with the individuals who often get lost in the crowd that stories can be found. Thousands of public sector workers go on strike over fair pay, working conditions and investing in the future for young people Thousands of education workers turned out in Belfast city centre during a day of strike action that saw the majority of schools close across Northern Ireland. All five main teaching unions, and school leaders through the NAHT for the first time in the unions 125-year history, joined the protest in an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions, with the anger increased after a recent raft of further cuts to vital schemes. The unions have appealed to Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris to address the funding crisis that they say is damaging the future of all children in Northern Ireland, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds. We are disappointed that it has come to this but we have been left with no alternative, they said in a joint letter to Mr Heaton-Harris. The Education Authority (EA), which is responsible for spending the bulk of the 2.5bn education budget, has been asked to model cuts of up to 10% of its 2023/24 budget which could mean it has to find hundreds of millions of pounds worth of savings. Our best guess is to prepare for cuts in the order of 500 million. This will mean cuts to teaching and ancillary staff and savage cuts to many vital areas of non-statutory education. Recent examples have included cutting Baby Books, cuts to Extended Schools, cuts to mental health services and cuts to youth services for the most disadvantaged of our young people. The extent of projected school funding cuts will have a damaging effect on the region, its economy and society. The full-day strike action follows a half day of strike action in schools in February, The unions emphasised the dispute is not simply about pay for teachers. Bluntly, schools are under-funded in Northern Ireland and have been for some time. The result is increased class sizes, increased pupil to teacher ratios, decreased subject choice, narrowed curriculum and an acute shortage of available supply teachers. Teaching and education generally appear to be seen by government only as a cost, not as a necessary investment to take full advantage of the unique economic and trading position of Northern Ireland in the wake of the Windsor Agreement. A well-educated and skilled workforce is a requirement for the future economy as well as for the good of society. The value of a teachers job has decreased by nearly a quarter in real terms in the lost decade since a 2010/11 pay freeze. Pay losses of that order lead to the degradation of the profession, coupled with increased job intensity and decreased job satisfaction. Astonishingly, in a region that over-produces teachers, our system has managed to create teacher shortages in all sciences, technology, English and even in home economics. Today also saw disruption across all government departments as civil servants called for a fair pay offer, having rejected the previous one which would have amounted to 552 a year before tax, equivalent to a wage cut of more than 20% over the last decade. A Co Down medical practice is to hand back its contract to the Department of Health, becoming the latest to risk closure in Northern Ireland in the past year. Kilkeel Medical Practice made the announcement on social media, writing on Facebook: The GP partners of Kilkeel Medical Practice can confirm with regret that they have decided to hand back to the Department of Health the contract to deliver GP services in Kilkeel Primary Care Centre. They said the changes will take effect from 1st November this year but until then will be operation will be operational and continue to provide services. This difficult decision has been taken as the practice has been unable to recruit GPs to fill several vacancies for some time now. The practice has been operating with half the workforce of three years ago and as a result the management of the ever increasing workload has become unsustainable, they added. The Department of Health will now begin the process of advertising and recruiting a new GP contractor at the practice. Earlier this month, Kells and Connor Medical Practice in Ballymena also gave notice to the Department of Health but was saved from imminent closure after Dalriada Urgent Care, which also provides GP Out of Hours services for the Northern Trust area, stepped in with a proposal. Last year, Ballymena Family Practice and Flax Medical Centre in Ardoyne also handed back their contracts to the Department of Health. Grove Medical Practice in north Belfast also risked closure but was later saved. According to the Department, there are currently 319 active GP practices in Northern Ireland as of 31st March 2022, a fall from 350 in 2014. In closing, Kilkeel Medical Practice said the Department of Health will write to patients currently listed with the surgery, and thanked them for their ongoing support. Health officials are reminding the public to take up offer of Covid-19 vaccine Danny Lawson A new Covid strain that's behind a surge of infections in India has not been identified in Northern Ireland, according to official figures. The omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16, named Arcturus, has been designated a variant of interest by the WHO. This means it has mutations that are suspected or known to cause significant changes and is circulating widely. While cases have been identified in other parts of the UK, latest data shows no one in Northern Ireland has yet tested positive with Arcturus. However, this does not rule out the possibility that it has arrived here due to the vastly reduced level of testing for Covid. It does appear the variant is more infectious than the current dominant strains, but experts dont believe it is causing severe illness. Despite this, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging anyone eligible for the Covid vaccination to get the jab. It said: The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19 is constantly evolving, with new variants arising frequently. Some of these can become dominant and could cause further waves of infection. The PHA and the Department of Health work with UK Health Security Agency as part of UK-wide monitoring of the virus and variants. The XBB.1.16 variant is among the latest being monitored. There is not enough information at present to know whether its severity is different from other recent variants, or whether it will become dominant. The identification of new variants across the world is not unexpected and it serves as a reminder that vaccination for those eligible can provide the best protection against Covid-19 infection. The Covid-19 spring booster programme in Northern Ireland began on Wednesday, April 12. The spring booster vaccine will help to prolong protection already received from initial vaccinations, ahead of any potential wave of Covid-19 over the summer months. According to the most recent figures, there were nine Covid registered deaths in Northern Ireland in the week ending April 14, 2023. The XBB.1.5 variant, also known as Kraken, remained the most dominant strain, accounting for 43.5% of all sequenced samples. The age groups with the highest number of positive cases per 100,000 of the population were between birth and nine-years-old and 70 and 79. However, the number of new episodes decreased over the week, at 475 from 520 in the previous week. Indias health ministry has been conducting mock drills to check preparedness of hospitals to deal with its rising cases, while people have been asked to wear face coverings in public places in an effort to reduce the spread. It has been reported case numbers have risen three-fold in the country, with the surge largely driven by XBB.1.16. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHOs Covid technical lead, recently said: It has been in circulation for a few months. We haven't seen a change in severity in individuals or in populations, but that's why we have these systems in place." Brian (not his real name) was the victim of a paramilitary-style attack in 1984 when he was aged 18 and he is still living with the physical and psychological scars from it to this day. Chris Heaton-Harris will deliver the budget in the absence of powersharing (Liam McBurney/PA) Liam McBurney A budget for Northern Ireland expected to result in swingeing cuts to public services is set to be laid before Parliament on Thursday. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, who has responsibility for setting the Stormont budget in the absence of powersharing, is expected to outline departmental allocations for 2023/24 in a written ministerial statement at Westminster. Civil servants running public services in the absence of devolved elected ministers are bracing themselves for a potentially brutal settlement. When local ministers left office last year, Stormont was facing an approximate 600 million black hole. Permanent secretaries were forced to make a range of in-year savings and the Treasury provided a 300 million advance down-payment to help bridge the financial gap. However, with that 300 million having to be recouped in this financial year, the picture looks even more bleak for the 2023/24 budget. Stormont permanent secretaries insist they should not be placed in the position of having to make significant cuts, potentially impacting the most vulnerable in society. They have urged the Government to issue ministerial directions for any major cuts that are implemented. However, Mr Heaton-Harris has made clear he does not intend to issue such directions, which means the decisions will fall on the civil service until such time as powersharing returns to Stormont. Devolution is in abeyance at Stormont as a result of a DUP boycott of the institutions in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements. Mr Heaton-Harris is due to meet the main parties at Hillsborough Castle on Thursday to discuss the budgetary picture. Michelle ONeill has expressed concern at the likely cuts in the budget (Niall Carson/PA) Niall Carson On Wednesday, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill called on the UK Government to divert more money to Northern Ireland. I just think its not good enough that we dont have the executive up and running right now, we need to be there, she said. And all the political parties need to be facing one direction and that is a direction pushing back against the Tory savagery. The cuts that they have brought forward have been eye-watering and really impacting on our communities and the people that live here. But alongside a reformed executive, which I am determined and what I want to achieve, what we need is additional finances, because weve just dealt with 12-plus years of Tory austerity, theyve decimated public services, our public sector workers are on strike today, they shouldnt have to be there. But this is the reality of the Tory austerity that they have brought upon us. But we need to fight back against it. And we need to fight for additional funding for a reformed executive that allows us to actually make better political choices in the best interests of the people that we serve. Gavin Robinson has said the problem is not a lack of powersharing (Liam McBurney/PA) Liam McBurney The DUP has called for reform of how Northern Ireland is funded. This week, DUP MP Gavin Robinson raised the issue with Mr Heaton-Harris when he appeared before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. The primary problem is not a lack of Stormont, it is a lack of money. That is a decision made by Treasury, he said. I have been warning for some time that the Barnett formula used for divvying up the budget for the UK regions is unfair to Northern Ireland and will continue to get even worse in coming years. There needs to be a complete reform of the funding model. The Treasury contribution to fund public services in Northern Ireland is going down rather than rising. A local councillor has written to Ofcom to request an audit An independent audit should be carried out into the standard of mobile phone signal in Belfast city centre, a local councillor has said. Botanic SDLP councillor Gary McKeown said unreliable mobile phone signal was an issue across all networks in the area around City Hall. People are regularly getting in contact with me about their really poor mobile phone signal in Belfast city centre, he told the Belfast Telegraph. It is an issue across a number of networks, with both voice calls and data affected. It seems to be really difficult to maintain a constant connection, and with more and more people returning to the city centre to work or enjoy shopping or hospitality, we really need the mobile phone networks to be reliable and support people keeping in touch. I know that Ive been on casework calls with constituents in City Hall, for example, and the calls have dropped out when people are talking through sensitive or detailed issues which you really dont want being interrupted. The experience of many is that the quality of connection for phonecalls or the internet is shocking, with conversations and web activity constantly being interrupted. Walk past any office building in the city centre and youre likely to see workers right up at the windows trying to pick up a signal. The four main networks EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three were unable to identify a specific issue when contacted by the Belfast Telegraph. A Vodafone spokesperson said they were aware of an issue affecting areas in east Belfast. We are currently working on an issue at one of our masts in east Belfast and wed like to say sorry to any of our customers experiencing problems with their service in that area at the moment, they said. Cllr McKeown said he had written to UK communications regulator Ofcom to ask for an investigation into mobile signal in the area. I have written to Ofcom to ask them to investigate this, he said. Information on the quality of signal appears to be something which is self-reported by networks, so I want to know what kind of independent audit takes place to check just how good service actually is. A spokesperson for Ofcom said they were unable to comment on specific requests, but a spokesperson said they havent been made aware of any specific problems presently in the area. Police have arrested a man, aged in his 40s, who is wanted in Romania to serve a three-year sentence for multiple driving offences including no driving licence and using forged documents. The man was detained in Portadown today (Wednesday) on a Romanian extradition warrant and will appear at an extradition hearing at Laganside Magistrates Court later today. Constable Willie Dynes from the International Policing Unit said: This is another example of our continued determination and commitment to work with International Law Enforcement partners to track down wanted persons and bring offenders to justice. "Our message is clear, Northern Ireland is not a safe haven for any wanted persons trying to avoid arrest and the consequences of their previous actions. We will relentlessly pursue those that are trying to delay or deny justice to victims of crime." A model looks at Homeplus Signature products at a Homeplus Mega Food Market in Seoul. Courtesy of Homeplus A man who died during an incident at a paving materials supply factory in Co Derry in the early hours of this morning has been named locally. A death notice posted by D Watters Funeral Services said Colin Desmond Thomas died suddenly as a result of a tragic accident. Mr Thomas was described as the devoted husband of Karen, loving son of the late Desmond and Sandra, much loved brother of Michael and his wife Heather and Sarah and her husband Ronnie. "We will love you always, peacefully sleeping, the noticed added. Emergency services were called at 1.29am to reports of an incident in Tobermore Concrete on the Lisnamuck Road, Tobermore. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) attended the scene. A spokesperson confirmed they received a call at 1.29am, adding: NIAS despatched two Ambulances to the scene of the incident. "No patients were taken from the scene. A PSNI spokesperson said: Police and the Health and Safety Executive are investigating the circumstances, although the man's death is not believed to be suspicious at this time. Tobermore Concrete said in a statement it had been left devastated by news of their employees death. Tobermore can confirm there has been a tragic accident in one of our factories. We are devastated to report that a colleague has lost his life, it said. Our deepest condolences and thoughts are with the family at this difficult time. Tobermore are offering counselling to support our staff. At Tobermore, the Health and Safety of our employees is our utmost priority. An investigation is currently under way aided by the relevant authorities. We wont be making any further comment at this time. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, DUP local election candidate Anne Forde said she believed Mr Thomas was from Tobermore. A lot of people have said it is sad to see what has happened. Most of the workers in are local people, she added. This is just a tragic accident and we dont know what happened but time will tell. I would like to pass on my condolences to friends and family at this very tragic time. Im praying for them, this will be very hard for them but people will help them in any way we can. UUP candidate for Moyola Derek McKinney said it's a very sad day in Tobermore as people woke to the tragic news of a fatal accident. Colin was true a gentleman and a loving husband. The town was quiet today and people were numb as they tried to come to terms with the tragic news. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, his wider family circle and his work colleagues, he added. His party colleague Ian Brown, an Ulster Unionist representative for Magherafelt, said his thoughts and prayers were with family and friends of the deceased. Many people from the local community reacted with sadness to the heartbreaking news and offered their sympathies to Mr Thomas wife Karen and the wider family circle. One work colleague said: Rest easy Colin you were a true gentleman and a good work mate. You will be sadly missed, thinking of Karen and family circle at this sad time. Another man added: So sorry to learn of the sad and tragic passing of Colin, he was such a nice and friendly person to speak to when I worked at Tobermore. "My sincere condolences to his wife and family at this sad & difficult time. God Bless. Funeral arrangements will be announced later. Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill and Alex Maskey are both to attend the coronation of King Charles III on May 6, it had been confirmed. The DUP welcomed the move but urged Sinn Fein to go a step further by agreeing to Union flags being flown on all publicly-funded buildings on Coronation day. Confirming she would be attending the coronation, Ms ONeill said: We are living in a time of great change. A time to respect our differing and equally legitimate aspirations, a time to firmly focus on the future and the opportunities that the next decade will bring. I am an Irish Republican. I also recognise there are many people on our island for whom the coronation is a hugely important occasion, she added. I am committed to being a First Minister for all, representing the whole community, building good relations between the people of these islands, and advancing peace and reconciliation through respectful and mature engagement. Therefore, as First Minister Designate, I will join President of Ireland Michael D Higgins, international figures, church leaders, other party leaders and the Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey for the coronation in London. Sinn Fein's Michelle ONeill on her decision to attend the Kings coronation. In a letter released on Wednesday, Mr Maskey, who is still acting speaker at Stormont, informed MLAs that he would also be attending. He said: It has always been important for me, or indeed any Speaker, to conduct my responsibilities to represent the Assembly in a way that is inclusive and respectful of all the identities and political traditions within it. I therefore want to inform Members that I am pleased to attend the coronation of King Charles III on behalf of the Assembly. The symbolic religious ceremony, during which Charles will be officially crowned King, is due to take place at Westminster Abbey in central London. His son, the Duke of Sussex has said he will be taking part, but the Duchess of Sussex will stay in the US and miss Charless big day. Last year, Michelle ONeill wrote to the Queen ahead of the monarchs Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The Sinn Fein vice-president referred to Her Majestys 70 years of dedicated public service to the British people, and praised her significant contribution to the peace process. Ms ONeill also referred to the late Queens landmark meetings with Sinn Fein over the last decade. Ms ONeill wrote at the time: Personally, I wish to thank you for your warmth and unfailing courtesy on the occasions in which both I and my late colleague Martin McGuinness met with you in 2012 in Belfast during your Diamond Jubilee, and thereafter at Windsor Castle during the State Visit of President of Ireland Michael D Higgins to the UK in 2014. President Michael D Higgins will also be making history by becoming the first Irish head of state to attend the coronation of a British monarch. President Higgins and his wife, Sabina, will travel to London to attend the ceremony. They will also attend a reception at Buckingham Palace on the evening before. President Higgins made the first Irish state visit to the UK in 2014 after Queen Elizabeth had three years previously made the first visit to the Republic by a British monarch since independence. DUP spokesman on Local Government Brian Kingston MLA has said the decision of Michelle ONeill to attend the Kings Coronation is a "step in the right direction. But, he called on Sinn Fein to demonstrate their commitment to a shared future by supporting the Union Flag being raised on all publicly funded buildings on Coronation Day. Mr Kingston said: Michelle ONeills attendance at the Coronation is an improvement on previous refusals at similar such royal occasions, but needs communicated to rank and file Sinn Fein elected members. "In many minority unionist Councils Sinn Fein opposed unionist plans to mark the Coronation. If Sinn Fein truly believes in building a shared future, then they should have no problem in supporting the Union Flag being raised on all public buildings to mark the Coronation. Sinn Fein elected members have led a campaign in Councils across Northern Ireland to remove every element of Royalty and aspects of Britishness. This decision by Michelle ONeill must be about more than a photograph, there needs to be a change of wider policy and attitude by Sinn Fein. Meanwhile, People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll has described the Sinn Fein leaders decision to attend the coronation as shameful. The monarchy represents everything that is wrong with our society, he stated. Gross wealth inequality, inherited privilege, and empire are nothing to celebrate. Sinn Fein should be ashamed of the decision to attend King Charles coronation. We are socialists. We recognise that there are people across these islands who will struggle to make ends meet while this lavish coronation ceremony takes place. We would never attend such a ceremony - we want to make monarchy history." He added: While the Sinn Fein leader toasts the Head of the British armed forces, we will think of the millions murdered, maimed, and brutalised by Britains imperialist ventures from Belfast to Baghdad. A number of Stormont departments are facing cuts in the budget (Liam McBurney/PA) Liam McBurney Officials have said the current best-case scenario for 2023/24 is flat cash meaning no increase on the 2022/23 funding. The potential impact on services could include a reduction or even cessation of waiting list initiatives resulting in even longer hospital waiting lists and a restriction of domiciliary care packages. Not only will this lead to further misery for unpaid carers, it will result in longer A&E waits and make it even more difficult to access GP services. Officials may also be unable to implement pay rises on a par with the rest of the UK, which will result in further industrial action and exacerbate staff retention issues. ECONOMY With spending at core departments like education and health to be protected, others will have to take the pain. Core costs for the Department for the Economy like staff salaries are to be protected but there will be reductions to public-facing services. That may mean less money to spend on skills and promoting opportunities for young people an uncomfortable reality after celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement had focused so closely on improving their future. Further education college principals are bracing themselves. Its understood the departments arms-length bodies like Tourism NI and Invest NI are modelling 20% cuts. Many are chasing alternative means of funding like Shared Island Fund from the Irish Government. EDUCATION Engage funding is gone, as is money for Holiday Hunger, and the Extended Schools programme. All were to help the most disadvantaged in society. Next on the hit list will be funding for school buildings, with schools having to make do with what they have. There are further projects like A Fair Start, again seeking to help address underachievement, which are likely to see funding hit. Extra curricular activities will come under pressure, school trips as well, with schools tasked to save money from heir own budgets which cannot cope as it is. Teachers are striking over pay and conditions. Any financing of pay rises, with salaries the biggest expenditure in the budget, is difficult to see. No pay deal means more industrial action. And any immediate impact of the Independent Review of Education, due to report later this year, is likely to be minimal. JUSTICE The Justice budget has already been slashed over years of austerity with any further cuts having a significant impact on frontline services, including police, prisons, courts and legal services. In the absence of a minister decisions will be made by civil servants headed up by Richard Pengelly, who was appointed as Permanent Secretary of the Department of Justice in April 2022. Additional funds are needed to address the Covid recovery plan, specifically the backlog in criminal court proceedings which is currently the worst in the UK. Inquests were also impacted by Covid and any further budget cuts could bring longer delays to grieving families. New domestic abuse, stalking and people trafficking legislation, all introduced during the last administration require additional funding and training in order to be fully implemented. DfC Stormonts Department for Communities oversees things like benefits, housing and support for a wide a range of community groups. In recent months community groups delivering a range of services, including youth groups and those who support the most vulnerable in our society, were told their funding could not be guaranteed beyond the end of June. Further cuts would likely confirm that this funding will not be provided past June. Many groups rely on this funding in order to carry out their activities and pay their staff. The cuts mean many will no longer be able to operate, resulting in the loss of hundreds of jobs and leaving communities without vital support. DfI The Department for Infrastructure oversees our roads, water and sewerage and public transport. For years it has suffered from chronic underfunding. Back in August of last year, then Infrastructure Minister John ODowd warned that the department was facing unprecedented resource pressures as a result of increased energy prices. In particular, NI Water is dealing with a budget shortfall of tens of millions of pounds. These pressures have only increased in recent months. Further cuts could result in issues with the provision of drinking water and wastewater treatment. Much-needed repairs and upgrades to our road network could also be impacted. FINANCE With its operations spanning all government departments, any cuts to the DoF budget would likely be felt across the Northern Ireland Executive. DoF oversees a plethora of cross-department services from public sector procurement, recruitment and civil service pay scales and pensions to statistics and research, and civil law reform. Property is another major remit encompassing domestic and non-domestic ratings and valuations, building regulations and energy efficiency, land registration and the ordnance survey. Discretionary spend could be the first to go, with the overall impact of any cuts to DoF services likely to be slower, less responsive public services. New IT projects in the pipeline may have to be chopped. DAERA The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) faces the biggest budget cut at Stormont in real terms. It could prove devastating for a whole range of services relating to food, farming, the environment, fisheries and forestry. But slashed funding could also thwart sustainability goals and complicate efforts to combat global warming. Daera is required to set carbon budgets under section 23 of the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 to achieve its net zero goal by 2050. It has already been acknowledged that agriculture has a special economic role to play in ensuring interim targets are met including ensuring that 70% of waste is recycled here. Limited funding will make this difficult. A fossil of a sturgeon estimated to be more than 66 million years old is the first to be found in Africa. (University of Portsmouth/PA) University of Portsmouth A fossil of a sturgeon estimated to be more than 66 million years old is the first to be found in Africa. The sturgeon, declared a royal fish by King Edward II in 1324, was previously thought to have only lived in the cooler waters of the northern hemisphere, excluding Africa. But now this specimen has been discovered in Morocco by University of Portsmouth palaeontologist Professor David Martill. The fossil of a sturgeon estimated to be more than 66 million years old was discovered in Morocco by palaeontologist Professor David Martill (University of Portsmouth/PA) University of Portsmouth He found it when he was visiting a well-known Moroccan fossil site during a field trip last November. He said: I found a piece of rock with bucklers the bony external plates found on these heavily armoured fish and I knew straight away it was a sturgeon. It was a surprising discovery because all sturgeon species have been exclusively found in the northern hemisphere in the past. Theyve been located in North America, Europe, Russian Asia, Chinese Asia, but never in South America, Australia, Africa or India, which are the land masses that made up Gondwana, a supercontinent that existed around 336 million years ago and began breaking up around 150 million years ago. Sturgeons have long been valued for their meat and roe, which is eaten as caviar, but, as a result of overfishing along with habitat loss, many species are critically endangered, with several are on the verge of extinction in the wild. Prof Martill said: Russian beluga caviar is one of the most expensive in the world. Little did we know that at one time an extremely rare African sturgeon could have been a source of this delicacy. Sturgeon were previously thought to have only lived in the cooler waters of the northern hemisphere (University of Portsmouth/PA) University of Portsmouth Sturgeon are considered a living fossil because their ancestors date back to the era of the dinosaurs, more than 200 million years ago. They can grow up to 23ft (7m) in length and have been recorded to reach a weight of 1.5 tonnes. In 1324, King Edward II declared them to be royal fish and any found in the waters around England and Wales are technically still owned by the British monarchy, along with whales and dolphins. Prof Martill said the oldest example was found on Dorsets Jurassic Coast, and added: This new Moroccan species complicates models of the location of the origin of this important group of fish that is typically so widespread in the northern hemisphere. The specimen, whose discovery is recorded in the journal Cretaceous Research, is now in the collection of the University King Hassan II in Casablanca. UK nationals disembarking from an A400M transport plane at Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus (Ministry of Defence/PA) Ministry of Defence The first evacuation flights carrying British nationals have taken off from Sudan as UK troops prepare to take over the running of the airfield. Two Royal Air Force planes have landed at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus as of 6.30am on Wednesday, with the first charter flight back to London set to depart later in the day. Families with young children were among those on the first flights that landed in Cyprus with a British man telling the BBC that his sister, who left Sudan overnight, felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Three planes were due to have left conflict-torn Khartoum for Cyprus by Wednesday morning, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledging many more would follow as he warned of a critical 24 hours. 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 Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the UK would take charge of the Wadi Saeedna airstrip near the capital from German forces, after Berlin said its final evacuation flight would leave on Tuesday night. He said 120 British troops have already been supporting the operation there. Around 260 people were expected to be flown out overnight on three flights, the first landing on Tuesday evening with around 40 people on board. British nationals have been told to make their own way to the site with some fearing they will not make it due to a petrol shortage. The UK military could be ready to use force if needed to protect the air base in the event it comes under attack during the airlift, although the troops are primarily there to help with logistics, the i paper reported. Mr Wallace told LBC Radio: The Germans are leaving tomorrow, and we will take over the facilitation at the airfield. And the reason the Germans are leaving is people have stopped coming in large numbers. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Jordan Pettitt He said only one nation can facilitate the airfield at a time, adding: If the Spanish or the Italians or anyone else wants to fly, well be the ones giving permissions effectively. There is some risk that some of the planes are not full, he said, as there are not thousands at the gate as in the evacuation from Afghanistan. The Government is considering other options, including a possible seaborne evacuation from Port Sudan, some 500 miles from the capital. HMS Lancaster and the RFA Cardigan Bay have been sent to the region. Announcing the completion of Germanys evacuation efforts, the countrys foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians to their own devices, in an apparent swipe at the UKs approach. She said that unlike in other countries, Germanys evacuation had included all its nationals and not just embassy staff. Mr Sunak defended the UKs efforts, saying it was right that diplomats were prioritised because they were being targeted. The security situation on the ground in Sudan is complicated, it is volatile and we wanted to make sure we could put in place processes that are going to work for people, that are going to be safe and effective, the Prime Minister said at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) crisis centre. He told teams working on the evacuation efforts that the next 24 hours are absolutely critical. The mission was launched during a ceasefire brokered between the warring factions. But Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned the extraction of UK nationals is inherently dangerous as we cannot be sure for how long it will hold. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly meet Whitehall teams coordinating the evacuation of British nationals from Sudan (Hannah McKay/PA) Hannah McKay A UK-born student attempting to flee Sudan said she does not have enough petrol to make the dangerous one-hour drive from the outskirts of Khartoum to the airstrip. Im trying to get there. But the problem is the vehicles that we have have no gas, and the petrol stations are empty, Samar Eltayeb, 20, from Birmingham, told the PA news agency. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck. More than 2,000 British citizens have registered in Sudan with the FCDO. Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, will be prioritised for the flights. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible. Nationals have been warned all travel within Sudan is conducted at your own risk. A US M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System fires a missile during the joint military exercise in northern Philippines (Aaron Favila/AP) Aaron Favila American and Filipino forces hit a ship with a barrage of high-precision rockets, airstrikes and artillery fire in their largest war drills in Philippine waters facing the disputed South China Sea that is likely to antagonise China. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr watched the American show of firepower from an observation tower in the coastal town of San Antonio in northwestern Zambales province the latest indication of his strong backing of the Philippines treaty alliance with the US. Mr Marcos has ordered his military to shift its focus to external defence from decades-long anti-insurgency battles as Chinas increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea become a top concern. Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr approved a wider US military presence in the country in February (Aaron Favila/AP) Aaron Favila The shift in the Philippine defence focus falls in sync with the Biden administrations aim of reinforcing an arc of alliances in the Indo-Pacific region to better counter China. China has angered the Philippines by repeatedly harassing its navy and coastguard patrols and chasing away fishermen in the waters close to Philippine shores but which Beijing claims as its own. The Philippines has filed more than 200 diplomatic protests against China since last year, including at least 77 since Mr Marcos took office in June. Sitting beside US ambassador MaryKay Carlson and his top defence and security advisers, Mr Marcos used a pair of binoculars, as rockets streaked into the sky from the US High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, a multiple rocket and missile launcher mounted on a truck that has become a crucial weapon for Ukrainian troops battling Russian invasion forces. This training increased the exercises realism and complexity, a key priority shared between the armed forces of the Philippines and the US military, Lieutenant General William Jurney, commander of US Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, said. Together we are strengthening our capabilities in full-spectrum military operations across all domains, Lt Gen Jurney, the US director for the annual joint exercises called Balikatan, Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder, said. About 12,200 US military personnel, 5,400 Filipino forces and 111 Australian counterparts were taking part in the exercises, the largest since Balikatan started three decades ago. The drills have showcased US warships, fighter jets as well as Patriot missiles, HIMARS and anti-tank Javelins, according to US and Philippine military officials. Philippine troops used Autonomous Truck Mounted Howitzer Systems during the exercise (Aaron Favila/AP) Aaron Favila Philippine military officials said the manoeuvres would bolster the countrys coastal defence and disaster-response capabilities and were not aimed at any country. China has opposed military drills involving US forces in the region in the past as well as increasing US military deployments, which it warned would rachet up tensions and hamper regional stability and peace. Washington and Beijing have been on a collision course over Chinas increasingly assertive actions to defend its vast territorial claims in the South China Sea and Beijings goal of annexing Taiwan, by force if necessary. In February, Mr Marcos approved a wider US military presence in the Philippines by allowing rotating batches of American forces to stay in four more Philippine military camps. This was a sharp turnaround from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who feared that a larger American military footprint could antagonise Beijing. People wave from a bus after arriving in a military plane from Khartoum at the Houari-Boumediene airport in Algiers (Amine/AP) Amine Sudanese people living in the capital Khartoum and the neighbouring city of Omdurman have reported sporadic clashes early on Wednesday between the military and a rival paramilitary force but said the intensity of fighting had dwindled on the second day of a three-day truce. Many residents of the capital emerged from their homes to seek food and water, lining up at bakeries or grocery shops, witnesses said. Some inspected stores or homes that had been destroyed or looted during the fighting. Others joined the tens of thousands who have been streaming out of the city in recent days. There is a sense of calm in my area and neighbourhoods, said Mahasen Ali, a tea vendor who lives in a southern neighbourhood of Khartoum. Residential buildings have been damaged in the fighting in the capital (Marwan Ali/AP) Marwan Ali But all are afraid of whats next. She said that despite the relative lull, the sound of gunfire and explosions could still be heard in the city. Clashes were centred on more limited pockets of Khartoum and Omdurman, residents said, mainly around the militarys headquarters and the Republican Palace, the seat of power. An exchange of fire rattled the upmarket Kafouri neighbourhood, where many fighters from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are deployed. The fighting in Khartoum has pushed the population to near breaking point (Marwan Ali/AP) Marwan Ali The relative reduction of fighting on Wednesday was a rare moment of easing for the millions of Sudanese who have been caught in the crossfire since the forces of the countrys two top generals went to war with each other on April 15. The fighting has pushed the population to near breaking point, with food growing more difficult to obtain, electricity cut off across much of the capital and other cities and many hospitals shut down. In a country where a third of the population of 46 million already needed humanitarian assistance, multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations. The UN refugee agency said it was gearing up for potentially tens of thousands of people fleeing into neighbouring countries. 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 Still, it was not clear how long the relative calm would last. A series of short ceasefires over the past week have either failed outright or brought only intermittent lulls, enough for evacuations of hundreds of foreigners by air and land. The two generals, army chief Abdel Fattah Burhan and RSF commander Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, have so far ignored calls for negotiations to end the crisis and have seemed determined to crush each other. At least 459 people, including civilians and fighters, have been killed, and over 4,000 wounded since fighting began, the UN health agency said, citing Sudans health ministry. The Doctors Syndicate, which which tracks civilian casualties, said at least 295 civilians had been killed and 1,790 others injured. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres warned that their power struggle was not only putting Sudans future at risk, it is lighting a fuse that could detonate across borders, causing immense suffering for years, and setting development back by decades. There are fears the fighting will escalate once evacuations of foreigners are complete (Amine/AP) Amine Mr Guterres cited reports of armed clashes across the country, with people fleeing their homes in Blue Nile and North Kordofan states and across Western Darfur as well. Joyce Msuya, the assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the Security Council there have been numerous reports of sexual and gender-based violence. Ms Msuya said the UN had received reports of tens of thousands of people arriving in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. The 72-hour ceasefire announced by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was due to last until late on Thursday night. Many fear the fighting will only escalate once evacuations of foreigners, which appeared to be in their last stages, were complete. Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces General Abdel-Fattah Burhan rose to power, together with RSF commander Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, after a popular uprising in 2019 (Sudan Armed Forces via AP) Uncredited Bus stations in the capital have been packed with people camping out, waiting for a spot on a bus. Drivers increased prices, sometimes tenfold, for routes to the border-crossing with Egypt or the eastern Red Sea city of Port Sudan. Fuel prices have skyrocketed. Tens of thousands more have fled to calmer provinces near Khartoum. Burhan and Dagalo rose to power after a popular uprising in 2019 prompted the generals to remove Sudans longtime autocratic ruler Omar al-Bashir. The Sudanese have been trying to bring a transition to democratic rule ever since, but in 2021 Burhan and Dagalo joined forces in a coup that purged a transitional government. They have fallen out now amid tensions over a new rough plan to reintroduce civilian rule. Both the military and the RSF have a long history of brutalising activists and protesters as well as other human rights abuses. Greenwashing and corporate greed is literally costing lives It was Earth Day on Saturday April 22. This national awareness day can quickly become a day for tidal corporate greenwashing where we are sold more stuff that we dont need and the environment is degraded as a marketing tool. Many brands will use the environment as a prop for their Earth Day campaigns, capitalising off nature without doing anything to protect it. The models are dressed in clean, crisp whites or styled in an earthy green colour palette, and words like eco-inspired populate the webpage. Some retailers add a resale section to their website, thinking that this will balance out not paying garment workers and not reducing the number of garments they are producing. They push us into purchasing something (anything!) from their biodegradable clothing lines and promise that theyre part of a greener and more sustainable future because one tree is planted with every order. These paradoxes felt particularly jarring this year. Earth Day came only 2 days before the 10-year commemoration of the Rana Plaza disaster. Monday April 22 marked 10 years since the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where 1,138 garment workers were killed. The day before the building collapsed, garments workers had reported cracks in the building walls to their managers, but their concerns fell on deaf ears. Garment workers were told that theyd be fired if they didnt keep working, and with many unable to afford to lose their wages and no union to represent them, they had no option but to carry on. After Rana Plaza in 2013, over 190 companies signed a safety accord to protect workers and stop it from ever happening again. Yet, over 10 years later, brands continue to maximise profit and fail to guarantee basic pay, as well as health and safety rights for their workers. Many garment workers are not paid a living wage, refused toilets breaks, and still dont have access to clean water. Levis the same brand that wished us all a Happy Earth Day to our favourite planet on Saturday is one of the brands that still hasnt signed the above accord. Instead, they took to Instagram to tell us that doing right by our one and only home is just the right thing to do. At the same, Levis garment workers in Ethiopia earn as little as 26 dollars a month and Levis own sustainability report found health and safety violations in over 50% of factories. Surely protecting garment workers and paying them a living wage is also the right thing to do? Unfortunately, in the world of fast fashion and retail, Levis arent the exception but the rule. Ten years later, and fashion is faster than ever. 75 million garment workers (mostly women) work in precarious, unsafe conditions and clothing brands produce 40% more than we could ever wear. The sheer volume of clothing produced obviously creates a huge waste problem, but we never have to see that in the UK because textile waste is exported to countries like Ghana and Kanya where it ends up polluting their coastlines and beaches instead. This problem is only getting worse. The fashion industry, at its current rate, is set to use 30% more land to grow fibres by 2030. Thats an extra 115 million hectares of land used to grow cotton to make jeans that could otherwise be used to grow food. I favour the latter option: you cant eat your clothes and given that we produce between 80 and 100 billion new pieces of clothing each year, weve certainly got enough to do us. Having mastered the art of greenwash, many consumers genuinely dont know about the human rights violations and environmental impact associated with fast fashion. Thats why it was equally interesting to read the National Attitudes and Behaviours Survey that the Environmental Protection Agency in Ireland published on Monday, the same day as Rana Plaza. This survey looked at attitudes to textiles in 2021, revealing that 21% people buy clothes several times a week and 65% of what they call High Frequency purchasers are women under 50-years-old. 1 in 3 young women, the biggest portion of consumers, consider garments worn once or twice to be old. This is my demographic, and one of the reasons why I am interested in raising awareness about this issue. Whats clear from survey attitudes is a lack of knowledge when it comes to fast fashion, and an appetite to address a skills gap. 68% people wanted better information on how to dispose of clothes. The same percentage wanted brands to offer takeback services for unwanted clothes. 47% people also said they would have liked to repair clothes but didnt have the skills to do it. Finally, just over a third of people saw a clear link between the consumption of textiles and climate change. Rana Plaza revealed the truth about corporate greed profiteering of cheap labour, literally costing lives. Fashion is an industry which builds power and intensifies inequalities, but its an industry that we all participate in. After all, we all wear clothes. With 52 fashion seasons a year instead of 4, it can be hard to resist buying new, but we need to prioritise swapping, lending, mending, hiring, repairing, reusing and buying second-hand. We need to celebrate the clothes we already own and keep showing up until we end the fast fashion era. If you have a choice in what you buy and where you buy it from, think carefully about where you put your pound. Think first about the garment workers who made your clothes. This photo shows President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, posing for a photo with Industry Minister Lee Chang-yang, left, and onsemi Vice President Daryl Hatano during an investment ceremony at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, U.S., April 25. Yonhap Korea and the United States have signed 23 initial agreements to boost bilateral cooperation on advanced industries and energy fields, such as batteries, robots and nuclear power generation, Seoul's industry ministry said Wednesday. The memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were signed during a business partnership event in Washington on Tuesday (local time) involving 45 senior corporate officials from the two nations on the sidelines of President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to the U.S., according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Of the agreements, 10 were on batteries, bio, aviation, robots, autonomous driving and other next-generation sectors, and the remaining 13 MOUs called for enhanced bilateral ties on energy industries, including hydrogen, nuclear power generation and carbon neutrality, it added. Participating Korean companies include Doosan, SK, Lotte Chemical and HD Korea Shipbuilding Offshore Engineering. From the U.S. side, Boeing, GE, ExxonMobil and Siemens attended the event, the ministry said. In detail, Seoul's Korea Battery Industry Association and several other institutions signed an MOU with the U.S.' NATTBatt and agreed to conduct joint research and development regarding secondary batteries and boost technology and personnel exchanges. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) greets Abdulhakim Idris, director of the Center for Uyghur Studies in Washington, at an iftar gathering in Kuala Lumpur, April 19, 2023. A prominent Uyghur activist has appealed to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to support the persecuted mostly Muslim ethnic group in northwestern Chinas Xinjiang region. Abdulhakim Idris, director of the Center for Uyghur Studies in Washington, met with Anwar last Wednesday during an iftar gathering at an Islamic center in Malaysias capital Kuala Lumpur. Iftar is the meal eaten after sunset during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ended on April 20. We learned earlier that Anwar Ibrahim, the prime minister of Malaysia, would attend this iftar, so I prepared a letter to give him which describes the current situation of the Uyghur people, Idris told Radio Free Asia (RFA), a news service affiliated with BenarNews. During the gathering, Anwar gave a speech in which he said he would protect all oppressed Muslims around the world and expressed sympathy for Uyghurs, Idris said. In 2018, Anwar demanded that the Chinese government allow Uyghurs religious freedom and freedom of movement. However, during a visit to China three weeks ago, Anwar took a more hands-off approach, saying the Uyghur issue was the internal matter of the Chinese government. The prime ministers office did not immediately respond to RFA request for comment. The governments of many Muslim-majority states have not spoken out about the Uyghur over fear of angering China, with which many have significant trade and infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative. Idris stressed the precarious situation of Uyghurs in East Turkistan, the Uyghurs preferred name for Xinjiang, and asked the prime minister for help. At the end of the meeting, he presented Anwar with a doppa, a traditional Uyghur skullcap, along with the letter and a copy of his book, Menace: Chinas Colonization of the Islamic World & Uyghur Genocide. Playing both sides? Erkin Ekrem, vice president of the World Uyghur Congress and an associate professor of history at Hacettepe University in Turkey, said Anwar, as a seasoned politician, is likely playing both sides of the coin one side with the Chinese and the other with the Uyghurs. He did not mention the Uyghur issue during his visit to China three weeks ago, Ekrem told RFA. He returned to Malaysia after expressing his desire to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. The words he conveyed to the Uyghur delegation are nothing but a political tactic, he said. If they dont do anything, then they could say, We could not do much. China has said that the camps were vocation training centers meant to prevent religious extremism and terrorism in the restive region, and that they now are all closed. But Uyghurs held in the camps have presented credible evidence of torture, sexual assaults and forced labor, prompting the U.S. government and some Western parliaments to declare the abuse amounted to genocide and crimes against humanity. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday watched U.S. and Philippine troops stage a mock attack to sink an enemy ship in the South China Sea. The strike, the culmination of this years largest-ever military exercise between the two allies, took place in Zambales, a province facing the West Philippine Sea, the part of the disputed South China Sea in Manilas exclusive economic zone. Clad in an army green jacket bearing the presidential logo and patches of the two countries security and defense boards, Marcos was the first president in a decade to watch a major event at the annual bilateral exercise called Balikatan, meaning shoulder-to-shoulder in Tagalog. Analysts said Marcoss attendance was an indication of the strengthening alliance with the United States amid Chinas increasing assertion in the disputed South China Sea and aggravated tensions between Beijing and Taipei. A Philippine military Howitzer cannon fires during the U.S.-Philippine military exercises in Zambales province, Philippines, April 26, 2023. [Jojo Rinoza/BenarNews] About 1,400 troops from both nations participated in Wednesdays events which saw U.S. and Philippine weapons being fired on a decommissioned Philippine Navy ship BRP Pangasinan. Along with High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), weapons used on the ship included the U.S. Avenger air defense systems, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and Philippine Air Force FA-50 Golden Eagle fighter-attack aircraft. On occasion, the live-fire exercises had to be stopped as unidentified interlopers, including a civilian aircraft, entered the operational zone, said Col. Michael Logico, spokesman for the Philippine contingent. He said Marcos learned about the capability of weapons systems, as well as the workings of combined operations. The president came away with a deeper appreciation for joint and combined operations, he asked a lot of questions and we answered them to the best of our ability. That means that he is deeply interested in how we operate together, Logico told reporters after the exercise. The message that we are trying to send is that the [U.S.-Philippine] alliance is alive and that we are always challenging ourselves so one Balikatan is always going to be harder and more complex than the previous Balikatan. Logico said. What we can say is that the reason we are doing an exercise at this magnitude is because we are exercising or demonstrating our ability to be interoperable with our U.S. counterpart which is also our treaty ally. The two nations troops were able to demonstrate this at the operational level of war, he said. From planning up to execution, we have to prove that we can do this together, side by side as treaty partners are expected to be, Logico said. U.S. Army officers welcomed Marcos and briefed him about HIMARS, a precision strike weapons system. The president watched the combined live-fire exercise from the top of a four-story building facing the sea. Two helicopters fly over U.S. troops during live fire joint military exercises with the Philippines, in Zambales province, Philippines, April 26, 2023. [Jason Gutierrez/BenarNews] Mixed reactions Don McLain Gill, a Manila-based geopolitical analyst, said Marcos was trying to blunt Chinas territorial objectives in the region which continue to come at the expense of the Philippines sovereignty. Marcos has been seeking a cordial relationship with China since becoming president last year. He went to Beijing on a state visit in January, but despite such efforts, China has continued its provocative actions, Gill said. The Philippines and China have overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea, and Beijing has repeatedly sent its ships into Manilas Exclusive Economic Zone in the waterway. Being rational of course, we sought to leverage on our alliance with our traditional security partner to enhance our ability to defend our territorial integrity and sovereign rights more effectively, Gill told BenarNews, referring to Manilas ally Washington. However, our policy with China will remain proactively autonomous, we will prioritize diplomatic negotiations, but the manner in which it will be maximized will depend on how well China will comply by becoming a better neighbor. Gill said Manila wants to have good and productive relations with Beijing, but it will not allow itself to be subjugated to Chinas narrowly defined objectives in the region. China has never accepted a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, in a case brought by the Philippines, which said that Beijings expansive historical claims in the South China Sea have no legal basis. Still, after hosting Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Manila last week, Marcos said the meeting was helpful in ironing things out between the two countries. Qins visit came days after the Chinese envoy to the Philippines said Manila must unequivocally oppose Taiwan independence rather than stoking the fire by offering the U.S. access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait. Troops launch a long-range missile during U.S.-Philippine military exercises, in Zambales, Philippines, April 26, 2023. [Jojo Rinoza/BenarNews] Defense analyst and historian Jose Antonio Custodio of the Manila-based Institute of Policy, Strategy and Development Studies, noted that the alliance with the U.S. is still viable despite the damage done to it by former leader Rodrigo Duterte. It [Balikatan] also shows China the capabilities the U.S. has in the region should Beijing decide to use military force against Taiwan, he told BenarNews, about the island that China considers a renegade province. They cant do much. American and allied power against them is overwhelming. The exercises occurred amid growing regional anxiety over Chinas threats directed at Taiwan. Beijing has opposed Manilas move to grant Washington expanded access to military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the two nations. The Philippines has allowed the U.S. to access four additional sites including two military bases in northern Luzon near Taiwan, along with one in the western province of Palawan facing the South China Sea. Mark Navales, Jojo Rinoza and Jeoffrey Maitem in San Antonio, Philippines, contributed to this report. Updated at 4:24 p.m. ET on 2023-04-26 Bangkok is prepared to accept a modified ship engine to power a submarine China is building for the Royal Thai Navy provided Beijing guarantees the engine is safe, the Thai Navy commander said this week. Thailands purchase of the 13.5 billion baht (U.S. $369 million) Yuan-class submarine ran into trouble because the Chinese state-owned submarine developer was unable to buy a German-built diesel submarine engine, due to a European Union arms embargo on Beijing. The Chinese Navy would have until June to guarantee the modified ship engines safety, said Thai Navy Commander Adm. Choengchai Chomchoengpaet following talks in Beijing in mid-April. We have three conditions to consider the engine must be safe. Second, the Chinese navy must guarantee this engine for the Thai navy. And third, there must be compensation for the delay due to the engine change, Choengchai said at an event in Chon Buri province on Tuesday. These are the important conditions in a decision on whether the contract would go on or be canceled, he said. If the Chinese navy agrees to the conditions, the submarine could be delivered in 40 months, Choengchai said. If the sale is completed, the submarine will be Thailands first since the World War II era. The modified engine, called the CHD620, is based on German technology and is widely used, Choengchai said. They have been installed in many of Chinas surface ships, including on aircraft carriers. They will tweak the CHD620 engine to fit into the Thai navy sub, Pakistani navy and the Chinese navy in the future, he said. Germany would not let them use its engine. The E.U. imposed its arms embargo on China in 1989 after the violent suppression of pro-democracy protests in Beijings Tiananmen Square. If we accept the CHD602 engine, the CSOC must offer a guaranteed time which is longer than usual. Second, the company must support us in terms of engine maintenance, parts and technicians. We have to agree on this in the future, Choengchai said, referring to the state-owned developer China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. Ltd. Planned purchase of 3 subs Choengchai said he raised the conditions for the purchase of the S26-T submarine, planned since 2017, to Li Shangfu, Chinese state councilor and minister of National Defense, and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy chief during his visit to Beijing on April 14. They both well acknowledged the trouble and promised that Chinas navy will support the guarantee of the CHD620 engine, which is built by CSOC, Choengchai said. The State Council of the Peoples Republic of China did not comment specifically on Choengchais visit. In a statement on the day of his visit, the council posted a statement on its website noting the solid foundation and huge potential of the cooperation between the navies of the two countries. The statement added that Chinese Defense Minister Li said the Chinese side is willing to enhance the cooperation level with the Thai side, making greater contributions to safeguarding global and regional peace and stability. In April 2017, the Thai government approved the Royal Navys plan to purchase three Yuan-class submarines from China, but only one is being built because Thai lawmakers postponed the others over budgetary constraints. The Yuan-class is a diesel-electric submarine designed to operate in shallow coastal waters, according to the U.S. Naval Institute. After being appointed Thai Navy commander, Choengchai said in October that his force must have three submarines in order to be equal to [other navies] and to deal with security threats. This story has been updated to correct the figure given for the value of the submarine Thailand is purchasing from the China state-owned shipbuilder. From left to right, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, second, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, fourth, and Hyundai Motor Group Euisun Chung, sixth, attend Korea-U.S. business roundtable at the United States Chamber of Commerce, U.S., April 26. Yonhap The Korea-U.S. business roundtable took place Tuesday (local time) on the sidelines of President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to the U.S. this week, bringing together 39 influential businesspeople of the two countries to the venue, the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) said in a release. The Korean delegation included Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, among others. Yoon also attended the session in person. The participants discussed efforts to enhance cooperation in advanced industries, global supply chains and critical technologies, the FKI said. The session was followed by a forum on advanced technologies, where more than 200 businesspeople and government officials were present, including Industry Minister Lee Chang-yang and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. Kim Byong-joon, acting FKI chief, stressed in an opening speech the need to advance the business cooperation into an alliance on advanced technologies, and asked the U.S. to support Korea in becoming a pivotal global nation that contributes to shaping international order, according to the FKI. Kim proposed the two countries work together toward an innovative future based on the spirit of the U.S. as a frontier in science and technologies, and of Korea's entrepreneurship, the FKI said. More than 100 Korean companies are visiting Washington this week as part of the 122-member business delegation accompanying Yoon on his six-day state visit to the U.S. (Yonhap) Korean Air and Asiana Airlines were ordered to revise their expiration policy on mileage points, amid the growing criticisms that they did not take special circumstances into account, including the pandemic, the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said in this Nov. 16, 2020 file photo. Korea Times file Korea's antitrust regulator said Wednesday it has ordered the country's two leading air carriers to correct their unfair policy on the expiration of mileage points. Korean Air and Asiana Airlines were ordered to revise their expiration policy on mileage points, amid the growing criticisms that they did not take special circumstances into account, including the pandemic, the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government reached an agreement with air carriers to extend the expiration by three rounds up to 30 months. Local air carriers have operated an expiration policy on mileage points since 2008, and starting 2019, these points have started to expire. Consumers have expressed complaints about this policy, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic has made it challenging to use such points. "Under special circumstances in which customers cannot redeem their points, it is reasonable to extend the expiration under the principle of good faith and fairness," the FTC said. "We have ordered (air carriers) to extend expiration when the use of points of all members becomes impossible or substantially restricted." The regulator also imposed limitations on the airlines' policy of implementing a new miles deduction policy with a 12-month grace period without considering any exceptional circumstances. Under the revised guidelines, the FTC has instructed air carriers to extend these grace periods when there are disruptions to regular air travel. The FTC has also directed Korean Air to include a provision in its terms and conditions that holds the company accountable for any issues that may arise when customers use their mileage points with partner firms, for which the carrier is responsible. The regulator said it plans to continue its efforts to bolster customers' rights and set up fair trade rules in areas that closely affect the everyday lives of the people. (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. Bennington, VT (05201) Today A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High 52F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. 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. News Reporter Matt Martinez is a news reporter at The Berkshire Eagle. He worked at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, graduated Marquette University. He is a former Report for America corps member. If you travel along Route 41 in Great Barrington, theres a good chance youve seen some prominent and provocative roadside signage. Four signs nailed to two trees indicate not only the particulars of the property owners politics but the general toxicity of our national discourse. Trump 2024 and MAGA signs are coupled with considerably coarser messages: F- the left and Lets go Brandon, the latter being a coded euphemism among right-wingers for a vulgar epithet against President Joe Biden. Its an incendiary display a description that became briefly literal in February when someone lit one of the trees on fire in an apparent attempt to destroy the signs. Scorch marks now adorn one of the signs. For us, this story is all too reminiscent of another from two years ago. In October 2020, a heated presidential election season proved combustible in a small, tight-knit Berkshire town when someone ignited hay bales arranged into a political message on a Dalton farm. The two stories arent congruent. The hay bales on Holiday Brook Farm made for a benign, if large, 2020 endorsement of Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, while the signs on Route 41 in Great Barrington not only favor Mr. Trump but mock his opposition in vulgar terms. And the singed signage on Route 41 is a far less devastating outcome than the tall flames that stretched toward the Dalton sky and grabbed national headlines three years ago. Still, the similarities are concerning: Someone expressed a political opinion, and someone else responded with fiery vengeance toward the property that carried the message. Whatever one thinks of the tone or content of the signs on Route 41, that does not bode well for the state of our shared Berkshire neighborhood, to say nothing of a nation facing existential threats to its democracy while staring down the barrel of another deeply contentious presidential election. As an institution of the free press, we hold the First Amendment in high regard. If we truly believe in free speech as not just a platitude but a principle, then we must defend it consistently even when it manifests as someone using their public-facing property to prop up a contemptible style of public discourse favoring a presidential candidate who is far from friendly to civil liberties and the spirit of democracy. If we dont defend free speech when its uncomfortable to do so, then we arent defending it at all. The price of principled commitment to free expression is that, even as we lament the coarsening of our collective discourse, we cant demand civility. But we can and must ask for it at a time when its desperately needed. Is civility served by nailing profane political insults to a tree for all to see, including motorists with kids who might ask what the messages mean and why someone would communicate so callously with strangers and neighbors? We think not. But is civility somehow better served and are the uncivil shown the error of their ways by fighting rhetorical fire with literal fire? Again, we think not. Suggestively profane yard signs and arson over political speech are symptoms of the same disease, the poisonous infection of polarization that feeds the fever in our body politic. It is easier said than done to resist the cycle of retributive realpolitik when it touches your community. Here he is. A phone call opened farm owners heart to accused fire-starter DALTON Lonnie Durfee had been in police custody a day when he was handed a phone inside the Dalton station. Fortunately, we saw a fine example of the requisite integrity in the wake of the Dalton hale bay arson. Days after watching flames engulf his property, Holiday Brook Farm owner Dicken Crane called the Berkshire jail to try and reach the man who set the fires. He was reaching out not in anger but out of concern; he heard that the arsonist, a fellow Dalton resident, had recently lost his son in an accident and as a result was struggling with his sobriety shortly before setting fire to the hay bales. Perhaps it is too much to hope for such a moment of extraordinary compassion to follow this more recent fiery incident. But it is never too much to ask that we all shoulder the responsibility of maintaining and repairing civility instead of allowing or contributing to its erosion. Yes, the state of our politics and politicians makes that harder. It also makes it all the more necessary. Where theres smoke, theres usually fire. We have only two choices: help stoke the embers or try to put them out. Even when we feel the heat, we must choose the latter. Sohn Kyung-shik, left, chairman of Korea Enterprises Federation, poses with Kevin Roberts, chairman of the Heritage Foundation while holding "Mandate for Leadership," a policy analysis report created by the foundation in Washington, D.C., Tuesday (local time). Courtesy of KEF By Kim Hyun-bin Chairman of Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF) Sohn Kyung-shik visited the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., and met with the Chairman of the Heritage Foundation Kevin Roberts on Tuesday (local time). Discussions involved labor market reforms such as flexible working hours currently being pursued in Korea and ways to enhance cooperation between the two organizations in the future, according to the business lobby group, Wednesday. Established in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is one of the leading nonprofit think tanks in the U.S. and serves as a policy advisory partner to the U.S. government. Chairman Sohn and Mr. Roberts evaluated that President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to the U.S., with the largest-ever economic delegation to mark the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-Korea alliance, would serve as an opportunity to further strengthen the relationship and economic cooperation between the two countries. "Recently, discussions on improving the labor law system, including working hours, have been underway in Korea. The Korean government seeks to improve the business and investment environment, increase economic vitality, and lay the foundation for job creation for future generations through labor reform," Chairman Sohn said. "There is much to be learned from Korea's labor reform in the fact that there are no unnecessary labor-market regulations such as limits on overtime work in the United States, which allows many global and innovative companies to devote themselves to management activities and technological development." Lastly, Chairman Sohn expressed his hope for cooperation between the two countries through economic and business-friendly environment building, saying, "The Heritage Foundation's pursuit of free enterprise and regulatory reform has much in common with KEF's activities." During his visit to the U.S., Sohn will also discuss ways to strengthen economic cooperation and promote friendship with major figures in U.S. think tanks, such as John Hamre, president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and Kathleen Stephens, director of the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI). Improving durability The BGSU team set out to improve the protective eyewears performance by conducting numerous fundamental studies and understanding the properties of materials developed by AlphaMicron. Researchers evaluated the materials initial light absorption as a baseline and then exposed it to UV light in a customized chamber. When the molecules in the lenses were exposed to UV light, they entered an excited state. That process can weaken the integrity of the material and lead to clouding. After exposure to light of a specific wavelength, we noticed that the material property changed, Sivaguru said. This often decreases the required performance of the materials, and the end user will notice a huge difference. Our research and development addressed this problem and by working with AlphaMicron on the material properties, the eyewear materials can be improved. AlphaMicron and its university partners provide technical and manufacturing expertise, material development, product design and conformity testing at external facilities to ensure compliance with industry regulations. Product demonstrations occur at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, with personnel there providing feedback on prototype development. AlphaMicron routinely engages with universities with expertise, such as Bowling Green State University's Center for Photochemical Sciences, to foster collaboration between its faculty researchers and our scientists, said Bahman Taheri, AlphaMicron CEO. These interactions help advance the knowledge base in the field for both entities. This was the first collaboration between AlphaMicron and BGSU, and the interaction and scientific results obtained were very successful. AlphaMicron plans to build on this interaction going forward. Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Mark Bartman, senior advisor to OFRN, said statewide university and industry collaborations benefit the states economy as they often lead to innovative technologies that drive job growth. The AlphaMicron team, with BGSU as a key partner, has made significant strides since the beginning of the project, Bartman said. The OFRN goal of bringing together academia and industry to solve problems for the federal government has been fully realized. Congratulations to the BGSU team for the maximum effort they have provided to AlphaMicron and the rest of the team members. About the Air Force Research Laboratory The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 11,000 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. About AlphaMicron, Inc. AlphaMicron is a Kent, Ohio-based technology focused on creating electro-optical solutions for light management applications. Its electronic tint-on-demand technology (e-Tint), is the only commercialized guest-host liquid crystal system on flexible substrates. AlphaMicron has active programs to create products for its clients in the military (Army, Air Force) and private sectors (Augmented Reality glasses, automotive glazing). About OFRN The OFRN has the mission to stimulate Ohios innovation economy by building statewide university/industry research collaborations that meet the requirements of Ohios federal laboratories, resulting in the creation of technologies that drive job growth for the State of Ohio. OFRN is managed by Parallax Advanced Research in collaboration with The Ohio State University and is funded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow A few passing clouds, otherwise generally sunny. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. MECOSTA COUNTY Many residents in Mecosta County and the surrounding areas have expressed concerns over the potential contamination of the Muskegon River from the proposed Gotion, Inc. battery manufacturing facility in Green Charter Township, the site of which is about two miles from the river. The Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, an organization whose mission it is to protect and preserve the river and its watershed areas, shares some of those same concerns, director Scott Faulkner said. MRWA appreciates the opportunity to address this very important local watershed issue, Faulkner said. Any and all large scale development can potentially pose significant risks to our watershed, whether it is a commercial factory development, large scale farming and its potential for non-source point pollution, and even large parking lots. They all provide substantial risks which must be addressed prior to a project proceeding. Faulkner said the MRWA believes that a careful examination of the proposed factory uses, which would include a review of the manufacturing processes and required raw materials, systems supporting fire suppression, contamination containment protocols, expected manufacturing ouputs and a logistics plan for raw materials and completed goods is necessary. To date, such information has not been made available, with non-disclosure and intellectual property, and patent protections being cited as the reasons, he said. Gotion Global Vice President for North American operations Chuck Thelen said previously he understands the concerns about the environment, but they will go to extensive efforts to protect the environment and mitigate any potential hazards because otherwise would cost them money and create an unsafe work environment. He said the materials used at the facility will be kept under lock and key in a humidity controlled, clean environment where they will be kept dry and safe. We will have materials safety data sheets associated with every single element that goes into the plant, Thelen said. Even a bottle of Lysol requires the MSDS. Those will be copied and sent to all first responders so that not only do they know what is at the plant, but where it is located. They will also have plans submitted as a condition of permitting, which will include continuing control and containment verifications throughout the year, Thelen said. They will have a schedule to adhere to and will do testing for any kind of water contamination or air contamination on a regular basis and give that report back to the state and to the Environmental Protection Agency. He added that they will use the methodology called Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, which is common in the automobile industry and has already been done in their other facilities. We will look at all the potential failure modes that could happen it could be a spill and clean up, it could be a process step, he said. You evaluate the risk it imposes to the community. That risk is a calculation of how sure you are you can detect it, how often it could occur and the severity of it. This is a very methodical engineering method to make sure everything that is put in the plant is fully operational and safe. In addition, he said, they will have their own automated fire suppression system, and all first responders will be trained specifically for handling any types of fires or emergency situations that may arise. We are doing everything possible to make sure the materials are stored properly, and every kind of emergency is prepared for, he said. Thelen also said they will work with all the different departments at the state level air quality, water quality, wetlands to hear from them what has to happen, and then they will do it. Once they get a yes from each department, they will make a final application for permitting, a process that is currently ongoing. He added that as they go through the permitting process, all the declarations for any contaminants will be addressed. We will have a solid plan based not only on codes, but when we look at our architectural engineering and contractors that build the plant, we will use those companies that understand how to build this type of facility, he continued. We will be able to rely on the lessons they have learned over the years about how to build the most judicious plant possible. The MRWA has worked with and through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, as well as other state and federal agencies on watershed protection and restoration projects for decades, and the permitting process today is both fair and very rigorous, giving ample input for public commentary along the way, Faulkner said. Permits are not issued until all environmental questions are adequately addressed, Faulkner said. It has been MRWAs experience that this is a slow, precise, and dependable process and these agencies are staffed with highly skilled individuals that share our concern for environmental protection. It is our work, along with the public, to make sure that these rigorous standards are adhered to with the proposed plant. Globally, 1 in 10 people are estimated to be affected by vertigo a balance disorder that results in a sudden and unpleasant sensation that can make people feel like the world is spinning around. In India, it roughly affects over 9.9 million people. Vertigo can happen without warning and an unexpected attack can be alarming and affect ones balance, quality of life, affect a persons mental and physical health, and also make routine activities (like going to work) more challenging. In an interaction with BioSpectrum renowned global Vertigo expert, Prof. Michael Strupp, Professor of Neurology, Department of Neurology and German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, Hospital of the Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany and Dr Jejoe Karankumar, Director, Medical Affairs, Abbott India shared their views on the causes and treatments available for vertigo and creating awareness among medical professionals about vertigo. What are the exact causes for Vertigo and Dizziness? Prof. Michael Strupp: Vertigo is a symptom of many different diseases. Broadly, vertigo, dizziness or imbalance can be explained by a problem in the inner ear, which contains structures responsible for regulating balance and hearing or the central nervous system. The most common causes of vertigo include loose crystals in the inner ear (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV), which is where specific head movements can trigger it, leading to recurrent attacks of vertigo. The second most common cause is Menieres disease, characterised by recurrent episodes of vertigo with loss of hearing and ringing in the ear (tinnitus). An inflammation of the vestibular nerve (vestibular neuritis) can also cause acute onset, longer-lasting spinning vertigo. Is it preventable? If yes, what steps one should be taking to overcome vertigo? Prof. Michael Strupp: In some forms of vertigo and dizziness, prevention is possible - for instance, with Menieres disease or vestibular migraine. The prerequisite of every treatment is a precise diagnosis, based on the patient history and bedside examination of the organs of balance and eye movements. Seeking proper care can help people get back to doing what they love. Timely diagnosis is important in acute vertigo, but also in patients with recurrent episodes of vertigo as well as those with persisting symptoms to prevent ones vertigo from worsening and affecting their independence. Dr Jejoe Karankumar: People can also take steps to understand and avoid common vertigo triggers, including certain head movements, sudden changes in position, stress, confusing visual signals, lack of sleep, certain foods, alcohol or tobacco consumption, and more. Understanding this information is important to help people avoid attacks and improve their quality of life. What treatments are currently available for vertigo? Prof. Michael Strupp: Once the cause of vertigo is known, doctors should be able to recommend ways to manage vertigo and provide long-term relief. Vertigo can be managed with physical therapy, medication, psychotherapy, or rarely surgery in some cases. Treatment depends on the diagnosis and the severity and frequency of the symptoms. This can be supported with vestibular exercises, including head movements and exercises for stance and gait to promote vestibular compensation. To effectively manage vertigo, it is especially important for people to adhere to their prescribed treatment and regimen. Adherence is vital to reduce the number and severity of attacks and improve ones functioning and quality of life. Which part / states of India do you see more people affected with vertigo? Dr Jejoe Karankumar: Across India, vertigo affects over 9.9 million people. Broadly speaking, while a vertigo episode can occur at any age, it can especially affect certain populations for instance, it is more commonly observed in the elderly. Additionally, vertigo is more common in women and they are two to three times more likely to suffer from vertigo than men. While the reason for this is unclear, experts suggest that it could be due to hormonal influences. Vertigo may result from increased hormonal fluctuations across different phases of a womans life. Some women, for instance, report increased vertigo patterns before their monthly menstrual cycle. What strategy do you have in place to reach the masses to bring awareness about vertigo? Dr Jejoe Karankumar: Vertigo can stand in the way of people living the fullest life possible, which is why Abbott is keen to raise awareness of its signs and causes, so people promptly seek diagnosis and care. Against the backdrop of World Vestibular Disease Awareness Day, celebrated on April 15, we are aiming to raise awareness on the signs of vertigo and steps to manage it, so people can move forward in life with confidence. We are providing educational materials including videos with vestibular exercises to help people proactively manage their condition with lifestyle-based steps, in addition to doctor recommended treatment. Abbott is also spearheading patient education using digital tools to better understand vertigo and its management. How do you wish to bring awareness among medical professionals about vertigo? Dr Jejoe Karankumar: At Abbott, we have been actively working towards supporting healthcare practitioners to help improve vertigo diagnosis and care. This includes efforts to keep them updated on the recent advances in the field. Some specific initiatives we have been driving include providing healthcare practitioners access to unique diagnostic tools, like M glasses which are specialised glasses that help doctors visualise a patients eyes more easily and clearly. This can help with a quicker vertigo diagnosis. We also carry out a Robotic Head Workshop for doctors to help them understand eye movements. With the aim to maintain continued medical educational activities, we also work alongside international societies, organisations and physicians to broaden vertigo awareness and spread knowledge amongst the physicians to keep them updated with recent advances in diagnosis and effective management of vertigo. This week we get to know Yenani Madikwa, Bolt's creative strategist for Africa. The award winning creative has worked at companies such as VMLY&R, Brave Group and Gorilla. Yenani Madikwa is a creative strategist at Bolt. Source: Supplied. What do you enjoy most about your industry? I have met the sharpest minds in tech. This industry attracts people who engage topics of interest very deeply, meaning I am always surrounded by human encyclopedias. On any given day, I could be learning about the historical migration patterns of people in Estonia or sinking my teeth into insights behind what makes the nightlife in Nairobi so vibrant. Tech is where you learn fast and grow faster. What is a typical workday for you? My workday always starts with opening up my Slack app to catch up with the brand team and industry updates. Then, I take some time reading articles, watching vlogs and immersing myself in content that could inspire my approach on a brief Im currently working on. Finally, I do what all writers dread doing, writing. Depending on the day, Ill have a virtual review with my manager in Warsaw to have a campaign greenlit and then brief our social team in Lagos, design team in Tallinn and local marketing teams all over Africa to bring it to life. Having many minds working together to make something happen is always challenging, but is very satisfying when you see it all come together. Describe your career so far? My career started off as a complete chance encounter when a woman who later became my lecturer congratulated me on my matric distinctions. She said I should give copywriting a try because my timeline at the time was a collection of (bad) jokes and angsty teen musings. Most importantly, it seemed like the perfect way to escape the parental pressure I faced to study law (eek!) or medicine (more eek!). That woman, Elane Vrey (nee Goosen), changed my life. Directly after ad school, I was headhunted by Suhana Gordhan after she saw my student portfolio and so began my love affair with the advertising industry where I grew from copywriting intern to creative director in eight years. Ive worked at global conglomerate agencies and small boutique shops, each with something career-defining to teach me. Some career highlights include writing South Africas most-loved ad for a petrochem company and winning gold at an awards show I didnt even know I was entered into for a commercial bank. My pivot to tech happened a year ago when I was hungry for a new challenge. I wanted a sharp learning curve in an environment where novel developments happened at lightning speed. In all the ways I hoped, the tech industry has definitely lived up to the hype. I am now the creative strategist for Africa at Bolt and everyday is a new adventure spent working with and learning from people in our offices all over Europe and Africa. What are you currently streaming/reading/listening to? I am currently spending all my free time streaming HBOs Succession, listening to Beyonces Renaissance to hype myself up for her world tour and reading my birth chart to prepare for a personal milestone. What's your favourite gif? via GIPHY I am a claircognizant Sangoma so the Oprah I told you so shrug GIF is my whole life. Who inspires you? My husband and our daughter have changed everything I thought I knew about what it means to be inspired by the world. They fill my life with so much purpose, laughter, security and adventure. The three of us are thick as thieves and were always working on some or other project together. Last month, we set up a trampoline from scratch which was way tougher than expected but we got it done as a team. What did you want to be when you were a child? I wanted to be a doctor. When I was growing up in Cala, we had the most compassionate family doctor; Dr Nkumanda. I was always struck by how he had this wonderful way of making me feel better even before he administered any treatment. I never made it to med school (I just never had the patience for all the rules of mathematics) but I guess Im a brand doctor now haha. Give three pieces of advice for young people waiting to enter this industry. U.S. state of Washington bans assault weapons Xinhua) 14:36, April 26, 2023 SAN FRANCISCO, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Jay Inslee, governor of the U.S. state of Washington, on Tuesday signed legislation to prohibit dozens of semiautomatic rifles. The bill bans the sale, transfer, distribution, manufacture and importation of 62 gun models it defines as "assault weapons," including AR-15s, AK-47s and similar high-powered rifles that have been used to carry out the mass shootings across the United States. "These weapons of war, assault weapons, have no reason other than mass murder," Inslee said at the signing ceremony. "Their only purpose is to kill humans as rapidly as possible in large numbers." The bill took effect immediately upon Inslee's signature. Inslee also signed into law two other major gun measures, including a 10-day waiting period for gun purchases and a bill that would hold gunmakers liable for negligent sales. The three gun bills passed the legislature on largely party line votes, with Republicans opposing them and most Democrats voting in support, according to a report by The Seattle Times. The signing ceremony took place in the state Capitol, which was closed to the public Tuesday morning out of security concerns. The state of Washington joins nine other states, including California, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, as well as the District of Columbia, which have imposed bans on AR-15s and similar guns, according to the Giffords Law Center. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Governor of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area Dmitry Artukhov, back to a camera, at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, April 25. AP-Yonhap President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a decree establishing temporary control of the Russian assets of two foreign energy firms, signaling Moscow could take similar action against other companies if need be. The decree - outlining possible retaliation if Russian assets abroad are seized - showed Moscow had already taken action against Uniper SE's Russian division and the assets of Finland's Fortum Oyj. The decree said Russia needed to take urgent measures to respond to unspecified actions from the United States and others it said were "unfriendly and contrary to international law". The shares in the two entities have been placed in the temporary control of Rosimushchestvo, the federal government property agency, the decree said. In February, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Russia should bear the costs of damage caused by its war on Ukraine, adding though there were "significant legal obstacles" to confiscating major frozen Russian assets. The CEO of state-owned bank Bank VTB PAO had on Monday said Russia should consider taking over and managing the assets of foreign companies such as Fortum, only returning them when sanctions are lifted. Rosimushchestvo said more foreign firms could find their assets under temporary Russian control, TASS reported. The agency would ensure the assets were run in accordance with their importance for the economy. "The decree does not concern ownership issues and does not deprive owners of their assets. External management is temporary in nature and means the original owner no longer has the right to make management decisions," TASS cited the agency as saying. President of the European Council Charles Michel, right, welcomes the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili, left, prior to a meeting in Brussels, Belgium, April 25. EPA-Yonhap Needs-matched insurer, BrightRock, has launched a brand-new weekly podcast series, Change in One Generation, to showcase the power of embracing change. Source: Supplied. Change agent Ofentse Pitse kicked off BrightRock's new podcast series, Change in One Generation. This eight-part series shares the remarkable journeys of inspiring South Africans who have harnessed change to make a tremendous positive impact in their respective communities. The guests featured on the Change in One Generation podcast have all risen above poverty and adversity to achieve phenomenal success in their respective fields, breaking barriers, and shattering ceilings. And in the process, as the podcast title suggests, they have created lasting change that will benefit generations to come. In the first episode, which kicked off on 20 April, listeners heard from Ofentse Pitse, the youngest black woman to conduct and own an all-black orchestra. She discussed the power of music and her journey from Mabopane where she first learned to play an instrument in the Salvation Armys brass band to conducting and performing on the international stage. Ofentses story will be followed by that of Saray Khumalo, trailblazing black explorer and mountaineer, and Setlogane Manchidi, who rose from humble beginnings in rural Limpopo to head up CSI for one of corporate South Africas most prestigious institutions. Other guests to look forward to include Asnath Mahapa, the first black woman to become a commercial pilot in Africa; leading economist, Isaah Mhlanga; Fulbright scholar, Dorothy Ndletyana; and Ntsiki Biyela, South Africas first black woman winemaker. Ruda Landman at the helm Hosted by Frank Magwegwe and journalist, Ruda Landman, the podcast combines these personal stories with practical insights and advice gleaned from the Science of Change, a theoretical framework from psychology, behavioural economics and neuroscience that articulates BrightRocks belief that anyone is capable of change and that any change brings with it opportunity. According to Landman, these stories are part of a broader, truly unique South African story that is playing out all around us. One that she has encountered repeatedly in interviews, including the Ruda Talks Change interviews she has conducted over the past decade on the Change Exchange, an online BrightRock platform for sharing stories, insights, and ideas to help people navigate change in their lives. Change is inevitable Taking inspiration from this broader story, the Change in One Generation podcast aims to distil some of its lessons. "We wanted to create a podcast that both inspires and empowers people to embrace change," says Magwegwe. "Our guests have overcome significant obstacles to make a real difference in their communities, and we hope that the themes and insights we highlight, can support listeners in doing the same. Landman agrees: I have learnt so much from these eight conversations. The stories are amazing, and the theory is fascinating, she says. Deputy chief executive officer of BrightRock, Suzanne Stevens explains: At the heart of BrightRocks Love Change philosophy, lies the belief that change is an inevitable and constant part of life. No matter how unexpected or challenging, each change presents an opportunity for growth, learning, and transformation. The Change in One Generation podcast is just one of many change science-based initiatives on the Change Exchange. Its packed with tips and tools for anyone looking to embrace change and unlock their full potential. It is a community where people can share their stories, connect with others who are going through similar experiences, and learn from experts in the field of change leadership and change science. With the work of more African animators featured on the global stage, the need for quality, creative and captivating content is growing. Providing insight into the industry as well as the various career paths creatives can follow, the Cape Town International Animation Festival offers a dynamic programme featuring African and international speakers to stimulate curious, new, novice, and established creatives, highlighting the globally recognised work that is coming from the African continent, while inspiring more animators to join those ranks. Bill Masuku's work on Afrofuturism. Image supplied Esteemed facilitators will engage fans, students and industry professionals in a curated four-day programme aimed at developing the industry by providing the necessary skills and insight into its various facets through talks, workshops, demonstrations, and pitching competitions. This festival, taking place from 27-30 April 2023 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), celebrates the achievements, development and emerging talent found on the African continent and also looks to educate interested or up-and-coming animators across the four days. Various career options are available in a 3D animation production pipeline which requires different skill sets. In addition, there is a growing need for African content and narratives, creating more opportunities for those also interested in becoming a Storyboarder, Concept/Visual development artist, Asset Artist, Rigger, Lighting and Rendering Artist, as well as Producer within this evolving industry. "Currently, we have a great need for good animators, lighting and rigging artists. With the current content war and the flood of digital media consumption, companies in South Africa and abroad are constantly looking for artists across the animation pipeline to join their projects," says Kaydee de Villiers, a visual producer best known for her work on Professionals (2020), Around the World in 80 Days (2021) and Grant (2020). Considering that the creation of visuals is only one part of the animation process, some of the other facets and skillsets to consider within the animation field include editing, sound design and composition, project management, technical pipeline support, game engine support/structure, customer relation management, and more. And bringing all these elements together is the technology that powers this industry, which will also be highlighted during the festival. Historically, "animation has always relied on technology in some form to assist with the core process of capturing and moving images. In today's world, animation is very much a digital/technology-based skill using technological advances in both hardware and software to support the process. Though with this support, animation remains an extremely labour-intensive process, including traditional (or 2D) animation, 3D animation or stop frame, all these disciplines require both technology and man hours to produce the final product," comments de Villiers. Some technology partners that drive the industry include Software company Autodesk, which supplies animation software, production tracking software and other programs that support the industry. Unreal Engine and Unity provide game engine software, and Adobe supplies creative and editing software to trailblazers in the field. All aiming to elevate the creative experience of innovative and industry professionals. Global insights An incredible array of local and international talent will facilitate conversations with industry leaders who occupy various roles as highlights to the Cape Town International Animation Festival programme. Visitors can look forward to engaging with speakers, including: Annike Pienaar, an animator and VR enthusiast who has worked on Revolting Rhymes, Sing 2, as well as The Smeds and the Smoos, where she took on the role of animation supervisor. Ariane Suveg is a content expert working in production, programming, and marketing and reaches broad and engaged audiences. She has worked at Canal+ (French pay TV group) in the Programming Department, as Media and TV Programs Marketing Consultant at Carat (Aegis Group), at Nickelodeon (Viacom) as Scheduling Director, and then Gulli (French free-to-air kids channel) as Programming Director. Bill Masuku is a Nommo Award Nominated African comic book artist and writer born in Harare, Zimbabwe. He is the creator of the comic books Razor-Man, Welcome to Dead World, and Captain South Africa. In the urban fantasy genre, he is the author of the Misfortunism series. He has been a guest speaker at events such as MCM London Comic Con, Comic Con Africa, Afro Comic Con and was selected as British Council's Design Futures Africa Storyteller for Zimbabwe, a project centred around sustainable development, the green future, and the informal economy. Daniel Snaddon is a highly acclaimed South African animation director known for his work on several award-winning BBC Christmas Specials, including Stick Man (2015), Zog (2017), and The Snail and the Whale (2019). Danson Njoka leads Kugali Media as the newly announced CEO of the company. The highly talented Kenyan-born and London-based executive with a living and working experience across Africa, North America and Europe is the fresh face of the Kugali brand. He will present Iwaju, due to be released on Disney + in 2023. Samantha Cutler, a self-taught character modeller and animator from South Africa, has worked on all of Magic Light's adaptations of books by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler and served as an animation and modelling lead on The Snail and the Whale, which was recently nominated for three BAFTA Young People and Children's awards including best animation. Simon Browne is a Houdini Tutor for Escape Studios, the UK's premier training centre for the VFX, Animation and Games industries. As a 3D Generalist, Browne combines creative animation skills with coding and maths experience to create stunning simulations. Rob Van Vuuren is a multi-award winning actor, writer, comedian and director whose career is founded in his training as a physical performer and clown with a strong emphasis on multiple characterisations on an epic scale narrative. This is suited to animation, and his work in this field includes various characters and comedy development for Triggerfish's Khumba and Seal Team as well as a turn as Trey the Dinosaur in Sandcastle Studios and Sunrise Productions Jungle Beat 2. The Past coming out later this year. Peter Hangelbroek is a Certified Production Management Professional with over 15 years of experience in post-production and IT. As a Video and IT Engineer, he is well-versed in workflow design, implementation, support and troubleshooting. His love for technology, and his hands-on approach, allow him to identify client requirements and develop solutions that align with their needs. Roland Reyer is an experienced Technical Sales Specialist working in 3D Animation software industry who is skilled in MEL, Python, Modeling, SpecialFX, 3D Visualisation and Animation, Maya, MotionBuilder and Arnold. Karan Parikh is the founder and CEO of Green Rain Studios. He is an immersive technologist with expertise in real-time workflows. Karan is India's first Unreal-authorised instructor and is a master mentor in Unreal Engine's Virtual Production Fellowship program. He is also joined by a host of other speakers across the four days to highlight the ever-growing industry on the continent. Supporting current and aspiring industry professionals, the festival aims to ensure that local youth are equipped and encouraged to go into animation as "festivals like CTIAF, and outreach programmes to youth in underprivileged areas, are both informing and educating the youth on what opportunities there are in animation. We also have some schools locally that have provided scholarship programs for those who struggle to get the resources to start their chosen careers in animation," concludes de Villiers. For more, go to https://www.ctiaf.com/ Students and staff of South African universities and research institutions can now access eduroam - the secure, internet access service widely used in South Africa's research and higher education sector - in all public airports managed by the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA). This is the result of a public-private partnership between the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), ACSA and the Tertiary Education and Research Network of South Africa (TENET). Photo by Riccardo via www.pexels.com Eduroam is the secure, worldwide WiFi roaming access service developed for the international research and education community. It allows students, researchers, and staff from participating institutions to get Internet connectivity across campuses and when visiting other participating institutions. But, as the ACSA initiative shows, eduroam can also easily be deployed in public spaces, to provide greater Internet access, particularly for students who do not have access at home. This is part of a broader initiative to expand the eduroam footprint in SA to bridge the digital divide for students. Public-Private partnership Says ACSA chief information officer, Mthoko Mncwabe: We are constantly looking for ways to enhance passengers experiences across their airport. As ACSA we are looking at ways to innovate and, in the process, ensure our airport users and passengers have a pleasant experience when they are at our airports. This partnership with Wits University is an example of that. Our partnership with Wits and introducing eduroam at our airports is a great example of how well public-private partnerships can work, and more importantly it gives us an opportunity to combine the expertise and innovation of private companies with the civic vision that government and state-owned entities provide, resulting in a more resilient and job-creating economy, he added. Says Dr Stanley Mgobansimbi Mpofu, chief information officer (CIO) at Wits: Deploying eduroam at the airports will significantly increase the eduroam footprint, allowing travelling students and staff access at no additional cost. This will improve the experience of university students and staff with the dual benefit of improving their productivity and reducing the burdens of high data costs whilst at the airports. Support from ACSA ACSA, in their efforts for this initiative, has recognised the importance of the increased eduroam footprint for university students and staff, says Guy Halse, head of Trust and Security at TENET. They have not only opened their airports to eduroam, but also provided the bandwidth for airport Internet users. This commitment by ACSA goes a long way towards the end goals of higher education, particularly for online and blended learning, and is already being felt. Scott Hazelhurst, professor of bioinformatics at the School of Electrical and Information at Wits tweeted in February, during the pilot phase of the project, that thanks to this initiative he was able to run a two-hour online class from the airport, with perfect network connectivity. Similarly, students have tweeted their surprise and appreciation for finding eduroam at the airport. Says Halse: Having eduroam in airports is a game-changer for students and academics on the go. It empowers them to access online resources, collaborate with peers, and even participate in classes while travelling. This partnership showcases South Africa's capability to host and provide world-class infrastructure for research and education, highlighting our commitment to supporting academic pursuits. At the moment there's uncertainty around the future of the Ford EcoSport in South Africa. Production of the EcoSport in Romania, which is reportedly the only place in the world where it's built, has ceased. This means that there won't be EcoSports left to sell in South Africa eventually. This is a sad possibility considering how well the EcoSport has done in the country for the past 10 years. However, in the meantime, there's still some excitement to be found in the EcoSport lineup, thanks to the introduction of a new special edition called the EcoSport Active. I tested the Active derivative over a period of seven days and here are my thoughts on it. Firstly, the Active model is noticeably different to its counterparts on an exterior level with a black grille, headlamp surround and foglamp bezels, and black front and rear skirts. Added to this are black wheel arch mouldings, 17-inch alloy wheels, black finishes on mirror caps and roof rails, dark-tinted privacy glass for rear windows, and a black roof. The Active is available in four paint colours: Frozen White, and metallic options including Luxe Yellow, Solar Silver, and Magnetic dark grey. The test model I had was in Magnetic dark grey, which I think compliments the black finishes magnificently. Another styling difference is the inclusion of Active badges on the front fenders, which can also be found in the cabin on the front seats in the format of A letters. These exterior differences nicely separate the Active from the other derivatives in the lineup and do well to give the EcoSport a new look that is more robust and edgy. On the inside of the EcoSport Active, you will find black leather seats, whereas the Trend derivatives in the lineup are equipped with cloth seats. The quality of the interior in the Active is good despite the range not having a facelift in nearly five years. Driving impression A lot of my driving with the Active was done on one type of road surface, which is on tar roads, which makes sense as it's not made for off-roading. And on these roads, the engine of the Active did well to provide enough power when needed. I did find the steering slightly heavy but I adjusted to it within two days. The Active offers ample acceleration for its engine size and capacity as well, attesting to its popularity in the market since 2013. Features The Active comes with a leather-trimmed multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, electric windows all round, air-conditioning, an eight-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two USB charging ports, a 12V power plug, and the FordPass Connect System. Safety features Safety features include seven airbags, ABS brakes with electronic stability control, emergency brake assist, hill launch assist, rear parking sensors and a Thatcham alarm with immobiliser. Fuel consumption During my time with the Active, I consumed an average of 8.1ls of fuel per 100km. For the majority of the time, I used the Active to do school runs and pick my wife up from work. I also drove to Somerset West and Stellenbosch from Cape Town twice. So, the figure is based on highway driving and urban driving. Lastly, I drove moderately, I wasnt too meek but I was conscious of not over-accelerating unnecessarily. Facts Three-cylinder 1l EcoBoost engine Power: 92kW Torque: 170Nm Six-speed automatic gearbox Ground clearance: 206mm Final word The Active sadly doesn't come with a rearview camera, which I think is the only downside of it. One of my favourite things about it is its boot space capacity of 333l, which is big and suitable for a small family. The added updates to the Active add important value to this derivative in the EcoSport lineup. Price The EcoSport Active 1.0 EcoBoost Automatic is priced at R393,700. Included as standard is Ford Protect comprising a four-year/120,000km warranty, four-year/unlimited distance Roadside Assistance and five-year/unlimited distance corrosion warranty. The recommended service interval is 15,000km or annually, whichever occurs first. Customers have the option of purchasing service or maintenance plans for up to eight years or 135,000km. The warranty can be extended up to seven years or 200,000km, while the roadside assistance can be extended for an additional one or two years. Eskom loses well over R1bn a month from theft, its former chief executive Andre de Ruyter told parliament on Wednesday, 26 April, saying a previous estimate he gave was conservative. Former chief executive of Eskom, Andre de Ruyter. Source: Sumaya Hisham/Reuters De Ruyter made the comments in a written submission to parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) seen by Reuters, following an interview to local news channel eNCA in February during which he made sweeping corruption allegations without detailed evidence against Eskom and the ANC. Shortly after the interview aired, Eskom announced De Ruyter would leave his job immediately, cutting short a notice period he was serving after resigning. De Ruyter unable to corroborate details De Ruyter said he could not corroborate or provide more detail about some of his allegations as he did not have documents and other material that remained with Eskom or law enforcement bodies. He said some of the sources through which he learned of alleged unlawful activities feared for their safety. An Eskom spokesperson said the company noted "that nothing new surfaced from today's appearance of Andre de Ruyter at Parliament that is not already dealt with by law enforcement agencies". Senior ANC official Fikile Mbalula has rejected the corruption claims De Ruyter levelled against the ruling party and labelled him a failure as CEO. An Eskom spokesperson said the company noted "that nothing new surfaced from today's appearance of Andre de Ruyter at parliament that is not already dealt with by law enforcement agencies". Senior ANC official Fikile Mbalula has rejected the corruption claims de Ruyter levelled against the ruling party and labelled him a failure as CEO. Findings shared with Pravin Gordhan, said De Ruyter The former CEO told Scopa on Wednesday that suspected theft and fraud at Eskom power stations could total over R1.4bn per month. He had previously estimated the losses at R1bn. He said he had shared all of his findings with Pravin Gordhan, the minister with political oversight over Eskom. "I would be very loath to expose myself to any further legal action, particularly in a public forum such as this hearing," he said, refusing to disclose the names of people allegedly involved in corruption. He said the biggest losses for the utility could be from coal theft, estimating that if even 5% of Eskom's spending on coal was stolen, it would equal about R500m per month. Fraud involving prepaid electricity vouchers could exceed R400m per month, he said. Internal resistance to additional controls Fuel oil also gets stolen, De Ruyter said, adding that at one power station where he witnessed "excessively high fuel oil consumption", fuel oil costs were reduced by around R100m after additional controls were put in place. Theft of infrastructure such as cables, overhead lines, transformers and conductors costs Eskom R170m per month, while theft in the procurement process could be up to R100m per month, de Ruyter said. He said enhanced controls "have slowed down this type of crime, but internal resistance and non-compliance have hamstrung efforts". Practical case studies, success stories and discussions on energy storage and alternative energy solutions will be featured in free-to-attend sessions at the upcoming Enlit Africa conference and expo, taking place from 16 to 18 May in Cape Town. As the energy market evolves, the need for more storage will be crucial for the future stability of the grid, says Chanelle Hingston, portfolio director, Power and Energy for the Vuka Group, producers of Enlit Africa. The intermittent nature of weather-dependent resources requires a component to capture and store excess energy for periods of high demand. That component is energy storage, which can help improve the stability and resilience of the electricity grid. Mediclinic to become carbon neutral by 2030 Petrus Swanepoel, Mediclinics Infrastructure Sustainability manager will unpack how his company has dealt with South Africas energy challenges in a presentation at Enlit Africa titled 'How to prepare for a successful storage project: Building the business case'. Our strategy is changing, says Swanepoel, and we are investigating maximising renewable energy and installing as many PV panels as possible. Yes, we will have excess power and we want to use that excess power and store it in batteries and use these batteries during off-peak times, during load shedding times or going forward, and if we are lucky and there is no more load shedding, we want to use that battery storage in peak times to absorb the expensive costs of electricity during peak periods. He continues: We have also embarked on a wheeling strategy, whereby we buy off site renewable energy. That's more of a long-term strategy. The market is developing at this stage, but to make sure that, at the end of the day, we cover our load onsite with renewables, our remaining part will be covered by off site renewables in the form of wheeling. We have a global strategy to become carbon neutral by 2030. The 'just' in the just energy transition Only 1% of the R1.5tn earmarked in the Draft Just Energy Transition Investment Plan is earmarked for skills development; this is according to Aradhna Pandarum, the acting research group leader at the Energy Centre of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). At the upcoming Enlit Africa in Cape Town from 16 to 18 May, she is an expert panellist in a discussion on 'The economics of energy storage'. If we look at the Renewable Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), says Padarum, it has been developed for over 10 years now, but, if we look at the current local capacity of doing that in South Africa without private, external private sector investment, we don't have the skills to do it. She adds: If you look at battery storage, just lithium ion in itself; at the moment, it's predicted that it will create more jobs than renewables, and that is quite significant in terms of what we need to be doing, especially if we are transitioning. And it shows that we need to consider all of these aspects holistically when we are selecting different technologies and different pathways for the energy transition to ensure a just energy transition. Waste going to waste Dark fermentation provides a unique opportunity to democratise energy in a way that ensures energy and food security, states Dimitris Symeonidis, project manager and policy advisor for Afforest for Future, who will present his research on the public private partnership (PPP) opportunities in this technology at Enlit Africa. He explains: The advantage of dark fermentation is that it can actually generate biohydrogen from any kind of biomass. Essentially, it's a simple process. It can also store energy in the form of hydrogen. Symeonidis, who is also a policy leader in the Young leaders in Energy and Sustainability of Europe (YES-Europe), believes the dark fermentation technology is of immense value to the African continent as the continent has a lot of food waste and biomass, such as algae and seaweed. Many people might think that waste is a European or Northern American problem, he says, but this is not really the case. We see, for example, that Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia are among the top 10 countries in terms of food waste. These countries have the means to generate a substantial amount of biomass that just goes to waste. So, we can utilise that. In addition, countries like Namibia and Tanzania are already exploring algal biomass and seaweed cultivation developments. We can use river bodies, such as the river Congo, to use freshwater algae or aquatic plants, which are also abundant, Symeonidis explains, adding that projects can vary from serving small rural communities to large, regional plants. Reliable power for basic needs Hingston agrees that an important positive spinoff of energy storage in the African context is its role in promoting energy access and equity. Specifically in areas with limited or no access to grid electricity, energy storage enables the deployment of off-grid or mini-grid systems. Even a small energy storage system provides reliable power for basic needs, such as lighting, cooking, and powering appliances. We are already seeing great results from renewable energy plants (no matter the size) that includes a storage component. The results are improved quality of life, stimulating economic development, and bridging the energy access gap for underserved communities, contributing to a just energy transition that is already playing out on the continent. More information from the interviews with several expert speakers is available on ESI Africa. Enlit Africas programme focusing on energy storage and alternative energy solutions is paying particular attention to the priorities of the commercial and industrial sector, security and stability of power supply. More speaker and topic highlights include: The economics of energy storage panel discussion Panellists: Gaylor Montmasson-Clair, senior economist: Sustainable Growth (Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies), Experience, Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS), RSA Louise Paulsen, vice president: Renewables, Sasol, RSA Aradhna Pandarum, acting research group lead and principal researcher Energy Center, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - Energy Centre, RSA Sibongile Mazibuko, deputy director: Invest SA, Department of Trade and Industry, RSA panel discussion Panellists: Gaylor Montmasson-Clair, senior economist: Sustainable Growth (Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies), Experience, Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS), RSA Louise Paulsen, vice president: Renewables, Sasol, RSA Aradhna Pandarum, acting research group lead and principal researcher Energy Center, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - Energy Centre, RSA Sibongile Mazibuko, deputy director: Invest SA, Department of Trade and Industry, RSA Unpacking energy storage applications as transmission and distribution asset Thabelo Mamphogoro, Postgraduate School of Engineering Management, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, RSA Mini-workshop | Understanding the fundamentals of electricity wheeling in a multi-stakeholder environment Moderator: Joanne Dean, board member and spokesperson, South Africa Energy Storage Association Facilitators: Senior representative, City of Cape Town Electricity, RSA Shirley Salvoldi, corporate specialist Electricity Pricing, Eskom, RSA Roak Prinsloo, senior Technologist, Projects planning and renewable energy, Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, RSA Industry support As a longstanding must-attend date on the annual energy industry calendar, Enlit Africa is once again sponsored by leading technology and services providers, including ACTOM, G3-PLC Alliance, Conlog, Elsewedy Electric, Prime Alliance and South Pole. The City of Cape Town is the host city, the South African Department of Mineral Resources and Energy is the host ministry, while Eskom is the host utility with Frost and Sullivan as a knowledge partner. ESI Africa is the official host publication. It will launch this years Issue 1 and the 2023 African Power & Energy Elites at the conference. To register for a free visitor pass, click here: https://wearevuka.com/energy/enlit-africa/ticket-options/. About Enlit Africa Enlit Africa (formerly African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa) is Africas leading exhibition and conference, gathering the power and energy industrys most influential professionals and decision makers from across the continent for three days of relevant, accredited technical and strategic conference seminars, valuable networking opportunities and access to world-class products and solutions. Enlit Africa is organised by Vuka Group, which has more than 20 years experience in serving the business community across Africa. Formerly known as Clarion Events Africa, a leading Cape Town-based and multi-award-winning organiser of exhibitions, conferences and digital events in the infrastructure, energy, mining, mobility, ecommerce and CX sectors, Vuka is an independent B-BBEE compliant company, adapted to the unique conditions of Africa. Recently, Vuka successfully launched the exciting Africas Green Economy Summit as part of the E-Fest in Cape Town that culminated in the historic Formula E race, a first for the continent. Other well-known events by Vuka Group include DRC Mining Week, Nigeria Mining Week, DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum, Smarter Mobility Africa, ECOM and CEM Africa. Enlit Africa dates and venues: Live in-person conference and exhibition: 16 to18 May 2023 Venue: CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa Website: https://enlit-africa.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnlitAfrica Twitter: https://twitter.com/EnlitAfrica LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enlit-africa/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enlit_africa/ The regional finalists of the South Africa Climate Change Champs Renewable Energy Challenge 2023 have been announced. The teams will advance to the national round of the competition where they will represent their school and province at the Enlit Africa 2023 conference in Cape Town (16 - 18 May 2023). Frames L-R: Participants from Walmer High School in the Eastern Cape and Paballelo Secondary School in the Northern Cape - SA Climate Change Champs After the regional judging rounds that took place between 18 - 21 April 2023 in the Eastern, Northern and Western Cape, the following regional finalists, in no particular order, are: Eastern Cape: Solar Glow - Walmer Secondary School Changemakers - Walmer Secondary School Northern Cape: Eco Warriors - St Anna Secondary Private School Friendly Footprints - St Anna Secondary Private School Green Queens - St Anna Private Secondary Private School GBHS - Paballelo Senior Secondary School Western Cape: Emil Lions - Emil Weder High School Environmentally Friendly Substances - Khanyolwethu Secondary School Green Divas - Diazville High School The competition was officially launched on 23 January 2023 and welcomed online entries up until 31 March 2023 from Grade 9 - 11 learners at Climate Club host schools in the Eastern, Northern and Western Cape provinces. Frames L-R:Participants from Emil Weder High School in the Western Cape and St Anna Secondary Private School in the Northern Cape - SA Climate Change Champs Learners were encouraged to imagine how renewable energy can be used to impact their communities and dream up what a sustainable future would look like for them as the future generation. To do this, participants had to select a category for which their renewable energy solution had to address and a method of entry to demonstrate their solution. The categories spanned across food, crime and safety, health and wellness, transport and mobility, and home solutions. For the method of entry, participants showcased their artistic and technical abilities in the form of a graphic or comic novel, technical model, visual art piece or poster, and video story tale. The purpose of the competition is to provide an accessible platform for youth voices on renewable energy to be heard and by amplifying the voices of the youth, we hope to empower them to become active citizens in responding to climate change and to be aware of the opportunities that exist for their communities for a sustainable future, says Lindiwe Johnson, senior skills development analyst at GreenCape. As such, the main objective was to inspire the youth to think of problems affecting their homes, schools and broader community and develop a project that shows how renewable energy can solve and address these issues. Twenty submissions were put forward from the participating schools. Participants, in their project teams, competed against each other regionally by presenting their projects to the expert panels of regional judges who selected the finalists. The judging panels were made up of members from community groups, local government and municipalities, and various interest groups. For the next stage, regional finalists will embark on an exciting trip to Cape Town where they will attend educational workshops, go on site visits to renewable energy facilities and institutions, and exhibit and present their projects at Enlit Africa at the GreenHub on 18 May 2023 from 10am 12.30pm. Those wanting to attend can register to attend the Enlit exhibition space for free here. Hinen is thrilled to announce its participation in the South Africa Solar Show on 25-26 April. The new energy division of Hinen Group is showcasing its latest range of solar products and services designed to help customers mitigate the impact of frequent grid power outages. The products, designed to provide reliable backup power for homes and businesses during grid outages, reduce the need for fuel generators and help customers save money, to get rid of the suffering the noise of the fuel generators around day and night. The brand's flagship Hinen battery BS3000U is one to take note of. It is an innovative battery solution designed to provide reliable backup power during grid outages, and designed with Hinen's own proprietary technology, ensuring top-quality performance and long-lasting durability -till to 4000 life cycles. Speaking at the first day of the Solar Show, Andy Zhou Xiang yang, country manager at Hinen Solar South Africa, says, "Our goal is to make renewable energy accessible and affordable for everyone, not just the privileged few. We work closely with our clients to understand their goals and aspirations and create customised plans to help them effectively achieve them. As such, our energised experts are dedicated to helping homeowners, businesses, and community leaders find the right clean energy solutions for their unique needs. We're not just in the business of selling renewable energy solutions; we are committed to educating and empowering people." South Africans are welcome to come and experience our latest solar panels, inverters, and energy storage solutions, live product demos, and expert advice. Hinen group will setup Hinen brand in South Africa by the high-quality product and the best after-sales services. To learn how Hinen can help you achieve reliable backup power for your home or business, visit www.hinen.com. South Africa's Copyright Amendment Bill and Performers Protection Amendment Bill could potentially harm rather than help the creative industry and needs serious reconsideration. Image source: Jakub Jirsak 123RF.com Copyright serves two broad functions in society. It reassures business and investors that the works they commission, licence and invest in, are protected and can be commercialised. It also ensures that the artists, authors, programmers, composers, and musicians who create the works are fairly and properly compensated. These are not competing functions. They are two sides of the same coin. Without investment, creators cannot commercialise their work and earn an income. Without happy and incentivised creators, businesses cannot acquire unique content to sell and attract consumers. With this in mind, governments and their legislatures are eager to create copyright laws that balance the interests of both businesses and creators. It makes good business sense, and good economic sense. As the global economy embraces digitalisation in every sphere of business, governments, including South Africas, are racing to adapt copyright to co-exist with the digital future. This is reflected in South Africa's Copyright Amendment Bill No. B13D of 2017 and the Performers Protection Amendment Bill No. B24D of 2016. With these two bills, government seeks to take South African copyright boldly into the future, while giving creators a larger slice of the pie. These are laudable objectives. Unfortunately, although they attempt to grant creators more rights (including statutorily-mandated royalties), the bills will inadvertently limit their rights, including by restricting them from freely contracting with businesses on terms that are commercially favourable and aligned with international norms. In turn, the legal risk of working with South African creators will increase. Already Netflix has expressed concern that some of the proposals in the two bills will harm the stakeholders that government is trying to protect. What the bills have not considered is that companies will merely move their business and investment to countries that provide the best competitive advantage for copyright protection. Accordingly, creators from all industries in South Africa will struggle to find partners willing to commercialise their work. This could have two possible impacts. It will either leave creators without a source of income, or it will leave South Africa without creators. Either way, South Africa will lose investment and economic growth as well as the opportunity to cultivate more abundant creative and digital industries. While there is some speculation that the bills will be passed during 2023, there is no doubt that South Africas creative and digital industries will benefit more if the bills are reconsidered and amended, rather than passed into law in their current form. While opinions vary on the shortcomings of the land reform programme in South Africa, Peter Setou, chief executive of the Vumelana Advisory Fund, says that, arguably, the government could have made significant progress towards its transformation agenda if it had vigorously implemented its various policies and relevant land-related legislation on the land reform programme. Peter Setou, chief executive of the Vumelana Advisory Fund There should be a major overhaul of the land management information and systems as well as timely support interventions at a point when the land is transferred to ensure its productive use. Furthermore, there is a pressing need to bring resolution to the nearly 7,000 land claims still outstanding, as noted by the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights, and the government needs to embark on an initiative aimed at identifying and distributing farms to young Black individuals with aspirations of becoming commercial farmers, says Setou. Nearly three decades after the first democratic elections in 1994, the government has spent over R56bn towards buying land for restitution efforts, according to the ministry's replies to questions in parliament. This year, Treasury further allocated an additional R12.5bn for the Land Restitution Programme and land reform. Failure of policy implementation Arguably, says Setou, the inadequacy of the land reform programme has not been due to financial constraints, as billions of funds have been allocated to it. Instead, the failure of policy implementation and provision of post-settlement support has been the primary cause. In the book Land Matters, Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi contends that the lack of political will among the government to execute the land reform programme according to the Constitution has also contributed to its shortcomings. During his department's 2015/16 Budget Vote, former minister of rural development and land reform Gugile Nkwinti proclaimed that "the litmus test to all policies is whether they are redistributive in character". He further asserted that it would be impossible for a democratic, developmental state to rapidly reverse the effects of colonialism and apartheid without deliberately engaging in the redistribution of resources and means of production. Identifying impactful measures Moving forward into the next decade, the discourse must shift towards identifying impactful measures for land redistribution, restitution, and tenure reform. Through this process, the government can effectively integrate and maintain economic progress while promoting a more inclusive society, highlights Setou. According to the Vumelana Advisory Fund, land reform beneficiaries have the potential to drive rural development by utilising agricultural farms as well as supporting eco-tourism opportunities within restored land as vehicles of job creation, economic growth, and wealth creation. Says Setou: The success of the land reform programme will hinge on how effectively the government can assist previously disadvantaged communities, including small-scale farmers in transitioning to commercial farming. Furthermore, it will be determined by the governments ability to provide adequate support for post-settlement activities for beneficiaries of land reform across the different projects in farming, eco-tourism, and conservation among others, and ensuring that the millions of hectares of land that have been redistributed to date are put to productive use. Addressing challenges faced by CPAs Furthermore, Setou emphasises the significance of identifying and addressing challenges faced by Communal Property Associations (CPAs) by providing them with the required support, as well as promoting partnerships with the private sector as this is a quicker way through which the current challenges can be addressed in the short to medium term. These measures are crucial for economic development and if rolled out at scale, would play a significant role in boosting productivity of restituted land in the next decade. Furthermore, he says, implementing the recommendations made in 2018 by the high-level panel that was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa will be critical in driving a successful land reform programme. Some of these recommendations include decisively dealing with corruption in the system, implementing effective conflict resolution mechanisms among beneficiary communities, addressing state capacity challenges to implement its programmes, improving coordination among departments involved in supporting beneficiaries of land reform to ensure better use of resources, providing post-settlement support, and establishing robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for land reform interventions. Strengthening of tenure rights of people living on communal land, including the ability to use restored land as collateral for credit, will improve access to finance and significantly reshape the land reform landscape, he says. The land reform programme should not merely be a process of distribution and redistribution of land, but should be supported through greater access to finance, infrastructure, and markets for emerging farmers and small-scale producers, notes Setou. Address systemic failures In addition, he says, the government should seek to address systemic failures in land reform by improving coordination between different government departments to provide greater support to land reform beneficiaries in a more integrated manner. "These recommendations and the implementation of other models that have proven successful in the land reform programme, among them joint ventures approaches and partnerships between beneficiaries and private investors, should be implemented at scale to promote a more just and equitable land reform programme in South Africa, where communities have equal access to economic benefits derived from land ownership, concludes Setou. People walk past the British American Tobacco offices in London, Oct. 21, 2016. Reuters-Yonhap British American Tobacco has agreed to pay more than $600 million to settle allegations that it violated U.S. sanctions on North Korea, the U.S. Justice Department announced Tuesday. "British American Tobacco and its subsidiary engaged in an elaborate scheme to circumvent U.S. sanctions and sell tobacco products to North Korea through a corporate cutout in Singapore," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen. "This is the single largest North Korean sanctions penalty in the history of the Department of Justice, and the latest warning to companies everywhere about the costs and the consequences of violating U.S. sanctions," said Olsen. The Justice Department put the full figure at $629 million; BAT said it was $635 million, without explaining the difference. The company, which has already set aside $540 million to cover the settlement, said it would have no impact on its financial guidance to investors for 2023. "We deeply regret the misconduct arising from historical business activities that led to these settlements, and acknowledge that we fell short of the highest standards rightly expected of us," said BAT chief executive Jack Bowles. The investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) concerned BAT's business activities relating to North Korea between 2007 and 2017. The company said it ended all such activities in 2017. The United Nations imposed sanctions on North Korea after Pyongyang staged a nuclear test in 2006, with the United States unilaterally imposing even stronger restrictions on trade with the country. (AFP) In the midst of a contentious debate about Chicagos plan to force employers to require their workers to take the COVID-19 vaccine, Karen Freeman-Wilson, president of the Chicago Urban League, appeared on television to dismiss complaints that such rules would disproportionately harm the Black community. The health and safety factor here far outweighs the concern about shutting people out or creating a barrier, Freeman-Wilson said on WTTW in August 2021. Earlier that year, her group had received a $100,000 grant from Pfizer, the manufacturer of one of the most commonly used COVID-19 vaccines in the United States, for a project to promote "vaccine safety and effectiveness. Although the Chicago Urban League is not normally shy about disclosing its corporate donors, the support from Pfizer is not listed in the partners section on its website. The drug industry funding likewise went unmentioned during the interview. Pfizers grant to the Chicago Urban League was one of many that Pfizer made to nonprofits and trade organizations. Pfizer doled out special funding to groups across the country that lobbied in favor of government policies to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine. The extensive list of those with funding from the pharmaceutical giant includes consumer, doctor, and medical groups, as well as public health organizations and civil rights nonprofits. Many of those groups did not disclose the funding they received from Pfizer while they were advocating for policies that would force workers to get the vaccine. There were several different and sometimes overlapping vaccine mandates in the country. At the federal level, President Joe Biden issued an executive order, which was ultimately struck down in court, mandating vaccinations at all employers with 100 workers or more. A number of state and local governments forced public employees to get vaccinated and tried to force private-sector employers to follow suit. And many large employers required their employees to get vaccinated without any prodding from the government. Critics of these employer mandates have noted that the majority of the proposed mandates, including Bidens, made no exception for individuals with natural immunity through prior infection. Proponents of the mandates claimed that the vaccines would prevent transmission of COVID-19, an argument that lacked sound scientific basis at the time and has further unraveled. Youre not going to get COVID if you have these vaccinations, Biden falsely claimed in July 2021, as his administration and local governments were preparing mandate orders. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, similarly stated that vaccinated individuals "do not carry the virus." But it wasnt just these unsupported claims by leading government officials that shaped the groundwork for COVID-19 mandates. A coalition of highly visible groups backed by Pfizer and the pharmaceutical industry provided much of the lobbying support for coercive vaccine policies. Here are the most important examples: The National Consumers League, a century-old corporate watchdog group, announced support for government and employer mandates requiring [COVID-19] vaccination" in August 2021, during roughly the same period in which it accepted $75,000 from Pfizer earmarked for vaccine policy efforts. The organization is also led in part by Andrea LaRue, who serves as an NCL board member. LaRues work as a highly paid contract lobbyist to Pfizer, focused on vaccine policy, is not disclosed by NCLs website. The Foreign Minister of Sweden, Tobias Billstrom, addresses the media during a press conference in Berlin, Germany, Nov. 10. AP-Yonhap Sweden informed Russia on Tuesday that five employees of the Russian Embassy in Stockholm were asked to leave the country because they were suspected of spying. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said the alleged activities of the five were "incompatible" with their diplomatic status. Billstrom said Russia's ambassador to Sweden, Viktor Tatarintsev, was informed of the expulsions. The Swedish Security Service, which is known by the acronym SAPO, recently received a list of names of a number of suspected Russian intelligence officers, Swedish broadcaster SVT reported. The domestic security agency has said that "every third Russian diplomat in Sweden is an intelligence officer." Sweden also expelled three Russian Embassy staff members a year ago. Neighboring Norway said two weeks ago that it was expelling 15 Russian diplomats accused of spying. The public broadcasting companies of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden reported last week in a joint investigation that Russia was suspected of spying in the waters of the Baltic Sea and North Sea using civilian fishing trawlers, cargo ships and yachts. For their series titled "Shadow War," the broadcasters analyzed marine radio traffic and locations of Russian vessels. They said the data revealed suspicious sailing patterns, particularly around offshore wind farms, gas pipelines and undersea power and data cables. A new episode is scheduled to air Wednesday. Alarmed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, Sweden and neighboring Finland applied to join NATO in May 2022, seeking protection under the organization's security umbrella. Finland joined the military alliance on April 4. However, objections from NATO members Turkey and Hungary have delayed the process for Sweden, which has avoided military alliances for more than 200 years. (AP) NEW DELHI (PTI): The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) pursues a policy based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, the defence ministry has said ahead of hosting a key meeting of the grouping on Friday. Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu, Russia's Sergei Shoigu and their counterparts from the other member countries of the grouping, except Pakistan's Khawaja Asif, are set to attend the meeting. Li's visit to India is taking place amid a three-year border row in eastern Ladakh and days after India and China held a fresh round of military talks to resolve issues at the remaining friction points. In a statement on Tuesday, the defence ministry said counter-terror cooperation and matters concerning regional peace and security will figure prominently at the SCO defence ministerial conclave. It said the theme of India's presidency of the grouping in 2023 is "Secure SCO". Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Li are set to hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the SCO meeting in Delhi. Singh will hold bilateral meetings with the visiting defence ministers on the sidelines of the SCO meet. The SCO meeting will be chaired by Singh. "The defence ministers will discuss amongst other issues concerning regional peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts within the SCO and an effective multilateralism," the ministry said. It said India attaches special importance to the SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. "The SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, equality of all member states and mutual understanding and respect for opinions of each of them," it added. The SCO defence ministers' meeting is also expected to deliberate on the situation in Afghanistan. The ministry said the ongoing engagement with the SCO has helped India promote its relations with the countries in the region, with which New Delhi shares civilisational linkages and which are considered its extended neighbourhood. The SCO member countries are Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, India, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Apart from the member states, two observer countries -- Belarus and Iran -- will also be participating in the SCO defence ministers' meeting. People familiar with the matter said the Pakistani defence minister may attend the meeting through video-conferencing. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Over the years, it has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017. In this image taken from video, Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir speaks at the Presidential Palace, Feb. 22, 2019, in Khartoum, Sudan. An attack on the prison holding Omar al-Bashir has raised questions about his whereabouts as the country's two top generals battle for power. The military says he is being held in a secure location, while the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces allege that he has been released. Al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan for three decades despite wars and sanctions, was overthrown during a popular uprising in 2019. AP-Yonhap Sudan's toppled leader Omar al-Bashir was moved from Kober prison to a military hospital in the Sudanese capital before heavy fighting broke out there on April 15, two sources at the hospital said. The whereabouts of Bashir came into question after a former minister in his government, Ali Haroun, announced on Tuesday he had left the prison with other former officials. Both Bashir and Haroun are wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged atrocities in Darfur. Fighting flared anew in Sudan late on Tuesday despite a ceasefire declaration by the warring factions as more people fled Khartoum in the chaos. The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire beginning on Tuesday after negotiations mediated by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. But gunfire and explosions could be heard after nightfall in Omdurman, one of Khartoum's sister cities on the Nile River where the army used drones to target RSF positions, a Reuters reporter said. U.N. special envoy on Sudan Volker Perthes told the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday that the ceasefire "seems to be holding in some parts so far." But he said that neither party showed readiness to "seriously negotiate, suggesting that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible." "This is a miscalculation," Perthes said, adding that Khartoum's airport was operational but the tarmac damaged. The first Turkish civilians evacuated from Sudan returned to Turkey on Wednesday and Saudi Arabia said it evacuated 13 of its nationals and 1,674 other individuals with no sign the warring parties are ready to seriously negotiate. The Turks came from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, having reached there overland from Khartoum. Several more flights were expected later on Wednesday to evacuate the remaining Turkish citizens who had crossed over to Ethiopia from Sudan. (Reuters) A member of the Royal Jordanian Air Force carries a child as Jordanian citizens and other nationals who were evacuated from Sudan, arrive at Marka Military Airport, in Amman, Jordan, April 25. Reuters-Yonhap A budget for Northern Ireland anticipated to result in swingeing cuts to public services is set to be revealed on Thursday. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, who has responsibility for setting the Stormont budget in the absence of powersharing, is expected to outline departmental allocations for 2023/24 in a written ministerial statement at Westminster. Civil servants currently running public services in the absence of devolved elected ministers are bracing themselves for a potentially brutal settlement. When local ministers left office last year, Stormont was facing an approximate 600 million (677 million) black hole. Permanent secretaries were forced to make a range of in-year savings and the UK finance ministry provided a 300 million advance down-payment to help bridge the financial gap. However, with that 300 million having to be recouped in this financial year, the picture looks even more bleak for the 2023/24 budget. Advertisement Stormont permanent secretaries insist they should not be placed in the position of having to making significant cuts, potentially impacting the most vulnerable in society. They have urged the British government to issue ministerial directions for any major cuts that are implemented. However, Mr Heaton-Harris has made clear that he does not intend to issue such directions, which means the decisions will fall on the civil service until such time as powersharing returns to Stormont. Michelle ONeill has expressed concern at the likely cuts in the budget (Niall Carson/PA) Devolution is in abeyance at Stormont as a result of a DUP boycott of the institutions in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements. Mr Heaton-Harris is due to meet the main parties at Hillsborough Castle on Thursday to discuss the budgetary picture. On Wednesday, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill called on the UK government to divert more money to Northern Ireland. I just think its not good enough that we dont have the executive up and running right now, we need to be there, she said. Gavin Robinson has said the problem is not a lack of powersharing but a lack of money (Liam McBurney/PA) And all the political parties need to be facing one direction and that is a direction pushing back against the Tory savagery. The cuts that they have brought forward have been eye-watering and really impacting on our communities and the people that live here. Advertisement She added: But alongside a reformed executive, which I am determined and what I want to achieve, what we need is additional finances, because weve just dealt with 12-plus years of Tory austerity, theyve decimated public services, our public sector workers are on strike today, they shouldnt have to be there. But this is the reality of the Tory austerity that they have brought upon us. But we need to fight back against it. And we need to fight for additional funding for a reformed executive that allows us to actually make better political choices in the best interests of the people that we serve. The DUP has called for reform of how Northern Ireland is funded. This week, DUP MP Gavin Robinson raised the issue directly with Mr Heaton-Harris when he appeared before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. The primary problem is not a lack of Stormont, it is a lack of money. That is a decision made by Treasury, he said. I have been warning for some time that the Barnett formula used for divvying up the budget for the UK regions is unfair to Northern Ireland and will continue to get even worse in coming years. There needs to be a complete reform of the funding model. The Treasury contribution to fund public services in Northern Ireland is going down rather than rising. Government plans to send an Irish Naval patrol vessel to Libya as part of Operation Irini should not include training for the Libyan coast guard, a charity has warned. In a vote scheduled for Wednesday evening, the Government will seek the support of the Dail to send a Naval Service patrol vessel (LE William Butler Yeats) to Operation Irini for a period of 46 days during June and July this year. The European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation Irini was launched on March 31st, 2020, with the primary mission to enforce the United Nations arms embargo to Libya due to the second Libyan civil war. Operation Irini is also responsible for training the Libyan Coast Guard to carry out these tasks. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has raised serious concerns about the mission due to the involvement of the Libyan coast guard. MSF claims the Libyan coast guard is intertwined with militias and armed groups that mistreat migrants. Advertisement In a letter to Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Micheal Martin, seen by BreakingNews.ie, the humanitarian organisation said the Libyan coast guard has used "abusive tactics" including shooting at migrant boats. "At least one Detention Centre is under the direct control of the Libyan Coast Guard," the letter states. The letter highlights the report of the UN Independent fact-finding mission on Libya, "which supports our direct experience that migrants, many of whom are returned to Libya by the LCG, are facing grave human rights abuses". The letter asks Government to clarify the Irish Navy's role in Operation Irini and "refuse Irish Naval training of the Libyan Coast Guard at any time in the future as part of Operation Irini and to make a statement on its decision". MSF pointed to German refusal to take part in the operation in 2022, "due to what their Foreign Ministry described as 'repeated unacceptable behaviour by individual units of the Libyan coast guard toward refugees and migrants'." Isabel Simpson, executive director of Medecins San Frontieres Ireland, said: As part of its life-saving Search and Rescue work in the Central Mediterannean, Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has witnessed first-hand the detrimental effects of interception and forced returns of refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants to Libya, and the shocking and flagrant breaches of their human rights by the Libyan coastguard. "We have treated people who have suffered abuse in Libya and have witnessed the horrors that refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants face in the country, whether before their attempt to cross the Central Mediterranean or after having been forcibly returned. "MSF Ireland is concerned that any training of the Libyan Coast Guard as part of Operation Irini will support a system that contributes to the forced return of people to Libya in this continued cycle of cruelty." Aid agency Concerns country director in Sudan, AKM Musha, has told of the difficulties experienced by a convoy in which he travelled from Khartoum to Port Sudan. Two of his Irish colleagues made the difficult journey with him, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland, adding: When we got the opportunity we moved out of Khartoum. People were running for their lives, he said, and have left everything behind. Life in Khartoum now is horrendous, with fighting going on day and night. He explained hospitals and banks are not open, adding there are now food shortages in effected areas. The convoy taking them from Khartoum, which included 80 vehicles and hundreds of people, took 34 hours to make the journey, which he described as a terrifying and horrible experience. If one car got a flat tyre, all the convoy stopped. It was very hard on the children and older people, he said. Advertisement Mr Musha added that even before the current hostilities, millions of people in Sudan had needed humanitarian support. Aid organisations like Concern had been working there trying to improve the situation and had seen the suffering increasing, he said. Concern has now suspended operations in Sudan, which is going to make peoples lives even more difficult, Mr Musha said. However, he noted aid organisations simply could not operate in such a hostile and dangerous situation. He said the hostilities need to stop in order to allow aid organisations to resume their support for millions of people. Widowed mother of four Rachel Drumm a sister-in-law of former Anglo Irish Bank chief David Drumm was on Wednesday given six months to find alternative accommodation for her family after a judge confirmed execution of a repossession order on their 600,000 home. Mrs Drumm was in tears in the Circuit Civil Court when her barrister, Keith Farry, told Judge John OConnor she had consented to the execution order being made against her and asked that she be given a 16-month stay to allow her daughter to complete her secondary education. Judge OConnor told Mr Farry there was an air of unreality about Mrs Drumms hopes and expectations and granted her a six-month stay. The judge said six months should be enough time to allow her to contact her local authority with regard to the provision of alternative accommodation but advised that she should act quickly on the matter. Advertisement Mrs Drumm, in an affidavit, told the court she was now working full time as a senior account manager, and had hoped to reach an arrangement with Mars Capital Ireland Limited which had taken over her mortgage. Barrister Shaula Connaughton Deeny, for the bank, told Judge OConnor there was no hope of Mrs Drumm being able to pay off the 2 million debt on her home in Skerries, Co Dublin. Ms Connaughton Deeny said the arrears on the mortgage was close to 1 million. She said Judge Jacqueline Linnane had granted possession of the property in 2015 and Mars Capital was now seeking vacant possession following a three-month stay. Mrs Drumm, who opposed the granting on the final execution of Judge Linnanes order, said she wished to engage with Mars Capital as there had been a material and fundamental change in her circumstances following the death in London in October last year of her former husband, Kenneth Drumm. She said she was now a single mother with four dependant children and two elderly parents to care for. Mrs Drumm said she had contributed towards repayments on her loan but found that her ex-husband had not been forwarding the money to the bank. He had gone to the UK and had left her to raise their four children by herself. Advertisement Mrs Drumm said that if she was given time she would engage with the bank. She set out serious personal issues regarding herself and if not given a chance to resolve her financial problems they would be homeless. She said there were no houses or apartments to rent in Skerries or anywhere locally and their lives would come to a halt. The future was scary despite having sought and been promised aid from some family and friends. David Drumm Mr Farry said David Drumm was also a borrower on the property. Mrs Drumm said in her affidavit that only in recent times had she got to the bottom of what had been going on with the mortgage. I now have the EBS computer notes outlining correspondence between EBS [the former lender] and David Drumm and Ken Drumm, Mrs Drumm said. I did not know this was occurring. She said she was paying 650 monthly into one of the EBS accounts and she thought her husband Ken had been paying the remainder. She had paid this from 2019 until 2021 and only stopped because Ken had locked her out of the account, changing all details and would not give her the login. I presume now it was so that I wouldnt find out he wasnt actually paying anything into the account, she said. Advertisement She said she would now attend with a Personal Insolvency Practitioner. She had been ordered to leave the house in 2015 which she had done and had moved into rental accommodation for three years. The court heard Mrs Drumm and her family had afterwards moved back in to the house and Mrs Drumm told Judge OConnor she now appreciated the situation she was in. David Drumm, Kens brother, was also named on the mortgage, which I didnt know at the time and I now need to understand how his bankruptcy affected this debt and asset, Mrs Drumm said in her affidavit. Ireland Former Anglo Irish Bank chief David Drumm released... Read More David also had some convictions in relation to false accounting and Ken was, up until his death, working with David in the UK and possibly needed to shield him from any fallout from this, so he was not intent and very slow at resolving the issues with the home loan with the bank, she told the court in her statement. Mrs Drumm said she had now taken new legal advice in the last few days and was progressing to ascertain the position of her late husbands representatives, the estate, and his insurance policies. Judge OConnor said he was deeply sympathetic to the family and health situation as it affected Mrs Drumm, but reality had to be faced. His was not a court of appeal and he could not overturn the decision of his former colleague Judge Linnane, he said. Granting Mrs Drumm six months stay of his order allowing the bank to execute the repossession order, he said he would make no order as to costs against Mrs Drumm on Wednesdays hearing. The Defence Forces has said Trooper Shane Kearney is to undergo surgery on his skull following the attack on a UN vehicle in Lebanon. Trooper Kearney (22) was seriously wounded when the armoured UN vehicle he was travelling in was surrounded by a group of armed attackers in Lebanon in December. The Irish UN peacekeeper was injured in the shooting incident which left 24-year-old Private Sean Rooney dead. Trooper Kearney, from Killeagh in Co Cork, was medically evacuated from Lebanon to Ireland. He will undergo cranioplasty surgery on Wednesday which should hopefully be the final operation that he requires, according to the Defence Forces. Shane has been recovering at home in Cork for the past two months and has been making steady progress to date, a statement said. All Shanes colleagues in the Defence Forces are thinking of him at this time and are wishing him a speedy recovery. Advertisement A security guard at a repossessed house in Roscommon has told a trial that he was pulled from the house and cut with a blade during an attack on him by a group of men. The trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard that at around 5am on December 16th, 2018, a group of approximately 30 armed men, some wearing balaclavas, arrived at a repossessed rural property at Falsk, just outside Strokestown and attacked four of the security guards present. Patrick Sweeney (44) of High Cairn, Ramelton, Co Donegal; Martin O'Toole (58) of Stripe, Irishtown, Claremorris, Co Mayo; Paul Beirne (56) of Croghan, Boyle, Co Roscommon and David Lawlor (43) of Bailis Downs, Navan, Co Meath have pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Each man is separately charged with false imprisonment of and assault causing harm to four security personnel at Falsk on December 16th, 2018. Each defendant is also charged with aggravated burglary, as well as four charges of arson concerning a car and three vans allegedly set alight. Advertisement The four men are also each charged with criminal damage to a door of the house, violent disorder, robbery of a wristwatch from security guard John Graham and, finally, causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by causing or permitting an animal to be struck on the head. On Wednesday, Gary McCartney told the jury that he previously worked with Ian Gordon, the owner of GS Agencies, the company hired to provide security for the eviction. He said in December 2018, Mr Gordon contacted him and asked if he was available for work. He said he agreed to do the work and travelled to Strokestown on December 15th. He said after completing his shift, he went to lie down on a camp bed that he had set up in a room to the left of the front door of the house. Mr McCartney said he had come into the house through the back door as the front door was barricaded. He had taken off his shoes, boots and jacket before getting into a sleeping bag. Chainsaws and hammers He said he woke at about 5am, about 90 minutes later, to a lot of screaming and shouting. He got up and put on his jacket. He heard chainsaws and hammers and banging from the barricaded front door. Advertisement Mr McCartney said three people then came through the front and clambered over the debris to come into the house. He grabbed a lamp standard that was nearby, and the men came into him and started swinging at him with a hurl to bat away the lamp standard. He said the people were wearing high vis jackets and dark clothing. He was hit across the stomach with a bat and pulled by his clothing out of the house. He was barefoot as he had no time to put back on his socks and boots. Mr McCartney told Anne Rowland SC, prosecuting, that he didnt resist the men. Not at all, as far as I was concerned it was fight or flight. There was too many of them. Mr McCartney said his hands were cable-tied and held in front of him before he was brought outside to kneel on the grass to the front of the house. It was mayhem. There were people running around with sticks. All sort of things, a stick with nails on it, Mr McCartney said. He said he was hit a number of times, about the head and around the legs, with a stick that had nails in it. Kicked and stamped on Advertisement He said he was pushed to the ground and was getting kicked around the stomach, legs and knees before someone else started stamping on his legs. There were five or six good stamps on my legs, Mr McCartney said. He said somebody then came to the side of him with a blade of some sort and started pulling the blade alongside his neck. I was kneeling at this stage. They were to my side. They used one hand to hold my head and the other to bring the blade just under my ear, down to the front, my skin was cut, Mr McCartney said. He said he was being screamed at Who do you work for? Where do you live? He said he felt very, very afraid. He saw Ian Gordon to his left and he said he was totally distraught. He also saw someone carrying a dog from the side of the house out towards the front gate. Mr McCartney said the men ultimately left and someone cut his cable ties. The gardai arrived and they were brought to a local station where he was later picked up from by people he knew. Ireland Lifting eviction ban was 'right decision', says O'... Read More Mr McCartney agreed that photographs were taken of his injuries and he confirmed that some of the photos showed a cut to the side of his neck and one just in front of his ear. Other pictures showed puncture marks on his stomach. The man said these marks had been made when he was struck with the stick that had nails in it. He also confirmed other photographs showed bruises on his body that had been caused by the hurl. He identified further photographs of injuries on his legs and puncture wounds on his lower back and over to his side. The trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury. Sinn Feins vice president Michelle ONeill has announced that she will attend the coronation of Britain's King Charles. The partys leader at Stormont said the gesture demonstrated her commitment to building good relations and advancing peace and reconciliation. Ms ONeill would be in line to become Northern Irelands First Minister if the current powersharing impasse is resolved and devolution returns in Belfast. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill (Liam McBurney/PA). In September, she attended the Queens funeral service in London. The move to attend the coronation is the latest signal of the vastly improved relations between the republican movement and the monarchy since the outset of the peace process in Northern Ireland. I have accepted an invitation to attend the coronation of King Charles III, said Ms ONeill. We are living in a time of great change. A time to respect our differing and equally legitimate aspirations, a time to firmly focus on the future and the opportunities that the next decade will bring. Advertisement I am an Irish republican. I also recognise there are many people on our island for whom the coronation is a hugely important occasion. I am committed to being a First Minister for all, representing the whole community, building good relations between the people of these islands, and advancing peace and reconciliation through respectful and mature engagement. Therefore, as First Minister Designate, I will join President of Ireland Michael D Higgins, international figures, church leaders, other party leaders and the Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey for the coronation in London. Up to 220,000 Irish people who currently have difficulties with decision-making will be able to avail of a new State support service which was launched on Wednesday. The Decision Support Service (DSS) is for adults who may require help, now or in the future, to exercise their right to make decisions about personal welfare, property, or affairs. This could include adults with an intellectual disability, a mental illness, an acquired brain injury, or those with neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia. The DSS is provided for under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, which will become operational law when Ministerial orders are signed later on Wednesday. Estimates suggest that there could be as many as 220,000 people living in Ireland who have capacity-related difficulties and who may become users of the DSS. Based on the above figure, it is estimated that one in 20 adults could have an active arrangement registered with the DSS, and that one in every two people will interact with the DSS in their lifetime. Advertisement As anyone could face challenges with decision-making in their future lives, the 2015 Act also provides new tools for any adult who wishes to plan ahead by way of an advance healthcare directive, or a revised form of an enduring power of attorney. The DSS can also support people to plan for the future by utilising these tools. At the DSS launch, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: The Decision Support Service is a progressive and far-reaching new State-run service that will benefit many people, particularly those who experience challenges in terms of their needs or decision-making abilities. The service will allow people to exercise more independence relating to their legal affairs and their future. It will provide assistance and assurance to a great many people and their families. A core principle of the Act is that all persons have the presumption of capacity and should be supported to make their own decisions as far as is possible. The Act emphasises minimal restriction of a persons rights and freedoms and the importance of respect for will and preferences. Key reforms include the abolition of the wards of court system for adults under the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act of 1871, and the discharge of adults from wardship within three years. The Act will provide a new tiered framework of formal supports for those who need them, with supervision by the DSS. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. waves beside a U.S. M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) during a Combined Joint Littoral Live Fire Exercise at the joint military exercise called "Balikatan," Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder in a Naval station in Zambales province, northern Philippines on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. The long-time treaty allies are holding their largest joint military exercises that are part of a show of American firepower that has alarmed China. AP-Yonhap American and Filipino forces sank a ship with a barrage of high-precision rockets, airstrikes and artillery fire in their largest war drills on Wednesday in Philippine waters facing the disputed South China Sea which are likely to antagonize China. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. watched the American show of firepower from an observation tower in the coastal town of San Antonio in northwestern Zambales province, the latest indication of his strong backing of the Philippines' treaty alliance with the U.S. Marcos has ordered his military to shift its focus to external defense from decades-long domestic anti-insurgency battles as China's increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea become a top concern. The shift in the Philippine defense focus is in sync with the Biden administration's aim of reinforcing an arc of alliances in the Indo-Pacific region to better counter China. China has angered the Philippines by repeatedly harassing its navy and coast guard patrols and chasing away fishermen in waters close to Philippine shores but which Beijing claims as its own. The Philippines has filed more than 200 diplomatic protests against China since last year, including at least 77 since Marcos took office in June. Marcos, sitting beside U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson and his top defense and security advisers, used a pair of binoculars as rockets streaked into the blue sky from the U.S. High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, a multiple rocket and missile launcher mounted on a truck that has become a crucial weapon for Ukrainian troops battling Russian invasion forces. The coastal clearing in front of Marcos resembled a smoke-shrouded war zone and thudded with artillery fire as AH-64 Apache attack helicopters flew overhead. A private light plane flew by during the exercises, briefly interrupting them, and was asked to move away, said Col. Mike Logico, a Philippine military spokesperson for the drills. Fishermen have been advised to stay away from the area. "This training increased the exercise's realism and complexity, a key priority shared between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military," said Lt. Gen. William Jurney, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces. "Together we are strengthening our capabilities in full-spectrum military operations across all domains," said Jurney, the U.S. director for the annual joint exercises called Balikatan, Tagalog for "shoulder-to-shoulder." Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. goes inside a U.S. M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) during a Combined Joint Littoral Live Fire Exercise at the joint military exercise called "Balikatan," Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder in a Naval station in Zambales province, northern Philippines on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. The long-time treaty allies are holding their largest joint military exercises that are part of a show of American firepower that has alarmed China. AP-Yonhap The HSE has been awarded the substantial legal costs it incurred in successfully defending an action for damages alleging there was a delay to diagnosing a womans breast cancer. Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty found it would be unfair to make the state-funded HSE pay for defending the case when plaintiff Catriona Crumlish (41) has not shown her injuries were caused or contributed to by any error on the part of her treating doctors. Here, the damage was caused by cancer and not by medical negligence, the judge said. There was nothing in the conduct of the HSE, represented by Micheal O Scanaill SC and Michael Binchy BL, or in the circumstances of the case that warranted departing from the norm that the losing side must pay the other sides legal fees, she added. Advertisement Last month, Ms Justice Gearty dismissed the personal injuries claim of Ms Crumlish, who is now cancer-free following invasive treatments. Ms Crumlish, of Moville, Co Donegal, alleged she had to undergo more extensive treatment and has a reduced life expectancy due to the defendants negligence. The judge said the plaintiff did not establish there was a 15mm cancer on her breast when she attended Letterkenny University Hospital in May 2017 when she was 35 years old. It was more likely, said the judge, that the hospital radiologists report is accurate and that a 12mm cyst caused the lump on her breast. In August and September 2017 Ms Crumlish found two lumps under her armpit. On October 12th, the same doctor she saw previously at the Letterkenny hospital diagnosed a fast-growing breast cancer requiring invasive surgery and radiotherapy. Expert witness Ms Justice Geary was sharply critical of the plaintiffs expert witness, a consultant surgeon in Manchester, whose evidence, she said, was affected by his cleavings to the plaintiffs account. In a follow-up judgment published on Wednesday, the judge said compensation for injuries caused by negligence occurs because, as a society, we cannot to afford to compensate all of those who are unfortunate enough to suffer serious illness. Advertisement Where illness or injury is caused or exacerbated on the part of a medical professional, the policy is that it is unfair to visit the consequences of the fault on the innocent patients, the judge added. In making a claim a litigant and their legal team must assess the risks of bringing their case, she said. To make a different costs order than awarding the HSE its costs would have potential repercussions for litigation generally and could have serious implications for the public purse, as speculative litigation is more likely if the losing party might not have to pay all of the legal costs. In this case, one of the first questions for a medical expert to ascertain should have been whether or not Ms Crumlish had a detectable cancer when she attended the hospital in May 2017, but this conclusion appears to have been assumed, to a large extent. In asking the court to make each party pay its own costs for the hearing, Ms Crumlishs legal team submitted that a key part of the HSEs defence - its expert finding fault in the plaintiffs logic of her tumours doubling time- only crystallised 21 days into the hearing. Ms Justice Geary was unconvinced, saying the HSEs view on the 45-day doubling time should not have been unforeseeable to the plaintiffs expert. The judge paused the effects of her costs order for 28 days to give time for a potential appeal to be lodged. The Stardust inquest, safeguarding laws, and US president Joe Biden's bid for re-election are some of the stories covered on Wednesday's front pages. The Irish Times carries images of the victims killed in the Stardust fire as an inquest into the tragedy opened on Tuesday. The paper also reports 'Irish cousins welcome Biden re-election bid', after the US president announced on Tuesday that he will content the next election. The Irish Examiner also covers the Stardust inquest, alongside a report on the sentencing of a retired solicitor for the sexual assault of an eight-year-old girl, with which The Echo also leads. Meanwhile, the Irish Independent claims 'families face triple threat of mortgage hikes by the end of July', while the Irish Daily Mail reports that new safeguarding laws will 'stop families abusing elderly'. Advertisement Good morning, here's the front page of today's Irish Independent pic.twitter.com/wypo4PVUV2 Independent.ie (@Independent_ie) April 26, 2023 For all this and lots more, pick up a copy of Wednesday's Irish Daily Mail. pic.twitter.com/ij9GsXxaeJ The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) April 26, 2023 Finally, both the Irish Daily Star and Irish Daily Mirror both cover controversy surrounding Ireland's Eurovision entry after Wild Youth cut ties with creative director Ian Banham over alleged comments he made online. In Britain, evacuation efforts in Sudan and a royal phone-hacking case at the High Court dominate the front pages of Wednesdays newspapers. The Times says British prime minister Rishi Sunak has defended the rescue of British civilians from Sudan two days after diplomats were evacuated while the Metro reports people eligible for the airlift have been told to make their own way to a Khartoum airport. The Times: Canadian boasts of sending suicide poison to hundreds in UK #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/wqIQtG779t George Mann (@sgfmann) April 25, 2023 Tomorrow's Paper Today RUN FOR YOUR LIVES UK evacuation begins Brits told: Make own way to airstrip PM promises 'many more flights'#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/moRXwtlFGE Metro (@MetroUK) April 25, 2023 UK troops are ready to use force in Khartoum as they look to evacuate UK civilians from Sudan, the i reports. Advertisement Wednesday's front page: UK troops ready to use force in Khartoum airlift#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/49fjzpi6tt i newspaper (@theipaper) April 25, 2023 The Independent says the High Court heard Britain's Prince William was paid a very large sum of money by News Group Newspapers (NGN) to settle a phone-hacking claim. Independent digital front page: William 'paid by Sun publisher' over phone-hacking #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/H4YDIz73qr George Mann (@sgfmann) April 25, 2023 The Daily Telegraph reports that any chance of reconciliation between Britain's Prince Harry and his brother has been left in tatters after he dragged William into his hacking court case. The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph: 'Harry court claims leave Coronation peace hopes in tatters'#TomorrowsPapersToday Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/EMwXmGYMpK The Telegraph (@Telegraph) April 25, 2023 The High Court has heard the Britain's late Queen Elizabeth II threatened NGN with legal action over the phone-hacking scandal, but she was undermined by Charles, according to the Guardian. Guardian front page, Wednesday 26 April 2023: Charles undermined queen over plan to sue Murdoch, says Harry pic.twitter.com/dZu9W1TwEI The Guardian (@guardian) April 25, 2023 The Daily Mirror reveals the shocking state of hunger in Britain with families receiving three million food parcels last year one million of those for children. Advertisement The Daily Mail focuses on a Bank of England chief who said people need to accept they are poorer and should stop asking for more pay. Daily Mail: You need to accept you are poorer! #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/bElwguZPdY George Mann (@sgfmann) April 25, 2023 The Financial Times leads with US president Joe Biden announcing he will run for a second term in the White House in 2024. Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Wednesday 26 April https://t.co/JoCpg801Xq pic.twitter.com/N6v5dRXOca Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) April 25, 2023 British chancellor Jeremy Hunt is being urged to cut taxes to help people struggling with the cost-of-living, the Daily Express said. Wednesday's front page: Surely, A Tax Cut Boost Is Now On The Cards? #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/mSSlr1JFNw pic.twitter.com/O0HgCidYfF Daily Express (@Daily_Express) April 25, 2023 And the Daily Star said boffins have said Jaffa Cakes are the best for dunking in your tea. MP Andrew Bridgen has been expelled from the Conservative Party after comparing Covid-19 vaccines to the Holocaust and being found to have breached British lobbying rules. He accused the Tories of kicking him out under false pretences and said he intends to stand again at the next election, as he hit out at corruption, collusion, and cover-ups. The representative for North West Leicestershire had already lost the party whip, meaning he was sitting in the Commons as an independent. My expulsion from the Conservative Party under false pretences only confirms the toxic culture which plagues our political system. Above all else this is an issue of freedom of speech. No elected Member of Parliament should ever be penalised for speaking on behalf of those who https://t.co/bJOOyy6wia Advertisement Andrew Bridgen (@ABridgen) April 26, 2023 But the Tories announced on Wednesday that they have now stripped him of his party membership as well. A spokesman said: Mr Bridgen was expelled from the Conservative Party on April 12 following the recommendation of a disciplinary panel. He has 28 days from this date to appeal. The Conservatives did not discuss the findings of the disciplinary panel. In a statement, Mr Bridgen said: My expulsion from the Conservative Party under false pretences only confirms the culture of corruption, collusion, and cover-ups which plagues our political system. I have been a vocal critic of the vaccine rollout and the party have been sure to make an example of me. I am grateful for my newfound freedom and will continue to fight for justice for all those harmed, injured, and bereaved due to governmental incompetence. I will continue to serve my constituents as I was elected to do and intend to stand again at the next election. He has not made clear whether he will appeal over the decision or will run to be an MP in opposition to the Conservatives. The regular critic of vaccines lost the whip in January after claiming they are the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust. Advertisement UK prime minister Rishi Sunak condemned the comments as utterly unacceptable. Earlier that month, Mr Bridgen was handed a five-day suspension for breaking the MPs code of conduct banning lobbying. He was found to have committed a series of breaches including an unacceptable attack upon the integrity of then standards commissioner Kathryn Stone. Chinese leader Xi Jinping told Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a phone call on Wednesday that his government would send a peace envoy to Ukraine and other nations, state media said. A government statement reported by state TV gave no indication whether the Chinese envoy would visit Russia. China will send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to Ukraine and other countries to conduct in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, the statement said. I had a long and meaningful phone call with President Xi Jinping. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations. (@ZelenskyyUa) April 26, 2023 It made no mention of Russia or President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine last year. Advertisement There is no winner in a nuclear war, the statement warned. China, which said it wanted to act as mediator in Russias war with Ukraine, has tried to appear neutral but has refused to criticise Moscows invasion. Mr Xi and Mr Putin issued a joint statement before the February 2020 attack saying their governments had a no limits friendship. Mr Xis government released a peace proposal in February and called for a ceasefire and talks. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he hoped the phone call would give a powerful impetus to the development of bilateral relations (Andrew Kravchenko/AP) Negotiation is the only viable way out, state TV said in a report on Mr Xis comments to Mr Zelenskiy. There is no winner in a nuclear war, the report said. All parties concerned should remain calm and restrained in dealing with the nuclear issue and truly look at the future and destiny of themselves and humanity as a whole and work together to manage the crisis. Mr Zelenskiy said he had had a long and meaningful phone call with Mr Xi. His press officer, Serhii Nykyforov, said Mr Zelenskiy and Mr Xi spoke for nearly an hour. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraines ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations, Mr Zelenskiy said in a Facebook post. Advertisement Talks between the two leaders had been anticipated for weeks, after China produced a 12-point proposal to end the fighting. The phone call was for China another step towards deeper involvement in resolving the conflict. Russian president Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese president Xi Jinping toast during their dinner at the Kremlin last month (Pavel Byrkin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File) Despite that overture, Mr Zelenskiy said in an interview with The Associated Press in late March that he had not spoken with Mr Xi since the war began and extended an invitation for him to visit Ukraine. The peace proposal came on the heels of Chinas announcement that it was keen to act as mediator in the war that has reenergised western alliances that are regarded by Beijing and Moscow as rivals. With the step, Mr Xis government reinforced Chinas claim to being neutral in the war, despite blocking efforts at the United Nations to condemn the Kremlins invasion. While Mr Zelenskiy has moved his country closer to Nato and has successfully pleaded with alliance member nations to send sophisticated modern weapons to help defeat Russia, Beijing has accused the West of provoking the conflict and fanning the flames by providing Ukraine with defensive arms. Mr Putin warmly welcomed Mr Xi to the Kremlin in March, in what was seen as a powerful message to western leaders that their efforts to isolate Moscow over the fighting in Ukraine had fallen short. Advertisement Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commended Chinas approach but was scathing about Ukraines stance. Referring to the call, she praised Beijings readiness to strive to establish a (peace) negotiations process, while slamming what she called Kyivs rejection of any sound initiatives aimed at a settlement. Nuclear power plant workers attend a monument to victims of the Chernobyl tragedy on the 37th anniversary of the disaster (Wladyslaw Musiienko/AP) Meanwhile, Mr Zelenskiy used the 37th anniversary of the worlds worst nuclear disaster on Wednesday to repeat his warnings about the potential threat of a new atomic catastrophe in Ukraine amid his countrys war with Russia. Mr Zelenskiy drew a parallel between the Chernobyl nuclear disaster on April 26th, 1986, to Moscows brief seizure of the plant and its radiation-contaminated exclusion zone following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Last year, the occupier not only seized the (Chernobyl) nuclear power plant, but also endangered the entire world again, Mr Zelenskiy said in a Telegram post in English. Russian forces were stationed at the Chernobyl plant between February and March last year, before it was recaptured by Ukrainian troops. Mr Zelenskiy said Kyiv had since then re-established pre-war security measures and scientific activities within the zone. But he cautioned that future moves from Moscow could endanger global nuclear safety. Britain's Prince Harry was kept out of the loop regarding alleged unlawful information gathering by tabloid newspapers in relation to the British royal household, the High Court in London has heard. Harry (38) is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN) over alleged unlawful information gathering at two of its titles, The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World claiming that his private information was unlawfully accessed. NGN is bringing a bid to have Harrys case thrown out, along with a similar claim by actor Hugh Grant, at a three-day hearing in London which started on Tuesday, arguing they have been brought too late. Actor Hugh Grant is also involved in the litigation (Ian West/PA) But, responding to the publishers strike out application, Harrys lawyers said it is an attempt to go behind a secret agreement between the royal family as an institution and NGN, which Harry was informed of in 2012. Advertisement David Sherborne, representing Harry, told the court on Wednesday that, before 2012, the duke believed there was only one voicemail which his brother, Prince William, left for him that had been intercepted. The barrister said Harry thought the tabloid press wouldnt have been stupid enough to go after his messages, given the security services involvement, and that there were members of royal staff who he was aware believed they had been hacked but he was kept out of the loop. He was told more in 2012 but that was essentially dealt with by his family, the institution as he described it. That is no criticism of the [late] queen or his family, that is how it was done and he accepted it. One also has to remember at the times he was on active service in Afghanistan. The barrister said Harry did not have access to The Guardian newspaper, which reported extensively on the phone hacking scandal, while there. Mr Sherborne added: Mr Hudson [Anthony Hudson KC, for NGN] described him as being at the epicentre [of hacking claims]. Instead, he was kept out of the loop personally. The barrister told Mr Justice Fancourt, hearing the case, that what Harry did know by 2012 was that an agreement [had been] reached between the institution and News Group. Advertisement He continued: It was a secret agreement and it meant that his claim and the claim of his brother the claims which would be hugely embarrassing for News Group, would be dealt with once this litigation came to an end. This secret agreement applied to his claim and that of his brother, and that explains why they did not bring their claims at an earlier stage. It became clear to the Duke of Sussex, whose wife was coming under abuse from The Sun, and he wanted to push forward on his claims because it seemed the defendant was stalling. The barrister said that, if NGN loses its application and the case goes to a planned trial in January, senior News Group executives Rebekah Brooks and Robert Thomson who were involved in the secret agreement and subsequent negotiations will have to give evidence. Mr Sherborne told the court, as was revealed during the first day of the hearing on Tuesday, that the Prince of Wales also brought a claim against NGN over hacking claims and that it was settled by the publisher. He added: It is precisely because of the secret agreement that no claim was brought before 2019. It is why no claim was brought earlier. We now know that His Royal Highness William brought a claim that has been settled by the defendant without any attempt to strike it out. Advertisement In a 31-page witness statement prepared by the duke for the hearing, which began just 11 days before his fathers coronation, Harry said Williams claim was settled for a huge sum. Britain's Prince William and Prince Harry. Photo: Henry Nicholls/PA He said in the statement: My brother appeared to know an awful lot more than I did on the subject of phone hacking although he did not tell me if that was the case. However, NGN still settled his claim for a huge sum of money in 2020 without subjecting him to a similar strike out application, without any of the public being told, and seemingly with some favourable deal in return for him going quietly so to speak. Kensington Palace has declined to comment on behalf of the Prince of Wales. Mr Sherborne said both Harry and Mr Grant were following the case by video link and Mr Grant, who currently has filming commitments, is due to attend the third day of the hearing on Thursday. The barrister added: The Duke of Sussex has asked me to express his disappointment at being unable to be here. He was unable to be here for these three days but he is also following by video link, despite the challenges of the time difference. Advertisement He said the judge would understand the strength of feeling of both, in relation to their claims, which he told the court are obviously very important to them. NGN has previously settled a number of claims since the phone hacking scandal broke in relation to The News Of The World, which closed in 2011, but has consistently denied that any unlawful information gathering took place at The Sun. The publishers lawyers argued on Tuesday that Harry was at the epicentre of the scandal since as long ago as 2006 and therefore aware he could have brought a claim sooner, and said his evidence that he was prevented from doing so by a secret agreement is without merit in fact or law. In documents before the court, Mr Sherborne, representing Harry, said the late Queen Elizabeth was involved in discussions and authorisation of the agreement, which was that members of the royal family would not pursue claims against NGN until after the conclusion of the litigation over hacking. Mr Sherborne said in written arguments that the agreement meant that the claimant could not bring a claim against NGN for phone hacking at that time. Anthony Hudson KC, for NGN, said the publishers position is that there was no such secret agreement. Advertisement Mr Hudson told the court on Tuesday that Harry and Mr Grant have been front and centre of claims against the publisher over hacking and therefore could not possibly have failed to realise they had a potential damages claim much sooner. World Prince William secretly settled hacking claim with... Read More The hearing is expected to conclude on Thursday and the judge will determine whether their claims will progress to a trial, which is due to be heard in January next year. The claim is one of a number of legal actions currently being brought by Harry, who appeared in person at the London High Court last month for a preliminary hearing against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of The Mail and Mail On Sunday. He is also expected to give evidence at a trial over allegations of unlawful information gathering against tabloid publisher Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), due to begin next month, with Harry due to appear in court in June. Tech billionaire and Republican megadonor Peter Thiel, an early backer of former US president Donald Trump who later broke with him, has told associates he is not planning to donate to any political candidates in 2024, according to two people close to the businessman. Mr Thiel is unhappy with the Republican Party's focus on hot-button US cultural issues, said one of the sources, a business associate, citing abortion and restrictions on which bathrooms transgender students can use in schools as two examples. Mr Thiel came to this conclusion by late 2022, the sources said. He believes Republicans are making a mistake in focusing on cultural flashpoints and should be more concerned with spurring US innovation - a major issue for him - and competing with China, the business associate said. Mr Thiel's plans for the Republican primary and general election have not been previously reported. Online news site Puck previously reported Mr Thiel was most likely either to support Mr Trump or sit out the primary. Mr Thiel declined a Reuters request for an interview. Economic issues Advertisement When Mr Thiel spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention, he had more hope that the party would concentrate on economic issues, his business associate said. "I am proud to be gay," Mr Thiel said on stage. "But most of all I am proud to be an American. I don't pretend to agree with every plank in our party's platform, but fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline, and nobody in this race is being honest about it except Donald Trump." Four political sources also told Reuters that Mr Thiel is taking a step back from US politics. Mr Thiel, who diverged from his Silicon Valley peers with his embrace of conservative causes, identifies as a supporter of libertarianism, a political philosophy that stresses the importance of individual freedoms. Donors hesitate The German-born entrepreneur has a fortune estimated at around $4.2 billion after co-founding PayPal PYPL.O and Palantir PLTR.N and investing early in Facebook META.O. He has contributed around $50 million to state and federal political candidates and campaigns since 2000, and he was the 10th largest individual donor to either party in the 2022 midterm congressional elections, according to the non-profit OpenSecrets. Mr Thiel's decision underlines how the Republican Partys swing to the right on social issues is alienating some prominent, business-minded donors. Advertisement Several top donors have said they are hesitant to support Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who is expected to announce a run for the White House soon, after he signed a bill into law that bans most abortions after six weeks in Florida. None said they intended to sit out the entire 2024 election cycle as a consequence. In 2012, Mr Thiel backed libertarian lawmaker Ron Paul, and in 2016 he donated some $1.25 million to the campaign efforts of Mr Trump, who is the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination. Trump 'chaos' In 2020, Mr Thiel did not financially back Mr Trump's re-election efforts, according to OpenSecrets. Mr Thiel liked some of Mr Trump's policies while in office but disapproved of the chaos surrounding the former reality TV star's presidency, said one of the sources, who is close to Mr Thiel personally. In the 2022 election cycle, however, Mr Thiel emerged as a potential Republican kingmaker, contributing more than $35 million to 16 federal-level Republican candidates, according to OpenSecrets. Twelve of those candidates won. To be sure, Mr Thiel could yet change his mind on political contributions for the 2024 cycle, although both sources familiar with his donation plans said they had heard Mr Thiel declare on multiple recent occasions that he had withdrawn from US politics. The source who knows Mr Thiel personally said he had cautioned that he could still support candidates who have worked for him, as he did in 2022, when the bulk of his $35 million in donations went to two former colleagues running for the Senate as Republicans: JD Vance, who won, and Blake Masters, who lost a race pundits considered winnable even though he received some $20 million from Mr Thiel. The business associate said he was not aware of any special proviso for former employees. Mr Thiel is married to businessman Matt Danzeisen, with whom he has two toddlers. Concerns about his family's safety have weighed in Mr Thiel's decision to step back as well, the source who knows him personally told Reuters. Sudans former autocratic ruler Omar al-Bashir is being held in a military-run hospital, according to the military in their first official statement on the deposed presidents location since the fighting began. An attack on the prison where al-Bashir and many of his former officials had been held had raised questions over his whereabouts and allegations he had been freed. In a statement, the military said al-Bashir, former defence minister Abdel-Rahim Muhammad Hussein and other former officials had been moved to the military-run Aliyaa hospital before clashes broke out across the country. Sudans former president Omar al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide and other crimes committed during the conflict in the countrys Darfur region (Mohamed Abuamrain/AP) Al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan for three decades despite wars and sanctions, was ousted in 2019 amid a popular uprising. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide and other crimes committed during the conflict in Sudans western Darfur region in the 2000s. Advertisement He and other former top officials accused of atrocities have been held in Kober prison in Khartoum for the last four years, as authorities have declined ICC requests for them to be handed over. The Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who together removed al-Bashir from power during mass protests, are now battling one another across the capital. The Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces are fighting across Khartoum (Marwan Ali/AP) The fighting reached the prison over the weekend, with conflicting reports about what transpired. Both the military and the RSF have sought to portray themselves as allies of the countrys pro-democracy movement who are trying to restore its transition to civilian rule. But both have a long history of brutalising activists and protesters, and they joined forces to remove civilian leaders from power in a coup less than two years ago. Kober prison held a number of activists detained after the coup, some of whom were charged in the death of a senior police officer during a protest. The ICC has indicted Al-Bashir, Hussein and Haroun on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur. Residential buildings have been damaged in the fighting in the capital (Marwan Ali/AP) The Darfur conflict erupted when rebels from an ethnic African community launched an insurgency in 2003, complaining of oppression by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum. Advertisement Al-Bashir launched a scorched-earth campaign that included air raids and attacks by notorious Janjaweed militias tribal fighters who stormed into villages on horses and camels. The campaign was marked by mass killings, rape, torture and persecution. Some 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven from their homes. The British prime minister refused to apologise for the UKs role in historical slavery and colonialism, and rejected a call to commit to reparations when challenged in the Commons. Rishi Sunak said he was committed to ensuring the UK is an inclusive and tolerant society, and said trying to unpick our history is not the right way forward. He was answering MPs at Prime Ministers Questions when challenged on the issue by Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Streatham). A newly unveiled bronze plaque close to the World Museum on William Brown Street, Liverpool, which explains the history behind the street name and its origins with the slave trade (Peter Byrne/PA) She said: This month marks 23 years since the passing of the late, great, Bernie Grant, a former member of this House, and the founder of the UK reparations movement in the UK. In his last Prime Ministers Questions before his death he asked for an apology to the people of African descent living and dead for our countrys role in slavery and colonialism. Advertisement But since then, prime ministers and heads of state have only ever expressed sorrow or deep regret. These are not sentiments that are befitting one of the greatest atrocities in human history. There has been no acknowledgement of the wealth that has been amassed or the fact that our country took out the largest loan it ever has to pay off the slave owners, and not the enslaved. File picture of a group of women arrive at Bristol Cathedral for a service to mark the 200 years since the abolition of slavery (Barry Batchelor/PA) She asked: Will he do what Bernie Grant asked all those years ago, what I have asked, and what countless others have asked since, and offer a full and meaningful apology for our countrys role in slavery and colonialism, and commit to reparatory justice? Mr Sunak said: No. What I think our focus should now be on doing is, of course, understanding our history and all its parts, not running away from it, but right now making sure that we have a society which is inclusive and tolerant of people from all backgrounds. Thats something that we on this side of the House are committed to doing and will continue to deliver, but trying to unpick our history is not the right way forward, and its not something that we will focus our energies on. Advertisement A Labour spokesman said Ms Ribeiro-Addys call for reparations was not party policy. The spokesman said she is right to highlight the appalling history of the slave trade but on the specific point of reparations, the point that she was making is not Labour Party policy. Earlier this week, The Guardian reported that a group called Heirs Of Slaver, made up of descendents of some notable British slave owners, launched a campaign to seek apology, dialogue, reconciliation and reparative justice and support campaigns for institutional and national reparative justice for the transatlantic slave trade. Tony Blair, when he was UK prime minister and challenged over whether he was prepared to say sorry for the slave trade, said: I have said we are sorry and I say it again. Mr Blair was speaking in 2007 as the government prepared to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade. The Taliban have reportedly killed the senior so-called Islamic State (Isis) group leader behind the August 2021 suicide bombing outside Kabul airport that left 13 US service members and about 170 Afghans dead. Over the weekend, the US military began to inform families of the 11 marines, the sailor and the soldier killed in the blast at Abbey Gate during the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Those family members shared the information in a private group messaging chat, according to one Marines mother. The account from the families was confirmed by three US officials and a senior congressional aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. US marines around the scene at Abbey Gate outside Hamid Karzai International Airport after a suicide bomber detonated an explosion (Department of Defence/AP) The Isis leader, whose identity has not yet been released, died in southern Afghanistan in early April as the Taliban conducted a series of operations against the group, according to one of the officials. Advertisement The Taliban at the time were not aware of the identity of the person they killed, the official added. Darin Hoover, the father of Staff Sergeant Darin Taylor Hoover, said the marines provided only limited information to him on Tuesday and did not identify the Isis leader or give the circumstances of his death. Mr Hoover is among a group of 12 Gold Star families that have kept in touch since the bombing, supporting one another and sharing information through the messaging chat. The chat was created by Cheryl Rex, the mother of Marine Lance Corporal Dylan Merola, who died in the blast. Ms Rex, who has been a vocal critic of US President Joe Bidens administrations handling of the withdrawal, said it was through the chat group they were informed about the killing late on Monday as they awaited official confirmation from US military officials. Mr Hoover said he and his sons mother, Kelly Henson, have spent the past year and a half grieving the death of the 31-year-old Marine Corps staff sergeant and praying for accountability from Mr Bidens administration for the handling of the withdrawal. The killing of the unidentified Isis leader, Mr Hoover said, does nothing to help them. Advertisement Whatever happens, its not going to bring Taylor back and I understand that, he said. About the only thing his mom and I can do now is be an advocate for him. All we want is the truth. And were not getting it. Thats the frustrating part. His son and the other fallen service members were among those screening the thousands of Afghans frantically trying on August 26 2021 to get on to one of the crowded flights out of the country after the Taliban takeover. The scene of desperation quickly turned into one of horror when a suicide bomber attacked. Isis claimed responsibility. The blast at Abbey Gate came hours after western officials warned of a major attack, urging people to leave the airport. But that advice went largely unheeded by Afghans desperate to escape the country in the last few days of an American-led evacuation before the US officially ended its 20-year presence. Staff Sergeant Darin T Hoover, 31, died in the bombing (Carolyn Kaster/AP) The Afghanistan-based offshoot of Isis, with up to 4,000 members, is the Talibans most bitter enemy and top threat militarily. The group has continued to carry out attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, especially against the countrys minority groups. After former US president Donald Trumps administration reached a 2020 deal with the Taliban to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan and Mr Bidens administration followed through on that agreement in 2021, there had been hope in Washington that the Talibans desire for international recognition and assistance for the countrys impoverished population might moderate their behaviour. Advertisement But relations between the US and Taliban have deteriorated significantly since they imposed draconian new measures banning girls from school and excluding women from working for international aid and health agencies. However, a line of communication still exists between the two sides, led by the US special envoy for Afghanistan Tom West. Mr Wests contacts are primarily with Taliban officials in Kabul and not with the groups more ideological wing based in Kandahar. The August 2021 pullout of US troops led to the swift collapse of the Afghan government and military, which the US had supported for nearly two decades, and the return to power of the Taliban. In the aftermath, Mr Biden directed that a broad review examine every aspect of this from top to bottom and it was released earlier this month. US President Joe Biden (Andrew Harnik/AP) Mr Bidens administration in the publicly released version of the review largely blamed Mr Trump for the deadly and chaotic 2021 withdrawal, which was punctuated by the suicide bombing at Abbey Gate. News of the killing came on the same day Mr Biden formally announced he will seek a second term as president, offering a reminder of one of the most difficult chapters of his presidency. Advertisement The disastrous drawdown was, at the time, the biggest crisis the relatively new administration had faced. It left sharp questions about Mr Biden and his teams competence and experience the twin pillars central to his campaign for the White House. A former advice columnists nearly 30-year-old rape claim against Donald Trump has gone to trial as jurors in the civil case heard her allegation of being attacked in a luxury department store dressing room. The former US president says nothing happened between them. E Jean Carroll will give evidence and say what unfolded in a few minutes in a fitting room in 1996 would change her life forever, one of her lawyers, Shawn Crowley, said in an opening statement. Filled with fear and shame, she kept silent for decades. Eventually, though, silence became impossible, Mr Crowley said. And when Ms Carroll broke that silence in a 2019 memoir, the then-president used the most powerful platform on Earth to lie about what he had done, attack Ms Carrolls integrity and insult her appearance. Advertisement Former US president Donald Trump is not currently expected to give evidence in the case (Seth Wenig/AP) Mr Trumps lawyer Joe Tacopina painted her story as wildly implausible and short of evidence and described it as an affront to justice. He accused her of pursuing the case for money, status and political reasons. It all comes down to: Do you believe the unbelievable? Mr Tacopina asked the six-man, three-woman jury. He urged the panel in heavily Democratic New York to put politics aside in weighing the case against the Republican ex-president and ex-New Yorker. You can hate Donald Trump. Thats OK. But theres a time and a secret place for that. Its called a ballot box in an election. Its not here in a court of law, Mr Tacopina said. Nobodys above the law but no one is beneath it. Former advice columnist E Jean Carroll, right, walks into Manhattan federal court on Tuesday (Seth Wenig/AP) The trial stands to tests Mr Trumps Teflon Don reputation for shaking off serious legal problems and to reprise accounts of the type of sexual misconduct that rocked his 2016 presidential campaign as he seeks office again. Advertisement He denies Ms Carrolls claim and all the others, saying they qre falsehoods spun up to damage him. The trial is in civil court, meaning that no matter the outcome, Mr Trump is not in danger of going to jail. He is not required to be in court, either, and his lawyers have indicated he most likely will not give evidence. The trial comes a month after he pleaded not guilty in an unrelated criminal case surrounding payments made to bury accounts of alleged extramarital sex. Jurors whose names are being kept secret to prevent potential harassment range in age from 26 to 66 and include a janitor, a physical therapist and people who work in security, health care collections, a library, a secondary school and other settings. One said she follows news by watching everything; another said he does not follow it at all. Mr Trumps lawyer Susan Necheles, left, walks into the courthouse (Brittainy Newman/AP) They were questioned about their news-watching habits, political donations and support for any of a number of right and left-wing groups. They were asked, too, whether they used Mr Trumps social media platform, read Ms Carrolls former Elle magazine column and even if they had seen Mr Trumps former reality show The Apprentice and whether any of these and other matters would make it difficult for them to be fair. Advertisement Ms Carroll is expected to say a chance encounter with Mr Trump turned violent and that he defamed her when responding to the rape allegations. She is seeking unspecified damages and a retraction. She says that after she ran into the future president at Manhattans Bergdorf Goodman on an unspecified spring Thursday evening in 1996, he invited her to shop with him for a womans lingerie gift before they teased one another to try on a garment. Ms Carroll says they ended up alone together in a store dressing room, where Mr Trump pushed her against a wall and raped before she fought him off and fled. Since Ms Carroll first made her accusations, Mr Trump has vehemently denied a rape ever occurred or that he even knew Ms Carroll. Ms Carroll smiles as she walks into court (Brittainy Newman/AP) Mr Trump has labelled Ms Carroll a nut job and mentally sick. He said she fabricated the rape claim to boost sales of her book. Shes not my type, he has said repeatedly, although during sworn questioning in October, he also misidentified her in a photograph as his ex-wife Marla Maples. Ms Carroll did not stop to speak with reporters as she arrived at the courthouse on Tuesday morning. Advertisement Jurors are also expected to hear from two other women who say they were sexually assaulted by Mr Trump. Jessica Leeds is set to say Mr Trump tried to put his hand up her skirt on a 1979 flight on which the two were assigned neighbouring seats. Natasha Stoynoff, a former People magazine staff writer, will say Mr Trump pinned her against a wall and forcibly kissed her at his Florida mansion when she went there in 2005 to interview him and his then-pregnant wife Melania Trump. Jurors will also see the infamous 2005 Access Hollywood video in which Mr Trump is heard making misogynistic remarks about women, including an assertion that celebrities can grab, even sexually, women without asking. Ms Carrolls allegations normally would be too old to bring to court. But in November, New York state enacted a law allowing for suits over decades-old sexual abuse claims. US district judge Lewis A Kaplan, who will preside over the trial, rejected a request by Mr Trumps lawyers for jurors to be told the ex-president wanted to spare the city the disruption his presence might cause. Mr Trump could still decide to attend the trial and give evidence. If he does not, the jury might be shown excerpts from his deposition, which was recorded on video. China's President Xi Jinping arrives to attend the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC summit, Nov. 19, 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand. Chinese leader Xi talked Wednesday, April 26, 2023, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by phone and appealed for negotiations in Russia's war against his country, warning "there is no winner in a nuclear war," state media said, in a long-anticipated conversation after Beijing said it wanted to act as peace mediator. Pool Photo via AP-Yonhap Chinese leader Xi Jinping appealed for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in a phone call Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, warning "there is no winner in a nuclear war," state media said, in a long-anticipated conversation after Beijing said it wanted to act as peace mediator. Xi's government will send a "special representative" to Ukraine for talks about a possible "political settlement," said a government statement reported by state TV. China has tried to appear neutral in the war but refused to criticize Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a joint statement before the February 2020 invasion saying their governments had a "no limits friendship." Xi's government released a peace proposal in February and called for a cease-fire and talks. "Negotiation is the only viable way out," state TV said in a report on Xi's comments to Zelenskyy. "There is no winner in a nuclear war," the report said. "All parties concerned should remain calm and restrained in dealing with the nuclear issue and truly look at the future and destiny of themselves and humanity as a whole and work together to manage the crisis." (AP) One of the earliest portraits of a black person by a British artist will remain on public display after Londons National Portrait Gallery and the J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles struck a 50 million deal to buy it. The two institutions announced on Wednesday that they had each pitched in 25 million to acquire Joshua Reynolds depiction of an 18th century Polynesian man titled Portrait Of Mai. The seven-foot high painting is considered a masterpiece by the renowned portrait artist and is the first known grand depiction of a non-white subject in British art. We are delighted to announce that Joshua Reynolds Portrait of Mai has been acquired in collaboration with @GettyMuseum , the most significant acquisition in the Gallerys history. pic.twitter.com/Mh9QzRx3ai National Portrait Gallery (@NPGLondon) April 25, 2023 Advertisement Its undisputed how important this is in terms of British art history, National Portrait Gallery director Nicholas Cullinan said. He added that it would have been a tragedy if the painting had disappeared into private hands. Under the deal, Getty and the London gallery will share the painting. It will go on display at the National Portrait Gallery when it reopens in June after a three-year refurbishment and will tour the UK before moving to Los Angeles in 2026. The first known Polynesian visitor to Britain, Mai came from the island of Raiatea near Tahiti and travelled to England with explorer Captain James Cook in 1774. He was a figure of fascination and became a celebrity granted an audience with King George III, invited to Parliament and a guest at literary soirees hosted by novelist Fanny Burney and writer Samuel Johnson. He returned to his homeland in 1777 and died there two years later. Reynolds was one of Britains leading society artists, and his painting of Mai, which shows him as a dignified figure in flowing robes, caused a sensation when it was first exhibited in 1776. Reynolds never sold it, and it remained in his studio when he died in 1792. Getty museum director Timothy Potts said the painting formerly known as Portrait Of Omai, the name by which the prince was known in Britain is not only one of the greatest masterpieces of British art, but also the most tangible and visually compelling manifestation of Europes first encounters with the peoples of the Pacific islands. Advertisement The J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles contributed 25 million to acquire the painting (Ric Francis/AP) After Reynolds death, the painting was bought by the artists friend the Earl of Carlisle and remained at his stately home, Castle Howard, until it was sold to a private collector in 2001 for 16.5 million US dollars (13 million), one of the highest prices ever paid for a British painting at the time. The UK government blocked its export, and British institutions have been battling for two decades to raise the money to keep the portrait in the country. Mr Cullinan acknowledged that saving the painting had cost a huge amount of money at a time when Britons were feeling the pinch from a cost-of-living crisis, but he said it was worth it. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday he had held a "long and meaningful" phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and hoped it would give impetus to relations with Beijing. "I had a long and meaningful phone call with...President Xi Jinping," he wrote on Twitter. "I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations." He did not immediately give any other details. China will send special representatives to Ukraine and hold talks with all parties on resolving the crisis there, Xi told his Ukrainian counterpart on Wednesday, Chinese state media reported. China will focus on promoting peace talks, and make efforts for a ceasefire as soon as possible, Xi told Mr Zelenskiy, according to the report. Advertisement Xi said in early April he was willing to speak with Mr Zelenskiy. Mr Zelenskiy had repeatedly asked Xi to meet him, including after the Chinese leader visited Russia's president Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month. A boat carrying dozens of Europe-bound migrants sank off the coast of Libya and at least 55 people drowned, including women and children, the UN migration agency said. It was the latest tragedy in this part of the Mediterranean Sea, a key route for migrants. The International Organisation for Migration said the disaster took place on Tuesday. At least 55 migrants drowned following a tragic shipwreck off Libya yesterday. Five survivors were brought to shore by the Libyan coast guard. The boat reportedly embarked from Garabouli carrying 60 people heading to Europe, including women and children. pic.twitter.com/wpgl2NrZzl IOM Libya (@IOM_Libya) April 26, 2023 The boat was carrying at least 60 migrants and had set off from the coastal town of Garabouli, east of Libyas capital, Tripoli. The agency said five migrants survived the shipwreck and were brought back to shore by the Libyan coast guard. It was not immediately clear what happened to the vessel. Advertisement Safa Msehli, an IOM spokesperson, said the boat capsized a short while after leaving Garabouli. She said the Libyan coast guard has so far retrieved the bodies of nine men and a child. The five survivors include four men three Pakistanis and one Egyptian and a Syrian child, Ms Msehli told The Associated Press. The was the latest tragedy in the central Mediterranean Sea, a key route for migrants. The IOM said at least 537 people have drowned or gone missing in migrant disasters in the Mediterranean off Libya so far this year, while more than 4,300 have been intercepted and returned to shore. Earlier this month, the IOMs Missing Migrants Project said that the first quarter of this year was the deadliest in the Central Mediterranean since 2017, with at least 441 documented deaths. That number, however, is likely an undercount of the true number of lives lost, the agency said, adding that it was still investigating several other unreported shipwrecks where the fate of more than 300 people onboard remain unclear. In 2022, at least 529 migrants were reported dead and 848 people were missing off Libya, while over 24,680 were intercepted and returned to the chaos-hit North African country, according to the IOM. Libya has in recent years emerged as the dominant transit point for migrants from Africa and the Middle East trying to make it to Europe. Advertisement The oil-rich country plunged into chaos following a Nato-backed uprising that toppled and killed long-time autocrat Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Human traffickers in recent years have benefited from the chaos in Libya, smuggling in migrants across the countrys lengthy borders with six nations. The migrants are crowded into ill-equipped vessels, including rubber boats, and set off on risky sea voyages. Those who are intercepted and returned to Libya are held in government-run detention centres rife with abuses, including forced labour, beatings, rapes and torture practices that amount to crimes against humanity, according to UN-commissioned investigators. The abuse often accompanies efforts to extort money from families of those held, before the migrants are allowed to leave Libya on traffickers boats. Presidents Joe Biden and Yoon Suk Yeol will sign an agreement that includes plans to have US nuclear-armed submarines dock in South Korea for the first time in more than 40 years, according to senior Biden administration officials. The planned dock visits are a key element of what is being dubbed the Washington Declaration, aimed at deterring North Korea from carrying out an attack on its neighbour. It is being unveiled as Mr Biden is hosting Mr Yoon for a state visit during a moment of heightened anxiety for both leaders over an increased pace of ballistic missile tests by North Korea over the last several months. US president Joe Biden, centre right, and South Koreas president Yoon Suk Yeol, centre left, were signing an agreement dubbed the Washington Declaration (Susan Walsh/AP) The three senior Biden administration officials, who briefed reporters ahead of the announcement, said that Mr Bidens and Mr Yoons aides had been working on details of the plan for months and agreed that occasional and very clear demonstrations of the strength of US extended deterrence capabilities needed to be an essential aspect of the agreement. Advertisement The agreement also calls for the US and South Korean militaries to strengthen joint training and better integrate South Korean military assets into the joint strategic deterrence effort. As part of the declaration, South Korea will reaffirm its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, an agreement signed by several major nuclear and non-nuclear powers that pledged their co-operation to stem the spread of nuclear technology, the officials said. As a candidate for the presidency last year, Mr Yoon said he would call for the increased deployment of US bombers, aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines to South Korea as he looked to offer a firmer response to the Norths threats than his predecessor Moon Jae-in. North Korea has been steadily expanding its nuclear arsenal in the past year (Ahn Young-joon/AP) In the midst of the Cold War in the late 1970s, US nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines made frequent port visits to South Korea, sometimes two to three visits per month, according to the Federation of American Scientists. It was a period when the US had hundreds of nuclear warheads located in South Korea. But in 1991, the United States withdrew all of its nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula, and the following year Seoul and Pyongyang signed a joint declaration pledging that neither would test, manufacture, produce, receive, possess, store, deploy or use nuclear weapons. Advertisement But as the North has repeatedly violated the joint declaration over the years, there has been increased support in South Korea for the United States to return nuclear weapons to the country. The Biden administration is expanding its Asian alliance, including with Japan and its prime minister Fumio Kishida (Kyodo News via AP) One Biden administration official cautioned it was crystal clear that there were no plans by the administration for returning tactical or any other kind of nuclear weapon to the Korean Peninsula. Instead, administration officials said they envisioned the visit of ballistic missile submarines would be followed by the US military more regularly deploying assets such as bombers or aircraft carriers to South Korea. North Koreas increasing nuclear threats, along with concerns about Chinas military and economic assertiveness in the region, has pushed the Biden administration to expand its Asian alliance. To this end, Mr Biden has thrown plenty of attention at Mr Yoon as well as Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida. Next week, the US president will host Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr for talks at the Oval Office. In the past year, North Korea has been steadily expanding its nuclear arsenal, while China and Russia repeatedly block US-led efforts to toughen sanctions on the North over its barrage of banned missile tests. Outgoing Coles boss Steven Cain says a new breed of tech-savvy grocery warehouse worker is in demand as the supermarket giant puts machines in charge of the heavy lifting at its new automated production facility west of Brisbane, which launches on Thursday. Theres little need for human pickers and packers at the groups Witron facility in Redbank, where more than 90 per cent of the stock that moves through the site is touched by automated systems. The minute a grocery product such as soft drink, pet food or confectionary is delivered from suppliers to the sprawling, 34 metre-high warehouse, the systems can work out what an item is and where it needs to go. Machines can then stack boxes into Tetris-perfect rows, ready to ship back out to hundreds of Coles stores across Queensland and NSW. Outgoing Coles CEO Steven Cain says using automation doesnt mean the retailer needs fewer staff. Credit: Dan Peled The automated systems, part of a $1 billion investment by Coles into more streamlined production facilities, remove the need for human forklift drivers or packers typically seen at a grocery distribution centre. That hasnt deterred Nagle, who has been lobbying Tecks shareholders and urging them to make the vote on Tecks proposal a referendum on its own proposal, which offers a quicker, cleaner and value-adding exit from coal. Tecks demerger requires the support of two-thirds of the shares voted to get up, so its not inconceivable that shareholders who want to keep the prospect of a takeover alive will vote against their boards recommendation. Teck announced its plan to spin out its coal business from its copper and zinc operations in February. Credit: Bloomberg The appeal of a rejection is not only that Glencore has already indicated it would be prepared to consider increasing its offer if the Teck board engages more deeply with it, but that a defeat of the demerger would put Teck into play. Given the urgency with which the major miners are hunting for copper assets BHP recently gained Oz Minerals shareholders approval for its $9.6 billion offer and Rio Tinto recently completed a $US3.3 billion buyout of Canadas Turquoise Hill to give it a direct 66 per cent interest in Mongolias Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine thered inevitably be more parties interested if they believed Teck was available. There might still be even if the demerger is approved. While the continuing relationship between Tecks coal assets and its more attractive base metals businesses could be regarded as something of a poison pill, and the Keevils super-voting shares (which would, under the demerger proposal, retain their status for six years) would remain an obstacle, there are ways to circumvent those issues if the bidder is determined and willing to pay up. If it fails in its tilt at Teck the experience wont be wasted. Nagle will have been able to gauge his own shareholders interest in the concept of separating his coal and base metals businesses. Teck itself has said that the coal royalty stream could be monetised. It could be sold to an investor unconcerned by the reputational issues associated with coal but keen on a long-term stream of consistent cash flows. Norman Keevil has, after initially adopting a not for sale at any price approach to Glencore, indicated he could be swayed by the views of the B-class shareholders. Tecks copper assets are probably the largest and most attractive available (if they become available) and, were they to be acquired, would significantly reshape the base metals industry. Loading If Glencore were to prevail, for instance, it would create the largest pure-play base metals business in the world and, by distancing both companies from coal, would probably result in a major uplift in the value of the assets. Glencores undoubted trading skills could also add significant value and Glencoe has claimed there could be $US4.25 to $US5.25 billion of after-tax synergistic value from the combination of portfolios that are highly complementary. Glencore already dominates the energy coal sector. Combining its energy and metallurgical coal operations with Tecks would create a giant cash-generating machine which would have delivered, Glencore has estimated, pro forma earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation last year of about $US26 billion. If it fails in its tilt at Teck the experience wont be wasted. Nagle will have been able to gauge his own shareholders interest in the concept of separating his coal and base metals businesses. Before Glasenberg retired two years ago and handed the baton to Nagle he committed Glencore to reducing its carbon emissions, including those of its customers, to net-zero by 2050. Former Glencore chief executive Ivan Glasenberg first engaged with Teck in 2020. Credit: Bloomberg His preference was to allow the groups mines to deplete until they run out of reserves, which is a cash-maximising strategy because Glencores status as the dominant seaborne producer and trader confers considerable influence over pricing; influence that could increase as global coal production volumes decreased. Glasenberg acknowledged, however, that shareholder and external pressures could force Nagle to adopt more active strategies and either sell or spin out the coal division. Viewed through a governance or even a cultural lens, the events uncovered by the Dominion Voting lawsuit highlight that Fox Corp was vulnerable to the shareholder action now afoot against Rupert Murdoch and other directors claiming they breached their duties. Executives of just about any other company that oversaw the promotion of outrageously false claims about election theft, which ultimately cost the company $1.2 billion and that risks costing it even more, would not survive. Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch: succession is a governance safety net. Credit: Bloomberg These are the giant-sized snafus for which shareholders expect consequences. But there is no suggestion of a management overhaul at Fox. When mistakes of this, or even a much lesser magnitude, have been made by public companies, there is usually carnage among the executive ranks and often the board. It may be the year of our lord 2023, but a blokes-only social gathering remains a thing for some guys. Last week, it was trucking mogul Lindsay Foxs all-male 86th birthday bash, which included Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Premier of Victoria Dan Andrews. Credit: John Shakespeare Then at the weekend, embattled celebrity chef, restaurateur and regular guest on TV ratings blockbuster MasterChef Shannon Bennett held a big blowout at his Byron Bay compound. Sources tell CBD that no expense was spared, with Bennett even constructing a purpose-built stage for DJ-duo for hire Peking Duk to perform for guests. And it was very much a no woman kind of event, so say those in the know. According to the invite, guests were told someone called Pat would be bringing the beef. And all beer would be donated by Asahi-owned brewers Balter. Sounds like a real fellas moment. It may be 2023, but the blokes-only social gathering remains a real thing for some guys. Last week, it was trucking mogul Lindsay Foxs all-male 86th birthday bash, which drew the prime minister, opposition leader and premier of Victoria. A wives out mystery. Credit: John Shakespeare And on the weekend, embattled celebrity chef, restaurateur and regular MasterChef guest Shannon Bennett held a big blowout at his Byron Bay compound. Sources tell CBD no expense was spared, with Bennett even constructing a purpose-built stage for DJ duo-for-hire Peking Duk to perform. And it was very much a no women kind of event, so say those in the know. According to the invitation, someone called Pat would be bringing his beef. And all beer would be donated by Asahi-owned brewers Balter. Sounds like a real fellas moment. The inquiry heard evidence about a novel genetic variant Folbigg shared with her two daughters that was not found in her sons. Loading Expert evidence before the inquiry suggested the variant, discovered after Folbiggs 2003 trial, may cause cardiac arrhythmias irregular heart rhythms and sudden unexpected death. No expert before the inquiry ruled out the possibility the genetic variant caused the deaths of Sarah or Laura Folbigg, but they were divided about whether it was likely. Some expert evidence was heard about potential natural causes of death for Caleb and Patrick. Callan said that in our submission, the weight of the expert evidence in the disciplines of cardiology and genetics is that the ... genetic variant is a reasonably possible cause of the sudden deaths of Sarah Folbigg and Laura Folbigg. In addition, Callan said myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, was a reasonably possible cause of Lauras death. In relation to Patrick Folbigg, there is persuasive expert evidence that as a matter of reasonable possibility an underlying neurogenetic disorder [such as] ... epilepsy was the cause of Patricks apparent life-threatening event and subsequent death, Callan said. This creates doubt as to Ms Folbiggs guilt in relation to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Patrick, and the deaths of Patrick, Sarah and Laura Folbigg. This also materially undermines the tendency and coincidence reasoning, giving rise to doubt as to Ms Folbiggs guilt in relation to her first baby, Caleb. Loading The inquiry heard for the first time psychological and psychiatric evidence about the interpretation of Folbiggs diaries a key plank of the prosecutions circumstantial case that she smothered the children. No expert concluded the diaries contained clear admissions of criminal guilt. Callan said that certain entries are capable of being interpreted as admissions of having killed her four children. However, the expert evidence, in the disciplines of psychology and psychiatry ... uniformly indicates that it would be unreliable to interpret the diaries in this way. Callan said the evidence suggested Folbigg was suffering from major depressive disorder at the time of writing the diaries and was grieving the deaths of her children. This casts Ms Folbiggs expressions of guilt and responsibility for the deaths of her children in her diary and journal entries in a very different light, Callan said. Kathleen Folbiggs childhood friend Tracy Chapman reacts with joy outside the inquiry on Wednesday. Credit: Janie Barrett Overall, this [expert] evidence undermines the probative value of the entries in the diaries and journals, tending to render them neutral, that is, neither inculpatory nor exculpatory. Callan said that Folbiggs lawyers had submitted that the evidence gave rise to a strong probability of innocence. Lawyers for Folbiggs ex-husband, Craig, had submitted that the dominant feature which remains in this case is the fundamental implausibility of the hypothesis that four children in one family died of natural causes before reaching the age of two years, Callan said. His lawyers had also submitted there were compelling grounds for continuing to treat the diary entries as admissions of Ms Folbiggs guilt. Peter Hastings, KC, appearing for Craig Folbigg, told the hearing: Mr Folbigg has a neutral approach to the outcome of the inquiry. His concern is ... to ensure that the process by which the outcome is reached is comprehensive and objective. If Bathurst finds reasonable doubt, he may refer the case to the Court of Criminal Appeal to consider quashing Folbiggs convictions. He may also refer the matter simultaneously to the Governor, Margaret Beazley, to consider granting a pardon, which could expedite Folbiggs release from prison before her convictions were officially quashed. Theres nothing to prevent the Governor dealing with the pardon aspect of it before the Court of Criminal Appeal [makes a decision]? Bathurst asked. Not at all. Indeed ... the processes inherently are different, Callan said. Dr Robert Cavanagh, one of two barristers acting for Folbigg, told the hearing his client had maintained strength and the belief that one day the truth would be revealed. We ask you to report to the Governor that theres a proper basis for Her Excellency to exercise her pardoning power, Cavanagh told Bathurst. We also ask that you refer the matter the Court of Criminal Appeal to quash the convictions. Loading Callan noted the circumstantial nature of the Folbigg case and said the bare fact of the coincidence of four unexplained infant deaths alone is not proof of guilt beyond reasonable doubt. That would be to apply the discredited Meadows Law, and in our submission such reasoning fails as a matter of logic. Named after the British paediatrician Sir Roy Meadow, Meadows Law referred to a line of reasoning that one sudden infant death in a family was a tragedy, two was suspicious and three was murder, until proven otherwise. This reasoning risked error, given the test is whether there is a reasonable doubt, and would risk reversing the onus of proof, Callan said. The NSW Attorney-General, Michael Daley, has the power to recommend to the Governor that Folbigg should be pardoned and released from prison. A spokesperson for Daley said: It would be inappropriate to comment on the inquiry into the convictions of Kathleen Megan Folbigg at this time. The recommendations of the inquirer, Tom Bathurst KC, will be considered once His Honour has provided his final report. If Folbigg is pardoned, questions are likely to arise about whether she will receive compensation. Religious schools are adjusting to keep up with an increasingly secular society, but its not without pain and pushback, as they juggle traditional views with progressive students. The role of religion in schools is back in the spotlight after the Presbyterian Church of Australia said its schools should be able to block sexually active and gay students from becoming school leaders. Wesley Chen says his Anglican school accommodates students from many faiths and backgrounds. Credit: Luis Ascui In response, one of the churchs Melbourne schools, Scotch College, said it encouraged every student to take leadership positions without discrimination. It said it was governed by the school council, not the church. The comments sparked fresh discussions about how religious beliefs are reflected in schools attended by young people who are more secular, gender diverse and tech-savvy than previous generations. She called an ambulance and was admitted to the citys Fiona Stanley Hospital, where the numbness progressed to her legs and she lost power in her limbs. An MRI showed a spinal lesion and Bettridge was diagnosed with post-vaccine transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder caused by inflammation of the spinal cord. Multiple sclerosis, of which transverse myelitis is frequently an early sign, was thankfully ruled out. Bettridge has a masters in musculoskeletal physiotherapy and owned two thriving private practices. In a makeshift room in a packed and overstretched hospital, she was treated with high-dosage intravenous steroids for three days, then discharged. I finally saw a neurologist who was very forthright and said, your transverse myelitis was caused by the vaccine; if you didnt have the vaccine you would not have been injured, she said. Bettridge and her partner, Phil. He also told me it would take me three months to recover and that there was nothing I could really do to help the recovery. But she did not recover. She now knows that only around a third of people with this disorder fully recover. Bettridge has constant pain and numbness in her hands and legs. She had to relearn how to walk, and it took her 14 months to stand on one leg again. Its exhausting, she said. In the past, I treated people with chronic pain. I thought you could just take some neuropathic pain medication and it would be fine, but all they do is take the edge off, so that you can function. From the neck down she has altered sensation at every level. Her sensations of hot and cold are reversed. She cannot tell where her arms and legs are in space. She also has whats known as the MS hug, a feeling that someone is squeezing her chest. She cannot run or jump, stand for longer than 20 minutes or use her arms above her head. Bettridge spends her days balancing attending to her childrens needs with rest and rehabilitation. She has not been able to work and closed her Myaree practice altogether. She needs regular neurological reviews, MRIs, GP visits, physiotherapy, and pain specialist appointments. She still faces heightened risk of multiple sclerosis. She struggles to think of a lifetime of pain and numbness. Bettridge at work. I felt lots of anger and a real resistance to accepting the future, that this is something for life, Bettridge said. I cant deal with pacing myself. Ive always been a doer and its not in my nature to slow down and rest. Bettridge said she felt she was no longer the mother or partner she had been. The impact of this injury is immeasurable, she said. Bettridge was the main breadwinner in her family, with her partner studying and working part-time. Income protection insurance has supplied a third of her former income, but her family remains under stress. She says she has several specialist reports acknowledging her injury was caused by the vaccine. However, transverse myelitis is only recognised by the federal governments COVID-19 vaccine claims scheme when caused by AstroZeneca. As her injury was caused by Moderna/SpikeVax, she is ineligible. She said the scheme was a pitiful attempt by the government to compensate just a few of the vaccine injured, with narrow and exclusionary criteria. I am certainly not anti-vax, but I am not pro-COVID-19 vaccine, she said. Life has become about surviving, rather than thriving. My injury was reported by the neurologist and myself to the Therapeutic Goods Administration in February 2022. There has been no attempt by the TGA to contact me. The federal government, the TGA and the Department of Health are all named as parties to the class action, accused of negligence, breach of statutory duty and misfeasance in public office. It is understood the allegations relate to the TGAs conduct in approving and monitoring the COVID-19 vaccines. Those involved are demanding damages for adverse health effects experienced as a result of a COVID-19 jab, from a life-threatening event to physical impairment. The size of the payout sought is not yet clear. The respondents are due to file their defence at a later date. A spokesperson for the Department of Health told WAtoday it was aware of the federal court proceeding, but that it was inappropriate to comment further while the matter was before the court. The federal government has been contacted for comment. NR Barbi instructing solicitor Natalie Strijland said the action, which features three lead applicants and is expected to involve hundreds of members, would argue the TGA caused considerable harm and damage by failing to regulate the COVID-19 vaccinations properly. The action is being spearheaded by Queensland-based GP Dr Melissa McCann, who has bankrolled the litigation and helped source $105,000 in crowdfunding support. She said the class action was needed because the governments current COVID vaccine compensation scheme was not fit for purpose. Australians were promised a fair and accessible compensation scheme, she said. Many vaccine injured Australians who cannot access compensation through the Services Australia scheme now find themselves abandoned, with no support. I am very confident that this has been filed in a manner that does justice to the scale and public importance of the action. It is understood the compensation scheme does not cover all adverse events listed in the product information, leaving some claimants to slip between the cracks. The federal government says on its claims scheme website that like all medicines, vaccines can have side effects, also known as adverse events. It says almost all of these are mild and resolve within a few days. Loading The TGA closely monitors vaccine safety. It often finds that adverse events or suspected side effects are not caused by the vaccine itself, it says. In rare cases, some people may suffer a severe impact after a COVID-19 vaccine. Bettridge said she wanted to highlight the class action and have vaccine injured people recognised. I hope this will bring about some medical help for some of us. To highlight the inadequacies of the government claims scheme, Bettridge said. Let me be very clear, Mr Brown; She does not like you. She has no interest in you. Leave her alone. These were the words of a Perth judge on Wednesday who sentenced a man she described as creepy to three years in prison for attempting to post hand-made explosives to a woman who was the subject of his unrequited 20-year obsession. The man sent the explosive in the post. Credit: Luis Ascui District Court Judge Carmel Barbagallo gave 54-year-old Peter Brown a 3 year term of imprisonment for the 2017 offence, which saw him rig up a package of flares that was designed to be activated upon opening. The offending was what Barbagallo called the final straw in a campaign of harassment and stalking that saw the woman bring a violence restraining order against the man she only knew distantly from a TAFE course she attended in 1993. The departure of chefs Chase Weber and Brendan Pratt from their respective kitchens in recent days presages a generational change in the WA restaurant sector. Their departure is a significant shift in the WA hospitality sectors restless continuum of change and reinvention and evidence of the toll cooking at the highest level takes on WAs small handful of culinary leaders. The unusually cheerful (for a chef) Chase Weber is taking his foot off the gas to enjoy being a new dad. This is particularly so for Weber, who has turned his skills from unknown chef at a North Perth restaurant 13 years ago to lead the culinary adventures at the Standard Bar, The Royal Hotel, Fleur restaurant and Dandelion at Karrinyup, all large scale, multi-million dollar turnover venues with huge popularity. His cookery gave dude food a good name and his culinary antics have been copied by many. Australias beleaguered migration system is undermining the nations regional influence in the increasingly unstable Indo-Pacific, according to a review that warns major reform is required to fix critical labour shortages and weakened international ties. The government review, headed by former senior public servant Martin Parkinson, says Australias slow and outdated migration processes lack policies to plug the haemorrhaging care sector, facilitates exploitation of temporary workers and is keeping families separated for decades. Australias slow and outdated migration system is weakening the nations influence in the Pacific. Credit: Joe Armao Regional business and political leaders report they find it too difficult to travel to Australia, undermining Australias influence and trade connections within the Indo-Pacific region, the review says, as well as finding the system is reducing opportunities to strengthen ties in our region. The migration system has not assisted Australia to build diaspora communities from our closest neighbours in South-East Asia and the Pacific, again limiting people-to-people connections. The state government has tasked the nurses union and health bureaucrats with jointly devising a plan to deliver so-called safe staffing levels in NSW hospitals, ending a long-running industrial campaign centred on legislated ratios. The first task of the new safe staffing working group will be to ensure there is one nurse for every three patients in emergency departments, with intensive care units and maternity wards to follow. Safe staffing levels in hospitals were one of Labors first major election commitments, despite not reflecting the long-held demands of nurses who wanted staff ratios cemented in legislation, as in Victoria and Queensland. About 5000 nurses and midwives demonstrated on Macquarie Street last year. Credit: Louise Kennerley Nurse-to-patient ratios, along with increased pay, were central to the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association demands of the previous Coalition government and resulted in multiple strikes across the state in 2022. First published in The Sydney Morning Herald, April 28, 1993 CANBERRA: The Federal Government has overridden the objections of law enforcement agencies and allowed Telecom and Optus to start new digital mobile phone networks which are so secure that conversations can escape officially authorised telephone bugging. Telecom marketing manager Michael Nugent with mobile phone on March 10, 1993. Credit: Adam Smith While law enforcement agencies can still intercept calls from a mobile phone to an ordinary phone, calls from one digital mobile phone to another cannot be tapped. The Government agreed to waive the bugging requirement, originally a condition of Telecom and Optuss mobile phone network licences, late last week after strong pressure from both carriers to begin their services without providing technology to allow law enforcement agencies to listen into conversations. Singapore: A 61-metre navy vessel was blown up in the South China Sea on Wednesday, part of live fire exercises by the United States, Philippines and Australian militaries. The mock attack was the culmination of large-scale war games taking place amid increasing tension over the contested waterway and the Taiwan Strait. The US high mobility artillery rocket system fires a missile at the ship as part of a barrage of high-precision rockets, airstrikes and artillery fired in Philippine waters facing the disputed South China Sea. Credit: AP Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos jnr was on hand to witness the destruction of his navys decommissioned corvette off the coast of Luzon island before a planned trip to Washington to meet US President Joe Biden. The destruction was the most visual demonstration yet of the reinforced security ties between the two nations under Marcos, a development that has been criticised by Beijing as stoking regional competition. Tallahassee, Florida: Disney is suing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over the Republicans takeover of its theme park district, alleging he has waged a targeted campaign of government retaliation after the company opposed a law critics call Dont Say Gay. The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday (US time) in Tallahassee, minutes after a Disney World oversight board appointed by DeSantis voted to void a deal that gave the company authority over design and construction decisions in its sprawling properties near Orlando. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been sued by Disney. Credit: AP Disney regrets that it has come to this, the case said. But having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution, the company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponise government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain state officials. The legal filing is the latest salvo in a more than year-old feud between Disney and DeSantis that has engulfed the governor in criticism as he prepares to launch an expected presidential bid in the coming months. Australias newest digital bank has announced yet another major aggregator partnership. Alex Bank has joined the NFC-UFS lender panel in a move that will enable the bank to leverage the aggregators 700-strong broker network, while providing more brokers access to Alex Banks award-winning personal loans. NFC-UFS Aggregation, a fully owned subsidiary of ASX-listed McMillan Shakespeare Group, is a specialist asset finance aggregator with a strong national presence. We are excited to be partnering with NFC-UFS, to bring our personal loan to even more Australians through their extensive broker network, said Steven Degetto (pictured above), chief commercial officer at Alex Bank. By partnering with NFC-UFS to make our personal loan available through their brokers, together we can help to meet the consumer finance needs of more Australians. We know there is incredible value for customers in the broker channel, and we are committed to growth and innovation in this space. Were actively and continuing to invest in purpose-built technology specifically for our broker partners to make their experience easier and faster, as well as growing our team to support our lending growth and expanding distribution partnerships. Simon Hoey, national operations manager at NFC & UFS Aggregation, said the lending aggregator was constantly seeking quality product options for its broker network and was excited to welcome Alex Bank onboard. Their strong commitment to the broker channel aligns well with our distribution model, and their principles of Fast, Simple, Fair and Human resonate well with our brokers, Hoey said. Alex Bank said the NFC-UFS partnership was in line with the digital banks accelerated growth strategy, which saw its loan book increase significantly in the 2023 calendar year to date. In addition to this latest partnership, Alex Bank has also allied with most of the major lending aggregators in Australia, including AFG, COG Aggregation, Fintelligence, and LMG. What do you think? Wed love to hear from you in the comments below. Young Australians are the least concerned about falling victim to a scam or cyber attack and believe they know how to safeguard themselves despite being among the most likely to experience one, new NAB insights have revealed. A new NAB Economics report revealed that one in five Australians fallen victim to scams or cyber attacks, with the average loss being $569, while three in 10 businesses had been impacted by cyber crime or a data breach, with their average loss nearly $20,000. The data comes as the bank launched a new education and awareness campaign to help Australians See Through Scams. Chris Sheehan, NAB executive group investigations and fraud, said criminals have been using the internet and telecommunications networks as a digital front door to commit scams and fraud. Scammers are robbing Australians blind of their hard-earned money every day, and we need to stop the crime before it happens, said Sheehan, who is a former Australian Federal Police senior executive. Scams often happen when people are rushing, tired, or distracted. We want to help people see scams differently and highlight the moment where split-second decisions are made, which, as our research shows, can have devastating financial and emotional consequences. Educating yourself and the people around you friends, family, and colleagues to see through scams is critical, particularly in todays digital world. No one wants their money to end up in the hands of criminals. Contact your bank immediately if youve been scammed were here to help. As part of the campaign, NAB Economics commissioned research that asked consumers and businesses about their experience of cyber crime and scams, the impacts, and how they were protecting themselves. A mere 16% of men aged 18 to 29 said they were concerned about them or someone they lived with falling victim to a cyber attack or scam. But twice as many (34%) of that grouping had experienced one. One in two young men reported having good or very good knowledge of cybersecurity. Meanwhile, roughly 18% of women aged 18 to 29 said they were concerned about a cyber attack or scam, while 38% had been the victim of one. A third of young women reported having good or very good cyber safety awareness. Sheehan called for a Team Australia approach across business sectors, governments, and the community to lower the impact of the growing global problem. NAB has more than 60 projects underway across the bank to help address the impacts of scams and fraud, he said. Making it harder for criminals to infiltrate bank phone numbers and text message threads and introducing protective prompts to digital banking so customers can identify potential scams are among some of the recent initiatives. Weve also added 50 people to the scams and fraud team since October so customers can speak to someone faster. We will always make every attempt to prevent scams and recover funds where possible. However, once the funds have left a victims account, it can often be difficult to recover them due to the sophistication and speed of these criminals. NAB runs free monthly security webinars, with the next session coming up on May 1 at 5:30pm for individuals and May 2 at 12pm for businesses. To sign up, visit. nab.com.au/security. Visit NABs security hub website for more information about the latest scams, advice, and education. Use the comment section below to tell us how you felt about this. Avaadas existing shareholder Global Power Synergy Public Company (GPSPCL), an electricity and utility flagship of PTT group, will pump in $68 million into Avaada Energy, an independent renewable energy project developer with 4 Gigawatt (Gw) of operating assets and 7 Gw of projects under construction. Green energy and fuels company Avaada Ventures has secured funding worth $1.07 billion, led by marquee private equity player Brookfield, which will make an equity investment of $1 billion. The sand-to-molecule company plans to use the funds for new projects in green hydrogen, green ammonia, and solar equipment manufacturing. In a release it said the group was also in advanced discussions with potential investors to raise another $200 million. Vineet Mittal, founder chairman of Avaada Group, told Business Standard that the Brookfield fund infusion was an equity investment, but did not disclose the shareholding. He, however, said: We are the majority shareholder in Avaada Ventures and in Avaada Energy. There has been no change in the shareholding. The investment by PTT is through a rights issue. Avaada Ventures will continue to have 57.1 per cent shareholding in Avaada Energy. These funds have been raised to boost our manufacturing plans. We want to complete our solar manufacturing first said Mittal. Avaada Ventures recently won an allocation of 3 Gw of wafer-cell-module (WCM) manufacturing under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme. Last week, it floated Licensing Engineering Procurement and Construction (LEPC) tenders for the first 0.5 million tonne of green ammonia manufacturing. Also Read Brookfield India's net dips 61% to Rs 27 crore, net operating income up Power stocks surge as govt orders coal-based plants to run at full capacity IndoStar Capital Chief Executive Deep Juggi quits after short stint Power demand in India shrinks in March thanks to unexpected rains: CRISIL Global Surfaces makes stellar debut; zooms 23% over issue price Volume driven strategy could sustain growth for Nestle, say analysts Infosys partners with Walmart Commerce Technologies to help retailers Kia India exports cross 200,000 unit mark in FY23, robust demand continues Maruti Suzuki to boost capacity to keep up with passenger vehicle demand Maruti Suzuki India to set up new plant as net profit doubles in FY23 He said the company is aiming to move the first shipment from its solar manufacturing units by next financial year. The company is also aiming to touch 11 Gw of renewable energy production by 2026. Financial closure for the 3 Gw WCM was achieved recently. We want to commence production of green ammonia by 2025-26. So we wanted to be fully capitalised. Be it any green business, banks want equity sitting in our accounts. It was prudent to raise equity to turn all our plans into reality, he added. We are getting huge demand for green ammonia from overseas markets, particularly Japan, South Korea, and Europe. In India, there will soon be a demand aggregated tender by the Centre, Mittal said. For its module and ammonia business, the company is looking at both the domestic market and exports. Mittal said the interest in green energy was driven by regulations such as the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) in the UK, which is pushing companies to become green. Avaada Ventures recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Rajasthan government worth Rs 40,000 crore for setting up a green ammonia manufacturing plant. It also recently announced a partnership with the Andhra Pradesh state government to develop 500-Mw utility-scale solar projects and will invest about Rs 3,500 crore in the state. NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Avaada Group on Wednesday said it raised $1.07 billion to fund its green hydrogen and green ammonia ventures in India. Brookfield Renewable, through Brookfield Global Transition Fund (BGTF), will invest upto $1 billion in Avaada Ventures Private Ltd, the company said in a statement. Global Power Synergy Public Company Ltd, will invest $68 million in Avaada Energy Private Ltd to cut debt and support growth. The Avaada Group is also in advanced discussions with potential investors to raise another $200 million, it said. Avaada currently operates a renewable energy portfolio of 4 gigawatt (GW) with plans to reach 11 GW by 2026. (Reporting by Sarita Chaganti Singh, Editing by Louise Heavens) Also Read ACME, Japan's IHI Corporation tie up for business in green hydrogen NTPC, Reliance, Adani top green hydrogen plays to bet on, say analysts Reliance showcases hydrogen-run truck at India Energy Week in Bengaluru India's chemical demand likely to jump to $1,000 billion by 2040: Report Green Hydrogen Mission to help India meet net-zero targets: Experts Sour note: Music labels press pause on reality TV song-and-dance routine Google to unlock new experiences in Search and beyond: Sundar Pichai Now you can use WhatsApp on four devices at the same time: Here's how Choice International plans to launch 10 new branches in North India in FY24 Expansion manageable: S&P upgrades RIL to 'BBB+' over greater clarity In a 332-page court filing at the Delhi High Court on April 23, seen by Reuters, the maker of Chivas Regal and Absolut Vodka argues Delhi authorities made the decision based on criminal allegations against the company, but disregarded that no wrongdoing had been proved yet. Pernod Ricard has asked an Indian court to push New Delhi city authorities to grant it a liquor sale licence, after local officials rejected the French company's request, citing certain investigations, a legal filing shows. Pernod's case will be heard on Wednesday. "Merely because there may be certain allegations ... cannot be equated with a criminal or be considered as having a criminal background," Pernod Ricard's April 23 filing stated. "There is no criminal conviction." The company and the Delhi city government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters is first to report details of Pernod's legal challenge, the latest move in a battle the French spirits group has said is causing it "massive losses" as none of its brands have been available in the capital for more than six months. Also Read Tipplers beware! These liquor brands may soon go off the shelves in Delhi French spirits major Pernod Ricard appoints Paul-Robert Bouhier as India MD ED alleges France's Pernod violated Delhi city rules to boost market share Revenue in India hit as Delhi delays licence, says Pernod Ricard Pernod Ricard's Delhi liquor licence not renewed, firm to dispute move S&P upgrades Tata Motors' long-term issuer, issue credit ratings to 'BB' ONGC planning to invest Rs 1 trillion to expand production capacity: Report Google's persisting ad slump weighs on Alphabet's first quarter results Microsoft reports 9% boost in profits, revenue, as it expands AI use Why RIL investors are still unconvinced of Mukesh Ambani's hydrogen foray The Delhi government in its April 13 rejection order of the company's long-pending license request said Pernod and its employees "had active involvement in the said criminal conspiracy". India's federal agencies have accused Pernod of illegally making profits by giving false information to Delhi city authorities in 2021, and violating rules by financially supporting retailers in exchange for stocking more of its brands. Pernod has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. The company counts India as a key market where it has a 17% share and competes with Diageo. While the market share for New Delhi alone is not available, industry executives say the capital serves as a showcase market for premium brands which makes it critical for any liquor company. Pernod has operated for more than 20 years across India, where licences to operate are individually granted by states or in this case, the national capital territory, and mostly have to be renewed every year. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra and Arpan Chaturvedi; Editing by Sonali Paul) Financial services provider Choice International on Wednesday announced plans to expand its operations in north India by launching 10 new branches in the first half of the current financial year. The move is aimed at strengthening its presence in the region and providing financial services to its customers. To support these new locations, the group plans to hire 250 employees for broking, mutual funds and insurance, in addition to the existing 150-member team in Delhi and NCR, Choice International Ltd, which is listed on BSE and NSE, said in a statement. Of the 10 new branches, three would be in Delhi and one each in Noida, Faridabad, Gurugram, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Ambala and Panipat. In addition, Choice Group plans to open 10 more branches, including Dehradun, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Saharanpur, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Jammu, Amritsar, Shimla and Bareilly in the coming 1-2 quarters. Overall, the company aims to have 500 employees in north India, including those in the upcoming branches for broking and distribution. Also Read HSBC planning to add 30 private bankers in fresh India wealth push IIT Kanpur licenses gene therapy technology to Reliance Life Sciences IIT Kanpur to launch new eMasters program on sustainable construction US Fed meeting, banking crisis to drive equity markets this week: Analysts IIT Kanpur develops artificial heart to deal with acute cardiac problems Expansion manageable: S&P upgrades RIL to 'BBB+' over greater clarity Well-educated Apple store employees earn 4 times as much their counterparts China's Fosun drops plan to sell stake in drugmaker Gland Pharma: Report TSLP reports Rs 184 cr loss in Q4 on account of increased expenses Reckitt names Kris Licht as CEO, continues to beats sales estimates "Our expansion in North India is a strategic move for us, we feel there is an immense potential for growth and demand for financial services in these cities and towns, and we see this expansion as a key growth driver for our business," Kamal Poddar - Managing Director Choice International, said. The expansion in north India follows Choice Group's recent expansion in Madhya Pradesh, where the company targets to set up offices in every district within the next two years. Choice International has three major verticals, including stockbroking, government advisory and NBFC. The company is also expanding its subsidiary Choice Finserv Private Limited (CFPL), which started its retail lending in July 2022. CFPL currently offers loans for MSME business loans, wheels and supply chain finance. In 2023-24, loans for solar financing will be extended to customers, the statement noted. The market made 144 million shipments, a proxy for sales, in 2022: the lowest since 2019 and a decline of 10 per cent year-on-year (YoY), according to data from the International Data Corporation (IDC), a market intelligence company. Business shrunk primarily due to a 54 per cent YoY decline in the entry-level segment, also known as the mass segment (sub-$150 or Rs 12,000). Value up, volume down: that is the way the Indian smartphone market is headed, for now. Premium smartphones will shape industry growth as shipments for the mass segment decline, say analysts. Analysts reckon the premium segment is growing due to the rising average selling price (ASP) of smartphones. The ASPthe average price at which smartphones are sold across markets regardless of price segmentstood at a record $224 last year, rising 18 per cent YoY. As shipments declined in the overall market, the premium segment grew in 2022. The mid-premium and premium price segments of $300-500 (Rs 25,000-40,000) and $500+ (Rs 40,000) grew by 20 per cent and 55 per cent respectively, while the sub $300 (Rs 25,000) has declined by 15 per cent YoY, said Upasana Joshi, principal analyst--mobile phones at IDC Asia Pacific. The market (for) above $300 (smartphones) is now 16 per cent as compared to 11 per cent a year ago. New launches in the premium segment have gone up compared to entry- or medium-level smartphones. Due to lower margins in this (low) price segment, fewer vendors are keen on launching devices in this segment, compromised for key feature sets with low demand, said Joshi. Over the last few years, the (smartphone) market has predominantly been driven by the upgrade segment. And the premium range, especially the mid-premium range, is emerging as one of the preferred avenues to enter this segment, said Faisal Kawoosa, founder and Chief Analyst at Techarc, a research firm. The market has somewhat stagnated in terms of volume at 150-155 million units. However, the premium segment is offering growth in terms of value. Also Read Apple opens its first official store in Mumbai; what we know so far Here's a first look of the Apple store that opens in Mumbai tomorrow Apple BKC Mumbai store previewed ahead of April 18 opening: See pictures Ahead of Saket store launch, Apple CEO Tim Cook to meet PM Modi today Apple's Delhi store now open for public: 5 things you need to know about it Hinduja lone bidder for RCap in second auction, offers Rs 9,650 cr OPPO India emerges as only Android vendor with continuous YoY growth Essar to invest Rs 2,000 cr in Bengal's Raniganj brownfield CBM project Uber expands pre-booking 'Reserve' option to 6 more cities in India Air India increases number of daily flights to Dubai from Delhi, Mumbai Apple and others Smartphone companies are focused on premium segments where they sell fewer units but get higher revenues. Consumers are getting purchase options like EMI, cash backs, and trade-ins, contributing to the shift to premium bands. Apple has been in India for the last 25 years, but only recently started expanding its retail footprint. It opened two retail stores in Mumbai and Delhi last week, indicating its ambitions in the Indian market. Apple leads the high-end smartphone market in India, both in terms of overall shipments as well as market share, ahead of Samsung and OPPO. The US company led in the over-$500 smartphone category last year, securing a 60 per cent share. Apple iPhone 13 becoming the third most shipped device in 2022. In contrast, Samsungs shipments stood at 2.2 million, while OPPOs were 1.2 million last year, both commanding a 21 per cent and 12 per cent market share respectively. The firms premium smartphone shipments grew from 1 million in 2018, when it was behind Samsung and OPPO (of which OnePlus is a subsidiary), to 4.7 million in 2021, before touching 6.3 million in 2022, according to data from IDC. Apple India does not offer discounts but has financing options, such as no-cost EMIs, for iPhones. There will be competition, but Apple is in the lead with its brand image and financing options, he said. Going forward, many Android brands will try to capture a bigger piece of the premium pie. However, Apple is currently in a prime position to grab a much larger base, said Prachir Singh, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, a technology market research firm. Price matters To compete with Apple, competitors need to re-strategize. Brands must make their products aspirational and offer differentiation, say analysts. Chinas Tecno, which is known for its entry-level offerings, has already taken a plunge into this realm by way of its Phantom V Fold. The device was launched earlier this month at a hefty price tag of Rs 77,777. Apples chief rival Samsung has an edge in the foldable smartphone category. Of the 144 million shipments in 2022, almost half a million devices had a foldable form factor either flip or fold devices, mostly via Samsung. This year newcomers like vivo are also expected to launch foldable offerings. Foldable smartphones are an interesting as well as refreshing new form factor. But the sense I am getting from consumers that are using one is that the excitement of using a fold phone is getting over, Kawoosa said. We are expecting foldables to remain an ultra-niche consumer segment. We are not expecting India to sell more than 375,000 units in 2023. Analysts say that proper pricing for foldables will be a tricky ordeal. The challenges, however, do not end there. The premium segment will expand but cannot be the only growth driver for the smartphone market, analysts say. A majority of the market still lies in the sub-$300 (Rs 25,000) category, which is anticipated to remain flat, or decline, in 2023. Furthermore, analysts maintain that this new form factor alone cannot give a fillip to the premium market. In fact, music labels are now mulling an increase in the fees for dance and music-based reality shows for the use of their songs. Performances by reality TV contestants also help boost revenues from digital platforms, with re-runs of their performances or their covers of popular songs available for streaming on YouTube, Spotify, Gaana, and leading OTT platforms as well. Ever wondered if T-Series or Sony Music can make a copyright claim, or charge a fee, for that Arijit Singh song a certain contestant on Indian Idol or India's Got Talent sang? Turns out they can, and they do. Karan Taurani, SVP at Elara Capital, explains that for a music label, nearly 80 to 85 per cent of the royalty would come from digital platforms. And then, the balance royalty is derived from other avenues like live performances, radio, TV, and everything put together. "I think it's very logical that, because they are facing pressure in terms of royalties on the digital side, they will ask the television broadcasters for higher royalty," Taurani says. Speaking to Business Standard, a senior executive at a leading music label (who did not wish to be named) said, "You must realise that music labels invest a lot not only in identifying and grooming music talents but also in arranging the right choreography, sets and promotional vehicles for independent albums and singles, as well as film-related music releases. There's also the high cost of production for music videos." Moreover, the executive pointed out, labels are increasingly making a large chunk of their monthly revenues from digital platforms. However, pundits also argue that reality shows are not easy to put together. An executive at an Amritsar-based broadcast network told Business Standard that the standard cost outlets of putting together a reality show include buying or renting royalties from music label, scouting for the right talent, hiring major celebrities as judges for the show, setting up digital voting counters and more. Each of these verticals, he said, could incur a cost anywhere between Rs 5 to 10 crore. For the broadcasters, 40 to 50 per cent of their overall revenue is spent on their overall content cost, say experts. "And within this, I think the music royalty amount would be a very small portion, no more than 30 to 40 crores," says Taurani. Experts believe that broadcasters will eventually have to agree to pay a higher royalty without incurring a major negative impact. Also Read Telegram shares user info with Delhi High Court in copyright case Relief for Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh, Supriya Shrinate in copyright case Delhi HC awards Microsoft Rs 20 lakh in 12-yr-old copyright violation case A stripe more or a stripe less? Aviation ministry modifies rule to make masks optional on domestic flights Google to unlock new experiences in Search and beyond: Sundar Pichai Now you can use WhatsApp on four devices at the same time: Here's how Choice International plans to launch 10 new branches in North India in FY24 Expansion manageable: S&P upgrades RIL to 'BBB+' over greater clarity Well-educated Apple store employees earn 4 times as much their counterparts Moreover, as with the music labels, most TV networks are also rapidly building their digital footprint, having launched their own OTTs. And this has led to additional licensing revenues to cover digital as well. Thus, while the debate between labels and broadcasters has been a longstanding one, the shift to digital has become the latest bone of contention in the debate on who incurs a higher cost. When it comes to the licensing deal for using with music labels, the broadcast network executive said broadcasters buy a "catalogue license" for the use of a bouquet of music offerings (including singles and albums) for a variety of shows. The license is bought at a fixed fee. Unsubscribe to continue This is a subscriber only feature Subscribe Now to get daily updates on WhatsApp The development comes against the backdrop of a meeting between high-level delegations from India and EFTA to boost bilateral trade and economic partnership. India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), comprising four nations of Iceland, Switzerland, Norway, and Liechtenstein, on Wednesday discussed the prospects of resuming their negotiations towards a trade deal Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement a joint statement said. India and EFTA nations launched negotiations on a broad-based trade and investment agreement over 15 years ago. Thirteen rounds of negotiations were held, after which talks were put on hold in 2013-end. Thereafter, talks resumed in 2016 and four more rounds took place. Met EFTA ministerial delegation led by Helene Budliger Artieda, State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Switzerland. With India offering a large market, we exchanged views on further strengthening the economic partnership with EFTA member nations, Goyal said in a tweet. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on the state of play of their negotiations and explored ways to advance the talks. The participants acknowledged the challenges posed by the current global economic and trade environment, as well as the need to address the bilateral trade and economic partnership issues constructively and pragmatically. Both sides agreed to continue their efforts to resolve all outstanding issues and work towards deepening and strengthening the economic partnership while contributing to a more inclusive global trading system, the statement said. India exported goods worth $1.68 billion to EFTA nations in April-February and imported goods worth $15.07 billion during the same period. Apart from Goyal, the high-level delegations included Artieda, Jan Christian Vestre, Minister of Trade and Industry of Norway, Martin Eyjolfsson, Permanent Secretary of State of Iceland at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Kurt Jaeger, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to EFTA, World Trade Organization, and the United Nations in Geneva, and Henri Getaz, Secretary General of the EFTA. The work plan was signed at the ninth annual meeting of the Indo-German working group on quality infrastructure in Berlin. The technical dialogues of the working group address key areas of economic cooperation between the two countries. In addition, they promote systemic harmonisation of quality infrastructure (QI) at an international level, the department said in a statement. Indias consumer affairs department and a German ministry signed on Tuesday an agreement on improve quality infrastructure The annual meeting was attended by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the German Institute for Standardization (DIN), the German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (DKE), other quality infrastructure organisations as well as industry associations including Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Nidhi Khare, additional secretary in the department of consumer affairs, and Daniela Broenstrup, Germanys director general, digital and innovation policy, federal ministry for economic affairs and climate action, during their meeting emphasised the working groups role in reducing technical barriers to trade and promoting innovation and consumer protection. The work plan addresses topics like harmonised global solutions as well as sector-specific cooperation topics, such as digitalisation (artificial intelligence, cyber security), circular economy, smart farming and machinery safety. Stakeholders from QI bodies and industry provided insights on current QI developments in Germany and India. The work plan 2023 is structured along the key elements of QI, including standardisation, accreditation, conformity assessment, legal metrology, product safety and market surveillance, said the department of consumer affairs. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday that though some pre-poll surveys have given Congress the edge in the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka, nut it is the BJP that is going to emerge victorious after the polls. "The pre-poll surveys are always in favour of Congress. They claim that Congress will win and also state that there is going to be intense competition. But after the results are declared, BJP will emerge as the winner," said Shah, who held roadshows and rallies in Yadgir, Bagalkot and Vijayapura districts in the poll-bound state on Tuesday. Shah also expressed confidence that the BJP will form the government by obtaining simple majority. He said that former CM Jagadish Shettar and ex-Deputy CM Laxman Savadi, who recently joined the Congress from the BJP after being denied election tickets by the saffron camp, will be defeated in the polls. "The coming elections are about handing over the future of the state to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. People should vote for a new Karnataka. This is an election for honest politics and development. If Congress comes to power, it will out the state in reverse gear," Shah said. --IANS Also Read Gujarat win has sounded bugle for BJP's success in 2024 LS poll : Himanta Delhi MCD: All you need to know about the prestige battle in the capital Rajasthan BSTC Pre DElEd Result 2022 announced; here's all you need to know MCD poll win big responsibility, says AAP; BJP thanks people for 100 seats Garuda Aerospace, IISc sign MoU for research projects, geographical surveys Karnataka Assembly polls 2023: Eshwarappa denies pitching for CT Ravi as CM Karnataka polls: It's a pro-incumbency election, says Rajeev Chandrasekhar Massive crowds join Rahul Gandhi on his road show in Karnataka's Vijayapura Easy to question others, difficult to question oneself: Rahul in Karnataka 10 nominations for polls rejected in twin coastal districts of Karnataka mka/arm Amid reports that he pitched for BJP national general secretary CT Ravi as the "next" chief minister of Karnataka, former state minister and senior party leader KS Eshwarappa on Tuesday denied making any statement to that effect. The senior BJP leader, who announced his decision to step away from electoral politics earlier, said CT Ravi is a "good leader" but a decision on the CM face is outside his domain. He added that he doesn't have the authority to decide the party's chief ministerial candidate. "CT Ravi is a good leader. He is doing very good work in Chikkamagaluru. I did not say anything about him being the next chief minister. I have no authority to make such a statement," Eshwarappa told ANI over the phone on Tuesday. However, he said that being a prominent leader from the Vokkaliga community, CT Ravi has all the qualities to become the future chief minister of the state. According to reports, addressing party workers at a meeting in Nidughatta near Chikkamagaluru, Eshwapappa said he hoped CT Ravi would be elected MLA by a huge margin and become the chief minister. Also Read PM Modi interacts with BJP leader KS Eshwarappa on telephonic call Veteran Karnataka BJP leader Eshwarappa 'retires' from electoral politics Cong eyes Lingayat vote bank in Karnataka with Shettar's switch from BJP Not decided yet, says Ex-Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar on joining Congress Former Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar joins Congress post exit from BJP Karnataka polls: It's a pro-incumbency election, says Rajeev Chandrasekhar Massive crowds join Rahul Gandhi on his road show in Karnataka's Vijayapura Easy to question others, difficult to question oneself: Rahul in Karnataka 10 nominations for polls rejected in twin coastal districts of Karnataka K'taka polls: Competition intensifies in Siddaramaiah's Varuna seat His alleged remark came a day after CT Ravi, himself, expressed his wish to become the chief minister. Earlier, on Monday, Eshwarappa said the BJP does not want a single vote from the Muslim community in Shivamogga in the upcoming Karnataka elections. Addressing a Veerashaiva-Lingayat meeting in Shivamogga, Eshwarappa said, "We do not want even a single Muslim vote here. Nationalist Muslims will, however, vote for the BJP." The Karnataka Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on May 10, with the counting of votes scheduled on May 13. The exercise is aimed at identifying any risks associated with these accounts. The Centre and the banking sectors regulatory body are investigating active accounts with sizeable balances that have not updated their Know-Your-Customer (KYC) details, said a report in The Economic Times. An official aware of the matter told ET that the issue was raised after some transactions from a few accounts were examined and it was found that their KYC was not updated. Trusts, associations, societies, and clubs, are a few of the entities being monitored, along with high-net-worth individuals (HNIs). The official further said that the RBI had stopped lenders from freezing non-KYC compliant accounts till March 2022, due to Covid-19. However, some of these accounts have failed to update their KYC even after repeated requests. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has instructed banks to finish updating KYC on a recurring basis for all customers with active accounts by June 2023, a senior bank executive confirmed. 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 MPC lowers projection for inflation, raises growth outlook a bit in FY24 RBI Monetary Policy: Repo rate up by 25 bps, FY23 inflation pegged at 6.5% No need for customers to visit bank branches for re-KYC, says RBI AU Small Finance Bank reports net profit of Rs 425 crore in Q4 AU Small Finance Bank reports highest quarterly profit of Rs 425 cr in Q4 Yield at state govt bonds auction eases by 16 bps; 4 states raise Rs 6K cr After debt resolution, Essar Oil lines up Rs 1,200-crore capex RBI imposes Rs 44 lakh penalty on 4 co-operative banks for violation "We will now ask the RBI for clarification on the subject and whether banks can have a board-approved policy for freezing such accounts where KYC updates have been pending," he added. Another bank executive stated that it is still unclear whether lenders can partially freeze these accounts on their own. 'Risk-based' KYC In her FY24 budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman suggested that the KYC process be made simpler by switching from the current one-size-fits-all method to a risk-based approach. A further strengthening of the central KYC format is being discussed by banks and the regulator in order to prevent multiple accounts in the banking system with different identifications. Financial sector regulators will also be encouraged to have a KYC system fully capable of addressing the needs of Digital India, the finance minister had said. The government is also working on amendments to the Banking Regulation Act, the Banking Companies Act, and the Reserve Bank of India Act to improve bank governance and enhance investor protection. These also include a public sector bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, which has decided to raise money through certificates of deposit. Several companies, including Tata Capital Financial Services, LIC Housing Finance and Bajaj Housing Finance, have decided to raise funds from the market through bonds, according to news agency Reuters. Tata Capital Financial Services Ltd Tata Capital has accepted bids worth Rs 180 crore ($22 million) for the reissue of 8.1165 per cent May 2026 bonds, the report said, quoting merchant bankers aware of the matter. The company will offer a yield of 7.95 per cent and invited bids for the reissue on Tuesday. In February, the company raised Rs 3.63 billion via multiple-tenor bonds. The bonds are rated AAA by ICRA, and the issue will be settled later in the day. Also Read Aditya Birla Housing Finance, Tata Capital, Federal Bank to raise capital Indian companies are turning more to junk bonds to meet funding needs Life insurers' new biz premium growth eases to 10% as LIC loses pace Bank of India launches special deposit scheme; raises interest on others Banks tier II bond issuance surges 3.5 times in FY23, shows data High-balance bank accounts without updated KYC under govt's radar AU Small Finance Bank reports net profit of Rs 425 crore in Q4 AU Small Finance Bank reports highest quarterly profit of Rs 425 cr in Q4 Yield at state govt bonds auction eases by 16 bps; 4 states raise Rs 6K cr After debt resolution, Essar Oil lines up Rs 1,200-crore capex Punjab & Sind Bank The PSB will raise funds through the sale of certificates of deposit maturing in three months. The bank will offer a yield of 7.22 per cent on the issue and has received commitments worth around Rs 275 crore ($33.6 million), the report said, quoting bankers in the know of the matter. LIC Housing Finance The notes are rated A1+ by Crisil, and the terms of the deal were set on Tuesday. The bonds are rated AAA by Crisil, and the issue will be settled on Friday. The issue has a greenshoe option to retain an additional Rs 15 billion. LIC Housing Finance is planning to raise at least Rs 500 crore ($61.01 million) through the reissue of 7.80 per cent December 2027 bonds. The housing financier invited bids from investors and bankers on Thursday. Bajaj Housing Finance Earlier this month, LIC Housing Finance raised Rs 10 billion through the reissue of 7.82 per cent January 2026 bonds at a 7.7951 per cent yield. The notes are rated AAA by Crisil, and the issue will be settled on Friday. The issue has a greenshoe option to retain an additional Rs 8 billion. Bajaj Housing Finance will raise at least Rs 200 crore ($24.40 million) through the sale of bonds maturing in five years. The company invited bids from bankers and investors for this issue on Thursday. Sundaram Home Finance Earlier this month, the company had raised Rs 2,000 crore via the reissue of 7.9237 per cent March 2026 bonds at an 8.11 per cent yield. The company will pay an annual coupon of 8 per cent on the bond issue, for which it has invited bids on Thursday. Sundaram Home Finance is planning to raise Rs 200 billion ($24.40 million) by selling bonds maturing in three years. Toyota Financial Services The bonds are rated AAA by ICRA, and the issue will be settled on Friday. In March, the company raised Rs 150 crore through bonds maturing in three years at a coupon of 8.31 per cent. The non-banking financial company will pay an annual coupon of 8.10 per cent on this issue and has invited commitment bids from bankers and investors on Thursday. Toyota Financial Services India will raise Rs 300 crore ($36.6 million) through bonds maturing in three years and one month. In March, the company raised Rs 150 crore, selling bonds maturing in three years and three months at an annual coupon of 8.35 per cent. The bonds are rated AAA by ICRA and will be settled next Friday. The issue will mature in May 2026. Tata Housing Development Tata Housing Development plans to raise Rs 800 crore Indian ($97.59 million) by selling bonds maturing in three years. The bonds are rated AA by CARE Ratings, and the issue will be settled on Friday. In January, the company raised Rs 600 crore through the sale of three-year bonds at an annual coupon of 8.48 per cent. The company will pay an annual coupon of 8.25 per cent and invited bids from bankers and investors on Thursday. Shriram Finance Shriram Finance Ltd will raise at least Rs 250 crore ($30.5 million) through the sale of bonds maturing in five years. The bonds are rated AA+ by Crisil, and the issue will be settled on Friday. The issue has a greenshoe option to retain an additional Rs 500 crore. The non-banking finance company will pay an annual coupon of 8.75 per cent and has invited bids from bankers and investors on Thursday. Ecap Equities Ecap Equities is planning to raise Rs 90 crore ($10.99 million) each through the reissue of two zero-coupon bonds, one maturing in April 2026 and the other in February 2027. Earlier this month, the company had raised Rs 8.40 billion via the reissue of 9.00 per cent June 2024 bonds and 8.50 per cent October 2032 bonds. Tata Power The company has invited bids from investors and bankers for the bond issuances on Thursday. The bonds are rated AA by CRISIL and the issue will be settled on Friday. The notes are rated A1+ by Crisil, and the terms of the deal were set on Tuesday. Tata Power is planning to raise funds by selling commercial papers maturing in three months. The company will offer a yield of 7.36 per cent on this issue, and has received commitments for around Rs 300 crore ($36.63 million) so far. (With agency inputs) Amid a jumpy political situation in Maharashtra since the past few weeks, Nationalist Congress Party's Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar has emerged as the front-runner in banners proclaiming him as the 'Future Chief Minister', here on Wednesday. It started on Tuesday in his 'sasural', Ter town in Osmanabad district, where his in-laws reside, some supporters erected huge banners and posters with the message: "Ajit Pawar, Son-in-Law of Ter, Our Leader, The Future Chief Minister'. On Wednesday, Ajit Pawar's banners-posters as 'Future CM' popped up in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Nashik and all the way in Nagpur -- the last where a similar poster had come up with the name of Bharatiya Janata Party's Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. However, NCP President and his uncle Sharad Pawar was not exactly enthused at the banner-poster proclamations concerning his brash nephew and has pulled up the party activists to refrain from such blatant propaganda. An obviously unapproving Congress state President Nana Patole merely commented that "whichever party has the maximum number of MLAs will get the CM's post". In a swipe, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that even Union Home Minister Amit Shah has come to Nagpur this day to view whose banner is more impressive -- an obvious hint at Fadnavis' posters in his hometown. Also Read Hailstorms, rains damage over 100,000 acres of Crops in Maha: Ajit Pawar Congress accuses BJP of fuelling speculation on Pawar's next political move Won't be in govt if Pawar joins BJP with NCP group: Shiv Sena spokesperson Ajit Pawar targets government over ministers' absence; Fadnavis apologises Ajit Pawar's future bright with NCP, he will not join BJP, says Sanjay Raut Marriage equality: CJI rebuffs elitist argument; Centre says leave it to us 'That is how you lead,' says Aamir Khan on PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat Cong presses for JPC to probe Adani issue, present 'unvarnished truth' UP CM slams Cong over anti-constitutional reservation ahead of K'taka polls UK minister Dominic Johnson begins India visit with focus on tech ties Earlier, in January-February, besides Ajit Pawar, even other NCP bigwigs like state President Jayant Patil and MP Supriya Sule-Pawar had shot to prominence as 'Future CM', but the issue died down soon after. The latest round of soothsaying comes days after the mercurial Ajit Pawar, 64, publicly expressed a pet desire to ascend to the Top Post, triggering a furious political debate. After all, he has been a former four-time Deputy CM, including in the 80-hour-long two-man government headed by ex-CM Devendra Fadnavis in November 2019, and considered sufficiently experienced for a 'promotion'. The state has been agog with speculation over Ajit Pawar's next political move, like hopping over to the BJP in return for the CM's post, though he himself has repeatedly and vehemently denied any such intentions, often in his humorous and wise-cracking style. --IANS qn/dpb Keeping in view the huge public outrage over the release order of gangster-politician Anand Mohan Singh, who was convicted in the murder of IAS officer G. Krishnaiah in Bihar in 1994, the Bahubali leader's son on Wednesday expressed his desire to meet the family of the slain IAS officer in Hyderabad. On Monday, the law department of Bihar government had issued a notification for the release of 27 prisoners, including Anand Mohan Singh, who was convicted in the murder of then Gopalganj DM Krishnaiah, and has been in jail since 2007. The move came after the home department notified a change in the Bihar Prison Manual 2012, deleting the phrase relating to "murder of a government servant on duty". Anand Mohan was convicted for leading a mob that had pulled out Krishnaiah from his car, thrashed him and shot him dead. Chetan Anand, RJD MLA and son of Anand Mohan, said: "I wish to go to Hyderabad and meet the wife and daughters of G. Krishnaiah and console them. We have great sympathy for the family. If they agree to meet us, our entire family will go to Hyderabad. We have contacted our people in Hyderabad and asked them to go to the house of G. Uma Krishnaiah (the wife of G. Krishnaiah). If she agrees, our entire family will go there and console her and her daughters." "The Supreme Court had held my father guilty of the murder of G. Krishnaiah, even though he was not guilty. Other persons were responsible for his murder," Chetan Anand said. On Tuesday, Uma Krishnaiah had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and stop the release of Anand Mohan Singh, the person convicted for the Dalit IAS officer's lynching. Also Read Why has Anand Mohan become a headache for the Nitish Kumar administration Ex-Bihar MP, serving life term for murder of officer, to be freed from jail Suspended Jharkhand IAS officer gets interim bail in money laundering case Govt seeks to fill up posts with hires from non-IAS pool, sparks debate Odisha: Slain minister's security officer suspended on dereliction for duty India-UK to sign pact to cut red tape for greater science, tech tie-ups Withdrawing summons issued to Delhi CM Kejriwal: Goa police informs HC Delhi Waqf board can only be custodian, not owner of properties: Centre Health Min calls for building equitable, sustainable global healthcare Modi govt killing off MGNREGA by cutting budgets, delaying payments: Cong Uma Krishnaiah had said Modi should intervene and make Nitish Kumar withdraw his decision, which will set a bad precedent and have serious repercussions for the entire society. "My husband was an IAS officer and it is the Centre's responsibility to ensure that justice is done," she had said. She had also alleged that Nitish Kumar is releasing the killer of her husband for Rajput votes and to form the government again. Uma Krishnaiah, who had moved to Hyderabad a few days after losing her husband, had said the Rajput community should also think if a criminal like Anand Mohan Singh can do any good to them and to the society. The widow of the slain bureaucrat also said that she was not happy when Anand Mohan was awarded life imprisonment instead of death penalty. "Now it is heartbreaking for me that he is being released even before completing the sentence," she had said. --IANS ms/arm Proposals for a semi-high speed Vande Bharat train by BJP leaders and unverified information on social media, had apparently left the district administration a confused lot during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Rewa in Madhya Pradesh on April 24. A buzz was created that Prime Minister Modi will flagg off a new Vande Bharat train between Rewa to Indore on April 24. Notably, PM Modi had visited to Rewa and had launched various projects including railway projects. Before PM's visit to Rewa, social media and some section of local media had reported that a new Vande Bharat train would be launched between Rewa to Indore. What was more surprising was that various school administrations of two districts - Rewa and Satna - had issued letters to parents to send their children to participate in the launch of Vande Bharat train. IANS has learnt that at least 30 schools from both districts (Rewa and Satna) had issued such letters to the parents of school children regarding the same. "This is to inform you that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Vande Bharat train from Rewa to Indore. West Central Railway has invited to travel from Rewa to Satna along with one staff member and to interact with PM Modi. Thirty schools have been selected to send their children for this event," a letter issued by Sacred Heart Convent School in Rewa to the presidents of school children read. The school management had also requested the parents to fill a form (form was also sent by schools along with the letters) mentioning that they should send their children, as per their own consent. However, it turned out that there was no such proposal from West Central Railway department. Also Read Kamal Nath challenges BJP, RSS to discuss religion, spirituality with Rahul BJP CEC meeting today to finalise candidates for Karnataka Assembly polls Congress yatra will establish Rahul as serious politician: Analysts BJP on Mission South, eyes bigger share of 130 LS seats in southern states People have started speaking up: Ashok Gehlot on BJP expelling rebel MLAs People throng SAD office to pay homage to Badal; PM pays floral tributes India to address energy, food security challenges with other nations: EAM Panama approaches 'Pharmacy of the World' India for affordable medicines India has courage to do something, even in difficult circumstances: Modi Delhi school receives bomb threat, police say no suspicious object found At least two proposal letters in the name of two BJP leaders - MP BJP president V. D. Sharma and Indore Lok Sabha MP Shankar Lalwani circulated in social media suggested that both these leaders had made a proposal to run Vande Bharat train between Rewa and Indore. Sharma, who is also a Lok Sabha MP from Khajuraho constituency (district Chhatarpur) had sent a proposal letter to Union Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnav requesting to run a new Vande Bharat train between Rewa to Indore. He had made this proposal on April 8, letters are available with IANS. --IANS pd/shb/ Parkash Singh Badal was a leader who worked for the country and fought for the truth, and his passing away is a huge jolt, National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah said here on Wednesday. The Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch, who straddled the politics of Punjab over seven decades and was chief minister five times, died on Tuesday. He was 95. "The news about Badal's demise is very unfortunate. He was a tall leader in India. In fact, I will say that there was no leader like him. No one can forget the sacrifices he made for the country," Farooq Abdullah told PTI. He said there is no leader in the country who is not paying tributes to Badal as "he worked (for the people) and treated everyone equally, irrespective of religion, language". "He (Badal) worked for the country. Today, we have received a huge jolt as a tall leader has left us when the country is passing through a difficult period," the NC leader said. The Lok Sabha member from Srinagar said the biggest tribute to the Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch is to follow his footsteps. Also Read Shiromani Akali Dal's Parkash Singh Badal admitted to Mohali hospital Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal passes away at 95 People throng SAD office to pay homage to Badal; PM pays floral tributes Never joined hands with Pakistan: Farooq Abdullah at rally in J-K's Akhnoor Akali Dal exposes Rs 200-crore liquor scam in Punjab, demands CBI probe Amid regulatory challenges, Pernod Ricard's Bouhier resigns as India head 100th episode: How Mann Ki Baat has helped consolidate Brand Modi Kerala likely to teach NCERT's omitted portions in schools syllabus Simple Energy to launch maiden e-scooter in May, quiet on delivery schedule 70% businesses plan to integrate metaverse in co activities: PwC India "Those of us who are alive, should together think about how to make this country stronger, increase brotherhood, and follow the footprints of Badal ji, so that we can take the country forward. This will be the biggest tribute to him. He gave many sacrifices for the country. He fought for the country, he fought for truth," the NC president said. Farooq Abdullah's son and NC vice president Omar Abdullah said Badal was one of the great leaders of independent India. "I join my father in condoling the death of Sardar Prakash Singh Badal Sb. Badal Sb was the tallest leader of Punjab and one of the great leaders of independent India. Both my grandfather and father had a very close association with him. His passing is truly the end of an era and he leaves behind a void that will be impossible to fill. May his soul rest in peace," Omar Abdullah tweeted. Democratic Progressive Azad Party chief Ghulam Nabi Azad also expressed grief over Badal's demise. "Heartfelt condolences on the passing away of Shri Parkash Singh Badal Sahib. Contribution of Badal Sahib to Punjab and India through long years of public service will be always remembered!" Azad said in a tweet. The 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' is set to air on April 30. In anticipation of the milestone, the Gujarat unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has planned special events across 19 venues in the state, for which preparations have already begun. These events will focus on the topics and individuals highlighted by Modi in the previous 99 episodes. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will honour notable individuals and organisations as part of the celebrations. Celebratory events with reference to the 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' also took place in Ahmedabad on Tuesday evening. A lecture was organised by the state BJP commemorating Lokmanya Tilak, and the establishment of the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. More such events and lectures will take place in the coming days. --IANS janvi/arm Also Read 'That is how you lead,' says Aamir Khan on PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat PM Modi invites people to share inputs for 2022's last Mann Ki Baat Gujarat Assembly elections: BJP upbeat ahead of counting of votes Mann Ki Baat: PM hails Indian space sector, extends Chhath Puja greetings Scribe booked for cheating with claim to publish PM's Mann Ki Baat speeches Maharashtra tops Jal Shakti Ministry's national water bodies census No plans to extend ALMM for renewable energy player, says official Power Ministry asks states to withdraw any tax on generation of electricity Crucial to adopt sustainable lifestyles to achieve 2030 development: Teri Child rights body asks Bournvita to remove misleading ads, submit report Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence was built in 1942 and the roof had collapsed thrice, the Aam Aadmi Party said on Wednesday and accused the BJP of diverting attention from key issues by raising the matter of Rs 45 crore spent on the house. Following the roof collapse incidents, the Public Works Department suggested a new house be built and this was done, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said. "The house has been rebuilt at an expenditure of Rs 30 crore," he said at a press conference. The chief minister's official residence is in north Delhi's Civil Lines area. "Since yesterday, there have been attempts to divert attention from key issues such as the Pulwama attack and the Adani matter by discussing the chief minister's residence. It was an 80-year-old house constructed in 1942. There had been not one but three instances of the roof collapsing," he said. In one, the roof of the room Kejriwal's parents stay in collapsed; in another, it was the chief minister's bedroom; and in the third, the ceiling of the room he meets people in gave way. Also Read BJP demands white paper on pollution from Delhi govt as AQI deteriorates BJP govt at Centre fighting with everyone, alleges Delhi CM Kejriwal MCD polls: Delhi BJP releases 'charge sheet' against Kejriwal govt Aim of BJP-led Centre is to defame Kejriwal, AAP leaders: Sanjay Singh False promises of AAP won't work in MCD elections, says Anurag Thakur NEP 2020 aims to strengthen institutional capacity: Minister Subhas Sarkar Kharge slams PM for not intervening to save Indian Navy veterans in Qatar SCO will help amplify fight against food, energy security challenges: India Ajit Pawar leads race in 'Future CM' banners, Sharad Pawar not enthused Marriage equality: CJI rebuffs elitist argument; Centre says leave it to us Singh also hit out at Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena. He said Saxena's house only underwent repairs and Rs 15 crore was spent. "Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani's aircraft cost Rs 191 crore while Rs 65 crore was spent on buying an aircraft for Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan," he claimed. AAP MLA Naresh Balyan also shared a video in which debris from a broken roof could be seen lying on the floor of the bedroom of chief minister's residence. The BJP on Tuesday claimed that about Rs 45 crore was spent on the "beautification" of Kejriwal's official residence and demanded his resignation on "moral" grounds. As reports of spending of Rs 45 crore on "beautification" of Delhi chief minister's official residence here surfaced, Congress leader Ajay Maken on Tuesday raised questions on Kejriwal's right to remain in his position as a public servant. Maken said Kejriwal allegedly spent Rs 45 crore of public funds on his luxurious bungalow, including extravagant items like Dior polish, Vietnam marble, expensive curtains, and high-end carpets. However, before his election, the AAP leader distributed printed copies of a sworn affidavit in his New Delhi Legislative Assembly constituency, dated June 7, 2013, in which he made seven promises. Listing out the first promise made by Kejriwal, Maken said he claimed not to use a car with a red light, or request additional security beyond what is necessary for a common citizen and refuse a large bungalow and instead live in an ordinary house like a common man. "Despite naming his party 'Aam Aadmi Party' (common man's party) and making these pledges, Mr Kejriwal spent a fortune on his bungalow when the people of Delhi were desperately seeking oxygen cylinders during the COVID pandemic. "Moreover, there are more than 6 lakh households living in slums in the city. This raises questions about his right to remain in his position as a public servant and whether he has upheld the other promises mentioned in the distributed sworn affidavit, especially considering the urgent needs of the citizens," the Congress leader tweeted. Also Read Drone spotted over Delhi CM Kejriwal's residence, police initiates probe Ajay Maken unwilling to continue as Congress' Rajasthan in-charge Has Ajay Maken clinched any deal with BJP: AAP hits back at Congress leader Centre to provide Delhi Rs 700 cr for construction, beautification of roads Congress Prez Kharge yet to decide on replacing Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh CMs LIVE: Centre declares two-day national mourning for Prakash Singh Badal Top headlines: GST authorities quiz auto dealers, electronics exports up Sena says no need to take Maha BJP chief seriously on Fadnavis as 2024 CM Centre declares two-day national mourning for Prakash Singh Badal Delhi govt supports filing of FIR against WFI chief: Saurabh Bharadwaj The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) earlier claimed that about Rs 45 crore was spent on the "beautification" of the Delhi chief minister's official residence in the city's Civil Lines area and demanded his resignation on "moral" grounds. While no official reaction was available from the Delhi government, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hit back at the BJP. Senior AAP leader Raghav Chadha said while speaking to Times Now that Kejriwal's residence was constructed 75-80 years ago in 1942. The Delhi government's Public Works department (PWD), after an audit, had recommended its renovation, he said. Defying a police notice and soaring temperatures, hundreds of Maharashtra farmers started their 3-day "long march" from Akole to Loni, in support of their demands from the state government, the organisers said here on Wednesday. The agitation, coming exactly a month after the Nashik-Mumbai 'long march', has been organised by the All India Kisan Sabha and other organisations, and will reach the office of Dairy Development & Revenue Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil in Loni on Friday. The Ahmednagar police had issued notice to the organisers refusing permission for the long march in view of the scorching summer temperatures - upto 39 degrees Celsius in the district, ostensibly to avert a Navi Mumbai type tragedy. Nevertheless, the farmers carrying red flags, banners and posters, shouting slogans for their demands started their march towards Loni, 52 km away through a winding route. The 15,000-plus marchers were flagged off by journalist-activist P. Sainath and comprised top AIKS leaders like Dr Ashok Dhavale, Dr Ajit Nawale, CPI-M state Secretary Uday Narkar and others this afternoon. AIKS General Secretary Nawale said the tillers demand the vesting of forest lands in the names of the farmers and agricultural workers, remunerative prices for cotton, milk, soyabean, tur, gram and other products. Also Read Deadly heat bakes millions from China to India, raising blackout risks Kinetic to start producing electric version of Luna at Ahmednagar plant Checking rising crime: 8,000 Rajasthan cops round up 2,051 miscreants Heat wave to persist, relief likely in northwestern plains soon: IMD Heat alert Indo-Korea bilateral trade grows 17% to record $27.8 bn in 2022: Kotra Amit Shah launches IFFCO's nano DAP fertiliser for commercial sale PM Modi calls for integrated, inclusive global response to healthcare Power Min revises framework to supply cheapest power lot first to consumers Anand Mohan's family wants to meet slain IAS officer's wife in Hyderabad He said that owing to the recent natural calamities "plus the corrupt and immoral politics" witnessed in the state, the basic problems of farmers, workers, agricultural labourers and all workers have been neglected and issues of development are side-lined. Keeping in mind the concerns arising out of the high temperatures, the organisers have made suitable arrangements for drinking water, shade, walking only in the morning and evening hours, etc, Narkar said. The AIKS said that since the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party leaders are offering all kinds of bribes and sops, or attempting to break political parties with the fear of jail, it has now become imperative for the people to again take to the streets to resolve their burning problems. Nawale asserted that if the farmers' demands were not met, then they would stage an indefinite sit-in protest in Loni, near Minister Vikhe-Patil's office, as the police went on the alert. On March 28, the AIKS' farmers long march had been stopped just short of Mumbai after the state government announced that their demands had been accepted and issued written orders to the effect. --IANS qn/vd Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday met the ailing wife of his former deputy Manish Sisodia at a private hospital here. Seema Sisodia, 49, is suffering from an autoimmune disorder, multiple sclerosis, and was admitted to the neurology department of Indraprastha Apollo Hospital on Tuesday. "I am returning after meeting Seema Bhabhi (Manish ji's wife) in the hospital. She is admitted in the hospital since yesterday. She has multiple sclerosis. It is a very serious disease. I pray to God for her good health," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. Manish Sisodia was arrested on February 26 by the CBI in connection with alleged irregularities in the now-repealed excise policy of the Delhi government. "Seema Sisodia was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a severe autoimmune disease, in 2000. She has been undergoing treatment for the same at the private hospital for the past 23 years," a source said on Tuesday. As a result of her condition, Seema Sisodia is currently showing symptoms including reduced mobility, loss of balance with increased risk of falls, as well as bowel and bladder control problems, sources had said. Also Read Aim of BJP-led Centre is to defame Kejriwal, AAP leaders: Sanjay Singh Manish Sisodia will have to 'face the law' in excise policy scam case: BJP Sisodia the reason behind transformation of Delhi govt schools: Kejriwal Scared of Kejriwal's growing popularity: AAP leader Atishi attacks Centre Work done by Sisodia will be carried forward at double speed: CM Kejriwal India world's fourth largest defence spender in 2022, says SIPRI report Unseasonal rains causing damage to standing, harvested crops in Telangana Singapore executes Indian-origin cannabis trafficker despite clemency pleas PETA demands rehabilitation of elephants used for rides at Amber Fort Madras HC to hear gaming companies' appeal against ban order on April 27 A court here is likely to deliver on Wednesday its order on the bail application of AAP leader Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. AAP's Shelly Oberoi was re-elected as Municipal Corporation of Delh (MCD) mayor on Wednesday. Aaley Mohammad Iqbal was also re-elected to the post of deputy mayor. Fresh elections were held on Wednesday to elect a new mayor and deputy mayor for MCD. The last mayoral elections were held amid high-voltage drama and violence on February 22. MCD elections were held in December 2022, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won 134 wards out of a total of 250. The MCD house was to convene in January to select the mayor and deputy mayor after the polls concluded in December. However, the mayoral elections were postponed thrice due to the tussle between the BJP and AAP that also resulted in violent scenes on the House floor. The ruckus was created due to voting rights being given to 10 aldermen or nominated members by the presiding officer. Then two AAP MLAs were also asked to leave the House due to past cases against them. Traditionally, nominated members do not have the power to cast votes. The present Delhi mayor, Shelly Oberoi, had then approached the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled that the aldermen cannot vote in the Mayor polls. The ten nominated members would have increased the numbers for BJP to 123 from 113. The majority mark stands at 138. After a delay of more than a month, the elections were held on February 22, and Shelly Oberoi was elected the new mayor, and Aaley Mohammad Iqbal took over as the deputy mayor. However, their term expired with the previous financial year on March 31. The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act of 1957 mandates that fresh elections should be held for the position of mayor at the beginning of the new financial year in April. In today's polls, the current mayor, Shelly Oberoi of the AAP won as BJP's Shikha Roy, a councillor from Delhi's Greater Kailash withdrew her candidature. Deputy mayor, Aaley Mohammad Iqbal from AAP was also re-elected as the East Delhi's Soni Pandey from the Sonia Vihar ward from BJP also withdrew her candidature. AAP leader of the House, Mukesh Goyal, who is also the most experienced member of the House, presided over the elections. Following a delayed election in February, the MCD is yet to elect two important committees that oversee local civic governance-- the Standing Committee that controls finances and the zonal ward committees that look after civic governance. The mayoral elections was conducted via a secret ballot. Anti-defection laws are not applicable in these elections, and the electoral college has 250 elected councillors, 14 MLAs, and 10 MPs. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal congratulated Oberoi and Iqbal in a twitter post. A search was initiated on the premises of the Delhi Public School in Mathura Road here after the school administration received a bomb threat via email on Wednesday morning, officials said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Rajesh Deo, after reviewing the situation, said no suspicious object has been found on the school premises yet. "The situation is normal. Bomb disposal squad, dog squad and a SWAT team are sanitising the school building," the police officer added. As the news of the bomb threat spread, panic-stricken parents gathered outside the school in the morning. The school was evacuated and the fire department was informed about the threat around 8 am. A fire tender was rushed to the spot, officials said. The Indian School in Delhi's Sadiq Nagar had received bomb threats twice -- in April this year and in November 2022. Also Read Delhi school receives bomb threat in e-mail, nothing recovered: Police School in Delhi's Defence Colony evacuated after bomb threat via email Zebronics launches ZEB-Sound Bomb X1 with built-in earbuds, speaker, torch Two dead, many others injured after fire breaks out at Vrindavan hotel UP govt likely to table supplementary Budget in today's Assembly session Ex-Visva Bharati student complains against V-C for harassing Amartya Sen Preliminary probe needed before FIR on wrestlers' allegations: SC told LinkedIn market grows 19% YoY in India with over 100 mn members: Nadella No charge sheet in court without completing probe: SC to probe agencies Kerala govt to include NCERT omitted portions in state school syllabus The most recent threat to The Indian School was made on April 12 via an email, following which the school was evacuated as the bomb squad and other agencies inspected the premises for any explosive substance. The mail was later declared a hoax. 40 Officers of Chinas National Police Charged in Transnational Repression Schemes Targeting U.S. Residents Two criminal complaints filed by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York were unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging 44 defendants with various crimes related to efforts by the national police of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) to harass Chinese nationals residing in the New York metropolitan area and elsewhere in the United States. The defendants, including 40 MPS officers and two officials in the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), allegedly perpetrated transnational repression schemes targeting U.S. residents whose political views and actions are disfavored by the PRC government, such as advocating for democracy in the PRC. In the two schemes, the defendants created and used fake social media accounts to harass and intimidate PRC dissidents residing abroad and sought to suppress the dissidents free speech on the platform of a U.S. telecommunications company (Company-1). The defendants charged in these schemes are believed to reside in the PRC or elsewhere in Asia and remain at large. These cases demonstrate the lengths the PRC government will go to silence and harass U.S. persons who exercise their fundamental rights to speak out against PRC oppression, including by unlawfully exploiting a U.S.-based technology company, said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Departments National Security Division. These actions violate our laws and are an affront to our democratic values and basic human rights. Chinas Ministry of Public Security used operatives to target people of Chinese descent who had the courage to speak out against the Chinese Communist Party in one case by covertly spreading propaganda to undermine confidence in our democratic processes and, in another, by suppressing U.S. video conferencing users free speech, said Acting Assistant Director Kurt Ronnow of the FBI Counterintelligence Division. We arent going to tolerate CCP repression its efforts to threaten, harass, and intimidate people here in the United States. The FBI will continue to confront the Chinese governments efforts to violate our laws and repress the rights and freedoms of people in our country. Disclosure: U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York is recused from and has not participated in the case captioned United States v. Julien Jin et al., 20-mj-1103. United States v. Yunpeng Bai, et al. The two-count complaint charges 34 MPS officers with conspiracy to transmit interstate threats and conspiracy to commit interstate harassment. All the defendants are believed to reside in the PRC, and they remain at large. As alleged, the officers worked with Beijings MPS bureau and are or were assigned to an elite task force called the 912 Special Project Working Group (the Group). The purpose of the Group is to target Chinese dissidents located throughout the world, including in the United States. As alleged, the PRC government deploys its national police and the 912 Special Project Working Group not as an instrument to uphold the law and protect public safety, but rather as a troll farm that attacks persons in our country for exercising free speech in a manner that the PRC government finds disagreeable, and also spreads propaganda whose sole purpose is to sow divisions within the United States, said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. I commend the investigative team for comprehensively revealing the insidiousness of a state-directed criminal scheme directed at residents of the United States. The complaint alleges how members of the Group created thousands of fake online personas on social media sites, including Twitter, to target Chinese dissidents through online harassment and threats. These online personas also disseminated official PRC government propaganda and narratives to counter the pro-democracy speech of the Chinese dissidents. As alleged, for example, Group members created and maintained the fake social media accounts through temporary email addresses, posted official PRC government content, and interacted with other online users to avoid the appearance that the Group accounts were flooding a given social media platform. The Group tracks the performances of members in fulfilling their online responsibilities and rewards Group members who successfully operate multiple online personas without detection by the social media companies who host the platforms or by other users of the platforms. The investigation also uncovered official MPS taskings to Group members to compose articles and videos based on certain themes targeting, for example, the activities of Chinese dissidents located abroad or the policies of the U.S. government. As alleged, the defendants also attempted to recruit U.S. persons to act as unwitting agents of the PRC government by disseminating propaganda or narratives of the PRC government. On several occasions, the defendants used online personas to contact individuals assessed to be sympathetic and supportive of the PRC governments narratives and asked these individuals to disseminate Group content. In addition, Group members took repeated affirmative actions to have Chinese dissidents and their meetings removed from the platform of Company-1. For example, Group members disrupted a dissidents efforts to commemorate the Tiananmen Square Massacre through a videoconference by posting threats against the participants through the platforms chat function. In another Company-1 videoconference on the topic of countering communism organized by a PRC dissident, Group members flooded the videoconference and drowned out the meeting with loud music and vulgar screams and threats directed at the pro-democracy participants. United States v. Julien Jin, et al. This amended complaint charges 10 individuals, including a former PRC-based Company-1 employee, six MPS officers, and two officials with the CAC, with conspiracy to commit interstate harassment and unlawful conspiracy to transfer means of identification. Nine of the defendants are believed to reside in the PRC and remain at large. The tenth defendant is believed to reside in Indonesia or the PRC and also remains at large. The amended complaint charging a former PRC-based employee of a U.S. telecommunications company illustrates the insider threat faced by U.S. companies operating in the PRC, said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Pokorny for the Eastern District of New York, who thanked Company-1 for its cooperation in the governments investigation. As alleged, Julien Jin and his co-conspirators in the Ministry of Public Security and Cyberspace Administration of China weaponized the U.S. telecommunications company he worked for to intimidate and silence dissenters and enforce PRC law to the detriment of Chinese activists in New York, among other places, who had sought refuge in this country to peacefully express their pro-democracy views. These cases demonstrate that the Chinese Communist Party, once again, attempted to intimidate, harass, and suppress Chinese dissidents in the United States, said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office. In the United States, the freedom of speech is a cornerstone of our democracy, and the FBI will work tirelessly to defend everyone's right to speak freely without fear of retribution from the CCP. These complex investigations revealed an MPS-wide effort to repress individuals by using the U.S. communications platform and fake social media accounts to censor political and religious speech. In December 2020, the Department first announced charges against Julien Jin in connection with his efforts to disrupt a series of meetings on the Company-1 platform held in May and June 2020 commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre. Jin served as Company-1s primary liaison with PRC government law enforcement and intelligence services. In that capacity, he regularly responded to requests from the PRC government to terminate meetings and block users on Company-1s video communications platform. As detailed in the original complaint, Jin and others conspired to use Company-1s U.S. systems to censor the political and religious speech of individuals located in the United States and elsewhere at the direction of the PRC government. For example, Jin and others disrupted meetings held on the Company-1 platform to discuss politically sensitive topics unacceptable to the PRC government including the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Jin and his co-conspirators fabricated evidence of purported misconduct to cause U.S.-based employees of Company-1 to terminate the meetings. The allegations in the amended complaint reveal that Jin worked directly with and took orders from defendants at the MPS and the CAC to disrupt meetings on the Company-1 platform and that the co-defendants had targeted U.S.-based dissidents speech on Company-1s platform since 2018. Starting in 2018, Jin and his co-defendants repeatedly sought to terminate video chat meetings organized by a Chinese dissident residing in New York City who has been a vocal critic of the PRC government and the Chinese Communist Party. After the CAC requested that Company-1 terminate the dissidents meetings on the Company-1 platform, Jin worked to identify all accounts associated with the dissident, caused meetings related to the dissident to be hosted in a quarantine zone that is, on a server with known lags in response time and later worked to block all accounts associated with the dissident. Similarly, in 2019, Jin collaborated with the MPS and CAC to block accounts seeking to commemorate the Tiananmen Square Massacre. The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander A. Solomon, Antoinette N. Rangel, Ian C. Richardson, Nicholas J. Moscow and Jessica K. Weigel of the Eastern District of New York, and Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Divisions Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the cases. The FBI has created a website for victims to report efforts by foreign governments to stalk, intimidate, or assault people in the United States. Please visit: www.fbi.gov/investigate/counterintelligence/transnational-repression. This story has been published on: 2023-04-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. U.S. says mastermind behind Kabul airport attack in 2021 killed by Taliban Xinhua) 14:38, April 26, 2023 WASHINGTON, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The individual believed by the United States to be the mastermind behind the attack at Kabul's international airport on U.S. troops withdrawing from Afghanistan in August 2021 was killed by the Taliban, U.S. media reported Tuesday, citing administration officials. According to multiple media reports, the United States identified the suspect as a leader within extremist group Islamic State's Afghan branch known as ISIS-K, but didn't name the individual and refused to reveal how this person was killed, for fear that doing so would jeopardize U.S. intelligence-gathering capability in the region. John Kirby, coordinator for strategic coordination at the National Security Council, was cited by CNN as saying that the individual was "the mastermind of the horrific attack" on Aug. 26, 2021 that killed 13 U.S. service members as well as more than 100 Afghan civilians. Kirby added that this was one of a "series of high-profile leadership losses" that ISIS-K has suffered this year. The United States was not involved in the Taliban's operation, nor was it notified by the Taliban about the death, reports said. Confirmation of the person's death and identity was based on the United States' own intelligence gathering. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) This week on International Marxist Radio, Tom Trottier, a leading comrade of Socialist Revolution, the US section of the International Marxist Tendency, speaks about exciting developments in the labour movement in the United States of America! After a long period of relative inactivity, the US working class is beginning to move. As the ongoing crisis of capitalism continues to worsen living conditions for the vast majority, workers in the US, as elsewhere, are looking to the mass organisations. This has taken the form of a significant growth of the trade unions, as the working class seeks to defend their standard of living against stagnant wages and rising prices. It has also seen an explosive development of radical new unions, set up by fresh layers: Amazon workers, Starbucks workers, and so on. New leaders like Chris Smalls of the Amazon Labour Union, and a left-wing layer at the top of the Teamsters, are also being pushed forward and tested by events. Shawn Fain (mentioned in the episode, which was recorded a few weeks ago) has also been elected to the leadership of the UAW on a class struggle programme. Given the dominance of the US as both an economic and an imperialist giant, the strengthening of the labour movement in the belly of the beast is of decisive importance for workers struggles internationally. Listen and subscribe below Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Marxist.com Podcasts: Under Operation Kaveri, the first flight carrying 360 stranded Indians from crisis-hit Sudan has arrived in New Delhi, announces External Affairs, Minister Dr. S Jaishankar on Wednesday evening. Jaishankar took to Twitter and said, "India welcomes back its own. #OperationKaveri brings 360 Indian Nationals to the homeland as first flight reaches New Delhi". India welcomes back its own. #OperationKaveri brings 360 Indian Nationals to the homeland as first flight reaches New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/v9pBLmBQ8X Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 26, 2023 According to official data, The total number of Indians evacuated so far from Sudan stands at 534. Operation Kaveri is a rescue mission, launched by the Government of India to evacuate its stranded citizens from crisis-hit Sudan. According to media reports, nearly 500 Indians reached Port Sudan as of Monday. The choice of naming the rescue mission "Operation Kaveri" is significant. The Kaveri River runs through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and it is worshipped as the Goddess Kaveriamma (Mother Kaveri). "Rivers reach their destination irrespective of barriers. It's like a mother who will ensure she will bring her children back to safety," a top government source was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. According to the official data, around 4,000 Indians are stuck in Sudan. The operation was launched a day after the External Affairs Ministry said two C-130 aircraft and the navy ship INS Sumedha were on standby to evacuate its stranded citizens. Under its evacuation mission, the government has set up a transit facility at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where the operation is being overseen by Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan. After their evacuation from the crisis-hit Sudan, all the Indians have been taken to Jeddah. What is happening in Sudan? The political unrest in the African nation escalated on April 15 which turned into a nationwide conflict when tensions between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) over Security Sector Reform (SSR) led to a shootout between their commanders. Days of fighting between the two armed forces have now led to a humanitarian crisis that has killed over 400 people and left millions of foreigners and Sudanese without access to basic necessities. Launched in 2018, SATAT aims at incentivising the production of CBG from various biomass sources. But the scheme has lagged behind targets, with the country only being able to establish 46 CBG plants so far. This may change soon, said officials. Top officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) recently told industry stakeholders at a meeting in Delhi that it will not scale back the target of setting up 5,000 commercial CBG plants by 2024-25 under the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transport (SATAT) scheme. The Gujarat State Farmers' Front, in collaboration with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), organised a millets awareness programme at 90 locations across 35 districts and cities. The programme was conducted under the guidance of Gujarat BJP President C.R. Paatil, State Organization General Secretary Ratnakar, and Gujarat State Farmers' Front chief Hitesh Patel. During the programme, various dishes made from millets, a type of coarse grain, were prepared by the officers of the Farmers' Front and the Women's Front. The event aimed to raise awareness about the nutritional benefits of millets among the general public. The United Nations General Assembly, recognising the growing importance of millets, declared the year 2023-24 as the Year of Millets, thanks to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The initiative is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to increase farmers' income, promote organic farming, and maintain a healthy population. The state government, led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, supports these objectives and aims to provide better opportunities for farmers in the agricultural sector. State Farmers' Front chief Hitesh Patel, Front's general secretaries Sardar Chaudhary, Hiren Hirapara, and other officers of the Front attended the programme at various locations across Gujarat to ensure its success. Also Read Gujarat Assembly elections: BJP upbeat ahead of counting of votes PM Modi asks BJP MPs to work to promote millets, sports during address Indian govt lays out action plan to promote millet export starting Dec 2022 Indian missions to be roped in for branding, promotion of domestic millets India, World Food Programme sign MoU during Global Millets Conference Celebrations planned in Gujarat for PM's 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' Maharashtra tops Jal Shakti Ministry's national water bodies census No plans to extend ALMM for renewable energy player, says official Power Ministry asks states to withdraw any tax on generation of electricity Crucial to adopt sustainable lifestyles to achieve 2030 development: Teri --IANS janvi/uk/ The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the stand of the Competition Commission of India and Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) on Google's challenge to an order asking the regulator to look into the tech giant's policy of allowing use of third-party payment processors for paid app downloads and in-app purchases on a commission basis. A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad issued notice on Google's appeal against the single judge's order, which asked the Commission to consider the plea of ADIF, an alliance of individuals and an industry representative body of innovative start-ups in the country, against the new billing system on or before April 26. Senior advocate Sajan Poovayya, appearing for the appellant entity, said he was "not asking for an interim order" at this stage. "Issue notice," said the bench. On Tuesday, the court had refused to grant urgent hearing to Google on the appeal on the same day. Google had mentioned the appeal before the bench for urgent listing, saying the Commission was scheduled to take up the matter in the afternoon itself pursuant to the order of the single-judge bench. Also Read Bard, Bing and Baidu: How big tech's AI race will transform searches Key staff driving Apple search engine leaves, rejoins Google: Report India among top 3 markets for AI-powered Bing preview: Microsoft official Microsoft packs Bing engine, Edge browser with AI in challenge to Google Google Chat lets users filter search results with search chips on web Operation Kaveri: How India is rescuing its citizens amid crisis in Sudan Trouble looms for ancient Indian grain pokkali that helps combat climate Light rain, cloudy weather to give relief from heat in Delhi: IMD Punjab govt declares holiday on Apr 27 as mark of respect to Parkash Badal PM Modi to pay last respects to Parkash Badal in Chandigarh today: Report The ADIF had approached the single-judge earlier this month with the grievance that the anti-trust regulator had failed to act on its application objecting to Google's new payment policy owing to a lack of quorum. Google had opposed the petition before the single-judge bench on several grounds, including that since there were only two members and the chairperson was yet to be appointed, the Commission was incapable of adjudicating the application filed by the petitioner. However, Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, in its 38-page order passed on Monday, noted that any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Commission would not invalidate any proceedings so far as its adjudicatory powers are concerned and according to Additional Solicitor General N Venkataraman, the Commission was formed in accordance with the provisions of the Competition Act and was very much functional and carrying out adjudicatory functions. "There is no impediment, legal or otherwise, in directing the CCI to take up the applications under section 42 (contravention of CCI orders) of the Act, as filed by the petitioner, for hearing and considering the same in accordance with law on or before 26.04.2023. Accordingly, the petition stands disposed of in above terms," the single-judge bench had said. The ADIF had earlier submitted before the single-judge bench that under its "User Choice Billing" policy, which is slated to come into force from Wednesday (April 26), Google would be charging a service fee at 11 per cent or 26 per cent in case of third-party payment processors, which is anti-competitive and an attempt to bypass an order passed by the Commission. It had said the US technology giant operates a mobile application marketplace for android devices called "Play Store", which enjoys supreme dominance in that market and under the present framework, there is no requirement to pay any commission for third-party payment processors. The single-judge bench was informed that in October last year, the Commission, while imposing a penalty of Rs 936 crore, asked Google to allow and not restrict app developers from using any third-party billing service and not impose any discriminatory condition. The ADIF had said its grievance was that the Commission had failed to act on its plea in relation to the new policy owing to a lack of quorum to consider the issue. It had contended that the Commission must invoke the "doctrine of necessity" and look into the matter as a refusal to intervene will cause irreversible harm to the petitioners and other app developers, and lead to distortion in the market. The implementation of the policy, in the meantime, must be kept in abeyance till the matter is looked into by the anti-trust regulator, the petitioner had prayed. There are big plans around the 100th episode, which will be broadcast worldwide. The government will unveil a Rs 100 commemorative coin to mark the event. And on Wednesday (April 26), a conclave with around 100 well-known personalities, including Bollywood actors Amir Khan and Raveena Tandon, who found mention in previous episodes, was held at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi. It started in October 2014, five months after he took over as Prime Minister of India. And on Sunday, April 30, it will hit a century. Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modis 30-minute monthly programme addressing the nation on radio and television, has come a distance. From science to environment and exam stress to the importance of getting vaccinated against Covid-19, Modis Mann Ki Baat has covered sizeable ground. Since it was first aired, Mann Ki Baat has reached one billion people, says a survey by IIM Rohtak. In January 2015, former US president Barack Obama co-hosted an episode where he responded to questions by Indian citizens. In the age of influencers, it would be safe to say that Modi dominates the space with an enormous following across social media platforms: he has 88.2 million followers on Twitter; 74.7 million on Instagram; 14.5 million on YouTube; and 48 million on Facebook. An intimate conversation, albeit one-way, is how experts describe the show that often delves into issues that touch everyday lives. Also Read 'That is how you lead,' says Aamir Khan on PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat Centre to release new Rs 100 coin to mark 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' Fact check: Did Asle Toje call PM Modi biggest contender for Nobel Prize? World TB Day: PM Modi launches initiatives to eliminate disease by 2025 BJP's innovative attempts at forging a new national identity Kerala likely to teach NCERT's omitted portions in schools syllabus Simple Energy to launch maiden e-scooter in May, quiet on delivery schedule 70% businesses plan to integrate metaverse in co activities: PwC India Delhi CM Kejriwal visits Manish Sisodia's ailing wife in hospital India world's fourth largest defence spender in 2022, says SIPRI report Says brand expert Harish Bijoor, It all starts with the name of the show its much more perennial. Talking about whats on his mind, for the mind is superior to all else. Mann Ki Baat has only helped him consolidate that position further. Radio and voice are a spirited means of communication in our country, says Bijoor. A big part of India lives in its small towns. Everyone can listen to the radio, and the Prime Minister has used it to his benefit, he adds. The choice of medium also carried the message: radio. It helped him establish an immediate connection with the hinterland. Besides radio channels and major audio music platforms, the programme is also broadcast on national television channels, on YouTube and on the NaMo app, the official app of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that was launched in 2015. Samit Sinha, founder of Delhi-headquartered Alchemist Brand Consulting, says, It (Mann Ki Baat) came as a substitute to media interactions, and as a space where the Prime Minister had complete control of the narrative. The show, he adds, emerged as a means to have a heart-to-heart with the Indian public, and appealed to those who supported and voted for him. Even a farmer in a hamlet in Hoshiarpur feels the Prime Minister is talking to him and him alone when he tunes into the show, says Bijoor, adding, Its how Modi modulates his voice. It has helped him develop a deep and umbilical connection with the people. A big reason for its success is Modis oratory prowess. Earlier this year, Modis approval rating rose to 78 per cent, way ahead of US President Joe Bidens who stood at 40 per cent. Hes an influencer like no other in India, says Ankur Warikoo, a YouTuber who knows how the space operates. A social media influencer himself, Warikoo says, The fact that a political leader of a country has amassed such a big social media following speaks a lot about his popularity. The radio show also goes a long way in adding to that because it presents him in a different light with conversations that are much more personal. For any leader, it is very important to communicate and control the narrative, he explains. Mann Ki Baat is the only direct contact he has with his fans. The consistency with which he does it and that he seems to be speaking about things that matter to him as well add up to create a stronger brand for his name. There are certain ways in which one builds a brand, says Sinha. There is advertising, public relations, talking to the media, and being highly visible at the right places. Listening in As it hits 100, there is no let-up in Mann Ki Baats momentum. Nearly 230 mn tune in to it regularly, while 410 mn constitute an occasional audience Nearly 96% of Indians aware of Mann Ki Baat 73% respondents optimistic, feel India will progress 65% prefer listening to it in Hindi; 18% tune into English broadcast The bilateral trade between India and Korea grew by 17.3 per cent to USD 27.8 billion in 2022, according to Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). In 2021, the value of bilateral trade between the two countries stood at USD 23.7 billion. Korea's exports to India increased by 21 per cent to USD 18.9 billion, while imports increased by 10.5 per cent to USD 8.9 billion. Addressing India-Korea Future Industry Partnership Event 2023, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India Chang Jae-bok on Wednesday said, "India and Korea must focus on the critical issue of green energy and learn from each other's strengths. Green energy, hydrogen energy, and EVs are the future, and Korea's leadership in producing EVs since 2005 is an excellent example for India". The two-day event is organised as part of a 50-year celebration of the India-Korea diplomatic relationship. Through collaboration and cooperation, both countries can further emphasise the importance of adopting green energy and work towards achieving the sustainable development goals that both countries are committed to, Jae-bok said. Also Read India crucial partner, trade among key focus areas: South Korea minister S Korea's job additions hit 22-year high in 2022, 28.08 mn employed BCCI to sell digital, TV rights for bilateral series separately: Report North Korea fires more than 10 missiles after threat: South Korea North Korea fired ballistic missile toward eastern waters: South Korea Amit Shah launches IFFCO's nano DAP fertiliser for commercial sale PM Modi calls for integrated, inclusive global response to healthcare Power Min revises framework to supply cheapest power lot first to consumers Anand Mohan's family wants to meet slain IAS officer's wife in Hyderabad India-UK to sign pact to cut red tape for greater science, tech tie-ups Executive Vice President for Economic Cooperation & Trade Affairs, KOTRA, Taeho Kim said both countries must prioritise cleaner energy and focus on SDGs, which are the need of the hour. Both countries will continue to work towards achieving these goals. G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, who joined the event virtually, said as India takes on the G20 presidency, we aim to bring together countries to promote sustainable development goals that will benefit not only India but the world. "Our belief in 'One World, One Family' drives us to contribute towards SDGs and promote sustainable practices that will enable future generations to live a greener and cleaner life. Through our efforts, we can create a more sustainable world that is harmonious and equitable for all." Items which Korea imported from India include petroleum products, vegetable substances, ferroalloy and steel products, while it exported mainly semiconductors communication devices and displays, among others. The Bill, increasing work hours for factory workers from eight to 12 hours, was passed on April 21 ostensibly to woo foreign investors. Industry expected the amendment would benefit sectors such as IT, electronics, textile and non-leather footwear; many saw it as a bid to attract Apple contractors like Foxconn and Pegatron to make further investments in the state. Industry bodies have expressed disappointment over the Tamil Nadu governments decision to put on hold amendments to the Factories Act, raising fears that it would affect investor confidence, even as unions have welcomed the move and are backing further reduction in working hours. The government stalled the Bill on Monday after protests by unions backed by the ruling DMK and its allies. To attract Apple contractors, Karnataka too had passed a Bill in February allowing 12-hour shifts in factories and night-time work for women. It would have given more money to workers as they, too, want 12 hours. Investors also feel disappointed. We would have given enough (work) breaks, said A Sakthivel, president, Federation of Indian Export Organisations. He urged the government to allow flexible work to export-oriented industries. On the other hand, trade unions said the Bills provisions could enable employers to evade statutory obligations concerning workplaces. The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has called the Bill disastrous for workers and alleged the government of creating anarchy in industrial relations management. Other states like Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh are having similar rules. It was a win-win situation for both workers and entrepreneurs. This may affect investor sentiments. We are trying to inform the government that this would have been helpful to us in meeting the delivery schedule and do the shipment on time during peak season, said K M Subramanian, president of Tiruppur Exporters Association. In the last financial year, exports from Tiruppur stood at Rs 34,200 crore, up from Rs 33,000 crore in 2021-22. Also Read To woo foreign investors, Tamil Nadu too clears bill allowing 12-hour work Women can now work at night in Delhi factories; Kejriwal govt changes rules Tamil Nadu says won't transfer land ownership to AAI for Coimbatore airport Tamil Nadu revenue deficit down 52%, says budget hailing welfare measures Indian factories growing larger, getting clustered: Economic Survey Leave the issue of same-sex marriage to the Parliament: Centre tells SC Delhi HC rejects plea involving use of cricketers' images in gaming NFTs Jaipur-Agra NH-21 remains blocked, protesters demand 12% reservation DU curates Panchang for curriculum to promote India's intellectual heritage Toxic differences persist over ban decision on monocrotophos pesticide : Students in Kerala are likely to be taught the portions that the NCERT had deleted from its class 11 and 12 textbooks, including those pertaining to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and the ban on RSS. The NCERT recently had, in the name of rationalisation of the syllabus, dropped from its class 12 history textbook certain portions on Mahatma Gandhi and how his pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity "provoked Hindu extremists". It also left out the portion where the government placed a ban on the RSS after Gandhi's assassination. The revision of textbooks by obfuscating facts has triggered a row. The State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT), an autonomous body of the General Education Department, is considering a decision by its curriculum steering committee to include these deleted portions in the state syllabus. The committee, which met on Tuesday, has entrusted General Education Minister V Sivankutty with taking a final decision on the matter after consulting with the government and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Confirming the development, Sivankutty told reporters here that the SCERT and the Curriculum Committee take decisions on the academic affairs of the general education department of the state. As per an MoU entered with the NCERT, Kerala has been using their 44 textbooks, and of them, there has been a significant change in the content of subjects including history, political science, economics, and sociology at the higher-secondary level, the minister explained. Also Read Kerala govt to include NCERT omitted portions in state school syllabus Are B-schools losing their relevance? NCERT to bring balanced perspective of all genders in new curriculum: Panel 'Historical' changes: Here is what the NCERT has dropped from text books Textbooks not revised to please or offend anyone: NCERT chief Saklani Simple Energy to launch maiden e-scooter in May, quiet on delivery schedule 70% businesses plan to integrate metaverse in co activities: PwC India Delhi CM Kejriwal visits Manish Sisodia's ailing wife in hospital India world's fourth largest defence spender in 2022, says SIPRI report Unseasonal rains causing damage to standing, harvested crops in Telangana "The curriculum committee unanimously decided to include all those portions omitted from these text books in the syllabus and teach the students in the state. I have been entrusted to inform the government and the CM about the decision and take a necessary decision in this regard," he said. He said a final decision would be taken after consulting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The minister said several important portions, including the assassination of Gandhiji, the ban on RSS, Mughal history, the industrial revolution, and the history of post-independent India, including five-year plans, have been excluded from the NCERT textbooks. "Gandhiji was assassinated...but in their textbook, it was mentioned that Gandhi had died...like (they are saying) he died of a heart attack," the minister said, taking a dig at the NCERT. The minister indicated that the deleted portions would be included and taught to the students during this academic year itself. A decision was also taken to inform the Centre about the development and petition Prime Minister Narendran Modi and the Union Education Ministry about the omission of the portions from the NCERT textbooks. An SCERT source here said if a final nod was received from the government, they would bring out supplementary textbooks comprising those deleted portions for class 11 and 12, and it would be taught in state schools. Chief Minister Vijayan had strongly condemned the dropping of certain chapters and portions from NCERT Class 12 textbooks and alleged that "complete saffronisation" of academic books was the objective behind the move. Among portions deleted from the textbook are: "Gandhiji's death had a magical effect on the communal situation in the country", "Gandhi's pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity provoked Hindu extremists," and "Organisations like the RSS were banned for some time". Portions referring to the Gujarat riots were also dropped from the class 11 sociology textbook, months after NCERT removed the reference to the 2002 communal violence in two class 12 textbooks. The Congress has accused the Centre of "whitewashing" and "distorting" history. NCERT Chief Dinesh Saklani said the syllabus was "rationalised" in June last year itself, and there has been no trimming of the curriculum this year. The Constitution Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli, and P S Narasimha continued with the hearing of submissions on behalf of the petitioners and the Centre in a batch of petitions about marriage equality rights for LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual) community. The Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court (SC) to consider leaving the issues raised in the pleas seeking legal recognition for same-sex marriages to Parliament. He added that there are several ramifications, not only on society but also on other statutes, which will need debate in society, in state legislatures, and in civil society groups. The real question is who will take a call on what constitutes marriage between a particular class of people, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said on the fifth day of hearing. However, the CJI told Mehta that he cannot rely on the 2022 case and said, In India, we have gone far beyond that. Mehta also cited the Supreme Court of the United States case, Dobbs versus Jackson Womens Health Organization of 2022, in which it was held that the Constitution does not confer the right to abortion. The US top court had overruled both Roe versus Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood versus Casey (1992) which had recognised a womans right to make reproductive choices. Also Read Same-sex marriage in India: What did Supreme Court say in the case? SC begins hearing of pleas to recognise same-sex marriages; details here Same-sex marriage case in the Supreme Court: Here is what the Centre said SC seeks govt's response on petitions for recognising same-sex marriages Same-sex marriages recognisable under Special Marriage Act: Legal experts Delhi HC rejects plea involving use of cricketers' images in gaming NFTs Jaipur-Agra NH-21 remains blocked, protesters demand 12% reservation DU curates Panchang for curriculum to promote India's intellectual heritage Toxic differences persist over ban decision on monocrotophos pesticide Punjab after Parkash Singh Badal: An era passes and a new one begins This court cannot use a different lens for heterosexual couples and another for non-heterosexual couples in the same enactment, he said. He also argued that the courts opinion cannot substitute legislative intent (which is otherwise manifest) by reading up or down the statute as it would have an effect on heterosexual couples because the Special Marriage Act (SMA) is largely for interfaith heterosexual couples. Petitioners arguments When the matter was called out in the morning, advocate Karuna Nundy submitted her prayer to declare the right to marry under secular laws such as SMA, Foreign Marriage Act, and provisions for Overseas Citizenship of India cardholders only under Citizenship Act. Nundy presented a suggestion on the workability of SMA by adding the term third gender person which was also used in the national legal services authority judgment. She referred to a certificate of identity issued to transgenders and cited delegated legislation under which the marriage of transgenders undergoing gender reassignment surgery has already been recognised. She argued that these forms suggest that the state already recognised transgender marriages when these marriages are pre-existing. She also prayed for a negative declaration binding the state not to deny rights and obligations to married couples whose marriage has been solemnised under SMA. On the question of having children, she said, As a married couple, having a child is part of the human experience and should be equally available to all persons. A same-sex couple ought to be allowed to start a family under the Juvenile Justice Act. Thereafter, advocate Arundhati Katju submitted that while many issues flowing from marriage have come up for consideration before the court, however, all cannot be decided by this court. She prayed for a positive declaration that a marriage between any two persons may be solemnised under SMA and parties to such marriage will be entitled to all consequential rights and obligations, notwithstanding gender identity and sexual orientation. Professional social networking platform LinkedIn now has 100 million members in India, up 19 per cent year-on-year, Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella has informed. The Microsoft-owned LinkedIn saw record engagement in the March quarter as more than 930 million members globally now turn to the professional social network to connect, learn, sell and get hired. "Member growth accelerated for the seventh consecutive quarter as we expanded to new audiences. We now have 100 million members in India, up 19 per cent," Nadella said during the company's Q3 2023 earnings call late on Tuesday. As Gen Z enters the workforce, "We saw 73 per cent year-over-year increase in the number of student sign-ups," Nadella added. LinkedIn Talent Solutions continues to help hirers connect to job seekers and professionals to build the skills they need to access opportunity. "Our hiring business took share for the third consecutive quarter. The excitement around AI is creating new opportunities across every function from marketing, sales and finance to software development and security," said Nadella. Also Read India's Ambassador to US Taranjit Singh Sandhu meets Microsoft CEO Nadella AI chatbots will boost productivity, empower artists: Satya Nadella This is India's moment to shine, says Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Microsoft, LinkedIn empower 7.3 mn learners in India, announce new skills India will lead in AI use for solving 'real' issues, says Satya Nadella No charge sheet in court without completing probe: SC to probe agencies Kerala govt to include NCERT omitted portions in state school syllabus CM KCR is more dangerous than Atiq Ahmed, says Telangana BJP chief Youth Cong chief files appeal in Gauhati HC to quash Dutta's complaint BJP slams Kejriwal for Rs 45 cr home renovation, calls him 'maharaj' The LinkedIn revenue increased 8 per cent in the March quarter for the tech giant. In 2016, Microsoft acquired LinkedIn for more than $26 billion. The platform has introduced new AI-powered features, including writing suggestions for member profiles and job descriptions and collaborative articles. "Our exclusive partnership with Netflix brings differentiated premium video content to our ad network, and our new Copilot for the web is reshaping daily search and web habits," Nadella informed. --IANS na/prw/dpb A division bench of the Madras High Court has agreed to hear a bunch of petitions filed by online gaming companies against the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act 2022 on April 27. The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly twice passed the Bill to prohibit online gaming. After it was passed a second time, Governor R.N. Ravi gave his assent. The division bench of the Madras High Court comprising Justices S. Vaidyanathan and R. Kalavathi agreed to hear the petitions after senior Supreme Court lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi requested the bench to hear the case as the court would go on summer vacation from May 1 onwards. The bench informed Singhvi that the writ petitions would be listed before the first division bench of Acting Chief Justice T. Raja and Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy on Thursday if the papers were in order and the case gets numbered by the registry on Wednesday itself. Singhvi, had made the petition before the second division bench as the Acting Chief Justice was in Madurai on Wednesday. It may be noted that a similar law passed during the tenure of previous AIADMK government was shot down by the Madras High Court in 2021 on the grounds that there could not be blanket ban on games of skill. Also Read Paid competitive gaming growing 6x faster than overall mobile gaming: RPT IND vs BAN Live Streaming: When and how to watch the T20 WC match in India How is game of skill different from game of chance? Preventive algorithms can be win-win for online gaming in India: Experts Indian gaming industry needs stable regulatory environment: Sameer Barde PETA demands rehabilitation of elephants used for rides at Amber Fort 10 security staff, 1 civilian killed in maoist attack in Dantewada Delhi HC issues notice in Google's appeal against single judge order Congress used 'religion' to come to power: Rajnath Singh in Karnataka Badal will be remembered strengthening Indian democracy: Arunachal CM The first bench of then Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthil Kumar Ramamoorthy had while giving the orders stated that legislation imposing a wide-ranging ban must be regarded as excessive and disproportionate to the object sought to be achieved. The bench has, however, in the order said that the state legislature was free to enact a new legislation for regulating online games. Thereafter the Legislative Assembly passed the Bill in October 2022 for a new law. The Bill received the assent of the Governor in April 2023 after the Assembly readopted the Bill which was rejected by the Governor in March 2023. --IANS aal/dpb Last year, the government had floated an approach paper on the draft national medical devices policy 2022 for consultation. The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved National Medical Devices Policy 2023 with an aim to increase domestic production and reduce imports of such equipment, said Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Lal Mandaviya to the reporters in a press briefing after Cabinet meeting. The government has already initiated the implementation of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for medical devices and extended support for setting up 4 medical device parks in Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. Under the PLI scheme for medical devices, till now, a total of 26 projects have been approved with a committed investment of Rs 1,206 crore, and out of this, so far, an investment of Rs 714 crore has been achieved, the health minister said. The policy is expected to help the medical devices sector grow from the present $11 billion to $50 billion in the next five years. Mandaviya further added that the aim is to provide quality, affordable, and equitable nursing education in the country and enhance the number of nursing professionals. During the cabinet meeting, the establishment of 157 government nursing colleges was also approved at a cost of Rs 1,570 crore in co-location with existing medical colleges, Mandaviya said. Also Read Parliamentary panel recommends setting up regulators for medical devices Nokia, Samsung, Tejas Networks among 42 firms approved for PLI scheme RBI MPC: Here is what experts have to say about the policy announcement Centre likely to discontinue second phase of Fame-II scheme after FY24 RBI hikes repo rate by 35 bps to 6.25%, cuts FY23 GDP forecast to 6.8% Frequency of heatwaves rising in India due to global warming: IMD paper DGCA orders derostering of Air India's entire crew pending investigations Mumbai's Ghatkopar-Versova corridor disrupted due to technical fault Delhi Court to pronounce order on Sisodia's bail in ED case on April 28 Aadhaar authentication rose to 2.31 bn in March 2023: IT Ministry data During the meeting, the Union Cabinet paid tribute to ten police personnel killed in an IED blast in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, Anurag Thakur said. Ten policemen were killed when their vehicle was blown up by an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday. Co-location of these nursing colleges with medical colleges will allow optimal utilisation of the existing infrastructure, skill labs, clinical facilities, and faculty. The government plans to complete the project within two years with detailed timelines laid out for every stage of planning as well as execution. The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also passed a resolution condoling the death of former Punjab chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal who died on Tuesday, Thakur told reporters. The MCD is considering to set up stray dog shelters amid an increase in dog bite incidents here, officials said on Wednesday and noted that 75 per cent of the canines have been immunised against rabies and sterilised. A proposal in this regard is in the nascent stage but several meetings are underway. The aim is to ensure 100 per cent sterilisation of stray dogs in the city, the official of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) asserted. After being sterilised and immunised against rabies, the canines are released in the same area from where they had been picked up, the official said. "There has been an increase in dog bite incidents in the national capital in the past six months. People are very upset with the menace of dogs. We are looking into preparing a policy in this regard. We have held several meetings and are considering building shelters for these dogs," said the official. However, the plan is being opposed by some "animal lovers", according to another MCD official. "There is opposition to the plan but we are hopeful that we would be able to find a way to end the menace of stray dogs," he added. Also Read Delhi MCD: All you need to know about the prestige battle in the capital Stray dogs attack 11-year-old in Ghaziabad, incident recorded in CCTV Siva Shelters & Construction repays IL&FS debt worth Rs 80 crore LIVE news: GRAP Stage III revoked in entire NCR with immediate effect Turkiye earthquake: NDRF canines beat machines in detecting survivors PM Modi pays tributes to policemen killed in naxal attack in Chhattisgarh Badal was a leader who fought for truth, his demise is huge jolt: Abdullah Amid regulatory challenges, Pernod Ricard's Bouhier resigns as India head 100th episode: How Mann Ki Baat has helped consolidate Brand Modi Kerala likely to teach NCERT's omitted portions in schools syllabus As per the data provided by the MCD, the civic authorities sterilised nearly 7,000 stray dogs in January and February and more dogs are being picked up daily for sterilisation and then released back to the same area. Recently, a stray dog was thrashed to death by a group of people in central Delhi's Karol Bagh area. The canine had attacked and bitten several residents of the area in the past. On Monday, a 14-year-old boy was injured in a stray dog attack in southwest Delhi's Rangpuri. Last month, two minor brothers were found dead in separate cases of suspected stray dog attacks in southwest Delhi's Sindhi Camp area. The incident drew widespread flak and the MCD held several meetings to find ways to control the menace of stray dogs. The Centre last week directed local bodies to ensure only recognised organisations carry out animal birth control programmes for stray dogs in accordance with the recently notified rules. The municipal corporations need to implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme and anti-rabies programme jointly, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying said in a release. The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 were issued following the guidelines of the Supreme Court in a case involving the Animal Welfare Board of India and People for Elimination of Stray Troubles. The 2023 rules notified by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying on March 10 supersede the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules of 2001 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960. According to the new rules, the ministry said the ABC programme for sterilisation and immunisation of stray dogs is to be carried out by the respective local bodies. One of the requirements under the rule is that the Animal Birth Control programme needs to be carried out by organisations recognised by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) specifically for this purpose, it said. The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday ordered the successful bidders of the recently-auctioned mining blocks in the state to obtain fresh environmental clearances (ECs). A division bench comprising Justices Mahesh Sonak and Valmiki Menezes of the high court passed the order. The ruling is likely to delay the resumption of the state's iron ore mining operations that came to a standstill in 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases. In December last year, the Goa government had said that it completed the first phase of auction of mining blocks with four companies winning bids for the extraction of ore from different mineral rich stretches of the coastal state. The mining industry used to be one of the major revenue earners for the state. "We clarify that fresh ECs will have to be obtained even by the successful bidders...," the high court said in its order. The Goa Foundation had submitted an intervention application over a petition filed by mining firm Sociedade de Fomento Industrial Pvt Ltd and one of its directors. Claude Alvares, Director of Goa Foundation, was a respondent in the case along with the Centre and the state government. The petitioners (mining firm and director) had argued that being a successful bidder during the recent mining auction, they would not be required to obtain a fresh environment clearance for commencing mining operations for the mining block. Talking to reporters in Panaji over the high court's judgement, Alvares said the Goa Foundation filed the intervention application as soon as it came to know of the petition. The Goa government had decided that mining on these blocks could commence immediately if they were not required to obtain fresh ECs, he said. "But with the high court respectfully declining to support that decision, all mining blocks will now have to obtain fresh ECs. Thus, all prospects of mining resuming immediately have ended up in smoke...," he said. The Goa government's misguided plans to auction the mining blocks without the need of successful bidders getting fresh ECs was quashed by the high court, he said. Alvares said the state government tried to bypass the Supreme Court's orders by claiming that it could extend the ECs given to mining lease holders as they were issued under the environment impact assessment (EIA) 2006 notification by which an EC is valid for 30 years. Also Read Goa lawmakers, oppn leaders want to name new airport on Manohar Parrikar 17% of 756 projects delayed by more than 5 yrs due to delay in clearances Goa govt to auction 5 more iron ore mining blocks located in North Goa GFP, AAP slam Goa collector's circular seeking funds for event on Jan 26 Goa govt completes first phase of auction of iron ore mining blocks HP govt signs MoU with Oil India to develop new renewable energy sources PM Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' inspired younger generation: Home min Shah SC modifies 2022 order, removes ban on development activities around ESZs Cabinet approves National Medical Devices Policy 2023: Mansukh Mandaviya Frequency of heatwaves rising in India due to global warming: IMD paper The government argued that the amendment under 8A of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act, 1957 enabled it to transfer the ECs issued under EIA Notification 2006 to the new mining blocks. "But in its detailed judgment released on Wednesday, the court declined that assumption, thus setting back any effort of the state government to resume mining," Alvares said. The operation started Monday, stationing two Air Force transport planes in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah and naval ship 'INS Sumedha' in Port Sudan. Kaveri, India's rescue operation for its nationals in conflict-torn Sudan, has evacuated more than 500 people in three batches by using the Air Force and Navy. Tracking Operation Kaveri "Third batch comprising 135 Indians from Port Sudan arrived in Jeddah by IAF C-130J aircraft. Onward journey to India for all who arrived in Jeddah will commence shortly," said V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs, on Wednesday on Twitter. Operation Kaveri gets under way to bring back our citizens stranded in Sudan. About 500 Indians have reached Port Sudan. More on their way. Our ships and aircraft are set to bring them back home. Committed to assist all our brethren in Sudan, S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister, tweeted on Monday. Over 3,000 Indians are reported to be stranded in Sudans capital Khartoum and in Darfur district, according to reports. Also Read Army vs paramilitary: A common person's guide to the crisis in Sudan Operation Sheesh Mahal: Why do BJP and Congress want Delhi CM to resign? SVB Crisis: What led to the collapse of start-ups' favourite bank? SVB crisis: How the ripples of the bank's plunge reached foreign shores What happened during the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union Trouble looms for ancient Indian grain pokkali that helps combat climate Light rain, cloudy weather to give relief from heat in Delhi: IMD Punjab govt declares holiday on Apr 27 as mark of respect to Parkash Badal PM Modi to pay last respects to Parkash Badal in Chandigarh today: Report Shelly Oberoi re-elected MCD Mayor: Why fresh polls? All you need to know "Rivers reach their destination irrespective of barriers. It's like a mother who will ensure she will bring her children back to safety," a top government source was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. The choice of naming the rescue mission "Operation Kaveri" is significant. The Kaveri river runs through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and it is worshipped as the Goddess Kaveriamma (Mother Kaveri). In 2022, 'Operation Ganga' aimed to evacuate around 20,000 Indians, including students, stuck in Ukraine after Russias invasion of the country. Earlier this year, India sent rescue and relief material to an earthquake-hit Turkey and Syria under 'Operation Dost'. Indian rescue professionals flew down to both nations and carried out their operations for nearly 10 days. Under 'Operation Dev Shakti', India evacuated its citizens from Afghanistan when it fell to the Taliban on August 15, 2021. When Covid-19 hit the world, the government launched the Vande Bharat Mission to bring back Indian citizens stranded in foreign countries. In multiple phases of the operation, about 60 lakh Indians were brought back as on April 30, 2021. What is happening in Sudan? The political unrest in Sudan escalated on April 15 into a nationwide conflict when tensions between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) over Security Sector Reform (SSR) led to a shootout between their commanders. Days of fighting between the two armed forces have resulted in a humanitarian crisis that has killed over 400 people and left millions of foreigners and Sudanese without access to necessities. According to a report by news agency PTI, documents provided by sources showed that a total of Rs 44.78 crore against a sanctioned amount of Rs 43.70 crore was spent on "addition/alternation" of his government accommodation on 6, Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines. The amount was spent in six trenches between September 9, 2020, to June 2022. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday claimed that around Rs 45 crore was spent on the "beautification" of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence located in the Civil Lines area. The party also demanded his resignation on "moral" grounds. "Kejriwal should answer the people of Delhi about his moral authority with which he spent around Rs 45 crore on the beautification of his bungalow when most of the public development works were stalled during the Covid phase," Sachdeva said. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said that the amount was spent on the "beautification" of Kejriwal's bungalow at a time when Delhi was battling the Covid-19 pandemic. The leader of the opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, alleged that the "simplicity and honesty" of Kejriwal had been "exposed" and he should immediately resign. He added that it had been established that Kejriwal does not live in a house but in a "Sheesh Mahal". Also Read Nestle to Tata, big FMCG firms race to acquire maker of Ching's Secret A structural problem? FCI corruption case offers food for thought LIVE: Excise policy case is 'false', says Kejriwal after CBI questioning Chetan Sharma in the eye of storm after 'sting operation'; details here LIVE: Arvind Kejriwal's fight against corruption won't stop, says AAP When arrogance of party is sky high, voices are crushed: Priyanka slams BJP Delhi mayoral poll today to witness direct fight between AAP, BJP 30 members of Kudumbashree SHG get jobs in Kochi Water Metro Service India records 9,629 new Covid-19 cases, active infections at 61,013 Ease of Moving Index: Here is how people commute in various Indian cities Operation Sheesh Mahal: Where was the money spent? The total expenditure included Rs 11.30 crore on interior decoration, Rs 6.02 crore on stone and marble flooring, Rs one crore on interior consultancy, Rs 2.58 crore on electrical fittings and appliances, Rs 2.85 crore on fire fighting system, Rs 1.41 crore on wardrobe and accessories fitting, and Rs 1.1 crore on kitchen appliances. Congress joins BJP in criticism A separate amount of Rs 8.11 crore out of the sanctioned amount of Rs 9.99 crore was spent on the camp office of the chief minister at his official residence. He alleged that Kejriwal spent money on extravagant items like Dior polish, Vietnam marble, expensive curtains, and high-end carpets. After BJP's allegations, Congress leader Ajay Maken also raised questions about Kejriwal's right to remain in his position. Before coming to power, the AAP leader distributed printed copies of an affidavit in his New Delhi Legislative Assembly constituency, dated June 7, 2013, in which he made seven promises. "Despite naming his party 'Aam Aadmi Party' (common man's party) and making these pledges, Kejriwal spent a fortune on his bungalow when the people of Delhi were desperately seeking oxygen cylinders during the Covid pandemic," he said. Aam Aadmi Party's rebuttal According to Maken, Kejriwal promised not to use a car with a red light or request additional security beyond what is necessary for a common citizen and refuse a large bungalow and instead live in an ordinary house like a common man. AAP leader Raghav Chadha said while speaking to Times Now said the residence in question was built in 1942. The Delhi government's Public Works Department (PWD), after an audit, had recommended its renovation. While no official reaction was available from the Delhi government, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hit back at the BJP. (With agency inputs) New Delhi, April 26: Panama, a small Central American country known more for its unique geographic location, is quite keen on having an alliance with India to access quality, effective and cheap medicines for its population of about 4.5 million. Listing it as a "goal of the current administration", Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen discussed his country's strong desire to make an alliance with the Indian pharmaceutical industry when he met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar - the first EAM from India to visit the country - in the capital Panama City, earlier Tuesday. Both President Cohen and Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney Mencomo spotlighted India's growing economic prowess, calling it a "powerhouse" which is the world's largest democracy and fifth largest global economy, having just pushed the United Kingdom to sixth place. As they discussed trade, technology and pharmaceutical relations, Cohen listed the advantages that Panama offers for the establishment of more companies and also its plan to develop a centre of technological excellence and innovation in the country that links the continents of North and South America. The Panamanian President accentuated the strategic geographical, logistical and port position of Panama, to attract good foreign investment, and highlighted his country as an ideal destination to establish Indian companies. The politically, strategically and economically important Panama Canal that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean is the only international waterway with port terminals in two oceans and has an undisputed effect on world economic and commercial development. Also Read Firm says cargo vessel 'MV Glory' ran aground in Egypt's Suez Canal A gastronomic journey through the North far removed from convention WPL 2023, Delhi Capitals' Road to Final: Magnificent Meg leads the way Egypt's Suez Canal registers record revenue of $7.9 billion in 2022 UP out of Delhi water exchange plan despite LG's request to CM Yogi: RTI India has courage to do something, even in difficult circumstances: Modi Delhi school receives bomb threat, police say no suspicious object found Ex-Visva Bharati student complains against V-C for harassing Amartya Sen Preliminary probe needed before FIR on wrestlers' allegations: SC told LinkedIn market grows 19% YoY in India with over 100 mn members: Nadella The rapprochement between Panama and India corresponds to the strategic objectives of Panama's Foreign Policy, directed by Cohen and which contributes to strengthening commercial investment, cooperation in innovation and energy, and pharmaceutical industries. At the same time, it drives forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative of using India's ongoing G20 presidency to give resonance to the voice of the global south. Jaishankar told the Panamanian President that India considers Panama as the gateway to the American continent and that, as the fifth largest global economy, it could benefit from entering the Latin American market with technology, medicine production and the strengthening of companies, especially those dedicated to pharmaceutical production, to through the Panama Logistics Hub. Later, while delivering the keynote address at the India-Latin America Business event in the capital city, Jaishankar told the gathering that India-Latin America trade is nearing US$ 50 billion with a much-diversified basket that has seen a significant increase in investments and interest in mining, energy, agro and infrastructure sectors. "As the fifth largest economy, our presence across the world is steadily growing. Transformation in manufacturing, infrastructure, innovation and startup culture within India are game changers. Long awaited reforms in India has led to record Indian exports. Latin America is an attractive market," said Jaishankar. The EAM mentioned that Indian project execution has grown across geographies with 'Made in India' and 'Delivered by India' becoming realities globally. He also underscored how by providing Covid vaccines to 100 countries and medicines to 150 nations, India's proposition as 'Pharmacy of the World' is welcomed by all. "A robust digital backbone in India allows delivery of public goods and tools for business. Manufacturing pick-up via Production Linked Incentives and support to vendor chains and MSMEs. Indian products are a natural fit for Latin American middle class," he reasoned. During his visit, Jaishankar also spoke on the importance of the Indian diaspora in Panama, the presence of which dates back to the middle of the 19th Century when groups of Indians came to Panama to work on the construction of Panama Railways and later the Panama Canal in the early 20th Century. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid floral tributes to Parkash Singh Badal at the Shiromani Akali Dal office here as scores of people and political leaders assembled to pay homage to the five-time Punjab chief minister. Badal had not been keeping well and was admitted to the Fortis Hospital in Mohali near here on April 16 after he complained of uneasiness in breathing. He died on Tuesday aged 95. The Punjab government has declared a holiday on Thursday as a mark of respect to the former chief minister. According to an official order, all government offices, departments, boards, corporations and educational institutions in the state will remain shut on Thursday. The central government has already announced two days of state mourning on April 26 and 27 across India as a mark of respect to the former chief minister. The mortal remains of the SAD patriarch, who straddled Punjab politics for over seven decades, were brought to the party head office here in an ambulance. Former Haryana chief minister O P Chautala struggled to hold back tears as he paid his last respects to the SAD patriarch. The Chautalas and the Badals, the two powerful political families in Haryana and Punjab, have long-standing ties as Badal was a close friend of former deputy prime minister Chaudhary Devi Lal. Also Read Punjab govt declares holiday on Apr 27 as mark of respect to Parkash Badal Shiromani Akali Dal's Parkash Singh Badal admitted to Mohali hospital Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal passes away at 95 Akali Dal's Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal, several others from Punjab join BJP Akali Dal exposes Rs 200-crore liquor scam in Punjab, demands CBI probe India to address energy, food security challenges with other nations: EAM Panama approaches 'Pharmacy of the World' India for affordable medicines India has courage to do something, even in difficult circumstances: Modi Delhi school receives bomb threat, police say no suspicious object found Ex-Visva Bharati student complains against V-C for harassing Amartya Sen After arriving in Chandigarh, Modi reached the SAD office accompanied by Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. He laid a wreath on the mortal remains of Badal and then sat beside SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. The prime minister was seen holding the hands of Sukhbir Singh Badal, expressing grief over the passing away of the SAD chief's father. Modi stayed at the SAD office for a few minutes. Former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Patiala MP Parneet Kaur who is the wife of Amarinder Singh also paid homage to the departed soul. Badal's son-in-law Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, grandson Anantvir Singh Badal, Bikram Singh Majithia, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Harjinder Singh Dhami and BSP leader Jasvir Singh Garhi were also present at the SAD head office. Union Minister Som Parkash and former minister Balbir Singh Sidhu expressed their condolence to Badal's son and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal at the private hospital where the former Punjab chief minister breathed his last. Former minister Manpreet Singh Badal, the estranged nephew of senior Badal, was also present. Former chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Haryana Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta and Congress leader Lal Singh were among the leaders who reached the SAD office to pay their floral tributes. Grief-stricken party supporters stood in queues at the SAD headquarters to have a glimpse of their leader for the last time. The mortal remains of the SAD patriarch will be kept at the party head office here for people to pay their tributes to the departed soul. The mortal remains will be taken to the former chief minister's native village Badal in Muktsar later on Wednesday via Rajpura, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Rampura Phul, and Bathinda. The cremation will take place at Badal village at 1 pm on Thursday, a party leader said. Senior Akali leader Balwinder Singh Bhundar said Badal's death was the biggest loss for the country. The grand old man of Punjab politics first became chief minister in 1970, heading a coalition government that did not complete its term. He was also the chief minister in 1977-80, 1997-2002, 2007-12 and 2012-2017. Born on December 8, 1927, in Abul Khurana near Malout, Badal graduated from Forman Christian College in Lahore. His first political posts were the sarpanch of Badal village and the chairman of the block samiti. He entered the state assembly from Malout in 1957 as a Congress nominee. In 1969, he won the Gidderbaha assembly seat on the SAD ticket. When Gurnam Singh, the then chief minister, defected to the Congress in 1970, the SAD regrouped and formed government with the support of the Jana Sangh. Badal became the youngest chief minister in the country. However, the coalition government lasted a little more than a year. In 2017, when he ended his last stint as chief minister, he was among the oldest to have held that post. Badal was re-elected in the 1972 elections, but as the SAD could not form government, he became the leader of the Opposition. He was chief minister for 15 months in 1970-71 and for 32 months in 1977-1980. During the 1977 elections, he again won from the Gidderbaha constituency and became the chief minister of the SAD-Janata Party government. He was again elected to the state assembly in June 1980 and September 1985 elections from the Gidderbaha assembly constituency. Badal, after shifting to the Lambi constituency, was elected legislator in 1997 and became the chief minister on February 12 that year as the leader of the SAD-BJP government. During this tenure, his government took the decision of providing free electricity and waiving land revenue for farmers. Badal was re-elected from the Lambi seat in 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017. In 1967, he lost the Gidderbaha seat to Congress' Harcharan Singh Brar by a margin of just 57 votes. This was his first electoral loss. The second came last year when lost to AAP candidate Gurmeet Singh Khuddian. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to join US President Joe Biden and his counterparts from Australia and Japan at a summit of the Quad leaders in Sydney on May 24 that is expected to focus on implications of the Ukraine conflict and the overall situation in the Indo-Pacific. Before travelling to Australia, Modi is likely to visit the Japanese city of Hiroshima to attend the annual summit of the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies that is scheduled to take place from May 19 to 21, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. During his visit to India last month, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida invited Modi for the G7 summit. In their summit, the Quad leaders are also expected to bolster overall cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, a region that has been witnessing growing Chinese military assertiveness. The White House on Wednesday said President Biden will attend the G7 leaders' summit in Hiroshima as well as the Quad summit in Sydney. From Japan, Modi may travel to a Pacific island nation from where he will likely go to Australia for the Quad summit, it is learnt. Also Read Quad agrees to leverage machine learning to enhance cyber security Quad committed to supporting Pacific Island countries: Joint statement Making efforts to activate eight-member regional group SAARC: Nepal From Uttar Pradesh to Madhya Pradesh, the 'greening' of investor summits India to host Quad foreign ministers on Friday; Indo-Pacific in focus Indian nationals evacuated from Sudan says 'fighting was intense' Production incentive scheme draws $6.54 bn in investments till Dec 2022 Govt has taken several steps to ease intellectual property rights process HC judge recuses from hearing Rahul Gandhi's appeal against court order Ayurveda, homeopathy OPDs to open in AIIMS soon: Ministry of Ayush India is yet to make any official announcement on Modi's proposed foreign visits next month. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's office on Wednesday formally made an announcement on hosting of the Quad summit. It said Albanese looks forward to welcoming his Quad counterparts to Australia for the Summit. "Quad partners are deeply invested in the success of the Indo-Pacific. Leveraging our collective strengths helps Australia advance its interests and more effectively respond to the region's needs," Albanese said. "We are always better off when we act together with our close friends and partners," he said. The Australian prime minister said the Quad is committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is respectful of sovereignty and ensures security and growth for all. "I look forward to discussing with Quad leaders how we -- alongside important regional institutions, such as ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Indian Ocean Rim Association and our regional partners -- can shape the Indo-Pacific region we all want to live in," he said. In its statement, the White House said the Quad leaders will discuss how they can deepen their cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, maritime domain awareness, and other issues that matter to the people of the Indo-Pacific. "On May 24, President Biden will attend the third in-person Quad leaders' summit in Sydney, Australia, with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia," it said. Modi is likely to hold a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G7 and the Quad summits. It will be for the first time Australia is hosting the Quad summit. This will be the third in-person Quad leaders' summit. "The Quad is a diplomatic partnership of four countries committed to promoting stability, resilience and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," the statement by the Australian PMO said. "Australia, India, Japan and the United States share a vision for a region that is governed by accepted rules and norms, where we all can cooperate, trade and thrive," it added. It said the Quad partners are taking practical action to address shared regional challenges, including improving regional health security, advancing critical and emerging technologies, strengthening connectivity, enhancing clean energy innovation and boosting supply chain resilience. Referring to India's presidency of G20 and Japan's chairship of G7, it said this year Quad partners are playing a strong leadership role in the Indo-Pacific. "In Sydney, Quad Leaders will discuss how the Quad can work alongside partners and regional groupings, foremost ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum, to strengthen our cooperation and shape the region we all want to live in," it said. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Wednesday handed over Rs one crore cheque each to the families of four soldiers from Punjab who were killed in the last week's terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch. Five soldiers were killed after their vehicle came under fire from terrorists. The fifth soldier killed in the attack hailed from Odisha. According to an official release, Mann visited the houses of the four soldiers -- Havildar Mandeep Singh at village Chankoian, Ludhiana; Lance Naik Kulwant Singh at village Charik, Moga; Sepoy Harkrishan Singh of village Talwandi Bharath, Gurdaspur; and Sepoy Sewak Singh of village Bagha, Bathinda -- and offered condolences to the bereaved family members. While handing over the cheques as a token of respect for the supreme sacrifices made by the soldiers, he said the entire country is indebted to them as they sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country and its people. Mann said this humble initiative of the state government is a recognition of the immense contribution these sons of the soil make towards preserving the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country. The CM said jobs to the family members of martyrs will be given after due consultation with the Armed forces as they too have policy of giving employment on compassionate grounds. Also Read Poonch terror attack: Names of five soldiers killed released by Indian Army Farooq Abdullah's remarks on Poonch terror attack unacceptable: BJP 'That is how you lead,' says Aamir Khan on PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat Poonch terror attack: Over 40 detained for questioning, search ops continue Land mine found near Army post in J-K's Poonch, destroyed, says official Woman jumps off Rapido bike after driver tries to grope her in Bengaluru Cummins, Tata to manufacture low-to-zero emissions tech products in India Ayurveda practitioners not entitled to same pay as MBBS doctors, says SC Logistics efficiency helped India climb 6 places on World Bank's LPI: Govt Delhi govt to develop 2,000 digital classrooms, tender floated for project At Talwandi Bharath in Gurdaspur, the CM announced to name a government school in the village after Harkrishan Singh, besides spending Rs 73.50 lakh on construction of the stadium and upgradation of 'dharamshala' in the village. Mann said the estimates of these works are ready and work on these will be started very soon. At Charik village in Moga, Mann announced to name a government school in the village in the name of Lance Naik Kulwant Singh after upgrading it and construct a playground in his native village. His father Havildar Baldev Singh too had sacrificed his life while safeguarding the country. Mann said the statues of both the martyrs will be installed on the campus of the upgraded school. At Bagha village in Bathinda, Mann announced the construction of a government school in the name of Sepoy Sewak Singh. He also said the existing stadium in the village will also be upgraded and a statue of the martyr will also be installed in it. At Chankoian Kacan in Ludhiana, he announced to name the village school after Havildar Mandeep Singh. He also said a road leading to the village from Doraha will also be repaired and named after the martyr. Mann also said the state government will explore the feasibility of setting up a stadium in the name of martyr. Badal was the tallest leader in the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and possessed not only the moral and political authority to negotiate with Sikh religious leaders, but also the acumen to strike deals with mainstream parties. When former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, who passed away on Tuesday, is laid to rest on Thursday, an era will have come to an end. But backchannel diplomacy between the BJP and the SAD the best of friends till the farmers agitation in 2020, when the alliance broke up has already begun. A call this morning from a senior functionary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to top-ranking members of the SAD seeking a meeting suggests that a rapprochement should not be ruled out, however unlikely it might seem at this point. Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Chandigarh on Wednesday to the SAD office, where Badals body was kept, to pay last respects. The government has announced two-day national mourning. Badals son Sukhbir, who has been managing the party for several years, was not present, having contracted Covid earlier this week. The Jalandhar election is absolutely crucial because it will be a test of Sukhbirs leadership. If we win the election, dissidents like SS Dhindsa (who left SAD protesting at the senior Badals promotion of his son) and Bibi Jagir Kaur could consider returning. Frankly, the Hindu and Sikh vote in Punjab is completely polarised. The BJP has put up a candidate in Jalandhar, and they are pouring effort to ensure a respectable result. If their candidate performs poorly, it will show how badly they need the SAD, said a senior office-bearer of the SAD. Unlikely because the SAD and BJP are fighting each other in the byelection to the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat due May 10. Santokh Singh Chaudhary of the Congress held the seat until his sudden death during Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra, creating the vacancy. Also Read Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal passes away at 95 LIVE: Mandaviya announces National Medical Device Policy 2023 in cabinet LIVE: Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal passes away at 95 Amritpal Singh and Waris Punjab De: Everything you need to know about them India's pulses market hots up after arrival of new tur, early chana crops Defying police notice, Maha farmers start 52-km 'long march' in Ahmednagar Indo-Korea bilateral trade grows 17% to record $27.8 bn in 2022: Kotra Amit Shah launches IFFCO's nano DAP fertiliser for commercial sale PM Modi calls for integrated, inclusive global response to healthcare Power Min revises framework to supply cheapest power lot first to consumers To win them over, the SAD has an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). It has fielded Banga MLA Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi. The Congresss candidate is Chaudhary Santokh Singhs widow Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary. But the BJPs candidate is Inder Atwal, the son of former speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, who left the SAD to join BJP, in itself a cause of friction between the erstwhile allies. Jalandhar has nine assembly constituencies, of which five are held by the Congress, and the rest by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Traditionally a Congress stronghold, Jalandhar has been won many times by the party on the back of the strong scheduled caste (38 per cent) presence. The Ravidas community dominates. The outcome of the Jalandhar bypoll will test whether Sukhbir will be able to step into his fathers shoes, however big, and the resultant change in political equations. The stakes are equally high for the current AAP government. Sushil Kumar Rinku, a former Congress member and a prominent face of the Dalit community in Jalandhar, is the partys candidate. AAPs welfare policies in the state will be put to the test in the election. When Sukhbir Badal took over SAD, he saw the state from the vantage point of a farmers son, beyond the farm. Gujral says Punjab is a power surplus state today because of the efforts Sukhbir made to bring industry to the state, realising that farm jobs needed to be diversified. Punjab today has two international airports in Chandigarh and Amritsar, recognising the needs of a younger population, not necessarily employed on farms. Badal saab was a farmer leader, in the mould of Chaudhry Charan Singh and Devi Lal. Much before the National Food Security Act was passed by the Manmohan Singh government and carried forward by the Modi government, the Punjab government had already announced the Atta Dal scheme. It was Badal who realised the importance of rural roads for farmers and had them built and strengthened. The mandi system in Punjab was a gift from Badal saab. Free electricity to farmers was his idea, said Naresh Gujral, former MP from SAD. Leaders in the state agree that Sukhbir is struggling with the transition that others in his party, as well as potential alliance partners like BJP, are uncomfortable with. Sukhbirs recent visit to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhis assassin Satwant Singhs house in Gurdaspur and his attending the wedding of militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwales grandson last year raised eyebrows. All he was trying to do was step into a void to prevent people like Amritpal Singh from occupying it, says a former colleague. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) pursues a policy based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, the defence ministry said on Tuesday ahead of hosting a key meeting of the grouping on Friday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to hold bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu on the sidelines of the SCO defence ministerial conclave in Delhi, people familiar with the matter said. The bilateral talks between Singh and Li are taking place days after the Indian and Chinese armies held 18th round of military talks on ending the three-year border row in eastern Ladakh. Li, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and their counterparts from other member countries of the SCO, except Pakistan's Khawaja Asif, are set to attend the defence ministerial meeting being hosted by India under its presidency of the influential grouping. In a statement, the defence ministry said counter-terror cooperation and matters concerning regional peace and security will figure prominently at the SCO defence ministerial conclave. It said the theme of India's presidency of the grouping in 2023 is 'Secure SCO'. Also Read Chinese defence minister to visit India this week to attend SCO meet India invites Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for SCO meeting Bilawal Bhutto to attend SCO meeting in India in May: Pak's Foreign Office India to host SCO-National Security Advisors meet; Pak, China may join Amit Shah chairs SCO meet on prevention, elimination of emergency situation Cong targets Kejriwal over Rs 45 cr spent on beautification of CM residence LIVE: Centre declares two-day national mourning for Prakash Singh Badal Top headlines: GST authorities quiz auto dealers, electronics exports up Sena says no need to take Maha BJP chief seriously on Fadnavis as 2024 CM Centre declares two-day national mourning for Prakash Singh Badal The ministry said Singh will hold bilateral meetings with the visiting defence ministers on the sidelines of the SCO meet. The SCO meeting will be chaired by Singh. "The defence ministers will discuss amongst other issues concerning regional peace and security, counter terrorism efforts within SCO and an effective multilateralism," the ministry said. It said India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. "The SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, equality of all member states and mutual understanding and respect for opinions of each of them," it added. The SCO defence ministers' meeting is also expected to deliberate on the situation in Afghanistan. The ministry said the ongoing engagement with SCO has helped India promote its relations with the countries in the region with which New Delhi shared civilisational linkages, and is considered its extended neighbourhood. The SCO member countries are Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, India, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Apart from the member states, two observer countries Belarus and Iran will also be participating in the SCO defence ministers meeting. People familiar with the matter said the Pakistan defence minister may attend the meeting through video conferencing. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Over the years, it has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017. Bollywood actor Aamir Khan on Wednesday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his radio show Mann Ki Baat. The show began on October 3, 2014. Speaking at the inauguration of National Conclave on Mann Ki Baat @100 in New Delhi, Aamir said, "It's a very important piece of communication that the leader of the country does with the people, discussing important issues, putting forward thoughts, giving suggestions, leading That is how you lead by communication." VIDEO | "It's a very important piece of communication that the leader of the country does with the people, discussing important issues, putting forward thoughts and giving suggestions," says Bollywood actor Aamir Khan at National Conclave on 'Mann Ki Baat @ 100' in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/jrUAawtyAC Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 26, 2023 "You tell your people what you're looking at, how you're seeing the future, how you want your support in that. It's an important communication that happens in Mann Ki Baat," Khan told news agency PTI. Khan was asked by PTI if the prime minister only talks about what he wishes like in the radio show, to which he replied, "I think it's his prerogative because he's doing it... It is his method of hearing what the people have to say connecting with people across the country. I think it's a very important initiative." The one-day conclave was inaugurated by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and had Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur as the guest of honour. The event was also graced by 100 esteemed citizens who have been mentioned by PM Modi in episodes of Mann Ki Baat. The government also be issued a special commemorative Rs 100 coin to mark the completion of 100 episodes of the show. The coin of one hundred rupees denomination shall only be coined at the mint for issue under the authority of the central government on the occasion of 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat," read a notification issued by the Department of Economic Affairs on April 20. Earlier, a statement by the BJP said that the 100th episode will highlight the wide-ranging themes of the prime minister's interactions during Mann Ki Baat. Lets take a look at what they are: 1) Theme 'Nari Shakti' "The women of this country have always excelled in different fields and have led the masses and paved the way for other women to follow. The government considers women-led development a central dimension of India's progress and a necessity for strengthening India. In the past nine years, numerous welfare schemes have been launched paving the way to empowering women and making them lead India's development journey," said BJP in the statement. 2)Theme 'Virasat Ka Uthan' "Taking pride in our heritage and legacy has remained a key vision of the prime minister during the amrit kaal. Thanks to the efforts of the PM, a new awareness has dawned in our country about our art and culture, and a new consciousness is awakening," the statement read. 3) Theme 'Jan Samvad Se Atmanirbharta' "The idea of Atmanirbhar Bharat has ignited a new spark of self-confidence in every Indian. Prime minister has outlined five pillars for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat - economy, infrastructure, system, vibrant demography, and demand. All the pillars work together in making our economy strong and resilient," it said. 4) Theme 'Ahwan Se Jan Andolan' "Mann Ki Baat has been a platform from which several important campaigns have originated. Right from the very first 'Mann Ki Baat', when the prime minister had given the clarion call of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the addresses have time and again inspired the people to take action on important issues," the statement added. The Karnataka government told the Supreme Court that it took a conscious decision not to continue with the reservation for the Muslim community on the sole basis of religion since it is unconstitutional and contrary to the mandate of Article 14 to 16 of the Constitution. The state government said that two orders dated March 27, 4 per cent reservation in favour of Muslims was deleted and the members of the community were allowed to claim benefit of reservation under EWS scheme which is at 10 per cent (In EWS Scheme there are other communities namely, Brahmins, Aryavyashyas etc.). The government said it is pertinent to note that the groups within the Muslim community who were found to be backward and found mention in Group I of the 2002 reservation order continue to enjoy the benefits of reservation. In the counter affidavit, it said: "It is humbly submitted that reservation solely on the basis of religion is also contrary to the principles of Social Justice... the concept of social justice aims to protect those who are deprived and discriminated against within the society. "Including within the said ambit an entire religion would be an antithesis to the concept of social justice and the ethos of the Constitution. It is humbly submitted that therefore reservation cannot be extended to any community on the sole basis of religion." The state submitted that the provision of reservation on the basis of religion would also be contrary to the concept of secularism. Also Read Andhra HC cannot be town planner: Supreme Court on high court order IMD issues alert in south coastal Andhra as cyclone 'Mandous' intensifies Muraleedharan terms move to remove Kerala Guv as 'constitutionally invalid' Andhra Pradesh govt to start functioning from Vizag from April 2023 Congress leaders pay tributes to Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary India to triple renewable projects auctions as 2030 green target looms Why has Anand Mohan become a headache for the Nitish Kumar administration Atleast 30 schools 'mistakenly' invited children to meet PM during MP visit People throng SAD office to pay homage to Badal; PM pays floral tributes India to address energy, food security challenges with other nations: EAM The government said merely because reservations have been provided in the past on the basis of religion, the same is no ground for continuing the same for perpetuity, more so when the same is on the basis of an unconstitutional principle. "The petitioners herein have sought to give a colour to the exercise in question which is completely baseless. The timing of the decision, etc are immaterial without the petitioners clearly demonstrating that the reservation on the basis of religion is constitutional and permissible," it said. The state stressed that the reservation solely on the basis of religion is unconstitutional and contrary to the mandate of Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution. The affidavit said: "The power to classify a group of citizens as Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) has to be constitutionally exercised in accordance with the provisions of Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution. Assuming for the moment that any of the commissions had recommended for the inclusion of Muslims as Backward castes, the same does not denude the power of the State Government to take a decision in accordance with law." It said the power thereunder is a constitutionally conferred power conferred upon the state government to provide for protection to the Backward Classes and the states powers under Article 16 has been discussed in Indira Sawhney case (1992 Mandal Commission). "The exercise of power to provide for reservations emanates from Articles 15 and 16 and the same can be done by executive instructions which amount to law within the meaning of Article 13 of the Constitution." The state government said there were socially and educationally backward classes in society who have historically been deprived and discriminated against and the same cannot be equated with an entire religion, and stressed that the Mandal Commission clearly found that the religion could not be the sole basis for reservation. The affidavit said: "It is verily believed that there is no reservation given to Muslim community on the basis of religion as a whole in the Central List. Even throughout the country, it is believed verily, except State of Kerala, there is no state that provides for reservation for the Muslim community as a whole. There are various communities from the Muslim religion who are included in the SEBC which also continues to be the case in Karnataka." The state government said the reservation solely on the basis of religion is not the practice followed anywhere in the country except Kerala and in Karnataka, till recently. "It is submitted that reservation, solely on the basis of religion, also amounts to over classification under Article 14. The classification of the entire religion as backward is bereft of any rational basis and would be arbitrary and unreasonable and thus violative of the principles of Article 14 of the Constitution." The state government said the reservation issue has anyway undergone a radical shift with the introduction of reservation on the basis of economic criteria (EWS) by virtue of the 103rd Amendment and the Muslim community suffers no prejudice as they can avail the benefit of EWS reservation which is 10 per cent. Opposing any interim relief, it said the petitioners directly moved the apex court without filing a plea before the high court, even as its March 27 order was passed in persuance of the high court's order on March 23. The initial inclusion of Muslim community into the category of other backward classes in 1979 was contrary to the recommendations of the First Backward Class Commission headed by L.G .Havanur, said the affidavit. In the case of Andhra Pradesh, the Supreme Court permitted the reservation for only limited identifiable communities amongst Muslims and not the entire religion, it pointed out. --IANS/ ss/ksk/ But civil society representatives are questioning the draft on a very different ground. They are arguing that the move to dilute the original ban order on all 27 pesticides is wrong and overlooks several key factors. Ahead of the Supreme Court (SC) hearing scheduled for April 28 on the controversy over a ban on 27 pesticides, a section of industry has questioned the basis on which monocrotophos, considered one of the most harmful pesticides for human health, has been included in the list of 24 on which a ban was lifted by a draft order issued in February 2023. The controversy dates back to a May 2020 order of the government banning the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of 27 pesticides that were considered harmful to public health and safety. The SC sought the Centres reply in four weeks (from March 27, 2023) explaining the basis on which the original ban order was reversed and also placed on record the reports of the committee formed to review the ban. Although the government reportedly gave the industry time to record their objections, the issue was not resolved. At the request of several major industry bodies, a panel was formed under the chairmanship of T P Rajendran, former assistant director general of Indian Council of Agriculture Research and a well-known expert in the field. Though the results of this committees findings were not made public, reports suggested that it had recommended retaining the ban on three of the 27 pesticides and freeing the remaining ones. These 27 pesticides were widely used as part of the 66 contentious pesticides that were being reviewed by various bodies over the past several years for their toxicity. Some reports said the banned pesticides included 12 insecticides, eight fungicides and seven herbicides, comprising almost 130 formulations. Also Read Is it time for India to abandon GMO crop fears? Civil society, pesticide industry present contrasting picture on ban order Archean Chemical gains 12% on debut, shares worth Rs 1,014 cr traded Three questions on EWS quota: Here's what the Supreme Court judges said Supreme Court upholds 10 per cent reservation for EWS in 3:2 verdict Punjab after Parkash Singh Badal: An era passes and a new one begins Defying police notice, Maha farmers start 52-km 'long march' in Ahmednagar Indo-Korea bilateral trade grows 17% to record $27.8 bn in 2022: Kotra Amit Shah launches IFFCO's nano DAP fertiliser for commercial sale PM Modi calls for integrated, inclusive global response to healthcare This is because civil society activists in their petition to the SC said that they werent aware of the findings of the committee, its terms of reference and the process it followed to arrive at the conclusion. But, industry players said, the Rajendran panel report is available. There is some confusion on the contents of the findings and terms of reference of the committee itself. Civil society groups approached the SC questioning the revised order. Kavitha Kuruganthi, a petitioner in the case and convener of Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture, demanded a total ban on all 27 pesticides as originally envisaged. Thereafter, the government modified the original ban order and issued a fresh draft in February 2023 retaining the ban on only three of the pesticides while freeing all others. A section of the pesticides industry, on the other hand, has demanded that the ban be scrapped but also has asked why monocrotophos still hasnt been included in the banned list. Monocrotophos is highly toxic by all routes of exposure. It is classified as a highly hazardous pesticide by the WHO. We are not in favour of using this pesticide, Kalyan Goswami, director general of Agro Chem Federation, told a few weeks ago. In a letter, she said that 21 of these 27 pesticides were classified as highly hazardous pesticides and 17 of them were in use when the Insecticides Act, 1968, came into force and these DRPs (deemed to be registered pesticides) have actually not been proven to be safe by any ex-ante risk assessment. Three of these pesticides are World Health Organization (WHO) Class IB pesticides and 13 are Class II pesticides which mean they are acutely toxic. One cannot simply say that all pesticides are harmful and all pesticides are to be banned based on hearsay. What is important here is what Indian medical records say on the harm that a particular pesticide has done to human beings or to those who are exposed to it over a reasonable period of time, Rajendran told Business Standard. Rajendran, the man on whose recommendations the government is believed to have revised its original order, said that all chemicals and pesticides including the toothpaste we use is harmful for human health. What matters is the dosage, the formulation composition and the way humans have been asked to use the product. On the clean chit his committee gave to 24 of the 27 originally banned pesticides, Rajendran said all of them, including monocrotophos, has been in use in India for the past 30 or 40 years and there is absolutely no data provided by agencies to claim that there has been any adverse health impact due to their use. In India, he went on to explain, we have a record of harm that any said pesticide has caused to human health over a fairly long period, say 30-40 years, and not just in the last few years. Plus, the Central Insecticides Board (CIB) is regularly seized of matters related to the harmful impact of any pesticide and they are the ones competent to say whether any pesticide is bad or not. So why did his committee exclude three of the 27 pesticides from the clean chit? Rajendran said that this was because the manufacturers had stopped production of the three items in the country and they were not available anywhere. The manufacturers themselves have given it in writing that they are no longer making these three pesticides, which have been removed from the free list, he said. All pesticides have a label in them specifying good agriculture practices, with right dosage, time of application, precautions to be taken and so on. If somebody violates that, it is that individuals problem and not a national or a government issue, Rajendran said. On why monocrotophos has not been kept in the list of banned pesticides despite it being on the WHO list of harmful chemicals, Rajendran said that the earlier formulation that was registered in the country was on the higher side of toxicity and the manufacturers had come out with a new formulation, which is already registered with the CIB and the old one has been withdrawn. The ban saga Which of the arguments will convince the SC is still to be determined. July 2013: Govt constitutes the Anupam Verma panel to review 66 pesticides Nov 2015: Anupam Verma committee submits report Dec 2015: Registration Committee (RC) under the Insecticides Act accepts the Anupam Verma report and the panel asks for 27 pesticides to be reviewed by 2018 Dec 2016: Govt issues draft ban order on 27 pesticides based on Anupam Verma panel recommendations 2017-18: Govt constitutes two more committees to look at public feedback of the draft order Dec 2019: RC sets up a sub-committee to review ban on 27 pesticides May 2020: RC accepts the recommendations of the sub-committee on the ban and sends it to the ministry of agriculture May 2020: Govt notifies draft ban on 27 pesticides and gives 45 days for public feedback. It also forms another panel under T P Rajendran. Civil society says no information about its contents exist in the public domain Feb 2023: Draft prohibition order notified by govt on only 3 of the 27 pesticides originally banned Source: SC petition filed by Kavitha Kuruganthi and others It has requested the Supreme Court to intervene using its powers granted by the Constitutions Article 131 which allows it to decide on inter-state or Centre-state disputes. Chhattisgarh on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutional validity of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. It flagged unbridled powers of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is torturing, abusing, and manhandling officials in the garb of conducting an investigation. The state has challenged the constitutionality of Sections 17 (search and seizure), 50 (which empowers an Enforcement Directorate officer to summon a person and record his/her statement), 63 (punishment for false information or failure to give information), and 71(the Act to have an overriding effect) of the PMLA, 2002. Chhattisgarh has thus become the first state to challenge the money laundering Act and its provisions. Earlier, private individuals and parties challenged the law on various grounds but the validity of the law was upheld by a three-judge Bench of the apex court last year. The plea was mentioned by Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi and Advocate Sumeer Sodhi, who appeared for Chhattisgarh. The petition noted the state is conscious of the recent judgment of the SC in Vijay Madan Lal (Supra). It said that the judgment requires reconsideration by a larger Bench given the pivotal questions of unrestricted and unbridled powers of ED which violate fundamental jurisprudence of criminal law and procedure. It said Section 50 read with Section 63 of the PMLA violates the right of an individual against self-incrimination as ED is empowered to call upon any person to record his/her statements under Section 50 and the said person is bound to state the truth in the statement so recorded, otherwise he/she would be subjected to penal provisions under Section 63 of the Act. Also Read Three questions on EWS quota: Here's what the Supreme Court judges said Crypto under PMLA: Industry gives thumbs up, expects higher investor faith Top headlines: Feb fuel demand hits 24-yr high, NPOs face PMLA regulations Supreme Court upholds 10 per cent reservation for EWS in 3:2 verdict What does the EWS quota verdict mean for India? Delhi government forms Animal Welfare Board to prevent cruelty against them Smriti Irani opens Mahila Samman Savings Certificate account in Post Office Govt approves National Medical Devices Policy 2023, eyes 12% market share Poonch attack: Punjab CM hands over Rs 1 cr each to family of 4 soldiers Woman jumps off Rapido bike after driver tries to grope her in Bengaluru The State said certain amendments have been carried out to the provisions of the PMLA by way of the Finance Acts of 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. The plea said on multiple occasions, the ED acted more than its powers in states that hold a political stance opposite to the one in power at the Centre. It said that such conduct amounts to a severe misappropriation and arbitrary use of power, which goes against the constitutional mandate, especially when investigative agencies are expected to be entirely independent and uninfluenced. The Bench said that the matter would be taken up for hearing on May 4. Chhattisgarh submitted that several complaints are being received on behalf of officials of the state government, as well as residents of the state to the effect that ED is torturing, abusing, and manhandling them in the garb of conducting an inquiry/investigation. It also said the amendments to the PMLA through the route of the Finance Acts are liable to be struck down as being colourable uses of legislative power, violative of Article 110(1) of the Constitution. Several people and bodies, including the wife of slain IAS officer G Krishnaiah and the Central IAS Association, have expressed their dismay over the decision to release Mohan and have asked the state's chief minister Nitish Kumar to reconsider it. Former member of Parliament (MP) from Bihar, Anand Mohan, who is serving a life sentence in a three-decade-old case of an IAS officer's murder, is set to walk out of jail along with 26 others. In a notification on Monday, the state's law department released a list of people to be released after spending 14 or more years in jail. Who is Anand Mohan? Mohan was out on parole for his son Chetan Anand's engagement ceremony when the news of his release from jail reached him. Chetan is an MLA for the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). In 1990, he was elected as a member of the legislative assembly (MLA) from Mahishi in Bihar, representing the Janata Dal. In 1993, Mohan formed his political party, Bihar People's Party. Later, however, BPP joined Samata Party, and he was elected as an MP from the Sheohar constituency. Born on January 28, 1954, in Saharsa district in Bihar, Mohan came into politics during the 1974 Sampoorna Kranti movement of Jayaprakash Narayan. He dropped out of college to join the movement. Also Read Nitish Kumar needs glue that holds a divided Opposition together in Bihar As Nitish tries to bring Opposition together, here's a look at his journey Govt seeks to fill up posts with hires from non-IAS pool, sparks debate Reading the tea leaves in Bihar amid political pulls and pressures Nitish Kumar: The one-man army with a strong focus on Opposition unity Atleast 30 schools 'mistakenly' invited children to meet PM during MP visit People throng SAD office to pay homage to Badal; PM pays floral tributes India to address energy, food security challenges with other nations: EAM Panama approaches 'Pharmacy of the World' India for affordable medicines India has courage to do something, even in difficult circumstances: Modi The lynching of G Krishnaiah BPP merged with the Indian National Congress party in February 2004. In 2007, Patna High Court sentenced Mohan and five other politicians to death for the abetment of crime. Mohan also became the first politician since the country's independence to be given the death penalty. On December 5, 1994, an IAS officer of the 1985 batch, G Krishnaiah, was killed in Muzaffarpur by a mob. Krishnaiah, who hailed from Telangana and was a Dalit, was beaten to death while his car tried to overtake a funeral procession of former MLA and gangster Chhotan Shukla. Mohan was a part of the procession. In 2012, Mohan failed to appeal against the decision in the Supreme Court. In 2008, however, the sentence was reduced to rigorous life imprisonment. It was due to a lack of evidence to prove that Mohan was the actual assailant. A Robinhood-like figure in his heyday who liked to pose for photographers holding a gun in his hand and surrounded by henchmen armed to the teeth, Mohan is said to be immensely popular among Rajputs, an influential upper caste. After 15 years of him being in jail, the order for his release was issued on Monday. How was Anand Mohan released? On April 10, the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government tweaked the Bihar Prison Manual, 2012. They removed the "murder of a public servant on duty" clause (Rule 481) from the list of cases for which remission of jail term cannot be considered. It opened the way for Mohan's release. 'Gratitude towards Nitish Kumar' BSP chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati recently tweeted, "Bihar's Nitish government's preparation to change the rule to free Anand Mohan in the case of the merciless murder of a very honest IAS officer from a poor Dalit community of Mahbubnagar, Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana) is quite in discussions among a lot of Dalit people across the country for anti-Dalit negative reasons." "The incident that happened in December 1994 was unfortunate. Whatever happened on that day was painful. One of the victims of that case was the wife of Gopalganj DM G Krishnaiah and the other was my wife Lovely Anand. The former had lost her husband and the latter spent more than 15 years without her husband," he said. Talking to reporters after his release, Mohan expressed his gratitude towards CM Nitish Kumar. Kumar, along with his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, was among the attendees at the wedding of Mohan's son organised on the outskirts of Patna. Widespread criticism of Mohan's release BJP leaders like former Bihar deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi have unequivocally condemned the order of Mohan's release, linking it to the RJD. RJD's Tejaswi Yadav is the current deputy CM of Bihar. Krishnaiah said that the decision will set a bad precedent and have serious repercussions for the entire society. "My husband was an IAS officer and it is the Centre's responsibility to ensure that justice is done," she said. G Uma Krishnaiah, widow G Krishnaiah, has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and stop the release of Mohan. She said she was shocked by CM Kumar's move. "He (Nitish Kumar) thinks that by releasing him, he will get the votes of all Rajputs and this will help him from the government again. This is wrong," said Uma. She alleged that Nitish Kumar was releasing the killer of her husband for the votes of Rajputs and to form a government again. A group representing central civil services officers then expressed "deep dismay" at the decision to change the prison manual. "This goes on in Bihar but this is not good. There should be good people in politics and not criminals like Mohan," she added. "The Central IAS Association expresses its deep dismay at the decision of the state government of Bihar to release the convicts of the brutal killing of G Krishnaiah, IAS, former district magistrate of Gopalganj, by a change in classification rules of prisoners," it said In a statement, the Indian Civil and Administrative Service (Central) Association said this is "tantamount to denial of justice" and urged the state government to reconsider its decision. "Such dilution leads to impunity, erosion in the morale of public servants, undermines public order and makes a mockery of the administration of justice," it said. The statement asserted that a convict of the charge of murder of a public servant on duty cannot be reclassified to a less heinous category. Amendment of an existing classification which leads to the release of the convicted killer of a public servant on duty is tantamount to a denial of justice, it said. Some come out in support of Nitish Kumar The association also urged the Bihar government to reconsider its decision at the earliest. "Anand Mohan is being made a scapegoat. The Bihar government has ordered the release of a large number of criminals. Poor Anand Mohan is being defamed in the process," Singh told reporters after Mohan's release orders were issued. Union minister Giriraj Singh, the MP from Begusarai and arguably one of the most popular upper caste leaders in the current crop, was, however, circumspect. Singh also slammed Malviya and alleged that the BJP believed in the policy of getting its opponents framed while saving its people. Rajiv Ranjan Singh, national president of Nitish Kumar's JD(U), came out with an angry social media post accusing the BJP of having used its B-Team, referring to BSP supremo Mayawati, to attack the Nitish Kumar government ever since the word went around that Mohan was set to be released. (With agency inputs) Also Read Ipca Labs dips 9%, hits 52-wk low on plan to buy 33.4% stake in Unichem Lab IPCA Labs stock hits valuation hurdle on Unichem stake acquisition Stock of this pharma company has zoomed nearly 90% in last four months IPCA Labs to buy 33.4% stake in Unichem Laboratories for Rs 1,034 crore Ipca Laboratories to acquire 33% stake in Unichem for 1,034 crore IHCL, IndiGo, IRCTC: Analysts bet on travel stocks ahead of holiday season Triveni Turbine surges 4%, nears record high on healthy business outlook New dividend, bonus share policy to create value for Gujarat PSUs: Analysts Stock Market LIVE: Broader indices outrun; hotel, cement stocks surge HDFC Securities recommends Buy on Triveni Engineering, NFL; check why Shares of Ipca Laboratories hit a three-year low at Rs 692, as they slipped another 7 per cent on the BSE in Wednesdays intra-day trade on the back of heavy volumes. The stock was trading at its lowest level since April 2020.In past two trading sessions, the stock of pharmaceutical company has plunged 16 per cent after the company's board of directors approved an acquisition of 33.38 per cent stake in Unichem Laboratories for Rs 1,034 crore from one of its promoter shareholders. With the past two days decline, the stock price of Ipca Labs has corrected 33 per cent from its 52-week high of Rs 1,035.30, touched on May 4, 2022.Ipca Labs said it has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement for acquisition of 23.5 million equity shares, constituting 33.38 per cent of the paid up equity share capital of Unichem Laboratories at a price of Rs 440 per equity share.This proposed acquisition is subject to approval from the Competition Commission of India. Ipca will also have to make mandatory open offer to the tune of 26 per cent at Rs 440 per share. This will result in additional cash outflow of Rs 800 crore. The transaction is likely to be completed over the next 4-6 months. The deal - including the open offer when fully subscribed - will take its stake in Unichem to 60 per cent.The acquisition will allow Ipca to re-enter US formulation generic market, however at 2.3x sales, as acquisition cost is expensive in our view given challenges and uncertainty associated with US market, said analysts at Prabhudas Liladher in its event update.Analyst believes that Ipca has a huge scope to improve its operational efficiencies and potentially scale up OPM to +15 per cent from current level of 6-7 per cent in near term. The company has also guided for Rs 300 crore annual EBITDA from Unichem business within 2 years of taking management control. Even after factoring this, acquisition cost works out to be at 10x EV/EBITDA and largely EPS neutral in FY25E; however RoE/RoCE will be dilutive by ~200bps. Historically Ipca has done few acquisitions, but with size like Unichem will test management bandwidth and execution capabilities, the brokerage firm said. It maintains hold rating on the stock with revised target price of Rs 750 per share.Analysts at Motilal Oswal Financial Services cut their FY24/FY25 EPS estimates by 11.7 per cent/5 per cent to factor in Unichems operations and a reduction in other income due to the use of cash to fund the Unichem acquisition.We reduce the PE multiple from 24x to 21x 12M forward earnings to factor in capital allocation toward the low-ROCE generics business (compared to branded generics business) and expensive valuation. Accordingly, we arrive at a target price of Rs 760 (Rs 940 earlier). We downgrade IPCA to Neutral as the current valuation adequately factors in the earnings upside, the brokerage firm said in company update. Also Read Rail Vikas Nigam, RITES touch all-time highs; zoom up to 62% in 3 months HG Infra rises 4% on Rs 535 cr-order win from RVNL; stock up 30% in 3 mths Rail Vikas Nigam zooms 62% in 16 trading sessions on strong order inflows Rail Vikas Nigam surges 9% after it bags order from NHAI, Indian Railways Rail Vikas Nigam zooms 20% after 12% equity changes hand on the NSE AU Small Finance tumbles 7% in 4 sessions; what should investors do? Price hikes to drive HUL Q4 revenue, ad-spends to dent margin: Analysts Gujarat govt's new PSU policy mandates bonus shares, dividends, buybacks Stock of this digital transformation solutions provider soars 33% in 2 days RVNL, TWL, Rites: Railway stocks back on bull's radar, may rise up to 25% Shares of Siemens hit a record high of Rs 3,438, gaining 3 per cent on the BSE in Wednesday's intra-day trade. The stock has surged 5 per cent in the past two trading days, surpassing its previous high of Rs 3,400, touched on April 11, 2023.Thus far in the calendar year 2023, Siemens has outperformed the market by surging 22 per cent, as compared to 1.6 per cent decline in the S&P BSE Sensex.The company is focused on industry, infrastructure, transport-relatd technology, as well as transmission and generation of electrical power.Last week, Siemens, as part of a consortium along with Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), received two separate orders from Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation Limited (GMRCL). Siemens' share as part of the consortium is Rs 678 crore.The orders are for Surat Metro Phase 1 (over 40 kilometers covering 38 stations and 2 depots) and Ahmedabad Metro Phase 2 (over 28 kilometers covering 23 stations and 1 depot).Siemens will provide project management, rail electrification technologies, including advanced power supply and distribution systems. In addition, Siemens will also be providing advanced digital solutions such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) solution for both metros.In January, Siemens had signed a Rs 26,000-crore contract to manufacture 1,200 electric freight locomotives for the Indian Railways. The contract is the single biggest order for Siemens, the company said in a disclosure to the stock exchanges, and will be used for freight transport. The locomotives are specified to haul loads of 4,500 tons at a maximum speed of 120 km an hour, the company said.Deliveries are planned over a 11-year period and the contract includes 35 years of full-service maintenance. The locomotives will be assembled in the Indian Railways factory in Dahod, Gujarat, the company said.During the financial year 2022 (January to December), the Company (as part of a consortium) booked a large order to the extent of approximately Rs 900 crore to develop the Metro Corridor for Pune Metro under the public-private partnership route. It won another order from RVNL for signaling and telecommunication of two corridors of the Kolkata Metro Line 3 and 6.The Governments commitment to maintain growth by empowering the States to accelerate capital expenditure along with programs such as Atmanirbhar Bharat, Power for All, Digital India, National Logistics Policy, National Rail Plan and Green Hydrogen Policy, to name a few, are encouraging for the nations economy. India is rightly positioning itself to be a high-end manufacturing hub, and incremental capital expenditure is expected to be concentrated on areas where India needs to reduce external dependency on global supply chains, Siemens said in FY22 annual report. An inference from the Peloponnesian war for current great power rivalry is the antagonistic US posture towards China, aimed at preventing the latter from rising further. Perhaps, Chinas aggressive military moves along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are meant to signal that it is capable of holding India back. Although India could score self-goals, it may be able to quadruple its per capita It is almost de-rigueur in contemporary professional commentary on relations between major powers to refer to Thucydides history of the Peloponnesian war. This war took place in the 5th century BC between the Greek city-states of Athens and Sparta, and Thucydides lived in Athens around 500 BC. Athens was the established military power and was challenged by a rising Sparta. Eventually, Sparta prevailed over Athens with the help of the Persians. It is conceivable that Athens did not anticipate Spartas ambitions and growing strength in time. These stores are being managed by a team of well-educated, tech-savvy employees who appeared in green t-shirts during the launch and were visible all around. These store representatives have educational backgrounds in IT, electrical engineering, robotics, and computer applications. In a much-awaited move, Apple launched its first company-owned stores in the country earlier this month. With CEO Tim Cook attending the launch, Apple fans joined the event in large numbers. The two stores were opened in Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla Complex and Delhi's Select City Walk Mall in Saket. For its two stores in India, Apple has recruited approximately 170 employees. These employees have received special training to enhance the in-store experience for customers. Given their high qualification and work expertise, these employees get bigger salaries, around four times higher, when compared to what other tech retail brand stores offer. Apple pays around Rs 1,00,000 per month to these highly qualified retail representatives, according to a report published in The Economic Times (ET). Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that Apple is likely to double or even triple its investments in India in the near future in order to boost its production capacity to support exports, Mint reported. The staff in these Apple stores speak 45 different languages, the ET report said. Employees working in the Saket store can deal with customers in 15 different languages. To this end, Apple has relocated staff from some other countries to support its retail operations in India. Asked why, at age 74, he dodged rockets in Ukraine to bring home the savagery of the Russian invasion, Levy said, In Ukraine, I had the feeling for the first time that the world I knew, the world in which I grew up, the world that I want to leave to my children and grandchildren, might collapse. A few weeks ago, one of Frances most famous public intellectuals, Bernard-Henri Levy, gave an interview to The Times on his new documentary, Slava Ukraini, and he said something that helped me understand why, as I approach my 70th birthday, I still want to be a journalist. Which is why the focus of my columns these days has been very tight. There are three things that absolutely cannot be allowed to happen: Israel cannot be allowed to turn into an autocracy like Viktor Orbans Hungary; Ukraine cannot be allowed to fall to Vladimir Putin; and Donald Trump cannot be allowed to occupy the White House ever again. I have that exact same fear. Israel, the only functioning pluralistic democracy in the Middle East, tempered by the rule of law, albeit imperfect, would be lost. If all three were to happen, the world that I want to leave my children and grandchildren could completely collapse. Also Read US Prez Biden's approval rating hits record high after midterms elections US VP Kamala Harris briefly meets China's Xi Jinping to 'keep lines open' VP Kamala Harris to visit and support Philippines island amid sea feud Ex-US Prez Barack Obama gets a midterm do-over to help boost Democrats Kamala Harris announces $562 mn for climate resilience in Florida Singer, actor, activist Harry Belafonte dies at age 96 in New York Pentagon leaks suggest China developing ways to attack satellites Heat waves, cyclones hit stock mkts across Asia signaling problems ahead Focus on unifying issues: US lawmaker takes jab at talk of 'Hinduphobia' Russia's Lavrov warns that EU is becoming militarised now, like NATO And the United States of America, with a vengeful Trump back in the White House, effectively pardoned for his many attacks on our democratic institutions and his assault on the integrity of our elections, would never be the same. Trump would be unchained an utterly chilling thought. The European Union the United States of Europe, the worlds other great multiethnic center of free markets, free people and human rights would be at Putins mercy. But while you may think the 2024 election is very likely going to be a rerun of 2020, that is not the case for the Democrats. This time, Bidens running mate will really matter. Its through this lens that I want to talk about Joe Bidens announcement on Tuesday that he is running for re-election, joined again by Kamala Harris. Bidens ability to finish his current term and successfully navigate another one is critical to all three scenarios mentioned above. Which is why, now that Biden has declared that he is running, he absolutely has to win. The most recent FiveThirtyEight average of all the Biden-Harris approval polls found that 51.9 percent of Americans disapprove of Harriss job performance and 40 percent approve, about the same numbers as Bidens. We are always told that, in the end, people vote for the candidate for president, not for vice president. But because Biden would be 86 at the end of a second term and therefore the chance of his health failing is not small people will be asked to vote as much for his vice president as for him, maybe more than in any other election in American history. The way Biden has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he is not fooled by and will not be indifferent to Netanyahus judicial coup detat masquerading as a judicial reform has been a tremendous source of encouragement for the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who have taken to the streets to defend their democracy. Let me be clear: I voted for Joe Biden, and I do not want my money back. He is a good man, and he has been a good president, better than the polls give him credit for. The Western alliance that he put together, and has held together, to counter the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been a master class in alliance management and defending the democratic order in Europe. Ask Putin. Joe Biden would be my candidate, no matter what his age, as long he was physically and mentally able, because I see no other Democrat with his blend of political skills, his core belief in the necessity and possibility of national unity, his foreign policy savvy and his ability to disagree with Trumps supporters without trying to humiliating them. He authentically wants to get the poison out of our political system. And on the domestic issues I care about most rebuilding Americas infrastructure, ensuring American leadership in the manufacture of the most advanced microchips that will power the age of artificial intelligence, and incentivizing market forces to deliver the huge scale of clean energy we need to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change Biden has delivered beyond my highest hopes. As Axios reported on April 17, Gallup polling in March found that a record 49 percent of Americans see themselves as politically independent the same as the two major parties put together. But I am keenly aware that plenty of Americans dont share my views. I realize that the roughly 30 percent of Republicans who are Trump devotees are most likely beyond reach and nothing Biden can say will bring them around. However, they will not decide the next election. If the 2024 race comes down to Biden vs. Trump again, we are going to need those independents and moderate Republicans to show up again. But this time around, because of his age and the possibility that he might not be able to finish a second term, Bidens vice president will be much more consequential in their minds. This means that there are many moderate, principled conservatives and independents who will not, or prefer not to, vote for Trump again. Just enough of them demonstrated as much in the 2022 midterms to prevent virtually all of the major Trump election deniers running for state and national office from gaining power. Their votes helped to save our democracy. Given the stakes, Biden needs to make the case to his party and, more important, to independents and moderate Republicans why Harris is the best choice to succeed him, should he not be able to complete his term. He cannot ignore this issue, because that question will be on the minds of many voters come election time. Its no secret that Vice President Harris has not elevated her stature in the last two-plus years. I dont know what the problem is whether she was dealt an impossible set of issues to deal with, or is in over her head, or is contending with a mix of sexism and racism as the first woman of color to serve as vice president. All I know is that doubts among voters about her abilities to serve as president, which were significant enough for her to quit as a presidential candidate even before the Iowa caucuses in 2020, have not gone away. I wrote a column more than two years ago suggesting that Biden make Harris his de facto secretary of rural development, in charge of closing the opportunity gap, the connectivity gap, the learning gap, the start-up gap and the anger and alienation gap between rural America and the rest of the country. It would have been a substantive challenge and would have enabled her and the administration to build bridges to rural Republicans. Never happened. At the same time, Harris has to make the case for herself, ideally by showing more forcefully what she can do. One thing Biden might consider is putting Harris in charge of ensuring that Americas transition to the age of artificial intelligence works to strengthen communities and the middle class. It is a big theme that could take her all over the country. And beware. Trump is no fool. If hes the G.O.P. nominee, I can easily see him asking a more moderate Republican woman, like Nikki Haley, to be his running mate, knowing that her presence on the ticket could be an incentive that gives at least some of those Republicans and independents who are down on Trump an excuse to plug their noses and vote for him another time. I am terrified of going into this election with a Democratic ticket that gives moderate Republicans and independents who are desperate for an alternative to Trump any excuse to gravitate back to him. Chinese President Xi Jinping will send a delegation to Ukraine to hold talks with all the parties on resolving the conflict there, after his first phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, since Russia invaded the country in February 2022, a media report said. According to Chinese state media, Xi made the proposal during a telephone call on Wednesday with Zelenskiy, offering to help facilitate peace talks aimed at achieving a ceasefire as soon as possible, The Guardian reported. Xi also appeared to pledge that China would remain neutral in the conflict, saying Beijing "will neither watch the fire from the other side, nor add fuel to the fire, let alone take advantage of the crisis to profit", according to China Central Television. However, China remains Russia's top strategic ally in the midst of the conflict. Despite scepticism in Ukraine about China's overtures for negotiations, Kiev has been keen to keep communications open with Beijing, not least after Xi's recent high-profile summit in Moscow where Russia and China pledged "undying friendship". Zelenskiy said: "I had a long and meaningful phone call with President Xi Jinping. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations," The Guardian reported. Zelenskiy's spokesperson Serhiy Nykyforov said on Facebook that the two had "an almost hour-long conversation". Also Read Fact check: Did Asle Toje call PM Modi biggest contender for Nobel Prize? Not optimistic about peace talks in Ukraine war in near future: UN chief Iran to send delegation to Vienna for talks with IAEA, says FM Abdollahian Saudi delegation arrives in Yemen to hold ceasefire talk with Houthi rebels Yemen's warring sides gear up for conflict in 2023 amid stalled peace talks Alibaba slashes Cloud prices by 50% to drive adoption before IPO Alphabet posts $69.7 billion in revenues, beats analysts' estimates First Republic Bank plunges on report of potential buyers for new shares UK gets record demand for debt that acts as protection against inflation Where the next targets lie after UK blocks Microsoft's Activision takeover Commenting on the call, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on that it has noted China's willingness to engage in a peace process for Ukraine. "We note the readiness of the Chinese side to make efforts to establish a negotiation process," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said, The Guardian reported. --IANS san/arm Russia seizes assets of two Western firms The Kremlin said on Wednesday it could seize more Western assets in retaliation for foreign moves against Russian companies, after taking temporary control of assets belonging to two European state-owned utilities. President Vladimir Putin late on Tuesday signed a decree placing the Russian assets of Finlands Fortum and Germanys Uniper , which both operate power plants in Russia, under Moscows control. Russia made clear that the move could be reversed. Uniper said it was reviewing the action against its Russian division Unipro. Fortum said it was investigating and had learned that the companys CEO had been replaced and the unit put under temporary asset management. A spokesperson for Germany's Finance Ministry, which oversees the government's ownership of Uniper, said Berlin needed to assess the concrete implications of Russia's decree. Finland's outgoing minister in charge of state holdings Tytti Tuppurainen tweeted that the information was worrying and that the state, as Fortum's majority owner, would follow the matter closely. Moscow has reacted angrily to reports that Group of Seven nations are considering a near-total ban on exports to Russia, while many have called for tougher sanctions to limit Russia's ability to fight in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the European Union is looking at using frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine. Germany nationalised a former division of Russian energy giant Gazprom last year. - Reuters Diplomats from 20 countries gathered Tuesday in Colombia to discuss the political crisis in Venezuela, where Nicols Maduro's socialist administration has strengthened its autocratic rule despite international efforts to expand political freedoms in the South American nation. The conference was hosted by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who has called for sanctions on Venezuela's government to be lifted, but also for policies that ensure more democracy in Venezuela. Following the five-hour-long meeting, Colombian foreign affairs minister Alvaro Leyva read a brief statement in which he said the participating nations agreed it is necessary for Venezuela's government and opposition parties to set an electoral calendar that ensures free and fair conditions for all involved. Levya also said there was consensus around lifting sanctions if there's progress in negotiations over Venezuela's political future. Delegates from the United States, the European Union, Brazil and the United Kingdom attended the one-day event, which looked at ways to boost ongoing negotiations between the Maduro administration and a coalition of opposition parties known as the Democratic Unitary Platform. Those talks began in Mexico in 2021 but stalled at the end of last year. Also Read US negates legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro as Venezula's interim president Venezuela opposition envoy urges US prez Biden to ease oil sanctions Venezuelan president Maduro to fully open border with Colombia from Jan 1 1.2 million people in Venezuela cut from essential supplies after floods India, Armenia, Iran hold 1st trilateral political consultations in Yerevan Despite ceasefire, Sudan sees acute shortages of essentials, says UN S Korean prez opens Washington visit with spotlight on space, mega deals G20 presidency came at a time when polarization is 'very strong', says EAM World Bank chief economist calls for new approaches to address debt crisis LIVE: Centre declares two-day national mourning for Prakash Singh Badal In the Mexico talks, opposition parties are seeking changes in the electoral system that will ensure a level playing field in next year's presidential election, while Maduro's government wants sanctions on Venezuela's state run oil company to be lifted, and has demanded that the United Kingdom and the U.S. unfreeze its assets in those countries. While the negotiations have advanced slowly, many countries now see the Mexico talks as the best path to overcome the political crisis in Venezuela, where opposition leaders have been forced into exile and those who remain in the country claim that Maduro is an illegitimate president. Geoff Ramsey, a senior analyst on Venezuela, at the Atlantic Council think tank, said Tuesday's conference in Colombia reflected an impressive display of unity around the Mexico negotiations. The fact that the United States was willing to send such a high level delegation to the conference shows there is real political will to put sanctions relief on the table he said. At the end of the day the only thing that's going to tempt Maduro back to the negotiating table is the Biden administration's willingness to lift oil sanctions, and that's exactly what the international community is backing here. However the conference also reflected divisions among Venezuela's opposition, where some factions have questioned Colombia's efforts to mediate the crisis. On Monday, Juan Guaid, the former leader of Venezuela's National Assembly, travelled to Bogota intending to hold meetings with international delegates on the conference sidelines. But after he announced he was in the country, Colombian officials said he had entered illegally and escorted Guaid to Bogota's airport, where he boarded a flight to Miami. Maduro was re-elected in 2018, after judges banned his main opponents from competing. But most opposition parties refused to recognize the election results. Instead they challenged Maduro's rule by creating an interim government led by Guaid, who was backed by the United States and dozens of nations that stopped recognizing Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate leader. The U.S. government also imposed heavy sanctions on Maduro's government that cut its access to U.S. banks and crippled the nation's oil exports, hoping that would spark regime change. But Maduro's government dug in and resisted the sanctions with support from Russia, Turkey and Iran. Guaid's claim to Venezuela's presidency fizzled out over the past two years as his interim government failed to exert control over any institutions. Opposition parties in Venezuela dissolved it late last year, and replaced it with a committee that includes leaders from the nation's three main opposition parties. After Guaid was escorted onto the flight, Petro tweeted that the opposition figure could have applied for asylum but chose instead to enter Colombia illegally. Foreign Minister lvaro Leyva said Guaid apparently wanted to make some noise. As the stalemate in Venezuela continues, many countries have realized that using sanctions to bring about regime change has failed, said Ronal Rodrguez, a Venezuela expert at Bogota's Rosario University. That includes the United States, which last year loosened some sanctions on Venezuela's national oil company, after the Maduro administration and the opposition made an agreement on humanitarian aid. We are moving away form the failed policy of the Trump administration that sought to achieve regime change through sanctions said Juan Gonzalez, the National Security Council's senior director for Western Hemisphere affairs, in an interview with Colombian network NTN. Gonzalez added the U.S. is willing to ease more sanctions if concrete steps toward free and fair elections are taken in the Venezuela talks. President Petro said Tuesday that he is attempting to convince Venezuela to rejoin the Interamerican Human Rights system, and added that establishing an electoral calendar with clear guarantees for opposition groups would be a big achievement in negotiations. The biggest conquest of all is that the hopes and dreams of the Venezuelan people come true he said. Since almost two centuries ago not long after it was identified bubbling up in a creek in western New York the flammable below-ground substance composed of methane and other hydrocarbons has been called natural gas in the US. By Jennifer A Dlouhy Heeringa and other environmentalists are pushing federal regulators to set a policy discouraging companies from using the term natural gas in marketing, arguing it inaccurately casts the substance as a clean, green source of energy. Alternatives pitched by activists include methane gas and fossil gas. Theres nothing natural about fracking; theres nothing natural about thousands of miles of pipelines and theres nothing natural about the indoor air pollution that is associated with gas, said Caleb Heeringa, campaign director of the environmental advocacy group Gas Leaks. Now, some environmental activists say its time to ditch that label. The FTC has long been the arbiter of when a companys claims are illegally unfair and deceptive a statutory bar in the US meant to ensure consumers arent misled. Companies that run afoul of the agencys guidance risk shareholder lawsuits and civil penalties. Their campaign which also seeks to curtail corporate overuse of other terms, including sustainable" and net-zero aims to influence the Federal Trade Commission as it plans updates to its Green Guides, which govern environmental marketing claims. In kicking off the rewrite last year, Chair Lina Khan stressed that rising consumer interest in green products has spurred businesses to tout their sustainability. But when companies making these claims dont tell the truth, it distorts the market for environmentally friendly products and puts honest companies who bear the costs of green business practices at a competitive disadvantage. Also Read IndianOil, Adani-Total, Shell lap up Reliance's KG-D6 gas; IOC top bidder CNG, piped gas prices to be cut but no clarity on deregulation: Analysts Kirit Parikh panel may recommend price caps to help moderate CNG rates In line with new govt rules, Reliance re-auctions gas from its KG-D6 block COP27: Big polluters talking, voices of climate vulnerable stifled IPL franchises try to convince 6 English players to quit Int'l cricket Study highlights regions most susceptible to harm due to heatwaves UK blocks Microsoft's $69 bn deal Activision deal over competition fears China plans to impose underwater denial zone to obstruct submarine activity Singer Freddie Mercury's never-seen possessions to be auctioned in UK The phrase natural gas was adopted in the 1820s to distinguish the product from manufactured gas produced by burning coal and oil. It is a naturally occurring substance, often formed underground from decomposed plants, animals and other organic material. This is the first update of the guidance since 2012, and over that time, climate has become so much more of an economic driver in a bunch of contexts, said Amanda Shanor, an assistant professor and communications law expert at the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School. It appears [the commissioners] are going to do something more significant than they have in the past. The idea that this is just naturally occurring doesnt really relate to the reality of how its marketed or how people perceive it, said Duncan Meisel, executive director of Clean Creatives, a campaign prodding the advertising industry to cut ties with fossil fuel clients. Instead, he said, The word natural plays a very vital role in the perception of the product. But environmentalists asking the FTC to discourage use of the term argue natural is now used strategically to obscure the climate consequences of gas while promoting it as a healthy option, often alongside images of green leaves and blue drops. Attempting to change the name of a long-used commodity to suit political tastes of the day seems to be the complete opposite of FTCs mission, Segal said. It makes the discussion more opaque and less accessible to the general public. Energy industry advocates call the campaign Orwellian. The appropriate way to balance debates about the environmental impacts of natural gas is not to hijack the discussion with made-up terms, said Scott Segal, a Bracewell LLP partner who has represented oil industry clients. The Federal Trade Commission has said the Green Guides are based on how consumers reasonably interpret claims, not technical or scientific definitions. Michael Murray, general counsel with the American Gas Association, said the term has a history of use colloquially and in reference works, legislation and academic journals, and that it is instantly recognizable to customers for what it is: the name of a vital source of energy for tens of millions of Americans. The terminology can make it harder for well-meaning consumers to vote with their dollars in a crowded marketplace, said Tyler Lobdell, a staff attorney with Food and Water Watch. The advocacy group is urging the FTC to clamp down on the description of some foods as sustainably produced, arguing the description often obscures industrial farming techniques. Public surveys show how much the words matter. Some 77% of registered US voters in a 2021 Climate Nexus poll said they had a favorable opinion of natural gas. But when asked about methane the prime ingredient in natural gas only 29% had a similar view. A 2020 Yale University experiment had similar results. First Republic Bank shares slumped to an all-time low on a report that advisers have lined up potential buyers of new stock as part of a rescue plan for the beleaguered lender. By Daniel Taub First Republic shares slid as much as 41% to a record intraday low Wednesday morning, and were down 18% to $6.68 at 11:58 a.m. Theyve declined 95% this year. Advisers will try to persuade big US banks who have already bailed First Republic out once to purchase bonds from the San Francisco-based company at above-market rates for a total loss of a few billion dollars, less than the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. fees associated with any First Republic failure, CNBC reported Wednesday. As part of that plan, the advisers have already lined up possible purchasers for new shares, CNBC said, citing sources it didnt identify. Last month, First Republic staved off a potential collapse after a group of 11 bigger financial firms agreed to park a combined $30 billion in deposits with the lender. JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co. each contributed $5 billion of uninsured deposits each, while other banks deposited smaller amounts as part of a plan devised along with US regulators. A representative for First Republic didnt respond to a request for comment from Bloomberg News. While regulators do not act based on stock prices a steep decline could raise questions on the ability of a bank to raise fresh capital, TD Cowen analyst Jaret Seiberg said in a note to clients Wednesday. We believe there will have to be a broader restructuring of First Republic led by the biggest banks, which have deposited $30 billion in the bank. Also Read Republic Day: Why does India organise a parade to mark the occasion? Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi witnesses Republic Day parade Egyptian president to witness Republic Day Parade as chief guest today Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal extends 'best wishes' to India on Republic Day India vs Kyrgyzstan: India bags Hero Tri-Nation trophy defeating Kyrgyz UK gets record demand for debt that acts as protection against inflation Where the next targets lie after UK blocks Microsoft's Activision takeover Bosch to acquire TSI Semiconductors, invest $1.5 bn in California foundry Amazon layoffs 2023: Employees loose jobs in AWS Cloud Division Microsoft's single day earnings surge to add record $151 bn in value Any restructuring led by giant US lenders could still take days or weeks or months as the banks try to understand what value there is in the franchise and what loss they would be willing to absorb, Seiberg wrote. These banks have an incentive to deal as the political fallout of the FDIC making them whole on their $30 billion of deposits could be serious. Ro Khanna, a US lawmaker of Indian descent, has urged those among the Indian diaspora who have been raising the bogey of growing "Hinduphobia" lately, to focus on unifying issues. Speaking to reporters ahead of a day-long conference he is hosting on Capitol Hill on India-US elections, the lawmaker also indicated that he will push for an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a joint session of Congress during his June visit, which, to be clear, has not been announced officially. Khanna is one of US Congress's three Hindu Americans and his home state California is currently a battleground for Hindu Americans who are trying to prevent the enactment of a proposed law that seeks to ban caste-based discrimination, which they have blamed on, among other things, those opposed to Hindus. The phrase "Hinduphobia" is used by these Hindu Americans to describe and define all and any real or imagined slights. "I grew up Indian American, Hindu American, in the 1980s, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It was 97 per cent, white and Christian. And I didn't know the word Hinduphobia or feel Hinduphobia at any single point in my life growing up," he said recalling something he said in an earlier conversation with someone. "So now we've got all these Hindu Americans and it's all over the...," he added, leaving that sentence hanging. "I think that what we have to focus on as a community is how do we contribute to the American project? How do we be proud of our identity? And obviously if someone feels that they are discriminated against, they should speak up, but my personal experience has been one of great hope for the American people, that they have been very embracing and understanding of people of different faiths. I think you've got Indian Americans leading the most important companies in the world. Now, there was a time you know, back in the 1980s, where people couldn't meet a staffer for a member of Congress. They didn't cry Hinduphobia." Also Read Ro Khanna's US Senate plan sparks speculation about his White House bid India-US relationship can define 21st century: Congressman Ro Khanna Authorities order evacuations in California as deadly storm pounds state US universities add policies to counter caste-based discrimination Karen Bass becomes first Black woman to be elected Los Angeles mayor Russia's Lavrov warns that EU is becoming militarised now, like NATO UK investment minister begins India visit with focus on tech ties Quad leaders to meet in Sydney on May 24, Prez Biden to join: White House India invited to join regional group on Afghanistan: Russian FM Lavrov US companies based in China grow more pessimistic about bilateral ties The lawmaker clearly has no sympathy for those crying "Hinduphobia", which include elements of rightwing Hindu Americans tied to the wider sangh parivar. On Modi's upcoming visit, Khanna said the India caucus, which he co-chairs, could write to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to invite the Indian Prime Minister to address the joint session of Congress, which is an honour that is not extended to every visiting head of state or government. Prime Minister Modi first addressed the US Congress in 2016, Khanna's suggestion, if it goes through, will make him the first Indian Prime Minister accorded this honour twice. All the others had to make do with only one each - Jawaharlal Nehru (1949), Rajiv Gandhi (1985), P.V. Narasimha Rao (1994), Atal Bihari Vajpayee (2000) and Manmohan Singh (2005). --IANS yashwant/sha External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is on a visit to Latin America where he attended the 4th India-SICA (Central America Integration System) Ministerial meeting in Panama. In his opening remarks, Jaishankar said India's motto for the G20 is one earth, one family, one future. "An India that is a digital deliverer, that is an enthusiast of startups, that is a pharmacy of the world, that is a growing manufacturing power, that is a climate leader, and that is science and technology partner," he added. "We admire the role played by SICA in Central American regional integration and thank you collectively and individually for the valuable support that you have extended to forging a strong relationship, as well as supporting India in various international and multilateral forums," Jaishankar said in his opening remarks at the fourth SICA. Jaishankar said as developing countries, SICA members share common perspectives and are confronted with common global challenges. "I can say that we are suffering from the Covid and the Ukraine conflict, but we also have to deal with preexisting conditions, and these are climate change, poverty reduction, and food and energy security, amongst others," Jaishankar added, highlighting various global concerns. Also Read What does the G-20 presidency mean for India? 'US looking forward to support India's G20 presidency': Janet Yellen Crisis in multilateralism affecting developing nations most: PM at G20 meet Another lotus blooms LIVE: Blinken asks for 'contact' with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov World Bank chief economist calls for new approaches to address debt crisis LIVE: Centre declares two-day national mourning for Prakash Singh Badal 'Dramatic decrease' in Islamic State activities in Iraq and Syria: US Ex-New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to join Harvard this year First Republic Bank plans $100 bn asset sale to shore up balance sheet "It is with that (preexisting conditions) in mind that Prime Minister Modi took the initiative of holding the voice of Global South summit of 125 nations in which many of you participated. And in the words of Prime Minister Modi was that no group should claim leadership without thinking of those most affected," Jaishankar said. "Soliciting the views of the Global South, we dump this as essential in our responsibility as the G 20 chair," he added. "2023 is a very special year because of (G20) presidency. But it is also a year of exceptional responsibility because we take up this responsibility at a time when East-West polarization is very strong and North-South divides are getting deeper. The underlying theme of our presidency is Vasudaiva Kutumbakum, which means the world is a family. And again, we have sought to translate this into practical action," Jaishankar said on world unity. "Many of you saw for yourselves during the COVID through the Vaccine Maitri, the Vaccine Friendship Initiative, which focused on this region," he added. "I speak of the G20 at some length because all of us are going to be affected by what the G20 does or does not do. I bring to your attention the thinking of Prime Minister Modi, whose view is that let not the issues that we cannot resolve come in the way of those that we can," Jaishankar said, quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Today, we are gathered here as countries with strong bilateral ties, as a partnership between India and SICA as an expression of the common South-South cooperation to which we are all committed, but also as part of our larger commitment to building a fairer and more just international order," Jaishankar said. "Energy and food security are the two most immediate global challenges that the South faces. There are the longer-term trends, the priorities which will go beyond food and energy security, including those of development, growth, trade, investment, employment, poverty reduction," the EAM said. On the global issues taken up by India, Jaishankar said, "I would like to flag two notable initiatives we took the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. I would urge all of you to see how you can take the most advantage of it." Speaking of the third initiative about the declaration of the International Year of Millets, he said, "Substantial expansion of global production of millets has the potential to address food security on a lasting basis. Not just food security, but also nutritional security, because it is a good source of iron, vitamins and micronutrients." He stated that millets have been part of the Indian tradition for many centuries, and the world would be better served if it was revived. "So, in conclusion, let me emphasize that today it is a new India that seeks to partner with the SICA," he said. "Appreciated the role of Secretary General of SICA, Werner Vargas at the India-SICA FMM. His efforts in supporting the fourth India-SICA FMM were commendable. Agreed to take this forward through a concrete Plan of Action," Jaishankar tweeted. On the sidelines of the SICA, EAM Jaishankar also met his counterparts and various ministers from Central American nations. He met Vice Minister Cindy Rodriguez of Honduras on Tuesday on the sidelines of the SICA ministerial. The two leaders agreed that the India-SICA partnership offers many possibilities. Jaishankar also met Guatemala Vice Minister Roberto Urzua at India-SICA Ministerial. He also met FM Eamon Courtenay of Belize on the sidelines of SICA. The Foreign minister also exchanged words with his Nicaraguan counterpart Denis Moncada on the India-SICA FMM sidelines. Jaishankr also met the Foreign minister of El Salvador FM Alexandra Hill Tinoco. The Central American Integration System (SICA) was set up in 1991 as the revived institutional framework for Regional Integration in Central America. SICA evolved from the original Organisation of Central American States (ODECA) initially begun in 1951 and Central American Common Market set up in 1960. SICA consists of seven full members: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama; and Dominican Republic as the Associate Member (Total 8). The 14 observers in SICA include: US, Chile, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Peru (as regional Observers) and Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Australia (as non-regional Observers). US joined SICA as Observer in 2012 and France and South Korea's Observer status has been approved by SICA's apex decision-making Body and formal agreements are soon to be signed. SICA Secretariat is based in San Salvador. The chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana. In their respective earnings calls on Tuesday, the tech giants, which are becoming rivals in the competition for the future of search, offered up starkly different assessments of just how much disruption is in store for the market. Google executives encouraged investors to trust in the companys long track record as the worlds leading search engine, and framed AI as just another shift in its constantly evolving business. Microsoft suggested that something much more dramatic is underway. Alphabet Inc.s Google and Microsoft Corp., whose quarterly earnings each got a boost from their established search and cloud-computing businesses, used their time with investors to emphasize whats next: artificial intelligence. Until recently, Google was viewed as all but invincible in the market for online search, which it dominates worldwide. That changed with the debut of OpenAIs wildly popular chatbot, ChatGPT. Microsoft has begun weaving OpenAIs technology into its Bing search engine, and the partnership has ratcheted up pressure on Google to reinvent its core search business to allow for more of the conversational exchanges that generative AI makes possible. Investors seemed to like Microsofts thesis better, sending its shares up as much as 7.7% in premarket trading before New York exchanges opened, while Alphabet increased less than 2%. Throughout the years, we have gone through many, many shifts in search, Pichai said. And as we have evolved search, I think weve always had a strong, grounded approach in terms of how we evolve ads as well. Speaking to analysts, Alphabet Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai stressed that Google is investing heavily in AI, yet he downplayed what the technology would mean for the search advertising business, which remains the companys lifeblood. He expressed optimism that users will continue to value online advertising even if their searches yield a summary composed by a large language model, rather than the familiar list of links that Google has long delivered. Also Read Google may lose search on Samsung devices to Microsoft Bing: Report Microsoft adds AI-powered Bing to SwiftKey keyboard app for Android, iPhone GPT-4: Bing to Word and Excel, AI is changing Microsoft platform experience Microsoft adds Bing AI to Windows Taskbar, introduces Phone Link for iPhone 'I want to be human, not a bot': Microsoft's Bing AI is anything but... Silicon Valley company Ohmium raises $250 mn for hydrogen technology Aus inflation passes peak but cost-of-living pressures still felt: Official India asks for cooperation among SCO members to deal with global challenges NASA scientists successfully extracts oxygen from lunar soil simulant Money-market managers rebrand almost $1 trn of funds in form of ESG Billions of dollars in revenue could be up for grabs with even relatively small changes in market share. But in the past quarter, at least, Googles search business appeared to be weathering the heightened competitive threats and a broader downturn in the digital advertising market. The companys revenue from search and related businesses rose to almost $40.4 billion in the period ended March 31, besting analysts estimates. Yet Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella suggested his company is a formidable challenger. He said app installations have quadrupled since the launch of the AI-powered Bing in February. He added that Bing took share in the US market in the quarter, without offering specific metrics. We look forward to continuing this journey in what is a generational shift in the largest software category search, Nadella said on the companys earnings call. Yet the company has ample reason to be worried, said Max Willens, an analyst at Insider Intelligence. Googles core business is facing the most serious challenges it has encountered in quite some time, Willens wrote in a note. As Google moves to incorporate generative AI into search, Pichai said the company would draw on its institutional knowledge. Well be guided by data and years of experience about what people want and our high standards for quality, Pichai said. And well test and iterate as we go because we know that billions of people trust Google to provide the right information. Googles partnerships with manufacturers of Android phones present another opportunity for Microsoft to gain ground. Yet there, too, Pichai suggested that Googles long track record will win the day. When we work with our partners, we work hard to create a win-win experience, Pichai said. And ultimately, partners end up choosing us because thats what their users want. The third in-person Quad summit will be held in Sydney next month, to deepen cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, and other pressing issues pertaining to the strategic Indo-Pacific region, the White House said. The Quad or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue comprises India, the US, Japan and Australia. The meeting in Sydney on May 24 will be the first time that Australia will be hosting this summit. On May 24, President Biden will attend the third in-person Quad Leaders' Summit in Sydney, Australia, with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday. Albanese attended the previous Quad summit in Tokyo hours after he was sworn in as prime minister last year. The Quad leaders will discuss how they can deepen their cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, maritime domain awareness, and other issues that matter to the people of the Indo-Pacific, she said. Also Read Australia to ramp up diplomatic ties with India, Japan in Indo-Pacific Quad committed to supporting Pacific Island countries: Joint statement Tension on Taiwan Strait: What is the dispute between China and Taiwan? Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen begins US visit to shore up support India should strive for win-win situation for all: Rajnath on Indo-Pacific India invited to join regional group on Afghanistan: Russian FM Lavrov US companies based in China grow more pessimistic about bilateral ties Colombia hosts diplomats from 20 countries on Venezuela's political crisis Despite ceasefire, Sudan sees acute shortages of essentials, says UN S Korean prez opens Washington visit with spotlight on space, mega deals President Biden will arrive in Australia after attending the G7 Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima, Japan from May 19 to May 21. India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military manoeuvring in the region. In 2017, the US, Australia, India and Japan 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 region free of any influence. China claims nearly all the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea. UK's Minister for Investment Lord Jo Johnson on Wednesday embarked on a visit to India to strengthen the bilateral investment partnership across technology and life sciences sectors and build momentum behind ongoing trade talks. After arriving in Bengaluru, Johnson is set to visit Pune to meet investors and leading Indian businesses, including Infosys and Zensar, to drum up investor interest in the UK, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said. The visit coincides with Round 9 of negotiations this week between officials working on the UK-India free trade agreement (FTA). "It is fantastic to be in India again visiting the vibrant cities of Pune and Bengaluru to find out how our strong cultural and economic ties mean investors and business leaders continue to choose the UK, said Johnson. He visited Mumbai and New Delhi in October last year when he met with investors and businesses including Apollo Hospitals, Prodapt and Wockhardt. From life sciences to AI [artificial intelligence], now is the time to invest in the UK as we are determined to be the undisputed number one investment destination in Europe, he said. Also Read Indian pharma sector set for 'volume to value leadership' journey in 2023 Biden tells Democrats he wants South Carolina as 1st voting state: Report Apple's VP of health coming to India, to speak at BioAsia event on Feb 25 More people adopting preventive healthcare post-Covid, say experts Kejriwal inaugurates four Mahila Mohalla Clinics exclusively for women Quad leaders to meet in Sydney on May 24, Prez Biden to join: White House India invited to join regional group on Afghanistan: Russian FM Lavrov US companies based in China grow more pessimistic about bilateral ties Colombia hosts diplomats from 20 countries on Venezuela's political crisis Despite ceasefire, Sudan sees acute shortages of essentials, says UN On the eve of the ministerial visit, the DBT described India as a priority market for the UK with Johnson's visit seen as helping to build momentum behind the ongoing FTA negotiations between the two countries. Johnson, a House of Lords peer and the younger brother of former British prime minister Boris Johnson, will also use his visit to promote the Global Investment Summit 2023, which will bring together over 200 CEOs of multinational companies and investment corporations in the UK later this year. According to the British government, the inaugural Summit in 2021 secured nearly 10 billion pounds of new foreign investment on the day, with this year's event set to showcase emerging UK success stories in life sciences, deep tech, nuclear fusion and small modular reactors (SMRs), and manufacturing. The DBT said the UK-India investment partnership is thriving, with over 28 billion pounds invested in each other's economies supporting over half a million jobs. According to official UK government statistics, total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and India was 34 billion pounds in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2022, an increase of 51.7 per cent or 11.6 billion pounds from the four quarters to the end of Q3 2021. India was the UK's 12th largest trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2022, accounting for 2.1 per cent of total UK trade. The Ukrainian government is launching an initiative Wednesday to streamline and promote innovation in the development of drones and other technologies that have been critical during Russia's war in Ukraine. As part of the initiative dubbed BRAVE1, the government hopes to bring state, military, and private sector developers working on defense issues together into a tech cluster that would give Ukraine a battlefield advantage. Considering the enemy that is right next to us and its scale, we definitely need to develop the military tech so that we can defend ourselves, Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's minister of digital transformation, said. Fedorov told The Associated Press ahead of Wednesday's official announcement that the government had earmarked more than 100 million hryvnias (about USD 2.7 million) to fund projects that have the potential to help Ukraine win the 14-month conflict. There are many people on the battlefield now of the young generation that can work with technologies, and they need them, he said. Both Ukraine and Russia make frequent use of unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance and in attacks. Also Read Russian military claims pullout from occupied city; Ukraine sceptical Ukrainian parliament adopts laws to launch membership talks with EU Russian-made missile fell in eastern part of our country, killing 2: Poland Power system functioning despite Russian strikes, says Ukraine PM Ukrainian Olympian auctioning medals to help war effort against Russia YouTube's revenue falls as ads slow down for 3rd quarter in a row Ageing Biden makes Kamala Harris matter much more in US prez polls 2024 Singer, actor, activist Harry Belafonte dies at age 96 in New York Pentagon leaks suggest China developing ways to attack satellites Heat waves, cyclones hit stock mkts across Asia signaling problems ahead Russia extensively uses Iran's long-range Shahed-136 exploding drones, to damage Ukrainian power plants and instill fear in civilians. The Ukrainian government launched a public fundraising drive last year asking foreign donors to help it build an army of drones. The Moscow-appointed head of the port city of Sevastopol in Crimea, Mikhail Razvozhayev, reported this week that Russian forces destroyed a Ukrainian sea drone that attempted to attack the harbour and another one blew up. Ukrainian officials stopped short of openly claiming responsibility, as they had done after earlier attacks on Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. Oleksandr Kviatkovskyi, a board member of combat drone innovation nonprofit Aerorozvidka, sees Brave1 as a platform the military can use to communicate its electronic warfare needs and providing strategic support to the military technology industry. Even one year to develop a product, it's a very short time, he said. However, Kviatkovskyi isn't sure that such platform can create a significant boost for development of war technologies. Even if it does, it will be minimal, he said. Few things can be more effective than the boost created by the tanks near Kyiv, he said, referring to how Ukrainian forces prevented Russian troops from storming the capital during the first weeks of the war. Fevzi Ametov, a Ukrainian soldier and co-founder of Drone.ua, a company that specializes in drones, said businesses and their engineers already try to incorporate feedback from military personnel into their products. Any assault without drones, right now, it's like going blind into a minefield, and you don't know what is waiting for around the corner, he said. Technologies help save lives. Ametov said Ukraine was investing many more resources in military technology than it did before Russia's invasion. He based his assessment on the various models of drones his unit has tried out. We always have something new to test, to understand if it's needed for our unit or not, he said. Ametov, who is originally from Crimea, fights on the Ukraine war's front line while still involved in running his company, which expects to play an advisory role in the BRAVE1 initiative. His company distributes a portable anti-drone gun that uses radio signals to jam drones and to bring them down. According to Ametov, Ukrainian forces are using hundreds of the USD 12,000 guns, which can run for up to 30 minutes on a single fully charged battery, with more and more coming. Every side is trying to use as many drones as possible, Ametov said. When you are staying at the position, this is the only way to protect yourself from the drone. For now, Ukraine and Russia are about on par in their ability to employ drones, according to Fedorov. But when facing an enemy that has more troops and equipment, Ukraine must strive for technological superiority, he said. No matter how much enthusiasm you have to defend your country, you just physically cannot do it, the minister said. That's why it's important to build institutions, so we can convert the energy of all volunteers, businesses and active citizens into concrete big projects that will continue to work for decades, he said. Investment will strengthen pandemic preparedness and accelerate career development for Canadian vaccine researchers April 26, 2023 Ottawa, Ontario Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Global Affairs Canada Canadian and international experiences with infectious disease outbreaks, including most recently with the COVID-19 pandemic, underscore the importance of continuing to build global expertise in epidemic and pandemic preparedness and ensuring Canadian researchers remain leaders in vaccine development. Today, as part of the National Immunization Awareness Week, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, announced an investment of over $100 million to support the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). Through this investment, Global Affairs Canada is providing $100 million to support CEPIs new five-year strategic plan, CEPI 2.0, to help accelerate the development of vaccines and reduce the vaccine development time to 100 days for a range of known and emerging infectious diseases, including those with pandemic potential. It will also contribute to global equitable access to vaccines during outbreaks, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This investment also supports a new partnership between the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and CEPI to provide $2.7 million in grant funding to five Canadian researchers to pursue projects that will help prepare for future epidemic and pandemic threats such as COVID-19, Lassa Fever, and Disease X which represents unknown pathogens with pandemic potential. The recipients of the CIHR-CEPI Leadership Award for Excellence in Vaccine Research for Infectious Diseases of Epidemic Potential are: Dr. Helene Decaluwe, Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine Dr. Alyson Ann Kelvin, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan Dr. Manish Sadarangani, University of British Columbia Dr. David Safronetz, University of Manitoba Dr. Karina Top, Dalhousie University The research projects will range from studying immune responses to enhance vaccine development, to using universal vaccine approaches to protect against future coronaviruses. They will also increase our understanding of vaccine challenges in low- and middle-income countries and build global capacity for vaccine safety evaluation. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has announced the recruitment of constables for a total of 9360 positions. Applicants who are interested and meet the requirements can apply online for the CRPF constable position at the CRPF's official website www.crpf.gov.in.This is an excellent chance for anyone looking for central government jobs in India. The deadline to apply is May 2nd. How to Apply for CRPF Constable Jobs in 2023: Go to the official website at www.crpf.gov.in. Click on 'Applying to the various posts of (Technical & Tradesman) in CRPF'. Navigate to the Register page and fill out the registration form. Select a position, fill out an application form, and upload documents. Pay the application cost and submit it. Print the form after downloading it. Application Fee Male applicants in the General, EWS, and OBC categories must pay Rs 100 in examination fees. SC/ST applicants, female (all categories) candidates, and ex-servicemen are excluded from paying the fee Vacancy Details Constable (Male)- 9105 Constable (Female)- 107 Total =9360. Age Restrictions Minimum age limit: 21 years. Maximum age limit: 27 years. Age relaxation as per rules. Exam Structure The computer-based exam will include one objective-type paper with 100 questions and 100 marks. For each incorrect response, 0.25 points will be deducted. Salary Applicants selected under CRPF Recruitment 2023 for the position of constable will be paid at Pay Level 3 (Rs. 21,700 - 69,100). Selection Process The selection process for the CRPF Tradesman Recruitment 2023 will include an Online Written Exam (CBT), Physical Standards Test (PST), Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Trade Test, Document Verification, and Medical Examination. To make their final selection, applicants must qualify for each stage of the selection process. Computer Based Test Physical Standards Test (PST) Physical Efficiency Test (PET) Trade Test Document Verification Motor Image has finally launched the all-new Subaru Crosstrek at one of its markets, signaling its imminent launch in the next few months in... On Monday, April 24, a supermajority of workers at Austins Powerhouse Animation Studios presented a letter to the companys bosses seeking voluntary recognition to join The Animation Guild (TAG), Local 839. The group also filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to hold a unionization election if it becomes necessary. Whats significant about this announcement? Mondays news made history as it represented the first time that TAG will organize a campaign in a right-to-work state. Its also just the third time that the organization is organizing a campaign outside of L.A. County. Previously, the group successfully organized campaigns at Titmouse New York and among workers at Tooning Out the News. Although most of TAGs experience is in L.A. County, the organization says its working hard to come up with a regionally specific agreement for Powerhouse that will meet the market conditions of Texas animation industry. Whats a right-to-work state? The term described states which have passed legislation that no individual can be forced to pay dues or fees to a labor union as a condition of their employment. That means its up to each individual employee whether or not to join a union, even though they would still be protected by any collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the union. Who will be represented by TAG? The Powerhouse Animation Studios bargaining unit includes 137 workers. Many of the employees work on popular animated series such as Netflixs Castlevania and Masters of the Universe: Revelation. Powerhouse also operates a smaller studio in Los Angeles, which is already signed to a collective bargaining agreement with the Guild. What do Powerhouse employees want? According to a TAG release, Powerhouse employees are looking for improved wage equality and job security protections. What are they saying? Powerhouse Studios character artists Suzanne Sharp said: Every one of our co-workers is integral to the success of Powerhouse, and we all put so much passion and effort into making it happen every day. We have proven ourselves to be great assets to our clients. We want to empower leadership to negotiate on more equal ground with our clients and secure contracts that are fairer and that meet our needs as an animation studio that consistently creates high-quality art. Im so proud to be here and so proud of us all for confirming such an overwhelming supermajority of support to form our Union with TAG. Powerhouse production manager Ryan Arrington added: China to develop satellite constellation for deep space exploration Xinhua) 14:46, April 26, 2023 HEFEI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China will develop a satellite constellation named Queqiao, or Magpie Bridge, to provide communications, navigation and remote-sensing services for deep space exploration, according to a senior Chinese space expert. Speaking at the First International Deep Space Exploration Conference held in Hefei, the capital of east China's Anhui Province, Wu Yanhua, chief designer of the major project on deep space exploration, said that China plans to build the satellite constellation in three phases. A pilot of the constellation will be built around 2030 to support the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration program and the construction of the International Lunar Research Station. And a basic constellation will be built around 2040 to realize regional navigation and provide services for manned lunar exploration and deep space exploration for planets such as Mars and Venus, Wu said. The satellite constellation is expected to be built into an expanded model around 2050 to provide services for exploring Mars, Venus, giant planets, as well as the edge of the solar system, Wu added. As a part of the constellation, Queqiao-2, or Magpie Bridge-2, a relay satellite for communications between the far side of the moon and Earth, is planned to be launched in 2024, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The satellite will serve as a relay platform for the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration program, providing communications services for Chang'e-4, Chang'e-6, Chang'e-7, and Chang'e-8 missions. According to Yu Dengyun, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the future Magpie Bridge constellation will be a space infrastructure and public service platform built and operated in deep space. It will feature the capability of efficient communications, navigation, in-orbit computing, and information storage, etc. During the conference, China's Deep Space Exploration Laboratory launched a global call for proposals for the design of the Magpie Bridge constellation in a bid to gather new ideas and solutions for the future satellite constellation. The International Deep Space Exploration Conference, hosted by the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, is one of the major activities held to celebrate the Space Day of China, which falls on April 24. The two-day event invited more than 500 guests from 14 countries and regions. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions Cleveland State Community College announces that Dr. Linda Cash, director of schools for Bradley County, will be the keynote speaker at the Spring 2023 Commencement. Over 500 degrees and certificates will be awarded during the graduation ceremony on Friday, May 5, 5:30 p.m. in the L. Quentin Lane Gymnasium on the Cleveland State campus.As the director of schools, Dr. Cash oversees the academic programs and administrative functions of 18 schools. She has implemented several initiatives aimed at improving student achievement, including the idea and implementation of the Partners in Industry and Education (PIE) Center.Dr. Cash is an active member of several professional organizations and serves on the Textbook Commission for the Tennessee Department of Education.Dr. Cash said, I am honored and excited to be selected as the Commencement Speaker for the upcoming graduation ceremony. It is a privilege to address the graduates and their families on this momentous occasion and to celebrate their achievements. I have always believed that education is the key to unlocking opportunities and achieving success in life. As an educator and superintendent, I have seen firsthand the transformative power of education and the impact it can have on individuals and communities.Dr. Cash began her career as a teacher. She earned her bachelors degree in health and physical education and later pursued a masters degree in supervision and administration then obtained her doctoral degree in leadership and professional practice. Over the course of her career, Dr. Cash has held various leadership positions in education including principal and assistant superintendent.Dr. Cash is a courageous, visionary leader who has dedicated her career to improving the lives of students. We are honored that she will be our commencement speaker at Cleveland State, said Dr. Ty Stone, Cleveland State president. Our students have worked hard, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements.I want to congratulate the graduates on their achievements and thank the faculty, staff, and administration at Cleveland State Community College for their tireless dedication and commitment to providing an exceptional education to our students, said Dr. Cash. I am honored to be a part of this special day and to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduating class. I look forward to seeing the positive impact that these graduates will have on our community and beyond. La Paz Chattanooga is now accepting nominations for the 2023 Latino Leadership Awards."Started in 2009, the annual awards ceremony has honored notable members of the Latino community whose efforts are strengthening the entire greater Chattanooga area," officials said.We absolutely hated the COVID-induced hiatus to this wonderful and needed annual event, and we are so pleased to bring it back this year, said La Paz Chattanooga Executive Director Stacy Johnson. In addition to making this an evening celebration, weve added new award categories so we can shine a spotlight on even more members of the Latino community who are doing valuable work.The 2023 Latino Leadership Awards will take place on Thursday, Sept.21 at The Westin Chattanooga, 801 Pine St. Three finalists will be selected from nominations in the following categories:Latino Leader of the YearRecognizing Latino/a/e/x individuals who are excelling in their industry as professionals, business and/or community leaders. The Latino Leader of the Year is someone who has contributed to their industry/community, promoting the positive impact of Latinos in Chattanooga.Chattanoogas ChoiceRecognizing influential Latino individuals across all sectors and communities in the Chattanooga region, building cultural bridges and connections to strengthen our local Latino population and the city as a whole.Latino Community Champion Award (organization/business)Recognizing organizations and businesses that have championed services for and/or made a significant impact on Chattanooga's Latino population.Emerging Latino Leader AwardRecognizing the emerging influence and accomplishments of a Latino young adult who is under the age of 25 years. The winner of this category is eligible for a $2,000 educational scholarship thanks to the Anne Shelton Scholarship Fund.La Paz Volunteer of the Year AwardRecognizing the outstanding dedication and volunteer service of one individual's commitment to the work of La Paz Chattanooga. The recipient of this award will be named at this year's ceremony.Latino Business of the YearRecognizing Latino-owned businesses in the Chattanooga area that serve as an economic backbone of our community and are critical in the cultivation of Latino progress in our city.Latino New Business of the YearRecognizing up-and-coming Latino-owned businesses (operating for three years or less) that showcase exemplary business practices and contribute to the cultivation of Latino progress in Chattanooga.Nominations for the above awards are open through May 26. Finalists will be notified by early June, and ticket sales for the event will open to the public soon thereafter.To make nominations for the 2023 Latino Leadership Awards, visit lapazchattanooga.org/awards Investigators with the Chattanooga Police Department have arrested Taiwan Greathouse and Brittany Bell in the death of their two-year-old son. Police said the child was recently taken to a local hospital with signs of distress. The child later passed away and fentanyl was found in the child's system. Greathouse and Ms. Bell have both been charged with first-degree premeditated murder, felony murder, aggravated child endangerment, and two counts of misdemeanor child endangerment. Night shift officers made contact with an occupied vehicle that had been sitting in the Circle K parking lot, located in the 5000 block of Little Debbie Parkway, for over two hours. The occupant, a convicted felon, was arrested and charged with felony possession of narcotics and possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony. They were also charged with unlawful possession of a weapon due to their felon status. A license plate reader camera assisted Collegedale police with locating a stolen vehicle in the 5900 block of Elementary Way. The driver of the vehicle was charged with possession of the stolen property, driving on a suspended license and possession of drug paraphernalia. The owner of the vehicle, stolen from North Carolina, drove to Collegedale and retrieved their property. A minor fender bender was reported in the parking lot of Aldis. An officer responded to a noise complaint in the 8600 block of Kindred Lane. An individual arrested days prior for domestic assault was reportedly violating the no contact order with the alleged victim by repeatedly calling them from the county jail. The court issued a petition to revoke bond warrant for the suspect. An officer responded to an alarm in the 4900 block of Pine Circle. The owner was found to have accidentally set it off with a key fob. Police assisted two disagreeing individuals who were involved in the sale of a vehicle over Facebook marketplace in the 9300 block of Caddo Lane. There were no criminal laws violated. The officers advised both individuals that it was a civil disagreement to be handled between themselves or a civil court. The City of Dalton has named a sole finalist for the position of municipal court administrator after a candidate search. Jason James has been selected as the sole finalist for the position. For the past six years he has served as the court administrator for the City of Hiram, Ga. Mr. James studied education at Auburn University with concentrations in secondary biology and English education. He also holds certifications from the Georgia Council of Court Administrators including a master certificate of court administration which he earned in 2018. He has worked with the City of Hiram since 2010, where he began as an assistant to the chief of police and then moved to the Hiram Municipal Court in 2011. He rose through the ranks there, becoming court administrator in June 2016. Before joining the City of Hiram, Mr. James worked for five years with the Oklahoma City Municipal Court. The City of Dalton is very pleased to add Jason to its leadership team, pending the approval of the Mayor and Council, said city administrator Andrew Parker. Jason brings a wealth of experience from working in the municipal court field in cities large and small for over a decade which will serve the City of Dalton well moving into the future. He is actively involved in the Georgia Council of Court Administrators and has obtained a Master Certificate of Court Administration, a testament to his dedication to the profession. As the sole finalist for the position, Mr. James now awaits the approval of the mayor and council before he can be officially hired. The mayor and council will consider his appointment at their meeting on May 15. That is the first regularly scheduled meeting of the council after the 14-day waiting period required by state law for the hiring of a new department head. Previous Next Chattanooga-based professionals in architecture, construction, engineering, and design hosted the 7th Annual BRIC (Building Recognition in Chattanooga) Awards on Thursday, at the Construction Career Center to recognize the people and projects highlighting the best of the best in the building industry, and supporting the ACE Mentor Program of Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia. BRIC Award Winners are: Associated General Contractors presented: Excellence in Construction Building Renovation to the Big Brothers Big Sisters by New Blue Construction Excellence in Construction New Construction to the PIE Center by TU Parks Construction American Institute of Architects Chattanooga presented: Commercial New Construction o Merit Award for Parkside Hall by Tinker Ma o Merit Award for Kinley Hotel by Tinker Ma o Merit Award for the Bietz Center for Student Life by MBI Companies Residential New Construction o Award of Excellence for Barhaus by HK Architects Renovation & Addition o Award of Excellence for Frazier Five and Dime by Tinker Ma o Merit Award for Lupton Hall at UTC by Franklin Architects American Society Civil Engineers, Chattanooga Engineers Club, Society of Women Engineers, and Tennessee Society Professional Engineers presented: Outstanding Engineering Project Arbor Creek Way Stream Bank Stabilization by the City of Chattanooga American Society of Interior Designers presented: Residential Project of the Year for Barhaus by HK Architects Commercial Project of the Year for the US Xpress Chicago by HK Architects Student Project of the Year for NEXT: Modern Home Technology by Sean Vincion Construction Specifications Institute Chattanooga Chapter presented: Innovative Collaboration of the Year for East Brainerd Elementary by MBI Companies Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga presented: Excellence in Building for The Guild by RP Homes Preserve Chattanooga presented: Preservation Merit Award for Milltown to Collier Construction Preservation Stewardship Award for the Joseph Warner House to Nancy Poston Preservation Stewardship Award for Grey Rocks to Garnet Chapin Sustainability Professionals of Greater Chattanooga and green|spaces presented: Sustainable Project to the Construction Career Center by Artech Design Group, TU Parks Construction, and Associated General Contractors Sustainable Business of the Year to Finley Stadium and Stadium Corporation Sustainable Professional of the Year to Erik Schmidt, Director of Sustainability, City of Chattanooga Peoples Choice Awards were presented to: EMJ Corporation for River Rock Ally Architecture for Infill on Main, Southside Nine Townhomes, and St. Elmo House #1 Rardin & Carroll Architects for Oaks Coffee House MBI Companies for East Brainerd Elementary Collier Construction for Milltown We have an incredible number of high-quality projects that are produced by outstanding professionals in the building industry every year in Chattanooga, and the BRIC Awards provide an opportunity for us to recognize those who are excelling in their professions and in the community. The BRIC Awards aligns with the ACE Mentor Program mission of developing partnerships and recognizing excellence, while supporting our ability to fund scholarships to encourage high school students to pursue higher education and careers in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering professions stated Caitlin Moffitt, TVA Strategic Consultant, and current ACE Mentor Board President. The ACE (Architecture, Construction and Engineering) Mentor Program serves to promote careers in the design and construction industry to high school students. During the program, ACE mentors meet with teams of local high school students to share with them about the design and build processes through project meetings, site visits, and hands-on activities. Each year student teams are given a real-world project and work with their mentors to prepare innovative design and construction solutions. At the end of the program students present their professional work at our annual scholarship banquet. Each year through the generous support of local organizations, companies, and individuals, ACE provides scholarships to local students to help them pursue A-C-E career fields through education and training opportunities post-high school. This year ACE gave out a total of $30,000 in scholarships to four deserving students. ACE is actively working in Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia to invest in the future of the local design and construction workforce. The Tennessee Department of Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division is traveling to events across the state to reunite Tennesseans with missing money, starting this Saturday at the Downtown Gallatin Square Festival.Representatives from the Unclaimed Property Division will attend events in each of Tennessees three grand divisions this year. Tennesseans are encouraged to stop by the Unclaimed Property booth to find out if they have missing money. Division representatives will be on-site to help attendees begin the claims process and answer any questions.People have located hundreds, and even thousands of dollars, in missing money at past events.Unclaimed Property plans to be at the following events in 2023: Downtown Gallatin Square Festival: Saturday, April 29 Collierville Fair on the Square: Saturday, May 6, and Sunday, May 7 Blue Plum Festival in Johnson City: Friday, June 2, and Saturday, June 3 Nashville Flea Market: Friday, July 21; Saturday, July 22; & Sunday, July 23 Tennessee Soybean Festival in Martin: Thursday, Sept. 7; Friday, Sept. 8;& Saturday, Sept. 9 Chattanooga Apple Festival: Saturday, Oct. 21, and Sunday, Oct. 22The events and dates could change based on weather and availability.These events give Treasury staff an opportunity to work directly with Tennesseans to search their names and answer questions about their property claims, State Treasurer David H. Lillard, Jr. said. We encourage you to stop by our booth and take a few minutes to see if you have missing money.Unclaimed property is money turned over to the State by businesses and organizations that were unable to locate the rightful owner. The Unclaimed Property Division is a consumer protection program of the Tennessee Treasury that works to reunite the millions of missing dollars turned over every year with its rightful owners.Anyone can see if they are owed any missing money by searching their name at ClaimItTN.gov, and may file a claim online if they find unclaimed property belonging to them. The searchable online database contains all unclaimed property in Tennessee dating to the beginning of the program. Treasury recommends searching for common misspellings of your name and previous addresses.In Tennessee, there is no time limit or fee to claim unclaimed property. It is held for the rightful owner or their legal beneficiaries until it is claimed.Last fiscal year, the Division returned 50,337 claims, totaling $57.6 million, to the rightful owners. There is currently over $1.2 billion waiting to be claimed in Tennessee. Mike and Brenda Purcell, with RE/MAX Renaissance, have earned the RE/MAX 100% Club Award, which recognizes high-achieving real estate professionals for their service to buyers and/or sellers during the past year. Its a tremendous honor to receive this award, said Mrs. Purcell. As real estate agents with RE/MAX Renaissance we are fully committed to helping our clients and consumers find the home that is right for them. Its truly an honor to be surrounded by such an incredibly supportive firm. Mrs. Purcell has been serving her community as a real estate agent with RE/MAX Renaissance for 14 years and has over 21 years of experience in residential sales. Among her list of achievements, she has earned RE/MAXs prestigious Hall of Fame Award. In addition, she actively supports the community serving as a member of the Greater Chattanooga Realtors. She holds the ABR, SRES and the Certified Residential Specialist certification with the Residential Real Estate Council. A member of Burks United Methodist Church, she serves with homeless missions. Additionally, she is a member of the Judge David Campbell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Southeast Tennessee Substance Misuse Taskforce and supports the Hamilton County Department of Healths Addiction and Dependency Committee. She is a 1993 graduate of Leadership Chattanooga, a past board member of Girls Inc. and past member of the Junior League. She received a B.S. degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She served on the UTC Alumni Board for many years and the University of Tennessee National Alumni Associations Board of Governors. Mrs. Purcell has taught Professionalism in Consumer Affairs, at Middle TN State University and lectured at several universities. Mr. Purcell has over seven years of experience in residential and commercial sales. He is a licensed broker in the state of Tennessee and holds the CRS, and ABR as well as the Resort and Second Home Specialist designations. He is a graduate of the TN Realtors Academy of Real Estate Advancement, the Leadership Academy with GCR, and is a current board member for the Greater Chattanooga Realtors. Mr. Purcell is also a board member for Mustard Tree Ministries which serves the homeless and impoverished in our community. He holds a Mechanical Engineering Degree from Tennessee Technological University and an MBA from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and is a past president of the UTC Alumni Board and UTNAA Board of Governors in Knoxville. Contact Team Purcell at the office 756-5700 or by mobile at 322-0011 or 635-2146. Fans of Chicago P.D. were shocked in Season 10 when Jay Halstead (played by Jesse Lee Soffer) left the force to go fight in Bolivia. Fans had waited a long time for Halstead to get together with Hailey Upton (played by Tracy Spiridakos), and they hadnt been married long when he disappeared. But despite their long journey to the altar, its probably time for Upton to say goodbye to Halstead for good. And soon. Jay Halstead left abruptly Hailey Upton actress Tracy Spiridakos responded to #ChicagoPD season 10's exit of Jesse Lee Soffer as Halstead. "Thank you for your kindness, your guidance and your friendship. Youre the greatest onscreen husband a girl could ask for."https://t.co/7mz0uyXepQ pic.twitter.com/4ovCgdZOEJ Screen Rant (@screenrant) August 31, 2022 Season 10 ended with a big shakeup when Halstead left the series. He had been a part of the show since its debut, so his departure was a huge change. Halstead quit the force and returned to the Army to root out drug cartel leaders in Bolivia, and fans were shocked. Theyve been demanding to know if hell come back ever since. In an interview with Cinema Blend, Soffer explained that it wasnt really his choice whether the character returns or not. I get it. Im very grateful that people love the Halstead character so much, and Im grateful to what we built, as far as the producers and the writers and myself with who that guy was, he said. Its nice knowing that hes still so loved in the universe, but its not up to me whether or not he comes back. So, you know, I cant help anybody there. Of course, it wasnt just his fans who were impacted by his sudden departure. What about the wife Halstead left behind? What will Hailey Upton do now? One of the shocking things about Halsteads exit was how he left his wife behind. Not only did he fail to discuss the decision with Upton, but she also had to learn that hed extended his tour in Bolivia from someone else. As Spiridakos told Variety, Upton has been struggling to figure out what to do next in her life. When she realized that hell be gone even longer, it pushed her even further away from having hope for the marriage. She finds out that hes extended his stay and has that break down moment of having this hope and then all of a sudden, thats gone, she explained. Its the first time we see her break down since hes left, since their goodbye. The official split between the couple seems inevitable, and if recent rumors about the future of the series are true, it might be best for Upton if they call it quits soon. Why she should end the relationship soon Deadline reports that Chicago P.D., along with the rest of the Chicago One franchise, is nearing the end of its latest three-season renewal. The signs are promising that NBC will potentially pick up the series for another three years. This is great news for long-time fans of the show. But if this is true, and Spiridakos decides to stay with the series, then the writers may want to consider making her split from Halstad officialand soon. Until their marriage is over, Upton cant move forward in significant ways. She could spend the next three years spinning her wheels, without being free to explore another romantic relationship. Fans have been pulling for the Upstead romance for a long time. But the way things stand now, it may be time for Upton to find her own path forward. Unless theres a big turnaround in Halsteads life, Uptons first priority should be herself. Fans would probably agree that its time for her to be happy. Prince William Declares Royal Life Is About Strength: You Cant Just Be Carrying Baggage and Throwing It out There Growing up within the royal family, Prince William has learned a thing or two about navigating public life. As the heir to the throne, he claims that the most critical aspect of royal life is strength. He once boldly commented about maintaining privacy, declaring, You cant just be carrying baggage and throwing it out there. Prince William, in a 2017 photograph, believes he doesnt have to put his entire private life on display publicly | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Prince William always understood his destiny as king of the United Kingdom The firstborn son of King Charles and the late Princess Diana always knew his fate. Prince William was trained to succeed his father as king of the United Kingdom from a young age. Diana famously said in a 1995 interview that her son should become king instead of her former husband, Charles. She shared her thoughts with Martin Bashir, per her Panorama interview. Do you think it would make more sense in the light of the marital difficulties that you and the Prince of Wales have had if the position of monarch passed directly to your son Prince William? he asked. Diana replied, Well, then you have to see that Williams very young at the moment. So do you want a burden like that to be put on his shoulders at such an age? So I cant answer that question. Bashir rephrased the question. Would it be your wish that when Prince William comes of age, he was to succeed the Queen? Rather than the current Prince of Wales? Diana replied, My wish is that my husband finds peace of mind. From that follows other things, yes. However, William understood that, in light of the very public issues between his parents and today, regarding his estrangement from Prince Harry, being a member of the royal family means projecting a specific public image. This meant that despite whatever issues occurred behind closed doors, royals must present a certain public face. Prince William once declared, You cant just be carrying baggage and throwing it out there Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Prince William, and Kate Middleton photographed in 2018 on the balcony of Buckingham Palace | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images In an interview for GQ in 2017, Prince William spoke about life in the royal spotlight. He discussed how certain job elements require putting on a brave face. William shared that part of his job meant having his private life scrutinized in a public forum. He revealed that private moments are meant to be kept within the family. You have to project the strength of the United Kingdom. That sounds ridiculous, but we have to do that, William explained public life. You cant just be carrying baggage, throwing it out there, and putting it on display everywhere you go. He continued, My mother put herself right out there, which is why people were so touched by her. But I am determined to protect myself and the children, which means preserving something for ourselves. I think I have a more developed sense of self-preservation. Prince William has remained stoic in light of surprising accusations from his estranged brother Prince Harry We are excited to announce the remarkably personal and emotionally powerful story of Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex. SPARE, the highly anticipated #PrinceHarryMemoir, will be published on January 10, 2023. Learn more at https://t.co/mu9zlwYflf pic.twitter.com/Uq0Noch08C Penguin Random House ??? (@penguinrandom) October 27, 2022 Prince William has kept a stiff upper lip regarding accusations lobbed at him by his younger brother, Prince Harry, in his autobiography, Spare. In public, William remained silent after Harry spoke of several disturbing incidents between them. Harry claimed that his older brother was often jealous of the freedom he was afforded as the spare in his family. He also claimed an angry William pushed him to the floor in 2019 after a disagreement over Meghans alleged treatment of palace staff. On the other hand, Harry also repeats his love for William and looks forward to a future relationship with his only sibling. In interviews promoting his book, Harry says he looks forward to a day when they may come back together but concedes that there has been a lot of pain between the two of us. Prince William will be the only senior royal to participate in King Charles coronation ceremony. He will be his liege man and pledge to live and die for his father during the royal event. A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Turku in Finland has found that mothers who developed prediabetes following pregnancy already had abnormalities within their blood serum metabolomic profile from early pregnancy. In fact, the team found that these women specifically had higher concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles which remove cholesterol and fats from cells before transporting them to the liver for re-utilization or excretion. During pregnancy, womens metabolism undergoes many changes to ensure the growth of their babies. But, aberrations in metabolism during pregnancy were already discovered among women who developed gestational diabetes. And being that gestational diabetes is a key risk factor for type 2 diabetes, the research team was eager to determine whether it was possible to figure out what women are at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes using their metabolism amid pregnancy. So, the researchers conducted a mother-child study at Turku University Hospital and the University of Turku in Finland. They collected blood samples from the mothers during both early and late pregnancy to analyze their metabolic profiles. The team was able to measure the mothers serum metabolic profiles using a technique that recognizes over 200 metabolites as well as their ratios. Afterward, the researchers also evaluated each mothers postpartum insulin resistance and fasting blood glucose using traditional laboratory tests. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. If youve lived with a nut allergy, you know how serious it can be. Severe food allergies are no laughing matter, and its common sense that if you live with someone who has one, you shouldnt be bringing anything theyre allergic to into your home. One woman just got out of a traumatic marriage where her husband didnt respect her food allergies. Now, she lives with a friend and her children, who are doing the same exact thing. She is allergic to coconuts, peanuts, and two kinds of tree nuts. Her nut allergies are so severe that she could end up in the hospital from coming into contact with them, and she feels terribly sick. For two years, she was married and had kids with a man who didnt respect her allergies, and she frequently ended up in the hospital. It was very traumatic, and she finally divorced him. She has a friend who is a mother of two and a recent divorcee. Her friend needed a place to stay, so she thought it would be a good idea if they lived together. Although she didnt have much room, she invited her friend and her children to live with her in her house. Theyve all been living together for the last eight months. She is more than aware of the allergy and what happened in the marriage, she said. Despite that, there have been a few instances where her friend and her kids brought nuts or food with nuts into her house, and shes gotten sick. She thought they were trying to do better and be more diligent about not buying things with nuts in them anymore, but she was wrong. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. If you live or are from Connecticut, chances are youve heard of Dudleytown. But, if you havent, now is your opportunity to learn about the freaky abandoned town. Dudleytown has been abandoned for years, and now people cannot even access the site where it used to lie because of the constant trespassing and vandalism that occurred there. But what was Dudleytown before it was a ghost town? Dudleytown was located in Cornwall, Connecticut. Legends say it received its name because many members of the Dudley family lived there. The Dudleys and other settlers began arriving there in the mid-18th century. For a while, the community thrived. They forged iron, farmed, and built homes. However, the communitys prosperity did not last long. There was a sudden downfall. Many attribute the communitys failures to the iron industry in the area declining, the farmland depleting, etc. But there is also a legend that the Dudley family was cursed, which wreaked havoc on the town. Many members of the Dudley family met tragic or strange demises, and some even say they took an interest in mythical books that were responsible for cursing them. Although the community was successful for a while with its iron and farming, there were a number of inexplicable deaths that occurred. Supposedly several of those deaths were due to suicide and even alleged demon possessions. It quickly became a damned town. The town continued to dwindle, and its people died off and fled until around the 20th century, when it was officially abandoned and left in the forest. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Plenty of people complain about how horrible landlords are, but tenants can commit outrageous acts as well. One man has taken to TikTok to talk about something wild that happened on his property, resulting in several court hearings. TikToker and landlord Steve (@magicmansteve1) is describing how his tenants crazy ex-girlfriend broke into his property and refused to leave. So a couple had moved into one of Steves houses. The boyfriends name was on the lease but not the girlfriends. One day, they got into a fight. The boyfriend moved out and headed to New York but continued to pay rent for the house. The girl also left, so the place was empty. Three to four months passed by without anyone living on the property. But then, the girl broke into the house by smashing a window. Steve found out about the break-in after his tenant informed him that his ex was in the place without permission. She wasnt supposed to be there because since his name was the only one on the lease, he had the right to allow or deny whoever he wanted in the house. So Steve called the police to get her out of the house, and in response, she claimed that Steve was harassing her. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Pixabay/Jacqueline macou Under the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, several limitations, particularly regarding the practices of Catholics, were imposed. One example of this would be the processions held by Catholics as part of their celebrations during Holy Week. A report from Vatican News stated that after the surge of anti-regime rallies violently put down by the government in 2018, relations between the Ortega government and the Nicaraguan church deteriorated once more. Moreover, following the disputed elections in 2021, which resulted in the re-election of the Sandinista regime, relations between the two countries deteriorated even worse. Throughout the beginning of the crisis, several assaults and heresies have been committed against the church, in addition to the harassment and intimidation of bishops and priests. The Nicaraguan administration is accused of carrying out 396 attacks against the Catholic Church of Nicaragua between April 2018 and October 2022. These attacks included offensive paintings in churches and physical assaults, exiles, and arrests. The Tension Between Catholics and Ortega and Murillo Dictatorship According to El Pais, the Ortega and Murillo administration made it illegal for Catholics to reenact the Stations of the Cross during the observance of Lent in the middle of February. They then expanded the prohibition to include any activities during Holy Week. As mentioned, at least twenty Nicaraguans have been arrested due to religious persecution throughout April. The scope of this persecution increased during the week of Easter when the police banned processions and other Catholic traditions from taking place in public spaces, which led to an intensification of the scale of this persecution. Critics of the Ortega government have been the ones to offer information on the detentions. Also Read: Following Ortega Proposed Suspending Diplomatic Relations, Vatican Closes Embassy in Nicaragua Holy Week Restrictions As per The Catholic World Report, even during Holy Week, the dictatorship of Ortega and Murillo in Nicaragua has not called an end to its campaign of persecution against the Catholic Church in the country. The following are some of the processions restricted by their dictatorship. 'Cyreneans' tradition The tradition of the "Cyreneans" was made illegal by the police in the town of Nindir, which is located inside the Masaya district. The ceremony honors Simon of Cyrene, who, on the route to Calvary, assisted Christ in carrying the cross he was required to take. One of the young devotees stated that the authorities started following them as if they were criminals, even though they only wanted to continue a religious and cultural tradition passed down through their families for many years. As long as people continue to practice their religion openly, the only goal that the police have is to intimidate everyone in society and outlaw any public displays of Catholicism. Aquatic Via Crucis of Granada The Via Crucis is a religious tradition and a tourist attraction that benefits the local economy, particularly for the boatmen affected by this ban. The L.A. News reported that on a day like today, the vessels that follow the image of Jesus Nazareno have a practice of departing from El Diamante Shipyard and tomorrow from Marina Cocibolca. At each of the 14 stations in the islets, dozens of devotees atop their boats pray enthusiastically. The faithful of the San Judas Tadeo parish of the El Diamante Shipyard community has been in charge of leading the aquatic Way of the Cross on Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for the past several years. However, this year, they have expressed their disappointment at learning that all the processions within the Diocese of Granada will not occur. A parishioner noted, "The fact that we cannot carry out our Easter traditions does not mean an outburst of our faith, because we as Catholics will gather in our temples, to live the mystery of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ." Related Article: Nicaraguan Government Bans Traditions for Holy Week Pexels/energepic.com Jose Silva, a Milwaukee resident who was intoxicated when he ran four red lights and crashed, killing Wisconsin Pastor Aaron Strong, received a sentence of 12 years in jail followed by six years of probation. On October 12, 2022, Silva, then 23, struck the pastor's 40-year-old automobile in downtown Milwaukee before entering a guilty plea in February. He had been accused of second-degree reckless homicide. Wife of Slain Pastor Reacts to 12-Year Sentence for Intoxicated Driver According to the report shared in Christian Post, Abbie Strong has spoken out on the effects of the tragedy on her family in the wake of Jose Silva receiving a 12-year prison term for being the drunk driver who killed her husband. Abbie, who must now care for her children alone, revealed that part of their weekly schedule is going to counseling to help them deal with the trauma they have encountered. Silva expressed his repentance during the court hearings, admitting that the suffering he had brought about was always there and saying that he frequently prayed for individuals who had been harmed. Abbie acknowledged that the sentence, including a 12-year imprisonment, was worse than anticipated. She stressed once more that neither family has won in this awful circumstance, with the events of October 12 leaving both families inconsolable and devastated. Following the catastrophic collision on October 12 that claimed Pastor Aaron Strong's life, Jose Silva's irresponsible actions on new security footage presented in court have been disclosed. According to TMJ4, due to his tardiness, Silva rushed through multiple red lights and drove into oncoming traffic while exceeding the posted speed limit. This resulted in a collision with Aaron's car, which killed him. Aaron had just picked up his two kids from school the morning of the accident and was on his way to his job at the Grace Lutheran Church in downtown Milwaukee. The case's judge, Jean Kies, declared that despite Silva's lack of criminal history, his acts called for harsh punishment. She made it clear that she wanted the 12-year prison sentence to leave the community with a clear understanding of the dire consequences of careless and drunk driving. Also Read: Elderly Man Crashed Into Office of Grace Church of Mentor Due to Medical Emergency Intoxicated Driver's Speed and Alcohol Level Led to Fatal Crash; Family Members Apologize According to another source, WQOW, Jose Silva had a blood alcohol concentration of.193 and was driving at 74 mph in a 30 mph zone, according to the prosecution. Silva's blood alcohol content was more than twice as high as Wisconsin's 0.08% legal limit. The previous evening at his house, he had consumed alcohol. Margie Wade and Natalie Mizysak, Silva's two elder sisters, spoke highly of their brother and discussed their family's problems due to their father's long-term drug and alcohol addiction. The event also made Silva's drinking issue clear. Wade apologized to Aaron's family on behalf of her own, adding that this terrible accident and tragedy had ruined both of their families. Wade was visibly upset as she spoke. Related Article: Milwaukee Man Pleaded Guilty Following Car Crash Accident That Killed Grace Lutheran Churchs Pastor, Aaron Strong Pixabay/Rudy and Peter Skitterians Two miles from the shore of Lake Erie, St. Mary Church held its final mass after 136 years. Between the stained-glass windows, the pews were full of attendees who had spent a lifetime creating memories. Many, including 94-year-old Janis Robison, had participated in the church's community their entire lives, attending weddings, baptisms, and other important events. The church's closing marked a poignant and emotional conclusion for its long-time members. Declining Church Attendance and Changing Social Landscape Leads to Church Closures in Ohio Due to the steadily declining population in the area and financial strains, St. Mary's Church, the ninth to close in the Youngstown Diocese in the previous two years, held its final mass. According to WYSO, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the parish ceased holding mass at St. Mary's and combined services with a nearby church for better hygienic conditions. The success of the action led to the decision to make the collaboration permanent. The closure will free up money for other ministries, such as the parish's soup kitchen and the potential sponsorship of a Ukrainian family, according to Nicholas Perkoski, the diocesan pastoral associate for the parish. Although the decision to close the church was challenging, it has become more typical among Christian congregations in Ohio. As the state of Ohio experiences a significant drop in attendance and a shifting social climate, churches all over the state are closing their doors. The Cincinnati Archdiocese recently consolidated nearly three-quarters of its parishes due to a 20% drop in weekly church attendance over a decade. The Diocese of Columbus plans to close 19 churches this summer. The problem is not limited to Catholic churches, as declines are also being seen among Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, and Episcopalians. According to the article shared in Statehouse News Bureau, baptist pastor and Eastern Illinois University professor of political science Ryan Burge attribute the trend partly to politics and the widening gap between religious Republicans and secular Democrats. He also cites the rise of social media and a cultural shift away from joining social groups as contributing factors to the decline. Within the next 20 years, according to Burge, there will be a significant shift in American religion, with thousands of empty churches and entire denominations closing their doors. Also Read: Church Founded In 1848 Closing Due To COVID: 'The Pandemic Killed Us' The Continued Decline of Christianity As congregations decline and younger generations drift away from Christianity, researchers have noticed a sharp rise in closing churches across the US. This trend has most likely been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Article in The Guardian, the number of Protestant churches in the US did not increase in 2019, with roughly 4,500 of them closing and only 3,000 new ones opening. According to experts, closures have since continued at a similar or higher rate. Despite the pandemic's influence, there has been a longer-running, broader trend of people drifting away from religion. According to Lifeway Research, seven out of ten young adults who regularly attended church in high school stopped doing so. Logistics problems and the perception of judgmental or hypocritical behavior from church members are two causes of this. A quarter of those who left the church it was also stated that they disagreed with its political and social stances. Related Article: Final Farewell: 16 Remaining Nuns Close the Door on 140-Year History of Mount Angel Monastery in Oregon Pexels/Andrew Patrick The authorities are investigating the recent theft of the LGBTQ+ pride flags from outside Stratham Community Church. The flags were taken from the church's location at 6 Emery Lane during the thefts on April 3 and April 19. Pastor Westley Conn expressed his disappointment over the thefts and emphasized the importance of their religion's teachings, which demand unconditional love for oneself and one's neighbors. He emphasized the need to continue sharing God's love and embracing LGBTQ+ people in Stratham. Stratham Community Church Faces Challenges in Upholding Inclusive Values A colorful rainbow-colored flag has been flying high in front of Stratham Community Church for almost 20 years to represent the congregation's commitment to inclusivity and support for the LGBTQ+ community. According to the shared article in Yahoo! News, the church, led by Pastor Westley Conn, has publicly embraced and welcomed people of all sexual orientations and gender identities since 2005. The church has consciously decided to declare its support for the LGBTQ+ community, and the pride flag there symbolizes that commitment. Pastor Conn, who is committed to fostering a welcoming environment, reaffirmed that their faith requires unconditional love for oneself and one's neighbors. Stratham Community Church has long been dedicated to inclusivity, but recent times have been difficult. Prior to these instances, the church had never received any criticism for its display of the pride flag or commitment to inclusivity, according to Pastor Westley Conn and office manager Kristen Dussault. However, a church employee saw someone take down the pride flag on March 31 at around 5 p.m., put it in a waiting vehicle, and then leave. The witness managed to take a snapshot of the occurrence, which they later gave to the police, even though they were unable to stop it in time. According to the story in Seacoast Online, the church bought a new flag to replace the stolen one because they were determined to keep spreading their message of inclusion despite the loss. The new flag was blessed and mounted on April 16. Dusseault claims that a neighbor at nine o'clock that night verified its presence. April 18. Sadly, Dusseault found out the following day that the flag had been torn down once more. Dusseault emphasized the church's unwavering commitment to tolerance and acceptance, especially in the face of such challenges, while mentioning that the incident had been reported to the police. The congregation of the Stratham Community Church continues to work toward spreading love and understanding despite the obstacles they have faced. The church is committed to providing a welcoming atmosphere for all. Also Read: Biggest South Carolina UMC Church Considers Departure from Denomination Amid Homosexuality Controversy Recent Attack On UMC Church Supporting the LGBTQ Community The governing body of Chicago's Holy Covenant United Methodist Church has been frustrated but resolute to promote acceptance and love despite the multiple vandalism incidents that have occurred there over the past year. According to the recent story shared here in Christianity Daily, offensive graffiti has been added to the welcome sign, pride flag, and encouraging messages on the church property. Since there has been an increase in these incidents, Reverend Jennifer Stephens has notified the police and rallied the neighborhood to spread awareness even though she does not know who is responsible. With his resolve to be more assertive and vocal in reaction to the targeted attacks, Rev. Stephens' attitude exemplifies the church's dedication to fostering love, acceptance, and inclusivity even in the face of difficulty. Block Club Chicago added that Chicago's Holy Covenant United Methodist Church had experienced serious vandalism, including food scraps on the church's Pride flag post, Bible texts that target LGBTQ+ people, and food scraps on the church's placards. Rev. Stephens responds by remaining unwavering and promising to convey their message even more forcefully. Additionally, obscene outbursts have caused services to be cut short, and a picture of Jesus holding a rainbow was taken. Rev. Stephens emphasizes that breaking the flag post would not have been an easy undertaking and that the degree of the damage implies that the criminals put a lot of effort into their actions. Related Article: Persistent Vandalism at United Methodist Church in Chicago Prompts Pastor to Seek Police Intervention Change like this cant be fulfilled by any political ideology, government, social agenda, or cultural shift. Change like this starts in the heart. I read about it in the news. The places where chaos, calamity, devastation, war, and persecution have erupted. One day, a child is living; the next day, she might die. And this happens every day, all over the world. It could be because of an earthquake, it could be due to malnutrition, it could be due to war, or it could be because of ones beliefs. Lives that were once full of hope remain uncertain with challenges and the toils of daily living. Ive been fortunate, as an immigrant to the U.S., to live in a country where I do not live with the daily threat of starvation or war. Our familys situation allowed us to immigrate. Not everyone is that fortunate. Thirty-six and a half million of the worlds displaced people are children under the age of 18. I encounter statistics like these on a regular basis, and they soon become simply numbers floating in the news, amid so much other bad news. I read of tyrannical regimes, where fear runs rampant. I become numb and move on to the next headline, reading of the next disaster, and the next, feeling helpless and lost. And that is perhaps the scariest thing of all: that I recognize this numbness and coldness in my own heart. Compassion fatigue. Indifference. Hatred. It starts with me. It starts with one heart. One person, one neighbor, one word, one grudge, one remark, one spark of bitterness. One action multiplies, indifference soaks in, and hatred spreads. My own heart is capable of that. I am not exempt. None of us are. Russian novelist, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, after having spent twelve years in a Russian gulag, wrote: Bless you prison, bless you for being in my life. For there, lying on the rotting prison floor, I came to realize that the object of life is not prosperity as we have been told, but rather the maturing of the human soul. Spending twelve years in a Russian labor camp will produce something in a person. It will either be character, or bitterness, but there will be a result. I cant imagine spending twelve years like that. Where does a persons hope come from? How does a person keep from falling into despair over the daily drudgery, injustice, and cruelty? How and where? Our prisons, our hardships, our trials, and our storms can expose something that fair weather obscures from our view. They show us a piece of truth that we need to know. They reveal to us why we are here and what is important. What we each might take away during our trials is different. For Solzhenitsyn, losing years of his life rotting on the prison floor was not about gaining more prosperity; rather, it had to do with something more, something permanent and solid: the maturing of the human soul. The maturing of the human soul. What a gift we have if we can get to that place without a prison to take us there. In my experience, its often the dirty floor of grief, pain, or tragedywhere our tears have washed the groundthat teaches in a profound way what is really important. It brings us back to the face of God, where everything makes more sense. It doesnt all make sense, because the answer to suffering is a question each human heart must wrestle with. I, or we, will never understand it all. I certainly dont. But when everything else is taken away, we can clearly see what is important, real, and true. Each one of us has a decision to make, even if were not rotting in a prison or living in a war-torn country. Were still living with daily decisions of making sense of suffering and answering this question of tragedy around us. What will we do with indifference? It starts with me. It starts with us. Change like this cant be fulfilled by any political ideology, government, social agenda, or cultural shift. Change like this starts in the heart. This kind of change starts with the emptying of ourselves, like Jesus, who being in the very nature God... made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant (Phil. 2: 6-7 NIV). He becomes our model for loving service for others and a life that starts in descent, in emptying ourselves so that Jesus can fill us with Himself. Its how we pick ourselves up from the sorrows in our lives and all around us. Its what we need, and must, do. We cant solve everything, but practically speaking, we can pick a couple of causes, one local and one global, to support. Full of myself? Full of the world? Look at the news and we can see where that gets us. Empty of self and full of Jesus? Thats what I want. Thats what we need. The Better Samaritan blog is produced by the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College, which offers a M.A. in Humanitarian & Disaster Leadership and a Trauma Certificate. To learn more and apply, visit our website Prasanta Verma is a writer and speaker. She was born under an Asian sun, raised in the Appalachian foothills, and resides in the upper Midwest. She writes on the topics of diversity and culture, with published works in numerous print and online publications, and has a book about ethnic loneliness forthcoming in 2024 with InterVarsity Press. Gratitude is all the rage these days. Since the mid-2000s, when the writings of positive psychologist Robert Emmons got the train rolling, a veritable industry has sprung up around the study of gratitude. A number of research projects, special academic journal issues, reference books, and entire scholarly monographs are devoted to the topic. There are also hundreds of journals, phone apps, and podcasts offering practical advice on how one can lead a grateful life. Christians should welcome all of this. We are, after all, supposed to be a grateful people, perhaps the most grateful of everyone. And considering the malaise of post-pandemic life, our embittered political polarization, and the vitriolic cancel culture todayits hard to imagine a better time for us to double down on the value of gratitude. For Christians, of course, gratitude should begin and end with our thankfulness to God. And yet many of us do not experience this with the kind of frequency, intensity, and durability that seem appropriate given how extraordinary Gods benefits are. Why do we struggle to be consistently grateful to God, even when we believeor at least say we believethat God is our ultimate and incomparable benefactor? One problem is inattention. We may know in an abstract sense that God is the greatest Giver, but until we start paying attention to where Gods gifts show up, were not likely to experience gratitude. Another issue is resentment. We know God is often good to us, but were also mad when God doesnt give us what we want, so we withhold our gratitude. Paying more attention and dealing with our resentment are crucial if we are to grow in our gratitude toward God. But even when we are trying to be attentive and even when we are not angry at God, it can still be difficult to live in a posture of consistent gratitude. The positive psychology movement often presupposes that we already know what to be grateful for; all that is lacking is our attention and effort. But gratitude to God is not the sort of thing that springs naturally from the human heart. Think about the features that really trigger your spontaneous gratitude response. We experience thankfulness most spontaneously and intensely when a giver unpredictably and at great personal cost bestows us with a benefit that quenches some desire we had. Yet Gods benevolence to us stretches every part of this common context for gratitude to the breaking point. For while the form of Gods kindness to us can be unexpected, he is bound to be omnibenevolent by his very natureunlike our friends and spouses. In other words, why should we be surprised when God blesses us? Article continues below Not only that, but unlike our human loved ones, God is not limited by time, energy, money, or knowledgeand so in what sense does it really cost God to be generous toward us? We can also be critical of the fact that God can give us a gift but still maintain a claim over it. For instance, God may cure our cancer tomorrow only to permit it to return in six months. As the life of Job attests, even Gods blessings may at any moment turn to tragedies. The Lord gives and the Lord has takes away, as Job puts it (1:21 NET). This means that if our gratitude is only of the count your blessings variety, we are sure to end up cursing God, just like Jobs wife urged. But most confusing of all is that God can sometimes give us what we do not desire: gifts that no one longs forlike trials and tribulations, which Paul says God uses to grow our faith. When we consider thankfulness to God only in the context of stereotypical interpersonal gratitude experiences, we end up focusing on his daily blessingslike good health, good job, beautiful family. But this mindset risks turning God into a cosmic vending machine whose primary role is to give us what we want. Instead, Paul says he has learned to be grateful and content whatever the circumstances (Phil. 4:11)speaking of his suffering for Christ (1:2930; 3:10) in the same breath. This reveals a striking difference between the goods of Gods kingdom and those of this world. Paul further encourages the Christians in Philippi to think of these qualities as gifts: Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableif anything is excellent or praiseworthythink about such things (4:8). Therefore, biblical gratitude is shaped by what God considers to be lovely, true, honorable, just, and worthy of praise. As John Chrysostom explains in his sermon on Philippians, What means, whatsoever things are lovely? Lovely to the faithful, lovely to God. Such gifts of the kingdom give us everything we need to be Gods friends foreverbut they are often very different from the kinds of blessings the world values. Jesus speaks of this when he praises God the Father for hiding the kingdom of heaven from the wise and learned and revealing it to little children (Matt. 11:25). Article continues below Often, the gifts of God are neither simple nor straightforward. In fact, they can destabilize us and reveal our basic fragility, emptiness, neediness, and waywardness. Because of this, it takes work to cultivate gratitude toward God. As Jen Pollock Michel argues in Teach Us to Want, this is part of a larger process by which we learn to develop holy desire in alignment with Christ. In a Christmas sermon, theologian Samuel Wells once preached that God was the ultimate materialist because he reverses our petty desires for toys and trinkets into a sacred longing for God-with-us in the embodied, material Jesus. When Paul says, Whatever you do, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks (Col. 3:17), he is grounding gratitude beyond the gift of creation and in the gift of our new life in Jesus Christ. As Michael Gorman notes, Paul taught that the whole of the Christian life must be renewed in the image of Christ, including our gratitude for Gods unconventional gifts. Only a transformed lifeone that Paul describes as being in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17)can create in us a new set of eternal desires and a different disposition of gratitude. So, it is not that Christians are supposed to be more grateful than the average person but that following Jesus allows us to be grateful for the unexpected gifts of Godwhich may surprise, upset, and confound the gratitude of an unbelieving world and even baffle us in our flesh. Thus, Christian gratitude is the mark of a new life empowered by the Spirit as we are trained and transformedsometimes painfullyinto people with strange desires who can receive and delight in strange gifts offered in strange ways by a strange God. This is a whole new way of being in the world. As Barth says, Gratitude is to be understood not only as a quality and an activity but as the very being and essence of the Christian. At its heart, Christian gratitude is first and foremost learning to receive ourselves from God. And Christianity itself is extended training in how to be grateful for who we are at our core: needy creatures who live by grace. This is a giftbut a difficult one to receive with gratitude. When we learn to receive our lives as gifts from God, we begin to see more clearly what God finds commendable. This, in turn, allows us to appreciate a new way of being pleased and to identify and enjoy what is excellent and praiseworthy in a whole new light. Kent Dunnington is professor of philosophy at Biola University in La Mirada, California. Benjamin Wayman is the James F. and Leona N. Andrews Chair in Christian Unity at Greenville University in Greenville, Illinois. Alliance University, known until a name change in 2022 as Nyack College, faces the loss of its accreditation due to financial troubles, after a 2022 audit cast doubt on the school as a going concern. Accreditors visited the Manhattan campus on Monday, and a June hearing will determine the schools accreditation status. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) recently placed Alliance on show cause status, meaning the school must show why its accreditation should not be revoked. MSCHE also placed The Kings College in this status last month, threatening the only two historically evangelical colleges in Manhattanand the only two Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) members in New York Citywith removal of accreditation at the same time. The schools troubles are part of a larger crisis in Christian higher education. Alliances auditors in 2022 noted recurring losses in net assets and recurring negative cash flows from operations that caused them to doubt its ability to continue. MSCHE put Alliance on probation in June 2022 just before the schools audit was released. But an audit of the school in 2017 also warned of a failing institution, and Alliance has survived the years since of declining enrollment and a pandemic. It has been coming out of its financial free fall, especially with support from its parent denomination, the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA). Enrollment last year was up 12 percent, and the school expects to have a positive cash flow for the first time in a decade next year, Alliances president Rajan Mathews told CT. Applications for next year are up significantly, and the school cut $4 million from its budget, Mathews added. The school has about $33 million in operating expenses. The escalation from the accreditor was a surprise, Mathews said, since retention is improving, fundraising is up, and the school has financial backing from its denomination. We have a cautiously optimistic forecast for next year, Mathews said. We felt that Middle States should have given us a little more time to prove the pudding. We thought we had about two years. We were putting in place all the improvements. A historic C&MA school founded in 1882 to train missionaries, Alliance is one of the most ethnically diverse Christian colleges in the United States, with a student population that this year is 34 percent Latino, 30 percent Black, 11 percent international, and 9 percent Asian. Most Alliance students come from New York Citys five boroughs, and 45 percent receive Pell grants, which means they have exceptional financial need. Almost half of the students are the first in their families to attend college. Many churches in the New York area are led by Alliance graduates, including Pastor A. R. Bernard (an Alliance Theological Seminary alumnus) at the largest evangelical church in the city. Another alum, Pastor Gil Monrose, is the head of the New York mayors faith-based office. Pastor A. B. Simpson started the C&MA denomination in New York in the 1880s after leaving his Presbyterian church that would not accept Italian immigrants. A century later, members of the denomination started a refugee resettlement effort that later fueled the launch of World Reliefs resettlement program. Afghan refugees now are students at Alliance University. Alliance has had significant annual deficits for about a decade, at one point operating as much as $12 million in the red. In 2019 tax filings, the school was creaking under $85 million in debt, mostly mortgages. It was trying to sell its historic Rockland County, New York, campus while moving classes to a new property in lower Manhattan. The school had decided a few years before that a campus based in Rockland was not financially viable. Enrollment and retention were patchy in 2019 because the school went back and forth about when all classes would move to Manhattan instead of Rockland. Classes began in full in Manhattan in spring 2020, just when the pandemic hit. The pandemic brought a significant drop in enrollment, which put the school in a downward spiral, said Mathews. Enrollment in undergraduate and graduate programs has fallen from a peak in 20102011 of 3,369 to 1,944 currently. The student population we focus on suffered the most during COVID[-19], he said, because they are often economically disadvantaged. In 2020, the school finally sold the Rockland campus, bringing $28 million in gains on the sale, which was used to pay down debt, the 2022 audit shows. That left the school with $51 million in debts, according to the audit, bringing it much closer to balancing with its assets. The full mortgage on the schools Manhattan property is due in 2026, but the property is appraised at $85 million now, according to the 2022 audit. Mathewsa telecom executive who worked in India, Afghanistan, and the USwas named president in May 2021. Coming from a business background, hes learned that with the six-month sale cycle in academia, he has to wait longer to see what works than he did in business. The lead time to correct everything is much longer in academia, he said. The Kings College, just around the corner from Alliance, faces threat of closure at the end of this school year. Alliance has a very different set of circumstances, and its leadership expects that the school will continue. Alliance (1,944 students) is larger than Kings (384 students) and has a denomination backing it. Kings has instead had the backing of a for-profit online education company, Primacorp, as well as a board with four Primacorp appointees. But Kings recently announced it was cutting ties with Primacorp, removing the Primacorp board members, and bringing in eight new board members. Both schools received federal Paycheck Protection Program loans that were forgivenKings received $1.8 million, and Alliance received $2.8 million. Alliance has had a more stable board and has avoided the dramatic presidential turnovers that have characterized Kings, where one former president, Dinesh DSouza, was convicted of federal corruption charges. Alliance is discussing whether it could sell two floors of its lower Manhattan building, because it doesnt need them all. Last year Alliance offered a floor and a half to Kings on very attractive terms, said Mathews, and they refused. It would have made all the sense in the world for us and Kings to play well together, he said. For some reason we did not get a lot of cooperation from Kings. But their board makes their own decisions. Kings said in a statement that it was open to collaborations with other schools, especially with good schools like Alliance University. In this case, it was not a fiscally prudent decision for the college to pursue at the time. Kings describes itself on its website as the only Christian liberal arts college in New York City. Kings has been working to secure transfer agreements for students in the event of closure. As part of this show cause status with accreditors, Alliance is also required to have a teach out plan for students, in case they need to finish their education elsewhere. But the school does not think that will happen, projecting another increase in enrollment next year. Mathews attributed the rise in enrollment to the school investing in a database to target its audience more effectively instead of relying on churches and word of mouth. The school offers online education, but it requires undergraduates to do most work in person. The accrediting agency will have a hearing concerning Alliance on June 21, and Alliance leadership expects a decision soon after that. John Piper offers 6 biblical reasons why parents shouldnt let their kids cross-dress Theologian and Bible teacher John Piper recently shared what he says are "six biblical realities" showing why Christian parents shouldn't allow their kids to cross-dress, especially at church. In an episode of his podcast "Ask Pastor John" posted on the Desiring God website Monday, a listener asked about a family at her church that allows their son to wear dresses. "They seem to let him choose most of what he wants to do," said the listener, identified only by the name Cindi. "We, of course, see a lot of danger in this parenting method. They were asked to leave a previous church over this issue. What would be your approach to helping these parents with Scripture on this issue?" Piper, the chancellor at Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota, who served for 33 years as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, offered "biblical realities" he hopes will encourage parents to "gladly submit to God's word and adjust their parenting strategies." The first biblical reality he cited is found in Genesis 1:26, where the Bible says that God created mankind in His image, specifically dividing humanity between males and females. "God did not create a generic human designed to choose his sex. He created males to be males and females to be females," Piper said. "Boys and girls should be taught this from the very beginning of their lives as a great and wonderful thing." Second, Piper said, "God created man male and female so that there would be a beautiful and happy and fruitful complementarity in marriage," citing Genesis 2:24. "Whether they marry or not (in God's providence), we should raise them with the conviction that the difference between boys and girls is designed for this beautiful outcome, the one-flesh union in marriage of a man and a woman," he added. "Now God's design of the one-flesh union of male and female in marriage in the act of sexual intercourse is a confirmation that the way he created us is not negligible. It was part of his plan for our good, for filling the earth, for our joy, our pleasure. Boys and girls should be raised toward this natural outcome of their sexuality." Listing the third biblical reality, Piper, who holds complementarian beliefs about marriage, stresses that "God takes these sexual differences so seriously that he bases leadership roles on them." He cited verses like Ephesians 5:2224 and Colossians 3:1819, where men are identified as the head of the household. "In 1 Timothy 2:12, he assigns the authoritative teaching and governing role in the church to men. And in Ephesians 5:2224 and Colossians 3:1819, he assigns the headship of the family to the husband and father," he said. "The natural superior strength of men is drawn out by Peter in 1 Peter 3:7 as a reason why women should receive special honor as the weaker vessel, as well as another kind of honor as the fellow heirs of the grace of life. Children should be brought up with the awareness that their sexuality matters that much and in that way." The fourth biblical reality, according to Piper, is that parents should "encourage their boys not to embrace effeminate ways of dressing or acting; and they should not encourage their girls to embrace masculine ways of dressing or acting." "The Bible warns boys and men, for example, against effeminacy in 1 Corinthians 6:9," said Piper. "They should move against culturally confusing hairstyles, for example, in 1 Corinthians 11:14, and Deuteronomy 22:5 warns men and women against cross-dressing." Fifth, Piper pointed to Ephesians 6:4, which says, "bring up your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." The theologian adds that this "instruction, as it regards sexuality, includes at least these previous four points." Piper's sixth biblical reality to consider is that the church should "should help the parents feel there is a special urgency about these things in our day." "And that if they don't help their children in a natural and happy way to grow up into mature manhood, or mature womanhood, they may be serving a wave of cultural rebellion against God, one that is not only destructive to their children, but to the world at large," he continued. Last month, Piper denounced gender reassignment surgeries, telling an unnamed female listener who was considering undergoing such a surgery that it was "sinful" and "dreadfully destructive." "The glory of womanhood is not something as superficial as breasts and uterus. It is marked in every cell of your body, every dimension of your soul, every part of your brain," Piper said. "Dear friend, whose name I wish I knew, you are a female wonder of God's handiwork, and no amount of chipping away at it will make it cease to be a God-designed masterpiece." CP journalist visits 7 Churches of Revelation, explores impact of visiting biblical sites of his faith What's it like to visit some of the cities and locations described in the Bible? Christian Post reporter Leonardo Blair went to Turkey in December and, along with other journalists, visited the seven churches of Revelation, exploring cities like Izmir, Manisa, and Denizli. Connecting it back to the Scripture, it was quite humbling, Blair said of the voyage. Because it takes having a certain commitment to your faith to fully appreciate it. As Blair prepares for a second trip to explore some of the places the Apostle Paul visited during his famed missionary journeys, listen to him explain the profound experience, how it helped bring biblical truth alive in a new way for him and more. Listen to the episode: The Inside Story takes you behind the headlines of the biggest faith, culture, and political headlines of the week. In 15 minutes or less, Christian Post staff writers and editors will help you navigate and understand whats driving each story, the issues at play and why it all matters. Listen to more Christian podcasts today on the Edifi app and be sure to subscribe to The Inside Story on your favorite platforms: Missionary Sean Feucht insists that Christians should rule nation and write laws While Christian leaders such as Southern Baptist Convention President Bart Barber have warned against the idea of Christian nationalism, activist missionary Sean Feucht has doubled-down on his support for the movement and insists that Christians should be ruling the nation and writing laws. Proverbs says, When the righteous are in rule, the people rejoice. We want to see the righteous in rule. Jesus prayed, Let thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We want to see Gods will done on Earth as it is in Heaven. We are called to be salt and light to this world, and that includes being salt and light to America, Feucht told The Christian Post while referencing Proverbs 29:2 and other Scripture in response to several questions about the rejection of Christian nationalism by Barber and other Christian leaders. It is unbiblical and un-American to tell Christians that our faith disqualifies us from participating in this great democracy. How can Christians complain and whine about how dark, corrupt and crooked the political realm is if we arent bringing the light and hope of Jesus to it? he asked. What laws are there outside of the biblical moral law? What other standard is there to base the laws of a nation upon? Why would it be controversial for a believer to want righteousness, justice and godliness? Why would it be controversial to want believers to be writing the laws and governing under the fear of the Lord? Feuchts response comes in the wake of a widely circulated video clip from an event held at Sheridan.Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, last Wednesday, where some believe the worship leader was suggesting that the practice of Christian nationalism is preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus. Its all part of the King coming back. Thats what were practicing for. Thats why Hell hates that were worshiping at every capital across America. Thats why we get called, Well, youre Christian nationalists, Feucht, a former Bethel Church worship leader, said. In the clip, the outspoken activist told the affirming audience that he wants The Kingdom to be the government and for God to come on over and take over the government. We wouldnt be a disciple of Jesus if we didnt believe that. We want God to be in control of everything, he said as the audience erupted in shouts of yes! We want believers to be the ones writing the laws, yes, guilty as charged! he declared. Last October, Barber condemned the idea that the church should be running the government and warned advocates of Christian nationalism that pursuing such an agenda will result in the persecution of Christians. It stands contrary to 400 years of Baptist history and everything I believe about religious liberty. Im opposed to the idea of Christian dominion, churchly dominion over the operations of government, Barber said in a wide-ranging interview with Anderson Cooper on CBS "60 Minutes." I object to it because Jesus said His kingdom is not of this world. I object to it because every time its been adopted, it wound up persecuting people like me. It doesnt stop at persecuting people who are not Christians, he said. It eventually winds up persecuting people who are Christians for whom the flavor of their Christianity is different from that of the government. The Baptist Joint Committee, a progressive faith-based group of attorneys, Capitol Hill insiders, ministers and scholars, also warned that Christian nationalism is a distortion of the Christian faith and called it a threat to both our religious communities and our democracy. As Christians, our faith teaches us everyone is created in Gods image and commands us to love one another. As Americans, we value our system of government and the good that can be accomplished in our constitutional democracy. Today, we are concerned about a persistent threat to both our religious communities and our democracy Christian nationalism, the group wrote in a statement. Christian nationalism seeks to merge Christian and American identities, distorting both the Christian faith and Americas constitutional democracy. Christian nationalism demands Christianity be privileged by the State and implies that to be a good American, one must be Christian, they added. It often overlaps with and provides cover for white supremacy and racial subjugation. We reject this damaging political ideology and invite our Christian brothers and sisters to join us in opposing this threat to our faith and to our nation. Richard Land, executive editor of The Christian Post who also serves as president emeritus and adjunct professor of theology and ethics at Southern Evangelical Seminary, previously told CP that many on the Left pejoratively want to tie Christian nationalism to racism and to prejudice, and he rejects those labels. Land added that while he is not a Christian nationalist and doesn't personally know of anyone who is, When people who are liberal try to label a Christian nationalist as anybody who believes America has anything to do with God or that God has anything to do with America, theyre denying most of American history, he said. Many of the Founding Fathers, added Land, believed that God, for some reason, had a special interest in the United States of America. Feucht, who ran unsuccessfully in 2020 as a Republican for California's third congressional district, told CP that he is not only talking the talk when it comes to his faith in Christian nationalism. I actually threw my hat in the ring and ran for congress in a very blue district in California as a long-haired worship leader. I did not change my morals, my convictions or even my appearance for anyone as I ran the congressional campaign, he said. The conservative activist declined to say whether he believes Christians who don't support Christian nationalism aren't true disciples of Christ or if he thought members of the early church, many of whom worshipped underground, would have supported the idea of Christian nationalism. The demonization and insults that many Christian leaders hurl at those who want to follow the Great Commission of Jesus by bringing the Gospel and the light to the political realm only hurts the church and does not help it. It only makes that realm more darker, more unreached and more hopeless, he told CP. I refuse to allow labels and insults to hold me back from following Jesus and the Great Commission into all spheres of society. Pastor fatally shot trying to be good Samaritan; suspect who escaped from jail on the run The Simpson County Sheriff's Office in Mississippi is urging residents in the Braxton, Harrisville and Old Pearl areas to "keep their house and vehicle doors locked" after a local pastor was fatally shot and carjacked while trying to be a good Samaritan as his suspected killer remains on the run. Pastor Anthony Watts, 61, was shot dead Monday night after he pulled over to help a man with a wrecked motorcycle on Interstate 55 around 7 p.m., police told CBS News. Investigators suspect the person who shot the pastor multiple times before taking off with his red 2011 Dodge Ram is 22-year-old Dylan Thomas Arrington, who was among four inmates who escaped from the Raymond Detention Center on April 23, according to the Hinds County Sheriff's Office. "We are asking the residents of Braxton, Harrisville, and Old Pearl area to be aware of their surroundings and keep their house and vehicle doors locked. The man pictured here is identified as Dylan Thomas Arrington. He is 6'1 and approximately 200 pounds. He is one of the four escapees from the Raymond Detention Center in Hinds County," the Simpson County Sheriff's Office posted in a statement on Facebook Tuesday. "Sources have named Arrington as a suspect in the murder and armed carjacking of Pastor Anthony Watts of Magee." According to authorities, Arrington is "considered armed and extremely dangerous." "[H]e has known ties to Simpson County," the post adds. "If anyone sees him or this vehicle, we ask that you please call 911." The tag displayed on the pastor's red 2011 Dodge Ram is SP14067. At the time of his death, Watts was the lead pastor at St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church in D'Lo. Calls to the church by The Christian Post went unanswered Wednesday. But church members at told WJTV they are grieving his murder. "We are all in some sort of grief moment, but we know that God has the upper hand. We cast all of our cares upon him because he cares for everything that we have to go through, we have to deal with, even in this," Rev. Carl Burton, associate pastor at St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church, told the station. Church member Vivan Ross recalled how the pastor "loved everyone." "He didn't meet no stranger. He would help you, do anything he could for you," he said. "He just loved everyone, and we loved him." Earlier this month, the members celebrated Watts' sixth year leading the church. He revealed how overwhelmed he was by their celebration of his leadership. "St. Mary! St. Mary! Wow is all that I can say. Yesterday will forever be a highlighted day of my life. You all went over and beyond. From Sunday School, to worship service, to the anniversary service, it was outstanding. I knew that you all loved me, but yesterday was simply over the top," he stated in an April 3 Facebook post, which was also endorsed by his wife. "Your efforts encouraged me and my wife to continue on this battlefield. I said it yesterday and will repeat it again now. I'm getting gray, but it's not from worry, stress, or having to fight to pastor at this church. I appreciate your acceptance of my vision and trusting in me to cause no harm or ill will," he said. He also praised the food prepared for the celebration noting that "It should be a sin to cook so well." Jennifer Biard, the senior pastor of the Jackson Revival Center Church in Jackson, offered condolences to the pastor's family while lamenting the circumstances under which he died. "We send our respect, prayers, and heartfelt condolences to the family of Rev. Anthony Watts, Pastor of St. Mary MB Church in D'Lo, Ms. It's grievous to know we are living in a time where you can't stop to help someone from the goodness of your heart without losing your life," she wrote on Facebook. "'The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.' Psalm 34:17-18. Church treasurer sentenced for embezzling over $183K from congregation A 64-year-old accountant and church treasurer found guilty of stealing more than $183,000 from a Minnesota church to feed a gambling addiction. Patricia Ann Radich of Rochester was ordered to pay $251,167.47 in restitution to Trinity Lutheran Church and serve 89 days at the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center, reported KIMT 3 News on Tuesday. She has also been sentenced to five years of supervised probation. According to court documents, Radich stole from approximately $1.15 million that was specifically raised by the church for remodeling projects in order to pay off gambling debts. Investigators allege that an audit found $422,925 in checks were made out to Radich between 2013 and 2019, and money was deposited into a bank account. Investigators drew from ATM records to track her usage, saying she withdrew thousands at a casino some days. Around the time that the church was going to conduct a financial review in May 2020, Radich admitted to having stolen the funds. The church contacted authorities shortly after that. Radich was charged in a criminal complaint filed in April 2021 with eight counts of theft by swindle and four counts of theft, reported the Rochester-based Post Bulletin. Trinity Lutheran Church of Rochester released a statement in 2021 saying that filing charges against the former treasurer was "was a difficult, but necessary, step as the congregation seeks to address the impact caused by the significant embezzlement of funds." "Though the situation is very troubling, God has carried Trinity Lutheran Church through various adversities during its 153 years of ministry, and we are united in our belief that He will remain faithful and show us the way through our current challenges," the church stated. Radich pleaded guilty to the eight counts of theft by swindle as part of a deal that would include dismissing the other four counts of theft, according to ABC 6 News. According to a 2017 study by LifeWay Research, nearly 10% of surveyed Protestant pastors said their church had witnessed someone embezzle funds. Congregations with 250 or more members were slightly more likely than smaller churches to report this. LifeWay Executive Director Scott McConnell said in a statement at the time that churches' reliance on volunteers to deal with finances could be a factor in these thefts. "Churches run on trust but they also know people are imperfect and can be tempted," stated McConnell. "That's why safeguarding a church's finances is an important part of ministry." Earlier this month, a New Hampshire church's executive pastor pleaded guilty to steeling over $130,000 to pay off gambling debts. Between January 2017 and March 2020, Gregory Neal made unauthorized withdrawals from accounts belonging to Journey Baptist Church to cover his gambling debts and also used the church's credit cards for his personal benefit, according to U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. Nikki Haley says she can lead America to national consensus on abortion ARLINGTON, Va. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is billing herself as the person who can forge a national consensus on abortion, citing her experience creating a consensus around another highly contentious debate during her tenure as governor of South Carolina. Haley, who formerly served as governor of South Carolina and United States Ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration, gave a speech on abortion before a crowd of pro-life activists at the headquarters of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America on Tuesday. In her speech, Haley expressed a desire to start a constructive conversation about where we go from here in our divided country. Abortion has become a major campaign issue ahead of the 2024 presidential election, as Republican candidates debate how to address the issue following the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization determining that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion. The Dobbs decision, handed down last year, has given states the ability to regulate abortion. Since the Dobbs ruling reversed the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide, data compiled by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America shows that 15 states have established total or near-total bans on abortion, similar laws in five additional states are tied up in court, and one state will soon enact a law banning abortions after six weeks gestation and another state has a 15-week abortion ban in effect. Meanwhile, the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute has documented that 17 states and Washington, D.C., allow abortion. Four of those states and the nation's capital allow abortions up to the point of birth, while the other 13 permit abortions until viability, referring to the point in pregnancy where a baby has the ability to survive outside of the womb. Haley touted her record of signing pro-life legislation when she was governor of South Carolina, including a Born-Alive Infant Protection Act, which protects babies who survived botched abortions, and a law protecting unborn babies from the moment they could feel pain. She explained that as a state legislator, I voted for every pro-life bill that came before me including a measure that made it easier for women to get ultrasounds and established a 24-hour waiting period for abortions. My goal as president will be the same as it was when I was governor and ambassador. I want to save as many lives and help as many moms as possible, she proclaimed. Noting that the Dobbs decision enabled the American people to forge consensus once again on the issue of abortion, Haley stressed the need for the next president to find national consensus in order to meet the goal of saving as many lives as possible. Haley acknowledged that the pro-life laws that have passed in strongly Republican states will not be approved at the federal level, condemning the Democrat fear-mongers for warning that Republicans are about to ban all abortions nationwide and send women to prison. She outlined some areas where she thinks the federal government and the American people can find consensus on the issue of abortion. There is broad public agreement that babies born during a failed abortion deserve to live. They need medical attention and the full protection of the law just like every other baby, she said. There is broad political agreement that we should never pressure moms into having an abortion. They should get support to carry their baby to term, they should be able to get information from pregnancy resource centers and especially about adoption. Haley added, We must do better when it comes to adoption to make it easier for adoptive parents and to avoid children growing up in a government system with too little love. She further asserted that pro-life doctors and nurses should never be forced to violate their beliefs by performing or participating in abortions. The right of conscience matters just as much as the right to life. Haley identified the beliefs that abortion up until the time of birth is a bridge too far, that contraception should be more available, not less and that women who get abortions should not be jailed as ideas that should become part of a national consensus on abortion. She also cited her handling of the removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina State House after the 2015 mass shooting at the predominantly African American Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston where a gunman killed nine Christians during a Bible study as proof of her ability to create a consensus on a contentious issue: In the awful days that followed, photos emerged of the killer posing with the Confederate flag. Amid our grief, a massive debate broke out. It centered on the Confederate flag that flew on the grounds of the South Carolina State House. Haley detailed how our state had been bitterly divided on the flag for decades with one side viewing it as a symbol of traditions that are noble in addition to heritage and ancestry and the other side seeing it as a deeply offensive symbol of a brutally oppressive past. Haley gave a speech shortly after the massacre, where she called for the removal of the Confederate flag from the State House grounds. This was no easy task. It was a highly emotional issue in our state and removal required two-thirds vote of both the State House and Senate. But several days later, large, diverse and bipartisan majorities in our state Legislature voted to bring the flag down. We found consensus on a very tough issue. Republicans and Democrats worked together and made progress by talking to each other as human beings. We saw past our differences and united to move forward as one state and one people. The Republican-controlled South Carolina House of Representatives voted to remove the Confederate flag in a 93-27 vote three weeks after the massacre, with a majority of the chambers Republicans voting with all Democrats in favor of bringing the flag down. The Republican-controlled South Carolina Senate gave near-unanimous approval for taking down the flag in a 37-3 vote, with a majority of Republicans and all Democrats voting in favor. What was true then with the flag can be true now with abortion, she concluded. This shouldnt be about one movement winning and another one losing. This shouldnt be about picking sides, scoring points or stoking outrage. Its about saving babies and supporting moms. Im fighting for all of them and I will work with anyone to do that. I have faith we can make progress, I have faith we can save more lives and give every baby, mother and family the best shot at the best life. Haley finished her speech by likening the challenges faced by the pro-life movement to the obstacles experienced by abolitionists and womens suffrage advocates as they fought on behalf of the causes that they found noble. Throughout her address, the candidate advised advocates on both sides of the debate to treat the deeply personal topic of abortion with sensitivity and respect as opposed to judgment and hate. She illustrated her husband Michaels personal connection to the issue of abortion. Michaels birth parents lived in poverty. His father was an alcoholic and in and out of prison. His mother suffered a traumatic brain injury. When he was just a few years old, Michael and his siblings were taken from their home. Later, they were put into foster care. It was a rough experience for him, she recalled. Thankfully, when he was 4 years old, a loving family adopted Michael and his younger sister. It changed their lives. Adoption literally saved them. She added: Every day is a blessing because someone gave him life. Every day is a blessing because a family loved and raised him under difficult conditions. The world is better because of Michael Haley. I often think about what would have happened if Michael had not been so blessed, if his biological mother had chosen a different path. My husband is reason No. 1 that I stand for life. Every day I get to spend with the love of my life reminds me that I am blessed that someone saved his life. Haley also told the story of a friend who was raped: I know the anguish she went through worrying that she would have an unwanted pregnancy. It was an anguish I wouldnt wish on anyone. We cant ignore the fears those women face. I will never downplay these difficulties as I fight for life and I wont demonize those who disagree with me. Haleys speech comes less than a week after former President Donald Trump, the current frontrunner for the Republican Partys presidential nomination, drew ire from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America after his campaign suggested that abortion should be left up to individual states to decide and that Republicans should not pursue federal legislation on the matter. In a statement, SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser described that assertion as a morally indefensible position for a pro-life candidate to hold. Life is a matter of human rights, not states rights. Saying that the issue should only be decided at the states is an endorsement of abortion up until the moment of birth, even brutal late-term abortions in states like California, Illinois, New York and New Jersey. The only way to save these children is through federal protections, such as a 15-week federal minimum standard when the unborn child can feel excruciating pain, she added. Dannenfelser vowed to oppose any presidential candidate who refuses to embrace, at a minimum, a 15-week federal minimum standard to stop painful late-term abortions while allowing states to enact further protections. While Haley pushed for federal government action on the issue of abortion, she did not explicitly call for a national 15-week abortion ban. Following Haleys speech, Dannenfelser reacted positively to Haleys remarks in a statement shared with The Christian Post, expressing gratitude to the candidate for sharing her vision for a pro-life America and insisting that she understands that as a nation we must build a national consensus to save as many lives and serve as many women as possible. We are clear on Ambassador Haleys commitment to acting on the American consensus against late-term abortion by protecting unborn children by at least 15 weeks when they can feel excruciating pain. We appreciate her leadership on this defining moment for human rights, and we urge every presidential candidate to share their vision moving forward, Dannenfelser continued. The current RealClearPolitics average of polls measuring voter preferences in the Republican Party presidential primaries, based on polls conducted from March 29 to April 24, shows Haley capturing 3.9% support, coming in at fourth place on a list of declared and potential candidates. Currently, Trump has 52.4% support among Republican primary voters, followed by likely contender and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 23.4% and former Vice President Mike Pence, another potential candidate who has 4.3%. ISWAP terrorists kill pastor, radical Fulani slaughter 134 Christians in Nigeria Terrorists unchecked in Borno, Benue states ABUJA, Nigeria Islamic extremists killed a pastor in northeast Nigeria, and terrorists in the countrys middle belt state of Benue killed 134 Christians the first week of April, sources said. The Rev. Yakubu Shuaibu of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN) was killed in Borno state by terrorists from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) who on the night of April 4 broke into his house in Madlau, Biu County, said EYN leader Salamatu Billi. They also shot and wounded his pregnant wife, who was receiving treatment at Biu General Hospital in Biu town, Billi said. The pastor is also survived by another child. Pastor Shuaibus body was buried in his hometown of Dzangwala, Gombi County, Adamawa state, Billi said. The couple began work in the area with the EYN church four years ago. Please let us all pray for his wifes recovery, for God to comfort his entire family, and for the church of God and ministers of the church working in the danger zones of Borno and Adamawa states, Billi said. The hunt for Christians, especially ministers serving in the church, by terrorists in northeast Nigeria continues. This is the third EYN pastor to be killed in cold blood within a short time by these terrorists. ISWAP also attacked predominantly Christian Njimtilo, Pulka and Ajiri Mafa villages at the same time the pastor was slain, said area resident Josephine Joseph. During the attacks, the terrorists destroyed houses of Christians and looted their homes of food items, Joseph said. In Benue state, in Nigerias middle belt, Fulani herdsmen killed 134 Christians from April 2 to April 10, said Benue Gov. Samuel Ortom in a press statement. Within one week, 134 Christians have been killed by herdsmen, he said. This apart from the fact that of the 23 local government areas of the state, 18 of them have been ravaged by herdsmen attacks, and most Christians in these council areas displaced. The herdsmen attacked the local government areas of Makurdi, Guma, Otukpo, Apa and Logo, area residents told Morning Star News in text messages. They also attacked Kwande County, said area resident Dominic Anza, president of the Universal Reformed Christian Church (NKST). Armed Fulani herdsmen have been attacking our Christian communities for years, but recently, these attacks became so intense that hardly any day passes without a community being attacked, Pastor Anza said. My village of Turan in Kwande Local Government Area was also attacked by these Fulani herdsmen, and many Christians in my village killed. Christians affected in the areas are mostly members of the NKST, the Roman Catholic Church, the Methodist Church and Pentecostal churches, and they are now unable to hold worship services, he said. My familys house been burned down by the herdsmen, and all my relations have been displaced, Pastor Anza said. Its impossible for me to even attempt to visit my village, because these herdsmen have completely taken over the affected communities. Most Christians slain were women and children, and thousands of the displaced are living in camps, he said. Theyre not even safe there, as within this period, these camps have also been attacked and many Christians killed, Pastor Anza said. Herdsmen attacked a facility housing displaced Christians in Ngban village, Guma County, on April 7 at about 10 p.m., killing 38 Christians and wounding 36 others, said community leader Dennis Shemberga. Catherine Anene, spokesperson for the Benue State Command, confirmed the attack on displaced Christians at the Ngban village camp. Armed herdsmen invaded predominantly Christian Umogidi village, Otukpo County, on April 5, killing 52 Christians, a council official told Morning Star News. The Fulani herdsmen have been terrorizing Christians in this area over the years; they destroy farms belonging to Christians at will, and any Christian who tried to question their actions is killed, said Bako Eje, chairman of the Otukpo Local Government Council. In Apa County, herdsmen attacked villages on April 3, killing 47 Christians, area residents said. Christian villages like Ikpobi, Odugbo, Akpanta, Ologba and Oyiji have adversely been affected, as many Christians have been killed and many more displaced, said area community leader John Antenyi. This has been going on over the years but became more pronounced this month of April. Fulani herdsmen attacked a church service in Akenawe village, Logo County, on April 2, killed a Christian and took four others captive at gunpoint, said community leader Hemen Terkimbi. Christians were in the church worshiping during a night vigil service when herdsmen attacked them, Terkimbi said. A Christian worshiper was killed, five other Christians were injured, and four Christian worshipers, including the resident pastor, the Rev. Gwadue Kwaghtyo, were captured and taken to an unknown place. Another community leader, Eche Akpoko, said that in four months, herdsmen killed more than 89 Christians in 31 area villages, including Ope-Ikobi, Ochi-Ikobi, Ijaha-Ikobi, Imana-Ikobi, Oleoke-Ikobi, Ebugodo-Edikwu, Ankpali- Edikwu, Olegijamu-Edikwu, Olekele-Edikwu, Ukpogo-Edikwu, Edikwu-Icho, Edikwu-Oladoga, Okwiji-Edikwu and Ojecho- Edikwu. Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith in 2022, with 5,014, according to Open Doors 2023 World Watch List (WWL) report. It also led the world in Christians abducted (4,726), sexually assaulted or harassed, forcibly married or physically or mentally abused, and it had the most homes and businesses attacked for faith-based reasons. As in the previous year, Nigeria had the second most church attacks and internally displaced people. In the 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to sixth place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 7 the previous year. Militants from the Fulani, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and others conduct raids on Christian communities, killing, maiming, raping and kidnapping for ransom or sexual slavery, the WWL report noted. This year has also seen this violence spill over into the Christian-majority south of the nation. Nigerias government continues to deny this is religious persecution, so violations of Christians rights are carried out with impunity. Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a recent report. They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states. Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds. 'Caustic and demonizing': Jewish groups denounce PCUSA calling Israel an apartheid state Jewish organizations in the United States have denounced the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s recent passage of a resolution labeling Israel's treatment of Palestinians an "apartheid." Last Friday, delegates at the PC(USA) General Assembly voted 266-116 to pass an overture that claimed that Israel was an apartheid state due to its treatment of the Palestinian territories. Rabbi Eric J. Greenberg of the Los Angeles-based Jewish human rights organization Simon Wiesenthal Center claims that the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S. is bearing false witness. "PCUSA leadership has violated G-d's commandment not to bear false witness, rendered itself irrelevant in the world of peacemaking, and made a mockery of honest dialogue and interfaith relations," Greenberg said in a statement shortly after the vote, Jackie Subar of the Anti-Defamation League argued that the resolution "will have serious and damaging consequences to PCUSA's relations with the Jewish community." "Choosing to utilize such a caustic and demonizing term as apartheid or, worse, comparing Israel's actions to those of the Nazis during the Holocaust feeds into an unhealthy discourse that, despite all the injustice in the world, positions Israel, and only Israel, as uniquely evil among the nations," wrote Subar. "Moreover, this resolution will do nothing to constructively advance understanding and peace between the parties or promote the building of conditions that can lead to direct negotiations and ultimately a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with security, self-determination, and dignity for both peoples." Known as INT-02 and sponsored by the PC(USA) Presbytery of Grace of Irving, Texas, the overture said that "the government of Israel's laws, policies, and practices regarding the Palestinian people fulfill the international legal definition of apartheid." "Apartheid is legally defined as inhuman acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them," reads the overture. The measure claims that Israel fulfilled the definition of apartheid via creating "two sets of laws, one for Israelis and one for Palestinians, which give preferential treatment to Israeli Jews and oppressive treatment to Palestinians," alleged human rights abuses and denying Palestinian nationalism. "It is difficult for many Christians to publicly criticize the policies of Israel's government for fear that even legitimate criticism may be seen as anti-Israel or anti-Semitic or characterized as 'picking on Israel' among many countries in the Middle East with human rights violations," claimed the resolution's "rationale" section. "Our call as Christians means we must sometimes get out of our comfort zone and risk controversy and criticism from people or organizations with whom we are in relationship." Presbyterians for Middle East Peace declared in a statement that the decision "does not reflect the view of the membership of the PCUSA." The advocacy organization took issue with how the overture was debated and discussed during the General Assembly. "A highly controlled process, created to respond to Covid, instead became a means to silence outside groups from having a voice in the process," a statement from the organization reads. "Nary a Jewish voice was heard at the GA, experts offering countering opinions were not allowed to speak, only a select few of the Louisville staff had standing." PMEP contends that the International Engagement Committee heard from three advocates who favored the motion and none from those who opposed the resolution. "No overture opponents were invited or allowed to speak," Presbyterians for Middle East Peace declared. "Committee members also did not receive the deep background materials they have received in the past from advocacy groups on all sides of the Israel-Palestine issues. In short, committee members began their debate after hearing one side of the issue and without adequate background preparation." "During plenary, once again voices opposed to the overture were silenced and the committee leaders took advantage of their introductory time to mislead the commissioners," the statement reads. "After two very strong statements against the apartheid overture, debate was shut down. So again opponents of the overture were silenced. It saddens us that this action took place during a GA plagued by technical difficulties in which voices and motions were not recognized. How can the denomination move forward to support actions made under such questionable circumstances?" In recent years, the PC(USA) has garnered controversy for entertaining overtures to divest from Israel. In 2014, the mainline Protestant denomination voted 310-303 to divest from three multinational corporations that allegedly sell products to Israel to help promote violence against Palestinians. PC(USA) Stated Clerk Rev. J. Herbert Nelson II garnered criticism from Jewish groups in January when he compared the Israeli policies regarding Palestinians to American slavery. Critics of Nelson's earlier remarks included the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, which said it was "dismayed" by the Presbyterian leader's "dangerous and false" comments. "The antisemitic nature of his statement is made even more clear by his failure to mention serious human rights abuses occurring elsewhere in the world, such as the ongoing genocides against the Uyghurs and Rohingya," JCPA claimed. "As Jews, we reject those who callously use the tragedy of the Holocaust to make political points, so we were saddened that Rev. Dr. Nelson trivialized the suffering, torture, and murder of millions of slaves as a tawdry rhetorical device." Nelson doubled down on his position, arguing that "no one who is informed regarding the use of military power and racial bias to control the lives of Palestinian citizens can honestly avoid the truth of this situation." "For us in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) these realities make it imperative that we, as Presbyterians, find ways to have the necessary conversation with Jews who will talk with us about the real tragedy of the Palestinian/Israeli struggle," he said at the time. Nikki Haley defends picture with Caitlyn Jenner, appreciates 'her conservative views' Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has defended her decision to pose for a picture with trans-identified celebrity Caitlyn Jenner after the two became the subject of a Twitter thread discussing the downfall of the Republican Party. In a tweet Saturday, Twitter user @rightwingsavag2 asked: If you could summarize the downfall of the @gop in one photo what would it look like? And why is it this photo? The tweet was accompanied by a photo of Haley, who later served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under former President Donald Trump, standing beside former Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner, who for the last several years has identified as Caitlyn. We BeCaMe TrAnS To OwN ThE LiBs. ChEcKmAtE BiGoTs. -2021 Republicans pic.twitter.com/5lz2AXrTxw rightwingsavages (@rightwingsavag2) April 25, 2021 The user answered his or her own question as to why that picture captured the downfall of the Republican Party, declaring: We became trans to own the libs. Checkmate bigots. -Republicans 2021. Actor Dean Cain, a prominent Hollywood conservative, retweeted the post, accompanied by the caption Dang it. I laughed. In response to Cains tweet, Haley responded by tweeting, I dont find it funny. Caitlin came to see me at the UN and I appreciated her conservative views," Haley wrote. "I will continue to think that the Republican Party is one of conservative views by all people regardless of the demographics. To me, thats not funny, its America. Cain replied: The humor, and what I found funny was the way the tweet was worded. Had nothing to do with conservative views, or you, or Caitlin, or the UN, or America. Caitlin and I have been friends for decades. The humor, and what I found funny - was the way the tweet was worded. Had nothing to do with conservative views or you, or Caitlin, or the UN, or America. Caitlin and I have been friend for decades. ?????????? Dean Cain (@RealDeanCain) April 26, 2021 The post citing Haley and Jenner standing together as a summary of the downfall of the Republican Party came just one day after Jenner became the latest declared candidate in the yet-to-be-announced California recall election. Im in! California is worth fighting for, Jenner proclaimed in a Friday tweet accompanied by a statement announcing the launch of the Caitlyn for California campaign. For the past decade, we have seen the glimmer of the Golden State reduced by one-party rule that places politics over progress and special interests over people, Jenner argued. This isnt the California we know. This is Gavin Newsoms California, where he orders us to stay home but goes out to dinner with his lobbyist friends. The aforementioned private dinner between Newsom and lobbyists at an upscale California restaurant that took place as residents of the state were instructed to stay home and not travel for Thanksgiving is seen as the event that accelerated the push to recall Newsom. Supporters of the recall effort have gathered the required number of signatures to force a recall. But a date for the election has not been finalized. Other Republicans seeking to unseat Newsom include Kevin Faulconer, the former mayor of San Diego, Californias second-largest city; 2018 Republican gubernatorial nominee John Cox; and former Congressman Doug Ose. In the 2018 gubernatorial election, Cox lost to Newsom by nearly 24 percentage points. While members of the LGBT community generally favor the Democratic Party, Jenner has expressed support for conservatism and the Republican Party going back to 2015, when Jenner, who still identified as Bruce at the time, sat down for an interview with ABC Newss Diane Sawyer. Although his declaration that Im a woman was the main headline from the interview, Jenner also said, Ive just never been a big fan of then-President Barack Obama because Im kind of more on the conservative side. The athlete turned reality TV star answered in the affirmative when Sawyer asked, Are you a Republican? In addition to Jenner, Haley is also seen as a Republican who aspires to run for a higher office. Haley is frequently mentioned as a possible candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination for president. Haley has been met with criticism from some in the Republican Party and the conservative movement for her views on foreign policy and insufficient loyalty to Trump, still an enormously popular figure among the GOP base. Skepticism of Haley among conservatives dates back to January 2016, when Haley provided the response to then-President Obamas State of the Union Speech and used her platform to take veiled swipes at then-candidate Trump. In a straw poll taken at the Conservative Political Action Conference, an annual gathering of grassroots conservative activists, Haley received 3% support in a hypothetical Republican presidential primary that included Trump, making her the fourth-most popular hypothetical candidate of those listed. In a hypothetical field without Trump as a candidate, Haleys support was also measured at 3%, making her tied for sixth place. Nikki Haley slams Kamala Harris for not going to the border: You cant fix what you cant see Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley called Vice President Kamala Harris border response embarrassing" because Harris has yet to visit the U.S.-Mexico border since being appointed border czar on March 24. This is embarrassing, Haley, the former South Carolina governor, said on Fox News America Reports during a Tuesday interview, discussing Harris' travel to Guatemala and Mexico. I dont know what the problem is, the Republican continued. Clearly, shes fearful, but Kamala Harris was given one job, one job, and that was to deal with the border. And any leader knows you cant fix what you cant see. She hasnt been on the ground. She hasnt talked to border patrol. She doesnt know what is happening there. Vice President Harris was tasked with fixing the border crisis. Yet, she's been in office for five months and she still cant explain why she hasnt been there. Its embarrassing.https://t.co/2R4gzwTWKo Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) June 9, 2021 Since the vice president has received criticism for not visiting the border, NBCs Lester Holt interviewed Harris on Tuesday about whether she has plans to visit the southern border. Do you have any plans to visit the border? Holt asked her. At some point, Harris said as she threw her hands into the air. We are going to the border. Weve been to the border, so this whole thing about the border, weve been to the border. Weve been [to] the border, she added, referring to other Biden administration officials. You havent been to the border, Holt responded. And I havent been to Europe, Harris said as she appeared frustrated by the question. I dont understand the point that youre making. Im not discounting the importance of the border I care about whats happening at the border. Haley criticized Harris for dodging the question about visiting the border by bringing up Europe. So she says she wants to go to the root cause, and then she brings up Europe, Haley said. No one has given her the job of Europe. She got the job of the border. Haley said she appreciates that Harris traveled to Guatemala and Mexico recently because both countries leaders have blamed the Biden administration as "the reason they are having all these problems at the border." Haley noted how Harris tone on immigration has changed since she originally implored immigrants to come to the U.S. but now says, do not come. This is the same woman that literally tweeted out, come one, come all, were open for everyone. Now she says, do not come. Do you know what says do not come? When you show up at the border and you really have actions speak louder than words, Haley explained. I dont know what her fear is of the border, but clearly she has one, she continued. And I dont know what Bidens fear of the border is, but he has one. What I will call it is flat-out denial. They think that if they dont go, it wont be real. Its very real. At a press conference in Guatemala City, Harris said, I want to be clear to folks in this region who are thinking about making the dangerous trek to the United States-Mexico border do not come, do not come," Harris said. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki defended Harris during a press briefing Tuesday and said she might visit the border at some point. I dont have any trips to preview for you or predict a timeline for that, Psaki said. But what I would reiterate is that her assignment was to work with country or leaders in the Northern Triangle to address root causes, address corruption, ensure were working together to address humanitarian concerns. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, tweeted on Tuesday that Biden and Harris could could fix the border crisis tomorrow by ending catch and release and by reinstating the Remain in Mexico policy." "But neither Kamala or Joe are willing to do that," he said. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris could fix the border crisis tomorrow by ending "catch and release" and by reinstating the Remain in Mexico policy. But neither Kamala or Joe are willing to do that. pic.twitter.com/eYIyL1HQxF Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) June 8, 2021 Cruz noted how Harris laughs it off when asked about the border. We dont have a border crisis in Europe, Cruz said during a Fox News interview, referring to Harris recent comment. We have a border crisis on the southern border, Cruz said. Come to Texas. Come to the Rio Grande Valley. Come to McAllen. Come see the cages that the Biden Harris administration has built and then, even more importantly, stand up and be willing to enforce our laws to fix it because thats not what theyre doing right now. Preliminary Customs and Border Protection data shows that the surge of illegal immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico southern border in the fiscal year 2021 has surpassed the totals of every year since 2006 with four months left, Axios reported. The U.S. formally ended the Trump-era remain in Mexico policy last week. This policy required Central American asylum-seekers to remain in Mexico and wait for their asylum cases to be adjudicated in the U.S., Reuters reported. The Biden administration has reversed many of former President Donald Trumps immigration policies and halted border wall construction. The Biden administration said it might file a lawsuit against Texas since Gov. Greg Abbott mandated that state licenses be pulled for shelters used to house unaccompanied minors who cross the border. A Monday letter from the Department of Health & Human Services, the federal agency responsible for caring for the unaccompanied minors, said that Texas would be violating immigration law by banning the shelters. Abbott said HHS's letter is pressure from the White House to support its immigration policies. The Biden administration is yet again pressuring Texas to aid its illegal immigration program and force our state to do its job, Abbott said in a statement. The federal government caused this problem and should be solely responsible for the care of these children. No child will be uncared for. Texas will remain focused on doing our jobprotecting Texans. PCUSA lost 51K members, 100-plus churches, 4 presbyteries in 2021: report The Presbyterian Church (USA) lost over 51,000 members in 2021, as well as over 100 congregations, and even four regional bodies known as presbyteries, according to a new report. The largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States announced the release of its annual statistics on Monday, which were compiled by the PC(USA) Office of the General Assembly. According to the latest numbers, PC(USA) saw its number of congregations drop from 8,925 in 2020 to 8,813 in 2021. It also saw its active membership decline from approximately 1.24 million in 2020 to 1.19 million in 2021. The mainline Protestant denomination also saw a drop in the number of clergy, going from 18,785 ministers in 2020 to 18,458 in 2021, or a decline of 372. In contrast to recent years, PC(USA) also saw a slight decline in the number of presbyteries that make up the denomination, going from a total 170 in 2020 to 166 in 2021. This loss of four regional bodies can be traced to two events, the first being the reorganization of presbyteries in New Jersey in March of last year, which saw the number of regional bodies in the state go from seven to four. The second took place in California last July, when the Presbyteries of Sacramento and Stockton merged to form the Presbytery of North Central California. The merger came in response to a drop in member congregations. In an announcement about the results on Monday, PC(USA) General Assembly Stated Clerk J. Herbert Nelson emphasized that the drop in membership was smaller than the year before. We have come to the realization that our church has been forever changed by this pandemic, explained Nelson. But this report shows that even though the number of active members continues to go down, we are seeing a slight slowdown in number of people leaving. While noting declines in various areas, the statistics also reported a slight increase in the number of youth professions of faith and professions of faith & reaffirmations. According to the numbers, youth professions increased from 5,319 in 2020 to 5,708 in 2021, while reaffirmations and professions of faith rose from 9,210 in 2020 to 10,921 in 2021. These numbers are both well below pre-pandemic levels, as 2019 saw 9,023 youth professions of faith and 21,408 professions of faith and reaffirmations. The challenge for the PC(USA) and other Christian denominations is reaching and retaining young people, developing new leaders for tomorrows church, said Nelson, as quoted in the announcement. I am encouraged to see this turning around and it will be imperative that we find new ways of being church in the years to come. Approximately 82% of the churches in the PC(USA) submitted data for the report, representing 91% of all denominational membership. Over the past couple of decades, as with most other religious groups in the U.S., PC(USA) has experienced a considerable decline in its membership and number of congregations. In 2011, the mainline denomination slipped below the 2 million active member mark, while in 2014 PC(USA) saw its total number of congregations go below the 10,000 mark. One factor in its decline has been its increasingly theologically liberal stance on LGBT issues, which has prompted hundreds of congregations to leave in protest in recent years. In 2010, the PC(USA) voted to allow presbyteries to ordain non-celibate homosexuals and changed its definition of marriage in 2015 from "a man and a woman" to "two people, traditionally a man and a woman." In 2019, PC(USA) church in Virginia ordained the first clergy candidate who identified as gender nonbinary. Biden Announces Bid For Reelection, Tucker Carlson Out At Fox News, GA School District Settles Same-Sex Book Case link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 06:49 06:49 Top headlines for Wednesday, April 26, 2023 We discuss the current state of the 2024 presidential race, as several candidates have emerged to challenge Joe Biden and Donald Trump. We also cover the recent announcement that Fox News has parted ways with top-rated host Tucker Carlson. Additionally, we examine a Georgia school district's legal battle over a substitute teacher fired for objections to a children's book about same-sex couples. We also cover the news of 55 congregations in Oklahoma disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church. Finally, we discuss the heartwarming story of a 91-year-old great-grandmother and cashier at Winco Foods in Oregon whose retirement dreams were made possible by thousands of strangers donating over $72,000 to her GoFundMe campaign. Subscribe to this Podcast Follow Us on Social Media Get the Edifi App Subscribe to Our Newsletter Links to the News Top headlines for Wednesday, April 26, 2023 We discuss the current state of the 2024 presidential race, as several candidates have emerged to challenge Joe Biden and Donald Trump. We also cover the recent announcement that Fox News has parted ways with top-rated host Tucker Carlson. Additionally, we examine a Georgia school district's legal battle over a substitute teacher fired for objections to a children's book about same-sex couples. We also cover the news of 55 congregations in Oklahoma disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church. Finally, we discuss the heartwarming story of a 91-year-old great-grandmother and cashier at Winco Foods in Oregon whose retirement dreams were made possible by thousands of strangers donating over $72,000 to her GoFundMe campaign. Are white Evangelicals Americas only hope? White evangelicals are the most hated people in America. Thats undeniable. They are Christian, they are conservative, and they are white. So they are a triple threat to our cultures anti-Christian, anti-conservative, and anti-white agenda. Woke people havent been secretive about this. As books like White Christian Privilege suggests, the most intersectionally oppressive people in America are white evangelicals. Of course, white evangelicals arent the only Christians our culture hates. Anyone who genuinely loves Christ and therefore submits to what the Bible says about justice, race, gender, and sexuality will be hated in our culture. The world hates Christ, therefore they hate Christians (John 15:18). However, though our culture hates black evangelicals like me, my supposedly intersectional identity makes me less oppressive than white evangelicals. In fact, according to critical race theory my master isnt Jesus Christ, its white evangelicals. Thats why my social media pages are filled with daily comments from people saying Im simply a tool for white evangelicals. So although our culture hates black evangelicals like me, they hate white evangelicals even more. This hatred has become so common, its even infiltrated the Church. Thats why last year, I said: White evangelicals are my brothers and sisters. They are the relatives of every believer. If you attack them, youre attacking my family. If you attack them, youre attacking Gods children. If you hate them, maybe its because youre not part of the family. But just as white evangelicals are not oppressors, they are also not saviors. They are not the only hope for moral sanity in America. Earlier this week, Stephen Wolfe the author of The Case For Christian Nationalism shared a tweet saying: White evangelicals are the lone bulwark against moral insanity in America. His words were accompanied by a meme of Norman Rockwells free speech painting. Which suggests he was probably aware he was making a controversial statement. Naturally, his tweet elicited correction, rebuke, and accusations of racism from many people, including me. I said: I enjoyed meeting you last year, sir. Im also looking forward to finally sharing my review of your book. But I wont mince words: this is pathetic and racist. This is what happens when we attempt to create an identity or a tribe based on ethnicity, instead of Christ. I confess that since Ive met him in person, perhaps I should have reached out to him privately before I shared my tweet. That may have been a more gracious, kind, and effective way of winning my brother. Also, I think calling his tweet pathetic may have been too harsh. To be honest Im not quite sure that it is. But since Im unsure, its wiser and more humble to assume it means I sinned against him especially since hes older than me. If he was my father-in-law, I probably wouldnt have corrected him so sharply (1 Timothy 5:1). I have pursued his forgiveness. However, that doesnt change the nature of his words. His tweet explicitly shows partiality for white evangelicals. The Lord knows and I think you all know how much I despise our culture readily and lazily accusing innocent people of racism. But I am not convinced Stephen Wolfe is innocent. That doesnt mean Im suggesting hes a practicing, unrepentant racist. However, just as I have been guilty of showing partiality against white evangelicals in the past other people, including Stephen Wolfe, can be guilty of occasionally showing partiality toward white evangelicals. Hours after his original tweet, Wolfe claimed he was simply referring to white evangelicals as a voting bloc. But that doesnt make any sense. If he was sincerely referring to white evangelicals as a voting bloc, then why didnt he say white evangelicals are the largest bulwark instead of saying theyre the lone bulwark against moral insanity in America? If he was sincerely referring to white evangelicals as a voting bloc, then hes essentially saying the conservative votes of black, Latino, Asian, and all evangelicals are completely irrelevant. Wolfe and his defenders also suggest he was only making a sociological argument. But that assumes sociological arguments arent theological. Sociological truth is also theological truth. If its sociologically true that white evangelicals are the lone bulwark against moral insanity, then its also theologically true. Still, even if it were possible that his tweet was strictly sociological what does that achieve, anyway? Just because the world presents white evangelicals as a uniquely bad group doesnt mean we need to defend white evangelicals as a uniquely good group. We shouldnt respond to worldliness with worldliness. We shouldnt repay evil with evil. Some people also say Wolfes words shouldnt be taken literally. They say his words are generic. But thats clearly not true. The word lone makes his words specific. Even if we hope all things, believe all things, and assume the best of our brothers motives as we should it doesnt change the explicit meaning of his words. So why hasnt he humbly said he worded himself poorly? Especially since there were already concerns that he might be a kinist because of some of his associations and some of his words in The Case For Christian Nationalism. Nevertheless, white evangelicals are not the lone bulwark against the moral insanity in America not politically, not sociologically, not spiritually. When Israel abandoned God during King Ahabs (and Queen Jezebels) reign, Elijah said to God, Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left (Romans 11:3). But God said: I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal (Romans 11:4). White evangelicals are not alone. God has a remnant of black, Latino, Asian, and other evangelicals who have not bowed the knee to Baal. They might be relatively small in number compared to white evangelicals, but that doesnt mean white evangelicals are alone. Whether its America, Canada, or anywhere else in the world there is only one kind of light that shines in this dark culture. There is only one kind of salt that preserves good in this decaying culture. Politically, sociologically, or theologically there is only one bulwark against moral insanity: the Church. Originally published at Slow to Write. Second Chance Month: The Church and incarcerated individuals go together As we put away our Easter decorations and wrap up this season on the liturgical Church calendar, these are the perfect days to reflect on the second chances offered to each one of us through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have all received the ultimate second chance because of Christs sacrifice and, as Luke 6:36 says, we are called to be merciful just as our Father is merciful. Second Chance Month is a time to raise awareness of the many barriers faced by millions of Americans with criminal records and unlock opportunities for them to contribute positively to society. Its an ideal time for the Church to ask how we can extend Gods mercy by unlocking second chances. It starts by embracing people as they are. My dad, a Vietnam veteran, struggled with substance use disorder after he was honorably discharged from service. After committing theft and robbery to buy drugs, he lost his freedom. He developed advanced dementia while in prison and, after years of our effort and treatment, was released on medical parole during his 26th year of imprisonment. The day we first visited National Community Church in Washington, D.C., together as a family, I shared my dads story with one of the pastors. There was no judgment levied on my father or my family just open arms and Christ-like love. Now as the co-leader of the prison and reentry mission team at National Community Church, I work with our group to help unlock second chances by sharing the light and love of Christ. We visit and write to those behind prison walls, connect people to resources needed on reentry, serve children with incarcerated parents through Prison Fellowship Angel Tree programs and partner with Prison Fellowship to advocate for restorative justice. I have seen first-hand the difference it makes when the local church walks alongside individuals and families to carry out this important work. Its work I believe all Christians are called to do. Isaiah 61:1 reminds us, The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. As the Body of Christ, we are partners in this mission. We dont have to look far for opportunities to fulfill this Scripture in our world today. People with criminal records face as many as 44,000 documented restrictions to essential needs such as employment, housing and education. Without full access to these needs, the reentry process falls apart and many people wind up back in prison. But it doesnt have to be this way. The Church can help interrupt the cycle of poverty and incarceration by helping to unlock second chances. As Second Chance Month comes to a close, I urge all believers to envision a society where restorative justice prevails and people are given the opportunity to transform and fulfill their God-given potential. The world misses out on the impact people can make when they are not given second chances. Everyone has a part to play in this vital work. In Hebrews 13:3, the writer encourages us to be mindful of those in prison, saying, Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Christians are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus as it relates to serving individuals and families affected by incarceration. My hope is that all believers find an organization, such as Prison Fellowship, to plug into serving and supporting people impacted by incarceration. On Second Chance Sunday at National Community Church last year, Pastor Mark Batterson said, Ive received thousands of letters from friends in prison who have read a book Ive written, and those letters are as unique as the people writing themBut theres a common theme. Most of the writers profess guilt and the regret that comes with it. But, they say, All we want is a second chance. Give me a second chance. People can and do transform their lives if given the opportunity, but we must extend the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to help make it possible. 7 results of breaking divine boundaries When Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they separated themselves from God and became semi-autonomous (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-8). This sin opened up the proverbial pandoras box since their actions created an innate propensity for humans to cross forbidden boundaries. To illustrate, one of the words for sin is transgression, which has to do with trespassing or crossing a boundary established by Gods command. In 1 John 3:4, John the Apostle defines sin as the transgression of the law for this reason. Another word used in the Scriptures to depict sin is to trespass (Matthew 6:14; Ephesians 2:1). Trespass is to violate a boundary or a law. When we trespass on someones property, we violate the legal and physical borders which are in place. This classification of sin as a trespass indicates crossing a divine moral boundary when people break one of the 10 Commandments. The sin of Adam caused every person to be born with ancestral sin or a propensity to break moral boundaries (Romans 5:12-19). Consequently, this original sin made the human heart in every person deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Each person was born a boundary breaker in this unregenerate state with the potential to break every one of the 10 Commandments, including those prohibiting murder, adultery and lying. This inherent sin and autonomy from God, present in the human DNA, underlies the feeling that some were born with certain sexual proclivities or intense desires to commit harmful acts. Truly, boundary-breaking and its cataclysmic effects have negatively impacted the human race! The following are seven results of breaking divine boundaries: 1. Humans thought they knew better than their Creator God When Adam and Eve sinned, they were saying that they knew better than God concerning which fruit was good for them to eat. Many think eating fruit from a forbidden tree should not have warranted such severe divine judgment (Genesis 3:13-24). However, they do not fully comprehend how the nature of humanity shifted after that rebellious act. That sin opened the door for humankind to doubt and disobey every divine precept, law, and principle stated in the sacred writings. All patterns of sin and rebellion manifest in human history from this root sin. 2. Murder and all types of violence were unleashed To illustrate the horrific shift in the human heart caused by the original sin, we may look no further than the first son of Adam and Eve, Cain, who murdered his brother Abel (Genesis 4). We surmise then that if there is no value placed on divine instruction because of self-will, there will be no respect or value for the sanctity of human life. 3. Sexual promiscuity and deviation were released When Satan gained control of the earth after he beguiled Eve (as the serpent), it opened a door for other fallen angels to cross boundaries. The result was that angels sinned and committed fornication with the daughters of humans (Genesis 6:1-6). After angel and human relational boundaries were transgressed, humans did not take long to break their own. These were illustrated in Leviticus 18, which forbids all sexual activity between humans except between married biological males and females. 4. Boundaries in marriage were broken The first sin also opened up a door for violating what God blesses, including His definitions and distinctions regarding the sanctity of marriage. God personally joined Adam and Eve, made them one flesh, and commanded them (within that marital framework) to have children on the earth who would get married and have their own families (Genesis 1:28; 2:21-24). Later, Jesus reaffirmed the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman (Matthew 19:4-6). Due to the propensities of fallen humanity, it is no surprise that marriage has been redefined to include two people of the same sex. Since Western civilization has ignored Gods set boundaries, the definition of marriage may be expanded shortly to include polygamy, polyandry, and other ungodly options (marriage to an animal, a non-living entity or doll, or even to an A.I.-powered humanoid). 5. Boundaries in gender have been ignored Since sin is a transgression that violates divine boundaries and precepts, it was only a matter of time before Western civilization would celebrate non-binary humans as viable options for self-expression and identity. The Judeo/Christian worldview was jettisoned in the West, causing the return of ungodly ideologies to these nations. These ideologies include the embrace of transgenderism as seen historically in the Sumerian society when they worshiped the goddess of fertility, Inanna, and the goddess Cybele, who had transgender priests. 6. Boundaries in government have been violated The Tower of Babel depicts human autonomy in the desire to create a unified people or sizable central government that would attempt to rival the rule of God on earth. This is why Yahweh divided their efforts to build the tower (Genesis 11). Marxism, Socialism, and other governments in contemporary cultures have tried to use progressive taxation and onerous regulations of businesses to seize individual and corporate wealth beyond the divine boundaries set by God (1 Samuel 8:10-18). 7. Boundaries that define a human may be broken With the advent of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, the day may soon arrive when a humanoid equipped with artificial intelligence will develop pseudo-self-consciousness. Should this occur, debates may ensue on personhood as defined by society and whether these robotic creations should be granted rights equal to biologically born humans. The intent behind our God-given ability as co-creators to subdue the earth and have dominion over it was to create a God-aligned world (Genesis 1:28). Instead, our designs, inventions, and creations have become increasingly antithetical to Gods original creative purpose and plan because we continue to cross ancient divine boundaries (Deuteronomy 19:14; Proverbs 22:28). Whatever the boundary-breaking might look like, it's all offensive to a holy God. It is our job to warn a sinful world of its rebellion and to call it to repentance through Christ's glorious Gospel. Nothing else will do. As death toll mounts in Kenya church, local clergy wonder at scale of indoctrination In an expansive forest near Kenya's southern coast, detectives have been exhuming bodies of people who starved to death to go to "heaven," allegedly at the orders of a Christian pastor. Anger and shock gripped the East African nation as families learned Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, the leader of the Good News International Church, ordered members to pray and fast to death so they could meet Jesus. When the people died, Nthenge and other members reportedly buried their bodies in shallow graves in Shakahola, an 800-acre forest ranch near Malindi, a tourist town on the Indian Ocean. "Shakahola" means "a place of treating people's problems," according to retired Anglican Bishop Julius Kalu of Mombasa, whose home is near the area. Kalu wonders if the place's meaning held a special appeal to Nthenge. "When he bought the land in Shakahola, he told the people that he wanted to practice farming," Kalu told Religion News Service. "It got us by surprise. I do not know where he got this kind of theology. Christians pray and fast, but they don't do it until their death," he said. "I think we could not detect it because most of the victims are people from upcountry. The area is also sparsely populated." The death toll now stands at 90, with 26 new bodies exhumed on Monday from the mass graves in the ranch. Local teams anticipate more bodies in the ongoing search the Kenyan Red Cross Society said on Sunday that 112 people had been reported missing to a tracing desk it set up near where the church was located and Kenyans from different parts of the country have traveled to the area searching for their relatives. Many are decrying the Good News International Church as a cult and calling Nthenge a cult leader. "It's indeed a worrying trend to watch how many desperate and innocent Kenyans are being spiritually terrorized or swindled by multiple fake pastors and cultic leaders," said Roman Catholic Bishop Wilybard Kitogho Lagho of the Malindi Diocese on April 24. "What makes cultism a complicated phenomena to deal with is that cult followers believe their religious, sect or cult leader is always right, and their leader has the exclusive means of knowing 'truth.'" The horrors began unfolding on April 14 when police raided the Nthenge compound on a tip that some people were starving to death there. They found 15 emaciated people, including four who later died. The survivors said they were following the pastor's instructions to starve in order to meet Jesus. Kenya's President William Samoei Ruto described the incidents at the ranch as "akin to terrorism," saying terrorists use religion to advance their heinous acts. "People like Mackenzie are using religion to do exactly that," said Ruto. Religious leaders and human rights campaigners have criticized the pastor's actions as an abuse of Kenya's right to freedom of worship. Kenya is majority Christian: about 85% of the country's nearly 53 million population is Christian, while about 10% are Muslim. "While the state remains respectful of religious freedom, the horrendous blight on the conscience must lead not only to the most severe punishment, but tighter regulation of every church, mosque, temple or synagogue going forward," said Kindiki Kithure, Kenya's Interior Cabinet secretary. Most of the exhumed bodies have been children's, but the extreme indoctrination of their parents has shocked clerics and religious analysts. Many of them sold all their belongings or left good-paying jobs to join the pastor at the ranch. The promise was simple: "Come and meet Jesus and go to heaven." Some scholars highlight the pastor's actions and teachings as an example of heretical Christian theology, a surging problem in Africa. Such practices arise out of Christian teachings but ignore the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ or challenge or misrepresent the divine sovereignty of God, notes the Rev. Gibson Ezekiel Lesmore, an official at the All Africa conference of Churches. "It is an example of misleading theologies. However, it is also demonic. The pastor should be treated as a deadly criminal," said Lesmore. Media reports describe Nthenge as a dynamic and charismatic speaker and an author of books on Christian living and spirituality. He started the church in Malindi in 2003. However, he was forced out of the town in 2015 after a controversy over the kind of religious teaching he was giving to children. It was then that he settled in the forest. In November 2019, the pastor announced the closure of the church and his digital television station, saying the message God had given him was already delivered. In May the same year, at a magistrate's court in Malindi, he faced charges of disobeying the law, religious incitement and indoctrination of children. Earlier, he had been found with films that discouraged children from attending school. The films also incited the children against Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. The court had released him on a Kenya Shilling 1 million bond with an alternative of 500,000 cash bail. In 2017, police raided his church and rescued 93 children. He was arraigned in court on charges of radicalization and teaching in an unregistered school. The pastor denied the charges and was released on bond. Nthenge demanded that his adherents stop sending their children to school and that they burn all academic certificates. He also banned women from shaving their hair and the sick from seeking treatment in hospitals. Church members were required to live on his ranch. "We need to review the proposed state laws and amend them where necessary to ensure such rogue preachers are exposed and denied space for their dangerous activities," said Lagho. Religion News Service Will the actions of orthodox Anglicans be as strong as their words post-Kigali? Strong words came out of the Gafcon conference of biblically orthodox Anglicans last week in Kigali, Rwanda. But will the actions of the orthodox Anglican Churches in the global majority be as strong as their words? The Churches of Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda, which make up the core of Gafcon, joined with the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA), which represents about 25 provinces (national or multi-national jurisdictions), in the Kigali Commitment expressing no confidence in Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby as the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion: "We have no confidence that the Archbishop of Canterbury nor the other Instruments of Communion led by him (the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates' Meetings) are able to provide a godly way forward that will be acceptable to those who are committed to the truthfulness, clarity, sufficiency and authority of Scripture. "The Instruments of Communion have failed to maintain true communion based on the Word of God and shared faith in Christ." The Kigali Commitment excoriated "successive Archbishops of Canterbury" for failing "to guard the faith by inviting bishops to Lambeth who have embraced or promoted practices contrary to Scripture". Gafcon and the GSFA joined in expressing disgust with the Church of England's decision at its General Synod in February, with the support of Archbishop Welby, to authorise services of blessing for same-sex couples: "This failure of church discipline has been compounded by the current Archbishop of Canterbury who has himself welcomed the provision of liturgical resources to bless these practices contrary to Scripture. This renders his leadership role in the Anglican Communion entirely indefensible." After the Kigali Commitment last Friday, the Archbishop of Canterbury's office at Lambeth Palace issued its own statement. "We've heard it all before" was its basic message: "We note that The Kigali Commitment issued by GAFCON IV today makes many of the same points that have previously been made about the structures of the Anglican Communion." Lambeth was able truthfully to point out that at the last plenary meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) in Ghana in February, the week after the General Synod vote, 39 out of the 42 Anglican Communion provinces sent delegates. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the president of the ACC. The Lambeth statement declared: "At the ACC-18 meeting which was attended by primates (archbishops leading provinces), bishops, clergy and laity from 39 of the 42 Anglican provinces there was widespread support for working together patiently and constructively to review the Instruments of Communion, so that our differences and disagreements can be held together in unity and fellowship. "Archbishop Justin Welby has welcomed this decision just as he also welcomed last year's decision by the Church of England's General Synod to give the Anglican Communion a greater voice on the body that nominates future Archbishops of Canterbury." The absent Churches were the Gafcon provinces of Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda which are boycotting the ACC as they did the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lambeth Conference of Anglican archbishops and bishops worldwide last year. Plenary meetings of the ACC take place about every three years. The next one is due to be hosted by the Church of Ireland in 2026. If the GSFA provinces send delegates to that plenary meeting, presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury (almost certainly Welby's successor), they cannot claim to have rejected his (or more likely her) spiritual primacy of the Anglican Communion. With the Church of England eager to show its commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, the Bishop of Chelmsford, Guli Francis-Dehqani, has a strong chance of becoming the first female and British minority ethnic Archbishop of Canterbury after Welby retires, probably after the King's Coronation. There would be a cost to the GSFA provinces in impoverished, war-torn countries like Sudan and Myanmar in withdrawing from the ACC and future Lambeth conferences. As former GSFA public relations consultant, Rev Paul Eddy, said in his appeal for orthodox Anglican unity ahead of Kigali: "(For) smaller, more vulnerable provinces, open to attack by civil political forces, or Islam, being part of the Communion has created a level of safety and security." But unless the orthodox Anglican provinces in the GSFA follow the core Gafcon Churches in refusing to recognise Canterbury's presidency by withdrawing from the ACC, the strongly-worded statement from Kigali could amount to no more than a diatribe. Julian Mann is a former Church of England vicar, now an evangelical journalist based in Lancashire. What happens when your own body begins to betray you in a series of increasingly confusing ways? Thats the conundrum at the center of John Cotters new memoir Losing Music, which recounts his experience living with Menieres disease, a chronic condition that affects over half a million people in the United States, often resulting in vertigo and hearing loss, among other symptoms. Writing at The Washington Post, Lisa Zeidner noted that the memoir offers a compelling portrait of how deafness isolates people from even those closest to them.Losing Music is a powerful and complex look at the sudden changes a diagnosis can bring to someones life and the challenges it can take to get that diagnosis in the first place. In this excerpt from Losing Music, Cotter describes his visit to the Mayo Clinic as he and his family attempt to discover more about his condition. Once the nurse had my clothes off and had positioned me on a gurney at the entrance to a man-sized toaster, she began to sprinkle me with powder, beige stuff, face to toes, then smoothed it in like you would a dry rub. My hearing aids were tucked in a locker. I felt panicked without them. Everything off, shed repeated, directing me to the changing closet. This clarified the role of the hearing aids: they were an appurtenance only, nonessential. They werent like the cow membrane Id needed to have grafted to my spine as a teen, or the titanium bar fastened onto the bones of my wrist after a fall. They didnt make me transhuman. They could be broken with ease, lost or taken. I stared up at the nurse. The fluorescent light didnt silhouette her. It was a clinical light in a white room, but the sterility of the place was necessary. If I wanted a cure for this thing that had happened to me, I had to diagnose it first, and diagnosis required all-white rooms. She said, Youll be able to wash the powder off later. With luck, it will have changed color by then. The change in color of the powder would be accomplishedor notby heat. Heat that would emanate from the toaster, a walk-in box adorned with tinfoil and bare joints. The nurse I never got her name wore gloves as she dusted me, the powder less coarse than I imagined before it covered my skin. I felt like a pharaoh on the slab, being rubbed with natron salt before I was wrapped. Tense, I tried a joke. I had trouble hearing my own voice so I talked in a bar voice. Is that thing going to pop me out the top when Im done? She gave me a look that implied shed heard every joke a naked man can make and hadnt cared for one of them. So, okay, so you wheel me into the machine and then what happens? She kept her eyes on the spots where my torso connected with the gurney. Shed missed them in her first pass. Then we test the brains response to heat. My whole nervous system, though, right? The autonomic pathways? Well! she said, as though that were the last word. I guess youve already read about it. Id only scanned Wikipedia on my phone in the waiting room. I still didnt understand the powder. It turns purple, she said, if you sweat right. She was correct: I did end the afternoon on the purple side; emerging from the toaster, I resembled a 64 bruise, or maybe a carnival dancer. But that was still to come. As she worked the powder up around my ears, I asked, What sort of diseases would make me not turn purple? Oh, she said, as though putting the subject to bed now for good, all kinds of things. Medical personnel are very good at explaining things in either the simplest or the most complex possible terms, but little in between. Jargon has a lot to do with this, but so does a vague contempt for patients that develops as a by-product of guarding yourself against emotional collapse. If you dont have time to cry about everything, you wind up compensating with a roll of your eyes. Theres an additional reason for all those zero-to-sixty explanations, though. Its one we hesitate to talk about because we actively fear it. But that doesnt make it less real. Often, doctors and nurses and technicians, medical journals and studies and pop science, are bad at explaining things because the embarrassing truth is that none of them understand whats really going on. Around certain diseases, particularly those of diagnostic exclusion diagnoses unverifiable through tests there exists a hearty portion of bluffing. Whatever was wrong with my ears or brain or nerves whatever caused me to collapse and the world to spin around me, caused all external sound to disappear without warning, and take on a jet-engine roar only I could hear was one of these mystery conditions, the kind no one wants to admit being baffled by. Consequently, I saw a fair bit of bluffing at the Mayo Clinic. No one shocks as readily as a cynic, so of course I was shocked by it. What kind of music do you want in the chamber, the nurse asked, removing her beige-powder gloves. Whatever you play I probably wont hear too well. So, just play your favorite. She wheeled me into the device. Through a window to my right I watched her manipulating dials. Just then, as the red bars lit above me and my skin began to prick the way skin does on a hot, beachy day, I heard music coming faintly from a speaker above. It dawned on me I ought to have said, Play anything except for Frank Sinatra. But there it was: Come fly with me! Lets fly, lets fly away. ***** The toaster test turned out to be something called a thermoregulatory sweat test, one that measures the bodys response to heat: if your skin doesnt warm in the proper pattern, then your nervous system might be damaged. My nervous system appeared to be functioning well, but I didnt know that when I landed at the Rochester, Minnesota, airport three days before. I didnt want to test positive in a nerve damage test per se, but I wanted to find a test that diagnosed me, either curing me or putting a name to whatever was wrong. The Mayo Clinic has a reputation. Theyll fix you up, old friends assured me before my visit. Every time my courage began to falter in the run-up, Elisa would say, Just wait and see what Mayo says. This confidence is at least two generations old. According to Leonard Berry and Kent Seltmans Management Lessons from Mayo Clinic, polling respondents in 1961 were already referring to the Mayo Clinic as a court of last resort the Supreme Court of Medical Opinion. More recently, in a national survey from 2007, respondents were asked what healthcare institution they would choose for themselves or a family member if insurance or finances would permit them to go anywhere. Mayo Clinic was mentioned more than twice as frequently as anyplace else. But the particularities of visiting Mayo arent the sort of things people think about until they get sick. At the time of my visit early 2014 Mayos website advised prospective patients to expect a week-long stay. Such a stay would cost hundreds before travel was factored in. And I couldnt travel alone. My new marriage to Elisa meant I now had health insurance to pay for the visit, but it came with a $2,000 deductible. I was working less, earning less thanks to the mystery illness, but Elisa couldnt make the trip; my mother saved the day, offering not only to fly there along with me but to pay for both of our flights and our hotel. I agitated through the nights on the week leading up to the journey, away from Elisa, in Connecticuts post-Christmas fade, while my mother worried over what warm clothes to pack. Then we flew north, straight into the cold. Rochester knocked together an airport early last century for near-exclusive use by patients of Mayo Clinic. While Mayo directly employs only a third of Rochester residents, most of the rest work in subsidiary jobs: long-stay hotels, meals, transportation, and a city government that takes its marching orders from HQ. Its the kind of relationship with a single employer you dont see much in midsize cities anymore. Rochester is a company town. Timing, as usual, was everything: the postCivil War decades were boom years for clinical breakthroughs and the brothers Mayo were smart enough to understand what was happening around them. The germ theory of disease was only then coming into common practice, and so the Mayos were relatively unique in their insistence on sterile theaters. Thanks to chloroform, patients and surgeons were no longer made to endure what Fanny Burney described in 1811 as the unavailing wretchedness of procedures without anesthetic. In the early years of that century, following a partial mastectomy, Burney, still weeping in postsurgical agony, wrote to her sister describing what the nightmare had been like: I then felt the Knife tackling against the breast bone scraping it! This performed, while I yet remained in utterly speechless torture . . . I then saw my good Dr Larry, pale nearly as myself, his face streaked with blood, its expression depicting grief, apprehension, & almost horror. The trenches of World War I and the Spanish flu presented entirely novel horrors, and in the wake of a rush of patients to Rochester, the brothers Mayo fell upon a new idea: a clinic of salaried physicians, the first anywhere of its kind, and a principal of organization that would make their family name into what Berry and Seltman call one of the most influential and valuable service brands in the world. Valuable here is a charged word, in that the value so many pilgrims place on a journey to Mayo often consists not only of money theyve saved or borrowed but of their own continued existence. The value can be life itself. As we taxied in on arrival, I switched my phone out of airplane mode. A long row of weather alerts appeared, their tone increasing in alarm as we rushed through the cold to our long-stay hotel. Meteorologists recommend no more than three minutes exposure to the cold . . . try to travel in groups . . . always let someone know where you are . . . only go outdoors if you cannot possibly avoid it . . . As I settled in over the next few days of my stay, what worried me about the cold was not the number of warnings, or even the feel of the air, it was the fact that even the locals seemed alarmed. As in Jack Londons To Build a Fire, spit crackled when it hit the snow. The wind wasnt hard doors werent obstinate but there wasnt any part of your body that wasnt cold outdoors: shivers under your arms, stinging thighs, a blade at your back. Your body stiffened and resisted movement. Nobody walked outside, they ran. And nobody joked about the cold. On arriving at our hotel, we passed a woman emerging with her partner, or her father, or her son? The hood and scarf she wore werent the only reasons it wasnt possible to guess her age: disease had withered her, and it frightened me to see it. People close to death develop a certain look, a dazed extremis. Who knows what she looked like when she was well, maybe weeks before? I carried a suitcase in one hand and a bag in the other, and amazingly she remained at the hotel entrance to hold the door for me. I offered a smile, but a joke about the cold died in my throat. I didnt want to waste her time. Where was she going now that clinic hours were through? Probably the same place my mother and I dashed to an hour later, after stowing our bags in a room that had seen more than its share of bad nights. We were planning on a boisterous late dinner at the Canadian Honker next door, but I didnt feel good. How many people have died in this room, do you think? Or slept their last night? Dont be so dark, my mother said. Try to think of all the people who got a good nights sleep here once they knew theyd be cured. Dinner, we decided, would cheer us both, and we managed to find seats just before the Canadian Honkers kitchen closed. Cheese curds, it turns out, are just fried cheese. Expecting Mayo would be taking blood the next day, I asked about the liver and onions and was told people came from miles around to partake of it. I ordered the dish and grew convinced those miles-long travelers came only once. On the space walk thirty feet to our hotel, and once my hearing aids were off and I was alone in bed with the roaring in my ears and with my thoughts, I tried to encourage myself about the week that lay ahead and to fight back fear. None of the doctors Id seen so far had been able to help, but maybe someone at Mayo could. Excerpted from Losing Music: A Memoir by John Cotter. Published with permission from Milkweed Editions. This article was featured in the InsideHook newsletter. Sign up now. The post John Cotter Describes a Visit to the Mayo Clinic in This Excerpt From His Memoir Losing Music appeared first on InsideHook. "A Brutal Reckoning: Andrew Jackson, the Creek Indians, and the Epic War for the American South" By Peter Cozzens Knopf. 434 pp. $35 - - - The attack came at lunchtime. Approximately 700 Muscogee attacked Fort Mims on Aug. 30, 1813, in what is now Alabama, and in a matter of hours, they overpowered its defenders. Though White men, women and children were killed in the assault, so, too, were a group of Muscogee who had taken up residence at the fort. For the attacking Muscogee, known as the Red Sticks, such cultural adaptation was a sign of how deeply their culture had been corrupted. The triumphant Red Sticks slaughtered the fort's livestock and horses, destroyed the inhabitants' property and melted the silver specie. For the Red Sticks, it was an act of holy violence; for White Americans living on the frontier, it was viewed as a senseless massacre, one that needed to be righteously answered in kind. This was an inciting incident in the Creek War, a conflict that unfolded within the larger context of the War of 1812. The Creek War commenced as a conflict between feuding factions of the Muscogee (or "Creek," as they were called by English and Spanish colonialists) nation, an internal struggle that rapidly turned violent and ignited a civil war that had been decades in the making. Despite being a loose confederacy of independent but interlinked villages, the Muscogee were the dominant Indian power in the American Southeast and had successfully resisted European encroachment. But following the American Revolution, various Muscogee villages began to accommodate to the young United States and even adopt White customs such as European gender roles, Christianity and even slavery. Intermarriage between Creeks and Whites also further complicated the situation. Soon traditionalists were taking up arms to purify their lands and their people. Taking their name from the red warclubs used by Muscogee, the Red Sticks launched a widespread movement against Indigenous peoples who they said had corrupted their Native way of life and their White American neighbors. Despite being originally limited to Creek Country and its boarders, the violence quickly transformed into a frontier struggle between the young United States and the resistant Red Stick forces following the attack of Fort Mims. Though it was certainly the Muscogee squatters and metis, or mixed-race, families that were the prime target of the Red Sticks, the young United States focused on the White men, women and children who had been killed, viewing it as an act of war. While the Creek War has received more attention in academic circles in recent years, it is still a largely forgotten episode in American history for the reading public. In his new book, "A Brutal Reckoning: Andrew Jackson, the Creek Indians, and the Epic War for the American South," historian Peter Cozzens sets out to correct that by admirably situating the conflict within early American history. Drawing upon the prizewinning work of Claudio Saunt, Cozzens explains the long buildup to the Creek War, pointing to the divisions that had begun to form between the Upper and Lower Creeks after the American Revolution. As the book proceeds, Cozzens also places the conflict within the scope of Andrew Jackson's early biography. Whereas the average American might point to the Battle of New Orleans as the basis of Jackson's fame, it was his victories during the Creek War that brought him into the national spotlight. Although Jackson is absent from early portions of "A Brutal Reckoning," once he arrives, he takes center stage and "dominates the narrative just as he did the conduct of the Creek War." In contrast both to the early hagiographies that painted Jackson as a military genius and to the more recent trend of ascribing Jackson's success to a combination of rage and luck, Cozzens presents Jackson as both cunning and cruel, an appraisal that some may find too fair. But while the book gives credit to Jackson's tactical skill and tenacity, it never underplays his capacity for violence. After all, though it was during the Creek War that Jackson earned his beloved nickname, "Old Hickory," for his steadfast fidelity to his troops under harsh conditions, he was also dubbed "Sharp Knife" by his Indian allies - a testament to his ruthlessness. Some of the conflicts between the Tennessee militia and Red Sticks resemble slaughters more than military skirmishes. Cozzens recounts the horrors of the Battle of Tallushatchee in graphic detail by drawing on the memoirs of Davy Crockett, who recalled: "We now shot them like dogs." But as the title suggests, the brutality described by Cozzens is not owned solely by Jackson and his forces, but also by the Red Sticks. As sympathetic as Cozzens is to the struggle mounted by the Red Sticks to maintain their traditional customs and culture, he does not spare any detail in recounting their slaying of noncombatants, including children, and their destruction of the metis Muscogee and those Indians who refused to join them. Little ghastly detail is spared, and some readers will need strong constitutions to stomach Cozzens's vivid writing. Cozzens also takes an admirably nuanced approach to the Muscogee, Cherokee and Choctaw, who assisted Jackson over their Red Stick kinfolk, a detail that further complicates simplistic renderings of Indigenous-White relations. As Cozzens explains, these Native allies were often key players in both the strategizing and the fighting of the Creek War. In his assessment, it was the "Cherokee and friendly Creek scouts acting on their own initiative," not Andrew Jackson and his Tennessee militia, who truly won the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. But it is this cooperation and collaboration that makes Jackson's eventual demand that they, too, cede their lands even more shocking. As has come to be expected from Cozzens's work, "A Brutal Reckoning" masterfully blends important cultural and biographical details with expressive and engaging military history. Cozzens's retelling of the Creek War is as garish as it is gruesome, especially when it comes to events such as the Fort Mims massacre and Battle of Horseshoe Bend. While these battles might seem small in scale (the largest involving approximately 3,000 combatants), the outcome of the Creek War fundamentally altered the future of the United States. Not only did it shatter Indian dominance of the Deep South, but the Creeks were forced to cede more than 21 million acres of land in present-day Georgia and Alabama. Cozzens makes a strong case for the Creek War's place as one of the defining moments in 19th-century American history, demonstrating how it contributed variously to the expansion to slavery and the promotion of Jackson as a war hero, as well to future Indian removal and the brewing of the Civil War. "A Brutal Reckoning" is a powerful reminder that the "age of Jackson" did not begin with the Battle of New Orleans, but rather with the Creek War. - - - Daniel N. Gullotta is the Archer fellow in residence at the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University, and a PhD candidate at Stanford University specializing in American religious history. A poster displaying the image of a sunset, palm trees and a camper van was placed on the stage of The Arch Street Teen Center in Greenwich Monday night. The banner displayed the words "Pogue Life" and "Outer Banks," as an actor from the hit Netflix series was set to take the stage later that day. On Monday, Rudy Pankow, 24, received the Greenwich International Film Festival's #MakeAnImpact award, an honor given to an artist who uses their platform to make positive change. The organization presented the award to the Alaska native for his portrayal of a domestic abuse survivor as JJ Maybank in the hit Netflix series, which charted in the top ten of Netflix's global top weekly list for all three seasons. In the series about a group of teenagers in search of a lost treasure, JJ is one of the protagonist's best friends and is oftentimes the show's comedic relief. As a rebellious teenager, the character also exhibits boldness and charisma. The latter was evident in the reaction of the audience members when Pankow walked onto The Arch Street Teen Center stage. He was met with screams from the crowd of teenagers and with multiple "I love you's" throughout his interview with Charles Thorp, editor of Men's Journal. The two discussed the character's impulsive nature. "It's a decent chaos," Pankow said. Some of that impulsiveness is fueled by JJ's relationship with his alcoholic father, Luke Maybank (Gary Weeks), who subjects JJ to physical and emotional abuse on the show. Although filming those scenes puts him in a dark headspace, Pankow said he's honored to depict an important issue on screen and he feels a great responsibility to accurately portray survivors' experiences. "Because it's something people struggle with. So it can be also a little nerve-wracking. Because you don't want to do it wrong. You don't want to do an injustice," he said. "And I think that's really important because I hope no one has to go through that. But it's not the case." JJ breaks down about the abuse to his friends, Pope and Kiara, during one scene in the first season. In an April 2020 interview with Seventeen Magazine, Pankow said that scene received positive feedback from viewers and he thinks everybody could relate to JJ's feeling of abandonment to a certain capacity. Pankow told Seventeen that he'd be "touched and moved" if JJ's story impacts people who share a similar experience. The actor also discussed his career leading up to "Outer Banks." Growing up in the small town of Ketchikan, Alaska, he fell in love with storytelling but never saw acting as a career possibility. He made a leap of faith before college and took acting classes in Los Angeles. Pankow acted in plays and short films, and washed dishes at The Cheesecake Factory to make ends meet. His role as JJ in "Outer Banks" catapulted him to fame when it first released in 2020. But he was almost cast as someone else. During the audition process, he auditioned for the roles of JJ, Rafe and John B., and was almost cast as Rafe in the beginning, he said. "And then I went through about five auditions as John B.," he said. "And then when we went to Charleston, they were like 'We're going to get you one last shot as JJ.'" He did a chemistry read with Chase Stokes and the two got the part. The show was released in April 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown and as of March 2023, season one has 34 million hours viewed. "It's nice to come from one of the most isolating times today and go through a really big life change," he said. "You get recognized and someone says, 'I love your work.' It feels really good." Pankow can also be seen in "Uncharted," starring Tom Holland, and he stars in the upcoming film, "Chocolate Lizards." "Outer Banks" has also been renewed for a fourth season and Pankow wants to see JJ develop self-worth. JJ says goodbye to his father in season 2 and the moment brings him to tears, showing that despite the turmoil, it's still a major loss for him. However, JJ forms his own family with the main characters, the Pogues, who call out his behavior to prevent him from pursuing the same destructive path as his dad. "I really hope JJ with all those struggles and with all those domestic abuse and other issues, as well as not feeling worth something that he can be a little bit of a beacon of hope. That you can persevere through it and that it's not who you are if it happens to you," he said. A couple years ago, Hammy started needing help getting into our SUV. Then last year, with little fanfare, he stopped sleeping in bed with me. Most recently, he's gotten fussy about his food - blasphemy for a beagle. These changes happened slowly, so when I stepped back recently to think about Hammy's life stage, at age 13, I was surprised to realize my little hound has not only earned senior status but may be "geriatric," which veterinarian Mary Gardner describes as a more fragile phase for our animal companions. Gardner, co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, a nationwide network of veterinarians who provide in-home geriatric services, estimates from data on U.S. dog populations that 44 percent of our pups are senior or geriatric. She says many vet schools don't address the special needs of these wobbly, skinny, sleepy, gray-muzzled, sweet canines - which include modifications at home. Gardner regularly visits residences where a dog has been struggling to get around and get comfortable - problems often easy to fix. None of us likes admitting age-related limitations. But whether you and your pooch of a certain age live in an apartment building with slick floors or a townhouse with a treacherous staircase, there are many ways to make our older dogs' lives - and ours - better and safer. - - - Add traction "Mobility is the number one issue we deal with," Gardner says. "I see these hardwood floors, and dogs can't get up and around, can't get to their sunny spot." Arthritis, obesity, disc issues, chronic inflammation and loss of muscle mass can all be culprits. Adding traction will give your pup confidence, cut down on splayed legs and prevent wipe-outs when he gets the zoomies, geezer-style. The solution can be as simple as adding rugs to highly trafficked areas; just make sure they have a non-slip mat underneath. Ruggable, for instance, makes thin rugs that attach to a grippy pad and can be easily thrown in the wash. One friend spread non-slip, waterproof dog pads around her house to assist her aging poodle-mix Owen. Meg Hamilton, a veterinary acupuncturist who has helped many older dogs, including Hammy, suggests lining the major arteries of your home with quarter-inch thick yoga mats (find them for $5 on Five Below). If you have a slippery porch, deck or exterior stairs, a coat of anti-skid paint works wonders. If you live with an older human - perhaps one who uses a walker - rugs and mats will increase their fall risk. So you may opt for inexpensive anti-slip paw coverings such as Expawlorer socks or disposable balloon-like boots from Pawz. Julie Buzby, an integrative veterinarian in South Carolina, created ToeGrips, a system of small bands that wrap around each toenail, allowing for better traction. Trimming nails and the long fur between your dog's toes will also help. - - - Mind the stairs Carpet runners or non-slip treads can be key for wobbly dogs negotiating stairs. (At our house, we made treads from artificial turf.) Pay particular attention to the bottom of the stairs, where dogs need a non-slip landing. When stairs become too difficult for your pup to navigate solo, block him with a large cardboard box or baby gate. Gardner also suggests installing a couple tension rods between the walls of your staircase to obstruct the top and bottom. "These old guys aren't jumping over things," she says, "so you can get away with something a little less secure." If your senior dog insists on trying to zip up and down steps, it is possible to train him to put on the brakes. Jackie Moyano, a training and behavior consultant in Maryland, created a video to demonstrate how to use treats to make dogs more mindful on staircases. - - - Offer a boost When the halcyon days of leaping are only a doggy memory, set up a mini staircase or ramp to reach beds, sofas and vehicles, such as Pet Gear products, available from Chewy. Whatever assist you use, make sure it has a grippy surface, and avoid jumping-down injuries by training dogs to descend the stairs or ramp, too. Save money by looking for used products on sites such as eBay and Craigslist, or for products made for humans, such as this anti-slip toddler step stool. - - - Keep it comfy Nearly all senior dogs have osteoarthritis, says bioethicist and author Jessica Pierce, and most go untreated. A dog who was glad to flop onto a tile floor back in the day will likely want more cushion in their golden years. Orthopedic beds, which provide therapeutic benefits for dogs with joint pain and muscle stiffness, are terrific but often pricey; a hand-me-down baby mattress can be a more affordable option. Kuranda makes a cot-style orthopedic bed that evenly distributes weight and is ideal for dogs who have trouble getting up and down. Similarly, raised water and food bowls - especially those angled toward the dog - are helpful for pets with neck and back pain. Make sure your dog has easy access to water, too, adding bowls in a few favorite rooms. Keeping older dogs comfortable also means paying attention to what they do and don't enjoy, which may have changed. Pierce talks about asking consent of our pets, even if you've been together 15 years. If your dog ducks when you reach to pet her head, for example, maybe it's time to scratch elsewhere. Pierce also suggests a "pain audit" of the sounds in your house. "Pain seems to increase noise sensitivity in many dogs," she explained in an email, "so make sure that potentially aversive noises (beeping microwaves, loud music, screaming kids) are minimized or your dog has minimal exposure to them." Create a place where your pup can retreat - Pierce calls it the "Alone Zone." And if the doorbell bothers your dog, post a note asking visitors not to ring it. - - - If your dog has dementia Like humans with dementia, older dogs can experience cognitive dysfunction, sometimes appearing lost or pacing in the middle of the night. Nightlights can help reduce anxiety and disorientation. The Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine suggests blocking unsafe areas of the house, such as stairways and spots your dog may get stuck, like behind the couch. - - - Exercise your pup's mind Cognitive enrichment is critical for senior dogs - as it is for humans. "If you go to a nursing home, you've got to play canasta," Gardner says. "Same thing with our older dogs, except most of their games are food-motivated." There is an amazing array of puzzles that require dogs to roll, shake, lick or snuffle a product to access food or treats. Low-cost fun is limited only by your imagination: I often play hide-and-seek with Hammy, calling his name and rewarding him with a treat when he finds me. I also set up scavenger hunts around the house and backyard, hiding treats at various levels. - - - Take care of yourself Even if your floors are lined with yoga mats, your dog may still need extra support - and constantly lifting him can take a toll on your own body. Support and mobility harnesses with a handle can be a game changer, letting you help your dog be more active while preventing yourself from injury, says Buzby. She suggests the Help 'Em Up Harness (a lifting aid designed for all-day wear that several other experts also recommended) and the GingerLead Dog Sling (a hind-end support for walks). One of Hammy's friends, a petite woman who recently said goodbye to her 14-year-old pup Piedra, said this dog sling was a huge help getting her pal up and down steps. In addition to physical assistance, older dogs need more of our love, patience and, often, money. Gardner surveyed people caring for senior animals and found they spent more than three hours a day in a caregiver role - administering medications, taking poky walks, cleaning accidents. She advises knowing your emotional, financial, physical and time limitations. The better you can avoid burnout, the more you'll enjoy these months and years with your sweet, white-faced friend. - - - Melanie D.G. Kaplan is a writer in D.C. Her website is melaniedgkaplan.com. We've all been there: It's the weekend, you're a couple drinks deep, and ignore the instinct that tells you to drink more water or eat. "Eh, I'll be fine with one more beer," you thinkand yet, all is not fine the next morning when you wake up with a raging headache, a very angry stomach, crippling hangxiety, or all the above. Thus, we turn to creature comforts like a greasy breakfast and Gatorade to ease the pain. But of course, you can't be expected to cook in your weakened, hungover state. Luckily, Houston's many restaurants, taquerias, coffee shops and smoothie bars can provide. Here's where to get some of the best versions of go-to hangover cures across the city, from early morning aids to dinners that calm even the most stubborn of cocktail-induced aches. James Nielsen, Staff / Houston Chronicle Coffee For a quick pick-me-up to come back to life: coffee. Blacksmith in Montrose brews some impressive espresso and coffee alongside a good breakfast menu (a biscuit is always a good idea). Astronaut-inspired Giant Leap Coffee serves beans from Houston's own Amaya Roasting, including in a cafe sua da-inspired "Milky Way" latte. Black Walnut Cafe Pancakes It's always wise to carb-load the morning after to soak up the booze and all those bad feelings. Midtown favorite The Breakfast Klub has pancakes with the option to add pecans, bananas, blueberries or strawberries, served alongside eggs and a choice of bacon, sausage, ham or turkey (protein is important). Houston staple Black Walnut Cafe is also a reliable choice for a pancake plate with eggs and breakfast meats. Or, if you're looking for pancakes that really go all out on flavors and toppings, Snooze, the Denver-born brunch spot, has several locations in the Houston area and boasts an impressive pancake menu, from a classic chocolate chip to the over-the-top strawberry shortcake stack. (And with Snooze, you can join the waitlist online, meaning rolling out of bed at the last second is an option.) Marco Torres Breakfast tacos The breakfast of Texan champions. Laredo Taqueria on Washington Avenue (and now three other locations) has been beloved for decades for its traditional and affordable breakfast tacos, from a classic potato, egg and cheese to spicy sausage. The East End's Villa Arcos recently made a long-awaited return. The spot serves its breakfast "super tacos" into the afternoon, making a 1 p.m. taco run perfectly acceptable (just know they close at 2 p.m.). And if you really can't muster up the strength to get out of the car, Northside spot Alamo Tamales & Taco offers a handy drive-thru. Melissa Phillip/Staff Pho Is there anything more comforting than a hot bowl of fragrant pho broth after a night of not-so-great choices? Pho Saigon has six locations across the Houston area, and its large menu of chicken and beef pho alongside other Vietnamese classics has earned a following. Standout Pho Ben in the Heights and Sugar Land offers 20 varieties of chicken or beef pho. And if you're looking to get ahead of an impending hangover, Pho Binh by Night is open from 4 p.m. until midnight. Lindsey Cooper Pizza Houston might not have its own famous style of pie, but there are plenty of options for a day-after cure. Pink's Pizza is a reliable choice with locations across the Houston area and online ordering. Betelgeuse Betelgeuse opens at noon on weekends and features some creative takes, such as That Sweet Funk made with shaved Brussels sprouts, pancetta, blue cheese and Mike's Hot Honey. And if you're really in need of carbs in the form of thick pizza crust with crispy cheese, Pizaro's Pizza Napoletana's menu has nine Detroit-style pizzas at its Montrose and Memorial locations. JuiceLand Smoothies Sometimes, you really just need a fruitand probably to hydrate. Austin-born juice bar JuiceLand can be found in Montrose, Bellaire, the Heights and near Rice Village, and has an extensive menu of smoothies, juices, smoothie bowls, shots (not that kind), and ready-made healthy snacks and lunch options. Bebidas in Upper Kirby serves juices and smoothies alongside breakfast and lunch, in case you need a carb with your blended greens. Red's Juice Joint in Third Ward offers smoothies, juices and acai bowls from owner Bryce "Red" Redhead's recipes, and also has two-day juice cleanses available for same-day pickup if you're really looking to detox. Shawn Chippendale Sandwiches Sandwiches come in many forms, all great options for a morning-after meal. Katz's may be known for its deli, but the breakfast menu also includes a Monte Cristo, the salty-sweet concoction (probably) invented for hangovers. If your stomach is sturdy enough for spice, Mico's Hot Chicken in the Heights and at its Galleria food truck has hefty hot chicken sandwiches in different spice levels (as well as loaded fries with melted cheese, fried chicken bits, chives and Mico's Sauce, which sounds like a perfect hangover cure side). Cali Sandwich & Pho in Midtown has some of Houston's favorite banh mi, including 14 options, many of which coming in under $5. Of course, sometimes you just need a big, juicy burger. Enter: the Burger Joint, which has 11 burger varieties (including a veggie burger and Impossible burger) and now has locations in Montrose, the Heights and Baybrook. Love it or hate it, strip malls are the beating heart of Houston. In Chron's new series, we take you on a tour of the city's best, food-packed, culture-rich shopping centers. One of the beauties of Houston's Bellaire Boulevard is the almost discombobulated array of shopping centers, grocery stores and restaurants lining this bustling corridor. Craving Thai tea? What about dim sum, pho or fresh fruit-filled desserts? It's all here, just waiting to be explored. One of the most special strip malls in Asiatown is Saigon Houston Plaza, a three-building shopping center near Arthur Storey Park and Teo Chew Temple, and just blocks from Hong Kong City Mall. Here, you'll find a variety of Southeast Asian eats and treats, and even some nods to history, too. With its red terracotta-colored roof, Roman Tuscan columns and Corinthian accents, the plaza's overall design is an homage to the ships and boats that carried Vietnamese refugees fleeing their country by sea. Phoebe Suy Gibson The original vision for Saigon Houston Plaza was to be the "Galleria of Bellaire," Tri La, co-owner of Kim Son, told the Houston Chronicle in 2004, when the strip was first being developed. La and Al Kashani of Horizon Development Group, also the builders of the Chinese Community Center, worked together to bring Saigon Houston Plaza to fruition. By that time, Asiatown's westward shift was already underway. Between 1990 and 2000, Houston's Asian population grew by 76 percent, making it the "fastest-growing ethnic group" in the region, according to the Chronicle. Ben DeSoto/Houston Chronicle Today, Saigon Houston Plaza is more than ready to welcome the hungry, the curious, and the event and party goers among us thanks to community anchors like Kim Son and Radio Saigon Houston, not to mention the plaza's hidden and unlikely gems. Here's a snapshot of the strip. Phoebe Suy Gibson Kim Son Lunchtime is always bustling at Kim Son restaurant, the clatter of plates and utensils echoing throughout the expansive dining room. An Asiatown staple for Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine, Kim Son is a reliable stop for weekend dim sum, street food and other specialty dishes served on the wide-ranging buffet. Just down the hallway from the main restaurant, past the ritzy entryway and ever-changing photo backdrop, is the ballroom. With a capacity for as many as 800 people, Kim Son's Bellaire ballroom is a community staple for extravagant weddings, banquets, corporate meetings and more. Hosting a wedding at Kim Son is almost like a rite of passage in some Asian American families. (I've been to my fair share, and my own mother was a tad disappointed I didn't opt to tie the knot here. Sorry, Mom!) Phoebe Suy Gibson Long Coffee Located at the very center of Saigon Houston Plaza, Long Coffee feels almost like the center's living room. It's not uncommon to find groups of friends and families gathered on the outdoor patio, sipping on signature drinks like cafe sua da and cafe sua nong (Vietnamese coffee), fruit tea or milk tea. Craving a light bite? Long Coffee's Taiwanese-style popcorn chicken is worth a try. Phoebe Suy Gibson Phoebe Suy Gibson Beignets on the patio are the move at Chez Beignets in Saigon Houston Plaza. (Photos by Phoebe Suy Gibson) Chez Beignets Quan Ong Tre This corner eatery serves beignets and chicory coffee alongside traditional Vietnamese entrees. Established by German chef Joachim Jantzen, who was lovingly known by his Vietnamese patrons as "quan ong gia" (meaning "the old guy"), Chez Beignets is now owned by Lily Minh-Tam Do and her husband Quan Nguyen. When Do and Nguyen took over the cafe in 2020, they changed its name slightly to Chez Beignets Quan Ong Tre, the latter part meaning "the young guy," a nod to both Nguyen and Jantzen. The freshly fried beignets still use Jantzen's recipes, but with the new ownership comes more food and drink options, including crowd favorites like banh cuon (Vietnamese rice rolls) and dozens of milk teas, iced drinks and hot coffees to choose from. Enjoy your snacks outside on the shaded corner patio, complete with French-inspired decor and hanging plants. Phoebe Suy Gibson Kravin' Fruit Bar Next door to Chez Beignets is Kravin' Fruit Bar, an 11-year-old outpost for bubble tea, smoothies, finger foods, and shaved and snow ice (including Thai tea snow iceneed we say more?). Relax into Kravin' Fruit Bar's recently remodeled interiors and their mellow, modern playlist, while sipping on specialties like the Kravin' Fruit Teaa green tea and orange juice blend brimming with fresh strawberries, pineapple and mangoor a mangonada, wat-a-melonada, and literally any of their milk tea combinations. The atmosphere at Kravin' is perfect for catching up with a friend, reading a book, studying or working remotely. Getting hungry? The Kravin' Fries are a must-try. Topped with a spicy-sweet sauce and add-ons like kimchi or bacon (or egg, beef or chicken for extra protein), these crinkle-cut fries have a small cult following of their own. Houston's Washington Ho, of HBO's House of Ho fame, once said Kravin' serves the best boba he's ever had. NBD. Fun fact: Each Lunar New Year, Kravin' Fruit Bar's corner of Saigon Houston Plaza transforms into a community stage for lion dancing and other festivities. Phoebe Suy Gibson Phoebe Suy Gibson Phoebe Suy Gibson Phoebe Suy Gibson Kho Bo So is a treasure trove of goodies, from beef jerky to dried candy. (Photos by Phoebe Suy Gibson) Kho Bo So 1 Pop into Kho Bo So 1 in Saigon Houston Plaza's central building to peruse the shop's selection of dried goods, including varieties of beef jerky, seafood, fruits and candies. Established in 2012, Kho Bo So 1 prides itself on being one of the first Vietnamese beef jerky stores in Houston. Forget what you know about beef jerky. Here, there's lemongrass beef jerky, chile oil-infused jerky, and even varieties of curry-flavored beef jerky. Kho Bo So 1's selection of dried seafood takes things up a notch, offering dried whole squids, crispy crabs, braised crabs and more. Lined with rows of glass jars, all labeled for the curious or uninitiated, Kho Bo So 1 has something for everyone to try. Radio Saigon Houston Located on the second story of Saigon Houston Plaza's central building, Radio Saigon Houston has been a lifeline for Houston's Vietnamese community since its inception in the early 2000s. When co-founders and hosts Vu Thanh Thuy and Duong Phoc established the radio station, they brought their storytelling sense with them. The former war correspondents and award-winning journalists met while on the frontlines of the Vietnam War and married in 1974, a year before the fall of Saigon and the birth of their first child. Steve Ueckert/Chronicle For Thuy and Phoc, Radio Saigon Houston is mission-driven. Part talk show, news and music, everything on the airwaves at KREH 900 AM is about engaging and equipping Houston's Vietnamese community. The station's call-in segments allow listeners, hosts and guests to engage on matters such as how to buy a home, how to navigate the school and college system, as well as current events in the United States and Vietnam. "The more Vietnamese understand American society, the more they can contribute," Vu said in a 1999 Houston Chronicle interview. Radio Saigon Houston's impact is far-reaching, "helping spur Vietnamese migration from the West Coast to the Houston area," the Chronicle reported in 2007. Though owned by Bustos Media now, the station remains under Thuy and Phoc's care as they broadcast from the heart of Asiatown. Phoebe Suy Gibson Phoebe Suy Gibson Saigon Houston Plaza is a pillar of the city's Vietnamese community. (Photos by Phoebe Suy Gibson) An event was held in Nuevo Laredo this week that will truly be one to remember. Officials from Laredo and Nuevo Laredo were on hand Monday to place a time capsule into the ground. Organized by the United States Consulate in Nuevo Laredo, the time capsule will not be opened for another 25 years. The Consulate hosted the event in efforts to unite and showcase the large binational support and community ties that exist between both cities at the moment. Images of vaccine drives and mayors of both cities were included as well as several local art and sports-related material. The event was done in efforts to celebrate the strong binational ties between the United States and Mexico while celebrating the fifth anniversary of the new embassy building in Nuevo Laredo. City of Laredo Mayor Victor Trevino said that he looks to how the border community will be in 25 years when it is time to open the time capsule. This was an event that was created and hosted by the Consul Deanna Kim and the U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo, the mayor said. We are celebrating the bicentennial relationship, as we are seeing one of the heights of binational collaboration between Nuevo Laredo and Laredo, Texas, which includes the relationship of our mayors. Meanwhile, Nuevo Laredo Mayor Carmen Lilia Canturosas shared Trevino's sentiment and looks forward to seeing the capsule reopened in a few decades. I had the opportunity to participate in an event that will be part of the history of the border, she said. Being able to celebrate 200 years of relationship between Mexico and United States, we have put in this 'Capsula Bicentenaria' what we have done as an administration, also the participation of the mayor of City of Laredo, Texas, Dr. Victor Trevino, the civilian society and media. I thank the invitation to Deanna Kim, Consul General of the United States in Nuevo Laredo, and we will see each other in 25 years to reopen (the capsule) and to see the memories of the work for the Transformation of Nuevo Laredo. Some of the things that were put in the time capsule included pictures from the binational vaccination drives on the international bridge, a Tecolotes Dos Laredos shirt, several medals bestowed to local athletes and other overachievers from both cities, and artwork from both communities. The inclusion of these items is vital to the two communities as they help reinforce and celebrate the shared culture, history and commerce between both cities, Trevino said. The mayor also has a very bold outlook for what he hopes the future looks like in 25 years, as he hopes that by the time the time capsule is opened that the region will take advantage of the long-standing geographical location and exploit all the financial resources the area has to offer. In an ideal future, illegal immigration would not exist because of our prosperity on both sides of our border, Trevino said. Our communities having shared resources, having combined binational entities that preserved our vital resources. Laredo is the No. 1 port of entry in the United States and enjoys our commercial prosperity because of our strong relationships with our Mexican counterparts. He also hopes that the memories of the COVID-19 pandemic will just be that. The mayor states that this as the final push for binational vaccine drives is underway now between the Laredo Health Department and also various entities of Mexico from those in Nuevo Laredo and als in Nuevo Leon. As the COVID pandemic emergency declaration ends on May 11, we are conducting our last COVID binational vaccination on the international bridges, the mayor said. This was a pilot and model for the rest of the country and the world about the benefits of binational collaboration. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Montgomery resident Michael John Foy Day is finally fulfilling his dream of establishing a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in his hometown. After spending more than 33 years in the military, the U.S. Navy Veteran has completed more than 35,000 hours of community service throughout the years with the VFW. In 1992, he joined the organization in Naples, Italy, later transferring to a post in Texas. In June 2022, Day was elected as the VFW's state chaplain. On YourCourierNews.com: Growth from new developments means Willis now needs a new Montgomery County Tax Office The "Birthplace of the Lone Star" post is expected to host a fundraising event May 13 and open its doors for veterans in July, he said. Matching the national organization's mission, Day hopes to further the aims and ideals of the organization while promoting family activities through patriotism, teach students about American heritage and demonstrate the proper care of the U.S. flag. These programs will be taught to Montgomery and Willis students as well as scouting units, first responders and older adults, he said. When he approached the community civic leaders about his vision, they supported him. "They didn't even have to take it to city council," Day said. "They didn't need no one's approval. They gave me their blessings." There are four VFW posts in Montgomery County Conroe, The Woodlands, Porter and Magnolia. The Magnolia post opened its doors last year. For veterans who live in Montgomery, the new post will eliminate the longer drive times around the county, said Sr. Vice Commander Marcey Phillips of the Texas VFW District 17. On YourCourierNews.com: Montgomery County moves forward with $65K study on dilapidated animal shelter Phillips' district spans Montgomery County and also includes other cities such as Katy, Navasota, Normangee, Jewett, Hearne, Caldwell, Bryan, Brenham, Huntsville, and Bellville. "A lot of these veterans out here, they don't want to drive far to go somewhere," Phillips said. "And this is closer to home, or they don't want to be somewhere with a bar." There is a misconception that all VFWs are bars, however posts that have official buildings usually have bars associated with them, she said. Which is why Day wanted to create the post with the original "aims and ideals." "We're not going to have a canteen," Day said. "People think the VFW is a bunch of drunks and I don't want that." Day hopes to create a Christian, family-oriented post, something that has already attracted several potential members. New Waverly resident Shawn Stewart said he never thought about joining the national organization until recently. "I never had joined...before because I'm past the whole 'drink at every single event' type of thing," Stewart said, noting a lot of veterans drink to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder. "I think there's a lot of vets out there, especially in modern times that come back from the Gulf...that suffer from addiction problems. And having a place that doesn't make that the main theme or push that kind of lifestyle is awesome." Stewart was one of more than 10 veterans who showed up at the Lone Star Community Center Tuesday night to support Day's mission. Stewart served as an aircraft carrier for the Navy in 1998, part of Operation Southern Watch. Like Stewart, other veterans in attendance also saw combat. The comradery was evident as each of them joked around and gave life updates. Everyone said much of the same Day is a man of charity. "He's got a big heart," Phillips said. "He does a lot in the community. And he's a really good person to recognize the need that's here and be able to translate that into bringing a post...making that happen. I think he's doing a great job." Opposed to Kicking Birds policy of peaceful coexistence with the whites, dissident Kiowas punished their chief with a poisoned cup of coffee on May 2, 1875. A nineteenth century authority on North American Indians rated the Kiowas the most predatory and bloodthirsty of the prairie tribes. His opinion was influenced by the fact that in proportion to their comparatively small size, which never exceeded three thousand, they killed by far the most white trespassers. The Kiowas made up for their lack of numbers with unmatched ferocity in combat and a delicate touch in the art of diplomacy. Red rivals they could not defeat in battle were cleverly converted into loyal allies. After 50 years of inconclusive warfare, the Kiowas buried the hatchet with the Comanches in 1790. While the Comanches remained their closest comrades-in-arms, their list of formidable friends also included the Pueblos, Towakanis, Wacos, Wichitas and Crows. Although a famous Indian fighter condemned them as deceitful and unreliable and absolutely destitute of most of the chivalrous characteristics which distinguish the Comanche, the Kiowas scrupulously observed the terms of an 1837 armistice with the U.S. government. But the inhabitants of independent Texas were considered fair game and continued to come under attack even after annexation. In 1867 the void left by the death of Little Bluff, who ruled the Kiowas with an iron hand for 32 years, was filled by a brilliant adopted son. Born a Crow, Kicking Bird had been given to the Kiowas to raise in order to strengthen the long-standing ties between the two tribes. Kicking Bird was a pragmatist. He viewed the triumph of the white race as an inevitability the red man was powerless to prevent. The Indian, he believed, had but two choices: adapt or die. As a result, Kicking Bird agreed to the resettlement of his nomadic people on the aboriginal preserve known as the Indian Territory. However, keeping restless young warriors on the reservation proved to be an impossible task. More often than not, Kicking Bird succeeded in talking headstrong braves out of raiding the isolated ranches and pioneer settlements south of the Red River. On those occasions the hotheads ignored his plea for peace, the patient chief cleaned up their mess by arranging for the return of stolen horses and the release of white captives. Most of the time Kicking Bird even managed to restrain the bellicose Lone Wolf, a persistent proponent of perpetual war. He averted a bloodbath by persuading Lone Wolf to give up an impulsive plan to kidnap the visiting governor of Texas and the reservation schoolteacher. But nothing could stop Santanta, Santank and Big Tree from leading scores of young Kiowas astray in 1871. When the unrepentant trio was convicted in a Texas court for the Salt Creek Massacre, Kicking Bird pacified their infuriated tribesmen and forestalled retaliation. Washington rewarded the peacekeeper by officially recognizing him as the head chief of the Kiowas. But there was a catch. He had to finger all the troublemakers. Kicking Bird complied by giving authorities a list of 75 incorrigibles, who were swiftly rounded up for deportation to Florida. On the eve of what would be for most a one-way trip, the despised collaborator addressed the sullen prisoners. My brothers, the time has come to say goodbye. I am sorry for you. But because of your stubbornness, I have failed to keep you out of trouble. You will have to be punished by the government. Take your medicine. It will not be for long. I love you and will work for your release. An enraged medicine man shouted, You remain free, a big man with the whites. But you will not live long. I will see to that! The threat unnerved Kicking Bird and caused him to sink into a deep depression. Despite elaborate precautions taken to ensure his safety, he was haunted by a gnawing sense of imminent doom. The conspirators infiltrated his personal staff and bribed a trusted Mexican servant into being the instrument of their revenge. He handed his unsuspecting master a cup of coffee laced with a fast-acting and fatal poison. The reservation doctor could only shake his head and confirm the patients own diagnosis. There was no known antidote, and death would come in a matter of minutes. Kicking Bird did not apologize for the controversial course he had chosen, and his last words were an eerie epitaph. I am dying. I have taken the white mans road. I am not sorry for it. Tell my people to keep in the good path. I am dying holding fast to the white mans hand. Unforgettable Texans brings to life the once famous people no one remembers today. Order your copy for $24.00 (tax and shipping included) by mailing a check to Bartee Haile, P.O. Box 130011, Spring, TX 77393. The split among the Montgomery County Republican Party has resulted in the closing of the partys long-time headquarters in downtown Conroe. Montgomery County Republican Party Chairman Bryan Christ confirmed the closing of the office at 310 Metcalf St. last month and said the party is opening an office at 921 W. Austin and will be the new Montgomery County Republican Clubhouse. Christ said the Montgomery County Republican Party is still in operation but will not have a headquarters location or be responsible for the lease on the new location. On YourConroeNews.com: Conroe apartment residents demand answers after days-long power outage ruins food, medicine This will be a facility that all Republicans can use, and wont be leased by the party, Christ said in a letter to members. Moreover, it will be an anchor against the current infighting. Were going to work on a fundraiser for this Summer, but in the meantime we collectively raised enough money for the deposits, a few months of rent, and some renovations. The Montgomery County Republican Party, founded by Dr. Wally Wilkerson in the 1950s, and the Montgomery County Republican Party of Texas GOP, founded in 2018, are both operating in the county as the countys official Republican party. Each group has its own website listing Bryan Christ as chairman but different party officers. The issue comes on the heels of a contentious July 23, 2022 meeting of the county executive committee, which is made up of the countys 111 precinct chairs. During that meeting, which included members from both factions, Christ stepped out of the room and the Montgomery County Republican Party of Texas GOP took control of the meeting and claimed to oust Christ as chairman. Christ said the action by the group was illegal and violated state and party rules. Christ, according to the Texas Secretary of State, remains the chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party. In December, Charles Shirley who is listed on the Montgomery County Republican Party of Texas GOP website as treasurer, contacted landlord Rodney Pool regarding the party headquarters on Metcalf Street while Christ was on vacation. Christ said Shirley told Pool that Christ was no longer the party chairman and demanded the Montgomery County Republican Party of Texas GOP be given access to the headquarters. Shirley denies he claimed Christ was no longer chairman. "This characterization of my discussion with Mr. Pool is simply untrue," Shirley said in response to Christ's claim. "I never stated that Bryan Christ wasn't the chairman. I did point out that the county executive committee majority had been paying the rent for months and that we wanted to access the office, as we were entitled. I also pointed out the lease was between the CEC and Mr. Pool's company, J&R Assets, and that Bryan Christ was not a party to the lease, but merely the representative of the whole CEC." Pool, through his attorney Christopher Beck with Baker & Beck, denied access to Shirley. While I understand from your letter that you serve as the treasurer of the County Executive Committee, Montgomery County Republican Party, the listed Treasurer of the Montgomery County Republican Party of Texas, as listed on their official website, is a gentleman by the name of Mike Medved. As I am sure you can understand, this has caused some confusion as to why this request for access is coming through you, Beck stated in a Jan. 31 letter to Shirley. Shirley responded to Beck, again asking for access. The CEC formally requests access to the facility, by the end of business on February 15, 2023. We need you to provide us access by providing us with a working access code for us to hold our various CEC-approved meetings in the facility in compliance with the rental agreement currently in place, Shirley wrote in a Feb. 12 letter to Pool. After several discussions and continued infighting, Pool terminated the lease. Christ said many of the items that were donated to the headquarters have been given back to their donors and the remaining items given to the Republican Party in Waller County. Many tears were shed as we walked away and closed those doors one last time, Christ said. We know that God is in control and weve decided, as a leadership team, to move forward in the best way we know how... seeking guidance, working together with our Republican community, and staying positive. GOLDEN, Colo. (AP) Three teenagers have been arrested on first-degree murder charges in connection to the death of a 20-year-old Colorado woman, who was struck by a rock that investigators say was thrown through her windshield while she was driving. Alexa Bartell, of Arvada, was talking on the phone with a friend when she was hit by the rock northwest of Denver on April 19. After the call went silent, the friend tracked Bartells location with a phone app and found the woman dead in her car, which had crashed into a field, said Karlyn Tilley, a spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office. WASHINGTON - Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. told Senate leaders Tuesday that he would "respectfully decline" to testify at a Senate hearing focused on the Supreme Court, offering instead a statement signed by all the justices in which they "reaffirm and restate foundational ethics principles and practices" to which they abide. There did not seem to be new proposals or guidelines in the "Statement on Ethics Principles and Practices." Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) immediately labeled it insufficient, noting recent revelations about Justice Clarence Thomas that the senator said illustrated the need for more scrutiny. "I am surprised that the Chief Justice's recounting of existing legal standards of ethics suggests current law is adequate and ignores the obvious," Durbin said in a statement. "The actions of one Justice, including trips on yachts and private jets, were not reported to the public. That same Justice failed to disclose the sale of properties he partly owned to a party with interests before the Supreme Court. "It is time for Congress to accept its responsibility to establish an enforceable code of ethics for the Supreme Court, the only agency of our government without it," Durbin's statement continued. Durbin has scheduled a committee hearing for May 2. But Roberts said in the letter that he thought it would be inappropriate for him to attend. "Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee by the Chief Justice of the United States is exceedingly rare, as one might expect in light of separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence," Roberts wrote. He said chief justices have attended congressional committees only a handful of times in history, often to speak on "mundane" topics. Emphasizing the separation-of-powers argument, Roberts noted that no president has ever testified before the Senate committee either, and only three had ever appeared before congressional committees. Durbin said the invitation to Roberts or his designate was "an attempt to include the Court in this discussion. But make no mistake: Supreme Court ethics reform must happen whether the Court participates in the process or not." But the success of such a process seems unlikely, as the topic has taken on partisan dimensions. Many Republicans - including some on Durbin's committee - have dismissed recent news reports on the justices and questions about court ethics as attempts to hurt the Supreme Court's credibility at a time when conservative justices have a supermajority. Still, it is difficult for the court to ignore the growing scrutiny of the justices that has intensified calls for an ethics code specific to them. In addition to the reporting on Thomas, Politico reported Tuesday that Justice Neil M. Gorsuch did not reveal on his disclosure form that the chairman of a major law firm was the buyer of Colorado property in 2017 in which he held an interest. It seems the information might not be required according to the disclosure rules. But Democrats said it should be. The statement of ethics Roberts attached to his letter to Durbin said the justices consult a wide range of laws and ethical canons in deciding how to conduct themselves. "They may turn to judicial opinions, treatises, scholarly articles, disciplinary decisions, and the historical practice of the Court and the federal judiciary," said the statement, signed by all nine members of the court. "They may also seek advice from the Court's Legal Office and from their colleagues." The statement said that since 1991, "Justices have followed the financial disclosure requirements and limitations on gifts, outside earned income, outside employment, and honoraria. They file the same annual financial disclosure reports as other federal judges." But such assertions have not satisfied critics in the past. In February, leaders of the American Bar Association joined those urging for more requirements, saying that "the absence of a clearly articulated, binding code of ethics for the justices of the Court imperils the legitimacy of the Court." The biggest recent controversy at the court includes a ProPublica report that Thomas accepted trips around the globe for more than two decades. This included travel on a superyacht and private jet from his friend Harlan Crow, a Dallas billionaire and influential donor to causes related to the law and judiciary. The news site later reported that Crow had purchased from Thomas and relatives the home of Thomas's mother, where she still resides, with plans to one day turn it into a museum. Thomas did not report the trips or the property sale on his annual disclosure form. The justice has not responded to questions about the home sale. About the trips, he said in a statement: "Early in my tenure at the Court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable." (Bloomberg reported Tuesday that there was one Supreme Court case in which Crow's company had an interest in 2005, but the court turned it down with no noted dissents.) In their ethics statement, the members of the court noted the Judicial Conference's Committee on Financial Disclosure "just last month, . . . provided clarification on the scope of the personal hospitality' exemption to the disclosure rules." Another area of proposed reform has to do with when the justices should recuse themselves from a case because of a potential conflict of interest. It is up to individual justices to make that decision. Thomas has been criticized over the past two years for participating in cases regarding the 2020 presidential election. His wife, Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, a longtime conservative activist and supporter of former president Donald Trump, took an active role in challenging the 2020 outcome. The statement from the nine justices said justices should be reluctant to recuse from cases "as a matter of convenience or simply to avoid controversy" because there can be no replacement on the high court for an absent justice, as there can be for judges on lower courts. And "if the full Court or any subset of the Court were to review the recusal decisions of individual Justices, it would create an undesirable situation in which the Court could affect the outcome of a case by selecting who among its Members may participate," the statement said. The statement briefly addressed controversies over the justices' public speaking engagements and seemed designed to respond to criticism that liberal justices speak to liberal groups, while conservatives are regulars at conservative gatherings, such as the Federalist Society. "In deciding whether to speak before any group, a Justice should consider whether doing so would create an appearance of impropriety in the minds of reasonable members of the public," the statement said. "There is an appearance of impropriety when an unbiased and reasonable person who is aware of all relevant facts would doubt that the Justice could fairly discharge his or her duties." But the statement also said that "except in unusual circumstances, no such appearance will be created when a Justice speaks before a group associated with an educational institution, a bar group, or a nonprofit group that does not regularly engage in advocacy or lobbying about issues that may be implicated in cases that come before the Court." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahomas state parole board voted Wednesday not to recommend clemency for death row inmate Richard Glossip, even though the state attorney general said he doesnt think the condemned man whose case has drawn celebrity interest received a fair trial. The Pardon and Parole Board deadlocked 2-2, meaning it won't recommend that Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt grant clemency to Glossip, who is scheduled to die by lethal injection on May 18. One board member recused himself because his spouse is a prosecutor who had previous involvement in Glossip's case, leading Glossip's lead attorney to object to the move in his opening remarks Wednesday. There is no formal mechanism to appeal the board's decision, and Stitt would have needed the board's recommendation in order to grant clemency. But Glossip's attorneys filed a motion in state district court asking a judge to prevent his execution from being carried out until a full five-member clemency panel can review his case. They also have a pending petition before the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to halt the execution. We will pursue every avenue in the courts to stop this unlawful judicial execution, Glossip's lead attorney, Don Knight, said in a statement after Wednesday's vote. The vote came despite the states new Republican attorney general, Gentner Drummond, taking the unusual step of arguing on behalf of granting clemency his office typically asks the board to allow executions to proceed. Drummond said that although he doesnt believe Glossip is innocent, he thinks he didnt receive a fair trial and deserves a new one. After the hearing, Drummond issued a statement expressing his disappointment. Public confidence in the death penalty requires that these cases receive the highest standard of reliability, he said. While the state has not questioned the integrity of previous death penalty cases, the Glossip conviction is very different. I believe it would be a grave injustice to execute an individual whose trial conviction was beset by a litany of errors. Before the hearing, reality TV star Kim Kardashian urged her millions of social media followers to contact the parole board and Stitt in a bid to stop the execution. Two years ago, she threw her support behind another Oklahoma death row inmate, Julius Jones, whom Stitt spared hours before his scheduled execution. Glossip, 60, has long maintained his innocence in the 1997 killing of his former boss, motel owner Barry Van Treese. Glossip, who was convicted of paying an accomplice, Justin Sneed, to kill Van Treese, told the board Wednesday via video from death row that he knew of no plan to harm Van Treese and that he feels terrible about what Van Treeses family has endured. I would never have thought about paying anybody to commit a crime. I absolutely did not cause Justin Sneed to commit any crime against Mr. Van Treese, let alone to murder him, a tearful Glossip said. Im not a murderer and I dont deserve to die for this, he said. Van Treeses widow and son, Donna and Derek Van Treese, asked the board to deny clemency. The fact is he was brutally murdered, a visibly emotional Donna Van Treese said. Our desire and our hope today is justice will be served for our beloved Barry. Derek Van Treese said he has felt angry and frustrated by years of delays in the case and the publicity that has come to surround it. This case has been pushed from being a legal matter to a political issue. Its been pushed from the court of law to the court of public opinion. he said. All due diligence has been served. Two juries 24 members of the public listened to the same evidence. Both juries have found Richard Glossip to be guilty of these charges and rendered the same sentencing. Last week, an Oklahoma appeals court upheld Glossips conviction despite Drummonds concerns about some testimony and evidence. Drummond said in a court filing that although the state isn't suggesting that Glossip is innocent, he had numerous concerns about the case, such as trial evidence that was destroyed while his appeal was pending and the state's failure to disclose potentially exculpatory evidence, including that the key witness against Glossip, Sneed, lied to the jury about his psychiatric treatment and reasons for taking the mood-stabilizing drug lithium. But the court rejected that request last month, paving the way for Glossip's May execution. Two independent investigations one by a Houston law firm and another requested by Drummond have concluded that based on all of the evidence available today, it would be unlikely a jury would vote to convict him. Glossip was convicted and sentenced to death at two separate trials after his first conviction was tossed for ineffective counsel. Sneed, a handyman at the motel, admitted robbing and killing Van Treese but claimed he did so only after Glossip promised to pay him $10,000. In exchange for his testimony, Sneed received life in prison. He has denied several Associated Press interview requests. Glossip's attorneys claim that police suspected Glossip because of some inconsistent statements he made during the search for Van Treese, and that while interviewing Sneed, he never mentioned Glossip until after detectives brought up his name six times and emphasized that Glossip was snitching on him. The attorneys suggest in their clemency application that Van Treese's killing was not a murder for hire, but a botched robbery for drug money committed by Sneed and his girlfriend. "Richard Glossip is an innocent man who has been the victim of a massive breakdown in the justice system that would have been disturbing had it occurred even in a minor case," they wrote. Glossip has been scheduled to be executed three times, only to be spared shortly before the sentence was set to be carried out. He was only hours from being executed in September 2015 when prison officials realized they had received the wrong lethal drug, a mix-up that helped prompt a nearly seven-year moratorium on the death penalty in Oklahoma. Glossips case attracted international attention after actress Susan Sarandon who won an Academy Award for her portrayal of death penalty opponent Sister Helen Prejeans fight to save a man on Louisianas death row in the 1995 movie Dead Man Walking took up his cause in real life. Prejean herself has served as Glossips spiritual adviser and frequently visited him in prison. His case also was featured in a 2017 documentary film titled Killing Richard Glossip. ___ Associated Press writer Ken Miller contributed to this report. ___ Follow Sean Murphy on Twitter: @apseanmurphy On any given night, as Elias Taddesse watched plate after plate of steak tartare roulade sail out of the kitchen at Caviar Russe in New York City, frying chicken and flipping burgers could not have been further from his mind. Taddesse always wanted to own a restaurant. His entrepreneurial vision was informed by the classical techniques and soigne styles of Alain Ducasse and Paul Liebrandt - two legendary French chefs, and two of his former bosses. But the pandemic forced Taddesse to pivot away from fine dining and toward something more casual and comforting: fried chicken. Now, at Doro Soul Food, the scrappy takeout counter in Washington, D.C.'s Shaw neighborhood where Taddesse is frying up cuts of craggy, spicy, bone-in chicken, toques and tournees are a distant memory. Taddesse is one of a handful of former fine-dining chefs finding success and a renewed sense of purpose by striking out alone to sell fried chicken with a personal spin. Doro Soul Food is Taddesse's second casual endeavor following Melange, a sit-down burger restaurant on K Street NW that opened in 2020, in the midst of the Washington, D.C., pandemic response that severely limited business operations. With money on the line, he rewrote the menu for takeout, adding a fried chicken sandwich spiced like doro wat, the classic Ethiopian chicken stew. It quickly became a top seller, which convinced Taddesse to open Doro Soul Food, a takeout-only fast-casual counter. Melange closed earlier this month, leaving Taddesse to focus on Doro Soul Food, where American soul food meets the Ethiopian diaspora in the form of country fried chicken in three levels of spice - naked, berbere and mit mita (made with bird's eye chile). Melange, though now closed, led to Doro Soul Food, and for Taddesse, it was a pandemic pivot that saved his dreams of going solo. "That's how my launch survived," he says. Eric Huang similarly worked at prestigious kitchens in Manhattan. In early 2020, Huang quit his job at Eleven Madison Park to open his own fine-dining restaurant. When the pandemic shut down restaurants across New York City a few months later, Huang set aside his plans. He started a ghost kitchen in Queens called Pecking House based on five-spice-seasoned fried chicken generously basted with Tianjin chile oil - ingredients in his family's Chinese restaurant pantry. The skin-on chicken, sourced from D'Artagnan, has an especially dark crust, but a touch of sugar balances out the bitter, fiery heat. At its peak, Huang's chile-fried chicken had a waiting list of more than 9,000 people. A fine-dining chef entering the fried chicken chat is nothing new. After all, consistency is a virtue extolled as much in fine dining as it is in fast food. Thomas Keller opened Ad Hoc in Napa in 2006 with a famous fried chicken dinner. David Chang's growing chicken sandwich chain, Fuku, opened in 2015. But for chefs like Taddesse and Huang, who were looking to salvage a business or just keep themselves busy in a difficult time, fried chicken was a knee-jerk solution to the daily dilemma of how to feed yourself in a pandemic. Their quick thinking was fortuitous; amid all that turmoil, fried chicken was the ultimate comfort food. "It's a perfect food for your omnivorous human. It just hits every dopamine center in your brain," Huang says. According to a 2023 chain restaurant report from research and consulting firm Technomic, fast-casual chicken chains have grown faster than any other restaurant segment since 2019. That happens to be the year of the infamous chicken sandwich "wars," which Popeyes initiated by introducing its first fried chicken sandwich, leading to a national frenzy. David Portalatin, the vice president and food industry adviser at Circana (formerly NPD and IRI, which recently merged), estimates that Americans eat about 8.6 billion servings of fried chicken in restaurants annually, a figure that includes everything from bone-in birds to nuggets. "The American consumer absolutely loves fried chicken," Portalatin says. It's easy to forget, but chefs are consumers, too. Cyle Reynolds recalls frequently going out to eat Thai-style fried chicken after his shift at Canvas, a fine-dining restaurant in Bangkok that he helped open in 2016. In Maine a few years later, when his plan to sign a restaurant lease fell through - on March 30, 2020, no less - Reynolds turned to happier memories of fried chicken. He now runs a Thai-style fried chicken restaurant called Crispy Gai in downtown Portland, Maine, with two business partners. Reynolds's decision to embrace a more approachable cuisine - as opposed to perfectly seared duck breasts and a multicourse tasting menu at Canvas - simplified his job in some ways. "Fine dining has to be thought-provoking, it has to be aesthetically beautiful, it has so many requirements," Reynolds says. His fried chicken, on the other hand, has just one obligation: "that it be delicious." The chicken at Crispy Gai is reminiscent of Reynolds's favored Thai street food, brined in a pungent fish sauce and cilantro marinade before it is fried twice, then garnished with sweet fried shallots. Fried chicken's popularity has proved to be a solid foundation on which to build a business. "Lots of cultures have been doing this for years," says Psyche Williams-Forson, the author of "Building Houses Out of Chicken Legs," a book that illuminates the legacy of selling fried chicken as a means of self-determination among formerly enslaved Black women. When the business of making and selling fried chicken has been replicated for more than a century, as it has in America, what else is there to do? Riff. "It's really smart to say, 'Let's use something that people already are familiar with and put our own spin on it,'" says Williams-Forson. In addition to providing a blank canvas for a chef's creativity, fried chicken can also be a vehicle for something more compelling, like telling a personal story or challenging the status quo. For Taddesse, after years of cooking someone else's food, here was an opportunity to represent his own. "I'm from Ethiopia. I can't be cooking French food for the rest of my career," he says. With Doro Soul Food, Taddesse can champion the complexities of Ethiopian cuisine, something he feels is underappreciated in America. "To familiarize it through fried chicken," he says. Before Pecking House, Huang hoped to open a fine-dining restaurant that would treat Chinese cooking with the same reverence, and charge the same high prices, as other cuisines. "I wanted to open a modern fine-dining restaurant that would change how everyone looked at Chinese cuisine," he says. But even at his quick-service restaurant in Brooklyn, he is challenging assumptions that certain foods - fried chicken or Chinese food - have to be cheap. Huang sources premium whole, air-chilled chicken from D'Artagnan while keeping costs in line, something he learned to do at fine-dining restaurants. At a time when fine dining is coming under increased scrutiny for unethical labor practices and unsustainable standards, for some, time away from high-pressure kitchens has led to a complete reevaluation of the format. "Fine dining made us really good at what we do, but that comes with a pretty hefty price tag," says Huang, who often posts criticisms of the industry online. Reynolds says he, too, benefited from the intense structure of a high-end kitchen, but at Crispy Gai, he prefers to cultivate the kind of communal, convivial atmosphere that he became enamored with in Thailand. "I love having a restaurant that people enjoy working in. When I come in and see smiling faces, it puts a smile on my face, and that gives me a lot of pride," he says. And yet, selling fried chicken in paper boats and to-go containers is no sacrifice. "We do what we do with very high standards; we just do it with a lot less pretension," says Reynolds. Taddesse still hopes to one day open a fine-dining Ethiopian restaurant in Washington, D.C. Until then, he'll make do with a sliding scale of spicy fried chicken and sides that pay homage to Popeyes, his preferred chicken chain. The velvety mashed potatoes are, in fact, made from a recipe for classic pommes puree. "Of course," he says, "with a little less butter than I would use for fine dining." Southeast Texans are now one step closer to a new way to pursue a career in nursing. Under the threat of rain, dozens of community members on Tuesday gathered in the parking lot of Lamar Institute of Technology's Dr. Lonnie Howard Technology Center to break ground on its new Workforce and Allied Health Training Center, which will house its proposed associate degree in nursing program. The just under 52,000 square-foot, three-story building is set to be the "gateway" into the LIT campus from Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway, LIT President Sidney Valentine said Tuesday. "Let's talk about this fantastic building that will be under roof by August of 2024, just in time for our inaugural nursing cohort," he said. "(This building will house) nursing skills and simulation labs, the pharmacy tech program, classrooms for allied health and workforce computer labs, large multipurpose classroom and an industry partners lab." RELATED: 'Great day to be in Orange:' Lamar Orange breaks ground on state-of-the-art academic building Additionally, Valentine said that Lamar University nursing students will be sharing LIT's simulation lab, "so that everybody can benefit from this new facility." "Our goal is to design labs and learning spaces that are so immersive...that the workplace feels simply like accepting a new job," he said. "Students will leave here with the hands-on experiences that will put them a step ahead when they walk across the stage at commencement and begin their job search. I truly believe that the students who walk into the Workforce and Allied Health Training Center will walk out as highly qualified professionals who are prepared to fill regional jobs and be able to make an immediate impact on our community as a whole." As was the case at Lamar State College Orange's recent groundbreaking last week, progress made by local higher education institutions was celebrated by each of its leaders, with Lamar University President Jaime Taylor, Lamar Orange President Tom Johnson and Lamar State College Port Arthur President Betty Reynard. "We've gone through a long period of not being able to do some of the things (we) want to do," Reynard told The Enterprise Tuesday. "Now there is support and funding to do some of the things that we'd like to do to move the communities forward. So, I'm really excited about it because I think there is a lot of opportunity for growth and development -- we're excited about it." RELATED: 7 questions with ... new LIT President Sidney Valentine The new center, funded by the 87th Texas Legislature for $37 million, goes hand-in-hand with the introduction of a proposed associate degree in nursing that the college has been working toward for the past some three years, said LIT Allied Health and Sciences Academic Department Chair Allen Welch. "About 80% of this new building is slated for the associate degree in nursing program," he told The Enterprise Tuesday. The regional -- and statewide -- shortage of registered nurses prompted the college to develop the program, said LIT Program Director of Nursing LeAnn Chisholm-Springer. "According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, we'll have about 200,000 job openings for registered nurses through 2031," she said. "That's an increase of 9% from 2020's identified need. Texas alone is anticipated to have about 16,000 open RN positions annually by 2030, which is an increase of about 17.1%. With all the nursing programs we have in Texas, and we do have a lot...(we) can't meet the needs. There's an identified need and we need new nursing programs." So, Springer and Welch worked to develop the associate degree in nursing program at LIT, which will allow students the ability to sit for the same registered nursing licensure exam as students who go through Lamar University's four-year bachelor's of science in nursing program. RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Once in a lifetime grant finalist Lamar PA gets visit from Commerce officials LIT's program is in the proposal phase, Springer said. It has been approved by the Texas State University System Board of Regents and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board but still needs to be approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the Texas Board of Nursing. "In order to have a program, you need to have space for them," Springer said. "That required additional space and Lamar Institute of Technology chose to build another building. So, we're going to increase our ability to have nursing." If everything goes according to plan, the college hopes to accept its first cohort of up to 30 nursing students by Fall 2024, right when the center is slated to open. The program would be the first associate degree in nursing program approved in Southeast Texas, Welch said. "It was unique in that," he said. "Our executive team that was in place at that point in time were really the big drivers of it, saying, 'OK, we've heard the needs, can we do this?' Then we did a feasibility study (and) contacted our health care partners to (see) if it was possible because you can pop up nursing programs all over the place, but if there's not clinical space for them, if there's not job opportunities for them locally, then it's going to be a dead-end program." RELATED: SE Texas colleges hope to create space for 200 more nursing students Not only do officials believe the program isn't a dead end, it's is being developed with the future in mind, including telemedicine and other technological advancements to hopefully close rural health care gaps, Welch said. Additionally, the program is designed to be more for flexible for non-traditional students, which are in abundance at LIT, Springer said. "A lot of our students are working, they're supporting families, they may be (pursuing their) second career," she said. "Our program is going to be innovative and not traditional in the fact that it's going to exist outside of Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. We'll have evening, weekend and night clinicals -- whatever it takes to make it work for that student, because at the end of the day, we want to make sure that we have health care providers for Southeast Texas first and then beyond." While students won't have to have a bachelor's degree to become registered nurses, the college's close proximity to Lamar University will allow for a smooth transition to the Lamar University Joanne Gay Dishman School of Nursing to continue their education. Lamar President Jaime Taylor told The Enterprise Tuesday that the university has an "RN to BSN" program that students can enroll in and work toward while working as practicing nurses. RELATED: Lamar nursing school awarded $607K grant to support future educators "We support continuing education," Springer said. "One of the things about nursing is that nurses have to be lifelong learners. But for some students, they need to get through a little quicker." One of the more exciting components of the new center is the simulation center, which will essentially function as a makeshift hospital of sorts and allow students to interact with all of the some 18 allied health sciences programs, such as radiology technology and respiratory therapy, among others, Springer said. "We're going to do multidisciplinary simulations with all of our programs in this center," Welch said. "We get to teach how the communication between the different areas in allied health (works). We now can show these different disciplines (can) communicate with each other and have a better understanding of what (each) job is." Building a program from the ground up, while a lot of work, has it's merits, Springer said. "I'm excited about developing exactly what we want -- running the program, doing the simulations with all the different professions, building the program (and) including the important concepts of diversity and making sure that is all part of our program," she said. "Our mission is we want to provide clinically excellent and compassionate care." olivia.malick@hearst.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The evening of senior prom, a student at Nashville Christian School stood in the parking lot outside the venue, holding a sign that read, "They wouldn't let me in because I'm in a suit." B Hayes, who uses the pronouns they/he, was prohibited from entering the high school prom this past weekend due to a dress code violation. Hayes showed up in a black suit rather than a dress. An Instagram post on April 23 shows a photo of Hayes holding the sign. In the caption, they explained that they were turned away at the door. "my name is B Hayes. im 18 years old and i've been attending Nashville Christian School for 13 years. my senior prom was today and i wasn't allowed in the doors because i was wearing a suit," Hayes wrote. "i should not have to conform to femininity to attend my senior prom. i will not compromise who i am to fit in a box. who are you to tell us what it means to be a woman?" An online version of the school handbook states: "Identity - God created us as male or female, and we will live consistently with the gender God chose for us." Hayes said they were surprised when they noticed the Instagram post had started to spread in the local community and beyond. "It's been amazing to see so many people share, like and comment on my post. I never imagined it would get this amount of attention," Hayes wrote in an email to The Washington Post. In a statement to The Post, Nashville Christian School said it has "established dress requirements for daily school attendance and at our special events. All students and families are aware of and sign an agreement to these guidelines when they enroll." The statement continued, "While we certainly respect a student's right to disagree, all of our students know from our school handbook that when they do not follow such expectations at school-sponsored events, they may be asked to leave." The school said the dress code was clearly communicated to students and their families before the prom. Student handbook "dress expectations" include: "All students should choose Banquet attire that is appropriate for modesty and consistent with the Biblical principles to guide student behavior and the statement of faith of Nashville Christian School. Students who do not adhere to these expectations may be asked to leave the event." The handbook also states: "Students may not attend banquet with a student of the same gender/sex." Marcie Allen Van Mol came across Hayes's Instagram post after it was shared by a popular Instagram account called "A Girl Has No President." "It just absolutely broke my heart that a high school student was not able to attend their prom," said Van Mol, who owns AB Hillsboro Village, a live-music venue in Nashville, with her husband. As a stepparent to two teenage daughters, Van Mol said, she was distraught. "You have an 18-year-old young adult who is trying to enjoy their last five weeks of their senior year and experience a prom as we all did," she said. "That simple thing is a rite of passage." Her husband, Derek, agreed. "We just wanted to get involved and try to help out," he said. They brainstormed ideas and decided to offer up their venue to host a private prom - hoping to give Hayes a chance to celebrate the milestone. Van Mol posted about their plan on social media to solicit some support, and almost immediately, people and small businesses began reaching out, offering to pitch in. Allison Holley, who owns Apple & Oak, a home goods store in Nashville, saw the story on social media and decided to get involved. "I was just appalled," said Holley. "The fact that a child wouldn't be allowed into prom because they're wearing pants is just absurd." "We are so proud of B in this, not only for posting it, but for not conforming and being themselves," she added. Holley started a GoFundMe page called "throw the ultimate prom for B." The first day, people donated more than $26,000. Dozens of vendors and small businesses reached out with offers to help, too. Messages poured in from florists, photo booth companies, designers, restaurants and photographers, among others. "Everyone just wants to support this for B," said Holley. "We have such strong small businesses here, and they're always willing to step up." "The power of small businesses and how they lift up and support their communities is staggering," added Van Mol. Holley and Van Mol - neither of whom knew Hayes until recently - said they will use the money collected to pay small businesses that help put on the prom. "We would love to be able to support B and also support small businesses at the same time," Holley said, adding that any additional funds they raise will be split equally between Inclusion Tennessee and Oasis Center - two charities that support LGBTQ rights. Hayes selected the organizations, which have both been helpful throughout their high school years, Van Mol said. The way local businesses and individuals have rallied around Hayes, Holley said, is a stark contrast to the current political climate in Tennessee. "The Nashville community isn't really reflected in our lawmakers or our leadership," Holley said, pointing to many state laws that restrict LGBTQ rights. "We're a loving, supportive, diverse, inclusive and creative community." At a recent concert in Knoxville, rapper Lizzo protested the state's legislation aimed at curbing drag performances in public. Last month, six people, including three children, were shot and killed at a Catholic school in Nashville. After the killing, the Republican-led Tennessee House voted on April 6 to oust two Democratic lawmakers who halted proceedings to take part in a protest in support of gun-control legislation. Both expelled Democrats have since been reappointed. Still, lawmakers have taken no steps on gun control. The prom for Hayes is planned for May 6, and they will invite 25 friends to attend. R&B artist Tone Stith has signed on to do a private performance. Hayes said they are grateful to have received so much support. "Knowing that not only the Nashville community is behind me but people all over the country are supporting the issue is incredible to see," they said in an email. "I hope the awareness can bring about positive change and that more students in the future feel strong enough to stand up for freedom of expression." Van Mol and Holley are wishing for the same. "We hope that this is a domino effect," said Van Mol. "We hope that cities and states and countries all watch this and see how one act of kindness can spawn thousands of acts of kindness." "We can fight hate with love," she said. Beaumont Police Department Beaumont police are asking for the public's help in finding more information regarding a Saturday morning shooting. At 9:23 a.m. on Saturday, Beaumont police officers received the report that someone had been shot in the 100 block of East Florida Avenue, according to a Facebook post from police. Pat McKenna is a former Boys Town youth that chose to serve his country during World War II. He died in 1944 after the U.S. submarine he was in sunk in a battle. The ship was missing for decades until it was found by a Japanese researcher in early 2023. Inside the Hall of History on the Boys Town campus in Nebraska, you'll find artifacts that reveal the organization's connection to the U.S. military. The headquarters for Boys Town, founded by Father Edward J. Flanagan, is located in the historic Village of Boys Town in Nebraska. The organization has been providing services for America's youth, as well as families, for more than a century, according to the Boys Town website. "Father Flanagan kept a list of all the boys that had been lost in the war, and he considered all the former boys to be his sons," Tom Lynch, a historian and director of community programs for Boys Town, said. "(McKenna) came with his brother. They were both orphans. And they had a great life here at boys town and he graduated 1941." Lynch said McKenna was no stranger while he was at Boys Town. "He was Ping-Pong champion, and active in sports. He did a lot of different events here at Boys Town. He was a very active student here," Lynch said. After McKenna graduated from Boys Town and then college, he worked for the FBI before joining the U.S. Navy. In 1944, "The submarine was off the coast of Japan. It was sunk in a battle," Lynch said. Researchers were never able to identify McKenna's exact remains. But they say they know he was on the submarine because they found his dog tags. "Within the submarine, there were around 80 remains and the majority of the gentlemen, on there, they were able to find their blood relatives. For Patrick McKenna, unfortunately, he has no blood relatives we can determine, so his remains will be unidentified," Lynch said. Although McKenna was an orphan and the Navy wasn't able to connect with his biological relatives, Lynch said McKenna still has family that they were able to communicate with: The Boys Town family. "If Father Flanagan would be alive, he'd be very happy to know that one of his boys had been found," Lynch said. Lynch said it's a reminder to be grateful for those in the community who made the ultimate sacrifice. "There are servicemen and women all across the world, that served the United States and they're still out there their remains and they're being discovered all the time," Lynch said. "And it's very important that we remember those men and women because they helped to make the freedom we have today." Lynch said most sailors will be buried in their hometowns. McKenna's remains will be at the official cemetery in Pearl Harbor. Officials have arrested a man suspected of helping an organized crime ring steal driver's license information from thousands of Asian Texans for the purpose of opening credit cards in their names. Tony Cao Li, 35, is currently being held in Travis County Jail on $250,000 bond, after recently being extradited from New York, according to KHOU 11's John Diaz and Grace White. Li was part of an organization that stole victims' personal information and sent drivers' licenses bearing their names across the country, officials allege. The suspected members of the crime ring allegedly would then use the IDs to withdraw money from the victims' bank accounts and make lavish purchases in their names, according to the Dallas Morning News' Allie Morris. The Texas Department of Public Safety originally estimated that the scam targeted around 3,000 victims of Asian descent living in the Lone Star State; now the agency suspects that the scam has victimized nearly 5,000. DPS director Steve McCraw first revealed the scam in February, though state officials first became aware of it in late 2022. McCraw described the alleged web of fraudsters as "a Chinese organized crime group based in New York working in a number of different states," according to the Morning News's Lauren McGaughy and Allie Morris. Officials told Morris that DPS waited to alert victims that their identities had been stolen because a criminal investigation was ongoing. Digital scams involving identity and monetary theft have boomed in America since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In 2021 Texas recorded the second-most instances of successful online fraud among all U.S. states, with more than 40,000 victims reporting losses totaling more than $606 million, according to data recorded by the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. Correction April 27, 2023: Attorneys for 4 Families withdrew on Wednesday their request for a temporary injunction that would have paused the new Hobby Airport contract. A previous version of the story stated that attorneys for 4 Families withdrew their lawsuit. This story has been updated throughout to reflect this change. The legal back and forth between Pappas Restaurants and the city of Houston over a concessions contract for Hobby Airport is on pausefor now at least. During a brief but at times testy court appearance Wednesday, attorneys for 4 Families of Houston, the umbrella company representing Pappas Restaurants, withdrew a legal request for a judge to pause enforcement of a new Hobby Airport concessions contract awarded to Spain-based company Areas SUA. Houston's City Council voted on March 8, after a prolonged bidding process, to award the contract to Areas SUA after a nearly two-decade partnership with Houston-based Pappas. After filing a protest with the city over its handling of the contract procurement process, Pappas and 4 Families sued the city of Houston, along with AREAS SUA, on April 11. On Wednesday, attorney Rachel Hooper, representing 4 Families, asked Judge Temika Craft to delay the first hearing on the suit in order to give both sides more time to review extensive discovery evidence and arrange witnesses. Judge Craft, at times seeming exasperated, told all three parties that her court had already rearranged its docket in order to hear the high-profile lawsuit, and that she was ready to start the hearing immediately. She also said that due to the District Court's hectic docket, she wasn't sure when the plaintiffs would be able to get another hearing date. Hooper responded that several witnesses important to Pappas' case, including Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Councilman Mike Knox, director of Houston airports Mario Diaz, and Houston's chief of economic development Andy Icken, were not present in the courtroom Wednesday. Mayor Turner and Icken are currently in Brazil on a trip to discuss commercial trade and investment between Houston and the South American country. Judge Craft encouraged Pappas' attorneys to present the witnesses and evidence they had available, but Hooper told the judge she felt she had no other choice but to withdraw the temporary injunction and request for a restraining order that could have prevented, or at least delayed, the city from moving forward with the Areas SUA contract. "This is very important to the city of Houston," Hooper said. "We will be harmed and prejudiced if we have to go forward with a hearing today." As part of the suit, Pappas has also asked the court to push back the restaurant group's move-out date by two weeks. That request was denied by Judge Beau Miller on April 14. As of now, Pappas is required to vacate the airport by Thursday, May 11. During a mediation process ordered by Judge Miller ahead of Wednesday's hearing, the parties agreed on what discovery evidence they would exchange, according to the city's and Areas SUA's attorneys. Part of 4 Families' request for a continuance of the hearing centered around the thousands of documents Hooper said she received from the defendants, and her team's need to review them. An attorney for the city, Brian Amis, said that any delay would be detrimental to business at Hobby, not just for the airport and Areas SUA, but also for Latrelle's Galley, a Black-owned and Houston-based company that won a separate, smaller concessions contract for Hobby Airport in January. Ben Stephens, an attorney for Areas SUA, echoed that sentiment, saying that any delay in the suit would jeopardize Areas' ability to hire employees and provide revenue for the city and airport. "The stakes are huge and the downsides are enormous," he said. "Our client has a commitment to the city." Craft ultimately denied 4 Families' request to delay the hearing, leading Hooper to withdraw the temporary injunction request. In an email to Chron, Christina Pappas, marketing director for Pappas Restaurants, said the group is currently formulating its next steps. "We have withdrawn our motion for a temporary injunction on the basis that key witnesses were out of the country," she wrote. "Going forward with the hearing without these key witnesses was not possible. We are fighting for transparency and fairness, and we need the necessary individuals. We are committed to continuing to fight for a transparent and fair process to which the citizens of Houston are entitled." KINSHASA, Congo (AP) At least 60 bodies were discovered in several villages in eastern Congo's North Kivu province, authorities said Wednesday. Residents from Kashali and Kazaroho villages in Rutshuru territory were killed over several days by rebels from the M23 group, said Isaac Kibira, a deputy to the governor of the Bwito area. We are sorry to see how the population is being massacred by M23 ... more than 60 bodies (were found) tied up with mosquito nets. Others were tied with bags," Kibira told local media. The M23 rebel group, largely made up of Congolese ethnic Tutsis, rose to prominence 10 years ago when its fighters seized Goma, eastern Congos largest city on the border with Rwanda. It derives its name from a March 23, 2009, peace deal, which it accuses the Congo government of not implementing. The rebel group was dormant for nearly a decade before resurfacing more than a year ago. M23 fighters are accused by civilians and rights groups of killing civilians and abducting people. Earlier this month, the group withdrew from much of the territory that it had captured, as part of a cease-fire agreement. But residents say they're still present. Conflict has been simmering in eastern Congo for decades where more than 120 armed groups are fighting in the region, mostly for land and control of mines with valuable minerals, while some groups are trying to protect their communities. In addition to increasing M23 violence, CODECO rebels in neighboring Ituri province have also been intensifying attacks. On Tuesday, 19 people were killed by CODECO in Irumu terriroty, said Gili Gotabo, the president of the Irumu civil society group. Fighting between CODECO, a loose association of various ethnic Lendu militia groups, and Zaire, a mainly ethnic Hema self-defense group, has been ongoing since 2017 but has worsened recently. In February, at least 32 civilians were killed by the group. In December, the United Nations said the insurgent group was expanding its areas of control, attacking civilians and Congos military, and taxing communities in the areas that it holds. Andrew Harnik/AP President Joe Biden will visit Japan and Australia next month to huddle with allies on their continued response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine as well as ways to confront China's assertive economic and military moves in the Indo-Pacific region, the White House announced Tuesday. Biden will attend a summit of the leaders of the Group of Seven advanced democracies in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 19-21, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. Then he will make his first trip as president to Australia, which will include the third in-person meeting of the so-called Quad leadership of the U.S., Japan, Australia and India. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BEIJING (AP) Chinese leader Xi Jinping said Wednesday that Beijing will send an envoy to Ukraine to discuss a possible political settlement to Russias war with the country. Beijing has previously avoided involvement in conflicts between other countries but appears to be trying to assert itself as a global diplomatic force after arranging talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March that led them to restore diplomatic relations after a seven-year break. Xi told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call that a Chinese envoy, a former Chinese ambassador to Russia, would visit Ukraine and other countries to discuss a possible political settlement, according to a government statement. It made no mention of Russia or last years invasion of Ukraine and didn't indicate whether the Chinese envoy might visit Moscow. The Xi-Zelenskyy phone call was long anticipated after Beijing said it wanted to serve as a mediator in the war. WHY DOES THIS MATTER? China is the only major government that has friendly relations with Moscow as well as economic leverage as the biggest buyer of Russian oil and gas after the United States and its allies cut off most purchases. Beijing, which sees Moscow as a diplomatic partner in opposing U.S. domination of global affairs, has refused to criticize the invasion and used its status as one of five permanent U.N. Security Council members to deflect diplomatic attacks on Russia. Zelenskyy earlier said he welcomed a Chinese offer to mediate. WHY DID CHINA DO THIS? Xis government has pursued a bigger role in global diplomacy as part of a campaign to restore China to what the ruling Communist Party sees as its rightful status as a political and economic leader and to build an international order that favors Beijing's interests. That is a sharp reversal after decades of avoiding involvement in other countries conflicts and most international affairs while it focused on economic development at home. In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran issued a surprise announcement, following talks in Beijing, that they would reopen embassies in each others capitals following a seven-year break. China has good relations with both as a big oil buyer. Last week, Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts that his country is ready to help facilitate peace talks. Wednesday's statement warned against the dangers of nuclear war, suggesting Beijing might also have been motivated by what it sees as the growing danger of a more destructive conflict. Mediating between Ukraine and Russia would increase Chinas presence in Eastern Europe, where Beijing has tried to build ties with other governments. That has prompted complaints by some European officials that China is trying to gain leverage over the European Union. Political science professor Kimberly Marten of Barnard College at Columbia University in New York doubted China would succeed in a peacemaker role. I have a hard time believing that China can act as peacemaker, she said, adding that Beijing has been too close to Russia. WHAT ARE CHINAS RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA? China is the closest thing President Vladimir Putins isolated government has to a major ally. Xi and Putin issued a joint statement ahead of the February 2022 invasion that said their governments had a no limits friendship. Beijing has tried to appear neutral but has repeated Russian justifications for the invasion. Xi received a warm welcome from Putin during a visit to Moscow in March. The Chinese defense minister visited Russia this month. China has stepped up purchases of Russian oil and gas for its energy-hungry economy, helping to offset lost revenue resulting from Western sanctions. In exchange, China gets lower prices, though details havent been disclosed. Marten said the Xi-Zelenskyy call was kind of a slap at Russia, because Russia has been very keen to portray China as its ally. She said the direct China-Ukraine contact indicates China is taking at least a step away from Russia. WHAT ARE CHINAS RELATIONS WITH UKRAINE? China was Ukraine's biggest trading partner before the invasion, though on a smaller scale than Chinese-Russian trade. In 2021, Ukraine announced plans for Chinese companies to build trade-related infrastructure. Zelenskyy's government was more ambivalent toward Beijing after it was clear Xi wouldn't try to stop Putin's war, but the two sides have remained amicable. Before the full-scale Russian invasion, China was Ukraines number one trading partner. I believe that our conversation today will give a powerful impetus to the return, preservation and development of this dynamic at all levels, an official Ukrainian readout of the call reported. Qin, the foreign minister, promised this month China wouldn't provide arms to either side, a pledge that benefits Ukraine, which has received tanks, rockets and other armaments from the United States and European governments. The Chinese ambassador to France set off an uproar in Europe when he suggested former Soviet republics a group that includes Ukraine might not be sovereign nations. That was in line with Putin's comments denying Ukrainian sovereignty. Beijing then reassured former Soviet states it respected their sovereignty and said the ambassador's comments were a personal opinion, not official policy. Elizabeth Wishnick, of the U.S.-based think tank CNA and Columbia Universitys Weatherhead East Asian Institute, said in an email: I wonder if Xis call was set up quickly to deflect attention" from the uproar over the Chinese ambassador's remarks. ___ Andrew Katell in New York contributed to this report. BERLIN (AP) Germany's foreign minister called Wednesday on Iran to reverse a death sentence handed down to Jamshid Sharmahd, an Iranian-German dual citizen and opposition figure accused of masterminding deadly attacks. German officials said they were not allowed to attend the hearing at which the sentence against Sharmahd was upheld. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MOSCOW (AP) Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Wednesday that he was facing new extremism and terrorism charges that could keep him behind bars for life, as authorities set the stage for a new trial against the Kremlin's leading critic. Navalny said by video link from prison during the hearing that the extremism charges which he rejected as absurd could land him in prison for 30 years. He noted that an investigator had told him he also would face a separate military court trial on terrorism charges that could potentially carry a life sentence, adding on a sardonic note that the charges imply that I'm conducting terror attacks while sitting in prison. His top ally Ivan Zhdanov said investigators were trying to link the terrorism charges against Navalny to a bombing that killed a well-known Russian military blogger earlier this month. Navalny, 46, who exposed official corruption and organized massive anti-Kremlin protests, was arrested in January 2021 upon returning to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve-agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin. He initially received a 2-year prison sentence for a parole violation. Last year, he was sentenced to a nine-year term for fraud and contempt of court. He is currently serving time at a maximum-security prison 250 kilometers (150 miles) east of Moscow. The new charges against Navalny relate to the activities of his anti-corruption foundation and statements by his top associates. His ally Leonid Volkov said the accusations retroactively criminalize all the activities of Navalny's foundation since its creation in 2011 and carry a potential punishment of up to 35 years in prison. Navalnys associate, Zhdanov, said Wednesday that investigators were revising the charges to link them to a bombing that killed Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky at a St. Petersburg cafe earlier this month. The authorities described Darya Trepova, a 26-year-old St. Petersburg resident who was seen on video presenting Tatarsky with a statuette moments before the blast, as an active supporter of Navalny. They also accused Zhdanov and Volkov of making repeated calls for subversive activities in Russia. An investigator told the court Wednesday that 11 other suspects facing extremism charges alongside Navalny have remained at large and have been put on an international wanted list. The new charges come as Russian authorities conduct an intensifying crackdown on dissent amid the fighting in Ukraine, which Navalny has harshly criticized. Wednesday's hearing at Moscow's Basmanny District Court was held to discuss preparations for Navalny's trial on the extremism charges. Navalny asked for more time to study the 196 case files. The judge closed the session minutes after it opened, ruling that it should be held behind closed doors, because the case involved sensitive information. It's an attempt to unlawfully restrict my ability to study the materials of the case and prevent anyone from knowing about it, Navalny said before public access to the hearing ended. The hearing ended with the judge giving Navalny 10 days to study his criminal case. No date for the trial has been set yet. Navalny, who is President Vladimir Putin's most prominent foe, has rejected the charges as a political vendetta and an attempt by Russian authorities to keep him out of politics for as long as possible. His associates and supporters have become increasingly worried about his failing health. Earlier this month, they said Navalny had fallen ill with acute stomach pains and suspected that he was being slowly poisoned. Navalny looked gaunt when he appeared via video link from prison, but he smiled and laughed as he warmly greeted journalists who were watching his appearance in court. While imprisoned, Navalny has spent months in a tiny one-person cell, also called a punishment cell, for purported disciplinary violations such as an alleged failure to properly button his prison robe, properly introduce himself to a guard or to wash his face at a specified time. His supporters have accused prison authorities of failing to provide him with proper medical assistance, using blindingly bright light in his cell and placing him next to a mentally unstable person. Navalny said Tuesday that he had completed a 15-day stay in the punishment cell and was immediately ordered to spend another 15 days there. The Russian authorities have ramped up their crackdown on dissent after Putin sent troops into Ukraine under new legislation that has effectively criminalized any public criticism of Moscow's military action and independent reporting on the conflict. Earlier this month, a Russian court convicted a top opposition figure, Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., of treason for publicly denouncing Moscows war in Ukraine. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Another prominent opposition figure, Ilya Yashin, was sentenced to 8 years in prison last year on charges of spreading false information about the military. On Wednesday, a court in Yekaterinburg opened a trial of the city's former mayor, Yevgeny Roizman, on charges of discrediting the military that he rejected. Roizman, a sharp critic of the Kremlin, is one of the most visible and charismatic opposition figures in Russia who enjoyed broad popularity as mayor of Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city of 1.5 million people in the Ural Mountains. Last month, Roizman, 60, was ordered to spend 14 days in custody on separate charges of reposting material containing a reference to Navalny's organization. As part of a relentless clampdown, a Russian court last month convicted a father over social media posts critical of the war and sentenced him to two years in prison. His 13-year-old daughter, who drew an antiwar sketch at school, was sent to an orphanage. On March 29, Russias security service also arrested Evan Gershkovich, an American reporter for The Wall Street Journal, on espionage charges that he, his employer and the U.S. government have rejected. Gershkovich is the first U.S. correspondent since the Cold War to be detained in Russia on spying charges, and his arrest rattled journalists in the country and drew outrage in the West. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AURORA, Colo. (AP) Sexual abuse in the nations federal prisons must be rooted out, the Justice Department's second-highest-ranking leader told prison wardens gathered for their first nationwide training since revelations that a toxic, permissive culture at a California prison allowed abuse to run rampant. The Associated Press gained exclusive access to the training Tuesday for wardens of the countrys 122 federal prisons, the first since AP investigations uncovered deep, previously unreported flaws within the federal Bureau of Prisons, the Justice Departments largest law enforcement agency. Teams of experts and officials will soon be fanning out to women's prisons around the country to follow up on on reforms the agency adopted last fall, and they'll speak to both staff and incarcerated people, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a speech at the training facility outside Denver. At the training, wardens sat at round conference tables dotted with quotes about wellness and leadership from Malcolm X and Mahatma Gandhi. It was the first gathering of its kind in five years. This is urgent, urgent work, Monaco told AP in an interview. Its incumbent upon us as leaders to call that out and make those changes and really be vigilant about it. Any sexual activity between a prison worker and an inmate is illegal. Correctional employees have substantial power over inmates, and there is no scenario in which an inmate can give consent. At California's Dublin prison, a culture of predatory employees was fueled by cover-ups that largely kept their misconduct out of the public eye for years, APs reporting found. The prison's former warden was convicted of molesting inmates and forcing them to pose naked in their cells. He was one of several employees charged with sexual abuse of inmates. Its chaplain was also convicted. Abuse that pervasive involving a warden is rare, but clusters of allegations against correctional officers and other staff are more common, said Michael Horowitz, the Justice Department Inspector General. His watchdog agency investigated that case and other sexual abuse complaints in federal prisons. One of the challenges the BOP faces is making sure that when you have a cancer in your institution, you get it out right away. Because if you dont take steps to stop it, it spreads and grows, he said. Criminal prosecutions in other sexual abuse cases are expected to continue. Monaco told U.S. attorneys last week to prioritize cases of sexual abuse allegations against correctional staffers. But most importantly, weve got to do all of the work to prevent that from happening in the first place, she said. Most wardens are dedicated leaders who can preside over a culture that does not tolerate even one instance of sexual abuse," she said in the speech to wardens, which hit notes of both warning and encouragement. Fundamental change in the Bureau of Prisons culture is part of a new mission statement announced Tuesday by the bureau's new director, Colette Peters. She was hired last year after her predecessor resigned amid mounting pressure from Congress. That came after the AP investigations exposed widespread corruption and misconduct. The Justice Departments on-the-ground approach is an extension and refinement of its response last year to the crisis at Dublin. Peters predecessor, Michael Carvajal, led a Bureau of Prisons task force on a weeklong trip to the Bay Area prison. They met with staff and inmates, some of whom shared graphic details of alleged abuse. In December, President Joe Biden signed legislation requiring that the Bureau of Prisons fix broken surveillance cameras and install new ones, both to deter abuse and to aid investigators in holding abusive workers accountable. But the agency has been slow to install new cameras, with none being installed as of a February status report to bill sponsor Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga. Broad cultural change points at the direction Peters says she wants to take the agency, including ramping up rehabilitation for incarcerated people to become good neighbors outside of prison. Most of these individuals are coming home. So what do we want them to look like when they come back to our communities? Peters said. Making prisons more normal and humane will also create better work environments for American correctional workers, who she says often suffer from PTSD and have shorter lifespans, unlike their counterparts in countries like Norway. That equates to a safer environment for both our employees and those in our care custody," she said. It's rare to see a Justice Department official of Monaco's high rank at the leadership training, which used to happen every other year until the coronavirus pandemic hit, said Kevin Pistro, warden of a prison in Marianna, Florida. The challenge for the leadership is to get out there and make sure the troops are good, he said, noting that he felt supported by the words from her and Peters and would take the refocused priorities back to his own staff. That doesn't mean deep change will be easy. Any major institutional shifts, whether in government or business, take time to filter throughout the system, Horowitz said. It takes several years. It takes a commitment over months and years to have an effective change of culture, he said. The key is sustaining it. ___ Sisak reported from New York. COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Ten Norwegian diplomats in Moscow were ordered to leave Russia Wednesday, in what Oslo said was an act of revenge for its move this month to expel 15 Russian diplomatic staff for alleged spying. Norway's ambassador to Moscow was informed that 10 of our diplomats at the embassy in Moscow have been declared undesirable in Russia, Norwegian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Ragnhild H. Simenstad said in an email. They must leave Russia within a short time. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the ambassador had been summoned to protest Oslos decision to expel 15 Russian diplomats. The ministry added that it will take other measures in response to unfriendly actions by Oslo, including restrictions on hiring Russian personnel for the Norwegian diplomatic missions. We regard the Russian decision as an act of revenge, Simenstad said, adding that Norways diplomats in Russia carry out ordinary diplomatic work. On April 13, Norway said the Russians it was expelling were suspected of spying. Norways decision to declare 15 people at the Russian embassy undesirable in Norway is based on the fact that they have carried out intelligence activities under the guise of being diplomats, Simenstad said. On Tuesday, neighboring Sweden informed Russia that five employees of the Russian Embassy in Stockholm were asked to leave the country because they were suspected of spying. The Swedish foreign minister, Tobias Billstrom, said their activities were incompatible with their diplomatic status. The public broadcasting companies of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden have recently been reporting in a joint investigation that Russia was suspected of spying on the Nordic countries, and named intelligence officers allegedly working at the Russian embassies in Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo. The broadcasters also reported that Russians allegedly spied in the waters of the Baltic Sea and North Sea using civilian fishing trawlers, cargo ships and yachts. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden and South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol unveiled a new plan Wednesday to counter North Koreas nuclear threat, with the U.S. leader issuing a blunt warning that such an attack would result in the end of whatever regime took such action. The new nuclear deterrence effort calls for periodically docking U.S. nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea for the first time in decades, bolstering training between the two countries, and more. The declaration was unveiled as Biden hosted Yoon for a state visit at a moment of heightened anxiety over an increased pace of ballistic missile tests by North Korea. A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partners is unacceptable, and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action," Biden said during afternoon Rose Garden news conference with Yoon. Yoon said that the new commitment by the righteous alliance includes plans for bilateral presidential consultations in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack, the establishment of a nuclear consultative group and improved sharing of information on nuclear and strategic weapons operation plans. Sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula does not happen automatically, Yoon said. He added, Our two countries have agreed to immediate bilateral presidential consultations in the event of North Koreas nuclear attack and promised to respond swiftly, overwhelmingly and decisively using the full force of the alliance, including the United States nuclear weapons. Biden and Yoon aides have been working on details of the plan for months and agreed that occasional and very clear demonstrations of the strength of U.S. extended deterrence capabilities needed to be an essential aspect of the agreement, according to three senior Biden administration officials who briefed reporters ahead of the announcement. The officials said the so-called Washington Declaration was designed to allay South Korean fears over the North's aggressive nuclear weapons program and to keep the country from restarting its own nuclear program, which it gave up nearly 50 years ago when it signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Yoon earlier this year said his country was weighing developing its own nuclear weapons or asking the U.S. to redeploy them on the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. and South Korea also would coordinate more deeply on nuclear response strategy in the event of the North attacking the South but operational control of such weapons would remain in U.S. control, and no nuclear weapons are being deployed onto South Korean shores. We are not going to be stationing nuclear weapons on the peninsula, Biden underscored. Biden said coordination between the U.S. and South Korea remains crucial in the face of increased North Korean threats and blatant violation of international sanctions. The president repeated that the U.S. remains open to substantial talks with the North without preconditions. Rob Soofer, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said the new declaration includes important steps but may not fully address the "underlying dilemma that provokes South Korean angst over the U.S. nuclear umbrella." Having the nuclear capabilities to strike North Korea is only part of the deterrence equation the U.S. must also convince the adversary that it has the will to use these weapons in the face of nuclear retaliation," Soofer said. The state visit comes as the U.S. and South Korea mark the 70th year of the countries' alliance that began at the end of the Korean War and committed the United States to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea. Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are currently based in South Korea. Why did they sacrifice their lives for this faraway country and for the people that youve never met? Yoon said of the U.S. troops who served during the war. That was for one noble cause: to defend freedom. The agreement also calls for the U.S. and South Korean militaries to strengthen joint training and better integrate South Korean military assets into the joint strategic deterrence effort. As part of the declaration, South Korea will reaffirm its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, an agreement signed by several major nuclear and non-nuclear powers that pledged their cooperation to stem the spread of nuclear technology, the officials said. As a candidate for the presidency last year, Yoon pledged to call for the increased deployment of U.S. bombers, aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines to South Korea as he looked to offer a firmer response to the North's threats than his predecessor Moon Jae-in. In the midst of the Cold War in the late 1970s, U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines made frequent port visits to South Korea, sometimes two to three visits per month, according to the Federation of American Scientists. It was a period when the U.S. had hundreds of nuclear warheads located in South Korea. But in 1991, the United States withdrew all of its nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula, and the following year Seoul and Pyongyang signed a joint declaration pledging that neither would test, manufacture, produce, receive, possess, store, deploy or use nuclear weapons. But as the North has repeatedly violated the joint declaration over the years, there's been increased support in South Korea for the United States to return nuclear weapons to the country. One Biden administration official cautioned it is crystal clear that there are no plans by the administration for "returning tactical or any other kind of nuclear weapon to the Korean Peninsula. Instead, administration officials said they envision that the visit of ballistic missile submarines will be followed by the U.S. military more regularly deploying assets such as bombers or aircraft carriers to South Korea. North Koreas increasing nuclear threats, along with concerns about Chinas military and economic assertiveness in the region, have pushed the Biden administration to expand its Asian alliance. To that end, Biden has thrown plenty of attention at Yoon as well as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Next week, Biden will host Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for Oval Office talks. In the past year, North Korea has been steadily expanding its nuclear arsenal, while China and Russia repeatedly block U.S.-led efforts to toughen sanctions on the North over its barrage of banned missile tests. The stepped-up testing by North Korea includes the flight-testing of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time earlier this month. The recent test is seen as a possible breakthrough in the Norths efforts to acquire a more powerful, harder-to-detect weapon targeting the continental United States. Biden and Yoon, and their aides, also discussed Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. The Biden administration has praised South Korea for sending some $230 million in humanitarian aid to Kyiv, but Biden would welcome Seoul taking an even bigger role in helping the Ukrainians repel Russia. Yoon's visit comes just weeks after the leaks of scores of highly classified documents that have complicated relations with allies, including South Korea. The papers viewed by The Associated Press indicate that South Koreas National Security Council grappled with the U.S. in early March over an American request to provide artillery ammunition to Ukraine. The documents, which cited a signals intelligence report, said then-NSC Director Kim Sung-han suggested the possibility of selling the 330,000 rounds of 155 mm munitions to Poland, since getting the ammunition to Ukraine quickly was the United States ultimate goal. Asked at the joint news conference if the leak came up in their private talks, Yoon replied, "We are communicating between our two countries. Wednesday evening, Biden and first lady Jill Biden honored Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, at a state dinner at the White House. Astros vs Phillies: How to get tickets and free swag this weekend Here's how to score the best deals on tickets, plus all the free promotions you won't want to miss. BRUSSELS (AP) New rules requiring airlines to use more sustainable fuels across the European Union have been agreed by negotiators from member countries and the EU Parliament in a bid to help decarbonize the sector. The European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, said Wednesday that the deal reached by member states and the European Parliament demands that suppliers blend sustainable aviation fuels with kerosene in growing amounts from 2025. The move is expected to reduce aircraft carbon emissions by two-thirds by 2050 compared to a no action scenario, and provide climate and air quality benefits by reducing non-CO2 emissions," the Commission said. The aviation sector accounts for 13.9% of transportation emissions in the EU, making it the second biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the sector after road transport, the Commission says. If global aviation were a country, it would rank in the top 10 emitters. The political agreement is part of the EU s Fit for 55 package, which sets a goal of cutting emissions of the gases that cause global warming by at least 55% by 2030. The EU has also set a goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. It says it needs to cut transport emissions by 90% compared to 1990 levels to achieve this. The EU is setting all sectors on a pathway to climate neutrality, with the measures necessary to meet our 2030 and 2050 climate targets, said Frans Timmermans, the EU Commissioner in charge of the European Green Deal. "The EU is ready for take-off towards a more sustainable future for aviation." Despite a drop during the COVID-19 pandemic, emissions from the aviation sector are expected to continue growing. According to EU data, they increased an average of 5% year-on-year between 2013 and 2019. Under the deal, at least 2% of all fuels supplied at airports from 2025 will need to be sustainable, with that share reaching 70% by mid-century. The new EU jet fuel blend will need to also contain a minimum share of the most modern and environmentally friendly synthetic fuels, which increases over time, the Commission said. The deal now only needs formal approval from EU lawmakers and member states to enter into force. ___ Follow APs coverage of climate and environment at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment . This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PARIS (AP) Leila Oulkebous' research for her doctorate from one of France's top universities was going well when the explosions started. Oulkebous had decided to focus her field work on Sudan when the country exploded into violence. The chiefs of the countrys army and its rival Rapid Support Forces rose to power after a popular uprising in 2019 prompted them to remove longtime autocratic ruler Omar al-Bashir. They started fighting this month amid tensions over a new plan to re-introduce civilian rule. The bombing shook the house where Oulkebous was living in the capital, Khartoum, investigating the effects of dams on rivers that cross borders. "We were hiding all the time under the bed, she said Wednesday at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport as hundreds of people arrived in harrowing evacuations. World powers were rescuing people from Sudan on planes and warships in operations prompted by the eruption of the fighting that sent thousands of foreigners and many more Sudanese people fleeing for safety. A French frigate carrying hundreds of evacuees docked Wednesday morning in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as part of broader efforts involving several warships, in addition to airlifts. French military spokesman Col. Pierre Gaudilliere said France evacuated more than 500 civilians from 40 nations by plane over the weekend after securing the airbase north of Khartoum Saturday, using its airbase in neighbouring Djibouti for the airlift. Gaudilliere said the French military was the first to land, and organized the flow of its own and other nations' planes. You still had airstrikes as the operation was going on, crossfire in the streets, artillery fire, so it was and still is very intense fighting, Gaudilliere said. The French military had personnel on the ground to assess the situation during the operation, he said. Several nations, including Japan, thanked France for rescuing their citizens. Some other countries quickly joined evacuation efforts. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said Wednesday three nationals have been evacuated with help from Germany, and his country is now working with Turkey to help evacuate two other citizens. Greek national Christos Dedes, who was in Sudan for work, said he and his colleagues managed to leave their Khartoum hotel Tuesday via the Portuguese embassy, which sent a car to drive them to the airbase where there were Italian, French and German soldiers. We just happened to leave with the Italians, on a transport plane, he said on Greek TV channel Mega Wednesday, after he arrived in Athens. From their Khartoum hotel, he said, they could see that every day the battles were heavier. Both (sides) were using heavy weapons. He said they would hear explosions at night, and see bodies in the street. More than 1,000 people from 58 countries were to arrive Wednesday by ship to the port of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, including many on the French warship Lorraine. Saudi Arabia on Saturday organized the first evacuation convoy by land, via cars and buses bringing people to Port Sudan, where a navy ship took them to Jeddah. The French foreign affairs ministry said a flight carrying 184 French nationals and their families and about 20 other nationals returned from Djibouti and landed in Paris Wednesday morning. Among them was Oulkebous, a Moroccan PhD student at Bordeaux Montaigne University. The feeling I had since the first day of fighting was I felt really paralysed, I didnt know what to do, I didnt know how to get out, the airport was closed, we could not leave," she said, describing "the explosions, the smoke, so really, I didnt have the time to fully realise what was going on. A Royal Air Maroc plane arrived at Casablancas Mohammed V airport on Wednesday, carrying 136 Moroccan nationals evacuated from Sudan. In contrast with France and some other nations, the U.S. and Britain didnt evacuate non-diplomats at first. The British government has come under growing criticism for its failure to airlift civilians. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the governments approach, saying diplomats had been evacuated first because they were being targeted. The British government since said that 301 people have been evacuated on four U.K. flights from Sudan over the past 24 hours, and four more are scheduled Wednesday. Britain intends to keep running the flights for as long as possible. In addition, rapid deployment teams of U.K. officials are in Port Sudan assessing potential for a seaborne evacuation. The Foreign Office says U.K. passport-holders are eligible, and priority is given to family groups with children and/or the elderly or individuals with medical conditions. Officials have said there are as many as 4,000 British citizens in Sudan, 2,000 of whom have registered for potential evacuation. The White House said Monday the U.S. is helping from afar as thousands of Americans left behind in Sudan seek to escape fighting in the east African nation, after the U.S. Embassy evacuated all of its diplomatic personnel over the weekend and shut down. The Biden administration is considering several options for assisting private American citizens in getting out of Sudan. Two U.S. officials said one option being considered would be to send U.S. Navy vessels in, or en route to, the Red Sea to dock at Port Sudan and take Americans to Jeddah or another location. The officials said this would depend on the security situation and whether it was deemed safe for the ships to dock. A U.S. official said the military has developed other options for getting Americans, including using an airfield that some European countries have used to fly out citizens. To date, it has not been told to do that, the official said. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss sensitive matters. ____ Karel Janicek in Prague, Jill Lawless in London, Elena Becatoros in Athens, Tarik El-Barakah in Rabat, Matt Lee and Tara Copp in Washington contributed to the story. ___ This story was first published on April 26, 2023. It was updated on April 27, 2023 to make clear that Oulkebous decision to focus her research on Sudan was not related to the civil war in Ethiopia. Despite the nearly nine-month reprieve from large spikes in COVID-19 cases, many Texans remain angry and frustrated by a pandemic that is mostly in our rearview mirror. COVID-19 left a wide wake: one in 300 people lost their life, many in our own families; school closures affected our children; social isolation exacerbated the ongoing mental health crisis; and economic hardships continue. In short, COVID-19 touched everyone, leaving many bitter and discouraged. Not surprisingly, some members of the 88th Texas legislature feel the same, have heard similar sentiments from their constituents and, thus, have channeled their energy toward changing Texas law to ensure the next outbreak or pandemic will be managed differently. Unfortunately, post-pandemic concerns, combined with a surge of medical misinformation and anti-science beliefs, have led to the filing of numerous misguided, if not potentially harmful, bills. Among them are potential laws that would: limit future vaccine requirements for school entry, prohibit the exclusion of unvaccinated students from school during any outbreak, eliminate the role of the Texas Department of State Health Services in determining school vaccine requirements, and prohibit the ability of private employers, including hospitals, to require vaccination of their employees. Should any of these be passed into law, physicians and elected officials hands would be so restrictively tied as to make it difficult, if not impossible, to confront the next outbreak. While another outbreak on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic may seem unlikely, Ohio and Kentucky were recently reminded of a highly contagious disease measles. Measles can cause life-threatening pneumonia or encephalopathy, a serious brain disease. In November 2022, a measles outbreak occurred among unvaccinated children in Ohio; 85 children were infected with 36 requiring hospitalization. In February 2023, an unvaccinated person with a history of international travel attended a sizeable religious gathering in Kentucky; as many as 20,000 people may have been exposed to this asymptomatic but infectious person. In either instance, an unvaccinated or under-vaccinated child or adult can unknowingly spread measles to someone who is too young to be vaccinated, unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons or immunocompromised and vulnerable despite prior vaccination. When it comes to infectious diseases, one persons decision to forego vaccines for themselves or their child can have damaging, if not catastrophic, consequences for another. Unlike adults, children do not have a voice in the matter, and they are at greatest risk for experiencing complications from measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases. Just as we have laws to keep Texas roads safe, we have laws to protect each other and to ensure that adults and children are safe from harmful, and even deadly, contagious diseases. Should a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak occur in Texas, multiple bills currently under consideration would severely limit the ability of state and local public health authorities to prevent or halt the spread of disease, even if the emerging disease had a high fatality rate. While many of these bills were filed with the intent to protect us all, we encourage lawmakers and all Texans to take a moment to pause and assess the long-term implications of these bills. During the COVID-19 pandemic, lives were saved because our state and local health departments, as well as our personal physicians, relied on evidence-based medicine and sound scientific principles. When considering each of these bills, we strongly urge lawmakers to seek advice from the same hardworking, reputable physicians, nurses and scientists who worked selflessly to save lives during the pandemic. While the pandemic affected us all, limiting the ability of elected officials, public health authorities and employers to prevent or mitigate the spread of contagious diseases will have far-reaching and disastrous consequences for future outbreaks. Contagious viruses and bacteria will continue to challenge us and shape human history. While it is imperative that we learn from COVID-19 to improve our collective future, we must also temper our frustration and control the impulse to implement changes that could ultimately do more harm than good. We need to work together to ensure that people of all ages are protected from communicable diseases through sound, rational policies. Signed, Julie A. Boom, MD, Scientific Advisory Council, The Immunization Partnership Rachel M. Cunningham, MPH C. Mary Healy, MD, Board Member, The Immunization Partnership Maria Elena Bottazzi, PhD, Scientific Advisory Council, The Immunization Partnership Lindy McGee, MD, Scientific Advisory Council, The Immunization Partnership Flor M. Munoz, MD Jaimie C. Osvog, RN Pedro A. Piedra, MD Leila C. Sahni, PhD Gordon E. Schutze, MD Stanley Spinner, MD, Scientific Advisory Council, The Immunization Partnership Mark A. Turrentine, MD WFO DALLAS / FT. WORTH Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, April 26, 2023 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southeastern Henderson County in central Texas... Northeastern Anderson County in central Texas... * Until 245 AM CDT. * At 150 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles east of Coon Creek Lake, or 14 miles southeast of Athens, moving east at 20 mph. HAZARD...Half dollar size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is possible. * Locations impacted include... Frankston, Berryville, Lake Palestine, Brushy Creek, Poynor, Coffee City, LaRue, Pert, Bradford, Bois D'arc and Todd City. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection get inside a sturdy structure and stay away from windows. Continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately. Lightning can kill. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather WFO NORMAN Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, April 26, 2023 _____ FLASH FLOOD WARNING The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for... Northwestern Baylor County in northern Texas... Southeastern Foard County in northern Texas... Northeastern Knox County in northern Texas... Southwestern Wilbarger County in northern Texas... * Until 1130 AM CDT. * At 817 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2.5 and 3.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms. SOURCE...Radar. IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas. * Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... Gilliland and western Lake Kemp. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, April 26, 2023 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northern Callahan County in west central Texas... East central Taylor County in west central Texas... * Until 345 PM CDT. * At 240 PM CDT, two severe thunderstorms were located near Potosi, moving east at 15 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Severe thunderstorms will be near... Dudley around 300 PM CDT. Eula around 310 PM CDT. Clyde around 320 PM CDT. Baird around 345 PM CDT. Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Admiral, I-20 Near The Callahan-Eastland County Line and Kirby Lake. This includes Interstate 20 between Mile Markers 293 and 323. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather Chinese envoy calls on warring parties in Sudan to end hostilities Xinhua) 14:53, April 26, 2023 UNITED NATIONS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China's permanent representative to the United Nations on Tuesday called on the warring parties in Sudan to promptly end hostilities. The recent eruption of armed conflict in Sudan has led to massive civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction. It pains China, a good friend and partner of Sudan, to see the country's relapse into turmoil, said Zhang Jun. China calls on both parties to the conflict to put the interests of the country and people first, end hostilities promptly and avoid further escalating the situation, he told a Security Council meeting on Sudan. China hopes that the humanitarian truce will hold, civilians will be effectively protected, the safety of foreign institutions, personnel, and diplomatic missions in the country will be ensured, and security and logistics support will be provided for humanitarian aid and personnel evacuation and relocation, said Zhang. "Sudan is an important country in the Horn of Africa. If the current conflict drags on and escalates, there will undoubtedly be a higher spillover risk. This is not in the interests of Sudan and will harm regional peace and security," he warned. At present, the priority is to facilitate the immediate cessation of hostilities, urge both parties to the conflict to solve differences and divergences through dialogue, and bring the political process and social economic development as well as social order back to the right track, he said. The cause of the current turmoil in Sudan deserves serious reflection. The international community should respect Sudan's sovereignty and ownership and support Sudan in exploring institutional arrangements in line with its national conditions. Imposing a solution from the outside or arbitrarily setting up a timetable is likely to be counterproductive, he said. China firmly supports Sudan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and hopes that Sudan will see the end of the conflict at an early date and return to the right track of peace, stability, and national development, said Zhang. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, April 26, 2023 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Central Smith County in northeastern Texas... * Until 430 PM CDT. * At 340 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Edom, or 14 miles west of Tyler, moving east at 30 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Tyler, Whitehouse, Lindale, Lake Palestine, Noonday, New Chapel Hill, Red Springs and Carroll. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a Southeastern Van Zandt County in north central Texas... Northeastern Henderson County in central Texas... * Until 400 PM CDT. * At 341 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Edom, or 13 miles west of Tyler, moving east at 35 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail. * This severe thunderstorm will be near... Chandler and Lake Palestine around 350 PM CDT. Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Redland and Primrose. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for central Texas. For your protection get inside a sturdy structure and stay away from windows. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather Sarah Lewis, left, Deloitte LLP manager, and Warren Philp, past president of the Port Arthur Rotary, stand along the shoreline, west of the Richardson Elevator where the proposed Waterfront Trail extension could be built. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Asociatia Obsteasca ISCALENII lanseaza proiectul PROGRES: Plan Realizabil, Obiective Gender Rescue, Egalitate si Succes, care urmareste scopul de abilitare a fetelor si femeilor lidere si promovarea drepturilor femeilor prin elaborarea si aprobarea Planului Local de Promovare a Egalitatii de Gen a orasului Falesti. Unul dintre obiectivele Proiectului rezida in: Solutionarea unei probleme specifice in domeniul bunei guvernari la nivel local in orasul Falesti prin elaborarea Planului Local de Promovare a Egalitatii de Gen in orasul Falesti. Scopul contractarii serviciului: Asociatia Obsteasca Iscalenii contracteaza expert/experta pentru: Identificarea necesitatilor si a punctelor ce trebuie introduse in Plan si crearea grupului local de lucru. Elaborarea Planului Local de Promovare a Egalitatii de Gen Expertul/ experta va avea 3 zile de lucru in teritoriu cu participarea reprezentantilor autoritatilor publice si ai societatii civile (consultari, audieri publice, participarea la comisiile de specialitate) si 12 zile de lucru in oficiu, total 15 zile de lucru. Cerinte fata de candidat/candidata: Studii universitare sau post-universitare in stiinte socio-umane sau alte domenii relevante; Cel putin 5 ani de experienta practica sau academica in unul din urmatoarele domenii: elaborarea si monitorizarea politicilor publice; egalitatea de gen/integrarea dimensiunii de gen in politicile publice; Experienta in livrarea instruirilor, inclusiv on-line; Experienta in colaborarea cu organizatiile societatii civile, autoritatile publice centrale si locale pe dimensiunile relevante apelului; Abilitati avansate de comunicare si interpersonale; Capacitati bune de analiza si documentare; Capacitate de a lucra in echipa si individual. Perioada de contractare: 02.05.2023 15.08.23. Expertul/experta va planifica si va coordona toate activitatile cu echipa AO ,,Iscalenii. Procedura de aplicare: Expertul/a interesat/a trebuie sa trimita documentele enumerate mai jos la adresa de e-mail iscalenii.ao@gmail.com pana la data de 30 aprilie 2023, cu subiectul intitulat Elaborarea Planului Local de Promovare a Egalitatii de Gen. Persoanele interesate trebuie sa transmita un dosar, care sa contina: Scurt CV cu indicarea experientei anterioare relevante, inclusiv elaborarea Strategiilor/ Planurilor. Experienta in domeniu de cel putin 5 ani in furnizarea acestui tip de servicii. Trimiteri la cercetari anterioare realizate in domeniu; Oferta financiara (cu indicarea 0 TVA, activitatile in cadrul proiectului sunt scutite de plata TVA). Oferta financiara. In oferta financiara, va fi indicata suma totala per zi de consultanta in Euro. Toate taxele si impozitele aferente serviciilor prestate vor fi incluse in onorariul zilnic. Vor fi calculate si transferate de catre contractor in conformitate cu legislatia in vigoare. Nota: Costul transportului venit/plecat, pregatirea materialelor de instruire si a raportului post-instruire va fi inclus in pretul zilei de consultanta pentru zilele de instruire. AO Iscalenii isi rezerva dreptul de a solicita documente aditionale in caz de necesitate, de a organiza interviuri cu persoanele preselectate, de a selecta mai multi experti, de a nu selecta nici un expert sau de a anula acest concurs. Dosarele expediate dupa expirarea termenului limita nu vor fi acceptate. Ofertele depuse pana la data extinderii concursului vor fi luate in considerare. Limba in care se prezinta ofertele comerciale: limba romana. Modalitatea de adresare a intrebarilor: Pentru orice intrebari suplimentare va rugam sa ne contactati la e-mail iscalenii.ao@gmail.com sau la telefonul (+373) 78655698, persoana de contact Margarita Rotari. Intrebarile de concretizare pot fi adresate pana pe 30 aprilie, ora 17.00. Doar candidatul/a preselectati va fi contactat/a. Activitatea este realizata de AO Iscalenii in cadrul proiectului Parteneriate pentru liderismul femeilor si buna guvernare, implementat de Fundatia Friedrich Ebert Moldova si AO Institutum Virtutes Civilis, cu suportul financiar al Uniunii Europene si Fundatiei Friedrich Ebert. 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 Alison Holt, social affairs editor at BBC, Chris Sherwood, CEO of RSPCA, Joe Saxton, founder of nfpResearch, Halima Begum, chief executive of the Runnymede Trust and Sue Tibballs, chief executive of the Sheila McKechnie Foundation speaking at Trustee Exchange Charities have been warned of potential media criticism when they campaign on issues related to their cause. One of the key attacks on charity campaigning comes from the right-wing press, Halima Begum, chief executive of the Runnymede Trust, told an event today. Speaking at Civil Society Medias Trustee Exchange, the incoming CEO of ActionAid said one of the easiest ways charities can be attacked for campaigning is by the right-wing press criticising how much public funding it receives. Its very important that people realise that one of the key attacks, one of the easiest ways you will be attacked on impartiality is by right-wing press looking at your public funding, she said. Every time weve stepped out and spoken about issues there is another article somewhere about how much the charity has received in public funding and that is where the blurred line is for a charity managing that risk [of speaking out on social issues]. I think that is a risk area that trustees need to be careful about. Trust from charity chair important Runnymede Trust itself received negative press for its work on an anti-racism report in 2021. Conservative MPs wrote a letter to the Charity Commission requesting an inquiry into the charity over claims of impartiality but the regulator found no wrongdoing. Begum said some of the attacks were personally targeted towards her, so she decided to stop reading the newspapers. I just couldnt do that, it was too shocking to read the trolling, she said. She shared that her father was suffering with stage four cancer at the time. She said that having a high level of trust from her chair and on the board enabled the organisation to face some of these attacks. If we dont have high trust within the organisation entirely, it makes it very difficult for either a CEO or its staff to speak out about legitimate concerns that we need to be speaking about even respecting the impartiality rules. However, Begum said she thinks there an issue of losing relevance if you speak on everything as a charity. Charity CEOs relatively absent from national conversations The chief executives of charities are underrepresented in national media coverage despite needing to be part of the conversation, an event heard today. Sue Tibballs, chief executive of the Sheila McKechnie Foundation (SMK), was speaking on a panel about the role of trustee boards in enabling charities to campaign. Tibballs cited research that shows only 2% of guests on current affairs programmes like Question Time were charity leaders and said she thinks they are certainly underrepresented in these conversations. Chief executives, to get into public debate, need to speak to issues of the day, which does mean looking at the broader contributing factors to issues affecting their cause, she says. Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the RSPCA, said: I think it is important that we do take those stands out there in the public domain, because thats what were about. If were not advocating on the cause that we and our beneficiaries care about, who else is going to do that? And our society needs us to do that because we have been at the forefront of social progress, creating a kind and compassionate society for a long time, and we know theres still a lot more to do. I think charities have a unique contribution to British society and that we have a vital role to play. Media wants to hear from charity beneficiaries says BBC correspondent Alison Holt, social affairs correspondent at the BBC, added that charities are the bedrock of society that are borne out of passion and a desire among citizens to change something, to make something better. So, from that inception, charities are at the bedrock of the national debate or should be at the bedrock of national debate. she said. She said that the media wants to hear directly from beneficiaries rather than people organising services for them. Joe Saxton, founder of nfpResearch, agreed that civil society needs a higher profile in media so it can have an equivalent profile in government to sectors like government. He said choosing who should speak out on a social issue should not always be the chief executive if they are not the most relevant person to do so. Let's not have chief executives, when somebody on the front line would give a better, more credible, more powerful testimony than a paid chief executive, he said. People at the frontline are much harder to undermine and dismiss precisely because of their environment, so we should do that as much as possible. Research says that MPs are much happier with that side of things. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Charities, businesses and politicians have paid tribute to Neil Jameson, the founder and former executive director of Citizens UK, who has passed away. Jameson worked for more than five decades in the charity sector, holding roles at Save the Children and the Childrens Society. In 1989, he founded what is now known as Citizens UK and led the charity as its first executive director until he stepped down in 2018. He helped launch the Living Wage campaign in 2001, which resulted in 1bn in higher wages for low-income workers, and campaigned for government to implement a cap on the total cost of credit, curbing the power of pay-day lenders. He also challenged government policy on asylum and refugee resettlement to welcome those fleeing violence and conflict and open up legal routes for unaccompanied minors. In 2019, Jameson stood as the Green Party parliamentary candidate for Poplar and Limehouse in east London. Jameson was a visionary Matthew Bolton, executive director of Citizens UK, said Jameson was a visionary who had the courage and skills to bring community organising to the UK. Neils vision and pioneering work led to tens of thousands of active citizens campaigning for change across the UK and this is a legacy that goes from strength to strength. Neil offered communities a method for listening, building power and public action, which in turn strengthened relationships across civil society and made our democracy stronger. We will honour his legacy with public celebration in due course but today, we pause to thank Neil for all the foundations he laid, the lives he touched and the achievements he set in motion. A change maker and peace builder The Muslim Charities Forum (MCF) and the Living Wage Foundation tweeted that they are saddened and devastated to hear about the passing of Jameson, with the former describing him as a real servant leader, change maker and peace builder. We have lost a great pillar for social justice and community cohesion. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues, MCF wrote. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: Neil Jameson was tireless in campaigning for social justice and his commitment and passion improved the lives of thousands of Londoners across our city. He will be much missed, but his legacy will live on. My thoughts are with his family and friends today. The Trussell Trust has said its staff and volunteers are under immense pressure amid ever-growing need for its services, as the charity reported delivering a record number of food parcels last year. Figures published today by the food bank charity show it delivered almost three million emergency food parcels in the 12 months to the end of March, up from 2.2 million the year before and more than double the amount five years earlier. Speaking to Civil Society, the charitys director of policy, research and impact Helen Barnard said it had been challenging emotionally for staff and volunteers and it was becoming harder to fulfil the need from donations. Incredibly challenging The charity reported that it delivered three million emergency food parcels in 2022-23, with more than one million going to children for the first time. Its overall total exceeds the second highest amount delivered in 2020-21 (2.6 million) and is more than double the number distributed in 2017-18 (1.4 million). Asked about the impact on the charitys workforce, Barnard said: Its pretty immense pressure on both staff and volunteers. People are telling us that they are really, really tired. Weve been through the pandemic that was really tough. We then went straight into the cost-of-living crisis. But actually, the increase were seeing this year is part of a longer-term trend, where need is going up steeply. All of our food banks and our volunteers theyre trying to keep up with this ever-growing level of need. And it is incredibly challenging, practically and logistically. Barnard said the charitys local members had found that it was becoming harder to fulfil the need from donations of food. We are seeing food banks having to buy food, because the level of needs theyre facing is so high, that donations just cant keep up, she said. A real challenge for a lot of our food banks is just making sure they have got the kind of food they need to get to support people. Campaigning for preventative measures The charity is lobbying the government, alongside the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, for an increase to Universal Credit payments by at least 35 a week to cover the cost of essential items for a single person. Barnard said it was important for the charity to continue its campaigning work despite having stretched resources. My sense is that the level of need were seeing really fuels peoples commitment to try to go to the root causes, she said. Barnard said she was particularly hopeful about the level of public support for the charitys current campaign, including voters from across the political spectrum. Prime minister Rishi Sunak even said as chancellor that he wished they didnt have to exist, chiming with the charitys ultimate aim to end the need for emergency food in the UK. It is very striking to hear people at every point of the political spectrum, agreeing that this is not something that should exist in our country, said Barnard, adding thats very unusual. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Last March, shortly after Vladimir Putin declared war and announced an invasion of Ukraine, his government blocked TV Rain, Russias only surviving independent news network. Soon, word spread that Russias parliament planned to impose a law banning fake news about the military; the staff of TV Rain learned that they could be vulnerable to criminal prosecution. Valeria Ratnikova, a twenty-two-year-old rising star at TV Rain, was paralyzed by grief. Her close and extended family lived in Moscow, Annie Hylton writes for CJRs latest issue. Just a few months earlier, shed moved into an apartment with her boyfriend, building a nest that sequestered her from the near-constant risk of being an independent journalist. Ratnikova didnt want to flee. Then she received a call from Ekaterina Kotrikadze, the news director and anchor of TV Rain, who told her, The government decided to destroy every free voice in Russia. With that, Ratnikova became one of hundreds of Russian journalists who scattered across Europe since the start of the war. In exile, many have tried to carry on with their work; often, their loyalties have come into question. When TV Rain set up shop in Latvia, the public response was divided: Some had hostile feelings toward their new neighbors, Hylton writes. Late last year, Latvian authorities revoked the networks broadcasting licenseand Ratnikova faced exile once more. I hope youll read Hyltons piece, an extraordinary portrait of a young womans life upended. (And you can check out the whole issue here.) Below, she fills us in on some of the details. How did you meet Valeria Ratnikova? What about her stood out to you? I was introduced early in my reporting to Ratnikova, whom TV Rains higher-ups described as a rising star. The more time I spent with her, the more I wanted to know about her; despite her youth, she was more self-reflective, thoughtful, and honest about her suffering and triumphs than most people twice her age. In attempting to tell the story of TV Rains challenges of reporting in exile, it soon became apparent that we would use that narrative as a vehicle to tell her storythe experiences of a young journalist coming of age under Putins sharpening authoritarianism, who was forced to carve out a career in exile while indeterminately separated from family and friends in her homeland. What is the background on TV Rainwhat was it like for the network before the Ukraine invasion? What drew Ratnikova to work there? Every independent Russian journalist and expert with whom I spoke held TV Rain in high esteem; since its launch, over a decade ago, it was perceived as a bastion of independent reporting that held true to its mission and ideals despite operating in a highly risky and threatening environment. It attracted young, ambitious reporters who wanted to report hard-hitting, independent news. In the years preceding the Ukraine invasion, TV Rain had been nearly intimidated out of existencethe regime had classified it a foreign agent, and it had been evicted from its studios. Early in her career, Ratnikova didnt know much about the free press, but her classmates introduced her to independent figures and outlets that made her critical of state-run media outlets and the propaganda they peddled. She became determined to appear on camera and host the news for independent television. TV Rain was her only real option in Russia to fulfill this ambition. You speak in the piece to Kevin Rothrockthe managing editor at the English-language edition of Meduza, a well-regarded Russian outletwho says that most members of the countrys free press have traditionally resisted defining themselves as opposition journalists, preferring instead to call themselves independent. How did the invasion complicate that sense of identity for Ratnikova and her colleagues? According to Rothrock, the distinction between opposition and independence has somewhat collapsed. Funding sources may not be as straightforward, for instance, but the other issue is partly that Russians must constantly perform their goodness when they exist outside of Russia. There is a lack of patience for anything Russianand TV Rains staff felt this sharply in Latvia, where the public was somewhat hostile and seemed to expect them to take sides after the war started. While TV Rain publicly acknowledged and maintained its stance against the Russian invasion, it wasnt enough. They had to walk this impossible tightrope and eventually became victims of what one expert described as a sentiment that all Russians are bad and responsible for the war. When it becomes clear that TV Rain cannot stay in Russia, it takes some time for the staff to find a new home base. Why did they choose Latvia? Latvia shares a border with Russia and is inhabited by many ethnic Russians. Russian is widely spoken, and for many Russians, Latvia feels culturally adjacent, given its Soviet past and demographics. Latvia is a democracy and a member of the European Union. It has a free press. Riga, the capital, is a modern city, making it an attractive location for many Russian journalists. Early on, Latvian officials publicly and privately welcomed TV Rain and other independent Russian journalists, offering them humanitarian visas. TV Rain was provided with a European broadcasting license. By the time TV Rain relocated, an established diaspora and community of journalists in exile already existed in Latvia, so it felt like a natural hub for their operations and a good place to reach their audience, which consists primarily of Russian-speaking people in and around Russia. Once TV Rain starts broadcasting from Riga, it soon becomes clear that operating in a new place is harder and more complicated than anyone realized. What set off the discord between TV Rain and the Latvian public? TV Rain made a series of public missteps that fed into a skeptical and divided public. The channels higher-ups have acknowledged that in their relocation, they had not considered Latvias past and enduring traumas from Soviet-era occupation, the political context of the Ukraine war in Latvia, and the impact of their presence there. And because of its prominence as a Russian independent media source, it was almost inevitable that in trying to toe the line between maintaining allegiance to its Russian audience and operating in a somewhat hostile environment, it would falter and have its motives questioned. Early on, TV Rain began stacking up violations and fines from Latvias media regulator, which eventually led to its license being revoked for national security reasons, which local media watchdogs described as a dangerous precedent. How did Ratnikova handle all of this? Simply put, she was devastated. The way she described experiencing this public ousting was similar to how she felt the night she had to flee Russia. Her mental and physical health suffered, and she sought professional help to navigate the tumult. She questioned her future and role as a journalist, her ability to work in the field, her immigration status, and whether it was all worth it. Where do Ratnikova and TV Rain stand now? With the help of local NGOs, TV Rain is challenging the license revocation in Latvian courtsboth to restore its reputation and reverse the grounds for the decision. (The regulators claim was that TV Rain posed a national security risk.) Even so, Ratnikovaand most of TV Rains staffplans to relocate to Amsterdam, where they were granted a new European broadcasting license. No one from TV Rain described this as a happy outcome; they had been planning their future in Latvia, where many have apartment leases and children who attend school. Amsterdam is a more expensive city, and getting there involves yet another relocation. Still, they welcome the possibility of operating in another European country. At this point, Ratnikova says she is indifferent to where she lives because the only place for her is back home in Moscow. Betsy Morais is the managing editor of CJR. A federal appeals court is giving a Pennsylvania hospital another opportunity to have $1.75 million of its medical malpractice insurance coverage restored. The $1.75 million represents the difference between the final arbitrated settlement of $7.75 million and the plaintiffs earlier demand of $6 million that the hospital claims its insurer should have accepted as a settlement in a birth injury case. The federal court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania dismissed Moses Taylor Hospitals complaint after finding that the hospital did not seek actual monetary damages. Rather Moses Taylor sought restoration of its insurance coveragea form of equitable relief. However, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals has now vacated the district courts grant of a motion to dismiss to ProSelect Insurance Co., a division of Coverys, and remanded the case back to the district court to consider whether Moses Taylors complaint properly pleads a breach of contract action seeking equitable relief. The Third Circuit found that the lower court erred in considering only monetary damages and not the requested equitable relief of restoring insurance coverage. Under Pennsylvania law, a plaintiff bringing a breach of contract claim must plead the existence of a contract, including its essential terms, a breach of the contract; and resultant damages. Moses Taylor and the district court understood the term resultant damages to prohibit plaintiffs from bringing breach of contract actions seeking equitable relief. Judge Anthony Scirica of the appeals court found that was a misunderstanding, writing in remanding the case, This reading is too narrow. Pennsylvania law recognizes both legal and equitable remedies for breach of contract claims. Moses Taylor purchased a medical malpractice insurance policy from ProSelect Insurance Co. with a $7.25 million coverage limit applicable to aggregate liability as well as to individual claims. In 2017, the guardian of a patient who suffered catastrophic birth injuries filed a medical malpractice claim against Moses Taylor in state court. The insurer directed Moses Taylors legal defense. According to the hospitals complaint, ProSelect allegedly failed to send a representative with settlement authority to two conferences. Moses Taylor claims ProSelect then agreed to high-low arbitration because the hospital promised the insurer that it would contribute its own funds of $2,500,000 if the final award was at the low limit. Before presenting evidence to the arbitrator, the patients counsel made a final settlement demand of $6,000,000. Moses Taylor alleges it directed ProSelect to accept the demand, or at least engage in settlement discussions, but the insurer did neither. The arbitrator returned a verdict far above the high limit of $7,750,000 which was then reduced to the high limit. ProSelect paid out a portion of this settlement from Moses Taylors aggregate insurance, depleting the funds available to cover future liability. But for ProSelects inaction, Moses Taylor contends, the final settlement amount would have been lower and so would have depleted less of Moses Taylors aggregate insurance coverage. Moses Taylor brought a breach of contract claim as well as derivative bad faith and vicarious liability claims in state court. In its complaint, Moses Taylor alleged it suffered monetary damages in the depletion of the aggregate amount of insurance tail coverage available to it. Rather than requesting that it be paid money, it requested that $1.75 million, the difference between the settlement demand and the final settlement, be restored to its excess insurance policy aggregate as coverage for future claims. The federal district court, where the case was removed by ProSelect, dismissed Moses Taylors complaint for failure to plead actual monetary damages and granted leave to amend. But when Moses Taylor could not produce evidence of pending or future claims likely to exceed its policy limits, the court dismissed its amended complaint with prejudice, again citing failure to plead actual monetary damages. Moses Taylor appealed. Last week the appeals court remanded the case so that the district court can decide whether equitable relief is available to Moses Taylor. Judge Scirica noted that Pennsylvania case law suggests compensatory damages for an insurers bad faith failure to settle are only appropriate when insureds face liability that exceeds their policy limit. Even if compensatory damages are theoretically available to Moses Taylor, competing statutes of limitations complicate this casemaking it more likely any available damages would be inadequate and so requiring equitys flexible machinery. The court further noted that the statute of limitations on Moses Taylors breach of contract claim is four years. But the statute of limitations on personal injury actions, which is two years, does not begin to run for unemancipated minors until they turn eighteen. Even though the policy period for Moses Taylors policy ended in 2011, plaintiffs who were treated as infants near the end of the policy period could bring suit in 2028 or even later. Reliance on remedies at law creates a catch-22 for Moses Taylor here: sue without waiting for liability that would require use of its aggregate coverage and risk dismissal for failure to plead actual monetary damages or wait for such liability and risk running out the four-year statute of limitations. Either way, Moses Taylor would face the strong possibility that the merits of its bad faith claim would not be heard. Requesting equitable reliefrestoration of $1,750,000 to its aggregate coverageavoids this catch-22, Judge Scirica wrote. Photo courtesy of Moses Taylor Hospital. RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- In June 2020, City Council approved a resolution that declared racism a national public crisis. Nearly three years later, Mayor Kim Thomas, who served as Ward 1 councilwoman when that resolution was approved, said it was time to back that resolution with action. On Tuesday (April 25), council took action by approving five residents as members of the citys new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. We passed (the 2020 resolution), and in that legislation it stated we had to create some action steps. And part of those action steps was putting together a DEI committee to help (further the resolution), Thomas said after the council meeting. We have to put some action steps in place, or wed just have a piece of paper. We had no guidance or direction on what to do; it (the resolution) was just declaring racism a public crisis. So what did that mean? Now, this means that, OK, things are equitable, we can have minority participation when it comes to businesses partnering with the schools, it means so many different things. Making sure we hire LGBTQ and so many letters behind those names, but making sure we do what needs to be done as a community. This means that we can ensure fair treatment and participation of all people, Thomas said. We want to ensure we have minority participation and partnership with our schools, businesses, and the residents in the community. The five residents named to the committee were the five who responded to the citys call for people interested in serving, Thomas said. The committee will serve in an advisory capacity to council and the administration. The five residents council approved for the committee are: -- Becky Streem, a six-year resident and self-employed psychotherapist who has a masters degree in social work from Case Western Reserve University. Streem is a retired Cleveland Clinic social worker. -- Calinda Stringer, a corporate vice president for retention for a Fortune 100 insurance company who has 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. -- Edwin Mayes, director of first-year experience and family programs at CWRU and a DEI trainer for students. -- Alex Harper, who has 15 years of professional experience in manufacturing, supply chain global distribution, project management and workforce development. -- Jannel Turner, a resident since June 2022 who is a social worker in an affordable housing HUD apartment building. Council approved each of the committee members by a 6-1 vote. Ward 4 Councilman Mark Alexander voted against each appointment, explaining that he was not voting against the individual, but rather because he did not see a need for such a committee. Im not voting against any person. I did not vote for this program to begin with, Alexander said of his vote against the June 2020 resolution. I dont believe the program is going to solve any problems. I dont think theres problems to begin with in that area in this town. Im not saying there are no problems anywhere, but I dont think this is going to get anybody where we need to be, so my vote is no. Ward 2 Councilman Frank Lentine read aloud a definition of diversity, equity and inclusion and said it promotes the fair treatment and full participation of all people participating, but particularly groups who have historically been disrepresented or subject to discrimination on the basis of identity or disabilities. Lentine then asked Thomas: Have we had any cases or problems with this in the past that you know of? Why now? Has there been a problem? Is there a problem? I really cant speak in saying there is a problem, Thomas replied. She said that the 2020 resolution, however, called for action to be taken. Thomas said the committee will help ensure that discrimination does not occur based on skin color or whether someone has a felony on their record. So (its) making sure we have equal representation across the board and minority participation across the board, she said. You dont have to have a problem to put DEI in place; it should be in place. Its in place at the federal level, the state level and now we are recommending that its put together at the local level. You dont have to have a problem. We want to make sure we prevent a problem, she said. Ward 3 Councilwoman Cassandra Nelson, before voting to approve the committee members, said she would like to see a more diverse committee. I would like to see on our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee a white male, because what I see now is just people of color and we need to have diversity on our board, as well. I would like to see everyone participate -- everyone. Im going to vote yes, but I hope that other person is another race or another gender. Thomas said she agreed with Nelson. She said that when the city put out the word that it was looking for committee members, it mentioned it was seeking people of all ethnicities and backgrounds. Thomas said that Streem, who was not present at the meeting, is white. The four Black residents who also make up the committee were present for Tuesdays meeting. Thomas said any resident interested in serving on the committee can contact the Human Resources Director Rhonda Lowe to submit a resume. The committee does not call for a prescribed number of members, although Thomas said she would like an odd number. The city is also forming an Ethics Committee. On Tuesday, council approved the first and, so far only, member of that committee, resident Dana Wiggins. Residents interested in serving on this committee can also contact Lowe. New finance director Annette Harmon recently resigned as finance director due to personal reasons. On Tuesday, council unanimously approved the hiring of Highland Heights Finance Director Joseph Filippo to also serve, temporarily, as Richmond Heights finance director. Thomas said she contacted Highland Heights Mayor Chuck Brunello Jr. after Harmon resigned and that Brunello suggested that Filippo, if he agreed, could temporarily serve both cities. Filippo will serve Richmond Heights through July 30, by which time Thomas hopes to have a full-time finance director in place. Read more from the Sun Messenger. PARMA, Ohio A century ago, Parma was a very different community. The Benajah Fay family settled in the area in 1816. The largely rural community became a village in 1924, one year after St. Charles Borromeo Parish was established with 13 families. In 1931, Parma became a city and its growth exploded after World War II as young families began migrating into the area. The growth of St. Charles Parish mirrored that of the city. Industrialization meant jobs and rapid growth in Northeast Ohio, including the Parma area. Parma Ward 2 Councilwoman Debbie Lime and Judie Mirtell, a St. Charles Parish Council member, flank Cleveland Bishop Edward Malesic at the parishs centennial celebration. (Carol Kovach/special to cleveland.com) St. Charles first church was a wood frame structure. There also was a brick rectory and an eight-room school on the parish property. When the Depression hit, the parish faced tough times like most of the country. After World War II, things improved and the area including the parish grew rapidly. By the 1960s, St. Charles Parish was the largest Catholic parish in the state. Parish records indicate the school enrollment exceeded 2,400 in 1964 and dozens of new classrooms, a gym and a hall were built to accommodate the students. Monsignor Nicholas Monaghan, the first pastor, guided the parish for 44 years until his death in 1967. Monsignor Thomas Corrigan was appointed the second pastor in January 1968. Under his direction, the church was remodeled and new pastoral programs. The school enrollment declined to 620 students by 1987, as the citys population aged. He retired in June 1987 and died in 1995. The Rev. John Carlin, the parishs third and current pastor was appointed in 1987. He created the Parish Council, updated the parish facilities, revamped the staff and launched other initiatives in the busy parish. He is assisted by two parochial vicars, the Rev. Joshua Cochrac and the Rev. Kevin Fox. The Rev. Ansel, Zupka, a Benedictine monk who also teaches at Benedictine High School in Cleveland, has assisted at the parish for more than 50 years. Two deacons, John Talerico and Daniel Galla, also assist at the parish. Carlin appointed Cochrac to oversee a years worth of events as part of the parishs centennial. A Mass celebrated by Cleveland Bishop Edward Malesic on April 16 highlighted the conclusion of the festivities. Past and present parishioners gathered for the celebration, including several local officials. Ward 2 Councilwoman Debbie Lime is a parishioner and assisted with the event. Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter, Seven Hills Mayor Anthony Biasiotta an alumnus of St. Charles School and state Rep. Sean Brennan, D-14, were spotted at the Mass and reception as was Colleen Corrigan Day, wife of Parma Auditor Brian Day. Since its founding in 1923, St. Charles Borromeo Parish has called people to a holy way of life, said Carlin. That continues to be our call. Everything we do should point toward holiness. He also noted that life is really all about being genuinely thankful: for Gods grace and blessings, for another day of life, for our faith, four our families and friends. As we mark 100 years, we thank God for those who went before us those who may have had much less than we do materially, but who have given us in spirit a strong sense of community, service and generosity as well as outstanding facilities in which to carry on the Lords work. Yes, how blessed we are, he added. The real history of St. Charles Borromeo Parish is written in your hearts, he said. Congratulations to the St. Charles Borromeo Parish community on its 100th anniversary. St. Charles parishioner Sarah Liptak created this new painting as part of the parishs centennial celebration. (Carol Kovach/special to cleveland.com) Musical interlude: The Parma Symphony Orchestra will perform a classical music concert at 3 p.m. May 7 in Valley Forge High School Auditorium, 9999 Independence Blvd., Parma Heights. Charles Smialek, superintendent of the Parma City School District, will narrate A Lincoln Portrait By Aaron Copland. The program also will include John Williams theme from The Patriot, Gettysburg Symphonic Suite by Randy Edelman and Americana, A Medley of Well Known American Melodies by Arthur Harris. Concert tickets are available at the door beginning at 2:30 p.m. on concert day or from any member of the orchestra. Tickets bought with cash are $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Family passes are $20 for families of up to two adults and their children. Advance Sale tickets are available online at parma-symphony-orchestra.square.site. Credit card purchases include a $2 per ticket handling fee. Parma Symphony Orchestra is a self-supporting community orchestra in cooperation with the Parma City Schools. Now in its 53rd season, the orchestra has 80 members from across Greater Cleveland. They meet for weekly rehearsals and present at least four concerts annually. For more information, visit the groups Facebook page, the website, parmasymphony.org or call Joe Germana, business manager, at 440-882-2012. Honor society inductees: Polaris Career Center recently inducted 95 students into the National Technical Honor Society. NTHS is the highest award for excellence in career and technical education. Its mission is to honor student achievement and leadership, promote educational excellence and enhance career opportunities for the organizations members. Fewer than 2% of secondary students are nominated for membership and nominees are evaluated based on scholarship, service, leadership and character. To be eligible, Polaris students must earn all As in their Polaris program, maintain a 95% or higher attendance rate and a 3.0 accumulative grade point average. Polaris inducted 50 students enrolled in its Middleburg Heights campus programs and an additional 45 students enrolled in satellite programs. Satellite programs are Polaris programs located in each partner high school. Local Polaris campus inductees included the following Brooklyn High School students: Desiree Gailes, junior, culinary arts and restaurant management; Annabell Giguere, junior, cosmetology; Madison Orlosky. junior, pre-nursing; Alice Pham, junior, construction trades; Anthony Starr, senior, criminal justice; Idajia Simpson, junior, culinary arts and restaurant management; and Jillian Treska, senior, exercise science and rehab therapy. Polaris satellite inductees included Mayhem Crowley, junior, engineering, and Laura Nguyen, junior, engineering, both from Brooklyn High School. Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. in Brooklyn, Independence, Parma, Parma Heights and Seven Hills for the Sun Postings column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to carolkovach@hotmail.com. Read more from the Parma Sun Post. CLEVELAND, Ohio Cuyahoga County wants to prevent a Common Pleas judge from obtaining custody of her grandchildren. The case stems from the conviction of the son of Judge Cassandra Collier-Williams in the 2021 slaying of his wife, with whom he had two children. He was sentenced to life in prison. Collier-Williams is now at the center of a trial in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court over whether custody of the two children, who are both under 10, should go to her, their aunt in Botswana or to the county to be put up for adoption. If the county gets custody of the children, Collier-Williams can apply to adopt them. But its not clear after Tuesdays court hearing whether the agency would support her adopting the children. The countys Department of Children and Family Services had planned as recently as this month to recommend that the children be placed with the judge. But an assistant county prosecutor said during opening statements Tuesday that the agency recently learned of a series of incidents that showed that Collier-Williams priority is with her son, and not her grandchildren. Those actions included Collier-Williams allowing the grandchildren to speak to their father on the phone and let him help them with their homework. She signed them up for counseling without getting the agencys approval and sent a passive-aggressive email to the childrens aunt in Africa that said that the children were excellent and happy at her home. Attorneys for Collier-Williams and her son, Omnisun Azali, said in their opening statements that the visiting judge assigned to the case, Thomas Lipps, will be angry and offended at the end of the trial. Walt Edwards, an attorney for Azali, said the evidence will show Collier-Williams made decisions in the best interest of the children. We are simply wasting taxpayer dollars for this trial for permanent custody, Collier-Williams attorney, Jennifer Hanes, said. Pamela Hawkins, an attorney appointed to represent the children, told Lipps that she has spoken to them several times and that, no matter who was around at the time, they have always said they want to live with Collier-Williams. They consider her home to be their home, Hawkins said. The days most contentious statements came when Charles Tyler Sr., the attorney for the childrens aunt, accused Collier-Williams of being a liar and exhibiting Black privilege for including Botswanas high rate of AIDS and deadly animal attacks in filings that argue against the children being placed with the aunt, Rebecca Tawana. These childrens mother was not killed by a wild animal in Botswana, Tyler said. She was killed by a wild animal in America. The no-contact order The Department of Children and Family Services took temporary custody of the children the week after Azali was arrested in the May 27, 2021, shooting death of Mwaka Azali at their familys home in Euclid. The children were staying with Collier-Williams, but the agency sought to take them because they learned that Omnisun Azali was about to post bond and planned to stay with the judge. The agency did not speak to Collier-Williams to see if her son could stay somewhere else before seeking to remove the children from her home, a specialist testified Tuesday. A court order in the criminal case barred Omnisun Azali from speaking to his children, who were going to be called as witnesses, until the trial was over. The order also barred the children from having unsupervised contact with any relatives to prevent anyone from trying to sway their testimony. Lipps adopted that order in the custody case and modified it earlier this year after Azali was found guilty. Lipps lifted the requirement that the childrens visits with relatives be supervised, but he did not say whether the no-contact order with their father remained in effect. The children, who had been staying with a relative in Columbus, returned to live with Collier-Williams in March. On April 6, four days before a meeting in which the agency was prepared to recommend they stay with Collier-Williams, a county child protection specialist, Brianna Blair, said she asked the children if they had been talking to their father. They said they had, and Collier-Williams had let them. Blair said that the children told her that Azali had helped them with their homework and asked them about school. Blair said she and the agency believed the no-contact order remained in effect and that Collier-Williams had violated it, and the next day she canceled the meeting to potentially grant Collier-Williams legal custody. She said Collier-Williams should have asked the agency whether it was OK if the children talked to their father, and the attorneys would have figured it out. Edwards, Azalis attorney, asked whether Blair could see how it might be confusing as to whether the kids could speak to their father, as the no-contact order ended in the criminal case. Lipps said the children no longer need to be supervised when visiting with their relatives. She said she wasnt sure. The counseling Blair also said that Collier-Williams faltered when, after the children moved back into her home, she enrolled them in counseling available to Cuyahoga County employees and their dependents without first seeking the agencys permission. Blair said that the agency was in the process of finding a counselor in Cleveland at the time and arranged for one in Columbus to do telephone sessions in the interim. She said that counselor rarely responded to emails or phone calls and provided no documentation that the children actually received a counseling session before Collier-Williams signed them up. Blair said that she believed that Collier-Williams would have had to have incorrectly signed paperwork that said the children were her dependents to enroll them in the counseling. She also said that the counseling agency would not provide documents or disclose the childrens progress to her so the agency could not properly monitor the childrens progress. On cross-examination, she said that Collier-Williams immediately signed paperwork that gave the counselors permission to disclose the childrens progress to the agency. She said the judge told her she didnt realize she needed the agencys permission to enroll the children in counseling. She also said that she did not believe the counseling was inappropriate and likely would not have opposed the move if Collier-Williams had asked first. Edwards, the attorney for the judges son, asked Blair if she believed Collier-Williams effort to get the kids into counseling was the result of anything other than to help them. Blair said she did not. But yet thats part of the calculus to say she doesnt deserve them? Edwards asked. Do you see how that doesnt make sense? Blair answered, No. The email Blair and Anthony Berry, an assistant Cuyahoga County prosecutor, also pointed to an email that Collier-Williams sent to Tawana, the childrens aunt, to change the time of Tawanas weekly Zoom call with the children on Easter weekend. Collier-Williams wanted to take the kids on an egg hunt at the time. Collier-Williams created an email address that included portions of the childrens first names and the word mine, and told Tawana that the children were happy and doing well in her home. Understand, they are HOME, the judge wrote. Blair said the email was troubling to the agency because the way it was worded could cause Tawana and the childrens maternal family in Africa to feel a way about it, and also show that Collier-Williams would not be willing to facilitate communication with their maternal family if she gets custody of them. The children were born in Botswana and lived their until they were 1. On cross-examination, Hanes, the attorney for Collier-Williams, pointed out that it was the family in Africa who initially refused to provide their contact information with the judge to facilitate the Zoom. She said the judge went as far as to buy the children a special cellphone to use to communicate with their Botswanan family. You guys agree this has gotten blown way out of proportion, correct? Hanes asked. Blair answered, correct. CLEVELAND, Ohio A man shot last year by an East Cleveland police officer filed a lawsuit against the city and the officer, alleging a violation of his civil rights. Robert Banks Jr.s lawsuit accuses East Cleveland police officer Andrew Majercik of shooting Banks without provocation during a traffic stop. CLEVELAND, Ohio Two firefighters fell through a collapsed floor during a fire in East Cleveland on Wednesday morning. Officers responded to a house fire in the 13400 block of Forest Hills Boulevard about 8:30 a.m., said David Worley, the East Cleveland fire chief. Upon arrival, firefighters saw large flames and black smoke coming from the single-family home and called for assistance. Two firefighters went to the third floor of the home, fell through the floor and became trapped by rubble and debris. Both were rescued by firefighters from different departments who helped at the scene. The departments included Richmond Heights, University Heights, South Euclid and Cleveland Heights. One of the trapped firefighters, a 24-year-old man who has been with the department for approximately two years, was transported to University Hospitals for a knee injury, Worley said. Hes in good spirits, Worley said. Mutual aid is a wonderful thing. It is so important for all fire departments. With that and our training, we were able to make sure everyone was safe. A resident of the home was also transported to University Hospitals for heat and smoke inhalation. The fire was extinguished at about 9:30 a.m. Worley said the family living in the home was able to escape before fire crews came to the scene. He said the house is considered a total loss. The whole front of the house is open, he said. You can see right through it. Worley said the cause of the fire appears to be electrical issues after speaking with several family members, but the investigation is ongoing. AKRON, Ohio A 19-year-old man is in custody after police say he shot a 17-year-old male while they were arguing about money. According to police, officers responding Monday afternoon to the 600 block of West Market Street in the Highland Square neighborhood found the 17-year-old in an apartment. The teen had been wounded in the arm and the suspected gunman had fled, police say. Officers began searching the area and traced the suspect to an apartment on Crosby Street. The suspect jumped from a window of the apartment in an attempt to escape. He was arrested when he was found hiding in St. Vincent Cemetery on the 500 block of West Market Street. UPDATE: Three teenagers arrested, face murder charges in death of Colorado woman killed by rock thrown through windshield ARVADA, Colorado A 20-year-old woman was killed as she spoke with a friend on her cellphone when a large rock was thrown through the windshield of her car as she drove on a rural Colorado road. The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office says that after Alexa Bartells call went silent, her friend was able to track Bartells phone. The friend found Bartell, an Arvada resident, dead in her vehicle, which had driven off the road and was in a field, the sheriffs office says. Authorities are now trying to determine who was responsible for throwing the rock into Bartells vehicle at about 10:45 p.m. on April 19. The sheriffs office says the rock might have been thrown from the side of the road or from a passing vehicle. Two other vehicles were hit by rocks on the same night, the sheriffs office says. Neither driver was injured in the other incidents. Multiple other vehicles have reported being hit by rocks in Jefferson and Boulder counties but there were no serious injuries to drivers or passengers. There currently are no suspects in the incidents. The sheriffs office is hoping dash cameras or other surveillance video might provide some leads. ST. PETERSBURG, Florida A Florida man who reportedly is a member of the MS-13 gang is facing multiple charges after police say he killed an Uber Eats driver making a delivery to his home, then dismembered the victim and put the body parts in garbage bags. Oscar Solis Jr., 30, faces charges of murder while engaged in a robbery, failure to register as a convicted felon and for a parole violation, according to Pasco County Jail records. This was a horrific crime of passion, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said in a news conference. This was demonic. What he did was demonic. But at the same time, we couldnt answer the question: Why? All that appears is there was a gentleman who was working, he was doing his last delivery for the night, and this person killed him. WFTS reports the slaying occurred on April 19. The victim, identified as Randall Cooke, had dropped off his wife before starting his deliveries. Authorities tell WFTS that Cooke and his wife were exchanging texts as he worked. At about 6:45 p.m., Cooke texted his wife saying he was about to make his final delivery and would head home, Fox 13 reports. Cookes wife was unable to contact him after that and contacted the sheriffs office the next morning, reports say. WFTS reports Uber was able to give deputies the coordinates from his final delivery. Detectives went to the home and were given a surveillance video by Solis roommate, reports say. The surveillance video showed the victim making the food delivery and, later, two men carrying heavy trash bags outside. The other man, who worked as a driver for Solis, has not been charged. Evidence collected in the case includes blood found in various places around the house and a key fob belonging to the victim that was found on Solis dresser, on top of his wallet. An affidavit also says the victims car was found abandoned a short distance away, and inside were a trash bag containing blood-soaked rags and towels, a Door Dash bag like one the victim carried and an employment time card with Solis name on it. The Associated Press contributed to this story. CLEVELAND, Ohio A Cleveland-based start-up working on filtration technology that would keep plastic microfibers from being discharged into sewer systems during the laundry cycle has announced a step forward in its product development. CLEANR, which operates out of the Sears think[box] makerspace at Case Western Reserve University, said Wednesday that it is teaming up with GKD Group, a German-based manufacturer of mesh filtration. Washing-machine manufacturers around the world are facing growing demand for consumer-friendly, cost-efficient microplastic filtering solutions to address pending regulations in Europe, North America and beyond, CLEANR CEO Max Pennington said in a news release. Our partnership with GKD ensures the highest quality and precision manufacturing capabilities for our clients, along with GKDs 100-year track record of woven mesh innovation. Our two companies are bound by a shared vision of creating a safer and healthier world by tackling the global microplastics problem at its primary source. Microplastic pollution has become a major health concern worldwide. Tiny specs of plastic are shed by larger plastic products discarded into the enviroment and broken down by the elements. Other sources of microplastics are textiles that release frayed fragments during the violent wash cycle and get carried away in the wastewater. Microplastics have been found in surface water all over the globe. When they bypass treatment systems they can get into public drinking water. Researchers warn of potential health risks associated with microplastics, which if small enough can get into the bloodstream. An Ohio State University professor is studying Clevelands municipal drinking water for the presence of nanoplastics, which are microplastics that are one micron or less in size and invisible to the naked eye. The CLEANR technology has shown the ability to remove 90% of microplastic fibers greater than 50 microns, the company said. CLEANR is hoping to develop its technology in time to take advantage of new regulations in France that will require washing machines sold there after Jan. 1, 2025, to have microplastic filters. Lawmakers in the United Kingdom and Canada, as well as in California, Illinois and Oregon are considering similar regulations, with New Jersey assessing a proposal to give rebates to residents who buy washing machines with microfiber filters. Pennington and CLEANRs two other founders, David Dillman and Chip Miller, met as students at Case Western Reserve. Peter Krouse covers the environment for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Read more of his stories here. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been appointed to dual fellowships at Harvard Kennedy School, the school announced Tuesday. She was appointed the 2023 Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellow and as a Hauser Leader in the Harvards Center for Public Leadership. The fellowships will begin this fall. Ardern is also being appointed as a Knight Tech Governance Leadership Fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School. Jacinda Ardern showed the world strong and empathetic political leadership, Kennedy School Dean Douglas Elmendorf said in news release. She earned respect far beyond the shores of her country, and she will bring important insights for our students and will generate vital conversations about the public policy choices facing leaders at all levels. Ardern, who resigned as New Zealands prime minister on Feb. 7 after six years in office, citing mounting political pressures and vitriol, said shes excited to learn more about leadership at Harvard. I am incredibly humbled to be joining Harvard University as a fellownot only will it give me the opportunity to share my experience with others, it will give me a chance to learn, Ardern said. As leaders, theres often very little time for reflection, but reflection is critical if we are to properly support the next generation of leaders. The Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Program, established in 2011 with support from former Greek Parliament Member Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, is designed to educate leaders through real-life public sector challenges to illustrate how purposefully developed public strategies lead to long-term adoption and success, according to the program syllabus. The Hauser Leaders Program, established in 1997 with support from Rita and Gustave Hauser, teaches skill-building and leadership development workshops by inviting high-profile leaders from public, private, and nonprofit sectors to campus, according to the program website. As a concurrent Knight Tech Governance Leadership fellow, Ardern will examine online content standards and platform accountability, specifically for extremist content, while also studying possible algorithmic harms and artificial intelligence governance. Ardern was previously honored with the Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leaderships Gleitsman International Activist Award in 2020. She also delivered the commencement address for the Harvard University Class of 2022. WASHINGTON, D. C. House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan on Wednesday accused the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) of overstepping its authority by imposing new regulations on stabilizing braces that help disabled shooters control their weapons. The Champaign County Republican slammed ATF Director Steve Dettelbach at a committee hearing, where he claimed the new policy turns law abiding gun owners into felons as a result of unelected bureaucrats simply enacting a new regulation. He compared Dettelbach, a former U.S. Attorney in Ohio and unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Ohio Attorney General, to ex- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases chief Anthony Fauci, whom Jordan said ran our lives for two years and was wrong about just about everything he said about the coronavirus pandemic. Thats not how its supposed to work. in our great country, Jordan continued. Congress writes the laws and the executive branch enforces them. Here, the executive branch has taken power from Congress in deciding what the law should be ... Director Dettelbach has, in essence, become a one man Congress. Jordan and other Republicans were upset about an ATF determination that stabilizing braces should be regarded as short-barreled rifles subject to extra regulations under the National Firearms Act if they modify pistols to be fired from the shoulder. ATF contends the braces make it easy for people to convert pistols into more dangerous weapons without going through the background checks and registration requirements required for short-barreled rifles. It estimates around 3 million stabilizing braces have been sold since 2013. Dettelbach said ATF applies rules set by Congress to new technologies. In this case, he said it derived its rulemaking authority from the National Firearms Act. We try to do our best to take the language Congress wrote and to apply it to individual situations to enforce the law, said Dettelbach. Dettelbach said the new stabilizing brace rule that Republican members of Congress, including Jordan, want to overturn clarifies inconsistent past rulings on what constitutes a short-barreled rifle. He said ATF has launched a very significant education campaign with firearms dealers to get the word out about the new rule. The new rule requires owners to register stabilizing braces and regulates them as if they are short-barreled rifles. Dettelbach said individuals wont have to register their stabilizing braces if they take them off the weapon. He said they have until the end of May to register them. The maximum penalty for failing to comply would be 10 years in prison. Republicans including Jordan said they were concerned about gun owners who were unaware of the rule potentially being turned into felons if they dont comply. Dettelbach said that whether gun owners who dont register their braces are prosecuted would depend on the facts and circumstances of the case. He said ATF would prioritize enforcement among gang members, and would be unlikely to prosecute people who dont register their braces because they are unaware of the rule. When Republicans pointed out that ATF officials wrote letters in the past that said particular stabilizing braces would not be subject to regulation, Dettelbach said those decisions depended on the design of the brace, and the new rule aims to establish consistency. There were specific products that get presented for classification, Dettelbach said. Those products then sometimes changed, and they were not the same ones that were marketed. And there was inconsistency. I think the inconsistency is with the ATF because you told them one thing, and now youre changing, Jordan replied. Democrats on the committee defended Dettelbach. We can see now what the GOP has become, said California Democrat Adam Schiff. Its become the anti ATF, anti FBI, anti law enforcement, pro insurrection party. Mr. Director, I appreciate your being here. You have one of the toughest jobs in America. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle treat you like youre some kind of a mass shooter instead of someone trying to protect us from the epidemic of gun violence. At least Republicans are transparent about their goal to pressure, intimidate and hamstring the agency so it can no longer effectively do its job and protect Americans from violent crime, agreed top Judiciary Committee Democrat Jerrold Nadler of New York. Dettelbach said ATFs priority is public safety. The level of gun violence in America is, quite simply, unacceptable, said Dettelbach. ATF efforts are driven by two priorities, get shooters of the street and cut off the unlawful supply of firearms that fuels their violence. Sabrina Eaton writes about the federal government and politics in Washington, D.C., for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. COLUMBUS, OhioAfter stopping the use of facial-recognition software for more than a year amid civil-liberties concerns, the Ohio attorney generals office is now using it again with the help of a private vendor that has faced multiple lawsuits over claims it stockpiles massive amounts of photos without permission. Last August, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation signed a year-long, $8,994 contract with New York-based Clearview AI to allow designated officials to conduct facial-recognition searches using the companys database, which includes billions of photos obtained from publicly available sources such as news media, mugshots, and public social media accounts. Clearview AI has been repeatedly accused in court of getting those photos without the consent of the people portrayed in them. Last May, the company settled a lawsuit in Illinois by agreeing to stop providing its database to law-enforcement and government agencies in that state for five years, though the agreement doesnt prevent Clearview AI from doing business with other states. Similar lawsuits have been filed in California and Vermont. Last year, Clearview AI was fined 20 million euros by Frances privacy regulator for unlawful processing of personal data, not respecting individuals rights and ignoring an order to stop collecting French citizens data. A British government agency fined Clearview AI $9.4 million a few months prior and ordered it to delete and stop collecting data on U.K. residents after finding it broke several data-protection laws in the country. So far, 21 Ohio BCI officials have used Clearview AI software in 17 BCI and organized-crime investigations, according to Steve Irwin, a spokesman for Attorney General Dave Yost. Those cases involved unidentified human remains, homicides, drug trafficking, and internet crimes against children, he said. Unlike the previous facial-recognition program, the states contract with Clearview AI is assisting only BCI investigations, not those of federal or local law enforcement. Irwin said BCI agents have had mixed results with Clearview AI results, adding he would not comment on active investigations or describe law enforcement techniques. Clearview AI cannot itself identify any person, Irwin said in a statement. Rather, it provides an investigator a possible identity of an individual from the image searched. The results are merely an investigative lead that must then be followed up on by the investigator. As for Clearview AIs past, Irwin said, We are aware of past issues in other states and were assured by the company that changes were made. We have policies in place to prevent misuse and abuse and are constantly monitoring the effective use of the technology during the one-year trial period. Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer has reached out to Irwin for more details about the assurances given by Clearview AI. In a statement, Clearview AI CEO Hoan Ton-That said the companys database of publicly available images is lawfully collected, just like any other search engine like Google. Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer has reached out to a Clearview AI spokeswoman for comment specifically about the lawsuits and fine. State officials use of facial recognition software dates back a decade, when the state created a program that included access to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles database of drivers licenses and state ID photos taken through 2011. In 2019, after the Washington Post reported that Ohio and other states offered access to drivers license photos to the FBI and other federal agencies, Yost restricted its use and briefly suspended the program until officials could get training in how to properly use it. He also created a facial-recognition task force that, while still in existence, hasnt met since they issued a list of recommendations in January 2020 that have since been mostly adopted. At that time, Yost said BCI would launch an improved facial-recognition system in 2020 with updated drivers license photos and mugshots. But that replacement part of the $25 million Ohio Biometric Identification System, or OBIS isnt yet capable of conducting facial-recognition searches, and its still unclear when it will, Irwin said. No decision has yet been made about whether to continue using Clearview AIs system once OBIS facial-recognition program is activated, he said. In 2019 and 2020, Irwin said, BCI only conducted limited searches using the states old facial-recognition program. After state officials stopped using the old program altogether in late 2020, BCI didnt conduct any facial-recognition searches until Clearview AI was hired in August 2022, according to Irwin. Neither BCI nor Clearview AI currently have access to the Ohio BMVs photo database, he said. When asked why BCI signed a contract with Clearview AI instead of waiting for the OBIS facial-recognition system to come online, Irwin said BCI wanted to evaluate its usefulness and to regain facial recognition capabilities for its own investigations. Facial recognition is an important investigatory tool for law enforcement and this is a time when it makes sense to test the proficiencies of another product, Irwin added. Although Clearview AI is not a replacement (since it uses public images and access is not extended to local law enforcement), it has the potential to provide investigative leads while the new system is being developed and made operational. Gary Daniels of the American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement that his group believes that government use of facial-recognition technology should be banned altogether. Any improvement to laws or policies short of a ban is unsatisfactory given this technologys unprecedented threats to fundamental personal freedoms, Daniels said. We believe that is how to protect Ohioans and their rights. Jeremy Pelzer writes about Ohio state government and politics for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. WASHINGTON, D. C. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a longtime foe of trade policies that he believes subsidize other countries at U.S. expense, announced Wednesday that hell vote to overturn the Biden administrations suspension of tariffs on Chinese solar products that go through other countries. The Chinese government will do anything to undermine American manufacturing, and would like nothing more than to kill the American solar manufacturing industry before it takes off, said a statement from Brown, a Cleveland Democrat. Ohio is ready to lead in the manufacturing industries of the future we must not put that progress at risk. As part of an effort to promote more solar energy use in the United States, Biden last year announced a two-year tariff ban on solar panels that originate in China but are imported from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The point was to ensure an adequate supply of solar panels while domestic production ramps up. The administrations stance vexed Ohio solar manufacturers, such as Arizona-based First Solar, which produces solar panels in Perrysburg, Ohio. A statement from the company said the policy would undermine U.S. solar manufacturers by giving unfettered access to Chinas state-subsidized solar companies for the next two years. This sends the message that companies can circumvent American laws and that the US government will let them get away with it as long as theyre backed by deep-pocketed political pressure campaigns, said the statement from company vice president Samantha Sloan. In upcoming weeks, the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate are expected to vote on a joint resolution that would overturn the tariff suspension. House Ways and Means Committee chairman Jason Smith of Missouri on Tuesday told the House Rules Committee that the tariffs on solar imports from China have been in place since 2012 to provide a more level playing field for American manufacturers in the face of unfair subsidies and pricing by Chinese exporters. He noted that in December, the Commerce Department determined that China is circumventing U.S. tariffs by shipping solar products through Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, and said it is cheating American workers and consumers by doing so. We need more, not less, accountability for unfair trade practices that have given China a dominant position in solar production, said Smith. It is all the more important given longstanding American innovation in this sector. American workers should enjoy the fruits of that innovation through expanded U.S. manufacturing and jobs, but unfair imports will prevent this from occurring. Bowling Green Republican Rep. Bob Latta cosponsored the resolution, saying that by retaining the two-year tariff exemption, the Biden administration is penalizing American workers, harming our domestic solar manufacturing industry, and increasing U.S. dependency on foreign nations for our energy needs. Brown and Pennsylvania Sen. Robert Casey sent a letter to Biden last month that asked for sanctions on the Chinese companies found to be circumventing anti-dumping and countervailing duties by moving solar cells and modules through other countries. U.S. trade laws are designed to protect our domestic market from unfair trade practices and, now that Department of Commerce has established preliminary evidence of circumvention, we urge their strong enforcement, their letter said. The White House announced Monday that President Biden would veto the joint resolution if Congress adopts it. It said the United States is on track to increase domestic solar panel manufacturing capacity eight-fold by the end of Bidens first term, but time is needed too boost production. It described the Commerce Departments action as a temporary, 24- month bridge for the import of certain solar cells or modules. This rule is necessary to satisfy the demand for reliable and clean energy while ensuring Commerce is able to rigorously enforce U.S. trade laws, hold trading partners accountable, and defend U.S. industries and workers from unfair trade actions, the veto announcement said. Passage of this joint resolution would undermine these efforts and create deep uncertainty for jobs and investments in the solar supply chain and the solar installation market. Sabrina Eaton writes about the federal government and politics in Washington, D.C., for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. COLUMBUS, Ohio The Ohio House is quietly debating a critical detail amid Republicans quest to ask voters to make it harder to amend the state constitution: How many lawmakers votes do they need to get it done? An interpretation from the Ohio House clerk could blow up political strategists consensus and lower by one the number of votes Republicans need to curb the ability of citizens to amend the state constitution. The gap is small, but could make all the difference in what is expected to be a tight vote. This would ease the political lift for Republicans to pass their idea, which would make it much harder for organizers to pass a proposed amendment of their own that would constitutionally guarantee womens right to abortion access in Oho. House Clerk Brad Young, who has served in that capacity since 2013, said that Republicans will need only 59 votes, not the statehouse consensus of 60, to place legislative Republicans proposed constitutional amendment on the August ballot. Young said, under his interpretation of the Ohio Constitution, the threshold to adopt a proposed constitutional amendment is 59 votes, given that two House seats are currently vacant. That leaves the House with 97 sitting members, and 59 votes in favor would clear the 60% required by the state constitution. He said that the way the voting tabulation system is set up right now, it will consider such a resolution to be adopted if at least 59 House members vote for it. Young said he has not issued a written opinion on the question. He also emphasized that he, as House clerk, only serves in an advisory role, and its up to House Speaker Jason Stephens or whichever lawmaker is presiding at the time to rule on whether legislation has the votes to pass or not. Stephens, a Kitts Hill Republican who has voiced ambivalence on the constitutional issue, did not respond to inquiries through a spokesman. Several constitutional law professors who reviewed the matter didnt agree with Young, although most declined to offer a definitive opinion. Lowering the threshold to 59 votes could create more chaos in the already-fraught statehouse battle over a matter that would limit a key, 111-year-old power of citizens to amend Ohios constitution. The Ohio Constitution states that three-fifths of the members elected to each house must approve a proposed constitutional amendment for it to be put before voters. In the 99-member House, that equals 60 votes. But two House seats are currently vacant state Rep. Kris Jordan died and state Rep. Brian Baldridge left to take a job as state agriculture director and the 60% threshold for 97 seats would be 59 votes. All Democrats are opposed the issue, leaving it to Republicans to find the votes from their 65 members. Its not an academic question, as right now as most stakeholders agree House Joint Resolution 1 will either pass or fail on razor-thin margins. While the Senate passed the proposal with comparative ease, most stakeholders agree the final House vote will be tight. Im in charge of counting votes, so I know its very, very close, said Ohio House Majority Floor Leader Bill Seitz, a Cincinnati Republican, to reporters on Tuesday. Seitz said his understanding is that 60 votes are needed to pass a proposed constitutional amendment. Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reached out to three professors of constitutional law in the state who are not involved on either side of the amendment debate. Of two who were willing to weigh in, they split. Case Western Reserve Universitys Jonathan Adler said he thinks its 60 votes, but he hasnt studied the issue. Ohio State Universitys Steven Huefner called it an interesting problem that he doesnt believe has ever been resolved. The phrase of the members elected probably means something more than just those present, and perhaps more than just those currently serving. But some members are never elected but only appointed. So Seitzs thinking makes some sense, he said, but runs into a problem. One could also maintain that when vacancies exist, then the denominator is thereby reduced until the vacancies are filled (though in some circumstances that might create strategic incentives to leave vacancies unfilled, which would not be ideal), he wrote in an email. Dan Kobil, a professor of constitutional law at Capital University, declined to weigh in. Steven H. Steinglass, dean emeritus and professor emeritus at Cleveland State University College of Law, has testified against lawmakers proposal. He didnt have a firm answer whether the resolution needs 59 or 60 votes, but lamented the circumstances that warrant the question. I believe that 60 votes are needed when all seats are occupied, but I am not sure what happens when there are vacancies. If this has come up previously, I am not aware of it, he said. But it is a sad day when the proponents of this radical and unprecedented assault on our constitution and our democracy have abandoned the effort to secure bipartisan support for a fundamental change in the Ohio Constitution and are poised to discard a policy that has been in effect for 111 years. State Rep. Brian Stewart, a Pickaway County Republican who is sponsoring HJR1, said the plainest reading of the constitution is that only 59 votes are needed for the resolution to pass the House, though he also noted that courts havent ruled on the issue. He added that pro-HJR1 forces are aiming to get 60 votes regardless, and he expressed confidence that they have those 60 yes votes. If they do, it could spell trouble for organizers attempting to guarantee abortion rights in the state constitution in November. Under current law, organizers must gather about 413,000 signatures including from 5% of electors in 44 counties to place a proposal on the ballot. If elections officials find any of those signatures invalid, organizers get 10 days to cure those problems. Should they make the ballot, they need approval 50%-plus one of voters. Republican lawmakers want to require those signatures from all 88 counties; to scrap the cure period; and to instead require 60% voter approval to pass the amendment. The Senates proposal specifies that the new signature rules wouldnt apply until 2024. While abortion-rights advocates have their eyes on the November ballot, lawmakers want to beat them to the punch by placing their proposal on a special August ballot at a cost of $20 million to taxpayers. Should that pass (with a simple majority), the abortion-access organizers would need to win 60% of the vote. This week, Gov. Mike DeWine announced his intent to sign legislation that would enable the August election to occur, stating a preference for having these matters over with. His stance broke from opinions of all other living state governors, who came out against the issue. Jake Zuckerman covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Jeremy Pelzer covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Of course I remember clearly where I was, and my instinctive reaction, when I read, online, about the deaths at the Covenant School in Nashville on March 27. Oh, God, no!, I said out loud. Not again! So, too, I remember sitting on a gray couch on Dec. 14, 2012, watching aghast the images of innocence lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Horror rendered me speechless. In between, memories fade to shadows, shouts of denial and grief fall silent. Mere whispers now: Marysville, Washington, Pilchuck High School, 2014; Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, Oregon, 2015; Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Florida, 2018; Santa Fe, Texas, High School, 2018; Uvalde, Texas, 2022. The list is nowhere near complete. If a single self-driving electric car careened across three lanes of traffic on Interstate 90, killing the driver and three other people, how many hours would it take to pass legislation in Columbus to ban operating any car in self-driving mode? The answer depends on the clock, not the calendar: How many hours until a quorum assembles? But let some kids die, let a lot of kids die, at the hands of disturbed individuals armed with semi-automatic weapons designed for a single purpose to kill people and the time without action is measured in decades: No action on the horizon. From the president of the United States downwards, the same enfeebled response: Hands tied, cant do anything. We are helpless in the face of the law, no use even trying. Declare local gun-free zones where kids gather? Banned by state law. Ban the ammo? The law says no. Merchants of death lean on bought-and-paid legislators to make it harder to change Ohios constitution, lest this open a path to new gun laws. The AR-15 assault rifle is a common element in one mass murder after another under protection of law. We are helpless in the face of the law. From whence springeth these laws, these scraps of paper serving as impenetrable armor for manufacturers of instruments of death? Some words come from documents preserved on parchment others from a judicial interpretation conflating a well-regulated militia with a single deranged individual off his meds (District of Columbia v. Heller, 2008). Some words are filed with the clerk of a legislature or a court. But the most damaging phrase is given voice by men (mostly, not exclusively) with titles: I cant do anything except plead with the Congress to act reasonably (President Joe Biden, 2023). James Outman is a journalist and writer in University Heights. Is the filthy lucre of a campaign contribution worth the life of a single child? Which child will be next? Whose son or daughter would you sacrifice in order to buy 50 online impressions - Mr. President, senator, representative, mayor, council person? Name the child you will sacrifice, because their smiling face distorted by terror is in the crosshairs of a semi-automatic rifle owned by some nut case, in the name of an abstract right to bear arms that bears no relevance to living as freedom-loving men and women. Death of Innocents in elementary school is the price of liberty! Who wrote that? Whose liberty, and liberty to do what? Do you imagine that homo sapiens can live like this, weeping side by side, cowering in fear, in a coherent, viable society? Wrong. Fear is not a solution, it is a threat. It is the accumulation of toxic memories with names barely remembered. Let it become the sire of courage, courage to say No! But were helpless! The law, you know. No, I dont know. Change the law! James Outman is a journalist, writer, and grandfather living in University Heights. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio - At least 319 Ohio state employees made more money than Gov. Mike DeWine in 2022, according to data from the states Ohio Checkbook website. DeWine was paid $167,986.79, with a listed pay rate of $80.82 an hour. A Ukrainian army soldier stands guard at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant on April 26, 2022, in Chornobyl, Ukraine. Staff from the International Atomic Energy Agency visited Chornobyl on the 36th anniversary of the world's worst civilian nuclear incident. John Moore | Getty Images It's been 37 years since the disastrous and deadly explosion at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, then a part of the Soviet Union, caused widespread horror and panic as a massive plume of radioactive material was released into the atmosphere across Europe. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday commemorated the Chornobyl nuclear power plant disaster on April 26, 1986, saying that the events on that day "left a huge scar on the whole world." The accident at the plant occurred after the fourth reactor at the nuclear power plant "went out of control during a test at low-power, leading to an explosion and fire that demolished the reactor building and released large amounts of radiation into the atmosphere," the International Atomic Energy Agency summarized although a combination of complex factors are known to have led to the disaster. The initial explosion killed two of the plants' personnel but several dozen firemen and emergency workers died in the subsequent three months after the explosion from acute radiation sickness. A view of a housing project in the ghost town of Pripyat near Chornobyl's nuclear power plant in 2006. Chornobyl's number-four reactor, in what was then the Soviet Union and is now Ukraine, exploded 26 April 1986, sending a radioactive cloud across Europe, becoming the world's worst civilian nuclear disaster. Sergei Supinsky | Afp | Getty Images The disaster is still seen as the most serious accident in the history of nuclear power operation although Ukraine has remained heavily dependent on nuclear energy. Today, its nuclear power plants have once again become a source of nightmares as fears abound for their safety and security amid the relentless fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces. Ukraine has 15 operable nuclear reactors at four plants that generate about half of its electricity, according to the World Nuclear Association, although since the war started last February, the number of units in operation has changed over time, "with reactors put online and taken offline depending on the situation around the plants and the stability of external power supplies," the association notes. Most concerns around the safe functioning of the country's power plants amid war have centered on the the nuclear power plant located in Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine, which also happens to be Europe's largest nuclear power plant. The Zaporizhzhia plant was occupied early on in the war by Russian forces (when it was attacked in the early hours of March 2 last year, it became the first operating civil nuclear power plant to come under armed attack) and it has repeatedly found itself at the epicenter of fighting since then, with both sides accusing each other of shelling near the facility and risking another potentially catastrophic nuclear accident. A Russian serviceman guards an area of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in territory under Russian military control, in southeastern Ukraine, on May 1, 2022. AP There have been a number of occasions now when shelling near the plant has damaged external power lines to the facility, meaning that Ukrainian workers still running the plant have had to rely on emergency generators for the power needed for reactor cooling and other essential nuclear safety and security functions. The IAEA's Director-General Rafael Grossi described the unstable conditions that the plant is forced to operate in as "extremely concerning," noting that "this is clearly not a sustainable way to operate a major nuclear facility." He has often repeated calls for the establishment of a demilitarized zone around the plant but, for now, that remains a distant prospect, although the IAEA was able to convince Russia to allow its inspectors to remain permanently on site to monitor safety at the plant. The IAEA has also sent inspectors to other nuclear facilities in Ukraine. Ukraine has accused Russia of using the plant as a storage site for weapons knowing full well of the threat that creates to nuclear safety at the plant while Russia accuses Ukraine of "nuclear terrorism," accusing Ukraine of shelling the plant and deliberately creating the threat of a possible nuclear catastrophe. Both sides deny each other's accusations while the IAEA's chief has said both sides have built up their military presence around the plant but that his job is "not to point fingers," but to keep the plant safe. Russian servicemen keep watch from the hatches of a military vehicle as the delegation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), including its head Rafael Grossi, visits the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine on March 29, 2023. Andrey Borodulin | Afp | Getty Images On the anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, Ukraine and Russia have once again traded barbs over the Zaporizhzhia plant. Zelenskyy said "everything must be done" to prevent Russia "from using nuclear power facilities to blackmail Ukraine and the world" while Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russian-installed governor of the Zaporizhzhia region, warned that history could repeat itself. "Today, the collective West, flirting with the insane leadership of Kyiv, supplying Nazi Ukraine with weapons and pumping ideology, puts the world on the verge of another atomic catastrophe," he said on his Telegram channel in comments translated by Google, repeating baseless claims. Elsewhere, the head of the EU delegation in Ukraine, Matti Maasikas, commemorated the victims of the Chornobyl disaster in a video address on Twitter. He also condemned Russia's ongoing occupation of the Zaporizhzhia facility, noting that "the unlawful occupation, the interruption of normal operations, mining and shelling, the harassment, violence, and kidnapping of Ukrainian personnel significantly raise the risk of an accident." "The control over the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant needs to be returned to the Ukrainian authorities," he said. A man lays flowers in the memorial of the dead Chornobyl workers during the celebrations in Kiev of the 37th anniversary of the nuclear accident in Ukraine. Celestino Arce | Nurphoto | Getty Images We're selling 100 shares of Starbucks (SBUX) at roughly $111.85 apiece. Following Wednesday's trade, Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust will own 600 shares of SBUX, decreasing its weighting in the portfolio to 2.57% from 2.98%. Shares of this coffee retailer have been on a tear over the past handful of weeks, rallying from around $100 at the end of March to a brand-new 52-week high of nearly $112 on Wednesday afternoon. While we cannot pinpoint a specific Starbucks update as the catalyst behind this rally, analyst checks around the business have been positive. SBUX mountain 2021-11-01 Starbucks (SBUX) China's reopening from last year's Covid lockdowns has progressed according to plan with no setbacks. As we have discussed before, the mobility data out of China has been quite encouraging lately. And in the United States, the earnings reports of several big consumer companies with dominant brands confirmed pricing power is still evident. We saw it from Coca-Cola (KO), PepsiCo (PEP), Club name Procter & Gamble (PG) and on the restaurant side, Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) on Tuesday evening. Even with all this positive news considered, any investor would understand the prudence of taking some chips off the table when a stock hits a 52-week high. By making this sale, we can add some extra cushion to our cash position and be ready to deploy capital into something that has been unfairly beaten down by the market. With this sale, we'll realize a great gain of about 31% on stock purchased in August 2022. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long SBUX. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. A handful of Chinese companies are starting to list again in the U.S. Eduardo MunozAlvarez | Corbis News | Getty Images Amazon on Wednesday began laying off some employees in its cloud computing and human resources divisions. Amazon Web Services CEO Adam Selipsky and human resources head Beth Galetti sent notes to staffers in the U.S., Canada and Costa Rica informing them of the job cuts. "It is a tough day across our organization," Selipsky wrote in the memo. The layoffs are part of the previously announced job cuts that are expected to affect 9,000 employees. Last week, Amazon laid off some employees in its advertising unit, and it has let go of staffers in its video games and Twitch livestreaming units in recent weeks. Amazon wrapped up a separate round of cuts earlier this year that affected approximately 18,000 employees. Combined with the cuts this month, it marks the largest layoffs in Amazon's 29-year history. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has been aggressively slashing costs across the company as the e-retailer reckons with an economic downturn and slowing growth in its core retail business. Amazon froze hiring in its corporate workforce, axed some experimental projects and slowed warehouse expansion. By announcing layoffs in ads and AWS, Jassy has shown that two of Amazon's biggest and most profitable businesses aren't immune to the cost-cutting. Both AWS and ads have experienced slowing growth in recent months as companies trim their spending amid a challenging economic environment. Some teams within AWS were included in the earlier round of layoffs. A portion of the cuts on Wednesday is expected to land in AWS' professional services arm, which helps customers troubleshoot issues with their cloud infrastructure, according to a current employee, who asked to remain anonymous because they weren't authorized to speak on the matter. Head count in AWS ballooned during the Covid pandemic, which proved to be a massive boon for Amazon and other cloud providers, as companies, government agencies and schools sped their transition to the cloud. "Given this rapid growth, as well as the overall business and macroeconomic climate, it is critical that we focus on identifying and putting our resources behind our top priorities those things that matter most to customers and that will move the needle for our business," Selipsky wrote in the memo. "In many cases this means team members are shifting the projects, initiatives or teams on which they work; however, in other cases it has resulted in these role eliminations." Amazon is scheduled to report first-quarter earnings after the bell Thursday. Investors will look for any insight into whether Jassy's cost-cutting efforts have improved profitability, and when Amazon executives expect AWS growth to reaccelerate. Shares of Amazon surged more than 3% in afternoon trading Wednesday. Here's the full memo from Selipsky: AWS team, As you know, we recently made the difficult decision to eliminate some roles across Amazon globally, including within AWS. I wanted to let you know that conversations with impacted AWS employees started today, with notification messages sent to all impacted employees in the U.S., Canada, and Costa Rica. In other regions, we are following local processes, which may include time for consultation with employee representative bodies and possibly result in longer timelines to communicate with impacted employees. It is a tough day across our organization. I fully realize the impact on every person and family who is affected. We are working hard to treat everyone impacted with respect, and to provide a number of resources and touchpoints to aid in this transition. This also includes packages that include a separation payment, transitional health insurance benefits, and external job placement support. To those to whom we are saying goodbye today, thank you for everything you have done for this business and our customers. I am truly grateful. To all AWS builders, thank you for your compassion and empathy for your colleagues. Both the size of our business and the size of our team have grown significantly over recent years, driven by customer demand for the cloud and for the unique value AWS provides. This growth has come quickly as we've moved as fast as we could to build what customers have needed. Given this rapid growth, as well as the overall business and macroeconomic climate, it is critical that we focus on identifying and putting our resources behind our top prioritiesthose things that matter most to customers and that will move the needle for our business. In many cases this means team members are shifting the projects, initiatives or teams on which they work; however, in other cases it has resulted in these role eliminations. The fundamentals and the outlook for our business are strong, and we are very confident in our long-term prospects. We are the leading cloud provider by a wide range of benchmarks, from our feature set to our security capabilities to our operational performance. We are focused on continuing to innovate in the areas that matter most to our customers as we help them minimize expense, innovate rapidly, and transform their organizations. I am optimistic about the future. We'll tackle our opportunities and our challenges, and continue to change the world. Thank you, Adam And here's the full memo from Galetti: Analysts are upbeat after better than expected quarterly results from Google parent company Alphabet . Results released postmarket Tuesday marked the first time Alphabet surpassed consensus expectations in four quarters . The YouTube owner beat on both earnings per share and revenue, reporting $1.17 (against a $1.07 estimate) and $69.79 billion ($68.9 billion estimate), respectively. Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment that has caused companies to pull back advertising, Alphabet also beat analyst expectations on ad revenue. Alphabet's chief financial officer, Ruth Porat, noted that forward guidance remains uncertain as macro headwinds continue to afflict top line ad spending. Alphabet stock gained more than 3% in extended trading after the earnings beat. Shares have gained 17.1% since the start of the year. GOOGL YTD mountain Shares of Alphabet gained after a quarterly earnings beat on Wednesday. "Revenue uncertainties continue, but we see these as cyclical versus secular, and we think street will see better evidence of cost cutting driving margin improvement by 2Q," Bank of America analyst Justin Post wrote on Wednesday. The firm raised its target price for Alphabet stock to $128 per share from $125, representing about 23% upside. Jefferies noted that while investors had expected a worst case scenario from Alphabet, the company's cloud sector was able to meet expectations despite customers slowing consumption. "We were encouraged by the resiliency in Search, relative strength in Cloud (+28%) despite ongoing cost optimization, and recovering op margins. While macro remains tough, we see the possibility that Q4 might have marked the bottom in y/y rev growth," Jefferies analyst Brent Thill wrote in a Tuesday note. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley thinks Alphabet "remains an underappreciated AI leader," and the firm raised its price target to $140 per share from $135 on Wednesday, which equates to about 35% upside from the stocks last closing price of $103.85. Goldman Sachs pointed out the success of YouTube's growth in its live TV segment, and also noted strong revenue from Google Cloud and the company's ability to outperform margin estimates two quarters in a row. "We expect GOOGL shares to continue to build its short-term momentum as company specific events (Google I/O, Google Marketing Live, etc.) take place in the next 4-5 weeks and will likely highlight elements of product innovation and evolution (especially with a recurring backdrop of deploying AI more broadly across the company's product portfolio)," Goldman's Eric Sheridan wrote on Wednesday. JPMorgan pointed to the growth of Alphabet's investments in artificial intelligence, as well as the potential for more integration across products for Bard. "AI Core to GOOGL & Advances Continue. We continue to believe GOOGL is well positioned in AI through years of investments across its business lines & it is accelerating efforts around commercialization of LLMs [language learn models]," JPMorgan analyst Doug Anmuth said. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. US President Joe Biden acknowledges the crowd during an event on the creation of new manufacturing jobs at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, April 25, 2023. Big donors in the business world started rallying around President Joe Biden soon after he announced Tuesday that he's running for reelection next year. Executives spanning from tech to media to finance made it clear publicly and behind the scenes that they're ready to help Biden overcome his soft approval ratings and fend off a heated Republican challenge potentially in a rematch with former President Donald Trump. Several big Republican donors, meanwhile, have been scrambling to find an alternative to Trump, while some pinned their hopes on that potential candidate being Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has yet to announce whether he's running. Some of those same donors have quietly started to look at other options beyond DeSantis as he continues his battle with Disney . Former Vice President Mike Pence could enter the GOP primary field, too. Regardless of the Republican nominee, Biden will likely have a formidable war chest for the 2024 campaign. Reid Hoffman, the billionaire LinkedIn co-founder, has offered to Biden's allies to host fundraising events for the president once he announced he would run for reelection, according to one of the businessman's close advisors. Hoffman has been allied with Biden for years. He co-hosted a virtual fundraiser in 2021 for the Democratic National Committee, which featured the president. The advisor noted that Hoffman was invited to attend a Biden donor meeting set to take place in Washington this week, although he cannot go due to personal reasons. Hoffman visted the White House a few weeks ago, this person noted. "They know they can rely on us," this advisor said. Some of the people cited in this story declined to be named in order to speak freely about private deliberations. A Biden campaign spokesperson didn't return a request for comment before publication. Haim Saban, the media mogul behind properties including the Power Rangers, told CNBC in an email he "will do all I can to have President Biden reelected for a well deserved second term." He said he will be hosting events for Biden. Saban raised millions for Biden during the 2020 campaign, and he plans to "improve on that" in 2024. Jeffrey Katzenberg, a co-founder of DreamWorks and a veteran Democratic donor, is one of the co-chairs of Biden's campaign for president. Katzenberg was among Biden's 2020 fundraisers who attended a state dinner at the White House last year. Katzenberg told CNBC in an exclusive interview Tuesday night that he believes the Biden campaign will raise more this time around than in 2020. Then, Biden raised a bit more than $1 billion, while Trump brought in over $740 million, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Katzenberg has been in touch with Biden and his team of longtime advisors over the past year about the president's 2024 run. "I've emphasized what he has accomplished and his leadership, and how essential it is in this moment in time for him to, one more time, saddle up and go do this," Katzenberg said. "I have been as active and ambitious as possible in encouraging and supporting Biden to run again. I've been at it pretty consistently now for the last year." He added that his expects his role as co-chair of the campaign to develop. He also emphasized how small dollar donors are going to play a key role for Biden's 2024 reelection campaign, as they did in 2020. Biden's campaign raised over $400 million from donors that gave under $200 during his last run for president, according to OpenSecrets. Katzenberg said that donors large and small have already reached out to him about how they can help. Katzenberg said he was "inundated" with messages of support from donors for the president Tuesday after Biden's announcement. "It will take me days to get out from underneath the outpouring of support that has occurred in 12 hours after the launch," he said. Charles Myers, a former vice chairman at Evercore and the founder of Signum Global Advisors, told CNBC that he plans to give and raise millions of dollars toward Biden's 2024 candidacy. "Stakes are higher than ever. Trump 2.0 would be devastating for the country and arguably the world," he said, noting that he plans to raise and contribute more than he ever has before. Veteran hedge fund executive Donald Sussman told CNBC after publication of this story that he, too, is getting ready to back Biden. "No one since FDR has accomplished as much for Americans. I am thrilled his unique leadership will continue," Sussman, a longtime Democratic financier, told CNBC in a statement. Sussman had cut back his campaign support during the 2022 election cycle. Sussman's donations throughout that cycle didn't even get him into OpenSecrets' top 100 donor list. In 2020, Sussman contributed over $20 million, with all of it going toward Democrats, according to OpenSecrets. He was the 12th-ranked donor that cycle. A different Biden fundraiser said there are already two New York City fundraising events in the works. The events are being organized, at least in part, by businessman Dennis Mehiel, who backed Biden in 2020, according to this person. Chicago businessman John Atkinson is also planning fundraising events in support of the president, this person said. Trump is the favorite in the GOP primary. An NBC News poll shows 46% of the Republican primary voters that took part in the survey support Trump over other contenders and potential candidates, including DeSantis. The majority of those surveyed said they would prefer that neither Biden nor Trump run for president. Fifty-four percent of the people polled said they disapprove of the job Biden's doing. Other public surveys show Biden would be favored against Trump, albeit in a tight race. Trump's dominance in the GOP field has pushed other big Democratic donors to start gearing up to back Biden. Venture capitalist Ron Conway has told friends he will help the president's campaign, according to a person close to him. Conway did not return repeated requests for comment. Alexander Soros, the son of billionaire George Soros, said in a tweet he's "ridin with Biden." His spokesman did not have further details to provide on how either the elder Soros or his son plan to help the president. The younger Soros, who has publicly criticized Trump, has visited the White House at least 14 times since Biden became president, according to the New York Post. George Soros donated over $178 million during the 2022 midterm elections toward Democrats running up and down the ballot, according to OpenSecrets. Tom Steyer, a billionaire who has railed against Trump for years and supported Biden after running for president himself in 2020, tweeted his support for the president's stance on climate change. "We need a leader who understands the urgency of this moment and will work with our allies to strengthen our global response that's @JoeBiden," Steyer said. Steyer's team did not respond to requests for comment. In this article MSFT ATVI Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT watch now watch now Cloud gaming is a technology that enables gamers to access games via companies' remote servers effectively streaming a game like you would a movie on Netflix . The technology is still in its infancy, but Microsoft is betting big on it becoming a mainstream way of playing games. "Allowing Microsoft to take such a strong position in the cloud gaming market just as it begins to grow rapidly would risk undermining the innovation that is crucial to the development of these opportunities," the CMA said in a press release Wednesday. Microsoft offered the CMA remedies in an attempt to resolve its concerns including "requirements governing what games must be offered by Microsoft to what platforms and on what conditions over a ten-year period." However, the regulator rejected the proposals. "Given the remedy applies only to a defined set of Activision games, which can be streamed only in a defined set of cloud gaming services, provided they are purchased in a defined set of online stores, there are significant risks of disagreement and conflict between Microsoft and cloud gaming service providers, particularly over a ten-year period in a rapidly changing market," the CMA said. 'Flawed understanding of this market' Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith said in a statement that the company remains "fully committed to this acquisition and will appeal." "The CMA's decision rejects a pragmatic path to address competition concerns and discourages technology innovation and investment in the United Kingdom," Smith said Wednesday. "We have already signed contracts to make Activision Blizzard's popular games available on 150 million more devices, and we remain committed to reinforcing these agreements through regulatory remedies. We're especially disappointed that after lengthy deliberations, this decision appears to reflect a flawed understanding of this market and the way the relevant cloud technology actually works." Activision Blizzard subsequently released its first-quarter earnings report early following the CMA's announcement. In the report, the company said it "considers that the CMA's decision is disproportionate, irrational and inconsistent with the evidence," reiterating that it believes the transaction will go through. The firm reported earnings per share of 93 cents, almost doubling from 50 cents a year earlier. Net revenue grew 34% to $2.38 billion from $1.77 billion. The company canceled its earnings call. Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, told employees in a letter Wednesday that the company and Microsoft have "already begun the work to appeal to the UK Competition Appeals Tribunal." "We're confident in our case because the facts are on our side: this deal is good for competition," he said. "At a time when the fields of machine learning and artificial intelligence are thriving, we know the U.K. market would benefit from Microsoft's bench strength in both domains, as well as our ability to put those technologies to use immediately," Kotick added. "By contrast, if the CMA's decision holds, it would stifle investment, competition, and job creation throughout the UK gaming industry." 'UK is clearly closed for business' An Activision Blizzard spokesperson said the CMA's decision represented "a disservice to UK citizens, who face increasingly dire economic prospects." "We will reassess our growth plans for the UK. Global innovators large and small will take note that - despite all its rhetoric the UK is clearly closed for business," the spokesperson said. Microsoft announced its intention to acquire Activision Blizzard in January 2022 for $69 billion, in one of the biggest deals the video game industry has seen to date. Executives at the Redmond, Washington-based technology giant believe the acquisition will boost its efforts in gaming by adding lucrative franchises like Call of Duty and Candy Crush Saga to its content offerings. However, some of Microsoft's competitors contested the deal, concerned it may give Microsoft a tight grip on the $200 billion games market. Of particular concern was the prospect that Microsoft may shut off distribution access to Activision's popular Call of Duty franchise for certain platforms. Sony , in particular, has voiced concern with Microsoft's Activision purchase. The Japanese gaming giant fears that Microsoft could make Call of Duty exclusive to its Xbox consoles in the long run. watch now An aerial view of a home (C) surrounded by floodwaters in the reemerging Tulare Lake, in Californias Central Valley, on April 14, 2023 in Corcoran, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images News | Getty Images Satellite images taken over the past several weeks show a dramatic resurrection of Tulare Lake in California's Central Valley and the flooding that could remain for as long as two years across previously arid farmland. The satellite imagery, provided by the Earth imaging company Planet Labs, show the transition from a dry basin to a wide and deep lake running about ten miles from bank to bank on land used to grow almonds, tomatoes, cotton and other crops. Scientists warn the flooding will worsen as historically huge snowpack from the Sierra Nevada melts and sends more water into the basin. This week, a heat wave could prompt widespread snow melt in the mountains and threaten the small farming communities already dealing with the resurrected Tulare Lake. The water in the lake bed could trigger billions of dollars in economic losses and displace thousands of farmers and residents in agricultural communities. Continued flooding also threatens levees, dams and other ailing flood infrastructure in the area. Satellite imagery shows a large swath of farmland before water filled the Tulare Basin. Planet Labs Satellite images show miles of flooding after California's Tulare Lake returns. Planet Labs Tulare Lake was the largest body of freshwater west of the Mississippi River up until the late 1800s, when its tributary rivers were diverted for agricultural irrigation and municipal water uses. As the reformed lake continues to grow larger, farmers worry they will lose entire harvests and their homes will be inundated. The town of Corcoran in the Central Valley, for instance, has a dirt levee at risk of breaching from rising waters and has requested emergency federal funding to raise the levee by a few feet. Gov. Gavin Newsom paid a visit to Corcoran this week to assess the flood damage, and said the worst is still to come as the flooded basin sees an additional half-inch or inch of additional water each day. More water could keep flowing for the next 16 weeks. "We're working with our federal and local counterparts to provide on-the-ground assistance and the support locals need," Newsom said. "This weather whiplash is what the climate crisis looks like." Karla Nemeth, director of the California Department of Water Resources, said the last time there was major flooding in the basin was the 1980s and it took about two years for the water to evaporate or get pumped out. She said the department is coming up with a plan to divert water before it ever arrives at the lake bed. California Gov. Gavin Newsom surveys Tulare Lake flooding on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Corcoran, Calif. Marcio Jose Sanchez | AP But more than 600 structures in Tulare County have already been damaged by flooding, according to county officials, and flood damage is still being calculated. Newsom's office has estimated $60 million in agricultural losses from the flooding of crop fields. Potential solutions include installing equipment to pump water back into underground aquifers that are dried up from years of drought and overuse of the region's groundwater. The state is providing shelter assistance for displaced residents and supplying flood prevention supplies including sandbags, muscle walls and rock and sand to shore up rivers and levees, according to the governor's office. Water fills the Tulare Lakebed after floodwaters inundate residents after days of heavy rain in Corcoran, California, U.S., March 29, 2023. David Swanson | Reuters California is experiencing an unusually wet season following two decades of drought. A series of atmospheric rivers this year have led to near-record levels of snowpack and rainfall in many areas of the state. A research team at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego found that climate change is intensifying atmospheric river storms and could increase resulting flood damage from $1 billion annually to more than $3 billion annually by end of the century. Temperatures in the San Joaquin Valley are forecast to reach nearly 100 degrees by this weekend. And Yosemite National Park announced Tuesday that a good deal of the park would close on Friday as melting snowpack threatens floods. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce seal is displayed during restoration at the headquarters in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce pitches itself as representing the interests of millions of businesses of all shapes and sizes. But lately its funding has been largely fueled by donors who have given at least $1 million to the lobbying giant, according to a new study first shared with CNBC. The chamber's 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization raised just over $93 million in 2021 from donors who gave $1 million or more, according to the study, which was produced by watchdog group Public Citizen. Just 1.4% of the donations that year "provided more than a quarter of the Chamber's itemized contributions," according to the study. The business lobby group raised $197 million in 2021. The chamber, according to the study, brought in 18 contributions from those who donated anywhere from $2 million to over $4 million. The report says that the group raised around $54 million from those big-money contributors alone. The data comes from Public Citizen's review of the Chamber of Commerce's most recent tax forms, which show how much the group raised and its overall assets in 2021. The data proves the chamber focuses more of its advocacy on big business and not necessarily small businesses, said Lisa Gilbert, executive vice president at Public Citizen. "How many dry cleaners, pizzerias, or mom and pops shops can afford to give the chamber hundreds of thousands of dollars? It's not happening," Gilbert said. "Instead of representing the interests of Main Street, the chamber represents the interests of Silicon Valley and Wall Street. We expect its top donors are among a who's who of Big Tech, Big Oil and other highly consolidated industries." Kasper Zeuthen, a spokesman for the group, told CNBC the vast majority of the organization's members are small businesses. "The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's governing board consists of small business owners, the heads of state and local chambers of commerce, mid-size businesses, and representatives of some of the nation's most successful companies," Zeuthen said in an email. "As we have for over a century, the Chamber represents the depth and breadth of the American business community. And like America, the vast majority of our members 90% are small businesses and state and local chambers of commerce." He added: "We work every day to advocate for their interests and create the best possible business conditions for them. By all measures, our impact for them is substantial and small businesses are strongly engaged with the Chamber." The tax records show that, while the group saw large contributions in 2021, Chamber CEO Suzanne Clark received a total compensation of $5.1 million that same year, including an incentive package of $3.75 million. The study comes as the chamber faces criticism from key Republican leaders on Capitol Hill, including attacks by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., after the lobbying group endorsed several Democrats running for House seats. The chamber does not publicly disclose its donors. On its website it boasts that it's "the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions." Its board consists of executives from companies such as Microsoft, 3M, Citadel, Virtu Financial, FedEx, Deloitte, Fidelity Investments, Caterpillar and U.S. Bank. Huawei's co-developed Aito electric car brand is now selling an updated version of the M5 model that comes with new driver-assist tech. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images BEIJING Companies in China are playing up assisted driving technology as a way to compete in the hot electric car market. Around the Shanghai auto show that kicked off last week, electric car startups and Chinese tech companies alike made several announcements about their driver-assist tech. It's not clear how powerful any of the announced features are and whether Chinese consumers want to buy them. Current regulation also limits how much companies can allow tech to control driving. But McKinsey estimates assisted and fully autonomous driving systems in passenger cars could generate $300 billion to $400 billion in global revenue by 2035. China is the world's largest car market. Among the recent announcements, Huawei said it would upgrade its driver assistance system for changing lanes on highways and parking and expand support for city driving. The company said its new product, called "Huawei ADS 2.0" costs 36,000 yuan ($5,218) on a one-time basis or 7,200 yuan annually. The tech is slated for initial release on an upgraded Aito M5 set to begin deliveries in June with future rollout to the Avatr 11 and Arcfox Alpha S. All three electric vehicles come from brands that already incorporate Huawei's technology. watch now Li Auto announced plans to roll out driver-assist tech to customers in 100 cities in China by the end of the year a feature the company claimed would be "free for life." That's according to a CNBC translation of the Chinese. Those and other announcements follow Xpeng's rollout in the last few weeks of driver-assist technology to some users Shanghai. The tech claims to require drivers to do little more than keeping their hands on the wheel, while the vehicle travels to a destination in the city on its own, including stopping at traffic lights. Xpeng's tech was previously only available in Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Such urban scenarios are becoming an area of differentiation in China. We recognize that, as a startup, the only path to possibly achieving autonomous driving is to follow Tesla's path. Maxwell Zhou DeepRoute.ai, CEO Tesla doesn't offer its driver-assist tech in Chinese cities a feature marketed overseas as "Full Self Driving." Only the company's Autopilot for assisting with driving on highways is available in China. "If you don't offer [assisted driving tech] by next year then it's going to be really impossible to compete," Maxwell Zhou, CEO of autonomous driving software startup DeepRoute.ai, told a few reporters last week in Mandarin. That's according to a CNBC translation. The company's latest driver-assist software used together with cameras and other hardware is set to reach consumers this year, through passenger cars from "an established automotive brand," the four-year-old startup announced in late March, without sharing a name. The maps debate One of DeepRoute's selling points is doing away with "high-definition maps." That allows a vehicle to use driver assist tech on roads where those technical parameters haven't been created. It's a trend car brands such as Xpeng and Huawei are pursuing and Tesla's strategy for developing autonomous driving. Elon Musk's car company has focused on using cameras and artificial intelligence to steer the vehicle, without heavy reliance on HD maps. Those maps, used by autonomous driving companies such as Alphabet 's Waymo, give a car a detailed picture of city streets. But they need to be created before a car runs on the road. That process can drive up costs. DeepRoute's Zhou estimated each car for gathering data would require $100,000, and an additional $30,000 a year to operate for a total of about $2 billion or $3 billion, not including the cost of human labor. "We recognize that, as a startup, the only path to possibly achieving autonomous driving is to follow Tesla's path," Zhou said. "Because as a startup, there's no way we could spend several billions of U.S. dollars just to buy cars, buy data. Waymo can do that," he said. Zhou added that since China keeps fixing its roads, it would be difficult to constantly supply cars with accurate enough maps. Too advanced for consumers? Despite overall growth in new energy vehicle sales, it remains unclear whether Chinese consumers care enough about driver-assist tech when most of them haven't used it yet. The market this year has focused on price cuts to attract buyers. Xpeng, considered one of the most advanced technologically, saw deliveries plunge in the first quarter ahead of a more widespread rollout of its assisted driving tech. Industry giant BYD has downplayed self-driving tech. Nio CEO William Li told CNBC that driver-assist technology ranks relatively low among users' needs. But he said that people tend to rely on it once they try it which will help drive relatively fast adoption. Still, DeepRoute's Zhou noted the discussion in China is currently dominated by car companies and trade publications, not consumers. Most cars with advanced driver-assist tech only operate on highways, while the few that can run on city streets are more expensive, said Zhang Xin, executive editor-in-chief of AutoR, an industry publication with more than 110,000 followers on the Twitter-like Weibo platform. Consumers who simply buy the most advanced technology may find they don't end up using it, he said. Zhang added that map-free driver-assist systems are not yet powerful enough to completely do away with maps. Money in components Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. ET. Here's a recap of Wednesday's key moments. Equities rise with banks in focus Bullish on tech Palo Alto is a buy 1. Equities rise with banks in focus Stocks edged up Wednesday morning in the wake of strong technology earnings the evening prior, as the S & P 500 climbed 0.3%. Oil prices were trading mainly flat, with West Texas Intermediate crude hovering around $77 a barrel. Meanwhile, investors continued to focus on the banking sector after embattled First Republic Bank (FRC) reported Tuesday it had lost about 40% of its deposits during the first quarter, sending the stock tumbling nearly 50%. The share price continued to plummet Wednesday, trading down more than 20%, at $6.36 apiece. But Club holding Morgan Stanley (MS), a beneficiary of outflows from First Republic and other regional banks, climbed more than 1% higher Wednesday, to more than $89 a share. 2. Bullish on tech Two Big Tech Club holdings Alphabet ( GOOGL) and Microsoft (MSFT) reported quarterly beats Tuesday, despite gathering macroeconomic clouds. Moreover, continued investments by both tech giants in artificial intelligence (AI) bodes well for chipmakers Nvidia (NVDA) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). Shares of each of those Club names, set to report quarterly results next month, were trading up more than 3.5% Wednesday morning. Additionally, solid growth at both Alphabet and Microsoft's cloud divisions is likely good news for Club holding Amazon (AMZN), which reports Thursday after the closing bell. 3. Palo Alto is a buy Cybersecurity stocks came under pressure this week after Tenable (TENB) lowered its full-year billings forecast, suggesting the industry could be facing a slowdown, as enterprise customers rein in spending. But Palo Alto Networks (PANW) CEO Nikesh Arora told Jim Cramer Tuesday that he's confident his company is well-positioned to weather the current economic uncertainty. The Club holding remains a leader in the cybersecurity space and we would be buyers here, if not restricted. (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. The first course of Maryland crab cake, main course of braised beef short ribs, and dessert of banana split are displayed at a media preview of the state dinner during Wednesday's visit by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee at the White House on April 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. Crabcakes, beef short ribs and a deconstructed banana split have made the cut for this week's White House state dinner honoring South Korea's seven decades of relations with the United States. First lady Jill Biden and her team previewed the menu and decor on Monday. Biden said her mother taught her that setting a table can be an "act of love" and she learned from her husband, President Joe Biden, that "all politics is personal." "We hope to bring those two ideas together as we welcome the President and Mrs. Kim, honoring the 70 years of our alliances with symbols and moments of beauty that reflect both our countries," the first lady said, speaking of President Yoon Suk Yeol and Mrs. Kim Keon Hee. Some 200 guests are expected at Wednesday's glamorous black-tie dinner, which will be held in the East Room, the largest room in the executive mansion. Guests will move down the hallway to the State Dining Room to be entertained after dinner by a trio of Broadway stars: Norm Lewis, Lea Salonga and Jessica Vosk. In this article DIS Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT watch now Walt Disney Co. sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, alleging the Republican has waged a "relentless campaign to weaponize government power" against the company amid a protracted fight over a controversial classroom bill. The federal lawsuit alleges that DeSantis "orchestrated at every step" a campaign to punish Disney that now threatens the company's business. The move dramatically escalates the drawn-out feud between DeSantis, who is expected to become a top Republican contender in the 2024 presidential race, and Disney, which is among Florida's largest employers. The fight began last year, when Disney came out against a Florida bill limiting classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity, dubbed "Don't Say Gay" by critics. Soon after, the governor and his allies targeted the special tax district that has allowed Disney to essentially self-govern its Florida operations since the 1960s. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks to a crowd at the North Charleston Coliseum on April 19, 2023 in North Charleston, South Carolina. Sean Rayford | Getty Images The lawsuit was filed on the same day that the district's board of supervisors, which DeSantis had picked to take control over Disney's Orlando-area parks, moved to undo a development deal that it says Disney struck to thwart its power. The panel unanimously voted to declare "void and unenforceable" that development deal, which was approved shortly before DeSantis replaced the Disney-approved board with his preferred supervisors. The lawsuit called that action the "latest strike," saying the development contracts "laid the foundation for billions of Disney's investment dollars and thousands of jobs." The company noted its plans to invest $17 billion in Walt Disney World over the next decade, yielding an estimated 13,000 new jobs on top of its more than 75,000 current "cast members." "The government action was patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional," Disney alleged in the civil complaint in U.S. District Court in Tallahassee, Florida. Disney is asking the court to rule that the board's legislative step was unlawful and unenforceable. In a response, DeSantis' office suggested the fight hinged on Disney's special tax and governance privileges, not political retaliation. "We are unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state," DeSantis' communications director, Taryn Fenske, said in a statement to CNBC. "This lawsuit is yet another unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law," Fenske said. Disney's lawsuit, however, argued that "this is as clear a case of retaliation as this Court is ever likely to see." "There is no room for disagreement about what happened here: Disney expressed its opinion on state legislation and was then punished by the State for doing so," the lawsuit said. Disney's lawyers noted that until a year ago, DeSantis and his allies had no issue with the self-governing structure, formerly called the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Disney World celebrated its 50th anniversary in April 2022. Aaronp | Bauer-Griffin | GC Images | Getty Images My advice right now: Listen to what the market's telling you. It's not lying. It's saying that enterprise software the blast zone of last year is coming roaring back because artificial intelligence requires all new programs to work. Yes, it is that big a deal. Some will look back at this moment and say what mattered was the troubles at First Republic (FRC), which may not survive the mini-banking crisis, and how it is overshadowing everything. (I've said it over and over if First Republic were to collapse it would not be a systemic industrywide problem.) Others will look back and say this was the quarter when you saw genuine weakness in the core of both America and Europe the basic engine of employment finally slowing down. Me? I will look at it as when we were told by Microsoft (MSFT) and Google-parent Alphabet (GOOGL), both Club stocks, not that artificial intelligence is coming but that they are using it, offering it, and recognizing that it is turning their businesses that have been somewhat slowing in growth into growth engines once again. Now some of this AI boom is because of Club name Nvidia (NVDA), which was mentioned on both post-earnings calls as being the power behind artificial intelligence. AI inflected this quarter, I believe, not just because of ChatGPT, the viral brainchild of Microsoft-backed OpenAI, but because Nvidia's cards were so fast that there are now whole new applications that can work that were seen as unfeasible before. Alphabet made the point that its cloud business, which just turned profitable, is built on Nvidia chips, the only cloud provider, they say that runs on them. But most of it is because artificial intelligence now is so meaningful that big customers have come into them saying what can we do, how can we use it? How do we know this? When I say listen to what the market is telling you, I like to look at stocks that have no news but are ramping anyway. Enterprise software stocks are doing that Wednesday. The thinly traded ones MongoDB and DataDog , both up double digits or the biggest in the industry, Club stock Salesforce (CRM), aren't rolling higher because of anything they said. They are rising because they are considered integral to the writing of the new programs to take advantage of changes that will make operations better. This move in these stocks could turn into a change in mindset about these stocks because AI may mean an acceleration of laggard tech, including personal computers (PCs) and servers. It may be the spur that's needed. Nvidia and fellow semiconductor company Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) are both up big in Wednesday's trading. I know Google is not blitzing higher but not bad with a 1.5% gain. Ruth Porat, the powerful Alphabet CFO, came out with some boilerplate, world uncertainty caution. I get that. Despite the endless obsession with trying to sound like Microsoft when it comes to AI mentioned like 50 times on the call. I understand that the new AI-power Bing search engine from Microsoft could undermine a core Google franchise that enjoys a near monopoly in the space. Google has responded to Microsoft's AI push with its own called Bard. Bottom line When you see the ancillary plays running and can't find a reason, that's because the smartest people are recognizing this isn't business as usual and it's time to buy everyone in enterprise software. Does that make us want to buy MongoDB or DataDog? I think it's enough that we own Salesforce, Alphabet and Microsoft. No need to go down further on the food chain for the Club. But when you see Azure, Microsoft's web services business, outperform; when you see Google's cloud business inflect positively after several years of losses, this isn't the time to sell, it's the time to buy. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long MSFT, GOOGL, NVDA, CRM, AMD. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Jonathan Raa | Nurphoto | Getty Images A new bipartisan bill unveiled Wednesday would require parental consent for anyone under 18 to use social media. The Protecting Kids on Social Media Act would also bar platforms from using algorithms to feed content to minors and would set the minimum age to use the platforms to 13. It also would create a pilot program for a new, age-verification credential that could be used to enroll on social media platforms. This latest push from legislators to build new guardrails for kids' online safety is occurring as similar actions are being taken at the state level. Some state laws like one in Utah that would give parents access to kids' private messages have raised concern among some civil society groups for potentially putting kids further in harm's way depending on their family situations. The new proposal, backed by Sens. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Katie Britt, R-Ala., would give parents across the country profound new control over their kids' access to social networking services like Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Snap's Snapchat and TikTok. Many parents have pleaded for lawmakers to give them more tools to protect their kids online, though some feel that parents are overly burdened with the duty to monitor platforms that can be difficult to navigate In addition to parental consent to use social media, the bill requires such companies to "take reasonable steps beyond merely requiring attestation" to verify users' ages. That is likely to raise privacy concerns given that it can be difficult to narrow a user's age without some sort of government ID or facial scan. The bill says that "existing age verification technologies" should be taken into account and that information collected for age-verification purposes shouldn't be used for anything else. While age-verification tools are still somewhat limited, the bill also aims to expand them through a pilot program to explore free "secure digital identification" credentials for U.S. citizens. The program would be run by the Commerce Department and would seek to create a new, highly secure credential tool based on government-issued documents that once issued could be used to verify users' ages for enrolled social media platforms, or their parent/guardian relationship to a minor user. Soon after the bill was announced, tech-backed industry group NetChoice, which has sued California over its Age-Appropriate Design Code, slammed the legislation in a statement, saying it "would require massive, widespread data collection and retention, undermining Americans' privacy and security. It would also deprive parents of their constitutional right to make decisions about what's best for their kids online." Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. WATCH: TikTok hearing was an 'unmitigated disaster' for social media app, says Stanford's Jacob Helberg Disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes will not go to prison this week, despite a judge's order that she begin serving her 11-year sentence on Thursday. Late Tuesday, Holmes' attorneys appealed that ruling to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. Under the court's rules, that means Holmes will remain free on bail for now. Holmes, 39, has two children, the first of whom was born before her fraud trial in 2021. The second was born after her November sentencing. A federal jury in San Jose, California, convicted Holmes last year on four counts of defrauding investors in her failed blood-testing company. In November, U.S. District Judge Edward Davila sentenced her to 11 years and three months in prison. Holmes' attorneys asked that she be allowed to remain free on bail while she appeals her conviction, but earlier this month Davila denied that motion and ordered her to report to prison by April 27. In their last-minute appeal, Holmes' attorneys said Davila's ruling contained "numerous, inexplicable errors," including referring to "patient fraud counts" when Holmes was acquitted on the charges that she defrauded Theranos patients. They say she should be allowed to remain free while she appeals her conviction because the appeal is "likely to result in reversal." The government has 10 days to respond to the motion. Federal prosecutors have opposed Holmes' efforts to remain free. In January, they argued Holmes was a flight risk, noting that she had booked a one-way flight to Mexico shortly before she was convicted. Davila agreed with defense lawyers that the plane ticket episode was merely an oversight, but he ruled that her appeal was unlikely to change the outcome of the case. While Tuesday's motion keeps Holmes out of prison for now, it may only be a brief reprieve. Holmes' mentor and former boyfriend, Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, convicted in a separate trial last year, also sought to remain free pending his appeal, and he appealed to the 9th Circuit when Davila denied his motion. But the appeals court turned down his request within three weeks. Last week, Balwani, 57, reported to a low-security federal prison in Los Angeles to begin serving his nearly 13-year sentence. Holmes' appeal of her conviction, filed last week, argues that Holmes could not have knowingly misrepresented her supposedly "revolutionary" blood-testing technology to investors because she genuinely believed the product worked. "Highly credentialed Theranos scientists told Holmes in real time the technology worked. Outsiders who reviewed the technology said it worked. Theranos' groundbreaking developments received many patents," the appeal said. Her attorneys argued that the government's case "largely parroted the public narrative," first laid out in a series of negative Wall Street Journal articles in 2015, that Holmes knowingly committed fraud. The appeal challenges multiple rulings by Davila on evidence and witnesses, including allowing a former Theranos lab director to testify as an expert witness. This week, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers filed a brief in support of Holmes' appeal. The organization argued that the government abused the rules on expert testimony in Holmes' case, and that it is part of a trend. "This sleight of hand is, regrettably, common," attorney Brian Goldman wrote. "The government has previously subverted the requirements of the federal rules, and blurred the distinction between expert and lay testimony." The government has until May 3 to respond to Holmes' appeal of the conviction. General view of the site of the derailment of a train carrying hazardous waste, in East Palestine, Ohio, U.S., March 2, 2023. Norfolk Southern on Wednesday reported an initial $387 million charge associated with the company's East Palestine, Ohio, derailment in February, which spilled toxic chemicals into the environment. The charge resulted in a year-over-year decline in first-quarter profits, the rail company said. Norfolk Southern said income from railway operations for the quarter was $711 million, down 34% from the same period in 2022. Excluding the East Palestine derailment, income from railway operations was $1.1 billion, up 1% compared to the same period the year prior. Net income for the period fell to $466 million, or $2.04 a share, down from $703 million, or $2.93, a year earlier. That comes despite a year-over-year jump in revenue of roughly 7% to $3.13 billion. Here's how Norfolk Southern performed in the first quarter, compared with Refinitiv consensus estimates: EPS: $3.32, adjusted to exclude the impact of East Palestine, vs. $3.12 expected $3.32, adjusted to exclude the impact of East Palestine, vs. $3.12 expected Revenue: $3.13 billion, vs. $3.11 billion expected The earnings release reaffirmed Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw's commitment to supporting cleanup efforts in Ohio, pledging roughly $24 million in reimbursements and investments. The National Transportation Safety Board is examining the company's organization and safety culture through a special probe into the company. Those environmental cleanup efforts and remediation activities contributed to the reported $387 million charge, according to company executives. The charge also included anticipated EPA-issued oversight costs to reimburse the government but does not include some anticipated legal costs related to cases such as a lawsuit brought by the state of Ohio, insurance recovery and recovery activities from other parties. "That's the accrual that we know of as of now, what we can identify. It could potentially change, there's no doubt about that, as we work with the Ohio AG and we work with the EPA," Shaw told CNBC's Morgan Brennan in an interview on "Closing Bell: Overtime" Wednesday. Shaw reiterated Wednesday plans to install additional sensors, accelerate the deployment of advanced early detection technology, and increase safety training for first responders. Norfolk Southern did not provide estimates for further charges related to the East Palestine derailment. Tech billionaire and Republican megadonor Peter Thiel, an early backer of former President Donald Trump who later broke with him, has told associates he is not planning to donate to any political candidates in 2024, according to two people close to the businessman. Thiel is unhappy with the Republican Party's focus on hot-button U.S. cultural issues, said one of the sources, a business associate, citing abortion and restrictions on which bathrooms transgender students can use in schools as two examples. Thiel came to this conclusion by late 2022, the sources said. He believes Republicans are making a mistake in focusing on cultural flashpoints and should be more concerned with spurring U.S. innovation a major issue for him and competing with China, the business associate said. Thiel's plans for the Republican primary and general election have not been previously reported. Online news site Puck previously reported Thiel was most likely either to support Trump or sit out the primary. Thiel declined a Reuters request for an interview. When Thiel spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention, he had more hope that the party would concentrate on economic issues, his business associate said. "I am proud to be gay," Thiel said on stage. "But most of all I am proud to be an American. I don't pretend to agree with every plank in our party's platform, but fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline, and nobody in this race is being honest about it except Donald Trump." Four political sources also told Reuters that Thiel is taking a step back from U.S. politics. Thiel, who diverged from his Silicon Valley peers with his embrace of conservative causes, identifies as a supporter of libertarianism, a political philosophy that stresses the importance of individual freedoms. A farmer and member of the AgroUnia union inspects unsold corn grain stores on a farm in Sedziejowo, Poland, on Monday, April 17, 2023. UNITED NATIONS The basic food security of tens of millions across the globe is hanging by a thread as Russia mulls whether it will preserve a deal that has permitted Ukrainian grain to move through the Black Sea. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday renewed threats of abandoning the Black Sea Grain Initiative, an agreement that allows the safe wartime export of agricultural products from besieged Ukrainian ports. Lavrov told reporters at the U.N. that one of Moscow's demands is for the Russian Agricultural Bank, or Rosselkhozbank, to return to the SWIFT banking system. Two days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the U.S., European allies and Canada moved to block key Russian banks from the interbank messaging system, SWIFT. Moscow's exclusion from SWIFT, which stands for the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, severed the country from much of the global financial system. Lavrov also said that the deal is currently one-sided since Russian fertilizers have not been able to transit the same way Ukrainian grain has. "It was not called the grain deal it was called the Black Sea Initiative and in the text itself the agreement stated that this applies to the expansion of opportunities to export grain and fertilizer," Lavrov told reporters during a press conference. "That's not the deal we agreed to on July 22," he added. Lavrov said there are dozens of Russian cargo vessels carrying some 200,000 tons of fertilizer stuck at European ports. Russia's role as a global energy player is set to diminish, and the U.S. and Qatar are among a slew of nations ready to fill its shoes, analysts told CNBC. "Russia's global LNG supply share will almost certainly decline this decade," Henning Gloystein, a director for energy, climate, and natural resources at political consultancy Eurasia Group told CNBC. He noted that its role in the liquefied natural gas space was retreating even before the country's invasion of Ukraine last year. Western sanctions, which resulted from the onslaught of its neighbor, further sapped most foreign investment out of Russia's LNG sector. Russia's inability to purchase liquefaction modules (which enable natural gas to be converted into LNG) will hamper its ambitions, said the Director of South and Southeast Asia Gas of S&P Global Commodity Insights, Zhi Xin Chong. "In this decade, it will be extremely challenging for Russia to expand its liquefaction capacity given the broad sanctions that have been imposed on the country," Chong said in an e-mail. He added that the total capacity for Russia's LNG facilities to produce natural gas will remain flat at 37 million tons over the next few years. By 2030, the total global LNG capacity will grow by 50% to 671 million tons per year and Russia's share of this pie is expected to fall to 5% from the current 6.7%, S&P further projects. Writer E. Jean Carroll leaves the Manhattan Federal Court in New York on April 25, 2023, as jury selection is set to begin in the defamation case against former US President Donald Trump brought by Carroll, who accused him of raping her in the 1990s. Kena Betancur | AFP | Getty Images E. Jean Carroll, the writer who accuses former President Donald Trump of raping her in a New York department store in the mid-1990s, began testifying at a civil trial for her lawsuit on Wednesday. "I'm here because Trump raped me," Carroll testified. "He lied and shattered my reputation and I'm trying to get my life back." Carroll took the witness stand in Manhattan federal court after Judge Lewis Kaplan warned Trump's lawyer about the former president's new social media posts, which attacked Carroll's credibility. Trump's posts mentioned two issues that Kaplan had warned parties in the trial not to mention to jurors. One of those issues was whether a dress Carroll said she saved from the day she claims Trump assaulted her contains DNA material that could be linked to him, or rule him out as the source of that genetic material. Carroll alleges Trump assaulted her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan in or around 1996. The other has to do with her lawsuit against Trump being funded in part by Reid Hoffman, the LinkedIn co-founder and a major Democratic donor, and whether Trump's lawyers will be allowed to argue to jurors that Carroll and her attorneys hid that fact for months. Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, told Judge Kaplan, who is not related to her, about the posts before the first witness took the stand in the case. Judge Kaplan suggested to Trump lawyer Joseph Tacopina that the former president could risk being sued or having sanctions imposed for the Truth Social posts he issued Wednesday morning. "We are getting into in area in which your client could face a new liability and I think you know what I mean," Kaplan said. Trump, who is seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has not appeared in the courtroom since jury selection began Tuesday. It is not clear that he will attend the trial on any day. The former president denies raping Carroll. He also argues he did not defame her in comments he made last fall, when he said her claim was a hoax, and that she had changed her account of the alleged attack during an interview with CNN. In his first Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump wrote, "The E. Jean Carroll case, Ms. Bergdorf Goodman, is a made up SCAM. Her lawyer is a political operative, financed by a big political donor that they said didn't exist, only to get caught lying about that." "Just look at her CNN interview before & after the commercial break - Like a different person," Trump wrote, referring to an interview Carroll gave CNN about the lawsuit. He continued: "She said there was a dress, using the ol' Monica Lewinsky "stuff", then she didn't want to produce it. The dress should be allowed to be part of the case. This is a fraudulent & false story--Witch Hunt!" Trump wrote a second post echoing those themes, and wrote "Does anybody believe that I would take a then almost 60 year old woman that I didn't know, from the front door of a very crowded department store, (with me being very well known, to put it mildly!), into a tiny dressing room, and . her. She didn't scream? There are no witnesses? Nobody saw this?" Sketch of District Judge Lewis Kaplan in the Manhattan federal court in New York City, U.S. March 30, 2023, in this courtroom sketch. Jane Rosenberg | Reuters After months of apparent reluctance to engage with Kyiv on the same level as Moscow, China said Wednesday that it will send special representatives to Ukraine and hold talks with all parties on resolving the crisis there. Chinese state media said that President Xi Jinping told his Ukrainian counterpart President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call that Beijing will focus on promoting peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, and would make efforts for a cease-fire to be reached as soon as possible. Commenting on the call, which he described as "long and meaningful," Zelenskyy said he believed it would "give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relation." Ukraine has been waiting for an audience with Xi since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and particularly after Xi's recent visit to Moscow in March. In other news, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree Tuesday establishing temporary control of the Russian assets of two foreign energy firms, a sign that Moscow could be prepared to take similar action against other foreign companies. The U.S. will deploy nuclear-armed submarines to South Korea for the first time in decades part of a new agreement that will signal Washington's commitment to defend Seoul against rising nuclear threats from North Korea, U.S. officials said. The plan to dock the ballistic missile submarines in South Korea, which hasn't happened since the 1980s, headlines an effort to make U.S. deterrence against Kim Jong Un's regime "more visible," senior administration officials said. The U.S. will also vow to give its ally a greater role in any response to a potential nuclear attack. President Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart, Yoon Suk Yeol, were to announce the agreement Wednesday in Washington, the officials said. The Washington Declaration, as it's known, won't involve the U.S.'s deploying nuclear weapons to the South, as it did during the Cold War, the officials said. Instead the U.S. will increase the number of military assets it sends to the country on a temporary basis, such as a nuclear-armed submarine and bombers. The officials likened it to cooperation with European allies in the Cold War during similar periods of threat. The declaration would also improve joint training, information-sharing and military exercises in "deterring and defending" against the North, an official said. The announcement is "purely symbolic" and intended "to reassure the South Korean public" that the U.S. still has its back, said Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey in California. But the commitments "don't have any military value." Many South Koreans appear to need reassuring. Polling shows more and more want their government to develop nuclear weapons of its own, driven by questions over whether a Washington distracted by the growing clash with China would protect them in a conflict with the nuclear-armed North. The U.S. would oppose such a development, also barred by international treaty. The new steps are designed to be "seen by the Korean public," and the agreement also sets out a new framework through which the government in Seoul can have more of a voice in any response in a crisis, an official said. In return, an official said, South Korea would reaffirm its commitment to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which bars countries from seeking nuclear weapons. The officials briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity ahead of the official announcement. North Korea isn't a signatory to the treaty, and in recent years under leader Kim it has made strides to develop its suspected arsenal of around 20 nuclear weapons. North Korea launched its first solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile this month in what analysts say is a meaningful advance in the country's efforts to build a nuclear arsenal that is harder to detect and capable of threatening anywhere in the continental U.S. U.S. and South Korean officials also say North Korea is preparing for its seventh nuclear test, which would be its first since 2017. Yoon, a former prosecutor who was elected as South Korea's leader last year, arrived Monday in Washington for a six-day state visit as the U.S. and South Korea mark the 70th anniversary of their alliance, which dates to the end of the Korean War. He and Biden were to hold a summit Wednesday, and Yoon will address a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday. A leak of classified Defense Department documents shows the U.S. has been gathering intelligence on its southeast Asian ally. Both sides have said much of the information is inaccurate, without providing further specifics. In an interview with NBC News' Lester Holt, Yoon said it wouldn't "shake the ironclad trust" between his country and Washington although he acknowledged the awkwardness of the situation. Yoon's is the first U.S. state visit by a South Korean leader in 12 years and the first by an Indo-Pacific leader during the Biden administration, which is focusing more intensely on the strategically important region as it tries to counter growing Chinese influence. Yoon's visit follows the largest U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises in years, aimed largely at countering the North Korea's nuclear threat. The two countries are also stepping up their security coordination with Japan, holding trilateral defense talks in Washington this month. Biden is also expected to encourage Yoon to continue improving ties with Tokyo, with which Seoul has long had a fraught relationship. Here are Wednesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Needham upgrades TransUnion to buy from hold Needham upgraded the stock after its earnings report Tuesday. "We came away most impressed with TRU's ability to maintain the FY23 guide despite macro uncertainty, while also reaffirming investors that M & A is on the back-burner and that excess cash will be used to prepay debt." BMO upgrades Microsoft to outperform from market perform BMO upgraded the tech giant after its earnings report Tuesday and said it sees support for "longer-term growth." "We downgraded MSFT last quarter due to concerns about Azure growth in the near/medium term. We are upgrading the stock to Outperform due to higher conviction that Azure growth headwinds will moderate by the end of CY23 and AI can help support longer-term growth." Read more about this call here. Jefferies downgrades Tesla to hold from buy Jefferies said it was downgraded the stock "pending a reset of performance and possibly governance." "A strategy of growth over margin has its logic and resets expectations. It also questions whether Tesla' s profit edge was structural or a timing difference. However fascinating the investment case remains, relative price aggression is not supportive of a high multiple investment case while unfolding." Read more about this call here. Barclays downgrades ScottsMiracle-Gro to equal weight from overweight Barclays downgraded the stock due to a "weaker near term earnings outlook." "Nielsen data for US consumer is very weak and below what SMG has assumed in guidance. While weather trends could improve over the next two months, we think it is highly unlikely that SMG will beat our FY23E EPS." Raymond James reiterates Amazon as outperform Raymond James said it's bullish heading into Amazon earnings Thursday. "We believe key focus areas for investors ahead of 1Q results are: 1) core retail growth (we expect relatively in line results); 2) improvement in retail margins in 1Q and outlook for 2Q/2023; 3) AWS growth we expect 14% growth in 2Q with growth bottoming in the low double digits in 2023." Deutsche Bank upgrades Novartis to buy from hold Deutsche said in its upgrade of the pharmaceutical company that it sees "emergent pipeline developments" for Novartis. "Coupled with two major readouts for 2024 that is likely to sustain enthusiasm near-term." Deutsche Bank reiterates Apple as buy Deutsche said it's standing by its buy rating heading into earnings next week. "We expect AAPL to report F2Q (Mar) results in line with DB/Street estimates, with strength in iPhone offsetting incremental weakness in other areas." Barclays reiterates Apple as equal weight Barclays raised its price target on the stock to $149 per share from $145 and said it sees an in-line earnings report next week for Apple. "We see in-line March-Q as better iPhone revs offset weaker Macs and Services. June-Q looks to be at risk due to deteriorating demand trends." William Blair initiates BellRing Brands as outperform William Blair initiated BellRing with an outperform and said the food products company will see "profitable growth in the years ahead." "These factors, coupled with strong demand generation and operating capabilities and augmented by people talent, create the conditions for profitable growth in the years ahead." Piper Sandler initiates Celsius Holdings as overweight Piper initiated the beverage company with an overweight and says it's a "brand that wins with consumers." "We initiate on CELH with an OW rating and a $110 target. We believe it has a differentiated brand and product in the energy drink space and can continue to drive sustainable, volume driven share gains." H.C. Wainwright initiates Coinbase as buy H.C. Wainwright initiated the crypto company with a buy and said it sees an attractive entry point. "Lastly, we view COIN as a scarce asset, as the only publicly listed crypto native company in the US with a market cap > $10B, which means competition for investor capital is extremely limited." Bank of America downgrades Danaher to neutral from buy Bank of America downgraded the commercial products company after a "disappointing" earnings report. "We downgrade Danaher shares from Buy to Neutral following a disappointing 1Q23 update and cut to FY23 guide." Cantor Fitzgerald initiates ZeroFox as buy Cantor initiated the cybersecurity platform company with a buy and says it's "unique." "We are initiating coverage at Overweight with a 12-mo. price target of $3 on ZeroFox , an end-to-end provider of external cybersecurity and identity & privacy platform, seeking to capitalize on the IT budget consolidation theme." Bank of America reiterates General Motors as buy Bank of America said it's standing by its buy rating after the company's earnings on Tuesday. " GM remains confident in its ability to ramp up volumes without bloating the channel and cutting price. Investment plans in adjacent businesses are confirmed, accelerating what we define as its Core to Future transition." Morgan Stanley reiterates Alphabet as overweight Morgan Stanley said the internet giant is the "underappreciated" leader in AI. " GOOGL remains an underappreciated AI leader that will usher in a new era of AI experiences for users, creators, and business partners in our view." UBS reiterates UPS as buy UBS said it's standing by its buy rating on the shipping giant following its earnings report Tuesday. " UPS' s 1Q23 earnings showed rising cyclical pressures reflected in a negative volume progression in the quarter where volumes were -3%, -5%, and -7% y/y in January, February and March. Domestic package volumes fell 5.4% y/y in 1Q23 compared to a 3.4% y/y decline in 4Q22." Bank of America reiterates Chipotle as buy Bank of America said it's standing by its buy rating after the Mexican chain restaurant's earnings report on Tuesday. "We value CMG on steady state earnings power, assuming the company grows to reach its targeted 7000 domestic store count (now in 8 years)." Bank of America reiterates Roku as buy Bank of America said it's bullish heading into Roku earnings after the bell on Wednesday. "In our opinion Street ests for F1Q are beatable. Street is modeling F1Q/FY23 active account net adds of less than 1mn & 7.6mn (not been this low since 2017 despite Roku now in more geographies). Roku was able to grow platform revs 5% y/y in F4Q despite the U.S." The recent leak of classified Defense Department documents, which show that the United States has been gathering intelligence on its ally South Korea, will not affect the relationship between the two countries, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol told NBC News in an exclusive interview. The interview came as he and President Joe Biden meet this week to discuss North Korea, China and other pressing challenges. U.S. and South Korean officials have said that much of the information in the documents is inaccurate and may have been altered, without providing further specifics. "I believe that this matter is no reason to shake the ironclad trust that supports the U.S.-South Korea alliance, because it is based on shared values like freedom," Yoon said Monday. One of the documents, which NBC News has seen, describes internal South Korean government discussions in which senior officials expressed concern that a request from Washington for South Korean-made artillery ammunition could open the door to the munitions being handed over to Ukraine's military. The South Korean officials also saw the need for the government to formulate a clear position on the matter in case the White House pressed the issue. South Korea's policy bars it from providing lethal aid to Ukraine. Opposition lawmakers in South Korea criticized the alleged U.S. surveillance as a violation of national sovereignty and a major security lapse by the Yoon government. Though he acknowledged the awkwardness of the U.S. being exposed spying on its allies, Yoon said the relationship between the two countries was built on a high level of trust. "When you have that trust, you don't get shaken," he said. Yoon, a former prosecutor who was elected last year, arrived in Washington on Monday for a six-day state visit as the U.S. and South Korea mark the 70th anniversary of their alliance, which dates to the end of the Korean War. He and Biden will hold a summit Wednesday, and Yoon will address a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday. It is the first U.S. state visit by a South Korean leader in 12 years and the first by an Indo-Pacific leader during the Biden administration, which is focusing more intensely on the strategically important region as it tries to counter growing Chinese influence. Yoon's visit follows the largest U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises in years, aimed largely at countering the North Korean nuclear threat. The two countries are also stepping up their security coordination with Japan, holding trilateral defense talks in Washington this month. Biden is also expected to encourage Yoon to continue improving ties with Tokyo, with which Seoul has long had a fraught relationship. At a time of heightened international turmoil, Biden and Yoon share a common interest in protecting the liberal international order, said Victor Cha, senior vice president for Asia and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington. "President Yoon in particular, unlike previous [South Korean] presidents, really has emphasized freedom and democracy as a core theme of his foreign policy," Cha told a news briefing last week. Uday was part of a batch of 12 cheetahs, consisting of seven males and five females, which were brought to India from South Africa on February 17, 2023. The expert at the Veterinary University in Jabalpur will provide a detailed report on the cause of Uday's death, and it is not yet known whether it was caused by a virus or bacteria. A six-year-old South African cheetah named Uday passed away at Kuno National Park located in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh, due to a cardiopulmonary failure. Uday was part of a batch of 12 cheetahs, consisting of seven males and five females, which were brought to India from South Africa on February 17, 2023. This is the second death of the cheetahs brought from Namibia. In March, another female cheetah, Sasha, died due to renal failure. She was brought to India from Namibia. The preliminary report of Uday's post-mortem suggests that the cause of death was cardiopulmonary failure, ANI reported quoting officials. However, samples have been sent to the Veterinary University in Jabalpur to determine the exact reason behind Uday's death. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25) Filipino Sheerios, youre in for a treat! Warner Music Philippines announced on Monday that fans can get a sneak preview of Ed Sheerans upcoming studio album Subtract before its general release while inside Ferris wheel cabins converted into listening booths. The record label will hold the exclusive album listening experience at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Eye on May 4, a day before the British artist releases his new songs across all platforms. According to the company, each cabin on the MOA Eye will be turned into a private listening booth, where fans will have the once-in-a-lifetime experience of riding the Ferris wheel while enjoying snippets of Ed Sheeran's new music. Those who wish to get the early access simply need to visit the MOA Eye during mall hours and pre-save the album on their listening platform of choice, Warner Music Philippines said. It added that some lucky participants will get the chance to win official Ed Sheeran merchandise. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Wednesday said it does not encourage the use of emergency alerts when reminding the public of the need to register their SIM. No, we do not encourage the telcos, NTC deputy commissioner Jon Paulo Salvahan told CNN Philippines The Source. Days before the supposed April 26 deadline of the mandatory SIM registration, Globe users received an emergency alert from the telecommunications company to remind them about the need to list their numbers. The alert drew flak from the telco subscribers, saying it caused unnecessary panic. In a statement on Monday, Globe defended its move, saying it was to instill urgency to its customers. Globe explained that the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act allows the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and other relevant government agencies to use the telco network system to blast warnings during disasters and emergencies. There were also no objections from the NDRRMC, it noted. Salvahan said the NTC did not give clearance for the deployment of such alerts. He said the issue has been forwarded to the NTCs technical team. We are just awaiting for the recommendation of our technical team so that the commission will know how to proceed properly on this issue, Salvahan added. READ: DICT, NTC to meet with telcos on emergency alert use Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Wednesday said it is currently working with telecommunications companies to look into the legality of the proposal to deactivate certain mobile phone applications and services for users whose SIM remain unregistered during the 90-day extension for listing. We are closely coordinating that with the telcos and studying that thoroughly if that is legally and technically feasible and if we have enough time to implement it if and when it is found to be legally and technically feasible, NTC deputy commissioner Jon Paulo Salvahan told CNN Philippines' The Source. On Tuesday, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy said the agency is discussing with telcos the possibility of limiting the access of unregistered subscribers to some social media applications and services during the 90-day period so consumers will experience the consequences of failing to registering their numbers. "Let's say after the 60 days, you will lose your access to your Facebook accounts or our TikTok accounts, but you still can use your phone, you can still call, you can still text. And then after a certain period, you will lose your outgoing calls," Uy explained. Salvahan said a final study or resolution may be issued on the matter this week until next week. If approved, the telcos will be responsible for deactivating the apps or some services for their subscribers with unregistered SIM. The official said the same tactic has been implemented in other countries. In India, a number of Chinese mobile applications, like TikTok, are banned due to security concerns. In a separate statement, Smart said it may be difficult for the company to implement the proposal. With regards to the gradual deactivation being evaluated by the DICT, the discussions among the DICT, the NTC, and the mobile network operators are still ongoing. Our initial assessment is that it would be difficult for us to implement due to time constraints, said Cathy Yang, first vice president and head of Group Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart. Yang added the company has been exerting efforts by sending out reminders in various channels, and deploying assisted booths to reach more of its users and encourage those who have yet to register to already do so. So far, Salvahan said 87.4 million SIM were already registered, which is 52% of the 168 million active SIM in the country. He said the NTC hopes to register around 110 million once the listing ends in July. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) The National Electrification Administration (NEA) and Power Systems Inc. (PSI) agreed to operate the latter's San Jose power plant, providing residents of Occidental Mindoro with 5 to 6 megawatts of free additional power supply for two months. In a statement on Wednesday, NEA said it will contract PSI for a two-month term as a national government subsidy, which means costs will not be passed on to consumers. "NEA will cover for the cost of operation for the first two months, that is the help we'll get from the National Government in the person of President Bongbong Marcos," NEA administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda said. This comes after Occidental Mindoro was placed under a state of calamity due to power outages that last 16 to 20 hours a day. READ: Occidental Mindoro appeals for gov't, Marcos action to end power crisis Almeda visited the province on Tuesday to inspect PSIs power plant, which he said will provide residents with around six to seven hours of electricity a day. NEA said leasing the power plant is among the measures it is undertaking to resolve the energy crisis that has plagued Occidental Mindoro. Almeda earlier asked for three weeks to find solutions to the power outages. According to Almeda, the two-month deal is also to give the DMCI Power Corporation enough time to supply the 17 MW to Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, Inc., subject to the emergency power supply agreement that will last until March 31, 2024. "The DMCI promised to roll out 10 MW in 30 days and 7 MW in two months," the NEA chief added. In addition to the 5 MW from PSIs power plant and the 17 MW from DMCI that will be supplied over the next two months, the NEA said it will also deploy two generator sets at 2 MW per unit to affected hospitals and schools in the province. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) A lawmaker on Wednesday found fault with the Philippine National Polices (PNP) slow-moving investigation into the 990-kilo shabu haul, raising concern also with police officials having conflicting statements on what really happened. Your investigation would take almost [half] a year na. At stake yung reputation ng organization (Your reputation is at stake), Antipolo City 2nd District Representative and committee vice-chair Romeo Acop, a former police officer, said during the hearing of the committee on dangerous drugs. This came after PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management director Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz said they could not provide an exact timeline for the investigation. Cruz said the PNP still needs to establish strong evidence against the personalities involved in the massive shabu haul last October 2022. We need witnesses, physical evidence. We have to establish more evidence against them, the PNP official said. During an interview with CNN Philippines earlier, Cruz said 49 personnel of the PNP, including its former Drug Enforcement Group head PBGen. Narciso Domingo, would face charges over their alleged involvement and cover-up in the 6.7-billion shabu haul. READ: Ex-PDEG director, 48 other personnel to face charges over shabu haul and 'cover-up' In October last year, authorities arrested now-dismissed Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. The police seized 990 kilos of shabu from the WPD Lending Office in Tondo, Manila, an establishment allegedly owned by Mayo. Conflicting remarks Police officials questioned in the hearing also gave contradicting statements on the arrest of Mayo during the drug operation. PCol. Julian Olonan, chief of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations Unity in Region 4-A said he received a call from PCapt. Jonathan Sosongco on Oct. 8 last year. During the call, Sosongco told Olonan that they had arrested Mayo and confiscated two kilos of shabu in a buy-bust operation in Bambang, Manila. But when the House committee asked Sosongco for details of the arrest operation which he headed, he denied that he arrested Mayo. "Obviously may conflict sa statement ninyo ni Olonan. Dalawa lang ibig sabihin niyan, isa sa inyo nagsisinungaling [Obviously, there's a conflict in your statements. That would mean one of you is lying]," said Surigao Del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, who chairs the House committee on dangerous drugs. Sosongco said he went to the office around 4:45 p.m., when he saw the vaults containing shabu, but Barbers' committee presented a screenshot of the CCTV footage where the police official was seen as early as 1:21 p.m. in the area. Police officials allegedly involved in the issue have different versions of why Mayo was freed after the arrest. "Police Lt. Col. Arnolfo Ibanez, the immediate commander of Mayo, was the one who assured me that we would yield a bigger warehouse of illegal drugs through the use of Mr. Mayo," Domingo told the committee. "At that particular time, I believed there is indeed another warehouse of shabu kasi nga tinuro, nilaglag ni Gonzales si Mayo na bata ni Ibanez...gustong gumanti ni Colonel Ibanez, ituro na rin 'yung bodega ni Gonzales [because Gonzales pointed at Mayo who was under Ibanez Ibanez wanted to take revenge and pointed at the warehouse of Gonzales]." "Ang pinag-uusapan namin ano ang ikakaso kay Mayo...Wala kaming pinag-usapan na papakawalan si Mayo [What we talked about was the case that we will be filing against Mayo, and not freeing him]," PLt. Col. Glenn Gonzales of the Quezon City Police District said of the incident. "Now, you are giving statements contrary to your co-officers and members of the Philippine National Police, what a spectacle," Acop also said on the different versions of testimonies, specifically on the involvement of the questioned cops in the operations. Mayo and his alleged accomplice Ney Atadero also faced the committee but they invoked their right against self-incrimination most of the time lawmakers asked them a question. According to the National Police Commission, its investigation on the alleged cover-up is ongoing, promising that it will help in building the case to hold erring cops accountable. The House committee suspended its hearing, which ran to over seven hours, and conducted an executive session with PNP officials. CNN Philippines correspondent Xianne Arcangel contributed to this report. China firmly supports Asian efforts on cultural heritage protection Xinhua) 15:01, April 26, 2023 BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The General Assembly of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, held in China's historic city of Xi'an from Monday to Wednesday, yields fruitful results on Asia's cultural heritage protection. The Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia (ACHA) was officially established at the event, three years after China's National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) officially invited Asian countries to jointly launch cultural heritage protection campaigns. Already joined by 13 countries from all across the continent, the ACHA is expected to "help build consensus on cultural relics protection among Asian countries and build a cooperation mechanism and exchange platform," according to Xie Bing, deputy head of the NCHA. A joint declaration on cultural heritage protection in Asia was released at the assembly. According to the declaration, the alliance members will carry out collaborative archaeological projects on themes such as the origins of civilizations and the Silk Road, and jointly declare world heritages. The members will also jointly promote the protection and restoration of important historical sites, contribute to urgent post-disaster repair, and crack down on illegal transportation of cultural relics and facilitate the return of looted relics. The assembly also saw the official launch of the Asian Fund for Cultural Heritage Conservation, which was set up by the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation. Via dedicated funds, the fund will support the protection, research, joint archaeological efforts, and other areas in the protection of Asia's cultural heritage. Li Qun, vice minister of culture and tourism and head of the NCHA, said at the assembly that China will further improve the capacity of the ACHA secretariat and support the alliance's sustainable development based on the Asian Fund for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The fund has raised 88 million yuan (about 12.71 million U.S. dollars) so far to support the cultural heritage protection projects launched by China and other member countries. These results are the latest of China's consistent and concrete efforts to support Asia's cause in cultural heritage protection apart from the call for the establishment of the ACHA. At the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations held in Beijing in 2019, China pledged to work with other countries to protect Asian cultural heritage. The country has since taken part in a series of cultural heritage cooperation projects. Besides collaborative exhibitions, such as the ongoing exhibition of Pakistan's Gandhara art at the Palace Museum, China has also launched a number of professional training programs, signed cultural relics cooperation documents with other Asian countries, and had Chinese archaeologists participate in various joint archaeological surveys and cultural relics repair projects in other parts of Asia. For instance, in 2022, the restoration of Nepal's nine-story Basantapur temple complex was completed with assistance from China. The restoration project began in 2017, two years after a devastating earthquake severely damaged the historical building complex. It was China's first large-scale cultural heritage foreign assistance project in Nepal. "China used to be a beneficiary of international cultural heritage cooperation, and now we have become an active contributor," said Wen Dayan, director of the exchange and cooperation department of the NCHA. The point was echoed by Xie Bing, who said the Chinese solution for deepening the cultural heritage cooperation between Asian countries and promoting exchanges between Asian civilizations, both theoretical and practical, has been widely recognized by Asian countries. Foreign attendees to the assembly in Xi'an have spoken highly of China's efforts and shared their views on the future of cultural heritage protection in Asia. Tiong King Sing, Malaysia's minister of tourism, arts and culture, applauded the formation of the Asian Fund for Cultural Heritage Conservation, as he believes an integral part of ensuring the sustainability of cultural activities and by-products is appropriate funding mechanisms. Fareena Mazhar, secretary of Pakistan's National Heritage and Culture Division, said increased collaboration among ACHA members is crucial for promoting mutual understanding, building bridges of friendship, and strengthening cultural exchanges. "By promoting cultural cooperation, we can build a strong cultural bond among members, which can foster mutual understanding and respect," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) The government needs around 22 million SIM users to register during the 90-day extension of the mandatory SIM registration to be able to meet its target of 110 million. Speaking to CNN Philippines The Source on Wednesday, NTC Deputy Commissioner Jon Paulo Salvahan said 87.4 million SIM cards were already registered based on the governments latest data. He noted authorities hope to list up to 110 million of the 168 million active SIM in the country as the adjusted July deadline approaches. We foresee that it is only around that number, which is around 100 or 110 million, which are the legitimate users of these SIMs or meaning that they are really using the SIMs for their ordinary or legitimate purposes, he explained. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the 90-day extension of the SIM registration, which was supposed to end on April 26, after authorities logged low turnout. Salvahan said some areas in Visayas and the Bangsamoro region are among those with low registrations. Information and Communications Technology Sec. Ivan John Uy blamed the bad habit of Filipinos of doing things at the last minute for the low turnout during the initial months of the registration period. According to Salvahan, this was evident during the last two days prior to the April 26 deadline when daily registrations reached 2.5 million to 4.5 million from around a hundred thousand prior. While the SIM Registration Act allows an extension of up to 120 days, Uy said 90 days are more than reasonable to give SIM users enough time to list their numbers. As a remedy to the problem, Salvahan said the NTC is coordinating with telecommunications companies in looking into the proposal of deactivating access to several mobile phone applications and services of SIM cards that remain unregistered during the 90-day reprieve. The government and telcos will also continue their existing programs like assisted booths, and online platforms to reach all SIM users across the country, he noted. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) Conglomerate San Miguel Corporation is in talks with the local government of Oriental Mindoro to construct a 15-kilometer super bridge connecting Mindoro island with mainland Luzon via Batangas. The project was first proposed in 2015 by Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Rep. Alfonso Umali and is now backed by Gov. Humerlito Dolor in a bid to encourage post-pandemic growth and development in the province as well as the MIMAROPA region. The bridge will originate in Barangay Ilijan, Batangas City, cross to Verde Island, and end in Barangay Sinandigan, Puerto Galera. In a statement on Wednesday, SMC president and CEO Ramon S. Ang said they are working with experts from around the world to build the massive project. "We have started bringing together global experts across disciplines, including a European architectural and engineering firm to do a technical feasibility study on how the bridge can be built sustainably to benefit both people and the environment," said Ang. He thanked Dolor for considering SMC for the project. The bridge is seen to result in faster and more efficient transport of people and goods and spur local economic growth through job generation, higher investments and optimization of basic services such as water, power and telecommunications, among others. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday raised the crisis status in Sudan to Alert Level 3 due to the ongoing conflict in the country. "In this regard, the public is assured that the Philippine Embassy in Cairo is continuously monitoring the situation while providing repatriation assistance to Filipinos in Sudan," the department said in its announcement. Under the alert level, voluntary repatriation and evacuation of Filipinos will be implemented. The DFA earlier announced that more than 300 more Filipinos in violence-stricken Sudan are being evacuated amid the ongoing ceasefire. Warring factions in Sudan recently agreed to a three-day ceasefire that began at midnight on April 24. The agreement between the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, and the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, came "following intense negotiation over the past 48 hours." Despite the truce, Filipinos in Sudan were advised to stay home as gunfire and bombings persist in nearby areas, the Philippine Embassy in Egypt announced last week. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) The Department of Education (DepEd) is proposing to include lessons on the West Philippine Sea and the Hague arbitral tribunal ruling in Grade 10 in the drafted K-12 curriculum guide. Lessons on Mga Isla ng (the islands of the) West Philippine Sea will be taught under isyung territorial at border conflicts (territorial issues and border conflicts) of the proposed curriculum. Based on the draft curriculum guide, students are expected to identify the implications of various labor problems and economic development in the country after taking the lesson. Meanwhile, the lecture on the ruling of the tribunal in The Hague, the Netherlands that largely favored the Philippines in its maritime row with China will be under the mga pagtugon sa mga hamon pang-ekonomiya (Responses to Economic Challenges). With the lecture, students are expected to evaluate laws and policies in relation to globalization as well as the challenges and issues it caused. In July 2016, the special tribunal constituted under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea affirmed the Philippines sovereign rights in areas of its exclusive economic zone that are being claimed by China. The ruling also invalidated Beijing's nine-dash line claim to nearly the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. RELATED: Remembering the 2016 Hague ruling: What has happened since then? The proposed new lessons are part of DepEds efforts to decongest classes and improve students literacy. If the new K-12 curriculum will push through, it will be the first time that the two topics will be required lessons in school. DepEd also proposed to teach sexual and reproductive health to students as early as Grade 4 in its drafted K-12 curriculum. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/4/24/k-12-sexual-reproductive-rights.html Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. Would you like to receive our news updates? Signup today! Sign up to receive notifications when a new Columbia Gorge News e-Edition is published. Error! There was an error processing your request. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Gorge Social Information from the News and our advertisers (Want to add your business to this to this feed?) Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. With every new Android version comes a flurry of fancy fresh features. Some of them immediately transform the way we work, while others just quietly fade away without making much noise. And then there are the features that fall somewhere in between features that seem useful, maybe even pique our interest when we first hear about 'em, but then get lost in the shuffle and forgotten as time wears on. Especially when said features are out of sight and not at all obvious, they're all too easy to overlook and abandon. Well, as we look ahead to the launch of yet another new Android version Android 14, now available in an early beta and expected to land in earnest sometime this summer consider this your friendly reminder: These hidden Android features, added into the operating system at various points over the past several years, are still there and still incredibly handy. And you don't need any sort of shiny new software to see 'em. Take a moment to rediscover these timeless treasures and remind yourself what you've been missing. Hidden Android feature No. 1: Fast app-switching One of the most useful features to come into Android in ages is also one of the least well-known and discoverable. I'm talkin' about the Alt-Tab-like fast app-switching function that was first introduced way back in 2016's Android 7 and remains one of my favorite Android shortcuts to this day. [Psst: Love shortcuts? My free Android Shortcut Supercourse will teach you tons of invisible time-savers for your phone. Get your first lesson now!] You can be forgiven if you forgot about it or maybe never even knew about it in the first place 'cause honestly, there's absolutely nothing that'd clue you into its existence. And it's evolved a fair amount over the years, too, which makes the odds of losing track of it even greater. So here's how it works: First, if you're using Android's current gesture system with no on-screen navigation buttons and just a thin little line at the bottom of your screen flick your finger toward the right anywhere along that bottom-of-screen area. That'll snap you back to your most recently used app faster than you can say "frugal Google bugle filled with tasty kugel" (which, to be fair, isn't something you can say especially quickly). From there, you can click flick toward the right again to go back another step in your app-using history or flick to the left to snap back in the other direction. You can also do less of a flick and more of an arching swipe moving your finger upward, ever so slightly, as you slide toward the left or the right on the bottom of the screen if you want to get a better look at the apps in the list before making the switch. The farther you swipe and the higher you go, the more apps you'll see all in the order of when you last used 'em. If you're still using Android's older three-button navigation system, fear not, for you can do this, too part of it, anyway: Just double-tap the Overview key (the square-shaped icon next to Back and Home) anytime to quickly zap between your two most recently used processes. Hidden Android feature No. 2: App shortcuts Speaking of app-related shortcuts, Android has an exceptionally efficient system called rather fittingly App Shortcuts. These splendid little suckers are completely hidden out of sight, though, and they're consequently ignored more often than not. But Goog almighty, can they be useful. You can think of App Shortcuts as direct links to specific functions within apps on your phone ways to get to individual actions or areas within an app without having to go through the typical process of opening it up, hunting around through its menus, and tapping multiple commands to reach your destination. To look through your App Shortcut options, press and hold your finger down on any app's icon either on your home screen or in your app drawer for about a second. The options vary from one app to the next, but you're bound to find some fantastic possibilities. For instance: With Google's Messages app, long-pressing the app's icon lets you jump directly into a variety of recently used message threads. With Google Docs, you can hop straight into a new document or to the service's search function without having to first open the app and poke around. With Google Drive, you can get direct links for searching, uploading a new file, or even scanning a physical document with your phone's camera. And with Google Calendar, you can create a new event, a new task, or a new reminder right from that hidden long-press menu. The list goes on from there, so take the time to tap around and explore what shortcuts your specific apps have to offer. And when you find a shortcut that seems especially useful for the way you work, remember this extra invisible trick: You can pull any shortcut out of an app's long-press menu and put it directly on your home screen for even easier one-tap access. Just press and hold the shortcut you want and then drag it into any open space on your home screen. JR Good to know, right?! Hidden Android feature No. 3: Live Caption Google's Android 10 release introduced an unexpected gem into the operating system something that has the potential to be way more useful than you'd expect at first glance. It's called Live Caption, and it's technically an accessibility feature for folks who have a hard time hearing. The benefit in that scenario is obvious, but Live Caption can also come in handy for practically anyone on a day-to-day basis because what it effectively does is allow you to see what a video or podcast is saying without having any audible sound playing from your phone. I'll often flip it on briefly when I want to "listen in" to some manner of multimedia while I don't have headphones handy and am in a situation where blaring sound out from my phone's speakers wouldn't exactly be optimal (a novel thought for someone to have these days, I realize). In such moments, all I've gotta do is tap a little box that shows up beneath the volume controls whenever any kind of media is playing on my device and holy moly, wouldya look at that? JR Once that button's pressed, every word uttered in the video or audio clip shows up on my screen so I can read it whilst having the actual sound turned all the way down. And y'know what? Let's take this hidden-feature concept a step further, 'cause there are actually two more easy-to-miss possibilities within this system. Once you've got Live Caption activated and you're seeing captions on your screen, you can double-tap the caption box to make it bigger or press and hold your finger onto the box to move it around anywhere on your screen. Whee! If you're using a phone with Android 10 or higher and you aren't seeing that Live Caption option as part of your volume controls, head into your system settings and search for Live Caption there. You'll probably need to find the associated section and flip a toggle into the on position within it to activate the feature and, depending on your device (hi, Samsung folk!), you might also have to activate a second toggle in that same area to make sure the Live Caption option actually shows up as part of your volume panel. On Samsung phones, you'll also have to expand your volume panel (by tapping the little three-horizontal-box icon within it) to find the Live Caption option. No matter what type of phone you're using, though, remember: Live Caption will only show up and work when some manner of sound is actively being played. Hidden Android feature No. 4: Share menu pinning This next tucked-away treat was first added into Android way back in the 2016 Nougat era but then taken away for a while and only brought back with 2021's Android 11 release. (Goodness gracious, Google: You're makin' me dizzy!) It's the ability to customize the order of apps in your phone's system-level Share menu which means you can then keep your own most frequently used sharing destinations at the top of the list for easy ongoing access. Hip, hip, hoorah! The feature is unfortunately complicated by the fact that lots of apps, including many of Google's own utilities, now use custom share interfaces instead of relying on the system standard (grumble, grumble, grumble). But for any app that's actually doing things in a sensible way and using the standard Android share menu, take note: So long as your phone is running Android 11 or higher, you can press and hold your favorite fingie onto any item within that sharing list to pin it to the top. And it'll then stay in that spot for all future sharing, anytime the standard system menu is used. To see for yourself, go highlight some text within an email in Gmail and select "Share" from the menu that comes up. Then press and hold that perfect little pointer of yours down onto any app you see in the list of sharing options and, ta-da: JR You'll see the command to pin it. You can pin up to four different sharing targets, if you want, and they'll all appear in alphabetical order in a special row at the top of that menu. Hidden Android feature No 5: App pinning An oft-overlooked feature introduced all the way back in 2014's Android 5 release (mmm, Lollipop...) is a little somethin' called app pinning. It lets you lock one specific app or process to your screen and then requires you to unlock your device before anything else can be accessed. The idea is actually quite sensible: Say you're passing your phone off to a friend, a co-worker, or some manner of rabid jungle bird maybe so they can see a document, look at something on a website, or peck out a quick call whilst their own tiny bird-phone isn't handy. Take two seconds to pin whatever app is relevant to that purpose to your screen, and you can rest easy knowing the rest of your stuff will remain secure and inaccessible until the phone's back in your own paws. To use the feature, first search your system settings for app pinning or, if you're using a Samsung phone (where things are always arbitrarily renamed for no apparent reason), search instead for pin app. However you get there, once you're on the right settings screen, make sure the main toggle for the feature is activated and also make sure the toggle next to "Ask for unlock pattern before unpinning" (or "Use screen lock type to unpin," with Samsung 'cause, well, y'know) is also in the on position. Then just open up any app you want and head into Android's Overview interface (by swiping up from the bottom of your screen with the current Android gesture setup or by tapping the square-shaped button at the bottom of the screen with the old legacy three-button nav approach). Tap the icon at the top of the card for your current app, and lookie what we have there: a snazzy new Pin option! JR Tap that bad boy, and tap it good. That app will then be locked in place, and to get to anything else, you'll first have to swipe your finger up from the bottom of the screen and hold it in place for a few seconds and then provide whatever manner of unlocking authentication (PIN, pattern, password, appendage, 14 drops of blood from your pinky toe, etc) is appropriate to continue. If you're still using Android's old three-button nav system, you'll instead press the square-shaped Overview button to get to the Overview interface, and you'll press and hold the Back and Overview buttons together when you're ready to unpin. Hidden Android feature No. 6: Split screen While we're thinkin' about that little Overview menu, jot this down on your noggin's chalkboard: That same area of the operating system holds a helpful feature that I suspect 99% of Android-carrying creatures completely forget about on a day-to-day basis. The feature of which we speak is Android's long-standing split-screen mode, which lets you view two apps on your screen at the same time. Depending on your device and specific Android version, it could be labeled as "Split top," "Open in split screen view," or "Splitsy ditsy" (though that last one exists mainly in my own demented man-brain). Tap the icon at the top of Overview for any app, find and tap that screen-splitting command, then decide which second app you want to share your screen and last but not least, bask in the glory of your newfound superpowers. JR Note, too, that in certain situations, you can actually use split screen with two different instances of the same single app. With Chrome, for instance, you can view two different tabs on your screen together. And with Gmail, you can view an active email draft along with your inbox. And all you've gotta do is remember to do it. Hidden Android feature No. 7: Guest Mode Back to the app pinning possibility from a second ago: If you really want to keep your device protected from meddling while it's in someone else's hands and/or claws, take a minute to reacquaint yourself with Android's clever and practical Guest Mode. Guest Mode is basically like an incognito environment for your entire phone: You just flip a switch, say "Wowser bowser, hubba bubba" for good measure, and then watch your phone shift itself into a blank-slate state where your own personal apps, accounts, and data are all securely tucked away and you get an out-of-the-box-like experience, with only the basic preinstalled system apps available. No one can get to any of your stuff without first signing back in as you (and putting in your preferred method of authentication), and nothing done in that environment ever has any impact on your standard smartphone setup. It's a pretty powerful form of privacy protection, wouldn't ya say? It isn't, unfortunately, available for the Samsung owners among us, as Samsung has for no apparent reason opted to remove this standard operating system element from its software but for everyone else, follow these three quick steps: Open up the System section of your phone's settings. Tap "Multiple users" or if you don't see that as an option, first tap "Advanced" and then look for it. (If your system settings menu structure is just completely different, try searching for guest mode within the settings area.) within the settings area.) On the screen that comes up, make sure the toggle at the top is set in the on position. And then, whenever you want to tap into your snazzy new Guest Mode option, swipe down twice from the top of your screen to open your Quick Settings, tap your user profile picture (which is probably just a generic person icon in the lower-right corner of the panel), and then tap the "Add guest" option on the screen that comes up. When you're ready to exit out of Guest Mode and get back to normal, just open up the Quick Settings panel again, tap that user profile picture again, and select "Remove guest" from the menu that comes up. That'll erase and reset everything that was done in that temporary profile and take you back to your own standard environment (once you've put in your PIN, pattern, or passcode or used your preferred appendage to prove that you're actually you). Don't miss part two Still hungry for more exceptional out-of-sight Android features? Mosey your way over to the second part of this collection, which revolves entirely around notification-related enhancements. And when you're ready to unleash the awe-inspiring power of all your phone's invisible shortcuts, scoot your boot over to my flavor-filled Android Shortcut Supercourse. It'll give you six full days of eye-opening smartphone sorcery completely free, from me to you. Microsoft has become the undisputed leader in AI, thanks to its investment in ChatGPT and the chatbots integration into Bing. The company has invested $11 billion in OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, and thats in addition to whatever it's spending internally to develop AI, which is considerable. So far, though, Microsoft has little revenue to show for it. If you believe the press, the company's chatbot so far has mainly been used for the equivalent of tech parlor tricks, stunts like creating a cover of Beyonce's "Cuff It" as if it were sung by Rihanna, writing a Seinfeld script in which Jerry and George plot to kill Jeffrey Epstein in prison, and passing a law school exam. Theres no money in that, of course, and Microsoft knows it. But it's happy to have the chatbot perform these kinds of stunts because they bring plenty of publicity. And ultimately, Microsoft plans to turn that attention into cash. Is it even possible, or are the billions in hoped-for revenue little more than a pipe dream? For once, I believe the hype may be justified; AI is likely to pay out for Microsoft at least in the long run. Ultimately, there will be plenty of ways to cash in, but at the moment the big three are: stealing search revenue from Google via an AI-powered Bing; providing the infrastructure and tools for businesses to build their own chatbots and AIs; and incorporating AI-enhanced productivity tools throughout its product lineup. Heres how Microsoft will do it. Attacking Googles search dominance Well start with the lowest-hanging fruit, using AI-powered Bing to eat into Googles search dominance. Google built itself on search, and the companys $162 billion in search income a year represents the lions share of its revenue. Google retains its stranglehold on the market; it had 85% of the worldwide market share of search in the first quarter of 2023, compared to only 9% for Bing. Thanks to the integration of Microsofts chatbot into Bing, that may change in a big way. Microsoft is betting its chatbot will upend the way people search the internet. When you search via a traditional search engine such as Google, youre not searching for information as much as youre searching for websites you hope contain the information you want. Its up to you to click each link, scroll each site, hope you find what you need, and then collate, organize, and summarize what youve found. Bings chatbot attempts to turn that on its head. Search for information, and it goes out, finds it, and writes it up into a well-organized paragraph, complete with citations. No need for you to visit any web sites, scroll and read, or do collating or organizing. It can be a spectacular time-saver and offer more finely tuned results than traditional search. Thats the theory, anyway. In practice, it can be hit-or-miss. Microsoft is betting that over time it will become far more accurate. Even in its current state, though, its powerful enough to get Microsoft a bigger chunk of the search market. Thanks to Bings AI chatbot, Samsung is considering replacing Google with Bing as the search engine on its Android phones. Thats a very big deal because the company sold 259 million smartphones in 2022 alone. That may be just the beginning other manufacturers including Apple could follow suit. The New York Times notes that Google was thrown into a panic by Samsung possibly switching to Bing and has launched a desperate all-hands-on-deck attempt to build enough new capabilities into its search engine to try and retain the contract. Cashing in on AI-as-a-Service Building and running chatbots and other AI apps requires supercomputer-like processing power, storing vast amounts of data, training AI on the data, troubleshooting and iterating the results, and then fine-tuning it and creating an easy-to-use, flexible interface that integrates with a business existing infrastructure. That requires capabilities and finances far beyond all but a small handful of companies. Thats where Microsoft and what Ill call AI-as-a-Service comes in. Microsoft sees tremendous potential in selling AI capabilities to companies the same way it now sells cloud services. The idea is simple: provide the processing power, storage, framework and other infrastructure a company needs via an AI-focused version of Microsofts Azure cloud services. Layer on top the tools and services needed to build AI apps and integrate them into a business. And charge a company based on how much AI services they use. Microsoft calls it the Azure AI Platform, and its already up and running. It allows companies to use their own internal data for AI, and even build their own machine-learning models. A number of companies have already built AI capabilities, using it for a wide range of purposes, including the NBA, CarMax, H&R Block, and others. Microsoft turned itself from a sleepy, almost has-been company in the early 2010s to the second most valuable company in the world by focusing on the cloud. Its hoping AI-as-a-Service can juice that growth and possibly make it the most valuable company in the world. Its too early to tell whether it will pay out, and whether AI-as-a-Service is a real thing or marketing hype. Either way, the company has bet the farm on it. A Copilot for productivity Finally theres Microsoft 365 Copilot, designed to improve productivity in Office apps, Teams, and potentially other Microsoft products. In Microsofts words, Copilot will let you focus on the most important work and less on the busy work. What does that vague-sounding, hypey description mean in practice? Copilot, Microsoft claims, will be able to do things like draft a two-page project proposal based on information found in a Word document and an Excel spreadsheet. The company claims that in Excel it will be able to analyze your data and break down corporate sales based on type and sales channel and create a chart to visualize all the data. In PowerPoint, according to Microsoft, it will be able to build a five-slide presentation based solely on Word document and find and include relevant stock photos. In Teams, it could be even more powerful, if Microsoft is to be believed. The company claims that by listening in on meetings, Copilot can perform tasks such as building a table of pros and cons about a topic being discussed and add what else should be considered before making a decision. It will also, Microsoft says, list all the decisions made and suggest follow-up actions. Microsoft 365 what used to be called Microsoft Office is one of the company's cash cows. In good economic times and bad, businesses and people continue to use it. Microsoft is battling Google over productivity apps, with one recent estimate showing Microsoft 365 with a slight lead over Google Workplace, with a 47.5% market share to Google Workspaces 44.56%. If Copilot can deliver on even a sliver of what the company promises, that could move the needle significantly towards Microsoft 365. As for Teams, its revenue has grown from $0.01 billion revenue in 2017, the year of its launch, to $6.8 billion by 2020. The kind of features Microsoft promises could supercharge its growth and make Slack a perennial also-ran. Keep in mind, though, that Google is working on building AI into Google Workspace, and AI is getting incorporated into Slack. So Microsofts AI work may not yield additional revenue. Still, even to just maintain market share, Microsoft needs Copilot. The upshot Microsoft hopes that building AI into all its products and launching new AI products will draw new customers into its ecosystem where theyll buy even more Microsoft products. The company hopes to forge links via AI between Bing search, a companys AI infrastructure, and its productivity tools. It envisions enterprises living solely inside its ecosystem. Of course, Google and other companies have similar plans. But for now Microsoft has a solid head start. Its been moving at warp speed to try and make sure it stays that way. If it pays off and thats still a big if the company will be well-positioned to become the dominant tech company for years to come. Increased revenue across Microsofts cloud computing, Office software, and server segments have helped the tech giant see its net income reach $18.3 billion for the March quarter, an increase of 9% year-on-year. Server products and cloud services both saw revenue growth of 17%, with Azure revenue up 27%, while Office commercial products and cloud services revenue also grew by 13% this quarter. The overall company revenue for the quarter increased 7% to $52.9 billion. The changes Microsoft has made to its software offerings have clearly worked in the companys favor. Three months after launching its new Basic subscription tier, the company reported that its Microsoft 365 consumer subscription numbers have now topped 65.4 million, representing a 12% increase in the companys third quarter. Additionally, Teams usage is at an all-time high and surpassed 300 million monthly active users this quarter, CEO Satya Nadella told analysts on a call after the earnings report was released. This figure represents a 20 million increase from the 280 million DAU the company reported back in January of this year. However, despite growth in a number of key business segments, the challenges faced by the company when it comes to falling Windows and devices sales have persisted from the previous quarter. Microsofts device revenue dropped by 30% in the third quarter of 2023, a figure that is largely consistent with forecasts from major analysts houses such as IDC and Gartner who have reported that shipments of PCs and laptops had experienced a 30% decrease from the first quarter of 2022. Sales of Windows operating system licenses to device makers also took a hit, falling by 28% in this quarter. Hardware sales in Microsofts gaming segment also took a hit, with Xbox hardware revenue also dropping by 30% this quarter. Currently, Microsoft is embroiled in multiple antitrust probes from the UKs Competition Markets Authority (CMA), the European Commission, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the UK regarding its proposed purchase of gaming studio Activision Blizzard, with the CMA due to issue their final decision on the acquisition imminently. AI to drive future revenue While software and cloud services remain the bedrock of Microsofts business, since the start of this year, most Microsoft news has resulted from the companys partnership with OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT. As a result, Microsoft executives have been pointing to the generative AI technology as a future revenue driver due, in part, to the technologys widespread integrations. Nadella told analysts the company already had more than 2,500 Azure-OpenAI service customers and said AI was integrated into a wide array of products, such as the companys search engine Bing, which now has 100 million daily users and has seen downloads jump since the addition of AI features. Furthermore, over 10,000 organizations have already signed up for Microsofts Copilot for Business, with Nadella saying the company will be releasing more information about its AI plans over the coming months. As with any significant platform shift, it starts with innovation, and were excited about the early feedback and demand signals from the AI capabilities weve announced to date, Microsofts CFO Amy Hood said on the same analyst conference call. We will continue to invest in our cloud infrastructure, particularly AI-related spend, as we scale to the growing demand driven by customer transformation. And we expect the resulting revenue to grow over time. Microsoft 365 continues to face outages On the day it announced its financial results, Microsoft suffered another systems outage, with the companys Microsoft 365 Status account tweeting, Weve identified an issue affecting Exchange Online connectivity for users in North America and are investigating further. According to Downdetector, an online platform that tracks outages, thousands of users reported experiencing server connection and login issues. An hour after the Twitter account announced it was investigating the issue, the company confirmed that the issue had been resolved. Yesterdays incident is the second outage Microsoft experienced this week, and the fifth major outage this year. Jamf is expanding its reach with new security solutions for Android and Windows devices along with new tools to help better manage enterprise Apple-centric fleets. The company recently also announced Executive Threat Protection, a sophisticated security protection solution to help protect execs, media, government and other high-value targets against spyware. Minding the gap? The company made a range of announcements at its spring event. Jamf CEO Dean Hager said: We at Jamf bridge the gap between the great innovations at Apple and what businesses and schools require and we have always been Apple-first. With that in mind, the company's tools rely on Apples latest innovations for enterprise tech, including MDM APIs, Declarative Device Management and Managed Device Attestation. But it appears the company is widening its lens. After establishing the foundation and support for new Apple workflows, Jamf is broadening the reach of several of our security products for institutions that may not be Apple exclusive, Hager said. Whatever your device ecosystem and size of deployment, Jamf is here to help you maximize your technology investment and power your end users. Better tools for account management, authentication, deployment Jamf continues to improve its Jamf Connect suite for account management and authentication. To achieve this, it has extended Jamf Connect to include zero-trust access capabilities, including a useful auto-activation after setup feature. The idea is that remotely provisioned devices will automatically be activated on first run, wherever they are, eliminating the need to use sometimes problematic VPNs. The company said this enables narrow access to only the specific apps and resources a user needs for their role no matter whether the app is on-premises or in the cloud dramatically improving data security. When it comes to new device deployment, the MDM provider now offers out-of-the-box macOS account provisioning with Jamf Trust, which will automatically activate a secure network connection when a user first sets up the Mac. The idea is that a remote Mac can be provisioned with software, settings, cloud identity, and network access as soon as a user sets it up the first time using their credentials. Device management is also improved with a new automated system to create and manage unique local administrator passwords for each managed Mac at the time of enrollment. With this tool, the password of a managed administrator account can be randomized, which helps maintain operational security. In another change, managed apps will now let users know when updates are available. Finally, Jamf unveiled plans for Remote Assist, a new feature coming this summer that will allow admins to initiate a secure remote desktop session directly from within the MDM console to provide support. Securing the secure platforms The company touted its continued efforts to provide the best solution for identity security for Macs. To do so, Jamf is working with Okta to deliver Oktas verification and FastPass services for secure provisioning of Mac user accounts. These are big steps toward simplifying account-driven user enrollment onboarding while enhancing login security on BYOD hardware. In essence, it means your employees will be able to use fast and secure biometric (Face/Touch ID) logins for all company apps, even on personally owned devices. Jamf has been working with SwiftConnect to offer digital employee badges in digital wallets since last year. The fruits of that effort are now available in the form of something the company calls Employee Badge with Jamf Trust." The big news is that with an eye on the multiplicity of mobile platforms used in most offices, the company plans to introduce the system to Android devices soon. Jamf Protect gains Microsoft, Google, and Amazon authentication The Jamf Protect system already has built-in telemetry security monitoring; the company extended those features with the introduction of conditional access controls with Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. This integration means organizations can extend access controls across the entire Azure Active Directory workflow, use Google BeyondCorp (Mac, iPad, iPhone), and offer an integration with AWS Verified Access. In all three cases, integration with these widely used access control systems helps businesses ensure devices accessing its systems are verified and secure. Jamf Protect also integrates with Microsoft Sentinel, which means enterprises can monitor and protect their Mac fleet using Microsofts protection, which offers a unified view across security events across all endpoints. This is useful because, in laymans terms, the capacity to monitor every device in a company fleet may deliver an early warning of coordinated security events. The company noted that its access policies dynamically react the minute Jamf Protect detects a risk. The system will respond to threats in real-time, stopping access to sensitive resources when a risk is detected by shutting down the users secure connection. Jamf also introduced a new enhancement that allows organizations to detect whether a user disables their secure connection and then immediately suspends their access. And a little Windows support With a view to education IT, the company improved its web content-filtering solution, Jamf Safe Internet, introduced last year. For me, the most interesting news is that schools will be able to deploy the solution to Windows PCs starting this summer. It is already available to Chromebook and Apple platforms. The solution is currently used across over 400 US schools. Please follow me on Mastodon, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe. OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed firm behind the groundbreaking ChatGPT generative AI system, announced this week that it would allow users to turn off the chat history feature for its flagship chatbot, in whats being seen as a partial answer to critics concerned about the security of data provided to ChatGPT. The history disabled feature means that conversations marked as such wont be used to train OpenAIs underlying models, and wont be displayed in the history sidebar. They will still be stored on the companys servers, but will only be reviewed on an as-needed basis for abuse, and will be deleted after 30 days. We hope this provides an easier way to manage your data than our existing opt-out process, the company said in an official blog post. OpenAI also said that the company is working on a new ChatGPT business subscription model, aimed at organizational users who may need more direct control over their data. ChatGPT Business will adhere to the companys API data usage policies, meaning that user data will not, by default, be used for model training. OpenAI said that it hopes to debut this subscription model in the coming months. Regulators set sights on OpenAI The news comes in the wake of a move by the European Data Protection Board, earlier this month, to investigate ChatGPT, after complaints from privacy watchdogs that the chatbot did not comply with the EUs General Data Protection Regulation. Italy, in March, temporarily banned the use of ChatGPT due to alleged violations of user privacy. That countrys guarantor for data protection demanded that the service demonstrate compliance with applicable privacy laws, and provide improved transparency into how the system handles user data. Its clear that privacy and data governance were not top-of-mind at the outset for OpenAI, according to Gartner vice president and analyst Nader Henein who noted that thats nothing new for a startup focused on getting a workable product out into the market. They are continuing to build the airplane mid-flight, he said. I imagine most of the development underway at Microsoft on Copilot is focused on wrapping that governance and enterprise support around the OpenAI [large language model.] Its a step in the right direction, Henein added, but reflects that the design decisions underlying much of ChatGPT may have treated privacy as an afterthought, not as a core component. There is no doubt in my mind that the team at OpenAI are working feverishly to retrofit governance to their architecture, he said. Its a matter of how much can be done after the fact. The analogy that we have seen used time and time again is that of baking a cake and trying to add sugar or baking powder after youve taken it out of the oven. Singapore hangs Tangaraju Suppiah in 1kg cannabis case after court dismisses last-ditch review application The world ended in an execution chamber for Tangaraju Suppiah this morning at the Prison Link Centre, Changi, in Singapore, after his last-ditch review application was thrown out by a Singapore court yesterday. Singaporean Tamil man Tangaraju Suppiah spent nine years in jail before being executed on April 26 at Changi prison. Picture courtesy: Twitter/@Kokilaparvathi In a brief statement to news agencies, a spokesman for the Singapore Prison Service said today, Singaporean Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, had his capital sentence carried out today at Changi Prison Complex. There had been an international outcry for days and days over this execution in a marijuana (cannabis) trafficking case, with calls to stop it from individuals like the British billionaire Richard Branson and global bodies like the United Nations. The family of Tangaraju had pleaded for a retrial and submitted a mercy petition to the President of Singapore Halimah Yacob, but nothing worked. Also read: Singapore death penalty: Family of Tamil man Tangaraju Suppiah pleads for mercy, retrial This tweet by the British billionaire Richard Branson shows sister Leelavathy Suppiah and other family and friends with the mercy petition for Tangaraju Suppiah. Perhaps no other execution anywhere in the world in recent times has made this much news. That is because even though Singapore often executes people convicted in narcotics cases, Tangaraju Suppiah, a Singaporean of Tamil ethnicity, never touched the narcotics that he was accused of trafficking. Also read: Singapore death penalty: Tamil man to be executed on April 26 over marijuana trafficking The exact charge against him was of abetment in a conspiracy to traffic narcotics the drugs in question were 1kg of marijuana (cannabis), which is banned in Singapore, even though legal in some countries. The amount of narcotics was a determining factor in the death sentence. Tangarajus sister Leelavathy Suppiah, who had been served the notice of her brothers execution a few days ago, had done everything in her limited power to save him. The family members and their supporters tried to repeatedly highlight that Tangaraju, who had been in prison for nine years before his execution was scheduled, had done nothing wrong; that he did not have a strong grasp of English; and that he was not given a Tamil-English interpreter when his statement was first recorded by law enforcement. Also read: Singapore death penalty: Rehearsal of execution today for Tangaraju Suppiah Singapore-based activist Kokila Annamalai, who had been tweeting every detail of the familys efforts and their state of mind, posted yesterday that a last-minute review application filed by Tangaraju, presenting an argument that he had not advanced before, was summarily dismissed by the court. As per Kokilas tweets, the day before his death, Tangaraju had a visit from his mother, whom he had not seen in three years. The elderly mother lives in a care centre with medical staff, and she had not been told that this would be her last visit with her son. She was delighted to see Tangaraju after so long, and returned from the prison visit in a happy state of mind, unaware of what would come the next day. In the Olde Country, children's literature was all about rape, mutilation, and cannibalism, to let the little buggers know that there were worse things in the world than having to birth sheep and eat cold stew for dinner. But modern kids' stories focus more on instilling positive social values, like sharing and acceptance. However, when you look closely at some examples of modern children's literature, you'll discover that they're exactly as insane and emotionally damaging as any haunted German fairy tale. The only difference is that they're slightly more subtle about it. Seriously, tell us we're not overthinking these. 6 The Magic School Bus Thinks Informed Consent Is A Waste Of Time Scholastic Press The Magic School Bus is a series of books about a teacher named Ms. Frizzle using a magic school bus to abduct her class and take them on psychedelic journeys of discovery. She does this through the cunning use of magic (obviously) and abusing her students' trust. Scholastic Press He knows what's coming. For example, in the book The Magic School Bus Inside The Human Body, Ms. Frizzle shrinks her class and transports them inside the body of their classmate Arnold. The thing is, though, she never tells the boy about it. Instead, she parks the miniaturized bus full of children on a chip that Arnold is eating, and then rams it inside him. Scholastic Press Scholastic Press Even the bird knows that this is really fucked up. Advertisement Advertisement Of course, nothing bad happens to Arnold, but that doesn't really change the fact that sneaking into a child's digestive system without their knowledge is creepy as all get out. Even creepier, this wasn't the only time Frizzle turned her students into guinea pigs without telling them what was happening. She did the same thing to Keesha ... Scholastic Press ... and Wanda ... Scholastic Press The only way this could be more shady is she wrote "Free Candy" on the side of the bus. Advertisement Advertisement The worst part of it all is that Ms. Frizzle is an authority figure with complete access to these kids for up to eight hours a day. And while she does teach them a lot about the world, she's also hammering into her class' heads that consent isn't all that important as long as you're learning something, which is exactly how real-life mad scientists behave. 5 Curious George Teaches Children How To Get Kidnapped Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Advertisement There are many ways for a person to make friends, and many wonderful books that teach them to children. Curious George is not one of them. The original book begins with the Man in the Yellow Hat going to Africa, spotting George sitting in a tree, and sticking him in a sack so he can take him to a zoo in the big city. Given George's near-human intelligence, this is technically kidnapping. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt There's a reason the "Man in the Yellow Hat" never gives us his real name. Advertisement As we pointed out before, George is actually an ape, not a monkey, and when apes get pissed off, the thing they mostly start to get curious about is how humans would look without faces. But George goes along with his kidnapping because he's curious as to what will happen, as his name betrays. Advertisement When George arrives in his new home, the first thing the Man in the Yellow Hat does is overfeed him and let him smoke a pipe until he feels "very tired," which is starting to sound more and more like testimony from a child abduction case than the plot of a picture book. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt "Just go with it, kid. There's a balloon in it for you later!" The next day, George plays with a telephone and mistakenly calls the fire department (whose number is apparently 1234567). When they burst into his home and see there's no fire, they arrest little George. And let that be lesson to you, kids: If you ever find yourself trapped in the home of an oddly-costumed man who tries to subdue you with drugs and you call the police, you will go to jail. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Why does this fire department have a jail cell, again? Advertisement Advertisement 4 The Ugly Duckling Insists That A Person's Worth Depends On How Attractive They Are Walt Disney You know the story of the Ugly Duckling. A busted-ass duckling gets picked on for looking mottled and weird, but then grows up to be a swan. Now, this is ostensibly meant to teach children not to bully people for their physical appearance, but what it really boils down to is "Be careful who you call ugly in middle school, because they might grow up to be attractive." Advertisement It doesn't teach kids that we should accept everyone just as they are; it's warning them not to call someone ugly, because they might eventually become hot. The underlying rule -- that only the beautiful deserve love and respect -- still comes through loud and clear, because let's face it, all of society secretly depends on it. Bizarrely, it gets even more depressing once you read the original story. Walt Disney Oh, you thought this was about overcoming prejudices? This is Disney. Advertisement Advertisement See, the ugly duckling isn't merely teased for its looks. It gets "bitten and pushed and made fun of" by every animal it encounters, including its brothers and sisters, who wish their sibling was eaten by a cat. Meanwhile, his mother "wished he had never been born," presumably very loudly over dinner after several glasses of wine. This is one of the most fucked up things you can say to a person, let alone a child. Walt Disney Next to "Santa killed himself because of you." Advertisement Not being able to cope with the abuse, the ugly duckling eventually decides to commit suicide by approaching a bunch of swans, who it seems are the national guard / biker gang of the waterfowl world: "I will fly to those royal birds," he exclaimed, "and they will kill me, because I am so ugly, and dare to approach them ... better be killed by them than pecked by the ducks, beaten by the hens. This bit is usually omitted in most adaptations. But after approaching the swans while yelling "Kill me," the duckling is shocked when no immediate death follows. Instead, the swans recognize a fellow swan in the rejected little bird and let him hang out with them. The "duckling" finally finds its people and gets over his depression (because it's THAT easy), thus suggesting that all his abuse would have been justified if he had been just a weird-looking duck. Advertisement Advertisement Although we can't blame everyone's reaction to the ugly duckling. Look at what baby swans look like: Markus Krotzsch/Wiki Commons Look at these piles of garbage. 3 The Cat In The Hat Says It's Fine To Force Your Will On Others Random House, Houghton Mifflin Advertisement The Cat In The Hat starts out with a grown and nearly naked anthropomorphic cat man walking uninvited into the house of two unattended children and immediately throwing himself a private party. Random House, Houghton Mifflin "You parents are gone, bet they're having a blast, I've brought some Mike's Hard, let's get fucking smashed." Advertisement This pretty much sets the tone for the iffy moral of the story. See, the Cat does not give a shit about what anyone wants. He doesn't ask what the kids want to do, or even if they want to play with him. He up and declares that the house, which does not belong to him, is now their playground, and that he is the Emperor of Fun. And when the kids' fish refuses to participate in his home invasion, he fucking assaults it. Random House, Houghton Mifflin "Watch how you speak to me, or I'll brain you with this stick, you see?" Advertisement Later, the Cat invites two strangers who are clearly his meth pals into the house, and they immediately wreck the place. It's up to the kids to deal with this problem, because again, the Cat doesn't care -- he's just squatting there for the evening. Random House, Houghton Mifflin Meth: Turns your hair blue and stunts your growth. Advertisement Sure, the Cat does clean up the mess he's made in the end, but that's not the point, is it? If one of your friends kicked in the door to your apartment, had sex on your bed, but then cleaned the sheets for you, you'd still be angry, right? Imagine if you didn't even know that person, and that's what the kids in The Cat In The Hat are dealing with. Random House, Houghton Mifflin Oh yeah. This is definitely a sex thing for him. Advertisement Cutting loose with a bit of wild mayhem is fine every once in a while, but everyone involved has to be on board, or else you're forcing them into an uncomfortable and destructive situation. The Cat isn't the avatar of fun -- he's that cousin that shows up once every other year to crash at your house unannounced with a duffel bag full of heroin and some weird friends. 2 Winnie-The-Pooh Is A Serial Killer Training Manual Methuen & Co. Ltd. Advertisement Advertisement Winnie-The-Pooh is the classic tale of Christopher Robin, a child who spends his days in the Hundred Acre Wood with his stuffed animal friends, because he cannot tell the difference between fantasy and reality. It was basically Toy Story, if Andy interacted with Woody and Buzz and went along on their adventures. Or rather, it's Toy Story if Sid, the burgeoning serial killer who mutilates Buzz and Woody, went along on their adventures. Because if you read the Winnie-The-Pooh books instead of only watching the Disney adaptations, it becomes clear that Christopher Robin is a damn sociopath. The very first chapter of Winnie-The-Pooh shows Christopher Robin dragging Pooh down the stairs and deliberately bashing his head against every single step. We're told that this is the only way Pooh knows how to go down stairs, because he is literally unable to think of any alternative, thanks to all the skull-bashing. Methuen & Co. Ltd. His name was Edward, but he forgot by the bottom. Advertisement Advertisement Later on in the story, Pooh gets his head stuck in a jar of honey, which is a familiar scene for fans. However, rather than turning into a charming sequence of Pooh's friends gathering around trying to get him unstuck, this becomes a protracted carnival of misery, as the sentient stuffed animal struggles to release himself while Christopher Robin laughs his ass off: Suddenly Christopher Robin began to laugh ... and he laughed ... and he laughed ... and he laughed. Yeah, about the third "laughed," there is the point where you realize you're dealing with a diseased brain. The little British goblin makes no attempt to help, so Pooh is forced to smash his already-abused skull against a root until the jar finally breaks. But the most chilling thing Christopher Robin does occurs in the second chapter, when Pooh gets wedged in Rabbit's hole (Pooh really can't be trusted to take care of himself, possibly because of all the head injuries). Christopher Robin inexplicably decides that the best way to free Pooh is to starve him. For a week. With all the warmth of a buzzard, Christopher Robin sits down in front of Pooh and reads to him while denying him food for days, until Pooh becomes emaciated enough to slide free of his prison. Because, you know, dirt holes can't possibly be dug out or anything. Methuen & Co. Ltd. He only brought the book to mask his erection. Advertisement Meanwhile, Rabbit had to spend days with Pooh's whistling asshole mounted in his kitchen. Because Christopher Robin treats his animal friends (who, in the story, are alive and have thoughts and feelings) like meaningless toys, the lesson here seems to be "Friends only exist for your amusement." Hey, speaking of which ... Advertisement Even Jones himself was acting like a dictator, becoming more disciplinary and authoritarian by the hour. But he couldn't stop, because both he and the students had gotten in too deep. If he abruptly ended it with "April Fools!" then young minds and spirits would likely be crushed, and perhaps they'd even revolt against Jones or fellow students. Remember that the next time you ask why Trump never dropped out. knowledge.ca Advertisement He wanted to be involved, you guys. Jones' solution, after five days of increasingly scary incidents (including one of the students' fathers, a former POW of the Nazis, destroying the classroom in a fit of rage), was to double-trick the students. He told The Wave they were part of a nationwide effort to find students willing to create change -- in schools, colleges, the working world, politics -- until they'd ultimately change "the destiny of this nation." They were now the Third Wave Youth Program, because "YOU ARE ALL ACTING LIKE NAZIS" didn't roll off the tongue as well. After exiling the handful of students who still questioned The Wave (leaving only dutiful, obedient Wavers), Jones held a Wavers-only rally. What they got wasn't a rally, but rather footage of the worst shit the Nazis did, starting with Nuremberg Rallies, followed by families being violently torn apart and hoarded into vans and trains on the way to the death camps. It ended with Nazis on trial insisting they only did what they were told, followed by the quote, "Everyone must accept the blame. No one can claim that they didn't in some way take part." sites.google.com Advertisement "Uh, some more than others ..." With that, Jones explained The Wave was a hoax, and how it exposed the children as fully capable of the evil they were taught about the week before. "You have been used, manipulated," he told them. "Shoved by your own desires into the place you now find yourself. You are no better or worse than the German Nazis we have been studying. You thought that you were the elect. That you were better than those outside this room. You bargained your freedom for the comfort of discipline and superiority. You chose to accept that group's will and the big lie over your own conviction." The kids learned their lesson. They learned their lesson so hard that many of them waited decades to tell anyone about the time they were fake Nazis. Instead, they grew up to never talk about politics or engage in government again. Jason is on Facebook and Twitter, doling out lessons to all who listen. Now if only someone would listen. Also check out 5 Feel-Good School Programs With Horrifying Consequences and The 6 Most Horrific Lessons Ever Taught In Elementary School. Subscribe to our YouTube channel, and check out 5 Classic Movie High Schools That Would Suck to Attend and other videos you won't see on the site! Follow us on Facebook, and we'll follow you everywhere. Each year millions of people spend bucketfuls of their hard-earned cash to travel to famous landmarks, snap a selfie, and then wonder what the hell else they're going to do until the flight back home. Well, those people are obviously unaware that cool little secrets lurk all around you -- if you know where to look. We're talking about stuff like ... 6 Central Park's Secret Coordinates Jean-Christophe Benoist/Wiki Commons At night, the 843 acres of Manhattan's Central Park are lit by 1,600 cast-iron street lamps, because the last thing you want is to get stranded in a sprawling wooded area in the pitch dark, where you're likely to stub your toe on a mutant alligator or become the prey in the nightly Predator-style hunt put on by the locals. Designed by architect Henry Bacon (designer of a little thing known as the Lincoln Memorial) in 1907, the base of each street lamp bears a plaque inscribed with a mysterious number. If you've ever noticed one of them at all, you probably assumed it was some kind of serial number, or perhaps a running tally of how many times that particular lamp has been peed on by a random drunk. Matt Young Silly you. The numbers are nowhere near high enough for that. Advertisement Actually, those numbers are there to help you escape from New York quicker than Kurt Russell can slap on a badass eyepatch. Here's the secret: The first two (sometimes three) numbers on the post indicate the nearest cross street, while the last number indicates which side of the park you're on -- odd numbers for west, even numbers for east. So post number 6126, for instance, means you're near 61st Street, East Side, while post number 6666 means you're about to get tossed off a balcony by a demonic toddler. Matt Young Or perhaps get bitten by sentient tetanus. Advertisement So there you go. Next time you're in New York, you can close Google Maps and conserve your phone battery for more important tasks, like snapping selfies with street lamps. 5 The Vatican's Hidden Erotic Bathroom Wolfgang Stuck/Wiki Commons Advertisement With its myriad hidden passageways, secret chambers, and constant drone of incomprehensible incantations, the Vatican is basically Hogwarts without the Satanic influence. Each year, five million people visit the City That God Built in an attempt to get a peek at the Pope's funny hat and maybe sneak a bottle or twelve of all that "communion" wine. Of those five million, we're betting approximately not a one of them suspects that they're just steps away from Christendom's bawdiest bathroom. Advertisement Way back in the early 1500s, one Cardinal Bibbiena became obsessed with the titillating pagan motifs being unearthed in ancient Roman ruins. Thus, he looked up his homeboy Raphael and tasked him with recreating them in one of the bathrooms within the papal apartments. Raphael proceeded to cover the walls of the chamber with more bare-ass Roman goddesses than you can shake a stick at, after which Bibbiena proceeded to hop in the bath and do whatever it is a highly sexually repressed man does when naked and surrounded by a full 360 degrees of smut. Lesley Thelander Invoke the Lord's name a lot? Advertisement Advertisement In the years since, the so-called Stufetta della Bibbiena has sort of become the Vatican's dirty little secret. The chamber has been stripped of its bath and other accoutrements. Its walls have been painted over and then restored in the mid-19th century by a Catholic art expert -- because porn painted by Raphael is still porn painted by goddamned Raphael. If you'd like to take in some papal porn firsthand (so to speak), good luck: the holy types at the Vatican open the Stufetta almost never, and some of the most risque frames -- such as the mid-rape of Minerva by Vulcan -- have been destroyed. Hilariously, at least one attempt at such censorship utterly backfired: An effort to cover up Pan's weird, index-finger-looking boner with white paint only succeeded in making it appear as if history's most famous satyr was packing a meat missile capable of rendering any nymph incapable of sitting for a week. Tony Perrottet "Didn't your mother ever tell you that it's rude to point?" Advertisement 4 Pixar's Secret Speakeasies DPR Construction Advertisement If you ever get a tour of the Pixar offices, there are a couple of spots they're probably not going to let you see. Or maybe they will, if you're cool enough. The backstory is that one day, Pixar animator Andrew Gordon discovered a hatch in his office revealing a passageway just large enough to accommodate a human-sized creature. As luck would have it, Gordon was in fact a human-sized creature himself, so he crawled right on through to what would surely be either Narnia or the slavering jaws of some awaiting hellbeast. Xiaxue Gordon obviously never got the "NO DON'T CRAWL INTO THAT!" lesson from his parents as a toddler. Advertisement Disappointingly, all he found was a small, stark room providing access to the building's air-conditioning valves. But, after presumably clearing out all the janitor skeletons, Gordon set straight to hauling in a full bar, groovy lighting, and leopard print bedding for, um, entertaining. Thus was born the Love Lounge, and -- as the signatures on the walls can attest -- over the years it's been a happenin' hangout for the likes of Tim Allen, Michael Eisner, Roy Disney, and Steve Jobs, who preferred to call it the Meditation Room. Hey, whatever makes you feel better about masturbating at work, Steve. Xiaxue If these walls could talk, they could tell you all about the Apple founder's dongle. Advertisement Advertisement Sadly, Gordon eventually upgraded to an office not connected to the air vent room. That simply couldn't stand, however, so he transformed the space neighboring his new digs into the Love Lounge's spiritual successor, the Lucky 7 Lounge. Visitors are no longer forced to crawl through a cramped duct, instead entering via a sliding bookcase activated by a button hidden within a Shakespearean bust -- which is, of course, the proper way to enter a top-secret watering hole for animators and Batmen alike. Xiaxue Why yes, he worked on The Incredibles. Why do you ask? Advertisement Advertisement 3 Thailand's Buddhist/Pop Culture Temple JJ Harrison/Wiki Commons Each year, Buddhist temples such as Laos's Pha That Luang and Indonesia's Borobudur are overrun by scads of tourists who secretly suspect that all Buddhist monks are either kung fu experts or airbenders. It's understandable -- the temples' ornate architecture and often idyllic locations make them some of the most unique places in the world to visit. And Thailand's Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple) is ... more unique than most. Designed by the nation's eminent Buddhist artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, the temple opened in 1997 and is still a work in progress, with a planned completion date of 2100. Advertisement Your first indication that this ain't your granddaddy's Buddhist temple comes the moment you arrive, as demonic traffic cones lead you to your parking space: Heiko S/Flickr "Oh, sorry, I didn't realize this space was reserved for Ghost Rider." Advertisement Things only get weirder when, as you approach the temple, you're startled by a goddamned Predator returning from the grave: Jan Albrecht Advertisement In order to enter the temple proper, you must cross over the "cycle of death and rebirth," which is a fancy metaphysical way to describe a horrific pit of ghostly hands that reach for you in seek of handouts (donations may be made in US Dollars, Thai baht, or fresh arterial blood). Arnie Cooper "Or brains. Brains will do." Advertisement Advertisement Believe it or not, the temple gets even more bizarre once you're inside. That's where Kositpipat has splashed the walls with elaborate murals depicting the destructive effects of worldwide greed and desire, a message that is bafflingly conveyed with the help of pop icons such as Michael Jackson, Freddy Krueger, Spider-Man, and freaking Kung Fu Panda. Travel Photo Report "The road to hell is paved with the King of Pop and also Terminators." - Chalermchai Kositpipat Advertisement Advertisement It's all fun and games until you round a corner and are greeted by a detailed depiction of the 9/11 attacks ... being perpetrated by Angry Birds. Right about now is when you might decide that perhaps the type of "enlightenment" Chalermchai Kositpipat really needs is a good ol' kick in the dick. Travel Photo Report "I'ma enlighten your ass up." Uncle Jesse has two rules: Dont touch the hair, and theres no crying in show business. John Stamos stuck so true to those two conditions during his time on the iconic San Francisco sitcom Full House that he was even willing to do the unthinkable to enforce them he actually had Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen fired for crying so uncontrollably that they broke Stamos concentration during an important scene in the shows pilot. While its generally reasonable for a star such as Stamos to expect professionalism from his peers in the workplace, the twins were barely 11 months old when Uncle Jesse kicked them out of the house. And here we thought Uncle Jesse was done with his bad boy phase. Stamos appeared on the most recent episode of a fellow family-friendly sitcom stars podcast where he told the story of the behind-the-scenes spat between himself and his beloved niece(s). On Josh Pecks Good Guys Podcast, Stamos recalled the scene in the Full House pilot in which he and Dave Couliers character Uncle Joey were supposed to change baby Michelle Tanners diaper, but neither baby Mary-Kate nor baby Ashley could get through the scene without wailing uncontrollably. Stamos demanded that the producers get rid of the unbecoming babies, and the Olsen twins exited the project. Hardcore film fans will sometimes obsess over a movie from a celebrated director thats not necessarily his or her best but is, definitively, that persons least-characteristic. Some folks favorite Martin Scorsese movie is The Age of Innocence or Kundun. Every once in a while, youll meet a Clint Eastwood head who really digs The Bridges of Madison County or somebody who insists Steven Spielbergs greatest film is 1941. That contrarianism can be a way for certain fans to distinguish themselves from the casual movie lover, but it can also be inspired by the fact that this particular film is nothing like the material the auteur usually pursues. The movies very peculiarity is what makes it so special. Theres a contingent of Film Twitter that cant get enough of Pain & Gain, a title that may not ring a bell for a lot of people, despite its starry cast and big-name director. Released 10 years ago today, and based on a true story, this comedy crime-thriller is about Daniel (Mark Wahlberg), a Miami bodybuilder and personal trainer who decides hes got the perfect get-rich-quick scheme: Hell recruit a couple dudes to help him kidnap one of his clients, Victor (Tony Shalhoub), to get a lot of money out of the guy. Everything goes pear-shaped quickly, though. That premise sounds like the makings of a Coen Brothers film, but whats most fascinating about Pain & Gain is that its a Michael Bay movie quite possibly his funniest. Most of it, intentionally so. Play Because Bay spent a decade churning out loud, terrible Transformers movies, it might be easy to forget that, earlier in his career, he was churning out loud, funny, halfway decent action films. Your mileage may vary, but Bad Boys, The Rock and Armageddon felt energized by this former video-music directors thrill at getting to work with a movie-sized budget. Full of explosions and wisecracks sometimes simultaneously Bays flicks proudly demonstrated his love for popcorn escapism. Eventually, he got self-serious try to wipe his disastrous romantic war drama Pearl Harbor from your memory and had the occasional commercial dud, like The Island, but starting with 2007s Transformers, he focused primarily on clattering, supersized robots. There were jokes in those movies, too, I suppose, but by then his bro-y sense of humor had lost its charm. Transformers and its sequels made so much money and so little sense. Advertisement But in the midst of that run, he decided to shift gears. To be sure, Pain & Gain was hardly austere arthouse cinema. And Bay was still working with big stars and a major studio. But by his more-is-more standards, this adaptation of a series of incredible Pete Collins articles about the so-called Sun Gym Gang felt positively stripped-down. Its also the closest Bay has ever come to crafting a satire, although its never entirely clear how cognizant he was about what was being satirized. Theres a darker, more scathing tale within Pain & Gain, but Bay doesnt always find it. If anything, that only makes the movie more interesting. Early on in Pain & Gain, Wahlbergs Daniel recruits Adrian (a pre-Marvel Anthony Mackie) and Paul (a pre-superstar Dwayne Johnson), fellow bodybuilders, to help him with his plan. This threesome has plenty of problems. Daniel and Paul have been in prison. Paul has a drug problem. Adrian has gotten so jacked from steroids that hes impotent. And Daniel has delusions of grandeur, inspired by feel-good movies like Rocky and, uh, Scarface to follow his dreams which are to steal someone elses money. Daniel, Adrian and Paul are buff dummies pumped up with unearned confidence. This crime will most certainly be a catastrophe. Play Advertisement Advertisement You have to wonder what someone like Steven Soderbergh would have done with this material, which finds the wry humor in nitwits getting in too deep with something they cant handle. (You could argue he made his own version of this movie with 2017s Logan Lucky.) But Bay, in some ways, was the ideal director for Pain & Gain. For one thing, its Miami setting brought Bay back to the milieu of Bad Boys plus, Miami is the mans home. We did it all around my house in Miami, Bay said at the time. I would drive a moped to the set; thats how close it was. I mean, we would do things, cause all the cops know us in Miami. On its surface, Pain & Gain is a commentary on gaudy American excess, the movie filled with roided-out dudes who like big boobs, fast cars and easy money. Daniel, Adrian and Paul are definitely the kinds of guys who went to Transformers opening weekend and loved the hell out of it. Pain & Gain could have easily been scored to America, Fuck Yeah from Team America: World Police, a movie these knuckleheads would have thought was just a straightforward ass-kicking action flick. But not only are these guys not bright, theyre dangerously entitled. They believe wholeheartedly they deserve the great life they see advertised on TV and if some foreigner like Victor gets to enjoy it then, damn it, they should, too. Advertisement The movies problem, however, is that it only stays on the surface. Theres an uglier, more insightful analysis waiting to be unearthed in Pain & Gain, but Bay has never been one for deep thinking. Instead of tearing back the curtain on the Sun Gym Gang, exposing them as symbolic of a country overrun by sensation and an inflated sense of its own greatness, he mostly chuckles at the dumb things his characters do. And they certainly do myriad dumb things, leading to an escalation of unbelievable events as the gang try to kill Victor, fail and then have to deal with the fallout. Working with a smaller budget and fewer massive action sequences than normal, Bay has a ball sending this story careening around every crazy plot twist. Pain & Gain was a passion project he spent years developing, and you can feel his giddiness at getting to work on a smaller scale than with his Transformers behemoths. But youll never convince me that Bay is knowingly cutting down Americas overblown essence to size. Hes too much of the problem to see that hes part of the problem. Advertisement Advertisement Thank god the performances bring the nuance Bay himself cant summon. Wahlberg is very good playing sensitive fools think of his work in I Heart Huckabees and The Other Guys and hes especially fun as Daniel, whos rocking a huge chip on his shoulder and carrying a lot of dumb ideas about what the world owes him. Daniel is one of those guys, bless his heart, who insists hes smart, unaware of how not smart he is, and Wahlberg makes the guys idiocy surprisingly touching. Mackie conveys the absurdity of a super-sculpted dude so concerned with his masculinity that hes accidentally rendered his dick inoperable. As for Johnson, this is the Rock that I really miss the rising star who was still trying to prove himself and could believably play vulnerable and sweet. The Sun Gym Gang are filled with bad dudes, but Johnsons Paul, a born-again Christian, is trying to change his ways, even though that somehow means extorting an innocent victim. All three actors dissect the silliness of swaggering, ultra-macho behavior the sort you see frequently in a Michael Bay movie and Pain & Gain soars when these skilled actors straight-facedly play such buffoons. Play Advertisement Am I not giving Bay enough credit for this funny, occasionally subversive crime comedy? Maybe, but Pain & Gains worst elements its cringe-y homophobia and irritating sexism feel much more like Bays M.O., whereas the smarter commentary seems to emerge almost by mistake, or despite Bay. Pain & Gain was a modest hit, but soon Bay was back to doing Transformers sequels that broke box-office records, this odd little curiosity quickly forgotten by the masses. But talk to a Bay super-fan, and you may be surprised how often it comes up. Pain & Gain is both a Bay film and very much not a Bay film. Ten years later, thats still this absorbing movies greatest selling point and nagging limitation: Bay so embodies this macho-dude world that hes too close to it. He knows the Sun Gym Gang are funny, but he may not fully understand how funny they are. Its official Nate Bargatze is a record-breaker. The Tennessee-born deadpan dads Amazon Prime Video debut special Hello World, filmed at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix, took the top spot once held by Jim Gaffigan for the most-viewed Amazon original comedy special with 2.9 million streams in its first 28 days on the platform. Hello World is Bargatzes most personal project to date as the dry and imaginative storyteller delved deeper into his family life than hed done before, and always with a family-friendly tone that would appease his profoundly Christian 1980s parents. Amazons decision to lure Bargatze away from Netflix, a platform that hosts two of his previous specials, paid off for them in a big way as Hello World succeeded Gaffigans Quality Time by nearly half a million views. Thanks to Amazons promotional strategy for Hello World, you can celebrate the milestone by doing the next best thing to actually streaming it by watching approximately 30 minutes of it in 30-second chunks posted by Prime Video and Bargatzes channel Nateland. Prime Video and its competitors already changed the way we consume content with the fast rise of streaming, and as Amazon takes notes from their friends at TikTok, well soon be able to watch every comedy special in half-minute increments. This is history right here. Play Play Play Play Play Connecticut Natural Gas customers will see an as-yet-undetermined bill credit over the final three months of 2023 after state officials found that the Orange-based utility earned $8 million more than the company was allowed. Connecticut's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority on Monday approved bill credits in excess of $4.06 million to be spread across CNG's 184,000 customers in Greenwich and 25 central Connecticut communities, starting Oct. 1 and ending through Dec. 31. The actual amount of the bill credits is still being calculated, according to officials with the office of Connecticut Attorney General William Tong. "CNG is profiting off the backs of Connecticut families and businesses," Tong said in a statement released Monday. "We pay far too much for our utilities as it is, we should not be charged a penny more than needed. CNG needs to come before PURA right away for a full rate hearing so we can scrutinize their books and get these inflated costs under control." Connecticut utilities regulated by PURA are supposed to appear before regulators every four years, but CNG's last rate case was five years ago. In the CNG's last rate case, it was required to split any excess earnings with its customers. So even, though CNG earned $8 million more than it was allowed, bill credits will only total half that amount with the other $4 million going to shareholders of the utility, which is a subsidiary of Orange-based Avangrid. While CNG hasn't violated any state statutes, a joint filing by Tong, Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman, and trade group known as Connecticut Industrial Energy Consumers have submitted a petition contending what the utility has been collecting from customers does not accurately reflect current conditions. "Connecticut ratepayers should not be subsidizing CNG shareholders, Tong said. Coleman said when rates have fallen "out of sync with a utilitys actual cost needs, the pocketbooks and quality of life of Connecticut residents can suffer. As the states independent ratepayer advocate, weve joined our partners to call CNG before PURA for a line by line accounting of the their earnings." Jay Goodman, an attorney for the Connecticut Industrial Energy Consumers, called CNG's rise in earnings "appalling " "This hurts businesses and makes it harder to grow the economy in the companys service territory," Goodman said in a statement. The Connecticut Industrial Energy Consumers is pleased to collaborate with the Attorney General, the Consumer Counsel, and the Authoritys Office of Education, Outreach, and Enforcement to advocate for new gas rates that are just, reasonable, and do not force customers to continue paying extra money every month to fund excessive shareholder profits, said Jay Goodman, attorney for the Connecticut Industrial Energy Consumers. Craig Gilvarg, a CNG spokesman, said "the company is pleased to be able to return money to ratepayers this year." "While CNG is reviewing the motion filed by the Attorney Generals Office this morning, PURA has already approved CNGs proposal to return over $4 million to its ratepayers this upcoming heating season," Gilvarg said. WASHINGTON (AP) A Fugees rapper accused in multimillion-dollar political conspiracies spanning two presidencies was convicted Wednesday after a trial that included testimony ranging from actor Leonardo DiCaprio to former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Prakazrel Pras Michel was accused of funneling money from a now-fugitive Malaysian financer through straw donors to Barack Obamas 2012 reelection campaign, then trying to squelch a Justice Department investigation and influence an extradition case on behalf of China under the Trump administration. A jury in Washington, D.C., federal court found him guilty of all 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. The defense argued the Grammy-winning rapper from the 1990s hip-hop group the Fugees simply wanted to make money and got bad legal advice as he reinvented himself in the world of politics. Michel declined to comment after the verdict, but his attorney said hes extremely disappointed in the outcome of the case and plans to appeal. This is not over, attorney David Kenner said. I remain very, very confident we will ultimately prevail. Michel first met Malaysian financer Low Taek Jho in 2006, when the businessman usually known as Jho Low was dropping huge sums of money and hobnobbing with the likes of Paris Hilton. Low helped finance Hollywood films, including The Wolf of Wall Street. DiCaprio testified Low had appeared to him as a legitimate businessman and had mentioned wanting to donate to Obamas campaign. Michel also testified in his own defense. He said Low wanted a picture with Obama in 2012 and was willing to pay millions of dollars to get it. Michel agreed to help and used some of the money he got to pay for friends to attend fundraising events. No one had ever told him that was illegal, he said. Prosecutors said Michel was donating the money on Lows behalf, and later tried to lean on the straw donors with texts from burner phones to keep them from talking to investigators. After the election of Donald Trump, prosecutors say Michel again took millions to halt an investigation into allegations Low masterminded a money laundering and bribery scheme that pilfered billions from the Malaysian state investment fund known as 1MDB. Low is now an international fugitive and has maintained his innocence. Michel also got paid to try and persuade the U.S. to extradite back to China a government critic suspected of crimes there without registering as a foreign agent, prosecutors said. On that charge, the defense pointed to testimony from Sessions, who was Trumps top law enforcement officer until he resigned in 2018. Sessions said hed been aware the Chinese government wanted the extradition but didnt know Michel. The rappers ultimately futile efforts to arrange a meeting on the topic didnt seem improper, the former attorney general said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) For most of her life in New Mexico, Christina Wood felt like she had to hide her identity as a transgender woman. So six years ago she moved to Oregon, where she had readier access to the gender-affirming health care she needed to live as her authentic self. Once there, Wood, 49, was able to receive certain surgeries that helped her transition, but electrolysis, or permanent hair removal, wasnt fully covered under the states Medicaid plan for low-income residents. Paying out-of-pocket ate up nearly half her monthly income, but it was critical for Wood's mental health. Having this facial hair or this body hair, it doesnt make me feel feminine. I still look in the mirror and I see that masculine person, she said. Its stressful. It causes anxiety and PTSD when youre having to live in this body that you dont feel like you should be in. That is likely about to change. Oregon lawmakers are expected to pass a bill that would further expand insurance coverage for gender-affirming care to include things like facial hair removal and Adam's apple reduction surgery, procedures currently considered cosmetic by insurers but seen as critical to the mental health of transitioning women. The wide-ranging bill is part of a wave of legislation this year in Democratic-led states intended to carve out safe havens amid a conservative movement that seeks to ban or limit gender-affirming care elsewhere, eliminate some rights and protections for transgender people and even bar discussion of their existence in settings such as classrooms. More than a half-dozen states, from New Jersey to Vermont to Colorado, have passed or are considering bills or executive orders around transgender health care, civil rights and other legal protections. In Michigan, for example, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last month signed a bill outlawing discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation for the first time in her state. Trans people are just being used as a political punching bag, said Rose Saxe, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union's LGBT and HIV Project. Denying this health care doesnt make them not trans. It just makes their lives much harder. Gender-affirming care includes a wide range of social and medical interventions, such as hormone treatments, counseling, puberty blockers and surgery. Oregon's bill would bar insurers and the states Medicaid plan from defining procedures like electrolysis as cosmetic when they are prescribed as medically necessary for treating gender dysphoria. It also would shield providers and patients from lawsuits originating in states where such procedures are restricted. Were actually very committed to accessibility of coverage. Because you can say something is legal, but if its not truly affordable or accessible, that is not a full promise, said Democratic state Rep. Andrea Valderrama, the bills chief sponsor. Access to procedures such as electrolysis is also necessary as a matter of public safety, said Blair Stenvick, communications manager for the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Basic Rights Oregon. Facial hair can be a trigger for harassment, Stenvick said, and being able to present as a woman helps folks to not get targeted and identified as a trans person and then attacked. The bill has sparked fervent debate, with hundreds of people submitting written testimony both for and against it and an emotionally charged public hearing at the Capitol in Salem last month that went on for several hours. The Democratic-controlled House is expected to vote on the bill Monday over Republican opposition before it heads to the Senate, which is also dominated by Democrats. Oregon's measure mirrors a nationwide trend in Democratic-led states. Shield protections similar to what is being proposed in Oregon have been enacted this year in Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey and New Mexico, and other bills are awaiting the signatures of Govs. Jay Inslee in Washington and Tim Walz in Minnesota. California, Massachusetts and Connecticut passed their own measures last year. They largely bar authorities from complying with subpoenas, arrest warrants or extradition requests from states that have banned gender-affirming treatments. Meanwhile a measure passed last month by lawmakers in Maryland would expand the list of procedures covered by Medicaid, and Democratic Gov. Wes Moore has said he plans to sign it. And lawmakers in Nevada's Democratic-held Legislature are also pushing to expand gender-affirming health care and develop policies regarding the treatment of transgender prisoners, among other things. The series of bills face an uncertain fate under Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, who has shied away from the anti-transgender rhetoric and policy proposals that fellow GOP officeholders and candidates across the country have embraced. Lawmakers have just over a month to vote on them before the legislative session ends in June. But regardless of their outcome, an open debate over transgender health care protections in the important swing state promises to further heighten national attention on the issue. They know that this is not a political stunt, state Sen. Melanie Scheible, the bill's sponsor and member of Nevadas newly formed LGBTQ+ Caucus, said of the governors office. Im not trying to give them a bill to veto just so I can complain about it later. Some opponents of gender-affirming health care say they're concerned that young people may undergo certain physical transition procedures that are irreversible or transition socially in settings such as schools without their parents' knowledge. Advocates for gender-affirming health procedures counter that they can be, literally, a matter of life or death. Kevin Wang, medical director for the LGBTQI+ Program at Swedish Health Services in Seattle, said such care alleviates the depression, anxiety and self-harm seen in patients with gender dysphoria. Studies show that transgender people, particularly youth, consider and attempt suicide at higher rates than the general population. These are not aesthetic procedures, Wang said. Accessing these services can be absolutely life-saving because were preventing future harm. Some legal experts, however, warn that laws that protect gender-affirming care but lack strong enforcement mechanisms or funding to investigate violations may not result in meaningful change. For example, Oregon already bars insurance companies from discrimination on the basis of gender identity. And the state agency overseeing health insurance rules already requires companies to cover procedures deemed medically necessary by a doctor to treat gender dysphoria and bars them from defining them as cosmetic. But insurers have rarely faced major consequences for violations, said Ezra Young, a civil rights attorney and visiting assistant professor of law at Cornell Law School. Wheres the task force thats going to enforce the law? Young said. Where are the lawyers that are going to do this? Where is the funding to educate insurance adjusters that they cant do this? "If youre leaving it to relatively poor transgender people to litigate a case in court thats not a meaningful remedy. Christina Wood, the transplant to Oregon, said she was lucky to have had the resources and ability to move to a state where she could more easily complete her transition, compared with other states that have fewer protections. Its scary to live in this world right now. But ... Im not going to back down, and Im going to advocate for people in my situation, Wood said. I never had a voice when I was younger. Christopher never had a voice. Christina has a voice. And so thats what I plan to do. ___ Associated Press writers Gabe Stern in Carson City, Nevada, Joey Cappellitti in Lansing, Michigan, and Brian Witte in Baltimore contributed to this report. ___ Rush and Stern are corps members 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HELENA, Mont. (AP) Montana Republicans barred transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr from the House floor on Wednesday, wielding decorum rules after she rebuked colleagues supporting a ban on gender-affirming care for children and protested their efforts to silence her. The punishment marks the first time in nearly half a century that Montana lawmakers have sought such disciplinary action against one of their own. It caps a weeklong standoff between Zephyr and House Republican leaders and formalizes their decision to silence her for saying that those voting in favor of the ban would have blood on their hands. Zephyr will still be able to vote and participate in committees, but not discuss proposals and amendments under consideration in the full House. The legislative session is set to end in early May. The fight over Zephyr's remarks has brought the nationwide debate over protest's role in democracy to Montana, where lawmakers punished her for voicing dissent, an increasingly prevalent move in statehouses. Supporting Zephyr's attempts to regain her voice, protesters interrupted proceedings earlier this week by chanting Let her Speak in a boisterous rally that came after they protested outside the Capitol and unfurled a banner that read Democracy Dies Here. After days of rebuffing Zephyr's request to speak, Republican leaders finally granted her the floor to give a statement before they ultimately voted to discipline her Wednesday. She said her initial blood on your hands remark and subsequent decision to thrust a microphone into the air toward protesters in the House gallery were an effort to stand up for the LGBTQ+ community and her constituents in Missoula. House Speaker Matt Regier's decision to turn off her microphone, she said, was an attempt to drive a nail in the coffin of democracy." If you use decorum to silence people who hold you accountable, then all youre doing is using decorum as a tool of oppression, Zephyr told her colleagues. House Republicans who supported barring Zephyr from the floor have accused her of placing lawmakers and staff at risk of harm for disrupting House proceedings and inciting protests in the chamber on Monday. But lawmakers were on the floor Monday when protesters were in the gallery, and there have been no reports of damage to the building. Freedom in this body involves obedience to all the rules of this body, including the rules of decorum, House Majority Leader Sue Vinton said. Authorities arrested seven people in the confrontation, who Zephyr said were defending democracy. Her opponents said ensuring government can conduct business on behalf of the people without interruption was a critical precedent to set. This is an assault on our representative democracy, spirited debate, and the free expression of ideas cannot flourish in an atmosphere of turmoil and incivility, Republican David Bedey said on the House floor. The episode comes weeks after two Black lawmakers, Tennessee state Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, were expelled for participating in a protest in favor of gun control after another school shooting. Similarly, Zephyrs punishment has ignited a firestorm of debate about governance and who has a voice in an elected body during this politically polarizing time. Post-expulsion, the fate of the two Tennessee lawmakers were sent to their county commissions, which swiftly voted to reinstate them. Zephyr told The Associated Press after the vote that Republican leaders were likely aware that a similar sequence of events could be triggered, had they expelled her. My community and the Democratic Party in Missoula would send me back here in a heartbeat because I represent them and I represent their values by standing up for democracy, she said. In Missoula, the county Democratic Party Chair Andy Nelson said Zephyr's constituents and supporters were disheartened to see her disciplined. What it comes down to is the silencing of not just Rep. Zephyr, but the 11,000 people she serves, he said after the decision. The punishment comes two days after protesters later packed into the gallery at the Statehouse and brought House proceedings to a halt chanting Let her speak" as Zephyr lifted her microphone toward them. Seven subsequent arrests galvanized both her supporters and those saying Zephyr's actions constitute an unacceptable attack on civil discourse. The far-right Montana Freedom Caucus, which had pushed for Zephyr to be censured, said in a statement that her actions in support of the protesters were nothing more than an ego trip." The caucus again on Wednesday deliberately misgendered Zephyr by using incorrect pronouns when referring to her. There needs to be some consequences for what he has been doing, said Rep. Joe Read, a member of the caucus who frequently and inconsistently used incorrect pronouns for Zephyr. He claimed Zephyr gave a signal to her supporters just before Monday's session was disrupted. He declined to say what that was other than a strange movement. "When she gave the signal for protesters to go into action, I would say thats when decorum was incredibly broken, Read added. Zephyr told the AP that she felt the moment was calling on her to stand up for democracy. Every time that one of these votes came; every time the speaker refused to allow me to speak; when the protesters came and demanded, my thought was twofold," she said. "Pride in those who stood up to defend democracy and a hope that in some small way, I could rise to that moment individually and do the work they sent me to do. ___ Metz reported from Salt Lake and Brown reported from Billings, Montana. Transgender kids and adults in North Dakota wont be able to access bathrooms, locker rooms or showers that match the gender they identify with in places like college dorms or jails, under a new law signed by Republican Gov. Doug Burgum. The American Civil Liberties Union has said that so far this year, more than 450 bills attacking the rights of transgender people have been introduced in state legislatures. Burgum's office announced Wednesday that he had signed the bill the previous day. The measure passed the state House and Senate with veto-proof majorities. Dorms and living facilities controlled by the state board of higher education are affected, as well as correctional facilities for youths and adults. Restrooms and shower rooms will be designated for use exclusively by males or exclusively by females. Transgender or gender-nonconforming people will need to get approval from a staff member to use the restroom or shower room of their choice. The governors office declined to comment on the bill Wednesday. Rep. Eric Murphy was one of three Republicans who defied their party and voted against the bill when it was in the House. I dont try to be polarizing. I just dont think there was a need for the legislation, the lawmaker from Grand Forks said in an interview after the new law was announced. Murphy, a professor of biomedical sciences at the University of North Dakota, said he doesnt think there needs to be a law to tell school officials how to handle this issue. Republican Rep. Jeff Hoverson supported the bill. Why would you not want a mens bathroom to be for men, and a womens bathroom to be for women?" the Minot representative said Wednesday. Experts say gender is a spectrum, not a binary structure consisting of only males and females, and it can vary by society and change over time. Sex refers to biological characteristics, such as chromosomes, hormones and reproductive anatomy, which can also vary or change in understanding over time, or be medically and legally altered. Last week, the governor signed a bill that restricts transgender health care in the state, immediately making it a crime to give gender-affirming care to people younger than 18. That measure also received veto-proof support from GOP lawmakers although some Republicans did vote against it, alongside all Democrats. Earlier this month, Burgum also signed a transgender athlete ban into law after it similarly passed the House and Senate with veto-proof majorities. In 2021, Burgum vetoed a bill that would have imposed a transgender athlete ban at that time, but House and Senate lawmakers did not have enough votes back then to override his veto. Republican lawmakers across the country are also banning gender-affirming care for minors. Restrictions have gone into effect in eight states this year including conservative Utah and South Dakota and are slated to in at least nine more by next year. ___ Trisha Ahmed is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Trisha Ahmed on Twitter: @TrishaAhmed15 ___ This story has been updated to correct that the bill was signed Tuesday and announced Wednesday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN ANTONIO, Philippines (AP) American and Filipino forces sank a ship with a barrage of high-precision rockets, airstrikes and artillery fire in their largest war drills on Wednesday in Philippine waters facing the disputed South China Sea which are likely to antagonize China. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. watched the American show of firepower from an observation tower in the coastal town of San Antonio in northwestern Zambales province, the latest indication of his strong backing of the Philippines' treaty alliance with the U.S. Marcos has ordered his military to shift its focus to external defense from decades-long domestic anti-insurgency battles as Chinas increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea become a top concern. The shift in the Philippine defense focus is in sync with the Biden administrations aim of reinforcing an arc of alliances in the Indo-Pacific region to better counter China. China has angered the Philippines by repeatedly harassing its navy and coast guard patrols and chasing away fishermen in waters close to Philippine shores but which Beijing claims as its own. The Philippines has filed more than 200 diplomatic protests against China since last year, including at least 77 since Marcos took office in June. Marcos, sitting beside U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson and his top defense and security advisers, used a pair of binoculars as rockets streaked into the blue sky from the U.S. High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, a multiple rocket and missile launcher mounted on a truck that has become a crucial weapon for Ukrainian troops battling Russian invasion forces. The coastal clearing in front of Marcos resembled a smoke-shrouded war zone and thudded with artillery fire as AH-64 Apache attack helicopters flew overhead. A private light plane flew by during the exercises, briefly interrupting them, and was asked to move away, said Col. Mike Logico, a Philippine military spokesperson for the drills. Fishermen have been advised to stay away from the area. This training increased the exercises realism and complexity, a key priority shared between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military, said Lt. Gen. William Jurney, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces. Together we are strengthening our capabilities in full-spectrum military operations across all domains, said Jurney, the U.S. director for the annual joint exercises called Balikatan, Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder." About 12,200 U.S military personnel, 5,400 Filipino forces and 111 Australian counterparts are taking part in the exercises, the largest since Balikatan started three decades ago. The drills have showcased U.S. warships, fighter jets as well as Patriot missiles, HIMARS and anti-tank Javelins, according to U.S. and Philippine military officials. The ship targeted by the allied forces was a decommissioned Philippine navy warship which was towed 18 to 22 kilometers (11 to 14 miles) out to sea. Smaller floating targets, including empty drums tied together, were also used as targets to simulate a battle scene in which a U.S. Marine Corps command and control hub enabled scattered allied forces to identify and locate enemy targets and then deliver precision rocket and missile fire. Philippine military officials said the maneuvers would bolster the countrys coastal defense and disaster-response capabilities and were not aimed at any country. China has opposed military drills involving U.S. forces in the region as well as increasing U.S. military deployments, which it warned would rachet up tensions and hamper regional stability and peace. Washington and Beijing have been on a collision course over Chinas increasingly assertive actions to defend its vast territorial claims in the South China Sea and Beijings goal of annexing Taiwan, by force if necessary. In February, Marcos approved a wider U.S. military presence in the Philippines by allowing rotating batches of American forces to stay in four more Philippine military camps. That was a sharp turnaround from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who feared that a larger American military footprint could antagonize Beijing. China strongly opposed the move, which would allow U.S. forces to establish staging grounds and surveillance posts in the northern Philippines across the sea from Taiwan and in western Philippine provinces facing the South China Sea. China has warned that a deepening security alliance between Washington and Manila and their ongoing military drills should not harm its security and territorial interests or interfere in the territorial disputes. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has said that such military cooperation should not target any third party and should be conducive to regional peace and stability. ___ Gomez reported from Manila. Associated Press journalist Joeal Calupitan contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CAIRO (AP) Sudanese families were massing Wednesday at a border crossing with Egypt and at a port city on the Red Sea, desperately trying to escape their country's violence and sometimes waiting for days with little food or shelter, witnesses said. In the capital, Khartoum, the intensity of fighting eased on the second day of a three-day truce, and the military said it had initially accepted a diplomatic initiative to extend the current cease-fire for another three days after it expires Thursday. The initiative, brokered by the eight-nation East Africa trade bloc known as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, or IGAD, would also include direct negotiations between the military and the Rapid Support Forces, the paramilitary group it has been battling since Apr. 15. There was no immediate comment from the RSF on the initiative, which, if accepted by both sides, would mark a major breakthrough in more than a week of intense international diplomacy. The two rivals, army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan and RSF commander Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, have until now seemed determined to vanquish the other. Taking advantage of relative calm, many residents in Khartoum and the neighboring city of Omdurman emerged from their homes to seek food and water, lining up at bakeries or grocery stores, after days of being trapped inside by the fighting between the army and a rival paramilitary group. Some inspected shops or homes that had been destroyed or looted. There is a sense of calm in my area and neighborhoods, said Mahasen Ali, a tea vendor who lives in Khartoums southern neighborhood of May. But all are afraid of whats next. Still, gunfire and explosions could be heard in the city, though residents said clashes were in more limited pockets, mainly around the militarys headquarters and the Republican Palace in central Khartoum and around bases in Omdurman across the Nile River. With the future of any truce uncertain, many took the opportunity to join the tens of thousands who have streamed out of the capital in recent days, trying to get out of the crossfire between the forces of Sudan's two top generals. Food has grown more difficult to obtain, and electricity is cut off across much of the capital and other cities. Multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations, a heavy blow in a country where a third of the population of 46 million relies on humanitarian assistance. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said only one in four hospitals in the capital is fully functional, and that the fighting has disrupted assistance to 50,000 children who are acutely malnourished. Many Sudanese fear the two sides will escalate their battle once the international evacuations of foreigners that began Sunday is completed. The British government, whose airlift is one of the last still ongoing, said it has evacuated around 300 people on flights out and plans four more Wednesday, promising to keep going as long as possible. Large numbers of people have meanwhile been making the exhausting daylong drive across the desert to access points out of the country to the city of Port Sudan on the eastern Red Sea coast and to the Arqin crossing into Egypt at the northern border. Crowds of Sudanese and foreigners also waited in Port Sudan, trying to register for a ferry to Saudi Arabia. Dallia Abdelmoniem, a Sudanese political commentator, said she and her family arrived Monday and have been trying to get a spot. Priority was given to foreign nationals, she told The Associated Press. She and some of her extended family, mostly women and children, took a 26-hour bus journey to reach the port, during which they passed military checkpoints and small villages where people offered cold hibiscus juice and water to Khartoum travelers. "These folk have very little, but they offered every single passenger on all these buses and trucks something to make their journey better, she said. At the Arqin crossing, families have been spending their nights outside in the desert, waiting to be let in to Egypt. Buses were lining up at the crossing. Its a mess long lines of elderly people, patients, women and children waiting in miserable conditions," said Moaz al-Ser, a Sudanese teacher who arrived along with his wife and three children at the border a day earlier. Tens of thousands of Khartoum residents have also fled to neighboring provinces or even into already existing displacement and refugee camps within Sudan that house victims of past conflicts. At least 512 people, including civilians and combatants, have been killed since the fighting erupted on Apr. 15, with another 4,200 wounded, the Sudanese Health Ministry said. The Doctors Syndicate, which tracks civilian casualties, said at least 295 civilians have been killed and 1,790 wounded. The 72-hour cease-fire announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was to last until late Thursday. Many fear that fighting will only escalate once evacuations of foreigners, which appeared to be in their last stages, are completed. But a senior British military officer said the U.K. evacuation operation could continue regardless of the cease-fire. Brig. Dan Reeve said conditions at the Wadi Saeedna airfield near Khartoum are calm and that the Sudanese armed forces have good control of the surrounding area. Cyprus' Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said five flights from Sudan arrived Wednesday, with a total of 391 British nationals aboard. A series of short cease-fires over the past week have either failed outright or brought only intermittent lulls that allowed evacuations of hundreds of foreigners by air and land. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the conflict is not only putting Sudans future at risk, it is lighting a fuse that could detonate across borders, causing immense suffering for years, and setting development back by decades. Guterres cited reports of armed clashes across the country, with people fleeing their homes in Blue Nile and North Kordofan states and across Western Darfur as well. Joyce Msuya, the assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the Security Council there have been numerous reports of sexual and gender-based violence. Msuya said the U.N. has received reports of tens of thousands of people arriving in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. In a separate development, Dr. Mike Ryan, emergencies chief at the World Health Organization, appeared to walk back concerns expressed a day earlier by the WHO representative in Sudan over fighters taking over a laboratory where pathogens are stored, including polio, measles and cholera. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Ryan said the main risk of exposure was to the fighters themselves. Burhan and Dagalo rose to power after a popular uprising in 2019 prompted the generals to remove Sudans longtime autocratic ruler Omar al-Bashir. Sudanese since have been trying to bring a transition to democratic rule, but in 2021 Burhan and Dagalo joined forces in a coup that purged civilian leaders. They fell out this month over a new rough plan to re-introduce civilian rule. Both the military and the RSF have a long history of brutalizing activists and protesters as well as other rights abuses. Also on Wednesday, the military said al-Bashir was being held in a military-run hospital, giving its first official statement on his location since the fighting erupted. An attack on the prison where al-Bashir and many of his former officials had been held raised questions over his whereabouts. In a statement, the military said al-Bashir and other former officials had been moved to the military-run Aliyaa hospital before clashes broke out across the country. Al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes related to the Darfur conflict in the 2000s. BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson formally launched his Republican presidential campaign Wednesday, pledging to bring out the best of America and aiming to draw contrasts with other GOP hopefuls on top issues, including how best to reform federal law enforcement agencies. Hutchinson kicked off his 2024 bid in his hometown of Bentonville, on the same steps where he launched an unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign 30 years ago. I ran as a conservative Republican when being a Republican was like having a career-ending handicap, Hutchinson said, adding, And now, I bring that same vigor to fight another battle, and that battle is for the future of our country and the soul of our party. The stalwart conservative, who announced in a television interview earlier this month that he intended to run, has been a rare figure among announced or expected GOP presidential hopefuls in his willingness to criticize former President Donald Trump, calling for him to drop out of the 2024 race instead of seeking another White House term. And while Trump has fixated his campaign message around his false claims about the 2020 election he lost, Hutchinson has said voters need a candidate who is not focused on the past. While some of the other contenders who served in Trumps administration struggled to carve out distance from Trump, Hutchinson has been able to draw from his lengthy resume in government and roots in Americas heartland. Without mentioning Trump by name Wednesday, Hutchinson offered a contrast to the former president's derision of federal law enforcement by emphasizing his own background, with previous service as head of the Drug Enforcement Administration and former undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security. There are a few misguided leaders who say we should defund law enforcement, we should defund the FBI. I am here today in support of our law enforcement heroes, Hutchinson said. He went on to say, We should not defund the FBI, but we do need serious reform to refocus the core functions of our federal law enforcement. He said the FBI needs to be trimmed down and focused on its No. 1 duty: leading our counterterrorism mission. Hutchinson, also a former U.S. attorney and congressman, launched his bid a day after President Joe Biden formally announced his reelection campaign. Hutchinson has argued that neither Biden nor Trump is focused on the future. I am confident we will even survive through the destructive policies of the Biden administration, but the time for change is now, said Hutchinson. It is time to bring out the best of America. On Wednesday, Hutchinson also offered a contrast to the isolationist approach some other Republicans have taken about Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying he agreed with those who say we do not want an unending war in Ukraine, and the best way to avoid a long war is to help Ukraine win today. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur and Woke, Inc. author Vivek Ramaswamy and radio host Larry Elder are also in the Republican race. They, along with expected and potential candidates like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, have largely avoided criticizing Trump and have at times defended him. Hutchinson's announcement took place in the tree-lined town square of Bentonville, the birthplace of Walmart. The city of nearly 57,000 people in the northwest part of the state is where Hutchinson first served as a city attorney starting in 1977 and where he first ran for office with an unsuccessful bid for local prosecutor. Hutchinsons second gubernatorial term ended in January, but hes been a defining figure of Arkansas politics for more than four decades. His successor is Trumps former press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Elected to the U.S. House in 1996, Hutchinson won a seat his older brother, Tim, had held for two terms. Serving as one of the House managers prosecuting the impeachment case against President Bill Clinton starting in 1998, Asa Hutchinson stayed in the House until 2001, when he resigned to serve in the Bush administration. After the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, the National Rifle Association selected Hutchinson to lead a task force to study school safety and recommended putting armed guards at every school in the country. Elected governor in 2014, Hutchinson signed a series of income tax cuts and restrictions on abortion, including an outright ban on the procedure that became effective when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Hutchinson later said he wished that the measure had included exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, but didn't push for lawmakers to add those exemptions after the court ruling. On Wednesday, Hutchinson steered clear of culture war issues otherwise dominant in some sectors of GOP politics, focusing on his overall commitment to safeguarding America as democracy's lighthouse. Hutchinson supported many of Trumps policies but began to break with him over his lies about the 2020 presidential election. He has also criticized Trump for the 2020 peace deal he negotiated with the Taliban and for high government spending in his administration, calling Trump "one of the reasons that we added to our national debt and our deficit. Randy Zook, the head of the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, attended Wednesday's launch and said Hutchinson found a way to thread the needle as governor even as the state moved further to the right. Zook cited as an example Hutchinson's decision to support keeping the state's Medicaid expansion, but with changes such as a work requirement that was blocked by a federal judge. I think there's a lane for him, Zook said. The country is looking for a reasonable and sensible and positive conservative. Asa fits that bill. Hutchinson has also shown a willingness to criticize some of his other rivals, telling The Associated Press he disagrees with the way DeSantis has sparred with Disney after the company opposed legislation DeSantis signed in Florida barring school instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. It seems very Trumpian to me as to how he's approached it, Hutchinson said. I don't think government ought to be punishing the private sector because we don't like what they say. Kathy Travis, a retired schoolteacher from Bentonville who attended Hutchinson's launch, said she voted for Biden in 2020 but was leaning toward supporting the former governor. Travis, who wore a shirt that said #AnyoneButTrump, said she was pleased with Hutchinson's handling as governor of the COVID-19 pandemic. He's just a regular guy who's made his way in politics and maintained his values, Travis said. ___ Price reported from New York. Meg Kinnard contributed to this report from Columbia, S.C. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping had a long and meaningful phone call Wednesday, their first known contact since Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago, and Beijing appointed an envoy to pursue a political settlement. The hour-long call came two months after Beijing, which has long been aligned with Russia, said it wanted to act as a mediator and a month after Xi visited Moscow. The call also coincided with indications that Ukraine is readying its forces for a spring counteroffensive. Zelenskyy was upbeat about the conversation, which offered him the chance to insert his views into what had been a bilateral dialogue between Moscow and Beijing. Russian President Vladimir Putin is eager to keep Xi close as a counterweight to the United States, which has sided with Ukraine. "I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraines ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations, Zelenskyy said on Facebook. An official readout on his website called the conversation productive and said it leads the way toward possible interaction with the aim of establishing a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine. Zelenskyy emphasized the need to regain all Ukrainian lands and stated, There can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises. In an indirect reference to U.S. reports that China had considered supplying weapons to Russia for its war, Zelenskyys office said he asked countries to refrain from doing so because any support -- even partial -- is converted by Russia into the continuation of its aggression, into its further rejection of peace. China has said it won't supply weapons to either side in the conflict. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing's "core stance is to facilitate talks for peace," announcing that an envoy a former ambassador to Russia would visit Ukraine to seek a political settlement. The ministry's statement struck a positive tone, giving a nod to Kyiv's insistence that its territory cannot be broken up by Russia's annexations and making clear that Beijing values its longstanding ties with Ukraine. Mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is the political foundation of China-Ukraine relations, the statement said. Chinas readiness to develop relations with Ukraine is consistent and clear-cut. No matter how the international situation evolves, China will work with Ukraine to advance mutually beneficial cooperation. Analysts expressed skepticism about the prospects for peace. The call balances Chinas dialogue with Russia by showing it is recognizing Ukraines leadership and indicating Ukraine is an important entity," said political science professor Kimberly Marten of Barnard College at Columbia University in New York. But, she added in an interview with The Associated Press, unless undisclosed details reveal otherwise, it's a non-starter. It's pro-Russian. I would not guess that this holds a lot of significance for ending the war." She noted the Chinese statement didnt call for Russia to leave occupied areas or brand Russia as an aggressor, and refers to the situation as "a crisis, rather than a war. Elizabeth Wishnick, of the U.S.-based think tank CNA and Columbia University's Weatherhead East Asian Institute, noted in an email to AP that the Chinese statement about the call contains no mention of a Russian troop withdrawal, which, to my mind, makes this a less than serious initiative and unlikely to contribute in any major way to ending the war, which will likely be decided on the battlefield. In Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commended Chinas approach, praising Beijings readiness to strive to establish a (peace) negotiations process, while slamming Kyivs rejection of any sound initiatives aimed at a settlement. The White House described it as a positive development, allowing Xi to hear Ukraines view of the illegal, unprovoked invasion. We think thats a good thing, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. Talks between the two leaders had been anticipated for weeks, after China produced a 12-point proposal to end the fighting, although it did not contain details. Russia and Ukraine are far apart in their terms for peace. The Kremlin wants Kyiv to acknowledge Russias annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia, which most nations have denounced as illegal. Ukraine has rejected the demands and ruled out any talks with Russia until its troops pull back from all occupied territories. Zelenskyy said in an interview with the AP last month that he hadn't spoken with Xi since the war began and invited him to visit Ukraine. China has announced it was keen to act as mediator in the war that has reenergized NATO. Xis position reinforces Chinas claim that it's neutral in the war, despite blocking U.N. efforts to condemn the Kremlin's invasion. While Zelenskyy has moved his country closer to NATO and persuaded alliance members to send Ukraine sophisticated weapons to help defeat Russia, Beijing has echoed the Kremlin line in accusing the West of provoking the conflict and fanning the flames by arming Kyiv. When China called in February for a cease-fire and peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Zelenskyy cautiously welcomed Beijings involvement but said success would depend on actions, not words. Putin warmly welcomed Xi to the Kremlin, in what was seen as a powerful message to Western leaders that their efforts to isolate Moscow over the fighting in Ukraine have fallen short. Also on Wednesday, Zelenskyy used the 37th anniversary of the worlds worst nuclear disaster at Chernobyl to repeat his warnings about the threat of a new atomic catastrophe during his country's war with Russia. Zelenskyy drew a parallel between the Chernobyl accident on April 26, 1986, to Moscows brief seizure of that plant and its radiation-contaminated exclusion zone following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Last year, the occupier not only seized the (Chernobyl) nuclear power plant, but also endangered the entire world again, Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post in English. In other developments Wednesday: Ukrainian and Russian officials announced the latest prisoner exchange, saying 44 Ukrainian and 40 Russian POWs were released this week. The head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said on Telegram that the Ukrainians included soldiers, sailors, border and national guards, and two civilians. The head of the southeastern Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, Yurii Malashko, said Russia struck 19 civilian areas with 53 artillery attacks, six rocket attacks, seven drone attacks and one airstrike overnight. At least two civilians were killed and 13 others were wounded in Ukraine since Tuesday, the presidential office said. An Italian journalist in Ukraine, Corrado Zunino, was injured and his interpreter Bogdan Bitik killed in the southern city of Kherson. Zunino, a correspondent for La Repubblica daily, told the newspaper he suspected Russian snipers hit him after passing through Ukrainian-manned checkpoints. ___ McDonald reported from Beijing. Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, and Andrew Katell in New York contributed. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine ROME (AP) Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday urged European allies to accelerate Ukraine's European Union membership bid, as Rome hosted a bilateral conference on the war-torn country's reconstruction attended by hundreds of Italian and Ukrainian businesses. The future of Ukraine must include an always wider capacity of integrating with the European dynamics and institutions, Meloni said, in joint statements with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on the sidelines of the conference. The smartest way to thank Ukrainians for what they are doing is to accelerate their chance of being part of the European institutions. We need to acknowledge Kyivs enormous efforts to reform its system and bring it closer to targets required by the EU Commission, Meloni added, urging a quick start of negotiations needed to grant Ukraine full EU membership. Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the conference attracted over a thousand companies, including hundreds from Ukraine. He stressed that the Italian initiative was part of a wider process, as both Germany and France already held their own bilateral conferences with Ukrainian firms in October and December, respectively, while G7 countries launched a Donor Coordination Platform in February. I know that the representatives of many Italian companies are listening to me and Id like to speak to them not just as the representatives of businesses, but also as parents," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a live video address to the Rome conference. Even if hundreds of our villages have been burned down by Russian missile attacks, we are ready to bring them back to life," he said. We want to reconstruct them with modern standards, so that our people can live like millions of others, in security ... And we invite your companies to build this future for all. A World Bank report has estimated it will cost Ukraine 411 billion dollars over the next 10 years to recover and rebuild from the war launched by Russia. The report predicts Kyiv will require 14 billion dollars for critical and priority reconstruction, as well as recovery investments in 2023 alone. "Ukraine will win this war and our victory will be restoring our territorial integrity. We wont stop until we reach this goal, Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, who was also in Rome, told the conference. We are making a miracle by doing trade and moving ahead with reforms, so please dont consider the war an obstacle on your business way to Ukraine, Kuleba added, stressing that reconstruction has already started even though the war is still raging. The conference took place as an Italian journalist in Ukraine, Corrado Zunino, was injured and his interpreter Bogdan Bitik killed in the southern city of Kherson. Zunino, a correspondent for La Repubblica daily, told the newspaper he suspected he had been hit Wednesday by Russian snipers after having passed through three Ukrainian-manned checkpoints in an area where there wasn't any active fighting. Tajani, the Italian foreign minister, tweeted that Zunino had been hit by a drone and was injured in the shoulder. RIDGELAND, Miss. (AP) RIDGELAND, Miss. (AP) EastGroup Properties Inc. (EGP) on Tuesday reported a key measure of profitability in its first quarter. The results met Wall Street expectations. The Ridgeland, Mississippi-based real estate investment trust said it had funds from operations of $79.8 million, or $1.82 per share, in the period. NEW YORK (AP) Carmen Berkley, a strategist with a Seattle-based foundation advocating equity and racial justice, remembers meeting Harry Belafonte a decade ago when she was a youth activist. Shed gone to Florida to attend a sit-in protest that other young Black activists had staged at the Capitol in Tallahassee over the death of Trayvon Martin, a Black teenager fatally shot in 2012 by a resident of a gated community who decided Martin looked suspicious. Berkley recalls this magical moment when Belafonte showed up to encourage the Capitol demonstrators. He gave us hope. He reminded us that we are important, that we are powerful and we deserved freedom and Justice in our lifetimes, said Berkley, vice president of strategy and impact at Inatai Foundation. There is no one like Mr. B, she added. Humble and kind, generous and focused, and a true advocate for artists, advocates and all of the communities who want to get free. Belafonte, who died Tuesday at age 96, was a close friend and ally of the Rev. Martin Luther King and stepped back from a lucrative and path-breaking career in music and acting to dedicate himself to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. But his legacy extended well beyond his generational peers. Over the past half century, for full-time activists and for artists and celebrities anxious to do more than entertain, Belafonte has endured as a role model, mentor and occasional scold, a village elder dedicated to advising young people on how to advocate for their rights and to reminding those who didn't meet their potential to change minds. So many people have stepped into a legacy he helped create, said David J. Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, which has a mission to end racism, homophobia, and LGBTQ/SGL bias and stigma. Shortly before the news broke that Belafonte had died, Johns had been on a panel in Miami, Florida, discussing equality and the preservation of democracy. I had been talking about the importance of being courageous and disruptive in the spirit of dream keepers like Bayard Rustin, James Baldwin and Harry Belafonte, he said. The tributes Belafonte received after his death confirmed his singular stature: Praise from President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama, whom Belafonte had criticized at times for not doing enough for the poor; from Oprah Winfrey and Spike Lee; Viola Davis and Questlove; who tweeted that Belafonte taught me to think in terms of WE not I. That stuck with me. If there is one lesson we can learn from him it is what can I do to help mankind? Cherrell Brown, an organizer within the Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of advocacy organizations that formed alongside BLM, remembers Belafonte as a steady touchstone for so many young organizers. Hed be the first to throw his support behind young people rising up, and never tried to pacify the rage or anger or disappointment we were feeling, Brown said. He never preached at us. He, instead, affirmed the work we were doing, opened his doors, cleared space for us and always listened. As a movement veteran, he led by example, Brown added. I witnessed this icon, this giant, shift in his own political development and thinking, she said. It taught me youre never too old, or too wise, to learn and grow. Belafonte mentored Danny Glover, Common, Usher and many other public figures, and maintained close alliances even with those he often argued. Kerry Kennedy, daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy, remembered the evolution of Belafonte's relationship with her family. He had questioned John F. Kennedy's awareness of racism and was openly skeptical of her father after JFK appointed him his attorney general, remembering him as having served on the staff of the extreme anti-Communist Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Sometimes they had their differences, but they came to respect and to deeply love each other, Kennedy says. They were not afraid to challenge each other and be truthful with another. Kerry Kennedy is the president of the nonprofit organization Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and Belafonte was a board member, engaged right up until his death with the center's activities. Asked if she ever discussed with Belafonte his reasons for becoming an activist, she laughed and said you couldn't even have a conversation about lunch without Belafonte turning the subject right back to civil rights and social justice. Her disagreements with Belafonte were often educational, for both of them. She remembered him alleging that her grandfather, the businessman, investor and government official Joseph P. Kennedy, had earned his fortune through the exploitation of Black people. Kennedy told him that he was mistaken, that he had never owned slaves or profited off slave labor. But I realized that, of course, you couldn't make money in this country without Black exploitation. You couldn't get on an airplane, you couldn't get in a taxi, you couldn't read a book without Black exploitation, she said. It was beautiful, the constant talking, challenging, soul searching, defensiveness, and then revelation, a beautiful flow of conversation and insight. And who else is going to say all of this to me? He was relentless and fabulous and always argued from a place of love. ______ Italie is an AP National Writer based in New York. Aaron Morrison is a New York City-based member of APs Race and Ethnicity team. Follow him on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/aaronlmorrison. FAIRFIELD After months of raucous debate, a controversial proposal for a veterinary hospital and dog hotel was denied by the Town Plan and Zoning Commission. Spot On Veterinary Hospital and Hotel's applications, one for a special permit and the other for a zoning regulation amendment, were unanimously denied by the TPZ. Commissioners said they weren't convinced the business, which would have been located in a former car dealership at 2269 Post Road, wouldn't be a noise issue for the neighborhood. Commission Chair Thomas Noonan and other commissioners credited residents for participating in the five long hearings, as well as the applicant, Dr. Philip Putter and his team, for working with the commission and changing the proposal several times in an attempt to make it more appealing. Still, the commission was uniform in its feelings on the proposal. "There is a reason we put the protection that these types of businesses would not be near residential," Noonan said. "For the obvious reason of the noise complaints and potential nuisances. I think the evidence presented by the experts, and even us knowing this as laypeople, was going to show that there was going to be dog barking in the area." Noonan said the application did not meet the standards of the town's plan of conversation and development, adding residents are entitled to the quiet enjoyment of their property. He said he did not see a reason to change zoning regulations to allow the business in the area. Other commissioners echoed that sentiment. "Unfortunately, it simply cannot be done at this location," Commissioner Alexis Harrison said in a statement after the meeting. "There is a reason why we have the current regulation preventing dog boarding adjacent to residential. There is no guarantee that the sound will not travel to the abutting neighbors. I've driven down that neighborhood a few times now the lots are small and the houses are very close and they're very close to the facility." Harrison said she reviewed the hours of public hearings and hundreds of pages of submitted documents, and none of it convinced her it would be a good location for the business. She added the zoning amendment, which would have allowed the business to operate, would apply to broad areas around the town. "We know that land is unique and not every development or business can fit into every parcel," she said. "Thats not something I am comfortable doing." Throughout the process, John Knuff, the applicant's attorney, said the business would have minimal impact on residents and that Putter aimed to be a good neighbor. They also modified their proposal several times, such as removing the outdoor play areas for the dogs to make it more favorable to the commission and neighbors. The applicant did not immediately respond to request for comment. Neighbors fought fervently against the proposal from nearly the moment it was proposed, including creating a petition, which garnered more than 1,000 signatures, hiring three different attorneys and dozens of residents speaking against it in hearings. In a statement, the Alliance to Preserve Peaceful Fairfield Neighborhoods, a group created in opposition to the proposed dog hotel and veterinary hospital, said it was pleased and gratified that the commission voted against it. "As a result of the unanimous vote, zoning protection against dog kennels abutting residential neighborhoods will remain in place all over Fairfield," it said. "We're especially grateful to the 1,000+ residents who signed our petition, testified at hearings and wrote letters and emails to TPZ opposing the two measures. We wish Spot On well in their search for property better suited than 2269 Post Road." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BOSTON (AP) A former Harvard University professor convicted of lying to federal investigators about his ties to a Chinese-run science recruitment program and failing to pay taxes on payments from a Chinese university was sentenced Wednesday to supervised release and ordered to pay more than $83,000 in restitution and fines. Charles Lieber, 64, was sentenced by Judge Rya Zobel in U.S. District Court in Boston to time served the two days he spent in jail after his arrest two years of supervised release the first six months in home confinement a $50,000 fine and $33,600 in restitution to the IRS, which has already been paid. Lieber, the former chair of Harvards department of chemistry and chemical biology, was convicted in December 2021 of filing false tax returns, making false statements and failing to file reports for a foreign bank account in China. We are grateful for the court's ruling," said Lieber's attorney, Marc Mukasey. We think it was the appropriate decision so that Charlie can keep up his fight against his severe health issues. Prosecutors had recommended three months in prison, a year of probation, a $150,000 fine and restitution to the IRS of $33,600. Prosecutors said Lieber knowingly lied to Harvard and government agencies about his involvement in Chinas Thousand Talents Plan, a program designed to recruit people with knowledge of foreign technology and intellectual property to China, to enhance his career including the pursuit of a Nobel Prize and benefit financially. Lieber denied his involvement during questioning from U.S. authorities, including the National Institutes of Health, which had provided him with millions of dollars in research funding, prosecutors said. Lieber also concealed his income from the Chinese program on his U.S. tax returns, including $50,000 a month from the Wuhan University of Technology, some of which was paid to him in $100 bills in brown paper packaging, according to prosecutors. In exchange, they say, Lieber agreed to publish articles, organize international conferences and apply for patents on behalf of the Chinese university. Liebers case was one of the most notable to come out of the U.S. Department of Justices China Initiative, started during the Trump administration in 2018 to curb economic espionage from China. But in February 2022 under the current administration, a decision was made to revamp the program and impose a higher bar for prosecutions after a review based on complaints that it compromised the nations competitiveness in research and technology and disproportionally targeted researchers of Asian descent. Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said at the time the department will still be relentless in defending our country from China, but would not use the China Initiative label, in part out of recognition of threats from other nations including Russia, Iran and North Korea. The federal government ended up dismissing multiple cases against researchers or had them thrown out by judges. Mukasey asked that his client, who retired after his conviction and has a form of incurable blood cancer along with a destroyed immune system, be spared prison time because of the dangers of getting sick behind bars, the extraordinary research he as done and the positive effect he has had on countless lives. In prison he will be a sitting duck for disease, and will not get the daily medical care that he needs," he said. Mukasey read from some of the more than 100 letters of support submitted to the court by Lieber's family, friends, colleagues, and former students he has mentored. More than two dozen of his supporters crowded the courtroom, some of whom flew in from as far away as California to attend the hearing. Anqi Zhang, one of Lieber's former doctoral students who is now doing post-doctoral work in chemical engineering at Stanford University, thinks her mentor's motives have been misrepresented by the government. He's the best scientist and the best mentor in the world," she said. He's a pure scientist, he worked very hard, and was focused completely on the science. Leiber, in a statement read to the court, accepted responsibility and said the last three years of his life have been horrific. I would like to express my sincere apologies and remorse for my actions, he said. Mukasey also stressed that Lieber was never charged with espionage-related offenses; was never accused of misusing grant money; there was no theft or trade of trade secrets or intellectual property; and he did not disclose any proprietary research to the Chinese government or university. But prosecutor Jason Casey said in court that Lieber was someone willing to lie and deceive to protect what mattered to him most and that was his career." His behavior was not an aberration, but occurred over a period of several years. As a person of extraordinary intellect and extraordinary education," he had the capacity to understand the wrongfulness of his actions, Casey said. Casey said a three-month period of prison time was appropriate despite Lieber's health issues because he is in remission and can get proper treatment in a federal prison. Mukasey called the government's contentions callous, misleading, naive and dangerous to (Liebers) health and said his client has been punished enough because of his damaged reputation. Please don't put him in prison where he can't control his health," Mukasey told the judge. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Justices on South Carolina's highest court on Wednesday erased an order that cut 16 years off a convicted murderer's sentence, a deal the inmate won by reporting another prisoner's escape that had gone undetected for two days. The 3-2 ruling came less than two hours after the South Carolina Supreme Court heard arguments about Jeroid Price's case. The justices wrote that they would explain their decision later and ordered law enforcement to immediately find Price and bring him back into state prison custody. During arguments Wednesday, the justices said they didn't like that the deal was kept secret, including from the parents of the man Price killed. The high court also noted that no formal hearing was held before Price walked out of prison 19 years into his 35-year sentence for a 2002 killing at a Columbia club. The elected prosecutor signed off on the deal and he appears to be blamed for not following procedure. We are here to right wrongs," Supreme Court Associate Justice John Kittredge said during 90 minutes of arguments. "Procedure matters. The justices said they would carefully craft their written ruling because they arent just deciding whether Price goes back to prison, but also the parameters of a program allowing early release for inmates who help prison officials. The hearing and decision was extraordinarily quick for a case that came into public view just nine days earlier. Price was convicted of murder in December 2002 for shooting Carl Smalls Jr. during a party at a club. Prosecutors said Price was a gang member who thought Smalls was a member of a rival organization and that Smalls had disrespected him. Price, 43, was sentenced to 35 years in prison and in South Carolina convicted murderers have to serve every day of their sentence unless they provide substantial information about other crimes or help prison guards in danger of being attacked. Price's lawyer, Todd Rutherford, said in 2017 his client called to tell him inmate Jimmy Causey had been missing for two days and state prison officials had not figured out he was gone. Causey was serving a life sentence for tying up his lawyer and family because he was unhappy about his attorney's work. Rutherford said he called the state prisons director immediately after Price told him Causey had escaped, and that up until then guards hadn't realized Causey was gone. At the end of 2022, Rutherford asked Solicitor Byron Gipson to reduce Price's sentence based on him having reported the escape and stories that he kept two guards from serious injuries during attacks. Rutherford and Gipson spoke privately with a judge, then worked out details of Price's reduced sentence over email before the judge signed off on it. Rutherford said he asked the motion be kept secret to protect Price's safety both inside the prison and after his release, fearing he would be attacked for cooperating with authorities. His continued existence at the Department of Corrections would be a death sentence, Rutherford said. The parents of Prices victim were in the audience for Wednesday's hearing. I don't know why anyone agreed to this, Carl Smalls said. And I'm upset we didn't get a say. Several state Supreme Court justices said Gipson, who was in the courtroom but did not speak, created a mess. Attorney General Alan Wilson, who argued on Gipson's behalf, said the state failed in this process. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) A northern Virginia man who traveled to Pakistan with four friends nearly 15 years ago seeking to engage in holy war pleaded guilty Wednesday to a terrorism charge, but he is likely to receive only a 1-day jail sentence. The guilty plea from Ramy Zamzam comes after he and his friends spent nearly 13 years in a Pakistani prison after their arrest there in 2009. Rather than seek additional jail time, prosecutors are recommending a 1-day jail term, coupled with 20 years of supervised release. In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors said that the time Zamzam and his friends served in Pakistan - on similar terrorism charges provide an adequate deterrent and that no more prison time is necessary. But prosecutors are pushing 20 years of supervision, noting their ability to avoid detection back when they made their plans in 2009. "(T)hese defendants managed to make numerous preparations for their trip without arousing the suspicion of anyone. Not their families. Not their friends. Not their classmates. And not law enforcement," prosecutor John Gibbs wrote in a sentencing memorandum. The sentence will not be final until Aug. 1, when Judge Leonie Brinkema will formally sentence Zamzam and another man, Ahmed Minni. But Brinkema has indicated in pretrial hearings that she did not see a need for the men to serve any more jail time than what occurred in Pakistan. There is little dispute that the time in Pakistani prison was difficult. One of the five, Aman Yemer, began suffering serious mental health issues while imprisoned. His lawyer and family members say he remains virtually incapacitated and uncommunicative after his return to the U.S. Legal proceedings against Yemer have been proceeding under seal, but Brinkema has made clear she plans to dismiss the charges against him. The court papers filed in Zamzam and Minni's cases have shed some light on a case that stunned northern Virginia's Muslim community in 2009 when the group of five departed the U.S. Several of the five were students, including Zamzam, who was a dental student at Howard University. Once family members learned the five had flown out of the U.S., they reached out to the FBI, hoping the group could be brought back safely to the U.S. But it was too late. The five were arrested in Pakistan in December 2009, after spending about two weeks there traveling to multiple cities and mosques looking for contacts who could help them across the border into Afghanistan and fight against U.S. troops. Recent court documents show that the five were recruited to Pakistan by an online contact they knew as Saifullah. Saifullah's real name was Jude Kenan Mohammad, an American from Raleigh, North Carolina, who was living somewhere on the Afghan-Pakistani border. Mohammad was later killed by a U.S. drone strike. According to court documents, after the five Virginians made their plans to travel to Pakistan, Saifullah twice advised them to stay in the U.S., where they would be more useful to the jihadi cause. But the five were undeterred, and traveled to Pakistan, where they had difficulty connecting with Saifullah. They spent their two weeks in Pakistan following leads and suggestions in their quest to connect with militant groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, which the U.S. designates as a terrorist organization.. According to court records, all five were arrested on Dec. 9, 2009, at a home in Sargodha, Pakistan. The arrest occurred shortly after a telephone call between Minni and "Saifullah." Zamzam was 22 at the time. The five Virginians left a farewell video to their families titled A Final Message in which they said they were obliged to defend Muslim lands from foreign invaders. The video shows film clips of U.S. soldiers in Iraq and photographs of wounded civilians. Zamzam's voice is on the video, saying when Muslim lands are invaded, when Muslim children are terrorized, when Muslim women are raped, when our brothers and sisters are attacked and killed jihad becomes, by the consensus of the scholars, an individual obligation. Two of the five Waqar Khan and Umar Farooq are free in Pakistan, despite U.S. efforts to obtain their extradition. The Pakistani government is not always an easy partner to work with, Gibbs said at Wednesday's plea hearing in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. BOSTON (AP) An airline passenger was arrested for carrying a self-defense weapon known as a vampire straw through security at Bostons Logan International Airport, authorities said Tuesday. Arman Achuthan Nair was detained Sunday evening and charged with carrying a dangerous weapon, Massachusetts State Police said in a statement. A trooper was alerted after the 10-inch-long (25-centimeter-long) titanium straw with a beveled end was found in Nairs backpack. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MURKATA, India (AP) Krishna Biswas is scared. Unable to prove his Indian citizenship, he is at risk of being sent to a detention center, far away from his modest hut built of bamboo wood that looks down on fields lush with corn. Biswas says he was born in Indias northeastern Assam state. So was his father, almost 65 years ago. But the government says that to prove he is an Indian, he should furnish documents that date back to 1971. For the 37-year-old vegetable seller, that means searching for a decades-old property deed or a birth certificate with an ancestors name on it. Biswas has none, and he is not alone. There are nearly 2 million people like him over 5% of Assam's population staring at a future where they could be stripped of their citizenship if they are unable to prove they are Indian. Questions over who is an Indian have long lingered over Assam, which many believe is overrun with immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh. At a time when India is about to overtake China as the most populous country, these concerns are expected to heighten as Prime Minister Narendra Modis government seeks to use illegal immigration and fears of demographic shift for electoral gains in a nation where nationalist sentiments run deep. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has promised to roll out a similar citizenship verification program nationwide even though the process in Assam has been put on hold after a federal audit found it flawed and full of errors. Nonetheless, hundreds of suspected immigrants with voting rights in Assam have been arrested and sent to detention centers the government calls transit camps. Fearing arrest, thousands have fled to other Indian states. Some have died of suicide. ___ EDITORS NOTE: This story is part of an ongoing series exploring what it means for the 1.4 billion inhabitants of India to live in what will be the worlds most populated country. ___ Millions of people like Biswas, whose citizenship status is unclear, were born in India to parents who immigrated many decades ago. Many of them have voting cards and other identification, but the states citizenship registry counts only those who can prove, with documentary evidence, that they or their ancestors were Indian citizens before 1971, the year Bangladesh was born. Modis party, which also rules Assam, argues the registry is essential to identify people who entered the country illegally in a state where ethnic passions run deep and anti-immigrant protests in the 1980s culminated in the massacre of more than 2,000 immigrant Muslims. My father and his brother were born here. We were born here. Our kids were also born here. We will die here but not leave this place, Biswas, said on a recent afternoon at his home in Assams Murkata village, near the banks of the Brahmaputra River. The Biswas family has 11 members, of whom the citizenship of nine is in dispute. His wife and mother have been declared Indian by a foreigners tribunal that decides on citizenship claims. Others, including his three children, his father and his brothers family, have been declared foreigners. It makes no sense to Biswas, who wonders why would some be considered to have settled in the country illegally and others not, even though they all were born in the same place. The family, like many others, has not pleaded their case before the tribunal or higher courts due to a lack of money and the arduous paperwork required in the process. If we cannot be Indian then just kill us. Let them (the government) kill my whole family, he said. The registry was last updated in 2019 and excluded both Hindus and Muslims, but most critics view it as an attempt to deport millions of minority Muslims. They say the process would become even more exclusionary if Modis party resurrects a controversial citizenship bill that grants citizenship to persecuted believers who entered India illegally from neighboring countries, including Hindus, Sikhs and Christians, but not Muslims. The nationwide citizenship bill was introduced in 2019, but led to widespread protests across India for singling out Muslims, forcing the government to put it on the backburner. Supporters of the registry say it is essential to protect the cultural identity of Assams indigenous people, arguing that those who entered illegally are taking away their jobs and their land. The influx of illegal foreigners from Bangladesh is a threat to the identity of the indigenous people of Assam. We cannot stay like a second class citizen under illegal Bangladeshis. It is a question of our own existence, said Samujjal Bhattacharya, who has been part of a movement in Assam against illegal immigration. Fearing a possible loss of citizenship, scores of people in Assam have killed themselves, leaving a trail of devastation among families. When Faizul Ali was sent to a detention center after being declared a foreigner in late 2015, his family members feared they would be next. The prospect of being thrown in jail drove his son to take his own life. His brother tried to save him but drowned in the process. A year later, Alis other son hanged himself. Ali was released on bail from the detention center in 2019. He died in March, leaving behind his wife, a mentally ill son, two daughter-in-laws and their children. They all live in a single room house made of corrugated tin in Muslim majority Bahari village. All have been declared foreigners. Unable to make ends meet, Alis wife, Sabur Bano, has taken to begging. She cant afford firewood for cooking and uses discarded clothes she collects from streets as burning material. I am a citizen of this country. I am 60 years old. I was born here, my children were brought up here, all my belongings are here. But they made me a foreigner in my own land, she said, wiping tears from the hem of her white sari. Others are still waiting for their loved ones after they were arrested. On a recent morning, Asiya Khatoon boarded a rickshaw and traveled nearly 31 kilometers (19 miles) from her home to a detention center in Assam's town where her husband has been held since January. They (police) just came and picked up my husband saying he is a Bangladeshi, the 45-year-old said, before hurriedly walking toward the detention center circled by a vast perimeter of walls and watchtowers with security cameras and armed guards. In her hands was a crinkled plastic bag. It carried a green T-shirt, trousers and a cap she wanted to give her husband. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) House Republicans narrowly passed sweeping legislation Wednesday that would raise the government's legal debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion in exchange for steep spending restrictions, a tactical victory for Speaker Kevin McCarthy as he challenges President Joe Biden to negotiate and prevent a catastrophic federal default this summer. Biden has threatened to veto the Republican package, which has almost no chance of passing the Democratic Senate anyway, and the president has so far refused to negotiate over the debt ceiling which the White House insists must be lifted with no strings to ensure America pays its bills. But McCarthys ability to swiftly unite his slim majority and bring the measure to passage over opposition from Democrats and even holdouts in his own party gives currency to the Republican speakers strategy to use the vote as an opening bid forcing Biden into talks. The two men could hardly be further apart on how to resolve the issue. The bill passed by a razor-thin 217-215 margin. We've done our job," McCarthy said at the U.S. Capitol after the vote. The president can no longer ignore by not negotiating, he said. Now he should sit down and negotiate." As the House debated the measure, Biden on Wednesday indicated he was willing to open the door to talks with McCarthy, but not on preventing a first-ever U.S. default that would shake America's economy and beyond. Happy to meet with McCarthy, but not on whether or not the debt limit gets extended, Biden said. Thats not negotiable. Passage of the sprawling 320-page package in the House is only the start of what is expected to become a weekslong political slog as the president and Congress try to work out a compromise that would allow the nation's debt, now at $31 trillion, to be lifted to allow further borrowing and stave off a fiscal crisis. The nation has never defaulted on its debt, and the House Republican majority hopes to maneuver Biden into a corner with its plan to roll back federal spending to fiscal 2022 levels and cap future spending increases at 1% over the next decade, among other changes. McCarthy worked nonstop to unite his fractious Republican majority, the five families including the conservative Freedom Caucus and others, making post-midnight changes in the House Rules Committee in the crush to win over holdouts. Facing a revolt from Midwestern Republicans over doing away with biofuel tax credits that were just signed into law last year by Democrat Biden, GOP House members relented and allowed the tax credits to stay on the books in their bill. Our delegation has stood united for Iowas farmers and producers fighting to amend the bill to protect biofuels tax credits," said the four House Republicans from Iowa in a joint statement announcing their support for the bill. Republicans also agreed to more quickly launch the bolstered work requirements for recipients of government aid, starting in 2024 as proposed by another holdout, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. who has led previous challenges to McCarthy and ultimately voted against the bill. Republicans hold a five-seat House majority and faced several absences this week, leaving McCarthy with almost no votes to spare. In the end the speaker lost four Republican no votes, and all Democrats opposed. This bill is unacceptable, it's unreasonable, its unworkable, its unconscionable and its un-American, said the Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Thats why we oppose it. Democrats derided the Republican plan as a ransom note," a shakedown and "an unserious bill" that was courting financial danger. But as McCarthy worked to shore up support, some of the most conservative rank-and-file Republican members who have never voted for a debt ceiling increase in their quest to slash spending said they were preparing to do just that, rallying behind the speaker's strategy to push Biden to the negotiating table. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., a member of the Freedom Caucus, said he wanted double the deficit savings contained in the bill but would vote for it because it starts the ball, it gets us in the arena to solve the debt problem. Its a first big test for the president and the Republican speaker, coming at a time of increased political anxiety about the ability of Washington to solve big problems amid the need to raise the federal debt limit in a matter of weeks. The Treasury Department is taking extraordinary measures to pay the bills, but funding is expected to run out this summer. Economists warn that even the serious threat of a federal debt default would send shockwaves through the economy. In exchange for raising the debt limit by $1.5 trillion into 2024, the bill would roll back overall federal spending and: Claw back unspent COVID-19 funds. Impose tougher work requirements for recipients of food stamps and other government aid. Halt Bidens plans to forgive up to $20,000 in student loans and End many of the landmark renewable energy tax breaks Biden signed into law last year. It would tack on a sweeping Republican bill to boost oil, gas and coal production. A nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analysis estimated the Republican plan would reduce federal deficits by $4.8 trillion over the decade if the proposed changes were enacted into law. Several Republicans from the party's right wing, eager for even stricter spending cuts, said the bill was at least a starting point as they prepared to vote for McCarthy's strategy and bolster his hand in talks with Biden. Freshman Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., said, Its our obligation to get Speaker McCarthy to the table. Others though, remained noncommittal or flat-out no's. Rep. Andy Biggs, the former chairman of the Freedom Caucus who voted against the bill, said he had wanted Republicans to do more to end deficit spending. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., also a "no" vote, said of the nation's nearly $32 trillion in debt, thats my major concern." In the Senate, leaders were watching and waiting. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said House passage of the legislation would be a wasted effort and that McCarthy should come to the table with Democrats to pass a straightforward debt-limit bill without GOP priorities and avoid default. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who stepped aside to give McCarthy the lead, said the speaker has been able to unite the House Republicans. Now, he said, Biden and McCarthy must come to agreement. Otherwise, he said, Well be at a standoff. And we shouldnt do that to the country. In a statement late Wednesday, the White House press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said congressional Republicans must act immediately and without conditions to avoid default. ... That is their job." __ Associated Press writers Josh Boak, Mary Clare Jalonick and Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report. __ This story was first published on April 26, 2023. It was updated on April 27, 2023, to delete an erroneous reference to Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz as a member of the Freedom Caucus. Gaetz is not a member of the group. WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court seemed likely Wednesday to give a 94-year-old Minneapolis woman another day in court to try to recoup some money after the county kept the entire $40,000 when it sold her condominium over a small unpaid tax bill. The justices seemed in broad agreement with arguments by the lawyer for Geraldine Tyler that Hennepin County, Minnesota, violated the Constitution's prohibition on the taking of private property without just compensation. At bottom, she's saying the county took her property and made a profit on her surplus equity. It belongs to her, Justice Clarence Thomas said. Tyler, who now lives in an apartment building for older people, owed $2,300 in unpaid taxes, plus interest and penalties, when the county took title to the one-bedroom apartment in 2015. The county said she did nothing to hold onto her one-time residence. The apartment sold the next year. Justices Elena Kagan and Neil Gorsuch said the county's position appeared to be that it could seize million-dollar properties over tiny tax bills. So a $5 property tax, a million dollar property, good to go? Gorsuch asked Neal Katyal, representing the county. Katyal essentially said yes, noting that the Supreme Court in 1956 upheld New York City's decision to keep the $7,000 it received for selling a property it seized over a $65 water bill. In this case, Katyal said, Tyler made clear she wanted nothing to do with the condo in the five years she owed back taxes. Why in the world would it be that Tyler walked away from her home? The reason, we think, is that there was no equity in the home, Katyal said. The justices could leave it to a lower court to sort out the money details. Katyal tried to appeal to the conservative justices in particular by references to history dating back to 1272 and the invocation of the court's recent rulings overturning Roe v. Wade and expanding gun rights. History and tradition figured prominently in those blockbuster rulings, but Katyal didn't appear to attract any conservative support in the court's final arguments until its new term begins in October. And I just dont understand what on earth any of that history has to do with this case, Gorsuch said. Christina Martin, representing Tyler, went back even earlier than did Katyal to make a basic point about fairness, saying that the Magna Carta in 1215 spelled out that the government could not take more than it was owed. Minnesota is among roughly a dozen states and the District of Columbia that allow local jurisdictions to keep the excess money, according to the Pacific Legal Foundation, a not-for-profit public interest law firm focused on property rights that represented Tyler at the Supreme Court. At least 8,950 homes were sold because of unpaid taxes and the former owners received little or nothing in those states between 2014 and 2021, according to Pacific Legal. Other states are: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and South Dakota, the group said. There has been no explanation about why Tyler stopped paying her property taxes when she moved from the condo, where she had lived since 1999. She moved for health and safety reasons, Pacific Legal said. The county said in court papers that Tyler could have sold the property and kept whatever was left after paying off the mortgage and taxes, refinanced her mortgage to pay the tax bill or signed up for a tax payment plan. Instead, she did nothing for five years, the county said, until after authorities followed state law and sold the condo. The county wrote: Tyler believes "the Constitution required the State to serve as her real estate agent, sell the property on her behalf, and write a check for the difference between the tax debt and the fair market value." Lower courts sided with the county before the justices agreed to step in. Minnesota and a handful of states and government associations are backing the county, warning that a Supreme Court ruling could tie the hands of local governments that rely on property taxes. But the bulk of support in court filings is with Tyler, including AARP, business groups, real estate interests and other people who have gone through experiences similar to hers. A Massachusetts man described his ongoing fight with authorities over a tax bill of $900 on a property he says is worth at least $330,000 in a beach town on Cape Cod Bay. In a filing from New York, property tax attorney David Wilkes and legal services groups wrote that New York's rules excessively takes far more than what is due to the government and go well beyond an appropriate deterrent to those homeowners who would ignore a tax delinquency. The Biden administration told the court that Tyler's claim that her property was taken without just compensation, in violation of the Fifth Amendment, is the stronger of her arguments. Tyler also is raising a claim that Minnesota's law violates the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on excessive fines. But if the court rules in her favor based on the Fifth Amendment, it wouldn't have to decide the other issue. Not until 2019 did the Supreme Court rule that the excessive fines clause applied to the states as well as the federal government. A decision in Tyler v. Hennepin County, Minnesota, 22-166, is expected by late June. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LONDON (AP) British lawmakers on Wednesday approved a sweeping bill that will dramatically curb migrants ability to seek asylum in the U.K., despite critics allegations that it breaks international law. Members of the House of Commons voted by 289 to 230 to back the Illegal Migration Bill, which the Conservatives government says will will deter tens of thousands of people from trying to reach the country in small boats across the English Channel each year. It now goes to the House of Lords, where it faces strong opposition though the unelected upper chamber of Parliament can only amend, not block, the legislation. The large Conservative majority in the Commons ensured its passage there, despite opposition condemnation and claims legislators had not had enough time to scrutinize the legislation. This government has sought to railroad this deplorable, disgusting bill through the House of Commons, said Stephen Flynn of the opposition Scottish National Party. The legislation bars asylum claims by anyone who reaches the U.K. by unauthorized means, and compels the government to detain and then deport them to their home country or a safe third country. They would be banned from ever reentering the U.K. Lawmakers rejected several opposition amendments that would have watered down the bill, including changes to exempt pregnant women and children from detention. Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said the bill is designed to send the message that if you enter the United Kingdom illegally, you will not be able to build a life here. Critics say the plan is unethical and unworkable. They say people fleeing war and persecution cant be sent home, and a U.K. plan to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda is mired in legal challenges, so migrants are set to languish in U.K. detention with no way out. The bill also bars migrants who are victims of human trafficking from using Britains modern slavery laws to prevent deportation. That has angered former Prime Minister Theresa May, a Conservative, who championed laws to protect trafficking victims when she was in office. May said the bill was a slap in the face to those of us who actually care about the victims of modern slavery and would make victims plight worse. The United Nations refugee agency has said the bill is a clear breach of the international Refugee Convention. The British government has conceded there is a strong chance it breaches the U.K.s international refugee and human rights obligations, but is determined to fight legal challenges. Britain receives fewer asylum-seekers than European nations such as Italy, Germany or France. But thousands of migrants from around the world travel to northern France each year in hope of reaching the U.K. across the Channel. More than 45,000 people arrived in Britain in dinghies and other small boats in 2022, up from 8,500 in 2020. The U.K. government says many of those making the journey are economic migrants rather than refugees. Britains interior minister, Home Secretary Suella Braverman, alleged Wednesday that people arriving in small boats possess values which are at odds with our country and are associated with heightened levels of criminality. Refugee groups say most of the channel arrivals are fleeing war, persecution or famine in countries including Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, and risk the cross-channel journey because there are few safe, legal ways to reach the U.K. A majority of those whose claims have been processed were granted asylum in Britain. The government says the U.K. has taken in almost half a million asylum seekers since 2015, and has promised to establish more legal paths to asylum, adding to those set up for people from Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Ukraine. In a bid to win support from Conservatives who are uneasy about the bill, Jenrick pledged those new routes would be in place by the end of 2024 at the latest. ___ Follow APs coverage of global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration SAO PAULO (AP) Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gave testimony at the Federal Police headquarters Wednesday about his actions related to the Jan. 8 attacks on government buildings in the capital, Brasilia. One week after his leftist successor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office, Bolsonaro's supporters raided and trashed the buildings of the Supreme Court, Congress and the presidential palace. Hundreds of them are expected to stand trial. Brazil's prosecutor-general. Augusto Aras, said earlier this month that Bolsonaro allegedly encouraged the perpetration of crimes against the rule of law. The former president had left the country after his defeat and was staying in Orlando, Florida during the attacks, and has denied any involvement in them. Bolsonaro had never openly conceded defeat in the closest presidential race since Brazil's return to democracy over three decades ago. He also repeatedly made unfounded claims that sowed doubt about the reliability of Brazil's electronic voting system. Many of his die-hard supporters still believe the election was fraudulent, though there is no evidence. His sworn deposition Wednesday lasted some two hours and is a step forward in just one of the investigations targeting the far-right leader that could render him ineligible for upcoming races or result in jail time. Bolsonaro admitted March 15 that his ineligibility is possible, but said prison could only result from an arbitrary ruling. The former president has denied any wrongdoing in the cases. Upon leaving the police building, Bolsonaro stepped out of his vehicle and offered a smile and thumbs-up to reporters, but referred questions to his lawyers. I miss you, OK? he said. Hugs to everyone. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes granted a request from the prosecutor-general's office to investigate Bolsonaro's role, citing a video the former president posted on Facebook two days after the riot. It claimed Lula wasnt voted into office, but rather was chosen by the Supreme Court and the electoral body, which Justice de Moraes also oversees. Although Bolsonaro posted the video on Facebook after the riot and deleted it hours later, prosecutors argued its content was sufficient to justify investigating his conduct beforehand. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday outside the police building, Bolsonaro's lawyer Paulo Cunha Bueno said the former president posted it accidentally while hospitalized and medicated, and deleted it once he realized. While Bolsonaro can be viewed as a sort of intellectual mentor of what happened, given that the rioters were his supporters, holding him legally accountable would be challenging, said Mario Sergio Lima, a senior political analyst for Brazil at Medley Global Advisors. Unless you find some kind of WhatsApp audio with some direct order, or maybe if (Bolsonaro's former Justice Minister) Anderson Torres says something, which doesnt seem very likely, Lima said. Much of the attention thus far has focused on Torres, who became the federal districts security chief on Jan. 2, and was in the U.S. on the day of the riot. De Moraes has opened an investigation into Torres, noting that he fired subordinates before leaving the country, and saying that is an indication that he was deliberately laying the groundwork for the unrest. Torres is currently in jail. The former president is expected to give testimony for several other cases regarding actions during his presidency. Earlier this month, the Federal Police questioned him about three sets of diamond jewlery he received from Saudi Arabia. He denies any wrongdoing in that case, too. ___ AP reporter Mauricio Savarese contributed from Sao Paulo. CAIRO (AP) A rubber boat carrying dozens of Europe-bound migrants sank off the coast of Libya and at least 55 people drowned, including women and children, the U.N. migration agency said Wednesday. It was the latest tragedy in this part of the Mediterranean Sea, a key route for migrants. The International Organization for Migration said the disaster took place on Tuesday. The boat was carrying at least 60 migrants and had set off from the coastal town of Garabouli, east of Libya's capital, Tripoli. The agency said five migrants survived the shipwreck and were brought back to shore by the Libyan coast guard. It was not immediately clear what happened to the vessel. Safa Msehli, an IOM spokesperson, said the boat capsized a short while after leaving Garabouli. She said the Libyan coast guard has so far retrieved the bodies of nine men and a child. The five survivors include four men three Pakistanis and one Egyptian and a Syrian child, Msehli told The Associated Press. The was the latest tragedy in the central Mediterranean Sea, a key route for migrants. The IOM said at least 537 people have drowned or gone missing in migrant disasters in the Mediterranean off Libya so far this year, while over 4,300 have been intercepted and returned to shore. Earlier this month, the IOM's Missing Migrants Project said that the first quarter of this year was the deadliest in the Central Mediterranean since 2017, with at least 441 documented deaths. That number, however, is likely an undercount of the true number of lives lost, the agency said, adding that it was still investigating several other unreported shipwrecks where the fate of more than 300 people onboard remain unclear. In 2022, at least 529 migrants were reported dead and 848 people were missing off Libya, while over 24,680 were intercepted and returned to the chaos-hit North African country, according to the IOM. Libya has in recent years emerged as the dominant transit point for migrants from Africa and the Middle East trying to make it to Europe. The oil-rich country plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime autocrat Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. Human traffickers in recent years have benefited from the chaos in Libya, smuggling in migrants across the countrys lengthy borders with six nations. The migrants are crowded into ill-equipped vessels, including rubber boats, and set off on risky sea voyages. Those who are intercepted and returned to Libya are held in government-run detention centers rife with abuses, including forced labor, beatings, rapes and torture practices that amount to crimes against humanity, according to U.N.-commissioned investigators. The abuse often accompanies efforts to extort money from families of those held, before the migrants are allowed to leave Libya on traffickers boats. Reports from the Lane County Sheriffs Office detail what led up to reports of an armed person on Lane Community Colleges campus on Feb. 22 and a two-hour campus lockdown. Lane County Sheriffs Office, Eugene Police Department and Oregon State Police responded to a report of an armed person on Lane Community Colleges campus on Feb. 22 at 1:40 p.m. This report was later determined to be a miscommunication, and authorities found there was no threat to the students and staff on the campus. An early outreach counselor was speaking with a student who was concerned about a domestic violence issue with her husband, who she was in the process of divorcing and had filed a restraining order against, according to the report. The student was concerned because her husband owned a gun, the report said. A series of miscommunications between staff led to a person working at the LCC Counseling Office to text her children that there was a man on campus with a gun looking for his wife, the person speaking with the counselor. The staff members daughter, after receiving this information, called 911 out of fear for her mothers safety. Authorities were able to ensure the safety of the campus and all students and staff on the premises. The lockdown was lifted, but the campus was closed for the remainder of the day and all people on campus were instructed to go home. On April 20, a semitruck carrying wood chips crashed into a wetland along the McKenzie River near Finn Rock. Eugene Water & Electric Board environmental specialist David Donahue, who coordinates the EWEBs Emergency Response System, has been in charge of the inspection, containment and cleanup of the crash site. Donahue reported that most of the fuel was contained in the wetland and did not reach the McKenzie River. I walked the entire perimeter of the crash site, and I couldnt find any evidence that diesel/oil sheens reached the McKenzie River directly through surface flow, Donahue wrote in an email. According to EWEB Communication spokesperson Aaron Orlowski, Donahue reported that it appeared as though the wetland and its various side channels did not connect directly with the mainstream of the river and apparently went underground before reconnecting. The truck carried over 100,000 pounds of wood chips. EWEBs emergency response trucks are continuing the cleanup and removing the wood chips from the crash site. Once the majority of the wood chips are removed, EWEBs cleanup teams and emergency responders will remove the truck, contaminated soil and surrounding debris from the crash, according to EWEB. University of Oregon still has 73 Native American remains and 188 funerary objects that have not been made available to be returned to tribes in its Museum of Natural and Cultural History, according to a ProPublica database. ProPublica, a non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism, created a database of Native American remains held by 609 federally funded institutions across the country. Those institutions, including universities like UO, report those remains to the Department of the Interior. UO ranks low on that list compared to the number of remains other universities have, since it has made upwards of 86% of the more than 500 remains it reported available to tribes. The highest on the list, the University of California Berkeley, reported having over 9,000 Native American remains. UO has made more than 400 Native American remains available for return. ProPublica defines available for return as establishing a connection between tribes and remains and publishing a list of the tribes eligible to make a repatriation claim. Once a claim has been made, the return of remains or artifacts can occur. In 1990, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act was enacted as a federal law. NAGPRA requires institutions, like colleges, to return Native American cultural items including human remains to their respective Tribes. Pamela Endzweig, director of the museums anthropological collections, said those listed as not made available for return include ancestral remains where consultations with affiliated Tribes are still ongoing. This includes any cases involving a question of jurisdiction and human remains that are believed to be from Oregon but with no specific provenance. UO did not comment on which tribes it has ongoing consultations with. On Feb. 24 the Museum of Natural and Cultural History published a Federal Register Notice which made an additional 37 individual remains and more than 1,000 objects available for return following a 30 day waiting period. The notice states that requests for the remains and objects can be made by members of a tribe identified in the notice, lineal descendants or tribes that are culturally affiliated with the ones in the notice. The museum is responsible for sending a copy of the notice to the tribes identified in the notice. The map available on ProPublicas Repatriation Database shows that both Columbia and Curry County in Oregon have not had remains returned to them. UO has reported the remains of one Native American from Columbia County and reported 73 remains in Curry County. Only 23% of the remains belonging to Curry County have been returned by UO. UOs Museum of Natural and Cultural History continues to work with tribes, according to Endzweig. [The museum] has responded to all requests for repatriation in a positive and timely manner, Endzweig said. We continue to move forward. A strange thing happened in the Commons this afternoon. Sir Keir Starmer turned in a tidy performance at Prime Minister's Questions. Yes, really! As devotees of this weekly ding-dong will know, a Starmer victory has become a bit of a collector's item. But for the first time in weeks, he did a decent job of holding Rishi Sunak's tootsies to the fire. Not that he roasted them, mind you. It was more of a light sauteing. A quick back and forth with the blow torch, as a pastry chef would to the brittlest of creme brulees. Mr Sunak entered the chamber with the confident air of a man still relishing his promotion to the global top table. He winked at one of his whips and gave a chummy slap on the back to Alex Chalk whom he recently promoted to Justice Secretary following the Dominic Raab hoo-haa. HENRY DEEDES: A strange thing happened in the Commons this afternoon. Sir Keir Starmer turned in a tidy performance at Prime Minister's Questions. Yes, really! (pictured: Sir Keir Starmer at the PMQs today, April 26) HENRY DEEDES: Mr Sunak entered the chamber with the confident air of a man still relishing his promotion to the global top table Mr Raab's replacement as Deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden, was by this point already sitting firmly in his new seat immediately to the PM's right. Judging by the jaded look on Mr Dowden's face, it's possible he got up before the milkman just so he could baggsy it. The PM, by contrast, looked remarkably fresh. Unlike most of his predecessors, he doesn't look like someone who loses much shut-eye on a Tuesday night. Clearly he didn't anticipate Starmer causing him too many problems beyond policing or the events in Sudan. Instead, he surprised us. Labour's leader launched a full blown attack on the economy. He pointed out households were 1,600 worse off under Conservatives and repeated former Tory chancellor George Osborne's unhelpful description of them this week as 'economic vandals'. Usually when Sir Keir asks a question he can never resist the urge to ramble. Typical lawyer you see, they all fall madly in the love with the sound of their own voice. But the Commons is not a courtroom and the longer the question goes on, the longer the PM has to plan his sidestep. This week, however, Sir Keir's queries were short and punchy, giving Sunak less room for manoeuvre. Time and again, Starmer chipped away at the issue of Rishi's vast wealth. He accused him of being 'out of touch' and 'clueless of life outside of his bubble'. He pointed to the number of tax hikes which have occurred on the Conservative watch a whopping 24 in total. Gulp. So what's Starmer's big idea on the economy? At the moment, his only solutions appeared to be 'higher borrowing, higher spending same old Labour,' said Rishi. 'This from Mr 24 tax rises!' blurted Starmer, as though choking on a fishbone. Then came the inevitable snarks about Mrs Sunak's non-dom tax status. Rishi responded by dredging up Starmer's unique pension deal which allows him to pay less tax, secured during his time in the Crown Prosecution Service. Ah, said Starmer, he'd already promised to scrap that arrangement once in power. Nom-doms, meanwhile, remain a protected species. When dogs get excited they wag their tails. Sir Keir waggles his right foot. By now he was twirling it in the air like a sparkler on Bonfire Night. HENRY DEEDES: So what's Starmer's big idea on the economy? At the moment, his only solutions appeared to be 'higher borrowing, higher spending same old Labour,' said Rishi. 'This from Mr 24 tax rises!' blurted Starmer, as though choking on a fishbone (pictured: Sir Keir Starmer at the PMQs today, April 26 He teased Rishi over those staged photos released last year of him filling a car with petrol, which Starmer reckoned made the PM look as though he'd 'just arrived from Mars'. That raised a decent laugh from the Labour benches. But Sir Keir should probably keep personal barbs about Rishi's appearance to a minimum. He too has goofball tendencies. Tim Loughton (Con, E. Worthing) had rather more success in showing Starmer up when he rose to ask about Labour's proposals to teach young boys respect for women in schools. Loughton wondered whether Labour was really in any position to teach anybody about respect for women, given that its party leader had trouble identifying what a woman was and had also failed to protect Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield from appalling abuse from within her own ranks. He sat down to loud cheers from the Tory benches, his remarks finding favour up in the public gallery, too. Despite being strictly against Commons rules, two middle-aged ladies clapped and bellowed their approval. Starmer would do well to heed their applause as the female vote may well define the next election. Chinese excavators welcomed in global market 15:12, April 26, 2023 By Wang Junling ( People's Daily Excavators, road rollers and other engineering machinery are about to be shipped overseas in an assembly plant of Chinese leading heavy-equipment manufacturer SANY in Shanghai. (People's Daily Online/Ji Haixin) The exports of excavators can indicate the development of the engineering machinery industry and even the manufacturing industry. Since this year, the exports of Chinese excavators have been on a constant rise, becoming a highlight of the sluggish world economic recovery. According to a survey that covered major Chinese manufacturers of excavators launched by the China Construction Machinery Association, China exported 28,643 excavators in the first three months this year, up 13.3 percent year on year. In particular, the exports of some leading players doubled, and the number of orders they receive is still rising. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said that China is currently able to produce 22 categories of engineering machinery, and is one of the countries with the widest range of products. It is the world's largest producer of excavators, cranes, loaders and other major engineering machinery. What has contributed to the rapid growth of China's exports of excavators is the high-quality development of Chinese manufacturers. Wu Yuanfeng, vice general manager of an earthmoving machinery company under Chinese machinery manufacturer Zoomlion, told People's Daily that the exports of Zoomlion's flagship excavator model jumped over 200 percent from a year ago in Q1 this year, and this great performance was attributed to the company's strong investment in R&D and manufacturing techniques. Excavators are about to be shipped overseas in a plant of Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd. in east China's Jiangsu province. (People's Daily Online/Gao Gang) "We have built the first whole-process intelligent excavator manufacturing base in Changsha, central China's Hunan province, which lifts the average production capacity by nearly 70 percent and reduces the production cycle by 65 percent when compared with the traditional plants," Wu noted. He said medium- and large-sized excavators produced by Zoomlion have won high recognition from overseas clients thanks to these machines' great performance in operating power, construction efficiency, energy conservation and adaptability. In Q1 this year, the excavator exports of Guangxi LiuGong Machinery Co., Ltd., headquartered in south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, increased 16 percent year on year. In particular, the exports of heavy-duty excavators above 30 tons surged 80 percent, he added. The company's improved customer service is an important reason for its success with clients from abroad, said Lin Shencai, international business director of the company's excavator department. According to Lin, LiuGong Machinery has seven sales divisions that cover 102 countries globally, and every division has its own sales channels and after-sales service system. These divisions all offer 24/7 services. Excavators are ready to be exported in the Yantai Port, east China's Shandong province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Chao) "Our excavators have an average trouble-free time of more than 1,700 hours. We also sell graders, bulldozers, loaders and other earthmoving products and boast a worldwide after-sale network that provides comprehensive support for customers," Lin told People's Daily. As the world faces downward economic pressure, economies in North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and other regions are enhancing their investment in infrastructure and mining to stabilize economic growth, which is an important reason for the rise in the overseas demand of excavators and other engineering machinery, said Zhou Minliang, a researcher with the Institute of Industrial Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Chinese enterprises have seized the opportunity from overseas markets thanks to their reliable technological capability, good reputation and quality service system, Zhou added, to achieve the growth of domestic excavators and other products exports. Wan Zhe, a research fellow at the Belt and Road School of Beijing Normal University, believes that the popularity of Chinese excavators overseas mirrors the worldwide recognition of Chinese manufacturing, as infrastructure is a foundation for a region's economic and social development. Over the past decade, the Belt and Road Initiative has been widely welcomed in countries along its route and other regions, and the close Belt and Road cooperation has created a sound external environment for the exports of Chinese excavators, Wan added. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) Today, if you were to walk through Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4, you would see shuttered boutiques that were once home to some of Britain's proudest luxury brands. Leather bags, hand-stitched by Mulberry's heritage craftsmen, have been packaged up to be sold elsewhere, and are no longer to be found anywhere at the airport. The precision-engineered Rolexes once snapped up by global passengers passing through this iconic airport have mostly gone, too. You might well think, if you don't work there, that it's hardly the end of the world. Many Brits are struggling as the cost-of-living crisis continues. Why should ordinary people who've saved their hard-earned cash for a much-needed holiday abroad give two hoots about a Mulberry bag? But what I have described at Heathrow has dire consequences for us all. And it is being driven entirely by the Government's nonsensical decision to deny tax-free shopping to foreign visitors. 'What I have described at Heathrow has dire consequences for us all' It is, in effect, a tourist tax. With goods now up to 20 per cent more expensive than elsewhere in Europe, passengers' wallets are remaining firmly shut in the UK. As Britain's gateway to the world, Heathrow has a front-row seat watching the repercussions of this utterly misguided policy. READ MORE: One hundred of Britain's biggest business leaders call for Jeremy Hunt to scrap hated tourist tax Advertisement I can tell you that it's devastating. While our passenger numbers have recovered since the pandemic, the Government now seems determined to see us suffer in other ways. The spend per passenger is lagging way behind 2019 figures. We've seen a multi-million pound drop in spending on luxury and beauty items alone. It's just not viable for the high-end brands to stay open here, so they shut up shop. Meanwhile, airports elsewhere in Europe are rubbing their hands with glee as passengers choose to spend their money at Paris's Charles de Gaulle or Fiumicino in Rome. All of this means two things less money going to British retailers, manufacturers and the Government, and fewer jobs as a result. This bizarre decision to do away with tax-free shopping makes no sense. I've worked in airports since 2006, and I've been on the retail side since November 2018. And while the pandemic was worse for business, what we're seeing now, when we should be emerging from the other side of the Covid slump, is not the business-boosting series of Brexit freedoms we were promised, but a number of legislative shackles. The system of tax-free sales allowed visitors to buy luxury goods without 20 per cent added tax, as long as they took them home. It was a licence to spend, and when the system ended with Brexit, everyone thought the Government would reinstate it because of the huge amounts of tourist spending it brought to Britain's shores. But failing to do so claiming it would bring in 2 billion for the Treasury has undermined the very ethos of Brexit, which was to give the UK a competitive economic landscape from which to trade. 'Tourists are still coming here for the culture and heritage we have. But the extra days they might have stayed to shop are now not happening' In fact, the policy has done the opposite. It has made us, at a stroke, 20 per cent less competitive than we were when it came in. That's why I'm hugely supportive of the Daily Mail's important campaign to reverse it. In the past two weeks, I've spoken to luxury brands in Paris, Rome, Florence and Milan. The question I always get from them is: 'Why has your government done this because it makes no sense to us?' I find it difficult to give a coherent reply. These brands are seeing international passengers, often travelling in multiple countries in Europe, choosing to shop there, rather than with us. Tourists are still coming here for the culture and heritage we have. But the extra days they might have stayed to shop are now not happening. That means fewer hotel stays, restaurant meals and theatre trips. The repercussions reach far beyond the airport. Independent analysis estimates an extra 2.8 billion of tourist spending would be stimulated with the reintroduction of tax-free shopping. It's illustrated even more starkly if you consider data relating to tourists' credit card spending from Global Blue, which runs one of the main tax-free refund schemes. It shows that spending by American tourists in the UK is now back to the same level as 2019. But in Italy, the amount is now nearly double 190 per cent. In Spain, it's 201 per cent and in France the big winner it's 226 per cent. The same data shows that today, travellers to the UK from the oil-rich Gulf are spending only two-thirds of what they were in 2019. Yet in Italy, spending by the same tourists has soared to 166 per cent, 158 per cent in Spain and, in France, it has reached 198 per cent. The reason for this is that these countries are actively capitalising on the back of the British government's short-sightedness. How I would love to be running Charles de Gaulle or Milano Malpensa right now, because we in Britain are giving them an economic gift. 'You don't need a degree in economics to understand that this doesn't make sense' In Rome's Fiumicino there's a sign that says: 'Shop like never before. Tax-free mall, 22 per cent full VAT refund.' Charles de Gaulle has one taunting British retailers: 'Travelling to the UK? Benefit from the best of Paris at Duty Free prices.' And there's even an advert running on the London Underground at the moment encouraging Brits to shop in Madrid, 'where tax-free shopping is just another exciting thing. Up to 15.7 per cent off'. You don't need a degree in economics to understand that this doesn't make sense. And it will only get worse. We may have to resort to passing on some of our rising costs to the airlines, in terms of increased landing charges which they, in turn, will pass on to passengers. Regional airports will be hit even harder and may have to close altogether, as Doncaster Sheffield did recently. Dozens of jobs at Heathrow in luxury and beauty retail have already gone because the sales don't justify them. We have sought to explain all of this to officials at the Treasury several times. They thank us for sharing data with them. But they tell us that, while tax policy is always kept under review, there is 'no political direction' at the moment to change it. It's baffling. We have also challenged the decision in a judicial review alongside Global Blue and Dufry, the main duty-free operator. While that didn't go in our favour, it was at least recognised that the Government had gone about the consultation to scrap the initiative in a less than optimal way. The Treasury may now live to regret not consulting with us more fully. We understand the fiscal challenges the Government has. But, fundamentally, we think they've got this wrong. We're calling on them to do the right thing and reverse the policy to make sure we can get back to the world-leading position we had in travel retail. Otherwise, the entire United Kingdom economy will struggle to take flight. The politics of Northern Ireland can seem baffling, even to those who live there. But King Charles, and perhaps more importantly those who advise him, have introduced a new element of lunacy in the process of handing out the let's face it very scarce invitations to the Coronation next month. Yesterday, we learned that, to the utter dismay of the 1,800 or so victims of IRA violence during The Troubles, Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Fein's leader in Northern Ireland, will be among the select band of guests favoured over dukes, former politicians and distinguished public figures. Perhaps to placate the ageing godfathers of republican terrorism among her supporters many of whom have since diversified into organised crime and cross-border diesel and tobacco smuggling Ms O'Neill's acceptance of the invitation on Twitter was predictably grudging. 'I am an Irish Republican,' she declared redundantly, as if to make clear that she'd rather run a mile in tight shoes than hob-nob with the British establishment inside Westminster Abbey. Sinn Fein's leader in Northern Ireland, will be among the select band of guests favoured over dukes, former politicians and distinguished public figures at the Coronation 'I also recognise there are many people on our island for whom the Coronation is a hugely important occasion,' she added. By emphasising this point she was making it clear that she was not among those people who regarded it as important. Rather, she was going under sufferance, to show those unsophisticated unionists who take this sort of thing seriously that Sinn Fein is prepared to accommodate their fears of republican rule of the six counties of Northern Ireland. It is easy to imagine the smooth officials at the top of the British civil service debating her invitation, arguing that 25 years on from the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, it was time to 'move on,' forgive and forget. Of course, the new King was put in a difficult position. Both options inviting the Sinn Fein leader, or pointedly declining to do so would raise eyebrows. One can practically hear the Northern Ireland Office mandarins murmuring how 'unhelpful' it might be to exclude her. The problem with displaying such indulgence towards the justifiers of the IRA's terror campaign is that Ms O'Neill has never sought atonement for the crimes committed in the name of Irish Republicanism. Within senior republican circles, she is regarded as something of an empty vessel. She rose almost without trace through Sinn Fein's ranks, helped along her way by the IRA credentials of her family. Her father, Brendan Doris, was interned during the Troubles. A cousin, Tony Doris, was one of three IRA members killed in an SAS ambush in 1991. And another cousin, IRA volunteer Gareth Malachy Doris, was shot and wounded during an attack on an army base in 1997. The new King was put in a difficult position. Both options inviting the Sinn Fein leader, or pointedly declining to do so would raise eyebrows In a BBC interview last summer, Ms O'Neill suggested the IRA had no choice but to shoot and blow up civilians with bombs until the 1998 Good Friday agreement. 'I don't think any Irish person ever woke up one morning and thought that conflict was a good idea, but the war came to Ireland,' she said. 'I think at the time there was no alternative, but now, thankfully, we have an alternative to conflict and that's the Good Friday agreement.' By her account, violence erupted spontaneously across Northern Ireland, without any help from republican (or, indeed loyalist) terrorist gangs. Her lack of contrition enraged Unionist politicians who saw it as deliberately provocative. Ms O'Neill resorts to the common republican technique of referring to the IRA as if it has always been a totally separate entity from Sinn Fein. In truth, everyone in Ulster knows the IRA and Sinn Fein have always been, for all intents and purposes, joined at the hip. Police and firemen in front of the Criminal Court and Army Recruiting office in Whitehall where an IRA bomb exploded, killing one man and injuring hundreds on March 8 1973 Certainly the Police Service of Northern Ireland (successor force to the RUC) still believes the IRA Provisional Army Council oversees both the IRA and Sinn Fein. Senior ranks of the Garda in the Irish Republic work on the same assumption. Ms O'Neill's preferential treatment seems all the more odious when measured against the humiliation of Lady Pamela Hicks. Lady Pamela practically personifies the notion of a 'royal insider'. A former lady-in-wating to the late Queen, she is the daughter of King Charles' mentor Lord Mountbatten, who was murdered by the IRA in 1979. Yet there is no room at the Abbey for her on the big day, and she was told so in a telephone call from a Palace aide as she celebrated her 94th birthday. The exclusion of Lady Pamela, who was treated like family by the late Queen and was related by blood to Prince Philip, suggests twisted priorities at the Palace and at the highest levels of Government. It will not impress leaders of the Democratic Unionist Party, who are under pressure from London and the White House to re-join the devolved government at Stormont. Unionists will once again see those who sympathise with terrorists being rewarded rather than disbarred. Worst of all, the monarchy is dragged into this squalid drama. Our new King, in his no doubt well-intentioned zeal to extend the hand of friendship to the nation's erstwhile enemies, is in danger of forgetting who his true friends are. Andrew McQuillan is a political consultant and specialist in Northern Irish politics His full name contains several sweet tributes to Royals past and present He's known as the cheeky prince who steals the show at royal appearances. When Louis Arthur Charles was born at 11.01am on the 23 April 2018 he even appeared to give an adorable royal wave as he was revealed to the world for the first time. In the days that followed royal watchers were desperate to know what name Kate and Prince William would choose for their second son. But the couple waited four days to reveal it via their Twitter account and in a statement to the press. A cheeky looking Prince Louis in a portrait released for his fifth birthday. It captures his playful nature perfectly How the Daily Mail reported the birth of a third child for William and Kate, baby Louis, in April, 2018 The Wales' certainly kept royal fans in suspense - they waited four days to reveal Louis' name through their official Twitter account 'The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son Louis Arthur Charles. 'The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge,' the palace said. The choice surprised pundits as bookmakers had Arthur down as the favourite for some time. The delay over the announcement was said to be due to couple's difficulties in agreeing on a name. While the names of both George and Charlotte were announced two days after their birth, a royal source said: 'They did not know if they were having a boy or a girl. When he arrived they started thinking through things. They were not keeping it to themselves. They were deciding still.' William's own parents waited a week before deciding on his names. Princess Diana was said to have preferred Sebastian and Oliver while Charles was holding out for Albert. So why did Kate and William pick the name Louis? As with most royal names, it is steeped in significance. Louis means 'famous warrior' or 'famous in battle' and the name originates from France and Germany. Louis is one of William's own middle names, which was chosen by his father Charles as tribute to his late mentor, Lord Louis Mountbatten. The Earl was murdered in 1979 along with two other people by an IRA bomb, which was placed on his fishing boat in Mullaghmore, County Sligo, Ireland. Beaming William and Kate holding their bundle of joy outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington in 2018 The name Louis was the name of Prince Charles' beloved great-uncle and mentor, Earl Mountbatten (pictured) who was assassinated by the IRA Queen Elizabeth II (centre) penned a letter describing Lord Louis 'Dickie' Mountbatten (far left) as a 'splendid person' after he was assassinated in the IRA attack His teenage grandson Nicky Knatchbull, teenage boathand Paul Maxwell were murdered by the blast, along with passenger Dowager Lady Brabourne, who died the next day. The deaths were portrayed in Netflix series,The Crown. The IRA took responsibility and called it 'an execution'. Earl Mountbatten was also a great-grandson of Queen Victoria and was related to both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. King Charles' goddaughter, India Hicks, posted a letter that the late Queen penned after the Earl's murder. She described Lord Louis 'Dickie' Mountbatten as a 'splendid person'. In her own handwriting she added: 'Now that a little time has passed and we are able to see beyond the bitter anger of such senseless waste of life and the fact that we must not be intimidated by such horrible people, you may rest assured we have taken into account anxieties like yours!' Meanwhile, the name Louis, although not a 'traditional' name, ran in the family as the Earl's father was also named Louis, along with Prince Philip's grandfather, Prince Louis of Battenberg. And sources said Louis was chosen simply because William and Kate liked it so much - which is no surprise as it is one of Prince George's middle names, too. Historian Dr Judith Rowbotham said at the time that Louis was a 'little surprising' but added that it was still a safe choice. She said that as well as being 'very much an affectionate tribute', it was 'very much an acknowledgement of a wider heritage'. Why did Kate and William pick Arthur as a middle name? Louis' first middle name - Arthur - is very much a family tradition: both William and grandfather Charles have it as a middle name. It was also the name of Queen Victoria's third son, who was said to be her favourite child. Why did Kate and William pick Charles as a middle name? Louis has Charles as his second middle name, which is of course a tribute to his grandfather, the King. Meanwhile, Joe Little, editor of royal magazine Majesty, said of the name Louis in 2018: 'I am a bit surprised, actually. We all seem to have missed Louis, when we were thinking Arthur or Albert or James. 'We didn't consider it because it's George's middle name, and William's middle name, and I just didn't think William and Kate would recycle a name they had used for their first-born. 'I didn't think it would be Albert, as that doesn't pass the modern playground test.' He continued: 'It's nice to have Charles as a nod to the baby's paternal grandfather, although I was surprised there was no recognition for the Middletons. 'I did think Michael, Kate's father, would feature as a middle name somewhere. As The Daily Mail reported, Prince Louis was the heaviest royal baby in a century Little Prince Louis never fails to make royal fans laugh with his animated expressions Prince Louis with the Royal Family on Christmas Day at Sandringham 'I also thought we would see Philip in there, though I know there's a tribute to Philip through his Mountbatten grandfather and uncle.' The little prince was also measured to be the heaviest royal baby boy in 100 years when he was born. The young Prince weighed a whopping 8lb 7oz, which was three ounces more than his elder brother George. Prince Louis's weight fell within the current healthy range of six to nine pounds - despite Sky News presenter Kay Burley calling him 'a porker' at the time. However Louis is not the heaviest royal baby overall, as that title belongs to Savannah Phillips - the daughter of the Queen's grandson Peter Phillips - who tipped the scales at 8lb 8oz when she was born in 2010. Sometimes seeing a humorous sign can literally stop you in your tracks and make your day. Now Bored Panda has collected a selection of the funniest examples from around the world that did a great job at catching people's attention. One sign, believed to be in the UK, to warn people not to feed the builders on a construction site fence. Meanhile, a cafe in Kentucky, had to make a sign to explain to people if seagulls steal their food they can't get a refund. Social media users have shared snaps of the hilarious from around the world and were shared in a Bored Panda gallery including one sign, believed to be in the UK, to warn people not to feed the builders on a construction site fence Elsewhere another cafe, in England, had to warn customers that their syrups on the counter were not hand sanitiser. And an ambitious owner put up a lost dog poster, asking his 'smart' pet to call home if he spotted the sign. Then there was the library that put up a creative warning to readers not to eat on the premises so as not to attract ants, who will then learn to read and take over the world. Here FEMAIL takes a look at the funniest signs spotted around the world... A cafe, in Cynthiana, Kentucky, had to make a sign to explain to people if seagulls steal their food they can't get a refund While another person spotted a lost dog poster asking the 'smart dog' to 'call home' if he reads it himself Elsewhere another cafe, in England, had to warn customers that their syrups on the counter were not hand sanitizer Evil ants! This library sign turned out to be a little sinister when people read the small print It might be safe to say we know what happened this person's Chihuahua, in Oklahoma, and it might have something to do with owls Kaboom! While another hilarious sign caught the attention of a passer-by warning people not to smoke Yikes! While this important message on a piece of machinery was given with a bit of humour While this sign in, in Woodridge, Illinois, suggested car owners should fill a 'decoy purse with thousands of angry bees' A zoo, believed to be in the US, left this sign warning visitors to not climb on the fences as the animals might get sick if they eat them A garage clearly got annoyed with customers removing the 'out of order' sign on their coffee machine SHOPPING Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this Mail Best article are selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, Dailymail.co.uk will earn an affiliate commission. Click here for more information. Thousands of shoppers suffering from heavy periods are converting to a pair of award-winning period pants that are hailed a 'total game changer' for leak-free days and nights. Modibodi's sheet-saving period pants have been made to completely replace the need for disposable sanitary pads and tampons. 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With a waterproof bottom layer, quick-drying microfibre middle and soft merino wool top layer, the pants give you both security and comfort. A complete replacement for leak management products, the brand recommends putting them through the wash before the first time you wear them to help to activate the technology The Sensual Hi-Waist Bikini has over 4,000 reviews, with shoppers raving about the 'incredibly comfy' fit, with one user writing 'so comfortable, doesnt feel like period underwear at all.' Shoppers have also sworn by the worry-free protection, raving about how the period pants give 'absolutely no leaks', 'excellent protection, no odour and felt dry all night'. One five-star review penned: 'I have a ridiculously heavy period and always leak. I wore these through the night and couldnt even tell I was bleeding (normally I have to wake and change in the night). Its like magic.' Another agreed, adding: 'Very comfortable, can wear without pads or tampons during the heaviest part of my period through the night with no leaks or discomfort.' A third penned: 'These are amazing, no leakage extremely comfortable. I have ordered some more! They dont feel horrible on, they dont feel wet or anything! I wish I had tried them before and wish I had then when I was at school!'. South West Water has sparked outrage among locals after removing a 114-year-old rusty pole that had become a very unlikely tourist attraction. The pipe - which stood 25ft above the ground and leaned slightly to the right - was first installed in 1909 in the Maer Local Nature Reserve to help with the flow of sewage in the local area. But in recent years, it has attracted visitors from all over the country thanks to its multiple Facebook groups and rave Google and TripAdvisor reviews. Last year, one explorer wrote in their Google review: It's good to see that Exmouth has preserved its rusty pole in authentic rusty condition. So many rusty poles in other locations have been ruined by gentrification (and paint) but this remains as a rare and traditional seaside attraction. I was impressed, don't miss it if visiting the area. The rusty pole of Exmouth in all its glory before it was unceremoniously removed with no warning The pole was first erected in 1909 and has become a staple of Exmouth community with many flocking from around the country to see it But on 13 April, the pole was removed by South West Water without any warning or public consultation. Speaking to ITV, the water company confirmed that they were responsible for removing the pole. The statement claimed they had agreed to remove it after concerns were raised at a council meeting over the structural integrity of the pole and risk to public safety. However, the decision has sparked outrage online - with many arguing that the locals should have been consulted. Leaving a Google review, one disappointed visitor fumed: Completely devastated that the rusty pole has been removed. Explaining to a toddler (who is obsessed with rust) that we are going to see a rusty pole, only to find it has been removed two days earlier, is up there with root canal. Not sure how we will be able to salvage the rest of this holiday now. As a result, Exmouths Rusty Pole Society is now fighting to have the pole re-instated. Before its removal Google reviews for the pole gave it five stars and told other tourists to visit it if they got the chance Press officer Mike Menhenitt told Femail: 'I took my dog for a walk by the pole on (12 April) Wednesday evening and it was there. 'On Thursday morning I drove past and it was gone, so somehow in that quite short space of time they managed to get it out of the ground and take it away. 'It's a big pole, it went at least 10ft underground and was around 25ft to 30ft above ground. 'It seems like some strange clandestine operation to remove it. We want answers, it feels like a cover up. Why can't they just be transparent about why it was taken. 'Generations of children have played around that pole.' Mike and the Exmouth's Rusty Pole Society are currently campaigning for the reinsertion of the pole. South West Water have both been approached for further comment. 22-year-old conjoined twin sisters who are attached at the torso and share a reproductive system have revealed how they manage everything from driving and dating to agreeing on what to wear and who to be friends with. Carmen and Lupita Andrade, who moved to the US from Mexico when they were two and now live in Connecticut, recently answered some of the burning questions that they often receive about being conjoined twins to the Today show. The sisters dished on what it's like for one when the other wants to go on a date and revealed how often they really get sick of one another. Carmen and Lupita explained to the outlet that because they 'share' so many 'internal structures,' separation surgery is way too risky for them. 22-year-old conjoined twin sisters who are attached at the torso and share a reproductive system have revealed how they manage everything from dating to agreeing on what to wear Carmen and Lupita Andrade, from Connecticut, recently answered some of the burning questions that they often receive about being conjoined twins to the Today show The sisters dished on what it's like for one when the other wants to go on a date and revealed how often they really get sick of one another 'If we had separation surgery, either one of us would die, both of us would die or wed end up in the ICU and never get out,' Lupita said. When they were born, doctors told their parents that they would likely only live a few days - but they have defied all odds and are now thriving. Carmen and Lupita explained to the outlet that because they 'share' so many 'internal structures,' separation surgery is way too risky for them As babies, they spent years in physical therapy learning how to sit up and work together to use their legs - and when they were four-years-old, they took their first steps together. Now, 22 years on, they certainly haven't let sharing one body slow them down - and the two of them have expertly adapted to living life with one another. Both of the sisters have two arms but only one leg each, which means that Carmen - who has control of the right leg - has to do the driving. 'We go to movies and concerts (sharing one seat) and we travel on airplanes,' Carmen explained. 'Last year, we went to California and weve also flown to Texas.' According to the twins, they have even found ways to ensure that they get much-needed alone time despite being stuck together 24/7. 'Sometimes at the end of the day, were just exhausted and we dont want to talk,' Carmen admitted. When they were born, doctors told their parents that they would likely only live a few days - but they have defied all odds and are now thriving. They are seen when they were little As babies, they spent years in physical therapy learning how to sit up and work together to use their legs - and when they were four-years-old, they took their first steps together Now, 22 years on, they certainly haven't let sharing one body slow them down - and the two of them have expertly adapted to living life with one another 'Thats when well go on different devices and do our own thing. I have my laptop to do schoolwork, and Lupita will put on headphones and listen to music or go on her phone. 'Weve been conjoined our whole life, so its not like we miss our independence. It's all we've ever known, right?' While they insisted that they're 'happy just the way they are,' they did admit that it's 'not all rainbows and sunshine.' One difficulty that comes being conjoined is finding clothes that fits their body - but a neighbor has been sewing shirts and dresses for them since they were five. And luckily, agreeing on what to wear is easy since the two women 'have the same' sense of style. 'We have the same style, but weve tried to have our own distinct looks. We dont usually have our hair the same length,' Carmen revealed. 'When we went to the ophthalmologist, Lupita chose completely different glasses than me, and she has a piercing on the side of her nose. I have a septum ring.' They've also faced trouble in their love lives. While Lupita is asexual, Carmen started looking for love a few years ago on the dating app Hinge, but she admitted that she received a lot of messages from 'guys with fetishes' after listing that she was a conjoined twin on her profile. Both of the sisters (seen as kids with Tyra Banks) have two arms but only one leg each, which means that Carmen - who has control of the right leg - has to do the driving The twins have even found ways to ensure that they get much-needed alone time despite being stuck together 24/7. Carmen said: 'Well go on different devices and do our own thing' One difficulty that comes being conjoined is finding clothes that fits their body - but a neighbor has been sewing shirts and dresses for them since they were five She also said she struggles with 'social anxiety,' which made it hard for her to let new people in. They've also faced trouble in their love lives. While Lupita is asexual, Carmen started looking for love a few years ago on the dating app Hinge, but she admitted that she received a lot of messages from 'guys with fetishes' after listing that she was a conjoined twin on her profile But in October 2020, she met a man named Daniel on the app and the two soon fell in love. 'I knew right off the bat that Daniel was different from the others, because he didnt lead with a question about my condition,' she gushed. 'Weve been together for two and a half years, and weve discussed getting engaged, but we want to live together first.' Being in a relationship as a conjoined twin has its own challenges - but Carmen said Daniel and her sister 'get along really well' and that they even stay up talking to each other sometimes after she falls asleep. She added that she tries to 'come up with compromises' when she goes on dates with Daniel to make it fair for Lupita, who is forced to come along, by letting her choose where they go to eat or what activity they're going to do. In 2020, she met a man named Daniel (seen together) and the two fell in love. She gushed: 'I knew Daniel was different because he didnt lead with a question about my condition' Being in a relationship as a conjoined twin has its own challenges - but Carmen said Daniel and her sister 'get along really well' and that they even stay up talking to each other sometimes The twins are very open about their story on social media, and while they do sometimes get 'nasty comments,' Carmen insisted that it hasn't brought them down While both of the women are in the veterinary field, they have different aspirations. Carmen wants to be a veterinary nurse, while Lupita plans to be a technician. They said they've 'always shared the same group of friends,' with Carmen adding, 'Lupita has really good intuition about people, so if she likes them, I like them.' She explained that they hope that by being so honest, they can help 'normalize conjoined twins.' She added: 'You have to remember: Were not just conjoined twins, were people' The 22-year-old said they share a special connection - and can often 'feel each other's emotions.' 'We were recently in a store and I felt a weird stomach drop - and I knew it was coming from my sister,' she said. 'A man was pretending to film his daughter, but he was really filming us. I didnt notice, but Lupita did. Shes way more observant.' Lupita added: 'I can feel when Carmen is anxious or about to cry. Its that same stomach drop.' The women suffer from endometriosis and cannot have children. They're also on a hormone blocker that prevents them from menstruating. The twins are very open about their story on social media, and while they do sometimes get 'nasty comments,' Carmen insisted that it hasn't brought them down. She explained that they hope that by being so honest, they can help 'normalize conjoined twins.' 'A lot of people arent used to people with disabilities setting boundaries or creating boundaries when it comes to their disability,' she concluded. 'We get a lot of questions about sex, and how we go to the bathroom and stuff like that. But you have to remember: Were not just conjoined twins, were people.' He's been sculpted in marble and bronze, but now King Charles III has been modelled in chocolate. A lifesize bust of the monarch - made entirely of chocolates from Celebrations - has been unveiled ahead of his Coronation on May 6, at Westminster Abbey in London. An expert team of chocolatiers and model makers studied hours of footage the King to capture his likeness, before melting down more than 17 litres of chocolate to inject into a bespoke mould. The bust, which took four weeks to create and weighs over 23kg - the equivalent of 2,875 individual Celebrations sweets, is modelled on the uniform the King is expected to wear at the Coronation. Its epaulettes - ornamental shoulder pieces - are adorned with miniature Twix, Milky Way, Galaxy and Bounty chocolates, while Maltesers Teasers were used to decorate the King's collar. A lifesize bust of the monarch (pictured) - made entirely of chocolates from Celebrations - has been unveiled ahead of his Coronation on May 6, at Westminster Abbey in London An expert team of chocolatiers and model makers studied hours of footage the King to capture his likeness, before melting down more than 17 litres of chocolate to inject into a bespoke mould. Pictured, Chocolatier Jennifer Lindsey-Clarke adds the finishing touches to bust of King Charles III made from Celebrations chocolates The medals decorating the chest of the bust were created using one of each of the well-known chocolates, including miniature Snickers bars. The piece was specially commissioned by UK confectionery brand Celebrations, which is launching a Limited-Edition 'Coronation' tub to mark the historical event. Emily Owen, Senior Brand Manager at Celebrations, said 'What better way to celebrate this moment in British history than immortalising HM King Charles III using the nation's ultimate sharing treat. 'A team of master chocolatiers created the tasty tribute to our new King to mark this occasion of national festivity and we are delighted with how he looks. 'The team studied hours of footage of the King to capture his true likeness and the resemblance is uncanny. 'Celebrations is all about bringing people together and we are thrilled to be sharing this occasion with so many chocolate lovers up and down the country.' The sculpture of King Charles III will be on display at Mars Wrigley UK HQ in Slough. The bust (pictured left), which took four weeks to create and weighs over 23kg - the equivalent of 2,875 individual Celebrations sweets, is modelled on the uniform the King is expected to wear at the Coronation Chocolatier Jennifer Lindsey-Clarke adds the finishing touches to bust of King Charles III made from Celebrations chocolates ahead of the Coronation The sculpture (pictured) of King Charles III will be on display at Mars Wrigley UK HQ in Slough A man who was rejected from nearly 100 jobs and had to spend 18 months on benefits has finally secured his dream job - as a barrister. Taz Aldeek, 29, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, saw his applications regularly get knocked back despite having three degrees - including a master's. He had to apply for Universal Credit to survive and racked up 10,000 of debt - not including his tuition and accommodation loans at university. But Taz has now secured a job as a case officer at the Information Commissioner's Office. And he will be starting a pupillage at the Crown Prosecution Service in September. Taz Aldeek, 29, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, who was rejected from nearly 100 jobs and had to spend 18 months on benefits has finally secured his dream job - as a barrister Taz said: 'It was a very difficult time for me, my physical health was deteriorating, and I was trying my best to stay positive but felt like I was in a dark place. 'Now I'm ready for the job, I've got the experience nationally and internationally and I'm as ready as I'm ever going to be I'm happy to be in crime and public service with the CPS. 'It feels like I'm making meaningful impact in my community.' Taz graduated from Sheffield University with a 2:1 with honours in Law and Criminology in 2016. He then graduated from the same university in 2017 after studying Master of Laws in Corporate and Commercial Law and completing the course with a Distinction. But he says he felt like he 'didn't fit the mould' of a barrister and volunteered at Manchester crown court witness service while working in a hotel to save money. Taz knew his interests lay in criminal law and took on a four-month voluntary internship in the US in a death row office as part of the Louisiana Capital Post Conviction Project. On his return from the US, Taz spent time working at a law firm for six months. After being turned down for roles in law and even jobs unrelated to his degrees, he was forced to sign on to Universal Credit in November 2020 Taz graduated from Sheffield University with a 2:1 with honours in Law and Criminology with in 2016 He then graduated from the same university in 2017 after studying Master of Laws in Corporate and Commercial Law and completing the course with a Distinction He then applied for a scholarship through The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn recognised as being one of the world's most prestigious professional bodies of judges and lawyers. Despite being turned down the first time, Taz applied again and was granted the scholarship which gave him the freedom to apply for pupillages and internships. After being turned down for roles in law and even jobs unrelated to his degrees, he was forced to sign on to Universal Credit in November 2020. And after a gruelling 18-months and nearly 100 rejections, in April 2022 he was offered a role at the Information Commissioner's Office and secured pupillage. Taz posts about his experiences looking for work and then securing it on YouTube to help other future aspiring lawyers under the handle @TazAldeek. 'I look back now and it has very much been a redemption story I went to state school and was in the bottom set for everything,' said Taz. Taz was pictured on the day of his final dissertation submission to secure his degree in in Law and Criminology Taz posts about his experiences looking for work and then securing it on YouTube to help other future aspiring lawyers under the handle @TazAldeek He then applied for a scholarship through The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn recognised as being one of the world's most prestigious professional bodies of judges and lawyers 'I scraped into law school and like anyone at university, it's a financially difficult experience. 'I felt like I didn't fit the mould but I finished university and thought I'll go for it and ended up committing to it. 'Without the scholarship from Lincoln's Inn, I couldn't have done the bar course to qualify as a barrister. 'From 2017 until 2022 I was getting rejections every year and now, I've finally made it happen. And after a gruelling 18-months and nearly 100 rejections, in April 2022 he was offered a role at the Information Commissioner's Office and secured pupillage Taz shared a moment with his father, who is also a barrister, after he finally landed his dream job Taz shared a snap walking in new shoes after receiving his first pay after a stint of unemployment 'But I had to sign up to the Job Centre and I was on Universal Credit while applying for jobs - nothing was coming through. 'It's very difficult because you start off confident but when you're going through the meat grinder your self-esteem takes a knocking. 'I was just surprised, I had three degrees and essentially everywhere I was applying wanted experience - I'd invested so much into law that outside of that path I was struggling to get any job. 'Without me being able to live at home with the support of my Dad none of this would have been possible. 'Even now I'm in 10k of debt from that time aside from actual debt of student finance.' Crown Princess Mary of Denmark was spotted taking in the glorious views on board a traditional Fijian boat named Uto ni Yalo, which translates to Heart of the Spirit. The 72ft vessel is being used to revive and sustain traditional Fijian canoe building, sailing and navigational knowledge, skills, and customs. The outing comes as mother-of-four Mary takes in the sights as part of her trip around the Southern Hemisphere, which will also see her visit her home country, Australia. To go aboard the incredible boat and learn more about Fijian history, the 51-year-old wore a chic blue and white stripe maxi shirt dress, a pale tan belt to show off her neat waist and sweet scalloped edged shoes. Mary, who is married to Crown Prince Frederik, wore her thick brunette hair styled in a low side plait to keep her flowing locks out of her face. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark nailed chic but casual dressing for the trip aboard a traditional Fijian boat The mum-of-four finished her look with a simple brown leather belt and flat shoes, wearing her hair in a chic side plait Crown Princess Mary's trip, which runs from April 23-28, was designed to focus attention on the consequences of climate change in the Pacific Ocean region Finishing off her elegant ensemble, Mary added a pair of statement sunglasses, and delicate jewellery including teardrop precious stone earrings and a thick gold cuff. Clearly at home on the boat, the smiling princess opted for a minimal makeup look for the day, matching dewy skin with a pink lip, a little smudged brown eyeliner and mascara. During the event, the royal was pictured with Dan Jrgensen, Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy. Crown Princess Mary's trip, which runs from April 23-28, was designed to focus attention on the consequences of climate change in the Pacific Ocean region. Between today and Thursday, her appointments in Fiji will be partly carried out together with UNFPA Executive Director Natalie Kanem. According to a Danish royal statement: 'The Crown Princess will, among other things, focus on how the destruction and evacuations in the wake of climate change result in increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence.' It added she will find out more about 'how the health care system works to protect women and girls in vulnerable situations'. Before visiting Fiji, the royal spent two days in Vanuatu, with her visit falling a short time after the island country was been hit by two cyclones and two earthquakes. Princess Mary got a chance to steer the vessel as she learned more about traditional Fijian canoe building, sailing and navigational knowledge, skills, and customs The Princess listened intently as she stood next to Dan Jrgensen, Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy to learn more about the experience Dan Jrgensen and Mary aboard the boat as they discover more about the project Princess Mary and Dan Jrgensen got a chance to steer the 72ft vessel, which is being used to revive and sustain traditional Fijian canoe building, sailing and navigational knowledge, skills, and customs As part of her visit, Mary took field visits to crisis response areas, where she met with people involved in reconstructing the area following the natural disasters. On April 28, the royal will visit Sydney, Australia - her home country. This event will be truly special, as it is the first time Princess Mary will travel to Australia in an official capacity in a decade. The Hobart-born royal, 51, will be returning to her home country on April 28 to meet with Danish representatives that are involved in Australia's 'green transition' while also visiting several Danish-led projects related to sustainability. Model Ellie Goldstein has shared her feelings on the new inclusive Barbie doll that she has helped to launch. Ellie, 21, from Ilford, East London, took to Instagram, where she shared a video of her speaking about the new doll: 'I'm here for the first ever Barbie with Down's syndrome that looks like me and it's beautiful and I love to pieces. 'When I first saw the Barbie I was like "what the heck?" A bit overwhelmed, let's say thrilled. 'My career is a British model and I love modelling, the camera, obviously, the hair the makeup and everything. 'She looks glamorous, gorgeous, pretty, darling and she's perfect like me and I'm perfect like her.' Speaking about the doll, Ellie said: 'She looks glamorous, gorgeous, pretty, darling and she's perfect like me and I'm perfect like her' In a statement on her Instagram, Ellie, who is from Ilford, East London, wrote: 'I am so thrilled there are now Barbie dolls with Down's Syndrome. When I saw the doll I felt so emotional and proud. It means a lot to me that children will be able to play with the doll and learn that everyone is different. 'I am proud Barbie chose me show the dolls to the world. Diversity is important as people need to see more people like me out there in the world and not be hidden away. Barbie will help make this happen.' Ellie, 21, and her mother, Yvonne, went on This Morning to speak about her latest successes with Holly and Phil. 'When I first saw the Barbie I was like "what the heck?" A bit overwhelmed, let's say thrilled Mattel have released the first ever Barbie doll with Down's Syndrome, it is available on pre-order from Smyths She said that growing up, she barely saw anyone who looked like her in the mainstream media, which is why she decided to team up with Barbie to help launch their new doll. Asked how she felt when she saw the doll for the first time, Ellie said: 'Really happy and emotional.' Yvonne said: 'It's all about visibility, inclusion, there wasn't any when Ellie was growing up. It wasn't that long ago, 21 years. It's just amazing to have that out there for people to be aware of Down's Syndrome.' Ellie also explained the power behind what the Barbie was wearing. She told Holly and Phil: 'So the necklace has got a symbolic thing that is got the different chromosome on it and she looks like me.' Asked how she felt when she saw the doll for the first time, Ellie said: 'Really happy and emotional' Ellie Goldstein has become the ever model with Down's Syndrome to feature on the cover of British Vogue (May issue) The colours on the dress that the Barbie is wearing are associated and linked with Down's Syndrome awareness. Ellie also became the first ever model with Down's Syndrome to feature on the cover of British Vogue. Speaking about her cover of British Vogue, Ellie described the experience as 'fantastic', saying in particular that she liked the hair, makeup and hairstyles. But it doesn't stop there, as she also broke the record for Gucci's most liked photo. Ellie said she felt 'weird' and wowed when she found out her photo went viral. Adidas made a statue of her near her college which she sees four times a week, at London Bridge. Ellie went on This Morning with her mother Yvonne, who was told Ellie would not be able to talk, walk, go to college or university She said: 'I see it four days a week. I'm like wow, it's me and then my friends are like "wow it's Ellie, my girl, my darling!"' Yvonne said the doctors were 'completely wrong' about her daughter, adding: 'Well it's was just all very negative and it was handled really badly. We were just told to read leaflets and we were just left to get on with it really. 'But when Ellie grew up, from tiny two, three-years-old she was like "I wanna be famous" She has a really outgoing personality and my mum always used to say "she's gonna be something that girl" My friends used to say "She's going to be on EastEnders one day". Ellie says she was told she would not be able to talk, walk, go to college or university, before adding: 'But now, I've proved them wrong.' Paul Burrell told his I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here... South Africa campmates about the late Queen's bath time. The former royal butler, 64, opened up about the process of bath time in Buckingham Palace with US supermodel Janice Dickinson in the new All Stars ITV series. Paul, who joined the royal household in 1987, claimed 'royals never run their own baths, they are run for them.' Paul, who then went to work as a butler for the late Princess Diana until her death in 1997, released a book A Royal Duty in 2003. Janice asked: 'Did you ever have to give the Queen a bath?' Paul replied: 'No she did that herself, you set the towels out and everything in a special way, and royals never run their own baths, they are run for them, so they never have to put the plug in.' The supermodel later said: 'Paul the butler from the royal house has the best stories on earth. So I kind of ask him questions here and there, he goes on and on and I'm like yes!' It comes after the shows viewers slammed Paul after he 'annoyingly' referenced his royal connections during Monday's opening episode. With the former butler taking mere minutes to mention his late employer in his introduction video. He told the camera: 'Most people will know me from being a footman to HM and butler to Diana Princess of Wales'. Later, during his trial, he went on to declare: 'This is a far cry from Windsor Castle'. Taking to Twitter one disgruntled viewer wrote: 'It took Paul Burrell approximately 0.55 seconds before he mentioned Diana.' Paul Burrell told his I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here... South Africa campmates about the late Queen's bath time Paul, who joined the royal household in 1987, claimed 'royals never run their own baths, they are run for them' (pictured Queen Elizabeth II in 2023) Another quipped: 'I'm Paul Burrell and most people know me for being on Lorraine every five minutes talking about Princess Diana'. A third wrote: 'Oh was Paul Burrell Princess Diana's butler??? He never mentioned it!'. With a fourth joking: 'Not like Paul Burrell to mention Princess Diana'. Before another ranted: 'Paul Burrell mentions Diana yet again to remind us. WE KNOW.' Later Paul mirrored his horrified expressions from 19 years ago while getting stuck into a challenge in the new All Stars series in South Africa. Taking up his position in the Hell Holes task, Paul joked: 'How lovely for the first challenge to be putting my hand in a hole.' But within seconds, he was squealing and shrieking after realising there were snakes inside - much to the annoyance of supermodel Janice Dickinson. The former royal butler, 64, opened up about the process of bath time in Buckingham Palace with former US supermodel Janice Dickinson (pictured) in the new All Stars ITV series Paul revealed The Queen bathed herself however he 'set the towels out and everything in a special way' When he cried, 'It's gonna bite me,' the TV personality hit back with, 'If it doesn't bite you, I will... shut up and look for the key!' But viewers of the programme were left less than impressed by Paul's antics, as they took to Twitter to accuse him of 'being ridiculous' and 'overacting'. One wrote, 'Why's Paul Burrell trying to recreate his 2004 meme. It was funny when it was authentic but now it's just forced #ImACeleb.' Others added, 'Paul burrell is so overacting this we've seen this act before,' and, 'Paul Burrell is ridiculous #ImACeleb.' Princess Diana's former butler taking mere minutes to mention his late employer in his introduction video (Pictured together 1997) Later, during his trial, he went on to declare: 'This is a far cry from Windsor Castle' Two more chimed in with, 'Paul burrell is defo putting this on #ImACeleb,' as well as, 'What an actor Paul Burrell is #ImACeleb.' Another concluded, 'Paul Burrell give that man an Oscar #imaceleb.' I'm A Celebrity fans all had the same complaint as the South African spin-off hit ITV viewers screens, branding it 'wrong'. The show was pre-recorded in Kruger National Park last year, with the first episode airing on Monday. Taking to Twitter one disgruntled viewer wrote: 'It took Paul Burrell approximately 0.55 seconds before he mentioned Diana For the first time in 21 years, the show, which kicks off on Monday and features an all-star cast, will not end with a Jungle King or Queen - instead having a 'Legend'. The lack of public vote means the stars, including Carol Vorderman, Helen Flanagan and Amir Khan, will compete against each other, thus will not be heading for royal status - instead just battling between each other. A statement from ITV read: 'With no public vote, they will be competing against each other in a battle to become the first ever 'I'm A Celebrity Legend'.' Queen Letizia of Spain was a sight to behold today, as she stepped out in an elegant white co-ord to attend an event in the Spanish capital. The glamorous monarch, 50, cut a stylish figure while out on a solo trip to the ninth 'European Conferences on Tobacco or Health' in Madrid, Spain. Ever the style queen, the monarch once again wowed onlookers in the brilliant white, waist-cinching two-piece, which was tailor-made by the Royal Palace's dressmaker last year. The mother-of-two was first spotted in the slinky number while out at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Madrid back in March 2022. Exuding regal excellence, she teamed a white satin blouse with a matching midi skirt which featured statement side splits and dramatic sleeves. Queen Letizia of Spain was a sight to behold today, as she stepped out in a stylish white co-ord ensemble She confidently sashayed across the room in a recycled pair of sky blue slingback heels by Spanish designer Magrit, which she teamed with a matching sky blue clutch bag. Ever the fashionista, she accesorised her look with a pair of silver drop-down earrings, gorgeously decorated with a hint of light blue, as well as a simplified gold ring which she displayed on her index finger. The royal styled her lustrous locks in a voluminous side part which gracefully swept her cheeks as she smiled for the camera. Her natural beauty was embellished by a dusty peach eye shadow, joint by a dash of mascara and a subtly glossed nude lip. It's not the queen's first time at the European Conferences on Tobacco or Health - also known as the ECToH - which she also attended back in 2017. The ECToH happens every three years and unites over 600 influential advocates, such as researchers, scientists and healthcare professionals who work on aspects of tobacco control from around Europe. This years ECToH takes place from 26 to 28 April 2023, and will focus on the next generation by aiming for a tobacco-free generation, where less than five per cent of Europe uses tobacco by 2040. The queen cut a stylish figure while out on a solo trip to the ninth 'European Conferences on Tobacco or Health' in Madrid, Spain The royal styled her lustrous locks in a voluminous side part which gracefully swept her cheeks as she smiled for the camera The gorgeous look, which accentuated her trim frame, was designed by the Royal Palace's dressmaker A pair of silver drop-down earrings with just a touch of blue were the perfect match for her elegant blue clutch bag She teamed her brilliant white co-ord with a recycled pair of slingback heels by Spanish brand Magrit Pictured meeting guests, Queen Letizia endorsed the conference by delivering a speech on improving current tobacco policies while also making time to greet the rest of the guests in attendance. Her latest outing marks a very busy week for the monarch, after she spent Tuesday at another official engagement. The queen and her husband King Felipe, 55, welcomed guests to the Royal Palace in Madrid, for a luncheon celebrating world literature members of the 'Miguel de Cervantes' Literature Prize. The prestigious Miguel de Cervantes Prize is awarded to one writer annually to celebrate a lifetime of work, and this year it's been given to Venezuelan poet Rafael Cadenas, 93. She sashayed confidently across the room and made time to greet the rest of the guests in attendance The ECToH takes place every three years, with the queen herself once attending in 2017 Queen Letizia endorsed the conference by delivering a speech on improving current tobacco policies The Miguel de Cervantes Prize is one of the most coveted in Spanish literature and has awarded an accolade to an esteemed writer every April at Alcala de Henares University since its launch in 1974. The candidates are nominated by the Spanish Royal Academy and by former prize-winners. The chairman of the jury is the Spanish Minister of Culture. Ever the regal beauty, the mother-of-two stunned in a form-fitting, ankle-length dress by Spanish brand Lady Pipa, in colour 'Terrazzo Rose. Meanwhile King Felipe was as smart as ever in a sharp three-piece suit and royal blue tie. A mum has spoken of her hurt and upset after her three-year-old daughter Penelope was trolled by adults for appearing cross-eyed. Emma Prince, 35, from Milton Keynes, recently posted a heartwarming video on TikTok of Penelope on holiday in Morocco where she was given a traditional turban to wear. But after posting it, Emma noticed dozens of mean comments focusing on her little girl's disability, with one man saying 'your kid is cross-eyed', another replying 'that child's eye needs seeing to' and another replying 'that's the first thing I saw.' Penelope suffers from strabismus - also known as a squint - and is almost blind in her right eye. Others slammed Emma, telling her Penelope needed to be seen urgently by eye doctors - even though she attends regular appointments at her local hospital for check-ups. Penelope, three, suffers from strabismus - also known as a squint - and is almost blind in her right eye. Strangers on the internet were quick to point this out and accuse Emma of neglect Emma shared the adorable moment in Morocco on TikTok but was shocked when she saw all the horrible comments underneath it Penelope was born in July 2019 at 37 weeks but had a low birthweight of just 4lbs - something the doctors believe may have meant her eye didn't develop as it should. The little girl is due to have surgery to straighten her eye this summer before she goes to primary school, but the op won't improve her vision and Emma said she is only doing it for cosmetic purposes. And she said she'd rather not put her daughter through it - but recent comments from people make her feel she has no choice. Single mum Emma, who owns a beauty salon and lives in Milton Keynes, Bucks, originally posted the video of her and Penelope in Morocco, saying: 'Such a beautiful moment.' It shows a street seller in Marrakech kitting the little girl out with a headscarf. But disturbing comments left below had Emma feeling disbelief that adults could point out a child's disability. Penelope is almost blind in one eye which doctors believe is partly due to her low birth weight of just 4lbs While on a recent holiday in Morocco, Penelope was kitted out in a traditional turban and her proud mum Emma shared a video on TikTok, which attracted the attention of trolls The little girl is due to start primary school very soon and is going to have cosmetic surgery to correct her eye, something her mum doesn't want to do but is scared she might be bullied Penelope is a sweet and bright little girl who, when asked, says her eyes are 'so gorgeous' Single mum Emma is disgusted by those who have commented on her daughter's appearance and pointed out her disability WHAT IS A STRABISMUS? If a person suffers with strabismus, one eye looks directly at the object they are viewing and the other eye is misaligned. It can face inward (esotropia, 'crossed eyes' or 'cross-eyed'), outward (exotropia or 'wall-eyed'), upward (hypertropia) or downward (hypotropia). Strabismus can be constant or intermittent. About one in 20 children have a squint, or strabismus, but exotropia is far less common. Squints usually develop during the first three years of life, but can appear later. It is often spotted in early childhood, sometimes within weeks of a baby being born. Many historical painters suffered with the condition, including: Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas and Rembrandt. Lady Louise Windsor also is believed to have the condition. Advertisement 'Something she will have to have surgery on at only three-years-old so that society accepts her. She then made another TikTok where she posted some of the hurtful comments and asked Penelope how she felt to be singled out. She said on the TikTok: 'It's pretty heart wrenching to have to defend the most wonderful little girl over something she was born with, something she doesn't see as a problem, something she actually loves about herself. 'Something I have been in and out of the hospital for since she was three months old. 'Maybe the only way to get through to people is to let them hear how she feels about it all and if it makes just one person think twice about commenting on something about somebody else's appearance then we've made progress.' In the video, Emma asks Penelope whether she likes her eyes, and the tot simply replies: 'So gorgeous!' Emma asks her daughter what they will do at the hospital in a few months and she replies: 'Fix my eye because it's broken.' 'What would you do if someone said something mean to you about your eye?' Emma adds. 'Like what the little girl said?' Penelope replies, referring to a mean comment she recently received. 'Yes. How does it make you feel?' Emma says, to which Penelope replies: 'Sad.' 'What would you say to anybody who is mean to other people?' Emma adds. 'That's not very nice! It makes people sad,' Penelope responds. Penelope was born at 37 weeks and weighed just 4lbs, something doctors believe may have contributed to her sight loss in one eye When Penelope was just born she was so tiny she wasn't much bigger than an iPhone. According to the NHS, strabismus is where the eyes point in different directions. It usually occurs in young children, but can happen at any age According to the NHS, strabismus is where the eyes point in different directions. It usually occurs in young children, but can happen at any age. Strabismus is common and affects around three per hundred children in the UK, not far off an average of one child in every class of 30. Dr Louise Gow, RNIB's (Royal National Institute of Blind People) clinical lead for eye health, optometry and low vision, said: 'Strabismus is common and affects around three per hundred children in the UK (that's an average of nearly one child in every class of 30). 'It's great that Emma and Penelope have found they enjoy making videos together and that they are helping to challenge negative views at the same time.' Toy brand Mattel has shown it is committed to inclusivity with the release of its first ever Barbie with Down's syndrome announced yesterday. The doll was created with the help of US's National Down Syndrome Society and is designed to resemble someone who was born with the condition. Since the first Barbie was unveiled in 1959, the Californian toymaker has been looking for ways to innovate and to represent more children around the world, especially through its inclusive doll line, Fashionistas. In 2022, Mattel made headlines when it launched its first ever doll with pink hearing aids, citing the importance for children to feel 'reflected' in the dolls they play with, and encouraging kids to play with toys that don't resemble them to help them 'understand and celebrate the importance of inclusion'. Mattel released several dolls with permanent disabilities in 2019 after collaborating with teen activist Jordan Reeves, and new additions then included a Barbie in a wheelchair. Meanwhile in 2021, a Black doll with afro hair became the brand's global bestseller. In 2020, the brand also included a Barbie with the skin condition known as vitiligo, following up with a Ken version, as well as a doll with a prosthetic leg. The manufacturer explained at the time they hoped the doll would allow 'kids to play out even more stories they see in the world around them.' The doll was designed with the help of US's National Down Syndrome Society. The blue and yellow colours of her dress are associated with DS's awareness, and her ankle foot orthotics are worn by many people living with the condition The brand's first ever Barbie with hearing aids (pictured),was released in 2022, alongside a Barbie with a prosthetic leg and the first Ken doll with vitiligo. Mattel created the Barbie with hot pink hearing aids with the help of Dr Jen Richardson, an expert in educational audiology, who advised on how to accurately replicate the devices for the doll The California-based doll manufacturer introduced a Vitiligo doll and a doll with a prosthetic leg, right, in 2020 to be more inclusive. A prototype of the doll was debuted on Barbies Instagram channel @BarbieStyle in 2019, becoming the channels most liked post ever with 152,367 likes. After its online success, Mattel made the vitiligo Barbie part of its collection, and followed it up with a Ken doll with vitiligo A Barbie in a wheelchair was introduced in 2019 after Mattel collaborated with teen activist Jordan Reeves. In 2019, The two bestselling Barbie Fashionista dolls in the UK were ones with wheelchairs, according to the company The Barbie with a prosthetic leg was rolled out in 2020 and exists in different skin colours. Since its release, the toy brand have rolled out themed Barbies with prosthetic legs, such as career dolls who sport the prosthetic. Pictured left: a Black Barbie. Right: interior designer Barbie with a prosthetic leg The fashionista line also includes dolls of different skin colours and body types. The curvy Barbie, pictured, was rolled out with two other body types in 2016: tall and petite, as well as the original body type. The doll was meant to represent more 'realistic' body types for young people. At the time, the new dolls came with the slogan: 'Imagination comes in all shapes and sizes. That's why the world of Barbie is evolving' The range released in 2020 included an Asian Barbie dressed to the nines. Mattel's inclusive campaign has flourished for the last five years, and saw Mattel now offer Barbie dolls that come in five body types, 22 skin tones, 76 hair styles, 94 hair colours, and 13 eye colours Kens with more diverse skin tones (left) are also available as part of the fashionista line. In 2020, the brand introduced a bald Barbie, left. Mattel said it was 'reflective of hair trends seen from catwalk to the sidewalk' at the time, adding that children who experienced hair loss could see themselves represented in the line In 2022, as it released its first ever Barbie with hearing aids, the brand also introduced a new Ken doll with vitiligo, two years after it introduced the feminine version of the doll to the public. The range has also introduced diverse Ken dolls over the years, including a new model with long blond hair. A ginger Ken is also available, right. Ken dolls are available in four body types, 18 sculpts, 13 skin tones, 9 eye colours and 22 hair colours The fashionista line, which aims to represent as many realistic types as possible, has also included a Barbie who wears braces, something many children and adults around the world will have to go through. The doll was introduced as part of Mattel's effort to champion diversity The Barbie is part of the Fashionista lines, which includes a Ken with a prosthetic leg and dolls with different ethnicities' and body shapes A university professor has opened up about how he was stalked by a man who thought he was the Hollywood actor, Sean Penn. Criminologist David Wilson, who lectures at Birmingham City University told ITV's This Morning about his stalking ordeal to mark National Stalking Awareness Week. David, originally from Sauchie, Scotland, said he was stalked by a man who he thought at first was a student wanting to get in touch about their work. He told Holly and Phil: 'I was stalked by a man and at first I thought he was a student and I just thought he was trying to make connection to me because he was a student. 'But it soon became clear he wasn't. I tried to speak to him, I realised there were some issues there beyond someone simply trying to make a connection about their essays. Criminologist David Wilson, who lectures at Birmingham City University went onto ITV's This Morning and spoke about his stalking ordeal as it is National Stalking Awareness Week 'I contacted campus security, what that did though is escalate his behaviour so that he started to email and write letters to me. 'It was the letters that really were an indication of his underlying mental health issues. 'In one of the letters, he threatened to kill me, stab me repeatedly it said in the letter, until I was dead. It allowed me to escalate this so I contacted the police.' But two weeks later, David was faced with his stalker again. David added: 'He said he was Sean Penn, he said he was the Hollywood actor Sean Penn and that I had stolen his script and he was stalking me because he wanted his script back. Because I hadn't given it to him, he was going to stab me until I was dead. David spoke to Holly and Phil on This Morning about his stalker ordeal, which they both called 'terrifying' 'During my office hours there's a knock on the door, I say "come in" and there's someone in the doorway who says to me "I want my script back, I've written to you." 'The first thing I did was look at his hands because he threatened to stab me and I realised he wasn't carrying a weapon. David then invited his stalker into his office to take a seat said the script was by a photocopier and that he would get it for him. He said that this allowed him to leave the office and contact police and security. David added the man was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. The criminologist also gave some advice on what to do if are being stalked: 'If you are worried about these behaviours, don't stay quiet, they won't disappear of their own accord. 'Talk to your family about what's happening to you, talk to your friends, to your work colleagues, start noting down the patterns of behaviour that are unwanted and intruding into your life. 'And all the evidence suggests if this unwanted behaviour continues for longer than two weeks, it will not go away by its own accord, you're going to have to call the police.' As smoke filled the air of her caravan, Natasha Broadley only had one thought - to find her children and get them to safety. Unable to see anything ahead of her due to the thick smoke, she desperately felt around her for any sign of her children in a final, selfless attempt to rescue them. Her efforts meant that her three eldest children managed to get out when the static caravan they were staying in caught fire in Sealands Caravan Park, Ingoldmells, on August 23, 2021. Tragically, her youngest daughter, two-year-old Louisiana-Brooke Dolan, could not be saved. Miss Broadley, from Newark, Nottinghamshire, spoke about the family holiday which quickly turned into a living nightmare. A Lincoln inquest last week ruled the fire had started in the boiler cupboard - but the evidence wasn't there to establish the cause of the fire or that the boiler could be specifically blamed, despite its service history being five months out of date. Natasha Broadley says she cries herself to sleep every night after she was unable to save little Louisiana-Brooke. Pictured left to right: Lexus, Timothy, Natasha Broadley and James Dean An inquest ruled the two-year-old had died from inhalation of the products of combustion A Lincoln inquest last week ruled the fire had started in the boiler cupboard - but the evidence wasn't there to establish the cause of the fire or that the boiler could be specifically blamed, despite its service history being five months out of date The 35-year-old mum said she voiced her concerns that the button to turn the boiler on wasn't working and had to be lit using a lighter, which she wasn't comfortable doing. 'I complained to the owner of the caravan for three days to say come and put the boiler on,' she said. 'She wanted me to put the boiler on, but I wouldn't put it on with a lighter. 'It took three days and I was that mad - I said "that's it I'm coming home. I've had enough."' Miss Broadley said eventually the boiler had been lit using the lighter by someone at the caravan park. 'I went into the shower with my eldest Lexus,' she continued. 'All we did was turn it on. 'I bet we'd only been in there a couple of minutes then Lexus said 'I can smell smoke'. It was like someone had a thousand [cigarettes] in there. 'It was like blue-grey smoke. If I was 30 more seconds in the bathroom [the fire] would have gone straight past and I wouldn't have got out of there at all.' Miss Broadley said the smoke was so thick all she could see was her son's legs. 'All I thought was run straight to the window and I swung it clean open.' After getting three of her children out, Miss Broadley risked her life and went back to rescue Louisiana Miss Broadley (pictured at Louisiana's funeral in September 2021) is now campaigning for better awareness around fire legislation in caravans. Coroner Lindsay Tasker heard how Lincolnshire Police were unable to prosecute the caravan owner with manslaughter by gross negligence because it couldn't be established that there was a fault with the boiler that the owner should have known about After getting three of her children out, Miss Broadley risked her life and went back to rescue Louisiana. She continued: 'As I went back in I took one more breath. It was like powder. I've never known smoke like it. 'I had to do something. I went back in. 'I've never held my breath like that in my life.' Miss Broadley searched for her youngest daughter, patting the sofa where she was, but tragically couldn't find her. 'I had to throw myself out of the window and my kids thought I died because I must have been knocked out,' she said. 'I just couldn't hold my breath and I could hear them screaming out there.' Louisiana was on the floor and an inquest ruled she had died from inhalation of the products of combustion. When asked if she thought a smoke alarm would have saved little Louisiana, she said: 'Of course. Of course, come on.' When asked if she thought a smoke alarm would have saved Louisiana, she said: 'Of course. Of course, come on' The caravan was not fitted with a smoke alarm, the inquest found. The caravan park was never investigated in connection with the case Miss Broadley is planning to meet with her local MP Robert Jenrick to get his advice on what she can do next in Louisiana's memory. Pictured: Family at Louisiana's funeral The caravan was not fitted with one, the inquest found. The caravan park was never investigated in connection with the case. Coroner Lindsay Tasker heard how Lincolnshire Police were unable to prosecute the caravan owner with manslaughter by gross negligence because it couldn't be established that there was a fault with the boiler that the owner should have known about. Miss Broadley is now campaigning for better awareness around fire legislation in caravans. 'I want to raise awareness, because smoke comes before fire,' she said. 'I could have had her and I'm not going to blame myself for the rest of my life.' Miss Broadley said the last 20 months have been a nightmare, adding: 'I cry myself to sleep every night because it's the only time I grieve. 'I'm a mum throughout the day.' Despite a coroner ruling the cause of the fire will never be known, Miss Broadley believes that the boiler caused it. Miss Broadley, who has set up a petition on Change.org to raise awareness around fire legislation in caravans, said: 'I want to make sure there is something to do. I'm not giving up.' Pictured: Timothy, Natasha Broadley, Lexus and James Deam 'I could physically see it on fire,' she said. 'But because it was a chalet, it was attacking the roof and the walls. You could see the fire coming out of a hole. I could personally see it myself.' She is planning to meet with her local MP Robert Jenrick to get his advice on what she can do next in Louisiana's memory. Miss Broadley, who has set up a petition on Change.org to raise awareness around fire legislation in caravans, said: 'I want to make sure there is something to do. I'm not giving up.' The King and the Queen Consort have unveiled the staging for the Eurovision Song Contest and toured the arena in Liverpool today. Charles and Camilla were shown around the M&S Bank Arena and met Mae Muller, the UK's contestant, as well as celebrity presenters, such as Scott Mills, Hannah Waddingham and Rylan Clark, and creative teams, ahead of the contest next month. They were also introduced to the Blue Peter presenters during the tour - and even awarded their own gold Blue Peter badges in honour of the Coronation. The grand final of the Eurovision is due to take place on May 13, a week after the coronation ceremony. Eurovision 2023 will take place in Liverpool after the UK was chosen to host the competition on behalf of war-torn Ukraine. It will be the first time the competition has been held in the UK for 25 years. Charles and Camilla pose with the presenters of this year's Eurovision Song Contest, Scott Mills, Hannah Waddingham, Julia Sanina and Rylan Clark, in Liverpool During today's visit, the King revealed he would be egging on the UKs Eurovision contestant - and no nul points! joked the Queen Consort. The couple met 25-year-old Mae Muller at the arena, where they pressed a button to officially reveal its colourful staging. Chatting with Mae, who will be singing I Wrote A Song, Charles told her: Good luck, well be watching with great interest, egging you on. Thank you! she giggled. No pressure. No nul points this year. No nul points, Camilla agreed. Eurovision director Martin Green started a countdown from ten before the royal couple pressed the button and the arena exploded in a cacophony of light, colour and sound. It ended with the official Coronation logo in tribute to Their Majesties. The royal couple then moved onto the main stage to meet the hosts of Eurovision 2023, Ukrainian host, Julia Sanina, DJ Scott Mills, presenter Rylan Clark and Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham. The King chatted to Ms Waddingham intently about Monty Python. Charles and Camilla were shown around the M&S Bank Arena and met Mae Muller, the UK's contestant, as well as celebrity presenters and creative teams, ahead of the contest next month The King and the Queen Consort (pictured with Eurovision hopeful Mae Muller) unveiled the staging for the Eurovision Song Contest and toured the arena in Liverpool today Beaming: A cheerful Queen Camilla reacts after receiving a 'Blue Peter' badge today King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort stand on the stage after switching on stage lighting as they visit the host venue of this year's Eurovision Song Contest Charles and Camilla were given a tour backstage to meet production staff before being invited to light and animate the arena, revealing the competition staging for the first time Chatting with Mae (pictured left), who will be singing I Wrote A Song, Charles told her: Good luck, well be watching with great interest, egging you on. Sharing a giggle! King Charles and actress Hannah Waddingham and presenter Scott Mills are full of laughter as they chat together The couple were also introduced the Blue Peter presenters. They were awarded Blue Peter badges in honour of the King's coronation Camilla (pictured left) told Mills and Ms Waddingham (pictured right, in a pink dress) that it must be very strange now to to be in the middle of the action. He then turned to presenter Rylan who said: Your Majesty, how nice to meet you. I hear your have just come from Scotland. Little bit of different weather down here. Camilla told Mills and Ms Waddingham that it must be very strange now to to be in the middle of the action. I feel very strange, Ms Waddingham said. Its so huge, it feels very strange to be in the belly of it all. In terms of presenting, as I told His Majesty, dont be worried [but] I am a novice.' She added: I cant believe you are both here given what you have coming up next week, thank you so much. Youll have to put yourselves in a darkened room afterwards and try and switch off. Camilla nodded her head enthusiastically in agreement. The group posed for a photograph and were urged to give a big Eurovision smile. Ive got the teeth for that, joked Rylan, referring to his shiny white veneers. The King and Queen Consort then met Blue Peter presenters, Joel Mawhinney, Abby Cook and Mwaksy Mudenda with three young viewers. Mwaksy told them that, like themselves, the programme - which is celebrating its 65th anniversary - liked to encourage children to get active, get outside, try new adventures and help other people. Charles and Camilla pose with the presenters of this year's Eurovision, including Scott Mills, Hannah Waddingham, Julia Sanina and Rylan Clark Eurovision 2023 will take place in Liverpool after the UK was chosen to host the competition on behalf of war-torn Ukraine. It will be the first time the competition has been held in the UK for 25 years The grand final of the competition is due to take place on May 13, a week after the coronation ceremony. Pictured, King Charles speaking to the presenters King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort meet the presenters of this year's Eurovision Song Contest Saha, eight, from Liverpool, who asked Charles whether he wanted to encourage more people to help the environment as King. Always, quite right, Ive been doing this for a long time, he smiles. Camilla admired Sahas many badges and told her: Thats a lot of bling. Ceyln, nine, from Llanelli, told the Queen how she goes to the beach with her mother and hides books and hot drinks and messages for people. I think reading is so important, Camilla said. If you dont read, you dont learn anything. You can escape and go to places and go on lots of adventures. 'I am so glad to hear what you and your mother do. What lucky people they must be to find them.' Asher, 12, from Birmingham, told the couple: I love learning about the British monarchy and am looking forward to the coronation weekend. What are you most looking forward to about the celebrations? Well thats a very good question,, said Charles. I hope you all enjoy it and it give enormous pleasure to other people. I hear you do a lot of volunteering for St Johns Ambulance. Do you do first aid as well? So you know what to do if I fall over.' The King also admitted that he watched Blue Peter as a child - and a lot of other ones that no longer exist. The King and The Queen Consort wear 'Blue Peter' badges that they were awarded during the arena tour King Charles III and the Queen Consort shakes hands with the BBC Director General Tim Davie, as they meet the creative team of this year's Eurovision Song Contest It is amazing how long it has gone on for, he said. I used to collect the silver paper from chocolate wrappers.. [which they used to raise money for Guide Dogs]. Presenter Joel then surprised the royal couple by saying: Your Majesties, the very best of luck for the coronation and of course a thank you for all your amazing work empowering young people and your help with protecting the environment. 'To thank you even more we wanted to award you the highest accolade that we have at Blue Peter, that of course being these gold Blue Peter badges. How wonderful, said Camilla, Thank you very much. Mwaksy gently pinned the Kings on him while Camilla did her own. Of course Ive stuck it straight through my front, she sighed jokingly. Afterwards Joel said: It was such an honour to give the King his badge and the fact that he wasnt expecting it made it so much better. Previous recipients include Queen Elizabeth, Sir David Attenborough, Sir Mo Farah and the Prince and Princess of Wales. Mwaksy said that both Their Majesties said they were Blue Peter viewers when they were children. During today's visit, Charles and Camilla were met at the arena by BBC director general Tim Davie, BBC director of content Charlotte Moore and managing director for BBC Eurovision 2023 Martin Green. In the foyer, they met representatives from the BBC Board, BBC Studios and managing director of the arena Faye Dyer. Charles and Camila arrive to visit Liverpool Central Library, to officially mark the Library's twinning with Ukraine's first public Library, the Regional Scientific Library in Odesa The royal couple visited Liverpool Central Library to officially mark its twinning with Ukraine's first public library, the Regional Scientific Library in Odesa Chief executive of Liverpool City Council, Theresa Grant, and director of Culture Liverpool and Major Events, Claire McColgan guided the royal pair (pictured) around the external exhibits King Charles III and the Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Liverpool Central Library They were given a tour backstage to meet production staff before being invited to light and animate the arena, revealing the competition staging for the first time. The couple were also introduced the Blue Peter presenters. They were awarded Blue Peter badges in honour of the King's coronation. Charles and Camilla's visit to the arena is one of several royal engagements in Liverpool, recognising the cultural partnership of the UK and Ukraine and celebrating Eurovision. On the second leg of the royal visit to Liverpool, the royals toured Liverpool Central Library, to the mark the twinning of the library with Ukraine's first public library, the Regional Scientific Library in Odesa, Liverpool's twin city in Ukraine. The Central Library will give assistance to its Ukraine counterpart as the country rebuilds following the destruction caused by the invasion by Russia. Before entering the library, Camilla visited a bookstand outside, part of a Eurovision-linked drive to increase reading, where she was invited to write on a chalkboard, her suggested, 'Good Read'. Camilla, reportedly an avid reader, wrote the title, Love is Blind, by William Boyd. Inside, Charles and Camilla were presented with sunflowers by children of Ukrainian families settled in Liverpool along with Veronika Yasynska, herself a displaced Ukrainian. A recital of Poem For Eurovision by poet Levi Tafari, written with the help of secondary pupils from several of Liverpool's Schools of Sanctuary, took place in the library's atrium. Pictured, Charles during the Library visit The King, in a smart suit, and the Queen Consort, wearing a blue outfit by Fiona Clare, for their outing today The King and Queen listen as information is given about one of the books in the library The Queen Consort during a visit to Liverpool Central Library, which includes a huge chessboard Hello! King Charles waves to crowds waiting in Liverpool as he leaves after a visit to Liverpool Central Library The King and Queen unveil a plague decorated with the Ukrainian flag as they visit the Liverpool Central Library Charles revealed a plaque to mark the twinning of the libraries, during a live link with the site in Odesa, and the visit will end with a performance by English National Opera The King and Queen sign the guestbook as they visit the Liverpool Central Library She visited the library for reading materials, information and advice and it was her suggestion that it twin with the library in Ukraine. Camila, seated before a group of local schoolchildren, was treated to a re-telling of The Magic Mitten, a Ukrainian folklore tale before an official ceremony to mark the library twinning, in a live video link up to Odesa. Appearing on the link, the First lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska told the royal visitors that the Russian invasion had destroyed hundreds of libraries in Ukraine. She added: 'I'm greatly honoured to be present at this twinning ceremony. I'm thankful of Their Majesties, the King and the Queen for their attendance, for the daily friendship and support from them. 'We thank you, Great Britain, for standing with us also on this cultural front line.' Charles said: 'I must stay I find it truly terrifying that more than 300 state and university libraries in Ukraine have been destroyed in recent months and our hearts go out to all those so affected and also how much has been lost in this terrible disaster. 'If it is true to say that the limits of our language are the limits of our world, then the role of libraries is something to be treasured greatly.' Charles spoke the Ukrainian phrase, 'A book saves the soul', before wishing the venture a success. Councillor Roy Gladden, the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, said: 'The eyes of the world will be on Liverpool in May and our hearts will be with Ukraine.' Cressida Bonas looked casually chic at a film screening in London this evening that was also attended by socialite, model and DJ Lady Mary Charteris. Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend was able to take an evening off parenting to make an appearance at the special screening and Q&A of Hilma at the Curzon Soho. Actor Cressida welcomed her son Wilbur James, who she shares with her husband Harry Wentworth-Stanley, 33, last year after the pair married in 2020. The 34-year-old looked effortlessly cool at the screening, epitomising off-duty actor style in mid wash blue jeans and a royal blue jumper. She topped her ensemble with a black blazer-cut jacket and a crossbody black handbag. Her blonde locks fell past her shoulders in loose waves, and she sported a natural make-up look. Lady Mary Charteris (pictured), a socialite, model and DJ, looked characteristically cool as she attended the screening in central London this evening Meanwhile Cressida Bonas nailed the off-duty actor look, looking casually stylish in blue jeans and a blazer-style jacket, topped off with a crossbody bag Also photographed at the event was Lady Mary Charteris, the daughter of James Charteris, Earl of Wemyss and March and his first wife Catherine Ingrid Guinness, of the Guinness dynasty. The 35-year-old, who was once known as a wild party girl but has been sober for several years, donned a two-piece purple suit, boasting a blazer with a fashion-forward oversized cut, and wide legged trousers. Underneath the suit, she wore a cropped black top, with a high neck. Mary, who has modelled for the likes of Tatler, Vanity Fair, Vogue and Love, highlighted her lean stomach with a black ribbon tied around her waist. Her jewellery was a focal point of the ensemble, with multiple necklaces of varying lengths, featuring different pendants, layered over each other. It is not known whether Mary was accompanied by her musician husband Jessie Furze, with whom she lives in LA, and shares one child - Wild Jessie Furze who was born in May, 2021. Tonight's event featured a screening of the film Hilma, which had its premiere at the end of last year, followed by a Q&A session. The film was directed by Lasse Hallstrom, Hilma, and is a drama depicting the life of enigmatic artist Hilma af Klint, one of the first to utilise the abstract idea. Starring Tora Hallstrom as Hilma's younger incarnation, the film also features Lily, Catherine Chalk and Rebecca Calder. Cressida Bonas (pictured) dated Prince Harry for around two years, before ending the relationship in 2014. She married Harry Wentworth-Stanley, with whom she shares son Wilbur James, in 2020 Cressida's appearance at tonight's screening marked one of the few times she has been snapped without her son Wilbur James since he was born last year. The touching story behind Wilbur's name was recently revealed, with reports saying the child was named after the late brother of her husband. Harry's brother James died by suicide in 2006, when he was just 21-years-old. Cressida has previously opened up about the impact of James' passing, last year writing in the Daily Mail that his death had turned the lives of her future in-laws 'upside down'. 'He was a student at Newcastle University and, growing up, he had never shown any obvious signs of depression or mental illness,' she wrote. Mary did not appear to attend the event with her musician husband Jessie Furze, with whom she lives in LA and shares one child Lady Mary Charteris counts Tatler, Vanity Fair, Vogue and Love among the publications she has modelled for 'He was fun, sporty, kind and popular. Many have said he was a golden boy. 'Following a minor operation, he sought help for anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Later that week, while back in Newcastle, James went to an NHS walk-in centre and was then referred to A&E as a low priority. 'James left A&E without being seen. A letter was sent from the NHS to his family GP by second-class post to the wrong postcode. 'By the time it arrived, James had already taken his own life, ten days after the operation.' His family vowed to do something to help others avoid similar tragedies and formed a charity, James' Place, which supports, advises and helps men in suicidal crises with individual therapy. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is known for her chic ensembles - and she didn't disappoint today when joining King Willem-Alexander in The Hague. The mother-of-three, 51, welcomed guests to Huis ten Bosch Palace, alongside her husband, who turns 55 tomorrow, and Princess Beatrix, 85. For the lunch, the royals dined with 100 people who have distinguished themselves during the year. The Dutch queen appeared effortlessly elegant in a camel cape coat for the outing, which she teamed with an elegant gold blouse. Adding even more glitz to her outfit, she donned a chunky necklace and statement drop earrings. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is known for her chic ensembles - and she didn't disappoint today when joining King Willem-Alexander in The Hague The Argentine-born royal completed her stylish look with a beaded bracelet, a sturdy watch and gold heels. Opting to keep her blonde locks down in a straight hair do, she added a smattering of glamorous makeup to her features. Not to be outdone by his wife, the Dutch king opted for a navy suit, teamed with an orange patterned tie and crisp white shirt. His mother, Princess Beatrix, who abdicated in favour of her son in 2013, commanded attention in a bright teal blouse and black skirt. She teamed the vibrant ensemble with a pearl necklace, blue earrings and a gold watch. The mother-of-three, 51, welcomed guests to Huis ten Bosch Palace, alongside her husband, who turns 55 tomorrow, and Princess Beatrix, 85 For the lunch, the royals dined with 100 people who have distinguished themselves during the year The Dutch queen appeared effortlessly elegant in a camel cape coat for the outing (pictured), which she teamed with an elegant gold blouse Not to be outdone by his wife, the Dutch king opted for a navy suit, teamed with an orange patterned tie and crisp white shirt It's been a busy month for the Dutch royals, who last week attended the Kings Day concert at the Ahoy arena in Rotterdam. Maxima turned heads in an eye-catching scarlet gown when stepping out at the annual event with her husband. Cinching herself in at the waist, the royal opted for a statement plaited leather belt with fringe detail. Braving the cooler temperatures, Maxima donned some sheer black tights which she wore with a pair of chunky heeled sandals. For an extra layer of warmth, the royal draped a black velvet fringed scarf over one shoulder. His mother, Princess Beatrix (pictured chatting to guests), who abdicated in favour of her son in 2013, commanded attention in a bright teal blouse and black skirt Maxima completed her stylish look with a beaded bracelet, a sturdy watch and gold heels for the occasion (pictured) Opting to keep her blonde locks down in a straight hair do, the royal (picture with the group) added a smattering of glamorous makeup to her features The monarch finished off her stylish ensemble with a boxy black leather clutch bag and some purple jewel dangly earrings. What's more, she also opted for a glam makeup look for her night out with her family. Styling her hair in her signature loose waves, Maxima wore a glitzy bronze smokey eye look and a slick of nude lipstick. Meanwhile, King Willem-Alexander looked equally as smart in a navy suit, white shirt and a purple tie which matched his wife's earrings. The couple's daughters Princess Amalia, 19, and Princess Ariane, 16, also stunned in sophisticated ensembles. While Ariane looked chic in a navy suit and white silk camisole, her sister Ariane stunned in a blue pleated dress and silver accessories. The family were also joined by King Willem-Alexander's mother Princess Beatrix, 85, and his sister-in-law Princess Laurentien, 56. The item was developed by Lou Green in 1962 to combat declining sales McDonald's fans have been left stunned after learning why the fast food chain's Filet-O-Fish burger was originally created. In 1962, Lou Greon - who owned a franchise in Cincinnati, Ohio - decided he needed to add a new item to the menu after sales declined by 70 per cent. As his restaurant was based in a predominately Catholic area of the city, the businessman noticed that his restaurant was especially quiet on Fridays. This is because some branches of the Christian church avoid eating meat on this particular day of the week. Speaking to The List Show in 2015, Lou's son Paul explained how business was booming for their competitor Frisch's Big Boy - which had a fish sandwich on the menu. Pictured: McDonald's Filet-o-Fish burger. The sandwich was created by franchise owner Lou Greon in 1962 to combat declining sales Determined to draw customers back into his branch, Lou developed his own fried fish patty and tartar sauce - which he put in the classic McDonald's bun and added a slice of American cheese. But while Lou's Filet-O-Fish proved to be an instant hit with his customers, the founder of McDonald's Ray Kroc wasn't sold on the idea. In his 1977 memoir Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonalds, the businessman said he didn't like Lou's burger as it had been 'born of desperation'. What's more, Lou's son Paul said Ray also assumed that the smell of the Filet-O-Fish would put customers off coming into the restaurants. He said in his television interview: '[Ray's] words were, "I'm not going to put fish in my restaurants and stink them up!"' However, the businessman was eventually won over when Lou's fish sandwich outsold his own meat-free burger on the first Friday of Lent in 1963. That year, Ray introduced the Hula Burger to stores across the US - which consisted of a slice of grilled pineapple and cheese in between a plain bun. According to Paul, Lou sold 350 Filet-o-Fish burgers on that Friday - while only six customers bought Hula burgers. The fast food chain has been serving Filet-o-Fish burgers for over 50 years and Lou's son Paul says they're still especially popular on Good Fridays In recent years, the McDonald's fans have shared their surprise over learning the back-story to the burger on Twitter Off the back of this success, Ray and Lou predicted that Fridays would become as successful sales days as Saturdays and Sundays. Over 50 years since the Filet-o-Fish was created, Paul - who also works for McDonald's - says the burger continues to be as popular now. He added: 'It's a very successful sandwich in its own right throughout the year but on Lent and on Fridays especially, it's very much so.' In recent years, the McDonald's fans have shared their surprise over learning the back-story to the popular menu item. 'Grateful for all the pioneers in the industry,' one gushed. Another added: 'When I was a kid, we went every Friday for a Filet-O-Fish at McDonald's. 'We weren't religious, it's just what everyone did.' Meanwhile, a third said: 'I'm not religious but I have to have my Filet-o-Fish on Good Friday!' A young woman has unleashed her fury at the idea of having to 'work for free' after years at university just to be allowed to graduate or 'get a real job'. Yash, 23, a student from Queensland, recently revealed that her psychology degree has left her with high amounts of stress and anxiety. 'Studying psychology in Australia is a scam and it's inherently so classist,' she said. Psychology students are expected to complete 1,000 'client hours' in unpaid internships over two years, with 200 of those hours being face-to-face. And she's not alone - students who study anything related to psychology, social work, nursing, or teaching need to 'work' for free before they can apply for paid jobs. Many students in these fields claim the 2,000+ compulsory hours is 'impossible' to complete in the standard time frame of three years without external financial support. Yash, 23, a student from Queensland, recently revealed that her psychology degree has left her with high amounts of stress and anxiety Under Australia's Fair Work Act, students completing vocational placements are not entitled to minimum wage or other benefits because they are not considered employees. The Australian Department of Education released a report in March 2023 that revealed 62 percent of domestic students take six years to complete bachelor degrees, and 9 percent do not return to university after the first year. Unpaid internships often cause students to drop out of their degrees or move part-time in order to work an extra job to pay bills. Yash revealed that it was extremely hard to get through her undergraduate degree and get into her masters. The mental toll the workload placed on her - and other students - was enough to cause severe burn out and loss of passion. 'If you're privileged enough to make it through three years of undergrad and then honours and masters - you've essentially spent six years studying, not working a full-time wage, not getting a super, and missing out on the biggest years of compounding in your life.' The 23-year-old emphasised how exploitative the unpaid labour truly was. 'It's my second year doing placement at an organisation that has the funds to pay me to do my job,' she said. 'But they've been banking on the idea of unpaid labour from university students for so long - so there's no incentive to change.' Yash has to complete 1,000 client hours over two years - but it is even harder than it may seem. Poll Have you completed an unpaid internship/placement? Yes - and it was important Yes - but they should have paid me No - I only work for compensation Have you completed an unpaid internship/placement? Yes - and it was important 53 votes Yes - but they should have paid me 20 votes No - I only work for compensation 10 votes Now share your opinion She often finds herself showing up for eight hour days with only one contact hour to show for it because of last-minute cancellations. 'People have to take on an excess of clients and work ourselves to death because of unpredictability.' 'My fellow students have a higher client load than paid employees because we're under pressure of getting the hours in.' 'If we don't [complete our hours] we don't get our degree and everything gets pushed back.' Yash revealed that several of her friends were working around the clock, after hours, on the weekends, and also had hospitality jobs to pay their bills. 'We have to do so much difficult work even before we get into the work force,' she sighed. Thousands who study in fields related to psychology, social work, education, and nursing claim that the 2,000+ compulsory hours is 'impossible' to complete in the standard time frame of three years without external financial support Many agreed with her and claimed they were 'sick' and 'tired' of compulsory unpaid internships. 'Uni placements are an exploited labour class in Australia,' a man said. 'Not to mention this process ruins your mental health when the profession as a whole is about improving mental health.' Another woman added: 'Psychology, social work, teaching, nursing etc are crucial and help fill gaps in those fields yet we get the short end of the stick.' 'It's such a flawed system because the people who can't afford to take years off of full time work to do it are the ones most needed in the field!' said a third. Another even revealed how her professors told her to 'avoid' having a job while in her honours year. 'What if you need rent? Or an income to live?' she asked instead. A millennial entrepreneur has revealed how a casual conversation with a friend led to her own self-care business which is now turning over a massive $144,000 a week. Xixi Liu, 28, started CheekyGlo with her business partner Allen Fu, 27, in October 2020 in the middle of the COVID pandemic. They worked from Allen's garage, initially with nothing but a laptop, a label printer and $1,500. In the first four weeks of sales they made $20,000. Four months later they had racked in $100,000 of sales. Now, they have over 20,000 gloves to 16,000 customers in 49 countries, with it now selling one product every three minutes. Xixi Liu, 28, started CheekyGlo with her business partner Allen Fu, 27, in October 2020 in the middle of the COVID pandemic (pictured together) The millennial entrepreneur has revealed how a casual conversation with a friend led to her own self-care business which is now turning over a massive $144,000 a week. Xixi is pictured packing sales The company sells a range of exfoliating products, with their most popular being a $32 body mitt, which is inspired by the one's Xixi used growing up in Harbin, Northern China. 'It's our tradition there to go to bathhouses and get full body scrubs with these types of gloves,' Xixi told Daily Mail Australia. 'I told Allen about the glove in a random conversation. 'He tried it too and was amazed!' Since she was young, Xixi has used the mitts to manage her skin condition keratosis pilaris. Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength - and particularly during the global Covid-19 pandemic, when many have prioritised self care at home When she moved to Sydney from China, she wasn't able to find any product as effective as the mitts back home. What is keratosis pilaris? Keratosis pilaris, also known as KP or chicken skin, is a genetic skin condition that causes tiny, stubborn bumps on areas like your upper arms, legs, thighs, and butt. The common condition is harmless and caused by a build-up of keratin around the hair follicles. This occurs due to a lack of sebum, the natural protective oil that lubricates the skin. Advertisement Partnering with Allen, she then set to work to create her own version, which is now beloved by Aussies. The glove works by catching on the dead skin and dirt, which means that there is no need for harsh chemicals or beads that are common in exfoliating products. Allen and Xixi also say the gloves can provide a solution to common skin concerns, as well as to remove fake tan. Suitable for all skin types, the exfoliating gloves made from 100 per cent viscose fabric cost $32 each, while the silk face mitt is selling for $55.95. The 'wonder' product promises to remove dead skin, dirt and fake tan in just minutes, leaving body smooth after one use. Xixi - who suffers from dry skin, keratosis pilaris and ingrown hairs - said she noticed an improvement with her skin after using the glove on herself. 'The glove is a great natural alternative that doesn't require any extra products to work - all you need to do is scrub your skin after soaking it in the shower,' she said. 'The unique fabric texture catches on to dead skin and dirt, rather than relying on harsh chemicals and beads. 'The gloves create a visible skin peeling that gives customers instant satisfaction knowing that the product works naturally to remove all the impurities on their skin.' The brand has seen a spike in sales since a Tiktok video of Xixi using the product went viral, racking up 4.3million views. Suitable for all skin types, the exfoliating gloves made from 100 per cent viscose fabric cost $31.95 each, while the silk face mitt is selling for $55.95 (Xixi pictured far left) The 'wonder' product promises to remove dead skin, dirt and fake tan in just minutes, leaving body smooth after one use One customer saw results after she was able to remove all of her fake tan following one scrub 'Tiktok has been a key element to the success of our brand,' Xixi added. 'We are able to communicate the benefits, showcase real case studies and real results whilst amplifying glowing client testimonials. What does the CheekyGlo exfoliating glove do? Gives you dramatically smoother, softer and clearer skin Easily scrubs off old, unwanted fake tan Reduces the appearance of stretch marks and scarring Promotes healthy blood flow and nourishes cells for glowing skin Stimulates collagen production to firm and tone skin Clears pore congestion, eliminates acne and ingrown hairs The mitts are made from 100% viscose fabric, which means that they are gentle on the skin. Advertisement 'The most recent video has exceeded our wildest expectations. Our jaws hit the floor when we saw $144,000 in just a week.' 'Of course it helps to have a product that really works and the results really do speak for themselves,' she went on. 'Allen and I pride ourselves on our dedication to the product development and rigorous testing to ensure the great results we have come to be renowned for. 'Thanks to the virality and power of social media we've been able to help so many of our customers who hadn't been able to source a solution for the appearance of keratosis pilaris previously.' 'CheekyGlo's success can be attributed to teamwork, execution and great messaging,' Allen added to Daily Mail Australia. 'We were able to quickly create the framework for our business and bring it to market with speed in order to test our idea and product. 'Launching with a MVP (minimum viable product) was extremely helpful for us to test our website and product. Combined with our brand messaging and our vision to make selfcare normal, we really did try to account for all variables at launch. 'We're extremely grateful for the support of friends and family who shared and supported our brand since inception. From there social media allowed us to reach the world'. Before and after: A customer with smooth skin after she used the glove on her dry complexion The company sells a range of exfoliating products, with their most popular being a $32 body mitt, which is inspired by the one's Xixi used growing up in Harbin, Northern China. Xixi and Allen are pictured packing up their orders The bay is tucked away in Sydney's eastern suburbs Beach lovers have been ditching the crowds at Bondi to go to a little-known inner-city swimming spot before the winter weather hits. Parsley Bay Beach is tucked away in a sheltered inlet in the eastern Sydney suburb of Vaucluse, just over 11km from the city's centre. Visitors can set up on the white sandy bank or along the rocky shoreline to take a dip in the bay's sparkling blue waters. Adding to the picturesque scenery is the 100-year-old suspension footbridge which stretches over the water. There is also a shark net to protect swimmers. Beach lovers have been flocking in droves to a little-known beach hidden in the middle of Sydney's eastern suburbs Parsley Bay is tuck away in a sheltered inlet, protected from the choppy seas, in the suburb of Vaucluse, just over 11km from the city's centre Visitors can set up on the white sandy bank or along the rocky shoreline to take a dip in the stunning bay's sparkling blue waters For those who don't feel like taking a dip, there is a short 20-minute return walking trail that takes hikers to a trickling waterfall at the head of the gully. Some lucky walkers may even be able to spot the area's resident Eastern water Dragons that like to bask in the sun. There is also a vast green space with plenty of shady spots as well as a kid's playground. Beachgoers have been raving about the suburban secret with one calling it an 'absolute gem'. For those who don't want to get their hair wet, there is a short 20-minute return walking trail that takes hikers to a trickling waterfall at the head of the gully Since it has been a popular bathing spot since the 1930s, there is a shark net to protect swimmers from lurking marine life Beach-goers have been raving about the eastern suburbs secret with one calling it an 'absolute gem' 'It's a fantastic swimming spot with a path along one edge from shore to shark net, that has a fancy wooden-stepped ladder halfway along and ramp access at the far end,' one woman said. 'These enable you to enter the bay where the water is cleanest, clearest and deepest...and its so clear out there! You can see every detail on the sea floor and the fishes that seem to like to follow you.' 'Our favourite Sydney beach. Safe swimming and snorkelling. Very clear water teaming with life,' another wrote. A woman needed a stray bullet removed from her clitoris after being accidentally shot. The 24-year-old, from Somalia, was rushed to hospital in severe pain after the 2cm bullet came through her ceiling while she was sat in her living room. The woman, who wasn't named, had suffered the injury an hour earlier. CT scans revealed the bullet had become lodged inside her clitoris after being fired into her vulva, meaning she required surgery to have it safely removed. Publishing grisly images of her injury in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports, doctors said they believe the case is the first of its kind. The unidentified 24-year-old was rushed to hospital in severe pain, after the 2cm bullet came through her ceiling while she was sat down 'To the best of our knowledge, this case is unique due to the bullet being retained in the clitoris', they added. The date of the incident was not revealed in the case report by medics at Erdogan Hospital in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. On arrival to hospital, the woman told the obstetrics and gynaecology team that she had been sat in her lounge when the stray bullet fell through the ceiling. No other details of the incident were given. What is a stray bullet injury? Tired bullet injuries often occur when a bullet is fired into the sky and it loses its energy and falls. Injuries with free falling bullets - or tired bullets - are often the result of uncontrolled use of firearms. In some countries, it has become tradition to fire guns during celebrations or festivals. There are a limited number of studies regarding this type of falling bullets and their effects. But, according to the team of medics at Erdogan Hospital, the severity of gunshot wounds is determined by the amount of kinetic energy transferred by the bullet, once it is fired. Advertisement Pelvic exams showed where the bullet had penetrated the clitoris, while CT scans confirmed the placement of the bullet. Under local anaesthetic, medics then removed the bullet from the clitoris. Following its surgical removal, no complications were observed. The woman was discharged home the following day 'in good condition', medics said. Follow-up appointments a month later revealed there had also been no further complications. According to the medics, non-obstetric vulva trauma when the vulva experiences physical injury when not pregnant is an extremely rare occurrence. Typically, the cause of non-obstetric vulva trauma includes sports-related injuries and straddle injuries, such as falling while straddling a fence or bicycle crossbar. Gunshot injuries to the vulva are extremely rare. When undergoing surgery to remove an object from the vulva, extra care should be taken not to damage the urethra and pelvic area, the doctors said. Stray bullet injuries which occur when a bullet is fired into the sky and it loses its energy and falls are commonly seen in 'residential areas in war-torn countries, such as Somalia'. Are you or someone you know the Ohio person carrying Covid? Email: Mansur.Shaheen@mailonline.com Scientists are trying to track down an Ohio resident who they believe is the longest-standing Covid patient ever, DailyMail.com can reveal. The patient - thought to live in the Columbus area - is carrying a highly mutated version of the virus that is 'unlike anything' experts have seen. The virus has been detected through wastewater sampling and traced back to early 2021. It is being repeatedly picked up along a 40-mile area, signaling that one person is carrying and shedding it through their stool. Dr Marc Johnson, a microbiologist at the University of Missouri, warned the mutations the strain has would be serious enough to make it a 'variant of concern' if it began circulating in the population. The man's Covid strain has evolved significantly differently than existing strains such as the Omicron and Delta variants that the population is familiar with. Pictured: A viral 'tree' the shows how different versions of Covid have evolved. Clustered in the center (blue arrow) are familiar variants that have circulated across the world. Within these strains, there are thousands, if not millions, of mutations differentiating them. The unknown Ohio person's strain (red line) has mutated totally separately, though. It's viral makeup is greatly different than that of other versions of the virus, and its evolutionary chain is linear without thousands of branching paths. This indicates that the strain is only circulating in a single person. A person in Ohio has been infected with Covid for over two years. Researchers found that they regularly commute from the small city of Washington Court House around 40 miles northeast to Columbus, Ohio. It is likely they live in Washington and work or go to school in Columbus Dr Johnson believes the strain is being shed by the same person who regularly commutes between Columbus and Washington Court House. The scientist is unsure whether the person is contagious or how they have managed to stay infected so long. Patients who harbor viruses for exceptionally long periods of time often have weakened immune systems, which means their body struggles to clear the virus. Many scientists believe the Alpha, Delta and Omicron variants all emerged this way. Dr Johnson is, however, convinced the patient is healthy and may travel for work or school, but he could not rule out a chronically ill person who commutes for hospital care. His team cannot say for certain that it is just one patient, either. The Missouri team has been analyzing Covid samples from sewage across the US in search of 'cryptic' Covid strains new variants of the virus that have emerged with unknown origins. The technique was used as a tool throughout the pandemic. Because the virus shows up in stool before someone suffers symptoms, wastewater data could help detect where outbreaks were going to emerge days in advance. 'We reverse analyze [wastewater] to see if anything in there that doesn't match any lineages,' Dr Johnson told DailyMail.com. 'Very early on there was this [sample] that was different than anything we had seen,' he continued. Late last year, his team began to scan wastewater data from Ohio. He found the virus in Columbus, the state's largest city of nearly 1million, and in Washington Court House, a small city of just 15,000 just southwest. This same lineage has not been detected anywhere else to his knowledge. This specific pattern likely means the person lives in Washington Court House and commutes to Columbus. It could be for work, but the patient could also be a student, as Columbus is home to Ohio State University which has more than 66,000 students. It is unclear how the person has harbored the virus for so long, but it is likely the virus has mutated within him to cause little complications. The longest confirmed Covid case was logged by British doctors in April of last year when they confirmed a patient had been infected for 505 days nearly a year and a half. Overall, there are likely only a few thousand people that meet these guidelines, a relatively small group to be sifted through. This strain has mutated within this person over time. It has mutated to such a degree that it likely carries traits greatly different from any existing strain meaning it poses a danger if it spreads. 'If this was circulating, it would immediately be declared a variant of concern,' Dr Johnson said. However, the virus has likely mutated within this person to the extent that it is not fit to spread. Instead, the virus has managed to adjust itself in a way that it can live within its host for a long period of time while going relatively undetected. It is likely a version of the Alpha or Wuhan strain that has significantly mutated within his body. The virus has managed to hide in the person's body to replicate infinitely without the immune system targeting it. This can occur when the virus reaches 'immuno-privileged sites' in the body, where the immune system is unlikely to target. These can include the eyes, brain and fertility organs like the testes. But while unlikely, it could be possible that the virus gains a few mutations necessary for it to begin to spread in the population. The patient is also likely asymptomatic or potentially experiencing symptoms similar to a bowel condition like Chron's disease where sufferers experience cramping and diarrhea. 'There is a good chance they do not know they are affected,' he continued. Dr Johnson hopes to find this patient to first get them medical attention but also to gather samples he can use to learn more about the cryptic strain. His team has been able to track down the holders of cryptic Covid lineages in the past. In Spring 2022, Dr Johnson found a cryptic strain in Wisconsin. The afflicted person was shedding viral load at an exorbitant rate. His team tested water in manholes in the area, and managed to track down where the load was coming from. In late Summer 2022, they linked the strain to a toilet at a specific building, which employed many people who were coming to work each day. One of those employees is carrying the cryptic strain, Dr Johnson believes. The business has agreed to allow Dr Johnson to collect stool samples from some employees to determine which one is carrying the strain. The typical Covid case lasts for only a few days and the maximum time someone should expect to be sick is two weeks. However, many people have experienced prolonged symptoms after Covid infection some being diagnosed with the mysterious condition 'long Covid'. Dr Johnson fears that in some of these cases, a person is continuing to feel these symptoms because they are actually just suffering a continued infection. Striking nurses will put patients at risk if they plough ahead with plans to withdraw 'life and limb' care over this Bank Holiday weekend, health leaders warn today. The Royal College of Nursing will order members to walk out of A&E, critical care and cancer wards for the first time, in a major escalation of industrial action. But the NHS Confederation, which represents healthcare organisations, says the 48-hour picket from 8pm on Sunday could lead to wards being 'overwhelmed'. Health Secretary Steve Barclay said on Monday that he will ask the courts to rule that the second day of the RCN strike is illegal, claiming their six-month mandate for action expires at the end of the first day. It comes as the Society of Radiographers (SoR) yesterday revealed its members had voted overwhelmingly to reject the government's offer of a 5 per cent pay rise and a one-off bonus. The result means nurses will return to the picket line for 48-hours on April 30. Pictured RCN members during a previous strike on February 6 More than 500,000 NHS appointments and operations in England have been cancelled as a result of staff striking over pay, with further disruption planned Some 65 per cent of those eligible to vote cast a ballot, with 80 per cent voting against the deal, making the SoR the second union with members on the NHS Agenda for Change contract to reject the offer after the RCN. It will now formally ballot its members on whether they are prepared to strike. The union said: 'Strike action by these staff will result in massive disruption throughout the system.' The Royal College of Midwives will announce the result of its pay ballot today, with other unions due to announce their results later this week. Members of Unison, the largest health union, have already voted to accept. The NHS Confederation has urged the RCN to reconsider its escalation 'for the sake of patients' in the immediate term and to reinstate all the national derogations that it had in place up until this point, 'particularly in emergency and critical care'. It says bank holidays are already a busy time for urgent and emergency services and so 'the absence of nurses to fill vital shifts will almost certainly place patients at risk'. READ MORE Government will take legal action against Royal College of Nursing over planned strike Health Secretary Steve Barclay (pictured) said he was 'regretfully' applying to the High Court to declare industrial action planned for May 2 unlawful Advertisement It also means that planned care 'will have to be scaled back even more than it usually would have been over a public holiday and the days surrounding them', it added. The past six months of industrial action has seen over half a million operations and appointments postponed. Previous walk-outs by nursing staff saw exemptions put in place in areas where timely treatment of patients is vital, including in A&E, intensive care, mental health and cancer services. The NHS Confederation has already called for the mental health derogations to be reinstated but says these alone will not be enough to protect patient safety across local services. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: 'While NHS leaders understand why the RCN is intensifying its stance on industrial action, they fear the absence of any exemptions to its planned strikes will put patient care in a precarious position. 'This is particularly the case for patients who will need emergency and intensive care. 'NHS leaders are worried that this action could lead to hospital wards becoming overwhelmed during the strike days and could even put some people off from seeking the care they need. 'We are calling on the RCN to reinstate these vital derogations without delay.' An RCN spokesman said: 'Employers are responsible for maintaining safe staffing levels and we'd expect them to cancel non-urgent clinical work and elective procedures due to take place over the strike period. 'We know this is a difficult task and there are exceptional circumstances where we would call a strike off in any hospital.' Young women are being urged to ditch hormonal birth control under TikTok's newest health trend that has spooked experts. Videos highlighting the benefits of switching to 'natural' contraception have racked up hundreds of thousands of views. Users claim the Pill, as well as other popular forms of hormonal contraception, have left them feeling 'ugly'. Others have complained about birth control causing weight gain, acne and depression. But medics said the trend was 'worrying' and raised concerns over the effectiveness of the 'back to nature' movement, as it has been called. Many women turning their back on the Pill are instead relying on apps which track menstrual cycles and rely on temperature data to determine when they are likely to be fertile and therefore need to use protection. User @breakupwithbirthcontrol also took to TikTok telling her followers: 'I have used the fertility awareness method for the last five years of my life to successfully prevent unwanted pregnancy, to heal my PMS, to finally lose my stubborn belly fat and to stop having such intense mood swings and depression and anxiety' In another video, TikTok user @angelinanicollle wrote 'when you thought you were ugly, hated yourself, had zero sex drive and felt like a robot everyday but you realized it was just because you were on birth control'. Meanwhile one content creator @leeann5.oh shared photos of herself while using birth control and after stopping taking the pill. 'On birth control, unable to control my weight. So unhappy/depressed,' she wrote TikTok users also commented underneath videos about hormonal birth control pills adding they were 'getting fat because of the pill' and 'gaining so much weight' Yet these are not foolproof, with scores of women reporting unwanted pregnancies after such apps failed to correctly protect them. The hashtag #gettingoffbirthcontrol has racked up over 7million views on TikTok. One video, watched 1.1million times, claims natural family planning methods are 98 per cent effective at preventing pregnancy. Another clip, posted from the account @pcos.teacher, states: 'Hormonal contraception has never agreed with my body. I've been on five to six types of birth control and during this period, I developed cystic acne, I put on a lot of weight and it really affected my mood and libido negatively.' She also provided a link to the fertility app Natural Cycles, writing: 'Use code PCOS for 20 per cent off your subscription (link in bio). Natural Cycles is for 18+ and does not protect against STIs.' Q+A: Everything you need to know about the Pill What is it? There are two main types of birth control pills for women - combined oral contraceptives, also called 'the Pill', and a progestogen-only pill. Both are prescribed by a doctor and taken at the same time each day, with women advised to take a week's break each month. How does it work? The combined pill contains artificial version of the female hormones oestrogen and progestin, which are produced naturally in the ovaries. It works by preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg each month and thickening the mucus in the neck of the womb, so it is harder for sperm to penetrate the womb and reach an egg. The progestogen-only pill - sometimes called the mini-pill - only has one synthetic hormone, progestogen, and works in a similar way. Does it really make you ugly? Some social media users have said they felt ugly while on the Pill. This could be explained by one 2022 study, published in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, which found that women on the Pill report worse body image than those not taking hormonal contraception. Women have also reported suffering from side effects, such as poor skin and increased hair growth, while using the Pill, which led them to stop taking it. Does it make you fat? Studies have shown that the Pill itself does not cause weight gain. However, some people may experience temporary weight gain when they first start taking the Pill due to water retention during certain points in the menstrual cycle. The contraceptive is also known to cause an increase in appetite among some users. If women taking the Pill consume more calories than they burn, then they can gain weight over time. Does it make you depressed? Studies show conflicting results on whether the Pill is linked with depression. The NHS says there may be an association but notes that the evidence is mixed and further research is needed. Experts suggest that the Pills effect on mood could be down to interfering with part of the brain that controls the bodys stress response. What are the other side effects? Side effects of the Pill including nausea, breast tenderness or enlargement, headaches, missed periods, mood changes, decreased sex drive and vaginal discharge, have long been shared. Rarer side effects however also include blood clots, high blood pressure, liver tumours and even a raised risk of breast cancer. Advertisement Women using the app need to measure their temperature most days and input the results into the app, which uses an algorithm to calculate their fertility. It identifies 'green days', when a woman is unlikely to fall pregnant, and 'red days' when contraception would be needed. Dr Janet Barter, chair and president of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health, told the BBC Radio 4's Today Programme that patients being 'influenced' by contraception information on social media is 'something that's been worrying us for a while'. She added: 'Every day I speak to women who are absolutely terrified of using hormonal contraception. 'Terrified to start, worrying about whether they should come off it, because they're hearing information that it's risky or that it's going to give them side effects. 'We're always also keen for there to be more research into hormonal contraception. 'But what we do know is that it's extremely safe. So, the Pill for example has probably had more research on its safety than any other tablet that you might swallow.' Side effects of the pill including nausea, breast tenderness or enlargement, headaches, weight gain, missed periods, mood changes, decreased sex drive and vaginal discharge, have long been shared. Rarer side effects however also include blood clots, high blood pressure, liver tumours and even a raised risk of breast cancer. But Dr Barter added: 'We also know about its [the Pill's] effectiveness and we know that any method of hormonal contraception so that's the Pill but also the patch, vaginal ring, the hormonal IUD, the implant we know exactly their effectiveness, we know a lot about their side effects. 'We do know that some women do suffer from mood changes or want another method of contraception. 'But it's so important that they have the chance to have a conversation with a healthcare professional, so they can work out what the problem is and what they could do instead.' Yet recent TikTok videos include @breakupwithbirthcontrol, who told her followers: 'I have used the fertility awareness method for the last five years of my life to successfully prevent unwanted pregnancy, to heal my PMS, to finally lose my stubborn belly fat and to stop having such intense mood swings and depression and anxiety.' In another video with over 17,000 views, TikTok user @angelinanicollle wrote 'when you thought you were ugly, hated yourself, had zero sex drive and felt like a robot everyday but you realised it was just because you were on birth control'. Meanwhile, another TikTok account @leeann5.oh shared photos of herself while using birth control and after stopping taking the pill. 'On birth control, unable to control my weight. So unhappy/depressed,' she wrote. Studies show that hormonal contraception itself doesn't cause weight gain. However, it can increase appetite in some women, which may see them eat more. The NHS notes that the natural fertility awareness method of contraception which can also include measuring cycle length and changes to cervical secretions can be up to 99 per cent effective if followed consistently and correctly. 'Natural family planning can be very effective if it's done perfectly,' Dr Barter noted. 'But doing it perfectly involves a huge amount of input. So, the temperature can be affected by all sorts of things: travel, changes to your sleep pattern, if you're not well that can affect your temperature change,' she added. 'Not everybody logs their periods every month and of course, it involves not having sex on the days when it's not safe to have sex, which is around ovulation, which is the time that most women feel like having sex. 'And if in fact you have sex, but you protect yourself with a condom, then the effectiveness of that is only as good as the effectiveness of the condom.' 'Hormonal contraception has never agreed with my body. I've been on five to six types of birth control and during this period, I developed cystic acne, I put on a lot of weight and it really affected my mood and libido negatively,' another TikTok user @pcos.teacher said. In the video she advertised the app 'Natural Cycles'. 'Use code PCOS for 20 per cent off your subscription (link in bio). Natural Cycles is for 18+ and does not protect against STIs,' she wrote Side effects of the pill including nausea, breast tenderness or enlargement, headaches, weight gain, missed periods, mood changes, decreased sex drive and vaginal discharge, have long been shared. Rarer side effects however also include blood clots, high blood pressure, liver tumours and even a raised risk of breast cancer. But Dr Barter added: 'We also know about its [the Pill's] effectiveness and we know that any method of hormonal contraception so that's the Pill but also the patch, vaginal ring, the hormonal IUD, the implant we know exactly their effectiveness, we know a lot about their side effects' The growing interest in 'natural', 'hormone-free' and 'non-invasive' methods of preventing pregnancy comes after the UK began offering the Pill via over-the-counter contraception. The move, which was announced in 2021, was hailed as a 'landmark' moment. Fertility apps including Natural Cycles, Flo and Clue, claim to have millions of users worldwide. But in 2018, a Facebook advert for Natural Cycles was banned by the UK's Advertising Standards Authority, after its claims that it was 'highly accurate' and 'provided a clinically tested alternative to other birth control methods' were found to be misleading She said: 'So, we would feel that these methods are good if you're someone for whom pregnancy wouldn't be a disaster. 'But for each woman, you have to look at your priorities at this particular point in your life and think about what's most important. 'If not getting pregnant is the most important thing, then one of these apps probably isn't for you.' The growing interest in 'natural', 'hormone-free' and 'non-invasive' methods of preventing pregnancy comes after the UK began offering the Pill via over-the-counter contraception. The move, which was announced in 2021, was hailed as a 'landmark' moment. Fertility apps including Natural Cycles, Flo and Clue claim to have millions of users worldwide. But in 2018, a Facebook advert for Natural Cycles was banned by the UK's Advertising Standards Authority, after its claims that it was 'highly accurate' and 'provided a clinically tested alternative to other birth control methods' were found to be misleading. Today, the Swedish-based app, which costs 69.99 a year, claims to be 93 per cent effective with typical use and 98 per cent effective with perfect use. For comparison, with perfect use, condoms are 98 per cent effective, while the Pill, implant, IUS and IUD are 99 per cent effective, according to the NHS. Natural Cycles allows its users to either plan a pregnancy or prevent it, with prevention the most popular use among young women. While it was the first birth control app cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US in 2018 and certified in the European Union in 2017, the NHS does not recommend the app as a birth control method. In 2017, Swedish health officials also raised concerns after 37 women at one of the country's biggest hospitals were said to have sought a termination after all allegedly became pregnant while using the app. But they found the rate of reported unintended pregnancies to be in line with the 93 per cent effectiveness rate. The investigation was closed in September of 2018 with no action required by Natural Cycles. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) advises the contraceptive method with the lowest failure rate for typical use to be the implant, with a failure rate of just 0.1 per cent. This is followed by male vasectomy, with a failure rate of 0.15 per cent, and the hormonal implant, which has a failure rate of 0.7 per cent. According to the service, the pill has a failure rate of 7 per cent, and condoms a failure rate of either 13 or 21 per cent, depending on if you are using male or female versions. BPAS puts the fertility awareness method, which is similar to the idea behind Natural Cycles, at around a 15 per cent chance of failure. Lauren Hanafin, the head of brand and communications at Natural Cycles, told MailOnline today: 'Almost all fertility apps are not intended to be used as contraception and should not be used or marketed as such. 'Natural Cycles, while an app, is a regulated medical device and is intended to be used to prevent pregnancy in the US and Europe.' She added: 'Weve received the proper regulatory clearances as well as do a lot of work to educate women on the differences between fertility apps and a birth control app as they are very different in terms of how they work and their effectiveness when it comes to preventing pregnancy.' Bird flu spreads 'efficiently' in ferrets, scientists have warned amid growing fears it could spark another pandemic. Experts called the discovery 'very concerning', claiming it shows that the pathogen is one step closer to spilling over into humans. It's the first known study to clearly confirm that mammals can not only catch the disease individually but spread it to others as well. Deaths of infected mammals like mink, foxes, raccoons and bears in recent months have suggested this was possible, however. H5N1 the avian influenza strain behind the current outbreak sweeping the world, considered the biggest ever does not transmit easily between humans. H5N1 the avian influenza strain behind the current outbreak sweeping the world does not spread easily between humans. But the research, currently under review by the journal Nature, found H5N1 could 'cause lethal disease in multiple mammalian species' and 'direct contact' between ferrets can result 'in lethal outcomes' (stock image) But mutations to the virus that makes mammal-to-mammal transmission easier could change that, some experts fear. Globally, fewer than 900 human cases of H5N1, which kills close to 50 per cent of everyone it strikes, have ever been recorded. The virus is usually picked up through close contact with an infected bird, whether dead or alive. Now new research, yet to be peer-reviewed found H5N1 could 'cause lethal disease in multiple mammalian species'. Canadian researchers, including some from Government health bodies, infected ferrets with one of four strains of H5N1. Ferrets were chosen for the study as they a similar respiratory makeup to humans, providing experts with an idea of how a virus would interact in people. They found that 'direct contact' with one strain of H5N1 isolated from an infected bird, resulted 'in lethal outcomes', the paper added. It raises the prospect that the strain may have developed 'certain adaptations that allow for a higher degree of replication, pathogenicity, and transmission'. They warned that if such a strain made the leap to humans, the consequences could be catastrophic. 'Because there is little to no H5-specific population-wide immunity, if an H5N1 isolate capable of sustained transmission made a species jump into humans, this would likely represent a destructive infection in immunologically naive population,' they wrote. John Fulton, a pharmaceutical industry consultant and founder of BioNiagara, told MailOnline H5N1 poses a threat '100 times worse than Covid'. He added: 'This discovery is very concerning, and governments should take immediate action by seeking out and mobilizing all high-potential production capacity for vaccines and therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of avian influenza H5N1.' 'We need to sound the alarm bells to wake up our governments to the fact that there is a virus that is undergoing mutations that would/ could eventually allow it to become highly transmissible in human (mammals). 'The wakeup call is that we have some of the production capacity needed to produce cell-based vaccines ( no chickens - no eggs) but we must act now and fund the scale up that we have available for cell-based production if we are to be ready if H5N1 mutates further.' Some nations, including China, have been vaccinating against the H5N1 strain for years. Some nations, including China, have been vaccinating against the H5N1 strain for years. Birds are vaccinated either via an injection into the egg or a spray onto chicks when they are still in boxes Under UK health policy however, vaccinating chickens is currently illegal. But the Animal and Plant Health Agency, an arm of DEFRA, is currently looking at potential candidate vaccines for humans in the UK, if the virus spills over into people. 'The number of laying hens available to produce eggs for vaccine production has already been compromised and is vulnerable to a complete destruction of the egg producing flock leaving us with limited production capacity,' Mr Fulton said Birds are vaccinated either via an injection into the egg or a spray onto chicks when they are still in boxes. Under UK health policy however, vaccinating chickens is currently illegal. But the Animal and Plant Health Agency, an arm of DEFRA, is currently looking at potential candidate vaccines for humans in the UK, if the virus spills over into people. 'The number of laying hens available to produce eggs for vaccine production has already been compromised and is vulnerable to a complete destruction of the egg producing flock leaving us with limited production capacity,' Mr Fulton said. Vaccine makers GSK, Moderna, and CSL Seqirus have begun developing new human shots to target the rapidly spreading strain of the virus. Others such as Sanofi have generic vaccines the H5N1 virus in stock that could be adapted to the currently currently circulating strain. Like other forms of flu, humans can get infected if the virus gets into their eyes, nose, mouth or is inhaled. But with bird flu, this usually occurs in people who spend a lot of time with infected creatures, such as bird handlers. A spate of human bird flu cases have emerged in the early parts of 2023. Earlier this year, a Cambodian man and his daughter were diagnosed with H5N1. Their cases sparked international concern, with many experts fearing the infection was proof the virus had mutated to infect people better after tearing through the world's bird population. Further testing found the Cambodian family did not have the H5N1 strain rapidly spreading among the world's wild birds but instead a variant known to spread locally in the Prey Veng province they resided in. There has only been one case of a British person becoming infected with H5N1 since the ongoing outbreak took off in October 2021. Alan Gosling, a retired engineer in Devon, caught the virus in early 2022 after his ducks, some of which lived inside his home, became infected. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has currently set the threat level to level three, given there is 'evidence' of changes in the virus genome that could trigger 'mammalian infection', it said. Any 'sustained' mammal-to-mammal transmission of the pathogen would raise the threat level to four, while human-to-human would push it to five. A man in Colombia left doctors stunned after they found a light bulb stuck up his butt. The patient, 53, who has not been named, went to a local hospital this year complaining of pain in his anus. Doctors did not see anything during a physical examination, but were shocked when an X-ray revealed a large light bulb wedged inside him. A 53-year-old man in Colombia had to go to hospital after a light bulb, pictured, became wedged up his backside. Doctors may have removed it using suction cups It was not clear how the light bulb got up there, but in previous cases, people have put items up their butts for sexual pleasure. It was also unclear how the bulb was removed or whether the individual suffered any long-term damage. Doctors said he was lucky that the bulb had not shattered. Revealing the case online, Dr Julian Pylori, a gastroenterologist in Colombia, wrote: 'Not palpable on rectal examination. 'Foreign body material, unknown. Endoscopic removal?' It quickly prompted a number of responses online including from UK-based gastroenterologist Dr Keith Siau, who wrote: 'Sorry, I'm out of bright ideas.' Another medic, Pakistan-based gastroenterologist Dr Ikram Tirmizi, said: 'Seems like a bulb. 'Suction can be applied like that carried out by obstetricians during normal vaginal delivery.' Other viewers were also quick to respond including one who said 'he literally had a bright f****** idea lol' and a second who complimented the patient on his 'impressive skill and recklessness'. Dr Alice Murray, a colorectal surgeon at Harvard Medical School, previously told Metro that a 'whole range' of items get stuck up people's backsides. '[We've seen] wine bottles, deodorant cans, a shower curtain rail, keys, a toy plastic snake, a gerbil and, of course, sex toys,' she said. Asked how they are removed, she added: 'When patients come in, sometimes it's simple to manage... requiring a bit of perseverance in [ER] with lots of lubricant and some basic instruments to grab hold of the thing and gently pull it out. 'We are very careful not to damage the very important anal sphincters. 'If it is really tricky, we may have to do this in a safer environment in theatre with the patient sedated or anesthetized and with full relaxation of the sphincters.' In worst-case scenarios, where an object is too far up to be removed, then there might be a major operation to get the object out. Doctors have previously warned that when objects become stuck in the rectum, they can lead to the formation of a vacuum. This can mean that when someone pulls on an object to try to remove it, the vacuum causes it to travel up further inside them. Doctors told her they could not treat her due to the state's strict abortion laws An Oklahoma woman with a deadly pregnancy complication claims she was told she could not be treated until her condition was critical due to the state's abortion ban. Stay-at-home mother of three Jaci Statton, 25, was diagnosed with a cancerous molar pregnancy while expecting her fourth child, meaning the embryo had too many chromosomes and the fetus could not survive. In Ms Stratton's case, the tissue was also cancerous. But the state has outlawed all abortions unless it is to save the pregnant woman's life, meaning multiple different hospitals said they could not treat her unless she was 'crashing in front of us or your blood pressure goes so high that you are fixing to have a heart attack'. Molar pregnancies require surgery to remove the molar tissue, which can be done with an emergency dilation and curettage abortion (D&C). But Ms Statton and her husband were forced to drive three hours to an abortion clinic in Kansas which offers the procedure. The longer the fetus is left inside the mother, the greater the risk of internal bleeding, kidney and liver failure, and even a stroke. Stay-at-home mother of three Jaci Statton, 25, started to feel nauseous during her pregnancy and then suffered sudden heavy bleeding in mid-March 2023 Ms Statton has three children two seven year old's and an eight year old. She was pregnant with her fourth child when she suffered a cancerous molar pregnancy Part-way through her pregnancy in mid-March, Ms Stratton underwent an episode of sudden heavy bleeding and rushed straight to the emergency room. The majority of molar pregnancies are benign, but 15 percent of cases, including Ms Statton's, can be cancerous. About one in every 1,000 pregnancies in the US are molar pregnancies, compared to one in 590 in the UK. The treatment for the condition is an emergency dilation and curettage abortion (D&C), which involves clearing pregnancy tissue in the uterus. She went to three hospitals in a week after learning of the condition, but all told her they could not touch her because of Oklahoma's laws. The final one told her to wait in the parking lot. Ms Statton told NPR: 'They were very sincere; they weren't trying to be mean. 'They said, "The best we can tell you to do is sit in the parking lot, and if anything else happens, we will be ready to help you. But we cannot touch you unless you are crashing in front of us or your blood pressure goes so high that you are fixing to have a heart attack."' More than a dozen states have restricted access to abortions following the overturning of Roe V Wade Ms Statton with her husband, Dustin Statton. The pair were forced to drive three hours to Kansas to receive the necessary treatment Oklahoma has one of the strictest abortion laws. In May last year, the state's GOP Governor Kevin Stitt outlawed terminations from the moment of fertilization. The only exceptions are to save the life of a pregnant woman or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest that has been reported to law enforcement. Although Oklahoma's laws allow abortion to save the pregnant woman's life, this can be difficult to define, and doctors are dealing with confusion and fear of prosecution when determining if an abortion is legal in each case. Despite doctors doctors acknowledging she was in danger of having a hemorrhage and even dying, the hospitals said they could not treat her. It also permits them to remove an ectopic pregnancy, a potentially life-threatening emergency that occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, often in a fallopian tube and early in pregnancy. A study published Tuesday alongside commentary in the Lancet demonstrated that hospitals in Oklahoma are finding it difficult to interpret the laws and enact policies which comply. As a result, women like Ms Statton are ending up in dangerous situations. Her doctors eventually advised she left Oklahoma and traveled to a state where abortion is legal. Ms Statton and her husband drove three hours to an abortion clinic in Kansas where she could access a D&C. She must now undergo a further surgery to get rid of more cancerous tissue and may even require chemotherapy. Ms Statton said it has been mentally rough and said 'something needs to be done' about Oklahoma's abortion laws. In the world of motoring some people live by the creed of bigger means better - and some of these humungous vehicles well and truly live up to that. Car manufacturers like to boast about the size of their cars, but they must struggle to put into words the sheer scale of some of their creations. And while cars may be getting bigger in the modern world, it's fair to say in the past car firms have never been shy about pushing the envelope when it comes to their length of their vehicles. Some behemoths can stretch to a remarkable 22ft in length - that's more than a third bigger than your average 15ft-long parking space in the UK. Towards the top end of the scale it becomes debatable whether these beasts can even be called cars anymore, although weekly motoring magazine Autocar limited its list to any vehicle that can be bought for non-commercial use by the public. Unsurprisingly, many of these extra-large motors come from the US - a country where super-sizing everything from meals to cars is seen as highly desirable - but some are European and the winner of the longest title manages to sneak into Autocar's criteria but may be a matter of serious debate. These are the 20 longest cars made by the world's biggest manufacturers: 20. Jeep Grand Wagoneer L - 17.07ft The Jeep Grand Wagoneer comes in at 17.07ft-long -it is the longest vehicle the company makes At 17.07ft-long, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer L is a premium SUV featuring a tri-pane panoramic sunroof and a sleek, elegant interior to accompany the all-around views. Equipped with a built-in Amazon Fire TV and 75inches of displays throughout the cabin, the Grand Wagoneer L guarantees a comfortable and high-tech experience for driver and passengers. The car comes with enough storage space in the back to fit plenty of camping gear for trips in the outdoors, with 44.2-cubic foot cargo capacity behind the third row of the car. 19. Plymouth Gran Fury - 18.86ft The Plymouth Gran Fury, produced between 1975 and 1989, measured an impressive 18.9ft Manufactured from 1975 to 1989, the Plymouth Gran Fury measures an impressive 18.86ft. Plymouth, a brand produced by Chrysler, had a popular PH series, part of which was the Gran Fury. The 1980 version could reach a top speed of 81mph and it needed 14.4 seconds to accelerate from 0-60mph. The same model was popular with police departments and both the Michigan State Police and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, which ordered a substantial amount of the cars for their officers in 1980. 18. Bentley Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase - 19.11ft The luxurious Bentley Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase is a favourite for those looking for a bit more space Bentley's Mulsanne models with extended wheelbases measure 19.11ft in length and come with a significant increase in legroom for the rear-set passenger. This limousine combines sport and luxury with its sleek indoor and outdoor appearance paired with a powerful motor enabling it to go from 0-60mph in just 5.3 seconds. Another added benefit for the rear-seat passenger in this model is the large sunroof, which illuminates the car with plenty of light. The tinted glass can even by controlled by both the driver and the passengers to change how much light is let in. 17. Dodge Royal Monaco Brougham Wagon - 19.12ft For those wanting to move their whole family (pets included) the Dodge Royal Monaco Brougham Wagon had more than enough space Manufactured in 1976, the Dodge Royal Monaco Brougham Wagon has distinctive opera windows and a vinyl roof at a length of 19.12ft. It was available with an optional 50/50 bench seat in Velcord velour and Oxford vinyl and fold-down centre armrests in colour choices of blue, green, gold and red. The Royal Monaco Brougham came with a fully carpeted cargo area, lockable compartments and even an under-floor cargo area, making it perfect for long-distance trips carrying luggage for the whole family. 16. Pontiac Grand Safari - 19.27ft In keeping with the 1970s, the Pontiac Grand Safari had a leather-like all-vinyl front bench available in beige, saddle, green or burgundy Offered from 1971 to 1978, the Pontiac Grand Safari 1973 had a leather-like all-vinyl covered front bench, available in green, beige, saddle or burgundy. Manufactured as a station wagon, it came with an electric clock and door pull straps. The longest Grand Safari was built in 1976 at 19.27ft in length, but was shortened again the year after for the new 1977 version. 15. Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight - 19.36ft The now defunct brand Oldsmobile produced the spacious Ninety-Eight for more than five decades, but it was those built in the 70s that were the longest, measuring 19.4ft in length The roomiest Oldsmobile ever built at 19.36ft in length, the Ninety-Eight was produced from 1940-1942 and from 1946-1996. The Ninety-Eight wasn't just the largest, but also the most luxurious Oldsmobile - with its 1972 Regency model, built to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Oldsmobile, painted in Tiffany Gold. The biggest versions were built between 1971 and 1976, the Nimitz-class, featuring a spacious interior and a massive boot with plenty of space to store luggage or groceries for the whole family. 14. Bugatti Royale - 19.42ft True to the name, the Bugatti Type 41 Royale was made for 'emperors, kinds and queens' and had space to match, with a 1926 prototype measuring 19.4ft-long The Bugatti Type 41 Royale gets its name due to it being made 'for emperors, kings and queens', according to Bugatti. With the prototype built in 1926, the Royale was the largest automobile at the time at 19.42ft-long. Ettore Bugatti created the car and equipped it with a hood ornament of a dancing elephant, designed by his deceased brother, Rembrandt Bugatti, who was a sculptor and artist. The Royale is the only Bugatti car featuring an ornament on the hood and up until 1933, only six Royale vehicles were created, which are considered to be among the most expensive cars in the world today. 13. Buick Electra - 19.47ft The 1975 Buick Electra was 19.5ft in length as the company tried to push the envelope of its luxury brand The Buick Electra measured 19.47ft for the 1975 edition of the car. The luxury car was manufactured by Buick (for General Motors) from 1959 to 1990. It was available as an Electra 225 model or an Electra Limited model, both as a hardtop coupe or a hardtop sedan. The former featured cloth or vinyl notchback seats, while the Electra Limited came with a limited edition cloth or leather notchback. Both featured power windows and a power driver's seat. 12. Chrysler New Yorker - 19.61ft The Chrysler New Yorker, with its distinctive grille and front end, was 19.6ft-long when produced in the 1970s The Chrysler New Yorker models built between 1974 and 1978 were the largest in the series with 19.61ft. They were available as a 2-door coupe, a 2-door hardtop, a 4-door sedan and a 4-door hardtop. The models built in 1974 were described as having 'crisp lines' and being 'contemporary with a distinctive grille treatment'. 11. Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended - 19.96ft At nearly 20ft-long, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended is described as the 'pinnacle of luxury' by the firm Presented by Rolls-Royce as the 'pinnacle of luxury', the Phantom Extended is 19.96ft-long. It comes with spacious leather seats, a rear seat coolbox with Champagne flutes and space for a bottle, as well as the hidden screens in the back of the front seats that allow the rear passengers to escape the world in this 'sumptuous sanctuary'. The interior features the 'Starlight Headliner', whose 1,500 fibre optics create the illusion of sitting under the night sky. With a price tag of 430,000 upwards, the Phantom Extended is the most expensive luxury sedan made by Rolls-Royce. 10. Maybach 62 - 20.22ft Luxury car brand Maybach produces its 62, which is 20.2ft in length and has an 8.8ft-long interior The Maybach 62 S was unveiled in 2006 as the fourth car in the Maybach range. Its twelve-cylinder engine makes it one of the most powerful chauffeur-driven saloons. With 20.22ft of length, the Maybach 62 provides plenty of space with about a 8.8ft-long interior. The individual rear seats offer a comfortable reclining position including a footrest and lower leg support with the touch of a button - enough space even for the tallest customers, the manufacturer promised. 9. Nissan Titan - 20.37ft The first of the pick-up trucks on this this list, Nissan has made the nearly 20.4ft-long Titan since 2003 The Nissan Titan is a full-size pickup truck manufactured in the US since 2003 - with the longest version built being the off-road-specific XD Crew Cab PRO-4X at 20.37ft. The Nissan Titan and Titan XD models come with a rear view back-up camera, a touchscreen GPS navigation system (standard for 2019 models) and remote start. The 2023 edition of the 4x4 is available in red, gold, blue, black, grey and white. 8. Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five - 21.02ft The Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five was so big some commercial specialists converted them into limousines and hearses This huge vehicle from Cadillac was designed with luxury in mind, so perhaps its no surprise the Fleetwood Seventy-Five was a shade over 21ft long. Those who bought it would find the model had nine seats should they wish to use them - and it often doubled as a limousine, and sometimes even a hearse, given the sheer amount of space it had. Produced from 1976, it was the pinnacle of luxury for Cadillac, coming with features such as climate control, AM/FM radio, controlled parking mirrors and automated parking brake release as standard. 7. Toyota Tundra - 21.04ft The SR and SR5 models of the Toyota Tundra come with a double cab and 8.1ft-long load bed While perhaps not the best known Toyota off-roader in the UK - that title probably belongs to the legendary Hilux - the Tundra is the longest the Japanese company offers. Its SR and SR5 models come with a double cab and and 8.1ft-long load bed that bring the vehicle to just over 21ft in length. With five seats to go with a load bed so big an adult could lie down in it, this is built for those who might not just want to stick to the smooth tarmac of the roads. 6. Mercedes-Maybach Pullman - 21.32ft The Mercedes-Maybach Pullman is a remarkable 21.32ft long, bigger than some American pick-up trucks The longest of the traditional cars on this list, this vehicle was the result of Mercedes deciding to revive the Maybach brand in 2014. At 21.3ft in length, the Pullman is longer than some American pick-up trucks (as can be seen on this list), and is designed with luxury in mind. Mercedes claims its remarkably large interior can be used for either relaxation or as a 'mobile workspace' for passengers - aiming it firmly at presidents, dignitaries, diplomats and the higher-end of society. 5. Ram Heavy Duty - 21.74ft The Ram Heavy Duty is the largest vehicle the brand has ever made for non-commerical customers The Ram Heavy Duty is the largest vehicle the brand has ever made for non-commercial customers with its 2500 and 3500 models coming in at a staggering 21.74ft-long. The firm, which stylises itself as RAM, boasts its 3500 can tow trailers weighing nearly 17 tonnes, powered by a 6.7-litre turbo diesel engine, and comes with a digital rear view mirror and trailer tyre pressure monitoring. As you might have guessed this was designed with trailer towing in mind - the 8ft rear bed can have a factory installed trailer mount added, but it can also be left empty to allow for smaller payloads. 4. Chevrolet Silverado HD - 22.16ft The Chevrolet Silverado HD will mroe than struggle to fit into UK-sized parking spaces at a huge 22.16ft in length At 22.16ft-long, the Silverado HD will more than struggle to fit in UK-sized parking spaces and probably onto most people's driveways, if they are lucky enough to have them. This is Chevrolet's largest vehicle you can buy as a member of the public for non-commercial use, and the brand has gone through a number of reinventions since its introduction in 1999. The current iteration on sale is the longest it has every made, with the 3500 HD having a max towing weight of more than 16 tonnes. 3. GMC Sierra HD - 22.17ft The GMC Sierra HD is the largest the Chevrolet-offshoot produces at a whopping 22.17ft long This 22.17ft-long monster continues the run of heavy duty trucks in the upper echelons of this list. The vehicle from GMC, which is an upmarket off-shoot of Chevrolet specialising in off-terrain vehicles - including the famous Hummer - is almost identical to the Silverado HD in the previous entry. It is a whole 7ft longer than the smallest car GMC offers, the Terrain, which itself is a hefty 15ft-long. These a big vehicles designed for the big outdoors. 2. Ford F-Series Super Duty - 22.18ft The Ford F-Series Super Duty is the longest American-made vehicle you can buy non-commercially The adverts on Ford's website showing this vehicle surrounded by prairies and horses tell you all you need to know about who this truck is aimed at. Coming in at 22.18ft-long, this is the longest American vehicle you can buy non-commercially although that size may work against it if you're looking to negotiate tight city streets. The six-seater comes with a V8 engine, and Ford's tagline 'Designed for you the farmer, the professional, the business owner' suggests it's not necessarily just for the school run. 1. Volkswagen Grand California 680 - 22.31ft The Volkswagen Grand California 680 has space for a double bed and even a separate wet room At a whopping 22.31ft-long, the Germans have put the Americans and their trucks to shame with this offering. While it may look like a motorhome - and indeed, that's how Volkswagen markets its Grand California range - it does meet the rules to be included on this list because it is a non-commercial vehicle. It is obviously based on a van though and so you will have to decide it it is pushing the envelope too far on long 'cars'. Bigger than the standard VW California, it has space for a double bed in the back and another over the cabin, and even a separate wet room with a toilet, shower and sink. This is a truly gargantuan vehicle. > Read more from Autocar: Ranked: the longest cars made by every major carmaker A 'hidden epidemic' of drug driving is at large in Britain, with nearly one in three taking to the road unaware that they have dangerous levels of drugs in their system. However, the drugs in question are not illicit substances, such as cannabis or cocaine. Instead, they are everyday prescriptions, and over-the-counter medications, including painkillers and anti-depressants, says road safety charity IAM RoadSmart. In a survey of more than 2,000 motorists, it found nearly a third of drivers do not know what the maximum dose of a prescription medication is before it will impact their driving. 'Hidden epidemic' of drug driving: A road safety charity has warned that one in three Britons are not aware if they have dangerous amounts of prescribed drugs in their system Meanwhile, 31 per cent of those surveyed do not know how long they should wait before driving after taking their medication. More than a fifth (22 per cent) of drivers polled said they either rarely (14 per cent) or never (8 per cent) check whether their medication will impact their ability to drive. Over a quarter (28 per cent) are unlikely to avoid driving after taking over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines or cold and flu remedies, that come with a warning not to use heavy equipment or machinery. Under UK law, it's an offence to drive or attempt to drive while unfit because of drug use and driving laws do not distinguish between illegal and prescribed drugs. However, those who have driven while over the specified legal limit may have a medical defence, as long as they have followed the advice of healthcare professionals or are not causing the motorist to be unfit to drive. Although it is ultimately the driver's legal responsibility to inform the DVLA of their fitness to drive, it is also the responsibility of GPs and pharmacists to offer suitable clinical advice to patients regarding the likely risks of prescribed medications. Drivers caught and convicted of drug-driving - even if it is prescriptions drugs - can receive a minimum 12-month driving ban, criminal record, unlimited fine and up to six months in prison And as we enter hay fever season, drivers need to be particularly alert to the medication they are taking. The NHS estimates that 10million Britons suffer from hay fever, with many using over-the-counter drugs to relieve runny noses and itchy eyes. But pharmacists warn that motorists taking excessive doses of prescribed remedies could find themselves in legal trouble by failing on-the-spot roadside drug tests. IAM RoadSmart is calling for a review of the prescription process, as the charity claims this lack of awareness may have led to an increase of drug-drivers on UK roads. Drivers caught and convicted of drug-driving can receive a minimum 12-month driving ban, criminal record, unlimited fine and up to six months in prison. Since the law changed in 2015 and police are able to perform roadside drug tests on motorists, convictions for drug driving have increased year-on-year, reaching 27,962 cases in 2021. Potential reforms may include following the example of Australia, where medication packaging is legally required to display a visible warning if a driver could be impaired by the substance, or France, which has deployed a colour-coded system on medication labels to help make potential risks clearer. RISE IN DRUG DRIVING CASES Year Collisions Casualties 2012 622 944 2013 594 921 2014 684 1,059 2015 881 1,414 2016 1,054 1,703 2017 1,151 1,892 2018 1,321 2,056 2019 1,469 2,278 2020 1,546 2,290 2021 1,661 2,497 'When people think of driving while under the influence of drugs, they will probably, quite understandably, think of those who get behind the wheel after taking illicit and recreational substances such as cocaine, cannabis or ecstasy,' explains Antony Kildare, chief executive at IAM RoadSmart. 'And yet legal drugs that are used for medicinal purposes can often be just as potent, and could profoundly impact a driver's judgement while behind the wheel. 'However, under the current system, this threat may not be understood resulting in a lack of awareness of what should be basic considerations, such as maximum dosages or whether the medication will impact their ability to drive. 'We would like to see a new and reformed system which will provide more transparency on how medications can affect a motorist's ability to drive, and clearly communicate potential risks to motorists.' Road safety experts recommend that drivers remain vigilant of any potential symptoms of taking medication. They also need to consider how the side-effects could impair their driving. This includes whether they may cause issues including drowsiness, light-headedness, shakes and dizziness. Andy Fishburn is Managing Director at Virgin StartUp, Virgin's not-for-profit incubator. Today is Better Business Day. A day when campaigners are calling on the Government to acknowledge the Better Business Act. Virgin StartUp's Andy Fishburn is calling on the government to amend the Companies Act It's a campaign that aims to change business for good by making every single company, whether big or small, align the interests of their shareholders with those of wider society and the environment. Last year, 774,420 new businesses registered in the UK, up 3.5 per cent from 2021. Britain's entrepreneurial spirit is alive and kicking and many would argue the UK is still one of the best places in the world to start a business. But the wider landscape of skyrocketing cost-of-living, wide levels of inequality and the climate emergency, make it a tough environment for new business founders and are issues that require urgent action. The problem solvers Start-ups can play a crucial role in helping us find solutions to some of these big problems. Given the right support to innovate and invest from the beginning, there is huge potential for these founders to make a difference both collectively and as they scale-up sustainably. After all, the small businesses of today are the big businesses of tomorrow. In the past decade, Virgin StartUp, as a delivery partner of the Start Up Loans Company, has supported tens of thousands of early-stage founders, providing access to more than 70million to help more than 5,000 new founders start-up. In that time, we have seen an encouraging increase in the number of purpose-led businesses. Organisations like Change Please, a social enterprise that's using coffee as a vehicle to support homeless people by offering them training and employment; Dash Water which tackles food waste by turning unwanted fruit into fruit infused water; OddBox which 'saves' fruit and veg that would otherwise be discarded and delivers it directly to customers' doors or UpCircle, which uses discarded ingredients and upcycles them into a range of sustainable skincare products. From modest beginnings and with the support of a start-up loan these incredible businesses are now having a profoundly positive impact at scale. Many investors continue to be driven by the need to generate quick returns, prioritising short-term quick-wins over long-term, sustainable growth. Creating and running a responsible, purpose-led business has many benefits. Research shows that mission-led businesses are more confident in their future growth, have higher levels of innovation. Some 43 per cent B Corp SMEs have applied for, or received, R&D tax credits in the past three years, versus 6 per cent of the wider SME population. They have also been more successful at securing equity finance 70 per cent of B Corps who sought equity finance secured all of the required amount, versus 56 per cent of the wider SME population. However, a recent study by the British Business Bank also shows that 85 per cent of UK SME intermediaries think that the current economic conditions are an obstacle to SMEs becoming more environmentally sustainable. So how do we make a purpose-led approach the rule as opposed to the exception, and what's currently holding back the founders? Updating investor mindset In our experience, while there is a great deal of noise about purpose-led businesses and social impact, the reality is that many investors continue to be driven by the need to generate quick returns, prioritising short-term quick-wins over long-term, sustainable growth. Without incentives from the investor community, start-ups are encouraged to operate with the same short term, profit-only goals making it more challenging to run and scale a successful start-up that is purpose-led. The willingness from businesses to go against the tide and act as a force for good is there. But to nurture these founders through the early hurdles of business ownership and then harness this at scale, we also need a change to the law to ensure all businesses, both big and small, are creating long-term value. As the law shifts, this would in turn force a change in investor mindset. The Better Business Act is pushing for change What is a B Corp? B Corps are described as businesses that are said to meet the 'highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.' One the website, it says: 'B Corp Certification doesn't just evaluate a product or service; it assesses the overall positive impact of the company that stands behind it. And increasingly that's what people care most about.' B Corp was started in 2006 and gives scores to companies in order for them to be verified. These five areas are: governance, workers, community, environment and customers. The Better Business Act is a campaign backed by nearly 2,000 businesses, which wants to amend Section 172 of the Companies Act to fundamentally change how businesses are governed so that every business aligns the interests of people and planet with profit. At Virgin StartUp, we've supported the campaign since 2021 because we believe it is a crucial step in unlocking the potential of the UK purpose-led start-up market by providing a strong foundation for them to thrive in the long-term. We are delighted to see how much the coalition of supportive businesses has grown in that time, and we look forward to welcoming more, larger businesses into the fold. It's a tough world out there for new business founders but as someone who speaks to passionate new business founders daily, I also see a bright future ahead. Now more than ever we need to support Britain's purposeful entrepreneurs and nurture their ideas for radical change. Only then will we get a vibrant start-up landscape that supports the innovative, solutions-focused businesses that we need to help solve the UK's biggest problems. This week in royal history was an eventful one, beginning with the death of Wallis Simpson, on April 24, 1986. By then, at the age of 89, the widow of the former King Edward VIII had been bedbound for the best part of a decade. And yesterday marked not only the anniversary of the birth of two Princess Marys - the daughter of King George V in 1897 and the daughter of King George III in 1776 - but a Princess Alice too in 1843. She was the third child of Queen Victoria and would go on to die more than two decades before her mother at the age of just 35 in 1878. But the most prominent royal anniversary this week was the wedding of the Queen Mother and King George VI. When they tied the knot on April 26, 1923, inside Westminster Abbey they were just the Duke and Duchess of York and were 13 years away from having to step up to replace Edward VIII, who infamously abdicated so he could marry Mrs Simpson. Wallis Simpson's death - April 24, 1986 When Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, passed away on April 24, 1986, aged 89, the news was seen as a blessing among those who knew her best. Above: The Duchess at her Paris home in 1974 When Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, passed away on April 24, 1986, aged 89, the news was seen as a blessing among those who knew her best. She had spent much of her final decade almost totally bedbound, unable to walk or leave her bedroom in her home outside Paris. The Duchess was tended to by devoted nurses but also preyed upon by her French lawyer Suzanne Blum, who took advantage of her financially and isolated her from her friends. Wallis had been without her husband, the former King Edward VIII, since 1972, when he died aged 77 after suffering from throat cancer. Wallis Simpson's 1986 funeral was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor, attended by The Queen, Prince Philip, the Queen Mother, Princess Anne and other members of the Royal Family In December 1936, he had infamously given up the throne after just eight months as monarch so he could marry Wallis, an American divorcee. Whilst he was totally devoted to her, it was rumoured that she did not even love him, but had felt bound to go through with their marriage to avoid being hated by the British people after the abdication crisis. Wallis's funeral, at Windsor's St George's Chapel, was attended by senior royals including the Queen, Prince Philip and the Queen Mother, but her name was not mentioned once during the service. Afterwards, she was buried alongside her husband at Windsor's Royal Burial Ground, not far from Frogmore cottage. The royals' presence at the Duchess's funeral came after decades of strife since Edward's abdication, which had forced his shy younger brother - the then Duke of York - to become King George VI. Her burial next to her husband outside Frogmore Mausoleum was attended only by the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Diana and eight of Wallis's aides and friends. Above: The Graves of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor The Daily Mail's coverage of the Duchess of Windsor's death ahead of her funeral Wallis had also had famously fraught relations with the Queen Mother, who once called her the 'lowest of the low'. She did not attend the Duchess's burial after being told to stay away by the Queen. On her coffin was a single wreath of white, orange and yellow lillies left by the Queen. Queen Mother's wedding - April 26, 1923 When Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon tied the knot with the Duke of York on this day in 1926, she thought she was marrying a man who would never be anywhere near the throne. The Scottish aristocrat had famously refused two proposals before Prince Albert - as he was then known - got his wish. The couple's wedding, at Westminster Abbey, took place in front of 1,800 guests as hundreds of thousands of royal fans lined the procession route outside. Royals in the Abbey included King Alfonso XIII and Queen Ena of Spain, King Haakon VII and Queen Maud of Norway and Queen Marie of Romania. When Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon tied the knot with the Duke of York on this day in 1926, she thought she was marrying a man who would never be anywhere near the throne Best man duties were shared between the Duke's three brothers, Prince Henry, Prince George and the Prince of Wales, who would go on to be Edward VIII. Elizabeth wore a dress made from silk and embroidered with pearls and beads by court dress-maker Madame Handley-Seymour. On her face she had Queen Mary's lace veil and wore a coronet of orange blossom. The eight bridesmaids - Lady Mary Cambridge, Lady May Cambridge, Lady Mary Thynn, Lady Katharine Hamilton, The Hon Diamond Hardinge, The Hon Cecilia Bowes-Lyon, The Hon Mary Elizabeth Elphinstone and Miss Betty Cator - were a mix of relatives from both the Prince and Elizabeth's family. The couple's wedding, at Westminster Abbey, took place in front of 1,800 guests as hundreds of thousands of royal fans lined the procession route outside The couple's five-week honeymoon began at Polesden Lacey, the Surrey home of socialite Margaret Greville. They then went north to Glamis Castle in Scotland, although the new Duchess of York caught whooping cough whilst there. Just over a decade later - now with daughters Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret - the couple were thrust into the centre of public attention when Edward VIII abdicated. The Duke of York had to step up in place of his older brother and become King George VI. The eight bridesmaids - Lady Mary Cambridge, Lady May Cambridge, Lady Mary Thynn, Lady Katharine Hamilton, The Hon Diamond Hardinge, The Hon Cecilia Bowes-Lyon, The Hon Mary Elizabeth Elphinstone and Miss Betty Cator - were a mix of relatives from both the Prince and Elizabeth's family Front cover of The Illustrated London News celebrating the royal wedding The Daily Mail's coverage of the Royal wedding included photos of the eight bridesmaids Birth of Princess Mary, daughter of King George V - April 25, 1897 Princess Mary, the third child of King George V and Queen Mary, was born on April 25, 1897. Reporting on the birth, the Daily Mail said at the time: 'This interesting announcement of the advent of a daughter in the family of the Duke and Duchess of York, whose marriage on July 6, 1893, occasioned so much public rejoicing, will be welcomed as strengthening the direct succession to the throne of England.' Princess Mary, the third child of King George V and Queen Mary, was born on April 25, 1897. Above: Mary in 1905 The Daily Mail reported on her birth 'The infant Princess, following her two brothers, now ranks fifth in the order of succession.' The Princess Royal, as she became in 1932, was the monarch's only daughter. Her two older brothers, the future kings Edward VIII and George VI, would famously spectacularly fall out following the former's abdication in 1936. Her two youngest brothers, Prince John and Prince George, were to die well ahead of their time. John, an epilepsy sufferer, passed away aged just 13 in 1919 after an epileptic fit, whilst George - the father of the current Duke of Kent - died in a plane crash in 1942. Mary enjoyed a life defined by devoted royal service. She performed prominent charity work in support of wounded British soldiers in the First World War and, during the Second World War, was head of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS). The Princess had two sons with husband Henry Lascelles and died aged 67 in 1965. Mary is seen with her parents at Balmoral in around 1910, when she was aged 13 Birth of Princess Alice, daughter of Queen Victoria - April 25, 1843 On April 25, 1843, Queen Victoria - then five years into her reign - gave birth to her second daughter, Princess Alice. Younger by three years than her sister Victoria, Alice was the Queen's third child. Her brother Edward - the future King - had been born in 1941. Alice's life would ultimately be defined by tragedy. She nursed her father, Prince Albert, before his early death in 1861. His passing left the Queen bereft and Alice had to step up, becoming her mother's unofficial secretary as she entered an intense period of mourning. She went on to marry a minor German prince in a ceremony that was a described by her mother as 'more of a funeral than a wedding'. On April 25, 1843, Queen Victoria - then five years into her reign - gave birth to her second daughter, Princess Alice The Royal Family on the terrace of Osborne House, 1857. From left to right: Prince Alfred, Prince Albert, Princess Helena, Prince Arthur, Princess Alice, Queen Victoria with the Princess Beatrice in her lap, Princess Victoria Queen Victoria at Balmoral with her daughters, Princess Alice (right) and Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, and a portrait of her late husband, Prince Albert in 1863 Alice and her husband, Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, had seven children together. In 1878, at the age of just 35, she became the first of her mother's nine children to die after her family were hit by a diphtheria outbreak. She initially nursed her own children and had to watch one of them, daughter Marie, die from the infection. Alice ultimately caught diphtheria from her son, Ernest, after kissing him to try to provide some comfort following his sister's death. She died on the same day - December 14 - that her father had passed away 16 years earlier. Princess Mary was George III's 11th child and fourth daughter Birth of Princess Mary, daughter of King George III - April 25, 1776 On April 25, 1776, King George III's daughter Princess Mary was born. She was the monarch's 11th child and fourth daughter. She went on to marry her first cousin, Prince William Frederick, whilst her niece was Queen Victoria. Victoria was the fourth monarch to reign during Mary's life. George IV - who had ruled as regent after his father went mad - officially became King in 1820 until his own death in 1820. He was succeeded by his son, William IV - Victoria's uncle. Birth of King Edward II - April 25, 1284 The birth of the first ever Prince of Wales, King Edward II, took place on April 25, 1284. The tradition of investing the title on the heir to the throne is believed to have begun in 1301, when Edward's father, King Edward I, gave it to him. Edward succeeded his father in 1307 and ruled until 1327, when he was deposed by his wife, Isabella of France. The birth of the first ever Prince of Wales, King Edward II, took place on April 25, 1284. Above: An illustration of Edward (left); a depiction of his birth He was forced to relinquish his crown in favour of his son, Edward III, and died in Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire, later that year. Edward infamously had a close and controversial relationship with nobleman Piers Gaveston, with some historians suggesting that they were lovers. Gaveston was executed by rebellious barons and Edward also faced military defeats in Scotland, where he was decisively defeated by Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn. A woman who found her letterbox overflowing with baked beans first thought it was just an innocent prank, but soon discovered it may have been a part of a plot to rob her home. Margaret Khursigara, 52, has lived in the same West Pennant Hills home in Sydney for 20 years and on Saturday morning she was left baffled by the bizarre act of vandalism. She asked around to find out why someone would do such a thing. A neighbour told her that they'd heard about thieves in the UK who were leaving kidney beans on doorsteps to determine which houses were vacant based on whether or not the mess was cleaned by the next day. Now Ms Khursigara watches her security camera around the clock in case the people who left the beans come back again. Margaret Khursigara, 52, woke up on Saturday to find her letterbox filled with baked beans A neighbour said that she'd heard about thieves in the UK have been known to leave kidney beans on doorsteps to see which homes clean them up Over Anzac weekend the odds of people being out of town is increased, presenting ample opportunity for thieves to take advantage of empty houses. 'We know a lot of people who have gone away for that four-day weekend, so it kind of makes sense for it to happen at this point in time,' she told 7news. 'If they're trying to see if someone is home, it's a technique that could work.' She said that she hadn't thought of reporting the incident to police. Her West Pennant Hills suburb is rated among the safest in the city, but Ms Khursigara said she's been on edge since the beans appeared. Three teenagers had been spotted in the street the night before. 'I think, because it's just a minor and silly thing, that it's the sort of thing that people aren't going to take to the police or report,' Ms Khursigara said. 'The creepiest part of this is, if it is a technique to see if we are home, that means they're going to come back to check. 'Why would our house be the only one?' NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia that thieves using beans is not something they have been made aware of or have information on. Maria Celino-Straker, of North Tyneside, England, woke up to find a similar mess of kidney beans on her doorstep in 2021 In a similar incident, Maria Celino-Straker, of North Tyneside, England, woke up to find a disgusting mess on her doorstep in 2021. She explained on Facebook: 'Well I woke up to this left on our doorstep this morning. Ms Celino-Straker also thought it might've been a silly prank, but after speaking to a relative who is an ex-police officer, she discovered the mess was a sign of something more sinister. If the would-be thieves left a mess overnight, only to return the next day to find it hadn't been cleaned up, it was an indication the homeowners weren't home. 'Apparently this is a known trick of burglars. If [it's] not cleaned up in a couple of days they know you are not home and in they go.' Andrew Parker Bowles served in the British Army for 34 years, and has tenuous links to the current royal family. His father is Derek Henry Parker Bowles, who is the great-grandson of Thomas Parker, the 6th Earl of Macclesfield. Indeed, his parents were close friends of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. So, who is Andrew Parker Bowles? Was he married to Camilla? Will he be at the coronation ceremony of King Charles III? Read on below for everything you need to know about Andrew Parker Bowles. Andrew Parker Bowles is pictured here with Camilla at the Queen's Cup polo match in Windsor in 1992 Once, regarded as something of a ladies man, Parker Bowles had a brief fling with Princess Anne before marrying Camilla. The pair, pictured on Derby Day at Epsom, are still close friends today Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles and Princess Anne pictured together at an event in Hyde Park Who is Andrew Parker Bowles? Andrew Parker Bowles is best known as the first husband of Camilla, Queen Consort. However, Mr Parker Bowles previously had a relationship with another current royal, when he reportedly began dating Princess Anne back in 1970. The pair separated prior to Parker Bowles' marriage to Camilla in 1973. They had two children together: food writer Tom Parker Bowles, who is King Charles' godson, and art curator Laura Lopes. Andrew Parker Bowles is also the godfather of the King's niece, Zara Phillips. He is said to have had numerous extramarital affairs throughout his 'open' marriage to Camilla. The pair divorced in 1995. After being commissioned into The Royal Horse Guards in 1960, Parker Bowles was promoted to the rank of major in 1971. In 19811983, he was Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, and was commanding during the Regents Park Bombings, when men and horses from his regiment were killed and injured by a terrorist bomb. He was also awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery in Zimbabwe. Andrew Parker Bowles and Camilla were married for 22 years and had two children, Tom and Laura, before they divorced in 1995 Parker Bowles served as an officer with the Household Cavalry. He is pictured here in uniform standing directly behind Charles at Zimbabwe's independence ceremony in 1980. Will Andrew Parker Bowles be at the coronation? It has been confirmed that Andrew Parker Bowles will be in attendance at King Charles' coronation ceremony on Saturday, 6 May, 2023. Although he divorced from Camilla over 25 years ago, the pair remain good friends and have maintained an amicable relationship. Subsequently, he was a squadron leader during Operation Motorman in Ulster, a major operation carried out by the British Army during the Troubles. His grandsons, Freddy Parker Bowles, 13, and Gus and Louis Lopes, also 13, will have key roles to play as Pages of Honour at the coronation ceremony. Recounting his role in the Queen's 1953 coronation, Parker Bowles said: 'My mother was a good friend of the Duke of Norfolk. The Lord Chancellor had no children so Bernard Norfolk suggested me to Lord Simonds. I have to say that he was the nicest man alive and gave me a very nice set of cufflinks.' One of his most vivid memories is of the dress rehearsal where a sword fight broke out. 'All the pages had these little swords. If a group of bored small boys all have swords, you know what's going to happen,' Camilla is seen here with her then-husband Mr Parker Bowles. A young Tom Parker Bowles, who has gone on to become a renowned food writer, can be seen behind the pair in the background. Is Andrew Parker Bowles married? After divorcing Camilla, Andrew Parker Bowles married his longtime friend Rosemary Pitman in 1996. The couple attended the wedding of King Charles and Camilla together in 2005. Sadly, Pitman passed away in 2010, after falling ill with cancer. Princess Anne attended her funeral whilst Camilla was present at her memorial service in March 2010. Camilla and her ex-husband also have five grandchildren, one of whom, Eliza, was a bridesmaid at Prince William and Catherine's wedding in 2011. He has not remarried since. The author Tina Brown has claimed it was Andrew, rather than Charles, who was the love of Camilla's life. Whatever the truth, the man Brown describes as 'a walking pink gin' is said to remain one of her chief confidantes. 'They are joined at the hip,' according to a friend. 'He arranges so much for her. They have lunch together the whole time. He's right in there. He was always, and still is, Camilla's co-conspirator.' Author Tina Brown claims it was Andrew Parker Bowles rather than Charles who had been the love of Camillas life, saying the pair 'are joined at the hip' Mr Parker Bowles dated Camilla on and off for several years before the pair married at the Guards' Chapel in 1973 What is Andrew Parker Bowles' net worth? Parker Bowles was the subject of 'The Brigadier', a larger than life portrait at over seven foot tall, which was painted by artist Lucien Freud in 2003. The piece sold for 27million ($34million) in auction at Christie's in 2015. As of 2023, Andrew Parker Bowles' net worth is approximately 4million ($5million). Andrew Parker Bowles has also been played in various films and TV series, most notably by Andrew Buchan in Netflix drama 'The Crown'. The Marchioness of Lansdowne, one of Camilla's Queen's Companions, has said: 'Everybody loves Andrew. He's a real charmer but he's always terribly misbehaving. 'Andrew will ring her up and tell her when she's got something wrong and she'll ring him up and say when he's misbehaving. 'Through adversity they've kept a really good family ethic. It helps with their children and grandchildren.' Holmes was scheduled to leave her $9m beachside home for a federal lock-up most likely in Bryan, Texas on Thursday, before getting a last-minute reprieve DailyMail.com photos show the fraudster had been savoring her final moments with partner Billy Evans and their two children William, 2, and newborn Invicta Elizabeth Holmes, 39, has managed to avoid reporting to prison Thursday after her motion to remain free while her appeal is processed was granted today Elizabeth Holmes has managed to temporarily avoid prison after being granted a last-minute reprieve just a day before she was scheduled to start her 11-year sentence. The convicted fraudster, who has been holding out hope that her jail stint will be delayed after making several attempts to overturn her conviction, finally scored a legal victory Wednesday when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to stay her prison reporting date. Holmes's lawyers filed a motion late Tuesday challenging District Court Judge Edward Davila's April 11 decision to deny her release while she appeals her guilty verdict, citing 'numerous, inexplicable errors' in the ruling. The 11th-hour move means the Theranos founder will remain free on bail while the court considers her case. Prison-bound Elizabeth Holmes was seen planting a kiss on newborn daughter Invicta on Tuesday as she savored her final moments with her family before she was due to start her prison sentence on April 27 DailyMail.com photos show Holmes and her partner Billy Evans going for a stroll near their San Diego home, where the doting dad was seen cradling son William, 2, while she snuggled newborn Invicta The two appeared barefoot and carefree despite Holmes's looming 11-year prison sentence Up until now, the mom-of-two had been putting on a brave face ahead of her sentence, going about her daily life as if nothing is bothering her. She and partner Billy Evans were seen doing everything they can to ensure that life goes on as normally as possible right up to the time she must swap her designer duds for a prison jumpsuit. Holmes was scheduled to leave her $9million beachside home in San Diego and give herself up to federal authorities by 2 pm Thursday to begin her sentence at a federal lock-up most likely 1,800 miles away in Bryan, Texas. DailyMail.com caught up with the couple in the SoCal city on Tuesday afternoon as they walked their kids barefoot near their home. Hotel heir Evans carried son William, 2, while Holmes carefully snuggled tiny Invicta, the daughter she gave birth to in February. Perhaps showing her state of mind, the couple named the little girl after the Latin word for invincible. It can also mean unconquered. Holmes had previously asked Judge Edward Davila to delay her prison-start date until after all appeals have been exhausted, but those attempts had been denied up until Wednesday, when the Ninth Court of Appeals approved her motion. The legal tactic deployed by Holmes mirrored a move made last month by her former lover and subordinate, Ramesh 'Sunny' Balwani, to avoid a prison reporting date of March 16. After the Ninth Circuit rejected his appeal three weeks later, Davila set a new reporting date of April 20. She is however facing potentially even more bad news with a new class action suit filed against Theranos and Walgreens Wednesday. The couple had not announced the birth of their infant daughter Invicta, but DailyMail.com obtained her birth certificate showing she was born February 9 The fraudster had made several attempts to delay her prison start date and overturn her conviction, which had been unsuccessful up until today when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted her bid to remain free while she appeals her case Pictured above is the $9million beachside mansion in San Diego where Elizabeth Holmes and partner Billy Evan have been staying with their children before her prison sentence begins Evans is expected to move into a new $3million townhouse that is across the street from the ocean once she begins her prison sentence As DailyMail.com reported Tuesday, Holmes and her multi-millionaire partner Billy had been spending as much time as possible with their kids before she is locked up for 11 years. On Friday, the two were seen with an unidentified woman crossing the street from their beachfront mansion to the San Diego townhouse Billy and their two toddlers are planning on living in after she reports to prison. Elizabeth wore designer camo colored yoga pants, beige shirt and a straw hat. Holmes's face was red except for around her eyes, it looked like had a sunburn. Despite her unfortunate circumstances, she looked like she didn't have a worry in the world and even cracked a smile when at one point her friend showed her a picture on a cell phone. Evans had a bag slung across his shoulders, wearing blue jeans, T-shirt and carried a pink baby bouncer for their newborn. The unidentified friend had on a pink sun dress and straw hat. The following day, the pair was seen during a grocery shopping trip at Whole Foods, this time without their children. On Friday, exclusive DailyMail.com pictures show Holmes and her partner, Billy Evans and an unidentified woman on Friday crossing the street from their beachfront mansion to the townhouse The following day, the pair was seen during a grocery shopping trip at Whole Foods, this time without their children Holmes appeared to be in good spirits despite her impending incarceration Evans, who is from San Diego, is heir to the Evans Hotel Group which manages three luxury hotels in the city, and he alone is reportedly worth $10million Holmes had filed several appeals since her conviction in January 2022 to delay or reduce her 11-year sentence, but none have succeeded, up until now About an hour before, Elizabeth and Billy made their way over to the townhouse Elizabeth is not going to be living at, her parents were seen pushing their grandson, baby William in a blue toy cart across the street. If by some minor miracle her current appeal is granted, and she can remain out on bail while her appeals are going through the court Elizabeth will join them. As previously reported by DailyMail.com, Billy is planning on raising their kids in a newly purchased $3million townhouse that is across the street from the ocean. His parents bought the home for $3.25million last year just a month after Holmes had been convicted of four counts of wire fraud and conspiracy. The townhouse has 1700 sq ft, 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, two car garage in a gated community. The background has sweeping views of the famous Del Mar racetrack. Over the past several days, Billy's parents have been seen at the townhouse, moving in items and rearranging the furniture inside. Elizabeth has been seen at the townhouse on a number of occasions but is believed to have yet spend a night there. The former Theranos CEO and her partner are seen leaving federal court in San Jose on March 17. She was convicted of four counts of wire fraud and conspiracy The judge recommended she serve her more than 11-year sentence in Bryan, Texas 1,800 miles away from her family in California Evans is from San Diego, he is heir to the Evans Hotel Group which manages three luxury hotels in the city, including the luxury five-star Lodge at Torrey Pines. He alone is reportedly worth $10million. He has a younger brother, Rex who graduated from Cornell University, and younger sister, Gracie, who graduated from USC. Stanford dropout Holmes founded Theranos, when she was still a teenager in 2003, claiming she could revolutionize blood testing. Ten years later the value of the company shot up when it formed a partnership with Walgreens to offer in-store blood collection centers. By 2014 the company was said to be worth $9billion and Forbes ranked Holmes as the youngest self-made billionaire in the world. But the following year an exhaustive investigation by the Wall Street Journal claimed Theranos's system provided false reports and revealed the company had been using commercially available machines from other companies for most of its testing, and Holmes was banned from operating a blood-testing service for two years. Lawsuits started flooding in and Theranos collapsed in scandal, eventually shuttering in 2018. A Los Angeles community has been unnerved by the arrival of a homeless encampment, with several of those living rough in the district seen regularly waving axes and make-shift swords. Residents of Highland Park, a middle income community to the north east of downtown near Pasadena, have complained about the tents city. They say they have called the Los Angeles Police Department, and officers have spoken to the armed men, but tell them they are unable to act. Carrying a machete or an axe is not a crime, but threatening someone with it is. On Tuesday, DailyMail.com saw the man roaming the area with self-made sandals strapped with tape to his feet, and nose plugs in his nostrils attached to some sort of headdress. The man was brandishing his axe and chopping branches off trees. The homeless man living in Highland Park, Los Angeles, is seen on Tuesday chopping down a tree with his axe The tree was near his shelter. The tent community sprung up around a year ago, and has been removed multiple times but keeps on returning The man appeared to be wearing some sort of headdress, with nose plugs On his feet, the man had self-made sandals with tape, on top of his sneakers Another man was seen sitting nearby holding a makeshift sword. 'As a woman, I'm worried about walking through my neighborhood because I don't know what kind of mood he'll be in and I know that he's armed,' said one homeowner, identified only as Tracy. She told KTLA the man with the axe has a drum kit and frequently plays them throughout the day and night. Tracy said she has called the city's 311 hotline dozens of times, but nothing has happened. Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, who represents the neighborhood, told KTLA the homeless encampment - which formed a year ago, and has been cleared and reformed multiple times - is a sign of the lack of housing and support for the city's population. 'We want to ensure that everyone in CD1 housed and unhoused feel safe and secure in their neighborhoods and the frustrating reality is that there is a huge gap in housing, services and resources available to meet the current need,' she told KTLA. 'Our office will be revisiting this particular site to assess the situation and connect with the constituents.' The homeless encampment in Highland Park, LA, is pictured on Tuesday Residents say they have complained multiple times about the encampment, but authorities are yet to find a meaningful solution A man walks his shopping cart past the homeless encampment on Tuesday Another homeless man is seen on Tuesday sitting with what appeared to be a makeshift sword Another local woman, Linda, said she had been disappointed by the official response so far, including tearing down the makeshift shelters. 'They've done it like two times already,' she told the network. 'They cleaned it up and then right after that, it ends up like this.' One woman said she does not let her child play outside out of fear of the man. 'He walks up and down the street screaming profanity and he does have multiple weapons, like hammers, machetes, things like that,' she said. 'It is a safety issue.' She said she remains optimistic that Mayor Karen Bass' initiative to address homelessness will take into account these types of encampments. 'Our mayor, our City Council, people need to get involved and see that it is bringing our values down as homeowners,' she said. 'It's more power in numbers. So, living here, I would like to see a change.' Crime in Los Angeles is trending down, but nuisances such as vagrancy remain a problem It is not just the mid-income area of Highland Park that is affected. Earlier this month, residents of an upscale enclave of Los Angeles began complaining after a homeless encampment mushroomed on the border of Beverly Hills - with one of the tent-dwellers claiming they were told to move there by police. The tents and people arrived on San Vicente Boulevard in Beverly Grove, setting up a camp to the anger of locals. 'They're fighting at all hours of the day. They're doing drugs. They're selling drugs. It's out of control,' said one Beverly Grove resident, speaking to KTLA. 'We pay so much in property tax and so much in income tax, it is not fair for us to live like this.' Yet James Boss, who has been homeless for over a decade, told the network that he and others had been told to move there. 'They told us to come over here,' he said. 'The (sheriff's department) and the police department told us to come over this way because they were going to offer us housing.' James Boss, who is homeless, told KTLA that he had been told to move to the area by LAPD A homeless encampment has sprung up in the Beverly Grove area of Los Angeles (pictured on April 11) Those living in the temporary camp say that if they try to set up shelters across the road, in Beverly Hills, they are moved on LAPD would not comment when asked whether they told the homeless population to move to that spot. Bass, the mayor, has launched a program, Inside Safe, which aims to clear homeless encampments. It is designed to move those currently homeless into permanent housing. The most recent survey conducted by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority found approximately 69,000 people experiencing homelessness in LA County, and 41,000 in the city in 2022. About half the homeless population of the city struggles with drug or alcohol addiction, and about a third have serious mental illnesses. Homeless deaths average five a day. One woman who owns a beauty salon nearby said her customers were intimidated by the scene. 'I have a nice clientele, but now my clientele is getting to the point where they just don't feel comfortable,' she told Eyewitness News. One photo taken on Tuesday shows a naked woman lounging on a couch at the encampment. Homeless encampments in the Hollywood stomping grounds of Beverly Hills have taken a turn for the worse, as a local business owner says there are now naked people deterring customers In the center of junction in Beverly Grove, near Beverly Hills, tents and tarpaulins have been set up by some of LA's homeless population A homeless person is seen napping on a patch of grass in a park on the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and Crescent Dr. 'I saw the couch one day out there and I think, 'Oh my God,'' she said. 'The next day, I came back and see she's all over the couch and she's just naked. She was crying. 'I felt bad for her, you know? I wanted to like give her something to cover up but I felt like if I do the little things, then I'll have everyone coming and asking for help.' Some locals point out that while Beverly Hills strictly enforces rules against camping, LA was more relaxed about the tents. Boss, the homeless man, said that if he tried to put his tent up across the road in Beverly Hills he was immediately moved on by police. 'There's nothing in Beverly Hills,' said business owner Mike Terani. He told Eyewitness News: 'Right when you come over in LA, that's where nobody can do anything and nobody cares.' Dr. Kenneth Wright, who owns a medical practice on the block, said LAPD told him they couldn't do anything about the situation. 'I talked to the officer he's a great guy he says, 'Look, they tell me from the mayor's office, they tell me from my chief, to leave them here,'' he said. Bass, who was elected in November after promising to take on the city's out-of-control homeless crisis, announced in early April she would recommend spending what she called a record $1.3 billion next year to get unhoused people into shelter and treatment programs. Some residents of wealthy Beverly Hills told the city council that they were considering leaving as they didn't feel safe allowing their children to play outside A homeless man sits on a public bench in Beverly Grove, near Beverly Hills on April 11, 2023 The funding to be included in the mayor's upcoming budget could be used in part to buy hotels or motels that would be converted to housing, while the city combs through its inventory of properties for those that could be used for sheltering homeless people. The former congresswoman's remarks, in an annual address to City Council on the state of the city, came roughly four months into her first term. Bass added that the budget also would include funds for substance abuse treatment beds for the unhoused, but she did not specify how many. Governor Gavin Newsom has promised to deliver 500 units of temporary housing to the city, while the Biden administration has sent the city and county more than $200 million for homeless programs, she added. 'After years of frustration ... we can see a clearer path to a new Los Angeles,' Bass said, speaking inside the ornate City Council chambers. 'We have finally dispelled the myth that people do not want to come inside. They do.' However, Bass added that much work needed to be done. 'I cannot declare that the state of our city is where it needs to be,' she said. The city has expanded spending on homeless programs for years then-Mayor Eric Garcetti signed a budget in 2021 with nearly $1 billion in homeless spending but the unhoused population has continued to increase. Bass' challenge is in plain sight in just about any neighborhood: homeless people living in trash-strewn encampments or rusty RVs along streets, below underpasses and clustered around freeway exits. Bass, the first black woman to serve as LA's mayor who was on President Joe Biden's short list for vice president, defeated billionaire businessman Rick Caruso in the November election. She anchored her campaign to getting homeless people off the streets and into shelters, reversing spiking crime rates and developing housing that working-class families can afford. Jacinda Ardern has ended weeks of speculation about her future to announce she's soon heading overseas in her new role. The former New Zealand Prime Minister announced on Wednesday she will join Ivy League institution Harvard University later this year in three fellowship roles in leadership and fighting online extremism. She will head to the US later this year to spend a semester at Harvard Kennedy School as the 2023 Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellow and as a Hauser Leader in the school's Center for Public Leadership to engage with students on 'principled leadership'. Ms Ardern hinted earlier this month she would be doing 'some speaking, teaching, and learning' in the wake of her shock resignation as Prime Minister after five years in the top job. Jacinda Ardern (pictured) will take up several fellowship roles at Harvard University in the US later this year 'I am incredibly humbled to be joining Harvard University as a fellow - not only will it give me the opportunity to share my experience with others, it will give me a chance to learn,' Ms Ardern said. 'As leaders, there's often very little time for reflection, but reflection is critical if we are to properly support the next generation of leaders.' Ms Ardern will also take up a tech governance leadership fellowship at Harvard Law School's Berkman Klein Centre for Internet and Society, where she will study ways to improve content standards and platform accountability for extremist content online, and examine artificial intelligence governance and algorithmic harms. The fellowship also allows Ms Ardern to continue the work of the Christchurch Call, she launched with French President Emmanuel Macron in the wake of the city's mosque attacks which claimed 51 lives in 2019. 'Not only will this be a chance to work collaboratively with the centre's research community, but also work on the challenges of the growth of generative AI tools,' she added. The announcement comes after she gave her final parliament speech earlier this month 'I'll also be sharing my experiences through speaking both here and abroad, while also taking time over the next year to learn too.' 'While I'll be gone for a semester (helpfully the one that falls during the NZ general election!) I'll be coming back at the end of the fellowships.' 'After all, New Zealand is home!' Harvard University announced the new post while paying tribute to Ms Ardern's 'international acclaimed' leadership. 'Jacinda Ardern showed the world strong and empathetic political leadership,' Kennedy School Dean Douglas Elmendorf said. 'She earned respect far beyond the shores of her country, and she will bring important insights for our students and will generate vital conversations about the public policy choices facing leaders at all levels.' Ms Ardern will also continue her recently announced roles as a voluntary position as Special Envoy for the Christchurch Call and trustee of Prince William's Earthshot Prize. Harvard University previously recognised Ms Ardern with the Gleitsman International Activist Award in 2020. Jacinda Ardern was supported by her partner Clarke Gayford when she stepped down as New Zealand Prime Minister in January She also delivered the annual commencement speech to Harvard graduates in 2022, following in the steps of world leaders Winston Churchill, Angela Merkel and Oprah Winfrey. It will be Ms Ardern's second stint in the US, having previously worked in New York two decades ago. She became the world's youngest female head of government when she was elected as New Zealand prime minister at the age of 37 in 2017. The following year, Ms Ardern became only the second elected female leader to have a child while in office and the first since Benazier Bhutto in 1990 when she gave birth to daughter Neve, who turns five in June. Reports of hail in Sumter, Marion, Lake and Osceola counties sent some Central Floridians scrambling for shelter Tuesday afternoon. The weather event could repeat itself tomorrow in the Orlando-area too, according to John Pendergrast, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne. We started getting hail reports from south of The Villages all the way into Lake County mid-afternoon, he said. Were still getting some. The storms are diminishing, but theyre now staying west of Orlando moving down to the southeast. Reports of serious hail came from Lake County, Pendergrast said, where hailstones spanned around two inches in size. In Osceola County, there were reports of hail covering the ground in the Kissimmee area up to southern Lake County as well, he said. Several residents captured pictures and videos of the hail and posted them on social media Tuesday. Several accounts show ice blanketing the ground. my street is a distaster this hail here in orlando is INSANEEEE right now theres so much damage in my street yall wtf ?? i couldnt tell what was happening when i was showering it was as if all my windows were breaking ?? freaking out something fierce ???????? pic.twitter.com/boJujm8uML yanu ?? (blue check) (@theyangarciaa) April 25, 2023 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Thankfully no damage from the hail storm that just rolled through Mascotte from what we can tell the gnomes seem to love it though ??@BrianWeather pic.twitter.com/Lr0mEhK7Zi Robbie Bradley (@robbiebradley24) April 25, 2023 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Hail forms when theres a loft in the atmosphere allowing thunderstorms, or developing thunderstorms, to tap into some of the extremely cool air temperatures found up there and produce hail, Pendergrast said. The more severe the storm, the higher the chances hail might be big enough to cause damage as it pounds down from the sky. In an email response, Laurie Windham, spokesperson for the city of Clermont said, the city has not received reports of anyone harmed during the storm. We have initial reports of a tree down, blocking a street but no structural damage or injury reported at this time, she said. Pendergrast advises citizens who find themselves in a hail storm to seek shelter well in advance of a thunderstorm and to stay away from large openings when there are reports of hail. He said in the past, there have been occurrences of hailstones rattling and breaking car windows, especially in the months of March and April, those tend to be our large hail months. Tomorrow afternoon the Orlando-area can expect thunderstorms that will be heading east to southeast. Pendergrast said theres a slight risk the Orlando area could see hail as well. That is a possibility, depending on how strong the storm gets, he said. There hasnt been a real change in the setup and the atmosphere, so there is a possibility there could be some large hail once again tomorrow afternoon. arabines@orlandosentinel.com Sale fares available on more than 100 routes Qantas has slashed fares on more than one million seats, with Aussies able to score tickets starting from $99 to some of the country's most popular destinations. The airfares are available on more than 100 different domestic routes across the country for travellers wanting to book a holiday in 2023 and 2024. Sydneysiders looking for a slice of paradise can grab a $99 one-way fare to Byron Bay. Sydneysiders looking for a slice of paradise can grab a $99 one-way fare to Byron Bay (pictured) in Qantas' red tail sale More than 100 domestic routes are being discounted, with travellers from Melbourne able to fly to Tasmania's Launceston (pictured) for $99 one-way Travellers in Melbourne can also score bargain $99 one-way fares to Tasmania's foodie hub Launceston - known for its world-class wineries, restaurants and stunning Cataract Gorge Reserve. More than 40 domestic routes are available for under $150 - a 30 per cent discount on the full-price fares. Passengers flying from Hobart to Melbourne can grab a one-way fare for $139, which is the same price as travellers heading south from Brisbane to Sydney. Nature lovers in Adelaide can fly to Kangaroo Island for $129 one-way, while those preferring city living can travel to Melbourne for the same price. Prices have also been discounted for passengers from Perth and Darwin flying to Sydney, with fares slashed to $309 one-way. The sale airfares are available from April 26 to midnight on May 3 or until sold out. The airline has discounted more than one million seats and said the cheap fares will make it easier for Australians to plan their next getaway The national airline said the sale will make it easier for Australians to plan their next getaway as the Easter holidays come to an end. Qantas explained customers can use their flight credits they received during the Covid-19 pandemic. 'Covid credits received during the pandemic can be used when booking the sale fares at qantas.com, for travel this year or next,' the Qantas statement read. 'Qantas recently extended the travel expiry date for Covid credits, giving customers an extra 12 months to travel.' The 60 day packs will cost the same as 30-day prescriptions now Anthony Albanese's government has announced a significant change to prescription medicine rules that will kick in over the next year that will save patients up to $180 a year and cut down on trips to the GP. Health Minister Mark Butler announced on Wednesday that patients will be able to buy double their supply of some prescription medicines at once in a measure to be included next month's Federal Budget. Under the rule change, more than 320 different medicines will be dispensed in 60 day doses - instead of the current 30. They will still be subject to current price caps - so, instead of paying a maximum of $30 for a 30-day medicine supply, Aussies will pay $30 at most for a 60 day supply. One of the ideas behind it is that patients will not have to visit a doctor or the pharmacist as often. Australians will soon be able to buy 60 days worth of prescription medication at once, for the same price as a 30-day supply Health Minister Mark Butler (above) announced the prescription rule change on Wednesday The policy is largely aimed at those with chronic conditions who spend a lot on treatments. Included medications on the list are for conditions such as heart disease, cholesterol, Crohn's disease and hypertension. People could save up to $180 a year, if their medicine can be prescribed for 60 days rather than 30, or more if their other medicines qualify for the prescription change. The move has been furiously rejected by the Pharmacy Guild who say the change would cost community chemists $3.5billion. Pharmacy Guild of Australia president Trent Twomey said the changes could lead to further medicine shortages for patients. 'I'm all for cost-of-living relief and a cost-of-living measure but this, unfortunately, is just smoke and mirrors,' he told ABC TV on Wednesday. 'If you don't have the medicine in stock, how do you give double nothing? Double nothing is still nothing.' Doctor Nick Coatsworth also agreed the new policy could lead to crippling medication shortages across Australia. 'The medication shortage issue is not made up. 'This policy could lead to Australians turning up to pharmacies and being turned away for medications they've been on for five-to-10 years,' he told Today. MEDICATIONS THAT QUALIFY FOR 60-DAY PRESCRIPTIONS More than 320 medications will be dispensed in 60 day doses - instead of the current 30. The scheme is mainly aimed at those suffering form chronic conditions - like heart disease, cholesterol, Crohn disease and hypertension. Included on the list are medications atorvastatin, rosuvastatin and perindopril. Advertisement 'I'm actually worried about this, it looks good at face value but I knew a lot about supply chains in Covid and Australians probably aren't quite aware of how ropey those supply chains are. 'If we start giving people 60 days of medications instead of 30, people will miss out.' However, the new 60-day prescription has been supported by the Australian Medical Association, a doctor's body, with vice-president Danielle McMullen welcoming the change. 'At the time we're talking about so many cost-of-living pressures, this will really ease the burden on patients across Australia,' she told Seven's Sunrise program. 'There are some situations of shortages in medicines at the moment but there will be a staged approach to this announcement to ease the burden on the shortages.' Health Minister Mark Butler explained the change will be launched in three stages, each introducing roughly 100 medications scheme. The first stage will begin on September 1 this year, followed by the second on March 1 next year and the final round on September 1, 2024. Butler said 60-day prescriptions will address the issue of Australians delaying or going without medicines they need due to high costs More information will become available on the government's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme website later today. Butler said the new prescriptions will reduce how often those living in rural communities need to travel for treatments and address the issue of Australians delaying or going without medicines they need due to high costs. 'Every year, nearly a million Australians are forced to delay or go without a medicine that their doctor has told them is necessary for their health,' he said. 'This cheaper medicines policy is safe, good for Australians' hip pockets and most importantly good for their health.' During a press conference on Wednesday, Butler also rejected the idea that the scheme will cause widespread shortages - noting only seven medications on its list are currently scarce. Doctors will still be able to choose to write a prescription for a one-month supply for patients, rather than two. A man who fell asleep in a taxi home from an airport was horrified and angered to wake to a $468 fare after an hour-long journey. The passenger was so shocked he filmed himself questioning the driver about the amount and posted the video to his TikTok account. Ryan, as he is known on social media, travelled from Melbourne Airport to Berwick, 75km away, a fare that would normally cost a maximum of around $160. But Ryan's fare was almost three times that amount, and he wanted answers, so confronted the cabbie about the seemingly extortionate price. 'I just drive you from the airport. There's tolls on the way, there's a freeway,' the driver said. 'I'm a new taxi driver. I just know what the meter is saying, how are you going to pay buddy?' A man who fell asleep in a taxi home from an airport was horrified and angered to wake to a $468 fare after an hour-long journey Ryan persisted in trying to get an explanation for why his fare was $468 after 'falling asleep for 20-30 minutes'. 'Buddy stop complaining about me OK. I'm a taxi driver, not a bank manager,' the driver replied in a defensive tone. But the passenger was not yet ready to give in and sought a compromise. 'I don't usually complain, but how do we figure this out?' he asked. 'Buddy how about you pay the money and tomorrow you check what the f*** this is,' the cabbie responded aggressively. When Ryan objected to the tone the driver was taking, he got an apology, but no reduction in price - instead the price went up even higher. When he took out his card to pay, the reader now said the price was $486.72 not $468 - an extra $18.72 on top of the already astronomical fare. A Google maps shows the journey Ryan's taxi, which cost three times the usual fare, may have taken The extra top up could have been for a booking fee, taxes and a credit card surcharge, but Ryan questioned it, saying 'You've put more on there.' 'Buddy please just give me your card,' the driver replied to him. The now-deleted video, which was captioned 'never fall asleep in a taxi', prompted many to express their horror in the comments. 'He saw a vulnerable human and took his chances. I wouldn't be able to control myself in anger!' one said. 'I would (have) got him to drive me to the police station,' another said. Others said it would make them look at other transport options. 'It's like an advertisement for Uber,' one poster wrote. Others were outraged at how rude the driver was. 'The way the cab driver speaks to you for asking reasonable questions is a disgrace,' one said. Daily Mail Australia contacted the Victorian Taxi Association (VTA), but a spokesman there said it no longer covers metro Melbourne taxis, just rural and regional Victoria. The VTA suggested contacting Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria (CPVV), but a spokesman there said it has no oversight for fares, it covers safety related issues. When Ryan objected to the tone the driver was taking, he got an apology, but no reduction in price - instead the price went up even higher (pictured) The CPVV spokesman said that Ryan would have to take the issue up with the cab company if he wants to make a complaint about the price and the driver. Taxi meters can be altered manually to add extra fares, though Daily Mail Australia does not suggest that is what happened in this case. On receipts, additional cab fare costs such as booking fees and levies are included as one price on 'extras'. Ryan has been contacted for comment for this story. Heather Barron and Kareem Leiva initially said the boy 'fell' while prosecutors told the court that Avalos was whipped and beaten by his family Anthony Avalos was killed in 2018 shortly after he told family members that he was gay California mother and her boyfriend sentenced to life for murder of 10-year-old who was starved and beaten to death A Southern California mother and her boyfriend were sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole in the torture killing of her 10-year-old son. Heather Maxine Barron, 33, and Kareem Ernesto Leiva, 37, were convicted in March of murdering Anthony Avalos in 2018 but were sentenced in Los Angeles on Tuesday. DailyMail.com previously reported that Avalos, 10, had come out as gay to his family members who later starved and beat him for almost a full week before his death. Inside of their Mojave Desert home, Barron reportedly forced her other children to take part in the abuse which included slamming the boy onto the floor, whipping him with a belt, pouring hot sauce in his mouth, and forbidding him to use the bathroom. Former LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey initially sought the death penalty but current District Attorney George Gascon's office decided against it. 'These two are monsters, and monsters belong in cages. Please, do not give them the opportunity to hurt somebody else,' a speaker said during the victim impact portion of the hearing. Anthony Avalos, 10, was tortured and killed by his mother and her boyfriend in 2018 Heather Maxine Barron, 33, and Kareem Ernesto Leiva, 37, were convicted in March of murdering Anthony Avalos in 2018 but were sentenced in Los Angeles on Tuesday Prosecutors argued throughout the trial that the 10-year-old boy was tortured for at least five days before being found unresponsive on June 20, 2018. He later died at the hospital with the coroner reporting his cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head. 'At one point Anthony could not walk, was unconscious lying on his bedroom floor for hours, was not provided medical attention, and could not eat on his own,' Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami wrote in 2018. Hatami's said in 2018 that Avalos' heart had stopped and he had suffered a traumatic brain injury and a brain bleed. The young boy also had reddened eyes and numerous bruises, cuts and scrapes on his forehead, nose, mouth, cheek, neck, legs, shoulder, hips, back, buttocks, stomach, ankle, legs and foot. Barron had tried to tell officials that Avalos had fallen down the stairs. County child welfare officials had received a dozen referrals of suspected child abuse about the boy from 2013 until 2016. Anthony had been removed from his home for several months when some of the reports of abuse were substantiated. During the sentencing hearing Tuesday, the judge explained his mindset on the life sentences. 'Anthony was a helpless child who was dependent (on the defendants) ... for his basic physical needs and emotional support. Instead, Anthony was tortured and killed,' Ohta said. Prosecutors argued throughout the trial that the 10-year-old boy was tortured for at least five days before being found unresponsive on June 20, 2018 'At one point Anthony could not walk, was unconscious lying on his bedroom floor for hours, was not provided medical attention, and could not eat on his own,' one official said in 2018 Barron had tried to tell officials that Avalos had fallen down stairs 'Anthony was a helpless child who was dependent (on the defendants) ... for his basic physical needs and emotional support. Instead Anthony was tortured and killed,' Judge Sam Ohta said In court, Anthony's loved ones gave statements for over an hour, each fighting back tears as they begged Judge Sam Ohta to give 'the maximum sentencing allowed.' 'Because of her actions, I can no longer claim her as my family. In my mind, she is dead to me,' said Dana B., a cousin of Anthony. 'You tortured your kids, you failed your kids. And because of you, our family is broken,' Maria Barron, Heather's sister, said. 'I miss my cousin Anthony,' said one young boy who read a written statement. 'Heather is an evil monster,' the child said. 'She deserves to spend the rest of her life in prison. I don't forgive Heather for taking my cousin's life. I hope she gets beat up in jail because I just wanted to meet Anthony.' Several speakers called Barron a 'monster,' including Maria who said she was disgusted at how her sister could commit unspeakable acts against a child. 'Heather, you took his dreams and hopes away. You were supposed to be his protector,' Maria said as she faced her sister. Last month, family members who were present for the verdict's reading criticized DA Gascon for not pursuing the death penalty, which they were pushing for. Gascon in 2021 called the death penalty 'never an appropriate resolution in any case' and they were given the strictest punishment possible for first-degree murder and torture. In court, Anthony's loved ones gave statements for over an hour, each fighting back tears as they begged Judge Sam Ohta to give 'the maximum sentencing allowed' 'I miss my cousin Anthony,' said one young boy who read a written statement Former LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey (left) initially sought the death penalty but current District Attorney George Gascon (right) decided against it 'You tortured your kids, you failed your kids. And because of you, our family is broken,' Maria Barron, Heather's sister, said. Pictured: Maria with Avalos After the boy's death, authorities removed the eight other children from the home. Anthony's half-sister, Destiny, broke down in tears Tuesday when asked to speak at the sentencing hearing. 'Kareem, you came into our life and ruined everything,' she wrote. Some of her words had to be read aloud by Hatami after she was overcome with emotion. 'He did not protect us and took part in the torture. To me, you're both monsters,' Destiny wrote. The estranged son-in-law of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has revealed he will be voting no to the Voice. James Brown, a father of two who separated from the former PM's daughter Daisy Turnbull in 2021, is now running for Liberal Party preselection to replace the late Jim Molan as a senator for New South Wales. The former Army officer who has served in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Solomon Islands, told the ABC's Q&A program he was opposed to the proposal for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice - despite his former father-in-law's support for it. 'I'm someone who I think is fair minded, who wants to see reconciliation but will be voting no on this referendum,' he said to audible gasps from the program's left-wing studio audience. A heckler called out, 'Shame on you.' Scroll down for video The estranged son-in-law of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has revealed he will be voting no to the Voice (James Brown is pictured, second right, on election night in July, 2016) But Mr Brown said the creation of an Indigenous advisory body enshrined in the Constitution would be risky. 'My concern is the potential risks of a yes on this referendum outweigh the benefits,' he said on Monday night. 'For me, true reconciliation in Australia has to be a coming together of Indigenous Australia and non-Indigenous Australia, so it's not enough to say this has been put up by Indigenous Australia, and therefore it shouldn't be considered as to its impact.' Malcolm Turnbull, who is ideologically associated with the Liberal Party's moderate faction, wrote a column in the left-leaning Guardian Australia website last year declaring he would be voting yes. 'If federal Parliament proposes an amendment to the Constitution to establish an Indigenous Voice in the terms set out by Anthony Albanese at Garma, I will vote for it,' he said. 'While I have some misgivings, I am satisfied that on balance as a nation we are better advised to approve the proposal than reject it.' Nonetheless, Malcolm Turnbull in October, 2017 released a joint statement with his attorney-general George Brandis warning the Uluru statement's proposal for the Voice 'would inevitably become seen as a third chamber of Parliament'. James Brown, a father of two who separated from the former PM's daughter Daisy Turnbull in 2021, is now running for Liberal Party preselection to replace the late Jim Molan as a senator for New South Wales This followed the First Nations National Constitutional Convention at Uluru, where 250 delegates called for an advisory body to be embedded in the Constitution. What is the Voice proposal about? An elected body of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals who would give advice to the federal government. Only Australians of Indigenous heritage would be able decide the representatives. To be established, a referendum would be held and would require a majority of votes in a majority of states. Unlike the old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission - formally abolished in 2005 with bipartisan support - the Voice would be enshrined in the Constitution. While Parliament would decide the make-up of the Voice, it would not have the power to abolish it without taking the issue to another referendum. The Voice would give advice to the cabinet and executive government about legislation, particularly proposed laws that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The Uluru Statement from the Heart - based on the input of 250 Aboriginal leaders - in 2017 called for the 'establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution'. The Indigenous Voice Co-design Process Final Report was given to former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison's government in 2021. It was co-authored by Tom Calma, a human rights activist, and Marcia Langton, an academic. Advertisement Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in July, 2022 told the Garma Festival at Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory, he would push for a referendum on the issue, with a vote likely to be held later in 2023. Following negotiations with Liberal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, pamphlets will now be going out to Australians detailing the yes and no cases. Mr Brown, who is now the Sydney-based chief executive of the Space Industry Association of Australia, said there was a danger no voters would be painted as racists. 'This question of the Voice, it is a question on which Australia is divided, it is a tough question,' he said. 'My concern is I don't want to hear one side of the debate completely ignored or viewed as an illegitimate position, there are a number of people who are weighing this question, as others on this panel are, who don't want to go into a polling booth and be told that they're a racist if they oppose this referendum.' The Liberal and National parties will be campaigning for the no case, but backbenchers are still free to support the yes case. Julian Leeser, a Liberal from Sydney's north shore who holds the seat of Berowra, two weeks ago resigned as the Opposition's Indigenous Australians spokesman so he could campaign for the yes case. He was replaced by NT Country Liberals senator Jacinta Price, an Indigenous-Celtic woman from central Australia who sits in the Nationals party room. Andrew Gee quit the Nationals in December last year because he supported the Voice. Simon Birmingham, a Liberal moderate from South Australia, is remaining on the Opposition frontbench but is remaining coy about how he will vote on the Voice. Paul Fletcher, the manager of Opposition business who reportedly spoke out against a binding no vote for the Liberal Party frontbench as a moderate, told Q&A he was not doing the numbers to replace Mr Dutton. 'No. No. No,' he said, shaking his head. As for the race to replace Mr Molan, Mr Brown is competing with former NSW transport minister Andrew Constance and former NSW Liberal Party president Maria Kovacic, who ran unsuccessfully in the federal seat of Parramatta in 2022. Katherine Deves, who last year failed to retake Warringah for the Liberal Party, this week withdrew from the Senate vacancy race, after she stood by her previous comments where she referred to transgender children as 'surgically mutilated and sterilised'. An alleged $2 million theft from a notorious bikie's safe was the motive behind the late-night drive-by shooting of a lavish mansion, a court has heard. Seven shots were fired from a stolen BMW X3 at the $4.3m six-bedroom home in Robertson on Brisbane's outskirts on March 1, while a woman and children slept inside. According to the police facts tendered to the Supreme Court in Brisbane, shots were fired in revenge after $2m was 'stolen from a safe' from the premises of car raffle company Hello Lifestyle at a Meadowbrook industrial estate. The business was allegedly run by Jason Eneli Roberts, 39, who has 'strong ties to the Comancheros outlaw motorcycle gang' and been charged over the shooting. Police allege Roberts suggested to officers that Justin Chong Tan 'orchestrated the theft', The Courier Mail reported. Mr Tan is part-owner of 'pimp my ride'-style car customisation company Vogue Industries, a neighbouring business of Hello Lifestyle at the Meadowbrook industrial complex. Mr Tan has not been charged with any crime. 'Roberts is aware that Tan is wealthy and is expecting Tan and his new business partner Phi Long Nguyen, 45, who is situated overseas, to cover the $2m loss' police facts tendered to the court state. The details emerged in documents filed in the Supreme Court at a recent bail application for co-accused Joshua John Lucey, 36, another of the six men charged in relation to the shooting. Joshua John Lucey pictured in 2021) is one of six men charged in relation to a late-night drive-by shooting on Brisbane's outskirts on March 1 Mr Tan's ex-wife I-Ling Chien, also known as Eiling Chien, 42, was at home with their three children when shots were fired into their home shortly after 11pm on March 1. The court heard Ms Chien tell police she believes her ex-husband's business partner Long Le Bao Huynh had gone 'into business with Hello Lifestyle and was in debt to them for providing the business with encumbered vehicles'. 'Hello Lifestyle have had recent media attention for winners of the vehicles having to return the vehicle as they were encumbered goods with money owing on the vehicles,' the police statement of alleged facts state. Ms Chien told police she believes the drive-by shooting of her home may be linked to her not complying with a demand from one of her ex-husband's business that she leave one of Mr Tan's 'high valued' cars on the street with the keys inside 'and not ask any questions'. Two people later came to her house 'to take the car', but left when she called police, court documents state. Seven shots were fired into this Robertson home on Brisbane's outskirts on March 1 Neither Ms Chien, Mr Nguyen, nor Mr Huynh have been charged with any wrongdoing. Police will also allege that Roberts used multiple SIM cards on a mobile phone to text threats to Mr Tan via encrypted WhatsApp. 'Do you think we are playing now. Tell Leon the only way this stops is when he pays the 2m owed. Or we keep going up to U,' the first text two days after the drive-by shooting. A follow-up text the next day read: 'ListenUp next attack is your f***en children, and whoever the f*** U think is going to help U we will attach (SIC) their f***ing kids. Please try me. I'm begging you. Try and see if I'm all talk'. 'You are responsible for Leon. The only way this ends is Leon pay what he said. He pays the 2M this all goes away or the attacks keep going up too U'. A third text sent a week later read: 'To you Mr Justin Tan. You too just think I am an idiot. Like I told your mate you both have made your position very clear. You both have done nothing to make things right or show good faith. I take this as a spot (SIC) in the face and U have a lot more to loose (SIC) here my friend. So you best start scrambeling (SIC) because (caps are in the text) NO MORE WARNING SHOTS FIRED MY FRIEND.' Mr Tan called the police after the final text also cited the address of his sister. It's believed he is currently working and living in Papua New Guinea. A court has heard Jason Eneli Roberts alleged to police that a part-owner of 'pimp my ride'-style car customisation company Vogue Industries (pictured) 'orchestrated' the alleged $2 million theft from a business safe Roberts' co-accused Lucey, 36, will reappear in court on May 8 after he was freed on bail with a $100,000 surety earlier this month. Lucey must wear a GPS tracker as part of his strict bail conditions. Police allege Lucey, 36, is 'a confirmed Bandido member of the Logan City chapter who is likely attempting to patch over to the Comancheros. 'Current associations suggest that he has either patched over or is a close associate of the Comacheros,' court documents state. 'Recent intel suggests Lucey has been ... performing tasks for the outlaw motorcycle gang including enforcement duties and violent acts,' the objection to bail affidavit states. The four other men charged over the March 1 drive-by shooting and theft of, use of, and torching of getaway cars are all allegedly linked to Bandidos, according to court documents. Roberts, also the owner of Brisbane barbershop Royal Fadez remains behind bars. One of the co-founders of Ben & Jerry's has gone from ice cream to 'blunts,' promising a line of marijuana products with a social mission. Ben Cohen, 72, has started Ben's Best Blnz, a nonprofit cannabis line with a stated mission of helping to right the wrongs of the war on drugs. The company says on its website that 80 percent of its profits will go to grants for black cannabis entrepreneurs while the rest will be equally divided between the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance and the national Last Prisoner Project, which is working to free people incarcerated for cannabis offenses. The B3 products, including pre-rolled joints with lower levels of the psychoactive compound THC, are expected to be available in cannabis shops in Vermont next month. Cohen's goal is to reverse the war on drugs and its impacts on people of color, according to the program's website. Ben Cohen has started Ben's Best Blnz, a nonprofit cannabis line with a stated mission of helping to right the wrongs of the war on drugs According to the website, 80 percent of its profits will go to grants for black cannabis entrepreneurs 'The War on Drugs (first so named by President Richard Nixon) has targeted lower income black and Brown people thru over policing, discriminatory prosecution, and discriminatory sentencing,' the website states. 'That's why despite using pot at the same rate, black people are 4 times more likely to be arrested than Whites.' Ben's Best Blnz, or B3, says it licenses its formulas, packaging, trademarks, and marketing materials to for-profit businesses that pay a royalty. After expenses are deducted, the royalties are donated to the cause. The cannabis is grown in soil using no nonorganic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides, the website states. The rest of the profit will be equally divided between the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance and the national Last Prisoner Project, which is working to free people incarcerated for cannabis offenses Some products advertised on the B3 website include full spectrum live resin vapes which are made from 'freshly frozen whole plants' A special edition product high on THC is also being advertised known as the HiTest Buds Cohen's goal is to reverse the war on drugs and its impacts on people of color Ben Cohen can be seen above with his co-founder Jerry Greenfield back in 2009 Some products advertised on the B3 website include full spectrum live resin vapes which are made from 'freshly frozen whole plants.' The website states the product is 'as close as you can come to smoking fresh flower. But so much more discrete.' A special edition product high on THC is also being advertised known as the HiTest Buds. Pre rolls referred to as Blended SloSmokes are also offered. An experienced traveller has warned how to spot and avoid money-changing scams in Bali, the Indonesian holiday island hugely popular with Australians. The woman, who posts on TikTok as Andreaboldbodytravels, gave the timely advice as post-pandemic Bali again becomes a top destination for Aussies. 'If you're coming to Bali anytime soon, you want (to) avoid this scam whenever converting your dollars into IDR (Indonesian Rupiah),' Andrea said. 'First you want to make sure that the location that you're using is an authorised dealer. Next, you want to make sure that they have a money counter there.' This is particularly important due to sheer scale of the currency exchange number, with $200 converting to almost two million Indonesian Rupiah - with 1 IDR equalling 0.0001 AUD. Experienced traveller Andrea (pictured) has warned how to spot and avoid money-changing scams in Bali, the Indonesian holiday island hugely popular with Australians 'The scam is that they hand-count out the money to you, and then whenever you're not looking, they kind of sneak back the money,' Andrea warned. As well as keeping a close watch on proceedings, she added 'don't forget to count your money back afterwards, before you leave the property'. Andrea was careful to add in the comments that 'For the record, this money exchanger (in her video) was & is legit. Don't use the ones that don't have money counting machines.' Commenters under the post said they appreciated her advice. 'Bali sounds like one big red flag ... I will never go to Bali,' wrote one. Andrea said people should only use money exchange venues that have counting machines such as the one pictured Another said 'Well put. Done Bali for 20 years and it still happens. Take note all you 1st timers.' A third person agreed, saying 'That's been going on for years, just make sure you don't exchange on the side streets.' In the year up to September, 2022, Australia was the largest market for foreign tourist arrivals to Bali. In that 12 months period, a phenomenal 352,000 Australian tourists visited the holiday island. Andrea's warning comes after another Bali money scam was revealed last month. $200 converts to almost two million Indonesian Rupiah (pictured) - with 1 IDR equalling 0.0001 AUD Andrea said 'For the record, this money exchanger (in her video) was & is legit. Don't use the ones that don't have money counting machines' An Australian woman has lifted the lid on the sneaky swindle in a post to the Facebook group Bali Bogans. It starts with an individual asking to see what a tourist's foreign coins look like. The scammer works as part of a team, with women and children often used to distract any travel partners. The person asking to see the money then continues to draw attention away from the victim's wallet while another creeps up behind and snatches it. The widower of the cinematographer shot and killed on the set of Alec Baldwin's Western film Rust has been spotted cozying up to another woman, 18 months after the fatal accident. Matthew Hutchins, a lawyer and film producer, was seen on Monday hiking near the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles with Katie Flynn. The pair held hands - Hutchins still wearing his wedding ring - and stopped for kisses as they strolled the trails. It is unclear how long they have been romantically involved, although Hutchins is believed to have been seen with her in August 2022. Flynn is a video production coordinator employed by the Griffith Observatory. She began working at the observatory in 2019, having graduated with a degree in meteorology from Central Michigan University. Hutchins is currently working as an executive producer on the set of Rust, as part of the settlement reached with Baldwin in October 2022. Matthew Hutchins and his wife Halyna, who was shot and killed in October 2021 Hutchins is now believed to be dating Katie Flynn, a video production coordinator employed by the Griffith Observatory Baldwin is seen standing next to Hutchins - a mother-of-one - on the set of Rust in October 2021 Hutchins and his son Andros - who was nine at the time of his mother's death - filed a wrongful death settlement against Baldwin in February 2022. 'Defendant Baldwin, the Producers, and the Rust Production Companies were aware of firearms safety issues that had occurred on the set of Rust and did not take action to correct the situation and ensure that basic gun safety rules were followed on October 21, 2021,' they said in their suit. 'Had Defendant Baldwin, the Producers, and the Rust Production Companies taken adequate precautions to ensure firearm safety on the set of Rust or if basic firearm safety rules had been followed on the set of Rust on October 21, 2021, Halyna Hutchins would be alive and well, hugging her husband and nine-year old son.' Halyna Hutchins was shot dead on the set of the movie Rust in October 2021 The financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but Hutchins confirmed he would be joining the film as a producer as part of the agreement. Filming resumed last week in Montana, instead of New Mexico. On Friday, Baldwin was back on set - and spotted holding a Winchester rifle the wrong way around. The actor appeared to be passing the prop weapon to another cast member as filming resumed in Montana following the fatal shooting. The 65-year-old was charged with manslaughter over the killing, but on Thursday two charges against him were sensationally shelved. Baldwin has always insisted he was not responsible for her death because he did not pull the trigger, claiming the gun fired by itself. He also said he trusted those employed to work with guns on the set, and believed the crew member who told him the gun was 'cold' - not loaded. After the charges were dropped, Baldwin took to Instagram to thank his wife Hilaria for helping him through the controversy, while she posted a bizarre picture of her curled up on his knees. Alec Baldwin is seen on Friday on the set of his Western film Rust, which resumed filming following the October 2021 death of a camerawoman. Baldwin is seen handing a prop gun to another crew member, holding it by the barrel Baldwin is seen on Friday standing beside a horse as filming resumed for Rust A truck is seen driving towards the set near the town of Pray, in Montana Hilaria Baldwin posted this bizarre image of her in Alec's arms on her Instagram after the charges were dropped Meanwhile Alec credited her with getting him through the ordeal following the shooting in 2021 Most of the cast and several of the crew members are in Montana to resume filming, with two additional safety officers. Melina Spadone, attorney for the film, said it is expected to be completed by May. 'The production will continue to utilize union crew members and will bar any use of working weapons and any form of ammunition,' she said. 'Live ammunition is and always was prohibited on set. Rust is now being finished in Montana, near the town of Pray - 45 miles south east of Bozeman The hangman's gallows are seen on the Montana set. The film tells the story of a person sentenced to hang. They synopsis states: 'A 13-year-old boy, left to fend for himself and his younger brother following the death of their parents in 1880s Kansas, is taken on a violent, harrowing journey to old Mexico by his long estranged grandfather after he's sentenced to hang for the accidental killing of a local rancher' The church, which was notable in the New Mexico set, has been recreated in Montana The large livery stables and saloons are seen, beside the cars and van on Friday The town is built to resemble a frontier town in the 1880s The church is visible just over the hillside in Montana on Friday A truck is seen on the site on Friday, with the snowy hills in the backdrop The filming is being done at Yellowstone Film Ranch, which was completed in June 2020 'Each and every one of us is wholeheartedly dedicated to realizing Halyna's vision and paying tribute to her artistry.' Cinematographer Bianca Cline is taking over as director of photography, and said she will donate her salary to charity in honor of Hutchins. The film is being finished at Yellowstone Film Ranch, which was completed in June 2020. The site features a western-style backlot in Paradise Valley that is styled after a late-1800s gold rush town, as well as a production office for rent in downtown Livingston. The synopsis of the film reads: 'A 13-year-old boy, left to fend for himself and his younger brother following the death of their parents in 1880s Kansas, is taken on a violent, harrowing journey to old Mexico by his long estranged grandfather after he's sentenced to hang for the accidental killing of a local rancher.' On Thursday night, it emerged Baldwin could face fresh charges - hours after the manslaughter case was dropped. The special prosecutors appointed to the case stressed on Thursday night that Baldwin had not been cleared. Their statement came shortly after Baldwin's lawyers said their client was 'pleased' and the actor posted a tribute to his wife on Instagram, thanking her for her support. 'This decision does not absolve Mr Baldwin of criminal culpability and charges may be refiled,' said Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis. Alec Baldwin arrived in Montana one day before filming resumes on his troubled western movie Rust, exclusive DailyMail.com photos show Hilaria wore loose jeans, a white top and flannel with sneakers, before changing into slippers and was seen carrying her seven-month-old Kari Morrissey (left) and Jason Lewis, special prosecutors in the Rust shooting case, issued a statement on Thursday evening saying they had 'new facts', which led them to dismiss the charges against Baldwin - but stressed he had not been cleared Charges were dropped on Thursday because new evidence showed that the gun could indeed have fired without the trigger being pulled, a source told The Wall Street Journal. The prosecutors confirmed they had obtained 'new facts' about the circumstances around the shooting, which led them to dismiss the existing charges against Baldwin. The armorer who provided the prop gun, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, is still being prosecuted as planned. 'Over the last few days and in preparation for the May 3, 2023, preliminary hearing, new facts were revealed that demand further investigation and forensic analysis in the case against Alexander 'Alec' Rae Baldwin, III,' said Morrissey and Lewis in their statement. 'Consequently, we cannot proceed under the current time constraints and on the facts and evidence turned over by law enforcement in its existing form. 'We therefore will be dismissing the involuntary manslaughter charges against Mr Baldwin to conduct further investigation. 'This decision does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal culpability and charges may be refiled. 'Our follow-up investigation will remain active and on-going. Charges against Hannah Gutierrez-Reed remain unchanged. 'No further statements will be made at this time.' Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was charged alongside Baldwin in Hutchins' death Baldwin speaks on the phone in the parking lot outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office shortly after the fatal shooting Producer and actor Baldwin fired the prop gun (pictured) that killed one crew member and injured another on the set of the movie 'Rust' in New Mexico Legal analysts said that the decision to dismiss the charges, but keep the door open to refiling them, was bizarre. And their statement certainly takes the shine off Baldwin's celebrations. Shortly before, his lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, told DailyMail.com: 'We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident.' Baldwin arrived in Montana on Thursday to resume filming the movie, which was being shot in New Mexico at the time of Hutchins' death. He thanked his 39-year-old wife Hilaria, mother to his seven children, on hearing the news of the charges being dismissed. 'I owe everything I have to this woman,' said Baldwin, posting a photo to Instagram. Baldwin added: '(and to you, Luke)' - a reference to his attorney, Luke Nikas. It was announced earlier this year that Baldwin would remain in the lead role for Rust and that another cinematographer would replace Hutchins Alec Baldwin has denied pulling the trigger, but prosecutors charged him with involuntary manslaughter for firing the weapon while it was pointed at Hutchins. The charges were dropped on Thursday Matthew Hutchins (left) is pictured above with Halyna and their now nine-year-old son Baldwin's legal team have been waging a fierce battle on his behalf. They have insisted that the Oscar-nominated actor was not responsible for the accident because he was told the gun was 'cold' - not loaded. There should never be live ammunition on set, and Baldwin said he trusted the film crew to carry out their professional responsibilities in sourcing prop guns and dummy ammunition. His lawyers also challenged the impartiality of the Santa Fe prosecutor, Mary Carmack-Altwies. She was removed from the case in February, after Baldwin's lawyers successfully pointed out that she could not oversee the case while running for state Senate. Carmack-Altwies said she was committed to prosecuting Baldwin, arguing that no one - no matter how famous or wealthy - was beyond the law. She said she was stepping aside for the good of the case. 'My responsibility to the people of the First Judicial District is greater than any one case, which is why I have chosen to appoint a special prosecutor in the 'Rust' case. Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis will unflinchingly pursue justice in the death of Halyna Hutchins on behalf of the people of First Judicial District,' she said at the time. Russia has all but abandoned efforts to take more territory and is now focusing on defending its positions in preparation for a brutal counteroffensive by Ukraine, the head of military intelligence in Kyiv has said. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, said Vladimir Putin's forces were channeling almost all of their offensive operations into trying to capture the bitterly-contested city of Bakhmut. Decorated Major General Budanov, 37, did not reveal details about Ukrainian battle plans, but promised that a highly-anticipated counterattack would be a 'landmark battle in Ukraine's history'. It comes after Yevgeny Prighozin, the head of the feared Wagner mercenary group of Russian fighters, declared his forces had taken Bakhumt earlier this month. The city has not fallen and has continued to see heavy fighting. Budanov taunted Prighozin in his latest interview with RBC Ukraine, saying that Putin's crony has nothing to celebrate with the meagre gains and huge losses suffered by Russian forces. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, said Putin's forces have all but abandoned efforts to take more territory Budanov said that Russian military command is trying to employ similar tactics to those in Bakhmut in the cities of Avdiivka and Marinka, which are also in the embattled Donetsk region, but with limited success. Outside the area, Budanov said, Putin's forces 'have completely switched to positional defense everywhere.' 'The only places on the frontline where they are making attempts are in the city of Bakhmut, an attempt to cover the city of Avdiivka from the north, and localized fighting in the city of Marinka. 'Both in Avdiivka and Marinka the tactics are identical to those in Bakhmut - just an attempt to wipe the settlement off the face of the earth, as they say,' he said. Pictures out of the two cities show scenes of utter devastation caused by shelling. In one scene of destruction, a local resident rides on his bike past a shopping mall destroyed by rocket strike in the frontline town of Avdiivka. Another picture shows a bombed-out residential building in the town. A local resident rides past a shopping mall destroyed by rocket strike in the frontline town of Avdiivka, Donetsk region on April 25, 2023 A local resident walks in front of a mural depicting a woman with a child on a wall of a heavily damaged residential building in the frontline town of Avdiivka Budanov also revealed that he believes there is little chance of Vuhledar in the Donbas region, which has been the site of a major tank battle, being captured by Russian forces. The intelligence chief went on to speculate about the increased pressure at home faced by Putin and the Russian military leadership, as heavy losses fail to stack up to any major gains in what was originally presented as a short-term 'special military operation'. 'Against the backdrop of the lack of success elsewhere, they face the problem that even their "deceived" society needs to see something, some kind of victory,' he said. Major General Budanov, 37, did not reveal details about Ukrainian battle plans, but promised that a highly-anticipated counterattack would be a 'landmark battle in Ukraine 's history' Ukrainian servicemen from the 115 Territorial Defence brigade attend an exercise near the border with Belarus 'This is the only place where they succeed at least. In addition, there is the fact that Prigozhin once said that he would take Bakhmut. 'He would be happy to sing about it, but he can't. That is, everything just came together here,' Budanov said. His comments were made as Russian casualties have dropped by almost a third this month, British intelligence reports, with Moscow is said to be scaling back its attacks and preparing for an onslaught by Kyiv. In his wide-ranging interview, Budanov also slammed the Russian president for his alleged use of body doubles, contending that he had not visited the occupied areas of Luhansk, Mariupol and Kherson in recent weeks. Russian President Vladimir Putin alongside propogandist Dmitry Peskov, who has denied the 70-year-old dictator uses body doubles The Kremlin was forced to issue an extraordinary denial that Vladimir Putin uses body doubles and hides in nuclear bunkers amid rumours about the warmonger's health. Putin's mouthpiece Dmitry Peskov - a senior Kremlin official - insisted that the Russian president is in good health, even telling schoolchildren that him using body doubles was a 'lie'. In a further update, Budanov also revealed yesterday that Ukraine and Russia are nearing an agreement on an 'all-for-all' prisoner exchange. The military chief noted that Ukraine has released over 2,200 people within the prisoner of war exchange programme, and that Ukrainian troops had also been returned home. The College Board will revise its Advanced Placement African American studies course, less than three months after releasing it to a barrage of criticism from scholars, who accused the board of omitting key concepts under political pressure from Gov. Ron DeSantis. While written in couched terms, the College Boards statement earlier this week appeared to acknowledge that in its quest to offer the course to as many students as possible including those in conservative states it watered down key concepts. In embarking on this effort, access was our driving principle both access to a discipline that has not been widely available to high school students and access for as many of those students as possible, the College Board wrote on its website. Regrettably, along the way those dual access goals have come into conflict. The board, which did not respond to an interview request, said on its website that a course development committee and experts within the Advanced Placement staff would determine the changes over the next few months. The College Board, a billion-dollar nonprofit that administers the SAT and AP courses, ran headlong into a conflict between two sides unlikely to find any room for compromise. Black studies scholars believe that concepts the board de-emphasized like reparations, Black Lives Matter and intersectionality are foundational to the college-level discipline of African American studies. Conservative politicians, activists and some parents say the field is an example of liberal orthodoxy, and they are concerned that schools have focused too much on issues such as racism and systemic oppression. Some leading scholars in Black studies have signed petitions calling on the College Board to revise the course, and are planning a nationwide day of protest on May 3 around freedom to teach and to learn. Civil rights groups and teachers union leaders are also set to participate. The College Board, which relies on state participation to administer its courses and tests, had denied that politics had anything to do with its changes to the curriculum. But over the course of last year, the board repeatedly discussed the content of the class with Florida officials, who objected to specific ideas that were later removed or de-emphasized. In January, Mr. DeSantis announced that Florida would not allow the course to be offered in its high schools, saying that it was not historically accurate and violated state law. In its written statement, the College Board said an updated course, shaped by the development committee and subject matter experts from AP, will ensure that those students who do take this course will get the most holistic possible introduction to African American studies. Some experts are wary. Cheryl Harris, a legal scholar at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a leading thinker in the field of critical race theory, has helped organize the May 3 protest. In an interview on Monday, she said she hoped the College Board had learned that it could not appease a political movement that, in her words, was seeking to censor and suppress ideas. An analysis last year by the education publication Chalkbeat found that 36 states had moved toward restricting education on race. Harris argued that scholars whose ideas had been removed from the Advanced Placement course should be included in the process to revise the curriculum, to re-establish trust within the discipline and bring some degree of transparency to the development process. She named, among others, Kimberle Crenshaw, the originator of the concept of intersectionality, which refers to the complex ways that overlapping facets of identity, such as race, class, sex and gender, shape individual experiences of the world. Ms Nowland was one of three arrested following child deaths Pictured: Charlie Nowland, six The mother of a six-year-old girl who died from malnutrition has been arrested and charged with manslaughter and criminal neglect, more than nine months after her daughter's death. Charlie Nowland was found unresponsive on the floor of her family's housing commission home in Munno Para, in Adelaide's northern suburbs, in the early hours of Friday, July 15, 2022. Her mother Crystal Nowland, 47, raised the alarm at about 1am, screaming: 'Charlie's not breathing!'. Police conducted an extensive investigation but no criminal charges were laid until Wednesday morning, when the mother-of-six was escorted from her home by detectives. Along with a manslaughter charge, Ms Nowland was hit with four counts of criminal neglect in relation to the alleged mistreatment of four of her children, aged between eight and 14. She will face Adelaide Magistrates Court later on Wednesday. Ms Nowland was one of three people who were charged with manslaughter in separate cases of alleged neglect. Crystal Nowland (pictured at her daughter's funeral in August) has been charged over Charlie's death A 50-year-old man from Craigmore, in Adelaide's north, was charged with manslaughter in relation to the death of seven-year-old Makai Wanganeen in February, 2022. The boy was taken to Adelaide's Lyell McEwin Hospital in February last year and later transferred to the Women's and Children's Hospital, but died the same day. A post-mortem identified several serious health issues. A 54-year-old woman was also charged with manslaughter for the October, 2018 death of 15-year-old Jasmine Wilmott. Months after Charlie died, it was revealed she had coeliac disease - a severe autoimmune disorder which may have contributed to her death. Ms Nowland previously insisted she was not aware Charlie was coeliac until after her death. The Coroner also told her that the little girl had hereditary heart disease. 'I'm not a perfect mum, but I'm not the mum they've made me out to be,' she previously told the Adelaide Advertiser. She said her children never went without food and that she asked family services for more support after her partner was jailed for stabbing her three times in January last year - which took place in front of Charlie. Ms Nowland had to learn how to walk again, was having seizures and struggled to remember how to perform basic tasks like cook rice or drive a car. Pictured: The last photo taken of Charlie, two weeks before her death The grass at the home where Charlie died was overgrown and the yard littered with kids toys (pictured) However, the single-parenting courses she requested never eventuated and despite asking for help, her visits from wellbeing workers did not increase. One neighbour, Bec, previously told Daily Mail Australia Charlie was a 'beautiful' girl who was shy, but always smiling happy, and carried around a pink teddy bear. Charlie's funeral in August was funded by the South Australian government. Her white coffin was decorated with the handprints of her siblings, paper red hearts and adorned with colourful flowers and a stuffed monkey. Ms Nowland recalled her youngest daughter's wicked sense of humour, kind heart and love for TikTok, dancing and posing for photos in an emotional tribute. 'Nothing prepares you for the death of your child,' she told mourners. 'Charlie, we all love you and miss you so much but we know you're fine because you're up there with the cheeky monkey angels.' Charlie's father was denied day release from prison and watched the service via livestream from prison. Her ashes were scattered at her favourite camping spot along the Murray River. A Canadian chef supplied a lethal poison that suicidal British youngsters used to take their own lives, it was claimed last night. Kenneth Law has been sending the substance to vulnerable customers around the world from a post office near Toronto for at least two years, the Times reported. Four deaths in the UK are linked to the poison that he sold online, including that of Tom Parfett, from Maidenhead in Berkshire, who took his own life aged 22 after buying the substance from Law's company. Mr Parfett's father, David, said that Law had 'effectively handed a loaded gun to my son'. He told the Times: 'I believe my son would still be alive if it wasn't for this man and this substance.' Tom Parfett, from Maidenhead in Berkshire, took his own life aged 22 after buying the substance from Kenneth Law's company Neha Raju, who died in the past 18 months after buying products from Law's company Law allegedly gave instructions about the poison to an undercover reporter posing as a suicidal customer, and boasted that some buyers had told him he was doing 'God's work'. He claimed to have sent the poison to hundreds of buyers in Britain and pledged to continue to do so until he had exhausted his inventory - despite pleas from UK police forces and coroners. The substance has caused at least 70 deaths in Britain but is legal to sell and serves purposes other than as a poison. It is 'reportable' rather than regulated under the Poisons Act in the UK, meaning retailers must alert the authorities if it is suspected to have been bought to cause harm. These rules do not apply outside of Britain but it is illegal to assist suicide in the UK and Canada and is punishable by up to 14 years in prison in both countries. Another of Law's customers was 17-year-old Anthony Jones, an American who ran to his mother shouting 'I want to live' after ingesting the substance, which eventually killed him Michael Dunham also died after buying products from the Canadian chef's company Another of Law's customers was 17-year-old Anthony Jones, an American who ran to his mother shouting 'I want to live' after ingesting the substance, which eventually killed him. In Britain, Mr Parfett, Michael Dunham, 38, Neha Raju, 23, and a 21-year-old student have all died in the past 18 months after buying products from Law's company. Mr Parfett's father said Law was playing God by supplying vulnerable people with the means to kill themselves. 'He is knowingly supplying a substance for people to take their own life and gaining some kind of perverse pleasure from the knowledge that they are doing it,' he added. Law told the undercover reporter that 'many, many, many, many' people had died after ingesting the poison. He said he went into the business of selling the poison after seeing his mother suffer following a stroke. Kenneth Law has been sending the substance to vulnerable customers around the world from a post office near Toronto for at least two years, the Times reported (file image) The former aerospace engineer, who was most recently employed as a cook in a Toronto hotel, told the undercover reporter: 'We're not advanced enough as a civilisation to accept death openly. I hope I'm just being a little bit more enlightened.' He urged the reporter to buy the poison, adding: 'Should the day come for whatever reason - that could be a war in Europe or whatever it might be - at least you would have something readily available.' When later confronted about his actions, Law said: 'They are committing suicide themselves. I'm not doing anything. I'm just selling a product. I'm not assisting. It's your choice. I'm not forcing you to buy anything. Perhaps you may want to stop people buying knives and guns.' Law's websites have now been taken down by its domain owners, and a spokesman from Ontario police said it had begun an investigation into him. Authorities in Cancun are trying to identify eight bodies found dumped in the Mexican resort popular with tourists. The bodies were found in searches over the weekend around wooded lots and sinkhole ponds. The deaths are likely linked to the growing cartel violence in the country. As well as five bodies found at an abandoned building site, authorities recovered three sets of skeletal remains, which have not yet been identified. More than 112,000 people are listed as missing in Mexico, and searches for clandestine grave sites have become common throughout the country. Bodies are often dumped and mutilated, and sometimes intended to be found, but are rarely found in Cancun, the heart of Mexico's tourism industry on the coast. A member of the National Guard patrols a beach resort as part of the vacation security in the tourist zone in Cancun in December 2021 Marines have become a common sight throughout Playa Del Carmen, Mexico Speaking to families of missing people, Oscar Montes de Oca, the head prosecutor of the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo, pledged to carry out more searches and identifications. Montes de Oca said five of the bodies were found at a building site and had apparently been abandoned. The bodies had been dumped there between one week and two months ago and three have been identified as people previously reported missing . At another site in a wooded area on the outskirts of Cancun, authorities found three sets of skeletal remains. They have not yet been identified. The bodies were found in a poor neighborhood about ten miles (15 kilometers) from Cancun's beach and hotel zone, closer to the resort's airport. Similar searches were also carried out in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, a town south of Tulum. Volunteer searchers, including the relatives of missing people, and specially trained dogs also participated with investigators in the searches. On Thursday 23 March, four dead bodies found scattered in the street in Playa del Carmen were recovered by police. Also in March, a US tourist was shot in the leg in the nearby town of Puerto Morelos. The US State Department issued a travel alert that month warning travellers to 'exercise increased caution', especially after dark, at resorts like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. At the start of the month, cartel assassins left a note apologising after they kidnapped four Americans in Matamoros, Mexico and killed two who were tied up and dumped in the streets. A note from their bosses, written in Spanish, was left with the henchmen apologising for the killings and claiming they were happy to hand over those responsible. They claimed the assassins - who were part of the notorious Scorpions splinter group - operated outside of 'cartel rules' and 'condemn' the attack, adding 'the CDG has always respected the life and integrity of the innocent'. While cartels do, as a rule, assert certain rules - including not killing innocents or recruiting children under the age of 12 - and have apologised in the past for killing women and children, violence often spills over as the groups wrestle for power. Last year, 301 bodies were discovered in the state across 41 clandestine graves, and 544 bodies were found in 2020, the highest number to date. Mexico's homicide rate has tripled since 2006 - when an intensification of the government's war on drug cartels triggered a spiral of violence - from 9.6 murders per 100,000 inhabitants to 28 in 2021. The Caribbean paradise of Cancun, Quintana Roo, has been hit with suspected cartel violence Playa del Carmen (pictured) is a popular tourist destination on the east coast of Mexico Increasing violence between cartels has seen more bodies dumped, sometimes mutilated, in clandestine graves across the country. The cartels use violence to send a message to would-be challengers as they tussle for control of the lucrative drug trades through and out of Mexico. By 2020, nearly 64,000 mass graves had been found across the country, in which nearly 93,000 people had been buried. The dead include thousands of women and children both caught in crossfire and explicitly targeted by the cartels. In November 2022, police found 53 bags of mixed human remains after a dog was seen running through the streets with a severed human hand in its mouth. Also last year, two Canadians were killed in Playa del Carmen, apparently because of debts between international drug and weapons trafficking gangs. In 2021, in Tulum, two tourists - one a California travel blogger born in India and the other German - were killed when they apparently were caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between rival drug dealers. While the cable news world was sent into a meltdown by her husband's firing and his loyal viewers searched for somewhere new to turn their attention, Tucker Carlson's wife Susan Andrews appeared to be taking it all in her stride yesterday while walking her dog near the beach. A fresh-from-the-ocean Andrews, 53, was spotted walking the couple's dog with a friend near their Florida beach pad. Soppy-haired and with a towel wrapped round her waist, Andrews had not a care in the world as she strolled with a friend towards the family house. Tucker has not been seen since his unceremonious firing, not has he given any public comment on it. It was revealed yesterday that he received just 10 minutes notice before Fox announced his fate to the rest of the world. Tucker and his wife purchased the first of their two homes in 2020 for $2.9million. They recently purchased a second property directly next door for $5.5million. Susan Andrews Carlson was seen wearing a pink and white bandeau top with a white and blue striped towel wrapped tightly around her waist on Tuesday She was accompanied by a friend, who walked another of her dogs, and the two appeared to be in conversation as they traverse the sandy beach She protected her skin by wearing a large floppy hat as she walked her dogs on the beach by their multi-million-dollar Florida home Tucker and Susan (pictured in 2019) have been married since 1991 and share four kids Carlson and his wife met at a Rhode Island boarding school and he proposed to her in his senior year of college, marrying in 1991. They share four children together - Buckley, Dorothy, Lillie, and Hopie. They raised their children in Virginia, before buying property in Washington DC - which has since sold after protesters showed up to their door in 2018, and in Maine and Florida. Buckley has gone on to work in the government, working as an intern at the White House during Donald Trump's Administration and as a staffer for Indiana's Jim Banks. While Susan was carefree, Tucker has been bunkering down since his firing. The only comment the firebrand host has made so far is to Politico in response to reports Pentagon officials - who were among his favorite targets on the show - were celebrating his ousting. 'Ha! I'll bet,' said Tucker in a brief quip. Both he and Don Lemon, who was fired by CNN on the same day, are said to have retained Bryan Feldman, a Pitbull-style entertainment attorney, to negotiate their exits. Carlson's wife has not commented on his ousting from the network Susan is yet to comment on her husband's ousting Her husband, Tucker (pictured on his last show on Friday), was fired from Fox News on Monday after being on the network for 14 years. Carlson was being paid a reported $20million-a-year by Fox and still has a number of years left on his contract. While Fox is yet to confirm the reason for his departure, it has been reported that a combination of Carlson's derogatory remarks about senior News Corp executives and a recent discrimination lawsuit filed against him were to blame. Fox is vigorously fighting the lawsuit filed by Abby Grossberg, a former booking producer who alleges misogyny, sexism and bullying within Tucker's staff and while working on Maria Baritomo's show. Tucker Carlson, who earned upwards of $20 million annually for his primetime work on Fox News, was ousted from the major news network by owner Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch dropped the 53-year-old from his show Tucker Carlson Tonight just days after the network spent $787.5 million settling a defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion - the firm behind the systems that voters had used in the last presidential election. While insiders say the lawsuit was pivotal to his dismissal, Murdoch is understood to have been concerned by Carlson's public embrace of the idea that the January 6, 2021 attack on Congress was instigated by the government. Analysts also suggest his continued use of the word 'c**t' may have played a role in his sacking from the network. Carlson was not told why he was being fired when he was called on Monday by Fox CEO Suzanne Scott, who reportedly just told him the decision was made 'from above'. But insiders claim Lachlan Murdoch issued the ruling on Friday night. He was ousted in part because network executives were angry at his bitter criticism of them following the 2020 presidential election, according to The Wall Street Journal - which, like Fox, is owned by Murdoch. Carlson divided opinion - and drew fierce criticism from the left - while on-air with his polemics on everything from the 2020 presidential election to the Black Lives Matter movement. Carlson (pictured in 2003) was said to be 'blindsided' by the news of his firing on Monday But he hasn't always been known as a divisive right-wing firebrand. His career, which began in the mid-1990s, has included work for a wide range of publications, including a long stint at CNN, and he's also the author of several books. As a print journalist, he wrote for publications including The New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal and Esquire. But, at the time, there were limits to who he was willing to work for. In 1999, Carlson told how he'd feared he'd be 'written off as a wing nut' if he joined The American Spectator, a conservative magazine. His TV break came in 2000 when he joined CNN and co-hosted The Spin Room. Carlson was recognizable by his trademark bow tie. He started wearing the neckwear in 1984 while a student at prep school - and only dropped it in the 2000s after a stranger who took issue with the attire 'screamed obscenities' at him while walking through Penn Station in New York. In 2004, while hosting Crossfire on CNN, Carlson was given a dressing down by comedian and commentator Jon Stewart during a segment that's regularly dug out by Carlson's critics. Stewart accused the show and its hosts of 'hurting America' and mocked Carlson for his bow tie. 'You're doing theater, when you should be doing debate, which would be great,' he said. 'What you do is not honest. What you do is partisan hackery.' Stewart also said Carlson needed to go to journalism school. Crossfire was axed several months later. Carlson also spent three years at MSNBC and appeared on Dancing with the Stars in 2006 before he joined Fox News in 2009. It was here that Carlson became a household name through Tucker Carlson Tonight, which became the network's flagship show and was often the highest-rated show on cable news TV. In 2022, it averaged about 3.3 million viewers per show. A man has been left partially blind after he was allegedly attacked by a skateboarder with police continuing to search for the alleged attacker. The 64-year-old man was allegedly hit several times on Normanby Street at The Esplanade in Brighton, Melbourne, at 12.30pm on March 30. Victoria Police released images on Wednesday of a man they believe may be able to assist them with their inquiries. Police have released images of a man they say may be able to help them with their investigation. Picture: Supplied via Victoria Police The man is seen in the photographs riding an electric skateboard and wearing a white t-shirt and hat, grey shorts and Nike shoes. The 64-year-old man had been driving in his car before he was allegedly assaulted. Police said he came up behind a younger man on an electric skateboard and beeped, to let him know he was behind him for safety reasons. Police said the skateboarder approached the vehicle, banging on the car and verbally abusing the passenger and driver. The driver got out to try to calm the situation down before walking back to his car. The man was struck multiple times from behind and continued to be assaulted when he fell to the ground, police said. Police have said the alleged victim suffered significant injuries, including a fractured eye socket, causing him to lose part of his vision. The skateboarder headed off towards Brighton baths in the Elwood direction, police said. Police have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online. One of Barry Humphries' oldest friends has revealed the comic genius would have been dead within a year while still in his 30s if he did not give up alcohol and drugs. Ross Fitzgerald, emeritus professor in history and politics at Griffith University, drank with Humphries in the 1960s and like the creator of Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson became a raging alcoholic. Humphries, who died of complications from hip replacement surgery on Saturday aged 89, gave up the drink in 1970 after he was badly bashed in a Melbourne pub. Fitzgerald told broadcaster Chris Smith on TNT Radio he was attending Melbourne's Monash University when he first encountered Humphries in the nearby Notting Hill Hotel. The pair became friends but the bottle nearly killed them both. One of Barry Humphries' oldest friends has revealed the comic genius would have been dead within a year while still in his 30s if he did not give up alcohol. Ross Fitzgerald, drank with Humphries (above as Dame Edna Everage) in the 1960s and like him became a raging alcoholic 'We drank together and we got sober together in Alcoholics Anonymous and we were both very, very ill,' Fitzgerald said. 'If Barry and I hadn't stopped drinking and using tablets in 1970 we wouldn't have made 1971.' Fitzgerald has also revealed his friend of more than 60 years appeared to have been flirting with a late-found belief in God when he called from his hospital bed in the days before he died. Humphries spent most of the 1960s living in London and by the end of that decade was a self-described 'dissolute, guilt-ridden, self-pitying boozer' hopelessly dependent on alcohol. Fitzgerald, who included anecdotes about his times carousing with Humphries in his book Fifty Years Sober: An Alcoholic's Journey, said they were both out of control. 'He wasn't quite as reckless as me,' Fitzgerald told Smith. 'He didn't try to murder anybody for example and he didn't steal cars and drive them off bridges like I did. 'But he courted danger and he got very badly beaten up in a pub in Richmond where he nearly died and he was taken to St Vincent's Hospital.' Ross Fitzgerald told radio host Chris Smith he and Humphries got sober together in Alcoholics Anonymous. 'If Barry and I hadn't stopped drinking and using tablets in 1970 we wouldn't have made 1971,' he said. Humphries is pictured performing in an undated photograph The two friends were at the end of the line when both were admitted to Delmont private hospital in late 1969. Delmont's lead psychiatrist, Dr John Moon, was a great supporter of Alcoholics Anonymous and the night before Humphries and Fitzgerald were discharged they were taken to an AA meeting at Malvern Town Hall. After the meeting, Fitzgerald asked an 'old-timer' called Antique Harry if he had any hope of staying sober long-term and got a gentle, life-saving response. 'He said, "Son, if you stay close to this movement you'll be all right,' Fitzgerald told Smith. 'And Barry heard that and those words changed both of us.' 'Barry and I throughout our lives regularly attended - as I still do - AA meetings, not just in Australia but especially in England and America.' In 1973, Humphries invited Fitzgerald to see what would be his first performance of the lecherous inebriate Les Patterson at Rooty Hill RSL Club in Sydney's western suburbs. 'We sat down together and Barry said, "I'll be back in a minute" and a couple of minutes later this dishevelled fellow came in wearing a crumpled suit,' Fitzgerald told Smith. In 1973, Humphries invited friend Ross Fitzgerald to see what would be his first performance of the lecherous inebriate Les Patterson at Rooty Hill RSL Club in Sydney's western suburbs. Humphries is pictured playing Patterson for a television special in 1980 'He looked as though he was drunk and said, "G'day, the name's Les Patterson" and he gave this sort of meandering monologue of "Time waits for no man" and it took me a minute or two to realise it was Barry. 'Now this was way before he turned Sir Les into a vaudeville character as the Australian ambassador to "the yartz" with a huge penis and dribbling mouth.' A year later later Humphries introduced Fitzgerald to his future wife, model and actor Lyndal Moor, at an AA meeting in Sydney's Darlinghurst. At the time Moor was in a relationship with Humphries' manager Clyde Packer - son of media magnate Sir Frank and brother of Kerry. Moor never drank alcohol again. She married Fitzgerald in 1975 and died three years ago. Asked by Smith if Humphries was philosophical about death near the end, Fitzgerald said his old friend called him shortly before he died. 'Now bear in mind he was medicated,' Fitzgerald told Smith. 'He said, "God doesn't want us to die Rossy". 'I said incredulously, "Do you believe in God now Barry?" And he said, "I'm moving in that direction but I tell you something - he's not interested in us when we're dead".' A trailblazing US Army commander has been accused of 'forcibly kissing' at least two male subordinates just weeks after her boss was suspended over allegations of abuse against soldiers. Col. Meghann Sullivan, 44, of the Army's 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade, is under investigation, Military.com reported. She allegedly kissed one man, grabbed another below the belt without his consent and harassed others. Two sources close to the investigation told Military.com that some of the incidents involved alcohol. It's unclear if Sullivan has been suspended. Military spokesperson Sergeant 1st Class Adrian Patoka said the Army had 'no information on that matter that we can share at this time.' The revelation comes just weeks after her boss, Col. Jonathan Chung, was suspended over abusive treatment allegations and counterproductive leadership. He was accused of dressing down his subordinates for minor infractions and that he micromanaged his team. Col. Meghann Sullivan, 44, of the Army's 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade, (left) has been accused of forcibly kissing one man and grabbing another below the belt without consent, as well as, having a pattern of sexual harassment Sullivan has been in the military for more than 20 years. Two sources close to the investigation told Military.com that some of the incidents involved alcohol abuse According to her Facebook page, Col. Sullivan is a native of North Carolina and graduate of George Washington University Male sexual assault victims only make up 10 percent of all claims in the US military, averaging around 14,000 cases a year, according to 2021 data from the Department of Defense. Sullivan became the first woman to lead SFAB battalion, according to the Army, which she took in June 2021. The units were created in 2017 and are identified through their brown beret with 'advisor' tab. Those in the SFAB assist with training and work with partner countries, according to Military.com. At the time of her promotion, she was called a 'phenomenal engineer' and her achievement was listed as 'one more example of the great talent resident in our formation' by the Army. 'As a senior, female advisor, she will also be a great example of the power of inclusion as she engages with militaries throughout the Indo-Pacific region,' Major General Scott Jackson said at the time. Sullivan, who has been in the military for more than 20 years, said she was 'excited' to take the role and for 'young women to see that you can look and act different and be successful.' The revelation comes just weeks after her boss, Col. Jonathan Chung (pictured), was suspended for abusive treatment allegations and counterproductive leadership Recently, the military has come under fire after it was revealed a soldier was found dead at Fort Bragg. Seven North Carolina-based soldiers who were camping with a Fort Bragg paratrooper whose partial remains were found along the coast in 2020 are facing courts-martial for conspiracy. Specialist Enrique Roman-Martinez Eight was last seen by the other seven soldiers assigned to the 37th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division during their outing to Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina over Memorial Day weekend on May 22, 2020. Roman-Martinez's severed head washed up six days later, but his body was never recovered. The manner of his death is listed as a homicide, but no one has been charged with his death. Court records state that seven soldiers who were the last to see Roman-Martinez alive are all charged with conspiracy and failure to obey a direct order or regulation related to travel during a travel ban, The Fayetteville Observer reported. Recently, the military has come under fire after it was revealed a soldier, Enrique Roman-Martinez Eight, was found dead at Fort Bragg Citing court documents, the soldiers identified by the newspaper are: Specials Juan Avila, Alex R. Becerra, Joshua L. Curry and Benjamin E. Sibley, as well as Privates Annamarie L. Cochell, Private First Classes Samad A. Landrum and Sergeant Samuel O. Moore. Becerra, Cochell and Landrum all told investigators that they left the island at 3 a.m. on May 22, 2020, to board a ferry in Davis, North Carolina, but omitted the presence of a fourth soldier, according to the charge sheets. It is not clear if the fourth soldier was Roman-Martinez. Additionally, Becerra, Landrum and Cochell face other charges, such as using LSD, disobeying a superior or making false statements. Officials have said those charges are unrelated to the death of Roman-Martinez. All seven have all been arraigned and their trials are scheduled from May to September. The shattered brother of Keana Mokbel has shared his pain over the tragic loss of his little sister. Anthony Mokbel - the nephew of former gang boss Tony Mokbel and son of Horty Mokbel - shared a series of touching images of Keana and him growing up in Melbourne. Keana Mokbel, 25, died when her vehicle ploughed into a tree on Southern Road in Heidelberg West at about 8.50pm last Sunday. Anthony, Tatiana and Keana Mokbel in happier times. Anthony Mokbel shared the image in a touching tribute to Keana, who died tragically on April 17 Horty and Anthony Mokbel carry the casket of Keana to her funeral service on Tuesday Residents tried to save the life of Keana Mokbel, who was killed when her car crashed into this tree Keana's uncle Tony is serving a 30-year jail term for drug trafficking. Hitting social media on Anzac Day - hours after his sister was farewelled at the Our Lady Of Lebanon Church in Thornbury - Mokbel Jnr paid tribute to Keana in a public post. 'How I wake up and pray this is not true, yet I'm faced with the reality of knowing it is and not wanting to believe it,' he wrote. 'This tragedy has darkened all of our hearts by a black cloud that will shadow over our heads and will never ever leave us.' On Tuesday, mourners spilled out of the church - north east of Melbourne - in their hundreds to pay their last respects to Keana, who entered the church to the sound of beating drums and church bells. Mokbel Jnr joined his father Horty among the pallbearers, carrying her casket up a large ramp to her service. Keana was sent-off in a traditional ceremony, which saw her casket remain open throughout the duration of the service. The priest who conducted the mass told mourners the church had been decorated as if they were celebrating Keana's wedding rather than her funeral. 'How I would climb mountains, take on armies all around the world and shed blood to bring you back, but the harsh reality is I can't,' Mokbel Jnr wrote. 'You had the brightest smile, the loudest laugh and you would always shine more than anyone in the room. The love you had for your family was unconditional. Inseparable, incredible and undeniable.' Anthony Mokbel holds his baby sister Keana in an image he shared to Facebook on Tuesday Anthony and Keana Mokbel is a sweet image of the pair as children Keana was killed when her car veered off the road and slammed into a tree Mokbel Jnr's tragic post was accompanied by several photos of the pair in happier times. One photo, posted by his sister before her death, showed a stoney-faced Mokbel Jnr holding her when she was just a baby. 'A1 bodyguard and protector since the day I was born,' she wrote. 'If u know my brother, u know (& are scared of him n feel sorry for me lol). Also yes you'll still cop this death stare if u dare just look at me, my sister or our mum.' Another photo showed the pair as children embracing and then as adults together with their surviving younger sister. Mokbel Jnr shared emotional memories of growing up with his sister and how they would argue about who got to sleep over at their grandparents' house. 'You would always get your way because you would throw a tantrum if you didn't get to,' he wrote. Emergency services workers at the scene of the crash that claimed the life of Keana Mokbel Mokbel Jnr revealed Keana had modelled herself on her glamorous mum, who carried a shock of bright red hair. 'We all know you idolised her,' he wrote. 'The bond you shared with our baby sister Tatiana - can never be replaced.' Tatiana bravely read a prayer during her sister's funeral, fighting through tears to finish it. Mokbel Jnr said Keana had made an impact on everyone she met through her short life. 'From your school days through to your days working at Degani's you impacted more lives than you know and you have definitely left your mark on this world,' he wrote. The circumstances around Keana's death remain a mystery to the public, with Victoria Police stating a report would be prepared for the Coroner. Residents near Southern Rd in Heidelberg West reportedly heard a 'bang' and tried to save Keana, but she died at the scene. 'I was in my house and I heard this bang so I came running out and then looked up the road and realised there was all this smoke,' resident Karen told Channel 7. 'When I got up further, I realised the car had gone into the tree.' A Washington mom-of-three slammed her local school board for canceling music lessons for fourth graders after a school board member alleged it was rooted in 'white supremacy culture' and 'institutional violence.' Alesha Perkins blasted Olympia School District members after they voted last week to halt band and orchestra classes amid a million-dollar budget shortage. Perkins called out School Board Director Scott Clifthorne, who argued that the school district was 'entrenched in surrounded by white supremacy culture' at a meeting of concerned parents last week. Clifthorne argued that music lessons beneficial but inequitable since students at certain schools can miss out on 'core instruction.' But, Perkins argued that Clifthorne's narrative was false and lacked evidence. 'We have reached a level of absurdity in our school district, among our school board and our leadership that is just hard to ignore at this point,' Perkins told Fox & Friends. Alesha Perkins blasted Olympia School District members after they voted last week to halt band and orchestra classes amid a million-dollar budget shortage Perkins called out School Board Director Scott Clifthorne, who argued that the school district was 'entrenched in surrounded by White supremacy culture' At the meeting, several students appeared in their band gear while carrying their instruments. Clifthorne compared white supremacy to the way the music courses taught. He claimed that while music courses were beneficial, the way they were offered results in some students missing classes. 'Theres nothing about strings or wind instrumental music that is intrinsically White supremacist,' Clifthorne said. 'However, the ways in which it is and the ways in which all of our institutions, not just schools local government, state government, churches or neighborhoods inculcate and allow White supremacy culture to continue to be propagated and cause significant institutional violence are things that we have to think about carefully as a community. 'And I think that we have to do that interrogation. And we have to address the ways in which it creates challenges for administering the educational day for our elementary learners while we retain the program.' In an interview with the news outlet, Perkins claimed the fourth grade music courses were a 'target' and certain policies were leading to families leaving. 'We are losing students in huge numbers,' she said. 'I'm not talking about a handful of students. 'I'm talking about hundreds and hundreds of students that are exiting the district, and they are virtually all citing these results. You cannot sustain a school district with a mass exodus of students.' Clifthorne argued that music lessons beneficial but inequitable since students at certain schools can miss out on 'core instruction' The school district has 12 elementary schools that will be impacted. Cutting the music course will help sort a part of the district's $11.5 million budget shortfall. Removing band courses for fourth and fifth graders at the school district could save $530,000, according to The Olympian. But, only the fourth grade students were impacted in the end and the district kept the about $350,000 budget for fifth grade band students. The district is expected to announce additional layoffs to combat the budget deficit and some parents fear for their child's education. Some staff cuts include 26 percent of the district's para-educators, according to KIRO7. Classroom sizes are also expected to increase. 'Im worried for my kids education,' Romeo, a school district parent, told the news outlet. Others worried how far the budget cuts would stretch to and whether it would impact the arts even more. The woke school district has a contentious past and recently made headlines when an elementary school banned white students from a new 'safe space' club. Earlier this year, Centennial Elementary started a new club for fifth grade students that was exclusively for people of color, according to 770 KTTH. The students involved meet once a week to 'hang out, check in and possibly talk about their experiences as a student in the minority as they build community, connections and confidence,' Representative Jim Walsh wrote in an email. A similar club for fourth graders was also in the works. A Catholic teacher accused of indecently recording four of his female students has been released on bail. The 41-year-old man from Scarborough, in Perth's northeast, was teaching when he allegedly recorded his students in class in March. Detectives from the Child Abuse Squad have charged the teacher with four counts of indecently recording a child over the age of 16 under their authority. A Catholic school teacher has been charged for allegedly indecently recording four female students The 41-year-old man from Scarborough had his bail renewed at Midland Magistrates Court (above) on Wednesday morning He briefly appeared in Midland Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning and his bail was renewed. He will face court again in four weeks. Police said the investigation into the case is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. United States President Joe Biden will visit Sydney in May as Sydney hosts the 2023 Quad Leaders' summit. The historic meeting will be held at the Sydney Opera House on May 24 and will host leaders of the US, Japan, India and Australia. It will be the first time Australia has hosted the meeting and follows Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's attendance in Tokyo in May 2022. Joe Biden (pictured) will visit Sydney for the first time as US President for the 2023 Quad Leaders' Summit held on May 24 The historic meeting will be held at the Sydney Opera House and will host leaders of the US, Japan, India and Australia (pictured, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (L) U.S. President Joe Biden (R) at the 2022 Quad leaders' summit at Kantei Palace in Tokyo) The event will be held at the Sydney Opera House. 'Quad partners are deeply invested in the success of the Indo-Pacific,' Mr Albanese told reporters on Wednesday. 'Leveraging our collective strengths helps Australia advance its interests and more effectively respond to the region's needs. 'We are always better off when we act together with our close friends and partners.' Asked about Mr Biden's re-election bid, Mr Albanese said he regarded the president as a friend but would not comment on US politics. There are no details yet on a previously flagged speech to the federal parliament by Mr Biden. 'We will have more to say about his activities while he is here, but I very much welcome him,' Mr Albanese said. It will be the first time Mr Biden will visit Australia as US President as he joins Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. Last year's Quad meeting was hosted in Japan just hours after Mr Albanese was sworn in as prime minister (pictured shaking hands with US President Joe Biden) The Quad Leaders' Summit is a diplomatic partnership that aims to promote resilience, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. 'The hosting of the Quad Leader's meeting at the Sydney Opera House, Australia's most recognisable building, will be a chance for us to work cooperatively with the United States, Japan and India,' Mr Albanese said. 'But also be an enormous opportunity to showcase this beautiful city in this wonderful country to the entire world. 'Leveraging our collective strengths helps Australia advance its interests and more effectively respond to the region's needs. We are always better off when we act together with our close friends and partners.' New South Wales Premier Chris Minns welcomed the announcement, claiming the summit will boost the state's economy. Mr Minns added authorities would work closely with the Commonwealth to minimise disruptions when the international leaders arrive. President Biden is expected to give a speech at the Federal Parliament during his visit, but no further details have been given. Mr Biden's last visit to Australia was a four-day tour in 2016 as US vice-president, where he met with then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and NSW premier Mike Baird. Next month's meeting will mark the fourth Quad leader's summit - three of which have been held in person. Last year's meeting was hosted by Japan's capital Tokyo just hours after Mr Albanese was sworn in as prime minister. The 25-year-old worker killed in a horrific crash at a remote mine in South Australia was preparing to fly to Fiji and propose to his high school sweetheart - who made the heart-wrenching find of the ring he'd bought for the occasion. Nathan Scholz was declared dead at the scene where it was reported he was a pedestrian when hit by a vehicle at BHP's giant copper mine at Olympic Dam, 550km north-west of Adelaide, at around 5.30am on Tuesday. Mr Scholz was preparing to fly to Fiji next week with his partner Bianca Sonntag, where he had planned to ask her to marry him. On Tuesday night, Ms Sonntag and her parents, Angela and Jeff Sonntag, searched for the ring Mr Scholz had hidden for the surprise Fiji proposal and found it Last week he took the 'best bottle of wine' he could buy to Ms Sonntag's parents, who live in the town of Greenock in South Australia's Barossa Valley, north-east of Adelaide. 'In a week's time, we were off to Fiji he (had) the most romantic evening planned to propose,' Ms Sonntag told the Adelaide Advertiser. Bianca Sonntag (pictured left) poses with Nathan Scholz, who tragically lost his life in an accident at South Australia's Olympic Dam 'Not only was he my partner, he was my best friend,' the 25-year-old said of her partner for 11 years. 'He had a heart of gold and the greatest sense of humour. 'He was loved by his beautiful family. He will be forever in our hearts.' Mr Scholz and Ms Sonntag attended Nuriootpa High School, which is also in the Barossa Valley. 'He was one of the smartest kids in our year always blitzing his grades and getting school awards,' Ms Sonntag said. Ms Sontag said her parents 'loved him as (their) own son'. Mr Scholz also had a sister, Madison, with parents Sharon and Kevin. Mr Scholz began work for BHP contractor Murray Engineering in July, 2021 as a diesel service technician and was working as a truck driver at Olympic Dam. Police officers attended the scene of the accident within the mine's borders. They and SafeWork SA are investigating. Ms Sonntag (pictured right) met Mr Scholz (pictured left) at Nuriootpa High School in South Australia's Barossa Valley A BHP spokesperson earlier could not provide any further details on Mr Scholz's cause of death. 'We are deeply saddened to confirm that a member of our workforce died this morning at our Olympic Dam site,' they said. 'Our thoughts are with the person's family, friends and colleagues and we are offering all the support we can during this difficult time.' A Sydney woman feels shame and regret after mental health conditions such as narcissism led her to defraud millions of dollars from National Australia Bank, a court heard on Wednesday. Former company owner Helen Mary Rosamond developed personality disorders due to 'pressure, abuse, unhappiness and financial stresses', Downing Centre District Court was told. Rosamond, 47, spent Christmas in jail after she was found guilty of 88 fraud and bribery charges last November. During a sentence hearing, clinical psychologist Marianne Plahn said Rosamond had shown significant insight into her offences, though the prosecution rejected claims of mental health conditions. 'Her general feeling was that she wanted to somehow express her regret and her shame,' Ms Plahn told Judge Robert Sutherland. Sydney woman Helen Mary Rosamond (pictured) feels shame and regret after mental health conditions such as narcissism led her to defraud millions of dollars from National Australia Bank, a court heard on Wednesday The jury found Rosamond charged personal expenses to NAB (bank branch pictured), including $228,747 for an interior designer, $100,000 in rent, $372,611 to landscape her home and $17,888 on artwork 'She really felt that she wanted to have that opportunity to say sorry to His Honour. I thought that was quite moving in a way and I thought that came from a very truthful place.' Rosamond was found guilty of 59 counts of giving a corrupt benefit to former NAB chief-of-staff Rosemary Rogers and a further 29 counts of obtaining or attempting to obtain property by deception for herself. She was cleared of two charges. Rogers pleaded guilty to her role in the same scheme in February, 2020 and is serving a maximum jail sentence of eight years with a non-parole period of four years and four months. Between 2013 and 2018, Rosamond splashed out millions in kickbacks to Rogers and herself by falsifying and inflating invoices from her event management company, Human Group. What is narcissistic personality disorder? Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental health condition where people have an unreasonably high sense of their own importance. They are attention seeking and want people to admire them. People with this disorder may lack the ability to understand or care about other people's feelings. But despite seeming to be extremely confident in themselves, deep down they are unsure of their self-worth and easily upset by the slightest criticism. Source: The Mayo Clinic Advertisement Rogers told the trial she received a house, BMW car, boat, holidays and other benefits after approving the false bank invoices. The jury found Rosamond charged personal expenses to NAB, including $228,747 for an interior designer, $100,000 in rent, $372,611 to landscape her home and $17,888 on artwork. In a report filed with the District Court, Ms Plahn said Rosamond exhibited symptoms of various personality conditions, including attachment disorder, adjustment disorder and narcissistic personality disorder. On Wednesday, Ms Plahn said Rosamond was a 'psychologically damaged individual' who was drawn into toxic relationships such as with an allegedly abusive ex-husband and, later on, Rogers. 'She will attach to aggressive people. She will attach to people like her co-worker or boss and feels safe in their rather bullying environment.' The psychologist said Rosamond wanted to change as an individual. 'She didn't want to be like that in the beginning but then being drawn into this vortex of toxicity is something horrific.' Under cross-examination by crown prosecutor Katrina McKenzie, Ms Plahn agreed that Rosamond would have also benefited from her relationship with Rogers but said that over time, she had tried to escape it. 'So in the beginning, it's a collaboration and then the toxicity took over.' Rosamond's barrister Anton Hughes argued his client was the 'dominated party' who could not say no to Rogers as the main player in the fraudulent scheme. 'It's Ms Rogers who gets the holidays. It's Ms Rogers who gets the extensions for her house. It's Ms Rogers who gets the $2.2million cheque,' he said. Judge Sutherland said there seemed to be a 'symbiotic' (interdependent) relationship between the two women, with both getting personal benefits for themselves and their families. The judge also questioned why NAB would allow someone such as Rogers to authorise payments of up to $20million in funds without question. 'Quite frankly, it beggars belief,' he said. Mr Hughes conceded the amount defrauded was substantial and that his client's crimes had occurred over several years. But he argued that Rosamond's sentence should be reduced because she had no prior criminal record and had low prospects of reoffending. Rosamond, 47, spent Christmas in jail after she was found guilty of 88 fraud and bribery charges against NAB last November A psychologist said Rosamond (pictured) wanted to change as an individual. 'She didn't want to be like that in the beginning but then being drawn into this vortex of toxicity is something horrific' Ms McKenzie urged the court to reject claims that Rosamond had any mental health conditions connected to the offending and agreed with the judge about the symbiotic nature of the fraud. 'Ms Rogers was in the bank and Ms Rosamond was out there writing the invoices, controlling the money and making sure that things were not discovered,' she said. Not only did Rosamond continue with the fraud despite almost being caught by NAB in 2015, she also took money from the bank after Rogers left her position in December 2017, Ms McKenzie said. Judge Sutherland will deliver his sentence on June 30. The woman who allegedly used the identity of a pilot killed in the Sea World helicopter tragedy to dodge a traffic fine has been heckled outside court. Stephanie Louise Bennett, 33, indicated she intended to plead guilty to one count of fraud and one count of obtaining or dealing with another's identity on Wednesday. She was accused of falsely nominating late Sea World pilot Ash Jenkinson as the driver of her car when she received an infringement notice on January 9. The woman who allegedly used the identity of a pilot killed in the Sea World helicopter tragedy to dodge a traffic fine has been heckled outside court She was accused of falsely nominating late Sea World pilot Ash Jenkinson as the driver of her car when she received an infringement notice on January 9 Ms Bennett admitted to nominating the dead pilot and will return to court to be sentenced on May 19. Bennett disguised her identity with a scarf but was still taunted as she left the courthouse. 'You're disgusting, show your face. Why didn't you just take the fine? You should be ashamed,' bystanders yelled. Bennett earlier told the court that she was going through 'personal matters' and 'financial troubles' at the time, and had attempted to undo the alleged fraudulent nomination the next day. The court heard Bennett had attempted to plead guilty after she sent an apologetic email. 'I did not know the person I nominated, I found his information via the obituary,' Bennett wrote. 'The following day I remembered what I did and tried to undo it by attempting to nominate myself but the website didn't accept it.' Magistrate Terry Duroux rejected an immediate move to a sentence, adjourning the case to May 19. 'The court does not operate in a vacuum,' Magistrate Duroux said. The wreckage of two helicopters are seen following a collision near Sea World, on the Gold Coast, in January 'I'm well aware of why we are here. I am putting you on notice - I believe there are authorities that I should be referred to.' Magistrate Duroux said he did not believe the 15 minutes allotted for a plea hearing on Wednesday was adequate. 'In my view, this is a lengthy plea and not appropriate for this court. There are two fraud-type charges before the court and the maximum penalty I believe is around five years.' Kathleen Folbigg's supporters have called for her to be immediately released from prison after counsel assisting an inquiry said there was now a reasonable doubt that she had killed her four children. On Wednesday, the inquiry into Folbigg's convictions entered its final stage with closing oral submissions as her supporters asked for her to be freed after 20 years in jail. Folbigg, 55, was convicted of the murder of her children Patrick, Sarah and Laura, as well as manslaughter of her first child Caleb, who all died between 1989 and 1999. She has consistently maintained her innocence and denied killing her children but is serving a 30-year prison term. After exhausting all her avenues of appeal, an inquiry in 2019 reinforced her guilt. A second inquiry was called following lobbying from the scientific community after the discovery of what was described as fresh genetic evidence. Kathleen Folbigg has spent 20 years in prison for the killing of her four children and had exhausted all of her appeals by 2019 An inquiry has been called after the discovery of what was described as fresh genetic evidence in the case (pictured: Folbigg prior to sentencing) The inquiry, which is being overseen by retired Supreme Court Justice Tom Bathurst KC, was set up to consider the possibility the Folbigg children died of natural causes after a string of medical experts suggested there was a genetic mutation which could have resulted in the deaths of Laura and Sarah. Counsel assisting the inquiry, Sophie Callan SC on Wednesday said: 'Our ultimate submission is on the whole body of evidence before the inquiry, there is a reasonable doubt as to Ms Folbigg's guilt. She also said that the Director of Public Prosecutions in written submissions had said that it was open to Mr Bathurst to conclude there was 'reasonable doubt' about her guilt. New expert medical evidence published in March 2021 cast doubt on Folbigg's guilt after it showed that Sarah and Laura Folbigg carried a genetic mutation - known as CALM2 G114R - which can cause cardiac problems and lead to sudden death. DNA sequencing found that Folbigg and her daughters shared the variants, however Caleb and Patrick did not. The gene produces the calmodulin protein, CALM2, which affects the opening and closing of channels in the heart. Outside the inquiry on Wednesday afternoon, Ms Folbigg's long-time supporter and friend Tracy Chapman called for her to be released immediately. Folbigg's supporters have called for her to be immediately released Longtime advocate Tracy Chapman (right) has said that she would like to see Folbigg receive a pardon 'I want her home now, I'm ready to go and get her and bring her home,' Ms Chapman said. 'If there's empathy and humanity in this space, the judge after hearing what he's heard, I would love him to give her parole now. 'But ultimately I'd love a pardon [but] we'll take what we can get at this point. 'Bring her home.' She said it was 'emotional' hearing Ms Callan's submissions reinforce what she had believed for over two decades. She said it as an 'injustice that's kept an innocent, grieving mother in prison for 20 years and she's been through hell for 23 years.' Ms Callan said the case against Folbigg remains circumstantial and that there was a 'strong causal connection' between the CALM2 variant and the girls' deaths. Though she noted not all experts share that view. The inquiry also looked at diary entries made by Folbigg. Folbigg was convicted of the murder of her son Patrick (right), as well as manslaughter of her first child Caleb (left) Medical experts say there might have been a genetic mutation which caused the deaths of Sarah (left) and Laura (right) Ms Callan said expressions of guilt and self-blame expressed in them were cast in a 'very different light' given her mental state at the time. Ms Callan said that the diaries contained 'no unequivocal evidence' or any admissions that she was responsible for her children's death. Rather, Ms Callan said there were submissions made at trial that the diaries 'could and should be read in that way'. Ms Callan said that consideration should be given to Ms Folbigg's mental and emotional state at the time. Ms Callan on Wednesday told the inquiry that the discovery of the CALM variants 'altered the balance of evidence'. She said it was unlikely that all four children were smothered without leaving any physical signs. Mr Bathurst will deliver his findings at a later date. If Mr Bathurst finds there is reasonable doubt as to Folbigg's guilt, he can refer her case to the Court of Appeal where her convictions could be quashed. The inquiry continues. Rishi Sunak's tough new laws to stem the Channel migrant crisis were backed by MPs tonight to set up a showdown with the House of Lords. The Illegal Migration Bill passed through its final stages in the House of Commons after the Government defeated a series of proposed amendments from opposition MPs. A third reading of the Bill was then passed by 289 votes to 230, majority 59, with the Tories defeating Labour, SNP and Liberal Democrat opposition. It means the proposed shake-up of Britain's asylum system, amid the small boats crisis, will now pass to the Lords where ministers are expecting a stern challenge to the legislation. The Prime Minister sidestepped having to deal with a potential Tory rebellion this evening after Conservative backbenchers did not push their proposed amendments to a vote. Rishi Sunak's Illegal Migration Bill, aimed at ending the Channel migrant crisis, was tonight backed by MPs An amendment backed by former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and ex-PM Theresa May - who voiced concerns about the impact of immigration reforms on modern slavery protections - was not pushed to a division. It was speculated this was because, if a vote on the amendment was lost, it could then not be tabled again in the Lords. Another potential Tory rebel, former education minister Tim Loughton, this afternoon confirmed he would not move a series of other amendments to the Bill after receiving assurances from ministers. He has expressed concerns about the Bill's provisions for the detention of children, as well as the availability of safe and legal routes for asylum seekers to come to the UK. Tory Cabinet minister Grant Shapps tonight claimed Labour voting against the Bill's third reading showed Sir Keir Starmer's party 'would open the door for the criminal gangs who want to exploit the system'. Tonight's votes in the Commons came after Home Secretary Suella Braverman had swiped at 'high levels of criminality' among Channel migrants. She batted away calls for the new asylum laws to be watered down and insisted the measures - which would effectively ban those making the perilous crossing from France from claiming asylum and speed up deportations - are 'compassionate and humanitarian'. Ms Braverman said: 'We've been engaging with all parliamentarians over the course of the last month during the passage of this important Bill and I'm very grateful to all colleagues for their constructive engagement. 'We've got the last phase of our Commons process this evening in Parliament and I'm encouraging all colleagues to get behind the measures in this Bill.' The Bill's passage through the Commons was only the start of the battle over the Government's asylum shake-up, as peers are preparing an all-out bid to block it. The Bill passed its final stages in the House of Commons tonight, with Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured) insisting it can help 'bring an end to the boat crossings' Theresa May was among the Conservatives raising concerns about the proposals in the Commons chamber, saying she was 'worried' about the impact on victims of modern slavery Suspected migrants are brought ashore in Dover earlier this week Expressing her own concerns about the Bill, Mrs May told the Commons: 'Modern slavery is the greatest human rights issue of our time. The approach in this Bill, I believe, will have several ramifications. I believe it will consign victims to remain in slavery. 'The Government will be ensuring that more people will stay enslaved and in exploitation as a result of this Bill because it will give the slavedrivers, it will give the traffickers, another weapon to hold people in that slavery and exploitation, because it'll be very easy to say to them, ''Don't even think about trying to escape from the misery of your life, from the suffering we're subjecting you to because all the UK Government will do is send you away and probably send you to Rwanda''. 'The Modern Slavery Act gave hope to victims, this Bill removes that hope. I genuinely believe that, if enacted as it is currently proposed, this Bill will leave more people, more men, women and children, in slavery in the UK.' She was backed by another Tory former leader, Sir Iain, who warned of 'unintended consequences'. He said: 'We should proceed with caution when it comes to modern-day slavery. I for one am deeply proud of what we did and what (Theresa May) brought through because it deals with those who are victims, people who cannot speak for themselves that are being used and abused by others. 'We were the first country in the world to do it and others have followed suit. We need to send the right signals about this and I think the problem with this Bill right now is it's unnecessarily now targeting a group of people that are not the problem, themselves will suffer, and ironically we will fail as a Government through the home affairs end of it because the police simply won't be able to get those prosecutions.' Ms Braverman used a round of interviews earlier today to say illegal arrivals 'possess values which are at odds with our country' with 'heightened levels of criminality'. Ministers have also raised concerns that the chaos in Sudan could fuel numbers. Defending the plans, Ms Braverman told LBC: 'I think that uncontrolled and unprecedented levels of illegal migration are totally unacceptable to our country and to our values.' Asked whether she agreed with immigration minister Robert Jenrick's view that uncontrolled inflows 'threaten to cannibalise the compassion of the British public', the Home Secretary said: 'I think that the people coming here illegally do possess values which are at odds with our country. 'We are seeing heightened levels of criminality when related to the people who've come on boats related to drug dealing, exploitation, prostitution. 'There are real challenges which go beyond the migration issue of people coming here illegally. We need to ensure that we bring an end to the boat crossings.' Ms Braverman accused the European Court of Human Rights of 'undermining a democratically-elected government' after her plan to deport migrants to Rwanda was blocked last year. She said she wanted to avoid a 're-run' by including powers in the Bill so ministers can ignore Strasbourg's rulings. Ms Braverman told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'If you look at Australia once they were able to swiftly detain and remove people from Australian territory, their numbers of illegal arrivals fell dramatically in a relatively short period of time. That's why deterrence is a key ingredient. 'It is an uncapped scheme so we are not putting a limit on the number of people who can be relocated to Rwanda. 'We saw last year an unacceptable situation whereby the Home Secretary made a decision to relocate people to Rwanda and that decision was upheld in the courts, injunctions were refused by the English courts and, at the 11th hour, pursuant to an opaque process in which the UK was not represented, a judge in Strasbourg overruled that decision, undermining a democratically-elected government and a decision to take appropriate action. 'We want to avoid a re-run of that scenario. That's why we have included measures in our Bill to afford the Home Secretary a discretion to consider the case upon its particular merits and circumstances.' One senior Tory told MailOnline that the party's electoral fortunes hang on tackling the Channel crossings. 'We've got a lot of failures on our watch and number one is ''stop the boats''. Is this going to stop the boats?' they said. 'I feel a bit more comforted... but I think the proof will be in the pudding, once everyone puts this stuff to the various courts. 'If we can reduce some of the pull factors that will help. It's about deterrence, to stop people coming here in the first place.' A file photo of small boats used by Channel arrivals stacked up in Kent The numbers of Channel boat arrivals have risen sharply in recent years MPs debating the Illegal Migration Bill had been urged to 'bear in mind' the UK's human rights commitments. Marcial Boo, chief executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme he was 'concerned' that the Bill is in breach of international obligations. He said: 'We are concerned that the Bill would risk breaching international obligations. 'What we are advising MPs in passing the legislation is just that they bear in mind our international human rights obligations and that they consider those matters when debating the legislation today. 'What we have said to MPs is that we are concerned that there are risks, particularly to victims of trafficking and children, and we want to make sure that human rights are applied universally because they are for everyone.' 'It makes me proud to be British': The Royal superfans who started camping out on the Mall more than a week before the Coronation tell of their joy Suella Braverman today lashed back at German swipes that British citizens have been left 'to their own devices' in Sudan. The Home Secretary dismissed the jibe saying the UK was in a 'very different situation' to other countries. Hundreds of Britons have been evacuated from Sudan as the military races against time to bring people to safety before a ceasefire ends. Flights began landing in Cyprus overnight, with more due today. But the UK government has been criticised for not stepping in earlier, with diplomats evacuated while civilians were initially told to make their own plans. In pointed comments, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said she would not leave citizens 'to their own devices'. She said 'unlike in other countries', Berlin's evacuation had included all nationals rather than just embassy staff. German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock (left) said she would not leave citizens 'to their own devices'. Suella Braverman (right) said the UK was in a 'very different situation' UK nationals are pictured waiting to disembark from an A400M transport plane at Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus on Tuesday Rishi Sunak has said it is 'right' that diplomats were prioritised 'because they were being targeted'. Ms Braverman said she 'refuted' the suggestion. 'We are in a very different situation to other countries. We have got a larger cohort of British nationals in Sudan compared to other countries.' She added: 'We are now commencing an extensive operation, working with over 1,000 personnel from the RAF and the armed forces.' With British citizens, dual nationals and their dependents forced to make their own way to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip where the evacuation flights are taking off from. British forces are expected to take over control of running Wadi Saeedna from German troops, something which could require a larger UK military presence on the ground. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said 120 British troops have already been supporting the operation there. The UK military could be ready to use force if needed to protect the air base in the event it comes under attack during the airlift, although the troops are primarily there to help with logistics and providing air traffic control. The Government is also considering other options, including a possible seaborne evacuation from Port Sudan, some 500 miles from the capital. HMS Lancaster and the RFA Cardigan Bay have been sent to the region. The mission was launched during a ceasefire brokered between the warring factions. But Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned the extraction of UK nationals is 'inherently dangerous' as 'we cannot be sure for how long it will hold'. A UK-born student attempting to flee Sudan said she did not have enough petrol to make the dangerous one-hour drive from the outskirts of Khartoum to the airstrip. Around 1,400 British military personnel are involved in the 'large-scale' evacuation of UK nationals from Sudan. Pictured: British soldiers at the Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus prepare to board a plane to evacuate UK civilians from Sudan Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vists the Crisis Centre in the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office to speak to staff working on the ongoing situation in Sudan on Tuesday 'I'm trying to get there. But the problem is the vehicles that we have have no gas, and the petrol stations are empty,' Samar Eltayeb, 20, from Birmingham, told the PA news agency. 'There'll be constant flights within the next few days, but if I can't find gas to get there, then I'm stuck.' More than 2,000 British citizens have registered in Sudan with the FCDO. Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, will be prioritised for the flights. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible. Nationals have been warned all travel within Sudan is 'conducted at your own risk'. A late-night party held in the same park where a beloved teenager mysteriously died from 'unnatural injuries' could hold the key to what happened. Kane Moore, 18, suffered significant injuries and was found dead in Townsville's Rupertswood Park, not far from his Alice Park home, on the morning of April 22. The grim discovery was made by a member of the public, who then called police at 7.30am. Queensland police confirmed on Wednesday they were trying to establish if there was a link to a party and the young man's tragic death. Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson said police were interviewing people who attended the gathering on the night of Friday, April 21. Much-loved Kane Moore, 18, was found deceased with 'unnatural' injuries in Townsville's Rupertswood Park, not far from his Alice Park home, on the morning of April 22 Mr Moore's grieving mum, Sera-Jane and his sister, Mikaela, have penned heart-breaking tributes (pictured, Sera-Jane Moore, Mikaela Moore and Kane Moore) 'We're identifying those people involved and interviewing them to established what occurred that led to the death of this young person,' he said. 'There was a number of injuries on the deceased that caused us to believe that it's not just a sudden death that's occurred as a result of natural incident.' Acting chief sup. Lawson said several theories were being explored - including that Mr Moore may have been hit by a car. It is understood several cars have been seized and examined by a forensics team. They also appealed for anyone with dashcam footage of the area on April 21 and 22 to contact them. Meanwhile, Mr Moore's devastated family have shared their heartbreak. 'This is the fourth day without you my son, my heart is broken,' his distraught mother Sera-Jane Moore posted to Facebook. 'I feel like I don't want to be here anymore but I have to stay strong for my girl Mikaela. 'Kane Ryan I love you so much and please son stay close to me in my heart to help keep me strong I'm breaking inside. Love your mumma.' Mikaela, his sister, set up a GoFundMe page on Wednesday to help pay for 'the goodbye he deserves'. Police are now investigating whether he may have been hit by a car, or that his death could be connected to a party held in the park where was found Friends, family and members of the public also left flowers, soft toys, photos, vapes and empty bottles and cans, in tribute to Kane in the park Kane's sister Mikaela started a fundraiser on Wednesday designed to help give him a fitting goodbye It is understood that could include a permanent memorial for him in Rupertswood Park. 'Kane was a cheeky and goofy kid who was loved by so many people during his short time with us,' she wrote. 'The memories of Kane will always be around, from the fishing shirts to the crocs to the mullets and the bogan language, we love you mate, stay close to us because we're going to need you. 'His memory will live on forever in our hearts, but we want to do more to honor his legacy.' In just over nine hours the page had raised $8,223 of its modest $10,000 target. 'We are so grateful for any contributions you're able to make to help give Kane the goodbye he deserves,' Mikaela Moore wrote. In another online tribute she also described him as 'the best brother anyone could ever ask for'. 'I wish we could turn back time,' she said. 'You were the best kid and you were so loved by everyone.' Kane's distraught mum, Sera-Jane Moore posted to Facebook that her heart was broken Kane's sister Mikaela wrote in an online tribute that she wished we could 'turn back time' and that her brother was 'so loved by everyone'. (Pictured from left, Mikaela Moore, Kane Moore, an unknown family member, and Sera-Jane Moore) Meanwhile friends, family and members of the public also left flowers, soft toys, photos, vapes and empty bottles and cans, in tribute to Mr Moore in the park. 'Fly high Kane, love you forever and always,' read a note attached to a bright bouquet of flowers, while another simply said 'Kane 18 forever.' Daily Mail Australia contacted Queensland Police for comment. Queensland police are calling on anyone with dashcam vision from Friday night and Saturday morning, April 21 and 22, in the Hervey Range Road and Rupertswood Park area of Townsville to contact them. A drunk mother-of-two spat at a policeman, tried to headbutt him and threatened him saying 'you're dead' as she was arrested at 7am following an all-night bender. Victoria Grant, 42, swore at and was verbally abusive towards PC Neil Fogg after he was called to a convenience store in Liverpool following a complaint that she was being aggressive towards staff, a court heard yesterday. During the incident, the constable ushered Grant out of the shop and repeatedly told her to calm down, but was forced to take her to a police station when she refused to change her behaviour. While being processed in a custody suite, full-time carer Grant - who had been out in the Liverpool suburb of West Derby - continued shouting and made threats towards PC Fogg. Grant then tried to headbutt the officer, her head making contact with his left shoulder. Victoria Grant tried to headbutt PC Fogg and also spat on him after refusing to provide her personal details to police The 42-year-old had been on an all-night bender before becoming aggressive towards staff in a convenience store shortly before 7am on November 1, 2022 In a statement PC Fogg, based at Copy Lane police station in Bootle, Merseyside, said: 'She was saying she knew where I was from and that I was dead. 'I was worried about her behaviour. She even carried on being abusive and aggressive in the holding cell. She spat at myself, hitting my chin, neck and body armour. 'She was taken to the floor and handcuffed and was escorted back to a caged vehicle. She continued to make threats saying I was dead and adding: ''Best not show your face in West Derby Village again''.' Inquiries revealed Grant, who lives in Everton, had never previously been in trouble with the police. She had been drinking heavily in between caring for her elderly bedbound mother. At Sefton magistrates' court, Grant pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in a public place and assaulting an emergency worker and was ordered to pay the officer 100 compensation. The single mother also threatened PC Neil Fogg, telling him 'You're dead - best not show your face again' She was also sentenced to a 12-month community order with requirements that she attend 20 days of rehabilitative activity with the probation service, and was fined an additional 180 with 234 in costs and a victim surcharge. Lionel Cope, prosecuting, told how PC Fogg was called to London Road at 6.45am on November 1, 2022 to reports of a woman 'trying to fight with' staff at the shop and refusing to leave. Mr Cope said: 'The officer drove up London Road towards the store but as he arrived, he observed her crossing the road and struggling in front of traffic. The defendant then attended Best One convenience store and could be heard shouting, ''What are you looking at?'' to members of the public. 'PC Fogg observed that she continued to argue with the people inside the shop. She was slurring her words. Grant is pictured leaving Sefton magistrates' court after being sentenced 'The officer asked to her to come out of the shop. She told him to ''F*** off'' and refused to leave. The officer took hold of her arm and said he needed to speak to her. She was told numerous times to calm down but she was eventually arrested for being drunk and disorderly. She made no reply and was transported into custody.' Mr Cope said after arriving at Wirral Custody Suite, she refused to provide her details. She was subsequently interviewed by police after she sobered up. The prosecutor added: 'During the interview she said she saw a man hitting a woman and wanted to confront him. She said two men grabbed her arm and that she suffered significant bruising to her upper arm. She said the officer was dragging her by her arm.' For Grant, defence solicitor Eileen Chisnall said: 'Clearly drinking had a huge impact on her behaviour that night. She has never been in trouble before and she is now going to lose her good character. 'She has had so much time to reflect on her behaviour. She is particularly remorseful about spitting on Constable Fogg. 'She cannot understand why she behaved in such an obscene and awful way. Her remorse is genuine. She felt really at rock bottom that she could stoop to this level. 'She is the sole carer for two children who are in full time education, the youngest is 16 years old. She is also a carer for her mother, who has COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] and who has had a spinal operation which renders her immobile. She cannot get in and out of bed. 'The mother does not have a carer so Miss Grant goes daily to help her and has full time responsibility for her as her carer.' Sentencing Grant, JP Judith Hill said: 'This was your first appearance in court and you now leave with the knowledge you have a criminal record which I think is far worse than the penalties we have imposed. 'All I can say is, be careful how you go.' Two Romanian pickpockets who travelled to Britain despite a string of convictions across Europe, and went on to steal punters' smartphones in Manchester cafes and bars, have been jailed. Father-of-seven Ciprian Danila, 28, and 33-year old Vasile Bancuta would target victims by placing laminated cards in front of their faces before trying to engage then in 'nonsensical' conversation. The thefts took place between January 5 and 14 this year in Manchester when the victims were enjoying food or drinks at premises including branches of Costa Coffee and Starbucks, plus pubs and restaurants. Whilst diners became distracted by the sight of the cards - which had foreign writing on them - and irritated by the unwelcome interruptions, Danila and Bancuta would use the laminated leaflets as makeshift screens to secretly sweep victims' phones from tables into their own pockets. They then fled into the street before the thefts were discovered. Vasile Bancuta, 33, snatched five devices worth 6,300 and was found in possession of 1,150 in cash when he was detained. He pleaded guilty to five thefts and money laundering Father-of-seven Ciprian Danila, 28, stole 16 devices worth up to 1,400 each and admitted 16 charges of theft totalling 10,000 Danila and Bancuta from the city of Braila, East Romania were arrested at their digs in Liverpool on January 24 this year following a joint police operation by the Greater Manchester and Merseyside forces. Danila, who wept during the hearing, had a previous conviction for an identical theft in the UK in 2020 for which he received a community order. How the devious phone con worked The pair would walk up to a table armed with laminated pieces of paper covered in foreign writing They would engage their victims in nonsensical conversation While the restaurant-goers were distracted the paper would be put over their phone When the innocent diner would refuse to chat, the thieves would pick up the paper - along with the phone - and run for it before the missing device was noticed Advertisement In 2016 he was convicted of theft in the Czech Republic for which he was jailed for two and a half years. In 2020 he was convicted of theft in Germany and was jailed for ten months and was then fined there again last year for a similar offence. Bancuta had two convictions in 2013 for theft in Spain where he got suspended sentences. In 2015 he was convicted of possessing an offensive weapon in Portugal and was convicted of dangerous driving in 2017 before being jailed for 20 months there in 2019 for theft. In mitigation, defence counsel Mr Raj Chopra said both men had 'sad backgrounds' and their families would suffer as a result of them being locked up in the UK. He claimed Danila had merely come to the UK to visit friends whilst drunk. At least 21 phones were stolen in just nine days during the crime spree with only one device being recovered by its owner who used the app Find My iPhone to track it down. Inquiries revealed the two men had used similar distraction thefts and EU freedom of movement rules to steal mobiles in other European countries including Spain, Germany, the Czech Republic and Portugal where the modus operandi for their crimes is more well known. In the latest spate of offending Danila stole 16 devices worth up to 1,400 each whilst Bancuta snatched five devices worth in total 6,300. All but one were sold on the black market, with Bancuta being found in possession of 1,150 in cash when he was detained. Bancuta (pictured) had two convictions in 2013 for theft in Spain where he got suspended sentences. In 2015 he was convicted of possessing an offensive weapon in Portugal and was convicted of dangerous driving in 2017 before being jailed for 20 months there in 2019 for theft In 2016 Danila (pictured) was convicted of theft in the Czech Republic for which he was jailed for two and a half years. In 2020 he was convicted of theft in Germany and was jailed for ten months and was then fined there again last year for a similar offence At Manchester Crown Court the two men were each jailed for 16 months after Danila admitted 16 charges of theft totalling 10,000 and Bancuta pleaded guilty to five thefts and money laundering. Both were also issued with Criminal Behaviour Orders for five years which will ban them from taking newspapers or pieces of card into bars, cafes and restaurants across the UK. The two men will now face deportation after their release at their own request. A 46-year-old man was arrested during the police operation but was later freed without charge. Sentencing Danila and Bancuta, the judge Mr Recorder Imran Shafi KC said: 'This was a concerted campaign of offending. 'Not only is there a financial loss to the victims but there is also the incredible inconvenience in not having your phone which it seems everyone is wholly reliant on these days - whether that be to assist with personal commitments or professional business. 'In addition these phones will hold sentimental value due to pictures being on them and perhaps there might be private content on them too which the owners would not want sharing.' The judge added: 'There was some planning and sophistication into this simple and straightforward confidence trick and was one which it seems was incredibly enterprising and effective for you. 'It is clear you both knew what you were doing. The two men will now face deportation after their release at their own request. A 46-year-old man was arrested during the police operation but was later freed without charge. Pictured: Bancuta Danila, pictured, who wept during the hearing, had a previous conviction for an identical theft in the UK in 2020 for which he received a community order In mitigation, defence counsel Mr Raj Chopra said both men had 'sad backgrounds' and their families would suffer as a result of them being locked up in the UK. He claimed Danila had merely come to the UK to visit friends but got involved in the thefts whilst drunk 'You would enter a busy bar or cafe, and you would walk to the victims' table, place laminated pieces of paper with foreign writing on it in front of the victims and engage in spurious or even nonsensical conversation with them. 'Whilst the victims were distracted by what you were attempting to say to them, you placed the laminated paper on top of the phone. Naturally, and as you well desired, when they refused to engage with you, you would pick up the laminated paper and walk out. 'No doubt the victims would have been thankful you had left them alone - but they would not have been thankful about losing their phones. These were all smartphones of some value. 'It was planned, persistent, pernicious targeting of people enjoying themselves. It is plain to me you are both thoroughly dishonest individuals and there is no real remorse from either of you. Any remorse would be arising from the fact you were caught. 'I note your claim your families will face hardship due to your incarceration in this country but any misfortune visited upon your families is at your own hands - and not the fault of anybody else.' Ms Kate Gaskell, prosecuting, said: 'All incidents were identical and were captured on CCTV and apart from one phone tracked down by the victim himself, none of the devices were recovered. 'Clothing matching those worn by the thieves were found at the defendants' address on their arrest. 'Danila matched the man in the CCTV stills whilst Bancuta was found in possession of a piece of paper in a plastic wallet with foreign language writing on it. 'He also had a quantity of cash in his pocket and he matched CCTV footage in other similar thefts. Both answered "no comment" in police interview.' At the time of the arrests, Insp Phil Marsh of Greater Manchester Police said: 'We would urge members of the public to continue to assist where possible by remaining vigilant and securing their personal belongings.' Germany and UK sent Eurofighter jets to intercept Russian jets and spy plane British and German air force warplanes were scrambled to intercept two Russian jets and a spy plane close to encroaching on NATO airspace over the Baltic Sea. The UK and Germany sent Eurofighter Typhoon jets from Amari Air Base in Estonia to identify the two Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft escorting an Ilyushin Il-20 Coot-A intelligence plane, the RAF said. The Russian jets and spy plane were flying over the Baltic Sea close to Estonian airspace when they were intercepted yesterday in the latest tense encounter in the skies between Moscow and the West. 'RAF and German Air Force Typhoon fighters scrambled together from Amari Air Base in Estonia yesterday against unidentified aircraft over the Baltic Sea close to Estonian airspace,' a RAF spokesperson told MailOnline. 'The aircraft, operating as part of NATOs Baltic Air Policing (BAP) Mission intercepted a Russian military IL-20 jet that was being escorted by two Sukhoi Su-27 Flankers.' The Ilyushin Il-20 Coot-A intelligence planes are designed to soak up enemy communications and signals for analysis. Germany and Britain sent Eurofighter jets to identify the two Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft and one Ilyushin Il-20 aircraft (pictured) British and German warplanes intercepted two Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft (pictured) A Russian Sukhoi Su-27 aircraft is pictured over the Baltic Sea after being intercepted by UK and German warplanes The German air force said the Russian aircraft were flying without transponder signals in an attempt to avoid detection. READ MORE: RAF Typhoons intercept two Russian fighter jets and spy plane over the Baltic Sea Advertisement As a NATO member, Germany participates in monitoring the air space over the Baltic states. Germany handed over responsibility for NATO's Baltic air policing mission to Britain earlier this month. NATO allies pitch in to protect the air space there because Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia do not have their own fighter jets. Security has been heightened for the Baltic states after Russia invaded Ukraine last year. Russian military aircraft regularly fly from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad and back, meaning that such encounters are fairly routine in the region. Indeed, Russian military jets have repeatedly strayed into the airspace over the Baltic Sea in recent months. The Norwegian air force said Tuesday it had similarly identified a group of Russian military aircraft in international airspace over the Barents Sea to the north of the country. The aircraft included two Tu-160 Blackjack bombers, two Il-78 Midas aerial refuelling tankers and three MiG-31 Foxhound fighter jets, the air force said on Facebook. Today's intercept is the sixth time German and British planes have come into contact with Russian planes near NATO airspace in just two months. Last week, the UK's Typhoon jets teamed up with Germany's Air Force to intercept another Russian spy aircraft and a pair of fighter planes over the Baltic Sea. One of the aircraft was identified to be a Russian Air Force IL-20 Coot-A intelligence plane headed for the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad which borders Poland. It was being escorted by Su-27 Flanker-B fighter jets. British and German air force warplanes were scrambled to intercept two Russian jets and a spy plane flying somewhere over the Baltic Sea today The Norwegian air force said Tuesday it had similarly identified a group of Russian military aircraft, including a Tu-160 strategic missile carrier bomber (pictured) in international airspace over the Barents Sea to the north of the country A Tu-160 strategic missile carrier bomber performs a flight over the neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas, in this still image taken from video released on Wednesday A pilot operates a Tu-160 strategic missile carrier bomber during a flight over the neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas A Tu-160 strategic missile carrier bomber lands after performing a flight over the neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas, at an undisclosed location in Russia, in this still image taken from video released on Wednesday It came after leaked Pentagon documents, released this month, claimed one of Moscow's fighter jets almost shot down an RAF spy plane over the Black Sea last year - an incident which could have dragged Britain into the war in Ukraine. On September 29, an RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft was flying through international airspace close to the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula when it was buzzed by a squadron of Moscow's Su-27 fighters. At the time, British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace acknowledged the incident, telling Parliament that the Russian jets 'recklessly' came within 15ft of the RAF plane and one 'released a missile in the vicinity'. Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu blamed a technical malfunction and Wallace, having spoken with other Russian defence officials, accepted the explanation and drew a line under the incident. Last week, the UK's Typhoon jets teamed up with Germany's Air Force to intercept another Russian spy aircraft and a pair of fighter planes over the Baltic Sea. Pictured: A Russian Su-27 is seen flying off the wing of an RAF aircraft last week Typhoon fighter jets from the Royal Air Force and German Air Force conducted a joint mission to intercept the Russian warplanes But leaked US military documents have now revealed that the missile launch came agonisingly close to striking the RAF aircraft in an incident that was described as 'a near-shoot down of UK RJ (Rivet Joint)'. READ MORE: Russia is using 'ghost' spy ships disguised as fishing trawlers off UK coast Advertisement A UK defence source meanwhile disputed this version of events, telling MailOnline: 'These reports contain inaccuracies and do not reflect what happened in International air space over the Black Sea,' referring back to Defence Secretary Wallace's comments to Parliament in October. Had a Russian missile blown Rivet Joint out of the sky over the Black Sea, the UK and its NATO allies may have been compelled to war. According to Article 5 of the founding treaty of NATO, member nations agree that an armed attack against one or more of them 'shall be considered an attack against them all'. If such an attack does occur, each NATO member will assist the country that has been attacked with any action 'it deems necessary'. The RAF regularly flies sorties over the Black Sea's international waters, as well the Baltics and eastern Poland, to gather intelligence. The role of the Rivet Joint aircraft is to hoover up electronic transmissions and communications - the plane is also known as a 'nuke-sniffer' for its ability to detect radioactivity. British and US aircraft continued to conduct these reconnaissance flights after the hair-raising incident in September, but RAF surveillance aircraft are now escorted by Typhoon fighters while the US resorts to the use of unmanned surveillance drones. Video footage shows the Russian fighter jet approaching the American drone from behind and beginning to release fuel as it passes - the Pentagon said After the clash, the onboard camera shows a broken propeller (L) and a comparative operational propeller (R) turning. Russia previously said it did not make contact with the drone Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said last month that it is important to keep the Black Sea and the skies over it open to all nations. 'The Black Sea is a critical international seaway supporting many of our Nato allies, including Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, and does not belong to any one country,' he said. Ryder's comments came after yet another aerial incident in which Russian jets dumped fuel on and ultimately crashed into a US surveillance drone last month. Drone footage showed the shocking moment Moscow's Su-27 jet approached the US MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from behind and clipped its propeller over international airspace on March 14. US forces had to bring down the $32million surveillance drone in international waters after the encounter, sparking a race between Moscow and Washington to recover it. Russian ships were spotted at the crash site on March 15 trying to find the debris, though the Pentagon insisted the parts could not be retrieved and any intelligence had been wiped. Moscow insisted its jet did not make contact with the drone, and instead blamed 'sharp maneuvering' for the crash. But experts say it was likely an accidental clash as Russian pilots adopted increasingly aggressive tactics to force the drone to change course. The Barclays boss comes in after ex-chief Tony Danker was forced to step down Ex-CBI insider Rain Newton-Smith, 47, will be tasked with saving the lobby group A former Barclays boss will start her new job as the Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) new director-general today. Rain Newton-Smith, 47, has taken control of the scandal-hit lobby group after former chief Tony Danker was fired following complaints about his behaviour and sexual misconduct allegations. Taking over the helm, Ms Newton-Smith will be tasked with ensuring the survival of the business group after dozens of high profile members cut ties due to the scandal that has engulfed it. Ms Newton Smith, who studied politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford University, previously worked for almost nine years as the CBI's chief economist. The high-flying executive has now left her job as a managing director at Barclays, which she started in March 2023, to return to the CBI. CBI insider Rain Newton-Smith has taken over from Tony Danker as the business group's head Critics, however, warned the business group's appointment might not 'cut the mustard' as they raised concerns the long-term CBI executive could lack the ability to bring a 'new approach.' 'I'm sure she is wonderful in lots of respects but it doesn't quite cut the mustard if you're trying to show that you're embracing a new approach to all of this,' City fund manager Baroness Morrissey told the BBC. Mr Danker's exit led to a flurry of allegations against the CBI including reports that two women were raped while working at the London headquartered business group. In one case, a woman said she was raped by two male colleagues while working at one of the CBI's overseas offices in 2018, according to The Guardian. The woman said she had no recollection of consenting to sexual activity with either of the two colleagues, but that she was later presented with an explicit photo of herself, in which she appeared to be unconscious Ex-CBI director general Tony Danker was forced to exit in the face of sexual misconduct claims The CBI is now struggling for survival as dozens of its high profile members have cut ties A second woman said her manager attempted raped her at a CBI summer boat party on the river Thames in 2019. The CBI is also facing claims that its managers shared explicit photos with junior colleagues and behaved inappropriately towards female staff, while others made claims of widespread cocaine use at the lobby group's events. The CBI responded to the allegations by firing a 'number of people' as the scandal-ridden organisation is set to overhaul its internal culture after admitting it had failed to 'filter out culturally toxic people'. In an open letter, the lobby group's president Brian McBride said the CBI's failures had let a 'very small minority of staff with regressive and, in some cases, abhorrent attitudes towards their female colleagues' feel 'assured in their behaviour'. Top companies including John Lewis, BMW, Virgin Media and Mastercard have now severed their links to the CBI in the wake of the ongoing scandal. The CBI declined to comment. A female passenger fell asleep on a train and woke up to find a man sitting naked next to her. Police are appealing for witnesses after the woman was travelling on a service between Polmont and Edinburgh Waverley on Thursday, April 20. CCTV footage of the incident was captured by police. The person responsible has been described by police as a white male, aged between 65 and 70, at 5ft 6 inches tall with short grey hair and a stubbly beard. He is described as having a medium or slim build. A statement from the British Transport Police reads: 'On 20 April at 7.21am a woman was on the train when she fell asleep. When she woke up a man was sitting next to her naked. The passenger incident occurred on an early morning service between the stations of Polmont and Edinburgh (Waverley station pictured) He later put on jogging bottoms and a black T-shirt before leaving the train at Edinburgh Waverley. He was wearing black walking boots. It comes after report from Transport Scotland found one in three women had concerns for their safety when travelling on public transport. The report's ten recommendations include a review of staff training on their own safety and how to support and protect passengers, as well as the development of credible and accessible information and guidance on reporting incidents that do occur. Scottish Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth said: 'This is simply not acceptable in 21st-century Scotland.' Anyone with information about the naked passenger is asked to contact BTP by calling 0800 40 50 40 or by texting 61016 with reference 2300044058. Information can also be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Paul Russell (pictured), 41, admitted assisting an offender by driving Thomas Cashman, 34, away from the shooting before passing his clothes to another person Slain schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel's brother walked out of court today after it emerged a criminal who tried to help her killer cheat justice will be given a new identity for his own protection. Paul Russell, 41, admits he disposed of clothing worn by Thomas Cashman, 34, and drove him back to his van after the ruthless gunman shot the nine-year-old inside her own home. However Liverpool Crown Court today heard he did not know about Olivia's death at the time, and only complied because he was 'terrified' of Cashman, who is serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 42 years for the shocking murder. Despite the risk to his own safety, he contacted police two days later and gave detectives Cashman's name, his sentencing hearing was told. Members of Olivia's family were in tears after Mrs Justice Amanda Yip - who also presided over Cashman's trial jailed Russell for 22 months after he admitted assisting an offender at a previous hearing. He will be released in five months due to the time he has spent on remand since being charged last October, in a sentence branded a 'joke' by Olivia's father. The judge said Russell had helped a killer try to 'evade justice' but that he had been 'brave' to come forward and help police despite the risks to himself. She said Russell would have been jailed for five years if he had not pleaded guilty and had not helped the police. His partner, who had also been in a secret sexual relationship with Cashman, later agreed to give crucial evidence for the prosecution after being granted lifelong anonymity. Murderer Thomas Cashman, 34, (pictured), shot dead the nine-year-old schoolgirl during a botched gangland assassination in Dovecot, Liverpool on August 22 last year Olivia was fatally shot in the chest at her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on August 22 last year She was hailed for her bravery by senior detectives for revealing how Cashman woke her up shortly after shooting Olivia in a botched gangland hit last August and demanded a change of clothes. Today Russell's barrister gave details of how he had been held on remand under an assumed name for his protection, and would be given a new identity on his release. Tom Schofield, defending, said his client and his partner who were not living together at the time of the shooting planned to 'make a go' of their relationship once he is freed. However Olivia's father, John Francis Pratt, watching on from the public gallery, was heard to say 'So what?' after Mr Schofield said prison had been 'a particularly isolating experience' for him. After Mr Schofield argued for a suspended prison sentence, Olivia's brother Ryan, 23, walked out of the courtroom. Mr Schofield told the court: 'His involvement in these events will be a source of shame and regret until the day he dies. He will never live them down.' He added: 'His hardship and disruption to his life are as but a drop in the ocean compared to the grief which Olivia's family have had to endure.' Cashman's trial heard that the killer fled the scene of the shooting as Olivia lay fatally injured and went to the home of Russell's partner. She told the court Cashman had changed his clothes and she heard him say he had 'done Joey' a reference to his intended target, fellow drug dealer Joseph Nee. The woman called Russell who drove Cashman to where he had earlier left his van, the trial heard. Russell later took a bag containing his clothes to an address where friends of Cashman lived. Cheryl Korbel, mother of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel outside Manchester Crown Court after Thomas Cashman was sentenced to a minimum term of 42 years Today the court heard Russell told police he did not like Cashman and just wanted to get him away from the woman's house. 'I'm terrified of him,' he told officers. The court heard at the time he was aware Cashman had been involved in a shooting but did not find out about Olivia's death until the next morning. He said he saw Cashman the following day and was warned: 'Don't say nothing.' But, the court heard, that day Russell spoke to a trusted member of the community with a view to arranging to speak to police. The following day he made contact with them and told officers that Cashman had killed Olivia. The defendant, wearing a black suit and white shirt, appeared today via videolink from a remote location for the hearing for 'security' reasons, the court heard. Mr Schofield said: 'He doesn't for a moment suggest he is blameless in this case and he recognises that it's right he should be punished.' He said moments after Russell was charged, last October, he was issued with a threat to life notice by police. He had been remanded to a prison in Leeds but was transferred to another prison, under an assumed name, because of a threat to his safety. Mr Schofield said Russell would be given a new identity and not allowed to return to Merseyside on his release. The murderer had tried to carry out the hit job on Joseph Nee (pictured) while he was walking home from a friend's house, but his gun jammed and Cashman's target fled, barging into Olivia's home in a bid to save himself He said: 'The defendant, for what it's worth to the court and to others listening, is the epitome of remorse for what he did.' The jury in Cashman's trial were not told that Russell had admitted assisting an offender, and he was not called as a witness. Armed with two loaded guns, Cashman's attempt at the gangland execution of fellow career criminal Joseph Nee on August 22 last year went 'horribly wrong', his trial heard. His intended target bleeding from a bullet wound to the midriff after being shot with a 9mm Glock self-loading pistol - tried to flee into Olivia's house after her mother Cheryl went outside to see what the noise was. Now wielding a 0.38 calibre revolver after his first weapon jammed, Cashman chased Nee as Mrs Korbel desperately tried to close the front door. Unbeknown to Mrs Korbel, her frightened daughter had got out of bed and come downstairs, just as Cashman his target cornered fired another shot. It missed Nee and slammed right through the door, into Mrs Korbel's hand and horrifically straight at Olivia's chest, causing fatal injuries. After firing one more bullet, Cashman fled, while Olivia's mother desperately begged for help for her stricken daughter. Tragically she was pronounced dead shortly after being rushed to hospital by armed police called to the scene. 'I knew she'd gone, I knew she'd gone,' she sobbed in her police interview. After Merseyside Chief Constable Serena Kennedy urged 'members of the criminal fraternity' to 'examine their consciences' and identify her killer, Cashman's secret mistress revealed how the gunman tried to take refuge at her home. Neither gun has yet been recovered, and police say they remain committed to hunting down the weapons, those who supplied them and, crucially, anyone found to have ordered the 'hit'. Cashman was also found guilty of the attempted murder of Nee, causing GBH with intent to Mrs Korbel, and possessing the two firearms with intent to endanger life. However he was branded a 'coward' after refusing to come up from the cells to hear Olivia's family speak movingly of the impact of her death when he was sentenced earlier this month. At that hearing, Mrs Justice Yip contrasted his 'disrespectful' failure to appear in the dock with the 'courage' of Russell's partner who she said 'stood firm' in the face of 'lengthy questioning' about her fling with the killer. After today's hearing, senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Mark Baker, of Merseyside Police, said: 'Assisting someone to escape justice when they have committed any crime is to be condemned but particularly so when an innocent child is the victim. 'Thankfully Russell saw fit to hand himself in when he realised the enormity of what Cashman had done and that Olivia had been killed. 'His guilty plea at least saves Olivia's family the agony of sitting through another trial and having once again to relive that horrific night. 'Cashman will spend at least 42 years behind bars after being convicted of Olivia's murder. 'As a consequence of what he did Russell will now also spend a period of time behind bars where I hope that he will be able to reflect on his actions on that night.' Judge Mrs Justice Yip said while some may see Russell's sentence as 'lenient', there was a 'balance to be struck' because he came forward 'despite genuine fear of consequences'. She said: 'I take account of your cooperation, the admissions you made in interview and your ongoing willingness to assist the prosecution by giving evidence at Mr Cashman's trial even after you knew you would not be given immunity.' Justice Yip said she had considered whether a suspended sentence would be appropriate, but added: 'However, I have concluded appropriate punishment can only be made by immediate custody. 'Assisting a murderer to evade justice will always be treated very seriously. You have not remained silent. Thomas Cashman, pictured here in a court sketch after the verdicts were read, sobbed after being found guilty 'Those who maintain the cover up to the better end can expect no mercy.' She added: 'The use of guns spreads fear in the wider community. 'Those who assist offenders who use guns must expect to be imprisoned. That message needs to be understood.' However his actions 'after learning of Olivia's death provide powerful mitigation which must be reflected in your sentence,' she said. He must have known he was assisting someone guilty of murder or at least attempted murder, she continued, but was 'not prepared to protect Mr Cashman from the consequences of killing a child.' Russell was 'terrified' of Cashman and was not aware he had killed the schoolgirl when he helped him, Liverpool Crown Court heard. He met police in the days after Olivia's death and told them the man responsible was 'Tommy Cashman', the sentencing hearing was told. His guilty plea could not be reported until after the trial of Cashman, who was found guilty of the schoolgirl's murder last month. Russell, of West Derby, Liverpool, admitted driving Cashman from an address in the aftermath of Olivia's shooting, which happened at about 10pm on August 22 last year when the gunman chased convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee into the family home in Kingsheath Avenue, firing through the door and also injuring her mother, Cheryl Korbel. Henry Riding, prosecuting, said: 'Mr Russell not only admitted what he had done to assist Mr Cashman in the course of police interviews, he also named Mr Cashman in the course of the very first police interview.' He said Russell had offered to give evidence against Cashman as a prosecution witness. It comes after it was revealed last week that Cashman is appealing his 42-year sentence - while the Attorney General is deciding whether to increase it to a whole life term after complaints it was too lenient. The Attorney General's Office last Friday confirmed it had received a request to review Cashman's sentence as being 'unduly lenient' as it emerged his own lawyers are to appeal for a cut in his jail term. A spokesman from the Attorney General's Office said: 'We have received a request for this sentence to be considered under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme. 'The Law Officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case and make a decision.' But lawyers for father-of-two Cashman are to take his case to the Court of Appeal, where they will argue his sentence is too harsh and that he should serve less time before parole, the court confirmed. The murderer is currently being kept in isolation for his 'own protection' after his abhorrent crime made him 'public enemy number one in Strangeways Prison'. A gang insider previously claimed a 250,000 bounty had been placed on his head via encrypted messaging app Telegram. Olivia's devastated family cried tears of relief earlier this month as Cashman was convicted of murder. When sentencing the killer, judge Mrs Justice Amanda Yip told the court she had considered handing Cashman a whole life order, but decided against it due to his intent to kill not being directed specifically at the young girl. Cashman had tried to carry out his hit on gang rival Joseph Nee while he was walking home from a friend's house, but his gun jammed and Cashman's target fled, barging into Olivia's home in a bid to save himself. Although he claimed in court he was only a cannabis dealer, Cashman was allegedly known as a hitman who 'thought nothing of putting a bullet in someone'. Cashman insisted that around the time of the shooting he had been at a friend's house where he counted 10,000 in cash and smoked a spliff. During his evidence, he told the court: 'I'm not a killer, I'm a dad.' Nicola Sturgeon has been given the cold shoulder by her successor as SNP leader since her husband was arrested in a police probe into the party's finances. First Minister Humza Yousaf admitted that had not spoken to her since detectives questioned Peter Murrell and searched their family home in Glasgow earlier this month. He was elected just a month ago and could be reasonably expected to chat to his predecessor and ask for advice after her eight years in office. But he told LBC radio they had not been in touch since the party was plunged into crisis over a police probe into missing donations worth more than 600,000. He said: 'Nicola and I will speak though. And we'll do that once she hopefully returns back to Holyrood. And I think that would be the right place to do that. Of course, I want to check in with her and her welfare. Ms Sturgeon yesterday returned to the Scottish Parliament for the first time since her husband's arrest. She said the situation was a 'nightmare' but denied quitting as first minister because she knew it was coming. Further questions were also raised over the purchase of a 110,000 campervan by the party and discovered at the home of Mr Murrell's mother. Former treasurer Colin Beattie yesterday denied being aware it had been bought, only to change his mind hours later. Ms Sturgeon yesterday returned to the Scottish Parliament for the first time since her husband's arrest. First Minister Humza Yousaf admitted that had not spoken to her since detectives questioned Peter Murrell and searched their family home in Glasgow earlier this month. Further questions were also raised over the purchase of a 110,000 campervan by the party and discovered at the home of Mr Murrell's mother. Former treasurer Colin Beattie yesterday denied being aware it had been bought, only to change his mind hours later. Ms Sturgeon last night spoke of her 'trauma' at the implosion of the SNP - as her successor offered to prop up a Labour government in return for a second independence referendum. In an impromptu briefing for journalists yesterday she declined to comment on whether she now faces arrest - but insisted that the controversy was not the trigger for her shock resignation in February. 'I understand the view that some people might have, that I knew this was all about to unfold and that's why I walked away,' she said. 'Nothing could be further from the truth. I could not have anticipated in my worst nightmares what would have unfolded over the past few weeks.' She added: 'Clearly the events of the last few weeks have been difficult and - I use this word advisedly and deliberately - in some respects very traumatic. 'But I accept that is the nature of the process that is under way right now.' Her comments came as Mr Yousaf revealed he was willing to put Sir Keir Starmer in No 10 in return for another independence referendum. Sir Keir has tried to calm fears he would usher in the break-up of the UK in the event of a hung parliament by ruling out a deal with the SNP. But Mr Yousaf indicated that his door would be open if Labour falls short of a majority at next year's General Election. But he said his price would be the UK Government signing off a 'Section 30 order' to allow another referendum. He told LBC Radio: 'We would certainly be willing to co-operate with a Labour government because we want to see the back of the Tories. 'But of course, that would come at a cost. And of course, the first demand I would make would be to get powers over a Section 30 Order and having that devolved to Scotland... 'If there is a hung Parliament, then of course, we will co-operate, I'll say that unequivocally. We'll co-operate with anybody that is a progressive political party that's looking to see the back of the Tories, but there will be a price.' The police probe into the SNP's finances has sent the party into meltdown. Detectives are investigating what happened to more than 600,000 in donations raised between 2017 and 2020 to fight a second referendum. Accounts at the end of 2019 showed the party had just 97,000 in the bank and only 272,000 in assets. Returning to the Scottish Parliament for the first time since her husband's arrest, Ms Sturgeon said she had not been questioned by the police. She added: 'What I will say up front is that I'm not going to go into any detail that impinges on a live police investigation. 'There are many questions that I would want to be able to answer and in the fullness of time I hope I will answer but it would be wrong and inappropriate for me to go into any detail of what the police are currently investigating.' Scottish Labour's deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: 'Nicola Sturgeon might have taken some questions but she has given no answers. 'Her attempt to downplay the extraordinary chaos we're seeing in the SNP is an insult to the public's intelligence.' A rare gold coin from the reign of Charles I which was found in a pile of loose change could sell for 2,500. The historic gold Unite (20 shillings) piece, dating back to 1625, was discovered with around 200 old coins and bank notes left over from foreign holidays. The owner found the 400-year-old coin at the back of a dressing table drawer at her late aunt's home in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. She thought it was a fake coin until an antiques expert revealed its true value. It is now going under the hammer at Hansons Royal Tunbridge Wells on May 23 where it is set to fetch between 1,500 and 2,500. Antiques valuer Robin Fletcher struck gold while assessing the coin collection which had belonged to a client's late aunt. A 400-year-old gold coin worth thousands of pounds has been found, circa 1625 The valuable gem was found among a collection of old coins 'The vendor found the coin at the back of a dressing table drawer when she was sorting thought her late aunt's effects,' he said. 'Both the vendor and her husband assumed it must be fake so took little notice of it and tossed it into a box of mixed 20th century coins. 'As always, I carefully sifted through the coins to see if there was anything of value and was shocked when I saw a glint of gold. 'As I was told it was a fake I didn't do a close inspection until I got it back to the office. 'I then realised I'd struck gold. I phoned the seller to let her know. She was surprised and delighted to hear the valuation. 'It was amazing to pluck out a 400 year old Charles I gold coin from a mish-mash of mainly low value coins. 'Charles I (1600-1649) was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from March 27, 1625 until his execution in 1649. 'We will never know how this historical gem ended up languishing in a dressing table drawer for, probably for decades.' Antiques valuer Robin Fletcher struck gold while assessing the coin collection which had belonged to a client's late aunt Mr Fletcher said gold sometimes gets overlooked when it's discovered by chance as people automatically assume they can't be lucky enough to have found the real thing. 'The find seems timely ahead of the coronation of King Charles III on May 6. I am thrilled for the owner,' he continued. 'Many people have piles of old coins stuck in drawers or tins at home, perhaps inherited and added to by various relatives over many decades. 'As well as plenty of pre-decimal British coins we see lots of holiday money gathered from all over the world. 'Often coins have little value but, along the way, perhaps an ancestor in the family picked up a rarity or two that could worth more than their weight in gold. 'Coin collecting was, and still is, popular. The problem with coins is that they're so small they can get forgotten. 'They end up hidden away at the back of drawers, lost under sofa cushions or even left in pockets. 'I'd advise anyone with old coins sitting around at home to go through them carefully and call in the experts to double check their value.' A woman died after hitting her head when falling out of the back of an ambulance, an inquest has heard. Anita Woodford, 66, was being rolled down the back of the ramp on a wheelchair outside the 1,200-bed Norfolk and Norwich Hospital while the vehicle was stationary when the chair toppled over. A three-day inquest has heard that the wrong wheelchair was used when she arrived for a non-urgent dialysis appointment in November 2021. She hit her head after the wheelchair tipped over and died two weeks later. In CCTV footage shown at the inquest, Mrs Woodford, from Brisley, Norfolk, was wheeled in the chair down the ramp when it hit the bottom and suddenly jolted backwards. Anita Woodford, 66, was being rolled down the back of the ambulance ramp on a wheelchair when the incident occurred A three-day inquest opened on Tuesday and heard that the wrong wheelchair was used when she arrived at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for a non-urgent dialysis appointment The 'hospital porter' wheelchair was wheeled by ambulance care assistant Tracey Leigh, who was subsequently suspended and later fired. Ms Leigh was visibly upset whilst giving evidence at the Norfolk Coroner's Court inquest in Norwich. Speaking via video link, Ms Leigh said: 'I was going down the ramp and, I don't know what happened, but when I got to the bottom the wheelchair tipped backwards. All I know is that it tipped, and I could not hold it. I've done that job a hundred times before and nothing like that had ever happened before.' She admitted that due to the weight and size of the porter wheelchair, she would not have been able to stop it from tipping backwards. The court heard how Ms Leigh had received training on best practices for loading and unloading patients. ERS Medical, the firm which provided the patient transport service, had alerted staff to the risk of using porter wheelchairs rather than the one provided on its vehicles. Dr Curtis Offiah, a consultant at the Royal London Hospital, told the inquest that Mrs Woodford was considered to have 'a number of high-risk factors' leaving her susceptible to bleeding Ms Leigh added: 'I never thought in a million years this would happen. We all used the hospital wheelchairs to transport patients. I had done nothing differently that day than what I had done on any other day.' She also claimed that ERS Medical management had been aware of its staff using porter wheelchairs for unloading patients from ambulances at hospital. She was fired following an internal investigation. Mrs Woodford's husband of 45 years, Graham Woodford, attended the three-day inquest. In a statement, he said the couple had travelled the world together and that she was a devoted dog owner. He continued: 'She was loving, kind, caring, considerate and conscientious. She will always be loved and remembered and never forgotten.' He added that over the years she had suffered from depression following bereavements, this being a key trigger of her mental ill health. As a result, she had gradually turned to alcohol but 'did not accept she had a problem'. In 2019, she retired from her job working at Elmham Surgery, near Dereham, where she had been employed for 25 years. Following a visit to her GP in Aug 2021 she was admitted to the Norfolk and Norwich hospital with several health problems related to alcoholism, including severe liver disease. She was discharged home on November 12 that year. On the morning of November 15, she had been collected by Ms Leigh and a colleague for a hospital appointment. Following the incident, Mrs Woodford sustained a head and neck injury and was given a CT head scan, before being kept in hospital overnight. Eight days earlier, on November 7, she underwent the same test which had shown a small amount of bleeding on the brain. Following the injury to her head, CT results showed a further bleed. Her condition deteriorated and she died at home two weeks later. Dr Curtis Offiah, a consultant at the Royal London Hospital, told the inquest that Mrs Woodford was considered to have 'a number of high-risk factors' leaving her susceptible to bleeding. The inquest continues. Pentagon officials are said to be cheering the sudden and unceremonious departure of Tucker Carlson from Fox this week, after ridiculing policies within the military made under the Biden administration on his show. Carlson was let go on Monday, days after the channel agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787mn for airing false claims of voter fraud during the 2020 election. It is not clear why Carlson was pushed out of his slot after 14 years with the channel. But one senior Department of Defense official said: 'We're a better country without him bagging on our military every night in front of hundreds of thousands of people.' Breaking his silence for the first time since he was let go, Carlson told Politico in response to the news officials were pleased with him leaving: 'Ha! I'm sure.' During his time on air for Fox, Carlson, 53, spoke out against policy - alleging officials were more concerned with race, gender and sexuality than protecting the safety of the American people - and individual high-ranking officials. 'Good riddance!' said a second military official. Both remained anonymous. Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson discusses 'Populism and the Right' during the National Review Institute's Ideas Summit at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on 29 March, 2019 US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Musko naval base in Stockholm, Sweden, 19 April 2023. Unnamed DoD officials said 'good riddance' to Carlson's departure from Fox on Monday During his time on air with Fox, Tucker Carlson rallied against decisions made by the military. In March 2021, two months after he took on the role, he laid into Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who had said he would 'fight hard to stamp out sexual assault and to rid our ranks of racists and extremists'. Carlson alleged that Austin never defined what he meant by 'extremism', meaning that it could be used as a way to silence conservatives. 'Lloyd Austin believes the real threat to America is not the Chinese government or paralyzed global trade. The real threat is people who didn't vote for Joe Biden,' Carlson claimed. 'What you're seeing is not an attempt to make the military better. What you're seeing is a political purge of the military.' He also slammed 'woke generals' who 'couldn't defeat the Taliban' after the Pentagon criticized his claims that hiring pregnant soldiers was a 'mockery' of the military. Carlson took aim at a number of individual high-ranking officials while on air, including calling for Biden to sack General Mark Milley. Tucker Carlson was let go from Fox on Monday after seven years of hosting talk show Tucker Carlson Tonight. He had worked for the company since 2009. Carlson was said to be stunned by the decision. A Fox News told DailyMail.com 'Tucker still hasn't been given any indication of why he was taken off the air.' 'We believe Rupert [Murdoch] wants to sell the company and it's harder to find an institutional buyer with Tucker as the main star. 'Tucker gone makes it more of an appealing media company to buy.' Until a new host is named, Fox News plans to replace the segment with an interim show that will be helmed by a rotating set of personalities from the network. Star host Tucker Carlson's abrupt exit from Fox News is likely to hit short-term ratings but could nudge more mainstream advertisers to consider a network they have snubbed for being too partisan, investors and analysts said. News of his departure on Monday wiped nearly $1 billion from the market valuation of the network's parent company, Rupert Murdoch-controlled Fox Corp. The stock also closed lower on Tuesday. 'It's a huge deal,' said Matthew Tuttle, head of Tuttle Capital Management, an investment firm that is betting against Fox shares. 'The 8pm slot is important and they will lose viewers in that spot. 'They need to find another Carlson, that is going to be the problem. They need to pull a rabbit out of the hat.' Tucker Carlson Tonight ran from 2016 until 2023, when Carlson was ousted on Monday Carlson's wife Susan Andrews was seen walking the family dogs on 25 April, the day after Tucker Carlson was let go from the news network The conservative-leaning Carlson's prime-time show was the highest-rated cable news program in the key 25-to-54 age demographic on Fox News. It was the most-watched U.S. cable news network. It averaged nightly viewers of around 3.4 million in March, according to Nielsen. This is the moment a desperate motorist blocked by Just Stop Oil protesters pleaded with a policeman to help him get to work this morning - only to be completely ignored as the zealots brought traffic to a standstill. The eco-warriors donned their orange high-vis jackets as they 'slow marched' through central London for the third day in a row on Wednesday as part of a new campaign of 'civil resistance'. One group were threatened with arrest for conducting an 'unlawful protest' as they blocked traffic near Trafalgar Square, although it is not yet confirmed if any were placed under arrest. MailOnline has contacted Metropolitan Police for comment. In one video shared online, an exasperated motorist yells: 'I've got to go to work!', before pleading with a passing policeman: 'Officer, please help me get to work,' only for the man in uniform to continue walking past him. In other widely shared clips, a passerby implores the protesters to 'get a job' while a taxi driver tells them: 'You should be ashamed of yourselves.' DO YOU KNOW THE DRIVER? Email laurence.dollimore@mailonline.co.uk The moment a desperate motorist blocked by Just Stop Oil protesters pleaded with a policeman to help him get to work this morning, before furiously getting out of his car The eco-zealots infuriated commuters on their way to work this morning as they unfurled banners and brought traffic to a standstill in some of the city's most congested zones (Pictured: Just Stop Oil demonstrators stage a protest on Waterloo Bridge on April 26, 2023) Just Stop Oil has once again brought rush hour chaos to central London by 'slow marching' through the capital on day three of its new 'campaign of civil resistance' (pictured on Waterloo Bridge on Wednesday morning) Just Stop Oil is demanding the government immediately halt all future licensing and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK. Protesters were also filmed marching on Waterloo Bridge while chanting 'insulate Britain!' - as fed-up commuters shouted back obscenities and hurled insults. There have been no confirmed arrests so far but Metropolitan Police said in its last update on Twitter: 'At around 09:54hrs, police issued Just Stop Oil protesters in Whitehall conditions under Section 12 of the Public Order Act to move out of the carriageway as their actions now constitute serious disruption, having slow marched in the road for 2 hours, disrupting traffic.' The force earlier wrote: 'Police remain on scene at Just Stop Oil protests at Pall Mall, Waterloo Bridge, Trafalgar Square, Victoria Street and Whitehall. 'They continue to engage with protesters and reroute traffic where possible to minimise disruption.' Protesters held placards saying 'betrayed by my government', 'jailed for caring' and 'end climate injustice'. Just Stop Oil said Wednesday's protests are being held 'in solidarity with nine Ugandan students who are facing their first day of a trial today in Kampala, Uganda.' It claimed the students are facing 'trumped-up charges of Common Nuisance, for peacefully resisting the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).' A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said: 'EACOP- a joint project by Total Energies and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, will enrich a handful of oil criminals, while generating more emissions than Uganda and Tanzania combined. 'Locally, 10,000 people have already been displaced without compensation to make way for the pipeline which will also ravage local wildlife and water supplies.' They added: 'In the face of this criminal act, Just Stop Oil stands in solidarity with the 9 students on trial today. Thanks to the bravery and persistence they and their supporters have shown, 24 banks and 22 insurers have already pulled out of the project. Commuters took to social media on Wednesday morning to vent their frustration at being delayed by the zealots (pictured on Waterloo Bridge on Wednesday) Justifying their protests yesterday, a Just Stop Oil Spokesman said: 'Let us take the energy we have built from this weekend and channel it into keeping the pressure on this criminally corrupt, genocidal government, day after day, until we all win.' (Pictured: Protesters on Waterloo Bridge on Wednesday morning) A man yells at the group: 'I've got to go to work!', as he sat stuck in his car behind a group of protesters in central London on Wednesday morning Just Stop Oil protesters 'slow march' through a busy roundabout during rush hour in central London on Wednesday morning Protesters (pictured on Wednesday morning) held placards saying 'betrayed by my government', 'jailed for caring' and 'end climate injustice' 'We have issued a crowdfunder and are holding a solidarity meeting, to further support our friends in Uganda, in their resistance to a criminal, oil-funded regime.' One of those taking action today, Mat Osmond, 57, a university lecturer from Falmouth said: 'To continue to extract and burn new fossil fuel deposits is to enact a global genocide, the likes of which we've never seen. 'All that is required for this unspeakable and avoidable horror to unfold, is for citizens to stand by and do nothing.' 'It's up to all of us now to make our governments face reality and do the right thing. 'History has shown us over and over that this can be achieved. When all conventional means have failed us, only nonviolent civil resistance works. As long as we still can, we have to try. At this point it would be an obscenity not to.' Commuters took to social media on Wednesday morning to vent their frustrations at being delayed by the zealots. One fumed: 'Thanks again Just Stop Oil for making the hardworking, tax paying people of London late again and causing more disruption, more fuel and emissions with all the traffic you are causing. Just Stop Oil demonstrators stage a protest at Trafalgar Square in central London on Wednesday Just Stop Oil said today's protests are being held 'in solidarity with nine Ugandan students who are facing their first day of a trial today in Kampala, Uganda' 'We won't be quiet', reads placard being held by eco-zealots as they march through central London on Wednesday morning 'The only thing your achieving is p*****g people off.' It comes after a video shared yesterday by Just Stop Oil showed a man telling the demonstrators to 'f*** off, every single one of you' and 'move out of the way'. When he rips the banners from the hands of protesters and pushes them to the side of the road, police nearby go to stop him. One of the uniformed officers then tells the man 'if you push them, that's assault - if you do that, that is a crime', while the commuter can be heard complaining 'people have got to go to work'. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Conservative MP Peter Bone blasted what he described as 'upside down' policing. He said: 'There seems to be one rule for protesters and another for hard working individuals who want to go about their job. In a video taken today a man was told he would be committing assault if he tried to move Just Stop Oil supporters out of the road against their will 'They can break the law, block roads and do criminal damage, and nothing seems to happen. 'A motorist who just seems to want to get on with their job is threatened with effectively being arrested.' The former minister added: 'At the moment policing seems to be upside down. The people who are breaking the law and obstructing people going about their normal lives, nothing happens to them. The people who just want to get to work are getting into trouble. 'It's an Alice in Wonderland situation.' Last year, it took 275,000 bright pink roses to adorn the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Met Gala, the biggest night in fashion and one of the biggest concentrations of star power anywhere. It remains to be seen how the museums Great Hall will be decorated come the first Monday in May, but one thing is not in question: those entering it will look spectacular. The theme centers on the late designer Karl Lagerfeld, who made an indelible mark on luxury fashion in his long career at Chanel, Fendi and elsewhere. It is a theme not without controversy Lagerfeld was known for contentious remarks about everything from #MeToo to curvy bodies. Want to know what to expect as the big day approaches? Not to worry. Weve dusted off our annual guide for you here, with some key updates. What is the Met Gala anyway? It started in 1948 as a society midnight supper, and wasnt even at the Met. Fast forward 70-plus years, and the Met Gala is something totally different, one of the most photographed events in the world for its head-spinning red carpet though the carpet isnt always red. Were talking Rihanna as a bejeweled pope. Zendaya as Cinderella with a light-up gown. Katy Perry as a chandelier morphing into a hamburger. Also: Beyonce in her naked dress. Billy Porter as an Egyptian sun god, carried on a litter by six shirtless men. Lady Gagas 16-minute striptease. And, last year, host Blake Livelys Versace dress a tribute to iconic New York architecture that changed colors in front of our eyes. Then theres Kim Kardashian, bringing commitment to a whole other level. One year, she wore a dress so tight, she admitted she had to take breathing lessons beforehand. Two years ago, she wore a dark bodysuit that covered even her face. And last year she truly stole the carpet, showing up in Marilyn Monroes actual, rhinestone-studded Happy Birthday, Mr. President dress (borrowed from Ripleys Believe It or Not! museum), changing the minute she got inside to protect it. There was controversy later over suspicions, denied by Ripleys, that shed caused some damage. But still that was an entrance. (And, folks, shes coming back she posted a photo from Paris with Lagerfelds famous cat, Choupette, noting she was in the French capital scoping out possibilities for this years attire.) Its important to note that the party has a purpose last year, the evening earned $17.4 million for the Mets Costume Institute, a self-funding department. Yes, thats a heckuva lot for a gala. It also launches the annual spring exhibit that brings hundreds of thousands of visitors to the museum. But its the carpet itself that draws the worlds eyes, with the guest list strategically withheld until the last minute featuring a collection of notables from movies, music, fashion, sports, politics and social media that arguably makes for the highest celebrity wattage-per-square-foot of any party in the world. Whos hosting this year? This years five hosts are drawn from television (Emmy-winning writer, actor and producer Michaela Coel ); the movies (Oscar-winning actor Penelope Cruz, who has worked with Chanel for more than 20 years); sports (recently retired tennis superstar Roger Federer); and music (Grammy-winning songstress Dua Lipa). Finally there is Vogues Anna Wintour (do we need to tell you shes in fashion?) running the whole thing as usual. Is there always a theme? Yes. As mentioned above, the theme is Karl Lagerfeld, and the exhibit, Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty, looks at the designers stylistic vocabulary as expressed in aesthetic themes that appear time and again in his fashions from the 1950s to his final collection in 2019. Once again, it has been created by the Mets star curator, Andrew Bolton. Does everyone follow the theme? Not really. Some eschew it and just go for big and crazy. But expect some guests to carefully research the theme and come in perfect sync. It was hard to beat the carpet, for example, when the theme was tied to Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination and Rihanna came as the pope, Zendaya channeled Joan of Arc, and Perry navigated the crowd with a set of enormous angel wings. For Lagerfeld, the clothes may be a bit more, er, down to earth. How much do I have to pay for a Met Gala ticket? Wrong question. You cannot just buy a ticket. The right question is: If I were famous or powerful and got invited, how much would it cost? OK, if I were famous or powerful and got invited, how much would it cost? Well, you might not pay yourself. Generally companies buy tables. A fashion label would then host its desired celebrities. This year, the cost has gone up, as it does every few years due to rising expenses: Its now $50,000 for an individual ticket, and tables start at $300,000. So who gets invited? This year, there will be roughly 400 guests similar to recent years but still lower than pre-pandemic highs of 500-600. Wintour and her team still get to approve every guest. Trying to predict? Take out your pen and jot down some of your favorite names, the buzzier the better. Newly minted Oscar winners, for example, are a good bet. Broadway is a special favorite of Wintours. She also loves tennis this is not fashionable Federers first Met Gala. Now, cross everyone off your list except the very top. At this gala, everybodys A-list. That must be an exaggeration. Not really. Ask Tina Fey. She went in 2010 and later described walking around trying to find somebody normal to sit and talk with. That ended up being Barbara Walters. How can I watch? You can watch the whole carpet unfold on a Vogue livestream. If youre in New York, you can also join fans across the street, behind barricades, on Fifth Avenue or even further east on Madison. Timothee Chalamet has been known to greet fans. Do we know whos coming? And who isnt? Its secret. But reports slip out, often about who is not coming and why. You can count on various celebrity Chanel ambassadors showing up. What happens inside? Entering the museum, guests walk past what is usually an impossibly enormous flower arrangement in the lobby, with perhaps an orchestra playing nearby, and over to cocktails. Or, they head to view the exhibit. Cocktails are 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., but the most famous or those who plan to make the biggest entrance sometimes come (fashionably) later. Around 8 p.m., guests are summoned to dinner perhaps by a team of buglers (Are they going to do that between every course? actor Gary Oldman asked aloud one year). Is it fun for everyone? Occasionally, someone says no. Fey, in a comic rant to David Letterman in 2015, described the gala as a jerk parade and said it included everyone youd ever want to punch, if you had millions of arms. Amy Schumer left early in 2016 and said later she felt awkward and like it was a punishment. So they never came back, right? Wrong. Schumer was back in 2017. And then last year again. Hey, this is the Met Gala. A terrorist convicted of planning to bomb the London Stock Exchange and later recalled to prison will not be freed because it is feared he won't follow parole restrictions designed to keep the public safe. Shah Rahman, then 29, was one of four al Qaida-inspired British extremists who pleaded guilty to engaging in preparation for acts of terrorism in 2012. A hand-written target list discovered at the home of one of the men gave the names and addresses of the then London mayor Boris Johnson, two rabbis, the US embassy and the Stock Exchange. The conspiracy was stopped by undercover anti-terror police before firm dates could be set for attacks. Rahman was released from prison in 2017 on licence and with the imposition of terrorism notification requirements. Shah Rahman, then 29, pictured, was one of four al Qaida-inspired British extremists who pleaded guilty to engaging in preparation for acts of terrorism in 2012 He planned the attack alongside Usman Khan, who was freed on license in December 2018. In November 2019 he was shot dead by police after killing two in a terror attack on London Bridge Target: hand-written list discovered at the home of one of the men gave the names and addresses of the then London mayor Boris Johnson, two rabbis, the US embassy and the Stock Exchange (pictured) On August 6 2021 Rahman's wife was subjected to a port stop and an unauthorised number for him was found on her phone under the name 'hubby'. Police later carried out a search at his home which also uncovered an undeclared secret bank account. READ MORE: Convicted terrorist jailed for plotting to bomb Stock Exchange alongside London Bridge attacker Usman Khan is back behind bars after police found his secret bank account Advertisement Some proceeds from Rahman's online perfume business had been put into the account. Then aged 39, Rahman was recalled to prison on the 22nd March 2022. Under Registered Terrorism Offenders notices (RTOs), it is an offence if those required do not give police information such as a new telephone number or details of a bank account . In June 2022, Rahman admitted three breaches of a notification requirement in relation to an undeclared bank account, email and phone. At the Old Bailey, in mitigation, Audrey Mogan said Rahman had committed the breaches in efforts to rebuild his life, communicate with his wife and set up a small business. She said there was nothing nefarious in his activities and the defendant had positively engaged with authorities. He was given eight months in jail for each of the three breaches to run concurrently. The parole case was heard on the 21st February and Rahman appeared via video-link from prison. His team argued that he had a 'motivation and willingness to engage with relevant interventions.' MailOnline has obtained the board's written summary, which states: 'His behaviour was described as positive. Mr Rahman had also engaged with a relevant intervention to re-visit and build on work he had undertaken before his release.' Guilty: (Top row and left on 2nd row) Shah Rahman, Gurukanth Desai and Abdul Miah, who were part of the quartet guilty of the most serious terror charges in the case. On the 2nd row, right, is Omar Latif, from Cardiff. Left to right on the third row are Usman Khan and Mohammed Shahjahan from Stoke and on the bottom row are Mohibur Rahman and Nazam Hussain, also from Stoke The panel was told that a probation plan included a requirement to reside in designated accommodation for an extended period of time as well as strict limitations on Mr Rahman's contacts, movements and activities. But in a damning conclusion it stated: 'The panel concluded this plan was robust, but it did not have confidence Mr Rahman would comply with it.' It concluded: 'After considering the circumstances of Mr Rahman's index offending, the time he spent on licence, the events leading to his recall, the progress made since his return to custody and the evidence presented at the hearing and in the dossier, the panel was not satisfied that Mr Rahman was suitable for release.' Now aged 40, this was Rahman's first parole hearing since being recalled to prison. He will be eligible for a second hearing in two-years time. If not considered safe enough to be released on parole, Rahman will be automatically released at the end of his sentence in December 2029. A spokesperson for the Parole Board confirmed: 'We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board refused the release of Shah Rahman 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.' Rahman was one of nine terrorists convicted of various charges at Woolwich Crown Court in 2012 after a huge police and security service operation on three gangs of extremists based around Stoke-on-Trent, Cardiff and London. Phillip Schofield's paedophile brother Timothy has been sacked from his job with the police three weeks after he was found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage boy. Civilian police worker Timothy Schofield, 54, told the jury in court that he had watched pornography with the boy, whom he insisted was over the age of 16 at the time. He said they had also performed sex acts while sitting apart, but denied performing sexual acts on the teenager. However, he was convicted of 11 sex offences against the child. Today Avon and Somerset Police announced Schofield has been sacked following a misconduct hearing yesterday. Schofield, from Bath, had worked in IT services at the heart of the organisation in the force's headquarters in Portishead. Timothy Schofield (right) told his TV star brother (left) in September 2021 that he performed a sex act with the boy, according to a witness statement Phillip gave to the court ACC Will White, in outlining the findings of the panel, said: 'Timothy Schofield committed a series of manipulative and exploitative offences against someone in a position of vulnerability. The details and impact of his criminality were distressing to read for the panel, as they would be for members of the public. 'The panel is grateful for the courage shown by the victim and all those who provided information and evidence to the investigation team, which resulted in him being brought to justice for these abhorrent crimes. 'Timothy Schofield's position as a member of a police organisation makes his responsibility all the greater in terms of his offending behaviour. The harm he's caused has been serious and extensive. 'His criminal conviction undermines the public's trust and confidence in the police service and its employees who work tirelessly to build that trust, particularly at this time of national scrutiny.' Timothy Schofield was convicted of 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019 After the case This Morning star Phillip, 61, said: 'As far as I am concerned, I no longer have a brother.' Schofield was convicted of 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019, including two of sexual activity with a child, following a trial at Exeter Crown Court. Phillip's brother cited 'mental health struggles' as a reason for his actions, whilst he also accused the victim of 'exaggerating' what happened. The IT worker was suspended in December 2021. Detective Inspector Keith Smith said: 'This defendant has exploited and abused the victim by carrying out a sickening series of offences over a significant period of time. 'Although the defendant does not work in a public-facing role, and the offences are not linked to his employment, we know the fact he works for the police will be a matter of public concern.' An NSPCC spokesman said: 'Child sexual abuse can have devastating and long-lasting impact on a person's life and Timothy Schofield's actions were deeply harmful. A man has admitted performing a sex act while kneeling over a captured seagull and watching pornography on his mobile phone. David Lee, 40, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the bird at 1am on August 17 in a back street of Gladstone Street, Sunderland. Gulls on the roof of South Tyneside Magistrates' Court could be heard calling out as the bench watched CCTV of the 'bizarre' incident. Lesley Burgess, prosecuting, told the court Lee chased one bird before picking up a smaller gull - and was caught on CCTV performing a sex act. He then gave the bird a 'little kick', the court heard. David Lee, 40, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the bird at 1am on August 17 in a back street of Gladstone Street, Sunderland Lesley Burgess, prosecuting, told the court Lee chased one bird before picking up a smaller gull - and was caught on CCTV performing a sex act. He then gave the bird a 'little kick', the court heard. Pictured: Gladstone Street, Sunderland Lee was arrested at a nearby takeaway and told police he picked up the gull because he thought it was hurt and was looking on his phone to find out what he should do. But instead of searching for a vet's phone number, as he claimed to have done, police checks revealed Lee had actually been looking at porn sites, the court was told. Annalisa Moscardini, defending, said Lee has a history of 'mental ill health' and asked for a psychiatric report to be prepared ahead of sentencing. Magistrates adjourned the case for sentencing at 2pm on May 23. Chairman of the Bench, Fay Gilbert, told Lee: 'The word "bizarre" has been used on more than one occasion. 'I have to say that, as experienced magistrates, it is one of the most unusual cases we have come across in the magistrates' court. 'We do find this to be a deliberate or gratuitous attempt to cause suffering to an animal, or shall we say, a bird, and therefore we feel that a psychiatric report would be most appropriate in this case.' David Lee, 40, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the bird at 1am on August 17 in a back street of Gladstone Street, Sunderland Ms Burgess said the prosecution will ask for an order preventing Lee from owning animals. Anna Malia, founder of North East Animal Rights group and volunteer with animal charity, Pawz for Thought, condemned Lee's actions. She said: 'We are satisfied with today's outcome. It sends a clear message that animals are innocent and humans are not superior. 'When this bird was ill and in need of medical attention, they were captured, brutalised, and kicked aside when the perpetrator had finished with them.' She continued: 'We want to say a huge thank you to Northumbria Police and PC Peter Baker for their dedication and commitment to bring this case to court. We want to send a message to those who think it is acceptable to hurt wildlife - we will find you, we will pursue you through the legal system with all the publicity that may bring.' A man who worked at an amusement park has died after suffering serious head injuries during an accident on a ride. The 52-year-old was injured while carrying out daily testing and maintenance at Ocean Beach Amusement Park in South Shields, Tyneside last month. Northumbria Police announced the death of a man and said a report has been made for the coroner. The force and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation into the accident and have since determined that no criminal offences were committed. Authorities have issued their condolences to the victim's loved ones, saying: 'Our thoughts are with his family'. The 52-year-old became injured in a workplace accident at Ocean Beach Amusement Park in South Shields, Tyneside last month Police, paramedics and the air ambulance were called to the amusement park in South Shields on Sunday, March 19 following reports of a workplace accident. The victim was rushed to Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle in critical condition. Ocean Beach Management, which runs the amusement park, confirmed that a work-related incident had taken place during daily testing and maintenance. The company said the tragedy happened at ground level on an amusement ride before it was open to the public. No other employees or members of the public were injured during the incident. Authorities cordoned off the scene and carried out a range of inquiries into the incident. Northumbria Police and the HSE said today that officials are satisfied that no criminal offences were committed. A police spokesman said: 'A full investigation was carried out into a report that a man had been injured in a workplace accident at Ocean Beach Amusement Park in South Shields last month. 'Officers worked alongside the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) to carry out a range of enquiries into the incident and are satisfied that no criminal offences were committed. The man injured has since sadly died and all our thoughts are with his family. A report has been made for the coroner.' A HSE spokesman added: 'We offer our condolences to the family. This matter has been passed to the coroner.' A supermarket sex pest who took upskirt pictures of young girls was caught after his Tesco Clubcard placed him at the scene of his crimes. Ian Betts, 61, was spotted acting suspiciously as he bent over next to a teenage girl shopper to take an upskirt photo in a Tesco store in Mold, North Wales. Police found a haul of snatched pictures on his home computer and matched the dates with his Clubcard. Betts was jailed for two years and nine months after his sick upskirting habit was exposed. Prosecutor David Mainstone said Betts were seen on CCTV when a shopper spotted him acting suspiciously in the shop. Ian Betts, 61, was jailed for two years and nine months after his sick upskirting habit was exposed Police found a haul of snatched photographs on Betts' home computer and matched them to store CCTV using his Tesco Clubcard He was seen standing behind a 16-year-old girl when his phone 'lit up' as he bent his knees and angled the camera up her skirt. Betts was 'swiftly grabbed by the scruff of his jacket' before the girl and her father were alerted. The outraged father demanded to see what was on his phone - and Betts was marched to the customer service desk to be arrested by police. Officers discovered two hard drives that contained more than 2,900 indecent images and videos. It also led to the discovery that more women and girls had been targeted by Betts in the supermarket. The court heard Betts' Clubcard was analysed to find when he had been in the store. The dates were cross-referenced with the shop's CCTV and his own videos to identify the victims, who were found to include four adult women and three further schoolgirls - with the youngest just 11 years old. When interviewed, Betts blamed his 'leg fetish' and 'obsessive compulsive disorder' for his crimes. The court heard from the eldest schoolgirl victim, 16, who said she was left feeling so paranoid going out in public places after the incident that she felt safest when her family formed a 'protective bubble' around her. A mother of another young victim told the court she felt torn about telling her daughter about what Betts had done to her in order to preserve her childhood innocence. A Tesco staff member said the shocking revelations had made the management 'feel sick' that he was a able to carry out his crimes so often without being noticed. Robin Boag, defending, said Betts has remained out of trouble since he was caught. Betts, of Carmel, Flintshire, was jailed at Mold Crown Court today after admitting recording under clothing, making indecent images, taking indecent images, possessing prohibited images and attempted upskirting. Judge Rhys Rowlands described up-skirting crimes as 'particularly discomforting'. He was jailed for two years and nine months and given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order banning him from entering the store. After Betts was jailed, the court was told the vigilant Tesco customer who raised the alarm should be thanked for his actions. The judge said that 'this behaviour could have continued' had he not done so. Investigating officers DC James Moult and PCSI Erin Shawcross said: 'Ian Betts is a dangerous offender who preyed on women and girls whilst they went about their day-to-day activities, unaware that they were being targeted and filmed for nothing other than his own sexual gratification. 'We would like to praise the victims and their families for supporting this investigation throughout, and for the courage they have shown in providing their accounts under such difficult circumstances.' Rishi Sunak today said he was 'moved' and inspired after meeting three fathers who completed huge charity walks after losing their daughters to suicide. The trio travelled 300 miles in memory of their children, hoping the 'extraordinary journey' would raise awareness for suicide prevention and spare other families from their agony. Speaking to the group, Mr Sunak emotionally said the campaign had 'struck a chord' because of his own young daughters - calling the dads 'inspiring'. The group have raised over 1,000,000 for young suicide charity PAPYRUS and more than 160,000 signed their petition to make suicide prevention a compulsory part of the school curriculum. The trio travelled 300 miles in memory of their children, hoping the 'extraordinary journey' would raise awareness for suicide prevention and spare other families from their agony. Pictured left to right: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen With them, the three dads brought the names of bereaved families and the loved ones who took their own lives from people they met on their mammoth journey Rishi Sunak emotionally said the campaign had 'struck a chord' because of his own young daughters - calling the dads 'inspiring' With them, they brought the names of bereaved families and the loved ones who took their own lives from people they met on their mammoth journey. Mr Sunak, speaking on the BBC, said: 'It's such a privilege to welcome you here. 'When Neil [Hudson MP] talked about you in Prime Minister's Question Time and I learnt a little but about all your stories it was so moving. 'I have two young girls so it particularly struck a chord with me - they are younger than yours were but it just made you think about these things.' He added: 'To have suffered the tragic losses that all of you have had, but then to channel that into raising awareness so that people know that there is somewhere that they can go and talk to - it's inspiring and you deserve enormous praise for that.' The dads told the Prime Minister that we need to be proactive in delivering information to youngsters. They have since hinted that they might take up the challenge once more - tweeting: 'Looks like we need to walk again.' Mr Sunak even promised to join them for a stretch - if they ever went close to his constituency in North Yorkshire. Mr Owen's daughter Emily (pictured) also passed away in March 2020 after trying to take her own life five days earlier Mr Owen (pictured with daughter Emily as a child) described her as 'the life and soul of an event and our house'. She took her life in March 2020, unable to cope with life under lockdown, according to her dad Tim Owen, Mike Palmer and Andy Airey took what they have learnt walking across the country talking to people about suicide prevention to the Prime Minister. Despite having a target of 3,000 each, after their first walk they raised over 800,000 Their current total stands at over 1,000,000, with over 160,000 people having signed their petition to make suicide prevention a compulsory part of the school curriculum Mr Owen added: 'When you talk to the mums and dads of 11-year-olds that have taken their own lives, we need to get to them quite early. 'We need to be talking about this because if we don't they'll look at it on their mobile phones and that's a whole world of hurt.' Mr Sunak agreed and said: 'We need to be much more careful about what our young people are being exposed to online.' The group - called 3 Dads Walking - have previously picked up sponsorship from the likes of James Bond star Daniel Craig, who donated 10,000. Writing on their website before the meeting, Tim Owen, Mike Palmer and Andy Airey said: 'We are delighted to be invited to meet him and take our campaign to have age-appropriate suicide prevention included as a compulsory part of the school curriculum to the centre of Government. READ MORE: Daniel Craig donates 10K to three fathers on suicide prevention charity walk in memory of their daughters The dads said the donation from Daniel Craig was a welcome surprise Advertisement 'From walking and talking we have learnt that suicide does not discriminate and whoever you are you could be touched by this total waste of precious life. 'By teaching our young people how to handle suicidal thoughts and where to turn to, we will be giving them the life-skills to survive and investing in our nation's future. We have seen this first-hand. 'When we meet the Prime Minster on Tuesday, we will be carrying the names of the many suicide-bereaved families we have met along the way and the names of their loved ones who took their own lives. 'Their stories and names are now part of our story.' After speaking to the Prime Minister, Mr Palmer added: 'We had a great conversation - we covered a lot of things. 'The Prime Minister is a father himself. He wants his kids to be safe.' The three dads performed the incredible feat in support of the national charity PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide, which believes many young suicides can be prevented. Despite having a target of 3,000 each, after their first walk they raised over 800,000. Their current total stands at over 1,000,000, with over 160,000 people having signed their petition to make suicide prevention a compulsory part of the school curriculum. The trio set off in October 2021 from Mr Airey's house in Cumbria before heading South through South Lakeland and Lancashire to Mr Palmer's home in Greater Manchester. Next, they turned south east, through Cheshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, arriving at Tim's family home in King's Lynn. In 2022 they did a second walk - journeying between the parliaments of the four nations. Mr Palmer, a firefighter from South Manchester, lost his daughter Beth in March 2020. He believes her decision was partly driven by Covid and lockdown. Prior to starting the walk, he said: 'She hated the fact that she could not finish college with her friends and saw all her plans being cancelled one by one.' Mr Palmer, a firefighter from South Manchester, lost his daughter Beth (pictured) in March 2020. He believes her decision was partly driven by Covid and lockdown Mr Palmer with Beth (pictured) when she was a child. The bereaved dad said 'that terrible word 'suicide' and Beth never belong in the same sentence' The 17-year-old had released a music single called Pixel Screens, which topped the charts soon after her death and is available on all major streaming platforms. Mr Palmer said: '3 Dads Walking is not a club I want to belong to, but along with Andy and Tim it gives us, as fathers, an opportunity to fight back and maybe make a difference. 'We are all too aware that there are more young people out there falling into despair and see no way out other than to end their own precious lives. 'We hope that by linking our three homes and telling our three daughters' very different stories we will put a spotlight on young mental health and ultimately the brutal effects of suicide.' Mr Owen's daughter Emily also passed away in March 2020 after trying to take her own life five days earlier. The 19-year-old, who had been diagnosed with autism late in life, was equally struggling to cope with 'life under lockdown', he believes. In 2021, Mr Owen said: 'I strongly believe that in a moment of darkness my daughter made a wrong decision. 'Two minutes earlier or later it would have been different. 'Had she just taken time to think or to speak to someone, her decision and my family's lives would be on another path. 'Instead she decided she could no longer go on, leaving behind a devastating ripple effect on her family and friends. 'She just had no idea how many lives she touched and continues to impact.' Mr Airey's daughter Sophie took her own life on 19 December 2018, shortly after separating from her husband Sam. Mr Airey's daughter Sophie took her own life on 19 December 2018, shortly after separating from her husband Sam Mr Airey (pictured with daughter Sophie) said 'we are determined to bring something positive out of the utter devastation of losing Sophie' The 29-year-old was due to return home a day later for the festive season and had taken a lease on a 'lovely apartment', having been offered a new position at work, which she seemed 'excited about', according to her father. Before the walk, Mr Airey said: 'Suicide is the biggest killer of young people under the age of 35 in the UK. 'We only learned this terrifying fact because each of us has lost a daughter to suicide within the last three years. 'By raising awareness, we hope to prevent other families from suffering such indescribable pain and bring something positive out of the utter devastation of losing a child to suicide.' A former Metropolitan Police officer accused of using dead people's bank card details to buy goods and sell them on has appeared in court following a corruption investigation. Muhammed Mustafa Darr, 37, also allegedly stole a laptop and a bag from a Mercedes belonging to a suspect who had been arrested by his colleagues. He is also accused of using police computer systems to look up information about himself and others and advising a man to destroy evidence linking him to an investigation. Darr was charged with three counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of perverting the course of justice between December 2018 and June 2020 while he was a constable on a response unit following an investigation into alleged corruption. Appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court today, Darr spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address in Walthamstow, east London. Former Met Officer Muhammed Mustafa Darr, 37, (pictured arriving at Westminster Magistrates' Court today) is accused of using dead people's bank cards to buy goods and sell them on (File Photo) The former policeman was not asked to enter pleas to any of the charges, which are indictable only, meaning they can only be tried in the Crown Court Darr, who was based at the Met's North Area Basic Command Unit, was not asked to enter pleas to any of the charges, which are indictable only, meaning they can only be tried in the Crown Court. One of the misconduct charges states he is accused of 'abusing his position' to 'acquire credit/debit card details of deceased members of the public'. Darr allegedly used the details 'to acquire or seek to acquire goods or money transfers for himself or others by fraud, and to sell on goods obtained fraudulently'. Another misconduct charge alleges he used police computer systems to look up information about himself and others 'without any legitimate policing purpose'. The third states he stole 'a laptop computer and a bag and its contents' from a Mercedes belonging to a suspect who had been arrested by his colleagues. Darr also allegedly perverted the course of justice between March 22 2020 and June 6 2020 by using his access to look up the progress of a police investigation linked to Asif Mushtaq. The charge states Darr then 'spoke to Ali Ikram and Asif Mushtaq, advising Asif Mushtaq to conceal or destroy evidence linking him to the investigation'. District Judge Briony Clarke granted Darr bail ahead of his next appearance at Southwark Crown Court on May 24 on the condition he resides at his home address. Darr was charged following an investigation carried out by the Met's directorate of professional standards under the direction of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Political commentator and YouTuber Steven Crowder, 35, revealed that he and his wife, Hilary, 36, are getting a divorce after a decade of marriage. Crowder made the announcement on Tuesday during an episode of his podcast, Louder with Crowder. The online personality explained that Hilary filed for divorce sometime in 2021. 'I have been living with a proverbial boot on my neck for going on years now,' Crowder said. 'Since 2021, I've been living through what has increasingly been a horrendous divorce.' Crowder made the divorce announcement on Tuesday during an episode of his podcast, Louder with Crowder. The pair married on August 25 2012 after three months of engagement Crowder made clear that his marriage ended for reasons linked to naturally growing apart, rather than any infidelity or abuse. 'And no, this was not my choice,' he added. 'My then-wife decided that she didn't want to be married anymore and in the state of Texas, that is completely permitted.' Crowder called it the most heartbreaking experience of his life and considers the divorce his 'deepest personal failure.' What does Texas law say about no-fault divorce? In Texas, a divorce is not final for at least 60 days after a petition is filed. It typically takes up to six months to one year or longer to finalize a divorce, depending on the complexity of the issues and the degree of conflict. Texas does not recognize legal separation. This means that even when you are living apart from your spouse, all of the property you or your spouse acquire is community propertyregardless of the way it is titledand all debt you or your spouse acquire is community debt. Essentially, you are married until you are legally divorced. Texas law allows for 'no-fault' divorce, which means the spouse filing for divorce does not have to prove any fault, wrong doing or marital misconduct on the part of the other spouse. However, a judge may take fault into consideration when determining what is a fair division of the parties' marital property. A divorce can cost anywhere between hundreds to thousands of dollars, with the average running somewhere between $15,000 to $30,000. Advertisement Steven Crowder is an American-Canadian conservative political commentator, media host, and comedian. He is also a former contributor at Fox News. Crowder is best known for his recurring segment on his podcast called 'Change My Mind' and wider YouTube channel, where he has 6 million subscribers on his podcast, and 1.21 million on his secondary channel Crowder Bits. The commentator is estimated to be worth $20million. His YouTube channel reportedly earns him $80,000 a month with ad and viewership revenue. He said that he and his ex-wife Hilary decided to keep the divorce issue private for the safety of their two children. 'In all this, one thing I wanna be really clear about is certain. True north here is that my children are blameless, completely without fault, and so we decided to resolve these issues privately as it's in their best interest both emotionally and physically to do so.' It is as yet not clear if the divorce has been finalized yet but Crowder says that it has been an issue that he has been dealing with for 'years.' 'I loved a woman so much that I married her,' said Crowder. 'A woman who, despite all of this, I still love as the mother of my children and she wanted something else for her life. 'That's not my choice, she simply wanted out and the law says that that's how it works.' The pair married on August 25 2012 after three months of engagement. They since went on to welcome twins, Magnus and Charlotte, in August 2021. Previously, they announced their engagement in March of the same year. The podcaster revealed via FOX News: 'Our wedding was perfect. Our wedding night was nothing short of amazing. 'Feeling judged? I couldn't care less. You know why? Because my wife and I were judged all throughout our relationship. 'People laughed, scoffed, and poked fun at the young, celibate, naive Christian couple. 'We'd certainly never make it to the wedding without schtupping, and if we did, our 'wedding night would be awkward and terrible,' they said. 'Turns out that people couldn't have been more wrong.' Crowder has faced backlash over his YouTube channel various times and was kicked out of the YouTube Partner program for a year, meaning he could not monetize his videos. His account was then reinstated in 2020. A man who tried to kill a teenage girl who he hunted her 'like an animal' with a compound bow and arrow in an Aldi supermarket will spend the next 10 years and six months in jail. Benjamin Jeremy Bourke, 28, pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday to the attempted murder of the teenage girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons at an Aldi shopping centre in Booval, west of Brisbane, in September 2020. Crown Prosecutor Matt Le Grand told the court Bourke had armed himself with the compound bow, two knives and three small sledge hammers when he left his Bundamba home on September 20, 2020. Benjamin Bourke, 28, shot a 15-year-old girl with a compound bow in 2020 Bourke pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday to the attempted murder of the teenage girl The court heard Bourke had an argument with his housemate earlier in the day and decided to end his life. Mr Le Grand said his solution was to get the police to shoot him and he constructed a plan to achieve that goal. 'He decided to take a life, he just didn't know which life he would take,' Mr Le Grand said. The court heard Bourke had made his way on foot while wearing a mask, hoodie and full length pants. CCTV footage played in court showed Bourke walking from Booval Railway Station along South Station Rd armed with a compound bow. Mr Le Grand said Bourke had considered 'choosing' to shoot a mother who was with her small child 'as his target' but decided to find someone else to attack. The CCTV footage also showed Bourke firing his compound bow at an Indigenous woman who was jogging nearby but the arrow missed her. 'His reason for [shooting at her] was that the woman was indigenous and he didn't like indigenous [people],' Mr Le Grand said. He will now spend the next 10 and a half years in prison, with the two and a half years he's already served counting as time served Mr Le Grand said Bourke continued onto the shopping precinct as 'there would be more witnesses at the shops'. 'Causing an alarm was part of Mr Bourke's plan,' he said. 'It's when he reached the Aldi shop, he found his target.' The court heard the teenage girl was locking her bike on the street when Bourke spotted her. He walked up to her and removed his mask and said 'I'll let you see who I am first' before he shot his compound bow, firing an arrow which narrowly missed her. Mr Le Grand said the girl entered the Aldi store in an effort to escape but Bourke 'pursued' and released another arrow which grazed her right arm. CCTV footage shows Bourke stalking the girl around the store as she tried to hide behind a pallet. He shot at her again, this time penetrating her left hand, phone and upper torso causing an injury to her fingers and chest. The girl managed to escape his sight and showed her injury to customer, as the arrow could still be seen lodged into her torso. Bourke can then be seen approaching the girl from behind in one of the aisles and shooting at her again but misses. The girl runs away again and manages to find another customer who shields her from Bourke as he continues to calmly stalk around the store. Bourke was arrested after two men tackled him to the ground and disarmed him during the incident in 2020 Bourke fires one more arrow at the girl but misses. Mr Le Grand said Bourke, while armed with a small sledge hammer, then walked up to the girl asking for his arrow back but she refused. Bourke then puts his weapons on the ground as he tries to speak to the girl, while other customers continue to wander the store. Two men then approach him and tackle him to the ground before police arrive. Other members of the public had been seen fleeing the store when they saw Bourke carrying the compound bow. The court heard the entire incident lasted about four to five minutes from the second Bourke chose the girl as his intended victim to when he was tackled to the ground. Mr Le Grand said Bourke had shown a 'selfish mindset' on that day and lack of remorse since the attack. 'She was hunted like an animal around the store for about four minutes,' he said. 'The offence is protracted, it was persistent and could have easily had other consequences and indeed that was Mr Bourke's intent. 'This was a premeditated and purposeful attack, the offending occurred in public. 'Therefore it's not just an example of violence in public but violence deliberately in public.' The court heard Bourke had been diagnosed with mixed personality disorder and was a regular cannabis user. The court heard the teenage girl was locking her bike on the street outside of an Aldi store when Bourke approached her Mr Le Grand said while these health issues were a 'contributing factor' to his offending, Bourke was well aware of his actions and their consequences. 'He was able to express his thought process in deciding his ultimate target,' he said. 'The fact that he was able to decide not to target the woman with the child and proceed the consequences of that course, if he'd embarked upon killing that woman who had the baby, demonstrates he was able to reason properly about difference'. Mr Le Grand said Bourke has never inquired about the girl's health following the attack despite 'multiple opportunities to express remorse'. The court heard Bourke had read the victim impact statements last week. 'Upon reflection on those things he instructed me he is sorry,' Bourke's defence barrister, Charlotte Smith, said. 'That's the first occasion that's been expressed.' Bourke approached the teenager and said 'I'll let you see who I am first' before he began hunting her around the store Ms Smith told the court her client's mental health had played a role in the attack in Aldi and 'it's less likely the offending would have occurred in the first place' if he hadn't been dealing with those issues. Justice Tom Sullivan sentenced Bourke to 10 years and six months in jail. The 946 days he's already served in custody will be taken into account in his service. 'This was not a crime of passion, or immediacy, it was a series of events over time,' Justice Sullivan said. He added that he took into account Bourke's mental health condition when sentencing but ultimately found he was aware of his actions that day. 'There was a connection between those matters and the offending on this day however again consistent with the opinion expressed by [the psychiatrist's report] it seems that you were cognitive of what was right and wrong and you had the ability in effect to control yourself and to know what you were doing,' he said. A landmark Covid-19 vaccine injury class action lawsuit has been filed against the Australian government and the medicines regulator. The nation-wide suit, which reportedly has 500 members including three named applicants, seeks redress for those allegedly left injured or bereaved by the Covid-19 vaccines. One of the applicants who suffered a severe heart condition after getting the Pfizer jab is even claiming there was 'cover-up' during the vaccine rollout which hid the potential risks. The federal government, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the Department of Health - in addition to a number of senior public servants - are all named as parties to the class action, which was filed in the New South Wales Federal Court on Wednesday. The named parties are accused of negligence in their approval and monitoring of Covid-19 vaccines, breach of statutory duty and misfeasance in public office. The lawsuit was organised by Queensland GP Dr Melissa McCann who raised over $105,000 through crowd funding. The class action was organised by Queensland GP Dr Melissa McCann who raised over $105,000 through crowd funding Dr McCann said the injured and bereaved have 'suffered immense loss, pain and grief' and called out the alleged 'gaslighting and silence' they had been subjected to 'These injured and bereaved have suffered immense loss, pain and grief,' Dr McCann tweeted. 'Just as heartbreaking has been the gaslighting and silence, which has left them feeling abandoned. We cannot simply 'move on' from covid and leave them behind.' Dr McCann has been critical of the existing compensation scheme, claiming it was 'not fit for purpose'. 'Many vaccine-injured Australians who cannot access compensation through the Services Australia scheme now find themselves abandoned, with no support,' Dr McCann said. The size of the compensation claim being sought is not yet clear. The TGA has been contacted for comment. The TGAs latest health safety report, published on 20 April, reveals that adverse risks are extremely low. There were 138,307 total adverse event reports from nearly 66 million vaccine doses administered - a rate of just 0.2 per cent. 'The protective benefits of vaccination far outweigh the potential risks,' the report states. Melbourne teacher Gareth O'Gradie is one of the named applicants on the class action. He was diagnosed with vaccine-induced pericarditis and required open heart surgery The medicines regulator has identified a total of 14 reports where the cause of death was linked to vaccination and said there was no new vaccine-related deaths identified since 2022. 'The TGA closely monitors reports of suspected side effects (also known as adverse events) to the COVID-19 vaccines,' it said. 'This is the most intensive safety monitoring ever conducted of any vaccines in Australia.' But instructing solicitor Natalie Strijland, of Brisbane law firm NR Barbi, said the action would argue the TGA caused considerable harm and damage by failing to regulate the COVID-19 vaccinations properly. The class action names three applicants, one of whom is 41-year old father-of-two Gareth O'Gradie. Mr O'Gradie, a teacher from Melbourne, was left with a 20-centimetre scar down his chest after developing severe pericarditis inflammation of the lining around the heart following his first Pfizer vaccination in July 2021. He did not respond to various medications and therapies and in February 2022 doctors performed open heart surgery to remove his the pericardial sac lining his heart. The TGA said myocarditis and pericarditis were 'usually temporary conditions, with most people getting better within a few days', noting that the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) 'continues to emphasise that the protective benefits of the vaccines far outweigh the rare risk of these side effects'. But Mr O'Gradie believes there has been 'misinformation about the safety' of the vaccines from the government. The federal government, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the Department of Health - in addition to a number of senior public servants - are all named as parties to the class action, which was filed in the New South Wales Federal Court (stock image) 'I think there has been some cover-up,' he told news.com.au. 'There was a lot of, you know, 'We need to not scare the public as part of the vaccine rollout, so let's not publicise these things.' There was a large, intentional withholding of information that doesn't give people informed consent.' He claimed that he was 'totally not or never have been anti-vaccine'. 'I'm pro-science, I'm well educated,' he said. Mr O'Gradie told The Australian that he was worried about the 'anti-vaccine lobby piggybacking' on the class action. He is joined by two other lead claimants: Antonio Derose, 66, who developed encephalomyelitis (inflammation in the brain and spinal cord) following his AstraZeneca jab and Anthony Rose, 47, who claims severe cognitive impairment and chronic fatigue following his Moderna vaccination. The existing compensation scheme, which is open to Australians who 'suffer a moderate to severe impact following an adverse reaction to a TGA-approved COVID-19 vaccine', has been heavily criticised for being difficult to access and too narrowly focused. As of April 12, Services Australia had received 3501 applications and paid 137 claims totalling more than $7.3 million. Another 2263 claims are still in progress, while 405 have been withdrawn and 696 deemed not payable. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. A former aide to Boris Johnson hoping to become the Tory candidate for London mayor has admitted he is 'uncomfortable' with the Rwanda migrant deportation programme. Samuel Kasumu, an ex-adviser to the former prime minister on race relations, lashed out at the plan to send thousands who cross the Channel in small boats to east Africa. Mr Kasumu has picked up the backing of a string of serving and former ministers including Energy Secretary Grant Shapps, Northern Ireland Office minister Steve Baker and former home secretary Priti Patel. But asked by Talk TV whether he backed the Rwanda scheme signed by Mrs Patel, he said: 'If I was Home Secretary I'd be very uncomfortable with it.' 'I am the son of an immigrant as you mentioned earlier. London is the city where 37 per cent of the population were not born in this country. So if I want to be Mayor of London, I have to be one that is completely comfortable with the idea of immigration.' Samuel Kasumu, an ex-adviser to the former prime minister on race relations, lashed out at the plan to send thousands who cross the Channel in small boats to east Africa. Mr Kasumu has picked up the backing of a string of serving and former ministers including ex-home secretary Priti Patel. But asked by Talk TV whether he backed the Rwanda scheme she signed, he said: ' If I was Home Secretary I'd be very uncomfortable with it.' As part of his campaign to be chosen as the Tory candidate for London mayor he has said he would allow outer boroughs to hold referenda on Sadiq Khan's ULEZ tax on vehicles. Mr Kasumu was a special adviser to the Prime Minister on civil society until April 2021. The stepped down when a Government-backed review said Britain is no longer a country where the 'system is deliberately rigged against ethnic minorities'. He later said some Conservatives believe the path to victory at the next election includes exploiting division and warned a 'culture war' will lead to murder on Britain's streets. He is currently a councillor on Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council in Hertfordshire. He is originally from Barnet and studied business and management accounting at Brunel University - where he was student president. He graduated with a 2:1 and later received a postgraduate degree in Ethnicity, Migration, & Policy from Birkbeck, University of London. As part of his campaign to be chosen as the Tory candidate for London mayor he has said he would allow outer boroughs to hold referenda on Sadiq Khan's ULEZ tax on vehicles. Mr Kazumu, 35, said the issue would be a 'key battleground in the next mayoral election in 2024. Mr Khan plans to extend the Ultra Low Emission Zone to all 32 boroughs of London in August, meaning owners of older and more polluting vehicles will have to pay a 12.50 daily charge to travel around the capital. Mr Shapps said Mr Kasumu has London 'in his heart', adding: 'I've worked with Samuel Kasumu for over five years in my Welwyn Hatfield constituency where he has been a hardworking councillor. 'He has served distinctively both as a councillor and more recently as cabinet member for climate change and the environment. 'If Samuel is selected as the Conservative mayoral candidate he will be severely missed in Welwyn Hatfield, but it has always been clear that London is in his heart. 'The capital is both where he was born and where he grew up. I wish him all the best and look forward to supporting him in his next phase.' Ms Patel described Mr Kasumu as 'authentic' and 'hardworking', and said he has a 'deep commitment to improve the lives of London's citizens and bringing communities from across our great City together'. Mr Kasumu said: 'I am delighted to have these endorsements. Very soon London Conservatives will have the opportunity to select the candidate they feel is best suited to pull off one of the greatest upsets in modern political history. 'I believe that person is me, and I look forward to making the case in the coming weeks and months.' Tech billionaire Peter Thiel doesn't plan to back any 2024 candidates due to the Republican Party's increased shift toward a more conservative stance on cultural issues and his desire for the focus to remain on innovation and competition. The Republican megadonor was an early backer of Donald Trump, but later broke from the highly-divisive former president. Thiel, two people close to him told Reuters, now doesn't plan to throw his coveted endorsement behind any candidate in the 2024 presidential race. It's unclear how this could impact his donations in this election cycle. Besides Trump, announced candidates so far are former South Carolina Gov. and Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and biotech multi-millionaire Vivek Ramaswamy. Billionaire Republican megadonor Peter Thiel doesn't plan to back any candidate in the 2024 GOP primary or general election Several others have hinted or are rumored to be considering entering the race. This includes highly popular Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has almost exclusively made it into the spotlight due to focus on cultural issues and fighting the 'woke' establishment. A business associate of Thiel claims he is unhappy with the Republican Party's focus on hot-button cultural issues and specifically cited two examples as abortion and restrictions on which bathrooms transgender students can use in schools. Thiel came to this conclusion to keep clear of an endorsement by late 2022, the two sources claim. He believes Republicans are making a mistake in focusing on cultural flashpoints and should be more concerned with spurring U.S. innovation - a major issue for him - and competing with China, the business associate said. The German-born entrepreneur has a fortune estimated at around $4.2 billion after co-founding PayPal and Palantir and investing early in Facebook. He has contributed around $50 million to state and federal political candidates and campaigns since 2000, and he was the 10th largest individual donor to either party in the 2022 midterm congressional elections, according to OpenSecrets. Thiel's plans for avoiding wading into the waters of the Republican primary and general election have not been previously reported, but digital outlet Puck previously reported that Thiel was most likely either to support Trump again or sit out the primary. Thiel declined a Reuters request for an interview. Thiel previously backed Donald Trump before dropping him because he disapproved of the chaos surrounding the former reality TV star's presidency, a source close with Thiel claims When Thiel spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention, he had more hope that the party would concentrate on economic issues, his business associate said. 'I am proud to be gay,' Thiel said on stage. 'But most of all I am proud to be an American. I don't pretend to agree with every plank in our party's platform, but fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline, and nobody in this race is being honest about it except Donald Trump.' Four political sources also told Reuters that Thiel is taking a step back from U.S. politics. Thiel, who diverged from his Silicon Valley peers with his embrace of conservative causes, identifies as a supporter of libertarianism, a political philosophy that stresses the importance of individual freedoms. Thiel's decision to bow out of involvement in endorsing a candidate this time around underlines how the Republican Party's swing to the right on social issues is alienating some prominent, business-minded donors. Several top donors have said they are hesitant to support Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is expected to announce a run for the White House soon, after he signed a bill into law that bans most abortions after six weeks in Florida. None said they intended to sit out the entire 2024 election cycle as a consequence. In 2012, Thiel backed libertarian lawmaker Ron Paul, and in 2016 he donated some $1.25 million to the campaign efforts of Trump, who is the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination. Thiel did not financially back Trump's re-election efforts in 2020, according to OpenSecrets. While he liked some of Trump's policies while in office, he disapproved of the chaos surrounding the former reality TV star's presidency, said one of the sources close to Thiel personally. In the 2022 election cycle, however, Thiel emerged as a potential Republican kingmaker, contributing more than $35 million to 16 federal-level Republican candidates, according to OpenSecrets. Twelve of those candidates won. To be sure, Thiel could yet change his mind on political contributions for the 2024 cycle, although both sources familiar with his donation plans said they had heard Thiel declare on multiple recent occasions that he had withdrawn from U.S. politics. The source who knows Thiel personally said he had cautioned that he could still support candidates who have worked for him, as he did in 2022, when the bulk of his $35 million in donations went to two former colleagues running for the Senate as Republicans: J.D. Vance, who won, and Blake Masters, who lost a race pundits considered winnable even though he received some $20 million from Thiel. The business associate said he was not aware of any special proviso for former employees. Thiel is married to businessman Matt Danzeisen, with whom he has two toddlers. Concerns about his family's safety have weighed in Thiel's decision to step back as well, the source who knows him personally told Reuters. The United States will send nuclear-armed submarines to dock in South Korea for the first time in 40 years in a show of force aimed at deterring North Korean aggression. Presidents Joe Biden and Yoon Sun Yeol are to sign the 'Washington Declaration' agreement on Wednesday, including plans to have US submarines based in Korea. The agreement is being unveiled as Biden hosts Yoon for a state visit amid heightened anxiety around North Korea's increased missile tests in recent months. Authorities will also announce the deployment of US assets including bombers and aircraft carriers more regularly to the Korean peninsula. A senior official told reporters: 'The Washington Declaration has been in discussion with the Korean government for months and in it we will reaffirm our commitment to make every effort to consult with [South Korea] in potential nuclear crises.' President Joe Biden and South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol pause after laying a wreath as they visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, Tuesday, 25 April 2023 Yoon Suk Yeol (2-L) and First Lady Kim Keon Hee (2-R) accompanied by Joe Biden (C-R) and First Lady Jill Biden (C) on the Truman Balcony of the White House on 25 April 2023 Three senior Biden administration officials briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity ahead of the official announcement of the Washington Declaration. They said Biden and Yoon aides have been working on details of the plan for months. The aides agreed that 'occasional' and 'very clear demonstrations of the strength' of US' deterrence capabilities were needed to be an essential aspect of the agreement. The agreement also calls for the U.S. and South Korean militaries to strengthen joint training and better integrate South Korean military assets into the joint strategic deterrence effort. As part of the declaration, South Korea will reaffirm its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, an agreement signed by several major nuclear and non-nuclear powers that pledged their cooperation to stem the spread of nuclear technology, the officials said. As a candidate for the presidency last year, Yoon said he would call for the increased deployment of U.S. bombers, aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines to South Korea as he looked to offer a firmer response to the North's threats than his predecessor Moon Jae-in. In the midst of the Cold War in the late 1970s, U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines made frequent port visits to South Korea, sometimes two to three visits per month, according to the Federation of American Scientists. It was a period when the US had hundreds of nuclear warheads located in South Korea. In 1991, as the USSR collapsed, the United States finally withdrew all of its nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula. The following year Seoul and Pyongyang signed a joint declaration pledging that neither would 'test, manufacture, produce, receive, possess, store, deploy or use nuclear weapons.' Pictured: the Virginia, a nuclear-powered cruise missile fast-attack submarine, returns to the Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton Conn in 2004 after its first trials at sea As the North has repeatedly violated the joint declaration over the years, there has been increased support in South Korea for the United States to return nuclear weapons to the country. READ MORE: North Korea launches ballistic missile toward sea sparking panic in Japan as Tokyo orders residents on the island of Hokkaido to take cover Advertisement One Biden administration official cautioned it is 'crystal clear' that there are no plans by the administration for 'returning tactical or any other kind of nuclear weapon to the Korean Peninsula.' Instead, administration officials said they envision that the visit of ballistic missile submarines will be followed by the U.S. military more regularly deploying assets such as bombers or aircraft carriers to South Korea. North Korea's increasing nuclear threats, along with concerns about Chinas military and economic assertiveness in the region, has pushed the Biden administration to expand its Asian alliance. Biden has thrown plenty of attention at Yoon as well as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Next week, Biden will host Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for Oval Office talks. In March, President Biden met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to announce Australia would buy its first nuclear-powered submarines from the US as part of the AUKUS deal. The deal will see the group align more closely on military policy to see a greater share of influence in the Indo-Pacific. In the past year, North Korea has meanwhile been steadily expanding its nuclear arsenal, while China and Russia repeatedly block US-led efforts to toughen sanctions on the North over its barrage of banned missile tests. The stepped-up testing by North Korea includes the flight-testing of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time earlier this month. The recent test is seen as a possible breakthrough in the Norths efforts to acquire a more powerful, harder-to-detect weapon targeting the continental United States. Besides nuclear deterrence, Biden and Yoon, and their aides, also are expected to discuss Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. The Biden administration has praised South Korea for sending some $230 million in humanitarian aid to Kyiv, but Biden would welcome Seoul taking an even bigger role in helping the Ukrainians repel Russia. A test of a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-18 at an undisclosed location, released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on 14 April 2023 President Biden (C) speaks after meeting Australian PM Albanese (L) and British PM Sunak (R) in front of a submarine at Naval Base Point Loma on Monday 13 March 2023 in San Diego Yoon's visit comes just weeks after the leaks of scores of highly classified documents that have complicated relations with allies, including South Korea. The papers indicate that South Korea's National Security Council 'grappled' with the US in March over an American request to provide artillery ammunition to Ukraine. The documents, which cited a signals intelligence report, said then-NSC Director Kim Sung-han suggested the possibility of selling the 330,000 rounds of 155 mm munitions to Poland, since getting the ammunition to Ukraine quickly was the United States ultimate goal. One Biden administration official said that Biden planned to talk to Yoon about 'what it means for all like-minded allies to continue to support Ukraine' and ask the South Korean leader 'what the future of their support might look like.' Besides their talks on Wednesday, Biden and Yoon are scheduled to host a joint news conference. In the evening, Biden and first lady Jill Biden will honor Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, for a state dinner at the White House. A man accused of trying to sell a severed human penis at a mall in South Africa has been arrested after horrified shoppers turned on him. The 32-year-old suspect was grabbed by outraged mall visitors when he reportedly took out the body part and offered it up for sale. Shoppers held the man until police arrived at the Fingoland Mall, in the town of Butterworth, in the Eastern Cape Province, on April 20. The suspect, who has not been named, has been charged with the unlawful possession of human tissue. He made his first appearance before a judge at the Butterworth Magistrates' Court on April 24. Shoppers held the man until police arrived at the Fingoland Mall (pictured), in the town of Butterworth, in the Eastern Cape Province, on April 20 His case has been transferred to a higher court and he is expected to face an attempted murder charge, according to local media. Police spokesman Majola Nkohli said: 'It is believed that he was looking for a buyer in Butterworth. 'Preliminary investigations have revealed that the private parts were removed from a 68-year-old man in OR Tambo District.' The Eastern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene, has praised locals for detaining the suspect. Lt Mene said: 'This is a despicable and cruel act. The actions of the suspect are inhumane, and justice must take its course.' The victim, who has not been named, is reportedly in hospital. There have been no updates on his condition. The motive for the crime is currently unclear and the investigation is ongoing. A cleaner at a five-star hotel in London's Park Lane who stole 365,000 worth of jewellery from wealthy tourists while working for an organised crime gang wept uncontrollably today as she was jailed for more than five years. Romanian national Sabrina Rova, 23, stole items including a Cartier watch, a pair of Cartier earrings worth more than 22,000, a Rolex Oyster watch worth 17,000 and Dior pearl earrings, and swiped credit cards for shopping sprees from guests staying at the Park Lane Hilton near Buckingham Palace. The mother-of-two was able to access guests' rooms in hotels and grab valuable items in July and September last year. She claimed she gave some of the stolen gems to her partner, but police have been unable to trace him. Rova had sobbed in court and said 'I'm sorry' when she admitted burglary and fraud at the Hilton, including taking 187,000 of jewellery, last November. She wept again when she returned to court to admit two more burglaries, one of jewellery and watches worth 179,000, and a further count of fraud. Wearing a yellow top and grey scarf, she cried as she was jailed for a total of five years and eight months at Southwark Crown Court. Judge Nicholas Rimmer said: 'A person's hotel room ought to be their home from home and as such their sanctuary of peace. You shattered that sanctuary for your victims. Sabrina Rova, 23, (pictured) from Romania, worked at the Park Lane Hilton. She stole 365,000 worth of jewellery from wealthy tourists while working for an organised crime gang 'You abused your role as an employed cleaner of each of those hotels, a role you had cynically secured on each occasion to perpetrate your crimes. In reality there is little to distinguish for each of these hotel burglaries in terms of your actions. 'I have no doubt you targeted those hotels because you thought the guests' rooms were more likely to contain valuable items. You left after each offence never to return, and I find you were enthusiastic and a repeated participant in an organised burglary scheme. 'On occasion you equipped yourself for burglary; for instance, the empty belt bag you entered the Hilton Hotel guest room with. You did that in order to fill it with the items you stole which we can see on CCTV.' Alex Matthews, prosecuting, had said the cleaner was working for an 'organised crime group' when she carried out the thefts. 'This is a spate of a targeted series of burglaries at high-end hotels. The Crown is clear that this is part of a wider group of targeted organised offenders.' Rova wept uncontrollably today as she was jailed for more than five years. She said 'I'm sorry' when she admitted burglary and fraud at the Park Lane Hilton, (pictured) including taking 187,000 of jewellery, last November Ms Matthews read a victim impact statement from Gracia Matata, who was staying with her mother at the Other House apartments. 'She relates how unsafe she now feels as she states that this person not only stole from us, they opened our suitcase, which is the biggest invasion of privacy you can imagine.' The prosecutor added: 'The items are not recoverable as Rova gave them to her partner. The person listed as her partner does not show up on police indices. He has no trace.' The items stolen by Rova totalled 365,792, the court heard. Edward Carey, defending, said: 'Ms Rova is a 23-year-old mother of two with no English and living in poverty which makes her very unlikely to have been behind the plan of these offences. 'If it had not been her, it would have been somebody else. She is not profiting from these high-value goods. She receives the bank cards and uses them to buy relatively very low-value items very soon after the burglary took place.' Rova, of Blenheim Road, Walthamstow, admitted three counts of burglary and two of fraud. She will be released on licence after serving half of her total sentence of five years and eight months. Two girls, 15 and 16, and an 18-year-old man arrested and charged Three teens allegedly hijacked Uber and another car in QLD Three teens have live-streamed themselves boasting about how they allegedly held a knife to an Uber driver's throat and stole his car during a crime spree. Several videos show passengers in a vehicle speeding through the streets of Southeast Queensland following an alleged service station carjacking in Hamilton, Brisbane, about 2am on Tuesday. Queensland Police will allege a man, 18, and two teenage girls, 15 and 16, went on a day-long rampage stealing two cars, attempting to breaking into a Gold Coast home and trying to buy items with a stolen credit card. The group have been hit with one count each of assault, robbery, unlawful use of motor vehicle and unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, after being stopped with road spikes in an allegedly stolen vehicle in Inala at 4.55pm on Wednesday. One video posted to social media allegedly shows a girl bragging about how she stole an Uber driver's white Toyota Camry at knife point and showing off weapons to the camera. 'We hijacked an Uber,' a girl is heard saying. 'I don't even know why we are putting on gloves cause like our prints are already in the car.' Another man in the car is heard gloating about only just being released from prison the day before. 'Well I mean I got out yesterday and I'm already on the run my boy,' he said. Police will also allege a gold Toyota FJ Cruiser was also stolen in Paddington at 11.50am, with both vehicles spotted driving toward the Gold Coast on the M1 about 3am. A picture was uploaded to social media showing the allegedly stolen cars side-by-side. Police allege the teens also drove to a service station in Nerang on the Gold Coast and tried to buy gift cards with the Uber driver's credit card. The service station worker suspected the card were stolen and refused their request. About 6:30am on Wednesday, a resident in Helensvale phoned police and said someone was attempting to break in and that they were possibly armed with a firearm. Three teens have live-streamed themselves boasting about how they allegedly held a knife to an Uber driver's throat and stole his car Queensland Police will allege a man, 18, and two teenage girls, 15 and 16, went on a day-long crime spree stealing two cars, attempting to breaking into a Gold Coast home and attempting to buy items with a stolen credit card Police allege the suspects arrived and left in the stolen gold Toyota FJ Cruiser. 'At 4.55pm today police successfully deployed a tyre deflation device on Inala Avenue at Inala,' Police said. 'The Toyota FJ Cruiser crashed into a park bollard and the three teenagers were located nearby a short time later.' The Toyota FJ Cruiser was recovered upon the arrests however the white Toyota Camry with Queensland registration 021SPG is yet to be located. The 18-year-old man will appear in the Richlands Magistrates Court on Thursday and the teen girls will appear at the Richlands Childrens Court. The death of a British man who was killed by a great white shark near a Sydney beach has officially been classified as a 'provoked incident'. Simon Nellist, 35, was swimming in waters off Little Bay, in Sydney's eastern suburbs when the 15-foot beast attacked him on February 16, 2022. He would have died almost instantly, making him the first fatal victim of a shark attack in Sydney in 60 years. Mr Nellist, a former RAF gunner who survived two tours of Afghanistan, died just 500 feet from horrified beachgoers. At the time, his devastated family paid tribute to the 'proud Cornishman' who had made Australia his home with his fiancee Jessie. Now, according to a report by the International Shark Attack File, Mr Nellist's tragic death has been classified as a 'provoked incident'. Simon Nellist (pictured) was mauled by a shark in a unprotected stretch of water near Little Bay, Sydney in February 2022 Gavin Naylor, director for the Florida Programme for Shark Research, has said there are a number of reasons for the 'provoked incident' classification given to Mr Nellist's death The International Shark Attack File documents all incidents involving shark attacks around the world, classifying each based on their circumstances. Gavin Naylor, director for the Florida Programme for Shark Research, has said there are a number of reasons for the 'provoked incident' classification. In an email to YouTube channel Shark Bytes shown in a video in February, Mr Naylor said Mr Nellist's death was not included in unprovoked attack statistics 'because we do not consider it an unprovoked incident'. 'While Mr Nellist did nothing consciously to provoke an incident, he was swimming in an area where people were fishing,' he said. 'Fishing is an activity that draws sharks in. We therefore consider it provoked for our purposes.' He explained that the report is 'assiduous' when it comes to focusing on incidents deemed unprovoked in order to 'understand the natural behaviour' of sharks. 'Any factor that draws sharks to an area (fishing, chumming, scalloping, etc) or behaviour that goads the shark, riding them, petting them, feeding them (you might be surprised what people do!) are thought to induce behaviours that are not typical,' he told the YouTube channel. Shark conservationists say that the animals do not view humans as food, but are often involved in incidents with people when hunting for similar-sized prey to humans - such as dolphins or seals. According to the World Wildlife Organisations, 'you are more likely to be struck by lighting than attacked by a shark', and conservationists have worked to dispel myths surrounding sharks which often return when there is an attack. Mr Nellist was the first person to be killed by a shark in the Sydney area since the 1960s. Pictured: A boat patrols the site of the fatal shark attack in February 2022 (file photo) It comes after 16-year-old Stella Berry was attacked and killed by a bull shark in Perth's Swan River in February. Speaking to the Mail, Robert Harcourt, an honorary professor of marine ecology at Macquarie University, said: 'Most sharks are actually reasonably cautious of taking anything that's a new type of prey.' He said sharks usually feed on small or medium-sized prey and humans weren't typically 'high on their list'. But he added that sharks can prey on humans. 'The Little Bay case (death of Mr Nellist) was a case of the shark coming in to predate,' he said. 'Sharks are like any animal living in the wild, they're curious and there are quite strong hierarchies when sharks interact. 'They can be intimidated by things bigger than them, seals and dolphins will chase great whites in numbers, they'll mob them.' Speaking at the time of his death, Mr Nellist's family said: 'Simon had a great passion for nature and the sea, as well as being a very talented photographer.' Saying they would 'miss him terribly', they added: 'Simon was a gentle, kind and wonderful human being. He was a cherished fiancee, son, brother, uncle and friend. 'Simon was funny, compassionate and always had time for people. He had a rare gift of instantly being able to connect with others, gaining their trust and respect.' It emerged that Mr Nellist was killed just days before safety lines to stop sharks getting close to the coast were due to be installed. Sydney authorities had pencilled in the work for the area where he died before the end of February. Relatives said his distraught mother was left wondering 'how could he return from the frontline (of Afghanistan) unscathed to then go to Australia, go out for a swim and get killed'. Speaking at the time of his death, Mr Nellist's devastated family said he was a 'proud Cornishman' who had made Australia his home with his fiancee Jessie (pictured right) Mr Nellist's family told MailOnline that he would not want the animal to be destroyed. He was the first person to be killed by a shark in the area since the 1960s. His aunt Jacqui Seager, 62, said: 'I don't think Simon would want the shark to be killed. He loved nature. 'He swam with sharks before. This isn't the first time he's gone out and seen them but he would still go out swimming. That's brave. I don't think he ever thought they would hurt him. Sadly, this time it managed to get to him.' The family and friends of a Hollywood computer effects genius are being asked to pay out in a 160,000 lawsuit after he killed himself by deliberately crashing a plane into a field in Kent. Top cinematographer Dr Christopher Woollard - who helped design the SFX computer that brought dinosaurs to life in the first Jurassic Park movie - took his own life in 2021 after learning he had terminal cancer. Dr Woollard, 64, was killed in the crash near Ashford, Kent, and when investigators went to his Sidcup home shortly afterwards they found his will ready on a table. Dr Woollard, who worked on films including Lord of the Rings and 12 Monkeys before becoming a professor at Greenwich and Ravensbourne universities, had been taking flying lessons when he learned of his illness. Getting into the plane while his instructor was away during a session on September 10 2021, he radioed to describe his intentions before taking off and deliberately crashing the plane into the ground. Cinematographer Dr Christopher Wollard, 64, deliberately crashed a plane into the ground in 2021 after learning he had terminal cancer Dr Woollard radioed to tell his flying instructor of his intentions before taking his own life His estate now faces a 160,000 compensation claim from the plane's owner, Garry Price, who is suing over the cost of replacing his aircraft and other losses. As well as being a highly respected academic, Dr Woollard was a member of The British Kinematograph, Sound and Television Society (BKSTS) and British Society of Cinematographers (BSC). According to documents filed at the High Court, Dr Woollard had been learning to fly with the Skytrek Flying School Limited, based at Rochester Airport, Kent, which had leased the plane from Mr Price. Barrister Joseph England said: 'When the instructor went via the air traffic control building to gain flight approval, the deceased proceeded directly to the aircraft, boarded it and, without the instructor on board and without any approval from the operator or air traffic approval, taxied and took-off at around 9am. 'Prior to taking off, at around 8.58am, the deceased reported over the aircraft's radio that he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and that he wanted to deliberately crash the aircraft.' In his radio address, he stated: 'Stuart, just been given three months to live by the cancer unit at Imperial. Unfortunately there is no other way out. 'I give you my full authorisation to access my bank account, which has more than enough money to buy far more than two times over. Unfortunately this is my only option.' Radar evidence showed that after departing Rochester Airport, the aircraft was flown to an area south of Ashford before loitering and carrying out a series of turns. At around 9.44am, a witness a mile from the crash site saw an aircraft entering a sharp descending turn before striking the ground in a field near Ruckinge. Dr Woollard was a celebrated cinematographer who worked on films including Jurassic Park, The Lord of the Rings and 12 Monkeys Dr Woollard was tragically killed in the wreck and the assistant coroner at Maidstone recorded a verdict of suicide at his inquest last year. Written only days before his death, Dr Woollard's will split his 835,000 estate between a variety of charities, friends and family. Although Mr Price received an insurance payout, it cost much more to purchase a replacement plane and upgrade it to a similar standard as the destroyed one, he claims. Mr Price's barrister said: 'The claimant claims in conversion or damage to the claimant's reversionary interest in the aircraft against the defendant by reason of the deceased's unauthorised misappropriation and/or destruction of the aircraft.' He said the case involved 'wilful acts of interference with the aircraft committed without permission or any lawful jurisdiction.' In a written defence to the claim filed earlier this month, Matthew Reeve KC, representing Dr Woollard's estate, accepts that the professor was at fault for the aircraft's loss. However, he disputes whether Mr Price has 'title to sue' if, as he says, he had leased the plane out and so did not have 'any right to possession of the aircraft at the time it was lost.' Mr Reeve said: 'It is admitted that the deceased was at least negligent and that that negligence led to the wrongful destruction of the aircraft for which the estate is liable - subject to the questions of title to sue.' He also disputes the amount which Mr Price is claiming and says it should be limited to the value of the lost plane, which he has already received from his insurers. Mr Reeve said: 'The claimant's damages claim seems to go far beyond the usual measure of loss and the usual recoverable heads of loss.' The case will be heard by a judge at a later date, if it is not settled by the parties outside of court. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or go to samaritans.org Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer traded personal blows over the economy today as they sparred in a bad-tempered Prime Minister's Questions. Sir Keir branded the PM 'Mr 24 Tax Rises' as he accused the Tories of overseeing a decline in living standards accompanied by a cut in people's take-home pay. He also cited the words of former Conservative Chancellor George Osborne, who yesterday branded Mr Sunak's predecessor Liz Truss and her team economic 'vandals'. It came after Mr Sunak last week labelled the Labour leader 'Sir Softy' over his time as the country's top prosecutor. Today the PM went on the attack over Labour's spending plans, accusing the party of 'always running out of other people's money'. Sir Keir branded the PM 'Mr 24 Tax Rises' as he accused the Tories of overseeing a decline in living standards accompanied by a cut in people's take-home pay. Today the PM went on the attack over Labour's spending plans, accusing the party of 'always running out of other people's money'. Sir Keir kicked off by challenging the PM over whether the Tories' handling of the economy makes them 'vandals'. The opposition leader said: 'Yesterday (former chancellor) George Osborne said that the Tory Party's handling of the economy makes them vandals. He's right, isn't he?' Mr Osborne appeared at the Lords Economic Affairs Committee alongside Ed Balls, who was shadow chancellor when he was in No11. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak replied. 'I don't know if he saw the remarks of a former Labour shadow chancellor yesterday, who said our country had faced four once-in-a-century shocks, threats to our economy, and the fact that we have come through it is a triumph.' But Sir Keir went on: 'This is Mr 24 tax rises. I've never heard anything so out of touch as the answer that he has just given, and it's not just his refusal to take any responsibility for the damage they've done, the crashed economy, the hit to living standards, it's also he refuses to take the action that's needed. 'He could stop the handouts he's giving to oil and gas giants. He could scrap his beloved non-dom status. He could put that money back in the hands of working people and get the NHS back on its feet, that's what a Labour government would do, why doesn't he?' Rishi Sunak replied: 'The record is clear, look at it right now. Record numbers of people in work. Inequality now lower, the number of people in poverty lower. Those in low pay, the lowest numbers on record. 'He talks about this non-dom thing, I think he's already spent the money that he claims he'd raise on five different things because it's the same old Labour Party. They're always running out of other people's money.' The odds of a bitter showdown between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis is seeming increasingly likely as the former president continues to lambast his former ally and potential future primary rival. Despite the emerging rivalry between the two Republican stars, a new Morning Consult poll released Tuesday shows Trump a whopping 37 percent ahead of the Florida governor, who has brushed off falling poll numbers as of late. DeSantis is continuing his foreign trade tour Wednesday in South Korea, where he is meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and other leaders. It comes the same day that President Joe Biden is hosting South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol for a state dinner at the White House. Meanwhile, Trump is going on the attack against DeSantis for spending so much time over the last few months outside of Florida. The former president's campaign released a calendar graphic Tuesday showing the days DeSantis was either touring the country or the world and blamed him for traveling on the Florida taxpayers' dime. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis continued his international trade tour with a stop in South Korea on Wednesday where he met with the country's Prime Minister Han Duck-soo (right) and other politicians and officials Comes as Donald Trump's campaign attacked the governor for using Florida taxpayers' dollars to travel outside the state including on his international trip Currently, DeSantis is on an international trade mission, which started in Japan earlier this week. He has now made his way to South Korea and will continue on to Israel, where he will deliver a keynote address on Thursday at an event marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Jewish nation. The Florida governor will end his international tour with a stop in the United Kingdom to meet with British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and a mix of other business and government leaders. WHERE IN THE WORLD IS RON DESANTIS, AND WHO IS HE MEETING? JAPAN DeSantis started his international trip April 24 by meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, along with Japanese business leaders. SOUTH KOREA DeSantis is set to meet with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. ISRAEL - DeSantis will deliver a keynote address on April 27 at an event marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Jewish nation. UNITED KINGDOM - The Florida governor will meet with British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and a mix of other business and government leaders. Advertisement While in Japan, DeSantis responded to a NBC poll showing him 15 points behind Trump by saying it doesn't matter if he dips because he isn't officially in the running. 'I'm not a candidate, so we'll see if and when that changes,' DeSantis told reporters in Tokyo, Japan while standing alongside his wife and Florida's first lady Casey DeSantis. A new Morning Consult poll, however, shows Trump's lead widening. A commanding 58 percent of Republican primary voters said they would cast their ballot for Trump compared to the 21 percent who prefer DeSantis. No other GOP candidate earned double digits, with former Vice President Mike Pence, who has not yet announced a bid, coming in third place with 7 percent support. Trump's 2024 presidential campaign released a graphic showing the days DeSantis hasn't been in Florida along with the accusation: 'Ron DeSantis has spent half his time the past two months campaigning for president outside of Florida while Florida taxpayers pick up the tab!' DeSantis' gubernatorial office, however, pushed back on these claims. 'The state does not coordinate or plan political travel, nor does the taxpayer fund political travel,' DeSantis' deputy press secretary Jeremy Redfern told DailyMail.com. He added: 'As for the current trip, it is a trade mission through Enterprise Florida and, just like the last one, is not paid for at the taxpayers' expense.' DeSantis has spent the last two months traversing the country to some early primary contest states under the guise of a book tour. But it's becoming increasingly clear that he is likely to mount a presidential bid in the near future. In March, DeSantis spent seven days outside of Florida to go on a book tour to Texas, California Alabama, Iowa, Nevada, and Georgia to promote his new memoir The Courage to Be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival. He ramped up travel in April with double the stops. Domestically, he went to New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, New Hampshire, Washington, D.C., South Carolina, Utah and Texas before heading onto his international trade trip to four different countries. Trump has only been gaining ground in recent polling, with the latest Morning Consult survey showing him 37% ahead of DeSantis with 58% of Republican primary voters saying they would cast their ballots for the former president DeSantis has remained relatively neutral on the Trump front while the former president has launched several attacks against him. But the governor finally talked about the souring relationship with his once-close ally, saying it all went downhill after the 2022 midterms. 'The last time I interviewed President Trump, I was there in 2018, and I always saw the two of you as friends,' Fox News' Sean Hannity said to the governor in a Monday night interview. 'And I said to him a very simple question, I asked him, I said, 'What happened?' And I think it's only fair to ask you the same question. What do you think happened?' 'You know, I enjoyed supporting him when he was president,' DeSantis began his virtual interview from Tokyo. 'We worked really hard for his reelection in Florida, and I always had a good relationship with him.' 'And then, once the midterm election happened, he started taking shots at me,' the Florida governor detailed. 'I didn't really do anything to do it except do a good job,' DeSantis added. 'But that's fine. I mean, Sean, you know, when you're making things happen, you take incoming from a variety of targets. So that's just the nature of the business.' 'I'm happy to stand strong and do what's right,' he concluded. Meanwhile, Trump released Monday night his first real attack ad against DeSantis. The narrator detailed how the former president 'saved' him from losing his 2018 gubernatorial bid in the Sunshine State. 'I'd like to thank our president for standing by me when it wasn't necessarily the smart thing to do,' DeSantis is shown saying in the ad during his victory speech following the 2018 election. The narrator then says: 'You're welcome, Ron. Unfortunately, instead of being grateful, DeSantis is now attacking the very man who saved his career. Isn't it time DeSantis remembers how he got to where he is?' 5G technology unleashes new potential of modern tourism 15:48, April 26, 2023 By Ye Zi, Hou Jingyi ( People's Daily Autopilot new energy buses run in a scenic spot in Xiangyang, central China's Hubei province. (People's Daily Online/Yang Dong) "I just played a live action role-playing (LARP) game in the Miao village to experience the culture of the Miao ethnic group. It was so fun," said a woman surnamed Zhao while visiting Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, a tourist site that displays an epic about the development of the Miao ethnic group in southwest China's Guizhou province. The LARP game, launched by the tourist site, presents the ancient and traditional Miao legends through modern technologies such as 5G and mixed reality (MR), and enables tourists to see virtual sceneries and treasures in the physical world with a pair of MR goggles. According to Luo Longbao, head of the marketing department of the company that manages the tourist site, the Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village has built a 5G platform that offers various types of services. "On the intelligent platform, tourists can not only check the real-time map of the village, but also search for parking space, introduction to scenic spots and recommended routes," Luo told People's Daily, adding that the platform offers tourists with whole-process services. As new information technologies are more and more employed in the culture and tourism industry, 5G intelligent tourism scenarios are emerging across China, such as 5G smart tour guide, 5G virtual reality and augmented reality tourism programs, online sightseeing and livestream tourism. These scenarios are providing tourists with richer and newer experiences. A technician maintains intelligent tourism equipment in a scenic spot in Bijie, southwest China's Guizhou province. (People's Daily Online/Han Xianpu) Intelligent upgrading of tourist sites and resorts makes tours more interesting and convenient for tourists. It also leads to more efficient and smarter management of scenic areas. Thanks to the application of 5G, Internet of Things (IoT) and other technologies, facilities in Kuanzhai Alley, an ancient street left over from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan province, have grown smarter. For instance, infrared sensors are installed in public toilets to see whether they are occupied and to estimate daily foot traffic, which makes the distribution of sanitation workers more reasonable. The tourist site has built a street lamp control system that captures the status of each street lamp and identifies whether there are damaged street lamps. Besides, the trash cans in Kuanzhai Alley, assisted by IoT technology, would immediately inform relevant staff members once they are full. The application of 5G, IoT, big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, block chain, ultra-high-definition video and digital twin technologies, as well as the building of 5G intelligent tourism real-time monitoring and emergency response platforms, can effectively strengthen the tourism industry's capability in monitoring, risk control, regulation and emergency response, and better the management of 5G intelligent tourism. Xin Hongye, deputy director of the information center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, told People's Daily that the intelligent upgrading of the tourism industry calls for organic integration of technologies and the industry, so that technologies can practically solve the pain points in the development of the industry. People visit the Suzhou Bay Digital Art Museum in east China's Jiangsu province to experience the charm of digital technologies. (People's Daily Online/Xu Congjun) Popular tourist sites are always confronted with poor network connection during peak seasons as there are too many visitors, which seriously affects visitors' experience. "Poor network connection used to be the biggest headache for tourist sites," said Shen Kaijun, deputy general manager of a tourism company in Bijie, Guizhou province. According to him, it is the construction of 5G intelligent tourism platforms that has helped scenic spots achieve full network coverage of 5G and wifi, attract more tourists and gain higher recognition. Professor Li Xinjian with the School of Tourism Sciences, Beijing International Studies University, told People's Daily that the digitalization helps upgrade traditional tourist sites and represents an inexorable trend of digital economy contributing to the high-quality development of the tourism industry. Building digital tourist sites not only helps better protect and display cultural relics and improve tourist sites' capability in operation and emergency response, but also further facilitates tourists and improve their satisfaction. It is indispensable to the modernization of tourist sites. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) He announced today that he is cancelling a day of election campaigning A tired-looking Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was forced to walk off during a live television interview - before returning with watery eyes to apologise, explaining that it was due to a stomach bug he had picked up while campaigning. Erdogan announced he was cancelling a day of election campaigning today to rest at home following the interrupted broadcast late on Tuesday - less than three weeks before Turkey's crunch election. Erdogan was being interviewed live by Turkey's Ulke TV and Kanal 7 stations when the programme was suddenly stopped with someone in the background heard saying: 'Oh wow.' When it resumed around 20 minutes later, Erdogan, 69, explained that he had developed a serious 'stomach flu' while campaigning and apologised for the disruption. The president, who was scheduled to make a series of appearances in the cities of Kirikkale, Yozgat and Sivas on Wednesday, announced on Twitter that he would rest at home on the advice of his doctors and that Vice President Fuat Oktay would represent him at the events. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was being interviewed live by Turkey's Ulke TV and Kanal 7 stations late on Tuesday when the program was suddenly stopped When the interview resumed around 20 minutes later, Erdogan, 69, explained that he had developed a serious 'stomach flu' while campaigning and apologised for the interruption Erdogan wrote: 'With God's permission, we will continue our programme from tomorrow. 'On this occasion, I wish all my citizens health, peace and enjoyment.' His television appearance began more than 90 minutes behind schedule and then went to a commercial break in the middle of a question 10 minutes into the show. The camera shook and the reporter asking the question looked puzzled and stood up from his chair when the broadcast cut off. Erdogan returned after a short period to apologise for getting sick. Erdogan said: 'Yesterday and today were hard work. That's why I got a stomach flu. 'At one point, I wondered if it would be misunderstood if we cancelled the programme. But we promised. I ask for your and our audience's forgiveness.' Pictured: Erdogan during the broadcast. His television appearance began more than 90 minutes behind schedule and then went to a commercial break in the middle of a question 10 minutes into the show Pictured: One of the interviewers. The camera shook and the reporter looked puzzled and stood up from his chair when the broadcast cut off The Turkish leader looked ashen-faced and ended the programme a few minutes later. Erdogan, who is seeking a third term in office as president, has been campaigning hard in the run up to the May 14 presidential and parliamentary elections, sometimes attending three or more events per day. READ MORE: Erdogan shown walking 'with difficulty' amid swirling health rumours President Erdogan's allies were forced to deny rumours about his health after he was seen 'walking with difficulty' at a G-20 summit in 2021 Advertisement He is facing his toughest electoral test of his 20 years in office as prime minister and president, with opinion surveys showing a slight lead for his main challenger, center-left opposition party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The leader's announcement came in the heat of a hard-fought campaign in what is widely viewed as Turkey's most important election of its post-Ottoman era. He must contend with the dual blows of a raging economic crisis and the impact of a massive February earthquake that claimed more than 50,000 lives. Erdogan had gastrointestinal surgery in 2012 but has otherwise enjoyed robust health. Turkey's 74-year-old opposition leader Kilicdaroglu was among the first of many politicians to wish Erdogan a swift recovery on Tuesday. 'I convey my best wishes to Mr. Erdogan,' Kilicdaroglu tweeted moments after the episode aired. Nationalist leader Meral Aksener and other top members of Kilicdaroglu's six-party opposition alliances also tweeted their support. Erdogan was due to oversee the inauguration of Turkey's first nuclear power plant on the southern coast on Thursday. The Russian-built plant's launch was due to be one of the main events of Erdogan's campaign schedule this week. Schoolchildren chanting 'He's our King' drowned out 'Not Our King' protesters in Liverpool as Charles and Camilla visited this afternoon. Anti-monarchy demonstrators earlier gathered outside the city's Central Library as the King and Queen were expected to arrive to officially mark the library's twinning with Ukraine's first public library, the Regional Scientific Library in Odesa. The royal couple met key partners involved in both a two-week cultural festival that will run alongside the Eurovision contest, and Eurolearn, a Eurovision-inspired education programme for primary and secondary pupils. Pressure group Republic tweeted video footage showing crowds of their protesters chanting 'Not My King' with one leading the chants using a megaphone. But another video shows their chants were then drowned out by groups of schoolchildren shouting 'He's Our King!' King Charles III and the Queen Consort during a visit to Liverpool Central Library The royal couple met key partners involved in both a two-week cultural festival that will run alongside the Eurovision contest King Charles III and the Queen Consort shakes hands with the BBC Director General Tim Davie In a clip tweeted by Republic, a protester named only as George said: 'We are here because we want to live in a democracy that is actually true to the word democracy.' He said it was 'outrageous' that we 'still have an unelected head of state in 2023.' 'It is a signal that we have sheer inequality in this country and we need to make our voices known,' he added. 'The polls are showing more and more people are not supporting the monarchy - across all generations and we need to make that known. We need to change the public debate.' George said the group were present to be 'loud and proud'. Republic, who said they were protesting today for 'democracy and equality' tweeted: 'The signs are up, our protest is underway. 50 and counting!' The protest today comes after anti-monarchy pressure group Republic were present outside York Minster on April 6 as King Charles III and Queen Camilla attended a Maundy Thursday service. Around 30 activists from the pressure group staged the latest protest against the Royal Family, holding aloft banners reading 'Not My King'. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Republic have gained momentum by promoting the #NotMyKing. The hashtag has become increasingly popular since King Charles ascended to the throne in September 2022, with some members of the public raising fresh questions about the necessity for a monarchy in the United Kingdom. Republic previously held similar protests in London, as well as booing King Charles and Queen Camilla in Colchester, Essex in March 2023. This is the moment that the King and Queen Consort Camilla arrived to visit Liverpool Central Library School children could be seen screaming and waving flags as the King drove past in Liverpool Despite protests in Liverpool, many were delighted to see the King and Queen Consort including school children who chanted 'He's our King' The royal couple were in Liverpool to officially mark the library's twinning with Ukraine's first public library King Charles and Camilla pictured in the Liverpool Central Library ahead of Eurovision after the Coronation weekend Charles and Camilla sign the guestbook during a visit to Liverpool Central Library earlier today Camilla walks ahead of the King and lowers her head to speak to children outside the central library King Charles and Camilla unveil a plaque decorated with the Ukrainian flag to mark the occasion The King watches on as two men take on each other in a game of chess at the Liverpool library Were your children chanting for the King? Email tips@dailymail.co.uk Advertisement Republic is a pressure group calling for an end to the UK's system of constitutional monarchy. Set up in 1983 as a group of republicans and officially founded as pressure group in 2006, Republic wants to replace a royal head of state with an elected figure. It would bring the UK into line with countries such as Germany, which has both a political leader, currently Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and an elected head of state, the President of Germany, currently Frank-Walter Steinmeier. MailOnline earlier revealed the anti-monarchist plot to disrupt King Charles's Coronation next month. Republic, a group which has openly called for the abolition of the monarchy and to replace it with an elected head of state, is planning a demonstration along The Mall on May 6. On their website, the protesters are calling on thousands to don yellow T-shirts and wave placards reading 'Not My King' at a gathering in Trafalgar Square from 6am, before moving to the procession route between Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey later that morning. Groups of protesters holding yellow signs which read 'NOT MY KING' Protesters have gathered outside the city's Central Library as the King and Queen are expected to visit Republic today tweeted: 'The signs are up, our protest is underway. 50 and counting!' Data from a YouGov poll on if the monarchy is good or bad for Britain. Numbers saying monarchy is bad for Britain have risen since July 2019 from 10 to 14 per cent - but they are still in the vast minority, with 53 per cent backing the Royal Family * Were your children chanting for the King? Email tips@dailymail.co.uk The mother of a six-year-old girl who died after being found unresponsive in a 'squalid' home has been charged with her death and the criminal neglect of other children in her care. On Wednesday, Crystal Leanne Hanley, 47, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with the death of her daughter Charlie Nowland, and four other charges of criminal neglect relating to children aged between 8-14. Ms Hanley had previously been known to the media as Crystal Nowland before appearing in court with a different surname. Crystal Leanne Hanley, 47, was charged with the death of her daughter Charlie was found unresponsive in the family's home in Munno Para, in Adelaide's northern suburbs, in July last year. She was taken to Lyell McEwin Hospital where she was confirmed dead. The court heard Ms Hanley was in the process of being evicted from her government housing in Adelaide's north when they arrested her in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Prosecutor Steven Whalan said detectives who attended the property reported it was in a squalid condition and was inhabitable. 'Police have attended at that residence today and they found that it remains squalid with potential fire hazard conditions, so it's not suitable for human habitation,' Mr Whalan said. Ms Hanley, who appeared in court via video link in a red Adidas hoodie, was silent as her allegations were discussed. The six-year-old was found to have underlying health conditions following her death. Picture: Russell Millard Magistrate Ben Sale granted Ms Hanley supervised bail to her home despite the eviction notices, with conditions. Outside court, Ms Hanley ran across busy traffic in Victoria Square to avoid media. She will appear in court again in August. Ms Hanley's arrest was subsequent to that of two other people, charged with the deaths of two children in unrelated incidents. On Wednesday, detectives arrested 50-year-old Shane Wanganeen and charged him with the manslaughter of his seven-year-old son Makai. Police also arrested 54-year-old Jenni Wilmott and charged her with manslaughter over the 2018 death of 15-year-old Jasmine Wilmott. Both Mr Wanganeen and Ms Wilmott were due to face court after Ms Hanley on Wednesday afternoon, but were rescheduled due to admin delays. Rishi Sunak today warned against efforts to 'unpick our history' as he dismissed a Labour MP's demand for Britain to pay reparations over slavery and colonialism. Bell Ribeiro-Addy called on the Prime Minister to 'offer a full and meaningful apology' and commit to 'reparatory justice' for the country's actions in past centuries. The Streatham MP noted how Britain took out a huge loan in the 19th century -estimated to be the equivalent of 400billion in modern times - to compensate slave owners when slavery was abolished. But the Labour backbenchers said no money had been provided to those who were enslaved. Mr Sunak batted away Ms Ribeiro-Addy's request during Prime Minister's Questions this afternoon. He said his Government would instead be focussed on 'making sure we have a society which is inclusive and tolerant of people from all backgrounds'. Bell Ribeiro-Addy called on the Prime Minister to 'offer a full and meaningful apology' and commit to 'reparatory justice' for the country's actions in past centuries Rishi Sunak warned against efforts to 'unpick our history' as he dismissed the Labour MP's demand Ms Ribeiro-Addy told MPs this month marked the 23rd anniversary of the death of ex-Labour MP Bernie Grant, the founder of the African Reparations Movement UK. 'In his last PMQs before his death, he asked for an apology to the people of African descent, living and dead, for our country's role in slavery and colonialism,' she said. 'But, since then, prime ministers and heads of state have only ever expressed sorrow or deep regret. 'These are not sentiments that are befitting one of the greatest atrocities in human history.' Ms Ribeiro-Addy, a former aide to ex-shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, said there had been 'no acknowledgement of the wealth that has been amassed, or the fact that our country took out the largest loan it ever has to pay off the slave owners and not the enslaved'. 'So I want to ask the PM today if he will do what Bernie Grant asked all those years ago, what I have asked and what countless others have asked since, and offer a full and meaningful apology for our country's role in slavery and colonialism and commit to reparatory justice?,' she added. But Mr Sunak replied: 'No. 'What I think our focus should now be on doing is - of course understanding our history in all its parts, not running away from it - but right now making sure we have a society which is inclusive and tolerant of people from all backgrounds. 'That is something we on this side of the House are committed to doing and will continue to deliver. 'But trying to unpick our history is not the right way forward and is not something we will focus our energies on.' In 1833, when legislation was passed to abolish slavery within the British Empire, it was agreed a compensation package of 20million for slave owners for their loss of 'property'. This was funded from one of the largest loans in history and represented around 40 per cent of the Treasury's annual income at the time. It is forecast the Treasury's total income for 2023-24 will be around 1trillion, meaning the modern-day equivalent loan would be about 400billion. In a tweet after PMQs, Ms Ribeiro-Addy wrote: 'I just called on Rishi Sunak to apologise for Britain's history of slavery & colonialism during PMQs. 'He flat out refused, saying 'no... trying to unpick our history is not the right way forwards'. But coming to terms with the past is the only way we can move forwards.' The PM's spokesman said he believed Mr Sunak had been referring to the slave trade specifically in his answer to Ms Ribeiro-Addy. On reparations, the spokesman said: 'There are certainly no plans for the Government to do that.' A Labour spokesman said Ms Ribeiro-Addy's call for reparations was not party policy. The spokesman said 'she is right to highlight the appalling history of the slave trade' but 'on the specific point of reparations, the point that she was making is not Labour Party policy'. If you or anyone you know is a victim of domestic violence call: 1800 Respect (1800 737 732) A young mum who was brutally bashed to death by her drug-addled boyfriend was planning to leave him and had even warned friends he might kill her in chilling final texts. Bekkie-Rae Curren-Trinca, 28, from Warrnambool, Victoria, was beaten to death by her partner Paul McDonough in November 2019 after he had been released from prison on bail for an unrelated offence. The mother of a two-year-old daughter had been in contact with domestic violence support services half a dozen times and was ready to report McDonough to police. But Ms Curren-Trinca's devastated family believe she was 'failed by the system', revealing that emergency responders told them her injuries were 'the worst domestic violence incident they'd ever seen'. 'The senseless, brutal and dehumanising nature of her death has left us traumatised,' said Demi Trinca, the victim's sister. Bekkie-Rae Curren-Trinca, 28, from Warrnambool, Victoria, was beaten to death by her thuggish partner Paul McDonough in Novermber 2019 McDonough messaged Ms Curren-Trinca (pictured together), promising not to abuse her: 'Come home babe, I promise I won't start on ya,' he wrote 'The vivid memories I have of my sister lying in hospital screaming while her brain slowly dies has left a permanent mark on my psyche.' The court heard McDonough, 40, had attacked Ms Curren-Trinca after coming home from prisonon November 26, 2019 to the flat they shared to find she had packed her bags and was leaving him. He had been released on bail for unrelated weapons offences. Neighbours reported seeing McDonough chase Ms Curren-Trinca up the street as she tried to escape at about 5.30pm. She was limping badly and looked upset. McDonough forced her back into the house where he viciously beat her until she was unconscious. Neighbours reportedly heard thuds and doors slamming for half an hour. 'Come back later,' McDonough told one concerned neighbour who went to check on them. The court heard of the disturbing texts exchanged between Ms Curren-Trinca and her abusive partner In a chilling act of foresight, the mother-of-one warned her killer what his abuse could lead to The next morning McDonough called emergency services from a nearby pay phone, telling them there was 'a lady that needs help' at his address. When found, Ms Curren-Trinca's body was covered in bruises, her hair matted with blood and her two black eyes were so swollen they could not be opened. Hours earlier she had told a friend of her fear that 'he would kill her one day', the Herald Sun reported. In the weeks leading up to her death, she had also sought help at a domestic violence shelter. In a chilling text message to McDonough a week before he ended her life, Ms Curren-Trinca wrote: 'You hurt my face and my eye and could easily kill me. 'I get angry because my daughter needs me and you could easily take that away from her.' In other confronting messages, McDonough had pleaded with her to come home, promising not to hit her. 'Come home babe, I promise I won't start on ya,' he wrote. She responded: 'I don't like c**** who condone or act violent towards women, I don't deserve it...' McDonough was initially charged with intentionally causing serious injury after Ms Curren-Trinca was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition. But a murder charge was laid when her life support was turned off days later on December 4. Ms Curren-Trinca's family said she had been 'failed' by the system McDonough handed himself into police a day after the bashing McDonough pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter on December 8 last year. His lawyer told the court McDonough, who handed himself into police a day after the bashing, was suffering from a 'raft of complex mental health problems' at the time including schizophrenia. He will be sentenced at a later date. Kirsty Trinca, the victim's sister-in-law, told 9News: 'The only reason she was at the house that day was because she thought he wasn't going to be there. 'He was locked up and then that Monday came around and he was let out on bail. The system definitely failed her.' Demi Trinca said McDonough had shown 'no remorse'. 'There's regret because he's been caught but that is it.' She added: 'There's so many reoffenders out there in the world that get away with it time and time again.' If you or anyone you know is a victim of domestic violence call: 1800 Respect (1800 737 732) A mother has been accused of stabbing her two-year-old daughter to death before eating her liver, in a gruesome case that has shocked Kenya. Olivia Naserian, 24, appeared in court today charged with killing young Glory Njeri before cutting open her body and eating parts of her organs. Neighbours who witnessed the horrific attack through a window say they saw the crazed mother stab her daughter several times while singing hymns and reciting the alphabet, according to local reports. The locals of the residential estate quickly alerted the authorities with police arriving to arrest the woman on suspicion of murder. Naserian appeared in a Kajiado court on Wednesday, where she was ordered by the Chief Magistrate to remain in police custody for another 10 days while police continue their investigation into the killing of the girl. Olivia Naserian (pictured) has been accused of stabbing her two-year-old daughter to death before eating her liver, in a gruesome case that has shocked Kenya The woman is expected to appear for another hearing on May 8. Local reports say that Naserian attacked her daughter at their home on a residential estate in Kitengela, around 20 miles south of Kenya's capital of Nairobi, on April 23. Shocked witnesses say they watched in horror as the woman stabbed her own daughter to death with a knife before dismembering her body. Reports say the neighbours then saw he eat parts of the girl's internal organs, in Kitengela's Milimani Estate. According Kenyan newspaper The Star, the locals rushed to the family's home when they heard the girl's scream - initially suspected criminals had attacked. Once there, however, the publications said they found the mother naked and violently attacking her daughter while singing nursery rhymes. The neighbours tried in vain to break down the door in time to save the girl, with one filming the gruesome attack unfold. When they were finally able to break into the homestead, the toddler was already dead and the mother had collapsed on the floor, The Star reports. The locals told the publication that the parents of the young mother - who also live in the house - were not at home at the time of the attack. Speaking to The Standard - a Kenyan daily newspaper - one neighbour said they heard the mother chanting: 'You will never cry again my baby...you will forever sleep. I love you, my daughter.' They said they could remember the baby's chilling scream as she was attacked. 'The woman ate her baby's liver as we watched. She also removed other internal organs search as intestines and heart from the body before becoming unconscious,' the traumatised neighbour told the publication. The young girl's mutilated body was taken for a post mortem at the Kitengela hospital morgue. Kitengela Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Benson Mutia said: 'We believe the court will give us more time to investigate this matter,. She added that investigators want to establish whether the woman was suffering from mental health problems. 'What she did to her own baby is unexplainable,' Mutia said. Naserian's aunt told Nairobi Wire that her niece had displayed some bizarre behaviour before the attack on the young girl. Naserian, 24, appeared in court today (pictured on Kenyan television) charged with killing young Glory Njeri before cutting open her body and eating parts of her organs Gladys Wanjiku said the 24-year-old had recently returned from Kirinyaga where she had been living with her boyfriend for around eight months. After initially arriving home and seeming happy, Wanjiku said by the Sunday after her return, Naserian had started shouting and speaking in tongues. She also broke utensils, windows and the TV before the killing. 'Something is very wrong. We were not here, but the reports we are getting from our neighbours is that Naserian started talking in tongues and chasing after the only dog at home hours before descending on her child,' the aunt told Nairobi Wire. Are you a British national affected by violence in Sudan? Please contact elena.salvoni@mailonline.co.uk Families told they must make their own way to evacuation point despite violence The first evacuation flights carrying British nationals have taken off from Sudan Britons fleeing Sudan have told of the treacherous journeys they have been forced to make without government support amid 'complete chaos' in the country, as the window for evacuation is closing rapidly. The first British nationals arrived on home soil today and told of their nightmarish journeys out of the wartorn country - which has seen violent clashes between the military and powerful militia, with a shaky ceasefire currently in place. Africa minister Andrew Mitchell tonight reiterated the 'critical message' that British nationals who want to be brought to safety must make their way to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip in Khartoum. But many are still frantically trying to get there amid a shortage of fuel, street fighting and military checkpoints, and have told of their anguish at having to navigate the situation alone. A UK-born student attempting to flee said she did not have enough petrol to make a dangerous one-hour drive, while another man has said he has been left with no choice but to embark on a four-hour walk to get to safety. The race is on to evacuate as many of the 4,000 British civilians trapped in Sudan as possible before the 72-hour ceasefire ends tomorrow Tarig Babikir, 42, a Sudanese-British citizen, has said he has been left with no choice but to embark on a four-hour walk to get to safety Sudanese-British citizen Tarig Babikir, 42, said he has been forced to leave behind family members and described 'complete chaos' on the streets of Khartoum. Before setting off on his dangerous journey to the airstrip, he said: 'It all goes down to your instinct, you have to figure out where the fire's coming from and try to find a different route. 'I'm going to go through national army checkpoints and paramilitary checkpoints, and most likely I'm going to encounter some armed gangs as well. 'I'm carrying no cash as you can get robbed on the streets, and I'm going to hide my cell phone.' 'It's complete anarchy right now, complete chaos. Anyone can rob you, anyone can shoot you.' Eight flights are expected to have left by the end of today to lift people to safety as the military races against time to rescue citizens while a fragile ceasefire holds. The race is on to evacuate as many of the 4,000 British civilians trapped in Sudan as possible before the 72-hour ceasefire ends tomorrow, with a total of eight flights carrying Britons expected to leave Khartoum by the end of today. The UK Government, which has been criticised for not evacuating British civilians sooner, said 400 people have been evacuated so far - a fraction of those still trapped in the country. Many boarding have been forced to leave family members behind, with one British man able to flee with his pregnant wife and their six-year-old son, but forced to leave behind his elderly mother. The RAF is evacuating British citizens on flights from Sudan to Larnaka airport Samar Eltayeb, 20, a student from Birmingham, compared scenes in Khartoum to a horror movie and said she had no petrol to drive to the airbase 'British soldiers checked all our papers. I brought my mum with me but she does not have a British passport. I tried to persuade the British soldiers to let her on the plane too but they would not let her,' Wathig Ali told the BBC. 'It was heart-breaking that I had to say goodbye to my mum.' He said as he awaited a plane out of the country: 'I feel for my pregnant wife - she is acting brave. Escaping this nightmare hasn't been done yet. I hope the nightmare will end soon.' Britons have described seeing thieves and killers roaming the streets, while the corpses of civilians killed in the fighting laid scattered on the ground in scenes that have been compared to a dystopian horror film. Wathig Ali was able to flee Khartoum with his pregnant wife, Haifa, and their six-year-old son, Oday, but forced to leave behind his elderly mother Foreign Secretary James Cleverly reiterated to UK nationals that they must make their own way to the airstrip, despite the ongoing violence. 'I'm trying to get there. But the problem is the vehicles that we have have no gas, and the petrol stations are empty,' Samar Eltayeb, 20, a student from Birmingham who is an hour drive away, said. 'It was something else, I can't even describe it,' a British citizen evacuated from Sudan told the BBC in Cyprus. 'It was bad, it was very bad. I don't even want to remember it.' Meanwhile, Wahied Hassan, 68, from Coventry, and his 66-year-old wife Fatima, only managed to reach the airstrip after Hassan said he had 'begged' a friend to give them a lift. British nationals sit inside an RAF aircraft, after being evacuated in Khartoum The couple had been visiting family in Khartoum, and were among the first to arrive back in Britain. Hassan said he received a call from the British embassy on Tuesday morning, asking him to reach the airfield in 30 minutes and bring only small belongings. 'On our way to the airfield, we saw so much trouble, a lot of checkpoints... militia threatening people, scaring people, abusing people verbally and physically. 'It's very scary to be honest. Very scary. I'm so lucky.' The government and armed forces have defended the lack of escort for British citizens attempting to get to the airstrip. Wahied Hassan, 68, from Coventry, and his 66-year-old wife Fatima, only managed to reach the airstrip after Hassan said he had 'begged' a friend to give them a lift Brigadier Dan Reeve, the head of the British military operation in Sudan, was quoted by the BBC as saying it would not be safe to bring people together in one location in Khartoum as there had been instances of convoys being attacked. 'This is not a race to get it wrong,' he said, adding that around 500 British nationals a day could be evacuated. The government has estimated around 4,000 Britons were in Sudan. The first Britons evacuated - many of them children - breathed a sigh of relief as they landed at London Stansted Airport in Essex this afternoon after a terrifying week of violence in Sudan. Many told reporters of their mixed feelings to the UK government's response - with all grateful to be safe but some expressing frustration at the lack of support and comparable slowness of British authorities compared to other countries. Shereen Soliman got out with her two young children who had been on a three-week holiday visiting family in the country when violence erupted. Parents held their children tightly as they made their way on to the tarmac at Stansted airport - 24 hours after they had risked their lives to reach the British troops waiting for them at the Wadi Saeedna airbase in Khartoum British evacuees disembark from a charter flight at Stansted airport in Essex after flying from Cyprus on Wednesday Asked by the BBC about how she felt about the British authorities' handling of the situation compared with the French and the Germans, she said: 'They were slower than the others, but still they saved us. 'That's what matters, right?' Her children, Karim, 10, and Diyalam, 8, spoke of seeing armed men in the streets and hearing explosions and gunshots. Shereen said: 'I had to leave my parents, my siblings, the whole family there. So I'm very worried about them. Noor, eight, hugs her mother Susan after she arrived at Stansted airport 'I really feel sorry for Sudan because it's my home, my country. I wanted my kids to feel safe there.' Relatives of those trapped have described their anguish as they wait for news that their loved ones have managed to make it across the capital and to the airfield safely during what Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said is a 'critical' 24 hours. 'I feel sick to my stomach, it's a horrible waiting game,' Esra Osman, whose mother Hamra is travelling through Khartoum to reach the airbase told MailOnline. 'We've just spoken to my mother on the phone and she's sounding scared and stressed. There are so many checkpoints and it's so dangerous.' British nationals have been evacuated to Cyprus and then the UK as the Government races to evacuate thousands before the window of opportunity closes. Relatives hugged evacuees after they disembarked from a charter flight at Stansted airport in Essex after they fled Sudan British civilians, many of whom are children, are pictured safely onboard an RAF aircraft after being evacuated from Sudan Children, many of whom will have heard gunfights raging on the streets outside their relatives' homes, clung to their parents as they were helped onboard the British aircraft. Are you a British national affected by violence in Sudan? Please contact Rachael.Bunyan@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement The first evacuation flight to touch down on British soil landed at Stansted airport at 2.30pm on Wednesday afternoon after departing from Larnaca airport in Cyprus in the morning. But it's not clear how long the evacuation flights can go on for - or whether Britons will be able to reach the airstrip - as street battles erupted between Sudan's army and paramilitary force again today. There are fears that many Britons will not be able to reach the airfield due to how dangerous it is to travel through the various checkpoints set up since the war began more than a week ago. Britons have told how taxi drivers have said no amount of money would convince them to drive to the capital, while the lack of petrol is also hampering efforts to escape. Air strikes and artillery have killed at least 459 people, wounded more than 4,000, destroyed hospitals and limited food distribution in the vast nation where a third of its 46 million people were already reliant on humanitarian aid. Foreigners fleeing Khartoum have described bodies littering streets, buildings on fire, residential areas turned into battlefields and youths roaming with large knives. Four-year-old Lamar (right) looks at her emotional father Mohamed Elamin and her sister Lujain, aged six, after they disembarked from a charter flight at Stansted airport in Essex after being evacuated from Sudan Britons evacuated from Sudan arrive on a flight from Cyprus into Stansted airport in Essex The evacuees broke down in tears when they were reunited with their loved ones who had been waiting in anguish for news of their return British evacuees disembark from a charter flight at Stansted airport in Essex after flying from Cyprus following their evacuation from Sudan British evacuees disembark from a charter flight at Stansted airport in Essex today Fleeing Brits depart flight ZT4820 after it arrives at a private terminal at Stansted from Larnaca, Cyprus, today A flight carrying Britons lands at London Stansted Airport in Essex on Wednesday A British government official comforts a little boy as he is evacuated from Sudan An elderly British woman is helped onboard the RAF aircraft before being evacuated from Sudan British soldiers greet a family as they board an RAF plane before being evacuated from Sudan British nationals get evacuated with the assistance of Britain's Rapid Deployment Team, in Khartoum, Sudan, on Tuesday The UK is now in temporary control over the Sudanese airstrip, having taken over from Germany after Berlin completed its own evacuation mission with 700 civilians and diplomats rescued from at least 30 countries. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said British troops are prepared to use force if needed to protect the air base in the event it comes under attack during the airlifts. Announcing the completion of Germany's evacuation efforts, the country's foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians 'to their own devices', in an apparent swipe at the UK's approach which saw only diplomats being evacuated over the weekend. She said that 'unlike in other countries', Germany's evacuation had included all its nationals and not just embassy staff. Mr Sunak defended the UK's efforts, saying it was 'right' that diplomats were prioritised 'because they were being targeted'. The Foreign Office backtracked on their earlier advice and urged all British passport holders and their immediate family members to make the perilous journey to the airfield to board evacuation flights - all without a military escort. British families are risking their lives to reach an airbase where UK evacuation flights will take them away from the war wreaking havoc in Sudan. Pictured: RAF plane landing in Cyprus on Wednesday A plane carrying British nationals evacuated from Sudan, arrives at the Larnaca International Airport, Cyprus, on Wednesday British nationals depart from an RAF aircraft, after being evacuated from Sudan Fighters ride in the back of a technical vehicle in the East Nile district of greater Khartoum on April 23 Earlier this week, Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke into five prisons and released detainees, including ousted president Omar Hassan al-Bashir and other top officials from Kober prison, Sudan's police said. Police said the raid on Kober led to the killing and injury of several prison officials, adding that the RSF released all who were held there. Some Britons have said the journey to get to the Wadi Saeedna airfield outside of Khartoum - where the fighting has been fiercest - is so dangerous that they have made the difficult decision to stay in Sudan. A British national departs from an RAF aircraft, after being evacuated from Sudan, at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, on Tuesday British nationals wait after being evacuated from Sudan, in RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, on Tuesday Evacuees from Sudan board a bus after disembarking from a British Royal Air Force military transport at Larnaca airport in Cyprus, on April 25 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visits the Crisis Centre in the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office to speak to staff working on the ongoing situation in Sudan on Tuesday Around 1,400 British military personnel are involved in the 'large-scale' evacuation of UK nationals from Sudan. Pictured: British soldiers at the Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus prepare to board a plane to evacuate UK civilians from Sudan Personnel of the United Nations Mission board the French frigate Lorraine as they evacuate from Port Sudan on Wednesday Members of the Saudi Navy Forces assist evacuees arriving at King Faisal navy base in Jeddah on Wednesday following a rescue operation from Sudan Saudi Navy personnel assist civilians being evacuated by Saudi Arabia from Sudan, to escape the conflict, at Jeddah Sea Port in Jeddah on Wednesday Damaged buildings are seen following clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in South Khartoum locality, Sudan, on Tuesday Damaged buildings are seen following clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in South Khartoum locality, Sudan, on Tuesday Mr Sunak authorised the rescue operation of British civilians on Monday night, Downing Street said, after he was accused of 'abandoning' them. The Government had decided to only airlift British diplomats and their families from Sudan over the weekend. Mr Wallace told Channel 4 news 'we can take, really, who turns up at the moment' - adding 'there is some risk that some of the planes are not full'. The Government is considering other options, including a possible seaborne evacuation from Port Sudan, some 500 miles from the capital. HMS Lancaster and the RFA Cardigan Bay have been sent to the region. Sinn Fein's leader in Northern Ireland is to attend the Coronation of King Charles III, she revealed today. Michelle O'Neill, the party's deputy president, said she intended to attend the May 6 event in London alongside the Irish president Michael D Higgins. Ms O'Neill would be in line to become Northern Ireland's First Minister if the current powersharing impasse is resolved and devolution returns in Belfast. In September, she attended the Queen's funeral service in London. In a tweet she said said she accepted an invitation on behalf of Northern Irish people 'for whom the coronation is a hugely important occasion'. But her decision and invitation will be seen as highly controversial. Sinn Fein has strong links to the IRA, which murdered Charles III's mentor Lord Mountbatten of Burma in a 1979 bomb attack. His daughter, Lady Pamela Hicks received a telephone call from a secretary at Buckingham Palace on her 94th birthday, informing her that she had not been invited. Michelle O'Neill, the party's deputy president, said she intended to attend the May 6 event in London alongside the Irish president Michael D Higgins. She is pictured meeting Charles last September. 'I am committed to being a First Minister for all, representing the whole community, building good relations between the people of these islands, and advancing peace and reconciliation through respectful and mature engagement.' Sinn Fein has strong links to the IRA, which murdered Charles III's mentor Lord Mountbatten of Burma in a 1979 bomb attack. The decorated war hero and last viceroy of India died when the IRA blew up his fishing boat off Mullaghmore in County Sligo, in a blast that also killed his teenaged grandsons and the 83-year-old mother-in-law of his daughter. His daughter, Lady Pamela Hicks received a telephone call from a secretary at Buckingham Palace on her 94th birthday, informing her that she had not been invited. Mountbatten was Prince Phillip's uncle and was close to his great nephew. The King wept at his funeral. The decorated war hero and last viceroy of India died when the IRA blew up his fishing boat off Mullaghmore in County Sligo, in a blast that also killed his teenaged grandsons and the 83-year-old mother-in-law of his daughter. The move to attend the coronation is the latest signal of the vastly improved relations between the republican movement and the monarchy since the outset of the peace process in Northern Ireland. 'I have accepted an invitation to attend the coronation of King Charles III,' said Ms O'Neill. 'We are living in a time of great change. A time to respect our differing and equally legitimate aspirations, a time to firmly focus on the future and the opportunities that the next decade will bring. 'I am an Irish republican. I also recognise there are many people on our island for whom the coronation is a hugely important occasion. 'I am committed to being a First Minister for all, representing the whole community, building good relations between the people of these islands, and advancing peace and reconciliation through respectful and mature engagement. 'Therefore, as First Minister Designate, I will join President of Ireland Michael D Higgins, international figures, church leaders, other party leaders and the Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey for the coronation in London.' But former minister Kate Hoey told MailOnline: 'She's entitled to accept it and she has made her own personal views on why she has accepted it. 'My issue with it is that in a lot of the nationalist Sinn Fein-controlled councils in Northern Ireland they have refused any kind of support for the coronation, any celebrations, street parties, any of that in their areas. 'So it seems a little hypocritical that she is going off to wine and dine, colloquially speaking, and yet her rank and file Sinn Fein have stopped basically pro-union British people having any celebration.' A heavily pregnant primary school teacher who was an aspiring actress and singer has been found dead at her home in Glasgow - as police launched a missing person investigation. The body of a woman, named locally as Marelle Sturrock, 35, was discovered at the property in the Craigton area of the city at around 8.40am yesterday, after police received a 'concern for person' call. Police Scotland have launched an investigation, confirming that the death is being treated as unexplained and is linked to an ongoing search for a missing person at Mugdock Country Park. A large-scale operation is under way near Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, with officers, dog units and a helicopter all dispatched yesterday at around 11am and a section close to an entrance to the park taped off. Police remain in attendance at both sites today. The body of a woman, named locally as primary school teacher Marelle Sturrock, was discovered at the property in the Craigton area of the city at around 8.40am yesterday, after police received a 'concern for person' call Marelle Sturrock posing for a photo with her partner David In a letter sent to families of pupils who attend Sandwood Primary School, where Ms Sturrock worked, the school said: 'It is with deep sorrow that I must inform you about the sudden death of Ms Sturrock who is a beloved member of our teaching staff. 'I know that this will come as a shock to our school community, and we will do all that we can to support children, staff and families through what will be a difficult and challenging time. 'I hope that you will understand that there are no other details that I can share at this time but wanted to let our families know the tragic news from the school.' Detective Chief Inspector Cheryl Kelly said: 'We were made aware of concern for a woman at a property on Jura Street in Glasgow shortly after 8.40am on Tuesday, 25 April. Officers attended and the body of a 35-year-old woman was found within. 'Her death is being treated as unexplained and enquiries remain ongoing. Sandwood Primary School, where Ms Sturrock worked, confirmed her death in a letter to families of those with children at the school Ms Sturrock's death is currently being treated as unexplained Police at the scene of a search for a missing person at Mugdock Park near Glasgow 'Officers have been carrying out extensive searches of Mugdock Country Park in relation to a missing person in the area. 'This is being treated as linked to the death at Jura Street and enquiries remain ongoing. 'Our thoughts are very much with everyone affected by this tragic incident. There is not believed to be any risk to the wider public but anyone with information or concerns can contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident 0904 of 25 April. 'A police presence will remain at both locations as enquiries continue and anyone with information is also urged to speak to any of our officers.' The busy area had plenty of people nearby as the man carried a knife in daylight Officers surrounded the man in his 50s near Tooting Railway Station in London This is the terrifying moment a knifeman 'runs at police officers' before being tasered outside a busy London railway station. Officers arrived at the scene to discover a man in his 50s in possession of a knife outside Tooting railway station in south London at around 6.45pm yesterday. They surrounded the knifeman outside Polish supermarket Delight which is just a stone's throw away from the station. Footage captured from across the street shows the man, dressed in a black jacket and trousers, walking in the middle of the road while officers point Tasers at him from the pavement. The video sees the man stop suddenly as he is hit by the conducted energy device, before collapsing on to the ground. Police can be seen surrounding the knifeman outside Polish supermarket Delight which is just a stone's throw away from the station Footage shows the man walking in the middle of the road while officers point Tasers at him from the pavement Members of the public walked past in disbelief at the sight of the armed man, with some even capturing the shocking moment on their smartphones. The man, who has not been identified, is still in custody at a south London police station at the time of writing. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police told MailOnline: 'Police were called at about 6.45pm on Tuesday, 25 April to reports of a man in possession of a knife outside Tooting Railway Station. 'When officers arrived, the man ran towards them with a knife. 'Police discharged a Taser as the man was detained. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of affray and possession of an offensive weapon. 'The man, who is aged in his 50s, was treated for minor injuries. No one else was injured. 'He remains in custody at a south London police station.' The knife involved in the incident has since been recovered. Bystander video has emerged showing married Big Brother stars Memphis Garrett and Christmas Abbott being physically attacked outside the bar they own in Florida. The incident unfolded in January outside their Fort Lauderdale watering hole, No Man's Land, after a pair of customers grew belligerent and violent when they were told the bar was closed, TMZ reported on Wednesday. According to sources cited by the outlet, a man and woman entered the bar demanding drinks, and refused to leave, prompting a frustrated Garrett to shout 'F*** you and your girlfriend!' When Garrett and Abbott asked the couple to leave and attempted to escort them outside, the man attacked Garrett, according to their attorney Brian Karpf. Karpf told DailyMail.com that the video 'depicts a vicious, unprovoked attack' on both Garrett and Abbott, who were holding an employee meeting inside the upscale cocktail bar when the incident unfolded. Bystander video has emerged showing married Big Brother stars Memphis Garrett and Christmas Abbott involved in a wild brawl outside their bar in Florida The lawyer says that as Abbott tried to pull Garrett and the male assailant apart, she was 'blindsided and struck by the attackers female companion'. Kapf noted that the video 'appears to be a selected clip or edited version' but added: 'Nonetheless, it still evidences Ms. Abbott being the victim of a brutal assault.' Video of the incident appears to show Abbott, who was awaiting surgery for a neck injury at the time, sprawled on the ground and tussling with the female customer. As Garrett and the male customer grapple, a bartender attempts to split them up and ward off the man. After the would-be patrons initially back off, the man is then seen returning and picking up a toppled bar stool, as the bartender rushes at him and grabs the stool to stop him from wielding it as a weapon. Abbott can be seen in the background making a phone call and pointing at the belligerent customers. The couple's attorney says she called 911 immediately and filed a report, after the couple continued to refuse to leave, and hung around throwing things at the window of the bar. But Abbott declined to press charges after receiving assurances that the couple would leave and never return, said Karpf. A bartender (right) is seen trying to pull the belligerent male customer away from Garrett as Abbott grapples on the ground with the female customer The customers allegedly turned violent and attacked Garrett and Abbott after they were told the bar was closed, but still demanded drinks Garrett and Abbot married last year, after they met while filing season 22 of Big Brother: All-Stars in the summer of 2020. They own a number of bars and restaurants across the US Garrett and Abbott met while filing season 22 of Big Brother: All-Stars in the summer of 2020. The couple confirmed they were dating in December 2020, just two months after the series finale of the reality show's 22nd season. They were married over Memorial Day weekend of 2022 in Savannah, Georgia. Garrett is the founder of Garrett Hospitality Group, which operates a number of restaurants and bars across the country, including outposts in South Florida, Memphis and Chicago. Ex-Tory whip Chris Pincher - who faced groping claims in a row that led to Boris Johnson's downfall last summer - will quit Parliament at the next general election. The Tamworth MP will not seek re-election to the House of Commons following the furious sleaze row that erupted last summer. Mr Pincher quit as the Conservative deputy chief whip in late June following claims he drunkenly groped two men at a posh London members' club. He was subsequently suspended from the Tory parliamentary party and has spent the last nine months sitting in the Commons as an independent MP. A fierce row over Mr Johnson's handling of the scandal caused a fresh mutiny among Tory MPs against his leadership and his downfall as PM came days later in early July. Chris Pincher, the MP for Tamworth, will not seek re-election to the House of Commons following the furious sleaze row that erupted last summer A fierce row over Boris Johnson's handling of the scandal caused a fresh mutiny among Tory MPs against his leadership and his downfall as PM came days later in early July Mr Pincher remains under investigation by the Commons' Standards Commissioner over 'actions causing significant damage to the reputation of the House as a whole, or of its members generally'. The 53-year-old has been MP for Tamworth since the 2010 general election and has served as a minister in the Foreign Office and the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities, as well as two spells in the Tory whips' office. According to the BBC, a number of current Conservative MPs have applied to be the party's new parliamentary candidate in Tamworth. Walsall North MP Eddie Hughes, whose current seat will be affected by boundary changes at the next general election, is said to be among the front runners. The Tories will choose a replacement for Mr Pincher this summer, it was reported. Mr Pincher retained his Tamworth seat with a near 20,000-vote majority at the 2019 general election. The Staffordshire constituency was last held by Labour in 2005. Controversial Chicago state attorney Kim Foxx has said she will not run for re-election after a six-year tenure marred by criticism over her 'soft-on-crime' policies and the Jussie Smollett scandal. Foxx has been a lightning rod for rows between supporters of criminal justice reform and those who say lax policies have sparked a breakdown in law and order. The Cook County State Attorney, 51, has implemented higher thresholds for prosecutors to pursue felony charges for theft, pushed to eradicate low-level marijuana convictions and supported the elimination of bail. She admitted her time in office will forever be linked to the mishandling of the Jussie Smollett case, in which prosecutors were found to have committed 'substantial operational failures'. In a farewell speech Tuesday, Foxx said she regrets the scandal has overshadowed her tenure. 'My obituary will mention Jussie Smollett, and that makes me mad,' she told the City Club of Chicago. More recently, she was slammed by the family of a six-month-old baby killed by two teens driving a stolen car after Foxx charged them only with misdemeanors. Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx, 51, admitted that her six-year tenure will be remembered for the Jussie Smollett scandal, adding: 'That makes me mad.' Her office was found to have committed 'substantial operational failures' during the affair, in which Smollett (above) was found to have staged a brutal attack on his person in 2019 in order to claim he was the victim of homophobic thugs 'Teen riots' in Chicago earlier this month, which saw two shootings and 15 arrests amid widespread violence, were also seized upon by critics as a symbol of a crumbling city. Overall crime in Chicago is up 47 percent since last year, with theft up by a quarter. But Foxx told the City Club: 'I leave with my head held high, my heart full, knowing that there are better days ahead.' Asked why she wasn't running for a third term, the mother-of-four said she promised her family that she would leave after two. Foxx was elected in 2016 amid the fallout from the murder of Laquan McDonald, 17, by former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke. She spearheaded the nationwide movement to elect progressive prosecutors and pledged to rebuild the county's broken criminal justice system. Foxx encouraged staff to follow the American Bar Association admonition that their duty is to 'seek justice, not merely to convict'. She was chastised by police and city officials over the spike in violent crime during the pandemic, with Foxx pointing to the trend across many major cities at the time. More conservative Chicago politicians including outgoing Mayor Lori Lightfoot and former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, who failed in his bid to replace Lightfoot, have blamed her for the city's continued high crime rates. But Lightfoot praised her Tuesday, tweeting: 'I commend and thank Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx for stepping up and serving our City and County through a particularly tough moment in history. 'I know what it's like being a Black woman in leadership and constantly being judged and evaluated through a different set of standards. I wish SA Foxx and her family the best as she embarks on a new chapter.' Six-month-old Cristian Uvidia was killed when a stolen car collided with his family's truck Police say on April 16, two boys sped down West Washington Road in a stolen Hyundai sedan when they tore through an intersection and collided with a pickup truck. Pictured: Pieces of the cars and chunks of wood from a tree where the cars landed Outgoing Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has been critical of Foxx's tenure in the past But she took to Twitter Wednesday to 'commend and thank' the state attorney after Foxx announced she was stepping down after two terms Lightfoot, who is Chicago's first black lesbian mayor, offered solidarity to Foxx in her tweets Foxx was controversial even among her own staff. Most famously, retiring prosecutor Jim Murphy left the office in 2022 after penning a damning letter and walking around the office carrying a shirt that had Mickey Mouse showing a middle finger and said 'Hey Kim Foxx I'm outta here'. The state attorney has struggled to rid herself of the Jussie Smollett scandal, an extraordinary affair in which the actor was found to have staged a brutal attack on his person in 2019 in order to claim he was the victim of homophobic thugs. Smollett was charged with disorderly conduct for perpetrating a hoax, but Foxx recused herself from the case because she had spoken to one of Smollett's relatives. Prosecutors then dropped all charges against him and he was not required to admit to wrongdoing. The resulting outcry prompted an investigation by special prosecutor Dan Webb, who refiled charges and Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail, which he is appealing. Webb found the prosecutor's office committed 'substantial abuses of discretion and operational failures'. Foxx was keen to downplay the scandal in her speech to the City Club. 'They sent people to prison for crimes they didn't commit,' she said, referring to wrongful convictions of past administrations. 'An actor who perpetrated a crime on himself maybe didn't get the measure of justice that a segment of society believes he should have got.' Earlier this week, the aunt of six-month-old Cristian Uvidia, who was killed when two teens crashed an allegedly stolen car into a pickup truck, slammed Foxx for her decision to only charge the boys with misdemeanors. The mother-of-four told the City Club of Chicago Tuesday that she wasn't running for a third term because she had promised her family she would stop after two Foxx told her audience: 'I leave with my head held high, my heart full, knowing that there are better days ahead.' Foxx was controversial even among her own staff. Most famously, retiring prosecutor Jim Murphy left the office in 2022 after penning a damning letter and walking around the office carrying a shirt that had Mickey Mouse showing a middle finger and said 'Hey Kim Foxx I'm outta here' Shocking footage showed some teenagers jumping on top of a bus while others started a massive brawl after descending on Millennium Park and attempting to breach barricades Overall crime in Chicago is up 47 percent since last year, with theft up by 25 percent 'I want to know how you [Foxx] sleep at night, seeing my nephew's picture on the screen, how you can see his face and think that his life meant absolutely nothing,' Annelisse Rivera told Fox & Friends. 'The district attorney has just as much blood on her hands as the people who did this,' she continued. Rivera pointed out that their family has yet to be contacted by Foxx or the police about the investigation. The suspects, aged 14 and 17, each face a single count of criminal trespassing, but police said charges could be upgraded pending further investigation into the wreck. Foxx, for her part, has stuck by her policies and stoutly defended her reign to the City Club. 'We find ourselves in a cycle of violence that continues because we haven't addressed the root causes of violence, because we haven't addressed the rift between communities and law enforcement and we haven't addressed it because they're hard truths that need to be told,' she told her audience. 'If nothing else, I have spent the last six and a half years trying to tell the difficult truth about our criminal justice system, about the prosecutor's office, about law enforcement and the impact that it has had on communities that are the ones most impacted by violent crime and by our justice system.' A Vermont elementary school has removed 'male' and female' language from its fifth grade science lessons on the reproductive system and uses 'person who produces sperm' and 'person who produces eggs'. Founders Memorial School in Essex Junction sent a letter to parents on April 20 announcing the use of 'gender inclusive language' in the science and health unit exploring puberty. Principal Sara Jablonski said the changes were made to align the curriculum with the school district's equity policy and that the school strives to use 'person-first' language. Instead of referring to a male and females during the lessons on the human reproductive systems, teachers will say 'person who produces sperm' and 'person who produces eggs.' The letter sparked backlash on social media with some describing the measures as 'exhausting nonsense' while others called for children to be pulled from public schools. Founders Memorial School sent a letter to parents on April 20 announcing the use of 'gender inclusive language' in science and health unit exploring puberty Principal Sara Jablonski (pictured) said the changes were made to align the curriculum with the school district's equity policy and that the school strives to use 'person-first' language The letter also added that worksheets and handouts were being edited to reflect these changes at the school in the Essex Westford School District 'In an effort to align our curriculum with our equity policy, teachers will be using gender inclusive language throughout this unit. With any differences, we strive to use "person-first" language as best practice,' Jablonski wrote. She added the lessons will focus on 'the physical and emotional changes that occur during puberty and briefly introduce the basic structure and function of human reproductive systems.' The letter also added that worksheets and handouts were being edited to reflect these changes at the school in the Essex Westford School District. Parents and guardians were also offered the opportunity to view the new material themselves in a binder placed in the main office. The Essex Westford School District's school board introduced a new equity policy in June 2021 in which schools would 'use anti-racist and LGBTQIA+ affirming perspectives to inform curriculum decisions starting in Pre-K'. It passed with eight board members in support of it and one in opposition. The letter was shared with parents' rights group Parents Defending Education, a grassroots organization who work to 'reclaim our schools from activists promoting harmful agendas'. Erika Sanzi, the group's director of outreach, shared the letter on Twitter and wrote: 'New language rules just dropped for 5th graders in Vermont and they dont include the words boy and girl or male and female.' Parents Defending Education slammed the changes in a statement and told Fox News Digital: 'Speaking about anyone in this way is dehumanizing in any context but these new language rules specifically apply to a health unit for 5th graders about puberty and reproduction. 'It is clear that the school has decided to be derelict in their duty to educate students in the name of equity. If anyone is wondering what it looks like when an elementary school has been captured by gender ideology, this is it.' The letter was met with widespread fury on social media. The letter was met with widespread fury on social media One user on Twitter said: 'Absurd. A person who produces sperm is, by definition, a male. 'A person who produces eggs is, by definition, a female. And sex is not 'assigned' at birth, it's observed at birth. How exhausting all this nonsense is.' Another added: 'Reasons NOT to put your children in public schools.' While a third said: 'I could not opt out of everything fast enough. If the school is going to be unserious, Ill find another way.' And one man on Facebook commented: 'I just don't understand why this allowed to happen in our schools. 'Parents please pay attention to what is being taught in your child's classroom and stand up and defend them.' Principal Jablonski was a librarian at Founders Memorial School for 14 years before she took charge in October 2021 following a resignation of Matt Melaugh who realized the position wasnt a good fit for him. DailyMail.com has reached out to Founders Memorial School and the Essex Westford School District for comment. Mortgage experts and politicians are up in arms over a revamp to borrowing rules that will see home buyers with higher credit scores penalized in favor of those with lower ratings. President Joe Biden has come under fire for changing the way Loan-Level Pricing Adjustments (LLPAs) are calculated, which will effectively 'tax' those who have built up good credit scores. The new rules come into effect May 1. In real terms, it means borrowers with a good credit rating - above 740 - could pay as much as $375 extra in the long run while those with poorer scores - below 639 - stand to save up to $6,000. The exact figure will vary depending on the buyer's credit score, downpayment size and the value of the property. Here Dailymail.com breaks down what you need to know... borrowers with a good credit rating above 740 - could pay as much as $375 extra in the long run while those with poorer scores - below 639 - stand to save up to $6,000 President Joe Biden has come under fire for changing the way Loan-Level Pricing Adjustments (LLPAs) are calculated What is an LLPA and how is it paid? A loan-level pricing adjustment (LLPA) is a risk-based fee added onto a home-mover's closing costs. It effectively covers a bank for any losses they may incur on a mortgage. An LLPA is calculated using a series of factors including the loan-to-value (LTV) rate of the mortgage and the borrower's credit score. Though a buyer can theoretically pay their LLPA upfront, the vast majority have the fee added onto their mortgage payments as it works out at very little per month. The fee was introduced in April 2008 in response to the financial crisis. It does not apply to Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Veterans Affairs (VA) or US Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans. What is changing? Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac - which are regulated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) - are changing the matrix by which they calculate LLPA fees for buyers. It means any loan backed by these two organizations will be impacted by the change - around 60 percent of the mortgage market, according to the Urban Institute. The move was intended to help more first-time buyers from less affluent communities onto the housing market. The average American credit score if 711, according to figures by FICO. If you have a top credit score - for example those above 720 - you will still pay less than those with lower ratings. But those with credit scores under 680 will see the penalty reduced from May 1. The worst affected buyers are those who have a credit score of 740-759 and a downpayment of between 15-25 percent. Those in this category now face an LLPA worth 1 percent of the market, compared to an old fee of 0.25 percent. Buyers who stand to save the most are those who have a credit score of below 639 and a downpayment of between 95 and 97 percent. Home movers in this category will see their LLPA decrease from 3.75 percent of the property value to 1.75 percent. There has also been a slight threshold change: previously the lowest category was 620 and below but that figure is now 639. How much will these changes cost in dollars? Colorado mortgage expert Adam Smith says buyers may start asking sellers to take on the LLPA fees as part of a closing negotiation If you have a credit score of 620, for example, and take out a 95 percent LTV deal or higher on a $300,000 property you will pay a fee equal to 1.75 percent under the new system. It works out at $5,250. Under the old system the same borrower would have had to pay an LLPA worth 3.75 percent of the mortgage - or $11,250. So in total the borrower has saved $6,000. However a buyer with a credit score of 740 taking out the exact same loan will have to pay $375 more than they would have done previously. This is because under the old system this borrower would pay an LLPA worth 0.25 percent on a 75 percent LTV $300,000 loan. This works out as $750. However the new rules will see this rate boosted to 0.375 percent. In real terms, it means the buyer now pays $1,125 in fees. Is there anything I can do to avoid paying more? If you have a higher credit rating and stand to pay more in LLPAs from May 1, there are some ways you may be able to avoid the fees. For example, mortgage experts say that it is not uncommon for the seller to take on the cost of the LLPA in a mortgage rate buydown negotiation. Last week Dailymail.com revealed mortgage rate buydowns were becoming more common as America's property market starts to stall. The deals are usually only ever struck if a house has been on the market for a long time and the seller is struggling to find a buyer. This is because it is often cheaper than reducing the cost of the home. Adam Smith, who runs Colorado Real Estate Finance Group (CORE), said: 'We could start to see more people ask for the seller to pay for the LLPA. 'But we are still in a buyer's market so it's unlikely for now.' A man who was allegedly stabbed by his housemate with a 20cm kitchen blade has blamed the big city housing shortage for the frenzied attack. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, was allegedly stabbed five times in the chest and once in the thigh by his housemate, Lioh Zeviar, in their North Sydney rental unit on Tuesday. Zeviar, 39, appeared in Manly Local Court on Wednesday charged with assault causing actual bodily harm over the Anzac Day attack, according to 7News. Police told the court the alleged attack, which left puncture wounds a centimetre from the victim's lung, was 'completely unprovoked'. But the alleged victim lays the blame with Sydney's rental crisis. 'The main issue here is that there is a shortage of housing,' he told 7NEWS. 'I think that has increased over the past six to eight months.' He said a complex and unofficial living arrangement meant the two housemates, who met on a flatmates' forum, were facing eviction. 'They can just kick you out really because there's nothing on paper, you haven't paid a bond,' he said. 'Because it's a sharehouse we have our own space, we rarely see each other ... but there was always that underlying tension because no one was interviewed.' The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, blamed his knifing on Sydney's rental crisis Lioh Zeviar appeared in Manly Local Court on Wednesday charged with assault causing actual bodily harm where he pleaded guilty Despite the ordeal, the alleged victim believes he can now handle whatever the rental crisis has to throw at him. 'In some strange way, I'm glad I moved here because I've lived through it, and I'm pretty sure what'll happen next, I'll be able to handle it.' Zeviar pleaded not guilty to the assault and was granted bail after his legal aid solicitor told the court his client was adamant he did not attack the housemate. Legal Aid solicitor Fiona Hadlington said the full-time IT professional, who works at a global firm based in Haymarket, was 'adamant' he had nothing to do with the stabbing, the Daily Telegraph reported. 'Many people live at this address, he's not contesting he has injuries, but he says he has nothing to do with it,' the solicitor said. Sydneysiders have faced nightmare scenes of waiting in lines that wrapped around inner-city blocks just to inspect a single property (pictured, a queue at a recent rental inspection) 'When the ambulance showed up, there were minor injuries and superficial cuts there are multiple issues and I'm instructed it wasn't him.' He will be permitted to return to his North Sydney address he shared with the alleged victim to collect his things with a police escort. He is due to face court again in June. Sydney's rental crisis has deepened in recent months with landlords hiking rents by as much as $600 a month. Some workers are being forced to live in hostels because competition for rentals is so fierce, while others are sharing rooms with friends to save cash. Extreme examples include a landlord advertising a patch of grass in his backyard for $130 a week and and international student forking out $300 a week to rent a pop-up tent in a living room. Zoe Jiang, 27, from China, was forced to stay in short-term accommodation when she moved from Australia to study finance due to the fierce competition for rooms. Her situation isn't unique, as international students who flock back to Australia are greeted by one of the most challenging rental markets in decades, with housing in short supply and prices through the roof. 'I have never had a night in a tent before... camping in a living room was very different,' Ms Jiang told the ABC. Memphis, New Orleans, and Richmond rank as America's homicide hotspots, with scholars linking their rising murder rates to soft-on-crime Democratic leadership and low police morale. A study by WalletHub found that murder rates jumped by a tenth in the country's biggest cities between the first quarter of 2001 and the same period this year and they're still heading up. It was released as William Shaw Jr, 67, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder over the shooting of his uncle in South Memphis this week the latest in a string of killings in Tennessee's second-biggest city. Researchers said murder rates started going up in the Covid-19 pandemic, and found that Democratic-led cities were suffering faster rising rates than their Republican counterparts. WalletHub researchers found that murder rates jumped by a tenth in the country's biggest cities between the first quarter of 2001 and the same period this year They attributed this to more people buying guns, bail reform efforts, and police steering clear of the mostly-black inner-city communities where gang-related killings are concentrated in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests. 'The public reaction to the killing of George Floyd is perhaps the foremost example of this,' said Chidike Okeem, a crime expert at Western New England University. 'As a response to the social unrest, some officers have embraced de-policing, which is the idea of not engaging in proactive policing practices in order to avoid increased scrutiny and censure.' Democratic cities were suffering faster rising rates than their Republican counterparts When the cops melt away, 'violence proliferates,' Okeem added. Researchers ranked cities by totting up their homicide rates in the first three months of 2023, and comparing those numbers against the same periods in 2021 and 2022. Memphis, New Orleans, Richmond, Washington DC, Detroit, Durham, Dallas. Milwaukee, Las Vegas and Kansas City ranked as America's worst homicide hotspots. New York came 36th and Los Angeles at 38th. Norfolk, Omaha, Atlanta, Fort Worth, and Raleigh ranked at the bottom of the list of the worst-affected big cities. Cities with Democratic mayors had faster rising murder rates than those with a Republican leader, researchers found. The police killing of George Floyd and other unarmed black men led to mass racial justice protests and liberal calls to 'defund the police', which in turn saw cops avoid high-crime mostly-black neighborhoods. Robert Spitzer, a professor at the College of William and Mary School of Law, said carnage in America's biggest cities showed how 'police and policing are indispensable for society.' The casket of Michigan State University shooting victim Arielle Anderson is carried from the funeral service in Detroit, in February Chidike Okeem (left), a crime expert at Western New England University, Robert Spitzer, a professor at the College of William and Mary School of Law, warn of rising urban murder rates Police officers at the scene of an active shooter's rampage in Memphis, in September 2022. Tennessee's second-biggest city has witnessed a string of homicides and other crimes The number of child gunshot deaths grew from 1,732 to 2,590 the highest number since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started counting deaths in 1999 'Though police have suffered some reputational damage and loss of personnel, an increase in crime inevitably leads to people turning to the police for protection, and that helps their reputation,' said Spitzer. Spitzer and other analysts said the gradual return to normalcy after the pandemic and the restoration of government anti-crime schemes could well see murder rates dropping again. Murder rates are still well below their peaks in the crime-ravaged early 1990s. Perceptions of crime, safety and urban decay are set to be a headache for President Joe Biden, a Democrat, as he seeks reelection in 2024 despite flagging approval ratings. With violent crime troubling many large cities, Republicans nationwide have pushed a tough-on-crime agenda that would make it harder for the accused to get out of jail on bail and lock up people longer when convicted of certain offenses. A separate study by Pew Research Center this month found that the number of children and teens being killed by gunfire jumped 50 percent between 2019 and 2021. This left nearly half of US parents scared that a bullet would kill their offspring. Over those two years, the number of child gunshot deaths grew from 1,732 to 2,590 the highest number since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started counting deaths in 1999. Victims are disproportionately black. African American minors made up 46 percent of those deaths in 2021, even though they represent only about 14 percent of the entire US youth population. Other victims were white (32 percent), Hispanic (17 percent), and Asian (1 percent). That means black children and teens were five times more likely to die from a bullet than their white counterparts. Some 45 percent of parents worried that their child will be shot, a Pew survey of 3,757 US parents with at least one child younger than 18 found late last year America's child gunshot death crisis. Pictured: the aftermath of an eight-month-old gunshot victim, who died after a gun was discharged by the victim's three-year-old brother, in Houston, Texas Tom and Junior revealed the home was also infested with cockroaches Tom DeSena, 23, and Junior Lallbachan, 26, were sent to Florida to clean a home A professional cleaning duo was horrified when they discovered a beer-guzzling hoarder had filled his home with '10,000 cans' of Coors Light - all of which were refilled with 'hundreds of gallons' of urine. Disinfecting technicians Tom DeSena, 23, and Junior Lallbachan, 26, from Long Island, New York, were sent to clear out a two-story home in Florida, which belonged to an alcohol-dependent owner that filled empty beer cans with urine and allowed them to take over. When they arrived at the 'crime scene,' they opened the front door to find that the entirety of the property's ground floor was buried four-feet deep in Coors Light beer cans. Tom and Junior - who frequently document the horrors they witness while cleaning - shared footage of the cans that were refilled with 'hundreds of gallons of urine', and the '10 million' cockroaches that infested the home. Cleaning duo Tom DeSena (pictured left) and Junior Lallbachan were horrified when they discovered a beer-guzzling hoarder filled his home with '10,000 cans' of Coors Light They were sent to clear out a two-story home in Florida, which belonged to an alcohol-dependent owner that filled empty beer cans with urine and allowed them to take over When they arrived, they opened the front door to find that the entirety of the property's ground floor was buried four-feet deep in Coors Light beer cans and cockroaches Tom said: 'We didn't know what to expect. We were told there's hoarding, beer cans, kind of an alcohol situation and that there's a lot of garbage, but there were no pictures' Tom said: 'We didn't know what to expect. We were told there's hoarding, beer cans, kind of an alcohol situation, and that there's a lot of garbage, but there were no pictures. 'Junior and I were kind of walking into it as a surprise.' The duo began attempting to clean the home but claimed that as soon as they began to shovel the cans into the trash, they 'avalanched' towards them because they were piled so high. Tom said: 'We're shoveling them with a metal shovel, and as we're shoveling them, they're falling like an avalanche. It's like three to four feet high. 'Junior does one scoop and all of them come tumbling down, exploding. It's not a pretty sight. 'I'll never want to see a can of Coors Light again.' The beer cans covered five rooms downstairs, the home's two-car garage, and were even crammed in the walls and toilet. 'There are cans in the walls, there are holes in the sheet rock and in the sheetrock there are cans. There are cans in the cooker, and the mattress and the drawers and the closet, in the toilet,' Tom added. The duo began attempting to clean the home, but claimed that as soon as they began to shovel the cans into trash, they 'avalanched' towards them because they were piled so high The beer cans covered five rooms downstairs, the home's two-car garage, and were even crammed in the walls and toilet The experience has put the pair off Coors Light for life and left them 'wishing they were exterminators' because of the sheer number of insects in the property The experience has put the pair off Coors Light for life and left them 'wishing they were exterminators' because of the sheer number of insects in the property. 'Let's just say, guessing, there are 10,000 cans. That means that for every can, there are ten to 15 roaches. Probably ten million roaches in that house. 'I'm not a bug guy at all. We're not exterminators, but I wish I was an exterminator right now,' Tom explained. And while the sight of cockroaches was enough to have them squirming, the team was left holding their breath due to the strong smell that came from the urine-filled cans. The pair revealed that most of the cans that contained urine were found in the bathrooms and the kitchen. 'The filled ones were nearer the bathrooms. All of the cans from the toilet into the kitchen area were refilled with urine. 'It would be dozens of gallons, if not hundreds of gallons, of urine. I just said, "Damn. I guess I'm breathing through my mouth today,"' Tom revealed. And while Tom and Junior are known for their insane ability to transform homes filled with everything from poop to blood to insects, they revealed it never gets easier, no matter how many times they do it. 'It's crazy. We're not numb to this, so when I say it and people are like, "Oh my God," I feel the same way. And while Tom and Junior are known for their insane ability to transform homes filled with everything from poop to blood, they said it never gets easier Tom said it took the cleaning team four days and almost four full dumpsters to clear out the ground floor of the house Tom added: 'We are making good progress. However, many days we're here, and whatever work they tell us to do, we will do' Tom said it took the cleaning team four days and almost four full dumpsters to clear out the ground floor of the house. Although nobody currently appears to be living at the property, Tom claims that the Coors-can hoarder is still alive. Tom said: 'I'm not a doctor, but you can tell [] this isn't normal. Hoarding the alcohol, refilling the cans with urine, and hoarding that - it is very, very clear that something is very wrong. 'I just thought, "damn, this person's struggling." That's really all there was, and then we started shoveling. 'I think it's one person, believe it or not. I would guess they've been there for 10 years or more. 'I don't know how someone could drink that much, so I'd say at least 10 years.' The duo has been sharing their progress on their TikTok channel, where they boast over 206,000 followers. Tom added: 'We are making good progress. However many days we're here, and whatever work they tell us to do, we will do. 'We do know that we're doing a good thing, we're doing a good job. 'It's people's lowest point in life, and we've got to be there to get them back on their feet and help them move forward.' Coors Light were contacted for comment. Cyclists have blamed an 'optical illusion' cycle lane on a British high street for causing them to fall off and injure themselves. Almost 60 people have been hurt after crashing on Keynsham High Street, near Bristol, since the new street layout was put in place last year. Riders have blamed the similar appearance of the grey kerbs on one side and the white painted lines on the other for causing an 'optical illusion' that means the path looks level and catches out cyclists who aren't looking closely enough. It has been revealed a total of 21 people have started personal injury actions against Bath and North East Somerset Council, which spent nine months installing the cycle lane. And one local councillor has warned that if the situation does not improve, a cyclist could be fatally injured on the tricky section of road. Dozens of bike riders have been injured after falling off on a new cycle lane in Keynsham, near Bristol Cyclists say the 'optical illusion' lane is causing people to injure themselves as the kerb on one side and painted white lines are a similar colour Alan Hale, a councillor for Keynsham South, said figures he had obtained through a freedom of information (FOI) request to the council showed that 59 people had been hurt. Of these, 21 have sought damages from the council for their injuries, and although seven of these have been rejected the rest remain open and under investigation. The council stated that no insurance claims have currently been settled and no other payments have been made to anyone. Mr Hale told Somerset Live he had been contacted about people falling 'since day one' but had simply been told by council officers that they were 'monitoring' the situation. He said: 'There can be no other local authority in the country that has created a development that has succeeded in seriously injuring 59 people at least and have done nothing to address the situation. We are elected to make our community safe, not to inflict significant injuries. 'To make it safe we need the administration and officers to take positive action, not sit on their hands.' Some work has been done on the cycle lane with the hope of reducing the number of falls. The lane, which had been plain tarmac, was painted red in August in response to - at that time - 46 incidents of people falling. Mr Hale said: 'At my suggestion they changed the colour of the tarmacadam of the lane but that did not achieve a cessation in injuries, and since then there has been no further action, save the monitoring.' A total of 21 cyclists have launched personal injury compensation claims against the council after their crashes Bath and North East Somerset Council spent nine months installing the new cycle lane Mr Hale has called for the cycle lane to be removed in the interests of public health and safety. But councillor Mark Roper, the council's cabinet member for economic development, regeneration and growth, defended the council's response. READ MORE HERE: Are these Britain's most dangerous cycle lanes? Advertisement He said: 'The new Keynsham High Street cycle lane is built to the Government's current LTN120 standards, and when some early problems were identified with the double kerb down to the road surface, a series of mitigations were put in place which has had the effect of substantially reducing the number of reported incidents. 'However we have now commissioned a Stage 4 Road Safety to suggest further improvements and mitigations and prevent any further issues. This will report back early in the next administration. 'All reported falls are carefully examined, including by CCTV, to establish where and why they happen. We have worked with the town council and local councillors to make sure we record all incidents. 'The council takes this issue very seriously and is working hard to deliver further improvements.' He added that between January and March there had been, on average, 2.3 recorded incidents per month. He added: 'We actively seek out details on incidents when we hear of them even if they have not been officially recorded.' But he defended the works done to the high street, saying: 'The Keynsham High Street regeneration programme has been a great success, reducing traffic and making it a much more pleasant environment for shoppers and visitors, and as a result we are seeing increased footfall from pre-pandemic levels and strong demand for retail space.' The group consists of 3,000 migrants from Latin America and Asia and has been traveling by foot since Sunday and expects to reach Mexico City next Tuesday An immigration activist and six migrants had their lips sewn shut in an effort to pressure the Mexican government into providing documents that would permit migrants the opportunity to move freely towards the United States border. Irineo Mujica, an activist with dual Mexico-United States citizenship, was joined by migrants from Colombia, Brazil, Cuba, Honduras, El Salvador and Venezuela in having their mouths stitched Tuesday in Huixtla, Chiapas. The group of 3,000 migrants is making its way from Mexico toward the U.S. southern border. The decision to sew their lips close was also done to show support for the families of the 40 migrants who died in a National Institute of Migration detention center in the northern border city of Ciudad Juarez on March 27. Mujica, who founded the Pueblos Sin Fronteras activist group, had previously called on the administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to try National Institute of Migration director Francisco Garduno in court for the migrant deaths. Immigration activist Irineo Mujica has his lips sewn shut to pressure the Mexican government to provide legal documents to migrants that would permit them to move freely through the country At least 3,000 migrants from Central and South America as well as Asia have joined a caravan that is traveling to Mexico City A migrant has their lips sewn shot during a protest in Mexico on Tuesday 'A state crime should not go unnoticed, Mexico does not represent this violence perpetrated against 40 migrants,' Mujica told EFE. Anderson Ordonez, one of the 3,000 migrants who joined the caravan that is traveling to Mexico City and the country's northern border region with the United States, was among the six migrants who had their lips sewn by a Dominican Republic nurse, who plans to seek asylum from the U.S. 'There are people who have gone to the United States by train, we do not want to risk our lives,' said Ordonez, who left Colombia a month and a half ago and has traveled across seven countries. 'We want them to help us,' he said of the Mexican government. 'We bring our documentation, we are not thugs, we are people who want a good future for ourselves and our children.' A migrant sews his own mouth to protest the Mexican government's slow response to provide migrants a permit that would allow them to transit freely Children and adults who joined the 3,000 migrant caravan rest in Huixtla, Chiapas, before continuing on to Mexico City A migrant family travels down a road in Huixtla, Chiapas, with other members who make up the caravan of 3,000 individuals who plan to seek asylum from the United Stares Brazilian national Paulo Henrique said there has been growing concern over the safety of women and children who joined the caravan Sunday in the Chiapas city of Tapachula have walked nearly 26 miles in three days. 'We are willing to do what is necessary so that they get us a visa and we can move forward, it is a form of dialogue with the Mexican government,' Henrique said. The migrant caravan expects to complete the 750-mile journey to Mexico City by May 3. While some are expected to remain in the Mexican capital, many would continue the journey northward, posing a challenge to the administration of President Joe Biden, which is planning on how to handle the likely arrival of tens of thousands more migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border after the anticipated end of COVID-19 restrictions next month. After his final show on the network, Carlson gave a speech on Friday night about good evil and the need for prayer Rupert Murdoch had Carlson for dinner at his Bel Air vineyard recently with his ex fiancee Ann Lesley Smith One of the contributors to Tucker Carlson's sudden firing from Fox this week may have been an evangelical speech on Friday night where he preached about 'good and evil', according to a source cited by Vanity Fair. Carlson was fired without warning on Monday morning after leading Fox News' top primetime show for seven years. There has been much speculation surrounding what sealed his fate. Some sources say Murdoch and other Fox News executives were outraged by Carlson's unflattering remarks about them that became public in the Dominion lawsuit record. Others say it was down to a recent discrimination lawsuit filed against him and some of his most senior staff by a former booking producer. Vanity Fair's Gabriel Sherman cites sources who say overtly religious displays such as Carlson's on Friday night 'freak' Rupert Murdoch 'out'. 'That stuff freaks Rupert out. He doesnt like all the spiritual talk.' The speech came just a few weeks after Murdoch's ex-fiancee, Ann Lesley Smith, is said to have called Carlson a 'messenger from God'. The pair had discussed religion during a recent dinner at Murdoch's Bel Air vineyard. Murdoch called off the brief engagement after two weeks. On Friday night, Tucker Carlson gave a 36-minute speech at The Heritage Foundation where he lamented not praying more and despaired for the future of America He was the keynote speaker at The Heritage Foundation's 50th anniversary gala and used his speech to talk about the growing need for prayer in America and the 'fraudulent debates' he'd found himself caught up in. Fox has not divulged the exact reason for Carlson's firing. A News Corp source however dismissed the notion that the Heritage Foundation speech was to blame. In his 36-minute speech, Carlson lamented not praying more and said he - unlike the rest of the country - was paid to give his opinion. He railed against the 'herd mentality' many fell into during 'George Floyd and COVID', and people are not 'trained' to speak out against the ideas they disagree with. 'We should stop engaging in these totally fraudulent debates, where we are using the terms that we used in 1991 when I started at [The Heritage Foundation], as if maybe I could just win the debate if I marshaled more facts. 'Ive tried. That doesnt work. And two, maybe we should all take just 10 minutes a day to say a prayer about it. Im serious. Why not? 'And Im saying that to you not as some kind of evangelist, Im literally saying that to you as an Episcopalian, the Samaritans of our time. Im coming to you from the most humble and lowly theological position you can. Im literally an Episcopalian. 'And even I have concluded it might be worth taking just 10 minutes out of your busy schedule to say a prayer for the future, and I hope you will.' Carlson also called some pro-choice arguments 'evil', and equated abortion with 'child sacrifice'. Rupert Murdoch hosted Carlson with his former fiancee, Ann Lesley Smith, for dinner recently. She gushed that Carlson was a 'messenger from God' Tucker Carlson, pictured for the first time since he left Fox, with his wife Susan in Florida last night 'When people, or crowds of people, or the largest crowd of people at all, which is the federal government, the largest human organization in human history decide that the goal is to destroy things, destruction for its own sake, Hey, lets tear it down, what youre watching is not a political movement. Its evil. 'This is not necessarily just a Christian notion, this is kind of a, I would say, widely agreed-upon understanding of good and evil. 'Good is characterized by order, calmness, tranquility, peace, whatever you want to call it, lack of conflict, cleanliness. Cleanliness is next to godliness. 'And evil is characterized by their opposites. Violence, hate, disorder, division, disorganization, and filth. 'So, if you are all in on the things that produce the latter basket of outcomes, what youre really advocating for is evil. 'Thats just true. Im not calling for religious war. Far from it. Im merely calling for an acknowledgement of what were watching.' Carlson was spotted outside his Florida home by DailyMail.com last night. In his first public remarks about his firing, he joked: 'Retirement is great so far! I havent eaten dinner with my wife on a weeknight in seven years. 'Appetizers plus entree!' He is yet to confirm his next move. Ukrainian and Russian officials have alleged that Putin's 'true motivations' behind the invasion of Ukraine were driven by revenge against Zelensky for sanctioning a Ukrainian politician still friendly to Moscow after 2014's Crimean crisis. Independent Russian outlet Verstka published a report on April 25 titled 'How Putin Came to Hate Ukraine', quoting current and past officials in both Russia and Ukraine. The article claimed Russia started preparing for a military operation after Zelensky slapped sanctions on Moscow ally and Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk. Medvedchuk, 68, who now lives in exile in Russia, led the pro-Russian Opposition Platform for Life party before he was added to the Ukrainian sanctions list in 2021 due to the alleged financing of terrorism. Three sources close to Putin said various sanctions imposed by Zelensky against Medvedchuk and allies were 'the last straw', pushing Putin to get ready for a full scale military operation. Fugitive oligarch and Putin's close friend Viktor Medvedchuk is seen handcuffed after a special operation was carried out by Security Service of Ukraine in Ukraine on 12 April 2022 Putin (R) attends a meeting with Viktor Medvedchuk in Saint Petersburg, Russia, 18 July 2019 Medvedchuk was one of several pro-Russian voices that emerged in Ukrainian politics after the dissolution of the USSR. He is a personal friend of Vladimir Putin and is currently exiled in Russia, having been part of a prisoner swap in September 2022. Putin was said to have been enraged by the 'personal attack' on his ally in Ukraine. Medvedchuk had reportedly told Putin of strong pro-Russian sentiments in Ukraine, 'stupidly misleading Putin', a source close to the presidential administration said. Newsweek reported after the war began that he still looked like the favourite to be put in place as the new head of state were Russia to decisively defeat Ukraine. The lawyer-turned-politician made a name for himself in Ukraine's second government under President Leonid Kuchma as the head of his presidential administration from 2002 until 2005. The administration was marred by corruption and saw Ukrainian-Russian ties improve. Medvedchuk was later considered the main person behind-the-scenes driving Viktor Yanukovych's 2004 candidacy. Yanukovych was ousted in February 2014 and later exiled to Russia. Increasingly, Medvedchuk rallying against the European Union - comparing it to the Hitler's Third Reich. Pro-Russian gunmen then stormed into the Crimean parliament and allegedly forced the installation of a new pro-Russian prime minister. After Crimea, Medvedchuk was considered the most friendly politician to Moscow still in Ukraine. When Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko left office in 2019, Medvedchuk's close associate Taras Kozak acquired three news channels. The pro-Russian channels criticised President Zelensky, who came to power that May. Medvedchuk's Opposition Platform for Life party grew as a result, Verstka reports. In response, a special operation was carried out in February 2021 to 'neutralize' Medvedchuk, the publication says. Medvedchuk and his ally were slapped with harsh sanctions, the new President saying the TV channels had carried out anti-Ukrainian propaganda and interfered with Ukraine's integration into the EU. The channels were banned from broadcasting, irking Putin. Vertska claim that the sanctions also affected Medvedchuk personally, 'who, along with his wife, was included in the list of the SBU investigation on the financing of terrorism'. He was later among those sanctioned by the British government in relation to the Russo-Ukrainian War. Sources close to Putin said it was the destruction of Medvedchuk's 'information resource' which finally drove Putin to invade in February 2022. 'The Kremlin decided not to resort to the tools of "soft power" anymore.' Pictured: Zelensky arrives for a meeting with Austrian chancellor in Kyiv on 9 April, 2022 A day before Russia's invasion on 24 February 2022, Kyiv said Medvedchuk had escaped from house arrest and went on the run. Ukraine's national security agency wrote on twitter: 'You can be a pro-Russian politician and work for the aggressor state for years. 'You may be hiding from justice lately. You can even wear a Ukrainian military uniform for camouflage But will it help you escape punishment? Not at all! Shackles are waiting for you.' He was ultimately caught on 12 April in a 'lighting-fast and dangerous multi-level special operation', Ukrainian security services said. He was eventually handed into a prisoner swap in which Ukraine sent Medvedchuk and 55 Russian POWs in return for 215 POWs in September last year. He has 'no intention to leave' unless someone provides some proof of ownership A self-described 'land pirate' living on an 'empty farm' is embroiled in a bitter row with locals who has accused of of dropping '20 bales of rotten silage' in a bid to get him to leave. Former nurse Neil Parker, who is in his 60s, moved onto the 'abandoned' land in Ceredigion, Wales, 12 months ago after spending years building a database of hundreds of derelict buildings which he said the public could legally reclaim. But the plot of land and buildings next to the A487 which he lives on is now locked in a fierce dispute with a farming family who claim ownership. In April 2022, he occupied the patch of land and has maintained a presence there ever since - but it has drawn furious objection from a neighbouring family who claims the land belongs to them. Mr Parker says one local has moved his car, caravan and other property and blocked access with 20 bales of raw silage. He said: 'My position is very clear. If they have no proof of ownership, then I don't intend to leave. Neil Parker, a self-described 'land pirate' living on an 'empty farm' is embroiled in a bitter row with locals who he accuses of dropping '20 bales of rotten silage' in a bid to get him to leave The former nurse, who is in his 60s, has been living on the 'abandoned' land in Ceredigion, Wales for a year. For years he has been building a database of hundreds of derelict buildings which he says the public could legally reclaim 'Their interest in this land only seems to have been sparked by my presence. In the absence of evidence, they seem to think that force and bullying will achieve the desired result.' He says he was confronted by a short-tempered farmer days after he took possession of the land. The owner of nearby farm told the Cambrian News that Mr Parker had caused 'misery' for her and the village. One local has presented a will from 1969 that states the land was left to them by their grandfather. But Mr Parker says it is not evidence of ownership - and the family hasn't processed the necessary documentation with the Land Registry. He claims he was subjected to a campaign of intimidation from villagers - with horns being sounded as cars drove by and strangers filming him and abusing him as he worked on the land. Neil says he had a year of being 'essentially undisturbed' until a local farmer tried to evict him. Mr Parker said: 'Without any warning he removed a caravan, car and other property - causing criminal damage, and blocked any access with 20 bales of rotten silage. But the plot of land and buildings next to the A487 which he lives on is now locked in a fierce dispute with a farming family who claim ownership. In April 2022, he occupied the patch of land and has maintained a presence there ever since - but it has drawn furious objection from a neighbouring family who claims the land belongs to them Neil says one local has moved his car, caravan and other property and blocked access with 20 bales of raw silage. He said: 'My position is very clear. If they have no proof of ownership, then I don't intend to leave' He says he was confronted by a short-tempered farmer days after he took possession of the land. The owner of nearby farm told the Cambrian News that Mr Parker had caused 'misery' for her and the village (pictured, the dumped silage on the land) 'The farmer would get irritable very quickly and was obviously very unhappy - and to be fair they think they're being deprived of something, so it's not unreasonable. 'But I make it clear to landowners to go and get legal advice because what I'm doing is well within the law. 'People need land and people need properties and those who own them need to be prepared to do the work and put effort into deriving societal benefit from them. 'The reason the adverse possession statute remains is to allow people to take over bits of land that have been abandoned and for good reason - it's there for a purpose.' Mr Parker has the eventual goal of clearing the area to plant trees. One local has presented a will from 1969 that states the land was left to them by their grandfather. But Mr Parker says it is not evidence of ownership - and the family hasn't processed the necessary documentation with the Land Registry He claims he was subjected to a campaign of intimidation from villagers - with horns being sounded as cars drove by and strangers filming him and abusing him as he worked on the land His website reads like a manifesto for squatters and land pirates - and he explains exactly what the public needs to do to take adverse possession of a property. According to the Land Registration Act 2002, an unlisted site can fall into someone's possession after 12 years if they can demonstrate they are present and working on the land. A member of the family that say they own the farm says she is in the process of registering the land and slammed delays at the Land Registry. She said: 'We are extremely disappointed that this individual has inflicted so much unnecessary stress on us as a family, when we are the lawful owners of the land. 'The land was inherited to me from my grandfather and has been part of our family for generations. 'It may be unregistered but the title deeds are firmly within our possession. 'We urge all landowners to be extra vigilant of individuals like Mr Parker, who have no moral conscience and will exploit legal loopholes to gain possession of property which is rightly owned by law abiding citizens.' Norfolk Southern has said the freight train derailment that released millions of gallons of toxic chemicals in a small Ohio town could cost the company nearly $400 million in legal fees and cleanup costs. The company on Wednesday disclosed that it took a $387 million charge in the first quarter related to the East Palestine derailment, a sum that does not include any costs potentially covered by insurance. About half of East Palestine's nearly 5,000 residents evacuated when, days after the February 3 derailment, officials decided to burn toxic vinyl chloride from five tanker cars to prevent a catastrophic explosion. Now, several residents say that urinalysis tests revealed at least trace amounts of vinyl chloride in their systems, raising fears about potential long-term health problems including a heightened risk of cancer. East Palestine resident Linda Murphy recently told WTAE-TV that tests revealed her body contained small amounts of the chemicals formed after metabolizing vinyl chloride. Norfolk Southern has said the freight train derailment that released millions of gallons of toxic chemicals in a small Ohio town could cost the company nearly $400 million East Palestine resident Linda Murphy said that uranalysis tests revealed small amounts of the chemicals formed after metabolizing vinyl chloride Murphy said that she and her husband avoided drinking water from their private well after the derailment, but recalls experiencing symptoms including sore throat and shortness of death in the days after the derailment and controlled burn. 'I know there's risks of liver cancers,' she told the ABC affiliate. 'I know there's risks of brain cancers. I know there's central nervous system disorders that come along with this.' Similarly, grandmother Shelby Walker told WOIO-TV that benzene and vinyl chloride were detected in her urine by lab tests. Walker and her family live 900 feet from the site of the controlled burn, and she now believes they will never be able to safely live in the home again. The grandmother has been bouncing from hotel to hotel with her five children and four grandchildren while crews tear up railroad tracks and scoop out contaminated soil near their four-bedroom home, she recently told the Associated Press. 'I have no idea how long we can continue to do this,' said Walker, while washing clothes at a laundromat. Walker, 48, also works at a small hotel where many cleanup workers are staying, so is constantly reminded of the accident. She remembers the scorched rail tanker at her property line and a backyard flooded with water from the burn site. 'Sometimes I just break down,' she said. 'I pledge that we won't be finished until we make it right,' Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw said last week Jeff Drummond, who now resides in a motel after being displaced by the East Palestine train derailment sits outside his room in North Lima, Ohio earlier this month Kyan Cepin also remains in a motel after being displaced by the East Palestine train derailment. Norfolk Southern Railroad is paying for lodging for some families but won't say how many still are out of their homes Jeff Drummond, a retired truck driver and Gulf War veteran, is among those not allowed back in his home due to the ongoing cleanup effort. For nearly three months, he has been living in a motel room North Lima, Ohio, uncertain of when he will be able to return home. 'I have nothing here,' said Drummond. 'So it's trying to find something to keep yourself busy, to keep from going crazy.' Norfolk Southern Railroad is paying for lodging for some families but won't say how many still are out of their homes. The company is still excavating tens of thousands of tons of contaminated soil, a process the Environmental Protection Agency expects to take another two to three months. The railroad also must remove toxic chemicals from two creeks, which could take longer. 'I pledge that we won't be finished until we make it right,' Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw told an Ohio rail safety committee last week. The railroad also handed out $1,000 'inconvenience checks' to residents within the ZIP code that includes East Palestine and surrounding areas, but most did not qualify for further assistance and returned home. The EPA's Mark Durno says continual air monitoring at the derailment site and in the community and soil tests in parks, on agricultural land and at other potentially affected areas have not yet detected concerning levels of any contaminants. 'Nothing jumped off page for us yet,' Durno says, adding that testing would continue just to be sure. Portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train are seen burning on February 4 in East Palestine A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio on February 6, as a result of a controlled burn of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern train The railroad says testing shows public drinking water is safe, though it's establishing a fund for long-term drinking water protection. It's also establishing funds for health care and to help sellers if their property value falls because of the accident. The state of Ohio sued the railroad operator in March, seeking compensation for damages to the state's environment, economy and residents. The Justice Department has also filed a federal suit. In its quarterly earnings report on Wednesday, Norfolk Southern estimated the legal fees and cleanup costs from the derailment could total $387 million. Nevertheless, the company's adjusted quarterly profit came in above analysts' estimates, thanks to robust pricing and strong demand for freight. Norfolk, which serves 22 states and the District of Columbia, posted an adjusted quarterly profit of $3.32 per share, compared with analysts' average estimate of $3.12 per share, according to Refinitiv data. Overall quarterly operating revenue rose 7.4 percent to $3.13 billion, compared with analysts' estimates of $3.11 billion. A new bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate Wednesday would require social media companies to verify the age of users to keep kids under 13 from using their addictive platforms, sparking concerns by some who say it could become a 'back door' for the federal government and Big Tech to 'spy' on American children. The legislation is being backed by Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Katie Britt, R-Ala. According to the senators, the bill is designed to 'protect kids from the harmful impacts of social media' and declining mental health nationwide by setting a minimum age for access to apps including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and others. Schatz called the bill a 'commonsense bipartisan approach' to help with the 'suffering' of children during a press conference Wednesday. The bill would prohibit all children under the age of 13 from gaining access to platforms, require social media companies to verify the age of consumers and require parental consent from parents for those in the 13-17 years of age bracket. Sen. Britt, a mother of two young children, added the bill is simply setting up 'guardrails' for parents to be in the driver's seat Sen. Cotton told reporters that for 'too long' Big Tech has 'exposed our kids to dangerous content and disturbed people Cotton told reporters that for 'too long' Big Tech has 'exposed our kids to dangerous content and disturbed people. Moms and dads have felt helpless while their kids suffer, sometimes leading to devastating tragedies.' The senator from Arkansas called the bill a 'giant step' toward fixing that problem by putting 'parents back in control' while also sending a strong message to social media companies - that they have a 'duty to help keep kids safe and parents informed' or else face 'serious consequences.' Despite the bipartisan backing, the legislation is being scrutinized by some for potentially allowing for the Biden administration to start gathering large amounts of information on American children. One congressional aide told DailyMail.com that it is 'extremely concerning' that the bill will 'create a back door between Big Tech and the federal government to spy on American families.' 'It will allow the Biden administration to collect the personal, private information of children and their parents. This will legislation will create a massive, IRS-like, system where the federal government stores Americans information and it will almost certainly be leaked, as we've seen happen countless times with the IRS,' the aide continued. Cotton directly refuted those allegations Wednesday, telling reporters that the legislation would not allow tech companies to collect more private information. 'In fact, it'll prevent tech companies from collecting information on children under the age of 13, which they currently do through their extremely weak and easily avoided age verification attestation, so that's the first case,' Cotton said. 'We will actually reduce the amount of information that have about America's kids, because children under the age of 13 actually won't be able to get on social media.' 'Second, the idea that this isn't going to allow any government or tech companies to collect more information than they currently do is completely false,' Cotton continued. The senator pointed out that all they will be asking for is a birth date - which many people put online anyway - and parent-child relationship, which is already held by 'numerous government agencies' at every level - local, state and federal. Britt, a mother of two young children, added the bill is simply setting up 'guardrails' for parents to be in the driver's seat and prevent overreach by Big Tech. 'We all know obviously the benefits that can come from social media. We want our children to be able to connect and to explore. But we also want to make sure that that's done within the proper review of the proper guardrails,' said Britt. The FTC and state attorneys general will be the 'main mechanism' on enforcement, Sen. Schatz told reporters TikTok is one of the social media companies of most concern, say the senators 'We don't let minors sign contracts. We don't let them open bank accounts. We don't let them enlist in the military. We don't let them drink alcohol or smoke tobacco without parental consent,' Cotton continued. 'If those standards exist in the real world, as they have for the ages. Why would we allow them to do those things or something like those things in the digital world?' However, a number of House side lawmakers are also concerned with the language in the bill, DailyMail.com has learned, which could poise a problem if the Senate ends up moving the legislation forward. 'If you're not already on TikTok, Katie Britt and Tom Cotton's legislation will be handing over your personal information to the CCP,' the congressional aide argued. 'We know this will happen because China's National Security Law requires companies to hand over any and all information demanded by Beijing.' Group 'Design It For Us' also put out a statement, saying the lawmakers' bill 'misses the mark.' 'We believe that any legislation addressing harm on social media should put the onus on companies to make their platforms safer, instead of preventing kids and teens from being on platforms at all,' said Co-Chair Zamaan Qureshi. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general will be the 'main mechanism' on enforcement, Schatz told reporters. But it was not immediately clear how social media companies will verify age, or what additional enforcement mechanisms will be set in place to ensure enforcement. 'We have not shopped this with social media companies yet,' Democratic Sen. Schatz added. Britt is hopeful that the bill will successfully prevent Big Tech from 'preying on the emotions' of American kids. Another already-introduced bill led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., the Kids Online Safety Act, will go hand-in-hand with the legislation, the senators insisted. The bill has guardrails in place to hold social media companies to account including additional information protecting features, ability to opt-out of certain algorithms and parental controls. Some observers have compared it to a 'Dalek scrapyard' or 'giant dunce hats' The sculptures costing 19,500 have been unveiled by Farnham Town Council A bizarre golden cone art display has left people utterly baffled after it was unveiled near homes by a local council - with some saying the sculptures look like 'Madonna's bra'. Others have compared the artwork to a 'Dalek scrapyard', 'giant dunce hats' or an army of gnomes waiting for a 'magical bell' to wake them up and march off. Many have been left angry and 'ranting' at the use of almost 20,000 of public money which they claim could have been used more wisely to improve nearby roads. The sculptures were revealed by Farnham Town Council as a 'sensory, tactile, and interactive sculptural installation' inspired by photographs showing barley stored in conical piles and its repetition of the shape on buildings across Farnham, Surrey. A plaque alongside A Hand's Turn by Natalie Bradwell and Livia Spinolo encourages viewers to 'touch me, spin me, enjoy me, but do not climb me'. The golden cone art display, which cost 19,500, has been unveiled by Farnham Town Council The sculptures meant to act as a 'sensory, tactile, and interactive' installation, the town council says The kinetic sculptures, which measure up to 8ft tall and apparently symbolise 'the enduring role of hands in craft for thousands of years', set the council back 19,500. The project, which has involved Farnham Town Council, the University for the Creative Arts, Farnham Maltings and the Farnham Public Art Trust, was conceived in 2020. A competitive public commission was undertaken, and the work was awarded to the winning artists in 2022 - with no input from locals. People were, however, invited to 'make their mark' and hammer textures on to metal sheets which were used to create the installation in last October's Craft Month. Farnham Town Council's clerk, Iain Lynch said: 'These marks symbolise the different crafts which make up Farnham's heritage and which contributed to it being awarded World Craft Town status.' Eleanor Bromell, of Farnham, took her daughter, Elaya, to see the new installation which you can interact with by spinning them round. 'Even my three-year-old daughter was like "what are you doing? Why are you showing me this?", the 28-year-old said. 'I do think it's a waste of money. I don't think the majority of people would look at it and say that it's nice art. 'It's made of really bland colours and looks like something aliens have dropped on Earth. 'It also looks like Madonna's cone bra.' Residents have unfavourably compared the sculptures to a famous bra worn by pop icon Madonna Others have compared them to dunce caps worn by naughty children (left) and Doctor Who villains the Daleks (right) Designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, the Queen of Pop wore the now iconic conical-shaped bra during her Blond Ambition tour, held in April 1990 in Chiba, Japan. While Madonna's modelling of such shapes has gone down in history, there is little prospect of that happening in Farnham. 'Everyone has been ranting about it locally,' the Ms Bromell added. 'They are not pleased about it, because they think the money could have been better spent on things like potholes.' Despite that, she did admit she could understand the positive view that money was being spent on arts and creative projects. 'Some people, like my sister, have said it's nice some money is being put into art. She can appreciate funding going into it, but when I asked if she actually liked it - she said no.' Another local, Steve Edwards, initially thought up a new use for the odd art exhibition - as outdoor urinals during the upcoming beer festival. A woman and young child walk alongside the exhibition in Farnham Town centre The 66-year-old said: 'My theory was they could be outdoor urinals rather than those smelly portacabins - that's one useful alternative. 'They have got a lot of people talking about them. It will certainly increase the footfall in the town.' The retired electrical engineer admitted the cones have actually grown on him, adding: 'I do actually like them now. 'I prefer it to some of the other statues of ancient Farnham folk, they'll appeal to the younger age groups as well. 'It makes me think of little gnome hats hiding, waiting for a magical bell to wake them up and march off.' Ed Moore compared the display to a 'Dalek scrapyard' from Doctor Who, alongside others who called it 'a load of old tat' and similar to 'giant dunce hats'. However, Laura Shorrocks countered: 'I think it's lovely. 'It's nice to acknowledge the craft town status and heritage that Farnham has in such a way as well.' Barnes has a GPA of 4.98 and already pursuing credits at the Southern University He was offered admission to more than 125 schools and trying to break records Dennis Barnes, 16, from New Orleans has more that $9M in scholarship offers A 16-year-old from New Orleans been offered more than $9million in university scholarships and received admission offers from 125 schools and counting. Dennis Barnes, who is in his final year of high school despite his age, applied to 200 colleges across the country beginning last August. Wherever he goes, Barnes plans to pursue a dual degree in computer science and criminal justice. The bright student has not yet decided which college he will attend but will announce that next Tuesday. He is now looking to break the world record for the highest amount in scholarship offers - in 2019 a female high schooler from Louisiana collected $9.4million. 'My goal is to reach $10 million,' Barnes told the local station WWL-TV. The high school are now working with Guinness to confirm his record. Dennis Barnes, 16, has been offered more than $9million in university scholarships and received admission offers from 125 schools Barnes is still receiving offers from schools around the country and hopes to break the Guinness World Record - thought its not clear if any such achievement is measured 'I submitted college applications in August, with an eye on raising the bar high for college admissions. Decision letters were an overflow in my mailbox and hundreds of scholarship offers,' he told WWL. Barnes has a GPA of 4.98 and holds leadership positions in the National Honor Society chapter at his high school. He is also fluent in Spanish and already pursuing college credits at the Southern University at New Orleans. He said he was not always top of his class. 'I will say I haven't always been a straight-A student. I've always been devoted to getting my school work done and get good grades like the average child,' he said. 'It's not normal, I know it's not of course, but I started at someplace. There's a starting point for everything. I started and then realized where I was going and as I realized the path I was heading down, I rolled my momentum and I ended up farther than I ever thought I would've been,' Barnes told the station. According to this mother, Reba Barnes, his success was to be expected. '[He] has been like this since a baby. He's always been very inquisitive, always on top of everything,' she said. 'If he had a field trip, he would put the paper right in front of me, "Mama sign this". I never had to ask him for the report card. He's always been diligent and purposeful in everything he does,' she added. His mother Reba Barnes (pictured) said her son was always organized and on top of things Fellow Louisianan Normandie Cormier was accepted into 139 colleges in 2019. She applied to schools through the Common App and the Common Black College App, which allows students to apply to hundreds of schools at once. She is now doing a masters degree at Louisiana State University and runs XollegePass, a company that advises disadvantaged students and children from low-income families on how to find academic success. Cormier told the Guardian on Tuesday aid offered to her eventually grew to $9.4million and that at the time she sought recognition from Guinness World Records. She said Guinness told her it it was not aware of anyone being offered more scholarship money but that it could not establish a world record as higher education is structured differently around the world. A Guinness spokesperson confirmed to the Guardian it does not maintain a record for most scholarship offers made to one person. Said the violence has subsided, and the US is 'actively' helping its citizens A second American has died in Sudan during brutal fighting between rival military factions, the White House has confirmed. National Security Spokesman John Kirby told reporters the administration is still 'actively' trying to get trapped Americans out after a week of terrifying violence. He provided little details on how the American or how they died, but said the fighting has subsided. At the start of this week, there were believed to be up to 16,000 dual-national citizens stranded during bitter confrontations after the White House evacuated embassy staff on Sunday. The Biden administration is under fire for its response, with critics drawing comparisons to the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal in August 2021. Western nations including the UK have been getting men, women and children out on evacuation flights. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier this week that only 'dozens' of Americans wanted to leave. Smoke is seen rising in the capital city of Khartoum last week as fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces The top US diplomat said the government does not have a specific number of Americans left, and only knows of those who have asked for help. Britons have described seeing thieves and killers roaming the streets, while the corpses of civilians killed in the fighting laid scattered on the ground in scenes that have been compared to the horror film The Purge. 'We extend our deepest condolences to the family,' Kirby told reporters about the American casualty on Wednesday morning. 'We continue to make clear at the highest levels of our government the leadership of both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces that they are responsible for ensuring the protection of civilians and noncombatants including people from third countries and humanitarian staff that are working to save lives.' 'We've said this many, many times that the violence is simply unconscionable and it must stop,' Kirby added. 'We've got to do what's right for the Sudanese people,' Kirby continued. 'They want a return to peace and security in Khartoum and around the country, and they want to see a transition to civilian authority. And we need to keep working at that. On Tuesday, a Massachusetts teacher and her 18-month-old daughter escaped the war-torn nation. Trillian Clifford, of Ashland, and her daughter Alma, had been hiding in their apartment for ten days after fighting broke out in the capital, Khartoum. They made their daring escape Tuesday and got out of the African country between 1pm to 3pm local time, according to Rebecca Winter, Clifford's sister-in-law. Winter said the pair still had 'several days of travel ahead of them', but were hoping to fly back to the US in 'a few days'. 'They are exhausted but seem relieved to have crossed the border,' she told the Boston Globe. Clifford had been teaching children of US embassy officials at the Khartoum International American School. The school organized the evacuation of its foreign employees, who are all traveling together, Winter said. She did not disclose their current location due to safety concerns. Trillian Clifford, of Ashland, and her daughter, Alma, were among the estimated 16,000 Americans trapped in war-torn Sudan Fighters ride in the back of a technical vehicle (pickup truck mounted with a turret) in the East Nile district of greater Khartoum on April 23 British civilians, many of whom are children, are pictured onboard a Royal Air Force aircraft after being evacuated from Sudan Damaged buildings are seen following clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in South Khartoum locality, Sudan, on Tuesday The White House evacuated US embassy personnel on Sunday, but thousands of Americans still remain and President Joe Biden's administration has ruled out a further evacuation. The decision has been slammed by former officials, including Brett Bruen, who served as an Obama diplomat and worked on the evacuation of the Ivory Coast during the Civil War there in 2004. In a column for DailyMail.com, he blasted the advice as 'unrealistic, dangerous, and deeply irresponsible'. 'This is not the way the United States behaved when I served overseas,' he wrote, adding that the 'abandonment of Americans in Sudan is part of a problematic pattern of the Biden White House'. This is the shocking moment a Colorado deputy Tasered a father in the face while he was in handcuffs as he waited for his son who was pulled over by cops. Police bodycam footage showed Lt. Henry Trujillo from the Las Animas County Sheriff's Office blast Kenneth Espinoza in the chin during the arrest on November 29. He then, along with other officers, dragged the suspect out of the back of his squad car and frisked him on the floor in the freezing snow. Throughout the heavy-handed arrest Trujillo and Deputy Mikhail Noel screamed and swore at Espinoza as he was slow to react to their demands. His lawyer claims he was Tasered 35 times during the incident - which cops dispute - and blasted the deputies' actions as having 'absolutely no justification'. Police bodycam footage showed Lt. Henry Trujillo from the Las Animas County Sheriff's Office blast Kenneth Espinoza in the chin during the arrest on November 29 He then, along with other officers, dragged the suspect out of the back of his squad car and frisked him on the floor in the freezing snow The footage showed Espinoza getting into an argument with Trujillo after Noel pulled his son over during a traffic stop. The cops first tell him to 'leave now or get charged', before screaming at him to pull over and get out of the truck. Noel tries to open the door to the vehicle, but appears to struggle before whipping out his pistol and pointing it at Espinoza's face. He yells at him 'get out of the f***ing car' and tells him to put it in park or he is 'going to get lit up'. The suspect then complies and is dragged out of the truck, handcuffed and yanked over to the back of the squad car, where officers struggle to get him inside. Trujillo then Tasers him in the chin, which he later admits to in the footage, while another appears to blast him in the leg. The footage showed Espinoza getting into an argument with Trujillo after Noel pulled his son over during a traffic stop He refuses to give them the information, so the three cops pull him out of the car and drag him on his back across the snow to hunt for his ID Espinoza was charged with resisting arrest and assault on a police officer, but they were later dismissed Espinoza is left to stew in the back of the cruiser while officers discuss what to do next, before they return to him and ask him his date of birth. He refuses to give them the information, so the three cops pull him out of the car and drag him on his back across the snow to hunt for his ID. Throughout the ordeal Espinoza's young son can be seen watching on in horror as his father was arrested. Espinoza was charged with resisting arrest and assault on a police officer, but they were later dismissed. Trujillo (pictured) Tasers him in the chin, which he later admits to in the footage, while another appears to blast him in the leg His lawyer Kevin Mehr said: 'Kenneth Espinoza is lucky to be alive. These officers threw him to the ground, slammed his leg in the door of a police cruiser, violated his most basic rights, and repeatedly tased him in the body and face while his son watched helplessly. 'And after it was all over they charged him with crimes they knew he didn't commit and failed to report it to the Colorado Attorney General's Office.' Las Animas County Sheriff's Office said: 'Regarding the events that occurred on November 29, 2022, this case was sent to the 3rd Judicial District Attorney's Office for filing of criminal charges against Mr. Kenneth Espinoza after his arrest. 'Based on this being an active investigation and waiting upon the District Attorney's review and filing of official charges, an internal review was pending the District Attorney's disposition of the case. 'Today, April 24, 2023, I was officially advised by the District Attorney that no charges were filed against Mr. Espinoza, and the case was dismissed. 'The District Attorney acknowledges that there was a delay in informing our office of his decision not to file charges in this matter. 'As a result, this will refer back administratively to our office for review. I will seek the assistance of an outside agency to review the actions of my deputies during this incident in November of 2022.' He added that both officers were still on active duty. Italian towns were fighting depopulation by selling homes for just 1 each Rubia Daniels, 49, flew to Sicily after hearing about the 'one Euro' scheme in 2019 A woman who bought three houses in Italy for just one euro each four years ago has finally finished work on one of her projects. Rubia Daniels, 49, a solar consultant and business owner, flew out to Mussomeli, Sicily, within days of hearing about the 'one euro home' scheme - launched to help fill up abandoned properties - in 2019, making her one of the first to buy a house off the scheme. She bought three run-down historic fixer-uppers - paying just three euros for them in total. They are within 10 minutes' drive of each other, and needed 20,000 Euro ($22,000) worth of work each to restore them to their former glory. She plans to turn the largest property into a wellness center, one into an art gallery, and live in the smallest with partner, Kenneth Pitts, 65, during their retirement. A woman who bought three houses in Italy for just one euro each four years ago has finally finished work on one of her projects She plans to turn the largest property into a wellness center, one into an art gallery, and live in the smallest with partner, Kenneth Pitts, 65, during their retirement She plans to turn the largest property into a wellness center, one into an art gallery, and live in the smallest with partner, Kenneth Pitts, 65, during their retirement Rubia Daniels, 49, a solar consultant and business owner, flew out to Mussomeli, Sicily, within days of hearing about the 'one euro home' scheme - launched to help fill up abandoned properties - in 2019, making her one of the first to buy a house off the scheme Rubia Daniels, 49, a solar consultant and business owner, flew out to Mussomeli, Sicily, within days of hearing about the 'one euro home' scheme - launched to help fill up abandoned properties - in 2019, making her one of the first to buy a house off the scheme She bought three run-down historic fixer-uppers - paying just three euros for them in total Mussomeli in Sicily as seen on the world map Rubia Daniels, a California resident, was one of the first people to buy a house in Mussomeli, Sicily, in spring 2019 The whole experience went so smoothly that the she ended up purchasing three houses: one for her, and the others for her kids When she returned in the summer to start renovations, she traveled with her husband and brother-in-law, and on her third trip in December, she brought along a group of family and friends, some of whom promptly snapped up houses for themselves Views of Mussomeli, Sicilia, Italy Daniels hopes each house will be worth 30,000 Euro ($33,000) when renovated Daniels hopes each house will be worth 30,000 Euro ($33,000) when renovated - but she she has no plans to sell what she considers is a 'very small investment' in her future. Daniels, a project manager, from San Fransisco, California, US, but originally from Brazil, said: 'You get the property free basically and then it's expected you to spend 20,000 Euro ($22,000) to remodel the exterior. 'You don't even get a car for $20k in California - it's a very small investment. 'We have one mostly completed already when we go, and hopefully the second will be done by October. What is Italys one Euro home scheme Some elderly Italians have no one to leave their house to, leaving it instead to the local authorities, who have to decide what to do with it, while some younger citizens have inherited properties in areas they have no intention of moving to. Having a second home in Italy means paying taxes, so selling these unused houses off cheaply can be more lucrative than keeping them. Thats why up to 25 Italian municipalities are making prospective homeowners an offer they cant refuse - a house for the symbolic price of 1. Having these homes improved and occupied in the next few years is worth more to the towns than selling them off at full price. Advertisement 'The third house, I haven't started yet, but that will be my biggest project. The roof is fully collapsed - but it will be so beautiful. 'I never felt overwhelmed or fearful about this project - it's a big task but a great opportunity.' Italy's one Euro home scheme was launched in Sicily in 2019 as a way of helping to repopulate quiet areas where buildings have become disused and dilapidated. The buildings are all fixer-uppers and require investment and hard work to bring them up to scratch. When Daniels first got wind of the scheme the year it was launched, she was fascinated - and flew to Sicily to view properties just three days later. By June 2019 she owned three neglected homes in Mussomeli, Sicily - a small town which reminded her of her own childhood growing up in Brazil. She said: 'I packed all my tools, bought a generator and power washer ready to go - by then my partner was thinking 'this woman is nuts'. 'We went, and I flew my brother-in-law over from Brazil to help us with the renovation.' They started on the smallest house first - which was in the best condition of the three and was in a liveable condition in no time. For all the properties they plan to keep as much of the original features as possible, inside and out. The pandemic ground things to a halt for two years - until Daniels finally managed to return to Sicily again in June 2022. Since then, Daniels and her husband have flown over every few months to continue with renovations on the second property, which she hopes to turn into an art gallery. Once done, she'll move onto the third property - which she said will be her biggest project. Daniels, a mum-of-four, said: 'It's a four-floor corner building - it's so beautiful. 'It's all beautiful. When you go into the houses you feel the history, it's incredible - like going back in time.' Daniels said partner Kenneth is 'very supportive' of the ambitious project. She is able to jet to Sicily so frequently because her work is entirely remote. Once fully furnished, Daniels plans to list the property on Airbnb for the months she is in the US - for some extra income. She said: 'It was a fantastic new concept for me. 'I work in the environmental industry and to use what we already have where properties have been abandoned - it's a great opportunity. 'In Sicily the air is clean, the food is great - the place is just great. 'Mussomeli is a small town, but we still have hospitals, banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, bars, restaurants and a little area with boutiques. 'It's a small town but everything is in place, you don't have to go out of town for anything. 'It's only 40 minutes to the coast and there are plenty of archaeological sites to see as well. 'And in years to come I can pass the houses onto my children. 'All of this is possible because of the one euro programme.' An Army bomb squad and police today scrambled to a retail park after a 'suspicious package' was found outside a Pizza Hut. Shoppers were evacuated from shops at Prospect Place in Dartford, Kent as the park went into lockdown. Kent Police said British Army explosives experts were attending the scene and a bomb disposal robot was spotted. Several police vans were seen arriving and a cordon was set up, with bomb squad and Army officers getting in place. One witness, who was in TK Maxx in Prospect Place at around 12.15pm, said the alarm went off and the shop was evacuated. Another witness, who was in Costa at the time and ordered to leave the building by police, said: 'I was just having a drink when a man in a hi-vis came in and the whole place was being evacuated within three minutes. A large number of police officers and vehicles arrived at the scene in Dartford, Kent One witness, who was in TK Maxx in Prospect Place near to the Pizza Hut at around 12.15pm, said the alarm went off and the shop was evacuated 'I looked up the road and saw police blocking the entrance of the retail park and putting blue and white tape up. 'There is a blue car in the cordon with a bag and satchel next to it officers were looking at.' Lewis Perry, who works at a nearby KwikFit garage that has been cordoned off, was told by officers they won't be able to return for around four hours. He said: 'They came in at around about 11 and told us we had to get out because of a suspicious package. Kent Police confirmed British Army explosives experts were attending the scene Police officers rushed to the scene after being called to a report of a 'suspicious package' 'I looked out the window and could see people being escorted out of Pizza Hut. 'Police were taking their car keys from them and driving cars out of the car park themselves.' A spokesman for Kent Police confirmed the area has been cordoned off 'following the discovery of a suspicious package'. A couple and their toddler have been left unable to get to their flat inside the cordon. The woman said: 'We live just there. My daughter needs the toilet and to go to sleep.' There may be some disruption to traffic, as the cordon has closed the busy A226 near Dartford train station. A spokesman for Kent Police said: 'Kent Police has set up a Cordon around Prospect Place, Dartford, following the discovery of a suspicious package just before 11.30am on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. 'Officers remain on scene and British Army explosives experts are due to attend.' A former soldier who stabbed his wife to death in such a frenzy that the blade snapped, then boarded a train to London, was convicted of her murder today. Cheating Phillip Dafter, 32, killed Diana Dafter, 36, on October 7, 2022 in a 'moment of madness' after the couple rowed over getting their car MOT'd, a court heard. On Wednesday, jurors at Northampton Crown Court took just two hours to convict Dafter who was arrested at London Euston station after telling a conductor he needed to speak to police because he was an 'evil and bad man'. Prosecutor Gordon Aspen QC said the couple had been on the brink of divorce after Mrs Dafter discovered he had been messaging a younger woman in their Malawian homeland, following previous infidelities. Dafter took a train to London after stabbing Diana five times in their Northampton flat. After other passengers departed at Euston, a conductor came along to help the unsteady Dafter onto the platform. Former soldier Philip Dafter, 33, who stabbed his wife to death in such a frenzy that the blade snapped, then boarded a train to London, was convicted of her murder on Wednesday Cheating Phillip Dafter, 32, killed Diana Dafter, 36, (pictured) on October 7, 2022 in a 'moment of madness' after the couple rowed over getting their car MOT'd, a court heard Dafter then told him to call the police. When the conductor asked him why, Dafter replied: 'I am evil and a bad man,' the court heard. He later told British Transport Police officers he had killed his wife. The transport cops then alerted colleagues in Northamptonshire, who discovered Mrs Dafter's body in the kitchen. Dafter admitted manslaughter, arguing that his responsibility was diminished, but denied murder. The court heard Dafter and Diana were both born in Malawi and, after finishing school in Africa, they moved to the UK, where they met and got married. Dafter had spent some time in the British Army and, following his discharge, became a bus driver and then a HGV driver. During the train journey he also sent a group WhatsApp message saying: 'Boys and D. Going to jail. I have killed Diana Dafter today' CCTV footage was shown to the court of Diana leaving and returning to her flat on the morning of Friday, October 7 - this was the last time she was seen alive. Mr Aspden told the court that it was upon Diana's return when 'all the resentment and bitterness boiled over' and Dafter stabbed his wife repeatedly with a knife so hard that the blade had broken off from the handle. A post mortem examination carried out on Diana's body two days later at the Leicester Royal Infirmary found she died from a single stab wound to the heart. She had a total of 17 wounds and cuts on her fingers that suggested she tried to save herself by pushing the knife away during the attack, it was said. After killing his wife, jurors were told how Dafter emerged from their flat and exchanged pleasantries with a neighbour before heading to Asda and purchasing a set of kitchen knives. He then returned to the flat and drank whisky as his wife lay dead, before stabbing himself several times. On Wednesday, jurors at Northampton Crown Court (pictured) took just two hours to convict Dafter who was arrested at London Euston station after telling a conductor he needed to speak to police because he was an 'evil and bad man' Northampton Crown Court heard Range Rover driver Dafter then headed to the town's railway station and bought a ticket to London Euston. The jury was told after being arrested, Dafter told a psychiatrist he knew what he had done and he had been driven to it by his wife 'going on and on' at him. The court previously heard that Dafter was diagnosed with recurrent depressive disorder and had become 'withdrawn' and 'irritable' in the months leading up to the killing. Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Adam Pendlebury, said: 'I am really pleased that Phillip Dafter has been found guilty of murder today and that the jury did not accept his plea of manslaughter. 'This was an extremely violent and prolonged attack that could not have come about without a very real intention to cause Diana serious harm. 'It is important to remember Diana Dafter for who she was. And that is so much more than just Phillip Dafter's wife. She was a loving mother, daughter and friend. A student nurse with a real passion for care, hardworking, and someone very easy to get along with. 'Though todays verdict will be a small comfort to her family and those who loved her, I hope it will help to know that Phillip Dafter is now facing an exceptionally long stretch in prison for what he has done. 'Finally, I would like to thank everyone at Northamptonshire Police for their work on this investigation as well as our colleagues at the British Transport Police for their assistance. Together we have secured justice for Diana and put Phillip Dafter where he belongs - behind bars.' Dafter will be sentenced on May 19. Mrs Dafter was a mother-of-two and a student nurse. She also worked as a carer. Vinit Kotecha, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: The tragedy of this case is that Diana was attacked and killed in her own kitchen, at home where she should have been the safest of all. Dafters intent was clear to see in his actions the violence of his attack and his movements after the killing. Throughout the piecing together of the evidence in this case and the efforts we have made to bring Philip Dafter to justice, the thing that is abundantly clear is the impact of this tragedy on the rest of their family. Their children must now grow up without their mother and the knowledge of how she died. I would like to offer all of Dianas loved ones my most profound sympathies. Tests were not taken which could have helped to see if anyone in a medical team that dealt with two women who died with herpes had the virus, an inquest has heard. Mid Kent and Medway Coroners is investigating the cases of Kimberley Sampson, 29, and Samantha Mulcahy, 32, who died in 2018 after the same obstetrician conducted their Caesareans. They were treated seven weeks apart in hospitals run by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust (EKHUT). Both died with herpes shortly after giving birth and their families, who were at the hearing, have been waiting almost five years for answers. The inquest in Maidstone, Kent, into their deaths heard that taking nasal and oral samples could have been useful but this did not happen. Kimberley Sampson, 29, was a 'brilliant mummy' who was 'fun', 'loving', and had 'lots of friends', her mother Yvette Sampson said Samantha Mulchay, pictured with her husband Ryan, went into labour four weeks ahead of her due date and went into the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, run by the same Trust as Ms Sampson's hospital, in July 2018 Professor Richard Tedder was an external consultant contracted through Public Health England who attended a meeting with members of the trust in July 2018. Prof Tedder said: 'I think I would want to be quite certain that the team felt that they had been investigated and cleared of any responsibility of causing that and that would be very important infection control action with the trust.' Trust's record of failures The trust at the centre of both women's deaths has previously been criticised for failures in maternity care. In June 2021, the East Kent Hospitals Trust was fined 733,000 over the death of baby Harry Richford in 2017 after admitting failing to provide safe care and treatment. A coroner said it was 'wholly avoidable'. Up to 15 babies have died at the trust's hospitals since 2011 and ministers have ordered an independent review. Last month an inspection revealed the trust did not have enough maternity staff to keep mothers and newborns safe. Numbers were sometimes so low that women had to be transferred to different hospitals during labour, the Care Quality Commission said. Midwives often had to care for two women at once. Advertisement He said he believes screening would have been his advice in 2018, adding 'that's what I would suggest at the time and not because I wanted to blame anybody'. Prof Tedder told the inquest that 'from my point of view the two unfortunate cases are unique in my 40-odd years of medical virology' and 'it is devastating but it's a very rare phenomenon'. He suggested the inquest would need to look at whether the virus in the women could be linked genetically. Prof Tedder told the hearing it was not possible to separate the two viruses and say they did not come from a common source. Ms Sampson died in May 2018 after giving birth to a baby boy - her second child - at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent. First-time mother Ms Mulcahy died in July 2018 at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, also in Kent. In July, first-time mother Mrs Mulcahy died from an infection caused by the same virus. The surgeon, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has previously told the hearing his hands were fully scrubbed, double gloved and he was wearing a mask during procedures. He also said he had no lesions and was not infected but was not tested for it. The inquest has been told of two theories which could indicate that the doctor, who was the operating surgeon on both women, was a potential source of infection. The first theory indicates there could have been a droplet infection at the time of the surgery. Another theory suggests the infection could have come from a whitlow, which is a herpes infection of the finger. Clodagh Bradley KC, for the trust, said: 'It is not likely that a surgeon would not notice a whitlow on their finger for either a day or 54 days?' Prof Tedder said 'absolutely, I think that's unlikely'. Ms Mulchay went into labour four weeks ahead of her due date and attended the William Harvey Hospital (pictured) in Ashford, run by the same Trust as Ms Sampson's hospital Ms Sampson died in May 2018 after giving birth to a baby boy - her second child - at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent Ms Bradley added: 'It's even more unlikely that there would be intermittent whitlow and they would not be noticed?' Prof Tedder responded: 'If there were such a thing as an intermittent whitlow, I think it would be unlikely they would be that ignorant.' He also noted that a hand could pick up something from a surface, a cough or a sneeze and 'the absence of a lesion does not absent you from being a source'. Ms Sampson, a barber who lived in Whitstable, Kent, with her three-year-old daughter, was a 'brilliant mummy' who was 'fun', 'loving', and had 'lots of friends', her mother Yvette Sampson said. How pregnant women are at a higher risk of dying from herpes because their immune systems are compromised The survival rate of herpes patients is 80 per cent in those who are given treatment. But for those with compromised immune systems, this can drop to as low as 40 per cent, according to some estimates. Pregnant women are at a higher risk of serious illness because they fall into the immunocompromised category. Individuals undergoing chemotherapy or recovering from an organ transplant can also be at high risk. The risk of serious illness is higher in those who are not treated, with survival rates just 30 per cent. Severe herpes infections can cause serious health conditions like encephalitis and meningitis, types of inflammation of brain tissues in response to the infection. Disseminated infection can also occur which is where an infection from the herpes virus spreads from a localised area, (such as the mouth) to other parts of the body, leading to potential organ failure. There are two types of herpes, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2. HSV-1 is mainly transmitted by oral-to-oral contact and causes blisters commonly called 'cold sores' , but it can also cause genital herpes. HSV-2 is the solely sexually transmitted infection that causes genital herpes. Both types of herpes are lifelong conditions which are incurable but manageable. Advertisement After a smooth pregnancy Ms Sampson went on to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital's labour ward in Margate thinking 'everything was going to be fine', but her labour was not proceeding quickly and she kept saying the baby was stuck, her mother said. Doctors performed a C-section and her son was delivered, but Ms Sampson needed a blood transfusion following injuries sustained in the operation. She asked to be discharged with her baby after two days, but was in a lot of pain and could barely walk. She left the hospital with her mother, but the pain got worse, to the point where even a slight touch would cause her to scream in pain, Yvette said. Ms Sampson was rushed back to hospital in an ambulance. Doctors believed she had bacterial sepsis, so Ms Sampson was sent back to the maternity ward and given antibiotics, but her condition became worse. Doctors struggled to identify and treat the infection amid a series of operations, and eight days after she was readmitted a consultant microbiologist suggested trying Acyclovir - an antiviral drug used to treat herpes infections. Ms Sampson was transferred to Kings College Hospital in London and diagnosed with a catastrophic herpes infection. She died on May 22. Six weeks later nursery nurse Ms Mulchay, who lived just 20 miles from Ms Sampson, died of the same condition. Ms Mulchay went into labour four weeks ahead of her due date and went into the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, run by the same Trust as Ms Sampson's hospital, in July 2018. She was left exhausted and in pain following 17 hours of contractions and was taken for a C-section following some worrying blood test results. Ms Mulchay gave birth to a healthy baby girl, but doctors kept the new mother in for observation. She started to deteriorate after three days, with a swollen stomach, high blood pressure and a temperature. Doctors also though Ms Mulchay had bacterial sepsis, but, like Ms Sampson, antibiotics did not work. Ms Mulchay stayed for four days in intensive care, where a doctor suggested antiviral medication, but the microbiology department advised them to continue with antibiotics. Doctors called a London hospital for support and surgeons attempted to stabilise her, but they could not save her. A post-mortem revealed that Ms Mulchay died from multi-organ failure following a 'disseminated herpes simplex type 1 infection', meaning an overwhelming infection caused by HSV-1. Neither mother's child was found to have been infected. Both woman had a 'primary infection', meaning it was their first time being infected by herpes. Julia Fox was pictured in a downtown Manhattan courthouse today supporting her brother Christopher as he was charged with ten counts of drug possession and making ghost guns at home with a 3D printer. Christopher, 30, was arrested last month in a drug and ghost gun bust in their New York City apartment. Prosecutors say police seized three 3D printers, multiple gun parts, a pill press and drugs including fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, oxycodone, buprenorphine, amphetamine, and methadone. Many of the items, including a set of scales, were coated in fentanyl residue. Julia, a model who is best known for her role in Uncut Gems and for dating Kanye West, signed her brother's $450,000 bond last month, which helped secure his release from Riker's. Julia Fox leaving Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday following her brother Christopher's arraignment It's unclear if she was required to attend today's hearing, or if she chose to do so. She was quiet as she exited the courtroom behind her brother, wearing a t-shirt and blazer. Fox, 33, kept her sunglasses on throughout. In a TikTok video after her brother's arrest last month, Fox said she was 'embarrassed' by his actions. 'I know my brother and I've always known him to be the sweetest, most gentle, kind, soft-spoken (person). But I will say that both my brother and I have a lot of trauma.' Prosecutors from Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's office say they discovered 'two 3D-printed firearm silencers', two large capacity magazines, five gun frames and four upper receivers. Fox, 33, kept her sunglasses on throughout. She was quiet as she exited the courtroom behind her brother, wearing a t-shirt and blazer Fox previously said she was 'embarrassed' by her brother's actions Christopher Fox, 30, is yet to offer a plea. He has been the subject of an investigation since 2018 Julia's father Thomas, shown far right, was also in court Julia's father, Thomas, and younger brother Christopher today in court Some of the weapons seized from Christopher Fox's home on March 8 A pill press and hopper were also seized from Fox's apartment. According to his indictment, 'the NYPD also recovered a pill press with a hopper, a blender, glassware and laboratory equipment, and scale. Almost all of these items were covered in fentanyl residue' They also say Christopher had ordered the parts needed to produce a 3D-printed assault weapon-style rifle. They allege that between January 2020 and March 2023, $343,000 flowed through his Cash App account despite the fact he didn't have a job. Since 2018, he spent $7,000 on gun parts and ordering components for drugs online, according to the indictment obtained by DailyMail.com. The investigation is part of a wider 'Ghost Gun Initiative' by the DA's office. Christopher will return to court on June 21. He faces up over 100 years in prison if found guilty on all counts. The sister of the Belizean police chief shot by Jasmine Hartin says her family will continue their fight for justice as there is 'no peace' to be found in the socialite's last minute guilty plea. The estranged partner of Tory grandee Lord Ashcroft's son broke down yesterday as she dramatically pleaded guilty to manslaughter by negligence over the death of Superintendent Henry Jemmott. The 33-year-old told reporters after the hearing at the Higher Court in Belize: 'I just want Henry's family to have peace now and I want to put this whole thing behind all of us so that we can heal.' But his sister Cherry Jemmott, herself a senior officer in the Central American nation, told the Mail: 'No, there is no peace.' The assistant superintendent in Belize Police said that the family would continue their civil claim for wrongful death against Hartin. The sister of the Belizean police chief shot by Jasmine Hartin says her family will continue their fight for justice as there is 'no peace' to be found in the socialite's last minute guilty plea. Pictured: Henry Jemmott and his sister Cherry Hartin admitted she shot Superintendent Henry Jemmott (pictured) when his gun went off by accident while she handled it as they had a late-night drink together on a pier in May 2021 Jasmine Hartin, 33, broke down in tears as she entered her plea at Supreme Court in Belize City where she was due to go on trial for manslaughter by negligence 'It's far from over for usit's very rough for us, my brother is gone, his life was taken,' the 50-year-old added. Miss Jemmott said Hartin's 11th hour plea ahead of her trial came too late for the family with the case having dragged on since the father of five died from a shot to the head in the summer of 2021. 'On the 28th of May it will be two years since my only brother was killed,' Miss Jemmott pointed out. 'That's my only brother. We think about him every day. He was only 42.' Hartin's lawyers were believed to have requested a stay in the family's civil case to allow for the ongoing criminal proceedings. The claim is now expected to resume before the High Court after Hartin is sentenced on May 31. The Canadian, who has twins with the Andrew Ashcroft has long insisted that the death of Superintendent Henry Jemmott in May 2021 was a 'horrible accident'. She was due to go on trial over the shooting on Tuesday morning but entered the last minute plea after her lawyers requested a plea indication. Prosecutors presented Judge Ricardo Sandcroft with a file of evidence that would have been unsealed had the trial gone ahead. Pictured are Lord Ashcroft's son Andrew, 44, (left) and his former partner Jasmine Hartin (right) who has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by negligence in Belize With tears streaming down her face and visibly shaking, Hartin's voice trembled as she stood in the small wooden dock to enter her last-minute plea in the packed courtroom. She was watched by the dead officer's sisters and his daughter who have stoically attended court proceedings since he was killed almost two years ago. The Belizean court house heard that in the case of an early guilty plea, the offence typically carried a non-custodial suspended sentence and a fine. Judge Ricardo Sandcroft said he was unlikely to 'veer away' from the existing precedence but had previously warned Miss Hartin in an earlier hearing that he was 'not bound' to it. The judge ordered a socio-economic report which will be used to determine the amount of the fine and possible compensation for his family. He said he would also take into consideration several factors while determining his sentence including victim impact statements and whether or not remorse has been shown by the defendant. While on bail awaiting trial, Miss Hartin has given several TV interviews in which she has claimed she shot the officer - who she described as a trusted friend by accident. The father was shot in the head while enjoying a late night drink with Miss Hartin on the pier near Mr Ashcroft's luxury hotel on the island of Ambergris Caye. Miss Hartin said Mr Jemmott had offered to teach her how to use a Glock 17 for protection after she had been attacked at a party. But she said the gun went off as she tried to hand him the magazine and a single bullet struck him in the head causing his body to slump on top of her. He said scratches to the boy's neck indicated the child had struggled to free himself as he suffocated inside the plastic bag strapped over his head Lori Vallow's seven-year-old son JJ was suffocated with a plastic bag which was wrapped around his head and sealed with duct tape, her murder trial heard today. Dr Garth Warren revealed for the first time how JJ's cause of death was 'asphyxia by plastic bag over the head and duct tape over the mouth.' The coroner suggested the boy had scratched his own neck as he struggled to break free. Vallow and her lover Chad Daybell are accused of killing JJ and her daughter Tylee, 16, in Rexburg, Idaho, in September 2019. The State says the couple were doomsday cultists who believed the children were 'zombies' inhabited by Satan. The children's bodies were buried in shallow graves in Daybell's yard and were not discovered for almost a year. Tylee's body was burnt and dismembered meaning the coroner was only able to say she died by homicide but could not state how. But Warren was able to conclude JJ's cause of death after finding his body sealed in a black garbage bag. Underneath this layer, his head was covered in a white plastic bag with duct tape wrapped tightly around, from the mouth down to the neck. Dr Garth Warren revealed for the first time how JJ's cause of death was 'asphyxia by plastic bag over the head and duct tape over the mouth.' The coroner suggested the boy had scratched his own neck as he struggled to break free Vallow (pictured at an earlier court appearance) and her lover Chad Daybell are accused of killing JJ and her daughter Tylee, 16, in Rexburg, Idaho , in September 2019. The children's bodies were discovered in shallow graves on Daybell's property on June 9, 2020 - nine months after they vanished The coroner also chillingly revealed how scratches to the boy's neck could have been caused when JJ 'was trying to get the bag off his head.' Vallow, 49, wearing a white blouse and black jacket, took notes and looked up at Warren as he gave the gruesome evidence about her adopted son. When the graphic images were shown on screen she cast her eyes down at the floor. She and Daybell, 54, are further accused of killing his wife Tammy Daybell who also died of asphyxiation a month after the children were allegedly murdered. The pair, who had been carrying out an affair, married two weeks later in Hawaii. Jurors were earlier shown photos of JJ's gravesite where a detective had first discovered the boy's head sticking through the earth during the excavation. After removing the black garbage bag the cop discovered the white plastic bag which he cut open. Images showed JJ's mop of brown hair falling out of the incision. Unlike his sister, whose body parts were melted after she was burned and dumped in the pet cemetery in the yard, JJ's remains were better preserved. The coroner told how his arms, hands and ankles were also bound with duct tape. 'There were also other areas that were concerning or suspicious - bruising on the ankles that may have been associated with the duct tape,' Warren added. JJ's corpse had decomposed by the time the coroner conducted his examination. He was wearing a red pajamas and black socks which were covered in dirt and mold from his rotting flesh. Warren described how the boy's head and neck had green discoloration, while other parts of his body were white or brown, indicating his flesh was decomposing. Another sign was 'skin slippage throughout the body, skin falling off the hands and feet.' Vallow's children, Tylee and JJ disappeared in September 2019, but their remains were not discovered until the following June Tylee, 16, and JJ, seven, are shown with their uncle, Alex Cox, in what is believed to be the final photo of them, taken during a family trip to Yellowstone National Park on September 8, 2019 The key individuals in Lori Vallow's tangled family tree, including her five husbands, two dead children and killer brother Vallow and Daybell allegedly killed the children because they believed they were 'zombies' inhabited by Satan The toxicology report found low levels of ethanol, the date-rape drug GHB, caffeine and theobromine - found in cocoa and tea. Warren said that GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid) can be found in liver tissue postmortem and that the levels could have been 'naturally occurring.' 'There's really no way for me to tell for sure whether this is just a naturally occurring product in the body that was there or if JJ was given GHB. I can't say one way or another based on the levels,' he told jurors. Tylee's autopsy took about a week compared to the four hours for JJ's. Her remains were delivered to Warren in three separate sealed bags. 'Two of the bags were black body bags and the third was a large brown paper bag that was sealed. Within that were five other paper bags. So I essentially received Tylee's remains in multiple different bags,' Warren said. He found Tylee's heart connected to her right and left lung, one kidney, a few small segments of bowel, a portion of a liver and small fragments of brain matter. He was also able to find her pelvis and femur, and portions of skull, including around the eye socket and mouth. Warren told jurors: 'These organs had severe decomposition, significant burning artifacts, they were charred and shrunken. Presumably the rest of the organs burned away or were never found.' He added: 'There weren't nice clean bones. These were bones that had significant artifact secondary to the fire. They were blackened and charred.' The coroner said he reached a determination of homicide but could not be specific. 'The cause of death was by homicide but I just can't pinpoint exactly what that was,' he told the court. The children were missing for almost a year before their corpses were found buried in Daybell's yard on June 9, 2020. During the opening, prosecutor Lindsey Blake described how charred remains were all that was left of Tylee. She told jurors: 'You will hear it explained as a mass of bone and tissue. That's what was left of this beautiful young woman.' Tylee's DNA was later found on a pickaxe and shovel in a shed on the property. JJ's body was wrapped in trash bags and duct tape - the tape binding his arms in front of him and wrapping around his head. The two children and Daybell's previous wife Tammy were all killed because they stood in the way of the couple's relationship, the State says. 'Remember, the defendant will remove any obstacle in her way to get what she wants, and she wanted Chad Daybell,' Blake told jurors. 'The defendant used money, power and sex to get what she wanted.' Jurors have heard from friends and relatives of Vallow that she and Daybell believed the children were 'dark' and referred to them as 'zombies' before they disappeared. 'The common theme was the body has to be destroyed,' Blake said. 'The defendant and Chad used their self-proclaimed religious teachings to justify their actions to others their actions from affair to murder.' Prosecutors say the couple planned to use life insurance money from Tammy's death, and that Vallow kept collecting and spending the children's social security and benefits after they died. The trial opened on April 10 and the State is expected to rest its case later this week. Daybell is being tried separately. Disney isn't going down without a fight as the 'corporate kingdom' sued Ron DeSantis and Florida's Tourism Oversight Board for stripping its control over Reedy Creek. The company, which owns the Star Wars franchise, took another step in the war over the district by accusing the Republican governor of 'weaponizing' his power to inflict political punishment. The lawsuit was filed in federal court after the DeSantis-appointed five-member board voted this month to void an agreement Disney tried to make in the final days before the previous board's ouster. Special tax district Reedy Creek is the home to Disney World and Walt Disney World resorts, it employs 75,000 people and attracts 50 million visitors every year. In the filing, company executives accused DeSantis and Florida of a 'targeted campaign of government retaliation' in the battle sparked by Disney criticizing the so-called 'Don't Say Gay' bill. Disney sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida's Tourism Oversight Board for taking their power of Reedy Creek The Reedy Creek Improvement District stretches for nearly 40 square miles and includes the entire Walt Disney World Resort. The area is being renamed to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and includes a new DeSantis-appointed five-member board 'This lawsuit is yet another unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law,' DeSantis Communications Director Taryn Fenske said in a statement to DailyMail.com on Disney's lawsuit. She added that the Florida governor's team is 'unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state.' Since 1967, Disney has held control over the property and decisions of the effectively autonomous Reedy Creek Improvement District. But DeSantis says that the corporation should be awarded any special privileges that other companies do not receive in the Sunshine State. 'For more than half a century, Disney has made an immeasurable impact on Florida and its economy, establishing Central Florida as a top global tourist destination and attracting tens of millions of visitors to the State each year,' the lawsuit reads. 'People and families from every corner of the globe have traveled to Walt Disney World because of the unrivaled guest experience it provides and the deep emotional connection that generations of fans have with Disney's timeless stories and characters,' it continues. 'A targeted campaign of government retaliationorchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney's protected speechnow threatens Disney's business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights.' The lawsuit comes in response to the new board moving forward with voiding deals that Disney made before the handover of control in an effort to try and strip power from the new board and give it all to the corporation. Ron DeSantis and his wife and Florida first lady Casey DeSantis are visiting South Korea Wednesday on the second stop of the governor's international trade trip Lawyers claimed the deals were done so unlawfully because the proper notification timeline and proceedings were not followed. Critics say that the final hour deals were made in an attempt for Disney to assert a power grab and take away powers from the Desantis-appointed board. Disney had already celebrated its win over DeSantis in a war that was sparked after the former CEO publicly denounced last year the governor's Parental Rights in Education law, which restricts classroom instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity. While Disney argues in its lawsuit that Reedy Creek Improvement District has benefited the people of Florida, DeSantis and his allies in the Florida legislature claim it is receiving special treatment that other companies in the state are not benefitting from. The 53-year-old is also being sued by a former stripper for unpaid child support It comes after an IRS whistleblower accused the Biden administration of interference A majority of U.S. voters believe Hunter Biden is getting 'preferential treatment' in the federal probe into his business affairs, a new poll has found. It comes after a special agent for the IRS, the country's tax agency, sought whistleblower protection from Congress after he alleged the investigation is being mishandled. The survey by Rasmussen Reports found that 69% of Americans believe the accusations that he is using family connections to avoid tougher punishment. Findings by the leading polling firm said as many as 48% of the electorate say it is a 'very serious scandal.' Hunter Biden, seen here with the president in August last year, has long faced allegations he exploited his family ties for the benefit of his business interests But just 40% think that Joe Biden will be impeached over the allegations that he and officials to him are obstructing the work of IRS investigators. The White House has repeatedly denied any interference in the case. Hunter Bidens taxes and foreign business work have been under federal investigation by a federal grand jury in Delaware since at least 2018. It is understood the initial focus is on whether or not he reported all of his income and whether he lied on gun purchase paperwork in 2018. House Republicans are also investigating Hunter Biden and his businesses, alleging he raked in millions from foreign governments for his now-defunct investment firm. So far no charges have been filed against the 53-year-old, whose business interests came under the spotlight once more after leaked emails from his laptop emerged online. His membership on the board of a Ukrainian energy company and his efforts to strike deals in China have also sparked claims of influence-peddling. He and the president's sister Valerie Biden Owens traveled on Air Force One on the commander-in-chief's recent visit to Ireland. But staffers inside the Biden administration insisted they took part in no official events during the trip. Hunter Biden was spotted over the weekend at a California vineyard that belongs to uber-rich Democratic donor Joe Kiani, a tech mogul. He was seen with his wife Melissa Cohen and their three-year-old son Beau, plus their taxpayer-funded Secret Service detail. It came as a judge in Arkansas ruled that he must appear in court for a paternity case filed by a former fling, Lunden Roberts. Hunter will also have to submit to a deposition in June in which Roberts' lawyers will likely grill him about his various businesses and shady overseas ventures. Hunter Biden's laptop also included a series of lewd photos and a webcam video of the 53-year-old that portrayed his struggles with flatulence The president's 53-year-old son was spotted at the California vineyard of a major Biden donor They'll also want to know Hunter's finances have cratered while he's selling paintings for up to $500,000 apiece under his new guise as an abstract artist. Roberts, a former stripper, won a reported $2.5 million settlement from Hunter after taking him to court in 2019. She also forced the ex-Navy reservist, booted out of the military in 2014 for testing positive for cocaine, to take a DNA test to prove he fathered their daughter, Navy Joan, during their 2017 fling. Roberts's lawyers say Hunter Biden has not provided 'a single item or word of discovery' in their ongoing child support lawsuit. Independence County Circuit Judge Holly Meyer on Monday ordered Biden to attend court on May 1 because his absence is 'interfering with the process of litigation.' A Georgia farmer has been arrested after he stopped a school bus full of children and demanded to know which one flipped the bird at his wife and daughter. Roger O'Neal Barrett, 55, turned himself in after a video went viral showing him standing outside his truck, which was parked at the intersection of Stewart Road and Smith Chapel Road in Catoosa County, preventing a school bus from turning onto the street Monday afternoon. The video shows him arguing with parents of children onboard the school bus from Ringgold Middle and High School, as he said he simply wanted to know the name and address of the child who 'flipped off' his wife and daughter as they were moving cattle. Witnesses said the standoff lasted for about half an hour before Barrett fled the scene. He is now charged with interfering with the operation of a public school, and was released on a $1,000 bond. Roger O'Neal Barrett, 55, is charged with interfering with the operation of a public school, , and was released on a $1,000 bond Video posted online showed that he parted his truck at the intersection of Stewart Road and Smith Chapel Road in Catoosa County, preventing a school bus from turning onto the street Monday afternoon *UPDATE: His name is NEAL BARRETT* ____ This man blocked my kids bus today (about 20+ students were still on the bus) and would not move "until he got the name and address of the kid who flipped off his wife". You better believe me and a bunch of other parents showed up to get their kids safely off the bus, properly equipped for this type of psycho. Not sure who or where Rollins Ranch is, but I wanted to make sure this man was properly exposed for child endangerment incase this gets sweeped under the rug. You don't hold a bus of kids hostage because your feelings got hurt by a minor. ****UPDATE***** I interviewed with News Channel 3, News Channel 9 and Times Free Press today. Thanks for sharing. He was slapped on the wrist with $1000 bond and was released from jail so I will continue to push for more. You don't ever mess with my kids. Rollins Ranches Posted by Scarlett Grace Rutherford on Monday, April 24, 2023 Video of the altercation shows Barrett arguing with parents who rushed to the scene when their children texted them about the standoff Monday afternoon. He tells one of the mothers in the video he just wanted to talk to the school bus driver, to which the unidentified woman says, 'Good, because my two kids are on this bus, and the way society is today, you don't do that.' But Barrett continues to insist he was in the right, saying: 'What [the student] done to my daughter and my wife was wrong.' The video was posted online by Scarlett Grace Rutherford, a mother of one of the students on the bus At that point, the mother tells him he should have handled the situation 'like a grown adult,' noting that it is '100 percent unsafe' to block the school bus.' 'All I want to know is his name and where he lives,' Barrett insists of the student who apparently made the obscene gesture. The mother then tries to tell him that the bus driver cannot talk to him about the students, as she and other mothers yell that their children are just 'waiting to get home.' To that, Barrett responds: 'You will wait just a second.' The video was posted to Facebook by Scarlett Grace Rutherford, the mother of one of the students on the bus, who wrote: 'This man blocked my kid's bus today (about 20+ students were still on the bus) and would not move "until he got the name and address of the kid who flipped off his wife. 'You better believe me and a bunch of other parents showed up to get their kids safely off the bus, properly equipped for this type of psycho,' she continued, adding: 'You don't hold a bus of kids hostage because your feelings got hurt by a minor.' In the video, Barrett demands to know the name and address of a student he said flipped off his wife and daughter Barrett got into a verbal altercation with parents who rushed to the scene, but fled before authorities arrived Catoosa County Sheriff's officials said in a news release that Barrett had called the office for help moving cattle across the street prior to the altercation. 'While deputies were on the way, there was a heated verbal argument between Barrett and parents arriving on the scene,' they said. But when deputies arrived on the scene, Barrett had fled. The children, though, were left 'scared to death,' the mother of another child on the bus, April Baker, told KFDM. In a statement, Catoosa County Schools said the bus driver followed protocol and contacted the Director of Transportation on radio, who in turn called 911. It noted that Barrett never entered the bus, and Superintendent Chance Nix said he appreciates 'the quick response from our bus driver, director of transportation and the sheriff's office. 'I know this was a scary situation for our students and parents,' he concluded. President Xi Jinping has insisted that China is neutral and has 'always stood on the side of peace' in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in his first phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky since the invasion began. The nearly one-hour discussion, which reportedly included Xi advocating for peace negotiations, was met by Russian accusations that Ukraine was undermining efforts to end the fighting. The Chinese leader has come under increased pressure from Western nations to step in and mediate in recent months, and has now said his country plans to send a peace envoy to Ukraine to help facilitate talks. During the call - which was initiated by Kyiv - Xi told Zelensky that 'talks and negotiation' were the 'only way out' of the war, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Beijing has refused to condemn Russian aggression since the invasion last year, and Xi has been criticised for his close ties with Vladimir Putin, who he met with during a friendly visit to Moscow last month in his first overseas trip since reelection. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping via phone line, in a call initiated by Kyiv President Xi Jinping has insisted that China is neutral and has 'always stood on the side of peace' in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine Zelensky has repeatedly said that he would be open to talks with his Chinese counterpart, and Wednesday's telephone call 'was initiated by the Ukrainian side', Yu Jun from China's foreign ministry told a press conference. 'On the issue of the Ukraine crisis, China has always stood on the side of peace and its core position is to promote peace talks,' CCTV reported Xi as saying. According to a readout of the call, Xi said China 'will neither watch the fire from the other side, nor add fuel to the fire, let alone take advantage of the crisis to profit'. 'When dealing with the nuclear issue, all parties concerned should remain calm and restrained, truly focus on the future and destiny of themselves and all mankind, and jointly manage and control the crisis,' Xi said. 'I had a long and meaningful phone call with President Xi Jinping,' Zelensky said on Twitter. 'I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations,' he wrote. Zelensky's spokesman Sergiy Nykyforov said on Facebook that the two leaders had 'an almost one-hour-long telephone conversation'. Xi has been criticised for his close ties with Vladimir Putin, who he met with during a friendly visit to Moscow last month, his first overseas trip since reelection Chinese media also reported that Xi had told Zelensky that it would send a delegation and a 'special representative' of its government to Ukraine with the aim of finding a 'political settlement' to the conflict. A government statement reported by state TV gave no indication whether the Chinese envoy would visit Russia. 'China will send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to Ukraine and other countries to conduct in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis,' the statement said. It comes after a 12-point 'position paper' was published by China in February, and was seen by many Western governments as skewed towards Russia. A friendly visit to Moscow in March by Xi to meet Russia's president also led to widespread criticism, with many viewing it as evidence that China was not the impartial observer it claimed to be. The Chinese leader's Moscow visit - during which Xi said ties with Russia were entering 'a new era' - was viewed as a coup for Putin. A friendly Moscow visit in March by Xi to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin led to widespread criticism 'I am sure that Russian-Chinese cooperation has truly unlimited possibilities and prospects,' Putin said following the talks, where he toasted the 'prosperity' of Russian and Chinese people and highlighted the 'special nature' of the relationship between the two countries. Putin called the talks with Xi 'meaningful and frank' and said that Russia, which has been largely cut out of European markets because of sanctions, would be able to meet China's 'growing demand' for energy. A Southern California man treated thousands of patients - including individuals with cancer - without a medical license, prosecutors allege, until he was caught by an undercover investigator. Stephan Gevorkian, 44, worked as a doctor at his own clinic, Pathways Medical, in Toluca Lake. There, he treated thousands of individuals,' a release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office states. The 'doctor' was discovered after an undercover officer visited the clinic in November and received a consultation where Gevorkian 'allegedly failed to accurately address abnormal levels of a hormone that could indicate a serious medical condition.' Gevorkian has been charged with five counts of practicing medicine without a license. The man's lawyers are pushing back at DA's charges, saying: 'Any suggestion that Mr. Gevorkian was impersonating a doctor in an effort to deceive and treat unsuspecting patients is misleading and demonstrably false.' A SoCal man treated thousands of patients - including individuals with cancer - without a medical license, prosecutors allege, until he was caught by an undercover investigator Stephan Gevorkian, 44, worked as a doctor at his own clinic, Pathways Medical, in Toluca Lake. There, he treated thousands of individuals,' a release from the LA District Attorney states Gevorkian operated out of Pathways Medical in Toluca Lake, California On its social media pages, Pathways Medical describes itself as an alternative medicine provider that specializes in intravenous vitamin therapy. According to prosecutors, Gevorkian saw patients with 'serious conditions' for years, treating maladies like viral infections to individuals with cancer. 'The business conducts blood tests on patients, advises them on treatments and offers treatment for serious conditions,' a press release reads. The undercover officer went into the business on November 17, 2022 and received results that investigators said raised red flags. The doctor and those in his office failed to notice 'abnormal levels of a hormone that could indicate a serious medical condition,' the release states. It's unclear what first caught police attention, however, one Yelp reviewer called into question the legitimacy of the doctor's title several years ago. 'I think Dr. G is a fraud,' Yelp reviewer Nicole B. wrote in 2021. 'The only thing 'right' with my blood work was my Vitamin D level. WHAT THE HELL? I am sitting here looking at my estimate for treatments which tops out at just under 5K....... I ran,' the woman wrote. 'So, that's my story on Dr. G......... don't get suckered into supporting this office and these rude people,' she continued. According to prosecutors, Gevorkian (right) saw patients with 'serious conditions' for years, treating maladies like viral infections to individuals with cancer By all other accounts, the 'doctor' was beloved in his community. Since 2019, Pathways has received dozens of glowing reviews from patients and currently has a 4.5 star rating on Yelp. 'This place is incredible. They really know what they are doing and DrG is a game changer in the natural world,' one person wrote in February. 'This company is amazing,' another reviewer wrote. 'The doctor was so kind and understanding of my concerns.' 'I have been coming here for years and I cannot say enough good things about Dr.G and his staff. They go above and beyond and provide unmatchable results and service,' a woman said in 2019. The five-star reviews did not stop the investigation and the complaint against Gevorkian, which was filed on April 19. Gevorkian's lawyers were subsequently notified of the warrant. Gevorkian was arraigned on the charges against him Friday and was later released on his own recognizance under the condition that he not practice medicine. Gevorkian was never arrested, a DA spokesperson told local outlets. 'Practicing medicine without a license is not only a criminal activity in California, it can cause irreparable harm to the health of unsuspecting people, some with serious illnesses, who believe they are under the care of a licensed physician,' DA George Gascon said. 'Practicing medicine without a license is not only a criminal activity in California, it can cause irreparable harm to the health of unsuspecting people, some with serious illnesses, who believe they are under the care of a licensed physician,' DA George Gascon said Gevorkian's attorney, Justin E. Sterling, told ABC7 Los Angeles: 'Criminal charges by their very nature are unproven accusations.' 'It's important to acknowledge that what is thought to be known or understood early on is not always the case in the end. Mr. Gevorkian is complying with all orders of the court and looks forward to vigorously defending himself against these allegations.' Gevorkian will next go before a judge on May 24 for his first hearing. The Los Angeles County DA's Office is currently pursuing any additional victims. Anyone who believes they may have fallen victim in this incident is encouraged to also call the Consumer Protection hotline at 213-257-2465. Donald Trump railed against rape accuser E Jean Carroll in a series of Truth Social posts on Wednesday, calling her claims a 'scam' that he alleges is being backed by a Democratic megadonor. Carroll's case is being heard in New York City this week after years of delays. She claims Trump raped her in the dressing room of Bergdorf Goodman in 1996, and is seeking unspecified damages. Today, the 79 year-old took the stand to tell the court how he 'lied' and 'shattered' her reputation. Earlier in the day, Trump fumed that the entire case was fueled by Democratic megadonor Reid Hoffman, whose nonprofit gave money towards Carroll's defense. Trump fumed that the entire case was fueled by Democratic megadonor Reid Hoffman, whose nonprofit gave money towards Carroll's defense E Jean Carroll, 79, arriving at court today. She says Trump raped her in the dressing room of Bergdorf Goodman 'The E. Jean Carroll case, Ms. Bergdorf Goodman, is a made up SCAM. 'Her lawyer is a political operative, financed by a big political donor that they said didnt exist, only to get caught lying about that. Just look at her CNN interview before & after the commercial break - Like a different person. 'She said there was a dress, using the ol Monica Lewinsky stuff, then she didnt want to produce it. The dress should be allowed to be part of the case. 'This is a fraudulent & false story--Witch Hunt!' he said in his first post. In a second, he said: 'They got caught lying! The Miss Bergdorf Goodman case is financed by a big political donor that they tried to hide. 'Does anybody believe that I would take a then almost 60 year old woman that I didnt know, from the front door of a very crowded department store, (with me being very well known, to put it mildly!), into a tiny dressing room, and . her. 'She didnt scream? There are no witnesses? Nobody saw this? She never made a police complaint? If I was seen there with a woman-BIG PRESS. 'SCAM!' Carroll took the stand today for the first time. It remains unclear if Trump will testify. He has not yet attended court. Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn Corp is helping to fund Carroll's lawsuit He defended his donation in a lengthy LinkedIn post last week On Wednesday morning before the jury was brought in, a judge warned his attorney that he should not post online about the case. It emerged recently that in the early days of her case, Carroll's attorneys received funding from Hoffman. In a post on LinkedIn, the website he founded, he said he was proud of it. 'Over the last couple of weeks, some of my philanthropy has received increased attention. If that spotlight offers the chance to reinforce the importance of the rule of law, equality, and helping the disadvantaged, I'm compelled to take that opportunity. 'After all, these are not just my values, but American valuesones that are foundational to our democracy, our success, and our future. 'I believe that the courts themselves, using facts and laws, should decide innocence and guilt. Trump has had many days in court; America and its citizens should have their say as well. 'And so I have been proud to help level the playing field in the courts for those whom Trump and his allies have attacked and bullied,' he said. Sinn Fein's leader in Northern Ireland was branded a hypocrite today for agreeing to attend the Coronation of King Charles III in London while her party prevents unionists from celebrating at home. Michelle O'Neill, the party's deputy president, said she intended to attend the May 6 event in London alongside the Irish president Michael D Higgins. In a tweet Ms O'Neill, who attended the Queen;s funeral last September, said said she accepted an invitation on behalf of Northern Irish people 'for whom the coronation is a hugely important occasion'. But furious unionists lashed out at her decision, saying it came as they were being prevented from celebrating by nationalist-controlled councils in Ulster. Former minister Kate Hoey told MailOnline: 'She's entitled to accept it and she has made her own personal views on why she has accepted it. 'My issue with it is that in a lot of the nationalist Sinn Fein-controlled councils in Northern Ireland they have refused any kind of support for the coronation, any celebrations, street parties, any of that in their areas. 'So it seems a little hypocritical that she is going off to wine and dine, colloquially speaking, and yet her rank and file Sinn Fein have stopped basically pro-union British people having any celebration.' Michelle O'Neill, the party's deputy president, said she intended to attend the May 6 event in London alongside the Irish president Michael D Higgins. She is pictured meeting Charles last September. Former minister Kate Hoey told MailOnline: 'It seems a little hypocritical that she is going off to wine and dine, colloquially speaking, and yet her rank and file Sinn Fein have stopped basically pro-union British people having any celebration.' 'I am committed to being a First Minister for all, representing the whole community, building good relations between the people of these islands, and advancing peace and reconciliation through respectful and mature engagement.' The Democratic Unionist Party echoed this, with MLA Brian Kingston saying: 'Michelle O'Neill's attendance at the Coronation is an improvement on previous refusals at similar such royal occasions, but needs communicating to rank and file Sinn Fein elected members. 'In many minority unionist Councils Sinn Fein opposed unionist plans to mark the Coronation. If Sinn Fein truly believes in building a shared future, then they should have no problem in supporting the Union Flag being raised on all public buildings to mark the Coronation.' Ms O'Neill's decision and invitation will be seen as highly controversial. She would be in line to become Northern Ireland's First Minister if the current powersharing impasse is resolved and devolution returns in Belfast. In September, she attended the Queen's funeral service in London. But Sinn Fein has strong links to the IRA, which murdered Charles III's mentor Lord Mountbatten of Burma in a 1979 bomb attack. His daughter, Lady Pamela Hicks received a telephone call from a secretary at Buckingham Palace on her 94th birthday, informing her that she had not been invited. In a tweet she said said she accepted an invitation on behalf of Northern Irish people 'for whom the coronation is a hugely important occasion'. But her decision and invitation will be seen as highly controversial. Sinn Fein has strong links to the IRA, which murdered Charles III's mentor Lord Mountbatten of Burma in a 1979 bomb attack. Sinn Fein has strong links to the IRA, which murdered Charles III's mentor Lord Mountbatten of Burma in a 1979 bomb attack. The decorated war hero and last viceroy of India died when the IRA blew up his fishing boat off Mullaghmore in County Sligo, in a blast that also killed his teenaged grandsons and the 83-year-old mother-in-law of his daughter. His daughter, Lady Pamela Hicks received a telephone call from a secretary at Buckingham Palace on her 94th birthday, informing her that she had not been invited. His daughter, Lady Pamela Hicks received a telephone call from a secretary at Buckingham Palace on her 94th birthday, informing her that she had not been invited. In a tweet she said said she accepted an invitation on behalf of Northern Irish people 'for whom the coronation is a hugely important occasion'. But her decision and invitation will be seen as highly controversial. Sinn Fein has strong links to the IRA, which murdered Charles III's mentor Lord Mountbatten of Burma in a 1979 bomb attack. His daughter, Lady Pamela Hicks received a telephone call from a secretary at Buckingham Palace on her 94th birthday, informing her that she had not been invited. Mountbatten was Prince Phillip's uncle and was close to his great nephew. The King wept at his funeral. The decorated war hero and last viceroy of India died when the IRA blew up his fishing boat off Mullaghmore in County Sligo, in a blast that also killed his teenaged grandsons and the 83-year-old mother-in-law of his daughter. The move to attend the coronation is the latest signal of the vastly improved relations between the republican movement and the monarchy since the outset of the peace process in Northern Ireland. 'I have accepted an invitation to attend the coronation of King Charles III,' said Ms O'Neill. 'We are living in a time of great change. A time to respect our differing and equally legitimate aspirations, a time to firmly focus on the future and the opportunities that the next decade will bring. 'I am an Irish republican. I also recognise there are many people on our island for whom the coronation is a hugely important occasion. 'I am committed to being a First Minister for all, representing the whole community, building good relations between the people of these islands, and advancing peace and reconciliation through respectful and mature engagement. 'Therefore, as First Minister Designate, I will join President of Ireland Michael D Higgins, international figures, church leaders, other party leaders and the Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey for the coronation in London.' Singapore hanged a prisoner today after he was convicted of conspiracy to smuggle two pounds of cannabis, despite rights groups decrying 'many flaws' in the case. Tangaraju Suppiah was hanged in defiance of a plea by the United Nations Human Rights Office for Singapore to 'urgently reconsider' and calls by British tycoon Richard Branson to halt it. The Asian financial hub has some of the world's toughest anti-narcotics laws and insists the death penalty remains an effective deterrent against trafficking. 'Singaporean Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, had his capital sentence carried out today at Changi Prison Complex,' a spokesman for the Singapore Prison Service said. Tangaraju was convicted in 2017 of 'abetting by engaging in a conspiracy to traffic' 2.24 pounds of cannabis, twice the minimum volume required for a death sentence in Singapore, the spokesman said. Tangaraju Suppiah (pictured) was hanged in defiance of a plea by the United Nations Human Rights Office for Singapore to 'urgently reconsider' and calls by British tycoon Richard Branson to halt it Tangaraju was convicted in 2017 of 'abetting by engaging in a conspiracy to traffic' 2.24 pounds of cannabis, twice the minimum volume required for a death sentence in Singapore, the spokesman said (pictured: supporters delivering letters to the Presidential Palace in Singapore on April 23 to call of the execution) Branson (pictured), a member of the Geneva-based Global Commission on Drug Policy, wrote Monday on his blog that Tangaraju was 'not anywhere near' the drugs at the time of his arrest and that Singapore may be about to put an innocent man to death He was sentenced to death in 2018 with the Court of Appeal later upholding the decision, but rights groups have claimed there were several problems with the case. Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson said the evidence 'was far from clear cut - since he never actually touched the marijuana in question, was questioned by police without a lawyer, and denied access to a Tamil interpreter when he asked for one.' He added the hanging 'raises serious concerns that Singapore is launching a renewed spree to empty its death row in a misguided effort of deterrence.' Amnesty International Deputy Regional Director Ming Yu Hah said there were 'many flaws' in the case and that the hanging showed 'the staggering failure of Singapore's stubborn embrace of the death penalty.' Singapore authorities have maintained that Tangaraju was given due process and that his guilt had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The Ministry of Home Affairs said 'the evidence clearly showed that he was the person coordinating the delivery of drugs, for the purpose of trafficking.' Branson, a member of the Geneva-based Global Commission on Drug Policy, wrote Monday on his blog that Tangaraju was 'not anywhere near' the drugs at the time of his arrest and that Singapore may be about to put an innocent man to death. On Tuesday, the ministry slammed Branson, saying that the billionaire showed 'disrespect for Singapore's judges and our criminal justice system with such allegations.' In some parts of the world - including neighbouring Thailand - cannabis has been decriminalised, with authorities abandoning prison sentences. Rights groups have been heaping pressure on Singapore to abolish capital punishment, and the United Nations has said the practice has not proven to be an effective deterrent globally and is incompatible with international human rights law. Singapore resumed executions in March 2022 after a hiatus of more than two years. Wednesday's hanging was the city-state's first in six months and 12th since last year. Among those hanged was Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam, whose execution sparked a global outcry, including from the United Nations and Branson, because he was deemed to have a mental disability. One of the four men who daringly broke out of a Mississippi jail and allegedly killed a pastor hours later was killed in a two-hour police standoff. Dylan Arrington, 22, died during the confrontation after cops tracked him to a home he barricaded himself in. The property caught fire soon after the police standoff in Leake County, Mississippi - and it's unclear if he died by gunfire or the blaze. He was one of the inmates - along with Casey Grayson, 24, Gorey Harrison, 22, and Jerry Raynes - who escaped the Raymond Detention Center on Saturday. Police are still searching for the three other escapees. Arrington was also suspected of killing pastor Anthony Watts, 61, on Monday, after his bold flight from prison. The inmate allegedly stole a motorcycle, crashed it, and then killed Watts - who had stopped on the road to help him after his collision. Police say Arrington shot the Good Samaritan and then sped away in his red Dodge Ram truck. Dylan Arrington, 22, died after the confrontation with police. He escaped Raymond Detention Center on Saturday, before allegedly shooting and killing pastor Anthony Watts on Monday night Pastor Anthony Watts, 61, was killed on Monday. Watts stopped to help Arrington, who had crashed his motorcycle, but his vehicle was stolen and he was shot dead The alleged killing of Watts, who was the pastor at St. Mary's Missionary Baptist Church in D'Lo, Mississippi, occurred at 7pm on Monday. During the police shootout on Wednesday morning, Arrington shot a deputy before being hit himself. It's unclear how the house ended up engulfed in flames. Images from the scene show the structure ablaze - as the inferno gutted the entire building and burned its roof completely down. Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones said Wednesday: 'We have a pretty strong feeling that it is him inside this residence that is deceased. 'While the house was engulfed in flames, we do believe he did retreat to another side of the residence and he did begin firing out a window on the other side of the residence, and thats when law enforcement agencies returned fire. 'We believe that the individual was possibly struck, but of course, we dont have that information right now. Whether he died by gunfire or whether he died as a result of the fire, that is to be determined.' Leake County Sheriff Randy Atkinson said that after cops tracked him to the house, a deputy checked the premises and came running out of the residence shouting that Arrington was inside. Cops look on as the building, which Dylan Arrington barricaded himself in as the police shootout started, is engulfed in flames. Police said that they are sure he has died The entire structure where the inmate was hiding in was gutted this morning. It's unclear how the fire started Jerry Raynes is one of the inmates who escaped the Raymond Detention Center on Saturday Casey Grayson is one of the inmates who escaped the Raymond Detention Center on Saturday Corey Harrison is one of the inmates who escaped the Raymond Detention Center on Saturday 'That's when the individual started shooting from inside the residence and shot my deputy,' Atkinson confirmed. The deputy, who was shot in the lower right leg, is in hospital but is believed to be in stable condition. The 7:10am police confrontation with Arrington lasted two hours before it was resolved, cops confirmed. Arrington had originally been in jail for charges of auto theft and gun possession. The four inmates escaped from the jail through breaches in a cell and in the roof on Saturday - and it was only at a headcount at 12:30am on Sunday that officials realized they were missing. Anthony Watts, 61, was killed while stopping to help Arrington, who had crashed his motorcycle This is the Dodge Ram truck, owned by the pastor, which Arrington stole after allegedly shooting him dead when the Good Samaritan stopped on the side of the road to help him The Raymond Detention Center in Mississippi where four inmates escaped on Saturday. Three are still on the loose, and one has now died after a police confrontation The other suspects were all in prison on a variety of felony charges, most involving theft. Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones said in a statement: 'We are actively and aggressively looking for these individuals, and we hope to have them back in custody soon. 'We are seeking the assistance of other agencies, including our federal partners, to get them back into custody as quickly as possible.' He warned the public: 'Be extra cautious, be vigilant of anything that appears to be suspicious.' Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson told the father of Game of Throne star Rose Leslie to 'come outside' in a bust-up in Parliament today, it has been revealed. He is claimed to have been 'aggressive' towards Sebastian Leslie, whose daughter played Ygritte in the hit TV series, during a row in a House of Commons dining room. The altercation is said to have been prompted by the explusion of North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen from the Conservative Party. Mr Bridgen and Mr Leslie were having lunch in Portcullis House on the parliamentary estate before becoming embroiled in the heated exchange. Mr Anderson, who was dining with friends in the nearby Adjournment restaurant, is claimed to have been 'bloody rude' to Mr Bridgen during the exchange before turning on Mr Leslie. Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson is claimed to have been 'aggressive' towards Sebastian Leslie, whose daughter Rose Leslie starred in TV's Game of Thrones Mr Anderson is said to have told former Tory councillor Mr Leslie: 'Hold on grandad, come outside and we'll sort it out' Mr Leslie, pictured with his actress daughter Rose at her 2018 wedding to Game of Thrones co-star Kit Harrington, said he did not plan to make a complaint Rose Leslie played Ygritte, a woman of the Free Folk, in the TV fantasy series The altercation is said to have been prompted by the explusion of North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen from the Conservative Party 'He turned to me and said, "Hold on grandad, come outside and we'll sort it out",' Mr Leslie, a former Tory councillor, told the PA news agency. As a chieftain of the Scottish clan Leslie, he asked Mr Anderson whether he wanted to use 'pistols or claymores?', which Mr Leslie explained was a reference to ancient traditions of duelling. 'He was aggressive and out of control,' the grandfather-of-six added. 'It was very threatening and aggressive.' Mr Leslie, who was suspended from the Tories in 2018 over council tax payments, described Mr Anderson as 'extremely rude' and 'obviously bloody angry' but said he did not plan to make a complaint. Mr Bridgen has been angered that news of his expulsion from the Conservative Party, which emerged earlier today, became public before the deadline for him to appeal the decision. He was kicked out the party earlier this month following the recommendation of a disciplinary panel. It came after he claimed Covid vaccines were 'the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust'. Mr Bridgen had already been stripped of the Tory whip - meaning he sits in the Commons as an independent MP - in January. Mr Anderson - dubbed '30p Lee' over his past claims that there's not a 'massive use' for food banks in Britain and suggestion that meals can be cooked for 30p each - said it was Mr Bridgen who had been 'rude and aggressive'. 'I was having two lunch with two friends when a very angry looking Andrew Bridgen walked over with his friend,' the Tory deputy chairman said. 'Andrew spoke briefly to one of my guests who he knew but then turned his attentions to me in a rude and aggressive manner. 'I literally had no idea what he was talking about and then both men left. 'After apologising to my guests for the outburst I then walked over to Mr Bridgens table to express my disapproval.' The co-founder of a fundraising group linked to Steve Bannon that pledged to help President Donald Trump build his border was on Wednesday sentenced to more than four years in prison after admitting stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Brian Kolfage, 41, a decorated U.S. Air Force veteran, who lost both of his legs and an arm in a rocket attack in Iraq, pleaded guilty to his role in siphoning donations from the We Build the Wall campaign. U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres announced the 51-month sentence at a hearing in federal court in Manhattan. Andrew Badolato, 58, another former Bannon associate, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison at the same hearing. 'The fraud perpetrated by Mr. Kolfage and Mr. Badolato went well beyond ripping off individual donors,' Torres told the hearing. 'They hurt us all by eroding the public's faith in the political process.' Brian Kolfage, 41, who lost both of his legs and an arm in a rocket attack in Iraq, leaves court after being sentenced for defrauding donors in the 'We Build the Wall' effort Andrew Badolato, another former Bannon associate, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison at the same hearing at Manhattan federal court She also ordered that the pair pay $25 million to the victims. Bannon, Trump's former chief strategist, was not part of the case. He was arrested aboard the luxury yacht of a Chinese benefactor and initially faced federal fraud charges. However, he was pardoned by Trump during his final hours in office. He still faces legal fallout from the case and was later indicted in New York state court in Manhattan on money laundering and conspiracy charges over the planned wall. He pleaded not guilty. He even joked about Kolfage taking money from the fund in a 2019 TV appeal they called a 'wall-o-thon.' 'Welcome back, this is Stephen K. Bannon, we're off the coast of Saint-Tropez in Southern France on the Mediterranean,' he said. 'We're on a million-dollar yacht Brian Kolfage, he took all that money from "Build the Wall."' Later in the clip Bannon clarified that they were actually broadcasting from New Mexico. Bannon was not part of the federal case after Donald Trump pardoned him during his final hours in office. But he was later indicted in New York state court in Manhattan on money laundering and conspiracy charges over the planned wall. He pleaded not guilty We Build the Wall set out to raise money to complete gaps in Donald Trump's border barrier Kolfage was accused of taking more than $350,000 and spent it on boat payments, jewelry and cosmetic surgery. He also pleaded guilty to tax charges. Lawyers for Kolfage proposed that he be sentenced to home detention, citing his medical needs. 'Mr. Kolfage is the most severely wounded airman to survive any war,' they wrote in their submission, describing how a rocket landed three feet away from him. 'He lost three limbs and suffered debilitating injuries to his remaining limb. After dozens of surgeries, years of rehabilitation, cutting edge mobility aids, a home specially built that allows for him to live with as minimal assistance as possible, and daily medications including narcotics to manage his pain, Mr. Kolfage still requires substantial daily care to perform his daily activities.' Badolato's lawyers said three years of probation would have been sufficient for their client because he was less culpable. Another defendant, 52-year-old Timothy Shea, was convicted at trial in October. He is set to be sentenced in June. Portland authorities are set to launch a renewed effort to crack down on the blue-run city's out of control crime wave. Two new task forces intended to specifically tackle car and retail theft are being prepared by Multnomah County DA Mike Schmidt and Democrat Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, who have previously been slammed for the city's crime epidemic. Portland has one of the worst crime rates in America, with over 63,000 property thefts littering the city over the last year, per official police statistics. Schmidt entered office in 2020 as a non-partisan candidate after running on an uber-progressive platform of opposing minimum sentences, avoiding charging juveniles as adults, and using specialty courts as alternatives to prison sentences. Ahead of his re-election bid in 2024, he is seemingly attempting to shake his soft-on-crime image. Multnomah County DA Mike Schmidt pictured speaking at a press conference in August 2020 Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has come under fire for the city's rampant crime wave In 2020, Portland became one of the first regions in America to fall foul of the 'defund the police' movement, slashing $15 million from its budget. The move led Mayor Wheeler to issue a desperate plea to renew the department's funding after it led to a disastrous crime spike. But two years on, with rampant crime continuing to rip apart the city including a surge in homelessness and serious offences including homicides and robberies, officials are again attempting to stop the bleeding. The twin task forces are expected to be bolstered by the introduction of new deputy DAs and investigators, who are reportedly tasked with building and prosecuting cases, according to Oregon Live. However, Portland residents have slammed officials for their lack of effort to prosecute criminals in recent years. Schmidt faced severe backlash in 2020 after his decision not to prosecute large numbers of protestors during the BLM riots. Despite demonstrators causing millions in damage, Schmidt said his office would decline to prosecute cases of disorderly conduct, interfering with a peace officer or rioting. And Portland's population is over three times more likely to be the victim of property crime than the national average, per Neighborhood Scout. Faced with accusations of being soft on crime, Schmidt's crackdown on property thefts has reportedly been in the works by Portland authorities for several months. However, residents are still reeling from the city's worst year ever for car thefts, with 2022 setting a new record with roughly 11,000 vehicles stolen in the city through the year. Crime in Multnomah County, a more populated, progressive region, increased 9 percent last year Car theft rates have almost doubled from two years ago, according to Portland Police Bureau data, while prosecution rates have plummeted. Theft prosecution referrals by police in Multnomah County, which includes Portland in its constituency, have continuously declined in each of the last three years. In 2019, roughly 3,100 thefts were referred to prosecutors, compared with just 900 sent by police in 2022. Schmidt's public attempt to prosecute cases also comes off the back of a decline in prosecutions subsequently pursued by his office, which declined to just 47 percent in 2021 and 58 percent in 2022. Despite announcing the push to halt Portland's rampant crimewave, residents have raised questions over the ability of city officials to turn the crisis around. Dan Lavey, co-founder of political action organization People for Portland, told Oregon Live: 'Portland politicians are very good at making announcements and very bad at getting things done.' 'People want to feel safe, and they want to see prosecutions for property crimes.' The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to request for comment when contacted by DailyMail.com. With rampant crime taking over the city, numerous businesses have already begun to flee the area amid a soft-on-crime approach by Portland officials. Since the pandemic, public data found that over 2,600 businesses filed changes of address with the US Postal Service after leaving their downtown Portland zip codes. Major businesses including Nike and Walmart have cited a spike in shoplifting and property theft as part of their reason for shuttering locations in the area. Dan Lavey, co-founder of political action organization People for Portland, questioned whether the crackdown would have any effect on Portland's crime epidemic PORTLAND: Business owners are fleeing Portland in droves amid a pronounced rise in crime and homelessness, officials in the Democratic stronghold have revealed. A major issue in Portland is how accessible the drugs are Walmart also reportedly directly appealed to Mayor Wheeler's office for help dealing with the rise in retail theft, as it underscored poor financial performance in its Portland stores as the reason for closing two of its locations. Wheeler previously came under fire after he was accused of laughing at a woman when she confronted him about Portland's untamed homelessness crisis. Over 700 homeless encampments have littered the city in the downtown radius of just 150 square miles, leading to a surge in crimes across the city. After the police was defunded in 2020, before $5.4 million was returned from the $15 million slashed from the budget, the police also suffered a series of retirements and resignations, many of whom blamed officials for the crisis. Amazon has begun notifying employees impacted by its latest round of layoffs, as the company continues with the biggest job cuts in its nearly three-decade history. The notifications, which went out on Wednesday to workers in Amazon's human resources and cloud computing business units, were part of the latest round of 9,000 job cuts announced by CEO Andy Jassy last month. Cuts to cloud computing - known as Amazon Web Services (AWS) come despite the sector being Amazon's most profitable, making $23 billion in profits last year. It grew explosively during COVID, but bosses at the web giant have begun to pare back staff numbers as pandemic spending and lifestyle habits change. The latest redundancies follow an earlier round of layoffs, totaling about 18,000 job cuts, which the company completed earlier this year. In memos obtained by DailyMail.com, Amazon Web Services CEO Adam Selipsky and Beth Galetti, the senior vice president of People Experience and Technology, told colleagues that layoff notifications began on Wednesday in those units in the US, Canada, and Costa Rica. 'It is a tough day across our organization. I fully realize the impact on every person and family who is affected,' wrote Selipsky. 'We are working hard to treat everyone impacted with respect, and to provide a number of resources and touchpoints to aid in this transition.' Amazon Web Services CEO Adam Selipsky (left) and head of human resources Beth Galetti (right) sent memo announcing that layoff notifications have begun in their departments It follows an earlier round of layoffs, totaling about 18,000 job cuts, which the company completed earlier this year In his memo, Selipsky said recent explosive growth at AWS 'has come quickly as we've moved as fast as we could to build what customers have needed.' 'Given this rapid growth, as well as the overall business and macroeconomic climate, it is critical that we focus on identifying and putting our resources behind our top prioritiesthose things that matter most to customers and that will move the needle for our business,' he wrote. 'In many cases this means team members are shifting the projects, initiatives or teams on which they work; however, in other cases it has resulted in these role eliminations.' Galetti, head of the human resources unit, also cited company-wide decisions 'prioritizing what matters most to customers and the long-term health of our businesses.' 'These decisions are not taken lightly, and I recognize the impact it will have across both those transitioning out of the company as well as our colleagues who remain,' her memo said. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced the latest round of layoffs in a company-wide memo last last month. Amazon has begun notifying employees impacted by its latest round of layoffs, as part of the latest round of 9,000 job cuts announced by CEO Andy Jassy (above) last month Amazon has also paused construction on its second headquarters near Washington DC, as the internet retail giant slashes costs. The Helix (above) is one of the planned buildings on hold Jassy said the second phase of the company's annual planning process had led to the decision to make the additional job cuts. He said Amazon will still hire in some strategic areas. 'Some may ask why we didnt announce these role reductions with the ones we announced a couple months ago. The short answer is that not all of the teams were done with their analyses in the late fall; and rather than rush through these assessments without the appropriate diligence, we chose to share these decisions as we've made them so people had the information as soon as possible,' Jassy said. The earlier round of layoffs also hit the company's stores division, which encompasses its e-commerce business as well as companys brick-and-mortar stores such as Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go, and other departments such as the one that runs the virtual assistant Alexa. Last month, the company said it would pause construction on its headquarters building in northern Virginia, though the first phase of that project will open in June with space for 8,000 employees. Major tech companies including Facebook parent Meta and Google parent Alphabet have announced job cuts totaling tens of thousands this year. Like other tech companies, Amazon ramped up hiring during the pandemic to meet surging demand as commerce and other aspects of daily life shifted to the online world. But as consumer habits reverted back towards normal patterns, and as the overheated economy began to slow, many companies have slashed costs in response. A mother has lost 62,000 damages for being raped by a preacher after a church won a legal battle in the Supreme Court. The worshipper was attacked by Jehovah's Witness elder Mark Sewell, near Cardiff more than 30 years ago. Devastated, the victim told leaders of the church about the horrific incident - but an internal inquiry found her allegations 'not proven.' The Jehovah's Witness organisation has now won a Supreme Court appeal after a High Court judge ruled that a rape victim should get damages. But Supreme Court justices on Wednesday ruled against her and concluded that the 'Jehovah's Witness organisation' was not 'vicariously liable'. A worshipper was raped by Jehovah's Witness elder Mark Sewell, near Cardiff more than 30 years ago. She has now lost 62,000 damages after the church won a legal battle in the Supreme Court Supreme Court justices on Wednesday ruled against the victim and concluded that the 'Jehovah's Witness organisation' was not 'vicariously liable' Trustees of the Barry Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, part of the Jehovah's Witness organisation, had asked the Supreme Court to consider the case. Five justices had considered arguments at a Supreme Court hearing in London in February. They said, in a summary of their ruling, that they had to decide whether Court of Appeal judges 'wrongly' upheld the High Court ruling that the Trustees of the Barry Congregation, part of the Jehovah's Witness organisation, were 'vicariously liable' for a rape committed by one of their elders. Justices said they had unanimously allowed the appeal by the trustees and concluded that the 'Jehovah's Witness organisation is not vicariously liable for the rape'. They have not named the woman - she is referred to as 'Mrs B' in the ruling - and said she could not be identified in media reports of the case. But they have named the man who raped her as Mark Sewell. He had raped her at his home after they had been out 'evangelising together', justices said. They said Sewell had been convicted of raping Mrs B - and of indecently assaulting two other people. Sewell was jailed for 14 years at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court after being found guilty of rape and indecently assaulting three other women Trustees of the Barry Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, part of the Jehovah's Witness organisation, asked the Supreme Court to consider the case 'In 2017, Mrs B brought a claim for damages against the worldwide governing body of the Jehovah's Witnesses, Watchtower and Bible Tract Society of Pennsylvania, and the Trustees of the (Barry) Congregation,' said justices in the summary of their ruling. 'She claimed that they were responsible in law, or, "vicariously liable", for the rape, because of the nature of their relationship with Mr Sewell and because of the connection between that relationship and the commission of the rape.' A High Court judge had 'found them vicariously liable for the rape' and awarded Mrs B 62,000 'general damages', justices said. Court of Appeal judges had upheld that decision. Justices said they had unanimously allowed an appeal by the Barry trustees and concluded that the 'Jehovah's Witness organisation is not vicariously liable for the rape' The victim, who is no longer a Jehovahs Witness, said she suffered from depression following the attack near Cardiff. She previously said there had not been a 'proper' internal inquiry and leaders were 'vicariously liable' for the rape. Sewell was jailed for 14 years at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court after being found guilty of rape and indecently assaulting three other women. A Democrat state lawmaker was caught red-handed hiding Bibles in the Arizona House of Representatives members-only lounge in a bizarre video. Rep. Stephanie Stahl-Hamilton, an ordained Presbyterian minister, was filmed inside the exclusive members-only lounge on April 10 grabbing a Bible off a side table and hiding it under two sofas. It was the third time since mid-March that the pair of Bibles went 'missing' from their display place inside the lounge. They were previously found underneath chair cushions and inside a fridge in a nearby kitchen. Stahl-Hamilton, who is running for re-election, now says she was hiding the Bibles as 'a little playful commentary on the separation of church and state.' Rep. Stephanie Stahl-Hamilton, a Democrat Arizona lawmaker, was caught on security camera grabbing a Bible from a side table at the House's members-only lounge She then hid the Bible under two sofas nearby, before casually walking away CAUGHT ON VIDEO: AZ Dem lawmaker/ordained minister busted swiping Bibles from House's members-only lounge. She calls it a ' little playful commentary' for separation of church and state, Republican leadership are not laughing. #azfamily pic.twitter.com/pSPth8jeR7 David Caltabiano (@DavidCaltabiano) April 25, 2023 'I am a Presbyterian minister, so I obviously don't have a problem with the Bible,' she added. Stahl-Hamilton completed her Masters of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary, and is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church. Stahl-Hamilton is an ordained Presbyterian minister who is seeking re-election in the Arizona House of Representatives The security footage from April 10 clearly shows her entering the dimly-lit lounge, where members of the legislature can go if they need to take a call or meet with other representatives or senior staff members, and greeting her colleagues. Stahl-Hamilton could be seen speaking with the other members for a moment, before she walks towards the back of the lounge, grabs a Bible sitting on a side table and hides it under the two sofas nearby. She then goes back to sit and chat with her fellow members, who seemed unaware of Stahl-Hamilton's deceit. But that was not the first time the Bibles were removed from their display place in the lounge, an unnamed statehouse source told FOX News. He said the Arizona House of Representatives were first alerted about the mysterious disappearance of two Bibles in the members-only lounge on March 23. The Bibles first went missing on March 23, but were later found hidden underneath two chair cushions in the lounge About a week later, another Bible went missing from the lounge and was found inside a fridge in a nearby kitchen When security started to search the lounge for the Bibles in the aftermath, they found the Bibles had been placed underneath two chair cushions in the lounge. Just about one week later, the source said, another Bible went missing from the lounge and was later found inside a fridge in a nearby kitchen. At that point, the security team decided to place a temporary camera inside the normally private lounge to catch the thief. Stahl-Hamilton serves as a parish associate at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church in Tucson (pictured) Now, members of the state legislature are left stunned by Stahl-Hamilton's actions. 'For an ordained minister to do that, again, it's nonsensical,' Republican Pro-Tempore Speaker Travis Grantham told KKTV. 'I have no clarity as to why it happened.' He dismissed the idea that her deception was just supposed to be commentary on the separation of church and state, noting that the state motto is 'God enriches.' And leadership at the House have reportedly not received any complaints from Stahl-Hamilton about the Bibles in the past. The pastor at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church in Tucson, where she serves as a parish associate, also told DailyMail.com he believes the incident is a 'distraction' from the real issues. 'As a minister, Rev. Stahl-Hamilton, loves and reveres scripture,' Rev. Bart Smith told DailyMail.com. 'And as a representative, she has sworn to uphold the Constitution.' Smith said she has 'a lot of integrity' in upholding both tenets, and said: 'The incident was ill-advised, of course, but it's being blown out of proportion to distract from the real problems Arizonans face' like the ongoing water shortages. The train station in Wawa, Delaware County, opened its doors in August 2022 Locals said they were 'sleep deprived' and the station had devalued their homes A group of residents in Pennsylvania are complaining that a new train line is ruining their lives - with horns blasting 40 times a day from 4am until midnight. Angry locals in Wawa, just outside Philadelphia, say the noise has been relentless ever since Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) opened the station in August last year. The regional rail connects the town with Philadelphia, which is less than 30 miles away. One neighbor complained that all the local people were 'very sleep deprived' and that it was a 'very serious situation'. At a town meeting on Wednesday, SEPTA officials admitted the train company had not carried out any impact studies about how the noise could affect locals. Local people said they were 'very sleep deprived' and that it was a 'very serious situation' Angry locals in Wawa say the noise of blaring horns from passing trains has been relentless Wawa station is situated less than 30 miles away from the center of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Neighbors gathered in a local community center to air their grievances over the new station - which was lauded as a breakthrough for the area when it opened in August. Now residents are up in arms about the distress the constant blaring horns of passing trains are causing them. Local Frank Annunziato told 6 ABC: 'It has absolutely devalued my home. It has devalued all my neighbor's homes. We just want to sleep. That's it. We're not against the train.' Another neighbor added: 'We have a lot of fatigue issues.' The two main areas where residents are being disrupted is where the trains cross main road Lenni Road and noise coming from the new Lenni rail yard. SEPTA officials admit they did not conduct any type of impact studies on this project and how the horns might affect people living nearby. 'We complied with all the requirements, permit requirements to advance the project,' said Joe Connolly, SEPTA manager of federal affairs. They did no studies. They didn't look into environmental impacts into our community. To them we were collateral damage,' Annunziato told the outlet. But the authority said it would scale back horn testing at the rail yard and consider looking into other disruption such as locomotives idling there overnight. Connolly said that he 'sympathized' with local people but the company could not stop trains sounding horns when crossing the main road. 'As long as we serve the Wawa Station, we're going to need to cross Lenni Road. If we cross Lenni Road, we're going to need to sound the horns,' he said. The outlet reported that authorities had discussed creating 'quiet zones' in the areas affected, but a timetable was not set and it was estimated it could cost $30,000 in taxpayer funds. Joe Connolly, SEPTA manager of federal affairs, said the company 'sympathized' with locals Locals say SEPTA trains are blasting their horns 40 times a day from 4am until midnight Officials told residents trains had to honk their horns when crossing a main road in the town Wawa station opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and much excitement in August 2022 It marks a pointed change in the area since the station opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in August last year. At the time, locals were excited about what a new train line could bring to the 'forgotten' area. Resident Steve Schultz told 6 ABC: 'This area was like forgotten for a long time. I think this is going to be huge.' Until the new station opened, the train line had not served Wawa since 1986. 'It's amazing that they brought it back. I figured the railroad was going away. Now it's back,' resident Danny White told the outlet at the time. President Joe Biden on Wednesday promised to destroy any regime that launched a nuclear attack on the United States or its partners as he delivered a warning to North Korea He made the pledge as he stood beside his South Korean counterpart at the White House, soon after the two agreed a new deterrence pact giving Seoul a central role for the first time in strategic planning for the use of nuclear weapons. As part of the 'Washington Declaration,' the U.S. will sent a nuclear ballistic-missile submarine to South Korea in a show of force, the first such visit since the 1980s. In return South Korea committed not to pursue its own nuclear program. 'The Washington declaration is a prudent step to reinforce extended deterrence and respond to advancing DPRK nuclear threat,' he said, using an abbreviation for North Korea. 'Look ... nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies or partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action.' President Joe Biden on Wednesday promised to destroy any regime that launched a nuclear attack on the United States or its partners as he delivered a warning to North Korea The Wasington Declaration includes a commitment to periodically dock U.S. nuclear-armed subs in South Korea, and training agreements. USS Wyoming is shown here North Korea has been moving rapidly to develop nuclear warheads and the missiles to deliver them. It has tested ballistic missiles with the range to reach American cities, posing a question about whether the U.S. was ready to defend South Korea against attack from its hardline neighbor. The South Korean public is pushing for Seoul to develop its own nuclear deterrent, a policy opposed by Washington. The Washington Declaration gives Seoul a greater role in U.S. planning through a new consultative group. It will include periodically docking U.S. nuclear-armed subs in South Korea, and training agreements. But Biden said it would stop short of permanently stationing U.S. nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula. 'I have absolute authority as commander in chief and the sole authority to use a nuclear weapon but you know, what the declaration means is that we're gonna make every effort to consult with our allies, when it's appropriate,' he said. Although it falls short of what South Korea wanted, President Yoon Suk Yeol welcomed the steps. Biden met with President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea at the White House on Wednesday. They appeared together in the afternoon at a press conference in the Rose Garden North Korea tested its new Hwasong-18 rocket earlier this month from a site east of Pyongyang 'President Biden has reaffirmed his ironclad commitment to extended deterrence towards the Republic of Korea,' he said. 'Our two countries have agreed to immediate bilateral presidential consultations in the event of North Korea's nuclear attack and promise to respond swiftly, overwhelmingly and decisively using the full force of the alliance.' During a joint press conference, Biden was asked whether legislation designed to bring chip manufacturing away from China to the U.S. had hurt South Korea. 'My desire to increase US manufacturing and jobs in America is not about China. I'm not concerned about China. Remember, America invented semiconductors,' he said. The aim, he said was to make sure that the U.S. was not reliant on foreign supply chains that could be controlled by adversaries. 'And two significant South Korean companies decided they're going to invest billions of dollars in chip manufacturing in the United States,' he said. 'It wasn't designed to hurt China it was designed to so we didn't have to worry about whether or not we had access to semiconductors.' The warning to North Korea comes after it resumed intercontinental missile tests earlier this month. The regime described its Hwasong-18 the country's 'most powerful, pivotal and principal means' of defense. It uses solid fuel, which is a step-forward from liquid fuel. They can be stored at protected arsenals and then moved quickly to launch sites. In contrast, liquid-fuel is volatile, which means that missiles have to be stored separately and then fuelled before launch which means they need more time before they can be used. 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 Details of the submarine deployment come soon after the U.S. Air Force put on a massive show of strength with two B-52 nuclear bombers taking part in joint exercises with South Korea. Stunning images released by South Korea's Defense Ministry 12 days ago 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. Elon Musk has suspended a Twitter user who created a 'youth attracted person' flag to support pedophiles. The billionaire tech CEO shut down the account - under the username Pot Luck Pony - and condemned it in a tweet. The account, which had no identifiable name associated with it, had earlier posted the blue, white, pink and yellow flag on their timeline. They claimed it was for 'Alice Day', which is a sick, pseudo-holiday created by some to celebrate pedophilia. The account posted on Tuesday: 'Happy Alice Day, to those who celebrate! I figured, why not use today to unveil the YAP (Youth Attracted person) pride flag I designed almost a year ago? 'I wanted to stray from the oft used horizontal bars motif, but only a little. I wanted to retain some familiarity.' The account (pictured) which had no identifiable name associated with it, had posted the blue, white, pink and yellow flag on their timeline. They claimed it was for 'Alice Day', which is a sick, pseudo-holiday created by some to celebrate pedophilia Under a day later, Musk kicked the person from the social media site and condemned the tweet. He wrote 'not tolerated on this platform' in response to a post from Dr Anastasia Maria Loupis. Dr Loupis, who says on her account she is a medical doctor, had posted: 'Elon Musk suspended the person who made a pedophilia flag. Well done, Elon.' She later also replied to Musk, saying: 'Thank you dear Elon. You are doing amazing things for humanity.' Twitter slashed its child sexual abuse team in half in December after taking over the social media giant in October. Musk kicked the user off the site and then tweeted on Wednesday afternoon: 'Not tolerated on this platform' Bloomberg reported late last year that the number of people hunting down these accounts was down from 20 to just 10. Meanwhile only one person is reportedly responsible for checking content posted in the whole of the Asia-Pacific division. Dr Mellissa Withers, from the University of Southern California, told Forbes at the time: 'In this digital era, child sex trafficking and exploitation have become much more widespread and difficult to address. 'Criminals have become savvier about ways to avoid detection through the Internet. It is much easier to exploit children today than even 20 years ago.' Last month Musk shot down claims in a BBC report that his website had become rampant with child sexual exploitation. In a message posted on the site, he sarcastically apologized for 'turning Twitter from a nurturing paradise into a place that has... trolls.' He added '(real article from organization calling itself the BBC)' and replied to another user saying 'have to admit trolls are kinda fun'. Elon Musk has suspended a Twitter user who created a 'youth attracted person' flag to support pedophiles Twitter insiders previously told the BBC the company could not protect users from 'trolls' following recent layoffs. They said that that new changes and features made it hard to protect Twitter users from trolling and harassment. This was supported by 'exclusive academic data' provided to the BBC, which found misogynistic hate was on the rise on the site and that there had been a 69 percent increase in new accounts following misogynistic or abusive profiles. The BBC Panorama report cited figures from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue think tank which showed that tens of thousands of new accounts have popped up and immediately followed known abusive and misogynistic profiles since Mr Musk took over. The figures were 69 percent higher than before he was in charge, suggesting a 'permissive environment,' the report claimed. The BBC cited Lisa Jennings Young, a former head of content design at Twitter, who said that before the takeover the platform was trying to crack down on trolling, which was widespread on Twitter. 'It was not at all perfect. But we were trying, and we were making things better all the time,' she said. She said everyone on her team, which created safety measures designed to protect users from hate, had been sacked. Young said one of her team's most successful features was the 'harmful reply nudge', allowing users to be warned against posting harmful content - without actually preventing them from posting. Using AI technology to detect harmful language, the 'nudge' alerts users before they send a tweet stopping many people from writing abusive messages. At the end of February, Twitter laid off another 200 employees, around 10 percent of its remaining workforce, in the latest round of job cuts since Elon Musk took over last October. The layoffs brought Twitter's workforce down to under 2,000 - a sharp fall from the 7,500 employed when the billionaire first took over. A day after, Musk Tweeted: 'Hope you have a good Sunday. First day of the rest of your life.' The Texas Department of Agriculture has issued a new dress code requiring staff to wear attire 'consistent with their biological gender' in a move that critics fear unfairly targets transgender people. The policy, issued in a memo last week signed by Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, states: 'Employees are expected to comply with this dress code in a manner consistent with their biological gender.' The policy encourages 'Western apparel' for both men and women, and notes that pants are 'allowable' for women, but outlines stricter requirements for men, including button-down shirts and pants. The memo notes that violations of the department's dress code can incur penalties 'up to and including termination' -- raising concerns in some quarters that the new 'biological gender' provision could be used to target transgender and gender-nonconforming employees. In a statement to DailyMail.com, Miller defended the policy, saying: 'Common sense dress code policies are still legal in the state of Texas and at the Texas Department of Agriculture.' Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller signed the new dress code memo: 'Employees are expected to comply with this dress code in a manner consistent with their biological gender' 'TDA's policies are in the best interest of our employees and the constituents we serve,' added Miller. But according to the Texas Observer, which first reported the memo, at least some employees in the department are quietly worried about how the new policy will be applied. 'It definitely feels like it threatens the safety of anyone who doesn't conform to the binary dress code,' one employee told the outlet. The person said that several coworkers had expressed concerns about the memo, but are afraid to speak up publicly because of potential repercussions. The Observer noted that the memo used the confusing phrase 'biological gender,' appearing to conflate biological sex with gender identity, which are separate concepts. Sex relates to the biological characteristics a person is born with, while gender typically refers to a person's self-identity and social presentation. LGBTQ advocates are already raising concerns that the dress code policy could be a potential violation of US federal laws than ban workplace discrimination. Protesters gather last month in opposition of Texas Governor Greg Abbott's directive to state health agencies to investigate gender-affirming care to transgender youth as child abuse Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from workplace discrimination, including by the protected category of sex, which the Justice Department defines as including sexual orientation and gender identity. Jonathan Gooch, the communications director for Equality Texas, slammed the new dress code as 'toxic to transgender and gender-expansive people' in remarks to the Houston Chronicle. 'It seems intended to restrict people's dress to the sex they were assigned at birth,' Gooch said. 'It's certainly a surprise to see the agriculture commissioner weighing in on culture wars when he has much more more important things to be doing.' Gooch said the new policy was vague and arbitrary, and could cause unnecessary anxiety for workers. 'It's toxic because people should be coming to the agriculture department to work, not to perform for their boss,' Gooch said. 'If transgender people aren't allowed to dress in their own clothes and use their own name and pronouns then they are going to have to perform every day.' Texas is among a number of Republican-dominated US states that have pushed a wave of legislation in recent months related to transgender issues. State legislators in Texas have introduced at least 57 bills so far this year related to transgender issues, ranging from bans on medical treatments for transgender children to rules for school bathrooms. Presidential hopeful Nikki Haley made a bid Wednesday for Walt Disney World to move its operations to her state of South Carolina as the war between the corporation and Florida's governor escalates. Disney filed a lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday claiming that he 'weaponized' his power to inflict political punishment and engaged in a 'targeted campaign of government retaliation.' But as tensions between DeSantis and what he calls the 'corporate kingdom' continues to boil, South Carolina's former governor says the state is ready for the theme park to move a bit more north. Haley assured that even though South Carolina is an 'anti-woke state,' it still likes to work with its businesses for the betterment of the economy. 2024 presidential hopeful and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said Wednesday that her state would welcome Disney to move operations there from Florida 'As governor I took a double-digit unemployment state and turned it into an economic powerhouse,' Haley told Fox News. 'Businesses were my partners. Because if you take care of your businesses, you take care of your economy, your economy takes care of the people and everyone wins. So that's the way we dealt with it.' She added: 'South Carolina was a very anti-woke state it still is.' 'If Disney would like to move their hundreds of thousands of jobs to South Carolina and bring the billions of dollars with them, I'll let them know I'd be happy to meet them in South Carolina and introduce them to the governor and the legislature that would welcome it.' In a follow-up tweet, Haley made more of a bid for the move, adding that the Palmetto State, an early primary contest jurisdiction, has 'great weather' and 'great people.' 'SC's not woke, but we're not sanctimonious about it either,' she added, in an attack on DeSantis' recent moves against Disney. It also is a call-back to Donald Trump's newly employed nickname for the Florida governor 'DeSanctimonious.' Although DeSantis has not yet entered the Republican primary race, every announced candidate sees him as the next biggest threat to former President Trump. Those announced so far are Trump; Haley, who served as Trump's ambassador to the UN; former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson; and longshots Larry Elder, a conservative radio host; and biotech multimillionaire Vivek Ramaswamy. The war between DeSantis and Disney kicked off last year when the CEO at the time criticized the Parental Rights in Education bill, which restricts classroom instruction of gender identity and sexual orientation in Florida public schools. DeSantis used Disney as a prime example of why environmental, social, and corporate governance investing is a detriment to society rather than a benefit. He claims that companies should not be using their power, money and influence to push their agenda. Comments come the same day that Disney filed in federal court to sue Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida's Tourism Oversight Board for taking their power of Reedy Creek Most recently, DeSantis appointed a new board to take over the district Disney World was awarded back in 1967 that gave the land where the amusement park and resorts sits special tax exemptions and powers. The new five-member board is aimed at stripping these special privileges and making sure Disney does not get any preferential treatment compared to other corporations and companies in Florida. But Disney isn't going down without a fight as the 'corporate kingdom' filed Wednesday to sue DeSantis and Florida's new Central Tourism Oversight Board for stripping its control over Reedy Creek. The company accused the Republican governor of 'weaponizing' his power to inflict political punishment. The lawsuit was filed in federal court after the DeSantis-appointed five-member board voted this month to void an agreement Disney tried to make in the final days before the previous board's ouster. Special tax district Reedy Creek is the home to Disney World and Walt Disney World resorts, it employs 75,000 people and attracts 50 million visitors every year. In the filing, company executives accused DeSantis and Florida of a 'targeted campaign of government retaliation' in the battle sparked by Disney criticizing the so-called 'Don't Say Gay' bill. Former First Daughter Ivanka Trump has stopped engaging the lawyers defending her in a fraud suit against New York Attorney General Letitia James splitting from the attorneys representing her brothers Eric and Don Jr. in the case. James filed a suit against her father, the former President Donald Trump, alleging that he, his three eldest children, his real estate firm and its top executives falsely inflated property values to obtain cheaper loans. She is seeking $250 million and is asking a judge to 'permanently' bar Trump and his adult children from doing business in the state. Trump and his children have denied the claims, and just one week after the suit was filed, Eric and Don Jr. submitted paperwork saying they had retained Clifford Robert and Michael Farina of Robert & Robert to represent them. On Wednesday, Ivanka posted a series of photos to her Instagram Story showing her out with pals celebrating her longtime friend Flo Fulton's birthday. Ivanka Trump, 41, has fired the lawyers representing her in a fraud suit against New York Attorney General Letitia James Ivanka posted this photo Wednesday showing her out with pals celebrating her long-time friend Flo Fulton's birthday That was the firm Ivanka was using as well. But, newly filed court documents show, Ivanka has now split with Robert and Farina, Forbes reported. They have previously represented Jeffrey Epstein's estate. The attorneys had previously notified the court that they would represent Ivanka as well, serving as her local counsel and working with two Washington DC-based lawyers who Ivanka hired independently of her brothers, Reid Figel and Michael Kellogg, of Kellogg Hansen. The former president's daughter is now being represented by Bennet Moskowitz of the firm Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders, according to a court filing. His office did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Ivanka held the title of executive vice president at the Trump Organization, and had a prominent role on 'The Apprentice' TV show. She father her father to Washington when he won the White House, serving as an unpaid senior advisor along with her husband, Jared Kushner. James accused Trump of engaging in 'numerous acts of fraud' when she filed the civil suit last year following a three-year probe. New York AG Letitia James has sued former President Donald Trump and his adult children for $250 million, claiming fraud For a time Ivanka Trump shared attorneys with Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, both Trump Organization executives, on the case Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, right, stayed on as executives at the Trump Organization when Ivanka and Jared Kushner joined the White House staff She accused Trump and his three adult children of pumping up property far beyond their actual valuations when seeking lending to expand his real estate empire. 'Claiming you have money that you do not have does not amount to the "Art of the Deal. It's the art of the steal,' she said. A signal in the apparent split of legal strategy occured when Ivanka asked Judge Arthur Engeron for a delay. The letter sought to established that she did not have any role approving financial statements that James' office have characterized as a bait and switch. 'The complaint does not contain a single allegation that Ms. Trump directly or indirectly created, prepared, reviewed or certified any of her fathers financial statements. The complaint affirmatively alleges that other individuals were responsible for those tasks,' according to the letter. 'Similarly, as Ms. Trump argued in her motion to dismiss and which the OAG did not contest there is no allegation that Ms. Trump ever made a misrepresentation about any of her fathers statements of financial condition to anyone,' the letter continues. Her lawyers wrote that the complaint 'lacks a single allegation that Ms. Trump participated in preparing those financial statements, knew about the valuation methodologies that were used to value those assets, or had any knowledge regarding the alleged inaccuracies in her fathers stated net worth.' Nevertheless, at least one of James' allegations relates to a property that Ivanka inhabited. According to a James filing, Ivanka's Park Avenue apartment was publicly said to be worth $25 million, but she retained an option to purchase it for $8 million. Eric and Donald Trump Jr. each gave depositions when ordered to by a judge. In his own deposition, Eric Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment rights more than 500 times. Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly called the case a 'witch hunt' against him. If there were signs of potential future family strife in the courtroom, Ivanka signaled that she was still living her best life on Instagram, where she new images on her Instagram account. They showed her playing polo in Wellington, Florida before a cheering crowd. They say the docs relate to ongoing efforts to 'expose corruption' within the FBI The Senate Republican-led probe into the origins of now-disproven Trump-Russia collusion allegations is ramping up as lawmakers look to expose the FBI for 'corruption' in how it conducted the investigation. In a letter to Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz Tuesday, obtained by DailyMail.com, GOP Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, are demanding unredacted records connected to Crossfire Hurricane. Crossfire Hurricane was the internal code name for an investigation by the FBI that began in 2016 to look into possible links between the then-Trump campaign and Russia. However, it has since been exposed that the entire basis for the investigation was founded on false information. According to the letter, Citizens United - a conservative nonprofit - recently obtained 460 pages of 'heavily redacted' records after submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The inspector general produced the records as a 'partial response' to the FOIA request. Sens. Ron Johnson is demanding unredacted records connected to Crossfire Hurricane Sen. Grassley is interested in getting more unredacted documents to help move forward his investigation along with Johnson A Senate aide told DailyMail.com that the senators are interested in obtaining the unredacted records because they directly relate to ongoing efforts to 'expose corruption' within the FBI as it relates to the Trump-Russia investigation. 'Due to massive redactions applied to the interview transcripts by a number of agencies, including the DOJ OIG, these records are impossible to review. We write to request the unredacted version of those records,' the senators write. They specifically requested information related to transcribed interviews with Kathleen Kavalec, Lisa Page, Loretta Lynch and Nellie Ohr - all of who were central to the original probe. In addition, they ask for information on the reported '170 interviews' and whether or not they were transcribed. The information they are seeking will help them as they continued their quest to uncover information on the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane probe. 'The records contained in the DOJ OIG's February 3, 2023, FOIA production to Citizens United directly relate to our ongoing efforts to expose corruption within the FBI,' they state. In addition, Special Counsel John Durham was appointed in 2020 by then-Attorney General Bill Barr to look into misconduct related to the Crossfire Hurricane probe. So far, Durham has successfully obtained one conviction - former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith. Clinesmith pleaded guilty to illegally altering an email that was then used as the basis to obtain a 'surveillance warrant' on Carter Page, who was serving as a Trump campaign staffer in 2016. DOJ Inspector General Horowitz produced the records as a 'partial response' to the FOIA request. Johnson and Grassley also ask Horowitz whether Durham has requested those same record and transcripts, as he continues his probe. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter. Johnson and Grassley are also separately looking into whistleblower allegations that the DOJ and FBI illegally suppressed information on Hunter Biden. Particularly, they say that the FBI was 'weaponized' against sitting members of the Senate during a period of time they were probing Hunter's role on the board of Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings. The senators have alleged that there was a 'scheme' among FBI officials that would throw out damaging information on the president's son by labeling it as 'disinformation.' British men captured by the Taliban are accused of spying against the regime and have been locked up in the basement of a secret prison, The Daily Mail can reveal. Charity medic Kevin Cornwell was detained along with an unnamed British hotel manager following a raid at Darya Village Hotel in Kabul on January 11, after a firearm was discovered in a safe in his room. The Taliban also seized a satellite phone kit from Mr Cornwells room, claiming wrongly that it was a signal jammer. Satellite phones are commonly used by charities working in remote areas and places where telecommunications can be unreliable or non-existent. Last night, it emerged that agents from the Talibans General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) also seized hundreds of pages of documents, which they claim were top secret intelligence reports. Kevin Cornwell, 53, a British medic for charity Iqarus, has been detained by the Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence in Kabul, Afghanistan, since January 11 Miles Routledge has been named as one of three British men being held in Taliban custody in Afghanistan But Scott Richards, a negotiator from the Presidium Network charity, which is assisting the mens families, said the documents were standard risk assessments provided to charity staff working in high-risk areas. He said the case was a misunderstanding and urged the Taliban to release Mr Cornwell, who suffers from kidney stones, amid fears his health is deteriorating fast. If Kevin were to die in GDI custody, the ramifications for the Taliban would be broad, he warned. The men have not been allowed legal representation or charged with any crime. Their captors have allowed them to make two phone calls home since they were arrested. Mr Richards said: The men are being treated well, although kept in the basement of a GDI facility, they are not subject to torture or coercion as many may have been concerned. Also being held in a separate facility is 'danger tourist' Miles Routledge, 23, from Birmingham, who was arrested last month. Mr Cornwell, a married father from Middlesbrough, was working in Afghanistan for Iqarus, a non-profit medical agency that works on United Nations missions to provide free healthcare to desperate people in conflict zones. Afghan media has reported claims that the men were working as British spies in the country. But Mr Richards said they were situational reports issued to Iarus by a security firm based in the United Arab Emirates. He said: These are standard documents for any company operating in any high-risk zone, and they represent a collage of information from official travel advisories, media reporting, and what is often called RUMINT, which is rumour intelligence. We know the company that issued these documents and even who sent them, and this is the basis for the espionage allegation. These are standard risk reports used by all NGOs, and to interpret them as anything other than what they are has dramatic implications for all NGOs operating in Afghanistan. Mr Cornwell's family said the Taliban government had granted a licence for the Taurus PT 24/7 Pro handgun which agents had claimed to be illegal. Mr Richards provided a picture of the licence issued by the Ministry of Interior Affairs. The British hotel manager held with Mr Cornwell has not been named at the request of his family. The UK does not have an embassy or any consulates in Afghanistan following the Taliban's return to power. The Foreign Office said it had spoken to the three British nationals and continues to press for more consular contact while providing support to their families. A cruise ship's search for an Australian man who fell overboard has been suspended and the liner has now resumed its course to Hawaii. A desperate search was launched for the man when he fell from the Quantum of the Seas about 1,400km south of Hawaii on Wednesday at around 11pm AEST. A Hercules aircraft fitted with GPS and cameras will continue the search for the man from the skies. The ship departed Brisbane on April 12 and had been due to dock in Honolulu on Friday after stopping at the Pacific island of Tahiti, cruise operator Royal Caribbean said. It was initially thought that the man who went overboard was the partner of a passenger who died on the vessel during a medical emergency - but this is not the case and the two incidents are unrelated, the company has confirmed. Shocked passengers recalled how they were ordered to return to their cabins and ensure all travelling companions were accounted for before being allowed to leave their rooms 90 minutes later. Quantum of the Seas crew launched a desperate search for the man who fell overboard Bright lights were used in the desperate late-night search for the passenger as a US Coast Guard Hercules helicopter was deployed to scour the ocean from above. The US Navy has also been called in to assist in the large-scale search. The man's identity and how he went overboard is not yet known at this early stage. Tracking data shows the cruise stopped after the passenger went overboard but has since resumed its voyage and is now heading to Hawaii's Kona Island. One man with family on the ship said the missing passenger was believed to be the partner of someone who died on board the ship following a medical emergency. 'There was a show during the night, and the music stopped before it was announced there was a medical emergency, and apparently the person passed away' he told 2GB breakfast radio host Ben Fordham on Thursday. 'About 90 minutes later, the call went out that someone went overboard, and it turned out to be the partner of the person who passed away earlier.' The man said his wife, daughters and stepson on board the ship were left devastated by the incident. However, a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean has since confirmed the medical incident and fall were unrelated. 'While on its trans-pacific sailing, a guest onboard Quantum of the Seas went overboard,' the company said in a statement. 'The ship's crew immediately launched a search and rescue operation and is working closely with local authorities. 'Out of respect for the family, we will not share further details about this unfortunate event.' An Australian man has gone overboard from the Quantum of the Seas cruise ship in waters off Hawaii (pictured, stock image of the ship) Fordham also read out an email sent by a listener onboard who recalled how the vessel stopped and turned around about 11pm on Wednesday night. 'It was very dark, search lights scanned the sea, rescue boats deployed, everyone confined to cabins,' Fordham read. 'The captain called on the PA an hour later for a gentleman to present himself to guest services. Everyone was out on their balcony.' 'The search went on until around 1.30am. Rescue boats were brought back on board. Search lights continued for another 10 minutes, then the ship seemed to steam off slowly.' The passenger added that the incident was all over the ship's social media. 'Some saying cameras on deck saw him go over, others saying crew has confirmed a passenger did go over last night and there was only so much they could do,' Fordham read. Passenger Georgina Thompson and her husband were in bed when they heard the call 'Oscar, Oscar, Oscar' the cruise ship line's code for 'man overboard'. 'There were lights, you know, the big lights shining on the ocean,' she told the Today show. 'And also there were a couple of boats out there in the water.' 'Then I got up and I went out to see what was happening. We didn't know at that time what was going on.' 'My husband thought we might have hit something or something like that, the way the ship stopped, but then we realised that there was someone overboard. No-one said anything at that time.' Ms Thompson said the tragedy had rattled fellow passengers and crew. 'We went to breakfast this morning and everyone was very sombre,' she said. 'I feel very sad for whoever it was.' The cruise left Brisbane 15 days ago was en route to Hawaii, stopping at Tahiti along the way Newlywed Aimee West, who is on her honeymoon on board the ship, assured family and friends she and her new husband were safe after a 'pretty interesting night'. 'Matt and I are safe, yes this is our cruise and we witnessed the attempts to locate the Australian man in the middle of the ocean and at night,' she posted on Facebook. 'I can't say enough about the crew on Royal Caribbean International, professional and continued to provide us updates when they could.' Ms West was among several guests who have shared footage of the frantic search on social media. 'We were all out on balconies trying to help spot the man but it was just too dark. The water itself was pretty flat so I am hoping this assists with rescue,' she wrote Passengers have since been addressed on the PA by the ship captain, who issued his condolences but advised he wouldn't be revealing any further details out of respect for the missing man. 'This morning he gave us an update on what happened last night is correct, that the Coast Guard has started the search in the air and in the sea and that he won't be making any more addresses to this situation,' passenger Debbie told Fordham. She added the whole atmosphere on the ship had changed. 'People are crying. It's all very sad,' Debbie said. A day earlier, guests were full of praise for the Anzac Day dawn service held on the cruise ship just north of the Equator for the large contingent of Australians on board. 'The crew did an absolutely fantastic job with this service,' one woman posted said. Another added: 'An awesome ceremony by Royal Caribbean, one I wont forget. The staff and guests were awesome, with those onboard very much appreciative of their efforts.' Royal Caribbean Cruises has confirmed a passenger had gone overboard. 'The ship's crew immediately launched a search and rescue operation and is working closely with local authorities,' it said in a statement. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Royal Caribbean Cruises for further comment. A 26-year-old Chicago man was arrested at Boston's Logan Airport after he tried to go through security with a 10-inch long vampire straw that was hidden inside his carry-on luggage. Arman Achuthan Nair, was detained by airport security near Gate 24 on Sunday 5:38pm. The titanium vampire straw was discovered inside a pouch in his backpack by TSA officials. Nair told authorities that he bought the item from Szaboinc.com, Massachusetts State Police Trooper James D. DeAngelis told DailyMail.com. A 26-year-old Chicago man was arrested at Boston's Logan Airport after he tried to go through security with a 10-inch long vampire straw (pictured) that was hidden inside his uggage On its website the company advertises itself a having 'some of the most popular and best tactical knives that were made. Our collection of great combat knives has it all.' Nair was booked at the State Police-Logan Barracks on a charge of carrying a dangerous weapon. He posted bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in East Boston District Court on May 30. The dimensions of the vampire straw is 10-inches long and 5/6-inches in diameter with a chiseled tip. The items is described on the company's website as both a straw that could be used for drinking water or slurping smoothies or to be used as a tool for self-defense. The titanium vampire straw was discovered inside a pouch in the passenger's backpack by TSA officials. Passenger, Arman Achuthan Nair, was detained by airport security near Gate 24 on Sunday around 5:38pm The company describes the vampire straw as 'super tough and long enough to be used like a dagger.' It also states that its 'chiseled tip is sharp enough to puncture most synthetic materials.' The Transportation Security Administration doesnt allow vampire straws to be carried onto a flight. On Monday, the TSA issued a tweet accompanied by a photo of the vampire straw with the message: 'These items are not allowed in passenger carry-on bags,' the tweet said. 'A passenger found that out yesterday.' Two United Airlines flights were forced to make emergency landings in Houston after flying into a flock of birds. The planes, one destined for Las Vegas and the other to Santiago, Chile, were forced to return to Bush Intercontinental Airport at around 10pm Tuesday. A 'loud pop' can be heard on air traffic audio from the Chile flight at the moment of the bird strike. 'When we leveled off at 4,000 feet, we heard a loud pop and you could feel something,' one of the pilots said. 'All three pilots that felt subsequent strike are unsure if it was a bird, uh, we didn't see it.' He added: 'It could be a bird It could be a drone We don't know but all we know is we hit something.' Emergency vehicles tend to United Flight 2086 that had to return to Houston International Airport April 25, 2023 after a bird strike Video shows firefighters responding to one of the flights at IAH around 10pm Two planes had to turn around and land at Bush Intercontinental Airport shortly after taking off on Tuesday due to bird strikes, according to Houston Airport System officials It comes days after an American Airlines flight was forced to return to Ohio after striking a flock of geese The Las Vegas flight had been in the air for around half an hour before retreating for its emergency landing, its data shows. Footage appears to show firefighters attending one of the planes at the airport upon its return. No injuries have been reported, with both planes inspected and cleared for take off by Wednesday. The Federal Aviation Authority said bird strikes are a growing concern, due in part to increasing populations of large birds and their inability to hear quieter engines. It comes just days after an American Airlines Boeing 737's engine burst into flames after striking a flock of geese just 40 minutes after it took off. The American Airlines flight 1958 to Phoenix, Arizona, took off from John Glenn Columbus International Airport at 7:43am, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks flights nationally, but landed back at the airport at 8:22am. A passenger told NBC News that she could hear 'people on the plane crying' after the engine went up in flames. A High Court judge questioned 'factual inconsistencies' in Prince Harry's explosive witness statement yesterday in his latest battle with the British Press. The Duke of Sussex claimed for the first time on Tuesday that a 'secret agreement' between the Royal Family and news executives stopped him bringing his phone hacking claims earlier. But Mr Justice Fancourt said this new evidence was 'troubling' him, as it contradicted his original argument that he could not sue before 2019 because he 'did not have the knowledge' of phone hacking. News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of The Sun and now-defunct News of the World, is fighting to strike out the cases brought by Prince Harry and actor Hugh Grant, saying they should have brought them earlier. They have argued that Harry was at the 'epicentre' of the scandal and argue it is 'fanciful' for him to suggest he did not have any knowledge of phone hacking before he brought his action in 2019. A High Court judge questioned 'factual inconsistencies' in Prince Harry's witness statement in his latest battle with the British Press. Pictured: The Duke of Sussex arrives at the High Court last month News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of The Sun and now-defunct News of the World, is fighting to strike out the cases brought by Prince Harry and actor Hugh Grant (pictured) The Duke of Sussex responded by submitting a 31-page witness statement where he alleged it was in fact the existence of a 'secret agreement' with NGN approved by the Queen that prevented him from bringing claims. He said the Royal Family agreed to not pursue NGN until after the group's legal battle with other hacking claimants ended. The royals' claims would then be quietly 'admitted or settled with an apology'. NGN denies this deal existed. The duke, who watched on by video link, says he was first told of the agreement in 2012 and only brought his claim in 2019 after growing frustrated with NGN 'filibustering' on the deal. But Mr Justice Fancourt yesterday questioned how Harry could simultaneously state he did not have knowledge before 2019 to bring a claim, but also that he was prevented from bringing a claim in 2012. He said: 'Another thing that is troubling me is what appears to be a factual inconsistency in the current pleaded case about the way the Duke of Sussex did not have the knowledge before 2019 to bring a claim and your proposed amendment which seems to say he would have brought a claim in 2012 except for the secret agreement.' David Sherborne, for Harry, insisted had he brought a claim in 2012 it would have been 'totally different' but the judge shot back: 'I'm talking about the factual inconsistencies in the way the case is pleaded.' The judge also questioned why Mr Sherborne had suddenly introduced this new evidence without making an application to submit it to the court. Mr Justice Fancourt yesterday questioned how Harry could simultaneously state he did not have knowledge before 2019 to bring a claim, but also that he was prevented from bringing a claim in 2012. Pictured: High Court, London He said the claimant's legal team should have applied to the defendants to give them a chance to make submissions before updating the details of their case. The claimant's legal team was then forced to make an application to introduce Prince Harry's claims of a 'secret deal' into their evidence which was challenged by NGN. The court is due to decide on whether to allow the evidence today when Grant, who also watched on by video link, is expected to attend. Mr Sherborne said 'unavoidable filming commitments' meant the actor could not appear in person for the first two days. He said Prince Harry is expected to attend another phone hacking action against the Mirror group but could not get the 'arrangements' in place to attend in person for this case. Harry is now fighting three legal battles against three media groups, all alleging illegal activities were used to target him in the name of journalism. Last month he turned up in person for his case against the publisher of the Daily Mail, with a judge currently considering whether that case should be allowed to go to a full trial. NGN has previously settled a number of claims since the phone hacking scandal broke in relation to the News of the World, which closed in 2011, but has consistently denied that any unlawful information gathering took place at The Sun. A row erupted yesterday after a Sinn Fein leader and a Chinese official who oversaw a civil liberties crackdown in Hong Kong were invited to the Coronation. Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Fein's deputy president and leader in Northern Ireland, was branded a hypocrite for saying she would attend. Her republican party has been accused of preventing Unionists from celebrating the historic occasion in Ulster. And Tory China hawks led by former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith branded it 'outrageous' that Chinese vice-president Han Zheng is also on the King's guest list. Mr Han dealt with Hong Kong affairs on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party and proposed the controversial extradition bill which sparked widespread protests in the territory. By contrast, Lady Pamela Hicks, a bridesmaid to the late Queen whose father Lord Mountbatten was murdered by the IRA of which Ms O'Neill's party was the political wing throughout the Troubles has been left off the Coronation guest list. Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Fein's deputy president and leader in Northern Ireland, was branded a hypocrite for saying she would attend Chinese vice-president Han Zheng is also on the King's guest list. Mr Han dealt with Hong Kong affairs on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party and proposed the controversial extradition bill which sparked widespread protests in the territory Ms O'Neill, who attended the Queen's funeral in September, said she had accepted the invitation on behalf of the people in Northern Ireland 'for whom the Coronation is a hugely important occasion'. But it sparked a backlash among Unionists, who said they were being prevented from celebrating by nationalist-controlled councils in Ulster. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said: 'While the decision has been made by Sinn Fein to recognise the monarchy, we nevertheless need to see attendance at such events also translated into a recognition that in Northern Ireland there are many who want to celebrate. 'But where Sinn Fein controls local councils, they are unwilling to support celebrations in the way they're happening across the UK.' DUP MP Sammy Wilson said Ms O'Neill's attendance was 'for the international cameras', adding: 'But at the same time they make sure they remain true to form back here in Northern Ireland where there's no media spotlight and where [Sinn Fein] local councils just continue their anti-British, anti-royal stance to please their grassroots.' Former Labour minister Baroness Hoey said: 'My issue with it is that in a lot of the nationalist Sinn Fein-controlled councils in Northern Ireland, they have refused any kind of support for the Coronation, any celebrations, street parties, any of that in their areas. 'So it seems a little hypocritical that she is going off to wine and dine, colloquially speaking.' Ms O'Neill's attendance at the Coronation in Westminster Abbey on Saturday, May 6, will be seen as highly controversial. Lady Pamela Hicks, a bridesmaid to the late Queen whose father Lord Mountbatten was murdered by the IRA has been left off the Coronation guest list She would be in line to become Northern Ireland's First Minister if the current power-sharing impasse at Stormont, caused by disagreements over the post-Brexit trading arrangements governing the province, is resolved and devolution returns in Belfast. It is for this reason she will have been invited, based on government advice. Sinn Fein's Assembly speaker Alex Maskey, who spent two years in internment in the 1970s, has also accepted an invitation to the Coronation. Sinn Fein was the political wing of the IRA, which murdered Lord Mountbatten King Charles's mentor in a 1979 bomb attack. The decision to attend is the latest signal of the greatly improved relations between the republican movement and the monarchy since the start of the peace process in Northern Ireland. The attendance of Mr Han, who was recently appointed by Chinese president Xi Jinping as his deputy, triggered cross-party anger a day after Foreign Secretary James Cleverly called for a more constructive relationship with China. Tory China hawks led by former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith branded it 'outrageous' that Mr Han is invited Sir Iain said: 'This is the man responsible for trashing the international treaty, the Sino-British Accord, in the course of which the Hong Kong authorities have persecuted peaceful democracy campaigners. Having this man here, given his role, is outrageous.' Former levelling up secretary Simon Clarke added: 'China is a strategic adversary of the United Kingdom. She is working to undermine democracies the world over, including on UK soil.' A Labour official said it was 'disappointing' that someone 'so intimately involved in ongoing human rights violations in Hong Kong' would be attending the Coronation. Hong Kong was rocked by demonstrations in 2019 and 2020 when Mr Han headed up the Central Leading Group on Hong Kong following the introduction of extradition legislation. The authorities were criticised for the heavy-handed nature of their crackdown on protesters, which were backed by Mr Han. The decision to invite Ms O'Neill and Mr Han to the Coronation was made by the Government and not Buckingham Palace. By contrast, Lady Pamela would have been a personal guest of the Royal Family. One of the King's personal secretaries phoned Lady Pamela to apologise, explaining that there was not enough room for everyone. Lawyers may not be penalised if they refuse to prosecute climate protesters, their professional standards bodies have suggested. Some 170 barristers and solicitors signed a 'declaration of conscience' last month, stating that they will not prosecute eco-activists who block roads, vandalise buildings or act for oil and gas companies. Just Stop Oil activists praised the group, which includes high-profile figures such as Jolyon Maugham KC and Sir Geoffrey Bindman, saying the move was a 'major victory'. But the group, called Lawyers Are Responsible, was widely criticised for breaking the 'cab-rank rule' which states that lawyers must take on cases as they are assigned them to ensure fair legal representation. If they refuse to do so, they could face disciplinary proceedings such as being struck off. Some 170 barristers and solicitors signed a 'declaration of conscience' last month, stating that they will not prosecute eco-activists who block roads, vandalise buildings or act for oil and gas companies (pictured: Jolyon Maugham KC, who also signed the declaration) Just Stop Oil activists praised the group, which includes high-profile figures such as Jolyon Maugham KC and Sir Geoffrey Bindman (pictured), saying the move was a 'major victory' Now, in a fresh victory for eco-activists (like Just Stop Oil, pictured), guidance from the Bar Council suggested that barristers should be allowed to refuse to prosecute them Now, in a fresh victory for eco-activists, guidance from the Bar Council suggested that barristers should be allowed to refuse to prosecute them. And the Law Society, which represents solicitors, also published guidelines saying they may choose not to advise on issues that are 'incompatible' with the global warming limits set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement. Stephen Kenny KC, chairman of the Bar Council's ethics committee, said at a meeting on Tuesday that barristers could opt out of the cab-rank rule under rule 21.10 'if there is a real prospect you are not going to be able to maintain your independence'. He added: 'So, if you are genuinely afflicted by conscience, such that you cannot properly do your job as an advocate... you do not have to act. 'We do therefore have a safety valve, within our rules... those who are genuinely afflicted by conscience can choose to rely on rule 21.10.' Paul Powlesland, from Lawyers Are Responsible, said the Bar Council's decision showed the boycott was 'required of us as a matter of professional obligations'. He added: 'We could never maintain our professional independence while knowingly advancing the destruction of the conditions which make the planet habitable. 'Refusing to advance fossil fuel projects, which will lead to mass loss of life, is a matter of conscience. 'Refusing to prosecute those resisting such destruction, who are now being prevented from explaining their position to the jury, in violation of the right to a fair trial, and who are receiving increasingly draconian sentences of imprisonment, is likewise a matter of conscience.' However Nick Vineall KC, chairman of the Bar, stressed that 'barristers are not entitled to refuse instructions merely because they disagree with the views or behaviour of their client'. Pointing out that exceptions were 'rare', he said: 'It has always been the case that, in exceptional circumstances, where a barrister genuinely feels unable to do their job because of a real prospect they may not be able to maintain independence, they should decline a case.' He added that rule 21.10 was 'unlikely to apply ordinarily' to lawyers who have to prosecute climate change protesters but said the Bar Standards Board would look at individual cases. Kirsty Brimelow KC, the chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, said it was vital to protect the cab-rank rule 'from further damage'. She added: 'It is time for egos to be placed to one side. 'The declaration of conscience is an effective protest document and raises an important focus on climate change which is a danger to millions of lives. 'It is unfortunate that this protest has had the effect of hitting at the cab-rank rule. The fundamental of the cab-rank is to provide protection to the most vulnerable and the most despised so that they get legal representation.' Tyson Foods Inc will eliminate about 10 percent of corporate jobs and 15 percent of senior leadership roles, Chief Executive Donnie King told employees Wednesday. The layoffs are the latest cost-cutting move for the biggest US meat company by sales as it grapples with declining profits and struggles to improve results in its iconic chicken business. Discussions with most affected employees are slated to take place this week, King said in a memo to employees seen by Reuters. 'We will drive efficiency by focusing on fewer initiatives with greater intensity and removing duplication of work,' King said. Among those remaining on the board will be company heir John R. Tyson, great-grandson of the company's founder. In November, Tyson was arrested on charges of criminal trespassing and public intoxication. Tyson Foods Inc will eliminate about 10 percent of corporate jobs and 15 percent of senior leadership roles, Chief Executive Donnie King told employees on Wednesday Tyson had about 6,000 US employees working in corporate offices as of October 1 and 118,000 workers at non-corporate sites, such as meat plants and warehouses, according to regulatory filings. The eliminated roles in senior leadership are mostly vice presidents and senior vice presidents, a company spokesperson said. Some corporate employees already left the company after Tyson said in October it was relocating all corporate jobs to its headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas. However, the 10 percent reduction in corporate roles is not related to the relocation, a Tyson spokesperson said. Tyson has shaken up its senior executive ranks as well. The company fired Chris Langholz as president of its international business in August. In September, Tyson said Noelle O'Mara, who led its prepared foods division, had left the company. John R. Tyson, great-grandson of the company's founder, took over as finance chief. The layoffs are the latest cost-cutting move for the biggest US meat company by sales as it grapples with declining profits and struggles to improve results in its iconic chicken business In January, Tyson replaced the president of its poultry business after the company wrongly predicted demand for chicken. The company has struggled for years to improve results in its chicken unit and said in March it will close two US processing plants with almost 1,700 employees. Adjusted earnings of 85 cents per share in the quarter that ended Dec. 31 were down 70 percent from a year earlier. Tyson is set to report its next quarterly earnings on May 8. In November 2022, a woman showed up at her home and found Tyson, 32, in her bed. The stranger, who says she does not know Tyson, found the heir to the billion-dollar food brand fortune asleep in her bed around 2am. The college-aged woman told authorities she thought she had left the front door unlocked. In November, Tyson was arrested on charges of criminal trespassing and public intoxication, but his position will not be eliminated with the layoffs Tyson is seen here at the Washington County Sheriff's Office after being taken in Local television state Fox 24 reported Tyson's breath smelled of alcohol when he was found and he was not able to verbally respond to police. His movements appeared sluggish and uncoordinated, according to the local report. He was seen wearing orange pants and without a shirt on at the Sherriff's office. Tyson was released Sunday evening on a $415 bond. The young Tyson, who is also a lecturer at the University of Arkansas's business school, joined the family business in 2019 after working in investment banking at JP Morgan, as well as in private equity and venture capital. He attended Harvard University for his undergraduate degree and received an MBA from Stanford. The Tyson family are worth an estimated $3.3billion, and the company, started three generations ago, is worth $24billion. According to the Wall Street Journal, he is the youngest CFO serving at a company in the Fortune 500 or S&P 500. The decision to scrap tax-free shopping for foreign visitors has left Britain floundering behind its European rivals, the boss of Marks & Spencer warned yesterday. Stuart Machin said the reimposition of VAT at 20 per cent for overseas shoppers meant London was being held back and left 'on life support'. This week the Daily Mail launched a Scrap The Tourist Tax campaign in support of retailers, urging the Government to rethink its decision not to reverse the measure introduced in 2021 under post-Brexit rules. Businesses including Harrods, Heathrow Airport and Burberry have joined former prime minister Liz Truss and former chancellor Sajid Javid in their opposition. Harrods chief executive Michael Ward warned that the tax system means the 174-year-old department store is having as to 'run three times as fast' to entice Chinese shoppers to return to the UK rather than Paris or Milan after Beijing's easing of Covid curbs. M&S chief Stuart Machin (pictured) said the reimposition of VAT at 20 per cent for overseas shoppers meant London was being held back and left 'on life support' The Daily Mail has launched a Scrap The Tourist Tax campaign in support of retailers, urging the Government to rethink its decision not to reverse the measure introduced in 2021 under post-Brexit rules. Pictured: Oxford Street, London Mr Machin, chief executive of M&S, said a decision to scrap the tax incentive was adding to problems turning the capital's main shopping area into an embarrassment. READ MORE: Big spenders will pick Paris over London if tourist tax remains, says Harrods boss Advertisement In a letter published in London's Evening Standard newspaper yesterday, he said: 'The scrapping of tax-free shopping for international visitors only holds London back further.' He warned that other top cities across the world were beginning to 'thrive again' after the pandemic, but London risked 'falling way behind'. 'It pains me to see our great city like this. For too long now it has been on life support,' he added. Mr Machin also expressed his frustration that Oxford Street where M&S has its flagship store was becoming a 'national embarrassment'. He pointed to a slew of unseemly American-style candy stores and said footfall was still considerably below pre-pandemic levels in the former 'jewel of London's crown'. London's retail hotspots have been hammered by a combination of the economic effects of the pandemic and the soaring energy costs resulting from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Mr Machin warned: 'The economic turbulence of recent years has had a decimating impact on London's retailers, with hundreds of empty buildings and shuttered shops.' Harrods (pictured) chief executive Michael Ward warned that the tax system means the 174-year-old department store is having as to 'run three times as fast' to entice Chinese shoppers to return to the UK He pointed out that 17 buildings were listed for demolition across Westminster, including four on Oxford Street alone. M&S is hoping to demolish the current Art Deco store and build one that would 'revitalise the whole area, making it better for our colleagues, customers and the community, and breathing life back into Oxford Street', he said. Heritage campaigners have protested, saying the building is historically and culturally significant. Mr Machin implored Levelling-Up Secretary Michael Gove to allow M&S to go ahead. 'There's no national levelling-up without a healthy, thriving capital city, and Oxford Street needs this lifeline,' he said. When she took over from Martin McGuinness as the new face of Sinn Fein, Michelle O'Neill was hailed as a clean break from the republican movement's blood-soaked old guard. With her loud outfits, blonde hair and bright lipstick, and an avowed devotion to the peace process, she was held up as a modern leader for the post-ceasefire generation. Ms O'Neill, 46, was not born until five years after Bloody Sunday. And yet there is no getting away from the fact that she grew up in an IRA family. She reveres her late father Brendan Doris as 'a brilliant man' and 'the one involved in politics he was the one I followed'. But while roofer Mr Doris was a local councillor in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, in the Nineties, it was his membership of the IRA's East Tyrone Brigade in the Seventies that led to him being interned. My whole adult life has been building the peace process,' she has said. Attending the King's Coronation, she insists, is part of that The brigade was known locally as the 'A Team', one of the IRA's most professional and effective units, killing dozens in a bombing campaign on Army bases and police stations. Ms O'Neill's cousin Tony Doris, 21, was a part of a brigade 'death squad' preparing to assassinate a high-ranking member of the security forces in 1991 when they were ambushed by the SAS. His headstone states he was 'Killed on Active Service'. Another cousin, Gareth Doris, was part of a cell that hurled a device packed with explosives at a police base in Co Tyrone in 1997. The 19-year-old was shot by anti-terrorist officers, but survived. On Ms O'Neill's first day in the job, she made a rare public relations slip when she expressed empathy for four IRA men who had been shot dead by British troops in her home village of Clonoe in Co Tyrone in the early Nineties. With her loud outfits, blonde hair and bright lipstick, and an avowed devotion to the peace process, Ms O'Neill was held up as a modern leader for the post-ceasefire generation Critics mocked up a photograph of a 'miniature' Ms O'Neill in Gerry Adams' pocket. Adams who has always denied having been a senior IRA commander and McGuinness, who was IRA second-in-command in Londonderry on Bloody Sunday in 1972, were among Ms O'Neill's political mentors. Last year Ms O'Neill was condemned for saying there had been 'no alternative' to IRA violence during the Troubles. She added that 'thankfully, we have an alternative to conflict and that's the Good Friday Agreement', and said: 'My whole adult life has been building the peace process.' Attending the King's Coronation, she insists, is part of that. The family of Randall 'Randy' Cooke, 59, who was murdered while making a delivery as an Uber Eats driver has been remembered as 'the most perfect' person. Cooke was killed by MS-13 gang member Oscar Solis Jr, 30, while making his final food delivery on April 19 in Florida around 6:30 pm, police said. His dismembered remains were later found in trash bags that Solis and another person had removed from the house. Cooke's blood and wedding ring were also discovered in the home. His murder has left the local community in shock, with Cooke described as a devoted family man who worked hard to support their dream of living by the ocean. Melany Dzoba, Cooke's stepdaughter, said he was the 'most perfect man' and 'such a happy guy' who was always trying to have fun. The remains of Randall Cooke, shown here with his wife, Kathy, were found inside Solis' home in trash bags. His wedding ring was also located on the premises, police said Relatives of Cooke, a Florida Uber Eats driver killed by an MS-13 gang member have described him as a hardworking man dedicated to supporting his family Stepdaughter, Brittany Dzoba, tearfully shared how her mother and Cooke had moved to Pasco from Seminole County to be closer to the ocean, reflecting his family's dream of living close to the coast Cooke, pictured with his wife in 2020. She reported him missing after he failed to return home from an Uber Eats delivery. Uber told police Cooke's last reported location was at Solis home 'He was the most perfect man. Such a happy guy. I mean, we all go through our ups and downs. We're all still human, but he just he was always just so happy and just trying to have fun and laugh all the time,' she told WFTS in an interview. Cooke met Dzoba's mother in 2012, and the couple tied the knot in 2020. 'It was a relationship I could always hope for,' she explained. 'Just conjoined at the hip. Soulmates until the very end. 'I still have a voicemail on my phone from last Monday of just his voice and him telling me how much he loves me and how much he's there for me,' she said. Cooke's other stepdaughter, Brittany Dzoba, tearfully shared how he moved to Pasco from Seminole County to be closer to the ocean and fulfil his family's dream of living close to the coast. Randall 'Randy' Cooke was remembered as 'the most perfect man' and a happy person who was always trying to have fun Cooke is pictured with his wife prior to his horrific murder and dismemberment The couple are pictured enjoying Christmas celebrations together. Randall posted about his desire to find a new job in the weeks before his horrific killing Cooke was a graphic designer by trade but also carried out deliveries for UberEats to bring in extra income. 'He just had to do anything he could to make ends meet, you know,' she said. 'Randy just made everything better,' Dzoba said. 'I love my mom to death and I hate to see her like this,' she cried. 'Just knowing that she has to come home every day to her husband not there. They shared so many amazing memories together.' 'There's no way someone in their right mind did something like this. I mean, doesn't make sense. The minor details aren't adding up,' Dzoba said. Solis, who was affiliated with MS-13 in Indiana, had a lengthy criminal record, including resisting arrest together with a charge for stabbing a fellow inmate in prison. He had been released and sent to Florida in January. Solis now faces charges of murder while engaged in a robbery, failure to register as a convicted felon and a parole violation, jail records show. Authorities are still trying to determine the motive for Cooke's murder, and his loved ones remain baffled by the seemingly random killing. Oscar Solis Jr. (pictured left), 30, is charged with killing the 59-year-old driver Randal Cooke (pictured right) during a delivery Wednesday at a home in Holiday, Florida, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said at a news conference 'You're talking about a violent individual that Indiana released and sent down to Florida,' Sheriff Chris Nocco said at a press conference. 'Unfortunately, now we have a hardworking guy, a loving husband, who is no longer with us because this violent individual killed him. All it appears is that this was somebody who is working doing his last delivery of the night, and this person killed him for no reason.' The community has rallied around Cooke's family, with a GoFundMe page set up to help with expenses. The page has raised almost $43,000 in just three days. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office is continuing to investigate the case=, The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Solis worked security at a strip club, according to the affidavit. Evidence collected in the case includes blood discovered in various locations in the house and a key fob belonging to Cooke found on Solis' dresser, on top of his wallet. Solis' roommate gave authorities access to surveillance video which showed Cooke approaching the home to make his delivery. The affidavit also says Cooke's car was found abandoned a short distance away, and inside were a trash bag containing blood-soaked rags and towels, a Door Dash bag like one Cooke carried and an employment time card with Solis' name on it. Investigators also obtained surveillance video from the house showing Cooke making the food delivery and, later, two Hispanic men carrying heavy trash bags outside. Cooke had been reported missing by his wife after he failed to return home. Joe Biden will face fresh questions about his fitness for office after he unwittingly brandished a cheatsheet that contained a vetted question from a journalist. The 80-year-old made his latest gaffe at a joint press conference with South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol to celebrate 70 years of friendship with the United States. The cards, prepared by aides, featured a list of Biden's own senior officials who were taking part in the ceremony at the White House and possible talking points. 'How are YOU squaring YOUR domestic priorities like reshoring semiconductors manufacturing with alliance-based foreign policy?' read the question from Los Angeles Times reporter Courtney Subramanian. It is the latest in a long line of gaffes made by the president since entering the White House in January 2021 Photographers picked up the memo, prepared by aides, that carried instructions on how to answer questions that reporters had provided in advance The long-serving Washington correspondent was one of two journalists called; another reporter demanded to know if the president was too old to run again. It is unclear whether the second question was also prepped for the commander-in-chief. But the president's latest slip-up will further fan criticism that he has rarely allowed himself to be grilled by the media since taking office in January 2021. By contrast, former president Donald Trump regularly appeared at White House press briefings to field questions himself. Biden has made similar mistakes in the past, leaving supposedly confidential notes in the full glare of the media. Photographers caught him revealing a cheat sheet at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, last November that instructed him when to sit and take photos. A close up snap of the President sitting down showed him with a list of instructions that said 'YOU will sit at the center' and 'YOU will deliver opening remarks.' The 79-year-old attended the two-day summit in Bali, Indonesia along with other world leaders. Biden was also caught with a similar note at a June 2022 meeting with wind-industry executives. Biden opens his notes during the press conference with the South Korean President on Wednesday afternoon The two leaders were meeting to celebrate 70 years of friendship between the United States and South Korea The 79-year-old was also instructed to speak to specific attendees, ask them questions and thank them before leaving the room at the June 2022 meeting. President Biden was prompted to wipe a yellow mark from his face during a Zoom meeting with state governors on Friday after a staffer handed him a note saying: 'Sir, there is something on your chin' Then earlier that year, Biden was mocked for using a printed 'cheat sheet' of answers to expected questions when he faced the media to discuss the Ukraine war. The notes read: 'If you weren't advocating for regime change, what did you mean? Can you clarify?' Another read: 'Is this now threatening to splinter unity with your NATO allies?' Biden already had an answer prepared on the printed card: 'No. NATO has never been more united.' And in one embarrassing exchange, an aide asked him to wipe a stain from his face during a Zoom call with state governors in July 2021. He regularly uses cue cards, and they were a permanent fixture of the campaign trail in 2020. But the repeated exposure of his descriptive notes have sparked concerns for his well-being and health. Republican lawmakers have suggested that Biden's apparent decline makes him unfit to serve a second four-year term. Classified documents from Mar-a-Lago contained notes prepared for former President Trump's calls with foreign leaders, according to a letter from Trump attorneys obtained by DailyMail.com in which they also lambasted the Department of Justice for conducting a 'botched' investigation. A scathing letter from Trump's attorneys Timothy Parlatore, Jim Trusty, John Rowley and Lindsey Halligan was sent to House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, Wednesday. They slammed the Department of Justice's handling of the investigation thus far and encouraged Congress to take a more active role in the matter. The letter, first reported by CNN, says that there were 15 boxes from Mar-a-Lago that Trump's attorneys handed over to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in January 2022. Additional documents were seized by the FBI and handed over to NARA after a raid of Mar-a-Lago months laster in August 2022. Two of Trump's lawyers, Trusty and Parlatore, were able to review the contents of the 15 boxes earlier this year and saw 'placeholder pages' where classified materials were removed by the archives. 'The boxes contain all manner of documents from the White House, are loosely grouped by date, and include newspapers, magazines, notes, letters, and daily schedules,' they wrote in the letter. 'Following its review of the materials, NARA inserted placeholder pages where it had removed documents with classification markings.' Trump is being investigated by the Department of Justice for classified documents from his time as president Trump's Mar-a-Lago private home in Florida was raided by the FBI last August Included in the boxes were 'briefings' for the former president's phone calls with foreign leaders, they say. 'The vast majority of the placeholder inserts refer to briefings for phone calls with foreign leaders that were located near the schedule for those calls,' the letter stated. 'This organization of materials (i.e., schedule of calls for the day, insert page for briefing sheet to prepare for the call, newspapers from the same day) indicates that the White House staff simply swept all documents from the President's desk and other areas into boxes, where they have resided ever since.' Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed special counsels to investigate the classified documents taken from Trump and President Biden's residences. Jack Smith, who was appointed to Trump's case, is reportedly close to wrapping up his findings. Classified documents were also found in former Vice President Mike Pence's Indiana home. Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed special counsels to investigate the classified documents taken from Trump and President Biden's residences The Trump lawyers take issue with how each case into Trump, Biden and Pence have been conducted in different manners. 'Please know that despite the differences in the cases, we do not believe that any of these three matters should be handled by DOJ as a criminal case,' the attorneys write. 'Rather, the stakeholders to these matters should set aside political differences and work together to remediate this issue and help to enhance our national security in the process.' 'The solution to these issues is not a misguided, politically infected, and severely botched criminal investigation, but rather a legislative solution,' the letter concludes. 'DOJ should be ordered to stand down, and the intelligence community should instead conduct an appropriate investigation and provide a full report to this Committee, as well as your counterparts in the Senate.' Turner commented on the letter in an interview Thursday, saying the committee already has been investigating the issue. 'Our committee has already been looking at this issue on the misuse of classified documents,' he told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo. 'We had the archivists into our committee to testify, and they actually testified that every administration since Reagan has delivered to them boxes of a mixture of classified and declassified documents unclassified documents that were mixed together. There's been mishandling with a history that goes all the way back to the Reagan Administration.' 'We're looking at how do we change the laws, how do we change the rules, and how do we address this so it doesn't affect future administrations and it certainly shouldn't affect these two,' Turner added. The New Jersey-born rapper faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing: a date has not yet been set A founding member of 90s hip-hop group The Fugees has been found guilty of a multimillion-dollar political conspiracy spanning two presidencies - after Leonardo DiCaprio and former US Attorney General Jeff Sessions testified at his trial. Prakazrel 'Pras' Michel became embroiled in a complex web spun by Malaysian financier Jho Low - who remains on the run and is believed to be living in China. The New Jersey-born rapper, who styled himself as a political activist and connector of influential individuals after the Fugees disbanded, pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, witness tampering and failure to register as an agent of China. He was accused of taking millions of dollars from Low to help him make political connections and influence people, as well as pushing for a New York-based Chinese billionaire ally of Steve Bannon to be handed over to Beijing. On Wednesday, a jury in Washington DC federal court found him guilty of all 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. He faces up to 20 years in prison. No sentencing date has been set. Pras Michel is seen outside court on Wednesday in Washington DC, after a jury found him guilty of charges including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government The 50-year-old rapper, seen on Wednesday, will be sentenced at a later date The defense argued the Grammy-winning rapper simply wanted to make money and got bad legal advice as he reinvented himself in the world of politics. Michel declined to comment after the verdict, but his attorney said he's 'extremely disappointed' in the outcome of the case and plans to appeal. 'We are extremely disappointed in that result but are very, very confident in the ultimate outcome of this case,' his attorney, David Kenner, told reporters outside court, with Michel standing by his side. 'If we do move to a sentencing hearing I remain very confident we will certainly appeal this case. This is not over.' One of Michel's 'missions', on Low's orders, was to convince the U.S. government to hand over a New York-based Chinese billionaire, Miles Guo, to the Chinese authorities. Guo is an ally of Steve Bannon and has now been arrested by U.S. authorities. Low wanted Guo handed over to Beijing as a favor with Chinese leaders, as a form of insurance as U.S. prosecutors began investigating Low's own dealings. Sessions on April 18 told jurors about a pair of high-level meetings where officials discussed the potential deportation of Guo, who eventually became a close associate of Trump adviser Steve Bannon. 'I remember there was a meeting at the State Department. I believe Homeland Security and the Department of Justice were there in their conference room,' the former attorney general said. Sessions was not, however, in a position to testify about Michel's role. 'I don't recall ever having met him,' Sessions said after Michel stood and removed his face mask. Yet Michel had become entangled in the mess. The 50-year-old is accused of accepting $100million from Low, and using his funds in an attempt to influence the administrations of both President Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Low is accused of orchestrating one of the largest financial scams in history. Michel first met the Malaysian financier in 2006, when Low was dropping huge sums of money and hobnobbing with the likes of Paris Hilton. Low helped finance Hollywood films, including 'The Wolf of Wall Street.' Its star, Leonardo DiCaprio, testified on April 3 that Low had appeared to him as a legitimate businessman and had mentioned wanting to donate to Obama's campaign. Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio testified for the prosecution in federal court on April 3 Pras Michel is seen earlier this month near the Washington DC courthouse where his trial is being held Michel, 50, was dapper in his sharply-tailored suit, red tie and pink socks The rapper's trial concluded on Wednesday with a guilty verdict DiCaprio, 48, said that he met and became friends with Low at a birthday party in Las Vegas in 2010. 'I understood him to be a huge businessman with many different connection in Abu Dhabi and Malaysia,' said the actor. The Oscar winner answered questions calmly on the stand and said that in addition to his relationship with Low, he had known Michel since sometime in the 90s, when they had met backstage after a Fugees concert. While he was still riding high, Low was known to throw lavish parties around the world, often featuring celebrity guests. He flew groups on his private jet to events like the World Cup. Michel, testified DiCaprio, was present on some of those trips - one of which included jetting to Australia for New Year's Eve and then jetting to Las Vegas to ring in the New Year a second time. Low built a relationship with DiCaprio via charitable donations to his foundation and eventually offered to provide the primary financing for 'The Wolf of Wall Street.' DiCaprio testified that Low's funding was vetted and he was 'given the green light by my team as well as my studio.' He added: 'He was a legitimate business person wanting to invest in the movie.' On the stand, DiCaprio told the court how Low built a relationship with him through charitable donations to his foundation and eventually offered to provide the primary financing for 'The Wolf of Wall Street' Jho Low alongside Leonardo DiCaprio at the premiere of The Wolf of Wall Street in 2013 Michel, according to prosecutors, became a vessel for Low's stolen millions and his attempts to influence the government of the United States DiCaprio also recalled a conversation during which Low said he intended to make a large contribution to Obama's reelection effort. 'It was a significant sum - something to the tune of $20-$30 million,' he said. 'I said, wow that's a lot of money!' The Wolf of Wall Street had a reported budget of $100million and grossed a total of more than $400million worldwide when it was released in 2013. It was nominated for five Academy Awards and gives special thanks to Jho Low in the credits. The film's production company, Red Granite, agreed to pay the US government $60million but admit no wrongdoing as part of a larger effort by the feds to seize close to $1.7billion in assets allegedly purchased with stolen 1MDB funds. Michel also testified in his own defense. He said Low wanted a picture with Obama in 2012 and was willing to pay millions of dollars to get it. Michel agreed to help and used some of the money he got to pay for friends to attend fundraising events. No one had ever told him that was illegal, he said. Prosecutors said Michel was donating the money on Low's behalf, and later tried to lean on the straw donors with texts from burner phones to keep them from talking to investigators. After the election of Donald Trump, prosecutors say Michel again took millions to halt an investigation into allegations Low masterminded a money laundering and bribery scheme that pilfered billions from the Malaysian state investment fund known as 1MDB. Low is accused of turning the slush-fund budget of the Malaysian government into his personal cash piggybank, selling phony bonds through Goldman Sachs, and using the money to fund a celebrity-filled lifestyle. Low, 41, is believed to be hiding in China so Michel stood trial alone for his involvement in the scam. Pras Michel faces decades in prison at sentencing Jho Low is accused of carrying out one of the largest financial scams in history Michel told Rolling Stone he first met Low at a nightclub in New York City in 2006. Prosecutors allege Michel became involved in a two-part scheme orchestrated by Low, for which he was charged in 2019, court documents show. The first involved a fundraising event for Obama during his 2012 presidential campaign. Michel allegedly reimbursed guests to attend the $40,000-per-head fundraising dinner in an effort to curry favor with the president's administration, and then threatened them to ensure they did not reveal where their funds came from, according to NPR. Michel allegedly funneled a total of $1 million of Low's funds into Obama's campaign, and did it through 20 donors to avoid detection. Those funds allegedly came directly from the cash Low stole from the Malaysian government. The second plot involved Michel helping Low lobby officials in the Trump administration in an effort to end an investigation into Low's business dealings. 'The defendant, Prakazrel [Pras] Michel, received over $100 million from Jho Low, a foreign fugitive responsible for one of the largest embezzlement schemes in history,' prosecutors wrote in court filings. 'To use backchannel influence to convince the then-President of the United States to drop a federal investigation into Low and to agree to the extrajudicial removal of a Chinese exile living in the United States.' Michel is accused of trying to lobby influence with Trump White House advisor Steve Bannon, along with the administration of Barack Obama Pras Michel gained fame in the 1990s with his hip hop group The Fugees Low and Michel met at a nightclub in NYC in 2006. Low is thought to be hiding in China Michel is also believed to have met with a Chinese government official at a Four Seasons Hotel in New York City to organize their efforts in 2017. Chinese officials wanted Chinese financial fraudster Guo - then residing in the United States - extradited back to Beijing. Guo was known to have formed a close relationship with Trump White House advisor, Steve Bannon. In March, Guo was arrested by the FBI for allegedly scamming people out of about $1billion in an online scheme. His New York City penthouse apartment mysteriously caught fire hours after his arrest while agents were searching it. Several people involved in Michel's alleged schemes have already plead guilty or obtained immunity from the government as a part of the investigation, according to NPR. Michel allegedly pocketed between $8million and $40million for his role in assisting Low in the scheme. Vallow and her husband Chad Daybell are accused of killing Tylee and her son JJ and burying them in his yard in Rexburg, Idaho, in September, 2019 Her pelvis suffered deep cuts consistent with blows from a sharp tool, she said Angi Christensen, an FBI forensic anthropologist, told jurors that one of the 16-year-old's bones had damage 'consistent with carnivore scavenging' Lori Vallow's daughter was partially eaten by an animal and her pelvis hacked into with a sharp tool before her corpse was burned, the cult mom's trial heard today. Angi Christensen, an FBI forensic anthropologist, said one of the 16-year-old's bones had damage 'consistent with carnivore scavenging' while her pelvis suffered 'sharp traumas.' Vallow and her husband Chad Daybell are accused of killing Tylee and her seven-year-old adopted brother JJ in Rexburg, Idaho, in September 2019. The State says the couple were doomsday cultists who believed the children were Satanic 'zombies'. The children's bodies were buried in shallow graves in Daybell's yard and were not discovered for almost a year. Tylee's body was so badly burned and dismembered that the coroner was only able to determine she died by homicide without providing the precise cause. JJ had been suffocated with a plastic bag taped over his face. Tylee's remains were sent to bone specialist Christensen for further examination. She took photos of Tylee's pelvis which were displayed in court showing cuts so deep they came out the other side of the bone. Tylee, 16, and JJ, seven, are shown with their uncle, Alex Cox, in what is believed to be the final photo of them, taken during a family trip to Yellowstone National Park on September 8, 2019 Lori Vallow (pictured at a court hearing in 2020) and her husband Chad Daybell are accused of killing Tylee and her seven-year-old brother JJ in Rexburg, Idaho, in September 2019. The State says the couple were doomsday cultists who believed the children were Satanic 'zombies' The kids' bodies were discovered in shallow graves at Daybell's property on June 9, 2020 after they went missing the previous September. Tylee was found in the pet cemetery where a cat and dog had been buried, while JJ was buried close to a tree Vallow, 49, wearing a white blouse and black jacket, cast her eyes downward during the evidence, occasionally whispering to her attorneys. The anthropologist said a sharp tool with a 'small surface area' caused the cuts but was unable to determine the exact tool. Jurors heard earlier that Tylee's DNA was found on a pickaxe and shovel in a shed on the property. Christensen told the Ada County Courthouse in Boise that the teen's bones also suffered thermal damage after her body was burned causing them to turn from a creamy white color to black and tan. Photos were displayed showing Tylee's left and right femur. On the reverse side of one of these thigh bones is where Christensen observed 'carnivore activity'. The court earlier heard from coroner Dr Garth Warren who said he was unable to determine Tylee's exact cause of death because all he received were fragments of her body. 'The cause of death was by homicide but I just can't pinpoint exactly what that was,' he told the court. In JJ's case, Warren determined the boy had been suffocated with a plastic bag which was found duct-taped around the boy's head when detectives dug up his rotting corpse. Vallow and Daybell, 54, are further accused of killing his wife Tammy Daybell who also died of asphyxiation a month after the children were allegedly murdered. The pair, who had been carrying out an affair, married two weeks later in Hawaii. Tylee's autopsy took about a week compared to the four hours for JJ's. Her remains were delivered to Warren in three separate sealed bags. 'Two of the bags were black body bags and the third was a large brown paper bag that was sealed. Within that were five other paper bags. So I essentially received Tylee's remains in multiple different bags,' Warren said. He found Tylee's heart connected to her right and left lung, one kidney, a few small segments of bowel, a portion of a liver and small fragments of brain matter. He was also able to find her pelvis and femur, and portions of skull, including around the eye socket and mouth. Warren told jurors: 'These organs had severe decomposition, significant burning artifacts, they were charred and shrunken. Presumably the rest of the organs burned away or were never found.' He added: 'There weren't nice clean bones. These were bones that had significant artifact secondary to the fire. They were blackened and charred.' Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow in Hawaii in January after they were married. At the time cops were still searching for the kids in Idaho Vallow's children, Tylee and JJ disappeared in September 2019, but their remains were not discovered until the following June. Tylee's body was burned and dismembered meaning the coroner was only able to say she died by homicide but could not state how The children were missing for almost a year before their corpses were found buried in Daybell's yard on June 9, 2020. During the opening, prosecutor Lindsey Blake described how charred remains were all that was left of Tylee. She told jurors: 'You will hear it explained as a mass of bone and tissue. That's what was left of this beautiful young woman.' JJ's body was wrapped in trash bags and duct tape - the tape binding his arms in front of him and wrapping around his head. The two children and Daybell's previous wife Tammy were all killed because they stood in the way of the couple's relationship, the State says. 'Remember, the defendant will remove any obstacle in her way to get what she wants, and she wanted Chad Daybell,' Blake told jurors. 'The defendant used money, power and sex to get what she wanted.' Daybell, 54, and Vallow, 49, are charged with killing the kids after they disappeared in September 2019 Lori Vallow sits between her attorneys for a hearing at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony, Idaho, Tuesday, Aug. 16 JJ, seven, and Tylee, 16, were allegedly killed after their mother took them to live near her future husband Chad Daybell in Idaho Jurors have heard from friends and relatives of Vallow that she and Daybell believed the children were 'dark' and referred to them as 'zombies' before they disappeared. 'The common theme was the body has to be destroyed,' Blake said. 'The defendant and Chad used their self-proclaimed religious teachings to justify their actions to others their actions from affair to murder.' Prosecutors say the couple planned to use life insurance money from Tammy's death, and that Vallow kept collecting and spending the children's social security and benefits after they died. The trial opened on April 10 and the State is expected to rest its case later this week. Daybell is being tried separately. The key individuals in Lori Vallow's tangled family tree, including her five husbands, two dead children and killer brother Prince Andrew was warned it was a 'bad idea' for him to discuss his links with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein on Newsnight, a friend revealed yesterday. Lawyer Paul Tweed said he advised the Duke of York against speaking to the BBC about his links with the convicted paedophile, and then told a senior aide: 'Is he mad? No way, no, no, no.' He said Andrew ignored his advice and 'made his mind up' to tell his version of events to the broadcaster. The disastrous 2019 interview and its fallout effectively ended Andrew's role in public life. The duke admitted he had visited Epstein shortly after the billionaire financier's release from jail for soliciting underage sex, and said that was 'the wrong decision'. Old friends: Lawyer Paul Tweed with the Duke of York Disastrous: Emily Maitlis quizzes Prince Andrew during the now-infamous BBC Newsnight interview He said he did not regret his association with Epstein as it had 'some seriously beneficial outcomes' and gave no apology to Epstein's victims. The interview is now at the centre of a two-part Channel 4 documentary, Andrew: The Problem Prince. The programme includes insights from the Newsnight team which filmed the interview, journalist Emily Maitlis and producer Sam McAlister, lawyers for one of Epstein's victims, and Andrew's friends. He had made up his own mind Mr Tweed, a defamation lawyer and long-standing friend of the duke, said he was told about plans for the interview a month before it was filmed. Speaking to Andrew as a friend, he said: 'Look, that would not be a good idea sir.' He then got a call from Andrew's then-chief of staff Amanda Thirsk, saying the duke had decided to do the interview. Mr Tweed told the Channel 4 documentary: 'I said, 'Is he mad? No way, no, no, no. That's a bad idea. You should not do it'. 'Amanda just said, 'Look, Paul, I've got to go. I'll call you later'. The phone was put down abruptly and that was it. 'So obviously the duke, for better or for worse, had made his mind up. 'He was going to do it. The duke made that decision on his own against most advice.' Mr Tweed said Andrew was 'a very decent, straightforward individual' but believed he had been 'very naive' in his dealings with Epstein. He said the relationship was 'totally ill-judged, totally inappropriate' and he believed Epstein had set up a notorious photo of himself with the duke in New York's Central Park in 2010. Epstein had served an 18-month sentence for soliciting sex from an underage girl in Florida, and had been released from prison just months before Andrew visited him in New York. He was later found dead in his prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Mr Tweed, who has represented Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson in civil litigation, said the effect of the Newsnight interview on the duke and his family had been 'horrendous' but believed he could return to public life, saying: 'I would never say never in any case.' In the Newsnight interview, Andrew denied claims from one of Epstein's victims, Virginia Roberts, that she was trafficked to have sex with him in 2001, when she was 17. He told Ms Maitlis he did not remember meeting Ms Roberts, and he was at a birthday party at a Pizza Express in Woking on the day she said they met. He also denied her recollection of him sweating heavily as they danced at a nightclub in central London, and insisted he had been unable to sweat after an 'adrenaline overdose' during the Falklands War. Andrew paid a reported 9.6million settlement to Ms Roberts after she launched a civil lawsuit in New York accusing him of sexual abuse, although he continues to deny any wrongdoing. Ms Roberts' lawyer Sigrid McCawley said the Newsnight interview gave her a 'roadmap to tear him apart' in the civil claim. Figutres today lay bare how British stores are missing out on millions of pounds from international visitors after the removal of tax-free shopping for overseas tourists. As the campaign to scrap the hated tourist tax widens, data shows how holidaymakers are spending far more on the Continent than Britain. European shops have enjoyed their best month for international spending since the end of the pandemic thanks to a surge in sales from Asian holidaymakers and high demand from US consumers. Sales surged by 40 per cent month-on-month in March this year, taking them to just 21 per percent below March 2019 the highest level in nearly three years, according to research by technology firm Planet. It said the data highlighted the need for the UK to bring back tax-free shopping to help British retailers who are missing out. As the campaign to scrap the hated tourist tax widens, data shows how holidaymakers are spending far more on the Continent than Britain The research also showed that France remains the most popular tax-free shopping market for Chinese shoppers, capturing 54.9 per cent of all their sales across the Continent. Chinese tourists spent an average of 1,537 euros each on tax-free products last month, the figures showed. Meanwhile, a separate study found spending by American tourists in the West End has lagged far behind that in rival European cities this year so far, due to the tourist tax. Over the first three months of 2023, visitors from the US spent only slightly more across Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street than they did in 2019. But in France and Spain, spending levels were more than three times higher than the pre-Covid comparative, according to data company Global Blue. And spending was more than double 2019 levels in Italy and Germany. The data is another sign that Paris, Madrid, Frankfurt and Milan are surging ahead of shopping destinations in the UK. Spending by US tourists in the West End this year so far has been at only 104 per cent of 2019 levels, meaning it is only just in a better position than it was before the pandemic hit. But in France spending was at 313 per cent of pre-Covid levels while in Spain it was 312 per cent for January to March. And Italy was at 243 per cent of its pre-pandemic spend while Germany was at 227 per cent. Dee Corsi, chief executive of the New West End Company, said there was 'a danger' that the shopping heartland could be held back in comparison to Europe on its Covid recovery. She said: 'There is no doubt shopping and tourism in London's West End is climbing back to pre-pandemic levels. 'But there is a danger if the Government does not level up the playing field, we will not realise our full potential on visitor spend against other European cities.' Campaigners from across the retail, hospitality and tourism sectors want Britain to restore the VAT refund for overseas holidaymakers to attract their custom. They fear that the removal of tax-free shopping for international visitors is driving tourists away from London to European cities. This week The Daily Mail launched its 'Scrap The Tourist Tax' campaign in support of business chiefs demanding the Government look again at the policy. Some 110 leading figures have now signed the letter. Senior cross-party politicians have also added their support to the campaign, including Conservative former prime minister Liz Truss and Labour London mayor Sadiq Khan. Luca Cassina, president of retail at Planet, said its data 'highlights the extent to which UK retailers are missing out on international spending particularly from Asian, Middle Eastern, and US tourists with the UK being the only major European market to not currently offer tax-free shopping'. 'Chinese tourists are already returning to Europe, now only second to the US in terms of their Tax-Free spending, and our research shows that almost seven out of ten Chinese consumers would be more likely to visit the UK if a tax-free shopping scheme were available,' he added. 'We continue to encourage the UK Government to work in partnership with the industry and act quickly to reinstate a Tax-Free shopping scheme for overseas visitors. 'This would provide a major boost to the UK's retail sector ahead of the peak summer travel season, helping to put UK retailers back on a level playing field.' Yesterday luxury goods business Halcyon Days warned that customers from the US and China are 'just not shopping because they can get the advantage of going over to Europe and getting the products with the VAT removed'. Its chief commercial officer Rob McFarland told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'They are making choices as to where they make their bigger purchases, and they are going over to Europe to make those purchases.' And Douglas McWilliams, of the Centre for Economics and Business Research, estimated that the UK will lose one million tourists and 3billion of spending this year as a result of the tourist tax. He told the Telegraph: ' Obviously, lots of things have been going on and this is only partial data. 'But it does corroborate my analysis pre-Covid that there would be a very significant loss of tourism and tourist revenue if the VAT export rebate was abandoned.' Driving through gunfire with her four young children in the back of the car, the route to escape from war-torn Sudan was anything but easy for Jennifer McLellan. It was a 'last minute' decision to rush to the Wadi Seidna Air Base as she had only just received a call from officials to confirm they could board a flight to Cyprus, after asking a Scottish MP for help. Accompanied by her husband Mohamed and brother-in-law, the 36-year-old teacher from Islay, Scotland went on to an endure a terrifying trip through Khartoum to asylum. Speaking at Larnaca Airport yesterday, she said: 'We were driving though very dangerous roads and then our tyre blew out. We had no spare tyre My brother-in-law stopped a bus with two young men who agreed for us to pay 200,000 SDG (around 267) to take us to the airbase. 'They were just random and we were terrified, they had just seen an opportunity there were people were stranded and they could make money from it.' The route to escape from war-torn Sudan was anything but easy for Jennifer McLellan A Royal Air Force aircraft carrying British evacuees from Sudan, is pictured at Larnaca International Airport Yet Ms McLellan, who has lived in Sudan for several years, was to be put through even more turmoil before her flight. She added: 'We were going through neighbourhoods because we were local to the area so we were able to avoid many things but as they came out towards the bridge we got caught in some gunfire We were on the opposite side of the road and the bus driver just put his foot down and were going so fast and then we got to the bridge and we had to drive on the wrong side of the bridge.' As of last night, thousands of Brits were still struggling to escape from Sudan. And while hundreds had successfully fled the country, not all were not all quick to praise the Government for its efforts. Hours spent waiting at airfields, a lack of contact from British officials and bureaucratic forms to register their presence in the country are among the most common complaints. The British High Commissioner to Cyprus has since confirmed the online forms are no longer necessary for escape and encouraged any British nationals who wanted to escape to arrive at the airbase. Yet when asked why Britain was not escorting terrified citizens to the airbase, High Commissioner Irfan Siddiq said it was 'not feasible' and that officials needed to 'look at' the safety of its own 'people on the ground'. Yesterday at Stansted Airport nervous families stood anxiously watching arrivals boards. Many said Foreign Office staff had not told them when their loved ones' planes would land or where to meet them. Some clutched bunches of flowers, others held bags of food to give when they arrived. Faida Nemar, from Acton, west London was on the first flight out of Sudan on Tuesday. Accompanied by her husband Mohamed and brother-in-law, the 36-year-old teacher from Islay, Scotland went on to an endure a terrifying trip through Khartoum to asylum She was staying with her daughter in Khartoum when the war started. Clutching a suitcase, she wept as she recalled the devastation. Ms Nemar said: 'They're bombing all the time, just boom, boom, all the time. The house is shaking. 'I saw burnt houses, burnt cars, I haven't seen them but some people say they saw bodies.' Meanwhile, Mohamed El Amein embraced his young daughters at the airport in an emotional reunion. Speaking at Larnaca Airport yesterday, she said: 'We were driving though very dangerous roads and then our tyre blew out'. Pictured: Evacuees at the airport Lamar, 4, and Lujain 6, go to school in Sudan and had been staying with their grandparents at the start of the school holidays when the war started. They had to be evacuated with a family friend their grandparents stayed behind. He wept with relief as his daughters, appearing unfazed, waved at cameras. Mr El Amein said: 'It was very difficult for them... our only option was to get them here to a safe place.' Government officials warned it was 'open season on ministers' last night as Health Secretary Steve Barclay became the latest senior politician to face bullying allegations. He was accused of 'bad behaviour' towards staff in the Department of Health and Social Care since being appointed last summer. The Guardian said officials had 'raised concerns', with civil servants complaining informally to Chris Wormald, the department's permanent secretary. But allies and ex-colleagues of Mr Barclay denied the allegations and suggested civil servants may now feel 'emboldened' to 'go after' ministers they did not like. It comes after Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab quit when a probe found he had upset staff. Government officials warned it was 'open season on ministers' last night as Health Secretary Steve Barclay (pictured) became the latest senior politician to face bullying allegations It comes after Dominic Raab (pictured) was forced to quit as Deputy Prime Minister when a probe found he had upset staff. Sources told The Guardian that Mr Barclay a former Government whip and Brexit Secretary was 'constantly angry' and had 'blasted' staff, who in turn found him 'quite challenging'. One source was quoted saying: 'Barclay's style is very macho... he hauls people over the coals and is a bit unpleasant.' But a source close to Mr Barclay insisted: 'This is all a bit thin. There's been no complaint at any department he's worked in. 'The allegation is completely untrue.' A senior civil servant who worked with Mr Barclay in the Cabinet Office said: 'I do not recognise any of these allegations. 'He was always professional. He set high standards, but he was running a Government department.' Another said: 'This is open season on ministers.' Ex-Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg called Mr Barclay 'effective' and 'tough', adding: 'To translate that into bullying is absurd. Ex-Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictureD) called Mr Barclay 'effective' and 'tough', adding: 'To translate that into bullying is absurd.' 'Dominic Raab's departure emboldened civil servants to go after a government they do not like.' The Health Department said it had not received formal complaints about ministers' behaviour. The 53-year-old is also being sued by a former stripper for unpaid child support It comes after an IRS whistleblower accused the Biden administration of interference Lawyers for President Joe Biden's scandal-hit son Hunter demanded an update in the criminal investigation into his taxes and false statements he made to buy a gun in high-stakes talks with the Justice Department on Wednesday. The federal probe in Delaware, one of many investigations the 53-year-old is facing, has dragged on for five years despite prosecutors saying they have enough evidence to charge him. CNN and CBS reported that his attorneys met with senior Justice Department officials in Washington D.C. on Wednesday - as a new poll was released showing most Americans believe he is getting 'preferential treatment' because of his father and high-profile connections. A special agent for the IRS, the country's tax agency, has sought whistleblower protection from Congress after he alleged the investigation is being mishandled. Hunter Biden, seen here with the president in August last year, has long faced allegations he exploited his family ties for the benefit of his business interests The survey by Rasmussen Reports found that 69% of Americans believe the accusations that he is using family connections to avoid tougher punishment. Findings by the leading polling firm said as many as 48% of the electorate say it is a 'very serious scandal.' But just 40% think that Joe Biden will be impeached over the allegations that he and officials to him are obstructing the work of IRS investigators. The White House has repeatedly denied any interference in the case. Hunter Bidens taxes and foreign business work have been under federal investigation by a federal grand jury in Delaware since at least 2018. House Republicans are also investigating Hunter Biden and his businesses, alleging he raked in millions from foreign governments for his now-defunct investment firm. So far no charges have been filed against the 53-year-old, whose business interests came under the spotlight once more after leaked emails from his laptop emerged online. His membership on the board of a Ukrainian energy company and his efforts to strike deals in China have also sparked claims of influence-peddling. He and the president's sister Valerie Biden Owens traveled on Air Force One on the commander-in-chief's recent visit to Ireland. But staffers inside the Biden administration insisted they took part in no official events during the trip. Hunter Biden was spotted over the weekend at a California vineyard that belongs to uber-rich Democratic donor Joe Kiani, a tech mogul. He was seen with his wife Melissa Cohen and their three-year-old son Beau, plus their taxpayer-funded Secret Service detail. It came as a judge in Arkansas ruled that he must appear in court for a paternity case filed by a former fling, Lunden Roberts. Hunter will also have to submit to a deposition in June in which Roberts' lawyers will likely grill him about his various businesses and shady overseas ventures. Hunter Biden's laptop also included a series of lewd photos and a webcam video of the 53-year-old that portrayed his struggles with flatulence The president's 53-year-old son was spotted at the California vineyard of a major Biden donor They'll also want to know Hunter's finances have cratered while he's selling paintings for up to $500,000 apiece under his new guise as an abstract artist. Roberts, a former stripper, won a reported $2.5 million settlement from Hunter after taking him to court in 2019. She also forced the ex-Navy reservist, booted out of the military in 2014 for testing positive for cocaine, to take a DNA test to prove he fathered their daughter, Navy Joan, during their 2017 fling. Roberts's lawyers say Hunter Biden has not provided 'a single item or word of discovery' in their ongoing child support lawsuit. Independence County Circuit Judge Holly Meyer on Monday ordered Biden to attend court on May 1 because his absence is 'interfering with the process of litigation.' Whistleblower says prison staff had 'blood on on their hands' over treatment Brent Reker was found dead in the Ravenhall Correctional Centre in 2019 A prison whistleblower has shed light on the final desperate days of a notorious Finks bikie boss, Brent 'BJ' Reker, before he was found dead in jail. The 35-year old national president was found hanging at the Ravenhall Correctional Centre in December 2019 after barricading himself in his cell. While his suicide is the subject of a Victorian coronial inquest, a former guard at the jail has told Daily Mail Australia prison staff had 'blood on their hands' over his death. The guard, who wished to remain anonymous, had worked closely with Reker before he hanged himself after being transferred to a unit for troublesome inmates. 'He was a massive, massive suicide risk. He tried to kill himself multiple times while he was at the Melbourne Assessment Prison, and that's a maximum security prison that is run specifically for those with mental health issues,' she said. Reker had become suicidal after the Director of the Office of Public Prosecutions won an appeal in the Supreme Court that saw his bail revoked in February 2019. The bikie had initially been bailed over an alleged bashing, described as a revenge attack over the release of naked photos of his friend Tara Egglestone online. Brent Reker as he looked before having his face inked. Reker had previously spent time in a Perth jail after being convicted of a standover Reker allegedly arranged for Finks bikies to target the home of Nick Gold, whom another co-accused, Tara Egglestone (pictured), claimed he posted naked photos of her online Reker's one year old son Saint had been due to undergo surgery just days after Justice Christopher Beale revoked his bail. 'He was doing really well on the outside. He started addressing his mental health issues, was trying to get out of the club and got into some legitimate work,' the whistleblower said. 'He hadn't done anything wrong. The OPP were just gung ho that he shouldn't have got bail in the first place.' On returning to prison, the former guard claimed Reker was 'livid' with his incarceration. 'He made it very, very clear that any chance he got if he was on his own, that he was going to kill himself,' she said. Last month, the Coroner's Court heard Reker's first attempt saw him try to hang himself using a torn shirt before prison guards cut him down. He attempted suicide again the following day, this time using a smock. Eight days later he threatened to kill himself again. 'Staff identified that Mr Reker had exposed wire from an electric jug in his cell and threatened to electrocute himself by placing the jug in the cell toilet and touching the water,' Senior Constable Nation said. At the time of his death, Reker had been in talks with the Finks to leave the club, find legitimate work and had even begun getting his tattoos removed. The former staffer claimed Reker would use his formidable size to barricade his cell. It was a tactic he used to prevent guards getting to him on the day he ultimately took his own life. 'It wasn't a new strategy that he'd just come up with. They were very well aware that he did those things to the point that he would make it very difficult for officers to enter his cell if they had to get in there,' she said. The former staffer claimed Reker should never have been moved from MAP to the medium security Ravenhall Correctional Centre. Reker, 35, was on remand facing charges over an alleged bashing, described as a revenge attack over the release of naked photos of a woman online Reker (middle) pictured with other members of the Finks motorcycle gang Brent Reker (pictured without his infamous face paint) had been a member of Perth's Rock Machine bikie club before moving to Melbourne and heading The Finks At the time, Reker's life had been at risk over his moves to abandon the outlaw club. 'Ravenhall is great in theory, but a lot of the staff are very young, very inexperienced and it's not very well run in comparison to what it could be,' the whistleblower said. In the days before his suicide, Reker complained of being bored and warned prison staff he would self harm over a cancelled dental appointment. 'Do we have to slash up to get what we want?' he told a guard. Reker later told a prison doctor he and other inmates all planned to 'slash-up' if their demands weren't met. The court heard Reker had been desperate to obtain a prison job and threatened violence if he didn't get his way. Fed up, prison bosses agreed to move Reker to a unit away from other inmates. The proposed move saw Reker swallow shards of metal when guards came to collect him. Upon his move to the Forbes unit, Reker told staff he had no plans to self harm. He was placed under hourly observations, which quickly identified trouble was afoot. The court heard Reker had covered his cell in toilet paper and blocked his cell door with a mattress. When guards rushed around to a rear window to see what was happening inside, they saw a chair wedged in Reker's shower. The court heard guards then forced their way into Reker's cell where they saw him laying on the floor with a ligature around his neck. He could not be revived. Brent Reker made multiple attempts to end his life in prison, the coroner heard The prison whistleblower said Reker ought never have been moved to the unit given his fragile state of mind. 'He should have been in a unit that's monitored 24/7 with no hanging points, without anything that can help him facilitate a suicide and there are those units, they exist and they have inmates in those units all the time in nothing but a gown so they can't use their clothing to hang themselves,' she said. 'There are padded cells, no hanging points, no electrical points - none of that. He absolutely should have been in one of those ... he was a ticking time bomb. 100 percent.' The former staffer claimed most prison guards couldn't care less about the safety of inmantes. 'They see prisoners as scum of the earth and the world would be better off without them, so they have no issue when someone suicides, let alone someone like Brent,' she said. Reker's history of mental anguish was well known to prison staff, the source said. 'The amount of trauma that guy had been through was ridiculous - the things he had experienced and seen as a child was horrendous, so once you put someone that has had those experiences in a confined space, all those things start resurfacing,' she said. 'They become compounded and on top of everything else it's quite an expected reaction for people to not cope well. Add his persona, his reputation - he wasn't going to be the type of person to go lay on a couch and speak to someone about his feelings.' In an interview in 2018, Reker told Daily Mail Australia: 'Bikie clubs are the last stand for human rights in Australia no one is allowed to do anything anymore. 'We - just like everyone else - just want to hang out with our mates and go for a drink on Friday night without being told we can't.' Reker admitted 'the way he looks' often caught the attention of police. Reker was due appear at the County Court on June 29, 2020 for a final directions hearing for his case. The coronial matter will return to court next month. A spokesperson for GEO Group Australia, which operates Ravenhall, said it was limited in what could be said while the matter was the subject of a coronial inquest. 'GEO extends its condolences to Mr Reker's family,' she stated. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) The Repair Shop's Jay Blades MBE and former Coronation Street actor Tracy Brabin are among the lucky people showing off their invitations to King Charles' Coronation. Charity fundraisers and a priest have also taken to social media to announce they have been selected to attend the historic event on May 6. Invitees have shared images of the ornate invite received in the post, saying they feel 'blown away' to be included. Taking to his Twitter and Instagram accounts yesterday, presenter and furniture restorer Jay Blades, 53, encouraged his followers to give their thoughts on his invite. Father-of-three Jay, who is now based in Ironbridge, Shropshire, after growing up in poverty in Hackney, is Co-Chair of Heritage Crafts Association (a national charity aiming to safeguard craft skills), of which King Charles is President. The duo also hit it off after the monarch appeared on The Repair Shop in 2022 as part of a special episode to mark the BBC's centenary celebrations. After cracking jokes together, excited fans labelled them 'the double act we didn't know that we need'. The Repair Shop's Jay Blades MBE has revealed he's been invited to the King's coronation (pictured together on the BBC programme in 2022) Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin, who previously played Tricia Armstrong in Coronation Street tweeted a video of herself opening up the special envelope. 'Special delivery this morning...,' she tweeted. 'What an honour to be invited to represent #WestYorkshire at the Coronation of King Charles lll and Camilla.' Max Woosey, 13, who spent three years sleeping in a tent in his Devon garden - through rain, sleet, snow and storms - and raised 700k in the process for his local hospice spotted a special tweet on the Royal Family Instagram account. The tweet showed a Coronation invite with his name on it. 'Now it feels really real! Obviously Mums crying again. (Probably because its Dads name on it not hers) #coronation.' Row Aurora, which raises money and awareness for the Big Purple Pants charity, also posted an image of an excited Dawn Wood opening up her invite on Instagram. 'BOSH!!! The invite to Westminster has landed! Dawn has had the OFFICIAL word from her new besties King Charles III and Queen Camilla that they want her at their big party! 'Last year Dawn was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to Maritime Policing, and so has been invited to the Coronation!' The post added: 'HUGE congratulations to Smithy for this brilliant achievement. Now she just needs just find a posh frock for the occasion....but she has a cunning plan for this...more on this later in the week!' Joanne Gates BEM, who was awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Years Honours List 2021, will also be among the lucky attendees. The Store Manager for Co-op Hall Street in Stockport tweeted: 'A surreal moment receiving the most beautiful invitation in the post. So many emotions but still can't quite believe I've been invited by the to attend the King's Coronation. Put a smile on my face after work.' Max Woosey who spent three years sleeping in a tent to raise money for his local hospice has been invited Have you got an invite? Contact tips@dailymail.co.uk and danya.bazaraa@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement Reverend Matthew Price, who has been vicar of Gorleston's Mary Magdalene church since 2018, was delighted to receive the invitation from Buckingham Palace. He told People: 'I received an email a few weeks ago so I knew it was coming, but I was blown away by the beauty of the invitation when it arrived it's stunning!' 'The idea of being there in person is just extraordinary it's a moment in history, something we haven't seen for 70 years!' Rev Price became a British Empire Medal recipient in 2020 for his tireless work in the community during the Covid pandemic. Also among the lucky people to get an invite is Rhian Manngings. Ms Mannings MBE is a Pride of Britain Award Winner and CEO and founder of 2wish charity, which offers support for those affected by sudden death in young people. 'So its official Today I received the most beautiful invitation for the Kings Coronation,' she tweeted. 'Blown away and truly humbled to have been chosen. There was only one thing for it. 'A special invite to be opened by the most two special people.' Reverend Matthew Price became a British Empire Medal recipient in 2020 for his tireless work in the community Rhian Mannings feels 'blown away' to have received an invite to the Coronation * Have you received an invite? Contact tips@dailymail.co.uk and danya.bazaraa@mailonline.co.uk A cosh used by Queen Victoria to bash salmon on the head to kill them for a Royal feast is up for sale. The monarch was a keen angler and there were rumours about her close friendship with 'ghillie' John Brown, a Scotsman who often accompanied her on fishing trips to famous salmon rivers like the Dee. A collection of fishing coshes, known as 'priests', including hers, is now on the market after being acquired by a New Forest antiques dealer. The collection of 97 priests - used by anglers to kill their catches for the table - includes the oldest known example in the world, inscribed with the date 1718. This cosh once used by Queen Victoria to bash salmon on the head to kill them is up for sale The Queen famously enjoyed fishing trips in Scotland with husband Albert, and later her fishing guide, or ghillie, John Brown The value of the priests ranges from about 20,000 for the rarest and most desirable to a few hundred pounds. They are being sold as a collection with a guide of 67,000. It took avid collector Dave Watson 50 years to put together the collection, which is now owned by antiques dealer Charles Wallrock, owner of Wick Antiques in Lymington. Queen Victoria's priest has a narwhal ivory head engraved with the initials 'VR' and a crown with a rosewood shaft. The Queen famously enjoyed fishing trips in Scotland with husband Albert, and later her fishing guide or 'ghillie' Brown. The priest has the patina - the name the layer of green film that builds up after years of use - to prove it was used. The oldest known priest in the collection is inscribed with the date 1718 and the initials 'IN' with a pewter band around the end which also shows it has been used. Few historic priests - so called because they administer the 'last rites' to a fish - have survived because they were broken or thrown away. Most priests have a heavily-weighted business end, often a lump of lead hidden inside the wood, to bash the fish on the head. Mr Wallrock said: 'When the collection became available through a recent private sale I instantly wanted it because it's unique and, in my opinion, the finest collection of its type. 'It gives a glimpse into the past and would be a dream to own for an antique fishing tackle collector. Queen Victoria's priest has a narwhal ivory head engraved with the initials 'VR' and a crown. The shaft is made of rosewood Queen Victoria pictured at Balmoral with servant, ghillie and friend John Brown in 1863 Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their children are depicted on a family fishing trip in the 1850 painting 'The Royal Anglers on Virginia Water'. The lake is in Surrey 'These are beautiful and tactile objects which are so similar to each other but at the same time so different. 'Each is unique and they display a huge variety of materials with beautiful woods including ebony, laburnum, walnut, boxwood, yew, ash, and lignum vitae. 'Some have ends made from whale bone, antler or narwhal tusk, and others have metal ends and some have metal inserted in the end to add weight. 'They're probably all British and are beautifully turned and made by genuine craftsmen to last.' Jo Hansford has worked with Camilla for 35 years and others including Liz Hurley Her stylist disapproves of grey hair, claiming it changes how people treat you Across the country, women of a certain age are ditching their hair dye and wearing their silver locks proudly. But Queen Consort Camilla is unlikely to embrace going grey any time soon if her colourist, Jo Hansford, has anything to do with it. Ms Hansford, who has worked with Camilla for 35 years, disapproves of grey hair, claiming it's 'mumsy' and changes how you are treated by people. The businesswoman, whose clients have also included Angelina Jolie, Elizabeth Hurley and Richard Burton, told BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour: 'I hate grey. 'You don't need to be grey any more. We have the best products in the world now. You can look beautiful and much younger, ten years younger, if you don't have grey hair.' Camilla's stylist Jo Hansford has revealed that the Queen Consort won't be going grey any time soon if she has anything to do with it Ms Hansford (pictured), whose clients have also included Angelina Jolie, Elizabeth Hurley and Richard Burton, has worked with Camilla for 35 years She claimed only 'very glamorous' people with a 'sharp haircut' and 'beautiful silver white hair' can carry off the look. Otherwise, she said, grey hair looks 'mumsy'. She added: 'People look at you in a different way. They talk to you in a different way... like you're an old person.' Ms Hansford runs a team of 90 across two salons in west London, one in Mayfair and another at Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge, which is also home to a blow dry bar. She was made an MBE in 2010 for outstanding service to the hairdressing industry. Referring to the Coronation, she said Camilla would look her best but worried about how the crown might affect her hair. She added: 'I think she'll look gorgeous. 'I think she's nervous, like any other person would be nervous, but I'm sure her hair will look the same as it always does, and it does look good now. 'In photos it looks so much better, the colour, because it's softer and warmer. 'The difficulty will be putting the crown on without changing the style. How that happens I don't know. I won't be there I'll be watching it on the telly.' The Stone of Destiny an oblong block of sandstone will be under the Coronation chair where King Charles will be sitting when he's officially crowed in ten days' time. Also known as Stone of Scone, it's long been an ancient symbol of the Scottish and British monarchy, used since the 1300s for the inauguration of kings and queens. While the stone's origins are unclear, some place them in Biblical times and identify it as the Stone of Jacob, taken by Jacob from Bethel while on the way to Haran in the Middle East, as told in the Book of Genesis. But an academic has poured cold water on this theory, arguing that it's 'highly doubtful' the one used in the Coronation is the 'original' from the Holy Land. The original relic could have been swapped by the Scots before it was stolen by the English in 1296, as some believe. The Stone of Destiny - an oblong block of sandstone - will be under the Coronation chair where King Charles will be sitting when he's officially crowed on May 6 The Stone of Destiny was returned to Scotland in a ceremony in November 1996 after being in England for the previous 700 years. It was placed into an adapted Land Rover that was driven through the streets in front of spectators Professor Ian Bradley, a professor of cultural and spiritual history at the University of St Andrews, says the object is made of a type of sandstone that is 'unknown' in the Middle East but 'relatively common' around Scone in Perthshire. What is the Stone of Destiny? The Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, is an oblong block of sandstone with great religious and historical significance. Legend has it that it started life as the stone pillow on which Jacob slept when he had his dream of the ladder leading up to heaven as described in Genesis 28:12-17. It has featured in the coronation of every English sovereign, with the exception of Mary I and Mary II, since 1307. In 1296, English king Edward I looted the stone (from Scone Abbey) in 1296 and brought it to London. 700 years later, it was returned to Scotland. Advertisement Scone is the location where English king Edward I looted the stone (from Scone Abbey) in 1296 and brought it to London and some think Edward was fobbed off with a fake. The stone is being moved from Edinburgh Castle to Westminster Abbey ahead of the coronation of King Charles III on May 6. 'Edward seized it as part of his bid to annex the Scottish crown to that of England, reckoning that its possession made him the legal king of Scotland and that any subsequently elected Scottish king would be a usurper and not properly crowned,' Professor Bradley writes in the new issue of the Church of Scotland's Life and Work magazine. 'The sandstone of which it is made is of a type relatively common around both Scone and Dunstaffnage but unknown in the vicinity of Tara or in the Middle East.' Professor Bradley described the theory of Edward being fobbed off with a fake as 'interesting', but that 'we just dont know' for sure. 'I think it probably was the genuine stone that had been used for Scottish crownings that he took,' he told MailOnline. Legend has it that the Stone of Destiny started life as the stone pillow on which Jacob slept when he had his dream of the ladder leading up to heaven as described in Genesis 28:12-17. According to various accounts, it made its way to Egypt and Spain and then Ireland, where it was sited at Tara, the holy hill on which Ireland's high kings were crowned. It somehow ended up in Scotland, where it allegedly went from the colony of Dal Riata to Dunstaffnage Castle near Oban and then around 840 it was moved to Scone in Perthshire. It was seized by Edward I's forces from Scone during the English invasion of Scotland in 1296. 'Before its spiriting away by the "Hammer of the Scots", as Edward was known, it played a key role in the coronation of Scottish kings for at least 400 years,' Professor Bradley says in his article. The Coronation Chair, containing the Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, in Westminster Abbey, London. The ancient symbol of Scotland's monarchy, a large rectangular block of sandstone weighing more than 150kg, was seized by Edward I of England in 1296 The Stone Of Destiny returned to Edinburgh back in 1996 (pictured) in recognition of 700 years since it was taken by English king Edward I The stone has featured in the coronation of every English sovereign, with the exception of Mary I and Mary II, since 1307, according to the academic. READ MORE: Stone of Destiny theft in 1950 sparked one of the biggest manhunts in British history The stone was finally found safe in April 1951 Advertisement On Christmas Day in 1950, it was stolen by four young Scottish robbers who snuck into Westminster Abbey by a side door. But, being unprepared for its heftiness it weighed 24 stone the activists dropped it and it broke in two when it hit the floor. The stone was finally found safe on the altar at Arbroath Abbey, draped in a Saltire, in April 1951. It was returned to Westminster Abbey soon after, and when Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953, it was there beneath the Coronation Chair, like her father before her. Whether or not the sandstone slab under King Charles on May 6 does originate from the Middle East, Professor Bradley says it carries a 'huge weight of religious symbolism'. He adds that we 'should perhaps not let hard facts get in the way of legend and myth' as we commence our Coronation celebrations. 'The Stone of Destiny symbolises the sacred character and history of monarchy in the British Isles and illustrates the considerable efforts which have been made to connect it with Old Testament kingship and biblical narratives,' he says. The Daily Mail's original coverage of the theft of the stone reported how the border between Scotland and England was closed for the first time in 400 years The historic Stone of Destiny will be moved from Edinburgh Castle for the Coronation of King Charles III. Pictured here on view to the Press at Edinburgh Castle in the Crown Room, where it has been on display since its return in 1996 On the orders of the Government, the stone was officially returned to Scotland in 1996, in recognition of 700 years since it was taken by Edward I. That November, it was driven from London to Scotland using both police and Army vehicles before being paraded in front of a 10,000-strong crowd up the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle. It has since been on display at the Crown Room in Edinburgh Castle, although it is being or very recently has been transported to Westminster in time for the Coronation. Exact timings of the carefully planned military operation to move it have been kept secret to prevent any risk of hijacking. King Charles is reported to have said he would have been perfectly happy with the Stone of Destiny staying in Scotland, but Downing Street insisted it travel south to Westminster Abbey. BeReal previously owned this right to photos for up to 30 years, it was claimed BeReal has the right to put your photos on billboards and adverts if it chooses BeReal has taken the world by storm since its launch in 2020, with millions eagerly sharing just one unfiltered photo everyday. But cybersecurity experts warn the platform is plagued with privacy concerns, allegedly owning the rights to your photos for three decades. The claims come as antivirus firm Avast took a closer look at the often brushed over terms and conditions of BeReal. Scarily, the platform owns the right to 'modify', 'publish' and 'display' your photos in any way it likes - whether it be on billboards, the Apple store or other adverts. While privacy settings must be switched off for this to occur by default, 'friends only' photos can be used for marketing too, providing you gave consent. BeReal has the right to put some of your photos on billboards and adverts if it chooses BeReal's concerning Terms and Conditions BeReal previously had the right to use your publicly shared photos for 30 years, it has been alleged These can be used in adverts and put on billboards. They can also be shared with other companies and individuals. This is provided that the photos were 'globally shared' rather than shared with just friends Geolocation and the 'Discovery' section could potentially be misused for stalking Timer-based photoshoots could accidentally reveal private information Rushed photoshoots could also be abused by scammers if they find useful personal information Advertisement As a result, any so-called 'globally shared content' can be distributed non-exclusively and 'worldwide' without royalties. Content can also be made available to 'other companies, organisations or individuals' for any other media purpose or service. Similar conditions are also listed in the terms of other platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Last year, Avast's former Global Head of Security, Jeff Williams, alleged that BeReal's photo licence could last for up to 30 years. However, this is no longer part of BeReal's terms of service. 'Imagine your most compromising and embarrassing moment being attached to an ad campaign to your friends or to content which goes viral and garners millions of viewers,' he said. 'Thirty years is largely forever in internet time and potentially covers 60+% of someone's career years. This seems to be a particularly long grant of rights with exceptionally broad permissions for use.' BeReal was launched three years ago as a way for social media users to post unfiltered photos of themselves once a day. It has often been dubbed the 'anti-Instagram', with users only given two minutes to take a snap at a random time of day, leaving no time to overthink. While BeReal positively advocates for people to be their true selves, it is this very thing that Avast sees as a potential danger to users. Cyber security experts warn that BeReal users could unknowingly reveal private information when rushed to take a quick picture against the clock BeReal's Terms of Service: Any so-called 'globally shared content' can be distributed non-exclusively and 'worldwide' without royalties. This is the alternative to 'friends only' content What is BeReal? BeReal was created by Alexis Barreyat, a developer based in Paris. The premise is simple - everyday at a different time, users are notified to capture and share a photo in two minutes. Users must use the in-app camera, which simultaneously snaps a photo with the front and rear facing cameras. Like other social media apps, you can follow friends and see their photos in your main feed. Alternatively, you can search through a Discovery page, where you can explore photos taken by users you do not follow. If you miss the two minute window, you can post late, but can't see your friends' photos until you post your own. Advertisement Mr Williams also said that users could unknowingly reveal private information when rushed to take a quick picture against the clock. This could be anything from personal objects, to the layout of a home or even the private contents of a company computer. To top it off, pictures of people from outside your friendship group are often visible in the 'Discovery' section of the app. If location tracking is still switched on, Mr Williams suggests the app could potentially be misused for stalking or profiling. 'This model can result in sharing sensitive information such as the contents of a computer screen or on a company whiteboard, or privacy invasive photos of people who have not opted-in to the service and who may have a right to an expectation of privacy,' he said in 2022. Jake Moore, Global Security Advisor at ESET, also flagged concerns that rushed photoshoots could be abused by scammers to target victims. He said: 'The urgency which fuels BeReal's unique selling point forces people to post images quickly. Urgency is also a tactic used by scammers to prey on their victims in the hope they may click before they think. 'Users must therefore remember they are potentially sharing very personal data with the world, especially when they are not in control of when they take the photo so this image could capture anything that is around them in that moment from both cameras on the device.' Aside from its privacy concerns, Avast claims that BeReal lacks sufficient moderation, which could potentially give rise to harmful content. While BeReal does not tolerate child sexual exploitation, hate speech, illegal activity and bullying, it is up to the user to flag this. Avast's Global Head of Security, Jeff Williams said: 'Imagine your most compromising and embarrassing moment being attached to an ad campaign' (file image) In its terms of service, BeReal says: 'We are not under an obligation to monitor the Content people share through out Services. 'Nevertheless, we want our Services to be a place where people can have and express their real selves while feeling safe.' Even though users can be 13 years old to join BeReal, there are also no parental controls on the app either. Mr Williams continued: 'It's been called out in the press repeatedly that Meta does an inadequate job of content moderation and that's with throwing hundreds of people at the problem. 'I'd think that BeReal isn't going to make anywhere near that investment. So, the result is likely to be that everything bad you've ever heard about a lack of content moderation on Facebook, you're going to see even more of on BeReal.' Mr Moore added: 'App terms are lengthy and can often be confusing so people just tend to quickly click to accept them in order to use the app. However, these terms are often filled with conditions where you hand over certain rights and sensitive identifiable information.' A BeReal spokesman stressed that the platform takes user privacy very seriously, with an easier-to-read version of its terms launched just this week. It said that content on the platform can only be used for promotional purposes in limited circumstances, adding that users have the right to request it is not used. BeReal claims its general practice is to reach out to any user beforehand and ensure they are comfortable with their content being distributed. If a user is uncomfortable with this, BeReal claims that it respects their wishes and does not rely solely on its terms. The platform also stated that it has a global support team working 24/7 to respond to user concerns, similar to that used by Quora and Vevo. This is said to be an area of continued investment as BeReal upsizes its team to ensure all concerns are responded to. Mojave Max emerged from his winter burrow in the Las Vegas desert, signaling that sprung has sprung in the region. The tortoise is Sin City's version of a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania, which locals rely on to know when warmer weather is settling in. Max appeared with its burrow-mate on April 24 at 3:40pm PST at the Springs Reserve, marking the earliest escape from his winter abode in 23 years. Warmer temperatures, longer daylight hours, and the tortoise's internal clock are factors known to contribute to his emergence every year. Officials at Spring Preserve in Nevada announced Mojave Max and his burrow-mate have emerged from their winter home - the earliest in 23 years In Las Vegas, where the threatened species' reptilian winter rest is called brumation, the earliest a Mojave Max has emerged since 2000 was a little before noon on Feb. 14, 2005. The latest had been April 17, 2012. Three male tortoises have been born to the moniker Mojave Max. Today's Max is marked with a radio-transmitting device attached to his shell. The tortoise seen with Mojave Max on Monday does not have a name. Biologists at the Springs Preserve think this year's exceptionally cold winter that brought frequent rain and abundant snow to mountains in the West also kept the desert surface cool later into the spring, Springs Preserve spokesman Tom Bradley Jr. said Tuesday. 'It's taken longer for the soil in the burrow to warm,' Bradley said. 'Once it finally warmed up, Max came out.' Springs Preserve consists of 180 acres dedicated to nature walks and displays and is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Valley Water District. The desert tortoise is considered a keystone species and an indicator of the health of a fragile desert ecosystem. Warmer temperatures, longer daylight hours, and the tortoise's internal clock are factors known to contribute to his emergence every year The tortoise is Sin City's version of Punxsutawney Phil (pictured) in Pennsylvania, which locals rely on to know when warmer weather is settling in The habits and habitat of Mojave Max are studied by children at Clark County public and private schools, where officials say more than 4,200 students in grades K-5 entered this year's contest to guess the day the tortoise would emerge. Officials said a winner of the 23rd annual contest will be announced soon. Punxsutawney Phil, Pennsylvania's version of Mojave Max, predicted there would be six more weeks of winter when he saw his shadow on February 2. However, a report from Accuweather released 22 days after Groundhog Day showed that millions of Americans from Texas to New York are experiencing their earliest spring in decades as temperatures remain well above historical averages. The weather organization noted that the prediction was made a day before Phil called for six more weeks of winter. Data from Yale shows that March 2023 was Earth's second warmest March on record. 'The only warmer March in all three databases was 2016, near the end of the record-strong 2014-16 El Nino event,' reads the report. NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information reported on April 13 that temperatures were 2.23 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century average. Imagine being in a country where you can travel from end to end without paying a penny. Meet the first country in the world to provide public transport for everyone, to everywhere absolutely free: heres to you, Luxembourg. And while this was a domestic initiative designed to get cars off the road, the end result is a boon for tourists. Luxembourg is landlocked by France, Germany and Belgium, and is such a tiny dot on the map (the countrys roughly the size of Dorset) that sometimes its hard to even spot. The Dutch, Belgians and French have long been coming here, but British holidaymakers traditionally have stayed away. One look at Luxembourg City and its clear weve been missing out. The hilly capital teeters around and inside a ravine. Its a colourful jumble of gothic steeples, turrets and pastel painted houses, which cling to the gorges sheer sandstone walls all the way down to the river. There is a glass lift to whisk you up and down free to use, naturally so you can enjoy the view. Luxembourg is landlocked by France, Germany and Belgium, and is such a tiny dot on the map (the countrys roughly the size of Dorset) that sometimes its hard to even spot. Above is Luxembourg city 'One look at Luxembourg City [above],' writes Jo Kessel, 'and its clear weve been missing out' Luxembourg has had a tumultuous past. Over the centuries its been fought over and ruled by the French, the Habsburgs and the Dutch and it wasnt until 1867 that it finally gained independence, although it lost a lot of land to its neighbours. Instead of having a monarch as head of state, the country has a grand duke, which makes Luxembourg the worlds only grand duchy. The current Duke, Henri, is 68 and took over when his father abdicated in 2000. His palace (complete with marching soldiers) is built on a plateau. Hes home, says my guide, pointing to a parked Tesla. It takes an hour to drive from Luxembourgs top to bottom, so instead of dragging my suitcase about, Ive planned day trips from the capital. My hotel is in the hilltop Kirchberg district, next to the Mudam museum of modern art and opposite the European Court of Justice. From the airport it had been an easy bus journey and its a five-minute tram-ride from Kirchberg to town. But will venturing beyond the capital be as straightforward? The first day is textbook. A tram then bus deliver me to the Moselle region, where terraced vineyards rise from the river. Schengen is the famous tripoint where three countries meet. Walk from here across the bridge and youll find yourself in Germany. Turn right and youre soon in France. This builds up a thirst and the Domaine L&R Kox winery offers tastings. Their riesling and pinot noir slip down nicely, but its the 22-a-pop 2014 sparkling cremant which steals the show its elegant, dry and dances on the tongue. Jo visits Vianden Castle (above), a fairytale chateau perched on a hill Above is an aerial view of Esch-sur-Sure. Luxembourg packs a mighty punch, says Jo Imagine being in a country where you can travel from end to end without paying a penny - that's Luxembourg Luxembourg is one of the world's best-ever freebies, declares Jo. Above is Adolphe Bridge and Constitution Square in Luxembourg city To the north I enjoy visits to Vianden Castle (a fairytale chateau perched on a hill) followed by Edward Steichens Family Of Man photography exhibition. My final adventure involves a hike in the east, where forests look almost extra-terrestrial. Gargantuan 200 million-year-old rock stacks soar between trees and the 70-mile Mullerthal hiking trail undulates between them. For one of Europes smallest countries, Luxembourg packs a mighty punch. It has culture, castles and vineyards, as well as some of the most unique hiking terrain. Better still, it can now be explored for absolutely nothing. No paying to get on a bus, no worrying youve bought the right ticket its one of the worlds best-ever freebies. An unearthed tweet from 2015 also reveals that Todd branded his then-daughter-in-law a 'fame seeking w***e' and an 'ashy-skinned h*' The former reality star - whose wife Julie was also jailed for her role in the fraud scheme - threatened to sue Lexi in voicemails obtained by DailyMail.com Disgraced reality star Todd Chrisley lashed out at his son Kyle's black ex-wife Alexus Whilby in a racist tweet and threatening voicemail messages, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. In April 2015 - one year after Alexus, 31, married Todd's then estranged son Kyle, 32 -the 53-year-old - who is currently serving a 12-year jail sentence for tax fraud - called his then-daughter-in-law a 'fame seeking w***e' and a 'tired a** ashy-skinned h*' in a since-deleted post on Twitter. Two years later, Todd left Lexi - who married Kyle four years after Kyle had his daughter Chloe with his ex-girlfriend Angela Johnson - several threatening voicemails, which have been obtained by DailyMail.com. In the voice messages, Todd is heard accusing her of lying about having a $100 million trust fund, while stating that he was going to 'get a part of it', after he discovered that she had aided the Georgia Department of Revenue in its investigation into his tax fraud scheme. In one recording, Todd said that he was suing Lexi to 'force her to do the right thing and acknowledge what she's done.' He then took his insult further by telling her to call her 'brothers' and to 'find out about that fake trust you got that has that $100 million dollars in it, because I am coming to get a part of it.' Todd Chrisley sent his black daughter-in-law Alexus Whilby (pictured with her ex-husband Kyle Chrisley) a racist tweet and left her threatening voicemails, DailyMail.com can reveal Todd, 53 (pictured in 2017) wrote that Alexus was a 'tired a** weave-wearing ashy-skinned h*' in a since-deleted tweet that she shared with DailyMail.com 'To see a grown man and public figure, who is the grandfather to a beautiful black child say those horrible things was shocking,' Alexus (pictured in 2022) said of Todd's messages Todd blasted Alexus in a racist tirade in 2015 that was captured in a screenshot and sent to DailyMail.com Alexus divorced Kyle, who was arrested for aggravated assault last month, in 2018. Now, she has spoken to DailyMail.com exclusively about the racism she says she faced at the hands of her former father-in-law during her marriage and in the wake of her divorce from Kyle. 'To see a grown man and public figure, who is the grandfather to a beautiful black child say those horrible things was shocking,' Alexus says, referring to Kyle's half-black daughter Chloe, 10, who was adopted by Todd and Julie in 2017 from Kyle and Chloe's biological mother, Angela Johnson. Alexus, who now works as an account executive while raising a three-year-old daughter, says she believes that the Chrisley Knows Best patriarch's 12-year prison sentence - which he began on January 17, is 'karma' for his past behavior towards her. 'I endured the bullying comments for years in silence, but Karma dealt with it so that I didn't have to,' she said. On December 11, 2014, Todd told fans on Twitter from his handle @toddchrisley, 'Folks. Alexus Whilby tried to extort our family for $20k or tell the press that we are racist.' 'We chose to keep the $20k and see her in court. Fans commented on the post, which is still up on Twitter, with support, which included 'You are so not racist.' Alexus, however, insisted to DailyMail.com, that the so-called 'extortion' never happened and there was no lawsuit. Instead, she says she was helping to financially support Kyle, who was estranged from Todd at the time. Todd threatened Alexus (pictured in 2013 with her then-husband Kyle) in a series of voice recordings obtained by DailyMail.com. In them he blasted her financial situation Todd and wife Julie Chrisley, 50 (with kids Kyle, Lindsie, 33, Savannah, 25, Chase, 26, and Greyson, 16, in a season one photo) are serving a combined 19 years in prison for tax fraud After she spoke out to deny Todd's allegations, the former reality star took to Twitter again to blast Alexus in two hateful tweets posted in April 2015, which he has since deleted from his account. This time, he addressed her in a tweet that included three other handles - @mikeymccutey1, @blairehanks and @lukecombsmusic. According to Alexus, with the exception @blakehanks, they are fake accounts created by Todd who used them to post anonymously on Twitter. The first handle has only tweeted twice and the last one no longer exists. The tweet read: 'Alexus Whilby stop being silly [you] fame w***e. [You] can't count high enough to reach me.' Todd wrote. On the same thread, Todd added, 'Bye you tired ass weave wearing ashy skinned h*. [you are] blocked now. We are bored with pity for [you].' DailyMail.com has also exclusively obtained voice recordings in which Todd threatened Alexus after she spoke to the Georgia Department of Revenue in 2017. 'I have an email Alexus where you are sending an email to Katie (from Georgia Department of Revenue) telling her that had you known that they would not protect you and your other partners in crime that you would have never done this and that you need protection,' Todd said in one recording. 'No darling, you don't need protection, you need an attorney. Call your brothers and find out about that fake trust that you got that has that $100 million dollars in it because I am coming to get a part of it.' Todd threatened Alexus again in a separate recording. 'I want to make sure that everyone knows that my lawsuit against Alexus Whilby is not a vendetta. It's about forcing her to do the right thing and acknowledge what she's done and that will happen through her attorneys. If she has one, if she will pay them.' Todd continued, 'We are still waiting for a response from her attorney now regarding her divorce. And we can't seem to get a response, so normally when people don't respond to you it is because they haven't paid their attorneys. So, I assume if she can't pay a mortgage on time, she can't pay her attorney on time.' 'But regardless of that, we will file a default against her if that is what is required. It is not a vendetta. It is about holding people accountable. It is about holding people like Alexus Whilby and Teresa Terry accountable,' Todd concluded in the recordings. For their entire marriage, Alexus said that Todd went out of his way to create problems for her and Kyle. When she started dating Kyle in 2014, he got into a blowout fight with his father and family. He quit the show during season one, which Todd blamed on mental health and addiction issues. Speaking to DailyMail.com in 2014 - the year he married Alexus - Kyle said Todd was 'toxic' and a 'snake.' He also accused Todd of keeping his show earnings from him. Todd (pictured in a court sketch during sentencing next to wife Julie) tried to convince Alexus to testify on his behalf. When she did not, he threatened her Alexus said Todd and Julie (days before getting convicted in June 2022) received a 'light sentence' Court documents filed in February 2017, reveal that 'one of Todd's estranged children, Kyle, had reached out to the Georgia Department of Revenue (aka DOR) and wanted to assist the DOR with its collection efforts against the Chrisleys.' The documents state that the DOR 'had a Skype call with Kyle Chrisley and his then-wife, Alexus Chrisley.' During the call, Kyle told the authorities that Todd had 'offshore accounts' that he used to hide money in so that he could avoid paying taxes on it. One month later, in March 2017, Alexus told the DOR that 'Chrisley's had a warehouse in Georgia filled with seven houses worth of furniture that they were planning to auction off to get an IRS lien removed from one of their properties.' At the end of 2017, a Georgia judge authorized two search warrants at a warehouse owned by Todd. They seized 21 boxes of paperwork from the DOR, which included forged paperwork. In 2018, Todd brought a case against Josh Waites, chief law enforcement officer for the DOR. In Todd's suit, which was dismissed, he claimed that Josh 'aggressively pursued and prosecuted bogus tax evasion claims' against them. That same year, Kyle said in a Facebook post that it was his sister Lindsie Chrisley, 33 - whose mother Teresa Terry was married to from 1990 until 1997 - that was to blame for his parents' conviction by turning them in. Todd tried pressuring Alexus to testify for him on his behalf in his case against DOR, but Alexus refused. Reflecting back on the situation, she tells DailyMail.com, 'Kyle changed his story in efforts to help his dad. That didn't work out for him as usual. He wants so badly to be accepted by his father but lying is not the way to do that.' As Todd was pressuring Alexus to testify on his behalf, she filed for divorce from Kyle. 'During the divorce, I was the one who paid Kyle out. I provided him with a car free and clear all the while having two ongoing legal cases against me from the Chrisley family.' 'Being married to Kyle taught me that it's not the glitz and the glamour that people like to flaunt on the outside that is important. It is about being a good person behind the scenes and being true to yourself and others,' Alexus adds. 'I walked away from a family who, at the time, seemed to have it all and many people thought that I was crazy. I was empowered. I know who I was then and now, and no amount of fame could make me compromise my morals.' Todd and Julie were indicted on charges including tax evasion and bank fraud in 2019. In June 2022, they were convicted by a jury on 10 counts of criminal tax crimes, including bank fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion. In November 2022, Todd was sentenced to 12 years in prison and 16 months' probation. Julie was sentenced to seven years and 16 months' probation. They began their prison sentences in January. They are currently appealing their convictions. Drew Barrymore embraced her inner spirit animal on Tuesday when she barked like a Corgi and took commands from Helen Mirren. The effervescent talk show host, 48 who was recently praised for her very candid interview with Brooke Shields morphed into the Oscar winner's personal pooch during a segment that saw her get down on all fours. The legendary British actress, 77, had stopped by The Drew Barrymore Show to promote her new film, Shazam: Fury of the Gods. But the interview quickly veered into strange territory after Mirren told the Charlie's Angels star that she had 'the character of a corgi.' The pair were discussing Dame Helen's most famous role playing Elizabeth II in the 2006 biographical drama The Queen when Mirren brought up the late Monarch's cherished dog breed. The bark of Barrymore: Drew Barrymore, 48, embraced her inner spirit animal on Tuesday when she barked like a Corgi and took commands from Helen Mirren, 77 Method actor: The effervescent talk show host morphed into the Oscar winner's personal pooch during a segment that saw her get down on all fours 'Love the Corgis,' said Mirren. 'The Corgis were great. They're great little dogs.' Helen praising the perky little breed triggered an emphatic response from Barrymore as she jumped in to declare: 'I'm a Corgi! I've got tiny legs.' The English icon couldn't agree more, telling Drew, 'You are a corgi. You have the character of a corgi.' She went on to list a few character attributes that the E.T. star has in common with Queen Elizabeth's furry friends: '...very curious, very fun, very into everything. You are a Corgi. And you've got the Corgi-colored hair.' Barrymore who has 'finally' started shaving again after a three month hiatus was overjoyed by Dame Helen's approval, leaning back in her chair with a Corgi-sized smile. 'I can die happily now,' Drew proclaimed. 'Thank you.' After calling Corgis 'very fashionable dogs,' Mirren explained why she believes the breed has grown in popularity: 'People finally sort of recognize what cute little dogs they are.' Slipping into Corgi mode, Barrymore treated Dame Helen to a high-pitched yap before going full method actor and panting like a dog. Mirren's best friend: The pair were discussing Dame Helen's most famous role playing Elizabeth II in the 2006 biographical drama The Queen when Mirren brought up the late Monarch's cherished dog breed Call me Corgi: 'Love the Corgis,' said Mirren. 'The Corgis were great. They're great little dogs.' Helen praising the perky little breed triggered an emphatic response from Barrymore as she jumped in to declare, 'I'm a Corgi! I've got tiny legs' Drew's spirit animal: Mirren went on to list a few character attributes that the E.T. star has in common with Queen Elizabeth's furry friends '...very curious, very fun, very into everything. You are a Corgi. And you've got the Corgi-colored hair' Give her a bone: Slipping into Corgi mode, Barrymore treated Dame Helen to a high-pitched yap before going full method actor and panting like a dog. She eventually began to paw at the actress's legs with her tongue out before descending into a giggling fit and wearing a corgi-sized smile 'That makes me so happy,' gushed Drew, which caused Dame Helen to snap back with a firm command. 'Sit!' she ordered, sending an obedient Barrymore back in her chair to pant like a dog once again. After heeding Dame Helen's command to 'Stay,' Barrymore got down on all fours when the Gosford Park star threw her a bone by saying a chipper 'Come on!' Barrymore began pawing at the actress's legs with her tongue out before descending into a giggling fit and wearing her corgi-sized smile once again, bringing the eccentric interview to a close. Peter Helliar has revealed the amount of weight he lost after three weeks in the I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! jungle. The comedian and former host of The Project, 47, was the latest star to leave the South African jungle on Tuesday's episode. And while he didn't lose as much weight as his fellow campmate Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins, he was only half a kilo behind him with a total loss of 7.5kg. Peter made the revelation on B105's Stav, Abby and Matt on Wednesday morning. '[I lost] 7.5kg - it's what I've registered, so I'm not sure if I have caught up with Nick,' he said. Peter Helliar has revealed he lost 7.5kg after three weeks in the I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! jungle (pictured here before and after his stint in the South African jungle) 'So 7.5kg off the rig, so I'll have to put that back on. I'll probably put it back on on the flight home!' The funnyman explained the contestants are weighed before entering the jungle and as soon as they leave, as they undergo a full medical examination. 'You come out and you have this idea that you will go to a nice hotel and have a beer, but you come out and meet with a psych and a medical team to make sure everything is okay,' he said. The funnyman explained the contestants are weighed before entering the jungle and as soon as they leave, as they undergo a full medical examination 'So there's a series of meetings that you have to go through, so I haven't really stopped since I've come out. I had some dinner and rang home and that's about it.' Peter said he was extremely excited to eat some tasty food after living on rice and beans for three weeks, and the first thing he ate was a bowl of spaghetti bolognese with a beer. The Melbourne native, who recently left The Project after a decade on the show, said he was asked to enter the jungle 'a couple of times' before this year's season. While he didn't lose as much weight as his fellow campmate Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins, Peter was only half a kilo behind him He added: 'To be honest, for me, I was on The Project for ten years, so it wasn't really an option for me. In fact, every time they asked me to go on I was a bit worried that they were trying to get me off The Project! 'So I was wary of leaving the desk for too long. [This year] I thought, "Why not?" I haven't got the excuse of the other job so I jumped at it and I had a great time. 'If anyone else gets the chance to do it, I wholeheartedly recommend it.' Teresa Giudice started crying as she remembered her painful time in prison on Tuesday's episode of The Real Housewives Of New Jersey on Bravo. The 50-year-old reality star during a group trip to Ireland got emotional when her friends were asked to paint the story of her life just weeks before her August wedding. Teresa shocked her friends as she began crying before they even started to illustrate her life. 'You know what it made me think about? Jail. So don't put any bars,' said Teresa, who served nearly a year in prison after pleading guilty in 2014 to federal fraud charges. Margaret Josephs, 56, said they would only paint happy memories. Tears flowing: Teresa Giudice started crying as she remembered her painful time in prison on Tuesday's episode of The Real Housewives Of New Jersey on Bravo 'When I went to jail, it was not easy to go to prison and leave my four daughters behind,' Teresa said in a confessional. 'To miss big milestones like Gia's eighth grade graduation. Audriana graduated kindergarten. That was traumatic for me so I just decided to act like that part of my life never happened.' Jennifer Aydin, 46, painted Teresa infamously flipping over a table. Teresa's sister-in-law Melissa Gorga, 44, started crying while showing Teresa her drawing of her family coming over from Italy. Teresa got up and hugged her. 'I'm so grateful that everyone drew beautiful memories of my life,' Teresa said in a confessional. Teresa told Melissa that going forward they should just not talk about the past and Melissa agreed. Teresa told Melissa that she wanted some part of her family in her wedding. 'No, we are not our props in the final hour, sorry,' Melissa said in a confessional. Farm hand and event organizer Peter then took the women to a picnic lunch. Teresa revealed that her fiance Luis 'Louie' Ruelas, 48, asked Jennifer's husband Bill to be in the wedding. 'It's just nice because I don't have family,' Teresa said. Melissa got upset by the comment and show newcomer Danielle Cabral, 37, started crying as she was reminded of her estranged brother. Life story: The 50-year-old reality star during a group trip to Ireland got emotional when her friends were asked to paint the story of her life just weeks before her August wedding Tough time: 'When I went to jail, it was not easy to go to prison and leave my four daughters behind,' Teresa said in a confessional Started crying: Teresa's sister-in-law Melissa Gorga, 44, started crying while showing Teresa her drawing of her family coming over from Italy Big hug: Melissa and Teresa hugged it out 'It's eerily similar,' Danielle said. Danielle said it wasn't easy watching Melissa and Teresa. 'You may think it sucks but you're talking,' Danielle said. 'Put your f***ing guards down because nothing else matters if you don't have your family.' 'I want freakin' peace,' Teresa said. 'Same,' Melissa said. Peter then came over and asked the women if they were ready to go to the 'Irish spa.' He took them to a muddy bog field. Trip organizer Dolores Catania, 52, jumped first into the deep mud and the rest of them followed her lead. 'I feel like it's brownie batter,' Margaret said. Melissa and Teresa jumped in together. No family: 'It's just nice because I don't have family,' Teresa said in front of Melissa Feelings hurt: Melissa was crushed by Teresa's remark Sage advice: 'You may think it sucks but you're talking,' Danielle Cabral said. 'Put your f***ing guards down because nothing else matters if you don't have your family' Teaming up: Melissa and Teresa jumped in together into a muddy bog 'In New Jersey we have mud spas but not like this,' Teresa said. Back at the castle, Danielle called her husband Nate to talk about how she got upset thinking about her brother. Margaret called her husband Joe Benigno and showed him the castle they were staying in. Back in New Jersey, Margaret's husband Joe had the guys over at his house. He revealed in front of Joe Gorga, 43, that Bill Aydin had been asked to be in Teresa's wedding. 'No disrespect to you,' Joe told Bill. 'You're an afterthought.' 'I thought the mailman was next,' Joe said in a confessional. Frank Catania, 58, Evan Goldschneider, 48, John Fuda, 35, and Nate Cabral, 39, all showed up. They toasted Frank on his new business. 'About three years ago, I was contacted to get into the cannabis industry and I didn't even smoke,' Frank said in a confessional. 'But then I heard it was becoming legal in New Jersey, and ever since then I have eaten, slept, and drunk weed.' Frank brought joints for everyone to try his product. Joe Gorga didn't want to smoke so Frank just blew smoke on him. In a little while, they were all laughing. Cannabis industry: 'About three years ago, I was contacted to get into the cannabis industry and I didn't even smoke,' Frank said in a confessional. 'But then I heard it was becoming legal in New Jersey, and ever since then I have eaten, slept, and drunk weed' Blowing smoke: oe Gorga didn't want to smoke so Frank just blew smoke on him Bill told Joe Gorga that he needed to smoke weed and then have a heart to heart with Teresa. 'Because then it puts all your guards down,' Bill said. Joe Gorga told everyone that Bill was in the wedding. He also said that Teresa brought up his daughter in Ireland. 'I don't want my children to be raised with hate or anger,' Joe Gorga said. 'No, I want them to love everyone.' John asked Nate why Danielle called his wife, Rachel, a rat. 'Somebody said something, they were just having fun, your wife went back and said something,' Nate said. Joe Gorga laughed with Frank. 'I bet the girls aren't having this much fun,' Joe Gorga said. Good times: 'I bet the girls aren't having this much fun,' Joe Gorga said The episode also showed Danielle flipping out at Rachel over her attitude. 'First of all calm the f*** down!' Danielle said slamming her hand down on the table. Rachel, 31, said she wasn't the one banging the table. 'I don't know when your attitude went from f***ing talking to me normal to talking to me like this,' Danielle screamed. 'Relax,' Rachel said. 'No, but you changed everything I said to you to make me out to be the bad guy and I'm not going to allow you to do that,' Danielle said pointing her finger. Danielle's outburst came after the women had a whiskey and chocolate tasting during their last night in Ireland. 'I love whiskey,' Dolores said. 'It's an acquired taste like we are sometimes.' Whiskey tasting: Whiskey expert Andrew helped the women with a whiskey tasting Danielle later told Margaret that she was the reason that Jennifer's kids know that their father cheated. 'You can forgive but you don't forget,' Danielle said. 'I'm going to tell you something point blank. That's why you're going to have problems in your family your whole f***ing life,' Margaret said. 'You will never have a clean slate with anybody if you keep bringing up old s*** and that's a f***ing fact.' 'Margaret is basically implying that it's Danielle's fault it is the way that it his with her brother,' Jennifer said in a confessional. 'Does she get joy out of being the mean girl and putting people down.' Danielle started crying. 'I have no more fight in me,' Danielle said. Danielle went back to her room sobbing. When the episode titled Slainte opened Danielle said was determined not to let the women ruin any more of their trip to Ireland. Point blank: 'I'm going to tell you something point blank. That's why you're going to have problems in your family your whole f***ing life,' Margaret said. 'You will never have a clean slate with anybody if you keep bringing up old s*** and that's a f***ing fact' No fight: 'I have no more fight in me,' Danielle said after Margaret brought up her estranged brother Dolores introduced her friends to her boyfriend's mother Claire and his sister Sharon Connell, who both live in Ireland. Dolores introduced them to everyone. Danielle got upset listening to Sharon talking about her brother Paul with so much admiration. Jennifer organized a surprise farm excursion for Teresa's bachelorette party. 'The minute they find out they are going to get dirty and in mud in farmland, I see them rushing for the door,' Jennifer said. 'I'm not a farm person,' Teresa said in a confessional. 'This is definitely not what I expected to be doing today.' Peter, the farm hand, told them they were going to play a game called 'catch the cock' referring to the chickens. 'This is a bachelorette party. I thought there would be real cock, like dancing cock,' Margaret said in a confessional. Teresa brought Melissa with them into the chicken cage. 'I want you to catch the cock all by yourself,' Melissa said. 'I already caught your brother's cock.' The women then took turns catching the chickens. The Real Housewives Of New Jersey will return next Tuesday on Bravo. Boyfriend's family: Dolores Catania introduced her friends to her boyfriend's mother Claire and his sister Sharon Connell, who both live in Ireland Elle Macpherson looked smitten with her boyfriend Doyle Bramhall as she posted a romantic snap of the pair kissing on holiday on Wednesday. The supermodel, 59, is currently travelling around Tokyo, Japan, with her guitarist beau, 54, and posted a gallery of photos of their trip to Instagram. For one snap, the lovebirds posed in front of one of Tokyo's most famous photo spots, the Torii tunnel. Elle poked out her tongue as Doyle sweetly kissed her on the cheek. Showing off her natural beauty, the model went makeup free for their dreamy day out as she tied her blonde locks up in a messy bun. Elle Macpherson looked smitten with her boyfriend Doyle Bramhall as she posted a romantic snap of the pair kissing on holiday on Wednesday In another photo, the model posed on her own as she showed off her casual outfit comprising sweatpants, a long-sleeved white jumper and sneakers. She captioned the gallery of holiday snaps: '"When you look out of your eyes, at nature happening out there, youre looking at you. Thats the real you. The you that goes on of itself. ~ A Conversation with Myself Alan Watts. 'Real travel requires a maximum of unscheduled wandering, for there is no other way of discovering surprises and marvels, which, as I see it, is the only good reason for not staying at home. 'Tokyo - youve been full of surprises! Thank you.' The supermodel, 59, is currently travelling around Tokyo, Japan, with her guitarist beau, 54, and posted a gallery of photos of their trip to Instagram Friends of the model jumped to the comments to point out how happy she looked. Celebrity makeup artist Daniela Gozlan said, 'Oh, I'm so happy for you!!!' and author Alyson Charles wrote: 'Hello, you two.' Doyle, a Texas-born musician, was revealed as Elle's secret boyfriend last October. At the time, a source told New Idea: 'Elle and Doyle have known each other for a while but their friendship recently turned romantic. 'It's getting serious. Elle travels the world with Doyle and already knows his two adult daughters. He worships her and is very supportive of her work in the wellness space, too.' Doyle, who is best known for collaborating with Eric Clapton and Roger Waters, previously dated Renee Zellweger for seven years before they split in 2019. The guitarist confirmed the romance by sharing a photo to Instagram of himself and Elle gazing lovingly at one another backstage at Clapton's concert in Switzerland. Doyle, a Texas-born musician, was revealed as Elle's secret boyfriend last October Elle's last confirmed relationship was with disgraced former British doctor Andrew Wakefield, who is a hero of the 'anti-vax' movement. According Elle's spokesperson, their relationship waned and they have had no contact for over four years. Wakefield was struck off the medical register in 2010 after his research showing the supposed link between the MMR jabs and autism was exposed as an 'elaborate fraud'. Doyle, who is best known for collaborating with Eric Clapton and Roger Waters, previously dated Renee Zellweger for seven years before they split in 2019 His false claims led to a downturn in vaccination among children and renewed measles outbreaks. Elle was previously married to French fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon from 1986 to 1989, and to American billionaire Jeffrey Soffer from 2013 to 2017. She shares two sons, Flynn and Cy, with another ex-partner, French financier Arpad Busson. Abbey Clancy reflected on a recent holiday to Portugal with Peter Crouch and her children on Tuesday, which saw her eldest daughter Sophia, 12, rushed to hospital with viral meningitis. Taking to Instagram, the model, 37, shared a series of sweet family snaps from the sun-soaked surroundings. In one of the pictures, Peter grinned with Sophia, Liberty, seven, Johnny, five, and Jack, three, as they had lunch together. Other photographs showed one of the children holding a fish, sitting on their mother's lap and having a snooze. In a last adorable image, Abbey and Peter posed for a relaxed selfie as she planted a kiss on his cheek. 'Family time is the best time': Abbey Clancy shared sweet snaps as she reflected on a recent holiday to Portugal with husband Peter Crouch and their children on Tuesday Sweet: Taking to Instagram, the model shared a series of sweet family snaps from the sun-soaked surroundings She captioned her post: 'Family time is the best time', reflecting on the trip away. It comes after Abbey detailed her 'trauma' after her daughter Sophia was rushed to hospital with viral meningitis during their holiday. The model said she and Peter jetted off to Portugal over Easter. She explained how her eldest daughter Sophia caught viral meningitis during their holiday and admitted she has never been so scared in her life. Meningitis is an inflammation of the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal chord, which can be very serious and potentially life-changing if not treated quickly. Speaking on her and Peter's joint podcast The Therapy Crouch in Tuesday's episode, Abbey recalled: 'The school holidays have been tough. 'We got to Portugal and Sophia was in hospital with meningitis which was just the scariest thing on earth - being in a foreign hospital, language barriers, the words like meningitis being thrown around, lumber punctures, brain scans. 'It was horrific - I felt so vulnerable - and scary. But I must say the medical care over there were just out of this world. 'These things always happen on a Sunday at one o'clock in the morning, just to add to that fear and that scariness of the situation. It can never be a normal hour.' Relaxing: Other photographs showed one of the children holding a fish, sitting on their mother's lap and having a snooze Mum duties: Abbey looked relaxed and carefree as one of her children sat on her lap on the beach Abbey said she 'knew' something was wrong with Sophia and that she wasn't suffering from a normal bug, before she was diagnosed with meningitis. The mother-of-four detailed how her and Peter's fears increased when their youngest son Jack also developed a terrible cough and breathing problems, leading to them taking him to hospital as well. Abbey explained: 'Having three babies at home I was thinking "what if they catch it?". So we were on like high alert. We didn't sleep at all. I was watching every child like a hawk. It was just terrifying. 'The other three all got sick. They all got flu and coughs. Sophia was out the hospital and we were back in the hospital with them because I was thinking "I've got three other children, can they catch this viral meningitis?" It was traumatic.' Abbey said she and Peter only had around four hours of sleep in 30 hours amid their fears for their children, with both Sophia and Jack having to be taken to hospital. Abbey said: 'I've never been so scared in my life. And Jack going to the hospital in Portugal as well because he was coughing.' Peter, 42, added: 'That was just because we were so worried about Sophia, when he started coughing we felt like we had to take him.' Abbey, who previously revealed she has a hospital phobia after Sophia spent three weeks in Great Ormond Street as a baby, continued: 'Viral meningitis doesn't present as a cough, but he literally didn't stop coughing. He had no breath in between.' Love: in a last adorable image, Abby and Peter posed for a relaxed selfie as she planted a kiss on his cheek Peter admitted the strain of the situation pushed him to the limit and led him to snap at Abbey because he didn't want to take Jack in, even though he knew he needed to have him checked. He told Abbey on the podcast: 'I had a little bite at you. I'd just got into bed. I thought I'll sleep with him just to make sure he was alright. And he just did not stop coughing, and you were like "right, you've got take him to hospital". 'And I knew I had to, but I was like "you just f***ing want me to live in hospitals".' Peter said he was on night duty in the hospital before the two of them swapped for the day. Rapper Flo Rida is in hot water with a New York City judge, after he tried to Zoom into a child support hearing instead of appearing in person. The 43-year-old rapper (born Tramar Lacel Dillard) failed to physically appear in front of the NYC Family Court on Tuesday, via TMZ. He was ordered to pay 100% of the medical bills, educational bills and child support to his ex Alexis Adams for the care of their 6-year-old son Zohar. His ex Alexis had requested the judge order him to set aside $400K in a bank account for these expenses, which comes after he won a massive $82 million judgment in his lawsuit against energy drink manufacturer Celsius. The failure to appear also comes less than a month after Zohar - who suffers from a rare disorder known as hydrocephalus - suffered a near-death experience when he survived a five-story fall from his mother's apartment in New Jersey. Flo Rida in trouble: Rapper Flo Rida is in hot water with a New York City judge, after he tried to Zoom into a child support hearing instead of appearing in person Fall: The failure to appear also comes less than a month after Zohar - who suffers from a rare disorder known as hydrocephalus - suffered a near-death experience when he survived a five-story fall from his mother's apartment in New Jersey While Alexis was present at the hearing, the rapper wasn't there and asked the judge to participate over Zoom, though the judge wouldn't allow it. Alexis claimed that he stopped paying the insurance just after the death-defying fall, forcing her to apply for Medicaid and Department of Education funding to cover the bills. While Flo Rida has claimed on social media that Zohar has been, 'getting the best medical care,' Alexis claims the rapper has never even met his son. The judge has yet to rule on Alexis' request, and it's unclear when the judge will offer a ruling. The incident with the rapper's son Zohar happened on March 4, and it was reported at the end of March that he was still in intensive care. The child suffered, 'multiple fractures, a liver laceration, internal bleeding and collapsed lungs,' following the fall in New Jersey. Zohar fell from Alexis' fifth-floor apartment, with the mother currently suing her apartment complex's owners and managers, a construction company, a window installer. She claims that windows on the building 'posed a hazardous condition' that allowed the incident to happen. Not allowed: While Alexis was present at the hearing, the rapper wasn't there and asked the judge to participate over Zoom, though the judge wouldn't allow it Never met: While Flo Rida has claimed on social media that Zohar has been, 'getting the best medical care,' Alexis claims the rapper has never even met his son 'As a single mom to a special needs child, this feels like a nightmare. My heart is broken into a million pieces,' Adams said in a statement. 'I am devastated, angry and struggling to come to terms with the fact that my only child has suffered severe injuries due to willful negligence of our landlord and others involved In failing to take necessary safety measures,' she added. Flo Rida (born Tramar Lacel Dillard) has yet to comment on the incident or the lawsuit. The suit seeks damages, attorney fees and money for Zohar's medical bills. It claims that the building owners, managers and maintenance companies failed to install the correct guards on the windows at the apartment. It claims Zohar was 'seriously injured', will incur expenses for treatment and 'has been disabled and in the future will be disabled and not be able to perform his usual functions'. Zohar 'has been and in the future will be caused great pain and suffering, to his great loss and damage and will in the future suffer great physical and mental pain and suffering', the suit claims. Adams told DailyMail.com in 2018 that the rapper refuses to meet his toddler, who suffers from a rare brain disorder, and called him an 'evil f**king child'. He also denied that Zohar was his son, before a DNA test revealed a 99.9 per cent match that Flo Rida was the child's father. No comment: Flo Rida (born Tramar Lacel Dillard) has yet to comment on the incident or the lawsuit Damages: The suit seeks damages, attorney fees and money for Zohar's medical bills. It claims that the building owners, managers and maintenance companies failed to install the correct guards on the windows at the apartment The Big Steam Adventure Rating: Wherever you go this summer and however you get there, you're likely to run into clusters of celebrities making travel shows and they'll all claim to be lifelong best friends. Often these pairings are palpably forced. Was anyone even faintly shocked when Gino D'Acampo announced last month that he'd no longer be touring the world with his 'bosom buddies' Fred Sirieix and Gordon Ramsay? But when a natural rapport springs up, there's no need for exotic locations or expensive set pieces. Former political journalist John Sergeant and actor Peter Davison are thoroughly enjoying each other's company on The Big Steam Adventure (Ch5), and their sense of fun carries us along with them. Calling this an 'adventure' is stretching the term. So far, they've journeyed from Greenwich to Peterborough by way of Stevenage all perfectly pleasant places but not destinations to set the pulse racing. There's no doubting the accuracy of the word 'steam', though. Beginning their travels on the Challenge, London's last working steam tugboat, they chugged under Tower Bridge and transferred to a 1909 Stanley steam-powered car. Buddies: Journalist John Sergeant (right) and actor Peter Davison (middle) At King's Cross, they boarded the Duchess of Sutherland steam train, before hopping on a steam omnibus called Puffing Billy for the last, bone-rattling section of the first leg, on their way to Scotland. Joined by Paul 'Piglet' Middleton from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, they were eager as schoolboys on a bank holiday treat. John, 79, beamed every time he was allowed to pull a cable to toot the whistle. On tugboat and train, 'poop-poop' he went, like Mr Toad. Peter pretended to be curmudgeonly, but once he was in the driving seat of the Foden bus, he wasn't letting anyone else take the wheel, at any price. The former Doctor Who star boasted about his time in the Tardis, pointing out an East End wharf: 'That's where I defeated the Daleks, banished them from the Earth.' John refrained from asking how many times they'd needed banishing since then. But he did chafe when Peter kept pointing out that they were meant to be travelling north, not pausing in pubs. 'Try not to be a compass person,' John suggested. Peter snorted: 'I thought he was going to say something rude' and they all cracked up, with unfeigned laughter. Inside The Factory Rating: Gregg Wallace, on Inside The Factory (BBC2), was as boyishly agog as John. But then, he always is. 'Nothing gets me more excited in these programmes than pushing a button,' he hooted, setting a machine churning out vegan sausages. His buoyant mood suffered a momentary deflation when he asked a supervisor if she enjoyed watching him on MasterChef. Not only had she never heard of him, but she was a fan of the Romanian version instead. Ouch. He soon recovered, though, and was thrilled to discover a guillotine that tested sausage skins, ensuring they were neither too flimsy nor too chewy. The blade did its work at a leisurely pace. 'Very slow,' grumbled Gregg. 'You'd never have cut Marie Antoinette's head off like that. Inside The Factory: Gregg Wallace visits a vegan sausage factory in Yorkshire It seems unwise for a man with a head like an egg to make jokes about decapitation in a vegan food factory. He was on safer territory in the 'vertical farm', a shipping container stacked with shelves of spinach and basil growing under artificial light. 'This is where Star Wars meets salad,' Gregg declared, before he became deliriously over-stimulated when the LED lights changed colour. Shades of mauve, red, green and blue mimicked different attributes of sunlight. 'Like a Seventies disco,' he marvelled. I bet he'd be kept happy for hours, just staring at a mirrorball. Jessica Chastain had plenty to celebrate on Tuesday after it was revealed her play raised the most money for the non-profit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Plays and musicals across Broadway have been taking part in the annual in-theater fundraising effort for over three decades. It runs for six weeks and culminates with the Easter Bonnet Competition, which was held on Monday and Tuesday. Jessica's show A Doll's House was honored with the 'Top Fundraising Award' for bringing in an impressive $176,340. Clearly proud of her cast and crew, she paraded around New York City with their framed award in hand. Celebrate: Jessica Chastain had plenty to celebrate on Tuesday after it was revealed her play raised the most money for the non-profit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS The Help actress looked ultra stylish in a pastel pink suit and white button-up blouse. Her flowing auburn hair was worn down and she accentuated her natural beauty with light makeup. She strolled the street in sky-high black heels and with a smile on her face. Jessica helped divvy out the honors on Tuesday with fellow Broadway stars Josh Groban, Lea Michele and Annaleigh Ashford. The Easter Bonnet Competition returned in 2023 following a four-year hiatus as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tickets to attend the Easter Bonnet Competition ranged in price from $30 $250 and also go towards the fundraiser. It was held at the Minskoff Theatre on Monday, April 24 starting at 4:30PM and on Tuesday, April 24 starting at 2PM. The annual event encourages ticket holders to wear and show off their best, custom Easter bonnets with the chance of receiving one of the 'best presentation honors.' It also featured a number of skits and performances put on by Broadway's top talent, which included Jessica. It celebrates the six-weeks of fundraising by Broadway shows for the non-profit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, which kicked off on March 10. The money is raised through generous donations from theatergoers left in the iconic 'Red Buckets' that are present in lobby of each participating production. Fundraiser: Plays and musicals across Broadway have been taking part in the annual in-theater fundraising effort for over three decades. It runs for six weeks and culminates with the Easter Bonnet Competition, which was held on Monday and Tuesday Coming out on top: Jessica's show A Doll's House was honored with the 'Top Fundraising Award' for bringing in an impressive $176,340 Proud: Clearly proud of her cast and crew, she paraded around New York City with their framed award in hand Stylish: The Help actress looked ultra stylish in pastel pink suit and a white button-up blouse That includes not only the shows hunkered down on Broadway but also the touring companies trekking across the United States. Funds go towards providing 'lifesaving medications, health care, nutritious meals, counseling and emergency financial assistance' for those diagnosed with AIDS, according to the charity's website. The fundraising for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS also runs for six weeks in the fall. It was briefly shutdown in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 but it returned in the fall of 2021 for a select number of reopened Broadway shows. With many precautions in place, it returned to its full capacity in the spring of 2022. After accepting the 'Top Fundraising Award' on behalf of A Doll's House, Jessica took to Instagram to thank donors and to share how much money Broadway raised. 'Today was the first Broadway Cares Easter Bonnet Competition since 2019! Together, all of the shows raised $3,601,355,' captioned the Zero Dark Thirty star. '@adollshousebway raised $176,480 in donations, the most in our category! Thank you to our amazing audience of donors.' She also included photos from the celebration. After accepting the 'Top Fundraising Award' on behalf of A Doll's House, Jessica took to Instagram to thank donors and share how much money Broadway raised; seen with Josh Groban, Annaleigh Ashford and Lea Michele '@adollshousebway raised $176,480 in donations, the most in our category! Thank you to our amazing audience of donors,' she wrote She also included photos from the celebration Taking the stage The event featured a number of various skits and performances put on by Broadway's top talent; Jessica seen on stage Jessica is currently starring in Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House on Broadway. She stars as Nora Helmer in the re-imagined story which focuses on the lives of a group of middle class Norwegians in 1879. Themes in the production include appearances, the power of money, and the place of women in a patriarchal society. Nora is a wife and mother who is forced to question everything in her highly structured life. The play opened March 9, just days before she and Halle Berry presented the Best Actress award at the Oscars. In an interview with PBS, Jessica explained her approach to the character. 'I tried to dial up the ways Nora was in control of the situation. So even if she's playing innocent or playing a victim or playing helpless, it is still a choice she's making,' she contended. 'And she is still sort of, in significant ways, the director and stage manager of the proceedings, even if she gets what she wants by playing a sort of traditional woman.' The story is told without the use of any props, except for chairs, which concerned the actress at first. 'I was like, "What do you mean?" And it was very difficult for me to even imagine.' Broadway, baby! Jessica is currently starring in Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House on Broadway; seen on opening night on March 9 Get your tickets: A Doll's House is scheduled to run at the Hudson Theater through June 10 The Guardian called her performance 'captivating,' and the New York Times called the production an 'astonishing breakthrough coup,' and named it a Critics Pick. Not one to sit still, Jessica shot three different projects before taking to the stage. A Mother's Instinct, co-starring Anne Hathaway, will be released in September. The Division co-starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Memory co-starring Peter Sarsgaard are set to open later this year. A Doll's House is scheduled to run at the Hudson Theater through June 10. Former foreign minister Julie Bishop has launched her new career as a social media influencer. The 66-year-old promoted her stay at the five-star Gansevoort Meatpacking hotel in New York City, which costs up to $2,814 per night. She shared a video to Instagram on Tuesday from outside of the hotel before attending an Anzac Day dawn service. 'I have just walked from the Upper East Side to the Meatpacking District. It's a very different vibe here,' Ms Bishop began. 'I'm staying at the exceedingly cool Gansevoort hotel, which is just behind me. I'm really going forward to it.' Politician-turned-influencer Julie Bishop (pictured) on Tuesday promoted her stay at the five-star Gansevoort Meatpacking hotel in New York City, which costs up to $2,814 per night After checking into the hotel, she added: 'So my first stop at the Gansevoort is the coffee shop and they're making me an almond milk cappuccino.' '#giftedstay,' she captioned the video, also tagging Luxury Escapes. Ms Bishop then attended an Anzac Day dawn service in NYC, where she addressed the crowd wearing black pants and a long white designer coat. The retired Liberal politician accessorised her ensemble with Louis Vuitton earrings, which retail for $36,910, and an $800 scarf. Her trip to New York comes after she recently attended Capella Sydney's Official Opening Night with her rumoured new boyfriend Luke Hepworth. After checking into the hotel, Ms Bishop attended an Anzac Day dawn service in New York City, where she addressed the crowd wearing black pants and a long white designer coat The retired Liberal politician accessorised her ensemble with Louis Vuitton earrings, which retail for $36,910, and an $800 scarf She cuddled up to the 'adventure philanthropist' who also is the managing director of a multinational PPE business. It was Ms Bishop's second red carpet appearance with the handsome entrepreneur, although he has denied the pair are dating. She first stepped out with Mr Hepworth at a Moet & Chandon ball in Sydney. Ms Bishop went through a painful split with her partner of eight years, David Panton, last year. A Sydney influencer who was dropped by multiple sponsors last week for joking about killing two cats as a child now says her remarks were 'twisted' out of context. Emma Claiir, 28, admitted to the historic animal cruelty on her podcast Simply Chaotic on April 18. She later issued a grovelling apology on social media after backlash from fans, brands and various media outlets. Returning to Instagram on Wednesday after almost a week of silence, Claiir now appears to be fighting back against the narrative she is a 'cat killer'. When a fan in the comments section expressed concern for her wellbeing, Claiir responded: 'Thank you so much, but honestly it's going to take a lot more than a twisted, manipulated story to make me disappear.' A Sydney influencer who was dropped by multiple sponsors last week for joking about killing two cats as a child now says her remarks were 'twisted' out of context. (Pictured: Emma Claiir) 'Plus, look at my little man. How can anything else even matter when he is so perfect?' she added, referring to a photo of herself with husband Aaron and their newborn son Jett-Jones. It's unclear what exactly Claiir believes has been 'manipulated' given that she apologised for her remarks about killing cats in a statement last week. After initially brushing off the comments as 'light humour', Claiir shared a proper apology in which she acknowledged the severity of her actions. Despite previously issuing a grovelling apology for her actions, Claiir has now changed her tune by claiming her story was 'twisted' and 'manipulated' Returning to Instagram on Wednesday after almost a week of silence, Claiir (pictured with her husband Aaron and son Jett-Jones) is fighting back against the narrative she is a 'cat killer' Claiir had shared the bizarre confession last week on her podcast after she was asked by her co-host Kristy Jean to tell a personal secret. The mother of one left Jean stunned by admitting: 'I killed my cat.' Chuckling awkwardly, Claiir continued: 'I didn't mean to... I was young, I was a child. 'I was swinging my cat around. Like, I was thinking it was just a stuffed toy. And I accidentally let go of it.' Claiir had shared the bizarre confession last week on her podcast after she was asked by her co-host Kristy Jean to tell a personal secret Claiir clarified the animal died 'from the fright', rather than because of any injuries from being hurtled across the room. After sharing a laugh with her co-host, Claiir added: 'I just want to say, I'm giggling about it now, but this happened years and years and years [ago]. 'And, like, I was a f**king little child.' Incredibly, Claiir went on to admit she 'also killed her best friend's cat' by accident. 'I was swinging my cat around. Like, I was thinking it was just a stuffed toy. And I accidentally let go of it,' she said of the incident when she killed her family cat Claiir, who now owns a sausage dog named Douglas, has since received furious backlash online from her own fans. As the controversy erupted, she was also dropped as an ambassador for makeup brand MCoBeauty and vegan makeup company Lust Minerals. Fashion retailers Glassons and Princess Polly also distanced themselves from Claiir and said they would not be partnering with her in future campaigns, according to screenshots obtained by 'snark' account Influencer Updates AU. Claiir was dropped as an ambassador for makeup brand MCoBeauty as the controversy erupted Fashion retailers Glassons and Princess Polly also distanced themselves from Claiir, according to screenshots obtained by 'snark' account Influencer Updates AU (pictured) Claiir had initially doubled down on her podcast confession, saying it was a 'bit of light humour' and that her critics should stop being so sensitive. 'To the people offended by my story in today's Simply Chaotic episode that I just shared... It happened 21 years ago. I was a small child... accidents happen and you all need to chill,' she wrote in an Instagram post. 'I hope that you are not the same person you were at nine years old (I could have been younger,' she added, before insisting she had been 'the best mother to multiple cats' since the accident. The mother of one, now owns a sausage dog named Douglas (pictured), meanwhile received furious backlash online from her own fans Influencer Updates AU drew attention to Claiir's alarming remarks last Wednesday, prompting further outcry. 'What the? Not sure I would consider a conversation about killing two cats to be "a bit of light humour",' one follower commented. 'I wish I didn't listen to that that's not humour in the slightest. That's really traumatising,' another agreed. Claiir initially doubled down on her podcast confession, telling her Instagram followers it was a 'bit of light humour' and that her critics should stop being so sensitive Someone else added: 'I would've expected it as a two-year-old or below as accidental, but at nine?' However, several users defended Claiir, with one writing: 'How are people offended by this? She made a mistake as a young child.' 'Pretty horrific, but kids are rough, and as a parent I could imagine a kid doing that,' another supporter wrote. Just hours after her post downplaying the backlash, Claiir issued a statement apologising for making a joke out of animal abuse. Just hours after her post downplaying the backlash, Claiir issued a statement apologising for making a joke out of animal abuse 'I am well aware that the story was not light humour and in fact very serious,' she wrote in a lengthy post. 'It was not intended to come across the way that it did as it was simply just a story from the past about an accident [when I was] a little kid, but I can see how it has come across like that,' she added. Claiir said she had 'taken time to think about my actions' and concluded it was 'not something [she was] proud of', as the incident impacted her entire family. She stressed she had definitely 'grown up' and had been a loving owner of 'multiple cats and dogs' as an adult. 'Again I deeply apologise for those affected by an accident that happened in the past and I hope we can leave it there,' she concluded. They are known for their lavish lifestyle - living in $8.92million Vaucluse mansion, driving around in $120,000 Land Rovers and sporting designer outfits. So it's no surprise Hamish and Zoe Foster Blake travelled to Tokyo with some very expensive luggage. The comedian, beauty entrepreneur, and their two children Sonny, eight, and Ruby, five, arrived back in Australia following their trip to Japan on Sunday, with six Rimowa suitcases in tow. Hamish was seen wheeling one of the brand's $1,950 Essential Trunk Plus cases and a $1,540 Essential Check-In bag, while an airport staff member wheeled two of the same cases. Meanwhile, Zoe toted Rimowa's $1170 Essential Cabin S bag, while their young son Sonny had fun riding on another. Hamish and Zoe Foster Blake carried six designer suitcases from Rimowa worth a cool $9320 as they arrived home from a trip to Tokyo on Sunday All up the six cases would have cost the couple a whopping $9320. Radio host Hamish had dressed comfortably for the flight in a white T-shirt, black trousers and a black cap. Meanwhile Zoe donned a pair of grey tracksuit bottoms, a green hoodie, and trainers. She paired her outfit with black oversized sunglasses and scraped her blonde locks back into a low bun. Hamish was seen wheeling one of the brand's $1,950 ESSENTIAL Trunk Plus cases and a $1,540 ESSENTIAL Check-In bag Meanwhile, an airport staff member wheeled two of the same cases Hamish shared a carousel of photos to his Instagram of the holiday, where the family were seen enjoying a trip to Disneyland in matching tracksuits that had 'Team Blake' bedazzled on the back. They also enjoyed a ninja class and shared photos of the various foods they tried, including Pokemon bao buns. The comedian captioned the photos: 'Blake Family Tour of Japan is in the books. Thousands of core mems, but mostly I learnt that 1. Team tracksuits are never not worth it.' '2. You might think you look really authentic and awesome at ninja school but 3. You look like Brians Mum from Life of Brian. 'Thank you Japan, such a rad country to explore with kids.' Hamish shared a carousel of photos to his Instagram of the family holiday, where they were seen enjoying a trip to Disneyland in matching tracksuits that had 'Team Blake' bedazzled on the back The couple also enjoyed some time to themselves while on holiday in Japan While the couple, who have been married since 2012, enjoyed the holiday as a family of four, they recently revealed that they sometimes take their children on separate holidays for one-on-one time While the couple, who have been married since 2012, enjoyed the holiday as a family of four, they recently revealed that they sometimes take their children on separate holidays for one-on-one time. Last month, Hamish said he went on a camping trip with his son Sonny while Zoe took their daughter Ruby on a girls trip. He posted pictures of their camping trip at Fraser Island and wrote: 'I don't know heaps about parenting (in fact, I started a podcast to learn more) but one thing my wife and I have stumbled upon is the power of every year blocking out a few days to do a 1on1 trip with each kid, then protecting that space fiercely.' He added: 'You never know what's going to be the lasting memory from these trips, but that's kind of the point. You plan the big moments but it's the little moments in between where the magic lies.' Yara Shahidi, Ever Anderson, and Alyssa Wapanatahk all turned heads in stylish looks as they attended the Peter Pan & Wendy premiere in NYC. The 23-year-old Grown-ish actress looked elegant in a sleeveless dress with a diamond split at the chest. She showed off her cleavage in the gray number, which had knotted draping at the hips. Ever Anderson, who plays Wendy in the film, looked great in a teal mini dress. And Alyssa was a sight to see in a regal yellow two-piece crop top and skirt. Fashionable: Yara Shahidi, Ever Anderson, and Alyssa Wapanatahk all turned heads in stylish looks as they attended the Peter Pan & Wendy premiere in NYC Yara paired her unique frock with a pair of metallic silver knee-high boots with a wedge heel. The shiny, textured footwear added height to her petite frame as she walked the red carpet. The Black-ish sensation looked typically poised, with her dark, curly hair pulled up into a high updo with a braid detail across the front. She glowed in a face of impeccable makeup that included pink-toned eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick. Shahidi is the first African American to take on the role of Tinkerbell in the movie, which comes out April 28. On Good Morning America the entertainer said, 'Its really surreal and full circle because I started in print ads and commercials, and some of the first things I did were Disney ads.' She added, 'I would dress up as the princesses and different characters, but I was always the Black version of a character because none of them looked like me. 'So, to be a part of, not only this movie but, really a movement of so many fairy tales being retold to look like our world is really exciting because those are the first stories we hear growing up.' Turning heads: Alyssa Wapanatahk was a sight to see in a regal yellow two-piece crop top and skirt Flashy: She showed off her cleavage in the gray number, which had knotted draping at the hips Historic: Shahidi is the first African American to take on the role of Tinkerbell in the movie, which comes out April 28 Alyssa, who was cast in the live-action film as Tiger Lily, looked radiant in her fun look. She put on a busty display in her bra top, which was trimmed in a gold braid, matching the billowing skirt. The Canadian actress also exposed her toned tummy in the ensemble, which made her look like a princess. She wore her lengthy, lustrous dark hair in a deep side part, with sideswept bangs and spiral curls. They were arranged to fall down her back and over one shoulder as she posed for snaps. Alyssa wore a pair of open-toe black heels with her dress & her brunette hair was styled in a bouncy blowout. Disney initially adapted the J.M. Barrie novel in 1953, with other adaptations following, including 1991's Hook from Steven Spielberg and the 2015 film Pan featuring Hugh Jackman. Hairstyle: The Black-ish sensation looked typically poised, with her dark, curly hair pulled up into a high updo with a braid detail across the front Dapper: Jude Law, who plays Captain Hook in the project, looked handsome as he arrived in a standout look Looking good: The longtime entertainer wore his dark hair in a slick, wispy style and showed off a thick mustache Jude Law, who plays Captain Hook in the project, looked handsome as he arrived in a standout look. The 50-year-old actor, who welcomed his seventh child earlier this year, wore a pale mauve shirt underneath a cream blazer. He added pleated charcoal gray trousers and finished the look with a pair of black dress shoes. The longtime entertainer wore his dark hair in a slick, wispy style and showed off a thick mustache. Jim Gaffigan looked great as he arrived in a black suit with a button-up white shirt underneath. The 56-year-old comedian, who plays Mr. Smee in the movie, slicked his short gray hair back with a side part. He wore a pair of round, 50s-era eyeglasses with frames that were dark brown at the top. Gaffigan skipped a tie for the event and sported a shadow of a beard, Jim Gaffigan Neat: The 56-year-old comedian, who plays Mr. Smee in the movie, slicked his short gray hair back with a side part L-R: Jude Law, Yara Shahidi, Ever Anderson, Jim Gaffigan, Alyssa Wapanatahk, Jim Whitaker and Adam Borba L-R: Jim Whitaker, Jim Gaffigan, Yara Shahidi, Ever Anderson, Jude Law, Alyssa Wapanatahk and Adam Borba Stunner: Internet personality Jen Markham looked beautiful in a Cinderella blue dress China's postal sector registers robust growth in Q1 Xinhua) 15:56, April 26, 2023 BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China's postal sector registered a robust expansion in both business revenue and parcel volume in the first quarter, laying a solid foundation for the industry's whole-year growth, the State Post Bureau said on Wednesday. From January to March, the sector raked in 356.21 billion yuan (about 51.45 billion U.S. dollars), up 9 percent year on year, while its business volume rose 8.5 percent to reach 34.17 billion parcels, Zeng Junshan, a spokesperson for the bureau, told a press conference. As a major player in the postal sector, courier companies handled 26.89 billion parcels in the first three months, surging 11 percent from a year earlier. The combined business revenue of the companies amounted to 258.96 billion yuan during the period, a yearly increase of 8.2 percent. In March alone, the business volume of courier companies exceeded 10 billion, and the growth rate returned to over 20 percent, said Zeng. The good growth momentum in the postal sector reflects rising consumer confidence and strong economic recovery, he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Advertisement Priyanka Chopra put on a glamorous display as she led the attendees at a screening of her new Prime Video series Citadel on Tuesday night in Culver City. The actress, 40, stepped onto the red carpet inside Amazon's Culver Theater in a gorgeous fuchsia satin gown. It had flattering ruching around the waist and an elegant cape that flowed down one of her arms. Though the gown pooled at Priyanka's feet, a modest slit allowed her to tease a portion of her shiny silver heels. She smiled for photographers through a bold berry pout that complimented her smokey eyeshadow. Glamour girl: Priyanka Chopra put on a glamorous display as she led the attendees at a screening of her new Prime Video series Citadel on Tuesday night in Culver City. The actress, 40, stepped onto the red carpet inside Amazon's Culver Theater in a gorgeous fuchsia satin gown Flattering fit: It had flattering ruching around the waist and an elegant cape that flowed down one of her arms The wife of Nick Jonas wore her thick, raven hair in sleek strands flowing down her back. She was joined by her co-stars Richard Madden and Stanley Tucci at the mid-week event. Richard, who is the series lead, made onlookers swoon as he posed up in a black suit jacket and tapered pants. For a casual touch, the English hunk, 36, threw on a tight black T-shirt and white lace-up sneakers. His salt-and-pepper hair was softly slicked back and he was freshly shaved. Richard and Priyanka showed off their chemistry as they joined forces to pose for photos. They also invited co-star Stanley into the mix. For the occasion, Stanley cut a dapper figure in a Paul Smith fitted black suit and tie with a white dress shirt. The Lovely Bones star, 62, slipped on shiny black shoes and his signature specs to complete his look. The trio recently returned to Los Angeles after going on a promo tour in Rome last week. Thriller series Citadel has been created by David Weil for Amazon Prime with the Russo brothers acting as executive producers. In the series, Priyanka portrays Nadia Sinh, a spy with an affected memory who teams up with her former colleague Mason Kane (Richard) to combat a global threat. While Richard and Priyanka lead the cast, the series will also include spin-offs in different countries and languages, featuring entirely different casts. Sultry: She beamed for photographers through a bold berry pout that complimented her smokey eyeshadow Peekaboo: Though the gown pooled at Priyanka's feet, a modest slit allowed her to tease a portion of her shiny silver heels The wife of Nick Jonas wore her thick, raven hair in sleek strands flowing down her back Co-stars: She was joined by her co-stars Stanley Tucci and Richard Madden at the mid-week event Suave: Richard Madden, who is the series lead, made onlookers swoon as he posed up in a black suit jacket and tapered pants Well-dressed: For a casual touch, the English hunk, 36, threw on a tight black T-shirt and white lace-up sneakers Chemistry: Richard and Priyanka showed off their chemistry as they joined forces to pose for photos They posed with their arms wrapped around one another Three is NOT a crowd! They also invited co-star Stanley Tucci into the mix Dapper: For the occasion, Stanley Tucci cut a dapper figure in a Paul Smith black suit and tie with a white dress shirt His signature: The Lovely Bones star, 62, slipped on shiny black shoes and his signature specs to complete his look Other attendees included: Jonathan Peter and David Weil Citadel boasts a $300million budget and is set for an April 28 release on Amazon Prime Video. The cast heavily promoted the series during a trip to Italy last week. The big premiere was held on Friday, April 21 at the Space Cinema Moderno in Rome. Priyanka looked sensational as she posed for shutterbugs in a plunging green gown styled with a matching feather-lined coat. She was accompanied on the red carpet by her musician husband Nick Jonas, 30, who looked all too proud of his spouse. The couple - who wed in 2018 - documented their time in Italy, which included plenty of romantic strolls through the city, on Instagram. It was rare one-on-one time for Nick and Priyanka, who welcomed their first child together via surrogate in January 2022. Dailymail.com exclusively revealed that the baby - who they named Malti Marie - was born 12 weeks early and had to remain at a Los Angeles hospital for her first 100 days. The couple were able to bring their daughter home in early May 2022, which they revealed in a celebratory Instagram post. The show's big premiere was held on Friday, April 21 at the Space Cinema Moderno in Rome; (L-R) Stanley Tucci, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Richard Madden and Lesley Manville Gorgeous in green: Priyanka looked sensational as she posed for shutterbugs in a plunging green gown styled with a matching feather-lined coat Supportive spouse: She was accompanied on the red carpet by her musician husband Nick Jonas, 30, who looked all too proud of his spouse Citadel: Thriller series Citadel has been created by David Weil for Amazon Prime with the Russo brothers acting as executive producers Spy: In the series, Priyanka portrays Nadia Sinh, a spy with an affected memory who teams up with her former colleague Mason Kane (Richard) to combat a global threat Priyanka recently revealed that she'd frozen her eggs in her early 30s in case she wanted to have children in the future. 'I did it in my early 30s. I could continue on an ambitious warpath that I wanted to achieve. I wanted to get to a certain place in my career,' she said during Dax Shepherd's Armchair Expert podcast last month. 'I also hadn't met the person I wanted to have children with or I didn't see that. That's anxiety-inducing. Priyanka continued: '[I was] 35, and my mum's an OB-GYN who's like, '36 - Just do it.' MasterChef Australia judge Andy Allen has clapped back at a former contestant who accused him of giving unhelpful feedback. Chris Badenoch, an amateur chef who has competed on MasterChef three times, made headlines in July 2020 when he spoke of his negative experience on the show. Badenoch, who had just been eliminated from season 12, said Allen's feedback 'made no sense' and even compared it to a speech by Donald Trump. Allen finally responded to Badenoch's statements this week during an interview with the I've Got News for You podcast. 'Wow, first time I've been compared to Trump, how good,' the 34-year-old chuckled, before suggesting Badenoch only had himself to blame. MasterChef judge Andy Allen, 34, (left) has clapped back at former contestant Chris Badenoch (right) after the 54-year-old accused him of giving unhelpful feedback on the show in 2020 'Look, when I was a contestant, it was your job to really be able to understand and piece together the critiques [from the judges]. It's part of the learning process,' Allen said. 'If Chris just wants to stand there and say that he couldn't understand it, well, I mean, I'm sorry, mate, but that's your problem.' Allen, who won MasterChef in 2012 before becoming a judge in 2020, also pointed out that Badenoch is the only contestant to have complained about his feedback over the past four years. 'I think he might be the odd one out,' he said, pointedly. 'Look, when I was a contestant, it was your job to really be able to understand and piece together the critiques. It's part of the learning process,' Allen told the I've Got News for You podcast. (Pictured: Allen and Jock Zonfrillo giving Badenoch advice on the show in 2020) Allen, who won MasterChef in 2012 and became a judge in 2020, pointed out that Badenoch is the only contestant to have complained about his feedback over the past four years Badenoch had raised eyebrows in 2020 after he described Allen's feedback as being almost unintelligible. 'It's not feedback. It's just a collection of words that make no sense,' he told news.com.au at the time. 'He's commented on things that I've cooked and when he's walked away it's like, "I have no idea what he said or what he meant." 'You almost need subtitles. I don't get it!' Badenoch had raised eyebrows in 2020 after he described Allen's feedback as being almost unintelligible Badenoch, who was the seventh to be eliminated from the 2012 season, added that he didn't have any issues with Melissa Leong or Jock Zonfrillo's feedback, but said Allen's reminded him of Donald Trump. 'It's incredibly frustrating. Jock or Melissa will give you a good critique [but Allen] it's not constructive,' he said. 'It's like a Trump speech; a whole lot of words that don't match.' Karl Stefanovic couldn't contain his laughter on Wednesday morning over a story about an 'unofficial' nudist beach in Queensland. Karl and his co-host Sarah Abo crossed live to reporter Mia Glover, who explained that several beachgoers were stripping off naked to go swimming at Alexandria Beach, located in the National Park in Noosa Heads. Police are now cracking down on the nude beachgoers after a rise in complaints from locals and alleged indecent acts. The police operation began earlier this month and saw 11 people fined for wilful exposure. During the cross, Mia said locals 'wanted to see people fully clothed on the beach or at least wearing some sort of swimsuit' while going for a swim. Today show host Karl Stefanovic, 48, broke out into fits of laughter over a story about an 'unofficial' nudist beach in Queensland. He couldn't control his hysterics when they crossed live to reporter Mia Glover - who was wearing a trench coat on the Gold Coast Karl Stefanovic couldn't contain his laughter on Wednesday morning over a story about an 'unofficial' nudist beach in Queensland 'And then there was also one gentleman who was - I don't know how to say this on air - but maybe giving himself a bit of a treat nearby to some other people that were on the beach, and he was fined as well,' she told the Today hosts, who burst out laughing back in the studio. Karl then pointed out Mia's choice of clothing for the report - a trench coat - as she stood in the rain and held an umbrella. 'Looks like you're ready for it there with your jacket,' Karl said. 'What, my trench coat?' Mia replied, laughing. Presenter Alex Cullen added, 'Trench coat! Are there any watches under there?' while Karl pointed out: 'It's the jacket du jour for nudists, I reckon.' 'It's an easy disguise!' Sarah added. Karl and his co-host Sarah Abo crossed live to reporter Mia Glover, who explained that several beachgoers were stripping off naked to go swimming at Alexandria Beach, located in the National Park in Noosa Heads The perverted man Mia referred to in her live cross was recently charged with committing an indecent act, Sunshine Coast Superintendent Craig Hawkins said. He was alleged to be 'self-gratifying' on the beach near a young woman. 'Tourists, families and children should not be subject to this behaviour,' Hawkins told the Courier Mail. 'If people wish to sunbake nude, those activities should be done in a private location, at your home where you cannot be seen by others.' Elsa Pataky enjoyed a low-key Anzac Day with two of her children in Byron Bay on Tuesday. The actress and model, 46, who shares three kids with her Hollywood husband Chris Hemsworth, was spotted picking up some takeaway food in the popular tourist town. While one of her twin sons and her daughter India Rose were barefoot, Elsa wore a pair of $300 trainers from Spanish brand Gioseppo. The mother-of-two paired the kicks with a navy graphic T-shirt from Byron Bay brand Spell and khaki cut-off cargo pants which showed off her slender legs. She kept her long dark blonde locks down and opted for a fresh face to show off her natural beauty. Elsa Pataky was spotted enjoying Anzac Day with two of her children in Byron Bay Elsa is an ambassador Gioseppo and is often spotted sporting the brand's footwear. The Snakes On A Plane star was seen scrolling on her mobile phone as she carried a bag which appeared to contain a salad. Her children hurriedly ran behind her as they tried to catch up with their mother. The Spanish model, 46, who shares three children with her Hollywood husband Chris Hemsworth, appeared to be picking up some takeaway food as she enjoyed the public holiday Despite being one of the most famous actors in Hollywood, Chris tries to keep his children's lives as normal as possible in Byron Bay. Last month, he looked like any ordinary dad as he was spotted taking his three children to school alongside Elsa. They were photographed bringing their twin sons Sasha and Tristan and daughter India Rose to the school bus stop. While the celebrity couple try to keep their children's lives low key, it is anything but as they live in a $30million mansion in Broken Head, near the celebrity enclave of Byron Bay. She wore a comfortable and casual outfit for the day along with her $300 Gioseppo trainers, as one of her twin sons and daughter India Rose went barefoot The fortress-like property, which sits high above Seven Mile Beach, boasts a gymnasium, butler's pantry, fire pit, change rooms, outdoor play area for the three Hemsworth children and walk-in wardrobes. Last year, Chris said he is building the life he always dreamed of, far from the bright lights of Hollywood. 'My focus ever since I had any sway was to shoot here in Australia due to, on a personal level, being at home with my family, but also because of the awareness that I had about what was possible here when it comes to the talent,' the actor told The Daily Telegraph. 'Life is sweet. It is great and I couldn't be happier, if you had have said or asked me 10 years ago where I would like to be, this is it.' An OnlyFans star and Kim Kardashian lookalike died of cardiac arrest just hours after undergoing a plastic surgery procedure. Christina Ashten Gourkani, a 34-year-old American model who went by Ashten G online, died in hospital last Thursday while she was recovering from the operation. Her heartbroken family has started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for her funeral, which is scheduled for next week. The page includes a lengthy statement expressing the family's shock and anguish, as well as a brief account of the moments leading up to Christina's death. 'It is with deep sorrow and an immensely heavy, broken heart that we have to share the most shattering, unfortunate and unexpected passing of our beautiful, beloved daughter and sister Christina Ashten Gourkani,' her family wrote. Christina Ashten Gourkani (pictured), an OnlyFans star and Kim Kardashian lookalike, died last Thursday of cardiac arrest just hours after undergoing a plastic surgery procedure Christina's heartbroken family has started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for her funeral, which is scheduled for next week The statement went on to describe the harrowing moment someone called Christina's family at 4.30am screaming, 'Ashten is dying, Ashten is dying!' The family spokesperson then described the 'living nightmare' of watching her health decline in hospital following her cardiac arrest. As of Wednesday afternoon, the GoFundMe has raised $3,540 of its $40,000 goal. The GoFundMe includes a lengthy statement expressing the family's shock and anguish, as well as a brief account of the moments leading up to Christina's death Fellow OnlyFans model Mary Magdalene paid tribute to Christina on Instagram. Magdalene, a plastic surgery addict who once almost died trying to get the 'world's fattest vagina', wrote of Christina: 'I don't know her, [but] I would always just randomly see her on Instagram and think she was really pretty but that is so sad she just died from plastic surgery.' 'It is so scary because you really just never know when you're going to die from [risky surgery],' she added, before expressing her own fears about 'sustaining brain damage' whenever she goes under the knife. Fellow OnlyFans model Mary Magdalene paid tribute to Christina on Instagram Joshua Sasse was spotted on the set of his new movie One Perfect Match in Brisbane on Wednesday. The British actor, 35, looked dapper in a grey suit jacket and matching pants as he filmed scenes with Canadian actress Merritt Patterson. He finished his look with a striped shirt and red tie as he shot scenes at a restaurant. Merritt looked stylish in a long denim dress, a beige coat and black heels as she got into character. The actress, 32, completed her look with a green hand bag and left her long blonde locks out for the scene. Kylie Minogue's ex-fiance Joshua Sasse donned a grey suit as he filmed new movie One Perfect Match with Canadian actress Merritt Patterson in Brisbane The British actor looked dapper in a grey suit jacket and matching pants as he filmed scenes with Merritt at a restaurant According to Heavy Cinema, One Perfect Match follows Lucy Marks, played by Patterson, as she meets businessman Finn Grayson, played by Sasse, at a restaurant. After forming an instant spark, she learns Finn is her client and she has a 'no dating clients' policy. Joshua made headlines in 2017 when he famously ended his engagement to pop princess Kylie Minogue after two years together. At the time of their separation, it was reported that Kylie had suspected Joshua was cheating on her with Spanish actress Marta Milans, but this was never confirmed. Joshua and his Australian wife Louisa now reside in New South Wales with their children Sebastian and Dominic. The couple tied the knot in September 2018 during a low-key ceremony at Byron Bay's registry office. In November last year, it was reported Joshua had moved into a new Byron Bay home with his family. Merritt looked stylish in a long denim dress, a beige coat and black heels as she got into character According to Heavy Cinema, One Perfect Match follows Lucy Marks, played by Patterson, as she mets businessman Finn Grayson, played by Sasse, at a restaurant The British-born actor made the decision to build the property and establish roots Down Under as he prepared to work on several new Australian productions. 'I have signed with an Australian agent and I would love to do some work here,' he told the Herald Sun at the time. The Monarch star added even though he moved to Australia in 2017 only recently did he begin to feel like a fully fledged Aussie. 'I feel Australian now, these are my roots,' he said. Salma Hayek opted for total comfort as she was spotted arriving at JFK Airport in New York City on Tuesday afternoon. The Academy Award nominee, 56, kept her famous curves hidden under baggy gray sweats and she trekked through the terminal in black patent leather boots. She attempted to go incognito by wearing large, black shades and covered up her brunette hair with a baker boy hat. Hayek pushed around her own luggage cart with an extra-large purple duffle bag and a black roller backpack stacked onto it. She was escorted through the airport by a team of bodyguards clad in black suits and ties. Touching down: Salma Hayek opted for total comfort as she was spotted arriving at JFK Airport in New York City on Tuesday afternoon Hayek's outing comes just one day after she made her Instagram followers' jaws drop by sharing a slideshow of sexy bikini snaps. The mother-of-one's fans could not get over how astonishing she looked. 'Gorgeous,' gushed one fan as another quipped, 'Thought this was a throwback.' One cheeky follower said, 'I'll be in the shower if anyone needs me.' The silver screen star was getting out of the ocean and onto a boat at sunset as she showed off her trim waistline and sculpted arms with her hair slicked back. In her caption the Frida actress said she was getting 'renewed' by the salt water. 'Every time I need to feel renewed I jump into the ocean,' wrote the mother to daughter Valentina in her caption. She then shared the same note in Spanish. Her hashtag was for 'Oceanlife.' Hayek has fascinated her fans for the past decade with her very youthful looks as she shows off her fit figure in swimwear. But in January she was railed against for using a filter. The Academy Award nominee, 56, kept her famous curves hidden under baggy gray sweats and she trekked through the terminal in black patent leather boots She's got it! Salma pushed around her own luggage cart with an extra-large purple duffle bag and a black roller backpack stacked onto it She appeared more like her 2003 self than her 2023 self, which may have been with the help of some filters. Followers seemed to notice as one person asked, 'Who is that?' while another follower wrote, 'You look 25 mi chula' and someone else asked, 'HOW OLD IS SHE?????????' Later a fan added, 'You look beautiful so plz stop face tunning its getting out off hand.' Facetune is a photo editing application used to edit, enhance, and retouch photos on a user's iOS or Android device created by Lightricks. Hayek credit her hairstylist Jennifer Yepez and makeup artist Sofia Schwarzkopf-Tilbury but did not name the photographer. Her long dark hair was worn in a ponytail that was tight and sleek. The mother-of-one had on cherry red lipstick with matching blush that was very flattering. Her lashes were long and her eyebrows were groomed as if she was ready for a magazine photo shoot. Wow! Salma's outing comes just one day after she made her Instagram followers' jaws drop by sharing a slideshow of sexy bikini snaps Incredible: The mother-of-one's fans could not get over how astonishing she looked The silver screen star was getting out of the ocean and onto a boat at sunset as she showed off her trim waistline and sculpted arms with her hair slicked back 'Renewed': In her caption the Frida actress said she was getting 'renewed' by the salt water All she had on for clothing was a cream-colored bathrobe with a white belt. The Frida actress was standing in a backyard with mature bushes. Hayek's caption read, 'Good morning!! buenos dias!! bonjour!!' Hayek returned as Kitty Softpaws in the critically-acclaimed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, which debuted in December. She was then seen in Magic Mike's Last Dance. She recently opened up about a steamy lap dance she did with franchise star Channing Tatum. Hayek, who replaced Thandiwe Newton in the sequel, plays a wealthy socialite, who learns that Mike isn't really a bartender as he shows her his special skills with a dance. A new look: Hayek shared a very stunning photo to her Instagram page in January, which many suspected was edited to smooth out her complexion Then and now: Earlier this year she looked lovely at the Golden Globes, left, but this week she looks half her age 'It's very physically challenging. My goodness. You just wait to see. It's just complicated,' Hayek teased. 'I play a strong woman. You know what was my day going into the office? I would just sit around and watch, like, 12 men, semi-naked dancing and doing pirouettes. And I got to boss them around,' she added. She will also star in Angelina Jolie's next directorial effort Without Blood, which is currently in post-production. The actress stars alongside Demian Bichir in the adaptation of Alessandro Baricco's novel, adapted by Jolie herself. Hayek last hit the red carpet in March while attending both the Oscars and the star-studded Vanity Fair Oscars Party with her daughter Valentina Paloma, 15. Mother-daughter duo: Hayek last hit the red carpet in March while attending both the Oscars and the star-studded Vanity Fair Oscars Party with her daughter Valentina Paloma, 15 Dazzling: For the Vanity Fair after-party, Hayek rocked a plunging rhinestone dress and Valentina modeled a gorgeous blush toned gown The mother-daughter duo hit the first red carpet of the night in their red gowns of choice. Hayek dazzled in a skintight sequin gown, while Valentina rocked a scarlet strapless dress. For the Vanity Fair after-party, Hayek changed into a plunging rhinestone dress and Valentina modeled a gorgeous blush toned gown. The From Dusk Til Dawn actress shares her only child with husband Francois-Henri Pinault, 60. Emily Ratajkowski put on a racy display as she posed up a storm in a stylish ensemble for an eye-popping video. The model, 31, took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday to show off her incredible figure as she struck a series of sexy poses. In the clip, she flaunted her washboard abs in a sheer beige top, giving a flash of her black lace bra underneath. Emily added to her fashionable ensemble with a clinging grey skirt with a person's body printed across it. She gave herself a few extra inches in a pair of heeled brown boots and swept a black leather-look jacket across her shoulders. Wow! Emily Ratajkowski put on a racy display as she posed up a storm in a stylish ensemble for an eye-popping video Racy: The model, 31, took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday to show off her incredible figure as she struck a series of sexy poses The bombshell styled her fringed brunette locks in a straight fashion across her shoulders before lifting her tresses into a ponytail-style with her hand. She added to her striking features with a dewy make-up palette and accessorized her edgy look with gold hoop earrings. It comes after it was claimed Olivia Wilde wants Emily to 'keep her name out of her mouth' after the model said she 'feels bad' for the star in the wake of her public kiss with Olivia's ex Harry Styles. Emily stunned the world last month when she was caught on camera enjoying a very passionate embrace with popstar Harry, 29, just months after he split from Olivia, 39. After subsequent rumors began swirling of a feud between the two women, Emily addressed the scandal in an interview with Vogue Spain, saying she 'feels bad' for Olivia - an admission sources say has left the actress fuming. 'Emily shouldn't feel bad for Olivia. She should reexamine her dating life and the men she chooses to go out with,' an insider close to the situation tells DailyMail.com. 'Emily should really just focus on being a mom.' The insider added. 'Olivia just wants Emily to keep her name out of her mouth.' Speaking to Vogue Spain, Emily said she was surprised that the videos of her steamy hookup with Harry - which were published exclusively by DailyMail.com - went viral. Stunning: In the clip, she flaunted her washboard abs in a sheer beige top, giving a flash of her black lace bra underneath Glam: Emily added to her fashionable ensemble with a clinging grey skirt with a person's body printed across it Feud? It comes after it was claimed Olivia Wilde wants Emily to 'keep her name out of her mouth' after the model said she 'feels bad' for the star in the wake of her kiss with Harry Styles Emily also denied reports that she had a confrontation with Olivia, who dated Harry for two years before announcing their split in November, calling the entire debacle an 'unfortunate situation'. However, the source said that while Olivia and Emily haven't 'had it out' yet, the director believes Emily 'betrayed her' by making out with Harry - particularly in such a public manner. 'Emily's statement about not having it out with Olivia after she was photographed making out with Harry last month in Japan is correct,' the source explained. 'They have not had any confrontation because Olivia has not spoken to Emily since then. She betrayed her and broke girl code.' DailyMail.com contacted representatives for Olivia and Emily for comment at the time. Emily previously expressed to Vogue that she found it 'bizarre' for her dating life to be of public concern. She said: 'It's very bizarre to have certain experiences and then have the whole world know and comment on them.' 'I'm just a person who's gone from a three-year relationship (with musician Jeff Magid) to a four-year one (with ex-husband Sebastian Bear-McClard).' 'So, this is the first time in a long time I've been in a dating stage,' Emily continued. She addressed the infamous kiss directly, stating: 'There's a reason certain celebrities live in LA, hire security, don't go to public restaurants, etc.' Prior to dating Harry, Emily was linked to comedian Eric Andre and SNL alum Pete Davidson. She shares her son Sylvester, two, with her ex-husband Sebastian Bear-McClard, who she was married to from 2018 until 2022. Steamy: Emily stunned the world last month when she was caught on camera enjoying a very passionate embrace with popstar Harry, 29, just months after he split from Olivia, 39 Split: Harry, who has not publicly commented on the photos of his kiss with Emily, ended his relationship with Olivia in November 2022 after two years of dating Exes: Emily filed for divorce from Sebastian (pictured with their son Sylvester) last summer over allegations that he cheated on her with several women Emily filed for divorce from Sebastian last summer over allegations that he cheated on her with several women. Harry, who has not publicly commented on the photos of his kiss with Emily, ended his relationship with Olivia when he was on world tour, which he is currently on a short break from. Less than four months before they broke it off, Olivia was photographed with Emily as the two danced together at Harry's Love on Tour concert in Spain. Harry and Olivia - who had split from husband Jason Sudeikis - fell for each other on the set of Don't Worry Darling in 2020. Jude Law explained why he stayed in character as Captain Hook while filming Peter Pan & Wendy on Tuesday's episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The 50-year-old actor said he decided it would be better to remain as Hook the whole time around the child actors he worked with on the Disney+ movie. 'A lot of the reactions that you see are their reactions to me for the first time,' Jude said. Jimmy, 48, asked if the children ever got to meet Jude. 'They met Jude at the end and I did what every adult should do to bribe children, I hired an ice cream van,' Jude said. 'I drove it onsite.' In character: Jude Law explained why he stayed in character as Captain Hook while filming Peter Pan & Wendy on Tuesday's episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon The captain: The 50-year-old actor, shown in a still as Captain Hook, said he decided it would be better to remain as Hook the whole time around the child actors he worked with on the Disney+ movie Jude said the script for the live-action reimagining of Peter Pan included more of Hook's backstory. 'You understand a little more about why Hook is the way he is,' Jude said. 'How he came to Neverland, the relationship between him and Peter and how it really started. And so you really get into a little bit of the damage that was done to him, and why he's quite as awful as he is.' Jude said he had to learn how to sword fight for the film with his left hand. He also kept the hook on all day and milked it. Jimmy played a clip of Peter Pan & Wendy that will begin streaming on Friday on the Disney+ service. Jude was sporting a new mustache that he said grew himself because he was playing a cop in the 80's in a new movie that he starts filming in a couple of weeks. Jimmy asked him about just wrapping Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and tried to get more information from him about it. 'There are wonderful twists and turns and reveals,' said Jude, who also shared he wasn't allowed to talk about details of the series. 'It's an adventure for kids, but it's not in a kid's world. The jeopardy is real and it was a blast,' he added. Jude said they shot in Manhattan Beach, California, and that it was a really wonderful experience. Bribed children: 'They met Jude at the end and I did what every adult should do to bribe children, I hired an ice cream van,' Jude said. 'I drove it onsite' The upcoming season of MasterChef Australia: Secrets & Surprises is set to premiere in May and it looks to be a thrilling series full of culinary drama. The Channel Ten competitive cooking show has now released a full list of the cast ahead of the premiere on Monday, May 1. This number of contestants has been cut down this year from 24 to 18 and they are a unique group of culinary experts in the making. Let's meet them. Adi Nevgi Nevgi works in the healthcare sector in Melbourne and has traveled to 55 countries throughout her lifetime. Her worldly experience has seen her develop a love for creating delectable dishes and her Indian heritage means she is particularly passionate about creating tasty South-East Asian cuisine. The upcoming season of MasterChef Australia: Secrets & Surprises is set to premiere in May and it looks to be a thrilling series full of culinary drama. Pictured L - R: Series judges Melissa Leong, Andy Allen, and Jock Zonfrillo Alice Han (pictured) was born and raised in Sydney and got her Bachelor's degree from Stanford University in California Alice Han Han was born and raised in Sydney and got her Bachelor's degree from Stanford University in California. Her parents hail from China and moved to Australia shortly before she was born, which has given her a passion for creating Asian dishes. She works as a freelance writer and can speak four languages - English, Mandarin, French and German. Amy Tanner Tanner hails from Victoria and has been a huge fan of MasterChef since it first aired in 2009. She recently travelled to the Middle East and South-East Asia which saw her develop a passion for worldly cuisine. Amy particularly likes seafood and it is her dream to one day open a wine bar. Andrea Puglisi Puglisi was born and raised in Turin in Italy and after moving to Australia he initially lived in Victoria before relocating to WA. He has a passion for Mediterranean and pescatarian flavours as well as traditional Italian dishes. His long-term goal is to open a wine and cocktail bar in a scenic tropical location. Antonio Vaamonde (pictured) was born in Venezuela and made the move to Australia in 2015 Antonio Cruz Vaamonde Vaamonde was born in Venezuela and made the move to Australia in 2015. He has a real sweet tooth when it comes to food and specialises in preparing tasty pastries and desserts. Brent Draper Draper returns to MasterChef after first appearing on the 2021 season, where he left midway through to focus on his mental health. The Queensland native has spent the past two years focusing on personal growth and promises to bring that special something to this year's season. Cath Collins Collins said she has been inspired by former MasterChef winner Julie Goodwin to go above and beyond in the kitchen. She lives in Victoria and is a Jack of all Trades when it comes to cooking, meaning she can cook anything and everything with skill and style. Declan Cleary Cleary works as a carpenter during the day and cooks up a storm in the evening. He has travelled to Malaysia, Thailand, Mexico and Papua New Guinea and has a passion for artfully preparing seafood dishes. 'Declan's my name, and fish is my game,' he says. Brent Draper (pictured) returns to MasterChef after first appearing during the 2021 season, where he left midway through to focus on his mental health This year's contestants has been cut down from 24 to 18. All pictured Grace Jupp Jupp owns and operates an olive oil company with her husband, who is a former chef. She says her hubby introduced her to the world of cuisine and she hopes to put her top-notch food preparation skills to good use on the show. Jessica Perri Perri is an Italian beauty who was taught incredible food preparation skills from a young age from both her grandmothers. She has a knack for creating tasty pasta dishes and says she is continuing her family's amazing food legacy. Jessica describes her dishes as 'generous, abundant and flavourful' and says she hopes to one day open her own cooking school. She has a knack for creating tasty pasta dishes and says she is continuing her famil amazing food legacy. Fedele is a clinical nutritionist who has loved food for as long as she can remember as her parents owned a fruit and veg shop when she was growing up. She hails from South Australia and specialises in making delicious pastas and sauces from the ground up. Phil Conway Conway made the move to Melbourne a decade ago from Ireland and a recent trip to Italy saw him learn traditional pasta making recipes from the experts. The fitness studio manager reignited his love for cooking during the Covid lockdown when he prepared delicious meals at home to keep himself busy. Audiences can expect more engaging culinary insight from the judging panel comprising of food experts Melissa Leong, Andy Allen, and Jock Zonfrillo Ralph Kahango Kahango grew up in Zimbabwe and South Africa and hopes to wow the judges with his delicious African-inspired dishes. His ultimate goal is to one day host his own cooking show so he can share the secrets of his delicious dishes with an audience. Rhiannon Anderson Anderson learned her culinary secrets from her late mother who worked as a chef, and aims to continue her legacy by appearing on MasterChef. She loves Asian dishes with a tropical topping and describes her food as bold and punchy. Robbie Cooper Cooper is a proud Iwaidja man who hails from the Northern Territory and describes his cooking as 'Aboriginal Asian fusion'. One of his key strengths is the ability to combine traditional and modern recipes and he looks set to wow the judges with his delectable dishes. Rue Mupedzi Mupedzi relocated from Zimbabwe to Western Australia when she was 15 and has made it a habit to skillfully recreate restaurant meals at home. The skilled dessert chef started her own macaroon making business in 2021 and is set to show the other contestants what gives a great dessert that extra oomph. Theo Loizou Loizou works as an electrician and has a passion for creating mouth-watering bread based recipes in the kitchen. The Melbourne native learned his breadmaking recipes from some of the world's best chef's in France and looks set to wow audiences with his stunning creations. MasterChef Australia: Secrets & Surprises premieres Monday, May 1 at 7.30pm on Channel Ten Dita Von Teese turned heads as she attended an intimate poolside dinner hosted by Net-A-Porter and Erdem at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The burlesque dancer, 50, put on a daring display in a figure-hugging blue lace maxi dress as she joined the likes of January Jones and Annabelle Wallis at the swanky soiree. The racy number featured a corset waist and low-cut neck, putting her ample assets on full display. Dita - real name Heather Renee Sweet - added a chic blue cardigan to her ensemble and a pair of glasses. The star styled her raven tresses in a short bob and elegant curls. Wow! Dita Von Teese looked nothing short of sensational on Tuesday as she attended an intimate poolside dinner hosted by Net-A-Porter and Erdem at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles She accentuated her natural beauty with a stunning palette of make up including a bright red lip. January, meanwhile, looked the epitome of stylish for the dinner as she opted for a crystal embellished yellow maxi skirt and matching bandeau top. The Mad Men star, 45, threw on a white T-shirt underneath and added a boost to her height with a pair of silver strappy heels. Complementing her look perfectly, January styled her blonde tresses naturally and finished her ensemble with a natural palette of make up. Making a statement, Annabelle, 38, wore an eye-popping green satin skirt embellished with a black floral pattern. Pairing her look, she added a low-cut black bandeau top and showed off her incredible body in the figure-hugging number. She opted for a pair of black strappy heels and accessorised with dainty gold bracelets. The beauty looked gorgeous for the evening with a stunning palette of make up and swipe of red lipstick. Racy: The burlesque dancer, 50, put on a daring display in a figure-hugging blue lace maxi dress Beauty: The racy number featured a corset waist and low-cut neck, putting her ample assets on full display Gorgeous: Meanwhile, January Jones looked the epitome of stylish for the dinner where she opted for a crystal embellished yellow maxi skirt and matching bandeau top Stylish: The beauty threw on a white T-shirt underneath and added a boost to her height with a pair of silver strappy heels Chic: Complementing her look perfectly, she styled her blonde tresses naturally and finished her ensemble with a natural palette of make up Pop of colour! Making a statement, Annabelle Wallis wore an eye-popping green satin skirt embellished with a black floral pattern Putting on a show: Pairing her look, she added a low-cut black bandeau top and showed off her incredible body in the figure-hugging number Stunning pair: Posing alongside Alison Loehnis, Annabelle opted for a pair of black strappy heels and accessorised with dainty gold bracelets The star-studded dinner celebrated the launch of their exclusive vacation collection, perfectly putting A-listers in the summer spirit. And no exception was Niecy Nash who stunned in an eye-catching yellow suit. The 53-year-old Emmy-winning actress donned the bold number with an asymmetrical black crop top. She toted her belongings in a black box bag and styled her brunette tresses in loose waves, cascading past her shoulders. Gillian Jacobs too showed off her fashionable sense of style in an oversized grey blazer dress and baby pink heels. Gillian oozed elegance in the dress, which featured black sequin designs and a button-up detail down the middle. Ava Duvernay dazzled in a green and white floral maxi dress, tied together with a chic brown belt. The beauty lifted her enviable figure with a pair of brown heels and toted a brown clutch bag. Summer spirit: Niecy Nash stunned in an eye-catching yellow suit Statement: Gillian Jacobs too showed off her fashionable sense of style in an oversized grey blazer dress and baby pink heels Floral: Ava Duvernay dazzled in a green and white floral maxi dress, tied together with a chic brown belt Stunners: Pairing her look, Dita - real name Heather Renee Sweet - added a chic blue cardigan to her ensemble and a pair of glasses asshe joined Alison Loehnis at the event Star-studded: Also at the event, Elisa Sednaoui Dellal looked trendy in a black skirt and matching corset bandeau top Sweet: Maria Bakalova looked beautiful in blue and brown suede boots Blossoming! Ashley Madekwe showed off her blossoming baby bump in a blue floral top that split down her stomach Ravishing: Hilary Rhoda got into the summer spirit in a white linen co-ord White for the night! Symone looked the image of elegance in white tailored trousers and a TINY white crop top Dita, dubbed the Queen of Burlesque, is in a relationship with graphic designer Adam Rajcevich, 35, who she has been dating for nearly seven years. Adam is a Visual Designer for Disney, and has been with the company since December 2014. Dita has been married only once. From 2005 to 2007, she was wed to rocker Marilyn Manson. Dita began her career as a burlesque dancer and a Playboy model. Since then, she has expanded her career to include a lingerie and cosmetic line as well as a beauty book, Your Beauty Mark: The Ultimate Guide to Eccentric Glamour. In 2012, Dita, created her own make-up line, Classics, in a partnership with brand Artdeco. That same year, she launched Von Follies, a collection lingerie. Mark Wright has admitted it was harder to win over wife Michelle Keegan than it was to 'crack America.' The former TOWIE star, 36, revealed that the actress, 35, 'gave him the elbow' for a full year before agreeing to a date in a hilarious confession on Tuesday. Speaking on the Private Parts podcast to host Jamie Laing, Mark gave a rare insight into his relationship. The couple first met backstage at The X Factor and then crossed paths again three days later at a Manchester United charity dinner. The following week they both attended the National Television Awards, with Mark previously confessing Michelle caught his attention when she said he was 'fit' during a red carpet appearance. Funny: Mark Wright has admitted it was harder to win over wife Michelle Keegan than it was to 'crack America' He recalled: 'I chased her for a while. Basically she gave me the elbow for about a year and then finally I got my way, after a lot of work. 'I don't know who was harder to crack actually, her or my American boss. Probably her, and that's saying something.' 'Then about literally a year later of us bumping into each other I finally sort of asked her out and it went from there.' In 2017, Mark started his year-long contract presenting a late night segment for Extra alongside Mario Lopez at Universal Studios in Los Angeles. Media personality Mark reportedly quit his job after two years, after struggling to be apart from the former Corrie star. Speaking about his experience he added: 'It was tough. I'm married and my wife was filming a lot back in the UK, Europe and South Africa at the time.' 'So she couldn't be with me full time and I'm a married man, living in Hollywood, but without my wife. 'After a while you start to think, 'What's most important? Your dreams or your happiness?'" History: The former TOWIE star revealed that the actress, 35, 'gave him the elbow' for a full year before agreeing to a date in a hilarious confession on Tuesday Funny: Speaking on the Private Parts podcast to host Jamie Laing (pictured), Mark gave a rare insight into his relationship Candid: He recalled: 'I chased her for a while. Basically she gave me the elbow for about a year and then finally I got my way, after a lot of work' The couple first began dating in 2012 and went on to marry in 2015 at St Mary's Church in Bury St Edmunds. Mark and Michelle have since been busy moving into their 'dream' Essex mansion after years of extensive renovation work. But they aren't stopping there, as the duo are also creating the perfect home away from home in Spain too. Former TOWIE star Mark jetted over last week to work on renovating their Mallorca apartment as he transported materials from the UK to make his vision come to life. Myleene Klass, Andy Whyment and Georgia Toffolo returned to I'm A Celebrity on Tuesday as they touched down in South Africa to take on the All Stars addition. But the three new ex-campmates could face a shock twist as a Bush Bulletin hints that trouble could be on the horizon during Wednesday night's episode. Viewers previously saw the trio greet each other in the bush before being whisked away to seemingly join the main camp. However, it appears that Myleene, Andy, and Georgia are in for a surprise as they discover they are actually alone at a completely different location. Finding a Bush Bulletin, Myleene reads: 'Celebrities, welcome to Savannah Scrub where three celebrities will live separated from the others in main camp.' Coming soon: Myleene Klass, Andy Whyment and Georgia Toffolo returned to I'm A Celebrity on Tuesday as they touched down in South Africa to take on the All Stars addition Over at the main camp fans of the show know that their fate is in the hands of the other contestants. Receiving their own Bush Bulletin at the main camp, Jordan Banjo read: 'Three new celebrities are on their way and it is up to you to decide which one of them will join you for dinner tonight. 'Whoever you choose will also be responsible for winning the stars in today's trial. The new celebrities are: Andy Whymentt, Toff AKA Georgia Toffolo or Myleene Klass.' The group at the main camp then discussed which of the new arrivals should be chosen to take on the Bush Tucker Trial. Meeting her two fellow new arrivals, Toff admitted: 'It does feel like the great unknown again' She said: 'Theres something about the magic of this show to be asked to do it again, its too good of an opportunity for me to miss. 'Can you imagine winning it for a second time? Its obviously a huge pipe dream. Its not going to happen, but its nice to be in the running. It comes after Myleene warned viewers not to expect the same shower scenes as she arrived in the South African camp on Tuesday. New arrivals: Viewers previously saw the trio greet each other in the bush before being whisked away to seemingly join the main camp Oh no: However, it appears that Myleene, Andy, and Georgia are in for a surprise as they discover they are actually alone at a completely different location The former pop star, 45, famously set pulses racing in 2006 by sporting a white two-piece in the outside shower. Ahead of entering the camp, Myleene explained: 'After doing the programme I saw the photo and I was like 'my goodness, it does look glamorous, but it certainly didn't feel like it - far from it! 'There are worse things to be known for than being really clean! Since then, I have had three babies and I don't look like that now.' She added: 'I am really proud of how strong my body has been. It has been through lots of trials and tribulations since and part of the reason for doing this all star version is I want to remind myself of that.' I'm A Celebrity... South Africa airs tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX Stacey Solomon's rarely-seen two younger brothers Josh and Matthew have been revealed. The TV personality, 33, often uploads snaps with her older sister Jemma, 35, but she also has two other siblings, Matthew and a half-brother Josh, 18. Josh is hoping to follow in his older sisters footsteps as he recently released his own music on Spotify and Apple Music. He also has a TikTok account where he shares behind the scenes clips of the creation of his songs and makes fun videos with friends. Josh was last featured on Stacey's Instagram back in 2018 when they shared a sweet selfie together. He also rarely refers to his older sister online. Surprise siblings: Stacey Solomon's rarely-seen two younger brothers Josh (pictured) and Matthew have been revealed Exciting: The X Factor star's half-sibling, 18, is hoping to follow in his older sisters footsteps as he recently released his own music Half-brother: Josh was last featured on Stacey's Instagram back in 2018 when they shared a sweet selfie together. He also rarely refers to his older sister online Josh shares the Loose Women star's dad David, who divorced Stacey's mum Fiona when she was nine-years-old and remarried. He went on to have Josh with his new partner when Stacey was 15, which is just two years before she welcomed her own son Zachary, who is now 15. In her autobiography in 2019, Stacey admitted she is 'very close' with her siblings. The last time the TV personality shared a snap with Josh she joked they were both suffering from pimples. She wrote: 'I love my little brother so much that I appear to be experiencing sympathy puberty. Or at least thats what weve called it. 'Had the best laugh with my little bro tonight talking about all things hormone induced and Im grateful to my spots for making that happen. Love you, Josh!' Stacey's third sibling Matthew likes to stay out of the limelight and little is known about her younger brother. However, in 2019 Stacey revealed Matthew was getting engaged and she shared earlier this week that she had asked him to design a tattoo for her. Family: Josh shares the Loose Women star's dad David, who divorced Stacey's mum Fiona and went on to have him with a new partner when she was 15-years-old Sisterly love: The TV personality, 33, often uploads snaps with her older sister Jemma, 35, but her other siblings are rarely-seen as she insists they are all 'very close' Revealing her brother is a tattoo artist Stacey told her followers she was 'so excited' as she experimented with some stencils before going ahead with the design at a later date. Stacey explained that her brother will be tattooing the piece on her when she returns from her trip to Paris. Sharing a black and white clip to Instagram, Stacey could be seen while her brother stencilled her oldest sons name, Zachary, on to her back. Stacey shares daughters Belle, two months, Rose, 15 months, and Rex, three, with husband Joe Swash, is also mother to Zach and Leighton, nine, from previous relationships. The presenter began: 'So my brother is a tattooist and he kept the shop open late tonight so we can have a little stencil session. I cant believe Im actually doing it. So excited.' She continued: 'Just a little play around tonight while the kids are in bed then we can go for it when Im back from Paris.' In another video, she explained: 'So, Belle and me were having a quiet Friday laying on the sofa and I think I want a tattoo. Am I having a midlife crisis or is it my hormones? 'Is it weird to get a tattoo in your thirties? I think I really want one, I've never had one before.' Stacey then revealed her plans to have all of her children's names tattooed on to her body, before asking her followers in they had ever had one 'later on in life. Inking: Stacey's third sibling Matthew likes to stay out of the limelight and little is known about her younger brother but she revealed he is designing a tattoo for her earlier this week Step-sibling: As well as Jenna, Matthew and Josh, the Sort Your Life Out presenter also has a step-sister Samantha Stone, who is a fitness trainer, and jetted off on the stars hen do in Mykonos last year (pictured L-R Samantha, Stacey, Jenna) The mother-of-five then said: 'Joe's got two tattoos, but he never gets them out. I don't know why.' 'Because they're on my penis. They're really small,' Joe joked. 'They'd have to be if they were there,' Stacey quipped. As well as Jenna, Matthew and Josh, the Sort Your Life Out presenter also has a step-sister Samantha Stone. Samantha is also rarely seen on Stacey's social media but last year made an appearance after jetting off on the stars hen do in Mykonos ahead of her wedding to Joe Swash. Samantha, who is a fitness trainer at Barry's UK and an ambassador for Nike Training Club, is married to Aaron Stone, who is a TV producer for Gogglebox and the couple share two children together. Kim Kardashian has revealed she would be 'happy' to give up stardom to be a 'full-time' lawyer. The 42-year-old reality superstar is known for appearing in a series of shows alongside her world-famous family. She has been training as a lawyer since 2019 in memory of her dad Robert - who worked as a high-profile attorney but died in 2003 at the age of 59. The influencer revealed that she 'always jokes' to her mother Kris Jenner that she will be 'retiring' her celebrity persona to focus on her law career. Speaking at the TIME100 Summit on Tuesday, she said: 'There's a lot that's out there on TV but my friends know we really value our private time. Career: Kim Kardashian, 42, said she would be 'happy' to sacrifice stardom to be a full-time lawyer at the TIME100 summit on Tuesday Working hard: Kim revealed she was starting to train to become a lawyer in 2019 'I would be just as happy being an attorney full-time. The journey just really opened up my eyes so much. 'It gets overwhelming because there's so much to be done ... I brought my sister Khloe [Kardashian] to a prison for the first time last week, and that was really eye-opening for her. 'I always joke with my mom who's my manager I say Kim K. is retiring, and I'm just going to be an attorney.' Meanwhile, the SKIMS founder - who has North, 10, Saint, seven, Chicago, five, and three-year-old Psalm with ex-husband Kanye West - explained that her father would have 'got such a kick' out of her going to law school. In December 2021 Kim finally passed the baby bar exam on her fourth attempt. She said it was something they discussed when he was still alive and credited him for giving her a 'work ethic'. She also explained that she 'learned so much more' from her mother than she ever speaks out about. Kim added: 'But I know that he would probably get such a kick out of this because he wouldn't have expected it at all. Gorgeous: Kim Kardashian showcased her flat midriff as she arrived to the Lincoln Center in New York City on Tuesday Tribute: Kim is training to be a lawyer in memory of her dad, Robert 'We talked so much about me going to law school and he always said he would help give us an allowance if we stayed in school and I couldn't do it. 'I was like 'I'm on my own, I don't care', I didn't finish school. 'And now that the opportunity has come along all these years later, it's so much more meaningful. I'm learning every day and I'm just so grateful for the experience. He did warn me how stressful it is though. 'But I will say, I did learn my work ethic from my dad but I learned so much more from my mom than I ever give her credit for. 'I'm not even trying to be funny, but you kind of give the dead parent a lot of credit. She taught us how to have a home and how to make a home. 'She kept everything from when we were growing up. I could find a tooth, a lock of hair. 'She has these chests that she saved for us with baby books so I do that for all my children, and every year on their birthday I will write them each a four- or five-page letter that I will give them on their 21st birthday.' Kim showcased her flat midriff as she arrived to the event at the Lincoln Centre in New York City on Tuesday. Besties: Kim shares North, 10 (pictured), Saint, seven, Chicago, five, and three-year-old Psalm with ex-husband Kanye West The mother of four looked spring chic in an off-white crop top that highlighted her ample cleavage and her svelte waist as she arrived to the 2023 Time100 Summit. Kim paired the top with a partially sheer cream blazer, adding matching high-waisted trousers. Her bottoms were sheer - with the star wearing cream coloured hot pants beneath. Kim paired the interesting look with a delicate diamond necklace, earrings and a number of rings - including one that had her first name initial 'K' on it. She wore white heels and rocked light pink colored polish on her finger nails. The star wore her hair back in a messy updo, leaving two fringed pieces loose to frame her face. Kim sported pink lipstick on her full pout, opting for smokey brown eye makeup on her lids. They are two of the world's most recognisable comic actors - as well as husband and wife. But while Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen are very much in the public eye, they are notoriously private about their children. The actress, 47, and her comedian partner, 51, have never uploaded social media images of their three children Olive, Elula and Montgomery. Appearing on Wednesday's episode of Lorraine, Isla explained the reason she chooses to keep them out of the spotlight. She said: 'It's unfair on them! Kids deserve a normal childhood. I want them to be outdoors and play and run around - not feel self-conscious.' Interview: Isla Fisher and her husband are very much in the public eye, but they are notoriously private about their children This is not the first time the actress has spoken about her decision to shield her children from the public eye. In an interview with Marie Claire Australia in 2021, Isla said: 'Motherhood is actually my favourite topic but I keep it private. 'I think all parents are trying to protect their kids, especially in the social media age. 'I want our children to have a normal childhood being able to play outside without pressure or scrutiny. All kids have the right to just be kids, and I would never sell a film or magazine by speaking about [mine].' In November last year, Isla explained how being a mother is the most important role in her life. The Hollywood star, who started her career on Aussie soap Home and Away, told The Australian Women's Weekly her acting skills often come in handy when raising her three children. 'One of the perks of being an actor is you have a bunch of silly voices in your back pocket to whip out at bedtime,' she said. Private: The Australian actress, 47, and comedian partner, 51, (pictured in December) have never uploaded social media images of their three children Olive, Elula and Montgomery On the sofa: Isla appeared on Wednesday's episode of Lorraine, with a furry guest The Wedding Crashers star said she loves reading bedtime stories to her kids, and often uses her imagination to come up with fun and engaging stories. She said: 'There's often a teachable lesson that leads to interesting discussions. If somebody is having a problem at school or something, I'll tailor the bedtime story a little bit to align with whatever's going on,' she added. The Hollywood couple relocated from Los Angeles to Sydney in 2020. While it's was widely speculated that they moved Down Under to escape the Coronavirus pandemic ravaging the US, reports claimed they were actually fleeing America's tumultuous political climate. 'They didn't want to raise their kids in Trump's America,' an insider told Sydney Morning Herald. Isla and Sacha first met at a party in Sydney in 2002, and married eight years later. Isla reflected on the couple having been together for two decades - a rarity in the world of showbusiness. 'It is a fun ride. I feel so lucky to have Sacha in my life. Now we have this beautiful family and we survived lockdown together, which you know, it is not easy for any couple,' she said. 'I think by Hollywood standards it's probably 200 years!' she joked. 'I feel like it's a Golden Jubilee or something. Everyone was congratulating me.' Happy couple: The actress has been married to Baron Cohen (right) since 2010 Love: Isla and Sacha met at a party in Sydney in 2002 and married eight years later Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton proved they were still going strong on Tuesday as they cosied up together at the 2023 Brooklyn Artists Ball. The Stranger Things co-stars have been dating for six years but rumours of a split were rife in the autumn, when they hadn't been spotted together for several months. But Natalia, 26, and Charlie, 29, showed they were stronger than ever at the New York event, as they stood with their arms affectionately around one another. The on-screen lovers continued their loved-up display later on, as they intimately sat together on a bench and shut down any rumours of a split. Natalia, who plays Nancy Wheeler in Stranger Things, looked gorgeous in a goth-chic dress with an embroidered floral jacket, as she was all smiles next to Charlie. Stronger than ever: Natalia Dyer, 26, and Charlie Heaton, 29, quashed any rumours of a split on Tuesday at the 2023 Brooklyn Artists Ball Loved-up: The Stranger Things co-stars could not bear to be more than an inch away from one another She showed off her unique sense of style in knee-high stockings, while her black skirt had a large slit to expose her enviable pins. Her auburn tresses were elegantly styled in loose waves as she opted for minimal make-up at the star-studded event. Meanwhile Charlie, who plays her love interest Jonathan Byers in the Netflix show, looked dapper in a shiny black suit with oversized jacket. According to the Brooklyn Museum's website the Brooklyn Artists Ball 'is one of the art world's most beloved, fun, and inspiring events of the year.' The gathering featured a cocktail reception, dinner, a program, and an after party. Also present at the event were Maggie Gyllenhaal, sister of Jake, and Tracee Ellis Ross. The 45-year-old The Deuce actress wore a long black dress while the 50-year-old Black-ish star was clad in a pink monochrome look. The fifth and final season of Netflix's Stranger Things is set to air next year. Glamorous: Natalia donned a goth-chic dress with an embroidered floral jacket Having a ball: The couple were seated next to Thomas Doherty and Eli Brown Natalia previously spoke to Netflix's Tudum and stated that she wanted to share the screen with every cast member of Stranger Things during its final season. 'In an ideal world, I want a scene with every single person in the cast because one of the most fun things about this show is getting to see the different dynamics,' she said. The performer also said that she was excited about the prospect of appearing alongside her longtime friends in the upcoming episodes. 'I really am looking forward to hopefully having some of those nice character moments of these people connecting and showing that they care about each other,' she said. Natalia is currently preparing for the release of the horror feature All Fun and Games, in which she will star. It was revealed that the actress was attached to the project in January of last year, when it was also announced that she would star alongside Asa Butterfield. The movie will be centred on a pair of siblings who take part in a game in which they interact with demonic figures. It was subsequently announced that performers such as Keith David and Annabeth Gish had joined the cast of the feature. All Fun and Games, which was reported to have entered the post-production phase last November, currently does not have a set release date. On-screen: Natalia and Charlie star as Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers in Stranger Things Patsy Kensit showed off her toned figure as she enjoyed a trip to the beach during her recent holiday to the Maldives. The EastEnders actress, 55, slipped into a dark pink bikini that hihglighted her toned midriff and paired it with oversized sunglasses. Styling her blonde locks into an updo, Patsy bid farewell to the popular holiday destination in her caption, writing: 'Bye bye beautiful Maldives'. Patsy's friend Grainne Fletcher who she was on the holiday with also shared a photo of the star enjoying a drink while looking out onto the Pacific ocean. Grainne wrote: 'My glamorous holiday twin. Thank you @patsykensit for a heavenly week in paradise. Our special place. Fun in the sun: Patsy Kensit showed off her toned figure as she enjoyed a trip to the beach during her recent holiday to the Maldives Holiday: Patsy's friend Grainne Fletcher who she was on the holiday with also shared a photo of the star enjoying a drink while looking out onto the Pacific ocean 'Your kindness, generosity and humour have been so cathartic for me. We've laughed, I've shed a few tears as we've talked through special memories. 'But mostly we've laughed and giggled and just had an absolute blast. Thank you my darling angel, I've loved every second of it'. It comes after Good Morning Britain was slammed for 'inappropriately' drawing attention to Patsy's engagement ring while interviewing her last month. Mother-of-two Patsy announced her engagement to millionaire property tycoon Patric Cassidy after his romantic proposal on an idyllic overseas beach in February. The ring, believed to be an oval shaped 12-carat diamond worth in excess of 1million, was evident as the actress, who has been married four times, discussed her new role on BBC soap EastEnders with Kate Garraway. Drawing her interview to a close, the presenter couldn't resist referencing the exquisite piece of jewelry, telling Kensit: 'I am so distracted by that huge diamond ring! I am blinded by it!' But the quip fared badly with viewers of the ITV breakfast show, and a faction immediately aired their grievances on Twitter. 'Is it really wise for @gmb to go flashing @patsy_kensit 's engagement ring on national TV?!?!' Read one exasperated tweet. There it is: It comes after Good Morning Britain was slammed for 'inappropriately' drawing attention to Patsy 's engagement ring while interviewing her last month The many loves of Patsy Kensit 1. Dan Donovan (1988-1991) The actress first got married in 1988 when she was 22, to Dan Donovan, from 1980s pop group Big Audio Dynamite, but they split in 1991. 2. Jim Kerr (1992-1995) A year later, she married Simple Minds front man Jim Kerr but they divorced three years later. During this marriage, she gave birth to her first son James in 1993. 3. Liam Gallagher (1997-2000) Patsy and Liam married in Marylebone Town Hall and welcomed their son Lennon two years later before divorcing in 2000. 4. Jeremy Healy (2009-2010) It took nine years before she walked down the aisle again, this time marrying Nineties DJ Jeremy Healy. They split just a year later 5. Patric Cassidy (2022) The actress is said to have accepted a proposal from her property tycoon lover, Patric Cassidy, after he got down on one knee during a fish supper on Tuesday night. Advertisement 'Was it even relevant to the interview?? There are a LOT of horrible ppl out there who wouldn't think twice about targeting someone who has a lot of money hanging off their finger.' In response, a second added: 'I presume she wears it most of the time but I take your point that Kate didn't need to bring it up & it seemed irrelevant to the conversation. You can offer congratulations without saying you're blinded by the ring.' 'Patsy herself posted it on her Instagram page a few weeks ago & it got picked up by the papers & celebrity magazines,' a third pointed out. Clarifying her initial point, one tweeter added: 'Ok. My tweet was based more on the fact that people out there know that she is wearing it right now and they also know her location. GMB is live.' Craig Revel Horwood put on a brave face as he was seen for the first time since his former co-star Len Goodman's death. The Strictly judge paid homage to Len as he proved the show must go on while stepping out in London on Wednesday. Len died at a hospice in Tunbridge Wells following a short battle with bone cancer on Saturday night, days ahead of his 79th birthday. Craig, who described Len as his 'gorgeous colleague' in his heartfelt tribute, painted a smile on his face as he headed out after the death of his 'dear friend'. Craig took to Instagram to share his condolences after Len's death. The show must go on: Craig Revel Horwood put on a brave face as he was seen for the first time since his former co-star Len Goodman's death RIP: Len died at a hospice in Tunbridge Wells following a short battle with bone cancer on Saturday night, days ahead of his 79th birthday Alongside a photo from one of the first ever series of Strictly, the judge wrote: 'Ive just woken up to the sad news that my gorgeous colleague and dear friend Len Goodman has passed away. 'My heart and love go out to his lovely wife Sue and family. Len goody Goodman is what I called him and "its a ten from Len and seveeeeern" will live with me forever. 'Rest in peace Len.' Len was a much-loved judge on Strictly after joining the show when it launched in 2004 and staying on the panel until 2016. As well as winning a legion of fans in the UK, he also became a big name in the US after joining the American version of the show Dancing With The Stars. He remained with the series from 2005 until 2022. Len passed away surrounded by his loved ones after a private battle with bone cancer. A spokesman for the star told MailOnline: 'I can confirm he died peacefully over the weekend surrounded by his family.' Staying positive: The Strictly judge paid homage to Len as he proved the show must go on in London on Wednesday as he painted a smile on his face Keep dancing: Craig described Len as his 'gorgeous colleague' and 'dear friend' (pictured L-R Len, Darcey Bussell, Craig and Bruno Tonioli) Len's death has devastated the cast of Strictly. Anton Du Beke reportedly burst out crying on stage while paying tribute to the ballroom legend. The Strictly judge, 56, is thought to have broken down in tears as he performed a slow Foxtrot in honour of his late co-star on Monday. During An Evening With Anton Du Beke at the Corn Exchange Theatre in King's Lynn, he told fans: 'I have been like this all day, a disaster. 'My old pal, Lord Len Goodman. We love you, Len. 'He is the benchmark for all the judges. I have always tried to take his advice, which is: "Be yourself and say what you see."' Ncuti Gatwa cut a suave figure as he joined Anita Dobson to film festive scenes for Doctor Who in Bristol on Wednesday. The Sex Education star, 30, appeared to be in jovial spirits as he transformed into The Doctor while shooting Christmas scenes on a residential street. He was joined by EastEnders legend Anita, 73, who will be playing Mrs Flood, the elderly neighbour to The Doctor's companion Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson. Ncuti is joining the cast of the upcoming series of Doctor Who next year as the titular Time Lord, taking over the role from Jodie Whittaker and David Tennant. And he didn't shy away from getting stuck into the role as he filmed exciting scenes in Bristol this week, where he was seen chatting to Anita. Dapper: Ncuti Gatwa cut a suave figure as he joined Anita Dobson to film festive scenes for Doctor Who in Bristol on Wednesday Star: He was joined by EastEnders legend Anita, 73, who will be playing Mrs Flood, the elderly neighbour to The Doctor's companion Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson New face: Ncuti is joining the cast of the upcoming series of Doctor Who next year as the titular Time Lord, taking over the role from Jodie Whittaker and David Tennant Excited: Ncuti looked thrilled as he unlocked the door to the iconic TARDIS during the scenes Ncuti cut a dapper figure in a zip-up orange striped collared top and blue trousers, which he styled with a vibrant pair of trainers. He accessorised his suave look with a gold pendant and sported a well-groomed moustache to complete his costume. Ncuti was surrounded by festive decorations, including tinsel and wreathes, as he appeared to be shooting scenes for his first episode, the 2024 Christmas special. Also spotted on set was the iconic TARDIS, which is The Doctor's time machine, disguised in the form of a blue police box. In-between takes, Ncuti was seen wrapping up in a red dry robe as he kept warm amid the chilly temperatures. He was joined for the scenes by Anita, who cut a casual figure in a white shirt and a pink padded jacket, which she wore underneath a navy coat. Anita, best known for her role as Angie Watts in EastEnders, kept comfortable in white trainers as she sat on a chair covered by a grey blanket. It comes after Anita let slip the name of her Doctor Who character and what her role will entail while speaking exclusively with MailOnline. Smart: The Sex Education star, 30, appeared to be in jovial spirits as he transformed into The Doctor while shooting Christmas scenes on a residential street Suave: Ncuti cut a dapper figure in a zip-up orange striped collared top and blue trousers, which he styled with a vibrant pair of trainers Casual look: He was joined for the scenes by Anita, who cut a casual figure in a white shirt and a pink padded jacket, which she wore underneath a navy coat Recognisable: Also spotted on set was the iconic TARDIS, which is The Doctor's time machine, disguised in the form of a blue police box Action! Ncuti was seen grinning as he unlocked the iconic police box and headed inside the time machine, which is famously bigger on the inside Costume: He accessorised his suave look with a gold pendant and sported a well-groomed moustache, while he also wore a dry robe in between takes Energetic: Ncuti appeared to be speaking to someone out of shot as he headed to the TARDIS Star: Ncuti appeared to be in his element as he posed with the TARDIS during the scenes Christmas: Ncuti was surrounded by festive decorations, including tinsel and wreathes, as he appeared to be shooting scenes for his first episode, the 2024 Christmas special Cosy: In-between takes, Ncuti was seen wrapping up in a red dry robe as he kept warm amid the chilly temperatures Grinning: Ncuti looked thrilled as he got involved in the filming Style icon: Ncuti later swept a brown leather-look jacket across his shoulders as he headed to the TARDIS Festive: Ncuti was seen stepping down from a front door which had a Christmas wreath on as he appeared to be filming festive scenes Busy: Ncuti was joined by a whole host of cast and crew as they filmed in Bristol Time traveler: Ncuti embodied the Doctor as he unlocked his TARDIS during scenes Chatting: Ncuti didn't shy away from getting stuck into the role as he filmed exciting scenes in Bristol this week, where he was seen chatting to Anita While attending the ICON Awards in Support of Prostate Cancer Charity in February, she gushed about playing Mrs Flood, the elderly neighbour to Millie's Ruby Sunday. She brushed off talk of playing a lead part in the show, admitting: 'I wouldn't say starring, I think the Lord himself, Ncuti and Millie are the ones starring, I'm merely joining the ranks of. 'Well Mrs Flood is the character I play and she's... Millie, the Ruby Sunday, the doctor's assistant, she's her neighbour. 'She lives in the same street so she's always got her eyes on what's going on. She's one of those.' In February, she also said she hadn't yet filmed any scenes with Ncuti, with Wednesday's filming marking some of the first moments they have shot together. The star-studded cast for the upcoming series will also feature two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon. The actor, 35 - who goes by the pronouns she/they - will be portraying the new baddie in the BBC science fiction TV series. New cast: The Fifteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti, will then take control of the TARDIS with companion Millie Gibson, with his first episode airing over the festive period next year Menacing: The star-studded cast for the upcoming series will also feature tw o-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon as the new villain Doctor Who returns in November 2023 with three special episodes to coincide with the show's 60th anniversary, with David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor. The Fifteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti, will then take control of the TARDIS, with his first episode airing over the festive period next year. In October, Jodie Whittaker stepped down from her role as The Doctor, replaced by returning star David for the upcoming anniversary episodes. In Jodie's last episode, fans were given a glimpse of Ncuti's version of The Doctor as he was briefly featured in a teaser trailer along with David. Aidan Turner looked worlds away from his Poldark character Captain Ross as he was snapped rocking a brand new look on Tuesday as he took to the set of his new Disney+ series Rivals. The Irish actor, 39, looked dramatically different as he swapped his usual stubble for a handlebar moustache. The Poldark star appeared in good spirits as he laughed and chatted with crew and his co-stars Alex Hassell and Luke Pasqualino. Aidan wrapped up warm for filming at the Gloucestershire countryside set, opting for a grey cargo-print jacket, labelled 'set robe' atop of his costume. Underneath, the actor sported a pair of light brown trousers, brown suede shoes and a denim shirt. New look: Aidan Turner was snapped rocking a brand new look on Tuesday as he took to the set of his new Disney+ series Rivals Contrast: Aidan set hearts pounding when he showed off his well-manicured chest hair while scything topless in Poldark Aidan adopted the hirsute look for his role as a fiery TV presenter in the Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper bonkbuster Rivals, which is set in 1986. The shoot, at Chavenage House in the Cotswolds, marked a return to familiar territory for Turner, as the imposing house was also used as the location of the Poldark family pile, Trenwith, in the BBC drama. Aidans character in Rivals, Declan OHara, is married to Maud, played by fellow Irish actor Victoria Smurfit. Elsewhere on set, Luke and Alex transformed into dashing knights with shining armour as they filmed scenes on horses. Luke slipped into a ravishing light pink shirt and beige trousers with knee-high brown boots as he mounted his trusty steed. Alex donned a similar look, with a white shirt setting them apart. The upcoming adaption of Jilly Cooper's iconic novel also features Danny Dyer, David Tennant, Emily Atack, Katherine Parkinson, Oliver Chris and Claire Rushbrook. The story is set in 1986 and follows the cut throat world of independent television, including the tense rivalry between Rupert Campbell-Black (Hassell) and Lord Tony Baddingham (Tennant). Dashing: Elsewhere on set, Luke Pasqualino and Alex Hassell transformed into dashing knights with shining armour as they filmed scenes on horses Wow! Alex donned a similar look, with a white shirt setting them apart Different: Irish actor Aidan, 39, was almost unrecognisable as he swapped his usual stubble for a handlebar moustache Having fun: The Poldark star appeared in good spirits as he laughed and chatted with crew Good spirits: He wrapped up warm for filming at the Gloucestershire countryside set, opting for a grey cargo-print jacket, labelled 'set robe' atop of his costume Animated: Underneath, he could be seen sporting a pair of light brown trousers, brown suede shoes and a denim shirt Bold: Aidan adopted the hirsute look for his role as a fiery TV presenter in the Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper bonkbuster Rivals, which is set in 1986 Familiar territory: The shoot, at Chavenage House in the Cotswolds, marked a return to familiar territory for Turner, as the house was also used as the location of the Poldark family pile Having fun: Aidans character in Rivals, Declan OHara, is married to Maud, played by fellow Irish actor Victoria Smurfit Cold: Aidan made sure he was well wrapped up against the cold during filming Good times: Aidan could be seen joking around with his fellow cast and crew Meanwhile former Eastenders star Danny, 45, will star Freddie Jones, a self-made electronics millionaire, while Material star Lisa McGrillis has been cast as his wife Valerie. Following the announcement executive producer and Rivals author Jilly Cooper commented: 'I'm utterly enchanted to be able to announce our all-star line-up for Rivals'. 'Featuring some of the best acting talent that the British Isles has to offer, I couldn't have dreamed of a better ensemble cast'. Before adding: 'I cannot wait to be on set and see them bring the characters I love so much to life. 'The minute we met with Alex we knew he'd perfectly embody my all-time hero, the iconic, racy, ruthless, and devastatingly handsome, Rupert Campbell-Black. Viewers are in for a treat!'. Poldark star Aidan will play intelligent TV presenter Declan O'Hara, whom Baddingham convinces to leave the BBC for independent channel Corinium, only for him to feel let down. Once Upon A Time's Victoria Smurfit will play his wife Maud O'Hara, with Sex Education's Bella MacLean and 'Pistol' actress Catriona Chandler play their daughters Taggie and Caitlin respectively. Vision: Getting involved, Aidan made gestures on set Silly: Aidan's elaborate facial expressions clearly kept other set members entertained Dapper: Luke slipped into a ravishing light pink shirt and beige trousers with knee-high brown boots as he mounted his trusty steed Ready: Luke added a pair of black shades to his look as he took to filming in the English countryside Danny was almost unrecognisable as he swapped his usual stubble for a handlebar moustache and longer-haired wig as he was spotted on set on Tuesday. Sporting a navy suit while strolling the Gloucestershire countryside, it's the first time he has been spotted on location since the series was announced. Taking to the set, Danny was suited in booted in his smart ensemble while carrying a leather handbag. He walked alongside a crew-member across the location, who snapped pictures of him from the side and front on. Meanwhile, David added a padded jacket over his costume to keep warm in between filming scenes. He sported a bow-tie and suit underneath the jacket, with his dark hair swept to the side in a comb-over. Other cast-members were dressed in costumes of the time as they sported vintage mini and midi dresses and retro suits. Casting call: Danny Dyer joined the all star cast including David Tennant and Aidan in Disney+'s new series Rivals (L-R) Alex Hassell, Danny Dye, Jilly Cooper, David Tennant, Aidan Wow: Disney officially announced the star-studded cast earlier this week According to Disney+, Rivals is a 'joyously mischievous rollercoaster ride, steamy in its love stories and packed with larger-than-life characters.' The streaming service continues that it brings a '2020s lens to the 1980s', offering a 'raw exploration of a complicated moment in British history when class, race, sex, wealth, and sexual liberation meant that, for the very privileged few, there were no limits to what they could achieve'. Rivals is being produced by Happy Prince, which is part of ITV Studios, and will air globally on Disney+, on Hulu in the US and on Star+ in Latin America. Danny has been kept busy since departing EastEnders over Christmas and was spotted filming for BBC comedy Henpocalypse! this week - in which he plays a heightened version of himself. Laura Anderson looked sensational as she displayed her baby bump during her holiday to Dubai on Tuesday. The former Love Island star, 34, showcased her sun-kissed tan as she shared a series of sizzling bikini snaps while enjoying a boat trip. The media personality slipped into a purple and green two piece which highlighted her bronzed tan. Styling her blonde locks into loose curls, Laura struck a series of poses as she made the most of her holiday. Laura, who is due to give birth to her daughter in the summer, said it would likely be the last bikini picture she would be sharing for a while. Radiant: Laura Anderson looked sensational as she displayed her baby bump during her holiday to Dubai on Tuesday Fun in the sun: The media personality slipped into a purple and green two piece which highlighted her bronzed tan The reality star is expecting her first child with ex-boyfriend Gary Lucy, 41, who she met while filming E4 series Celebs Go Dating last year. Laura has been making the most of some 'me time' in the lead up to her due date and posted photos of her growing baby bump in orange swimsuit while enjoying the breathtaking view at the Atlantis Royal hotel in Dubai last week. The Scottish influencer is due to give birth in the summer after announcing her pregnancy in February. Laura and Gary got together last summer after meeting on Celebs Go Dating shortly after her split from on-off long-term boyfriend, former pop star Dane Bowers, 43. The couple seemed to be going from strength-to-strength when they spent Christmas together, with Laura claiming they were 'keeping it PG' and hadn't slept together at that point. Just weeks later, Laura sparked split rumours by deleting all trace of Gary from her Instagram page. The Love Island star announced her pregnancy in February and Gary confirmed the pair were no longer an item. He told The Sun: 'I love Laura but we are no longer together. My main drive as always is to work together to co-parent our child. I look forward to the arrival of the new baby.' Beauty: Styling her blonde locks into loose curls, Laura struck a series of poses as she made the most of her holiday Holiday: Laura, who is due to give birth to her daughter in the summer, said it would likely be the last bikini picture she would be sharing for a while Mother-to-be: The former Love Island contestant is expecting her first child with actor ex Gary Lucy, 41, after first meeting on Celebs Go Dating last year Laura recently posed completely naked to show off her baby bump. She also opened up to her followers, as she revealed how her changing body made her feel empowered. Laura wrote: 'The female body is an incredible capsule, one I'll never quite get my head around. 'I've never felt so empowered physically and mentally. Some days of course can be tricky to feel my best (pregnant or not) but I find doing a little thing just for me can really boost my confidence and put a spring in my step.' The former Love Islander finished her post with a disclaimer saying: 'Apologies if this photo is offensive in anyway especially to those trying to conceive or whom have lost a baby. It is not intended as sexual content.' Megan Barton Hanson sent temperatures soaring as she posed for sexy snaps on Wednesday from Barcelona. The former Love Island star, 31, turned heads as she flashed her toned figure in a sheer white co-ord frilly skirt and matching crop top. She added inches to her enviable frame with a pair of hot pink heels as she posed up a storm in the Spanish city in shots posted to her Instagram page. The TV personality styled her long blonde tresses in luxurious waves as they cascaded down her back. Megan captured a number of racy snaps during her stay including some daring mirror selfies from her hotel room. Daring! Megan Barton Hanson sent temperatures soaring as she posed for sexy snaps on Wednesday from Barcelona Racy: The former Love Island star, 31, turned heads as she flashed her peachy bottom Beauty: The TV personality styled her long blonde tresses in luxurious waves as she posed in a fuchsia cropped shirt, plaid pleated mini-skirt and bright pink knee-high boots The beauty turned around and showed off her bottom as she posed in a black T-shirt and matching underwear. The OnlyFans star then snapped a selfie in the same mirror, this time revealing the top labelled 'LUST' and racy fire design. Turning up the heat once again, Megan gave fans a glimpse of her toned stomach in a plaid pleated mini-skirt. The blonde bombshell looked sensational as she posed on her balcony and paired some pink knee-high boots with a daring crop top. In another snap, she enjoyed some sunny cocktails on a roof terrace. Once again, Megan looked sensational as she covered up in a red and white striped shirt and slipped on a pair of stylish orange sunglasses. Clearly enjoying her trip, she also posed with a miniature red handbag as she did some shopping. The ITV2 star made the most of her time as she visited tourist hotspots and went to a film premiere of The Wedding by Erika Lust. Wow! The OnlyFans star then snapped a selfie in the same mirror, this time revealing the top labelled 'LUST' and racy fire design Time away: Megan looked sensational as she covered up in a red and white striped shirt and slipped on a pair of stylish orange sunglasses Sunny days: Megan captured various moments from her time away in Barcelona, including a snap of a nudist beach Sharing the slew of snaps to her social media, Megan penned: B A R C E L O N A. This place has such a romantic energy, so dreamy..' In an earlier post, Megan told fans she was 'having fun' and shooting some content for her OnlyFans. It comes after Megan looked sensational as she beamed with her ex beau James Lock, 36, at the Releaf launch party at Century Club in London on Friday - sparking rumours of a romantic reunion. The former Love Island star commanded attention in a figure-hugging purple metallic midi dress. It appears the duo is trying to give their relationship another go as they put on a very smitten display during the event. Megan and the TOWIE star have been romantically linked since October 2021, but split just two months after. Since that, they have been known for their rocky relationship - constantly being on and off for a few years. In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Megan said: 'He's not really this character that I well I used to watch Towie back in the day when he was the bad boy. 'He's so down to earth. He's easy to talk to. He's so intelligent and you don't really see that on TV but, yeah, we're having a great time.' Luxury: Clearly enjoying her trip, she also posed with a miniature red handbag as she shopped Night out: The ITV2 star made the most of her time as she visited tourist hotspots and went to a film premiere of The Wedding by Erika Lust Isla Fisher looked radiant as ever as she arrived at Global Studios during her trip to London on Wednesday. The Australian actress, 47, ensured all eyes were on her as she donned a multi-coloured short-sleeved midi dress. The garment featured a floral patterned design and The Great Gatsby star cinched her waist with a matching belt. Adding height to her frame with a pair of blue heels, Isla complimented her outfit with silver earrings. Letting her flame-haired locks fall loose down her shoulders, the star completed her look with a pair of gold-rimmed sunglasses. Beauty: Isla Fisher looked radiant as ever as she arrived at Global Studios during her trip to London on Wednesday Style: The Australian actress, 47, ensured all eyes were on her as she donned a multi-coloured short-sleeved midi dress Although Isla and her husband Sacha Baron Cohen are very much in the public eye, they are notoriously private about their children. The actress and her partner, 51, have never uploaded social media images of their three children Olive, Elula and Montgomery. Appearing on Wednesday's episode of Lorraine, Isla explained the real reason as to why she chooses to keep them out of the spotlight. She said: 'It's unfair on them! Kids deserve a normal childhood. I want them to be outdoors and play and run around - not feel subconscious.' This is not the first time the actress has spoken about her decision to shield her children from the public eye. In an interview with Marie Claire Australia in 2021, Isla said: 'Motherhood is actually my favourite topic but I keep it private. 'I think all parents are trying to protect their kids, especially in the social media age. 'I want our children to have a normal childhood being able to play outside without pressure or scrutiny. All kids have the right to just be kids, and I would never sell a film or magazine by speaking about [mine].' Ensemble: Adding height to her frame with a pair of blue heels, Isla complimented her outfit with silver earrings Looking good: The actress let her flame-haired locks fall loose down her shoulders Candid: Although Isla and her husband Sacha Baron Cohen are very much in the public eye, they are notoriously private about their children In November last year, Isla explained how being a mother is the most important role in her life. The Hollywood star, who started her career on Aussie soap Home and Away, told The Australian Women's Weekly her acting skills often come in handy when raising her three children. 'One of the perks of being an actor is you have a bunch of silly voices in your back pocket to whip out at bedtime,' she said. The Wedding Crashers star said she loves reading bedtime stories to her kids, and often uses her imagination to come up with fun and engaging stories. She said: 'There's often a teachable lesson that leads to interesting discussions. If somebody is having a problem at school or something, I'll tailor the bedtime story a little bit to align with whatever's going on,' she added. Only a year earlier, the couple relocated from Los Angeles to Sydney. Family: The actress and her partner, 51, have never uploaded social media images of their three children Olive, Elula and Montgomery Isla said: 'It's unfair on them! Kids deserve a normal childhood. I want them to be outdoors and play and run around - not feel subconscious' (pictured with Sacha in December 2022) Happy couple: The actress has been married to comedian Sacha (right) since 2010 While it's was widely speculated that they moved Down Under to escape the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the US, reports claimed they were actually fleeing America's tumultuous political climate. 'They didn't want to raise their kids in Trump's America,' an insider told Sydney Morning Herald. Isla and Sacha first met at a party in Sydney in 2002, and married eight years later. Isla reflected on the couple having been together for two decades - a rarity in the fickle world of showbusiness. 'It is a fun ride. I feel so lucky to have Sacha in my life. Now we have this beautiful family and we survived lockdown together, which you know, it is not easy for any couple,' she said. 'I think by Hollywood standards it's probably 200 years!' she joked. 'I feel like it's a Golden Jubilee or something. Everyone was congratulating me.' Ben Mendelsohn is one of Australia's most celebrated actors with starring roles in The Dark Knight Rises, Rogue One and Animal Kingdom. But on Wednesday, the Emmy-winning star, 54, alarmed onlookers with his dishevelled appearance on a busy street in central London. The Melbourne native put on an erratic display for passersby in an unbuttoned pinstripe blazer which he paired with a white t-shirt emblazoned with the words, 'No excuses. It was my fault'. The Year My Voice Broke star added black pants and green sneakers to the look, and attempted to go incognito in a blue and white striped panama hat and sunglasses. At one point, Ben was seen walking and talking to a male companion in a black jacket and grey track pants who was holding a can of soft drink. Ben Mendelsohn is one of Australia's most celebrated actors with starring roles in The Dark Knight Rises, Rogue One and Animal Kingdom. But on Wednesday, the Emmy-winning star, 54, alarmed onlookers with his dishevelled appearance on a busy street in central London. Pictured He then walked into the middle of the footpath and began directing pedestrians who were walking their bicycles. At one point, mucus was seen trickling from Ben's nose on the overcast day. Her later pulled a cigarette out of his blazer pocket and sat down on the window ledge of a storefront, and word of his strange behaviour soon got around. Autograph hunters descended on the scene, hoping to get a photo and a signature from the Bloodline star. Ben's unique appearance was world's away from his iconic Hollywood characters which brought him worldwide fame. The acclaimed actor's nose was running as he cheerfully signed autographs and chatted with fans and he appeared in good spirits as he laughed it up with the crowd. The Melbourne native put on an erratic display for passersby in an unbuttoned pinstripe blazer which he paired with a white t-shirt emblazoned with the words, 'No excuses. It was my fault'. The Year My Voice Broke star added black pants and green sneakers to the look, and attempted to go incognito in a blue and white striped panama hat and sunglasses At one point, Ben was seen walking and talking to a male companion in a black jacket and grey track pants who was holding a can of soft drink He then walked into the middle of the footpath and began directing pedestrians who were walking their bicycles Ben appeared happy as he wandered around London with a friend , even signing autographs Her later pulled a cigarette out of his blazer pocket and sat down on the window ledge of a storefront, and word of his strange behaviour soon got around Autograph hunters descended on the scene, hoping to get a photo and a signature from the Bloodline star Ben was happy to sign his famous name for his fans Back in 2018, the critically acclaimed actor revealed he was once forced to work low-paying jobs to pay the bills. He washed dishes at a restaurant in Sydney's Bondi and was also employed at a Brumby's Bakery during a career slump, according to the Herald Sun. Reflecting on his incredible reversal of fortune since then, Ben said: 'It's been extraordinary. But that's what has been very sweet about it - you don't expect that in this business.' Back in 2018, the critically acclaimed actor revealed he was once forced to work low-paying jobs to pay the bills Ben has a history of playing villains in films, but recently said he doesn't overthink the roles he plays. In an interview with The Project , he said his penchant for playing bad guys has turned out 'all right' for him so far He added: 'I still drive around and look back on a lot of years where things were leaner. I am still happily spun out by it.' Ben has a history of playing villains in films, but recently said he doesn't overthink the roles he plays. In an interview with The Project, he said his penchant for playing bad guys has turned out 'all right' for him so far. However, he said he's 'got a couple more feathers' in his cap and would like to play more diverse characters in the future. Ben will next star in The New Look as famed fashion designer Christian Dior. However, he said he's 'got a couple more feathers' in his cap and would like to play more diverse characters in the future Lauren Harries was rushed to intensive care in Wales after undergoing an emergency brain surgery procedure. The Celebrity Big Brother star, 45, was first admitted into hospital for the procedure on April 14, with the cause unknown. Her mother Katy has been giving updates on her daughter's condition, and has now shared that Lauren was rushed to intensive care after catching infections before being moved back to neurology. In the update, shared to Lauren's official Twitter account on Wednesday morning, Katy said Lauren was 'awake and talking' and urged people to 'pray for her'. She shared: 'Lauren was moved to ICU as she caught Covid as well as 2 infections causing her breathing issues. Condition: Lauren Harries was rushed to the ICU after undergoing an emergency brain surgery procedure 'Pray for her': Her mother Katy shared that Lauren was rushed to the ICU after catching infections before being moved back to neurology 'She is awake and talking again back in Neurology. I want to say thank you again to all the amazing staff at Heath Hospital. She still has a way to go but she is strong. Pray for her.' Lauren found fame as a precocious 12-year-old antiques expert called James, who appeared on the Antiques Roadshow and Wogan, before undergoing gender reassignment surgery in 2003. The latest health update comes a week after Katy told fans that Lauren had been moved back to recovery, where she was 'under close watch'. Tweeting from the star's official account last Tuesday, Katy shared a picture to update her followers on Twitter. She wrote: 'Yesterday they moved Lauren back to recovery, she is under close watch. She still has memory issues and confusion. 'The doctors say that she does not need another operation atm they are taking it day by day. Please pray for her and send her your love. Thank you for your kindness'. Katy had earlier shared that Lauren 'would have died' had she not had the surgery and explained how doctors had to perform Lauren's 'worst nightmare' by shaving her hair off. Laying in hospital with an art book, the TV star still managed to flash a smile for the picture while bandaged up. Scary: The Celebrity Big Brother star, 45, was rushed into hospital for the procedure on Friday, with the cause unknown Prayers: In the latest update, shared to Lauren's official Twitter account on Wednesday, Katy (pictured with Lauren) said Lauren was 'awake and talking' and urged people to 'pray for her' The caption read: 'Lauren has woken up after her brain surgery. They had to shave her hair. As you know this is Lauren's worst nightmare but she would have died if not. 'The amazing staff in the Heath Hospital have been wonderful. Thank you for your kind words, her recovery ahead. Update to follow.' Many fans rallied to offer their words of support to Lauren, as they wished her a speedy recovery in the replies. Earlier this month, Katy took to her own Twitter account to beg fans to 'send prayers' as she revealed that her daughter was undergoing an operation. Taking to Twitter, her distraught mother penned: 'Please pray or send good thoughts to my precious daughter Lauren @Laurenharries. Who is recovering from emergency brain surgery today,' she shared on the platform. The post was retweeted by Lauren's official Twitter page, who was last actively tweeting on the page just three days prior, liking tweets just 11 hours prior. Whilst the cause of the surgery is not yet known, MailOnline reached out to representatives for comment at the time. Update: The latest update comes a week after Katy told fans that Lauren had been moved back to recovery, where she was 'under close watch' Awful: Earlier, Katy shared that Lauren 'would have died' had she not had the surgery and explained that doctors had to perform Lauren's 'worst nightmare' by shaving her hair off Ill health: Katy revealed earlier this month that former Celebrity Big Brother star Lauren Harries has undergone emergency brain surgery Unknown: Whilst the cause of the surgery is not yet known, MailOnline has reached out to representatives for comment Well wishes: As fans learned of the worrying news, many rallied to sent their messages of support to the star, who appeared in Celebrity Big Brother in 2013 Many fans reached out with messages of support, with one writing: 'Im sorry to hear that, all the best'. 'Oh my gosh, sending all my thoughts and prayers xx,' added another. Lauren has a famously close bond with mother Katy, often noting how supportive she is, gushing over her numerous times over her career. The former Celebrity Big Brother star was born James Charles Harries in Surrey in 1978, being the youngest of three children. And famously appeared on the Antiques Roadshow and Wogan as a 12-year old antiques expert. The Welsh star has since carved out a TV career and even released a single, I Am A Woman in 2015. These days, Lauren sells artwork via her website, with pieces ranging from 20 to 150. She has previously spoken about her gender reassignment surgery in 2003, admitting that it was 'dangerous' at the time. Candid: Lauren underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2003, and has spoken openly about the surgery since - admitting it was 'dangerous' at the time (pictured that year) The television personality underwent the surgery, which converts male anatomy to female anatomy aged 23. She told the Daily Star: 'It is a big operation and when I had it done all those years ago it was more dangerous as they didn't know enough about it,' she said. 'There was talk that if I had it done I would have a heart attack in my 30s as my body wouldn't be able to deal with it.' 'To me, it was like get me in the kitchen, get a vet, get whoever, let's get it done, in those days it cost me 20,000 but I think it was more then than it is now.' First Dates star Merlin Griffiths has given an update on his bowel cancer battle. The TV personality, 48, appeared on Lorraine on Wednesday as he celebrated one year since his doctors found NED (No Evidence of Disease). The barman has had two operations since being diagnosed with bowel cancer and showed Lorraine the scars from where his colostomy bag previously was. Speaking about his one-year anniversary, Merlin said: 'It's a really important milestone for anyone going through this is that first one year of scans, they take blood tests, CT scans, colonoscopy and so on. 'They check you and you're looking for this no evidence of disease, or no cancer seen which is for now all clear and we're into the five year monitoring.' Candid: First Dates star Merlin Griffiths has given an update on his bowel cancer battle Milestone: The TV personality appeared on Lorraine on Wednesday as he celebrated one year since his doctors found NED (No Evidence of Disease) Merlin brought along his toy sidekick 'Buttony Bear' for the interview, who has a colostomy bag. The teddy is given to children who have been fitted with a bag. Merlin last gave his fans a health update on his cancer battle in February, revealing that 'some days are still troublesome'. He wrote: '#bowelcancer It's been over 8hrs since I last had a poo. And I slept a whole night with no waking last night to empty my bag; I now don't have a bag, or stoma. 'Some days are still troublesome. But we live for the future. Some kinda normal hope. #stoma #stomareversal #getchecked.' In a follow-up post, Merlin continued: 'I should add, it's a freaking weird feeling to poo when you haven't for almost a year. Seriously odd. Takes some getting used to.' It comes after the TV personality revealed he had been discharged from hospital after having his stoma removed amid his bowel cancer battle. Interview: The barman has had two operations since being diagnosed with bowel cancer and showed Lorraine the scars from where his colostomy bag previously was Merlin said: 'It's a really important milestone for anyone going through this is that first one year of scans, they take blood tests, CT scans, colonoscopy and so on' Merlin was first diagnosed with the disease in September last year and has previously undergone radiotherapy treatment on his road to recovery. And taking to Twitter on Sunday, he gave fans a health update and noted that it has been 'a tough and fraught week' with the removal of the stoma. Keeping his followers in the loop about her cancer journey, he penned: 'Phew. Getting discharged from hospital today. 'It's been a tough and fraught week. Recovery will not be fast, but I'll get there. And I've got much better TP at home! Thank you @nhsuhcw, exemplary as always.' Merlin's update was met with a supportive message from Adele Roberts - who has had her own battle with bowel cancer - as she shared her joy that he was on the road to recovery. She penned: 'Congratulations Merlin! Keep smashing it and so happy youre on the mend. Thank you so much for sharing your recovery xx.' To which Merlin replied: 'Thank you Adele! Will you be getting a reversal too?' On the mend: Merlin Griffiths took to Twitter on Thursday to give his followers a health update after having his stoma removed amid his bowel cancer battle Former Big Brother star and radio personality Adele, 43, then shared: 'Hopefully one day! Not for the moment though. Im not able to get a reversal for the time being but were working on it 'The NHS are so amazing. Its been brilliant to see you thriving.' Offering his support in turn, Merlin added: 'Fingers crossed. If you ever want to discuss pros and cons of reversal in the future drop me a line. Happy to share my experiences.' With Adele - who recently took her 'first step' towards getting her colon working again - adding: 'Thanks so much Merlin! Means a lot & will do xx.' Merlin revealed that he had his stoma removed after nine months during a five-night stay in hospital. Sharing a snap in his hospital gown after the operation he wrote in an update: 'Gosh, it's very odd knowing all my insides are actually inside me again after 9 months of a #stoma. Tough: Merlin was first diagnosed with the disease in September last year and has previously undergone radiotherapy treatment on his road to recovery (pictured on First Dates) Opening up: The First Dates barman, 48, confessed 'some days are still troublesome', while adding that he is still holding out for a 'normal' future 'Next step, farting. Then food. #NHS #Cancer #Surgery.' In a further tweet he said: 'My plumbing works then. Cor blimey. This will take some training and getting used to. Thank goodness for Kegels! Essential!! 'Pull up nappy deployed for safety. Need a biscuit. #Stoma #Reversal #Cancer.' A stoma is an opening which is made on the abdomen with surgery, to divert waste out of the body and into a colostomy bag. Merlin received his bleak diagnosis from doctors at Northampton General Hospital, saying at the time that he was trying to keep a 'positive outlook'. Ahead of his recent operation, Merlin told MailOnline that he's 'feeling in good health' and can finally 'see that light at the end of the tunnel' after first being diagnosed with the disease in September last year. 'I'm now on the way out as it were from the really deep parts, I have one more operation to go,' Merlin said. 'I can see that light at the end of the tunnel which is often so difficult to see just after you're diagnosed and going through treatment. Getting back to health... or anything to make you feel normal again is brilliant whether it's diet or walks,' he said. 'I'm generally feeling in good health, I'm not as active as I'd like to be as yet, but I'm slowly getting there, easing out on my bike... it's also about getting slightly fitter and ready for a final operation.' 'I have a few more scans and if they all go well and produce the right results my surgeon will reverse my stoma and reconnect the plumbing,' he said. Myleene Klass flashed her black underwear through a sheer zebra dress on Wednesday as she arrived in London's Soho for meetings. The presenter, 45, turned heads in the eye-catching maxi ensemble after vowing not to recreate I'm A Celeb iconic bikini scenes during the pre-recorded All Stars series in South Africa. The broadcaster showcased her sensational figure as she flashed a dark lace bra and matching briefs through the ensemble, which she teamed with a black leather coat. Myleene rocked a chunky pair of black boots, accessorised with a large pair of gold hoop earrings and layered several gold necklaces The TV personality flashed her gorgeous smile while hiding behind a pair of large sunglasses and toted her belongings in a matching bag. 'Jungle is my favourite print': Myleene Klass flashed her black underwear through a sheer zebra dress on Wednesday as she arrived in London's Soho for meetings Racy:The presenter, 45, turned heads in the eye-catching maxi ensemble after vowing not to recreate I'm A Celeb iconic bikini scenes during the pre-recorded All Stars series The mother-of-three styled her long brunette tresses poker straight and accessorised with big hoop earrings. Myleene took to her Instagram to share a number of glamorous clips of herself in the same sheer zebra number while in an exotic location. She posed up a storm at the beach as she added inches to her frame in a pair of towering gold platform heels. Myleene wore a pair of chunky black sunglasses as she posed in front of the ocean. The TV personality was all smiles as she added a pop of colour to the outfit with a swipe of glamorous red lipstick. She joked: 'Jungle' is my favourite print. (As if you hadn't guessed!)' It comes after Mylenne warned ITV viewers not to expect the same shower scenes as she arrived in the South African camp on Tuesday. The former pop star - who is mother to Ava, 15, Hero, 12, and Apollo, three - famously set pulses racing in 2006 by sporting a white two-piece in the outside shower. Eye-catching: The broadcaster showcased her sensational figure as she flashed a dark lace bra and matching briefs through the ensemble, which she teamed with a black leather coat Turning heads: The TV personality flashed her gorgeous smile while hiding behind a pair of large sunglasses and toted her belongings in a matching bag Looking good: Myleene styled her long brunette tresses poker straight Ahead of entering the camp, Myleene explained: 'After doing the programme I saw the photo and I was like 'my goodness, it does look glamorous, but it certainly didn't feel like it - far from it! 'There are worse things to be known for than being really clean! Since then, I have had three babies and I don't look like that now.' She added: 'I am really proud of how strong my body has been. It has been through lots of trials and tribulations since and part of the reason for doing this all star version is I want to remind myself of that. 'I do feel like a different person, I was in my 20s when I first came into the jungle and now I'm in my 40s. I think I will smell the campfire and it will be like yesterday! 'I've got so many great memories to pick from but I liked some of the things you don't see on camera like at night when the jungle came alive. All you could see was a wall of green dots, green eyes, reflected by the moonlight.' Reminiscing on her time on the show, she told ITV her scariest trial was the one in a coffin with rising water. Speaking about the rows, she added: 'I like the fact that with I'm A Celebrity, you go back to basics. You are stripped bare and it is funny watching people argue about how to boil an ostrich egg or get frustrated on the Trials.' Glamorous: Myleene took to her Instagram to share a number of glamorous clips of herself in the same sheer zebra number while in an exotic location Phenomenal: She posed up a storm at the beach as she added inches to her frame in a pair of towering gold platform heels Posing up a storm: Myleene wore a pair of chunky black sunglasses as she posed in front of the ocean Myleene has become synonymous with white bikinis ever since her appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here in 2006. The nation's attention was grabbed when the star went for a shower in the jungle while sporting a tiny two-piece, which showcased her incredible frame. Myleene is believed to be launching a Next swimwear range as the show airs so that fans can recreate the iconic look. The famous tiny white bikini was auctioned for charity for 7,500 and Myleene later revealed it was a last-minute purchase. She explained she had spent just 20 on the skimpy two-piece after producers informed her the striped number she had originally packed would not look good on film. Back in 2020, she reflected on the swimwear that helped to make her a household name on I'm A Celebrity. She penned: 'It feels like I was in the jungle only yesterday! Every time I see this pic pop up, I can't believe how fate handled it all. 'I remember one of the shows producers looking at my bikinis in the hotel before I went to camp. One was covered in stripes. ''We'll have to stop at the shops as that's probably going to strobe on camera''. 'I ran into the shop en route to the jungle, asked the shop assistant for the plainest bikini she had. Best $40 I ever spent....especially as it raised so much for charity.' Since her appearance, a slew of female stars have tried to recreate her iconic shower scenes during their time in camp. DailyMail.com has obtained exclusive audio of Peter, 38, saying he believes that Raquel is holed up at Miraval Resort and Spa in Arizona Vanderpump Rules star Peter Madrigal has furiously denied his co-star Tom Sandoval's claims that his mistress Raquel Leviss is currently staying at a mental health facility - insisting that the controversial reality star is actually enjoying a getaway at a luxury resort and spa. Peter, 38, fired back at Sandoval during an appearance on the Undressed with Pol and Patrik podcast, insisting in an exclusive clip obtained by DailyMail.com that Raquel, 28, retreated to the lavish Miraval Resort and Spa to 'get away' from things - not, as his co-star has repeatedly claimed - to undergo mental health treatment. 'Miraval Resort and Spa is not a mental health facility. It's not a rehab,' he said in the interview. 'It can be a retreat, but when you start saying it is a mental health institution when it is, literally, in the title Miraval Resort and Spa. It's a spa,' Peter went on about the resort, which states on its website that it serves alcohol because it believes in the 'moderation of all things.' Vanderpump Rules star Peter Madrigal (pictured) has furiously denied his co-star Tom Sandoval's claims that his mistress Raquel Leviss is currently staying at a mental health facility The 38-year-old shut down Sandoval's claims that his mistress (seen together) is undergoing mental health treatment during an appearance on the Undressed with Pol and Patrik podcast The Arizona based Miraval Resort and Spa boasts that it is one of the only resorts to allow alcohol because they 'believe in moderation' 'I'd feel bad if it was a mental health facility and I understand if you need to get away. When you go to a a resort and spa you want to get away,' Peter - who briefly dated Raquel in 2022 following her breakup with former fiance James Kennedy, 31 - reveals during his podcast appearance. In an interview with TMZ on Tuesday, Sandoval - whose nine-year relationship with Ariana Madix, 37, was destroyed due to his affair with Raquel - said that he was at Miraval Resort and Spa during his getaway, but Raquel was not. 'Dude. Im just going to tell you. Raquel is in a mental facility. No visitors,' Sandoval, who is back in Los Angeles now, said. 'Shes there. Whether she decides to tell you where that is after the fact. Thats where Raquel is. No visitors. No press. No family. No phone. No nothing.' Raquel first hinted that she was going to seek help after her explosive affair, known as Scandoval, became public. On March 9, she alluded to treatment in an Instagram post, which read, 'Besides the indefensible circumstances surrounding our relationship, my feelings for Tom have always been sincere and born out of a loving friendship.' 'Knowing how many people we hurt, I need to understand my choices and learn to make better ones. I need to take care of my health, work on self growth and take time to be ok with being alone.' The former beauty pageant winner added, 'I care for Tom and I dont want to label anything or predict what lies ahead. Right now I need to heal.' Destroyed: Ariana Madix, 37, and Sandoval (pictured in July 2022) split after nine-years when she learned that he cheated on her with her former friend, Raquel Love triangle: Sandoval (with Ariana and Raquel in November 2022) insists that his new lady love is not at Miraval, but at a rehab that does not allow phones or visitors May the Schwartz be with you: Raquel hooked up with Sandoval's business partner Tom Schwartz, 40, at Scheana Shay's wedding in Mexico in August 2022 when this photo was taken In April, a rep for Raquel told People that she had entered a program for 'mental health and trauma therapy' in Arizona, insisting that it was not a rehab. So, where do Sandoval and his mistress stand now? Apparently, they are on hiatus, as Sandoval stated that they are 'kind of taking a break' during a recent appearance on the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast. When asked if they were 'friends with benefits,' Sandoval said, 'not right now.' He also said during the same interview that they 'are still good friends' and that they 'aren't putting a label' on anything. When asked how their secret romance began, Sandoval told Howie, 'We were at my house, and Im locked out of my house and were talking and we kissed. 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,' Sandoval said. In regards to his decade long relationship with Ariana, he said that they drifted apart when he chose to stray. 'We had been together for nine years, and obviously we had built a house and business together and everything. We were a brand,' Sandoval said. He revealed that the two were 'just lacking intimacy' and that they did not have the 'connection' that they once had. 'And like many relationships, it became more of a best friend, family, sometimes roommates situation,' he explained. In a preview clip on April 21, Schwartz told Sandoval, 'I dont know why Im not more attracted to her. Theres no, like, sexual chemistry. I have this gut feeling that she kind of has a crush on someone else.' Sandoval replied to his business partner, 'Yeah.' At the time, Sandoval's affair with Raquel was well underway. Sandoval is the fourth Vanderpump Rules cast member that Raquel has gotten intimate with. In December 2021, Raquel and James broke off their engagement and five-year relationship, stating that they had 'two different goals.' After going on a couple of dates with Peter in 2022, Raquel was caught making out with cast member Tom Schwartz, 40, at Scheana's wedding to Brock Davies' in Mexico in August 2022. The tropical fling at Scheana's wedding happened only six months after Schwartz became divorced from his wife of 12 years, Katie Maloney, 36. Katie was a guest at the wedding for Scheana and was completely caught off guard when she witnessed Raquel and Schwartz making out in the pool at the resort where the wedding was held. At the time, Scheana was still on team Raquel. That ended abruptly when she learned of the affair while the two were in New York City for a taping of Watch What Happens Live. While in the Big Apple, Ariana confronted Raquel about the affair for the first time, calling her on the phone. Scheana overheard the conversation. When Raquel confessed to her, the two got into a physical altercation, which resulted in Raquel taking out a restraining order against Scheana, alleging that she had punched her. The restraining order case was dismissed by a judge when Raquel failed to show up to a hearing. Since then, Scheana has cut all ties with Raquel, calling her 'diabolical.' While appearing on the Undressed podcast earlier this month, she said that she edited her wedding photos and removed Raquel, who was a bridesmaid. 'I decided to edit all my wedding photos and put Lalas face on Raquels,' Scheana admitted. 'I had to. I dont want that b***h in my photos.' Sandra Bullock opted for casual comfort as she was seen stepping out with her adorable rescue pup, Sweetie, in New York City earlier Tuesday. The Lost City actress, 58, who recently made a rare appearance during an outing alongside her agent on Sunday, dressed down as she briefly enjoyed the fresh air. The mother of two, who had announced she would be taking a break from acting and the spotlight last year, donned a long-sleeved, cream-colored sweater to keep herself warm in the cooler temperatures. The Oscar winner additionally slipped into a pair of black, loose-fitting sweatpants along with a pair of white sneakers. She easily draped a long, black jacket over her left arm to layer her ensemble if she got too chilly while cradling her cute dog, Sweetie, in her other arm. Keeping it casual: Sandra Bullock, 58, opted for casual comfort as she was seen stepping out with her adorable rescue pup, Sweetie, in New York City earlier Tuesday Her brunette locks were parted in the middle, and styled into a low up do, allowing a few loose strands to fall behind her. She accessorized her look with a pair of circular-shaped sunglasses for a stylish flare and to protect her eyes in case the sun peaked out during the overcast day. The star added a gold-chained necklace that was placed atop of her sweater, as well as dainty, silver earrings for an elegant touch. A cross-body, black purse was slung around her right shoulder to hold a few items she needed during the day. Her outing comes shortly after Sandra made a rare appearance as she publicly stepped out in NYC on Sunday to enjoy dinner with her CAA agent, Kevin Huvane. The actress revealed last year in 2022 that she would be taking time away from acting and expressed her desire to focus on raising her two children, son Louis, whom she adopted in 2010, and daughter Laila, whom she adopted in 2015. 'I dont want to be beholden to anyones schedule other than my own. Im so burnt out,' the Golden Globe winner admitted to The Hollywood Reporter in an article published in June 2022. 'Im so tired, and Im so not capable of making healthy, smart decisions and I know it,' and when asked if she had an idea when she would back onto the big screen, the star revealed, 'I really don't know.' Stylish comfort: The mother of two donned a long-sleeved, cream-colored sweater to keep herself warm in the cooler temperatures along with black, loose-fitting sweatpants Friendly companion: As she strolled towards a parked vehicle, the Oscar winner was seen cradling her cute dog, Sweetie, in her right arm Sandra appeared in two projects last year, including Bullet Train, which was released on Netflix in August, and also starred Brad Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and also Kissing Booth actress, Joey King. The beauty additionally worked alongside Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, and once again, Brad Pitt, in The Lost City, which premiered in theaters in March of last year. Aside from her recent dinner outing on Sunday, the star had remained out of the public eye until she was seen attending a pre-Oscars bash last month with Brendan Fraser and Demi Moore. At the time of announcing her break from acting and working on productions, Bullock explained to People in March 2022 that she was 'not retiring' and was 'just going to not spend time in front of the camera for a while.' 'I have beautiful babies. I'd rather look at them. I'd rather look at them every day and have them be mad at me and annoyed and make memories with them for right now,' she further told the outlet. Since 2015, the Miss Congeniality actress has been romantically linked to photographer, Bryan Randall, whom she had met when he had captured special moments at her son's birthday festivities earlier that same year. A break from acting: 'I dont want to be beholden to anyones schedule other than my own. Im so burnt out,' the Golden Globe winner admitted to The Hollywood Reporter last year in 2022; seen in March 2022 in London Current relationship: Since 2015, the Miss Congeniality actress has been romantically linked to photographer, Bryan Randall; the couple seen in June 2018 in New York City She had previously been married to TV personality, Jesse James, from 2005 until their divorce was finalized in 2010. During their marriage, the couple had won full custody of his daughter whom he had welcomed with his second ex-wife. While Sandra's relationship with Bryan has remained on the private side, the star opened up about the romance in December 2021 during an interview on Red Table Talk. 'I am someone who went through the divorce process. I found the love of my life. We share two beautiful children, three children, his older daughter. It's the best thing ever,' she gushed. 'I don't wanna say do it like I do it, but I don't need a paper to be a devoted partner and devoted mother.' Later on, Bullock expressed that the photographer is, 'the example that I would want my children to have.' 'I have a partner who's very Christian and there are two different ways of looking at things. I don't always agree with him, and he doesn't always agree with me. But he is an example even when I don't agree with him.' Zara McDermott looked simply stunning in a strapless silk lilac midi dress on Wednesday as she attended a VIP lunch for fashion brand Forever New in London. The former Love Island star, 26, showcased her incredible figure in the pretty ensemble as she posed for photos at the event. She added inches to her frame in a pair of stylish tan sandals and accessorised with a chic pair of gold hoop earrings. Zara styled her long dark tresses poker straight as they cascaded down her back from a centre parting. The TV personality was joined at the event, which saw the clothing brand launch a flagship store in Westfield White City at Milk Beach, London, by several other famous faces - including Winter Love Island's Lana Jenkins. Glamorous: Zara McDermott looked simply stunning in a strapless silk lilac midi dress on Wednesday as she attended a VIP lunch for fashion brand Forever New London Turning heads: Winter Love Island star Lana Jenkins turned heads in a bold pink blazer and matching straight legged trousers Dressed to impress: The duo were all smiles as they posed for photos together ahead of the luncheon which saw the launch of the brands flagship store in London Zara was seen sitting top of the table at the luncheon and also gave a speech to the fellow guests. Winter Love Island star Lana turned heads in a bold pink blazer and matching straight legged trousers. She flashed her toned midriff as she added a plain black crop top beneath the smart ensemble. The former makeup artist elevated her frame in a pair of clear heels and flashed her gorgeous smile to the camera for pictures. Lana styled her long blonde tresses in luxurious waves as they cascaded down past her bust. Also in attendance, Made In Chelsea's Lucy Watson cut a stylish figure in a white waist coast and matching trousers. The TV personality draped a coordinated blazer over the outfit as she added a pair of sunglasses on top of her head. Influencer Katie Statham put on a leggy display in a floral blue mini dress which boasted stylish balloon sleeves. Phenomenal: The former Love Island star showcased her incredible figure in the pretty ensemble as she posed for photos at the event Sensational: Zara styled her long dark tresses poker straight as they cascaded down her back from a centre parting High spirits: Zara was seen sitting top of the table at the luncheon and also gave a speech to the fellow guests Having fun: The reality star looked for the fashion brands latest clothing line during the event Colourful: Lana turned heads as she flashed her toned midriff in a plain black crop top beneath the smart pink co-ord Fashionista: Made In Chelsea's Lucy Watson cut a stylish figure in a white waist coast and matching trousers Stylish: Influencer Katie Statham put on a leggy display in a floral blue mini dress which boasted stylish balloon sleeves Gorgeous: She kept casual in a pair of white pumps as she toted her belongings around in a green handbag Chic: Made In Chelsea's Emily Blackwell looked summer in a plunging white and pink floral mini dress which she teamed with a chunky gold necklace She kept casual in a pair of white pumps as she toted her belongings around in a green handbag. Made In Chelsea's Emily Blackwell looked summer in a plunging white and pink floral mini dress which she teamed with a chunky gold necklace. Meanwhile influencer Coco Flo looked amazing in a gorgeous green strapless silk midi dress which she teamed with a crisp white handbag and heels. The Westfield London store is the first store in the UK for rhe Australian womenswear brand. Stunning: Meanwhile influencer Coco Flo looked amazing in a gorgeous green strapless silk midi dress which she teamed with a crisp white handbag and heels Pals: Influencers Katie Statham, Coco Flo and Kate Yuille were all smiles as they posed for photos together All smiles: Lucy, Emily, Zara and Lana posed with Forever New's managing director Carolyn Mackenzie at the VIP event It has been confirmed that Kim Kardashian officiated her hair 'artist' Chris Appleton's whirlwind wedding to You actor Lukas Gage at Little White Chapel in Las Vegas last Saturday. It's the same wedding venue where the 42-year-old SKIMS CEO's sister Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker, Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, and Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow previously walked down the aisle. At 39, the Englishman is 12 years older than the Cali native, and they wore matching black faux fur coats, leather pants, and plunging button-up shirts for the ceremony while Kim flaunted cleavage in a black leather corseted maxi-dress. Kardashian joined the newlyweds when they met five-time Grammy winner Shania Twain at a venue, which could have been Planet Hollywood's Zappos Theater where she staged her Let's Go residency. Chris and Lukas excitedly sang along as the 57-year-old country crooner serenaded them on acoustic guitar with her 1997 hit song You're Still The One. They do! The Kardashians producer-star Kim Kardashian (M) officiated her hair 'artist' Chris Appleton's (L) whirlwind wedding to You actor Lukas Gage (R) at Little White Chapel in Las Vegas last Saturday 'We did it! Big thank you to @kimkardashian & @shaniatwain!' Appleton captioned his Instagram slideshow on Wednesday. Gage added: 'Ring finger where the rock is.' The wedding party stayed at the Wynn Las Vegas. Page Six reported Monday that the inseparable couple wed in front of only six guests after applying for a marriage license in Clark County. Among them were Chris' two children - 19-year-old son Billy and 17-year-old daughter Kitty-blu - whom he reportedly welcomed with Leicester salon owner Katie Katon before he came out as homosexual at age 26. Kitty-blu - an aspiring make-up artist - Instastoried several snaps from Las Vegas, including a selfie with Kim while watching eight-time Grammy winner Usher perform at Park MGM's 5,200-seat venue Dolby Live on Saturday. Chris and Lukas could not keep their lips off each other as they sang along to the 44-year-old R&B belter's songs with Kim. At the beginning of April, Appleton and Gage revealed they adopted a fur-baby of their own, a male Siberian Husky puppy called Dash. The Color Wow global creative director and The White Lotus alum been dating as far back as February when they shared vacation snaps from The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort in Mexico. Little White Chapel: It's the same wedding venue where the 42-year-old SKIMS CEO's sister Kourtney Kardashian & Travis Barker (pictured in 2022), Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner, Bruce Willis & Demi Moore, and Frank Sinatra & Mia Farrow previously walked down the aisle Maid of honor: At 39, the Englishman (R) is 12 years older than the Cali native (L), and they wore matching black faux fur coats, leather pants, and plunging button-up shirts for the ceremony while Kim flaunted cleavage in a black leather corseted maxi-dress 'We did it! Big thank you to @kimkardashian & @shaniatwain!' Kardashian joined the newlyweds when they met five-time Grammy winner Shania Twain (L) at a venue, which could have been Planet Hollywood's Zappos Theater where she staged her Let's Go residency VIP concert: Chris and Lukas excitedly sang along as the 57-year-old country crooner serenaded them on acoustic guitar with her 1997 hit song You're Still The One Twinning! The inseparable couple took Kim's private plane on Saturday 'Ring finger where the rock is': Page Six reported Monday that Gage and Appleton wed in front of only six guests after applying for a marriage license in Clark County Christmas family portrait: Among the guests were Chris' two children - 19-year-old son Billy (L) and 17-year-old daughter Kitty-blu (M) - whom he reportedly welcomed with Leicester salon owner Katie Katon before he came out as homosexual at age 26 'I'm very happy. Very much in love. And I feel very grateful to be able to share my time with someone very special,' Chris gushed on The Drew Barrymore Show on March 17. 'Love is a really special thing and I think meeting someone that you really connect with is really really special.' The feeling is clearly mutual for Lukas, who said he felt 'very happy, very lucky, and very much in love' while appearing on the March 27th episode of TODAY. Gage recalled to THR on March 12 that a former agent once pressured him to 'stop dyeing your hair, stop wearing weird clothes, and pick a lane - gay, bi, or straight. It's too confusing.' The Euphoria alum will next guest star in two episodes of the 10-episode third season of Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider's comedy The Other Two, which premieres May 4 on HBO Max. Lukas also has a recurring role as Lars Olmstead in the 2019-set fifth season of kidnapping black comedy Fargo, which premieres later this year on FX. Meanwhile, Appleton - who won Hair Artist of the Year Award on Sunday - has a client list that includes Daytime Emmy-nominated host Drew Barrymore, two-time Grammy nominee Jennifer Lopez, and three-time Grammy winner Dua Lipa. Peace! Kitty-blu - an aspiring make-up artist - Instastoried several snaps from Las Vegas, including a selfie with Kardashian (R) while watching eight-time Grammy winner Usher perform at Park MGM's 5,200-seat venue Dolby Live on Saturday Third-wheeling it! Chris and Lukas could not keep their lips off each other as they sang along to the 44-year-old R&B belter's songs with Kim Expanding their family: At the beginning of April, Appleton and Gage revealed they adopted a fur-baby of their own, a male Siberian Husky puppy called Dash Where it all began? The Color Wow global creative director and The White Lotus alum been dating as far back as February when they shared vacation snaps from The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort in Mexico Chris gushed on The Drew Barrymore Show on March 17: 'I'm very happy. Very much in love. And I feel very grateful to be able to share my time with someone very special. Love is a really special thing and I think meeting someone that you really connect with is really really special' Advertisement Disgraced Nickelodeon star Drake Bell appeared to be inhaling from a balloon again as he was spotted for the first time since being reported missing. Bell, 36, was pictured sitting in the front seat of his car in Los Angeles on Tuesday with the tip of the balloon in his mouth. He appeared to have a cannister in the vehicle with him and wore a black cap and matching T-shirt. It is unclear what, if any, substance was inside the balloons. It comes several months after Bell was seen sucking on inflated balloons in his car outside a Los Angeles smoke shop while his son was in the backseat. The incident occurred while Bell was serving a two year probation for endangering a girl's welfare when she was just 15. Earlier this month, Bell went missing in south Florida after reportedly threatening to commit suicide. He was later found unharmed. Disgraced Nickelodeon star Drake Bell appeared to be inhaling a balloon again as he was spotted for the first time since being reported missing Over the weekend, Bell called out online trolls for affecting his mental health in a series of new tweets, in which he fiercely denied being a 'pedophile.' Nearly two years after pleading guilty to child endangerment charges relating to a girl who met him online and attended one of his concerts in Ohio when she was 15, the actor defended himself against false accusations. After one Twitter user penned a message urging others not to 'forget he's a pedo,' the father-of-one, replied: 'Do a second of research. This is what I have to live with everyday. They are literally going to kill me.' 'Blood [is] on their hands,' he fired, alluding to the strain that unsubstantiated claims have on his wellbeing amid his divorce from estranged wife Janet Von Schmeling. In a separate tweet, Bell said it blew his 'mind how mean people are on here to people clearly dealing with mental health issues.' 'It's unreal how cruel you all can be,' he bemoaned, before angrily responding to another post calling him a 'pedo'. Happier times: Drake pictured with estranged wife Janet Von Schmeling in 2017 (left) and with his child (right) son Jeremy Drake Bell. He married Janet in 2018 after dating for five years. Bell had what appeared to be a cannister in the car with him Bell, 36, was pictured sitting in the front seat of his car with the tip of the balloon in his mouth He placed one hand on the wheel 'I found out my wife filed for divorce from TMZ,' Bell tweeted in the early hours of Friday. He then posted a link to a YouTube clip of his new song, Going Away. While his fans told him not to subject himself to reading hateful posts, Bell seemed to hit a boiling point as he told one troll to 'f**k' off as he swore 'to God' he is not a 'pedophile.' His tweets were posted just one day before claiming on Twitter that he learned that his spouse had filed for divorce by reading about it online. 'I know exactly what you're gonna do, with all the s**t you said that wasn't true, When is everybody going to get a clue, we're not the same,' Bell sang in the video. It's unclear what the inspiration was for the track. Von Schmeling, 28, said in court docs that she and the actor initially separated from one another in September of 2022. Schmeling said that the reason behind the breakup after four years of marriage is irreconcilable differences, the outlet reported. He had his cell phone out as he sat in the front seat of his car Over the weekend, Bell called out online trolls for affecting his mental health in a series of new tweets, in which he fiercely denied being a 'pedophile' Child star: Drake Bell poses with actors Jonathan Goldstein, Miranda Cosgrove, Josh Peck and Nancy Sullivan in the Nickelodeon show Drake & Josh The pair are parents to one-year-old son Wyatt Bell, who Von Schmeling is asking for primary legal and physical custody of. Von Schmeling said that she is open to Bell receiving visitation of their son as part of a divorce agreement. The news comes a week after the actor took to Twitter April 13 to express his shock at the widespread news that his family had reported he was missing, and officials put out an alert was put out stating that he was missing and endangered. 'You leave your phone in the car and dont answer for the night and this?' Bell wrote on Twitter, with a face with an accompanying tears of joy emoji. The Newport Beach, California-born performer was reported missing by family prior to being found by police at around 1 p.m. ET April 13 in Florida. 'I found out my wife filed for divorce from TMZ,' Bell tweeted in the early hours of Friday. He then posted a link to a YouTube clip of his new song, Going Away Janet Von Schmeling, 28, said in court docs that she and the actor initially separated from one another in September of 2022 Bell emerged from his car with the balloon and various items in hand The news comes a week after the actor took to Twitter April 13 to express his shock at the widespread news that his family had reported he was missing, and officials put out an alert was put out stating that he was missing and endangered Seen in December: It comes several months after Bell was seen sucking on inflated balloons in his car outside a Los Angeles smoke shop while his son was in the backseat Bell pictured out in Los Angeles in late February The Nickelodeon alum 'caused concern' with family before he was reported missing - and then found by police hours later, a source told US Weekly. The source said, 'There was some communication with family members that caused concern so they are worried about him and looking for him.' The insider said that some of his relatives were not even aware he was in Florida where his estranged wife Von Schemling lives with their toddler son. Bell was spotted in public on Tuesday during a trip to SeaWorld in Orlando with his son. As filming on American Horror Story continues, creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk's season 12 star Kim Kardashian was spotted wearing her signature monochromatic attire as she left The Ritz-Carlton in Midtown Manhattan near Central Park on Wednesday. The 42-year-old SKIMS CEO slipped her slim 5ft2in figure into a body-hugging grey-knit turtleneck dress, which tied at the hips, and matching boots and gloves selected by stylist Danielle Levi. Kim wore her raven extensions in a tidy top-bun with face-framing tendrils and her complexion, as always, was fully contoured and she had dark lip liner drawn around her nude pout. Kardashian has yet to make a public appearance on the set of the FX horror anthology's 12th season, in which a 'role was specifically written with her in mind.' Filming on American Horror Story officially began Monday with Only Murders in the Building actress Cara Delevingne and Emma Roberts, who's starred in five prior seasons. In the Big Apple! As filming on American Horror Story continues, creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk's season 12 star Kim Kardashian was spotted wearing her signature monochromatic attire as she left The Ritz-Carlton in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday Grey day: The 42-year-old SKIMS CEO slipped her slim 5ft2in figure into a body-hugging grey-knit turtleneck dress, which tied at the hips, and matching boots and gloves selected by stylist Danielle Levi Season 12 is loosely based on Danielle Valentine's novel Delicate Condition - heavily inspired by Rosemary's Baby - which doesn't even hit shelves until August 1. Showrunner Halley Feiffer - who penned every episode - is excited to be working with the Calabasas socialite, whom she called 'iconic' on April 10. 'Kim is among the biggest and brightest television stars in the world and we are thrilled to welcome her to the AHS family,' Ryan Murphy told THR in a statement. 'Emma and I are excited about collaborating with this true force in the culture. Halley Feiffer has written a fun, stylish and ultimately terrifying role especially for Kim, and this season is ambitious and unlike anything we have ever done.' Kim's prior acting credits include PAW Patrol: The Movie, Tyler Perry's Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor, Drop Dead Diva, CSI: NY, Deep in the Valley, Beyond the Break, and Disaster Movie. Kardashian also played herself in movies Ocean's Eight and Alligator Boots as well as episodes of 2 Broke Girls, American Dad!, 30 Rock, Last Man Standing, and Brothers. Another reason The Kardashians producer-star could be in New York is the Karl Lagerfeld-themed Met Gala happening next Monday, that is, if Anna Wintour isn't 'cracking down on the guest list.' Kim and her famous family will then compete for the best docu-reality show trophy at the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards, which air May 7. Chola lips: Kim wore her raven extensions in a tidy top-bun with face-framing tendrils and her complexion, as always, was fully contoured and she had dark lip liner drawn around her nude pout Back it up! Kardashian has yet to make a public appearance on the set of the FX horror anthology's 12th season, in which a 'role was specifically written with her in mind' Action! Filming on American Horror Story officially began Monday with Only Murders in the Building actress Cara Delevingne (L) and Emma Roberts (R), who's starred in five prior seasons Source material: Season 12 is loosely based on Danielle Valentine's novel Delicate Condition - heavily inspired by Rosemary's Baby - which doesn't even hit shelves until August 1 'Cannot wait to share our baby with you!' Showrunner Halley Feiffer - who penned every episode - is excited to be working with the Calabasas socialite, whom she called 'iconic' Ryan Murphy told THR in a statement: 'Kim is among the biggest and brightest television stars in the world and we are thrilled to welcome her to the AHS family. Emma and I are excited about collaborating with this true force in the culture. Halley Feiffer has written a fun, stylish and ultimately terrifying role especially for Kim, and this season is ambitious and unlike anything we have ever done' The Kardashians face heavy competition against Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Family Reunion: Love & Hip Hop Edition, and Vanderpump Rules. Production on the 10-episode third season of the Hulu reality TV spin-off began in September - according to E! News. Kardashian and her ex-husband #3 Kanye 'Ye' West will celebrate the fourth birthday of their youngest child, son Psalm, on May 9. The half-Armenian beauty and the canceled 45-year-old rapper-designer - whose six-year marriage ended in 2021 - are also parents of nine-year-old daughter North, seven-year-old son Saint, and five-year-old daughter Chicago. In November, Kim and Ye finally settled their divorce and 80/20 custody arrangement, which entails him paying her $200K/month in child support. Ruined Marilyn's dress! Another reason Kim could be in New York is the Karl Lagerfeld-themed Met Gala happening next Monday, that is, if Anna Wintour isn't 'cracking down on the guest list' An actress who left the world of BBC soaps 15 years ago is set to return to the channel in a surprise new role in a different show. Kellie Shirley used to appear in EastEnders, playing Shirley Carter's daughter Carly Wicks. She was in the soap for two years until Carly went off travelling and while she reprised her role briefly in 2012, she has not been on the show since. After a number of other acting roles, Kellie is making a return to soaps and the BBC. She will be appearing in Doctors from next month, playing Jo McLennon. Comeback: An actress who left the world of BBC soaps 15 years ago is set to return to the broadcaster in a surprise new role in a different show (Kellie Shirley pictured in Eastenders) New role: After a number of other acting roles, Kellie (pictured in 2020) is making a return to soaps and the BBC. She will be appearing in Doctors from next month, playing Jo McLennon Her character struggles with agoraphobia and is housebound and Dr Al (Ian Midlane) is set to realise the issues she is facing when he visits her. The dramatic storyline will continue with her sons facing their own difficulties. Her son Freddie will not turn up at school and it will also be revealed that his brother Conor is battling his own demons, struggling with drugs. Kellie's appearance in Doctors comes after she last appeared in the show in 2016. It comes after Kellie revealed her baby boy's adorable name after giving birth to her third child last month. The star announced that she and husband Phil Davies have called their bundle of joy, Ezra Cillian. The baby boy was born at King's College Hospital in London, the same place as her twins Pearl and Louis, seven. Speaking to OK! magazine, the actress revealed the birth was a lot easier than last time and now when she looks at Ezra she forgets all the stressful moments of being exhausted. She said: 'It's so all-consuming. You're so full of love and knackered! but you get those moments when Ezra does what looks like a smile and you forget that you've been up since 3am. It's just lovely. Oh baby: It comes after Kellie revealed her baby boy's adorable name after giving birth to her third child last month 'Last time I went to 9cm and caught an infection and it was just so nuts. It was a very different experiencing going in with my bag, knowing he would be born that day.' Kellie said she asked the nurses to 'put the radio on for the delivery' and her baby boy was 'born to Amy Winehouse's Back To Black' which she loves. The soap star took to Instagram last month to announce she and her husband Phil Davies had welcomed their bundle of joy. Sharing an adorable photo of her little one, the star let her following know the big news. Lila Grace Moss shared a series of throwback shots on Wednesday as she reminisced on a holiday to Costa Rica. The model, 20, showcased her slender figure in the pictures, donning a skimpy animal-print bikini. She lay on a sun lounger and later knelt down in the sand as she chilled at the beach. Lila also posted a photograph of herself relaxing with her friends on the trip. And she included a look inside her beach bag, complete with a snorkel and her purse. Stunner: Lila Grace Moss showcased her slender figure in an animal-print bikini as she shared throwback shots reminiscing on a holiday to Costa Rica on Wednesday Carefree: She lay on a sun lounger and later knelt down in the sand as she chilled at the beautiful beach The beauty, who is the daughter of supermodel Kate Moss, looked carefree and chilled in the images. She opted for no makeup, letting her natural beauty shine through and her blonde locks flow loose and Lila captioned her post: 'Waiting for a day like this.' It comes after Lila Grace looked nothing short of angelic in March as she glided down the catwalk of Chloe's Paris Fashion week show. The model cut an ethereal figure in a slinky white dress complete with a pearl body chain as she showcased the French fashion house's Fall/Winter 2023-2024 ready-to-wear collection. The sweeping dress perfectly fell over the beauty's lithe figure, with the V-neck and spaghetti strap details highlighting her decolletage. Lila wore the stunning dress with black buckled sandals, with no further accessories distracting from the gorgeous look. Her dark blonde locks were swept back into a neat bun, with her make-up look clean and simple, save for a sweep of shimmering gold eyeshadow in the corner of her eyes. Lila appeared focused as she concentrated on putting on a good show, looking straight ahead while strutting down the runway. Quality time: Lila also posted a photograph of herself relaxing with her friends on the trip in the sun The appearance comes after Lila and her mum Kate, 49, were among those in attendance for a star-studded memorial service in honour of the late designer Vivienne Westwood. The iconic supermodel paid homage to the fashion icon with a chic black floral shirt dress as she arrived for the occasion at Southwark Cathedral. Lila was bundled up in a chunky black hooded coat and heeled boots as she chatted to guests alongside her mother. Victoria Beckham, Lily Cole, Lady Amelia Windsor, Katherine Jenkins, Helena Bonham Carter and Elle Fanning were among the biggest names seen arriving to the service. Gisele Bundchen made a generous donation to the Lotus House, a residential facility serving more than 1,550 homeless women and kids annually, in Miami on Tuesday. The supermodel, 42, gifted $1million to the country's largest women's shelter to help fund a 'state-of-the-art facility centered around the needs of the community's youth,' according to a press release, obtained by the Miami Herald. Her seven-figure contribution will also further 'the organization's mission to prevent homelessness in South Florida.' 'Building a solid community for children is so important, especially for those who are vulnerable and in need,' the mom-of-two, who split from her ex-husband Tom Brady in October. 'Like everything in life, it takes a seed of an idea for something to grow.' She continued: 'The benefits of play include physical fitness, social interactions, cognitive development, self-confidence, and overall well-being.' Doing good: Gisele Bundchen made a generous donation to the Lotus House, a residential facility serving more than 1,550 homeless women and kids annually, in Miami on Tuesday The mother-of-two went on to say that 'all these elements build a strong foundation for growth.' Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava shared photos with the Vogue cover girl as they posed wearing pink helmets with shovels in their hands. In the images, the Brazilian beauty spoke on stage while rocking a white t-shirt and light-wash jeans. According to the Lotus House's website, the group 'provides free transitional housing and wrap around support services with access to a wide range of resources to approximately 520 women, youth and children daily.' Lotus House 'serves women who are homeless, whether due to domestic violence, untreated medical or mental illness, disability or economic reasons.' The organization even has a 'special maternity wing for women, who are homeless and pregnant and their infants.' Some of the educational workshops they provide include creative writing, yoga, dance and art. Constance Collins opened the doors to the Lotus House in 2006, with with 34 shelter beds, before expanding with the larger Lotus Village in 2018. Generous: The supermodel, 42, gifted $1million to the country's largest women's shelter to help fund a 'state-of-the-art facility centered around the needs of the community's youth,' according to a press release, obtained by the Miami Herald Supporting her community: Her seven-figure contribution will also further 'the organization's mission to prevent homelessness in South Florida' Back in 2017, the runway queen founded the Luz Foundation, which provides grants and support to young girls. 'My life is devoted to this,' she said, in a 2015 interview with the Sydney Morning Herald. 'I know from the outside that people think: 'This girl just poses for pictures.' 'But in my head, I'm thinking the whole time: 'Okay, if I take this job, then I can have more money to put into this.' 'Building a solid community for children is so important, especially for those who are vulnerable and in need,' the mom-of-two, who split from her ex-husband Tom Brady in October. 'Like everything in life, it takes a seed of an idea for something to grow' 'So that's what I'm doing, because that's [why] God gave me to do what I can do, right?' In October 2021, she spoke about creating the Luz Alliance Fund to 'help the most vulnerable families in Brazil during the pandemic.' 'I am thrilled that together we raised over R$ 7,7 M funds that directly supported more than 143,000 people to date,' she wrote on Instagram, at the time. 'This was only possible because of every person who worked in and out of the 40 organizations supported by the Luz Alliance Fund.' Bundchen then encouraged her followers to 'keep this chain of solidarity and collaboration' going and how we 'can each find our own way of doing good.' 'Every action and every donation countand generosity only generates more generosity,' the model said. 'Together we are stronger and there is nothing we cant do.' The venue was London's Ham Yard Hotel, but Vanessa Bauer looked like she was ready for the Oscars as she attended a film screening on Wednesday evening. The Dancing On Ice skater, newly single following her split from Joey Essex, radiated classic Hollywood glamour in a sweeping gown while posing on the red carpet as she celebrated the launch of new sporting biopic Big George Foreman. With a cinched waist, a floor-length detail and a risque split, the elegant evening wear conjured images of Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn during their Academy Award winning golden years. But the acting elite were sadly absent on Wednesday, with Vanessa instead rubbing shoulders with dancer Abbie Quinnen, former Love Island contestant Ellie Spence and Kris Boyson - the one-time fiance of ex-glamour model Katie Price. The German skater, 25, completed her look with a pair of sparkling gold stiletto heels, while rich make-up enhanced her naturally pretty features and further accentuated her already glamorous ensemble. High glamour: The venue was London's Ham Yard Hotel, but Vanessa Bauer looked like she was ready for the Oscars as she attended a film screening on Wednesday evening Night out: The Dancing On Ice skater, newly single following her split from Joey Essex, radiated classic Hollywood glamour in a sweeping gown while posing on the red carpet as she celebrated the launch of new biopic Big George Foreman Head turner: With a cinched waist, a floor-length detail and a risque split, the elegant evening wear conjured images of Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn during their golden years Vanessa and The Only Way Is Essex star Joey, who performed together during the latest series of Dancing On Ice, have not seen each other since the grand final, which took place on Sunday, March 12. Viewers saw the couple grow close earlier this year filming the show, where they narrowly missed out on being crowned champions to Olympic gymnast Nile Wilson and his professional partner Olivia Smart. Vanessa recently claimed that she was 'very happy' with Joey, 32, when asked about their romance, but MailOnline can exclusively reveal that the couple are no longer dating and haven't spent any time together since the end of series last month. Their separation comes as Joey is planning an overseas move to Dubai and is in the middle of viewing properties where he can relocate and begin a new life away from Essex. A source said: 'Joey absolutely loved his time performing with Vanessa on Dancing On Ice he will treasure those memories forever. Finishing touches: The German skater completed her look with a pair of sparkling gold stiletto heels, while rich make-up enhanced her naturally pretty features Don't mind me: But Vanessa was hard to miss as she greeted onlookers at Ham Yard Hotel on Wednesday evening Say cheese: Other guests at the gala screening of Big George Foreman included professional dancer Abbie Quinnen Glove island: Former Love Islanders Ellie Spence (L) and AJ Bunker (R) were also present Family affair: (L-R) Harlem Eubank, Chris Eubank Jr. and Joseph Eubank posed for photographers after making their way into the venue The Price isn't right: Kris Boyson - the one-time fiance of ex-glamour model Katie Price - attended with Kori Sampson 'But for now, he's focussing on work opportunities and beginning a new chapter in Dubai. 'He's definitely single and while Vanessa means a lot to him because of the experience they shared on the show, they're just friends now. 'Joey has a busy life and career and right now his main priority is his house move, which will be a massive change for him.' Vanessa was asked about her relationship with the former TOWIE star this week, revealing 'me and Joey, we're doing very good, we are doing really good at the moment,' adding 'I'm very happy.' But in reality the pair haven't spoken since the Dancing On Ice final due to their busy work schedules and for Joey, a change in lifestyle as he begins his property search in Dubai. The pair's chemistry became a talking point during Dancing On Ice with even hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield making comments about their connection. Their partnership saw them reach the final and dance the Bolero, while drag queen The Vivienne, who finished in third place, was unable to share their performance of the famous routine. They were beaten to the title by Nile, who had impressed throughout the series and regularly earned the top spot on the leaderboard Smoking: Too Hot To Handle star Nicole O'Brien ensured she caught the eye on Wednesday Red carpet ready: Influencer Chris Kowalski was also among the guests at Ham Yard Hotel A dream in cream: Ellie Spence showed off her slender figure in a form-fitting evening dress Bam Margera is allegedly addicted to meth - as he runs from police with his girlfriend and her child, eight, according to his brother Jess Margera. The Jack**s star's brother took to Twitter on Wednesday to make the claims, adding that he is 'trying to stay positive' because he is the 'sweetest guy.' Jess claims that 'since his meth habit, he's unrecognizable,' noting that he doesn't 'know what he's capable of.' 'Seeing him screaming @ [at] a person that wasn't there, hallucinating. It's really scary and heartbreaking,' Jess said. 'His gf has her phone, I'm obviously very worried about Bam but I'm extremely worried about that there is an 8 year old child with them. I can't even imagine the environment in that car right now.' The latest: Bam Margera is allegedly addicted to meth - as he runs from police with his girlfriend and her child, eight, according to his brother Jess Margera, via TMZ Troubled: The Jack**s star's brother took to Twitter on Wednesday to make the claims, adding that he is 'trying to stay positive' because he is the 'sweetest guy' Allegations: Jess claims that 'since his meth habit, he's unrecognizable,' noting that he doesn't 'know what he's capable of;' Bam and Jess (right) with their parent 'I hope she's okay. She is the sweetest kid, she doesn't deserve this unnecessary trauma,' he tweeted. Jess also expressed his frustration at the cops at not being able to track him. 'I mean I can talk to my lightbulbs. My car can back out of the garage and pick me at the front door. Police should be able to track a phone right? Apparently I'm the a**hole.' Over the weekend, Pennsylvania cops launched a manhunt in Pennsylvania to find the troubled star, who allegedly assaulted Jess. Pennsylvania State Police officials told TMZ that troopers responded to a reported disturbance at around 11 a.m. on Sunday morning near his $1.1 million Pocopson Township castle, where an alleged victim said they got into a physical altercation with the 43-year-old pro-skater and suffered minor injuries as a result. But when police arrived on the scene, Margera had already fled into a nearby wooded area and has not yet been located. According to a police report, Margera began to bang on his brother Jesse's bedroom door at 8 a.m. Sunday, leaving a disturbing note in his wake. The note read: 'If you even f***ing think of calling the police on me I will officially f*** you up.' Jess - best known as the drummer for the rock band CKY - said that he found the note and walk downstairs to discover Bam urinating into a kitchen sink, which led to a fight breaking out. Incident: Over the weekend, Pennsylvania cops launched a manhunt in Pennsylvania to find the troubled star, who allegedly assaulted his own brother, who he allegedly assaulted Bam allegedly began to beat Jess, striking him multiple times on his head, which Jesse showing multiple visible injuries. Jess claims that after the fight, Bam continued his rage, saying: 'I'll kill you. I'll put a bullet in your head.' Bam also allegedly said he'd kill everyone else in the home, including the Margera brothers' father Phil and two unidentified women. Bam then fled into the woods behind the house. His friends have been allegedly urging Bam to get help after a failed intervention in San Diego earlier this month, following his recent arrest. Despite their best efforts, Bam, who has dealt with substance abuse issues and violent behavior in recent years, reportedly 'blew the whole thing up.' While a source told TMZ that the actor 'seemed receptive at first' things went south following some logistical issues, including where his current girlfriend would live if he was receiving treatment. The insider noted that the father-of-one's loved ones are 'worried about him' and want him 'to help get him back into rehab.' His estranged wife Nicole Boyd was said to be involved during the intervention as she agreed to allow visitations with their son Phoenix, five, if he remained sober. TMZ reported this 'upset' his girlfriend, who then 'kicked everyone out.' Erratic behavior: Over the weekend, Pennsylvania cops launched a manhunt in Pennsylvania to find the troubled star, who allegedly assaulted his own brother; seen with his estranged wife Nicole Boyd and their son Phoenix A warrant is now out for Margera's arrest, charging him with four misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another, one count of simple assault and a final court of harassment while subjecting another to physical contact. The charges come just weeks after Margera was arrested in California for a public intoxication after he got into a shouting match with an unidentified woman at a Thai restaurant in Burbank. In video of that confrontation filmed by the comedian Evan Breen, the former pro skateboarder could be seen going back into the restaurant and then out of it again after police had arrived. At an officer's request, Margera sat down on the ground in the parking lot, and although his conversation with the officer couldn't be heard, he could be seen waving his arms about and gesticulated wildly. Devastating: In the aftermath, sources told TMZ that Nicole is looking into filing for legal protection against him in order to protect herself and their five-year-old son Phoenix The arrest may have been preceded by some kind of family drama, as Margera's estranged wife Nikki and their son Phoenix were both in the restaurant, according to a witness on the scene. However, police didn't clarify if he was arguing with his ex, or if it was another woman. The sources added that Margera would be forced to pay $500 to be released early on bail, unless he opts to stay behind bars until sobering up. Earlier that month, Margera was also arrested on domestic violence charges after police in California responded to his home in Escondido, where a woman claimed he kicked her. The alleged victim was not named, but she was reportedly Margera's girlfriend, Jessica, and not his ex. It is unclear whether the she is the victim in the most recent case. Margera was ultimately released on a $50,000 bail, though the local District Attorney said charges would not be filed against him. At odds: Boyd had filed for divorce from Margera in February of this year after claiming that he was not sober during a visit with his son Legal woes: Separately, the Viva La Bam star is being sued for threatening to use brass knuckles on a neighbor In the aftermath, sources told TMZ that his estranged wife is looking into filing for legal protection against him in order to protect herself and their five-year-old son Phoenix. She had told the site that the incident 'was scary for me and even more scary for Phoenix,' adding that it was a shame as 'the visitation that Bam had with Phoenix the prior day in Hollywood went reasonably well.' Nicole claimed her famous husband had arrived at the restaurant intoxicated and belligerent as she explained: 'This is the umpteenth time that Bam takes one step forward and ten steps back.' Her attorney David Glass told TMZ that they had been trying to work with Bam on setting up regular visitation for their child but it is contingent on him staying sober and treating her with respect something they say Margera has refused to do. Boyd had filed for divorce from Margera in February of this year after claiming that he was not sober during a visit with his son. She has requested legal and physical custody of Phoenix, though she says Margera should still be allowed to have supervised visits with his son in the Los Angeles area. I'm A Celebrity: South Africa fans were left shocked by Georgia Toffolo's 'brutal' first trial on Wednesday night's episode. The star, also known as Toff, was one of the latecomers to the show, along with Myleene Klass and Andy Whyment, and was chosen to win stars by the other 10 celebrities. In the trial, called Hell Hole, Georgia had to go down a well and crawl through the confined space, looking for stars while surrounded by critters and other horrors. And despite some screams and panicking about the conditions she was in, she managed to win eight stars and made her way to main camp. There was another twist on the way as she then had to choose someone to leave the camp and go and join Myleene and Andy- and the episode ended on a cliffhanger. Tough: I'm A Celebrity: South Africa fans were left shocked by Georgia Toffolo's 'brutal' first trial on Wednesday night's episode Challenge: In the trial, called Hell Hole, Georgia had to go down a well and crawl through the confined space, looking for stars while surrounded by critters and other horrors Viewers took to Twitter in their droves to praise Toff for her performance and remark on the difficulty of the trial, describing it as 'horrible.' One person wrote: 'Naah the producers are trying to kill Toff!!! WHAT WAS THAT?' Another said: 'Well done @ToffTalks no way in this world could I do any of that.' And a third added: 'Poor Toff that was horrible... what a trooper.' Someone else said: 'Without sounding like a Karen... I fully believe that trial wasn't okay. 'Still in shock from them dropping her like that. Can't believe how calm she stayed. 'I'd have had a strop, told them to f**k off and got my lawyers.' A separate person penned: 'That was jokes, poor Toff!' Impressed: Viewers took to Twitter in their droves to praise Toff for her performance and remark on the difficulty of the trial, describing it as 'horrible' It comes after Paul Burrell sent fans into stitches during Wednesday evening's episode of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! South Africa as he made a hilarious gaffe. The former royal butler, 64, was taking some time to detail his at-home workout regime to his fellow campmates, but accidentally ended up saying that he was a cross-dresser. While actually meaning to reference his cross-trainer exercise machine, he said: 'I get home and go on the cross-dresser.' The blunder left campmate Janice Dickinson confused as she attempted to put together what he meant, before realising and jesting: 'Whatever you're doing, keep doing it, you look good'. New mother Paris Hilton is well known for her DJ career but, on Wednesday, she announced she'll be headlining her first-ever singing concert in Hollywood on June 7. 'Tickets go on sale May 5th!' the 42-year-old hotel heiress-turned-reality TV icon - who boasts 60.6M social media followers - wrote on Instagram. 'What songs would you like me to perform?' Paris chose The Fonda Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard to be the venue for her career milestone, which measures 31K square feet and has a capacity for up to 1,200 fans. Hilton's announcement received glowing comments and emojis from Demi Lovato, her husband Carter Reum, Elle Fanning, her make-up artist-turned-RuPaul's Drag Race champ Gottmik, and her sister Nicky Hilton Rothschild. Surprise! New mother Paris Hilton is well known for her DJing but, on Wednesday (pictured), she announced she'll be headlining her first-ever singing concert in Hollywood on June 7 The 42-year-old hotel heiress-turned-reality TV icon - who boasts 60.6M followers - wrote on Instagram: 'Tickets go on sale May 5th! What songs would you like me to perform?' The Paris: The Memoir author hasn't released new music since being featured on NERVO's 2021 track, Pickle, alongside Tinie Tempah. Paris never performed live when she released her one and only studio album Paris through Warner Bros. Records in 2006, which reached the No. 6 spot on the US Billboard 200. Hilton's standout single Stars Are Blind peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. Street artist Banksy famously replaced 500 copies of The Simple Life alum's album in 48 record shops across the UK with a satirical reworked version featuring topless pics and renamed tracks like 'Why Am I Famous?,' 'What Have I Done?' and 'What Am I For?' 'I will usually start [my DJ sets] with whatever single I have out at that point,' Paris told Billboard in 2017. The setting: Paris chose The Fonda Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard to be the venue for her career milestone, which measures 31K square feet and has a capacity for up to 1,200 fans (pictured in 2015) 'Yasss! So excited!' Hilton's announcement received glowing comments and emojis from Demi Lovato, her husband Carter Reum, Elle Fanning, her make-up artist-turned-RuPaul's Drag Race champ Gottmik, and her sister Nicky Hilton Rothschild Warm up those pipes, girl! The Paris: The Memoir author hasn't released new music since being featured on NERVO's 2021 track, Pickle, alongside Tinie Tempah 'I always end [my DJ sets] with Stars Are Blind': Paris never performed live when she released her one and only studio album Paris through Warner Bros. Records in 2006, which reached the No. 6 spot on the US Billboard 200 Off to another adventure! On Wednesday, The Simple Life alum and her 42-year-old husband of 17 months left their three-month-old infant son Phoenix Barron Hilton Reum behind to catch a flight out of LAX Airport in Los Angeles together 'I perform that first on the set and then maybe Turn It Up and then at the end I always end with Stars Are Blind.' On Wednesday, Hilton and her 42-year-old husband of 17 months left their three-month-old infant son Phoenix Barron Hilton Reum behind to catch a flight out of LAX Airport in Los Angeles together. The Versace Womenswear SS/23 catwalker and Carter already went through the IVF/egg-harvesting process during the pandemic and their fraternal twins (daughter London and son named after mystery city) will be the next to arrive. Meanwhile, VH1 Secrets of Aspen alum Laura Bellizzi told Page Six in 2021 that Reum has only seen their 10-year-old daughter 'once since she was born.' Damian Lewis and his girlfriend Alison Mosshart head out on a date in New York City on Tuesday. The Band Of Brothers actor, 52, is thought to have begun dating the musician, 44, at some point last year. They looked every inch the smitten couple as they donned matching chocolate brown suits during their outing. Damian teamed his look with a matching brown t-shirt, while Alison went for an eye-catching green shirt. She completed the look with a pair of black platform ankle boots and a teal green handbag. Smitten: Damian Lewis and his girlfriend Alison Mosshart don matching brown suits as they head out on a date in New York City on Tuesday Looking good: Damian teamed his look with a matching brown t-shirt, while Alison went for an eye-catching green shirt Damian married actress Helen McCrory in July 2007. The couple share a daughter, Manon and son, Gulliver. Helen passed away from cancer in April 2021, aged 52. Damian and Alison are thought to have met through mutual friends while in London. They had grown increasingly fond of one another, Mosshart's mother Vivian, 76, told MailOnline last year. Speaking exclusively from her home in Florida, she said: 'I don't know how much flak I'm going to get for all of this but of course we are excited for her. 'They have mutual friends. I don't know exactly how they met but I'm fine with it. If she's happy, we are happy. I'm yet to meet him but certainly I'd like to.' The pair were first photographed together in July at a swanky fundraising party for London's National Gallery. A fellow passenger, who spotted the pair travelling to the event by train, told The Mail on Sunday that the two looked '100 per cent romantically involved like they were on a hot date'. It comes following the news that Damien is forging a new career path as a musician as he releases his debut single with an album to follow in the summer. The actor reportedly signed a record deal with Decca Records after a bidding war for the rights to release his debut album Mission Creep. Damian has written a series of 'deeply personal' songs for the album which comes nearly two years after the death of his wife Helen McCrory . Moving: Following her death, Damian revealed how his late wife Helen had urged him to find love again, telling him and their son and daughter that she wanted 'Daddy to have lots of girlfriends' (pictured together in 2019) Speaking to The Mirror , he said: 'It encompasses many life experiences, and won't take Sherlock Holmes to work out what some of those are.' His debut single is called Down On The Bowery, with his fans speculating that it serves as an ode to his girlfriend, fellow musician Alison Mosshart. Jokingly referring to his new career path as a 'mini midlife crisis', Damian said: 'I suddenly had a lot to say. People will judge if it's any good or not, but for me, it felt entirely natural.' The actor is said to be playing the Cheltenham Jazz Festival on May 1 and Black Deer Festival on June 16 and he also hopes to perform at Glastonbury. I'm A Celeb's Myleene Klass has warned viewers not to expect the same shower scenes as she arrived in the South African camp on Tuesday. The 45-year-old former pop star, fashion designer and radio host famously set pulses racing in 2006 by sporting a white two-piece in the outside shower. Ahead of entering the camp, Myleene explained: 'After doing the programme I saw the photo and I was like 'my goodness, it does look glamorous, but it certainly didn't feel like it - far from it! 'There are worse things to be known for than being really clean! Since then, I have had three babies and I don't look like that now.' She added: 'I am really proud of how strong my body has been. It has been through lots of trials and tribulations since and part of the reason for doing this all star version is I want to remind myself of that. 'I don't look like that now': I'm A Celeb's Myleene Klass has warned viewers not to expect the same shower scenes as she arrived in the South African camp on Tuesday Exciting: Georgia Toffolo, Myleene Klass and Andy Whyment are set to enter the camp on Wednesday 'I do feel like a different person, I was in my 20s when I first came into the jungle and now I'm in my 40s. 'I think I will smell the campfire and it will be like yesterday! 'I've got so many great memories to pick from but I liked some of the things you don't see on camera like at night when the jungle came alive. All you could see was a wall of green dots, green eyes, reflected by the moonlight.' Reminiscing on her time on the show, she told ITV her scariest trial was the one in a coffin with rising water. Speaking about the rows, she added: 'I like the fact that with I'm A Celebrity, you go back to basics. You are stripped bare and it is funny watching people argue about how to boil an ostrich egg or get frustrated on the Trials.' Myleene has become synonymous with white bikinis ever since her appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here in 2006. The nation's attention was grabbed when the star went for a shower in the jungle while sporting a tiny two-piece, which showcased her incredible frame. The source adds that Myleene will allegedly be launching a Next swimwear range as the show airs so that fans can recreate the iconic look. The famous tiny white bikini was auctioned for charity for 7,500 and Myleene later revealed it was a last-minute purchase. She explained she had spent just 20 on the skimpy two-piece after producers informed her the striped number she had originally packed would not look good on film. Wow! The 45-year-old former pop star, fashion designer and radio host famously set pulses racing in 2006 by sporting a white two-piece in the outside shower Speaking about the rows, she added: 'I like the fact that with I'm A Celebrity, you go back to basics. You are stripped bare' Back in 2020, she reflected on the swimwear that helped to make her a household name on I'm A Celebrity. She penned: 'It feels like I was in the jungle only yesterday! Every time I see this pic pop up, I can't believe how fate handled it all. 'I remember one of the shows producers looking at my bikinis in the hotel before I went to camp. One was covered in stripes. ''We'll have to stop at the shops as that's probably going to strobe on camera''. 'I ran into the shop en route to the jungle, asked the shop assistant for the plainest bikini she had. Best $40 I ever spent....especially as it raised so much for charity.' Since her appearance, a slew of female stars have tried to recreate her iconic shower scenes during their time in camp. Myleene ultimately finished on second place, behind Matt Willis, and is heavily tipped to be one of the surprise latecomers to the All Stars camp, alongside Georgia Toffolo and Joe Swash. Gillian McKeith - who was renowned for her dramatic fainting scene, Dean Gaffney and Andrew Whyment could also be among those making a return. They will allegedly join previously announced stars Helen Flanagan , Carol Vorderman , Amir Khan, Janice Dickinson, Paul Burrell, Jordan Banjo, Shaun Ryder, Fatima Whitbread and Phil Tufnell. It comes after Myleene harked back to the famous shower scene last week, by sporting a very similar white two-piece for a sensational new snap. She penned a caption reading: '45 be like Thank you for all your lovely HBD messages, for your support and love. 'Heres to the next 45 years my friends. Im off for a bike ride, a swim and some cake!' Celebs: The All Stars season will see Shaun Ryder, Helen Flanagan, Phil Tufnell, Jordan Banjo, Carol Vorderman, Paul Burrell, Amir Khan, Janice Dickinson and Fatima Whitbread return The stunner was flooded with birthday messages from superstar pals and fans alike, as she rang in the day with a lavish mini-break. She highlighted her cleavage in the simple triangle top and flaunted her taut stomach with the low-slung bottoms, while wearing her hair in a slick down do. Ensuring she was ready for action, Myleene sported a pair of Sketchers trainers while she also wore a chunky gold watch and stacks of gold chains. In the caption, she revealed the swimsuit was her own design from her Next collaboration while the trainers were also part of a brand partnership. With the number of party hoppers rising before polls, theres muted talk that they could spoil the chances of the ruling BJP returning to power The party-hopping peaked before the elections. How far these turncoats would damage the BJP is unknown. Despite its insisting that this migration would not affect its poll prospects, the exit of prominent faces could be bad optics. The BJP already faces anti-incumbency and is battling allegations of corruption. Besides, the state has a tradition of not returning the ruling party to power. There are other issues like caste politics. Some veterans and old-timers are miffed over their non-inclusion in the candidate lists. The erosion is due to BJP's calculated decision to purge older candidates for younger and new faces. Also, those who sensed they would not get a ticket and those who could gauge the public's mood against the party have defected to Congress and Janata Dal (Secular.) Last week, the BJP fielded 52 new candidates and retained 90 sitting MLAs, including 11 from Congress and J.D. (S) who crossed over in 2019 to help it wrest power from the Kumaraswamy coalition. The former chief minister, a former State BJP President, and a six-time MLA, Jagdish Shetter, tops the list of these migrants. BJP attempted damage control by offering him the post of governor or a central minister, but he rejected it to contest from a Congress ticket. The other disappointed veterans include Laxman Savadi- a heavyweight Ex-deputy chief minister, S Angara- a six-time MLA, R. Shankar- BJP MLC and M P Kumaraswamy- Mudigere, BJP MLA. Most are from the influential Lingayat community, traditionally supporting the BJP since the late 1990s. Defections are not new to Indian politics. The Congress Socialist Party broke away from Congress as early as 1948. The party split in Uttar Pradesh in 1950, Andhra Pradesh in 1953, and Haryana in 1967 ( famous (Aya Ram Gaya Ram" case.) A Haryana legislator, Gaya Ram of the sixties, won first as an Independent, joined the Congress, and changed parties thrice again within a fortnight! Karnataka has a long history of migrant and betrayal politics which resulted in government collapse not once or twice but several times. Between 1967 and 1983, there were approximately 2,700 defections at the state level, with 15 becoming chief ministers, according to PRS Legislative Research. What is defection? A turncoat in politics happens when a legislator leaves the party on whose symbol they won and joins another party. These turncoats treat disqualification as a mere detour to return to the House by recontesting. After the passage of the Anti-Defection Law in 1985 to check the menace, the pace fell, but the trend continued. A fourth of the current MLAs had won on a different party ticket and one in six won elections on more than one party ticket. According to India Today's Data Intelligence Team, of the 341 turncoat candidates in Karnataka in the last three assembly elections, 78 won, while 263 lost. Also, the count has increased over time, with the highest number in the 2018 election. Incidentally, the BJP has been in power in Karnataka for nine years at different terms but has never secured a majority. It had to depend on the turncoats to form their government. In the previous 2018 Assembly polls, the BJP won 104 out of the 224 seats. But J.D. (S) (37) and the Congress(76) coalition formed the government, though BJP emerged as the single largest party. However, the Kumaraswamy coalition government collapsed after the BJP engineered a coup with 18 MLAs from Congress and J.D. (S), bringing it back to power. Voters elected 15 of the 17 defected legislators in 2019. The BJP leader Yediyurappa became the chief minister four times, the only leader to do so, but never once completed a full term. Two of his terms lasted just a few days each. His government collapsed in 2007, 2011, and 2018. Why do the voters return the turncoats? The rival parties are willing to embrace them and field them again. They see the migration now as more of a vehicle that lends credibility and gets influential positions in their chosen party. Switching parties do not always affect the migrants. Of the 833 turncoats, BJP filed in the last decade, 44 per cent of won re-elections. Traditionally, turncoats depended on the migrant party's goodwill, cadres, and ability to finance. Small-time leaders acquire a new image to win. In the case of famous leaders, they carry their vote bank. The moral of the story is that turncoats cannot be wished away by bringing stringent laws. They remain constant whichever party comes to power in a hung kind of Assembly. Sadly, the turncoats are here to stay as long as political parties encourage them, the public votes for them to return, and defectors believe in self-interest. If the trend is not checked, it will damage Indian democracy. Awareness of the voters and shaming the turncoats could be the answer once the public sees the threat. (The writer is a senior journalist and columnist. The views expressed are personal) Actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on Tuesday said she feels drawn towards acting opportunities that will help her grow as an artist. The 49-year-old actor, who has acted in Hindi and Tamil films like "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam", "Devdas", "Dhoom 2", "Guru", "Iruvar", "Enthiran", and "Ponniyin Selvan", said she doesn't differentiate between cinema as North and South. "I look at cinema as Indian cinema. I had the opportunity to subtly but strongly and clearly convey that in the work that I did right from the beginning. I do not support this viewpoint that there is no work here, so go there (south), and vice versa. "As an actor, wherever we get the opportunity to shine, learn, to grow and to be able to do fabulous work, it naturally draws you," Aishwarya told reporters here at the trailer launch press conference of "Ponniyin Selvan 2". From the South film industry, the actor said she is grateful to have collaborated with stalwarts like Mani Ratnam, Shankar and AR Rahman. "I was blessed to have got the opportunity to work with Mani garu in my first film. Why wouldn't I say a yes? Thereafter, I got to work with wonderful directors like Rajiv Menon and Shankar, so naturally I will say yes to these movies that I have done, the proof is in the pudding," she said. "Besides, all the films have had AR Rahman's music, why wouldn't I happily say yes to these incredible combinations of talent. It's not about going here or there. Since the beginning of my career, I have made it clear with my choices that I don't follow these thought processes, systems and that's never been my journey and reasons for my choices," she added. In her career of over 20 years, Aishwarya has forged a successful collaboration with celebrated filmmaker Mani Ratnam. The two have worked together on "Iruvar", "Raavanan", and the two-part magnum opus movie "Ponniyin Selvan". Aishwarya said her answer to a Mani Ratnam movie will always be a "yes". "You can call it adoration, devotion, thankfulness or love, (shraddha, guru bhakti, kritagyata)... Label it whatever you want to, the point is it will always be a yes. But why wouldn't it be a yes. "Any actor deeply aspires to work with him. When that name or message flashes (on the phone), you cannot imagine the excitement," she said. "Ponniyin Selvan: II" is the second part of filmmaker Mani Ratnam's screen adaptation of author Kalki Krishnamurthy's 1955 Tamil novel of the same name. The first part, "Ponniyin Selvan: I" was released in September 2022. Aishwarya said it is a "beautiful coincidence" that two of her favourite characters -- from Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" and Ratnam's "Ponniyin Selvan" -- were both named Nandini. "It is amazing that it has happened. Nandini in 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' was very memorable, she has lived in people's hearts. I am so so thankful that I got to play Nandini then too. She has remained special to the audience and of course to me. "Today with Mani garu, I got to play Nandini in 'Ponniyin Selvan'. That's just tremendously a blessing to have gotten to play such a strong and layered woman, who touches the lives of so many women out there. There is a relatability and for that I am very grateful," she said. Actor Trisha, who earlier worked with Ratnam in 2004 acclaimed movie Aayutha Ezhuthu, said she will forever cherish the experience of working with the master filmmaker on "Ponniyin Selvan". "On sets, we were all a little stressed wondering whether our clothes were right, our hair was right and most importantly if we were delivering our dialogues ok. "It's all so special because all of us have had our emotional moments over the last week where we were laughing like crazy people, breaking down and crying," Trisha, who essays the role of Chola princess Kundavai in "PS", said. The special memories of working on "Ponniyin Selvan" will not "fade away anytime soon", she added. "I don't know if I can go on another set...There will always be withdrawal symptoms of not having these guys around. I always mostly have only one co-star, so I am so privileged to be a part of this and on this stage," Trisha said. "Ponniyin Selvan: II" also starring Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Vikram, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Prakash Raj, among others, is set to be released countrywide on Friday in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. It is backed by Ratnam's production house Madras Talkies and Allirajah Subaskaran's banner Lyca Productions. A special NIA court has issued non-bailable warrants against 23 terrorists operating from across the border after exfiltrating from their home district of Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir, a senior police officer said on Wednesday. This was the second time that the special NIA Court, Jammu has issued non-bailable warrants against the terrorists hiding in Pakistan or Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on the request of the police since March. Earlier, non-bailable warrants were issued against 13 terrorists. Thirty-six individuals from Kishtwar went to Pakistan after joining terrorism over a period of time. Subsequently, two FIRs were registered against them to bring them to book, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kishtwar, Khalil Poswal said. He said while a special NIA court issued non-bailable warrants against 13 of them on March 1, a fresh non-bailable warrant was issued against the rest of the 23 terrorists on Tuesday. We want to arrest all of them and are approaching Interpol so that a Red Corner notice is issued. The process has already been initiated and we are sure to arrange their presence in the court of law, the officer said. He said the fresh non-bailable warrants have been issued in a case registered at police station Chatroo under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The SSP said Chief Investigation Officer, DSP Vishal Sharma approached the Special NIA Court for issuance of the warrants against the accused for their active involvement in terror activities and creating unrest in Chenab valley and other parts of Jammu and Kashmir. They (terrorists hiding in Pakistan) mobilised sleeper cells and pushed them into J-K in connivance with secessionist and separatist leaders for waging war against the Government of India with nefarious design of seceding Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India, he said. He expressed hope that Pakistan will cooperate in the arrest and deportation of the terrorists. Pakistan is duty bound to extend their cooperation in accordance with international law. We are involving the Interpol to ensure the arrest of the absconders. If Pakistan fails to cooperate, it will get exposed, the officer said. Poswal said various revenue teams have also been formed to identify the properties of the terrorists for attachment as per the law. 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 After the Indian Government on Monday launched Operation Kaveri to evacuate its nationals from strife-torn Sudan, the first batch of Indians left the African nation onboard INS Sumedha, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said here on Tuesday. Sudan has been witnessing fierce fighting following a power struggle between the army and a paramilitary force for the last 11 days that has reportedly left 400 people dead. Bagchi said 278 people departed from Port Sudan for the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. First batch of stranded Indians leave Sudan under #Operation Kaveri. INS Sumedha with 278 people onboard departs Port Sudan for Jeddah, Bagchi tweeted. Nearly 500 Indian nationals, of the about 3,000 Indians living in Sudan, had reached the port. As part of the evacuation, India has deployed two C-130J transport planes in Jeddah, besides INS Sumedha which reached Port Sudan late on Sunday. The airport in Khartoum, capital of Sudan, is closed as heavy fighting is on near the complex. The evacuated people are likely to be flown back to India in C-130 Js from Jeddah. France has evacuated five Indians along with citizens of 27 other countries as part of its evacuation mission from the African nation. Saudi Arabia had evacuated at least three Indians with people of other nationalities on Sunday. Operation Kaveri is underway to bring back our citizens stranded in Sudan. About 500 Indians have reached Port Sudan while more are on their way. Our ships and aircraft are set to bring them back home. We are committed to assisting all our brethren in Sudan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had tweeted on Monday. The evacuation comes days after Jaishankar held talks with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Both countries had assured their practical support on the ground. Meanwhile, the French embassy in New Delhi said on Monday 388 people from 28 countries, including India, were evacuated. French evacuation operations are underway. Last night, two military flight rotations evacuated 388 people of 28 countries, including Indian nationals, it tweeted. The five Indian nationals were brought to Frances military base in Djibouti along with the other people, French diplomatic sources said. Three flights brought approximately 500 evacuees to Djibouti, they added. On Sunday, Saudi Arabia said it has evacuated from Sudan 66 citizens from brotherly and friendly foreign countries that included a few Indian nationals. People familiar with the matter said in New Delhi that Saudi Arabia evacuated three Indians, who were part of the crew of a Saudi flight and stuck in Khartoum. Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh (MP) Government has started a helpline to assist people from the State as well as other parts of the country who are stranded in Sudan, an official said on Tuesday in Bhopal. Those stranded in Sudan and are keen to come back to MP or other States can contact the helpline 91-755-2555582 and share their details, the official said. The State Government will coordinate with the Centre to facilitate their evacuation, he said. The Government has appointed the States Home Secretary Gaurav Rajput as the nodal officer for the purpose. Besides, relatives of Madhya Pradesh residents stuck in Sudan can also contact the Chief Minister Helpline 181 to register details about their near and dear ones for getting assistance, the official said. According to the official, the information can also be registered on the CM Helpline Portal - http://www.Cmhelpline.Mp.Gov.In. At a meeting on Friday last week to review the situation in Sudan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told officials to prepare the contingency plan to evacuate Indians from there. As the recent Corps Commander-level talks could not achieve a breakthrough in restoring normalcy at the border in Ladakh, India and China are likely to discuss the issue during the forthcoming visits of Chinese Defence and Foreign Ministers to India. They are scheduled to participate in the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers meet on April 27-28 in New Delhi and SCO Foreign Ministers meet in Goa on May 4-5 respectively. Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif too is likely to attend the meet. Russias Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu too will attend the meet. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to hold bilateral meetings with the Chinese and Russian Defence Ministers on the sidelines of the meet. Incidentally, the Chinese Defence Minister is visiting India for the first time since trouble flared up at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh in May 2020. In June the same year, a bloody brawl took place between the two armies in the Galwan valley there leaving 20 Indian army personnel, including its commanding officer, dead. Nearly 40 Chinese soldiers were killed in the clash but Beijing is yet to confirm it. The 18th round of Corps Commanders meet at the LAC on Sunday at Chushul-Moldo border meeting on the Chinese side did not see any forward movement in finding ways to disengage from friction points at Demchok and Depsang Valley in Eastern Ladakh. In this backdrop, China on Tuesday announced that its Defence Minister General Li Shangfu will visit India this week to attend the meeting of SCO Defence Ministers from April 27. He is expected to hold talks with Rajnath on ending the prolonged eastern Ladakh standoff which has severely strained bilateral ties. Considered a close associate of Chinese President Xi Jinping, General Lis India visit is regarded significant as it comes amid the vexed standoff between the armies of India and China in eastern Ladakh since May 2020. Upon invitation, Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister General Li Shangfu will attend the meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Member States of the SCO in New Delhi, India, from April 27-28, Chinas Ministry of National Defence (MND) said in a statement. During the meeting, General Li will address the conference and meet with the heads of delegations from relevant countries to communicate and exchange views on the issues of the international and regional situation, as well as defence and security cooperation, the statement said. General Li is widely expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Rajnath and discuss the progress of the military and diplomatic talks to resolve the festering standoff. Ahead of General Lis visit, the Chinese Defence Ministry spoke positively about the 18th round of the China-India Corps Commander level meeting held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side on April 23. It said both sides have agreed to speed up the settlement of relevant issues related to the prolonged standoff in eastern Ladakh, besides safeguarding peace in the border areas. The two sides had a friendly and candid exchange of views on relevant issues, said the Defence Ministrys statement. Under the guidance of the leaders of the two countries and based on the achievements of the meeting between the two Foreign Ministers, both sides agreed to maintain close contact and dialogue through military and diplomatic channels, speed up the settlement of relevant issues on the western section of the China-India boundary, and continue to safeguard the peace and tranquillity in the border areas, it said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told the media in Beijing on Monday that the two sides held an in-depth exchange of views on expediting the resolution of relevant issues. According to the important common understanding of the leaders of both countries, the two sides held an in-depth exchange of views on expediting the resolution of relevant issues, Ning said. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Monday the two sides had a frank and in-depth discussion on the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western sector. The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest, the MEA said. On March 2, Jaishankar held talks with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang on the sidelines of a conclave of the G-20 grouping in New Delhi. At the talks, Jaishankar conveyed to Qin that the state of India-China relations is abnormal. Sundays military talks came around four months after the last round of the dialogue between the senior Army commanders of the two sides. In line with a decision taken at the 16th round of military talks, the two sides carried out disengagement from Patrolling Point 15 in the Gogra-Hotsprings area in September last year. The Corps Commander-level talks were instituted to resolve the eastern Ladakh row. The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong Lake area. The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following a fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades. As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides have completed the disengagement process on the north and south banks of the Pangong Lake and in the Gogra area. Meanwhile, in an editorial, the State-run Global Times newspaper said the content of the China-India relationship is broad and rich, and should not be tied to or constrained by border frictions. The problems considered thorny in the Western world perhaps can be solved by Eastern wisdom. We look forward to China and India setting an example, it said. Days ahead of Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zaradaris visit to India, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, It is very difficult to engage with a neighbour who unleashes cross-border terrorism against India. Bilawal will take part in the two-day Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers meet in Goa on May 4 and 5. Addressing a joint media briefing along with Panama Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney Mencomo in Panama City late on Monday, Jaishankar said, The bottom line on this issue is that it is very difficult for us to engage with a neighbour who practises cross-border terrorism against us. Weve always said they have to deliver on the commitment not to encourage, sponsor and carry out cross-border terrorism. We continue to hope that one day we will reach that stage, he added. Bilawal will the first Pakistan Minister to visit India since 2014 when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came to New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Given strained ties between the two countries, Bilawal last week said his visit to India next month should not be seen in terms of bilateral ties. The conclave will take place in Goa on May 4 and 5. Zardari said his participation in the meeting in India reflected Islamabads commitment to the charter of the SCO and should not be seen in terms of bilateral ties. We are committed to the SCO charter and this visit should not be seen as a bilateral one but in the context of the SCO, Zardari said soon after his visit was announced by Pakistan Foreign office Thursday last week. It will not be appropriate to focus on a particular member, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said on Thursday on participation of Pakistan in SCO Foreign Ministers meet. He also said it is premature to say bilateral meeting between Zardari and Jaishankar may take place on the sidelines of the SCO conclave. Bilawal will be the first Minister to visit India after then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited New Delhi in 2014 for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi. In 2011, then Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar visited India. In December 2015, then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Pakistan and days later, Modi made a brief visit to Pakistan. Meanwhile, it would be the highest-level visit to India by any Pakistani leader in recent years and a possible opportunity to break the ice between the two nations. The ties between India and Pakistan came under severe strain after Indias warplanes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Pakistans Balakot in February 2019 in response to the Pulwama terror attack. The relations further deteriorated after India announced the withdrawal of Jammu and Kashmirs special powers and the bifurcation of the erstwhile State into Union Territories in August 2019. India has been maintaining that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan while insisting that the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment free of terror and hostility for such an engagement. As regards Jaishankars visit, he is on a two-day official tour to Panama. He arrived in Panama City on Monday and was received by Panamas Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Vladimir Francos. Taking to his official Twitter handle, Jaishankar stated, Arrived in Panama City. Thank Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs @VladimirFrancoS for the warm reception. Look forward to a packed bilateral and multilateral agenda. Jaishankar also attended the India-Latin America Business event and delivered a keynote address highlighting ten important reasons why the India-Panama business collaboration has strong prospects and merits-focused endeavours. After his visit to Panama, the External Affairs Minister on Tuesday left for Colombia where he will be meeting several top representatives of the Government, business and civil society. His Colombia visit would be the first Foreign Ministerial level visit to the country, the Ministry of External Affairs said in its release. Jaishankar and Colombias counterpart Alvaro Leyva Duran will review the bilateral ties. Following his visit to Colombia, Jaishankar will head to the Dominican Republic. The visit to the Dominican Republic is the highest-level visit from India since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1999. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said if the Congress comes to power in Karnataka, dynastic politics will be at an all-time high in the State and it will be afflicted with riots. Addressing a public meeting at Terdal in Belagavi, Shah also said the development of the State will be on the reverse gear if the Congress forms the government. Seeking the peoples mandate for political stability in Karnataka that would vote on May 10, Shah said that only BJP can lead the State towards New Karnataka. If Congress comes to power by mistake then corruption will be all time high and there will be appeasement, said Shah, who is on a two-day tour of Karnataka to hold a series of public meetings, roadshows and review meetings with his party leaders. Shah said the Congress will not benefit anyway from BJPs two major leaders former chief minister Jagadish Shettar and former deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi who recently joined the Mallikarjun Kharge-led party. Congress has always insulted the Lingayat community because in its long rule in the state it could give only two Lingayat Chief Ministers S Nijalingappa and Veerendra Patil and both were humiliated and sacked from the party, the senior BJP leader said. Seeking votes on the basis of those leaders who came from BJP showed how bankrupt the Congress is, Shah asserted. He said the Congress aligned with the JD(S) to unseat then Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. After unseating Yediyurappa using the JD(S), you want to move forward with the help of some of our leaders but the people of Karnataka, especially those from Kittur Karnataka region in the northern part of the state, will not tolerate it, he said. Accusing the Congress of not bothering to implement the Kalasa Banduri water project in north Karnataka despite being in power at the Centre, in Karnataka and Goa, Shah charged that the national party in 60 years of its rule could not do even 10 per cent of what the BJP has done in nine years. He pointed out that the double-engine BJP government in the State gave revenue village status to the hamlets of nomadic tribe Lambani and the settlements of shepherds, Kuruba Hatti. The Minister said the Congress is not coming out of the internal fight between former CM Siddaramaiah and Congress State president DK Shivakumar on who should be the Chief Minister (in the event of the party coming to power). Why fight unnecessarily when both of them are not going to become chief minister. Your number is not even there because the next Chief Minister will be from the BJP, Shah said. The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Delhi Police and others on a plea by seven women wrestlers seeking registration of an FIR against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment, saying the matter is serious and requires its consideration. In a related development, Olympic medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia on Tuesday claimed that seven female wrestlers, including a minor, who were allegedly sexually exploited, are being forced to withdraw their police complaint. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha was initially of the view that the plea may be listed for hearing on Friday. However, after hearing some arguments from senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who mentioned the matter, it decided to take up the case straightaway. The SC said normally a remedy to approach police is available under Section 156 (police officers power to investigate cognisable cases) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. What are the charges? it asked. Presenting the case, Sibal said the seven wrestlers, including a minor, have leveled sexual harassment allegations against Brij Bhushan but no FIR has been lodged so far despite the law being very clear on this aspect. These are women wrestlers...There are seven which include a minor. There is a committee report which has not been made public. And no FIR is registered, he added. Referring to judgments, the senior lawyer said even police personnel can be prosecuted for not registering an FIR in an offence of this nature. Taking note of the submissions, the bench said, There are serious allegations made in the petition by wrestlers who have represented India and sexual harassment meted out to them. The matter requires consideration by this court. (The plea) Taken on board. The identity of the petitioners shall be redacted. Only the redacted petition shall be made available in the public domain. Issue notice. Returnable on Friday. Liberty to serve the NCT Delhi. The complaints which form a part of an attachment in sealed cover shall again be re-sealed and shall be paced again together with the ... Plea, the bench ordered. The Delhi Police was among other parties who were issued the notice. The petition said it is the responsibility of the police to ensure the safety of all citizens, especially of those who are most vulnerable. Earlier, protesting wrestlers held a press conference at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, alleging that some people from the WFI have approached the complainants and even offered them money. I dont know how this has happened but the girls who have complained are being pressured. WFI officials are going to their homes and offering money, Punia, an Olympics medallist, said. If something happens to those girls, the police and government will be responsible. I dont know how the names were disclosed, he added. Meanwhile, several politicians, including CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Udit Raj, AAP Spokesperson Reena Gupta khap leaders and Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) representatives met with the protesting wrestlers and extended their support to them. This is the second time in over three months that Hooda, Raj and Karat visited the protesting wrestlers to extend her support. Hooda, Udit Raj, another Congress leader, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, who was stopped from joining the stir by the wrestlers in January, were welcomed by the wrestlers, a day after they had sought support from all quarters. When Karat reached the protest site on Tuesday, the wrestlers apologised to her for the incident which happened last time. I told them (wrestlers) that I was there the first time to express solidarity and I have come back as I fully support their demands. They told me that the Delhi Police has refused to file an FIR and is revealing the names of complainants to the WFI chief who is threatening the complainants, Karat said. Hooda spent about 35 minutes with the wrestlers at the Jantar Mantar but he did not speak, but Raj asked the protesting wrestlers to stick to their cause, like the farmers did against the farm laws and said, You will emerge victorious. AAP spokesperson Reena Gupta accused the BJP government of siding with criminals and protecting the accused. A few kids, including one from Bhopal, offered their piggy bank, containing their savings, to the wrestlers. Punia, while thanking them, said, You have big hearts. Gujarat Titans produced a clinical performance to outclass Mumbai Indians by 55 runs in a completely one-sided IPL match here on Tuesday. Set a stiff target of 208, MI were stopped at 152 for nine. MI didn't get the kind of start they would have liked and were struggling at 29 for the loss of captain Rohit Sharma's wicket in six overs, the team failing miserably to utilise the powerplay. While trying to work the ball on the onside, Rohit got a leading edge and ended up giving a return catch to his opposite number, Hardik Pandya, in the second over. After the seamers have done their job, star leg-spinner Rashid Khan came on and bowled a very economical first over. MI managed to score 13 runs in the seventh over, before Rashid ended Ishan Kishan's painstaking stay in the middle. Ishan consumed an many as 21 balls for his 13 runs. Three balls later, Rashid had Tilak Varma trapped in front of the wicket to leave MI reeling at 45 for three in the eighth over. From there, five-time winners MI could not do enough to challenge the defending champions. After a forgettable outing with the ball where he was smashed around for 39 runs in two overs, Cameron Green chipped in with 33 off 26 balls, while Suryakumar Yadav contributed 23 in 12 balls. Nehal Wadhera smashed his way to 40 in just 21 deliveries, but their efforts only delayed the inevitable. Besides Rashid's 2/27 in four overs, Noor Ahmad, the other spinner from Afghanistan, finished with impressive figures of 3/37 in his full quota of overs. Earlier, GT's lower middle-order used the long handle to good effect and powered their team to a formidable 207 for six. David Miller blazed away to a 22-ball 46, Rahul Tewatia smashed an unbeaten 20 in just five balls, while Abhinav Manohar needed only 21 deliveries to make 42 during a vital partnership of 71 runs for the fifth wicket with the South African. This was after Shubman Gill made a neat 34-ball 56. Arjun Tendulkar began on a promising note and conceded four runs in the opening over after his skipper Rohit opted to bowl first on winning the toss. Gill got the first boundary of the match as the opener played one behind square off a Jason Behrendorff delivery that was slightly short. MI didn't have to wait long for their first breakthrough as Wriddhiman Saha missed an attempted pull shot to edge one to the keeper off Tendulkar in the first ball of the third over. Having taken his partner Gill's advice, Saha reviewed, but the on-field umpire's decision was retained by UltraEdge. It was a nice comeback by Tendulkar junior, four days after being smacked for 48 runs in three overs by Punjab Kings. Growing in confidence, the 23-year-old left-arm seamer gave away just five runs. With the help of few fours and a six, Gill gave the GT innings the momentum it needed after a quiet first five overs. Gill collected 17 runs off Green's first as GT reached 50 for one at the end of the six powerplay overs. However, defending champions GT suffered a major blow when Piyush Chawla (2/34) snared skipper Hardik caught in the deep by Suryakumar after the batter had made 13 off 14 balls. GT were in for another shock as Gill, having played some fine shots on way to his brisk half-century, was sent back by Kumar Kartikeya to leave the team 91 for three at the start of the 12th over. Gill hit seven fours and a six. Vijay Shankar was dismissed for 16-ball 19 before Manohar and Miller accelerated with their big hitting. Manohar accumulated 17 runs off Chawla's final over to ruin his figures after three economical overs. The duo of Manohar and Miller then amassed 22 runs in the 18th over bowled by Green, who was smashed for three sixes. Finally, Riley Meredith took out Manohar in the beginning of the 19th over, out bowled as the batter looked to loft the ball over long-off. Tewatia had a first ball six, before Miller ended the over with two more maximums. The Nava Raipur Atal Nagar Development Authority, Housing and Environment and Revenue Department in Chhattisgarh will jointly ensure allotment of land to eligible families as per a decision taken on Tuesday. Housing and Environment Minister Mohammed Akbar chaired the meeting. Urban Administration and Development Minister Shiv Dahariya was also present. The cabinet ministers asked the Development Authority to coordinate with the Housing and Environment and Revenue Department to ensure early allotment of land to the eligible families affected by Nava Raipur development project. The Nava Raipur-hit farmers of 27 villages had organized a sit-in demonstration in April 2022 for more than 100 days seeking compensation and rehabilitation. A cabinet sub-committee was formed to hold discussion with farmers but no conclusive result was achieved. The government then sought time to resolve the issue. During the first three weeks of the ongoing Operation Smile, Haryana Police have traced, rescued and rehabilitated 1308 children including child beggars and labourers who were reported missing from different parts of the country. These include 536 missing children, 300 child beggars and 472 child labourers. In addition, the Police have also searched and reunited 493 missing adults to their families under the campaign. A Haryana police spokesperson said that aiming to trace missing children and also curb the child trafficking menace, a month-long program Operation Smile was launched on April 1 and would continue till April 30. "We are committed to protecting the rights of our children and ensuring their safety and well-being. The success of 'Operation Smile' is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our police personnel, as well as the support and cooperation of all stakeholders. We will continue to work tirelessly to trace and rescue missing children and combat the scourge of child trafficking," said DGP PK Agrawal. The spokesperson further said that State Police, under Operation Smile, is engaged in tracing and recovering missing children and adults and handing them over to their families. In the last 3 weeks, the positive results of the hard work of the state police have started coming to the fore. In the third week itself, the combined efforts of all the districts and the Anti Human Trafficking Unit teams have succeeded in reuniting 212 missing children and 192 adults with their families. Out of the total, 177 missing children have been reunited with their families by the district police and 35 children by the AHTU units. Teams of District Police and Anti Human Trafficking Units have rescued 209 child labourers and 117 child beggars during the 3rd week of operation smile. Apart from this, counseling of parents has also been done so that the rescued children do not go into child labour again. Giving additional information, he informed that till now a total of 300 child beggars have also been rehabilitated by the state police. Children indulged in begging are often found at places like railway stations or bus stands, from where they are rescued and sent to shelter homes. Giving further information, the spokesperson informed that in the third week of Operation Smile, Gurugram, Faridabad, Kurukshetra and Karnal districts were ahead in reuniting the missing children with their families. Gurugram reunited 27 children and 20 adults, Faridabad reunited 21 children and 16 adults, Kurukshetra 26 children and 6 adults and Karnal district has been able to reunite 4 children, 22 adults. At 35, Palwal ahead in the rescue of child labourers, followed by Kurukshetra 18 and Fatehabad 15. AISECT to organize 2nd Annual National Conference on Skill Development, Social Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion from April 26, it will be inaugurated in the chief hospitality of Governor of Madhya Pradesh Mangubhai Patel, this two-day conference will be organized at Kushabhau Thackeray International Convention Center (Minto Hall). Union Minister of State Prahlad Patel will be the guest in the main session of the second day. Economic empowerment and inclusive growth are at the core of all nation building efforts. In view of this need of the present time and in an effort to make India self-reliant, a two-day National Seminar on Social Entrepreneurship was organized by AISECT, the sponsoring body of Rabindranath Tagore University, to promote social entrepreneurship in the country and brainstorm on the challenges related to it. It is being done on April 26 and 27, 2023 at 12 noon at Kushabhau Thackeray Hall in Bhopal. The theme of the symposium is the role of "Skill Development, Financial Inclusion and Social Entrepreneurship" in building a self-reliant India. On this occasion, the Chancellor of Rabindranath Tagore University Santosh Choubey, Secretary of sponsoring body AISECT Siddharth Chaturvedi, CEO of Capital Goods Sector Skill Council Shalini Singh, Director of AISECT Group of Universities Aditi Chaturvedi, Rabindranath Tagore University will remain present. On the other hand, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti Prahlad Patel will be present as the chief guest in the main session of the second day. Wrestlers must get justice, demands Hooda New Delhi/Chandigarh: Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Congress leader Udit Raj were among the leaders who visited Jantar Mantar on Tuesday to extend their support to the protesting wrestlers. Top Indian wrestlers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik are protesting against Wrestling Federation Of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for allegedly sexually assaulting women wrestlers. They are demanding that FIR must be registered against Singh. 3 cops injured as tractor collides with PCR van in Haryana BJP chiefs convoy in Gurugram Gurugram/Chandigarh: Three police personnel were injured after a tractor-tanker collided with a PCR van that was part of Haryana BJP president OP Dhankars convoy near Himgiri Chowk, police said on Tuesday. The tractor-tanker driver allegedly came on the wrong side of the road which led to the accident, they added. According to a complaint filed by Pradeep Kumar, who was on pilot duty with Dhankars convoy, the incident took place near Himgiri Chowk around 10 pm on Monday. After the collision, the tractor overturned and the PCR van was badly damaged. All three police personnel were injured, the complaint added. Kumar said the driver of the tractor fled after the incident and the vehicle did not have a number plate. Citizens will get 10% rebate on property tax payments made till July 31: Minister Chandigarh: Haryana Urban Local Bodies Minister Kamal Gupta on Tuesday said that citizens will get a rebate of 10% on property tax payments made in ULB units till July 31 during the financial year 2023-24. He directed the officers to run an awareness campaign to make the public aware of this initiative so that a maximum number of people can avail of the rebate. Gupta held a meeting regarding the Nagar Darshan Portal, Svamitva Yojana, Swachata, Property ID and other schemes with officers of Urban Local Bodies in Sonipat. Power distribution companies of Hry outperformed by achieving A+ grade at National Level Chandigarh: Haryana Energy Minister Chaudhary Ranjit Singh on Tuesday said that both the power distribution companies of Haryana have outperformed by achieving A+ grade at the National Level. He said that 'Bijli Chori Ka Abhiyan' and 'Mhara Gaon Jagmag Gaon' yojana have made a special contribution in this achievement by enhancing the revenue of the department. He said that the Haryana government is making strenuous efforts to provide uninterrupted electricity to all its consumers. The Energy Minister informed that the Union Ministry of Power has recently released the 11th Integrated Annual Report of the Power Distribution Utilities in which both (UHBVN and DHBVN) have significantly improved their positions. The current report covered 43 state discoms, 8 private discoms and 12 electricity connections from across India. Patwari held for taking Rs 5000 bribe in Panchkula Chandigarh: Haryana Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday caught a Halqa Patwari Narender Kumar posted at Halqa Dandlawar district Panchkula for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000. A spokesperson of the ACB said the accused Patwari has been arrested on the complaint of Sher Singh, a resident of village Badagarh in Panchkula district. In another incident, ACB has caught an Exemptee Assistant Sub Inspector (EASI) Dayanand posted at Tosham police station in Bhiwani district for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000. Problems related to property ID will be resolved soon: Chautala Chandigarh: Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Tuesday said that problems related to Property ID will be resolved soon. The officers of the concerned departments should ensure to provide services to the citizens in a time-bound manner, he added. The Deputy CM said this while interacting with the citizens and hearing grievances during his visit to Fatehabad. He directed the officers of the concerned department to solve the problems mentioned in the demand letters handed over by various gram panchayats and institutions. He directed the officers present on the spot to organize special camps in order to resolve the issues related to property ID. Punjab CM unveils book showcasing Govts pro-people initiatives Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday unveiled a book showcasing the pro-people initiatives of the State Governments various departments. Releasing the book compiled by the efforts of Barnala Deputy Commissioner Punamdeep Kaur, Mann lauded the excellent initiative, saying that the book Pahunch will help people a lot by making them aware of the state governments pro-people initiatives. The book highlights 285 schemes of the governments 44 departments which are benefitting the common man. The Chief Minister appealed to all the Deputy Commissioners to take such steps in their respective districts also. Punjab VB nabs tehsil clerk for taking Rs 4,500 bribe Chandigarh: Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Tuesday nabbed a clerk Harjeet Singh, posted at Tehsil office, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda district, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 4,500. VB spokesperson said that this case has been registered on the complaint of Gursewak Singh of Jaga Ram Tirath village in Bathinda district who alleged that the said clerk demanded Rs 10,000 in lieu of issuing his marriage certificate. He further alleged that upon his request, the deal has been struck at Rs 6,000 and the accused had already taken Rs 1,500 as a first instalment of bribe and demanding the remaining money. Punjab Govt clarifies, revenue helpline no. mentioned inadvertently Chandigarh: To facilitate the residents of the State to track their revenue record, a helpline number 8184900002 was launched by the Punjab Government a few days back, which was inadvertently mentioned as 8194900002. Government spokesperson said that the inconvenience caused in this regard is regretted. The people can take benefit of the Revenue helpline by dialing 8184900002. PNS Under Jai Bharat Satyagraha programme, on Wednesday, senior Congress Leaders INCLUDING Alok Kumar Dubey, Lal Kishorenath Shahdeo, Rajesh Gupta and others will take a pledge to protect democracy and constitution at Ambedkar Chowk, Doranda, Ranchi and they will also hold protest against Modi Government. The State Congress Leaders said that Rahul Gandhi has asked the Prime Minister to account for the foreign investment of Rs 20,000 crore by shell companies in the Adani group. They said that there are allegations of having business relations with 38 companies and they are taking pledge to expose the loot of BJP, to protect democracy. Dubey, Shahdeand Gupta said to save Congress in Jharkhand, to remove the State Chief and to strengthen the party among the people in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhansabha elections. For wide publicity of programs and principles, a state-wide dharna was held at Bapu Vatika Morhabadi on last 20th April, in which thousands of dedicated workers of Jharkhand unanimously demanded to remove the post of State Congress President to protect the principles of the party, they added. The party Leaders said that the party workers will go to Delhi between May 15 and May 20. Regarding the success of the Delhi programme, a necessary meeting of Congress leaders was held at the State guest house and discussions were held and future strategy was decided so that National President Mallikarjun Kharge would have people from all over the State. The anger and dissatisfaction of the representatives can be conveyed. Party leaders said that ever since the present state president took over the post of the party, the party is in constant crisis, the ministers, MLAs, leaders and workers of the party are all in trouble, he added. In a worrying development, 69 students of a residential school at Chakulia block of East Singhbhum district have tested positive for Covid-19. The school, which is located in a rural area, had been functioning normally until a few days ago, when the students started showing symptoms of the virus. Nearly 69 students of Kasturba Gandhi Residential School in Chakulia block were detected Covid positive. All girls have been kept in isolation in the school premises. On Monday, 46 girls from the school tested Covid positive. The state health department officials reached the school this morning and conducted RT-PCR tests for many others. After which, 23 girls were detected Covid positive. According to the school authorities, the affected students have been isolated and are being provided with medical care. The school has also been closed for the time being to prevent further spread of the virus. Contact tracing is underway to identify any other individuals who may have been exposed to the virus. The district health department has initiated measures to contain the spread of the virus in the area. Mobile testing units have been deployed to screen residents for Covid-19. The local authorities have also issued an advisory urging people to follow Covid-19 protocols, such as wearing masks, maintaining social distance, and avoiding large gatherings. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of students and staff at residential schools, which are often located in remote areas and have limited access to healthcare facilities. The authorities have been urged to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of students and staff at such institutions. The situation is being closely monitored by the district administration and the health department. Meanwhile, the affected students are undergoing treatment and are expected to recover soon. Dr. Ranjit Kumar Murmu, the medical officer in charge of the Community Health Center said that the health department officials are keeping an eye on the health condition of the students as well as keeping a close watch to prevent the infection from spreading. Block Development Officer Devlal Oraon and Circle Officer Jaywanti Devgam also visited the school today and interacted with the teachers. Along with inquiring about the health condition of the students, they took stock of the covid protocols that were being followed in the school. The news of the outbreak has caused concern among parents and guardians of the students, who are demanding answers from the school administration about the safety measures in place. The school had recently reopened after a prolonged closure due to the pandemic, and parents are worried about the risks involved in sending their children to school. The local health department has issued a statement urging people to take precautions and follow safety protocols to prevent the spread of the virus. They have also advised parents to keep a close eye on their children and report any symptoms of Covid-19 immediately. Without naming any political party, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attacked the previous Uttar Pradesh government, saying those associated with a particular party brandished tamanchas prior to 2017 while today youths work on tablets. Addressing a public meeting in support of BJP mayor candidate Shweta Mishra ahead of the civic body elections at Ramlila Maidan in Unnao on Tuesday, Yogi said: Before 2017, traders were exploited by extortionists but today they are benefitting from PM SVANidhi scheme. Prior to 2017, criminals regined terror but today safe cities are being made. He added: Earlier, there were heaps of garbage, but cities are now becoming smart. There is no place for mafia/criminals, crime, corruption, and the corrupt in UP. The CM said although Unnao is known as the land of pen and sword, it also conveys the message of intimacy. In the 2022 assembly elections, you made all the candidates victorious by showing belief in the double-engine government. I thank all of you for this, he said while addressing the gathering of people. The chief minister said that civic elections are not small for the party but are meant to add the third engine to the existing double-engine government in the state to accelerate states development. Asserting that India is evolving into New India, Yogi said the world now views India with hope unlike before 2014 when people looked at the country with suspicion. People had no respect for India. Foreign enemies would threaten to attack India. The youths used to face an identity crisis. The countrys reputation suffered as scams after scams were unearthed. The perception of India has changed since 2014. People now look at the youth of India with respect. India is making progress in every field today, Yogi said. The CM also criticised the previous governments for creating a law and order crisis due to which girls had stopped going to schools. You have seen UP change in the last six years. The traders do not have to cough up extortion. There are no curfews and no riots anywhere in the state, because all is well in UP. The state is now known for its festivals, such as Rangotsav in Barsana, Dev Deepawali in Kashi, and Deepotsav in Ayodhya, Yogi said. This is the new Uttar Pradesh. Government facilities are being given as per eligibility. We consider every citizen of UP to be a member of our family, and no one can claim that there is caste or religious discrimination. Rangdari na firauti, ab UP nahi hai kisi ki bapauti (Neither extortions nor kidnappings for ransom take place and UP is no longer anyones fiefdom, he added. The CM said that the vision of the PM is the mission of UP. The Ganga Expressway is being constructed to connect western UP to central and eastern UP. People of Unnao will also benefit. With the construction of the Ganga Expressway, one can reach Delhi in just six hours and Prayagraj in two hours, he added. The full reopening of the Chirag Delhi flyover from Wednesday following maintenance work will benefit lakhs of commuters travelling between Nehru Place and the Indian Institute of Technology every day Sharing the information, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Atishi on Tuesday informed that repair works of the Chirag Delhi flyover has been completed ahead of schedule. Now that the work on both carriageways has been completed, the flyover will be open for traffic from Wednesday, said Atishi after the inspection of flyover. The Chirag Delhi flyover is one of the busiest stretches in the national capital. One of the most important routes leading to the Delhi airport on Outer Ring Road, the Chirag Delhi flyover traffic, has been a huge concern for commuters as well as neighbourhood residents since the repairs started. The area has been seeing bumper-to-bumper traffic as vehicles have been taking up to an hour to cover a one kilometre from Panchsheel Park Metro station to the flyover. The PWD minister said that under the directions of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, the work was carried out at twice the speed, and as a result, the flyover will be open for the public from tomorrow. Along with this, PWD Minister monitored the progress of the flyover on a daily basis. According to officials, the work of the first carriageway of Chirag Delhi flyover was completed on March 31st. The work on the second carriageway began on April 1st. During the maintenance work, the first carriageway was completely closed, but during the maintenance work of the second carriageway, one lane was kept open for traffic. Currently, the maintenance work on the carriageway from IIT to Nehru Place of the flyover has been completed. Three lanes out of the four lanes of both carriageways are open for traffic, and from Wednesday, one lane of the carriageway from IIT to Nehru Place will also be opened for traffic. Atishi said, Due to frequent rain in the past month, the flyover maintenance work had to be halted several times, causing delays in the timeline. However, PWD showed its commitment by working round the clock and completing the work ahead of schedule. We are proud that PWD has taken another step forward in the direction of making Delhi traffic jam-free. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said that the State Government prioritises providing employment opportunities to the Youth along with imparting skill development. Apart from recruiting employees on an outsourcing basis in government departments through Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam Limited (HKRNL), manpower will also be made available to the private sector as per their requirements, said Khattar while addressing the corporate during a Corporate Vaartha programme held at Gurugram. Notably, HKRNL had organised the corporate talk programme to provide employment opportunities to the youth of the state in the private sector. The Chief Minister said that Haryana has opened Shri Vishwakarma Skill Development University in Dudhola, Palwal, apart from setting up Haryana State Skill Development Authority under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. He said that along with skill development, several initiatives were also taken in the direction of providing employment opportunities. About eight lakh youth of the state are registered on the HKRNL portal. The private sector can meet its manpower requirements through this portal. Clusters would be formed in every block under the PADMA Yojana. Under this 14,000 units will be encouraged in the MSME sector and 3.5 lakh employment opportunities will be generated, said Khattar. The Chief Minister said that today Haryana has become the first choice for investors across the world. Due to the policies of the present State Government and the hardworking residents of the state, today the state is at the forefront in terms of per capita income among the big states of the country. He informed that through HKRNL, the data of registered youth in categories like skilled, unskilled and management etc. will be shared with the corporate sector. The data will be available according to the standards set by the industry like education, experience etc. There will be no interference from the government in the recruitment work. However, facilities like ESI, PF etc should be taken care of, he said. Interacting with the corporate representatives, the Chief Minister said that a database of families has been prepared on the basis of income in Haryana through Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP). In this database, there are 13 lakh families whose income is less than Rs 1 lakh per annum and 29 lakh families whose income is less than Rs 1.80 lakh. It is the priority of the government to provide self-employment, government and private sector employment to these families. He said that due to the availability of manpower through the HKRNL portal, the industry would also get ease in its work. He also said that the unique program of PPP in Haryana is being appreciated across the country and many states are also following it. The representatives of two companies handed over cheques worth Rs 4.61 crore to Khattar in Gurugram. He said that the amount received by the Haryana CSR Trust would be used for the renovation of ponds and opening of libraries in the state. He was given a cheque of Rs 4 crore by the representatives of Indus Tower Private Limited and Rs 61.06 lakh by Pernod Ricard India. Khattar gave instructions regarding the proper utilization of this amount received by the Haryana CSR Trust. Chhattisgarh will host a labour conference to mark the International Labour Day on May 1 at Science College Ground, Raipur. A conference for Anganwadi workers and Mitanins will be organized on May 2 and a conference of village Kotwar, Patel and Home Guards will be held the next day, an official communication said. Workers from all over the state will take part in the convention. Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain held a review meeting on the preparation for the conference with officials of various departments. BJP Legislature Party Leader cum former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi has written to DGP Ajay Kumar Singh regarding arrest of the accused in Jamua police station case number 101/2023 and taking strict action against him. He wrote, I am sending the application received from the applicant Lalita Kumari, age-23 years, father-Mahendra Singh, Police Station-Korran, District-Hazaribagh by attaching it with this letter, which may kindly be observed. The BJP leader stated that the applicant has accused Atiq Iqbal (alias Tinku), father-Badruddin Alam, of having physical relations and mentally torturing her for eight consecutive months on the pretext of marrying her while hiding her religion. The applicant was working as a nurse at Medinova Health Care Hospital, Jamua where she met a person named Ateeq Iqbal who was working in the same hospital. In this sequence, both of them came to know each other and Atiq Iqbal, taking advantage of the acquaintance, started having a physical relationship with Lalita Kumari by giving her the greed of marriage while hiding her religion. After some time, when the applicant became pregnant, Atik Iqbal called the applicant Lalita Kumari to force her to have an abortion and also threatened to make the video of physical relationship viral. Even after registering a case in this regard by the applicant, the culprit has not been arrested yet. He further stated that therefore, in the light of the application, the concerned Superintendent of Police should be ordered to arrest the accused Atiq Iqbal in the said case and strict action should be taken against the culprit so that such incident does not recur and the applicant can get justice. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is set to elect Mayor and Deputy Mayor on Wednesday. There will be a direct contest between the ruling AAP candidate and incumbent Shelly Oberoi and BJP leader Shikha Rai in the mayoral polls. With 134 councillors, the AAP has a clear majority in the MCD while the BJP has 104 of the 250 wards. The two candidates, current mayor Oberoi and BJPs Rai, had earlier filed their nominations for the Delhi mayoral poll slated to be held on April 26. The post of mayor in the national capital sees five single-year terms on a rotational basis, with the first year reserved for women, the second for the open category, the third for the reserved category and the remaining two again for the open category. The city gets a new mayor after the end of a financial year. Oberoi was elected as the Delhi mayor on February 22. She had defeated BJPs Rekha Gupta by a margin of 34 votes. Oberoi polled 150 votes, while Gupta received 116 of the total 266 votes polled. The voting was held at the Civic Centre the headquarters of the MCD, where the fresh mayoral poll will be held. Ahead of the mayoral polls, BJP mayor candidate Shikha Rai criticized Mayor Oberoi saying that she has compromised on the autonomy of the Municipal Corporation, public service charter and employee interest under the pressure of the Chief Minister and she will gradually make the Municipal Corporation a department of the Delhi Government. Rai said that AAP believes in doing every work in an unconstitutional manner. The talk of Delhi Government writing a letter and handing over the roads owned by the Corporation to the Delhi Government is a well-planned conspiracy. The MCD employees themselves are not convinced with this conspiracy because they also know that Kejriwal is trying to create another way of extorting money on the pretext of cleaning the roads. Delhi had got a mayor on February 22 in the fourth attempt since the earlier elections were stalled amid a ruckus over voting rights being given to nominated members. According to the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, 1957, the mayor and the deputy mayor are to be elected in the very first session of the House after the civic polls. Power tariff for all categories of consumers in Uttar Pradesh is likely to go up by 8-10 per cent in the current fiscal 2023-24 with the implementation of the centrally-sponsored Revamped Distribution Sector Reform Scheme (RDSS). Under the RDSS, part of the burden of the aggregate technical and commercial incurred by the power distribution companies will be passed on to the consumers while the rest will be borne by the company. Though the RDSS was approved by the Union cabinet in June 2021, the component of passing the burden of line losses to power consumers was recently added and the Union Energy Ministry has sought comments from the state governments till May 11. The UP government, in its budget of 2022-23, announced the ambitious RDSS, a reform-based and result-linked scheme with an outlay of Rs 31,000 crore in association with the Central government. A provision of Rs 5,530 crore was made in the budget. The scheme will be completed within the next three years. The scheme aims to improve quality, reliability and affordability of power supply to consumers through a financially sustainable and operationally efficient distribution sector. Avadhesh Verma, a member of the state advisory committee on power, said the Union Energy Minister is contemplating amendments in Indian Electricity Rules 2003 for passing on the burden of line losses to power consumers. He said with the amendments in rules, the trajectory of line losses would be determined for each power distribution company across the country and directions would be issued to the state power regulatory to include the cost of line losses in power tariff. He said that this direction would be mandatory for the power regulators to comply with. He added that as per the proposed amendments in Indian Electricity Rules 2003, almost half the burden due to line losses would have to be borne by power consumers and rest by discoms. The Union government launched the RDSS with an outlay of Rs 3,03,758 crore and an estimated budgetary support of Rs 97,631 crore for the duration of five years (from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26). The scheme aims to reduce the aggregate technical & commercial (AT&C) losses to pan-India levels of 12-15% and average cost of supply (ACS)-average revenue realised (ARR) gap to zero by 2024-25. The scheme has two major components: Part A Financial support for prepaid smart metering and system metering and upgradation of the distribution infrastructure. Part B Training & capacity building and other enabling and supporting activities. Financial assistance to discoms is provided for upgradation of the distribution infrastructure and for prepaid smart consumer metering & system metering based on meeting pre-qualifying criteria and achieving basic minimum benchmark in reforms. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told the ministers before the start of the Cabinet meeting in Mantralaya's meeting hall today that efforts are being made for cultural reawakening in state. Various efforts are being made to take our rich traditions, cultural specialties and Indian philosophy to the new generation. Today is the Prakatya Diwas (manifestation day) of Adi Guru Shankaracharya ji, Ramanujacharya ji as well as Surdas ji. They were wonderful saints. Shankaracharya Ji did the work of uniting the nation from North to South and East to West from Rameshwaram to Badrinath. It is with this feeling that Ekatm Dham is being constructed in Omkareshwar. A huge statue of Shankaracharya Ji will also be installed here by August 15. Along with this Advait Sansthan will be constructed. CM Chouhan said that in this sequence the temple of Saint Ravidas ji is being constructed in Sagar. Jam Savli Hanuman Dham, Devi Lok in Salkanpur, Maa Pitambara Maai Lok in Datia, Ramraja Lok in Orchha are being constructed. Remembering the contribution of tribal heroes and revolutionaries along with saints and revolutionaries, their statues are being installed at various places to honour them. Chief Minister Chouhan said that the contribution of Raja Bhabhut Singh, who sacrificed his life for the freedom of the country in Satpura region, will also be brought to the fore. Renovation work of Kalagarhi will also be done. The CM said that along with the development of all sections, work is being done to promote social harmony. Efforts are being made for the welfare of all whether it is scheduled caste society or scheduled tribe class, backward class or general class. Initiatives like formation of Brahmin Board, encouragement to students studying Sanskrit, provision regarding security of land of temples, hike in honorarium for priests have also been taken in the state. The work of welfare of all classes is being done. While PESA rules were implemented on the principle of coordination and not conflict, Ambedkar Mahakumbh was organised in Mhow and Gwalior and Ravidas Jayanti was organised in Sagar. Chief Minister Chouhan said that in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi there are many initiative have taken in several areas. citizens of all sections participated in the Shobha Yatra (procession) in Bhopal recently on the Jayanti of Lord Parshuram. Citizens were given copies of Ramcharit Manas. Bhagwan Parshuram's Jayanti became a celebration of all classes. Large-scale public participation in such a programme is a symbol of social harmony. The same consciousness pervades all of us humans. The spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is boosting the prestige of India in the world. Chief Minister Chouhan also mentioned the programme held in Rewa on Monday, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated. Prime Minister stood at his place for 10-15 minutes to watch the dance-drama "Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke" presented by the Culture Department in the programme along with the launch of various development schemes. In this dance-drama, giving information about the damage caused by chemical fertilisers, an impressive presentation was given for the purpose of public awareness. CM Chouhan congratulated the Culture Department for this wonderful theatrical presentation. he CBI on Tuesday filed a supplementary chargesheet against former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others in the excise policy case. The agency has invoked IPC 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 201 and 420 besides provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. It has also named Hyderabad-based CA Butchi Babu Gorantla, liquor trader Amandeep Singh Dhall and private person Arjun Pandey in the charge sheet. Special Judge M K Nagpal fixed May 12 for considering the chargesheet after the CBI submitted that the prosecution sanction against Sisodia has already been procured from competent authorities. In a case of corruption, the investigation agency must file charge sheet against an accused within 60 days of arrest, else the person becomes eligible for default bail. The agency has also named Hyderabad-based CA Butchi Babu Gorantla, liquor trader Amandeep Singh Dhall and private person Arjun Pandey in the charge sheet. Out of the four accused, Sisodia and Dhall are currently in judicial custody. While Gorantla was granted bail in the matter on March 6, Pandey has not been arrested. The CBI had arrested Sisodia on February 26 and it filed the chargesheet on the 58th day which may deny him the chance of getting default bail. The CBI probe so far shows that Sisodia was heading the GoM for formulating the excise policy and he was the chief architect of the conspiracy to tweak and manipulate the formulation and implementation of the excise policy under the influence of South Group, officials said. The tweaking was allegedly done to facilitate monopolisation of wholesale and retail liquor trade for the suspects of South Group, a group of businessmen and politicians based in Hyderabad, for taking six per cent of the 12 per cent windfall profit margin for wholesalers, provided in the policy, in return for kickbacks, the agency has alleged. The CBI had filed the last charge sheet on November 25, 2022. Recently, while rejecting the bail petition of Sisodia, special judge Nagpal had noted that the then deputy chief minister played the most important and vital role in the above criminal conspiracy and he had been deeply involved in formulation as well as implementation of the said policy to ensure achievement of objectives of the said conspiracy. The payment of advance kickbacks of around Rs 90-100 crore was meant for him and his other colleagues in the GNCTD and Rs 20-30 crores out of the above are found to have been routed through the co-accused Vijay Nair, Abhishek Boinpally and approver Dinesh Arora and in turn, certain provisions of the excise policy were permitted to be tweaked and manipulated by the applicant to protect and preserve the interests of South liquor lobby and to ensure repayment of the kickbacks to the said lobby, the judge said referring to the CBI probe. In a bid to improve its rating in Swachh Survekshan of Bhopal, in the last Swachh Survekshan, Bhopal got seventh position in the country and at the same time, five star rating was also received, due to this is the reason that mayor, chairman and councilors will enter the field in Bhopal and see how the city is being cleaned. The representatives claim that they will remove the shortcomings of the last time so that the rating can be improved. The central team may come to Bhopal for the Swachh Survekshan in May and that is why the Municipal Corporation has also started preparations. However, there are many challenges before the corporation. The biggest challenge is that the garbage is not picked up from 10 to 15 percent of the houses. On Tuesday itself, there was a complaint about non-arrival of the garbage van in Anand Vihar Colony of ward number-26. After this, the staff of the corporation came on active mode. The condition of many colonies is the same where garbage vehicles do not reach regularly, or the timing is wrong. Due to this people have problems. Corporation officers and public representatives are talking about focusing on this as well. Cleaning is done in Bhopal in the morning and afternoon. At the same time, there is a cleaning system in major markets even at night, but many times the employees remain missing. The responsibility of cleaning is 8000 employees. Now the mayor, president, zone president and counselors will come to the ground to see the cleaning system being done in the morning and afternoon. Mayor Malti Rai has also requested everyone to inspect the cleanliness system and remove the shortcomings. In Swachh Survekshan-2023, now the corporation is also seeking suggestions regarding cleanliness and others. At the same time, discussion on tea with the representatives of the society, rally of students for cleanliness awareness, street plays will also be done. In a major accomplishment for the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government, the UP Secondary Education Board on Tuesday broke 100 years record by announcing the results of Class X and Class XII in just 67 days. The Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Council (Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad) declared the results of Class X and Class XII exams, with 89.78 per cent students clearing Class X exams and 75.52 per cent students cracking Class 12 exams. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated students on their success and also announced to honour students who are among top 10 at state and district levels. UP Board secretary Dibyakant Shukla said they set a record by declaring the results in the shortest period of time in the 100-year history. He said that after the formation of the board in 1921, the first exam was conducted in 1923. Earlier in 2019, the results were announced within 89 days. UP Board chairman Mahendra Dev said that this time, the evaluation of answer sheets started on March 18. To check the answer sheets, 258 centres were set up in the state. A total of 3.19 crore answer sheets were evaluated by 1,43,933 examiners. The date for completion of the evaluation was fixed as April 1 but the board completed it a day earlier. It was also a record. Dev added that the board had succeeded in conducting a copying-free examination. It was the first time in 30 years that no paper was leaked, no exam was cancelled and there was no mass copying, he added. Meanwhile, CM Yogi Adityanath took to Twitter to congratulate students on their success. He wrote: Hearty congratulations to all the students, their parents and teachers who have passed the 10th and 12th class examinations of the Board of Secondary Education, Uttar Pradesh. All of you are the pillars of the golden future of a New Uttar Pradesh. May you all have a bright future with the blessings of Maa Saraswati. In the 10th and 12th board exams, the students who got the top 10 positions at the state level will be honoured at the state level and those who got the top 10 positions at the district level will be honoured at the district level by the state government. From being the youngest sarpanch to five-time Chief Minister, and that too the oldest, Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday breathed his last after a brief illness at the age of 95. His political career, spanning over seven decades, and longest political era in the countrys history came to an end as the Akali patriarch virtually left a vacuum in both the Centre and Punjab politics. Badal, a towering leader who commanded respect across the states and across the party lines, died at Fortis Hospital, Mohali. The end came on Tuesday evening, 11 days after he was admitted in the hospital with breathing difficulty. Badal, with his over 75-year political journey, was among the few regional political lords who had been key decision-makers in the national politics. Having won elections to the Punjab Assembly 11 times, Badal held the rare record of not having lost a poll since his second electoral victory in 1967 till 2022 his last assembly polls. He was the Chief Minister of the state five times. Badal was hospitalized for the past few days and was suffering from breathing problem. He is survived by son and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and daughter Parneet Kaur, who is married to former Cabinet Minister Adeish Partap Singh Kairon son of former Chief Minister Partap Singh Kairon. Badals wife Surinder Kaur had died due to cancer in May 2011. The media bulletin released by the Fortis Hospital said: S Parkash Singh Badal, Former Chief Minister of Punjab, was admitted at Fortis Hospital Mohali on April 16, 2023, with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma. He was shifted to the medical ICU on April 18 as his respiratory condition worsened. He had been on NIV (noninvasive ventilation) and HFNC (High-flow nasal cannula) support along with medical management. He was being managed under Prof (Dr) Digambar Behera along with the Pulmonology and critical care team supported by Cardiology. Despite appropriate medical management, S Parkash Singh Badal succumbed to his illness. Fortis Hospital Mohali deeply condoles the death of S Parkash Singh Badal, it added. Starting his political journey in 1947, Badal has been the sarpanch (village head) of his native Badal village, and went on to become the Lambi Block Samiti chairman before rising into the state politics. At the age of 27, he became the youngest sarpanch when got elected from Badal village in 1952. During his five terms as the Chief Minister of the border state, he has the distinction of being the youngest CM of the state during his first term in 1970 at the age of 42. He also became the oldest Chief Minister, at the age of 84, in 2012 his fifth term. Badal has the record of becoming the Chief Minister for five times 1970-71, 1977-80, 1997-2002, 2007-12, and 2012-17. Besides, he has remained member of the Lok Sabha once, and even served as the Union Agriculture and Irrigation Minister for a short stint in Prime Minister Morarji Desais government in 1977. Akali veteran was also the oldest candidate in the electoral fray in the country in the state elections in 2022, but lost to AAPs first-timer Gurmeet Singh Khudian. This was Badals 13th Assembly election. Having lost the elections after winning 10 in a row, Badal was hardly politically active in the area mainly due to his deteriorating health. Even his candidature for 2022 elections was withheld till the last moment, reportedly due to his poor health conditions. At one time, it was believed that the senior Badal may hang up his boots and would not enter the electoral arena. After the defeat, Badal had started his thanksgiving tour in Lambi, which were also cancelled midway. Thereafter, he either spent time at his residences at Badal village and Chandigarh farmhouse at Balasar village in Haryana. During his long illustrious political journey, Badal has lost just two Assembly elections first to Harcharan Singh Brar from Gidderbaha in 1967 by 11,396 votes; and thereafter in 2022 to Gurmeet Singh Khudian from Lambi in 2022. He won the first Assembly election before the reorganization of Punjab from Malout constituency in 1957 on the ticket of Indian National Congress (INC). He was re-elected in 1969, serving as Minister for Community Development, Panchayati Raj, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries. He had been elected in Punjab Vidhan Sabha for a total of 10 times in 1957 and in each election since 1969, except for the February 1992 election, in which he led a boycott of state elections by the Akalis. In 1997 elections he won from Lambi Assembly constituency and had been a consecutive winner in four terms. He won Assembly election five times in a row from Gidderbaha in 1969, 1972, 1977, 1980 and 1985; and thereafter won five times in a row in 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017 from Lambi segment. Badal did not contest just two Assembly elections in his political career, once in 1962 and thereafter in 1992 when the SAD had boycotted it. Senior Badal was conferred with Padma Vibhushan in 2015, which he returned in 2020 in protest against the Centres three contentious farm laws. Besides, he was conferred with Panth Rattan Faqr-e-Qaum (Jewel of the Panth Pride of the Community) in 2011, but various Sikh organizations kept demanding that Badal be stripped of this title. Among his career highlights include his role in the Green Revolution; his contribution to the states development; taking several pro-people initiatives like power subsidy, Atta-Dal, Shagun scheme,; besides his efforts to bring peace to the state. During his first term as the Chief Minister in the 1970s, Badal introduced new agricultural techniques and encouraged farmers to adopt modern farming practices which led to a significant increase in agricultural productivity turning Punjab into the country's breadbasket. Badal, as the Chief Minister, also focused on improving the state's infrastructure, education, and healthcare facilities; and initiated several projects to improve the road network, built new schools and colleges, and established medical colleges and hospitals. Extremely saddened by the passing away of Shri Parkash Singh Badal Ji. He was a colossal figure of Indian politics, and a remarkable statesman who contributed greatly to our nation. He worked tirelessly for the progress of Punjab and anchored the state through critical times His passing away is a personal loss for me. I have interacted closely with him for many decades and learnt so much from him. I recall our numerous conversations, in which his wisdom was always clearly seen Prime Minister Narendra Modi He was an able administrator and above all a fine human being with qualities of head and heart Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann The demise of Parkash Singh Badal is an irreparable loss to Indian politics and his name is written in golden letters in the history of the country's politicsWith his demise, an era of Indian politics has come to an end which had seen the making and changing of India from the independence till the 21st century. His goodwill and nature of gelling up with the common people used to establish him as a completely different politician Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Deeply saddened over the demise of S. Parkash Singh Badal. My profound condolences to @officeofssbadal and the entire family. Badal Sahab was respected by everyone cutting across party lines former CM, BJP leader Capt Amarinder Singh S. Parkash Singh Badal ji was a veteran of Indian politics. Although we differed in our ideologies, he earned immense respect among the people of Punjab for his simplicity and loyalty to his cadre, as he served multiple terms as CM Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge He was an institution in himself and inspired many generations of politicians. His contribution to Punjab and Punjabiyat will remain inspirational Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid floral tributes to former Chief Minister of the state Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna on his 104th birth anniversary in the state capital on Tuesday. Speaking on the occasion, Yogi said that Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna possessed a vision that was aimed at the states development. Bahuguna Ji actively participated in various freedom movements of the country and he was a great political reformer, he added. Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra and Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad, among others also paid tributes to Bahuguna. Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna was born on April 25, 1919 in a village in present-day Pauri district of Uttarakhand. Having received his early education in his native village school, he went to Prayagraj for secondary, senior secondary as well as higher education. He actively participated in various movements for the independence of the country during and after the Quit India Movement in the year 1942. Bahuguna Ji will always be remembered for his service to the state and the country as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi said. In a veiled attack on Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said it is "very difficult" for India to engage with a neighbour who practises cross-border terrorism against the country. His blunt remarks came days after Pakistan confirmed that its Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will visit India for a key meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Goa early next month. "We both are members of the SCO. So, we typically attend meetings. We are the chair of (the SCO) this year. So, the meeting is taking place in India. The bottom line of this issue is that it is for us very difficult to engage with a neighbour who practises cross-border terrorism against us," Jaishankar said here at a joint press briefing on Monday with his counterpart from Panama Janaina Tewaney Mencomo. "We have always said that they have to deliver on the commitment not to encourage, sponsor and carry out cross-border terrorism. We continue to hope that one day we would reach that stage," Jaishankar added. India has been maintaining that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan while insisting that the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment free of terror and hostility for such an engagement. Pakistan's foreign office announced on April 20 that Foreign Minister Bilawal would participate in the SCO meeting to be held in Goa on May 4-5. Our participation in the meeting reflects Pakistan's commitment to the SCO Charter and processes and the importance that Pakistan accords to the region in its foreign policy priorities, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahrah Baloch said at a weekly media briefing in Islamabad. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Over the years, it has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations. India and Pakistan became permanent members of the Beijing-based SCO in 2017. Bilawal's visit would be the highest-level trip to India by any Pakistani leader in recent years. The ties between India and Pakistan came under severe strain after India's warplanes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Pakistan's Balakot in February 2019 in response to the Pulwama terror attack. The relations further deteriorated after India announced the withdrawal of Jammu and Kashmir's special powers and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into Union territories in August 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid floral tributes to Parkash Singh Badal at the Shiromani Akali Dal office here as scores of people and political leaders assembled to pay homage to the five-time Punjab chief minister. Badal had not been keeping well and was admitted to the Fortis Hospital in Mohali near here on April 16 after he complained of uneasiness in breathing. He died on Tuesday aged 95. The Punjab government has declared a holiday on Thursday as a mark of respect to the former chief minister. According to an official order, all government offices, departments, boards, corporations and educational institutions in the state will remain shut on Thursday. The central government has already announced two days of state mourning on April 26 and 27 across India as a mark of respect to the former chief minister. The mortal remains of the SAD patriarch, who straddled Punjab politics for over seven decades, were brought to the party head office here in an ambulance. Former Haryana chief minister O P Chautala struggled to hold back tears as he paid his last respects to the SAD patriarch. The Chautalas and the Badals, the two powerful political families in Haryana and Punjab, have long-standing ties as Badal was a close friend of former deputy prime minister Chaudhary Devi Lal. After arriving in Chandigarh, Modi reached the SAD office accompanied by Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. He laid a wreath on the mortal remains of Badal and then sat beside SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. The prime minister was seen holding the hands of Sukhbir Singh Badal, expressing grief over the passing away of the SAD chief's father. Modi stayed at the SAD office for a few minutes. Former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Patiala MP Parneet Kaur who is the wife of Amarinder Singh also paid homage to the departed soul. Badal's son-in-law Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, grandson Anantvir Singh Badal, Bikram Singh Majithia, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Harjinder Singh Dhami and BSP leader Jasvir Singh Garhi were also present at the SAD head office. Union Minister Som Parkash and former minister Balbir Singh Sidhu expressed their condolence to Badal's son and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal at the private hospital where the former Punjab chief minister breathed his last. Former minister Manpreet Singh Badal, the estranged nephew of senior Badal, was also present. Former chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Haryana Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta and Congress leader Lal Singh were among the leaders who reached the SAD office to pay their floral tributes. Grief-stricken party supporters stood in queues at the SAD headquarters to have a glimpse of their leader for the last time. The mortal remains of the SAD patriarch will be kept at the party head office here for people to pay their tributes to the departed soul. The mortal remains will be taken to the former chief minister's native village Badal in Muktsar later on Wednesday via Rajpura, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Rampura Phul, and Bathinda. The cremation will take place at Badal village at 1 pm on Thursday, a party leader said. Senior Akali leader Balwinder Singh Bhundar said Badal's death was the biggest loss for the country. The grand old man of Punjab politics first became chief minister in 1970, heading a coalition government that did not complete its term. He was also the chief minister in 1977-80, 1997-2002, 2007-12 and 2012-2017. Born on December 8, 1927, in Abul Khurana near Malout, Badal graduated from Forman Christian College in Lahore. His first political posts were the sarpanch of Badal village and the chairman of the block samiti. He entered the state assembly from Malout in 1957 as a Congress nominee. In 1969, he won the Gidderbaha assembly seat on the SAD ticket. When Gurnam Singh, the then chief minister, defected to the Congress in 1970, the SAD regrouped and formed government with the support of the Jana Sangh. Badal became the youngest chief minister in the country. However, the coalition government lasted a little more than a year. In 2017, when he ended his last stint as chief minister, he was among the oldest to have held that post. Badal was re-elected in the 1972 elections, but as the SAD could not form government, he became the leader of the Opposition. He was chief minister for 15 months in 1970-71 and for 32 months in 1977-1980. During the 1977 elections, he again won from the Gidderbaha constituency and became the chief minister of the SAD-Janata Party government. He was again elected to the state assembly in June 1980 and September 1985 elections from the Gidderbaha assembly constituency. Badal, after shifting to the Lambi constituency, was elected legislator in 1997 and became the chief minister on February 12 that year as the leader of the SAD-BJP government. During this tenure, his government took the decision of providing free electricity and waiving land revenue for farmers. Badal was re-elected from the Lambi seat in 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017. In 1967, he lost the Gidderbaha seat to Congress' Harcharan Singh Brar by a margin of just 57 votes. This was his first electoral loss. The second came last year when lost to AAP candidate Gurmeet Singh Khuddian. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday appreciated the grand welcome accorded to the Vande Bharat Express at Thrissur railway station during its inaugural run the previous day by terming it as "terrific" and 'gambheera' in Malayalam. PM Modi had on Tuesday flagged off the train connecting the state capital with the northernmost Kerala district of Kasaragod. At Thrissur railway station, the train was accorded a grand reception with traditional folk music, drum beats and people thronging the platform to take its photographs and selfies with it. The Railway Ministry tweeted a video of the euphoric reception given to the train and in response to the same, Modi tweeted, "Terrific Thrissur". The PM also tweeted in Malayalam, "Gambheera Thrissur", which too means 'terrific' Thrissur. Meanwhile, there were some reports of water leakage in the Vande Bharat Express when it rained at Kannur as the train reached there on Tuesday. The allegation was refuted by the Railways which said the news reports were false. A Railway official told PTI that a few droplets of water had formed along the air conditioner ducts during the train's inaugural run. He said it was a normal occurrence, especially when the AC unit is new, and though it was noticed during the journey, a decision was taken to address the issue on reaching Kannur instead of stopping the train mid-way. The official also said maintenance and repair staff were travelling on the train to address this and other issues that may come up during operations. BOX (NYSE:BOX Get Rating) was downgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Tuesday. Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of BOX from $39.00 to $37.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Credit Suisse Group reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $36.00 target price on shares of BOX in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. JMP Securities reiterated a market outperform rating and issued a $32.00 target price on shares of BOX in a report on Thursday, March 16th. KeyCorp increased their target price on shares of BOX from $34.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 18th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on shares of BOX from $24.00 to $21.00 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $34.20. Get BOX alerts: BOX Trading Down 2.5 % Shares of BOX traded down $0.67 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $26.06. 1,489,292 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,591,882. BOX has a one year low of $22.31 and a one year high of $34.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 521.20, a PEG ratio of 12.99 and a beta of 1.01. The business has a 50-day moving average of $28.07 and a 200 day moving average of $29.15. Insider Activity BOX ( NYSE:BOX Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 1st. The software maker reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.03 by $0.04. BOX had a net margin of 2.70% and a negative return on equity of 2.53%. The firm had revenue of $256.48 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $256.29 million. As a group, analysts anticipate that BOX will post 0.1 earnings per share for the current year. In other news, CFO Dylan C. Smith sold 13,000 shares of BOX stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.09, for a total value of $339,170.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 1,402,904 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $36,601,765.36. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, CFO Dylan C. Smith sold 13,000 shares of BOX stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.09, for a total value of $339,170.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 1,402,904 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $36,601,765.36. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Jack R. Lazar sold 5,000 shares of BOX stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.95, for a total transaction of $134,750.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 26,555 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $715,657.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 44,000 shares of company stock valued at $1,257,560 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 5.20% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of BOX Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. James Investment Research Inc. bought a new stake in shares of BOX during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in BOX in the 1st quarter worth about $29,000. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC raised its position in shares of BOX by 32.3% in the 3rd quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,687 shares of the software makers stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 412 shares in the last quarter. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc acquired a new position in shares of BOX in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC acquired a new position in shares of BOX in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $46,000. Institutional investors own 85.67% of the companys stock. About BOX (Get Rating) Box, Inc engages in the provision of an enterprise content platform that enables organizations to securely manage enterprise content while allowing easy, secure access and sharing of this content from anywhere, on any device. Its products include cloud content management, IT and admin controls, Box Governance, Box Zones, Box Relay, Box Shuttle, and Box KeySafe. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for BOX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BOX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Galway Metals Inc. (CVE:GWM Get Rating) traded down 1.9% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as C$0.52 and last traded at C$0.52. 16,700 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 42% from the average session volume of 28,998 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.53. Galway Metals Price Performance The companys fifty day moving average price is C$0.56 and its 200 day moving average price is C$0.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 4.81 and a current ratio of 4.85. The firm has a market capitalization of C$34.93 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.86 and a beta of 1.68. Galway Metals Company Profile (Get Rating) Galway Metals Inc engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties. The company primarily explores for gold, zinc, copper, silver, and lead deposists. It holds a 100% interest in the Clarence Stream project that covers an area of 61,000 hectares located in southwest New Brunswick, Canada. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Galway Metals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Galway Metals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Altius Minerals Co. (TSE:ALS Get Rating) Equities researchers at Cormark lowered their Q1 2023 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Altius Minerals in a report issued on Thursday, April 20th. Cormark analyst R. Gray now expects that the company will post earnings per share of $0.15 for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $0.17. The consensus estimate for Altius Minerals current full-year earnings is $0.52 per share. Cormark also issued estimates for Altius Minerals Q2 2023 earnings at $0.14 EPS, Q3 2023 earnings at $0.15 EPS, Q4 2023 earnings at $0.16 EPS and FY2023 earnings at $0.61 EPS. Get Altius Minerals alerts: Several other brokerages also recently issued reports on ALS. National Bankshares cut their price objective on shares of Altius Minerals from C$26.50 to C$26.00 in a research report on Monday, February 13th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Altius Minerals from C$22.00 to C$23.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. Canaccord Genuity Group upped their price objective on Altius Minerals from C$25.50 to C$26.50 in a report on Tuesday, April 4th. Finally, Raymond James dropped their target price on Altius Minerals from C$28.00 to C$27.50 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Altius Minerals Price Performance Altius Minerals Increases Dividend Shares of ALS opened at C$21.44 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of C$1.02 billion, a PE ratio of 26.80 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 19.99, a current ratio of 5.29 and a quick ratio of 6.49. The companys 50-day moving average is C$22.11 and its 200-day moving average is C$21.90. Altius Minerals has a fifty-two week low of C$15.63 and a fifty-two week high of C$24.00. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 17th were issued a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 16th. This is a boost from Altius Mineralss previous quarterly dividend of $0.07. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.49%. Altius Mineralss payout ratio is currently 40.00%. About Altius Minerals (Get Rating) Altius Minerals Corporation operates as a diversified mining royalty and streaming company in Canada, the United States, and Brazil. The company owns royalty and streaming interests in 12 operating mines covering copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, iron ore, precious metals, potash, and thermal and metallurgical coal. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Altius Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altius Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Golden Star Resources (NYSE:GSS Get Rating) in a research note released on Saturday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock. Golden Star Resources Stock Performance Golden Star Resources has a one year low of $2.04 and a one year high of $4.04. Get Golden Star Resources alerts: Golden Star Resources Company Profile (Get Rating) Read More Golden Star is an established gold mining company that owns and operates the Wassa underground mine in Ghana, West Africa. Listed on the NYSE American, the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Ghanaian Stock Exchange, Golden Star is focused on delivering strong margins and free cash flow. Since winning the PDAC 2018 Environmental and Social Responsibility Award, Golden Star has remained committed to leaving a positive and sustainable legacy in its areas of operation. Receive News & Ratings for Golden Star Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Golden Star Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Leju (NYSE:LEJU Get Rating) in a research note published on Saturday. The firm issued a buy rating on the financial services providers stock. Leju Price Performance Shares of Leju stock opened at $1.20 on Friday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $1.20 and its 200 day simple moving average is $1.37. Leju has a 52-week low of $1.03 and a 52-week high of $6.69. Get Leju alerts: About Leju (Get Rating) See Also Leju Holdings Ltd. engages in the provision of online-to-offline real estate services. It offers electronic commerce, online advertising, and listing services on new residential property sales. The company was founded on November 20, 2013 and is headquartered in Beijing, China. Receive News & Ratings for Leju Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Leju and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com lowered shares of Chunghwa Telecom (NYSE:CHT Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Saturday. Chunghwa Telecom Trading Up 0.1 % CHT opened at $41.02 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.50, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.82 billion, a PE ratio of 25.91 and a beta of 0.13. Chunghwa Telecom has a 1-year low of $32.90 and a 1-year high of $44.79. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $38.99 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $36.99. Get Chunghwa Telecom alerts: Chunghwa Telecom (NYSE:CHT Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 2nd. The utilities provider reported $0.35 earnings per share for the quarter. Chunghwa Telecom had a net margin of 16.88% and a return on equity of 9.38%. The business had revenue of $1.90 billion for the quarter. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Chunghwa Telecom will post 0.16 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chunghwa Telecom Chunghwa Telecom Company Profile Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Chunghwa Telecom during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. purchased a new stake in Chunghwa Telecom in the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. Royal Bank of Canada increased its holdings in Chunghwa Telecom by 184.2% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 790 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 512 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA boosted its stake in Chunghwa Telecom by 848.0% in the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 1,877 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $83,000 after purchasing an additional 1,679 shares during the period. Finally, BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC boosted its stake in Chunghwa Telecom by 50.6% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 2,475 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $88,000 after purchasing an additional 832 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 2.19% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Chunghwa Telecom Co, Ltd. engages in the provision of integrated telecommunication services. It offers domestic & international fixed communication, mobile communication, broadband, Internet services. The Company also provides information and communication technology services; and innovative technology services such as Internet of things and artificial intelligence. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Chunghwa Telecom Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chunghwa Telecom and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Yamaguchi Financial Group, Inc. (OTCMKTS:YFGSF Get Rating)s share price hit a new 52-week low on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $5.62 and last traded at $5.62, with a volume of 0 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.62. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Daiwa Capital Markets downgraded shares of Yamaguchi Financial Group from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Get Yamaguchi Financial Group alerts: Yamaguchi Financial Group Price Performance The stock has a 50-day moving average of $5.62 and a 200-day moving average of $5.62. About Yamaguchi Financial Group Yamaguchi Financial Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services in Japan. It provides securities brokerage, credit card, leasing, consulting, and other services. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Shimonoseki, Japan. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Yamaguchi Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Yamaguchi Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American Lithium (OTCMKTS:LIACF Get Rating) and Anglo American (OTCMKTS:NGLOY Get Rating) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, risk, dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings and valuation. Earnings & Valuation This table compares American Lithium and Anglo Americans gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get American Lithium alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio American Lithium N/A N/A -$18.80 million ($0.11) -19.18 Anglo American $35.12 billion 1.14 $4.51 billion N/A N/A Anglo American has higher revenue and earnings than American Lithium. Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score American Lithium 0 0 1 0 3.00 Anglo American 0 10 5 0 2.33 This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for American Lithium and Anglo American, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Profitability This table compares American Lithium and Anglo Americans net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets American Lithium N/A -16.28% -15.96% Anglo American N/A N/A N/A Insider and Institutional Ownership 0.0% of American Lithium shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.1% of Anglo American shares are held by institutional investors. 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. Risk and Volatility American Lithium has a beta of 1.48, meaning that its share price is 48% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Anglo American has a beta of 1.18, meaning that its share price is 18% more volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Anglo American beats American Lithium on 6 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About American Lithium (Get Rating) American Lithium Corp., an exploration stage company, engages in the identification, acquisition, exploration, and development of resource properties in the United States. It principally focuses on the TLC Claystones project covering an area of approximately 5,052 hectares located in the town of Tonopah, Nevada; and the Falchani Lithium project and the Macusani Uranium project located in Puno, Peru. The company was formerly known as Menika Mining Ltd. and changed its name to American Lithium Corp. in April 2016. American Lithium Corp. was incorporated in 1974 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. About Anglo American (Get Rating) Anglo American Plc is a mining company, which engages in the exploration and mining of precious base metals and ferrous metals. The company operates through the following segments: De Beers, Copper, Platinum Group Metals, Iron Ore, Coal, Nickel and Manganese, and Corporate and Other. The company was founded by Ernest Oppenheimer in 1917 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Receive News & Ratings for American Lithium Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Lithium and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA Get Rating) has been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the seven analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $12.45. MFA has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. StockNews.com began coverage on MFA Financial in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and set a $11.00 target price on shares of MFA Financial in a research note on Tuesday, March 7th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group reiterated an outperform rating and set a $12.50 target price on shares of MFA Financial in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Get MFA Financial alerts: MFA Financial Stock Performance MFA stock opened at $10.13 on Wednesday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $10.10 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $10.41. MFA Financial has a twelve month low of $7.15 and a twelve month high of $15.19. MFA Financial Dividend Announcement Institutional Trading of MFA Financial The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 13.82%. MFA Financials payout ratio is currently -54.69%. Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MFA. Allianz Asset Management GmbH lifted its holdings in MFA Financial by 55.6% during the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 1,131,213 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $9,823,000 after purchasing an additional 404,416 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its holdings in MFA Financial by 11.5% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 27,712 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $447,000 after acquiring an additional 2,859 shares in the last quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. raised its holdings in MFA Financial by 6.4% in the 1st quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 905,700 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,650,000 after acquiring an additional 54,553 shares in the last quarter. XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new position in MFA Financial in the 1st quarter valued at $63,000. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP raised its holdings in MFA Financial by 113.6% in the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 2,127,278 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $8,573,000 after acquiring an additional 1,131,300 shares in the last quarter. 64.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About MFA Financial (Get Rating) MFA Financial, Inc is a real estate investment trust. engages in the business of investment, on a leveraged basis, in residential mortgage assets including agency mortgage-backed securities, Non-Agency mortgage backed securities and residential whole loans. The company was founded by Stewart Zimmerman on July 24, 1997 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for MFA Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MFA Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arjuna Capital boosted its position in shares of Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Get Rating) by 1.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 19,956 shares of the information technology services providers stock after purchasing an additional 353 shares during the quarter. Accenture comprises about 2.5% of Arjuna Capitals holdings, making the stock its 9th biggest holding. Arjuna Capitals holdings in Accenture were worth $5,325,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. United Bank lifted its stake in Accenture by 6.3% during the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 2,969 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,001,000 after acquiring an additional 176 shares during the period. Weitz Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Accenture by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Weitz Investment Management Inc. now owns 89,400 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $30,148,000 after purchasing an additional 1,168 shares during the period. Fund Management at Engine No. 1 LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Accenture during the 1st quarter valued at about $1,805,000. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 0.6% in the first quarter. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. now owns 7,292 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $2,459,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC increased its holdings in Accenture by 104.8% during the first quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 441,451 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $148,871,000 after buying an additional 225,943 shares during the last quarter. 73.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Accenture alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on ACN. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Accenture from $311.00 to $314.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Accenture from $335.00 to $340.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Accenture from $289.00 to $294.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Piper Jaffray Companies upped their price target on shares of Accenture from $245.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Edward Jones upgraded shares of Accenture from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Accenture has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $314.00. Insider Buying and Selling at Accenture Accenture Stock Performance In related news, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 2,954 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.05, for a total value of $827,267.70. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 24,459 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,849,742.95. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . In other Accenture news, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $275.90, for a total transaction of $1,448,475.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 26,908 shares in the company, valued at $7,423,917.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link . Also, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 2,954 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction on Friday, April 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.05, for a total value of $827,267.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 24,459 shares in the company, valued at $6,849,742.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 15,010 shares of company stock valued at $4,180,030 in the last quarter. 0.08% of the stock is owned by insiders. NYSE ACN traded up $2.22 on Wednesday, hitting $272.92. 400,663 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,372,971. Accenture plc has a 52-week low of $242.80 and a 52-week high of $322.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $172.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.93, a P/E/G ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 1.25. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $271.39 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $275.67. Accenture (NYSE:ACN Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The information technology services provider reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.49 by $0.20. The company had revenue of $15.81 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.59 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 11.00% and a return on equity of 30.73%. The firms revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.54 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Accenture plc will post 11.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Accenture Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 13th will be issued a dividend of $1.12 per share. This represents a $4.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 12th. Accentures payout ratio is currently 41.25%. Accenture Profile (Get Rating) Accenture Plc engages in the provision of management consulting, technology, and outsourcing services. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, Europe and Growth Markets. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ACN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Accenture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accenture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Armstrong World Industries (NYSE:AWI Get Rating) had its price objective upped by research analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $77.00 to $78.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts target price would suggest a potential upside of 14.40% from the companys current price. Several other research analysts have also issued reports on AWI. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $97.00 to $86.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 12th. Loop Capital lowered shares of Armstrong World Industries from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $98.00 to $75.00 in a report on Thursday, January 5th. Truist Financial lowered their price target on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $95.00 to $90.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Credit Suisse Group reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $100.00 price objective on shares of Armstrong World Industries in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Armstrong World Industries from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $83.63. Get Armstrong World Industries alerts: Armstrong World Industries Trading Up 0.0 % NYSE:AWI traded up $0.01 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $68.18. 68,333 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 379,544. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $72.61 and a 200-day simple moving average of $74.28. The company has a current ratio of 1.95, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. Armstrong World Industries has a fifty-two week low of $66.06 and a fifty-two week high of $94.94. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.69, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 1.11. Insider Activity at Armstrong World Industries Armstrong World Industries ( NYSE:AWI Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The construction company reported $1.12 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.06 by $0.06. Armstrong World Industries had a net margin of 16.45% and a return on equity of 41.59%. The business had revenue of $310.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $310.86 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.02 EPS. The firms revenue was up 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that Armstrong World Industries will post 4.84 earnings per share for the current year. In related news, SVP Mark A. Hershey sold 6,835 shares of Armstrong World Industries stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.14, for a total value of $547,756.90. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 38,218 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,062,790.52. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 1.80% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Armstrong World Industries Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in Armstrong World Industries by 10.5% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 290,957 shares of the construction companys stock worth $23,052,000 after acquiring an additional 27,557 shares during the last quarter. Timucuan Asset Management Inc. FL boosted its holdings in Armstrong World Industries by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Timucuan Asset Management Inc. FL now owns 889,889 shares of the construction companys stock worth $70,506,000 after acquiring an additional 6,521 shares during the last quarter. Cantillon Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Armstrong World Industries by 8.7% during the 4th quarter. Cantillon Capital Management LLC now owns 1,917,708 shares of the construction companys stock worth $131,536,000 after acquiring an additional 152,796 shares during the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. purchased a new position in Armstrong World Industries during the 3rd quarter worth $51,000. Finally, Taylor Hoffman Wealth Management boosted its holdings in Armstrong World Industries by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. Taylor Hoffman Wealth Management now owns 29,943 shares of the construction companys stock worth $2,372,000 after acquiring an additional 729 shares during the last quarter. Armstrong World Industries Company Profile (Get Rating) Armstrong World Industries, Inc engages in the design, manufacture, and trade of commercial and residential ceiling, wall, and suspension system solutions. It operates through the following segments: Mineral Fiber, Architectural Specialties, and Unallocated Corporate. The Mineral Fiber segment produces suspended mineral fiber and soft fiber ceiling systems for use in commercial and residential settings. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Armstrong World Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Armstrong World Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brandywine Oak Private Wealth LLC decreased its position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV Get Rating) by 14.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,989 shares of the companys stock after selling 500 shares during the period. Brandywine Oak Private Wealth LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF were worth $1,149,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 17.8% in the 4th quarter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 24,211 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,302,169,370,000 after buying an additional 3,666 shares during the period. Tilson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $503,000. Retirement Systems of Alabama boosted its position in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 32,340 shares of the companys stock worth $12,425,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period. GYL Financial Synergies LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 13.8% during the 4th quarter. GYL Financial Synergies LLC now owns 23,885 shares of the companys stock worth $9,177,000 after purchasing an additional 2,888 shares during the period. Finally, Matson Money. Inc. boosted its position in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 17.3% during the 4th quarter. Matson Money. Inc. now owns 631,958 shares of the companys stock worth $242,805,000 after purchasing an additional 93,183 shares during the period. Get iShares Core S&P 500 ETF alerts: iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Price Performance Shares of NYSEARCA:IVV traded up $1.19 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $409.02. 1,386,924 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,197,883. The firm has a market cap of $307.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.43 and a beta of 1.00. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $404.29 and its 200 day simple moving average is $396.49. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has a 1 year low of $349.53 and a 1 year high of $434.03. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Company Profile iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors 500 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IVV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG Get Rating) had its price objective raised by equities research analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $1,900.00 to $2,050.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Wells Fargo & Companys price target points to a potential upside of 15.17% from the companys current price. Several other analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,900.00 to $1,850.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Truist Financial raised their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,800.00 to $1,960.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, April 17th. KeyCorp boosted their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,780.00 to $1,870.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,550.00 to $1,885.00 in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Credit Suisse Group upped their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,050.00 to $2,200.00 in a report on Wednesday. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Chipotle Mexican Grill has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $1,972.96. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Chipotle Mexican Grill Price Performance CMG opened at $1,780.00 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $49.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $1,636.17 and a 200-day moving average price of $1,556.61. Chipotle Mexican Grill has a one year low of $1,196.28 and a one year high of $1,816.96. Insider Activity Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The restaurant operator reported $10.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $8.89 by $1.61. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 10.41% and a return on equity of 40.96%. The company had revenue of $2.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.34 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $5.70 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 18.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that Chipotle Mexican Grill will post 41.46 earnings per share for the current year. In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 991 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,537.37, for a total transaction of $1,523,533.67. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,892,977.39. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 2,193 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,633.11, for a total transaction of $3,581,410.23. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,128,219.17. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 991 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,537.37, for a total transaction of $1,523,533.67. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,892,977.39. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 10,856 shares of company stock worth $17,938,741 in the last three months. Company insiders own 1.01% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Chipotle Mexican Grill Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of CMG. American National Bank increased its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 9.6% during the first quarter. American National Bank now owns 250 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $427,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Everhart Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill in the first quarter worth about $203,000. Advisor Resource Council grew its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 37.5% during the first quarter. Advisor Resource Council now owns 1,166 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,999,000 after buying an additional 318 shares during the last quarter. First National Bank of Hutchinson lifted its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. First National Bank of Hutchinson now owns 352 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $601,000 after acquiring an additional 13 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Chapman Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 1st quarter valued at $299,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.26% of the companys stock. About Chipotle Mexican Grill (Get Rating) Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc engages in the development and operation of classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. It offers a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads prepared using classic cooking methods. The company was founded by Steve Ells in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, CA. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cumberland Partners Ltd trimmed its holdings in shares of Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE:SU Get Rating) (TSE:SU) by 2.7% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 85,976 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after selling 2,356 shares during the period. Cumberland Partners Ltds holdings in Suncor Energy were worth $2,728,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Suncor Energy by 13.0% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 12,045 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $393,000 after purchasing an additional 1,382 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its stake in Suncor Energy by 8.9% during the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 31,145 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $1,013,000 after purchasing an additional 2,544 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Suncor Energy by 41.9% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 927,375 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $30,223,000 after buying an additional 273,853 shares during the period. Raymond James Trust N.A. lifted its holdings in shares of Suncor Energy by 40.4% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 12,556 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $409,000 after buying an additional 3,610 shares during the period. Finally, Sei Investments Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Suncor Energy by 20.5% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 11,827 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $380,000 after buying an additional 2,015 shares during the period. 58.04% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Suncor Energy alerts: Suncor Energy Price Performance NYSE:SU traded down $0.54 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $29.33. 2,820,903 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,568,598. Suncor Energy Inc. has a 52-week low of $26.42 and a 52-week high of $42.72. The firms fifty day moving average price is $32.05 and its 200 day moving average price is $32.60. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The company has a market cap of $38.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.95, a P/E/G ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.27. Suncor Energy Cuts Dividend Suncor Energy ( NYSE:SU Get Rating ) (TSE:SU) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 14th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.26 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $10.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.65 billion. Suncor Energy had a return on equity of 29.52% and a net margin of 15.55%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Suncor Energy Inc. will post 3.88 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 3rd were given a $0.391 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 2nd. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.33%. Suncor Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.34%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on SU shares. Scotiabank cut Suncor Energy from a sector outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. TD Securities boosted their price objective on Suncor Energy from C$52.00 to C$53.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. National Bank Financial boosted their price objective on Suncor Energy from C$54.00 to C$57.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 11th. Wells Fargo & Company cut Suncor Energy from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 10th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on Suncor Energy in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $53.13. About Suncor Energy (Get Rating) Suncor Energy, Inc is an integrated energy company, which engages in the development of petroleum resource basins. It operates through the following segments: Oil Sands, Exploration and Production, Refining and Marketing, and Corporate and Eliminations. The Oil Sands segment operates assets in the Athabasca oil sands of northeast Alberta. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE:SU Get Rating) (TSE:SU). Receive News & Ratings for Suncor Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Suncor Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR Get Rating) shares reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Wednesday after Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on the stock from $270.00 to $250.00. The stock traded as low as $227.00 and last traded at $230.07, with a volume of 1585158 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $231.99. DHR has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Barclays dropped their price target on Danaher from $270.00 to $260.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on Danaher from $289.00 to $260.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Credit Suisse Group dropped their price target on Danaher from $300.00 to $270.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Citigroup dropped their price target on Danaher from $325.00 to $300.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Bank of America lowered Danaher from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $310.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $295.76. Get Danaher alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On Danaher Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Fairfield Bush & CO. increased its holdings in Danaher by 10.9% in the 1st quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. now owns 4,840 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $1,420,000 after buying an additional 475 shares in the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. boosted its position in Danaher by 19.3% in the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 2,468 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $724,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd boosted its position in Danaher by 76.8% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 495 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $145,000 after purchasing an additional 215 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its position in Danaher by 14.1% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 31,530 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $9,248,000 after purchasing an additional 3,897 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP boosted its position in Danaher by 135.9% in the first quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 35,270 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $10,346,000 after purchasing an additional 20,320 shares during the last quarter. 77.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Danaher Price Performance The firm has a market capitalization of $167.96 billion, a PE ratio of 23.64, a PEG ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 1.89 and a quick ratio of 1.52. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $248.93 and a 200-day simple moving average of $257.57. Danaher (NYSE:DHR Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The conglomerate reported $2.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.26 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $7.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.06 billion. Danaher had a return on equity of 17.97% and a net margin of 22.91%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.76 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Danaher Co. will post 10.14 earnings per share for the current year. Danaher Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. This is an increase from Danahers previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.47%. Danahers payout ratio is 11.19%. Danaher Company Profile (Get Rating) Danaher Corp. engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of professional, medical, industrial, and commercial products and services. It operates through the following segments: Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Diagnostics, and Environmental and Applied Solutions. The Biotechnology segment includes the bioprocessing and discovery and medical businesses and offers a range of tools, consumables, and services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Danaher Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Danaher and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hubbell (NYSE:HUBB Get Rating) released its earnings results on Tuesday. The industrial products company reported $3.61 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.46 by $1.15, Briefing.com reports. The firm had revenue of $1.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.25 billion. Hubbell had a net margin of 11.40% and a return on equity of 25.03%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 11.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.12 EPS. Hubbell updated its FY23 guidance to $13.00-13.50 EPS. Hubbell Price Performance Shares of HUBB stock traded up $1.68 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $261.09. The companys stock had a trading volume of 276,418 shares, compared to its average volume of 432,048. Hubbell has a 1-year low of $170.21 and a 1-year high of $265.50. The company has a market cap of $13.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.92, a PEG ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 1.18 and a current ratio of 1.86. The firms 50-day moving average is $239.84 and its two-hundred day moving average is $238.85. Get Hubbell alerts: Hubbell Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be paid a $1.12 dividend. This represents a $4.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.72%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 30th. Hubbells dividend payout ratio is 43.04%. Insider Activity Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hubbell In related news, CEO Gerben Bakker sold 9,350 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $240.80, for a total transaction of $2,251,480.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 37,801 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,102,480.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Corporate insiders own 0.66% of the companys stock. A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in HUBB. First Manhattan Co. acquired a new stake in shares of Hubbell during the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Hubbell during the 4th quarter worth about $40,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. bought a new stake in Hubbell during the 4th quarter worth about $47,000. Compass Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Hubbell during the 4th quarter worth about $82,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in Hubbell by 137.3% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 522 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $96,000 after acquiring an additional 302 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.71% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes HUBB has been the subject of several research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Hubbell from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and upped their target price for the company from $200.00 to $205.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Hubbell from $225.00 to $221.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. Mizuho upped their target price on shares of Hubbell from $252.00 to $300.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Hubbell from $226.00 to $238.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, UBS Group cut shares of Hubbell from a neutral rating to a sell rating and cut their target price for the company from $254.00 to $225.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 4th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $237.33. Hubbell Company Profile (Get Rating) Hubbell, Inc engages in the designing, manufacturing, and sale of electrical and electronic products for non-residential and residential construction, industrial, and utility applications. It operates through the Electrical Solutions and Utility Solutions segments. The Electrical Solutions segment manufactures and sells wiring and electrical, lighting fixtures, and controls for indoor and outdoor applications as well as specialty lighting and communications products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Hubbell Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hubbell and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG Get Rating)s stock price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $62.79 and traded as high as $70.62. InterContinental Hotels Group shares last traded at $70.48, with a volume of 74,675 shares. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on IHG shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from GBX 6,200 ($77.43) to GBX 6,000 ($74.93) in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. StockNews.com raised shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, March 11th. Stifel Nicolaus cut shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Peel Hunt lowered shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. Finally, UBS Group lowered shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, InterContinental Hotels Group presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $5,466.67. Get InterContinental Hotels Group alerts: InterContinental Hotels Group Price Performance The stocks fifty day moving average price is $67.69 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $62.93. InterContinental Hotels Group Increases Dividend Institutional Investors Weigh In On InterContinental Hotels Group The company also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 31st will be issued a $0.945 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.9%. This is a positive change from InterContinental Hotels Groups previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.44. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of IHG. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of InterContinental Hotels Group by 235.0% in the 1st quarter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC now owns 716,436 shares of the companys stock valued at $48,389,000 after purchasing an additional 502,600 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE raised its holdings in shares of InterContinental Hotels Group by 139.9% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 148,149 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,196,000 after purchasing an additional 86,405 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of InterContinental Hotels Group by 20.9% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 490,190 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,735,000 after purchasing an additional 84,613 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its holdings in shares of InterContinental Hotels Group by 251.1% in the 3rd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 96,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,676,000 after purchasing an additional 68,800 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Natixis Advisors L.P. raised its holdings in shares of InterContinental Hotels Group by 57.0% in the 4th quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 177,674 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,366,000 after purchasing an additional 64,518 shares in the last quarter. 4.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About InterContinental Hotels Group (Get Rating) InterContinental Hotels Group Plc owns and operates hotels. The firms hotel brands include: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, EVEN Hotels, IHG Rewards Club, Kimpton and HUALUXE Hotels and Resorts. It operates through the following segments: Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa, Americas, Greater China and Central. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for InterContinental Hotels Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for InterContinental Hotels Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Column Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:EEM Get Rating) by 8.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 49,452 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 3,776 shares during the quarter. Column Capital Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF were worth $235,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Accurate Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. City State Bank lifted its position in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 686.1% in the 4th quarter. City State Bank now owns 1,077 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 940 shares in the last quarter. Phillips Financial Management LLC purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $39,000. Finally, Gradient Investments LLC lifted its position in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 30.8% in the 4th quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 1,362 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $52,000 after buying an additional 321 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.29% of the companys stock. Get iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Stock Up 1.0 % EEM stock traded up $0.37 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $38.56. The company had a trading volume of 15,676,243 shares, compared to its average volume of 34,440,086. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF has a 1 year low of $33.49 and a 1 year high of $43.23. The company has a 50 day moving average of $38.96 and a two-hundred day moving average of $38.55. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Profile iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund (the Fund), seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities in global emerging markets, as measured by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (the Index). Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kentucky Retirement Systems raised its position in shares of Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS Get Rating) by 0.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 105,284 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 460 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $8,951,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC grew its position in Morgan Stanley by 103.2% in the third quarter. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC now owns 315 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Accurate Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. My Personal CFO LLC acquired a new position in Morgan Stanley in the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Surevest LLC increased its stake in shares of Morgan Stanley by 37.0% in the third quarter. Surevest LLC now owns 411 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 111 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.48% of the companys stock. Get Morgan Stanley alerts: Morgan Stanley Stock Performance MS traded up $0.53 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $88.59. The company had a trading volume of 1,348,168 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,679,780. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $90.46 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $89.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.57, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.79. Morgan Stanley has a 12-month low of $72.05 and a 12-month high of $100.99. The stock has a market cap of $148.15 billion, a PE ratio of 15.13, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.34. Morgan Stanley Dividend Announcement Morgan Stanley ( NYSE:MS Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The financial services provider reported $1.70 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.67 by $0.03. Morgan Stanley had a return on equity of 11.34% and a net margin of 14.12%. The business had revenue of $14.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.96 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.06 earnings per share. Morgan Stanleys revenue for the quarter was down 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Morgan Stanley will post 6.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Monday, May 1st will be issued a $0.775 dividend. This represents a $3.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.50%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 28th. Morgan Stanleys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.26%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on MS shares. Wolfe Research cut Morgan Stanley from an outperform rating to an underperform rating and set a $92.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, January 4th. Oppenheimer boosted their target price on shares of Morgan Stanley from $95.00 to $103.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on Morgan Stanley from $108.00 to $104.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Citigroup dropped their price target on Morgan Stanley from $100.00 to $95.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley from $89.00 to $85.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $95.34. Insider Activity at Morgan Stanley In other Morgan Stanley news, insider Daniel A. Simkowitz sold 15,133 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $96.20, for a total transaction of $1,455,794.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 323,398 shares in the company, valued at $31,110,887.60. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Morgan Stanley news, insider Andrew M. Saperstein sold 24,556 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.23, for a total value of $2,412,135.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 190,440 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,706,921.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Daniel A. Simkowitz sold 15,133 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $96.20, for a total value of $1,455,794.60. Following the sale, the insider now owns 323,398 shares in the company, valued at $31,110,887.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.24% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. About Morgan Stanley (Get Rating) Morgan Stanley operates as a global financial services company. The firm provides investment banking products and services to its clients and customers including corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals. It operates through the following segments: Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Morgan Stanley Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Morgan Stanley and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG Get Rating) released its quarterly earnings results on Monday. The technology company reported $0.24 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.19 by $0.05, MarketWatch Earnings reports. The business had revenue of $4.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.99 billion. Koninklijke Philips had a negative net margin of 11.63% and a positive return on equity of 6.29%. The businesss revenue was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.32 EPS. Koninklijke Philips Trading Down 3.5 % Koninklijke Philips stock opened at $20.97 on Wednesday. The firms 50-day moving average is $17.39 and its 200-day moving average is $15.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 1.29. Koninklijke Philips has a 1 year low of $11.75 and a 1 year high of $26.76. The company has a market cap of $18.65 billion, a P/E ratio of -13.11 and a beta of 0.90. Get Koninklijke Philips alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts have weighed in on PHG shares. Sanford C. Bernstein started coverage on shares of Koninklijke Philips in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. They set a market perform rating for the company. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Koninklijke Philips from 17.00 ($18.89) to 16.00 ($17.78) and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. Societe Generale raised shares of Koninklijke Philips from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Koninklijke Philips from 19.00 ($21.11) to 18.50 ($20.56) and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 10th. Finally, UBS Group lowered shares of Koninklijke Philips from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $16.79. Institutional Trading of Koninklijke Philips About Koninklijke Philips Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of PHG. Credit Suisse AG bought a new stake in Koninklijke Philips in the 2nd quarter valued at about $65,000. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its position in Koninklijke Philips by 21.3% in the 3rd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 11,454 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $176,000 after purchasing an additional 2,011 shares during the last quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. lifted its position in Koninklijke Philips by 9.4% in the 4th quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 12,455 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $187,000 after purchasing an additional 1,066 shares during the last quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC bought a new stake in Koninklijke Philips in the 4th quarter valued at about $206,000. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP bought a new stake in Koninklijke Philips in the 3rd quarter valued at about $228,000. 10.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. (Get Rating) Koninklijke Philips NV is a technology company, which engages in the healthcare, lighting, and consumer well-being markets. It operates through the following segments: Diagnosis and Treatment businesses; Connected Care businesses; Personal Health businesses; and Other. The Diagnosis and Treatment businesses segment consists systems, smart devices, software and services, powered by AI-enabled informatics-that support precision diagnoses and minimally invasive procedures in therapeutic areas such as cardiology, peripheral vascular, neurology, surgery, and oncology. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Koninklijke Philips Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Koninklijke Philips and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mandom Co. (OTCMKTS:MDOMF Get Rating)s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $11.75 and last traded at $11.75, with a volume of 0 shares. The stock had previously closed at $11.75. Mandom Stock Performance The business has a 50 day moving average price of $11.75 and a 200-day moving average price of $11.75. The company has a market cap of $567.16 million, a P/E ratio of 17.03 and a beta of 2.58. About Mandom (Get Rating) Mandom Corporation engages in the manufacture and sale of cosmetics, perfumes, and quasi-drugs in Japan, Indonesia, and internationally. The company offers a range of products, including men's everyday grooming products, as well as general fashion items, such as hair styling, skin care, and body care products; and hair coloring, scalp care, and face care products under the Gatsby and Lucido brands. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Mandom Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mandom and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mattern Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of McDonalds Co. (NYSE:MCD Get Rating) by 2.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 14,165 shares of the fast-food giants stock after acquiring an additional 371 shares during the period. McDonalds makes up approximately 1.5% of Mattern Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 13th largest holding. Mattern Wealth Management LLCs holdings in McDonalds were worth $3,733,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Piershale Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in McDonalds during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. JDM Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of McDonalds in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates acquired a new position in shares of McDonalds in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of McDonalds in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, VitalStone Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of McDonalds in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $39,000. 66.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get McDonald's alerts: Insider Activity In other McDonalds news, EVP Marion K. Gross sold 1,396 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $265.44, for a total transaction of $370,554.24. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 308 shares in the company, valued at approximately $81,755.52. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other McDonalds news, SVP Catherine A. Hoovel sold 2,876 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $270.00, for a total transaction of $776,520.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 1,184 shares in the company, valued at approximately $319,680. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Marion K. Gross sold 1,396 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $265.44, for a total value of $370,554.24. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 308 shares of the companys stock, valued at $81,755.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 8,122 shares of company stock valued at $2,177,681 over the last three months. Insiders own 0.25% of the companys stock. McDonalds Stock Down 0.4 % Shares of NYSE MCD traded down $1.21 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $290.30. 577,214 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,683,326. McDonalds Co. has a 1 year low of $228.34 and a 1 year high of $295.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $211.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.89, a PEG ratio of 3.45 and a beta of 0.63. The business has a 50 day moving average of $274.91 and a two-hundred day moving average of $269.32. McDonalds (NYSE:MCD Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The fast-food giant reported $2.63 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.31 by $0.32. McDonalds had a negative return on equity of 120.10% and a net margin of 26.65%. The business had revenue of $5.90 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.58 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.28 earnings per share. McDonaldss revenue was up 4.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that McDonalds Co. will post 10.54 EPS for the current year. McDonalds Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 1st were issued a dividend of $1.52 per share. This represents a $6.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.09%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 28th. McDonaldss dividend payout ratio is 72.81%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have issued reports on MCD. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on McDonalds from $270.00 to $290.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Northcoast Research upgraded McDonalds from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $321.00 price target for the company in a report on Monday, April 10th. TD Cowen boosted their price target on McDonalds from $293.00 to $299.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, March 24th. Stephens restated an overweight rating and set a $280.00 price objective on shares of McDonalds in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on McDonalds from $315.00 to $320.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, McDonalds presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $305.45. McDonalds Profile (Get Rating) McDonalds Corp. engages in the operation and franchising of restaurants. It operates through the following segments: U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets and Corporate. The U.S. segment focuses its operations on the United States. The International Operated Markets segment consists of operations and the franchising of restaurants in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, and the U.K. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MCD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for McDonalds Co. (NYSE:MCD Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for McDonald's Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McDonald's and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Net profit of China's top liquor brand posts strong growth in Q1 Xinhua) 15:58, April 26, 2023 GUIYANG, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China's leading liquor maker Kweichow Moutai posted a net profit of about 20.8 billion yuan (about 3 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of 2023, up 20.59 percent year on year. From January to March, its revenue climbed 20 percent year on year to approximately 38.76 billion yuan, according to the company's annual report released Tuesday. The operating revenue of the alcohol maker reached 127.6 billion yuan in 2022. Its net profit rose 19.55 percent year on year to 62.7 billion yuan last year, according to the report. Distilled in the town of Maotai in southwest China's Guizhou Province, this famed liquor is often served at state banquets. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Mattern Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS Get Rating) by 6.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,507 shares of the business services providers stock after buying an additional 89 shares during the period. Mattern Wealth Management LLCs holdings in FactSet Research Systems were worth $605,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in FDS. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA purchased a new stake in shares of FactSet Research Systems in the third quarter valued at $45,313,000. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. grew its position in FactSet Research Systems by 177.1% during the third quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. now owns 128,848 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $51,553,000 after acquiring an additional 82,343 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its position in FactSet Research Systems by 42.9% during the second quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 196,890 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $75,718,000 after acquiring an additional 59,138 shares during the period. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. grew its position in FactSet Research Systems by 264.5% during the third quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 78,570 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $31,437,000 after acquiring an additional 57,012 shares during the period. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in FactSet Research Systems by 1.2% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,298,111 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,866,025,000 after acquiring an additional 52,604 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.98% of the companys stock. Get FactSet Research Systems alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Redburn Partners raised FactSet Research Systems from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 28th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on FactSet Research Systems from $415.00 to $408.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $500.00 price objective on shares of FactSet Research Systems in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on FactSet Research Systems from $477.00 to $454.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on FactSet Research Systems in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $448.86. Insider Activity at FactSet Research Systems FactSet Research Systems Stock Down 0.8 % In related news, CTO Katherine M. Stepp sold 297 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $417.58, for a total value of $124,021.26. Following the completion of the sale, the chief technology officer now directly owns 451 shares of the companys stock, valued at $188,328.58. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link . In other news, CAO Gregory T. Moskoff sold 311 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $409.30, for a total transaction of $127,292.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 106 shares of the companys stock, valued at $43,385.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, CTO Katherine M. Stepp sold 297 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $417.58, for a total value of $124,021.26. Following the transaction, the chief technology officer now directly owns 451 shares of the companys stock, valued at $188,328.58. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 17,754 shares of company stock valued at $7,354,294 over the last three months. 0.97% of the stock is owned by insiders. Shares of NYSE:FDS traded down $3.39 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $408.68. The companys stock had a trading volume of 9,310 shares, compared to its average volume of 231,022. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 2.09 and a current ratio of 2.09. FactSet Research Systems Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $345.92 and a fifty-two week high of $474.13. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $412.80 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $420.32. The company has a market capitalization of $15.66 billion, a PE ratio of 35.77, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.83. FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The business services provider reported $3.80 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.65 by $0.15. FactSet Research Systems had a return on equity of 40.18% and a net margin of 22.30%. The business had revenue of $515.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $510.79 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.27 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 19.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that FactSet Research Systems Inc. will post 14.63 EPS for the current year. FactSet Research Systems Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 28th were issued a $0.89 dividend. This represents a $3.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.87%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 27th. FactSet Research Systemss dividend payout ratio is currently 30.90%. FactSet Research Systems Profile (Get Rating) FactSet Research Systems Inc (the Company or FactSet) is a global provider of integrated financial information, analytical applications and services for the investment and corporate communities. Since inception, global financial professionals have utilized the Companys content and multi-asset class solutions across each stage of the investment process. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FDS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for FactSet Research Systems Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FactSet Research Systems and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mkango Resources Ltd. (CVE:MKA Get Rating) shares shot up 2.9% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as C$0.18 and last traded at C$0.18. 834 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 92% from the average session volume of 10,527 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.18. Mkango Resources Stock Up 2.7 % The firm has a market capitalization of C$46.21 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.08 and a beta of 2.08. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 125.65. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of C$0.21 and a 200 day moving average price of C$0.22. Get Mkango Resources alerts: Insider Transactions at Mkango Resources In related news, Director William Drummond Dawes acquired 400,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 14th. The stock was purchased at an average price of C$0.13 per share, for a total transaction of C$51,000.00. 50.94% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About Mkango Resources Mkango Resources Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, explores for and develops rare earth elements and associated minerals in the Republic of Malawi, Africa. It explores for uranium, tantalum, niobium, zircon, nickel, cobalt, rutile, graphite, and gold ores. The company's flagship project is the Songwe Hill property within the Phalombe exploration license located in southeast Malawi. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Mkango Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mkango Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 3,250 shares of the mining companys stock, valued at approximately $231,000. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of RIO. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in Rio Tinto Group by 23.9% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 61,529 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $4,947,000 after buying an additional 11,879 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC boosted its stake in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 33.8% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 6,549 shares of the mining companys stock worth $527,000 after acquiring an additional 1,654 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in Rio Tinto Group by 19.4% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,539,846 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $123,803,000 after purchasing an additional 250,480 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. bought a new stake in Rio Tinto Group in the 1st quarter valued at $499,000. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its position in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 141.7% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 13,466 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $1,083,000 after acquiring an additional 7,894 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 10.43% of the companys stock. Get Rio Tinto Group alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Berenberg Bank raised Rio Tinto Group from a sell rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Rio Tinto Group from GBX 5,310 ($66.32) to GBX 5,380 ($67.19) in a research report on Wednesday, January 18th. CLSA upgraded Rio Tinto Group from an underperform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, March 13th. BNP Paribas lowered Rio Tinto Group from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Rio Tinto Group from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Rio Tinto Group currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $5,790.00. Rio Tinto Group Stock Performance Rio Tinto Group Cuts Dividend NYSE:RIO traded up $1.19 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $63.33. The stock had a trading volume of 1,487,377 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,245,600. Rio Tinto Group has a 12-month low of $50.92 and a 12-month high of $80.51. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $68.80 and a 200 day simple moving average of $68.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.64. The firm also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 20th. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th were paid a dividend of $2.25 per share. This represents a yield of 9.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. About Rio Tinto Group (Get Rating) Rio Tinto Plc engages in the exploration, mining, and processing of mineral resources. It operates through the following business segments: Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper and Diamonds, Energy and Minerals, and Other Operations. The Iron Ore segment supplies global seaborne iron ore trade. The Aluminium segment produces bauxite, alumina and primary aluminum. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RIO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Rio Tinto Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rio Tinto Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Petro Matad Limited (OTCMKTS:PRTDF Get Rating)s stock price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $0.05 and traded as high as $0.06. Petro Matad shares last traded at $0.06, with a volume of 395,247 shares changing hands. Petro Matad Stock Up 11.5 % The firms 50-day moving average price is $0.05 and its 200 day moving average price is $0.05. Petro Matad Company Profile (Get Rating) Petro Matad Ltd. is a holding company, which through its subsidiaries, engages in the oil exploration. Its operations include blocks IV and V, and block XX. The company was founded on August 30, 2007 and is headquartered in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Petro Matad Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Petro Matad and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stepan (NYSE:SCL Get Rating) issued its earnings results on Tuesday. The basic materials company reported $0.71 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.94 by ($0.23), Briefing.com reports. Stepan had a return on equity of 13.53% and a net margin of 5.31%. The business had revenue of $651.40 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $649.73 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.76 EPS. Stepans revenue for the quarter was down 3.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Stepan Trading Up 0.3 % SCL traded up $0.31 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $90.82. 33,345 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 81,008. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.26 and a beta of 0.84. Stepan has a 12-month low of $88.20 and a 12-month high of $116.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $100.73 and a 200 day moving average of $104.78. Get Stepan alerts: Stepan Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be paid a $0.365 dividend. This represents a $1.46 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 30th. Stepans payout ratio is 22.92%. Insider Buying and Selling at Stepan Institutional Inflows and Outflows In other news, VP Richard Finn Stepan sold 479 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.06, for a total transaction of $50,323.74. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 188,326 shares in the company, valued at $19,785,529.56. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . In other Stepan news, VP Richard Finn Stepan sold 479 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.06, for a total transaction of $50,323.74. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 188,326 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,785,529.56. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Also, Director F Quinn Stepan, Jr. sold 4,132 shares of Stepan stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.12, for a total value of $434,355.84. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 228,165 shares in the company, valued at $23,984,704.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 4,766 shares of company stock worth $500,964. 6.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Mariner LLC boosted its stake in shares of Stepan by 3.7% during the 4th quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 4,316 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $459,000 after purchasing an additional 155 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in Stepan by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 4,534 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $425,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP bought a new position in shares of Stepan in the 4th quarter worth approximately $424,000. CI Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Stepan in the 4th quarter worth approximately $385,000. Finally, Raymond James & Associates lifted its stake in shares of Stepan by 8.9% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 3,291 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $325,000 after purchasing an additional 268 shares during the period. 76.84% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on Stepan in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. About Stepan (Get Rating) Stepan Co engages in the manufacture and sale of specialty and intermediate chemicals. It operates through the following segments: Surfactants, Polymers, and Specialty Products. The Surfactants segment offers a range of surfactant chemicals such as anionic, cationic, nonionic, and amphoteric surfactants. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Stepan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stepan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bruni J V & Co. Co. lowered its position in shares of The AES Co. (NYSE:AES Get Rating) by 1.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,652,602 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 24,414 shares during the quarter. AES comprises approximately 6.7% of Bruni J V & Co. Co.s portfolio, making the stock its 2nd biggest position. Bruni J V & Co. Co. owned 0.25% of AES worth $47,529,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of AES by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 83,790,219 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,155,923,000 after purchasing an additional 1,285,423 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of AES by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 35,292,933 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $797,620,000 after buying an additional 914,656 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its holdings in shares of AES by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 11,135,355 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $251,659,000 after buying an additional 53,261 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in shares of AES by 5.6% in the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,126,418 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $183,363,000 after buying an additional 381,037 shares during the period. Finally, M&G Investment Management Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of AES by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter. M&G Investment Management Ltd. now owns 5,501,894 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $126,544,000 after purchasing an additional 191,928 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.46% of the companys stock. Get AES alerts: AES Trading Down 2.2 % Shares of AES stock traded down $0.52 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $23.35. 901,280 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,426,137. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.93, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.18. The AES Co. has a one year low of $18.62 and a one year high of $29.89. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $24.24 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $26.09. AES Dividend Announcement AES ( NYSE:AES Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.49 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.46 by $0.03. AES had a negative net margin of 3.99% and a positive return on equity of 37.94%. The business had revenue of $3.06 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.58 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.45 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that The AES Co. will post 1.72 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 1st will be given a $0.1659 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 28th. This represents a $0.66 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.84%. AESs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -75.86%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on AES from $32.00 to $31.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $32.00 target price on shares of AES in a research report on Monday, March 6th. StockNews.com downgraded AES from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. TheStreet downgraded AES from a b- rating to a c rating in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Finally, Wolfe Research cut AES from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Monday, April 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, AES has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $30.90. AES Company Profile (Get Rating) The AES Corp. engages in the provision of power generation and utility services through its renewable and thermal generation facilities and distribution businesses. It operates through the following segments: U.S. and Utilities Strategic Business Unit (SBU), South America SBU, MCAC SBU, Eurasia SBU. The U.S. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AES? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The AES Co. (NYSE:AES Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for AES Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AES 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 Inc. magazine revealed that RDM Infinity landed a spot on the third-annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: Rocky Mountain list, a prestigious ranking of private companies based in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. RDM achieved a median revenue growth of 195% between 2019 and 2021, earning it a coveted place among just 59 other regional businesses recognized for their tremendous growth in a challenging economic climate. This honor is a testament to the tireless work of our growing team, said Brandon Robinson, head geek at RDM Infinity. Were passionate about the customer experience. We do whatever it takes to ensure our customers are taken care of. And thats why over 80% of our clients keep coming back. RDM Infinity extends the value of ERP investments by enhancing the systems companies already have in place. According to the company, it designs custom solutions that grow with the business, and it understands the power of MultiValue software. RDM Infinity knows how to adapt legacy systems to elevate performance, boost productivity, and meet the demands of the customers. The complete Inc. 5000 Regionals: Rocky Mountain listincluding company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area and other criteriacan be found at www.inc.com/regionals/rocky-mountain. This years Inc. 5000 Regionals winners represent one of the most exceptional and exciting lists of Americas off-the-charts growth companies, said Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. magazine. Theyre disruptors and job creators, and all delivered an outsized impact on the economy. Remember their names and follow their lead. These are the companies youll be hearing about for years to come. For more information about this news, visit https://rdminfinity.com. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. The YSRC Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy arrived from Hyderabad to Pulivendula in the afternoon and met party leaders and cadres prior to attending the event. (Image: Twitter) Anantapur: Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy attended the Praja Darbar at the Chief Ministers camp office in Pulivendula in YSR Kadapa district on Tuesday. The MP arrived from Hyderabad to Pulivendula in the afternoon and met party leaders and cadres prior to attending the event. This is a weekly programme at the Chief Ministers camp office, meant exclusively for the people of Pulivendula Assembly segment and Kadapa district people to air their grievances. Avinash Reddy is incharge of Pulivendula Assembly segment and attends to the party affairs as also grievances of Pulivendula. Avinash Reddy was in Hyderabad soon after the arrest of his father Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy and reporting to the CBI there as and when he gets a summons. He was also helping his defence counsel in Delhi and Hyderabad vis-a-vis the petitions related to the central agencys investigations. The Telangana High Court posted the pending petition of Avinash Reddys counsel for the MPs anticipatory bail plea for hearing on Wednesday. The SC reacted strongly to the High Court directions to the CBI for submission of the printed form of the questionnaire to Avinash Reddy. The TS High Court had directed CBI not to arrest Avinash till April 25 but the petition was posted to April 26 for further hearing. A large number of YSRC leaders and cadres were present at the CMs camp office in Pulivendula. Deputy chief minister Amzad Bhasha also held discussions with the MP. Meanwhile, BJP leader Adinarayana Reddy said, "All facts will come out during the CBI investigation and those involved in the Viveka murder case will face the consequences." Another BJP leader Ramesh Naidu said the party would take up the campaign of Jagan Hatao, AP Bachavo across the state. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav with former MP Anand Mohan attend engagement function of MLA Chetan Anand, in Patna, (PTI) Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar faced a massive backlash from the Opposition after the state government issued a notification for the release of don-turned-politician and ex-MP Anand Mohan Singh and 26 others. Mohan was serving a life sentence for the murder of a Dalit IAS officer G. Krishnaiah from the Telangana region of undivided Andhra Pradesh, who was district magistrate at Gopalganj in 1994. The court had found Mohan guilty of inciting a mob that was protesting against the killing of gangster Chotan Shukla in Vaishali. Krishnaiah was lynched by the protesting mob while he was going to Gopalganj. The gangster-turned politician was sentenced to death in 2007 by a lower court and the Patna High Court later commuted the sentence to life imprisonment. Mohan, who is out on parole, was celebrating the engagement of his son Chetan Anand, an RJD MLA, when he received the news of his impending release. The Nitish Kumar government amended the Prison Manual, 2012, paving the way for the release of Mohan and 26 others by by amending a provision under which, previously, those involved in serious cases like the killing of a government servant could not be released even after the lapse of 14 years. The opposition BJP saw Nitish Kumars political ambition behind the release of Mohan, a Rajput who is said to have popular support in several districts of Bihar including Mithilanchal. "He is doing this to save his ground in Bihar ahead of Lok Sabha and Bihar assembly elections," the BJP said. Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya, slamming Nitish Kumar, said, "Can someone who is leaning on a criminal syndicate to hold on to power, be the face of India, even as Opposition leader? Corruption, crime, and a bid to defend their shrinking political turf is the glue for Indias opposition, from Mamata Banerjee to Nitish Kumar, Kejriwal to KCR" But the party was divided. Union minister Giriraj Singh, BJP MP from Begusarai and a popular upper caste leader, said Mohan was being made a scapegoat. The Bihar government has ordered the release of a large number of criminals. Poor Mohan is being defamed in the process, Singh said. BSP chief Mayawati criticised the move and urged Nitish Kumar to reconsider the decision. In a tweet, the former UP Chief Minister said that "the decision to release has hurt the sentiments of Dalits in the country. Despite all political compulsion, the Bihar government must reconsider its decision to release Anand Mohan who has been found guilty of the murder of a Dalit IAS officer." At the engagement ceremony, Mohan expressed his gratitude towards Nitish Kumar, who along with his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, was among the attendees at the gala function organised on the outskirts of Patna. The list of the 27 prisoners who are to be freed also includes Awadhesh Mandal, a former MLA associated with the Chief Minister's JD(U). Mandal's wife Bima Bharti is JD(U) MLA and a former minister. He is currently lodged at Bhagalpur jail. A large number of those whose release has been ordered happen to be Yadavs or Muslims, largely seen as supporters of the RJD. questions about Nitish Kumars efforts to stitch an alliance at the national level against the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. "Can someone who is leaning on a criminal syndicate, to hold on to power, be the face of India, even as opposition leader? Corruption, crime, and a bid to defend their shrinking political turf is the glue for Indias opposition, from Mamata Banerjee to Nitish Kumar, Kejriwal to KCR" BJP leader Amit Malviya said in a tweet after the Bihar government released a notification that paved the way for the release of Anand Mohan and 26 other prisoners. Earlier, BSP Chief Mayawati had also criticized the move and urged Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to reconsider the decision to release the gangster turned politician Anand Mohan Singh. In a tweet, the former UP Chief Minister said that "the decision to release has hurt the sentiments of Dalits in the country. Despite all political compulsion, the Bihar government must reconsider its decision to release Anand Mohan who has been found guilty of the murder of a Dalit IAS officer". The exercise is also being seen as part of Modi's efforts to deepen the ruling BJP's roots in southern states. (File photo: PTI) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually address the Kashi Telugu Sangamam event, which will be held in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi, on April 29. The event will be held at a time when Telugu-speaking pilgrims are arriving in Varanasi in large numbers during the ongoing 12-day long Ganga Pushkar Alu, a religious congregation which is held after 12 years. The Sri Kashi Telugu Samithi, an organisation of ashrams and dharmshalas linked to Telugus, is organising the 'Sangamam', the organisation's president and BJP MP G V L Narasimha Rao said. He is the coordinator for the programme. The one-day programme, to be held at Mansarovar ghat of the Ganga river, will highlight the ancient civilisational ties between the holy city and Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, two states inhabited by Telugu-speaking people, and will host various cultural and religious events to commemorate the link. The exercise is also being seen as part of Modi's efforts to deepen the ruling BJP's roots in southern states. Varanasi had also hosted a month-long Kashi Tamil Sangamam. "During the Ganga Pushkar Alu, lakhs of people are arriving for a holy bath in Ganga and to participate in different rituals. This is a very holy period. The prime minister will be addressing thousands of such pilgrims," Rao said, adding that Modi will highlight the ancient civilisational connect between the two regions. He lauded the prime minister for rejuvenating Varanasi's religious and cultural heritage. Indian nationals aboard an IAF C-130J aircraft depart from Port Sudan as part of evacuation operations under Operation Kaveri. (Image: PTI) Hyderabad: The state government is coordinating with the Union ministry of external affairs in 'Operation Kaveri' to rescue people from Telangana stranded in Sudan. The state government has opened a control room in Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi, said Telangana resident commissioner in New Delhi Gaurav Uppal on Wednesday, addding the state government will receive Sudan returnees and all arrangements have been made to shift them to their native places in Telangana. However, he said, there is no clarity so far on how many people from Telangana were stranded in Sudan. "We received information that INS Sumedha reached Jeddah port with the first batch of 278 stranded Indians from strife-torn Sudan. The second batch of 121 stranded Indians has also left Port Sudan for Jeddah. There is no clarity on how many people could be from Telangana although we have reports that there could be four persons. We are coordinating with the union ministry of external affairs," Gaurav said. He urged all those affected from Telangana to furnish their details to officials. The state government has decided to bear the transportation costs of all migrants from the state after they land in New Delhi as well as arrange for boarding and lodging for the returnees. Family accuses police of offering money to hush the matter. (Photo by arrangement) Hyderabad: A 30-year-old Dalit man who had been arrested by the police for questioning in connection with a suspected theft case died in police custody at the Tukaramgate police station from severe head injuries, amid allegations from the victims family that they were offered money to cover up the matter. Chiranjeevi A., an auto driver and a resident of Balapur, was allegedly taken from his home at around 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening to be questioned about a theft case under the jurisdiction of the Tukaramgate police, but the auto driver died at around 8 p.m. that same day after allegedly being physically assaulted by the police. Chiranjeevi's 28-year-old wife A. Manjula, who was sobbing while clasping his two-year-old son on her shoulder at the Gandhi mortuary, alleged that five plainclothes officers entered at their Balapur house and picked up her husband on Tuesday, telling her they would leave him in half an hour. "I wanted to accompany my husband when he was picked up by the police, but they said he'd be sent home in half an hour and instead gave me a phone number to call my husband. Later, I found that the number they gave me was incorrect," Manjula explained. However, at around 6 a.m. on Wednesday, the police called Manjula and informed her that Chiranjeevi had died as a result of convulsions and asked her to come to the North Zone DCP office to see the body. When family members and relatives gathered at the North Zone DCP office to question how a healthy man died within hours of being taken into custody by the police, the officers allegedly offered an amount to bury the issue in order to prevent the family from staging a protest or filing a case against the police. Later, when the enraged family members protested outside the North Zone DCP office, the police tried to pacify and informed them that the body was kept at the Gandhi Hospital mortuary. According to sources, Chiranjeevi was picked up from his home around 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening and was taken to Gandhi Hospital about 8 p.m. the same day, where doctors declared him brought dead. A large police presence was present at the Gandhi Hospital mortuary, where Chiranjeevi's body was kept, and the police prohibited media persons from entering the mortuary premises. Manjula went on to say that her husband was brutally assaulted by the police while in custody. "After we staged a protest at Gandhi Hospital, the police allowed us to see the body of my husband. We noticed blood dripping from his head, as well as swollen hands and legs," Manjula stated. "Police took my son forcibly and killed him. Will the cops bring my son back," said Chiranjeevi's mother Laxmamma crying uncontrollably. Chiranjeevi's brother Ganesh, who was waiting at the Gandhi Hospital mortuary, stated that police offered a large amount to the family members to hush up the matter. We were offered a large amount at the North Zone DCP office, but we declined and demanded that the police take us to the mortuary. When we attempted to stage a protest at the DCP office, police drove us to the Gandhi mortuary," Ganesh alleged. Chiranjeevi is a suspect in a case of mobile phone snatching, North Zone in-charge deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Rahul Hegde said. Chiranjeevi's role was established when certain suspects were questioned by the Tukaramgate police. Around 6pm on Tuesday, the police summoned Chiranjeevi to the police station. According to the North Zone DCP officers, Chiranjeevi suddenly fell to the ground due to fits. He was taken to Gandhi Hospital, where the doctors pronounced him dead. Chiranjeevi was allegedly involved in 20 different cases and was a suspect in a theft case, said Tukaramgate inspector Yellappa. China's Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd has withdrawn plans to sell stake in drugmaker Gland Pharma Ltd, ET Now tweeted on Wednesday, citing sources. Fosun Pharma holds a 57.86 per cent stake in the Indian company. Both Fosun Pharma and Gland Pharma did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Shares of Gland Pharma were up 0.8 per cent at Rs 1,360 as of 9:50 am. They have plunged 28 per cent since November end, when Bloomberg News had reported, citing sources that Fosun Pharma was considering a sale of Gland Pharma after receiving interest from potential buyers. A year after 89 persons were arrested for allegedly indulging in violence at Karnataka's Hubballi, families of many of them claim their relatives are 'innocent', insist they are unable to go through the bail procedures since they are illiterate and that they would boycott the May 10 Assembly polls if the accused "who did nothing wrong" are not released. In April last year, 89 people were arrested after a mob went on the rampage over a social media post that saw a police station and a Hanuman temple coming under attack. The violence was allegedly triggered following a social media post of a digitally altered image of a saffron flag flying over a mosque. Some of the families of those who are still in jail claim their children and relatives were 'innocent' and had "no role to play in the violence". Also Read BJP is facing the fire of dissidence in Karnataka, says Jairam Ramesh "Most of them who were arrested, were picked up by the police randomly. We are illiterate. We do not know how to apply for bail or approach the court to get our children released," some of the local residents said. Mumtaz from Nava Anand Nagar in Hubballi, whose son was among the arrested and currently lodged in Kalaburagi jail, said she couldn't meet him in the last one year. Claiming her son was not guilty, Mumtaz said she will not cast her vote until her ward is released from prison. "My son used to drive an autorickshaw in Hubballi. The police arrested and took him to Kalaburagi jail and since then, I haven't heard his voice. It has been more than a year now. My son was innocent. I will not cast my vote until my son is released from jail," Mumtaz told PTI. The incident in Hubballi was the fallout of the alleged social media post, which others took objection to and lodged a police complaint. Subsequently, the person who made the post was arrested after a case was registered. According to the family members of the accused, those who are lodged in the jail had written a letter to their community leaders, urging them to covey their message to the Centre and release them at the earliest. "Three of my sons got arrested and one of them is in jail for the last 11 months. My children were not guilty in this incident. I will not cast my vote until my son is freed," Shamshad from Nava Anand Nagar said. She added around 50 people were arrested from Nava Anand Nagar area after the violence. Speaking about the case, Karnataka ADGP Alok Kumar said granting bail depends on the seriousness of the case and quality of evidence, among others. "Several of the arrested were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Granting bail to the accused depends on the seriousness of the case, extent of law and quality of evidence, whether it is on video or pictures," Alok Kumar told PTI. Mehboobi from Nava Anand Nagar, a widow and the sole earner of the family, claimed her son was not guilty. "My son was not involved in the violence, yet he was arrested. My husband passed away and I have to take care of the family all by myself," Mehboobi said. Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had dismissed the allegations that innocent people were being held in connection with the Hubballi violence and said arrests were made based on evidence. "No innocent person has been arrested. Based on evidence, people have been arrested," he had said. Batul from Nava Anand Nagar, whose husband was arrested last year in connection with the violence, also claimed he was innocent. She said she couldnt approach the court for bail as she is illiterate and that she did not receive help from anyone to have a fair trial for her husband. "My husband was arrested last year after the violence took place in Hubballi. I have two children and run the family by myself. I am illiterate, and hence, I couldnt approach the court for my husband's bail. There was no one to help me out. This is unfair. I will not cast my vote until he is released," Batul told PTI. Speaking about the mob violence and its aftermath in Hubballi, Human Rights activist Clifton D' Rozario said that as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the case, the provisions make it difficult for people to get bail and the "innocents suffer." "The Hubballi mob violence case has been taken over by the NIA and under this provision, getting bail is very difficult. Innocents held in such cases suffer. Applying for bail is a right," Rozario said. When asked about the families who are refusing to cast their votes in Hubballi, Congress candidate (Hubballi-Dharwad Central) Jagadish Shettar claimed he has always coordinated with all communities and ensured peace in the region. "It is a legal matter but eversince I have been elected here in 1994, I coordinated with all communities and ensured peace in this area," Shettar told PTI. Shettar, who quit the BJP recently, was first elected to the state Assembly in 1994 and has won for six times in Hubballi-Dharwad Central constituency. BJP candidate Mahesh Tenginkai refused to comment on the matter and said it "is subjudice." A Taiwanese publisher reported missing while visiting Shanghai is under investigation for suspected national security crimes, Chinese authorities said Wednesday. Li Yanhe, the editor-in-chief of Gusa Publishing, is "under investigation by national security organs on suspicion of engaging in activities endangering national security," Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office, told a press conference. "The relevant parties will protect (Li's) legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law," she said. Also Read | Taiwan to prepare for Chinese blockade in annual war drills Activists and Taiwan-based journalists had raised the alarm on Li's disappearance, with dissident Chinese poet Bei Ling writing in a Facebook post last week that Li was believed to have been "secretly detained" in Shanghai while on a visit to see family last month. Li's Gusa Books has published books on history and politics critical of China's ruling Communist Party, including a history of alleged Chinese oppression in the western region of Xinjiang and a title on Beijing's global propaganda efforts. China's broadly-worded national security law forbids any engagement in "separatist activities" and "subversion", among other actions deemed threatening to the state. Chinese authorities had previously jailed Taiwanese democracy activist Lee Ming-che for five years on a national security conviction before his release last year. In 2015, five Hong Kong booksellers offering gossip-filled tomes about China's leaders vanished -- including one from Thailand -- before resurfacing in mainland custody making "confessions". Beijing has ramped up pressure on Taiwan since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen -- who regards the island as an independent nation and not part of "one China" -- including by arresting several Taiwanese nationals. Beijing's confirmation of Li's detention comes a day after Chinese authorities formally pressed secession charges against Taiwanese activist Yang Chih-yuan, leader of a minor political party advocating for the island's formal independence. Chiu Tai-san, head of the Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan's top policy-making body on China, warned on Wednesday of "long-arm jurisdiction" by Beijing. "There is the smell of intimidation in this and it's a show of suppression by them," Chiu said at a parliament session, adding that Taiwanese authorities were "offering necessary assistance" to Li and Yang's families. Local media also quoted Chiu as saying that Li's mother, sister and wife have been "warned" by Chinese authorities, without elaborating. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has vowed to seize it one day, by force if necessary. Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama was on Wednesday presented the 1959 Ramon Magsaysay Award personally by members of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation after 64 years at his residence in the hill town of Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh. The Dalai Lama's office said this was the first international award given to His Holiness "for Community Leadership in recognition of his leadership of the Tibetan community's gallant struggle in defense of the sacred religion that is the inspiration of their life and culture" by the Foundation in the Philippines in August 1959. Also Read | Message to China: Arunachal, Sikkim CMs invite Dalai Lama to visit Indias frontier states The Nobel Peace laureate, known for his simplicity and typical jovial style and for whom Mahatma Gandhi is the most influential leader of the 20th century for his idea of non-violence, prefers to participate in meetings with religious leaders, and lectures students and businessmen on ethics for the new millennium and the art of happiness. In 2007, the Dalai Lama received the US Congressional Gold Medal, even in the face of protests by China. Born on July 6, 1935, at Taktser hamlet in northeastern Tibet, the Dalai Lama was recognised at the age of two as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. He fled Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959, basing his government-in-exile here that never won recognition from any country. About 80,000 Tibetans are settled in 54 different locations across India, Nepal and Bhutan. Weeks after a health scare, Pope Francis heads to Hungary Friday to meet Ukrainian refugees and nationalist leader Viktor Orban, with whom he has not always seen eye to eye. The 86-year-old pontiff spent three nights in hospital with bronchitis at the end of last month, a stay that fuelled concerns about his long-term health and future as head of the worldwide Catholic Church. While in Budapest, he will as usual be accompanied by his doctor. His trip had already been adapted to account for his increasing use of a wheelchair, due to knee pain. The war in neighbouring Ukraine is likely to dominate the visit to the central European nation, of whom 39 per cent are Catholic, according to 2011 figures. More than a million Ukrainians have crossed the border into Hungary since Russia's February 2022 invasion, and 35,000 have asked for temporary protection status, according to United Nations figures. During an audience with Orban a year ago at the Vatican, the pope thanked the Hungarian leader -- who comes from a Calvinist background -- for the welcome accorded to refugees. But Orban's anti-migration rhetoric, couched in terms of defending "Christian Europe", is at odds with the pope's repeated calls for European nations to welcome those fleeing poverty or conflict. It is the pope's second visit to Budapest after a short stop-over in September 2021 for an international religious event. On Sunday, Francis said he would be visiting "as a pilgrim, friend and brother of all". He described it as a "journey to the centre of Europe, over which the icy winds of war continue to blow, while the displacement of so many people puts urgent humanitarian questions on the agenda". The Argentine pope has repeatedly called for peace in Ukraine, although Vatican efforts to mediate have so far failed to yield results. Orban was close to Russian President Vladimir Putin before the war and has drawn criticism from EU allies for refusing to send weapons to Kyiv and opposing sanctions against Russia. His government said it "welcomed with joy" the visit of the pope, calling him an "ambassador of peace". Eduard Habsburg, Hungary's ambassador to the Holy See, said that on Ukraine, "our position is close to that of the Vatican -- (we want) an immediate ceasefire and peace talks". "We have called for peace since the beginning... and we have always strongly condemned Russian aggression," he told AFP. In taking in so many refugees, "my country is carrying out the largest humanitarian action in its history," providing housing, schooling and work for those who want to stay, he said. "But they are refugees from war -- it's a completely different situation from illegal migrants," he said. In what will be his 41st trip abroad since becoming pope in 2013, Francis is scheduled to speak six times and lead an open-air mass on Sunday before heading home. He will meet refugees from Ukraine and other countries, as well as young people and representatives from the academic and cultural sectors. In a society where family and gender rights are live political issues, pro-Orban media has criticised the pope in the past for being too favourable to migrants and the LGBTQ community. But Zoltan Kiszelly, the head of pro-government think tank Szazadveg, says Orban will use the pope's visit to emphasise shared "traditional values, around family and God". "There are plenty of differences (between the men) but he will stress the fact that they are like-minded people, and say 'we are not alone with our position, the pope is supporting us'." Francis is the second pope to visit Hungary, after John Paul II made trips in 1991 and in 1996. Despite his health issues and advancing age, Francis continues to travel widely, including a visit to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier this year. Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said on Wednesday that investigators had opened what he called an "absurd" terrorism case against him that could see him sentenced to an additional 30 years in jail. Navalny, a former lawyer who rose to prominence more than a decade ago by lampooning President Vladimir Putin's elite and alleging large-scale corruption, is serving combined sentences of 11-1/2 years for fraud and contempt of court on charges that he says were trumped up to silence him. He appeared in a Moscow court via video link on Wednesday as part of a case into extremism, Reuters reporters at the court said. "They have made absurd accusations, according to which I face 30 years in prison," he said in a statement published on social media by his supporters. "I insist that the attempt to close the process is an attempt not just to prevent me from getting acquainted with the case, but it is also an attempt to make sure that no one finds out about it," he said. Also Read | Russian military aircraft intercepted over Baltic Sea: Germany Navalny said it was absurd to argue he had committed terrorism while in prison. He said the case would be tried by a military court. Navalny earned admiration from Russia's disparate opposition for voluntarily returning to Russia in 2021 from Germany, where he had been treated for what Western laboratory tests showed was an attempt to poison him with a nerve agent in Siberia. Navalny says he was poisoned in Siberia in August 2020. The Kremlin denied trying to kill him. His supporters cast him as a Russian version of South Africa's Nelson Mandela who will one day walk free from jail to lead his country. Russian authorities view him and his supporters as extremists with links to the United States' CIA intelligence agency who are seeking to destabilise Russia. They have outlawed his movement, forcing many of his followers to flee abroad. His campaigning organisations have been banned in Russia as "extremist". This month Russian investigators formally linked Navalny supporters to the murder of Vladlen Tatarsky, a popular military blogger and supporter of Russia's military campaign in Ukraine, who was killed by a bomb in St Petersburg. Navalny allies have denied any connection to the killing. Separately on Wednesday, Russian investigators said that 11 people had been put on an "international wanted list" in a case linked to Navalny, state-owned news agency TASS reported. The Taliban government has killed the alleged mastermind of a devastating suicide bomb attack at the Kabul airport during the chaotic withdrawal of US forces in 2021, American media reported on Tuesday, citing US officials. The bomber detonated among packed crowds at the airport's perimeter as they tried to flee Afghanistan on August 26, 2021. The blast killed some 170 Afghans and 13 US troops who were securing the airport for the traumatic exit. It was one of the deadliest bombings in Afghanistan in recent years and prompted a wave of criticism of President Joe Biden for his decision to pull American forces out of the country nearly 20 years after the US invasion. Also Read | Taliban says there's no obstacles for UN work in Afghanistan The leader of the Islamic State cell that planned the attack was killed by Taliban authorities in recent weeks, a senior US administration official told Politico on condition of anonymity. The official told Politico that the United States had not been involved in the raid, and would not say when it took place or identify the alleged IS member killed, citing "sensitivities." But the official said that the target "was someone who remained a key plotter, an overseer of plotting for ISIS-K," referring to Islamic State Khorasan, the branch of the group operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The official said US intelligence has been working to confirm the killing, and that the Biden administration has held off announcing it until the families of the 13 US troops could be told. "We are not partnering with the Taliban, but we do think the outcome is a significant one," the senior official told Politico. The pullout, ending on August 30, 2021, saw Taliban fighters sweep aside Western-trained Afghan forces in just weeks, forcing the last US troops to mount the desperate evacuation from Kabul's airport. An unprecedented military airlift operation managed to get more than 120,000 people out of the country in a matter of days. Biden has long defended his decision to leave Afghanistan, which critics have said helped cause the catastrophic collapse of Afghan forces and paved the way for the Taliban to return to power two decades after their first government was toppled. Nothing "would have changed the trajectory" of the exit and "ultimately, President Biden refused to send another generation of Americans to fight a war that should have ended for the United States long ago," the White House National Security Council said in a report to Congress earlier this month. A recent Washington Post report citing leaked Pentagon documents said the US believes that since the withdrawal, Afghanistan is becoming a "staging ground" for the Islamic State group. The Taliban and IS have long engaged in a turf war in Afghanistan, and experts have pointed to the jihadist group as the biggest security challenge for the new Afghan government going forward. A British tobacco company has agreed to pay more than $629 million to settle allegations that it did illegal business with North Korea in violation of US sanctions, the Justice Department said Tuesday. British American Tobacco, one of the largest tobacco companies in the world, entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department, while the company's Singapore subsidiary pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bank fraud and violate sanctions. The London-based BAT said in its own statement that the settlement concerns sales from 2007 through 2017 and that the company has since taken steps to improve its business practices. North Korea faces stringent US and international sanctions going back nearly two decades for its nuclear weapons program and development of intercontinental ballistic missiles. Pyongyang has continued to research and test more nuclear weapons. It has also worked to evade sanctions with the cooperation of allies like China and illicit trade with barred countries and companies. Smuggled tobacco products are regarded as a major source of revenue for North Korea's nuclear and weapons of mass destruction programs, the Justice Department said. The penalty is the largest arising from North Korea sanctions violations in the Justice Department's history, said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen. This case and others like it do serve as a warning shot to companies, companies that support rogue regimes like North Korea through their activities that they have to have compliance programs, compliance programs that prevent these kinds of activities from taking place, he said. BAT admitted as part of the settlement that it continued to do tobacco business in North Korea despite stating publicly in 2007 that it no longer had operations with the repressive regime. Prosecutors say a third-party company operating under the control of a BAT subsidiary sold more than $400 million in tobacco products between 2007 and 2017. That money was then funneled back to BAT, the Justice Department said. North Korean purchases of the tobacco occurred through front companies that concealed the connections from US banks that processed the transactions. In a statement, BAT chief executive Jack Bowles said the company regrets the misconduct arising from historical business activities that led to these settlements, and acknowledge that we fell short of the highest standards rightly expected of us. He said the company, whose brands include Lucky Strike, Kent and Pall Mall, had since transformed its ethics and compliance programmes. Separately, federal prosecutors disclosed a cigarette trafficking scheme that raised money for North Korea's nuclear weapons programme, announcing charges against three men a North Korean banker and two Chinese facilitators. The State Department has announced a reward for information leading to their arrest. British American Tobacco produces Lucky Strike, Dunhill, and Pall Mall brands. It agreed in 2017 to take over Reynolds American Inc., which owned brands like Newport and Camel, creating the world's largest publicly traded tobacco company. Britain has evacuated 200-300 of its citizens from conflict-ridden Sudan, interior minister Suella Braverman said on Wednesday, adding that an "extensive operation" was underway to help Britons stranded in the North African country. "We expect there to be approximately 200-300 people who have been relocated from Sudan in the last few flights, but we are now commencing an extensive operation," Braverman told Sky News. A passenger plane belonging to Britain's Royal Air Force with about 40 civilians on board landed on the island of Cyprus on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Cyprus's foreign ministry said late evening. Britain began a large-scale evacuation of its citizens on Tuesday, following other nations in pulling people out of Sudan where violent clashes between the army and a paramilitary group called Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have killed hundreds of people and stranded foreigners. The government has estimated that around 4,000 Britons were stuck in Sudan. Britain on Tuesday warned China against any attack on Taiwan, telling Beijing it risked triggering domestic and global turmoil if it failed to uphold its international obligations. In a set-piece foreign policy speech, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly restated that London wants to see a "peaceful settlement" to sovereignty claims. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has vowed to seize it one day, by force if necessary. Earlier this month, Chinese forces held military exercises simulating targeted strikes and a blockade of the island. Also Read | Seven decades of China-Taiwan relations But Cleverly said conflict in the Taiwan Strait would have a catastrophic impact on world supply chains, particularly of advanced semi-conductors. "A war across the Strait would not only be a human tragedy, it would destroy world trade worth $2.6 trillion, according to the Nikkei Asia," he added. "No country could shield itself from the repercussions," he told an audience at the Mansion House in the City of London financial district. "Distance would offer no protection from this catastrophic blow to the global economy -- and to China most of all. "I shudder to contemplate the human and financial ruin that would follow. So it's essential that no party takes unilateral action to change the status quo." Cleverly's speech comes as Britain seeks to reset its foreign policy priorities after its departure from the European Union, with a "tilt" towards the Indo-Pacific region. He recently returned from a swing through the region to cement political, trade and military links, in response to Chinese expansion. Tensions between London and Beijing have been strained in recent years, notably over China's squeeze on civil rights in the former British colony of Hong Kong. Tempers have risen also over the treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority and a block on tech firm Huawei's involvement in the roll-out of Britain's 5G telecoms network. Hawkish elements in Britain's ruling Conservative party have urged the government to take a tougher stance on China. But Cleverly instead urged a pragmatic, constructive and united Western approach to China's rising power, acknowledging the need to work in partnership with the Asian power. "It would be clear and easy -- and perhaps even satisfying -- for me to declare a new Cold War and say that our goal is to isolate China," he said. "Clear, easy, satisfying -- and wrong, because it would be a betrayal of our national interest and a wilful misunderstanding of the modern world. "Instead, this government will advance British interests directly with China, alongside our allies, while steadfastly defending our national security and our values." Cleverly said "profound disagreements" could be expected when dealing with the Chinese leadership, not least over a clash of values. But he said Western powers owed it to future generations to speak their mind and to engage, given China's increasing importance to issues such as fighting climate change, global health, tech and finance. He urged China to uphold its international obligations, including the Joint Declaration it signed with Britain to preserve Hong Kong's freedoms, and the UN Charter. "If China breaks them, we are entitled to say so and to act -- and we will," he added, urging Beijing not to see that as interference in domestic affairs. "Peaceful co-existence has to begin with respecting fundamental laws and institutions, including the UN Charter, which protects every country against invasion," he said. "And that means every country." Cleverly also urged Beijing to abandon its neutral stance on Russian aggression in Ukraine. "A country that wants a respected place at the apex of the world order should stand up for its own principles, and keep its solemn obligation to defend the laws at the very foundation of that order," he added. "This responsibility goes hand-in-hand with China's right to play a global role commensurate with its size and history." Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh arrived here on Wednesday for a five-day trip to the UK to enhance the scale of bilateral collaboration in the field of scientific research and development and will kick-start the visit by signing a memorandum of understanding with his British counterpart. The programmes covered by the new MoU, to be agreed at a ministerial-level Science and Innovation Council meeting, will include the establishment of a new UK-India Net Zero Innovation Virtual Centre focusing on industrial decarbonisation and launching the first ever UK-India scientific deep sea voyage. Also Read | Jitendra Singh aims dig at UPA regime, says Modi govt does not interfere in CBI's affairs "The visit seeks to enhance scale of bilateral collaboration in diverse fields ranging from scientific R&D, Startups, Industry and Academia," Dr Singh tweeted. Before starting the 1st day activity of the #London visit,informal briefing by Indian High Commissioner to UK,Sh Vikram Doraiswami. The visit seeks to enhance scale of bilateral collaboration in diverse fields ranging from scientific R&D, #StartUps, Industry and Academia. pic.twitter.com/PSrpkersZ6 Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) April 26, 2023 Following his meeting with UK Science Minister George Freeman within the UK Parliament complex in London, he is scheduled to sign the joint MoU on research between the two countries which the UK government said would enable quicker and deeper collaboration on science between the two science powerhouses that will drive economic growth, create skilled jobs and improve lives in the UK, India, and worldwide. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said the agreement will "remove red tape" standing in the way of major collaborations, while unleashing a raft of new joint research schemes aiming to deliver progress on some of the biggest issues facing the world, from climate change and pandemic preparedness through to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. "India is rapidly building on its phenomenal software and innovation sectors to become a global powerhouse in science and technology. With our extensive trading and cultural links, shared democratic values and interest in urgent global issues from green technology and agri-tech to biosecurity and pandemic preparedness, we have very strong platforms for deepening research collaboration, said Freeman. "Today's agreement is part of our program of deepening UK collaboration with other global science superpowers on ground-breaking innovation and research, to help tackle shared global challenges. This partnership will grow the sectors, companies and jobs of tomorrow for the benefit of both our countries and the globe, he added. Besides, his ministry announced that India will be named a partner for the UK's International Science Partnerships Fund, carrying forward the UK-India science partnership built through the Newton-Bhabha fund. The renewed partnership will kick off with two new joint UK-India research programmes: GBP 5 million UK funding, matched by India, for research into Farmed Animal Diseases and Health and GBP 3.3 million UK funding, matched by India, towards a technology and skills partnership programme that will enable UK and Indian researcher to develop skills, technologies and knowledge in areas such as AI, machine learning and bio-imaging. Other bilateral agreements to be struck at the Science and Innovation Council meeting on Wednesday include: Several UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Indian Department for Science and Technology (DST) joint research calls, including programmes on sustainability and solid earth hazards; an intention to launch a partnership for decarbonising Indias pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industries; a programme of UK-India university partnerships, including one between Aston University and CSIR Dehradun on sustainable biofuels; and the fourth annual meeting of the RS/INSA Yusuf Hamied programme, a scheme designed to promote relationships and knowledge exchanges between UK and Indian researchers. The UK government said the collaborative activities carried out under the MoU will be supported by joint funding agreed by both sides, with finances for each programme determined on a case-by-case basis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Wednesday that his government's action against corruption has made some people angry but he will not turn back in this fight against graft and nepotism, however big an alliance his rivals form against him. Those angry and making noise want to "destroy" the honest system his government has created in the last nine years, Modi said in his address at a Republic TV programme, but they will not succeed in their "conspiracies" because their fight is not with him but against the common people. Also Read | PM Modi set to attend G7, Quad summits in Japan, Australia His remarks came amid a renewed push in the opposition ranks to join hands against the ruling BJP in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress and a host of regional parties have accused his government of using probe agencies to target their leaders and also of "weakening" democratic institutions. Modi said his government's use of technology has weeded out leakage in government schemes and other expenditures to the tunes of tens of thousands of crores of rupees, stopping the source of corruption for some people. What else will they do if not abuse him, he said. Noting that his government's use of JAM (Jan Dhan bank accounts, Aadhaar and mobile phones) axed 10 crore fake beneficiaries of various welfare schemes, the prime minister accused the previous Congress government of sending money to people who did not exist and whose number was bigger than the combined population of Delhi, Punjab and Haryana. This was a source of corruption and has been stopped now, he added. There are no half measures and isolated approach in the fight against corruption now, he said, asserting that an integrated and institutionalised mechanism is in place. "However big an alliance they make, let all corrupt people, all 'parivarvadi' come on a dais, Modi is not going to turn back from his path. I have pledged to rid the country of corruption and nepotism and this will continue. I seek your blessings," he told the audience. His government has stopped the means for some people to make money through corruption, making them angry, Modi said. His rivals would have succeeded in destroying him if their fight was only with him but they are against the common people of this country, he added. Modi also said he risked his "political capital" during the Covid-19 outbreak when he chose the path of self-reliance for manufacturing vaccines against the virus when many supported import of jabs. He took a jibe at those who lobbied for imports and wondered under whose pressure they did so. "I risked my political capital in a big way. I did it only for the country," he said, adding that he could have emptied the treasury by opting for imports but did not choose such a path. Citing the second and third order impacts of his government's welfare schemes such as direct benefit transfer (DBT), housing, Mudra, and power and water connections, he said they gave a sense of security and dignity to the poor for the first time. They were earlier seen as a burden on the country's growth but are now accelerating its progress, he said. "Poor people now believe they will get their rightful share, it is social justice in true sense," the prime minister said. Modi said the New India's story of transformation was both timeless and futuristic. It took India 60 years to become a $1 trillion economy and it reached $2 trillion by 2014 but it has reached $3.5 trillion in the nine years of his government, he said. "Mudra scheme was started to give financial support to micro and small entrepreneurs. Under this scheme, more than 40 crore loans were disbursed and of the recipients, 70 per cent were women," he said. Also Read | India has courage to do something, even in most difficult circumstances: PM Modi More than 3.75 crore houses have been built for the poor while the health insurance scheme of 'Ayushman' has saved over Rs 80,000 crore of the poor, he said. His government also made bigger allocation for the rural employment guarantee scheme MNREGA, boosted transparency and used it to create permanent assets in villages, he added. "In the last nine years, the poor, deprived, middle class, every section of society can see the obvious change in their lives. Today, we are working with a systemic approach and on a mission mode," Modi said. No suspicious object was found during an intensive search on the premises of the Delhi Public School in Mathura Road here after the school administration received a bomb threat via email on Wednesday morning, officials said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Rajesh Deo, after reviewing the situation, said the bomb threat was received on the official email-id of the school administration and the police were informed around 8 am. Local police personnel, a bomb disposal squad, a dog squad and a SWAT team were immediately sent to the spot, he said. "It was a challenge... All the buildings on the school premises were checked and no suspicious object was found. The situation is normal. We also searched the outline areas of the school premises," the police officer added. As the news of the bomb threat spread, panic-stricken parents gathered outside the school and took their children home. The school was evacuated and the fire department was informed about the threat around 8 am. A fire tender was rushed to the spot, officials said. The Indian School in Delhi's Sadiq Nagar had received bomb threats twice -- in April this year and in November 2022. The most recent threat to The Indian School was made on April 12 via an email, following which the school was evacuated as the bomb squad and other agencies inspected the premises for any explosive substance. The mail was later declared a hoax. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed her sorrow over the demise of former Punjab Chief Minister and veteran Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal. The Trinamool Congress supremo described Badal as a mass leader of indomitable courage contributing immensely to the development of Punjab. "I'm deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Parkash Singh Badal, Former CM of Punjab. A true mass leader and a man of indomitable courage, he contributed immensely to the progress of his state. My heart goes out to his family and supporters during this time of grief," she tweeted. Badal (95) died on Tuesday, after a brief illness at a private hospital in Mohali. UKs Minister for Investment Lord Dominic Johnson on Wednesday embarked on a visit to India to strengthen the bilateral investment partnership across technology and life sciences sectors and build momentum behind ongoing trade talks. After arriving in Bengaluru, Johnson is set to visit Pune to meet investors and leading Indian businesses, including Infosys and Zensar, to drum up investor interest in the UK, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said. Also read | UK-India trade has potential to double by 2030, says British Deputy High Commissioner The visit coincides with Round 9 of negotiations this week between officials working on the UK-India free trade agreement (FTA). "It is fantastic to be in India again visiting the vibrant cities of Pune and Bengaluru to find out how our strong cultural and economic ties mean investors and business leaders continue to choose the UK, said Johnson. He visited Mumbai and New Delhi in October last year when he met with investors and businesses including Apollo Hospitals, Prodapt and Wockhardt. From life sciences to AI [artificial intelligence], now is the time to invest in the UK as we are determined to be the undisputed number one investment destination in Europe, he said. On the eve of the ministerial visit, the DBT described India as a priority market for the UK with Johnson's visit seen as helping to build momentum behind the ongoing FTA negotiations between the two countries. Jo Johnson, a House of Lords peer, will also use his visit to promote the Global Investment Summit 2023, which will bring together over 200 CEOs of multinational companies and investment corporations in the UK later this year. According to the British government, the inaugural Summit in 2021 secured nearly 10 billion pounds of new foreign investment on the day, with this years event set to showcase emerging UK success stories in life sciences, deep tech, nuclear fusion and small modular reactors (SMRs), and manufacturing. The DBT said the UK-India investment partnership is thriving, with over 28 billion pounds invested in each others economies supporting over half a million jobs. According to official UK government statistics, total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and India was 34 billion pounds in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2022, an increase of 51.7 per cent or 11.6 billion pounds from the four quarters to the end of Q3 2021. India was the UKs 12th largest trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2022, accounting for 2.1 per cent of total UK trade. India has launched 'Operation Kaveri' to evacuate and safely bring back its stranded citizens from strife-torn Sudan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the Indian community in Panama. Jaishankar arrived in Panama on Monday from Guyana. He called on President Nito Cortizo and conveyed the personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to him. He met the Indian community here on Tuesday and also visited a Hindu temple in Panama. Also Read Operation Kaveri: 530 Indians evacuated from Sudan so far "Began the morning in Panama City by seeking divine blessings at the Hindu temple and meeting an enthusiastic Indian community. Immensely delighted to see their love and devotion for the nation," he tweeted. Began the morning in Panama City by seeking divine blessings at the Hindu temple and meeting an enthusiastic Indian community. Immensely delighted to see their love and devotion for the nation. : https://t.co/xRuqLT4qV3 pic.twitter.com/C3HxGdI7k7 Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 25, 2023 During his interaction with the Indian community, the external affairs minister spoke about stranded Indians in Sudan and the government's efforts to safely evacuate them. "I am here in Panama right now. I was in Guyana for the past few days. However, my mind is in Sudan. We are conducting 'Operation Kaveri' there in which we want to evacuate and save Indians who are stranded in Sudan," he said. "We are working to bring them back or shift them to some other country and safely evacuate them," he added. Also Read Sudan: A window for evacuation Jaishankar on Monday announced the launch of the mission 'Operation Kaveri' to bring back the stranded Indians from Sudan that has been witnessing fierce fighting following a power struggle between the regular army and the RSF. 'Operation Ganga was the initiative launched by the government of India to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine and 'Vandhe Bharat Mission' was the massive repatriation operation planned by the Indian government to bring back stranded Indians in different parts of the world in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. India on Tuesday evacuated the first batch of 278 Indians from Sudan on board naval ship INS Sumedha and rushed in essential relief supplies for its remaining stranded citizens as a ceasefire appeared to be holding in the strife-torn African country. Jaishankar said he was "surprised" when he was informed that it is for the first time in 60 years that an Indian external affairs minister was visiting Panama. "I was surprised about whether there were lesser efforts on your side or your invitation was not enthusiastic enough...," he said. The diplomatic relations between India and Panama were established in 1962. Jaishankar said, in the last few years, Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs, have visited Panama. He expressed "full confidence that more representatives from India will visit the country in future." Former Vice President Naidu visited Panama City in May 2018 and Lekhi visited the country in May 2022. Jaishankar also spoke about his meeting with Panama's President Laurentino Cortizo and Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney Mencomo. While interacting with the community, Jaishankar said that Panama's president said that the changes happening in India, including developments related to digital, healthcare, inclusion, and infrastructure have global relevance. He said that he felt happy after listening to Panama's president's views on India and the people of India residing in Panama. Jaishankar also spoke about the Covid-19 pandemic and how it affected the world. After his visit to Panama, Jaishankar will visit Colombia, where he would be meeting several top leaders of the country and reviewing bilateral ties with his Colombian counterpart Alvaro Leyva Duran. On Monday, Jaishankar joined President of Guyana Irfaan Ali at the commissioning of an India-made ferry which would enhance connectivity and provide mobility and economic opportunities in the country's distant hinterlands. Jaishankar is on a nine-day trip to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic, his first visit as the external affairs minister to these Latin American countries and the Caribbean. The crime branch of Mumbai police has rescued two Uzbek women who were forced into prostitution and arrested four persons involved in the racket from a hotel in suburban Andheri, an official said. Acting on specific inputs, the enforcement cell of the crime branch raided a hotel at Andheri East on Monday evening and rescued two women, he said on Tuesday. The arrested persons had made fake Aadhaar cards of the women to portray them as Indian nationals, he said. The accused had also taken away the passports of the women and demanded Rs 2 lakh to return them, the official added. Black Hills (NYSE:BKH Get Rating) is set to post its quarterly earnings results after the market closes on Wednesday, May 3rd. Individual interested in listening to the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link. Black Hills (NYSE:BKH Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 8th. The utilities provider reported $1.11 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.17 by ($0.06). Black Hills had a return on equity of 8.59% and a net margin of 10.13%. The company had revenue of $791.40 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $657.67 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.11 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 40.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Get Black Hills alerts: Black Hills Trading Down 0.4 % Shares of BKH opened at $64.86 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. The firms 50-day moving average is $63.00 and its two-hundred day moving average is $66.44. Black Hills has a twelve month low of $58.81 and a twelve month high of $79.78. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.26, a PEG ratio of 7.97 and a beta of 0.59. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Black Hills Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Allianz Asset Management GmbH raised its stake in Black Hills by 1.1% during the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 13,420 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,034,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its stake in shares of Black Hills by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 4,322 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $333,000 after acquiring an additional 154 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Black Hills by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 12,240 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $829,000 after acquiring an additional 176 shares during the period. United Capital Financial Advisers LLC raised its stake in shares of Black Hills by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. United Capital Financial Advisers LLC now owns 21,415 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,506,000 after acquiring an additional 204 shares during the period. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Black Hills by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 10,002 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $770,000 after acquiring an additional 280 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.96% of the companys stock. Several research firms have recently commented on BKH. Royal Bank of Canada lowered shares of Black Hills from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and lowered their price target for the company from $81.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Mizuho lowered shares of Black Hills from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and lowered their price target for the company from $71.00 to $60.00 in a research report on Thursday, February 9th. Scotiabank lowered shares of Black Hills from a sector outperform rating to a sector perform rating and set a $67.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Black Hills in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Sidoti downgraded shares of Black Hills from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $67.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $67.29. Black Hills Company Profile (Get Rating) Black Hills Corp. is a diversified energy company. It operates through the following segments: Electric Utilities, Gas Utilities, and Corporate and Other. The Electric Utilities segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity in Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The Gas Utilities segment provides natural gas in Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Black Hills Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Black Hills and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC cut its position in Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR Get Rating) by 5.5% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 41,963 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 2,453 shares during the quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLCs holdings in Ingersoll Rand were worth $2,193,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. boosted its stake in Ingersoll Rand by 81.3% during the 3rd quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 638 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 286 shares during the last quarter. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Ingersoll Rand during the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its stake in Ingersoll Rand by 87.0% during the 3rd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 705 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 328 shares during the last quarter. CI Investments Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 103.1% in the 3rd quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 971 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 493 shares during the period. Finally, Clear Street Markets LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 56.9% in the 3rd quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 1,334 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $58,000 after buying an additional 484 shares during the period. 99.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Ingersoll Rand alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In IR has been the subject of several research reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $57.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $60.00 to $61.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $52.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $62.00 to $61.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Ingersoll Rand currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $58.80. Ingersoll Rand Stock Performance Shares of IR opened at $54.44 on Wednesday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $56.42 and its 200 day moving average price is $54.15. Ingersoll Rand Inc. has a 52 week low of $39.28 and a 52 week high of $60.39. The company has a market capitalization of $22.05 billion, a PE ratio of 36.78 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a current ratio of 2.37. Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The industrial products company reported $0.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.59 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $1.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.54 billion. Ingersoll Rand had a net margin of 10.22% and a return on equity of 9.99%. The companys revenue was up 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.64 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Ingersoll Rand Inc. will post 2.39 EPS for the current fiscal year. Ingersoll Rand Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 1st were paid a dividend of $0.02 per share. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.15%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 28th. Ingersoll Rands payout ratio is currently 5.41%. Insider Activity at Ingersoll Rand In other news, insider Vicente Reynal sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total value of $1,500,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 102,856 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,171,360. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.75% of the companys stock. Ingersoll Rand Profile (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. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR Get Rating). 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. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D reduced its holdings in Ralph Lauren Co. (NYSE:RL Get Rating) by 12.6% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 21,749 shares of the textile makers stock after selling 3,141 shares during the quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund Ds holdings in Ralph Lauren were worth $2,298,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in Ralph Lauren by 125.5% during the 4th quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 433 shares of the textile makers stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 241 shares during the period. South Dakota Investment Council purchased a new position in Ralph Lauren in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $51,000. Ameliora Wealth Management Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Ralph Lauren during the third quarter worth $68,000. Covestor Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Ralph Lauren by 89.6% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 916 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $104,000 after purchasing an additional 433 shares during the period. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI acquired a new stake in Ralph Lauren during the 4th quarter valued at $112,000. 66.09% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Ralph Lauren alerts: Ralph Lauren Trading Down 3.2 % Shares of NYSE:RL opened at $112.43 on Wednesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $116.18 and a 200 day moving average price of $110.55. The company has a current ratio of 2.08, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. Ralph Lauren Co. has a 1 year low of $82.23 and a 1 year high of $128.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.42 billion, a PE ratio of 15.09, a P/E/G ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 1.39. Ralph Lauren Dividend Announcement Ralph Lauren ( NYSE:RL Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 9th. The textile maker reported $3.35 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.91 by $0.44. The company had revenue of $1.83 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.76 billion. Ralph Lauren had a return on equity of 22.88% and a net margin of 8.01%. The companys revenue was up .9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.94 EPS. Analysts expect that Ralph Lauren Co. will post 8.11 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 31st were given a dividend of $0.75 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.67%. Ralph Laurens payout ratio is presently 40.27%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have weighed in on RL shares. Cowen upped their price objective on shares of Ralph Lauren from $148.00 to $151.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 10th. UBS Group dropped their price target on Ralph Lauren from $157.00 to $154.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $140.00 price target on shares of Ralph Lauren in a report on Thursday, February 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on shares of Ralph Lauren from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group increased their target price on shares of Ralph Lauren from $115.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Ralph Lauren presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $126.57. About Ralph Lauren (Get Rating) Ralph Lauren Corp. engages in the design, marketing, and distribution of luxury lifestyle products, including apparel, footwear and accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality categories. The firm offers products under the brands of Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, and Chaps. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ralph Lauren Co. (NYSE:RL Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Ralph Lauren Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ralph Lauren and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The 'radical' cuts to education have been condemned by Aontu Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly as teachers and civil servants take part in industrial action. Mrs Brolly, says she is disappointed with the response she received from the Department of Education after she inquired about the cuts to programmes for vulnerable children. Speaking today during the largest strike in the North in over 10 years the INTO representative lamented the cuts to education. I am truly exasperated to have received a response from the permanent secretary confirming radical cuts to the education budget. As a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator I know first-hand how this will impact children up and down our communities, Mrs Brolly said. These education cuts will leave families chasing essential support, especially for children battling anxiety, school avoidance and emotional regulation issues. Not to mention the most recent cuts to 'Extended Schools' which target the disadvantaged pupils in our society. These budget cuts are an attack on the most vulnerable children in our community. Mrs Brolly said the North's education system is 'failing vulnerable children'. Social and emotional difficulties have sky-rocketed since COVID. The fact that the education department is cutting programmes like Engage and Healthy Happy Minds is absolutely appalling. The Stormont parties, and their political playground games, are depriving vulnerable children of counselling, regulation activities and mental health workshops. She said the recent talk from political leaders during the GFA anniversary celebrations about the opportunities young people have is being undermined by the cuts. On the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, weve heard many political leaders talk about the opportunities that young people have. In reality these cuts mean that the most disadvantaged children in our community will have opportunities stripped away from them. Aontu is completely opposed to these cuts. This is why I will rally on Wednesday 26th April with my colleagues at Belfast City Hall for Investment in Education, investment in the education and wellbeing of our children. Todays strikes involve teachers and civil servants from eight unions and are taking place following long-standing disputes over pay and investment. Solidarity on picket line in Draperstown. Colleagues stand shoulder to shoulder at St Colm's HS. pic.twitter.com/rYb8VNJXsK INTO-NI (@INTO_NI) April 26, 2023 Unions on strike include: the PCS, Unite, INTO, UTU, GMB, NIPSA, NASUWT, NAHT. Speaking about today's strikes NIPSA General Secretary Carmel Gates said the action has been 'forced' by 'the governments decision to implement sanctions in Northern Ireland'. The sanctions imposed by the Secretary of State and Westminster are designed to force Northern Ireland political parties to return to Stormont. In effect, these sanctions only hurt ordinary people and will cause permanent damage to public services, she said. "The pay award to our members of 552 is insulting and derisory and adds to the wage cut of more than 20% in 10 years. More than 60% of civil servants now earn below the NI median wage. "It is time for the trade union movement to say enough is enough. We will build a mighty campaign for pay justice and for an end to cuts in public services, she added. CAPTION: Celebrating Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist Day at the North West Cancer Centre, Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry, from left to right:Karen Harper, Lung Cancer CNS; Shauna McGroarty; Skin Cancer CNS; Sylvia Cole, Heamatology CNS; Patrick Rooney, uro-oncology CNS; Hazel Templeton, uro-oncology CNS; Angela McKeever, Macmillan Service Improvement Lead; Celia Diver-Hall, Lead Nurse Cancer Services; Roisin Roddy, Colorectal CNS; Naomi Casson, uro-oncology CNS; Aine Ferry, Head and Neck Cancer CNS; Helen McCormick, Lung Cancer CNS and Natalie Martin, Haematology CNS. The Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) is celebrating Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) day today. The Trust said it was an opportunity to celebrate its cancer CNSs, raise awareness of the role and recognise the contribution that they make to patients and families as well as to the wider multidisciplinary team. Speaking about the invaluable contribution that the CNS team makes, Interim Lead Nurse, Celia Diver-Hall said: Receiving a cancer diagnosis is life changing and devastating for patients and their loved ones. The role of a Cancer CNS makes a huge difference to patient care. On National Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist day the North West Cancer Centre (NWCC) at Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry is proud to celebrate our excellent, highly skilled and dedicated team of cancer type specific CNSs. We recognise the importance of the CNS role and thank them for the positive impact they make on the patients cancer pathway. "It is widely recognised that having access to a CNS improves the quality and experience of care for our patients. The role of the cancer CNS is to provide information and support for patients and families regarding their diagnosis and treatment. The CNS acts as a keyworker, assesses the holistic needs of the patient and makes appropriate referrals to other services to ensure that the care provided is tailored to their specific needs." In the Western Trust, there are 23 cancer CNSs across lung, breast, colorectal, haematology, gynae, urology, upper gastrointestinal, skin and head and neck tumour sites. Some of our Clinical Nurse Specialists have been kindly funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and Friends of the Cancer Centre. On this day of celebration of the CNS role, team members spoke about their experiences. Shauna McGroarty our Skin Cancer CNS said: I have worked in Cancer Services since 2005. I feel privileged to be able to work in an area that I truly love. I have always aimed to be a Cancer CNS, as I had been inspired by my colleagues in the cancer CNS teams throughout my career in cancer services. As a Skin Cancer CNS, I support individuals and their families from diagnosis and throughout their journey. I offer specialist advice, information and emotional support to individuals, and their families. Having a cancer diagnosis can be a very difficult time for individuals, and its vital that they have a CNS to support their needs. I see the benefits of having a CNS on a daily basis, and the improvement it makes in the patient pathway. Feedback from individuals with skin cancer diagnosis has helped me to see how important my role is and how rewarding it is to ensure individuals are supported. Lung Cancer CNSs Karen Harper and Helen McCormick said: As lung cancer CNSs, we manage and provide complex personalised care to patients and their loved ones with suspect or confirmed lung cancer. We provide information and support for patients and carers and help them to make informed treatment choices and provide supportive care in the management of symptoms and side effects along their cancer journey. "We find that when we are part of the patients journey from the beginning we can develop a trusted relationship. In doing so our patients are able to disclose fears and concerns earlier, ensuring we provide a holistic approach to patient care. As part of the Multi-Disciplinary Team we are able to contribute on our patients behalf helping to improve patient outcomes. We both have an extensive knowledge caring for patients with respiratory conditions. Having acquired these specific skills has enabled us to support our lung cancer patients, providing personalised care. We are continuing to learn, develop professionally, adapt our practice, and communicate effectively with others - both our patients, their loved ones and our colleagues. On the fifth anniversary of a random attack before a Liverpool match which left Sean Cox with life-changing injuries, his wife Martina updates Miriam OCallaghan on his recovery on RTEs Prime Time tonight, Tuesday at 9.35pm. In tonights programme, viewers will see the new exoskeleton therapy Sean has started in DCU. The innovative treatment allows him to walk upright with the aid of a robotic skeleton. It was an emotional moment when Martina saw him walking in the exoskeleton for the first time. Martina tells Miriam O'Callaghan: "[It was] very emotional, really, really emotional to see him. He actually started in a sitting position and then he just stood up and then [just kinda] walked towards me. And even the look on his own face! It's so good. We don't know what is going to come out of this but psychologically it's really good for him." During the interview at their Meath home, Martina and Sean reflect on his rehabilitation in the five years since the unprovoked attack near Anfield Stadium on 24th April 2018. Speaking about the importance of the anniversary Martina says: I don't dwell on it, to be honest life is too busy and life is too short as well. We are just trying to move on, get the most out of life. Sean, he is a relatively young man still. We want to have really good memories. We are starting to go out a little bit more, we've gone on holidays. We just want to do more of those things." Martina says the family continue to look to the future. She says: "In sickness and in health, those words, they are so powerful. There was never a second thought I was going to do anything else but look after him." "You think your life is carved out for you but then it just goes to show you really can't plan because this happened and then everything changed. But I'm still happy and Sean is happy and we still love each other and I think that's what makes all this work." Sean has a number of carers who come to the house during the week to support him and Martina. Martina feels the government need to be doing more to help with this vital service that carers provide for families like theirs. She says: "Home care is particularly tricky at the minute, it hasn't been consistent. Sean's needs are high, recently a lot of the hours are not met, and this is down to the fact that there are not enough carers. The demand is really, really high for both disability and the elderly in the home but the supply of carers is just not there because I think what they are being paid is too low. I think the government need to definitely look at investing more money into this area." Watch the full interview on Prime Time tonight on RTE One and RTE Player at 9.35pm. Sinn Feins vice president Michelle ONeill has announced that she will attend the coronation of the King. The partys leader at Stormont said the gesture demonstrated her commitment to building good relations and advancing peace and reconciliation. Ms ONeill would be in line to become Northern Irelands First Minister if the current powersharing impasse is resolved and devolution returns in Belfast. In September, she attended the Queens funeral service in London. The move to attend the coronation is the latest signal of the vastly improved relations between the republican movement and the monarchy since the outset of the peace process in Northern Ireland. I have accepted an invitation to attend the coronation of King Charles III, said Ms ONeill. We are living in a time of great change. A time to respect our differing and equally legitimate aspirations, a time to firmly focus on the future and the opportunities that the next decade will bring. I am an Irish republican. I also recognise there are many people on our island for whom the coronation is a hugely important occasion. I am committed to being a First Minister for all, representing the whole community, building good relations between the people of these islands, and advancing peace and reconciliation through respectful and mature engagement. Therefore, as First Minister Designate, I will join President of Ireland Michael D Higgins, international figures, church leaders, other party leaders and the Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey for the coronation in London. A police investigation into the murder of a nationalist councillor in Northern Ireland was wholly inadequate, with the actions of some officers indicative of collusive behaviour, a watchdog has found. The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Marie Anderson, said the family of Patrick Patsy Kelly were failed by police. Mr Kelly was last seen alive in the early hours of July 24 1974 as he drove away from the Corner Bar in Trillick, Co Tyrone, where he worked. The Police Ombudsman has concluded that the family of Patrick Kelly, abducted and murdered in 1974, was failed by police as the result of a wholly inadequate investigation. More: https://t.co/odMsp8e3A3 pic.twitter.com/wPoo0gbBGr Police Ombudsman NI (@PONIPressOffice) April 26, 2023 His body was found in Lough Eyes, near Lisbellaw, in Co Fermanagh, three weeks later on August 10. He had been shot six times. While loyalist paramilitaries claimed responsibility for the murder, the Kelly family believe the killing was perpetrated by members of an Ulster Defence Regiment army patrol. No-one has ever been charged or prosecuted over the murder. Among the failings identified by the Police Ombudsman, she found that a senior investigating RUC officer showed latent investigative bias. Mrs Anderson also concluded that the withholding of intelligence on potential UDR suspects from the murder investigation team and the failure to act on intelligence about an active UVF unit in the Fermanagh area was indicative of collusive behaviour on the part of RUC Special Branch and a police division commander who was responsible for oversight of the investigation. The Kelly family welcomed the ombudsmans report and said it vindicated their almost 50-year campaign for justice. They have called for a fresh inquest into the killing. Mrs Anderson said there was a series of significant investigative failings. These included a failure to adequately verify the alibis of UDR members and failure to record detailed witness statements; a failure to draw links with previous attacks in the area; and forensic failure to make inquiries about footwear marks at the abduction site that appeared to be made by military style boots. Officers also failed to recover a boat at Lough Eyes, with no record of fingerprint inquiries, and also failed to make inquiries about an anonymous letter that alleged the involvement of several UDR members, said the ombudsman. She said the senior investigating officer displayed a latent investigative bias over his insistence that allegations about potential UDR involvement was part of a smear campaign. Investigative failings were central to the familys complaint and my investigation has found that there were a number of significant failings, said Mrs Anderson. The report found no intelligence that could have prevented Mr Kellys murder, but the ombudsman said there was intelligence which included significant information linking UDR members and other individuals to the abduction and murder. As early as July 28 1974, intelligence provided to RUC Special Branch indicated Mr Kelly had an argument with a UDR patrol a number of days before his abduction. In early August 1975, more than a year after the murder, intelligence named two UDR members as having carried out the murder. Both members had been interviewed as witnesses early in the RUC investigation. Another piece of intelligence indicated that other relevant UDR members were also part of a Loyalist Defence Volunteers (LDV) paramilitary unit. In September 1975, further intelligence named individuals as being responsible for Mr Kellys murder and identified a person who had stolen a 56-pound weight from an identified location. The weight was attached to Mr Kellys body when it was found in the lake. The ombudsman said records indicate that some of this intelligence was shared with the local division commander who had responsibility for oversight of the murder investigation and that some was shared with CID. However, there is no record of which CID officers received it. The watchdog said there was no evidence that any of the intelligence was ever received by the murder investigation team. The ombudsman said the senior investigating officer had consistently stated that he did not receive intelligence at any point linking UDR members and other individuals to Mr Kellys abduction and murder and that, had he been supplied with relevant intelligence, he would have made arrests. Mrs Anderson said she accepted that none of the intelligence gathered by RUC Special Branch was disseminated to him. The ombudsmans investigation also established that RUC Special Branch and the L division commander were aware of significant intelligence from 1975 reports that a UVF unit was active in the Fermanagh area at the time of Mr Kellys murder. A number of this UVF units members were either directly, or indirectly, linked to Mr Kellys murder and other terrorist attacks. The intelligence indicated that the UVF unit was assisted in their activities by a number of identified RUC and UDR members. However, there is no evidence that any action was taken by the division commander to act on the intelligence which, the ombudsmans investigation established, was not shared with the murder investigation team. The Kelly family alleged that an RUC failure to investigate a number of suspects because they were members of the UDR would amount to collusion. The ombudsman said the withholding of intelligence and the failure to act on it impacted upon the effectiveness of the murder investigation and were indicative of collusive behaviour. I am of the view that the deliberate withholding of intelligence and other information from the murder investigation team and the divisional commander was indicative of collusive behaviour, she said. This removed the possibility of further lines of inquiry being developed and progressed, which may have led to the arrest and prosecution of offenders. The non-dissemination of intelligence and the RUC Special Branch restrictions placed on the sharing of intelligence with the 1974 RUC investigation team resulted in the senior investigating officer not being provided with relevant information. It is my view that this information could have changed the direction of the investigation and opened new lines of inquiry. My investigation has established a failure to address the implications of other intelligence linking RUC and UDR members to a UVF unit, based in County Fermanagh. I am of the view that this was indicative of deliberately turning a blind eye which constituted collusive behaviour on the part of RUC Special Branch and the L Division Commander who were accountable for these decisions. She added: I am of the view that the familys complaints about investigative failings are legitimate and justified in a number of respects. Mr Kellys widow Teresa and sons Patsy, Barry and Fearghal met the Police Ombudsman in Belfast on Wednesday morning to receive the findings. Afterwards, Patsy Kelly welcomed the report. Today is highly emotional for members of our family a campaign of 50 years searching for truth and today we are vindicated in terms of the failings of police investigations, he said. We realise that today is a step forward in the overall campaign for truth and the next step in the process should be a fresh inquest that is granted immediately. It looks like the Google Play Store is facing a bit of pushback from various CEOs from Indian gaming companies. Their main gripe with Google is the 30% commission that Google charges on in-game purchases. Essentially how it works is that when you purchase an in-game weapon or skin, you will be directed to the Google Pay page which automatically charges a 30% fee on every purchase. Various CEOs from some of Indias largest gaming companies have come out and slammed the commission with some even that while measures like this could work in a country like the US, Indian companies need that revenue to reinvest in the industry. Indian game developers slam Googles 30% charge on in-game purchases The countrys gaming infrastructure is only a fraction of what its like in other countries but greed trumps all as Google is looking to squeeze every drop of blood out of Indian gaming companies. Think about it in this way, if you want to buy a product that costs 70, youll be paying 100 for that same product. Why, you ask? Well, Googles got to grease its pockets as well. From that 100, the developers only receive 70. These complaints were discussed on a panel which took place during Consilience 2023. The event was organised by the Law and Technology Society in partnership with the All India Game Developers Forum. In fact, even Seas Hyunil Sohn, CEO of Krafton India called for more innovation by the government. He also stated the importance of thriving in a free market as opposed to a monopoly set up by Google. These topics as well as others were discussed at Consilience 2023. The conference also discussed various issues such as online gaming regulations, taxation of gaming and new business opportunities that gaming companies can leverage. What do you guys think about this 30% commission that Google charges? Google Pixel 7a has been in the news for a while, and thanks to leaks and tips we have a lot of information about its features, price and availability much before its reveal. The Google I/O is all set to be held on May 10, 2023. With that we are expecting the launch of the Pixel 7a. As revealed earlier through a leak that this would be a mid-ranged phone and will follow the footsteps of its predecessor Pixel 6a majorly. Recently there were more leaks and tips which suggest the colour variants that are likely to be available. Let's have a look at all the colour options according to the leak. Colour variants of Google Pixel 7a The design of the new Google smartphone will be very similar to its predecessors Pixel 6a. But now the leaks have revealed three colour options. The variants of the Pixel 7a will include- Light Blue, White and Grey. Except for the phone colour, the device will have a full screen display with a centred punch hole and a Visor-shaped rear camera module. With the phone, three official cases have also been leaked. They'll mostly be of the three different variants that the phone will feature. The cases will have a horizontal cutout for the camera module and to mark it as the official case there will also be the Google logo present. Additional information about the Google Pixel 7a The smartphone will offer a 90Hz OLED display accompanied by Full HD+ resolution and powered by Tensor G2 chipset. It will be coming with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. It will run Android 13. The phone was seen to have antenna lines visible on the sides. This j dictated that the phone will hopefully have a metal frame. Owing to its price earlier tipped to be around 40,000, this phone can be hopefully called as one of the most affordable Pixel phones. Earlier leaks just suggested the design and possible colour variants of Google Pixel 7a. But, this leak confirms the colour variants and also brings the case factor to play. Now, the launch of the smartphone is what everyone is waiting for. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. Well, its official! The Chinese company has confirmed the Realme 11 series will debut on May 10 at 4 PM (local time). You could expect 3 phones, namely the Realme 11, Realme 11 Pro and the Realme 11 Pro+. From a new teaser, we also learn some design details. Lets check out everything we have on the upcoming Realme phones, particularly the Pro models. Realme 11 Pro series specs and features (Expected) First things first, the design. From a recent teaser, we gather at least the Realme 11 Pro+ could feature a curved screen. Even their predecessors, ie., the Realme 10 Pro and the Pro+ model had a curved-edge screen. Coming to the screens, the Realme 11 Pro and Pro+ could feature a 6.7-inch OLED panel with an FHD+ refresh rate and 120Hz refresh rate. There could be a fingerprint reader within the screen. Unlocking the phone, you could interact with Realme UI 4.0 based on Android 13. This is expected to be laid on top of a yet-to-release MediaTek Dimensity 7000 family chipset with a 2.6 GHz clock speed. This could be coupled with up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage on the top-rung model. Inside the Realme 11 Pro series, we could be getting a 5000mAh battery. The Pro could get 67W fast charging and the Pro+ variant could get 100W fast charging support. When it comes to optics, the Realme 11 Pro could come with a 100MP primary camera and a 2MP portrait lens. The Realme 11 Pro+, meanwhile, could house a 200MP main camera, followed by an 8MP ultrawide snapper, and a 2MP macro shooter. Realme is teasing that the Pro phones could Leapfrog Video Flagship. Last, but not least, the phones could also bring connectivity options like 5G, Dual 4G VoLTE, a USB Type-C port, dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and GPS. Thats pretty much everything we know about Realme 11 series. Please do take them with a pinch of salt as we have gleaned them from various rumours and leaks so far. We should be getting more confirmed details ahead of the launch day. We shall keep you updated. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. The Vivo X90 series has arrived in India and there are two phones, namely the Vivo X90 and the Vivo X90 Pro. The Pro model is Vivos flagship phone of 2023 for India. It has a 120Hz AMOLED display, MediaTek Dimensity 9200 SoC, 120W fast charging, and a 50.3MP triple rear camera setup. Vivos flagships are known for their unique camera features. So, lets begin the list with the camera specs: Vivo X90 Pro specs and features 1. Vivo X90 Pro comes with a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 1300 nits of peak brightness, and HDR10+ support. 2. The phone has a punch hole on the front housing a 32MP selfie snapper. On the back, there is a 50.3MP ( Sony IMX989 1-inch sensor w/ OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF) primary camera accompanied by a 50MP (2x optical zoom, OIS) shooter, and a 12MP ultrawide snapper. The OIS on this phone is Level 4-certified by CIPA. This, the brand claims to be a step ahead of the competition. You also get Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, and special filters for your photos. As for videos, from the front, you can shoot up to 1080p 60fps and from the back, you can record up to 8K24 fps. 3. Internally, the phone is featuring a MediaTek Dimensity 9200 processor coupled with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage. The software on board is Android 13 software with FunTouch OS on top. Vivo assures 3 years of platform and security updates. 4. A 4870mAh battery keeps the phone alive. There is support for 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging to refill the tank. 5. Vivo has also added an in-display fingerprint reader, dual-band WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, GPS, infrared port, and USB-C 3.2 port to the mix. Vivo X90 series price and availability You can purchase the Vivo X90 Pros solo variant at 84,999. As for the vanilla Vivo X90, the 8+256GB model costs 59,999 and the 12+256GB variant is priced at 63,999. The regular X90 comes with a glass back and 2 colour options viz. Breeze Blue and Asteroid Black. The Pro model comes with a vegan leather back and Legendary Black colour. The sale begins on May 5 at 12 PM and pre-booking from April 26. As part of introductory offers, you can grab the X90 phones from offline channels at a 10-percent discount and if you are buying them online, there is a 8000 off as well as an additional 8000 exchange bonus. Take your #XtremeImagination a notch higher and explore the new depths of creativity with #vivoX90Series. Get yours today at amazing prices, pre-book now: https://t.co/9x4xMzwpyS pic.twitter.com/GCjkgASkXJ vivo India (@Vivo_India) 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. China, with no history of meddling in the region's politics, is considered a more accommodating partner. by John Perkins The need to transform the current degenerative Death Economy into a regenerative Life Economy (also known as the Green Economy) is a theme that runs throughout most of my current writings. It leads into another important theme: the competition between the USs and Chinas economic hit men to dominate the resources required for this transition. File Photo: Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) talks with family members of Shi Qiwen, a villager at Shibadong Village in central China's Hunan Province, Nov. 3, 2013. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) China leapt ahead in this race earlier this year when, after intense negotiations with six international companies (including two US corporations), Bolivia signed a contract to partner with the Chinese consortium CATL, the largest lithium-ion battery producer in the world. Significantly, this contract went beyond mining; it included a commitment for China to build lithium extraction processing plants and accompanying infrastructure in Bolivia. Much of the worlds lithium, essential for the rechargeable batteries that fuel the energy transition and the potential Life Economy, is found in what is known as the Lithium Triangle: Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. These countries are determined to gain value-added through processing and marketing operations. At the same time, they realize they need partners to fund and build the appropriate infrastructure and technology. The nations of the Lithium Triangle share a mutual resentment of the US, stemming from more than a century of U.S. intervention in their policies. This includes the overthrow of Chiles democratically elected president Salvador Allende and the US support of the dictator Augusto Pinochet who replaced him, the blacklisting of and role in the coup in Bolivia during the presidency of Evo Morales, support of a brutal Argentine dictatorship, the CIAs Operation Condor, and other events I describe in detail in the recently published third book of the Confessions of an Economic Hit Man trilogy. China, with no history of meddling in the regions politics, is considered a more accommodating partner. China already dominates global lithium markets, producing about 75 percent of the worlds lithium-ion batteries, compared to the USs 8 percent. China accounted for half of the 2021 growth in the global electric vehicle market, while the USs share was a mere 10 percent. What is happening in the Lithium Triangle is symbolic of the changing dynamics in geopolitics. The US needs to recognize that it is no longer the worlds only superpower as it was for more than two decades after the Soviet Unions collapse in 1991. It can no longer impose its political will on countries possessing resources and markets it covets. If it wants to electrify US transportation systems, it needs to gain the trust of countries that have suffered the punitive policies of past administrations and respect these nations as partners in the transition from the Death Economy into a Life Economy. Most importantly, Washington needs to stop treating the US-China relationship as a new Cold War and recognize that, while the two countries may disagree on many issues, we must agree that no one wins on a dead planet. Ajay Banga, President Bidens recent (and only) nominee to lead the World Bank, offers hope. When asked whether he sees the World Bank and its US-supported affiliates as competing with BRICS, AIIB, and the other China-supported international banks, he responded, I dont think we should view ourselves as competitors with any of the multilateral banks or countries. He went on to explain, We dont have the time to play in silos. . . . The scale of these challenges requires trillions, not billions [of dollars]. I urge the US and China to embrace the necessity of collaboration. By setting aside their differences and working hand-in-hand to transition the world towards a Green Economy, both countries stand to prosper. As long as we all strive towards the same destinationa sustainable, just, and peaceful worldit doesnt matter if we each choose to walk separate paths. John Perkins is an American author. His best known book is Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, in which Perkins played a role in an alleged process of economic colonization of Third World countries on behalf of what he portrays as a cabal of corporations, banks, and the United States government. He is the author of Touching the Jaguar: Transforming Fear Into Action to Change Your Life and the World Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said Northern Ireland cannot move forward without a functioning Assembly and Executive. Mr Varadkar said if an Executive is formed, Ireland is ready to use its Shared Island Fund to assist Northern Ireland with issues like housing, the health service, enterprise, the cost of living and budget deficit. Local leadership by those chosen by the people of Northern Ireland is required to respond to these challenges, he said. The institutions collapsed when the Democratic Unionist Party exercised a veto and brought down devolution in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland. Mr Varadkar said he hoped all parties would step up. Mr Varadkar also said the Windsor Framework, which is a revised deal for Northern Irelands post-Brexit trading arrangements, provides a new opportunity for British-Irish partnership. During a Dail session for statements on the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, Mr Varadkar said the occasion is a timely reminder of the UK and Irish governments roles as shared guarantors of the agreement. He added: The agreement is fundamentally about both governments working in partnership. I look forward to continuing that work with the Prime Minister and advancing our shared priorities together. The agreement is built on delicate balances and we must ensure these continue to be respected in the months and years ahead. Mr Varadkar said there was a need for a functioning North-South Ministerial Council as well as a functioning Assembly and Executive. As John Bruton said, if a political vacuum is not filled by elected politicians, it leaves space for those with an undemocratic and violent agenda. We all have a responsibility to make sure this does not happen, he said. On the topic of reform of Northern Irelands institutions, the Taoiseach said this was provided for in the Agreement but a conversation on reform would be best placed to succeed when the institutions were back up and running. In the same session, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said there is much more work to do renew the spirit of the agreement. The spirit of partisanship and the ongoing cycle of collapse and restoration caused by different parties has often undermined public faith and it has blocked urgently needed work on social and economic issues, he said. Mr Martin said the principle of consent is the core DNA of the agreement. Peace is not inevitable, it requires hard work, it also requires ongoing commitment The current absence of a functioning Assembly and Executive is having a very real impact on the people of Northern Ireland. He called on Northern Irish parties to respect the results of elections last year and take their seats. Mr Martin said blocking the function of the institutions was wrong. He said reform is clearly necessary once the institutions are restored. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said there is a need for a renewed commitment for all political leaders to share power together. We need to restore the agreements political institutions in the North. Ms McDonald called for increased interest from the UK and Irish governments, which she said had slipped in recent years. Above all, we need a decision from the DUP. The DUP is now at a crossroads and a moment of decision and I hope the decision they make is the right one. Because it is unconscionable that we stay in this limbo and things continue to drift. So my message to the DUP is clear: Join with Sinn Fein and other parties to restore the political institutions and together we can make politics work for everyone. Ms McDonald said there was also a need for a conversation about what orderly, peaceful, democratic, constitutional change looks like. She said the Government must establish a Citizens Assembly on Irish reunification. We need to give people the chance to engage, to come and say their piece, and I include in that our citizens who are Unionists. For those who are British in a partitioned Ireland and who will be British in a united Ireland to have their say, to have an equal stake is the most incredible opportunity for our island. This is a time for respect and reconciliation. Mr Martin criticised the UK governments legacy bill as a unilateral and unacceptable departure from the collective approach we have agreed to. The Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill would provide amnesty for those who committed crimes during the Troubles if they co-operated with a new truth-recovery body. This would also prevent future court action, including inquests, in these cases. Mr Martin said it would set back the essential work of reconciliation. When parties are capable of showing a real concern for the victims of those they honour, then and only then will we have made a real breakthrough towards reconciliation, he said. Sinn Fein TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn said the legacy bill represents a clear breach of UK governments commitments to international treaties and represents a blatant disregard for victims. Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, was in north Louth today, where she will visit a series of rural development projects, funded by her Department. The Minister visited Roche Emmets GAA club for the launch of a broadband connection point; the Hill of Faughart for the unveiling of a LEADER-funded project, and also Cooley Kickhams Complex, Monksland, Carlingford for another launch of a broadband connection point. As part of her visit, Minister Humphreys launched the Connected Hubs Showcase Day held at the Creative Spark Downtown Hub, a centre for creativity and innovation in Dundalk. Hubs across the country opened their doors today for a national Connected Hubs Showcase Day. The event focused on remote working and town regeneration and heard directly from workers and businesses who are regular users of digital hubs. Hubs across the Connected Hubs network displayed the variety and regional diversity with a focus on promoting why their hub and locality are great places for remote workers. The open day took place in support of the Governments national campaign promoting Remote Work and is likely to become an annual event in the Connected Hubs calendar. Connected Hubs is a flagship initiative led by Minister Humphreys and the Department of Rural and Community Development and implemented by the Western Development Commission. The initiative will connect and deepen the remote working infrastructure across rural Ireland. The network now has 315 hubs across the country registered on its online platform. One of the aims of the Connected Hubs initiative is to create a shared platform and brand and to raise awareness of hubs, the services they offer and the opportunities to relocate to, or establish a business from anywhere in Ireland, as well as developing and raising awareness of hubs as convenient and professional distributed workplaces. Counterfeit labels purporting to be from well-known meat processors around the country were found during a follow up inspection of a local business, after a routine visit by Louth County Councils Veterinary Officer and officials from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Dundalk Circuit Court heard last Friday. Martin McCreesh (58) of Dromore, Castleblayney, was originally prosecuted for 20 offences, and was sentenced for three including custody of a false instrument at Arcross Foods, Rock Road, Blackrock on April 20th 2017. Judge Dara Hayes noted that the guilty pleas, while not entered early, were seen as valuable by the State. They related to a business run by the defendant, which supplied raw meat on a wholesale basis and Judge Hayes said of particular note were 48 boxes of meat that were not properly marked. In total 135 boxes of frozen meat were seized. Judge Hayes noted the boxes had labels purporting to be from meat processors, but the meat did not originate from there. While Mr. McCreesh made some admissions, little of evidential value arose during his interview. The 58-year-old father of three worked most of his life in the meat business. Judge Hayes said his three previous convictions were entirely unrelated and he was cooperative with the investigation and noted that it was accepted there was meat regularly and properly on the premises. Although the meat in question was not suitable for human consumption, it was not intended for that market and Mr McCreesh had submitted his licence for the premises. Judge Hayes said a number of testimonials spoke well of the accused, who he said has contributed significantly to his community over the years. However, he added the integrity of the meat supply is key to the meat sector, on which a significant part of the country relies. The Probation Service had assessed the defendant as being at low risk of reoffending and he was not deemed in need of Probation supervision. Judge Hayes stressed that had the case been related to meat which ended up in the food chain, there would have been a real risk of a custodial sentence. Instead of a 15 month sentence, the judge made an order directing that the defendant complete 150 hours unpaid work in the community within the next 18 months. A spokesperson for Louth County Council welcomed the outcome saying it sends a strong message to the industry that food fraud will be fully investigated and those found to engage in it will be brought before the courts. EQS-Ad-hoc: Deutsche Rohstoff AG / Key word(s): Dividend/Change in Forecast Deutsche Rohstoff AG: Consolidated financial statements, increase in guidance for 2023, guidance for 2024 and dividend proposal 26-Apr-2023 / 14:08 CET/CEST Disclosure of an inside information acc. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Deutsche Rohstoff AG: Consolidated financial statements, increase in guidance for 2023, guidance for 2024 and dividend proposal Increase in EBITDA guidance in 2023 by around EUR 5 million/EUR 1.30 dividend/Revenue in 2024 up to EUR 190 million Mannheim. Deutsche Rohstoff AG today published the final consolidated figures for 2022. The preliminary figures were fully confirmed. In this context, the company raises the guidance for the financial year 2023 as follows: Base scenario 2023: Group revenue: EUR 150 to 170 million (previously EUR 140 to 160 million) EBITDA: EUR 115 to 130 million (previously EUR 110 to 125 million) This base scenario is based on an oil price of USD 75/barrel, a reduced gas price of USD 3/MMbtu (previously USD 4) and a EUR/USD exchange rate of 1.12 for the remainder of 2023. For fiscal year 2024, the Executive Board expects the following figures for revenue and earnings in the base scenario (oil price USD 75/barrel, gas price USD 3/MMbtu (previously USD 4); EUR/USD 1.12): 2024 base scenario: Group revenue: EUR 170 to 190 million EBITDA: EUR 130 to 145 million The company's management report published today also includes a scenario with an oil price of USD 85/barrel for the remainder of 2023 and for 2024. Increased price scenario 2023: Group revenue: EUR 165 to 185 million EBITDA: EUR 125 to 140 million Increased price scenario 2024: Group revenue: EUR 190 to 210 million EBITDA: EUR 155 to 170 million The Executive Board expects to be able to achieve a clearly positive net income in both years. Record production of 11,000 to 12,000 BOEPD is expected in 2023. In 2024, production should increase by a further 10 to 15% based on the adopted drilling plans. The basis for production growth is the capital expenditures in 2023 and 2024 of around EUR 200 million, of which EUR 40 million have already been invested at the end of April 2023. The Executive Board and Supervisory Board will also propose to the Annual General Meeting, which will be held in Mannheim on 29 June, that a dividend totaling EUR 1.30 per share (previous year EUR 0.60) be distributed for the 2022 financial year. For a definition of the term EBITDA, please refer to the Deutsche Rohstoff AG website at https://rohstoff.de/en/apm/. End of Inside Information Information and Explanation of the Issuer to this announcement: Explanatory part In the fiscal year 2022, Deutsche Rohstoff Group generated revenue of EUR 165.4 million (previous year: EUR 73.3 million), EBITDA of EUR 139.1 million (previous year: EUR 66.1 million) and consolidated net income of EUR 66.2 million (previous year: EUR 26.4 million; all figures according to HGB and audited), which corresponds to earnings per share of EUR 12.15, taking into account minority interests. A comparative statement prepared for the first time in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) shows IFRS revenue of EUR 217.8 million (+32% compared to HGB, German Commercial Code), IFRS EBITDA of EUR 150.2 million (+8% compared to HGB) and IFRS consolidated net income of EUR 78.7 million (+19% compared to HGB) for the financial year. A detailed presentation of the effects that led to these results can be found in the Group Management Report for 2022. The Group's equity rose to EUR 132.4 million (previous year: EUR 80.1 million) and the equity ratio to 37.8% (previous year: 30.2%), as a result of the high positive consolidated net income. The liquidity situation also developed significantly positive. Cash and cash equivalents (cash and marketable securities) grew to EUR 54.2 million (previous year: EUR 23.5 million), opeRating cash flow to EUR 142.7 million (previous year: EUR 51.8 million) and free cash flow to EUR 70.6 million (previous year: EUR 22.5 million). Total assets increased to EUR 350.3 million (previous year: EUR 265.0 million), due in particular to investments in oil and gas activities in the USA. The investing cash flow rose to EUR 72.2 million. The annual report for the fiscal year 2022 of the Deutsche Rohstoff Group is available on the company's website at www.rohstoff.de. The start into the fiscal year 2023 was very positive. The increased 2023 guidance, which assumes a lower gas price, underlines the good operational development of all drilling projects and the optimal development perspective of the Company. The quarterly report for the first quarter of 2023 will be published in the second week of May (week 19). Daily production is expected to be around 11,000 to 12,000 BOE in 2023. While just over half of the volumes represent oil, at a price of USD 75, about 80% of the revenue is generated from oil revenue. Another 10% comes from gas revenue and 10% from Natural Gas Liquids, which are priced at around 35% to 40% of the price of oil per BOE. 2023 will again be a year of high investments. Due to the investments of the past years, revenue will increase from EUR 73.4 million in 2021 to up to EUR 175 million in 2023. At the same time, net debt (bond and bank liabilities less cash and cash equivalents) in the Group could be halved. At the end of 2021, it still stood at EUR 93.9 million, while by the end of 2022 it had fallen to EUR 55.6 million. The ratio of net debt to EBITDA thus fell to 0.4 at the end of 2022. The investment budget for the planned wells in Wyoming and Utah, on which the guidance is based, amounts to probably around EUR 200 million. Around EUR 110 to 120 million will be spent in 2023; EUR 40 million had already been invested by mid April. Around EUR 100 million will be invested in the joint venture with Occidental Petroleum in 2023 and 2024, and another approximately EUR 90 million for drilling in at Cub Creek Energy and EUR 10 million in Utah. For Cub Creek Energy, in addition to the 3 well program already underway from the Lost Springs Pad, management now expects to drill an additional 8 gross wells (7 net wells) in the second half of 2023 and the first half of 2024. Depending on the development of oil prices, investments can be significantly scaled back at any time. The financing of capital expenditures in 2023 and 2024 amounting to EUR 200 million is spread over the individual quarters and will mainly be made from current cash flow and existing cash and cash equivalents of EUR 54.2 million. With EBITDA guidance to be around EUR 260 million in 2023 and 2024, operating cash flow is significantly higher than capital expenditure. In addition, the largely unused credit lines with a volume of USD 80 million in the US subsidiaries can be used to finance investment peaks as part of the completion of larger drilling sites. The Management Board of Deutsche Rohstoff AG will hold a web call on the results of the fiscal year 2022 on Thursday, 27 April 2023 at 3:00 pm. Interested investors can register for the call here or on the companys website at www.rohstoff.de (please note, that the web call will only be held in German). 26-Apr-2023 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com Chinese envoy to UN calls for lasting solution to Palestinian question Xinhua) 16:22, April 26, 2023 UNITED NATIONS, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called on the international community to work with the greatest sense of urgency for a lasting settlement of the Palestinian question. The situation in the occupied Palestinian territory has become nerve-wracking for the whole world during the holy month of Ramadan over the past few years. This year, violence in the West Bank intensified with frequent tensions in East Jerusalem and Gaza. The international community cannot become accustomed to this and cannot let it go unchecked. Instead, more must be invested in promoting a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question with the greatest sense of urgency, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. There is a need to oppose violence and incitement and seek common security, he told the Security Council in an open debate on the Middle East. Over the past month, Israeli security forces have many times raided al-Aqsa Mosque, beating and removing Muslims, shattering the peace and tranquility of Ramadan and triggering new tensions. China condemns all acts of violence against civilians and calls on all parties to exercise calm and restraint and put an end to radical and provocative rhetoric and actions, he said. "Palestine and Israel are neighbors that cannot be moved away from each other. The security of one party cannot be based on the insecurity of the other," said Zhang. "In order to fundamentally break the cycle of violence and establish lasting peace, equal attention must be given to the legitimate security concerns of both sides, who must be encouraged to achieve common security through dialogue and negotiation." Settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal. China urges Israel to comply with Security Council Resolution 2334 and effectively cease all settlement activities. It also needs to be pointed out that unilateral measures to change the status quo of Jerusalem are null and void. China calls for respect for the historic status quo of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem, and for Jordan's custodianship over them, he said. People's livelihood must be guaranteed and Palestinian economic development must be promoted, said Zhang. The prolonged occupation and frequent instability have severely constrained the viability of the Palestinian economy and led to the worsening situation for Palestinians. Israel should relax and lift unreasonable restrictions on the movement of people and goods, as well as on land use in the occupied territory, create conditions for the development of Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and lift the blockade of Gaza Strip as soon as possible, he said. The international community should also provide assistance to Palestine through multiple channels to help Palestine alleviate its financial crisis and ensure the provision of public services, he said. Zhang stressed the need to adhere to the two-state solution and to promote the resumption of peace talks. The recent detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran set an example for defusing differences through dialogue. On other Middle East issues, positive developments of dialogue and reconciliation are also in the making, said Zhang. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang recently had separate phone calls with the Palestinian and Israeli foreign ministers. He encouraged Israel and Palestine to show political courage and take steps toward resuming peace talks on the basis of the two-state solution, said Zhang. China expects the international community to increase coordination, take substantive steps and make unremitting efforts to promote the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli talks and implement the two-state solution, he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Because of experience from and in the Ukraine War, Germany is spending heavily to upgrade and expand its ground forces. This means more of everything, including armored vehicles. German firms have long been major developers and manufacturers of armored vehicles but the demand now is so great that Germany must import some. Such is the case with the Boxer 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle which was developed and manufactured in Germany by local firm Rheinmetall. Demand for Boxer vehicles is so heavy now that Rheinmetall had to call on Australia to help build more for Germany. Australia is a major customer for Boxer and builds its own Boxers locally under license. The local production facility, Rheinmetall Australia, obtains most of the components needed locally, and now has a contract to produce 128 Boxers for the German military. These will replace elderly tracked Wiesel 2 armored vehicles. Deliveries of the new Boxers are configured as CRVs (combat reconnaissance vehicles) and deliveries will begin in 2025. This vehicle is based on the Boxer CRV built for Australian forces. This is a 30 ton vehicle with a turret armed with a 30mm autocannon and 7.72mm machine-gun. There is a crew of three (commander, driver, gunner) and space in the back for an additional six troops or cargo. Boxer CRV has a top road speed of 103 kilometers an hour and max range on internal fuel of 1,050 kilometers. Electronics include encrypted radio and several handheld surveillance devices. As a combat reconnaissance vehicle, Boxer is often used to lead an advance by mechanized forces and survive first contact with the enemy. In situations like Boxer can be equipped with the Israeli Iron Fist APS (Active Protection System) that will defeat ATGMs (Anti-tank guided missiles) and anti-tank rockets. Iron Fist weighs about 250 kg (551 pounds and has a long track record of successful use in combat. Germany and Britain began Boxer development in 1999 and was joined by the Netherlands in 2001. Then Britain withdrew in 2003 only to return fifteen years later. Meanwhile, in 2006 the Dutch-German consortium agreed to buy 472 Boxer vehicles; 200 for the Dutch and 272 for Germany. In 2008 Boxer successfully completed trials with the German Army and in 2011 five Boxers were used in Afghanistan, where none were lost. The Boxer was then purchased by Lithuania (89 in IFV configuration) and Australia as a Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (over 200 so far). The Boxer is air transportable by C-130 and A400M four engine aircraft. Its design is modular for maximum flexibility. Every chassis can be equipped with different snap-in modules for different purposes like infantry carrier, command vehicle, ambulance, supply carrier, IFV and so on. These modules are interchangeable and can be added or removed in less than an hour. The modular armor is ceramic and is attached to the steel hull with fastening bolts. This design allows quick replacement of damaged modules or easier upgrades when new armor technology develops. Moreover, the vehicle has a triple hull floor for better protection against anti-tank mines and roadside bombs. For survivability, front armor can withstand 30mm autocannon rounds, while the all-round protection can withstand 12.7mm fire. This is accompanied by lowered radar, thermal and acoustic signatures which make it harder to detect. Boxer armament can be configured to suit specific requirements of every user. Available weapons selection is pretty wide from light remote-controlled gun stations, turrets with autocannons up to even low recoil 105mm and 120mm guns. For example, German Boxers have a remotely operated gun mount with a 40-mm automatic grenade launcher, the Dutch ones are equipped with a 12.7-mm machine gun while the Lithuanian variant uses an Israeli unmanned turret with a 30mm gun, coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun and Spike LR ATGM with a range up to 4,000 meters. The Australian CRV variant uses a "classical" LANCE 30mm two-man turret fitted with 30mm MK-30-2 autocannon together with Spike LR ATGM. Meanwhile, Britain settled on four Boxer variants: Infantry Carrier, armed only with a 7.62mm machine-gun RWS (remote controlled station), Specialist Carrier, Command, and Ambulance. The last three were ordered in much smaller numbers. Boxer is expected to serve around 30 years and, together with the Ajax tracked recon vehicle, will complete the replacement of Cold War era armored vehicles and serve British armor needs for several decades. So far there are orders for about 1,200 Boxers from all users, with about half of them delivered. China is quietly expanding its supply of nuclear weapons. This is a major change because for years it was believed that China only had about 300 nuclear weapons for use on land and sea (submarine) based missiles. Now China is expanding that to about a thousand by 2030 and 1,500 by 2035. This means that Russia and the United States will no longer be the only two nations with large nuclear weapons stockpiles. In 2021 the United States revealed that it had 3,750 nuclear weapons. Thats down from the maximum (31,255) in 1967 and 22,000 in 1991 when the Cold War ended. The two major nuclear powers, the U.S. and Russia, agreed to several nuclear reduction agreements during the 1970s and the end of the Cold War in 1991 led to major reductions in the number of nukes maintained by the U.S. and Russia. China developed nukes in the 1960s but until now never spent a lot of money on building a large stockpile. Most of the new Chinese nuclear warheads will be used on mobile (truck or railroad car) mounted missiles, most of them ICBMs (Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles). A few hundred will be immobile (silo-based). The Myanmar (Burma) military government took power in early 2021, ousting an elected government that opposed Chinese influence. Since the coup, several rebel groups have fought the military. The Myanmar armed forces depend on Russia, China and Serbia, in that order, for weapons and ammunition. Since Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago, Russia has reduced its arms sales to Myanmar. That was a lucrative business, amounting to over two billion dollars worth of weapons a year. China is now the main supplier of all the fuel, bombs, shells and other munitions needed to keep the fight going. The army ground forces are reluctant to fight when they encounter armed resistance, which continues in the tribal areas. The urban rebels are slowly arming but still depend on a lot of demonstrations by unarmed protestors. So far, Burmese soldiers and police have killed over 2,000 people and imprisoned nearly 20,000. Aside from China, most nations in the region want the military government to free the elected and appointed officials of the overthrown government. Without Chinese support the Burmese generals could not have sustained their coup and might not even have attempted it without assurances of Chinese support. Russia and China have supplied Myanmar with combat aircraft and weapons for airstrikes against rebels in remote locations. Many of the dead from the air attacks are civilians. India and other nations bordering China see the Burma coup government as a threat. China continues to ban any weapons exports to Russia or any dual-use items that are vital to Russian weapons production or maintenance. The latest example are ball bearings. The major manufacturers of ball bearings are in the United States and Europe. China competes on price by offering lower quality ball bearings that are adequate for many uses, but not railroad cars or combat vehicles because of potential reliability problems. Russia had a stockpile of Western ball bearings when they invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and soon found they were cut off from Western supplies of ball bearings because of the invasion-related sanctions. Russia did not expect a long war in Ukraine and did not expect to lose most of their modern tanks in the first few months of fighting. It soon became apparent that there were not enough ball-bearings, particularly the easy to install, more reliable and significantly more expensive coil bearings, to keep the rail cars operational and build new tanks. Because of that the Russians brought in older T-62s and T-55s. China noted the vital importance of high-quality ball bearings and added that to its list of things China had to achieve. There are a lot of high-tech items China is still unable to produce itself but they are determined to continue working through their long list of high-tech items that China is still unable to produce and must import. This is why China complies with the sanctions. The alternative is crippling a lot of their industries because a lot of key components are no longer available. While China complies with the sanctions, they are openly backing Russian claims that Ukraine has no right to be independent and is actually a portion of Russia that was illegally detached after the Soviet Union collapsed. China sees an independent Taiwan in similar terms. China is less eager to discuss how fragile the current unity of Russia is. Both nations were created by merging dozens of independent regions and many of these areas would prefer to be independent once more. Western nations have similar problems but as democracies the voters can decide how to keep everyone satisfied enough to remain. In some cases, democracies agree to grant autonomy or independence to areas that demand it. Undemocratic Russia and China tend to deal with dissatisfied citizens using bullying or bullets rather than relying on ballots. April 21, 2023: China sent four warships and 12 military aircraft on a cruise around Taiwan. One of the Chinese aircraft, a Z-9 ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) entered the Taiwan ADIZ (air defense identification zone) without identifying itself. Worldwide foreign aircraft identify themselves when reminded that they have entered an ADIZ. Chinese military aircraft approach or enter the Taiwan ADIZ without warning and that often means Taiwan sends up fighters to double check. ADIZ intrusions have increased sharply since 2021, with Chinese military aircraft ADIZ violations in February 2023 were 61 percent more than in February 2022.. This activity often involves a lot of specialist models, like ASW (anti-submarine warfare) aircraft (like the American P-3) as well as a lot of EW (Electronic Warfare) and ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) aircraft. Japan is also having problems with Chinese ADIZ violations in 2022, but those were down about 25 percent compared to 2021 and more of them were UAVs or surveillance balloons. Japan noted the American aggressive response to these balloons and now threatens to shoot down these balloons if China does not stop using them over Japanese territory or airspace. April 20, 2023: Chinese exports to North Korea rose sharply in the last few months. In January and February exports were 161 percent higher than a year ago and 142 percent in March. April 17, 2023: In the United States the FBI raided several Chinese police stations (as American media describes them) in major cities and arrested 44 Chinese who were working out of these facilities to harass Chinese in America who oppose Chinese government activities. Most of the men arrested turned out to be members of the Chinese MSS (Ministry of State Security) while two members of CAC (Cyberspace Administration of China) were also involved. The MSS members were assigned to plainclothes duty in the United States. The Chinese agents kept track of Chinese who migrated to the United States and may be vulnerable to threats and intimidation. They also organize protests against Western policies China disagrees with or local Chinese who criticize China. The Chinese operatives work out of office space rented in neighborhoods where many Chinese live or work. These work spaces are not identified by any signs or registered as a business with local governments. China has long used facilities like this to organize and carry out intimidation of Chinese critics in foreign countries. The intimidation often serves as a tool for espionage because some of the intimidated can also provide valuable information on economic or local political matters. China expanded this program and hired more operatives and rented more space for them to operate from. This made the operation more visible and vulnerable. April 15, 2023: China, Taiwan and the United States are all studying the Ukraine War for useful lessons and found one in the huge quantities of artillery ammunition expended. This can have an impact on a Chinese attempt to seize Taiwan by forces. Taiwan has been increasing its weapons and munitions stockpiles for years as well as training more men for combat duty. While China has long planned to use over a thousand ballistic missiles and lots of airstrikes, they still have to get troops onto the island and deal with Taiwanese ground forces. At that point both sides would be depending on artillery a lot and the Ukraine War has demonstrated that a lot more artillery ammunition is needed than anyone planned for. March 28, 2023: Iran is a major factor in Russian efforts to keep its economy going in spite of the economic sanctions. Russia also depends a lot on its most loyal trading partners; China and India. These two nations assist Russia in exporting its oil despite the sanctions. They can also obtain some items Russian can no longer obtain from Western suppliers. Care must be taken because many of these components can easily be identified and traced back to the last legal purchaser. Ukraine has been diligent about collecting debris from Russians weapons that are not supposed to exist because of the ban on selling Russian essential components. This has led to the discovery and elimination of several smuggling operations. This often involves sanctioning Chinese or Indian businesses and some of their key personnel. China, more than India, has to be careful about this because Western sanctions on Chinese firms means China can no longer obtain key components from Western suppliers. This sort of thing didnt start with Russian operations in Ukraine and has been encountered for decades as Iran copes with similar sanctions. March 24, 2023: In Afghanistan the IEA (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) government cooperated with China, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, India, Turkey, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia to reoccupy their embassy buildings and offices and use them to facilitate trade and other matters of mutual interest. The IEA treats these embassies as diplomatic operations and provides protection even though no ambassadors have been sent to Afghanistan yet. Some of these nations have said they will soon send ambassadors and the others are monitoring how this process is going. Foreigners, and many Afghans, still consider the IEA unstable and unpredictable. March 20, 2023: Chinese leader Xi Jinping traveled to Russia to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The two announced efforts to replace the American dollar with the Chinese yuan as an international currency. For years China has been trying to make this happen. The biggest obstacle is the refusal to allow the yuan to be traded on financial markets. Instead, China simply pegs the value of the yuan to the American dollar. The heavy use of yuan by Russia in 2022 boosted the yuan to fifth place in international currencies with about seven percent of the market. The American dollar and the European euro continue to be the most commonly used currencies for international trade. China has achieved a reputation for making the yuan useful for outlaw states or firms that have problems gaining access to dollars or euros. March 18, 2023: Chinese GDP growth was 4,5 percent during the first three months of 2023. This was higher than expected and was much higher than the first three months of 2022 when it was 4.8 percent. During the last few years GDP growth has been declining not just because of covid19 shutdowns but because of bank failures and other economic failures that can be traced back to CCP mismanagement of the economy. For a while the government stopped revealing annual GDP growth rates while scrambling to find ways to get economic growth going. Initially those efforts are concentrated on preventing a collapse of the financial system. Unofficially, the government expected 5.5 percent growth in 2022. Foreign economists estimate a more realistic 3.5 percent growth but the actual growth was three percent. These GDP problems were caused by damage done by all the covid shutdowns. A growing number of Chinese and foreign economists are now questioning the reported size of the Chinese economy because of Chinese attempts at deception to hide the true impact of covi19 on China and the government's role in trying to silence Chinese scientists criticizing the Chinese role in trying to suppress the fact that covid19 originated in China and that initially China silenced Chinese medical researchers demanding action against the new disease. China has admitted that provincial governments had, in the past, reported exaggerated economic data to the central government that led to claims of higher economic growth than was actually taking place. These deceptions did to become news until the mismanagement of bank loans by provincial officials became obvious and halted a lot of local economic activity. Chinas economy was already slowing down when the current government-ordered covid19 shutdowns began in Shanghai and spread to over a hundred towns and cities. There seemed to be no end to this. There is also an unresolved real-estate bubble and more Chinese banks are suffering liquidity (cannot meet demands for withdrawals) problems. The economic damage done by all this led to a $5 trillion dollar stimulus program to alleviate suffering among workers and provide businesses with cash needed to keep operating. The actual decline in GDP growth is a state secret but is believed to be bad enough to create persistent GDP shrinkage and an official end to the decades of high GDP growth. Chinas economy is, at $18 trillion (or less) a year, the second largest in the world. The Americans have economic problems but not to the extent China suffers from. Jurgen Rigterink to visit Greece from 26 to 28 April Meetings scheduled with government officials and representatives of the private sector EBRD First Vice President to speak at Delphi Economic Forum The EBRDs First Vice President and Head of Client Services Group, Jurgen Rigterink, is visiting Greece from 26 to 28 April for high-level meetings with government officials and clients. During his trip, First Vice President Rigterink will meet the Minister of Development and Investments, Adonis Georgiadis; the Deputy Minister of Development and Investments, Yannis Tsakiris; the Governor of the Bank of Greece, Yannis Stournaras, as well as representatives of the corporate and banking sectors. He will visit some of the EBRDs projects, namely Piraeus Tower and the urban regeneration project in the former Papastratos facilities in Piraeus. The EBRDs First Vice President will also speak at the Delphi Economic Forum on Friday 28 April. Ahead of the trip, Mr Rigterink said: I am very glad to be back in Greece this week. This visit provides an opportunity for me to highlight the results we achieved in partnership with the country, and to reiterate the EBRDs continuous support for Greeces ambitious green energy transition agenda, its economic recovery and the implementation of NextGenerationEU. It also allows me to hear first-hand from the government and EBRD clients about the challenges they face. The EBRD is working with the Greek authorities on implementing the countrys Recovery and Resilience Plan, part of the European Union (EU)s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), and on deploying the funding to the Greek economy. Investments under the EU RRF include: a 12 million loan to Papoutsanis to allow the continued upgrade of its production systems and reduce its energy consumption; a 10 million loan to A. Hatzopoulos to support its transition to more sustainable products and reduce energy consumption; and a 150 million loan to OTE to promote digital transformation, green transition and regional inclusion. Other recent highlights of the Banks work in the country include investments in the banking sector, such as 10 million in credit protection to Piraeus Bank to support its capital resilience and increase its lending capacity; and a 20 million participation in a green bond issue by Lamda Development to back the companys investment in sustainability and climate resilience. Tell us about yourself: My name is Martyna and I see the beauty in the ordinary, a graphic designer by training and a crafter by passion. I love to make things, craft and design to mark an event, this really came to the fore when my sister had her baby. I loved making, designing and creating pieces for them, so during Covid, I decided to follow my creative craft hobbies and turned them into a job. With time and research, I created The Little Big Moments a Cork business designing and making personalised handmade baby gifts. Im a hoarder of good times, precious memories and special moments, and anything that reminds me of them. Which led me to where I am now - designing and making stationery, baby gifts and nursery accessories that help capture and remember those little big moments that make life special. Where were you born? I was born in Starogard Gdanski, one of the oldest cities in northern Poland. Martyna Potocka lives in East Cork and runs her business The Little Big Moments Where do you live? I came to Ireland in 2005 and have lived in Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork, ever since. Family? We all moved to Ireland in 2005 and it was a great move. Recently, my parents and sister have moved back to Poland, while my brother and I are still in Ireland. We have a huge extended family consisting of uncles, aunts and countless number of cousins! We are very close and I guess gifts and marking special occasions become even more important as we live away from each other. Best friend? Patrycja, a Polish girl who happened to be born in my home town in Poland and ended up living in Carrigtwohill, just like me. Whats funny is that we met in Cork but our paths never crossed in Starogard Gdanski. What are the chances! We met in 2014 through mutual friends and have been there for each other since through thick and thin! Earliest childhood memory? It has to be the day my sister was born. My father brought me and my older brother to the hospital to see my mum and our newly-born sister Agata. I remember sitting on the bed, with my brother next to me, both of us holding Agata on our laps. Ill never forget seeing her tiny hands and fingers for the first time and being in awe of her adorable face. She is still adorable. Person you most admire? I feel it would be unfair to pick just one. I admire my parents, their strength and the hard work and effort theyve put into giving me and my siblings the best life they possibly could. Even though life hasnt always been all roses, we made the most of it and created a lot of happy memories together. They have always been and are there for us through all of lifes highs and lows and I admire them for the values they instilled in me throughout all those years. Being able to say I had a happy childhood filled with love and having those special memories is priceless. This is also part of the inspiration behind my stationery and gift collection - celebrating memories and family. Theres also one person that absolutely stole my heart not so long ago - my niece Zuza who was born last year and is my little inspiration when designing my products. The Little Big Moments, in fact, started with me designing a baby milestone book for her when she was born and inspired me to follow my dream and focus on a range of unique and personalised baby gifts, designed to document the greatest story of all - the story of a new life and share it with the family. Where was your most memorable holiday? Our very first family holiday abroad. I was 14 at the time and we went on a sun holiday to Turkey. None of us had visited any countries outside of Poland and Ireland before so it felt truly special and magical to see a new place, a different culture, and to experience all of that together as a family. That holiday is a memory that Ill always hold dear. Your signature dish if cooking? Sweet Chilli Stir Fry. Martyna Potocka lives in East Cork and runs her business The Little Big Moments Favourite restaurant? Ramen. I could never get bored of their delicious Asian dishes. Last book you read? The Reunion - Guillaume Musso. Best book you read? The Power - Rhonda Byrne. Its a book that made me see light at one of the darkest times in my life. Favourite song? I dont really have a favourite song and the music I listen to is often dictated by my mood. For the past few days, Ive been listening to a lot of Polish music which makes me feel closer to home and brings back some of the best memories. Do you have a pet? I have two rescue cats, Leon and Luna, which are like kids to me! Im an animal lover at heart and would adopt every pet that would cross my path if I could. Morning person or night owl? 100% night owl. I have to admit, I do like morning lay-ins and taking things slow after waking up. Also, for some reason some of my best ideas come to me at night time. Your proudest moment? So far, my proudest moment was launching my business website last year. The Little Big Moments is something I dreamed of and worked on for a very long time, and seeing the website go live and sharing it with the world was a very special moment and one that I will never forget. Spendthrift or saver? Im a saver. I always analyse and calculate everything 10 times before making the decision to spend money, and when I do, I make sure its well spent. What makes you happy? I love getting feedback from people that have purchased my work or received them as gifts; hearing the positive feedback on how they felt and how they will use them in their life. It makes me very happy and privileged to hear that people see value in my work and they become a home to some of their most special memories, as well as something they will treasure for years. Outside of that, I love spending my free time out in nature, exploring the Irish wilderness and discovering new trails. Im at my happiest when Im out hiking and its even better when I share those adventures with some good company, making new memories with the people that are close to my heart. How would you like to be remembered? As a kind and caring person and someone that put a smile on peoples faces, whether its through my crafts and design and interactions with others, whether its someone that knew me well or a customer that never met me in person, it would make me very proud and would give me a sense of fulfilment to know that I gave people a little bit of happiness. What else are you up to at the moment? I am currently preparing for my first shows, the Baby Market in the Clayton Hotel, Cork, on May 7, followed by the Ballymaloe May Fair on May 12, 13 and 14. These shows and fairs are key events for many small businesses like mine, it is a great opportunity for the public to see my work in person, give me feedback as well as meeting with the wonderful Cork designers, crafters and makers in the gift sector. See https://thelittlebigmoments.ie/ She lives on the cruel and dirty street. Rides the nearly empty train to catch up on sleep. Washes her hair in the Publix sink. Her home, for now, is the airport where at least she can wash her hands. Thirty-year-old Priscilla Andrade, a former Waffle House waitress who says she left home to escape a brutal boyfriend, is one of at least 2,500 homeless people living in Broward County in the middle of the deadly coronavirus pandemic. And shes one of hundreds eager to get her hands on a coveted hotel voucher being offered by Fort Lauderdale, the same city once known for cracking down on the homeless with feeding and camping bans. But these days, Fort Lauderdale officials are taking a much different approach as they try to stop the spread of the highly contagious virus. Were trying to get people off the street so they dont get exposed to the virus, Mayor Dean Trantalis told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. To allow people to be exposed to the elements and exposed to this contagion is inhumane. This commission did a complete turn-around. Its a completely different philosophy in its approach. And the pandemic has only heightened the need to find solutions for the homeless population. This week, the city commission shot down a controversial plan that would have barred people from setting up encampments near a school or childcare center. And in recent days, Fort Lauderdale has lined up 109 hotel rooms to help give shelter to one of its neediest population, but only for the next 30 days. A place to call her own Last week, the city arranged to have 37 hotel rooms set aside for people living on the street. This week, City Manager Chris Lagerbloom and his team have lined up another 72 rooms at a second hotel, securing rooms on two floors. Its part of an emergency plan to provide rooms and meals to the homeless. Fort Lauderdale has budgeted $200,000 for the voucher program and plans to seek reimbursement through federal grants. Problem is, 109 hotel rooms arent nearly enough to help the hundreds of homeless people in Broward County, critics say. Andrade, the homeless woman living at the airport, is desperate to score a hotel room. After four months on the street, she longs for a place to call her own. I could relax and watch TV, she said. I could go out and come back to a place where I could rest my head and take a shower. Andrade says she became homeless after running from an abusive relationship. I dont like living on the street, she said. Im riding on the Tri-Rail train trying to get some sleep. Ive been trying to clean my hands and not get dirty. This week, Trantalis reminded critics that Fort Lauderdale is one of the few, if not only, cities in the region stepping up to help the homeless. This commission has been making important strides in finding homes for people on the street, he said during a recent commission meeting. Two hotels have agreed to provide rooms for these people on the citys dime. At one point, a homeless woman called in to the meeting to ask if she too could get a hotel room. Trantalis told her it was her lucky day: The city had lined up another hotel. The news prompted cheers from the woman and her friends. We all heard the cheer, Trantalis later said. Eagerness to try to get out of their desperate way of life, to try to get a roof over their head, to limit their exposure to this disease. Like other cities around the country, Fort Lauderdale is not naming the second hotel that has agreed to provide rooms for the homeless. Clients with vouchers will arrive for check-in Friday morning, a city official said. Outreach teams with the police department and city managers office visited homeless encampments around the city to hand out vouchers. They will not be tested for the virus, but before being given a key to a room, their temperature will be taken and they will be screened for flu-like symptoms. Vice Mayor Steve Glassman griped that Fort Lauderdale seemed to be on its own when it comes to getting homeless people off the streets during the pandemic. In a perfect world, Id like to see Broward County doing more, Glassman said, noting that homeless people flock to Fort Lauderdale from other cities around the county. Yet Fort Lauderdale is the only city putting up money to get them hotel rooms, he said. Not the right time Before the pandemic came to town, Fort Lauderdale was ready for another crackdown on the homeless. Under a new law that won initial approval in March, no one would be permitted to set up an encampment on public property within 1,000 feet of a school or child care facility. Violators could face $500 fines and be jailed for up to 60 days. But the final vote, taken on Tuesday night, failed 3-2. Commissioner Ben Sorensen joined the mayor and vice mayor in rejecting the law, saying it wasnt the right time to move forward. Commissioners Robert McKinzie and Heather Moraitis, concerned about tent cities forming in their districts, supported the plan. Before the vote, McKinzie poked at Glassman for not supporting the proposed ban on camping too close to schools. Go outside [your condo] and take off your clothes and urinate and see what would happen to you, McKinzie told Glassman. Law-abiding citizen. Youd be arrested [for] indecent exposure. Homeless people do this day in, day out without consequence, McKinzie argued. A scene not fit for children Several people criticized the new ban as yet another attack on the citys most vulnerable occupants. But several residents objected to the new tent city thats formed west of downtown and spoke in favor of the plan. I cant even walk my dogs where I used to walk them there, David Feldman said of the encampment thats developed near the Salvation Army on Broward Boulevard, just east of Interstate 95. Feldman, who lives in the nearby Dorsey-Riverbend neighborhood, told commissioners he understands why they wouldnt want children to see naked men and women taking baths, pooping and having sex in public. If this were Rio Vista, Victoria Park or any other nice neighborhood, it would not be tolerated, he said. Dr. Pamela Beasley-Pittman, president of the Historic Dorsey-Riverbend Civic Association, complained about some of the more vocal homeless residents disturbing the peace by fighting and arguing. But the mayor said its just not the right time for a new law like this one. While I do believe we have a problem, Im not sure this ordinance is going to be the answer, Trantalis said. There might be a time when this ordinance might be necessary. But Im not sure tonight is the night we need to be passing this, especially in the context of a pandemic. Glassman agreed. Were still under a pandemic, he said. This is not the right time to do this. In the meantime, the homeless woman whos living at the airport is praying for a hotel voucher. I really need that help, she said. Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4554 THE five scout counties of Cork held a very successful scouting event at the Cork Showgrounds last weekend as all the Cork scout organisations came together for the Cork County Shield 2023. Over 400 young people aged between 12 and 15 years of age from Corcaigh Theas, North Cork, Lee Valley, Cois Lee, and West Cork competed in a scoutcraft competition which is comprised of camping, pioneering, and skills bases to earn places at the national competition which is held in Dublin in August. Cork Kinsale at the All Cork county scouting shield at the Cork showgrounds over the weekend. Picture; Eddie O'Hare Young people from all over Cork City and county competed over the course of last weekend at the Cork Showgrounds in teams, building their sites and taking part in challenges. Amy Brett who is a member of the Carrigaline Scout Group and who acted as the media lead for the Cork County Shield 2023 said the weekend was a great success. It was a pre-competition for the national competition. This year was slightly different. There are five scout counties within the county of Cork. They usually hold their own competitions over five weekends, but this year we held the competition all together on one weekend. It was a good idea and it worked out so well, she said. Scouts from 80th Cork Little Island at the All Cork county scouting shield at the Cork showgrounds over the weekend. Picture; Eddie O'Hare The Carrigaline scout group member said the theme for the Cork County Shield 2023 was Back to the Future. We held one big event so we pooled our skills and resources to allow as many young people to compete as possible and provide the best possible experience across the weekend. The theme of the weekend was Back to the Future. This was chosen to encourage the scouts that their future is what they make it and they have the power to create a fantastic future for themselves and their communities. Alicia Moore, 2nd Cork Ballyphehane at the All Cork county scouting shield at the Cork showgrounds over the weekend. Picture; Eddie O'Hare Ms Brett said the weekend is a chance for the various scout groups to showcase their skills and have fun. The overall goal of the weekend is for our scouts to showcase their skills, meet new people, and most importantly have fun. Wed like to thank all the adults who gave up their time to help run the event and the Cork Showgrounds who have been very supportive. The event brought together all the skills from around the county and it got the kids together. They got to see how everybody else does it as well which is great. We had a total of 56 teams which is about 400 young people which is great. There was great excitement and a buzz over the weekend, she added. Aidan O'Reilly and Maeve McLean fom 74th Cork Frankfield at the All Cork county scouting shield at the Cork showgrounds over the weekend. Picture; Eddie O'Hare The skills on show were great, said Ms Brett. The kids are so independent, they mind themselves and do their own cooking for the weekend. There was a lot of work put in on the the weekend run-up. Three teams have now qualified for the nationals from each county after the Cork County Shield. The nationals will be held in Larch Hill in Dublin, the national scout centre in August. Ms Brett said there are many benefits to joining a local scout group. The scouts are a wonderful organisation. I have been involved since I was six years of age. The organisation aims to build on the social, intellectual, character, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of people. It is a great way to make people more independent. We are very lucky in Cork that all the kids are such wonderful people. They really put a lot of work in. It is great for leadership and teamwork as well. THERE are just a few days left to submit nominations for the Lord Mayors Community and Voluntary Awards, which pay tribute to the commitment of local voluntary and community groups. This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the prestigious awards. The categories include arts, culture, recreation and sport; community development and continuing education; health and wellbeing; social inclusion, advocacy and integration; and social services, charities and environment. Adrienne Rodgers and Chris Dorgan, both Cork City Council, Lord Mayor Cllr Deirdre Forde and Karen O'Donoghue, marketing director of The Irish Examiner and The Echo, attending the launch of the 2023 Lord Mayors Community and Voluntary Awards, at City Hall, Cork. Chris Dorgan, awards coordinator in Cork City Councils Community Culture and Placemaking Directorate, is appealing to groups interested in participating to register their interest online at corkcity.ie/lordmayorawards by 5pm on Friday, April 28. Sponsored by The Echo, the awards are presented to one overall winner and five category winners. Mr Dorgan told The Echo: This year we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the awards and we have recognised the fantastic work of hundreds of organisations across all communities during those 20 years. I have had the privilege for the last seven years or so to be master of ceremonies at the award ceremony, and to see hundreds of volunteers being recognised for the work they do is certainly the highlight of my working year. Ive heard it said many times over the years, from shortlisted organisations, that simply seeing the work recognised in the short film piece at the awards ceremony is a reward in itself. Last years overall award went to Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery. Search coordinator and treasurer Chris ODonovan said it was a huge, unexpected honour. Some members of the team have first-hand experience of missing people where a lot of the outcomes were tragic, he said. We know what it is like which is why we are so passionate about giving back as best we can. People helped us when we needed them and our hope now is to give back to other families. This is what motivates us to get up at 4am in the morning if we get a call to help a family in need. We dont do this for awards but for the families who need our help. When our names were announced last year our jaws nearly hit the floor. It was such an honour and astounding to us that we were even nominated in the first place and we were so grateful for the award. A CHERNOBYL liquidator fought back tears as he described how the nuclear disaster still haunts him 37 years to the day since that life changing explosion. Ihor, who most recently fled war in Severodonetsk, Ukraine for a safer life in Cork, is one of many liquidators still suffering from crippling health issues caused by the absorption of dangerous radiation from the No 4 reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. As part of his duties with Ukraines Military Police, the now 55-year-old joined other liquidators at the site of the disaster near Pripyat on April 26 back in 1986. Dad of one, Ihor said he had no idea at the time that he was standing on the site of what was to be the worlds most horrific nuclear incidents. The initial emergency response, along with later decontamination efforts of the environment, incorporated more than 500,000 personnel aimed at mitigating long-term damage from the disaster. Ihor is urging people not to forget those still affected by the horrors of Chernobyl as people across the globe mark the tragedys anniversary. Ukrainian Ihor and his wife Olha now living at the Quality hotel in Redbarn Youghal. Picture; Eddie O'Hare I only knew the word radiation, not what it did to people. I had to go because it was my duty. However, its hard to know if we would have gone that day had we known what was really happening. The Youghal resident, who suffers from a myriad of health problems including sever migraines and a blood disorder, recalled how his world had been turned upside down at 18. You cant feel or see radiation. However, that day it was going through my whole body without me even realising it. Its only afterwards when the radiation enters your whole body that it becomes clear what has happened. Its weird to still be hearing and reading about Chernobyl. I am angry that the government lied. Ihor, who has a wife named Olha and grandson called Demyd, said he thanks God for his family every day after doctors told him he would never have children due to the impact of radiation on his body. The doctor told me I would never be able to have children. To hear these words is heart breaking. He described his only son, 33-year-old Antolii, as a miracle. Hearing I was going to have a son was like flying to the highest point of the sky without wings. It was the most happiness Ive ever had in one day. I knew my son would be strong and look like his mum, the best woman on the planet. He is a miracle. Many of the men with me that day were told they also would be unable to have kids too. Every child who was born after the Chernobyl disaster was a miracle. Ihor spoke of how many on site with him on site that day passed away from health issues connected to radiation. The radiation doesnt kill you straight away. It takes time. Many who were there with me that day died or are currently suffering from severe health problems. People dont remember. They dont appreciate the people who did this dirty job. At the time we were given these costumes and masks to wear but they did nothing to help the situation. Ukrainian Ihor now living at the Quality hotel in Redbarn Youghal. Picture; Eddie O'Hare He explained that it can be difficult for people to understand his health issues. People dont believe me that I went from this life to where I am now. They look at me and see this big strong man so they find it difficult to believe that I have this disability. The grandfather said he has fallen in love with Cork. Chernobyl was only the beginning of my life story. I love Cork so much. I dont want to upset the people of Ukraine by saying I prefer it here. However, if I had the chance to stay here I would. Ihor is looking forward to the future and added: I am waiting for a granddaughter. That is my dream. He extended his gratitude to the people of Cork and to Fiona Corcoran from the Greater Chernobyl Cause for making his trip to Cork a reality. I would like to thank the people of Cork for taking an interest in my story and to Fiona Corcoran from the greater Chernobyl Cause for the kindness she has shown us. Meanwhile, Fiona Corcoran from the Greater Chernobyl Cause praised Ihor and his wife Olha for their bravery. We are so proud to be associated with this couple, she said. When we heard about how ill Ihor was we jumped to their aid. The situation was brought to our attention by Ihors son who wanted to have the family back together again. Since his arrival in Cork Ihor has become such a special part of our charity family. We felt it was our duty and privilege to get Ihor and his wife to Cork. Things are extremely difficult at the moment with the accommodation situation but where theres a will theres a way. To find out more or to donate to the Greater Chernobyl Cause visit http://www.greaterchernobylcause.ie/ UKRAINIANS living all over Cork will come together for a special ceremony today to commemorate the Chernobyl disaster. The event, taking place at midday in Bishop Lucey Park, will be organised by members of the Greater Chernobyl Cause who acknowledge the disaster on April 26 every year. This week marks 37 years since the No 4 reactor exploded at the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant near Pripyat, Ukraine. It resulted in 30-40 times the level of radioactivity released by atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland, Larysa Gerasko, is expected to attend the event which will also have a focus on the new challenges facing todays Ukrainian people. Greater Chernobyl Cause founder Fiona Corcoran said that nobody can predict the impact the disasters legacy will have on future generations. Ms Corcoran described how her charity has been supporting the country during such trying times. We finance humanitarian hubs in Ukrainian cities, including Lviv, Kviv and Kharkiv, now dubbed the city of no windows due to the destruction caused by constant shelling, she said. In these cities, Ukrainian citizens endure constant power cuts and blackouts. There is little prospect of work or proper education. Our charity works hard to support those suffering as much as we can with such projects as providing generators to schools so that children can have some normality, building a community bomb shelter and funding hubs which provide support 24 hours a day. We provide counselling, as trauma upon trauma are heaped on the people of Ukraine. "However, there seems to be no end to the trauma for these innocent victims, as war continues. The event will be marked with an afternoon of music, poetry, and prayer. Pupils from Goggins Hill National School are preparing to sing the Ukrainian National Anthem, in solidarity with many Ukrainian children, who up to a year ago, enjoyed homes, security and normal lives. Fiona thanked the people of Cork for supporting the charitys events. The empathy and love of the Irish will be evident as always as we stand with Ukraine in their time of need." Also in attendance on the day will be Lord Mayor of Cork, Fine Gael councillor Deirdre Forde, emergency services personnel, and members of the Defence Force, along with school children and the general public. A TWO-year-suspended jail sentence was imposed on a 49-year-old man for VAT offences which left him with a 38,000 liability to the Revenue Commissioners. Gerry Conway, investigator in the criminal prosecutions division of the Revenue Commissioners, outlined the background to the case against Yacoub Abdoulaye, of Elizabeth Place, Southern Road, Cork, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The investigation was carried out initially by the tax office in Cork comparing VAT which was paid by DHL to the defendant and the amount which he later paid to revenue. Mr Conway said DHL indicated that they paid X and that the defendant returned Y to the revenue commissioners and that X and Y did not tally. Ultimately, the defendant pleaded guilty to charges related to various VAT offences and under-reporting the VAT paid to him on a contract basis by DHL. Defence senior counsel, Ray Boland, said the 49-year-old, who was originally from Chad and is now an Irish citizen, was in very poor health and only able to work three days a week at the moment. The Money Advice Bureau and Revenue came to an agreement recommending the defendant pay back 100 per month. Mr Boland said it was acknowledged that the defendant would never pay back all of the 38,000 15,000 of which was made up of penalties but that it was all the accused could afford. Judge Boyle was told that the Revenue Commissioners were anxious to have the matter finalised in court. A 28-year-old woman who is due to have her first baby next week faced sentencing yesterday for having a 43,000 stash of cannabis at her home in Cork city over a year ago. The young woman confessed to a charge that can carry a ten-year minimum jail term unless the sentencing judge finds there are exceptional circumstances. Jovana Bogdan of Washington Street West, Cork, entered the signed plea of guilty to the charge that on December 9 2021 at her home she had cannabis worth more than 13,000 for the purpose of sale or supply to others. The cannabis seized in the case weighed 2.5 kilos. Detective Garda Eoin OToole said it had been established that the accused had been residing at the apartment on Washington Street and that there was cannabis present at that address for the purpose of sale or supply. She was interviewed on three occasions and said she was holding the drugs for sale or supply and was receiving cannabis as payment for holding it for a third party, Det. Garda OToole said. Jane Hyland senior counsel for the defence said, At the time she herself was using drugs. "She is now working. And she has worked to come off drugs. Ms Hyland suggested that the accused was under threat from a bigger player in the drug trade to hold on to the drugs. Det. Garda OToole said the defendant did say that but the gardai did not accept that was necessarily true. Ms Hyland said the 28-year-old came to Ireland from Serbia at the age of seven and that from the age of 16 she was essentially fending for herself. Judge Helen Boyle acknowledged at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that the accused was about to have a baby and said she would adjourn sentencing until February 2024. However, she warned, This lady is going to have to face the consequences, Im afraid "There are going to be consequences, but I will put it back. A Cork soldier who was seriously injured in a shooting incident in Lebanon which claimed the life of his colleague, is returning to Dublin to undergo surgery. Trooper Shane Kearney is returning to Beaumont Hospital today, Wednesday April 26, to continue with his medical treatment, confirmed a spokesperson for the Defences Forces. Mr Kearney will undergo cranioplasty surgery which should hopefully be the final operation that he requires. Shane has been recovering at home in Cork for the past two months and has been making steady progress to date. All of Shane's colleagues in the Defence Forces are thinking of him at this time and are wishing him a speedy recovery, added the spokesperson. Mr Kearney, from Killeagh, was seriously wounded when the armoured UN vehicle in which he was travelling was surrounded by a group of attackers in Lebanon in December. Private Sean Rooney, 24, was killed, and Mr Kearney, 22, was medically evacuated from Lebanon to Ireland, where he received treatment at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. In February, Trooper Kearney was discharged from Beaumont Hospital, to continue his recovery at home in Cork. Various events are set to take place across Cork today as part of Poetry Day Ireland, an annual island-wide celebration of poetry. Now in its ninth year, Poetry Day Ireland will see over 100 free events taking place across the country, including in Cork. This years theme is 'Message in a Bottle', encouraging people to share a poem, read a poem, and speak a poem. The First Friday Writing Group will host a poetry reading event in Macroom Library where members of the group will read a selection of their own work from 2pm. This will be followed by an open mic where the audience will be invited to read a poem of their own or one by another poet. Matthew Geden will host a free poetry workshop for adults at Bandon Library at 11am. All levels and experiences are welcome. Poetry readings will also be held at Cobh Library at 3pm today. People are also invited to sign up for free to receive a personal phone call from an award-winning poet who will read them two to three reassuring poems by dialing The Poetry Line on 01 443 4277. Participating poets include Thomas McCarthy, Jane Clarke, Michel McCann, Rachael Hegarty, and Molly Twomey. All events are free but spaces are limited and early booking is advised via poetryireland.ie. A five-year jail term was imposed on a burglar who assaulted and threatened a mother-of-four when she was holding her one-year-old infant in her own home. Judge Helen Boyle noted that Shane Purcell of no fixed address caught the young mother from behind late at night and threatened her for her access to her car with the words: Give us the keys you have ten seconds or we will hurt you. Judge Boyle imposed a sentence of six years on the 25-year-old and suspended the last year of the sentence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. And not alone did the judge refer to the gravity of the present case but to the seriousness of the situation of his life in the future, warning the accused: If you dont successfully wean yourself off drugs and alcohol you will come before the courts for the rest of your days. Co-accused, Jonathan Power of Boyces Street, Cork, got a sentence of four and a half years with the last 18 months suspended for his part in the burglary. He pleaded guilty to burglary and not to the additional charge of assault to which Purcell pleaded guilty. Judge Boyle said she did not believe Power anticipated that an assault would occur on the night and that in fact he was the one who called on Purcell to stop the assault. Detective Sergeant Kieran OSullivan described the crime at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where the defendants were found guilty by a jury following a trial. Det Sgt OSullivan said it happened just before 2am on June 14 2021 at a house at Mangerton Close, The Glen, Cork. The 27-year-old mother was at home with her children and was holding her one-year-old in her arms when the three men broke into the house. She was threatened and forced to hand over the keys of her car. Shane Purcell caught her from behind put his arms around her neck, choking her. He said, Give us the keys you have ten seconds or we will hurt you, the detective said. Gardai later stopped the car at a filling station nearby shortly after the burglary and arrested both defendants. Defence barrister Emmet Boyle said on behalf of Jonathan Power that according to the evidence at the trial, he was the one who called out during the burglary: Stop shes had enough. Mr Boyle added that the injured party did not believe that he was the person who was driving it on. Det Sgt OSullivan said: I would say Mr Purcell was the leader in this. I would say Mr Power got in over his head and followed the lead. Mr Boyle BL said Mr Power wrote a letter of apology in which he said he was ashamed of what he had done and hoped for an opportunity to show his family and girlfriend that he could turn his life around. Niamh Stewart, barrister for Purcell, said the young man had a very difficult life with the recent death of his father and the deaths of two of his brothers. Purcell said: I am genuinely sorry for everything I did. A local representative in Cork has called on the National Transport Authority (NTA) to extend the timeline of the second round of public consultation on the emerging preferred BusConnects routes. BusConnects Cork is a 600m programme of work that aims to transform the citys bus system, making public transport more accessible to more people. Labour Party Cork City area representative Peter Horgan said an extension of the timeline of the second round of public consultations on the proposals, which is currently under way, would allow for the publication of traffic modelling to be incorporated into submissions by the public. It was confirmed to me at this weeks public information event that traffic data and modelling is currently under way in Cork city and is due to be published in a number of weeks, he said. That data should be in the public domain and help inform submissions and not be held back to the statutory consultation. BusConnects is an evolving process at this stage still, but it is vital we have all data relevant to it available for people to frame their submissions. Extend the timelines to ensure people are able to make informed submissions. The second non-statutory public consultation on BusConnects sustainable transport corridors (STCs) is due to run until Thursday, May 25, making it an eight-week public consultation. Public information events took place last week in communities across Cork where STCs are proposed, which gave members of the public a chance to meet with design engineers and NTA representatives to discuss their concerns. An NTA spokesperson told The Echo, said: Traffic surveys have been taking place across Cork City in recent weeks as part of the BusConnects Cork project. This will assist the project team in further understanding the data in relation to the current number of cars, cyclists, and pedestrians at different locations across Cork. The NTA will also be undertaking detailed traffic modelling where we will seek to predict how traffic flows might behave if the proposed STCs are implemented. This will happen at a later stage in the project. Looks like theres about to be cobbler all over South Florida. The Peach Cobbler Factory has set up shop at Crossroads Square in Pembroke Pines and from there, a combination of dessert restaurant and training center, plans to roll out 30 locations spread from West Palm Beach all the way to Key West. Thirty is a modest number in my eyes, but its a solid number, CEO and co-owner Gregory George says. Its just that now that Ive lived here, theres so many cities. Theres just so many cities within cities within cities and, you know, theres just restaurants everywhere. [Business] is just flourishing down here. Created in 2013 by Juan and Tamira Edgerton as a Nashville food truck, The Peach Cobbler Factory appeared on The Food Network, with the brand later sold to George and his business partner, Larry Johnston. Now there are almost 200 franchises in the works nationwide. The concept is a family-style dessert shop with a menu that includes 12 cobbler flavors (served with ice cream), 12 banana pudding flavors, six cinnamon roll flavors, 11 Bigger & Better Cookies, 12 Cobbler Cookies, along with Sweet Peachy Tea, cold brew coffee and Latin blend coffee. George, who now lives in Fort Lauderdale, says those throwback desserts were what attracted both businessmen to franchise the idea. Well, the products were old-fashioned. Id never seen the products in a food concept, he says. If you think about it, where can you go today to get banana pudding, much less 12 flavors? Where you going to get cobbler today? Can you go out and get a New York cheesecake banana pudding milkshake today? You cant. The majority are products, other than cinnamon rolls, that are just not available out here. Theyre just not. Want dessert delivered after midnight? No problem The Pembroke Pines locations hours are now noon to 10 p.m., but the plan is to soon extend delivery until 2 a.m. something George says will be unique to South Florida and will particularly resonate with foodies in the region. Theres a massive business, and in South Florida in particular, of late-night delivery of cookies, in general, he says. I mean, theres just certain people that dont even think about dessert till late-night. And you know theyre used to having it delivered to their door So that is something new for the company. We believe South Florida will support that. The Peach Cobbler Factory has opened in Pembroke Pines with quite the variety of flavors. The mega bus Also in the plans: A 40-foot, double-decker stationary bus at 1201 Riverland Road in Fort Lauderdale, where guests can dine at picnic tables set up outside, order takeout or have delivery. Were going to introduce our mega bus on Davie Boulevard and Riverland, George says. You can scan the menu on a QR code, order your product, itll be ready to go. Therell be no real waiting whatsoever. He adds, Imagine a business like ours being located at the entrance of St. Thomas [Aquinas High School]. Were gonna get a lot of exposure with that bus. So were were excited about that as well. A colorful assortment of cookies from The Peach Cobbler Factory in Pembroke Pines. Why South Florida? In addition to Pembroke Pines, there are currently Florida locations in Amelia Island (with more planned), Jacksonville and Tampa, according to the website peachcobblerfactory.com. The site also has locations listed as coming soon in Brandon, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Destin, Fernandina Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Gainesville, Lake Buena Vista, Naples, New Smyrna Beach, Orange Park, Orlando, Panama City, Pensacola, Santa Rosa, St. Augustine, St. Johns, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, The Villages and Winter Park. Jake Michels a sales associate with Berger Commercial Realty, which found the Pembroke Pines shop/training center space thinks the concept is in tune with the SoFlo region. The Peach Cobbler Factory is going to be a great fit in South Florida, he says. With its many desserts to choose from and cold drink options, it will be perfect to match with the warm weather and a great place to gather with friends and family. Their dessert options are social media magnets, and [The Peach Cobbler Factory] will be a memorable experience for both locals and tourists. Apple cobbler with ice cream from The Peach Cobbler Factory in Pembroke Pines. Michels and colleague Joe Byrnes are helping the franchise find other spaces in this region. We are looking for 1,000- to 2,000-square foot retail locations, preferably former cafes or ice cream stores, Michels adds. Ideally, they would be in highly visible, high-traffic areas that are interested in a business that will drive additional foot traffic to the location. George says that for him and Johnston, who lives in The Keys, it was the South Florida mix that made them want to make the area the headquarters for the concept. Were a very multicultural brand, says George, who also has a home in North Carolina. Our demographics are very wide. We believe that its the ultimate demographics here of all the different cultures. I just believe this is kind of an untapped market. Theres just such a beautiful combination of cultures here. The Peach Cobbler Factory is located at 212 N. University Drive, Pembroke Pines. For more information, visit peachcobblerfactory.com. A man who was caught around the neck in an arm-lock grip until he fell unconscious to the floor, banging his head, has said the losses in his life cannot be made good by any apology from the assailant. Filip Lukic, aged 28, of Castlefalls, Ross Rd, Killarney, Co Kerry, pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to a charge of assault causing harm to 24-year-old Kyle Walsh at Munster Joinery, Lackagh Cross, Ballydesmond, Co Cork. Judge Helen Boyle was told that there was a verbal altercation between them about work they were doing at the time. Lukic pushed Mr Walsh and caught him in an arm-lock until co-workers released his grip from the injured partys neck. The injured party was unconscious and limp and fell to the floor. He was taken to hospital, where a skull fracture was discovered. Jane Hyland, defence senior counsel, said the Croatian national had no previous convictions and none since. Ms Hyland said: The head fracture appears to have been sustained when the unfortunate injured party hit the ground. Mr Lukic was quite concerned for the injured party. The defendant said: I am very sorry I caused harm. I am very sorry for Kyle I am more concerned for Kyle than for myself. Ms Hyland said the accused gathered 9,000 so far for the injured party. Judge Boyle said more compensation would be needed. This man needs to put his best foot forward in terms of compensation, she said. The judge then adjourned sentencing until October 26. Mr Walsh said in a victim impact statement: I am the one who hasnt been able to work since. I am the one who has had to exhaust myself for over a year and a half just to be capable of doing the same everyday things everyone here does. I am the one who had to work to take my first steps again alone and face the incident in my head over and over again just to fix my mental health and get my confidence back. I am the one who has moved away just to escape the feelings being near there has created. All the sacrifices have come from my end and I have had to continue to make them, just so I can try to return to a normal life that was violently taken from me My health was not the only thing taken from me for so long: my happiness was taken, my hope was taken, my independence was taken, my ability to work was taken, my ability to look after my body properly was taken, my personality was taken, my whole life that I knew before what Filip done has been taken. And none of that can be given back to me, no matter how sorry he is, and I am the one who has had to accept that ever since. By David Young, PA Sinn Feins vice president Michelle ONeill has announced that she will attend the coronation of Britain's King Charles. The partys leader at Stormont said the gesture demonstrated her commitment to building good relations and advancing peace and reconciliation. Ms ONeill would be in line to become Northern Irelands First Minister if the current powersharing impasse is resolved and devolution returns in Belfast. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill (Liam McBurney/PA). In September, she attended the Queens funeral service in London. The move to attend the coronation is the latest signal of the vastly improved relations between the republican movement and the monarchy since the outset of the peace process in Northern Ireland. I have accepted an invitation to attend the coronation of King Charles III, said Ms ONeill. We are living in a time of great change. A time to respect our differing and equally legitimate aspirations, a time to firmly focus on the future and the opportunities that the next decade will bring. I am an Irish republican. I also recognise there are many people on our island for whom the coronation is a hugely important occasion. I am committed to being a First Minister for all, representing the whole community, building good relations between the people of these islands, and advancing peace and reconciliation through respectful and mature engagement. Therefore, as First Minister Designate, I will join President of Ireland Michael D Higgins, international figures, church leaders, other party leaders and the Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey for the coronation in London. By David Young, PA A budget for Northern Ireland anticipated to result in swingeing cuts to public services is set to be revealed on Thursday. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, who has responsibility for setting the Stormont budget in the absence of powersharing, is expected to outline departmental allocations for 2023/24 in a written ministerial statement at Westminster. Civil servants currently running public services in the absence of devolved elected ministers are bracing themselves for a potentially brutal settlement. When local ministers left office last year, Stormont was facing an approximate 600 million (677 million) black hole. Permanent secretaries were forced to make a range of in-year savings and the UK finance ministry provided a 300 million advance down-payment to help bridge the financial gap. However, with that 300 million having to be recouped in this financial year, the picture looks even more bleak for the 2023/24 budget. Stormont permanent secretaries insist they should not be placed in the position of having to making significant cuts, potentially impacting the most vulnerable in society. They have urged the British government to issue ministerial directions for any major cuts that are implemented. However, Mr Heaton-Harris has made clear that he does not intend to issue such directions, which means the decisions will fall on the civil service until such time as powersharing returns to Stormont. Michelle ONeill has expressed concern at the likely cuts in the budget (Niall Carson/PA) Devolution is in abeyance at Stormont as a result of a DUP boycott of the institutions in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements. Mr Heaton-Harris is due to meet the main parties at Hillsborough Castle on Thursday to discuss the budgetary picture. On Wednesday, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill called on the UK government to divert more money to Northern Ireland. I just think its not good enough that we dont have the executive up and running right now, we need to be there, she said. Gavin Robinson has said the problem is not a lack of powersharing but a lack of money (Liam McBurney/PA) And all the political parties need to be facing one direction and that is a direction pushing back against the Tory savagery. The cuts that they have brought forward have been eye-watering and really impacting on our communities and the people that live here. She added: But alongside a reformed executive, which I am determined and what I want to achieve, what we need is additional finances, because weve just dealt with 12-plus years of Tory austerity, theyve decimated public services, our public sector workers are on strike today, they shouldnt have to be there. But this is the reality of the Tory austerity that they have brought upon us. But we need to fight back against it. And we need to fight for additional funding for a reformed executive that allows us to actually make better political choices in the best interests of the people that we serve. The DUP has called for reform of how Northern Ireland is funded. This week, DUP MP Gavin Robinson raised the issue directly with Mr Heaton-Harris when he appeared before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. The primary problem is not a lack of Stormont, it is a lack of money. That is a decision made by Treasury, he said. I have been warning for some time that the Barnett formula used for divvying up the budget for the UK regions is unfair to Northern Ireland and will continue to get even worse in coming years. There needs to be a complete reform of the funding model. The Treasury contribution to fund public services in Northern Ireland is going down rather than rising. WHEN her name was announced as this years Miss Cork City, Rachel OLeary could hardly believe her ears. There was all the usual surprise and emotion at winning such a prestigious title, but for Rachel there was even more involved. Just a few short years ago, the young woman suffered from anxiety that made it hard to go to the shop, or walk across the college campus on her own never mind confidently taking her place centre stage before an audience. Its still surreal, to be honest, said the 23-year-old from Blarney. When I look at myself now, and compare how I was then theres just no comparison, and Im so proud at how far Ive come, she said. Taking part in the competition, never mind winning, has completely changed my life. Miss Cork City, Rachel OLeary on her graduation day at UCC. Rachel graduated from UCC last year with a first class honours degree in Commerce, majoring in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. But early in her third-level journey she began to experience debilitating social anxiety. Im not really sure how it started but it was probably to do with the transition from secondary to third level, going from a year of around 100 students in total, to being around thousands of people, she said. It was pretty daunting. It manifested by her feeling hyper-aware of where she was, and how she was feeling and being reluctant to go anywhere alone. I relied heavily on my great group of friends. Ive a small, close circle of friends and their support was incredible as well as my older sister. I also availed of therapy. It was a big step initially, but it was one of the best Ive ever made. Rachel continues to go to therapy when she needs it. I could go twice in a month, or not for two months. Id recommend it to anyone its great have someone and someplace where you can rationalise your thoughts. Its really helped me grow and progress as a person. She feels there may still be a little stigma attached to attending therapy, more so among an older generation: But the most important thing is to take care of yourself and nourish yourself. Im very open about it, and to me its just a stepping stone. Right now the ambitious young woman works for Miss Cork City, Rachel OLeary during the run up to the competition. Motor Group, primarily as a sales retention executive and shes relishing the role. Prior to this she worked as a bridal consultant for Vows in Blarney. Shes a real people person, and that was the main reason for her entering the Miss Cork competition. I love meeting new people and networking I always think its not what you know, but who you know. Coincidentally, herself and Miss Cork Riona OMahony hit it off from the get-go, even joking how funny it would be if they both won! We have literally been joined at the hip since we won in fact I wore her debs dress to the final! Miss Cork City, Rachel OLeary. Rachel is the older of the two, but says shes not sure if that means shes the wiser! We both complement each other. Riona is very grounding and we push each other in directions we wouldnt normally, she said. Its so lovely that were both going forward to the Miss Ireland competition together with Miss Cork Peoples Choice Molly Dennehy O Mahony. Rachel has recently been announced as an ambassador for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and she is supporting their upcoming tea day, which is their biggest fundraiser of the year on May 4th. Rachel OLeary with grandad Michael. Its a charity very close to her heart as both her maternal grandparents suffer from dementia and are being cared for in a nursing home. I really connect with the ASI as the services they offer are so brilliant for people who were in our situation a few months ago. It is sad to see my grandparents, but I always try to see the positives and at least we have time with them, and theyre being looked after in the right place, she said. Miss Cork City, Rachel OLeary with nan Sheila When shes not working or building her social media platforms, she enjoys the gym and reading. Oh and yoga! Its phenomenal for the soul! Miss Cork City, Rachel OLeary with her parents mum Linda and dad Neil. She said she wouldnt be where she is without her parents Linda and Neil. Their support has been incredible and my mum is so excited about Miss Ireland. Its lovely to see! Her ultimate ambition? Just to be a success at whatever Im doing, and to be known for all the right reasons. I think Id like to work in the area of digital marketing, and working for myself which would be the dream. But for now its about enjoying her year as Miss Cork City. Its very exciting and Id like to think I might be a good role model for other girls out there, particularly those who are a little shy. I think we should all remember not to box ourselves off, and limit ourselves. Id rather try and fail, than look back and regret not trying at all. Its all about taking every opportunity life is too short not to. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. Standing beneath especially tall trees in a forest and looking up can invoke a feeling of awe. Large trees especially those that are 21 inches in diameter or more offer valuable benefits to forests, as well as outsized help with the biodiversity and climate crises. They provide unique habitat for wildlife, as well as disproportionate absorption and storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide, a major driver of climate change. A new study explores the connection between protecting mature trees in national forests and objectives related to habitat conservation, forest resilience and climate change mitigation. These are public lands that are providing a natural climate solution and performing multiple additional services at no cost, said systems ecologist with Eastern Oregon Legacy Lands David Mildrexler, who was the lead author of the study, as Phys.org reported. We suggest policy to keep existing forest carbon stores out of the atmosphere and accumulate additional amounts while protecting habitat and biodiversity. The study, Protect large trees for climate mitigation, biodiversity, and forest resilience, was published in the journal Conservation Science and Practice. A previous study found that trees protected by a rule that prohibits the logging of trees 21 inches or wider at breast height known as the 21-inch rule only make up three percent of forest stems, but account for 42 percent of aboveground carbon storage, reported Phys.org. However, the U.S. Forest Service recently relaxed this vital rule, which means these essential, majestic carbon stores can now be felled on millions of national forest lands in Washington and Oregon. Forests account for 92% of all terrestrial biomass globally, store about 45% of the total organic carbon on land in their biomass and soils, and removed the equivalent of about 30% of fossil fuel emissions annually from 2009 to 2018, of which 44% was by temperate forests, the studys authors wrote, as Phys.org reported. Some ancient trees can live as long as 5,000 years and accumulate and store a massive amount of carbon in that time. There is no action required from us but to leave these large trees standing so they can continue to store and accumulate carbon for climate mitigation and provide critical habitat, said co-author of the study Beverly E. Law, a professor of global change biology and terrestrial systems science in the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society at Oregon State University, as reported by Phys.org. The researchers said more than half of the habitats of all identified plant and animal species on Earth are found in forests. Ancient trees are unique habitats for the conservation of threatened species because they can resist and buffer climate warming, wrote the authors of another study, including Gianluca Piovesan and Charles H. Cannon, as SciTechDaily reported. The study, Ancient trees: irreplaceable conservation resource for ecosystem, was published last year in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution. We call for international efforts to preserve these hubs of diversity and resilience. A global coalition utilizing advanced technologies and community scientists to discover, protect, and propagate ancient trees is needed before they disappear, the authors of the earlier study wrote, as reported by SciTechDaily. Cutting down any number of inherited large trees means not only eliminating vital habitat, but destroying valuable carbon stores and releasing huge amounts of carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere when we need to be doing the opposite. The authors of the new study said the 21-inch rule is a good example of effective policy that addresses biodiversity and habitat conservation and recovery along with climate change adaptation and mitigation. The scientists added that these mature trees have been contributing important climate change mitigation across large tracts of Pacific Northwest forest. Society has a narrow window of opportunity left to avert catastrophic consequences from the intertwined climate and biodiversity crises, and forests offer major solutions at the intersection of these urgent imperatives, the authors of the recent study wrote, as Phys.org reported. Salmon Evolution considers private placement of new shares Salmon Evolution announced on the Norway-based Oslo Brs stock exchange on April 18 that it is contemplating a private placement of new shares in the company to raise gross proceeds of kr500 million (US$47 million). The latest private placement came soon after the company finalised a binding loan agreement with DNB and Nordea for a green debt financing package worth kr1.55 billion (US$150 million). Salmon Evolution is engaging both DNB and Nordea as joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners in the newest private placement. According to the company, net proceeds from the placement will be used to fund parts of its salmon farming facility at Indre Hary, Norway, and for "general corporate purposes." Multiple primary insiders have all "indicated to apply" for offer shares. The company announced it is contemplating a new private placement days after an April 11 announcement its production ramp up is proceeding according to plan. The company said it recorded "all-time high biomass production" in March, gaining 320 tonnes in biomass for the month. The company's standing biomass as of March 31 was "almost" 1,500 tonnes live weight, a doubling from the 733 tonnes it had on December 31. Salmon Evolution also expects to produce 50,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon annually at its land-based farm. - SeafoodSource First containment of Irish beef enters China after three-year suspension A container of beef from Ireland arrived in China on April 24, marking a return of Irish beef to the Chinese market after three years' suspension due to a case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The container arrived at the port of Shanghai. The lifting of the suspension by China's General Administration of Customs has paved the way for an extensive relaunch, according to a notice issued on the website of Bord Bia, the Irish food board. "We are delighted to welcome Irish beef back into the Chinese market after a suspension of almost three years," said Bord Bia's China manager, Conor O'Sullivan. In January, the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine confirmed the resumption of Irish beef exports to China following the suspension in May 2020. The Irish food board said it hopes to quickly regain the previous share of the Chinese market held by Irish beef, and will support export growth with trade seminars, chef demonstrations and media engagement. The first batch of Irish beef is mainly beef ribs, tendons and other parts suitable for Chinese food. It will soon enter the catering industry and will later be available on retail and e-commerce platforms. Bord Bia's insight and planning specialist for Asia, Evelyn Chiang, said that China's consumption upgrade and preference for high-quality food offer a good opportunity for Irish beef. "Hot-pot restaurants, steakhouses and barbecue restaurants are all seeking high-quality and reliable imported beef, which is great news for Irish companies in the market," she said. In December 2022, Bord Bia launched a three-year campaign to promote beef and lamb to Chinese consumers. - Global Times ASF still an issue in Sabah, Malaysia, says state agriculture minister Sabah, Malaysia, is not yet completely free from the African swine fever (ASF) since it was detected in February 2021, said Datuk Seri Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, Sabah's State Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. He said, as of August 31 last year, 20 districts had been affected by this disease and were still in the recovery zone. Monitoring was still being done to ensure there were no new infections. He added that the ban on wild boar hunting remained for now. "Although ASF cases have subsided, it is not safe to allow hunting. We need to confirm there is nothing coming in and nothing coming out from Sabah," Dr. Kitingan said. "In the meantime, be patient." - New Straits Times Tyson Foods shuts down pork plant in Nebraska after fire Major US meatpacker Tyson Foods is diverting swine from a Nebraska processing plant to other plants after a weekend fire forced the closure of the facility on Monday, US News reported. While Tyson works to restore normal operations at the facility in Madison, Nebraska, the company is shipping swine to other plants and stockpiling swine on farms to prevent disruptions to American pork production. For the remainder of the week, the plant's operations will be restricted, according to Tyson, as the company assesses the fire's damage and starts making repairs. The plant typically runs one shift per day to process swine, and it employs about 1,200 people. Steve Meyer, lead economist for Partners for Production Agriculture, said Tyson's Nebraska facility typically slaughters 8,250 swine per day. Although it is not one of Tyson's largest facilities, it accounts for about 2% of all daily swine slaughter in the US. The cause of the fire and the locations of the facilities that were receiving the swine that would typically be processed in Madison were not disclosed by Tyson Foods. Al Juhnke, executive director of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association, said the company is able keep the animal flow going, as farmers have swine they need to deliver quickly. - US News Indonesia deploys officers to Batam to examine swine samples for ASF Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture has deployed officers to examine swine samples from a company's farm on Bulan Island in Batam, Riau Island after Singapore confirmed that the African swine fever (ASF) virus was detected in some swine carcasses imported from Bulan, The Jakarta Post reported. Aris Hadiyono, head of the Tanjung Pinang Quarantine Facility in Riau Islands, said veterinary officials arrived in Batam on Monday from Bukit Tinggi, West Sumatra, and were joined by ministry officials from Jakarta to examine the PT Indo Tirta Suaka farm. Aris said swine carcasses from the island were mostly exported to Singapore, with only a small amount delivered for local consumption. He said the ministry will decide whether to stop delivery for local consumption pending veterinary agency examinations. Following the virus detection, Singapore has halted the import of live swine from the island, with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) stating on Thursday that the carcasses were from a consignment of live swine from Bulan Island and had been removed from the abattoir line. The PT Indo Tirta Suaka farm has 1,500 hectares of land in Batam and manages 240,000 farm swine. Typically, the company sent between 900 and 1,300 live swine to Singapore at a cost of US$1.5 per kg. The SFA said live swine from Bulan Island account for approximately 15% of Singapore's total pork supply. According to the SFA, Singapore's pork supply is "well diversified" with more than 20 sources, including live swine from Sarawak state, Malaysia, and chilled or frozen pork from Australia, Brazil, Denmark, and New Zealand. - The Jakarta Post (JTA) As many as 50,000 Jews traveled to a Hungarian town for the anniversary of a noted rabbis death, marking significant growth for the annual pilgrimage and generating what the towns mayor called culture shock for non-Jewish locals. Since the fall of communism in 1989, Jewish pilgrims have been visiting Bodrogkeresztur, known as Kerestir in Yiddish, in April, timed to the death of Rabbi Yeshaya Steiner, a Hasidic rabbi known as Reb Shayele whom some believe had special powers. The number of pilgrims has swelled in recent years, thanks in part to efforts by the rabbis descendants to elevate his profile. The estimated 50,000 visitors this year other estimates placed the number lower, but still in the tens of thousands would be over 60 times the number of the towns year-round population. It also would likely set a new record for a Jewish pilgrimage in Europe, outpacing even the famed gatherings in Uman, Ukraine, at the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. Its all a bit surreal, Istvan Rozgonyi, mayor of the town in northeast Hungary, told Agence France-Presse this week. Christians and Jews co-existed peacefully here for centuries, but the sudden influx in the last decade of so many foreign Jews has been a culture shock for some locals. In fact, Kerestir has not had a significant Jewish population since 1944, when the towns Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. Some of Reb Shayales family members were among them, though the rabbi himself died in 1925 and others in his family, including a brother and some of his children, had previously made their way to the United States, where his brothers Staten Island grave is a pilgrimage site of its own. Reb Shayele is considered in some Hasidic circles to be a miracle rabbi who had supernatural powers of healing. He also famously advised a follower about how to rid his granary of mice, leading to the practice of affixing a picture of the Mouser Rabbi in ones home to keep mice away. People call me every day to ask if I have the power from my grandfather, Israel Grosz, the rabbis grandson and oldest living relative, told AFP. Grosz lives in the United States. He believes, as many of the pilgrims do, that access to Reb Shayeles powers is strongest at his grave. Many of the Jewish pilgrims to Kerestir, mostly but not exclusively men who gather in the town a few days before the anniversary of his death, go to the grave to ask for help with personal issues or for blessings. They visit his former house and the local Jewish cemetery where he is buried. In recent decades, family members have worked to build up a Jewish infrastructure in Kerestir. They purchased the familys home and erected a permanent tent over Reb Shayeles grave, then bought the building next door to serve as a guesthouse. During the pilgrimage season, they add more tents to accommodate visitors to the grave and run shuttles to and from the airport in Budapest. Dozens of buildings in the town of about 1,100 have been purchased by people affiliated with the pilgrimage. United Hatzalah, a Jewish emergency service based in Israel, sent a delegation to Kerestir. It treated well over 100 people this week, mostly for minor injuries and illnesses, it said in a press release. The influx briefly changes the town police had to close it off for three days so fleets of buses full of Jewish pilgrims from across the globe could proceed through its narrow streets. Orthodox Jews make other yearly pilgrimages to the burial sites of prominent rabbis across Europe, including in Turkey and elsewhere in Hungary. The most prominent of the pilgrimage sites is Uman, where the Rosh Hashanah event is known as a raucous affair. It took place last year despite the dangers of the Russia-Ukraine war and against the wishes of authorities, with a lower-than-usual number of visitors. The highest estimate for Uman attendance was 40,000, in 2018. This weeks Kerestir pilgrimage could have topped that, according to its organizers. We are proud that more people than ever came to Hungary this year to commemorate my grandfathers memory and his influential teachings, Menachem Mendel Rubin, who organized the event from his home in the United States, said in a press release. He thanked local police and the Hungarian government for their support. As large as this years pilgrimage was, its unlikely to be the largest: Organizers expect record crowds in two years, for the 100th anniversary of Reb Shayeles death. To read more content visit www.jta.org US university researchers get funding to boost use of AI, robotics in chicken processing US university researchers at Georgia Tech, the University of Arkansas System, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Fort Valley State University in Georgia were awarded a US$5 million grant to increase use of artificial intelligence and robotics in chicken processing to reduce waste in deboning and detect pathogens. The grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will establish the Center for Scalable and Intelligent Automation in Poultry Processing. The center, led by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, will join researchers from five institutions in three US states in efforts to adapt robotic automation to chicken meat processing. Douglas Britton, manager of the Agricultural Technology Research Program at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), said his team was very excited to work on this project with experts at the four other institutions. "The ultimate goal is to drive transformational innovation into the poultry and meat processing industry through automation, robotics, AI and VR (virtual reality) technologies," Britton said. "Building on years of work in the GTRI Agricultural Technology Research Program, we are pleased to see that the USDA-NIFA has chosen this team to continue these efforts." Georgia Tech is a major partner in the project and was awarded US$2 million to focus on automating the processing lines that turn chickens into meat, said Jeyam Subbiah, professor and head of the food science department for the Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas and director of the project. The grant is for four years. The Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the Division of Agriculture, will receive US$2.2 million from the grant primarily to focus on food safety automation for poultry processing plants. The remaining grant money will be divided between Julia McQuillan, Willa Cather, professor of sociology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Brou Kuoakou, associate dean for research at Fort Valley State University in Georgia. Jeff Buhr, a USDA Agricultural Research Service scientist, will contribute his expertise in broiler physiology to guide robotic deboning of meat, Subbiah said. Georgia is the United States' top broiler producer. Arkansas is number three, according to 2021 figures from USDA. The recent impetus to automate chicken processing began with the COVID pandemic, Subbiah said. The illness spread quickly among workers on the processing line. Since the worst of the pandemic, the poultry industry, like many others, has been having trouble hiring enough workers. "Poultry processing lines began 70 to 80 years ago," Subbiah said. "Since then, there have been only incremental changes in technology. Today, there's a need for transformative change. "Human deboners leave about 13% of meat on the bones. Automated deboners leave 16-17%. On an industrial scale, that's a significant loss in value. We will use artificial intelligence and virtual reality to improve precision and reduce wastage." Automation can relieve labor shortages, Subbiah said. It also allows plants to locate in rural areas with a smaller labor force but nearer poultry houses and with lower property costs. Initially, people working remotely may help advance robotic processing. Subbiah envisions workers logging on from home with virtual-reality goggles and haptics gloves to control robots located miles away. While working remotely, the labor force will teach artificial intelligence how to cut up chickens of varying sizes and shapes. "Automated machines right now are programmed to debone or cut up chickens based on an average size and shape. But no chicken is that size or shape," Subbiah said. "Robot-wielded knives cut meat poorly. The machines have to learn how to adjust to the reality of random sizes and shapes." "We are thrilled to partner with our colleagues here in the Division of Agriculture, as well as our colleagues at Georgia Tech and the other participating institutions on this exciting project," said David Caldwell, head of the Division of Agriculture's poultry science department and director of the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science. "We expect the findings from these coordinated research projects will be impactful for our stakeholders in the commercial poultry industry here in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the entire industry. This project will help keep moving technology forward in processing and food safety of poultry." - India Education Diary Im just back from a whirlwind week in London where I met with Jewish leaders, British MPs, print and TV journalists, folks from Londons West End theatre and good friends. My visit began with a speaking engagement at the Jewish Book Week Festival at Kings Place. It was an impressive production with 100 speakers over the day and 3,000+ audience members. I also had the privilege to address Members of Parliament as legislation is circulating that could gut the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement there. Fingers crossed. My last visit to London was in 2015, just two months before Jeremy Corbyn, a radical left-wing anti-Israel politician, was elected Labour Party leader and BDS was in full swing. Well-known for his association with and praise for Hamas, Corbyn attracted a new and manifestly antisemitic crowd to the party. Labour, like our Democratic Party, had been the political home for Jews for centuries. With Corbyns ascent, members charged that it harassed and discriminated against Jews and failed to punish perpetrators. The Jewish community was deeply concerned. Young professionals felt forced to choose between their connection to Israel and/or Jewish identity and their careers and social circles a dilemma that took several more years to ripen in the US. Some of my British friends were purchasing a second home in or moving to Israel, afraid that if Corbyn won the general election for Prime Minister in 2019, they wouldnt be able to get their money out. I took my concerns about the BDS campaign and the Jew-hatred it was fomenting to the Israeli Consulate office in London but left unassured that the tide would turn. Unlike in the US, where Jewish institutions were up in arms against the threat, the primary Jewish advocacy group in the UK, the Board of Deputies (BOD), had a nuanced, if not downright muted, response. According to several friends, the approach had always been to plead their case privately to government officials and not make a public fuss. Frankly, I was dumbfounded by the low-key response. Long ago, when I learned about the Holocaust, I understood that my destiny is entwined with the fate of Jews everywhere. Now, I more fully understand how the Jewish experience can vary depending on our numbers and the history and culture in which we live. Size matters. There are 7.6 million Jews in the US representing 2% of the population. In the UK, there are approximately 270,000 Jews, representing a mere .5%. If there is strength in numbers, the Jews in the UK have a far weaker hand. History matters. England was home to some of the worse Jewish demonization in Medieval Europe. Residents believed false tales of Jews murdering Christian children for their blood. Antisemitic lies about evil, greedy Jews were and are replete in English literature (e.g., The Merchant of Venice) and baked into the culture. In addition to prejudice and exclusion, British Jews, like other European Jews, have also suffered expulsion. In 1290, the Jews were kicked out of England and were not allowed to return for almost 400 years. Anxiety around their permanency continues to this day. Culture matters. English Jews do not publicly embrace their Jewishness in the same manner as their American cousins. According to journalist Nicole Lampert, the general population probably could not name five famous English Jews. Compare that to the American awareness of the Jewish ethnicity of individuals like Mark Zuckerberg, Jerry Seinfeld, Albert Einstein, Seth Rogen, Steven Spielberg, Larry David, Bernie Sanders and Barbra Streisand. If you are reluctant to identify as a Jew, it is harder to fight for your rights as a Jew. However, in 2019, when Jeremy Corbyn ran for prime minister, this chapter of Jewish history had a remarkable ending. British Jews found their voices. A slew of Jewish lawmakers quit the party. A human rights commission launched an investigation. On a single day, the headlines in all three major Jewish publications declared Corbyn an existential threat to Jews. The BOD took the unprecedented step of organizing a large protest in front of Parliament. The BBC aired an expose, Is Labour Antisemitic, by broadcaster John Ware who I had the pleasure to meet. Jeremy Corbyn suffered a devastating defeat. He lost 16% of typical Labour voters who said antisemitism was one of the reasons they decided not to vote for him. Did that end antisemitism across the pond? Of course not. Anti-Jewish hate crimes have risen there like everywhere else and anti-Jewish conspiracy theories thrive. However, Corbyn inadvertently raised the consciousness of non-Jews and, unlike in the US, Diversity, Equity and Inclusions (DEI) training includes Jews as a minority. The biggest takeaway of all, however, is that we can move mountains when we raise our voices. Lana Melman is an entertainment industry veteran, author and CEO of Liberate Art, Inc. Her book Artists Under Fire: The BDS War Against Celebrities, Jews, and Israel is an Amazon Best Seller. Contact and learn more at www.LiberateArt.net Bipartisan Senate bill would require parental consent for teens to use social media The legislation aims to ban platforms from using algorithms to recommend content to under-18s. 9A bipartisan group of senators has introduced a bill that seeks to protect kids from the potentially harmful effects of social media. The Protecting Kids on Social Media Act would set 13 as the minimum age for using social media platforms, in line with the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the current terms of many major services. Those aged between 13 and 17 would need parental consent to use social media apps, while platforms would not be allowed to use algorithms to recommend content to under 18s. Democratic Sens. Brian Schatz and Chris Murphy introduced the bill alongside their Republican counterparts Tom Cotton and Katie Britt. The proposed legislation seeks to employ age verification technology, though it would prevent companies from using age verification data for other purposes. Were it to become law, the bill would establish a pilot program to offer platforms a government-provided age verification system. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general would have jurisdiction over the bill's provisions. "Studies have shown a strong relationship between social media use and poor mental health, especially among children," the senators said in a press release. "With this clear evidence, the US Surgeon General has warned that 13 is too early for social media use and suggested that 16, 17, or 18 may be as well." "The alarm bells about social medias devastating impact on kids have been sounding for a long time, and yet time and time again, these companies have proven they care more about profit than preventing the well-documented harm they cause," Murphy said. "In particular, these algorithms are sending many down dangerous online rabbit holes, with little chance for parents to know what their kids are seeing online. 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. This is hardly the first time that federal legislators have introduced bills in an attempt to protect children as they use online services. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal last year introduced the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which aimed to block platform holders from offering algorithmic recommendations to under 16s. Such companies would have been required to disable "addictive" features and offer kids tools to help them protect their data. KOSA sailed through the Commerce Committee unanimously in July, but it didn't pass the Senate before the end of the last congressional session. Blumenthal and Sen. Dick Durbin introduced a bill in February that would give people the right to delete details of their internet activity that companies collected before they turned 13. In a related case as part of an FTC settlement related to COPPA, Epic Games last year agreed to delete Fortnite players' personal data unless they claimed to be 13 or older. The Protecting Kids on Social Media Act follows similar efforts at state level. Last month, Utah became the first state to require parental consent for under-18s to use social media. The legislation grants parents full access to their children'' accounts, including private messages. The laws are set to take effect next March, but it's not yet clear how they'll be enforced. Correction 4/26/2023 8:09PM ET: This story originally stated that KOSA failed to make it out of committee during the last congressional session. However, it passed the Commerce Committee in July. We apologize for the error. We might see an electric vehicle based on Honda's e:Architecture, its dedicated EV platform, a year earlier than the company had previously announced. At a business briefing, wherein the automaker talked about earnings structure, battery initiatives and other things, it has announced that it's building a mid-to-large-size EV based on the e:Architecture and that will go on sale in North America by 2025. Honda previously said that vehicles adopting the architecture will be available in 2026. The company also announced that it's further developing its vehicle OS for use with mid-to-large-size EVs in North America and making sure that it allows for the "continuous advancement of vehicle functions and services for customers even after the vehicle is purchased." As TechCrunch notes, though, it didn't say if it's currently working on (or at least planning) a smaller vehicle based on its e:Architecture for the North American market at the moment. Before the vehicles based on its dedicated platform come out, Honda will launch the EVs it's currently developing with General Motors: The Acura ZDX and the Prologue, which is automaker's first electric SUV. Both vehicles will be available in 2024. In Japan, Honda is expected to release a series of small-size EVs, including an electric N-One, which is a mini box-like Kei car that can be commonly seen on the streets in the country, in 2024. It will also launch a small-size SUV for the Japanese market in 2026. A young Harrison Ford will grace cinema screens for 25 minutes this summer aided by some new Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) software. The news that LucasFilm's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny would feature a de-aged Ford came at the end of last year, but an interview with director James Mangold in Total Film just revealed it will be for almost a fifth of the film's running time. The fifth Indiana Jones iteration starts with an opening scene from 1944 about eight years after Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark took place. "My hope is that, although it will be talked about in terms of technology, you just watch it and go, Oh my God, they just found footage. This was a thing they shot 40 years ago," Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm and a producer, told Empire. The rest of the movie shoots forward to 1969, with Indy on a mission to prevent a comeback of Nazism. The news of Ford's extended return to his thirties comes a few months after Disney, which produced the movie alongside LucasFilm, announced it had built an AI that could make an actor appear older or younger with relative ease at the end of last year. The researchers behind the AI, known as FRAN (face re-aging network), explained it would only work with real people if there were images available of the person in those poses and lighting at a younger age. Footage of Ford's earlier roles was pulled from the Lucasfilm archives to accomplish this. Ford also acted with dots across his face to aid the system and with the agility of a young man, according to Mangold. Then, the technology would quickly do its thing. Mangold would "shoot Harrison on a Monday as, you know, a 79-year-old playing a 35-year-old, and I could see dailies by Wednesday with his head already replaced." (JNS) Many see the creation of the modern-day State of Israel as part of a historical narrative, in which Israeli independence was a reaction to the Holocaust. The catastrophe which recently befell the Jewish people the massacre of millions of Jews in Europe was another clear demonstration of the urgency of solving the problem of its homelessness by re-establishing in Eretz-Israel the Jewish State, the provisional government of Israel declared on May 14, 1948. But when JNS interviewed nearly 30 veterans of the 1948 War of Independence in Israel from October 2022 to January 2023, all of the octogenarians, nonagenarians and centenarians said that 3,000 years of Jewish history and not the Shoah drove them to help reclaim the Jewish historic homeland. JNS found the interviewees by visiting nursing homes, kibbutzim and other sites in Israel and abroad, often asking to speak with the oldest people present. The roughly 30 who agreed to talk about their experiences spoke with JNS the majority in English with some Yiddish for more than 60 hours collectively. The veterans spanned Israeli-born sabras who were active in the Jewish militias Irgun, Lehi and the Haganah, as well as foreign fighters who came to assist what would become the Israel Defense Forces in Machal units. Both sabras and foreign volunteers knew a great deal about the Holocaust, and many had lost relatives and friends. They met survivors who recounted their experiences. But invariably, the veterans told JNS that they were motivated in their service by a long cultural and historical memory rather than World War II itself. JNS shares a few of those stories. Haganah messenger JNS spent some eight hours at kibbutz Gan Shmuel with Itzik Mizrachi, 90, who shared his story, gave a tour of the kibbutz where he lives and invited JNS to lunch at its dining hall. The Jerusalem-born Mizrachi said he was a messenger in Haganahs youth wing, Gadna. During the outbreak of the war in May 1948, Itzik and his family were in the Mount Scopus area, and Arabs blocked them from taking roads to other safe areas. A mob mobilized to try to kill them, he said, but the patriarch of an Arab family, Abu Mustafa, who shared their home stood guard at the door and told the mob it would have to kill him first. Soon thereafter, Haganah members came in an armored truck and told the family it had half an hour to gather its things and come to safety. Mizrachi, who remains in good health, and walks and drives on his own, told JNS that he is the seventh generation in his family to live in Israel, after his ancestors, Sephardic Jews, left Spain during the expulsion. As a Haganah message runner, he studied KAPAP an acronym for krav panim el panim, or close-quarter fighting which Haganah used to disguise its weapons training. Mizrachi later studied with Imi Lichtenfeld, founder of krav maga, and his son Rhon Mizrachi is now one of the recognized experts in that area. Mizrachi told JNS that the Holocaust was only one chapter in Jewish history. Why would we allow that moment alone to define us as Jews? he said. Long before the Holocaust, we said, Next year in Jerusalem every year during the Passover seder. The Holocaust was a motivator, but not the main one. For generations, we yearned for our independence. There were many pogroms, massacres and expulsions in our history. We never let any of these define us either, he said. South African Zionism The South African Jewish community was very Zionist long before the Holocaust, Ruth Stern, 97, a South African nurse who now lives in Jerusalem, told JNS. The 800 South African volunteers in 1948 paled in number only to Americans (1,000). Due to the representation from these two nations in particular, English became the most spoken language among machalniks, and most foreign volunteers, who were likelier to know Yiddish than Hebrew, first spoke in Yiddish with Israelis. Stern, who went to Israel to volunteer over her parents objections Why cant you be like your sisters and not go? said that she and her peers knew about the Holocaust and that many South African Jews of Lithuanian heritage lost relatives back home. The Holocaust wasnt why I volunteered or why most other Jews did, she insisted. In 1948, she treated many patients who had survived the Holocaust before their injuries in the war. They experienced trauma on top of trauma, she said. She accounted for her choice to go to Israel despite pressure from her parents with her spirit of adventurousness. Its not every 2,000 that one can see the Jewish state rebuilt, she said. She didnt want to wait another two millennia. High-flying graphic designer Asked whether the Holocaust motivated him, the late Alex Zilony, who died at age 107 on March 3, replied: No. What a question! Zilony, who was born in Poland and grew up in Israel, studied in the United Kingdom before becoming a Haganah pilot. He was one of the founders of the Israeli Air Force, and speaking from his home in Tel Aviv, he told JNS that he designed the IAF emblem, which remains in use today. We have wanted a state for over 3,000 years, he said. Maybe the possibility of building a state was higher after the Holocaust because we got many new immigrants and war veterans, but Jews had been migrating since the 1920s and even before this, he said. Zilonys daughter, Ruth, who was present during the interview, was as surprised as JNS was at her fathers response. This was not the answer I expected, she said, highlighting generational differences in Israel today. Despite the tendency of American South African and British volunteer pilots to pride themselves on the proclamation that they helped solidify a victory in 1948, Zilony was adamant that Israel would have prevailed without that help. Stay alive! They say three Jews, five opinions, the late Tom Tugend told JNS in a phone call from his California home late last year. This time, it was half a million of us, one opinion stay alive! Pretty much the whole Diaspora or every Jew who could hold a gun sent someone to represent their community. Despite having fled Nazi Germany to the United States and later returned to Europe as a U.S. soldier, Tugend insisted that his desire to help create a Jewish state was a more significant motivator than the Holocaust. Jews came from a variety of backgrounds, noted Tugend, from Jewish IRA (Irish Republican Army) arms smugglers to Indian Jews. Some, like Tugend, had served in the U.S. military, or in the British or French armies in World War II. Some were officers, while others lacked any military experience, he said, and a few even came from Kenya. The South Africans were among the most dedicated fighters, he pointed out. There was a Jewish Texan cowboy with a Southern accent. There was a Jew with a Scottish accent, and I recall one from Yorkshire whom nobody could understand! They all wanted to defend the new nation of Israel. To read more content visit www.jns.org The UKs antitrust regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority, has announced it will block Microsofts eye-popping purchase of Activision Blizzard. In a statement, the body said the deal risks harming the nascent cloud-gaming market by creating a monopoly player. It added that, if the deal concluded, Microsoft would have a market share of between 60 and 70 percent, incentive to withhold [Activision Blizzard] games from competitors and substantially weaken competition in this important growing market. The nature of the UKs investigation originally centered both on cloud issues but also the broader console gaming market. But in March of this year, said that the console market would be less of an issue than it had originally suspected. It conclusion was, broadly speaking, that while Microsoft could block high-profile Activision Blizzard titles, like Call of Duty, Overwatch and World of Warcraft from rival platforms, it didnt make much business sense to leave all of those sales on the table. And Microsoft did attempt to head off those concerns by signing a pact with Nintendo for access to Call of Duty, and made overtures to Sony for the same. Consequently, the investigation refocused on the cloud gaming market, which is where it found greater cause for concern. In its report (.PDF), the CMA says that Microsofts strengths as a brand and as an infrastructure provider needed to be taken into consideration. Specifically that it already controls Windows and Xbox, both big brands for gaming and gamers, as well as the infrastructure to support it, with xCloud and Azure on the cloud side. Regulators said if those were combined with Activision Blizzards portfolio of gaming titles, could be more readily weaponized in the cloud gaming sphere. And even if they werent used as a cudgel against Sony and Nintendo, as well as other cloud gaming companies, there was still a risk of the more general ills of a monopoly provider. For instance, it said the deal would standardize the terms and conditions on which games are available, as opposed to them being determined by the dynamism and creativity of competition in the market. By comparison, regulators believed that without the merger, Activision Blizzard would start providing games via cloud platforms in the foreseeable future. And that if it did, users will have a wider choice of service providers than if all of that content was locked inside Microsofts ecosystem, or at the very least made available to users at more preferential terms (.PDF). This, officials felt, would constitute a "significant lessening of competition," which was enough to put the hammer down. 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. In addition, the CMA felt that Microsoft's proposed remedies didn't go far enough to reassure regulators of its intentions. For instance, while the company had offered console support for 10 years to rival platforms, it "did not sufficiently cover different cloud gaming service business models, including multi-game subscription services." Another objection centered on the fact Microsoft didn't promise much to "providers who might wish to offer versions of games on PC operating systems other than Windows." This is not the only instance of regulators raising concerns that Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard may be a step too far. In the US, the FTC has sued in an attempt to prevent the deal, saying that Microsoft had previously made promises to share its IP with rival platforms, only to change its mind later on. It pointed to the late decisions to make the (Microsoft-owned) Bethesda titles Starfield and Redfall exclusives as evidence that its assurances couldn't be counted upon. The EU, meanwhile, initially objected to the deal on similar competition grounds, but is now expected to offer its blessing to the deal. We remain fully committed to our acquisition with @ATVI_AB and will appeal today's determination by the CMA. Here's our statement. pic.twitter.com/ylvDP5RUqQ Brad Smith (@BradSmi) April 26, 2023 Activision Blizzard issued a statement, saying that the CMA "contradicts the ambitions of the UK to become an attractive country to build technology businesses." It added that it will work "aggressively with Microsoft" to appeal the decision, and that the results are a "disservice to UK citizens," and threatening to "reassess" its growth plans for the country, saying that the "UK is clearly closed for business." Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has published a note (via Substack) saying that while the news isnt what he wanted, it is far from the final word on this deal. He added that Microsoft will contest the decision, saying that blocking the deal will stifle investment, competition and job creation throughout the UK gaming industry. Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith has also published a note on Twitter, saying that the decision appears to reflect a flawed understanding of this market and the way the relevant cloud technology actually works." Turkish police detained 110 people over alleged militant ties, security sources said, with a pro-Kurdish lawmaker saying politicians, lawyers and journalists were among those held in raids that he linked to elections on May 14. San Antonio is teaming up with Austin, Dallas, El Paso and other cities to bring a new federal biomedical research agency to North Texas. The cities have joined forces in an effort to have the $2.5 billion Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, or ARPA-H, establish one of its two planned hubs in Pegasus Park, a rapidly expanding innovation district near downtown Dallas. The Biden administration created ARPA-H early last year to accelerate biomedical health and technology discoveries. Its set its sights on establishing a headquarters in Washington, D.C., and is expected to review applications from several states vying to host one of its two hubs. The Texas team is expected to hear by May 12 if their pitch, which was made Friday, has been accepted to the next stage of the proposal process. ARPA-H said it expects to announce the two remaining hub locations by early fall. RELATED: Texas Biomed expanding work and revenue base with Big Pharma; seen as key to its competitiveness Heather Hanson, president of BioMedSA, a nonprofit that promotes San Antonios health care and bioscience industries, has been representing the city in the joint campaign to bring the agency to the state. She said San Antonio would benefit financially by having a hub in the state even if its located in North Texas. Pegasus Parks selection came out of a process begun more than a year ago. Its a 23-acre campus with more than 750,000 square feet of office space. A former oil industry campus, Pegasus Park is close to UT Southwestern Medical Center and about 13 miles from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Its anchored by BioLabs, a co-working lab space company designed to help launch and expand other emerging companies. Ultimately, Pegasus Park was selected as the physical location due to the proximity to the DFW airport and facility strengths, Hanson said in an emailed response to questions. San Antonio benefits She and other local backers of the massive project say it would benefit San Antonios $44 billion health care and biotechnology industry, which already is the largest economic sector in the city. It includes Brooke Army Medical Center, the largest military health complex in the U.S.; three national disease centers; and the National Institutes of Health-approved national primate center at Texas BioMed. This means close access to a significant biomedical funding agency and national awareness of their capabilities through the immersive experiences (tours/presentations at local facilities) and collaboration meetings in specific medical areas selected by ARPA-H for funding programs, Hanson said. Sarah Carabias Rush, chief economic development officer at Greater:SATX, said securing the hub would best position our San Antonio regional bioscience and life science companies to secure ARPA-H funding. Our goal in this effort is to position the San Antonio region to access these critical federal funds and working with our counterparts across the state, we believe our San Antonio life sciences ecosystem is going to benefit, said Carabias Rush, who came to San Antonios economic development arm last year from the Dallas Regional Chamber, where shed worked for 18 years. The effort to establish a Texas-based ARPA-H hub began taking shape in October 2021 when BioMedSA and Lyda Hill Philanthropies in Dallas agreed to compete against Silicon Valley, North Carolinas Research Triangle and other locations on the East Coast vying for it. Lyda Hill is a Dallas-based organization dedicated to funding advancements in science and nature. The organization most recently partnered with Research Bridge Partners to invest $4 million in helping UT Southwestern scientists spin out their discoveries into biotechnology companies. Based on intelligence and the insight from a consortium management firm they contracted, San Antonio and the other coalition cities determined that the highest probability of success would be to apply for the hub as a team rather than individual cities, she said. The group invited other cities to participate in their advocacy. Houston was invited to participate in the Texas Hub but declined in order to present their own hub independently, Hanson said. Its effort reportedly is being led by the Texas Medical Center. While losing a major city from its roster, the group also has support from College Station and other cities in the Rio Grande Valley, North Texas and West Texas. The three ARPA-H hubs will serve different purposes in the research process. The already-decided D.C.-area hub will focus on stakeholders and partners near the U.S. capital. The second hub, which the San Antonio-Austin-Dallas consortium is vying for, will specialize in customer experience and lead user testing, access and trust of ARPA-H projects. Hub No. 3 will be an investor catalyst focused on bringing science to market. Jerry Lara, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Flight delays were mounting Wednesday at San Antonio International Airport as severe weather in North Texas grounded flights at Dallas Love Field and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. As of 4:45 p.m., 48 flights had been delayed at San Antonio, according to FlightAware. Twenty-five of those were on Southwest Airlines, amounting to 26 percent of its schedule for the day. Another 11 flights on American also 26 percent of its schedule were delayed. Three United flights had been delayed. In total, eight of the delayed flights were directly to Dallas and nine were from there. Dog Haus California cuisine will continue to ride a wave into the Lone Star state with two new outposts of the Pasadena-based Dog Haus set to open in San Antonio this year. Known for its selection of over-the-top weenies dressed with arugula, avocado, jalapenos, bacon and more, Dog Haus opened its first San Antonio location at 20907 Stone Oak Parkway in 2021. A second location at 11719 Quincy Lee Drive near Loop 1604 soon followed. Those spots will be joined by a third location at 9330 Potranco Road on the far West Side this summer. Willy Sanjuan/Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP "I'm really not that funny in real life," a famous quote from Carol Burnett goes. "But I am the best audience one could find. I love to laugh." Burnett, the television icon behind "The Carol Burnett Show," as well as other acting work including "The Larry Sanders Show" and "Annie," turns 90 today. In her honor, NBC will host a two-hour special, "Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter and Love," featuring guests like Cher and Steve Carell. The special was filmed last month at Los Angeles's Avalon Theater with Burnett as the audience, along with pal Julie Andrews. San Antonio-based retail company Grunt Style plans to release a series of blood-soaked bedtime stories in a new book deal with a conservative publishing house. The 12-book series is titled Violent But True Bedtime Stories and will feature illustrated veteran war stories published by Texas-based Defiance Press & Publishing. The military-themed apparel brand known for its patriotic flare, featuring American flags and guns plans to launch the first book of the series in July. You might also like: Accused of embezzling $380,000 from her employer, San Antonio woman hit with huge court judgment Its target audience: Young parents who want to inspire young children and pre-teens into a life of service. These books are educational and are done in a very light hearted way that young Americans today can see the value of serving in the United States Military, said Tim Jensen, the companys chief brand officer and former U.S. Marine. The book series, written by Jensen and illustrated by Carl Braun, is meant to be a watered down and more PG version of the companys vulgar, long-running, tongue-in-cheek YouTube series of the same name. The first book, which dropped in August 2021, tells the story of Texas Master Sgt. Roy P. Benavidez, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in saving eight soldiers during the Vietnam War. Courtesy of Grunt Style The stories are crafted around the Medal of Honor citation and in a way that tries to be as close to the truth as possible, Jensen said. Jensen, 45, was deployed in Iraq in 2004 and 2005. The stories are partly inspired by the ones Jensen heard while he was in boot camp. Stories of heroism are particularly prevalent during the Crucible, the final challenge before earning the title of the U.S. Marine. It is an intense, nearly three-day exercise that tests physical stamina, mental toughness and the ability to think critically under stress. Participants endure hunger, sleep deprivation and physical exhaustion while they attempt to replicate similar situations endured by Medal of Honor recipients. It seemed appropriate to take those, repack them and tell them in a little bit more of an uncouth way and, more particularly, into the satire and comedy of the veteran community, Jensen said. Jensen wanted to tell stories that depict violence and trauma in a comedic way, emphasizing the importance of humor in dealing with dark subject matter. He said that laughter is a coping mechanism used by those in the military to press on. Jensen penned the first Violent But True Bedtime Stories three years ago, during the height of the pandemic. The first book hit Grunt Styles online store in August 2021 and proved to be popular. In case you missed it: Lone Star State glimpses northern lights, posts pics on social media While tamer than the YouTube series, the Violent But True Bedtime Stories title and content is bound to raise at least some eyebrows. The book is also being released at a time when school boards and politicians in Texas and elsewhere are challenging and banning books at a blistering pace. Texas banned more books from public and school libraries last year than any other state in the nation, targeting titles centering on race, racism and LBGTQ representation and issues. That's according to new data released by the American Library Association, the oldest and largest library association in the world. The group also documented the largest number of attempted book bans nationwide since the organization started compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. Proponents of book bans parents, patrons and political and religious groups have argued that these books should be restricted because their content is not suitable for children. Jensen called book banning ridiculous and absurd. Jensen, a father of three, said it should be up to parents to decide whether they want to expose their child to his books or others. He said he read similar stories to his children. His oldest son is serving in the U.S. Navy. I think these stories resonated with him: these stories of selflessness, these stories of leadership, these stories of valor, Jensen said, so much so that he is now on his own path. timothy.fanning@express-news.net Last Thursday, Shamikah Delcines 5-year-old son asked her, Mommy, are we going to live in a hotel? The 33-year-old mother of three is still living in the rental home off Sistrunk Boulevard that flooded two weeks ago. The only assistance she has received so far, she said, is water from a local church. In the aftermath of the storm that swept Fort Lauderdale underwater, flood victims are waiting for help as they face new emergencies: layoffs, evictions, and the insurmountable costs of housing and repairs that they cant afford by themselves. They are Browards municipal workers, bankers, nursing assistants, first responders, and teachers. Rather than becoming homeless, they are living in moldy, deteriorating houses. Many of those who rent their homes still have not heard from their landlords, while others face imminent eviction. Still others have lost their jobs. They are turning to help from nonprofits, churches and synagogues, relying on the kindness of neighbors, or strangers on fundraising sites like GoFundMe, hoping that, when it comes, government money will solve their problems. Delcines nonprofit job teaching other peoples 2-year-old kids does not pay her enough to recover. While there, she blocks out thoughts of her stresses at home. The kids, they need me, so I dont let it get in the way, she said. I just do my best to try not to think about it during the day. When Delcine leaves, she returns to the place where, two weeks ago, she used blankets, sheets, towels, and comforters as barriers while her home continued to flood. All are ruined. I couldnt stop the water from coming in, she said. I had to use everything I had to stop the water. A Samaritans Purse worker is reflected in the glass door of a flood-damaged home in the Edgewood neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday. Samaritans Purse is a Christian nonprofit, using First Baptist Church Fort Lauderdale as a home base; the group is helping with flood recovery efforts. Residents wait for FEMA With mold growing in their walls and on their ruined furniture, flood victims are waiting for money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to start rolling in so they can move out or begin repairs. But even when it comes, it may not be enough. In a letter sent to the White House Tuesday requesting aid from FEMA, Gov. Ron DeSantis office documented the sheer cost of the damage to residents of Broward County. The flooding caused over $100 million worth of damage, with over 1,000 homes receiving major damage and over 250 with minor damage. Over 50 businesses reported nearly 250 temporary and permanent layoffs. The event resulted in historic flooding in areas not ever before seen in Broward County, the letter said. Dawn Beemers two neighbors in the Lauder Lakes manufactured home community have nowhere to go since their home flooded. At first, they stayed in the shelter in Holiday Park, but began to feel unsafe there, she said. The shelter has since closed. Now, all three are staying together at Beemers mothers house in the same community, which incurred less damage in the flooding. Many of their neighbors have not been so lucky. Some have literally just walked away, Beemer said. Others are stuck, with no money to afford repairs. Some are just saying screw it, were waiting til FEMA comes in,' she said, Well let mold go to the ceiling; we dont have funding to do anything. The timeline for when that aid might come is still unclear. But even if it does come, officials are warning residents not to rely on it. The average FEMA payout for a Florida resident is about $4,000, Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management division, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel last week. The maximum is about $37,000. I think we need to start fielding expectations, he said, adding, 37,000 is probably not going to make them whole. Flood victims rely on strangers, coworkers for rental assistance Realizing that trying to save his furniture was a losing battle and unable to sleep, Pedro Stiassni sat in his dark, flooded house with his flashlight and his phone two weeks ago and opened up GoFundMe. I had nothing to do, he said. His girlfriend, who he lives with, was on vacation. Stiassni, a project manager for the City of Margate utilities department, is one of dozens of flood victims using public fundraisers to support themselves, without enough money of their own or any other form of assistance. He joins students raising money for their teachers, firefighters trying to support one another, a pregnant woman who just left her job, and a mother trying to help her son with autism. Stiassni saw others posting their own fundraisers, and figured he could do it too. His fundraiser has since raised more than $7,500, much of which came from fellow employees with the City of Margate after the city shared his page in an internal email. But Stiassni says it is not enough. The only time he heard from his landlord in the last two weeks, he said, was when he posted an eviction notice on the door six days after the flooding began. Rich Morris, from Samaritans Purse, sprays mold inhibitor on the walls of a flood-damaged home in the Edgewood neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday. Samaritans Purse is a Christian nonprofit, using First Baptist Church Fort Lauderdale as a home base, that is helping with flood recovery efforts. Other than that, he has not come to the house to see any of the damage, inspect it or see if we need help with anything, Stiassni said. The removal of furniture and drywall for repairs necessitate the eviction, the letter said. The landlord cannot make these repairs while you live in the premises, the letter said, adding, the landlord certainly does not want you to have any health concerns caused by this unforeseen flooding. Stiassni said that he would have been willing to stay in the house while repairs were ongoing, moving out of each room as they worked, though that would have made the repairs take longer. Now, he and his girlfriend have less than 30 days to find somewhere else to live in South Florida that will accept them and their two Great Danes and then come up with first and last months rent and a security deposit. Its going to be impossible for us to find a new place either to rent or buy with the time hes given us, Stiassni said. People have been telling him to give his dogs away, or even send them to the pound. Thats not an option, Stiassni said. He doesnt want to look outside South Florida, either. An immigrant from Venezuela, he originally moved to Kentucky for school. In Florida, he finally feels at home. I know its a very hard time and I really dont wish anybody, even my worst enemy, to go through something like this, Stiassni said. I dont have to replace everything I lost all at once. But I want to call Florida my place. Nonprofits and charities offer lifeline After a hard couple of days at work, Octavia Saulsberry lay down in her bed in downtown Fort Lauderdale, just for an hour, until she had to get up again to cook dinner for her teenager and two toddlers. The thunder and rain lulled her to sleep. When she got up, she stepped in something wet. She thought one of the toddlers had spilled some juice. It wasnt until she turned on the lights that she realized her home was flooded. Alone, the 32-year old single mother stayed up until 5 a.m. trying to clean the house, her furniture, tables, vacuums and mops all soaked in dirty water. She sent a maintenance request to her landlord with pictures of the damage, but nearly two weeks later, she still had received no response. Saulsberry sends her children to Jack & Jill Center, an organization that provides education and social services to families in need. Since the flooding, she has relied on them more than ever. I have no help at all, no family, she said. Im just out here working and taking care of my children. My family is Jack & Jill, to be honest. Thats the reason I can go to work. Residents like Saulsberry and the local and state governments are turning to nonprofits and faith-based organizations for much of the recovery work. Guthrie said that faith-based organizations, which he calls the Bible Belt, will likely play a key role in recovery. Out-of-state organizations like the Christian charity Samaritans Purse have already arrived in Fort Lauderdale to help people clear debris and remove damaged drywall and flooring. But most of the aid offered by these nonprofits will come in the form of repair work or necessities, Guthrie said, not money. Ken Punter, from Samaritans Purse, cuts waterlogged plaster away from a bathroom wall in a home in the Edgewood neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Samaritans Purse is a Christian nonprofit, using First Baptist Church Fort Lauderdale as a home base, that is helping with flood recovery efforts. Jack & Jill is currently asking for monetary donations and supplies like diapers and furniture. The organization has a fund that helps families if a car breaks down or they get behind on rent, said Heather Siskind, the centers C.E.O, but this is way beyond our scope. About 40 of the 75 families Jack & Jill had checked on by Friday were affected in some way. Many of them are still living in homes contaminated by the flooding, said Siskind, with no transportation because their cars were destroyed. Others had to move into hotels. The worst part is that they may be with landlords that are not being responsive, or they dont have the right insurance, dont have renters insurance, or they have car insurance thats the bare minimum that doesnt cover a casualty like this, Siskind said. The centers teachers and staff are in the same boat as the people they serve. Theyre teachers working at a nonprofit agency, Siskind said. Theyre exactly like our families. Delcine, the mother of three, is one of them. Her roof is leaking and she is worried that mold is beginning to grow inside her home. But she hasnt heard from her rental company besides a message that they are overwhelmed with complaints from other tenants. Most immediately, she has to find new bedding and childrens clothes. But what she truly needs is something she cant afford. I would like a new home, but I dont know how far Im going to get, she said. That is what I need the most. I would like a new home. Staff writer Shira Moolten can be reached at smoolten@SunSentinel.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Magaly Diaz was excited to hear the news Tuesday that Mattel had introduced a Barbie doll with Down syndrome. Her 10-year-old daughter Audrey, who has the genetic condition, loves playing Barbie. Shes never asked why Barbie doesnt look like her," Diaz said. "Shell play with the doll no matter what. But when I showed her a video about the doll she was like, I want one for my birthday. Diaz also is the education director of the Down Syndrome Association of South Texas and was busy with meetings on Tuesday. So when she finally got a chance to go on Amazon to buy the doll, they were sold out. Ill have to keep looking, I guess, she said. Down syndrome advocates such as Diaz applauded the new Barbie, saying it will help increase awareness of the condition and help those with the condition feel represented. People with Down syndrome have the same hopes and dreams as anyone else, said Brian Lopez, executive director of the local association. Its important to get the message across that theyre not any different than anyone else. They may need some extra support, but we all need extra support every now and then. REAL ESTATE: Collector builds real dream house The new Barbie is part of Mattel's Barbie Fashionistas line which the company says is intended to celebrate diversity and offer endless possibilities for storytelling and fashion exploration. Previous Barbies in the line have worn a hearing aid, had a prosthetic limb and used a wheelchair. A disorder in which people are born with extra genetic material, Down syndrome results in mild to moderate intellectual disability and developmental delays. There are an estimated 340,000 to 400,000 people living with the condition in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. The new doll, developed with the National Down Syndrome Society, exhibits smaller facial features, is shorter in stature and has a single crease in her palm, conditions common in those with Down syndrome. Her outfit also sends message of inclusivity and acceptance. The blue-and-yellow dress she wears, for example, incorporates images of butterflies, a symbol and colors associated with Down syndrome awareness. PRETTY IN PINK: 100-year-old Government Hill house gets a Barbie-themed makeover The Barbie also wears a pink pendant necklace made up of three arrows pointing upward. This represents the extra chromosomal material that causes the condition and the hope that those with it are rising up and moving forward. Dolls with Down syndrome, like the new Barbie or dolls sold by Brooklyn-based Maisonette, can be particularly powerful, said Dana Connally, whose 8-year-old daughter Savannah Rose recently traveled to New York as a Down syndrome ambassador. Kids play with dolls, and when theyre exposed to a doll with Down they can realize that its not a scary thing, or a bad thing, Connally said. Although Diaz called the new Barbie a great thing, she had some minor objections to the final product. Ive never seen an adult wear orthotic shoes with ankle bracelets like this Barbie does, she said. I think maybe having her wear glasses would have been more representative of real people with Down syndrome. The San Antonio Zoos upcoming upgrades will include a new event space where visitors can get up close and personal with gorillas. The zoo announced its plans for a private event space overlooking the zoo that will feature a tower-like structure connected to its upcoming gorilla habitat. The structure, called the Silverback Peak, will allow the primates to climb up and meet with zoo visitors during events. Visitors also will overlook the zoos entire African Savannah, with San Antonios downtown skyline as the event spaces backdrop. "There will be no other event center like this in the world," Tim Morrow, San Antonio Zoo CEO, said in a news release Tuesday. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio Zoo has a long but spotty history with giraffes The event center is part of phase 1 of the zoos master-plan expansion. Last week, the zoo provided details on its new front entrance, which includes a rooftop event space. The zoo also announced it would be bringing gorillas back for the first time since 1990. The event center will hold 500 people and will be available for galas, luncheons, weddings and other special events. Phase 1 will cost the zoo approximately $67 million. The entrance is under construction and is expected to be complete by November. The event space and gorilla habitat are not expected to be complete under early 2025, the zoo said. While the event space is being paid for by donation dollars, the gorillas habitat and entrance are being paid for by donations, the 2022 bond and the City Initiated Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone. Gabriella.Ybarra@Express-News.net The father of Lina Sardar Khil, a 4-year-old girl whos been missing more than 16 months, took a polygraph test so that authorities can focus on other leads in his daughters disappearance. Riaz Sardar Khil took the test Tuesday at the FBI field office near the University of Texas at San Antonio. READ ALSO: Parents of Lina Sardar Khil, missing for more than one year, agree to take lie-detector test Pamela Allen, CEO of Eagles Flight Advocacy and close friend of the family, said the Khils hope that clearing their names via the test will enable detectives to better investigate tips that the department has received. She said that while the family is confident that the results will facilitate that, a detective could not reveal the results of the fathers polygraph test. She could only say that Riaz Khil was at the FBI field office from the morning into the afternoon. Courtesy of SAPD Courtesy of Eagles Flight Advocacy and Outreach Forensic sketch shows how Lina Sardar Khil may look today. Courtesy Forensic sketch shows how Lina Sardar Khil may look today. Courtesy There has been no trace of Lina since she disappeared on Dec. 20, 2021, near a playground at the Villas Del Cabo apartments on Fredericksburg Road. Her mother was sitting at a bench watching her when Lina ran behind an apartment and never emerged from the other side. She was last seen wearing a red outfit and a black jacket. READ ALSO: As time goes on, Lina Khils case seems more like an abduction Linas disappearance has been handled as a missing persons by San Antonio police, with help from FBI agents. A renowned forensic sketch artist created an age-progression drawing of what Lina may look like today. San Antonio police have searched every apartment and surrounding complexes, used ATVs to check areas with rough terrain, and even brought in an FBI dive team to search a creek along Babcock Road near Huebner Road. Riaz Khil has also said he can forgive anyone involved in his daughters disappearance, as long as he gets her back. Allen described an example of Riaz Khils capacity for forgiveness. In Afghanistan, his father was killed in a car bombing because of his service to the United States. Riaz Khil and his comrades searched for his fathers killer. Riaz Khil said he found the man who killed his father and confronted him with the intention of killing him. By his countrys law, he wouldve been justified to do so. But the mans daughter stepped in front of him said, Please, dont kill my daddy, Allen said. He talked about having that mindset of forgiveness, Allen said. He just wants his daughter back. It doesnt matter who took her, he would be able to forgive. Riaz Khil has also said the family is amenable to his wife taking a polygraph test as well. Some in the community who are skeptical of Linas father have harassed the family. Allen said the family has also had to endure bad tips and false hopes. The long absence has strained Riaz Khils relationship with San Antonio police, whom he criticized publicly during a candlelit vigil in December 2022 for not doing enough. Allen said much of his angst stems from a lack of monthly or periodic check-ins from police, at least to say they were still searching for Lina. They feel that shes been forgotten about, Allen said. Because they (her parents) have to reach out to police, they feel SAPD thinks its not important. At the same vigil, McManus gave his assurance that police were still on the case. Riaz Khil and his wife hope that the polygraph test will encourage detectives keep their focus on more promising leads, Allen said. Riaz Khil has tried his best to keep his hopes up, often saying inshallah which means If Allah wills it to potential leads regarding his daughters whereabouts, Allen said. But the girls ongoing missing status has worn on him and his family, who have since welcomed their third born amid the heartache. Both the local and the Afghan community have stepped in to support, including by offering a combined reward of up to $250,000 for information that pans out about Linas whereabouts. A Floresville teen was arrested Tuesday, accused of killing another teen during a drug deal. Roy Anthony Flores Jr., 18, was charged with murder in connection with the death of 19-year-old Joe Romero Bonilla, court records show. Flores is being held on $250,000 bail. Just before 11 p.m. Feb. 21, San Antonio police were called to a Walmart on Southeast Military Drive for a shooting in progress. In the middle of the parking lot, officers found Bonilla with several gunshot and stab wounds, according to an affidavit supporting Flores' arrest. READ ALSO: Third man, 19, arrested in fatal shooting at West Side apartment Surveillance video from the Walmart showed Bonilla pull into the parking lot next to another vehicle, the affidavit said. Bonilla is seen getting out of his car and entering the other vehicle via a rear door. Moments later, a muzzle flash can be seen on the video. Someone from inside the vehicle is seen pulling Bonilla onto the pavement before getting back in the car, which then drives off. Upon searching Bonillas cellphone, investigators learned he was planning to meet Flores at the Walmart for a drug deal but that Bonilla intended to rob Flores during the deal, the affidavit said. Wilson County deputies found the vehicle from the video abandoned with blood and rifle shell casings in the rear seat. As officials searched the vehicle, they also found documents with Flores' name on them and a kitchen knife in the drivers side door pocket. READ ALSO: San Antonio woman who said she fatally shot her boyfriend in self-defense arrested on murder charge Two days after the killing, Floresville police received a tip that Flores said he had killed someone at the Walmart over drugs. Flores is known by the Floresville Police Department, which provided San Antonio police detectives with his information. Detectives located Flores' family members, who said the teen admitted the day after the homicide to doing something bad with his cousin. Police contacted Flores via phone, and he agreed to come to the police station with his lawyer to give a statement, but he never arrived. Police have not identified the second suspect involved in Bonillas death. The Bexar County Sheriffs Office arrested an Uber driver accused of sexually assaulting a passenger. Luis Alberto DeLeon Jr., 30, was charged with sexual assault Tuesday. On March 7, a 45-year-old woman reported to San Antonio police that she had been sexually assaulted by an Uber driver several days prior, according to an affidavit supporting DeLeons arrest. She told police she ordered the car to take her home from a bar but that after driving her toward her destination, he assaulted her. READ ALSO: Family friend who sexually assaulted 5-year-old at San Antonio motel gets 99 years in prison During the ride, DeLeon and the woman were making small talk, she said, when he asked her to get into the front seat. She told police that when she declined, DeLeon became verbally abusive and said if she didnt get in the front seat, he would pull over and get in the back with her, the affidavit said. When she declined a second time, DeLeon pulled over, got in the back and forced her to perform sexual acts, the affidavit said. After he finished, he dropped off the woman at her home. The woman provided police with DeLeons first name and license plate number. San Antonio police initiated the investigation, then transferred the case to the sheriffs office after determining that the incident occurred in an unincorporated part of Bexar County. READ ALSO: Man and adult stepdaughter accused of sexual assault on children Several days ago, the BCSO obtained an arrest warrant and spread the word on social media that it was looking for DeLeon. Sheriff Javier Salazar said DeLeon was out of town at the time and that after his information was disseminated, his friends and family told him authorities were looking for him. He was arrested downtown Tuesday without incident. Salazar said DeLeon is a former Leon Valley police officer who holds a valid peace officer license. Because of DeLeons position, Salazar said its possible that others have been sexually assaulted. Anyone with information regarding misconduct by DeLeon is asked to call the sheriffs office at 210-8335-2070 or email tups@bexar.org. READ ALSO: Man accused of sexual assault on woman who said she fled his home Salazar warned that riders need to be aware and stay safe when getting into an Uber. Riders need to verify that the vehicle they are getting into matches the information on the app and that if they get an inkling something is wrong, terminate the ride and get out of the vehicle as soon as possible. Dont worry about seeming rude. Just make sure youre safe, Salazar said. Youre not there to make friends. You are trying to get home safe, so I would rather you hurt someones feelings than get hurt yourself. He also suggested that talking with a loved one via mobile phone on speaker during a ride or video recording a ride can help deter attacks. Despite the large amount of construction downtown, construction workers are actually in short supply. As part of its "Bottlenecks" series, the New Yorker is covering how to spend the next decade fighting climate change. Staff writer David Owen penned one of the articles attempting to "find solutions that make other solutions possible." The pieces focuses on the national shortage of electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians and other skilled, blue-collar workers, even as funding pours in for climate-friendly infrastructure projects. That shortage is also seen within Texas. As the Lone Star State continues to grow including, and especially, the counties between San Antonio and Austin blue-collar workers are missing en masse. In order to meet the national need, according to Associated Builders and Contractors, a national construction-industry trade association, the industry would need to hire more than 546,000 workers on top of the normal pace of hiring to fulfill all positions. SPEAKING OF LIGHTS: Lone Star State glimpses northern lights, posts pics on social media Part of the reason for this is competition from similar industries, including, in this part of Texas, the manufacturing industry, according to Crystal Smith, a spokesperson with the Central Texas chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors. "When I talk to our members, the shortage of workers is one of the top concerns they have," Smith wrote in an email. According to the ABC Workforce Development Survey, 61 percent of respondents reported the labor shortage was either severe or very severe in 2022. As the baby-boomer generation ages out of the workforce and retires a trend only hastened by the pandemic and as young people go to college seeking white-collar jobs, fewer employees are available to work blue-collar jobs. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that about a million positions are open. Roughly a quarter of existing construction workers, according to ABC data, are older than 55. Smith partially blamed both of these factors for the shortage in Central Texas. "We are actively working to change the perception of the construction industry and highlight the amazing careers available to people," Smith wrote. "We do this through career fairs, high school speaking opportunities, and highlighting careers on social media." PRIMATE PARTY: San Antonio Zoo event space to feature a tower for gorillas to say hello Other efforts are targeting the younger generation, too, Smith said. They include a "Careers in Construction Day," which offers high school students a glimpse of career opportunities through hands-on demonstrations, and sponsoring high school classrooms throughout the region using National Center for Construction Education and Research curriculum. The Central Texas chapter also employs a director of workforce development, whose job is to coordinate high school outreach, college outreach, craft training and professional development training. Finally, of ABC's national network of 800-plus apprenticeship, craft, safety and management education programs, 39 are located across eight Texas chapters. "This number is growing as our chapters continue to add programs to meet the demand and needs of our members," Smith wrote. Another factor in the shortage of blue-collar workers may be the dwindling number of immigrants to the United States. In 2019, Immigration Impact, a publication launched by the American Immigration Council, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, wrote that the problem existed more than three years ago. IMMIGRATION: Millions from seized San Antonio properties going to Mexico "Labor shortages are impacting almost every field in the country," the publication wrote. "But employers are now struggling to find one type of worker more than others: blue-collar workers." Over the last three months for which data is available, on average there were 355,000 job openings a month in the construction industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That compares with 302,000 hires on average, meaning 53,000 jobs are added per month without finding a fit in the industry. Construction and manufacturing are two of the industries in most dire need of workers, and whose jobs are often filled by immigrants. With a harsher outlook on immigration recently, especially in Texas, fewer are coming to fill those positions. Yet these blue-collar jobs are high-paying and often see very high employment rates. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the average wage for plumbers and electricians is about $63,000, about the same as that for journalists and high school teachers jobs that can require master's degrees. Last year, Stanley Black & Decker, the largest tool manufacturer in the U.S., published a report estimating that there were 650,000 unfilled jobs in construction-related trades in the country, and 10 million worldwide. shepard.price@express-news.net When Fox settled the defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million, the conventional wisdom was that it would alter little about the way Fox News operates. Dont Expect Fox News to Change After Massive Dominion Payout, said a Vanity Fair headline. Will Fox Settlement Alter Conservative Media? Apparently Not, said the Associated Press. Maybe the settlement didnt change much, but it increasingly looks as if the lawsuit itself did. On Monday, news broke that Tucker Carlson, Fox News highest-rated and most demagogic prime-time host, was out, and he wouldnt even get a final show to say goodbye. The Los Angeles Times reported that Carlson was defenestrated by Rupert Murdoch himself, and that his exit was related to the discrimination lawsuit filed by Carlsons former head of booking Abby Grossberg. Grossberg alleges that Fox coerced her into giving misleading testimony in the Dominion case and has said she filed the discrimination suit, as well as a separate lawsuit, after fearing that the network was going to make her a scapegoat. The Washington Post, meanwhile, reported that Murdoch was incensed about insubordinate remarks Carlson made about Fox management, which were revealed during the discovery phase of the Dominion case. All this suggests that Dominion was responsible for shaking loose the information that brought Carlson down. The end of his Fox News tenure should be a reminder to people on the left not to surrender to the cynical illusion that, to revive a Trump-era phrase, LOL nothing matters. Sometimes the terrible elements of our political culture seem so immutable that its tempting to give in to despair as a prophylactic against perpetual disappointment. But it turns out that it is in fact sometimes possible to shame the shameless. Once in a while, justice is delivered. Grossbergs lawsuit had seemed, before Monday, to be at most a footnote to the broader Dominion drama, even though the behavior detailed in it was disgusting. Grossberg describes an environment in which women of all political persuasions were constantly discussed in terms of sexual desirability. One of Carlsons bookers, she alleges, was told that she should sleep with Elon Musk to secure an interview. She claims that Carlsons executive producer Justin Wells, also fired on Monday, called her into his office to ask about the sex life of her previous boss, Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo. In a statement, Fox said that Grossbergs accusations were made following a critical performance review, and said that it had hired an independent outside counsel to immediately investigate the concerns she had raised. If indeed Carlson was fired in part for workplace misogyny, he will fall into a venerable Fox tradition. The network has a history of tolerating the abuse of women until revelations become too inconvenient, at which point even figures whod seemed irreplaceable, like Roger Ailes and Bill OReilly, are tossed overboard. Contempt for women was part of Carlsons brand at Fox News; his infamous The End of Men special urged men to tan their testicles to ostensibly increase testosterone and thereby rescue society from collapse. It would be fitting if contempt for women is what finally derailed him. But Carlson had contempt for so many. He was the Trumpiest of Fox News hosts, even though we now know, thanks to discovery in the Dominion case, that he hated Donald Trump passionately. Like Trump, he and his producers mined the white nationalist internet for narratives, promiscuously spread wild conspiracy theories and hinted at the need for violence to take back America. After Trump was indicted last month, Carlson said, Probably not the best time to give up your AR-15. He created, as Nick Confessore wrote in the New York Times, what may be the most racist show in the history of cable news and also, by some measures, the most successful. The similarity of Carlson and Trumps sensibilities might derive from the similarity of their resentments. Both were children of privilege Carlson was kicked out of a Swiss boarding school who sought the respect of the establishment but never got it. Its worth noting, given his loathing of the putative deep state, that Carlson tried to join the CIA but was rejected. He shifted his ambitions to cable news, but before landing at Fox News, he struggled to fit in. In a 2021 interview, Carlson described having a kind of meltdown after being fired from MSNBC in 2008, the latest of a string of failures, and having to sell his house. Speaking of the television industry, he said, I was living in that world and I was not succeeding. Like Trump, he would find success by catering to people who despised the world that had spurned him. He made revenge into a career. Its impossible to know what happens to that career now that Carlson has achieved the rare cable news trifecta of flaming out at CNN, MSNBC and Fox. He has an intensely loyal following and could easily start his own venture or join a would-be Fox competitor like Newsmax or OAN. It would be a tremendous irony if Fox News, which aired lies about Dominion because it was afraid of being outflanked on the right by Newsmax, now finds itself losing to Newsmax thanks to the fallout from the Dominion lawsuit. But other Fox hosts have seen their relevance rapidly diminish after being deprived of the networks platform. Glenn Beck is still performing his 21st-century John Birch Society routine at his company Blaze Media, but hes speaking to a much smaller niche than he once did. Bill OReilly, once the face of Fox, has a podcast and a string of bestselling books, but hes no longer a particularly important cultural figure. Maybe Carlson will be different, though the text messages exposed by Dominion suggest an intense awareness of his own vulnerability. After the viewer backlash over Fox News correctly calling Arizona for Joe Biden, an enraged Carlson texted a producer, We worked really hard to build what we have. And now its gone. Re: Bill would require Ten Commandments in public schools, Metro, Sunday: State Sen. Phil King says the Ten Commandments are part of the fundamental foundation of America. As a former American history and government teacher, I disagree. I wonder, is King aware that the Ten Commandments appear in one form or other in at least six books of the Bible. Roman Catholics and Lutherans follow St. Augustines ordering of the Commandments; Jewish and Protestant denominations each follow different orderings. Which ordering does this senator demand be displayed in public school classrooms? By insisting on his religions ordering of the Ten Commandments, will he be violating Article 1s protection for school childrens freedom of religion? Also baked into our Constitution is the separation of church and state. Placing these commandments in state-supported public schools seems to me a violation of this cherished concept. Carol Carpenter Not religious institutions What is happening in Texas? What about students and employees in public schools who are non-Christian? Will Muslims, Buddhists and others be afforded the same ability to read their religious texts and overtly practice their faith? At the same time, Texas schools cannot approach the critical race theory or anything conservative politicians consider to be woke. Banning books that dont fit the religious right narrative is already happening. Public schools are not religious institutions for a reason. Our founders were mostly Deists, they believed in intelligent design/God, but not revealed religion. We must keep our public schools free from any prescribed religions and allow our children to form their own beliefs based on educated reasoning. If parents want their children to learn according to some prescribed religion, let them attend religious schools but not at taxpayer expense. USAF Col. James Fraser, Ret. Not a guarantee The First Amendment does not explicitly guarantee a separation of church and state. It only tells the people of the time that they do not have to belong to the Church of England any more. In Sundays edition of the Express-News, a letter writer, Separate church and state, in the Opinion section and a story, Scripture lands Va. teacher in legal fight, in the Faith section both make the separation of church and state mistake. Richard Wallish Depositing a check. Ordering food at a restaurant. Buying a movie ticket. Making plans with friends. In todays fast-scrolling world, a smartphone might be necessary for doing all these things. At the very least, it makes them easier. For some of todays seniors, who didnt grow up using cell phones and the internet, an unfamiliarity with digital devices can be a barrier to living a full life. An aging person who cant connect with family and friends through text messages or on social media might grow isolated, while loneliness can become a drag on mental and physical health. ALSO READ: Why Henry Cisneros, at 75, has too much unfinished business to retire The mission of Older Adults Technology Services or OATS, a nonprofit affiliated with the AARP is to ensure that doesnt happen. Through its Senior Planet education program, it offers in-person and online classes on subjects such as how to use Instagram, iPads, smart TVs, Zoom, online banking and the Meetup social network, as well as how to maintain privacy on the internet. One class last week, at the District 5 Senior Center on the South Side, taught seniors about podcasts: what they are, why people listen to them, where to get them and which ones are good. Recommendations included NPRs Hidden Brain psychology show and The Sporkful, a food podcast. Darryl Greer, south regional program manager for OATS, joined the nonprofit shortly after it began operating in San Antonio in 2018. He now oversees a 10-person staff. Founded in 2004 in New York City, the nonprofit operates in 25 U.S. states. Whats unique about our operation is that we dont have a center or anything. This is a mobile team. What were able to do is to go to a partners location, whether its a church, a restaurant, a senior center, anything. Then, we can launch our classes and bring the tech and the gear, he said. Thats really the goal breaking down those barriers and meeting people where theyre at. Born in Panama, Greer grew up in San Antonio, graduating from James Madison High School. Before joining OATS, he served in the U.S. Peace Corps, working on international development in El Salvador. He held jobs for Catholic Charities and Methodist Healthcare Ministries that focused on community wellness. He recently sat with the Express-News to discuss what OATS teaches, the technological challenges facing older adults and their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following has been edited for brevity and clarity. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer Q: What led you to serve in the Peace Corps? A: I always felt there was a deeper reality, a world experience, thats more universal. In the states, were blessed; we have so many awesome opportunities that we take for granted. It kind of, in my head, leveled the playing field on what we do in life knowing that we dont necessarily have to get wrapped up with possessions. There are kids who have great big smiles that play with broken toys. Q: How did you end up in the field of aging? A: I spent some time working at a really nice retirement community. That showed me the importance of isolation, connectedness and also how complicated aging is. You have to have financial resources in place. You have to have a plan. There are a lot of resources, but as we age, sometimes folks just lose touch on being proactive regarding their retirement plans. ALSO READ: San Antonio moms seek to make buying used kids clothes as easy as Amazon Then I worked for Catholic Charities. I was working at a national volunteer program very similar to AmeriCorps, but it was called Senior Corps. I would receive calls, whether from a priest or from a parish or whatnot, about somebody who was in great need. I worked closely with Adult Protective Services trying to help connect people to resources. Q: Tell me about how OATS came to San Antonio. A: It was a research grant, using technology as an intervention to social isolation. The goal was to see if older adults wanted to learn technology. We did many types of assessments, after our multiweek classes, to see the impact of our programs. We were able to show that older adults do want to learn technology. And what they do learn, they use in other areas of their life. For example, they may learn how to protect their information and surf the web. As theyre doing that, they go home and maybe they start applying their knowledge to their church. We were able to show that people felt more connected, they were engaging in their community in a new way, that made them feel less like they were falling behind. Q: Do you operate all through the city? A: Yes, but right now I have a heavy focus on (City Council) Districts 1 through 5, because those are the areas that when it comes to infrastructure, the folks could really benefit from our classes. Q: I read on your website that research has shown a lack of digital engagement is often tied to race and class. A: Yeah, it is. When it comes to the infrastructure, in all cities especially in rural communities those that have communities of color and lower socio-economic levels, theyre the ones that suffer. Essentially, if you have no tech, and then you have no support training with your tech, you have isolation, you have loneliness. Then, ultimately, you have death. We saw that transpire with COVID-19. You saw a lot of folks that really did not have the care, did not have the support of their communities, and perished alone. It was a very sad time. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer Q: How did you reach out to seniors during the pandemic? A: One of the things that I love about OATS is its very innovative. During COVID-19, a lot of people were concerned on the next steps. I remember our founder, Dr. Thomas Kamber, said, Were gonna lean into this, and were gonna get experimental, and you guys are gonna fail. But were gonna learn. In the span of a week, we learned about the Zoom platform. Then, in New York, they were creating specialized content that was designed for Zoom and virtual audiences. It was really neat to create this new muscle that we hadnt used. ALSO READ: Nonprofit trains teens to fly with aim to encourage careers in military aviation Q: What approach do you take with your teaching? A: When it comes to who we love to serve in our communities, its that new user that person who has an emotional apprehension toward technology. The methodology of our curriculum, the way it rolls out, is its informal, as opposed to tests and lectures. What we want to do is just have a fun, engaging experience in the classroom that an older adult could appreciate, for really complex ideas like YouTube or Tiktok, online banking. Q: Are some of the seniors apprehensive about technology? They dont trust it? A: Yeah. Theres a lot of negative, scary stuff thats being communicated about technology. For a lot of people, when tech was introduced into their job places, thats when they decided to retire. What I realized is its like an emotional journey: That individual has to get there. You cant force somebody to learn, but you can create that environment where people want to learn. Weve seen the movement of somebody who had the flip phone, and theyre like, No, I dont want this. Then, over time, they start hearing their friends do the classes. Then well see them in a lecture. Q: With technology so interwoven in our lives, it must be a huge constraint not to use it. A: So much. If you look at technology, it really is that fabric between people. It allows us to connect over distance. It kind of even transcends time, when you look at peoples videos that are online forever. When someone passes, you can still connect to their information. In the community, if you have somebody whos not connected, that means theyre isolated. If that person is differently abled and has mobility issues, that means theyre physically isolated. If they dont have transportation and they cant connect via telemedicine, that means they are not getting the care they need. If theyre not out in the community, meeting people their doctors, their friends then they become targets for victimization. Theyre not able to manage their online banking. Theres a lot of things that can create a negative impact in an older adults life who isnt connected. On the opposite side of that, technology can be that boost of air that makes them feel part of the community, living a full life. Q: Im thinking of how at some restaurants, you cant even order without a phone anymore. A: A QR code, yeah. If you look at COVID-19, when that occurred, 80 percent of the deaths were older adults. The vaccination was distributed through an online portal. You had to have an email. Its awesome to have that two-step verification, but its a nightmare if youre already uncertain about technology. If you have neuropathy, low vision, its not an ideal type of situation. Q: What kinds of technology exist to specifically benefit older people? A: In health, theres a lot of home gadgets that are awesome. It really blew my mind a few years ago when Apple had a fall sensor in their Apple Watch. When you look at folks with Parkinsons (disease), with mobility issues, or maybe theyre isolated, the very fact that that thing could sense a fall and then automatically call a loved one or 911, I think that gives a lot of security to people. Q: Do you have any stories of how your program has helped someone? A: When we first started, there was one student who would just take anything we had. At the end of one class, I spoke with her. I was like, Why do you always go to our classes? She said, I love it. She mentioned her personal story in which she dropped out of school. I think she had a child at eighth grade, or seventh grade. Never went back. She said that this was her college education. She took multiple classes, and she used the stuff on her churchs social media site. Its really neat to be a part of something thats very powerful to somebody else. As the Florida Supreme Court considers a similar case, an appeals court Wednesday rejected a class-action lawsuit that Florida Atlantic University students filed because of a campus shutdown early in the COVID-19 pandemic. The FAU lawsuit is one of numerous cases filed in Florida and other states alleging that colleges and universities breached contracts and should be required to refund money to students. But a panel of the 4th District Court of Appeal upheld a circuit judges decision to dismiss the FAU case, finding that the university didnt have an express, written contract with the students named as plaintiffs, Amanda Heine and Jhayla Stready. Students concede they were permitted to enroll in courses at the university in exchange for paying their tuition and fees, which is FAUs only express obligation found in any of the documents submitted for review, said the ruling, written by Chief Judge Mark Klingensmith and joined by Judges Dorian Damoorgian and Ed Artau. No express contract was formed by the attachments to the complaint (lawsuit) regarding what students would receive in return for paying the statutorily mandated fees. In fact, nothing in the attachments establish any contractual agreement to hold in-person classes or provide on-campus services at all, even though that was certainly a reasonable albeit unenforceable expectation. The Florida Supreme Court is considering a case in which the 1st District Court of Appeal reached a similar conclusion in a potential class-action lawsuit filed against the University of Florida. Also, the 1st District Court of Appeal last week rejected a case filed against Florida A&M University, and the 3rd District Court of Appeal has turned down a case filed against Miami Dade College. But the 2nd District Court of Appeal last year refused a request by the University of South Florida to dismiss a similar potential class-action lawsuit. The Supreme Court on Jan. 5 declined to take up an appeal by USF. In Wednesdays ruling in the FAU case, the appeals-court panel drew a distinction with the University of South Florida case. It said a document in the University of South Florida case included different language than documents in the FAU case. After the pandemic hit in 2020, campuses throughout Florida and the nation were shut down and students were forced to learn remotely. Many of the lawsuits filed in Florida and across the country seek refunds of fees that students paid and not tuition. A key issue in the cases against Florida state universities and colleges involves whether the schools are protected by sovereign immunity, which generally shields government agencies from liability. Agencies can face lawsuits if it is shown that contracts have been violated. April 26, 2023 By Vince Bielski , RealClearInvestigationsApril 26, 2023 Nicos prospects were already looking dicey in the second grade. Raised by his Latina grandmother in a Spanish-speaking home, he was a witty boy whose clowning got him branded as a troublemaker in an Arizona public school outside Phoenix. But Nico was saved from this downward spiral by an unlikely intervention a test given to all third graders. Scoring in the 97th percentile, Nico was placed with other gifted kids and challenged academically like never before, providing him desperately needed focus. By fifth grade in 2021, according to Karen Brown, director of gifted services at Paradise Valley Unified School District, the class clown had become a class leader and was elected to the Student Council. The boys turnaround wasnt a fluke at Paradise Valley. Its one of a small number of districts nationwide using an innovative approach to organizing classrooms. Elementary students are placed in six different groups based on ability and then are carefully mixed together in classrooms in ways that shrink the huge achievement gaps among them that make teaching so hard. This orchestration of students allows teachers to tailor instruction so all students are challenged and can advance more quickly. And they typically do. The model, called schoolwide cluster grouping, is a counterpoint to todays prevalent ideology on education pushed by social justice advocates. They oppose most forms of ability grouping, from gifted programs to selective schools, arguing that all students should learn together, no matter their wide range of abilities. The mashed-up classroom in their view is the best way to ensure an equal education and avoid locking black and Latino kids into low performing ability tracks, a widespread practice only a few decades ago. But many teachers say the result of this approach classrooms where five grade levels of ability or more separate students makes effective instruction impossible. They liken it to emergency room triage. Higher performing students are typically shortchanged, as teachers trust them to fend for themselves. The upshot is if the students are getting an equal education, its often an equally poor one. Last year, New York City officials bowed to pressure from advocates and ended selective admissions to most of the citys middle schools. Earlier, Seattle dropped its gifted program of accelerated instruction. Theres a backlash. Districts are seeing a problem with underrepresentation in their gifted programs and say, Lets just get rid of them, and thats a problem, says Matt Fugate, an academic expert in gifted education who consults with districts. They should be saying, How do we make the programs more equitable? Paradise Valley and some other districts have done just that. At Paradise Valley, Brown says, test scores have gone up for students in all ability groups since it adopted the model. Whats more, in a district thats about one-third Latino, a much larger percentage of kids like Nico are being identified as gifted, which can dramatically improve the trajectory of their education. It works because teachers can truly target instruction after we provide that narrowed range in classrooms, Brown says. The model plays a key role in allowing us to address the learning of all students. The model has taken root in states such as Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, South Carolina, and Texas, where progressive educators have less influence and where gifted programs get more support. The Vail School District near Tucson began the program in 2018, and after fifth graders showed improved performance on a cognitive abilities test, officials are expanding it to three more elementary schools, says Christine In-Albon, the director of gifted and advanced learning. The Trotwood-Madison district in Ohio is aiming for the same kind of academic growth when it debuts the ability grouping program in kindergarten through third grade this fall. Customized Instruction The model was first developed by the late Purdue University Professor Marcia Gentry, a prominent scholar on gifted education. She traced the idea back to her own experience of boredom in an easy Michigan high school where she was the valedictorian. Later, as a middle school teacher, she created a gifted program for students who wanted to be challenged. Then, in pursuing her Ph.D., she developed the hypothesis that all students, not just the gifted, would benefit academically if they were put in ability groups so teachers could customize instruction for them. Gentry called the model total school cluster grouping and tested it. Her 1999 study compared two low-income elementary schools over three years in Michigan. In the school that grouped all students by ability, a significant increase in achievement test scores was found when compared to students in the control school, Gentry and her co-author wrote. Paradise Valley in 2006 was one of the first districts in the country to adopt the model, albeit a slightly modified version. Dina Brulles, who developed and ran the program at Paradise Valley until last year, is the gifted program coordinator at Arizona State University. Heres how it works: Elementary students are evaluated each year for placement in one of six ability groups: Gifted, above average, average, low average, low, and special needs. Next, classrooms are pieced together, often with students from three groups to reduce their vast achievement gaps. So gifted kids and low performers are not put together. A typical set up: above average, low average and low. Motivating students is a guiding principle of classroom design: Gifted and above average students are never mixed in classrooms to allow the latter to shine instead of being overshadowed by the brightest minds. The diligent above-average students emerge as role models for lower achievers, a position for which some gifted kids are not well suited. These mixed classrooms also seek to avoid the stigmatization that arose when schools placed students into easy-to-identify high, medium, and low tracked-classrooms in the 1980s and later. At Paradise Valley, students are not told which ability group they belong to, although some likely figure it out. Scores Rise at Paradise Valley The program appealed to Paradise Valley because its a cost saver: Districts can address the academic needs of gifted kids, which Arizona and some other states require, without creating a costly stand-alone program and hiring new teachers. Instead, gifted students remain within the regular pool of students as one of six ability groups. Before beginning the program, Paradise Valley was in a bit of a funk. Many elementary students werent achieving the academic growth sought by the district. Gifted students in particular were unchallenged and disengaged in class and barely grew over the school year. A small group of Paradise Valley principals, eager to try something new, raised their hands to be the first to test the program at their schools. After only a year, they were thrilled to see that test scores in reading and math rose across the board. That prompted the rest of the districts 30 elementary schools to quickly sign up, Brown, the gifted director, says. Test scores rose in these schools too. The district wants every student to master a years worth of material before moving to the next grade. Now, about 75% of students on average get there, an increase that coincides with schoolwide cluster grouping. We dont always see this growth with every student, and when we see a year where we dipped, we go back and fix that, Brown says. Paradise Valley also measures itself against other Phoenix area districts with similar student demographics: half white, a third Latino and a third low income. Its passing rates on a 2022 state test, for instance, topped neighboring Peoria Unified by a wide margin: 56% vs. 42% in English, and 48% vs. 36% in math. Latino students are a significant part of Paradise Valleys progress. Amid criticism that gifted programs nationwide enroll too few kids from low-income families, the district revamped the way it finds these students as part of its switch to the grouping model. In the past, the district relied on parents to nominate their kids for testing, which meant the pool was mostly white and Asian. Now teachers are trained to spot behaviors associated with gifted students they can be impatient with repetitive instruction, dismissive with a roll of their eyes, and intensely perfectionistic and more Latinos are now being evaluated. The district also decided to bear the costs of testing all students in one grade each year to find gifted kids who otherwise go unnoticed. At 23 of Paradise Valleys 30 elementary schools, there is now equal representation: The percentage of Latinos in gifted clusters mirrors the schools overall demographics a feat thats hard for most schools to match. Four other schools are closing in on that mark and the remaining three are making progress, Brown says. Ability Grouping and Its Discontents Although the data doesnt lie, critics find fault with the basic premise of reengineering classrooms around academic abilities. The influential scholar Jeannie Oakes, whose research at UCLA focused on inequality in education, says students have too many diverse characteristics to accurately divide them neatly into homogenous ability groups for tailored instruction. A child can be exceptional in English but years behind in math. So customizing instruction based on faulty assessments may limit rather than expand the possibilities for learning, Oakes told the advocacy group Learning for Justice. Ability grouping labels, like low average, can also become self-fulfilling prophecies because these students receive less challenging work and less is expected of them, says Allison Roda, a professor of education at Molloy University who researched gifted program admissions in New York City. The model isnt worth pursuing. Its better to put all the students together, and if they are given high expectations, they will rise to the occasion. Julie Voeller, who teaches third grade at Paradise Valley, doesnt agree. She says the program is popular among teachers in the district because it makes the classroom more manageable, giving them time to address the different needs of students. The ability range is still wide. For a lesson on World War II that started with reading a text, Voeller assigned her gifted group an essay requiring students to think empathically about how they would feel if their parents went off to war. One student wrote about feeling anguished at the absence of the father, showing a remarkable vocabulary for a third grader. The rest of the class, made up of average and below average groups, was given multiple choice questions. Some needed help from Voeller to find the answers in the text. But lower performers are also allowed to tackle the tougher assignments, like the essay, and some do. But they are not graded on them. When children fall behind, Voeller says, the program makes the problem easier to fix. After a math quiz revealed that 75% of her students were on track with fractions, which wasnt a surprise in a classroom with gifted students in the mix, Voeller could quickly pivot to the small number of kids that needed a little extra help. If she also had the weakest students in her class, which would be the case in a typical U.S. classroom, they would need a more robust intervention. Like most teachers, Voeller would turn her attention to the students who are furthest behind, leaving others who also need help in the lurch. Because I dont have to focus on every type of student at once, I can give my students what they need so they hit the standards, she says. A Rocky Rollout in Texas But as some districts discover, the sweeping changes required of the model are hard to pull off. Consider the Richardson Independent district, located north of Dallas. As the rollout began in 2020, the biggest challenge came into focus teachers. They can make or break most education reforms, and ability grouping requires them to do more. Each spring, teachers must evaluate the performance of every student for placement in an ability group because, year-to-year, they may improve enough to move up to a higher group. Thats a goal of the program. Then theres the training of teachers, which may be the most important piece of all. They need to learn how to customize instruction to students of different abilities, which requires more effort than just giving everyone in class the same assignment. They also need specialized training in how to work with gifted kids, whose learning process differs from general education students. Richardson decided to hit the pause button on the training requirement on concern that teachers would be overwhelmed by the workload. Instead, only 30 teachers were trained in gifted ed to serve as consultants to the districts 40 elementary schools. I don't need to make enemies of teachers who hate the model because it was a training nightmare, says Monica Simonds, director of advanced learning programs and services. The lack of training adds to the challenge of getting schools to buy into the program. At Richardson, many schools are enthusiastic, a handful are resisting it, and about a third are struggling mostly because of behavior issues among students who dont like to be grouped together. Simonds sees these challenges as growing pains that are part of any big transformation. Sometimes people say, It's just an initiative and it'll go away, she says. But when we implement something, we implement it because it has got data behind it. I don't want to change paths. Major Study, Mixed Results The largest study of the program so far, involving more than 70 schools, underscores Richardsons experience of tough sledding. The federally funded and large-scale study was undertaken by Marcia Gentry, who died in 2022, and colleagues to further investigate the programs effect on academic performance. While researchers are now analyzing data and aim to publish results this year, co-author and Purdue University Professor Nielsen Pereira offered a preview into some of the studys findings. In the first wave of 31 schools that joined the study, only six implement the program with a high degree of fidelity to its standards for sorting students into groups, training teachers, and tailoring instruction. Fifteen schools did a pretty good job, and ten scored low on fidelity. It shows how difficult it is for schools to make this type of change, Pereira says. It takes time and effort of everyone, administrators and teachers, who are always busy. But theres an upside for the schools that execute total school cluster grouping in its entirety. Pereira says he is cautiously optimistic that data will show that these school achieved an increase in academic growth of students in all ability groups, and importantly, in the percentage of black and Latino kids found to be gifted. The benefits of identifying these young students can be enormous for their future. At Paradise Valley, Meghan, a Native American with family on the Navajo reservation, kept a low profile in school, partly because her culture frowns on grandstanding. Then an elementary art teacher noticed her advanced spatial skills and asked the district to test her. Meghan qualified and was placed in the gifted cluster, which taught her the importance of perseverance when faced with more challenging studies. She began to excel, and in high school her life took a dramatic turn. She won a scholarship to an elite university in California, where she now studies graphic design. Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 75F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 46F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge. (Provided by the Montana Department of Corrections.) Montana lawmakers, led by a Republican supermajority, are looking to get tough on crime. So much so that Sen. Barry Usher, R-Billings, is sponsoring legislation that makes theft of property worth $1,500 or more an offense punishable by as many as 10 years in prison and fine of as much as $50,000. Senate Bill 95 also increases penalties of theft of less than $1,500, increasing local jail time. That has led the legislature to revive the concept of sending prisoners out of state to Arizona to a private facility run by contractor CoreCivic, and increase funding for prisoners whether to the state or a private contractor by millions. The two concepts are related because room in Montanas jail and prisons is already at or above capacity. Previously this session, lawmakers scotched the idea of sending prisoners to Arizona after lawmakers changed laws to allow pre-release of prisoners sooner and added support for those programs. Yet that idea seemed short-lived because as they were relaxing laws in one area, they were increasing penalties in another. The state estimates that Montana will imprison at least 200 more people if SB 95, which focuses on property theft, passes a capacity that doesnt exist in the chronically understaffed prison in Deer Lodge. However, new reporting by Montana Women Vote, Open Aid Alliance and the Sentencing Project shows that proposals like SB 95 may be contributing to the chronic overcrowding of prisons and jails. Nationwide, data show the number of violent crimes decreasing per capita while the number of people being incarcerated per capita continues to climb. Nicole D. Porter, the senior director of advocacy for The Sentencing Project, said those numbers are easy to dissect: More social service programs have helped reduce poverty and drug dependency, while more prisoners are spending longer incarcerated, driving up the numbers with laws that require mandatory minimums or a set amount of time a prisoner must serve. She also presented data that shows that longer prison sentences dont actually work as a deterrent, just as the death penalty hasnt stopped homicide. Porter said the upward trend in prison populations started in 1973 and peaked in 2009 with 1.5 million prisoners in the U.S. Meanwhile, violent crime has dropped nationally, falling from 575 incidents per 100,000 people to 380 in 2020, the latest data available. While other countries saw an upward trend in prisoners in the 1970s and 1980s, European countries started other prison diversion measures, including more access to early childhood education, more help with job and education training, as well as stable housing for prisoners after they completed shorter sentences. Many of those programs involved heavy use of community service and volunteer work as well as transforming parole and probation officers into more of a caseworker, Porter said. If our rate of decline were just 1% per year, it would take us 75 years to return to the incarceration rates of the 1980s, Porter said. This is misplaced priorities that have failed our communities. She pointed out women have experienced a 525% increase in prison numbers since the 1980s, largely affecting women of color. And, the number of prisoners serving a life sentence is now greater than the total population of inmates in 1970. Life imprisonment is a driver of high incarceration rates, she said. And many have aged into disability. Crime and drugs Laurel Hesse, the director of communications and advocacy for Open Aid Alliance, said that part of the challenge is that prisons and jails started swelling with more drug laws. For example, from 1980 to 2017, the number of people convicted of drug-related crimes increased 559%. She pointed out that 65% of the inmates at the Montana State Prison fit a diagnosis of substance abuse disorder. If long sentences were effective, you would think that the number of people incarcerated would drop, she said. Even measures like House Bill 791, which passed the Legislature last week, increased mandatory minimums for fentanyl convictions, bumping sentences from 25 to 40 years in prison. There is no link between harsh sentences and drug reduction, Hesse said. And it limits judicial discretion to give treatment while perpetuating the myth that you can scare residents into not using drugs. She also pointed out that Montana has one of the largest racial disparities in prison populations, especially in drug convictions. While Native Americans make up 7% of the population in Montana, they are incarcerated at a 17% clip and arrested at a 19% rate. Nicole Gomez, the justice initiative director for Montana Women Vote, said this years legislature has done a good job of making drug problems in the state sound like an imported business. (The lawmakers) are arguing that the people that are using drugs and bringing them in are not us or theyre from south of the border, she said. However, prosecution statistics show that the problem is happening in many Montana communities and related to poverty and substance abuse. Harsher sentencing has never been shown to result in decreased crime, Gomez said. They just result in more and more people in prison. Furthermore, she said that the lack of support systems for prisoners who get out almost guarantees failure because they contribute to a cycle of poverty because of poor job prospects and expensive housing. Its almost impossible for them to succeed. Its almost guaranteed theyll fail, Gomez said. The post As Montana considers more prison funding, experts say state is moving in the wrong direction appeared first on Daily Montanan. House Speaker Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, speaks to the press a day after seven people were arrested in the House gallery protesting his not recognizing Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, on the House floor. Speaker Pro Tem Rhonda Knudsen and Majority Leader Sue Vinton joined him at the news conference. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) The Montana House canceled its floor session on Tuesday as Republican leadership determines its next steps following Mondays protest in the chamber that led to the arrests of seven people. House Speaker Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, held a brief news conference Tuesday morning in which he said Monday was a dark day for the state and admonished members of the Montana press for how it characterized his handling of Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, on the House floor during the past week. He said the entire story was not told. Headlines that have happened over the last week stating that the Montana House leadership or GOP has silenced anyone is false, Regier said. Currently, all representatives are free to participate in House debate while following the House rules. The choice not to follow House rules is one that Representative Zephyr has made. The only person silencing Representative Zephyr is Representative Zephyr. He said that the House will not be bullied and that he will continue to treat all members of the chamber the same, then walked back into his office without taking questions. A spokesperson for House Republicans came out minutes later to say the House floor session had been canceled, which the House sergeant-at-arms had already confirmed. The protests came in the wake of the lack of recognition on the floor for Zephyr, which Regier last week said was happening because she had broken House decorum rules by telling Republicans they should be ashamed of themselves for voting in favor of Senate Bill 99. The bill would ban gender-affirming care for minors in Montana if signed by the governor. House Minority Leader Kim Abbott, D-Helena, had earlier on Tuesday told reporters there was not likely to be a floor session though neither party leader said exactly why. Rep. Casey Knudsen, R-Malta, said it was so leadership could decide the next steps in the saga and whether to pursue further action against Zephyr, such as censuring her. Abbott said most of her discussions with Regier had been administrative in nature and that both had tried to keep one another apprised of their next steps. But she said she was disappointed in the statement Regier, Speaker Pro Tem Rhonda Knudsen and Majority Leader Sue Vinton released Monday evening in which they called what transpired Monday a riot by far-left agitators which they said endangered legislators and staff. We all watched that together and it wasnt a violent protest. It was disruptive, it was chanting, but it was not violent. There was no need for a SWAT team, Abbott said. I was disappointed in the way the protest was framed given the extreme actions to silence a sitting member. They should expect a public protest; I wouldnt expect anything less. Abbott said as a former organizer for the Montana Human Rights Network, she was not surprised at the protest. Law enforcement booked and released seven demonstrators Monday on misdemeanor trespassing charges. This is the peoples House. They came in, made their statement. I think thats absolutely part of democracy and civil society, and thats what we saw yesterday, she said. Sometimes extreme measures have a response like this. The House and Senate on Monday passed calendar changes that pushed a Wednesday deadline for appropriations and revenue bills to pass with amendments to Friday, which Abbott said would still allow the House to get its work done. How Regiers nonrecognition of Zephyr affects the session in its final week-and-a-half remains to be seen. Lawmakers are expected to meet this Saturday after Mondays calendar change, which would put the final Day 90 of the session on next Friday, May 5. Regier said during a Senate Finance and Claims hearing Tuesday morning for his coal trust fund housing expansion bill, House Bill 927, which Abbott has testified in favor of in committee and on the House floor, that he was unsure of the bills prospects after Mondays protests. Moving forward, and Ill just be candid with all of you, I dont know with recent events that have happened over in the House, I dont know the fate of this bill. I dont know where exactly it belongs in the conversation, he told the committee. Democrats have tried to get numerous affordable housing bills through the legislature this session but since Republicans have a supermajority, have had to work with their counterparts to try to pass any such legislation. When asked how Democrats will proceed with trying to push some of their priorities over the finish line in the final days of the session, Abbott told reporters Tuesday she believes both parties need to regroup and have some conversations together. Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, said the Senate was trying to move forward the work it has to do while recognizing challenges on the House side. Its important to address someone who represents 10,000 people and is duly elected not being able to participate in the way they should be able to, Abbott said. Its a balancing act and I think our caucus will do our best. Abbott told the press following a meeting in Regiers office that Republican leadership is looking at different avenues for how to move forward in regard to potential disciplinary action. She said her caucus believes the actions from the Speaker are severe, disenfranchising Zephyrs constituents, and that the focus should be on the legislation that is harming the transgender, non-binary and two-spirit community. I think this is the most extreme action that Ive seen a speaker take against a member in the 20 years Ive been in this building, Abbott said. Abbott said theres a ripple effect from Monday, which she attributed to the vote on the Senate amendment to House Bill 359. The House voted Monday with Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls, to reject the amendment that the Senate carrier said gutted the bill that bans drag performances on public property in the state. I expected a different vote on that, Abbott said. Knudsen told the press waiting outside Regiers office that he has been advising leadership on different avenues they could potentially take as the Constitution, the joint and House rules and Masons Manual of Legislative Procedure allow. There certainly hasnt been any decisions made yet, Knudsen said. There are nine legislative days left, and Knudsen said the short timeline is also impacting deliberations, especially as the legislature scrambles to finish business and get bills on Republican Gov. Greg Gianfortes desk. When asked if he thought legislation or amendments would be introduced to address Mondays events would be put forward, Knudsen said it was a possibility, but he hadnt heard anything about that specifically. Knudsen was one of three Republicans to vote with Democrats against Regiers decision against recognizing Zephyr on the floor on Monday. He said his opinion has changed a little bit since the shit show on the floor. Regier ultimately did not address the press following the conference, avoiding the gaggle in the anteroom as he left. Zephyr, who briefly appeared in the anteroom to Regiers office where the press was waiting, did not comment on if she had heard details regarding potential disciplinary action against her. When theres floor, well know whats going to happen, Zephyr said. Knudsen said the House leadership response would likely come on Wednesday. I would probably plan on being here tomorrow, thats my feeling right now, he said. The Montana House of Representatives is planning to reconvene at 1:00 p.m. on April 26, 2023. #mtleg #mtpol Montana House Republicans (@MTHouseGOP) April 25, 2023 Montana Constitution, Legislative rules in play as leadership considers next steps The House adopted rules earlier this session that outline how a censure could work, which is what the right-wing Montana Freedom Caucus called for after Zephyr last week told Republicans they would have blood on (their) hands if they supported Senate Bill 99. Regier has said several times that Zephyr has not abided by rules of decorum for the House on multiple occasions, and that under Rule 20-20, the Speaker has the power to decide all questions of order and privilege and decisions of recognition, as the rule states. He told reporters last week that he would only accept a public apology from Zephyr in order to perhaps recognize her again this session. He specifically pointed to Zephyrs comments telling Republicans they should be ashamed of themselves for their vote on SB99 as the reason she was breaking rules and would not be recognized. Under House Rule 20-80, which Democrats originally thought should be the rule in question, there is a process that could be followed to be disallowed from speaking and possibly censured. Under the rule, the Speaker, majority leader or minority leader can call a member to order to have them seated immediately. The member can appeal being called to order, and if two others back the appeal, the House would vote on whether to uphold it to decide whether the member should continue being allowed to speak. The call to order could also go to the Rules Committee, which could also recommend the member be censured or be subject to other action. Censure consists of an official public reprimand of a member for inappropriate behavior, the rule states. The House shall act upon the recommendation of the Committee. House Rule 20-30 also discusses questions of order and privilege, which could also apply to the Zephyr situation. It says questions of order and privilege are those affecting the collective rights, safety, dignity and integrity of the House and then those affecting the rights, reputation, and conduct of individual members. The Montana Constitution says that either chamber can expel or punish a member for good cause shown with a vote of two-thirds of the chamber. And the joint rules of both chambers say that if there is a substantiated charge of discrimination or harassment by a lawmaker filed through a complaint, a Legislative Conduct Panel can recommend to the Ethics Committee punishment, which includes removing a member from committees up to expulsion from the chamber. The Ethics Committee would have to hold a hearing on the original complaint and vote on what action against the lawmaker in question was appropriate. The lawmaker facing the complaint would have an opportunity to speak in defense of themselves. Then the full House or Senate chamber would be able to censure a member with a majority vote, or discipline or expel a member with a two-thirds majority vote. Seven people booked, released by 9 p.m. Monday Keegan Medrano, the policy director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana, as well as Lt. Troy Christensen of the Lewis and Clark County Sheriffs Office, confirmed seven protesters were booked on criminal trespassing charges and released before 9 p.m. Monday. Six of the seven protesters came from Missoula and one was from Great Falls, according to the Sheriffs Office. Monday, Hannah Pate, of Great Falls, shared the reason it was important to demonstrate at the Capitol on behalf of Zephyr. Pate offered remarks while in custody of a law enforcement officer outside the Capitol before being taken to jail. That building is the publics, and what theyre doing to Representative Zephyr is unbelievable but also very believable, Pate said, citing other actions by the legislature this session. Christensen said it took four or five hours to book and release the seven protestors, and the jail released the last demonstrator close to 9 p.m. He said none had to post bond. Thats just what we do on misdemeanor charges, Christensen said. Justice of the Peace Tom Bremer said the people who were arrested had to leave the premises and get fingerprinted and photographed, and they have 10 days to appear before the court. The Daily Montanans Keila Szpaller contributed to this story. The post Montana House cancels Tuesday floor session as leadership considers response to Zephyr protests appeared first on Daily Montanan. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Photo by Eric Seidle/ For the Daily Montanan). The Montana Senate voted 49-1 this week to infuse another $15 million for the biennium from the general fund toward Medicaid provider rates expected to be matched by another $29.5 million in federal funds. This is a substantial measure to bolster Montanas senior, long-term care and other providers studied in the Guidehouse report, said Margie MacDonald, with Big Sky 55+, in an email. A separate bill estimated the cost to fully fund rates required another $24 million of general fund money for the biennium, still leaving a roughly $9 million gap. Sen. John Esp, R-Big Timber, proposed the amendment to House Bill 2, the states big budget bill. The amendment directs the money specifically to Medicaid providers, but the House still needs to agree to the change. Medicaid providers in Montana have been underfunded, and in the 2021 legislative session, lawmakers put $2.75 million toward a study of reimbursement rates. A report from national consulting firm Guidehouse recommended benchmarks for different types of groups. The Governors Office proposed a budget that increased reimbursement rates, but not to the recommended amount. The House approved money that pushed up reimbursements as well. Closing nursing homes made headlines last year, and youth group homes have shut down as well. During the session, members of the public, including nursing home directors, have testified to ask the state to support vulnerable people, workers who help them, and communities by adopting rates that match costs or risk more closures. If the amendment sticks, the Montana Health Care Associations Rose Hughes said she believes nursing homes would be close to 96% of the benchmark rate in the first year, but she has yet to see a detailed analysis from the state. A separate bill related to Medicaid providers, House Bill 649, is awaiting action in Senate Finance and Claims. That bill, sponsored by Rep. Mary Caferro, D-Helena, would add $5 million from the general fund with a roughly $9.3 million match to the directors office of the Department of Public Health and Human Services starting July 2024, as currently proposed. Hughes, whose organization represents senior and long-term care providers, said HB 649 is set up in a constructive way. She said it allows a year for health care organizations to see how the new rates are working and then offers flexibility for the state to help on an as-needed basis. I see a lot of benefit in a pot of money that can be used with some discretion to fix things that still need fixing, Hughes said. In committee, Sen. Dennis Lenz, R-Billings, wondered if the $5 million in general fund money would be enough for all the providers and questioned whether it would be better targeted to one specific group of providers. However, Senate Finance and Claims has yet to take action on HB 649. The one dissenting vote on the measure was Sen. Steve Hinebauch, R-Wibaux. The post Montana Senate votes to bump up Medicaid provider rates appeared first on Daily Montanan. March was a bad month for the Dodd-Frank Act. We now know that Dodd-Frank, passed in the wake of the 20072008 banking crisis, doesnt prevent bank runs. Neither do post2008 arrangements tell depositors whether large deposits are safe or should be withdrawn with a swipe on a smartphone. This time, uninsured deposits were bailed out. But in testimony to the Senate Finance Committee, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen couldnt say what would happen to uninsured deposits at other regional banks, telling Oklahoma Senator James Langford that whether they were bailed out would depend on what federal regulators decided. Instead of clarity and predictability, we have subjectivity and confusion. In short, Dodd-Frank and the post-2008 framework failed. This would come as no surprise to Lord Mervyn King, who, as governor of the Bank of England, piloted that institution through the financial crisis. In a lecture at NYU Stern in 2016, King was critical of his American colleagues approach of throwing vast amounts of liquidity at the financial system but then not taking steps to address the root causes of bank runs. Instead, the approach still relies on an outdated nineteenth-century doctrine of central banks acting as lender of last resort (LOLR), which assumes that banks have a plentiful supply of high-quality collateral against which central banks can safely provide liquidity. As King saw first-hand, in the heat of a banking crisis, its impossible to estimate the value of bank collateral or to tell whether a bank is solvent. The crux of the problem is the two-sided nature of bank deposits: to depositors, theyre a means of storing and transferring money, i.e., using banking services. To banks, deposits are a source of capital to enable them to advance loans and make investments. This involves a mismatch between deposits that can be withdrawn at any time and loans that are of longer duration (maturity transformation). The benefit is that banks can finance business investment and home purchases. The downside of the maturity mismatch is banks vulnerability to bank runs. This is exacerbated by moral hazard. Banks can earn higher returns on risky and less liquid assets than on low-risk, liquid ones the opposite of what is critical during a financial panic. Rather than wait until the next banking crisis and then define the terms on which central banks provide liquidity, King argues that LOLR terms should be predefined. Just as motorists are compelled to take out third-party car insurance to protect other road-users, so banks should be made to take out a certain amount of liquidity insurance in normal times so that they can access central bank provision of their liquidity needs in times of crisis, he says. Banks would be required to take out liquidity insurance such that their liquid assets exceed deposits and other short-term liabilities. In return for guaranteed provision of central bank liquidity, banks would have to pre-assign enough collateral with the Federal Reserve to cover their liquidity requirements. The value of the collateral would be reduced by a haircut reflecting the riskiness of the loans and other investments. In return, the Fed would provide a contingent credit line against the value of collateral for a fixed term lasting several years. Banks with more conservative loan portfolios would see less severe haircuts on their collateral than banks with more risky portfolios, which would mean they would have to finance themselves with higher proportions of equity and other forms of long-term, committed capital. The haircut thus represents the premium for liquidity cover. King calls his proposal Pawnbroker for All Seasons (PFAS). Supplemented with a simple leverage-ratio requirement, PFAS would replace almost all existing prudential and liquidity regulation, a reform that would see a highly complex system of bank regulation that doesnt work replaced with a straightforward, elegant solution one that addresses the time inconsistency of bank deposits and the bank assets they finance by pre-defining the terms on which banks can pay depositors at any time, thanks to their guaranteed access to central bank liquidity. After the demise of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, Treasury Secretary Yellen declared the banking system to be in good health. Such remarks cannot obscure the reality that the threat of recurrent bank runs remains an ever-present feature of current arrangements. Kings PFAS proposal suggests that it doesnt have to be this way. Mervyn Kings NYU Stern-TCH Gallatin Lecture Rethinking Crisis Liquidity Provision can be read here. Rupert Darwall is a senior fellow of the RealClear Foundation and author of Climate-Risk Disclosure: A Flimsy Pretext for a Green Power Grab. As a woman who spent her formative years in Kansas, taught Kansas City sixth-graders, and mentored hundreds of young girls through the Chiefs Cheerleaders organization, I was (and still am) devastated when I saw Kansas Governor Laura Kelly veto the Womens Bill of Rights. That bill defines a woman, biologically. And while yes, Im concerned that without a definition, the next generation of Kansas women will be harmed--without a say in preserving womens shelters, womens sports, girls schools, womens scholarships, sororities, and so on--theres something deeper than that. The truth. Do we live in such politically correct times that we must eliminate truth? That we must pretend that women, who are biologically unique from men, do not exist? Kansans are better than that. We have fought for truth since our establishment. We joined the Union as a free state (because of the truth that slavery is evil) despite the ugly battles to ensue. And, as Governor Kelly mentioned in both of her inaugural addresses, Kansas has long recognized the truth that women are equal citizens and was one of the first states to give women the vote. The truth is women exist as biologically distinct from men. We all know this, and we know it is important. Even Transportion Secretary Pete Buttigieg. He wants to dedicate federal transportation money to create female-shaped crash dummies for car safety tests, a move applauded by Democrats. Why? Because women are, on average, shorter and lighter than men. Cars are engineered to protect male-shaped dummies, leaving females 73% more likely to be injured in a car crash. We have this data because government agencies, for now, use biological definitions of men and women. Those definitions are worth preserving lives depend on it. While female-shaped dummies are hardly the womens rights issue of our day (and a questionable use of federal dollars), the underlying reality is undeniable. Women are biologically unique from men. We are in general smaller and lighter. Only we get pregnant and breastfeed. These biological truths leave us vulnerable and in need of respect and protection. We are vulnerable to domestic abuse: more than three women are killed by their husbands or boyfriends every day. We are not always able to participate in the full range of jobs, due to physical lack of strength or the need to protect our babies in the womb. And try as we might, even our Olympic record holders are outpaced by thousands of high-school boys every year. I recognize that Kansans face another moral calling: we are kind. The media has defamed the Womens Bill of Rights as anti-trans, leaving some Kansans wondering whether supporting the bill is kind. Lets be clear: it absolutely is. All Kansans are deserving of love and protection. By defining woman, the public can make informed and sometimes sensitive decisions about how best to accommodate trans-identifying individuals, while preserving safety, fairness, and privacy for women and girls. Failure to transparently define women leaves these high-stakes decisions in the hands of unelected judges and bureaucratswhose interests often diverge from those of Kansas families. Despite the governors failure, the Kansas Legislature can still do the right thing. They can override Gov. Kellys veto this week. They can stand up for truth. The very First Amendment to our Constitution protects speech. Why? Because truth is vital to our nation. Today we face a basic question. Do women exist as distinct from men? We do. By recognizing that truth, we can protect and celebrate our mothers, wives, grandmothers, daughters, and granddaughters. Please, Kansas Legislature, do not erase us. May Mailman is a senior fellow at Independent Womens Law Center. A former presidential legal advisor and litigator, Mailman also taught 6th grade in Kansas City through Teach for America and served as Student Body Vice President at the University of Kansas. Sorting through grain market news right now is a test of objectivity. An observer can see pretty much whatever he or she wants to see. Take planting progress, for example. This is the time of year when the market focuses on how much corn and soybeans are getting planted. An early planting season tends to lead to better yields, which lends credibility to ideas of lower prices. Planting progress is often in the eye of the beholder, however. Planting progress On Monday mornings, I participate in a regional conference call of market advisors scattered over the midwest states. From the call on April 24, the conclusion would be that planting would not be early and could be late. Yes, Southern Illinois had farmers who were actually done, and Nebraska had irrigated land planted, but the northern states, like Minnesota and the Dakotas, still had snow cover. In fact, snowmelt was causing high water and the closing of the Big Muddy above Quincy, Illinois. The conclusion of the group was that planting was not going to be at full pace for another 10 days because of cold, wet weather. And yet, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture released the Crop Progress Report, after the phone call, I read that the country is actually ahead of normal in planting pace. The 18 states that make up the report statistics were actually 14% planted on corn, against an 11% average. Ohio, normally at a token 2%, was at 6%. Yes, the northern states had nothing in, but their lack of planting was more than made up for elsewhere. The early planting was a reflection of the unseasonably high temperatures in much of the region 10 days ago. As I mentioned last week, corn was actually planted in Ashtabula and Trumbull Counties in Ohio in early April because the ground was dry and the sun was shining, and because the farmers could not resist. They are a little nervous this week with snow and sleet one day and lows in the 30s and 40s, but right now they are feeling smug that they got started. Partly because the early planting affects market outlook, it is interesting that the new crop corn low price often comes on the same day each year April 21. The good news was that when we had a bad three-day run on corn that dropped the July futures price 33 cents, we had that April 21st date for an excuse. It was easy to tell ourselves that there was nothing to see here. Then, the prices went down some more, and we are still slightly lower here as this is written April 25, although we have gained a quarter of a cent overnight. Hard to watch Grain prices have been hard to watch this year. In October, July futures were over $7. They finished the calendar year over $6.77. By the middle of January, they were down to $6.47 1/2 and were down to $6.47 1/2 April 18. We were at $6.07 3/4 the morning of April 25, and I found a little hope in commenting that we gained a quarter of a cent overnight. Big whup! The soybeans have been even more ugly. July futures were at $15.46 the end of the year. By Feb. 22, we were still at $15.41 1/2 after a drop before that. In a month, we put in a low at $13.83 3/4, however. We got back to $15 in early April, but were back to $14.34 the morning of April 25. So, if it stays cool and wet for 10 days, the mood of the farmers will be cranky, but we might put some support in the market. Wheat The wheat market has been the real disappointment. July Chicago wheat futures have lost almost $1.60 since the middle of March. We lost 20 cents last week alone. We are now trading under $6.52 after being $8.10 March. This comes while the Kansas City crop is in very poor condition from an extended drought that had Kansas farmers planting in the dust, praying for snow that didnt come, and watching a crop stagger toward heading. The soft winter wheat crop is as good as the hard winter wheat crop is poor; Ukraine is loading out half a crop, with that loading probably stopping in May, and the Russian crop is normal at best. None of that has wheat rallying yet. Ukraine speculation is mostly that the Russians will probably not renew the Black Sea agreement again, unless pressure from China causes them to relent. Right now, the market talks about this, but it doesnt seem to really care until it happens. Remember that the planting date on the calendar that matters is not April 21. The date traders watch is May 15. Historically, 75% of the corn needs to be planted by then, or we start to see declines in yields that affect prices. Right now, May 15 seems a long ways away, but a couple of weeks of slow planting will have the trade sweating a little. The Ohio Third District Court of Appeals is blocking construction of a natural gas pipeline across Union County farmland preserved with agricultural easements. The decision was handed down April 17. For Don Bailey and his family, the ruling means they can plant this spring without wondering if their crops will be dug up. The ruling may also benefit other farmers who have land protected by ag easements, he said. Were hopeful that it will have long-term effects, and reinforce the farmland preservation program, Bailey said. Important decision Laura Curliss, an attorney who represented the Bailey family in the case, said the opinion is notable because the appellate court thoroughly discussed whether the ag easement prevented taking of the pipeline easement by eminent domain. The court looked at the terms of the ag easement, the fact that the ag easement established a prior public use for the property, and federal tax implications. Its important. There are still some unanswered questions and we will see how it proceeds, she said. The Ohio Farm Bureau, which submitted a brief to the appeals court in support of the Baileys position, issued a statement on the appeals court ruling. This is a very important outcome for not only the Bailey family and the Arno Renner Trust, but anyone who enters into agricultural easements with the intention for their land to remain in agriculture and not just for their family, but for future generations. Ohio Farm Bureau got involved to not only highlight the significance of the states farmland preservation program in this case, but also to emphasize the need for broader eminent domain reform that our organization is currently advocating for on behalf of landowners across the state. In limbo The district court ruling comes more than three years after the Bailey family first heard of plans by Columbia Gas of Ohio to bury a natural gas pipeline through their land just south of Marysville. The land has been protected from non-farm development since 2003, when Arno Renner, donated an agricultural easement to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Renner died in 2007 and, now, part of the land is held in a family trust, with Arnos nephew, Don Bailey, as trustee. Another parcel of the preserved farm is now owned by Dons son, Patrick, and Patricks wife, Whitney. Over the years, the Ohio Department of Agriculture had defended the Renner/Bailey family ag easements by opposing construction of water and sewer pipelines across the land, and those pipelines were routed around the farm. The department did not oppose the construction of the Columbia Gas pipeline, however. When these landowners gave up property rights to ODA, they believed they entered a certain kind of a deal. And, basically, ODA is reneging on that deal, Curliss said. Court case After the Baileys refused to sign off on the gas pipeline easements, the gas company took them to court in November 2021, in an effort to appropriate the pipeline easements by eminent domain. The Union County Common Pleas Court dismissed the eminent domain petitions, but the decision to dismiss the petitions was not based on the fact that ag easements are already in place on the land. Instead, the judge pointed to an inconsistency between the easement language approved by the Ohio Power Siting Board and what was presented to the court. He disagreed with the argument that the existing ag easement should protect the land from eminent domain. After that ruling, both Columbia Gas and the Baileys filed appeals with the Third District Court of Appeals. In its decision issued April 17, the court of appeals ruled that Columbia Gas did not show that taking of the pipeline easement by eminent domain was necessary for a public use. The court also ruled that the prior public use established by the agricultural easement should have been more thoroughly reviewed. The case was sent back to the county court for additional action. Questions remain The county courts dismissal of the eminent domain petitions held off construction of the pipeline, but it didnt settle some critical questions related to the ag easement, Don Bailey said. He was pleased the appeals court took a broader view of the issues involved. In addition to considering the preexisting public good of the ag easements, the district court ruled that the lower court erred in not allowing testimony about the purpose of ag easements and the effect of pipeline construction on farmland. You would not be able to plant Christmas trees, or orchards or put fences up for livestock, Bailey said. There are a lot of agriculture uses you could not do if you had that pipeline easement across it. Columbia Gas has not yet publicized any plans for re-routing the proposed pipeline or for further court appeals. The construction delays resulting from the court cases have already forced the company to revise the timeline for building a pipeline. Union County commissioners have submitted comments to the OPSB reaffirming their support for the project, but only if it is routed around the protected farmland. The project was approved by the siting board in August 2020, and construction was originally scheduled to begin in February 2021. Columbia Gas is not permitted to begin construction, however, until the company holds pipeline easements for the entire route. The company must also begin a continuous course of construction within three years of its OPSB approval, so approval is set to expire this coming August, if easements arent in place and construction started by then. How the ruling will affect future eminent domain proceedings on protected farmland remains to be seen, Bailey said. The ruling does provide some support for the rights of landowners. At least it will make the courts aware in the future that youve got to take a look at all sides of it not just the utilitys side of it, he said. Related Content The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) has warned that current supply chain dynamics "continue to cheat" farmers across the country. The union has called for the supply chain to be 'realigned' after feed and fertiliser importers recently revealed major profits, while farmers receive 'the smallest of margins'. The UFU said it was 'extremely hard to swallow' after seeing the publication of accounts outlining the profits made by feed and fertiliser importers. With the current cost of living crisis coupled with rising input costs on farm, it warned that farmers had been "grappling with the financial pressure". Some inputs like diesel and fertiliser have eased back, but are still significantly inflated compared to what they were. UFU deputy president, William Irvine has urged farmers to "put their farm business and own priorities first" and shop around when buying inputs. Its totally demoralising to realise that big agri companies have been reaping the profits while the primary producer has been left with the crumbs," he said. Theres no doubt that due to the huge profits feed and fertiliser importers have made, they can afford to reduce the price farmers pay for their products. "Farmers provide the foundation on which every farming business is built upon and companies have taken their longstanding loyalty for granted." Mr Irvine warned: "Suppliers need to seriously consider that if there is no movement in these high input costs, there will be less production on farms." He said that would have implications throughout the supply chain for all players. Frank Butch Samp, gregarious owner of The Floridian diner and the unofficial mayor of downtown Fort Lauderdale who presided over four decades of late-night munchies, next-day hangovers, after-church family meals and every-morning coffee klatches with assorted politicos, cops and cronies, has died. Samp, 75, had suffered from kidney disease for many years and died Monday morning at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale. Services are planned for Thursday, May 4, at The Venue Fort Lauderdale, 2345 Wilton Drive. A visitation will be held from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by a Celebration of Life service from 5 to 7 p.m. For information, go to dignitymemorial.com. The Chicago native opened The Floridian at 1410 E. Las Olas Blvd. with then-wife Rose in 1979 and over the years created a nostalgic shrine to comfort food and community, illustrated in the signature Meet Me at the Flo T-shirts worn by waitstaff. The Floridian became shorthand for classic Fort Lauderdale, the place you took out-of-towners to introduce them to an unaffected local vibe. VIPs looking for an inconspicuous meal from Miami Dolphins star Dan Marino and the Food Networks Rachael Ray to celebrity pianist Liberace, noshing on chili dogs with a companion also found their way to the Flo. From his seat at the head of a long table in the center of the dining room lined by celebrity photos, Samp hosted daybreak gatherings of local elected officials, law enforcement, and legal and business leaders. Butch Samp at The Floridian diner, a mecca for early-morning and late-night diners in downtown Fort Lauderdale since 1979. Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said he met Samp when Trantalis first arrived in the city more than 40 years ago. Its very sad. He was a pillar of the community, Trantalis said. His presence was felt when you walked in the restaurant. He was a cult figure in Fort Lauderdale. On Tuesday morning, the meetings continued with Samp represented by a photograph he is pictured with sons Chris and Jake placed at his favorite seat, along with vases of flowers. A revolving cast of well-wishers sat at the table throughout the day. Fort Lauderdale attorney Fred Haddad began dropping by the morning confabs at The Floridian even before Samp owned it, along with other heavy hitters that included Yellow Cab owner Jesse Gaddis and Norm Kent, the criminal defense attorney, radio talk-show host and publisher of the South Florida Gay News. We lost one of the nicest guys in the community, Haddad said. He contributed to innumerable charities, gave any time anybody needed anything. A testament to him is how many people would come in to see him for breakfast. He knew everybody. He was just a great guy. Cammy Pierro, manager of The Floridian, hugs attorney Fred Haddad during a gathering of friends on Tuesday. He was just an institution in this town, said Fort Lauderdale retiree Mark Dibuono, while seated with friends at Samps table. We were just saying that he had such a rapport with the young people that came in here. Children, theyd always come up to him and give him a hug and a kiss. Vincent and Leslie Scutellaro, 30-year Fort Lauderdale residents, dropped in to pay their respects to the man they called the gateway into the community. Leslie Scutellaro taught Samps son, Jake, at nearby St. Anthony Catholic School, where she said Samp was a big supporter. Its kind of hard to put it into words. He was just a really friendly guy, and a great host, she said. Rose Donnelly was married to Samp for 25 years before they divorced, and they had their two sons, Chris and Jake. The latter died in 2020 at age 32. She and Samp came to Fort Lauderdale from Chicago, where they had owned a restaurant. We were young I was like 27 and Butch was 30 and we were hard workers. We persevered. We did whatever we could to get the business going, Donnelly said, noting that at 9 years old Chris earned money to buy a bicycle by making toast. The Floridian survived because of the community, both customers and nearby business owners, Donnelly said, recalling Mario from Paesanos, Abe over at the gas station, McCarthys newspaper store and Ben [Adamo]s barber shop. We were all neighbors, and we all stuck together. And if one needed help, we were there for each other, she said. Butch Samps ex-wife, Rose Donnelly, left, and former longtime Floridian employee Sue Kaplan tell stories about Samp while sitting next to a memorial placed at his seat in the restaurant on Tuesday. In addition to The Floridian, Samp owned Fort Lauderdale eatery Ernies Bar-B-Q on Federal Highway, which he sold in 2017, moving its conch fritters, Bimini bread and other items to The Floridian menu. The family also owned Tinas Spaghetti House and a bar and restaurant called Jakes Place on Las Olas Boulevard in the 1990s, the Cypress Creek bar Cheers and Cafe Bluefish on Fort Lauderdale beach. The Floridian was an unapologetically untrendy spot when Samp and his diner had their moment of Food Network stardom in 2005, as Rachael Ray brought her $40 a Day show to the Flo. He probably didnt even know who she was, Donnelly said, laughing. Sue Kaplan, 84, returned to The Floridian on Tuesday, about 15 years after her retirement from 35 years as a waitress. She said Samp should be remembered for his humor, good nature and for just being Butch. I loved it here. The people were great. The customers were wonderful, Kaplan said, recalling Sunday mornings where we had big lines out the door. The diner is a family affair for Kaplan: Daughter Linda Silvetti has been a waitress at The Floridian for 39 years, and Silvettis daughter, Nikki Ryan, also works there. Linda Silvetti has been a server at The Floridian diner for 39 years, and both her mother and her daughter have also worked there. Silvetti is a diner waitress right out of central casting, ruthlessly efficient and sassy when she needs to be. But she softens when talking about Samp. Butch was a really good friend, a good man, good boss. He had his moments, but he was a funny guy. He loved entertaining people. Im gonna miss him a lot, she said. In a Facebook post, Nikki Ryan thanked Samp for his guidance. You were always so proud of me and would brag to your friends at the table about me getting my Masters degree and still working 7 days a week, she wrote. Thank you for some good memories, laughs, tears and talks. The most public display of Samps humor came in 2020 when, as he was decluttering the restaurant, he came across an old For Sale sign. As a lark, he put it in the front window of The Floridian with a hand-lettered plea: Will trade for a functioning kidney or dialysis machine. Friends and customers filled his voicemail with concern. But, in fact, Samp had never felt better, thanks to losing more than 100 pounds. It was so nice to have everybody calling and checking, Samp told the South Florida Sun Sentinel at the time. And he did get an offer from a man interested in making the trade, a kidney for The Floridian. When Samp told him the price had since risen to two kidneys, the man countered that would be fatal. I told him, You have to understand, in any business deal, theres always a bad part of it,' Samp said, laughing. Staff writer Susannah Bryan contributed to this report. Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at bcrandell@sunsentinel.com. Follow on Instagram @BenCrandell and Twitter @BenCrandell. Northern Irish farmers are being reminded that they have until midnight on 2 May to complete their 2023 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) entitlement transfers. The Department of Agriculture (DAERA) is urging farmers in the province not miss the deadline and to apply now. Transfers made after this date will not take effect until the 2024 BPS scheme year. BPS entitlements form the basis of the BPS annual payment, and they can be transferred between farm businesses by inheritance, sale, lease, or gift. To complete Entitlement Transfers, farmers need log on to the DAERA website. DAERA said: "Farmers have until midnight on Tuesday 2 May 2023 to complete their 2023 BPS Entitlement Transfers. "Farm businesses must activate all their entitlements in at least one scheme year over any two-year period, except in cases of force majeure or exceptional circumstance. "Any entitlement, or fraction of an entitlement, that remains unused for two consecutive years is at risk of being confiscated from the business." Further assistance is available via DAERA's advisory service on 0300 200 7848. Humans could soon be infected by dog flu. Human could catch a deadly flu from their dogs Scientists fear that a deadly dog influenza virus has shown signs that it could leap to pet owners with potentially lethal consequences. Canines were first infected by the bird flu virus H3N2 in 2006 and the illness is now an established threat to dogs but boffins fear that pooches will be a "stepping stone" for the disease to jump to humans. Professor James Wood, head of the department of veterinary medicine at the University of Cambridge, said: "The changes in the canine virus apparently are making it better adapted to transmit within mammals, as you might expect after such a long period in dogs. "The virus does not seem to pose particularly worrying health threats to dogs - one might be more concerned about the longer term pandemic potential in other species such as humans." Russia is using cryptocurrencies to bypass sanctions from the Ukraine war. Russia is using cryptocurrencies to swerve financial sanctions Britain, the EU and the US have all imposed economic sanctions against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine last year but Moscow is employing a number of tricks to evade the restrictions. Russia has been trading in rubles rather than dollars and has now started employing cryptocurrencies to minimise the impact of the sanctions. Some forms of cryptocurrencies are difficult to trace and regulate, making them a useful tool in laundering money from criminal activity or to pay for illegal or restricted goods. Crypto is currently illegal in Russia but special measures are being introduced that would create state-sponsored crypto mines. The mines would be huge computer servers that would monitor and legitimise Bitcoin transactions and rewarded with the currency as a result. Russia will allow the use of cryptocurrency during certain transactions and all of this will be heavily monitored. Elvira Nabiullina, the head of the Central Bank of Russia, said: "Adhering to the policy that cryptocurrency should not be used within the country, we propose to allow it as an experimental measure. "The relevant bill is also being prepared to introduce an experimental legal regime." Moscow will establish bodies that are dedicated to supervising crypto mining, as well as monitoring crypto transactions outside of Russia. Vladimir Putin is struggling to maintain the narrative that Russia's conflict with Ukraine is similar to the Soviet Union's battle against the Nazis during World War II. Vladimir Putin is struggling to maintain the narrative for his war in Ukraine The Russian president has consistently said that he wanted to "denazify" Ukraine after launching his invasion last year and has exploited the memory of World War II - a lynchpin of Russia's national identity - to generate support for the conflict. In its latest intelligence update, the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said: "The Russian state is struggling to maintain consistency in a core narrative that it uses to justify the war in Ukraine: that the invasion is analogous to the Soviet experience in the Second World War." The MoD suggested that claims that cancellations of this year's Immortal Regiment 'Great Patriotic War' remembrance marches were on "safety" grounds are false. It said that the real reason for the parades being cancelled is that the Russian authorities are concerned that attendees would highlight the increasing death toll from the conflict. The update added that Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has questioned if there are any Nazis in Ukraine - directly opposing Putin's main justification for the war. 1.I was born in London and in my thirties moved with my family to the north of Scotland. Like all converts, I love my adoptive country. 2. I used to breed Labradors and keep chickens. Both were great fun. 3. Prince Michael of Kent once drove me in a vintage double-decker bus round Brooklands Motor Museum. 4. I sing (passably), read (voraciously) and walk (enthusiastically). 5. Try as I might to learn Gaelic, I can never get beyond half-a-dozen phrases. 6. Joan Hickson is surely the best Miss Marple, but Margaret Rutherford in the film role was a hoot. 7. If I go to sleep with a plot problem, I often wake with it solved. Sleep that knits up the ravelld sleave of care, as Macbeth has said on more than one occasion. When Maud McIntyre sets up her own private detective agency, she never imagines her first case will involve murder A mystery in the Highlands? The Scottish Ladies Detective Agency is on the case! Edinburgh, 1911: When Maud McIntyre and her ladys maid, Daisy, form a detective agency, they never dream their first case will take place at a glamorous house in the Scottish Highlands. But when the Duchess of Duddingston, concerned that a notorious jewellery thief will target her lavish weekend party, employs Maud to go undercover as a guest to find the culprit, the agency has its first case to solve Undercover with Daisy as her maid, Maud follows a trail of clues across the Duddingston House estate. And as she meets the weekend guests, she hopes one of them will reveal themselves as the jewellery thief. But when one of the house guests is discovered dead, Maud and Daisy realise theyre not only hunting precious gems, but a murderer As Maud and Daisy investigate, they realise that a connection in Edinburgh might hold a vital clue that will help them solve the case. Travelling back to the city, Maud hopes that what she and Daisy uncover will help them piece together the murder mystery at Duddingston House But when Maud receives a telephone call from the Duchess requesting urgent assistance, she realises that the murderer didnt have just one victim in mind. Speeding down the drive to Duddingston House, Maud and Daisy hear gunshots ring out across the estate. Will they reach the Duchess in time to save her? And will they catch the murderer in the act? Author bio. Lydia Travers was born in London. She moved progressively north until settling with her husband in a village on the edge of the Scottish Highlands. She has raised children, bred dogs and kept chickens; and for as long as she can remember has written for pleasure. A former legal academic and practitioner with a PhD in criminology, she now runs self-catering holiday accommodation, sings in a local choir and is walked daily by the family dog. Lydia also writes as Linda Tyler and her first novel under that name, Revenge of the Spanish Princess, won a 2018 Romance Writers of America competition for the beginning of an historical romance. Her second novel The Laird's Secret was Commended in the 2021 Scottish Association of Writers' Pitlochry Quaich competition for the beginning of a romantic novel. Mischief in Midlothian won the 2022 Scottish Association of Writers' Constable Silver Stag trophy. She has had a number of short stories published in magazines, journals and anthologies in the UK, the USA and Australia. https://twitter.com/LindaTyler100 China's sincere hope to promote security, stability in Middle East 16:28, April 26, 2023 By Zhai Jun ( People's Daily Saudi Arabia and Iran, since making great achievements in their talks in Beijing, have made new strides in improving bilateral relations in accordance with the identified roadmap and timetable laid out in their Beijing agreement. On April 6, the foreign ministers of the two countries met in Beijing and signed a joint statement, with which the two countries announced the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect. It turned a new page in Saudi Arabia-Iran relations and encouraged goodwill for reconciliation between nations in the Middle East. It has provided an important example for countries to resolve conflicts through dialogues and consultation, and a successful practice for implementing the China-proposed Global Security Initiative (GSI) and building a community with a shared future for mankind. Their resumption of diplomatic relations has been broadly welcomed by Middle East countries and the international community. As a reliable mediator with good faith, China has earnestly fulfilled its duties in hosting the talks. It has won the full trust of both Saudi Arabia and Iran, and has been highly appreciated by countries and peoples of the region. The world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. Hotspot issues keep flaring up and the prevailing trend of peace and development is facing serious challenges. The Middle East sees a variety of regional hotspot issues with complex conflicts. China, working with countries in the Middle East to practice the GSI and promoting the resumption of Saudi Arabia-Iran diplomatic ties, has demonstrated its sense of responsibility and brought good news to the world in turmoil. The Beijing talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran fully proved that mutual respect, dialogue and consultation are the fundamental solution to resolve disputes. Facts have shown time and again that war and sanctions only create more conflicts and turbulence, and only mutual understanding and accommodation lead the way to inclusive solutions. No matter how complex the issues are or how thorny the challenges may be, the international community, especially influential major countries, should steadfastly facilitate talks for peace, play good offices and mediate in light of the needs and will of the countries concerned, and support relevant parties to build trust, settle disputes and promote security through dialogue in accordance with the principle of mutual respect. The Beijing talks fully demonstrated that independence, solidarity and cooperation are the only ways to safeguard the common interests of developing countries. Some external major powers have long been engaged in acts to stoke conflicts, create divisions and divide and rule in the Middle East, which has created turbulence in the region and suffering of the people. Many developing countries in the world share similar experiences with countries in the Middle East. There is no so-called "vacuum" in international politics, and developing countries have the will and ability to take the initiative for their peace and development. Facing external interference, developing countries should further uphold independence, solidarity and cooperation, as well as promote peace through unity, pursue stability through self-reliance, and achieve development through cooperation. The Beijing talks fully proved that only by upholding the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security can universal security and common security be achieved. Humanity is an indivisible security community. Be it in the Middle East or other regions, the path to security is never a one-way road, but a lane that comes in two directions featuring mutual understanding. Parties concerned should take each other's legitimate and reasonable security concerns seriously, establish platforms for security dialogue with the participation of all parties involved, and build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture, so as to achieve lasting security that is firmly established. The Beijing talks fully proved that abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter is the fundamental guideline for handling inter-state relations. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter embody the deep reflection by people around the world on the bitter lessons of the two world wars. They are humanity's institutional design for collective security and lasting peace. The various confrontations and injustices in the world today did not occur because the purposes and principles of the UN Charter are outdated, but because they are not effectively maintained and implemented. The international community should firmly uphold the basic norms of international relations underpinned by the UN Charter, follow the rules such as sovereign equality and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and seek impartial and reasonable solutions that are acceptable to all parties. China is a good friend and partner of countries in the Middle East. It does not have self-interests and does not seek to put up exclusive blocs in the region. China is dedicated to the political settlement of hotspot issues with a sincere hope to promote security and stability in the Middle East. In recent years, China has put forward a five-point initiative on achieving security and stability in the Middle East, a four-point proposal for the political settlement of the Syrian issue, and a three-route vision for the implementation of the two-state solution to the Palestinian question to build a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security architecture in the Middle East. These efforts are consistent with China's practice of promoting the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as the spirit of the GSI. China will, as always, demonstrate its sense of responsibility as a major country, uphold justice and support countries in the Middle East in pursuing strategic independence, strengthening solidarity and coordination and shaking off external interference. It will keep supporting Middle East countries in independently exploring ways to solve hotspot issues that are suited to regional realities through dialogue and consultation. It will work to promote security and stability in the region, encourage developing countries to pursue solidarity and cooperation, and push the international order in a fairer and more reasonable direction. (Zhai Jun is the Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue) (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) Fifteen applicants will be interviewed in public next week in Orlando for a Florida Supreme Court vacancy, but only 10 of them appear to be eligible. Strange backroom maneuvering is going on, but those who know arent saying. The other five applicants dont live in the territorial area of the new Sixth District Court of Appeal, as a literal reading of the Florida Constitution would seem to mandate. Of the seven justices, Article V states, each appellate district shall have at least one justice elected or appointed from the district to the supreme court who is a resident of the district at the time of the original appointment or election. None of the six sitting justices was appointed from the new Sixth, which came into being on Jan. 1. Two justices live there, only because their home counties were reassigned to the new district. What the Constitution means Jon Mills, dean emeritus of the University of Florida Levin College of Law and former Florida House Speaker, doesnt see a close question. If you adhere to the language, it says at the time of the original appointment,' Mills told the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board. There is no one from the Sixth now. Imagine that: Judges and lawyers professing to believe in strict constructionism, or a literal reading of laws, then not living by it. The vacancy created by Justice Ricky Polstons resignation was advertised to lawyers and judges statewide. Polston resigned to become general counsel of Citizens Property Insurance Corp., nearly doubling his salary. Gov. Ron DeSantis communications director, Taryn Fenske, and Fred Karlinsky, chair of the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission, did not reply to our question as to whether the constitutional provision was considered. A clear favorite The question becomes moot if DeSantis appoints a finalist who lives in the Sixth. Its widely assumed in legal circles that his favorite is Meredith Sasso, chief judge of the new Sixth, whose home county of Orange is in the new district. As a judge of the Fifth District Court of Appeal, Sasso was one of the nominees for an earlier Supreme Court vacancy that went to Justice Renatha Francis. The Judicial Nominating Commission, which must recommend from three to six applicants for a vacancy, will have no trouble finding the sort of deep-dyed conservatives DeSantis prefers. Ten of the 15 applicants, including eight of those living in the Sixth District, reported membership in the right-wing Federalist Society. Several have conspicuous litigation or judicial records mirroring DeSantis social conservatism. Jared Smith is a judge on the Sixth District Court, appointed by DeSantis despite (or perhaps because of) his defeat for re-election as a circuit judge at Tampa last year. At issue was his ruling denying an abortion to a 17-year-old seeking to bypass parental permission. He questioned her overall intelligence, emotional development and stability. The Second District Court of Appeal interpreted her testimony differently and overruled him. The dissenter in that 2 to 1 vote was John Stargel, another applicant for this vacancy and a judge in the Sixth. A disqualifying op-ed Another is Roger Gannam of Maitland, an attorney with Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit that advocates for religious groups and conservative causes. In 2015, he wrote a Florida Times Union op-ed strenuously opposing a proposed Jacksonville equal rights ordinance that foreshadowed DeSantis anti-LGBTQ policies. Most insidiously, Gannam wrote, male predators will use the legal cover of female identity to gain unchallenged access to women-only bathrooms and dressing rooms. Roger Gannam of Liberty Counsel is a candidate for a Florida Supreme Court vacancy. Despite that record, Gannam wrote N/A, not applicable, to a question on the JNC application asking if he would be biased on an issue that might reach the Supreme Court. That answer strikes us as elusive. Its also disqualifying. No matter who is appointed, there ought not to be any residency requirement for Supreme Court justices. Their jurisdiction is statewide. The rule creates inequality of opportunity because judicial districts are not equal in population. It deprives the nominating commission and the governor of suitably wide pools of candidates. No applicants for the Polston vacancy came from any judges of the other five district courts of appeal. They must have read the Constitution the same way Mills does. The residency rule owes to a Central Florida legislator who resented that the first two of Gov. Reubin Askews Supreme Court appointees came from Pinellas County and the third was born and raised there. A 1976 constitutional amendment providing for all justices to be appointed rather than elected gave him the opportunity to get the residency formula into the Constitution. There were only four appellate districts then. Repealing the residency requirement is one of many reforms urgently needed at the court. Askew created Floridas judicial nominating commissions to be independent, but since 2001, the law has allowed the governors to appoint all nine members of each. That enabled DeSantis to pack the Supreme Court with right-wing ideologues. Polstons replacement will be DeSantiss fifth appointment to the high court. No other Florida governor has made as many. The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Editorial Page Editor Dan Sweeney, and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson. Editorials are the opinion of the Board and written by one of its members or a designee. To contact us, email at letters@sun-sentinel.com. Textile trade between Australia and the Philippines has picked up in recent years, with the Philippines' garment exports consistently growing in previous years. The latest data shows that cotton imports from Australia also multiplied during 2022. The Philippines is one of the world's significant garment exporting countries, while Australia is a major cotton-producing and exporting country. The Philippines' garment exports to Australia jumped 20 per cent to reach $7.711 million during 2022. The trade has registered consistent growth during the last five years except for 2020. The export value rose to $4.441 million in 2019 from the preceding year's shipment, which was noted at $1.662 million, according to Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro. Due to disruptions in trade and economic activities caused by COVID-19, the export value decreased to $3.553 million in 2020. It then bounced back, reaching $6.406 million in 2021 and $7.711 million in 2022. Textile trade between Australia and the Philippines has grown in recent years, with the Philippines' garment exports consistently increasing. Cotton imports from Australia have also increased in 2022. The Philippines' garment exports to Australia grew 20 per cent to $7.711 million in 2022, while its cotton imports reached $10.822 million in 2022. The Philippines' cotton (HSN Code 5201) imports reached $10.822 million during 2022. The inbound trade was negligible in 2021, recorded at $1.845 million. TexPro data shows that the Philippines is emerging as an important market for Australian cotton. Price dynamics play an important role in the trade of raw materials. Due to geopolitical tension with China, Australia needed to explore new markets for its cotton crop. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) Another electricity tariff hike would be recommended by June in Bangladesh to contain budget subsidies for natural gas and electricity to 0.9 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), finance ministry officials recently told visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff. The tariff was raised thrice this year, by 5 per cent each time. Electricity subsidy was topped up by Tk 6,000 crore to Tk 23,000 crore in the revised budget. Another electricity tariff hike would be recommended by June in Bangladesh to contain budget subsidies for natural gas and electricity to 0.9 per cent of the GDP, finance ministry officials told IMF. The tariff was raised thrice this year, by 5 per cent each time. Rationalisation of subsidies is one of the stipulations of the $4.7-billion IMF loan project. The visiting IMF staff mission, which is in Dhaka till May 2, held a separate meeting with the Bangladesh Bank, according to media reports from the country. Rationalisation of subsidies is one of the stipulations of the $4.7-billion IMF loan programme, and the government has committed to adjusting electricity prices further to reduce the subsidy component. Tk 81,000 crore was earmarked for subsidy expenses in the original budget for this fiscal. In the revised budget, another Tk 21,000 crore was made available. The ministry officials also informed the IMF mission that it would be tough to meet June's target for net international reserves (NIR), one of the three mandatory conditions for the release of the next tranche of the loan. The IMF stipulated a minimum NIR of $24.46 billion on June 30. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) There are clearly important areas where the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) goes further than some existing free trade agreements (FTAs) that the United Kingdom has with nine of the 11 parties to the CPTPP, a House of Commons committee has concluded after an inquiry. The areas include generous rules of origin and prohibition of the requirement to maintain a local presence to deliver services. There are key areas where the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership goes further than some existing pacts that the UK has with nine of the 11 CPTPP members, a House of Commons panel has concluded. There are also opportunities for the UK to show leadership and expertise, particularly in digital trade and environmental policy. The CPTPP could play a role in helping to shape trading rules and norms. Although the committees evidence is incomplete, there are areas on digital trade and the environment where the CPTPP has contributed to progress in multilateral fora. There are clear advantages in the United Kingdom contributing to these efforts, particularly as like-minded partners are turning to plurilateral blocs, rather than the lignified World Trade Organisation, for digital and environmental policy innovation, the committee said. There are also opportunities within the CPTPP for the UK to show leadership and expertise, particularly in digital trade and environmental policy, where the UK has proven to be a global leader. It also needs to ensure that the CPTPPs structures support the UKs agenda by calling for a permanent CPTPP secretariat that can support enlargement and modification of the agreement, an official release quoted the committee report as saying. The UKs accession to the CPTPP also comes with a set of challenges. Witnesses raised issues with the agreements provisions for investment protection, intellectual property requirements and food standards and animal welfare, the report noted. The parts of the CPTPP which affect these areas are seemingly small and technical, but misalignment of these provisions with current practices in the UK could jeopardise important public policy aims and damage business confidence, it said. In particular, the committee looked at the impact Chinas accession could have on the CPTPPs high standards. It is a significant risk, but the United Kingdom will be well placed to address that as accession to the CPTPP comes with the power of veto over prospective new members, the committee noted. The government has two months to respond to this report. The committees inquiry was launched in November 2021 and its findings were planned to be submitted to the House of Commons later this year, following examination of the UKs terms of accession. However, reorganisation of the Houses select committees to mirror changes to the machinery of government has necessitated the committee making its incomplete findings available to the House. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Aishwarya Rai Bachchan opened up about the false information about her daughter that circulated on numerous social media platforms at a Ponniyin Selvan 2 event. During the event, Aishwarya was asked about the hurtful news content. She responded, "It's so nice that a member from the media only is recognising that that does exist. So that gives us a great hope that you are obviously not going to perpetuate that. You are not going to encourage that and thank you very much for your wise recognition of the negative impact of false writing or unnecessary writing which is insensitive and unnecessary." "So thank you so much for your support for the sentiment that we all share and for your wisdom in recognising that," Aishwarya added. To note, Aaradhya Bachchan had recently filed a complaint with the Delhi High Court against tabloids in an effort to crack down on misleading information about her health. The lawsuit sought that organisations "de-list and delete any videos" involving Aaradhya. On the work front, Aishwarya is currently gearing up for the release of Ponniyin Selvan: II, the second part of filmmaker Mani Ratnam's screen adaptation of author Kalki Krishnamurthy's 1955 Tamil novel of the same name. The Mumbai police on Monday arrested two men for allegedly cheating the 27-year-old actor Chrisann Pereira by promising her a role in Hollywood web series and then sending her for an "audition" to the UAE's Sharjah city, where she was later caught in an alleged drugs case, an official said. Sleuths of Unit 10 of the Mumbai crime branch arrested the accused -- Ravi Bobhate and Anthony Paul -- who also cheated the actor's mother, Pramila Pareira, by promising her hefty commissions in real estate deals in Hyderabad, he said. The incident came to light when 56-year-old Pareira approached the crime branch with a complaint that her daughter, Chrisann, had been cheated under the pretext of providing her a role in Hollywood web series, the official said. According to the complaint, accused Bobhate contacted her posing as a web series financer working on a project between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and offered a role to Chrisann, who has worked in Hindi web shows, movies and plays, he said. Accordingly, the complainant discussed the offer with her daughter and after meeting the accused person, the schedule of her overseas journey for an "audition" was finalised, said the official. The actor was scheduled to go to the UAE's Dubai city, but her air tickets were booked from Mumbai to Sharjah for April 1 and she was supposed to return on April 3. Around the same time, Pareira went to Hyderabad with the second accused Paul to finalize a property deal, he said. While in Hyderabad, Pareira got a call informing her that Chrisann has been caught at the Sharjah airport with opium and cannabis, said the official. UAE authorities informed the Indian embassy about the case and information was also shared with the Mumbai police. Accused Paul told Pareira he has contacts in Sharjah and sought Rs 80 lakh from her to help her daughter, he said. At this point, Pareira realised she and her daughter had been cheated and approached the crime branch with the complaint. During investigation, it came to light that Paul and Bobhate together hatched a conspiracy to cheat the mother-daughter duo, said the official. A first information report (FIR) was filed and the accused were arrested from different locations in Mumbai, he said, adding further probe was on. Danny Sura: While Vidyut Jammwal leads the star cast of IB 71, he is supported by a strong ensemble cast, which comprises established names like Anupam Kher, Vishal Jethwa, as well as Danny Sura. Danny is a British-Indian actor who is a popular name in showbiz. He will be seen playing a key role in IB 71, lets see some unknown facts about the actor. Danny Sura In IB 71 Danny has a prominent role in the film and has already made headlines with his appearance in the film's trailer. Danny Sura Biography The actor grew up in Birmingham, U.K. Danny's parents hail from Punjab and moved to the U.K. in the 1970s. The actor has a BSc degree in information technology combined with psychology from the University of Liverpool. He also has a Masters degree in work psychology and business from the prestigious Aston Business School in Birmingham. Vidyut Jammwal And Nandita Mahtani Call It Quits Amid Wedding Rumours Danny's fluency in Hindi British-Indian actor Danny Sura captivates the audience with his flawless Hindi in his various projects. Having worked in the industry for years, Danny's Hindi has reached perfection. Danny Sura's workfront The actor has been involved in various projects. He rose to fame with his performance in the historical drama series 'Vidrohi'. Apart from this, he has done projects like Girl in the City Season 1, Main Aur Mr.Riight, Hindi Medium, Kya Kool Hain Hum 3, and Sher-E-Punjab: Maharaja Ranjit Singh, among others. Top Bollywood News: Ranveer Singh Praised For Responsible Behaviour; Actress Chrisann Pereira DRUG Case Danny's projects also include Bose: Dead or Alive, 21 Sarfarosh: Saragarhi 1897, Out of Time, and Rani Rani Rani. Currently, Danny is shooting for three series that will be released on OTT platforms next year. Chrisann Pereira Arrested In UAE: According to an official, two men were arrested by Mumbai police on Monday for allegedly cheating 27-year-old actress Chrisann Pereira with the promise of a role in a Hollywood web series. The accused, identified as Ravi Bobhate and Anthony Paul, sent Pereira for an "audition" in Sharjah city, UAE, where she was later caught in a suspected drugs case. The Mumbai crime branch's Unit 10 sleuths apprehended the duo, who also tricked Pereira's mother, Pramila Pareira, by offering her significant commissions in real estate transactions in Hyderabad. Since Chrisann Pereira is currently detained in a Sharjah jail since April 1, let's take a brief look at her career so far and what information has been uncovered by the police investigation. DID YOU KNOW CHRISANN PEREIRA WAS A PART OF ALIA BHATT'S SADAK 2? Bollywood Actress Chrisann Pereira Jailed In UAE, 2 Men Arrested In Mumbai for Cheating Her Chrisann Pereira is an actress who has played supporting roles in films such as Sadak 2 and Batla House. Additionally, she has appeared in numerous plays including Three Women, Drumroll, and Sundays with Chitra. Did Arpita Sharma Call Sonakshi Sinha 'Bhabhi' CONFIRMING Her Relationship With Zaheer Iqbal; Check Out! Pereira has also acted in a web series called Thinkistan. She resides with her family, including her parents and brother, in Borivli. HOW DID CHRISANN PEREIRA GOT JAILED IN SHARJAH? In the last week of March, a scammer named Ravi posed as a talent consultant and contacted Pereira's mother, Premila. Ravi informed Pereira that there was an audition for a web series in Sharjah and instructed her to bring a trophy with her. Unbeknownst to Pereira, Ravi had hidden drugs in the trophy which ultimately led to her arrest in Sharjah. POLICE INVESTIGATION IN CHRISANN PEREIRA DRUGS CASE Upon investigation, the police discovered that Anthony Paul had a prior altercation with Premila and was seeking revenge. Paul conspired with another individual who posed as Ravi to deceive Pereira. Both suspects have been apprehended by the police, and attempts are being made to repatriate Pereira to India. Keep watching this space for more updates! Who was Saint Von Colucci? Netizens have been discussing things related to the Canadian actor ever since the news about his death surfaced on the internet. It is being said that he wanted to look like BTS star Jimin. Twitter users expressed their shock over his untimely demise after it was reported that the actor passed away on April 23 in South Korea. He was 22. WHO WAS SAINT VON COLUCCI? CAUSE OF HIS DEATH According to a report in Daily Mail, Saint died after he suffered complications due to the cosmetic surgeries that he underwent a few months ago. He had shifted base from Canada to South Korea four years back as he wished to pursue a career in the blossoming K-pop music industry. His publicist Eric Blake revealed that the late actor underwent a surgery last week to remove the implants from jaw that were put in November 2022. Things didn't turn out as planned as Saint developed an infection after the surgery. Saint Von Colucci had to be intubated. The doctors couldn't save him and he left for his heavenly abode after a few hours. SAINT VON COLUCCI 12 SURGERIES LIST REVEALED Would you ever spend Rs 1.8 crore on surgeries to look like someone? While the majority of the people would say no immediately, Saint Von Colucci opted to spend a whopping amount for the 12 plastic surgeries that he underwent. According to the report in the portal, Saint spent a mind-boggling amount on procedures like nose job, facelift, lip reduction and eye lift to enhance his features. HOW MUCH SAINT VON COLUCCI SPENT TO LOOK LIKE BTS JIMIN? As per the United States currency, he spent $220,000, which amounts to 1,80,36,810 in Indian currency on the plastic surgeries. Media reports suggest that Colucci was stationed in South Korea for the shoot of Pretty Lies, a Korean drama that would premiere on a US streaming platform later this year. He was reportedly playing the role of an international student. Saint didn't like the shape of chin and jawline and wanted it to be V-shape, a feature that many Asians have. His publicist stated that it became difficut for him to secure a job in South Korea and hence, he lost out on opportunities. He felt 'discriminated' because of his Western looks, the report in the portal added. Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai: Rajan Shahi's hit daily soap has managed to keep the viewers entertained with its drama-packed episodes. At a time when many shows have failed to impress the fans, YRKKH has been running successfully since the past fourteen years. The makers introduced a generation leap in 2021 following which Shivangi Joshi and Mohsin Khan made an exit from the show. After the duo left the daily soap, Pranali Rathod, Karishma Sawant and Harshad Chopda entered as the new leads of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. The trio has been able to strike a bond with the viewers as they received love and adulation from all corners. After a slight dip in viewership, the TRPs increased once the creative team separated Abhimanyu and Akshara. AbhiRa fans are upset with the current track as they are eagerly awaiting their reunion. Considering their love and sizzling chemistry, any fan would want AbhiRa to stay together, isn't it? However, there is a certain section of the audience, who have trolled Karishma Sawant for playing the third wheel in Abhimanyu and Akshara's love story. The actress, who shares a close association with Pranali and Harshad, has often face flak on social media for playing the role of Aarohi in the show. A certain section of the audience has not been to differentiate with real and reel life and they have brutally trolled the actress. Contrary to the rumours, Karishma Sawant shares an amazing bond with her on-screen sister Pranali Rathod. The Marathi Mulgi, in an interaction with a portal, spoke about her bond with Harshali and Pranali and also squashed all the rumours of rift on the sets. "People would often say that two lead actresses cannot get along well but surprisingly it is nothing like this with me and Pranali. Everyone has been supportive. Be it Pranali, Harshad or our production team - nobody tries to pull each other down and we are always there to support each other," Karishma Sawant told India Forums. The actress further told the portal that the trolls can try their best to create rifts among the artists but the 'reality is different'. Florida is one of only five states with a resign-to-run law that apparently will be amended to allow Gov. Ron DeSantis to run for president without having to resign as governor. He and his minions are making it crystal clear that he probably cannot win the presidency, so he doesnt want to give up his current dictatorship I mean governorship. This is a sign of weakness that should be noted by everyone whos thinking of voting for him. Alex Jimenez, Winter Park A sheriffs future Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony has a hearing scheduled July 10-11 in Fort Lauderdale to address complaints against him by the Florida Commission on Ethics. The attorney prosecuting the case for the state, Melody Hadley, has twice recommended a finding of no probable cause against Tony. The Ethics Commission disregarded her advice both times and found probable cause, but Hadley will now present the case against Tony. Think about that. The right thing would be for Gov. Ron DeSantiss office to be honest. Just tell the people of Broward County that DeSantis made a mistake when he hastily appointed Tony and that no matter how flawed the decision was, it will not change. Hadley representing the state is the definition of a kangaroo court. Im going to make a wild prediction: Hadley and Sheriff Tonys lawyers will reach agreement that amounts to a pass for the sheriff. What a system. Jerry Fuller, Coconut Creek Making up medical data The following is a quote from Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo: To say I removed an analysis for a particular outcome, is an implicit denial of the fact the public has been a recipient of bias data and misinterpretations from the beginning of the civic vaccine program. Ill paraphrase: I lied on these COVID vaccination studies because I think the public has been misled. Its not my fault I lied. Its always someone elses. The top medical officer in Florida admits making up medical data to fit his political views. Think about that: The state of Florida advocates lying to you. I should not be surprised, considering the governor has been on Fox News over 200 times in the last two years spewing lies. Medicine is life and death and the surgeon general lies to you about the medical data. What has happened to my once-great state? Don Whisman, Stuart Dont let him speak The Museum of Tolerance in Israel invited Gov. DeSantis to be a keynote speaker Thursday. This week marks Israels 75th year of independence. While I do not believe the governor is an anti-Semite, he is supported by anti-Semites and white supremacists, and refuses to denounce them or their anti-Semitic incidents. For this reason, the Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance should rescind this invitation. Rick Stark, Weston The writer is a former member of the Florida House of Representatives. Its a lost cause, Ron Though Florida faces many serious problems, Gov. DeSantis seems to have plenty of time to travel all the way to Japan. Most people think it is for political reasons, as he seeks the Republican nomination for president. As recent polls show, this is a lost cause. As shown millions of times on social media, the real reason for his travels is to find a place to make his bobblehead doll. Martin Kleinbart, Aventura U Turn Language: Hindi Genre: Mystery-Thriller Director: Arif Khan Stars: Alaya F. and Aashim Gulati OTT Platform and Release: ZEE5 on 28th April Storyline: A teenage reporter sets out to compile a list of those charged with moving the dividing stone so that vehicles could take a U-turn on the highway. The mystery is that everyone she met after that was constantly dead. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 25, 2023 / Entrepreneur Sam Stathis is set to embark on a trip to Ukraine to offer his technologies to help rebuild and resurrect the country, which has been devastated by war and economic crisis. Stathis will be using Theometrics Global and Bevis by Theo innovative solutions to aid in the rebuilding efforts. Theometrics has already donated limited edition NFTs, solely for the purpose of raising money for humanitarian and military aid for Ukraine. Stathis will be initiating the next phase of support during his trip and offering his technologies to help rebuild the country. Theometrics Theometrics Logo Stathis has established several programs, including conferences on construction and technical innovation, contributing to Startup New York, and founding Theometrics University to train young people in precision measurement and navigation in real estate and construction. His philosophy is rooted in the ancient Greek ideals, with a focus on helping people figure out their place in the universe through Theometrics Global. Theometrics has a broader mission of promoting global peace and prosperity by training and preparing the new generation for the modern economy, technology, arts, and sciences. Stathis launched Theometrics in Greece in the summer of 2021 to help his homeland recover from the Greek Economic crisis of 2007, which plagued the country for decades. Stathis had issued a call to action to the Greek diaspora to invest back in their homeland, to help bring Greece up to modern standards and create new job opportunities. Sam Stathis has also been involved with professional Chariot Racing competitions and tournaments for years, and as part of his initiative, he also aims to revive chariot racing as a modern-day Olympic sport, reinstating it as one of the five events that founded the ancient Greek Olympic Games. In February 2022, Stathis also focused his attention to the War in Ukraine. Working with world leaders on Theometrics worldwide peace and prosperity campaign, the efforts multiplied and Team Stathis and Theometrics sprang into action. "I immediately began efforts to support Ukraine by donating drones to the front lines, and the military sent me videos of the drones in use with their gratitude for this support. I accomplished this with a partnership with a Ukrainian news agency, a young group of volunteers at Sky Over Ukraine. In addition to publicizing and raising awareness, Sky Over Ukraine uploads footage and videos daily of what was happening at the front lines - including footage from the drones I donated that are used for reconnaissance missions," said Stathis. Theometrics Global has already donated NFTs that are limited edition, solely for the purpose of raising money for humanitarian and military aid for Ukraine. Stathis stresses, "Neither Theometrics Ukraine, nor Sky Over Ukraine have received or will receive any administrative fees or any fees of any kind, thus all proceeds go directly to Ukrainian aid." Stathis will be traveling to Ukraine to witness the atrocities of war first-hand and to initiate the next phase of support, in offering his technologies to help rebuild and resurrect Ukraine, with his new set of NFTs and real coins minted in copper, silver & gold. In March 2023, while traveling for a Chariot Racing tournament in Palermo, Sicily, and Syracuse, Stathis was awestruck by the ancient Greek temples in Agrigento, Sicily, and prompted Stathis' passion for Greek heritage to now further extend to investing in technology and innovation, leading the effort to resurrect Magna Graecia, particularly in the Valley of the Temples, in Agrigento and expanding freedom and democracy in Ukraine. What began as Sam Stathis' vision for a New Greece, now has expanded to Sicily's Agrigento and Ukraine, and is grounded in his belief of the potential of each region, its human capital, and his entrepreneurial spirit. By investing in technology and innovation and engaging young people in profit management and growth, he aims to create a brighter future for these countries. For more: https://theometrics.com Bevis by Theo: www.bevisbytheo.com Sky Over Ukraine: https://skyoverukraine.com Contact Information Press Contact Director of Communications press@theometrics.com 212-627-8220 SOURCE: Theometrics Global View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/751265/International-Entrepreneur-Sam-Stathis-Supports-Ukraine-to-Initiate-Next-Phase-of-Rebuilding-Devastated-Economy-Through-Technology-and-Innovation San Diego, California--(Newsfile Corp. - April 25, 2023) - Direct Communication Solutions, Inc. (OTCQX: DCSXD) (CSE: DCSI) (FSE: 7QU0) ("DCS" or the "Company"), a leading provider of information technology solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT) market, is excited to announce revenues for the year ending on December 31, 2022, were USD $22.59 million, compared to USD $16.53 million in 2021 (an increase of 36.7% year-over-year). Highlights: Launch the first phase of the SMART ESG Program to provide Cloud-Based IoT solutions for ESG Assets and Data market. Listed on Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "7QU". Closed the fully subscribed $1,500,000 USD unsecured convertible debenture. Launch of MiEbike: a Cloud-Based Asset Tracking Solution for the Growing E-Bike Market. Reverse stock split/consolidation of its common stock on seven old common shares for one new common shares. Partnering with VisionTrack to provide AI-powered video telematics to the North American Market. Henriksen Concrete Washout Systems selected DCS cloud-based IoT solutions to manage and monitor their high-value assets. DCS and Cellcom announced an enhanced partnership for IoT solutions on their 4G network. The year-to-date gross margin is 28.2% for 2022 (26.5% for 2021), representing USD $6.37 million estimated gross profit (USD $4.38 million for 2021 YTD). The 2022 year-to-date EBITDA was USD $0.50 million compared to negative USD $1.99 million 2021 EBITDA. DCS went through and aggressively reworked the pricing models to achieve healthier margins. The Company also expanded the portfolio of product offerings which permitted higher margin sales. The Company advises that it has changed accounting policies and the Company has filed restated financial statements for the fiscal year ended 2021 and has provided details and explanatory notes as to the changes therein. About DCS DCS is a technology solutions integrator focusing on connecting the Internet of Things. We provide real solutions that solve real problems. Our software applications and scalable cloud services collect and assess business-critical data from all types of assets. DCS is headquartered in San Diego, California and is publicly traded on the OTCQX ("DCSXD"), Canadian Securities Exchange ("DCSI") and Frankfurt Stock Exchange ("7QU0"). For more information, visit www.dcsbusiness.com. DCS and the DCS logo are among the trademarks of DCS in the United States. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Contacts Bill Espley, Director billespley@gmail.com 604-630-3072 Chris Bursey, CEO cbursey@dcsbusiness.com 858-525-2483 Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements reflecting management's current views of future events and operations. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially. We believe that these potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Company's dependence on third-party manufacturers, suppliers, technologies and infrastructure; risks related to intellectual property; industry risks, including competition, online security, government regulation and global economic conditions; and the Company's financial position and need for additional funding, Statements in this release should be evaluated in light of these factors. These risk factors and other important factors that could affect our business and financial results are discussed in our Management's Discussion and Analysis, periodic reports and other public filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and posted with the OTC Disclosure and News Service. DCS undertakes no duty to update or revise any forward-looking statements. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163781 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 25, 2023) - Wedgemount Resources Corp. (CSE: WDGY) (OTCQB: WDGRF) ("Wedgemount" or the "Company"), announces it has approved the grant of incentive stock options (each, an "Option") to acquire up to 475,000 common shares in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share"). The Options are exercisable for a five-year term expiring on April 25, 2028, at a price of $0.17 per Option. The Options are subject to vesting provisions, with 1/4 vesting 3 months from the date of grant and 1/4 vesting every 3 months thereafter. Any Common Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of the Options, will be subject to a four month hold period expiring on August 26, 2023, unless waived by the Canadian Securities Exchange. About Wedgemount Resources Corp. Wedgemount Resources is a junior natural resources company focused on maximizing shareholder value through the acquisition, discovery and advancement of natural resource projects in North America. On behalf of the Board of Directors, WEDGEMOUNT RESOURCES CORP. Mark Vanry, President and CEO For more information, please contact the Company at: Telephone: (604) 343-4743 info@wedgemountresources.com www.wedgemountresources.com Reader Advisory This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163784 Dufry International AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results Invitation to Dufry's First Quarter 2023 Trading Update 26.04.2023 / 07:00 CET/CEST Dufry is delighted to invite you to our First Quarter Trading Update 2023 Video Conference Webcast: Wednesday, 10th May 2023 at 14.30h CEST Speakers will be Xavier Rossinyol, CEO Dufry AG, and Yves Gerster, CFO Dufry AG. The presentation and video conference will be held in English, followed by a Q&A session. Presentation and Video Conference Access to the webcast platform will be available through our website . A playback option will be available there until 10th June 2023. Participants will also be able to access via phone by pre-registering here . You will receive the dial-in numbers and a personal pin-code upon registration. If you are unable to register through the link, please send an e-mail to ir@dufry.com. The Q&A will be possible via phone and webcast. News Release & Presentation Dufry will publish its First Quarter Trading Update on 10th May 2023 at 06.30h CEST with the presentation available on Dufry's IR website . * * * * * Legal Disclaimer This document is not an offer of, or a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe for, securities in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan and any other jurisdictions where making the making of an offer of securities for sale would not be in compliance with the securities or other laws or regulations of such jurisdiction or would require any registration, approval or filing with any regulatory authority (such jurisdictions, including the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia, the "Excluded Countries"). No securities have been or will be registered under the U.S. Securities Act and no securities may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. No actions have been taken or will be taken to make an offer of securities to the public in any of the Excluded Countries. For further information please contact: Dr. Kristin Kohler Global Head Investor Relations Phone: +41 61 266 44 22 kristin.koehler@dufry.com Renzo Radice Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Phone: +41 79 461 23 34 renzo.radice@dufry.com DUFRY GROUP - LEADING GLOBAL TRAVEL EXPERIENCE PLAYER Dufry (SIX: DUFN), founded in 1865 and headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, delivers a revolutionary travel experience to consumers worldwide by uniquely combining retail, food & beverage and digital. Our company addresses 2.3 billion passengers in more than 75 countries in 5,500 outlets across 1,200 airports, motorways, cruise lines, seaports, railway stations and other locations across all six continents. With the traveler at our core, we are creating value for all our stakeholders including concession and brand partners, employees, communities, and finally, our shareholders. Sustainability is an inherent element of Dufry's business strategy aiming for sustainable and profitable growth of the company while fostering high standards of environmental stewardship and social equity. To learn more about Dufry, please visit www.dufry.com End of Media Release VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Q Battery Metals Corp. ("Q Battery Metals" or the "Company) is pleased to announce that Geophysique TMC has completed drone-supported magnetics surveying over the La Corne South project, located north of Val d'Or, Quebec. The geophysics contractor will completed 347 line kilometres of surveying over the whole of the project claims. Data compilation and results imaging are expected in the coming weeks. The new magnetics data will be merged with the 2021 survey data to provide homogenous magnetic response over all of the La Corne South project claims. The magnetic data will be modelled to provide both magnetically high and magnetically low trends. Magnetic highs on the property have been shown to be related to massive sulphide bands that contain pyrrhotite. These are to be further tested during the 2023 season. Magnetic lows will be analyzed for potential pegmatitic bodies, associated with lithium mineralization. Lithium pegmatites are known to express anomalously low magnetic susceptibility readings. The Boily Berube mineral showing has been described as pegmatitic "veins" hosting molybdenite and bismithinite. The showing is located within a zone of relatively high magnetics that may be masking the pegmatitic material, and will require further analysis to obtain the necessary detail. Q Battery Metals is also considering resistivity ground surveys as another tool for mapping pegmatite as well as massive sulphide bodies. Q Battery Metals exploration programs undertaken in Quebec are supervised by Dr. Mathieu Piche, OGQ, with office located north of Val d'Or. He is also a Q Battery Metals company director. The company has 100% interest in mineral claims within Quebec and British Columbia, with exploration targeting critical and precious metals. Perry Grunenberg, P.Geo, a "Qualified Person" as that term is defined under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. Cautionary Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions as of that date. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to exploration and development; the ability of the Company to obtain additional financing; the Company's limited operating history; the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations; fluctuations in the prices of commodities; operating hazards and risks; competition and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's Prospectus dated September 8, 2017 available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions, and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. On behalf of the Board of Directors Richard Penn CEO (778) 384-8923 SOURCE: Q Battery Metals Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/751269/TMC-Completes-Magnetic-Survey-La-Corne-South-Lithium-Project-Quebec Regulatory News: Teleperformance (Paris:TEP), a global leader in digital business services, today announced its proposed voluntary cash and share offer for all shares in Majorel (the "Shares"). Teleperformance offers 30 per share1 for a total consideration of 3bn. The Majorel shareholders can also elect to receive Teleperformance shares at an exchange ratio of 0,1382 Teleperformance share for each Majorel share, up to a maximum of 1bn in Teleperformance shares. Majority shareholders in Majorel, (i) Bertelsmann Luxembourg S.ar.l. ("Bertelsmann") and (ii) Saham Customer Relationship Investments Limited and Saham Outsourcing Luxembourg S.ar.l. (together, "Saham") have each irrevocably committed to tender their shares in Majorel and will each elect to receive Teleperformance shares instead of cash within the above limit, with the total number of Teleperformance shares depending on the election of other shareholders. The management board and the supervisory board of the Company welcome the Offer and, at this time, they consider it to be in the best interest of the Company, its shareholders, employees and other stakeholders. This transaction is in line with Teleperformance's 'Cube' strategy building adjacent lines of businesses, creating deeper industry domain expertise, and scaling up complementary geographies. The Teleperformance-Majorel combination creates an approximately US$12bn2 revenue digital business services leader with a strong presence in all major economies of world. The strategic highlights of the combination include: Complementary capabilities in a number of geographies Teleperformance's strength in servicing the Americas is complemented by Majorel's strength in Europe; Scaled up leading presence in Asia-Pacific and Africa; Deepening of expertise across verticals with a highly diversified client portfolio, including Technology, Banking Financial Services, Insurance, Travel, Energy Utilities, Retail FMCG, Government Services and Automotive verticals; Further scale and capabilities in Trust Safety; Creating a significant management depth; Broad portfolio of digital transformation services; A proforma 2022 EPS accretion in the first year before synergies and double-digit EPS accretion including run-rate cost synergies; In addition, material synergies expected in the range of 100-150m, through higher efficiencies, increased scale, enhanced potential for new product development, and sharing of best practices; Maintaining financial flexibility with a leverage of c.1.8x proforma 2023 EBITDA and Teleperformance expects its BBB rating to remain unchanged, allowing Teleperformance to remain proactive on future acquisition opportunities; and Achieving Teleperformance's 2025 objective of 10bn in revenues 2 years in advance. Commenting on the transaction, Daniel Julien, Chairman and CEO of Teleperformance, said: "Majorel and Teleperformance's consolidation constitutes a strong promise for all stakeholders invested in the global digital business services market: For all existing and potential clients: At the closing of the deal, thanks to the complementary capabilities of our two groups, clients will benefit from a unified leading, high-quality force operating in all the key markets around the world: the Americas, Europe, India, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa. For all managers and employees of the two groups: We are a "high touch, high tech business". We leverage technology to augment our people resources. Both companies are driven by shared common values, the signature of the "UN Global Compact", and our commitment to be certified as "best places to work", and we will offer significant career development opportunities all around the world. For all existing and potential investors: This is an immediate win-win deal for the shareholders of both groups, and the common commitment of the leadership of both groups is to supercharge our creation of value." Thomas Mackenbrock, CEO of Majorel, said: "Becoming part of the TP family is the next natural step in our journey. These are exciting prospects for our clients and team members to join forces with the Teleperformance team that has paved the way in global digital services in the last four decades. We share the same core values and believe that this new combination will provide many opportunities for all stakeholders. Moulay Mhamed Elalamy, CEO of Saham and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Majorel, said: "Saham has been invested in the CX industry for over 25 years and has enjoyed an exceptional partnership with Bertelsmann. Throughout this time, Majorel has experienced extraordinary growth, and we are delighted that, for the next phase of our journey, Majorel will unite with Teleperformance, which shares our core values and vision. With strong confidence, we entrust our valued clients and dedicated employees to the combined entity. Saham is looking forward to being part of the continued journey and growth story that lies ahead." Thomas Rabe, Chairman and CEO of Bertelsmann, said: "Majorel has been a fantastic entrepreneurial success story from the very beginning. In the four years since it was founded, Majorel's revenues alone have nearly doubled. Bertelsmann is proud to have shaped Majorel with our partner Saham and to now take this strategic step to sell its shares in Majorel to Teleperformance, a great new home for our employees and customers." The key transaction details are as follows: Teleperformance intends to launch, in the Netherlands, a voluntary public offer to acquire all issued and outstanding shares of Majorel, Each Majorel shareholder will have the option to receive a full payment in cash for 30 per share (ex dividend 2022) or alternatively elect to receive Teleperformance shares based on an exchange ratio of 0,1382 Teleperformance share for each Majorel share tendered up to a maximum of 1/3 of the share capital of Majorel (leading to a maximum issuance of 4.6m Teleperformance shares). If the number of Majorel shares tendered for exchange into Teleperformance shares is in excess of the maximum tender orders will be scaled down on a pro rata basis and shareholders will receive the balance in cash (at 30 per share), Bertelsmann and Saham, each holding 39.49% of the shares and voting rights of Majorel, have irrevocably committed to tender all their shares to the offer and committed to elect to receive Teleperformance shares as consideration and could receive between 3.7m and 4.6m Teleperformance shares (between c.5.7% and c.7.2% of Teleperformance post transaction), depending on elections by other Majorel shareholders, with the balance of the consideration paid in cash.. Each of Bertelsmann and Saham committed to a staggered lock-up period for the Teleperformance shares it will receive over a period of 12 months (one-third of the shares to be released from lock-up every 3 month as from 6 months after closing) Bertelsmann and Saham are supporting a dividend payment for 2022 to all Majorel shareholders at the AGM in June 2023 up to an amount of 0.68/share, the mid-point of the guidance range of 30-50% of 2022 Group Profit. Teleperformance has received financing commitments on a 'certain funds' basis from its banks in an amount of EUR 2,050,000,000 in order to fully finance the cash payment and transaction costs. The share component of the consideration will be funded through the issuance of a maximum of 4,608,295 shares in Teleperformance under Teleperformance's existing share issue authorization. The commencement of the Offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of pre-offer conditions, being: the AFM (Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets) having approved the offer memorandum; no notification having been received from the AFM stating that pursuant to section 5:80 of the Dutch Financial Services Act (DFSA), investment firms would not be allowed to cooperate with the settlement of the offer; and no order, stay, judgment or decree having been issued prohibiting the making of the offer. The consummation of the any offer will be subject to the satisfaction or waiver of offer conditions, being: clearances from the relevant regulatory authorities; the AMF (French Authority for the Financial Markets) having approved the prospectus for the issue of the shares elected by the shareholders of Majorel as part of the offer consideration, if such prospectus is required under applicable law; no notification having been received from the AFM stating that pursuant to section 5:80 of the DFSA, investment firms would not be allowed to cooperate with the settlement of the offer; no order, stay, judgment or decree having been issued prohibiting the making of the offer. The offer will not be subject to a minimum acceptance threshold. The full details of the offer, when made, will be included in an offer memorandum that will be made available to all Majorel shareholders. Teleperformance anticipates that the offer will be presented to Majorel shareholders within 3 to 4 months from the date hereof. Teleperformance intends to acquire all shares of Majorel with a view to proceed to delisting of Majorel. In such context, Teleperformance may, following settlement of the offer, initiate squeeze-out proceedings or other measures to obtain all shares of Majorel or all its assets and operations. BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and Societe Generale are acting as financial adviser to Teleperformance, and are financing the transaction. White&Case, Ginestie Magellan Paley-Vincent, Linklaters and Latham Watkins are acting as legal advisers to Teleperformance. Analyst and Investor Information Meeting Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. CET The announcement of the acquisition will be presented at virtual meeting on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 2:00 p.m CET. The presentation will be available live or for delayed viewing at: https://channel.royalcast.com/landingpage/teleperformance/20230426_1/ All the documentation related to the announcement is available on http://www.teleperformance.com at: https://www.teleperformance.com/en-us/investors/publications-and-events/other-events/ Disclaimer Certain information included in this press release are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs, expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, assumptions as to the potential combination of Teleperformance with Majorel, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results or other events, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and Teleperformance expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements included in this press release to reflect any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Such forward-looking statements are for illustrative purposes only. Forward-looking information and statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Teleperformance. The forward-looking statements included in this press release do not include any assumption for a further significant deterioration in market conditions or the current geopolitical situation. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified under section 2.1 of the Universal Registration Document of Teleperformance, filed with the French Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) on 27 February 2023 and available on the Teleperformance's website (www.teleperformance.com) and the AMF's website (www.amf-france.org This press release is issued pursuant to the provisions of section 17 paragraph 1 of the European Market Abuse Regulation, as well as Section 4, paragraphs 1 and 3, section 5 paragraph 2 and section 7 paragraph 4 of the Dutch Decree on Public Takeover Bids (Besluit openbare biedingen Wft) in connection with the intended public offer by Teleperformance for all the issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the capital of Majorel. This press release is for information purposes only and does not, and shall not, constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe any securities of Teleperformance or Majorel nor a solicitation to offer to purchase or to subscribe securities of Teleperformance or Majorel in any jurisdiction, including in France and the Netherlands. Any offer will be made only by means of an offer memorandum. The distribution of this press release may, in some countries, be restricted by law or regulation. Accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document should inform themselves of and observe these restrictions. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Teleperformance disclaims any responsibility or liability for the violation of any such restrictions by any person. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of that jurisdiction. Neither Teleperformance nor any of its advisors assumes any responsibility for any violation of any of these restrictions. Any Majorel shareholder who is in any doubt as to his or her position should consult an appropriate professional advisor without delay. This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation. About Teleperformance Group Teleperformance (TEP ISIN: FR0000051807 Reuters: TEPRF.PA Bloomberg: TEP FP), a global leader in digital 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 1 Ex-dividend for 2022. Bertelsmann and Saham are supporting a dividend payment for 2022 to all Majorel shareholders at the AGM in June 2023 for a maximum of 0.68/share, the mid-point of the guidance range of 30-50% of 2022 Group Profit. 2 Based on a combined brokers' consensus of 10.9bn for 2023, at an exchange rate of 1.10. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005475/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 Boost in SES MEO capacity to 2.5-gigabits per second is accelerating delivery of eco-friendly and transformational communications capabilities across fragile, remote thirteen-island chain To help Ecuador accelerate its digital inclusion initiative across the environmentally-fragile Galapagos Islands, telecom provider CNT and SES today announced a major Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite capacity expansion agreement to deliver more life-changing broadband connectivity and 3G/4G/5G mobile services to residents, businesses, and tourists throughout the isolated archipelago in the eastern Pacific Ocean. As part of the upgrade agreement, CNT has significantly increased its MEO capacity from 1.5 gigabits per second to 2.5 gigabits on SES's O3b constellation, with plans to migrate to the recently launched next-gen O3b mPOWER system. CNT will leverage the boost in MEO satellite capacity to deliver high-speed Internet access, mobile and Pay TV services to homes and businesses throughout the Galapagos, including the largest island of Isabela. The Galapagos Island chain is about 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, where SES's O3b satellites have been enabling state-of-the-art connectivity since 2015. SES's MEO satellite network is fully capable of delivering reliable, ultra-high-powered connectivity to the extremely remote chain of volcanic islands. SES is bringing immediate network service to the Galapagos, well in advance of the long-awaited arrival of a subsea fiber cable in 2024 and without any environmental impact on one of the world's most diverse and delicate ecosystems of plant and animal species. "This milestone boost in MEO capacity represents the exciting next stage in a long-term partnership between SES and CNT dedicated to delivering on Ecuador's promise to truly bridge the digital divide across the Galapagos Islands," said Ralph Suastegui Brborich, CEO of CNT. "With the current O3b satellite service and O3b mPOWER connectivity on the way, the people, businesses, communities of Galapagos and the thousands of tourists who visit each year will have access to some of the region's best Internet and 4G/5G mobile services available." "SES is thrilled to support the Ecuadorian Government and CNT in closing the digital divide throughout the Galapagos Islands with the far-reaching footprint of our O3b MEO satellites. These reliable, high-performance networks are forever changing lives and communities for the better, while having zero negative impact on this fragile environment," said Omar Trujillo, Vice President of Enterprise Sales Americas at SES. "We've seen the difference our satellite-delivered connectivity has made throughout this remote archipelago, and we look forward to building on that success and accelerating Ecuador's digital inclusion plan as we migrate to the O3b mPOWER system in the months ahead." Follow us on: Twitter Facebook YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Read our Blogs Visit the Media Gallery > About SES SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world's only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the world's leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SES's video network carries ~8,000 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 369 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230425006110/en/ Contacts: For further information please contact: Suzanne Ong External Communications Tel. +352 710 725 500 suzanne.ong@ses.com Omio Group's travel searches have increased by over 130% from Q1 2019 to Q1 2023, and company revenue has grown by 200%, with a significant increase in train travel as flight prices soar BERLIN, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Omio Group (Omio Travel - B2C and B2B - and Rome2Rio) released its 2023 trend report, providing key insights into global travel behaviours across different transport modes. According to Omio data (comparing Q1 2019 with Q1 2023), travel searches are up 133% overall, with company revenue up by 200%, showing that travel remains a high priority for consumers. Comparing search data from Q1 2019 with Q1 2023, Omio saw an increase of 223% in flight searches, yet corresponding booking data indicates consumers are booking more trips by rail. Looking at the top 100 routes booked on Omio, there was a 20% increase of total train bookings and a 54% decrease of total flight bookings, when comparing Q1 2019 with Q1 2023. Naren Shaam, CEO and Founder of the Omio Group, said: "As global restrictions lift, we believe travellers will book train travel for longer distances where previously short-haul flights would have served. This has partially been driven by cost, but also by an increased choice of options (thanks to both rail competition in Europe and digital products like Omio). An additional factor is the increased interest in environmentally conscious travel." Further data highlights rail travel is more cost-effective, comparing Q1 2019 to Q1 2023. On average, the amount paid per booking for flights has risen by 58% while the average cost of a train booking dropped by 3%. Various factors, such as new EU policies that enforce competition in the rail sector, as well as consumers resuming booking tickets in advance, could cause stable rail prices. Yesh Munnangi, CEO of Rome2Rio, predicts that travel will continue to evolve: "Travel intent is stronger than ever, but I believe that the purpose of a trip will become multiple, partially driven by cost considerations. For instance, travellers will book business trips and bring family or meet friends to add a leisure element." Shaam adds: "Our goal is to make travel accessible to everyone, and we're proud to offer a wide range of travel options at competitive prices. We are constantly improving our platform to ensure that our customers have the best possible experience when booking their travel." As the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Omio Group continues its positive growth trajectory. The company's dedication to digital transformation, combined with its commitment to customer satisfaction, makes it a leader in the travel industry. View the whole Omio Mobility Report here , including country-specific breakdowns, or submit a personalised data request to the Omio press team: press@omio.com Since its foundation in 2013, Omio Group has been helping its customers discover new ways of travelling. Thanks to the two interconnected platforms Omio Travel and Rome2Rio, we are the world's leading travel platform for search, comparison and booking. We support our customers in their desire to explore Europe, the United States and Canada by train, bus, flight and ferry. Omio partners with over 1,000 transportation providers; customers can book in 21 different languages and pay in 26 different currencies. In the last ten years, we have sold 33+ million tickets. The Omio Group now employs over 300 people from 50+ countries, with offices in Berlin, Prague, Melbourne and London. Together, we work every day to realise our vision and provide our customers with journeys that move them. More at omio.com CONTACT: Markus Ludwig, omio@piabo.net, +49 174 1761962 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2061804/Omio_Mobility_Report.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/omio-assess-travel-trends---cost-is-key-flight-prices-jumped-by-58-and-train-prices-stayed-stable-with-total-rail-travel-increasing-by-20-from-2019-to-2023-301806699.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. Event Will Provide Actionable Insights to Fuel Business Growth by Leveraging Configuration Processes into a Competitive Advantage COPENHAGEN, Denmark, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Configit, the global leader in Configuration Lifecycle Management (CLM), today announced the company will hold its 8th annual Configuration Lifecycle Management (CLM) Virtual Summit on May 9 - 11, 2023. Today's dynamic business environment requires shifting the focus of digital transformation initiatives from process-driven to data-driven, allowing businesses to transform the configuration process into a competitive advantage. According to Gartner, Inc., "by 2026, configuration life cycle management will transform 40% of manufacturers, reducing the amount of customer-specific engineering required to deliver products."1 This year's summit will focus on how manufacturers can quickly respond to today's rapidly changing market dynamics by mastering product complexity. The three-day event will bring together manufacturers, innovators and experts from around the globe to share insights. What: The 2023 Configuration Lifecycle Management Virtual Summit About: Industry experts will convene to gain valuable insights from other manufacturers on navigating product complexity in a rapidly changing market. They'll also get to explore recent and emerging trends in manufacturing, while discovering how their existing tech stack can be leveraged to help their companies mitigate risk, reduce costs and enable growth. Who: Speakers include experts from InfoSys, Arbonia, Emerson, Sidel and many more. When: May 9 - 11, 2023 from 8:30- 11:30 AM ET To register and see the full schedule, go here: https://configit.com/clm-summit-2023/ Each day provides expert guidance through detailed case studies, roundtable discussions and presentations designed to help transform mission-critical priorities into business results. The third day will focus on deep dives into the practical applications, technology and use-cases behind a successful CLM implementation, including how to build, analyze and improve product models, enable Configure-to-Order (CTO) processes, scale configuration capabilities in current systems, and much more. Johan Salenstedt, CEO, Configit, said: "There's been no shortage of change over the past several years in the tech industry, requiring businesses to pivot along with the dynamic market. Mastering product complexity across the enterprise can help companies respond faster to these ever-changing climates. Companies interested in getting an inside look at the technology solving the most complex configuration problems in the industry are encouraged to join the conversation during our summit." 1 Gartner, Top Strategic Technology Trends in Asset Intensive Manufacturing for 2023, Alexander Hoeppe, Jonathan Davenport, Sudip Pattanayak, Simon Jacobson, Marc Halpern, Arjun Boparai, Christian Hestermann, March 31, 2023. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. About Configit Configit is the global leader in Configuration Lifecycle Management (CLM) solutions and a supplier of business-critical software for the configuration of complex products. All Configit products are based on the patented Virtual Tabulation (VT) technology, which has redefined product configuration by offering greater speed and better handling of complexity. Virtual Tabulation enables Configit to deliver powerful, easy-to-use configuration solutions to market-leading global enterprises. Website: configit.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1824364/4005115/Configit_Logo_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/configit-hosts-8th-annual-configuration-lifecycle-management-virtual-summit-301807702.html New Delhi, India, Apr 26, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - The 10th Global Edition of the World CX Summit, organized by Trescon, is set to take place on 27 April 2023 at The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi - NCR. The summit will highlight the outstanding accomplishments of India's foremost CX leaders and innovators, Heads of CX, and Chief Digital Officers by providing a forum to share their engaging experiences and valuable insights. The CX leaders will unveil the latest developments in the customer journey experience and reveal the key factors behind their success, paving the way for new opportunities in the future. The World CX Summit - India will serve as an exclusive opportunity to connect with the most distinguished CX executives in the country and share inspiring use-cases of success and creativity. This event will enable CX specialists from different industries in India to collaborate with esteemed technology visionaries, specialists, and pioneers to address issues related to their professional and personal development. The leading customer experience executives in the country will convene to explore the latest digital innovation trends, evaluate the market's condition, and tackle vital business-centric challenges. Nikhil Asopa, Head of Customer Service, Tata Neu stated, "Technology has revolutionized the way we deliver customer service, providing faster and more personalized experiences. By leveraging cutting-edge tools and platforms, our team has been able to address customer inquiries with greater efficiency and accuracy, resulting in higher satisfaction rates and stronger relationships with our valued clients." The event will be a unique opportunity to witness the most awaited revelation of the World CX Award recipients, a special segment that acknowledges and commends the revolutionary ingenuity of the top CX experts across the nation. The World CX Awards will honor exceptional leadership and noteworthy accomplishments that leaders have made in their specific domains. This awards ceremony is expected to be a significant celebration of the country's most exceptional CX luminaries. Other key topics that will be discussed at the World CX Summit include the Future of CX, Digital Transformation, Cybersecurity, CX Transformation, and Conversational CX, among other hot topics. "CXOs need to align themselves to Data Democratization for leveraging the true potential of data and datafication in enhancing customer experience, product development acumen, operations, innovations, prediction of new opportunities and connecting to the masses at a population scale with ease and affordable cost," stated Golok Kumar Simli, Principal Advisor and Chief Technology Officer, Ministry of External Affairs, India. "Our main priorities remain helping our clients exchange knowledge, develop new tools to improve CX & bring positive changes in the community where we live and work." Stated Dr. Chumki Neogi, COO at EbixCash Global Services. Manish Gupta, Co-founder and CEO, Rezo.ai stated that "As an entrepreneur in the technology sector, I've seen firsthand the transformative power of data and AI in shaping the customer experience. We believe that by putting the customer first, we can create long-lasting relationships that drive success and growth for both our clients and our business. We're excited to be part of the upcoming World CX Summit, where we'll be discussing the latest trends and best practices in CX and sharing our own experiences and insights." World CX Summit has an impressive lineup of speakers who will be sharing their knowledge and expertise with attendees. Some of the top speakers include: Golok Kumar Simli - Principal Advisor and Chief Technology Officer, Ministry of External Affairs, India - Principal Advisor and Chief Technology Officer, Ministry of External Affairs, India Suhail Ghai - Chief Digital & Information Officer, Max Life Insurance - Chief Digital & Information Officer, Max Life Insurance Harshavardhan Chauhaan - VP, Chief Marketing & Omnichannel Officer, Spencer's Retail & Nature's Basket - VP, Chief Marketing & Omnichannel Officer, Spencer's Retail & Nature's Basket Brian Bischoff - General Manager and SVP, Genesys Cloud CX - General Manager and SVP, Genesys Cloud CX Sameer Narkar - Founder and CEO, Konnect Insights - Founder and CEO, Konnect Insights Joe Emmanuel - VP - Products, Global Business Development and Presales, Route Mobile Limited - VP - Products, Global Business Development and Presales, Route Mobile Limited Shyam Krishnan - VP - Customer Experience, Exotel - VP - Customer Experience, Exotel Ajay Nambiar - Chief Operating Officer at PYP; Chief Service Officer at M3M India Pvt Ltd - Chief Operating Officer at PYP; Chief Service Officer at M3M India Pvt Ltd Akash Jaggi - Global Director - Customer Delivery Experience & Digital Transformation, Schneider Electric - Global Director - Customer Delivery Experience & Digital Transformation, Schneider Electric Rahul Tandon - Chief Customer Service Officer, Ecom Express Limited - Chief Customer Service Officer, Ecom Express Limited Ankit Goenka - Head of Customer Experience, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co. Ltd. "Meeting the diverse requirements and expectations of customers presents exceptional challenges for CX leaders in India. The World CX Summit - India is not just a platform to discuss these challenges, but a congregation of experts where everyone can collaborate and find innovative solutions together," stated Naveen Bharadwaj, Group CEO, Trescon. He further added, "The World CX Summit is your opportunity to learn from each other, to explore new ideas and technologies, and to push the boundaries of what's possible in customer experience. Together, you can create a future where CX is not just a strategy, but a way of life." World CX Summit - India is partnered by: Gold Partners: Tata Communications Limited; Genesys; ServiceNow and Uniphore Silver Partners: Exotel; Route Mobile; Konnect Insights; Phonon Communications; Saarthi.ai; Survey2Connect; Rezo.ai; Bronze Partners: Kaleyra; Sitecore | Vertis Digital Communications Partner: MOBtexting Exhibitor: CM.com; Jabra Visiting Partner: EbixCash Global Services Official Media Partner: Business Standard About Trescon: Trescon is a global business events and consulting firm that provides a wide range of business services to a diversified client base. Trescon is founded and managed by a group of specialists with more than 10 decades of combined expertise in successfully developing business events, training, and consulting for corporates, governments, associations, and high-net-worth individuals across the world. With a deep understanding of the realities and requirements of the growth markets we operate in - we strive to deliver innovative and high-quality business platforms for our clients. For further details about the announcement, please contact: Nupur Aswani Head - Media, PR and Corporate Communications, Trescon +91 95559 15156 | media@tresconglobal.com Source: tresconCopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. EQS-Ad-hoc: Majorel Group Luxembourg S.A. / Key word(s): Tender Offer/Tender Offer Majorel Group Luxembourg S.A.: Major shareholders Bertelsmann and Saham signed tender offer agreement with Teleperformance regarding its intent to launch a voluntary public takeover offer for all sha 26-Apr-2023 / 09:12 CET/CEST Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, PUBLICATION OR FORWARDING, EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. OTHER RESTRICTIONS ARE APPLICABLE. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE AT THE END OF THIS PUBLICATION. Majorel Group Luxembourg S.A: Major shareholders Bertelsmann and Saham signed tender offer agreement with Teleperformance regarding its intent to launch a voluntary public takeover offer for all shares in Majorel Luxembourg, April 26, 2023 - Majorel Group Luxembourg S.A. (the "Company" or "Majorel") (ISIN LU2382956378) (Euronext Amsterdam: MAJ), a global customer experience (CX) leader, announces that it has been informed that its major shareholders, Bertelsmann Luxembourg S.a r.l. ("Bertelsmann"), Saham Customer Relationship Investments Limited and Saham Outsourcing Luxembourg S.a r.l. (together, "Saham") today entered into a tender offer agreement (the "Agreement") with Teleperformance SE ("TP"). Pursuant to the Agreement, TP intends to launch a voluntary takeover offer (the "Offer") to acquire all outstanding shares in Majorel (the "Majorel Shares") against payment of a mix of cash and/or share consideration based on a valuation of 30 per Majorel Share ("Majorel Per Share Valuation"), resulting in an aggregate valuation of Majorel of 3.0 billion (based on fully diluted basis of 100,000,000 shares outstanding in Majorel). The consideration will consist of up to 2.0 billion to be paid in cash (two-third (2/3) of the entire consideration) and 1.0 billion in 4,608,295 TP shares (one-third (1/3) of the entire consideration) based on an exchange ratio of 30/217 share for each Majorel Share (the "Exchange Ratio"). The Exchange Ratio values the TP shares at 217, which is equal to the one month's volume weighted average price of the TP shares on Euronext Paris. The Majorel Per Share Valuation represents a premium of 43% to the closing price on Euronext Amsterdam on April 25, 2023 and a premium of 43% on the volume-weighted average share price over the last three months. Majorel shareholders may elect to receive payment as consideration for each Majorel Share tendered either (i) an amount equal to the Majorel Per Share Valuation in cash (i.e., EUR 30.00), or (ii) TP shares based on an exchange ratio of 30/217 of a TP share for each Majorel Share tendered up to a maximum of 1/3 of the share capital of Majorel (leading to a maximum issuance of 4,6 million TP shares) with the exact cash/share ratio depending on the number of Majorel Shares tendered for the TP share consideration. If the number of Majorel Shares tendered for exchange into TP shares is in excess of the maximum, tender orders will be scaled down on a pro rata basis and shareholders will receive the balance in cash. For instance, if all Majorel shareholders decide to elect the TP shares, they will receive two-thirds (2/3) of the consideration in cash and one-third (1/3) in TP shares. By way of irrevocable undertakings from Bertelsmann and Saham under the Agreement, they will receive between 1/3 and 42.2% of the total consideration for their stake in TP shares and the balance in cash and TP has secured in total approximately 79% of the Company's share capital. Furthermore, Bertelsmann and Saham will support a dividend payment for financial year 2022 to all Majorel shareholders at the Annual General Meeting in June 2023 of 0.68/share, the mid-point of the guidance range of 30-50% of Group Profit for the financial year 2022. The closing of the Offer will only be subject to clearances from the competent regulatory authorities and approval of an offer memorandum by the AFM (Autoriteit Financiele Markten) in the Netherlands. The management board and the supervisory board of the Company welcome the Offer and, at this time, they consider it to be in the best interest of the Company, its shareholders, employees and other stakeholders. ABOUT MAJOREL We're a global CX leader. Clients say that our agile culture makes us special, which means that doing business with us is easy. As experts in customer experience management, we've seen it all, so we're able to ensure the reliability our clients need and the care their customers deserve. Our team members love nothing more than to just get things done, secure in the knowledge that we strive to be the best home for their talent. Our spirit is resourceful, resilient, and relentless, and this is what drives us to go further. 82,000+ team members; 70+ languages; 45 countries; end-to-end CXM; tech-human augmentation; global and local. Majorel: Driven to go further. www.majorel.com CONTACT Investor Relations Michele Negen ir@majorel.com Media Relations Andrew Slater media@majorel.com DISCLAIMER This announcement may not be published, distributed or transmitted, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America (including its territories and possessions), Canada, Japan or Australia or any other jurisdiction where such announcement could be unlawful. The distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons who are in possession of this document or other information referred to herein should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This announcement does not constitute an offer of, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, securities of Majorel Group Luxembourg S.A. or of any of its subsidiaries in the United States of America, Germany or any other jurisdiction. Any offer will be made only by means of an offer memorandum approved by the AFM. Neither this announcement nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, an offer in any jurisdiction. The securities offered will not be and have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act. In the United Kingdom, this announcement is only directed at persons who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 who are also (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order") or (ii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this information or any of its contents. No action has been taken that would permit an offering or an acquisition of the securities or a distribution of this announcement in any jurisdiction where such action would be unlawful. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions. This release may contain forward looking statements, estimates, opinions and projections with respect to anticipated future performance of Majorel Group Luxembourg S.A. ("forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "may," "will" or "should" or, in each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on the current views, expectations and assumptions of the management of Majorel Group Luxembourg S.A. and involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Any forward-looking statements included herein only speak as at the date of this release. The Company does not undertake any obligation, and does not expect to publicly update, or publicly revise, any of the information, forward-looking statements or the conclusions contained herein or to reflect new events or circumstances or to correct any inaccuracies which may become apparent subsequent to the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the Company nor any other person accepts any liability whatsoever in respect of the achievement of such forward-looking statements and assumptions. End of Inside Information 26-Apr-2023 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com TA's investment supports Diatech's expansion of precision medicine diagnostics to the global market Diatech Pharmacogenetics ("Diatech" or "the Company"), a leader in pharmacogenetics and cancer precision medicine diagnostics, today announced that TA Associates ("TA"), a leading global private equity firm, has signed a definitive agreement to make a strategic growth investment in the Company. As part of the transaction, minority investor Alto Partners will fully exit its stake in the business. Diatech's founder and management team will retain majority ownership of the Company, partnering closely with TA. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005178/en/ Diatech produces and distributes genomics testing solutions to identify gene mutations and genetic differences that are targets of personalized cancers therapies and that influence patient responses to specific treatments. With these tests, Diatech aims to increase the effectiveness of cancer medicine through personalized diagnosis and treatments. "We are excited to welcome TA on this journey with us amid a period of great advancement in precision medicine," said Fabio Biondi, Founder and President of Diatech. "TA offers extensive operational experience and a wide global network that will be critical as we strive to accelerate our international growth and product innovation. We also thank Alto Partners for helping us reach this milestone in our growth journey." Founded in 1996, Diatech has demonstrated strong growth in recent years and today is among the first players into the EU market for oncology diagnostics. TA's investment will support Diatech's continued development of market-leading diagnostic solutions and reagents in the pharmacogenetics sectors, as well as its global growth initiatives, furthering the Company's position as a leader in the rapidly expanding molecular diagnostics market. "As technology improves and there is a greater shift toward precision medicine, continued advancements in the genomic testing landscape are essential," said Oliva Alberti, CEO of Diatech. "This strategic partnership with TA will allow us to widen the reach of our existing products and services, while also making a meaningful expansion into international markets." "Diatech's comprehensive, market-leading product portfolio highlights the Company's commitment to a rigorous and differentiated R&D process that consistently drives value creation," said Lovisa Lander, Director at TA. "We look forward to partnering with Fabio, Oliva, and the entire management team to support Diatech's international and domestic growth journey." "The Company's proven track record and leading position in its market mean it is well positioned to capitalize on organic and inorganic growth opportunities, expanding its addressable market and extensive product portfolio," said Birker Bahnsen, Managing Director at TA and head of the firm's Europe Healthcare Group. "We are thrilled to support Diatech on its next phase of growth." "Since our investment in 2021, Diatech has achieved strong organic growth, expanded into new global markets and broadened its product portfolio," said Enrico Ricotta, Senior Partner at Alto Partners. "It has been a privilege to work with the entire Diatech team and we wish them the best as they build on their continued success in partnership with TA." The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2023 pending customary regulatory approval. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. About Diatech Pharmacogenetics Diatech Pharmacogenetics is a leading Italian company in the development, production and commercialization of molecular diagnostic tools for precision oncology medicine. Founded in 1996, the company aims to simplify complex molecular diagnostic procedures into easy end-to-end solutions, from nucleic acid extraction and molecular analysis to final reporting. Diatech has shown strong growth in recent years and today is among the first players in the EU market for the oncology diagnostics market. To learn more, visit www.diatechpharmacogenetics.com About TA TA Associates ("TA") is a leading global private equity firm focused on scaling growth in profitable companies. Since 1968, TA has invested in more than 560 companies across its five target industries technology, healthcare, financial services, consumer and business services. Leveraging its deep industry expertise and strategic resources, TA collaborates with management teams worldwide to help high-quality companies deliver lasting value. The firm has raised $48.6 billion in capital to date and has more than 150 investment professionals across offices in Boston, Menlo Park, Austin, London, Mumbai and Hong Kong. For more information, visit www.ta.com. About Alto Partners Alto Partners SGR, an independent company, is controlled by its expert multidisciplinary team to promote and manage private equity funds investing in small-to-medium-sized Italian companies. Alto Partners is a proven experienced, professional and reliable partner in supporting the medium-to-long-term development of our portfolio companies. Together, Alto Partners SGR works alongside industrial families and managers to oversee generational transitions and growth programs. To learn more, visit www.altopartners.it. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005178/en/ Contacts: Maggie Benoit Communications Manager, TA mbenoit@ta.com Research from Alibaba reveals businesses embracing exports to overcome domestic pressures, but supply chain, red tape and cultural challenges continue to hold small businesses back LONDON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- European businesses surveyed are going global to unlock growth opportunities, with 80% of businesses currently exporting and 70% expecting their exports1 to grow next year. These are just some of the findings from Alibaba Group's Export Opportunity Report, in which over 9,000 European businesses across nine markets were surveyed.* The report shows buoyant export activity, with 79% of companies saying exporting has made their businesses stronger2 and the same proportion saying international sales are critical for their future success. On average, the business owners surveyed said 52% of their annual revenue was derived from exports in the past year. Benefits beyond economic impact In addition to the direct benefits of international trade, the survey also reveals that exporting delivers a wide range of additional benefits, with 80% of respondents saying it has fuelled innovation in their business and enhanced their production capabilities2. The same proportion say it has increased their headcount and encouraged them to broaden their product range. SMEs lagging behind Despite these advantages, the report shows that SMEs are lagging behind larger businesses when it comes to seizing the benefits of exporting. Currently 23% of SMEs3 do not export at all, showing untapped potential for export growth among Europe's smaller companies. Protection against domestic uncertainties At a time of economic uncertainty and rising costs, the report reveals how exports protect European businesses by helping them diversify and access new opportunities. In particular, firms say exports provide protection against potential problems in their home market, with almost four in five (79%) saying exporting had relieved pressures at home2. "This report underscores the vital importance for small businesses of having an export strategy and a digital strategy. Both are essential for businesses to support long-term, sustainable growth," says Michael Evans, Director and President of Alibaba Group, which enables thousands of European businesses to export globally by leveraging its technology and commerce infrastructure. "These findings reveal that businesses that export are more resilient, innovative, can attract and retain top talent and, critically, they are achieving growth in the currently challenging business climate." Barriers to export Despite the clear benefits of exporting, there remain hurdles to businesses, particularly SMEs, trading internationally. Supply chain and logistics challenges are cited as the biggest barriers to export (20%), followed by a lack of cultural awareness/familiarity with overseas markets (19%), increased paperwork and red tape (18%), price competition (18%) and inadequacies in production capacity (18%). Difficulties in finding a trusted export partner also ranked high on the list of barriers to international trade (18%). Businesses in the UK and France list supply chain and logistics challenges as their biggest barriers to export (22%), while German companies ranked lack of cultural awareness/familiarity with the overseas market as the biggest barrier (22%). For businesses in Sweden, increased paperwork and red tape was the main issue to exporting (22%). Over a quarter of respondents (28%) export to other countries in the EU, 21% to North America and 19% to China. Belgium and Denmark have the highest proportion of businesses that export (90%), with Germany (73%) and the Netherlands (70%) lower, but still a high proportion. Digitalisation and online marketplaces boost exports Digitalisation and online marketplaces are seen by businesses as a key way to expand into new markets, especially since the pandemic. Overall, some 61% of businesses are currently working with online marketplaces to boost exports. Around a quarter (25%) of the businesses surveyed started working with online marketplaces during the pandemic, with the highest proportion in Belgium (38%) and the UK (30%). Overall, 80% of businesses agree2 that exporting has driven their digital transformation, and 76% agree2 that digital transformation has accelerated their business since the pandemic. Nearly a third (30%) of businesses working with online marketplaces say they have enabled them to expand into new geographic markets, with improved inventory planning (29%), better access to technology and communication tools (29%), and enhanced competitor and market insights (29%). Of the companies that have digitalised, 76% say it has helped make their business more efficient and reduced costs2. Companies also say investments in digital processes have yielded insights that have increased the quality of products and/or customer service2 (77%). Digital tools commonly used are social media (16%), smart marketing (14%), digital advertising (13%), data analytics (14%) and digital custom clearance (12%). Overall, the report shows that European businesses are embracing the opportunities and benefits of exporting. Although there are still many perceived barriers to exporting - particularly among smaller companies - it is clear that digitalisation and online marketplaces can help overcome these challenges and enable businesses to sell their goods abroad. By doing so, companies have more potential to grow, innovate and protect themselves from pressures in their domestic markets. Notes to editors The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 9,108 business owners of companies offering 'goods' rather than 'services' with 2+ employees and a revenue of + 1m / 1m from the UK, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, France (Aged 18+). The data was collected between 21 February and 2 March 2023. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct which is based on the ESOMAR principles. * Exports are goods that are produced in one country and sold to buyers in another. Footnotes 1 Combining answer options 'Significantly increase' and 'slightly increase' 2 Combining answer options 'Strongly agree' and 'Somewhat agree' 3 Combining answer options 'No, have never done so' and 'No, but have done so in the past' View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/8-out-of-10-european-businesses-embrace-export-opportunities-to-drive-growth-resilience-and-innovation-301807502.html STOCKHOLM, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Finance software provider Quartr, most known for its Mobile App with over half a million users, launches its long-awaited desktop version. The Quartr Web App is a comprehensive research and productivity tool built entirely on first-party information from public companies. It is designed to meet the everyday needs of investors, analysts, journalists, and investor relations departments. The remarkable success of the Quartr Mobile App, having attracted over half a million users within two years of its launch, has sparked a strong demand for a desktop version. This resulted in the development of the Quartr Web App, which gives users access to first-party information from over 7,000 public companies. It is catering to the everyday needs of investors, analysts, journalists, and investor relations departments. All features are built on top of Quartr's global coverage of live events such as earnings calls, capital market days, and investor conferences, with its accompanying documents like transcripts, slides, and earnings reports. To make the research process even more efficient, all of the aforementioned documents are simultaneously searchable for any keyword. Users can also access collaborative features, a customizable event calendar, AI summaries of Q&A sessions, financial segment data, and track the evolution of companies' slides with History Mode. "Quartr Web App places a strong emphasis on researching the original source material and not relying on third-party interpretations of it, which is critical for every investor and makes this product stand out from the crowd. We take great pride in providing a financial research tool that offers not only unique insights but also a modern user experience unburdened by legacy structures," comments Sami Osman, CEO & Co-founder of Quartr. Whether you are a professional or a dedicated private investor, Quartr Web App is the ultimate tool for staying ahead of the curve. With flexible pricing options to suit every market participant, you can get the insights you need at a price that works for you. Start off with a free 7-day trial to experience the product firsthand with no commitment or risk. Contact Sami Osman CEO & Co-founder, Quartr sami@quartr.com The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Public/21895/3757649/9c6218c510888b24_org.png Web App Launch - Cision Product Image https://mb.cision.com/Public/21895/3757649/827f88db3bba8fe5_org.png Web App Launch - Cision Product Image 2 https://mb.cision.com/Public/21895/3757649/bf20e1927861c42d_org.png Sami Osman Quartr CEO https://mb.cision.com/Public/21895/3757649/a00e1fd0ee636814.pdf Quartr Launches Its Long-Awaited Desktop Version https://mb.cision.com/Public/21895/3757649/be4407bd0d636383_org.png Web App Launch - Cision Quartr Logo Black https://mb.cision.com/Public/21895/3757649/ae7b348bad44bbd2_org.png Web App Launch - Cision Quartr Logo White View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/quartr-launches-its-long-awaited-desktop-version-301807991.html The factors that drive the growth of the dental CAD/CAM materials and systems market include the rise in the prevalence of tooth loss, a growth in the number of edentulous people, the benefits of dental CAD/CAM-based restorations over dental lab restorations, technological developments in dental CAD/CAM systems, the expansion of dental service organizations, and the rise in the demand for advanced dental solutions. PORTLAND, Ore., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Dental CAD/CAM Materials and Systems Market by Product (Dental CAD and CAM Materials, Dental CAD and CAM Systems): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030." According to the report, the global dental CAD/CAM materials and systems industry generated $2,265.9 million in 2020 and is anticipated to generate $6,704.8 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 9.9% from 2021 to 2030. The report offers a detailed analysis of changing market trends, top segments, key investment pockets, value chains, regional landscape, and competitive scenario. Download Free Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2371 Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities- The factors that drive the growth of the dental CAD/CAM materials and systems market include the rise in the prevalence of tooth loss, the growth in the number of edentulous people, the benefits of dental CAD/CAM-based restorations over dental lab restorations, technological developments in dental CAD/CAM systems, the expansion of dental service organizations, and the rise in the demand for advanced dental solutions. However, high maintenance costs, high price of CAD/CAM systems, and limited reimbursements constrain the market growth. Furthermore, the surge in demand for dental cosmetic procedures, the increase in disposable incomes, and the growth prospects in emerging markets in Asia-Pacific and LAMEA are expected to create lucrative opportunities in the industry. COVID-19 Scenario- The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the growth of the dental CAD/CAM materials and systems market due to the implementation of lockdown to control the spread of the COVID-19 infection. Moreover, government restrictions on elective dental care and social isolation were the significant factors that impacted the growth of the market during the pandemic. However, the dental CAD/CAM materials and systems market has recovered post the pandemic. The Dental CAD and CAM Systems segment to maintain prominent revenue growth in 2030- Based on product, the dental CAD and CAM systems segment held the largest share in 2020, garnering more than half of the global dental CAD/CAM materials and systems market revenue, and is projected to maintain prominent revenue growth in 2030. Due to a rise in the demand for software that facilitates effective design, restoration, fit, and manufacturing of dental prosthetics. However, the dental CAD and CAM materials segment would showcase the fastest CAGR of 10.1% throughout the forecast period. This is driven by the high adoption rate of ceramics in the field of digital dentistry due to the increase in R&D activities in the healthcare industry. As a result, ceramic materials are used to make most dental restorations, including C&B restorations, that are produced using CAD/CAM systems. Procure Complete Report (220 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/dental-CAD-CAM-materials-and-systems-market Europe garnered the major share in 2020- Based on region, Europe held the major share in 2020, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global dental CAD/CAM materials and systems market revenue, and is expected to dominate by 2030. This is due to an increase in dental caries and tooth loss in the region, a high adoption rate of CAD/CAM technology, the presence of highly advanced healthcare infrastructure, and a rise in patient awareness of CAD/CAM-based dental restorations. The Asia-Pacific region, on the other hand, would exhibit the fastest CAGR of 11.4% throughout the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the rising dental disorders like edentulism and severe tooth loss, increased dental product awareness, an increase in healthcare costs, and a surge in the geriatric population in the area. Leading Market Players- Dentsply Sirona Inc. Envista Holdings Corporation ZimVie Inc. Roland DGA Corporation Planmeca OY Amann Girrbach AG Zirkonzahn GmBH Institut Straumann AG 3M Company Company Ivoclar Vivadent AG The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global dental CAD/CAM materials and systems market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting the business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of the market players. Trending Reports in Healthcare Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount): DNA sequencing Market by Product (Consumable, Instrument, and Service) Application (Biomarkers and Cancer, Diagnostics, Reproductive Health, Personalized Medicine, Forensics, and Others), Technology (Sequencing by Synthesis, Ion Semiconductor Sequencing, Sequencing by Ligation, Pyrosequencing, Single Molecule Real-time Sequencing, Chain Termination Sequencing, and Nanopore Sequencing), and End User (Academic & Government Research Institutes, Pharmaceutical Companies, Biotechnology Companies, and Hospitals & Clinics): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2030 Liquid Biopsy Market by Product & Service (Kits & Reagents, Platforms & Instruments, and Services), Circulating Biomarker (Circulating Tumor Cells, Extracellular Vesicles, Circulating Tumor DNA [ctDNA], and Other Biomarkers), Cancer Type (Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Liver Cancer, and Other Cancers), and End User (Hospitals & Laboratories and Government & Academic Research Centers): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2030 Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Market by Products & Services (Systems, Accessories, and Services), Source Type (Insourced Monitoring and Outsourced Monitoring), Application (Spinal Surgery, Neurosurgery, Vascular Surgery, ENT Surgery, and Orthopedic Surgery) and End User (Hospitals and Ambulatory Surgical Centers) - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2030 Medical Tourism Market by Treatment Type (Dental Treatment, Cosmetic Treatment, Cardiovascular Treatment, Orthopedic Treatment, Neurological Treatment, Cancer Treatment, Fertility Treatment, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2027 In Vitro Diagnostics Market By Product And Services (Reagents, Instruments, Software And Services), by Technique (Immunodiagnostics, Hematology, Molecular Diagnostics, Tissue Diagnostics, Clinical Chemistry, Others), by Application (Infectious Diseases, Cancer, Cardiac Diseases, Immune System Disorders, Nephrological Diseases, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Others), by End User (Standalone Laboratories, Hospitals, Academic And Medical Schools, Point Of Care, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): 1-800-792-5285, 1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dental-cadcam-materials-and-systems-market-to-reach-6-704-8-million-globally-by-2030-at-9-9-cagr-allied-market-research-301808002.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Points of Light ILLUSTRATION 246994155 VECTORMINE | DREAMSTIME.COM Business Resource Groups (BRGs) are voluntary, employee-led groups that serve as a resource for members and their employers by fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with organizational mission, values, goals, business practices and objectives. They play an integral role in creating a culture that promotes an environment of understanding, acceptance and inclusion among all employees. Research from Great Place to Work tells us that employees who trust that they will be treated fairly, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or age, are nearly 10 times more likely to look forward to going to work, and over five times more likely to want to stay a long time at their company. Other benefits of BRGs include the development of future leaders, increased employee engagement and expanded marketplace reach. Business Resource Groups may also be known as: Employee Resource Groups Diversity & Inclusion Councils Affinity Groups Employee Networks Business Resource Groups are made up of employees who share common interests and lived experiences; membership in any group is typically open to any interested employee. These groups come together to foster professional growth and provide a collective voice to management and decision makers around social issues, community needs and company policies. Initiatives and events led by Business Resource Groups help support the company's business goals, innovation, philanthropic efforts and commitment to workplace diversity and belonging. Business Resource Groups may sponsor a speaker series, career development seminars, volunteer activities, panel discussions and social networking events to which all employees are invited. Additionally, each BRG might make community outreach an integral part of its mission. Involvement in a Business Resource Group is a valuable opportunity to develop internal relationships and make connections across the company. BRGs will often set up chapters for each group throughout a company's footprint to ensure there is participation across different geographies. Being a member of a BRG also provides employees with cross-cultural competence: the ability to discern and take into account one's own and others' world views to be able to seize opportunities, make decisions and resolve conflicts in ways that optimize cultural differences for better, longer lasting and more creative solutions. BRGs may lead awareness or community engagement activities that correspond to their common interest such as organizing a professional clothing drive for women transitioning into civilian careers during Women's History Month. More often than not, BRGs are involved in supporting a company's philanthropic activities and it is important to ensure they are integrated into goals, policies and procedures related to a company's employee volunteer program and collaborate with the team leading corporate social impact efforts as needed. Corporate Examples AT&T and Dow annually bring together members of their employee resource groups and business leaders for an opportunity to learn together, build connections and create social impact. Each conference includes acts of service that provide lasting benefits to the host community and in-person and virtual participants. At Bank of America, one in four employees is a member of at least one Employee Network worldwide, which helps employees develop personally and professionally, build strong ties with communities and address issues that matter. One of these networks, IGEN, supports diversity by bridging gaps across generations within the workplace. During the pandemic, members of IGEN in the UK volunteered regularly to address community isolation in partnership with The Cares Family, a charity whose mission is to bring people together across generations, backgrounds and experiences to build community and connection. Employee Resource Groups support Dell's global cultivating inclusion pillar. Through their ERGs and Culture, Diversity & Inclusion Champions, they create meaningful professional connections and employee engagement. ERGs partner with leadership on corporate observances including Black History Month and International Women's Day. To celebrate the International Day of the Girl in 2021, members of Dell's Women in Action ERG participated in a Girls Empowerment Pro Bono Consulting Workshop. This virtual workshop connected ERG members across the U.S. with seven nonprofit organizations facing capacity-building challenges. As part of Intel's RISE (responsible, inclusive, sustainable and enabling) strategy, their nearly 40 ERGs are part of the engine that drives community and inclusion. Part of each group's charter is to volunteer in local communities. In fact, in 2020, members of the Pacific Islanders of Intel ERG were made aware of a critical need for COVID-19 clinics to address a desperate situation for Oregon's community of Pacific Islanders: their infection rates were 12 times higher than those of white Oregonians. The ERG reached out to county officials and local nonprofits to organize and lead clinics specific to this demographic which provided testing and vaccinations for thousands of Islanders, along with food and other services. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Points of Light on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Points of Light Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/points-light Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Points of Light View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/751314/Benefits-and-Examples-of-Business-Resource-Groups-BRGs Stallergenes Greer, a biopharmaceutical company specialising in the research, diagnosis and treatment of respiratory allergies, is pleased to announce its strategic direction for the Stallergenes Greer Foundation. The Stallergenes Greer Foundation, under the aegis of the Fondation de France, aims to build healthier futures for all by focusing on three key areas: Advancing scientific research to boost innovation and precision medicine; Supporting academic initiatives to further develop future generations of allergy healthcare professionals; Engaging in climate action and environmental protection to advance the prevention and treatment of allergies. The comprehensive approach adopted by the Stallergenes Greer Foundation aims to serve the One Health Initiative that has been formally endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in particular, and which calls for "the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally to attain optimal health for people, animals and our environment." "The strategic direction of the Stallergenes Greer Foundation reflects our unwavering engagement to advance precision medicine and science in the field of allergy for the benefit of society and will contribute to breakthrough collaborations to address complex challenges in allergy and environmental health. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of our Scientific Board whose experience and vision are strong assets for the foundation," stated Michele Antonelli, CEO of Stallergenes Greer and Chairman of the Stallergenes Greer Foundation. The Stallergenes Greer Foundation will support innovative research projects, encompassing fundamental, applied, environmental and societal research, as well as education. In 2023, the foundation will allocate up to 150,000 for outstanding work led either by a young scientist or a mid-career scientist to advance precision medicine in the field of allergy, or outstanding work in the environmental field to advance the prevention and treatment of allergies. The Stallergenes Greer Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees, which itself brings together a Managing Board and a Scientific Board: The Managing Board is comprised of Stallergenes Greer senior executives: Michele Antonelli, CEO, Amer Jaber, EVP Operations Europe, Dominique Pezziardi, General Manager France, Belgium and Luxembourg Global Head of Pricing and Market Access, Catherine Kress, Head of Communications and Corporate responsibility. The Scientific Board is comprised of renowned scientific and medical experts: Pascal Demoly, Professor of Pulmonology and Head of Department at the University Hospital, Montpellier (France), Alessandro Fiocchi, MD, Director of Allergy at Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital, Rome, Vatican City (Italy), Carla Irani, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Allergology Immunological Asthma at Hotel Dieu de France University Medical Center, Beirut (Lebanon), Kari Nadeau, MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Environmental Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (Boston, MA, U.S.A.). ABOUT STALLERGENES GREER INTERNATIONAL AG Headquartered in Baar (Switzerland), Stallergenes Greer International AG is a global healthcare company specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies through the research, development and commercialisation of allergen immunotherapy products and services. Stallergenes Greer International AG is the parent company of Greer Laboratories, Inc. (whose registered office is in the United States) and Stallergenes SAS (whose registered office is in France). For more information, visit www.stallergenesgreer.com. ABOUT FONDATION DE FRANCE Created in 1969, Fondation de France is a private organisation recognised of public interest, whose mission is to support all forms of generosity in order to translate them into effective actions of general interest. With the 945 foundations it hosts, it supports more than 10,000 promising and innovative initiatives each year, in France and abroad. Independent and private, it operates thanks to the generosity of donors. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005514/en/ Contacts: Stallergenes Greer Communications Catherine Kress Tel: +33 (0)1 55 50 26 05 Email: catherine.kress@stallergenesgreer.com Partnership will support cloud and technology adoption, sharpening the competitive edge of Italian banks that cover local and global markets MILAN and LONDON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Finastra, a global provider of financial software applications and marketplaces, today announced its partnership with Corvallis, Tinexta Group, a leading IT provider in the Italian financial services sector, to support Italian banks with their digital transformation journeys. With Finastra's Essence, a SaaS solution deployed on the cloud via Microsoft Azure, Corvallis' customers can upgrade their business models, embrace new innovations and adapt quickly to their customers' demands. "Cloud adoption is becoming increasingly significant in Italy for all financial institutions," said Roberto Casalini, Digital Tech Business Line Director at Corvallis. "This is bringing greater efficiencies and flexibility to the sector, enabling banks to scale as required, optimize resources and enhance security. Deploying Essence will give them the ability to quickly transform their operations at a reduced cost, while providing their customers with the end-to-end, personalized and seamless experiences they expect. Above all, Finastra will help our customers achieve success, today, tomorrow and always." Essence is a cloud-first, next-generation digital banking solution that combines sophisticated functionality and advanced technology to increase enterprise agility, reduce costs and improve operational efficiency. Powered by open architecture and integrated with FusionFabric.cloud, Essence's rich, broad and deep retail and commercial banking functionality enables institutions to rapidly deploy market leading products and services. Banks can also tap into Finastra's Retail Analytics, a module that delivers a 360 view and turns raw data into actionable insights. Corvallis provides implementation expertise and complementary solutions, such as for anti-money laundering (AML), payment and settlement, and fraud management. "The Italian financial services marketplace is unique, so we needed a partner with strong knowledge of local banking processes and regulations alongside deep expertise in implementation and delivery," said Saraswathy Parthasarathy, COO, Universal Banking at Finastra. "Collaborating with trusted and experienced partners is integral for Finastra's growth and success. With more than 30 years of experience in supporting Italian financial institutions, we believe that Corvallis has the skillset required to deliver our solution to a wider pool of Italian banks, through a smooth and seamless customer experience." Finastra and Corvallis' first mutual customer went live in March 2023. For more information about Essence, click here. About Finastra Finastra is a global provider of financial software applications and marketplaces, and launched the leading open platform for innovation, FusionFabric.cloud, in 2017. It serves institutions of all sizes, providing award-winning software solutions and services across Lending, Payments, Treasury & Capital Markets and Universal Banking (Retail, Digital and Commercial Banking) for banks to support direct banking relationships and grow through indirect channels, such as embedded finance and Banking as a Service. Its pioneering approach and commitment to open finance and collaboration is why it is trusted by ~8,600 institutions, including 90 of the world's top 100 banks. For more information, visit finastra.com About TinextaCyber SpA TinextaCyber (Tinexta Group) is the Italian cybersecurity hub with strong vertical skills and proprietary custom solutions for digital security's risks mitigation and governance. With Italy-based services and in compliance with EU data residency, data protection and GDPR's regulations, the company assists customers with specialized assessment and advisory activities. It lays out the design, development and integration of solutions, also taking care of their monitoring and management. The company operates through its subsidiaries Corvallis, Swascan and Yoroi. In particular, Corvallis has a long experience as a provider of high value and tailored solutions for - but not limited to - financial companies' large projects. Swascan is an innovative Italian start-up, both creator and owner of the Cloud Security Testing platform and a reference point for SMEs in terms of IT security and regulatory compliance. Yoroi provides adaptive and dynamic cyber defense integrated systems to those who want to prevent risks or reduce damage from possible cyber-attacks. Through the Cyber Hub, these three companies guarantee the client's security with solutions for the mitigation and governance of the risks deriving from cyber-attacks, making companies increasingly competitive. About Corvallis Corvallis (Tinexta Group) is one of the Italian leaders in the Information Technology field, with specific solutions aimed at banking, insurance, industrial, service and public administrations sectors. Over 30 years of experience and a deep knowledge of production processes, have strengthened its business model focused on the sharing of partnership's strategies and enriched by the consolidated wealth of skills. Corvallis pays constant attention to technological evolution with the aim of bringing highly innovative solutions to the market. In supporting digitalization, it aids to increase the compliance and security with which its customers carry out their activities. Corvallis has become an essential player for Tinexta Cyber, the first Italian Cyber Security hub and part of Tinexta Group. Corvallis is expanding its competitive offer thanks to Advisory, Implementation and Managed Security Services. Visit Corvallis.it Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1916021/3985047/FINASTRA_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/corvallis-and-finastra-partner-to-drive-digital-transformation-for-italian-banks-301808038.html BERLIN, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace announced today the launch of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin, its fifth global center. "As we open the doors of Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin, we begin a new chapter in Carnegie's future while also enhancing our decades-long focus on one of the world's most consequential regions," said Mariano-Florentino (Tino) Cuellar, president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "Alexander Gabuev, the center's founding director, and our team of scholars will continue providing unmatched strategic insight and analysis, ensuring our new center becomes a vibrant node in our global network and helping decisionmakers grapple with urgent and long-term policy challenges involving Russia, Ukraine, and the wider region." To mark the opening of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, the Endowment convened a by-invitation-only session in Berlin on Tuesday, April 25. The event was attended by a cross-section of leading German and international policymakers, scholars, diplomats, and media. "It is exciting that the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center is making Berlin its base. The ideas and analysis produced by Carnegie's scholars are extremely valuable," said Ambassador Andreas Michaelis, the State Secretary of the German Federal Foreign Office. "After Russia's unprovoked attack on Ukraine, Carnegie scholars have contributed invaluable analysis and insight into the war and the inner workings of Russian policymaking and society," said Penny Pritzker, the chairman of the Carnegie Endowment Board of Trustees and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce. "I'm honored to help mark this special occasion and to serve an institution committed to bringing forth a more peaceful world." The Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center is the successor to the acclaimed Carnegie Moscow Center, which was ordered by the Russian Government to close in early 2022 as part of a ruthless crack-down on Russian civil society and independent media organizations. Over the course of its nearly three decades of operation, the Carnegie Moscow Center played a unique role in shaping international understanding of the entire region. Carnegie Politika, the Berlin Center's online digital media platform, is one of Russia's most influential sources of analysis, offering independent, evidence-based analysis that is not available anywhere else. The Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, which is part of the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, joins a community of centers in Beirut, New Delhi, and East Asia, as well as a center in Brussels that focuses on European foreign policy in Brussels, Berlin, Paris, London and other European capitals. All centers provide world-class, on-the-ground insights to global policy debates on the world's most pressing challenges. The center's inaugural director, Alexander Gabuev, is one of the world's foremost experts on Russian foreign policy and Sino-Russian relations. Gabuev, who has been a senior fellow at Carnegie since March 2015, is fluent in English, German, Mandarin, and Russian. Under his leadership, the center will be home to an exceptional team of prominent experts, including Alexander Baunov, Andrei Kolesnikov, Alexandra Prokopenko, Tatiana Stanovaya, Maxim Samorukov, Artyom Shraibman, Vita Spivak, Temur Umarov, and Sergey Vakulenko. "The new Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin has an important mission: helping the world tackle the massive challenges unleashed by the Kremlin's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine and understanding the future drivers of developments across the entire region. I am honored to help lead such an important institution at this critical juncture," said Gabuev. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a nonpartisan global think tank. In a complex, changing, and increasingly contested world, the Carnegie Endowment generates strategic ideas and independent analysis, supports diplomacy, and trains the next generation of international scholar-practitioners to help countries and institutions take on the most difficult global problems and advance peace. Contact: Miriam Magdieli Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Miriam.Magdieli@ceip.org +1 240 899 2998 Prof. Anna Giuliano, Moffit Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA Prof. Sharon Lewin, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia Prof. Giuseppe Pantaleo, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland LinKinVax, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, announces the creation of its Scientific Advisory Board with the appointment of three experts in immunology and epidemiology. "We are delighted to welcome Prof. Anna Giuliano, Prof. Sharon Lewin and Prof. Giuseppe Pantaleo to our Scientific Advisory Board. The world-class expertise of these scientists in infectious diseases, immune diseases and cancer will be crucial to LinKinVax, which is developing a DC-targeting vaccine platform for these diseases. I look forward to working with each one of them as we continue to advance LinKinVax's mission to develop effective, safe, and accessible vaccines for the highest number of patients," declares Prof. Yves Levy, Co-Founder and Chief Medical Scientific Officer of LinKinVax, Chairman of its Scientific Advisory Board. Anna R. Giuliano, Ph.D., Professor of Epidemiology, is the founding director of the Center for Immunization and Infection Research in Cancer (CIIRC) at the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida. Early in her career, she worked on the links between human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and cervical cancer in women, before moving on to other HPV-related male and female cancers. Prof. Giuliano, currently leads a CIIRC research team at the Moffitt Cancer Center to accelerate the development and use of vaccines and compounds to prevent and treat cancer. Sharon Lewin, FRACP, PhD, Prof. of Medicine at the University of Melbourne, is the Director of The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia. Her work focuses on basic and translational research to develop a cure for HIV and to understand the interaction between the virus and hepatitis B. She pioneered new ways to quantify small amounts of virus that persist on treatment and novel strategies to eliminate latent virus. She is President of the International AIDS Society, which has over 17,000 members and President of the Scientific Advisory Board to the main funding agency for infectious disease research in France, ANRS-MIE. In 2022, she was awarded the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS) Outstanding Female Researcher Medal. Giuseppe Pantaleo, M.D., Prof. of Medicine, is Head of the Immunology and Allergy Division and Head of the Laboratory at the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland. He has made major contributions to the understanding of the immunopathogenesis of HIV infection, COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, as well as in basic immunology. He has also played a major role in the development of HIV vaccines and HIV and COVID-19 treatments based on neutralising antibodies. Prof. Pantaleo received several international awards and coordinated several European consortia, and he is a member of the HIV Vaccine Trial Network (HVTN). Prof. Pantaleo is an Executive Director of the Swiss Vaccine Research Institute (SVRI), which has been working with the Vaccine Research Institute (VRI) for many years to coordinate clinical trials on HIV vaccines. He is a co-investigator of the ANRS VRI06 Phase I clinical trial of an HIV vaccine candidate, the clinical development of which will be managed by LinKinVax. We are very pleased to have convinced these leading experts to join our scientific committee. Their skills and experience in immunology and epidemiology will help guide and optimise all aspects of our clinical development plans for our DC-targeting vaccine platform. Our platform was shown to be robust and safe, and to provide effective answers to unmet needs in infectious diseases such as SARS-Cov 2and its variants, HIV, and cancer treatments." said Andre-Jacques Auberton Herve, Co-Founder and CEO of LinKinVax. About LinKinVax technology LinKinVax's vaccine platform is built around a humanized monoclonal antibody, which is fused with regions of pathogens of interest, targeting the CD40 molecule expressed by dendritic cells, DC, which play a key role in stimulating the immune system. The results obtained demonstrate the benefits of this strategy owing to the small quantity of antigens required to activate the immune system, with or without an adjuvant, and its ability to trigger a lasting cellular and humoral and immune response. The platform also benefits from the experience and safety profile of the protein-based vaccines that have been widely used for over 30 years now. Four products are in or about to enter clinical trials: a prophylactic vaccine for HIV, currently in phase I/IIa led by VRI/Inserm/ANRS-EID), multivalent SARS-CoV-2 vaccine covering variants of interest, a pansarbcoronavirus covering 38 members of the sarbcoronavirus family in addition to SARS-CoV-2 and a therapeutic vaccine for human papillomavirus-related cancers treatments. About LinKinVax LinKinVax was founded in 2020 and is led by two internationally renowned personalities in the worlds of medicine, industry and business, namely Andre-Jacques Auberton-Herve, Honorary Chairman and founder of SOITEC, and Prof. Yves Levy, MD, PhD, immunologist, and Director of the Vaccine Research Institute (VRI/INSERM/UPEC). LinKinVax is developing an innovative protein-based vaccine platform that can accelerate availability of vaccines by leveraging the research conducted at the Vaccine Research Institute (VRI). This DC Targeting-based protein vaccine platform can adapt to changes and mutations in the target pathogens. For further information, please visit www.linkinvax.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005572/en/ Contacts: LinKinVax Contact: Corinne Margot corinne.margot@linkinvax.com +33(0) 6 86 57 58 39 LinKinVax Press Contact: Annie-Florence Loyer afloyer@newcap.fr +33(0) 6 88 20 35 59 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Fabled Copper Corp. ("Fabled Copper" or the "Company") (CSE:FABL)(FSE:XZ7) announces the results of 2022 surface field work on its Muskwa Copper Project. See Figure 1 below. Figure 1 - General Property Location The Project is comprised of the Neil Property, the Toro Property and the Bronson Property all located in northern British Columbia. See Figure 2 below. Figure 2 - Location Map The north and south extension of the Eagle Creek copper occurrence is located on the Neil Property roughly 1-1.5 km east of the 6400 Eagle Vein adit where the 2022 underground LIDAR survey was completed. The Eagle creek flows northward into the Yedhe Creek and it is located in the same valley that contains the eastern end of the 6400 adit & Eagle Vein exposure that are located on the west cliff face of the valley. During the summer of 2022 the Eagle Creek (See Release dated February 7, 2023), east extension of the Eagle Creek copper occurrence (See Release dated March 1, 2023), the western extension (See Release dated April 12, 2023), north extension, southern extension and the backside of the Eagle vein were visited on sperate occasions. This release pertains to the north and south extensions of the Eagle Creek Copper occurrence site visit, see Figure 3 below. Figure 3 -North / South Part of Eagle Creek Copper Occurrence Location Peter Hawley, President, CEO reports; "The northern part of the Eagle Creek copper occurrence was visited by a 3-person field team consisting of two geologists and a geo technician on July 1st, 2022 during the summer field season. Over the course of the traverse a vertical altitude of 96 meters was examined and sampled. A total of 5 float samples were collected, of the samples collected, 4 assayed greater than 0.5%. See Table 1 below. Float sample D-723639 taken at the 1,484-meter elevation consisted of quartz carbonate with black graphic shale with abundant malachite and 1-3% chalcopyrite. This sample returned 1.29 % copper. See Table 1 below. Sample D-723640 taken 18 meters vertical below that of above consisted of 50% sheared siltstone and carbonate in a shear fabric with 50% carbonate and siltstone fragments contained 1% chalcopyrite and returned 0.50% copper. See Table 1, Photo 1 below. Photo 1 - North Part of Eagle Creek, Float Sample D-723639 - 0.50% Copper Whereas, sample D-723641 taken a further 25 meters below, of quartz carbonate with 1-2% chalcopyrite and moderate malachite alteration returned 1.51% copper. Float sample D-723642 taken at 1,423 meters of quartz carbonate with trace of chalcopyrite assayed 0.25% copper and the last sample taken on this daily traverse was D-723643 of dark brown weathered quartz carbonate with abundant malachite and 3% chalcopyrite returned 3.79% copper. See Table 1 below. Table 1- North Side of Eagle Creek Occurrence Sample Results Sample No. Elevation (m) Copper % Sample Type D-723639 1,484 1.29 Float D-723640 1,466 0.50 Float D-723641 1,441 1.51 Float D-723642 1,423 0.25 Float D-723643 1,388 3.79 Float 1% copper = 22.2 pounds On July 10th, 2022 the southern extension of the Eagle Creek copper occurrence was visited by a 3-person field team consisting of two geologists and a geo technician. During the traverse a vertical altitude of 207 meters was examined and sampled. A total of 9 float samples were collected and of the samples collected, 6 assayed greater than 0.5%. See Table 2 below. Float sample D-723683 taken at the second highest elevation of 1,798 meters consisted of 50% quartzite and 50% quartz iron carbonate with 1% chalcopyrite and assayed 0.17% copper. At an elevation of 1,635 meters, down slope float sample D-723684 of quartz and shale fragments contained moderate malachite alteration with 1% chalcopyrite and returned 1.81% copper. At the highest elevation of 1,799 meters float sample D-723685 of buff colored quartz iron carbonate with less than 0.5% chalcopyrite reported 0.21% copper. And the next sample taken 32 meters below of rusty brown quartz carbonate with 25% pyrite assayed trace at 0.01% copper. Float sample D-723687 examined and taken at the1,616 meter elevation of massive sulphides with iron carbonate and weathered rusty brown with 95% chalcopyrite returned and impressive 17.15% copper. See Table 1 and Photo 2 below. Photo 2 - South Extension of Eagle Creek Copper Occurrence, Sample D-723687 - 17.15% copper. At the 1,604 meter altitude, float sample D-723688 was taken and consisted of quartz with iron carbonate with 5-5% chalcopyrite and assayed 6.22% copper. Float sample D-723689 taken 13 meters above consisted of semi massive sulphides and quartz veining with 60% chalcopyrite and a 3% bornite returned an impressive 23.40% copper. See Table 2, Photo 3 below. Note the intense folding cross cut by the quartz veining clearly defining it as post date folding. Photo 3 - South Extension of Eagle Creek Copper Occurrence, Sample D-723689 - 23.40% copper. At an elevation of 1,745 meters, 128 meters vertically above the sample described above, float sample D-723690 consisted of quartz carbonate with 20% chalcopyrite and 2% bornite. This sample assayed 10.45% copper. See Table 2, Photo 3 below. Note the pinnacle of quartz standing out against the country rock. Photo 3 - South Extension of Eagle Creek Copper Occurrence, Sample D-723690 - 10.45% copper. The final sample was taken down slope at an elevation of 1,592 meters and float sample D-723691 consisted of white to buff colored quartz veining with 5% disseminated pyrite and 1% bornite and assayed 2.15% copper. See Table 2 below. Table 1- South Portion of Eagle Creek Occurrence Sample Results Sample No. Elevation (m) Copper % Sample Type D-723683 1,798 0.17 Float D-723684 1,635 1.81 Float D-723685 1,799 0.21 Float D-723686 1,767 0.01 Float D-723687 1,616 17.15 Float D-723688 1,604 6.22 Float D-723689 1,617 23.40 Float D-723690 1,745 10.45 Float D-723691 1,592 2.15 Float 1% copper = 22.2 pounds As per protocol, all sample locations were taken with GPS along with GPS enabled field cameras of photos of the sampled units. The photos, sample locations and all assay data pertaining to the assay taken, (36 elements were assayed) were tagged in a geo tag format for plotting in .kml / .kmz GIS systems such as Google Earth. An additional release on the 2022 exploration of the Eagle Vein "proper" of the Muskwa Project will be forth coming in the following weeks and will conclude the field work of this area. QA QC Procedure Analytical results of sampling reported by Fabled Copper Corp represent rock samples submitted by Fabled Copper Corp staff directly to ALS Chemex, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. Samples were crushed, split, and pulverized as per ALS Chemex method PREP-31, then analyzed for ME-ICP61 33 element package by four acid digestion with ICP-AES Finish. ME-GRA21 method for Au and Ag by fire assay and gravimetric finish, 30g nominal sample weight. Over Limit Methods For samples triggering precious metal over-limit thresholds of 10 g/t Au or 100 g/t Ag, the following is being used: Au-GRA21 Au by fire assay and gravimetric finish with 30 g sample. Ag-GRA21 Ag by fire assay and gravimetric finish. Fabled Copper Corp. monitors QA/QC using commercially sourced standards and locally sourced blank materials inserted within the sample sequence at regular intervals. About Fabled Copper Corp. Fabled Copper is a junior mining exploration company. Its current focus is to creating value for stakeholders through the exploration and development of its existing copper properties located in northern British Columbia. The Muskwa Project is located in the Liard Mining Division in northern British Columbia. In addition, Fabled has the newly acquired Volt 1, 2 and OHM lithium properties in the Abitibi area of Quebec. Mr. Peter J. Hawley, President and C.E.O. Fabled Copper Corp. Phone: (819) 316-0919 peter@fabledcopper.org For further information please contact: info@fabledcopper.org The technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Peter J. Hawley, P.Geo. President and C.E.O. of Fabled, who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including, that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events and that the Company obtains any required regulatory approvals. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: impacts from the coronavirus or other epidemics, general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and globally; industry conditions, including fluctuations in commodity prices; governmental regulation of the mining industry, including environmental regulation; geological, technical and drilling problems; unanticipated operating events; competition for and/or inability to retain drilling rigs and other services; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility; volatility in market prices for commodities; liabilities inherent in mining operations; changes in tax laws and incentive programs relating to the mining industry; as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com . The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law. SOURCE: Fabled Copper Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/751323/Fabled-Copper-Reports-2340-Copper-on-the-south-extension-of-the-Eagle-Creek-Copper-Occurrence The move comes as it launches in the US and prepares for a UK rollout SWANSEA, WALES / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / A company in South Wales that has developed a new and innovative range of skincare products, has launched its Series A fundraising - hot on the heels of signing lucrative contracts and launching in the US and ahead of a UK rollout. Skin Logistics, which produces the Platina range of premium, professional skin therapy products clinically proven to deliver unparalleled results and designed to complement and enhance the efficacy of high energy light-based skincare treatments, is seeking to raise 1.2 million from institutional investors, venture capital or business angels, ideally with experience and expertise in the professional cosmetic or medical technology space. The funding round has opened and will close by the end of May. To date, the company has been funded by its founder shareholders and a loan from the Development Bank of Wales. However, with ambitious expansion plans in the pipeline, including a distribution agreement in the US, new contracts in the Middle East and an official launch to consumers in the UK, it is seeking new partners to assist on its journey. The company was established in 2020 by Kevin Smith and Marc Clement, two entrepreneurs with a proven track record in the medical technology space, and three renowned specialists: Professor Peter Bjerring, one of Europe's most eminent dermatologists; Dr Dianne Quibell, a leading cosmetic doctor based in metro Boston, USA; and Panagis Voutsinas, a chemist and successful entrepreneur in the cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical sectors. The team started the venture with the aim of developing a range of skincare products that were genuinely effective for all users but would also complement and enhance the effects of the growing range of high-energy devices used for skincare. A key breakthrough was the development of a mix of active ingredients able to penetrate the epidermal barrier. Additionally, the unique partnership created by this team has attracted global companies that require companion topicals for their devices. Smith and Clement have strong track records in this space. They were both founders CyDen, a specialist in the design and manufacture of IPL (intense pulsed light) hair removal products for use at home. That company has now sold more than 2.5 million devices in 50 territories globally in partnership with P&G and under its own brand. Since that venture both have also enjoyed success launching and investing in other businesses. Professor Peter Bjerring is the former Medical Director and Head of the Department of Dermatology at the Molholm Hospital, Denmark. Since 2019 he has served as the Clinical Professor at the Department of Dermatology, Aalborg University Hospital. He has published more than 250 scientific papers and contributed with more than 500 lectures at international congresses and scientific meetings. He is also the Past President of the European Society for Lasers in Dermatology and Past Vice President of the European Society for Laser Aesthetic Surgery. Dianne Quibell is a world-renowned cosmetic laser surgeon, and aesthetic physician. She is the Vice President of the American Board of Laser Surgery (since 2008), and Fellow of The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. Quibell has lectured nationally and internationally since 2001 and was also Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She privately trains clinicians in aesthetic laser procedures, BOTOX, fillers, and laser assisted lipolysis. Kevin Smith, CEO of Skin Logistics, said: "It is exciting to be embarking on a new journey in the full knowledge that the skin therapy system we have developed will make a real and tangible difference to our customers - unlike many of the premium products available off the shelf or through professional channels. The team we have pulled together is world class in their knowledge of both Dermatology and Laser Surgery also offering us a global perspective on the markets we wish to target. We uniquely also have the skills to conceptualise, develop, clinically evaluate, manufacture and deliver products for white label partners. "We have already made several breakthroughs, secured some lucrative contracts and have momentum. This Series A round of funding will allow us to take the company to the next level in our target markets of choice." Contact: Seren Global Media Wyn Jenkins 01792 293333 Wyn.Jenkins@serenglobalmedia.com https://www.serenglobalmedia.com/ SOURCE: Seren Global Media View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/751331/Skin-Logistics-Launches-12m-Series-A-Fundraising VACAVILLE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Athena Gold Corporation (CSE:ATHA) (OTCQB:AHNR) ("Athena" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of CAD $1,015,000 comprised of 14,500,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of CAD $0.07 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable into one Common Share at a price of CAD $0.10 per Warrant for a period of two years from the date of issuance, subject to the following acceleration provision. If, at any time after the date that is 4 months and one day after the date of issuance of the Warrants, the average volume weighted trading price of the Company's Common Shares on the Canadian Stock Exchange (or such other stock exchange on which the Common Shares may be traded from time to time) is at or above CAD $0.20 per share for a period of 10 consecutive trading days (the "Triggering Event"), the Company may at any time, after the Triggering Event, accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by giving ten calendar days' notice to the holders of the Warrants, by way of news release, and in such case the Warrants will expire on the first day that is 30 calendar days after the date on which such notice is given by the Company announcing the Triggering Event. In 2022 the Company drilled three holes in the Western Slope zone at Excelsior Springs that show two zones of shallow high-grade gold mineralization less than 120 meters deep. DH 22-01 intersected 6.05 Au g/t over 27.4 meters at a 40-meter depth and a second deeper zone with 4.97 Au g/t over 13.7 meters. DH 22-02 returned 4.49 Au g/t over 15.2 meters, and DB-23 yielded 5.5 Au g/t over 33.5 meters, including 15.3 Au g/t over 10.7 meters. News Release dated January 10, 2023 for complete details. The proceeds from the private placement will be used to fund our 2023 drill program at Athena's wholly owned Excelsior Springs property in Nevada and for general and administration expenses. Excelsior Springs project is located 45 miles southwest of Goldfield in Esmeralda County, Nevada. John Power, President of Athena commented "We would like to thank our largest shareholders for their continued support led by Nubian Resources Ltd (TSXV - NBR) who collectively subscribed for over 50% of this offering. In addition, we would like to welcome our new strategic investors who also participated in this round." In connection with the closing of the Offering, the Company paid aggregate finder's fees to Echelon Wealth Partners, Pollitt & Co. Inc. and Castlewood Capital Corporation consisting of $7,921.20 cash and 220,303 broker warrants, each broker warrant is exercisable for one common share in the capital stock of the Company on the same terms as the Warrants. Insiders of the Company purchased an aggregate of 7,221,142 Units in the Offering for proceeds of CAD $505,480. This constitutes a related party transaction pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company relied on Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements, respectively, of MI 61-101, as, neither the fair market value of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the Units purchased by the insiders under the Offering exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a four month and one day hold period in Canada and are subject to applicable United States hold periods. None of the foregoing securities have been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) or persons in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor will there be any sale of the foregoing securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Athena Gold Corporation Athena is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct additional exploration drilling and studies on the Project. For further information about Athena Gold Corporation and our Excelsior Springs Gold project, please visit www.athenagoldcorp.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors John C. Power Chief Executive Officer and President For further information, please contact: Phone: John C. Power, 707-291-6198 Email: info@athenagoldcorp.com Jason Libenson President and CCO Castlewood Capital Corporation 1(647)-534-9884 Email: jason@castlewoodcapital.ca Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding future exploration plans and the completion of a phase 2 drill program at the Project, future results from exploration, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "potential", "scheduled", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this press release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of the Company's projects in a timely manner, QAQC procedures at the Project were followed, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the exploration and development of the Company's projects and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the inability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing required to conduct its business and affairs, as currently contemplated, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financings, accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and other factors and risks that are discussed in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC and disclosed in the final long form prospectus of the Company dated August 31, 2021. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this press release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise. SOURCE: Athena Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/751242/Athena-Gold-Corporation-Closes-Non-Brokered-Private-Placement CHICAGO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE), the world's leading derivatives and securities exchange network, today marked its 50th anniversary and kicked off celebrations to honor five decades of innovation and growth. The company will commemorate its milestone anniversary with an Opening Bell and Closing Bell ceremony on its Chicago trading floor, award its first of five $100,000 charitable donations and launch a new creative brand campaign. Additionally, Cboe will host a series of events over the coming months in its offices around the globe, in honor of its deep heritage, customers, employees and alumni. Founded in 1973 as the first U.S. exchange for listed options, Cboe in 2023 has expanded well beyond its origins to become a global powerhouse, operating markets in equities, options, futures, foreign exchange (FX) and digital assets across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Today, Cboe remains driven by the same passion and entrepreneurial spirit that guided its inception as it builds on 50 years of market-leading innovation and advocacy to position for its next chapter of growth. Marking Next Chapter with New Corporate Brand Identity With its 50th anniversary celebrations, Cboe has launched a new visual identity, refreshed website and global brand campaign recognizing its place as "The Exchange for the World Stage." This reinvigorated brand identity reflects the truly global, expansive and vibrant company Cboe has become today - while signaling its vision for the future and its continued commitment to building a trusted and inclusive global marketplace that serves all investors, both now and in the future. "Since day one, Cboe has been driven by a unique vision and an unwavering commitment from all of our associates to continually innovate to meet the evolving needs of the global financial landscape," said Ed Tilly, Chairman and CEO of Cboe Global Markets. "From pioneering options and volatility trading to introducing new technologies and market models, Cboe has transformed the way market participants transfer risk and build capital. Today, building trusted markets remains central to our mission even as we continue to expand our business. Our new brand identity embodies a renewed sense of energy and purpose, focused on driving change, innovation and global connections that will serve our customers well into the future. We are proud to celebrate our 50-year legacy and showcase to the world who we are today - the Exchange for the World Stage." "Cboe's enduring success over the past half-century is reflected in the unrivaled positions that we hold today in nearly every major market around the world," said David Howson, Global President of Cboe Global Markets. "After reporting record results in 2022, we are excited to mark our 50th anniversary alongside many other notable achievements across our business this year. This includes our continued success in global derivatives and equities, all-time high market share in global FX, the expansion of our global listings business and data and analytics platforms, as well as our recent entry into digital assets. We are extremely proud of our people - past and present - who have helped build an incredible legacy and continue to lay the foundation for Cboe's future success for many years to come." Commitment to Building a Sustainable Future In honor of its 50th anniversary, Cboe will donate a total of $500,000 to five different non-profit organizations, each exemplifying one of Cboe's guiding principles: Inclusive Collaboration, Active Transparency, Competitive Team Spirt, Superior Service and Good Citizenship. Today, Cboe announced its first $100,000 donation to the Alzheimer's Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to research, education and advocacy for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Representatives from the Alzheimer's Association will attend Cboe's opening bell-ringing ceremony in Chicago to accept the donation in honor of Inclusive Collaboration. The Alzheimer's Association was selected by Cboe's associate base for its commitment to uncovering new voices and making space for different perspectives by encouraging research diversity, embracing new technologies, engaging with caregivers and patients, and collaborating with other organizations. "As a global company, Cboe remains ever cognizant of the growing impact that we have on the world and are committed to being a good corporate citizen," said Chris Isaacson, Chief Operating Officer of Cboe Global Markets. "We recognize that our success is deeply interconnected with the local communities where our customers and associates live and work - and we couldn't be more pleased to give back to our communities through our own initiatives, as well as through supporting other important organizations that help deepen our global and philanthropic impact. As Cboe enters the next phase of its growth, our commitment to creating a sustainable future for all participants will remain a key pillar of our corporate mission and success." Underscoring its commitment to environmental sustainability, Cboe has also collaborated with EcoMatcher to plant over 1,600 trees across the globe - each tree representing the individuals that make up Cboe's global associate base. Cboe plans to announce a new $100,000 anniversary donation monthly for the next four months. "Working together with these organizations enables us to make a positive impact on the world. When we invest in the well-being of others, we enrich not only their lives but also our own bottom line, creating a more sustainable and prosperous future for everyone touched by the Cboe community," said Brian Schell, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Cboe Global Markets. "As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we are grateful to our Board of Directors, shareholders, customers, industry partners and global associate base for their contributions to Cboe's 50-year evolution and dedication to shaping what the next 50 years will bring." Cboe is commemorating its 50th anniversary through the remainder of 2023. Visit www.cboe.com/50th_anniversary to learn more about Cboe's past, present and future. About Cboe Global Markets, Inc. Cboe Global Markets (Cboe: CBOE), the world's leading derivatives and securities exchange network, delivers cutting-edge trading, clearing and investment solutions to people around the world. Cboe provides trading solutions and products in multiple asset classes, including equities, derivatives, FX, and digital assets, across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Above all, we are committed to building a trusted, inclusive global marketplace that enables people to pursue a sustainable financial future. To learn more about the Exchange for the World Stage, visit www.cboe.com. Media Contacts Analyst Contact Angela Tu Tim Cave Kenneth Hill, CFA +1-646-856-8734 +44 (0) 7593-506-719 1-312-786-7559 atu@cboe.com tcave@cboe.com khill@cboe.com CBOE-C CBOE-OE Cboe and Cboe Global Markets are registered trademarks of Cboe Exchange, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/622233/Cboe_GM_Logo_RGB_2.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cboe-global-markets-celebrates-50th-anniversary-with-reinvigorated-brand-identity-and-500-000-in-charitable-donations-301807825.html ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Dr. Rashae Barnes, a prominent advocate for diversity and equity in the business world, has announced the establishment of National Black Funding Day on September 30th. This holiday aims to recognize and honor the accomplishments of black entrepreneurs in the funding industry throughout the United States while highlighting the disparities in venture capital, grants, and educational resources for underserved communities, particularly black and minority-owned businesses. The day will also serve as a call to action for large corporations and businesses to make donations to black founders and their organizations across the board. For decades, black entrepreneurs have struggled to secure funding, especially from venture capitalists. Studies show that they receive less than 2% of overall dollars each year, while women of color receive even less. Structural racism and power imbalances contribute to discriminatory financial practices that hinder the growth of minority-owned businesses. In response to these challenges, Dr. Barnes believes that National Black Funding Day is necessary to address these issues and create a more equitable and inclusive funding landscape. Dr. Barnes stated, "We need to educate the masses on the disparities in funding across the board and provide resources to help underserved communities secure funding for their businesses. We also need to celebrate the strides made thus far for black founders across the country." The establishment of National Black Funding Day coincides with the efforts of many firms to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion following the racial justice reckoning of 2020. While black entrepreneurs saw historic gains in securing VC funding in the aftermath of George Floyd's death, adverse market conditions in 2022 led to a 45% decrease in financing for black-owned businesses. National Black Funding Day will be observed on September 30th each year, and Dr. Barnes hopes that it will become an annual tradition. The day will include educational events, fundraising efforts, and celebrations of black entrepreneurship and innovation. On this day, large corporations and businesses are encouraged to make donations to black founders and their organizations across the board while celebrating the strides made thus far for black founders across the country. This is an opportunity to show support for black entrepreneurs and help address the disparities they face in the funding industry. For further information on National Black Funding Day, please contact Brianna Ashford at brianna@barnesmediagrouppr.com. Media Contact: Organization: Barnes Media Group Public Relations Contact Person: Dr. Rashae Barnes Website: http://www.bmgpr.com/ Email: rashae@barnesmediagrouppr.com Country: United States SOURCE: Barnes Media Group Public Relations View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/751334/A-New-National-Holiday-Has-Been-Established-by-Dr-Rashae-Barnes-to-Recognize-and-Honor-the-Achievements-of-Black-Entrepreneurs-in-the-Funding-Industry-Throughout-the-United-States NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Mattie, one of Habitat for Humanity's homeowners, had been living comfortably for 10 years in her Habitat for Humanity home she helped to build in Rochester, New York. She worked full time, but a chronic autoimmune disease that requires her to be on oxygen caused her to move more slowly. In 2020, her health began to decline, causing her start working part time. The combination of increased medical costs, no longer being physically able to work full time and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic made it harder to keep up with critical needs and to make ends meet, including her mortgage. But after speaking with Habitat staff, she learned about the Homeowner Assistance Fund. Through Habitat's Cost of Home campaign , Habitat for Humanity, our communities and partners across the U.S. successfully advocated - sending emails, making phones calls and hosting meetings with congressional representatives and leveraging the media - for the $9.96 billion fund to support homeowners at risk of default, foreclosure and displacement because of the COVID-19 pandemic to be included in the American Rescue Plan. Mattie applied, was approved and was able to receive assistance. After successfully making mortgage payments for more than a decade, it was a huge relief for her to remain in her beloved home and neighborhood where her roots run deep. Mattie once again has the security and stability to focus on managing her health and to continue helping others in her community. Since Habitat's Cost of Home campaign launched in 2019, Whirlpool Corporation has collaborated in the work to access more stable, affordable homes for people like Mattie - helping to secure more than 200 policy wins across the U.S. Through the five-year Cost of Home campaign, Habitat for Humanity is mobilizing local Habitat organizations, partners, volunteers and community members across the country to find the solutions and help create the policies that will allow 10 million individuals to meet their most basic needs. Below is a roundup of the policy wins experienced through the Cost of Home campaign to date by Habitat for Humanity affiliates in areas where Whirlpool Corp. is located: Fiscal Year 2021 Supply and preservation of affordable homes In Ohio, Preble Habitat advocated locally for their commissioners to allocate $50,000 of the local Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funding for a housing program to assist homeowners with mortgage and utility payments. Once this allocation was made, the affiliate's executive director chaired the allocation plan's working committee. This funding will assist approximately 50 individuals. Under the leadership of Habitat Michigan, a sign-on letter was organized, which influenced Governor Whitmer to include $100 million in the budget for the state American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Governor said those funds will assist 6,000 Michigan residents with their housing needs. Good News Habitat, in Richmond, Indiana, worked in conjunction with the local economic development committee to attract housing developers and the local Wayne County Foundation to promote affordable housing. Their goal was to lobby the city to make affordable housing more accommodating, rather than restricting, in their economic revitalization efforts. They partnered with neighborhood associations through the Neighborhood Involvement and Community Engagement (NICE) Program and received funds to help build 15 homes. Communities of Opportunity Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati partnered with the Lower Price Hill neighborhood to provide affordable homeownership opportunities for parents of students at the school at the center of the community. This is a significant commitment for the affiliate because the rehabs are costly and take a long time. In October 2020, the affiliate joined three other non-profits to advocate for $1 million in project funding from the City of Cincinnati to support a project planned by one of the organizations to rehab 46 apartment units in Lower Price Hill. Unfortunately, the City of Cincinnati denied the funding request, putting the first major rehabilitation of multi-family units in the neighborhood in jeopardy. Habitat Greater Cincinnati joined the advocacy effort and testified at a Cincinnati Council committee hearing to advocate for the funding, encouraging the city to reconsider investing in the project. Subsequently, the City Administration found the funds and committed $1 million to the project to enable the rehab of 46 apartment units to move forward. This effort resulted in improved housing conditions for an estimated 96 individuals. Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, successfully advocated for the At-Home in Pittsfield program, which is an exterior renovation loan program that enables eligible homeowners to renovate the outside of their homes through a combination of funding from local lenders and the City of Pittsfield. Central Berkshire Habitat played a leading role in advocating for the program, and the affiliate will also be a partner in its implementation. The city will receive $500,000 from this Cost of Home policy win. Central Berkshire Habitat also successfully petitioned Governor Baker for COVID relief funding for non-profits and small businesses. This advocacy resulted in $78,500,000 for non-profit organizations and small businesses that experienced economic hardship due to the pandemic. Access to credit In 2020, Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Michigan advocated against House Bill 5097, which would allow payday lenders to give out small loans for up to $2,500. The monthly fees on the loan would be 11% of the principal of the loan, with an annual percentage rate of 132%, meaning a borrower could end up paying more than $7,000 on a $2,500 two-year loan. In addition, HB 5097 established no term limits on the length of the loans, resulting in borrowers getting into a perpetual debt trap. Habitat for Humanity of Michigan and affiliates across the state collaborated with several other housing organizations and met with 35 legislators, urging them to vote against HB 5097. Ultimately, HB 5097 died before getting a vote in the Michigan Senate committee. Fiscal Year 2022 Supply and preservation of affordable homes Since May 2021, Habitat Michigan has advocated for budget items in Senate Bill 565 relating to critical home repairs, missing middle housing, and development of a Housing and Community Development Fund. In March 2022, the legislation was signed by Governor Whitmer. This effort was a collaboration between Habitat Michigan, the state's network of affiliates, and partner organizations like Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM), Michigan Community Capital and the Michigan State Land Bank. Habitat Michigan was touted as influential on these budget items thanks to the network's increased education of Legislators. Habitat Ohio successfully lobbied the Ohio Department of Development to increase its Ohio Housing Trust Fund grant allocation from $90,000 to $500,000 over a two-year period. The pilot project in 2020 was successful despite the pandemic. The increase in funding will enable Habitat Ohio to now serve 50 families statewide. In partnership with the Marion Housing Coalition, Buckeye Ridge Habitat for Humanity advocated for The Marion County Land Bank to focus on neighborhood revitalization, rehabilitation standards, threshold requirements for purchase of Land Bank properties, and developing capacity for affordable housing. The County Land Bank voted to adopt these 10 recommendations from the Housing Coalition. Access to credit In Indiana, Habitat affiliates advocated against Indian SB 352, a harmful policy that would target low-income families and high-cost subprime lending. They reached out to legislators and mobilized the influence of the board. Because of their coalition efforts, the bill was stopped and did not come to a vote, protecting low-income families in the state from high-cost lending. As Habitat continues to scale our collective impact through policy solutions at the local, state and federal levels all across the U.S., we are grateful for Whirlpool Corporation's support and look forward to together, helping more people have access to an affordable home. View original content here View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Whirlpool Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Whirlpool Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/whirlpool-corporation Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Whirlpool Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/751342/Cost-of-Home-Advocacy-Campaign-Policy-Wins-With-Whirlpool-Corporations-Support NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / MilliporeSigma Over 250 events expected to reach more than 45,000 future scientists on two continents Hands-on experiments to focus on the impact of contamination on the planet and everyday life MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, has kicked off its 2023 Curiosity Cube tour in North America and Europe. This year, the Curiosity Cube, a retrofitted shipping container that offers hands-on experiments focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), will engage 45,000 students at schools and public spaces with more than 250 events across North America and Europe. All experiments are led by MilliporeSigma employees, allowing visitors to connect with real-life scientists and learn firsthand about STEM careers. "In recent years, there has been considerable concern regarding a shortage of STEM professionals. As a science and technology company, we want to help spark curiosity in children and young people for the fascinating world of science," said Meeta Gulyani, Head of Strategy, Business Development and Sustainability for the Life Science business sector of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. "That's why our Curiosity Cube will continue its world tour to make science accessible and interactive, while also demonstrating all the possibilities that the life science field has to offer." This year's Curiosity Cube features a brand-new curriculum, where students can interact with technology such as virtual reality (VR) to make learning fun and engaging. Students will conduct experiments about contaminants and gain a glimpse into the world of a scientist by: Exploring evidence of environmental contamination in a variety of samples and learning ways conservationists try to mitigate the negative environmental impact of contamination. Working with VR technology to discover what contaminants are commonly found on classroom surfaces and learn how to stop their spread. Using scientific instruments to run quality control tests on different beverages and determine if any contaminants are present. In North America, the Curiosity Cube already embarked on its fifth tour, starting in San Diego. It will include 124 events across the U.S. and Canada, including Austin, Boston, Cleveland, Houston, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Seattle, St. Louis, Toronto, and more. The Curiosity Cube starts its second European tour with stops in Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K. To learn more about the Curiosity Cube mobile science lab and view the 2023 tour schedule, visit TheCuriosityCube.com and follow the Curiosity Cube on Instagram @curiositycube_milliporesigma. About the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany The Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada, has more than 28,000 employees and more than 55 total manufacturing and testing sites worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 300,000 products focused on scientific discovery, biomanufacturing and testing services. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and electronics. More than 64,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From providing products and services that accelerate drug development and manufacturing as well as discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices - the company is everywhere. In 2022, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany generated sales of 22.2 billion in 66 countries. The company holds the global rights to the name and trademark "Merck" internationally. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare and EMD Electronics in electronics. Since its founding 1668, scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to the company's technological and scientific advances. To this day, the founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. For more information about Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, visit www.emdgroup.com. Follow MilliporeSigma on Twitter @MilliporeSigma, on Facebook @MilliporeSigma and on LinkedIn. All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the EMD Group website. In case you are a resident of the U.S. or Canada please go to www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register again for your online subscription of this service as our newly introduced geo-targeting requires new links in the email. You may later change your selection or discontinue this service. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from MilliporeSigma on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: MilliporeSigma Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/milliporesigma Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: MilliporeSigma View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/751341/MilliporeSigma-Kicks-Off-2023-Curiosity-Cube-Mobile-Lab-Tour Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - Green River Gold Corp. (CSE: CCR) (OTC Pink: CCRRF) (the "Company" or "Green River") is pleased to announce that it has commenced drilling on its 100%-owned Quesnel Nickel Project, located 40 kilometers by road, from Quesnel, British Columbia, in the prolific Cariboo Mining District in south central British Columbia Canada. This phase of drilling is a continuation of the Zone 1 drilling program from last year and will comprise approximately 500 meters in 5 diamond drill holes. Last year's Quesnel Nickel program consisted of 42 diamond drill holes, all of which encountered significant nickel, magnesium, chromium and cobalt from surface. The deepest hole was drilled to a depth of 128 meters and ended in mineralization (See Press Release dated January 5, 2023). This year's program (see description and images below) will also include 20 planned NQ diamond drill holes involving a 6,000 meter program to test at depths down to 300 meters and expand on the 14 kilometer strike around and between Zone 1 and Zone 2. The 2023 program also includes plans for exploration groundwork on its newly acquired Fontaine Gold Project, which will include bedrock mapping, soil and rock sampling and a geophysical program. Program details will be announced as they are finalized. Kyle Townsend, Green River Gold Mine Manager, comments, "Last year's drill program achieved results better than we had anticipated at the Quesnel Nickel Project. We hit consistent nickel assays in 42 diamond drill holes from surface to a maximum 128 meters deep in 2 separate zones situated 10 kilometers apart. We are excited to employ a larger drill rig to test both the 14 kilometer strike length between and across Zone 1 and 2, and at depth which appears to be open beyond our previous maximum depth of 128 meters. We are equally excited to have acquired additional ground, extending adjacent to and parallel with Osisko's Yanks Peak trend on the southern end of our large 20,493 hectare contiguous group of mineral claims. We will begin initial ground work and exploration on this exciting gold prospect this year." Figure 1. Ultramafic rocks in the Slide Mountain Terrane hosting nickel, magnesium and talc. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7403/163793_09cac72194a22a2a_002full.jpg Figure 2. The Deep Purple 14 km strike length within and between Zone 1 and 2 consisting of nickel-bearing ultramafic rocks (mainly serpentinized peridotite). To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7403/163793_09cac72194a22a2a_003full.jpg The first phase of the 2023 drilling program will focus on definition and expansion of the ultramafic body (Slide Mountain Terrane) hosting nickel, magnesium and talc in the area of Zone 1 using a Winkie Drill. The Company applied for a permit in December of 2022 for a drilling campaign of 20 drill holes at 300 meters each for a total of 6,000 meters. The Company hopes to receive the permits by the end of Q2, 2023. The collar location of WK-23-01 shows in Figure 3. Figure 3. Drillhole location of WK-23-01 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7403/163793_09cac72194a22a2a_004full.jpg Zone 1 is an outcrop covering an area approximately 1.5 square kilometers of the 14 linear kilometer Deep Purple magnetic anomaly. Zone 1 was the subject of a drill program in the Winter of 2021 and Spring of 2022. That drill program confirmed the presence of an area of intense talc alteration which had been previously identified and studied in the 1980's. The drill program also identified the presence of anomalous amounts of nickel, chromium and magnesium along with the talc. The particular area that was targeted with the drilling was the subject of an exploration program designed to assess the potential for a commercial talc deposit in the 1980's. That earlier exploration resulted in the preparation of a preliminary talc mining plan in 1986, [1] [1] Trifaux, R (1986). Wim, Wim-Ta & Arne Claims Assessment Works 1986-1987, Retrieved from: https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/pub/aris/Report/15522.pdf/ https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/pub/aris/Report/15729a.pdf/ https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/pub/aris/Report/15729b.pdf/ https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/pub/aris/Report/15729c.pdf/ A 50-kilogram drill core sample from Zone 1 was sent to Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd., Kamloops, British Columbia, for a mineralogical assessment. This program determined the mineral composition and nickel distribution in the core sample. The analytical results indicate that the core sample contains 0.16% nickel and 0.44% sulfur. Moreover, the mineral abundance by weight (wt%) is 50.7 % talc, 27.1% dolomite, and 12.8% serpentine. The mineral content and nickel distribution have been determined by QEMSCAN BMA analysis. The analysis shows that pyrite (23.8%), pyrrhotite (33.8%), pentlandite (39.0%), and chalcopyrite (1.90%) are the main sulfide minerals. For the nickel distribution, 97.8% of the nickel composites are in pentlandite and 2.15% of nickel composites are in pyrrhotite. Pentlandite was the main nickel mineral observed. Nickel in the form of pentlandite can generally be recovered with gravity and/or flotation methods. Part of the sample was also submitted to an external lab for asbestos content determination. The core sample measured 0.3% chrysotile, which is not classified as "asbestos-containing material" as the chrysotile content is less than 0.5%. Quality Assurance, Quality Control An AQTK or 35.5 mm (1 3/8 in) diameter core barrel was used for the 2023 diamond drill program at the Quesnel Nickel and Talc Property. The drill stem dip and azimuth were orientated at each collar location by a qualified geologist prior to drilling. Core samples were generally selected between 0.5 and 1.5-meter intervals, depending on identified lithology and mineralization style. The core was cut in half with a diamond core saw, with half of the core placed in sample bags and the remaining half securely retained in core boxes at Green River's office in Quesnel. Standard samples and blanks (CDN-BL-10) were systematically inserted into each batch of samples at regular intervals. The standard samples include high-grade (CDN-ME-2001) and low-grade (CDN-PGMS-29) nickel samples purchased from CDN Resource Laboratories in Langley, British Columbia. The core samples placed in sealed bags were shipped directly to Activation Laboratories Ltd. (Actlabs) in Kamloops, British Columbia and Met-Solve Laboratories Inc. (MSA) in Langley, British Columbia. The assaying lab preparation procedure included crushing the entire sample to 80% passing 2 millimeters, riffle splitting 250 grams, and pulverizing the split to 95% passing 105 micrometers. Base metal analyses are determined using the four-acid digestion method with an ICP-OES or ICP-MS finish. Analytical results are verified with the application of industry-standard Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) Procedures. Both Labs have an ISO 17025 certificate. Qualified Person: Stephen P. Kocsis (P.Geo) is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and he has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. About Green River Gold Corp. Green River Gold Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on its wholly owned Fontaine Gold Project, Quesnel Nickel/Magnesium/Talc Project, and Kymar Silver Project which are located in renowned mining districts in British Columbia. The Fontaine and Quesnel properties cover an area exceeding 200 sqare kilometers and straddle a 32 kilometer length of the Barkerville and Quesnel Terranes. They are contiguous to Osisko Development Corp.'s mineral claim group containing a proposed mine location at its Cariboo Gold Project. The Kymar Silver Project is located in southeast BC, approximately 28 kilometers west of the town of Invermere in the Golden Mining Division. The property is made up of two mineral tenures, totaling 1,625 hectares, along the southeast flank of Mount Catherine. For more information contact: Green River Gold Corp. Mr. Perry Little - President and Chief Executive Officer perry.little@greenrivergold.ca 780-993-2193 Additional information about Green River Gold Corp. can be found by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-Looking Information: This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Expressions such as "anticipates", "expects", "believes", "estimates", "could", "intends", "may", "plans", "predicts", "projects", "will", "would" and other similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are generally indicative of forward-looking information. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In addition, the forward- looking information contained in this release is based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as it is inherently uncertain, and no assurance can be given that the expectations reflected in such information will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information in this release is made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances. The securities of the Company have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This release is issued for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163793 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - Prismo Metals Inc. (CSE: PRIZ) (OTCQB: PMOMF) ("Prismo" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to Vizsla Silver Corp. (TSXV: VZLA) ("Vizsla") strategic investment in Prismo Metals completed in January 2023, Prismo and Vizsla have formalized the establishment of a joint technical committee which will allow for the pursuit of district-scale exploration of Panuco silver-gold district. The joint technical committee will be comprised of Dr. Craig Gibson, President and CEO of Prismo, Jesus Velador, Vice President Exploration of Vizsla and Dr. Peter Megaw, C,P,G,. Dr. Megaw, who is the Chief Exploration Officer of MAG Silver Corp. (TSX: MAG) has a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Arizona and more than 40 years of relevant experience focused on silver and gold exploration in Mexico. He is a certified Professional Geologist by the American Institute of Professional Geologists and an Arizona Registered Geologist. Dr. Megaw has been instrumental in a number of mineral discoveries in Mexico including new ore bodies at existing mines, Excellon Resources' Platosa Mine, and MAG Silver's Juanicipio and Cinco de Mayo properties; discoveries for which he was given PDAC's 2016 Thayer Lindsley Award. Peter is the author of numerous scientific publications on ore deposits and is a frequent speaker at academic and international exploration and mineralogical conferences. "Prismo looks forward to working closely with the joint technical committee and the Vizsla exploration team to advance our mutual understanding of this long-underexplored, high-grade silver-gold district. We look forward to the combined Prismo-Vizsla brain-trust unraveling the geology to unlock the potential of Palos Verdes and the entire Panuco district." "The joint technical committee was formalized in April, with the first site visit and meeting demonstrating the potential of bringing the combined experience in epithermal discoveries of the committee members," commented Michael Konnert, President and CEO of Vizsla Silver. "Vizsla Silver looks forward to the advice and recommendations from future committee meetings, which are mandated to be held semi annually." "The Panuco-Copala District is clearly a large-scale, long-lived district with the production profile of a major epithermal vein camp", said Dr. Peter Megaw, Technical Advisor to Prismo Metals. "Anytime you can step into an historic district and quickly find important blind veins means its worth stepping back to see where else that potential exists in the area. I look forward to working with the JV Technical Team to explore Panuco as a coherent whole". About Prismo Prismo (CSE: PRIZ) is mining exploration company focused on two precious metal projects in Mexico (Palos Verdes and Los Pavitos) and a copper project in Arizona (Hot Breccia). Please follow @PrismoMetals on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube Prismo Metals Inc. 1100 - 1111 Melville St., Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3V6 Contact: Craig Gibson, President & Chief Executive Officer craig.gibson@prismometals.com Jason Frame, Manager of Communications jason.frame@prismometals.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement and exploration program results, the ability to complete future financings, required permitting, exploration programs and drilling, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, the analytical results from surface trenching and sampling program, including diamond drilling programs, the results of IP surveying, the results of soil and till sampling program. the quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including CSE acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, the potential impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on the Company's exploration program and on the Company's general business, operations and financial condition, and other risks and uncertainties. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163792 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - Kenorland Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: KLD) (OTCQX: KLDCF) (FSE: 3WQ0) ("Kenorland" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the 2023 exploration program and budget at the Tanacross Project (the "Project"), located in eastern Alaska and held under an earn-in agreement with Antofagasta Minerals S.A. ("Antofagasta"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Antofagasta PLC (LSE: ANTO). 2023 Summer Drill Program and Budget The summer drill program, operated by Kenorland, will include up to 4,500m of diamond drilling to test three primary target areas: East Taurus, West Taurus, and South Taurus. The approved 2023 budget for the drill program is approximately US$3.8 million and will be carried out from June through August. This drill program follows the surface work completed last summer, including the collection of 800 infill soil samples along with detailed IP and MT surveys covering the West Taurus-McCord Creek-East Taurus trend, as well as detailed ELF (EM) and ground gravity surveys over the South Taurus anomaly. Figure 1. Plan map of target areas and proposed drillhole locations To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6489/163752_1c6ca556140ebbd4_001full.jpg Agreement Terms with Antofagasta Antofagasta can earn a 70% interest in Tanacross by making cash payments in an aggregate amount of US$1,000,000 plus a success payment of US$4,000,000 upon exercise of the option and spending of US$30,000,000 on exploration over eight years, with a firm commitment to spend US$1,000,000 in year one, and delivering a preliminary economic assessment supported by a technical report defined in NI 43-101. During the option period, Antofagasta will fund all exploration and Kenorland will be the initial operator. Once Antofagasta has earned its 70% interest, Kenorland and Antofagasta will form a 30:70 joint venture. If either party's interest in the joint venture falls below 10%, that party's interest will be converted to a 2% NSR, one quarter of which can be purchased by the other party for US$2,000,000. Figure 2. Location Map of the Tanacross Project To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6489/163752_1c6ca556140ebbd4_0002full.jpg About the Tanacross Project The Tanacross Project covers 45,000 hectares of Alaska state-owned land, approximately 70 kilometers northeast of Tok, along the Alaska Highway. The Project hosts a cluster of late Cretaceous (68-73Ma) porphyry copper (+/- gold, molybdenum) occurrences including East Taurus, West Taurus, and Bluff. This age of mineralisation is similar to the giant Casino porphyry copper system (Western Copper and Gold Corp.), which is located 140 kilometers to the south-east in Yukon Territory, Canada as well as the Tetlin Au Skarn system (Contango Ore Inc.), located 70 kilometers to the south-west of the Tanacross Project. The Project has seen a total of 17,076m of drilling in over 67 drill holes, since the initial discovery of East Taurus in 1971 by Duval Corporation. Multiple drill campaigns have been carried out by nine different companies including the most recent drill program in 2019 when the property was held under option to Freeport-McMoRan. The best historical results from the Project include drilling at East Taurus, where 08DDH040 intersected 232.56m at 0.31 % Cu, 0.25 g/t Au, 0.036% Mo. Qualified Person Janek Wozniewski, B. Sc., P. Geo., OGQ (#2239), "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release. About Kenorland Minerals Ltd. Kenorland Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: KLD) is a mineral exploration company incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia and based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Kenorland's focus is early to advanced stage exploration in North America. The Company currently holds five projects in Quebec where work is being completed under joint venture and earn-in agreements from third parties. The Frotet Project and Chicobi Project are held under joint venture with Sumitomo, the O'Sullivan Project is optioned to Sumitomo, the Chebistuan Project is optioned to Newmont Corporation and the Hunter Project is held under option to Centerra Gold Inc. In Alaska, the Company holds the advanced stage Tanacross porphyry Cu-Au-Mo project, optioned to Antofagasta, as well as a 70% interest in the Healy Project, held under joint venture with Newmont Corporation. Further information can be found on the Company's website www.kenorlandminerals.com. Kenorland Minerals Ltd. Zach Flood President, CEO and Director Tel: +1 604 363 1779 zach@kenorlandminerals.com Scott Smits Vice President of Exploration Tel: +1 250 686 8135 scott@kenorlandminerals.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects', "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing these forward-looking statements are reasonable based upon the information currently available to management as of the date hereof, actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Readers are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163752 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - Moss Genomics Inc. (CSE: MOSS) ("Moss" or the "Company"), a consumer genomics and gut microbiome company based in Vancouver, British Columbia announces the introduction of its Pain and Inflammation report which can be ordered directly to your home via the Company's online platform Inflammation is one way our body fights infection, injury, and disease. Sometimes, due to some specific mutations, inflammation can become much more painful. Our Pain & Inflammation report teaches customers how to overcome general inflammation related issues in their body. Eighty million genetic variants are analyzed to provide customers with the most insightful information on various inflammations based on their genetic information. Eleven different reports are generated to provide insight on pain and inflammation. They include the following: inflammation, chronic pain, back pain, neck and shoulder pain, joint inflammation, joint pain, gum inflammation/disease, gout, migraine, tinnitus, headache. The pain and inflammation reports are part of a proprietary suite of genetic reports which serve to complement our main products. These reports give customers the opportunity to further explore and understand their genetic data. Moss customer can already purchase genetic reports for mental health, cognitive health, and sleep. Moss will continue to launch several new genetic reports in the coming months. "Our reports help customers interpret their genomic data. The customer is armed with an action plan to help them achieve their physical and mental health goals," said Michelle Lee, President of the Company. "Our new pain and inflammation reports deliver a unique insight into general inflammation-related problems." "Pain and inflammation are sensations that an individual can experience as a sign of an inflammatory response. Although there are different types of pain, all pain's underlying origin arises from inflammation that activates the pain receptors to transmit pain signals causing central sensitization. Thus, it is essential to pay attention to persisting pain at an early stage as it could be a danger signal," says Supakan Kate Apiratanapimonchai, Moss doctoral student. "Our new report, pain and inflammation, provides up to 11 different reports based on various characteristics of pain to help determine the location of the inflammation causing the pain and provides an insightful report based on your genetic information." Moss has created an online healthcare and technology platform integrating labs, services, and products in a shared economy. Moss provides comprehensive and affordable, at-home genetic and microbiome testing paired with personalized wellness reports and offerings to promote total gut, mind, and body health. The Company's services include health reports, personalized food and nutrition recommendations, and a social media platform that allows customers to form communities based on their specific health needs. The Company's current and anticipated products can be found in the "Shop" section of its website. For further information concerning Moss and its business, please view the Company's long form prospectus dated December 13, 2022 (the "Prospectus") and CSE listing statement dated January 16, 2023 (the "Listing Statement") supporting Moss's listing on the CSE, as well as the Company's website at www.mossgenomics.com. Copies of the Prospectus and Listing Statement are available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. About Moss Genomics Inc. Moss Genomics Inc. is an emerging consumer genomics company that offers personalized health, anti-aging and wellness offerings guided by genomic, microbiome, and epigenome data. The Company intends to eliminate barriers in healthcare by offering easy-access, at-home, affordable testing paired with easy-to-understand actionable results. For further information, please contact: Karl Cahill Chief Executive Officer and Director Michelle Lee President & CFO Email: info@mossgenomics.com Telephone: 604-629-5974 TikTok: GutHealthTok | Instagram: MossGenomics | LinkedIn: MossGenomics The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation, including with respect to anticipated product offerings and the objectives and development of the Company. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon several estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties, and uncertain capital markets. Readers are cautioned that actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163770 TORONTO and GATINEAU, QC, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Converge Technology Solutions Corp. ("Converge" or "the Company") (TSX: CTS) (FSE: 0ZB) (OTCQX: CTSDF) is pleased to announce that it will release its first quarter financial results for the three-month period ended March 31st, 2023 on Tuesday May 9th, 2023 after market close. Subsequently, the Company will hold a conference call on Wednesday, May 10th, 2023, at 8:00 am EST hosted by the Converge leadership team. A question and answer session will follow the corporate update. Conference Call Details: Date: Wednesday, May 10th, 2023 Time: 8:00 AM Eastern Time Participant Webcast Link: Webcast Link - https://app.webinar.net/bE13rwz0YGB Participant Dial-in Details with Operator Assistance: Confirmation #: 19352249 Toronto: 416-764-8609 North American Toll Free: 888-390-0605 International Toll-Free Numbers: Germany: 08007240293 Ireland: 1800939111 Spain: 900834776 Switzerland: 0800312635 United Kingdom: 08006522435 You may register and enter your phone number to receive an instant automated call back via https://emportal.ink/41om1vV Recording Playback: Webcast Link - https://app.webinar.net/bE13rwz0YGB Toronto: 416-764-8677 North American Toll Free: 1-888-390-0541 Replay Code: 352249 # Expiry Date: May 17th, 2023 Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure time for any software download that may be required to access the webcast. A live audio webcast accompanied by presentation slides and archive of the conference call and webcast will be available by visiting the Company's website at https://convergetp.com/investor-relations/ . About Converge Converge Technology Solutions Corp. is a services-led, software-enabled, IT & Cloud Solutions provider focused on delivering industry-leading solutions. Converge's global approach delivers advanced analytics, application modernization, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and digital workplace offerings to clients across various industries. The Company supports these solutions with advisory, implementation, and managed services expertise across all major IT vendors in the marketplace. This multi-faceted approach enables Converge to address the unique business and technology requirements for all clients in the public and private sectors. For more information, visit convergetp.com. Converge Technology Solutions Corp., Email: investors@convergetp.com, Phone: 416-360-1495 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/converge-announces-first-quarter-2023-financial-results-conference-call-date-301807727.html Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral is fully cloud-based, enabling employees to work on any device, from virtually anywhere, at any time Available in Italy, the new solution combines RingCentral's industry-leading collaboration tools (messages, group video calls) and Vodafone's national fixed and mobile voice communications, on the same platform Vodafone Business and RingCentral (NYSE:RNG), a leading provider of AI-powered global enterprise cloud communications, video meetings, collaboration, and contact center solutions, today unveiled to the Italian market Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral, a powerful, integrated communications solution that brings together RingCentral's messaging and video capabilities with Vodafone's existing fixed and mobile voice communications functionality to the Italian market. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230425006109/en/ The solution gives businesses of all sizes an agile, affordable, cloud-based offering for better collaboration and communication among their employees, customers, and suppliers-on any device, from virtually anywhere, at any time. To support hybrid work, Italian employees need collaboration capabilities at the center of cloud communications. The new solution provides a unified experience across desktop and mobile for instant messaging, group collaboration, file sharing, task management, and HD video conferencing. These capabilities from RingCentral work seamlessly with the existing robust communications services of Vodafone Business UC, which include call queueing and holding, call transfer, time frame setting, and customized voicemail. Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral enables business phone numbers on any smartphone, computer, or tablet. Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral offers companies in all sectors a communication tool that can be integrated into their existing application infrastructure, thereby increasing the efficiency of business processes and remote working. The solution facilitates the organization of meetings and enhances work group collaboration; improves contacts and customer relations; and can be used anywhere with a simple internet connection. Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral can now be integrated into fixed network and cloud communications offers, which further extends their potential and flexibility by providing companies with a tool to manage their employees' remote working more efficiently, digitalize the workplace, and expand their business into the cloud. Lorenzo Forina, Director of Vodafone Business Italia, said: "At Vodafone Business, we want to respond to the needs and business priorities of companies of all sizes with concrete and effective solutions. With the launch of Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral, we are bringing a new solution to the Italian market that responds to this objective: providing companies with a tool to simplify communications and make business processes more flexible and the work of their employees more agile. This platform, which is rooted in the global collaboration with RingCentral, will therefore allow people to work effectively and collaboratively wherever they are, and allow companies to take another step forward in migrating to the cloud in their digital transition journey." Yves Desmet, SVP Global Service Providers EMEA, RingCentral, said "At RingCentral, we are focused on giving our customers the right tools to perform their jobs with the highest level of efficiency and productivity. Businesses know that team messaging, video meetings, and cloud phone are crucial for workplace productivity. Combining RingCentral's industry-leading cloud communications with Vodafone Italy's leadership in mobility, 5G, and fixed network unlocks new ways for companies to grow and run their businesses." Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral is the result of a global-level strategic partnership between Vodafone Business and RingCentral, with the aim of providing new cloud-based communication services to enhance collaboration and communication for businesses of all sizes in several countries, including the UK, Germany, and Italy. For more information, go to: voda.it/vodafoneUC About Vodafone Italy Vodafone Italia is part of Vodafone Group. Unique in its scale as the largest pan-European and African technology communications company, Vodafone transforms the way we live and work through its innovation, technology, connectivity, platforms, products and services. Vodafone operates mobile and fixed networks in 20 countries, and partners with mobile networks in 47 more. As of 31 December 2022, we had over 330 million mobile customers, more than 28 million fixed broadband customers, and 21 million TV customers. Vodafone is a world leader in the Internet of Things (IoT), connecting over 155 million devices and platforms. Vodafone Business is the division of Vodafone Italia dedicated to small, medium, large companies and the Public Administration. Vodafone Business creates services and skills that integrate new connectivity and convergence technologies from 5G to Software Defined Networks with applications that respond to companies' business priorities through the adoption of digital in all elements of the value chain. Vodafone Business solutions are created both through the direct development of platforms by Vodafone (IoT, Analytics, Cloud), and through the creation of an ecosystem of national and international partners. About RingCentral RingCentral is a leading global provider of cloud-based business communications and collaboration solutions that seamlessly combine phone, messaging, video meetings, and contact center. RingCentral empowers customers with AI-powered conversation intelligence that unlocks insights from their interaction data to accelerate business outcomes. With decades of expertise in reliable and secure cloud communications, RingCentral has earned the trust of millions of customers and thousands of partners worldwide. Visit ringcentral.com to learn more. 2023 RingCentral, Inc. All rights reserved. RingCentral and the RingCentral logo are trademarks of RingCentral, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230425006109/en/ Contacts: Vodafone Business Media Relations GroupMedia@vodafone.com RingCentral Brett Smith brett.smith@ringcentral.com +1 980-580-2430 Levetiracetam Used to Treat Epilepsy CHINO HILLS, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / SOHM, Inc. (OTC PINK:SHMN) (the "Company"), a generic pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical company that manufactures and markets generic drugs covering various treatment categories, announces today that had signed the exclusive distribution agreement and launch of its latest product, LEVETIRACETAM. This medication is an anticonvulsant drug used to treat seizures in adults and children who suffer from epilepsy. Mr. Baron Night, The CEO, says the company had signed an exclusive agreement with Stallion Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. Ahmedabad, India; however, the product and plant were under the approval of the US FDA, and now recently, it has got the approval for an ANDA product called Levetiracetam. We are thrilled to associate with SOHM and look forward to having a meaningful long-term association with SOHM, Inc., Said Mr. Vijay Shah, Chairman of Stallion Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. Further Mr. Vijay Shah, Chairman says Stallion Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. owns the ANDA, but have an exclusive distribution agreement with SOHM, Inc. for the USA for the distribution. The product shall be manufactured at our US FDA-approved facility in Ahmedabad, India, and distributed under SOHM's label and NDC numbers, Mr. Vijay Shah, Chairman added. Levetiracetam Tablets were first developed as an epileptic drug for treating convulsions, seizures, and epilepsy in 1999. Though relatively new on the antiepileptic scene, Levetiracetam has rapidly become a favorite medication for patients at risk for seizures. It has been approved for treating epilepsy and partial seizures in the United States, the European Union, and many other countries worldwide. In addition, older adults with dementia may be at risk of seizures. Levetiracetam has thus become many doctors' first choice when prescribing an anticonvulsant drug. In addition, Levetiracetam has substantial benefits that can be of critical importance for individuals with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia, including: Levetiracetam is safe. It has a quick onset or effect on older adults with dementia. It has no particularly worrisome side effects. Levetiracetam has demonstrated that older age groups tolerate it well. It does not have significant interactions with other drugs. Levetiracetam does not add to deficits in cognition in individuals with dementia LEVETIRACETAM is an FDA-approved drug that has proven safe and effective in controlling seizures. It works by reducing the activity in the brain that can lead to seizures, helping to prevent them from occurring. This medication is available in tablet form and can be taken orally with or without food. According to a report by Transparency Market Research, the global antiepileptic drugs market, including Levetiracetam, was valued at approximately USD 6 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 3.9% from 2021 to 2031. The various clinical and research report notes that the increasing prevalence of epilepsy, the growing use of antiepileptic drugs, and the development of new drugs are some factors driving the market growth. Our LEVETIRACETAM will be available through pharmacies and healthcare providers. Patients should speak to their doctor to determine if this medication is right for them. The management and leadership are excited about this new product and expect estimated revenues of US$3-5 million annually or plans to capture 5 to 10% of the market share in coming months. The company expects its introduction in the market in the next two months. "We are thrilled to introduce LEVETIRACETAM to the market," said Mr. Night, the CEO. "This medication offers a new treatment option for those who suffer from epilepsy, and we believe it has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of patients and their families." SOHM, Inc. is committed to providing safe, effective, and innovative treatments to improve patients' lives worldwide through "Adds Life to Lives," Mr. Night added. About SOHM, Inc. SOHM, Inc. is a growing generic pharmaceutical manufacturing and marketing company with a vision of "Globale Prospero" that tries to build continuous growth. SOHM manufacturing and marketing targets the rapidly growing healthcare segments, such as nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and other major therapeutic segments. SOHM is headquartered in North America, with manufacturing alliances in India and strategic partnerships/alliances with U.S. manufacturing facilities. Although SOHM's generic pharmaceuticals are exported globally and were introduced to the USA in early 2013, SOHM continues its focus on distribution to emerging markets in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. To learn more about SOHM, Inc., visit www.SOHM.com. About Stallion Laboratories Pvt. Ltd.: Stallion Laboratories, incorporated in 1988 as an integrated private-sector Pharmaceutical Formulation Manufacturer, has acquired an unmatched record of managing niche products in formulations with WHO GMP-approved production facilities. In addition, stallion Laboratories is equipped with a New Ultra-Modern Facility designed for oral solid dosage form in compliance with the latest Stringent Regulatory Authority Guidelines and already applied in SRA countries. The path to success lies in its belief in creativity and no negotiation with the quality of work. To learn more about Stallion, visit www.stallionlabs.com Safe Harbor Statement: This news release contains "forward-looking statements," which are statements that are not purely historical and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the development, costs and results of new business opportunities. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects and development-stage companies. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations, and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report for the most recent fiscal year and our quarterly reports uploaded from time to time on OTCMarkets.com. For more information, please contact: SOHM, Inc. 714-522-6700 SOURCE: SOHM, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/751313/SOHM-Inc-Signed-an-Exclusive-Distribution-Agreement-with-India-based-Stallion-Laboratories-Pvt-Ltd-for-Levetiracetam-for-the-Treatment-of-Epilepsy 269 Samples Now Pending Assaying at SGS Labs in Brazil Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. (CSE: API) (OTCQX: APAAF) (FSE: A0I0.F) (FSE: A0I0.MU) (FSE: A0I0.BE) (the "Company" or "Appia") has completed its previously announced onsite due diligence program at The Cachoeirinha Project (the "PCH Project") located in the Tocantins Structural Province of the Brasilia Fold Belt, Goias State, Brazil. (Click here for the Press Release). "As part of the due diligence process, we drilled 15 auger holes twinning a representative mix of trenches, drill and auger holes across the western portion of the property which were sampled at meter intervals. And assaying is now underway," stated Stephen Burega, President of Appia. "In addition, there were two diamond drill holes originally completed by the Vendor's team but not previously assayed. The entire lengths of the two diamond drill holes were sampled and included as part of the total sample package delivered for assaying." A total of 269 samples were taken, and are now being processed at the SGS labs near Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Assay results are expected back mid to late May 2023. "We had the opportunity to work directly with the Vendor's Brazilian geology team, and to see for ourselves their excellent work first hand," Burega continued. "We spent 4 days on the property taking samples and revewing the surface geology of many core western targets on the PCH property as well as on the more grassroots, highly prospective eastern targets." "As previsouly reported, the regional mineralogy has very similar lithologies to the Serra Verde project (See link to website here) demonstrating the classic model of ionic clay structures. Based on assays obtained from the vendor, grades appear to be similar to those reported at Serra Verde project," he continued. "Like Serra Verde, Appia's PCH Project is an ionic-clay REEs deposit and one of the relatively few deposits of this type found outside of China. Ionic clays can be mined with low-cost open pit mining techniques and processed using simple technologies," Burega continued. "The PCH Project is a classical, highly weathered alkaline granitic complex showing ionic clay development with elevated REE values immediately below surface and extending down to a depth of over 15 meters, and is located in close proximity to a massive ultra mafic complex currently owned by Vale." The PCH Project is 17,551.07 ha. in size and is a circular structure originating from significant depth and brings with it a series of REEs. Early indications are that the minerology is primarily bastnaestite and monazite with clays that are preferentially enriched in the valuable magnetic rare earth elements. Historic work by the Vendors indicates that the magnetic REEs represent +/- 25% of the total REEs found within the project area. Images #1, #2 and #3 - Sample of Ionic Clay material from an auger hole; Mr. Don Hains, Consulting Geologist and specialty mineral expert, reviewing maps from the PCH Project, State of Goias, Brazil; and samples are prepped for shipping to SGS labs near Belo Horizonte, Brazil. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5416/163820_appia01_550.jpg Background on the PCH Project The Cachoeirinha Project (PCH Project) is located within the Tocantins Structural Province in the Brasilia Fold Belt, more specifically, the Arenopolis Magmatic Arc. The PCH Project is 17,551.07 ha. in size and located within the Goias State of Brazil. It is classified as an alkaline intrusive rock occurrence with highly anomalous REE and niobium mineralization. This mineralization is related to alkaline lithologies of the Fazenda Buriti Plutonic Complex and the hydrothermal and surface alteration products of this complex by supergene enrichment in a tropical climate. The positive results of the recent geochemical exploration work carried out to date indicates the potential for REEs and Niobium within lateritic ionic adsorption clays. The technical content in this news release was reviewed and approved by Mr. Don Hains, P.Geo, Consulting Geologist, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp (Appia) Appia is a publicly traded Canadian company in the rare earth element and uranium sectors. The Company is currently focusing on delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements and gallium on the Alces Lake property, as well as exploring for high-grade uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin on its Otherside, Loranger, North Wollaston, and Eastside properties. The Company holds the surface rights to exploration for 113,837.15 hectares (281,297.72 acres) in Saskatchewan. The Company also has a 100% interest in 12,545 hectares (31,000 acres), with rare earth element and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones in the Elliot Lake Camp, Ontario. Appia has 130.5 million common shares outstanding, 153.8 million shares fully diluted. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward- looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information, please contact: Tom Drivas, CEO and Director: (cell) 416-876-3957, (fax) 416-218-9772 or (email) tdrivas@appiareu.com Stephen Burega, President: (cell) 647-515-3734 or (email) sburega@appiareu.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163820 Bonanza Grade Silver intersection of 3,477 gpt Ag (111.96 oz/t) over 1.52 m , within a zone of 733.9 gpt Ag (23.63 oz/t) over 7.6 m , is the highest silver grade encountered to-date by Aztec at the Tombstone Project TC23-01 (243m TD), the first 2023 hole drilled near the center of the Contention pit, confirmed gold and silver mineralization in historic workings and below the depths of the 2021 drilling, past the water table , and near the eighth level workings Core drilling program continues with results pending from gold and silver targets at the center and southern end of Contention Pit Currently drilling targets at south end of Contention pit and other targets VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Aztec Minerals Corp. (TSX-V:AZT)(OTCQB:AZZTF) announces it has received the results from the first drill hole of its ongoing 2023 core drilling program at the Tombstone project in the historic Tombstone silver mining district in southeastern Arizona. Aztec holds a 75% interest in the Tombstone Property Joint Venture, which includes most of the original patented mining claims in the district as well as some recently acquired properties. The first hole is part of a 10 hole program that is being drilled in a fan-grid pattern over the length of the Contention open pit. Bonanza grade silver was encountered in oxidized, altered silty limestones and Qfp dike at 126.5 m - 128 m with 3,477 gpt silver and 0.115 gpt gold (3485.1 gpt AgEq) over 1.52 m, within a zone of 7.65 m with 733.92 gpt silver and 0.524 gpt gold (770.6 gpt AgEq) from 125 - 132.6 m. Hole TC23-01 also returned a broad intersection of 0.58 grams per tonne (gpt) gold and 72.19 gpt silver (1.63 gpt gold equivalent (AuEq) using an 80:1 silver:gold ratio) over 125.0 meters. Higher grade gold intervals were also intersected in the drill hole with 22.4 gpt gold and 48.7 gpt silver (23.01 gpt AuEq) in oxidized, altered Qfp dike over 1.52 m at 61m - 62.5 m. View drill section here: Link to section view hole TC23-01 Drill hole TC23-01 tested mineralization to depth initially found in TR21-08 prior to its collapse in 2021. It was designed to go through the old mine workings and to reach, at a minimum, the water table just below the sixth level and the principal district host limestones at depth. The drilling has expanded the extent of mineralization to depth and demonstrates the potential for the volume of oxidized Au-Ag mineralization to grow as it remains open. Aztec Mineral CEO Simon Dyakowski stated "Initial results from our first core drilling program at the Tombstone Project have successfully intersected Bonanza silver grades, +100 oz silver, near the water table. This result represents the highest grade of silver encountered in Aztec's drilling at Tombstone to-date, and the broader zone of oxide gold-silver mineralization continues to expand the open-pit heap leach potential of the project. We await the receipt of assays from additional drill holes as our 2023 core drilling program continues at the Contention pit target of the project." Drill hole TC23-01 intersected extensive gold and silver mineralization, see table below, extending the mineralized zone at depth west and below the Contention open pit. The drill hole also intersected old mine stope workings (15.9 m in total), likely dating back to the late 1800's and high-grade zones as well, indicating that the highest-grade bonanza mineralization in the area drilled was only partially mined out. Drill Hole From m To m Interval m* Au gpt Ag gpt Au Eq gpt (1) Comments TC23-01 53.3 178.3 125.0 0.577 72.188 1.631 Incl. stopes of 15.9 m** Including: 61.0 62.5 1.52 22.4 48.7 23.009 125 132.6 7.65 0.524 733.92 9.698 Incl: 126.5 128.0 1.52 0.115 3477.0 43.578 AuEq is calculated using a 80:1 silver:gold ratio * All interval widths are not true widths and intercept true widths are not yet estimated. ** The reported interval was sampled from 53.3 - 75.9 m followed by first void interval 75.9 - 86m, then sampled interval from 86 - 88.1m, then the second void interval from 88.1 - 93.9m, and then sampled to 178.3m for the full 125.0 meter length. The voids were treated as zero grade. Table 2: Completed Drillhole Details (WGS84, Zone 12R) Drill Hole Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth TC23-01 588803.878 350963.555 1414 m 0 -90 242.99 m Aztec has now completed the first five holes of the planned ten drill hole program. The drill program has been decreased to total, at minimum, 1,000 meters of core drilling at the Tombstone Property. The company has reported assays for the first hole. Samples and their collection are controlled by an industry standard conforming QAQC program including insertions of certified standards, blanks and sample duplicates. The samples are being regularly shipped to and received by the Bureau Veritas Minerals laboratory in Hermosillo, Mexico for geochemical analysis. Core samples are sawn and are continuously collected over 5 foot (1.52m) sample intervals from all drill holes. The samples were analyzed for gold with a 30-gram sample size using the fire assay method FA430 followed by multi-element MA300, including silver. Over limits, when present, are analyzed by MA370 or FA530. All holes contain certified blanks, standards, and duplicates as part of the quality control program. Tombstone 2023 Core Drill Program Plan Map The drilling program was designed with data obtained from surveys and modelling completed over 2022, following the conclusion of Aztec's previous RC drilling program in late 2021. Aztec has recently completed an ortho-topographic drone survey to construct detailed maps, surveyed all drill hole collars from 2020-21, sampled for Terraspec alteration analysis half of the North Contention pit, completed Terraspec analysis on all the 2020-21 RC chips, and advanced the construction of a wire-frame 3-D Leapfrog model of the historic, extensive, underground mine workings, with drilling, mineralization, geology, alteration, geophysics, and multi-element geochemistry. To date the review of exploration data has defined the following target types for exploration at Tombstone: Shallow, bulk tonnage, "heap leachable"-type mineralization typical of Tombstone, composed of mesothermal Au-Ag oxides associated with the enrichment of sediment hosted mineralization on favorable horizons and structures, and with crosscutting, mineralized Qfp dikes and sills, mesothermal veins and hydrothermal breccias. This is the target type of Aztec's exploration focus since 2019. mineralization typical of Tombstone, composed of mesothermal Au-Ag oxides associated with the enrichment of sediment hosted mineralization on favorable horizons and structures, and with crosscutting, mineralized Qfp dikes and sills, mesothermal veins and hydrothermal breccias. This is the target type of Aztec's exploration focus since 2019. Sub-water table (below ~200m depth) extensions of the typical Tombstone Au-Ag mineralization, composed mostly of secondary enrichment minerals and focused by the same horizon and structure types as the extensively mined shallow deposits above. extensions of the typical Tombstone Au-Ag mineralization, composed mostly of secondary enrichment minerals and focused by the same horizon and structure types as the extensively mined shallow deposits above. Deeper, high grade, "Taylor"- style carbonate replacement silver-lead-zinc-copper-gold deposits (CRD) in the extensive carbonate section (~ 2 kms estimated thickness) below the Bisbee formation. silver-lead-zinc-copper-gold deposits (CRD) in the extensive carbonate section (~ 2 kms estimated thickness) below the Bisbee formation. The potential for a mineralized porphyry-type deposit as a source of the Tombstone mineralization. Data obtained from the core drill holes is expected to supplement the previous, shallow RC drilling by providing extensive knowledge of geological relationships and testing at the depth of the water table and below the Contention system across its width and along its length. Notably, Aztec's previous drilling terminated above the water table where typically the enrichment of Ag occurs, and that the main host horizons of the Tombstone district are found at this depth in the Contention target. Upon the completion of diamond drilling, Aztec plans additional work including: Examining multi-element results for correlative, spatial, and geologic relationships. Terraspec analysis of the drill core. Detailed mapping of the Contention Open Pit, accompanied with Terraspec. Update the drilling data into the Leapfrog model, and update known district drilling, geology (lithology, structural, alteration, mineralogy, mineralization age-dating), geophysics, geochemistry, and UG workings to identify mineralization trends to help target the shallow and deep-CRD drilling. Examine the possibility of using seismic geophysics for identifying the overthrusts, faults and folding in the carbonates at depth. Potential 43-101 compliant resource estimation Tombstone Project Overview The main target of the 2023 core drill program is to continue testing the shallow, bulk tonnage, heap leachable, mesothermal gold-silver oxide mineralization adjacent and below the previously mined Contention pit by infill and step-out drilling. Future drilling is expected to focus on strike and dip extensions of the shallow oxide mineralization, and move deeper to test for larger, deeper "Taylor-type" CRD targets along and adjacent to the Contention structure. The Tombstone project is located 100 kilometers (km) southeast of Tucson, Arizona and covers much of the historic Tombstone silver district. Tombstone is renowned for its high grade, oxidized, silver-gold-lead-zinc-copper mesothermal and CRD mineralization hosted in veins, mantos, pipes and disseminated orebodies that were mined in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Host rocks to the mineralization were primarily the clastic sediments of the Cretaceous Bisbee Formation. Below 200 meters (m) in depth, the Bisbee is underlain by the same Paleozoic limestone formations that host the Taylor zinc-lead-silver deposit located 60 km southwest of Tombstone. Taylor was discovered by Arizona Mining in 2015 and they accepted a takeover bid from South32 Limited in 2018. Although the historic silver mines at Tombstone were generally small, Aztec believes they could be related to much larger mesothermal and CRD orebodies below the old mines. Since 2017, Aztec has completed geological mapping, geochemical sampling and geophysical surveying to identify the most prospective areas for Au-Ag mineralization around and below the Contention open pit, and CRD zinc-lead-copper-silver-gold mineralization below the entire district. The 2021 drill holes were collared along the western rim and inside of the north and central parts of the Contention Pit and intersected mineralization over a north-south length of 600 meters by over 150 m of east-west width and to maximum depths of 175 m. The 2020 drilling had an area of mineralization of 850 m long by an average of 75 m wide and to maximum depths of 200 m deep. The combined 2020 and 2021 drilled area now spans 900 m long by over 230 m wide and to maximum depths of 200 m, with Au-Ag mineralization still open in all directions and at depth. The low sulfidation epithermal gold-silver mineralization observed to date is impressive, marked by hydrothermal breccias, quartz veining and silicification associated with quartz-feldspar porphyry dikes and moderate to strong potassic, argillic and advanced argillic alteration and hornfels within the host Bisbee sandstones and siltstones. Areas of intense hematite, goethite and manganese wad are extensive, associated with quartz-calcite veins and localized skarn alteration in limestones. Cerargyrite (silver chloride) is observed in fractures, often with fine-grained visible gold. Most Au-Ag mineralized zones intersected in the 2020 and 2021 drill programs are proximal to the historic underground mine workings. Tombstone 2020-21 Drilling Highlights: TR21-22: 2.44 gpt Au and 66.56 gpt Ag (3.39 gpt AuEq) over 65.5m TR21-10: 1.39 gpt Au and 56.40 gpt Ag (2.20 gpt AuEq) over 96.0m TR21-03: 5.71 gpt Au and 40.54 gpt Ag (6.28 gpt AuEq) over 32.0m TR21-13: 1.80 gpt Au and 36.90 gpt Ag (2.33 gpt AuEq) over 70.1m TR21-17: 1.73 gpt Au and 56.20 gpt Ag (2.53 gpt AuEq) over 64.0m TR21-08: 2.09 gpt Au and 47.1 gpt Ag (2.76 gpt AuEq) over 39.6m TR21-18: 0.76 gpt Au and 20.61 gpt Ag (1.05 gpt AuEq) over 64.0m TR20-02: 0.94 gpt Au and 42.1 gpt Ag ( 1.60 gpt AuEq) over 77.7m TR20-03: 0.77 gpt Au and 25.2 gpt Ag (1.07 gpt AuEq) over 97.5m Gold equivalents are calculated using a 80:1 silver:gold ratio in 2020 and 2023 and a 70:1 silver:gold ratio in 2021.Reported lengths are apparent widths, not true widths. The Contention Au-Ag mineralization zones are generally west dipping at around 60-80 degrees, associated with the quartz-feldspar porphyry dikes. However, these dikes also extend as sills in shallow angles out from the Contention fault along fold noses in the Bisbee clastic sediments so the full range of mineralization dips vary from 20 to 80 degrees. True widths for the apparent mineralization intersection widths of the five holes approximately range from 50 to 100% of the apparent widths, with the norm for the mineralized true widths being 60 to 90% of the apparent widths. Tombstone Project Highlights Well located property on patented (32) and unpatented (42) claims (434.4 hectares/1,073.4 acres), covers much of the historic Tombstone silver mining district, great infrastructure, local town, road access, full services, water, power on patented (32) and unpatented (42) claims (434.4 hectares/1,073.4 acres), covers much of the historic Tombstone silver mining district, great infrastructure, local town, road access, full services, water, power Historic silver district produced 32 million oz silver from 1878-1939, in high grade, oxidized, silver-gold-lead-zinc-copper vein and CRD deposits, and small open pit heap leach production in late 1980's produced 32 million oz silver from 1878-1939, in high grade, oxidized, silver-gold-lead-zinc-copper vein and CRD deposits, and small open pit heap leach production in late 1980's Drilling by Aztec in 2020-21 has demonstrated that the Contention Pit target has significant Au-Ag mineralization which is open in all directions has demonstrated that the Contention Pit target has significant Au-Ag mineralization which is open in all directions Multiple other prospective target s in Cretaceous and Paleozoic rocks related to major NW and NNE trending structures hosting porphyritic intrusions crosscutting a possible caldera ring structure s in Cretaceous and Paleozoic rocks related to major NW and NNE trending structures hosting porphyritic intrusions crosscutting a possible caldera ring structure A very important target is a potential bulk-tonnage carbonate replacement deposit in Paleozoic limestones similar to the Taylor discovery (100+ million tonnes of 10% Zinc Equivalent) located 60 km southwest of Tombstone (mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization hosted on the Company's property) whose presence is suggested by historic deep drilling intercepts for CRD mineralization returned multiple intersections grading up to 32 gpt silver, 0.61% copper, 6.5% lead and 2.6% zinc over 7.2m core length is a potential bulk-tonnage carbonate replacement deposit in Paleozoic limestones similar to the Taylor discovery (100+ million tonnes of 10% Zinc Equivalent) located 60 km southwest of Tombstone (mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization hosted on the Company's property) whose presence is suggested by historic deep drilling intercepts for CRD mineralization returned multiple intersections grading up to 32 gpt silver, 0.61% copper, 6.5% lead and 2.6% zinc over 7.2m core length Distinct magnetic and AMT anomalies confirm multiple target areas, Contention pit hosts dikes along strongest district structure, excellent potential for CRD deposits with similar geology to the "Taylor" deposit confirm multiple target areas, Contention pit hosts dikes along strongest district structure, excellent potential for CRD deposits with similar geology to the "Taylor" deposit Aztec high-grade surface rock samples from the Contention Pit, grade up to 3,178 gpt silver and 23.5 gpt gold, epithermal stockwork mineralization open along strike. Out of 94 samples collected from within the pit, silver ranges between <0.1 and 3,178 gpt (114.5 gpt average) and gold ranges <0.005 and 23.5 gpt (1.60 gpt average) from the Contention Pit, grade up to 3,178 gpt silver and 23.5 gpt gold, epithermal stockwork mineralization open along strike. Out of 94 samples collected from within the pit, silver ranges between <0.1 and 3,178 gpt (114.5 gpt average) and gold ranges <0.005 and 23.5 gpt (1.60 gpt average) Historic shallow mining at Contention pit for heap leachable Au-Ag mineralization, historic drilling by USMX around the pit returned multiple intersections including 1.61 gpt Au, 91.2 gpt Ag over 44.2m (see the Company's news release dated September 18, 2018 "Aztec Minerals Acquires Late 1980's-Early 1990's Drilling and Trenching Data for the Tombstone Project, Arizona" for further disclosure on USMX drilling) Allen David Heyl, B.Sc., CPG., VP Exploration, is the Qualified Person overseeing the Tombstone exploration program. Mr. Heyl reviewed and approved the technical disclosures in this news release "Simon Dyakowski" Simon Dyakowski, Chief Executive Officer Aztec Minerals Corp. About Aztec Minerals - Aztec is a mineral exploration company focused on two emerging discoveries in North America. The Cervantes project is an emerging porphyry gold-copper discovery in Sonora, Mexico. The Tombstone project is an emerging gold-silver discovery with high grade CRD silver-lead-zinc potential in southern Arizona. Aztec's shares trade on the TSX-V stock exchange (symbol AZT) and on the OTCQB (symbol AZZTF). Contact Information - For more information, please contact: Simon Dyakowski, President & CEO, Director Tel: (604) 619-7469 Fax: (604) 685-9744 Email: simon@aztecminerals.com Website: www.aztecminerals.com Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects" or "it is expected", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE: Aztec Minerals Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/751353/Aztec-Drills-Bonanza-Grade-Silver-of-3477-gpt-Ag-11196-ozt-Ag-over-152-m-within-a-zone-of-7339-gpt-Ag-2363-ozt-Ag-over-76-m-part-of-a-broader-intercept-of-058-gpt-Au-and-7219-gpt-Ag-163-AuEq-over-1250-m-in-first-hole-of-2023-Core-Drilling CHICAGO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Relativity, a global legal technology company, today announced it won the Security Software Innovator award in the Microsoft Security Excellence Awards 2023. The company's achievements have helped it rise to the top of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA), an ecosystem of independent software vendors (ISVs) and managed security service providers (MSSPs) that have integrated their security products and services with Microsoft's security technology. Award winners demonstrated excellence across security, identity, management, compliance and privacy during the past 12 months. "We're thrilled that Microsoft once again recognized Relativity for our trailblazing work in security," Marcin Swiety, Chief Security Officer, Relativity said. "Collaborating with Microsoft gives our Calder7 security team the cutting-edge tools and technologies needed to develop innovative security solutions for our company and customers that keep the most important data in the world secure. We look forward to continued opportunities to create a more secure world as we evolve our work with Microsoft." At the Microsoft Security Excellence 2023 Awards on April 24, 2023, Microsoft announced award winners in 11 categories honoring partner trailblazers, solution innovators, customer and technology champions, and changemakers. This is the fourth-year awards were given. Relativity won the Security Software Innovator award. "It is my privilege to acknowledge this year's Microsoft Security Excellence awards recipients, who continually inspire us with their commitment to building a safer world for all," Vasu Jakkal, CVP, Microsoft Security said. "Their solutions, services, innovative spirit, and customer focus are integral to this goal. Security is a team sport, and we are proud to partner with our MISA community. My warmest congratulations to all the awardees." MISA was established to bring together Microsoft leaders, ISVs, and MSSPs to work together to defeat security threats and make the world a safer place. In conjunction with Microsoft Stakeholders, MISA members voted on the winners of the Microsoft Security Excellence Awards, giving them a chance to recognize the efforts of their peers and their commitment to making the world a more secure place. About Relativity Relativity makes software to help users organize data, discover the truth and act on it. Its SaaS product, RelativityOne, manages large volumes of data and quickly identifies key issues during litigation and internal investigations. Relativity has more than 300,000 users in approximately 40 countries serving thousands of organizations globally primarily in legal, financial services and government sectors, including the U.S. Department of Justice and 198 of the Am Law 200. Please contact Relativity at sales@relativity.com or visit www.relativity.com for more information. Product or service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/445801/Relativity_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/relativity-recognized-as-a-microsoft-security-excellence-awards-winner-for-security-software-innovator-301807706.html LONDON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Key Takeaways: Global Polyclonal Antibodies Market is expected to witness a CAGR of 4% over 2022-2029. Growing chronic disease prevalence, increase in healthcare expenditure, and widespread technological advancements are propelling market growth. Middle East & Africa is witnessing substantial progression due to evolving healthcare expenditure and rising demand for personalized medicines. & is witnessing substantial progression due to evolving healthcare expenditure and rising demand for personalized medicines. The numerous players operating in this industry are facing intense competition from each other. Get Sample of Report@ https://www.aimarketreport.com/downloadSample/PostId/859 Global Polyclonal Antibodies Market Outlook (2022-2029) The Global Polyclonal Antibodies Market is anticipated to amplify with a CAGR of 4% over the assessment timeline of 2022-2028. Polyclonal antibodies are predominantly produced by numerous B-cells in response to a foreign substance termed as an antigen. These antibodies comprise of a mixture of diverse antibodies which can recognize specific parts of the antigen, known as epitopes. These epitomes are produced by a single clone of B-cells. Polyclonal antibodies are commonly used in research and diagnostics because they can recognize multiple epitopes on a target molecule, which increases the chances of detection. They are also utilized in therapies, such as antivenoms, which are used to treat bites from different species of venomous snakes or spiders. Competitive Hierarchy The prominent players defining the competitive terrain of the Global Polyclonal Antibodies Market are Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.), Merck KGaA (Germany), Abcam plc (UK), BD (U.S.), Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. (U.S.), Cell Signaling Technology Inc. (U.S.), F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland), Danaher (U.S.), Agilent Technologies (U.S.), PerkinElmer Inc. (U.S.), Lonza (Switzerland), GenScript (China), BioLegend Inc. (U.S.), Illumia Inc. (U.S.), ImmonoPresice Antibodies Ltd (Canada), Fujirebio (Sweden), Analytik Jena GmbH (Germany), Omega BioTek Inc. (U.S.), Dovetail Genomics (U.S.), and Atlas Antibodies (Sweden). Segmental Outlook Based on product type, the secondary antibody segment is presently leading the owing to their cost effectiveness, versatility, and broad range of applications. In terms of application, the commercial segment is projected to amass notable gains over the estimated timeframe. This is due to the increasing number of biotech and biopharma companies associated with the production of polyclonal antibodies. Get Methodology @ https://www.aimarketreport.com/requestMethodology/PostId/859 Region-Wise Outlook Middle East & Africa The industry in this region is gaining significant traction because of the ever-rising healthcare spending, rising pervasiveness of chronic ailments, along with continuous R&D investments. Also, the surge in the geriatric population, elevating demand for personalized medicines, and rapidly evolving medical infrastructure are adding to the growth of this regional industry. Europe Europe has been showcasing promising growth over 2022-2029. This is attributable to the escalating demand for early and accurate disease diagnosis and treatment. Besides, increasing healthcare expenditure, rapidly evolving healthcare infrastructure and technological advancements in the field are further contributing to the industry development in this region. Elaborating The Key Trends and Dynamics of This Industry The rising prevalence of both chronic and infectious diseases along with the increasing healthcare expenditure are primarily augmenting the outlook of this industry sphere. Furthermore, increasing R&D activities in the field, rapidly evolving healthcare infrastructure across various regions, along with widespread technological advancements in the field are creating an upward trend in this market. Besides, surging neurobiology and stem cell-based research activities, escalating demand for therapeutic antibodies, and growing cancer pervasiveness worldwide are adding momentum to the progression of this business vertical. Alongside, increase in the geriatric population base and the affordability of polyclonal antibodies are aiding the expansion of this industry. Major Growth Drivers Growing prevalence of chronic diseases- There is a rising prevalence of chronic ailments like cancer, diabetes, COPD, and autoimmune diseases across the globe. Genetic defects, age, unhealthy lifestyle, and surging pollution levels are some of the major reasons leading to the rapid occurrence of such ailments. Polyclonal antibodies are predominantly used in the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases due to their affordability and efficacy. Apart from that, these antibodies can also be customized to target specific antigens, which makes them ideal for use in personalized medicine. It is worth noting that personalized medicines are gaining immense popularity when it comes to the treatment of diseases like cancer. This is because they are specifically developed as per the need of an individual and therefore are highly effective in nature. These factors together are positively swaying the dynamics of this market vertically. Increasing cognizance about the benefits of these antibodies- The growing awareness about the benefits of polyclonal antibodies, such as their ability to recognize multiple epitopes and their high specificity is another growth stimulant for this market. This increased awareness has accelerated the adoption of these antibodies in research, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Alongside, rapid technological advancements are further helping this industry to evolve. Challenges Animal cruelty related ethical concerns- Polyclonal antibodies are generally obtained from animals. They are first immunized using an antigen before extracting these antibodies. But several regulatory bodies have voiced opposition to this practice before of its invasive nature. Some animals also react adversely to these antigens. This is a potential challenge being faced by this industry. Opportunities Rising application of polyclonal antibodies in disease diagnostics: These antibodies are being used in the diagnostics sector which is creating potential growth prospects for this market. These antibodies can be effectively used in point-of-care testing devices to enhance their efficacy. Apart from that, with rapid technological advancements, polyclonal antibodies can also be used in novel diagnostic techniques for the early detection of ailments like cancer. These factors together are projected to create an upward trend in this industry in the ensuing years. Restraints High production costs: The production process of antibodies is quite complicated. Laboratories and research institutes which are facilitating the same should have adequate infrastructure, skilled professionals, and proper equipment. This increases the cost of the entire production process. Smaller laboratories have budget constraints which in turn prevent them from entering this industry. This is obstructing the development of this industry. Porter's Five Forces Analysis Threat of new entrants-The production process of polyclonal antibodies is quite complex. It requires adequate infrastructure and expertise, along with high-end technologies and equipment. This makes the entire process quite expensive. This creates a barrier for the new entrants. Apart from that, the already existing companies have already built a strong foothold in the market and have captured a broad consumer base. Due to all these factors, the threat of new entrants is low in this industry. Bargaining power of suppliers- This industry has a large number of raw materials and equipment suppliers. Thus, the buyers have a diverse range of options to choose from. They generally opt for suppliers who provide quality products at reasonable rates. Every supplier tries to hook the customers by producing quality raw materials and equipment while fixing reasonable rates for the same. Hence the bargaining power of suppliers is low in this market. Bargaining power of buyers- The buyers get a wide range of options to choose from since there are numerous suppliers operating in this industry. These buyers have strong purchasing power along with the ability to negotiate the prices with their potential suppliers. They mostly try to procure high quality products at lower prices from the suppliers. Thus, the bargaining power of buyers is high in this business space. Threat of substitute- The threat of substitutes in this market is relatively high. This is because of the existence of alternate technologies and products like monoclonal antibodies, nucleic acid-based assays, and recombinant proteins, among others. These substitutes can be used for disease diagnosis, R&D activities, and treatments. Competitive Rivalry-The existing players in the market face intense competition from each other. They are keen on staying ahead of the curve and emerging as global leaders. These companies compete on the basis of quality, price, and product portfolio. Therefore, the competitive rivalry in this market is high. On Special Requirement Polyclonal Antibodies Market Report is also available for below region: North America U.S, Canada Europe Germany , France , U.K., Italy , Spain , Sweden , Netherland, Turkey , Switzerland , Belgium , Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific South Korea , Japan , China , India , Australia , Philippines , Singapore , Malaysia , Thailand , Indonesia , Rest Of APAC Latin America Mexico , Colombia , Brazil , Argentina , Peru , Rest of Latin America Middle East and Africa Saudi Arabia , UAE, Egypt , South Africa , Rest Of MEA Purchase Copy of Report @https://www.aimarketreport.com/Checkout?report_id=859 Major Developments Acquisitions In 2021, Bio-Rad Laboratories, a leading provider of life science research tools, announced the acquisition of Celsee, a microfluidic systems manufacturer. This acquisition expanded Bio-Rad Laboratories' capabilities in the analysis of rare cells, including the detection of circulating tumor cells. In December 2021, Ziylo, a synthetic glucose binding molecules manufacturer was acquired by Novo Nordisk. This acquisition allowed the latter to enhance its diabetes treatment portfolio. Partnerships In May 2021, Sino Biological joined forces with polyclonal antibodies manufacturer Precision Antibody. This decision is likely to enable the former to enhance its offerings in the polyclonal antibodies sector. In August 2021, BioLegend inked a partnership deal with US based digital cell biology platforms provider Berkeley Lights. 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Asia Office:?+917447409162 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1392316/BEMR_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-polyclonal-antibodies-market-to-project-with-4-cagr-by-2029-says-brandessence-market-research-301808333.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Comcast Corporation: Great Place To Work and Fortune magazine have recognized Comcast NBCUniversal as one of the top 10 of 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2023, ranking the global media and technology company No. 9 on this year's list. This is the sixth consecutive year Comcast has been recognized by Great Place To Work and Fortune alongside many other notable companies. To determine the 100 Best Companies to Work For, Great Place To Work analyzed the anonymous survey responses of more than half a million employees from Great Place To Work Certified companies with at least 1,000 workers. Companies also submitted essays describing their efforts to offer generous and innovative support for workers, which were validated against employee survey responses. We're proud of this recognition and of our employees who make our company great. MIKE CAVANAGH President of Comcast Corporation "We believe an inclusive and supportive culture is key for employees to come together from across our businesses and create the innovative products, content and experiences people love," said Mike Cavanagh, President of Comcast Corporation. About the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For Great Place To Work selected the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list by analyzing survey responses of over half a million employees who work for Great Place To Work Certified companies with at least 1,000 workers. The survey contained 60 employee experience questions that make up the Great Place To Work Trust Index . Companies also submitted essays about their workplace benefits and employee support programs, which were validated against employee survey data. As of the Aug. 2, 2022 deadline for this list, Great Place To Work surveyed companies employing 7.5 million people in the U.S. and received 1.3 million survey responses. Of those, over half a million responses were received from employees at companies who were eligible for the 2023 100 Best and this list is based on their feedback. Great Place To Work determines its lists using its proprietary For All Methodology to evaluate and certify thousands of organizations in America's largest ongoing annual workforce study. Read the full methodology. To get on this list next year, start here. About Great Place To Work Great Place To Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, we have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Our employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting, and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. Everything we do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a great place to work for all. Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. About Fortune The Fortune mission is to change the world by making business better. We achieve that by providing trusted information, telling great stories, and building world-class communities. We measure performance by rigorous benchmarks. And we hold companies accountable. Our goal is to make Fortune a force for good through its second century and beyond. For more information, visit www.fortune.com. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Comcast Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Comcast Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/comcast-corporation Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Comcast Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/751406/Fortune-Media-and-Great-Place-to-Work-Name-Comcast-NBCUniversal-to-Top-10-of-2023-Fortune-100-Best-Companies-To-Work-For-Ranking-No-9 La Plaine Saint Denis, April 26, 2023 - Showroomprive (SRP Groupe), a European group specializing in smartshopping, informs its shareholders about the upcoming convening of the shareholders' meetings of the company. ADDITIONAL ORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING As indicated in its press release date March 31st, 2023, SRP Groupe's shareholders are invited to attend the additional ordinary shareholders' meeting which will be held on Friday, May 26, 2023, at 10 a.m. 1 impasse du Pilier, 93210 La Plaine Saint-Denis. This additional ordinary shareholders' meeting will be convened to cure the current irregularity in the situation of the auditors following an error made in the appointment process of Alain Pater SAS, as substitute auditors of the Company in 2017. As a reminder, this technical issue is unrelated to the accounting and financial information in the accounts of the Company. A notice of meeting (avis de reunion), including the agenda, the draft resolutions that the Board of Directors plans to submit to a vote of shareholders, and main instructions for attending, voting and exercising shareholder rights at the General Meeting on May 26, 2023, has been published on April 21, 2023 in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales et Obligatoires (BALO) (bulletin n 48 of April 21, 2023, announcement no. 2301047). This notice of meeting can be consulted online on the Company's website at https://www.showroomprivegroup.com/en/shareholders-meeting/. All the information concerning the General Meeting will also be available on this website. The notice of meeting will be followed by a convening notice (avis de convocation), which will be published in the BALO and a French legal announcement journal within the legal and regulatory timeframes. The preparatory documents for the General Meeting will be made available to shareholders at the registered office at 1 rue des Bles ZAC Montjoie 93212 La Plaine Saint-Denis Cedex France and on the company's website at https://www.showroomprivegroup.com/en/shareholders-meeting/ according to legal and regulatory requirements. ANNUAL COMBINED SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING SRP Groupe's shareholders will also be invited to attend the annual combined shareholders' meeting which will be held on Friday, June 30, 2023, at 10 a.m. 1 impasse du Pilier, 93210 La Plaine Saint-Denis. A notice of meeting (avis de reunion), including the agenda, the draft resolutions that the Board of Directors plans to submit to a vote of shareholders, and main instructions for attending, voting and exercising shareholder rights at the Annual Combined Shareholders' Meeting on June 30, 2023, will be published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales et Obligatoires (BALO) within the legal and regulatory timeframes. Cet avis de reunion ainsi que toutes les informations concernant l'Assemblee Generale Mixte Annuelle seront mis a disposition sur le site Internet de la Societe. This notice of meeting and the preparatory documents for the General Meeting will be made available to shareholders at the registered office at 1 rue des Bles ZAC Montjoie 93212 La Plaine Saint-Denis Cedex France and on the company's website at https://www.showroomprivegroup.com/en/shareholders-meeting/. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains only summary information and is not intended to be comprehensive. This press release may contain forward-looking information and statements about the Group and its subsidiaries. These statements include financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "goal" or similar expressions. Although the Group believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors and the Group's shareholders are advised that forward-looking information and statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of the Group, which could cause actual results and developments to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified in filings with the Autorite des Marches Financiers (France's financial markets authority) made or to be made by the Group (particularly those detailed in Chapter 4 of the Company's registration document). The Group makes no commitment to publicly update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. ABOUT showroomprive Showroomprive is an innovative European player in the online private sales industry, specialized in fashion. Showroomprive offers a daily selection of more than 3,000 brand partners via its mobile apps or website in France and six other countries. Since its launch in 2006, the company has enjoyed rapid growth. Showroomprive is listed on Euronext Paris (code: SRP) and reported GMV of almost 950 million incl. VAT in 2022, and net revenue of 657 million. The Group is headed by David Dayan, the co-founder, and employs over 1,000 people. For more information: http://showroomprivegroup.com Contacts Showroomprive NewCap Sylvie Chan Diaz, Investor Relations investor.relations@showroomprive.net Financial communications Theo Martin, Louis-Victor Delouvrier Anne-Charlotte Neau Julliard Relations.presse@showroomprive.net Financial media relations Gaelle Fromaigeat, Nicolas Merigeau showroomprive@newcap.eu ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: mGpwZ8mYapyYlmyal8aWmmqXl2hoyJKbbZLGxWFpmMmdmWyWx5qWbJbHZnBqmmpu - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-79558-srp-groupe-cp-echeances-ag-en-vdef.pdf EPIC Suisse AG / Key word(s): AGMEGM EPIC Suisse AG: EPIC Suisse AG - Annual General Meeting approves all proposals by the Board of Directors 26.04.2023 / 18:30 CET/CEST Media release Zurich, 26 April 2023 EPIC Suisse AG - Annual General Meeting approves all proposals by the Board of Directors EPIC Suisse AG (SIX: EPIC), held its Annual General Meeting 2023 ("AGM") in Zurich today. All proposals by the Board of Directors were approved by very large majorities. In total 89.58% of all issued shares and voting rights were represented at the shareholders' meeting. Shareholders attending in person or represented by third parties accounted for 10'477 of voting rights. 9'242'815 voting rights were represented by the independent proxy. Shareholders approved the Management Report, Holding Financial Statements and Consolidated Financial Statements for 2022 as well as the appropriation of available earnings. Furthermore, the AGM voted in favour of a dividend of CHF 3.00 per share for the business year 2022, as proposed by the Board of Directors. Pay-out of the dividend will occur on 4 May 2023. The Compensation Report 2022 was approved in a consultative vote, and all members of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Management were granted discharge. Ron Greenbaum was re-elected to the Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Board. All other Board members, Stefan Breitenstein, Andreas Schneiter and Leta Bolli Kennel, were also re-elected for another term of office of one year. Stefan Breitenstein and Ron Greenbaum were re-elected as members of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee for another one-year term. KPMG AG, Zurich, were re-elected as statutory auditors for the business year 2023, and the law firm ADROIT Attorneys, Zurich, was re-elected as independent proxy for a term of office until the conclusion of the AGM in 2024. The AGM approved the proposed total maximum amounts of compensation for the Board of Directors (from AGM 2023 to AGM 2024) and for the Executive Management (for the business year 2024). The shareholders approved the proposed capital band and further amendments of the Articles of Association that became necessary in conjunction with the revision of the Swiss stock corporation law, which entered into force on 1 January 2023. ______________________ Voting results The detailed voting results per agenda item are published on the Company website https://ir.epic.ch/en/general-meetings-of-shareholders/ Contact information Valerie Scholtes, CFO, EPIC Suisse AG, Phone: +41 44 388 81 00, E-mail: investors@epic.ch About EPIC Suisse AG EPIC Suisse AG is a Swiss real estate company with a high-quality property portfolio of CHF 1.5 billion in market value. It has a sizeable development pipeline and a strong track record in sourcing, acquiring, (re)developing and actively managing commercial properties in Switzerland. EPIC's investment properties are mainly located in Switzerland's major economic hubs, specifically the Lake Geneva Region and the Zurich Economic Area. Listed on SIX Swiss Exchange since May 2022 (SIX ticker symbol EPIC; Swiss Security Number (Valorennummer) 51613168; ISIN number CH0516131684). More information: www.epic.ch Additional features: File: Media release (PDF) End of Media Release NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Cadence Design Systems: Giving back to communities is a core part of Cadence's history and culture. We have several Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, including in education, all of which are creating a positive impact in society. We are committed to providing underprivileged students with an equal chance of success in this competitive world through access to education. We are delighted to mark a new milestone in our journey with the inauguration of the Vidya & Child School for underprivileged children in Khoda village, near New Delhi. We have been working closely with Vidya & Child, providing both financial and advisory support to build this school. The school provides a nurturing learning environment for over 300 students, from nursery to eighth standard, after which they are enrolled in mainstream schools in the locality. The school also offers after-school educational support and extra-curricular activities to the students even after they join their mainstream schools. Cadence India leadership, along with teachers, staff, students, parents of Vidya & Child, and others, recently gathered for a launch event to inaugurate the newly constructed school building. The event started with the traditional lighting of the lamp, followed by a prayer recited by the students of the school. After this, a few alumni of the school were invited to share their experiences and learnings and how the school has shaped them to be the person they are today. This was followed by talks by Supriya Akhaury, founder of Vidya & Child, and Jaswinder Ahuja, corporate vice president, and Cadence India managing director. The school features modern and environmentally-friendly amenities, including rainwater harvesting, solar-powered energy panels, a dedicated computer lab, and a STEM lab. A lot of thought, planning, and brainstorming has gone into conceptualizing and designing the building with a vision of creating a meaningful facility conducive to teaching and learning. Cadence is committed to enabling education for underserved communities. Our partnership with Vidya & Child in building the Khoda school is an important milestone in the journey, along with the Cadence Scholarship Program, several other projects with Vidya & Child, and many other projects. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cadence Design Systems on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Cadence Design Systems Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cadence-design-systems Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Cadence Design Systems View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/751419/Cadence-and-Vidya-Child-Partner-for-Education NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / International Paper Company Promoting Literacy International Paper is a proud sponsor of Rally to Read 100, a six-month initiative launched in September 2021 to inspire children across the U.S. to read 100 books over the school term. Organized by nonprofit Reading is Fundamental, which champions children's literacy, the inaugural event engaged more than 64,000 children who pledged to read a total of 272,000 books. Tackling Hunger Through our long-standing partnership with Feeding America, we contributed more than $890,000 to food banks in each of our more than 200 U.S. communities. The contributions helped support millions of people through the distribution of over 7.9 million meals they need to thrive every day and in times of disaster. We also continued to support the Global FoodBanking Network (GFN). In the final year of our 4-year, $1 million commitment, our contribution helped GFN support 175 food banks across Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Poland, Spain Italy and Guatemala distributing 1.5 million kilograms of food to people in need. Addressing Period Poverty We doubled our feminine care kit packing program to address Period Poverty, with more than 14 facilities packing kits to donate in their communities. We put in place plans to continue to expand this program in 2022 in conjunction with International Women's Day and Menstrual Hygiene Day. Offering Disaster Relief In 2021, locally and internationally, our teams helped build resilient communities: Our team in our Europe, Middle East and Africa Region provided 10,000 in disaster relief funding following July's devastating flash floods in Germany and Belgium, as well as 12,000 Euros in disaster relief funding after the devastating volcano eruption in La Palma/Canary Islands, Spain. Through the IP Foundation, the Savannah, Georgia, Mill donated $15,000 and partnered with local agencies and businesses to prepare 1,500 buckets of emergency supplies ahead of hurricane season In Orange, Texas, our team donated pallets of water and personal care items to assist local communities impacted by Hurricane Ida More than $200,000 was donated in response to disasters to Feeding America, American Red Cross, United Way Worldwide and Team Rubicon for disasters including winter storms across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, and tornadoes in the U.S. Midwest Trees play an immeasurable role in the health of our ecosystems. They produce oxygen, improve air quality, store carbon, stabilize soil and offer wildlife a home. In addition, as a walk in the park will attest, they also make humans feel better. Yet, today, trees face more threats than ever. The Morton Arboretum is a tree champion. Over the last century, the Chicago-area arboretum has built a 1,700-acre living collection of nearly 5,000 different kinds of plants that offer a forest of opportunities for people to understand the vital role trees play in our ecosystems. Its STEM Pathways Program opens the door for young people to appreciate, learn about and protect trees, perhaps through a lifetime career. The Arboretum STEM Pathways Program serves a broad constituency, from pre-school through high school and college students to parents, educators, and conservation and horticultural professionals. Engaging its audience through day programs, summer camps, classroom resource bins, college-level botany courses, teacher training and more, its aim is to increase plant knowledge and improve science literacy through hands-on planting and caring for trees, working in natural areas and, for students, exploring STEM as a future career path. For example, its Youth Volunteer Program engages young people in experiences to support the Arboretum's summer family program while also providing citizen science education, opportunities to explore STEM careers with Arboretum tree science staff and community service hours. Over a five-year period, 211 youth volunteers, most volunteering multiple years, contributed more than 15,000 hours (about 3,000 hours each year). International Paper's contributions to the Morton Arboretum STEM program include: Supporting 165,000 engagements with children and youth focused on creating lifelong connections to trees and nature Expanding staff capacity to build and deliver new experiences for Arboretum visitors Helping to shape the next generation of STEM professionals. Donating more than $240,000 since 2014 About International Paper International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global supplier of renewable fiber-based products. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods, and enable worldwide commerce, and pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal care products that promote health and wellness. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 38,000 colleagues globally. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2021 were $19.4 billion. See how we're building a better future for people, the planet, and our company at internationalpaper.com/Vision-2030. Read more View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from International Paper Company on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: International Paper Company Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/international-paper-company Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: International Paper Company View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/751424/International-Papers-Global-Impact-Thriving-People-and-Communities-Highlights AARHUS, Denmark, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pioneering learning management system LMS365, has raised $20 million in growth capital to fund its continued global expansion. The investment was led by New York City-based Blue Cloud Ventures with participation from Kamet Capital and existing shareholders. Blue Cloud Ventures is a late-stage SaaS-focused venture capital fund with prior investments in several leading workforce management and learning software companies globally. As part of the funding, Mir Arif and Eric Guardiola of Blue Cloud Ventures will be joining the LMS365 board and Victor Yaw will be joining as a board observer. LMS365's user-centric learning management system is the only learning platform built into Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Viva and Microsoft365. With millions of users in 60+ countries, LMS365 enables some of the world's leading organizations to effectively manage employee learning and training. Empowering employees with its element of 'Learn Like You' - i.e. allowing employees to learn in their familiar flow of work - has been key to LMS365's success. "Raising a round of this magnitude in the current climate is outstanding for the whole team and a testament to all the hard work put into getting to this point," said Rasmus Holst, CEO of LMS365. "This capital injection represents a significant change in gear for our business. The decision by our CTO, Freddy Bang, to build on Teams in 2016 sparked a phenomenal growth journey, and now we are ready for the next chapter." "We are thrilled to partner with LMS365 and its management team," said Mir Arif, Managing Partner of Blue Cloud Ventures. "We have tracked the LMS market for a long time and were impressed by the Microsoft Teams-native platform built by LMS365 which provides seamless deployment and ease of use for their customers." "We are very familiar with the Microsoft and LMS ecosystem and are strong believers in the unique and differentiated position that LMS365 has carved out in this large and growing market," said Eric Guardiola, Principal at Blue Cloud Ventures. LMS365 has grown organically through its tight integration with Microsoft, and by tapping into the global business need that COVID-19 highlighted - the ability to onboard, train and develop employees regardless of their location. "We see a clear window of opportunity in the market where we can accelerate," said Henrik Jeberg, Chief Strategy Officer of LMS365. "While we are proud of our growth rates, Microsoft Teams adoption has also grown fast, so we expect to continue to invest in our core market, and we also see Microsoft Viva as a clear opportunity." LMS365 expects to continue to grow geographically after successfully expanding its market access through the acquisition of distribution partners in the U.S., Germany and Australia. By focusing on adjacencies, LMS365 aims to offer additional functionality to customers and users. "We will use M&A strategically going forward, including in relation to product development," added Henrik Jeberg. LMS365 believes learning will only become more strategic for businesses in the future. Businesses expect that employees will take increasing control of their professional development - seeking knowledge in their own time for their personal career journey and to benefit their employer. Skills will continue to be a strong currency in the future job market. About LMS365 At LMS365, we're on a mission to place learning in the hands and hearts of people - empowering them to learn for life. Like no one else. As the only learning platform built into Microsoft 365 & Teams, we help millions of users within global organizations embrace the modern digital workplace and learn in their individual and familiar flow of work. Because we believe in putting people over platform. Today, with offices in Europe, Australia, and the US, we excite and enable users in 60+ countries to grow smarter. To unleash their full potential. To train, work, and learn like you. For more information, please visit www.lms365.com. About Blue Cloud Ventures Blue Cloud Ventures (BCV) is a software-focused later stage venture capital firm based in New York City. The fund targets investments in leading business application, infrastructure and open source software companies. Some of BCV's past and present portfolio companies include Arctic Wolf Networks, Clari, Cloudbees, Druva, Go1, Iterable, NGINX, Templafy, Pax8 and Wrike. For more information on BCV and our portfolio companies, please visit www.bluecloudventures.com . Contact: Jamie Hornberger 585-944-7456 jhornberger@lms365.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lms365-raises-20-million-growth-round-to-fuel-expansion-301808537.html OVERLAND PARK, KS / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Expanding a business into foreign markets can be a daunting yet rewarding experience. From understanding cultural differences to navigating new sets of government regulations, there are various factors to consider when going global. With the right strategies and preparation, however, new businesses can successfully expand into the international market and reach a wider audience. As Kansas-based on-demand vehicle delivery company, Draiver , continues to grow and expand globally, its CEO, Zarif Haque , shares his insights on what it takes to successfully expand a business to foreign shores. Unique and Scalable In today's fast-paced world, a unique and scalable business model is the foundation for any successful business. It is what sets one company apart from others, and allows it to grow and succeed in the long-term. A business model that is unique should address a specific market need and provide solutions that are both innovative and efficient. It should be scalable so that as the business expands, it can continue to meet the demands of its partners "A key advantage of having a unique and scalable business model is that it provides a competitive edge in the market. By solving a problem that no one else is addressing or by offering a solution that is more efficient than those of other companies, a business can quickly gain traction and establish itself as a leader in its industry," Haque says. The Draiver proprietary business model, which utilizes AI technology and a gig-ified approach to moving vehicles with independent contractors, provided a solution with a built-in marketplace that enabled the company to scale quickly, both domestically and internationally. "This unique approach sets Draiver apart from other companies and has allowed us to thrive in the highly competitive vehicle delivery industry," Haque points out. Partnerships Establishing partnerships with industry leaders is an important aspect of expanding a business to global markets. These partnerships can provide valuable resources and support as a business navigates the intricacies of entering a foreign market. "Draiver has attracted renowned industry partners like Penske and Budget, who recognize our market-leading vehicle delivery approach. These partnerships not only lend credibility to Draiver , but also provide a vehicle for further growth and expansion," Haque says. Hire Local Hiring talent in a market where a business plans to expand is an essential aspect of going global. By hiring local employees , a business can tap into the expertise, knowledge, and networks of those who are familiar with the market, culture, and business environment. These employees can provide valuable insights into consumer behaviors, cultural norms, and regulations that are unique to the foreign market. "As Draiver expands into new markets like Mexico and Brazil, we have hired general managers for each country to oversee operations. By hiring local talent, we are able to understand the local market and culture, which is crucial to the success of our expansion," Haque says. Adapting Adapting a company's business model to the needs of a foreign market is critical when expanding into other countries. Different markets often have unique regulations, cultural norms, and consumer behaviors that warrant a more tailored approach. Failing to adapt to these needs can result in misunderstandings, lost opportunities, and even failure for most businesses. "While our business model has proven successful in the United States, we recognize the need to adapt to local needs as we expand into new markets. By understanding the local market and culture, we are able to tailor our services to meet the needs of our clients in each country," Haque explains. Whether it is scaling quickly, building partners, hiring local talent or adapting to a market needs, all of these efforts are pivotal when expanding your business into new markets. With these key tactics, any company or business owner will be able to drive success in new markets and beyond. About Draiver Draiver is a leading vehicle delivery company offering best-in-class AI logistics software with a vetted, insured driver marketplace. The company's full suite of services is available in North America and South America. Clients include global Fleet and Rental Companies, OEMs, Large Automotive Groups, and single location businesses. (www.draiver.com) CONTACT: Patricia Galea Patricia.Galea@Draiver.com SOURCE: Draiver View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/751344/Zarif-Haque-on-Going-Global-Lessons-on-Expanding-Internationally Tetragon Financial Group Limited Announcement of Dividend LONDON, April 26, 2023 Dividend Announcement: On 26 April 2023, the Board of Directors of Tetragon declared a dividend of U.S.$ 0.11 (11.00 cents) per share in respect of the first quarter of 2023. The ex-dividend date is 2 May 2023. The record date is 3 May 2023. Payment of the dividend will take place from 26 May 2023. Tetragon's website (www.tetragoninv.com) includes information on Tetragon's Optional Stock Dividend Plan for those shareholders electing to receive dividends in the form of Tetragon shares. Shareholders may elect to receive dividends in the form of Tetragon shares by making a dividend share election up to 15 May 2023. If no election is made, the dividend will be paid in cash from 26 May 2023. Cash dividends may be received in Sterling by those shareholders making a dividend currency election up to 15 May 2023. If no election is made, the dividend will be paid in U.S. dollars from 26 May 2023. About Tetragon: Tetragon is a Guernsey closed-ended investment company. Its non-voting shares are listed on Euronext in Amsterdam, a regulated market of Euronext Amsterdam N.V., and also traded on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. Our investment manager is Tetragon Financial Management LP. Find out more at www.tetragoninv.com. Tetragon: Yuko Thomas Investor Relations ir@tetragoninv.com Press Inquiries: Prosek Partners Pro-tetragon@prosek.com U.K. +44 20 3890 9193 U.S. +1 212 279 3115 This release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation (2014/596/EU), or EU MAR, and of the UK version of EU MAR as it forms part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act (as amended). This release does not contain or constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. The securities of Tetragon have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons unless they are registered under applicable law or exempt from registration. Tetragon does not intend to register any portion of its securities in the United States or to conduct a public offer of securities in the United States. In addition, Tetragon has not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and investors will not be entitled to the benefits of such Act. Tetragon is registered in the public register of the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (Autoriteit Financiele Markten) under Section 1:107 of the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act as an alternative investment fund from a designated state. SIKHUPHE His Majesty King Mswati III jetted out of the country yesterday to attend the Transform Africa Summit 2023 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The King, who was accompanied by Inkhosikati LaMatsebula, left the country through the King Mswati III International Airport at 4:57pm yesterday. In Zimbabwe, he is expected to start at Victoria Falls, where he will partake in Africas leading annual forum, which brings together global and regional leaders from government, business and international organisations, to collaborate on new ways of shaping, accelerating and sustaining the continents digital revolution. Signing The summit will run until Friday and it will end with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). During the summit, the leaders are expected to discuss how to build a resilient digital ecosystem in Africa, through sustainable investments. The summit will have a transform, connect and innovate sessions. According to https://transformafricasummit.org, the transform session would aim to elevate the transformation by discussing solutions and strategies for advancing digital transformation and sustainable development in Africa. The participants will also discuss how digital technologies can be harnessed to accelerate economic growth, reduce inequality and promote environmental sustainability in the continent. Again, the participants are expected to explore the role of advanced digital infrastructure, such as 5G networks, cloud computing and smart cities in supporting digital economy and improving the quality of life for citizens. They will also look at digital skills and workforce development, together with cybersecurity and data protection, among other topics. After the summit, the King is expected to proceed to Harare, which is the capital city of Zimbabwe for a State visit. Thereafter, he would go to Bulawayo for the official opening of the 2023 Trade Fair. When leaving the country, scores of people descended to King Mswati III International Airport to bid farewell to the King and they included Cabinet ministers, who were led by the Acting Prime Minister, Themba Masuku, whose official position is Deputy Prime Minister, government officials, royal family members, including Emakhosikati and emazinyane among others. It was later gathered that the King and his delegation had landed safely in Zimbabwe. Regulatory News: At its meeting of April 5, 2023, the Board of Directors of Mauna Kea Technologies (Euronext Paris, ISIN: FR0010609263, MKEA VIC) (OTCQX:MKEAY) (the "Company"), inventor of the Cellvizio, the multidisciplinary probe and needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (p/nCLE) platform, decided to submit to the ordinary annual and extraordinary general meeting of shareholders to be held on June 2, 2023 the proposed transfer of the listing of its shares from the regulated market of Euronext Paris (Compartment C) to the Euronext Growth Paris multilateral trading facility, under its 13th resolution. The transfer to Euronext Growth Paris would allow the Company to simplify its operations, reduce its listing costs while enabling it to continue to benefit from the advantages of the financial markets. Provided this proposal is approved by the shareholders and that Euronext Paris SA agrees, the direct listing on Euronext Growth Paris will be carried out pursuant to an accelerated procedure for the admission to trading of the Company's existing shares, without issuing any new shares. The Company meets the eligibility requirements for implementing such a transfer to Euronext Growth, namely a market capitalization of less than 1 billion and a free float of more than 2.5 million. In accordance with the laws in force, Mauna Kea Technologies hereby informs its shareholders of the main possible consequences of this transfer. Periodic financial reporting The Company's annual financial statements, the management report and the statutory auditors' reports on the financial statements must be published no later than four months from the end of the financial year (instead of three months on the regulated market of Euronext Paris). The Company's half-year financial statements and the business report must be published no later than four months from the end of the financial period with a limited review by the statutory auditors. Discretion as to the choice of accounting standards (French or IFRS accounting standards) used to prepare the financial statements would be possible. The Company intends as of today to continue to apply the IFRS accounting standards. Protection of minority shareholders For a period of three (3) years from the admission of the Company's shares on Euronext Growth Paris, the obligation for any shareholder acting alone or in concert to declare to the AMF and to Mauna Kea Technologies the crossing of the thresholds of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 1/3, 50%, 2/3, 90% and 95% of the capital or voting rights of Mauna Kea Technologies will be maintained, in accordance to Article 223-15-2 of the AMF General Regulations. At the end of this period of three (3) years from the effective date of admission to Euronext Growth Paris, only crossing the thresholds of 50% and 95% of the capital or voting rights of Mauna Kea Technologies shall be declared to the AMF and to the Company, in accordance with Article 223-15-1 of the AMF General Regulations, subject, where applicable, to crossing thresholds to be declared to Mauna Kea Technologies in accordance with its bylaws. In accordance with the provisions of Article 231-1 of the AMF General Regulations, the provisions relating to public offerings applicable to companies listed on Euronext Paris, will remain applicable for a period of three (3) years from the effective date of listing on Euronext Growth Paris. At the end of this period, Mauna Kea Technologies will be subject to the regulations applicable to companies listed on Euronext Growth Paris. Thus, the filing of a public offer will no longer be mandatory: if the threshold of 30% of the capital or voting rights is crossed, in the event of an increase of more than 1% in less than 12 consecutive months, by a person holding alone or in concert a stake of between 30% and 50% of the capital or voting rights. However, the obligation to file a public offer will be imposed if the threshold of 50% of the capital or voting rights is crossed upwards. Permanent information Mauna Kea Technologies shall continue to be subject to the provisions applicable in terms of permanent information, which are also applicable to companies listed on Euronext Growth Paris. The Company shall continue to issue accurate, precise, and fair information, by publishing any insider information concerning the Company, in accordance with the provisions of (EU) Regulation N596-2014 dated 16 April 2014 on market abuse. Moreover, the Company's legal representatives, corporate officers, senior staff and their respective connected persons shall remain subject to the obligation of declaring transactions they carry out on the Company's shares and debt securities. Potential impact on the liquidity of the shares The Company draws attention to the fact that the transfer to Euronext Growth Paris may result in a change on the liquidity of the shares differing from that noted on the regulated market of Euronext Paris. This transfer may also lead certain investors who prefer the securities of issuers listed on a regulated market to sell their Mauna Kea Technologies' shares. Indicative timetable for the proposed transfer (subject to the prior approval of the Company's shareholders and of Euronext Paris SA) If the shareholders of Mauna Kea Technologies approve the proposed transfer and delisting, the shares will be admitted to Euronext Growth Paris and concomitantly delisted from the regulated market of Euronext Paris at least two (2) months after the General Meeting. April 5, 2023 Meeting of the Board of Directors to convene the General Meeting to approve the proposed transfer to Euronext Growth Paris April 26, 2023 Press release providing details on the reasons, terms and conditions, consequences of the proposed transfer to Euronext Growth Paris June 2, 2023 General Meeting of the shareholders of the Company held to approve the transfer to Euronext Growth Paris June 2, 2023 If the proposal is approved, Board of Directors meeting to implement the transfer Press release relating to the transfer Application to Euronext to delist the Company's securities from Euronext Paris and their direct admission to the Euronext Growth Paris market. Admission to Euronext Growth Paris shall take place at the earliest after the end of a period of two (2) months from the date of the Shareholders' Meeting, i.e. no sooner than August 2, 2023. Allegra Finance is acting as Listing Sponsor to Mauna Kea Technologies in context of the transfer to Euronext Growth Paris. About Mauna Kea Technologies Mauna Kea Technologies is a global medical device company that manufactures and sells Cellvizio, the real-time in vivo cellular imaging platform. This technology uniquely delivers in vivo cellular visualization which enables physicians to monitor the progression of disease over time, assess point-in-time reactions as they happen in real time, classify indeterminate areas of concern, and guide surgical interventions. The Cellvizio platform is used globally across a wide range of medical specialties and is making a transformative change in the way physicians diagnose and treat patients. For more information, visit www.maunakeatech.com. Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements about Mauna Kea Technologies and its business. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Mauna Kea Technologies' financial condition, business, strategies, plans and objectives for future operations are forward-looking statements. Mauna Kea Technologies believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions. However, no assurance can be given that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements will be achieved. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those described in Chapter 3 of Mauna Kea Technologies' 2021 Universal Registration Document filed with the Autorite des marches financiers (AMF) on October 18, 2022 under number D-22-0773, which is available on the Company's website (www.maunakeatech.fr), as well as the risks associated with changes in economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Mauna Kea Technologies operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks that are unknown to Mauna Kea Technologies or that Mauna Kea Technologies does not currently consider material. The occurrence of some or all of these risks could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Mauna Kea Technologies to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe for, or the solicitation of an order to buy or subscribe for, shares of Mauna Kea Technologies in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The distribution of this press release may be restricted in certain jurisdictions by local law. Persons into whose possession this document comes are required to comply with all local regulations applicable to this document. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005868/en/ Contacts: NewCap Investor Relations Aurelie Manavarere Thomas Grojean +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 maunakea@newcap.eu Ben F. Windham P.C., Macon, GA Personal Injury Attorney, was chosen by Super Lawyers as one of their top lawyers of 2023. MACON, GA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Leading Macon, Georgia law firm Ben F. Windham, P.C. is pleased to announce that their founding partner, Mr. Ben Windham, has been recognized as a 2023 Georgia Super Lawyer. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Mr. Windham has been named to the prestigious list, a recognition given to only 5% of practicing attorneys annually. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters company, is a rating service that recognizes outstanding lawyers in over 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process for the Super Lawyers list involves a patented multiphase process that includes research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. Upon receiving the recognition, Mr. Windham expressed his honor and gratitude for being selected for the Super Lawyers list for the fifth time. He further emphasized his firm's dedication to providing high-quality legal representation for their clients, and how this recognition is a true reflection of their passion for their work in personal injury law. Mr. Windham sees his advocacy for victims of negligence as a privilege and is committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for his clients. The Super Lawyers selection process evaluates candidates' verdicts and settlements, experience, bar involvement, honors and awards, pro bono and community service, and other qualifications on an annual, state-by-state basis. The list highlights attorneys across the nation who exhibit excellence in their practice areas. To be selected for the Super Lawyers list is a testament to the reputation attorneys have cultivated among their peers, as well as their professional achievements and ethical conduct. Super Lawyers does not permit attorneys to pay for a place on the list, and inclusion is based entirely on objective criteria. This makes the list a reliable resource for lawyers and consumers seeking exceptional legal counsel. To learn more about Super Lawyers and its selection process, please visit SuperLawyers.com . About Ben F. Windham, P.C.: Lawyers at Ben F. Windham, P.C., serve personal injury clients throughout Macon and all counties in Georgia. They specialize in seeking justice for individuals who have been injured by the negligence of others and litigate against all insurance companies providing tenacious and honest representation. Their approach is hands-on and much different from the high-volume TV and billboard lawyers. Clients of Ben F. Windham, P.C. work directly with an attorney during all phases of their case. At Ben F. Windham, P.C. expect a collaborative team with an entrepreneurial mindset determined to meet and exceed their client's expectations each step of the way towards obtaining justice. To learn more about top-rated personal injury lawyer of Macon, GA , Ben F. Windham P.C. Trial Attorneys, or for a free case evaluation please visit https://windhamlaw.com or call 833-236-9467. Contact: Ben F. Windham P.C. Address: 461 3rd St Ste 3, Macon, GA 31201 Contact Name: Ben Windham Website: https://windhamlaw.com Email: Ben@windhamlaw.com Phone: 833.236.9467 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1833BENWINS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bewindham/ SOURCE: Ben F. Windham P.C. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/751487/Car-Accident-Lawyer-Macon-GA-Ben-Windham-Named-to-Super-LawyersR-2023-List Shake Roofing Company, Braswell Construction Group, transforms homes with elegant Brava Roof Tile Shake & Slate Roofing and wins Brava Excellence Award for Shake Roof Installed on a Custom DreamBuilt Lake Oconee Home. HIGHLANDS, NC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / One of the largest Brava contractors in the nation, and one of the only preferred Brava contractors in the Southeast, Braswell Construction Group (BCG), is honored to receive Brava's Excellence Award for 2022. Brava awarded BCG for the quality and craftsmanship of the 'Lake Forest Shake' roof they installed on a custom DreamBuilt home located in Reynolds, Lake Oconee. This immaculate and newsworthy home by Lake Oconee's top builder DreamBuilt, with Shake roof by Braswell Construction Group, was the first home built in the new luxury development of Homesteads which is part of Reynolds Lake Oconee. Not only was this the first home to be completed in this 5-star development, but the home has paved the way for other homes in Homestead to have the luxury look of synthetic slate and shake. Braswell Construction Group is recognized in Georgia as the top roofing specialist for real cedar shake, real slate and synthetic shake/slate roofing, and prides itself on its high-quality service. One attribute that separates BCG from other Georgia roofing contractors is that they are one of very few installers of Brava Roof Tile that is certified. Additionally, BCG has recently been awarded 'Brava Preferred Contractor' making this the first roofing company recognized for this honor in the state of Georgia. Once named as a 'Brava Preferred Contractor', the provider is considered among the best in the industry known for their experience and commitment to quality roofing. More information about Brava products can be found on the company website via: https://www.braswellconstructiongroup.com/brava-roofing BCG offers premium shake and slate roofing options for customers wanting to improve the look and function of their home. The expanding category of synthetic roofing products cater to homeowners, builders, and remodelers who prefer renewable resources that come with the advantage of extreme durability and longevity yet want the look of natural slate or shake roofs. Braswell Construction Group explains that synthetic slate roofing is a mixture of recycled rubber and plastic put into molds that are taken from real slate and shake roofing. As contrasted to real slate & shake roofing, this is less costly, lighter, and is much more resilient and durable because it can be installed without the concern of damaging the product. And just like the real slate & shake roofing, its life expectancy can also last a hundred years. Advanced materials and manufacturing technologies give the synthetic products better resistance to weathering, greater durability, and longer lifespans than real slate or cedar, according to manufacturers. "The material is mimicked to obtain efficiency and also longer life over the natural product," says Chris Braswell, owner of BCG. "Other composite roofing materials pale in comparison to Brava. We use Brava products because they perfectly resemble the natural beauty of cedar shake roofs and slate roof shingles, but without the drawbacks and upkeep." More information about BCG's Brava Roofing specialty slate and tile options can be found at: https://bravaroofer.com About DreamBuilt Founded in 1999, DreamBuilt was created with the mission of enhancing the lives of their clients and shaping a better lake community. With an approach focused on thoughtful design, quality construction, and craftsmanship of their work, DreamBuilt homes stand out in the landscape of Lake Oconee. The four original DreamBuilt partners chose to move to the lake with their young families from various design and construction backgrounds in Atlanta. Jim and Paige Ruhl & Derek and Ann Welch set out to foster partnerships in the community with clients and trades to create a reputation of uncompromising excellence, always. As the lake community has grown, DreamBuilt has expanded its partnership to grow alongside it. The addition of Jep Pound and Haley Ruhl has allowed their business to continue to serve all clients - past, present and future - to the exceptional standard of personal attention and thoughtfulness that DreamBuilt was founded on. About Braswell Construction Group Braswell Construction Group is a leader in specialty roofing and in addition to being a Brava Preferred Contractor, the top Georgia Roofing Company is also a DaVinci Roofer Masterpiece Contractor, and Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor. BCG has been locally owned and operated since 2002, and prides itself on its high-quality craftsmanship, exceptional customer service, and professional acumen. They have a reputation for always completing its roofing and restoration projects on time and on budget while providing customized service, top-notch customer service, and unparalleled workmanship. Braswell Construction Group has been featured dozens of times in Yahoo Finance, ABC, FOX, CBS, Atlanta Leader among many others as an industry leader and the top Roofing Contractor in the state of Georgia. Braswell Construction Group operates from four Georgia locations to service homeowners with all their roofing and restoration needs in Greensboro/Lake Oconee, Covington/Conyers, Stone Mountain, Atlanta, and their respective surrounding areas. Organization: Braswell Construction Group, Inc. Roofing & Restoration Contact: Email: info@braswellconstructiongroup.com Contact: Michelle Bird Address: 6105 Emory St NW, Covington, GA 30014 Phone: +1-678-283-2551 Website: https://www.braswellconstructiongroup.com SOURCE: Braswell Construction Group View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/751506/Highlands-NC-Shake-Roofer-Braswell-Construction-Group-Receives-2022-Excellence-Award-for-Shake-Installation-on-Custom-DreamBuilt-Home "Talk", an AI-powered omnichannel live chat tool from martech Ortto, will be a "game changer" for businesses, says CEO. SYDNEY, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new AI-powered, omnichannel engagement tool released today [27 April] promises to revolutionize the way businesses engage and support their customers and completely disrupt the live chat space. The next-generation chat solution, Talk, is the newest addition to the award-winning marketing automation and customer data platform, Ortto. Talk allows businesses to speak to their customers across multiple channels through a single interface, providing the entire business with a complete view of the customer journey in one place. CEO and co-founder of Ortto, Michael Sharkey, comments: "More and more businesses are looking to cut costs by consolidating their tech stacks at the moment, but it's crucial that they don't compromise customer experience in the process and risk new or existing relationships. We built Ortto so that businesses can bring all their data, analytics, and marketing automation into one platform. Talk is the next evolution of this, adding a complete omnichannel engagement solution to Ortto. Talk is designed to feel like you're using your favorite messaging app, and empowers your team to have super-human knowledge of the business with the help of fine-tuned AI, all in one place. I'm confident that there's no other live chat product on the market that can compete with what businesses will be able to achieve with Talk." Omnichannel marketing campaigns across email, push notifications, and SMS based on rich customer data insights is fundamental to Ortto's award-winning platform. With Talk, businesses will be able to make the conversation two-way across channels from a single chat interface, which is designed to feel like a personal messaging app. Sharkey continues: "Everyone talks about omnichannel engagement, but what does that really mean? Most of these interactions are one-way, or with bots that are designed to deflect rather than engage customers in conversation. These conversations usually take place across multiple channels, leaving agents without context and forcing customers to repeat information. We're taking omnichannel engagement to a whole new level by not only making the conversation genuinely two-way, but being able to switch from one channel to another - from live chat to email to SMS back again - from one place." Talk also lets businesses capitalize on the latest advances in AI and GPT-4 in their conversations, allowing them to train a custom AI model on content from their own websites, technical documentation, support tickets, and previous conversations, providing suggested replies that will get smarter over time. Sharkey continues: "The era of AI is going to bring about a profound change in how we communicate with our customers, and dramatically improve the productivity - and brainpower - of our teams. Rather than just talking about AI as being something that's still in the future for businesses, we're delivering it to customers today with a solution that gives agents superhuman powers to answer complex questions about a product's API - even if they have no idea how to code. "AI isn't a bolt-on generic gimmick - it's technology that has the power to completely transform the way we work and it's here now. We want our customers to be able to take advantage of these advances as soon as possible and see the immediate benefits that come from incorporating AI into their day-to-day work. With Talk, they can do that." About Ortto Ortto, the world's first complete marketing automation, AI and analytics platform, empowers marketers to act with confidence and increase their impact on revenue. By combining three powerful tools into one intuitive platform, teams finally benefit from their customer data, messaging, and analytics working together. Sophisticated yet easy to use, more than 3,000 customers trust Ortto to understand their impact, discover their next marketing opportunity, and continuously iterate to deliver great customer experiences at scale. Launched in 2015, Ortto's team is located in Australia, Europe and the US. To date, the company has raised $35M in venture funding from backers including Blackbird, Rembrandt and Salesforce Ventures. Learn more at: www.ortto.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2063562/image_1.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2063563/Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/martech-platform-releases-powerful-ai-driven-omnichannel-engagement-solution-set-to-disrupt-the-live-chat-space-301808458.html Capitol Services, an Austin, Texas-based tech-enabled provider of outsourced legal and compliance services, received an investment from Clearview Capital in partnership with its founders and management. The amount of the transaction, which closed on April 14, 2023, was not disclosed. Founded in 1978, Capitol Services is a tech-enabled provider of outsourced legal and compliance services, including registered agent, corporate and lien search and filing and other services, primarily to law firms and corporate clients. Serving clients across all 50 states, the company is headquartered in Austin, Texas with additional client service centers in California, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada and New York. The transaction provided an opportunity for the founders, John Robinson and Cheryl Roberts, to retire and transition leadership of the business to the senior management team, led by Kevin Roberts and Jody Roberts, who have managed the day-to-day operations for nearly a decade. The founders will continue to maintain a minority stake in the business and remain in advisory roles. The company plans to invest in additional talent, service line extensions, technology and complementary acquisitions. FinSMEs 26/04/2023 e2ip technologies, a Montreal, Canada-based global printed electronics and embedded system technologies innovation leader of the Human Machine Interface (HMI) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) sectors, raised $120M in Growth funding. The round was co-led by Export Development Canada (EDC) and McRock Capital with existing investor Investissement Quebec, who more than doubles its position, and new investor DNA Fund. The round was also supported by National Bank of Canada (BNC). The company intends to use the funds to expand its embedded systems capabilities in its existing high-volume facility in Casablanca, Morocco. Canadian facilities will additionally be consolidated into a new integrated Manufacturing-R&D facility in Montreal by the end of 2024, which will house e 2 ips new head office. Led by CEO Eric Saint-Jacques, CEO, e 2 ip technologies develops technologies and products that focus on how people interact with the physical world through innovations in printed electronics, materials science, advanced manufacturing processes, and the development of integrated touchscreen systems. From conception to production, the company operates between technology and design to provide innovative technologies, products and solutions of Human Machine Interface (HMI), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Smart Structural Surface to the global market in the aerospace, medical, industrial, transportation and household appliances sectors. FinSMEs 26/04/2023 Elastic Path, a Boston, MA-based company focused on composable commerce movement, acquired Unstack, a Boston, MA-based frontend-as-a-service company. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. With the acquisition, Elastic Path will provide merchandisers with a performant no-code frontend and the ability to launch a revenue-driving composable solution. Unstack is a website and storefront development platform that enables ecommerce brands to rapidly build and manage composed, personalized, high-performance ecommerce experiences. The platform is a no-code visual editor, integration manager, and Frontend-as-a-Service (FaaS) that helps business teams and developers reduce the time it takes to execute their content, commerce, and marketing goals while maximizing while the team agility, insight and ROI. Led by CEO Jamus Driscoll, Elastic Path provides headless commerce solutions for digitally-driven brands to rapidly build, deploy, and continuously optimize highly differentiated commerce experiences. The company serves companies such as Intuit, Pella, Deckers Brands, T-Mobile, and over 250 other leading brands. The company also has offices in Boston, Newcastle, Reading, Toronto, and Vancouver. FinSMEs 26/04/2023 HydRegen, an Oxford, UK-based biotechnology company enabling sustainable chemical manufacturing, raised 2.6M in funding. The round was led by Clean Growth Fund. The company intends to use the funds for the commercial development and deployment of its technologies through the next 18 months, and to expand its team over the next 12 months. Led by Dr Holly Reeve (CEO) and Dr Sarah Cleary (Chief Scientific Officer), HydRegen is a biotech company pioneering a novel biotechnology that enables sustainable chemical production and the reduction of the environmental impact of chemical manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries by replacing toxic metal catalysts. In March 2022, the company received 385k in funding from the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), alongside private investors. FinSMEs 26/04/2023 London, UK-based creative transformation company WPP acquired amp, a Munich, Germany-based sonic branding company. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. amp will join WPP brand and design consultancy, Landor & Fitch, adding to the agencys expertise in delivering immersive brand identities that transform customer and employee experiences. amps expertise will strengthen WPPs offer in experiential branding and its ability to create high-quality, and differentiated, sound experiences for clients. Founded in 2009 by Michele Arnese, amp provides a creative platform that leverages Sonic Hub its AI toolset to analyse, create and manage sonic assets, delivering these at scale by harnessing the potential of generative AI. The company has created sonic identities for some of the worlds most influential brands, including Mastercard, Mercedes-Benz, Kraft Heinz, Deloitte, Shell, and General Motors. amp is based in the US, Europe and Asia, with main office hubs in Germany and the US. Its global team has more than 60 people. FinSMEs 26/04/2023 At a time when changes introduced in the Income Tax Act 1961 have already come into effect from 1 April 2023, salaried taxpayers might have confusion over selecting between the old and new tax regimes, especially for those who are in the higher income brackets. A number of changes have been applied to the new tax regime clearly, thus making it important for employees to choose between either one of them and further notify the employer of the same. Else, tax on their salaries will be deducted on the basis of the new tax regime. Speaking of which, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) earlier this month issued a circular stating that employers can deduct TDS (tax deducted at source) on salary payments for the current financial year, while employees will continue to have the option of choosing between the older and new tax regimes. While the chosen income tax regime for the purpose of TDS for salary will have no impact while filing an Income Tax Return (ITR), the employee thus at the time of filing an ITR can choose any tax regime, irrespective of what he or she has opted for at the time of calculating TDS on salary. Thereafter, if you are also among the ones, who are confused between the two income tax regimes in the financial year 2023-24, go through the following information and compare both regimes. Things to consider while choosing between old and new tax regimes: 1. Employees need to keep in mind that if they do not inform their respective companies of their preferences, the TDS on salary will be deducted on the basis of the new tax regime. 2. While the old tax regime will allow employees to claim a number of exemptions and deductions including those of travel allowances and food vouchers, the new tax regime will not allow individuals to claim many tax exemptions and deductions, except for the standard deduction of Rs 50,000 from salary income and deduction under Section 80CCD 2 for the employers contribution to the NPS account. 3. If the tax on income salary is deducted on the basis of the new tax regime, Form 16 will not reflect all the tax exemptions and deductions that an employee is eligible for. Thereafter, one must make manual calculations at the time of filing an ITR. 4. It is noteworthy that the old tax regime for TDS on salary allows the employee to check the breakup of tax exemptions and deductions in Form 16 which is not the case in the new tax regime. Those who want to have an easy way of calculating taxable income can opt for new tax regimes as it will help employees in lowering the tax outgo. NHLANGANO One person died and 30 others were admitted to hospital last Sunday, after they were doused with petrol while in church. This incident happened at Manyeveni, an area before Mkhondvo, in the Shiselweni Region. It was established from reliable sources that the congregants of Manyeveni Jericho Church were in the middle of a service, wherein, they were praying (siguco) and in high spirits (kuvukwa ngumoya) when one of their own went to fetch a container, allegedly from his car, and entered the church building. Spirit It was said that he then doused (kuchela) the people who were in high spirits with the petrol while there was a lit candle inside the church building. It is a norm that members of the Red Gown sect light candles while praying. While doing their dance, the fumes from the petrol and the lit candle caused an inferno. Some people were reportedly burnt on the faces, hands and feet while others were burnt on their backs. In fact, the source narrated that some of the congregants got burnt by their gowns as they tried to take them off after they had caught fire. After the incident, it was said the congregants rushed out of the church building and raised the alarm. Neighbours are said to have rushed to help and the congregants were loaded into different cars and rushed to The Luke Commission where they were admitted. Police were also called to the scene. It was gathered that some of the congregants were discharged a day later and currently 21 people are admitted to hospital. It was said that children were among those who were rushed to hospital, the youngest being an 18-month-old boy who died while undergoing treatment in hospital. Attempts to get a comment from the church leader proved futile as the priest, who was identified as Ntshangase, did not want to address the media, claiming he would be misquoted. Yesterday, Bishop Khanyakwezwe Vilakati and some members of the Red Gown sect visited the admitted congregants in hospital where they prayed for them. In an interview, Vilakati shared that they received the report that one of the members had passed on and sent his condolences. He stated that what transpired was sad, adding that it was an evil spirit that they were going to pray on. Meanwhile, League of Churches President Bishop Samson Hlatjwako sent his condolences to the family of the deceased child. He further sent words of comfort to the families of the affected congregants. Hlatjwako shared that the incident was unfortunate and that they were going to pray for the congregants and the church. We pray that they all recover, he said. He further said they contributed E4 000 for the admitted patients immediate needs. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the death of one of the congregants and that 21 were still admitted to hospital. She said the police had not made any arrests yet and that they were still investigating the matter. Every family has secrets. But here, Prince Harry along with his wife Meghan Markle who are a part of the British royal family are on a mission to ruin the British royal family. According to the Independent report, The Prince of Wales allegedly received the secret payment after bringing a case against News Group Newspapers (NGN), the owners of The Sun and the now defunct News of the World. Details of the settlement, which William allegedly received in 2020, were revealed on Tuesday in court documents submitted by Williams brother, Prince Harry, who is suing NGN over alleged unlawful information-gathering at its titles. Phone recording of Charles and Camila Harry has alleged that the Royal Family was trying to avoid public embarrassment following the publication of a recording of a call by The Sun. The recording was of a phone call between Charles and Camila Parker Bowles from when they were having an affair in 1997. The filing states, The institution was incredibly nervous about this and wanted to avoid at all costs the sort of reputational damage that it had suffered in 1993 when The Sun and another tabloid had unlawfully obtained and published details of an intimate telephone conversation that took place between my father and stepmother in 1989, while he was still married to my mother. This agreement, including the promises from NGN for delayed resolution, was, obviously, a major factor as to why no claim was brought by me at that time. Harry will attend King Charles IIIs coronation On Charles coronation front Harry, will be attending the ceremony, but Meghan Markle plans to skip it. Meghan will be celebrating her son Prince Archies birthday back in California on the day of the Coronation. Prince Harry will sit ten rows behind his brother for King Charles coronation. Prince William. Despite the appearance of a snub, Prince Harrys far-back position could be helpful if he wishes to make a quick exit, the ex-royal aide revealed. Mr Burrell told GB News Dan Wootton: He doesnt want to spend much time around them. According to royal expert, There is no chance of a reconciliation anytime soon, Im afraid I think he will get a very icy reception from the Windsors. There is no chance of a reconciliation anytime soon, Im afraid I think he will get a very icy reception from the Windsors. Mr Burrell added his opinion that Duke of Sussex is not going to hang around, with some speculating he could be in and out of the UK within 24 hours. He said: He is coming to put his foot in the door and he is coming because his father wants him to be there. Prince Harry will sit ten rows behind his brother for King Charles coronation. Prince William. Despite the appearance of a snub, Prince Harrys far-back position could be helpful if he wishes to make a quick exit, the ex-royal aide revealed. Mr Burrell told GB News Dan Wootton: He doesnt want to spend much time around them. According to royal expert, There is no chance of a reconciliation anytime soon, Im afraid I think he will get a very icy reception from the Windsors. There is no chance of a reconciliation anytime soon, Im afraid I think he will get a very icy reception from the Windsors. Mr Burrell added his opinion that Duke of Sussex is not going to hang around, with some speculating he could be in and out of the UK within 24 hours. He said: He is coming to put his foot in the door and he is coming because his father wants him to be there. (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. Language: English and Hindi Director Patrick Grahams Dancing on the Grave explores how a saffron clad, Swami Shraddhananda, the pathological liar enters a rich household of a diplomat only to steal them. Dancing on the Grave follows the story of the Richmond Road case in Bengaluru from the early 1990s. Shakereh Khaleeli was found dead in her own courtyard. Dancing on the Grave is a compelling watch and definitely one of a kind docuseries which is tight and crisp. Its a story about a godman who buried his wife alive. Shakereh was married to a renowned diplomat and they were parents to four beautiful girls. She later separated from her husband and within six months of her divorce she married Swami Shraddhanand (Murali Manohar Mishra). Swami Shraddhanand belonged to a different strata of society and was basically living through Shakerehs ancestral wealth. After marrying Shakereh, Shraddhanand transferred the entire property to his name and started selling it off in bits and pieces. He started living a life which he would have never thought of had he not married Shakereh. This decision of Shakereh marrying Shraddhanand estranged her from her family seemingly because of the conception that she had married below her status. Shakereh had inherited a lot of property from her mother Gauhar Namazie. She was buried alive after Shraddhanand laced her morning tea with sedatives. Shraddhanand was an errands-running boy with the erstwhile family of Begum of Rampur, UP, who through his clever maneuverings and his ways of impressing people with his soft mannerisms, had risen to the rank of an accountant of the former royal household. He was handling their tax and property matters. Shakereh, who was earlier married to her cousin, a well-known IFS officer and she generally accompanied her husband to all his postings. It was when Shakerehs husband, Akbar Khaleeli was transferred to Iran as a diplomat, she decided to stay back with her four daughters in her Bengaluru home. She met Shraddhanand during a family visit to the Begum of Rampur in Delhi in 1982. Shraddhanand, who is said to have a degree in law, by then, had developed some knowledge in property and tax matters of the former royal estates. And his entrance into Shakerehs life by pretending to love her and care for her is when the blunder started. Shakereh was vulnerable and that is when Shraddhanand tried to manipulate and trap her. And that was the beginning of the end of Shakerehs beautiful family life. The story of Amazon Primes Dancing on the Grave will get into your head and make you think over it again and again. What if Shakereh would have gone with her diplomat husband to Iran, what if she wouldnt have met Shraddhanand and then married him? Rating: 3.5 (out of 5 stars) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you played with Barbie when you were younger, you are aware of her evolutionary journey. The doll, which was first recognised for its distinctive blonde hair, slender frame, and white skin, has developed to be more inclusive by bringing a variety of skin tones to a healthy physique. Ever since her debut at the New York Toy Fair in 1959, she has donned many avatars. As a part of this years Fashionistas line, the brand just debuted the first Barbie with Downs syndrome. April 2023 Barbie with Downs syndrome Toymaker Mattel announced on Tuesday that the first-ever Barbie doll with Down syndrome has been released. The dolls outfit has butterflies and the colours yellow and blue, which are used to raise awareness of Down syndrome. The three copies of the 21st chromosome are symbolised with a pendant necklace with three chevrons, among other accessories. Ankle-foot orthotics, which many kids with Down syndrome utilise for support, are also included with the doll. To guarantee that the doll authentically depicted a person with Down syndrome, the business developed a tight working relationship with the National Down Syndrome Society. Kandi Pickard, NDSS president and CEO, in a press release, said, This Barbie serves as a reminder that we should never underestimate the power of representation. It is a huge step forward for inclusion and a moment that we are celebrating. 2023 Fashionistas line-up Besides Barbie with Down syndrome, the Fashionistas line-up for this year includes new dolls wearing braces and a Ken with a prosthetic leg. Lots of good things about this, but maybe more body shape diversity @Mattel ? Mattel takes new strides towards diversity with latest Barbie Fashionistas line-up ToyNews https://t.co/g1YBX3AE4S pic.twitter.com/MoJ4XjnPL0 umbrelladata (@umbrelladata) February 3, 2020 Our goal is to enable all children to see themselves in Barbie, while also encouraging children to play with dolls who do not look like themselves. Doll play outside of a childs own lived experience can teach understanding and build a greater sense of empathy, leading to a more accepting world, Economic Times quoted Lisa McKnight, Executive Vice President and global head of Barbie & Dolls at Mattel, as saying. January 2023 Barbie with scoliosis, Chelsea The company unveiled their first scoliosis doll, which included a removable back brace and a curvature of the spine. It was designed to normalise the use of the equipment and inspire kids to celebrate inclusion. May 2022 First transgender Barbie The first-ever transgender Barbie was inspired by Laverne Cox, an Emmy winner and the first transgender woman of colour to play a major character in a scripted television series. She expressed her joy at the moment in a video by saying, Now kids get to dream with a Laverne Cox barbie, the first transgender Barbie. Mattel has collaborated with actress Laverne Cox to release the first transgender Barbie doll in their collection. pic.twitter.com/oUoObkzcZu Eric Alper (@ThatEricAlper) June 2, 2022 August 2022 Doll with hearing aids The American doll manufacturer released set of dolls with hearing aids with an aim to help kids see themselves reflected, according to McKnight. Dr Jen Richardson, a well-known expert in educational audiology, was consulted by the business to help correctly replicate behind-the-ear devices for the Barbie with hearing aids, reported CNN. Roses BBC Breakfast video talking about the new Barbie doll with hearing aids. [Captioned] pic.twitter.com/VXvjkMX02b (@cathsgifs) August 16, 2022 2019-2020 Diverse Fashionistas doll Barbie dolls with no hair, vitiligo, wheelchairs, a prosthetic limb, afro hair, and a Ken doll with long rooted hair were among the Barbie dolls in the Fashionistas series. The 2020 collection also featured several dolls from the previous lines such as doll with a wheelchair, due to its popularity. 2019 Gender-inclusive Barbie dolls To be inclusive of all genders and free from labels, Mattel introduced a range of dolls that children may dress in either a skirt or pants or both, short or long hair or both. 2017 First Barbie with a hijab According to BBC, the first hijab-wearing Barbie was inspired by American fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, who won a bronze medal in Rio Olympics in 2016. When I think about my own journey, me being a Muslim girl involved in the sport of fencing, there were people who made me feel like I didnt belong. For all those people who didnt believe in me, this Barbie doll is for you, Muhammad had said at the time. The Barbie doll was unveiled at Glamours Women of the Year summit. Yesterday, history was made when Mattel announced the first Barbie with a hijab. Ibtihaj Muhammad said Im proud to know that little girls everywhere can now play with a Barbie who chooses to wear a hijab! This is a childhood dream come true pic.twitter.com/Lsvj4Ptvun Bad,Baby (@badbabyproducts) November 14, 2017 2016 Curvy, petite and tall Barbie Expanding its Fashionistas line, the brand introduced three new body types: tall, curvy and petite with diverse skin tones and hair textures. According to Time magazine, Mattel hoped that the new body types will more closely reflect their young owners world. Curvy, Tall and Petite dolls now stand proudly next to the Original body. #TheDollEvolves #Barbie pic.twitter.com/VnZMGgA6zu Barbie (@Barbie) January 28, 2016 2000 Princess of India Barbie The Princess of India Barbie featured the doll wearing an extraordinary pink sari with golden accents. A golden headpiece called a tikka (a forehead ornament), a golden choker and earrings were added to enhance the look. Princess of India Line: Dolls of the World- the Princess Collection Barbie (2000) = Official pic.twitter.com/WnQ7n2HgBb Doll Of The Day (@DollOfTheDay) April 15, 2021 1992 First President Barbie Continuing to improve, Barbie released a set of US president and vice president dolls in 1992. Making a strategic move to attract focus on its all-female Barbie dolls, it aimed at inspiring girls to become leaders. New Barbie I Can Be U.S.A. President Barbie Doll https://t.co/2MftuNcwA2 pic.twitter.com/XW4S4TA22V BestFamousToys (@BestFamousToys) October 19, 2019 1980 African-American Barbie dolls Mattels first African-American Barbie, designed by Bill Greening, became available for purchase in 1980. I hope people feel that its a fitting tribute to the original I hope Im doing the doll justice, and I hope collectors embrace the new doll. I hope maybe they display it side by side with the original and the new version and see how the beauty of Black Barbie transcends time, Greening said in a Mattel statement. Vintage 1980s MATTEL Big Hair Barbie Dolls Mixed Lot of 2 Beauties African American Black Doll Blond Malaysia Molds BFF 1980 1990s https://t.co/PKZ4yC6vE9 pic.twitter.com/Xa3xQX5c6x pj (@pj_at_sc) January 21, 2020 1968 One of the first Black Barbie dolls, Christie Mattel first attempted to make the first black Barbie in 1967 with Coloured Francie, however, it was a mere replica of her white counterparts. The company then introduced Christie in 1968 with same body type, allowing their clothing to be worn interchangeably. Her face, however, was a novel creation meant to emphasise a Black womans facial traits. Christie was one of several dolls who could talk. The other day, I wrote a whole thread about how the first Black doll (Barbies friend, Christie) was made in 1968, then they started making Black Barbies in the 80s. Their parents just didnt buy it for them. pic.twitter.com/G1Yr2zfpCa (@joy331) April 9, 2023 1967 First celebrity Barbie The British fashion model Twiggy served as the inspiration for the first celebrity Barbie doll, according to Barbie Media. The first Twiggy doll featured the recognisable Twiggy makeup and sported a mini-dress with vertical blue, green, and yellow stripes as well as yellow footwear. She was the first in a long line of dolls created to mimic famous people and the top of the fashion world. 1965 Astronaut Barbie Barbie ventured into space in 1965, four years before humans set foot on the moon. The Astronaut Barbie demonstrated to girls that they could reach for the stars while wearing a stylish space suit and helmet. 1959 First Barbie The first Barbie had her trademark hair and a black and white striped bathing suit. Barbie was different from the baby and toddler dolls that were popular at the time, so toy consumers were hesitant to buy. However, the doll went on to become a global sensation, letting girls have the most vivid future fantasies ever. 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. Two people getting married and staying reserved till death do them apart has been a classic tale. But not for everyone. A polyamorous Brazilian man reportedly guy built a 20-foot bed for his six wives for Rs 80 lakh. The bedroom essential was put together by the man named Arthur O Urso over the course of 15 months with the assistance of 12 people and 950 screws. Arthur once had nine wives, four of whom divorced him, reported News18. The Sao Paulo resident and his swinger wife Luana decided to open up their six-marriage setup in 2021. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arthur O Urso (@arthurourso) The six wives are identified as Valquiria Santos, Damiana, Amandha Albuquerque, Olinda Maria, Luana Kazaki, and Emelly Souza. Although it is not enforceable under law because polygamy is prohibited in his nation, Arthur and Liana formally established their connection with additional women at a Catholic church. The seven members of the group even have an OnlyFans page where they provide sex advice and publish videos and images of their intimate antics. From the platform, they make roughly Rs 50 lakh each month. The man, who had previously made headlines for having difficulty appeasing each of his women, made a schedule in order to provide equal enjoyment to all of them. So, what is a polyamorous relationship really? Is it ethical? Lets take a look. Also read: Biggest Polygamist of Century: In quest for perfect match, Saudi man marries 53 women Understanding polyamorous relationship According to WebMD, polyamorous people have multiple loving, intentional, and intimate relationships at the same time. It is a type of open or non-monogamous relationship that follows certain guidelines. It excludes all forms of open relationships, including those with more casual sexual partners. Each partner in many polyamorous relationships is aware of the others. Relationships or friendships between partners are also possible. Some people find such relationships more comfortable than monogamous relationships. Two years ago, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smiths daughter Willow Smith opened up about polyamory on Red Table Talk. She said, With polyamory, I think the main foundation is the freedom to be able to create a relationship style that works for you and not just stepping into monogamy because thats what everyone around you says is the right thing to do. I was like, how can I structure the way that I approach relationships with that in mind? Also read: Future of love: At the dangerous intersection of longing, loneliness, politics and technology Its complex Each polyamorous relationship is unique and complex. USA Today quoted Washington University Professor of law Adrienne Davis as saying that such relationships in the United States dates back to 19th century when Free Love and transcendentalist movements were at peak. According to Davis, it only grew popular in 1960s and early 1970s with the counterculture and sexual liberation movements. In contrast to monogamous partnerships, people in polyamorous relationships create their own rules and preferred boundaries for their interactions. The commitment to safer sex is among the most significant agreements shared by polyamorous individuals. This usually refers to a restriction about who they will engage in unprotected sex with as well as methods of birth control for those who are capable of becoming pregnant. In polyamorous partnerships, this is crucial to preventing the spread of STDs or unintended pregnancy. Terms to know Solo polyamory: Individuals who date several people but do not have primary partnerships. In their personal lives, they continue to be largely independent, according to WebMD. Polyfidelity: A group of three or more persons who are dedicated to one another and do not date outside the group. Hierarchical polyamory: It refers to people with primary relationships to which they give the most time and attention, while secondary and tertiary relationships receive less of both. The primary partner could have more influence over crucial choices. Non-hierarchical polyamory: It describes those who dont have a partner hierarchy. Alternative names for it include relationship anarchy and egalitarian polyamory. In this kind of relationship, equal time and attention may be given to each partner and they might also have an equal say in crucial decisions. Compersion: A sensation of joy that results from seeing your lover happy with another person, as opposed to envy, according to Instyle magazine. Also read: Woman set to marry herself in Vadodara: Understanding sologamy Common myths 1. Its cheating on a partner No, people in polyamorous relationships are open and honest with each other about their other partners, since it depends on honesty, integrity, and communication, says WebMD. 2. Afraid of commitment Though it looks different since traditional relationships such as marriage can be difficult, polyamorous relationships are still committed relations. 3. No true intimacy Many believe having multiple partners detracts from intimacy. However, polyamorous people create more intimacy with multiple people due to vulnerability and communication, explains the website. 4. Wild sex life Yes, they do, but the primary focus is building loving, intimate relationships. 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 York: Before ousting Tucker Carlson, Fox News had twice fired wildly popular hosts and both times the network recovered better than the stars it cut loose. Foxs dismissals of Glenn Beck in 2011 and Bill OReilly in 2017 offer lessons in what the post-Carlson fallout might be. Carlson was let go on Monday, less than a week after Fox agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787 million (Rs 6,450 crore) for airing bogus claims of voter fraud following the 2020 election. Foxs two most popular programs last year Carlsons being one of them were the replacements for Beck and OReilly. It seems like the parts are interchangeable, said SiriusXM and CNN personality Michael Smerconish. Theyve built a machine over there that seems to function even when the pistons are replaced. Still, Carlsons ability to connect with supporters of former President Donald Trump could benefit him wherever he lands. Beck was a sensation at Fox during the first term of former President Barack Obama. He spun intricate conspiracy theories before it was fashionable and sparked an advertising boycott after saying Obama had a deep-seated hatred for white people. Viewers flocked to his marginal time slot, 5 pm EDT (2.30 am IST), in numbers that rivalled prime time. There were signs that Beck was fading when then-Fox News chief Roger Ailes cut him loose in April 2011. Ailes famously told The Associated Press at the time: Half of the headlines say hes been cancelled. The other half say he quit. Were pretty happy with both of them. Beck was hailed as an elder statesman when Carlson brought him on as a guest last month on the night Trump was indicted, where he predicted the US would be at war with Russia, China and Iraq by 2025. Ailes replaced Beck with a panel show, The Five, with four conservative pundits and one liberal kicking around the stories of the day. In 2022, the show averaged 3.4 million nightly viewers more than Beck at his peak and was the top-rated cable news show of the year, the Nielsen company said. OReillys no spin zone was essentially the face of Fox News for several years before he was fired in April 2017 following an investigation into harassment allegations. He was replaced by Carlson, a cable news journeyman whose angry, grievance-based program made him the most influential voice in cable news. His ideas were echoed by many Republican politicians and there was talk of him being a future candidate, too. Also read: Tucker Carlson claims British civilised India: The many controversies of man with the most racist show on cable news OReilly now hosts a podcast and Beck has the sixth-most popular radio talk show in the country, but neither has the influence they had when they were on Fox, said Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers magazine. At Fox, the platform is king, Harrison said, not the on-air personalities. While Fox has shed big-name hosts with little damage in the past, the ouster of Carlson comes at a precarious moment for the network, said Nicole Hemmer, a Vanderbilt University professor and author of Partisans: The Conservative Revolutionaries Who Remade American Politics in the 1990s. Carlson was the person there who best excelled at exciting the base of the Republican Party, she said. Smerconish noticed the number of callers to his own talk show who said they would miss Carlsons ability to challenge groupthink. If Carlson now begins attacking Fox as corporate media that despises its Trump-supporting viewers, he could cause the network to begin bleeding viewers as it briefly did after the 2020 election, Hemmer said. Carlson hasnt talked about his firing, and didnt return a query from the AP on Tuesday. Carlson heavily embraced some conspiracy theories, particularly surrounding the 6 January, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol. His opposition to US involvement in the Ukraine War received such notice that Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov brought up Carlsons firing at the United Nations on Tuesday. Its curious news, Lavrov said. What is this related to? One can only guess, but clearly, the wealth of views in the American information space has suffered as a result. The day he was fired, Carlson was nearly invisible on the Fox News prime-time lineup that he used to dominate. Were not talking about Tucker, former colleague Sean Hannity said in one of the two very brief mentions of Carlsons name on Fox News on Monday night. In contrast, his ouster was the lead story on ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts. Fox hasnt discussed its reasons for cutting ties with Carlson. But as the Dominion case illustrated, the spread of conspiracy theories has made Fox legally vulnerable. A new host who reflects the Fox audiences conservative philosophy but is less controversial could also be more popular with advertisers and thus more lucrative. People are creatures of habit, conservative talk show host Erick Erickson said. Fox will offer another host who speaks into the audiences concerns. Therell be a dip, just like after OReilly, but I expect the host will be competent enough to earn the audiences trust quickly. Carlson was named to replace OReilly on the day OReilly was fired. It may take some time for Carlsons replacement to be known: Fox took a year, using guest hosts, before naming Jesse Watters as its 7 pm host last year. Watters was an immediate hit, and Fox learned that the audience likes to be part of the selection process. It makes Watters an obvious candidate to move from 7 to 8 pm, as Carlson did in replacing OReilly. In addition to Beck and OReilly, other people who have left Fox in recent years Megyn Kelly, Shepard Smith, Chris Wallace havent reached the same heights elsewhere in terms of audience interest. Will Carlson, who turns 54 next month, have another act in media? Every one of the journalists who left re-emerged in diminished positions, Smerconish said. I expect that will be the same with him. I think he will have a better shot than the others, but I dont think he will be at the level he was on Friday night. 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 party in Thailand is wooing voters with sex toys ahead of next months general election. The conservative Democrat Party has promised to make sex toys legal and claimed that they can bring benefits beyond simply personal pleasure. Lets take a closer look: Despite its reputation for being one of Southeast Asias most sexually liberated countries, Buddhist-majority Thailand remains conservative. According to CNN, a stigma remains attached to those that are seen as defying traditional values, especially in rural areas. Vibrators, dildos and other intimate devices remain illegal. But the Democrat Party, Thailands oldest political party, is taking a new tack. Sex toys are useful because they could lead to a decrease in prostitution as well as divorce due to a mismatch of sexual libido, and sex-related crimes, party representative Ratchada Thanadirek said in a statement Monday. Looking at the medical angle, doctors are even recommending [sex toys], instead of buying a sex service or cheating on partners, Thanadirek told CNN. She said only 4,000 rape cases are registered each year though the actual number is believed to be closer to 30,000, as per the Bangkok Post. She added that the government was also missing an opportunity to collect tax on the legal import of erotic stimulators. She added that such products are legal in countries such as Japan, Singapore, Germany and the Czech Republic. While sex toys are considered immoral in some quarters in Thailand, many still flow into the kingdom illegally from overseas, the party said. Anyone convicted of selling them can face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to $1,800, though they are freely available on street stalls in some of Bangkoks less salubrious districts. Ratchada said there was currently no quality control over imported sex toys and some short-circuited, causing safety issues. The Bangkok Post quoted her as saying that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) would establish quality control and safety standards. The sex toys would be reclassified as controlled goods, she added. The Democrat Party said it supports legalising the items for people aged 18 years and over. Why is the party doing this? The party has been a major political force since the 1940s. It has returned four prime ministers most recently Abhisit Vejjajiva, who led the government from 2008-11. However, it has recently fallen on tough times. Its popularity collapsed in the controversial 2019 election which led to coup leader Prayut Chan-o-Cha being named prime minister. It did exceedingly poorly in the 2019 election and polls show it is lagging currently scoring well below 10 percent in opinion polls in the 14 May election. According to CNN, latest polls peg the Democrat Party winning 20 to 30 seats in the polls. The Democrat Party is behind the United Thai Nation, Move Forward and Pheu Thai party. The party was further embroiled in a sex scandal last year when 14 women formally filed complaints against its former deputy leader Prinn Panitchpakdi. He denies the charges, which are still before the courts. The party would need 251 votes to overturn the current law which means a lot of help from others. The race is shaping up to be a battle between a pro-military conservative grouping, led by the incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, against the largest opposition Pheu Thai party, headed by the billionaire Shinawatra family. 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. Cartoons have been a way to depict harsh realities or highlight double standards. However, sometimes, the illustrations themselves exhibit double standards. A new cartoon published by the German magazine named Der Spiegel depicts Indias population overtaking China. The cartoon has elicited sharp reactions from Indians, who have dubbed it as racist. German cartoon mocks Indias population In the cartoon from Der Spiegel, an overcrowded Indian train passes a modernised Chinese bullet train travelling on a parallel track with only two drivers inside. The passengers on top of the Indian train are holding the tricolour. India is on course to overtake China as the worlds most populous nation by July of this year, according to a UN report released earlier this month. While people on social media have been expressing their outrage about the inaccurate portrayal, some politicians and other authorities have also used Twitter to condemn the cartoon as racist and derogatory. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar tweeted, Dear Cartoonist at @derspiegelNotwithstanding your attempt at mocking India its not smart to bet against India under PM @narendramodi ji.In a few years, Indias economy will be bigger than Germanys. Dear Cartoonist at @derspiegel Notwithstanding ur attmpt at mocking India, its not smart to bet against India under PM @narendramodi ji In a few years Indias economy will be bigger than germanys #NewIndia pic.twitter.com/Evzooqfc2J Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@Rajeev_GoI) April 23, 2023 Senior adviser to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Kanchan Gupta, tweeted that the cartoon caricaturing India in this manner has no resemblance to reality. He tweeted, Hi Germany, this is outrageously racist. Der Spiegel caricaturing of India in this manner has no resemblance to reality. The purpose is to show India down and suck up to China. #Germany this is outrageously racist. @derspiegel caricaturing India in this manner has no resemblance to reality. Purpose is to show #India down and suck up to #China. This is as bad if not worse than the racist cartoon in @nytimes lampooning Indias successful Mars mission. pic.twitter.com/z9MxcPQC7u Kanchan Gupta (@KanchanGupta) April 23, 2023 Well, this isnt the first time, a cartoon has stirred controversy. Take a look. Also read: US papers drop comic strip Dilbert after creator Scott Adamss racist remarks Der Spiegels Trump cartoon German weekly magazine Der Spiegel isnt new to controversy. Earlier, it drew criticism with a front cover illustration of former US president Donald Trump beheading the Statue of Liberty, according to Reuters. The cartoon showed a figure of Trump with a bloodied knife in one hand and the statues head, dripping with blood, in the other. It carried the caption: America First. The artist who designed the cover, Edel Rodriguez, a Cuban who came to the United States in 1980 as a political refugee, told The Washington Post: Its a beheading of democracy, a beheading of a sacred symbol. The cover set off a debate on Twitter and in German and international media, with Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, a member of Germanys Free Democrats (FDP) and vice president of the European Parliament, describing it as tasteless. The cover followed a series of attacks on Berlins policies by Trump and his aides, marking a rapid deterioration in German relations with the United States. Chancellor Angela Merkel was the go-to European ally for former US president Barack Obama, who praised her as an outstanding partner. Charlie Hebdos Turkey earthquake cartoon The controversial French satirical publication Charlie Hebdo released a caricature that appeared to be making fun of the earthquake victims in Turkey. No need to send tanks, read the artwork by Pierrick Juin, which featured tottering structures amidst mounds of debris. The cartoon drew harsh criticism on Twitter, with some users accusing it of being ugly, racist, and incredibly insensitive while others claimed it was making fun of the innumerable earthquake victims. Omar Suleiman, an American Muslim academic and civil rights activist with the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, tweeted in response to the cartoon that it dehumanises Muslims as victims in every way. Many Turks criticising the magazine claimed that they had organised marches in support of Je Suis Charlie when its headquarters had been attacked in 2015 only to be punished in this way. Even the Turkish presidents spokesperson, Ibrahim Kalin, condemned the cartoon in a tweet that read, Modern barbarians! Suffocate in your hatred and grudges. Irans Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cartoon When it published caricatures of Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the French satirical publication enraged the Islamic Republic. The cartoon was created in support of Irans first-ever female-led rallies, which got underway in September of last year following the passing of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who had been imprisoned for incorrectly donning the hijab. Irans foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian wrote on Twitter, The insulting and indecent act of a French publication in publishing cartoons against the religious and political authority will not go without an effective and decisive response. We will not allow the French government to go beyond its bounds. They have definitely chosen the wrong path, he added. Also read: Explained: How the American animated series South Parks new episode takes a dig at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle The 12 Prophet Muhammad cartoons The Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 caricatures along with an article titled Muhammeds ansigt (The face of Muhammad) on 30 September 2005. It stated that they were a critique of Danish media self-censorship. The following year, Charlie Hebdo published these caricatures. Following their initial publication, the cartoons drew criticism from all across the world for being blasphemous and feeding prejudices about Muslims as terrorists. They incited violent demonstrations throughout Asia and the Middle East, and many called for a boycott of Danish products. The New Yorker magazines Obama cartoon Barack Obamas campaign staff criticised The New Yorker magazine for a front-cover cartoon from 2008 that showed him dressed in traditional Muslim outfit and his wife as a terrorist, according to BBC. The cartoon by Barry Blitt, according to the publication, was meant to make fun of some of the exaggerated right-wing attacks on the Democratic senator. However, the cartoon was referred to as tasteless and offensive by an Obama campaign spokesperson. Tintin cartoon in the book According to BBC, in 2010, a Congolese citizen attempted to get a contentious Tintin book outlawed in Belgium, the nation that gave rise to the cartoon character. In Tintin in the Congo, Bienvenu Mbutu claimed that the little (black) helper of the ginger sleuth was seen as stupid and without qualities. Mbutu, a resident of Belgium, claimed that it makes people think that blacks have not evolved. Mbutu wasnt the only person to criticise the book for its offensive racial stereotypes. The UKs Commission for Racial Equality demanded that the book be outlawed on the grounds that it contained language and illustrations that displayed abhorrent racial prejudice. Jesus on Malaysian newspaper As per the report, in 2007, after publishing a picture of Jesus holding a cigarette and what appeared to be a beer can, a Malaysian newspaper came under pressure to close. The newspaper later apologised, stating that a graphics editor had unintentionally pulled the picture off the internet. Two magazines were shut down by the nations Muslim-dominated government the year before for publishing contentious Muhammad drawings. Aseem Trivedis anti-corruption cartoons Aseem, a political activist and cartoonist, was detained after being charged with sedition for presenting anti-corruption caricatures at the Anna Hazare demonstration in November 2011, according to Scoop Whoop. 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. Regions across the world have experienced extreme weather events in recent years. In 2022, unprecedented heat waves hit Europe, while some countries in Asia, especially China, reported severe droughts and high temperatures. A new study has warned that more such record-breaking heat waves can be expected in the future, with those regions most at risk that are least prepared for such events. The University of Bristol-led study published on Tuesday (25 April) in the journal Nature Communications suggested that every region in the world must be prepared for scorching temperatures. For the study, researchers analysed climate models as well as temperature data sets covering 60 years to predict the places most likely to experience extreme heat events. What did the study find and which regions are the most vulnerable to record-smashing heat waves? Lets understand. Findings of the study The researchers found those places that are past due breaking their temperature records were more susceptible. The factors that put these areas more at risk than others are steep expected population growth and limited access to healthcare and energy resources. Moreover, scientists said that regions facing the most threat are those that have no prior experience in dealing with such extreme heat before. As they have not had a reason to adapt to a similar disaster in the past, they might not be prepared for an event in the future. It also says that no region is safe from the threat, noting that statistically implausible extreme heat waves have occurred between 1959 and 2021 in 31 per cent of regions examined. Climate change has made heat waves more and more frequent, which has the potential to cause thousands of excess deaths. Most at-risk regions According to the study, Afghanistan is the region of most concern. One of the poorest countries, Afghanistan has a growing population that is facing the problem of limited resources. Dann Mitchell, study co-author and a professor in atmospheric sciences at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, told CNN that not only is there high potential for record-breaking extreme heat in Afghanistan but impacts will be intensified by the huge difficulties the country already faces. When a really extreme heat wave does finally come along, then there are instantly going to be a lot of problems, Mitchell added. Papua New Guinea and parts of Central America Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama are also facing the threat of extreme heat waves, as per the study. While their population is not expected to hike as much as in other places, there is a larger gap between mercury recorded in the past and extreme temperatures possible in the future, reported The Verge. Some regions in China Beijing, Hebei, and Tianjin and European countries, including Germany, Netherlands and Belgium, are also more at risk of logging record-smashing temperatures, says the study. However, these more affluent countries will possibly be better prepared to mitigate such threats in the future. Vikki Thompson, lead author of the paper, was quoted as saying by SciTechDaily: As heat waves are occurring more often we need to be better prepared. We identify regions that may have been lucky so far some of these regions have rapidly growing populations, some are developing nations, some are already very hot. We need to ask if the heat action plans for these areas are sufficient. ALSO READ: A year of extremes: What World Meteorological Organizations 2022 report says about the state of global climate How to deal with the threat? The study authors have called on the governments to take action to avoid deaths and other harmful health impacts related to extreme temperatures. Setting up cooling centres or reducing hours for those working outside can be some solutions. Theres lots and lots of climate research coming out saying that heatwaves are going to happen more often, Thompson said, as per The Verge. Policymakers need to make sure that they are prepared and that they are prepared for events beyond what we think could happen. Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London, who was not associated with the study, told CNN: Heat waves and other extreme weather events will only become more intense as the world continues to burn fossil fuels. Otto added that many policies are already in place that can help in saving lives, including preparing heat wave management plans, ensuring and testing they are implemented, informing the public about imminent heat waves, and protecting people who are vulnerable to the impacts of heat waves. According to SciTechDaily, co-author of the study Mitchell said, Being prepared saves lives. We have seen some of the most unexpected heatwaves around the world lead to heat-related deaths in the tens of thousands. In this study, we show that such record-smashing events could occur anywhere. Governments around the world need to be prepared. 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. Is mans best friend becoming his enemy? Recent incidents of stray dogs attacking and killing people, especially children, have rocked India. Amid many such cases coming to light, a survey by community social media platform LocalCircles has revealed that the majority of respondents believe that stray or pet dog attacks have become common in their area, district or city. This shows a 31 per cent surge from last year when 61 per cent of those surveyed had said that such attacks are common. Lets take a look at what the latest survey has found, the statistics, recent incidents and why it is happening. Are dog attacks rising in India? The survey carried out by LocalCircles includes more than 53,000 responses from people in 326 districts across the country. Out of this, 67 per cent of those surveyed were men, while 33 per cent were women. Around 44 per cent of the respondents belonged to Tier 1 districts, 34 per cent from Tier 2 and 22 per cent respondents from Tier 3 and 4. As many as 82 per cent of the 13,590 respondents said that attacks by stray or pet dogs are an issue in their area, city or district. Do owners of pet dogs in your area effectively restrain or train them so that they dont cause harm to others? This question received 13,469 responses, with only 33 per cent saying that dog owners effectively restrain and train their pets, while 27 per cent said the owners are ineffective. Is municipal authority helpful? The survey also asked people if the municipal authority in their areas has effectively managed the stray dogs. To this, almost 8 out of 10 respondents replied in the negative, claiming the local body has been ineffective in managing both stray dogs and registration of pet dogs. Just as the last years survey, only 10 per cent of citizens expressed faith in the work of civic authorities. When asked if the Centre, under its Swachh Bharat programme, should provide funding for stray animal management and make it a key performance ranking criterion, 71 per cent supported the idea. Around 23 per cent did not want stray animal management to be a part of Swachh Bharat rankings and 6 per cent were unsure about it. ALSO READ: Mutt Menace: Do we need stricter norms to deal with the rise in attacks by pet dogs? Indias dog population According to the State of Pet Homelessness Index data, India has around 6.2 crore stray dogs and 91 lakh street cats. Most of the stray dogs are in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Odisha, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. The data tabled by the Central government in the Parliament last year found that most stray dog bites were reported in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Gujarat. As per the government data, India reported nearly 16 million cases of stray dog bites between 2019 till November 2022. There are 10 million or 1 crore pet dogs in the country, reported Times of India (TOI). Recent incidents of dog attacks A 30-year-old research student of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) received several and serious wounds after being attacked by two dogs inside the campus recently, reported TOI. This incident comes days after Safdar Ali, a 70-year-old retired doctor, died in an attack by stray dogs inside the campus. The horrific incident was captured on video and gone viral on social media. Last Sunday, separate incidents of two children being mauled to death were reported from Uttar Pradeshs Aligarh and Moradabad districts, as per Economic Times. In another incident this month, an 18-month-old girl died after being attacked by stray dogs in Andhra Pradeshs Srikakulam district. In March, two siblings aged five and seven were mauled to death by stray dogs in separate incidents in Delhis Vasant Kunj area. Telanganas Hyderabad reported two different cases of attacks on four-year-old children by stray canines, leading to one toddlers death, in February. In January this year, a stray dog in Bihars Ara town attacked 70 people, reported Indian Express. Pet dogs attacking their owners or people in localities has also become a major problem in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) region. ALSO READ: Noida baby dies after street dog attack: Why do strays become feral and how can they be tamed? Why have stray dogs become a menace? India does not allow to kill stray dogs. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, makes it illegal to be cruel to animals, including stray dogs. It also mandates pet owners to be responsible for their animals well-being and prohibits them from abandoning it, reported TOI. According to Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rule, 2001, municipal bodies are responsible for sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs to check their population. However, due to myriad issues, including lack of funds, the civic bodies seem to have largely failed to neuter and vaccinate stray dogs against rabies. Of course we have a stray dog problem, Anjali Gopalan, managing trustee at the All Creatures Great and Small, a Delhi-based non-profit that cares for animals, told CNN. Not only do we have a stray dog problem, but we also have a problem with rabies in this country. So, steps have to be taken to deal with both. India accounts for 36 per cent of rabies deaths globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Speaking to The Quint, founder of Delhis K9 School, Adnaan Khan, explained the behaviour of stray dogs. Strays have a hunting instinct. They will kill and eat smaller animals if access to food is scarce in the localities where they are. The predatory instincts of pets are controlled as they have access to food, taken for walks, and kept active. But for strays, this behaviour is that natural instinct. So, there is a thin line between calling a dog rabid and understanding its natural instincts, Khan said. Over or under-feeding strays can also be a problem. Khan told The Quint: Given the scavenging instincts of strays when they begin to get fed in abundance, it affects their mental instincts. Initially, they would travel 2-3 kilometre in search of food and would keep themselves active. Once they start getting fed by animal lovers in a locality, they get overtly territorial and start attacking moving objects in order to protect that territory. He suggested that the best practice is to take food and feed the stray dogs while walking for a distance of one-two kilometre so these animals do not become territorial about a particular area. Moreover, people who keep pets such as pit bulls, German Shepherds, Great Rottweilers, and Golden Retrievers need to realise that lack of proper training and environment can make these canines aggressive. Dev Rawat, a dog trainer since 1995, told IANS, The biggest problem is that the dogs are not fed properly and they get less travel. Often people rear a dog because of a hobby, but because of their jobs, they keep the dogs locked in the house throughout the day. Because of this, the dog starts becoming irritable. Being tied up in the house all the time is one reason dogs bite. What can be done? It has to be a combined effort of pet parents and local authorities. India needs to implement a robust system for animal healthcare and control. There has to be an increase in the vaccination and sterilisation of stray dogs. The problem is lack of awareness towards how to live around dogs, veterinarian Sarungbam Devi, founder and trustee of Animal India Trust, was quoted as saying by CNN. There needs to be an intense anti-rabies drive and sterilisation programme everywhere in India, Devi added. Pet owners need to do their bit and not abandon their dogs. If they cannot take care of the canine, they should send them to animal shelters instead of leaving them on streets. 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. Its a few days now before the world sees Britain getting a new monarch. King Charles will be coronated on 6 May and the guest list for the grand event, bearing a price tag of an estimated 100 million (Rs 1,016 crore), already reads like a whos who of international royalty, world leaders and worldly celebrities. But one guest at the event is already raising eyebrows and thats Andrew Parker Bowles, Queen Camillas former husband. According to The Sunday Times, Parker Bowles will be in attendance to watch his first wife be crowned alongside the new king at Westminster Abbey. Former Tory minister Nadine Dorries writing for the Daily Mail said that the Queen was setting a good example to the world, showing what an amicable divorce looks like and added that Camilla showing that it is possible to live in relative harmony after divorce. Heres a better look at who is Andrew Parker Bowles and his relationship with Queen Camilla and the British royal family. Also read: Sprawling castles, vintage cars, and more Just how rich is King Charles? Camillas first husband Andrew Parker Bowles has long had a royal connection, far dating his marriage to Queen Camilla. Born in 1953, his parents were friends with the Queen Mother and as a 13-year-old he served as a page at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. He joined the British military in 1960 and was commissioned into the Royal Horse Guards. He served for 34 years eventually rising to the position of brigadier. Notably, he was also awarded the Queens Commendation for Bravery in Zimbabwe. Andrew was first introduced to Camilla by his younger brother Simon in the late 1960s and proceeded to date on and off for several years. In 1973, as Prince Charless biographer Sally Bedell Smith, writes, pressure was building on Andrew Parker Bowles to make a commitment. And so eventually, according to Andrews cousin John Bowes Lyon, his father, Derek Parker Bowles, and Camillas father, Bruce Shand, published an engagement notice in The Times for their children. He and Camilla were married on 4 July of 1973 in a Catholic ceremony at the Guards Chapel in London. The couple had two children together: 48-year-old food writer Tom Parker Bowles; and 45-year-old art curator Laura Lopes. It was in 1995 that Andrew and Camilla decided to part ways and ended their marriage of 22 years. According to people who know him, Andrew is described as having been very naughty with women throughout. Also read: Harry In, Meghan Out: Who else is skipping King Charles coronation? But whatever be their past indiscretions, the duo continues to be friends and share a close relationship. A friend told the Daily Mail that they are joined at the hip. He arranges so much for her. They have lunch together the whole time. Hes right in there. He was always, and still is, Camillas co-conspirator, the friend added. This friendship was on display when he was invited as a guest at Charles and Camillas wedding in April 2005. The Marchioness of Lansdowne, one of Camillas Queens Companions, talking about their friendship, was quoted by the Daily Mail saying: Everybody loves Andrew. Hes a real charmer but hes always terribly misbehaving. Andrew will ring her up and tell her when shes got something wrong and shell ring him up and say when hes misbehaving. Through adversity theyve kept a really good family ethic. It helps with their children and grandchildren. Andrews royal connection But Andrews brush with the British royals isnt restricted only to Camilla. Before he married Camilla, Andrew dated Princess Anne King Charles younger sister. Prince Charless biographer Sally Bedell Smith writes that Anne and Andrew had a relationship in the 70s, but given that he was Catholic, he wasnt marriage material for Anne. Even when their romance eventually wound down, they remained lifelong friends, writes Bedell Smith noting that they had much in common, most notably a love of horses. Their friendship also lent to him becoming godfather to Princess Annes daughter Zara. Andrew also shared camaraderie with Charles; he played on King Charles polo team when they were young men. He also had front-row seats to King Charles previous wedding to Princess Diana in 1981. As a commanding officer of the Household Cavalry, Andrew accompanied the newly married Charles and Diana on horseback following their wedding. Till date, he is often seen hobnobbing with the Royals and last year he also represented the Queen Consort at a funeral. A grand event beckons The coronation ceremony on 6 May will be a historic moment for Britain and the monarchy. King Charles will be the 40th reigning monarch to be crowned at the central London church since King William I in 1066. Also read: Why Charles coronation is taking place nine months after he was proclaimed king Over 2,000 people have been invited for the event that has been scaled down to last around an hour. Among them is Charles younger son, Prince Harry, who has made stinging criticisms of royal life since moving to California three years ago. The event has courted controversy over its cost as well as what some call a pagan symbol. At a time when Britain is seeing a high cost of living and shortages of food, an estimated 100 million for an event seems apathetic and insensitive to some. 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. MATSAPHA Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi yesterday paid a surprise visit to The Fridge Factory, following complaints by the employees of working on a holiday. Buthelezi explained to the management of the company that his visit was prompted by several complaints from employees of the company. He said the workers had notified the ministry that management of The Fridge Factory had issued a memorandum to the effect that it did not recognise the National Flag Day as a holiday. He said information received by the ministry had insinuated that those who would be absent yesterday were to be on the receiving end of steeper sanctions, which were to be implemented by the company. The minister requested that before the management and officials from the ministry could engage in anything else, they had to clear the air on this issue. Engage If this is true, we ought to engage on how we can clear that because as a ministry, we are responsible for labour relations. It is our responsibility to ensure that workers are not forced to unlawful labour practices, Buthelezi said. He said there were regulations regarding holidays and the kind of remuneration associated with them and other conditions. Buthelezi said as a ministry, they did not want to see a scenario where in some industries workers were taken advantage of. The minister explained that by saying so, he was not insinuating that it was the case at The Fridge Factory; but he wanted to be clear on the obtaining scenario. Buthelezi further explained that it was for this reason that officials from the ministry had requested to meet the management and representatives of the employees. This, he said, would assist in getting both sides of concerns that could be labour-related. The minister, in his surprise visit, was accompanied by, among others, Labour Commissioner Mthunzi Shabangu, Acting Manzini Region Principal Labour Officer Gcina Nxumalo, police officers and members of the media. Also present were the senior management of The Fridge Factory, who included the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Peter McCollough, Operations Director Ryden Allmark, Factory Manager Eric Mthetwa, Maintenance Manager Humphrey Nyakapoto and the Quality Manager Casca Bhilla. In response to this, McCullough explained that there was a misunderstanding regarding yesterday as a public holiday. He explained that there was a gazette which detailed the conditions of employment and also the holidays for their sector. He said this gazette did not recognise the National Flag Day as a holiday for the manufacturing industry. In light of this, he said, when they enquired from their federation on whether it was a holiday or a normal working day; they were informed to consult the gazette. Furthermore, the CEO said they also sought assistance from labour officials in the ministry and the officials further referred them to the Ministry of Home Affairs. He enquired where was the instrument altering their norm, which did not recognise the National Flag Day as a holiday in the manufacturing sector. McCullough said the reason they had troubled themselves to establish what would happen yesterday was because there had been communication insinuating that the National Flag Day was now recognised as a holiday. In response, the minister explained that his ministry had been advised to now recognise all holidays and not state in the Wages Council Gazette that some days were not recognised as holidays by certain sectors. Buthelezi said the advice had come from the Office of the Attorney General, Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo. The minister said the AG had informed his ministry that it was unconstitutional for certain holidays to be ignored. In light of this, the CEO sought to establish if there had been any written communication, which was circulated to that effect. He said this was essential because it would assist in averting a scenario like yesterday. Communication To this, the minister said the Office of the Labour Commissioner would avail a notice to that effect. He did highlight that such communication had been shared during the wages councils meetings. The issue was resolved with the minister admitting that they had realised that there was a gap in the communication of the information and as such, they also had to improve on that. Meanwhile, Nyakapoto sought explanation on whether the workers had to proceed working or they had to retire for the day. He said the question was on the basis that if they continued working while it was a holiday, then that would have implications with the union. The minister explained that they could proceed to work as there had been a challenge in communication of what ought to happen during holidays after the AG had advised the ministry. On the other hand, McCullough said he felt victimised by the manner in which things had happened as they were not the only manufacturing factory which was operating yesterday. He said it was unfortunate that there was bad communication by the ministry. Chhattisgarh continues to be haunted by Naxalism. On Wednesday, 10 policemen were killed in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh after their vehicle was blown up by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Dantewada. The policemen were returning from an anti-Maoist operation that was launched after intelligence inputs, officials said. Lets take a closer look: Origins of term, movement According to India Today, the term Naxal has its origins in West Bengals Naxalbari village. As The Print Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta explained, In 1967, in northern Bengal, in a village that has now come to be known as Naxalbari, trouble was brewing between the tribals and the local landlords. When one of the tribals was killed (at) the hands of these landlords, the tribals retaliated against them and won. This is where the whole movement of retaliation began. The movement against the government took hold in the 1960s and then spread across East India. The term itself is used loosely to refer to the banned terror group Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist). Naxalism and Chhatisgarh Chhattisgarh, like other states, has found it difficult to eradicate the movement. The reason why it is an ideal location for such activities is because of the terrain and the socio-economic conditions in the region. This sparsely populated area has a large tribal population which has been ungoverned for years, Gupta added. According to Indian Express, the forests, terrain and a strong informant network in Bijapur, Sukma, Dantewada and Narayanpur play a huge role. The scarcity of human inputs and patchy phone network ensures that any intelligence that reaches authorities is outdated. Kamlochan Kashyap, Superintendent of Police, Bijapur, where 22 jawans were killed in April 2021 blamed demography. The major difference here is that everyone from children to the elderly work for Maoists in some way. Right from information of troop movement to engaging the security forces on the ground till armed cadres arrive, these villagers covertly and overtly work for them. A massive brainwashing campaign has been on for decades in these areas, which also have a vacuum of government and security forces, he said. A Chhattisgarh government official pointed to a lack of trust on both sides. Look at the photographs of the release of the COBRA jawan (Rakeshwar Singh Manhas). There are thousands of villagers sitting. In areas deep inside Sukma and Bijapur, that talks of their network An entire generation in these parts has been brought up believing that Maoists are the true government, and we are the outsiders, the aggressors. We need to maximise outreach, and stop treating them as enemies, the official said. Another official backed up the need for outreach. You know what villagers there want most? Veterinarians for their cattle, health camps and outreach through agriculture. Security forces cant do all this. The state must walk with us. If the government doesnt exist for them, they go to the one that does. Maoists. This means our networks are growing, but not fast enough. What is the Centre doing? According to India Today, the Centre launched operation SAMADHAN and operation Prahar in 2017. Under these operations, security forces for the first time began venturing into the Naxal areas in states like Chhattisgarh. The operations had such success that the CPI-Maoist asked the government to withdraw its forces. But the COVID-19 pandemic offered the CPI-M respite letting it fill its base with fresh recruits. In 2022, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai told the Rajya Sabha incidents of Naxal violence reduced by 77 per cent from all-time high of 2,258 in 2009 to 509 in 2021. But some point out that a solution is yet to be found. As Gupta pointed out in The Print, In 2014, PM Narendra Modi, in his (poll) campaigns, had promised to bring a solution to this problem. In 2015, Home Minister Amit Shah, too, had claimed that the problem of naxalism in the region would be solved in two to three years. This has not happened yet. Worst Naxal attacks in Chhattisgarh April 2021: Twenty-two security personnel were killed and 32 injured in a four-hour-long encounter with Maoists that took place near Jonaguda village in Sukma. Officials said a group of an estimated 400 Maoists had ambushed security personnel who were part of a large contingent deployed for a special operation. This after around 1500 troops drawn from CRPFS specialised jungle warfare unit CoBRA, some teams from its regular battalions, a unit of its Bastariya battalion, the Chhattisgarh Police affiliated District Reserve Guard (DRG) and others had launched a search and destroy operation along the border of Bijapur-Sukma district after inputs of some Maoists presence in the area. April 2017: Twenty-five personnel of the 74th battalion of the paramilitary force were killed after Naxals ambushed a CRPF team near Burkpal village in Sukma district on 24 April. The CRPF team was sanitising the area between Burkapal and Jagargunda where a road was being constructed. As many as 121 members of tribal communities, including one woman, were arrested later in connection with the attack. May 2013: 25 leaders from the Congress party, including former state minister Mahendra Karma, were killed in a Maoist attack in Darbha valley. The 2013 incident before the state Assembly polls had wiped out almost the entire Congress leadership in the state. Karma, a former home minister of Chhattisgarh, was the spearhead of Salwa Judum, an anti-Naxalite operation. Sonadhar, the mastermind of the operation, was later killed in 2015. June 2010: 26 CRPF jawans were killed in Maoist ambush in Narayanpur district. A large number of heavily-armed Maoists, perched on a hilltop, opened fire from automatic weapons on a 63-member security contingent which was returning on foot from road opening duty. April 2010: Maoists killed 75 CRPF personnel in ambush in Dantewada district in their bloodiest attack ever during a joint Operation Green Hunt offensive against the ultras in the thick forests of Mukrana in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, one of the strongholds of the Maoists. The attack came as nearly 100 personnel comprising CRPF and state police were returning after opening a road for the troops to begin an operation against the Naxals. While 74 of those killed were CRPF personnel, including a deputy and an assistant commandant, one was a head constable of the district police. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday strongly condemned the naxal attack on Chhattisgarh police personnel and paid tributes to those killed in the incident. Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families, the prime minister tweeted. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Parkash Singh Badal, the man who held the honour of being the youngest and oldest chief minister of a state, is no more. The Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch passed away at the age of 95 on Tuesday after a brief illness. With Badals demise, Punjab politics sees the end of an era the Shiromani Akali Dal has lost its leader and guiding light, the state has lost its great reconciler and politics has lost a stalwart, a member of a generation who saw Independence, survived the Emergency, and see Punjab politics take a surprising turn in 2022. Leaders cutting across political parties paid tribute to the veteran politician. President Droupadi Murmu said Badal was one of the tallest political stalwarts since independence. Though his exemplary career in public service was largely confined to Punjab, he was respected across the country. His demise leaves a void. My heartfelt condolences to his family and admirers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had once called Badal the Nelson Mandela of India, described the Punjab politicians demise as a personal loss. Extremely saddened by the passing away of Shri Parkash Singh Badal Ji. He was a colossal figure of Indian politics, and a remarkable statesman who contributed greatly to our nation, said Modi. As the country mourns the loss of Parkash Singh Badal, we trace his rise and what made him a mainstay of state politics. Early life Born on 8 December 1927 in Abul Khurana, near Malout, Badal graduated from the Forman Christian College in Lahore. Badal has often stated that his entry into politics was accidental. According to a report published in the Hindustan Times, Badal after graduation on the insistence of his father met his uncle Teja Sigh, who was then a minister in Punjab with a request for direct appointment as tehsildar. A few days later, Teja Singh called him to Chandigarh and handed him an appointment letter to the post. After Badal read the letter, he profusely thanked his uncle, who then promptly took it back from him and tore it up. He then told Badal, Pash, I want you to be someone who will appoint tehsildars. And thats how he began his career in politics. At the age of 20, he became the sarpanch of Badal village and the chairman of the block samiti. That was a stepping stone for him and in 1957, he entered the state Assembly from Malout in 1957 as the Congress nominee. He later joined the Shiromani Akali Dal and became a cutting critic of the Congress. In 1969, he won the Gidderbaha Assembly seat on the SAD ticket. In 1970, he became the states youngest chief minister at 43 a record that still stands. His political career took off from there and he never looked back. Rise and rise in politics He rose to the chief ministers chair once again in 1977 and repeated his success in 1997, and then, for two successive five-year terms, in 2007 and 2012. When he was sworn-in in 2007, he was almost 80, but such was his hold on the states Panthic pitch, that there was no talk of his son replacing him. Badal went to jail multiple times during and after the Emergency in the mid-1970s and the 1980s. The veteran also courted arrest during Operation Bluestar in June 1984 when the Army entered the Golden Temple complex at Amritsar to flush out militants. He refused to become the deputy chief minister under Surjit Singh Barnala after the 1985 elections and later quit the party as the rift widened. In 1986, Badal formed Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal). During his tenures as chief minister, Badal introduced several populist schemes. He provided free power to farmers and also introduced the Atta-Daal scheme for Dalits, brining relief to farming and poor communities. It is also said that despite his rise in politics, Badal ensured he maintained a presence at the grassroots level. In an interaction with Hindustan Times, the then 85-year-old leader said that he had asked his staff to keep a diary of deaths of Akali workers across Punjab. He would then visit the families of those who had passed to express his condolence. This small act ensured that people never forgot him and helped cement his credentials as a mass leader. Also read: Badal Inc: Punjab CMs family wealth knows no limit He was also a shrewd politician he stitched together an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1997 and it continued until 2021 when the two parties had differences over the now recalled farm laws. In fact, his alliance with the BJP was one of the longest such partnerships in the country. Badal despite growing older also had stamina unlike others. Even arch rival Captain Amarinder Singh has commented on Badals ability to criss-cross the state and meet people. And he never gave up in politics. Only last year, the Shiromani Akal Dal fielded him from home turf Lambi in Punjabs Muktsar district for the Assembly elections. He lost but entered the record books for being the oldest person to fight an election in the country. It was his 14th electoral battle. All in all, his political career saw him becoming chief minister five times from 1970-71, 1977-80, 1997-2002, 2007-12 and 2012-17. A complicated legacy However, his time in politics is not without controversy. During his years in power, Badal was accused of undermining the democratic character of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Akal Takht, the two pillars of Sikh politics. The one allegation that was perhaps, the most troubling was regarding the sacrilege incidents of Guru Granth Sahib under his watch in 2015. Both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party governments blamed Badal for the police firing that followed at Kotkapura. Two years after a clean chit by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2021, he was named an accused in the Kotkapura firing conspiracy in March this year. He also became one of the few to return the Padma Vibhushan award. Rewarded in 2015, he returned the honour as a mark of protest against the three controversial farm laws. But as Pramod Kumar, a political commentator who is the director of the Institute of Development and Communication in Chandigarh, told The Wire Badals demise marks the end of an era. He belonged to that generation of politicians who handled every situation with political maturity, unlike reactionary politics today. He represented a moderate voice of Punjab politics and did not encourage divisiveness in society, he said. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Moscow: The Russian incarnation of KFC opened its first restaurant in Moscow on Tuesday after the American fast food chain exited the country over the Kremlins offensive in Ukraine. The new owners of the US giants former restaurants across Russia are resuscitating Rostics, a brand that appeared in the tumultuous early years of post-Soviet Russia. At the launch in central Moscow, Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of the KFC chain, was absent from the logo, but the new colour scheme still featured its signature red and white. Several dozen customers were seen at the Rostics flagship venue on Tuesday afternoon. For us Rostics is like a childhood memory, Yevgeny Lazarev, a 31-year-old software tester, told AFP outside the restaurant. They were here before and they came back. Originally launched in 1993, Rostics helped KFC expand in Russia and was eventually bought out by it. For many Russians, Rostics brings back memories of the turbulent early years of transitioning to a free-market economy following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Another customer, Valeria Varygina, said the exit of Western giants would not affect her life. This is the 21st Century, and there will always be enough clothes, drinks and food for everyone, said the 22-year-old. Last week, KFCs parent company Yum! Brands completed its withdrawal from Russia. with the business sold to Smart Service, a local franchisee. Neither company was immediately available for comment. Same world As part of the deal, Smart Service agreed to retain the companys employees in Russia, Yum! Brands said in a statement last week. Smart Service will initially convert their more than 100 KFC restaurants in Russia to Rostics, the statement said. As master franchisor, Smart Service will also be responsible for working with other franchisees in Russia to rebrand to Rostics. With more than 1,000 restaurants, KFC was the largest fast food chain in Russia. Konstantin Kotov, who co-leads Smart Service, said no major changes were planned to the menu or design of the new restaurants. Our main goal is to create as little discomfort for people as possible in getting to know the brand, Kotov told Russian business newspaper RBK Daily. They should simply immerse themselves in the same world that they have always had. Russian president Vladimir Putins decision to send troops to Ukraine in February 2022 triggered unprecedented sanctions and an exodus of foreign corporations, including Starbucks and McDonalds. Former McDonalds restaurants in Russia have been renamed Vkusno i tochka, meaning Delicious. Full Stop. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Zurich: UBS chief executive Sergio Ermotti shed light Tuesday on how Switzerlands biggest bank will go about integrating Credit Suisse once the takeover is completed in the coming months. On 19 March, UBS agreed to buy its stricken closest domestic rival for $3.25 billion, backed up by some hefty Swiss government guarantees. As UBS unveiled its quarterly results, here are some of the outlines that emerged of how Ermotti sees the future banking juggernaut shaping up: Growing wealth management The takeover will create a superbank in charge of $5 trillion of invested assets, said Ermotti, who led UBS from 2011 to 2020 and was called back in to carry out the complex merger operation. Also Read: More than $68 billion withdrawn from Credit Suisse ahead of UBS takeover Achieving such a level of assets is the equivalent of seven to 10 years of net new money coming in, he said. It will make us the second-largest wealth manager in the world, he said, and the only truly global player in the field. The merger is a chance to strengthen its wealth management reach, with Ermotti underlining that UBS is stronger in North America while Credit Suisse is better positioned in Southeast Asia. The merger will also significantly strengthen UBS in South America. Prudence The merger will also strengthen asset management and investment banking, but Ermotti warned that activities outside our strategic focus and risk appetite will be run down. Investment banking and asset management were central to the scandals that crippled Credit Suisse. Its risk culture was singled out after the British financial firm Greensill went bankrupt and the US hedge fund Archegos imploded. On Monday, Credit Suisse announced it was ending the complex and controversial transaction planned with US investment banker Michael Klein for restructuring its investment banking arm, thus leaving it to UBS to sort out. Prudence is dear to Ermottis vision. UBS will be maintaining our strong culture and prudent risk management, said Ermotti, who conducted a major restructuring notably in investment banking during his first spell at the Zurich-based institution. Impact within Switzerland The merger raises serious concerns about jobs and competition in Switzerland. Ermotti urged investors to be patient, insisting that public debate within the country is currently totally based on emotions and in many cases, totally uninformed. He said any decisions, to be taken within the coming months, would be based on facts. Also Read: UBS takeover of Credit Suisse to spark job crisis in London as 10,000 positions on the line across world The combined UBS and Credit Suisse workforce amounted to around 120,000 employees at the end of 2022, including 37,000 within Switzerland. Job cuts the painful part Ermotti said there was no immediate need for layoffs because we still need to operate the two banks separately for the foreseeable future. The question will arise in the longer term, and thats the most painful part of this transaction. However, he intends to proceed in a transparent fashion and is partly counting on natural turnover and retirements to limit the number of job cuts. Rebuilding customer confidence UBS intends to complete the takeover by the end of June, and has already received the approval of the Swiss, British and US Federal Reserve authorities. Some customers may be nervous after the implosion of Credit Suisse, but Ermotti voiced confidence that UBS will retain and win back clients. In the first quarter of 2023, UBSs wealth management business saw inflows of $28 billion, including $7 billion during the last 10 days of March. 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: Mafia-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari has landed in the dragnet of tax authorities over allegations of possessing benami property worth hundreds of crores. The Income Tax Department has served notice to mafia-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari regarding a plot of land worth Rs127 crore in UPs Ghazipur. This land was bought by one Ganesh Dutt Mishra for Rs1.29 crore. Upon investigation by the IT department, it was revealed that Mukhtars family are directors and shareholders in the company from which Dutt had taken a loan to buy the piece of land, according to TV9. There is also a shareholder Mohammad Suhaib Mujahid among them. While serving this notice in the Banda Jail, the Income Tax Department has asked about a dozen questions, reported TV9. The Income Tax Department is also trying to understand Ganesh Dutts relationship with the Ansaris. The investigation of benami properties of Mukhtar Ansari is going on for quite some time now. This also includes property worth Rs127 crore in Ghazipur. Although the Income Tax Department has given notice to Ansari for the first time. For this, the IT Department personnel themselves reached Banda Jail, served the notice, and asked Ansari about a dozen questions related to the property. According to the officials of the Income Tax Department, even though Ganesh Dutt Mishra has bought this land for one crore 29 lakh rupees, but he does not have the capacity to spend so much money in one go. Mukhtars wife Afsha Ansari is also associated with this company. Afsha is currently absconding and the Uttar Pradesh Police has declared a reward of one lakh against her. 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. Ten police personnel and their driver were killed on Wednesday in an IED blast by Naxals near Aranpur in Chhattisgarhs Dantewada. The attack targeted a vehicle carrying District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel. They were reportedly returning after an anti-Maoist operation undertaken in response to intelligence inputs. Major security lapses Sources told News18 that there were major security lapses ahead of the attack. According to News18 sources, no intelligence was gathered to sanitise the route when the DRG team was leaving for the headquarters. The DRG vehicle was already on the radar of the Naxals, who were tracking the route and movement of the convoy. The convoy also didnt change the route and used the same way which was another lapse at the level of planning, sources told News18. Video from the Maoist attack site in Dantewada shows the targeted vehicle turned into a mangled heap of metal under the impact of the IED blast. pic.twitter.com/Q2BKDHlgWF Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 26, 2023 PM Modi, Amit Shah condemn attack Meanwhile, leaders across party lines have condemned the blast. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the personnels sacrifice will always be remembered. Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2023 Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that he has spoken to Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and has assured all help to the state government. Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarhs Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred Jawans. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 26, 2023 Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said that Naxalism will be uprooted. #WATCH | Chhattisgarh CM says, Dantewada incident is heart-rending. My condolences to their families. Their sacrifice wont go to waste. Pressure is being created on naxals, so they did this cowardice. Naxalism will be uprooted. I spoke with HM Amit Shah & Mallikarjun Kharge pic.twitter.com/EHdk0KSY8Z ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik saluted the bravehearts who sacrificed their lives. Strongly condemn the cowardly IED blast carried out by Naxals killing so many policemen in #Dantewada, Chhattisgarh. Salute to the bravehearts who sacrificed their lives. Condolences to the bereaved families of the bravehearts & prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) April 26, 2023 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 defence ministers of China, Russia and other member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), with the exception of Pakistan will participate in a crucial conclave of the regional grouping this week in New Delhi. Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif will attend the SCO defence ministers meeting in New Delhi on Friday virtually, according to an official statement. Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu are among those who are visiting India to attend the meeting. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will chair the meeting that is expected to deliberate on the regional security situation including developments in Afghanistan. Defence Ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan will participate. India has invited Belarus and Iran, currently observers in SCO, to participate in the SCO defence ministers meeting, the defence ministry said. Defence Minister of Pakistan will be participating virtually. The ministers will discuss matters related to regional peace and security, counter terrorism efforts within SCO and an effective multilateralism, it said in a statement. The ministry said Singh will be holding bilateral meetings with the participating defence ministers on April 27 and 28 where bilateral defence related issues and other matters of mutual interest will be discussed. It said India has ancient civilizational, cultural and spiritual ties with the SCO member countries. Indias membership of SCO in 2017, was therefore, a reaffirmation of New Delhis keenness to deepen these historic ties. India considers SCO as an important regional group to promote multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region, it said. The ministry said India continues to bring more ideas and initiatives to strengthen cooperation among SCO countries. Under its Chairmanship, this year, India organised two defence related activities to enhance interoperability amongst SCO member states, it said. The first being a workshop on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and the second was a seminar of SCO countries defence think-tanks on the issue of armed forces contributing to military medicine, healthcare and pandemics, the ministry said. India stands committed to take forward the Agenda of SCO under its chairmanship, it added. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Over the years, it has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017. 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 BJP and Congress slammed AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal over reports of spending Rs 45 crore for the beautification of the Delhi chief ministers official residence here. While BJP stated that such a big sum was a pointer to the ideological renovation of the AAP founder who claimed to promote honesty and simplicity when he entered politics, the Congress party raised questions on Arvind Kejriwals right to remain in his position. What BJP said? Calling Kejriwal as a maharaj, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said even kings will bow to the AAP leader for his choice of superior products in the residence and his lust for luxury and comfort. He also alleged that Kejriwal offered Rs 20 crore to Rs 50 crore to media houses to not highlight the story but news channels and newspapers ignored the offer, PTI reported. One of the eight new curtains purchased for the residence cost over Rs 7.94 lakh while the cheapest was Rs 3.57 lakh, Patra told reporters. Citing documents, the BJP spokesperson said marbles worth over Rs 1.15 core were brought from Vietnam while Rs 4 core was spent on pre-fabricated wooden walls. This is the story of a king who is shameless, he said, in a clear counter to Kejriwals recent attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Delhi Assembly where he mocked the top BJP leader by narrating a story of a king. It is not only about the renovation of the residence but also of the Aam Aadmi Partys ideology and its leaders mindset, he alleged. At the presser, Patra played Kejriwals speeches during his early days in politics in which he is heard speaking against big houses and other facilities given to politicians in power. He has a house of four-five rooms and he does not need a bigger house, Kejriwal is heard saying. Congress reaction Congress leader Ajay Maken alleged that Kejriwal spent Rs 45 crore of public funds on his luxurious bungalow, including on extravagant items like Dior polish, Vietnam marble, expensive curtains, and high-end carpets. However, before coming to power, the AAP leader distributed printed copies of a sworn affidavit in his New Delhi Legislative Assembly constituency, dated June 7, 2013, in which he made seven promises. Maken said Kejriwal promised not to use a car with a red light or request additional security beyond what is necessary for a common citizen and refuse a large bungalow and instead live in an ordinary house like a common man. Despite naming his party Aam Aadmi Party (common mans party) and making these pledges, Kejriwal spent a fortune on his bungalow when the people of Delhi were desperately seeking oxygen cylinders during the Covid pandemic. Moreover, there are more than 6 lakh households in the slums of the city. This raises questions about his right to remain in his position as a public servant and on whether he has upheld the other promises mentioned in the distributed sworn affidavit, especially considering the urgent needs of the citizens, the Congress leader tweeted. AAPs reply Senior AAP leader Raghav Chadha, while speaking to Times Now, said the residence in question was built in 1942. The Delhi governments Public Works Department (PWD), after an audit, had recommended its renovation, he said. Kejriwals official residence was built in 1942 and the roof had collapsed thrice, the Aam Aadmi Party said on Wednesday and accused the BJP of diverting attention from key issues by raising the matter of Rs 45 crore spent on the house. Following the roof collapse incidents, the Public Works Department suggested a new house be built and this was done, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said. The house has been rebuilt at an expenditure of Rs 30 crore, he said at a press conference. The chief ministers official residence is in north Delhis Civil Lines area. (With inputs from PTI) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The stage is set for the election of Delhis new mayor and a deputy mayor today. In the high-stakes polls, there will be a direct contest between incumbent Shelly Oberoi from AAP and BJP councillor from Greater Kailash Shikha Rai. The polling will be held at the Civic Centre the headquarters of the MCD. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is the ruling party in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Similarly, incumbent deputy mayor Aaley Mohammad Iqbal of the AAP will take on BJPs Soni Pandey from the Sonia Vihar ward in East Delhi. Oberoi was elected Delhi mayor on February 22 in the fourth attempt since the earlier elections were stalled amid a ruckus over voting rights being given to nominated members. She had defeated BJPs Rekha Gupta by a margin of 34 votes by polling 150 votes. Gupta got 116 of the total 266 votes polled. The post of mayor in the national capital sees five single-year terms on a rotational basis with the first year reserved for women, the second for the open category, the third for the reserved category and the remaining two again for the open category. The city gets a new mayor after the end of a financial year. AAPs Oberoi and Aaley Mohammad Iqbal filed their nominations earlier this month for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor respectively for a possible second consecutive term, with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party exuding confidence that its candidates are poised for a win. According to the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, 1957, the mayor and the deputy mayor are to be elected in the very first session of the House after the civic polls. The civic polls held on December 4 last year were the first after the three corporations were unified into the MCD and a fresh delimitation exercise was carried out, reducing the number of wards from 272 in 2012 to 250. The AAP had emerged as a clear winner in the December 4 polls, bagging 134 wards and ending the BJPs 15-year rule in the civic body. The BJP won 104 wards to finish second, while the Congress won nine seats in the 250-member Municipal House. The total number of votes in the mayoral polls is 274. The numbers game favours the AAP, which has 150 votes against the BJPs 113. 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: Delhi on Wednesday recorded seven fatalities, the most so far this year, and documented 1,040 new COVID-19 cases with a positive rate of 21.16 per cent, according to data shared by the city governments Health department. The addition of the fresh cases takes the national capitals overall infection tally to 20,36,196 while the death toll has risen to 26,613. In three of the seven fatalities, Covid was not the primary reason of death while the finding of infection was incidental in two. Complete case sheets of the two other fatalities are awaited from hospitals, the department said. The number of active cases in the national capital stands at 4,708. Of the total, 3,384 patients are in home isolation, it said. The fresh cases emerged from 4,915 tests, including 3,741 RT-PCR/CBNAAT/True Nat tests, conducted the previous day, the bulletin said. Only 305 of the 7,977 Covid beds in the national capital are occupied at present, the data showed. Delhi on Tuesday reported 1,095 fresh cases and six fatalities while the positivity rate was recorded at 22.74, On Monday, the national capital logged 689 infections and three fatalities with a case positivity of 29.42 per cent. The city witnessed 948 cases and two fatalities with a positivity rate of 25.69 on Sunday. It logged 1,515 cases and six fatalities with a case positivity rate of 26.46 on Saturday. The Health department did not issue a bulletin on Friday. The city recorded three fatalities and 1,603 fresh caseload additions on Thursday with a positivity rate of 26.75. On April 19, it reported six deaths along with 1,757 new cases with a positivity rate of 28.63. The national capital recorded 1,537 cases on April 18 with the positivity at 26.54 per cent. On April 17, Delhi recorded 1,017 cases and a positivity rate of 32.25 the highest in more than 15 months. The national capital recorded a positivity rate of 30.6 on 14 January last year. The number of COVID-19 cases had dropped to zero on January 16 for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic. However, the city has witnessed a spurt in fresh cases over the past month. On April 11, mock drills were conducted in Delhi hospitals to ascertain their preparedness to tackle COVID-19. Medical experts have said the Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16 could be driving the surge in cases in the city. However, they have maintained that there is no need to panic and people should follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and get their booster shots. 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. MBABANE The healthcare consignment nabbed at the Oshoek Border Gate, while being transported to South Africa, belongs to local giant pharmaceutical company, Swazipharm and is worth over E1.1 million. Documents in the Times of Eswatini possession can reveal that the bulk of the consignment consisted of medical supplies, which are not restricted, according to the SA law. The supplies comprised suction catheters, mucus extractors, wound suction drain, latex gloves, silicon tubing and other devices used in healthcare facilities. This revelation follows the arrest of the driver of the truck which was transporting the medical supplies. He was arrested on the SA side of the border on April 14, 2023, and has already appeared at the Chief Albert Luthuli Magistrates Court, where he was admitted to bail fixed at E5 000. Revealed It has been revealed that Swazipharm had sold the medical supplies to SAs Supra Healthcare in Johannesburg. When the goods were intercepted at the border, they were being transported to Johannesburg, as per the procurement procedure. The exportation of the goods was authorised by the Government of Eswatini after due security checks, according to a document seen by this publication, which is also in its possession. It is believed that this accounts for the reason that the Eswatini side of the border had not taken issue with the transportation of the supplies. The authority was signed by Assistant Director of Pharmaceutical Services Brenda Mhlanga and directed to the commissioner general of the Eswatini Revenue Authority. It reads in part: Your office is kindly informed that Swazipharm, a registered importer/exporter with the Ministry of Health, has been granted authority to export the following commodities to Supra Healthcare JHB using invoices number SWAINV370391, dated 20/12/2022. The amount in the invoice attached reflects that the total cost of the goods is E1.152 867.51. It was reliably gathered that the bulk of the medical supplies had been purchased at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the company opted to dispose of it when the pandemic subsided. Questions Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Health Dr Simon Zwane was asked a number of questions seeking to know why the consignment was blocked if all paperwork was checked and authorised; if a distinction had been made between medical consignment and/or supplies, and whether the Eswatini Government had studied the case and observed any violations that needed to be avoided by exporters in future to avoid contravening the SA laws. He said he could not understand why the export permit, if it was cleared by the ministry, had not been produced to the Customs officials at the border. We could tell the consignment was medical supplies but cannot say that with absolute certainty. Transportation of such goods has specific requirements and regulations to be adhered to, to safeguard public health. It is, therefore, important for the industry to follow them, Dr Zwane said. Supra Healthcare said they would respond to questions from the Times through Swazipharm. Meanwhile, when the issue was brought to the Chief Albert Luthuli Magistrates Court, it was said that the goods were worth about E800 000. The driver of the truck that was transporting the goods was identified as Bongani Sifiso Shongwe, a liSwati national. Co-founder of Indias biggest stock broker company Zerodha and also the countrys youngest billionaire, Nikhil Kamath is truly an inspiration for the younger generation. Despite being a school dropout, Nikhil along with his elder brother Nithin Kamath has taken the fintech company to new heights, recording a profit of Rs 2,000 crore in the last financial quarter. At a time when Zerodha has been recording a humongous profit this year, thus taking the stock broking industry to a completely new level, lets take a look at the inspiring journey of Nikhil Kamath. About Zerodha founder Nikhil Kamath Nikhil who has admitted to hating going to school used to sell phones at the age of 14, leaving his mother angry. This also affected his studies and the school management was unhappy with his lack of interest. Nikhil was also not allowed to appear for the class 10 board exams, following which he dropped out of school. It was then that he started working at a call centre where he would get a salary of Rs 8,000 per month and also left his parents house to move in with his girlfriend. I worked from 4 PM to 1 AM at the call centre, and in the mornings, I tried my hand at trading. I learned a lot; when you move away from the family ecosystem and the judgement of relatives, you get down to the real stuff, the Zerodha founder once said in an interview with the Humans of Bombay. He also shared how his father supported him. Zerodhas start It was in 2006 when Nikhil Kamath met an American man who gave him the responsibility to manage his money. Taking notes of that job, he started with a brokerage firm titled Kamath & Associates. Later in 2010, Nikhil took the job further and started Zerodha. He was later joined in by his elder brother Nithin Kamath. The duo earns a salary package of Rs 100 crore each. As per the latest reports, a great part of Kamaths net worth is comprised his salary and earnings from the company. The package reportedly includes a base salary of Rs 4.16 crore, Rs 2 crore for housing rent, Rs 1.6 crore for other perks, and Rs 41 lakh for extra allowances. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised a 7-year-old girl from Himachal Pradesh who donated her entire pocket money to support PM TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. The girl, Nalini Singh, from Una district of Himachal Pradesh, was also recently honored by Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla. PM Modi lauded the girls initiative, calling it good gesture. Little Hands, Big Impact Sharing the generosity of Nalini on Twitter, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said: "Your little effort can make a big impact on someones life and strengthen our (India's) fight for TB Mukt Bharat." Nikshay Mitra scheme Nikshay Mitra (donor) is a digital platform for tuberculosis (TB) patients in India. It includes co-operative societies, corporates, elected representatives, individuals, institutions, non-governmental organizations, political parties and partners who can support by adopting health facilities (for individual donor), blocks/urban wards/districts/states for accelerating response against TB to complement government efforts, as per the district-specific requirements in coordination with the district administration. The platform launched by the Government of India aims to improve the management of TB cases in the country by providing a centralised, web-based system for patients to access information, connect with healthcare providers, and track their progress. It also helps provide nutritional, additional diagnostic and vocational support to those inflicted by TB, plays a stellar role in achieving our dream of a TB Mukt Bharat by 2025. The platform allows patients to register for free and receive a unique patient ID number. PM TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan Implemented by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), PM TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan aims for effective engagement of the community in the path towards ending TB in India. The MoHFW has implemented the ambitious National Strategic Plan with the goal to achieve SDG End TB targets by 2025. As per the government, India has the worlds highest TB burden, with an estimated 26 lakh people contracting the disease and approximately 4 lakh people dying from the disease every year. TB usually affects the most economically productive age group of society resulting in a significant loss of working days and pushing TB patients further into the vortex of poverty. The objective of PM TB Mukt Bharat mission is to provide additional patient support to improve treatment outcomes of TB patients, augment community involvement in meeting Indias commitment to end TB by 2025, and leverage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. 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: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a busy schedule on Wednesday as he will be attending various programmes. Lets have a look at the list of events he will be a part of: 1. PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate 6th edition of Advantage Healthcare India (AHCI) 2023 The Prime Minister will address the 6th edition of Advantage Healthcare India (AHCI) (One Earth One Health) virtually organized on April 26 and 27, at Pragati Maidan in the national capital. 2. PM Modi to pay tribute to Parkash Singh Badal In light of Parkash Singh Badals passing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reportedly scheduled to visit Chandigarh at 12 noon to pay his last respects to the veteran leader. 3. PM Modi to address the closing ceremony of Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the closing ceremony of Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam today via video conferencing. According to Prime Ministers Office (PMO), the genesis of the programme lies in the vision of PM Modi of promoting the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat through initiatives which bring out and help rediscover the age-old links between people in different parts of the country. With this in mind, the Kashi Tamil Sangamam was organised earlier. 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 man from Maharashtras Thane city was duped of nearly Rs 5 lakh in cyber fraud after he relied on the results of a Google search to seek refunds for his cancelled trip to an African nation, an official said on Wednesday. The man in his police complaint, said that he had booked return tickets to the Kenya capital Nairobi as he and his friend wanted to visit the city of Mombasa. The tickets were booked for April 29 and May 05 and he paid Rs 1.46 lakh for them. However, his plans changed and he decided to cancel the tickets and seek refunds, said the official. He filled out a form for a refund on the website of the airline on April 11. When the complainant could not get through to the airlines helpline, he ran a Google search and got what he thought to be the contact number of the airline, said the official. He dialled the number and was told that the airlines technical team would get in touch with him and facilitate the refund, the official said. A man then spoke to the complainant and said he was eligible for a refund of Rs 1.28 lakh. He asked the complainant to download an app, got complete access to his phone and stole Rs 4.8 lakh from his accounts, said the official. On the basis of the mans complaint, the Chitalsar police on Tuesday registered a case under the IT Act. A probe is on, said the official, adding that no arrest has been made yet. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In a strange turn of events, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath received a death threat over a call from a man who reportedly wanted to take revenge on his girlfriends father. As reported by the local media, the threat was received on the Lucknow Polices emergency number 112 and also on its WhatsApp group, following which an investigation was launched, and the man was arrested in connection with the case. The police also came to know that the man who was irked with his girlfriends father, wanted to implicate the latter in a criminal case to avenge the mans behaviour towards his daughter. After receiving the threatening call and a message, the police registered a case and started investigating. They also traced the call and reached out to the owner of the number, who said that his phone was stolen a few days back. Frustrated lover threatens UP CM Yogi Adityanath As per the latest developments, the 18-year-old man named Ameen was furious with his girlfriends father, who was not happy with their relationship. Irked over the same, Ameen hatched a plan to implicate the man in a false criminal case and get him arrested. He then stole his girlfriends fathers phone and issued threats to the chief minister with the help of it. The message received by the police reportedly read, Yogi CM ko maar dunga jaldi (I will soon kill CM Yogi). The police immediately informed senior officials, including ADG, law and order, and ADG Intelligence following which a case was registered against the man. He will now be charged under various sections including one of phone theft. The accused will be produced before the Lucknow court this week. 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 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has revealed that Indias military expenditure rose by 6 per cent in 2022, making it the fourth-highest spender globally. Earlier, India was third-highest spender, but now Russia climbed to that spot due to a hike in military spending owing to the Ukraine war. The top five spenders in the world in 2022 were US ($877 billion), China ($292 billion), Russia ($86.4 billion), India ($81.4 billion) and Saudi Arabia ($75 billion). This accounted for 63 per cent of the worlds military spending, according to the SIPRI report. The increase in Indias spending shows the effects of its border tensions with China and Pakistan. Its expenditure on capital outlays, which funds equipment upgrades for the armed forces and to the military infrastructure along its disputed border with China, amounted to 23 per cent of total military spending in 2022. The report added, Personnel expenses (e.g. salaries and pensions) remained the largest expenditure category in the Indian military budget, accounting for around half of all military spending. Just like India, China has also increased its military expenditure, as it remains the worlds second largest spender. The SIPRI report suggests that China allocated around $292 billion in 2022, and its military expenditure has now increased for 28 consecutive years. China is also pushing ahead with the largest-ever expansion of its nuclear arsenal. It is modernising the atomic deterrent with an eye on any future conflicts with the United States. SIPRI estimates that China has a stockpile of around 350 nuclear warheads, comparatively a small number when compared with the United States and Russia. But it is growing fast, and could have 1,500 warheads by 2035. India and China have been locked in a standoff along the LAC in eastern Ladakh since May 2020. To ease the situation, many rounds of talks have taken place. The two sides recently held 18th round of military talks to resolve the issue. 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 first special flight carrying 360 Indians who were evacuated from conflict-hit Sudan landed in New Delhi on Wednesday night. The flight was part of the Indian governments evacuation mission Operation Kaveri. Sharing pictures of the evacuees on Twitter, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, India welcomes back its own. #OperationKaveri brings 360 Indian Nationals to the homeland as the first flight reaches New Delhi. Evacuation being carried out via Saudi Under the Operation Kaveri, India is taking the evacuees to the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah from where they are returning home. #WATCH | Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Indian Army Zindabad, PM Narendra Modi Zindabad slogans chanted by Indian nationals as they arrive in Delhi from conflict-torn Sudan. pic.twitter.com/Uird0MSoRx ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 India has set up a transit facility at Jeddah and Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan is overseeing the evacuation mission from the Saudi Arabian city, PTI reported. The first batch of 278 Indians was evacuated from Port Sudan by the Indian Navys frontline ship INS Sumedha on Tuesday. India stepped up evacuation efforts after the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) declared a 72-hour truce following intense negotiations. Apart from the Sudanese authorities, the MEA and the Indian embassy in Sudan have been in regular touch with the UN, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and US among others. At a high-level meeting last Friday, PM Narendra Modi issued directions for the preparation of contingency plans to evacuate Indians from Sudan. Last week, Jaishankar spoke to his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt on the ground situation in Sudan with a focus on ensuring the safety of the Indians. On Thursday, Jaishankar discussed the situation in Sudan with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. 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. Aviation regulator DGCA on Wednesday directed Air India to ground the entire crew of a plane, nearly two months after the pilot allowed a female friend into the cockpit during a Dubai-Delhi flight. The cabin crew and the pilot will remain derostered till investigations are complete, PTI quoted a senior DGCA official as saying. Cabin crew member filed complaint with DGCA A cabin crew member of the flight had filed a complaint with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) about the pilot allowing a female friend into the cockpit. The incident happened on 27 February. The official at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that prima-facie, the cabin crew seems to have had no role in the incident. There is an allegation, which is being investigated and the principle of natural justice will apply, and the pilot concerned will also be given an opportunity to present his case, the official said on Wednesday. The official also said the pilot will remain grounded till a final decision on the matter is taken by the regulator. While there was no immediate comment from Air India on the latest development, the airline, on 21 April, said it had taken serious note of the reported incident and that investigations were underway. Unauthorised people are not allowed to enter the cockpit and any such entry could be in violation of norms. With inputs from PTI Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. New Delhi: With the unprecedented pace in building National Highways over 53,000 kms added in last nine years Indias road network is marching towards world-class standards with widescale expansions and makeovers, thereby boosting Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. In the last 9 years (2014-23), India has amplified 53,868+ KMs to its National Highways network, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari tweeted on Tuesday. In the last 9 years (2014-23), India has amplified 53,868+ KMs to its National Highways network.#PragatiKaHighway #GatiShakti pic.twitter.com/f2uP2Q8I7M Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) April 25, 2023 As per the official data, India had a total of 91,287 km of National Highways till April 1, 2014, which has been expanded to 145,155 km by March 2023. From building 12.1 km per day of roads in 2014-15, India saw 28.6 km of roads being constructed every day in 2021-22. In reply to Gadkaris tweet, PM Modi wrote, The last 9 years have been transformative in all infra related sectors. Better road connectivity has greatly strengthened other vital areas of the economy. The last 9 years have been transformative in all infra related sectors. Better road connectivity has greatly strengthened other vital areas of the economy. https://t.co/7BkOH3AfLn Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2023 The numbers say at all The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) are primarily responsible for the construction of national highways and expressways in India. As per the official data, India witnessed construction of 10,237 km of National Highways in 2019-20, 13,327 km in 2020-21, 10,457 km in 2021-22 and 10,331 km in 2022-23. India reportedly has about 63.73 lakh km of the road network, which is the second largest in the world. Whats the need? In order to boost the economy and improve connectivity, roads and highways play a major role as road transport is the basis of not only economic development but also social development, defence sectors, and access to basic things for life. About 85 per cent of passenger and 70 per cent of goods traffic is carried by roads every year, according to a PTI report. National Highways remain a predominant factor in the economic and social development of the country by enabling efficient movement of freight and passengers, connecting people and facilitating economic activities. Over the last nine years, Prime Minister Modi-led central government has implemented multiple initiatives to augment the capacity of the National Highway infrastructure in the country. Not to forget, a significant increase in the pace of National Highways construction has been witnessed between 2014-15 and 2021-22 due to the systematic push through corridor-based National Highway development approach. Bharatmala Pariyojana It is pertinent to mention here the Bharatmala Pariyojana an umbrella program for the highways sector which focuses on optimising efficiency of freight and passenger movement across the country. It bridges the infrastructure gaps through effective interventions like development of economic corridors, inter corridors and feeder routes, national corridor efficiency improvement, border and international connectivity roads, coastal and port connectivity roads and green-field expressways. As a part of the Pariyojana, Indias largest expressway, i.e., 1,386 km long Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, is being developed, and Delhi Dausa Lalsot section of the expressway has already been dedicated to the nation by PM Modi. As per the ministry, the Bharatmala Pariyojana envisages development of about 26,000 km length of Economic Corridors, which along with Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) and North-South and East-West (NS-EW) Corridors are expected to carry majority of the freight traffic on roads. Further, about 8,000 km of Inter Corridors and about 7,500 km of Feeder Routes have been identified for improving effectiveness of economic corridors, GQ and NS-EW corridors. Future vision Earlier this year, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, while addressing the Economic Times Global Business Summit, said Indias road infrastructure will be equal to the US road infrastructure by the end of 2024. He further stated that Indias logistics cost is 16 per cent, while the government targets to reduce it to around 9 per cent. Without infrastructure, there can be no industry, and without industry there can be no capital investment, and without capital investment there can be no employment potential. A world-class infrastructure is the way to achieve a $5 trillion economy, Gadkari said. (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. Suzanne Turner Named Assistant Director of the Counterintelligence Division Director Christopher Wray has named Suzanne Turner as the assistant director of the Counterintelligence Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. She most recently served as assistant director of the Inspection Division. Ms. Turner joined the FBI as a special agent in 1998 and reported to the San Diego Field Office, where she spent more than a decade. She initially worked violent crime matters and later investigated major Mexican narcotics cases. In 2001, she worked on the team investigating the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In 2003, Ms. Turner shifted to investigating public corruption before she was promoted to supervisory special agent in 2007. As a supervisor, she worked corporate, securities, and healthcare fraud and served as the white-collar crime and asset forfeiture manager. In 2011, she transferred to San Diegos Human Intelligence Squad. Later that year, Ms. Turner was promoted to assistant inspector in the Inspection Division at Headquarters, which conducts internal investigations, reviews operational performance, and conducts special inquiries. Ms. Turner returned to San Diegos Human Intelligence Squad in 2012. She was promoted to assistant special agent in charge of San Diegos Intelligence Branch in 2014 and oversaw the intelligence and surveillance programs, the foreign language unit, and other programs. In 2017, she was appointed ASAC of San Diegos National Security Branch, responsible for counterterrorism, counterintelligence, cyber, and weapons of mass destruction. In 2018, Ms. Turner was promoted to section chief in the Inspection Division at Headquarters. She was named deputy assistant director of the Training Division in 2020 and oversaw all operations at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Ms. Turner returned to San Diego in 2020 as the special agent in charge. In 2022, she returned to Headquarters to serve as assistant director of the Inspection Division. Prior to joining the FBI, Ms. Turner served as a sheriffs deputy and a police officer in Ohio. She earned a Bachelor of Science in human resources management from Syracuse University. This story has been published on: 2023-04-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Chinese enterprise contributes to Tanzania port construction 16:51, April 26, 2023 By Huang Peizhao, Shen Xiaoxiao ( People's Daily The Dar es Salaam Port of Tanzania, located on the west coast of the Indian Ocean, handles more than 90 percent of the country's foreign trade. It also serves as a sea gate and economic channel for many countries in East Africa. However, the busyness was once a burden for the port due to its aging facilities and narrow berths. Photo shows the Dar es Salaam Port of Tanzania. (People's Daily/Huang Peizhao) Thanks to an expansion project, the port has regained vitality and is now always bustling. Container tractors, cranes, forklifts and other port equipment are shuttling back and forth, fully-loaded vessels are arriving one after another, while cargo handling is in an orderly manner. Over a year ago, seven berths of the port were upgraded by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and put into operation, upon which the port's cargo handling capacity has been increased by 26 percent to about 17.65 million tons per year. The upgrade has enabled large vessels with a load-carrying capacity of up to 70,000 tons to dock at the port, while the port could only accommodate vessels with a capacity of around 20,000 tons in the past. Bian Liang, head of hydraulic engineering projects of CHEC in Tanzania, told People's Daily that the port has significantly improved its operational efficiency and cargo handling capacity since the upgraded berths were put into use. The upgrade not only meets Tanzania's demand for cargo transport, but also promotes the foreign trade of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and other landlocked countries in Africa, Bian noted. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said the expansion of the Dar es Salaam Port is of important significance for improving the port's comprehensive efficiency and promoting regional economic development. It will drive Tanzania's socio-economic development, and facilitate the foreign trade of landlocked countries in East Africa, she added. Tanzanian newspaper The Citizen reported that the project has greatly expanded the cargo handling capacity of the port and consolidated the port's position as an important harbor in East Africa. It said the expansion will make positive contributions to economic and social development, and trained many professionals for the local community. Photo shows an employee working at the Dar es Salaam Port of Tanzania. (People's Daily/Huang Peizhao) A Tanzanian woman surnamed Joyce had been working for the CHEC for five years. She was in charge of human resources for the expansion project of the Dar es Salaam Port. During the years she worked on the project with her Chinese colleagues, she not only became a professional in human resources, but also gained a deeper understanding of port construction. Last year, Joyce was hired as a regular employee by the Tanzania Ports Authority due to her outstanding performance. She said the infrastructure cooperation between Tanzania and China plays an important role in promoting the people-to-people bond between the two countries, adding that her working experience in CHEC is a valuable professional asset. It is reported that the second-phase project of the Dar es Salaam Port has commenced to further expand the port's handling capacity and better facilitate the economic development of East Africa. The project includes dredging, wreck salvage as well as procurement and installation of navigation equipment. Shan Jifeng, who heads the second-phase project, said that the heavy-duty self-propelled rake suction dredger Tong Xu independently designed and built by China has been employed for dredging this time, strictly following high-standard environmental protection measures. According to him, the work of the Chinese team has won high recognition from the Tanzanian side. The expansion project is a miniature of China assisting Tanzania's infrastructure construction and socio-economic development. Humphrey Moshi, director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam, noted that Tanzania's development couldn't be achieved without China's support. Many modern infrastructure projects in Tanzania were built under China's assistance, and the Tanzania-China cooperation has become a powerful engine driving Tanzania's development, he explained. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) Al Habtoor Group (AHG) has announced the reopening of the retail space at AHG touristic complex in Sin El Fil, Beirut, which includes Hilton Beirut Habtoor Grand Hotel and Hilton Beirut Metropolitan Palace. UAE businessman and Founding Chairman of AHG, Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor said: "We have a great love for Lebanon, and I am totally confident that better days are ahead. I said earlier that Al Habtoor Group was looking for a Lebanese competent party to reopen the mall, in order to create more job opportunities for Lebanese youth and ensure a suitable source of income for hundreds of Lebanese households." He added: "Today I announce that we have taken serious steps to reopen the mall under a new name, the Sooq Avenue. To this end, we have signed a contract with a new company that employs an elite group of educated and patriotic Lebanese youth, and whose vision is in line with AHG aspirations. The first goal is to create job opportunities and contribute to the economic recovery, which comes first before seeking financial profit. The launching of the new space will take place within a period of one year." The Sooq Avenue will be launched by the end of 2023, a statement said. As a gesture of support to tenants and shop owners, and "given that the current economic situation might discourage tenants and shop owners from opening new branches in Lebanon, we decided to give a 12-month grace period to tenants to alleviate the burdens of the current crisis," said Al Habtoor. Earlier this year, Al Habtoor tweeted: "We are reopening the Hilton Beirut Metropolitan Palace in Lebanon, to support the Lebanese economy, create job opportunities for the Lebanese youth and advance growth in the country." Al Habtoor concluded: "I call upon businessmen in Lebanon and abroad to join this initiative and contribute to the recovery of the Lebanese economy." TradeArabia News Service Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday strongly condemned the Naxal attack on Chhattisgarh police personnel and paid tributes to those killed in the incident. Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families, the prime minister tweeted. Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2023 10 DRG jawans, their driver killed in IED blast Ten personnel belonging to the District Reserve Guard were killed when their vehicle was blown up by an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday. Their driver was also killed in the blast taking the overall death toll to 11. VIDEO | Visuals from the site of Maoist attack in Dantewada. Maoists blew up the mini-goods van in which the security personnel were travelling by using an IED. pic.twitter.com/vNhi8aQv43 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 26, 2023 The policemen were returning from an anti-Maoist operation that was launched on the basis of intelligence inputs, officials told PTI. 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. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday said that Mann Ki Baat will be the foundation of India @100 as radio program hosted by PM Modi completed its 100th episode. Dhankar that India will be at the top of the world when it will celebrate its Centenary Celebrations in 2047. Inaugurating the national conclave Mann Ki Baat @100 in New Delhi organised by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Dhankhar said Mann Ki Baat reached every nook and corner of the country and is unparalleled in reach and popularity. He also credited the program for giving recognition and brand value to local art and artisans, and for generating a market space for them, a press release by the Vice Presidents Secretariat said. The Vice-President observed that Mann Ki Baat gave a huge impetus to flagship initiatives of the government such as Swachh Bharat, and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and turned them into mass movements. He added that the PMs addresses on the show were a beacon of positivity to the nation during the COVID pandemic. Noting that the 100th episode of the programme (scheduled to be aired on 30th April 2023) is a historic milestone, Dhankhar lauded the program for serving as an effective platform to popularise and bring to the mainstream the culture and festivals of the North East and other states. Mann Ki Baat, as a matter of fact, is a reflection of our sense of our civilisational ethos, he observed. Calling upon everyone to take pride in the achievements of the nation, the Vice-President stressed that one must always keep nation first. He said that Indias growth story is also underscored by Nari Shakti exemplified in the election of a tribal woman as the President of India. He also noted various welfare initiatives such as the Direct Benefit Transfer, PM Ujjwala Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi and others as indicative of the paradigm change in the socio-economic situation in the country. During the event, Shri Dhankar released the Coffee Table Book My Dear Fellow Citizens. The book, brought out by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, presents glimpses of over 100 inspiring stories, mentioned by the Honble PM in the radio programme. He also released a book Collective Spirit, Concrete Action, authored by Shri Shashi Shekhar Vempati, former CEO, Prasar Bharati, which describes the impact of the programme Mann Ki Baat on the nation. Those in attendance at the event included Anurag Singh Thakur and prominent public personalities like Aamir Khan, Raveena Tandon, Ricky Kej and Nikhat Zareen. Nearly 100 esteemed citizens from various parts of the country who have been mentioned by the Prime Minister in various episodes of Mann Ki Baat also attended the event. 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. In a shocking incident, a woman in Bengaluru jumped off a moving Rapido bike after the rider allegedly gropep her and snatched her phone. The accused identified as Deepak has been arrested. He is currently in judicial custody, an India Today report said. The incident happened on 21 April at around 11 pm. The woman booked a ride using the Rapido bike taxi app. The incident was caught on a CCTV camera. Watch the footage here: #WATCH| Bengaluru, Karnataka: Woman jumps off a moving motorbike after the rapido driver allegedly tried to grope her & snatched her phone On 21st April, woman booked a bike to Indiranagar, driver allegedly took her phone on pretext of checking OTP & started driving towards pic.twitter.com/bPvdoILMQ2 ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 The rider took the womans phone on the pretext of checking the OTP. But he instead changed her drop location, Deccan Herald reported. Meanwhile, police have registered a case of assault and kidnapping against the rider. We have registered a case under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), India Today quoted DCP Northeast Laxmi Prasad as saying. 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. In a shocking incident, a gun-wielding man barged into a packed classroom of a high school in West Bengals Malda district on Wednesday. The man was overpowered by police and arrested, officials said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lauded the police for averting a potential school hostage crisis in the state. Panic gripped the students of Muchia Anchal Chandra Mohan High School at Old Malda in the district, as the unidentified man brandished the gun and started yelling, a senior police officer said. The man managed to enter the school and barge into the room where Class-8 students were seated. He was holding a gun and shouting at the students, allegedly threatening to kill them and the class teacher, the officer told PTI. The person was immediately overpowered by police personnel and arrested, the officer said, adding, the pistol, two bottles containing some liquid and a knife were seized from his possession. The man claimed he acted in this way, as his son and wife have been missing since a year, and he wanted to exert pressure on the administration to take note of it. Anxious guardians rushed to the school and made a beeline outside the educational institution, even as classes were suspended following the incident, police said. Lauding the police for disarming and arresting a man, Banerjee alleged that the entire matter may have been a plot. Case of the man brandishing a gun at Malda school may not be an act of lunacy, the chief minister said. (With inputs from PTI) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. On 20 April, Pakistans foreign ministry announced that foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will visit India to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Council (SCO) foreign ministers meeting in Goa on 4-5 May. As the SCO has been under the deep influence of China and given Pakistans nexus with China, it is impossible to conceive that Bilawal would have attended the meeting if the Chinese had asked him to stay away. Clearly, they have not done that. It is noteworthy that Bilawal could have attended the meeting virtually but is coming in person. Bilawals choice of doing so could not have been his alone. The leaders of the three major constituent parties of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would have been taken on board. Thus, Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman would have signalled their consent to this trip. Besides, the present army chief General Asim Munir too would have given his approval. For many Indians, especially in the security and political classes, the conviction that Indias main external challenge is from China has taken a firm hold. Hence, Pakistans salience has gone down in the countrys security calculus. However, on account of Pakistans continuing ability to instigate terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and also in some other places in India, the country remains high in the general Indian consciousness. This is also because of historical factors and its leaders constant statements against India and its leaders. An extreme example of such a comment was made by Bilawal himself against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a press conference at the United Nations premises in New York in December last year. Bilawal said, I would like to remind the honourable external affairs minister of India that Osama bin Laden is dead but the butcher of Gujarat lives and he is the prime minister of India. This writer can say with near certainty that never have such obnoxious words been used by even Pakistan against an Indian prime minister. These comments of Bilawal should be kept in mind when he is on Indian territory even if he is visiting India to take part in a multilateral ministerial meeting and an invitation to him could not be avoided. On the very day that the Pakistan foreign ministry announced Bilawals visit to India a terrorist attack occurred in Poonch in which five jawans were martyred. The sophistication of the attack, the weapons and bullets used as well as its timing leaves little doubt that its origin lay in Pakistan. Besides, experience shows that the ISI often seeks to coincide terrorist attacks with political visits or an announcement of political visits to send a signal that India should not take the visit to imply that the army is softening its attitude towards India. In this case, it also wants to send the message that despite Pakistans domestic troublespolitical and economic as well as in the security sphere caused by the Tehreek-e-Taliban-e-Pakistan (TTP)it retains the capacity to strike against the Indian Army through terrorist attacks. It is not known as yet if Bilawal will travel straight to Goa or first come to Delhi. He will be tempted to visit Delhi if for nothing else to make strong statements to the Indian media mixed with a desire to improve ties. He would know that after his unforgivable comments against Modi, no political leader would be willing to meet him. Certainly, till Bilawal withdraws these comments no Indian political leader should meet him. However, some members of the Indian media would find it difficult to not give him some kind of a platform to speak. This can also happen if he visits only Goa. It is this writers conviction that Indian media bodies and organisations should advise their members to insist on an apology from him for the words he has used against Modi before they give him any kind of platform. Whatever may be Indias domestic controversies it is simply unacceptable that a foreign minister of another country should be allowed to spew such venom against an elected prime minister. It is customary for a foreign minister visiting a country to take part in a multilateral conference to seek a call on his host. It is also customary to respond positively to such a request. It is likely that Bilawal would follow international custom and ask for a call on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. How should Jaishankar respond? It would be prudent for Jaishankar not to break international customs. He could therefore have a brief bilateral courtesy meeting with Bilawal and restrict the conversation to only SCO issues. As terrorism is an issue which concerns SCO member-states, Jaishankar can use that opening to convey a strong message of Indias continuing will and capacity to take, whenever necessary, deterrent action against terrorists based outside India. It would also be desirable to reiterate the doctrine of preemption that India had emphasised immediately after the Pulwama attack of 2019. Bilawal is only 34. He is articulate and skilful and hence his comment on Modi cannot be excused as the exuberance of an up-and-coming politician. He may need to make such comments for his domestic constituency and would be aware that whatever he would say in India would be part of the election rhetoric whenever it takes place in Pakistan. He may also like to curry favour with the army for his own political future by saying harsh things from Indian soil. Naturally, the government will respond suitably to such comments from him. The writer is a former Indian diplomat who served as Indias Ambassador to Afghanistan and Myanmar, and as secretary, the Ministry of External Affairs. 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. Over the last five decades, China has systematically infiltrated not only the various bodies of the United Nations but also several other global institutions. US Congressional Service, Rand Corporation, German Marshall Fund (GMF) and a few others have mapped the Chinese presence in these organisations and its implications for the rest of the world, especially Taiwan. According to the GMF report, Beijing has managed to further institutionalise and normalise its stance on Taiwan within the UN by signing secret agreements with UN bodies, restricting Taiwans access to the UN and its facilities, and embedding PRC nationals across various levels of UN staff. The UN and its specialised agencies have not made the texts of these agreements, such as that of the 2005 memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the PRC and the World Health Organization, available to the public or to any entity beyond the main signatories, though leaked guidance memos provide insights into the scope of the MoUs content. The PRC has likewise sought to force its views on nomenclature relating to Taiwan within the UN. This includes withholding UN accreditation from NGOs and civil society groups that do not refer to Taiwan as a part of the PRC in their organisational materials or on their websites. Recently, it has come to light that the PRC and its representatives have altered historic UN documents to change references of Taiwan to Taiwan, Province of China. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has become a classic case study when it comes to the Chinese modus operandi or capturing and misusing the global organisations. The partial role played by WHO to defend China during COVID-19 has been much talked about. Michael Collins, a research associate for Asia Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, summed it up well in a commentary published in 2020: China was an important ally of (WHO Director-General Adhanom Ghebreyesus) Tedros in the WHOs DG election in 2017. Months before the election, Tedros was invited to speak at Peking University where he called for stronger cooperation between China and the Global South on health issues. Chinas support for Tedros paid off immediately. The day after his electoral victory, Tedros confirmed to Chinese state-media that he and the WHO will continue to support the One China principle, which recognises the government in Beijing as the legitimate Chinese government. Three years later, Tedros enduring support of Chinas response to Covid-19 shows that their early support for him is still paying dividends. But it isnt about WHO only. Here is an indicative list that just exposes the tip of the iceberg as far as the issue of Chinas efforts to hijack global institutions is concerned. All the Chinese officials who are manning crucial positions in global institutions have something in common-they have all been part of the Chinese establishment in the past and have worked at politically significant positions. Some of them have worked with organisations who provide a facade for the Chinese espionage network. This list has been updated till 25 April, 2023. Dongyu QU, Director-General of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO): Dongyu Qu took office as Director-General of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in August 2019. Before coming to FAO, Dongyu Qu served as PRC Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Prior to this, he served as Vice Governor of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (2008-2011) Shaolin Yang, Managing Director and World Bank Group Chief Administrative Officer: According to the official website of World Bank, Shaolin Yang has been Managing Director and World Bank Group Chief Administrative Officer since February 2016. He is responsible for organisational strategy; budget and strategic planning; information technology; corporate procurement; general services and corporate security; the sanctions system; and the conflict resolution and internal justice system. Shaolin Yang also leads the development and review of the World Bank Groups strategic agenda through 2030 and oversees the alignment of resources with corporate strategies. Previously, he served as Director General for International Economic and Financial Cooperation at Chinas Ministry of Finance. Bo Li, Deputy Managing Director, International Monetary Fund: Bo Li assumed the role of Deputy Managing Director at the IMF in August 2021. He previously served as the Deputy Governor of the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC) and as the Vice Mayor of Chongqing. According to the IMFs official website, Bo Li is responsible for the IMFs work on about 90 countries as well as on a wide range of policy issues. Interestingly, Li was also Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and we have discussed in the earlier series on Chinese Spy Games, how overseas Chinese play an important role in Chinas espionage network. Shixin Chen, Vice-President Operations, Asian Development Bank: As Vice-President (Operations 1) since December 2018, Shixin Chen is responsible for operations in the South Asia Department and the Central and West Asia Department. Prior to joining ADB, Shixin Chen headed the Department of International Economic and Financial Cooperation at the PRC Ministry of Finance (2016-2018). Xiangchen Zhang, Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organisation: Ambassador Xiangchen Zhangs appointment as a Deputy Director-General of the WTO was announced on 4 May, 2021. He is also the Vice Minister in the PRC Ministry of Commerce. Until recently, Ambassador Xiangchen Zhang served as Chinas Permanent Representative to the WTO as well as Deputy Permanent Representative to the WTO. He has held several senior positions within the Chinese government. Guoqi Wu, Associate Vice-President, Corporate Services Department: Guoqi Wu oversees human resources, administrative services, safety and security and information technology resources for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Prior to that, he served in the Chinese Ministry of Finance in various positions. Binying Wang, Deputy Director General, WIPO: Binying Wang has held a series of leadership positions at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). In early 2020, she ran as Chinas nominee in a high-profile race for WIPO Director General, where she was ultimately defeated by Daren Tang of Singapore. She currently administers several key programmes under WIPO. Before joining WIPO, Binying Wang served in a number of positions at Chinas State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) including Managing Director, China Trademark Service and Acting Director General, Department for Registration of Enterprises and Foreign Companies. Hua Liu, Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA): Hua Liu was appointed Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation in February 2021. Hua Liu has held various senior positions in China, including Vice Foreign Minister of Ecology and Environment from 2018 to 2021 and Vice Minister of Environmental Protection from 2016 to 2018. Xiaojie Zhang, Director, Technical Cooperation Division, International Maritime Organisation: Xiaojie Zhang was appointed to this post in 2020. He previously worked as Deputy Director-General for the Department of International Cooperation within the PRC Ministry of Transport. Zhenmin Liu, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, UNESCO: Zhenmin Liu was appointed Under-Secretary General of the United Nations for Economic and Social Affairs in June 2017. Immediately prior to his appointment to the UN, he was the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of China (2013-2017). Prior to this position, he served as the Ambassador and Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of the Peoples Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva (2011-2013). Zhenmin Liu started his career at the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry in 1982. Hanqin Xue, Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ): According to ICJs official website, she has been member of the court since 29 June 2010; re-elected as from 6 February 2012 and as from 6 February 2021; Vice-President of the Court from 6 February 2018 to 8 February 2021. She entered the Chinese foreign affairs ministry in 1980 and worked there till joining ICJ. Binchen Hu, Delegate for Asia in the Executive Committee of International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL): Binchen Hu was formerly the Deputy Director General of the International Coordination Department in the Chinese Ministry of Public Security. In November 2021, he won one of two seats representing Asia (3-year term) on Interpols executive committee. According to a Sydney Morning Herald published on 26 November 2021, Hu Binchen is a deputy general in Chinas Ministry of Public Security which oversees policing. His candidacy was opposed by MPs of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) who are part of a global alliance representing democratic countries and who say his election would give Beijing the green light to misuse the agency; in particular, the Red Notices issued for arrests of wanted fugitives. The international alliance said it was deeply concerned by the result. The government of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) has repeatedly abused the Interpol Red Notice to persecute dissidents in exile, IPAC said in a statement. The IPAC statement added, Hus election gives the PRC government a green light to continue using Interpol as a vehicle for its repressive policies globally and places thousands of Hong Konger, Uyghur, Tibetan, Taiwanese and Chinese dissidents living abroad at even graver risk. The PRC cannot be allowed to continue its long-arm policing abroad. Activists, dissidents and exiles living abroad must be protected from harassment and intimidation from the PRC authorities. Haoliang Xu, Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP: The UN Secretary-General appointed Haoliang Xu as United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Assistant Administrator and Director for the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support in July 2019. Prior to this appointment, he had served as the UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific since 2013. The UNs official website gives out some interesting details about him: Before joining the UN, he was a computer-aided design engineer with Louis Berger International Inc in New Jersey and assistant lecturer at Tongji University in Shanghai. A Chinese national, he holds a Bachelors in Engineering from Tongji University in Shanghai, Masters of Science in Management from Stevens Institute of Technology (USA), and Masters of International Affairs in Economic Development and Policy Analysis from Columbia University (USA). Jian Liu, Chief Scientist, UNEP: Jian Liu is currently the Chief Scientist of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as well as acting Director of the Science Division. According to the UNEPs official website, his earlier posts include Deputy Director General of the Bureau of Resources and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Director of the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, and Manager of the Environment Programme of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. Rong Yang, Officer-in-Charge, Regional Programmes Division (United Nations Human Settlements Programme also known as UN-Habitat): Rong Yang has been involved in the UN-Habitat Programme Division since 2016, including a post as Inter-Regional Advisor at Nairobi, Kenya. Hong LI, Director, External Relations, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW): According to OPCWs official website, the External Relations Division advises the Director-General on external relations policies, promotes universal adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and liaises with governments, international organisations, the media, and non-governmental organisations. Prior to joining the OPCW, Hong Li held posts in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was Chinas Deputy Permanent Representative to the OPCW as well as the Secretary-General of the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA). The above is an indicative list. There are many more organisations which have now either been hijacked by the Chinese or are in the process of getting hijacked. The rest of the countries should wake up before its too late. (Concluded)] The writer, an author and columnist, has written several books. He tweets @ArunAnandLive. 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. Parkash Singh Badal was one of the tallest leaders in Punjab. He had the distinction of being the youngest chief minister as well as the oldest, in Punjab. His passing away marks the end of an era in Indian politics in general and Punjab politics in particular. I recall numerous one-to-one meetings with the patriarch with nostalgia. My father, Col Harkaran Singh Singha, accompanied my wifes uncle Hari Singh (ex-Major) to the Ludhiana jail to meet the latters father, S Rattan Singh, (my wifes grandfather) who was in jail with the patriarch during the Jail Bharo movement launched by the Akali Morcha in 1983. The duo thought they should take some fruits for the old man. When they reached the jail, they found the environment of a carnival. The wards were allocated district-wise and one of the sevadars accompanied my father and uncle to the ward where supporters from Kapurthla were lodged. On meeting Rattan Singh, they realised that he was in good health and in high spirits. He was so enthused that he told them how he kept himself occupied the whole day and exercised and played Badminton in the evening. The visitors were served fresh fruits, milk, dry fruits and sweets which were stocked in abundance. My father and Hari uncle were rather embarrassed and hid the small packet of fruits that they had brought for grandfather. Parkash Singh Badal, throughout his stay in jail, had a customary tea every evening with the party workers and followers of one particular district. The districts were rotated every day. This gave him an opportunity to closely meet all the important workers of each district at least twice a month. My wifes grandfather took Hari uncle and my father to the evening tea ritual and made them meet the grand old man. My father recalls that meeting with great pleasure and pride. Parkash Singh Badal was a very charismatic personality and in spite of his huge size, he was totally grounded. He had a great liking for army officers and spent considerable time talking to Hari uncle and my father. Years later, my late father-in-law Major Jiwan Singh Chan (affectionately called Major Saab) became a Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member (Jathedar) from Kapurthala. Whenever Badal toured the border districts of Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Ferozepur, he and his entourage would invariably take a break to refresh themselves at my in-laws house in Kapurthala. Although, I personally never met him then, as I was commanding my unit 5 RAJRIF (Napiers) on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir; the family found him to be a very humble and easy-going person. He had very limited personal needs and was always cheerful and energetic. He was so impressed by the organising abilities of my father-in-law that during the 300 years of birth of Khalsa celebrations at Anandpur Sahib in 1999, he made Jathedar (Major) Jiwan Singh Chan responsible for the lodging, boarding and transportation for the mega event. A twist of fate brought an end to a promising political career when my father-in-law, after valiantly fighting brain cancer for nine months, passed away in 2001 in harness. My first one-to-one meeting with Parkash Singh Badal was in 2015 at his official residence (allotted to his daughter-in-law) at 12 Race Course Road, New Delhi, when I had just returned from a United Nations Peacekeeping Mission at Golan Heights between Syria and Israel. I was the Head of the Mission and Force Commander of UNDOF and on return, was posted on my last leg as Director General of Operational Logistics and Strategic Movement. One of my students from the Officers Training Academy, Capt KJS Cheema, after leaving the Army as a short service officer, joined IAS (Bengal Cadre) and was on deputation posted as Principal Secretary to the chief minister of Punjab. I was received by Capt Cheema at the porch who told me that Badal was being conferred with Padma Vibhushan later that day. I was in uniform and as I entered the drawing room, the chief minister who was already seated there, got up and greeted me. He complimented my uniform and said that it looked very good on me. I congratulated him on the prestigious award that he was going to receive from the president. Amongst other things, we talked about drip irrigation in Israel as he had also visited the country twice. I also told him about my meetings with the president and the prime minister of Israel. He was very interested in hearing about my two tenures with the United Nations Peacekeeping. While having tea, he suddenly changed the subject and told me that the Punjab government had employed a few retired Generals from the Corps of Engineers but was now looking for a retiring General from the Education branch. He asked me to recommend someone capable. I could immediately remember the then ADG Education who had served under me in the Brigade Headquarters as a Captain when I was a Brigade Major. Capt Cheema told the chief minister that we shall meet the officer on our next trip to Delhi. The patriarch asked me if he could meet him the same day. Such was the urgency in the man to do service to the state. The CM was scheduled to go to the Rashtrapati Bhawan for the ceremony at 11 am and it was already 9 am. I assured him that I will ask the General to come immediately after our meeting. The second meeting I had with Parkash Singh Badal was when he came to Amritsar to inaugurate the War Memorial in 2018. I was amongst a few veterans who were invited from Chandigarh to attend the function. I was pleasantly surprised and a bit embarrassed when I was made to sit in the front row along with two ex-Chiefs of the Indian Army. That, of course, was the handiwork of my old student Capt KJS Cheema. Badal was looking tired and spoke to me in a soft voice with a welcome smile. But when he got up to address the gathering of veterans, he had a surge of energy and roared like a tiger. He was 91 years old then. At lunch, Capt Cheema made me sit opposite the chief minister. His son, Sukhbir Badal and his brother-in-law, Bikram Singh Majithia were also present at the same table. The old man had a wonderful memory and remembered most of the anecdotes from our first meeting two years earlier in Delhi. I complimented the father and son duo for the ongoing renovation of the Golden Temple complex. A beaming Sukhbir Badal told me that he had seen Jerusalem and Vatican and had tried to create a similar walking plaza around the sanctum sanatorium. The patriarch smiled proudly acknowledging my compliments. Parkash Singh Badal touched millions of lives in his five tenures as the chief minister of Punjab. Every person who met him would remember him for his lifetime. Irrespective of age, he addressed everyone respectfully, calling them Kaka Ji. Such was the aura and charisma of the towering political leader of Punjab. May his noble soul rest in peace. The author was the Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission and Force Commander at Golan Heights between Syria and Israel from 2012 to 2015. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. It seems that no matter what, come hell or high water, international tech brands are just not ready to sever their ties with Chinas manufacturing prowess, not that easily at least. At a time when Apple and most other tech giants, barring Tesla are vying to reduce their dependency on China, and are opening up production offices and factories in other countries. Foxconn, Apples largest supplier and manufacturing partner has set up a new global business base in Chinas Hanan province, Zhengzhou city. If the name rings a bell, Zhengzhou is the same city where factory workers participated in a massive protest and a subsequent walkout from the countrys largest Apple factory. Also read: Apples $7 Billion Bet On India: iPhone production triples in India as China loses big time The Taiwanese business already operates the worlds largest iPhone manufacturing, reaffirming its commitment to the Chinese market as Apples suppliers diversify their supply lines. According to the government-backed Henan Daily, provincial Communist Party secretary Lou Yangsheng, provincial governor Wang Kai, and Foxconn CEO and chairman Liu Young-way attended the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday in Henans capital Zhengzhou. According to the report, the new business centre will primarily focus on applying new technologies in Foxconns business, developing development plans, researching core technologies, and incubating new projects, and provincial authorities have pledged their full support for Foxconn and its upstream and downstream partners along the supply chain. The Foxconn development plan is highly consistent with Henans ten strategies, which include boosting growth via innovation and digitalisation, according to the study, and the two parties have inked a fresh set of strategic partnership agreements. While Foxconn has been Apples largest contract manufacturer, its manufacturing activities in Zhengzhou, sometimes known as iPhone city, was severely disrupted last year because to a Covid-19 outbreak, which resulted in huge walkouts and worker protests demanding tougher pandemic measures and salaries. Also read: Apple to start making Airpods in India, Foxconn to set up $200 million factory for it in Telangana The fiasco resulted in massive delays in iPhone shipments to Apples home market as well as Europe over the holiday season last year, pushing the Californian conglomerate to hasten the relocation of certain products outside of China. Foxconn, previously known as Hon Hai Precision Industry, is apparently preparing a new facility in India to manufacture iPhone components, as well as a new factory to manufacture AirPods. According to a January projection by Taiwans DigiTimes Research, India is expected to manufacture up to half of Apples iPhones by 2027, up from less than five per cent this year. According to the article, this would put the size of manufacturing on level with China. Foxconn also acquired a new location in Vietnam in February to address operational needs and expand production capacity in addition to India. While Apple increased manufacturing outside of China, Henans party secretary Lou launched on a charm offensive in February to persuade Foxconn to take root in the province and guarantee the firm that the government would fully back its local operations. Also read: Apple and Foxconn lobbied the Karnataka government for landmark labour reforms Despite Apples drive to lessen reliance on Chinese facilities, the Post reported last month that several of its suppliers have raised reservations about the expense of migration. China is also an important customer market for Apple. CEO Tim Cook last month met Chinese Premier Li Qiang and other top officials at an economic summit in Beijing, where he characterised the companys relationship with the country as symbiotic. 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: Jair Bolsonaro, the former president of Brazil, appeared before federal police on Wednesday and categorically denied any involvement in the anti-government riots that his supporters started in January. The far-right leader is under investigation for his suspected involvement in planning and inciting the riots that aimed to topple his successor, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro, who spent three months in Florida before returning to Brazil in late March, was interrogated for more than two hours at the federal police headquarters in Brasilia before leaving in a car with tinted windows and avoiding speaking to media. Shortly afterward, Bolsonaros spokesman Fabio Wajngarten told the press that the former president had repudiated all the unfortunate events that happened in Brasilia on the day of the riot. One reason the investigation was launched was because two days after the riot, Bolsonaro shared a video to social media of a prosecutor contesting the validity of Lulas victory. Bolsonaros lawyer Paulo Bueno said the president had been under the effect of medication and had just been admitted to hospital when he shared the video. The sharing was so accidental that he did not mention it afterward and soon deleted it, said Bueno after the hearing. Lula, who previously led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, narrowly beat Bolsonaro in a fractious, divisive election last October. Thousands of Bolsonaros supporters stormed Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace in Brasilia on January 8, a week after Lula took office. In scenes reminiscent of the January 6, 2021 riots in Washington by supporters of ex-president Donald Trump Bolsonaros political role model they trashed offices, smashed windows, vandalized artworks and called for the military to intervene to oust Lula. Some 1,800 people have been arrested. Numerous investigations Bolsonaro left Brazil for Florida on 30 December, two days before he was due to hand over the presidential sash to Lula. On 13 January, Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes opened an investigation into Bolsonaros alleged involvement in the January 8 rampage, in which rioters easily broke through a security cordon. A parliamentary committee of inquiry is due to be set up soon in Congress to shed light on the events of 8 January. Former army captain Bolsonaro was previously interviewed by police on 5 April in relation to an accusation that he tried to illegally import millions of dollars worth of jewelry gifted by Saudi Arabia. A source close to the former president told AFP that he denied that accusation. Bolsonaro is the subject of at least 16 other investigations in which, if found guilty, he could be sentenced to prison or disqualified from politics. 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. On Tuesday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine, but claimed no one is talking about peace in what he called an insane war. Lula stated his commitment to resolving the dispute by finding a peaceful solution while on a visit to Spain. I understand the European view of this war. It is unacceptable that one country invades another, but it is a war in which I do not see anyone talking about peace, he said in a speech at a business conference. This month, Lula infuriated many people in the West when he demanded that the US and its European allies cease providing Ukraine with armaments because they were prolonging the conflict. A White House official then charged him with parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda. The Brazilian president softened his remarks in response to criticism, and on a trip to Portugal and Spain, he denounced Russia for violating the territorial integrity of Ukraine. In Spain, Lula reiterated his demand for greater peace efforts so that Ukraine can keep its territory, reversing his earlier position that the invaded nation must make sacrifices in order for the war to stop and that Russia should return recently occupied area but could keep Crimea. Lula talked about investments by Spanish companies in Brazil, mentioning a major infrastructure program to be launched in May that will be promising for Spains firms. We want to attract a new wave of Spanish investments, he told the business audience. A senior Spanish government official said his countrys companies are expected to gain better access to public procurement in Brazil after Lulas visit to Madrid. Brazil and other members of the Mercosur trade bloc are discussing concluding a trade agreement with the European Union that he hopes will happen before the end of the year, Lula said. We want a balanced agreement that will contribute to the re-industrialization of Brazil, he said, reinforcing his view of his countrys need for technology and not just imported manufactured goods. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. More than 100 tourism representatives from Austria, Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland will gather in Dubai later this month at the Discover Europe Travel Summit to explore new opportunities within the Middle East travel market. The two-day networking event will take place at 25Hours Hotel Dubai One Central from April 29-30, the weekend immediately prior to the start of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the regions largest travel exhibition. Promising an ideal prelude to ATM, Discover Europe is held in partnership with the European Travel Commission and set to draw attendance of at least 110 GCC buyers specialising in the culture and luxury sectors of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Set to feature presentations from the four national tourism boards along with one-to-one meetings and networking events, the summit will bring together buyers and exhibitors holding just under 4,500 meetings. Miguel Gallego, Head of Marketing at the European Travel Commission, said: As we prepare to kick off the Discover Europe Travel Summit in Dubai, we are thrilled to be a partner at an event that has been collaborating with GCC buyers to strengthen our existing relationships and explore new opportunities. Our goal is to foster long-lasting partnerships and promote Europe's rich culture, history, and natural beauty to the discerning travellers of the GCC region. We believe that by working together, we can create innovative travel experiences that showcase the best of what Europe has to offer and pave the way for a bright future of travel industry growth and success." Michael Tauschmann, Head of Markets Middle East & India at the Austrian National Tourist Office, concluded: "It is an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to reconnect with the GCC market and stay up to date with the latest travel trends. We take immense pride in being recognised as one of the top premium destinations for travellers from the Middle East, alongside the other three European countries. We are excited to once again collaborate and facilitate meaningful connections between major tourism players and the local travel trade. Yamina Sofo, Director of the Dubai-based German National Tourist Office (GNTO), the regional office of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB), added: We recognise the importance of the GCC market, especially with the surge in travellers in 2022 compared to previous years. With our exceptional cultural offerings and breath-taking natural landscapes, Germany offers GCC residents the opportunity to explore unique places throughout the year. With a keen focus on sustainability and accessibility were looking forward to highlighting the plethora of eco-friendly and inclusive travel options for visitors during the Discover Europe event to our key partners." Aisling McDermott, Manager Middle East & Asia of Tourism Ireland said she is excited to showcase the island of Irelands unique offerings at an event that traditionally produces results. We are delighted to be present at the Discover Europe event and eagerly anticipate the positive outcomes of our efforts, McDermott said. Participating in this event was an effortless choice for us, having witnessed the impressive results achieved by top European tourism boards in previous years. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to stand alongside them once again and showcase the island of Ireland as a quintessential holiday destination for their GCC clients." Matthias Albrecht, Director GCC of Switzerland Tourism added: Its a special pleasure to see Discover Europe growing and blooming, especially as it will be my last one. But to showcase Switzerland to the GCC in the middle of our European friends is not only a lot of fun, its also very important to us. The GCC are a priority market, the highest tier in our market framework. In 2022, visitors from the GCC to Switzerland almost reached the level of 2019 pre-pandemic and growth is continuing strongly into 2023 - it seems that Switzerlands green nature, the fresh air, its deep blue lakes, snowcapped mountains, lively cities and our sustainable train offering is never losing its charm. We are looking forward to welcome many more visitors from the GCC in Switzerland this summer. TradeArabia News Service The UK armed forces minister James Heappey said that the government has already started shipments of depleted uranium ammunition to Ukraine. In response to questions from Scottish MP Kenny MacAskill, Heappey confirmed on Tuesday that DU munitions for the UK-made Challenger 2 tank had already arrived in Ukraine, though declined to comment on Kyivs usage rates for the rounds provided, Russia Today reported. We have sent thousands of rounds of Challenger 2 ammunition to Ukraine, including depleted uranium armour-piercing rounds, he said. The weapons are now under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and the Defence Ministry does not monitor the locations from where DU rounds are fired by the AFU in Ukraine, he was quoted by RT as saying. Russian President Vladimir Putin last month announced plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus days after the British government said that it would provide Ukraine with armour-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium. Responding to a question on whether the government has a responsibility to help clear up depleted uranium rounds used in Ukraine after the conflict, the minister stated it has no obligation to do so, instead stressing Ukraines immediate needs. Moscow has repeatedly urged against foreign arms shipments to Kyiv, especially the British DU munitions, with the Foreign Ministry condemning London for absolute recklessness, irresponsibility and impunity. Depleted uranium has a variety of applications because of its high density and its pyrophoric properties. Civilian uses for depleted uranium include counterweights in aircraft, forklifts and even sailboat keels. It is also used in medical radiotherapy as a radiation shield and until 1982 as dental porcelain crowns. Militarily, depleted uranium is used in armour plates in heavy tanks and in armour-piercing ammunition. Defence experts state that it is used to harden rounds so that they can penetrate armour and steel. They say that when a weapon made with a depleted uranium tip or core strikes a solid object, like the side of a tank, it goes straight through it and then erupts in a burning cloud of vapour. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Amid Russias ongoing conflict with Ukraine, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the phone. This was the first call between the two leaders since the start of Russias invasion in Kyiv. I had a long and meaningful phone call with President Xi Jinping, Zelensky said on Twitter. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraines ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations. Xi Jinping and Volodymyr Zelensky had an almost one hour-long telephone conversation, said Zelenskys spokesman Sergiy Nykyforov on Facebook. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that during the call Xi told Zelensky talks and negotiation were the only way out of the war. On the issue of the Ukraine crisis, China has always stood on the side of peace and its core position is to promote peace talks, CCTV reported Xi as saying. According to a readout of the call, reported by CCTV, Xi said China will neither watch the fire from the other side, nor add fuel to the fire, let alone take advantage of the crisis to profit. When dealing with the nuclear issue, all parties concerned should remain calm and restrained, truly focus on the future and destiny of themselves and all mankind, and jointly manage and control the crisis, the Chinese president said. Beijing says it is neutral in the conflict and Xi has never condemned the Russian invasion. Meanwhile, the Chinese side said the Wednesdays telephone call was initiated by Kyiv. Asked during a press conference about the discussions, Yu Jun from Chinas foreign ministry said the call was initiated by the Ukrainian side. (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. Fighting resumed in Sudan late on Tuesday night despite a ceasefire declaration in place as more and more people fled from capital Khartoum and former officials, including a prominent prisoner facing charges of international war crimes, left prison. The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire beginning on Tuesday after talks that were mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Gunfire and explosions could be heard soon after nightfall in Omdurman, one of Khartoums sister cities on the Nile River where the army used drones to target RSF positions, news agency Reuters reported. Sudans army also used drones to try to drive fighters back from a fuel refinery in Bahri, the third city at the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile. Since Sudan erupted violently and fighting broke out between the army and the RSF on April 15, derailing a transition to civilian democracy, the paramilitaries have embedded themselves in residential districts and the army has sought to target them from the air. In Sudan, the fighting has turned residential localities into battlefields. Air strikes and artillery have killed at least 459 people so far, wounded over 4,000, destroyed hospitals and limited food distribution in a country already dependent on aid for a third of its 46 million people. A projectile hit the Al-Roumi Medical Centre in Omdurman on Tuesday and exploded inside the facility, injuring 13 people, a hospital official said. Prisoners Released In a further sign of deteriorating security, former Minister Ahmed Haroun, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, said he and other officials were allowed to leave Kober prison. Following reports of a prison break in recent days, Haroun said that conditions at Kober had deteriorated badly. A protester imprisoned there said in a taped statement posted on Sunday that prisoners had been let go after a week with no water or food. Haroun and the other released officials served under ex-President Omar al-Bashir who came to power in a 1989 military coup and was ousted in a popular uprising in 2019. The ICC in the Hague has accused Haroun of organizing militias to attack civilians in a genocide in Darfur in 2003 and 2004. The whereabouts of Bashir were not immediately clear. The World Health Organization (WHO) too said one of the warring parties had taken control of a national health facility in Khartoum and expressed concern about potential biological hazards from measles and cholera pathogens for vaccinations stored there. An exodus of embassies and aid workers from Africas third-largest country has raised fears that civilians who remain will be in greater danger if the shaky three-day truce deal, which expires on Thursday, does not hold. US President Joe Bidens national security team is continuing to talk to Sudans rival military leaders to end fighting and provide humanitarian aid, a White House spokesperson said on Tuesday. The fighting has paralysed hospitals and other essential services, and left many people stranded in their homes with dwindling supplies of food and water. The UN humanitarian office (OCHA) said shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel were becoming extremely acute, with prices for basic goods including bottled water surging, and it had been forced to cut back operations for safety reasons. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Khartoum: Ahmed Harun, a wanted Sudanese war crimes suspect, has claimed that he and other members of the previous government that was overthrown in 2019 have fled from prison after recent fighting, igniting new concerns for a fragile ceasefire. A US-brokered ceasefire between Sudans warring generals entered its second day, but remains fragile as witnesses said that anti-aircraft guns targeted fighter jets over Khartoums sister city of Omdurman, after the army launched air strikes against rival paramilitary forces in the capital late Tuesday. Witnesses also reported heavy air strikes in East Nile, east of the capital Wednesday, and a huge explosion in the direction of a paramilitary camp. In southern Khartoum, machine gun fire was reported near one of the homes owned by paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who has led the heavily-armed Rapid Support Forces (RSF) into war with the armed forces, under army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Amid the chaos which has killed hundreds, sparked a mass flight of terrified foreigners and Sudanese citizens, and deepened a humanitarian crisis Harun, a leading figure of the regime of deposed dictator Omar al-Bashir, said late Tuesday he had escaped prison. Harun, who led the regimes infamous counter-insurgency campaign in the western Darfur region in the mid-2000s and is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, said he and others had broken out of the capitals Kober prison. Daglos RSF emerged from the Janjaweed militia that Bashir unleashed in the Darfur conflict, which left some 300,000 dead and 2.5 million displaced, according to the UN. After being trapped in the empty jail in the crossfire of this current battle, Harun said in a recorded TV address that he and fellow ex-regime members had taken our protection in our own hands. Bashir remains in custody Since fighting broke out on April 15, multiple foreign governments have frantically organised road convoys, aircraft and ships to get thousands of their nationals out of Sudan, and citizens have fled overland to neighbouring countries. The UN said it has received reports of tens of thousands of people arriving in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. According to Bankole Adeoye, the African Unions commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, continued fighting will increase the risk of regional conflagration and internationalisation of the conflict. Bashir, 79, who was ousted by the military in 2019 in the wake of mass pro-democracy protests, had himself been held in Kober prison. But the army said he and others had been transferred to a military hospital before fighting erupted due to their health conditions, and that they remained under judicial police guard. After Bashirs ouster that had raised hopes for a transition to democracy, Burhan and Daglo seized full power in a 2021 coup, but have now fallen out and gone to war, hurtling Sudan into deeper turmoil. The fighting has killed at least 512 people and wounded more than 4,000, according to the health ministry, and reduced some districts of greater Khartoum to ruins. The UN representative to Sudan, Volker Perthes, told the UN Security Council that both of the warring parties have fought with disregard for the laws and norms of war. Perthes, who has stayed in Sudan, said they have been attacking densely populated areas with little consideration for civilians, for hospitals, or even for vehicles transferring the wounded and sick. Hospitals shelled A UN report warned that shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel are becoming extremely acute, especially in Khartoum and surrounding areas. Why didnt the officials care for the Sudanese people and their suffering? said one resident, Alnour Mohamed Ahmed, a builder. People cant leave their homes. A total of 14 hospitals have been shelled, the doctors union said Wednesday, while 19 others are out of service. In some places, humanitarian aid is all that is keeping famine at bay, UN chief Antonio Guterres said Tuesday. In continued evacuations, a ship carrying nearly 1,700 civilians from more than 50 countries docked in Saudi Arabia early Wednesday, and Britain airlifted nationals to Cyprus. The two warring sides have blamed one another for starting the hostilities and for breaching the ceasefire, which is due to end Thursday, and both have made unverifiable claims to control key sites. The RSF claimed to be in control of an oil refinery and the associated Garri power plant more than 70 kilometres (40 miles) north of Khartoum. The army had earlier warned in a Facebook post of a heavy movement towards the site in order to take advantage of the truce by taking control of the refinery. Security fears were further heightened when the World Health Organization warned that combatants had occupied a Khartoum laboratory holding samples of cholera, measles, polio, spelling a huge biological risk. On Thursday, WHO officials said a team in Sudan was carrying out an extensive risk assessment. 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. Johannesburg: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Tuesday announced that his country will quit the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin in March. However, few hours later, his office retracted the statement leading to confusion. The ICC last month issued arrest warrant against Putin for alleged war crimes. The charges include unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia in February last year. The Russian President has been invited in South Africa for a meeting of the BRICS group of emerging nations in August that would take place in Johannesburg, however, with the warrant against his name, he would have to be detained soon after his arrival in Pretoria. Why Ramaphosa wants South Africa to pull out of ICC? During a press conference co-hosted with President of Finland Sauli Niinisto on Tuesday, Ramaphosa said: The governing party, the African National Congress (ANC), has taken the decision that it is prudent that South Africa should pull out of the ICC largely because of the manner in which the ICC has been seen to be dealing with these types of problems. The South African president said that the decision was reached largely because of what is perceived as ICCs unfair treatment of certain countries. We would like this matter of unfair treatment to be properly discussed, but in the meantime, the governing party has decided once again that there should be a pull-out, he added. Error in comment However, within hours, Ramaphosas office issued a statement saying: The presidency wishes to clarify that South Africa remains a signatory (to the ICC). The clarification follows an error in a comment made during a media briefing held by the governing African National Congress, the statement said. Why theres issue on South Africa pulling out of ICC? South Africa is a signatory to the ICCs founding document, the Rome statute, and it would be entitled to abide the arrest warrant against Putin. Therefore, if the Russian President travels to Johannesburg for BRICS Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa meet, Ramaphosas government will have to arrest him. Also, if South Africa decides to leave the ICC, it would still be bound by its membership obligations for 12 months following its notification of withdrawal. Not for the first time In 2016, South Africa had made an attempt to withdraw from ICC following a dispute a year earlier when Sudans then-President Omar al-Bashir visited the country for an African Union summit. The then government in South Africa refused to arrest Omar al-Bashir despite him facing an ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes. Russia-South Africa bonhomie The ruling party in South Africa, ANC, appears to be a true friend of Russia as it has refused to condemn the invasion of Ukraine. Responding to media on whether South Africa would arrest Putin, Ramaphosa, on Tuesday, said that matter is under consideration. 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. According to Kennedy School Dean Douglas Elmendorf, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who guided her nation through a tragic mass shooting, will temporarily join Harvard University later this year. Ardern, a leading figure on the left and a role model for women everywhere, has been given two fellowships at the Harvard Kennedy School. Beginning this autumn, she will work at the schools Centre for Public Leadership as a Hauser Leader and the 2023 Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellow. Jacinda Ardern showed the world strong and empathetic political leadership, Elmendorf said in a statement, adding that Ardern will bring important insights for our students and will generate vital conversations about the public policy choices facing leaders at all levels. Ardern, who had only just turned 37 when she took office as prime minister in 2017, startled New Zealanders by announcing in January that she would be leaving the position after more than 5 years because she no longer had enough in the tank to carry out her duties. Her management of the coronavirus epidemic, which was originally praised but afterwards criticised by people opposed to mandates and laws, was only one of the growing political challenges she was experiencing at home. She claimed that she views the Harvard opportunity as a chance to both learn and teach people about her experience. As leaders, theres often very little time for reflection, but reflection is critical if we are to properly support the next generation of leaders, she said. Arderns time at the Cambridge, Massachusetts, university will also include a stint as the first tech governance leadership fellow at the schools Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. The centre has been an important partner as New Zealand worked to confront violent extremism online after a white supremacist gunman killed 51 people at two mosques in the city of Christchurch in 2019, Ardern said. The gunman live-streamed the slaughter for 17 minutes on Facebook before the video was taken down. Two months after the shooting, Ardern launched the Christchurch Call with French President Emmanuel Macron. The initiatives goal is to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. More than 50 countries joined the initiative, including the United States, Britain, Germany and South Korea, as well as technology companies like Facebook parent company Meta, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, YouTube, Zoom and Twitter. The Center has been an incredibly important partner as weve developed the Christchurch Call to action on addressing violent extremism online, Ardern said, adding that the fellowship will be a chance not only to work collaboratively with the centres research community but also to work on the challenges around the growth of generative AI tools. Jonathan Zittrain, a co-founder of the Berkman Klein Center, said its rare for a head of state to be able to immerse deeply in a complex and fast-moving digital policy issue. Jacinda Arderns hard-won expertise including her ability to bring diverse people and institutions together will be invaluable as we all search for workable solutions to some of the deepest online problems, he said in a statement. Ardern said she planned to return to New Zealand after the fellowships. 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 civil trial hearing a complaint against the former president was informed on Tuesday that Donald Trump had sexually assaulted a well-known former American columnist and then ridiculed her with disparaging remarks. Opening statements began the highly anticipated hearings, and a lawyer for Trump, who rejects the accusations, claimed that the plaintiff, E. Jean Carroll, was driven by money and fame. Carroll, 79, claims that in the mid-90s, Trump sexually abused her in a dressing room at the upscale Bergdorf Goodman department store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. She claims that the incident happened after Trump jokingly sought her opinion on where to purchase a womans lingerie present. The moment they were inside (the dressing room) everything changed. Suddenly nothing was fun. Trump was almost twice her size, Carrolls lawyer Shawn Crowley told the Manhattan court. The trial, which is not criminal in nature, is part of a barrage of legal woes that threaten to derail Trumps 2024 run for a second presidential term. It comes just weeks after Trumps historic arraignment on criminal charges related to a hush-money payment made to a porn star. Carroll, who was in court Tuesday, first made the allegation in an excerpt from her book published by New York Magazine in 2019. Trump responded then by saying he has never met her, that she was not my type and that she was totally lying. Carroll initially sued Trump for defamation in 2019 but was unable to include the rape claim because the statute of limitations for the alleged offence had expired. But a new law took effect in November last year in New York that gave victims of sexual assault a one-year window to sue their alleged abusers decades after attacks may have occurred. Lawyers for Carroll filed a new suit that accused Trump of battery, when he forcibly raped and groped her. It also included defamation for a post that Trump made on his Truth Social platform in October where he denied the alleged rape and referred to Carroll as a complete con job. He went on the attack. He ridiculed her. He destroyed her, Crowley said. Joe Tacopina, representing Trump, said there was no evidence of the assault and that Carroll was abusing the system for money, for political reasons, and for status. Psychological harm Her suit seeks unspecified damages for significant pain and suffering, lasting psychological and pecuniary harms, loss of dignity and self-esteem, and invasion of her privacy. It also asks that Trump retract his comments. Around a dozen women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct. He has denied all the allegations and has never been prosecuted over any of them. No criminal prosecution can stem from the Carroll case but if Trump loses it will be the first time he has ever been held legally liable for an allegation of sexual assault. Trump has provided sworn testimony in the case and is not expected to take the witness stand during the trial as Carrolls lawyers have said they do not intend to call him. The trial is likely to last one to two weeks. Trump became the first sitting or former president to have ever been charged with a crime when he was arrested in the hush-money case earlier this month. He pleaded not guilty to 34 counts related to the payment made just before the 2016 election that propelled him to the White House. Trump is also being investigated over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the southern 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 6 January 2021. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Kathmandu: Despite worries about congestion on what is believed to be the worlds highest peak, Nepal has awarded a record 454 permits for climbing Mount Everest this spring. There are worries that the abundance of climbers may result in congestion and jams on the way to the summit. At least 11 people died as a result of Everests overpopulation in 2019, which resulted in lengthy lines, wait durations, and low oxygen levels. According to officials, this season has seen the highest number of permits issued compared to any other season, and there is a chance that the number may rise in the following weeks. According to AFP, around 900 climbers are anticipated to attempt the Everest summit this season, with the majority needing a Nepali guide to assist them. According to the news agency, some mountaineers have expressed concern about the possible risks this season, particularly if there is a smaller window to reach the summit owing to adverse weather. This season, China has issued permits to the most climbers (96), followed by the United States. (87). According to Ang Tshering Sherpa, a former president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, the Covid pandemics effects on tourism to Nepal in recent years are mostly to blame for the high numbers this season. More Chinese climbers have also travelled to Nepal as a result of new regulations on the Chinese side of Everest that mandate that climbers must first conquer another 8,000-meter peak. Professional mountaineers are presently constructing the ascent path to Everest and have already strung ropes up to Camp IV, which is located at 7,924 metres. Three Nepali climbers went missing on April 12 while attempting to cross the perilous Khumbu Icefall, which has increased the risk of avalanches in the mountains due to recent snowfall. After determining that it was impossible to extract their remains from a deep chasm, authorities had abandoned the rescue effort. Eight of the top ten peaks in the world are found in Nepal, and the foreign climbers who swarm to its mountains are a significant source of income for the nation. By charging $11,000 (8,000) per foreign climber for the Everest permits, the government has amassed a total of $4.86 million (3.49 million). Most dreaded incidents on Everest The Man Who Skied Down Everest received an Academy Award for outstanding documentary but the journey of it was tragic. In the spring of 1976, six Sherpas were killed after large ice formations that were high up on the mountain crashed during production and caused an avalanche to sweep across the Khumbu Icefall. On April 29th, 2001, legendary climber, Babu Chiri Sherpa who had climbed Everest 10 times, died when he fell into a 98-foot crevasse while taking pictures at Camp II. 2019 was one of the deadliest seasons in Everest history. It wasnt the work of a storm or avalanche but simply the sheer number of people climbing the mountain. Climbers died of exhaustion after spending 14- to 18-hour day in worlds most inhospitable terrain. On April 18, 2014, a team of Sherpas was fixing lines and ladders in the Khumbu Icefall when a hanging ice block weighing an estimated 32 million pounds broke off and caused an avalanche and killed six of them. On April 25, 2015, an earthquake measuring a colossal 7.8 on the Richter scale set off two avalanches from opposite directions that leveled those at the foot of the mountain. It was the worst earthquake in nearly 80 years and killed 22 people. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In a historic first, women and lay people will be able to vote in the next general assembly of bishops at the Vatican City, the Vatican announced on Wednesday, in a symbolic change for the Roman Catholic Church. This is a significant crack in the stained glass ceiling, the US-based Womens Ordination Conference (WOC) said in a statement, hailing a historic moment. The next phase in an ongoing global consultation on the future of the Church is set to take place in October in Rome, and for the first time, the right to cast ballots will not be reserved to male clerics. New rules published on Wednesday said 70 people would also be chosen to take part who represent various groupings of the faithful of the People of God (priests, consecrated women, deacons, lay faithful). It is requested that 50 per cent of them be women and that the presence of young people also be emphasised, the rulebook said. The 70 would be hand-picked by Pope Francis and account would be taken not only of their general culture and prudence, but also of their knowledge, both theoretical and practical. As members, they have the right to vote, it said. The consultation on the future of the Church is looking at major issues, from the handling of sex abuse cases and the role of women to the rights of remarried divorcees. Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has progressively expanded the roles of lay people and women, notably by increasing the number of women appointed to the Curia, the central government of the Holy See. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Elon Musk recently revealed one of his burner profiles, or secret profiles that he uses to test Twitters features and possibly to keep track of what people are saying about him. A new report has now surfaced that revealed the ridiculously wild story about how Musk got his alt account. One of Musks confirmed burner profiles is @e a very old and rare form of profile, that was made when single-character user names were still allowed on the Platform. Rest assured, @e must have been one of the very first accounts that was made on the platform. Also read: Elon Musks Twitter Blue hopes dashed: Less than 5% of legacy accounts paid for Twitter Blue Zoe Schiffer of Platformer, in a tweet, has revealed that the person to whom it originally belonged to, had no intention of giving it up for Musk. However, when Musk took over Twitter in November last year, he asked the engineers at Twitter to take the profile away from the original user, and hand it over to him. The engineers complied. Before the account is a high-value account, mainly because of its single-character username, it was often the target of hackers and was often suspended because of suspicious log int activity. After one such attack, Twitter simply refused to let the original owner have the account back, and instead chose to give it to Musk as he requested. Interestingly, after the account was taken away from its original user, it had only three followers NASA, an American magazine called LAist, and Elon Musk. Musks burner account may not be his only one. Also read: Twitters Blue Tick Mystery: How did dead celebs like Sushant Singh Rajput, and Michael Jackson pay for the label? Earlier this week, a screenshot tweeted by Musks primary account had the avatar of another account, and Twitter users identified @Ermnmusk as the likely profile. At first sight, everything appears to be normal. The accounts header reads Elon Test, and the majority of the entries are harmless. However, @Ermnmusks answers contain some weird content. At times, it seems to replicate Musks own quirky humour, and at times, it impersonates his son. 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, Apr 26 (UNI) China will hold exercises with the practical use of weapons in one of the areas of the East China Sea on Wednesday, the Maritime Safety Administration of China said. According to the statement, the exercises will be held from 11.00 am to 6.30 pm local time (from 03:00 to 10:30 GMT). Ships will be barred from entering the area of the drills, the maritime administration said without providing further details. The situation around Taiwan has recently escalated once again after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier in April, 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. UNI/SPUTNIK XC RKM Khartoum: An ex-politician from the Sudan who was imprisoned for alleged crimes against humanity has reportedly fled the prison amid the ongoing civil war. Ahmad Harun was one of the individuals detained in Kober jail in the nations capital Khartoum and charged by the International Criminal Court. (ICC). A ceasefire between the army of Sudan and a rival paramilitary group still seems to be mostly in effect. However, there are concerns about both sides dedication to a permanent peace. There were rumours of a jail break earlier this week in Kober, where Ahmad Harun and the nations former president Omar al-Bashir were serving time. In a statement that was broadcast on Tuesday on Sudans Tayba TV, Harun stated that he and other former Bashir administration officials had been released from jail but said they would be prepared to testify in court whenever it was in session. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has accused Bashir of organising a campaign of mass murder and rape in Sudans Darfur region and trying to exterminate a portion of the Fur, Zaghawa, and Masalit people. He has refuted the charges. After widespread protests in 2019, the military overthrew him; he was already serving a prison term for corruption. The 79-year-old has already spent time at a military hospital, therefore it is unclear if he was one of those who are said to have escaped the prison. Additionally, Harun has already refuted the accusations brought against him by the ICC, which are connected to the alleged incitement of violence against Darfur civilians. He was detained in 2019 after the Bashir-deposing coup. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Prior to holding a significant summit of the organisation on Friday, the defence ministry stated on Tuesday that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) follows a strategy based on the values of national sovereignty and territorial integrity. On the margins of the SCO defence ministerial summit in Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is anticipated to conduct bilateral discussions with his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu. Days have passed since the 18th round of military negotiations between the Indian and Chinese militaries to resolve the three-year border dispute in eastern Ladakh. Singh and Li are currently having bilateral discussions. Li, Sergei Shoigu of Russias defence ministry, and their counterparts from other SCO membersall save Khawaja Asif of Pakistanare scheduled to attend the defence ministerial conference being hosted by India as part of its leadership of the influential alliance. The SCO defence ministerial conference will focus heavily on issues relating to regional peace and security, the defence ministry stated in a statement. It stated that Secure SCO will be the focus of Indias chairmanship of the organisation in 2023. On the margins of the SCO summit, Singh will meet in private with the visiting defence ministers, according to the ministry. Singh will serve as the SCO meetings chairperson. The defence ministers will discuss amongst other issues concerning regional peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts within SCO and an effective multilateralism, the ministry said. It said India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. The SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, equality of all member states and mutual understanding and respect for opinions of each of them, it added. The SCO defence ministers meeting is also expected to deliberate on the situation in Afghanistan. The ministry said the ongoing engagement with SCO has helped India promote its relations with the countries in the region with which New Delhi shared civilisational linkages, and is considered its extended neighbourhood. The SCO member countries are Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, India, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Apart from the member states, two observer countries Belarus and Iran will also be participating in the SCO defence ministers meeting. People familiar with the matter said the Pakistan defence minister may attend the meeting through video conferencing. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Over the years, it has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations. India and Pakistan became permanent members in 2017. 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: The alleged mastermind of a horrific suicide bomb attack at the Kabul airport during the chaotic withdrawal of US forces in 2021 has been killed by the Taliban administration, said American media on Tuesday, citing US authorities. The leader of the Islamic State cell that planned the attack was killed by Taliban authorities in recent weeks, a senior US administration official told Politico on condition of anonymity. The blast, which took place on 26 August, 2021, killed some 170 Afghans and 13 US troops who were securing the airport for the traumatic exit. One of the deadliest attacks to hit Afghanistan in recent memory, it led to a surge of criticism of President Joe Bidens plan to withdraw American forces from the nation over 20 years after the US invasion. According to Politico, the United States had not been involved in the raid, and would not say when it took place or identify the alleged IS member killed, citing sensitivities. But the official said that the target was someone who remained a key plotter, an overseer of plotting for ISIS-K, referring to Islamic State Khorasan, the branch of the group operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The official said US intelligence has been working to confirm the killing, and that the Biden administration has held off announcing it until the families of the 13 US troops could be told. We are not partnering with the Taliban, but we do think the outcome is a significant one, the senior official told Politico. The pullout, ending on 30 August, 2021, saw Taliban fighters sweep aside Western-trained Afghan forces in just weeks, forcing the last US troops to mount the desperate evacuation from Kabuls airport. An unprecedented military airlift operation managed to get more than 120,000 people out of the country in a matter of days. Biden has long defended his decision to leave Afghanistan, which critics have said helped cause the catastrophic collapse of Afghan forces and paved the way for the Taliban to return to power two decades after their first government was toppled. Nothing would have changed the trajectory of the exit and ultimately, President Biden refused to send another generation of Americans to fight a war that should have ended for the United States long ago, the White House National Security Council said in a report to Congress earlier this month. A recent Washington Post report citing leaked Pentagon documents said the US believes that since the withdrawal, Afghanistan is becoming a staging ground for the Islamic State group. The Taliban and IS have long engaged in a turf war in Afghanistan, and experts have pointed to the jihadist group as the biggest security challenge for the new Afghan government going forward. 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. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday urged the countrys European allies to initiate Ukraines European Union membership bid, as Rome hosted a bilateral conference on the war-torn countrys reconstruction efforts attended by hundreds of Italian and Ukrainian businesses. The future of Ukraine must include an always wider capacity of integrating with the European dynamics and institutions, Meloni said, in joint statements with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on the sidelines of the conference. Italys Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the conference attracted over a thousand companies, including hundreds from Ukraine. He stressed that the Italian initiative was part of a wider process, as both Germany and France already held their own bilateral conferences with Ukrainian firms in October and December, respectively, while G7 countries launched a Donor Coordination Platform in February. The smartest way to thank Ukrainians for what they are doing is to accelerate their chance of being part of the European institutions. We need to acknowledge Kyivs enormous efforts to reform its system and bring it closer to targets required by the EU Commission, Meloni added, urging a quick start of negotiations needed to grant Ukraine full EU membership. I know that the representatives of many Italian companies are listening to me and Id like to speak to them not just as the representatives of businesses, but also as parents, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a live video address to the Rome conference. Even if hundreds of our villages have been burned down by Russian missile attacks, we are ready to bring them back to life, he said. We want to reconstruct them with modern standards, so that our people can live like millions of others, in security And we invite your companies to build this future for all. A World Bank report has estimated it will cost Ukraine 411 billion dollars over the next 10 years to recover and rebuild from the war launched by Russia. The report predicts Kyiv will require 14 billion dollars for critical and priority reconstruction, as well as recovery investments in 2023 alone. Ukraine will win this war and our victory will be restoring our territorial integrity. We wont stop until we reach this goal, Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, who was also in Rome, told the conference. We are making a miracle by doing trade and moving ahead with reforms, so please dont consider the war an obstacle on your business way to Ukraine, Kuleba added, stressing that reconstruction has already started even though the war is still raging. The conference took place as an Italian journalist in Ukraine, Corrado Zunino, was injured and his interpreter Bogdan Bitik killed in the southern city of Kherson. Zunino, a correspondent for La Repubblica daily, told the newspaper he suspected he had been hit Wednesday by Russian snipers after having passed through three Ukrainian-manned checkpoints in an area where there wasnt any active fighting. Tajani, the Italian foreign minister, tweeted that Zunino had been hit by a drone and was injured in the shoulder. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Spains parliament on Wednesday approved a law aimed at fighting sexual violence after undergoing changes to fix a loophole that allowed some offenders reduce their sentences. The amended Only yes means yes legislation, which reformed the criminal code to define all non-consensual sex as rape, will now become law after being voted through the Senate, Spains upper house of parliament. The reform has been passed, said Senate president Ander Gil after the measure passed with the support of the ruling Socialists and the right-wing opposition Popular Party. The amendments highlighted bitter divisions within Spains left-wing coalition ahead of regional and municipal elections in May, as well as a year-end general election which surveys suggest the right will win. Laws unintended consequences The law came into force in October but sparked a backlash after it paradoxically reduced penalties for certain types of sexual crimes, freeing more than 100 offenders and securing reduced sentences for almost 1,000 others, court figures show. The amendment closed the loophole by toughening some of the penalties lowered by the law, and reintroducing a clause relating to violence, intimidation or overriding the victims will. It passed the lower house of parliament last week before moving to the Senate. But the amendment enraged Podemos, the Socialists hardline left-wing coalition partner, which holds the equality ministry and had championed the legislation. This is not a step forward but a step back in terms of womens rights, said Equality Minister Irene Montero, who has blamed the problem on sexist judges misinterpreting the law. Before the law took effect, rape victims needed to prove they were subjected to violence or intimidation. Without that, the offence was classed as sexual abuse and carried lesser penalties than rape. The issue was at the heart of a notorious 2016 gang rape of an 18-year-old woman by five men at the Pamplona bull-running festival. What the Only yes means yes law did was drop the lesser charge of sexual abuse and class all violations as sexual assault, carrying harsher penalties. It sought to shift the focus away from the victims resistance to a womans free and clearly expressed consent. To close the loophole, the reform reintroduced new, heavier penalties for offences involving violence or intimidation concepts that were removed from the original law, which focused solely on explicit consent. 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. Jeddah: Third batch comprising 135 Indians from Port Sudan arrived in Jeddah by IAF C-130J aircraft on Wednesday morning. Onward journey to India for all who arrived in Jeddah will commence shortly, tweeted Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan. Muraleedharan had earlier on Wednesday received the second batch of the 148 evacuated Indians at Jeddah airport. Naval vessel INS Sumedha had also reached Jeddah port with 278 evacuated passengers. #OperationKaveri in full swing. The second IAF C-130J flight departs Port Sudan for Jeddah, carrying another 135 passengers. This is the third batch of evacuees under #OperationKaveri, MEA had tweeted earlier. #OperationKaveri in full swing. Second IAF C-130J flight departs Port Sudan for Jeddah, carrying another 135 passengers. This is the third batch of evacuees under #OperationKaveri. pic.twitter.com/oQzsH4yBAr Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 25, 2023 The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier tweeted that 121 passengers left by the IAF C-130J aircraft. However, the MoS MEA later tweeted saying 148 Indians were evacuated in the second batch. First IAF C-130J aircraft under #OperationKaveri from Port Sudan carrying 148 Indians landed in Jeddah, tweeted MoS MEA V Muraleedharan. First IAF C-130J aircraft under #OperationKaveri from Port Sudan carrying 148 Indians landed in Jeddah. Glad to see the joy in the Indians. pic.twitter.com/PwvDFFiHFK V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) April 25, 2023 On Tuesday, the Union minister of state for External Affairs inspected the transit facility at the International Indian School, Jeddah where Indians evacuated from Sudan will be received & put up briefly before arriving in India. Inspected transit facility @IndianPage, Jeddah where Indians evacuated from Sudan will be received & put up briefly before travel to India. It is fully equipped incl with mattresses, provisions, fresh meals, toilets, medical facilities, Wifi. Has 24*7 control room. #OperationKaveri, the MoS wrote on Twitter. Inspected transit facility @IndianPage,Jeddah where Indians evacuated from Sudan will be received & put up briefly before travel to India. It is fully equipped incl with mattresses, provisions, fresh meals,toilets, medical facilities, Wifi. Has 24*7 control room.#OperationKaveri pic.twitter.com/uzqTmdXIFk V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) April 25, 2023 As the fighting between the Sudanese Army and paramilitary groups intensified in the capital Khartoum, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed on Monday that its Operation Kaveri to evacuate its citizens from battle-torn Sudan is underway and about 500 Indians had reached Port Sudan. India launched Operation Kaveri to bring back stranded Indians from the war-torn country. Indian Navys INS Teg on Tuesday joined Operation Kaveri to further facilitate the ongoing evacuation of Indians stranded in Sudan. The frigate on Tuesday arrived at Port Sudan with additional officials and essential relief supplies for stranded Indians, a senior MEA official said. INS Teg joins #OperationKaveri. Arrives at Port Sudan with additional officials and essential relief supplies for stranded Indians, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted on Tuesday. Will boost ongoing evacuation efforts by Embassy Camp Office at Port Sudan, Bagchi added. INS Teg is the fourth Talwar-class frigate constructed for the Indian Navy. In a recent development, warring factions in Sudan have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire on Monday after the US and Saudi Arabia mediated the truce while countries are engaged in evacuating their citizens from the country. 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 local Gujjar from Poonch-Rajouri area, on instructions from Pakistan-based terrorists, had planned and arranged the logistics for ambush on an Army truck. The attack on Jammu-Poonch national highway, amid rain and low visibility, had killed at least five soldiers. According to sources, the local Gujjar had kept terrorists at his home for three months. During their stay, the attackers believed to be three in numbers got instructions by a local handler on voice notes. This is confirmed that the attack was planned from Pakistan, a source added. The banned Peoples Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), an offshoot of Pakistan-backed terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, had claimed responsibility for the attack on the military truck on an isolated road at Bhata Duriyan in Poonch district of J&Ks Jammu division. The outfit had released some pictures on social media, claiming them to be from the site of ambush. It also stated that some parts of the videos of the Operation will be released soon. A massive search and combing operation is going on in Bhata Dhurian-Tota Gali and neighbouring areas to hunt down the terrorists involved in the attack. The special forces and NSG are also engaged in the operation in the dense forest areas, news agency PTI quoted official sources as saying. They added that drones, sniffer dogs and metal detectors are being used. They said nearly 50 people, including 14 OGWs, have been detained in connection with the attack and some of them have been let off after questioning, they said. PTI quoted sources as saying that two group of seven to eight terrorists, are believed to have engineered the attack. According to the investigation, terrorists reportedly hid themselves in a culvert on this road stretch before attacking the vehicle. Over 50 bullet marks have been found on the vehicle that shows intensity of the firing by terrorists, the sources said. During the search operation, troops came across a few natural cave hideouts in the area, which could possibly have been used by the terrorists in the past, they said, adding the troops are also looking for any improvised explosive devices (IEDs) terrorists may have planted in the densely forested areas, especially in deep gorges and caves. The army truck attacked in Poonch was carrying fruits, vegetables and other items from the Bhimber Gali camp to Sangiote village for Iftar celebration on Thursday. The slain soldiers were from a Rashtriya Rifles unit deployed for counter-terror operations. The Bhimber Gali-Poonch road, which was closed for traffic following the terror attack, was reopened for traffic on Sunday. Armys Northern Commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Sunday said necessary action to nab the terrorists responsible for the deadly attack is under way. Experts from various agencies, including the National Security Guard (NSG) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), have visited the site of the attack in the past two days to probe the incident, the officials said. Hundreds of people in Kishtwar on Sunday took out a candle light march in solidarity with the family of the jawans killed in the attack. (With inputs from PTI) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Pakistan upped the ante against India after two senior journalists Hamid Mir and Naseem Zehra spilt the beans claiming that Islamabad lacked the ammunition and economic strength to fight against India. DG ISPR Maj General Ahmed Sharif negated the claims about the Pak armys operational preparedness, threatening to take the battle to Indias territory if the situation arises. General Sharif claimed that Pakistans Air Force during Operation Swift Retort showed the resilience of nation and resolve of Air Force. Forty Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in the terrorist attack on a convoy of security vehicles in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama on February 14, 2019. As a response to the Pulwama terror attack, 12 Indian Air Force Mirage-2000 fighter jets struck on Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in Balakot inside Pakistan in the early hours on February 26 with precision-guided munitions. The entire operation of launching the airstrikes and coming back to Indian soil safely was codenamed Operation Bandar. The name was given to maintain secrecy and ensure that the plans of the airstrikes dont leak out. However, DG ISPR Maj General Ahmed Sharif said, Under the pretext of false flag Pulwama attack, India stage managed a cowardly attack on a fictitious target. The daring, resolute & measured response from Pakistan thwarted Indian nefarious designs. He further claimed, Pak AFs are ever ready, not only to defend every inch of the motherland but to take the fight back to the enemy, if ever, aggression is imposed on us. Sharifs antics come after Pak journalist Hamid Mir spilt the beans that former Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa admitted that Pakistan lacked ammunition, and economic strength to fight India in order to fix the nations image. However, Indian Defence experts have termed DG ISPRs statement as a clear indication of desperation. General Bajwa admitted that Pakistan cannot go to war with India, said Hamid Mir. During the conference of commanders meeting, Bajwa confessed that the Pakistan Army is no match for the Indian Army. Earlier, the Pakistani journalists had also revealed that Gen Bajwa had in 2021 revealed that he held secret talks with Indias National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and how Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit was planned to Pakistan soon after a ceasefire was announced between the two countries in 2021. Qamar Javed Bajwas deal on Kashmir has not yet been revealed to Pakistani citizens. After the ceasefire along the Line of Control with India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to visit Pakistan. When Foreign Office came to know about it, they went to Imran Khan as they were unaware of it. Imran Khan said that he knew about it and the talks are going on with NSA Ajit Doval, but Imran said that he had no confirmation about PM Modis visit to Pakistan, Mir had said. 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. Ukraine War: Britains defence intelligence has claimed that casualties suffered by the Russian military during the ongoing war in Ukraine have reduced considerably during the current month. Over April 2023, Russias average daily casualty rate has highly likely fallen by around 30 per cent. This follows exceptionally heavy Russian casualties over January-March 2023, the agency said in a statement on Twitter. Figures released by the Ukrainian General Staff suggest a reduction from a daily average of 776 Russian casualties in March, to an average of 568 so far in April. Defence Intelligence cannot verify Ukraines exact methodology, but the general trend is likely accurate the statement added. Russias losses have highly likely reduced as their attempted winter offensive has failed to achieve its objectives, and Russian forces are now focused on preparing for anticipated Ukrainian offensive operations. The assessment by British intelligence comes even as the government of Russia pushes a massive advertisement campaign urging Russian men to quit their civilian jobs and join the military. There have been speculations in the global media that heavy casualties suffered by Russia during the Ukraine war has compelled the Russian government led by President Vladimir Putin to launch the campaign. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. New Delhi: Russia has slammed the United Kingdoms decision to deliver depleted uranium shells to Ukraine, calling it an all-out escalation after the British Defence Ministry revealed the hazardous weapons were already in Kyivs hands, reported Russia Today (RT). The statement from Moscows UK embassy came after senior official James Heappey acknowledged that the British depleted uranium munitions had arrived on the battlefield. It read, James Heappeys comments are a grim testament to the ruthlessness of the Anglo-Saxons policy of all-out escalation of the proxy conflict they themselves unleashed in Ukraine. He cynically stated that London is not monitoring the deployment of these weapons and has no obligation to eliminate the consequences of their use following the end of the conflict. The embassy went on to say that the British government could not escape accountability by passing them off to Ukrainian forces. It also stated that the government would be responsible for the effects of the toxic ammunition. Last week, Andrey Kelin, Russias envoy to Britain, in an interview with RT claimed that DU munitions will be a terrible thing for the agriculture and for the people of Ukraine. He added that the radioactive residue could contaminate Ukraines water and soil for at least six generations. According to a 2007 government assessment, Heappey claims that depleted uranium poses relatively low health and environmental concerns. However, uranium munitions produce chemically toxic and radioactive DU particulate when they strike hard targets, according to Doug Weir, an expert with the Conflict and Environment Observatory. He added that the dust poses an inhalational risk to people. Moscow has urged all international powers to halt all weapon shipments to Ukraine, claiming that this will simply prolong the conflict. 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, Apr 26 (UNI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will chair the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Defence Ministers Meeting on April 28 in New Delhi, and also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines, including with the Chinese and Russian Defence Ministers. The Defence Ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan will participate. India has invited Belarus and Iran, currently observers in SCO, to participate in the Meeting. The Defence Minister of Pakistan would be participating virtually, said an official statement. Kyiv: As Ukraine prepares its soldiers for an anticipated spring counteroffensive, a Russian missile on Tuesday struck a museum building in a Ukrainian town, killing at least two people and injuring 10 more. Ukrainian officials said the Russian military used S-300 air defence missiles to attack Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, hitting the museum of local history in the town centre. The Russian military has repeatedly used S-300s, which Ukraines air defences cannot intercept, to attack ground targets. Slamming the barbaric attack, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia was trying to erase Ukraines history and culture. Zelensky reported the strike on a local history museum in Kupiansk, a city near the frontline in the northeast, and gave an updated toll in his evening video address. Russia killed two women with this strike 10 people were wounded, they are being provided with the necessary assistance, he said. President Zelenskys Evening Address with English subtitles. Heroyam Slava Zelensky No one can feel safe anywhere unless the aggressor is defeated. This is what every day in Ukraine proves everything that the Russian troops and special services of the occupier are doing on pic.twitter.com/l3I6O2204S Tracey/UkrzaliznytsiaFella #NAFO (@trajaykay) April 25, 2023 Earlier, he had reported one death, accusing Russia of killing Ukrainians with absolutely barbaric methods and doing everything to destroy us completely. Our history, our culture, our people. He posted a video on Telegram of people in military uniform walking through the rubble of a partly destroyed building with its windows shattered. In his video address, he said Russia had in total destroyed more than 60 museums and galleries. Ukraine regained Kupiansk, a key rail hub in northeastern Ukraine, in September. As fear mounted that Russia may be pushing to retake the city, Ukraine ordered vulnerable residents to evacuate at the beginning of March. 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: In its first response to phone call between Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Moscow on Wednesday said that Russian and Chinese visions for a path to peace were broadly in tune and that Ukraines unrealistic demands were standing in the way of peace negotiations. Praising Beijing for its efforts to help restart meaningful negotiations, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that Russian and Chinese visions for a path to peace were broadly in tune with one another and that the problem lies not with the lack of good plans. Xi spoke with Zelensky over phone on Wednesday, which was the first call between the two leaders since the start of Russias invasion in Kyiv. I had a long and meaningful phone call with President Xi Jinping, Zelensky said on Twitter. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraines ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations, he added. Xi Jinping and Volodymyr Zelensky had an almost one hour-long telephone conversation, said Zelenskys spokesman Sergiy Nykyforov on Facebook. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that during the call Xi told Zelensky talks and negotiation were the only way out of the war. On the issue of the Ukraine crisis, China has always stood on the side of peace and its core position is to promote peace talks, CCTV reported Xi as saying. According to a readout of the call, reported by CCTV, Xi said China will neither watch the fire from the other side, nor add fuel to the fire, let alone take advantage of the crisis to profit. Russia blames Kyiv for standoff Meanwhile, Russian spokesperson Zakharova blamed Kyiv for the eventual breakdown of negotiations last spring when Russian and Ukrainian teams held several rounds of meetings. Kiev has repeatedly said that negotiations can resume only after Russia surrenders its recently incorporated territories. Moscow has called such demands unacceptable. Crimea voted to leave Ukraine and join Russia in the wake of the 2014 coup in Kiev. The Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, did the same after holding referendums on the matter in September. In October, Zelensky signed a decree that declared the impossibility of conducting negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Beijing, which unveiled a 12-point roadmap for peace in Ukraine in February, has maintained that the conflict can only end through dialogue. China, unlike many Western countries, has also refused to condemn Russia for its actions. China named diplomat Li Hui its special envoy to Ukraine and other countries on Wednesday. Xi said that the envoy would be tasked with conducting in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. Li was Chinas ambassador to Moscow from 2009 to 2019. Zelensky, meanwhile, has appointed former strategic industries minister Pavel Ryabkin as the countrys new ambassador to China. 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 Czech government on Wednesday put Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, on its national sanctions list due to his full support for Russias invasion of Ukraine, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said. The Russian priest is the first person to be put on the sanctions list following the war in Ukraine. Kirill, 76, was listed by his civil name of Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyayev on the sanctions roster, which is posted on the Czech Foreign Ministrys website. His inclusion means he is barred from entry to the Czech Republic, a European Union and NATO member country, and banned from any financial transactions with Czechs. His frequent public remarks supporting the war in Ukraine, justifying atrocities committed by Russian troops there, those are all clear evidence that can be publicly found, Lipavsky told a televised news conference. Known to be a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Patriarch Kirill has strongly backed the war in Ukraine, in which thousands of civilians have been killed and millions have been driven from their homes. Russia denies accusations of war crimes in Ukraine. The 27-nation European Union as a whole tried to put Kirill on its sanctions list last year but member states failed to find unanimity on the issue as Hungary opposed his inclusion. On Tuesday, Kirill called Russians who fail to serve their country as internal enemies and described patriotism as the greatest virtue, the RIA state news agency reported. 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 Singapore court has dismissed a plea by a 46-year-old Indian-origin cannabis trafficker to have his case reviewed, a day before the death row convict was set to be hanged, according to media reports. Justice of the Court of Appeal Steven Chong dismissed on Tuesday Singaporean Tangaraju Suppiahs bid for a review application to be made and for his execution to be stayed, according to Channel News Asia. Suppiah has garnered support from British billionaire Richard Branson who claimed that his conviction did not meet standards and that Singapore may be about to kill an innocent man. The Ministry of Home Affairs had responded on Tuesday to Bransons comments, saying it showed disrespect for Singapores judges and criminal justice system. In a 15-page judgment, Justice Chong explained that Tangaraju had failed to show a legitimate basis for the court to review his case. There is also no basis for the court to exercise its inherent power to reopen a concluded criminal appeal, he said. This application is therefore dismissed without being set down for hearing, Justice Chong was quoted as saying in the report. Tangaraju was convicted in October 2018 by a High Court judge of a capital charge of abetting an accomplice by conspiring to traffic cannabis. This was by delivering about 1kg of cannabis to himself, an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Tangaraju was sentenced to death after failing to fulfil any of the criteria that would free him from death row. He later appealed against his conviction and sentence, but it was dismissed in August 2019, with the court agreeing that Tangaraju had conspired to traffic in cannabis, and that he had used a phone to communicate with his accomplice, Mogan Valo. Tangaraju filed a criminal motion in November 2022 for permission to apply to review the concluded appeal. The court dismissed this as well in February 2023. In his latest bid, Tangaraju, who was self-represented, argued that the prosecution had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he and Mogan had an agreement to traffic the specific quantity of 1017.9g of cannabis. However, Justice Chong said it was never Tangarajus case at trial that the agreement with Mogan was to traffic an amount that was below the threshold amount for capital punishment, or any lesser quantity. It thus appears that the applicant is essentially seeking to advance an entirely new argument, the Channel had Justice Chong as saying. He added that the agreement to traffic the quantity found in Mogans possession was proven beyond a reasonable doubt, in any event. Justice Chong agreed with the prosecution that this new argument was premised on false assertions. Mogan had testified that he had collected cannabis from another person and had been instructed to deliver the drugs to Tangaraju. He testified that he knew the two rectangular-shaped blocks wrapped in white packaging were cannabis upon his own inspection, and the drugs were subsequently analysed and found to contain 1017.9g of cannabis. Justice Chong found that there was no legitimate basis for the court to exercise its power of review. 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 a US mediated ceasefire, warring groups in Sudan appears to be unwilling to come to the negotiating table, the UN special envoy on Sudan said on Tuesday. This suggests that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible, envoy Volker Perthes told the United Nations Security Council. This is a miscalculation, he added. Violent conflict broke out between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15. Both parties agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire beginning Tuesday after negotiations mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia. It seems to be holding in some parts so far. However, we also hear continuing reports of fighting and movement of troops, said Perthes, who spoke via video from Port Sudan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the violence and chaos in Sudan as heart-breaking. The power struggle puts Sudans future at risk and could cause suffering for years and set back development for decades, Guterres said. The United Nations has evacuated hundreds of staff and family members to Port Sudan from Khartoum. The United Nations plans to establish a hub in Port Sudan to continue working in the country where, even before the violence broke out, nearly 16 million people one-third of the population were in need of humanitarian aid. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Sydney will host the 2023 Quad Leaders summit on May 24, the third in-person gathering of the leaders of Australia, the United States, India and Japan which together form the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday. I am honoured to host the first ever Quad Leaders Summit in Australia in Sydney, Albanese said. The Quad is committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is respectful of sovereignty and ensures security and growth for all, he elaborated. The Australian PM said the leaders will discuss how the Quad can work alongside partners and regional groupings, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Pacific Islands Forum, to strengthen cooperation and shape the Indo-Pacific region. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly known as the Quad, is a strategic security dialogue between Australia, India, Japan and the United States that is maintained by periodic summits between member countries. India, the United States, Japan and Australia are members of the Quad, an informal grouping that Washington has been promoting to work as a potential counter against Chinas increasing political, commercial and military activity in the Indo-Pacific. China sees the Quad as an attempt to push back against its growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. Albanese said he also plans to visit the US when Biden hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the second half of the year. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. India-Taliban Ties: The cordial ties between India and the Afghan Taliban since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 might just be due to the blessings of the Pakistan Army. This explosive claim has been put forward by Hassan Abbas who teaches international relations at the National Defence University (NDU), Washington in his book The Return of the Taliban which is slated to be released in the United States (US) later this week. According to Hassan Abbas, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met then Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa before sending a request to India for the return of Indian diplomats and technical staff to Kabul. Hassan Abbas goes on to write that re-establishment of Indias influence in Afghanistan could not have happened without Pakistan. Abbas claimed that the Pakistan Army wanted the Taliban administration in Afghanistan to receive international aid and financial support which prompted them to give the green signal to the Taliban to re-establish ties with India. According to Abbas, Pakistan is as eager about financial support for Afghanistan as the Afghan Taliban. The book notes that India has strategic interests in Afghanistan while the Afghan Taliban wants ties with the largest economy in South Asia for the sake of international legitimacy and recognition. the Taliban desire is simple international legitimacy and recognition, Hassan wrote. Kabuls new rulers also need huge external investments to reconstruct and revive the country he added, pointing out that India has the resources to do so. Nevertheless, the book also makes note of the fact that India is now seriously reassessing its position and moving towards a balancing act in its effort to engage with the Taliban and help stabilise Afghanistan. As an example of the influence wielded in Afghanistan by General Bajwa during his term as Pakistan Army chief, Hassan has narrated the how Taliban finance minister Hidayatullah Badri also known as Gul Agha Ishaqzai was allegedly detained and tortured by the Pakistani security establishment after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Later, Hassan claimed, Muttaqi personally took him to General Bajwa to extend the hand of friendship. Only Mr Bajwas favorable nod gave him the opportunity to become the finance minister of Afghanistan. Hassan has also discussed the visit of former ISI chief Faiz Hamid to Kabul following the Talibans return to power in Afghanistan. He claimed that Pakistans Foreign Office had urged General Faiz Hamid to stay at the Pakistan embassy in Kabul, but the overconfident spy chief dismissed it. During a meeting with Pakistani politicians after his return from Afghanistan, General Faiz Hamid defended his decision, saying that intelligence chiefs from the United States (US) and China had also visited Kabul around that time. However, General Faiz Hamid He was told that he was the only one photographed and photographs and video clips of him sipping tea in the Serena Hotel, Kabul, went viral. The book argues that the visuals provided evidence of the huge influence Pakistan had on the Taliban and hurt Pakistan as well as the Taliban. The book also talks about the growing influence of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Afghanistan, noting that the terrorist group has responsibility for 262 attacks in Afghanistan from August 2021 when the Taliban captured Kabul to August the following year. This trend was an important agenda item in the conversation between ISI chief Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, and CIA Director William Burns in early May 2022, in Washington. The Pakistani delegation included the former ISI chief Gen Hamid as well, the book claims. Mr Burns told them that at this rate of growth, IS could gain control of 20 per cent of Afghanistan by mid-2023. In response, Gen Anjum stressed the need for targeting (the groups) top leadership and intelligence sharing. The book says that at the end of the meeting: both sides reached an interesting conclusion, the Afghan Taliban are no longer a primary threat to the national security of the US and Afghanistans neighboring countries. Hassan has also written about Chinas intention to engage with the Afghan Taliban, and has noted that China not only kept its embassy open but also welcomed the Talibans new status while urging the UN Security Council (UNSC) to unfreeze Afghanistans funds. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. On Tuesday, Britain urged China against attacking Taiwan and warned Beijing that if it did not follow its international duties, it ran the risk of causing internal and worldwide unrest. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that London wants to see a peaceful settlement to sovereignty claims in a set-piece address on foreign policy. China has threatened to annexe Taiwan one day, which is self-governing, using force if necessary. Chinese soldiers conducted military drills earlier this month that simulated targeted attacks and a blockade of the island. Cleverly, however, asserted that a battle in the Taiwan Strait would have a disastrous effect on global supply lines, notably those for sophisticated semiconductors. A war across the Strait would not only be a human tragedy, it would destroy world trade worth $2.6 trillion, according to the Nikkei Asia, he added. No country could shield itself from the repercussions, he told an audience at the Mansion House in the City of London financial district. Distance would offer no protection from this catastrophic blow to the global economy - and to China most of all. I shudder to contemplate the human and financial ruin that would follow. So its essential that no party takes unilateral action to change the status quo. Cleverlys speech comes as Britain seeks to reset its foreign policy priorities after its departure from the European Union, with a tilt towards the Indo-Pacific region. He recently returned from a swing through the region to cement political, trade and military links, in response to Chinese expansion. Tensions between London and Beijing have been strained in recent years, notably over Chinas squeeze on civil rights in the former British colony of Hong Kong. Tempers have risen also over the treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority and a block on tech firm Huaweis involvement in the roll-out of Britains 5G telecoms network. Profound disagreements Hawkish elements in Britains ruling Conservative party have urged the government to take a tougher stance on China. But Cleverly instead urged a pragmatic, constructive and united Western approach to Chinas rising power, acknowledging the need to work in partnership with the Asian power. It would be clear and easy and perhaps even satisfying for me to declare a new Cold War and say that our goal is to isolate China, he said. Clear, easy, satisfying and wrong, because it would be a betrayal of our national interest and a wilful misunderstanding of the modern world. Instead, this government will advance British interests directly with China, alongside our allies, while steadfastly defending our national security and our values. Cleverly said profound disagreements could be expected when dealing with the Chinese leadership, not least over a clash of values. But he said Western powers owed it to future generations to speak their mind and to engage, given Chinas increasing importance to issues such as fighting climate change, global health, tech and finance. He urged China to uphold its international obligations, including the Joint Declaration it signed with Britain to preserve Hong Kongs freedoms, and the UN Charter. If China breaks them, we are entitled to say so and to act and we will, he added, urging Beijing not to see that as interference in domestic affairs. Peaceful co-existence has to begin with respecting fundamental laws and institutions, including the UN Charter, which protects every country against invasion, he said. And that means every country. Cleverly also urged Beijing to abandon its neutral stance on Russian aggression in Ukraine. A country that wants a respected place at the apex of the world order should stand up for its own principles, and keep its solemn obligation to defend the laws at the very foundation of that order, he added. This responsibility goes hand-in-hand with Chinas right to play a global role commensurate with its size and history. 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 United States has taken the lead in attempting to put a stop to a wave of bloodshed in Sudan, but it still has a difficult road ahead due to its limited ability to restrain fighting generals. A three-day truce, which began on Tuesday and has generally been held in Khartoum, was mediated by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, however isolated confrontations continued in other parts of Africas third-largest nation. Previous cease-fires, which pitched paramilitary groups against the army, into which the potent unit was meant to be absorbed, soon fell apart after ten days of nonstop warfare. According to Vedant Patel, a spokesman for the State Department, US diplomats are still deeply engaged with all parties in an effort to extend and make permanent the ceasefire in the hopes of paving the way for the civilian government. John Godfrey, the US ambassador to Sudan who was evacuated on Saturday, and Molly Phee, the top US diplomat for Africa, have been engaged in extensive negotiations with the two generals in coordination with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two regional powers that have significant investments in Sudan. Historic US role The United States for decades has been the key diplomatic player in Sudan, negotiating a 2005 agreement that ended the civil war and brought independence to South Sudan and later taking the forefront in efforts to stop a scorched-earth campaign in Darfur. But Washington, seeking to preserve bridges, had hesitated in the run-up to the violence to take direct action against the duelling generals. US diplomats are also now reduced to coordinating by telephone after President Joe Biden ordered an evacuation of the embassy out of safety concerns. Whether or not we have the leverage, we are looked upon as having the leverage due to the history, said Cameron Hudson, an Africa expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The United States can still build diplomatic coalitions but its leverage in Sudan has substantially declined, Hudson said. Hudson said she was pessimistic that the ceasefire would hold and pointed to anecdotal reports that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have used the lull to bring in supplies from their Darfur stronghold. Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo both still hope for military victory but had an interest in a pause in fighting, which also served to please international interlocutors, Hudson said. These guys have been fighting for 10 days, 24 hours a day, flat out. Theyre tired. They need a break. They need to regroup. They need to resupply, he said. So I think that this ceasefire has the potential to backfire. Waning pressure The United States had loosened pressure on Sudan since 2019 when a coup detat ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir, a nemesis of the United States for much of his three decades in power which included welcoming Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden in the 1990s. In late 2020, then-president Donald Trump removed Sudan from a blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism after leaders tentatively agreed to recognize Israel and to compensate US victims of Al-Qaeda terrorism. The Biden administration froze a $700 million aid package a year later after another military coup thwarted a transition to civilian rule. But some lawmakers had pressed for further action. Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat close to Biden, ahead of the latest violence had called for targeted sanctions against coup leaders to disrupt their streams of revenue seen as a key reason why they were clinging to power. Susan Stigant, Africa director at the US Institute of Peace, said that greater instability in Sudan held major risks due to the countrys strategic location between North and sub-Saharan Africa and on the Red Sea, a major artery for global trade. She said it was crucial that any US strategy not involve just the two generals but the broad range of Sudanese society that has clamoured for change. We have to be very careful we dont create a false binary choice between the two generals, she said. There has to be a third way. 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 White House confirmed Tuesday that US President Joe Biden will attend the G7 leaders conference in Hiroshima, Japan, from 19 May to 21 May. The Ukrainian conflict, the food and climate crises, as well as securing inclusive and resilient economic growth, according to a statement from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, will be on the agenda. Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has stated that he expects to make nuclear disarmament a central plank of discussions at the G7 summit, which is being held near the site of the worlds first nuclear strike. The G7 is comprised of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States. Biden will also attend a Quad leaders summit in Sydney, Australia on 24 May, according to the statement, bringing together the United States, Australia, Japan and India. The leaders will discuss how they can deepen their cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, maritime domain awareness, and other issues, Jean-Pierre said. The meeting of the Quad, which positions itself as a bulwark against Chinas military ambitions in Asia and the Pacific, comes amid heightened tensions in the region, particularly between Washington and Beijing. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Istanbul: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday interrupted a live television interview saying he had developed a stomach bug. In one of the videos shared on Twitter, the reporter asking the question stands up from his chair when the broadcast is cut off. Oh wow, an unidentified voice can be heard saying off camera. However, Erdogan returned about 15 minutes later to apologise for getting sick. Yesterday and today were hard work. Thats why I got a stomach flu, Erdogan said. At one point, I wondered if it would be misunderstood if we cancelled the programme. But we promised. I ask for your and our audiences forgiveness. Turkish TV cut a live interview with Erdogan. Apparently, he felt ill. https://t.co/tkcvc59DrY Naseh Shaker (@Naseh_Shaker) April 25, 2023 The 69-year-old Turkish leader on Tuesday gave three campaign speeches heading into a knife-edge parliamentary and presidential election on 14 May. He was due to close out the night by appearing live for a joint interview with Ulke TV and Kanal 7. However, his television appearance began more than 90 minutes behind schedule and then cut off in the middle of a question ten minutes into the show. His face looked tired and his eyes appeared to water as he spoke. The Turkish leader then took a few more questions before ending the broadcast. Erdogan and his Islamic-rooted party have dominated Turkish politics for the past 20 years. But the campaign is posing one of Erdogans toughest challenges of his mercurial rule. Polls show him running neck-and-neck or losing to opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. I convey my best wishes to Mr. Erdogan, Kilicdaroglu tweeted moments after the episode aired. 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. Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican candidate for the 2024 US Presidential election, believes that his heated interview with Don Lemon led to him being fired from CNN. Conversation with Lemon and co-host Poppy Harlow last week turned fiery after Ramaswamy defended a recent speech in which he accused the Democratic Party of wanting to put Black people back in chains. Ramaswamy on Tuesday joined SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly to discuss the interview on CNN and his reaction to Lemons departure. Clips from his last weeks interview were played in which she said Lemon was really offensive with the way he ended the conversation. So what do you make of the fact that you may have had a role in CNNs ultimate decision to get rid of him (Lemon)? Kelly asked the GOP candidate for the 2024 US Presidential election. I think I did, Ramaswamy said. And I think that thats a net positive. Look, I actually want be really clear about this. It all comes down to what the mission of your organisation is. If CNNs mission is to advance a woke progressive orthodoxy, Don Lemon is a perfectly fine host to have on air, to cut off guests, to tell people they cant speak based on the color of their skin, because that does represent a worldview that exists in the country, he added. Ramaswamys interview to CNN Lemons 17-year stint at CNN may have come to an end after a heated argument in CNN This Morning last Wednesdays (20 April) episode. Snippets from the interview show discussion turning fervent after Ramaswamy defended his speech he made at a National Rifle Association event in which he accused the Democratic Party of wanting to put Black people back in chains. When you are in Black skin and you live in this country then you can disagree with me, but were not, Lemon said at one point during the discussion. You mentioned there are three different shades of melanin here? I disagree, Ramaswamy responded. Don I think we have to be able to talk about these issues in the open regardless of the color of our skin. Black Americans today, to say that, compare that to 1865 and 1964, absolutely have equal rights in this country. Lemon went on to accuse Ramaswamy of being reductive and insulting by suggesting that Black people only fought for gun rights during the Civil War. Ramaswamy later argued that they should be able to express our views regardless of the color of our skin. We should have this debate without me, regarding you as a Black man, Ramaswamy said. according to the NYT this interview that Don Lemon conducted last week with Vivek Ramaswamy played a role in his firing. Note co-host Poppy Harlow sitting silently while Lemon goes after Vivek. pic.twitter.com/Fjx5eX30wU Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 24, 2023 Lemon then said, "It is insulting that you are sitting here, whatever ethnicity you are explaining to me..." before Ramaswamy interjected, Regarding you here as a fellow citizen. You should do it in an honest way and in a fair way. And what youre doing is not an honest and fair way. We appreciate you coming on, said Lemon to end the interview. With due respect, Don, I look forward to continuing that conversation, Ramaswamy concluded. Stunned, says Don Lemon On Monday (24 April), 57-year-old Lemon said he had been informed by his agent that he has been terminated by CNN. I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly. At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network, Lemon said. The news of Lemon being fired from CNN came shortly after another major US media house, Fox News fired its prime-time hosts Tucker Carlson. 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. Bogota: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that the world is becoming more aware of the abilities and contributions of a New India and also emphasised that there is a belief that the India of today is capable of resolving complex problems. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, Started my visit to Colombia by meeting the Indian community in Bogota. Shared with them the transformation underway in India and its global implications. Underlined how the world is recognizing the capabilities and contributions of a New India. During the interaction with the Indian community members, Jaishankar also said that the world today is acknowledging the changes in India and getting more ready for India Citing the Ukraine conflict or problems which deal with the developed world and the developing world, he told the Indian diaspora that in all of this from all quarters, there is today that feeling that India is a country which in some way or the other can serve as a bridge as a someone who brings differing opinions together (and) helps to find a solution. In the last decade, we have built up a reputation as what we call a first responder. When something happens we are quick to move because weve developed our own capability within the country. And now we feel we are good enough, experienced enough and responsible enough to do that outside he said, citing the example of the recent earthquake in Turkey where India sent its disaster rescue team within 24 hours. Noting that there are some issues which trouble all countries in the world, the minister said that climate is one and here too theres been a big change in Indias positioning, in Indias image. We are seeing today as a climate leader, a country which has done a lot on solar energy, on renewables, which is actually coming up with a whole series of ideas and practices and institutions, he said. He added that today a much more united global position on terrorism is at least partly due to the efforts that India has made in the last 10 years. There is a feeling that todays India has the ability to bridge the difficult issues. And frankly, sometimes the difficult arguments of the day, he added. He said that there is a much greater inclination on the part of the world to make an effort to understand India, that an India which is stronger, more powerful, more impactful. There is a much greater willingness on the part of the world to make an effort to understand us and what we are, he said. Jaishankar also talked about the work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government for the welfare of Indians abroad. He lauded the Indian diasporas contributions, saying the image of India in foreign countries is significantly shaped by the community. In this era of globalisation, of technology, of mobility, Indians are making their presence felt everywhere, he added. While responding to a question on dual citizenship, Jaishankar said that the issue involves security implications and not many big countries allow it. During his stay in Colombia, Jaishankar would meet several top leaders of the country and review bilateral ties with his Colombian counterpart Alvaro Leyva Duran. Jaishankar is on a nine-day trip to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic, his first visit as the external affairs minister to these Latin American countries and the Caribbean. 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. On the afternoon of 26 April, President Xi Jinping spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the phone at the invitation of the latter. The two sides exchanged views on China-Ukraine relations and the Ukraine crisis. President Xi noted that China-Ukraine relations, after 31 years of development, have reached a level of strategic partnership, boosting development and revitalization of the two countries. Xi commended President Zelenskyy for stating, on multiple occasions, the importance he attaches to developing the bilateral relationship and advancing cooperation with China, and thanked the Ukrainian side for its strong assistance to the evacuation of Chinese nationals last year. Mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is the political foundation of China-Ukraine relations. The two sides need to look to the future, view and handle the bilateral relations from a long-term perspective, carry forward the tradition of mutual respect and sincerity, and take the China-Ukraine strategic partnership forward. Chinas readiness to develop relations with Ukraine is consistent and clear-cut. No matter how the international situation evolves, China will work with Ukraine to advance mutually beneficial cooperation. President Xi pointed out that the Ukraine crisis is evolving in complex ways with major impacts on the international landscape. On the Ukraine crisis, China always stands on the side of peace. Its core stance is to facilitate talks for peace. He noted his proposals of four points about what must be done, four things the international community must do together and three observations. On this basis, China released its Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis. China did not create the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to the crisis. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, China would not sit idly by, nor would it add oil to the fire, still less exploit the situation for self gains. Everything China does is aboveboard. Dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way forward. There is no winner in nuclear wars. On the nuclear issue, all relevant parties must stay calm and exercise restraint, truly act in the interests of their own future and that of humanity, and jointly manage the crisis. With rational thinking and voices now on the rise, it is important to seize the opportunity and build up favorable conditions for the political settlement of the crisis. It is hoped that all parties would seriously reflect on the Ukraine crisis and jointly explore ways to bring lasting peace and security to Europe through dialogue. China will continue to facilitate talks for peace and make its efforts for early ceasefire and restoration of peace. China will send the Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs to Ukraine and other countries to have in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. China has sent multiple batches of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and will keep providing help to the best of its ability. President Zelenskyy congratulated President Xi on his re-election and commended China for its remarkable achievements. He expressed confidence that under the leadership of President Xi, China will successfully address various challenges and continue to move forward. China upholds the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in international affairs and has significant influence on the international stage. The Ukrainian side is committed to the one-China policy, and hopes to advance all-round bilateral cooperation with China, open up a new chapter in Ukraine-China relations, and jointly safeguard world peace and stability. Zelenskyy shared his views on the current state of the Ukraine crisis. He thanked China for providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and welcomed Chinas important role in restoring peace and seeking diplomatic solution to the crisis. What does your machinist think about the balancing differences between the flex-plates? My assumption is that if the engine is balanced with a balanced flex plate, switching to another balanced flex plate should not matter. I mean, we do similar in zf6 swaps and all, light flex plate switched to heavy flywheel and a clutch, both of which are component balanced. Interestingly enough, I had a customer call the other day with this exact same question, fresh engine and oem flex plate about to be balanced at machine shop. His machinist seemed to want the actual flex plate that would be used. I guess I need to ask the engine/machinist guys at the other side of the shop to see what they think lol I know one guy who has done the conversion with the sae2 bellhousing, he is a moderator on the 7.3 technical page facebook club, though I think his electronics and all are still from CA Conversions If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts 1. There was a highly structured social system in Saint-Domingue. At the top were the white wealthy slave-holding plantation owners. On the next rung were the middle class, skilled workers, and artisans. A third level also existed, just above those enslaved. What was this rung called? Answer: Affranchis Affranchis were former slaves who had either bought their freedom or had been granted freedom by their owners. Also included were the children of plantation owners and slave women. 2. France controlled the entire economy of Saint-Domingue. All imports and exports had to come from or go to France. The plantation owners wanted a wider market. The new French republic's assembly was more liberal and anti-slave, a situation that made Hispaniola plantation owners nervous. What was NOT one of the commodities exported to France? Answer: corn The "money crops" were sugar and coffee. Tobacco and indigo were also exported. The French exploited Sant-Domingue, which was a major money maker. 3. In October 1790, an affranchis traveled to France to petition the General Assembly to grant more freedoms and access to affranchis in Saint-Domingue. The Assembly agreed; however the new reforms were never implemented. Angered, this man led an unsuccessful revolt against the French colonial government. What was his name? Vincent Oge Vincent Oge was born into a wealthy family. His mother was an affranchis, and his father was a white plantation owner. Oge was a successful goldsmith and a representative of the class of affranchis, which the middle class felt was getting too much access and power. Oge's revolt was small, not well-organized and unsuccessful. He and his comrades were caught, tortured and executed. Answer:Vincent Oge was born into a wealthy family. His mother was an affranchis, and his father was a white plantation owner. Oge was a successful goldsmith and a representative of the class of affranchis, which the middle class felt was getting too much access and power. Oge's revolt was small, not well-organized and unsuccessful. He and his comrades were caught, tortured and executed. 4. In 1791, a former slave named Toussaint l'Ouverture led an uprising of slaves against the planters. By 1792, they controlled one-third of the island. What country sent forces in 1793 to conquer the island? Answer: Great Britain Great Britain, always at the ready to exploit French weaknesses, sent a force to seize Saint-Domingue from the French. Upon the arrival of British forces, the French decided to emancipate all the slaves in order to maintain colonial rule. After a series of defeats by l'Ouverture's forces, the British abandoned the campaign in 1798. 5. Toussaint l'Ouverture had been granted his freedom from his owner, who had taught him to read and write. By 1801, l'Ouverture had expanded the revolt beyond Saint-Domingue and defeated the Spanish in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic). What did he then declare himself to be for the rest of his "glorious" life? Answer: governor-general He declared himself to be Governor-General of all of Hispaniola for life. He wrote a constitution in which he banned slavery and made Saint-Domingue an independent state under his rule, even though Saint-Domingue was officially a French possession. 6. With the end of the French Revolution in 1799, Napoleon noticed l'Ouverture's overly zealous moves in Saint-Domingue. He sent his brother-in-law and 43,000 troops to capture l'Ouverture, restore French domination, and reinstitute slavery. Who was Napoleon's brother-in-law? Answer: General Charles Victorie Leclerc General Leclerc was married to Pauline Bonaparte, Napoleon's sister. L'Ouverture was captured and taken to France where he died in prison in 1803. French rule and slavery were re-established Saint-Domingue. 7. One of l'Ouverture's generals, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, carried the revolution forward. The French were having their own troubles at home. The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 not only evinced France's withdrawal from North America, it also illustrated the state of the French treasury. Additionally, there was the renewal of hostilities with Britain. So, the revolution in Saint-Domingue was not a priority to Napoleon. What was the name of the battle which resulted in a final defeat of France? Answer: Battle of Vertieres Jean-Jacques Dessalines, himself a former slave, led the revolutionaries at the Battle of Vertieres on November 18, 1803, where the French forces were defeated. On January 1, 1804, Dessalines declared the nation independent and renamed it Haiti. He ordered the slaughter of all remaining French citizens in Haiti. 8. On January 1, 1804, Haiti became an independent nation. What country was the first to recognize Haiti's independence? France Haiti became the world's first black republic. The southern states in the United States and many European countries ostracized Haiti out of fear of the spread of slave rebellions. Haiti became the second nation in the western hemisphere to gain its independence from a European country. Answer:Haiti became the world's first black republic. The southern states in the United States and many European countries ostracized Haiti out of fear of the spread of slave rebellions. Haiti became the second nation in the western hemisphere to gain its independence from a European country. 9. In 1806, Dessalines was killed. General Henry Christophe took control and declared himself King Henry I. He built an imposing palace and fortress. What was the name of his palace? Answer: Sans Souci Christophe used his reign as an opportunity to build up Haiti's standing in the eyes of the international community, particularly its former colonizer, France. Christophe was well known for the luxurious parties and feasts he hosted at the palace. "Sans souci" means "without worry". 10. Who was the first democratically-elected president of Haiti? Answer: Jean-Bertrand Aristide He was ousted in the 2004 coup d'etat. Aristide and others believe that the United States had a role in orchestrating the coup against him. He was later forced into exile in the Central African Republic and South Africa. He finally returned to Haiti in 2011 after seven years in exile. Source: Author ncterp This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor trident before going online.Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system. News Del Papa 'upset' about Bud Light promotion with trans influencer COURTESY Del Papa Distributing, with headquarters at 1220 Gulf Freeway in Texas City, distributes beer, including Bud Light and other Anheuser-Busch products, and beverages to restaurants, bars and stores in 17 Texas counties. Jordan Strauss Dylan Mulvaney TEXAS CITY Del Papa Distributing this week asked consumers not to let 113 years of goodwill go down the drain over a controversial Bud Light promotion involving a transgender social media personality. Since April 1, there has been a lot of discussion, frustration and even anger across the country regarding a can of Bud Light that was produced for a social media influencer, Texas City-based Del Papa Distributing said Monday in a statement. We too are upset with this situation and have been vocal about it with the top leadership at Anheuser-Busch. Del Papa, a beer and beverage distributor founded in Galveston in 1910, doesnt produce any of the products nor make marketing decisions for the brands it sells, the company said. The partnership between beer brand Bud Light and actress, comedian and TikTok personality Dylan Mulvaney, who has more than 10.8 million followers on social media, hit the internet April 1 when Mulvaney posted a video on Instagram showing herself cracking open a can of Bud Light and the hashtag #budlightpartner, according to reports. That can featured an image of Mulvaney, who is known for documenting her gender transition from a man to a woman on social media. The partnership between Bud Light and Mulvaney was met with scorn and calls for boycotts by some prominent conservatives and celebrities, including often outspoken country artist Travis Tritt, who declared a personal boycott of Anheuser-Busch products. An anti-woke campaign ensued. Earlier this month, Kid Rock posted a video of himself shooting cases of Bud Light with a rifle, yelling f Bud Light and f Anheuser-Busch. But Mulvaney also found support among celebrities, including radio and TV personality Howard Stern, who pointed out Kid Rock has many songs about doing his own thing and Stern didnt understand what upset him about Mulvaney, according to reports. Im not bothered by gay people or transsexual people, Stern said. They dont impact my life; they dont hurt my life. I love when people are in love. You wanna be a woman? Be a woman. You wanna be a dude, be a dude. Be whatever you fing want. As long as you aint hurting anybody, Im on your team. Del Papa Distributing, with headquarters at 1220 Gulf Freeway in Texas City, distributes beer, including Bud Light and other Anheuser-Busch products, and beverages to restaurants and stores in 17 Texas counties. Although Del Papa released a lengthy statement, representatives didnt respond Tuesday to calls and an email about whether the controversy had hurt its sales or how it might be negatively affecting its more than 350 employees. Del Papa Distributing wanted to set the record straight about false information, including social media reports that Anheuser-Busch was going bankrupt over the marketing campaign. Del Papa in the statement also said people were creating fake, photoshopped images with political messages, none of which are real or true. Therefore, we want to provide some clarification to our local business partners and friends about what we know to be true, the company said. A spokesperson for Anheuser-Busch InBev on Tuesday told the Associated Press there was no truth to the claim the worlds largest beer maker is on the verge of financial ruin. Industry experts note the company remains financially sound, with billions of dollars in assets and a rising stock price. Sales of Bud Light have ebbed in recent weeks, but not to the drastic level claimed by online critics. Del Papa Distributing in its statement went onto say it had no control over the media presence of Anheuser-Busch, its largest brewer partner. The Bud Light influencers post, which ignited the current controversy and then went viral, was not intended as a political statement, Del Papa Distributing said. In fact, the single can at the center of the controversy was not even produced in an Anheuser-Busch brewery. It was the result of a third-party agency. But the fallout was fast and furious for Bud Light. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA this week said it had placed on leave two executives who oversaw a Bud Light collaboration with Mulvaney. The unfortunate reality that it happened without higher-level approval exposed a concerning lack of oversight for brand marketing decisions, Del Papa Distributing said in its statement. That lack of oversight had been addressed, and, as a result, AB has changed reporting responsibilities within the marketing department. Most importantly, in our view, the Bud Light brand has new leadership. The importance of that decision means that the voices of upset consumers have been heard and that those responsible for harming the highly respected reputation of Bud Light and Anheuser-Busch are no longer able to do so. Although sales of Bud Light are down year-over-year in recent weeks, theres no sign Anheuser-Busch has been mortally wounded, industry experts told The Associated Press this week. Not only is it not going bankrupt, the lost sales of Bud Light are nearly negligible in relation to its global sales, at least so far, Harry Schuhmacher, publisher of Beer Business Daily, an industry trade publication, wrote in an email to the AP. Trevor Stirling, an analyst at the financial research firm Bernstein who specializes in the beer industry, told The AP Anheuser-Busch likely would survive the controversy. Weakness on its biggest U.S. brand will provide some short-term pain, he wrote in an email. But it has billions of dollars of cash reserves and no major debt repayments for several years. Bud Light is among the top-selling beer brands worldwide, but its just one of many long-popular brands owned by Anheuser-Busch. Del Papa Distributing was founded by Italian immigrant Omero Del Papa in Galveston in 1910. The company has since grown to distribute a variety of brands throughout the Texas Gulf Coast in three major markets, representing 35 suppliers, providing a route to market for national, regional, local craft and import beers, non-alcoholic beverages, energy drinks and more. We ask for your continued support of our brands, our business and our hard-working employee partners, many who have been negatively impacted by upset consumers while simply doing their jobs, Del Papa Distributing said. Please do not allow an unfortunate decision to jeopardize the goodwill we have earned over many years of being good friends and neighbors in our communities. Commentary: On China, Washington "can't have it both ways" 16:54, April 26, 2023 By Dong Yue ( Xinhua BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- For a period of time, Washington has been sending mixed messages to China: seeking cooperation and communication while containing China in the name of "competition." Those paradoxical statements and actions reflect an increasingly clear tendency in Washington's China policy: to compartmentalize its relationship with Beijing into different categories, where it can apply an approach of containment, competition or cooperation according to America's needs. Decision-makers in Washington could be thinking that each of these different tracks can work perfectly well without rocking each other, and that China should just accept the arrangement as a matter of course. Seriously, this is purely deceitful thinking. It is like stretching out one hand for a handshake and saying "let's work together," and then slapping the person in the face with the other and expecting the slapped to just smile. The United States was once treated in a similar manner during the Cold War. Back in the 1970s, its European allies wanted U.S. assurances on security but were "less cooperative" with Washington on the economic and diplomatic fronts. Frustrated, then-U.S. President Richard Nixon said that "they can't have it both ways -- they can't keep our forces up and confront us everywhere else." Therefore, when demanding communication and cooperation from China and almost simultaneously interfering in China's internal affairs and hurting China's interests, Washington should have little difficulty in understanding why China categorically says: "You can't have it both ways." Such a patchwork of containment and engagement in America's China strategy is not new. Almost every U.S. administration since Bill Clinton adopted such a two-pronged China strategy until recent years when the argument of "the failure of engagement" seems to have gained an upper hand. In its design, the United States wants in the post-Cold War era to manage China's development, and turn the country into its junior partner -- a huge market for U.S. products, services and capital, a source of affordable resources for U.S. industries, and most importantly, a minion who could deliver on America's priorities. China can grow but must grow on the track set by the United States, and certainly not to the extent that the U.S. supremacy might be challenged. To put it simply, the Chinese should just keep their feet on the ground and manufacture T-shirts and socks for American consumers, instead of trying to move up the "smile curve." This is in no way an equal relationship, which is reminiscent of Washington's overbearingness in international relations. In its eyes, China's rapid rise was made possible by America, and Beijing should be grateful. This murky motive explains why Washington has always talked about "approaching China from a position of strength," and why some U.S. politicians have voiced their frustration or even anger when they see a prosperous and ever-developing China still firmly striding on its own path without being transformed according to Washington's design. However, in a highly integrated world, a complete U.S. decoupling from China is as impossible as it is disastrous. Washington knows that quite well. That explains why U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai recently denied that their country was seeking to decouple the U.S. economy from that of China. Moreover, global challenges like climate change need global solutions. But as Washington insists on hammering China in areas like high tech under the guise of "national security" and making provocations on China's red line, it is ruining the conditions for both sides to work on some of those urgent planetary crises. Still, to confuse the world's public opinion, Washington is peddling the so-called "democracy vs autocracy" narrative, and portraying China as a "revisionist power," while claiming that it is safeguarding a "rules-based world order" and protecting "human rights." Such a sanctimonious approach to handling the relationship between the world's top two economies is highly irresponsible and reckless. In the immediate days following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia and the United States enjoyed a honeymoon period. The Charter for American-Russian Partnership and Friendship signed by the two sides in 1992 said "the well-being, prosperity, and security of a democratic Russian Federation and the United States of America are vitally interrelated." However, things changed when Washington failed to provide Kremlin with the promised economic aid and NATO expanded despite Washington's promise that the bloc would move "not one inch eastward." This was unacceptable to Russia, and the ensuing deterioration of Moscow-Washington ties was only natural. Deep down, America had never intended to treat Russia with respect even though Western-style democratic elections took place in the country. Ideology is just an instrument to intervene. For Beijing, Washington's condescending diplomacy is unacceptable. If Washington truly wants a workable relationship with China, it should treat China as an equal partner and show due respect. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Nick Tabor and Kern M. Jackson at the Paris Review: Circa 1969, the writer Albert Murray paid a visit to his hometown on the Alabama Gulf Coast, to report a story for Harpers. Murray hadnt lived there since 1935, the year he left for college. During his childhood, elements of heavy industrysawmills, paper mills, an oil refineryhad always coexisted with wilderness, in the kind of eerily beautiful landscapes that are found only in bayou country. But as an adult, Murray was aghast to see how much industry had encroached. The fabulous old sawmill-whistle territory, the boy-blue adventure country of his childhood, he wrote, had been overtaken by a massive paper factory: a storybook dragon disguised as a wide-sprawling, foul-smelling, smoke-chugging factory. He imagined that the people who had died during his years away had been victims of dragon claws. When Murray made this visit, he was in his early fifties and and was still at the beginning of his writing career. He hadnt yet published a book. But over the next several decades, he would go on to write prodigiously, channeling into singular prose his memories of his old neighborhood before the arrival of the dragon. more here. A Nigerian man has taken to social media to express gratitude to music superstar, Davido, after he found love at his just-concluded Timeless concert in Lagos. The show was a huge success, with thousands of fans turning out to witness the Unavailable crooners electrifying performance for the first time, following his long hiatus.Well, one of the concertgoers had taken to Twitter to reveal that he met a wonderful woman during the concert, and there is a chance that it might blossom into a beautiful relationship.He posted a photo with his lover in what appears to be an art gallery and appreciated Davido for making it possible for them to meet. Quote Barely 24hrs after we met at the Timeless Concert we bonding already. Thank you Davido, he tweeted. Barely 24hrs after we met at the Timeless Concert we bonding already. Thank you Davidopic.twitter.com/nv1RJtCUcv $ (@Oba_West_) April 24, 2023 See his tweet below, amasan1 at 26-04-2023 09:03 PM (5 days ago) (m) The Federal Government has said that about $1.2m was used to evacuate the stranded Nigerians out of Sudan. The Federal Government has said that about $1.2m was used to evacuate the stranded Nigerians out of Sudan. According to the minister, the government provided security cover for the eight-hour journey from Luxol to Cairo and the eleven-hour trip from Aswan to Cairo, Egypt, and 40 buses to transport about 2,400 students from Sudan. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Onyeama, also noted that no Nigerian lost their lives in the conflict, and said there are no talks about alternative plans for continued education for the evacuees, most of whom are students of the University of Khartoum. According to the minister, the government provided security cover for the eight-hour journey from Luxol to Cairo and the eleven-hour trip from Aswan to Cairo, Egypt, and 40 buses to transport about 2,400 students from Sudan.The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Onyeama, also noted that no Nigerian lost their lives in the conflict, and said there are no talks about alternative plans for continued education for the evacuees, most of whom are students of the University of Khartoum. Post Reply I am an investigative reporter at Gistmania, I conduct fact-finding investigative journalism. Posted: at 26-04-2023 09:03 PM (5 days ago) | Hero Nvidia Rolls Out Software Tools to Keep AI Chatbots From Sharing Dangerous Misinformation News lekhaka -Anu Joy Chatbots will no longer be able to babble away like five-year old kids, if Nvidia's new software tool works as promised. The tech company has released NeMo Guardrails, a tool that will reportedly ensure that generative AI apps offer responses that are "accurate, appropriate, on topic, and secure." The new tool is a part of AI Foundations which was launched by Nvidia last month. This cloud-based AI service allows users to generate and run custom generative AI models for business, research, or just for fun. It offers three models, NeMo, Picasso, and BioNeMo. What are NeMo Guardrails? Nvidia's NeMo model is quite similar to ChatGPT, however, it is fine-tuned for businesses. For instance, the AI model can be trained for customer service and marketing content. It can reportedly mimic the company's tone to deliver the best responses. Meanwhile, Nemo Guardrails is a software that can be used by developers to enforce "guardrails" on apps powered by large language models (LLMs). The software will set three types of boundaries-topical guardrails, safety guardrails, and security guardrails. As the names suggest, topical guardrails prevent apps from going off topic, while safety guardrails make sure that apps serve correct and appropriate information. Finally, security guardrails ensure that apps connect to external third-party applications that are deemed safe. Can Anyone Use NeMo Guardrails? Nemo Guardrails is an open-source software which will work well with all the tools already used by enterprise developers. Nvidia claims that "virtually every software developer" can make use of NeMo Guardrails. There's "no need to be a machine learning expert or data scientist," the brand adds. Nvidia states in its blog post, "Nvidia made NeMo Guardrails - the product of several years' research - open source to contribute to the developer community's tremendous energy and work AI safety." "Together, our efforts on guardrails will help companies keep their smart services aligned with safety, privacy and security requirements so these engines of innovation stay on track," the company concluded. The launch of NeMo Guardrails comes on the heels of reports cautioning against "hallucinating" chatbots. A Google executive once explained that when the chatbot hallucinates, it can convincingly spit out made-up answers. We can expect Nvidia's newest tool to curb such responses. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Poco F5 Launching in India on May 9, Pricing Tipped Before Launch News lekhaka -Anu Joy Poco has announced that the Poco F5 is scheduled to launch on May 9. The brand has also teased the design of the phone ahead of its debut. In addition, a Flipkart microsite is now live, showcasing the smartphone in a white color option. Just yesterday, Qualcomm confirmed that the Poco F5 will be equipped with a Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset. Going by the Flipkart listing, we can confidently say that the Poco F5 will be a rebadged version of the Redmi Note 12 Turbo, which debuted in China last month. Poco F5, Poco F5 Pro Rumored Features Since the Poco F5 will arrive as a rebranded Redmi Note 12 Turbo, we can assume that the smartphone will also sport a 6.67-inch OLED panel. The display will have an FHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 1,000 nits of peak brightness. We can expect the smartphone to feature a triple-camera setup at the rear, comprising a 64MP main camera, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. It will sport a 16MP selfie camera at the front. The Poco F5 will be powered by a Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 processor. Meanwhile, the Poco F5 Pro will likely arrive as a rebadged Redmi K60, which is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. We can expect the Pro model to inherit quite a few features from the K60. Poco F5, Poco F5 Pro Rumored Price According to prolific tipster Yogesh Brar, the Poco F5 will be priced between 28,000 and 29,000 for the base model with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. The smartphone will also come in a 12GB + 256GB storage option. There's no word regarding the price of the high-end version. Poco has announced that the vanilla Poco F5 will debut in India on May 9. However, the launch timeline of the Poco F5 Pro hasn't been revealed yet. We can expect the Pro model to follow the launch of the Poco F5. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications ChatGPTs Latest Feature Allows Users to Delete Chat History Amid Privacy Concerns Tech Biz oi -Afrin Humayon Although ChatGPT received much acclaim over its natural language abilities, there was a section of users who worried about data privacy and data history. In order to pacify these users, OpenAI has introduced a new "incognito mode" feature. As per the new feature, users can opt to not have their conversation history with ChatGPT saved by the company and also choose to not have their data used for "training" ChatGPT. To access the new feature, users need to head to Settings and turn off the "Chat History and Training" toggle in the ChatGPT application. They can also choose to export their data from the Settings. Nicholas Turley, OpenAI product officer assured that user conversations would be retained for a period of 30 days to check for any abuse before it is deleted permanently. Furthermore, the company has also said that it would not use user conversations by default for training the generative AI tool anymore in the coming months. The company also plans to come up with a "ChatGPT Business" subscription that will come with a host of features and user controls. There has been a lot of scrutiny lately over users' data that ChatGPT is using to "train" its machine learning models. There was a case last month where Italy banned ChatGPT over similar privacy concerns. The country agreed to resume ChatGPT provided it modified its platform giving users the tools to safeguard their data. After Italy voiced its opinion, France and Spain too expressed similar concerns. OpenAI's Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati told Reuters that OpenAI was working to assure regulators that it was compliant with European privacy laws. She also added that their new feature, which allows greater user control, has been in the works for several months. "We'll be moving more and more in this direction of prioritizing user privacy," Murati said, so that "it's completely eyes off and the models are super aligned: they do the things that you want to do". She also added that while user data has allowed OpenAI to improve ChatGPT continually, there are still a lot of issues to address with regard to the generative AI tool. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Sudan: UN aid operation continues amid dire humanitarian conditions 25 April 2023 - The United Nations will continue to deliver desperately needed relief for the Sudanese people, amid soaring needs, acute shortages of essentials and fast-rising prices, UN humanitarians pledged on Tuesday. Ten days of fighting between rival military forces have had a devastating impact on the country's population. The UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) warned that people are lacking food, water, medicines and fuel, power is limited, and the prices of essential items as well as transport have skyrocketed. OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told reporters in Geneva that the people of Sudan, already "deeply affected" by humanitarian needs, are now "staring into the abyss". He underscored that humanitarian operations were also impacted, and that there were more reports of looting of humanitarian supplies and warehouses. Aid delivery 'whenever and wherever feasible' Following a temporary relocation of hundreds of UN staff members and their families from the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Monday, a UN leadership team will remain in Sudan to oversee humanitarian operations going forward. Mr. Laerke said a humanitarian hub is being established in the Red Sea coastal city of Port Sudan. "We and our partners continue to deliver whenever and wherever feasible", insisted Mr. Laerke, before emphasizing the "heroic" efforts of the Sudanese people themselves. He said that civil society networks are responding to the most urgent needs in their communities, "including mobilizing medical assistance, distributing food and water, and assisting civilians". Before the fighting erupted, some 15.8 million people - about a third of the Sudanese population - were already in need of aid. Rising death and injury toll According to figures from the Sudanese Health Ministry quoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday, 459 people had been killed in the fighting and over 4,000 injured as of 24 April. WHO noted that the actual figures "are likely to be higher" as at least a quarter of all health facilities in Khartoum, where most of the fighting is taking place, are not functional. Attacks on healthcare The UN's health agency has verified 14 attacks on health since the violence began, with 8 deaths and 2 injuries. WHO said that the attacks "must stop" as they bar people in need from accessing essential health services. WHO also flagged rising health concerns due to ongoing outbreaks of dengue and malaria, as well as a looming cholera alert amid damage to water infrastructure. "As the needs are increasing, violence has made the delivery of aid near impossible", WHO said. The agency stressed that it has stocks of essential medicines, blood bags, and supplies for surgery and trauma care "waiting for delivery as soon as safe access is ensured". On Monday, UN chief Antonio Guterres made clear in the UN Security Council that the UN would stay and deliver, and stand by the Sudanese people, as they continue to strive towards civilian rule and a new, democratic future. Key lab under threat Speaking to reporters from Sudan on Tuesday, WHO's representative in the country, Dr Nima Saeed Abid, also said that the agency is concerned about the occupation of the National Public Health Laboratory by one of the parties involved in the fighting. "Trained laboratory technicians no longer have access to the laboratory, and with power cuts, it is not possible to properly manage the biological materials that are stored in the laboratory for medical purposes", WHO said. In addition to "very high" biological hazards, there is also a risk of spoilage of stocks of much-needed blood bags, as the lab is also the site of the central blood bank. Mounting displacement The fighting has already displaced thousands of people, and Paul Dillon, the spokesperson for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said the agency has activated a displacement tracking tool at 16 points of entry in neighbouring countries to monitor incoming flows. Data generated by the tool is broken down by age, gender and health needs, and provided to all humanitarian actors to inform their response. IOM warned that monitoring and relief teams are engaged in a race against time as the arrival of rainy season in late May - early June is projected to cut off large swaths of the border area between Sudan and Chad. Cross-border movements The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) told reporters on Tuesday that the most significant cross-border movements in the region have been Sudanese fleeing to Chad, and South Sudanese refugees returning to their country. UNHCR has received reports of people starting to arrive in Egypt, but no numbers are available. UNHCR said that it is "working closely" with partners and governments in the region to assess and respond to the needs of the new arrivals. The agency also thanked neighbouring countries "for continuing to keep their borders open to those fleeing Sudan - whether to seek international protection or to return to their countries of origin". Seeking safety in Chad UNHCR said that since the fighting started, "at least 20,000 refugees" have fled across the border into Chad, and more are expected to arrive. Speaking from Ndjamena, UNHCR Representative in Chad, Laura Lo Castro, told reporters in Geneva that in the worst-case scenario, as many as 100,000 could cross into the country. The agency said planning is underway to relocate the new arrivals to an existing refugee camp further from the border, "while a new location is being identified to host additional arrivals". Chad already hosts over 400,000 Sudanese refugees. South Sudanese return Speaking from Juba, UNHCR Representative in South Sudan, Marie-Helene Verney said that the agency has managed to interview and register some 4,000 South Sudanese returnees so far, amid a "very difficult" situation at the country's northern border. Many new arrivals lack the means to continue their journey, which is why UNHCR is helping facilitate their onward travel, providing clean water and setting up reception centres. The agency said that overall, there are over 800,000 South Sudanese refugees in Sudan, a quarter of whom are in Khartoum and "directly affected by the fighting". Impact on host communities Ms. Verney also said that for UNHCR, the most likely scenario involved some 100,000 refugees returning to South Sudan, and this was the agency's "contingency planning figure". In addition, as many as 45,000 Sudanese could take refuge in South Sudan as well. Ms. Verney stressed UNHCR was "very concerned" about the impact on host communities. Some 75 per cent of the population of South Sudan are already in need of humanitarian aid. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Norfolk Naval Shipyard Celebrates Completion of Fully Mission Capable Dry Dock 4 with Ribbon Cutting US Navy 25 April 2023 From Janice Hussey NORFOLK, Va -- Navy leadership celebrated the first project to be turned back over to the Fleet in support of the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) for the modernized Dry Dock 4, April 19. SIOP is a holistic investment plan that when fully executed will deliver required dry dock repairs and upgrades to support current and planned future classes of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines, optimize workflow within the shipyards through significant changes to their physical layout, and recapitalize industrial plant equipment with modern technology that will substantially increase productivity and safety. Rear Adm. Lore Aguayo, commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic, along with distinguished guests from Senator Tim Kaine's office, Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover, Program Executive Officer for Industrial Infrastructure (PEO II) and SIOP, Mr. Mark Edelson, Capt. Lawrence Brandon, acting commander, NNSY, and Cmdr. Kendall Chapman, Resident Officer in Charge of Construction (ROICC) NNSY attended the event and delivered remarks. "This project is truly precedence setting for NAVFAC, as the first dry dock turned back over to the Fleet in support of SIOP and one of the first executed using a construction oversight organizational construct dedicated to SIOP," said Aguayo. "This collective team came together and did a fantastic job delivering a modern and fully mission capable dry dock." Dry Dock 4 was the first of three dry docks built at NNSY in 1919 during its World War I-era expansion, originally constructed as a soil supported, unreinforced concrete structure. It hosted notable ships including USS Langley (CV 1), the nation's very first aircraft carrier; USS Texas (BB 35), a battleship that fought in both World Wars; the battleship USS Arizona (BB 39) that received its modernization at NNSY a decade prior to its tragic loss in the attack on Pearl Harbor; and the British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, one of many Allied fleet repairs conducted at NNSY during World War II. To ensure its operational certification, the critical upgrades provided by the SIOP project to this historic dry dock were required. The project was an enormous undertaking, which involved the placement of over thirty-thousand cubic yards of concrete and requiring 836,000 man hours of construction, was executed as a phased, multi-year operations and maintenance funded repair, valued at $191 million. "Our naval shipyards are steeped in history, having supported the Navy's evolution from sail to steam to nuclear power," Mark Edelson, the newly installed leader of Program Executive Office, Industrial Infrastructure (PEO II). "With the support of Congress and our local communities, we are bringing this vital, centuries-old infrastructure into the modern day." Edelson added, "Without major upgrades and reconfiguration, the Navy's four public shipyards cannot repair and upgrade the fleet's current and future carriers and submarines at the pace required." The renovated dry dock includes a new caisson for sealing the facility from the Elizabeth River, replacement of the dock walls and floor, complete restoration of the pumpwell, and upgrading all mechanical and electrical equipment. Additional improvements greatly safeguard against a major flooding event. The initial project development and contract award was managed utilizing the public works department with support from NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic. However, to ensure proper oversight and execution success while the project was underway, NAVFAC stood up the ROICC for NNSY. The ROICC's sole purpose is overseeing the execution of SIOP projects, which is estimated to be over $2.4 billion at NNSY. "The ROICC office, led by Cmdr. Kendall Chapman, provided dedicated government oversight of the completion of this project" said Aguayo. "We intend to apply lessons learned at this and our other public shipyards to the remainder of the SIOP program over the next decade." "With any construction project, we're always learning something," said Cmdr. Kendall Chapman. "We are committed to applying lessons learned across the enterprise as we deliver this fully capable dry dock back to the Fleet in support of nuclear-powered warships. Our country expects nothing less." Partnerships with industry and a shared common mission in support of national security are a model for what NAVFAC strives to achieve around the world as we build the infrastructure the Navy needs for strategic competition needs. "With our industry partners on our left and right we can deliver the construction the Navy and Nation need, when and where they need it," said Aguayo. "I am proud of what our combined teams have accomplished." NAVFAC is the Naval Shore Facilities, Base Operating Support, and Expeditionary Engineering Systems Command that delivers life-cycle technical and acquisition solutions aligned to Fleet and Marine Corps priorities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Islamic State Operative Behind Deadly Kabul Airport Attack Is Dead By Jeff Seldin April 25, 2023 The leader of the Islamic State terror group cell that carried out the August 2021 bombing that killed 13 U.S. troops and about 170 Afghan civilians is dead, slain during recent clashes with Afghanistan's ruling Taliban. U.S. officials, who initially confirmed the death to VOA on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss the intelligence, declined to name the cell leader or say when or where he was killed. It was also unclear whether the individual was targeted by the Taliban or was killed as a result of ongoing fighting between the two groups. In a statement the U.S. Defense Department said, "The United States was not involved in this operation." National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby confirmed the cell leader's death in an email to VOA, calling it "another in a series of high-profile leadership losses" that the group has suffered so far this year. Kirby said the cell leader was a key official "directly involved in plotting operations like Abbey Gate," adding that the IS affiliate's ability to launch additional attacks against U.S. interests has been diminished due to a series of setbacks inflicted by the U.S. and its partners, and even the Taliban. Kirby adds #ISIS-#Khorasan still has desire to attack the US "but it is clear the terrorist group's ability to do so has faced setbacks in the last two years"Kirby points to counterterror ops by US, partner forces, pressure from the #Taliban Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) April 26, 2023 Confirmation of the IS cell leader's death came as multiple U.S. media outlets reported U.S. officials were contacting family members of the 13 U.S. troops killed in the attack on Kabul Airport's Abbey Gate to inform them of the development. The attack on Abbey Gate in the waning days of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan left a lasting mark on the United States. Following the attack, U.S. President Joe Biden promised justice for those killed. "To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive," Biden said in a nationally broadcast address. "We will hunt you down and make you pay." But since the withdrawal, the U.S. has carried out just one counterterrorism strike in Afghanistan: Last July, a drone strike killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of IS rival al-Qaida, as he hid in the capital of Kabul. U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in South Asia, has acknowledged two other operations but said the details remain classified. In the meantime, the Islamic State's Afghan affiliate, known as IS-Khorasan or ISIS-K, has spread across the country, with cells in the Afghan capital and a growing number of provinces. Intelligence shared in a United Nations counterterrorism report earlier this year estimated IS-Khorasan has between 1,000 and 3,000 fighters but cautioned that the affiliate was looking to expand its reach, pumping out propaganda in multiple languages, including Persian, Tajik, Uzbek and Russian. Core #ISIS-#Khorasan cells located in:- #Kabul -eastern #Kunar Province- #Nangarhar Province- #Nuristan ProvinceSmaller ISIS-K groups in:- northern / north-eastern #Badakhshan- #Faryab- #Jowzjan - #Kunduz - #Takhar - #Balkh ... per @UN terror report Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) February 16, 2023 Top U.S. military and intelligence officials have also grown increasingly wary of the IS Afghan affiliate. Last month, CENTCOM Commander General Michael Kurilla told U.S. lawmakers that IS-Khorasan has set its sights on striking the West. "They can do external operations against U.S. or Western interests abroad in under six months with little to no warning," Kurilla said, adding the likely targets would be in Asia or Europe. "Our intelligence is degraded" since US withdrawal from #Afghanistan, per @CENTCOM's Gen Kurilla "I believe we can see the broad contours of an attack. Sometimes we lack the granularity to see the full picture..." Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) March 16, 2023 U.S. intelligence agencies have likewise sounded alarms about IS-Khorasan's ambitions. Defense Intelligence Agency chief Lieutenant General Scott Berrier said early last month that it was only "a matter of time before they may have the ability and intent to attack the West." This past January, National Counterterrorism Center Director Christine Abizaid called IS-Khorasan the "threat actor I am most concerned about." U.S. officials have also expressed little faith in the ability of the Taliban to make good on their pledge to contain IS-Khorasan. "The Taliban doesn't have the precision to go after individuals," CENTCOM's Kurilla told U.S. lawmakers. "They [Taliban] will do large, sweeping clearance operations," he said, noting such operations are only "disruptive to a point." The White House's Kirby, late Tuesday, defended U.S. efforts to target IS-Khorasan, despite the lack of strikes. "We have made good on the president's pledge to establish an over-the-horizon capacity to monitor potential terrorist threats, not only from in Afghanistan but elsewhere around the world," he said. As an example, Kirby pointed to the U.S. counterterrorism operation this past January in Somalia that killed IS operative Bilal al-Sudani, who played a key role in funding IS-Khorasan. BREAKING: US counterterrorism op in #Somalia kills #ISIS operative/facilitator Bilal al-Sudani 10 associates also killed despite US attempts to capture them & al-Sudani, per senior US administration officialsNo US or civilian casualties https://t.co/5uSTjAaPea Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) January 26, 2023 IS-Khorasan was quick to claim the August 26, 2021, attack on Kabul Airport's Abbey Gate, using it to build momentum as the U.S. left. But despite initial claims by U.S. military officials that the bombing was part of a coordinated attack on the airport, a subsequent Pentagon investigation determined that was not the case. "This was not a complex attack," Army Brigadier General Lance Curtis told reporters in February 2022, detailing the investigation's findings. "It was a single blast, and it did not have a follow-on attack." According to the report, all of the death and damage was caused by the single bomb, which investigators said was powerful enough to send shockwaves through the tightly packed crowds at Abbey Gate, spreading 50 meters from the detonation site. The Abbey Gate bombing put the U.S. military in Afghanistan on heightened alert until the very end of the withdrawal, and possibly contributed to a botched airstrike three days later that killed as many as 10 civilians, including an aid worker and seven children. "The degradation of ISIS in the region continues to be a top priority for this administration," State Department Principal Deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters during a briefing earlier Tuesday. "It's something that we continue to work collectively on with our allies and partners and others in the region." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Chief Urges Sudan Generals to Stop Fighting Immediately By Margaret Besheer April 25, 2023 U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed Tuesday for the fighting between rival generals in Sudan to "stop immediately" and warned that it must not turn into a prolonged, full-scale war. "This conflict will not and must not be resolved on the battlefield with the bodies of Sudan's people," he told an evening meeting of the Security Council to discuss the situation. He said the parties must respect the U.S.-brokered, 72-hour cease-fire that started at midnight Monday. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces of General Abdel Fattah Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces led by General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo publicly pledged to uphold the halt in fighting. The U.N.'s top diplomat in Sudan, Volker Perthes, told the council via a video briefing from the city of Port Sudan, where he and hundreds of U.N. staff have relocated from Khartoum, that the temporary cease-fire was holding only in some parts of the country, and that the army and RSF were each accusing the other of truce violations. "However, we also hear continuing reports of fighting and movement of troops," he told the council. "In Khartoum, fighting around the Republican Palace, Khartoum international airport, the army headquarters, RSF bases and other strategic locations has largely continued or, in some cases, intensified," Perthes said. "Airstrikes and heavy shelling have also continued, particularly in Bahri and Omdurman." Some tribes mobilizing Omdurman, north of the capital, is the largest city in Sudan, with more than 2.3 million residents. The U.N. envoy said the situation in Darfur "remains volatile," with fighting in the south and west. He expressed concern about reports that tribes are arming themselves in West Darfur to join the fight. "Reports of mobilization by some tribes and some armed movements in Darfur who are taking sides is dangerous and could draw in Sudan's neighboring countries," Perthes warned. Since fighting began on April 15, he said at least 427 people have been killed and up to 4,000 wounded, and the numbers are growing. Five aid workers are among the dead, as well as an Egyptian diplomat. Perthes called on the parties to allow civilians to safely leave conflict areas. The U.N. envoy has been in regular contact with the rival generals. "There is as yet no unequivocal sign that either is ready to seriously negotiate, suggesting that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible," Perthes said. "This is a miscalculation." Evacuations The United Nations says it is not leaving Sudan, but it has temporarily relocated about 1,200 people from Khartoum to Port Sudan. Perthes said that includes 744 U.N. staff and their dependents, international NGO personnel and diplomatic staff from embassies. "Today, this afternoon, I said farewell to 450 of them, when they boarded a French frigate that will take them to Jeddah through the night," Perthes said. "The rest will be evacuated with commercial vessels over the next two days. A few international staff and their dependents are still in Khartoum and were not evacuated due to various reasons." Conflict deepens Sudan's needs Before fighting erupted 10 days ago, more than 15 million Sudanese needed humanitarian assistance. "This conflict will not only deepen those needs, it also threatens to unleash an entirely new wave of humanitarian challenges," U.N. deputy humanitarian chief Joyce Msuya told council members. "Fighting is massively impeding and imperiling aid operations. A humanitarian crisis is quickly turning into a catastrophe." Countries have rushed to evacuate their diplomats and citizens. In all, more than 4,000 people have fled Sudan in foreign-organized evacuations that began on Saturday, including by sea to Saudi Arabia and by aircraft to Jordan and Cyprus. Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Ukraine and the United States are among the countries using aircraft and convoys to ferry foreign nationals out of the country. The majority of U.S. government personnel who evacuated the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, arrived Monday afternoon in Washington. Britain's foreign office said it began an evacuation effort Tuesday with flights leaving from an airfield outside of Khartoum. China's foreign ministry said Tuesday that most of its nationals had been safely evacuated. Sudanese nationals fending for selves Sudanese nationals are fending for themselves amid power blackouts and loss of internet service. Some Sudanese have made the decision to escape in cars and buses on the dangerous roads. The U.N. refugee agency said at least 20,000 Sudanese have arrived in Chad since fighting started and it has registered 4,000 South Sudanese refugees who have crossed back into their country from Sudan. "We have received reports of tens of thousands of people arriving in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan," the deputy humanitarian chief said, adding it is critical to keep borders open. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cameroon to Redeploy Troops to CAR, Nigeria Borders Amid Spike in Attacks By Moki Edwin Kindzeka April 25, 2023 Cameroon's military plans to redeploy troops to its borders with Nigeria and the Central African Republic after an increase in attacks from militants and rebels. The military said hundreds of Boko Haram fighters are hiding in the bush after last week's invasion of the Mayo Moskota district on the northern border with Nigeria. The Cameroon government reported several hundred homes were set on fire, leaving thousands homeless. Joseph Beti Assomo, Cameroon's defense minister, said President Paul Biya ordered him to convene an emergency security meeting in Yaounde this week to examine ways of stopping the attacks. Assomo said a resurgence of Boko Haram attacks is causing untold suffering on civilians on the border with Nigeria after a long period of relative peace. He said militias created by civilians are struggling to combat thousands of Islamist extremists who have been crossing to Cameroon from Nigeria since January to commit atrocities on civilians and government troops. Assomo, who spoke on Tuesday during the top security meeting also attended by police chiefs, said a week hardly goes by without large-scale attacks by the extremists. Northern border villagers said Cameroon's military began withdrawing troops when Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the Boko Haram terror group, was declared killed. Nigeria's government confirms Shekau died in May 2021. Cameroon's military denied accusations that troops have abandoned civilians. The military said it has changed its strategy, but the protection of civilians and their property remains a priority. Meanwhile, the military said the security meeting concluded that Central African Republic rebels fleeing clashes with the U.N. peacekeeping force known as MINUSCA are regularly crossing into eastern Cameroon for supplies. The rebels also abduct civilians for ransom. Military officials said they have examined ways of fully stopping separatist attacks in Cameroon's western regions. Separatists have been fighting to carve out an independent English-speaking state from the French majority nation since 2017. Deben Tchoffo, governor of the Northwest region, said the military is in control of all 34 districts in Cameroon's English-speaking Northwest region, despite separatists attacking civilians and burning public edifices at regular intervals. Many civilians have returned to their villages, and children are returning to schools in huge numbers which, he added, is an indication that current attacks by fighters are like the last kicks of a dying horse. Cameroon's military said it will redeploy troops to western regions and the borders with Nigeria and Central African Republic. The government said troops will be deployed to new areas where separatists, terrorists and rebels are attacking, but did not say how many forces will be deployed or redeployed. In March, 2,500 troops graduated from Cameroon's military training institutes. The government said it will train 3,000 fresh troops within the next 20 months to protect civilians and their property all over the central African state. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Reiterates Support for Mozambique's Fight Against Cabo Delgado Militants By Charles Mangwiro April 25, 2023 The U.S. is reiterating its support for Mozambique in the country's fight against Islamist militants in oil-rich Cabo Delgado province. A visiting U.S. official said the U.S. will continue to provide security assistance and work with the World Bank to help build schools and hospitals in the troubled region. Dafna Rand, the U.S. State Department's director of the office of foreign assistance, spoke with VOA during a three-day visit to Mozambique that wrapped up Tuesday. Rand said that to undermine support for the militants, the U.S. is appealing to young Mozambicans to "dream big," complete their education and build their own communities in hopes of boosting Mozambique's economic stability. She said Washington also is trying to bolster the military to better defend vulnerable communities. "One area here is to ensure that young people do not appeal to radical groups. So, that is very important," she said. "We also press to have a security partnership with the Mozambican forces, and we are working and training in cooperation on the defense and security side." Oil giants Exxon Mobil and Total are among the big international energy companies developing natural gas projects offshore in northern Mozambique. But the Mozambican government has struggled to stop attacks from militants in Cabo Delgado since October 2017 despite the assistance of troops from Rwanda and countries in the Southern Africa regional bloc SADC. Humanitarian organizations estimated that the conflict in Cabo Delgado resulted in close to 5,000 casualties, and according to the U.N High Commission for Refugees, UNHCR, about 1 million people have been displaced from their homes since this crisis started in 2017. Little is known about the insurgents, though initial attacks were claimed by a group known as Ahlu Sunnah Wa-Jama. More recently, Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks. According to Rand, addressing terrorism in Mozambique requires multiple measures, including local development programs and building basic infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. "We are looking at programs that will increase infrastructure," she said. "We are working with the World Bank to support their efforts to make sure there are schools, hospitals and that local governments have basic things like identity papers and that they are functioning. That is the top priority for us right now." Mozambique ranks among the least developed countries in the world. The United States is the largest bilateral donor to the country, providing over $560 million in assistance annually. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The United Kingdom condemns military clashes across Sudan: UK Statement on Sudan Statement by Ambassador Woodward at the Security Council meeting on Sudan 26 April 2023 Thank you, President. And may I start by thanking SRSG Volker Perthes, ASG Joyce Msuya, Her Excellency Fatima Mohamed and Special Envoy, Ismael Wais. SRSG, can I begin by paying tribute to your tireless work, to the work of the UNITAMS team, to the UN agencies and NGO implementing partners on the ground. We are very relieved that the operation to evacuate and relocate international and UN workers was successful and we thank you and your teams for your commitment and dedication to Sudan, and extend our condolences to those colleagues who have lost their lives. For the UK, we carried out our own operation to evacuate British embassy personnel on 23 April and today we have begun flying out British Nationals. We would like to thank our international partners for their co-operation in these efforts. Our priority continues to be the safety of all British nationals in Sudan and support to those in need. The United Kingdom unequivocally condemns the military clashes that continue to take place across Sudan. We echo the Secretary General's calls for peace and especially for an end to attacks on civilians, and humanitarian workers. Hundreds have died, thousands are injured. Adding to acute humanitarian needs across the country. We welcome the 72-hour ceasefire brokered yesterday by the United States, but we are concerned by reports that once again the parties have failed to uphold their commitments. We call on both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces immediately to establish a lasting ceasefire across the country and we are in direct contact with the SAF and RSF leadership to end the violence and de-escalate tensions. We call on both sides to allow humanitarian access, comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, and ensure the protection of civilians, humanitarian and medical workers. We welcome and encourage continued regional and diplomatic initiatives including those set out today. We will continue to work with all Council members and the UN Secretary-General, to ensure the Council supports efforts towards an end to fighting, a permanent ceasefire and a political resolution. In closing, we stand in solidarity with the Sudanese people in their demands for a peaceful and democratic future. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 25 April 2023 - Day 426 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that over April 2023, Russia's average daily casualty rate has highly likely fallen by around 30 per cent. This follows exceptionally heavy Russian casualties over January-March 2023. Figures released by the Ukrainian General Staff suggest a reduction from a daily average of 776 Russian casualties in March, to an average of 568 so far in April. Defence Intelligence cannot verify Ukraine's exact methodology, but the general trend is likely accurate. Russia's losses have highly likely reduced as their attempted winter offensive has failed to achieve its objectives, and Russian forces are now focused on preparing for anticipated Ukrainian offensive operations. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of April 25, the Russian occupiers launched 2x S-300 air defense system missile strikes at the center of the city of Kup'yans'k (Kharkiv oblast). The attacks have killed and wounded civilians, destroyed the building of a local history museum, which is not located near any military facility. Other civilian infrastructure was damaged as well. In addition, Russian forces launched 6x air strikes and more than 10x MLRS attacks in other locations. The likelihood of missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains quite high. The Russian forces' main efforts are the offensive operations on Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar'inka axes. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 36x Russian attacks in the above areas of the frontline during the day of April 25. The fiercest fighting is for Bakhmut and Mar'inka. Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of the formation of a Russian offensive group were found. Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at the settlements of Leonivka (Chernihiv oblast), Koren'ok, Iskryskivshchyna, Volfyne (Sumy oblast), Veterynarne, Zelene, Neskuchne, Strilecha, Ohirtseve, Hatyshche, and Ambarne (Kharkiv oblast). Kup'yans'k axis: the settlements of Topoli, Kam'yanka, Krasne Pershe, Fyholivka, Novomlyns'k, Dvorichna, and Kup'yans'k (Kharkiv oblast) were shelled by Russian artillery and mortars. Lyman axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive operations. Novoselivs'ke, Nevs'ke, Dibrova, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Yampil', Verkhn'okam'yans'ke Pereyizne (Donetsk oblast) were shelled with artillery. Bakhmut axis: Russia continues its offensive operations. Heavy battles for the city of Bakhmut continue. In addition, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive actions towards the settlements of Bohdanivka, Khromove, and Klishchiivka during the day of April 25. Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Markove, Hryhorivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Bila Hora, Pivnichne, and New York (Donetsk oblast) suffered from Russian shelling. Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted offensive operations near Sjeverne and Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast), to no success. The Russian invaders shelled the settlements of Novobakhmutivka, Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Lastochkyne, Vodyane, Pervomais'ke, Karlivka, and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Mar'inka axis: during the day of April 25, Ukrainian defenders repelled numerous adversary attacks in the vicinity of settlement of Mar'inka. Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, and Paraskoviivka (Donetsk oblast) were shelled by Russian forces. Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive operations during the day of April 25. The Russian invaders shelled the settlements of Vuhledar, Yehorivka, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Shakhtars'ke, and Velyka Novosilka (Donetsk oblast). Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian forces stay on the defensive. More than 30x settlements were shelled, including Zatyshshya, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Hirke, Bilohir'ya (Zaporizhzhya oblast), Dudchany, Beryslav, Vesele, Vysuntsi, Inzhenerne, Kizomys (Kherson oblast), and the city of Kherson. A hit of 2x guided aerial bombs at the settlement of Kizomys, damaged more than 10x civilian houses, completely destroying 2x of them. A local church and other civilian infrastructure were also damaged. Russia continues to use the children's educational institutions in the temporarily occupied territories as it sees fit. The Russian invaders re-purpose these as military facilities, hiding behind the "human shield" of children and teaching staff. For example, up to 200x mobilized Russian forces servicemen were deployed on the territory of one of the children's camps in the settlement of Urzuf (Mariupol district, Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders continue their looting practices on the territory of Ukraine. In particular, servicemen of the Russian occupation forces are searching houses in the settlement of Kardashynka (Skadovs'k district, Kherson oblast) at night. They steal household appliances and cars from civilians. During the day of April 25, Ukrainian Air Force launched 5x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian troops and military equipment, and attacked 1x anti-aircraft missile system. Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 1x anti-aircraft missile system, 1x concentration of troops and military equipment, and 1x radar station of the Russian aggressors. Russian war correspondent Alexander Simonov criticized maps of the situation in the city area that appeared on the Web. In particular, he stressed that units of the Wagner PMC have not yet entered the Khromovo settlement west of Bakhmut. All claims to the contrary are premature. In the meantime, according to the military commander, fierce battles inside the city itself are taking place in the Aircraft area and in the western half of the former military unit. At the same time, the "Wagnerites" reached the line of the street. Field, entrenched on the street. Extreme and advanced to Zabolnitsa. The FAN military commissar also released a report about the situation in the areas liberated the day before and showed what the pre-trial detention center building cleaned from the enemy looks like. Military observer Boris Rozhin reports that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have focused on holding the neck to the west of Bakhmut, which does not allow closing the "cauldron". In order to avoid encirclement, the enemy fiercely defends settlements to the west of the city. The situation in other directions The Russian army hit 98 artillery positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and 124 areas of concentration of manpower and equipment in a day. Near Selidovo, a radar station for targeting the S-300 complex was destroyed. 15 drones were also shot down. Meanwhile, an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian 67th brigade was liquidated near Ternova. In the Kupyansky, Limansky and Donetsk directions, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost about 500 servicemen, 2 armored cars, 8 cars, 9 infantry fighting vehicles, 2 D-20 howitzers, 2 Gvozdika self-propelled guns, 8 armored vehicles per day. At the same time, in the Kherson, Zaporozhye and Yuzhno-Donets sectors of the front, the RF Armed Forces destroyed a total of about 140 enemy soldiers, an armored combat vehicle, 9 vehicles, D-20, M777 and Msta-B howitzers, as well as an Akatsiya self-propelled gun. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks by Vice President Harris and President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea During a Visit to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center April 25, 2023 Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland 3:56 P.M. EDT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Good afternoon. NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, thank you for welcoming us once again and hosting us. Astronaut Jonny Kim, who was here earlier a Jonny, I want to thank you and all of the Korean American NASA experts and all of the experts who work here for the work you do every day. President Yoon, welcome to the United States. It is good to see you again. I thank you for the warm welcome you showed me when I was in Seoul. And I welcome you, on behalf of the United States, to Goddard, a place of great pride for us as Americans. And the work that is happening here through NASA is always awe-inspiring for me, and I hope you have enjoyed the tour we've had today. During my visit to Seoul as well as the state visit, you and I and the President a our countries are demonstrating the expansive agenda between our two nations. And we are demonstrating yet once again that our alliance is truly a global one. Our alliance is leading on some of the most important and pressing issues of our time. In Seoul, you and I spoke, for example, about our collective defense in the face of aggression and provocation in the region. We spoke about standing up for the international rules-based order. And we strategized on our work together to address the climate crisis, economic security, and advanced technologies for our two nations. And we consulted, of course, on our cooperation in space, which you and I are both quite enthusiastic about. This year, we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the United States and South Korea, which has been a linchpin of security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and around the world. As part of this state visit, our administration looks forward to strengthening our alliance. And so today, we focus on one component of our alliance in a particular: space, understanding the connection to our shared priorities on the issues of security and prosperity for our nations. In our last meeting together, Mr. President, we agreed that we would strengthen our partnership on space. And to that end, earlier today, our governments signed a joint statement to strengthen that cooperation. With regard to this afternoon here at Goddard, we discussed our cooperation on the issue of space exploration. Notably, last year, South Korea placed a satellite in lunar orbit that carries a high-resolution camera from NASA and will continue to work to search for water on the moon. South Korea will soon fly payloads through NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. I like to think of it as our version of a ride-share program for space exploration. And in the future, we look forward to expanding our collaboration on the Artemis program, which will return astronauts to the moon for the first time in 50 years and lay the groundwork for our mission to Mars. With regard to the climate crisis, we agree the climate crisis poses an existential threat to our world. And to meet this threat, we must partner together to use satellite technology to monitor the impacts of that crisis on Earth. As one example, together, our nations have built and placed satellites in orbit that can track air pollution in North America and Asia. Today, I have also directed the National Space Council, which I lead, to expand this network to ensure that it also covers the southern hemisphere, specifically the continent of Africa and South America. This cannot be a global initiative if any nations around the world are excluded. President Yoon, as you establish a national space agency, we look forward to continuing our priority on this very important issue of addressing the climate crisis. And finally, regarding our work on space, our two nations are also working to establish international rules and norms for the peaceful and responsible use of space. One year ago, I issued a challenge to all nations to join our commitment that I made on behalf of the United States to not conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile testing. You and I discussed this topic during our meeting last year in Seoul. And following that, you joined our commitment. In fact, I'm pleased to report that, thus far, 155 nations have supported this effort at the United Nations. We are also grateful for South Korea's signing of the Artemis Accords, which will help create a safe and transparent environment for the civil use of space. So I'll conclude by saying to a again, we renew our commitment to strengthen our cooperation in the next frontier of our expanding alliance. And, of course, that is space. Space presents undiscovered and unrealized opportunity for our nations and for the entire world. Our task is to work together to guide humanity forward safely, sustainably, and peacefully into this new frontier. In this mission, the United States is very proud to work with South Korea. Thank you, Mr. President. (Applause.) PRESIDENT YOON: (As interpreted.) Madam Vice President, Deputy Administrator Melroy, and everyone here today with a shared affection and passion for space: I had a chance to reread Carl Sagan's "Pale Blue Dot" before today's visit here, and his message about that pale blue dot being the stage where the entirety of human history unfolds still resonates deeply with me. On July 20, 1967, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped off Apollo 11 to become the first humans to set foot on the Moon. I still vividly remember watching that historic moment on TV; it was during summer break when I was in third grade. And ever since, for me personally, space has been the embodiment of dreams and new challenges. And my visit today to NASA, where all these dreams and challenges begin, reminds me of that moment and has made me renew my resolve to never stop pursuing my dreams. Over the past six decades, NASA has inspired and instilled the can-do spirit in countless people around the world by championing mankind's endeavors to explore the unknown universe. NASA's contributions to space exploration, the development of aerospace technology, and the betterment of human life, all empowered by its cutting-edge technological prowess, are nothing short of extraordinary. I'm delighted that NASA's Artemis program, designed to put men back on the Moon by 2025, is off to a successful start. The universe has immense potential not only for bringing economic prosperity to mankind, but for offering breakthroughs in our efforts to cope with climate change and other global challenges. For example, satellites can be a valuable tool in fighting climate change by collecting vast amounts of oceanic and climate data, which can be analyzed to identify causes of global warming and predict extreme weather events. I've always believed that mankind's future lies in space. And with that conviction in mind, last year I laid out the Space Economy Roadmap, which aims to put Korea on a solid path towards becoming one of the world's top five leaders in space technology by reaching the Moon for resource extraction by 2032 and landing people on Mars by 2045. And under that vision, we're in the process of establishing a Korean equivalent of NASA, called "KASA," to spearhead this initiative. The universe holds great promise as the stage where synergies from international solidarity and partnerships can deliver their greatest benefits. The joint communiquA to be signed today between NASA and Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT will serve as a springboard for taking space cooperation between our two allies to the next level of a space alliance. I also hope that growing bilateral collaboration in space will also enable the two allies to play a leading role in ensuring that benefits of space exploration are shared by all people around the world and take the helm in establishing fair and rational principles for use of outer space. With KASA on the way, cooperation between KASA and NASA down the road will be the driving force behind forging a strong space alliance. The first step in that direction will have to be a bilateral communication platform that can facilitate joint projects and the exchange of people, information, and knowledge between KASA and NASA. I look forward to valuable input from NASA in shaping KASA through personal exchange and other means. Once again, I'd like to reiterate the significance of this year as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK alliance. The best way to celebrate this momentous milestone is for us to work together to elevate what has been so far a shared value-based alliance into a full-fledged, broad-based alliance, with space collaboration leading the next 70 years of this alliance. It is my hope that the space alliance we will forge will go beyond cooperation in space technology and space economy to ultimately encompass space security. In closing, I hope that today will go down in history as a day when our two allies took their first step towards forming a space alliance that becomes the impetus that stopped climate change. Thank you. (Applause.) END 4:07 P.M. EDT ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout of Vice President Harris's Engagement with President Yoon on Space Cooperation April 25, 2023 Today, Vice President Kamala Harris was joined by President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea (ROK) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, where they reaffirmed their determination to strengthen U.S.-ROK space cooperation across all sectors - civil, commercial, and national security. They received briefings regarding bilateral cooperation to address the climate crisis as well as space science. Additionally, the Vice President and President Yoon met with Korean-American space experts and discussed their contributions to strengthen the bilateral space partnership. This builds on their September 2022 meeting in Seoul, where the two leaders discussed deepening joint work on space issues, the ROK's efforts to grow its own space program, and the importance of establishing and defending international norms in space. As part of our shared efforts on rules and norms, in their September meeting, the Vice President welcomed President Yoon's commitment not to conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile testing, a commitment that Vice President Harris announced in April 2022 on behalf of the United States. Their visit to Goddard occurred as the nations mark the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK alliance, and highlights the strong and growing U.S.-ROK partnership in outer space. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA Navy's aircraft carrier Shandong returns from West Pacific exercise, breaks aircraft sortie record Global Times By Liu Xuanzun Published: Apr 25, 2023 10:10 PM The aircraft carrier Shandong of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has reportedly returned to the South China Sea from its latest far sea exercises in the West Pacific, where it hosted about 620 aircraft sorties, far surpassing the previous record set by the aircraft carrier Liaoning. Experts said on Tuesday that the Shandong carrier group displayed its high capabilities in deterring "Taiwan independence" secessionist and foreign interference forces. Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force spotted a PLA Navy flotilla consisting of the aircraft carrier Shandong, a Type 055 large destroyer, two Type 052D destroyers, two Type 054A frigates and a Type 901 comprehensive replenishment ship as they sailed from the West Pacific to the South China Sea via the Bashi Channel on Monday, according to a press release from Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff published on its website on Tuesday. This was also confirmed by the defense authority on the island of Taiwan in a press release on Monday, as it spotted the Shandong carrier group as it was sailing through waters to the southeast of the island. Japan has been reporting the Shandong aircraft carrier group's movements since April 7 after it first entered the West Pacific from the Bashi Channel on April 5. In the 18 days' drills, the PLA Navy carrier hosted about 620 aircraft sorties, the Japanese Defense Ministry said. This means that the Shandong has broken the record set by the Liaoning when the latter held a far sea exercise in about the same region from late December last year to early January this year. According to the Japanese Defense Ministry, the Liaoning hosted about 320 aircraft sorties in 15 days. This is the Shandong's first far sea exercise beyond the first island chain since its commissioning in December 2019, and it displayed the carrier's high level of combat readiness, even surpassing that of the country's first carrier, the Liaoning, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Tuesday. Intensive drills like this would also further enhance the carrier group's capabilities, the expert said. A map depicting the Shandong's positions since April 7 attached to the Japanese press release showed that the Chinese carrier first participated in the combat alert patrols and "Joint Sword" exercises encircling the island of Taiwan in waters to the east of the island from April 7 to April 12, then headed further east. On April 15 and 16, it reached waters about 600 to 700 kilometers to the west of Guam, a militarized island used by the US as a key node in the second island chain, before returning through the Bashi Channel to the east of the island of Taiwan on Monday. In addition, on Friday and Saturday, the PLA sent a total of four H-6K/J bombers - which are capable of carrying land attack, anti-ship and hypersonic missiles - from the East China Sea through the Miyako Strait deep into the West Pacific, Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff said in two separate press releases on the two days. The bombers likely conducted a joint exercise with the Shandong carrier group against potential external military forces interfering in the Taiwan question, analysts said. Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military expert, told the Global Times that the Shandong is now fully operational, and its drills in the West Pacific can serve as a powerful deterrence against not only the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces on the island of Taiwan, but also external military interference forces like the US. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China Accepts US Envoy's Credentials More Than a Year After His Arrival By Nike Ching April 25, 2023 U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns presented his credentials to Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, more than one year after Burns arrived in Beijing. While the U.S. State Department downplayed the implication of the delay, some analysts said it reflects "the frozen nature" of current US-China diplomatic ties. In a tweet on Tuesday, Burns said: "I presented my credentials to President Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People. It is an honor to represent the United States as Ambassador to the People's Republic of China." I presented my credentials to President Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People. It is an honor to represent the United States as Ambassador to the People's Republic of China. pic.twitter.com/CuvKJf4czR a Ambassador Nicholas Burns (@USAmbChina) April 25, 2023 Burns arrived in China in March 2022. He was among 70 ambassadors whose credentials Xi received on Monday. During the ceremony, Xi noted the Chinese government will "provide support and convenience for ambassadors to perform their duties," adding China is ready to "expand mutually beneficial cooperation" with people of other countries on the basis of "equality." When asked about the delay, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told VOA: "That's a question for the Chinese MFA [Ministry of Foreign Affairs]. I will let them speak to their schedule on how they have their diplomats present credentials." "I don't think so. ... I'm not going to speculate," Patel said when asked if it's a retaliatory move by the Beijing government amid the strained U.S.-China relationship. The presentation of credentials (formerly called Letter of Credence) is usually arranged upon arrival at a new post, according to the U.S. State Department Foreign Affairs Manual. "There is no question Beijing was sending a message," said Dennis Wilder, an assistant professor of Asian studies at Georgetown University. Burns was received with 69 other diplomats, showing China did not consider the U.S. emissary particularly special, he added. "Beijing will probably try to excuse the tardiness of the ceremony by claiming that zero COVID had made it difficult. But no other U.S. ambassador has ever been treated as just another member of the diplomatic corps," according to Wilder, who served from 2009 to 2015 as senior editor of the U.S. president's daily brief. On July 12, 2017, Xi accepted the credentials of then-U.S. Ambassador Terry Branstad two weeks after Branstad arrived in Beijing. The ceremony was personal as Xi and Branstad had first met in 1985 when Xi was a young agricultural official visiting Iowa. Branstad was Iowa governor at that time. According to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, ambassadors officially assume duties when their credentials are accepted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address United States Obtains $629 Million Settlement with British American Tobacco to Resolve Illegal Sales to North Korea, Charges Facilitators in Illicit Tobacco Trade FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, April 25, 2023 Cases Part of Greater Disruption Effort to Combat Funding of North Korean Nuclear Program and Counter Nation-State Threats British American Tobacco (BAT) and its subsidiary, BAT Marketing Singapore (BATMS), one of the world's largest manufacturers of tobacco products based in the United Kingdom, has agreed to pay combined penalties of more than $629 million to resolve bank fraud and sanctions violations charges with U.S. authorities, arising out of the companies' scheme to do business in North Korea through a third-party company in Singapore, in violation of the bank fraud statute and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Separately, charges were unsealed today in the District of Columbia against a North Korean banker and Chinese facilitators for their roles in facilitating the illicit sale of tobacco products in North Korea. According to court documents, BATMS pleaded guilty to a criminal information filed in the District of Columbia charging BAT and BATMS with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to violate IEEPA. BAT entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) related to the same charges. Specifically, in 2007, BAT spun off its North Korea sales to a third-party company, issuing a press statement that it was no longer involved in North Korea tobacco sales. In reality, BAT continued to do business in North Korea through the third-party company and BATMS maintained control over all relevant aspects of the North Korean business. Between 2007 and 2017, BAT and BATMS ran the payments for the tobacco sold to North Korean entities through the third-party company, resulting in approximately $418 million of U.S. dollar cash and correspondent banking transactions from North Korea to the third-party company in Singapore - money that was then passed on to BATMS and BAT. To make these payments, North Korean purchasers used front companies so that U.S. banks - which processed the transactions - would not know about the connection to North Korea. Pursuant to the DPA and plea agreement, BAT and BATMS will pay a total of $629 million in penalties and fines. "British American Tobacco and its subsidiary engaged in an elaborate scheme to circumvent U.S. sanctions and sell tobacco products to North Korea, allowing funds to illegally flow into the coffers of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division. "Today's action, which involves the largest North Korean sanctions penalty in the history of the Justice Department, should serve as a clear warning to companies everywhere about the costs and consequences of violating U.S. sanctions." Today, the Department of the Treasury also announced a civil enforcement action against BAT and BATMS. "Companies that seek to profit from circumventing sanctions by obscuring their involvement will be discovered and will pay a price," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. "For years, BAT partnered with North Korea to establish and operate a cigarette manufacturing business and relied on financial facilitators linked to North Korea's weapons of mass destruction proliferation network in the process of enriching itself. Firms that deal with blocked persons, even indirectly, will be held accountable for actions which undermine the integrity of the U.S. financial system." Separately today, a federal court in the District of Columbia unsealed charges against a North Korean banker, Sim Hyon-Sop, 39, and Chinese facilitators, Qin Guoming, 60, and Han Linlin, 41, both of Liaoning Province, in connection with a multi-year scheme to facilitate the sale of tobacco to North Korea. "The United States is steadfast in its commitment to enforcing sanctions and withholding revenue for dictator Kim Jong-un," said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. "The charges unsealed today illustrate that the Department of Justice will hold North Korean facilitators accountable for their illegal efforts to prop up the North Korean regime and assist it in obtaining funds to develop nuclear weapons." According to court documents, between 2009 and 2019, the defendants engaged in a scheme to purchase leaf tobacco for North Korean state-owned cigarette manufacturers and used front companies and false documentation to cause U.S. financial institutions to process at least 310 transactions worth approximately $74 million that they otherwise would have frozen, blocked, investigated or declined, had they known the transactions were connected to trade with North Korea. The transactions resulted in an estimated up to nearly $700 million in revenue for the North Korean manufacturers, one of which was owned by the North Korean military. As alleged in the indictment, cigarette trafficking, including in counterfeit cigarettes, generates significant revenue for advancing North Korea's Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) programs, including its nuclear weapons, which North Korea has been developing since at least 2006. Counterfeit cigarettes are a major source of income to the North Korean regime, as smuggled tobacco products are estimated to garner revenue of up to $20 on every $1 spent in cost. In conjunction with today's announcement, the U.S. Department of State is announcing a reward of $5 million for defendant Sim, and a reward of $500,000 for defendants Qin and Han, for information leading to the capture of these three charged defendants. On April 24, the Department of the Treasury designated defendant Sim as a Specially Designated National, preventing him from accessing the U.S. banking system. "The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to investigate North Korea's evasion of sanctions placed on its government," said Assistant Director Suzanne Turner of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division. "This illegal conduct and the levied penalties show how serious of an offense it is to assist the North Korean regime to the detriment of the international community. To those contemplating similar actions, be forewarned: the full force of the FBI and its federal law enforcement partners will find you." If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison for bank fraud. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Phoenix Field Office handled both investigations, and HSI Colorado partnered in the investigation on the individuals. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen P. Seifert, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Wasserman, Paralegal Specialists Brian Rickers and Paralegal Specialist Jorge Casillas for the District of Columbia, is prosecuting the cases. Trial Attorneys Beau Barnes and Emma Ellenrieder of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section partnered on these matters. This case is part of a larger Justice Department strategy for countering nation-state threats, including the ongoing efforts of North Korea to evade sanctions and use the U.S. financial system to engage in illicit trafficking. Trial Attorney David Recker, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Grady, and former FBI Special Agent David F. Williams, former FBI Special Agent Joy Gallante and former FBI Intelligence Analyst Nick Carlsen all participated in prior phases of the multi-year investigation. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Attachment(s): Download BAT information Download Sim et al. indictment Download Han wanted poster Download Qin wanted poster Download Sim wanted poster Topic(s): Export Control National Security Component(s): Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Security Division (NSD) USAO - District of Columbia NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Navy cmdr.: New Fateh-class submarines to join Army's naval fleet 'in near future' Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 April 2023 3:21 PM Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani says two new types of the domestically-designed Fateh (Conqueror)-class submarine will join the force "in the near future." Irani made the announcement on Tuesday as he pointed to the Iranian Army's latest achievements and plans to strengthen its naval units, saying the Fateh-2 and Fateh-3 submarines would soon be added to the country's naval fleet. "We plan to add [further equipment] to the [country's] southern and northern fleet," the Iranian Navy chief said. "Regarding the addition, we will have plans in the field of surface units as well as in the field of sub-surface units. Also, we will speed up the joining of Fateh-2 and -3 to strengthen our authority in the sub-surface area." Touching upon the new features and capabilities of the new Fateh submarines, he added, "Today, they are equipped with dual-purpose and domestically-made torpedoes, and all their test launches have been successful." Elsewhere in his remarks, Irani said the Navy would soon be the bearer of very good news for Iranians about a "unique achievement" by the Islamic Republic of Iran's Navy, which will be announced to the media. The 600-ton Fateh is among semi-heavy submarines and is equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry such as torpedoes and naval mines. Fateh is also outfitted with a guided-missile system and an advanced sonic radar system, which can identify enemy vessels. It can operate more than 200 meters below the sea surface for near five weeks. Iran has so far launched different classes of domestically-built advanced submarines, including Ghadir, Qaem, Nahang, Tareq and Sina. Iran's Navy has in recent years also increased its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers. The Navy has managed to foil several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tankers during its missions in international waters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC at pinnacle of its power; US, Israel cannot withstand corps' capabilities: Top commander Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 April 2023 7:14 AM The second-in-command of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the elite force has managed to become so powerful that neither the Americans nor the Zionists can hold out against it. Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said on Tuesday that the IRGC is a unique organization that improved its capabilities in all material and spiritual domains. "In other words, when material and spiritual capabilities are put together, it creates a power that no evil power, such as that of the Americans and the Zionists, can withstand it," Fadavi added. He argued that guarding the Islamic Revolution cannot be done only militarily, and therefore, the IRGC, as one of its main duties, serves the Iranian people to protect the revolution. Iran celebrated the anniversary of the IRGC's establishment on Saturday. In a tweet on the occasion, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani said the IRGC serves as a "powerful arm" that guards the Islamic Republic and its national interests while infuriating the sworn enemies. "The IRGC is a powerful arm that guards the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran, supports the nation, and protects the country's national security," Kan'ani tweeted on Saturday. The IRGC, also known as the "Sepah", was established on April 22, 1979 by the founder of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Khomeini as a paramilitary organization charged with protecting the newborn Islamic Republic. The force closely cooperates with the Iranian Army in the face of foreign threats as manifested during the 8-year war imposed by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein on Iran in the 1980s. The IRGC has also made great sacrifices in the fight against terrorist groups operating in the region. It has also helped the Iranian people during tough times such as natural calamities. In 2019, the US State Department designated the Guards as a terrorist organization - an unprecedented action against the military of a sovereign state. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kazakh Prosecutor Seeks Eight Years In Prison For Wife Of Jailed Nazarbaev's Nephew By RFE/RL's Kazakh Service April 25, 2023 ASTANA -- A prosecutor in Kazakhstan asked a court in Astana on April 25 to convict and sentence the wife of a jailed nephew of the Central Asian nation's former strongman President Nursultan Nazarbaev to eight years in prison on charges of corruption, organizing a felony, and abduction over the alleged illegal appropriation of shares and assets of a number of enterprises. Gulmira Satybaldy was arrested along with her husband Qairat Satybaldy in March last year and tried separately. The probes launched against the couple are part of a series of investigations targeting relatives and allies of Nazarbaev. Qairat Satybaldy was sentenced to six years in prison in September after a court in the Kazakh capital found him guilty of fraud and embezzlement. Also on April 25, a court in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, sentenced the former chief of city's branch of the National Committee(KNB), Nurlan Mazhilov, to six years in prison on a charge of abuse of power during unprecedented anti-government protests that turned into deadly mass disorders in January last year. A day earlier, a court in Astana handed former KNB chief Karim Masimov an 18-year prison term on charges of high treason, attempting to seize power by force, and abuse of office and of power. Masimov's former deputies, Anuar Sadyqulov, Daulet Erghozhin, and Marat Osipov, were sentenced to 16, 15, and three years in prison, respectively, at the same trial. After the mass protests in early January 2022, the Kazakh regime began to quietly target Nazarbaev, his family, and other allies -- many of whom held powerful or influential posts in government, security agencies, and profitable energy companies. President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev, whom Nazarbaev hand-picked as his successor after stepping down in 2019, started distancing himself from the former leader after the January unrest, which was fueled by the Kazakhs' pent up frustration with cronyism and corruption. Toqaev stripped Nazarbaev of the sweeping powers he had retained as the head of the Security Council after resigning. Just days after the protests, two of Nazarbaev's sons-in-law were pushed out of top jobs at two major oil and gas companies. Another son-in-law, Timur Kulibaev, resigned as chairman of the country's main business lobby group, while in late February, Nazarbaev's eldest daughter, Darigha, was apparently forced to give up her parliamentary seat. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-satybaldy- prosecutor-prison-corruption/32379092.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 Junta helicopter drops bomb on hospital where war refugees were being treated Rebel official says the attack targeted civilians, but a pro-junta outlet says fighters were inside the hospital. By RFA Burmese 2023.04.25 -- A hospital in Myanmar's southern Shan state that's been providing care to war refugees and civilians was bombed by the military junta on Tuesday, according to a local People's Defense Force official. Three people, including a nurse, were wounded in the attack, which could have been much worse - a 500-lb. bomb dropped from a Mi35 combat helicopter didn't explode when it hit the hospital, according to Nay Kaung, a member of the Mobye PDF. "This hospital has been providing treatment to civilians and refugees. There were no members of PDF," Nay Kaung said. "The junta is targeting the civilians." At least 300 war refugees have been sheltering in a neighborhood near the hospital in Hsaung Phway village, Pekon township. A nearby refugee camp was also attacked on Tuesday, Nay Kaung said. The hospital and clinic were damaged in the attack, and one of the people injured - a female patient - was in serious condition, he said. People Media, a pro-junta media outlet, reported that an air attack was launched on Hsaung Phway village where members of the local PDF and the Karenni National Progressive Party, or KNPP - the political wing of the Karenni Army - have been staying. People Media said that healthcare workers at the state-operated hospital were recently moved from the area for security reasons. It also said that members of the KNPP and the local PDF have since set up camp inside the hospital. Myanmar's junta has yet to issue any statement about the attack. Karenni troops normally move from one place to another but they do not station at places like hospitals, said Khoo Nyay Reh, spokesman of the Karenni Military Information Center. Heavy clashes have been taking place in Shan state's Pekon and Mobye townships since early this year.Intense fighting broke out near Hsa Long (North) village on the border of Mobye and Pinlaung townships on Monday, the KnIC said on Tuesday. Junta troops suffered casualties in the clashes and Karenni troops seized several weapons and ammunition, according to the KnIC. Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw. Edited by Matt Reed. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar junta troops torch 370 homes in Sagaing village More than 1,500 residents were forced to flee the raid on Inn Sa village. 2023.04.25 -- Myanmar junta troops on Friday torched more than 370 in Inn Sa, a village 20 miles northwest of Sagaing city. About 100 soldiers took part in the raid, which forced more than 1,500 residents to flee. Opposition forces in northern Sagaing region have put up some of the fiercest resistance to junta rule since Myanmar's February 2021 coup d'etat and the military has responded with a heavy handed offensive. According to the independent research group Data For Myanmar, since the military coup, nearly 48,000 houses in Sagaing region had been burned down as of mid-March. At least 500,000 people have fled conflict in Sagaing since the takeover. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar military beheads man in Sagaing region village Troops also torched more than 50 homes and a Buddhist hall in the raid. By RFA Burmese 2023.04.25 -- Junta troops tortured a man and cut off his head after raiding a village in Myanmar's northern Sagaing region, locals told RFA. They said troops also burned down 53 houses and a Buddhist event hall in Ta Pa Yin Kwe village on Sunday morning. The victim, 44-year-old Tun Tun Win, was arrested when troops raided the village shortly after sunrise, according to a resident who didn't want to be named for security reasons. "He was captured by an army column on his way back to his tent in the east of the village," the local said. "He was interrogated and beaten. He did not know anything as he was a civilian. When he did not answer, the troops killed and beheaded him by a lake in the east of the village." The local said Tun Tun Win was a farmer, who leaves behind a wife and three children. It's the second time this year troops have raided and burned houses in the village, killing locals. In January, troops shot local Buddhist leader the Venerable Gandhasara, two civilians and a local anti-junta fighter, and set fire to 90 homes, residents told RFA. The junta stepped up its slash-and-burn campaign in Sagaing township this month. Residents said a column of more than 100 troops has been raiding and burning villages along the Mu River since April 20. They said 449 houses in six villages were destroyed between April 21 and 24. Troops arrested five people in those raids, according to one local who also wished to remain anonymous. The junta has not issued a statement on the raids and RFA's calls to Sagaing region's junta spokesperson Aye Hlaing went unanswered Tuesday. Junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, and junta Deputy Information Minister Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun, have repeatedly denied that their troops burn civilian buildings, claiming all the arson attacks were carried out by anti-junta People's Defense Forces. Nearly 48,000 homes in Sagaing region have been burned down since the February 2021 coup, according to independent research group Data for Myanmar. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Korea's Yoon and Biden likely to discuss nuclear deterrence, trade at summit On trade, friction with China may inadvertently harm South Korean tech sector Eugene Whong 2023.04.25 -- South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol is in the United States this week for a state visit to mark Seoul's 70-year alliance with Washington and for talks with President Joe Biden that will likely focus on trade and deterrence against North Korean nuclear capabilities, experts told Radio Free Asia. Yoon, who arrived in Washington on Monday, attended an event hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday where he said that the U.S.-South Korea alliance should "evolve into a supply chain and future-oriented, innovative-technology alliance," Reuters reported. But security will be the major topic of Wednesday's summit with Biden. To that end, Biden is expected to underscore Washington's commitment to defending South Korea, and announce new strategies on nuclear deterrence efforts at a time when Pyongyang is ramping up tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles. Experts have speculated that the North could soon stage its seventh nuclear test. "I believe that President Biden will assure President Yoon of America's unwavering commitment to South Korea's defense, including a strong statement on extended nuclear deterrence," said Harry Harris, a former ambassador to South Korea. "This could involve combined consultation and coordination." The two leaders could explore deterrence through "NATO-like lines of effort," said Patrick Cronin, security chair at the Hudson Institute in Washington. "These lines of effort include demonstrating alliance solidarity, foremost by elevating South Korea's influence in collective defense planning, forward deployment of advanced conventional and strategic platforms, and preparedness for scenarios involving nuclear weapons," he said. "Seoul should come away with a sense its voice will be heard in potential contingency responses and in the command, control, and consultation over possible nuclear use," Cronin said Robert Rapson, the former ChargA d'Affaires ad interim at U.S. Embassy Seoul, said he anticipates that discussions on deterrence would likely only reinforce existing policies. "Despite all the rhetoric and buildup in advance of the summit, I don't think we'll see any dramatic changes in U.S. extended deterrence policy and its application with Korea," said Rapson. "I don't see any moves towards adopting a NATO-like nuclear sharing arrangement nor re-stationing of US strategic assets in Korea. This may fall short of Yoon administration hopes and expectations." Tech competitiveness Trade friction with China is another topic that Biden and Yoon will also likely discuss, as policies intended to strengthen the competitiveness of the U.S. tech sector relative to China's will inadvertently make South Korean tech less competitive in the American market. "The two sides will discuss ways to advance the Biden administration's efforts to block China's access to critical high technology and semiconductors while not negatively impacting South Korea's semiconductor industry, which relies significantly on China and investments there," said Frank Aum of the United States Institute of Peace. "There will also be broader discussions about how to strengthen supply chain resilience in general, including greater South Korean investments into the United States," he said. Following Wednesday's summit, Biden will host Yoon for a state dinner at the White House. On Thursday, Yoon is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress, and on Friday he will head to Cambridge to tour the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and deliver a speech at Harvard University. Yoon will fly back to Seoul on Saturday. 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 New York Attorney Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Commit Money Laundering to Promote Sanctions Violations by Associate of Sanctioned Russian Oligarch FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, April 25, 2023 A New York attorney pleaded guilty today to participating in a scheme to make approximately $3.8 million in U.S. dollar payments to maintain six real properties in the United States that were owned by Viktor Vekselberg, a sanctioned oligarch. According to court documents, Robert Wise of Pelham, New York, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Wise also agreed to forfeit more than $3.7 million and to be satisfied by a payment of $210,441. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 6. According to the allegations in the information filed in Manhattan federal court today and other public filings: On April 6, 2018, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Vekselberg as a Specially Designated National (SDN) in connection with its finding that the actions of the Government of the Russian Federation in Ukraine constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. On or about March 11, 2022, OFAC redesignated Vekselberg as an SDN and blocked Vekselberg's yacht and private airplane. Prior to his designation by OFAC, between approximately 2008 and 2017, Vekselberg, through a series of shell companies, acquired six real properties in the United States, specifically, (i) two apartments on Park Avenue in New York, New York, (ii) an estate in Southampton, New York, (iii) two apartments on Fisher Island, Florida, and (iv) a penthouse apartment also on Fisher Island, Florida (collectively, the Properties). As of the date of this information, the Properties were worth approximately $75 million. Voronchenko, Vekselberg's longtime associate, retained Wise, an attorney who practiced in New York, New York, to assist in the acquisition of the Properties. Wise also managed the finances of the Properties, including by paying common charges, property taxes, insurance premiums, and other fees associated with the Properties in U.S. dollar transactions from Wise's interest on lawyer's trust account (IOLTA account). In particular, prior to Vekselberg's designation as an SDN, between approximately February 2009 and March 2018, shell companies owned by Vekselberg sent approximately 90 wire transfers totaling approximately $18.5 million to the IOLTA account. At the direction of Voronchenko and his family member who lived in Russia, Wise used these funds to make various U.S. dollar payments to maintain and service the Properties. Immediately after Vekselberg's designation as an SDN, the source of the funds used to maintain and service the Properties changed. The IOLTA Account began to receive wires from a bank account in the Bahamas held in the name of a shell company controlled by Voronchenko, Smile Holding Ltd., and from a Russian bank account held in the name of a Russian national who was related to Voronchenko. Between approximately June 2018 and March 2022, approximately 25 wire transfers totaling approximately $3.8 million were sent to WISE's IOLTA account. Although the source of the payments changed, the management of the payments remained the same as before: Wise used these funds to make various U.S. dollar payments to maintain and service the Properties, and he did so knowing that he was promoting sanctions violations. Additionally, after Vekselberg was sanctioned in 2018, Voronchenko, Wise, and others tried to sell both the Park Avenue apartment and the Southampton estate. No licenses from OFAC were applied for or issued for these payments or attempted transfers. An indictment charging co-conspirator Vladimir Voronchenko, aka Vladimir Vorontchenko, who is a fugitive, was unsealed on Feb. 7. A civil forfeiture complaint was filed against the Properties on Feb. 24. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case. The Justice Department's National Security Division and Office of International Affairs, and OFAC provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Greenwood, Joshua A. Naftalis, and Sheb Swett for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case. The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department's Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia's unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department's tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression. Topic(s): National Security Component(s): Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Security Division (NSD) Office of the Deputy Attorney General Press Release Number: 23-473 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia considers abandoning missile moratorium amid US threats Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 April 2023 2:16 PM Russia says it might abandon the moratorium on the deployment of intermediate and shorter-range missiles, as a result of the destabilizing military programs of the United States in the region. The Russian foreign ministry's head of nuclear non-proliferation, Vladimir Yermakov, told the TASS news agency on Tuesday that the destabilizing military programs of the United States and its allies have been making Moscow's moratorium increasingly fragile. "In particular, whether Russia will be ready to stick further to the unilateral moratorium on the deployment of intermediate-or shorter-range missiles in individual regions will depend on the specific parameters of their range," he said. "But even now, we can say with confidence that the destabilizing military programs of the United States and their allies have been making our moratorium increasingly fragile - both with regard to the Asia-Pacific region, and Europe," Yermakov added. The US suspended its commitments under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in February 2019, accusing Russia of deliberately violating the treaty. Russia did the same in response. Late that year, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a proposal to several countries, including NATO member states, to introduce a moratorium on the deployment of intermediate-and shorter-range missiles in Europe and other regions. The US, however, rejected the initiative. In a related development on Wednesday, the US Air Force and Navy conducted a test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system. Navy commander Chris Cruise said the test of the Airborne Launch Control System validates the military's ability to strike targets anywhere and at any time if the president deems it necessary. Moscow has also begun using its new battle tanks to fire on Ukrainian positions "but they have not yet participated in direct assault operations," Russia's news agency cited a source close to the matter on Monday. Tass news agency also quoted another source familiar with the matter that risks of a direct military confrontation between the two nuclear powers, Russia and the US, are steadily growing. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia: Risks of direct nuclear confrontation with US keep growing Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 April 2023 2:51 AM Russia has warned that risks of direct nuclear confrontation with the United States are constantly increasing as a result of Washington's hostile attitude towards Moscow since the beginning of the Ukraine war. Director of Russian Foreign Ministry's Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Department Vladimir Yermakov raised the alarm in an interview with Russia's TASS news agency on Tuesday. "If the US continues to follow its current course towards a standoff with Russia, while constantly raising the stakes on the verge of a direct military conflict, then the fate of the New START Treaty may become sealed," he said. The New START was signed in April 2010 by then US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, under which both sides agreed to halve the number of strategic nuclear missiles and restrict the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads to 1,550, the lowest level in decades. The New START agreement was extended in February 2021 until February 4, 2026, by US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. On February 21, 2023, however, Russia suspended its participation in the New START amid Washington's increasingly confrontational policies towards Moscow. It did not withdraw from the treaty, though, clarifying that it would continue to abide by the limits on the number of nuclear warheads that can be deployed under the New START. "...in the worst-case scenario, i.e. if Washington drives the situation to a military clash between the strongest nuclear powers, then it is not the fate of the New START, but the fate of the entire world that will be a concern," Yermakov said. "This once again confirms that the most pressing threat today is connected not with the dynamic of stimuli for the first massive strike, which is supposed to be curbed by agreements like the New START, but with a danger of nuclear escalation as a result of a direct military confrontation between nuclear powers," Yermakov explained, adding, "And, to our deepest regrets, these risks keep growing." The diplomat underscored that in order to improve the situation, "the US must immediately take concrete steps on de-escalation and abolish the hostile course towards undermining Russia's security in practice." "There is simply no other way to reverse the negative trend," Yermakov concluded. He was apparently referring to the United States' ongoing military assistance to Ukraine, which is engaged in a war with Russia. Washington has announced 36 military aid packages for Kiev since the start of the conflict last February, which brings total US military assistance for Ukraine to more than $35 billion. The Russian diplomat was also pointing to Washington encouraging eastward expansion of the US-led NATO military alliance towards Russia's borders. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Expels Moldovan Diplomat, Bans Entry Of Moldovan Officials By RFE/RL's Moldovan Service, Current Time April 25, 2023 Moscow is expelling a Moldovan diplomat and banning the entry of several Moldovan officials in retaliation after Chisinau declared a Russian Embassy staffer persona non grata. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on April 25 that Moldovan Ambassador Lilian Darii was summoned and handed a note of protest "over Chisinau's continuing unfriendly steps toward Russia, regular anti-Russian statements," as well as its joining the European Union's sanctions regime against Moscow over the Ukraine war, the statement said. Russia and many European countries have engaged in tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions since the full-scale invasion was launched on February 24, 2022. Dozens of diplomats in Moscow and other capitals around the continent have been forced to leave their posts, including later on April 25 when Sweden said it was expelling five Russian diplomats. Moldova last week expelled an employee of the Russian Embassy as relations between Chisinau and Moscow continued to deteriorate amid the Kremlin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine that has raised fears the tiny state sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania could be Russia's next target. On April 17, Moldova barred entry to a Russian delegation led by Tatarstan's leader Rustam Minnikhanov that had landed in Chisinau to bolster support for the pro-Moscow leader of an autonomous Moldovan territory. Two days later, Moldova's Foreign Ministry summoned Russian envoy Oleg Vasnetsov and informed him that a Russian diplomat had been declared persona non grata over his behavior at the airport during Minnikhanov's failed attempt to enter Moldova. The names of the expelled diplomat and the Moldovan officials banned from entering Russia were not made public. But Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that Moscow expelled Moldova's consul and banned the entry of Interior Minister Ana Revenco and three lawmakers from the ruling Action and Solidarity Party -- Oazu Nantoi, Olesea Stamate, and Lilian Carp. Under pro-Western President Maia Sandu, who came to power in late 2020 after defeating Moscow-backed incumbent Igor Dodon, Moldova has tried to distance itself from Russia while making steps toward integration with the EU. The 27-member bloc last year extended an official invitation to Moldova and Ukraine to start membership negotiations. The country of 2.7 million is one of Europe's poorest states. A former Romanian province, Moldova was annexed by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II and declared its independence in 1991 amid the collapse of the U.S.S.R. Moscow, however, has retained huge influence in the ex-Soviet republic, where it still keeps more than 1,200 troops in the breakaway territory of Transdniester. Separately, Sweden said on April 25 that it had summoned Russian Ambassador Viktor Tatarintsev to inform him that five employees of the Russian Embassy were being forced to leave for "activities on our territory...inconsistent with their diplomatic status," No further details were immediately available. A year ago Sweden expelled three Russian diplomats on similar grounds. Earlier this month, Norway sent 15 Russian diplomats packing saying they were intelligence officers operating under the cover of diplomatic positions. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-moldova- embassy-worker-expelled/32378523.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres 25 April 2023 03:14 784-25-04-2023 On April 24, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York City on the sidelines of events held as part of Russia's presidency of the UN Security Council in April. The Minister thanked the Secretary-General for taking part in a key meeting of the UN Security Council under the Russian presidency on 'Effective Multilateralism through the defence of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.' Various aspects of Russia-UN cooperation, as well as key issues of the international agenda, were discussed in great detail. The focus of the discussion was the situation in and around Ukraine. The Minister once again set forth a highly detailed assessment of the root causes of the current crisis, and the pace and goals of the special military operation that aims to eliminate threats to Russia's national security. He sternly criticised the behaviour of Western states that use the UN to advance politically motivated anti-Russia initiatives that can only prolong the current crisis. He urged the UN leadership to unfailingly honour the fundamental principles of unbiased and equidistant conduct, as stipulated by Article 100 of the UN Charter. Sergey Lavrov also drew special attention to the failure of the United States to fulfil its obligations under the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations. This included failure to issue visas to Russian representatives, due to attend various UN events, the illegal sequestration of Russian diplomatic property and the introduction of travel restrictions on Russian diplomats. He once again emphasised that Antonio Guterres must launch arbitration proceedings with regard to the United States as soon as possible, as prescribed under numerous UN General Assembly resolutions on the issue. They exchanged detailed opinions on several topical issues reviewed by the UN Security Council, including the situation in Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan, as well as the Israeli-Palestinian settlement. Sergey Lavrov and Antonio Guterres agreed that there was no alternative to constructive interaction between all UNSC members in order to overcome these and other crisis situations. Substantial attention was devoted to issues of implementing the July 2022 Istanbul agreements for exporting Ukrainian foodstuffs and facilitating the unimpeded access of Russian agricultural and fertiliser exports to the global market. Sergey Lavrov noted that, despite the fact that these agreements form an interlinked package, there has so far been no headway in fulfilling the memorandum between Russia and the UN Secretariat against the backdrop of stable Ukrainian grain deliveries. Sergey Lavrov and Antonio Guterres noted the importance of strengthening the UN's central coordinating role in global politics still further and promoting genuine multilateralism that relies on the fundamental norms of international law, including the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Director of the Foreign Ministry Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control Vladimir Yermakov's interview with TASS News Agency, April 25, 2023 25 April 2023 14:59 787-25-04-2023 Question: Russia's new Foreign Policy Concept says that in order to eliminate the conditions for unleashing a global war and risks of using nuclear and weapons Moscow will give priority attention to strategic deterrence and to strengthening and developing the system of international treaties in the area of strategic stability. What practical steps will the Foreign Ministry take in this connection? Vladimir Yermakov: Considering the tectonic shifts that are taking place in the process of the rise of a new world order, the Foreign Ministry of Russia is part of the effort to strengthen our national security and strategic stability as a whole. We will continue to work energetically in accordance with our competences and the goals set out in the Foreign Policy Concept. Our goal in the geopolitical context is comprehensive and provides for building a fair multipolar world based on the principle of equal and indivisible security. In the current circumstances, it is impossible to hold any meaningful talks with the United States or the West as a whole. Poisoned with the venom of pseudo-exceptionalism, Washington is not ready for an equal dialogue. The United States is using every opportunity to maintain its increasingly shaky position of "global hegemon" and is therefore resolved to aggravate confrontation with Russia and other states which do not accept the patently objectionable ideas of Pax Americana. Therefore, we have to give priority attention to containing the destructive aspirations of the West. In this sense, the revamped Foreign Policy Concept of Russia highlights the need for taking political and diplomatic efforts to create conditions for rooting out the remaining elements of Western domination. While firmly upholding our interests, we will work consistently to encourage these countries to see that there is no alternative to creating the foundations of a harmonious and safe existence for everyone in a polycentric world. At the same time, our task is to comprehensively promote productive cooperation with the constructive majority of the global community that maintains friendly relations with Russia, including in the context of strengthening regional and global security. It is becoming increasingly clear that the odds are in favour of the countries that are interested in the gradual development of a fair and stable multipolar world order. To ensure lasting stability, we will need to seriously overhaul the shaky architecture of international security. It must act in practice rather than on paper to neutralise the potential for conflict based on mutual respect for each other's fundamental interests. This implies above all the stabilisation of relations among the nuclear states that are permanent members of the UN Security Council and bear special responsibility for peace and global security. If the United States and its allies ultimately show that they are ready for this, there will be a chance for reaching new viable agreements with them in the areas of strategic stability and arms control. We have not abandoned the possibility of signing international treaties to regulate our relations with the West in the field of strategic stability in the future, after we attain the goals of the ongoing special military operation. I would like to repeat that this is only possible based on respect for Russia's fundamental interests. This is the underlying message of the Foreign Policy Concept. Question: This concept says that Russia can use its Armed Forces not only for repelling but also preventing an armed attack on Russia or its allies. What weapons systems could be used to prevent an attack? Vladimir Yermakov: Russia will continue to use predominantly peaceful means, such as diplomacy and talks, to settle interstate disputes and conflicts. However, if non-military methods fail to reach the desired effect and an aggression against us is unavoidable, we reserve the right to use any available method to protect our national security. As for the hypothetical possibility of using nuclear weapons for defence, we will continue to be guided by the fundamental provisions that were clearly set out in the Military Doctrine and the Fundamentals of Russia's Nuclear Deterrence State Policy. Question: What awaits the Start Treaty if the conflict in Ukraine continues indefinitely and the United States continues its line towards a hybrid war with Russia? What exactly can Washington do to improve the situation in this area? Vladimir Yermakov: If the United States continues following its current path of confrontation with Russia, increasing the stakes for an armed conflict, the future of the Start Treaty could be predetermined. But if a worst-case scenario develops, that is, if Washington brings the situation to a military conflict between the world's biggest nuclear powers, humanity will have to worry about the destiny of the entire world instead of trying to save the START treaty. This confirms once again the fact that today the most acute threat is related not so much to the dynamics of incentives for a massive first strike, which agreements like the Start Treaty were largely designed to curb, as to the danger of nuclear escalation stemming from a direct military confrontation between nuclear powers. To my deep regret, these risks are steadily growing. This is exactly why we keep emphasising the risks in the US and NATO's actions. They seem to have plunged into an illusion of impunity as they play around with chimeras like "escalation control" and "escalation dominance." We continue sending the West sobering signals on the need to prevent a disaster, but they remain deaf to our appeals. Moreover, they maliciously distort them for propaganda purposes. As for opportunities to improve the situation, the United States should immediately take specific steps to deescalate tensions and fully give up its hostile course of undermining Russia's security. There is simply no other way of reversing this negative trend. Question: What is the possibility of drafting a treaty that could replace the START treaty and take into account the nuclear arsenals in France and Britain? Or would it be impossible to come to terms because of current tensions? Vladimir Yermakov: This possibility does not exist in the current situation. Arms control is inseparable from the general geopolitical and military strategic situation. Any serious steps in this area are always linked with constructive political processes in relations between the contracting parties. There should be at least mutual realisation of the need for dialogue-based solutions and the political will to encourage the sides to conduct substantive talks based on compromise. The West is not doing anything like this. On the contrary, the US and its allies are waging a total hybrid war against Russia in a bid to inflict a strategic military defeat on our country and to try to contain it politically and economically. They hope that they will eventually manage to subordinate a weakened Russia to Western dictate from a position of strength. However, as history has shown many times, this approach to Russia has no prospects for success. All the wars unleashed by the collective West against us have not ended in its favour. The current initiators of this confrontation should think twice about repeating the lessons of "military geography" that they seem to have forgotten. Question: There have been recent reports about Russia's plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus that caused a negative response in the West. Do you think the West would do the same in Poland and Lithuania, the countries bordering on Belarus? Would this step by the West increase the risk of nuclear escalation? Vladimir Yermakov: The West can keep its negative response to itself. We are interested in it to the same extent to which the NATO countries were, for decades, interested in Russia's concerns over US nuclear weapons in Europe. What really matters to us is the need to ensure our national security, in this case, the security of Russia and Belarus as the Union State. It would be a mistake to forget the sequence of events and who exactly began to escalate tensions in this area. Warsaw made official requests to deploy US nuclear weapons in Poland long before we had to take countermeasures to make up for the growing imbalances in the overall alignment of forces with NATO. The importance of these imbalances has tangibly grown against the backdrop of NATO's sharp transition from hostility to an open and hyperactive front. I would also like to remind you that US nuclear weapons are deployed at six military facilities in five countries on our continent, of which the US is not a part. In effect, Washington has for decades kept its nuclear weapons thousands of miles away from its national territory - on advanced bases where the NATO countries can quickly hit strategic targets in Russia and Belarus. In the meantime, we are acting as two fraternal countries - a Union State with a common defence space. Incidentally, it has been openly reported for some time that Washington is interested in previously mothballed facilities for storing US nuclear weapons in the countries from which they were withdrawn after the end of the Cold War. If the US and NATO escalate tensions further, we will evaluate the arising risks and find ways of responding to them. Our response could take various forms, including an asymmetrical response. Question: The United States is visibly increasing its activity in creating hypersonic weapons. They made 12 test launches last year. And although the US Air Force said the last tests on March 13 were unsuccessful, before that, Washington pointed to success in this area. How does Moscow assess the current US progress in the development of hypersonic weapons? Is there any reason to worry in this regard that in the foreseeable future the Americans will fully develop this technology that can compete with Russian technologies? Vladimir Yermakov: The United States is clearly hurt that Russia is seriously ahead of them in the development and deployment of advanced hypersonic weapons. At the same time, the US's attempts to eliminate this gap are generally ineffective. However, we have no illusions. The US is still a high-tech country with the largest military budget, and one day it will get its hypersonic projects right. But, as President of Russia Vladimir Putin noted, if necessary, our specialists can come up with something else in the meantime. We are not obsessed with a "hypersonic race." Based on the current defence tasks and evolving threats, we will continue to calmly and systematically improve some of our respective weapons based on the principle of as low as reasonably practicable. Question: Earlier, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Japan was on the path to militarisation. For example, Tokyo is considering plans to deploy American hypersonic weapons on Japanese territory. If this happens, how will Moscow respond? What consequences does this imply? Vladimir Yermakov: The path Japan has chosen does add tension to the already heated atmosphere in the Asia-Pacific region, where the security situation continues to degrade. While remaining under the "nuclear umbrella" the Americans opened over Japan, Tokyo is not only building up its military cooperation with Washington, but has also moved on to developing its own armaments on a scale unprecedented since World War II. This fully applies to the rocket technology mentioned in your question. The speed characteristics of American made missile-based weapons that could appear in the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan, are not the only criterion by which we will evaluate such deployments. The range of missile systems is equally important. In particular, Russia's interest in continuing to adhere to the unilateral moratorium on the deployment of ground-based medium-range and shorter-range missiles in certain regions will fundamentally depend on the specific parameters of their range. But even now we can say with confidence that the destabilising military programmes of the United States and its allies are making our moratorium more fragile, both in the Asia-Pacific region and in Europe. Question: There were reports that the US and Japan plan to develop hypersonic missile interceptor systems. How dangerous is this considering the possibility of counteracting Russian missiles in the future? Vladimir Yermakov: The confrontation of, let's say, a sword and a shield in military affairs goes back centuries. It will continue in the future as well. A lot of countries will improve both missile and anti-missile weapons based on their defence needs. However, the main focus in this process must be placed on how the missile defence factor affects strategic stability. For example, the missile defence interaction between the United States and other Western countries creates significant problems due to the fact that the national potential of Washington's allies is increasingly being integrated with elements of the US's unrestricted global missile defence system. The US missile defence programme is highly destabilising, as we have consistently pointed out since the US withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002. This is why we will evaluate any preparations by the Western countries in this area, including in cooperation with our Chinese friends, from the angle of building up the potential of the US global missile defence system, which clearly undermines strategic stability. Question: Earlier, North Korea's KCNA news agency (Korean Central News Agency) reported that the DPRK considered US and South Korean military exercises to be provocations and warned Washington and Seoul that they were dealing with a nuclear state. Is there a risk that Pyongyang will have to use its nuclear capabilities for defence? Vladimir Yermakov: Of course, there is a risk of nuclear escalation due to increasing tensions on and around the Korean Peninsula. However, we fundamentally disagree with attempts to blame Pyongyang for whipping up this tension. It is clear to any unbiased observer that this does not correspond to the realities emerging in the region, where provocative actions are systematically carried out under the decisive influence of the United States; and Washington is completely obsessed with methods of pressure and coercion. For our part, we see a priority task in conscientious efforts to create favourable conditions for continuing a patient dialogue on making mutually acceptable arrangements to ensure security in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks at a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine Riyad al-Maliki, New York, April 25, 2023 25 April 2023 19:45 792-25-04-2023 Dear friends. We appreciate this opportunity to meet and discuss cooperation on the occasion of the Security Council meeting on the Middle East, including the question of Palestine. We have presented our position, and I believe the debate will confirm the position of the majority of members of not only the Security Council but also the members of the UN who are in favour of urgently resuming the dialogue based on Security Council and General Assembly resolutions regarding a two-state solution with all the issues of a final status to be subject to negotiation directly by the Palestinians and Israelis. And, of course, this is a good opportunity to discuss our bilateral relations which we would like to promote. We have some ideas in this regard. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lavrov and Guterres Touch on Ukraine, Mideast & Grain Deal at UNSC Meeting Sputnik News 20230425 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed, at a meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the situation in Ukraine, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan, as well as cooperation between Russia and the UN and the implementation of the Black Sea grain deal, the Russian Foreign Ministry has detailed. Lavrov arrived at the UN headquarters on Monday, where he presides over Security Council meetings. He met with Guterres, who took note of Moscow's concerns about how the Russian part of the grain deal is being implemented. Following a meeting with the UN Secretary General, Lavrov told reporters he had received a letter from the head of the global organization with ideas for the full implementation of the deal. Guterres, as reported by the UN, informed the Russian minister about the organization's efforts to resolve the situation with the host country, including visa issues. "There was a substantive discussion of various aspects of cooperation between Russia and the global organization," the ministry said. "The focus of the discussion was the situation in Ukraine and around it. The minister reiterated in detail the root causes of the current crisis, the course and goals of the special military operation aimed at eliminating threats to Russia's national security." "He severely criticized the behavior of Western states that use the UN platform to promote politicized anti-Russian initiatives that are only fraught with prolonging the current crisis," the release outlined. Lavrov noted the US failure to fulfill its obligations, including the refusal to issue visas to Russian representatives for events held under UN auspices, illegal alienation of Russian diplomatic property and imposition of restrictions on the movement of Russian diplomats. "A detailed exchange of views took place on a number of urgent issues under consideration by the UN Security Council, such as the situation in Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, as well as in the Palestinian-Israeli settlement," the statement noted. "Lavrov and Guterres agreed on the indispensable nature of the constructive interaction of all members of the Council in order to overcome these and other crisis situations." It said the sides paid attention to implementation of the Istanbul agreements of July 2022 on the export of Ukrainian food and ensuring unhindered access for Russian exports of agricultural products and fertilizers to the world market. "Both sides noted the importance of further strengthening the central coordinating role of the UN in global politics and promoting true multilateralism based on fundamental international legal norms, including the goals and principles of the global organization's Charter," the ministry said. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed between Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations amid the military conflict in Ukraine in July 2022, provides for exports of Ukrainian grain, food and fertilizers over the Black Sea from three ports, including Odessa. The package agreement also includes a memorandum of understanding between Russia and the UN to unblock Russian grain and fertilizer exports via the Black Sea, which, according to Moscow, has not been implemented amid Western sanctions. In March, Russia extended the deal for 60 of possible 120 days. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Global Public Perception of Russia's Leadership Eroded Sharply in 2022 By Rob Garver April 25, 2023 In the aftermath of Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine last year, global attitudes toward Russia's leadership have shifted dramatically, with large majorities of the population in dozens of countries reporting disapproval of the Kremlin. Data compiled from surveys of thousands of people in 137 countries and regions showed a marked decline in approval of the Kremlin, according to a report released by the Gallup organization on Tuesday. Globally, 57% of respondents reported that they disapprove of Russia's leadership in 2022, up from just 38% the year before. Only 21% of respondents said that they approve of Russia's leadership, down from 33% in 2021. Both the approval and disapproval figures were the most extreme Gallup has measured since it began asking the question as part of its annual survey tracking attitudes toward global leaders in 2007. "It's incredible," Zacc Ritter, a senior researcher with Gallup and the lead author of the report, told VOA. "I don't think we've seen a shift like this before in Gallup's data for any country." Negative shift everywhere While peoples' impression of Russia's leadership varied across individual countries in the survey, the overarching result was a worsening of the public image of its leadership across the board. The shift was most prominent in Latin America and the Caribbean, where the median approval rating fell by 21 percentage points, to 16%, while the median disapproval rating jumped by 30 points, to 61%. Even in parts of Africa and Asia where Russian influence remains strong, the change was negative. In North Africa and the Middle East, disapproval rates rose by 12 points, to 55%. In sub-Saharan Africa, where Russia maintains active influence operations, disapproval rates still spiked from 21% to 32%, worsening even in countries whose leaders have refused to condemn the war. Still, sub-Saharan Africa was the only region polled by Gallup in which the median approval rating of Russia's leadership (35%) remained above the median disapproval rating. State-level differences The data collected by Gallup indicates significant regional differences in attitudes toward Russia's leadership, with disapproval most concentrated in Europe, North America, Australia, South Korea and Japan. Feelings toward Russia were more ambivalent in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Unsurprisingly, Ukraine registered the highest rate of disapproval, at 96%, followed closely by Poland, at 95%. The U.S., Canada and 10 different European countries registered disapproval ratings of 90% or above. In Taiwan, the self-governing island claimed as a possession by China and itself under constant threat of invasion, the shift against Russia was large. In 2021, just 26% of Taiwanese surveyed expressed disapproval of Russia's leadership. By 2022, that number had leapt to 72%. Another outlier was Kazakhstan, the former Soviet republic on Russia's eastern border. Normally a reliable ally of Moscow's, Kazakhstan showed a major shift in attitude between 2021 and 2022. Approval of Russian leadership fell to 29% from 55% and disapproval jumped to 50% from just 20%. Little surprise Steven Pifer, a former senior U.S. State Department official who also served as ambassador to Ukraine, told VOA that it is no secret that Russia has seriously damaged its international standing, particularly in Europe. "Certainly when you look at how Europeans now look at Russia, I think it's a much more negative image than was the case before this war began," said Pifer, who is now an affiliate of Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation. "Russian actions are so at odds with the fundamental principles that we thought had been the basis for European security... that now, when they talk about security in Europe, it's not about security that involves Russia. It's about security against Russia." On the broader global stage, he said, it will be difficult for most world leaders to engage meaningfully with senior Russian officials and hard to trust them on the occasions when engagement is possible. "Start at the top. Vladimir Putin has been indicted for war crime. It's really difficult to see how any Western leader can sit down with him at this point. There's a reputational cost to doing that," Pifer said. He said the willingness of senior Russian diplomats to parrot obvious lies and distortions about the war that have been put forward by the Kremlin will make re-engagement all the more difficult. "Russian diplomats who I used to have some respect for are just out there, basically saying the most bizarre things," Pifer said. "That will come back to bite them. These guys have lost a lot of credibility, and it's going to be hard to see how they get it back." Similar findings Although its sample size makes the Gallup survey stand out, its findings echo those of a number of other major research firms that have explored the decline in Russia's global standing, including the Pew Research Center and Ipsos. Last month, Brand Finance, the U.K.-based consultancy that issues an annual Global Soft Power index, reported that in the previous year, Russia was the only country to see its soft power decline over the previous year. Soft power, which refers to a country's ability to affect the behavior of other nations without resorting to force, derives from many things, including economic ties and cultural influences. "While nations have turned to soft power to restore trade and tourism after a devastating health crisis, the world order has been disrupted by the hard power of the Russian invasion of Ukraine," Brand Finance Chairman and CEO David Haigh said in a statement. "An event that would be hard to believe were it not for the intensity of the images we have been seeing for months and the consequences the conflict is having on politics and the economy alike." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lasting peace, security among goals pursued in four-party talks in Moscow: Iran defense min. Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 April 2023 7:13 PM The Iranian defense minister says achieving lasting peace and security topped the agenda of the four-party talks in Moscow between the defense ministers and intelligence chiefs of Russia, Syria, Turkey, and Iran. "The four-party talks between Russia, Iran, Turkey and Syria were held with the important goal of achieving lasting peace and security in the region," Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Gharaei said. He made the remarks following separate meetings with his Russian, Syrian and Turkish counterparts in Moscow on Tuesday, as part of four-way talks aimed at normalizing ties and easing tensions between Ankara and Damascus. He added that combating terrorism is the demand of all nations in the West Asia region, stressing the goal can be achieved only through joint efforts by regional countries. "The fight against various forms of terrorism is the demand of all the nations of the region, and this goal will not be realized except with joint efforts and coordination and cooperation of regional countries," Ashtiani noted. "Our efforts and those of Russia to normalize Turkey-Syria relations was one of the goals of this quadrilateral meeting," Iran's defense minister added. "The Islamic Republic of Iran is serious about [facilitating] direct dialogue between Syria and Turkey as two influential neighboring countries in the region, and supports cooperation between the two countries." Stressing that the Islamic Republic has always worked towards promotion of peace, stability and security in the region, Ashtiani said, "Iran's participation in the four-party meeting in Moscow is a clear example of this issue." Turkey severed its relations with Syria in March 2012, a year after the Arab country found itself in the grip of rampant and deadly violence waged by foreign-backed militants, including those allegedly supported by Ankara. The two neighboring countries are currently taking steps toward reconciliation after 11 years. The process of normalizing ties between Ankara and Damascus kicked off on December 28, 2022, when the Russian, Syrian and Turkish defense ministers met in Moscow, in what was the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the outbreak of the Syria conflict. Last month, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad conditioned any potential meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Turkey's withdrawal of troops from northern Syria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Withdrawal of Turkish troops discussed at four-party meeting in Moscow: Syria Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 April 2023 4:20 PM Damascus says defense ministers and intelligence chiefs of Russia, Syria, Turkey, and Iran have discussed the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the Arab country, as efforts continue to mend ties between Ankara and Damascus. Syria's official news agency SANA, citing the country's defense ministry, reported that the participants discussed the issue at a four-party meeting in the Russian capital, Moscow, on Tuesday. "Participants in the talks discussed the issue of withdrawing Turkish troops from Syrian territory," it said. "They also discussed implementing the special agreement related to movements along the M4 international highway." The M4 international highway crosses five provinces in northern Syria, and is considered a major crossing for the international shipping route that connects Turkey, Iraq and Jordan via Syria. Syrian officials have on numerous occasions said that any move towards normalizing ties between Syria and Turkey can only come after Ankara agrees to pull out thousands of troops it has stationed in northwest of the Arab country. This came after Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad called on Ankara to put an end to its military presence in Syria. "It is impossible to talk about normalizing relations with Turkey amid its occupation of Syria's northern areas," he stressed. Earlier in the day, Russia's Defense Ministry said practical steps were discussed during the quadrilateral meeting to strengthen security in Syria and normalize Syrian-Turkish relations. Special attention was focused on efforts to "counter terrorist threats and combat extremist groups in Syria," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said. Turkey's Ministry of Defense also announced that the parties had discussed "concrete steps" that can be taken to normalize Turkish-Syrian relations. It also said "the fight against terrorist organizations and all extremist groups" was discussed at the quadrilateral meeting, adding that stepping up efforts to return Syrian refugees to their countries was another issue on the agenda of the four countries. Turkey severed its relations with Syria in March 2012, a year after the Arab country found itself in the grip of rampant and deadly violence waged by foreign-backed militants, including those allegedly supported by Ankara. The two neighboring countries are currently taking steps toward reconciliation after 11 years. The process of normalizing ties between Ankara and Damascus kicked off on December 28, 2022, when the Russian, Syrian and Turkish defense ministers met in Moscow, in what was the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the outbreak of the Syria conflict. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in January tied a Russian-brokered rapprochement with Turkey to an end to Ankara's occupation of northern Syria and its support for militant groups fighting against the Damascus government. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Unilateral, unlawful US sanctions worsening humanitarian crisis in Syria, UN envoy laments Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 April 2023 9:32 AM Syria's permanent representative to the UN has warned that the "illegitimate and inhumane" sanctions imposed by the United States and its Western allies are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in his country. Bassam al-Sabbagh made the remarks during a UN Security Council session on "Purpose and Principles of the UN Charter in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security and effective pluralism through defending the principles of the United Nations Charter" in New York on Monday. "Syria's national wealth and resources are being plundered by foreign forces, who are illegitimately present on our soil," Sabbagh said. "The humanitarian crisis in Syria is aggravating as a result of unilateral, illegitimate, inhumane and immoral sanctions slapped on ordinary people," he added. The Syrian envoy warned that the bans continue to affect all aspects of ordinary people's lives and have left a large number of people homeless and internally displaced in blatant violation of the principles and objectives of the UN Charter. Syria has been targeted by US sanctions since 1979. Washington and its Western allies particularly tightened their economic sanctions and restrictions on Damascus after 2011, when the Arab country found itself in the grip of rampant foreign-backed militancy and terrorism. The sanctions intensified even further with the passing of the Caesar Act in 2019, which targeted any individual and business that participated either directly or indirectly in Syria's reconstruction efforts. 'Syria suffers from exploitation of UN system by western countries' Sabbagh noted that Syria has been suffering for more than a decade from the exploitation of the UN and its institutions by certain Western countries, which pursue their hostile agendas and destructive policies against Damascus. He underscored the need for the urgent revision of UN mechanisms, saying that Syria has fallen victim over the past decade to the loss of genuine pluralism. The Syrian diplomat stated that the review of the UN working methods would ensure promotion of true pluralism on the basis of the world body's Charter, enhance their efficiency and raise their credibility in international spheres. Sabbagh also emphasized that preserving true pluralism requires restructuring current UN bodies, on top of which is the expansion of the Security Council to reflect the new realities concerning international relations, and reforming the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to serve the interests of developing countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Shoigu Holds Bilateral Talks With Iran, Syria, Turkiye Counterparts Sputnik News 20230425 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held several bilateral meetings with the defense ministers of Syria, Iran and Turkiye in Moscow, and discussed ensuring global and regional security, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. "On April 25, 2023, the Russian Defense Minister Shoigu, held a number of bilateral talks with the heads of the military departments of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Turkish Republic who arrived in Moscow. During the meetings, topical issues of bilateral cooperation, as well as various aspects of ensuring global and regional security were discussed," the ministry said. Heavy emphasis was made on strengthening security in Syria and the normalization of Syrian-Turkish relations. Also special attention was paid to the issues of countering all manifestations of terrorist threats, the fight against all extremist groups on the territory of Syria. Following the talks, the parties reaffirmed their desire to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria, as well as the need to intensify efforts for the quick return of Syrian refugees to their homeland. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan, Guatemala leaders hold bilateral talks in Taipei ROC Central News Agency 04/25/2023 08:56 PM Taipei, April 25 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (ee) and her Guatemalan counterpart Alejandro Giammattei held bilateral talks in Taipei on Tuesday. The friendship between the Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan's official name, and Guatemala is "enduring" and "unbreakable," Giammattei told Tsai during their talks at the Presidential Office. The meeting was held behind closed doors and a readout including remarks made by the two leaders at the beginning of the talks was provided by the Presidential Office afterwards. Giammattei was also presented with a medal by Tsai in recognition of his contributions to the promotion of relations between Taiwan and the Central American nation. Since his arrival in Taiwan on Monday, the Guatemalan leader, who took office in January 2020 for a four-year term, has repeatedly expressed his government's support for the Central American nation's nearly nine decades of diplomatic ties with the ROC (Taiwan). Relations between the two countries, according to Giammattei, have been based on steady and long-term diplomatic engagement, and broad cooperation on trade, education and other issues. Giammattei's visit to Taiwan from April 24-27 comes just one month after another Central American nation, Honduras, switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. Honduras' severing of ties with Taipei in favor of Beijing, the ninth country to do so since Tsai took office in 2016, means that only 13 states now maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. In his remarks, Giammattei said the ROC should be included in the United Nations as a full member, adding that the country's sovereignty, independence and autonomy should be recognized and supported by the international community. After the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution in October 1971 to recognize the People's Republic of China as the only lawful representative of China in the U.N., the ROC declared its withdrawal from the body. Since then, the country has been unable to take part in the UN systems as a member state. In recent years, Taipei has also found itself increasingly left out of the U.N. mechanisms and affiliated agencies as Beijing ramped up efforts to isolate Taiwan from the international community. Apart from expressing support for Taiwan, the Guatemalan leader also expressed hope that his current visit would foster more exchanges between the two countries in political, economic, and culture areas, without elaborating. Meanwhile, Tsai said promoting bilateral economic and trade ties is a shared goal for both Taiwan and Guatemala. Tsai thanked Giammattei for his staunch support for Taiwan, adding that she looked forward to seeing bilateral cooperation in various fields deepened in the future. (By Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Guatemalan president calls for support for Taiwan amid Chinese threat ROC Central News Agency 04/25/2023 03:15 PM Taipei, April 25 (CNA) The international community should support Taiwan in the face of threats from China, visiting Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei told Taiwan's Legislature on Tuesday. Giammattei, in a speech that made him the first head of state to address the Legislative Yuan in 13 years, called on the international community and "the free world" to rally in support of Taiwan, which he said had long faced threats from across the Taiwan Strait. Guatemala's position has been to recognize and support the Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan's official name, as an independent country, Giammattei said. The Guatemalan leader also underscored what he described as the importance of the international community respecting Taiwan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The 67-year-old president added that his current visit at the head of an official delegation was a testament to Guatemala's opposition to "foreign aggression." Giammattei's visit to Taiwan comes just weeks after President Tsai Ing-wen (ee) traveled to Guatemala as part of her 10-day overseas trip, and one month after another Central American nation, Honduras, switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. Honduras' severing of ties with Taipei in favor of Beijing, the ninth country to do so since Tsai took office in 2016, means that only 13 states now maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Giammattei said that while other countries had placed interests above friendship and changed allegiances, Guatemala, which established diplomatic relations with the ROC in 1933, remained committed to Taiwan. Describing Taiwan as a longstanding strategic partner of Guatemala, Giammattei pledged to continue promoting the bilateral relationship between the two countries. He also expressed gratitude for the government of Taiwan's financial support for Guatemala over the years, including an estimated US$90 million in aid between 2013 and 2021, as well as scholarships given to Guatemalan youths to study in Taiwan. His speech, which was met with a standing ovation from lawmakers across party lines, was praised by Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (ea ) as "significant" at a time when "the expansion of authoritarianism has shrunk the space for democracies" in the world. You also conferred an honorary medal on Giammattei in recognition of his contributions to "the promotion of friendship and cooperation between Taiwan and Guatemala." The Guatemalan president arrived in Taiwan on Monday for a four-day visit that includes meetings with government officials, Guatemalan students, and representatives from Taiwanese companies present in the Central American nation. The Guatemalan delegation also includes Congressional President Shirley Joanna Rivera ZaldaAa, Foreign Minister Mario Adolfo BAcaro Flores, and Minister of the Economy Janio Moacyr Rosales AlegrAa, among others. On Tuesday morning, Giammattei was welcomed by Tsai with a military salute at the Presidential Office, and the two were also scheduled to have a bilateral talk later in the afternoon. (By Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MAC condemns China's arrest of Taiwanese activist ROC Central News Agency 04/25/2023 06:49 PM Taipei, April 25 (CNA) China's "willful" arrest of Taiwanese activist Yang Chih-yuan (S) severely hurts the rights of Taiwanese people and creates fear that will dampen cross-strait relations, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Tuesday. The MAC made the statement after Chinese media reported earlier the same day that the country's Supreme People's Procuratorate has granted a request to arrest Yang, who had been detained since Aug. 3, 2022 in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province on charges of secession. The MAC, Taiwan's top government agency in charge of cross-strait affairs, said it has stayed on top of the incident since last August and has worked closely with Yang's family to offer necessary help. The MAC also criticized Beijing for failing to respond to its calls through different channels to "release an innocent Yang and allow him to return to Taiwan as soon as possible." The MAC also cautioned Taiwanese in the statement to properly evaluate the risk before traveling to China, as the country "habitually and willfully infringes the right to personal safety." According to the Beijing Daily earlier in the day, the state security bureau in Wenzhou concluded its investigation into the charges against Yang, and the request to arrest him was approved by the Supreme People's Procuratorate. China's CCTV reported in August 2022 that Yang was taken into custody by the state security bureau in Wenzhou on Aug. 3, 2022 on charges related to his activities in support of Taiwan independence, endangering national security. Yang has since been confined to a guarded facility. Born in Taichung in 1990, Yang has served as vice chairman of the Taiwan National Party, a fringe political party advocating for Taiwan independence, since 2019. CCTV said at the time of his detention that Yang had long advocated for Taiwan independence and established the "illegal" "Taiwan National Party" to advocate for Taiwan becoming a sovereign and independent country and gaining membership of the United Nations. Because of those actions, CCTV said, Yang was suspected of committing and inciting the crime of secession, but the government-run media outlet did not offer any other details of his activities, including in the People's Republic of China. The news of Yang being detained in China came hours after then United States House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi ended her 19-hour trip to Taiwan, a visit that prompted a strong reaction from Beijing, including days of military exercises around Taiwan. (By Lee Ya-wen, Shih Hsiu-chuan and Lee Hsin-Yin) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China approves arrest of Taiwanese activist: Beijing media ROC Central News Agency 04/25/2023 11:18 AM Taipei, April 25 (CNA) The Supreme People's Procuratorate has granted a request to arrest Taiwanese activist Yang Chih-yuan (S), who has been detained since Aug. 3, 2022 in Wenzhou on charges of secession, Chinese media reported Tuesday. The state security bureau in Wenzhou in Zhejiang province concluded its investigation into the charges against Yang, and the request to arrest him has been approved by the Supreme People's Procuratorate, Beijing Daily cited the court as reporting Tuesday. China's CCTV reported in August 2022 that Yang was taken into custody by the state security bureau in Wenzhou on Aug. 3, 2022 on charges related to his activities in support for Taiwan independence, endangering national security. Yang has since been confined in a guarded facility. Yang was born in 1990 in Taichung. He has served as vice chairman of the Taiwan National Party, a fringe political party advocating Taiwan independence, since 2019. CCTV said at the time of his arrest that Yang had long advocated Taiwan independence and established the "illegal" "Taiwan National Party" to advocate Taiwan becoming a sovereign and independent country and gaining membership in the United Nations. Because of those actions, CCTV said, Yang was suspected of committing the crime of secession and inciting the crime of secession, but the government-run media outlet did not offer any other details of Yang's activities, including in the People's Republic of China. The news of Yang being arrested in China came hours after then United States House speaker Nancy Pelosi ended her 19-hour trip in Taiwan, a visit that had prompted strong reactions from Beijing, including days of military exercises around Taiwan. (By Shih Hsiu-chuan) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China to prosecute Taiwan pro-independence politician for 'secession' Beijing appears to be ramping up attempts to suppress political speech on the democratic island By Hwang Chun-mei and Hsia Hsiao-hwa for RFA Mandarin 2023.04.25 -- Chinese authorities have announced the formal arrest of a leading Taiwanese nationalist politician for 'secession' after holding him incommunicado for months, paving the way for a criminal trial over his activities on the democratic island. Taiwan National Party Vice Chairman Yang Chih-yuan was detained in August 2022 under China's national security law as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi left Taiwan following a trip that angered China, which launched several days of wargames around the island in response. Yang was arrested by state security police in the southeastern coastal Chinese city of Wenzhou and accused of having founded the pro-independence Taiwan National Party, with the aim of "promoting Taiwan to join the United Nations as a sovereign and independent country." Yang was placed in "residential surveillance at a designated location" from Aug. 4, 2022, in the eastern province of Zhejiang, meaning that he was held with no access to a lawyer or to family visits for six months. State media reports accused Yang of "actively scheming" to work towards formal statehood for Taiwan, which split from mainland China in 1949 amid civil war and has never been ruled by the Communist Party. 'Colluding with separatist forces' They cited his campaigning for a referendum on independence for Taiwan, a sovereign state still using the name of the 1911 Republic of China founded by Sun Yat-sen, and his founding of the Taiwan National Party in 2011 as examples. Reports at the time also accused Yang of "colluding with separatist forces to support Hong Kong secessionists" during the 2019 protest movement in the city, but that charge appears to have been dropped. "Yang Chih-yuan, a criminal suspect from Taiwan, is suspected of the crime of secession," China's state prosecutor, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, said on its official website on Tuesday. "A few days ago, the Wenzhou Municipal People's Procuratorate approved Yang Chih-yuan's arrest on suspicion of secession," it said. "The case will be passed to the municipal procuratorate for prosecution." Lee Ming-cheh, a Taiwanese community college manager who served a five-year jail term in China for "subversion" linked to his activism in the island's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, said that while some of his activism had connections to China, Yang's activities had all been carried out in Taiwan. He said Yang's arrest and prosecution should sound a warning to any politically active Taiwanese, and not just regarding travel to China, Hong Kong or Macau. "The risk of something like this happening to Taiwanese people isn't confined to China, Hong Kong or Macau," Lee warned. "Anyone who is regarded by them as a Taiwan independence activist could wind up getting extradited from any country that has extradition agreements with China or Hong Kong," he said. Clear escalation Lee, who was the first Taiwan national to be jailed for a crime under China's national security law, said Yang's case marks a clear escalation in Beijing's intentions towards pro-independence Taiwanese. "This is a clear attempt at suppression, and is intended to warn Taiwanese that advocating independence won't be consequence-free, and that they could face threats and criminal prosecution in China," Lee said. "Last year, they were even talking about carrying out trials in absentia, in cases where they couldn't lay hands on the person," he said. China amended its Criminal Procedure Law in 2018 to allow trials in absentia in cases of "crimes seriously endangering national security" and "terrorist activities," vaguely worded offenses that are typically used to target peaceful critics of the regime. In 2021, a court in Hong Kong jailed motorcyclist Tong Ying-kit for "terrorism" and "inciting secession" after he flew the banned protest slogan "Free Hong Kong, Revolution Now!" from the back of his motorbike. Wang Chih-sheng, secretary general of the China Asia-Pacific Elite Exchange Association, said the sort of activities Yang engaged in are totally normal behavior in a democratic environment like Taiwan. 'Chilling effect' He said Yang is clearly being used to discourage freedom of speech and political activism in Taiwan, despite the fact that Beijing has no jurisdiction there. "It's clear that this could bring with it a new wave of chilling effects," Wang said. "Taiwanese people could end up self-censoring their political speech and limiting their degree of involvement in activism or even political donations in future, if they want to do business with China." He said it's likely that more cases will follow Yang's, and cited the recent detention in Shanghai of Taiwan-based publisher Li Yanhe, or Fucha. "[Yang's arrest] could make everyone in Taiwan feel unsafe, especially when you add in the impact of the [detention of ] Eight Banners Press editor Fucha, and secret Chinese police stations overseas," Wang said. Authorities in New York recently arrested two men for allegedly setting up an overseas branch of the Chinese government's Ministry of Public Security in Manhattan that was eventually shut down by the authorities last year. Beijing has shut down a number of the offices in the wake of a September 2022 report from the Spain-based Safeguard Defenders group listing dozens of such operations, sparking investigations and orders to shut down from governments around the world. Taiwanese Premier Chen Chien-jen called on China to release Yang and let him come home to Taiwan "as soon as possible." He also warned Taiwanese to exercise particular caution when traveling to China. The Taiwanese government agency that deals with China said it has repeatedly called on Beijing to release Yang through various channels, but had received "no positive response." Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Vulnerable to Chinese Air Attack, Taiwan Signs Deal With US to Maintain Fighter Aircraft By Xiaoshan Xue April 25, 2023 Taiwan and the U.S. have signed two deals worth close to $420 million for maintaining fighter aircraft operated by the self-governing island that China considers its own territory. Based on the agreement, around $323 million will be allocated for a parts contract that runs through March 2028, according to a local news report. The smaller deal, which runs through June 2027, covers nonstandard parts and aviation materials. The deals were signed on Sunday. Taiwan has relied on the U.S. for air defense capability to secure its airspace and prepare for a possible Chinese invasion. China has been ramping up military pressure in recent years to try to force the island to accept integration with mainland China. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on April 21 that Taiwan's return to China is an integral part of the international order after World War II: "Once China's land is recovered, it will never be lost again...anyone who plays with fire on the Taiwan issue will set himself on fire." The Washington Post on April 15 quoted confidential documents leaked from the Pentagon that Taiwan is unlikely to thwart Chinese military air superiority in a cross-strait conflict as its airfields and radar positions are all within the range of Beijing's land-based missiles. According to the documents, just over half of Taiwan's aircraft are fully mission capable and Taiwanese officials doubt the ability of their air defenses to "accurately detect missile launches." The documents also said Taiwan feared it could take days to move the planes to shelters, leaving them vulnerable to Chinese missiles. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense on April 16 said that the documents' content did not conform to the facts. Phillip Saunders, director of the Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs and distinguished research fellow at the National Defense University, told VOA Mandarin on April 20 at an event hosted by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, that air defense is going to be a huge problem for Taiwan as its airfields and radar are all within range of China's land-based missiles. Saunders said, "I think the general assessment is Taiwan's Air Force is going to be out of the fight pretty quickly because the airfields are going to be gone, and if the Air Force hits the sky, they're within range of Chinese surface-to-air missiles based on the mainland." Harry Halem, a senior fellow at Yorktown Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank, told VOA Mandarin in an email on April 20 that the Taiwanese's biggest issue is geographic. Halem said, "Taiwan is densely populated with large cities, making it a hellish urban combat area, but it's also very small, and therefore, (in theory) easy to blanket with reconnaissance elements to identify enemy targets." "Another major vulnerability of Taiwanese aircraft is their ability to be hit on the ground in a Chinese missile first strike," he said. "The leaks and other information indicate that Taiwan doesn't have the hardened aircraft shelters to protect its air force if it is caught on the ground, and given the numbers of Chinese aircraft, Taiwan could simply get overwhelmed." Chieh Chung, a researcher at the National Policy Foundation, a Taipei-based think tank, told VOA Mandarin that one of the main challenges for Taiwan's Air Force is that airfields and early warning radar in western Taiwan are highly vulnerable to Chinese sabotage. He told VOA Mandarin in a phone interview on April 21 that Taiwan's air defense system, including various long-range radar, is still operating smoothly, and the effectiveness of the entire joint air defense is quite good. For example, when China launches a ballistic missile, Taiwan's early warning radar provide at least seven minutes of early warning to the relevant anti-missile units. "But the problem is that most of the long-range radar that make up our air defense system are in fixed positions. It is very likely that the effect of these long-range radar (positions) will be reduced after China's first few waves of long-range ballistic missile attacks. If it starts to decrease significantly, it will affect the success rate of anti-aircraft missile interception," he said. And China has more air power than Taiwan. According to Global Firepower and Forces, the Chinese military has over 3,000 aircraft and nearly 400,000 people in its air force. Taiwan has slightly more than 700 aircraft in total and more than 30,000 air force troops. Eric Chan, senior strategist at the United States Air Force, told VOA Mandarin that the largest air threats to Taiwan might come from large swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles or short-range ballistic missiles. In an email on April 20, he said in an invasion scenario, China could attempt to use mass firepower to suppress Taiwan's defenders, gain air superiority, and, thus, overcome the disadvantage of attacking into challenging terrain. Losing air supremacy would have severe consequences for Taiwan. Halem said that unless the United States and its allies can help Taiwan regain air supremacy, Taiwan may lose a Taiwan Strait war. Chan said the U.S. could work with allies to provide Taiwan with more air defense systems and missiles, creating a multilayered, integrated air and missile defense system. Chung believes that the U.S. still needs to share early warning information to help Taiwan carry out fighter jet transfers and consider selling AGM-158C long-range anti-ship missiles to Taiwan to prevent Chinese aircraft from entering the waters east of Taiwan, as well as providing F-35 fighters to respond to China's attacks on airfields and runways. Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan Voters Consider US-China Tensions By Cindy Sui April 25, 2023 When Taiwan's former and current presidents each embarked on overseas trips this month, their travels highlighted how rising tensions between the United States and China are seen by the islands' voters who will pick a new leader in January. President Tsai Ing-wen met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other American legislators during stops in New York and California. Around the same time, Tsai's predecessor, former President Ma Ying-jeou became the first Taiwanese former or current president to visit China since the two sides were separated at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949. Generally, Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party supports Taiwanese nationalism and has championed building diplomatic ties with the U.S. and other nations. Ma's Kuomintang party generally favors building ties with Beijing, as well as with the U.S. and other nations, and trying to find consensus. Opinion polls conducted after the trips among Taiwanese adults 20 years and older found some 61% reported approving of Tsai's meeting with McCarthy while 22% disapproved. Ma's trip found opinions more evenly split, with some 39% of respondents saying they approved, and 43% disapproving. Contrasting approaches to China Tsai, her ruling Democratic Progressive Party known as the DPP, and their supporters see the meeting with McCarthy as an example of Taiwan's right to conduct diplomacy and an important step for Taiwan's security. "In the face of pressure and intimidation, the people of Taiwan will only become more united," she said according to Taiwan's Central News Agency, adding that her meetings with the American legislators "will contribute to cross-Taiwan Strait stability and regional peace." Soong Hseik-wen, an international affairs professor at Taiwan's National Chung Cheng University, said Tsai's visit will help her party with voters. "It shows that globally, countries like the U.S. accept Taiwan's [de facto] independence," Soong said. "In the future, there will be many countries that support democracy, freedom and human rights, including the EU, the U.S., Canada, Japan, and even South Korea, Southeast Asian countries that will stand with Taiwan." Former President Ma Ying-jeou had a different goal for his lower-key journey to China, a "private" visit he made as a citizen, not as a former president, that saw him bring college students and academics for exchanges, to promote more interaction between the two sides as a way of reducing tensions. Ma remains influential after serving two terms in office from 2008 to 2016 at a time when he improved relations with Beijing without losing Taiwan's self-rule, freedoms and democracy. On his "peace-building" mission this month, Ma told reporters, "the two sides must pursue peace, otherwise both sides will not have a future." Tso Chen-dong, a National Taiwan University political science professor said Ma's visit shows that when the two sides have regular contact, they can gain a better understanding about each other, which can help them out of the current "hostility spiral." "If the two sides continue to hold a negative view of each other, then they are moving towards a collision," Tso said. "However, if they can change their perception through mutual exchanges, little by little, the collision can be slowed down and even reversed." Public opinion While surveys indicated most Taiwanese support Tsai's U.S. visit, some voters worried that embracing Americans could further raise tensions with China. "Tsai keeps going overseas to win over the U.S. and promote her anti-China agenda and then China carries out these military activities. This is not what we want," said Yen Hsiao-lien, who told VOA by phone that she worries her two sons will be drafted into a combat situation. "The median line (in the Taiwan Strait) is gone" Yen said, referring to the more than 100 Chinese warplanes that crossed the invisible line between the two sides in response to Tsai and McCarthy's meeting. "Tsai's supporters think she's doing great and more countries are now paying attention to Taiwan, but practically the whole world recognizes (there's only) one China." She was referring to the fact that almost all countries except 13 nations in the world recognize the mainland as China and do not treat Taiwan as a country or have formal diplomatic relations with the island, although many have close informal ties with Taipei. Washington adopted the "One China Policy" in 1979 when it switched diplomatic recognition from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the mainland People's Republic of China. Under this policy, Washington acknowledges but does not accept Beijing's claim that Taiwan is a part of China to be reunified one day, preferring that the two sides reach a peaceful resolution, and urging both not to take unilateral actions that change the status quo. The One China Policy is not the same as the One China principle, under which Beijing asserts Taiwan and the mainland are part of one country to be reunited one day. Splits over what sort of status and relationship Taiwan should have with China continue to divide voters such as Helen Ko, a 30-year-old law student who said she will not vote for the Kuomintang because its concept of "country" encompassing the mainland and Taiwan, "is not my definition." She prefers the DPP's approach of seeking international support. "Let's say the whole world thinks Taiwan is very democratic ... and recognizes Taiwan's importance. Could this prevent China from attacking us? If so, the United States, Germany and everyone can come and protect us," Ko said. Analyst Tso, however, cautioned against underestimating Beijing's determination to safeguard what it sees as its territorial integrity. Even if unification is not a top priority for Beijing now, it has vowed to crush moves toward formal independence. Beijing sees the two sides as part of one country to be reunified one day and has not renounced the use of force to do so. But Tso said it was encouraging that the U.S. administration seems to be aware of the need to maintain the balancing act between Beijing and Taipei's concerns, despite the difficulties in doing so. "Those in the U.S. who hope to prevent a collision between the U.S. and China are still mainstream opinions in policy circles." said Tso. "That gives people hope that the two sides can prevent any risk-taking action from really causing a collision." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden unnerved by Ukraine's spring offensive, fears failure will dissipate allies' support: Politico Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 April 2023 9:43 AM The administration of US President Joe Biden fears that if Ukraine's spring offensive against Russia fails, it will spark criticism at home and in European capitals that America has come up short and it will weaken support among US allies for the war against Russia, according to an article published in the German-owned Politico newspaper. The article, published on Tuesday, reveals that the Ukrainian offensive, which is expected to take place next month, is reportedly aimed at retaking "Russian-seized territory most likely in the east and south." According to leaked Pentagon documents, 12 Ukrainian combat brigades of about 4,000 soldiers each are expected to be ready at the end of April. "If the impending fighting season yields limited gains, administration officials have expressed privately they fear being faced with a two-headed monster attacking it from the hawkish and dovish ends of the spectrum," the article reads. Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haas, according to Politico, said that "support for Ukraine is expensive." He said, "Ammunition is running low, there are many unforeseen nuances, and therefore the question of negotiations for a cessation of hostilities will inevitably arise if Ukraine can not win any significant victory on the battlefield." According to the article, some US officials believe that "Ukraine's shortcoming proves it can't force Russia out of its territory completely." Inside Biden's administration, officials stress they're doing everything possible to make the spring offensive a success, as the US has flooded Ukraine with lethal arms and weapons. "We've nearly completed the requests of what [Ukraine] said they needed for the counteroffensive as we have surged weapons and equipment to Ukraine over the past few months," the article quoted one administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, as saying. The concerns were recently brought to light during a leak of classified information onto social media. A top-secret assessment from early February stated that Ukraine's spring offensive would fall "well short" of its objectives. According to the article, US officials have also briefed Ukraine on" the dangers of overextending its ambitions and spreading its troops too thin". Politico said the failure of the offensive will also weaken support provided by Washington's allies in Europe to Kiev, and push for calls for an end to the fighting. "European public support may wane over time as European energy and economic costs stay high," Clementine Starling, a director and fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington, D.C, was quoted as saying. "A fracturing of transatlantic support will likely hurt US domestic support and Congress and the Biden administration may struggle to sustain it." Starling added that "a poor counteroffensive will spark further questions about what an outcome to the war will look like, and the extent to which a solution can really be achieved by continuing to send military arms and aid alone." Ukraine had been reportedly planning to attack Moscow on the first anniversary of the offensive on February 24. The attack, however, was held off at the US behest, the Washington Post claimed on Monday. According to the report, Washington worried that attacks against Russia could provoke a harsh response from the Kremlin. On February 22, two days before the anniversary, the CIA circulated a new classified report, stating that Ukraine's military intelligence [HUR] "had agreed, at Washington's request, to postpone strikes" on Moscow. The documents, part of a trove of classified information allegedly leaked on social media sites by Jack Douglas Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the US Air National Guard, who is now arrested. Russia has been carrying out what it calls a special military operation against Ukraine since February 2022, saying the operation aims to stop Kiev's persecution of the pro-Russian population in eastern Ukraine and to "de-Nazify" the ex-Soviet republic. Since then, the US and its allies have imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia and have provided Kiev with billions of dollars in weapons. Moscow has repeatedly warned that the military aid will only prolong the war. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deadly Russian Strike Hits Museum In Kupyansk As Battle For Bakhmut Picks Up By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 25, 2023 A Russian missile strike on a museum in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kupyansk killed at least one person and wounded 10 others, an attack that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described as "barbaric," as heavy fighting for the control of Bakhmut intensified over the past day, the military reported. Oleh Synehubov, the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, told RFE/RL that the April 25 strike on the Kupyansk city center involved S-300-type missiles, one of which hit the Museum of Local History. Synehubov said rescue work continues, with officials saying at least one more person may be under the rubble. "The terrorist country is doing everything to destroy us completely. Our history, our culture, our people. Killing Ukrainians with absolutely barbaric methods," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram, adding, "We must and will respond!" Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military said Russian forces unleashed more waves of assaults on Bakhmut over the past day, but neither side managed to make critical advances in the monthslong battle for the city in the eastern region of Donetsk. "Fierce battles are going on for the city of Bakhmut," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in its daily report on April 25, adding that Moscow's main push on the battlefield remained focused on the Bakhmut-Avdiyivka-Maryinka front line. Russian forces launched 62 air strikes and six missile strikes against Ukrainian military positions and civilian objectives, the General Staff said in its report. Ukrainian defenders also repelled 43 Russian attacks on Bakhmut and Maryinka, the report said. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar, meanwhile, described the ongoing fighting in Bakhmut as a "continuous dynamic process." Malyar said on Telegram on April 25: "We can lose positions in battle today, and regain them the next day; that is why the military prefers to talk about the result after the operation is over." Malyar's comments came a day after Ukrainian commanders denied a Russian claim that mercenaries from the Wagner Group almost completely controlled the city. In Washington, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby warned that Russian forces can step up their offensive actions once the weather begins to get warmer. "We know that in the spring, when the weather improves -- and it is already starting to improve -- we can expect that the Russians will want to go on the offensive in some areas. We don't know exactly where and how they will do it, but we want to be sure that Ukrainians are able to defend themselves better against it," Kirby told Voice of America on April 24. At the same time, Kirby added, if Ukrainian forces decide to conduct their own counteroffensive operations, they must have the appropriate capabilities. Military experts have reported -- and Ukrainian leaders have hinted -- that a major spring counteroffensive by Ukraine is in the works. Russian state news agency RIA said on April 25 that Moscow has begun using its new T-14 Armata battle tanks in the war, firing on Ukrainian positions but not yet participating in a "direct assault." The tank has an unmanned turret that a crew controls remotely from "an isolated armored capsule located in the front of the hull," the report said. But, according to British military intelligence, Russian forces have complained about the poor condition of the first of the tanks to arrive. "Eleven years in development, the program has been dogged with delays, reduction in planned fleet size, and reports of manufacturing problems," the British intelligence report said. Off the battlefield, the International Working Group on Russian Sanctions, a pro-Ukraine group of scholars, called on Western nations to impose stricter sanctions on Moscow. The scholars called for a reduction on the price cap on Russian oil to $30 a barrel from $60; a total embargo on Russian steel, iron, and diamonds; and an easing of regulations to seize Russian assets abroad. The group consists of some 40 scholars -- including Michael McFaul of Stanford University and a former U.S. ambassador to Russia. With reporting by AP and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-invasion- bakhmut-assaults-russia/32378224.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 Investigative Report Says Putin Made Decision To Invade Ukraine In March 2021 By RFE/RL's Russian Service April 25, 2023 An investigative report by the Vyorstka online newspaper says Russian President Vladimir Putin made the decision to invade Ukraine in early March 2021. According to the report, which is based on interviews with sources close to the Russian leadership, Putin made the decision to invade Ukraine after Ukrainian authorities confiscated assets and media outlets controlled by Russia-friendly Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk in February 2021. The preparations for the invasion, launched in late February 2022, took a year with Putin's close associate, billionaire Yury Kovalchuk, the main supporter of the idea, the report quotes the sources as saying. According to Vyorstka, Kovalchuk persuaded Putin that it was the right time to launch the invasion as the European Union was facing internal problems and disagreements on a number of issues. A source told Vyorstka that initially Putin planned to openly threaten Ukraine with aggression in his controversial article On The Historical Unity Of Russians And Ukrainians, which was published in July 2021. However, the threat was taken out of the text at the last moment. The report quoted a source as saying that a top Russian official said during private conversations on the sidelines of an economic gathering at the Valdai Discussion Club in October 2021 that Russia planned forcibly change the government in Ukraine. Another source said that, in December 2021, Russia's top officials discussed how Ukraine will be shared between major Russian corporations. The report quotes a person whom Vyorstka called "Putin's old friend" as saying that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu supported Putin's plan as he was sure that the military operation would be quick, in a manner similar to the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea in 2014. A source in Putin's administration told Vyorstka that Putin planned to take over Ukraine quickly and did not expect it to last long. That, however, has been proven wrong with Ukraine putting up staunch resistance with the backing of NATO and many of its Western allies. A former Kremlin official told the website that almost everyone in Russia's political and military elite is against the war in Ukraine. Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. According to the United Nations, as of mid-April at least 8,500 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and more than 14,000 civilians wounded as a result of the war. Accurate numbers of military casualties are not available, but most analysts say both sides have lost thousands of soldiers in the fighting. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-putin-lanned-ukraine- invasion-march-2021-vyorstka/32379171.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 One in 7 Frenchmen Reportedly Fighting in Ukraine Have Died Sputnik News 20230425 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ten of the 70 Frenchmen fighting in the Ukrainian foreign legion have died since the start of the conflict and the flow of fresh blood is drying out, survivors told French newspaper. The French daily spoke to three men who have fought alongside Ukrainian ground forces. It said the numbers could not be independently verified. The fighter identified as Pierre estimated that only a third of foreign fighters had military training before coming to Ukraine. Many joined the fray in search of "adventure and adrenaline." "It's a lifestyle they look for, an unconventional one. But not just in any country. Ukraine seems like an obvious cause," Pierre said. The French are a minority, the man admitted, adding this made him feel disappointed. He said the conflict could draw out. Fewer fighters have reportedly been going to Ukraine in recent months, despite Ukraine's preparations for a much-touted spring offensive, and some of those coming home face criminal investigation. Many European countries have a ban on foreign fighting in place. France views cases of its nationals who are foreign fighters on a case-by-case basis. Two Frenchmen have been arrested after returning to France this month on suspicion of involvement in extremism. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Every manifestation of Russian terror is an additional argument that everything should end in the Tribunal - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 25 April 2023 - 22:23 Ukrainians! All our partners in the world! Throughout the day today, the rubble in the city of Kupyansk, Kharkiv region, was being cleared after a Russian attack with S-300 missiles. Attack on an ordinary civilian neighborhood. The terrorists targeted the local history museum and nearby houses. Russia killed two women with this strike. My condolences to the families and friends of the victims... Ten people were wounded, they are being provided with the necessary assistance. In total, more than 60 museums and galleries in different regions of our country have been destroyed or damaged by the occupier. Today, a church was destroyed by Russian aircraft in the Kherson region. In the village of Kizomys, Bilozerka community. An Orthodox church... By a guided bomb. That is, the Russian military knew what they were destroying. This church became one of hundreds of churches and prayer houses destroyed by Russian strikes. Crimea... Today the occupiers broke into the house of Abdureshyt Dzhepparov. He is one of the representatives of the Crimean Tatar national movement, a human rights activist, a citizen of Ukraine. It is unknown where he is now and what his condition is. This is another example of Russian repression against the indigenous people of Crimea, against all our people. There have been thousands and thousands of such examples since the beginning of aggression both in Crimea and in our other regions occupied by Russia. No one can feel safe anywhere unless the aggressor is defeated. This is what every day in Ukraine proves - everything that the Russian troops and special services of the occupier are doing on our land against our people. And this is what they dream of bringing to the lands of other nations. The whole world knows this. The world also knows that Russia can be stopped. This is a common interest. Stopped by the might of our warriors on the frontline. By our weapons, both Ukrainian and those we receive from our partners. By the power of law, that is, sanctions that need to be constantly enhanced, and by our joint work for justice. Every manifestation of Russian terror, every day of aggression is an additional argument that all this must end in the Tribunal - in a new Nuremberg against ruscism, against those who destroy lives and people, who use missiles against museums and guided bombs against churches. Russia must lose. The world cannot have any other goal. For anything else is a defeat of life, a defeat of law, a defeat of the world itself. Today, our international sanctions group, a group of experts headed by Andriy Yermak and Michael McFaul, presented a document on strengthening sanctions against Russia. The first such sanctions plan was implemented by more than 70%. So now we have presented the areas in which sanctions pressure can be further enhanced and ways to ensure the world greater stability through the complete exclusion of all destructive Russian actors, all those who work for war, from global relations. This document on sanctions will be on the desks of all the key leaders of the world - political, public, and business leaders. Sanctions against the Russian oil and gas sector, against the nuclear industry, against absolutely anyone who helps Russia circumvent the restrictions already in place. This is a necessary self-defense of the international legal order. Today, I held a regular meeting of the Staff. Commanders, Commander-in-Chief, intelligence, Ministry of Defense. There were reports on the current situation at the front, on our ability to move actively, and the manning of new units. Today we also talked about Ramstein and further communication with our partners. I also held a meeting on Ukraine's economic recovery. Shmyhal, Svyrydenko, Shurma, Kubrakov, Fedorov are our recovery team. They presented the economic strategy for today and for the postwar period. It is already clear that our victory will result in Ukraine's ability to be a real security provider for all our partners, for everyone in the world who values a rules-based international order. The new security standards that we will implement in our life: in our infrastructure, energy, logistics and communications, social and educational spheres, in our production - all this can be scaled up in other parts of the world. The same goes for Ukrainian defense systems, our weapons, and the experience of our people gained in confronting Russian terror. All this will work for global peace to ensure that no one in the world will ever repeat Russia's crimes. Glory to each of our warriors who are now in combat, at combat posts, on combat missions! Today I would like to celebrate the 80th airborne assault brigade. Well done, guys! Thank you for your resolve in destroying the occupier in Bakhmut! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President held a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief President of Ukraine 25 April 2023 - 14:31 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held another meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on Tuesday. The parties heard information about the operational situation on the battlefield, in particular in the most difficult directions of the front. Commanders of "Khortytsia", "Tavria", "North" and "Odesa" operational-strategic groups of troops reported on the course of hostilities in the areas of the front within their areas of responsibility. The Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate spoke about the likely actions of the enemy in the near future. The participants of the meeting analyzed the state of providing the defense units of Ukraine with ammunition and weaponry. In addition, consideration of the issue of staffing and military equipment provision for the newly created brigades was held. The participants of the meeting also summarized and reviewed the practical results of the regular meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense in the Ramstein format, which took place on April 21. The meeting was attended by: Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense Kyrylo Budanov, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhny, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov, commanders of groups of troops and operational directions. The meeting of the Staff was also joined by members of the government, heads of security and law enforcement agencies. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Head of the President's Office: Yermak-McFaul International Expert Group presents new action plan to enhance sanctions against Russia President of Ukraine 25 April 2023 - 12:14 On the instructions of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the International Working Group on Sanctions against Russia, chaired by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and Director of the Freeman-Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI), Ambassador Michael McFaul, presented a new action plan to further strengthen sanctions pressure on Russia. The Head of the President's Office told this during an online meeting with representatives of the expert and media community. Andriy Yermak explained: "The Action Plan to enhance sanctions against Russia, which the international expert group presented last year, became the basis for the introduction of important sanctions." "The documents of our group are now on the desks of all world leaders and all those involved in sanctions. I am proud that today the work of our group is the basis for more than 70% of the sanctions that have been implemented and are being implemented by the US, EU, UK and other countries," he said. Andriy Yermak emphasized that the group achieved an embargo on Russian oil and oil products, their price caps, full blocking sanctions against about 20 of the largest Russian banks, and Russia's deprivation of all rights in the FATF. In addition, an unprecedentedly wide list of dual-use goods was subject to trade restrictions, individual sanctions were imposed on thousands of individuals from various fields, and a coordination mechanism for the implementation of the G7 sanctions was created. "Almost everything from the first action plan has been implemented. I would like to thank all Ukrainians for this. Sanctions are a powerful weapon with which we are defending our country and thanks to which we will defeat the aggressor," he said. The Head of the President's Office said that the international working group had presented and published a new sanctions action plan - Action Plan 2.0. "We are looking forward to the powerful new sanctions packages envisaged by this plan. This is an extremely important document, and I thank everyone who participated in its development," said Andriy Yermak. He emphasized that the new plan should be communicated as soon as possible to world leaders and relevant organizations involved in the issue of sanctions. Ukraine expects the inclusion of Russian propagandists who support the aggression against Ukraine in the next sanctions packages. Andriy Yermak also emphasized the importance of imposing sanctions on Russian athletes, who are used by the aggressor country as a tool to propagandize its war. The Head of the Presidential Office explained that Ukraine continues to communicate with partner states, in particular with the countries of the Global South, on strengthening the sanctions regime against Russia. According to Andriy Yermak, the leaders of these countries are well aware of the situation in Ukraine, and therefore expectations regarding their resolve are quite high. Ambassador Michael McFaul emphasized that despite the significant amount of work done in the context of the sanctions, quite a few developments still need to be implemented. The experts focused on these areas in the process of preparing the updated plan. The areas of sanctions pressure proposed in the document are very specific. These are the most painful points of the Russian economy that should be pressed to reduce Russia's potential for military action. In particular, Mr. McFaul emphasized the importance of further sanctions against the Russian energy complex and defense industry, restrictions on the use of financial instruments, the issue of confiscation of the Central Bank of Russia's assets and their subsequent transfer to Ukraine, as well as other spheres reflected in the action plan. According to him, the sanctions regime needs to be enhanced, and the new document shows how sanctions can be implemented against the aggressor country. The full version of the Sanctions Action Plan 2.0 is available in the attachment. Working Group Paper #11. Action Plan 2.0. Strengthening Sanctions against the Russian Federation - pdf - 538.02 kb NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Andriy Yermak held a video meeting with UNICEF Executive Director on the situation with the deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia President of Ukraine 25 April 2023 - 09:02 Pursuant to the instruction of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak held a videoconference meeting with UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. The meeting was also attended by Ukrainian Parliament's Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, Advisor - President's Commissioner for Children's Rights and Children's Rehabilitation Daria Herasymchuk and Advisors to the Head of the Presidential Office Daria Zarivna and Oleksandr Bevz. The parties discussed ways to strengthen cooperation to stop the violation of the rights of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation, in particular their illegal deportation from the territory of Ukraine. "We expect UNICEF to play one of the most important roles in this cooperation, given the organization's extensive experience and respect of the international community," the Head of the Presidential Office said. Andriy Yermak emphasized that involvement of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors - famous and popular people - in highlighting the problem of Russia's violation of the rights of Ukrainian children will draw worldwide attention to this topic. The Head of the Office of the President emphasized that the problem of deportation of underage citizens of Ukraine by the aggressor state is extremely acute. According to officially confirmed data alone, 19391 Ukrainian children were illegally deported to the Russian Federation, Belarus or forcibly relocated to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. 470 children were killed or died, 949 children were wounded, and 406 are missing. "The aggressor state is not just taking children away, it is deliberately destroying their national identity: it is doing everything to make children forget the Ukrainian language, Ukrainian history, and their relatives," emphasized Andriy Yermak. For her part, Catherine Russell expressed concern about what is happening to Ukrainian children amid the aggressive war launched by Russia. According to her, the UNICEF team is doing everything possible to protect their rights. The parties agreed to continue active cooperation, in particular through the Ukrainian office of UNICEF. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Latest in Ukraine: Kyiv Says Russian Missile Hit Kupiansk Museum By VOA News April 25, 2023 Latest Developments The Ukrainian military said Russian forces unleashed more waves of assaults on Bakhmut over the past day, but neither side managed to make critical advances RFE/RL reported. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia is doing all it can to destroy Ukraine's history, culture and people. Estonian Prime Minister supports Ukraine's bid to join NATO, EU. Ukrainian officials said a Russian missile struck a museum in the city of Kupiasnk on Tuesday, killing at least two people and injuring 10 others. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia is doing all it can to destroy Ukraine's history, culture and people. "Killing Ukrainians with absolutely barbaric methods," Zelenskyy said after the Kupiansk attack. "We have no right to forget about it for a single second. We must and will respond!" Zelenskyy said those responsible for committing war crimes "will definitely be brought to justice and it will be merciless." Russian forces seized Kupiansk, an important rail hub in northeastern Ukraine, during the early part of the invasion it launched in Ukraine last year. Ukrainian forces took it back in September. Grain deal U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has proposed a "way forward" of the Black Sea Grain Initiative to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Guterres outlined his proposal in a letter to the Russian president on "the improvement, extension and expansion" of a grain deal that would allow the safe Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain, a U.N. spokesperson said on Monday after Guterres and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in New York. Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Monday that an agreement between Moscow and the United Nations on Russia's grain and fertilizer exports is not being fulfilled and there are "lots of details" to be discussed by Lavrov and Guterres. The Kremlin has indicated it will not allow the deal a brokered by the U.N. and Turkey last year a to continue beyond May 18 unless Russia's terms on its own grain and fertilizer exports are met. The European Union and Japan have pushed back against a U.S. proposal for G-7 countries to ban all exports to Russia, the Financial Times reported Monday. Lavrov did not answer questions on his way in or out of the 90-minute meeting with Guterres. "Don't shout at me," he told reporters. During the Security Council meeting Monday, Guterres said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is "causing massive suffering and devastation to Ukraine and its people" and contributing to "global economic dislocation triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic." "Tensions between major powers are at a historic high. So are the risks of conflict, through misadventure or miscalculation," he remarked. Sitting next to the U.N. chief, Lavrov warned the council that the world is now in a more dangerous situation than even during the Cold War. "As during the Cold War, we have reached the dangerous, possibly even more dangerous, threshold," Lavrov said during the session on "Maintenance of International Peace and Security" that he was chairing. Russia holds the monthly rotating presidency of the 15-member body for April. Some material in this report came from Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CLEVELAND, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parker Hannifin Corporation (NYSE: PH), the global leader in motion and control technologies, today announced that it will release its fiscal 2023 third quarter earnings before the market opens on Thursday, May 4, 2023, followed by a conference call at 11:00 a.m., Eastern time. During the call, the company will discuss fiscal 2023 third quarter results and respond to questions from institutional investors and security analysts. The conference call will be webcast simultaneously on Parker's investor information website at www.phstock.com with an accompanying slide presentation. The webcast will be archived on the site and available for replay later that day. Parker Hannifin is a Fortune 250 global leader in motion and control technologies. For more than a century the company has been enabling engineering breakthroughs that lead to a better tomorrow. Parker has increased its annual dividend per share paid to shareholders for 66 consecutive fiscal years, among the top five longest-running dividend-increase records in the S&P 500 index. Learn more at www.parker.com or @parkerhannifin. ### Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses LOS ANGELES, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE: CS) investors that a lawsuit filed on behalf of investors that purchased Credit Suisse securities (NYSE: CS) between March 10, 2022 and March 15, 2023, both dates inclusive (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. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants made false or misleading statements, or omitted important information during the Class Period. Specifically, it claims that: (1) despite Lehmann's statements in December 2022, the significant increase in customer outflows that Credit Suisse experienced in October 2022 continued; (2) Credit Suisse understated the impact of its recent losses and failures in risk and compliance on its liquidity and ability to keep client funds; (3) as a result, Credit Suisse exaggerated its financial position and prospects; and (4) consequently, the Company's public statements during the relevant times were significantly false and misleading. 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 Forde, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Australian open innovation ecosystem EarlyBirds is helping decision-makers in the public and private energy sectors understand the critical elements of the transition to green energy green electrons, green molecules, and green bits. Readers can find out more about EarlyBirds by heading over to earlybirds.io. While governments all over the world have time and time again expressed their desire to move away from traditional non-renewable energy sources, the challenges that prevent such a transition have been hard to overcome. Competing in the global economy is of prime importance and any policy changes that threaten a nation's ability to create and support industrial activity are met with fierce resistance. The transition to green energy is, essentially, a balancing act that requires switching over without sacrificing the progress that has already been made. These obstacles have also magnified the disparity between developing and advanced nations. Since the developed world mostly relies on service-based economies while developing countries have strong manufacturing sectors, many nations will not be inclined to meet green energy goals while disrupting their primary drivers of growth. Finally, precarious geopolitical situations, especially in regions where rare earth minerals are found, impede the ability to mine resources and establish the supply chains needed to fuel the green energy transition. EarlyBirds cofounder Kris Poria talks about how solutions can be found for these problems by saying, "We have several tools at our disposal, each at different levels of maturity and readiness for mass production. While the technologies are diverse, the elements at their core remain the same. Bolstering the technological understanding and the capability to scale up production for each of these core elements can help nations and private energy producers make the switch to green energy much more economical and seamless." The core elements that Kris is referring to include green electrons, green molecules, and green bits. Green electrons are the energy carriers that traverse the grid and can be stored for future use. Green molecules encompass the materials that act as fuel or are used to create batteries to accumulate energy from green electrons. Finally, green bits include the array of digital services that control and ensure the smooth operation of green energy infrastructure. EarlyBirds cofounder Jeff Penrose explains the impact that technological development on each of these elements can have on facilitating the green energy transition. Jeff says, "Moving to renewable sources for the production of green electrons can significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the global economy's reliance on crude oil. By investing in higher-density batteries using novel green molecules and creating a more robust grid that allows individuals to contribute energy, countries can involve their most passionate residents and hasten the transition. Finally, creating and tweaking digital technologies to support the advancements in green electrons and green molecules will help reduce costs, improve efficiency, and add resilience to these systems. If you believe you have an innovation that can help facilitate the green energy transition, you are welcome to sign up for the EarlyBirds platform as an Innovator at https://earlybirds.io/en/innovator." Open innovation ecosystem EarlyBirds is the ideal partner to assist both early adopters and innovators to understand and address the challenges associated with green electrons, molecules, and bits needed for a seamless green energy transition. EarlyBirds can help early adopters by breaking down the energy transition market into core themes across the topics of electricity, fuel, and the needed digitization. The unique and practical EarlyBirds innovation maps are created based on any one of these topics and then dynamically populated with data from its award-winning platform. EarlyBirds Explorer Program is designed for businesses that need innovation as a service to supplement existing innovation programs or to conduct innovation projects as required. The Challenger Program is designed to solve one business or technical challenge at a time and search for relevant innovators that meet the business, technical, commercial, and business risk requirements. The team at EarlyBirds is eager to talk to energy industry leaders and policymakers about their energy transition plans across any of the relevant areas. The open innovation ecosystem also invites those with the power and willingness to make a change to sign up for its platform as Early Adopters by visiting https://earlybirds.io/en/early_adopter. ### For more information about EarlyBirds, contact the company here: EarlyBirds Mr Kris Poria and Mr Jeff Penrose +61 401 287 060 support@earlybirds.io FORDE SUITE 10, LEVEL 1, 26 FRANCIS FORDE BOULEVARD, FORDE, ACT 2914 Chicago, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Cyclopentane Market size was USD 272 million in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 430 million by 2026, at a CAGR of 7.8% between 2021 and 2026, as per the recent study by MarketsandMarkets. Cyclopentane is used across various applications such as residential refrigerator, commercial refrigerator, insulated containers and sippers, insulating construction material, electrical & electronics, among others. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=147683634 Browse In-Depth TOC On Cyclopentane Market 84 - Market Data Tables 24 - Figures 121 - Pages List of Key Players in Cyclopentane Market: HCS Group (Germany) Jilin Beihua Fine Chemical Co., Ltd. (China) Dymatic Chemicals, Inc. (China) INEOS (UK) Liaoning Yufeng Chemical Co., Ltd. (China) Maruzen Petrochemical (Japan) SK Global Chemical Co., Ltd. (South Korea) Haldia Petrochemicals Limited (India) LG Chem (South Korea) Puyang Zhongwei Fine Chemical Co, Ltd. (China) Zeon Corporation (Japan) Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities in Cyclopentane Market: Driver: Global phase-out of HCFCs by 85% by late 2040s Opportunity: Increasing use of blowing agents in the construction, automotive, and appliance industries Challenge: Flammability of cyclopentane Key Findings of the Study: By function, blowing agent & refrigerant segment is expected to grow at a faster rate during the forecast period, in terms of volume. By region, North America is expected to grow at a faster rate during the forecast period, in terms of volume. Get Free Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=147683634 By function, blowing agent & refrigerant segment is expected to grow at a faster rate during the forecast period, in terms of volume The blowing agent & refrigerant segment is expected to grow at a faster rate during 2021 to 2026, in terms of volume. The demand for cyclopentane as a blowing agent is highly dependent on the economic growth of Asia Pacific. Increasing economic growth, followed by heavy investment in the consumer appliances industry, drive the demand for refrigerants in the region. By region, North America is expected to grow at a faster rate during the forecast period, in terms of volume North America is expected to grow at a faster rate during 2021 to 2026, in terms of volume. North America has been a leader in terms of product innovation and application development. This factor has significantly influenced the growth of blowing agents, including cyclopentane. The North American market, especially the US, has always been at the forefront in terms of launching new types of blowing agents. Recent Developments In February 2021, HCS Group and Gevo signed a strategic agreement in Germany to develop low-carbon renewable chemicals and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). In June 2019, INEOS signs agreement with Saudi Aramco and Total to build its first ever plants in the Middle East. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=147683634 Browse Adjacent Markets Specialty Chemicals Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: PARIS, FRANCE, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the celebration of this year's United Nations Chinese Language Day, Chinese plum liqueur brand Meijian was the only invited Chinese liquor brand to bring the charm of the Eastern culture and Chinese elegance to shine at the event. The celebration of United Nations Chinese Language Day was held on April 18 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France. It aims to showcase the charm of Chinese language and enhance the exchange and mutual learning between civilizations. The activities on the celebration mainly included a themed forum and reception, jointly organized by the Permanent Delegation of China to UNESCO, Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, Center for Language Education and Cooperation of the Minister of Education of China, and China Media Group Europe. Over 200 people from permanent delegations to UNESCO from various countries, the UNESCO Secretariat, universities in France and Europe participated in the themed forum. During the themed forum, Yang Jin, the permanent representative of China to UNESCO, delivered a speech in which he mentioned that the theme for this year's United Nations Chinese Language Day is "Chinese Language: Enhancing Cultural Exchange and Mutual Learning." This is highly compatible with the UNESCO's mission of preserving linguistic and cultural diversity, promoting mutual understanding and cultural exchange, and upholding sustainable world peace. Chen Jie, Vice Minister of Ministry of Education of China and Director of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, and Nicolas Idier, Mandarin Governor of France delivered speeches. At the reception, Qu Xing, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, and Tamara Siamashvili, Chairperson of the Executive Board of UNESCO, also delivered speeches at the reception respectively. On the reception, video clips celebrating Chinese Language Day were played, with other live performance including calligraphy shows, tea art performances, and singing of Chinese songs. During the event at UNESCO headquarters, the unique Eastern flavor of Meijian green plum liqueur won unceasing praise from foreign guests, just like the beautiful and profound Chinese language. The extensive Chinese culture is of long-standing because it takes Chinese language as the carrier. Likewise, the Chinese taste emphasizing soothing and refreshing of minds and the harmony of five flavors, is perfectly presented to the world in an elegant manner through Meijian today. Liquor culture is expressed in writings, it is a special moment for Chinese plum liqueur, and also a shared moment between Chinese culture and the world. Liquor culture is expressed in writings: Let the Eastern romance shine Chinese is the most spoken language in the world, and also one of the six official languages of the United Nations. As the only pictograph widely used in the world, Chinese, with its rich information and beautiful writing style, bears profound cultural heritage and connotation, and is attracting more and more people from the world to learn and use it. At the celebration, the Chinese culture was displayed brilliantly in various ways. Zhou Bin, calligraphy teacher of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Director of the Institute of International Communication of Chinese Calligraphy Culture, wrote and showed the beauty of Chinese characters, bringing the guests an immersive experience of Chinese calligraphy art. Tea art performances, instrumental performances, songs and other performances full of Chinese elements led guests to endless aftertastes. Moreover, Meijian green plum liqueur attracted guests from different countries to stop and have a good taste. At its appearance at UNESCO headquarters, Meijian brought many products with the most native Chinese flavor, such as green tangerine plum liqueur, Dahongpao tea plum liqueur and 10-year-old chenpi (dried tangerine peel) plum liqueur. The rich aroma of plum liqueur stirred the taste buds, showing the ritual sense of Eastern life aesthetics in fine sipping and tasting. The guests were very surprised after tasting Meijian green plum liqueur. "Unlike common spirits such as whisky, brandy, vodka and Chinese baijiu, Meijian is refreshing and soothing with its unique flavor. You can also smell the fresh and fruity aroma. It tastes better with ice." Meijian Green Plum Liqueur: Made in the East, Elegance to the World As the representative of Chinese plum liqueur brand, this is not the first time that Meijian has surprised the world. Also in France in June 2022, Meijian appeared in the Louvre "LES JEUX ARTISTIQUES" as the only invited Chinese liquor brand. In September, at the Moon Festival held by the Paris Government, Meijian was regarded as the "folk ambassador" of the two cuisine kingdoms of China and France, and entered the French public's field of vision. In December, Meijian appeared at the Telethon Dinner in Paris and joined with French cuisine, wining unanimous praise from nearly a hundred of cordon bleu chefs. Not only in France, since its listing in 2019, Meijian has set off a "Chinese Plum Liqueur Hit" in the world more than 20 countries and regions including Germany, France, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore. It has also emerged in many international competitions and won more than ten international awards. Behind its elegance that attracting the world, there's the Chinese cultural gene and Eastern aesthetic code conveyed by Meijian. The taste of Meijian originates from a native Chinese fruit green plum and the brewing technology of light-aroma sorghum liquor that enjoys a long history. Adheres to the ingenious idea of "combination of good time, fine weather, quality materials and skilled craftsmen", Meijian organically combines Eastern customs with traditional culture, and brews the Chinese flavor of plum aroma. "Only what is national is international". In many Westerners' opinion, Meijian contains a unique Eastern romance, accurately translating and gracefully presenting the beautiful images of the East viewed by Westerners, from which people could perceive the charm of Chinese traditional culture. Jose Luis Martinez, a member of the Permanent Delegation of Mexico to UNESCO, appraised of Meijian in an interview: "I think Meijian green plum liqueur is unique. Its taste is distinctive; it tastes great and soft. My favorite is Dahongpao tea plum liqueur. I believe that Meijian green plum liqueur will definitely be very popular if sold in high-end food exclusive stores in France." In fact, liquor, like food, has always been the common language of different nationalities all over the world since ancient times. Through good wines and liqueurs, people from different regions with different cultural traditions build a bridge of taste, which helps to understand and perceive each other's cultural customs. More importantly, with its taste of sweet and sour and strong universality and inclusiveness, Meijian not only goes well with all Chinese cuisines, but also matches with various delicacies in the world. Even the most discerning chefs of French cuisine admitted that the combination of Meijian and French cuisine can present rich taste layers and multiple charms. Meijian can be used as a good accompaniment for main courses and desserts, as well as aperitif and after-dinner drink. Local cultures and lifestyles blend with each other in the collision of eastern liqueur and western cuisine. Like Chinese language and Chinese cuisine, Chinese plum liqueur represented by Meijian is also playing an active role as "presenter of cultural exchange". The Knot of Friendship from the East Meijian has started the research on the origin and flavor experiment of Chinese green plum liqueur as early as 2014. To restore the flavor and taste of Chinese plum liqueur to the greatest extent, Meijian has established four green plum bases and studied more than 100 varieties of native green plum. After more than 1700 flavor tests, it finally selected 10 "optimal plum varieties" that are most suitable for brewing plum liqueur. From looking for suitable green plum varieties for flavor test, to the advent of products, and then to becoming a representative of Chinese plum liqueur, Meijian has been prepared for many years. At present, Meijian has a total of 11 products of Classic series, Eastern Plum Fragrance series, Eastern Terroir series and Eastern Rare series. These products bring rich taste to consumers while significantly expand the boundary of Chinese plum liqueur flavor. In 2022, Meijian became the first brand with more than 1 billion RMB revenue in Chinese new liquors. In accordance with industry insiders' analysis, the Chinese plum liqueur represented by Meijian has huge potential and vast space in the market, domestically but also internationally. Therefore, Meijian has announced its strategic goal this year - Continue to lead the industry with greater difference with others and win the battle of becoming a world-class brand. With its frequent appearances on the world stage, Meijian is gaining greater international recognition. It is not only beginning make an impact in mainstream Western cultures, but also gradually entering the mainstream liquor consumption market in Europe and America. It's to tell that Meijian is becoming a world-class brand of green plum liqueur with unique Chinese mark. It is understood that Meijian's vision is to establish the brand of Chinese plum liqueur. Just like Chinese porcelains and Chinese silk, Chinese plum liqueur is also worthy of productization, branding and even globalized operation. Looking back at the splendid history of liquor, attempts and innovations of many liquor brands in the fields of wine, brandy, whisky, etc., have created world-famous liquors that people are familiar with. "Star of tomorrow" will also breed at today's new consumption era under the tide of globalization. In the east of the world, there are always great things worth spreading all over the world. As one of the oldest, richest and most beautiful languages in the world, Chinese language has set off a "Chinese fever" across the world, and become a beautiful representative of Chinese traditional culture to the world. Similarly, Meijian, a representative of plum liqueur brewed in China with Eastern flavor, is also blending into the global dinner liquors, becoming a great product to show the charm of Chinese culture to the world. Media Contact Company: Meijian Email: jiangyuning@ijovo.com Website: https://ijovo.com/ SOURCE: Meijian TORONTO, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alkaline Fuel Cell Power Corp. (NEO: PWWR) (OTCQB:ALKFF) (Frankfurt: 77R, WKN: A3CTYF) (PWWR or the Company), a diversified investment platform developing affordable, renewable, and reliable energy assets and cleantech, is pleased to announce that the Company has appointed J. Michael Sullivan as a consultant of the Company (the Consultant). I am very pleased to add Mike Sullivan as a Strategic Consultant to the Company. I expect his experience in structured financial vehicles, including flow through offerings for cleantech and hydrogen-based opportunities will be a tremendous asset to PWWR, stated Frank Carnevale, CEO of PWWR. In connection with the appointment of the Consultant to the Company, the Company granted an aggregate of 600,000 restricted share unit (each, a RSU) to the Consultant, pursuant to the terms of a consulting agreement entered into between the Company and the Consultant (the Consulting Agreement). The RSUs will vest in accordance with the terms of the Consulting Agreement and in accordance with the Companys 2021 RSU Plan. Upon vesting, each RSU will entitle the holder thereof to receive one common share in the capital of the Company. ABOUT MR. SULLIVAN Mr. Sullivan is an energy sector executive with over 35 years in energy infrastructure project and corporate finance related businesses. He has experience as CEO and/or CFO in resource extraction, energy processing and renewable energy sectors. Mr. Sullivan has been responsible for over $3 billion capital investment in infrastructure projects. Specifically, Mr. Sullivan has extensive experience in structured financing vehicles including flow-through share offerings in clean technologies and hydrogen-based opportunities. Mr. Sullivan graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance and Economics. Mr. Sullivan holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation and attended the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto executive programs in advanced financial management and structuring. ABOUT ALKALINE FUEL CELL POWER CORP. (NEO: PWWR) PWWR is a diversified investment platform developing affordable, renewable, and reliable energy assets and cleantech. We bring Power to the People today, combining a stable revenue stream with a future- forward vision to commercialize our advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology to meet the massive global market need, and ultimately generate compelling returns for investors. PWWR is well positioned to deliver Power to the People in the global energy transition while offering a diversified cleantech growth platform for investors. Further information is available on the Company website at https://www.fuelcellpower.com/, and the Company encourages investors and other interested stakeholders to follow it on: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Common shares are listed for trading on the NEO under the symbol PWWR, the OTC Venture Exchange OTCQB under the symbol ALKFF and on the Frankfurt Exchange under symbol 77R and WKN A3CTYF. For further information, please contact: Frank Carnevale Chief Executive Officer +1 (647) 531-8264 fcarnevale@fuelcellpower.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. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, believes or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might, occur or achieve. Forward-looking statements in this news release may include, but are not limited to, the issuance of the RSUs, the appointment of Mr. Sullivan as Consultant and expectations relating thereto, and statements with respect to the Companys technology, intellectual property, business plan, objectives and strategy. 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 NEO EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE NEO EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Dublin, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Autonomous Forklift Market by Tonnage (<5, 5-10, >10), Navigation (Laser, Vision, Optical Tape, Magnetic, SLAM, Inductive Guidance, Others), Sales Channel, Application, End-use Industry, Forklift Type, Propulsion and Region - Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The autonomous forklift market is projected to grow from USD 4.6 billion in 2023 to USD 8.8 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 13.8% from 2023 to 2028. Growth in end-use industries and the adoption of automated material handling systems to improve material handling and logistics in Asia-pacific are projected to lead the autonomous forklift market. The widening gap between supply and demand is driving up real estate prices in many developed nations. In Europe, the warehouse land is almost exhausted, but demand is still growing. Maximizing space utilization in other developed nations in North America and Asia Pacific is important. This has become essential considering the rising population and consumer demand. Using an autonomous forklift helps maximize space utilization while cutting labor costs. Growth of e-commerce, Logistics, and Warehousing Sector to trigger the adoption for autonomous forklifts. Low cost of capital, fast return on investment (ROI), and a high degree of possibility of customization encourage manufacturing companies to invest more in factory automation and automated warehouses. Increasing demand for business-to-consumer(B2C), and business-to-business (B2B) products, due to which the e-commerce industry has resulted in tight deadlines and the need to procure and deliver a huge number of goods without errors. Thus, e-commerce companies have increased the adoption of automation in their facilities. The advantages of autonomous forklifts over conventional forklifts, such as reduced production time, fewer human errors, increased safety, high-volume production, and increased accuracy and repeatability, have spurred the adoption in e-commerce and other logistics hubs. Warehouse automation allows for increased throughput, better resource utilization, reduced labor, less operational costs, decreased handling and storage costs, less human error, increased productivity, and efficiency. Hence, the warehouse automation market is growing. The Indoor Type segment of autonomous forklift is expected to hold a dominant share throughout the forecast period as they are fast improving their ability to operate without human interventions. The indoor segment is expected to hold a significant market share during the forecast period due to its application in the fast-moving goods industry. Indoor autonomous forklifts are swift and precise in order picking and storage, allowing their increased utilization in warehousing operations. They have enabled speedy response to the customization of orders, which was time-consuming with traditional forklifts. E-commerce sales in the Asia Pacific region are increasing rapidly due to the growth of online shoppers driven by the rising adoption of the internet and smartphones. Increased growth of e-commerce in Asia Pacific resulted in the rising adoption of automated material handling equipment like autonomous forklifts by big e-commerce companies. The big e-commerce companies in the Asia Pacific region prefer indoor autonomous forklifts to transport a pallet of 1.5 to 3 tons within the warehouse. Further, below 5-ton autonomous forklifts for indoor applications are the most efficient, compact material handling equipment in warehouses with a racking height of 10 meters or lower. Further, with increasing demand for faster and more efficient order fulfillment, as well as the need to reduce labor costs and improve warehouse safety, the majority of e-commerce companies forming supply agreements with forklift manufacturers for autonomous forklifts. For instance, in 2019, Amazon entered a 7-year agreement with French company Baylo to supply autonomous forklifts at its facility centers. Asia-Pacific is estimated to lead the autonomous forklift market in 2022. Currently, Asia-pacific contributes a share of approximately >45% to the overall market. It is the largest market since high population growth and economic development with increasing domestic consumption have intensified the need for efficient logistics and warehousing. The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to lead the autonomous forklift market during the forecast period due to an increase in the adoption of automation technology for increased work efficiency. Further, the growth of autonomous forklifts in the region can be attributed to growing exports of FMCG, automotive, food & beverages, and pharmaceutical industries. Rising consumption and product differentiation of consumer goods in China, South Korea, and India contribute to the growing use of automated intralogistics systems in the local e-commerce industry. China and India have robust export-oriented manufacturing industry and growing consumerism, which require them to consider automation to improve efficiency. A shortage of labor and space drives the autonomous forklift market in Japan. South Korea's growing electronics and e-commerce industry has been investing in automated material handling systems. The region is expected to hold a dominant share in the autonomous forklift market for the forecast period. Market Dynamics Drivers Increased Demand for Automated Warehouses and Material Handling Equipment Growth in E-Commerce, Logistics, and Warehousing Sectors Restraints High Integration and Switching Costs Due to AI and WMS Opportunities Development of IoT-Integrated Autonomous Forklifts and 5G Connectivity Challenges Technical Challenges Related to Failure of Sensing Elements Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 313 Forecast Period 2023 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $4.6 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $8.8 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 13.8% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 5 Market Overview 6 Autonomous Forklift Market, by Navigation Technology 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Laser Guidance 6.2.1 Directs Speed, Accuracy, Product Differentiation, and Complexities in Operations 6.3 Magnetic Guidance 6.3.1 Ease of Installation and Low Operation Cost 6.4 Inductive Guidance 6.4.1 Growing Application in Outdoor Environments 6.5 Optical Tape Guidance 6.5.1 Growing Applications in Non-Industrial Settings 6.6 Vision Guidance 6.6.1 Real-Time Path Optimization and Obstacle Detection 6.7 Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (Slam) 6.7.1 Easy Data Collection Approach and Accurate Object Detection 6.8 Other Navigation Technologies 7 Autonomous Forklift Market, by Application 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Manufacturing 7.2.1 Benefits Like Labor Cost Saving, Smaller Downtime, and Reduced Accidents 7.3 Warehousing 7.3.1 Used to Transport Goods 7.4 Material Handling 7.4.1 Increase in Data-Driven Automated Technology 7.5 Logistics and Freight 7.5.1 Reduction in Delivery Time with Forklifts 7.6 Other Applications 8 Autonomous Forklift Market, by Tonnage Capacity 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Below 5 Tons 8.2.1 Easy Operational Flexibility in Compact Warehouses 8.3 5-10 Tons 8.3.1 Used for Heavy-Duty Operations 8.4 Above 10 Tons 8.4.1 Utilized for Outdoor Activities 9 Autonomous Forklift Market, by End-use Industry 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Third-Party Logistics (3Pl) 9.2.1 Need for Safe and Speedy Storage 9.3 Food and Beverages 9.3.1 Need to Reduce Operational Costs from Pre-Production to Distribution 9.4 Automotive 9.4.1 Need for Efficient Inventory Management 9.5 Paper and Pulp 9.5.1 Forklifts Encourage Optimum Efficiency 9.6 Metals and Heavy Machinery 9.6.1 Demand for Efficient and Safe Operations 9.7 E-Commerce 9.7.1 Need to Optimize Warehousing Operations 9.8 Aviation 9.8.1 Need to Optimize Manufacturing Process 9.9 Semiconductors and Electronics 9.9.1 Requirement of Energy-Saving Measures 9.10 Chemicals 9.10.1 Essential Workplace Safety and Management of Workflow 9.11 Healthcare 9.11.1 Demand for Automated Warehousing Operations 9.12 Other End-use Industries 10 Autonomous Forklift Market for Paper and Pulp Industry, by Tonnage Capacity 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Below 5 Tons 10.2.1 Provides Better Mobility Solutions at Intricate Warehouses 10.3 Below 5 Tons 10.3.1 Growing Application in Material Handling for Paper and Pulp Industry 10.4 Above 10 Tons 10.4.1 Enables Damage-Free Movement of Heavy Paper Rolls 11 Autonomous Forklift Market, by Fuel Source 11.1 Introduction 11.1.1 Industry Insights 11.2 Electric 11.2.1 Low Maintenance Cost and Lesser Emissions 11.3 Internal Combustion Engine (Ice) 11.3.1 Increased Use in Heavy-Duty Operations 11.4 Alternate Fuels 11.4.1 Provide High Power Output and Easier Refueling 12 Autonomous Forklift Market, by Type 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Indoor 12.2.1 Increased Adoption in E-Commerce Industry 12.3 Outdoor 12.3.1 Enables Automation in Logistics and Freight Sector 13 Autonomous Forklift Market, by Forklift Type 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Pallet Jacks 13.2.1 Preferred for Long-Term Usage 13.3 Pallet Stackers 13.3.1 Increases Productivity and Lowers Manual Labor 14 Autonomous Forklift Market, by Sales Channel 14.1 Introduction 14.2 In-House Purchase 14.2.1 Ideal Option for Long-Term Usage 14.3 Leasing 14.3.1 Offers Flexibility and Tax Advantages 15 Autonomous Forklift Market, by Region 16 Competitive Landscape 17 Company Profiles 18 Recommendations 19 Appendix Companies Mentioned Agilox Services GmbH Agve Ab Alta Material Handling Anhui Heli Co. Ltd. Balyo SA Bastian Solutions Clark Material Handling Company Crown Equipment Corporation E80 Group Spa Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. Hyundai Construction Equipment Co. Ltd. Jungheinrich AG Kion Group AG Manitou Group Mitsubishi Logisnext Co. Ltd. Movigo Robotics Bv Multiway Robotics (Shenzhen) Company Oceaneering International, Inc. Otto Motors Scott Automation Seegrid Corporation Shenzhen Wellwit Robotics Co. Ltd. Swisslog AG Toyota Industries Corporation Vecna Robotics For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fffhz1 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 English French WATERLOO, Ontario, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The need to limit flood risk in Canada is urgent, with approximately 1.5 million homes, representing 10 per cent of the Canadian residential housing market, in high-risk zones where they are ineligible for flood insurance. A new CSA Group report, authored by the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation (University of Waterloo), provides practical guidance for federal, provincial, local, and Indigenous governments, to tackle river flooding. Nature can offer cost-effective solutions to limit flood risk for example, communities can be protected downstream by restoring wetlands and using floodplains to soak up, store and slow down water upstream. Historically, flood management techniques largely relied on built infrastructure solutions, such as flood walls, dikes and river channel modifications, to control natural processes. However, as large-scale flooding in British Columbia demonstrated in 2021, these structures can have negative impacts on river systems and can fail, leaving towns and homeowners underwater. In contrast, nature-based flood solutions provide benefits for people and nature and are often self-maintaining. The CSA Group report, Managing Flood and Erosion at the Watershed-Scale defines how governments can support the use of nature-based solutions (NbS) to reduce flood risk. The report reviews watershed management practices within provinces, together with trends in federal funding for flood risk projects. It also identifies existing best practices, and opportunities for improvement in how nature-based flood solutions are applied at the watershed-scale. CSA Group is excited to publish this latest report as we continue focused efforts to address urgent flood risks across the country with new national standards and research says Michael Leering, Director, Environmental and Business Excellence, CSA Group. This research supports the addition of new nature-based solutions standards that enhance an already robust set of existing standards to mitigate flood risk. We are encouraged at the growing momentum at regional levels to adopt new flood resilient standards, and this research is the latest tool to support all levels of government. The report presents three key recommendations: Develop consistent provincial approaches to integrated watershed management. Canada has best practices for watershed management that support nature-based solutions in some provinces. However, approaches vary significantly between provinces. Ontario is the only province where watershed-scale organizations (Conservation Authorities) have a legal mandate that combines river flooding, erosion, and nature-based conservation. This can serve to inform other provinces. Direct funding for river flood management to high-risk watersheds. Currently, funding is often directed to municipal governments that may not have the jurisdiction to implement nature-based solutions at the scale of the watershed. Going forward, projects funded at a local scale should be part of a watershed flood strategy. Routinely consider nature-based solutions for river flood and erosion management alongside built infrastructure. Nature-based solutions represent a credible choice and should be considered as a viable alternative to built solutions for providing long-term benefits to people and nature. The report also identifies how future standards could support implementation of the three recommendations, including to support consistent approaches to watershed management planning, selection of flood risk options and the use of nature-based solutions that would enhance and support existing standards to mitigate flood risk. We are seeing increased awareness of the need to work with, rather than against nature, in tackling flooding in Canada, says Joanna Eyquem, lead author of the new report and Managing Director, Climate Resilient Infrastructure, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation. However, to deliver these flood solutions, we need to work at the scale of natural systems, which in the case of rivers is the watershed. The release of the report is timely as the Government of Canada looks to define the role of the new Canada Water Agency and finalize the National Adaptation Strategy. Establishment of a watershed approach to tackle river flooding could be a key role for the new agency, and a cost-effective complement to the regional coastal resilience approach that was announced with the strategy in November 2022. With flood risk on the rise, and atmospheric rivers flowing stronger, the time to implement nature-based flood risk solutions is now. Visit CSA Groups website to download Managing Flood and Erosion at the Watershed-Scale. About CSA Group: CSA Group is a global organization dedicated to safety, social good and sustainability. We are a leader in North American standards development and in product testing, inspection and certification around the world. Our mandate is to hold the future to a higher standard. About Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation: The Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation is an applied research centre at the University of Waterloo. The Centre was founded in 2015 with a gift from Intact Financial Corporation, Canadas largest property and casualty insurer, and helps homeowners, communities, and businesses to reduce risks associated with climate change and extreme weather events. Contact details: Kimberly Gibson Manager, Public Relations CSA Group 416 388 2371 | kimberly.gibson@csagroup.org Ryon Jones Media relations manager University of Waterloo 226-339-0894 | @uwaterloonews| uwaterloo.ca/news Joanna Eyquem Managing Director, Climate Resilient Infrastructure, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation University of Waterloo 514-268-0873 | joanna.eyquem@uwaterloo.ca Dublin, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Online Taxi Services Global Market Report 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global online taxi services market will grow from $34.82 billion in 2022 to $38.54 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7%. The online taxi services market is expected to grow to $56.37 billion in 2027 at a CAGR of 10.0%. Asia Pacific was the largest region in the online taxi services market in 2022. Western Europe was the second largest region in the online taxi services market. The regions covered in the online taxi services market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa. Rising internet penetration drives the demand for the online taxi service market. The availability of high-speed internet connectivity and the convenience associated with using online services is shifting consumer preferences towards online taxi services. According to the Internet World Stats, the number of internet users increased from 4,208 million to 4,833 million in June 2020. Furthermore, internet users in India are expected to grow from 636.73 million in 2019 to 974.86 million by the end of 2025. A growing number of internet users with smartphones now have taxi services at their fingertips that give the drivers' details and location and benefit the user, thereby fueling the demand for the online taxi services market. The online taxi services market covered in this report is segmented by service type into ride-hailing and ride-sharing. Ride-sharing refers to an arrangement or instance involving the sharing of rides in a motor vehicle with other people, mainly commuters. The different types of vehicles include motorcycles and cars and involve various payment modes such as online and cash. The several types of rides include individual, carpool/share. The launch of self-driving taxi services is gaining popularity in the online taxi service market. Major players operating in the industry are continuously focused on introducing innovations and technologies to better serve the needs of consumers. For instance, in August 2020, AutoX, an autonomous driving start-up, announced the public launch of Robo-taxi services in China. In August 2022, Ola Cabs, an India-based online taxi and car booking company, announced a merger agreement with Uber Technologies, Inc. for an undisclosed amount. Through this merger, both companies joined forces to improve taxi rentals, ride services, and customer experiences to enhance business outcomes. Uber Technologies, Inc. is a mobility as a service company based in the United States that pioneered food delivery, online taxi bookings, and hotel reservations. Stringent regulations imposed on online taxi service operations limit the growth of the online taxi service market. As a result of numerous reports of assault and molestation against online taxi services, governments around the world have imposed stringent regulations on their providers. These incidents call for a strong policy to secure customers. Governments have imposed strict background checks on Uber and Lyft drivers and mandated fingerprint background checks to avoid such incidents any further. Other regulations imposed by governments to comply with the service providers include India's Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 and Information Technology Act, 2000; Malaysia's Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act 1987 (Act 334) ('CVLBA 1987') and the Land Public Transport Act 2010 ('LPTA 2010')(Act 715). The laws under the act regulate both e-hailing operators and drivers. Moreover, e-hailing service providers are mandated to have an intermediation business licence to operate their business in Malaysia. Thus, the stringent rules and regulations imposed on taxi services are restricting the growth of the online taxi services market during the forecast period. Scope Markets Covered 1) By Service Type: Ride-Hailing; Ride Sharing 2) By Vehicle Type: Motorcycles; Cars 3) By Payment Mode: Online; Cash 4) By Ride Type: Individual; Car Pool/ Share Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 175 Forecast Period 2023 - 2027 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $38.54 billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2027 $56.37 billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 10.0% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Online Taxi Services Market Characteristics 3. Online Taxi Services Market Trends And Strategies 4. Online Taxi Services Market - Macro Economic Scenario 5. Online Taxi Services Market Size And Growth 6. Online Taxi Services Market Segmentation 7. Online Taxi Services Market Regional And Country Analysis A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes ANI Technologies Private Limited Uber India Systems Private Limited Lyft Inc. Didi Chuxing GrabTaxi Holdings Pte Ltd. Carzonrent (India) Private Limited Mega Cabs Private Limited Meru Mobility Tech Private Limited Savaari Car Rentals Private Limited Go-Jek Kabbee Hailo Flywheel Curb Yellow Cab mytaxi Meru Mobility Tech Private Limited Savaari Car Rentals Private Limited Go-Jek Kabbee Hailo Flywheel Curb Yellow Cab mytaxi For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/vcvcwz 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 Resolutions passed by Vopaks Annual General Meeting Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 26 April 2023 The Annual General Meeting of Koninklijke Vopak N.V. (Royal Vopak) held on 26 April 2023 passed the following resolutions: Positive advisory vote implementation remuneration policy for the 2022 financial year. Adoption of the financial statements for the 2022 financial year. Approval of the proposed dividend. A dividend of EUR 1.30 per ordinary share with a nominal value of EUR 0.50 will be distributed wholly in cash on 5 May 2023. As from 28 April 2023, the shares of Vopak will be listed ex-dividend on Euronext Amsterdam. Discharge from liability of the Executive Board members conduct of the companys affairs for the 2022 financial year. Discharge from liability of the Supervisory Board members supervision exercised for the 2022 financial year. Re-appointment of Mrs. N. Giadrossi as a member of the Supervisory Board for a term of 4 years. Approval of the amended Remuneration policy for the Supervisory Board. Approval of the amended Remuneration policy for the Executive Board. Authorization of the Executive Board for a period of 18 months, up till and including 25 October 2024, to acquire, subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board, for valuable consideration, fully paid-up ordinary shares in Royal Vopak, on the stock exchange or otherwise, up to the maximum number that may be held by the company in accordance with the law and the Articles of Association in force at the date of acquisition. Appointment of Deloitte Accountants B.V. as the external auditor of Royal Vopak and their engagement to examine the companys financial statements for the 2024 financial year. This press release may contain inside information as meant in clause 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation. About Vopak Royal Vopak is the worlds leading independent tank storage company. We store vital products with care. Products for everyday life. The energy that allows people to cook, heat or cool their homes and for transportation. The chemicals that enable companies to manufacture millions of useful products. The edible oils to prepare food. We take pride in improving access to cleaner energy and feedstocks for a growing world population, ensuring safe, clean and efficient storage and handling of bulk liquid products and gases at strategic locations around the world. We are excited to help shape a sustainable future by developing infrastructure solutions for new vital products, focusing on zero- and low-carbon hydrogen, ammonia, CO2, long duration energy storage and sustainable feedstocks. We have a track record of over 400 years in navigating change and are continuously investing in innovation. On sustainability, we are ambitious and performance driven, with a balanced roadmap that reflects key topics that matter most to our stakeholders and where we can have a positive impact for people, planet and profit and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Vopak is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam and is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. For more information, please visit www.vopak.com For more information please contact: Vopak Press: Liesbeth Lans - Manager External Communication, e-mail: global.communication@vopak.com Vopak Analysts and Investors: Fatjona Topciu - Head of Investor Relations, e-mail: investor.relations@vopak.com Attachment TORONTO, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EV Technology Group Ltd. (the Company or EV Technology Group) (NEO: EVTG, OTCQB: EVTGF, DE: B96A) announces that its wholly owned subsidiary MOKE France SAS (MOKE France), and its strategic partner MOKE International Limited (MIL or MOKE International) have received 423 customer orders for the Electric MOKE the EV revival of the iconic classic vehicle brand. The MOKE has achieved its 423 orders primarily from direct-to-consumer sales, with most customer purchases occurring online at https://mokeinternational.com/ . MOKE orders in France require a deposit payment of 8,000 - 10,000, with balances to be paid upon vehicle delivery, while orders in the UK and Caribbean require deposits of 990. The Electric MOKE has a starting/base price from 29,150 in the United Kingdom excl. VAT, or 29,000 in France incl. VAT. In addition to our online direct-to-consumer sales, customers have been able to experience and order the MOKE in-person from the brand flagship Casa MOKE in Saint-Tropez, and at brand activations such as MOKEs appearance at Le Bon Marche, one of Paris most exclusive and historic retailers. The Electric MOKE, available to order from https://mokeinternational.com/ Wouter Witvoet, CEO of EV Technology Group said, It is a testament to the enduring brand equity of the MOKE that for every MOKE leaving Fablinks production facility there is a customer waiting for their car. It is exciting to see the popularity of this iconic brand only grow as we look to make the MOKE available in more destinations worldwide. Isobel Dando, CEO of MOKE International said, Our focus on marketing direct-to-consumers has allowed us to tell the story of the MOKE with engaging, authentic content and build lasting customer relationships. This milestone is just the beginning of the MOKE International teams growth journey. EV Technology Group EV Technology Group was founded in 2021 with the vision to electrify iconic brands and the mission to redefine the joy of motoring for the electric age. By acquiring iconic brands and bringing beloved motoring experiences to the electric age, EV Technology Group is driving the EV revolution forward. Backed by a diversified team of passionate entrepreneurs, engineers and driving enthusiasts, EV Technology Group creates value for its customers by owning the total customer experience acquiring and partnering with iconic brands with significant growth potential in unique markets, and controlling end-to-end capabilities. To learn more visit: https://evtgroup.com/ MOKE MOKE and the MOKE logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of MOKE International Limited (MOKE International) in the European Union and other territories. MOKE International, a company registered in England, is the only manufacturer of genuine MOKE vehicles worldwide. The mark was acquired from Casti S.p.A. and derives from the original 1964 British Motor Corporation registration. MOKE France is the official French licensee. For more information visit: https://mokeinternational.com EV Technology Group Wouter Witvoet CEO and Chairman of the Board wouter@evtgroup.com Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements including, but not limited to: the sales and deliveries of Electric MOKEs and the business and strategic plans of the Company. Often, but not always, these Forward-looking Statements can be identified by the use of words such as estimated, potential, open, future, assumed, projected, used, detailed, has been, gain, planned, reflecting, will, containing, remaining, to be, or statements that events, could or should occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-looking Statements, including those factors discussed under Risk Factors in the filing statement and the annual information form of the Company. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-looking Statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except where required by law. There can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. THE NEO STOCK EXCHANGE DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a7cef208-0391-4c4d-bb15-469aeae540b7 Dublin, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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 is expected to reach a value of $68.06 billion by 2028 from $32.85 billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 12.91% The global personal care electrical appliances market is highly fragmented, with several top vendors operating. However, the market is witnessing consolidation, albeit at a slow pace. The key personal care electrical appliances market players include Colgate-Palmolive Company, Procter & Gamble (P&G), Lion Corporation, Havells India, Helen of Troy, Spectrum Brands, Shiseido Company, Groupe SEB, Panasonic Group, and Koninklijke Philips. Further, over the past couple of years, the industry has witnessed the entry of many external players with new product innovation, quality, price, service, and technology to drive up their share in the market. Mergers and acquisitions are common within the industry as players look to expand and become more comprehensive in their offerings. This trend is witnessed among vendors in a landscape where new business models and focus on developing the portfolio of their establishments are expected to drive growth. The focus is heavily shifting toward rising demand among men for personal grooming and technological innovation in hair care appliances. 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. 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. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 309 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $32.85 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $68.06 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 12.9% Regions Covered Global Market Opportunities & Trends Rising Number of Working Women in Developing Countries Rising Demand Among Men for Personal Grooming Technological Innovations in Hair Care Appliances Market Growth Enablers High Disposable Income and Personal Expenditure in Developed Countries Growing E-Commerce & M-Commerce Industry Rapid Urbanization in Developing Countries Market Restraints Counterfeit Products Low Penetration Among Low- and Middle-Income Countries 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 For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/61qykb 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 ZAGREB, CROATIA , April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- People worldwide can now connect, compete and win prizes worth up to $100,000. The crypto community is eagerly looking at the opportunity to join and start earning rewards on this platform. The Whitelisting Announcement The AI GameToEarn team has recently announced the launch of their whitelisting process . The operation began on April 21st and will end on May 15th. The initiative will allow 2,000 participants to get whitelisted, with 1,800 spots being available for regular signups. The team will reserve 200 Guaranteed Whitelist slots for contributors, giveaways, and contest winners. The process begins by submitting a wallet to start the journey toward securing a whitelist spot. Users must complete as many quests as possible on the Zealy quest board to boost one's position on the leaderboard. As a reward for joining this event, those who get whitelisted can purchase two AI NFTs on the mint day. The AI GameToEarn team encourages everyone interested in this opportunity to join the experience. The founders invite everyone to participate in the quests, participate in giveaways and contests, and contribute to the project. A Blockchain Gaming Ecosystem Oriented to the Future Exordium's AI GameToEarn is an innovative gaming platform that combines the thrill of gaming with the rewards of earning cryptocurrency. It allows users to monetize their gaming skills and earn real money by playing games. The platform uses blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) to ensure a fair, transparent, and user-friendly gaming experience. The project offers users AI NFTs with earning multiplicators and bonuses to help them achieve more in their gameplay. Furthermore, users will receive a Beta Platform Coins (BPC) package when they register. The value of the package depends on the AI NFT purchased. BPC tokens let users buy in-game items. Alternatively, holders can hold onto them until they become Platform Coins (PC). PCs have monetary value, opening the possibility to exchange them for other coins or currencies. Players also have the option to earn yield in BPC from staking their AI NFTs. The platform has further divided its AI NFTs into five tiers according to their earn rate multiplication factor. Therefore, players can expect an increase in their earnings when they stake their tokens on the platform game. Additionally, each AI NFT comes with attributes that make them unique and offer users a truly personalized gaming experience. With this, Exordium's AI GameToEarn platform gives players an exciting and rewarding gaming experience securely backed by blockchain technology. About AI GameToEarn AI GameToEarn is a new project by Exordium, a highly experienced game development team with over ten years of experience. The platform strongly relies on AI, allowing users to hone their skills, avoid mistakes and make more money while gaming. AI GameToEarn offers both mobile and PC players a chance to have an enjoyable gaming experience in the web3 sector. With over fifteen simple casual games developed and 100+ prototypes created, Exordium is a popular name in the field. The company even reached over 20 million downloads for a single game. This impressive achievement proves their dedication and commitment to development, ensuring that the final product is of the highest quality. The $100,000 whitelist event allows users to join the AI GameToEarn platform and get their hands on these exclusive NFTs. It is possible to learn more about the event and sign up for it at the AI GameToEarn website . The social media pages listed below are a great way to stay up-to-date with the team's latest news. DALLAS, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa, the community management industrys largest company, is pleased to welcome industry veteran Maria Rust to its inside sales team. As an inside sales manager, Rust will work with local branches nationwide to help community partners maximize their relationships with Associa. This includes identifying the needs of potential clients in order to match them with effective solutions offered through the companys broad array of integrated services. At the same time, Rust will work closely with local Associa branch offices to help new clients seamlessly navigate the onboarding process. Rust joins Associas inside sales team with more than 35 years experience in all facets of the community management sector. She initially joined Associa Somerset Association Management in 2009 as a general manager. She also served as a business development manager and regional manager with the company prior to accepting her current role. Rust previously spent 12 years as a property manager with a leading national apartment firm. She has won multiple leadership awards throughout her career and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Bellevue University. Maria brings a tremendous amount of industry experience to her new role with the inside sales team, said Associa Vice President of Sales Leslie Baldwin, CMCA, AMS. She will make an immediate, positive impact on her team members and the communities they serve. About Associa With more than 225 branch offices across North America, Associa is building the future of community for nearly five million residents worldwide. Our 11,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise, and trailblazing innovation. For more than 43 years, Associa has brought positive impact and meaningful value to communities. To learn more, visit www.associaonline.com. Stay Connected Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associa Subscribe to the Blog: https://hub.associaonline.com/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/associa Join us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/associa Attachment Boston, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SVN International Corp. (SVN), a global commercial real estate brand, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jill Allen as Chair of its Property Management Product Council. Allen is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in development, brokerage, and property management. While working in the hospitality industry for almost two decades, she shifted her focus to real estate and development in 2010 when she joined a restaurant business in the hospitality sector. She currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at SVN | Second Story Real Estate Management in Chattanooga, TN. Previously, Allen held the role of Chief Operating Officer for an owner-operator-developer overseeing commercial properties. Jill is widely recognized for her exceptional client service and her ability to lead others with creativity and compassion to reach their full potential. Under her leadership, SVN | Second Story Real Estate Management has been recognized as a Co-Star Power Broker award recipient and increased revenues over 41% during the last 12 months. I'm honored to be appointed to this advisory role with SVN, and I look forward to contributing my expertise and insights to support the organization's goals. I'm thrilled to work alongside such a talented and dedicated team, and I'm confident together we can elevate our companies to new heights, said Jill. SVN Product Councils are strategic groups within SVN that focus on specific areas of commercial real estate, and they serve as a platform for industry leaders to share knowledge and collaborate on innovative solutions. As Chair of the Property Management Product Council, Jill will lead a strategic group within SVN that focuses on the specific needs of commercial real estate property management. Jill eagerly anticipates working together with other SVN offices to share knowledge and develop innovative solutions. A major focus for Jill is to establish an extensive resource library that will enable SVN property managers to access and exchange valuable materials, resources, and best practices. About SVN The SVN organization is a globally recognized commercial real estate entity united by a shared vision of creating value with clients, colleagues, and our communities. The SVN brand is comprised of over 2,000 Advisors and staff in more than 200 offices across the globe in six countries. Our brand pillars represent the transparency, innovation, and inclusivity that enables all our Advisors to collaborate with the entire real estate industry on behalf of our clients. SVNs unique Shared Value Network is just one of the many ways that SVN Advisors create amazing value with our clients, colleagues, and communities. For more information, visit www.svn.com. All SVN offices are independently owned and operated. To learn more about becoming an SVN commercial real estate business owner, visit http://www.svn.com/franchise/. Attachment MELVILLE, N.Y., April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- It started with a conversation with my dad over Christmas break about the family print business, centering around how to regroup and move forward post-COVID and plan for strategic growth, said Hunter Johnson, CEO, JPS Books + Logistics. No stranger to the print world, Hunter Johnson grew up working his teen years shipping books out of his dads unairconditioned warehouse, and later took on various roles intermittently during college breaks. However, after college, Hunter began his 15-year career in business consulting, working at companies including IBM, Deloitte Consulting and Sabre. It was in his role as a business consultant that the conversation took place. Shortly thereafter, Hunter conducted a six-week consultation for his familys print business and mapped out a vision and strategic path forward for the company to regroup from COVID and continue building on an already successful business. The consultation quickly morphed into his current role as CEO at JPS Books + Logistics. I am pleased to represent my familys third generation in the family print business and continue executing on the strategic vision to evolve and grow the company, Hunter said. Ive always loved finding ways to help companies thrive, but this, this was personal. This was my familys print business, started by my dad and grandparents in 1978, and at that time, operated by my dad and three of his five siblings, Hunter said. I was passionate about finding opportunities for optimization and growth. When asked about his strategic approach to finding those areas of opportunity, Hunter replied, First, determine what one thing you can best deliver to the world and then figure out how you can deliver it with excellence, better than anyone else, and better than you ever have before. It quickly became obvious to Hunter that the one thing the company did better than anyone else was helping education publishers and corporate training departments produce printed books and kits, deliver them fast and on time, and remove the burden of inventory management. Hunter commented, It was no surprise to me to find this was the companys sweet spot. Before establishing what was then called JPS Graphics, my grandpa was originally a public school teacher and lifelong learning has always been one of our core family values. Naturally, that value manifested to be at the center of the business for the past four decades. Im quite proud to have that value be at the heart of what our company delivers today. A recent example of how this core value of the importance of education and Hunters vision of book printing came together was illustrated by their printing of the inspirational childrens book Sprinkles the Fire Dog, which garnered great local media coverage following its distribution to a Long Island middle school last year. With a clear vision identified, Hunter then turned to the next task at handhow to deliver with excellence, better than anyone else, and better than they ever had before. He knew just where to look firstthe press room floor. Hunter commented, Technology can be a game changer. If your company is using outdated technology, you are at an immediate disadvantage, and it inhibits you from delivering to the standard of excellence that you could be. They replaced their toner devices that printed 110 pages per minute at 600 dpi with a Canon varioPRINT iX sheetfed inkjet press that prints almost triple the number of pages per minute at a much higher quality of 1200 dpi. We went from the ability to produce 2-3 million impressions a month to being able to produce up to 10 million high quality impressions a month. That was a significant change for us. The speed and uptime of the varioPRINT iX is impeccable, and the consistency of the prints is superior, Hunter said. In addition, we cut our processes nearly in half, allowing us to have more time for more jobs, and the operating costs are considerably lower as well, allowing us to get more pages per productive hour from our employees. JPS Books + Logistics also added a Canon ColorStream 3900Z web-fed inkjet press to their fleet. The culmination of the advantages of the varioPRINT iX confirmed that we were moving in the right direction, and that our strategy was sound. We saw clear advantages that resulted from bringing in the Canon varioPRINT iX, so it was an easy decision to take the next step in our growth strategy and purchase the Canon ColorStream, Hunter said. The ColorStream prints up to 417 feet per minute, at over 109k letter impressions per hour and runs a wide range of uncoated and inkjet-optimized media 40 to 160 gsm. The varioPRINT iX sheetfed inkjet press teamed with the ColorStream 3900 web-fed inkjet press and two varioPRINT 6000 TITAN monochrome presses, and complemented by a wide range of binding optionsincluding saddle stitch, coil binding, wire-O binding, PUR perfect binding, and hardcover case bindingall delivered through fulfillment services and fast nationwide shipping from their Dallas, Texas hub, has culminated in helping to create a powerful competitive differentiator for JPS Books + Logistics. Updating our press room floor with Canon inkjet has enabled us to offer high-speed black-and-white pages all the way to high quality, full-color printed materials including schoolbooks and reading materials for K-12 learning organizations, training materials for corporations, and personalized books and gifts for e-commerce companies, Hunter said. We have achieved 30% year-over-year revenue growth for two consecutive years, and I credit our Canon inkjet fleet for a large part of that. We simply could not have grown in the way we did without the powerful inkjet technology we have on our floor. Canon Solutions America has been a great partner for us. They are hands-on and invested in their customers success, and that, coupled with thINK, the Canon Solutions America production inkjet user group, has provided us with the training, tools and resources we need to be successful in executing on our vision. Finding out what you can best deliver to the world and delivering that based on your core values is not only an admirable goal, but one in which is certainly a sure path to success, said Francis McMahon, executive vice president, Production Print Solutions, Canon Solutions America, Inc. I am proud that Canon Solutions America has supplied the production inkjet technology that enables JPS Books + Logistics to deliver their value-based offerings with excellence. _______________ About JPS Books + Logistics For more than 45 years, JPS has worked with hundreds of businesses across the country. JPS produces over 1 million pages of content every single day. Our team is committed to finding unique solutions to your content creation needs from conception to completion. As a family-run business, JPS understands the importance of consistency, integrity, and relationship building. Since we first opened our doors in 1978, our clients have appreciated our personal touch, caring approach, and steadfast dependability. For more information, visit jpsbooksandlogistics.com About thINK thINK is an independent community of Canon Solutions America inkjet customers, solution partners, and print industry experts, and Canon Solutions America is a proud executive sponsor. Led by some of the most successful inkjet service providers in the country, it provides a forum for members to network, gain knowledge, discuss common challenges, and share best practices. For more information, visit thinkforum.com. ### Canon is a registered trademark of Canon Inc. in the United States and elsewhere. ColorStream and varioPRINT are trademarks or registered trademarks of Canon Production Printing Netherlands B.V. All other referenced product names and marks are trademarks of their respective owners. Views and opinions expressed in this testimonial are based on the actual experiences of each voluntary participant. Attachments April 26, 2023, Oslo, Norway: PGS held its Annual General Meeting today. The Annual General Meeting resolved to approve all matters as proposed in the Calling Notice. The minutes from the Annual General Meeting can be downloaded from www.newsweb.no or www.pgs.com. Attachment Denver and Fort Collins, Colo., April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innosphere Ventures, Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA), and Colorado BioScience Institute (The Institute) announce the eight startup and scaleup companies that were selected to join the 2023 Colorado Life Sciences Incubation Program. The 2023 cohort includes: Live Fully, Anzen Pharmaceuticals Corporation, EnteroTrack, PFRx, LLC, Prohibix, TEGSAL, IllumifyDX and Lonzevity. With funding support from the state of Colorado, the Colorado Life Sciences Incubation Program provides life sciences startups with a powerful advantage by leveraging the combined expertise and insights of three leading organizations from the states life sciences and innovation ecosystem. Startups that are developing or commercializing technologies, products, devices, and life-saving breakthroughs will benefit from Innosphere's leading incubation program for entrepreneurs, CBSA's resources and programming that promote a collaborative and supportive business climate for life sciences innovation, and the Institute's specialized expertise career programs for life sciences professionals. Participants will gain access to a comprehensive suite of support, resources, and knowledge that will help accelerate their growth and maximize their potential. This initiative reflects the programs commitment to fueling innovation in the life sciences industry and supporting the development of life-saving technologies. Building upon the success of last year, our mission now is to firmly establish Colorado as a leading bioscience hub in the nation. We remain committed to nurturing and supporting innovative life sciences startups through our unique incubation program, which combines the expertise and resources of Innosphere Ventures, the Colorado Bioscience Association, and the Colorado Bioscience Institute. Our aim is to create a vibrant ecosystem that fosters the growth of groundbreaking bioscience technologies, creates high-quality jobs, and positively impacts lives both locally and globally, said Mike Freeman, CEO of Innosphere Ventures. Colorado BioScience Association and Colorado BioScience Institute extend a warm welcome to the promising start ups selected for this years Colorado Life Sciences Incubation Program cohort, said Elyse Blazevich, President and CEO of Colorado BioScience Association and President of Colorado BioScience Institute. We are thrilled to partner with Innosphere Ventures on this one-of-a-kind incubation program and thank Colorados Office of Economic Development and International Trade for supporting the program with an Advanced Industries Business Accelerator Grant. The Advanced Industries Business Accelerator Grant, awarded by Colorados Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), provides funding to programs in Colorado that have developed or are developing programming for early-stage companies in the states advanced industries. The state funding allows founders of the selected life sciences companies to take part in the year-long Innosphere-led incubator, membership in Colorado BioScience Association, with access to a broad variety of education and networking opportunities each year, and fully funded participation in The Institutes Foundations of Leadership Program. 2023 Life Sciences Incubation Program Cohort Live Fully Live Fully, Inc. is a patient-driven company, providing anxiety reducing solutions to improve oxygen saturation, mobility and oxygen conservation for long-term oxygen therapy patients. Monument, CO | Scott Mason, COO | Founded 2018 | www.livefullyinc.com Anzen Pharmaceuticals Corporation Anzen Pharmaceuticals Corp. is developing a safer version of acetaminophen. Anzens patented technology mitigates the harmful effects of overdose and opens to door to new therapeutic use of traditional acetaminophen. Our products lower the overall cost of healthcare by preventing ER admissions and liver transplantation. Fort Collins, CO | CEO/Founder: Kevin M. Strait | Founded 2019 | www.AnzenPharma.com EnteroTrack EnteroTrack is a clinical-stage company with a unique, clinically validated, ready for growth product for non-invasively monitoring Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE). The companys patented sampling technology also allows simple, home-based monitoring and screening for GI cancers, metabolic conditions, and nutritional optimization. Aurora, CO | CEO: Robin Shandas, Ph.D.| Founded 2013 | www.Enterotrack.com PFRx, LLC PFRx specializes in the development of affordable, portable biofeedback units that effectively treat pediatric pelvic floor dysfunction. Our portable devices are easy to use, provide gamification abilities, and collects data to help children regain control of their bowel and bladder functions. Our mission is to empower patients and their families with tools to promote positive social outcomes and independence in their care. Lakewood, CO l CEO: Juliette Hawa, PT, DPT l Founded 2022 Prohibix Prohibix is developing injectable hyaluronic acid products powered by a HYALUTE microparticle technology. This platform technology is a breakthrough in controlling the release of hyaluronic acid in the body, and also serves as an ideal delivery vehicle for a wide range of therapeutics from small molecule drugs to delicate biomacromolecules. Prohibix is dedicated to improving patient lives by introducing differentiated hyaluronic acid and hyaluronic acid combination products in markets with large unmet clinical needs. Boulder, CO | CEO/Founder: Brendan Purcell | Founded in 2018 TEGSAL TEGSAL is building an antimicrobial, hemostatic polymer. This technology is intended to stop hemorrhage, and dynamically protect wounds from bacterial infection. This exciting polymer is being investigated for providing sophisticated treatment in an easy-to-use form for wounds in military and emergency trauma settings. Aurora, CO | CEO/Founder: Daewon Park | Founded in 2023 | www.tegsal.com IllumifyDX illumifyDx is a cancer diagnostics company striving to be the leader in optical spectroscopy-based clinical diagnostics by identifying unmet clinical needs and engineering solutions that are rigorous, scalable, and above all, improve patients quality of life. We are currently developing a blood and saliva-based test for the early detection of head and neck cancer. Broomfield, CO | CEO/ Founders: Maria Navas-Moreno, Ph.D. CEO & Co-founder. Randy Carney, Ph.D. CSO & Co-founder | Founded in 2022 | www.illumifyDx.com Lonzevity Lonzevity has developed a Healthcare Decision Support System for the Primary Care Physicians to provide Meaningful Healthcare Outcomes for their patients. Broomfield, CO | CEO/ Founder: Jason Palasco About Innosphere Ventures Innosphere Ventures accelerates the success of science and technology-based startups through its unique accelerator and commercialization programs, specialized laboratory facilities, and venture capital fund. Innosphere has supported founders and CEOs building high-tech companies for 24 years and is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a strong mission to grow the regions entrepreneurial ecosystem. https://innosphereventures.org/ Attachments BENTONVILLE, Ark., April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Integrated communications agency 4media group today announced the launch of its new partner+ experience, a comprehensive yet streamlined approach for brands, nonprofits and agencies alike to benefit from working with 4media group. We saw a consistent set of obstacles across the industry and designed the partner+ experience to solve for them, said Chris Poidomani, Chief Revenue Officer at 4media group. The partner+ experience eliminates challenges in the traditional agency model, like working with people who dont know your business, hourly fees for strategic planning, a fear of losing control over the final product and adding costs and time to your process. As an alternative, the partner+ experience is a non-exclusive, ongoing partnership between 4media group and the brands, agencies and nonprofits who choose to work in this new way. Each partner organization will be supported by a dedicated Experience Manager and a team of experts briefed on that organizations key business objectives, KPIs and workflow. This dedicated team with insider knowledge will be available at a moments notice and also proactively look for opportunities for its partner business to make a larger impact. "The partner+ experience is the 'easy' button for organizations that need a solution for staffing, resource and budgetary challenges," said Poidomani. "Set aside money for the year and strategically use tactics to address changing needs as they shift. This allows for easy integration when you need a pinch hitter to fill in any gaps, ensuring your success." 4media groups partners can leverage access to decades of experience from its most seasoned experts across intelligence, content, communications and digital services. The company is committed to exceeding expectations and going above and beyond every day to ensure its partners' success. In fact, strategic planning is an included benefit of the partner+ experience. Our experience has taught us that a data-driven, strategic approach gets more effective results than relying on piecemeal tactics. Weve included strategic planning with the partner+ experience to ensure that our partners are receiving the tailored support they need to succeed, added Poidomani. Other benefits of the partner+ experience include: Strategic roadmapping: 4media groups data-driven, integrated approach begins with a knowledge transfer and leads to collaborations through SME-led sessions on topics like ideation concepting and campaign roadmapping. 4media groups data-driven, integrated approach begins with a knowledge transfer and leads to collaborations through SME-led sessions on topics like ideation concepting and campaign roadmapping. Research and insights: A partners dedicated team of experts will perform an intelligence assessment of an organizations current programs and suggest data-informed programmatic shifts to maximize its impact. Also available are 4media groups in-house market research division, Atomik Research who are experts in audience research and 4media groups Media Relations team, who are second-to-none at guiding audience-facing content to help an organization engage authentically. A partners dedicated team of experts will perform an intelligence assessment of an organizations current programs and suggest data-informed programmatic shifts to maximize its impact. Also available are 4media groups in-house market research division, Atomik Research who are experts in audience research and 4media groups Media Relations team, who are second-to-none at guiding audience-facing content to help an organization engage authentically. Flexible and prioritized use of tactics: Move budgeted dollars to tactics needed the most, when theyre needed most, regardless of what was planned. Partners get immediate access to 4media groups teams and priority queuing for all projects. Move budgeted dollars to tactics needed the most, when theyre needed most, regardless of what was planned. Partners get immediate access to 4media groups teams and priority queuing for all projects. partner+ pricing: All 4media group partners receive special pricing for increased savings on their initiatives. All 4media group partners receive special pricing for increased savings on their initiatives. Plus other partner+ benets: These include access to executive thought leadership assessments, in-person strategy sessions, market research and more. To learn more about partnering with 4media group and the benefits of the partner+ experience, visit 4media-group.com/partnerplus. About 4media group As an integrated communications agency, 4media group has been storytelling on behalf of the worlds most notable brands and organizations since 2008. Using insights to inform our approach, we create the best achievable outcomes for our clients through marketing strategies, social media, influencer programs, broadcast media tours, video production, news distribution, public service announcements and public relations. Were a global company with headquarters in London, UK and Bentonville, Arkansas, with satellite offices spanning from Los Angeles to New York City. We work as one company, one culture for our clients every day. Visit us online at 4media-group.com. Media contact: Jaimee Davis Director of Marketing jaimee.davis@4media-group.com A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ad0671e7-01dd-4ec1-97a1-8aab4a7e5b13 English French Following France and Belgium, JCDecaux signs a contract with Carrefour Group Brazil to bring the best of Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) to Retail Media Paris, April 26th, 2023 JCDecaux SE (Euronext Paris: DEC), the number one outdoor advertising company worldwide, announces the signing of a contract with Carrefour Group Brazil the largest retailer in the country focusing on a DOOH Retail Media offering that is enhanced by data analytics. This new core business strengthens JCDecaux's expertise in Brazil, which has the largest national supply of street furniture, with more than 18,000 advertising panels strategically positioned in 11 major cities. From the second half of 2023, 300 new screens will be installed across the 90 hypermarkets, located in the States of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, the Federal District, Minas Gerais, Parana, Rio Grande do Sul and Goias. In addition to strengthening JCDecauxs presence in the Southeast and opening up a new Out-of-Home environment, the partnership also marks the company's entry to large cities in the South and Midwest, enabling JCDecaux to connect brands to the areas of Brazil which contribute most to the countrys national GDP. Focused on high quality, targeted audiences, the new DOOH Retail Media offering aims to enhance the customer journey. It will deliver the best in-class international standards in OOH advertising for the Retail and the mass-market through the range of JCDecauxs Data Solutions which helps advertisers to plan campaigns, engage audiences and measure performance to obtain the best results. The offer also demonstrates JCDecauxs ability to innovate in Brazil, delivering a virtuous ecosystem for the retailer, brands and customers, which is based on day-to-day analysis of anonymised transaction data. Cross-referenced with other data from platforms including metros and Street Furniture, JCDecaux will offer a combination of relevant data for advertisers, which is managed through a Data as a service approach to enable increasingly effective campaigns. This new partnership strengthens JCDecauxs DOOH Retail Media offering, which has already been introduced in several countries in the JCDecaux Group: in France, notably in Carrefour convenience stores and in Parisian department stores, in Belgium, in the 100 largest Carrefour stores, and in a retail network across the United Kingdom. In these markets and now in Brazil, JCDecaux will provide a comprehensive DOOH Retail Media solution, covering all stages of the value chain including the design, installation and maintenance of the digital screens, selection of locations to maximise and target audiences, media planning and marketing of the advertising space, campaign delivery and post-campaign analysis of conversion and performance. Sam James, Chief Digital Officer of Carrefour Group Brazil, said: "For the Carrefour Group Brazil, signing a contract with JCDecaux is another important initiative to promote the digital transformation that will accelerate over the next 5 years. We are launching a new media channel, DOOH to our hypermarket store ecosystem, an opportunity that has never before been available in our market. Cristiana Leal, Director of Retail Media & Data Monetization at Carrefour Group Brazil, said: "This DOOH project for our hypermarket stores complements our Retail Media strategy. Bringing digital media to our galleries is a further step in digitising the shopping journey in stores, promoting targeted and relevant advertising messages to our consumers that will enhance their retail experience. When it came to this partnership - JCDecaux was the natural choice". Ana Celia Biondi, General Director of JCDecaux Brazil, said: This is an unprecedented step that marks the expansion of JCDecaux in Brazil. Thanks to the introduction of this new media solution, our clients will be able to build and strengthen their advertising strategies using the first 100% data-driven Retail Media solution to reach residents and visitors. Advertisers will be able to accompany audiences throughout their customer journey and to create contextually relevant campaigns in a completely new way. This type of solution, which is based on high-quality, targeted data, will help brands to meet their marketing goals". Jean-Charles Decaux, Chairman of the Executive Board and Co-CEO of JCDecaux, said: "We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Carrefour in Brazil, following the roll-out of our data-enhanced DOOH Retail Media solutions in the retailers French and Belgian stores. Our DOOH and data-driven solutions have proven effective in the multi-channel ecosystem of this global leading food retailer. Both digital and physical channels enable advertisers to communicate as close as possible to the point of purchase. DOOH is an effective solution because it launches campaigns using geolocated and contextualised transaction data, to drive responsiveness and boost sales. In line with our responsible commitments, JCDecaux will supply the most efficient screens with respect to quality, energy and lifespan, following the example of our digital solutions deployed in Brazil as well as other markets". Key Figures for JCDecaux 2022 revenue: 3,317m (a) N1 Out-of-Home Media company worldwide A daily audience of more than 850 million people in more than 80 countries 1,040,132 advertising panels worldwide Present in 3,573 cities with more than 10,000 inhabitants 11,200 employees JCDecaux is listed on the Eurolist of Euronext Paris and is part of the Euronext 100 and Euronext Family Business indexes JCDecaux is recognised for its extra-financial performance in the FTSE4Good (3.6/5), CDP (A- Leadership), MSCI (AA) and has achieved Platinum Medal status from EcoVadis 1 st Out-of-Home Media company to join the RE100 Out-of-Home Media company to join the RE100 Leader in self-service bike rental scheme: pioneer in eco-friendly mobility N1 worldwide in street furniture (604,536 advertising panels) N1 worldwide in transport advertising with 153 airports and 205 contracts in metros, buses, trains and tramways (333,620 advertising panels) N1 in Europe for billboards (101,976 advertising panels worldwide) N1 in outdoor advertising in Europe (654,957 advertising panels) N1 in outdoor advertising in Asia-Pacific (170,973 advertising panels) N1 in outdoor advertising in Latin America (129,305 advertising panels) N1 in outdoor advertising in Africa (24,198 advertising panels) N1 in outdoor advertising in the Middle East (19,371 advertising panels) (a) Adjusted revenue For more information about JCDecaux, please visit jcdecaux.com. Join us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Communications Department: Albert Asseraf +33 (0) 1 30 79 79 10 albert.asseraf@jcdecaux.com Investor Relations: Remi Grisard +33 (0) 1 30 79 79 93 remi.grisard@jcdecaux.com About the Carrefour Group Brazil In the country for 47 years, the Carrefour Group Brazil is the leader in food retailing. From an omnichannel and multiformat platform, it brings together retail operations and Cash & Carry, the shopping club with Sams Club, in addition to Banco Carrefour and its real estate division, Carrefour Property. Currently, it has the formats Carrefour (hypermarket), Carrefour Bairro, Carrefour Market (supermarket), Carrefour Express (local retail), Carrefour.com (e-commerce), Atacadao and Maxxi (wholesale and self-service wholesale), Sams Club (shopping club), TodoDia (discount supermarket), Bompreco and Nacional (supermarkets), in addition to gas stations and drugstores. Present in all states and the Federal District, its operation already covers more than a thousand points of sale. Largest private employer in the country, the company is the second largest operation among the countries in which the Carrefour Group operates and one of the 20 largest companies listed on the Brazilian stock exchange (B3). Click here to learn more about the Group. Attachment Dallas, Texas, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evergreen Sustainable Enterprises, Inc., a Dallas/Fort Worth based sustainable asset company (OTCQB: EGSE) is proud to announce its participation at the upcoming Sequire Investor Summit. This highly anticipated event, scheduled for April 24-26, 2023 at La Concha Resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico, promises to offer an array of exciting opportunities for funds, companies, and investors. One of the standout highlights of this year's summit is the focus on great tax laws in Puerto Rico, which offers a unique tax-friendly environment for both funds and investors. Attendees can expect to gain valuable insights and knowledge on how to leverage this advantage to drive their business success. The summit also promises to offer comprehensive training sessions and keynote panels on various topics. These sessions are led by top experts in the field and provide attendees with a wealth of information and insights into the latest trends, strategies, and best practices in the industry. Wed, Apr 26 at 11:30-11:55 AM Evergreen Sustainable Enterprises, Inc. is thrilled to participate in this year's Sequire Investor Summit and looks forward to sharing its knowledge and expertise with attendees. Join us for an exciting and informative event that promises to be a highlight of the year for funds, companies, and investors alike. We are looking forward to expanding the reach of our message and mission at the Sequire event. Our company has made incredible changes over the past couple of years in order to solidify our position and operations in sustainable industries and sustainable products. It is critical for the investment community to understand our story and the vision that propels our company as we continue to achieve the goals we set. Our recent hydroelectric powered bitcoin mining operation, our plant-based pet products and industrial absorbent product line are the first achievements in a robust and well-developed pipeline of projects we continue to roll out. - Said Gary C. Evans, Chairman and CEO of Evergreen Sustainable Enterprises, Inc. For more information about the Sequire Investor Summit, including registration details, please visit the official event website at https://puertorico.srax.com/ About Evergreen Sustainable Enterprises, Inc. (f/k/a Generation Hemp, Inc) Evergreen Sustainable Enterprises, Inc. is a Dallas/Fort Worth based sustainable [green energy] asset company with operations in both the Bitcoin mining industry and the hemp industry. Bitcoin operations are located in Costa Rica, with future development plans in Arkansas and Kentucky and other Costa Rica locations. Hemp operations are located in western Kentucky and Denver, Colorado. In the hemp industry, the company uses its proprietary technology to dry, clean, process and store hemp. In addition, Generation Hemp also owns and leases real estate to companies needing seed storage facilities located within the greater Denver area. About SRAX SRAX Inc. is a financial technology company that unlocks data and insights for publicly traded companies. Through its premier investor intelligence and communications platform, Sequire , companies can track their investors behaviors and trends and use those insights to engage current and potential investors across marketing channels. For more information on SRAX, visit srax.com and mysequire.com Contact: Melissa M. Pagen Evergreen Sustainable Enterprises, Inc. Phone: (310) 628-2062 Email: mpagen@egsustainable.com BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Newborn screening aims to identify infants at risk of genetic, hormonal and metabolic conditions. These screens are used to confirm a diagnosis and allow for early intervention in the hope of the prevention or amelioration of the disease. These tests are most commonly performed for conditions that are not clinically evident in the neonatal period but are likely to be treatable with early intervention. Commonly covered conditions include congenital hypothyroidism (CH), Phenylketonuria (PKU), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), cystic fibrosis (CF), galactosemia (GAL), tyrosinemia type I (HT1), sickle cell anaemia, G6PD-Deficiency, hearing problems (congenital deafness) and congenital heart problems. These are tested through three standard methods: Blood spot, hearing test and pulse oximetry. Population Growth, Increasing Levels of Birth Defects and Favourable Government Initiatives are some of the major drivers responsible for the growth of the Newborn Screening Market A global population expected to grow to 9.7 billion people by 2050 from 8 billion in 2022 and improving access to primary care (evidenced by significant global improvements in life expectancy from 46.5 in 1950 to 71 in 2021) are major driving factors in the growth of the newborn screening market. Globally, an estimated 8 million newborns are born with a birth defect every year. As per CDC, birth defects affect one in every 33 babies (about 3% of all babies) born in the United States each year. In the WHO South-East Asia Region, between 2010 and 2019, birth defects increased as a proportion of child mortality in the region, from 6.2% to 9.2%. The most common severe birth defects are heart defects, neural tube defects and Down syndrome, among others. These can be caused by one or more genetic, infectious, nutritional or environmental factors. To curb the rising birth defects, health organizations across the globe are taking necessary actions to prevent, detect, manage and care for birth defects. Developing nations are increasingly investing in the provision of newborn screening. For instance, Brazil passed a law in 2021 stating that all states must implement an expanded NBS programme by June 2022 these targets have fallen short in some states however the programme continues to progressively expand to include lysosomal diseases, immunodeficiencies, and spinal muscular atrophy. Additionally, Columbia, Chile & Panama are in the process of expanding their testing coverage from 70-80% to >90% of newborns as well as expanding the number of conditions screened for. Growing Use of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Is Expected to Drive the Newborn Screening Market in Developed Regions NGS approaches are steadily being adopted in hospital settings for use in newborn screening for rare genetic disorders. The cost of sequencing whole exomes has fallen dramatically since its invention and continues to decrease in the US, bioinformatics companies can provide sequencing for ~$500-$900. Pilot studies are being conducted in the US, UK, China and several other countries into the suitability for the widespread use of NGS technology in newborn screening programmes as well as in neonatal wards. Organic and Inorganic Growth Strategies Adopted by Leading Players to Establish Their Foothold in the Newborn Screening Market The majority of commonly performed tests are well established companies are largely growing their manufacturing capacity or engaging in M&A activity to strengthen their market position in newborn screening market or release non-core assets: In August 2022, Perkin Elmer sold off its Applied, Food and Enterprise Services businesses, and entered into a definitive agreement with New Mountain Capital, L.L.C. to sell off its assets for a total compensation of $2.45 Bn. sold off its Applied, Food and Enterprise Services businesses, and entered into a definitive agreement with New Mountain Capital, L.L.C. to sell off its assets for a total compensation of $2.45 Bn. In August 2022, Triviton Healthcare opened a new R&D and manufacturing facility for chemical-based assays in India. The new center will have provisions to manufacture >300 million RT-PCR kits and >100 million for ELISA, CLIA, NBS and other common diagnostic kits. China Is Expected to Hold the Largest Share of The Newborn Screening Market Followed by North America While China is the largest market - 9.56 million babies were born in China in 2022, down from 17.86 million in 2016. Approximately 93% of newborns are reported to undergo screening in China the availability of the range of tests available varies between urban and rural regions. The penetration of newborn screening in China is expected to increase in the coming years due to government initiatives, growing number of newborn screening centers and establishment of well-developed newborn screening network system. The Chinese government recognizes newborn screening as a public health project and by the end of 2018, there were ~238 newborn screening centers in the China mainland with screening rates exceeding 97.5%. China newborn screening has established a complete network system, from sample collection and delivery, laboratory testing, results reporting, clinical diagnosis to follow-up which has also played a pivotal role in its penetration. Meanwhile, India has become the most populous nation on earth ~23 million babies were born in 2022 however presently there is no active national NBS programme in India. The cost of performing standardised tests is decreasing steadily, increasing the feasibility of performing population-wide screening exercises in developing nations. Programmes already exist for the majority of developing nations and the cost-effectiveness of these campaigns due to increasing efficiency in lab operations, increased IVD manufacturing capacity post-COVID and economies of scale make them highly attractive to governments. Competitive Landscape Analysis: Newborn Screening Market The global newborn screening market is marked by the presence of key market players such as SCIEX, Agilent Technologies Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Covidien Plc, GE Healthcare, PerkinElmer, Inc., Masimo Corporation, Natus Medical Incorporated, Trivitron Healthcare, Waters Corporation, Labsystems Diagnostics Oy, LifeCell International Pvt.Ltd, Archer DX and others. Explore Detailed Insights on Newborn Screening Market Report @ https://meditechinsights.com/newborn-screening-market/ About Medi-Tech Insights: Medi-Tech Insights is a healthcare-focused business research & insights firm. Our clients include Fortune 500 companies, blue-chip investors & hyper-growth start-ups. We have completed 100+ projects in Digital Health, Healthcare IT, Medical Technology, Medical Devices & Pharma Services. Contact Us: Ruta Halde Associate, Medi-Tech Insights +32 498 86 80 79 info@meditechinsights.com https://meditechinsights.com/ Attachment NEW YORK, NY, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire ILUS International Inc. (OTC: ILUS) is a Mergers and Acquisitions company focused on acquiring and growing companies in the public safety, industrial, defense and renewable sectors. Following the delay of its previously signed first phase Investment Project deal with the Serbian government, the company announced last week that it was completing a new first phase deal for ILUS EV Technologies and Replay Solutions. ILUS now confirms that it has secured the facility in Kragujevac, Serbia for ILUS EV Technologies to proceed with its Investment Project. The site in Kragujevac, Serbia is available immediately with existing automotive engineers to be onboarded by ILUS EV Technologies as well as existing machinery for production of the companys E-Raptor range of commercial electric Utility Vehicles. ILUS expects the first E-Raptor 6x6 models to roll off the Kragujevac production line during the second half of Q3 2023. The vehicles are in high demand for projects following several meetings with European government leaders, resulting from their mandate to invest in sustainable solutions directed at achieving regional emission reduction targets. In addition to securing the land, facilities, and manpower in Kragujevac for ILUS EV Technologies, further meetings are underway in Serbia this week for the Replay Solutions Investment Project as well as for the much larger Phase 2 government deal. In its press release last week (21 April 2023), ILUS confirmed that its previously signed first phase Investment Project deal with the Serbian government was originally delayed due to ILUS concerns following the 2022 Serbian General Election and heightened geopolitical tensions in the region. With the resolve of these concerns and the opportunity for acquiring improved manufacturing capability, ILUS is now pressing forward with its production plans in the region. Existing E-Raptor 6x6 stock units as well as additional component parts and machinery are currently being shipped to Serbia. Following successful rollout of the first batch of E-Raptor 6x6 models produced at the Kragujevac facility, production of the new 4x4 model will commence, with all component parts for this model to be sourced from within the region. This is an improved deal for ILUS which gives us existing manufacturing capability and the ability to hit the ground running for our E-Raptor manufacturing in Serbia. With several large projects being negotiated in the region, its important to have our EV manufacturing base finalized. This deal combined with the Phase 2 deal and the rollout of our ERT vehicle manufacturing plans in the US, will altogether position us well to satisfy growing demand for our broad portfolio of vehicle solutions, said ILUS Managing Director, John-Paul Backwell. Following the filing of its Form 10-K Annual Report and confirmation of ILUS Industrial subsidiary, QINDs planned uplist to the NYSE American, ILUS will be providing updates and/or announcements on the following within the next week and a half: Hyperion Defense Solutions Counter IED Agreement QIND NYSE American listing application ILUS Share Lockup and QIND uplist value to ILUS Shareholders ERT Fixed Firefighting (Fire Suppression) Systems production ERT Acquisitions For further information on ILUS, please see its communication channels: Website: https://ilus-group.com Twitter: @ILUS_INTL Email: IR@Ilus-Group.com Source: ILUS Related Links https://ilus-group.com Forward-Looking Statement Certain information set forth in this press release contains "forward-looking information", including "future-oriented financial information" and "financial outlook", under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, the information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements and includes, but is not limited to, the (i) projected financial performance of the Company; (ii) completion of, and the use of proceeds from, the sale of the shares being offered hereunder; (iii) the expected development of the Company's business, projects, and joint ventures; (iv) execution of the Company's vision and growth strategy, including with respect to future M&A activity and global growth; (v) sources and availability of third-party financing for the Company's projects; (vi) completion of the Company's projects that are currently underway, in development or otherwise under consideration; (vi) renewal of the Company's current customer, supplier and other material agreements; and (vii) future liquidity, working capital, and capital requirements. Forward-looking statements are provided to allow potential investors the opportunity to understand management's beliefs and opinions in respect of the future so that they may use such beliefs and opinions as one factor in evaluating an investment. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has provided guidance to issuers regarding the use of social media to disclose material non-public information. In this regard, investors and others should note that we announce material financial information via official Press Releases, in addition to SEC filings, press releases, Questions & Answers sessions, public conference calls and webcasts also may take time from time to time. We use these channels as well as social media to communicate with the public about our company, our services, and other issues. It is possible that the information we post on social media could be deemed to be material information. Therefore, considering the SEC's guidance, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in our company to review the information we post on the following social & media channels: website: https://ilus-group.com Twitter: OTC_ILUS Note: ILUS Coin does not sit within ILUS International Inc (Ilustrato Pictures International Inc), so the public are recommended to follow the correct Media Channels relating to the public company OTC: ILUS Indianapolis, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Indianapolis, Indiana - The University of Indianapolis offers an accelerated nursing program that allows students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) in just 15 months. The demand for nurses nationwide has been on an upward trend for years. Based on projections by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the country will need over 200,000 registered nurses annually over the next decade. For those seeking long-term employment and stable incomes, a career in nursing looks promising. The University of Indianapolis offers an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ASBN) to help students achieve their goals in just 15 months. With a flexible online learning environment, real-world clinical experience, and personalized support from faculty and staff, the program is designed to help students succeed. The accelerated nursing program at the University of Indianapolis has three intakes each year, making it convenient for students to begin their studies at a time most convenient for them. The coursework is conducted online, allowing students to learn from anywhere with an internet connection. The ASBN program at the University of Indianapolis may be the most convenient choice for students looking to transition to a career in nursing quickly and effectively. With its 15-month timeline, fully-online coursework, personalized attention, and real-world clinical experience, the program is designed to help students succeed in a nursing career. Notably, the program offers personalized attention through a one-to-one preceptorship model, allowing students to work directly with an experienced nurse to gain hands-on experience. Students will be supported by the faculty's clinical placement department to secure local clinical placement sites, allowing them to gain practical experience in their local community. For more information, visit https://onlinenursing.uindy.edu/programs/accelerated-bsn-online To be eligible for the program, students need to have a bachelor's degree in any field. They are also required to complete prerequisite courses, including human anatomy, physiology, microbiology, organic chemistry or general chemistry I & II, psychology, social science, philosophy, and statistics or college algebra. These courses do not expire, so students who have completed them previously can still be eligible for the program. The program also requires two residencies, where students come to campus for hands-on training and networking opportunities. These residencies provide an opportunity for students to connect with faculty and fellow students and gain real-world experience in a supportive and collaborative environment. The program consists of 56 credit hours and 570 clinical hours, costing $980 per credit hour. The accelerated nursing program is designed for individuals who already have a bachelor's degree in another field and want to pursue a career in nursing. By offering a flexible and convenient online learning environment, real-world clinical experience, and personalized support, the program can effectively help students to achieve their goals. The University of Indianapolis is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. With its quality of education and student-centric systems, the ASBN program offers students a promising future in nursing. About the University: The University of Indianapolis (UIndy) is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana, with a total enrollment of approximately 5,500 students. Founded in 1902, it offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in areas such as business, education, nursing, health sciences, arts and sciences, and engineering. The university prides itself on providing a personalized education with small class sizes. The university is committed to community engagement and service, and its students are encouraged to get involved in volunteer work and internships. ### For more information about University of Indianapolis, contact the company here: University of Indianapolis Ashley McGuire ashley.mcguire@keypathedu.com 1400 E Hanna Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46227 USA NEW YORK, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE: MPW) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws. This lawsuit is on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired certain Medical Properties Trust, Inc. securities between March 1, 2022 and February 22, 2023. Lead Plaintiff Deadline: June 12, 2023 No obligation or cost to you. Learn more about your recoverable losses in MPW: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/medical-properties-trust-lawsuit-loss-submission-form Medical Properties Trust, Inc. NEWS MPW NEWS CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Medical Properties Trust made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. (Prospect), which leases and operates 13 of the Company's facilities, was facing significant pressures affecting the profitability of its Pennsylvania properties; (2) as a result, there was a significant risk that Prospect would be unable to meet its rental obligations owed to Medical Properties Trust; (3) given the elongated timing of the Pennsylvania recovery, the Company was reasonably likely to record an impairment charge to the real estate value of the Pennsylvania properties; (4) and, as a result of the foregoing, defendants positive statements about the Companys business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Medical Properties Trust, Inc. you have until June 12, 2023 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff. NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Medical Properties Trust, Inc. securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees. HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the MPW lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/medical-properties-trust-lawsuit-loss-submission-form ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: J. Klein, Esq. 535 Fifth Avenue 4th Floor New York City, NY 10017 jk@kleinstocklaw.com Telephone: (212) 616-4899 www.kleinstocklaw.com NEW YORK, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Dutch Bros Inc. (NYSE: BROS) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws. Class Period: March 1, 2022 to May 11, 2022 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 1, 2023 No obligation or cost to you. Learn more about your recoverable losses in BROS: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/dutch-bros-class-action-submission-form?from=3 Dutch Bros Inc. NEWS - BROS NEWS CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Dutch Bros Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company was experiencing increased costs and expenses, including on dairy; (2) as a result, the Company was experiencing increased margin pressure and decreased profitability in the first quarter of 2022; and (3) as a result of the foregoing, defendants positive statements about the Companys business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Dutch Bros you have until May 1, 2023 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff. NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Dutch Bros securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees. HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the BROS lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/dutch-bros-class-action-submission-form?from=3 ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: J. Klein, Esq. 535 Fifth Avenue 4th Floor New York City, NY 10017 jk@kleinstocklaw.com Telephone: (212) 616-4899 www.kleinstocklaw.com WASHINGTON, DC, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WASHINGTON, DC (April 26, 2023) National Summer Learning Summer Association (NSLA) is pleased to announce the return of DiscoverSummer.org, the online nation-wide summer learning registry to help families of all socioeconomic backgrounds find local summer programs, meals, and free learning resources for their kids! Powered by InPlay and in partnership with the US Department of Educations Engage Every Student initiative, DiscoverSummer.org features over 50,000 out-of-school-time programs from 4,000 cities in all 50 U.S states and helps families discover summer programs in their communities, including accredited summer camps, summer enrichment opportunities at local libraries, National PTA, National Recreation and Parks Association, YMCA USA, Boys and Girls Club of America, and Urban Libraries Council. NSLA will be promoting DiscoverSummer.org through a national digital billboard campaign with their partners at Clear Channel Outdoor. The billboards will advertise DiscoverSummer.org and the importance of summer learning and out of school time programs. NSLA partners iHeartRadio will run nationwide PSAs across their national radio markets, including a recorded PSA from US Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona encouraging families to visit DiscoverSummer.org in English and Spanish, to connect families with high-quality summer programs. At NSLA, we believe summer is the most unequal but also innovative time in education. Students lose many of the supports offered during the school year, and many suffer from learning loss and food insecurity. DiscoverSummer.org aims to close these opportunity gaps and help families find programs, resources, mentors, and meals said NSLA CEO, Aaron Philip Dworkin. With recent federal, state, and local investments in summer learning, there are now more summer opportunities than ever for young people to grow, learn, and play. Summer is the perfect time of year to prepare your children for a successful school year ahead. Please visit Discover Summer, National Summer Learnings (NSLA) free online summer program search engine and resources. The call for nationwide summer programs is open. Program providers across the country are invited to add their program details to DiscoverSummer.org through August. DiscoverSummer.org, is supported in part by the New York Life Foundation and features both an English and Spanish version of the 50,000 summer program listings across the country. NSLA is the only national nonprofit exclusively focused on closing the achievement and opportunity gap by increasing access to high-quality summer learning experiences for all children, regardless of background, income, or zip code. ############# About the National Summer Learning Association Celebrating 30 years of impact, NSLA has worked to combat summer learning loss and close the achievement and opportunity gaps which research shows grows most dramatically between lower and higher income students over the summer months. NSLA works to ensure all of Americas students, regardless of background, income, or zip code, can access and benefit from a high-quality summer learning experience every year. TORONTO, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galantas Gold Corporation (TSX-V & AIM: GAL; OTCQX: GALKF) ("Galantas" or the "Company") announces that, further to its news releases dated March 20 and March 28, 2023, the Company has completed a shares-for-debt transaction with several arm's length creditors of the Company (the "Debt Settlement"), pursuant to which the Company has settled approximately C$749,020 of indebtedness through the issuance of an aggregate of 2,080,609 units of the Company (the "Units") at a deemed price of C$0.36 per Unit. Each Unit was comprised of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (each, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.55 per Common Share until April 26, 2028. The securities issued pursuant to the Debt Settlement are subject to a four-month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws which will expire on August 27, 2023. An application has been filed for admittance of 2,080,609 additional shares to AIM ("Admission") with Admission expected to occur on or around April 28, 2023. Following Admission, the Company's issued and outstanding Common Shares will total 114,808,403. 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. The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the retained EU law version of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (the "UK MAR") which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The information is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of the UK MAR. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. About Galantas Gold Corporation Galantas Gold Corporation is a Canadian public company that trades on the TSX Venture Exchange and the London Stock Exchange AIM market, both under the symbol GAL. It also trades on the OTCQX Exchange under the symbol GALKF. The Company's strategy is to create shareholder value by operating and expanding gold production and resources at the Omagh Project in Northern Ireland, and exploring the Gairloch Project hosting the Kerry Road gold-bearing VMS deposit in Scotland. Enquiries Galantas Gold Corporation Mario Stifano: Chief Executive Officer Email: info@galantas.com Website: www.galantas.com Telephone: +44(0)28 8224 1100 Grant Thornton UK LLP (AIM Nomad) Philip Secrett, Harrison Clarke, George Grainger, Samuel Littler Telephone: +44(0)20 7383 5100 SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP (AIM Broker) David Hignell, Charlie Bouverat (Corporate Finance) Grant Barker (Sales & Broking) Telephone: +44(0)20 3470 0470 Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws, including, but not limited to, the admission and timing of admission of the Common Shares on AIM, and the plans, operations and prospects of the Company. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by Galantas in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that Galantas believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause Galantas' actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward looking statements or strategy, including: gold price volatility; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries and throughputs; mining operational risk, geological uncertainties; regulatory restrictions, including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability; risks of sovereign involvement; speculative nature of gold exploration; dilution; competition; loss of or availability of key employees; additional funding requirements; uncertainties regarding planning and other permitting issues; and defective title to mineral claims or property. These factors and others that could affect Galantas' forward-looking statements are discussed in greater detail in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Galantas' Management Discussion & Analysis of the financial statements of Galantas and elsewhere in documents filed from time to time with the Canadian provincial securities regulators and other regulatory authorities. These factors should be considered carefully, and persons reviewing this news release should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Galantas has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this news release, except as required by law. CALGARY, Alberta, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eguana Technologies Inc. (Eguana or the Company) (TSX.V: EGT) (OTCQB: EGTYF) will post its financial results for its fifth quarter and fiscal 2022 financial results after close of market on April 28, 2023. Eguana management will host a conference call on Monday May 1st, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. eastern time (EDT) to discuss the results, provide a business update, and hold a live question and answer period. Registration in advance is required. CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS Date: May 1, 2023 Time: 5:00 PM EDT Telephone Access: Canada/USA Toll Free: 1-800-319-4610 International Toll: +1-604-638-5340 To ensure the conference begins in a timely manner please dial in 10 minutes prior to the start time. Webcast: https://services.choruscall.ca/links/eguanatechnology2022q4.html About Eguana Technologies Inc. Based in Calgary, Alberta Canada, Eguana Technologies (EGT: TSX.V) (OTCQB: EGTYF) designs and manufactures high performance residential and commercial energy storage systems. The Company also markets and sells a suite of micro inverter products which are integrated with its energy storage platform providing consumers with full solar + storage system architecture for residential and commercial applications. Eguana has two decades of experience delivering grid edge power electronics for fuel cell, photovoltaic and battery applications, and delivers proven, durable, high quality solutions from its high capacity manufacturing facilities in Europe and North America and Australia. With thousands of its proprietary energy storage inverters deployed in the European and North American markets, Eguana is one of the leading suppliers of power controls for solar self-consumption, grid services and demand charge applications at the grid edge. To learn more, visit www.EguanaTech.com or follow us on Twitter @EguanaTech Company Inquiries Justin Holland CEO, Eguana Technologies Inc. +1.416.728.7635 Justin.Holland@EguanaTech.com Forward Looking Statements Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, the "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, and is subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the Company's control. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, information with respect to: the Debentures and the Conversion and the expected effects thereof; TSXV approval of the Debt Settlement and the Outstanding Debentures. Agreements and issuance of the Accrued Interest Shares to the Electing Holders. The words "may", "could", "should", "would", "suspect", "outlook", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect, intend", "plan", "target" and similar words and expressions are used to identify forward-looking information. The results or events anticipated or predicted in such forward-looking information may differ materially from actual results or events. Material factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from such forward- looking information include, among others: the value of the total Debentures outstanding on the Conversion Date; the number of Common Shares issued by the Company as a result of the Conversion; the amount of interest payments that would have been payable if the outstanding Debentures were held until maturity; the TSXV may not approve the Debt Settlement Agreements and issuance of the Accrued Interest Shares to the Electing Holders; the Company may not force the conversion of the Outstanding Debentures into Common Shares and the uncertainty surrounding the spread of COVID-19 and the impact it will have on the Companys operations and economic activity in general, and the risks and uncertainties discussed in our most recent annual and quarterly reports filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available on the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, which risks and uncertainties are incorporated herein by reference. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect, in particular, new information or future events. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward looking information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed a certain progression, which may not be realized. It has also assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. English German Basel/Allschwil, Switzerland, April 26, 2023 Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd (SIX: BSLN), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to meeting the needs of patients with severe bacterial or fungal infections, reported that shareholders approved all proposals of the board of directors at todays annual general meeting (AGM) for the financial year 2022. At the AGM, the shareholders approved the annual report, the financial statements and the consolidated financial statements for the financial year 2022. They also endorsed carrying forward the accumulated deficit and approved the discharge of the members of the board of directors and the management committee. Mr. Domenico Scala was re-elected as chairman and Mr. Leonard Kruimer, Dr. Martin Nicklasson, Dr. Nicole Onetto and Dr. Thomas Werner were re-elected as members of the board of directors. Dr. Carole Sable was elected as new member of the board. In addition, Dr. Nicklasson, Dr. Onetto and Dr. Werner were re-elected to the compensation committee. The term of all board members lasts until the AGM 2024. Domenico Scala, chairman of the board, said: On behalf of the board of directors, I am pleased to welcome Dr. Carole Sable as the newest member of our board. Dr. Sable brings with her over 30 years of experience in the field of infectious diseases, as both a physician and in senior positions in the pharmaceutical industry. We are confident that her extensive expertise in anti-infectives research and development will prove to be of great value in our aim of becoming a leading global anti-infectives company. The shareholders also approved the proposed maximum aggregate amount of compensation for the board of directors for the period from the AGM 2023 to the AGM 2024, and the maximum aggregate amount of compensation for the management committee for the financial year 2024. In a non-binding advisory vote, the shareholders endorsed the compensation report for the financial year 2022. The shareholders also approved the proposed amendments to the articles of association, which were necessary, firstly, to meet the requirements of the revision of the Swiss corporate law and in addition, to reflect the move of the company to Allschwil, and the commitment of Basilea to the sustainability of its activities. The shareholders approved the proposed amendment of the articles of association to introduce a capital band, including conditional capital based on the capital band. Finally, the shareholders re-elected Dr. Caroline Cron as independent proxy until the end of the next AGM and re-elected PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd, Basel, as auditors for the financial year 2023. At the AGM, 33.1% of the share capital, equivalent to 55.6% of the shares entitled to vote, was represented. In total, 68.5% of the share capital is currently registered in Basileas share register. About Basilea Basilea is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Switzerland. We are committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative drugs to meet the needs of patients with severe bacterial or fungal infections. We have successfully launched two hospital brands, Cresemba for the treatment of invasive fungal infections and Zevtera for the treatment of bacterial infections. In addition, we have preclinical anti-infective assets in our portfolio. Basilea is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Please visit basilea.com. Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information, please contact: Peer Nils Schroder, PhD Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd, Allschwil Hegenheimermattweg 167b 4123 Allschwil Switzerland Phone +41 61 606 1102 E-mail media_relations@basilea.com investor_relations@basilea.com This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com. Press Release (PDF) Bomb scare at top school in Indian capital turns out hoax Xinhua) 17:02, April 26, 2023 NEW DELHI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- After an intensive sanitization and search operation in and outside a top school Wednesday in the Indian capital territory Delhi, police said the bomb scare turned out to be a hoax. The administration of the Delhi Public School on Mathura Road Wednesday morning received a bomb threat via e-mail, following which they alerted the police and disaster management officials. The school buildings were immediately evacuated. Authorities rushed the bomb disposal squad, dog squad and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team to sanitize the school buildings. "There is no threat, as no suspicious object was found on the school premises yet. The situation is normal," senior police official Rajesh Deo told the media. No sooner had news about the bomb threat spread in the area than panic-stricken parents gathered outside the school to receive their children. "Police have completed the search and they have given clearance. It's a hoax call and parents have been told to take their kids home," Gaurav Saini, a local government official said. This is the second time in the span of 15 days that a bomb threat call was made to schools in Delhi. On April 12 The Indian School in Sadiq Nagar locality of the city received a similar threat claiming bombs were placed on the premise. The students were evacuated and the threat was later found to be a hoax. Police have registered a case and ordered an investigation. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) CINCINNATI, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blue Water Biotech, Inc. (Blue Water or the Company), a biotechnology company spanning multiple sectors, today announced the appointment of Jay Newmark, M.D., MBA as the Companys Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Newmark is a board-certified urologist with over 30 years of experience managing Mens Health issues, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Blue Water currently owns ENTADFI, an FDA-approved treatment for BPH that counteracts negative sexual side effects seen in men on alternative BPH therapies. Dr. Newmarks appointment will support Blue Waters upcoming launch of ENTADFI and he will work closely with Blue Water management to ensure BPH patients are able to receive proper access to treatment. In addition to his extensive medical training and experience in urology private practice, Dr. Newmark has a strong background in commercial product development in the Mens Health sector. Previously, Dr. Newmark served as Chief Medical Officer at Clarus Therapeutics, Inc., where he was integral to the launch of JATENZO and other Mens Health initiatives. He has also worked on advanced detection technologies for prostate cancer at Genomic Health Inc. and OPKO Health Inc. I am thrilled to join the Blue Water team and provide my expertise as we prepare to launch ENTADFI to support patients with BPH, said Dr. Newmark. Millions of men suffer from BPH symptoms each year and many of those men are faced with frustrating sexual side effects as a result of their BPH medication. We look forward to supporting new BPH patients with ENTADFI as well as provide current patients a novel option to address BPH symptoms without sacrificing sexual performance as we see with other current therapies. The addition of Dr. Newmark to the Blue Water team is a critical and exciting step in the execution of our commercial strategy for ENTADFI, said Joseph Hernandez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Water. As we prepare to make this product available to men with BPH across the country, we will rely heavily on his knowledge and experience to support our commercial operation and our patients. We are confident that his expertise both in the medical field as a urologist and in the product development space will be invaluable moving forward through launch and beyond. Dr. Newmark received his M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School and completed his residency in urology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago. Dr. Newmark will join Blue Water management at the upcoming American Urological Association Annual Meeting 2023 from April 18th through May 1st in Chicago, Illinois. Blue Water will be available during the conference for one-on-one meetings and can be found at booth 439. Interested parties may request a one-on-one meeting at investors@bwbioinc.com or contact Blue Water at (513) 620-4101. About ENTADFI ENTADFI is an oral, once daily treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia ("BPH") that combines finasteride, a 5-reductase inhibitor, and tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, offering a more effective treatment option compared to other available therapies. Clinical trials have shown that ENTADFI is more effective in treating BPH symptoms, including urinary frequency, urgency, weak stream, and difficulty initiating or maintaining urination, compared to finasteride monotherapy. Additionally, ENTADFI has demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with fewer adverse sexual side effects compared to finasteride. ENTADFI reduces potential for adverse sexual side effects, making it a preferred choice for men seeking relief from BPH symptoms without compromising their sexual health. ENTADFI has received FDA approval for the indication of initiating treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH in men with an enlarged prostate for up to 26 weeks. More information about BPH and full ENTADFI prescribing information can be found on the product website at https://entadfipatient.com/. About Blue Water Biotech Blue Water Biotech, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing transformational therapies to address significant health challenges globally. Headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, the Company holds the rights to proprietary technology developed at the University of Oxford, Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center, St. Jude Childrens Hospital, and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Blue Water is developing a Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine candidate, designed to specifically prevent highly infectious middle ear infections, known as acute otitis media (AOM), in children, and prevention of pneumonia in the elderly. The Company is also developing a universal flu vaccine that will provide protection from all virulent strains in addition to licensing a novel norovirus (NoV) S&P nanoparticle versatile virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine platform from Cincinnati Childrens to develop vaccines for multiple infectious diseases, including Marburg and monkeypox, among others. Additionally, the Company is developing a Chlamydia vaccine candidate with UT Health Science Center San Antonio to prevent infection and reduce the need for antibiotic treatment associated with contracting Chlamydia disease. Outside of its vaccine franchise, Blue Water owns ENTADFI, an FDA-approved, once daily pill that combines finasteride and tadalafil for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. This combination allows men to receive treatment for their symptoms of BPH without the negative sexual side effects typically seen in patients on finasteride alone. For more information about Blue Water, visit www.bwbioinc.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as anticipate, believe, forecast, estimate, expect, and intend, among others. These forward-looking statements are based on Blue Waters current expectations and actual results could differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks related to Blue Waters ability to realize the benefits of its acquisition of ENTADFI, risks related to BWVs ability to expand its business scope and its ability to commercialize ENTADFI, risks related to the development of Blue Waters vaccine candidates; the failure to obtain FDA clearances or approvals and noncompliance with FDA regulations; delays and uncertainties caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to the timing and progress of clinical development of our product candidates; our need for additional financing; uncertainties of patent protection and litigation; uncertainties of government or third party payor reimbursement; limited research and development efforts and dependence upon third parties; and substantial competition. As with any vaccine under development, there are significant risks in the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of new products. Blue Water does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Investors should read the risk factors set forth in Blue Waters Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on March 9, 2023 and periodic reports filed with the SEC on or after the date thereof. All of Blue Waters forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by all such risk factors and other cautionary statements. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date thereof. Media Contact Information: Blue Water Media Relations Telephone: (646) 942-5591 Email: Nic.Johnson@russopartnersllc.com Investor Contact Information: Blue Water Investor Relations Email: investors@bwbioinc.com NEW YORK, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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 firms 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 BlockFis exposure to FTX Trading, Ltd. (FTX) and Sam Bankman-Frieds 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 violations 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 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 This news release constitutes a "designated news release" for the purposes of the Company's prospectus supplement dated April 26, 2023 to its short form base shelf prospectus dated November 4, 2021 /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/ TORONTO, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abaxx Technologies Inc. (NEO:ABXX)(OTCQX:ABXXF) (Abaxx or the Company), a financial software and market infrastructure company, majority shareholder of the Abaxx Commodity Exchange (Abaxx Singapore Pte Ltd), and producer of the SmarterMarkets Podcast, announces updates to the Companys executive management and appoints five new board members to Abaxx Commodity Exchange boards of directors. Abaxx also announces that it has established an at-the-market equity program. Highlights: The Company has established an at-the-market equity program (the ATM Program ) that allows the Company to issue, at its discretion, common shares having an aggregate offering price of up to C$30 million to the public from time to time through BMO Capital Markets (the Agent ). ) that allows the Company to issue, at its discretion, common shares having an aggregate offering price of up to C$30 million to the public from time to time through BMO Capital Markets (the ). Nancy Seah, Managing Director of Abaxx Singapore Pte. Ltd. ( Abaxx Singapore ), has been appointed to serve as CEO of Abaxx Exchange Pte. Ltd. ( Abaxx Exchange ). ), has been appointed to serve as CEO of Abaxx Exchange Pte. Ltd. ( ). Five additional directors appointed across Abaxx Singapore, Abaxx Exchange and Abaxx Clearing Pte. Ltd. (Abaxx Clearing) governance boards. Abaxx Singapore Board and Management Updates Nancy Seah has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Abaxx Exchange. Ms. Seah, with over 25 years of energy trading and risk management expertise, has served as Abaxx Singapores Managing Director since she joined the Company in August of 2020. Her previous experience includes serving as Executive Vice President at Pavilion Energy, Managing Director and Head of Commodities Sales Asia for Goldman Sachs and Head of Energy Risk Management at BP Singapore. Effective May 1st, 2023, Abaxx will welcome five new Independent Directors to the Boards of Directors of Abaxx Singapore and its wholly owned subsidiary Abaxx Clearing. Thomas Chhoa, Silvana Hleap and Catherine Flax join Abaxx Singapores Board of Directors, while Neal Wolkoff and Ng Quek Peng join Abaxx Clearings Board of Directors. Additionally, Thomas McMahon, co-founder of Abaxx Singapore, who currently sits on Abaxx Clearings Board of Directors, will also be appointed to Abaxx Singapores Board of Directors. Mason Wallick, who currently sits on Abaxx Singapores Board of Directors, will be re-appointed to Abaxx Clearings Board of Directors. These appointments are necessary for Abaxx Singapore and Abaxx Clearing to fulfill the statutory requirements of approved holding companies and approved clearinghouses. The new appointments to the Boards of Directors allow Abaxx Exchange and Clearing to achieve best in class governance through their independent and experienced oversight; furthermore, their wealth of knowledge in the commodities, exchange, regulatory and financial markets enhances existing managements already deep expertise in commodity futures markets, says Nancy Seah, Chief Executive Officer of Abaxx Exchange. Thomas Chhoa; Member of Board of Directors of Abaxx Singapore Thomas Chhoa has over 30 years of experience with Shell with a number of international assignments across the world including Al-Jubail in Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, China, Australia, Qatar, and Singapore. He has worked in different fields including engineering, process technology, international project development, change process management, strategy and business development, project venture set-up, governance, and large-scale business management in global leadership capacities. After his last assignment with Shell as global head of an LNG related initiative in 2016, Mr. Chhoa was appointed Senior Advisor at Economic Development Innovations Singapore Pte. Ltd. and is now Senior Advisor in the Office of the CEO for the not-for-profit Alliance to End Plastic Waste. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Nanyang Technological University, and a part-time lecturer at the Nanyang Business School on energy and the Singapore Management University, having developed and launched its LNG Trading module. Mr. Chhoa was the Vice Chairman of the board for Yueyang Sinopec Shell Coal Gasification Company Ltd., and has been a board member of Shell Eastern Trading (Pte.) Ltd. He is currently a board and executive committee member of Singapore LNG Corporation. Mr. Chhoa holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering from University of Leicester. Silvana Hleap; Member of Board of Directors of Abaxx Singapore Silvana Hleap is the Chief Investment Officer of Ivanhoe Capital Corporation, a private company that provides venture capital, project financing and related financial services for international business enterprises. In addition, she manages the Family Office of Ivanhoe Capitals founder Robert Friedland, his personal assets and investment interests, which involves her active participation on boards of directors of relevant companies. Before joining Ivanhoe in 2015, Ms. Hleap spent more than 20 years as a portfolio manager and investment advisor working for Bank Boston, Lehman Brothers, and JPMorgan in Sao Paulo, New York, and Singapore. Ms. Hleap holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil, and a Master of Business Administration from New York Universitys Stern School of Business, USA. Neal L. Wolkoff; Member of the Board of Directors of Abaxx Clearing Neal Wolkoff served as a C-level executive at three financial exchanges and is now an independent attorney and adviser on matters relating to derivatives and securities markets. He was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the American Stock Exchange (Amex), negotiating and closing its merger with the NYSE. Prior to the Amex, Mr. Wolkoff was the Chief Operating Officer at the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). He has also been the Chief Executive Officer of ELX Futures, L.P., an electronic futures exchange founded by major dealer banks and trading firms. Mr. Wolkoff started his career as an Honors Program Trial Attorney with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Mr. Wolkoff is currently the non-executive chairman of the board of OTC Markets Group OTCM, a public company that operates the OTC equities markets. Mr. Wolkoff consults on derivatives market regulation, and the workings of the commodities and securities markets. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Columbia University and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law and is a member of the Bar of the State of New York, and the U.S. District Court, SDNY. Ng Quek Peng; Member of the Board of Directors of Abaxx Clearing Ng Quek Peng has been in the corporate finance and securities industry in Singapore and Malaysia since 1981, advising clients on corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions and fundraising. He has held various positions in foreign and local financial institutions during his career, including Citicorp Investment Bank, OCBC Securities, ABN Amro Bank and CIMB Bank. Apart from the finance industry, Mr. Ng has experience in the direct investment industry as the former Managing Director of Temasek Holdings. He was also with GMR International, a company based in India, to develop their infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia, including developing the first foreign owned and privately developed power plant in Singapore. Mr. Ng is currently the Managing Director of Halcyon Capital, a company providing financial advisory services. He holds a Degree in Civil Engineering from University of London and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Catherine Flax; Member of Board of Directors of Abaxx Singapore Catherine Flax is the President of Private Investing at X Machina Capital Strategies, focusing on realizing the future of the energy transition. A former Wall Street executive, she previously served as Managing Director and Head of Commodity Derivatives, Foreign Exchange and Local Markets, Americas at BNP Paribas, and as Chief Marketing Officer for J.P. Morgan. She has been a leader in the FinTech space, serving on the boards of many organizations such as Digital Asset Holdings, a market leading blockchain company, and Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA). Ms. Flax also acted as CEO of Pefin, the worlds first AI Financial Advisor. Ms. Flax serves as an Independent Director on both the Abaxx Technologies Inc. and Base Carbon boards of directors. She holds a bachelors degree in economics from Texas A&M University and a Master of Economics from Brown University. Abaxx Announces At-The-Market Equity Program Abaxx has established an ATM Program which will allow the Company to issue, at its discretion, common shares (the Common Shares) of the Company having an aggregate offering price of up to C$30 million to the public from time to time through the Agent. Distributions of Common Shares pursuant to the ATM Program, if any, will be made in accordance with the terms of an equity distribution agreement dated April 26, 2023 (the Equity Distribution Agreement) entered into by the Company and the Agent. The ATM Program will be effective until the earlier of the issuance and sale of all of the Common Shares issuable pursuant to the ATM Program and December 4, 2023, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement. Common Shares issued under the ATM Program will be issued from treasury and distributed directly on the NEO Exchange (the NEO), or such other recognized marketplaces to the extent permitted, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, all in accordance with the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the ATM Program for general corporate and working capital requirements, including to fund ongoing operations and/or working capital requirements, to repay indebtedness outstanding from time to time and to complete future acquisitions or for other corporate purposes. Sales of Common Shares, if any, under the ATM Program are anticipated to be made in transactions that are deemed to be at-the-market distributions as defined in National Instrument 44-102 Shelf Distributions, as sales made directly on the NEO or any other recognized Canada marketplace within the meaning of National Instrument 21-101 Marketplace Operation. Since the Common Shares distributed pursuant to the ATM Program, if any, will be distributed to the public at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, prices may vary among purchasers and during the period of distribution. In connection with the ATM Program, the Company has filed a prospectus supplement dated April 26, 2023 (the Prospectus Supplement) to its base shelf prospectus dated November 4, 2021 (the Shelf Prospectus). Further details of the ATM Program are set out in the Prospectus Supplement. The Prospectus Supplement, Shelf Prospectus and Equity Distribution Agreement are each available under the Companys issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Common Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the 1933 Act) and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act), except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. Abaxx Has Terminated Normal Course Issuer Bid Abaxx also wishes to announce that it has terminated its Normal Course Issuer Bid (the NCIB) to purchase for cancellation up to 3,657,475 common shares of the Company, which was originally announced on June 15, 2022. The NCIB was set to terminate on June 14, 2023, and the Company did not plan to renew nor did the Company purchase any shares pursuant to the NCIB. About Abaxx Technologies Abaxx is a development stage financial software and market infrastructure company creating proprietary technological infrastructure for both global commodity exchanges and digital marketplaces. The companys formative technology increases transaction velocity, data security and facilitates improved risk management in the majority owned Abaxx Commodity Exchange (Abaxx Singapore Pte. Ltd.), a commodity futures exchange seeking final regulatory approvals as a Recognized Market Operator and Approved Clearing House (ACH) with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Abaxx is a founding shareholder in Base Carbon Inc. and the creator and producer of the SmarterMarkets podcast. For more information about this press release, please contact: Steve Fray, CFO 416-786-4381 Media and Investor Inquiries: Investor Relations Team Tel: +1 246 271 0082 E-mail: ir@abaxx.tech Forward-Looking Statements This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which do not consist of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe Abaxx or the Companys future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that Abaxx expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as seeking, believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to Abaxx, Abaxx does not provide any assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, any sales under the ATM Program, the use of proceeds from the sale of Common Shares under the ATM Program, Abaxx objectives, goals or future plans, statements, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions, timing of the appointment of board members for Abaxxs subsidiaries and statements related to the Companys intentions in relation to normal course issuer bids. Such factors include, among others: risks relating to the global economic climate; dilution; the Companys limited operating history; future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing; the competitive nature of the industry; currency exchange risks; the need for Abaxx to manage its planned growth and expansion; the effects of product development and need for continued technology change; protection of proprietary rights; the effect of government regulation and compliance on Abaxx and the industry; network security risks; the ability of Abaxx to maintain properly working systems; reliance on key personnel; global economic and financial market deterioration impeding access to capital or increasing the cost of capital; and volatile securities markets impacting security pricing unrelated to operating performance. In addition, particular factors which could impact future results of the business of Abaxx include but are not limited to: operations in foreign jurisdictions, protection of intellectual property rights, contractual risk, third party risk; clearinghouse risk, malicious actor risks, third-party software license risk, system failure risk, risk of technological change; dependence of technical infrastructure, an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains. Abaxx has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of Abaxx normal course of business. Abaxx cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. In addition, although Abaxx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. When relying on Abaxx forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Abaxx has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Abaxx as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. Abaxx does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. The NEO Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. TORONTO, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shawcor Ltd. (Shawcor or the Company) (TSX: SCL) announced today that it will be expanding its Composite Systems segment production capabilities in the US, with commitments for two new operating facilities. Capital expenditures for these operating facilities are expected to represent, in the aggregate, approximately $60 million across 2023 and 2024. The 2023 portion of these organic growth investments form a part of the Companys previously communicated capital expenditure guidance of $160-$180 million for the current year. These facilities will expand the Companys capability to deliver premium spoolable composite pipe and market-leading underground fuel and water storage tanks, more specifically: An additional production facility for its Flexpipe business, located in Texas. The Flexpipe business manufactures premium flexible fiberglass reinforced composite pipe used for oil and gas gathering and water disposal lines, carbon dioxide injection lines and other applications requiring corrosion resistance and high-pressure capabilities, and; An additional production facility for its Xerxes business, located in South Carolina. The Xerxes business manufactures market-leading fiberglass reinforced plastic underground storage tanks, primarily used within the retail fuel, storm water and wastewater markets. These substantial organic investments are an important part of our overall strategy to elevate returns for the entire organization, said Martin Perez, President of Shawcors Composite Systems segment. The strategic placement of these new facilities positions our Flexpipe business closer to our US customer base and expands Xerxes ability to serve the eastern-US market with underground storage tanks. The added scale will serve to unlock additional revenue generating capacity, and the efficiencies of these new plants should, over time, enhance the margin profile of the segment. Both facilities will be populated in a phased manner, are expected to be operational by the end of 2024 and to approach normalized levels of production in 2026. The Company believes that, in combination, these facilities, with initial equipment installations, have the potential to enable over $100M of incremental annual revenue generating capacity as they approach efficient utilization levels. About Shawcor Shawcor Ltd. is a growth-oriented, global material sciences company serving the Infrastructure, Energy, and Transportation markets. The Company operates through a network of fixed and mobile manufacturing and service facilities. Its three business segments, Composite Systems, Automotive & Industrial and Pipeline & Pipe Services enable responsible renewal and enhancement of critical infrastructure while lowering risk and environmental impact. For further information, please contact Meghan MacEachern External Communications & ESG, Director Telephone: 437.341.1848 Email: meghan.maceachern@shawcor.com Website: www.shawcor.com Forward Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Words such as "may", "will", "should", "anticipate", "plan", "expect", "believe", "predict", "estimate" or similar terminology are used to identify forward-looking information. Such statements, other than statements of historical fact, are predictive in nature or depend on future events or conditions. Specifically, this document includes forward-looking information in respect of, among other things: the Companys expected investments during 2023 and 2024 to expand capacity within the Composite Systems segment and other segments of the Companys business; the anticipated results and timing of the Companys capital expenditures investments and the expected impact on the Companys revenue generating capacity, operational efficiencies, margin profile enhancement, and financial results; and statements regarding timing for completion of the new facilities, and timing of achievement of anticipated production levels. This forward-looking information is based on assumptions, estimates and analysis made in the light of the Company's experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that are believed by the Company to be reasonable and relevant in the circumstances. In particular, forward-looking statements regarding the Companys expectations in respect of anticipated incremental annual revenue generating capacity resulting from its capital expenditure investments presented above are based on many assumptions including, but not limited to, the following material assumptions: expected demand for the Companys products in the Composite Systems segment, including the ability to grow such demand over the timeline expected to complete such facilities and achieve desired operational levels; the Company being able to complete the construction and commissioning of these facilities on their expected timeline and budget, as applicable, and its ability to achieve and maintain necessary production and efficiency levels once operational; expectations regarding the Companys ability to attract new customers and develop and maintain relationships with existing customers; the continued availability of funding required to meet our anticipated operating and capital expenditure requirements over such time; continued competitive intensity in the segments in which the Company operates consistent with levels experienced in 2022 and to date in 2023; no significant legal or regulatory developments, other shifts in economic conditions, or macro changes in the competitive environment affecting our business activities; key interest rates remaining relatively stable throughout 2023 to 2026; global oil and gas prices stabilizing at current levels; expectations regarding the Companys ability to continue to manage its supply chain and any future disruptions; the costs of raw materials and labour, including as a result of labour shortages and capacity constraints; the easing of supply chain shortages and the continued supply of and stable pricing or the ability to pass on higher prices to its customers for commodities used by the Company; and the availability of personnel resources sufficient for the Company to operate its business segments. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those predicted, expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Source: Shawcor Ltd. MAINTAINED A SOLID BALANCE SHEET WITH $21.4 MILLION IN CASH SOLD 10,055 GOLD EQUIVALENT OUNCES COMPLETED MORE THAN 2,500 METERS OF EXPANSION EXPLORATION DRILLING EBITDA OF $6.3 MILLION NET LOSSES OF $1 MILLION, OR $0.01 PER SHARE Gold Resource Corp. (NYSE American: GORO) (the "Company") sold a total of 6,508 ounces of gold and 294,815 ounces of silver in the first quarter of 2023 for a total of 10,055 gold equivalent ounces. Additionally, during the quarter, the Company sold 3,060 tonnes of zinc, 332 tonnes of copper, and 1,417 tonnes of lead. For the quarter ended March 31, 2023, the company reported a net loss of $1 million with revenue of $31.2 million and mine gross profit of $3.9 million from operations. A total of $5 million was invested in the Don David Gold Mine and Back Forty Project. "Our 2023 annual production at the Don David Gold Mine is off to a good start. This achievement is due to mining higher average grades as a result of targeted infill drilling and mine sequencing," stated Allen Palmiere, President and CEO. "Underground resource expansion drilling is progressing as planned. In addition, the mine is managed by a new leadership team that is already realizing improvements to maximize efficiencies and safety protocols. At the Back Forty Project in Michigan, feasibility study work related to metallurgical testing and refinement of capital cost estimates continues." 2023 HIGHLIGHTS Additional highlights for the three months ended March 31, 2023, are summarized below: Financial Working capital was $24.1 million as of March 31, 2023, $2.7 million higher than as of December 31, 2022. The increase is primarily due to a decrease in royalty taxes payable. Total cash cost for the quarter was $711 per gold equivalent ("AuEq") ounce (after co-product credits) and total all-in sustaining cost for the quarter was $1,221 per AuEq ounce (after co-product credits). The Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held in person on June 15, 2023. Information regarding notice, materials, and voting can be found in the 2023 Proxy Statement that will be filed with the SEC on April 28, 2023 and available at https://www.sec.gov/edgar. Don David Gold Mine The Don David Gold Mine ("DDGM") safety program aims to bolster the overall health and safety culture of our employees. There was one lost time incident during the first quarter of 2023. The year-to-date lost time injury frequency rate per million hours of 1.96 is substantially below the Camimex (Mexican Chamber of Mines) industry average of 4.52. For the ninth consecutive year, the Don David Gold Mine earned the prestigious Empresa Socialmente Responsable ("ESR") award from the Mexican Center for Philanthropy (CEMEFI). Awards are given to organizations who demonstrate a commitment to supporting social and environmental protection programs within their local communities. Exploration has progressed as planned during the first quarter with work continuing to focus on infill drilling with encouraging results. Our 2023 exploration objectives are to identify and define additional mineral resources from the Three Sisters, South Soledad, Sagrario, and Marena vein systems. Back Forty Project The feasibility study work for the Back Forty Project in Michigan, USA progressed during the first quarter of 2023. Work related to metallurgy and the economic model will continue with a deliberate and measured approach. Once the feasibility study work is completed, the Company's Board of Directors will evaluate the current economic climate and make a decision on how to move forward with the Back Forty Mine. 2023 Capital and Exploration Investment Summary For the three months ended March 31, 2023 2023 full year guidance (in thousands) Sustaining Investments: Underground Development Capital $ 1,296 Infill Drilling Capitalized Exploration 817 Other Sustaining Capital Capital 475 Surface and Underground Exploration Development & Other Capitalized Exploration 548 Subtotal of Sustaining Investments: 3,136 $ 9 - 11 million Growth Investments: DDGM growth: Surface Exploration / Other Exploration 766 Underground Exploration Drilling Exploration 477 Underground Exploration Development Exploration 146 Back Forty growth: Back Forty Feasibility Study & Permits Exploration 450 Subtotal of Growth Investments: 1,839 $ 6 - 7 million Total Capital and Exploration: $ 4,975 $ 15 - 18 million Trending Highlights (unaudited) 2022 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Operating Data Total tonnes milled 136,844 129,099 110,682 116,616 117,781 Average Grade Gold (g/t) 3.00 2.63 1.98 2.51 2.33 Silver (g/t) 81 64 80 109 94 Copper (%) 0.41 0.32 0.37 0.45 0.37 Lead (%) 1.97 1.99 1.59 1.58 1.73 Zinc (%) 4.89 4.00 4.21 4.27 3.88 Metal production (before payable metal deductions) Gold (ozs.) 11,187 9,317 5,851 7,767 7,171 Silver (ozs.) 332,292 249,088 261,256 370,768 322,676 Copper (tonnes) 431 303 296 406 336 Lead (tonnes) 2,073 2,020 1,249 1,323 1,559 Zinc (tonnes) 5,562 4,282 3,901 4,198 3,837 Metal produced and sold Gold (ozs.) 8,381 8,746 5,478 7,514 6,508 Silver (ozs.) 265,407 231,622 225,012 335,168 294,815 Copper (tonnes) 408 286 282 372 332 Lead (tonnes) 1,639 1,755 1,056 941 1,417 Zinc (tonnes) 4,359 3,590 2,943 3,265 3,060 Average metal prices realized Gold ($ per oz.) $ 1,898 $ 1,874 $ 1,627 $ 1,734 $ 1,915 Silver ($ per oz.) $ 23.94 $ 22.05 $ 18.54 $ 21.25 $ 23.04 Copper ($ per tonne) $ 10,144 $ 9,275 $ 7,115 $ 8,221 $ 9,172 Lead ($ per tonne) $ 2,347 $ 2,168 $ 1,882 $ 1,954 $ 2,158 Zinc ($ per tonne) $ 3,842 $ 4,338 $ 3,186 $ 2,577 $ 3,195 Gold equivalent ounces sold Gold Ounces 8,381 8,746 5,478 7,514 6,508 Gold Equivalent Ounces from Silver 3,348 2,729 2,564 4,107 3,547 Total AuEq oz 11,729 11,475 8,042 11,621 10,055 Financial Data ($'s in thousands except for per ounce) Total sales, net $ 45,417 $ 37,064 $ 23,869 $ 32,374 $ 31,228 Earnings from mining operations before depreciation and amortization 25,281 15,281 4,431 11,981 11,183 Total cash cost after co-product credits per AuEq oz sold (163) 247 1,103 842 711 Total consolidated all-in sustaining cost after co-product credits per AuEq oz sold 462 799 1,831 1,226 1,218 Production Costs 2,074 21,722 19,380 19,773 19,850 Production Costs/Tonnes Milled 147 168 175 170 169 Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion, and amortization 15,328 13,716 (3,338) 3,758 6,085 Operating Cash Flows 4,230 7,976 (4,292) 6,243 1,024 Net income 4,019 2,673 (9,730) (3,283) (1,035) Earnings per share - basic $ 0.05 $ 0.03 ($ 0.11) ($ 0.04) ($ 0.01) Q1 2023 Conference Call The Company will host a conference call Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time. The conference call will be recorded and posted to the Company's website later in the day following the conclusion of the call. Following prepared remarks, Allen Palmiere, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alberto Reyes, Chief Operating Officer and Kim Perry, Chief Financial Officer will host a live question and answer (Q&A) session. There are two ways to join the conference call. To join the conference via webcast, please click on the following link: Click Here To Join Webcast To join the call via telephone, please use the following dial-in details: Participant Toll Free: +1 (888) 396-8049 International: +1 (416) 764-8646 Conference ID: 13462059 Please connect to the conference call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time using one of the connection options listed above. About GRC: Gold Resource Corp. is a gold and silver producer, developer, and explorer with its operations centered on the Don David Gold Mine in Oaxaca, Mexico. Under the direction of an experienced board and senior leadership team, the company's focus is to unlock the significant upside potential of its existing infrastructure and large land position surrounding the mine in Oaxaca, Mexico and to develop the Back Forty Project in Michigan, USA. For more information, please visit GRC's website, located at www.goldresourcecorp.com and read the company's Form 10-K for an understanding of the risk factors associated with its business. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230425006138/en/ Contact Kim Perry Chief Financial Officer Kim.Perry@GRC-USA.com www.GoldResourcecorp.com Vancouver, April 25, 2023 - Canada One Mining Corp. ("Canada One" or the "Company") (TSXV:CONE) is pleased to announce that it will be focusing its 2023 exploration activities on its 100% owned Copper Dome Project (the "Project" or "Property") located 18 km south of Princeton, British Columbia and contiguous to the Copper Mountain Mine, owned and operated by Copper Mountain Mining Company (TSXV: CMMC). The Project has seen extensive exploration over the years including magnetics and induced polarization geophysical surveys and several rounds of diamond drilling. Canada One has a large land package of over 2,200 hectares that includes several drill ready targets. Exploration History Work completed to date, beginning in 1960 on the Property, consists of four drilling campaigns totaling around 11,000 m in 66 holes. In addition, 2,253 soil and 378 rock samples have been collected. Geophysical surveys include 281 km of ground magnetics, 114 km of induced polarization and 86 km of ground electro-magnetics. In 2007, diamond drilling was performed by the Company on the Friday creek zone in the northwest corner of the Project. Hole DDH FC-12 returned 42.6m of 0.28%Cu including 6m 1.5% Cu and 0.7 g/t Au. Hole DDH FC-11 returned 156m 0.09% Cu Including 10m of 0.7% Cu 0.8 g/t gold (AR 33852). The Combination Creek zone located within the northeast corner of the Project shows stockwork veining associated with hornfels within the volcanic and sedimentary rocks adjacent to the Copper Mountain stock. The best mineralization in the Combination Creek zone drilled to date is found in a 70 to 100 m wide section of Nicola volcanics extending at least 250 m east west and bounded to the north by the Copper Mountain Stock and to the south by a coarse pink feldspar porphyry syenite dyke. Drilling by the Company in 2010 and 2011 in the Combination Creek Zone returned the following highlighted intercepts (AR 33070): DDH PT-10-01: 50 meters of 0.15% Cu, including 12m @ 0.28% Cu. DDH PT-10-02: 45 meters of 0.17% Cu, including 10m 0.44% Cu. DDH PT-11-18: 102.7 meters of 0.14% Cu including 6m 0.29% Cu. The sampling was done to the standards of the time and are considered "historical" in nature and cannot be considered 43-101 compliant and cannot be relied upon. The results are listed here to show why the Company is interested in this area. Future work and drilling may not repeat similar results. Canada One will be pursuing an exploration permit this spring which will allow the Company to expand on the existing IP and magnetics surveys. The Company will follow the IP extension work with a compilation of the geophysics and conduct geochemical grids over the areas of interest. Private Placement of up to $1.8 million The Company is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement (the "LIFE Offering") consisting of up to 3,000,000 units of the Company, (each, a "Unit"), at a price of $0.10 per Unit. The Units will be offered in all Canadian provinces, except Quebec, pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption under National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"). There is an offering document (the "Offering Document") related to the LIFE Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.canadaonemining.com. Prospective investors should read the LIFE Offering Document before making an investment decision. The securities offered under the LIFE Offering will not be subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. In addition, the Company announces that it is undertaking, concurrent with the LIFE Offering, a non-brokered private placement of up to 15,000,000 Units on the same terms as the LIFE Offering (the "Private Placement"), for gross proceeds of up to $1,800,000 from the LIFE Offering and the Private Placement. The Units sold pursuant to the Private Placement shall be subject to a four-month-and-one-day hold period and will be offered in all Canadian provinces pursuant to the Accredited Investor Exemption under NI 45-106 and in such other jurisdictions that will be determined by the Company. Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one-half (1/2) of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will be exercisable into one (1) Common Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.15 per Warrant Share for a period of three (3) years after the closing date of the LIFE Offering and the Private Placement (the "Closing Date"), subject to adjustment in certain events. If, at any time following the date that is four-months-and-one-day following the Closing Date, the Common Shares have a closing price on the TSXV Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") of $0.25 or greater per Common Share for a period of five (5) consecutive trading days, the Company shall have the right to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants that is at least 60 days following the date of such notice to holders of Warrants. As disclosed in the Offering Document, the Company intends to use the net proceeds from the LIFE Offering and Private Placement to fund its exploration and development of the Company's properties, extinguish liabilities and payables and for general administrative and working capital expenses. The Company may pay finder's fees under the LIFE Offering as permitted by the policies of the TSXV and applicable securities laws. The LIFE Offering and Private Placement are expected to close concurrently on or about May 26, 2023, subject to customary closing conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSXV. Copper Mountain Area Geology The Copper Mountain area is a large, structurally complex, alkalic porphyry copper-gold system where historical mining operations from 1927 to 2019 have produced approximately 1.7 billion pounds (Blb) of copper, 700,000 ounces (oz) of gold, and 9 million ounces (Moz) of silver. Most of the copper-gold mineralization at the Copper Dome Project and at the mine site is in the form of veins, fracture fillings, and disseminations within volcanic rocks of the Nicola group and intrusive rocks of the Lost Horse intrusive complex. The Copper Mountain deposit is classified as an alkalic porphyry copper-gold deposit. Alkalic porphyry deposits typically have low-pyrite and high-carbonate contents, and therefore have a low probability of issues with acid-rock drainage. Copper Mountain Mine The Copper Mountain Mine, which is contiguous to the north of Copper Dome Project, is a conventional open pit, truck and shovel operation. The mine has a 45,000 tonnes per day plant that utilizes a conventional crushing, grinding and flotation circuit to produce copper concentrates with gold and silver credits. A new life of mine plan to expand the mill to 65,000 tonnes per day, further increases average annual production to 138 million pounds of copper equivalent and reduces all-in costs to US$1.76 per pound of copper over the first 20 years of a 32-year mine life. The 65,000 tonnes per day mill expansion, including the integration of New Ingerbelle, brings Copper Mountain Mine's after-tax NPV at an 8% discount to US$1.245 billion (see Life of Mine Plan Expansion Study Technical Report, Copper Mountain Mining Corp., Sept. 2022). Further potential exists through the upgrading of Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves and further exploration to continue to extend the mine life and add value. The Company cautions the discoveries and observations on properties in proximity to the Company's properties are not necessarily indicative of the presence of similar mineralization or geology on the Company's properties. Marketing Services Agreement The Company has engaged Globull Technologies Inc. (Globull) for online marketing services. Services include, but are not limited to, native advertising distribution, display advertisement distribution, push notification distribution, search engine marketing, and lead generation and capture. The term of the contract is for six months starting on April 24, 2023 with the option to continue on a month-to-month basis thereafter. Globull will be compensated $5,000 USD for the initial six-month period. Cancelled Option Agreements The Company has cancelled the fundamental acquisition of the Matabitchuan Cobalt Project previously announced on August 23rd and September 6th, 2022 pursuant to which the Company was to acquire the right to earn an interest from arm's length third parties in the Matabitchuan, Eldridge Pubelow, Cooper and Golden Lake properties. The Company has also cancelled its acquisition of the Franelle Copper Project located in Quebec. Qualified Person The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Freeman Smith, P.Geo, a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. For further information, interested parties are encouraged to visit the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or contact the Company at info@evolvemgmt.net. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Canada One Mining Corp. Peter Berdusco President and Chief Executive Officer 1 877 844 4661 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. Vancouver, April 25, 2023 - Wedgemount Resources Corp. (CSE: WDGY) (OTCQB: WDGRF) ("Wedgemount" or the "Company"), announces it has approved the grant of incentive stock options (each, an "Option") to acquire up to 475,000 common shares in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share"). The Options are exercisable for a five-year term expiring on April 25, 2028, at a price of $0.17 per Option. The Options are subject to vesting provisions, with 1/4 vesting 3 months from the date of grant and 1/4 vesting every 3 months thereafter. Any Common Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of the Options, will be subject to a four month hold period expiring on August 26, 2023, unless waived by the Canadian Securities Exchange. About Wedgemount Resources Corp. Wedgemount Resources is a junior natural resources company focused on maximizing shareholder value through the acquisition, discovery and advancement of natural resource projects in North America. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Wedgemount Resources Corp. Mark Vanry, President and CEO For more information, please contact the Company at: Telephone: (604) 343-4743 info@wedgemountresources.com www.wedgemountresources.com Reader Advisory This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163784 VANCOUVER, April 26, 2023 - Vizsla Silver Corp. (TSXV: VZLA) (NYSE: VZLA) (Frankfurt: 0G3) ("Vizsla" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the formation of a strategic technical committee in collaboration with Dr. Peter Megaw and Prismo Metals. This joint effort aims to leverage the combined experience and knowledge of Vizsla and Prismo and reflects the commitment of both organizations to socially and environmentally responsible exploration of the Panuco silver-gold district. "We are thrilled to collaborate with Dr. Peter Megaw and Dr. Craig Gibson and establish this technical committee," commented Michael Konnert, President and CEO of Vizsla Silver. "By combining our strengths and expertise, we significantly improve our odds for making additional discoveries in the central and eastern portions of the vastly under-explored Panuco district." The technical committee will focus on regional, and district-scale generative work centered on both the Panuco and Palos Verdes claims. Through joint research and development initiatives, knowledge sharing, and collaborative projects, the committee aims to accelerate the pace of geologic understanding in the district and contribute to its long-term growth and success as the next major mining district in Mexico. The joint technical committee will be comprised of Dr. Jesus Velador, Vice President Exploration of Vizsla, Dr. Craig Gibson, President and CEO of Prismo Metals and Dr. Peter Megaw, Chief Exploration Officer of MAG Silver Corp. Peter Megaw has a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Arizona and over 40 years of mineral exploration experience in Mexico with a focus on silver. Both Dr. Velador and Dr. Megaw have worked together in the past and have each been instrumental in numerous mineral discoveries in Mexico including MAG Silver's Juanicipio Project. "The Panuco-Copala District is clearly a large-scale, long-lived district with the production profile of a major epithermal vein camp," said Dr. Peter Megaw, Technical Advisor to Prismo Metals. "Anytime you can step into a historic district and quickly find important blind veins means its worth stepping back to see where else that potential exists in the area. I look forward to working with the joint technical committee to explore Panuco as a coherent whole." Jesus Velador, VP Exploration of Vizsla Silver added, "I am very excited for the opportunity to collaborate yet again with Dr. Peter Megaw as we look to identify new centres of high-grade mineralization within the broader Panuco district." About the Panuco project The newly consolidated Panuco silver-gold project is an emerging high-grade discovery located in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, near the city of Mazatlan. The 7,189.5-hectare, past producing district benefits from over 86 kilometres of total vein extent, 35 kilometres of underground mines, roads, power, and permits. The district contains intermediate to low sulfidation epithermal silver and gold deposits related to siliceous volcanism and crustal extension in the Oligocene and Miocene. Host rocks are mainly continental volcanic rocks correlated to the Tarahumara Formation. The Panuco Project hosts an estimated in-situ indicated mineral resource of 104.8 Moz AgEq and an in-situ inferred resource of 114.1 Moz AgEq. An updated NI 43-101 technical report titled "Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Estimate Update for the Panuco Ag-Au-Pb-Zn Project, Sinaloa State, Mexico" was filed on SEDAR on March 10, 2023, with an effective date of January 19, 2023 was prepared by Allan Armitage, Ph. D., P. Geo., Ben Eggers, MAIG, P.Geo. and Yann Camus, P.Eng. of SGS Geological Services. About Vizsla Silver Vizsla Silver is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, focused on advancing its flagship, 100%-owned Panuco silver-gold project located in Sinaloa, Mexico. To date, Vizsla has completed over 250,000 metres of drilling at Panuco leading to the discovery of several new high-grade veins. For 2023, Vizsla has budgeted +90,000 metres of resource/discovery-based drilling designed to upgrade and expand the mineral resource, as well as test other high priority targets across the district. About Prismo Metals Prismo (CSE: PRIZ) is mining exploration company focused on two precious metal projects in Mexico (Palos Verdes and Los Pavitos) and a copper project in Arizona (Hot Breccia). Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources The scientific and technical information in this news release was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The terms "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" used herein are in reference to the mining terms defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards (the "CIM Definition Standards"), which definitions have been adopted by NI 43-101. Accordingly, information contained herein providing descriptions of our mineral deposits in accordance with NI 43-101 may not be comparable to similar information made public by other U.S. companies subject to the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. You are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral resources will ever be converted into reserves. Pursuant to CIM Definition Standards, "inferred mineral resources" are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Such geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource and must not be converted to a mineral reserve. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Canadian standards, including the CIM Definition Standards and NI 43-101, differ significantly from standards in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Effective February 25, 2019, the SEC adopted new mining disclosure rules under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SEC Modernization Rules"), with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements included in SEC Industry Guide 7. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". Information regarding mineral resources contained or referenced herein may not be comparable to similar information made public by companies that report according to U.S. standards. While the SEC Modernization Rules are purported to be "substantially similar" to the CIM Definition Standards, readers are cautioned that there are differences between the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definitions Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral resources that the Company may report as "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things: the exploration, development, and production at Panuco, including plans for resource/discovery-based drilling, designed to upgrade and expand the maiden resource. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of Vizsla, future growth potential for Vizsla and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of silver, gold, and other metals; no escalation in the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; Vizsla's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms. These statements reflect Vizsla's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information and Vizsla has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in Mexico; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in Vizsla' management discussion and analysis. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although Vizsla has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Vizsla does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law. SOURCE Vizsla Silver Corp. Toronto, April 26, 2023 - Mistango River Resources Inc. (CSE: MIS) ("Mistango" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for aggregate gross proceeds of $700,000. Proceeds will be used for an upcoming drill program on Mistango's 100% Goldie Project in Shebandowan and adjacent to Delta Resources Delta-1 Project. About Mistango's Goldie Project Goldie is located within the Shebandowan Greenstone Belt and covers a 17km strike on the Shebandowan Structural Zone, which also hosts Goldshore Resources Inc.'s low-grade high-tonnage Moss Lake gold deposit, 50 km to the west. Goldie is also adjacent to Delta Resources Delta-1 Project, which reported multiple holes of visible gold, including an intersection of 11.9 metres of 14.8 g/t gold within a broader interval of 31.0 metres of 5.92 g/t gold. The Offering consists of any combination of (i) units of the Company (the "Units") at $0.045 per unit and (ii) flow-through units of the Company (each "FT" Unit") at a price of $0.06 per FT Unit. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Common Share in the capital of the Company (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.10 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months from the closing of the Offering. Each FT Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (a "FT Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant ("FT Warrant"). Each FT Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Common Share (a "FT Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.10 per FT Warrant Share for a period of 24 months from the closing of the Offering. The company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of Units towards its exploration and development work on the Goldie Project in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and for general working capital purposes. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of FT Units towards its exploration work on the Goldie Project in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The Common Shares and Warrants underlying the Units and the FT Common Shares and FT Warrants underlying the FT Units to be issued under the Offering will have a hold period of four months and one-day closing of the Offering. The Company reserves the right to increase the size the Offering. In connection with the Offering, the Company may pay a finder's fee the aggregate gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Units and FT Units. The issuance of the Units and FT Units, and payment of the Finder's Fee is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the CSE. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, unless an exemption from such registration is available. To learn more about Mistango, the Ore Group, and all things mining, please go to our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@theoregroup. Mistango is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the symbol MIS. To Speak to the Company directly, please contact: Stephen Stewart, Chairman Phone: 416.644.1567 Email: info@oregroup.ca www.mistango.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Mistango assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to Mistango. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings by Mistango with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available under Mistango profile at www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163816 TORONTO, April 26, 2023 - Golden Tag Resources Ltd. ("Golden Tag" or the "Company") (TSX.V: GOG) (OTCQB: GTAGF) is pleased to announce the Company is participating in the upcoming 121 Mining Investment Conference in London, United Kingdom. Greg McKenzie, President & CEO of Golden Tag will be presenting about the Companies recent and future planned activities. The 121 Mining Investment Conference hosts over 135 companies joined by over 500 sophisticated investors for pre-arranged targeted 1-2-1 meetings. This year's event is being held on May 9-10, 2023 in London, United Kingdom. About 121 Investment 121 Mining Investment events gather senior investors from institutional funds, private equity groups, family offices and sector analysts to meet with carefully selected mining company management teams in the world's leading financial hubs. Featuring cash-generating producers, near-production development companies, project generators and exciting exploration projects, 121 Mining Investment events offer investors the perfect forum to seek out their next big mining investment opportunity. 121 Mining Investment events are held annually in Hong Kong, London, Cape Town, New York and Singapore and focus on two-days of 1-on-1 meetings tailored to match the right level of mining projects with the right investment capital. Alongside the 1-2-1 meetings, delegates are able to enjoy a two-day agenda of investor-led panel discussions providing market insights, analysis and each participating mining company presenting their latest updates. About Golden Tag Resources Golden Tag Resources Ltd. is a Toronto based mineral resource exploration company. The Company holds a 100% interest, subject to a 2% NSR, in the San Diego Project, in Durango, Mexico. The San Diego property is among the largest undeveloped silver assets in Mexico and is located within the prolific Velardena Mining District. Velardena hosts several mines having produced silver, zinc, lead and gold for over 100 years. For more information regarding the San Diego property please visit our website at www.goldentag.ca. For additional information, please contact: Greg McKenzie, President & CEO Ph: 416-504-2020 Email: info@goldentag.ca www.goldentag.ca Cautionary Statement: Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of the phrase 'forward-looking information' in the Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations. Forward-looking statements are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding presentations and investor relation activities. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: the ability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company or its service providers; disruptions in information systems upon which its service providers relies in connection with the delivery of its services to the Company; and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. TORONTO, April 26, 2023 - Galantas Gold Corp. (TSX-V & AIM: GAL; OTCQX: GALKF) ("Galantas" or the "Company") announces that, further to its news releases dated March 20 and March 28, 2023, the Company has completed a shares-for-debt transaction with several arm's length creditors of the Company (the "Debt Settlement"), pursuant to which the Company has settled approximately C$749,020 of indebtedness through the issuance of an aggregate of 2,080,609 units of the Company (the "Units") at a deemed price of C$0.36 per Unit. Each Unit was comprised of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (each, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.55 per Common Share until April 26, 2028. The securities issued pursuant to the Debt Settlement are subject to a four-month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws which will expire on August 27, 2023. An application has been filed for admittance of 2,080,609 additional shares to AIM ("Admission") with Admission expected to occur on or around April 28, 2023. Following Admission, the Company's issued and outstanding Common Shares will total 114,808,403. 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. The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the retained EU law version of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (the "UK MAR") which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The information is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of the UK MAR. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. About Galantas Gold Corporation Galantas Gold Corp. is a Canadian public company that trades on the TSX Venture Exchange and the London Stock Exchange AIM market, both under the symbol GAL. It also trades on the OTCQX Exchange under the symbol GALKF. The Company's strategy is to create shareholder value by operating and expanding gold production and resources at the Omagh Project in Northern Ireland, and exploring the Gairloch Project hosting the Kerry Road gold-bearing VMS deposit in Scotland. Enquiries Galantas Gold Corp. Mario Stifano: Chief Executive Officer Email: info@galantas.com Website: www.galantas.com Telephone: +44(0)28 8224 1100 Grant Thornton UK LLP (AIM Nomad) Philip Secrett, Harrison Clarke, George Grainger, Samuel Littler Telephone: +44(0)20 7383 5100 SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP (AIM Broker) David Hignell, Charlie Bouverat (Corporate Finance) Grant Barker (Sales & Broking) Telephone: +44(0)20 3470 0470 Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws, including, but not limited to, the admission and timing of admission of the Common Shares on AIM, and the plans, operations and prospects of the Company. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by Galantas in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that Galantas believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause Galantas' actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward looking statements or strategy, including: gold price volatility; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries and throughputs; mining operational risk, geological uncertainties; regulatory restrictions, including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability; risks of sovereign involvement; speculative nature of gold exploration; dilution; competition; loss of or availability of key employees; additional funding requirements; uncertainties regarding planning and other permitting issues; and defective title to mineral claims or property. These factors and others that could affect Galantas' forward-looking statements are discussed in greater detail in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Galantas' Management Discussion & Analysis of the financial statements of Galantas and elsewhere in documents filed from time to time with the Canadian provincial securities regulators and other regulatory authorities. These factors should be considered carefully, and persons reviewing this news release should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Galantas has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this news release, except as required by law. MONTREAL, April 26, 2023 - Strategic Resources Inc. (TSXV: SR) (the "Company" or "Strategic") is pleased to announce the results of its annual general meeting of shareholders held on April 26, 2023 in Vancouver (the "Meeting"). Strategic's shareholders voted in favour of each of the matters considered at the Meeting, including electing each of Sean Cleary, Amyot Choquette, Scott Hicks, Michael Moore, Mark Serdan and Kurt Wasserman as directors of the Company to hold office for the ensuing year, appointing KPMG LLP as the Company's auditors for the ensuing year and authorizing the board of directors to set their remuneration, approving Strategic's incentive plans and approving the prior grant of certain RSU's as described in the Information Circular. About Strategic Resources Strategic Resources Inc. (TSXV: SR) is a Montreal, Canada-based mineral exploration and development company focused on high-purity iron and vanadium projects in Canada and Finland. The Company is primarily focused on its flagship BlackRock project, which is a fully permitted and ready to construct mine, concentrator and metallurgical facility in Quebec. Further details are available on the Company's website at https://strategic-res.com/. To follow future news releases, please sign up at https://strategic-res.com/contact/. Follow us on: Twitter or Linkedin. Strategic Resources Inc. Signed: "Sean Cleary" Sean Cleary, CEO & Chairman Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/strategic-resources-announces-agm-results-301808413.html SOURCE Strategic Resources Inc. Robert Shwartzman insists his "top priority" is securing a race seat in Formula 1. However, the Russian - who switched to an Israeli racing license because of the Ukraine conflict - was in action at the Formula E test in Berlin. That is despite the fact that he is Ferrari's F1 reserve driver. "My top priority is a place in F1," Shwartzman, 23, is quoted by sports.ru. "For now I am focused on my work as reserve driver as much as possible. "At the same time, I am preparing for endurance racing, because another dream of mine is hypercar. But if they call from Formula 1 and say that they have a place, I will be ready." Another Russian driver in action in Berlin this week was former Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat - who is keeping his racing career alive with an Italian license. "Yes, Formula E is definitely an opportunity for the future," he said. "Of course, I am already a Lamborghini driver, but in general we are open to the idea of performing in two series," 29-year-old Kvyat added. (GMM) Ferrari's sporting director Laurent Mekies looks set to return to Faenza. The 45-year-old Frenchman worked initially for Minardi, which became Red Bull's second Formula 1 team - where Mekies worked in prominent technical roles before he was poached by Ferrari in 2014. Now, according to Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport, Mekies is returning from Maranello to Faenza-based Alpha Tauri - just as rumours swirl that long-time team boss Franz Tost, 67, could be replaced. Mekies "has already signed on and could move this year", correspondent Luigi Perna said. "Will he be the team principal after Tost? "It was no secret that Mekies wanted to leave Ferrari," he added. "The arrival of new team principal Frederic Vasseur, with whom he attended college, did not change the situation." Perna said Mekies could make the move in 2023 if Ferrari and Alpha Tauri agree, "otherwise it will be 2024". "Tost recently expressed his intention to leave F1 within three years, so it could be an opportunity for Mekies to take command of the team in 2026." (GMM) Charges of sexism against FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem are ramping up. The controversial new head of Formula 1's governing body has taken a conspicuously lower profile since quotes emerged of him declaring in 2001 that men are "smarter" than women. The saga hit a high gear when interim FIA secretary general Shaila-Ann Rao, a former lawyer to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, lost her job. But now, the Daily Telegraph reports that Rao authored a letter accusing Ben Sulayem of "numerous instances" not only of sexist behaviour but also bullying. The newspaper also said "dozens" of FIA officials who back her claim, including one who saw the president "shouting" at Rao. One source said: "I've had team principals call me who said 'You should have seen how he treated Shaila-Ann' and it was in front of other people. "That's how he was. Shaila-Ann dared to say no in front of other people which seemed to trigger his behaviour." When asked to comment, an FIA spokesperson said: "Mutual privacy terms have been agreed as is commonplace in business. Neither party has made a reference to the FIA Ethics Committee." It is understood that following key absences recently, including Tuesday's F1 Commission meeting, Ben Sulayem will be in Baku this weekend. (GMM) Kevin Magnussen might struggle to hang onto his Haas race seat beyond 2023. The 30-year-old is no stranger to the American outfit, having first raced a Haas between 2017 and 2020 - before the team's experiment with an all-rookie lineup in 2021. Magnussen, though, returned to the cockpit last year, when he shone alongside Mick Schumacher. In 2023 so far, however, it is the returning Nico Hulkenberg who is clearly setting the pace at Haas despite his three-year break from Formula 1. "Kevin is not in a happy place at the moment, being behind Nico," team boss Gunther Steiner told the Mirror newspaper. "He is happy for the team and he knows the car is there for him to be able to do it - he just needs to get it done." Worse still for Magnussen is that his contract is up for renewal. "In the end it is all down to performance but, at the moment, I'm pretty relaxed about it," Steiner insisted. "I want to at least give another five races to see where we are and then start to think about it." Steiner said in Melbourne recently that he will speak with current Red Bull reserve Daniel Ricciardo about a potential Haas race seat for 2024 "at some point". "Hopefully this year we can confirm what we are doing before the summer break because (a delay is) not nice from my point of view," Steiner now reveals. (GMM) Nikita Mazepin says he will continue to take legal action until he is fully able to return to Formula 1. The 24-year-old and his sponsor Uralkali were expelled from Haas and Formula 1 at the outset of the Ukraine conflict, with the FIA now imposing restrictions on any Russian driver wanting to race. "I really hope I will have the opportunity to return to Formula 1, but today it looks quite difficult," Mazepin told Russian outlets including Tass news agency. "If sanctions are lifted and things are not as they are now, then I am ready. I have a lot of legal colleagues who are working to give me the opportunity to return to the sport, but at the moment there is no great success." On March 2, Mazepin recently won a case in Europe's court of justice. "Unfortunately, on March 10, new sanctions were introduced," he revealed. "So it turns out that we need to sue again." It also emerged in the last few days that Mazepin is suing Canada's foreign minister for the right to race in the country. "We're working on the European Union, Great Britain, Canada. If I'm not mistaken, I am even under sanctions in Montenegro. I've never been there and there are no races there," the Russian said. "You know, there is a contagious effect with sanctions - someone introduces it, others introduce it too. So we are trying to justify with lawyers that this should not happen to athletes." (GMM) Boosting e-commerce, Prosper Africa creates opportunities Charles Benoni Okine Business News Apr - 25 - 2023 , 18:16 E-commerce and digital transactions expanded rapidly on the African continent during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic as health-related restrictions limited foot traffic in malls, prompting greater levels of online retail activity. Africa led mobile internet usage as of 2021 compared to other regions. The continent led by 13 per cent above the global average, and almost five per cent more mobile usage than Asian region markets. This development was therefore, expected to signal a mobile-first approach to any business looking to sell online to the various African markets. In spite of the progress made, experts believe that because of the drastic reduction in the deadly impact of the pandemic, African nations collectively are lagging behind global consumer banking habit averages, with almost half of the adults not in possession of any formal bank account preferring to pay in cash. Debit card payment methods makes for only a paltry 10 per cent penetration of the population, while credit card ownership rates are low with an average two per cent for the entire continent according to data from the International Trade Administration. Against this background, online payments remains a perennial challenge for businesses wishing to target e-commerce consumers in the African markets. Opportunities To bridge the gap, the tech alliance of major U.S. and African companies will accelerate e-commerce and digital trade in Africa and address legal, regulatory, and logistical bottlenecks across the continent. Consequently, the U.S. Governments Prosper Africa initiative officially launched its Africa Tech for Trade Alliance on April 12 at the 2023 Africa Fintech Summit in Washington, DC. Speaking at the launch event attended by U.S. and African tech executives and entrepreneurs, USAID Assistant Administrator in the Bureau for Africa, Dr Monde Muyangwa, emphasised that the rapid evolution of Africas digital ecosystem is fueling economic growth and prosperity on the continent. Through Africas digital transformation, we are seeing new connections taking root, he said adding that; These transformations are building an inclusive and resilient African digital ecosystem, which is leading to increased productivity, competitiveness, and service delivery. Package The Prosper Africa Tech for Trade Alliance was first announced at President Bidens U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in December as part of a package of $15.7 billion in new and expanded trade and investment commitments made in the summits Business Forum Deal Room. The alliance will also advance the White Houses new signature Digital Transformation with Africa (DTA) initiative, which will strengthen digital access, literacy, and digital enabling environments across the continent. By leveraging leading U.S. and African companies technology assets, services, and expertise, the Alliance will grow African trade and e-commerce flows in goods and services; promote African firms and economies trade and productivity; strengthen the African workforces technological talent; and promote a better policy-enabling environment for trade and investment in Africa. New activities New activities launched under the Prosper Africa Tech for Trade Alliance, which is part of the U.S. Agency for International Developments global eTrade Alliance, will focus on key sectors such as supply chain and logistics solutions, digital payments and trade finance, e-commerce, policy enablement, and digital skills and training. Executive Director for Visas Economic Empowerment Institute (VEEI), Dr Barbara Kotschwar, said improving the policy and regulatory environment is a key reason why Visa is part of the Alliance. He noted that removing bottlenecks like overlapping regulations and restrictions on cross-border flows will help promote greater trade and economic activities. Alliance member, Visa pledged in the US-Africa Business Forums Deal Room to invest $1 billion towards spurring innovation in Africa. The pledge will further scale Visas operations in Africa and will help enable greater access to digital payments as an entry point for expanding formal financial services for individuals and companies, he said. Way forward There is ample evidence to the potential of e-commerce on the continent, particularly when the pandemic broke. For instance, the pandemic accelerated the expansion of e-commerce during the initial lockdown from late March to April 20, 2020. As much as 79 per cent of retail business was conducted online during that period, according to the e-Commerce Association of Ghana (e-CAG). Executive Director of the e-CAG, Paul Asinor told Oxford Business Group (OBG); While most brick-and-mortar retailers have an online presence, the lockdown period incentivised a number of smaller traders to leverage online marketplaces. New stores continue to come online every day. According to the association, conservative estimates that the value of the e-commerce market will expand from $481m in 2021 to $674m in 2025, with more than 11 million users. The expansion of e-commerce was reflected in a rise in digital transactions. Digital transactions increased by approximately 120 per cent between February 2020 and February 2021 in response to voluntary and mandated restrictions on movement. By comparison, transactions grew by 44 per cent year-on-year in February 2020. There are many other countries on the continent which also witnessed growth in this space, an indication of the huge potential. The Prosper Africa initiative can be a game changer if Africa can fully leverage the opportunity to scale up projects in the e-commerce and digital trade space. The role of central banks in that regard will also be crucial. This means that while the continent moves to take advantage of opportunities to expand, there is the need to consistently build strong legal and regulatory frameworks as part of measures to protect players in the e-commerce space. Gulf of Guinea records low pirate attacks Maclean Kwofi Business News Apr - 25 - 2023 , 16:56 Pirate and armed robbery activities continue to decrease in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) region, an area which had become a relative hotbed for this crime in recent history. The first three months of this year saw a significant decline in the number of recorded piracy and robbery incidents in the region, compared to the same period in 2021 and 2022. A recent report from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) showed that just five separate incidents of pirate attacks on vessels were reported in the first quarter of 2023 compared to eight recorded in the same period in 2022 and 16 in 2021. Despite these improvements, the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre called for coastal response agencies and international navies to maintain efforts in the region. According to the Director of IMB, Michael Howlett, a continued, robust and coordinated regional and international naval presence was crucial to act as a deterrent to prevent and respond to piracy. We emphasise the need for continued, robust and coordinated regional and international naval presence to act as a deterrent to prevent and respond to piracy especially considering nearly 85 per cent of international trade is transported via the sea and it is the seafarers who need to be safeguarded, he said. Mr Howlett said the IMB applauds the prompt and decisive actions of the international navies and regional authorities in the Gulf of Guinea, which have positively contributed to the drop in reported incidents and ensured the continued safety of crews and trade. Both these latter incidents do, however, cause concern and illustrate that efforts to enhance maritime security in the region must be sustained. Masters are also strongly encouraged to follow industry best management practice recommendations in these waters, he said. Conditions for piracy However, GoG presents natural conditions for the development of piracy. This region, part of the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean off the western African coast, spans almost 6,500 kilometres. It stretches from Guinea-Conakry in the north and includes the coastal areas of Nigeria, Ghana, Sao Tome and Principe, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Benin, Togo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola to the south. Ghana concerned With the recent report in mind, the Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, at a forum in Accra, noted that security in the Gulf of Guinea could not be downplayed and for that reason, security agencies would continue to maintain a maritime security presence in the region. He said piracy, armed robbery at sea, kidnapping of seafarers, illegal fishing, smuggling and trafficking, and transnational organised crime posed a major threat to maritime security in the GoG and ultimately to the economic development of the entire region. He added that the solution to these issues required stricter security measures to be applied in a concerted manner to address the spectrum of maritime threats, legal complexities and institutional capacity. Global data The data again showed the lowest level of reported global piracy and armed robbery incidents since 1993 but calls for continued vigilance and naval response in its first quarter piracy and armed robbery report for all regions in 2023. The report revealed 27 incidents were reported in the first quarter of the year, representing a marked decline from 37 incidents for the same period in 2022. Of the 27 incidents, perpetrators boarded the victims' vessels in 24 cases, two vessels reported attempted incidents and one vessel was hijacked. Despite the drop in numbers, the threat of violence remains six crew kidnapped, two were taken hostage, two were threatened and one was assaulted. Singapore Straits Almost 30 per cent of the first three months of 2023 incidents occurred in the Singapore Straits, with eight recorded cases a decrease from the 15 incidents reported in quarter one of 2022. While incidents in this region tend to be cases of petty theft, the threat of violence remains a worrisome possibility, with knives sighted and reported in two of the incidents. South America About 33 per cent of global incidents occurred in South America, with Callao anchorage, Peru remaining an area of particular concern. Five reported incidents occurred there in quarter one of 2023, a number which has remained steady in recent years. Crew, however, continued to be at risk with two crew taken hostage and one each assaulted and threatened. Local insurance cover for marine cargoes: The new regime Business Desk Report Business News Apr - 25 - 2023 , 04:53 Finally, after decades of wrangling and the passing of three versions of the Insurance Act that governs how insurance is provided in Ghana each an upgrade of the previous law local marine cargo insurance has been made compulsory, not just with regards to the letter of the law, but also with regards to actual practice. This is a major victory for Ghanas general (non-life) insurance industry which has championed advocacy for the effective enforcement of compulsory local cover for marine cargos over the past two decades. Until early this year their victories were pyric at best; while insurance regulations insisted on local insurance cover for incoming cargoes, those regulations, without a definitive law to back them up, provided lots of leeway for importers to bring in their goods already insured from where they were imported. No longer effective from February this year, any cargo imported into Ghana on Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) basis will still have to be given insurance cover by an underwriter licensed by the National Insurance Commission, for it to be allowed through the port of entry. This means it makes complete sense for importers to bring in their goods on Free On Board (FOB) basis uninsured from abroad, but rather insured from here in Ghana. The insurance companies have every reason to celebrate the new dispensation, given legal status by Section 222 of the current Insurance Law in force Act 1061. But they are by no means the only beneficiaries; importers and the national economy stand to gain immensely too. In fact the most curious aspect of the entire legal change is why it took so long to implement. As one insurance industry chieftain succinctly puts it Common sense has finally prevailed. Marine insurance is the oldest form of insurance cover in Ghana, dating back to the beginning of the previous century as evidenced by the Marine Insurance Act of 1906. Economies around the world benefit immensely from marine insurance activities (both cargo and hull) with respect to both enhanced trade risk management and mobilization of investible capital which translates into bigger economic growth and job creation. But hitherto, Ghana has been left behind in all this. There are no indigenous shipping lines since the state owned Black Star Line collapsed over two decades ago and indeed there are no sizeable commercial ships flying the Ghanaian flag which means there is no marine hull insurance activity. More tellingly, despite the fact that the national economy is inordinately import dependent, most imports have been insured in the countries from where they are sourced, depriving the country of the benefits of marine cargo insurance too. Import statistics for 2018 and 2019, for instance, show that out of the total imports of GH62 billion and GH77 billion respectively, only GH4 billion (seven per cent of the total) and GH4.5 billion (65 of the total) respectively were insured locally. This is because most of these cargoes have been imported on CIF basis contrary to the statutory requirement to insure locally. These circumstances, and concerns raised by the Ghana Revenue Authority Customs Division about the wide variations in the marine cargo rates by local insurers and the absence of minimum requirements combined to persuade insurance industry stakeholders to constitute a seven-member committee to draw up a framework to rectify these shortcomings. The committee, inaugurated in December 2020 comprised: Mrs Mercy Boampong, CEO of Serene Insurance - but at that time an executive at Enterprise Insurance - as its Chairperson; Elliot Honu of SIC Insurance; Fifi Blankson of Activa International Insurance; Aiphonse Quainoo and Joseph Allan, both of the Ghana Revenue Authoritys Customs Division; and both Ansong Dankyi and Mrs Eugenia Ofori Apeagyei of the NIC. The framework and procedures for compulsory local insurance of marine cargoes has the potential to be a game changer for Ghanas non-life insurers, as it has the potential to increase their premium incomes from that class of their business lines more than tenfold. This could translate into a small fortune. For instance, in 2022 Glico-General was Ghanas biggest gross premium earner from marine cargo, generating GH41.022 million. Conceivably the company could thus make as much as GH400 million a year going forward if it can retain its current market share. Similar upward potentials face the other insurers in the top five gross premium earners from marine cargo insurance in 2022: Enterprise Insurance was second with GH29.108 million, SIC Insurance was third with 16.422 million; Activa Insurance fourth with GH8.641 million; and Hollard Insurance was fifth with GH8.488 million. The rest of the industry stand to grow their gross premiums in similar fashion and this will give impetus for much fiercer competition for business in this class of insurance lines than ever before. Crucially this also means the potential for ten times as much industry wide premium income being retained in Ghana for investment into economic growth generating activities accompanied by job creation, which hitherto has been repatriated abroad, having been embedded in the import cost paid to foreign suppliers and which has therefore gone into economic growth and employment in those foreign countries. Ghanas importers themselves will be better off too. By importing goods Free on Board (FOB) and taking local insurance cover they need lower foreign exchange outlay than if they imported the same goods from the same supplier on CIF basis. Just as importantly, if anything goes wrong it is easier pursuing claims from a local insurer than from a foreign insurer based in the far away country from which the goods were bought in the first place. Actually, some importers may still have lingering fears about the capacity or sheer willingness of local insurers to pay up when genuine claims arise. But such fears are misplaced and indeed have receded in recent times. Over the past two decades, a combination of stronger capitalization of local insurance companies, better risk management and wider corporate governance, and most importantly, better regulation of their activities by the NIC have minimised sharp practices by insurers to evade claims payments and indeed the newer generations of shippers are not even aware that their used to be a time when such unfair claims repudiation by insurers in Ghana was commonplace. But most crucially, based on the recommendations of the committee, a framework for marine cargo insurance in Ghana has been put in place which is fair to all parties involved, spelling out the obligations, responsibilities and rights of all counterparties and their agents as well as the duties and powers of the NIC as the industry regulator. This is the result of the comprehensive work done by the committee which was tasked to determine minimum standards and requirements for the various classes of marine cargo insurance that will make it easier for customs officials to access the adequacy of insurance covers for the calculation of duties; to recommend minimum premium rates for marine cargo insurance for the NICs review and approval; and to propose modalities for the implementation of all this within the framework of the cargo insurance protocol. Crucially, the framework which has emerged from the committees work has the willing support and approval of all the various stakeholder groups and is based on international best practice adapted to already existing procedures locally, offering precise standardised documentation that ensures compliance within a level playing field. To achieve this the committee made reference to the existing minimum ratings of the NIC and Ghana Reinsurance Company, which it then modified for the product classification with respect to the appropriate risk types. It also reviewed the Marine Cargo Insurance Proposal Forms of selected industry leading insurance companies in order to develop a standardized form. A similar review was done to harmonize the marine cargo certificates for the three institute cargo classes. Tailor made Marine Cargo Claims Guidelines have also been crafted out of the already existing NIC General Claims Guidelines. The committee reviewed the ratings for cargo insurance carried by both air and sea and consequently drafted a comprehensive ratings guide to cover the various cargo risk types which set out the minimum allowable premium rates for the listed categories. Importantly, the rates are inclusive of war, strike, riot and civil commotion thus providing comprehensive, port to port cover. The committee also reviewed the loadings for inland transit and transshipments, which enabled it to establish minimum premium rates which take into consideration the existing NIC approved rates for cargo. In drafting the processes, procedures and documentation, extensive stakeholder engagements were done to bring everyone on the same page by considering their perspectives, needs and challenges, while best practices used successfully in similar economies to Ghanas were considered and where useful, incorporated into the new framework. Practices in Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda among others were considered and the best ones were adopted for Ghanas framework. At the same time extensive engagements and consultations were done with key stakeholder such as the Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA) freight forwarders, importers and exporters to gain further insights into their patronage of local marine insurance cover. The resultant framework is most comprehensive, covering air cargoes as well as freight carried by ocean going vessels, and covering both transshipments and internal transit within Ghana, thus covering the importers risk from port of exit to the clients goods final destination. Premium computations are set out clearly differentiating premiums payable for international shipping, transhipments en-route to Ghana and those covering the internal transportation of goods from the port of entry to the final destination. A range has been set for premiums for cover of inland transit risk, the premium rate actually applicable for each transaction depending on the distance. There is also a fixed GH100 levy for each cargo import development and maintenance of software. Indeed, information and communications technology plays a pivotal role in how the new system will work. Based on the recommendations of the Committee, the Ghana Revenue Authoritys Customs Division has been tasked with responsibility for deploying a Marine Insurance Database to facilitate validation of Marine Cargo Insurance Certificates and ultimately for digitizing those certificates issued to enhance efficiency and confidence in the system. Particular emphasis is placed on guidelines for claims management which will be most reassuring for importers, many of whom have been using highly reputable global insurers through their suppliers but now have to turn to relatively smaller and in many cases younger - local insurers. Indeed the need for stand-alone cargo claims guidelines was necessitated by requests from various stakeholders for a document that speaks to clear timelines and procedures in relation to cargo claims. These guidelines are specific to cargo claims (air, sea and inland transit) and relate more specifically to timelines for settlement and payment of claims. They also provide detailed requirements for dealing with cargo claims. The guidelines insist that insurers must include in their policy documents directives and instructions as to what a claimant should do in the event of a loss including timely indication of a claim and a list of the documents to be submitted for the claim to be processed. The guidelines also insist that the insurers must inform the claimant about the process to be followed and the timelines to be kept. Maximum timelines for claims processing and ultimate payment are included. The guidelines also establish the process for resolution of disputes through the NIC over contested claims. Among other things the guidelines dictate that notification of a claim must be made to the insurer within 60 days of the discharge of the cargo. However, if this timeline is exceeded the insurer cannot automatically repudiate the claim consequently; rather the insurer has to ascertain the reason for the delay and determine if there was just cause. Another clause is that if the claimant gives notification of a claim verbally it must be followed by a formal written notification for the clock to start running. Indeed, the clock for claims processing and payment only starts running when full documentation has been provided by the claimant. Here the regulations have established the documentation that is required by a claimant to back a claim. The insurer can investigate the claim itself or contract an expert to do it. Where a claimant informs its insurance broker of a claim the broker must inform the underwriter for the clock to start running. The insurer must keep the claimant informed of the status of the claim and progress made in the processing on demand while processing is ongoing. This includes providing the claimant with a copy of any claims assessment report generated by or on behalf of the insurer, if the claimant demands for it. The insurer is required to determine liability on a claim within 10 working days of receiving full documentation from the claimant. Where the claim is rejected the insurer shall inform the claimant within five working days, giving reasons for the repudiation. Where the claim is accepted the insurer has a maximum of three working days to compute the claim and issue a discharge form after which it has another five working days to actually pay the claim. Similarly, after the acceptance of the underwriters claim by the reinsurer, the latter also has five working days to pay the underwriter its share of the liability created by the claim. Under the new framework, an insurer must have a documented system and procedure for receiving, registering and resolving complaints in each of its offices. This must include a system to deal with all sorts of complaints, including complaints on claims management processes, systems and procedures as well as the actual outcomes of claims investigations and assessments. When a claimant makes a complaint, the insurer is obliged to provide the claimant with regular updates as to its progress. Of course not all complaints can be settled to the satisfaction of the claimant. The new framework for cargo insurance provides a system that would save claimants from going into expensive and time consuming court cases when a complainant is not satisfied with the insurers verdict on a complaint. If the complainant is not satisfied with an insurers response, the insurer is obliged to advise the complainant to take the matter to the NIC as the industry regulator. The NIC has the authority to reassess the complaint and pass judgment. While this is not an ultimate arbitration, in the cases of complaints received by the NIC regarding disputes over contracts concerning other lines of insurance cover, both parties tend to accept its verdict rather than proceed to court, even if still not satisfied, since the Commission is recognized as a fair and unbiased arbiter whose verdicts on such complaints are completely in keeping with the law; therefore, a court would be very unlikely to judge any differently. Sanctions To complete the new framework, it sets out the sanctions to be imposed on an insurer that fails or refuses to comply with the Cargo Claims Guidelines. Any such insurer would be subject to any or all of the following sanctions: Payment of the claim plus an additional 5 per cent cost; Payment of the claim in full without the insurers right to enforce the excess/deductible amount as would normally have been allowed under the terms of a standard marine cargo insurance contract. Any other sanction that the NIC may deem fit. Finally, the framework sets an ultimate deadline for the process leading up to the payment of a marine cargo claim, which is six weeks from the date when all the requisite documents backing a claim had been submitted by the claimant. However, this could be exceeded without regulatory sanctions by the NIC if the peculiar circumstances surrounding the claim and its nature are recognized by the regulator as requiring more time. In such situations the NIC could grant an agreed extra amount of time with the claimant being informed of the situation and the consequent time extension for the payment of the claim. Continuous engagement Even with the new framework now having full legal backing as contained in section 222 of Act 1061, which is the current Insurance Act in force in Ghana, the NIC , primary insurance companies underwriting marine cargo insurance, insurance brokers , and other professional firms involved in the delivery of marine cargo insurance have been tasked to engage in continuous engagements with key stakeholders, to ensure that everyone remains on the same page and to identify issues of potential contention before they actually arise. To this end, several key stakeholders have been identified for such continuous engagement with the insurance industry. These include: The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat; the Association of Ghana Industries; the Ghana Association of Bankers; the Bank of Ghana; Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders; Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority; and Ghana Union of Traders Associations. These organizations - and a few similar ones cover the shippers who import goods into Ghana, the enterprises that facilitate the financial aspects of international trade and their regulator, the enterprises that handle the actual logistics required in executing international trade and the facilities through which the goods are brought into Ghana. But a particularly interesting identified key stakeholder is the AfCFTA secretariat which conveniently is located in Accra. In terms of the general population within it, AfCFTA is the largest free trade area in the world - although not of course by economic value of the area encompassed nor value of international trade conducted within it. However, arguably the biggest challenge facing the pan continental free trade area, apart from the severe inadequacy of intra African freight transportation infrastructure and capacity, is the flakiness of confidence in each other among African producers and traders capable of engaging in cross border trade with each other. Risk Management A strong framework for risk management available to international traders operating from Ghana, as established by the new marine cargo insurance framework, should serve to strengthen their confidence, encouraging them to try and make the most of the huge business opportunities thrown up from being part of a pan African preferential trade area. Indeed, hitherto many importers in Ghana have accepted to bring in goods on CIF basis because of their trust in the foreign insurers in well developed insurance jurisdictions in Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Australasia, who had provided cover even before the goods had passed through the suppliers factory gates. However that confidence does not necessarily extend to insurers in fellow African countries especially in those countries where insurance is still not very well regulated and insurers are undercapitalized - and this may have provided a stumbling block with regards to the confidence of Ghanaian enterprises seeking to import goods from such countries. With the new compulsory local insurance of marine cargoes however, within a very well structured framework applied to a local insurance industry that is well regulated and whose underwriters have recently undergone a 2333 per cent increase in minimum capital requirements that has made them more than adequately capitalized, those importers can now engage in trade with their African neighbours knowing that their international trade risks are adequately covered. Other benefits This is just one of the many pivotal advantages that compulsory local marine cargo insurance is bringing to Ghana. For shippers most of whom are used to importing goods on CIF basis rather than FOB basis obtaining insurance cover for their goods from local insurers by they themselves, rather than from foreign insurers contracted by their foreign trade counterparties, is a huge step in a new direction. However, they have been assured that it is well worth the effort and they have been told the truth; if claims do arise, they are far better placed to pursue their claims from an insurer domiciled within the same country where they operate from than to pursue their claims from a foreign based insurer that they did not even secure their cover from directly. But the gains of the local insurance industry and the national economy as a whole are even bigger still. Indeed for the local insurance industry this is a total game changer. It holds the potential to increase the contributions of marine cargo insurance to overall premiums from slightly less than just five per cent as at 2022 to as much as 40 per cent within the next couple of years, increasing the industrys annual gross premiums by well over GH1 billion. To be sure it will also increase their total potential liabilities in commensurate fashion but the recent recapitalization of the industry puts them in much better stead to meet claims than ever before, not just with regards to marine cargo insurance cover provided, but indeed all classes of insurance cover provided clients. Profitability Besides marine cargo insurance has proved to be strongly profitable for Ghanas non-oil insurance industry over the years, which indeed is why they have pushed for the enforcement of compulsory local cover so determinedly. However, to maximize the potentials that the new dispensation now offers, insurers offering marine cargo insurance which means all of the general insurance companies in Ghana would do well to take deliberate steps to enhance their underwriting capacities for this class of insurance. While their current technical capacities may be adequate the sheer increase in business volumes that are being unleashed means that local insurers will have to increase the number of underwriting professionals allocated to marine insurers as well as claims management professionals and the requisite support staff. Without this they may be faced with more business than they can handle and consequently would have to start refusing good business propositions. The size of the new market being made available to them is huge but the insurers who will gain the most from it are those who are able to increase their market share. This means considerable more effort will have to go into intensifying marketing efforts and enhancing the quality of customer service to retain the increased clientele base that enhanced marketing efforts would attract. Some potential benefits to Ghanas insurance industry may be less obvious but are nonetheless no less tangible. For instance all those new clients who will sign up for marine cargo insurance will also become targets for other classes of insurance including life and group life insurance. Unlike in the case of the recent recapitalization of the financial intermediation industry, which was done to provide adequate buffers against loan losses and thus protect customers savings and investments, the similar 233 per cent increase in the minimum capital requirements for primary insurance underwriters, which was completed last year, aimed to enable them retain more business in-house since they had prudently been ceding an inordinately large proportion of their premium income to reinsurers because their capitalization levels persuaded them to pass on a lot of the risk much of it this going abroad and thus costing the country direly needed foreign exchange. Conclusion The new dispensation of compulsory local marine cargo insurance cover will save Ghana considerable forex too, since insurance premiums will now be paid to locally domiciled insurers rather than to their foreign domiciled counterparts who have been providing the insurance cover on Ghanaian imports on CIF basis. Apart from this crucial forex aspect, bigger premiums accruing to local insurers will help to create a bigger pool of investible funds than hitherto has been the case. Insurance funds are among the biggest and thus most important sources of such investible funds so the inevitable dramatic increase in premiums accruing to local insurers will be absolutely pivotal towards financing economic activity in Ghana. In turn this will help facilitate the creation of direly needed jobs, across all the other sectors of the economy in addition to those that will be created in the non-life insurance industry itself. Ghanas non-life insurance industry is nowhere near as glamorous as its banking counterpart and so major changes in the size and structure of the industry tends to go largely under the radar of the general public unlike similar changes in the banking industry which are put under the bright public spotlight. The changes being brought about by the enforcement of compulsory marine cargo insurance will be huge but will also go largely un-noticed by most Ghanaians. But this takes nothing away from the monumental impacts that it will generate. Some of those impacts will be too large to ignore like the effects on the economy at the macro level although their sources will not be understood by most. Simply put though, the introduction of the new framework that facilitates enforcement of compulsory local marine cargo insurance cover in a prudent, well regulated manner is a victory not just for the immediate stakeholders in the import and insurance industries, but for all Ghanaians even if they do not know it. Rising Afro Hip-Hop Star KFT urges Ghanaian music fans to embrace new sounds GraphicOnline Showbiz News Apr - 26 - 2023 , 11:33 Ghanaian-Canadian Afro Hip-Hop artist, Kwasi Ofosu, better known by his stage name "KFT", has urged music lovers in Ghana to diversify their music preferences in order to support the growth and expansion of the industry. KFT, who recently embarked on a media tour in Ghana to promote his new single "Odo Nwom" (Love Song), expressed his concern that Ghanaian music fans are not open to new sounds, limiting opportunities for artists in other genres. The rising star believes that expanding the industry requires a willingness to explore new sounds and a greater openness to artists from the diaspora. "Sometimes I wish Ghanaians would be receptive to artistes like myself in the diaspora. I believe listening to other sounds grows the industry and opens new opportunities for artistes to excel internationally," KFT said during a recent interview. KFT's latest release, "Odo Nwom," has been well received by music lovers who appreciate the artist's authentic and dynamic sound. The EP "Heart Break Story," which he released two years ago, also received critical acclaim. The artist, who has recently signed with New Revolution Records, hopes that his message will encourage music lovers in Ghana to embrace new sounds and support the growth and success of the industry. Your bank for life, 70 years of being truly Ghanaian Amos Nunoo Features Apr - 25 - 2023 , 18:07 The role of banks in an economy has never been in doubt, however I wonder if the leadership of the Gold Coast ever thought that the Bank of Gold Coast, established in 1953, which later became Ghana Commercial Bank and now GCB Bank PLC, would in 70 years be such a pillar in Ghana delivering relevant and unrivalled financial solutions to individuals, SMEs, private and public sector entities, no matter the economic or social climate. This year, 2023, GCB Bank PLC (GCB) is 70 years old and over the seven decades, the Bank has proven to be a great example of resilience, relevance and solid performance. In all these, GCB stands out with a huge pedigree as a truly Ghanaian enterprise attending to Ghanas needs and interests in the financial sector. GCB has, therefore, become systemic to the economy with ever-increasing relevance alongside its significant contributions and efforts. According to the Managing Director of GCB Bank, Kofi Adomakoh, the institution has remained steadfast in fulfilling its mandate as the go-to financial partner for industry, commerce, and the Ghanaian people for the past 70 years. Focused on supporting indigenous businesses and contributing to the growth of the Ghanaian economy, GCB has successfully competed against established foreign banks while staying true to its mission. Over the years, the bank has evolved into an indigenous institution with a strong heritage and reputation as a major player in a highly competitive sector. Despite the constantly changing landscape, GCB remains committed to innovation, keeping pace with modern trends and technological advancements, and leading by example. GCB has earned its position as one of Ghana's top-tier banks not only through its 70 years of operation but also due to its impressive performance across all relevant metrics, coupled with a demonstrated commitment to stay current with developments in banking. The bank has made an unrivalled contribution to Ghana's financial sector, resulting in a strong track record of success. Growing up, one could find a GCB branch in almost every location where a Post Office was present. This extensive nationwide branch network enabled GCB to play a crucial role in both its business development and the extension of financial services to people and businesses across Ghana. This contributed significantly to financial inclusion and the monetisation of the economy. Today, with 186 branches across all 16 regions, GCB's network has played a significant role in the bank's impressive performance. Our extensive footprints, strong and resilient balance sheet, well-diversified business and revenue mix and value-focused investments in risk management and digital technology position us to deliver superior solutions to clients and enable us to improve returns to our shareholders, says GCBs Deputy Managing Director, Finance, Socrates Afram. Strong showing GCB has returned Profit Before Tax (PBT) at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11 per cent since 2016, along with average annual deposit growth of 22.8 per cent, among other strong showing across multiple indicators. We remain the largest and the most liquid commercial bank in Ghana with a balance sheet size of GHS18.26 billion in 2021, he added. GCB is, however, more than just a profit-driven institution - it is a true Ghanaian brand with dominant Ghanaian ownership that has made significant contributions to the country. With over 3,500 Ghanaians employed across its footprints nationwide, GCB has consistently supported national development. In support, GCBs Chief Digital & Marketing Officer, Eric Coffie, says, GCB Bank is a well-recognised brand in national policy and community development, with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts making a substantial impact. The bank has contributed to education, health, culture, tourism, sports, youth development, financial inclusion, poverty alleviation, and environmental initiatives. GCB is a domestic systemically important bank, strategically positioned to provide pivotal financial services to the private and public sectors of our economy. It is a top-tier employer in Ghanas financial sector and it plays a strategic role in supporting important urban and rural communities across the length and breadth of Ghana as well as key national development initiatives and projects such as the 1D1F industrialisation initiative, providing funding and business advisory support to qualifying companies to ensure the success of the programme. The bank also played a key role in the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme Business Support Scheme (CAPBUSS) and YouStart Programme, from which over a hundred thousand businesses and individuals benefited. Additionally, GCB administers the GCB Real Estate Investment Trust (GCB REIT), a Rent-to-Own mortgage housing scheme for public sector workers aimed at reducing the housing deficit. GCB has maintained a policy of developing impactful and measurable CSR projects across the country, and it has been very successful in achieving this goal over its 70-year journey, Mr Coffie concludes. In line with its truly Ghanaian nature and focus, GCB appreciates the need to offer support to keep the countrys agenda on course while seizing the opportunity to entrench its dominance. Little wonder the bank was on hand to undertake the unprecedented single-day transaction in 2017, when it assumed select deposits and assets of two indigenous banks, UT Bank and Capital Bank, under a Purchase and Assumption (P&A) transaction during the financial sector clean-up. Largest client base The P&A transaction further strengthened GCBs position with the largest client base, branch network and deposit book to help more Ghanaians and businesses meet their financial and banking needs. All these efforts and successes have not been without challenges for GCB. For a bank with the largest branch network, employee population and, I dare say, operational infrastructure, GCB has shown great resilience and resourcefulness by remaining consistently top-tier. The Deputy Managing Director, Operations at GCB, Emmanuel Odartey Lamptey, explains, Our client-centric focus will remain the fulcrum that will drive further enhancements in operational resilience and internal control, continued improvement in our processes and leadership development and training within the bank with the view to offering superior client experience. While we recognise the successes we have achieved over the years in delivering banking solutions to our clients through our nationwide branch network complemented by our digital offerings, we will continue to invest in technology to deliver dependable, efficient, digital-first and quality services to our clients. Strong leadership For seven decades, GCBs successive strong leadership teams continue to stretch the frontiers of excellence with continuous improvement in risk management, corporate governance, customer experience and CSR within a competitive and congenial work environment that prioritises succession planning and talent development. These have paid off not just in performance but have led to recognition and acclaim. For example, in 2022, GCB was adjudged the number one financial services sector player in the Ghana Club 100, the coveted league of Ghanas best 100 companies. The bank also received the Best Bank in Ghana in Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Compliance and the Best Bank in Compliance in Africa (2019), Most Compliant Bank (2017/2018), and the Safest Bank in Ghana (2017) awards just to mention a few. 70 years of resilience, relevance and solid performance makes me pose the question about what the future holds for GCB, particularly in the face of the challenges confronting the domestic banking sector in the wake of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP). As the largest indigenous bank and significant market player with substantial exposure to cedi-denominated bonds, GCB is impacted, however, we have tweaked our strategies around the banks resilience and strong risk management structures coupled with the experienced management and staff who remain committed to successfully manage the impact, says Kofi Adomakoh in a reassuring tone. He expressed unwavering confidence in the bank's ability to successfully navigate the current challenges and emerge as a more resilient institution, committed to supporting Ghanas socio-economic development. With the backing of the Board and other direct stakeholders, the bank's management has launched an accelerated programme and implemented effective strategies to safeguard and optimise its capital, strengthen its balance sheet, and generate sustainable profits and returns for its shareholders. For the years ahead, GCB shall remain focused and true to our promise of being your bank for life through all the phases, delivering relevant and unrivalled solutions for your benefit, he concludes. For me, GCB is a truly Ghanaian icon partnering us through all the phases of life with a 70-year unblemished record of national support, I can only say, Happy 70th anniversary, GCB and more wind in your sail. The writer is a Sustainability and Financial Services Consultant Beautiful and useful memorials Elizabeth Ohene Opinion Apr - 26 - 2023 , 09:27 This past week I have been part of two memorials whose stories deserve to be recounted over and over again. Congestion in dormitories and residential halls in boarding schools and universities has been very much in the news recently. I can testify that Adisadel College has an extra 150 beds to ease congestion and overcrowding, thanks to the addition of a three-storey, six-unit dormitory block to their stock of student accommodation on the campus. On Friday and Saturday, I was in Cape Coast for the inauguration and handing over to Adisadel College of the Atu Mould House, a truly magnificent and modern dormitory block. On Friday night we had a candlelit procession and vigil that ended in front of the newly constructed dormitory, and when the first group of Adisco students entered the building for a sneak preview, it was obvious, the students were mightily impressed. Charlie, it is like a hotel!, they were telling each other as they came out of the building. Those who knew Atu Mould, in whose memory the dormitory block has been constructed, would be glad to hear the students proclaim the buildings, the furnishings and finishing as being of hotel standards. Atu would not have settled for anything less. Interest I suspect I have to declare a personal interest at this stage. Atu was my son that I shared with his mother, Sati Ocran. Atu had enjoyed his time in Adisadel College where he attended secondary school and made some lifelong friends. The Santa 89, his year group is made up of a truly dynamic and thoughtful young men who have demonstrated a lot of affection since the sudden death of Atu in November 2020. Atu had made quite a success of his business ventures and become well-known for his generosity. Since he had said he would build a dormitory block for Adisadel, his mother Sati decided it would be a good way to commemorate him; build what he had promised to do, as a way of saying thank you to a school that had provided Atu with some of the happiest times of his life and given him many faithful friends. The only caveat was to make sure the project is delivered according to Atus very exacting standards. There are no crooked lines, no corners were cut, only top grade materials were purchased and used in the finishing and furnishing. I understand that usually in building dormitories for schools, the allocation is made of one toilet to 20 students; well, in the Atu Mould House, it is one toilet to six students. To make the design the consultant for the project spoke to Adisco students, past and present, to teachers and to Atus Mum, Sati, to take in Atus own ideas about how he wanted a dormitory to be. Maybe, one day, all dormitories would be built to the same specification as the Atu Mould House with individual cupboards for everyone in the room, spacious bathrooms, solid and beautiful furnishing, a reading room and a visitors lounge named after a five-star hotel, Labadi Beach hotel. Aha, therein lies a story, as the signage states on the visitors lounge at the dormitory, Atu had spent the last four years of his life living at the Labadi Beach hotel, so what better acknowledgement than to name the visitors lounge after his last home. I have no doubt that there would be a scramble on campus to get a space at the Atu Mould House. I just hope that the students who were at the handing over ceremony on Saturday heard the speech made by Atus brother, Lee Tandoh Ocran, especially the bit about Atus obsession with cleanliness. I hope everyone who stays in that dormitory will forever accept a personal responsibility to keep everything clean. No costs were spared to get top quality material for the fittings, extra drainage was provided not just for the grounds around the Atu Mould House but to resolve the age-old drainage problems that had bedevilled the two dormitories near this new one. There is an extra attraction with the sinking of a borehole that went to extraordinary depths to get guaranteed, good quality and plentiful supply of water. A beautiful lawn has been planted and beautiful decorative plants are in place. That is how Atu would have wanted it and nobody was going to risk anything that would be second rate. It is a thing of beauty. Quadrangle Earlier in the week on Tuesday, I had been at a ceremony in Legon where the quadrangle at the back of the Balme Library at the University of Ghana was officially named the Samuel Kenneth Aboah Recreational Quadrangle. Those who are not conversant with the layout of the Legon campus, need only take a look at the back of the 5-cedi note and there is the quadrangle I am referring to which has been named after Samuel Kenneth Aboah. Sam Aboah, or SAMBUS, as he was widely known from the name of his business, was into computers and everything technology. Let me declare an interest here too; Sam Aboah was my friend. The first time I heard of the term, GPS (Global Positioning System), it was from him and he operated from the basis that everyone must know about computers. He served as a member of the University of Ghana Council between the years 2001 to 2008 and as the Minister of State for Tertiary Education. I worked with him on various projects, the most memorable being him chairing the Standing Joint Negotiating Committee of all the then six public universities. I think we can safely say that the terms and conditions of service we ended up with for university teachers under the famous five-year road plan was seen as transformational at the time. The other significant project Sam led was to chair the committee that negotiated what turned out to be the mobilisation of the largest credit facility by a consortium of banks in the Ghana banking community to a public institution to construct four new halls of residence, now called the UGEL Halls, to ease congestion. We were very proud of that too. The recreational quadrangle, now named after Sam Aboah, was his personal pet project that he funded fully. He conceived it as a special facility where staff and students can converge and share ideas in a convivial and pristine environment. He left nothing to chance in the design and long-term survival and provided a borehole to ensure there would be water for the plants in the quadrangle. It is worth mentioning that Sam Aboah was not an alumnus of the University of Ghana. He went to Princeton in the USA but he dedicated a lot of his time, energies and resources to Legon and individuals who attended the university. Ten years ago Sam Aboah died at age 54. His fingerprints and footprints are still all over the University of Ghana and I was really proud to join his family at the ceremony on Tuesday at which the Vice Chancellor officially named the quadrangle after him. Chief Justice nominee Justice Torkornoo's position on corruption, bribery, capping of Supreme Court judges, Cybercrime... Kweku Zurek Opinion Apr - 26 - 2023 , 10:36 Mrs. Gertrude Araba Esabaa Torkornoo, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, has been nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to become the next Chief Justice of Ghana, pending approval by Parliament. She is set to succeed Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, who is reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 for justices of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court on May 24, 2023. If approved, Justice Torkornoo would be the third female Chief Justice in Ghana's history, following the footsteps of Justices Georgina Theodora Wood and Sophia Akuffo. President Akufo-Addo's nomination of Justice Torkornoo would be his third appointment to the Chief Justice position since taking office in January 2017. This article aims to explore Justice Torkornoo's positions on legal issues in Ghana based on her public pronouncements in the past. On corruption In May 2018 at a stakeholder anti-corruption forum organised by the Private Sector Led Anti-Corruption Group (PSACG) in Accra, Justice Torkornoo expressed a strong stance on the importance of transparency in the justice system as a means of combating corruption. She stated that an efficient and effective justice system that deals with the exposure of corrupt transactions can control corruption in the country. She added that corruption thrives less in transparency than in murkiness, making transparency an essential tool in the justice delivery system of the country. In December 2019 when she appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament as one of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos three nominees for the Supreme Court, Mrs Torkornoo expressed her legal positions on various issues during her appearance before the Appointments Committee of Parliament. On the issue of capping the number of judges at the Supreme Court, Justice Torkornoo believed that it would be disastrous to limit the number of judges at the Supreme Court, given the broad scope of the Constitution and the need for as many judges as possible to do the work. Property registration She also emphasized the need for transparency in property registration in the country, stating that the Lands Commission should be obligated to check whether a land it was registering had already been registered as a practice. She believes there is a need for a clean-up of the issue of who owns what property in the country. Justice delivery Justice Torkornoo also expressed concern over the slow pace of court processes, especially in litigants chasing their properties. She believed that there was a need to address the problem of who regulates assets in the country to speed up the court processes. She also expressed her concern about the difficulty in locating people to summon them to court, which has been the reason for the delays of certain cases before the courts. Regarding corruption, Justice Torkornoo called for a more robust national conversation on the issue. She believed that issues of corruption in the country need to be properly addressed to stir a national cause. She called for the ethical codes of various professional bodies should be defined and actively responded to in addressing corruption. On gifts to judges Justice Torkornoo believed that members of the Judiciary should refrain from accepting gifts altogether, except for gifts from ones own children or immediate family members. She added that there was a need to separate the legal profession into solicitors and barristers to ensure that people who complete Law School but are not interested in practising law do not suffer unnecessary stress. I really share this view. I think that because of the way our cultural practices are, we have to have a more robust conversation on what is corruption, especially when you take out the criminal part, Justice Torkornoo said. On Alternative Dispute Resolution Additionally, Justice Torkornoo expressed support for the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process set up in 2005 to increase the ease of doing business, but she highlights the need to improve the efficacy of pre-trial settlement conference initiatives. She also emphasised the importance of proactive measures in settling land issues in such a way that critical attention would be paid to ownership and conflicting claims to achieve final justice in land title claims and execution of judgments for creditors. On Technology in our courts Furthermore, Justice Torkornoo noted that the technological networks required to connect court systems nationwide and their administrators and users have been a challenge despite continuous investments in developing infrastructure in the judicial sector. She encouraged the business community to assist the public service in resolving its challenges by questioning and providing inputs for resolving them. Overall, Justice Torkornoo appears to advocate for transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness in the justice system to combat corruption and improve private sector development in Ghana. On Cybercrime In October 2022 at the 2022 CyberX Africa International Cyber Conference and Exhibition in Accra, Justice Torkornoo expressed a view in favour of combatting cybercrime in Africa. She believed that African countries should establish a cybersecurity framework within the context of the African Union Convention on Cyberspace, Security and Protection of personnel data to stem the threat posed by economic and security activities. Justice Torkornoo emphasised the importance of skill development and collaboration with like-minded regional and international partners to make e-commerce administration and every form of e-learning a safe and secure adventure. Additionally, she praised Ghana's legal infrastructure and leadership in securing cyberspace, as ranked by the Global Security Index. Justice Torkornoo's positions align with the need for building capacity, public education, and a multi-stakeholder approach to ensure a safe cybersecurity space. Overall, Justice Torkornoo's positions on various issues show her concern for transparency, efficiency, and ethical standards in the legal system. Ideology - Akan, Ee concepts of God, Christian democracy for Ghana Ahumah Ocansey Opinion Apr - 26 - 2023 , 11:29 In Governance: Ghana must have an Ideology (Daily Graphic, Monday, March 27, 2023), we established the basis for a national ideology and said that whatever ideology we adopt or evolve must, among other things, satisfy the following conditions: It must fulfill Ghanas goal of freedom and justice, and define the relationships amongst the arms of Government and between the Government and the people; It must economically promote and reward individual initiative and industry, while at the same time serve the corporate needs of the nation; It must uphold the sanctity of the family, and foster ethnic and social integration; It must seek the highest moral and spiritual elevation of Ghanaians through a monotheistic religion; It must preserve the cultural legacy of the nation, while protecting it from cultural decadence; It must determine the technological and scientific path to Ghanas ultimate industrialisation; It must be holistic to affect the creative nurturing and flowering of Ghanaian genius. Akan The dominant socio-linguistic group in Ghana is the Akan, comprising almost half of the nation. A study of their worldview provides a wealth of knowledge that deserves respect and attentive study by Ghanaians. And, I must add, we are talking of indigenous conceptualisation and ownership of knowledge that preceded the colonisation of Ghana by the turn of the 15th century. It is that originality of knowledge that provides the foundation of power and makes it a suitable vehicle for the adoption of Christian democracy in Ghana. Essentially, the Akan society is what could be described as a theocentric society. Theocentric means God-centred. So religious is the Akan (Ghanaian) that a Ghanaian scholar, Pobee J.S. describes the Ghanaian as homo religious. He adds, In Ghana, to be is to be religious. The religious worldview of the Akan informs their organisation of society, intercourse with the spiritual world, relationship with nature, and interpersonal human conduct and management of affairs. The universe of the Akan is reflected in the treasures of their proverbs that encompass a whole spectrum of things: from the spiritual to the mundane. Knowledge of these proverbs animates the Akan with the wisdom and confidence to manage their life. The Akan perceive God as the Creator bade) of the world and also the owner (Asaase Wura). He is the Supreme Being (Onyamea); the Supreme Being who alone is (Onyankopon); the Powerful One (Otuamafoao); the Dependable One to lean on (Tweaaduampon). God is omniscient (Brekyirihuanuaadea); He is the eternal, unchangeable God (Tetekwafraamoaaa). There are several other attributes. God being the source of life, His spirit (sunsum) animates all things: human and non-human. This means all things have a sacredness to the Akan and he must thus establish a harmonious relationship with the spiritual, human and non-human things. God is conceived as fire of which the rest are sparks of the fire. Beneath the Supreme God are lesser deities (abosom) created to serve his Will and to minister unto his creatures, especially human beings. The abosom have natural jurisdictions under their control, to wit: rivers, the sea, forests, mountains and the rest. Ancestors also feature prominently within the hierarchy of the spiritual pantheon. The average Ghanaian knows of ancestors of whom J.B. Danquah wrote: they act as friends at the court to intervene between man and the Supreme God and to get prayers and petitions answered more quickly and effectively. Lesser spiritual entities are dwarfs (motia) and demons. Proverbs The world view of Akan is also evident in their paremiology (study of proverbs). A study of these reveals God as the dominant persona in Akan idea of God. The proverbs show the attributes of God in Akan ontology. Samuel Amoh, Isaac Nyarkoh, Nicholas Obeng Agyekum (Divinity in Akan Proverbs: The Concept of God) offer the following examples: Worep asm aka akyer Onyankopn a, na woka kyer mframa. (If you wish to tell anything to the Supreme Being, tell it to the winds). S wodwane Onyame a, wohy no ase. (If you run away from God, you are still under him). These proverbs attest to Gods presence everywhere (omnipresence), just like the wind which is invisible but felt. The all-knowingness of God, His omniscience, is evident in these proverbs: Wodwane Nyankopn a wohy no ase. (Absconding from God brings you to him). Onyame mmer na y mmer pa. (Gods time is the best). God is everywhere present, so no one can escape his knowledge. He knows all things: past, present, future; such that He knows the best time for the occurrence of any event to effect the best results for one. As a caring God, He provides lavishly for the needs of humanity and even animals. Onyame ma wo yare a, ma wo aduro. (If the Supreme Being gives you sickness, He also gives you medicine). Aboa a nni dua, Onyame na pra ne ho. (It is God who cleans up the tailless animal) These few examples are adequate to establish Akan proverbs as inclusive of the existentiality of God. Since God is everywhere, the Akan do not erect temples for His worship. The theocentrism of the Akan has ramifications for mans salvation, environmental protection and intercourse with the spirit world. These shall be elaborated on when we discuss further the marriage between indigenous (Ghanaian) theocentrism and Christian democracy. Ewes What of the Ewes (Anlo)? Anlo means curled up as in a fetal position (unborn baby), as well as unfolded (Metaphysical Doctrines of the Anlo of Ghana and Process Philosophy by Roseline Elorm Ageble). These two symbols are very profound. Curled up connotes genesis, innocence, potentiality; whereas unfolded connotes maturity, attainment of higher consciousness, growth. Before the arrival of German missionaries to the Volta Region in or about 1847, the Ewe (Anlo), just like the Akan, have their own understanding and knowledge of the spiritual universe. In their cosmology, God (Mawu) is the creator of the universe and at its head. He is the cause of all things; He is unmovable and also transcendent, that is, beyond space and time. His other attributes are: Gbedegbleme (Almighty), Sogbolisa (Creator), Kitikata (Sustainer of creation), magblemagble (incorruptibility), and Blemavo (ancientness). Immanent In Ewe metaphysics, God is conceived as not only transcendent, but also immanent in both nature and the human person. An aspect of God is what is termed Se. Se, according to Roseline Adzogble, is the aspect of Mawu within each person. She writes: For the Anlos, God was an intimate part of humans. Among the Yewe group, they gave names like Huenyeame, meaning, God is the embodiment of the human (see Nyamuame). As such, the Divine is an active force coexisting in humans. ..Se, as God through a human, was responsible for strength, character and will, as well as destiny and directionality. The fulfillment of these aims, however, involves a constant interface of entities and Se. In Gods physical pole, Se sets the aims or laws and nudges a human into the fulfillment of those temporal aims. The awareness of those aims, how they are fulfilled and their results, are then taken in by God to create other objectives. Simplified, she is saying that Se is the Divine power in man by which he achieves whatever he aspires to do. By such achievement, the person accomplishes a deed that could be seen as God doing that thing. This is a positive deed and not negative deed. In a sense, Se could also be construed as ones destiny. Amongst the Ewe, the lower deities and the ancestral entities become the means of reaching out to God. However, since they conceive of them as messengers of God, as servants to humans, the numerous shrines that exit in households must then be understood as the Ewes communicative link with God. The religious outlook of the Ewe is evident in their naming system. We have names attesting to the existence of God and partly suggestive of His attributes. For example: Mawulm: God loves me; Mawunya: God knows; Mawut: Gods own; Nkplim: Abide with me; Enyonam: Its good for me; Enam: He (God) gives me; Mawuwe: God has done it. It is obvious that before colonisation and missionary work in Ghana, Ghanaians knew God. What remains to be done now is the marriage between our knowledge of God and the Christian doctrines which have affinity with our ontology and epistemology. It is from this that the ideology of Christian democracy shall emerge. The writer is a lawyer Asha Bellos ministry of play Efia Akese Life Apr - 17 - 2023 , 14:56 Its 9:00 a.m. and Asha Bello is ready to play with her crew. I think I counted more than 12 children running around when we met at the Cheeky Monkey Club, a multipurpose recreation centre run by Asha. Asha herself is a mother of three energetic boys and one would expect that once her boys are away in school, she will need some time off to rest or run personal errands. However, she heads into another space that requires double or, on some days, triple the energy she exerts while with her boys. The club has other professionals who supervise other activities. However, the way these children interacted with her over the one hour I engaged her showed she was an active participant in their activities. Two of the young girls will intentionally tap her when they run past us; an older girl came asking her if she had seen the hidden notes and a boy also came to make enquiries about a class that will be held later in the week. The persistent Ms Asha, Ms Asha, from the children showed they wanted their team member on the playing field and not seated. Asha, who has run the club for six years, started it when she couldnt find an outdoor multipurpose play centre for her first son, Roman, who was two years then. Initially, she started with swimming lessons and added other after-school activities and camps during school breaks. There are different activities for different age groups She told The Mirror that growing up, she knew she loved interacting with and being around children, but never thought she would end up working full time with them. I studied Psychology at the university, worked in the bank and later entered into recruitment, sales and human resource. None of those things had any relation with children. I think that it was after having my son that I realised this was what I wanted to do all that while, and I havent looked back since, she told this reporter. She explained that when she started the club, it was new to most parents. The normal after-school or vacation classes focused on academics only. For instance, if a child had difficulties in a specific subject, parents preferred to get a teacher or a class that would fill the gap rather than allow their children to play. Now, the trend has changed. More parents appreciate the essence of learning through other activities. Campers look forward to Techy Tuesdays where they learn to code through fun activities So, there are instances when parents come here and ask if all the children do is play. You see the disappointment on their faces when we respond in the affirmative. Some decide to give us a try and they are shocked at how their children cry when it's time for them to go home, she said By actively participating in activities, campers learn about different things in the environment I believe that it is not just academics that develop a child. We learn in different ways under different circumstances, not only through the regular classroom method. And so, the children here can build different social skills. There are themes we choose for each week and we plan activities around that. In addition to the swimming lessons, we do baking; Techy Tuesdays, which is a fun way of coding; baking; art and craft; music and dance and many other engaging activities. Fridays are Funky Fridays, piano and music lessons are part of activities for the day Raising well-rounded children Asha doesnt only preach play as a way of nurturing and unearthing the talents of children, but she actively engages her children and shares their adventures on her Instagram page, @rhythm.and.boys. According to her, when she started sharing how they spend most of their time together and the activities they embark on, people got excited about it and wanted to find out about some of the places they visited. I would rather wake up in the morning and explore a new environment than stay at home with them, where they easily get bored from doing the same activity. Usually, after outdoor events, they are tired and want to sleep. This is my mom hack. I started putting our activities out more because people were excited about them and wanted to see more. According to her, Some parents are clueless on what to do with their children out of school and keeping them away from screen time. And so it has become like a referral point for them. I run Cheeky Monkey Club, but there are many other places and activities children can do out of here. My focus is not just to promote what we do at the club, but also to show that there are many activities we can engage in out of school, she explained. Accra Parent In June this year, Asha has decided to give back to the community, particularly parents who have kept her in business and supported her in different ways. Her new project, Accra Parent, is a non-profit and a community that will share meaningful and free resources on family life in Accra. She kicks off with a free-to-attend preschool and childcare expo at the Accra International Conference Centre on June 10, where parents can interact with different service providers and choose what suits their children. This is a free-to-attend exhibition showcasing schools, activity centres and child care-related businesses in Ghana to interested parents. Being a parent in Accra, I know and understand the struggle parents go through to choose schools and other essential services. This project has been in my books for six years. However, last year, I felt I had to put the notes into action. This is also free because I know parents pay a lot of bills for different child-related activities. After the expo, we will share free resources regularly with parents @accra.parent on Instagram and accraparent.org. In the long term, we are hoping that corporate organisations will come on board to cater for the cost of the services we provide, she explained. At the expo, Asha said there will be different activities for children, as well as demonstrations and seminars for parents. These seminars will cover subjects including dyslexia and lifelong learning and will have experts in the area address the topics. Gains of Free SHS policy must not be eroded IEPA Shirley Asiedu-Addo Education Apr - 26 - 2023 , 10:12 The Director-General of the Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA) at the University of Cape Coast, Dr Michael Boakye-Yiadom, has said irrespective of the government in power, the gains made to increase access to education under the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy must not be eroded. Whether the Free SHS system is going to continue to be free or semi-free, by whatever percentage, the model adopted, going forward, must sustain the gains made since 2017, he stated. Dr Boakye-Yiadom, who was contributing as a co-panellist on the topic, Ensuring Quality Education in a Free SHS System: The Dos and Donts, said the country could not go back to the problems of inaccessibility, enrolment or equity for any reason. Speaking on the Issues Segment on ATL Fm in Cape Coast, dubbed SDG 4 Drive (a programme designed by IEPA to interrogate educational issues towards meeting SDG 4 in Ghana) and monitored by the Daily Graphic, he noted that the Free SHS system had increased the number of students enrolment and graduations, ultimately improving equity and social justice. We cannot go back to challenges with access, enrolment or equity irrespective of which political party or president is at the helm of educational policy implementation, he stated. For instance, he said the 30 per cent catchment area placement was making it possible for learners from certain rural and peri-urban schools to attend category A schools, adding that those gains must be sustained for the future. However, he stated that education at the SHS level must provide learners with the capabilities required to become economically productive and to enable them to develop sustainable livelihoods. Guidance and counseling He called for academic guidance and counselling to be strengthened to ensure flexible pathways for SHS graduates, saying, SHS graduates should not struggle to identify their career paths to determine which post-secondary educational pathway they need to pursue for their future. Touching on issues of curriculum content and its importance to quality education, a co-panellist and lecturer at the IEPA, Dr Clara Araba Mills, indicated that the SHS curriculum as it stood now, offered a variety of courses to inform students on different pathways they might identify for further education and training, as required by the UN Sustainable Development Goal Four. The curriculum, she observed, also catered for the core subjects of Mathematics, English Language, Science, among others, which generally provided the foundational and core skills needed to excel on a course or programme chosen for further education. Teacher student ratio On the ground, she said the data, however, indicated that the current average of teacher-learner ratio was 1:50 instead of the Ghana Education Services (GES) 1:35 standard. That, she said, made it challenging for teachers to employ multiple methods and innovative ways to suit the needs of students. Regardless, Dr Mills recommended that teachers would do well to employ different approaches to teaching to ensure that learning was productive and met the quality standards for education. Dr Mills further indicated that another gap related to the curriculum identified at the SHS level, was the challenge of students transitioning into the tertiary system where some they had no clue with regard to pathways the SHS subjects combination offered at the tertiary level. This challenge, she intimated, could be addressed through guidance and counselling at the SHS level. She pointed out that unfortunately the guidance and counselling in schools had continued to be managed by just one individual, who was overwhelmed to combine the role with teaching. Commit to Gulf of Guinea security "Akufo-Addo urges members" Donald Ato Dapatem Apr - 26 - 2023 , 08:07 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged his colleague members of the Gulf of Guinea Commission to show more political commitment to the fight against maritime-related crimes in the region. He said it was crucial for member states to come up with strategies to secure the peace and security of the region, and conquer piracy, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, arms trafficking, pollution of the environment, smuggling, and fuel and crude oil theft. President Akufo-Addo, who is the Chairman of the commission, stated this at the opening of the Third Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the Gulf of Guinea Commission at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday. The commission aims to create conditions of mutual confidence, peace and security conducive to the harmonious development of member states, and to promote close consultation in the exploitation of the natural resources of the Gulf of Guinea. The members are Ghana, Angola, Cameroun, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria and Sao Tome and Principe. Established in 2001, Ghana joined in 2017. Sustainable development President Akufo-Addo urged members of the commission to continue to work to address the maritime security issues, and to build a safe, secure and prosperous Gulf of Guinea region for sustainable development. He urged members to exhibit commitment by paying their statutory contributions to the commission and attending the statutory meetings at the highest and most appropriate levels. President Akufo-Addo, in his capacity as the Chairman of the commission, brought up for discussion the issue of finding means of making the region safe, secure and prosperous, and the deliberation of whether it was in their collective interest to enlarge the Gulf of Guinea Commission. He proposed the possible expansion of the membership of the commission to include all the 19 coastal states of the geopolitical Gulf of Guinea for effective collaboration of their respective navys, coast guards and other relevant maritime security agencies in the geopolitical space. The President said the enlargement was intended to have as member states all the coastal states of Western and Central Africa, from Cape Verde to Angola instead of only the coastal states of the geographical Gulf of Guinea region, from Cote D'Ivoire to Angola, as was currently set out in the 2001 treaty establishing the Gulf of Guinea Commission. It is important to note that for the expansion to become effective, the treaty of the commission will have to be amended to allow for the inclusion of all the coastal states in the region from Cape Verde to Angola, he said. Swearing in President Akufo-Addo swore in the Executive Secretary from Equatorial Guinea, the Deputy Executive Secretary for Political Affairs from Nigeria, the Deputy Executive Secretary for Natural Resources from Angola, and the Director of Administration from Ghana. The position of Director of Finance remains vacant, and President Akufo-Addo appealed to members to fulfil their obligations to the commission to enable them to put up candidates for the position. He said the commissions financial difficulties occasioned by the non-payment or irregular payments of contributions by some member states, as well as irregular statutory meetings as enshrined in the rules of procedure of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Commission, should not continue. The outgoing Executive Secretary of the commission, Florentina Adenike Ukonga, expressed worry about the lack of commitment to the work of the commission, and appealed to member states to resource the body to be able to execute its mandate. She recounted how the commission had moved offices three times leading to the loss and break down of equipment and the lack of repairs for their offices and facilities, saying all of it affected smooth operations. After the opening session, attended by President Muhammad Buhari of Nigeria, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea and representatives of other member states, the meeting moved to closed door session. Minister promises to ensure passage of Affirmative Action Bill Augustina Tawiah Apr - 26 - 2023 , 09:41 The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection (MOGCSP), Lariba Zuweira Abudu, has given her assurance to ensure the Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Bill is passed into law before she exits office. To this end, she has started consultations and discussions with colleague Cabinet ministers and relevant stakeholders to ensure that she achieves that vision. The Director of Gender at the MOGCSP, Faustina Acheampong, who disclosed this at a roundtable discussion organised by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), said consequent to that vision, the bill was in March last month submitted to cabinet and had since been shared among cabinet members for their attention and further consideration. According to the minister, she is going to move every means to ensure that the submission of the bill in her era to Cabinet will be the last. What we are now pushing with cabinet secretariat is for them to table the bill for discussion at their next cabinet meeting. She will make sure that it is tabled and moved from Cabinet to Parliament, Mrs Acheampong disclosed. The roundtable discussion, which was organised in collaboration with the Global Center for Pluralism and the Affirmative Action Bill Coalition, was on strengthening pluralism and inclusion of women for inclusive development: the urgent need for the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill into Law, and it was attended by some members of civil society organisations. Roadmap Mrs Acheampong, who was speaking on the current status of the bill and efforts by the MOGCSP said, at the ministry level, said a committee had been formed on the bill and they had since come up with a road map. The roadmap, she disclosed included, a planned meeting with the Chief of Staff and the leadership of Parliament so that they would be aware of the bills content and defend it when it was brought before them. She said it was also their plan to meet with the womens caucus in Parliament; Parliamentary Select Committee on Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. We also want to have meetings with non-governmental organisations and CSOs which are our mouthpiece in pushing this agenda. We want to update them on the bill so that at any point in time when they go out, they can do the advocacy on it. We are very certain that this year, based on the move the current minister is taking, the bill will move from Cabinet, she said. Women political representation Speaking on poor political representation of women through zoom, a senior lecturer at the Department of Management and Human Resources, Ghana Technology University College (GTUC), Dr Esi Akyere Mensah, said because women were in the minority and most parliamentarians were men, the bill would struggle to pass because it might not be a priority for the men. She said if the bill was to pass within the current dispensation, then there would be a need to get men champions in addition to the women advocates in Parliament. Advocacy from a multi-layered perspective and approach will be needed. We must win over the national psyche to get the bill to pass, she stressed. For her part, the Convener, Affirmative Action Bill Coalition and Legal Practitioner, Sheila Minkah-Premo, said the country had not gone far in its democracy due to the exclusion of women from governance and decision making positions, adding that, inclusive growth was needed. Women are discriminated against in governance and decision making positions. The Affirmative Action Bill is aimed at enacting a gender equality law which will ensure inclusion. She said research had shown that there was gender imbalance in several spheres of life in the country, adding that women formed over 50 per cent of the countrys population yet the ratio of women in Parliament and the district assemblies was low. Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinates safe evacuation of Ghanaian nationals from conflict-ridden Sudan Kweku Zurek Apr - 26 - 2023 , 05:27 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has successfully overseen the evacuation of 82 Ghanaian nationals from the Republic of Sudan, amid deadly conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Many countries have been forced to evacuate their citizens due to avoidable casualties in the past week. In a statement released on Sunday, April 23, the Ministry revealed it was collaborating with its Missions in Cairo, Addis Ababa, and the Honorary Consul in Khartoum to ensure a safe passage out of the conflict-ridden Sudan. A follow-up statement released on April 25 stated that Ghanaian nationals in the troubled country had been transported to safety in Gedaref, Sudan, and were now awaiting transportation to the Ethiopian border town of Metema for onward repatriation. Read the entire statement below; VALCO to undergo major modernisation with strategic partner collaboration Zadok Kwame Gyesi Apr - 26 - 2023 , 15:18 The Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) has announced that it is hopeful of locating a strategic investor before the end of 2023. This follows the approval by the Cabinet for VALCO and the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) the entity holding VALCOs shares on behalf of the Government of Ghana - to go to market to identify and engage a Strategic Partner towards the retrofit (modernisation) of the smelter to bring to it to world-class standard in terms of technology, operating efficiencies and costs, profitability, among other benefits. The Board Chairman of VALCO, Dr Henry Benyah, announced this at the Companys Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Accra on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. While presenting VALCOs performance for the year 2022, Dr Benyah noted that transaction advisors have been engaged to manage the process of the search and selection of a strategic partner with the requisite technical capacity to deploy the most competitive smelter technology, backed by the needed investments and strategic global linkages in consideration for an agreed equity stake in a restructured VALCO. He said the company had experienced relatively stable operations for the past two years as observed in its 2021 and 2022 performance results. Comparing the performance of the company in the last decade, the Board Chair said the company recorded its best-ever performance in 2022, second only to the results of 2021, posting an adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation & amortization (EBITDA) positive return of USD5.39 million. New initiatives In the coming year, Dr. Benyah noted, VALCO would position itself firmly in the aluminium downstream segment of the aluminium value chain, adding that the company hoped to achieve that by way of entering into joint ventures (some of which are currently in the developmental stages) or direct participation in the high-end value-addition downstream segment of the aluminium value chain. He said the company was hopeful that incorporating downstream activities into its operations like all globally competitive smelters had done, would make its operations more viable. He added that as an environmentally responsible company, VALCO believed that the future of aluminium is green, hence positioning itself through various environmentally-friendly initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint in order to take its pride of place as a net carbon emitter and a Green Aluminium smelter. Prospects of VALCO Reporting on the operational performance of the company, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Dan Acheampong expressed the hope that the company was gradually moving from an era where its very existence was threatened to productive business with positive future prospects. He said notwithstanding the companys improvements in performance in the last three years, the company was not out of the woods yet, but was on cause of sourcing a strategic investor to boost its operations. He said management and staff of the company were committed to working in line with the principle of continuous improvement, to further improve the performance and outlook of the company. For Mr Acheampong, the company would not relent on its efforts to become a world class smelter, hence encouraging all stakeholders to put their hands on deck to turn the fortunes of the company around. The company hopes to leverage its successes in the last three years regarding operational stability to lay a firm foundation for 2023 and beyond. This is in line with the objectives outlined in its five year Strategic/Recovery Plan (2020-2024) which places emphasis on maintaining operational stability as it transitions to the Retrofitted VALCO to assure a sustainable turnaround, he noted. He said the company had identified some product-value maximisation and a host of cost reduction initiatives to make the operation sustainable in the short-term while working to implement the final phase of the recovery plan. This, Mr. Acheampong explained, was in line with the VALCOs Modernisation Project dubbed Project 4 under GIADECs Integrated Aluminium Industry (IAI) Project Masterplan currently under execution. Appreciation He expressed his gratitude and that of the company to the government and its stakeholders for not losing trust in the company, saying VALCO is grateful to the Government, the Board, Management and Staff, Volta River Authority, GRIDCo and indeed, all Ghanaians for helping to keep it alive to this point of take- off. He further encouraged all stakeholders to continue to support the company in its operations as it continues to re-position its activities to become a major player in the industrialisation agenda of the country. Vice-President inaugurates catheter lab for Korle Bu Hospital Chris Nunoo & Diana Mensah Apr - 26 - 2023 , 06:45 THE Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, yesterday inaugurated a newly constructed catheter laboratory for the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra and urged hospitals to consider partnerships with private entities willing to provide and maintain such equipment for a service fee in the context of a private-public partnership. The million-dollar laboratory, which was funded by the Bank of Ghana as part of its corporate social responsibility, has a big detector, dyna CT and road map software, as well as a 3D workstation. Dr Bawumia said by investing in such advanced medical facilities, Ghana could attract and retain skilled medical professionals, improve the training of local doctors and allied health personnel, as well as enhance the quality of care provided to patients. He described the facility as the most advanced catheterisation laboratory in the country and said it was a good addition to the overall healthcare infrastructure of Ghana. The Vice-President said globally, the health sector was working to achieve universal health coverage which was to ensure we leave no one behind. To that end, he said the government had in the last six years prioritised the health sector and implemented a number of policies to strengthen health care in the country. Gratitude The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, in a speech read on his behalf, thanked Dr Bawumia for spearheading the construction of the facility through the Bank of Ghana. He observed that there had not only been a rise in the prevalence of cardiovascular-related diseases conditions in the country but that had also brought with it, changes in the demographics from older age groups to younger age groups. Hospital The Chief Executive Officer of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah, for his part, said the hospital was strengthening its internal processes, monitoring and evaluation and better performance, while employing other measures to improve its accountability to its stakeholders. In a speech read on his behalf, the Board Chairman of the KBTH, Dr David Nkansa-Dwamena, said the catheter laboratory would now allow a more concise idea of the nature of a condition and also allow advance targeting and targeted treatment that were minimally invasive and thereby offer a better output. Well leverage Book Capital status to strengthen Ga language, ethnicity Ga Mantse Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Apr - 26 - 2023 , 10:00 The Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has said the Ga State would leverage Accras selection as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Book Capital 2023 to promote the use of Ga books and to strengthen the Ga and Dangbe languages in the region. That, he said, was because the invasion of other cultures in the region had adversely affected the speaking and usage of the language and ethnicity of the Ga State as a whole. It is a challenge, since language defines our ethnicity as a people. As a result, the Ga Mantse foundation will like to partner stakeholders through the project on how to build a firm foundation to strengthen our language and ethnicity, he said. The king also appealed to the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to do their part by posting Ga graduate teachers to the region to enable them to teach the Ga language in schools. Event, enstoolement Nii Teiko Tsuru II said this at a durbar held last Monday in honour of the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, in recognition of the selection of Accra as the World Book Capital (WBC) for 2023 and to kickstart the activities. The World Book Capital (WBC) is an initiative of UNESCO which recognises the commitment of cities in the promotion of the reading of books and this years celebration is on the theme: "Reading to Connect Minds for Social Transformation. Therefore, cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capital carry out year-long activities with the aim of encouraging a culture of reading in all ages, sharing UNESCOs values and raising awareness of literacy and reading issues. As part of the ceremony, Ms Azoulay was enstooled as an Honorary Queen Mother of the Ga State and the Ga Traditional Council and immediately adorned in Ga traditional regalia by queen mothers of the Ga State to signify her new status. She was given the title Naa Adoley Oheyefeo I The colourful ceremony was graced by many distinguished personalities, notable among them being a Deputy Minister of Education, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour; the countrys Ambassador to France and Portugal, Anna Bossman; the Country representative of UNESCO, Abdourahamane Diallo; the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey; the Mayor of Accra, Elizabeth Naa Kwatsoe Sackey, and members of the Ga Traditional Council including paramount chiefs, priests, priestesses and linguists. It was marked by energetic cultural dance displays and the intermittent firing of muskets by Ga warlords to signify the presence of important guests of the king. Commitment Mr Diallo, who spoke on behalf of the newly enstooled queen mother, expressed his gratitude to the king for the honour and his recognition of UNESCOs activities in the region over the years. He, therefore, assured the Ga State of the organisations continuous support and partnership to implement more heritage projects and to protect existing ones. Significance Rev. Ntim Fordjour said Accras selection as the World Book Capital was a testament to the governments educational interventions which had brought much progress, including the increase of children in primary Two and lower grades, who could read from two per cent in 2015 to 36 per cent. It was all as a result of deliberate action plans and policies that we put in place, led by Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, and we dont want to end there; we want to take it to a minimum of 90 per cent by 2030 and there are a number of interventions we have put in place, he said. He also said it signified the end of an era which popularised the notion that one could hide anything from the black man by simply putting it in a book adding; This time, we are going to be reading so whatever you put in a book it will not be hidden. Witnesses running from Opunis trial Deputy A-G Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Apr - 26 - 2023 , 10:45 Some prosecution witnesses are unwilling to testify again in the new trial of a former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Stephen Kwabena Opuni, and a businessman, Seidu Agongo. A Deputy Attorney- General (A-G), Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, who made this known at the Accra High Court yesterday, said one witness was not enthused about testifying again after spending two years in the witness box over the case. Another, he said, gave the excuse that he was on retirement, and was therefore not looking forward to be spending part of his retirement going to court to testify again. Mr Tuah-Yeboah revealed this to the court when he moved an application for an extension of time for the prosecution to file its witness statements. The extension of time, the Deputy A-G said, would give his outfit ample time to talk to the witnesses and convince them to testify again at the trial. Lawyers for Opuni and Agongo, Samuel Cudjoe and Benson Nutsukpui, respectively did not oppose the application by the Deputy -A-G Consequently, the court, presided over by Justice Kwasi Anokye Gyimah, granted the application and adjourned the case to Wednesday, June 7,2023. Restart During hearing on April 4, Justice Gyimah directed the parties to file their witness statements before April 21, this year. That was after the court had ruled that the trial which had been ongoing for the past five years would restart from scratch. Justice Gyimah is a new judge assigned to the case by the Chief Justice following the retirement of Justice Clemence Honyenuga, a Justice of the Supreme Court with additional responsibility as a High Court judge. With the new development, the prosecution filed an application urging the High Court to adopt the previous proceedings of the case before Justice Honyenuga, which had been ongoing for five years. However, in a ruling, Justice Gyimah said the trial must start afresh because it would be unfair for him to adopt the proceedings of Justice Honyenuga, which had been saddled with numerous allegations. Appeal Meanwhile, the A-G has filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal challenging the decision of the High Court to start the trial afresh, with a case that the decision was against the tenets of fair trial. It is the case of the A-G that Justice Gyimah misdirected himself by the manner in which he refused to adopt the evidence already adduced at the trial. Such a case, the A-G argued, had occasioned a miscarriage of justice. The decision of the court to start the trial de novo (afresh) has occasioned a miscarriage of justice as it will hinder an efficient trial of the accused persons in the instant case, the AG avers. Not guilty Dr Opuni is standing trial with Agongo, the CEO of Agricult Ghana Limited, an agrochemical company. State prosecutors have accused the two of causing financial loss of more than GH271 million to the state in a series of Lithovit Foliar fertiliser transactions. It is the case of the prosecution that the fertiliser was substandard and has accused Agongo of allegedly using fraudulent means to sell the fertiliser to COCOBOD for onward distribution to cocoa farmers. It has further accused Dr Opuni of using his position as the CEO of COCOBOD (November 2013 to January 2017) to facilitate the alleged acts of Agongo by allowing the Lithovit fertiliser not to be tested and certified as required by law. Dr Opuni and Agongo have pleaded not guilty to the charges and are on self-recognisance bail in the sum of GH300,000 each. WTO boss urges young Ghanaians to take advantage of thriving digital trade in Ghana GraphicOnline Apr - 26 - 2023 , 09:18 The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has encouraged young Ghanaians to take advantage of Ghana's booming digital trade, which she said is one of the fastest-rising in the world. The WTO boss is on an official visit to Ghana, and during a meeting with Trade Minister, K.T. Hammond, she commended Ghana's efforts at expanding her digital space, thus making digital trade thrive in the country, among the fastest in the world. "One of the most exciting happenings in the world today is the rise of digital trade," the WTO boss said. "Digitally delivered services are growing fastest and Ghana is doing quite well from the numbers we can see." "Digitally delivered services in Ghana are doing well; whether it is a professional service business, trading, intellectual services or back office functions with others, or digital trading of women and also men on the Internet. That is growing very fast." "Because Ghana is doing so well, I want to encourage young men and women to do more of digital trade," she noted. Ghana's digital progress is highly regarded internationally, following remarkable gains in several critical areas, including a national identity system, digital property address system, digitisation of government services, and mobile money interoperability, among others. Ghana's seamless digital payment system, between mobile money wallets and bank accounts, has boosted online trade, as many public and private services, including petty trading, can be accessed online. Presidential staffer denies involvement in galamsey following Frimpong Boateng's report Leak Kweku Zurek Politics Apr - 26 - 2023 , 06:09 Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe, a member of Ghana's presidential staff, has denied any involvement in illegal small-scale mining (known as galamsey), after being implicated in a leaked report. The report, compiled by former minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, included a number of names from the Jubilee House staff allegedly engaged in galamsey. While some mentioned in the report have denied the allegations and called for a retraction, Tagoe issued a statement specifically denying any involvement in galamsey. He admitted to only having contacted Frimpong-Boateng in 2019 regarding an excavator being transported on a low-bed vehicle on a highway, but claimed to have no knowledge of what happened with the vehicle thereafter. Tagoe urged the media and the public to disregard the report's allegations against him, and reiterated his commitment to supporting efforts to clamp down on illegal mining in Ghana. Read the entire statement below; PRESS RELEASE I wish to address recent media reports attempting to link me to illegal small-scale mining activities, popularly known as galamsey. These reports are based on a statement made by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, the former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining. Let me state categorically that I have no involvement in galamsey. In 2019, I spoke to Prof. Frimpong-Boateng regarding an excavator being transported on a low-bed vehicle on a highway. He requested details, and I provided the information. However, I did not follow up on the request, and I have no knowledge of what happened with the excavator. It is unfortunate that Prof. Frimpong-Boateng would make comments about me in his report. I want to make it clear that I have nothing to do with illegal mining. I urge the media and the public to disregard the portions of the report that pertain to me and treat it with the contempt it deserves. I believe in the rule of law, and I am committed to supporting efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities in the country. I remain committed to the development of Ghana and the well-being of its citizens. Thank you. SIGNED: Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe Share experiences to enhance governance "Bagbin to Commonwealth Parliaments" Daily Graphic Politics Apr - 26 - 2023 , 07:30 The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has stressed the need for Parliaments to share experiences and learn from each other to enhance governance, sustain the confidence of the electorate in their elected representatives and improve upon parliamentary democracy. He was speaking at Westminster at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) branch office of the House of Commons, London, as the head of a parliamentary delegation to the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament to discuss areas of cooperation between the Parliaments of Ghana and the UK. The discussion was centred on approaches to conducting parliamentary business effectively, managing hung Parliaments and narrow majorities, making parliamentary scrutiny and oversight more efficient, and promoting a collaborative work environment in Parliament. New Standing Orders Mr Bagbin said Ghanas Parliament was working on a new set of Standing Orders to provide practical guidance and procedures for situations that had hitherto not been factored into its Standing Orders. He explained that the previous Standing Orders hardly anticipated a hung Parliament and did not make provision for rules to govern such a situation, making it overly focused on a composition of Parliament with a clear majority. The current hung Parliament and years of usage have thrown into sharp focus, the need to comprehensively review Parliaments Standing Orders. The Speaker of Parliament referred to Parliaments consideration of a motion of censure of a Minister of State, and the various commentaries and opinions that have been shared on that ever since. He said the debate as to whether such a motion of censure is a legal or political matter is yet to be settled. As the Speaker of the first hung Parliament in Ghana, he explained he navigates such unchartered waters by relying on his three decades of experience with the legislature, his experience as a lawyer and what makes common sense. Consequently, drawing parallels with similar situations in other Parliaments, particularly within the CPA, will help improve parliamentary democracy in Ghana. Response The Chief Executive of the CPA UK branch, Jon Davies, described the issues raised by the Speaker as striking and familiar with some of the issues that other Parliaments have had to deal with. He was happy with the visit by the Ghanaian parliamentary delegation, which he said will further strengthen the bilateral links between the two legislatures of the CPA. Other meetings Mr Bagbin also held meetings with the UK Minister for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, and Secretary-General of the CPA,Stephen Twigg. Included in the Speakers delegation was the Clerk to Parliament, Cyril Kwabena Oteng Nsiah; the Assistant Deputy Clerk, Ebenezer Ahumah; Director, Legal Counsel to the Speaker, Magnus Kofi Amoatey; the Director of Communication, Gayheart Mensah and the Deputy Director of Parliamentary Relations, Charles Dery Tenzagh. Hyundai Motor Group plans to set up an electric vehicle (EV) battery cell production joint venture in the US with partner SK On. The Group affiliates Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation and Hyundai Mobis each approved the plan at their respective board meetings. In November 2022, the Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SK On to secure EV battery supply for North America. The total investment amount for the joint venture is expected to be approximately US$5 billion, with the Group and SK On each holding a 50% stake. Through the joint venture, both parties plan to establish an EV battery cell plant in Bartow County, Georgia, close to the Groups US production facilities, including Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Kia Georgia and Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America. The new plant is expected to start manufacturing battery cells in the second half of 2025 with an annual production capacity of 35 GWh, which is sufficient to support the production of 300,000 EVs. Hyundai Mobis will assemble battery packs using cells from the plant, then supply them to the Groups US manufacturing facilities for production of Hyundai, Kia and Genesis EV models. SK On has been a strategic partner for the Group and both have been working together on the production of global EV models, such as Hyundai IONIQ 5, Kia EV6 and Genesis GV60. Siro, a joint venture between Farasis Energy and Turkish global mobility technology brand Togg (earlier post), has started production at the new Gemlik site in Turkey on 31 March. The plant, with a capacity of 3 GWh/annum, will produce battery modules and packs based on Farasis Energys high-performance lithium-ion technology. Siro battery module and pack production, Gemlik Annual capacity of the production facility will increase to 20 GWh/annum by 2031. Siro will supply Togg, customers of Farasis Energy Europe as well as its own customers in automotive, industrial applications and stationary storage solutions. The new plant, which was built in around 1.5 years, covers an area of 26,000 m and employs more than 300 people. Parallel to the growth plans in Gemlik, a research and development center including a prototype production is being built with a headquarter in Bilisim Vadisi, near Gebze. Siro is developing high nickel NMC Li-ion cells that enable improved energy density, shorter charging durations and longer cycle life under extreme conditions. Siro says it is also conducting research on various cell chemistries and geometries that continue to push the envelope on higher energy/power capabilities with longer life-time. Togg, founded in 2018, is a subsidiary of Anadolu Grubu Holding A.S., BMC OtomotivSanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Turkcell Iletisim HizmetleriA.S., Zorlu Holding A.S. and Turkiye Odalar ve Borsalar Birligi (Turkish Union of Chambers and Exchange Commodities). Togg develops electric and connected next-generation vehicles and a mobility ecosystem to support them. Toggs goal is to reach one million production units by 2030 by developing five distinct electric and connected models on a common platform. Apple will start using microLED panels as early as 2024, reveals The Korea Herald. This is the third time we hear such a move is on the way from a third different outlet, suggesting the switch is innevitable. According to a report by the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Promotion (IITP), Apple is looking to eventually manufacture the panels itself, but it won't be ready to do so at the start of the transition. That's why it will keep sourcing panels from South Korea, with at least 60% of the orders going to Samsung Display and LG Display. The transition from organic light-emiting diode to micro light-emitting diode display technology will begin in 2024 with the Apple Watch Ultra. Once the panels mature and yields and pricing improve, we will see iPhones with microLED screens. However, IITP reminded us that this will happen no earlier than 2025. The report also mentioned the fact that Apples push for chip independence with the M1 processor in MacBooks could weaken the market dominance of Intel, Qualcomm, and Broadcom while empowering foundries such as TSMC and Samsung Semiconductor. The Taiwanese manufacturer might have the edge in that battle as it is expanding a factory in Arizona that will be ready next year. Source Do we need this? Exploring the importance of birthworkers on Guam Its too late for the Public Utilities Commission to lower the fuel surcharge on power bills this month, so the Guam Power Authority has proposed an even deeper cut in the surcharge, which would be in effect from June through next January. If approved, the average residential power bill would drop by $70.43 per month. The Consolidated Commission on Utilities voted Tuesday evening to allow GPA to petition the PUC to lower the fuel surcharge, which is the most expensive part of the power bill. GPA last week proposed lowering the current surcharge from 31.8 cents per kilowatt-hour to 25.7 cents, starting in May, but the PUC stated the proposal is too late to be considered during this months PUC meeting, which is scheduled for Friday. The fuel surcharge was not included in the meetings public notice, according to the PUC, so commissioners cannot discuss it. According to GPA, lower fuel prices mean GPA can afford to charge customers less for fuel and still erase its fuel deficit by next January. As of April, GPA was about $17.2 million in the hole for its fuel expenses, and it expected that number to drop to about $9 million in May, with the fuel surcharge still at 31.8 cents. GPA General Manager John Benavente on Tuesday said the power agency recalculated the new fuel surcharge, assuming it would be in effect from June through January, and the proposed surcharge is now 24.8 cents per kilowatt-hour. If approved, the average residential customer, who currently pays $416.10 per month for 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity, would see their bill drop to $345.67. Benavente said the lower power price would be, Just in time for the summer months, because thats when the consumption is higher. Normally, air conditioners work harder during the summertime. Nearly $300,000 worth of alcoholic drinks were seized from one of 10 business establishments recently found to have violated laws and rules on selling alcoholic beverages, Department of Revenue and Taxation Deputy Director Marie Lizama told the Guam Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday. Rev and Taxs Alcoholic Beverage Control or Compliance Branch recently inspected 78 business establishments selling alcoholic beverages, which yielded 10 notices of violations, she said. After the meeting, she said she could not disclose the businesses involved. Lizama also corrected her earlier statement at the Chamber about 15 notices of violations. Those resulted in a total of about $15,000 worth of fines that the department has collected. Lizama, after the Chamber meeting, said the ABC Board used the information from the results of the inspections to suspend for 90 days the license of one of the erring businesses. She clarified her earlier statement at the Chamber meeting that described it as ABC license revocation. The license suspension resulted in the confiscation of nearly $300,000 worth of alcoholic beverages, Lizama said. We are going to continue with more enforcement operations, not just alcohol in particular, but of course, holders of business licenses, so if you havent already renewed your business license, heres your warning, Lizama told business community members at the Westin Resort Guam. In a brief interview after the Chamber meeting, Lizama said the violations found included selling alcohol beyond the hours allowed by law and selling alcohol without an ABC card. Inspections have resumed, she said, after a long pause caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the number of businesses recently inspected represents only about 10.7% of the 730-plus establishments with ABC licenses. More inspections will be conducted. Improvements During her Chamber presentation, Lizama shared improvements at Rev and Tax, from a much faster release of tax refunds to streamlining the drivers license renewal, while also updating them on recent changes affecting taxation, such as investments in cryptocurrency. Payment of income tax refunds, as of April 25, now average five-and-a-half weeks from the time filing of error-free returns, Lizama said. Thats a big improvement from years back when taxpayers had to wait years for refunds, she said. Rev & Tax also continues to see an increase in electronic filings of income tax returns, reaching 7,792 as of April 25 for tax year 2022. The department is now also seeing an average of 225 online renewals and replacements of Guam drivers license every month. This is limited to those with the same credentials, and does not apply to those that want to convert, for example, from a regular drivers license to a Real ID. But among the most notable success stories is the increased number of online vehicle registration and renewals, reaching 53,036 in fiscal 2022, Lizama said. The fees paid online reached $2.1 million. During question-and-answer with Chamber of Commerce members, Cornerstone Valuation President Siska Hutapea recognized that Rev & Tax just has too many responsibilities or too much to do rather than just collecting revenues. Despite that, she said, Rev & Tax has seen much needed improvements in recent years. Lizama said theres still much to do. At the start of her presentation, Lizama shared how Rev & Tax officials have been helping senators improve on their proposed pieces of legislation. One of their main messages to senators, she said, is to make sure the bills they are introducing and voting on are funded, and to consider their impacts on the agencies such as Rev & Tax that are supposed to enforce them. Guam Industrial Services last November ignored worker concerns that a floating crane at the port was overloaded, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which Wednesday announced $291,312 in fines in connection with the death of a Guam Shipyard employee who was killed after a crane cable snapped. Guam Industrial Services does business as the Guam Shipyard. The OSHA report and citations provide more details about the November 2022 death, which happened while the Guam Shipyard was demolishing one of the ports gantry cranes. Guam Shipyard cooperated in a full and transparent manner to support OSHAs investigation and is currently in the process of reviewing their analysis, the Guam Shipyard stated Wednesday. According to OSHA, the Guam Shipyard was using a barge-mounted crane to lower one of the gantry cranes legs so it could be removed, cut up and scrapped. Twelve Guam Shipyard employees were at the site. Guam Shipyard welders cut the base of the gantry cranes leg, but the legs full weight caused the barge cranes boom to bend, according to OSHA. The barge cranes cable snapped, which caused the load to swing and fatally strike a rigger. A rigger is an employee who moves heavy loads. Inspectors learned that, on the morning of the incident, workers raised concerns that the load was too heavy for the crane and suggested cutting the load into pieces, OSHA stated. Company management instructed employees to remove the leg in one piece. According to OSHA, the Guam Shipyard: failed to determine the weight of the load being lifted by the crane; proceeded with a lift that exceeded the cranes rated capacity; and failed to ensure that each crane operator was trained, certified, licensed and evaluated. Guam Shipyard could have prevented this crane failure and its tragic outcome by ensuring effective and necessary training, procedures and work practices were provided and followed, said OSHA Area Director Roger Forstner. The companys leadership was made aware of their crews safety concerns, yet failed to safeguard its employees as the law requires. Guam Industrial Services has 15 days to comply with the OSHA findings or contest them. According to the Guam Shipyard, one of the inoperable gantry cranes was removed from the port and the company currently is working on removing a second crane. In addition to conducting our own internal incident investigation, we are committed to learning from OSHAs report to further enhance safety, the company stated. The safety and the protection of our employees and the community in which Guam Shipyard does business is our top priority. A revised lease for land near Eagles Field in Mangilao is moot, Attorney General Doug Moylan said Thursday afternoon, following a Legislative override of a bill that requires senators to approve any lease between the government of Guam and the federal government. The Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration has wanted to use the land, owned by the Navy, for a future medical campus. A revised lease was drafted by the Navy and transmitted to Adelup for review after Moylan cited legal issues with the first draft of the lease. Moylans office received a copy of the lease and was reviewing it, but senators on Thursday morning voted nearly unanimously to override the governors veto of Bill 12. The measure, called obstructionist before by Adelup, mandates that the Legislature has the final say over the lease. The lease appears to be a moot issue, Moylan said, ... assuming that they did not sign that thing before (lawmakers) passed the bill. Lawmakers made an affirmative statement that there shall be no lease without their approval, Moylan said. That move simplified his task of issuing a legal opinion on the lease, which he said his office would have had to accomplish within 48 hours to comply with a deadline of April 30, which the Navy previously set. Moylan said Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio, acting governor while Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero is off-island, had called him Wednesday night to go over the document. His team had already begun requesting information from Adelup about the updated terms. Hours prior to the lease becoming moot, the AG said that the deadline imposed by the Navy was offensive to me as an attorney. It is a grave concern to me, when youre in a civil contract negotiation, when both parties are supposed to come together, for the people of Guam to be told that you have to review this contract within days, he said. Moylan rejected the previous lease on the grounds that it committed GovGuam money and resources without approval from the legislature, would bind GovGuam to pay for the hospital if the project is not completed in 10 years, did not follow local procurement laws and would commit the operations of the hospital to the federal government in the event of a national emergency, a condition outside of the governors authority. The previous lease, according to the attorney general, appeared to be incomplete, and did not set out a clear agreement on terms like the scope of the project. The governors legal team brought Moylans concerns with the previous lease to the Navy, and the new draft lease was sent to Adelup on Wednesday afternoon. To address Moylans concerns regarding legislative appropriations, the governor would use $10.6 million in American Rescue Plan funds, which are under her control and do not need legislative appropriation, to pay for all monetary considerations in the lease. The lease also eliminates the potential recovery of monetary damages in the event of a default. The governor previously set aside federal rescue money to pay for a hospital and medical campus. To address concerns regarding the provision allowing the federal government to use the medical facility during war or national emergencies, the new terms clarify that only the president of the United States can declare a national emergency, and whatever powers the president currently has during a national emergency over all hospitals will also apply to this hospital. The lease does not confer any new rights on the federal government that are not already provided in federal law. According to a news release sent by Adelup Wednesday night, the lease would have allowed the government of Guam to build a medical campus in a central location that is minutes away from major population centers, and closer to many southern residents who currently must go to Tamuning or Dededo for emergency care. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero at the official reopening of the Salaglula Pool Park on April 17, 2023. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Ron McNinch is a longstanding member of the Guam community and frequently gives his opinion on a wide range of topics. Haiti - FLASH : The Haitian crisis again on the agenda of the UN Security Council (Report) This Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the crisis in Haiti will once again be on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council, whose members will discuss the detailed report on the appalling situation in Haiti, submitted by Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Faced with the explosion of violence, the number of deaths and kidnappings, Antonio Guterres who believes that "nsecurity in the capital has reached levels comparable to countries in armed conflic" will probably reiterate his call for a rapid deployment of an international military force in Haiti to stop armed gangs and the massacre of populations https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-38781-icihaiti-insecurity-69-of-haitians-are-for-an-international-intervention-complete-survey.html as officially requested by the Haitian Government on October 6, 2022 and reiterated many times since, without concrete results from the international https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37831-haiti-flash-towards-a-foreign-armed-intervention-in-haiti-to-eliminate-gangs.html Download the full report that will be under discussion (English PDF 16 pages): https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/sg_report_on_binuh_14_april_2023.pdf See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39386-haiti-flash-the-situation-in-haiti-comparable-to-that-of-countries-at-war-dixit-antonio-guterres.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Economy : Cry of alarm from the main employers' associations of the country The main employers' associations of the country and the Regroupement Patronal Haitien, challenged by the persistence of the multidimensional crisis which continues to bereave families, suffocate the national economy and impoverish the vast majority of our fellow citizens, are launching a real cry of alarm to the political actors of our country with a view to resolving their differences without delay and to rally, if they have not already done so, to the signatories of the political agreement of December 21, 2022, the ultimate objective of which is to lead to the holding of honest, transparent and fair elections. "[..] The hour is serious and the Nation cannot wait any longer! The undersigned hereby make the solemn commitment to continue to support the political agreement in question, with a view to engaging the country without further delay in an electoral process and to support, through their representatives, the implementation of the reforms which will be carried out and the institutions that will be created to achieve the objective. In this same perspective, the undersigned encourage all their fellow citizens and all the living forces of the Nation to support the patriotic work of the High Transitional Council in the fulfillment of its mandate to promote an inclusive dialogue aimed at facilitating the restoration of democratic institutions in the country. The undersigned also launch an urgent appeal to the members of the Haitian diaspora to join their voices and their efforts to those of their fellow citizens living in the country, in order to encourage and support with all their might this citizen movement towards the recovery of our common homeland, in the grip of an unprecedented crisis and suffering. The Nation will be grateful to them ! It is clear today, not without sadness but with the sense of reality that inspires us all as entrepreneurs, businessmen and women, that the glaring weakness of our institutions has once again led to the Haitian Government to invite its foreign partners to provide it with their assistance in order to help it fulfill its sovereign function and ensure the safety of lives and property seriously undermined by the proliferation of increasingly violent armed gangs, which constitutes, as we all know, a powerful obstacle to any attempt to normalize public life and to the holding of democratic elections and the revival of the national economy. The situation is serious ! We urge all of our fellow citizens, and more particularly politicians, economic and intellectual elites and all of civil society in our country, to demonstrate understanding, realism and wise patriotism, with a view to transform this new foreign assistance for the restoration of security, the last, into an opportunity to support the effective and lasting reconstruction of our republican institutions, so that our Nation is finally able to face its challenges and mishaps of all kinds on its own. The national sovereignty to which we all aspire, including our ability to live together in security, to resolve our conflicts without recourse to violence and to promote free enterprise and job-creating investment, will indeed only be possible with strong and effective institutions. It is our duty, politicians, entrepreneurs, intellectual elites of this country, to overcome our sterile quarrels, our narrow interests, to offer the overwhelming majority of our people, who can no longer suffer, a future better, full of dignity and hope. This will constitute, we are convinced, the only realistic way for this ultimate recourse to a foreign presence to be the last in our history ! We must all remain aware that the road ahead will be long, strewn with pitfalls, challenges and setbacks, which should never discourage us or even distract us from our collective dream. It is in this sense that we wish today to reaffirm our unshakable determination, as responsible members of the Private Business Sector, to contribute to the profound and lasting changes which today prove to be essential to the harmony and well-being of -being of the Haitian people." Port-au-Prince, April 25, 2023 Signatures: Martine L. CUVILLY Western Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIO) Edouard BAUSSAN Haitian Employers' Association (RPH) Bryan Gonzales American Chamber of Commerce in Haiti (AMCHAM) Gerard Laborde Haitian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIHC) Raina FORBIN Haiti Tourist Association (ATH) Wilhelm LEMKE Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH) HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... The journalist Ricot Jean murdered Journalist and cultural animator Ricot Jean alias "DJ For Ever", who worked at Radio-Tele Evolution Inter in Saint-Marc, was shot dead on the night of April 24 to 25, 2023, by unidentified armed individuals. A relative who accompanied him was also killed. Their lifeless bodies were discovered on Tuesday morning in the uninhabited area "Anba Gwomon". Hipolito Mejias response to Claude Joseph The former Dominican President, Hipolito Mejia, reacting to the declarations of the former Haitian Prime Minister Claude Joseph who registered his name on a list of 53 Dominican personalities https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39374-haiti-politic-the-former-pm-claude-joseph-wants-to-sanction-by-haiti-53-dominican-personalities-list.html whom he wishes to have sanctioned by Haiti replied to the media "Their situation in Haiti is catastrophic, this It's not a country, it's a jungle [...]" concerning Claude Joseph's statements, he showed himself to be indifferent, preferring to quote as an answer the expression "to idiotic words, we turn a deaf ear"... Statements by Maria Isabel Salvador after a week in Haiti (Video) Monday, April 24, Maria Isabel Salvador, the new Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), gave her impressions in a video on the situation in Haiti, a week after her takeover. of function. CAS Director in prison Tuesday April 25, 2023, Edwine Tonton the Director of the Caisse d'Assistance Sociale (CAS), after her hearing by the examining magistrate Jean Wilner Morin, was arrested and imprisoned at the National Penitentiary. She is being prosecuted for embezzlement of public property, complicity in forgery and use of forgery, influence peddling, criminal association and illicit enrichment. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39343-haiti-news-zapping.html The ANMH refuses to choose a representative to the CEP Jacques Sampeur, President of the National Association of Haitian Media (ANMH) following the invitation on April 10 from Prime Minister a.i Ariel Henry to choose two personalities from his sector who would be candidates for the post of Electoral Adviser for the next CEP informs in a letter addressed to the Head of Government "[...] after internal consultations, the ANMH has agreed not to take part in this initiative and has chosen to decline your invitation [...] In our opinion, to organize elections in a such a context is simply unrealistic." NOTICE : Industrial Property Fair This Wednesday, April 26, 2023, starting at 10:00 a.m. at the Karibe Convention Center, the first edition of the "Industrial Property Fair" will take place, which aims to promote and highlight industrial property rights by the through exhibition stands and conferences. It will also be an opportunity to raise awareness among current or potential users and business leaders of the role and importance of industrial property. HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2023/04/25 | Source Still cuts of actress Chun Woo-hee, who stars in tvN's new drama "Delightfully Deceitful", have been released. Advertisement On the 25th, the production team of "Delightfully Deceitful" unveiled a still of Chun Woo-hee, who completely transformed into a genius swindler in the drama. "Delightfully Deceitful" is a drama about a con artist and a lawyer meeting to avenge absolute evil, and actress Chun Woo-hee was cast for the role of genius con artist Lee Ro-woom and actor Kim Dong-wook for the role of lawyer Han Moo-yeong with excellent empathy. In the released stills, Chun Woo-hee has transformed from her face without makeup to the appearance of a prisoner in prison andfemme fatale. Lee Ro-woom, played by Chun Woo-hee, is a con artist who has no empathy at all, and has been called 'surprise girl' and 'memory genius' in recognition of her genius as a child, but is in prison for murder. People call her 'villain' and 'psycho' and remember her as a genius girl to a terrible killer. It makes us wonder what happened in her past and what kind of revenge she will play against. Meanwhile, tvN's new Monday-Tuesday drama "Delightfully Deceitful" will premiere at 8:50 PM on May 29th. 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 Thematic exhibition marks 2023 Space Day of China People's Daily Online) 09:51, April 26, 2023 Photo shows an exhibition zone of international cooperation in the aerospace industry over the past 30 years since the China National Space Administration was established. The zone is part of a thematic exhibition to mark the eighth Space Day of China held in Hefei city, capital of east China's Anhui Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Ximeng) A thematic exhibition opened in Hefei city, capital of east China's Anhui Province, on Monday to mark the eighth Space Day of China, which has been celebrated on April 24 since 2016. The thematic exhibition is designed to tell stories about China's space exploration, showcase the country's space exploration endeavors and achievements, enhance public understanding of the aerospace industry, facilitate aerospace science popularization, strengthen international communication, and promote the spirit of space exploration. The exhibition covers 8,000 square meters, with the area for aerospace science popularization taking up 3,000 square meters. The zone for aerospace science popularization, which consists of four sections, displays the achievements of China's space exploration program through videos, images, texts, models, interactive facilities, and other forms. (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) Published on 2023/04/25 | Source New stills added for the upcoming Korean drama "Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938" (2023). Advertisement Directed by Kang Sin-hyo Written by Han Woo-ri Network: tvN With Lee Dong-wook, Kim So-yeon, Kim Beom, Ryu Kyung-soo, Hwang Hee, Kim Yong-ji,... 12 episodes - Sat, Sun 21:20 Follow up to "Tale of the Nine Tailed" Synopsis The story of Lee Yeon, a gumiho who was summoned back to a chaotic 1938 after being embroiled in an unexpected incident. Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2023/05/06 A MAN from Caversham has had to flee his native Sudan due to the civil war there. Mohamed Ibrahim, of Riverside Court, was supposed to leave Khartoum tomorrow (Saturday) to attend his sons graduation next week. But when fighting broke out between the army and paramilitary forces flights were suspended and he was stuck. The 60-year-old accountant was forced to travel by bus for more than 24 hours to the border with Egypt, which he hopes to cross then catch a flight back to the UK from Cairo. Fighting erupted in Khartoum, the capital city, after clashes between a paramilitary force called the Rapid Support Forces and the national army. Shooting began on April 15 after members of the RSF were deployed around the country, which the army saw as a threat. Since then, thousands of people have made the long and expensive journey to the border with Egypt. Mr Ibrahims wife, Sara El-Nager, 52, is in Caversham waiting for him and says she feels helpless. The freelance cultural researcher, who has a Sudanese father and English mother, said: Mohamed called me on the morning of April 15 and said he could hear gunfire around the city which got increasingly worse from then. It wasnt just bullets and normal weapons but also shelling from planes and heavy artillery. A couple days after the fighting broke out, he told me it was really intense. You could hear air strikes, fighter jets and people firing and it was really scary. No one ventured out of their houses. Nothing has happened in our neighbourhood and theres no damage but my sister-in-law had a bullet through her sitting room window and another relative had a mortar shell land in their flat. It was really scary and really emotionally draining trying to find out what was going on. I was calling relatives, looking on social media, which is where a lot of news is, but its really hard to verify whats real and not. It is really tense and chaotic. Sudan TV, the official broadcasting corporation, went off air and the radio was cut off so there was no state media to tell us what was going on and a lot of propaganda. We have to rely on foreign media and there are a lot of Arab networks with people doing live coverage on their phones. We have been able to stay in touch via WhatsApp but it is gradually more and more difficult to communicate. Everything is shut, there are no banks and, in the shops, it is hard to get credit because most people use pay-as-you-go phones and their credit runs out. There are three main networks in Sudan and fortunately Mohameds stayed on until he left Khartoum but now it varies. It seems like the networks are back but no one can get credit. Initially, he thought it would be fine to stay there and wait it out. Our house has a basement so when there is shelling, we go downstairs. His sisters and familys houses are just behind the airport and military headquarters, so pretty much the epicentre of fighting. They came out our house for five days and that was when they all decided to make the journey to Argeen. On Monday, the bus driver came to pick up Mr Ibrahim, two of his sisters, his niece, two of his cousins and other family and friends to take them to the border. They had to take a longer route in order to avoid RSF checkpoints. Mrs Al-Nageen said: The RSF are quite unruly and you dont know if they could attack, or they could be targeted by army shelling, so they dont want to be anywhere near those checkpoints. Mr Ibrahim reached Dongola at night and slept in a string bed without a mattress in a rented room, using his carry-on bag as a pillow. He is currently waiting to get into Aswan in Egypt from where he will travel to Cairo. Mrs El-Nager said he expected to be waiting for at least 11 hours due to the volume of people queuing to cross the border. She said: It has been pretty tiring for him. There is a checkpoint before Aswan and everyone has to go through this. While he is waiting there, I feel reassured because he is out of the fighting and shelling and with other people he knows. The problem is facilities and making sure he has enough water. Its not going to be nice but at least hes on his way. I tried to call him on Tuesday but there was no signal. Communication has haltered as the networks have started to fail and the coverage in the north is really bad but I presume he didnt sleep well. The couple married and lived in Sudan, sending their children to school there. Around 20 years ago, they bought their house in Caversham and since then have split their time between the two countries. Their son, Yasin, 23, is studying for his doctorate at Kellogg College, Oxford, and their daughter, Alia, 20, is studying at Durham University. The last time Mrs El-Nager was in Sudan was in January and she doesnt know when she will be able to return. She said: It will be good when Mohamed can get here but its still worrying because I dont know what will happen back home. Its not a nice situation. It is really sad. I think, Will I ever get back? I have a cat over there, which is being looked after by someone. I also have aunts and cousins there. We hope it wont be too long but it has affected food supplies and infrastructure. She said she was worried about lawlessness that came with the chaos of the fighting, such as looting of empty homes. But lots of people had set up community initiatives to help one another. She said: For example, there is an orphanage in Khartoum which had no supplies and some of the helpers couldnt get there. There was an initiative to get them baby milk and for other people to look after the children. It makes me really hopeful when they manage to have online appeals and websites created to exchange supplies and give advice. Its reassuring this is happening while fighting is going on. There is also the neighbourhood resistance committee that has been very active since the revolution. It works at a basic neighbourhood level but gives advice on routes and how to help if youre injured and where to go. People arent completely on their own. A lot of my friends there have decided to stay in their homes. At the moment, it is relatively quiet, not like the first few days. A ceasefire has been declared and I hope some deal will be reached. Other people have gone to relatives in the countryside or stayed in their homes as the fighting is basically just around the capital. People there are caught up in the middle and it is hard to tell whats going to happen. At the moment it is just between two sides but the worst thing would be if it escalated, if foreign powers joined in or gave weapons to one side or if civilians joined in. Introducing some of the most impactful Homegrown Brands of this year. 1. Gulabi Dori GULABI DORI is India's leading destination for ethnic & contemporary women's fashion. Housed in the pink city of India, it was launched in 2018 by a passionate couple Tanushree and Siddharth with a mission to democratise fashion by disrupting boring designs. It is a one-stop destination for stylish Suit Sets, Pant Sets, Kurtas, Unstitched Suits and Rajputi Poshaks. The brand extends an affluent & affordable assortment of Cotton, Chanderi, Mulmul & Rayon, handcrafted in the latest hand-block prints. GULABI DORI is loved by lakhs of customers worldwide and also offers an easy returns/ exchange policy and all orders are shipped fast in 3 days. The founder's dream is to showcase the art and craftsmanship of Jaipur across the globe and hope to make a positive impact on the livelihoods of hundreds of artisans and their families. Check out the latest collections on their website: gulabidorijaipur.com and you can also follow the brand on Instagram. 2. Weaverstory Indian weaves have long been valued for their high quality and intricate designs. Weaver Story, an indigenous Indian handloom brand, understood the importance of such weaving as well as the challenges in finding genuine Indian handlooms. So, Nishant Malhotra, the brand's founder, collaborated with a group of authentic Varanasi Weavers, and soon a simple home-grown name became a worldwide brand for Indian handlooms. Weaver Story seeks to revive Indian weaving and make it simpler for weavers to increase work opportunities and financial rewards. Today, Weaver Story brings the most genuine and exquisitely crafted products for both men and women while helping many traditional weavers across the nation improve their living conditions. The brand also offers customization in fashion, fabrics, and every other aspect, which has led to its high popularity among its buyers. 3. Murshmallow Murshmallow is a clean & conscious brand with premium ingredients sourced ethically from around the world that combines the best of nature & Science to give you highly efficacious results. All its products are gentle enough for sensitive skin, and the brand is completely open about the plant-based ingredients, and filler-free formulations it utilizes. Murshmallow was founded to create a beauty brand that is not just focused on selling but bringing value to the market, and to the lives of its consumers, through innovative and potent products. The goal is to make clean beauty accessible and affordable for all Indian beauties. Also, as an ultra-clean brand, Murshmallow revolves around environmental sustainability and ethical choices. It puts the environment and animals first in everything it does, from its materials and formulae to its products and packaging. The brand is passionate about creating products and housing them in repurposed materials that are friendly to our earth, furry friends, and marine life. 4. Magical Jar Magical Jar is a dream to make more people aware of the organic and herbal values of our Indian herbs. It is a completely natural skincare brand that is homemade and handmade which helps people to live a sustainable lifestyle and not harm their skin with chemicals. Magical Jar was started in 2018 with just two products which were hair oil and kumkumadi glowing cream. Our clients loved the products and wanted us to come up with more organic products so they can completely move to an organic daily routine. Magical Jar is a simple substitute for all the chemical soaps, shampoos, body powders, cleansers, body moisturizers and foot creams. Most of the products contain kitchen ingredients which have medicinal values that can treat dandruff, and pimples, give a natural glow, remove tan and many more properties. The brand has been awarded the best skincare brand by SHE awards and the enormous amount of support from its customers keeps it going. 5. Spekta Cosmetics Spekta Cosmetics is one of India's first 100% vegan and cruelty-free makeup brands. Spekta was established in 2018 by the mother-daughter duo of Parul Bali and Indu Bali. Their extraordinary matte lipstick range, developed after considerable research for Indian skin tones, is their unique selling point. Their heavily pigmented cosmetics, which are cult favourites among their fan base, are tailored exclusively for wheatish, dusky, and dark complexioned tones. This conscious, ethical, and reasonably priced cosmetics brand has a devoted following in India and offers its products on its own website in addition to sites like Nykaa, Amazon, and Flipkart, among others. Given its value proposition, Spekta is undoubtedly on the path to competing with major names in the makeup industry. 6. Ahe Naturals With nourishing botanicals like gotu kola, saffron, and moringa, Ahe Naturals' high-performing conscious skin and hair care products have become quite popular over the past few years. An extensively researched line focused on making authentic Ayurvedic ingredient harmony accessible by modern cosmetics science. East meets West in a bottle. In fact, the team distinguishes itself by growing a number of ingredients on the farm at their facility. The inaugural collection of this female-founded, award-winning, and cruelty-free brand was introduced in 2018 at Ogaan, the Lodhi & Oberoi Salons, and it has since been the preferred natural brand for both professionals and beauty enthusiasts. While the Hibiscus, Bhringraj & Shikakai shampoo continues to be a perennial favourite among both men and women for its clarifying and volume-boosting characteristics, the brand's Kumkumadi Saffron day & night cream is highly recommended. 7. Lawm from the hills Lawm from the Hills (a Mizoram-based brand) debuted as Fai in 2021 and later rebranded to Lawm from the Hills towards the end of 2022. Lawm means Joy in Mizo, thus translating into Joy from the Hills which is emulated well with the rebranded designs and packaging. As a skincare brand, their aim is to help you get your skincare basics right with affordable yet effective skincare products. Drawing inspiration from the beautiful hills of Mizoram, the brand's sun shield and face cleanser have become fan favourites. With more product launches aimed for this year, Lawm from the Hills will definitely make a mark as one of the best-growing skincare brands this year. 8. Panash Panash, an all-natural Ayurveda skincare brand, has been making waves in the beauty industry thanks to its diligent and passionate founder, Nidhi Gupta. With her in-depth understanding of Ayurveda and dedication to sustainability, Nidhi has created a brand that offers beautiful, efficient and environmentally responsible products. The Kumkumadi Range, one of Panash's most popular products, cleanses and rejuvenates you effectively thanks to its potent herbs and anti-inflammatory characteristics. The Ubtan Noor line, its best-seller, offers your skin an unmistakable youthful shine. Panash ensures that you and the environment receive wholesome love by using sustainable components that are also paraben and sulphate-free. 9. Bevzilla Emerging as a complimentary and fitting breakfast accompaniment in the fast-paced lifestyle, Bevzilla offers an on the go range of assorted coffee in both cubes and powder, which gets ready within 30 seconds. Bevzilla owes its popularity to offering all coffee lovers a Pure Arabic coffee experience. Specialized in providing a healthier version of coffee with no added sugar, it has crafted a more nourishing and tasteful drink, sweetened by date palm jaggery. The savoury flavoured selection is available in a wide range of flavours, including Classic, Irish cream, Belgian Chocolate, Creamy Vanilla Coffee, and Hazelnut. These flavour-packed cubes are manufactured to balance the body's iron, calcium and vitamins requirements with just 27 kcal per cube. To suit the vast preference of consumers, the brand accommodates the form of beverage choice between Iced, Hot or even Flavored. Owing to this thought of offering an assorted palate, Bevzilla recognised the perfect blend of creamy, delectable and nutritious coffee cubes coupled with the idea of a sugar-free and vitamin-packed beverage that refreshes you instantly. 10. Earthy Sapo Earthy Sapo is an ayurvedic, natural and preservative-free personal care brand that believes in Health over Aesthetics. It is the result of the struggles of a passionate mother and a chronic eczema patient, Sheetal Kabra. Based in Hyderabad, Earthy Sapo crafts all its products using natural ingredients and traditional processes. The products have been formulated keeping the skin's needs in mind and have no aesthetic or medical claims attached to them. The brand endeavours to make a positive social and environmental impact by enabling customers to make conscious personal care choices prioritizing their health over external looks, promoting self-love, empowering women and offering sustainably packaged eco-friendly products. 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. HerKey, a career engagement platform for women in India has announced a $4 million funding round. The company formerly known as JobsForHer received funding from Kalaari, 360 ONE Asset (earlier known as IIFL Asset Management), and angel investors including Zia Mody, Puneet Dalmia, Pramit Jhaveri, Aditi & Shuchi Kothari, KP Balaraj, Ranjan Pai, Neeraj Bajaj, Akash Bhansali and others. HerKey has grown to service over 3.5 million women across India and is planning to scale to power 30 million women's careers in India In a statement, the company said it seeks to address the gender gap in the Indian workforce. Only 20 per cent of women participate in the labour force against 60 per cent in China and 55 per cent in the United States. HerKey has helped women restart their careers after a break, and has grown to enable them to start, restart and rise in their careers. Neha Bagaria, the company's founder and chief executive officer, said, "We are grateful to our esteemed investors for their support in helping us create a more inclusive workforce for women in India." Bagaria's leadership has overseen HerKey grow to service over 3.5 million women across India and is planning to scale to power 30 million women's careers in India. The companuies use HerKey to engage with women candidates in their career lifecycle, right from recruitment to retention to promotion. The services are designed to support companies in building a diverse and inclusive workplace, attracting and retaining top talent, and creating a positive impact on their business. At present, there are over 10,000 companies on the platform, and HerKey is inviting more companies to unlock opportunities, learning, and communities for women candidates on the platform, the company said in a statement. A crucial aspect of Indias economic ascent in the coming decade will be increasing participation of women in the workforce. A digital platform like Herkey is the need of the hour to make progress towards this goal. HerKey helps women exchange diverse knowledge, perspectives and enables them to interact without being constrained by time and location", Vani Kola, founder and managing director of Kalaari Capital, was quoted saying. "We have been impressed by HerKeys growth trajectory and look forward to partnering with them as they redefine the landscape of women's careers in India, she added. We are thrilled to collaborate with Neha and her team in their efforts to establish a platform that enables women to excel and realize their maximum potential. HerKey, (formerly JobsforHer) has accomplished remarkable feats over the years, and the launch of this new platform is evidence of its commitment and achievements in recent times", Nidhi Ghuman, Senior EVP, 360 ONE Asset, said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a major embarrassment to the Congress, its general secretary and former state president Kumari Selja on Wednesday said she was never invited for the Vipaksh Aapke Samaksh programmes organised by the party in Haryana. Former Haryana Congress President Kumari Selja during her address at Hath se Hath jodo program in Yamunanagar. Later she addressed the press conference. (HT Photo) Selja further questioned the motive of the programme, asking why it was needed at this point. Let me be clear, I was not invited to any of the programmes. Moreover, I cant understand the very basis of this programme. Why does the party need a revival. This is happening even when Hath Se Hath Jodo events are underway. I was told that Vipaksh Aapke Samaksh is part of Hath Se Hath Jodo and was started after the success of Bharat Jodo Yatra led by our leader Rahul Gandhi, but Im still not clearLet it be and Ive no objection, the former Ambala MP said. Selja said this while speaking at a press conference in Yamunanagar, where she was asked if she was invited to the partys programme as claimed by state president Udai Bhan, who had said all leaders of the party have been sent an invitation. Congress had organised the Vipaksh Aapke Samaksh programme in Yamunanagars Jagadhri on April 2 wherein former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had addressed a huge gathering. Several leaders had attended the event, but Selja and her associates were conspicuous by their absence. Areas under Ambala ignored during Cong rule: Selja The leader also accepted before the media that the North Haryana region, particularly the assembly constituencies under the then Ambala Lok Sabha seat, she represented twice, was ignored during the 10 years of Congress government led by Hooda. This was an issue at the time and I accept it now too. Im not pointing out someone personally, but the reality is before you. In the 10 years (of Hooda government) what this region deserved, was not delivered. However, I managed to bring several projects for all the nine constituencies during my tenure in the Parliament. This is happening again now. There are several senior leaders from them (BJP), but nothing is being done and the area remains ignored, she added. Selja was bombarded with questions from reporters on party unity and despite several attempts, the district organisational structure of the party is yet to be announced. She replied, We are workers of our leader Rahul Gandhi. We are here to strengthen the party and a few issues are bound to happen. A day after the Centre shot off a missive to states declaring imposition of water cess on generation of electricity as illegal and unconstitutional, the Himachal Pradesh government on Wednesday said it would seek legal opinion in the matter. Himachal Pradesh deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri. (HT File Photo) In a letter to all chief secretaries, MP Pradhan, director, ministry of power, on Tuesday said: Any tax or duty on generation of electricity, which encompasses all types of generation such as thermal, hydro, wind, solar, nuclear, etc. is illegal and unconstitutional. The power ministrys directive is significant in view of the Himachal Pradesh governments recent move to impose a water cess on hydropower projects with the aim to raise additional revenue of 4,000 crore from 172 projects. The Himachal Pradesh Water Cess on Hydropower Generation Bill-2023 was passed by the assembly through a voice vote on March 16. The governor has already given his assent to the Bill. Punjab and Haryana, which buy power from projects located in the hill state, strongly opposed the move and their legislative assemblies passed separate resolutions last month to oppose the levy. HP chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu later met his counterparts in Punjab and Haryana and assured them that the water cess to be levied by his government would not cause any loss to their states. The Union power ministry, in its communication, said that some states have imposed taxes or duties on generation of electricity under the guise of levying a cess on the use of water for generating electricity. Though the state may call it a water cess, it is actually a tax on the generation of electricity the tax is to be collected from the consumers of electricity who may happen to be residents in other state, read the letter, quoting Article 286 of the Constitution which explicitly prohibits states from imposing any taxes or duties on supply of goods or services or on both where the supply takes place outside the state. The latter further directed states/UTs to promptly withdraw such taxes or duties. Taking a strong exception to the power ministrys order, Himachal deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri, who holds the Jal Shakti portfolio, said the government would seek a legal opinion Himachal has a right over the water that flows through the state. Water is a state subject, while electricity is on Union list. The government made provisions to impose tax on the water that flows in Himachal. The Union ministry is talking about the provisions of electricity and the state is only concerned with the cess on water, said Agnihotri who had introduced the Bill in the House. The Centre has issued the letter in a haste. The Union government has also provoked the companies and asked them not to pay taxes, said the deputy CM, questioning the timing of the directives. The Centre remained silent when the BJP-ruled Uttarakhand government enacted a law to impose water cess, he said, adding that the intention of enacting the law was to generate revenue. The debt burden in the state has increased to 75,000 crore and the state has targeted to generate 4,000 crore from collecting water cess, he said. The state government has also asked the Centre to compensate 4,000 crore if doesnt want the states to impose taxes on water. Agnihotri also blamed the state BJP leaders for instigating the central leadership to issue letter to the state barring them to collect water cess. Since the matter is related to income generation, even the BJP leaders in the Vidhan Sabha had sided with us. But now some senior leaders are provoking their bosses s in Delhi, said Agnihotri, adding that Himachal will fight for its rights both politically and legally. Its strange that the letters reached the media even before reaching the state government. We will study all aspects, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Lieutenant governor (LG) Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said India will play the most important and constructive role for protecting climate and shape the action plan for mitigation, adaptation and environmental management systems. Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha addresses during a national conference in Jammu on Wednesday. (PTI) India will guide the world towards achieving the goal of environmentally-sustainable development, he said, while addressing the national conference here on India@G20. The conference was organised by IIM Jammu, IIT Jammu and AIIMS Jammu, in collaboration with the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) to deliberate upon priorities, prospects and way forward for creating an inclusive and sustainable society. The aspirations of humanity can be fulfilled only in the conditions of peace. I strongly believe that ahimsa is deeply-rooted in our great civilisation and is making the world realise the futility of conflict and utility of dialogue, said Sinha. During Indias G20 presidency, green, accelerated, inclusive and sustainable growth are top priorities and the world is looking at us with a hope to deal with the challenges of Covid, climate change and conflict, he observed. Sinha stressed upon synergy between developmental activities and environment conservation to ensure global prosperity and better quality of life for all. He further observed that ecological security will lead to economic security and strengthen our social development initiatives. India will play the most important and constructive role for future of climate and shape the action plan for mitigation, adaptation and environmental management systems. India will guide the world towards achieving the goal of environmentally-sustainable development, he said. He also underscored the important role of premier institutions such as IIM, IIT and AIIMS and the youth to provide future solutions to humanity. G20 represents 60% of the world population, accounts 85% of global GDP and 75% of global trade. I am confident that Indias G20 presidency will give new impetus to global relations and strengthen the spirit of one earth, one family, one future, he added. A man returning home from work was killed after an unidentified vehicle hit his scooter and drove off in Pinjore on late Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Sohan Singh, a resident of Pinjore and an employee of a private company in Baddi. (HT) The deceased was identified as Sohan Singh, a resident of Pinjore and an employee of a private company in Baddi. His brother-in-law Diler Singh told the police that the mishap took place around 12.30 am on Tuesday night while Sohan was riding his scooter on the Pinjore-Baddi highway. An injured Sohan was rushed to a private hospital in Pinjore, where doctors referred him to the Kalka government hospital. But he was declared brought dead. A case under Sections 279 and 304-A of the Indian Penal Code was registered against the unidentified driver at the Pinjore police station. People started queuing up at the Shiromani Akali Dal office in Sector 28, Chandigarh, since early on Wednesday to pay their last respects to Parkash Singh Badal, while the Punjab government declared a holiday on Thursday in honour of the five-time chief minister who died on Tuesday aged 95. Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal (left) and his cousin Manpreet Singh Badal bringing the body of SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal to the party headquarters in Sector 28, Chandigarh, on Wednesday for people to pay their last respects. (Ravi Kumar/HT) All government offices, departments, boards, corporations and educational institutions in the state will remain shut on Thursday, according to an official order. PM Modi to pay tributes According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach Chandigarh at 12 noon to pay his last respects. Badal had not been keeping well for some time and was admitted to the Fortis Hospital in Mohali over a week ago after he complained of uneasiness in breathing. He died on Tuesday and his mortal remains have been kept at the Shiromani Akali Dal head office here for people to pay their tributes. The SAD patriarchs mortal remains will be taken to his native village Badal in Muktsar at 12 noon via Rajpura, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Rampura Phul and Bathinda. The cremation will take place at 1 pm on Thursday, a party leader said. Centre announces two-day mourning The central government has already announced two days of state mourning on April 26 and 27 across India as a mark of respect to the former Punjab chief minister. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Modi, several central ministers and the Punjab and Haryana chief ministers and leaders cutting across party lines condoled Badals demise and hailed his contributions. The grand old man of Punjab politics first became chief minister in 1970, heading a coalition government that did not complete its term. He was also the chief minister in 1977-80, 1997-2002, 2007-12 and 2012-2017 The Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) has asserted that a prisoner should not ordinarily be denied the opportunity of attending a significant family event as his relatives also long for his presence. The Punjab and Haryana high court allowed the plea observing that in ordinary circumstances, prisoners should not be denied the opportunity of attending a significant family function merely because the immediate relatives, in addition to friends and the neighbours, have become accustomed to usually caring for the family members of a person under incarceration. (Shutterstock) The HC bench of justice Anoop Chitkara allowed a murder accused to attend the marriage functions of his sisters two daughters in police presence even as the state had opposed it. The prisoner himself not only longs for presence, cooperation, support, and even financial help of the family but is also expected by the near and dear ones to reciprocate by attending their sacrosanct family functions, despite such attendance carrying the risk of social boycott or dejection, the court observed. The plea was from one Suraj of Rewari, an accused in an FIR registered on allegations of murder, among other offences, in May 2019 in Rewari. The trial court had dismissed his plea for attending the marriage function. He had submitted that he has to perform a ritual, being the maternal uncle. In the plea, however, he had admitted that he had two more brothers. But he pleaded that his presence was also required in the marriage. As the state was opposing the concession, he had even requested that he would be contended if allowed to go to attend the marriage function in police custody. While opposing the interim bail, the state had admitted to the fact that there was a ceremony called bhat on April 29, and marriage of his sisters two daughters is to take place on May 5. The state as well as the complainants counsel had opposed the interim bail. The court allowed the plea observing that in ordinary circumstances, prisoners should not be denied the opportunity of attending a significant family function merely because the immediate relatives, in addition to friends and the neighbours, have become accustomed to usually caring for the family members of a person under incarceration and the family is not dependent on the prisoner. Now, jail superintendent has been directed to make necessary arrangements for the visit of the petitioner to attend marriage rituals in police presence. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi on Wednesday took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over withdrawing the nomination from the mayoral elections, stating that the saffron party could not buy a single Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) worker. Shelly Oberoi. (HT Photo) They (BJP) failed in getting our councilors on their side. Leave councilors and MLAs aside, they could not even buy a single worker of AAP. They anyway knew they didn't have any numbers. They tried for 2-3 days, but finally accepted their failure today, Shelly Oberoi said. While the elections for election Delhi's mayor and deputy mayor were scheduled for Wednesday, AAP's Shelly Oberoi won the mayoral post unopposed after BJP candidate Shikha Rai withdrew her nomination. With this, Oberoi became the ninth mayor to have served for more than a year in MCD's history. Meanwhile, AAP's Aaley Mohammad Iqbal also got another term as deputy mayor after BJP's Soni Pal withdrew the nomination. After AAP candidates won the mayoral elections, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal congratulated them and asked them to work hard. "Congratulations Shelly and Aley on again becoming Mayor and Dy Mayor, this time unopposed. Best wishes to both. People have huge expectations from us. Work hard to meet their expectations," he tweeted. Also read: Pollution body asks MCD for help to shut illegal jeans units in Delhi Prior to this, there were three attempts to elect the Mayor, however, they failed due to political wrangling between the BJP and AAP. The MCD met for the first time on January 6 to hold the elections, then on January 24, and for the third time on February 6. The municipal elections in Delhi were held on December 4 last year and the results were announced on December 7 - in which the AAP won a total of 134 seats out of 250. (With inputs from PTI) The Delhi high court on Wednesday asked all bar association leaders of court complexes in the city to hold a meeting with senior Delhi Police officials and discuss ways to improve security in court buildings after a 49-year-old suspended lawyer shot at a woman at the Saket district court on Friday. Additional solicitor general Chetan Sharma said the designation of a person should not grant immunity from going through security checks. (Representative image/HT Archive) A bench of chief justice Satish Chandra Sharma and justice Subramonium Prasad directed that the meeting be held within two weeks. The court was hearing a suo motu case and a petition on beefing security in court premises, following the September 24, 2021, shootout inside a courtroom in Rohini district court that killed three people. Gangster Jitendra Gogi and two of his assailants posing as lawyers were killed inside the Rohini courtroom on September 24, 2021, in a dramatic exchange of fire, where the police also fired in retaliation, officials said. Delhi government standing counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi said all measures were being taken by police authorities to ensure safety and security in courts and a meeting may be held between stakeholders and the police for suggestions. Measures are being taken by the Delhi Police and security has been increased, he said following which the court directed, Let senior police officers and bar associations meet and discuss the steps required to ensure safety in court. Additional solicitor general Chetan Sharma said the designation of a person should not grant immunity from going through security checks. The high court had earlier directed the Delhi Police commissioner to undertake periodical reviews of security arrangements in courts, based on a security audit by an expert team, for the deployment of the requisite number of personnel and installation of gadgets. No suspicious object was found during an intensive search on the premises of the Delhi Public School in Mathura Road here after the school administration received a bomb threat via email on Wednesday morning, officials said. The Indian School in Delhi's Sadiq Nagar had received bomb threats twice -- in April this year and in November 2022.(PTI/ Representative image) Also Read| Delhi Public School students evacuated after bomb threat Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Rajesh Deo, after reviewing the situation, said the bomb threat was received on the official email-id of the school administration and the police were informed around 8 am. Local police personnel, a bomb disposal squad, a dog squad and a SWAT team were immediately sent to the spot, he said. "It was a challenge... All the buildings on the school premises were checked and no suspicious object was found. The situation is normal. We also searched the outline areas of the school premises," the police officer added. As the news of the bomb threat spread, panic-stricken parents gathered outside the school and took their children home. The school was evacuated and the fire department was informed about the threat around 8 am. A fire tender was rushed to the spot, officials said. The Indian School in Delhi's Sadiq Nagar had received bomb threats twice -- in April this year and in November 2022. The most recent threat to The Indian School was made on April 12 via an email, following which the school was evacuated as the bomb squad and other agencies inspected the premises for any explosive substance. The mail was later declared a hoax. An email warning of bombs being planted in the Delhi Public School (DPS) in south-east Delhis Mathura Road forced police to evacuate students and other people and launch a search on Wednesday morning, officials said. The Delhi police said the bomb threat email was sent from a server in the United States. (PTI) As of 10.30am on Wednesday, no explosives were detected in the school premises even though search operations continued, said Rajesh Deo, deputy commissioner of police (south-east). The officer said that the email warning about the explosives was sent on Tuesday evening, but the school informed police around 8.30am on Wednesday, following which the search was launched. We got the school administration to send all the students home. We are conducting the search with bomb detection teams and sniffer dogs, said Deo. The DCP said that the email was sent from a server in the United States because of which it would take time to identify the sender. The bomb threat email comes just days after The Indian School received a similar email a few days ago, forcing a similar evacuation and search which eventually yielded no explosives. It was the second such call at that school in the last six months. A 30-year-old school cab driver was arrested for molesting a six-year-old girl, police said on Wednesday, adding that the suspect had been misbehaving with the girl for the past year. Police said the driver was hired by the girls mother to ferry her to and from her school in south Delhis Defence Colony. Police said that on Tuesday, the woman found her daughter to be dull and probed her about possible causes. The child then told her mother about the driver touching her inappropriately. (Representative image) Rajesh Deo, deputy commissioner of police (south-east), identified the arrested suspect as Mohammad Azhar, a resident of Khadar Colony in south Delhis Jaitpur. The officer said that the girls mother hired the cab driver about a year ago. The girl lives with her family in Shaheen Bagh. Police said that on Tuesday, the woman found her daughter to be dull and probed her about possible causes. The child then told her mother about the driver touching her inappropriately. The driver would look for time alone with the child, away from other students, and then abuse her, said the DCP. The mother then called the police who registered a case of rape under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at Shaheen Bagh police station. Azhar was arrested on Wednesday. The police said that the survivor is being counselled and the police will interact with the other students travelling with her to know if the driver abused them as well. The Delhi Waqf Board is not and cannot be the owner of any of the 123 properties and at best could only be a custodian, that too only if its a Waqf property, the Union government has told the Delhi high court while opposing the Boards plea against the inspection of the properties absolved of its control. The Centre filed an affidavit in the Delhi high court in response to the Waqf Boards application. (File Photo) It has said that merely because certain properties were given on lease to various persons, does not ipso-facto mean that the said properties are converted into Waqf properties. The Land and Development Office (L&DO) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) in February decided to take over 123 properties of the Delhi Waqf Board, including mosques, dargah and graveyards, based on the report of a two-member committee. The deputy L&DO, in a letter to Board chairman Amanatullah Khan, had on February 8 informed him about the decision to absolve the Delhi Waqf Board from all matters related to the 123 properties based on the two-member committees report. In an affidavit filed in response to the Boards application to restrain the inspection and demolition of the 123 properties, the Centre has said that neither the Board nor anyone else can have the objection to any inspection, which would even otherwise be permissible under the Waqf Act and which in any case would clarify the factual position obtaining on the ground in respect of such properties. The application was filed in a pending petition by the board against the letter of February 8 absolving them of all the 123 properties. Justifying its action, the Centre said that the letter of February 8,2023 to the Board clearly indicated that inspection would be carried out of the 123 properties to give the factual position to the authorities for them to take a decision. Without prejudice to all other submissions, it is respectfully submitted that by the letter dated February 8, 2023, all that has been stated is that physical inspections are to be carried out of all the 123 properties, the Centre stated. In a fresh application following the demolition of the boundary wall, the Board told the court that after the last date of hearing, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has started to send its employees to visit the Waqf properties, part and parcel of the 123 Waqf properties, along with police, who are affixing and distributing the notices/letters at the Waqf properties/ Mosques included in the aforesaid 123 Waqf properties during the prayer times. Earlier the court had asked the Centre to file their response after the Waqf Board pointed that no reply has been given till date by the Centre despite several hearings in the matter. In its response, the Centre has said that the properties in question were the subject matter of land acquisition proceedings between 1911 and 1914, pursuant to which these 123 properties were acquired, compensation was paid, possession was taken and mutation was carried out in their favour. It said that Delhi Waqf Board is a creation of a statute i.e. The Waqf Act, 1954 and given this position, the Board, does not either have the locus or the competence to raise any question whatsoever on the acquisition of properties that took place way back in 1911 to 1914. Admittedly, these acquisitions attained finality and there has been no challenge whatsoever to the same...in addition to the admitted factual position as regards the possession qua the same, admittedly, the property so acquired were thereafter used for the purposes of creating infrastructure and buildings etc. that are now identified as the Urban scape of Delhi, the Centre said. The government further said that the Board was given ample opportunities to present all the documents and the facts before a two-member committee which was formed in 2021 to look into the matter. It is, ex-facie apparent, therefore, that the Board has no interest whatsoever in the said properties, inasmuch as it has not even cared to appear before the Committee and place on record its objections. In the circumstances, the letter dated February 8, 2023 merely states the obvious i.e. that ex-facie the petitioner-board has no say whatsoever in the so called Waqf properties that are the subject matter of consideration by the two-member committee, the Centre asserted. Challenging the Union governments decision of February 8, 2023, the Waqf Board has contended that all these properties are either dargahs, mosques or graveyards, which have always remained in its possession and cannot be taken away now on the basis of a report of a two-member committee. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Around 4,000 students of Delhi Public School (DPS), Mathura Road were evacuated on Wednesday morning after the institute received an email warning of explosives, following which multiple units of the Delhi Police carried out prolonged searches of the premises, officers aware of the matter said. Parents at the gates of DPS, Mathura Road after the school shared news of the email. (Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo) After a five-hour search operation, the police concluded that it was likely a hoax email. No bomb or any suspicious object was found, said Rajesh Deo, deputy commissioner of police (south-east). School principal Reema Sharma did not respond to phone calls or text messages seeking her comment on the incident. This is the second time in a fortnight that a Delhi school has received a hoax email about explosives, with The Indian School in Sadiq Nagar receiving a similar email on April 12. That time too, the police had concluded that the email was a hoax after a five-hour search operation. The Indian School had received a bomb hoax email in November 2022 as well. In the DPS case, the school received the hoax email on its official email address on Tuesday evening, but the administration noticed it only on Wednesday morning, DCP Deo said. At 7.50am, the school principal called the station house officer of the Nizamuddin police station to complain about the receipt of the mail on the schools official email. The email threatened that the bomb would be triggered at 9am on Wednesday, said the DCP. By the time that the school noticed the email, around 4,000 students had already arrived. They were immediately asked to move from their classrooms to the school playground. A class 6 student said, We waited in the playground while teachers began calling our parents to take us home. DCP Deo said the evacuation of students began without any delay. Students from different wings were facilitated to assemble in the open grounds near their buildings, he said. Police teams, the bomb detection squad, the bomb disposal squad, a sniffer dog squad, the special cell, a SWAT team, a Delhi Disaster Management Authority team, CATS ambulances, the fire department and the sub-divisional magistrate also arrived at the spot to help with the search operations. Some parents got to know of the situation from the news, while others were informed by the school authorities either over the phone or through text messages. The road outside the school gates was flooded with anxious parents, looking to take their children back. The school WhatsApp groups were flooded with messages from teachers asking us not to panic, said Rajeev, the father of a student who declined to share his surname. Papiya Basak, whose son studies in class 7, said she learnt about the situation from a cab driver who ferries her ward to and from the school. The driver told me that the school wasnt sending the children in cabs or school buses. They would be allowed only to return with their parents, she said, adding that she could only pick up her son after the search operations ended as she was at work. Her son said, Those students whose parents did not immediately come to school to pick up their children were made to wait in a large hall that was declared free of explosives till the search operations ended. The search operations eventually ended around 12.30pm, with police declaring it a hoax. Officers said they are trying to trace the sender of the email. The server from which the email was sent is based in the United States. We are trying to track down the sender, said Deo. HT had earlier reported that the April 12 hoax email sent to The Indian School had been traced by police to an IP address in Germany, though in that case too, the sender remains unidentified. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elected a new mayor and a deputy mayor today. The high-stakes polls were held at a time when the civic body is yet to elect the powerful Standing Committee, which plays an important role in local civic governance. In today's election, incumbent mayor Shelly Oberoi of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was pitted against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillor from Greater Kailash Shikha Rai. Similarly, incumbent deputy mayor Aaley Mohammad Iqbal of the AAP took over on BJPs Soni Pandey from the Sonia Vihar ward in East Delhi. Being the ruling party in the MCD, the win comes as big relief for AAP. MCD elections for mayor and deputy mayor are held by secret ballot, and anti-defection laws do not apply. The electoral college is made up of 250 elected councillors, 14 MLAs, and 10 MPs. After winning 134 of the 250 municipal wards in the December 4 civic elections, the AAP had a clear numerical advantage. In MCDs history, only eight mayors have served for more than a year, and now Oberoi will be the ninth such mayor. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday said that as leader of the Opposition, former finance minister and BJP leader Arun Jaitley yielded space to the government and appreciated the other point-of-view, something that is missing today to the detriment of political governance. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Sangeeta Jaitley and DU V-C Yogesh Singh at SRCC on Wednesday. (Raj K Raj/HT Photo) Dhankhar was addressing the concluding ceremony of the first Arun Jaitley memorial debate organised by Delhi Universitys Shri Ram College of Commerce. The event was attended by Jaitleys spouse Sangeeta Jaitley, and DU vice chancellor Yogesh Singh. Jailtley was an alumnus of SRCC. While leader of the Opposition, he (Jaitley) yielded space to the government. The government was always assured that with a rational mind, your point of view will be appreciated, something we miss today to the detriment of political governance, Dhankhar said. The Vice President said that one of Jaitleys greatest failures was that he could never make a single enemy. He said that the Indian political spectrum will not find another leader like Jaitley. He had a number of ministerial assignments, including the ministries of defence, finance, corporate affairs, law, information and broadcasting, but he never had trouble with bureaucracy. Dhankhar also recalled Jaitley for his expertise in debates, saying that he never believed in aggression; he believed in persuasion. Dhankhar said that he had created a mechanism that decisions would be taken only with unanimity. In the history of this country... we have had two glorious occasions for the Central Hall (of Parliament). One, when India got independence... and second, when GST was rolled out. He (Jaitley) was the architect of GST... he said. The GST system was rolled out in 2017 when Jaitley was the finance minister. In her address, Sangeeta Jaitley said the former Union minister was a visionary. His main concern was tackling the problems of the country even when he was in the Opposition, she said. Cow vigilantes continue to be in business despite police orders that such groups cannot take the law into their own hands and urging them to tip off authorities in case they spot any suspicious activity. Cow vigilantes and police after the truck was stopped in Bhondsi. (Screengrab) In the latest incident on Wednesday, police arrested two cow smugglers with help from vigilantes and rescued 35 cows and bulls from a truck on the Gurugram-Mumbai expressway near Bhondsi that was on its way to a slaughter house in Nuh, officers said. Under new orders by Haryana police, cow vigilantes are not allowed to chase or intercept any vehicles but despite that, police admit, these groups routinely engage in high-speed chases. Police said they received a tip-off from cow vigilantes in the wee hours on Wednesday that a truck loaded with cows was on way to a slaughter house in Nuh. Teams of cow vigilantes, police and the local cow protection unit chased the truck for 20km and caught hold of two suspects. Police said the chase that began from Rajiv Chowk in Gurugram ended after crossing Ghmaroj toll plaza. The suspects had brought cows and bulls from Noida and were taking them to slaughter, police said. Madan Singh, station house officer of Bhondsi police station, said of 35 animals, nine cows, one bull and a calf were found dead. The rescued cattle were sent to a shelter home in Silani village on Jhajjar road and a post-mortem examination will be carried out on the dead cattle to ascertain the cause of death, he said. Singh said cow vigilantes received a tip-off, based on which the rescue operation was carried out around 2.45am on Wednesday. The vigilantes informed the district cow protection unit and police and had reached Rajiv Chowk from where they chased the truck till Bhondsi, he said. A case was registered under sections 13(1) and 13(2) of the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015, at Bhondsi police station on Wednesday. The suspects were identified as Mukesh Yadav of Uttar Pradesh and Mustaq Khan of Nuh. Police said they opened the truck and found 35 cows and bulls loaded in the closed container without any ventilation. Gurugram police did not respond to a question oin why cow vigilantes were allowed to chase the men transporting cattle. The suspects could not provide any invoice for the purchase of the cattle and had no documents related to their purchase. We are questioning them to know the details of people who are part of the smuggling gang. A team will be sent to Noida to check from where they bought the cattle or whether those were stolen from different areas, Singh said. The cow vigilantes said they were involved only in the chase and helped police and the cow protection unit as they have experience in handling such situations. Mansingh Raghav, a member of the Bajrang Dal, who is also a complainant in the case, said they were keeping a close watch on trucks moving towards Nuh around 2pm. We saw a fully covered truck coming towards Rajiv Chowk. We signalled it to stop but the driver accelerated and took the Sohna Elevated Road and we started chasing the truck. Meanwhile, we alerted our team members who had reached the Ghamroj Toll Plaza and they tried to intercept the vehicle but the driver broke the boom barrier and fled towards Bhondsi, he said. Abhishek Gaur, another member of the Bajrang Dal, said they had collected hundreds of nails and glass pieces which they threw before the truck to puncture the tyres in an attempt to stop the speeding vehicle. The cow vigilantes recorded videos of the chase and how the driver risked his life by speeding despite the front tyre being ripped off. In CCTV footage recovered from Ghamroj Toll Plaza, the speeding truck is seen breaking through the boom barrier even as six vigilantes were trying to stop the vehicle. Gurugram police said they will write to their Nuh counterparts to check slaughter houses to prevent illegal killing of animals. On March 17, the Gurugram district administration set up a task force to crack down on cow vigilantes and work for the rescue and rehabilitation of stray cattle, a week after the Haryana government asked districts to set up special committees as mandated by the states law. On March 17, HT reported the lack of such committees and how this allows vigilantism to thrive. The task force has 11 members -- six government officials, including the deputy commissioner as the chairman, three people nominated by the state Gau Seva Ayog, and two gau sevaks nominated by the deputy commissioner. Deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said they will write to Gurugram police to take action against the people involved in violence and chasing smugglers without permission of the task force. I have directed the district-level Cow Protection Task Force to gather more information about the people involved in this rescue operation and in what capacity, he said. Yadav said directions were passed that if any cow protection group gets a tip-off about cattle smuggling, they should inform the nearest police station and the Cow Protection Task Force but they are again violating the law. Action will be taken against any group involved in chasing smugglers on their own, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In yet another accident resulting from wrong side driving in Gurugram, a cab collided with the vehicle of an assistant commissioner of police near Signature Tower on Tuesday afternoon. Before he could be caught, the driver quickly reversed the cab and fled the spot, hitting the ACPs car once again in the process, police said, adding that no one was injured in the incident. This is the second such incident in two days, said police. Late Monday night, three police personnel were injured after a water tanker coming on the wrong side collided with a police vehicle assigned to the convoy of Haryana BJP president OP Dhankar near Himgiri Chowk. (Representational Image) Police said the incident took place around 1pm Tuesday near Signature Tower when ACP (traffic) Shiv Archan Sharma was returning to his office in Sector 28 after finishing his duty for chief minister Manohar Lal Khattars visit to Gurugram. Poonam Hooda, station house officer of Civil Lines police station, said the ACP and his staff had a narrow escape. The car driver, in an attempt to quickly flee the spot, rammed the ACPs vehicle twice. We have identified the driver but are yet to arrest him, she said. A case under sections 279 (rash driving), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 3 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, was registered at Civil Lines police station on Wednesday, said police. Manish Kumar, constable and driver of the ACPs vehicle, said they were on their way from Rajiv Chowk to Traffic Tower after finishing CM duty. The ACP was seated in the rear. We were turning towards MDI Chowk near Signature Tower, when we saw a cab speeding towards us on the wrong side. I quickly stopped the car and the constable seated beside me got down and signalled the cab driver to stop. But he was unable to apply the brakes on time and ended up ramming our vehicle. We tried to intercept him but he reversed his cab, once more ramming our vehicle, and drove back towards MDI Chowk, he said. Police said the police team tried to chase the cab but he took a U-turn and fled towards Signature Tower. We have taken a photo of the cab, a Swift Dzire, said the constable, asking not to be named. This is the second such incident in two days, said police. Late Monday night, three police personnel were injured after a water tanker coming on the wrong side collided with a police vehicle assigned to the convoy of Haryana BJP president OP Dhankar near Himgiri Chowk. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A man was arrested after he entered a school, threatened to take hostage students and blow up the classroom in West Bengals Malda district on Wednesday, police said. The police, however, overpowered the armed person and arrested him. (Representative file image) The police, however, overpowered the armed person and arrested him. The man, aged around 44 years, has been identified. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee thanked the police personnel for their prompt action. Also Read:4 hold colleague hostage in Gurugram office, demand 5 lakh Thank God everyone including the children, teachers and police are safe. The way police tackled it is commendable. But we cant take things lightly now-a-days. This is the era of cybercrime, the CM said. A police official said that the situation was under control. The man has been arrested. We have seized firearms and a bag from him. Investigation is going on, a police official said. Describing the incident, a teacher said the man entered a classroom where around 80 students from two sections of Class 7 were sitting. He started threatening that he will blow up the classroom if anybody moved terrorising the students. I managed to inform other teachers and called the police. He was overpowered, a teacher at the school, told mediapersons. According to police, the accused person is a person with mental illness who was earlier arrested for his social media posts and posing with firearms in the past. A police official present at the spot told media persons that at least two firearms arms and two knives were recovered from him. He was also carrying some liquid in the bottles with a cloth tied on the cap which he claimed to be petrol bombs, said the officer. KOLKATA: Sukanya Mondal, daughter of arrested Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in national capital Delhi on Wednesday for her alleged role in the cattle smuggling case. Sukanya Mandal, daughter of TMC leader Anubrata Mondal, at the Calcutta high court in connection with a petition that alleged she was recruited as a teacher without clearing the recruitment exam. She was arrested by ED on Wednesday (ANI FILE) A senior ED official said Sukanya was arrested after being questioned by investigators. She will be produced before a judge at Rouse Avenue courts on Thursday. She was arrested for her role in the cattle smuggling scam and the money laundering involved. There were large cash transactions in her bank accounts and huge properties registered in her name disproportionate to her income. She had no explanation and always pointed to her father and his chartered accountant, said the ED official. Sukanya, who was appointed as a primary school teacher by the state government in 2011 when the TMC first came to power, is the director of two companies, Neer Developer Pvt Ltd and ANM Agrochem Foods Pvt Ltd, according to ED She also owns a rice mill in Birbhums Bolpur town where the Mondals live. Her father Anubrata was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 11, 2022 and was named as an accused in CBIs fourth charge sheet filed at the Asansol court on October 7. Mondal was later arrested by ED on November 17 in connection with money laundering charges linked to the case. Law will take its own course. TMC will not defend anyone. Sukanya has recently lost her mother and her father is now in jail. Couldnt she have been interrogated at home? Was her arrest a political vendetta just because her father is a TMC leader? Kunal Ghosh, TMC spokesperson, told the media. Anubratas accountant Manish Kothari was arrested in connection with the same case in March this year. Anubratas former bodyguard, Sehgal Hossain, a state police constable, was arrested by CBI on June 10 last year. Anubrata, Kothari and Hossain are all lodged in the Tihar jail. West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said Sukanyas arrest was inevitable and only a matter of time. She was called multiple times for questioning but she avoided them. Media reports suggest she has huge properties in her name for which she has no explanation, he said. Investigations into a drug racket busted in March this year, led to another cache and link to an interstate supply chain of bogus/misbranded medicines. For representation only (HT FIle Photo) During investigation into bogus/misbranded medicine, stock worth 7.5 crore was seized, and an accused was arrested from a house in Sigra police station area, in Varanasi district. Meanwhile, information about another case filed with the Bargarh police station in Orissa came to the fore. Two accused had supplied bogus/misbranded drugs to a medical agency in Jarsuguda in Orissa. Police from Orissa were looking for accused in Varanasi, said a press statement from the UP Special Task Force. Based upon the input, UPSTF team led by STF ASP Vinod Kumar Singh arrested two accused and recovered bogus/misbranded medicine worth 25 lakh in 30 cartons kept in a house under the Sarnath police station, in Varanasi. The accused used to get the stock from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and supplied it to different states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa, the press statement read. The second raid in April was on the basis of the work done upon inputs from the first raid in March. Right from surveillance to follow up of the information brought results, said SK Chaurasia, Drugs Controlling and Licensing Authority, Uttar Pradesh. He said, Now our teams along with teams from the police department are working on information to find out in which other states these accused supplied medicine and who all are involved in the racket. LUCKNOW The ticketing website of UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) was hacked early Wednesday, bringing all its online booking related operations to a standstill, said officials. For now, tickets to passengers are being issued manually. (Pic for representation) An international gang of cyber thugs is believed to be behind the incident. It may take over a week for the UPSRTC to fix and restart the website even though the corporation claimed that bus services have not been affected in any way. We have registered an FIR in the cyber thana at Gomti Nagar and Orion Pro, the company managing the website, has lodged a complaint in Mumbai against the hacking of the website, said Sanjay Kumar, managing director, UPSRTC. An international gang of hackers may have hacked the portal, he added. We are issuing tickets to passengers manually, he said. The UPSRTCs e-ticketing system was launched in November last year, bringing a lot of transparency in ticketing and other passenger data. LUCKNOW A 25-year-old married woman was allegedly forced to drink toilet cleaner (that contained a diluted form of acid) and throttled by her father and brother-in-law before being left in the bushes in Bareilly district on Monday night. The two, who committed the crime due to social humiliation caused by the womans illicit relationship with another man, were arrested, police said on Wednesday. he woman was unable to speak due to her burn injuries and confirmed her identity by writing her name on paper. (Pic for representation) The accused also removed her clothes and poured toilet cleaner on her face and body so that her identity could not be ascertained. The woman, however, survived and crawled to the roadside, where some passers-by spotted her on Tuesday morning and informed the police. She was rushed to a hospital where she was battling for life. SSP (Bareilly) Prabhakar Chowdhary said the woman, Munni Devi, a resident of Dhadha village under Shahi police station limits of Bareilly district, was found lying in an injured state under Fatehganj West police station limits with no clothes on her body on Tuesday morning. He said the woman was rushed to the medical college in Bhojpura where she was undergoing treatment. Her father, Tota Ram, and her elder sisters husband, Dinesh, were arrested for making her forcibly drink acid and throttling her. The woman was unable to speak due to her burn injuries and confirmed her identity by writing her name on paper, after which the entire story behind the incident came to fore, said the officer. Circle officer (Meerganj) informed media persons that Munni Devi was in a relationship with one Ajay Kumar for many years, but her family members did not approve of it. Her father said she had eloped with Ajay Kumar twice in the past but was brought back home, added the CO. He said the womans family forcibly got the woman married to one Devendra of Budaun on April 22 and she was shifted from Bareilly. But she remained in touch with Ajay Kumar. The womans husband informed her kin about all this on the very next day of marriage. The womans father stated she was even found talking to Ajay Kumar on phone when they reached there and was adamant on living with her lover despite getting married to another person, said the CO. The CO said the womans father and brother-in-law took her along when Devendra expressed desire not to live with her. The duo allegedly planned to eliminate her due to social humiliation caused by her act. On Monday, the duo, along with woman, left Devendras house and tried to eliminate her by forcing her to drink acid. The woman fell unconscious following which they left her behind in the bushes, believing her to be dead, he added. MUMBAI: Actress Chrisann Pereira was released from a Sharjah prison late on Wednesday. Her brother Kevin, who has been lobbying for her release after she was allegedly framed in a drugs case, posted a video of a tearful Chrisann facetiming her mother after her release and he said, Chrisann is SET FREE!!! She will be in India in the next 48 hours. How a baker turned a serial framer However, the case has cast the spotlight on Borivali resident Anthony Paul, now arrested, for not just framing the Sadak 2 actress but also four others as part of an extortion racket. Police say that Paul, a baker by profession, ran up a heavy debt and came up with this convoluted ploy of extracting money from families after setting up his unsuspecting victims as drug mules and getting them arrested at Sharjah airport where he would call and give the authorities a tip off about certain incoming passengers carrying drugs. A police officer, who is part of the investigation, said that 34-year-old Paul had travelled to Hyderabad with Pareiras mother on the day the actress was arrested in Sharjah. Paul had told her mother that he had contacts in Sharjah and offered to help the actress by arranging a lawyer for her in Sharjah. He had initially quoted a sum of 1 crore for offering this help which he later brought down to 80 lakh. Paul had similarly contacted families of his other victims, boasting of his purported contacts in Sharjah and offering to help the victims for monetary considerations. The crime branch officer said that Paul had started a fisheries unit along with his associate Rajesh Babhote alias Ravi who too is arrested in the case for abetting the bakers schemes, and incurred heavy losses. Paul owed around 15 lakh to Babhote, 42, who is a deputy general manager with IDBI Bank. Babhote has claimed during his police interrogation that he was not aware of Pauls plans to plant narcotics on his victims and then sending them to Sharjah under the pretext of getting them work opportunities there. He told the police that he tried to help Paul in whatever way he could in sending people to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) only to get his money back. As has been previously reported, Chrisann was sent to Sharjah, UAE, for an audition. A little before she boarded the flight, she was given a trophy stuffed with drugs the same trophy that one of Pauls other victims, Rishikesh Pandya, had refused to carry. She was told that the trophy was part of the audition prop. But when she landed at Sharjah on April 1, she was promptly arrested by the authorities and later taken to Sharjah central prison. The crime branch officers also learnt during their investigation that Paul had a grouse with Chrisanns mother Premila Pereiraand hence, he hatched a plan to frame her daughter promising her an audition for an international web-series in Sharjah. Before Chrisann he had used the same modus operandi on three other Borivali residents, one of whom was similarly arrested. Clayton Rodrigues, a disc jockey by profession, was trapped in Sharjah carrying a drugs-laced cake, given to him by Paul, and he is still in jail in Sharjah, say cops. Paul, 35, is a resident of LIC Colony, a middle-class neighbourhood in Borivali and runs bakeries in Malad and Borivali. He finished his schooling at Mira Road, where his interior designer father shifted when Paul was five, and completed his junior college from St Andrews college, Bandra. In 2006, Paul went to Melbourne, Australia, to study management in hospitality and stayed there until 2012. Chrisanns mother too lives in LIC Colony with her children, and about five years ago Paul and she got acquainted, said police inspector Deepak Sawant of crime branch unit 10. As per the FIR, on March 23, Chrisann received a message from a person who claimed to be a certain Raviin fact it was Babhotesaying that he ran a firm called Talent Pool and aksed her to come for an interview to a suburban five- star hotel for a potential role in an international web series on March 25. At the so-called interview, she was told that she would need to go to Dubai for a day on April 1 to audition, and that the expenses will be borne by Talent Pool. Accordingly, Chrisanns ticket was booked for Sharjah on April 1 and she was informed that a vehicle would be available at the airport to take her from Sharjah to Dubai. The return ticket was also booked for April 3. Ravi next met her on the 1st afternoon around 2:30 at a coffee shop in Andheri where Babhote, acting as Ravi, handed her a trophy saying it was part of the audition script. When Chrisann reached Sharjah, she found out that she had not been booked at the Hilton in Dubai as promised and told her father on the phone that it seemed she had been duped and she also threw the trophy in the dustbin. As per her familys advice, she picked up the trophy and handed it over to the airport police at Sharjah and complained about being cheated, which was when she was detained and later arrested for drug smuggling, said a crime branch officer. Pareiras family subsequently approached Mumbai crime branch and started an investigation at the instruction of Lakhmi Gautam, joint commissioner of police. The FIR was registered on April 24 at Vakola police station based on the statement given by the actors mother Premila. Subsequent police investigation revealed that Paul had similarly framed four others His ex-girlfriends sister, a dress designer from Borivali. He suspected that she was responsible for their break-up and therefore he sent her to Sharjah on January 15 for a dress designing event and once again he gave her drugs-laced cake to carry. Like Chrisann she too learnt upon reaching Sharjah that there was no such event, and she immediately booked her ticket and returned to Mumbai. Pauls second victim, Clayton Rodrigues, also a Borivali resident, is a DJ by profession. He was sent to Sharjah on February 6. Paul gave him a cake and also called the Sharjah airport to inform them about the drugs-laced cake. Rodrigues was caught and he is still in Sharjah jail for drug smuggling. Likewise, Ken Rodrigues was also sent to Sharjah on March 1 with a trophy similar to the one carried by Chrisann but luckily, he got out of the airport without getting caught and threw the trophy outside the airport after noticing that he had been cheated and returned to India. Police said Kens father works in Pauls bakery and had some issues with him and therefore he wanted to punish him. Rishikesh Pandya, who works in event management, was also sent to Sharjah on March 25th and he too was given a trophy - that eventually Chrisann carried to take with him to Sharjah but he did not carry the trophy with him and when he found out that he had been duped, he returned to Mumbai. Police said Pandyas father-in-law works in Pauls bakery in Malad and had had some dispute with him. Case Studies: Clayton Rodrigues, a DJ Falyn Rodrigues, Clayton Rodriguess wife says she knew Pauls girlfriend through work since 2012 and was introduced to him in 2018. When they broke up, he called my husband to help patch things up saying he intended to marry her, says Falyn. His girlfriend was earlier married to Anthonys cousin and has a son from the marriage. This son, Falyn said, would often remark that Clayton reminded him of his father, which irked Paul. On January 28, Clayton received a call from a man named Prasad Rao who said that he was from a recruiting agency. He said that he wanted to offer Clayton a job at their club in Sahara Star for which he would have to give a demo to his bosses at the Buddha Bar in Dubai. Clayton met Rao the next day at the coffee shop of Western Inn to discuss the gig. Rao then asked Clayton to send copies of his passport and Aadhar card to book his ticket. Clayton was to leave Mumbai on February 6, the day of his nine-year-old daughters communion where Paul was present. The man called Rao called up Clayton after the communion, and asked him to meet him at the gate of ITC Hotel at Sahar saying he wanted Clayton to pick up a cake that he wanted to send to his bosses. Falyn says she received a message from Raos number telling her that Clayton had been arrested in Sharjah with drugs. I was hysterical. Paul told me that he would call Aaditya Thackeray and tell him to help out in the matter, she recalled. Paul then pretended to make a few calls and told Falyn that the authorities in Sharjah were demanding 80 lakh to release Clayton. I am alone with our daughter and my bedridden father-in-law and I didnt know what to do. Only a few days ago, I saw a social media post about Chrisann and connected with her brother. Now, we have hired a lawyer in Sharjah and sent him the required documents, said Falyn. Rishikesh Pandya Event management executive Rishikesh Pandya lives in Worli along with his family and has a farmhouse in Malad (West). His father-in-law works in Pauls bakery in Malad (West). Through him, I came in contact with Paul around four months ago. I dont know why he planned to frame me in the drugs case, says a befuddled Pandya. On February 19 he got a call from someone claiming to be Ravi whom he did not know. He offered to introduce me to some of his international clients who could provide me with events- related business. He asked me to meet him in a hotel in Santacruz to discuss the deal in detail, he said. During the meeting, Ravi said he was acting as an agent for the client who lives in Dubai. Finding this fishy, Pandya refused to go ahead with the deal. However, he said, Ravi kept calling him repeatedly. He also gave me 10,000 towards the visa processing fee. I discussed the offer with my wife who spoke about it to her father in the bakery. Their conversation about how I found the offer to meet the client in Sharjah dubious was overheard by Anthony, he added. He further said that Anthony interrupted their conversation and offered to accompany me to the next meeting with Ravi to help assess the genuineness of the offer. Pandya said that Anthony came along with him to the next meeting. The two of them pretended not to know each other. After the meeting, Anthony started praising Ravi, saying he looked like a genuine person, said Pandya. This prompted him to take up the offer. He was booked to fly out of Mumbai on March 21st. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NAGPUR: A middle-aged man allegedly bludgeoned his live-in partner to death over a property dispute in Shivangaon under Beltarodi police station in west Nagpur on Tuesday afternoon. HT Image According to the police, the deceased Saijabai and accused Babarao had been living together for the last two decades but they were not married. Babaraos first wife had left him over two decades ago. Babarao, who lived with Saijabai in Saket Nagar, owned a plot of land in Shivangaon Rehabilitation Colony and it was the bone of contention that led to the murder of Saijabai. It was learnt that the woman forced Baburao to stay away from the house for the last few months over a property dispute. She pocketed more than half the amount Babarao got after selling an ancestral property at Umri on Girad road in Nagpur district last year. Babarao had purchased a plot in Saket Nagari, which was also forcibly transferred in Saijabais name. After Babarao got some land as compensation after his land was included in the Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN), the woman was trying to construct a shanty for herself on the plot. On the other hand, an unemployed Babarao allegedly had plans to dispose of the land. A wordy duel ensued between Saijabai and Babarao over the issue. After heated arguments, Babarao lost his temper and smashed Saijabais head with a stone, killing her on the spot. Beltarodi police team led by senior inspector Vaijayanti Mandavdhare rushed to the spot. Mandavdhare said that the accused was arrested on charges under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code. Preliminary investigations revealed that Babarao killed his partner over a property-related dispute. However, we are conducting further investigation to ascertain the facts, she added. Mumbai: A special MCOCA court on Monday rejected the plea of 7/11 convict, Ehtesham Siddiqui, for conducting an enquiry into testimonies of three prosecution witnesses and for taking appropriate action against the three, who he claimed falsely implicated him resulting in his conviction. HT Image The MCOCA court said that Siddiquis plea was devoid of any merit. After seven years (of the judgement in the case), the applicant prayed to initiate action against the three witnesses. There is no explanation as to the delay in filing this application, special judge AM Patil said while rejecting the plea. Siddiqui had filed the plea on August 4, last year, against Mohammad Alam Quraishi, Amar Khan and Vishal Parmar who were examined as prosecution witnesses. He claimed that the three witnesses had deposed falsely resulting in his conviction and he has now been awarded a death sentence. Quraishi had claimed that he had seen some guests from Pakistan at the house of one accused and said the accused told the name of those guests as Abdul Razzak, Abu Umaid, Sohail Shaikh and Salim. As per this witness, Abdul Razzak, who was in India but settled in Pakistan, had brought three Pakistani Sohail Shaikh, who assembled the bomb at the house of the accused, Salim who was killed in the blast while planting the bomb and Abu Umaid who was killed in an encounter by the ATS Officer. Abdul Razzak, a resident of Hyderabad, had brought the three persons from Pakistan in May 2006. However, Siddiqui claimed that he recently got information that Abdul Razzak died by suicide on October 10, 2012. He was arrested in 2005 and released on bail in 2007. After suicide, one suicide note was found in his shirt pocket which reveals that he had committed suicide as he was fed up due to cases. When Abdul Razzak was in custody in the year 2006, then how it could be believed that he brought three Pakistanis via the Kutch border in May 2006 and therefore deposition of Mohd Alam is false and concocted. As for Khan, Siddiqui said that he had gone to Govandi before the bomb blast and met Mohammed Ali and saw Tanvir Ahamed. He identified him and accused him before the court as the activist of SIMI. He also pointed out that this witness was also the witness in a sessions court case in 2014. In that case, he did not support the case of the prosecution. He had deposed that he does not know Mohammed Ali Shaikh and was not aware of the members office bearers of SIMI. This deposition is contrary to the deposition in this case and therefore it is proved that he has given false evidence. A stock broker in the outskirts of Mumbais Lalbaug area allegedly died by suicide on Tuesday, police said. A suicide note was found in the house by police. (Representative file image) Police said the mans 11-year-old daughter was also found dead in the house and the cause of her death is yet to be ascertained. We suspect he hanged the daughter first and then died by suicide, said the police officer. A suicide note was found in the house by police. Also Read: IIT Madras student allegedly dies by suicide; fourth incident since February On Tuesday morning, the Kalachowkie police were informed by the wife of the deceased man about the incident. The woman informed the police that she was trying her husbands phone and after he did not answer her calls, she suspected something was wrong and reached the house. With the help of locals, they broke open the door. We have registered a murder case against the deceased and accidental death report in connection with his own death and are investigating the matter. We have found a suicide note in which he talked about the disputes with his wife and issues pertaining to distribution of property. We are trying to ascertain if the wife was anyway involved in the incidents provocation, said deputy commissioner of police, Zone IV, Dr Pravin Munde. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918, Roshni Foundation (Secunderabad) Contact Nos: 040-66202001, 040-66202000, ONE LIFE: Contact No: 78930 78930, SEVA: Contact No: 09441778290 NERUL:The concretisation work at traffic junctions within Nerul and Seawood nodes is fast turning out to be a matter of major concern for residents, who felt that the levelling work done shoddily now posing a major risk for motorists. HT Image Ahead of the monsoons, the Navi Mumbai Municipal corporation (NMMC) has undertaken concretisation work of major traffic junctions across the city. The work on Nerul and Seawoods nodes is nearing completion. Residents have pointed out to the civic administration about the shoddy work being undertaken, which is turning out to be life threatening for motorists. A resident from Seawoods has posted his concerns on Twitter. Sandeep Sardana has stated the work done under the pretext of concretisation is extremely shoddy. Have not seen such unplanned work in recent times. Request the NMMC commissioner to visit this stretch and look into difficulties the residents will be facing while passing daily through this stretch due to the uneven surface, tweeted Sardana. The NMMC has undertaken major road repair work at three junctions. While the concretisation work is in near completion, the roads have become uneven. Bikers skidding and four wheelers forced to apply sudden breaks have become a regular feature on these roads. It is an outright failure on part of the NMMC to monitor the kind of work being done by the contractor. Slight variation in height is understandable, but in most of these junctions, a slope is formed and to hide this the contractor has merely covered it with tar which will not survive the monsoons, said Anarjit Chauhan, social activist and a Nerul resident. The activist pointed out that the work was undertaken as per the instructions of the High Court in 2014. The whole point of concretisation was to ensure that during monsoons, there are no potholes. But with the kind of shoddy work done, it is unclear how it will impact the residents, instead, I sincerely hope no accidents occur, said Chauhan. For the concretisation work, the engineering department is believed to have spent approximately 2.5 crore, it is learnt. Taking cognisance of the issue, Arvind Shinde, Executive engineer, NMMC, has now assured residents that monitoring of the work will be done and necessary action taken. A survey will be done and the necessary action will be taken, he said. A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker was booked by Ghaziabad police on Tuesday after the daughter of member of Parliament general (retired) VK Singh submitted a complaint against the worker accusing him of spreading misinformation about her. Mrilalini Singh filed the complaint at Vijay Nagar police station on Wednesday. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo) Complainant Mrinalini Singh alleged that the worker put a WhatsApp status on his phone number stating that she had taken money and distributed the BJP tickets for the upcoming local body elections. Police identified the worker as Ajay Rajput, a resident of Vijay Nagar and an advocate practising at the Ghaziabad courts. Police said he used to be a representative of former Uttar Pradesh minister and Ghaziabad MLA Atul Garg. Singh alleged that Rajput shared her photo on his WhatsApp status and stated that she had taken money from prospective candidates in return for getting them BJP tickets to contest in the local body polls. This incident has harmed my reputation in the society and mentally harassed me. Hence, I request the police to take action against the suspect, Singh, who is also a resident of Vijay Nagar, said in her complaint. Sujit Kumar Rai, assistant commissioner of police, Kotwali, said on the basis of the complaint, an FIR has been registered against Rajput under the Section 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66 (computer related offences) of the IT Act at the Vijay Nagar police station. An investigation is underway and help from the cyber cell is also being taken to solve the case, he said. Refuting the allegations, Rajput said, It seems that some miscreant has edited a screen shot of my WhatsApp status and misled the complainant, who is also a senior member of the BJP, in order to provoke party members. I have submitted all proofs related to the case to the police. I have also conveyed the matter to BJPs Ghaziabad in-charge for the civic polls, who will also inquire into the matter, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A major fire broke out on the second floor of a 30-storey high rise in Greater Noida west on Wednesday morning, officials said. By the time fire department officials reached the spot, the flat occupants had already exited. (HT photo) According to officials, the fire broke out on the second floor of L tower of Gaur City 14th Avenue around 11:45am. Fire department received information about the fire at 11:50am after which two fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot. The fire had started from the second floor balcony of the tower where the flat occupants had lit a lamp at a place of worship in the building. According to preliminary investigation, the synthetic curtains on the balcony may have caught the fire from the lamp following which it reached the upper floors and at least two more houses on the upper floors were engulfed in it. By 12:30pm, firefighters extinguished the fire and brought it under control, said Pradeep Kumar Chaubey, chief fire officer, Gautam Budh Nagar, adding that exact cause of the fire will be confirmed later. Also Read: Fire breaks out at commercial complex in Thane He added that by the time fire department officials reached the spot, the flat occupants had already exited and there were no casualties nor injuries from the fire incident. So far, no complaint has been received in the matter, added the CFO. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Noida: The Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate has imposed a penalty of 1 lakh each on over 100 private schools in the district for not complying with an order of the Allahabad high court that states that 15% of the fees charged during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 have to be refunded to the parents of students. Noida district magistrate Manish Verma imposed a penalty of 1 lakh each on over 100 private schools in the district . (HT Archive) The order, which was passed on January 6, states, It is made clear that in case any fee has been paid in excess of what has been determined by the Supreme Court in the aforesaid judgment (i.e 15% of the fees charged from students during academic year 2020-21, when classes were held online), in the case of the students still studying, the same may be adjusted in the fee to be paid in future. In case of students who have passed out or left the school, the amount may be calculated and returned to those students. Let the entire exercise be done within two months of date. The deadline given to schools expired in March but many have not yet complied with it, said Dharmveer Singh, district inspector of schools (DIOS). All these schools have been repeatedly served notices over the order but there has been no compliance. Hence, on April 24, a meeting of the district fee regulatory committee (DFRC), Gautam Budh Nagar, was held and chaired by the district magistrate, wherein it was decided that a fine of 1 lakh each would be imposed on over 100 schools across the district that have not complied with the order, said the officer. The decision further stated that if a school does not pay the requisite penalty within 30 days, the fine will be increased to 5 lakh. On Wednesday, the DIOS started sending out notices regarding the penalty to each school. After inspection, we made a list of 100 schools that have not complied with the HC order. On Wednesday, notices were served to 20 schools while others will be sent notices soon, he said. The notice, addressed to the school principals concerned, said, You have been directed to follow the order of the Allahabad high court but even after several letters directing you to do so, you have not complied with the order. Hence, in the DFRC meeting dated April 24, a penalty of 1 lakh will be imposed on the school. Manish Verma, district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar said, If a school that has been served notice can prove that they have complied with the order and have been served notice wrongly, the directives will be reconsidered for that particular school. Meanwhile, parents welcomed the decision but expressed displeasure over the penalty imposed. The schools have committed contempt of court and for this, they should be served legal notices by the concerned authority and taken to court. A fine of 1 lakh is a meagre amount for big private schools such as those in Noida, said Manoj Kataria, founder of Gautam Budh Nagar Parents Welfare Society (GPWS). Renu Singh, principal of Amity International School, Noida, who is a member of the DFRC, said, The decision was taken as schools chose not to comply with HC order. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is in the process of setting up a state-of-the-art gem testing facility at the Central Discovery Centre. The facility will cater to the needs of those involved in trading gemstones. For representation only (HT File Photo) As part of the exercise, BHU is holding an industry meet on gemstones on April 27. The interaction between representatives of the industry and experts of BHU will seek to understand the needs of the industry so as to better address them. The interaction will be held at 3.30 pm in CDC building of BHU. It will have renowned experts who will share insights on testing and identification of gems with traditional as well as modern and scientific methods. Rajesh Singh, public relations officer, BHU said that the facility will be the first such advanced and reliable testing facility in this part of the country. Currently, most gem testing labs are located in the western part of the country in cities like Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad. Eastern Uttar Pradesh has a dearth of such reliable testing facilities. The full-fledged gem testing and research laboratory is being set up under the second phase of the grants received through the SATHI (Sophisticated Analytical and Technical Help Institute) scheme sanctioned by the department of science and technology (DST), government of India. The lab will have advanced and sophisticated instruments with an investment of 3.75 crore. The Bharatiya Janata Party U.P. president Bhupendra Singh Chowdhary will hold two separate meetings at the BJPs regional office, in Varanasi, on Thursday. Bharatiya Janata Party U.P. president Bhupendra Singh Chowdhary (HT File Photo) Dilip Singh Patel, BJP president, Kashi region, said that the district unit office-bearers, including district in-charges, district presidents of four districts Varanasi, Ghazipur, Jaunpur and Chandauli will participate in the meeting. MPs and MLAs of these districts will also attend the meeting which the state unit president will address. Chaudhary will hold a second meeting with the Local Body Election Steering Committee. Members of the panel, the ward coordinator of the municipal corporation elections, the MP and the MLA will participate in the meeting. On April 28, deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya will campaign in favour of Ashok Tiwari, the BJP candidate for the post of mayor in Varanasi. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath will hold a public meeting in Shivpur on April 30, said Kashi region BJP spokesperson Navratan Rathi. LUCKNOW Passengers arriving at North Eastern Railways (NER)-operated stations of Lucknow and Gorakhpur junctions will now be provided with the facility to book a taxi (or auto) at the platform itself. To this end, NER will set up kiosks at select railway platforms where passengers can book a ride for a reasonable non-negotiable price. At Gorakhpur Junction station, there will be a facility of Taxi and Auto Stand Parking. (Sourced) Under this facility, facilitation centres/kiosks will be available on platform no. 02 and 03 at Gorakhpur Jn station and platform no. 06 at Lucknow Jn station to assist passengers in auto and taxi booking. At these kiosks, facilitators of the agency will be available 24 hours a day. They will provide assistance to railway passengers in booking autos and taxis, said Mahesh Gupta, public relations officer, NER, Lucknow. A token will be issued to railway passengers by the facilitator at the kiosk on the basis of the vehicles available in the taxi and auto stand parking. A list of the rental fare for every area will be displayed on the kiosk. This will help passengers see the charges prior to the booking. A helpline number will also be displayed on this kiosk , he added. An agency has been nominated to start the facility of stand parking, and this facility will be available for the passengers very soon, added the PRO. According to Railways, the move was taken, as earlier, passengers had to struggle to book a taxi outside the stations. This facility will bring transparency. Also, this will save passengers and drivers from the hassle of negotiating for the price. At Gorakhpur Junction station, there will be a facility of Taxi and Auto Stand Parking. Similarly, there will be Taxi Parking at Lucknow Junction station. Police teams on Wednesday intensified the search operation launched in search of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmeds wife Shaista Parveen who is on the run since the murder of lawyer Umesh Pal. A domestic help who used to accompany Shaista to market and every other place is also being questioned. (File photo) It is suspected that Ashrafs wife Zainab and sister Ayesha Noori may also be in hiding with Shaista Parveen. Police teams carried out search operations from Chakia to many villages in Kaushambi to trace Shaista Parveen, officials said. Police officials said that after receiving inputs that Shaista may have taken shelter in villages on the banks of the Ganga in Prayagraj and Kaushambi, police teams carried out raids and searched some homes. However, Shaista and other women of Atiqs family were not found there, they added. Meanwhile, police teams detained some women from Kaushambi who are suspected to have provided safe shelter to Shaista. A domestic help who used to accompany Shaista to market and every other place is also being questioned. The woman was missing for past some days and returned home recently. Police officials are trying to get clues about the whereabouts of Shaista and Ashrafs wife Zainab. Meanwhile, besides launching search operations in Hatwa, Sallahpur, Mariadih, Asrauli, Ujahni and other villages, cops in plain clothes have also been deployed at Kasari Masari graveyard. Police officials suspect that Shaista Parveen and Zainab may try to visit the graves of their husbands as no police personnel are present there now. Shaista was named in the complaint given to Dhumanganj police by Jaya Pal after her husband Umesh Pals murder. After investigations police made Ashrafs wife Zainab, sister Ayesha Noori and her two daughters an accused in the case. PATNA : Three political developments in Bihar in the past fortnight alone have the potential to play big in the 2024 general elections as both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Grand Alliance (GA) take measured steps to prepare for the crucial fight. PREMIUM Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. (PTI) One, earlier this month following the Motihari hooch tragedy in which 30 persons died after consuming spurious liquor, Nitish Kumar finally relented and agreed to pay compensation to the kin of victims of hooch tragedies. Last year, during the winter session of the state legislature, Kumar had slammed the opposition BJP that had demanded compensation to the kin of victims. The prohibition law may emerge as a stumbling block within the GA allies, and the chief ministers change of heart is likely to make a difference. Two, on April 10, the Nitish Kumar government amended the Bihar Prison Manual, 2012, removing the murder of a public servant on duty clause from the list of cases for which remission of jail term cannot be considered. Days later, the state notified the release of 27 prisoners. The list included Anand Mohan Singh, a Rajput leader with considerable influence on his caste voters, who is serving a life sentence since 2007 in a case involving the murder of Gopalganj district magistrate G Krishnaiah in 1994. The BJP has targeted the CM for "leaning on a criminal syndicate." Taking a cue from this amendment, the BJP is also demanding general amnesty to those booked under the prohibition law. Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Modi said most of those in jail under prohibition law were poor, while the mafia escaped. Three, the Nitish cabinet decided to give government employee status to teachers appointed henceforth through the Bihar Public Service Commission. Earlier, starting 2006, the appointments took place through Panchayati Raj Institutions, which the RJD opposed. The new appointment policy has riled up the existing 400,000 employed school teachers who lost a protracted legal battle with the state government in the top court, as they sought the status of government employees. Both the BJP and government ally CPI (Marxist Leninist-Liberation) have come out in support of the teachers. Bihar Congress chief Akhilesh Singh has also assured support to the teachers. Political analyst and former director of AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies DM Diwakar said that all three decisions seem to have been made with the impending polls in mind, and reflect the stamp of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which is gradually and quietly asserting itself, while Nitish Kumar has grown more accommodating. Nitish Kumar has been made to realise that there can be no defence to continued deaths due to hooch tragedies and he cannot get away with blaming the victims for long. His Grand Alliance (GA) partners, including the RJD and Congress, have also been consistently raising the demand for a review, which the CM had earlier dismissed. This decision means he has started feeling the pressure, he said. Social analyst and retired Patna University professor NK Choudhary also agreed that the shift in Nitish Kumars stand was a clear indication of the RJDs growing assertiveness in the alliance. The RJD wanted a review of liquor policy. So did the Congress and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi of HAM. It is an indication of Nitishs big shift. An amendment in the prison law is a big climb down for a leader who always maintained that he would make no compromise when it comes to crime. However, this could lead to internal churning in a state known for stark caste divides, he said. Nitish Kumar is known to be a master of social engineering and by working in tandem with the RJD he is trying to bridge the gaps that the BJP could make use of. No party could afford to upset the Rajput community and therefore, all of them are silent on this, Diwakar added, referring to the amendment in prison rules that permitted the remission of Singhs life sentence. Singh, now 75, is expected to walk out of jail soon. Even a complete rollback of prohibition at some stage before elections does not look improbable now, Choudhary said. However, according to Choudhary, it is the decision pertaining to education that may pose the biggest challenge for the CM, as incentives alone cannot bring about change. Good quality teaching is a long-time need in the state, and the government has not been able to fulfil it in either the school or higher education level. In fact, earlier Nitish had brushed aside Tejashwis promise of two million jobs as unrealistic, but now he is backing it. RJD had made poll promises for jobs and this decision on teacher recruitment could give it an advantage. Perhaps, that is why it sought the education department portfolio, he said. The RJD had announced that steps would be taken to improve the quality of education and that appointments would be made in a centralised way. In the past, the RJD had criticised appointing teachers through PRIs without an examination, while constables and clerks are appointed through competition. Pune district guardian minister Chandrakant Patil on Wednesday sought action against illegal hoardings and overhead cables in Hinjewadi IT Park area. Patil instructed authorities to take prompt action. After the hoarding collapse in Ravet killed five people, industry representatives raised the issue of illegal banners and hoardings and overhead cables in Hinjewadi. (HT FILE PHOTO) Patil on Wednesday took a review meeting with Hinjewadi Industrial Association members along with Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), Pune Municipal Commissioner, Pune district collector and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation officer regarding various issues in the IT park area. After the hoarding collapse in Ravet killed five people, industry representatives raised the issue of illegal banners and hoardings and overhead cables in Hinjewadi. Patil asked officials to remove all hoardings and take police protection if necessary. Patil also asked officials to open the flyover in Hinjewadi IT Park area. Currently work is underway and Patil asked officials to issue notices to contractors if work is being delayed. He asked them to ensure that work is completed earlier than the set target. The issue of traffic at Wakad Chowk and Man Road was also discussed in the meeting. Patil also asked authorities to manage garbage in the Hinjewadi IT Park area. Alia Bhatt returned from Dubai Tuesday night after a day-long trip. The actor was spotted at the Mumbai airport upon her return and briefly posed for the paparazzi. She looked lovely without makeup, in a denim on denim look as she wore a denim jacket over blue jeans. She also carried a black handbag in one hand and a smaller pink bag in another hand. Also read: New mom Alia Bhatt gets 'wonderful welcome' at Dubai hotel and it has something to do with daughter Raha Kapoor Alia Bhatt spotted at Mumbai airport Tuesday night. (Varinder Chawla) As a paparazzo shared a video of Alia from the airport on Instagram, fans of the actor took to comments section to praise her glowing skin and her physique. A fan wrote, Have to admit she has got flawless skin. Another wrote, Her glowing face omg she better drop that skin routine. One more commented, Her flawless skin and natural beauty. A comment also read: "Loving her straight hair and her beautiful baby face." One also praised her for losing her pregnancy weight and wrote, Slim again.. beautiful. Another wrote, So freaking pretty. Hours before, she was spotted at the Mumbai airport as she left for Dubai. She was in a short beige jacket, which she teamed up with a pair of beige and blue printed cargo trousers and a white crop top. She had also posed with a few kids at the airport. Alia's quick trip to Dubai seems to be related to her upcoming appearance at the MET Gala next month. She will make her MET Gala debut this year ahead of the release of her Hollywood debut, Heart of Stone. Directed by Tom Harper, Heart of Stone is intended to be the first instalment in a series akin to Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible. It also stars Gal Gadot, Sophie Okonedo, Matthias Schweighofer, Jing Lusi, and Paul Ready. Alia recently returned from shooting a special schedule in Kashmir for her upcoming Karan Johar film, Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. She will be seen opposite her Gully Boy co-star Ranveer Singh in the film which also has Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi and Jaya Bachchan among the star cast. It will release in theatres on July 28. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actors Vijay Varma and Tamannaah Bhatia are rumoured to be dating for quite a few months now. While they have not made their alleged relationship public, Vijay's co-star, actor Gulshan Devaiah, dropped a subtle hint as he teased him about Tamannaah. It so happened that when Vijay posted a teaser video of his upcoming series Dahaad, Gulshan left a funny comment on it. Also read: Dahaad teaser: Sonakshi Sinha dons the uniform to find 27 missing girls in inviting Zoya Akhtar's series Did Gulshan Devaiah just confirm Vijay Varma and Tamannaah Bhatia's relationship rumours? Sharing the video on Instagram, Vijay wrote, Heres a sneak peak into Dahaad! Dahaad on Prime Video. Trailer out on May 3. While many fans spoke about the show in the comments section, actor Gulshan Devaiah took to the comment section to tease Vijay. He wrote, Meri Tammannah toh tu tha achcha dhokha diya hai tune mujhe. Thank God meri izzat nai luti nai toh... hey Ram (You were my hope, you betrayed me. Thank God my reputation is still intact). Vijay Varma gets teased by co star Gulshan Devaiah. While Vijay has not yet responded to Gulshan's comment, several fans have double-tapped on the hilarious comment. Meanwhile, Zoya Akhtar who is also a creator of the series, sent her love in the comments section. Dahaad stars Sonakshi Sinha as a cop who takes up a gruesome murder case. Besides Vijay, it also stars Gulshan Devaiah, and Sohum Shah. Going by the teaser, the series will revolve around the suspected murders of 27 women, with no complaints or witnesses, as one woman rises against the crime to bring justice. Meanwhile, Vijay and Tamannaah Bhatia continue to make news with their relationship rumours. On Monday, the two were spotted together in Mumbai after they left a restaurant. They were reportedly on a dinner date. Both were seen leaving after dinner in a car together. Vijay's Dahaad will release on Prime Video on May 12. It's directed by Reema Kagti and Ruchika Oberoi. He has Sujoy Ghosh's adaptation of the Japanese novel The Devotion of Suspect X with Kareena lined up for release this year. He was last seen in Netflix's Darlings. On the other hand, Tamannaah has Rajinikanth's Jailor in the pipeline. She is also a part of Bole Chudiyan, Bandra, Aranmanai 4 and Bhola Shankar. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A case has been filed against actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui and the CEO of the Indian division of Coca Cola for allegedly hurting sentiments of the Bengali community. The actor featured in a Sprite ad that was originally shot in Hindi. While no objections have been raised with the Hindi version of the ad, a Kolkata-based lawyer has objected to a line in the Bengali version. Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a still from the Sprite ad. (Also read: Jogira Sara Ra Ra teaser: Nawazuddin, Neha Sharma's romcom is all about jugaad) The ad is part of the new campaign of the soft drink brand. It promotes the new feature of the drink's bottle that allows the consumer to scan the QR code and listen to jokes. Advocate Dibyayan Banerji, of the Calcutta High Court, has filed the complaint, as per a report of LiveMint. It quoted Dibyayan telling the court, The main advertisement by Coca-Cola for its product Sprite was in Hindi. And we have no problems with that. We only have a problem with Bengali dubbing of the ad which is running on various TV channels and websites. Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui is laughing at one of the jokes, which says, shoja anguley ghee na uthley, Bangali khali petey ghumiye porey. In English, it means that if Bengalis dont get anything easily, they sleep hungry. And this, we think, hurts the sentiments of the Bengali community. We want this type of shallow act and gimmicks to not be promoted in the future." The report added that the company has pulled down the Bengali version of the ad featuring Nawazuddin after the complaint and also said in a note issued by Sprite India that it "regrets the recent ad campaign for the cold drink and that the company respects Bengali language". Nawazuddin now awaits the release of two interesting and different kinds of projects. One of them is Sudhir Mishras Afwaah which stars him alongside Bhumi Pednekar. The film is slated for a theatrical release on May 5. It also features actors Sumit Kaul, Sharib Hashmi, Sumeet Vyas, TJ Bhanu and Rockey Raina in important roles. Nawazuddin will also be seen in Kangana Ranaut's production Tiku Weds Sheru. He also has Kushan Nandy's Jogira Sa Ra Ra and Noorani Chehra alongside Nupur Sanon. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Women in the Hindi film industry, both in front of and behind the camera, have broken the "glass ceiling" and have entered every male bastion, actor Raveena Tandon said on Wednesday during a panel of the 'National Conclave on Mann Ki Baat @100'. Tandon, the star of the 1990 and early 2000s Hindi cinema, said the film industry should learn from sister mediums TV and OTT (over-the-top) platforms, who are the leaders in paying women better and producing shows with female protagonists, respectively, she said. Also read: Aamir Khan praises PM Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat: That is how you lead by communication Raveena Tandon during the inauguration of a national conclave on Mann ki Baat @100. (PTI) "We also talk about pay disparity but in the TV industry today, women are paid much higher than their male counterparts, which is a great thing because of the kind of work they do and I think in our TV industry, women rule. In OTT platforms too, the protagonists are mostly women, women issues are discussed. "In the film industry, we are going there slowly but surely because it has been a male dominated industry since the beginning but there is definitely a change. Our women have broken the glass ceiling, we have entered every male bastion...," the 48-year-old actor said, addressing the 'Nari Shakti' session here. Tandon said issues such as representation and pay disparity still plague the industry but with women in high places, change is on the way. "... In the world today, there is a change because all the top positions, be it director of photography, our choreographers, our directors, producers, platform heads and channel heads are women. "So the opportunities that we should be getting, we are getting that. A woman being at the helm of producing something, she understands those issues, she understands the sensitivity, she has the sensibilities so we get more opportunities," the Padma Shri recipient said. Tandon, known for films such as Mohra, Daman, Maatr and web series Aranyak, said in the '90s Hindi cinema actors would "struggle" to break their perceived image. "There is a lot of change in the film industry that was not there in the 90s. You would get stereotyped for playing a certain character," she said. The actor, who won the National Film Award for playing a woman subjected to marital rape in the 2001 film Daman, said her filmography is a reflection of the social causes she supports. Tandon said issues such as domestic violence and marital rape were brushed under the carpet and she struggled a lot while bringing out a story like Daman, directed by Kalpana Lajmi. "I did not get any acceptance and faced a lot of struggle at that time but the film won the National Film Award and rightfully so because it was a film that was ahead of its time. And 23 years later, we are still discussing it (marital rape) even today." The actor also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prasar Bharti on the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat, the monthly radio programme, which is scheduled to be broadcast on April 30. Terming Mann Ki Baat a "genius idea" to communicate with Indians via radio, Tandon said the PM's initiative puts spotlight on the unsung heroes of the country whose efforts often go unreported in the mainstream media. "The lower strata of our society that is home to so many heroes... So many people have made a difference at the local level according to the resources they had access to... It highlights the efforts of those people about whom we often don't read in newspapers. "But sir (Modi) brings these heroes to the forefront and inspires the country through this mass outreach... the way his one-to-one interaction has been with the people, it feels like he is narrating your story. It has been so successful that through this medium he has touched the hearts of everyone in the country," she added. National Conclave on Mann Ki Baat @100, the one-day event, was on Wednesday inaugurated by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar in New Delhi with Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur as the guest of honour. Thirteen-year-old Sejal Gupta, from Chandigarh, has proved that age is no bar for dreaming big and making them a reality. Model and child actor Sejal Gupta (Photo: Instagram/@sejjal21) The actor, who made her television debut at the age of eight with Kya Haal Mr Panchal and played the younger Kirti Kulhari in Mission Mangal, says she feels blessed to have had these big opportunities. Working with Akshay (Kumar) sir was an honour and a great learning experience as he is really humble. Initially, I was nervous and feared that I might make mistakes while acting and it might annoy him but he was really comforting, she says. Speaking of her upcoming projects, she says, Recently, I got to work with Urmila Matondkar maam for Tiwari. Im playing her daughter in the web series and on the sets she truly made me feel that way. The model-cum- child actor, who recently won the Miss Teen International India and Miss Teen India 2023 titles, says she had absolute clarity about her ambitions and goals in life since she was five. The model-cum-child actor was recently the youngest Indian teen to win Miss Teen International India 2023 (HT Photo) My first ramp walk was when I was six. So, for the most part of my life, Ive been clear about the journey I want to be on, she says, adding, I want to bring positive changes in society and be a role model for the youth. With all that in mind, when some interesting opportunities come her way, she dives right in. So far, my journey, which has just begun, has been really beautiful and exciting, she says. Talking about the pageant experience, she says it was quite thrilling. It had a lot of ups and downs. There were happy days. And then there were days when I didnt feel good about my performance. But I had faith in myself and knew that I can overcome the obstacles and win, she elaborates. Her secret to winning, she believes, was her drive to do well and bring home the crown. Whenever I faced a difficult time, I prayed to God and that calmed me down and helped me take the right decision, she shares. Aiming to be dedicated and focused like her role model, Priyanka Chopra, she says her parents are her biggest support system. They have supported me through it all. My mum was the first to back my career choice. She also helps and guides me through balancing my studies and work, says the actor, who studies in Class 9. Having to constantly juggle between Chandigarh and Mumbai, the one thing she misses about The City Beautiful is her nanis home-cooked meals. Whenever Im in town, I visit her and she feeds me lots of delicious food. Back in Mumbai, I miss that, she says. The actor will soon be seen in Peshawar; Kun Faya Kun with Harshvardhan Rane and Sanjeeda Shaikh; Sukhee with Shilpa Shetty Kundra; and Jo Tera Hai Wo Mera Hai with Amit Sial, Sonali Kulkarni and Paresh Rawal. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Veteran actor Zeenat Aman, who has garnered a lot of praise for sharing her refreshing anecdotes on Instagram, has now penned the second part of her tribute to actor Dev Anand. In her latest post, Zeenat shared a throwback picture with Dev Saab, and detailed the shooting experience in Nepal for Ishk Ishk Ishk. She recalled that even though she starred in a number of films with him, Dev saab never made her sign a contract as part of any additional conditions. (Also read: Zeenat Aman recalls Dev Anand stopping her family from leaving Mumbai ahead of Hare Rama Hare Krishna: I became a star) Zeenat Aman shared a throwback picture with Dev Anand. In her previous post, Zeenat had called Dev Anand her 'starmaker' and shared how she was cast in Hare Rama Hare Krishna while her family wanted to leave India. In the new post, Zeenat shared a picture with Dev Saab from the set of Ishk Ishk Ishk and admitted how 'stylish' it looked. In the picture she is seen standing beside Dev Anand, in the backdrop of snow-clad mountains of Pokhara, Nepal. Detailing her journey of shooting her next film after Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Zeenat began, "The age gap between Dev saab and myself was nearly 30 years. I had played his sister in HRHK, and he did not yet see me as a romantic lead. Instead, he cast me in the titular role of (Raakhees sister) Panna in Heera Panna, which released in 1973. I had a blast shooting that film, and its sound track remains a favourite to this day. "Dev saab was a dynamic mentor. Our association continued, and next on the cards was Ishk Ishk Ishk. I once again found myself in Nepal, but this time we were shooting in the picturesque lake town of Pokhara! "Those of you who have seen the film know that it features a bevy of lovely women as my sisters and friends. They were literally so, because prior to the shoot Dev saab asked if I had any model friends who could join the project. I put the word out, several friends answered my call, and so it was quite the party in Pokhara. With a good-looking and young cast and crew, it should be no surprise that there were plenty of dalliances and heartbreaks unfolding behind the scenes. But please dont expect the gossipy details from me! Would you like the world to know about your every crush, humiliation or affair?" Zeenat then added that even though she could have easily been tied to a contract, Dev Anand never suggested that possibility and wanted her to have 'a chance to spread my wings.' She also hinted that a misunderstanding did grow between them, and concluded, "Anyway, Dev saab was on a roll. Working with him was seamless and joyful. He was a fount of creative energy, and I was delighted to have his guidance. It would have been easy for him to tie me down to a contract, but he had the grace to never even suggest it. Thus allowing me a chance to spread my wings. We also starred together in several films made by other directors such as Darling, Darling and Kalabaaz. "My career was booming, fresh offers were pouring in, but alas, one of these, led to the first and only misunderstanding between Dev saab and myself( I will try to complete this story tomorrow or day after. Meanwhile, this picture is from the set of Ishk Ishk Ishk, and if I may say so myself, it is incredibly stylish!)." Ishk Ishk Ishk was the fourth directorial venture of Dev Anand, that starred him alongside Zeenat Aman. Released in 1974, the film also starred Kabir Bedi, and Shabana Azmi in pivotal roles. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Makers of the upcoming superhero action fantasy film Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom unveiled the first official trailer at CinemaCon 2023. According to Deadline, a US-based media outlet, director James Wan and actor Jason Momoa could not attend the grand event but appeared through a video during the Warner Bros. presentation. Also read: Aquaman star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II says acting in DC film is 'clown work': In order to survive, you play that game Jason Momoa in a still from Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom. Wan said the Aquaman sequel visits "beautiful strange new worlds" where it explores interesting new characters. "It's an action-adventure story with a really fun bromance between Arthur and Orm," he said. "Orm was a villain the first time around, but this time Arthur needs him." Lots of fisticuffs with Black Manta, serious speeches by Aquaman -- who has a new baby -- and the Black Trident enemy who has a lot of power. The trailer begins with Aquaman back near his lighthouse home, contemplating life with Temuera Morrison's Tom Curry. But there's still a lot of drama and chaos under the water as Aquaman battles a huge submarine beneath and foes on the beach, as per Deadline. In the trailer, Aquaman aka Momoa could be heard saying, I'm supposed to be a king, to bring the land and sea together. Aquaman tells Black Manta, "No one hits my brother but me." At which point, Patrick Wilson's King Orm says, "Do not call me brother!" said Black Trident, the new enemy, "I'm going to destroy Aquaman and everything he holds dear!" reported Deadline. Apart from Momoa, actors Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Temuera Morrison, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Patrick Wilson, and Dolph Lundgren are also a part of the film. New stars to join the cast of the forthcoming action film include Indya Moore and Jani Zhao. Amber Heard's character Mera has a cameo in a battle scene. The film is all set to hit the theatres on December 20. Kim Kardashian can let go the limelight off! Television personality Kim Kardashian attends a panel for the documentary "Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project".(REUTERS) The reality star got candid about her future in the criminal justice reform movement while speaking at the TIME100 Summit on Tuesday. "I would be just as happy being an attorney full-time," she answered when asked if she would ever consider a life without being in the camera's eye. "The journey just really opened up my eyes so much," she shared. "It gets overwhelming because there's so much to be done ... I brought my sister Khloe [Kardashian] to a prison for the first time last week, and that was really eye-opening for her," reported People. While not yet an official lawyer, The Kardashians star shared with moderator Poppy Harlow that she hopes her efforts in the movement will be "her life's most meaningful work." "I hope so," she said. I always joke with my mom -- who's my manager -- I say Kim K. is retiring, and I'm just going to be an attorney. In December 2021, she passed the first-year law students' examination ("baby bar") after first revealing in May 2019 that she was choosing to follow in the footsteps of her late father Robert Kardashian Sr. He got O.J. Simpson acquitted in the 1995 murder trial of Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. Kardashian fought for the wrongfully convicted inmates. Most recently, she asked for the temporary release of a jailed father whose daughter was killed in the tragic elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. She spoke about her experience with the law exam in an emotional Twitter post, sharing that her law school journey "wasn't easy." "OMFGGGG I PASSED THE BABY BAR EXAM!!!! Looking in the mirror, I am really proud of the woman looking back today in the reflection," she wrote on Twitter. "For anyone who doesn't know my law school journey, know this wasn't easy or handed to me." Kim Kardashian is making headlines once again, but this time it's not for her reality TV appearances or her social media posts. The 42-year-old superstar has revealed that she's willing to give up stardom to focus on her law career. In a shocking revelation at the TIME100 Summit on Tuesday, Kim said that she would be "just as happy being an attorney full-time." Television personality Kim Kardashian attends a panel for the documentary "Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project".(REUTERS) She said in the summit, There's a lot that's out there on TV but my friends know we really value our private time. I would be just as happy being an attorney full-time. The journey just really opened up my eyes so much. It gets overwhelming because there's so much to be done The reality star has been studying law since 2019, in memory of her dad Robert, who worked as a high-profile attorney before passing away in 2003. She credits him for giving her a work ethic, but also acknowledged that she has learned a lot from her mother Kris Jenner, who is also her manager. Kim's announcement comes as a surprise to many, as she has been a fixture in the world of reality TV for years. She has starred in several shows alongside her famous family, and her social media presence is nothing short of iconic. However, it seems that she's ready to turn her back on fame and focus on her passion for law. The SKIMS founder is not just talking the talk - she's also walking the walk. She recently brought her sister Khloe to a prison for the first time, an experience that was eye-opening for both of them. Kim's journey has taught her a lot, but she acknowledges that there's still so much to be done. "It gets overwhelming," she said. Despite the stress, Kim is determined to continue on this path. She knows that her father would be proud of her, and she's grateful for the opportunity to pursue her dreams. "I'm learning every day, and I'm just so grateful for the experience," she said. Also read | Kim Kardashian makes a promise to her daughters after fulfilling her birthday wish by attending Usher's concert It remains to be seen whether Kim will really give up stardom for her law career, but one thing is for sure - she's making waves in the legal world, and she's not slowing down anytime soon. Actor Ajith Kumar, who is an avid biker, has been touring the length and breadth of the country on his bike in the last few months. After completing a long tour internationally a few months ago, he recently resumed his biking trip and was spotted in Nepal. Over the last few days, several clips of Ajith in Nepal have surfaced on social media. (Also Read | Shalini Ajith shares adorable pic with husband Ajith on their 23rd wedding anniversary) Ajith Kumar turned chef at a local restaurant. In a clip, shared by a fan account on Twitter, Ajith was seen in the kitchen of a restaurant in Nepal. He was also seen wearing an apron and a chefs hat. The actor prepared a dish at the local restaurant. In the clip, he was also surrounded by a few staff members of the restaurant. Reacting to the video, a fan said, From an actor to a part-time chef? (sic). Another Twitter user wrote, Living his life. God bless (sic). In a picture, he was seen posing with the staff of the restaurant. Ajith was seen in a white T-shirt and pants. The fan account posted another clip of the actor having his meal at a local food joint. Dressed in a grey and blue outfit, he sat at a table feasting on his food. The clip was shared with the caption, "Recent Ajith Kumar sir video at Nepal ride." Ajith has been travelling on his bike through Kargil, Leh, Ladakh, Jammu, Srinagar, Manali, Rishikesh, and Haridwar among other places. After finishing his biking trip, Ajith then went to Bangkok to complete the shooting portion of his last release Thunivu. The project marked his third consecutive collaboration with director H Vinoth and producer Boney Kapoor. Thunivu grossed over 200 crore globally during its theatrical run. The film also featured Manju Warrier in a key role. The film is a heist action-drama that takes place inside a bank. In the film, Ajith played a negative character who heads the gang that takes control of a bank with hostages. Ajiths next film announcement is eagerly awaited by his fans. After months of delay, it was recently confirmed by filmmaker Vignesh Shivn that he will no longer be associated with Ajiths next project. Vignesh went on to confirm that director Magizh Thirumeni has been signed to helm Ajiths next. An official announcement regarding the project is expected to be made on May 1, on Ajiths birthday. ott:10 SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City producers were hoping to capture some on-screen drama by bringing in Sharrieff Shah, the husband of the infamous Jen Shah. However, sources report that Sharrieff declined the offer to join the cast, as he and his wife were not happy with the way Bravo treated her after her sentencing. Real Housewives' star Jen Shah with husband Sharrieff Shah. Jen Shah, who pleaded guilty to defrauding thousands of people out of money in a telemarketing scheme, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison and ordered to pay $6.5 million in restitution to her victims. Jen's decision to not appear at the reunion was under legal advice, but Bravo reportedly found it "unsatisfactory" and insisted on discussing it as part of the storyline. Also read | Is Paula Abdul bringing Straight Up drama to Real Housewives franchise? Sharrieff's absence from the show leaves fans wondering what the couple is up to and what their reactions are to the latest developments. While the other ladies of RHOSLC are "safe," casting calls have been held to replace Jen and two other cast members. Sources say the show has become "dark," and the recent controversy surrounding Heather Gay's mysterious black eye has left fans with countless theories. Will the new cast members bring even more drama, or will they be able to lighten up the mood? Only time will tell. After appearing in two OTT anthologies Ray and Feels Like Ishq in 2021, Radhika Madan is making her web series debut with Homi Adajania's Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo. In the ensemble drama, she stars alongside Dimple Kapadia, Isha Talwar and Angira Dhar in the Disney+ Hotstar series. It will premiere on the streaming platform on May 5, 2023. In a recent interaction with Hindustan Times, the actor revealed how it was an honour to work along with the veteran actor Dimple on the show. She shared that watching her perform was like an acting school for her. The two actors had worked together before on Angrezi Medium, which was mostly filmed abroad in London, England. Radhika Madan and Dimple Kapadia play mother and daughter in the new series Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo. Also read: Dimple Kapadia wasn't first choice for Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo, Homi Adajania reveals which actor he wanted to cast The actor has shared that she gave five rounds of auditions even though she had worked with Homi previously. He had directed Radhika in Angrezi Medium, which was Irrfan Khan's last film. The film also starred Kareena Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Deepak Dobriyal and Ranvir Shorey. In the new Disney+ Hotstar series, she plays Shanta, the daughter of Savitri (Dimple), who is also known as Rani Ba. She runs a drug trade from her home, employing mostly women, in the middle of the salt flatlands. She recruits her daughter and daughters-in-law (Isha and Angira) in the business, while her sons remain in the dark. Radhika told Hindustan Times, "I think she's the warmest person that I know and she's secure in her being that she can offer that kind of love. Just watching her perform is like an acting school I would say. She still gets those jitters and she's the hardest worker in the room. The way she takes care of everyone, she uplifts everyone. It was such an honour to be in the same frame as her. I'm really really grateful for this experience." The actor was last seen in Aasmaan Bhardwaj's directorial debut Kuttey (2023) with Arjun Kapoor, Tabu and Konkona Sensharma. She has a number of films lined up for release this year including Sanaa, Happy Teacher's Day and Kacchey Limbu. Radhika is also part of the Hindi remake of the Tamil Soorarai Pottru (2020) opposite Akshay Kumar. Ten police personnel and a driver were killed on Wednesday in an IED blast carried out by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada, officials said. The incident occurred when a team of the state police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) was returning after an anti-Naxalite operation. The blast was carried out when the team was returning after anti-Naxalite operation. According to officials, a team of DRG was dispatched from Dantewada for an anti-Naxalite operation after receiving intelligence about the presence of Maoists in an area under Aranpur Police Station limits. The area is located around 450 km from state capital Raipur. The blast was carried out when the team was returning after the operation. The District Reserve Guard is one of the units of Chhattisgarh Police formed to counter the left-wing extremism in the region. "The news of the martyrdom of our 10 DRG jawans and a driver due to an IED blast on the DRG force which had arrived for anti-Naxal operation on the information of the presence of Maoist cadre under Aranpur police station area of Dantewada is very sad," Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said in a tweet. "We all the people of the state pay our respects to him. We all share in the grief of their families. May his soul rest in peace." Union home minister Amit Shah has spoken with Baghel over the attack and assured him of all possible help from the central government. As per the police, the 10 slain DRG personnel have been identified as Joga Sodhi, Munna Ram Kadti, Santosh Tamo, Dulgo Mandavi, Lakhmu Markam, Joga Kavasi, Hariram Mandavi, Raju Ram Kartam, Jairam Podiyam, Jagdish Kavasi. In addition, the deceased driver has been identified as Dhaniram Yadav, the police added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 16-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by two men at gunpoint in Rajasthans Dholpur district earlier this week, police on Wednesday said, adding that efforts are on to nab the accused who are absconding. HT Image Police said the purported incident took place on Monday night when the girl had stepped out to relieve herself in a field near her house. Station house officer (SHO) of Dholpur women police station, Manju Foujdar, said a case was registered on the basis of a complaint by the survivors mother. Two men gang-raped my minor daughter at gunpoint on Monday when she had gone out to relieve herself in a nearby field, the girls mother said, adding that one of the men is a neighbour. The SHO said the girl was taken to a district hospital for medical examination and the reports are awaited. A case has been registered under IPC and Pocso Act. A man, convicted for raping his nine-year-old daughter, has been ordered to undergo 20 years of imprisonment without remission by the Supreme Court saying sanctity of the very relationship were destroyed by his debauched and devastating acts. The Supreme Court. (PTI)(HT_PRINT) A special fast track court here had held the man guilty in 2013 and convicted him under Sections 376 (rape), 377 (unnatural offence) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to life imprisonment of a minimum term of 20 years along with fine. Also read | Hyderabad teen rape accused a minor, says high court The Delhi High Court upheld the man's conviction and sentence in 2017. Aggrieved by this decision, the man moved the top court invoking Article 136 of the Constitution which grants discretionary powers to the apex court to allow special leave petitions. A top court bench of justices Abhay S Oka and Sanjay Kumar said the man was found guilty of one of the most "monstrous and horrific" of offences, the physical violation of his own daughter, "who was not even in the first flush of youth". "In the event he secures release after putting in just 14 years in jail, his possible re-entry into his daughter's life, while she is still in her twenties, may cause her further trauma and make her life difficult. "His incarceration for a sufficiently long period would not only ensure that he receives his just deserts but also allow his daughter more time and maturity to settle down and move on with her life, even if her villainous father is set at liberty," the bench said. The apex court said judges who bear the sword of justice should not hesitate to use that sword with utmost severity to the full and to the end, if the gravity of the offence so demands. "The ends of justice would be sufficiently served if the life imprisonment of the appellant is for a minimum of 20 years of actual incarceration before he can seek remissions under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, or any other enacted law," the bench said. It said this is a fit and deserving case for exercise of the power vesting in this court to impose a modified special category sentence of fixed-term life imprisonment. "The trust and faith that a young girl would repose in her father and the sanctity of the very relationship were destroyed by his debauched and devastating acts. In such a situation, allowing him the freedom to seek liberal remissions, so as to cut short his life imprisonment, would be nothing short of a travesty of justice," it said. The top court reiterated that the power to impose a modified punishment providing for any specific term of incarceration can be exercised only by the high court and the Supreme Court. "We are, therefore, of the considered opinion that the law laid down in Swamy Shraddananda (supra) and V Sriharan (supra) with regard to special category sentencing to life imprisonment in excess of 14 years by fixing a lengthier term would be available to the high courts and this court, even in cases where maximum punishment, permissible in law and duly imposed, is life imprisonment with nothing further," it said. The bench clarified that exercise of such power must be restricted to grave cases, where allowing the convict sentenced to life imprisonment to seek release after a 14-year-term would tantamount to trivialising the very punishment imposed on such convict. "Needless to state, cogent reasons have to be recorded for exercising such power on the facts of a given case and such power must not be exercised casually or for the mere asking," it said. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath - unleashed in Karnataka to campaign for next month's Assembly election, ahead of which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has seen multiple lawmakers, including former chief minister Jagadish Shettar, jump ship to the Congress - ripped into the opposition party Wednesday, accusing them of 'appeasement politics' and 'religion-based reservation which is against the Constitution'. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addresses a public meeting in Unnao, Tuesday. (PTI)(HT_PRINT) "We don't believe in appeasement but empowerment," Yogi said in Mandya. The all-out attack by Yogi - seen by many as one of the BJP's most potent campaign trail weapons - comes amid a row over the state's controversial March 27 decision to scrap the 4 per cent OBC (other backward classes) quota for Muslims; Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai's government cancelled the quota just weeks before the Assembly election due on May 10. READ | Ex-CM Jagadish Shettar explains why he quit BJP, joined Congress (The) Congress talks about development but the reality (is) that the five-year schemes which they used to announce used to become a reality only after the scheme's term ended and soon after it would collapse. When PM Modi keeps the foundation of a scheme, he also inaugurates it. The UP chief minister wasn't the only BJP leader on the warpath in Karnataka today; defence minister Rajnath Singh claimed the quota, which was passed by the earlier Congress-led government, was given on religious lines. The BJP's quota decision in Karnataka triggered furious protests by the Congress and a vow to restore the reservation should it be re-elected. Protests also broke out over the re-distribution of the quota for jobs and admissions to educational institutions; it was doubled and split between between the Vokkaliga and Veerashaiva-Lingayats communities. Both these communities are seen as significant vote-banks and chief minister Bommai belongs to the hugely influential Lingayat community. ALSO READ | 'Mafia had free run now begging for life': Yogi Adityanath Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar called the move 'unconstitutional' and told reporters, "They think reservation can be distributed like property it is not property. It is the right (of a minority community) we don't want their 4 per cent to be scrapped and given to major communities." The Congress' other major figure in the state - ex-chief minister and Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah - said the ruling BJP had betrayed everyone. The Supreme Court this week called the government's decision 'prima facie shaky and flawed'. " it is on the basis of an interim report. Why could you not wait for the final report? What was the great hurry? the bench asked the Karnataka government before fixing April 18 as the next hearing date. READ | Karnataka govt showed 'haste' in scrapping Muslim quota: SC Importantly, the quota has been reinstated after the state government told the top court that it would not implement its order to scrap the reservation. With input from ANI SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Under 'Operation Kaveri', the first flight with 360 Indians took off from Jeddah Airport, and is expected to reach Delhi by 9pm. Under the mission, citizens were flown by the Indian Air Force (IAF) from Port Sudan to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia while several others were taken by ship. Screengrab from the video. India launched Operation Kaveri to rescue its citizens from conflict-hit Sudan earlier this week as the fighting between the Sudanese Army and paramilitary groups has intensified. Minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan, who is personally monitoring the evacuation efforts, tweeted, Happy to see off 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport in a flight bound for New Delhi They will be reaching the motherland soon, reuniting with their families Under #OperationKaveri the Government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan & bring them home safely. Also read: 10,000 refugees flee to South Sudan as conflict rages Muraleedharan also shared a video of the evacuated Indians boarding the plane. In the video, the minister can be heard speaking to the citizens that PM Modi has vowed to bring back every Indian. The evacuation operation started in Port Sudan. Till now, an estimated 300-500 Indian citizens have been evacuated by ship and other evacuation processes are going on. The citizens who returned to India spoke about the conditions in Sudan and the ordeal they went through within the country. In a video posted by ANI, one of the citizens can be seen talking about how it was a riot situation in Sudan. He says that the Indian government made arrangements to take them by ship. He also says the citizens were fed by the Indian forces. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chennai AIADMKs general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) on Wednesday met Union home minister Amit Shah in the latters Delhi residence amid a severely strained relationship with the BJPs Tamil Nadu unit in the recent days. EPS meets Amit Shah in Delhi amid strained ties with Tamil Nadu BJP. (PTI) The meeting is significant as it is the first between the leaders after the Election Commission of India (ECI) recognised EPS as AIADMKs general secretary following a prolonged legal tussle with expelled leader O Panneerselvam (OPS). EPS was accompanied by senior leader KP Munusamy, P Thangamani, CV Shunmugham, D Jayakumar and SP Velumani. The meeting went on for more than forty-five minutes, said people in the know of the matter. The AIADMK did not divulge details of the meeting and said that EPS would meet reporters in Delhi on Thursday morning. EPS has taken a stance that discussions of their alliance will only take place with the BJPs central leadership and not its state leaders hinting at the strain with Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai. EPS also withdrew AIADMKs candidate D Anbarasan from Karnatakas Pulakeshinagar constituency saying that it was a request from BJPs central leadership. Now that it is clear that EPS is the AIADMKs chief, it is possible that they discussed how they will take things forward and began the discussions for 2024 Lok Sabha elections in this meeting, said a political commentator not wishing to be named. The AIADMK is also likely to have submitted a list of corruption charges against the ruling DMK government. After eight months of legal wrangling OPS challenging his ouster in last Julys general council meeting EPS was made AIADMKs general secretary on March 28. The ECI on April 21 declared that they updated their records with the changes in the AIADMK and directed that the two-leaves symbol be given to the party. This was after EPS had moved the Delhi high court and the court on April 12 directed the ECI to decide on updating their records with the changes within 10 days. The AIADMK and BJP have been engaged in a war of words back in Tamil Nadu. On April 14, Annamalai released the first part of DMK Files and asserted that he will expose corruption of all political parties that have ruled the state so far which indirectly meant BJPs ally AIADMK as well. Following this, several AIADMK leaders had said that they were ready to face any list that the BJP leaders were to bring out and they wont feel threatened. EPS chided Annamalai as promoting himself as a big person by merely speaking in media interviews. I have been in the party for 50 years. I know the way of things. And leaders like us have come to a position to be answerable. Please do not ask me anything about him (Annamalai). Ask me about mature politicians and I will respond, EPS said on April 15. Then Annamalai went on the offensive on April 16 issuing a warning that when it comes to corruption they would not spare anyone. We have no friends here. Everyone here is our enemy, said Annamalai. Whoever has indulged in corruption will be viewed by the BJP as an enemy. The plank of the 2024 parliamentary elections is corruption. Before this exchange, EPS had also said that AIADMKs alliance with the BJP will be discussed with the latters national leadership and not the state leaders, hinting at strained ties between his party and the BJPs state-unit. His statement came when Annamalai had said that the alliance between the two parties for the 2024 general election has not yet been finalised. He sought to clarify Union home minister Amit Shahs recent comments about the AIADMK being an ally, and said the nuance of the comments in Hindi had been missed by some reports. Shah only said the AIADMK was currently part of the NDA and did not comment on 2024, the state BJP chief said at that time. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modis monthly radio programme, Mann Ki Baat, has strengthened the foundation of Indias democracy by improving the dialogue between citizens and the government, Union home minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday. Union ministers Anurag Thakur, Amit Shah and Ashwini Vaishnaw releases the postal stamps at the national conclave on Mann Ki Baat at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday. (ANI Photo) (Agencies) The minister was speaking at an event to mark the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat, which will air on Sunday, April 30. The Prime Minister has brought about the removal of casteism, nepotism and appeasement politics the very things that corrupted the expression of general franchise from Indian democratic system. Now Indian politics has moved to a system of political performance where those who perform deserve to serve people, Shah said at the event, also attended by railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur. The 99 episodes of this dialogue in Mann Ki Baat have provided a platform to the creative prowess and moral fiber of the country, Shah said. Contending that similar conversations by other world leaders have carried a political colour, Shah said Mann Ki Baat has been devoid of even the slightest political hue. The minister hailed the PMs communication methodology, saying it is based on four pillars insofar as it is emotional, it is spiritual, it is intellectual and it stimulates physical action. Read: Aamir Khan praises PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat: That is how you lead by communication The three Union ministers also unveiled a commemorative postage stamp and coin on 100 episodes of Mann Ki Baat to mark the momentous event. In his address, Vaishnaw said the change in political scenario in 2014 brought about an alignment between the people and the government, something that had earlier been a space of friction. Thakur talked about the gradual expansion of Mann Ki Baat, which was initially aired in Hindi language before its English version started in January 2016, and followed by its Sanskrit version from May 2017. Currently, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 23 languages and 11 foreign languages, Thakur added. Besides, the programme is also aired in 29 dialects 25 from the Northeast and four from Chhattisgarh. The Indian languages are Hindi, Sanskrit, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Odia, Konkani, Nepali, Kashmiri, Dogri, Manipuri, Maithili, Bengali, Assamese, Bodo, Santhali, Urdu and Sindhi, the I&B ministry said in a release. The dialects are Chhattisgarhi, Gondi, Halbi, Sargujia, Pahari, Sheena, Gojri, Balti, Ladakhi, Karbi, Khasi, Jaintia, Garo, Nagamese, Hmar, Paite, Thadou, Kabui, Mao, Tangkhul, Nyishi, Adi, Monpa, Ao, Angami, Kokborok, Mizo, Lepcha and Sikkimese (Bhutia). The ministry added: French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili are the foreign languages in which the broadcast is done. According to I&B ministry data, the duration of the first episode of Mann Ki Baat broadcast on October 3, 2014 was of 14 minutes, which increased up to 19 minutes in the second episode, and 26 minutes in the third episode. Each episode since the fourth has been of 30 minutes, it added. The prime minister has mentioned more than 700 individuals and 300 organisations in his monthly broadcast so far, including 37 individuals and 10 organisations from foreign countries. Welcome to hindustantimes.com updates platform where you can find breaking news from India and across the world. Find fast updates about the latest news as it breaks. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Amid BJP's attempt to corner the grand old party over reservation for Muslims in Karnataka, former chief minister Siddaramaiah said the Congress is committed to increasing the reservation limit from the current 50% to 75%. Making a case for a caste-based Census, the senior Congress leader said his party will also increase reservations for all castes based on their population. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, the president of the KPCC. Congress party is committed to increasing the reservation limit from 50% to 75%, and to increase reservation to all castes based on their population, Siddaramaiah, a Kuruba leader and Karnataka's most popular OBC face, said in a tweet. With Congress looking to consolidate SC and OBC votes, the party has reignited the issue of caste census in the past few days. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made an aggressive pitch for a caste-based census and the removal of 50 per cent ceiling on quota in his recent speech in Karnataka's Kolar, in a bid to turn the tables on the BJP that had been gunning for him over his 2019 "Modi surname" remarks alleging that he insulted OBCs. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the same issue. Several opposition parties have since then raised the pitch for a caste-based census in the country and providing reservations to SCs, STs, and OBCs based on their population. The Bihar government is already conducting a caste-based survey following after a resolution was passed unanimously in the state assembly. While the BJP unit in Bihar had supported the resolution, the BJP's central leadership is yet to respond to the demand for a socio-economic and caste census now raised by the Congress party. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said the survey report would help the government in better implementation of welfare schemes for socially and economically disadvantaged groups. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav recently said that it will be an important issue for the 2024 parliamentary elections and is getting support from regional parties. "'Ram Rajya' and 'Samajwad' is only possible if a caste-based census will take place. Only with the caste-based census Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas will happen, it will bring brotherhood, end discrimination, and strengthen democracy," he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After Union home minister Amit Shah warned that Karnataka will be afflicted with riots if Congress comes to power in the state, senior Congress leader Jaimram Ramesh on Wednesday said the party will raise the matter with the Election Commission of India (ECI). Calling the statement brazenly intimidatory, Jairam Ramesh said the response of the people to Congress's poll campaign in Karnataka explains Amit Shah's 4-I strategy: Insult, Inflame, Incite & Intimidate." Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah addresses a public meeting ahead of Karnataka Assembly elections.(PTI) Addressing a public meeting at Terdal in Belagavi district, Shah on Tuesday said if the Congress comes to power in Karnataka, dynastic politics will be at an all-time high in the state and it will be "afflicted with riots". Seeking peoples mandate for political stability in the state, the Union minister asserted that only the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can lead it towards a new Karnataka. "If the Congress comes to power, dynastic politics will be at an all-time high and Karnataka will be afflicted with riots, said Shah, one of the party's key poll strategists and campaigners. If Congress comes to power by mistake, then corruption will be at an all-time high and there will be appeasement, he added. Reacting to his statement, Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, tweeted, This is a brazenly intimidatory statement. The Union Home Minister having allegiance to an organisation banned by India's very first Home Minister is now issuing threats during an election campaign when staring at certain defeat, referring to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), BJP's ideological fountainhead. It is now clear that BJP is losing Karnataka decisively. The response of the people to the campaigns of the Congress leadership has been overwhelming. This explains Amit Shah's 4-I strategy: Insult, Inflame, Incite & Intimidate. Shame on Shah! We are raising it with the ECI, he added. Karnataka will go to the polls in a single phase on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Tuesday targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after Prime Minister Narendra Modis meeting with top Christian priests in Kerala, saying that the ruling party should first apologise to the community for the sins they have committed to their faith. Communist Party of India leader Binoy Viswam. (File Photo) Speaking on a television debate, CPI leader and Rajya Sabha member Binoy Viswam also said that the BJPs Christian outreach in Kerala was not a worrying point for his party, which is an ally in the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the state. Addressing Union minister of state for minority affairs John Barla, who was his co-panelist in the debate, Viswam said, I request the minister (Barla) to tender his apology to the Christian community and all the minority community and tell them whatever they were preaching was wrong and tell them that their basic approach towards Christian faith was thoroughly mistaken. I request the minister and his PM to also accept that baseless allegations and propaganda were made against the community in MS Golwalkars book Bunch of Thoughts. They should tell the nation that these anti-christian approaches were anti-national and anti-secular and all the deeds were against the unity of India, he added. Earlier on April 18, Barla had met Syro-Malabar Church major archbishop Mar George Alencherry in Kochi and said that Christians are safe under PM Narendra Modis government. Vishwam said that it was important for the government to apologise to the family of Graham Staines who was burned to death with his two sons by Hindutva groups on the intervening night of January 22-23 in 1999 when the family was sleeping in their station wagon in front of a church in a village. PM Modi on Monday met the top priests of various churches in Kerala on Monday, giving a push to the BJPs efforts to reach out to the community in the southern state ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. After the BJPs poll wins in three Northeastern states including Christian-dominated Nagaland and Meghalaya last month, PM Modi had announced that the party-led alliance would form a government in Kerala too, where the Cristians form a sizeable chunk of population, in the coming years. Asked if the BJPs Christian outreach was a worrying point for the CPI, Viswam said, We are not at all worried, why should we be worried, that is the culture of Kerala. They will accept an invitation from anybody to come and meet them and talk to them and exchange views. I dont know if the Christian priests who met the PM today have raised the concerns of the Indian Christians. The ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) and the opposition Congress in Kerala earlier called upon the people to reject the BJPs double standards and protect Keralas secular character after the BJP had decided to visit Christian homes on Easter Muslim homes on Eid. Defending the outreach bid, the BJP had asserted that both the CPI(M) and the Congress were jittery over losing their minority vote bank. The bodies of two Dalit minor girls, who went missing from their homes, were found in a canal in Rajasthans Jalore district on Wednesday, police said. HT Image Three people have been detained for questioning, they added. The girls, according to their families, went missing on Monday night. Their bodies were recovered by police in the Narmada canal in Sanchore area. According to Nirajan Pratap Singh, station house officer (SHO) of Sanchore police station, the families, in their complaint, said the minors were sleeping in their houses at Paladar village when they were abducted by one Suresh Bishnoi. The complainants also alleged that the two girls were raped. The FIR further said that as villagers launched a search for the minors, they suspected the role of Suresh who is working for a drinking project in the village. On being confronted, Suresh allegedly said he had abducted the minors and handed them over to Anil Bishnoi and Devaram Bishnoi. Following this, the villagers informed the police. On the basis of the complaint, we began searching for the girls. Their bodies were recovered from Narmada canal on Wednesday morning, Singh said. Singh also said during interrogation, Suresh said he had left the girls near the canal but did not kill them. The SHO said police have registered an FIR and a probe is underway. The FIR was registered under sections of Indian Penal Code and under section 7/8 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Police also said a post mortem has been conducted and the reports are awaited to confirm the rape allegation. Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Tuesday alleged that chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was more dangerous than gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad, who was recently killed in a shootout in Prayagraj. Targeting the Telangana government over the question paper leaks, Bandi Sanjay accused the chief minister and his family of jeopardising the careers of unemployed youth. BRS leader and Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao. (File Photo)(HT_PRINT) "KCR is more dangerous than Atiq Ahmad. He is the leader of gangsters. But there is nothing to be afraid of. We shall continue to fight with him till we achieve our goal," Sanjay said at Nirudyoga March (rally of the unemployed) at Mahabubnagar. While Atiq Ahmad had looted the people at gunpoint, KCR was looting the people and their lands taking the help of the police, he alleged. "We shall not rest till KCR sacks his son K T Rama Rao from the cabinet, order a judicial inquiry by a sitting high court judge and pay a compensation of 1 lakh to the unemployed youth towards the troubles they faced due to leakage of question papers," he asserted. Sanjay said the countdown for the downfall of the KCR government has begun, claiming that the BJP will win all the assembly seats in Mahabubnagar district in the next state elections. He also alleged that the state government was trying to frame him in the question paper leakage case only because he was fighting for the cause of the unemployed. "Going to jail is nothing new for me. I had gone to prison nine times. The BJP workers, too, suffered lathi blows and went to jails on every issue confronting Telangana," he said. BJP has been trying to corner the KCR government over the question paper leaks in the recruitment tests conducted by the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC). Sanjay, on the other hand, was arrested by the Warangal police earlier this month after he was named as the mastermind in the leakage of a Class 10 question paper. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ten policemen were killed in a blast carried out by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Wednesday. Security personnel at the site of Naxal attack. Following is the timeline of major Naxal attacks in Chhattisgarh. April 2021: Twenty two security personnel killed in gunfight with Naxals in Terram jungles along the borders of Bijapur and Sukma districts. March 2018: Nine Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel killed in IED blast triggered by Maoists in Sukma district. February 18, 2018: Two Chhattisgarh police personnel killed in a gun-battle with Naxals at Bhejji in Sukma. Also read | Shah speaks to Baghel after naxal attack, tributes pour in: need strict steps April 24, 2017: 24 CRPF personnel killed in an encounter with Maoists in Sukma. March 12, 2017: 12 CRPF jawans killed in a Maoist attack in Sukma. March 11, 2014: 15 security personnel killed in a Maoist attack in Sukma district. February 28, 2014: Six police officials killed in Maoists attack in Dantewada district. May 25, 2013: 25 leaders from the Congress party, including former state minister Mahendra Karma, killed in Maoist attack in Darbha valley. June 29, 2010: 26 CRPF jawans killed in Maoist ambush in Narayanpur district. May 8, 2010: Eight CRPF personnel killed after Naxals carry out an explosion of a bullet-proof vehicle in Bijapur district. April 6, 2010: Maoists kill 75 CRPF personnel in ambush in Dantewada district. September 4, 2009: Maoists kill four villagers in Bijapur district. July 27, 2009: Six persons killed after Naxals trigger landmine in Dantewada district. July 18, 2009: Villager killed by Naxals in Bastar district. The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday arrested TMC leader Anubrata Mondal's daughter Sukanya Mondal on money laundering charges in connection with the cattle smuggling case. Sukanya, a primary school teacher appointed by the state government in 2011 when the TMC first came to power, has been interrogated by the ED a few times in the past as well. Sukanya Mondal was summoned to Delhi twice last year. Sukanya is the director of two companies and owns a rice mill in Birbhums Bolpur town where the Mondals live. She had earlier appeared before ED officers for interrogation related to some fictitious transactions made through the accounts of two companies where she was named as director. Law will take its own course. TMC will not defend anyone. Sukanya has recently lost her mother and her father is now in jail. Couldnt she have been interrogated at home? Was her arrest a political vendetta just because her father is a TMC leader? Kunal Ghosh, TMC spokesperson, told the media. West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar said the arrest was imminent and alleged involvement of several people in the case. "This was bound to happen. As per the information I received, she has been arrested by ED from Birbhum. The agency will come to know about the property found in her name. I think in the time to come, everything will come out in the open. I think several other names will also come to light in cattle smuggling and coal smuggling cases. It can't be the deed by just 1-2 people. Several TMC leaders are involved in the 'coal corridor' and 'cattle corridor' through which smuggling used to happen," Majumdar said, as quoted buy ANI. Abubrata Mondal was earlier arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as well as ED in the cattle smuggling case. The TMC leader was kept at the Asansol correctional facility till March 7 before he was flown to the national capital on orders of a Delhi court in an ED case. He is currently lodged in Tihar jail. CBI officials allege that Mondal was linked to 168 land and property deeds executed in or after 2014. At least two dozen of these properties belong to him, the federal agency alleges, while the remaining 144 properties are in the names of his relatives, aides and their kin. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Here are todays top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Security personnel at the site after at least ten police personnel and a driver were killed in a blast carried out by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada. (PTI) Shah speaks to Baghel after naxal attack, tributes pour in: need strict steps Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday spoke to Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and took stock of the situation after 10 policemen and a driver were killed in a blast carried out by Maoists in Dantewada. Read more Preity Zinta worries about Arjun Tendulkar after poor outing against Punjab Kings: 'Hope he doesn't get trolled' Actor Preity Zinta recently talked about Sachin Tendulkar's son Arjun Tendulkar after his poor performance in the Mumbai Indians' match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2023. Read more Watch: Siraj beats Virat twice in nets; Kohli's unreal comeback then brings back memories of MCG epic vs Pakistan Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj geared up for Royal Challengers Bangalores high-octane IPL 2023 clash against Kolkata Knight Riders in style by engaging themselves in an intense duel ahead of the tie. Read more Ways to take care of womens reproductive health Reproductive health is an important aspect of human life as it can affect a person physically, mentally, emotionally and also ones social health and India ranks quite high in cases of unprotected sex where as many as 72% of sexually active young people across the country have had sex with new partners without any protection. Read more 6 refreshing floral teas you must have Flower-infused teas are full of flavour and have various health benefits. Here are some refreshing floral teas you must have. Read more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Gujarat high court judge on Wednesday recused herself from hearing Congress leader Rahul Gandhis appeal challenging the order of a Surat court which declined to stay his conviction in a 2019 defamation case last week. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as Lok Sabha MP from Keralas Wayanad on March 24. (ANI) The Congress leader is currently out on bail. He had filed the plea on Tuesday and it was listed for hearing at 2.30pm on Wednesday. When the matter came up for hearing in the second half today, justice Gita Gopi, in whose court the matter was listed, said, not before me, Gandhis counsel P S Champaneri said. Champaneri said a note will now be sent to the acting chief justice for the matter to be taken up by some other court following which the next date of hearing will be fixed. Read: Relief for Rahul Gandhi in Modi surname case, Patna HC stays lower court's order A metropolitan magistrates court in Surat on March 23 had convicted and sentenced Gandhi to two years in prison in a criminal defamation case for a remark he made about the Modi surname ahead of the 2019 general elections. Due to his conviction, Gandhi was disqualified as Lok Sabha MP from Keralas Wayanad on March 24. On April 3, the former Congress president filed an appeal before the sessions court against the verdict and was subsequently granted bail till the disposal of his plea. On April 20, the court rejected Gandhis plea for a stay on his conviction, prompting him to move the high court. Under the law, the conviction and two-year jail term renders Gandhi unfit to enter either House of Parliament for a period of eight years. But this can be reversed if he can get the conviction overturned or the sentence reduced to less than two years by a higher court. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Purnesh Modi, who is the complainant in the case, called Gandhi a repeat offender and said the latters appeal was a dirty display of childish arrogance. Sudanese ambassador to India Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhussain on Wednesday said the ongoing crisis in Sudan will not have a negative impact on the relation between the northeast African nation and India. He also appreciated India's prompt action to evacuate its stranded citizens from the war-torn country. Smoke rises over the city as army and paramilitaries clash in power struggle, in Khartoum, Sudan,(REUTERS) "Definitely not a negative impact...if there is any impact that is positive. I think there is a good level of cooperation and coordination during this crisis...will make us look into the future more optimistic, the Sudanese envoy told news agency ANI. He also added that both India and Sudan share a lot of cultural similarities and diversification. "India and Sudan have very special ties even in Sudan. We have a Sudanese community originally from India, they came to Sudan 100 years ago, and they are staying there and now they are Sudanese," he said. More that 530 Indians have been brought to safety, under the the Operation Kaveri launched by the Indian government, after forces loyal to the Sudan Army chief, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his deputy-turned-rival, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who heads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), agreed on a 72-hour nationwide ceasefire. "I have been working closely 24 hours a day and we really did a good job in coordinating cooperation, providing necessary permits for aircraft, for ships to fly and to land in Sudan and to bring back Indian citizens," Elhussain said. There are no signs of serious negotiations on ending the fight for power from two warring factions amid ceasefire which is partially holding, according to UN envoy to Sudan Volker Perthes. Similarly, the Sudanese envoy said there are still violations from rebel side but the current ceasefire is maintained better than the earlier ones. The last three ceasefires were not so successful. But the fourth one, which is going through right now is holding on the ground relatively. I mean, there are still violations from the rebel side. But the ceasefire is holding better than the previous ones, he added. (With ANI inputs) NEW DELHI: A group of 360 Indians evacuated from Sudan to Saudi Arabia were put on a flight home on Wednesday even as efforts were underway to bring out hundreds more from the northeast African nation using a warship and military transport aircraft. Operation Kaveri: MoS V Muraleedharan said the government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan and bring them home safely. (Twitter/MOS_MEA) India used two C-130J military transport aircraft and the warship INS Sumedha to evacuate more than 530 citizens from Sudan since Tuesday, taking advantage of a 72-hour ceasefire between the regular army and a rebel paramilitary force. The evacuation gained momentum after forces loyal to the Sudan Army chief, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his deputy-turned-rival, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who heads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), agreed on the truce. However, the security situation remained fragile, with armed clashes reported in the capital Khartoum and other places. Minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan, who has travelled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to oversee repatriation efforts, saw off 360 Indian nationals who were put on a flight bound for New Delhi on Wednesday. Under #OperationKaveri the Government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan & bring them home safely, he said in a tweet. About 400 more Indians are expected to be ferried from Port Sudan by the warship INS Teg and a C-130J aircraft late on Wednesday, people familiar with the matter said. Port Sudan, the countrys main port located more than 800km from Khartoum, has emerged as the main base for Indias evacuation effort as the airport in the capital city is not operational. The Indian side is focused on efforts to move Indian nationals from conflict zones to safer areas by bus. They are then brought to Port Sudan, from where they can be ferried across the Red Sea by naval vessels and military aircraft to Jeddah, the people said. Movement by road was relatively easier [on Wednesday]. There are some Indians who dont want to return home after being brought out of conflict zones as they have deep roots in Sudan, one of the people cited above said. The first batch of 278 Indians were ferried from Port Sudan to Jeddah by INS Sumedha on Tuesday. Two more batches comprising 121 people and 135 people were flown out from Port Sudan in C-130J aircraft. India had positioned two of these aircraft in Jeddah on Sunday. More Indians have been making their way to Port Sudan, though there are still problems in evacuating hundreds stranded in Khartoum, where the main airport has been damaged in fighting. Nearly 3,000 Indians were in Sudan when the fighting erupted earlier this month. Indian authorities are also exploring other options for evacuating Indians from Khartoum and other locations, including the use of military airbases located near the capital. The Indian side has set up a control room and a transit facility in Jeddah to facilitate the evacuation. The transit facility is equipped with provisions, fresh meals, medical facilities and beds. The people said Saudi Arabia, with which the Indian side established close contact soon after the fighting erupted in Sudan on April 14, is playing a crucial role in the evacuation. The ceasefire is partially holding, though there are no signs the warring factions are ready for serious negotiations on ending the fighting, the UN envoy to Sudan, Volker Perthes, told a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday. There is yet no unequivocal sign that either is ready to seriously negotiate, suggesting that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible, he said. According to UN agencies, the fighting has killed 459 people and injured more than 4,000. Many areas in Sudan are without electricity and water, and food shortages have been reported in Khartoum and other cities. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON India has evacuated more than 530 of its citizens from Sudan using military aircraft and a warship, and more are set to be taken out of the northeast African country amid a lull in fighting between the regular army and a rebel paramilitary force. Minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan, who travelled to Jeddah on Tuesday to oversee repatriation efforts, received the Indians when they arrived in the Saudi port city. (PTI) The evacuation began on Tuesday after forces loyal to the Sudan Army chief, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his deputy-turned-rival, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who heads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), agreed on a 72-hour nationwide ceasefire. The first batch of 278 Indians were ferried by INS Sumedha from Port Sudan, the countrys main port located more than 800 km from the capital Khartoum, to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Under Operation Kaveri, two more batches comprising 121 people and 135 people were flown in C-130J medium-lift transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) from Port Sudan to Jeddah. India had positioned two C-130J aircraft in Jeddah on Sunday. Minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan, who travelled to Jeddah on Tuesday to oversee repatriation efforts, received the Indians when they arrived in the Saudi port city. Onward journey to India for all who arrived in Jeddah will commence shortly, he said in a tweet. Most of the Indian nationals who had gathered in Port Sudan till Tuesday have now been evacuated to Saudi Arabia, though people familiar with the matter said there were still problems in evacuating hundreds stranded in Khartoum, where the main airport has been damaged in recent fighting. Indian authorities are exploring various options for evacuating stranded Indian nationals from Khartoum and other locations, including the use of military airbases located near the capital city. The Indian side has set up a control room and a transit facility in Jeddah to facilitate evacuation efforts. The transit facility is equipped with provisions, fresh meals, medical facilities and beds, and Indians brought out of Sudan will be kept there before they are sent home. The people said Saudi Arabia, with which the Indian side established close contact soon after the fighting erupted in Sudan on April 14, is playing a crucial role in evacuation efforts. Given its proximity to Sudan, Indians evacuated from the war-torn country can be taken to Saudi Arabia by air or sea, before being put on to flights to bring them home. There were about 3,000 Indian citizens in Sudan when the fighting erupted, with most of them in Khartoum. The ceasefire is partially holding, with armed clashes being reported in Khartoum and other places, though there are no signs the warring factions are ready for serious negotiations on ending the fighting, the UN envoy to Sudan, Volker Perthes, told a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday. There is yet no unequivocal sign that either is ready to seriously negotiate, suggesting that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible, he said. According to UN agencies, the fighting has killed 459 people and injured more than 4,000. Many areas in Sudan are without electricity and water, and food shortages have been reported in Khartoum and other cities. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday informed about the arrival of the first batch of 360 Indian nationals, evacuated from war-torn Sudan, in New Delhi, saying India welcomes back its own. Indian nationals evacuated from violence-hit Sudan under Operation Kaveri on their arrival at the IGI Airport in New Delhi.(PTI) "#OperationKaveri brings 360 Indian Nationals to the homeland as first flight reaches New Delhi, Jaishakar said in a tweet as he posted the pictures of evacuees at Delhi airport. Under 'Operation Kaveri', a total of 360 Indians evacuated from Sudan boarded a flight from Jeddah Airport to New Delhi. India used two C-130J military transport aircraft and the warship INS Sumedha to evacuate more than 530 citizens from Sudan since Tuesday, taking advantage of a 72-hour ceasefire between the regular army and a rebel paramilitary force. Under its evacuation mission, India is taking the evacuees to the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah from where they are returning home and more than 530 citizens have been evacuated so far from Sudan stands. Minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan, who is personally monitoring the evacuation efforts, had also tweeted, Happy to see off 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport in a flight bound for New Delhi They will be reaching the motherland soon, reuniting with their families Under #OperationKaveri the Government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan & bring them home safely. The evacuation came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting, and issued directions for the preparation of contingency plans to evacuate Indians from Sudan. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Around 120% surge in income has been recorded among Indians working overseas as compared to a 40% increase due to internal migration, according to a study by the World Development Report. The study found that low-skilled Indians who migrated to the United States tend to see a significant gain in their income of around 500%, followed by those from United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, people migrating to the Gulf Cooperating Council (GCC) nations Oman, Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain are likely to see a lesser income gain. The study found that there are 184 million migrants around the world with around 37 million refugees. (HT) The report titled Migrants, Refugees and Societies noted that apart from skills, other factors including destination, language ability and age also play crucial role in deciding the income. The gains for highly-skilled workers such as engineers or doctors are much higher, however, low-skilled workers are also finding themselves in having multi-fold jump in their income. Migration leads to large wage increases for most people whose skills and attributes are a strong match with the needs of the destination society. These gains often exceed what could be achieved in the country of origin, even from internal migration to relatively better-off locations. The gains are so large that at current rates of economic growth it would take decades for the average low-skilled person working in some countries of origin to earn the income they achieve by migrating to a highincome country. These gains are then shared with families and communities in the countries of origin through remittances, the report said. The study found that there are 184 million migrants around the world with around 37 million refugees. It categorised the migrants into four types Refugees with skills in demand, economic migrants with skills that match with demand, distressed migrants and refugees. India-US, India-Bangladesh and India-GCC have been considered among the top migrant corridors. The WDR further noted that the migration comes at a cost for people moving countries in search of employment. Indians moving to Qatar spend their two months' earnings on an average to meet the migration cost. Similarly, the cost is a little higher to settle in Kuwait. A Bangladeshi migrant will have to spend approximately nine month. The study found that remittances of some countries contributing to large migrant population including India have increased. Indian migrants in the UAE send around 70% of their income to their family. India has been a pioneer in using digital technology at scale. Various Digital India initiatives and an ecosystem of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) have played an integral role in this journey. PREMIUM While Indias digital transformation story is credible, there are also certain underlying constraints that need to be overcome to make this story universal. (Mint File Photo) A timeline representing the introduction of various DPIs in the Indian economy 2010 Aadhaar 135+ crore Aadhaar cards generated 2013 Direct Benefit Transfer Approx. 28 lakh crore transferred 2015 DigiLocker Authenticated 562 crore+ documents 2016 Unified Payments Interface (UPI) 7.4 thousand crore+ transactions in the Calendar Year 2022 2017 DIKSHA 517 crore+ learning sessions delivered in 30+ languages 2021 CoWIN Administered 220 crore+ vaccination doses 2021 Account Aggregator 120+ financial institutions on board Indias first DPI, Aadhaar, was introduced in 2009 which enabled citizens to have a biometrically secure digital national ID. It was developed in a way that other services could be built upon it. The Unique Identification Authority of India has now generated over 1.35 billion unique Aadhaar numbers, achieving 96% penetration across the country. This was followed by the introduction of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme in 2013 with the objective of reducing leakages and related delays by having a more sophisticated and efficient way to transfer funds. With the rollout of Aadhaar and the opening of Jan Dhan Accounts, the identification of beneficiaries and direct transfer of cash was made possible. Currently, DBT disburses both cash and in-kind benefits for 310 schemes under 53 ministries. Since its inception, the DBT scheme has transferred a total of 27,72,081 crore to the beneficiaries (as on January 17, 2023). Year-wise transfers via DBT schemes. (HT Graphics) DBT schemes were used extensively during the covid-19 pandemic to make transfers to the citizens since the imposition of lockdowns resulted in a loss of livelihood for many. For instance, with the help of the Aadhaar Payment Bridge (APB) and Public Management Funds System (PFMS), the central government put 27,442.08 crore through centrally sponsored schemes between March 24 and April 17, 2020, in the accounts of 114 million beneficiaries through schemes such as PM-KISAN, Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), National Health Mission (NHM), National Rural Livelihood Missions (NRLM), Prime Minister Vandan Yojana (PMMVY) and scholarship schemes through the National Scholarship Portal. The in-kind DBT transfers, introduced in FY18, accounted for only 10.8% of the total benefits dispensed that year. However, in-kind transfers have become more popular and accounted for approximately 57.5% of the total transfers for FY22. While these schemes suggest the large-scale nature of social benefit transfers in India, several concerns have been highlighted in the past. These include payment failures during back-end processing, disruptions to the payment schedule, and Aadhaar and bank account-related errors while cashing out. In 2015, the Ministry of Electronics and IT introduced its flagship initiative of DigiLocker under the Digital India programme. This provides paperless storage and access to over 600 essential documents such as PAN cards, driving licences, Aadhaar cards, school mark sheets, insurance policies and so on. There are 140 million registered users on DigiLocker that have authenticated over 5.62 billion documents. UPI transactions by value. (HT Graphics) Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which was launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016 to enable instant real-time payments, is the most popular method of digital payments in India. As opposed to other payment methods such as cards which took decades to become a success, the adoption of UPI across the country has been transformational. Several factors such as smartphone penetration, increased merchant transaction limits, removal of payment service provider (PSP) fees and zero merchant discount rate (MDR) have contributed to its success. Given the ease and convenience of sending and receiving money via the platform, NPCI reported that UPI processed a record 7.4 thousand crore+ transactions amounting to 125.94 lakh crore in the calendar year 2022. UPI transactions by volume. (HT Graphics) The volume of transactions on UPI has rapidly increased over the last two years and now processes more peer-to-merchant (P2M) than peer-to-peer transactions (P2P). On a year-on-year basis, the volume of transactions in December 2022 was up by 71% and the value of transactions was up by 55%. NPCI first started reporting the categories of merchants (high, medium and all others) on UPI in August 2022. As of December 2022, the high transacting categories on UPI included groceries and supermarkets, telecommunication services, eating places and restaurants, pharmacies and miscellaneous food shops, fast food restaurants and specialty retail outlets, among others. The education sector has also become a part of Indias digital journey. Launched in 2017, Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA) is a national platform for school education. Built on open-source technology, it allows players in the education ecosystem to participate, contribute and leverage a common platform to achieve learning goals at scale. Solutions available on DIKSHA include energised textbooks, learning tools for children with hearing or visual disabilities, 24x7 availability of digital content through PM eVIDYA and professional development programmes for teachers, among others. This platform became particularly popular during the pandemic as it became an essential tool for students and teachers amid lockdowns and social distancing norms. As per the latest metrics, DIKSHA has delivered over 5.17 billion learning sessions (number of times learning activities undertaken) accounting for over 60 billion minutes to students across India. Other major initiatives include CoWIN and Account Aggregator (AA) platform. Amid the pandemic, India achieved a remarkable feat by developing CoWIN which facilitated the acceleration of the vaccination programme and delivered digital vaccine certificates to the citizens. India has now administered more than 2.20 billion doses. The AA platform, though still in its nascent stage, will allow a seamless flow of information between financial institutions, thus enabling customers to easily access a wide variety of financial products and services. The platform has onboarded 26 financial institutions as Financial Information Providers (FIP) that includes 12 Public Sector Banks and 10 Private Sector Banks, and 94 financial Institutions as Financial Information Users (FIUs). Way Forward The future of DPI and DPG in India. (Courtesy: the author) Over the past decade, India has deployed DPIs at a population scale. Aadhaar paved the way for other services, DBT schemes reached out to large sections of the population, UPI transformed payments, DIKSHA supported continuous learning despite the pandemic, and CoWIN became the digital backbone during Indias battle against covid-19. India is now building another set of digital advancements targeting various sectors including e-commerce, lending and health. Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) aims to provide a common platform for all enterprises to list their goods and services, while giving customers more independence and increased options to choose from. This is also expected to provide a level playing field to MSMEs. Unified Health Interface (UHI), which serves as one of the foundational layers in the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), aims to enable interoperability in health services, while providing improved access to those services. OCEN is a set of open standards that is expected to improve access to lending and other financial services. Combined with the AA framework, Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN) has the potential to reform the credit ecosystem in India. Lastly, Aadhaar 2.0 is poised to increase system security to align itself with other advancements in the DPI ecosystem. While Indias digital transformation story is credible, there are also certain underlying constraints that need to be overcome to make this story universal. The basic requirement to access these services is a reliable internet connection. As per the subscription data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) as of October 31, 2022, there are approximately 820 million broadband users in the country of more than 1.40 billion. It seems that the rise in the number of broadband users has slowed down considerably in recent years. Similarly, in a Lok Sabha session held on December 7th, 2022, the Minister of State for Communications stated that out of 644,131 villages in India, 38,901 villages do not have mobile connectivity. Thus, to improve access and scale up the solutions offered by digital technology, the government should strive towards building a more extensive broadband network that can reach the remaining population. India has already demonstrated the promise and potential of using DPIs and innovative technology for its development challenges. Under its G20 presidency, India has the capabilities to navigate the digital cooperation efforts within the G20 nations to carry forward the vision of digital transformation that can improve the socio-economic welfare across nations. Akarsh Bhutani is the program coordinator and research assistant with the Political Economy program at Carnegie India The views expressed are personal Enjoy unlimited digital access with HT Premium Subscribe Now to continue reading Start 14 Days Free Trial Already Subscribed? Sign In Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru is likely to be the next Congress President. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad who has held this office for six years now-the longest period for any individual to be Congress President-in a statement on Friday declared that under the present circumstances, Pandit Nehru is the best choice. He adds that his colleagues in the Working Committee share his view. HT This Day: April 27, 1946 -- Azad tips Nehru as next Congress president Maulana Azad says: Now that the election of Congress delegates from the different provinces is over and the time has come for the choice of President for the next year. I consider it my duty to place my views on the question before the public. Ever since I came out of jail there have been suggestions from various quarters that I should continue as President for another year. I have tried to discourage such moves and for reasons which I shall now place before the public. I have borne the responsibilities of Congress President for over six years continuously, a period that was unprecedented in the history of the Congress. Circumstances were such that this was inevitable and I have tried to discharge my duties and serve my country to the best of my ability. Now, however. I must ask to be excused. After considering all aspects of the question, it is my belief that the person best suited to carry out these duties in the changed circumstances is Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. This is my personal opinion, but I am glad to find from informal discussions with friends and colleagues that they share my opinion. The choice. however, is with the delegates and they are free to exercise their right as they will. The Congress President Maulana Abul Kalam Azad had an hours conference with Mahatma Gandhi early on Friday morning before by issued his directive to the Congress delegates recommending the name of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru for the Congress presidentship for the next year. Opinion in Congress High Command circles is that as soon as the result of the Congress presidential election is known a meeting of the All-India Congress Committee will be called at Bombay about the beginning of June and at that meeting the new President will take over charge of the affairs of the Congress from the retiring President. Normally the new President takes over charge on the eve of the plenary session of the Congress but owing to the abnormal conditions to the country the annual plenary session of the Congress has been delayed and therefore the newly elected President is to take charge of the office at the next meeting of the All-India Congress Committee. The All-India Congress Committee itself will be a new body and, according to the Congress constitution it is competent to transact all the business of the Congress. Nowhere in the Congress constitution is it laid down that the change-over from one President to another should be made only at the plenary session of the Congress. The new All-India Congress Committee when it meets in Bombay in the first week of June, will be called upon to endorse whatever decision the Congress Working Committee arrives at in regard to the present political negotiations with the British Cabinet Mission. A day after the Sudan military and paramilitary chiefs agreed on a 72-hour nationwide ceasefire letting countries begin the evacuation process, India evacuated over 530 of its citizens using military aircraft and a warship. More are set to be taken out of the northeast African country amidst the ongoing crisis. A citizen said that it was happening right outside their homes and they were struggling even for food. Another citizen said that they hadn't had any food for the past 2-3 days. (ANI/Twitter) The citizens who returned to India spoke about the conditions in Sudan and the ordeal they went through within the country. In a video posted by ANI, one of the citizens can be seen talking about how it was a riot situation in Sudan. He says that the Indian government made arrangements to take them by ship. He also says the citizens were fed by the Indian forces. Under Operation Kaveri, citizens were flown by the Indian Air Force (IAF) from Port Sudan to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and several others were taken by ship from Sudan port to Jeddah. The citizen further added that the fighting in Sudan was at an extreme level. He said that it was happening right outside their homes and they were struggling even for food. Another citizen said that they hadn't had any food for the past two to three days. Another citizen, speaking to ANI said, The RSF - paramilitary force in Sudan - were close to our company. Early morning 9 am, they entered our company and began firing and looting us. They kept us hostage for eight hours. They kept their guns on our heads and chest and looted us. They destroyed everything in the company. They destroyed files and stole our laptops and mobile phones. We then contacted the embassy We didn't have any food and we then hid in a village. We arranged for diesel and asked the embassy to arrange buses for us to be evacuated. Minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan travelled to Jeddah on Tuesday to oversee repatriation efforts and received the Indians after their arrival in the Saudi port city. Onward journey to India for all who arrived in Jeddah will commence shortly, he said in a tweet. Most of the Indian nationals who had gathered in Port Sudan till Tuesday have now been evacuated to Saudi Arabia. Indian authorities are still exploring various options for evacuating stranded Indian nationals from Khartoum and other locations, including the use of military airbases located near the capital city. There were about 3,000 Indian citizens in Sudan when the fighting erupted, with most of them in Khartoum. According to United Nations agencies, the fighting has killed 459 people and injured more than 4,000. Many areas in Sudan are without electricity and water, and food shortages have been reported in Khartoum and other cities. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala cultural affairs minister Saji Cheriyan on Wednesday lauded the decision by film bodies such as the Kerala Film Producers Association not to work with two actors, Shane Nigam and Sreenath Bhasi, on account of their conduct. Two Malayalam film industry organisations decided not to work with two actors Shane Nigam and Sreenath Bhasi (File Photo) The charges levelled by film bodies are serious. We will take strict action against those who use drugs on film sets. We will keep an eye on such activities, said Cheriyan, adding that he will also discuss the problem with film bodies on how to curb such incidents. The government has a responsibility to ensure the security of the industry and it has its own rules for this. We will look into it and help them, he said. On Tuesday, several associations of actors and producers in the Malayalam film industry announced that they will not work with the two actors because they caused problems for producers and others. The associations also flagged the use of drugs and proposed to submit a list of actors and other film personalities who use drugs on film sets. The two actors have not responded to the allegations but people close to them said they were likely to take legal action. Some recent entrants in the states film industry said organised old film hands were upset with the new actors and were levelling frivolous allegations against them. A young actor who asked not to be named said: Some people are quite disturbed over the rise of a young crop of artists so they want to pull them down. M Renjith, a representative of Kerala Film Producers Association (KFPA), said Tuesdays action against the two actors was not linked to any allegation of drug abuse. Their recurring bad behaviour and indiscipline caused immense trouble to producers and other artists. They were not ready to heed our warnings, he said. He claimed that actor Nigam demanded that his role be given more prominence when a film was halfway through and that he insisted on seeing the edited version of the film before resuming shooting for the film. Some actors refuse to sign agreements because there are many clauses against blatant interference, behaviour and punctuality on sets. A movie is a team work and if a person creates a problem, it will affect all, said filmmaker B Unnikrishnan. Posters and banners praising Congress MP from Kerala's Palakkad V K Sreekandan were being pasted on the state's first Vande Bharat Express which was flagged off by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. People can be seen pasting the posters Sreekandan on the windows of the train. (Twitter/ ANI) Read here: Watch: PM Modi interacts with students onboard Kerala's first Vande Bharat train In a video shared by news agency ANI, Congress workers can be seen allegedly pasting the posters Sreekandan on the windows of a wagon of Vande Bharat Express when the train reached Shoranur Junction railway station on Tuesday. Kerala's first Vande Bharat Express, the semi-high-speed train from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod, covers the 586 km long journey in eight hours and five minutes and halts at 14 railway stations. On its way, the train covers districts including Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Kannur. Railway Protection Force took cognisance of the matter and registered a case to probe the incident. The personnel also removed the posters being pasted on the windows of the wagon of the train. The incident took place when the Thiruvananthapuram- Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express reached the Shoranur Junction railway station in its inaugural run. Palakkad MP and his supporters were present at the railway station to welcome the train, news agency PTI reported. Congress workers allegedly pasted posters in praise of Sreekandan for his role in ensuring the train's halt at Shoranur Junction, the report added. Read here: PM Modi flags off Vande Bharat train, inaugurates water metro project in Kerala Meanwhile, BJP state president K Surendran condemned the act and alleged that it was the action of the MP's supporters. In a Facebook post, he lashed out at Sreekandan and wondered how an MP and his followers can behave with such "a dirty mind". Sreekandan denied all the allegations and said that he did not authorise anyone to paste his posters on the train and alleged that the BJP was deliberately trying to create a controversy out of it. NEW DELHI: Manharsinh Laxmanbhai Yadav, who served in the Prime Ministers Office till recently, has been tipped as Indias next representative to Taiwan while Acquino Vimal, currently deputy chief of mission in Beijing, is expected to be the new envoy to Norway as part of a round of diplomatic postings. Manharsinh L Yadav dealt with Taiwanese businesses that invested in India during his stint of more than five years in the Prime Ministers Office (Facebook/Inddiplomats) Prabhat Kumar, currently additional secretary (Passport Seva Project), is tipped to be the next high commissioner to South Africa, while Vinod K Jacob, now the deputy high commissioner in Sri Lanka, is tipped to be the new envoy to Bahrain, people familiar with the matter said. Yadav dealt with Taiwanese businesses that have invested in India during his stint of more than five years in the Prime Ministers Office, the people said. He was appointed to the PMO in January 2018. If his posting as the Indian representative in Taipei goes ahead, he will be a rare non-Mandarin speaking diplomat to hold the position, the people added. Yadav is expected to replace Gauranga Lal Das in Taipei. Das, who earlier served in Beijing and Washington and in the Americas division, was appointed the director general of the India Taipei Association or Indias de facto mission in Taiwan in July 2020. Taiwanese firms have emerged as key players in Indias efforts to ramp up its capability to manufacture semiconductors needed for products ranging from automobiles to electronic items. Vimal, who earlier did a stint in the Indian mission in Pakistan, has been part of the team of diplomats dealing with the fallout of the dragging military standoff with China on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Norway is part of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) along with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, and the bloc is currently engaged in negotiations with India for a free trade agreement. As part of the next round of diplomatic postings, several officials holding key positions in the external affairs ministry are also expected to pick up ambassadorial assignments. Among them are joint secretary JP Singh, head of the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran desk, and joint secretary (Europe West) Sandeep Chakravorty, who earlier served as ambassador to Peru and Bolivia. In another recent round of postings, external affairs minister S Jaishankars principal aide, Shilpak Ambule, was named the high commissioner to Singapore, replacing P Kumaran, who is set to return to the headquarters. Vipul, the head of the Gulf division, was named the new envoy to Qatar, replacing Deepak Mittal, who is set to join the Prime Ministers Office. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Dantewada attack was a sign of desperation among the Maoists, who have been pushed to the back foot after security forces opened 53 forward bases in their strongholds, officials familiar with the development said on Wednesday. Using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to target the security personnel, said an officer, instead of getting into direct combat has been the Maoists strategy lately to avoid losses and costs. (Representative file image) Filling the security and administrative vacuum in the Maoists core areas has worked, apart from the National Investigation Agencys strategy of choking their funds, they said. There is clear desperation among Maoists. The forward bases opened in the hotbeds of Maoists in the last three years have not only helped in coordinated intelligence-based operations by security forces but have assisted civic authorities in taking development work to the remote villages. Also, their logistics chain like weapons, money and food items has been disrupted and the organisation is facing a leadership crisis. This is leading to waning of the Maoists influence in the villages, said an officer, who asked not to be named. Read: We will end Naxalism soon: Chhattisgarh CM after 10 jawans killed in attack There was no specific intelligence input about Wednesdays attack in the Aranpur area of Dantewada, in which 10 district reserve guard (DRG) personnel and a driver of Chhattisgarh police were killed, but a general alert had been sounded that the Maoists usually launch their annual Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC) around this time of the year, so the units should be careful. Using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to target the security personnel, said an officer, instead of getting into direct combat has been the Maoists strategy lately to avoid losses and costs. According to an analysis by the National Bomb Data Centre (NBDC) of the elite counterterrorism force National Security Guard (NSG), Maoists were responsible for most 55 of 132 IED attacks in the country in 2021. Similarly, the red ultras were involved in 49 IED attacks in 2020. For security agencies, the biggest threat is still the Dandakaranya area, spread in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh to the bordering areas of Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, from where Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee or DKSZC operates. The Dantewada area, where the attack took place on Wednesday, also falls in this region. A second officer said, Maoists have crude weapon manufacturing units in the DKSZC area where single-barrel grenade launchers, double-barrel grenade launchers, rocket launchers and countrymade weapons are manufactured. But more concerning is that they run their own research and development wing for IEDs in this area, for which explosive material and detonators are procured from the coal mines and quarries. Read: Lack of intel, violation of SOPs under lens after Maoist attack in Dantewada He said that more than 75% of central committee members, including CPI Maoists general secretary Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraj and Hidma, commander of the the Peoples Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA), who plan major ambushes on security forces, operate in this region. Former director general of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) K Durga Prasad said, The idea of opening camps inside jungle areas is that development work of the government reaches the people and the quality of life in those areas gets better. They want to keep the villages in isolation and create terror by carrying out such attacks. They cannot match the security forces strength in regular combat, thats why they indulge in shoot-and-scoot and these IED attacks. Only 101 of 778 MPs, mostly from BJP, attend briefing on bills in 2022-23 A mere 13% of parliamentarians have attended special briefing sessions organised by the Lok Sabha secretariat to help lawmakers understand various aspects of upcoming bills, according to data reviewed by Hindustan Times. A majority of those attended are first time MPs. Read Here. The briefings are organised by the Lok Sabha secretariat to help lawmakers understand various aspects of upcoming bills. (ANI) Watch: Moment Turkey President Erdogan cuts off live TV interview over stomach bug Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stopped a live television interview to which he later returned saying that he had developed a stomach bug and is apologetic for the interruption. The 69-year-old leader gave three campaign speeches ahead of the parliamentary and presidential election set to take place on May 14. Read Here. Watch: Arjun Tendulkar exudes father Sachin's calmness in nonchalant six during GT-MI game, leaves Mohit Sharma shocked Arjun Tendulkar made his IPL debut on April 16 at the Wankhede Stadium against KKR. In the four appearances he has made since then for Mumbai Indians, Arjun has featured as a bowler, picking up three wickets at an economy rate of 9.36 with impressive abilities with the new ball. Read Here. Indians make 80% higher in abroad than through internal migration, says study Around 120% surge in income has been recorded among Indians working overseas as compared to a 40% increase due to internal migration, according to a study by the World Development Report. The study found that low-skilled Indians who migrated to the United States tend to see a significant gain in their income of around 500%. Read Here. Priyanka Chopra slays in pink gown at Citadel's LA premiere; fans call her stunning. See pics After Mumbai, London, and Rome, Priyanka Chopra and team Citadel is in Los Angeles for the premiere. Priyanka looked glamorous in a pink dress at the event, and wore her hair straight. Priyanka will share the screen space with Richard Madden and Stanley Tucci in the Prime Video series, which is set to start streaming from April 28. Read Here. Ponniyin Selvan 2: Aishwarya Rai, Trisha Krishnan and others deck up in ethnics for press meet Mani Ratnams magnum opus is slated to get back to the theatres on April 28. Ponniyin Selvans first part was released last year and garnered a lot of praises from the audience and critics alike. Starring a multi star-cast, Ponniyin Selvans second part is slated for a release in two days. The cast of the film is busy with the promotions. Read Here. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hours after an attack on police vehicle that killed 10 personnel and a driver in Chhattisgarhs Dantewada district on Wednesday, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel assured that they will end Naxalism in the state soon. Bhupesh Baghel (PTI) Pressure is being created on Naxals, so they did this act of cowardice. Naxalism will be uprooted, CM Baghel told news agency ANI. He added, Dantewada incident is heart-rending. My condolences to their families. Their sacrifice will not go to waste. Earlier, union home minister Amit Shah spoke to Baghel and promised all possible help to the state government. Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarhs Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred Jawans, the HM tweeted. Meanwhile, according to reports, Baghel will be visiting Dantewada to pay tribute to the slain police personnel and take stock of the situation. According to the police officials, an improvised explosive device (IED) was used to blow up the police personnel's vehicle when they were returning from an anti-Maoist operation. The attack was one of the worst in Chhattisgarh since April 2021 - when 22 police and paramilitary personnel were killed and at least two dozen others were injured during a gunfight with Maoists. Prior to this in 2017, 25 jawans were killed in an attack. (With inputs from agencies) Former Pakistani diplomat Abdul Basit said India may carry out another surgical strike in the aftermath of the terror attack in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, but ruled out any such possibility ahead of the G20 Summit. Basit said that fear of a retaliatory strike has become the talk of the town in Pakistan. Poonch, Apr 22 (ANI): Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi inspects the Poonch terror attack incident site in which 5 army personnel lost their lives, in Poonch on Saturday. (ANI Photo)(Sumit Bhargav) "Now people in Pakistan are talking about another surgical strike or air strike by India. I do not think that now they will do the same because they are holding SCO meet and G20 presidency this year. I don't see any misadventures from India till the time they hold presidencies. But next year during elections, India may do this again. This may happen just before the elections in India," Basit said in a recent video. The former Pakistani diplomat also tried to justify the terror attack in which five army jawans lost their lives by saying "whoever has done it, be it Mujahedeen or whosoever, they have targeted the military, not civilians. "They are engaged in a legitimate struggle. If you are conducting a movement, you are targeting the military but not civilians, international law allows it." The video came a few days after the Poonch terror attack in which five personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles deployed for counterterrorism operations were killed in an attack claimed by Peoples Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), an offshoot of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). Officials in the security establishment suspect that Lashkar-e-Taiba had also colluded with Jaish to carry out the attack. Following the attack, the army launched a massive operation on Friday to hunt down a group of around six to seven terrorists, which it said was behind the ambush. PAFF has released some pictures on social sites claiming them to be from the site of the ambush at Tota Gali and stated that some parts of the videos of the Operation will be released soon. (With ANI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday condoled the demise of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) veteran and five-time chief minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal and said that he was a political stalwart who played a significant role in Punjab politics for many decades. Parkash Singh Badal with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. (PTI) Follow Parkash Singh Badal Updates here In a letter to party's chief and veteran leader's son Sukhbir Singh Badal as reported by ANI, the former prime minister wrote, I have learnt with profound sorrow the demise of your beloved father Sardar Prakash Singh Badal ji. Prakash Singh Badal ji was a political stalwart who played a significant role in Punjab politics for many decades. "In his long political and administrative career, a five time Chief Minister of Punjab, he made several noteworthy contributions towards the welfare of farmers and other weaker sections of our society. I have fond memories of my interactions with Badal Sahib on several issues", he added. He lastly added that he and his wife offer their deepest condolences on this sad occasion. Leaders across the political lines condoled the death of Badal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that he was a colossal figure of Indian politics. Parkash Singh Badal, 95, breathed his last on Tuesday at a private hospital in Mohali after prolonged illness. He was admitted to Fortis Hospital in Mohali a week ago after he complained of uneasiness while breathing. The five-time chief minister climbed his way up the political ladder after serving as a village sarpanch and then contesting assembly elections for the first time in 1957. The Centre has announced a two-day state mourning across India as a mark of respect to the veteran politician. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) veteran and five-time chief minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal passed away at the age of 95 on Tuesday. He was admitted to a private hospital in Mohali seven days ago and was moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Friday. Leaders across the political lines condoled the death of Badal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi while condoling the death of the veteran leader said that he was a colossal figure of Indian politics. Born on December 8, 1927 in Muktsar, Badal remained in the intensive care unit (ICU) since Saturday. He was elected as village sarpanch at the age of 20 and was elected as an MLA for the first time in 1957 on a Congress ticket. He became the chief minister of Punjab for the first time in 1970 at the age of 43. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday strongly condemned one of the worst attacks on security forces in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district in which 10 police personnel and a driver were killed. He also paid tributes to the policemen who lost their lives in the attack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during the National Panchayati Raj Day celebrations in Rewa district on Monday. (PTI) Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families, PM Modi wrote on Twitter. According to the police, an improvised explosive device (IED) was used to blow up the police personnel's vehicle when they were returning from an anti-Maoist operation. The area where the attack took place is located around 450 km from the state capital Raipur. Soon after the attack, union home minister Amit Shah spoke to Chattishgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and promised all possible help to the state government. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed his condolences and paid tributes to the 10 DRG jawans who lost their lives in the attack. The news of the martyrdom of 10 DRG jawans and a driver in the cowardly Naxalite attack in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada is sad. I express my deepest condolences to their bereaved families in this difficult time. My salute and tribute to all the brave martyrs, Gandhi tweeted in Hindi. Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge also wrote: The martyrdom of our 10 DRG jawans and a driver in a cowardly attack in an anti-Naxal operation in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh is deeply saddening. Humble tributes to the bravehearts. We are with the bereaved families. The fight against Naxalism in Chhattisgarh is in its last phase, our government will win it. Hyderabad : A 25-year-old pregnant woman allegedly died by suicide by walking into the Bay of Bengal at Rama Krishnapuram beach in Andhra Pradeshs Visakhapatnam in the early hours of Wednesday, the police said. Pregnant womans body found on Vizags beach (Reresentational Image) The half-naked body of the woman was found buried up to the torso in the sand on the shores of the beach in the morning. The police rushed to the spot after the locals on the beach informed about the body. Later, the body was sent to King George Hospital for post- mortem. Newport police inspector Suvvari Ramu told HT that the woman hailed from Pedagantyada area had been missing from her in-laws place since Tuesday evening, after leaving a suicide note in her room. Her in-laws lodged a missing complaint with us in the evening and we started searching for her. On Wednesday morning, we received a call from locals that a womans body was found on the shores of RK beach, he said. Initially, the police suspected that the woman might have been subjected to sexual assault and later murdered. But during the subsequent investigation, it was revealed that she was five-month pregnant and had an argument with her husband over phone, before walking out of the house, Ramu said. The inspector said her husband, a software engineer, had been working from home till recently before returning to his Hyderabad office 15 days ago. She had been staying with her in-laws with whom she was said to be not on good terms. She might have taken the extreme step in an emotional moment. Strong waves may have caused the white body to drift in the sand. There were no signs of any sexual assault or murder, the police inspector said. The police recovered a suicide note from her room and are examining the same. For now, we have booked a case of suspicious death, the inspector added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard Day 5 of arguments over multiple petitions demanding marriage equality - the right of non-heterosexual couples to be wed and given the same rights as heterosexual unions. So far, the court has head from the petitioners, who argued in favour of marriage equality citing various issues - from the importance of family to the right to equality. Petitioners argued on various issues in favour of marriage equality ranging from the importance of family and the right to equality and life. (File) This afternoon the court began hearing the views of the government - which last week sought to dismiss the petitioners' demands as an 'urban, elitist' concept. Here are the top ten things said in court today: 'Elite argument can be set aside. Matter of prejudice. Does not determine how we rule on a constitutional issue' - Chief Justice DY Chandrachud 'LGBTQ couples will come to courts with claims, as these issues (pension, other benefits and obligations that flow from marriage) arise, just as heterosexual couples have, from the time codification of matrimonial laws began. We are no different, and we ask for the right to not be different' - Advocate Arundhati Katju for petitioners. 'Your Lordships should not presume any difficulty which arises for LGBTQ couples. Union says such couples would play havoc with personal laws. But we are part of our community and our society' - Advocate Nundy for petitioners. 'Let us be blessed just as heterosexual couples are...Not elite at all. So many people have called me...from Hissar, Chhattisgarh, Surat...Let the union bless us just as they do any other couple' - Advocate Nundy for petitioners. 'Children, orphans... have right to have a family. Exclusion of same gender couples and transgender persons defeats very purpose of adoption, which is to provide a stable, loving family. Is it in the best interest of the child to not have a relationship with their second parent? Petitioners are part of historically oppressed minority... deserve as much dignity & protection as opposite sex couple' - Advocate Amritananda Chakravorty for petitioners. 'Right to marry can't mean compelling the State to create a new definition of marriage. Parliament can do but it's not an absolute right. My appeal is to rather than taking this any further, this is a subject that should be left to the choice of parliament' - Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for Center. 'There is no absolute right to marry. Law prescribes when to marry by prescribing age. Law prescribes who not to marry, how to separate is also legislatively regulated' - Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for Center. 'Even the prayers of the petitioners are extremely vague. Societal acceptance is needed for recognition of a union and this has to be through the parliament. and if it is done by the court then it is detrimental to the LGBTQI since you are forcing something against the will of the people. We cannot forget the historical background which led to the institution of marriage' - Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for Center. 'Parliament was aware of lesbian and gay people [while constituting Special Marriage Act]. Select committee in fact used the word parties instead of 'man' & 'woman'. After heated debate, amendment was brought to introduce different ages for men & women' - Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for Center. 'Special Marriage Act was intended to be religion-neutral, idea was to create a forum for people to marry outside their faith' - CJI DY Chandrachud. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday spoke to Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and took stock of the situation after 10 policemen and a driver were killed in a blast carried out by Maoists in Dantewada. Shah also assured the chief minister of all possible help to deal with the situation. The blast was carried out when the team was returning after anti-Naxalite operation. Ten personnel of the state police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) and a driver were killed in a blast when they were returning after an anti-Naxalite operation under Aranpur Police Station limits. Naxalites blew up the mini-goods van in which the security personnel were travelling by using an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The area is located around 450 km from the state capital Raipur. Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred Jawans, Shah said in a tweet. Former Chhattisgarh CM and BJP leader Raman Singh said, The naxalites have shown cowardice by attacking the police vehicle in Aranpur, Dantewada. Saluting the martyrdom of 10 brave soldiers of our DRG and 1 driver who were martyred in this attack, I pray to God that the departed souls find a place in the holy feet and mourn May the family members be given the strength to bear this sorrow. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal called the attack a cowardly act and stressed the need for immediate strict steps to crush Naxalism. Our soldiers were martyred in the Naxalite attack in Chhattisgarh. This cowardly act of Naxalites is very disturbing information. All the governments need to take immediate strict steps to crush Naxalism. Humble tribute to the martyred soldiers! May his soul rest in peace!! the AAP supremo said in a tweet in Hindi. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath tweeted: Humble tribute to the brave sons of Mother India who were martyred while performing their duty in Chhattisgarh! My thoughts are with the bereaved family. We stand with all the families in this sad time. May God grant the departed souls a place in his holy feet and strength to the family members to bear this sorrow. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The first batch of Indian evacuees from crisis-hit Sudan - who landed in New Delhi on Wednesday - were heard chanting PM Narendra Modi Zinadabad slogans upon their arrival. In a video posted by news agency ANI, the evacuees can also be heard chanting Indian Army Zindabad, and Bharat Mata Ki Jai slogans. More evacuations are expected in the coming days as the crisis in Sudan deepens. The evacuation was done under India's Operation Kaveri to bring back all the stranded Indian nationals in Sudan. A total of 360 Indians evacuated from Sudan boarded a flight from Jeddah Airport on Wednesday morning to New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed about the evacuees' arrival on Twitter saying, "#OperationKaveri brings 360 Indian Nationals to the homeland as first flight reaches New Delhi. Since Tuesday, India has used two C-130J military transport aircraft and the warship INS Sumedha to evacuate more than 530 citizens from Sudan. Earlier in the day, minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan - who is personally monitoring the evacuation efforts - tweeted: Happy to see off 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport in a flight bound for New Delhi They will be reaching the motherland soon, reuniting with their families Under #OperationKaveri the Government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan & bring them home safely. According to the website of the Indian embassy in Khartoum, there are around 2,800 Indian nationals in Sudan. There is also a settled Indian community of around 1,200 people - which has been in the country for nearly 150 years, it said. Observing that many aspects of same-sex marriage may fall within the legislative powers of Parliament, the Supreme Court on Tuesday wondered as to how far a court can go when bringing same-sex unions under the ambit of the Special Marriage Act (SMA) is bound to impact personal laws as well. For representational purposes only. (HT Photo) A constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud pointed out that marriage and divorce are specifically provided under Entry 5 of the Concurrent List of the Constitution, making it clear that these are the matters on which the legislative powers of the Centre and states will operate. You cannot dispute that Parliament has the powers to interfere with the canvas covered by these petitions. Entry 5 of the concurrent list. It specifically covers marriage and divorce. The question therefore has to be which are the interstices left in which this court can interfere. The test really is, how far can the court go? asked the bench, also comprising justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, S Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha. When it started hearing the case on April 18, the constitution bench had clarified that the remit of the proceedings will confine to the validation of same-sex unions only under the SMA. However, on Tuesday, the bench remarked that though the petitioners may demand a non-religious framework of marriage under SMA, the effect of such marriages would be intrinsically linked to personal laws in matters involving succession, inheritance, etc. There is no getting over the link between SMA and personal laws, added the bench, expressing its quandary over reconciliation of various issues that may arise if the court were to allow registration of same-sex marriage under SMA. The court further said that the Indian parliament cannot be compared to the British parliament, which is sovereign and has absolute power to make laws. Here, we have Article 246 (which demarcates the powers of the Union and states by classifying their powers into three lists) and Entry 5 classifies marriage and divorce. So, really speaking, we dont think you can take it that far to say that the government here is thrusting the British parliament model. That may not be a correct way to say it, the bench told senior counsel Menaka Guruswamy, who was appearing for one of the petitioners on the fourth day of the hearing in the matter. Guruswamy had earlier submitted that the government cannot come to court and say that this is a matter of parliament, and that this argument is like thrusting the British parliament which is sovereign. She urged the bench to use interpretative tools for a declaration of marriage equality rights for the LGBTQI+ community and attendant benefits such as banking, gratuity and pension. The senior counsel said the petitioners were demanding a mere workable interpretation of SMA to recognise their relationships. To this, the bench pointed out to her that recognition of same-sex marriage under SMA will have an impact on personal laws. There is no doubt that adoption, succession are the matters dealt with by personal laws... If we read into SMA, there will have to be changes in other personal laws as well. There is no shying away from this... How does the court avoid going into other issues which are intrinsically interconnected? it asked. It remarked that the taking the court through the judgments decriminalising homosexuality and establishing right to privacy is an easy terrain but the real difficulty will be their impact on the personal laws. The court gave an example of succession where Hindu Succession Act will come into play once one of the spouses in a same-sex marriage dies intestate. There is a completely different line of succession for a man and a woman in the Act. Likewise, for adoption and maintenance. So, the real test is how far and no further, it said. Guruswamy, on her part, said that all this would only be consequential. It will follow, she added. The bench retorted: But how many times will we follow up? Just because we do not get into personal law issues since it is a thorny one or inconvenient, we should not go into it? We are virtually re-enacting many laws and then we are saying we will leave the hard task for later... Many other courts will have to answer it later. Is this our job? It added that social welfare legislation such as those dealing with succession and inheritance also are exclusionary as they outline who will be excluded from devolution of properties. Therefore, by conferring benefits on a particular category of persons, the court will be making a value judgment on who will be excluded...this is the worrying part, not the jurisprudence, said the bench. At one point, the bench also asked Guruswamy if the petitioners represent the interest and wishes of the entire community. Are you to speak for the entire community before us? There may be diversities. There may be unheard voices who may want to preserve their culture, traditions, etc. The moment we secularise it; constitutionalise it, we deny their rights, the bench asked her. Guruswamy replied that the entire quest is of the ability and the right to make a choice to participate in this new definition of relationship. The bench asked Guruswamy to ponder over the queries raised by it and submit a written submission. Apart from Guruswamy, senior counsel Geeta Luthra, Anand Grover, Saurabh Kirpal and Jayna Kothari also addressed the court on behalf of different petitioners. The petitioners are expected to wrap up their submissions on Wednesday, following which the Union government will commence its arguments. Around 50 petitioners have approached the top court asking for legalisation of same-sex marriage, arguing that denying them the right to wed was unconstitutional and violative of their fundamental rights. If they succeed, India will become only the third country in Asia to allow same-sex unions, a mere five years after the court decriminalised homosexuality. The court began hearing the case on April 18 after turning down the Union governments objections against the judicial determination of the issue. While the Centre maintained that it is exclusively for the legislature to grant legal recognition to a social institution and that the court must first seek the views of all states, the court went ahead with the matter saying it will adjudge the issue in a restricted arena of granting validation to same-sex marriages by reading down or interpreting relevant provisions of the SMA. During the proceedings last week, the bench disapproved of the Centres stand that the demand for legal validation of same-sex marriage is an urban elitist concept, saying that an innate characteristic of a person cannot be called elitist. It added that the government has failed in adducing any data to buttress its statement even as the Centre informed the bench that it had a day ago written to all states, asking them to submit their views on the legalisation of same sex marriages within 10 days. On April 20, it observed that by decriminalising homosexuality in 2018, the Supreme Court not only ratified consensual sexual relations between gay couples but also recognised that same-sex couples could stay in a stable, marriage-like relationship. The court on that day added that it is now for the apex court to mull over redefining the evolving notion of marriage in the wake of demands for legal recognition of same-sex marriage in the country. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a chilling daylight murder, a Village Administrative Officer (VAO) in Tamil Nadu was allegedly assaulted with weapons and killed while he was on duty in his office on Tuesday afternoon, police said. Lourdhu Francis (56) was the VAO of Murappanadu in Thoothukudi district. (Representative file image) Lourdhu Francis (56) was the VAO of Murappanadu in Thoothukudi district which is a region where illegal sand mining takes place, police said. The role of people involved in illegal sand mining is being suspected as preliminary investigations revealed that he was murdered after the police had registered a case against a sand mining mafia gangster based on the VAOs complaint, officials said. Police on Tuesday arrested the gangster and are on the lookout for his associate. Also Read: 30-year-old killed in hit-and-run in Mohali Francis had on Tuesday gone to a local court to submit evidence in a case and returned to his office. Two men had sneaked into the Murappanadu VAOs office around 12:30pm. With machetes they brutally assaulted Francis, said a senior police official. He was rushed to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital where he was put on life support, but he succumbed to his injuries. He is survived by his wife and three children who allege that he had been receiving threats, but he was not given police protection. Thoothukudi district collector K Senthil Raj said he will investigate the complaint made. Francis was VAO in Murappanadu for 1.5 years. Ive instructed officials to immediately identify the two men, file an FIR and arrest them, the collector said. I have reported this to the chief minister, he said. DMK Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi met the family members on Tuesday evening. Action will be taken against those responsible for his death and against anyone for dereliction of duty, Kanimozhi said. Chief Minister MK Stalin announced a solatium of 1 crore and a government job to be provided for one of Francis family members. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ten police personnel and a driver were killed in Chhattisgarhs Dantewada district on Wednesday in the worst attack on security forces in the Maoist insurgency-hit central Indian state since April 2021. Wednesdays attack was the worst in Chhattisgarh since April 2021. (Sourced) Police said an improvised explosive device (IED) was used to blow up their vehicle when the policemen were returning from an anti-Maoist operation. Visuals showed the blast left a crater at the scene of the attack. Union home minister Amit Shah spoke to Chattishgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel about the attack and promised all possible help to the state government. Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarhs Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred Jawans, he tweeted. In a tweet, Baghel called the attack saddening and said the fight against Maoists is in its last stage and that the Left-wing insurgents would not be spared. He added the police personnel were attacked when they arrived for an operation based on a tip-off about the presence of Maoists under the Aranpur police station of Dantewada. Wednesdays attack was the worst in Chhattisgarh since April 2021 when 22 police and paramilitary personnel were killed and at least two dozen others injured in a gunfight with Maoists in the Bastar region. The toll was the heaviest for security forces fighting Maoists since 2017 when 25 jawans were killed in an attack. Seventeen personnel from a commando patrol were killed in an attack in Chhattisgarh in March 2020. In 2013, Maoists felled trees to block a 20-car convoy of Congress leaders in a dense forest in Chhattisgarh before detonating a landmine and firing on the vehicles. Former Union Minister Vidya Charan Shukla and 18 others were killed in the attack. The fresh attack in Dantewada came months after seven security personnel, including an army jawan, were killed in suspected Maoist attacks across Chhattisgarh over one week in February. The attacks came even as the Union government maintained there has been a decline in Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) violence. In January, Shah said they aim to make the country free from Maoism before the 2024 general elections. In December, Union minister of state for home Nityanand Rai told Parliament that incidents of LWE violence reduced by 77% from a high of 2213 in 2010 to 509 in 2021. In February, Shah chaired a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on LWE and cited a three-pronged strategy as the reason for the dip in Maoist-related incidents. He said the number of civilian and security personnel killed in LWE incidents declined to 98 in 2022 from 1,005 in 2010 while the number of districts affected dropped from 90 to 45. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The exit of former Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar from the BJP just ahead of the Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 continued to dominate the campaigning there as Union minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday called him a backstabber and said those who can not be of their religion, family or ideology can never be of the public. "Today I want to ask him whose No. 2 you are -- Shivakumar's or Siddaramaiah's?" Smriti Irani said. Union minister Smriti Irani at Dharwad in Karnataka on Tuesday. Addressing a public meeting in Dharwad as the party's star campaigner, the Union minister said, "A few days ago one of our men backstabbed us and went to the other camp. Everyone knows who I am talking about. I want to tell the people of Hubli-Dharwad that who cannot be of their religion, family or ideology can never be of the public." Karnakata Assembly Election 2023: Full coverage "He is elder to us. We made him the Chief minister. We brought him to the top and for his own greed he went to the other side," Smriti Irani said. Union home minister Amit Shah too on Tuesday said that Shettar will lose the election as Hubbali has always voted for the BJP. "There'll be no loss, Jagdish Shettar will himself lose the election, Huballii has always voted for BJP & all workers of BJP are united," Amit Shah said. Reacting to Amit Shah's claim, Shettar said, "He is the home minister. he must have taken a report of this constituency and the report of Karnataka politics. Day by day, the party is coming down. With that apprehension, he started attacking Jagadish Shettar." Shettar left the BJP bringing the Lingayat issue to the forefront as he is the second senior leader from the community to leave BJP. Shettar said some people with vested interests are controlling the government in Karnataka. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the National Medical Devices Policy, 2023, said an official release. Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya (PTI) According to the release, the medical devices sector in India is an essential and integral constituent of the Indian healthcare sector. The Indian medical devices sector's contribution has become even more prominent as India supported the domestic and global battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. The medical devices sector in India is a sunrise sector which is growing at a fast pace. The market size of the medical devices sector in India is estimated to be approximately, 90,000 crore in 2020 and its share in the global medical device market is estimated to be 1.5pc. Also Read | Maha cabinet gives nod to continuation of 40% property tax rebate The Indian medical devices sector is on a growth track and has an enormous potential to become self-reliant and contribute towards the goal of universal health care. The Government of India has already initiated the implementation of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for medical devices and support for the setting up of 4 Medical device Parks in the States of Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. The release said, "Under the PLI scheme for Medical Devices, till now, a total of 26 projects have been approved, with a committed investment of 1206 crore and out of this, so far, an investment of 714 crore has been achieved". "Under the PLI scheme, a total of 14 projects producing 37 products have been commissioned and domestic manufacturing of high-end medical devices has started which include Linear Accelerator, MRI Scan, CT-Scan, Mammogram, C-Arm, MRI Coils, high-end X-ray tubes, etc," added the release. "The remaining 12 products will be commissioned in the near future. Five projects out of a total of 26 projects have been approved recently, under Category B, for domestic manufacturing of 87 products/product components," read the release further. Highlighting the need for the policy framework, the release said, "Building upon these measures, a holistic policy framework to accelerate this growth and fulfil the potential of the sector is the need of the hour. While various Departments of the Government have undertaken programmatic interventions to encourage the sector, the current policy aims to put in place a comprehensive set of focus areas for the growth of the sector in a coordinated manner." "Secondly, in view of the diversity and multi-disciplinary nature of the sector, the regulations, skilling trade promotion of the medical device industry are spread over several departments in the Government both at the Centre and State levels. There is a need to bring together the range of interventions in a coherent manner that would facilitate focused and efficient support and facilitation for the sector by the respective agencies," added the release. Listing the expectations with the National Medical Devices Policy, of 2023, the release said, "The policy is expected to facilitate an orderly growth of the medical device sector to meet the public health objectives of access, affordability, quality and innovation." "This sector is expected to realize its full potential, with the strategies viz, building an enabling ecosystem for manufacturing along with a focus on innovation, creating a robust and streamlined regulatory framework, providing support in training and capacity building programs and promoting higher education to foster talent and skilled resources in line with the industry requirements," it added. Further, the release also mentioned that the domestic investments and production of medical devices complement the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' program. "It encourages domestic investments and production of medical devices complements the Government's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make in India' programs," added the release. The right to marry cannot mean compelling the State to create a new definition of marriage, the Union government emphasised on Wednesday, imploring the Supreme Court to desist from hearing the same-sex marriage case any further and leave the issue to Parliament for a decision. Around 50 petitioners have approached the top court asking for legalisation of same-sex marriage. (PTI) According to the government, it is impossible for the constitution bench to conceive of the complexities and situations that may arise following the recognition of same-sex marriage and, therefore, the only constitutionally permissible option for the top court is to defer to the wisdom of Parliament. Appearing before a five-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, solicitor general (S-G) Tushar Mehta commenced the submissions on behalf of the Centre by requesting the court to stop hearing the matter and wait for Parliament to take a call on a very complex subject having profound social impact. The S-G, on the fifth day of arguments in the case, said the courts exercise will have unintended ramifications not only on society but also on several statutes and at least 160 legal provisions beyond the Special Marriage Act (SMA), which, he said, cannot be reconciled if the court were to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriage. Read: Same-sex ruling to impact personal laws, says Supreme Court On Wednesday, the bench raised similar concerns, observing that many aspects of same-sex marriage may fall within the legislative powers of Parliament, wondering as to how far a court can go when bringing same-sex unions under the ambit of the SMA is bound to impact personal laws as well. It had begun hearing the case on April 18 after turning down the Centres objections against the judicial determination of the issue. On that day, the bench, which also comprised justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, S Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha, also clarified that the remit of the proceedings will be confined to recognition of same-sex marriage under the SMA. The S-G said: The real question in the matter is who would take a call on what constitutes a valid marriage and between whom? Debates are required by society, state legislatures and various civil society groups. My humble prayer is that this court can still save the rest of the exercise by leaving it to Parliament... by agreeing that this should be preceded by some debates. Mehta submitted that the legislative policy of Parliament is evident from the 2019 Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act that protects not only transgenders but several other categories of persons, adding that Parliament has already accepted their right to choice, autonomy in terms of sexual preference and privacy in the form of intimate relationships. But the question here is whether the right to marry can be prayed for as a social institution by way of a judicial adjudication before this honble court. Right to marry cannot mean compelling the State to create a new definition of marriage. Parliament can do it, but its not an absolute right. My appeal is to rather than taking this any further, this is a subject that should be left to the choice of Parliament, he averred. The S-G added that a mere vague declaration on the right to marry would beg the question that if they have the right, how these rights will be regulated. The moment any right is recognised, it will have to regulated. Even today, there is no absolute right to marry for heterogeneous couples. The law provides for minimum age, outlaws bigamy, prohibits marriages between certain relationships, and separation is also regulated. So, the law for heterogeneous couples also regulate when you can get married, how many times you can marry, whom you can marry and how you can legally separate, he pointed out. Contending that the court may not be in a position of conceiving multiple situations that will arise after a declaration that petitioners ask for, Mehta said: Several regulatory provisions follow legal recognition of a social relationship. Only Parliament can conceive of several situations that may arise and regulate them. Its impossible for the court to conceive of all possible scenarios. He said that the request to this court is to rewrite an enactment (SMA) to suit a situation, but Parliament has the exclusive authority to do so. The very heart of SMA is recognition of marriage between a conventional man and woman. I am not on the recognition but by whom is the question? What the petitioners are seeking is consciously omitted in SMA. Courts cannot change the fundamental nature of a law. Courts cannot substitute legislative intent which is manifest. Words of larger amplitude cannot be read into words of smaller amplitude. These are the limitations on courts too, Mehta stressed. He said that under the LGBTQIA+ community, there are people who do not identify with any gender as well as certain persons who may change their genders as per surroundings or mood swings. It is impossible to reconcile all this through a judgment. Would it be prudent or legally permissible to deal with this subject on the judicial side? The court is not adjudicating a prohibition against a marriage. There is no prohibition for LGBTQ to marry but this court is on conferring a legal status of marriage which all religion considers as an institution, said the law office. Mehta emphasised that the six major religions in the world consider marriage as a valuable social institution even before marital laws were codified and that they have always followed man and woman principle in recognising unions. Read: Lost your minds?: Mahua slams BCI for opposing same-sex marriage case in SC The only constitutionally permissible option for this court is to require Parliament or wait for Parliament to discuss and deal with this. Societal recognition is also one of the considerations for legal recognition of marriage and Parliament is the only authority to examine this... It will be vague declaration if it is to be made, without considering the problems that will arise... As a matter of prudence or policy, your lordship will not substitute the wisdom of legislature, he argued. At one point, Mehta read from the US Supreme Courts controversial decision in Dobbs Vs X which held that there is no constitutional right to abortion. While the S-G clarified that the purpose of citing this judgment was to only highlight that the courts should return the matters involving complex social issues to the legislature, the bench remarked that the judgment cannot be a good example otherwise. If you are relying on Dobbs to support that principle then we have gone far beyond Dobbs in India, and fortunately so. Dobbs represent a view of the US Supreme Court that a woman has no control over her own bodily integrity. This theory has been debunked long back in our country. Fortunately, we have gone far ahead of many western countries on several issues, added the bench. In his submissions, the S-G also flagged that of 34 countries that have recognised the same-sex marriage, 29 countries framed laws while only in 5 others, the court prompted the change. Mehta will continue arguing the case on Thursday. Around 50 petitioners have approached the top court asking for legalisation of same-sex marriage, arguing that denying them the right to wed was unconstitutional and violative of their fundamental rights. If they succeed, India will become only the third country in Asia to allow same-sex unions, a mere five years after the court decriminalised homosexuality. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As "Operation Kaveri" is underway, the Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday opened a help desk at the resident commissioner's office in Delhi for people stranded in Sudan, a senior official said in Lucknow. More evacuations are expected in the coming days as the crisis in Sudan deepens. (PTI)(MINT_PRINT) "Those coming from Sudan can contact Neeraj Singh, assistant review officer on 8920808414 or Ashish Kumar, protocol assistant on 9313434088 or Whatsapp them about their problems," an order issued by Additional Resident Commissioner, New Delhi, Saumya Srivastava said. Amid the 72-hour ceasefire agreed upon between Sudan's army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), countries including India are leaving no stone unturned to evacuate citizens. Also Read | How is the Sudan crisis impacting relations with India? Envoy responds The total number of Indians evacuated so far from Sudan stands at around 530, according to official data. In the recent batch, 360 Indians left Jeddah Airport on a flight bound for New Delhi and will soon be reunited with their families, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said on Wednesday. Operation Kaveri is a rescue operation launched by the central government to evacuate stranded Indian citizens from Sudan. "Happy to see off 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport in a flight bound for New Delhi They will be reaching the motherland soon, reuniting with their families Under #OperationKaveri the Government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan & bring them home safely," MoS Muraleedharan tweeted. India has deployed its military planes and warships to rescue Indians from there. The evacuation operation started in Port Sudan. The Indian Air Force C-17 transport aircraft is scheduled to leave for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to bring back Indian citizens stranded in Sudan to their homes, according to government sources. As per the government sources, the aircraft is planned to leave in the evening from Ghaziabad's Hindon air base and return with Indians from Jeddah tomorrow morning to Mumbai. The government sources also stated that the INS Teg is stationed at Port Sudan to bring back Indians from there to Jeddah. Earlier, the INS Sumedha has already disembarked 278 Indians from there to Jeddah.INS Tarkash is in the vicinity to take part in the operations there, according to Government sources. Now, private carriers in India are also showing their willingness to operate charter flights from India to Jeddah for evacuation. India's low-cost carrier Indigo has offered its services to the government regarding evacuation under Operation Kaveri. Previously, France Embassy in India informed that their country has evacuated some Indians along with citizens of 27 other countries as part of its evacuation mission from violence-hit Sudan. Earlier, on Saturday, Saudi Arabia said it has evacuated 66 citizens of "brotherly and friendly" foreign countries that included a few Indian nationals from the conflict-hit nation. The evacuation came days after Jaishankar spoke to his Saudi Arabia counterpart. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Sudan. As the third batch of 131 Indians left war-torn Sudan under Operation Kaveri, Karnataka former chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said when he raised his voice seeking help from the government, the foreign minister accused him of doing politics. "Nothing is beyond humanity. Politics too," Siddaramaiah wrote. Siddaramaiah said when he raised the issue of the safety of the Indians in Sudan, he was accused of doing politics. Operation Kaveri was launched on Monday, April 24 to evacuate Indians stranded in Sudan where Sudanese Army and paramilitary groups are fighting. A transit facility in Jeddah will host the Indians being evacuated for the time being before they arrive in India. Indian Navy has also joined Operation Kaveri with INS Teg arriving at Port Sudan on Tuesday with additional officials and essential relief materials. Ahead of the crucial Karnataka Assembly Election, the government's response to the Sudan crisis became a political row as external affairs minister S Jaishankar snubbed Siddaramaiah for 'doing politics' when several lives are at stake. Operation Kaveri: A second C-130 flight reaches Jeddah bringing 135 passengers from Sudan. "Simply appalled at your tweet! There are lives at stake; dont do politics. Since the fighting started on April 14th, the Embassy of India in Khartoum has been continuously in touch with most Indian Nationals and PIOs in Sudan. Plans regarding them have to take into account a very complicated security scenario. The Embassy is in constant touch with the Ministry in that regard. It is grossly irresponsible of you to politicize their situation. No electoral goal justifies endangering Indians abroad," Jaishankar replied to Siddaramaiah's tweet last week. As it opened a volley of criticism from both sides, the external affairs ministry pressed into action, spoke with other countries whose nationals are in Sudan and after a high-level meeting by PM Modi where PM Modi asked the officials to prepare for contingency evacuation, Operation Kaveri was launched. Reacting to a report of a Keralite getting a call from the embassy to be ready to fly, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said Jaishankar was immediately responsive to his request and readily agreed to his suggestion. "I am most grateful. As during Covid, govts are at their best when they put human beings first, ahead of rules," Tharoor tweeted. The Keralite and his pregnant Sudanese wife were stranded in Khartoum and meanwhile, his wife had a miscarriage. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Maria Stepanova, a powerful contempory voice of Russian literature now living in exile in Berlin, has been awarded the prestigious Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding in 2023. Russian author Maria Stepanova(Ekko von Schwichow/schwichow.de) The Russian-Jewish author, whose novel "In Memory of Memory" explores Stalinism and the fall of the Soviet Union, was nominated for the Booker Prize in 2021, was honored in Leipzig on Tuesday for her volume of poetry, "Girls Without Clothes." It is described as a sensitive and highly poetic study of often hidden violence against the female body and the power imbalance that drives this oppression. In a statement, the jury praised the "unconditionality with which she insists on the poetic perception of the world," adding that Stepanova's "work is at the same time an echo chamber of world literature in which Dante, Goethe and Walt Whitman are just as present as Ezra Pound, Inger Christensen and Anne Carson." The prize ceremony was held at the opening of the 30th Leipzig Book Fair on April 25. Presented since 1994 for the "advancement of reconciliation" in Europe, another Russian exile, the journalist Masha Gessen who lives in the US, won in 2019 for her book "The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia." A Russia voice of dissent Somewhat controversially, the 2023 award for the Russian-Jewish poet, novelist and journalist who was born in Moscow in 1972 comes amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine which has been partly carried out under the guise of saving Russian language and culture in the former Soviet state. Stepanova, a harsh critic of Vladimir Putin's regime, has praised Ukraine's resistance to the invasion, calling it a fight of "good against evil" in an interview with German public broadcaster RBB. The Leipzig Book Prize jury noted the importance of a Russian writer willing to speak out. "She helps the non-imperial part of Russia have a literary voice that deserves to be heard throughout Europe," read the jury statement. Ukrainians reject 'good Russians' But Stepanova's award has triggered resentment among some Ukrainians. "I'm fed up with the Germans and their 'good Russians' and don't want to hear anything about Russian culture, because this culture has achieved nothing, only evil," a Ukrainian journalist living in Germany wrote on her Facebook account. She rejected a DW request for further comment. Similar sentiments were expressed across social media. Awarding the prize to a Russian-language author is regarded as an affront to citizens of the besieged country fighting for its territorial integrity, but also for the right to its own culture, its own language, its own historical image and vision of the future. Much Russian literature and music was accordingly banned in Ukraine after the invasion. "I can certainly understand the feelings of my Ukrainian colleagues," Stepanova told DW. "In this situation, which is agonizing for us and immeasurably more terrible for Ukrainians, you can actually hardly imagine a dialogue right now, hardly a table where Russians and Ukrainians would sit together." But the writer who also headed an influential Russian online platform for culture and art, colta.ru, before it was banned, says the Russian language should not be conflated with Putin's imperialist regime. "Ukrainians should also be interested in ensuring that the Russian language does not remain the sole property of those who unleashed this war back in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea," she said. "After all, Russian is also the native language of numerous Ukrainian citizens and an important voice in the unique, diverse choir of Ukrainian culture." Russian language a minefield Maria Stepanova also regards her literary work as a struggle for her language. "I think the Russian language needs us more than we need it," she told DW. "And it is in poetry, which is always a language of the future, that salvation lies." After receiving the Leipzig Book Prize, Stepanova compared the Russian language of today to a "minefield." "As a poet in dark times, I work like a mine defuser," Stepanova told Deutschlandfunk radio. "I dig up language and clean it up, try to give it a new existence." This article was originally written in German. Mani Ratnams magnum opus is slated to get back to the theatres on April 28. Ponniyin Selvans first part was released last year and garnered a lot of praises from the audience and critics alike. Starring a multi star-cast, Ponniyin Selvans second part is slated for a release in two days. The cast of the film is busy with the promotions. From Kochi to Hyderabad to Mumbai, Ponniyin Selvans star cast is traveling everywhere for the promotions of their film. From Aishwarya Rai to Trisha Krishnan to Jayam Ravi, the film stars the A-listers from the industry. A day back, Ponniyin Selvans press meet was held in Mumbai and it was a star-studded evening to remember. Ponniyin Selvan 2: Aishwarya Rai, Trisha Krishnan and others deck up in ethnics for press meet(HT Photos/Varinder Chawla) ALSO READ: Trisha Krishnan decks up in sequined saree for PS2 promotions From Aishwarya Rai to Karthi to Jayam Ravi, everyone dropped by in their best attires for the event. Aishwarya looked stunning as ever in a white and golden salwar suit. The actor, who is an absolute fashionista, picked the glam attire for the evening and looked ravishing as ever. The white long salwar featured golden embroidery work throughout. In a matching dupatta with golden zari work at the borders and a contrasting green necklace, Aishwarya aced the look to perfection. Aishwarya Rai posed for the cameras.(HT Photos/Varinder Chawla) Trisha Krishnan, on the other hand, twinned with Aishwarya in a white and golden six yards of grace. The sheer white georgette saree featured thread work in golden resham threads and a golden zari border. In a matching white sleeveless blouse with a halter neckline, Trisha looked stunning as she sported her brightest smile for the cameras. Trisha Krishnan posed for the cameras.(HT Photos/Varinder Chawla) Sobhita Dhulipala, who is playing the role of Vaanathi in the film, picked an ochre salwar decorated in blue and golden resham threads. She teamed it with a pair of contrasting bright blue sharara set featuring intricate embroidery work in shades of golden, and a blue georgette dupatta with golden zari work. In statement golden earrings and golden bangle, she further accessorised her look for the day. Sobhita Dhulipala posed for the cameras.(HT Photos/Varinder Chawla) Aishwarya Lekshmi decked up in stunning red for the event. The actor looked gorgeous as ever in a red georgette saree with minimal floral patterns in shades of pink throughout the length of the saree. In golden earrings and a bracelet, she smiled with all her heart for the cameras. Aishwarya Lekshmi posed for the cameras.(HT Photos/Varinder Chawla) Which outfit did you like the most? Let us know in the comments. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On April 20, an Indian Army truck carrying food items for an iftar to be hosted by the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) was ambushed by terrorists on the Jammu-Poonch highway. The ensuing firefight left five soldiers dead. The Peoples Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), a terrorist organisation that came up in 2020 and is a proxy of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, claimed responsibility for the attack. PREMIUM With much attention riveted on Kashmir, the sensitivity of the Jammu region is often overlooked. The delicate fabric of Hindu-Muslim relations in this area is vulnerable to the spark of communal discord (ANI) The strike has focused attention on terror in the Jammu region. In December 2022, Dilbag Singh, the director-general of Jammu and Kashmir Police, said, All districts of Jammu have been freed from militancy except one district where three to four terrorists are still operating. We are proactively pursuing them, and we will soon finish these few terrorists as well. While it is true that most districts of Jammu are terror-free, the past two years have seen a resurgence of violence in the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch that needs to be viewed seriously. Last year saw a bomb planted on a bus carrying pilgrims to Katra, a suicide attack on an army post at Darhal in the Rajouri district, and the chilling execution of Hindu civilians in the Dangri village of Rajouri. With much attention riveted on Kashmir, the sensitivity of the Jammu region is often overlooked. The delicate fabric of Hindu-Muslim relations in this area is vulnerable to the spark of communal discord, the reverberations of which can be felt far beyond the boundaries of the Union Territory. The targeting of Hindus in Dangri was one such attempt. Peace in Jammu does not suit Pakistan, which seeks to portray a narrative of unending violence in Jammu and Kashmir due to Indias stringent policies. Pakistan has nurtured this violence in the past decade through regular ceasefire violations, predominantly in the Jammu division. After the ceasefire agreement of February 2021, terrorist activities have surged, and newly created terrorist organisations such as PAFF and the Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force have taken root primarily in the Jammu region. There is a growing likelihood that terrorist groups have established bases south of the Pir Panjal. One reason could be the relocation of RR forces from this area to Ladakh in 2020, which may have caused a thinning out of the counterterrorism grid in the hinterland. In addition, the army is also considering a proposal to reduce the strength of RR battalions from six to four companies, which would further decrease army presence. A straightforward solution is to bolster security forces, and the recent deployment of additional Central Reserve Police Force soldiers in the area is a commendable step. However, the crux of the success lies in enlisting local communities in the fight against terrorism. A glance at the history of terrorism in the Jammu division offers valuable insights. Data from the South Asian Terrorism Portal reveals that in 2001, the districts of Poonch and Rajouri suffered a staggering 1,206 fatalities in terrorism-related incidents. After that, there was a steady decline, with fatalities dropping to 69 in 2007. This success can be attributed to the Line of Control (LoC) fencing, which curtailed infiltration, the induction of additional troops, and the formation of more RR units for the Jammu division. However, the support of the local Gujjar and Bakarwal communities also helped turn the tide. In the early 2000s, exhausted by the exploitation by Pakistani terrorists, the Gujjars and Bakarwals of Poonch and Rajouri decided to fight back. Residents of the Salohi Mohra formed the first all-Muslim Village Defence Committee (VDC) in Rajouri district in December 2000. The locals of Marrah village in Poonch district set up a vigilante organisation, the Pir Panjal Scouts, which was subsequently integrated into the Jammu and Kashmir Polices Special Group III. This group provided invaluable support to the Army during Operation Sarp Vinash, a massive drive launched in 2003 to flush out terrorists from the Hill Kaka area. The women of Marrah and Kulali formed the first all-women VDC in 2004. As local support dried up, so did terrorist hideouts. The Armys robust deployment along the LoC curbed infiltration, restoring a sense of calm to the Jammu division. As a result, in 2012, fatalities in terrorism-related incidents in the Poonch and Rajouri districts dropped to seven (six terrorists and one soldier). As Pakistan seeks to rekindle terrorism south of Pir Panjal, the security forces must intensify their operations to thwart these efforts. In this fight, the support of locals will be indispensable. There has been some angst among the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities over issues such as land ownership and the granting of reservations to Paharis. These must be appropriately addressed. With its intricate web of social and political dynamics, the Jammu region demands a comprehensive counterterrorism approach. Bolstering the security forces is vital, but fostering trust and collaboration with local communities with a vested interest in safeguarding their homeland is equally essential. Lieutenant-General (retired) Deependra Singh Hooda is former commander of the Northern Command, the co-founder of the Council for Strategic and Defence Research and senior fellow, Delhi Policy Group. The views expressed are personal During the Supreme Court (SC) hearings on marriage equality, when senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy rose to make a case for legalising same-sex marriage, she presented a compelling argument that queer people need to be able to avail the same bouquet of rights that is available to heterosexual married couples. For example, she pointed out that queer couples are not able to list their partners as nominees for life insurance. PREMIUM A 2019 survey found that only 24% of Indians support gay marriage. Queer couples continue to experience discrimination in many aspects of their lives at office, home, while looking for accommodation, and the like. Even the most supportive judgment from the SC is unlikely to change that overnight. (AFP) There is no debate that extending these rights to queer couples is a moral imperative. However, as the history of queer rights in the United States (US) shows us, a litigation-based approach that is focused on rights has its limitations. The advances we make in courts will be meaningful and irreversible only when we win not just rights, but also hearts and minds. For good or for bad, there is no alternative to a shift in public opinion. In its absence, victories in court can be shortlived. For example, when courts in two US states Hawaii and Massachusetts favoured gay marriages in 1993 and 2003 respectively, it led to an avalanche of reactionary laws that solidified the institutional barriers against gay couples. There is also a well-researched link between public opinion and judicial pronouncements. For example, a quantitative study of all 5,675 orally argued cases in the US Supreme Court between 1958 and 2008 showed that the court is significantly more likely to issue conservation decisions when the public opinion on the issue is conservative. While we do not have such data for Indian judgments, our SC has made references to the conscience of the society in some of its earlier orders. More importantly, judicially given rights that are not backed by popular support may not change lives in practice. For example, the SCs judgment that allowed entry of women into Sabrimala remained largely unenforceable in the face of vociferous opposition from some groups and the administrations half-hearted implementation. None of this takes away from the importance of the ongoing marriage equality case in the SC, but instead points to other areas that proponents need to focus on. The US marriage equality movement faced a similar moment of reckoning in the mid-2000s. In November 2004, voters in 11 out of 50 states passed laws against gay marriage by an average margin of 70% to 30%. It soon became clear why. A 2005 poll found that 57% of straight Americans believed that their gay counterparts did not share their values. Thats when many gay rights activists realised that they needed to focus on public opinion. They mounted a large public communication campaign that sought to position gay marriage as an act of love and commitment, rather than rights and benefits. To do this, they created different messages and tested their efficacy. For example, it turned out that the most effective ads were those of grandparents of gay and lesbian Americans speaking about their journeys from being uncomfortable with homosexuality to wanting their grandchildren to be able to share the love and commitment that they themselves experienced in their marriages. Today, over three-quarters of Americans support laws that prohibit discrimination against gay couples. This includes most Republican voters, who tend to be more conservative and religious. This gives us confidence that judicial pronouncements including the sanctification of same-sex marriage by the US Supreme Court in 2015 do not run the risk of reversal. We are still some distance from such a popular consensus in India. A 2019 survey found that only 24% of Indians support gay marriage. Queer couples continue to experience discrimination in many aspects of their lives at office, home, while looking for accommodation, and the like. Even the most supportive judgment from the SC is unlikely to change that overnight. However, these hearings are an opportune moment for us to increase our efforts to shift the popular narrative on marriage equality. The court proceedings have led to increased media interest, which, in turn, has brought the topic to everyday discussions. A coalition of changemakers including activists, researchers, philanthropists, artists, and allies need to seize this moment to launch public communication campaigns. We need to bring scientific rigour to these efforts. While the grandparents campaign was effective in the US, we might find a different hook to engage Indian audiences most effectively on the topic. Americas journey shows that meticulous planning and execution by a group of passionate changemakers can overcome even the most deep-rooted barriers erected by governments and supported by conservative co-citizens. Thanks to the efforts of many individuals, India has made remarkable strides on homosexuality in the past decade. Their perseverance in the face of setbacks should give us confidence that true equality is well within sight, irrespective of where the Supreme Court lands for now. Subhashish Bhadra is author of the recently released book Caged Tiger: How Too Much Government is Holding Indians Back The views expressed are personal The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked a debate on whether it can outperform humans in various domains. This has led to several tests being conducted to compare the performance of AI and humans. One such test was conducted on the revolutionary chatbot, ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, to evaluate its ability to solve the toughest competitive exams. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates (AFP) Moreover, questions have been raised about how students can leverage AI to enhance their learning. In light of all of these educational related topics, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates recently spoke positively about the use of AI in teaching children to read and write. On his website Gates Notes, the technologist-turned-philanthropist mentioned about a keynote talk at the ASU+GSV Summit in US' San Diego, where he predicted that within the next 18 months, AI will serve as a teacher's aide, providing feedback on writing. If you just took the next 18 months, the AIs will come in as a teachers aide and give feedback on writing. And then they will amp up what were able to do in math. Our bottleneck in math really is more of how we fit in the overall system and getting that teacher adoption," Gates said in the interview. For this AI-powered tutoring services like ChatGPT Plus may come at a cost, but Bill Gates argues that they will still be more affordable and accessible than traditional human tutoring. "We have very good tools today, that if they were fully adopted, would actually make more progress in math scores than weve made in the last 20 years. So my optimism about edtech in general is not just because of AI. It is a set of things, even before this latest advance, that I think were getting smarter about and getting out into the field, Gates further said. Earlier in March, in a blog post titled The Age of AI has begun, Gates expressed his belief that AI-driven software will deliver on the promise of revolutionizing the way people teach and learn. He hailed the invention of ChatGPT as a revolutionary technological demonstration, similar to his introduction to the graphical user interface in the 1980s. Gates was inspired by his first meeting with the GPT model and has been thinking about the potential of AI in the next 10 years. He further emphasized that the focus should be on making these AI-driven tools available to low-income countries and disadvantaged populations. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Get ready, Pokemon trainers in the US! Niantic and The Pokemon Company are hyping up a major announcement for this year's Pokemon GO Fest. This exciting annual event, celebrated by fans worldwide, features live gatherings in various locations such as North America, Europe, and Japan. After a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19, the highly-anticipated 2022 PO-GO Fest made a triumphant return. Niantic Teases Major Announcement for Annual Event (Image Credit: Niantic) Pokemon GO's developer is now preparing for the 2023 edition of this epic celebration. Niantic has been teasing the latest installment of the annual event on social media, building anticipation among fans. Last year, Pokemon GO, the wildly popular monster-catching mobile game, hosted in-person events in three cities during the summer of 2022. The festivities began in early July with a two-day event in Berlin, Germany, followed by gatherings in Seattle, Washington, and Sapporo, Japan. Stay tuned for more details on this year's Pokemon GO Fest and prepare to catch 'em all! Recently, a mysterious video appeared on the Pokemon GO Twitter account, hinting at an upcoming announcement related to the in-person events for GO Fest 2023. The video cleverly mimics an airport's arrivals and departures board, displaying cities that hosted GO Fest in 2019 and 2022. The 2023 slots remain spinning as the video ends, building anticipation for the reveal of this year's featured cities. Previously, European events took place in German cities like Berlin and Dortmund, while North American events were held in Seattle and Chicago, spanning the West Coast and Midwest. The teaser doesn't reveal any specifics about the 2023 Pokemon GO Fest locations, but past events indicate a wealth of new content for fans, including the chance to catch region-specific Pokemon like Torkoal and Tropius. Last year's grand finale even offered the opportunity to catch the Sky Forme of Gen 4 Mythical Pokemon, Shaymin. Pokemon GO Fest 2023 is expected to take place sometime during the summer. ALSO READ| Niantic faces backlash from Pokemon GO fans over mocking tweet In the meantime, Pokemon GO trainers have plenty to look forward to. Sustainability Week 2023 wraps up on Wednesday, April 26, giving players the chance to catch the recently-added Bounsweet and its evolutions. Niantic has also announced a special Elite Raid event for next month, offering another opportunity to capture the elusive Regidrago on May 13. The Pokemon GO Fest 2023 announcement will further enrich the upcoming content lineup for this beloved mobile game. Twitter CEO Elon Musk recently revealed that he has nearly 24,700 subscribers on the microblogging platform, which earns him at least 80 lakh per month. On Tuesday, he shared a screenshot showing the number of people who pay $4 or 330 per month to subscribe to his exclusive content. Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk attends the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China (File Photo)(REUTERS) The Twitter Creator Subscription programme was launched as part of Musks revamping of the platform since his takeover. It allows digital creators to monetize the platform by selling their content. His tweet explained how the programme can be utilised by creators pushing out quality content. "Content creators may wish to enable subscriptions on this platform. Just tap on Monetization in settings, he wrote. Musk is also the most followed person on Twitter with 136.5 million followers. The Twitter boss Super Followers have access to his discussions hosted on Spaces and will also be privy to ask me anything sessions, he had announced earlier. A Twitter user Alex Cohen did the math and posted that Musk makes roughly $1.2 million a year "in passive income". He added, "It's literally this simple to achieve financial independence and retire early." With 14 Twitter subscribers, Cohen said that he gets $70 per month. "This is almost enough to give every US Citizen a million dollars," he wrote. The Monetization feature is now limited to users in the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, EU, UK, and EEA as per the website. However, irrespective of region, people can choose to be subscribers. You can select the profile icon on the top left corner, tap on Professional Tools at the bottom of the screen to get to the Monetization option and then click on Subscriptions. Recently, his crackdown on legacy blue ticks had caused chaos on the platform as people who chose not to pay for Twitter Blue lost the coveted verified tag. The premium service costs 900 per month for Android and iOS users and 650 per month on the web in India. However, accounts with over a million followers and certain celebrities got their blue check marks back soon after. The paid plan was initiated by Musk to generate new revenue sources aside from advertising. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A video shared by Instagram blogger Sanjay Meriya showing a man from New York has left people amused. The video shows the foreigner explaining why he likes Mumbai better than NYC and that too in Hindi. Chances are, the video will amaze you too. The video shows the man from New York who shared about his experience of living in Mumbai in Hindi.(Instagram/@thespindoclive) Met a random New Yorker who happened to live in India for 5 years! He spoke amazing Hindi and he described his life in Mumbai like king size and in New York as full of hustle! What a guy! Also offered us free tickets to a Broadway show as he is MD there. Andre bhai OP, reads the caption posted along with the video. We wont give away everything the video shows, so take a look: The video was posted back in January. Since being shared, the clip has accumulated more than 3.6 million views and the numbers are only increasing. The share has also collected several likes and comments. People posted various comments while reacting to the video. Heres how Instagram users reacted: Andre passed the vibe check, wrote an Instagram user. I have met this guy too. He knows Gujarati too, commented another. Me when I go to study abroad, expressed a third. Many reacted to the video with laughing out loud emoticons. In September last year, President Droupadi Murmu launched the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025. Now, a seven-year-old girl named Nalini Singh from Una in Himachal Pradesh has come forward to support the cause and donated her pocket money. Her thoughtful gesture impressed the states Governor, Shiv Pratap Shukla, who felicitated her at an event held in DRDA Hall, Una. Pictures from the event were shared on Twitter and caught the attention of many, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who praised her noble contribution. Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla felicitating Nalini Singh at an event in Una, Himachal Pradesh.(Twitter/@mansukhmandviya) Prime Minister Modi quoted a tweet shared by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and wrote, Good gesture. The minister shared a few pictures with the caption, Little Hands, Big Impact! Nalini Singh, a 7-year-old #NikshayMitra from Una, Himachal Pradesh donated her pocket money to support PM TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. Kudos to her! Your little effort can make a big impact on someones life & strengthen our fight for #TBMuktBharat. The pictures shared by the minister show Singh with a Tom and Jerry drawing captioned, TB harega, Una jeetega (TB will be defeated, Una will win). The second picture shows the girl posing for the camera with the governor and other officials. The third picture shows the governor felicitating her in the presence of other officials. Take a look at the tweets below: Prime Minister Narendra Modis tweet accumulated over 1.9 lakh views and the numbers are still increasing. Many even shared their thoughts in the comments section. Heres how people reacted to the tweet: The #NikshayMitra scheme which provides Nutritional, Additional diagnostic, and Vocational support to those inflicted by TB, plays a stellar role in achieving our dream of a #TBMuktBharat by 2025! posted an individual. Another added, Its truly heartwarming to see such young children like Nalini Singh step up and make a difference in their community. Her decision to donate her pocket money towards supporting the #PM #TB #Mukt #Bharat #Abhiyan is truly commendable and serves as an inspiration for all of us. These children give us positive hope for the future of India. Little Mother Theresa, expressed a third. A fourth shared, Wonderful gesture. Great, we salute her gesture, wrote a fifth. Also Read: Man lauded by PM Modi sings Kesariya in seven languages SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Russian missile hit a museum building in a Ukrainian city on Tuesday, killing at least two people and wounding 10 others, part of a relentless barrage that comes as Ukraine is readying its forces for an expected spring counteroffensive. Russia-Ukraine War: A Ukrainian policeman walks next to the local history museum destroyed following Russian missile strike in the town of Kupiansk, Kharkiv region.(AFP) Ukrainian officials said the Russian military used S-300 air defense missiles to attack Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, hitting the museum of local history in the city centre. The Russian military has repeatedly used S-300s, which Ukraine's air defences can't intercept, to attack ground targets. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video from the site that shows the ruined building and emergency responders examining the damage. The terrorist country is doing everything to destroy us completely," Zelenskyy said. Our history, our culture, our people. Killing Ukrainians with absolutely barbaric methods. Zelenskyy said that a museum worker was killed, and Kharkiv regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov later reported that the body of another victim was pulled from under the rubble. Syniehubov said that three people were hospitalised and seven received minor injuries. Kupiansk was captured by Russian forces in the earlier stages of the Russian invasion but was reclaimed by Ukrainian forces in a surprise counteroffensive in September that saw the Russians driven out of broad swaths of the Kharkiv region. A woman also died in Russian shelling of the town of Dvorichna, near Kupiansk, and two civilians were killed in the eastern Donetsk region, according to the Ukrainian presidential office. The governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Serhiy Lisak, said that two people were wounded in Russian heavy artillery fire that hit the cities of Marhanets and Nikopol on Tuesday evening. Both are on the western bank of the Dnieper River just across from the Russia-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which both Russia and Ukraine say has been endangered by shelling in the region. The Ukrainian military is now preparing for a new massive counteroffensive, relying on the latest supplies of Western battle tanks and other weapons and fresh troops that were trained in the West. Zelenskyy on Tuesday met with the top military brass to discuss the battlefield situation as well as prospects for new weapons supplies and the preparation of troops. We have to accelerate the pace of weapons supply because every day of delay is the lives of our soldiers, Zelenskyy said on Facebook. Ukraine's military intelligence chief, Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine released Monday, described the planned counteroffensive as a landmark battle in Ukraine's modern history that would see the country reclaim significant areas. The Kremlin, meanwhile, has regularly reminded the West about Russia's nuclear arsenal in a bid to discourage the U.S. and its allies from ramping up weapons supplies to Ukraine. The U.S. and its NATO allies have denounced Moscow's nuclear rhetoric as dangerous and irresponsible, but noted that they haven't seen any change in Russia's nuclear posture. On Tuesday, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of the Security Council chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin, warned that the world is likely on the verge of another world war and declared that Moscow wouldn't hesitate to use nuclear weapons if it faced an existential threat. Medvedev described atomic weapons as pivotal for Russia's survival, saying that for our country, the nuclear weapons are the joint holding the state together. He vowed that the Kremlin will achieve its goals in Ukraine and pointed at Russia's nuclear doctrine envisaging that it could atomic weapons in response to a nuclear attack or an attack with conventional weapons that threatens the very existence of the Russian state. Our potential adversaries shouldn't underestimate that, Medvedev said. Australia said on Wednesday it would start domestic manufacture of guided missiles by 2025, two years sooner than expected, in a wide-ranging shakeup of defence arrangements to focus on long-range strike capability. For representation purpose.(Representative image/ ANI) On Monday, the Labor government said it accepted the recommendations of a defence review that said China had launched the largest military build-up of any country since the end of World War Two without transparency, and major power competition had "potential for conflict" in the Indo Pacific. The timetable for domestic manufacture of guided weapons, originally set for 2027, will be hastened to within two years by allocating A$2.5 billion to the project, Defence Minister Richard Marles said in media interviews. ALSO READ | AUKUS: US, Australia and UK submarine pact has Beijing fuming That represents a more than doubling in funding, which is being diverted from cancelled defence projects. "That does radically shift the timeframe forward in terms of a manufacturing capability," Marles said in a television interview with Nine on Wednesday. A further A$1.6 billion will be spent on buying longrange strike systems from overseas within two years, he said. The government was already in talks with missile manufacturers Raytheon and Lockheed about establishing production in Australia, Marles added. Discussions were also being held with Kongsberg, the Norwegian manufacturer of the naval strike missile Australia had already agreed to purchase, he said. Pat Conroy, the minister for defence industry, said the review recommended acquiring Kongsberg's joint strike missile which would "allow us to look at manufacturing the Strike Missile family of missiles in Australia". Australia will work more closely with its security ally, the United States, while boosting diplomacy in the region to deter conflict and step up defence ties with India, Japan, South East Asian nations and Pacific islands, the review said. An Iranian court issued a $312.9 million judgement against the United States over a 2017 Islamic State-claimed attack on Tehran, authorities said Wednesday, the latest judicial action between the nations amid their decadeslong enmity. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (via REUTERS) Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, in reporting the decision, offered no direct evidence to support the court's allegation that American officials had any part in the June 2017 attack that killed at least 18 people and wounded 50 others. The assault saw gunmen attack Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeinis mausoleum and the country's parliament, starting an hourslong siege. However, the court ruling comes after the United Nations' highest court in March rejected Tehrans legal bid to free up some $2 billion in Iranian Central Bank assets frozen by U.S. authorities. Meanwhile, U.S. judges have issued rulings that call for billions of dollars to be paid by Iran over attacks linked to Tehran, as well as those detained by Iran and used as pawns in negotiations between the countries. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. The IRNA report described those named in the lawsuit as including the U.S. government, former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, the CIA, the American military's Central Command, the Treasury and others. It said the case before Branch 55 of the Tehran Court of Justice came from the families of three people killed in the June 2017 attack. The reasons for attributing these crimes to the United States ... is based on the central and main role of the government and officials of this country in organizing and directing terrorist groups, the IRNA report said. It cited reliable news and unidentified speeches by American officials as its evidence. During his 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump described Obama as the founder of the Islamic State group. While later calling his comments sarcasm based on Obamas decision to earlier withdraw troops from Iraq, conspiracy theorists across the Middle East, including Irans supreme leader, seized on the remarks. The Islamic State group, a Sunni extremist group born out of al-Qaida's offshoot in Iraq, declared itself a caliphate across the vast territory it held in Iraq and Syria in 2014. A U.S.-led coalition and separately Iran-allied Shiite forces ultimately dislodged the extremists, who became notorious for their gruesome killings of prisoners and attacks abroad. The June 2017 attack in Tehran marked the first time the Islamic State's extremists could penetrate tightly controlled Iran and carry out of a massive assault. The assault shocked Tehran, which largely has avoided militant attacks in the decades after the years-long tumult surrounding the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran a year later executed eight men sentenced to death over the attack. Since the revolution, a series of U.S. court cases have been filed against Iran, particularly over attacks like the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut that killed 63 people. A 1996 U.S. law allows Americans to sue nations identified by the U.S. government as sponsoring terrorism, like Iran, for damages suffered in militant acts linked back to them. Others have sued for being wrongfully imprisoned by Tehran, like Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian. The court decision announced Wednesday comes as tensions between Iran and the U.S. remain high over Tehran's nuclear program enriching uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels under reduced oversight from international inspectors. US President Joe Biden will attend the G7 leaders' summit in Hiroshima, Japan, from May 19-21, the White House announced Tuesday. Biden will also attend a Quad leaders' summit in Sydney, Australia on May 24, according to the statement, bringing together the United States, Australia, Japan and India. (File) On the agenda will be the war in Ukraine, global food and climate crises, and "securing inclusive and resilient economic growth," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. The leaders of the G7 -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States -- are meeting at the site of the world's first nuclear attack, with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida having said he hopes to make nuclear disarmament a key plank of discussions. Biden will also attend a Quad leaders' summit in Sydney, Australia on May 24, according to the statement, bringing together the United States, Australia, Japan and India. The leaders will discuss how they can "deepen their cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, maritime domain awareness, and other issues," Jean-Pierre said. The meeting of the Quad, which positions itself as a bulwark against China's military ambitions in Asia and the Pacific, comes amid heightened tensions in the region, particularly between Washington and Beijing. Donald Trump raped a former American columnist E. Jean Carroll and later mocked her with defamatory comments, a US court hearing a lawsuit against the ex-president was told. Donald Trump's lawyer said that E. Jean Carroll was motivated by money and fame in opening arguments of the much-anticipated proceedings. Donald Trump- E. Jean Carroll Trial: Former US President Donald Trump.(Reuters) E. Jean Carroll earlier claimed that Donald Trump sexually assaulted her in a changing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Donald Trump first asked for advice on buying women's lingerie from the former columnist and then attacked her, she claimed. "The moment they were inside (the dressing room) everything changed. Suddenly nothing was fun. Trump was almost twice her size," E. Jean Carroll's lawyer Shawn Crowley told the court. The trial is not criminal in nature but comes at a time when Donald Trump faces a barrage of legal challenges that could jeopardise his 2024 run for a second presidential term. Just weeks earlier, Donald Trump faced criminal charges related to a hush-money payment made to a porn star Stormy Daniels, becoming the first sitting or former president to have ever been charged with a crime. The former president pleaded not guilty to 34 counts related to the payment made just before the 2016 presidential election. Donald Trump also faces investigation over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia, his alleged mishandling of classified documents and his involvement in US Capitol attack. E. Jean Carroll had first made the allegation in 2019 and sued Donald Trump for defamation but was unable to include the rape claim . Following a new law taking effect in November 2022 in New York that allowed victims of sexual assault a one-year window to sue their alleged abusers decades after attacks, she filed a new suit that accusing Donald Trump of "forcibly raping and groping" her. "He went on the attack. He ridiculed her. He destroyed her," her lawyer said seeking unspecified damages for significant pain and suffering, lasting psychological and pecuniary harms, loss of dignity and self-esteem, and invasion of her privacy. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday denied all involvement in anti-government riots by his supporters in January as he appeared before federal police. Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro greets journalists as he leaves the Federal Police headquarters after testifying about the January 8 riots, in Brasilia, Brazil, April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino(REUTERS) The far-right leader is being investigated for his alleged role in masterminding and instigating the riots that sought the overthrow of his successor, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro, who returned to Brazil in late March after spending three months in the US state of Florida, was questioned for more than two hours at the federal police headquarters in Brasilia, but left in a vehicle with tinted windows without speaking to reporters. Shortly afterward, Bolsonaro's spokesman Fabio Wajngarten told the press that the former president had "repudiated all the unfortunate events that happened in Brasilia" on the day of the riot. One reason the investigation was launched was because two days after the riot, Bolsonaro shared a video to social media of a prosecutor contesting the validity of Lula's victory. Bolsonaro's lawyer Paulo Bueno said the president had been under the effect of medication and had just been admitted to hospital when he shared the video. "The sharing was so accidental that he did not mention it afterward and soon deleted it," said Bueno after the hearing. Lula, who previously led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, narrowly beat Bolsonaro in a fractious, divisive election last October. Thousands of Bolsonaro's supporters stormed Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace in Brasilia on January 8, a week after Lula took office. In scenes reminiscent of the January 6, 2021 riots in Washington by supporters of ex-president Donald Trump -- Bolsonaro's political role model -- they trashed offices, smashed windows, vandalized artworks and called for the military to intervene to oust Lula. Some 1,800 people have been arrested. Numerous investigations Bolsonaro left Brazil for Florida on December 30, two days before he was due to hand over the presidential sash to Lula. On January 13, Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes opened an investigation into Bolsonaro's alleged involvement in the January 8 rampage, in which rioters easily broke through a security cordon. A parliamentary committee of inquiry is due to be set up soon in Congress to shed light on the events of January 8. Former army captain Bolsonaro was previously interviewed by police on April 5 in relation to an accusation that he tried to illegally import millions of dollars worth of jewelry gifted by Saudi Arabia. A source close to the former president told AFP that he denied that accusation. Bolsonaro is the subject of at least 16 other investigations in which, if found guilty, he could be sentenced to prison or disqualified from politics. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will be joining Harvard University later this year, Kennedy School Dean Douglas Elmendorf informed. Jacinda Ardern has been appointed to dual fellowships at the Harvard Kennedy School and will serve as the 2023 Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellow and a Hauser Leader in the schools Center for Public Leadership. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is seen. (Reuters) Jacinda Ardern showed the world strong and empathetic political leadership, Douglas Elmendorf said, adding that the former PM will "bring important insights for our students and will generate vital conversations about the public policy choices facing leaders at all levels. "I'm incredibly humbled to be invited to join Harvard University later this year as 2023 Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellow and as a Hauser Leader in the Kennedy School's Center for Public Leadership," Jacinda Ardern wrote on Instagram. In January, Jacinda Ardern shocked New Zealanders when she announced her decision to step down from the post of the prime minister after more than 5 years. "As leaders, theres often very little time for reflection, but reflection is critical if we are to properly support the next generation of leaders, she had then said. Jacinda Ardern's time will also include a stint as the first tech governance leadership fellow at the school's Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. "The Center has been an incredibly important partner as weve developed the Christchurch Call to action on addressing violent extremism online," Jacinda Ardern said. The former PM said that she planned to return to New Zealand after the fellowships. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Japan's public safety chief has come under fire for his remark that he enjoyed eel rice so much that he kept eating after his agency informed him of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's narrow escape from a pipe bomb attack two weeks ago. A man threw an explosive device at Kishida as the prime minister was about to make a campaign speech(Kyodo News via AP) Koichi Tani, chair of the National Public Safety Commission for Kishida's Cabinet, told a governing party gathering Tuesday that he had the local delicacy in front of him for lunch when the phone rang. I was told that we can eat delicious unagi (eel) rice bowl there, and I was really looking forward to it," Tani told party lawmakers. Just as I was going to dig into it, I got a call from the National Police Agency saying something was thrown at the prime minister in Wakayama," Tani said. But I fully savored and finished my unadon (eel rice bowl), he said, beaming. Tani was in the Shimanto area in the southwestern prefecture of Kochi during the attack about 250 kilometers (150 miles) southwest of Wakayama, where a man threw an explosive device at Kishida as the prime minister was about to make a campaign speech to cheer a local governing party candidate. Kishida was unharmed and the suspect arrested. The attack on the prime minister came less than a year after former leader Shinzo Abe was killed while delivering a campaign speech. The assassination investigation found holes in police security and led to reinforcement of dignitary protection. Experts, however, said the attack on Kishida raised questions if any lessons were learned from the Abe case. Tani's eel comment immediately sparked criticisms and concern at Parliament and on social media about Japan's public safety as the country makes its final preparations for the Group of Seven summit that Kishida will host May 19-21 in Hiroshima. During a parliamentary session, some opposition lawmakers demanded Tani's dismissal. As head of the National Public Safety Commission, (Tani) lacks sense of urgency, said Jun Azumi, an executive of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. Isn't this a negative for the prime minister to have such a person as chief executive responsible for Japan's security?" But Kishida said Tani handled his duties adequately and that he wanted the public safety chief to stay on. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno also defended Tani. He said the public safety chief, who was in Kochi as the disaster prevention minister, juggled both duties and gave adequate instructions to officials responding to the explosion in Wakayama. I also contacted Minister Tani and once again told him to carry out his duties firmly, Matsuno said. Tani later Wednesday told reporters he wanted to highlight eel as a local delicacy of the area he visited, but that he had poorly expressed myself in my brief comment and might have caused misunderstanding and I must take it seriously. With the G-7 summit coming up, I'm aware of the importance of protecting Japans public safety, and I will carry out my duty with a sense of alertness, Tani added. Kishida told a group of foreign media journalists last week that he planned to improve security before G-7. Tani is the latest member of Kishida's government to come under fire over controversial remarks. In November, then-Justice Minister Yasuhiro Hanashi resigned after saying his low-profile job only makes news when he places a stamp approving a death penalty. In February, a Kishida aide was dismissed after making homophobic remarks that he didn't want to live next door to or see LGBTQ people. Controversial social media influencer and businessman Andrew Tates very recent tweet raises several controversial and provocative issues, including his claim that he is promoting a message of self-improvement for young men. Over the past few days, Tate has been making headlines on Twitter with his regular and controversial tweets. For instance, his recent tweet Like getting a girlfriend from a nightclub has caused a stir. Andrew Tate claims ban from social media (Image Credit: Getty Images) Tate, 32, is known for rather misogynistic views, which caused a lot of controversy lately when he expresses opinions on women and their role in social media. Tuesday, the notorious influencer tweeted a long post where he alleges that his ideas and beliefs, which include questioning everything, working hard, and striving for success, have been banned from schools worldwide, and that he was banned from various social media platforms, banking services and apps. I am ban from almost all social media. I am banned from having a bank account. I am banned from Airbnb, Uber, Discord, Spotify. Im banned from basically any app on the appstore. The tweet read. Tate further suggests that the British government is actively working to incriminate me for hate speech, and that his enemies are afraid of him because he is teaching men to be good, to be strong. He contrasts this with the notion that if he were to promote gender transition and encourage men to do the same he would be embraced and promoted, rather than banned and publically persecuted. But if I cut my d**k of and wore a dress and told men to do the same, I wouldnt be seen as poisonous to the minds of youth. I would be PROMOTED and EMBRACED, the former kickboxer expressed. While some may view Tates messages as one of self-improvement and empowerment, others may criticize his ideas of promoting masculinity or reinforcing gender stereotypes, trying to create a hierarchy. Additionally, many may question the validity of these claims regarding being banned from schools or incriminated for hate and debatable speech. However, Tatess tweet raises some important aspects about freedom of speech, censorship, and the role of social media and other virtual platforms in shaping public discourse. It also highlights the ongoing debate around masculinity, gender roles, and the impact of social norms on individual behavior and attitudes. The first case of mpox in Pakistan has been confirmed by the National Institute of Health in the capital Islamabad. On November 28, 2022, WHO named the disease mpox to replace the older term monkeypox. (Representative image/ AP) Read here: WHO to use 'mpox' to denote monkeypox A traveler who recently arrived in Pakistan tested positive and has been isolated at a hospital in the capital, along with other individuals who are being tested, a health ministry press release said. There is no evidence of localized transmission of the viral disease in Pakistan, the NIH added. Mpox - which spreads via close contact and tends to cause flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions - was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization in July 2022. The organisation maintained its alert in November. On Nov. 28 the WHO named the disease mpox to replace the older term monkeypox, citing concerns of stigma and racism associated with the name. In Pakistan, the NIH, provincial health departments, border health services and district health authorities have been advised to ensure surveillance through laboratory diagnostics, contact tracing, rapid identification of suspected cases, and to provide care and isolate cases to prevent transmission. Read here: People want Monkeypox to be renamed as 'Trump 22'; WHO says, 'nothing ridiculous Since May 2022, 22 samples were tested from inspected cases from different parts of the country. Australia will host the Quad Leaders Summit for the first time in Sydney on May 24, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying on Wednesday the grouping is committed to an open and stable Indo-Pacific that is respectful of sovereignty and ensures security for all. Japan hosted Quad Leaders Summit in Tokyo in May 2022. (AP/File) This will be the third in-person Quad Leaders Summit and comes at a time when the members of the grouping are playing a leadership role in the Indo-Pacific through hosting the G20 (India), G7 (Japan), and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC (US). In Sydney, Quad Leaders will discuss how the Quad can work alongside partners and regional groupings, foremost ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum, to strengthen our cooperation and shape the region we all want to live in, said a statement from the Australian Prime Ministers Office that announced the date for the summit. Albanese said: The Quad is committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is respectful of sovereignty and ensures security and growth for all. The statement added, Together, Quad partners are taking practical action to address shared regional challenges, including improving regional health security, advancing critical and emerging technologies, strengthening connectivity, enhancing clean energy innovation and boosting supply chain resilience. The four members of Quad are committed to promoting stability, resilience and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. Australia, India, Japan and the US also share a vision for a region that is governed by accepted rules and norms, where we all can cooperate, trade and thrive, the statement said. The visit of the leaders of India, Japan, and the US to Sydney will build on the meetings Albanese has already had with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Joe Biden. Albanese said the Quad partners are deeply invested in the success of the Indo-Pacific, and added: Leveraging our collective strengths helps Australia advance its interests and more effectively respond to the regions needs. We are always better off when we act together with our close friends and partners. He said that he looks forward to discussing with the Quad leaders how they, alongside important regional institutions such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Pacific Islands Forum, Indian Ocean Rim Association and other regional partners, can shape the Indo-Pacific region we all want to live in. Japan hosted last years Quad Leaders Summit in Tokyo in May 2022. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prince Harry and Prince William "won't exchange a word" at King Charles' coronation as the relationship between the brothers is now "on its knees", a royal commentator claimed. Tensions between the brothers have hit rock bottom following several claims made by Prince Harry against Prince William and his wife Kate, in his tell-all memoir Spare. Prince Harry: Britain's Prince William and Britain's Prince Harry are seen.(AP) At their father's coronation, Prince Harry and Prince William will come face-to-face for the first time since the revelations. Although Prince Harry will attend the coronation alone without his wife Meghan Markle. News Corp columnist Angela Mollard told Sky News, The fact is that apparently this relationship [between Harry and William] is worse than we think. Its just on its knees, the relationship between William and Harry. There is a lot of thought about how they will be positioned at Westminster Abbey during the Coronation. I dont think well see them sitting next to each other. In fact, I dont think they will exchange a word over that day, the columnist added, saying, He won't get back to Los Angeles until 7pm and that is ludicrous. The columnist also said that Prince Harry "criticised his brother in all the most personal areas of his life" in his memoir, adding, From William's point of view. Seriously? Is this man Harry his brother or is he someone who sees him as a content provider? If you think about the detail that was given away in Spare, about William, his temper and the argument they had, about Meghan - he has criticised his brother in all the most personal areas of his life. I don't think there is ever going to be a reconciliation, the commentator asserted. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kate Middleton is "heavily" affected by the ongoing feud between Prince William and Prince Harry, royal author Christopher Andersen claimed. In the earlier years of her marriage to Prince William, Kate Middleton was often be seen sharing the stage with her brother-in-law at public events. Prince Harry: Britain's Prince William and Britain's Prince Harry are seen.(AP) Prince Harry in his memoir Spare reiterated that his relationship with Kate Middleton was special referring to her as the sister he'd never had and always wanted. Christopher Andersen said that the rift between Harry and William has had a significant impact on her but she has been trying to contain its effect. When it comes to acting the part of someone who seems totally unfazed by all the drama swirling around her, Kate really delivers the most convincing performance, he said. She never lets her guard down the way the other three do. But you know, Kate and Harry always had a special bond, and I believe the rift between the brothers weighs on her more heavily than people realise, the royal author added. Christopher Andersen also suggested that Kate Middleton has played a pivotal part in ensuring that the two brothers put their differences aside. Kate certainly had to have talked Prince William into making that appearance with his brother outside Kensington Palace. William certainly was in no mood to make nice with Prince Harry, and by all accounts still isn't. Whenever these four are together, I don't think we have seen anything but forced smiles on all their faces, he said. Meanwhile, royal commentator Shannon Felton Spence said Kate Middleton's relationship with her own siblings has inspired her to seek a reconciliation between Harry and William. Kate, William and Harry were very close. Catherine wants to mend the relationship between the brothers. Her own family is very close and has a tight-knit unit that includes the spouses and children of each of the Middleton siblings. No one enjoys being estranged from people who they care for. Catherine is not on a group chat encouraging everyone to work it out, Shannon Felton Spence said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Queen Consort Camilla's first husband Andrew Parker Bowles will reportedly attend the coronation ceremony of King Charles which is scheduled to be held on May 6. The pair were married for 22 years and have two grown-up children, as well as five grandchildren. The 83-year-old will witness his ex-wife getting crowned at Westminster Abbey. King Charles' Coronation: Britain's Camilla, Queen Consort during her visit to Coram Beanstalk in London.(AFP) Former Tory minister Nadine Dorries said that she was overcome with "joy" when she read that Andrew would be attending the coronation, Daily Mail reported. Praising the former couple, she said that an ex-spouse will always be a part of your life, adding that Andrew attending the historic event will be a moment of pride. Andrew "will ring her up and tell her when she's got something wrong" and that in return Camilla will ring him up and tell him that he's misbehaving, the MP said, adding, "In the many years that have passed since their own separation, Camilla and Andrew have set a positive example not just for to their children, but to the whole country." The minister also said that they have shown that it is possible to live in relative harmony after divorce, saying, "Nothing will make that point clearer than for Andrew to be at the Coronation, bursting with pride." Three of the former couple's grandchildren will hold a key role at the coronation. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A boat with 1,687 civilians from more than 50 countries fleeing violence in Sudan arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the foreign ministry said, the largest rescue effort by the Gulf kingdom to date. Sudan clashes: Saudi Navy Forces and evacuees on the deck of a ship upon arrival at King Faisal navy base in Jeddah, following a rescue operation from Sudan.(AFP) The group was "transported by one of the Kingdom's ships, and the Kingdom was keen to provide all the basic needs of foreign nationals in preparation for their departure," the ministry said in a statement. The Taliban government has killed the alleged mastermind of a devastating suicide bomb attack at the Kabul airport during the chaotic withdrawal of US forces in 2021, American media reported on Tuesday, citing US officials. Taliban security personnel sit on an armoured vehicle outside the Eid Gah mosque in Kabul on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP)(AFP) The bomber detonated among packed crowds at the airport's perimeter as they tried to flee Afghanistan on August 26, 2021. The blast killed some 170 Afghans and 13 US troops who were securing the airport for the traumatic exit. It was one of the deadliest bombings in Afghanistan in recent years, and prompted a wave of criticism of President Joe Biden for his decision to pull American forces out of the country nearly 20 years after the US invasion. The leader of the Islamic State cell that planned the attack was killed by Taliban authorities in recent weeks, a senior US administration official told Politico on condition of anonymity. The official told Politico that the United States had not been involved in the raid, and would not say when it took place or identify the alleged IS member killed, citing "sensitivities." But the official said that the target "was someone who remained a key plotter, an overseer of plotting for ISIS-K," referring to Islamic State Khorasan, the branch of the group operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The official said US intelligence has been working to confirm the killing, and that the Biden administration has held off announcing it until the families of the 13 US troops could be told. "We are not partnering with the Taliban, but we do think the outcome is a significant one," the senior official told Politico. The pullout, ending on August 30, 2021, saw Taliban fighters sweep aside Western-trained Afghan forces in just weeks, forcing the last US troops to mount the desperate evacuation from Kabul's airport. An unprecedented military airlift operation managed to get more than 120,000 people out of the country in a matter of days. Biden has long defended his decision to leave Afghanistan, which critics have said helped cause the catastrophic collapse of Afghan forces and paved the way for the Taliban to return to power two decades after their first government was toppled. Nothing "would have changed the trajectory" of the exit and "ultimately, President Biden refused to send another generation of Americans to fight a war that should have ended for the United States long ago," the White House National Security Council said in a report to Congress earlier this month. A recent Washington Post report citing leaked Pentagon documents said the US believes that since the withdrawal, Afghanistan is becoming a "staging ground" for the Islamic State group. The Taliban and IS have long engaged in a turf war in Afghanistan, and experts have pointed to the jihadist group as the biggest security challenge for the new Afghan government going forward. A UK faith adviser has pointed to the intimidation and coercion of Sikh communities in Britain by fringe Khalistani elements. Colin Bloom, an Independent Faith Engagement Adviser appointed by the UK government, has revealed some key areas of concern within small pockets of Sikh communities in Britain, including the division caused by Khalistani sympathisers. Highlighting the areas of concern, Bloom, in his report called The Bloom Review, pointed to the power struggle within some areas of British Sikh communities over the representation at official levels and recognition as the preeminent Sikh body in the UK. The Narendra Modi government has taken the dishonoring of the Indian national flag by separatists very seriously. The report noted the division between some British Sikh communities caused by Sikh separatists, calling it an extremist fringe ideology within the pro-Khalistan movement. The third area of concern is the activities of some individuals and organisations that are demonstrably fuelling sectarianism and anti-Muslim sentiments, as well as legitimising discriminatory and misogynistic behaviour," it said. Bloom noted that the pro-Khalistani elements associated themselves with mainstream Sikh communities but their intimidatory and subversive methods are considered by most to be alien to the basic tenets of the Sikh faith. Respondents belonging to the British Sikh community have warned the government that not distinguishing extremist agendas of subversion from mainstream Sikh communities would result in the UK turning a blind eye towards religious extremism. During the evidence gathering for the report, the reviewer found repeated cases of individuals being intimidated and threatened by Khalistani elements for openly standing against them. The difficulty in Sikhs speaking out against the radicals was also noted in the 2019 report for the Commission for Countering Extremism, The changing nature of activism among Sikhs in the UK today when some potential respondents reportedly refused to participate because they feared backlash and others chose anonymity. The UK government appointed an Independent Faith Engagement Adviser in October 2019 to provide recommendations on how to engage with faith groups in England. The review aimed to identify ways to support faith organizations, promote acceptance and cooperation between faith groups, tackle harmful practices, and promote values such as freedom of speech, democracy, the rule of law, and equality. Additionally, the review aimed to improve the faith literacy of the Civil Service and ensure it fulfils its role under the Public Sector Equality Duty. The report was released weeks after Sikh extremists pulled down the Indian national flag at Indian High Commission in London amid the crackdown on now-arrested radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh and his supporters back in India. While the UK government didn't reveal the details of those arrested for trespass citing privacy laws, the Delhi Police named three Sikh extremists in the FIR Avtar Singh aka Khanda, Gurcharan Singh and Jasvir Singh -- as the principal suspects. The report also interestingly notes that the territorial claim by pro-Khalistani elements for a separate Sikh homeland claim does not include the part of the Punjab located in Pakistan. "It is not entirely clear if the motivation for these extremists is faith-based or not," it said. Bloom said the Sikh extremists, who form a tiny minority, attract disproportionate amounts of attention and stoke divisive sentiments in sectors of Sikh communities, mostly, as per some respondents, because some of these groups or individuals have sought to artificially inflate their influence and legitimise dubious positions or tactics by using the Sikh label to lobby political bodies. By circumventing democratic order, some groups compete for power by masquerading as human rights activists, presenting a false appearance of legitimacy, it added. The report also notes with concern the use of social media by Khalistani elements and their sympathisers to incite violence and hatred towards Muslims, Hindus and even other Sikhs who disagree with the minority extremist ideology. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ukraine is working with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and American companies to collect evidence of war crimes by Russians, such as geolocation and cellphone information, senior officials said on Tuesday. Multiple rocket launchers fire during Belarusian and Russian joint military drills at Brestsky firing range in Belarus.(AP) Ukrainian authorities are collecting digital information from battlefields and Ukrainian towns ravaged by the war since Russia invaded the country last February, said Alex Kobzanets, a FBI special agent who previously worked as a legal attache for the agency in Ukraine. "Collection of that data, analysis of that data, working through that data is something the FBI has experience working through," Kobzanets said at the RSA cybersecurity conference in San Francisco. That work includes looking into cellphone information, forensic analyses of DNA samples, as well as analysis of body parts collected off battlefields, he said. "The next step is working with national U.S. service providers, and transferring that information...obtaining subscriber information, obtaining geolocation information, where possible," Kobzanets added. The work reflects deepening collaboration between the U.S. and Ukraine on the cyber front, where Russia has been a common adversary for both nations. The Russian government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The agent added that the U.S. FBI had for the past year and a half been working on helping Ukraine to also identify Russian collaborators and spies operating in Ukraine and the Russian forces that were operating outside of Kiev as the invasion was happening. U.S. security companies and officials have been a major partner of Ukraine in its efforts to fend off Russian cyberattacks, which it has battled since at least 2015. Illia Vitiuk, head of the Department of Cyber Information Security in the Security Service of Ukraine, said that while the number of Russian attacks against Ukraine has grown in the last few years, in recent months they have become more targetted. "Its very difficult to prove in a criminal case, who is responsible," said Vitiuk. "Its very important for us to get as much information about Russian cybercriminals...because we collect all this information and put it into our criminal cases." We do believe that this case about cyber war crimes is something new, he added. This is where we have seen the first full scale cyber war. As US President Joe Biden launched his 2024 re-election campaign, he possibly set the stage for a potential rematch of his showdown four years ago with Donald Trump. Early polling shows that if this is the case, it will be a close contest, just like 2020. Former US president Donald Trump (left) and US President Joe Biden (AFP) Freedom. Personal freedom is fundamental to who we are as Americans. There's nothing more important. Nothing more sacred. That's been the work of my first term - to fight for our democracy. To protect our rights. To make sure everyone in this country is treated equally. And that everyone is given a fair shot at making it, Joe Biden said. Joe Biden announced his campaign after much speculation that he may choose not to run for the post as he is already the oldest person to hold the office. Other potential challengers from his party include California Governor Gavin Newsom and Illinois Governor J.B Pritzker, while Marianne Williamson and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., have already announced their bids against him. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, 76, faces challenge from prospective Republican candidates like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley and Tim Scott. His main challenger seems to be Ron DeSantis but polls show that Donald Trump could easily defeat DeSantis by double-digits. Donald Trump currently stands to win his party's nomination by anywhere between 15 and 35 points based on current polling. Pollster Rasmussen delivered Joe Biden's best approval ratings to date in some of their recent polls but predicted him loss by near-double digits to either Donald Trump or Ron DeSantis. Joe Biden's disapproval rating is at 56 percent in a recent Quinnipiac University poll while Donald Trump's disapproval rating is two points higher, at 58 percent. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Two Russian officials- State Duma deputies with the ruling United Russia party- died on Sunday, Newsweek reported. Nikolay Bortsov, 77, who served as a State Duma deputy since 2003 and State Duma Deputy Dzhasharbek Uzdenov, 57, died on the same day, the report claimed. Russia-Ukraine War: Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen. (AFP) This comes as a number of prominent Russians have died in unexplained or unusual circumstances since Russian president Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Nikolay Bortsov had previously been hit by sanctions from the United States and other Western countries following Ukraine invasion. He was one of Russia's wealthiest government employees with an estimated net worth of $550 million, the report claimed, adding that he was included by Forbes in 2021 in a ranking of Russia's 100 richest federal workers. He was sentenced in absentia in Ukraine to 15 years in prison alongside 19 other members of the Russian State Duma for voting to recognize Russian-installed authorities in Donbas. Dzhasharbek Uzdenov was a member of Russia's house committee on ecology, natural resources and environmental protection. A hard day. Death snatched another comrade from our ranks. Jasharbek (Dzhasharbek) Borisovich Uzdenov, a deputy of the State Duma, the former Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic died after a severe and prolonged illness, Vladimir Vasilyev, head of the United Russia faction, said, adding, Sensitive, attentive, strong-willed, always ready to helpthis is how we will remember Jasharbek Borisovich. He fought for a long time, but, unfortunately, the disease turned out to be stronger. We will miss him very much. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Will 2024 US elections get fought on artificial intelligence battleground? After President Joe Biden announced his intent to run for the Presidential race the Republican National Committee (RNC) launched its first attack against the Democratic Party leader with an AI powered ad. Unprecedented in the US electoral history the ad titled What if the weakest president weve ever had were re-elected? imagined a dystopian world caused by Biden at the helm of affairs for the second. After President Joe Biden announced his intent to run for the Presidential race the Republican National Committee (RNC) launched its first attack against the Democratic Party leader with an AI powered ad. The 30-seconds video created using generative AI tool creates images and videos looking similar to those of webseries Last of Us. It starts with images of Biden and Kamala Harris taking oath followed by voice-over indicating that after weakest US President US was re-elected an emboldened China attacked Taiwan, Financial institutions crumbled, insurgents attacked attacked the borders and army was forced to takeover American streets as the city had supposedly been overtaken by crime and fentanyl. RNC has confirmed to Axios that it's their first AI generative video. Although the video comes with a faint disclaimer in the top-left corner noting that the ad was "built entirely with AI imagery," there's a dead giveaway that it's not a real photo of Biden and Harris both of the smiling. The video that's based on manipulation, propaganda and false narrative setting has triggered a major controversy and set the alarm bell ringing on how AI will only fuel an election battle full deep fakes. Recent developments in AI confirm that fake photos and deep fake videos by superimposing fabricated audio over an images will make it very difficult for After fake images of Trump's arrest went viral AI generated video of Biden, Trump slinging insults at each other while they play a video game made the rounds on TikTok and Instagram. AI earlier was a niche tool which required experienced hands, however, after the invent of ChatGPT has become an easy to spread fake news and manipulate the voter mindset. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Indian-American Neeli Bendapudi, the president of Penn State University, will be receiving the American Immigration Council's 2023 Immigrant Achievement Award, the Council stated in a press release on Monday. Neeli Bendapudi was raised in India and she moved to the University of Kansas in the United States for her doctoral studies. She planned to launch her career in academics as an educator. (Twitter/@immcouncil) The award recognises "individuals or organisations that exhibit a commitment and dedication to our heritage as a nation of immigrants and to the struggle for fair and humane immigration policies in the United States, it said. The award will be presented at the DC Immigrant Achievement Awards reception on April 28 in Washington. Executive Director of the American Immigration Council Jeremy Robbins said, For nearly 30 years, Penn State President Dr Neeli Bendapudis career in higher education has been committed to student success, fostering inclusive excellence, and creating opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to thrive. She is a values-driven leader who believes strongly in the transformative power of higher education and its impact on individuals and communities. He further said, As an immigrant and trailblazer, she has spent years navigating the lack of diversity in leadership and the challenges confronting minority groups. This year we are thrilled to commemorate Dr. Bendapudi for embodying the diverse contributions generations of immigrants bring to this nation and as a testament to the enduring power of our countrys immigrant history. Who is Neeli Bendapudi? Neeli Bendapudi was raised in India and she moved to the University of Kansas in the United States for her doctoral studies. She planned to launch her career in academics as an educator. As per the release, Bendapudi is the first woman and the first person of colour who has served as Penn State Universitys president where she oversees the universitys modern land-grant mission of teaching, research, and public service across twenty-four campuses and the online Penn State World Campus. Bendapudi did her Bachelors in English and her MBA from Andhra University in Visakhapatnam, India. She then did her doctorate in Marketing from University of Kansas. Bendapudi was appointed the 19th President of Penn State University in 2022. Earlier, she was the President of University of Louisville from 2018 to 2021. According to the release, Under her leadership, the university [of Louisville] recruited its largest and most diverse freshman class, reached record enrollment levels, improved four-year graduation rates, increased annual sponsored research, improved the university's financial stability, and stabilized its health system. Bendapudi, after joining Penn State, has focused on five major goals for the institution. These include enhancing student success; growing the Universitys interdisciplinary research excellence; increasing Penn States land-grant impact; fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; and transforming the Universitys internal operations. The release states, She is guided by a commitment to academic preparedness that equips students for life-long professional and personal success, a dedication to fostering a sense of belonging for all members of the Penn State community, and a focus on access and affordability as a key component of the Universitys land-grant mission. Bendapudi has been recognised and awarded several times for her contributions on national and university levels. Diverse Issues in Higher Education had referenced Bendapudi among 25 women who had made a difference in the Academy. Louisville Business First had mentioned Bendapudi among the Most Admired CEOs for strong leadership exhibited during a year of unprecedented challenges. Neeli Bendapudis reaction to the award On the news of her receiving the award, as per the press release by the American Immigration Council, Bendapudi said, I am deeply honoured to be named the recipient of this years Immigrant Achievement Award and equally humbled to be among such prestigious past honorees, each of whom reflects the importance and impact of immigration within our nation. The United States is a nation of immigrants, and I am merely one of many who have come to this country in search of Americas golden door to opportunity and prosperity. She further added, As the president of one of our nations renowned land-grant universities, I am committed to expanding access to the transformative power of higher education for all students who are ready to learn including those who, like me, have come to this country to seek their degrees in the hopes of building a better life for themselves and a brighter future for their families. Immigration, truly, is a cornerstone of the American dream, and I am grateful to the American Immigration Council for its work to help make this dream a reality for immigrants from across the globe. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Half Moon Bay, CA (94019) Today A steady rain early...then remaining cloudy with a few showers. Thunder possible. High 54F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Thunder possible. Low 49F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Ortiz brings 16 years of experience with Four Seasons, most recently joining from Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Vail, Colorado. Excited to trade his snow boots for sandals, Ortiz is delighted to have a change of scenery, from the rugged snow-capped Rockies to the pristine white sand beach and turquoise waters of Paradise Island. Ortiz joined Four Seasons in January 2005 as a server at the Hampshire property in the United Kingdom. He has worked in various roles, advancing in his career along the way, from Restaurant Supervisor to Restaurant and Bar Manager to Assistant Food and Beverage director. He served as Director of Food and Beverage at Four Seasons Resort Whistler, and at Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco, before being promoted to Resort Manager at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail. Ortiz holds a degree in Hotel Management from CETT University of Barcelona in Spain, as well as a degree in Nutrition and Wellbeing from The University of Aberdeen in Great Britain. 2020 saw unprecedented swathes of holiday cancellations. The year COVID-19 hit was a tough one for hospitality and tourism firms, who were forced to make swift decisions about changes to their refund policies. However, no one could clearly envisage how those crisis-induced changes would impact customer loyalty and trust. In the first study of its kind, Dr Daniel Leung and Ms Christine Seah of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University looked at customer reactions to generous or self-serving refund policy changes, and whether these are shaped further by the magnitude of changes and the format in which refunds are offered. This inspiring work will help industry practitioners to optimise refund policy strategies in the future. Without question, the COVID-19 pandemic was a brutal shock to the hotel industry. Confronted with unimaginable numbers of cancellation requests and refund claims, for the main part the industry reacted sympathetically to customers. Some hotels, such as Hilton and Premier Inn, started allowing refunds on previously non-refundable purchases during the crisis, and Expedia and Travelodge offered customers cash or vouchers to be used on future bookings. Helping consumers in need during crises is considered to be an altruistic behaviour, even though the changes may result in financial losses, say the researchers. However, a few companies took a more selfish path. EasyJet and British Airways, for instance, breached cancellation promises and denied their customers any refunds during the pandemic period. Negatively changing refund policies from fully refundable to partially or non-refundable might go some way to limit a firms financial losses in the short term, but it is a rude violation of the initial promises made to customers. According to the researchers, these actions are likely to reduce consumers trust of the company and even their intention to repurchase products from that same company in the future. How did these two strategically distinct crisis-induced reactions affect customer behaviours and attitudes? Until now, the effect of the polarity of change, that is, whether refund policy changes are positive or negative for consumers, has been left unmapped. The researchers reasoned that if one hotel behaves egoistically and changes a policy to benefit themselves only, consumers would perceive that policy change as an unfair business practice. They predicted that this opportunistic behaviour would decrease consumers trust and lower their intention to repurchase products from that company. Conversely, positive changes should increase trust and repurchase intentions. Imagine your feelings on learning that you are to receive a refund, only to then find out that the refund is small, or that it comes in the format of a voucher that can only be used within the next two months. Would that token gesture be satisfactory? Previous work has considered refund policy as a one-off or static event, without fully considering the detailed characteristics of changes. Another objective of this study was to examine the effects of the interplay of the polarity of change in refund policy, the magnitude of change in refund policy, and refund format on consumers trust of the company and repurchase intention, explain the researchers. Larger price reductions can boost consumers purchase intention. After all, who wouldnt prefer a 30% over a 15% discount? Indeed, larger magnitude changes can be exponentially beneficial for companies. One study shows that consumer spending in a store with a larger magnitude of change increases by 12%, while the corresponding figure in a store with a smaller magnitude of change increases by just 1%, report the researchers. This magnitude-of-change effect might also translate to a refund policy context. Meanwhile, refund format can also affect customer responses, whereby cash refunds are generally preferred over credit refunds. This research complements existing literature by demonstrating how consumers react differently when a company changes its refund policy in various forms, say the researchers. Clues from past work indicate that a large magnitude of change causes a strong contrast effect that drives the intensity of customer responses, be it in a positive or negative direction, whilst a small magnitude of change results in an assimilation effect that dampens customer responses. For companies that implement a negative change in refund policy, the researchers hypothesised that a large magnitude of change would decrease consumer trust and intention to repurchase products more than a small change. If a company changes its refund policy positively, specify the authors, and the magnitude of change is high (low), consumers trust in that company and intention to repurchase products from the same company will be significantly higher (lower). In two elegant studies, participants were asked to imagine that they had made holiday plans to visit New York but were obliged to cancel their hotel reservation due to a health crisis. In study 1, the researchers looked at the effect of the polarity and magnitude of changes in refund policy. For this, 144 participants read a set of emails that were carefully constructed to reflect either a positive or negative policy change, and either a large (100%) or small (50%) magnitude of change. For example, a negative change of large magnitude was reflected by an initial booking email explaining that a refund would be possible, followed by a cancellation email stating that no refund was offered due to the crisis. In study 2, 319 participants were shown emails that reflected either a positive or negative change, as well as whether the 50% refund that was offered would be in the form of cash or credit. In both studies, trust in the company and repurchase intention were assessed using a questionnaire. As expected, positive changes to refund policies resulted in higher levels of consumer trust and repurchase intentions, whilst negative changes decreased trust and loyalty. The execution of self-beneficial actions during crises reduces consumers trust of a company and their intention to repurchase products from that same company in the future, report the researchers. This means that hospitality practitioners should expect consumers brand evaluation and future behaviour to deteriorate when they change their refund policies negatively in response to a health crisis. For companies that made a negative policy change that was large in magnitude, the detrimental impacts of negative change in refund policy on consumers trust and loyalty were magnified. This means that companies who enact negative changes should be careful to do so gently, at modest levels. In contrast, when a refund policy is changed positively and mildly, the degree of gain becomes less evident, say the researchers. In other words, if companies are prepared to bear financial losses to favour consumers during crises, they should make sure that those positive changes are large in magnitude. Finally, refund format impacted the influence of polarity of change in refund policy. For both negative and positive policy changes, cash refunds amplified the impact of the polarity of change in refund policy. Namely, when companies that negatively changed their policy offered cash refunds, trust and repurchase intention were lower than when credit was offered. When companies that positively changed their policy offered cash refunds, trust and repurchase intentions were higher than when credit was offered. Hence, to mitigate losses, companies that negatively change their refund policy should offer credit refunds, whereas companies that make positive changes should offer cash rather than credit refunds. This will further enhance consumers trust, as well as customers intention to repurchase products from the same company in the future, explain the researchers. Whilst refund policies are widely embraced by hospitality and tourism business, research in this area has been lacking. This long-awaited investigation casts light on what practitioners can expect to see when they make strategic changes to refund policies. As well as keeping their heads above water, companies must strive to retain customer trust and loyalty in times of crisis. This fascinating work shows how consumers process and react to policy change, and could therefore prove to be immeasurably useful in strategic decision making about refund policy. This research generates insights into how to adequately change refund policies in order to mitigate additional losses in the future, conclude the authors. Leung, Daniel and Seah, Christine (2022). The Impact of Crisis-induced Changes in Refund Policy on Consumers Brand Trust and Repurchase Intention. International Journal of Hospitality Management, Vol. 105, 103272. About PolyU's School of Hotel and Tourism Management For over 40 years, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has refined a distinctive vision of hospitality and tourism education and become a world-leading hotel and tourism school. Ranked No. 1 in the world in the "Hospitality and Tourism Management" category in ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022 for the sixth consecutive year, placed No. 1 globally in the "Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services" category in the University Ranking by Academic Performance in 2021/2022 for five years in a row, rated No. 1 in the world in the "Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism" subject area by the CWUR Rankings by Subject 2017, and ranked No. 1 in Asia in the "Hospitality and Leisure Management" subject area in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022 for the sixth consecutive year, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field, exemplifying its motto of Leading Hospitality and Tourism. The School is driven by the need to serve its industry and academic communities through the advancement of education and dissemination of knowledge. With a strong international team of over 90 faculty members from diverse cultural backgrounds, the SHTM offers programmes at levels ranging from undergraduate degrees to doctoral degrees. Through Hotel ICON, the School's groundbreaking teaching and research hotel and a vital aspect of its paradigm-shifting approach to hospitality and tourism education, the SHTM is advancing teaching, learning and research, inspiring a new generation of passionate, pioneering professionals to take their positions as leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry. Pauline Ngan Marketing Manager +852 3400 2634 Hong Kong Poly The global business travel industry continues working its way toward a forecasted $1.158 trillion* in travel spending in 2023 but economics only tell part of the story. Even as the industry gains momentum, new developments and approaches are anticipated to shape the path ahead. For the travel industry, New Distribution Capability (NDC) marks a paradigm-shifting approach in airline retailing, access to fares, and what it means for travel buyers and the business travel landscape at large. Rebuilding the travel and hospitality industry workforce and fostering the next generation of industry professionals is also underway. And at a time when so much has changed, so has the state of the business travelers experience, especially when faced with disruption. These three key drivers are explored in the Q2 2023 Business Travel Outlook Poll released today by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the premier association serving the worldwide business travel industry. GBTA surveyed over 800 business travel buyers, suppliers, and industry professionals around the world, marking the 31st poll in its long-running series. Business travel is constantly evolving, and our latest GBTA poll highlights the top-of-mind developments and issues for our industry and business travelers alike. Implementing new retailing models, rebuilding our workforce, and elevating the employee travel experience are some of the key drivers we are seeing that are shaping the collective future of business travel, said Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA. Here are some of the key takeaways from this latest GBTA poll: The Evolution of Airline Retailing Survey respondents were asked about a U.S. airlines announcement to travel agencies that over 40% of its content and new offerings would only be available through modern retailing channels including NDC. Of those surveyed, 47% say they do not support this effort to expedite NDC. A third (34%) say they did support it, and 20% arent familiar with NDC. support this effort to expedite NDC. A third (34%) say they did support it, and 20% arent familiar with NDC. Specific to travel buyers, 60% say they do not support the effort compared to 36% of travel suppliers and travel management companies (TMCs). Regionally, respondents in Europe (44%) and APAC (43%) are more likely to support the effort versus those in North America (29%). Is NDC implementation moving too fast? Over half of travel buyers (53%) say some airlines are trying to roll out NDC too quickly and have not given third-party intermediaries enough time to develop the needed technology and processes. A third of buyers (29%) say intermediaries have had enough time and should be ready to efficiently handle and service NDC bookings. Travel buyers in North America (59%) are more likely than those in Europe (42%) to feel airlines are moving too fast. European buyers (49%) are more likely than North America buyers (23%) to feel intermediaries should be ready by now. Travel managers in a three-way split regarding NDC impact One-third (36%) of buyers say their travel program has been negatively impacted by moves from carriers overall to implement NDC, whereas 29% say it has not been impacted. An additional third (28%) say they are unaware of any impact, and only 6% say NDC efforts by carriers have positively impacted their travel program. A view of the early days of NDCs implementation Half of buyers (48%) say they have not yet started to implement NDC. Among travel buyers, a few say they have experienced some (7%) or many (7%) challenges in their NDC process, while even fewer say their transition has largely gone smoothly (3%) or without any challenges (1%). However, one in four buyers (25%) say its too early to assess how their implementation is going. Six in 10 buyers (61%) say they have not, nor intend to, budget for additional NDC-related servicing costs, while 23% say they havent done so but their budgeting process is underway. One-third of intermediary stakeholders cite NDC implementation challenges Among intermediary stakeholders, including TMCs, online booking tools (OBTs), global distribution systems (GDSs), one-third (36%) say they have experienced at least some or many challenges in distributing NDC content to their corporate clients. More engagement is needed among NDC stakeholders Eight in 10 travel buyers surveyed (81%) say they need more information on NDC. European buyers (29%) are more likely than those in North America (15%) to say they do not need more NDC information. Buyer sentiment is mixed when it comes to how their TMC is preparing them for NDC. Half of buyers (50%) do not feel their TMC has sufficient NDC information and/or is not sharing their plans for implementation Rebuilding the Business Travel Workforce Six in 10 (58%) of all respondents report they continue to experience labor shortages and/or recruitment challenges in some capacity. However, a third (36%) say they are not experiencing significant difficulties in the areas of staffing or recruitment. The positions respondents say their company most need include Technology Development: 31%; Entry Level / Operations: 26%; Sales and Account Management: 24%; and Travel Consultants / Agents: 17%. When asked which industry sectors have the biggest staffing challenges, respondents most frequently cite hotels (59%), TMCs (43%), restaurants (37%), airports (28%), and aviation (27%). Top barriers to building a sustainable industry workforce When asked to rank five of the biggest barriers facing the global business travel industry in achieving a robust, diverse, and sustainable workforce, the top selections are unattractive salary and benefits (69%); lack of qualified candidates (50%); hiring and training new professionals from outside the industry (46%); unappealing job requirements (46%); and lack of investment in retaining and talent and professional development (46%). The Current State for Business Travelers and the Industry Concerns and realities of the business traveler experience When asked to rate their recent business travel experience, most respondents say it was somewhat (31%) or very (29%) pleasant. However, half of those surveyed say concerns about travel disruptions such as canceled or delayed flights, long security lines, crowded airports, or long bag check lines has somewhat (41%) or greatly (9%) reduced their willingness to travel for work. Travel managers most frequently hear business traveler complaints from employees about delayed (76%) or canceled (72%) flights, long call wait times with TMCs (62%) or travel suppliers (52%), and poor hotel service quality (46%). The latest status of global travel spending and bookings Travel buyers estimate their company's current domestic business travel bookings have returned to 72% of 2019 pre-pandemic levels (up from 67% in GBTA's January 2023 poll.) Buyers also estimate their company's current domestic business travel spend is 74% of 2019 levels (up from 68% in January.) business travel have returned to 72% of 2019 pre-pandemic levels (up from 67% in GBTA's January 2023 poll.) Buyers also estimate their company's current domestic business travel is 74% of 2019 levels (up from 68% in January.) International business travel also continues to make its return. Travel buyers estimate their international bookings have recovered to 63% (up from 54% in January), and their current spending is back to 66% (up from 58%). Methodology: A total of 803 responses were received from across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific for the poll which was fielded April 10-21, 2023. View the complete Q2 poll results and key highlights here, as well as the full series of GBTA business travel industry recovery polls. About the Global Business Travel Association The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world's premier business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with operations on six continents. GBTA's members manage more than $345 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA delivers world-class education, events, research, advocacy, and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. Visit www.gbta.org and follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. About the GBTA Foundation The mission of the GBTA Foundation, the US 501c3 charitable arm of GBTA, is to help the global business travel industry create a positive impact and a better future for people and the planet. The GBTA Foundation focuses on the strategy and execution of GBTA's global sustainability programs, supporting initiatives related to climate action; diversity, equity and inclusion; and other talent-related topics via education, research and advocacy. Debbie Iannaci GBTA Global Communications, PR & Research +1 305 301 7057 GBTA Yesterday, Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest lodging franchisors, kicked off its 67th annual convention in Las Vegas with more than 6,000 hotel owners, general managers, vendors and Choice associates in attendance. The convention comes on the heels of a landmark 2022 for Choice, with step-function growth bolstered by the acquisition of Radisson Hotels Americas. The company continues to solidify its moves upmarket into the upscale and upper upscale segments, creating more opportunity for franchise owners to capture higher-income consumers. The three-day conference is designed to showcase the ways Choice franchisees will remain "unstoppable" as the company continues to be the challenger within the upscale market while bolstering its leadership position in extended stay, midscale and economy hotels. Choice Hotels President and CEO Patrick Pacious opened the convention with a keynote address highlighting the company's favorable position in the current high-travel environment. "The entire industry sees us differently," Pacious told Choice Hotels franchisees at the Corporate Business Session. "We are now the challenger in upscale, we own extended stay, and we keep stealing share in midscale and upper midscale For two straight years, the new hotels we've brought in are, on average, performing at twice the revenue of the hotels that we've exited. Our model is different. We're not chasing growth at all costs. Our entire system is getting better together." Throughout the week, keynote speeches, educational sessions, brand sessions, a trade show and more will help franchisees harness the value that Choice is creating at an enterprise level, understand key travel trends and position themselves to harness the value of the Choice system amid an uptick in travel. Choice provides franchisees with the tools they need to succeed, offering all 22 brands a suite of proprietary cutting-edge cloud-based solutions, including the choiceADVANTAGE property management system, the choiceEDGE guest reservation platform, and ChoiceMAX, a mobile-friendly revenue management tool that continuously adapts to changes in the market using real-time data. Additionally, the award-winning Choice University educational platform delivers customized and always evolving learning and development resources. As Choice's portfolio moves upmarket amid a resurgence in travel, the company is prioritizing innovative programs, amenities and loyalty opportunities, including the introduction of a new Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earlier this month and the launch last month of a national multichannel marketing campaign starring award-winning actress and multi-hyphenate entertainer Zooey Deschanel. The company also continues to integrate sustainable business practices, including the implementation of programs like Commitment to Green and Room to be Green. Pacious emphasized to Choice franchisees that their properties are particularly well-positioned to capitalize on what he called the "5 R's" now driving an increase in travel demand. "Rising wages, retirements, remote work, road trips, and rebuilding America," Pacious said. "The Choice brands and your hotels are in the sweet spot for all of these trends... At Choice, we've always been united by our shared belief that tomorrow will be even better than today. Together, we are going to build that better tomorrow." About Choice Hotels Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With nearly 7,500 hotels, representing nearly 630,000 rooms, in 46 countries and territories as of September 30, 2022, the Choice family of hotel brands provides business and leisure travelers with a range of high-quality lodging options from limited service to full-service hotels in the upper upscale, upper mid-scale, midscale, extended-stay, and economy segments. The award-winning Choice Privileges loyalty program offers members a faster way to rewards, with personalized benefits starting on day one. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com. 2023 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved. SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc. Forward-Looking Statement This communication includes "forward-looking statements" about future events, including anticipated hotel openings. Such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including construction delays, availability and cost of financing and the other "Risk Factors" described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, any of which could cause actual results to be materially different from our expectations. Addendum This is not an offering. No offer or sale of a franchise will be made except by a Franchise Disclosure Document first filed and registered with applicable state authorities. A copy of the Franchise Disclosure Document can be obtained through contacting Choice Hotels International at 1 Choice Hotels Circle, Suite 400, Rockville, MD 20850, [email protected]. 2023 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved. The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region offers a host of diverse travel experiences: idyllic nature reserves like Mount Fuji and Tasmania; the sandy beaches of Jeju-do and Bondi; sprawling megalopolises such as Singapore and Hong Kong; and the iconic skyline of Sydney. Its no surprise, therefore, that travellers are flocking to the region in greater numbers. Growth in APACs travel and tourism industry is expected to outpace that of Europe and the US thanks to rising disposable incomes and increasing international arrivals. In a fiercely competitive environment, successful hoteliers adapt their marketing and distribution strategies to changing conditions The last year before COVID-19, which remains a reference point for travel, a quarter of the worlds international tourists touched down in APAC and half of the top 10 most visited cities were located in the region. In the same year, travel and tourism accounted for 10% of APACs GDP and facilitated 185 million jobs. Asian cities account for half of the Top 10 city destinations, according to Euromonitor Photo by Visual Capitalist Many find it surprising, but offline channels account for the lions share of accommodation sales in APAC SMEs under pressure But with this growth comes challenges for independent hoteliers. Trends in APAC have mirrored those seen in Europe and the US, where small and medium-sized independent accommodations are increasingly losing ground to chain hotels. Independent providers find it harder to capture growth opportunities stemming from international arrivals. While global chains can spread the cost of promoting a single brand name across hundreds of properties and thousands of rooms, entrepreneurs running independent properties have access to no such luxury. Marketing and distribution channels abound, and most hospitality-sector entrepreneurs choose to utilise a mixture. Agility, however, is one of the ways for the independent providers to counterbalance those headwinds. In a fiercely competitive environment, successful hoteliers adapt their marketing and distribution strategies to changing conditions. For instance, during the peak season, when website bookings are high, management teams often prioritise the direct channel. However, during the off-season, when direct traffic dries up, management teams may choose to increase their social media promotions, offer inventory to wholesalers, or leverage online travel platforms to sell their rooms. Online travel agencies: helping small and independent accommodations grow. A case study of Australia, Japan and South Korea Photo by EY Parthenon The travel entrepreneurs toolkit This ability to roll with the punches no matter how the market conditions shift is how hoteliers get heads on beds everywhere in the world, and Asia Pacific is no exception. Marketing and distribution channels abound, and most hospitality-sector entrepreneurs choose to utilise a mixture. Many find it surprising, but offline channels account for the lions share of accommodation sales in APAC, as is often the case elsewhere in the world. Bringing in foreign guests is a key strength of online travel platforms According to a market research company, Phocuswright, over half of bookings in 2019 were processed via telephone, walk-ins, central reservations, and corporate travel (53%); a quarter via supplier direct online (24.5%) and the remaining share (22.5%) came through Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). Most international travellers are familiar with digital platforms such as Booking.com, Expedia, or Airbnb, but in the Asia Pacific region homegrown OTAs play a much bigger role. Trip.com in China, MakeMyTrip in India, Rakuten or Jalan in Japan, and Traveloka in Indonesia are strong local players. When marketing and selling rooms offline and/or online, hoteliers have access to a robust distribution mix, where each channel comes with its unique set of characteristics. A recent study by Oxford Economics sheds light on what distinguishes OTAs from all the rest. Hoteliers ability to showcase their properties to a vast audience of potential customers is critical to the success of their businesses. The Economic Impact of Online Travel Agencies in APAC 2019 2021 Photo by Oxford Economics Bringing in foreign guests is a key strength of online travel platforms, something which is particularly valuable in an increasingly internationalised tourism market. Indeed, in the benchmark year of 2019, 60% of bookings made in APAC through an online platform were from international guests. This compares to just 24% made through other channels, including direct. Online platforms have international reach and localisation features (automatic listing translation and local-language customer support, for example) which can put travellers from further afield at ease when planning a trip. by increasing choice, transparency and trust, online platforms generate additional sales for hotels Hoteliers ability to showcase their properties to a vast audience of potential customers is critical to the success of their businesses. Simultaneously, travellers are looking for personalised offerings that match their unique tastes and requirements. When these two forces converge, the market flourishes, and new opportunities get created. It should come as no surprise that by increasing choice, transparency and trust, online platforms generate additional sales for hotels. Oxford Economics estimated 70 million of incremental room-nights in 2019 alone, which would not have been booked otherwise. When we look at the big picture, we see that online platforms are helping to boost bookings for APACs independent providers. But APAC is a varied region, so what do we find if we zoom in on a few individual markets? Australia Australian accommodation providers sold 4 million nights using online platforms in 2019, a fraction of the 259 million room nights booked overall, according to a study carried out by Oxford Economics. And like elsewhere in the world, OTAs had a positive impact on the countrys GDP in the form of additional economic activity valued at AU$1.6 billion (US$1.12), which supported an additional 12,000 Australian jobs in the travel and tourism sector. Online travel agencies: helping small and independent accommodations grow. A case study of Australia, Japan and South Korea Photo by EY Parthenon Online platforms are uniquely effective in attracting international bookings and matching them with local providers. Per-pandemic, 69% of room-nights sold through this channel went to foreign guests. When asked by the researchers from EY-Parthenon, 80% of the Australian hoteliers agreed that OTAs are a cost efficient way to increase their reach and source more international guests. A hospitality entrepreneur operating a small accommodation at one of Australias popular tourist destinations explained that the "communication with international guests can be difficult. For example, calling with European guests is almost impossible due to the time difference. The real-time booking function of the OTA is therefore very convenient for both our guests and ourselves". Japan The Japanese travel sector is one of the regions heavyweights, where sales peaked at 596M room-nights in 2019. Online platforms expanded the market, like elsewhere in APAC, and generated over 9M of incremental room-nights for the local hoteliers. This economic activity amounted to 256 billion (US$ 2.3B) of additional GDP and supported almost 40,000 additional jobs in 2019. Online travel agencies: helping small and independent accommodations grow. A case study of Australia, Japan and South Korea Photo by EY Parthenon Online platforms have helped drive business to small and independent accommodations. 60% of bookings made through online platforms were for independent providers compared to 32% in the whole sector. 88% of the Japanese hoteliers, surveyed by EY-Parthenon, confirmed that OTAs helped them realise incremental bookings. And 89% acknowledged and praised the benefit from the OTAs customer-facing infrastructure. South Korea The South Korean travel and tourism market has experienced strong growth in the last decade. 68 million room nights were booked in 2019, up 44% from 2012. Much of this growth has been enabled by online platforms, which contributed over 1.1 trillion (US$846M) to the economy in 2019. Online platforms also produced some of the greatest savings for consumers in South Korea compared to other countries in APAC, saving travellers an average of 15,391 (US$11.77) per night in 2019. Online travel agencies: helping small and independent accommodations grow. A case study of Australia, Japan and South Korea Photo by EY Parthenon Independent accommodation providers in South Korea have accrued substantial benefits from online platforms. 73% of total sales through online platforms were directed to independent accommodations with rural providers deriving benefits well above trend even throughout the coronavirus pandemic. This demonstrates the agility of South Koreas independent accommodation sector and the fact that online platforms allow providers to rapidly pivot their strategies to changing consumer preferences. Online platforms have helped encourage more long-haul travel to South Korea compared to the whole market, particularly from Western, Central and Eastern Europe which comprised 71% of long-haul origins in 2019. Supporting our partners, wherever they are Travellers around the world want to experience what APAC has to offer and the regions travel entrepreneurs are glad to welcome them. In the increasingly globalised tourism market, brands with wide name-recognition and consolidated marketing budgets enjoy certain advantages; but small and independent properties are upping their game too. As weve seen above, online platforms help level the playing field. At Booking.com, we are only as successful as our accommodation partners. Whether they run a luxurious resort in Bali or an eco-friendly retreat in New Zealand, we provide the hoteliers with flexibility to pursue their entrepreneurial vision and empower their guests to expereince the world. View source Shortage of Labor is a Growing Concern as 65% of Hoteliers Look to New Technology to Solve the Problem In case you havent noticed the hospitality industry is short on labor. Perhaps this statement comes as no surprise; after all, hospitality is notorious for exceedingly high turn-over amongst talent. According to Hospitality Net, the average turnover rate in the hotel industry is around 73.8%, and in 2020 69% of hoteliers reported difficulties in finding qualified candidates for their open positions. Unfortunately, this trend was notably worsened by the pandemic, as industries like hospitality were heavily impacted by the mass departure of workers. In fact, the AHLA revealed that over 4.3 million hotel jobs were lost in the United States alone. The pandemic caused a major disruption in Americas labor forcesomething many have referred to as The Great Resignation. In 2022, more than 50 million workers quit their jobs, many of whom were in search of an improved work-life balance and flexibility, increased compensation, and a strong company culture, shares the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in a recent report detailing the significant labor challenges faced by the health services, professional and business services, trade, and accommodation and food services industries. But a closer look at what has happened to the labor force can be better described as The Great Reshuffle because hiring rates have outpaced quit rates since November of 2020. So, many workers are quitting their jobs but many are getting re-hired elsewhere. As the travel and hospitality sector remained almost entirely shuttered throughout the pandemic, many furloughed workers turned their attention to other industries, and have not since returned. As hospitality brands look to capitalize on the outpouring of post-pandemic travel demand (now popularly referred to as revenge travel), the on-going labor shortage remains an elephant in the room. In order to maintain brand standards and meet the ever-evolving expectations of guests, hotels must rely on the talents of their dedicated staff. When operational and on-property teams are spread too thin across various tasks and touch-points, service standards inevitably begin to slip through the cracks. At the same time, however, hiring remains an undeniable challenge for the industry, with the Wall Street Journal noting that many hotel operators are raising pay and boosting benefits, but many are finding those moves arent enough to get people to sign on and stay. Not to mention hiring efforts to mitigate high turn-over are a costly endeavor, with SHRM reporting that the cost of replacing an employee in the hotel industry can be up to 33% of the employee's annual salary. So, what exactly are hotels doing to address the labor shortage and ensure they are equipped to service an uptick in travel-related demand? For many hotels, the answer lies in technology. Embracing a Tech-Driven Future While hospitality will always be a people-first industry, hoteliers must look to alternative solutions (such as emerging technology) to better streamline their operations and redistribute some of the pressure traditionally placed on staff. This isnt to paint the picture of a future that lacks the human touch; but rather, a future that strikes an optimal balance between hands-on service and digital touch-points that drive efficiency and guest-facing convenience. As weve seen in the retail industry, digitizing (or otherwise technologically enhancing) certain touch-points and tasks can actually empower staff to refocus their attention where it matters most: the customer. At the same time, self-service technology gives customers more autonomy over their experience and reduces the likelihood of long, frustrating ques and missed service opportunities. Hospitality, as you might have guessed, is no different. With this in mind, the embrace of new technology (specifically those cloud-based platforms which leverage open APIs, automation, and workflow optimization) will become integral to success as hoteliers look to navigate the post-pandemic landscape. To this effect, a Skift hospitality survey shows that 64.7% of executives surveyed consider incorporating new technologies for staff efficiency as a part of their labor strategy to attract and retain staff. By moving away from legacy technology (and the additional stress those platforms inevitably place on workers), hoteliers can improve staff well-being and guest satisfaction alike while cutting costs, reducing workflow inefficiencies, enhancing service quality, and minimizing human error. More importantly, hospitality brands can lean on the efficiencies ushered in by new technology to fill in the gaps within their staff while they look to rebuild their talent pool. Its Time to Upgrade Your PMS Although there are countless operational areas that could benefit from a digital overhaul, there is perhaps no better place to start than the property management system. The PMS is, after all, the central hub of a hotels operational ecosystem, responsible for managing reservations, check-ins and check-outs, room inventory, housekeeping, billing and payment processing, and more. With the right centralized PMS system in place, hoteliers can manage all property operations from one, easy-to-use system that provides a comprehensive view of the hotel's activities and enables hotel staff to quickly and easily manage reservations, room inventory, housekeeping, billing, and more. Better yet, Skywares best-in-class PMS system is also built to drive more direct bookings, glean actionable insights from data, improve online conversions, better accommodate guest requests, and seamlessly integrate with other systems. Weve said it once, and well say it again platform innovation is not something to fear. The introduction of new, more intuitive and versatile technology does not stand to replace the human connection that is the heartbeat of the hospitality industry. Rather, the embrace of new-age platforms, like the modern PMS, will ensure hotels are supporting their staff and operational eliminating bottlenecks during an otherwise challenging time. Incorporating new technology for staff efficiency is, undeniably, a key ingredient in an effector labor strategy and the marker of a future-proof hotel. After all, for properties to showcase staying power in a hyper-competitive market, they must look ahead and ensure they have the offering, the team, and the technology required to meet (and exceed) guest expectations well into the future. About Bob Palloni As the chief operating officer of Skyware Hospitality Systems, Bob is responsible for leading the company in corporate strategy, business development, product innovation, and market profitability. An accomplished tech developer and visionary entrepreneur, he has decades of progressive experience in all phases of lifecycle software development. Bobs strength as a strategic planner focuses on networking and application evolution, assuring continued knowledge of trends and vendor partnerships. Prior to forming Skyware, Bob was a senior developer for Visual One/Agilysys and assisted support engineers in troubleshooting customer issues for resolving database performance and networking problems. Previously, Bob also launched an IT development company, KASS Systems, providing integrated technologies to meet the business requirements for small-to medium-sized businesses. About Skyware Hospitality Solutions Skyware Hospitality Solutions is the industrys most innovative all-in-one hospitality technology platform trusted by leading independent hotels, resorts, RV parks, and multi-property groups. The company has reimagined the fragmented, complex legacy landscape into a visionary universe of modern, integrated solutions with limitless possibilities. With more than 30 years of hospitality technology experience, Skywares solutions are carefully curated to fit the unique needs of each property and built to respond flexibly to the demanding requirements of a fast-changing industry. Built from the ground up to centralize and simplify operations, the end-to-end cloud-based PMS suite includes Online Booking Engine, POS, Sales and Catering, and Activity/Spa Scheduling. The easy-to-use system is up and running quickly and seamlessly, delivering a scalable, cost-effective solution that can work with or replace existing hotel systems and technology investments. With deep industry knowledge and top-rated North American-based support, Skywares patented technology accelerates its customers' ambitions, whether to grow and transform or simply become more efficient, productive, and profitable. Currently, over 200 unique hotel customers in over 5 countries look to Skyware for tools, technology, and world-class expert support. Founded in 2009, the privately held company is headquartered in Crestview, Florida. For more information, please visit skywaresystems.com. Microtel Inn & Suites Colfax Leisure Real Estate Advisors, LLC has successfully negotiated the sale of the Super 8 Urbandale and the Microtel Inn & Suites Colfax, both located in Iowa. In the sale of the Super 8 Urbandale, the 60-room Hotel is located at 5900 Sutton Place in Urbandale, Iowa. Urbandale is in the northwest part of the Des Moines Metro Area at the intersections of Interstates 35 and 80 and is within easy access to downtown Des Moines. Listed at $1,600,000, the Super 8 Urbandale was purchased by Urbandale Extended Stay, LLC. Dave Jones, Principal, Leisure Real Estate Advisors, represented the Seller, Jai Ashapuri Ma, LLC, in the transaction. The local buyer will renovate the hotel and operate it as an independent extended stay property, his second location in the greater Des Moines area. In the sale of the Microtel Inn & Suites, the 39-room Hotel is located at 11000 Federal Avenue in Colfax, Iowa. Colfax is situated along I-80 just 30 minutes east of Des Moines. The extended stay Hotel was built in 2007 by the Seller, Shekar Properties, LLC, and was listed for $1,100,000. Dave Jones, Principal, Leisure Real Estate Advisors, represented the Seller in the marketing and sale of the hotel. The Buyer was Colfax Lodging, LLC, a regional owner. Dave Jones is a licensed broker in Iowa as well as Kansas and Missouri, and is a Partner of Leisure Real Estate Advisors, LLC. Leisure Real Estate Advisors, LLC is based in metro Kansas City and has a specialty concentration in the marketing and sale of hotels and provides exclusive representation to owners of hotel real estate. With over 75 years of collective hospitality experience and over $1.2 billion in sales, the company has become one of the premier hotel brokerage firms in the country and has been recognized by Hotel Business and Hotel Management magazines for its performance. It has also received numerous Power Broker designations from CoStar and Platinum status from Crexi for several years including in 2022. It has offices in metro Kansas City, and affiliated brokers in Topeka, KS, Columbia, MO and a third-party affiliation in Lincoln, NE. Leisure Real Estate Advisors is also a proud member of Hotel Brokers International (HBI), an international marketing and membership platform of hospitality specialists.Leisure Real Estate Advisors can be found online at www.leisurerealestate.com. Founded in 1959, Hotel Brokers International is the industrys oldest network of hospitality broker professionals. HBI Brokers lead the industry in hotel real estate sales and have successfully negotiated more than 11,000 hotel real estate transactions. The organizations website features a large inventory of hotel property listings and attracts site visitors from around the world. HBI is the founder and administrator of the Certified Hotel Broker Program, the real estate industrys only professional designation program for hotel brokers. In addition to hospitality real estate advisory services, HBI offers affiliate membership to professionals in allied fields, including franchising, lending, appraisals, and investment services. For more information about HBIs hotel listings or to become a broker or affiliate member, visit www.hbihotels.com. Contact: Dave Jones Leisure Real Estate Advisors, LLC 913.499.4725 djones@leisurerealestate.com Glenda J. Webb, Executive Director Hotel Brokers International 816.505.4315 gwebb@hbihotels.com Rendering of the Latitude Margaritaville International Lake Chapala Today, Margaritaville and Levy Holding announced signing the license agreement for Latitude Margaritaville International Lake Chapala, set to debut in phases starting in spring 2024. Latitude Margaritaville International Lake Chapala will be influenced by the surrounding area, offering experiences, and living opportunities for those 55-and-better. Located in west-central Mexico, and an hour south of Guadalajara, Lake Chapala is home to a significant concentration of expats. Sitting on Mexico's largest lake, a volcanic crater lake, the destination boasts affordable living, inexpensive healthcare, and a great climate with daily temperatures around 75 F. Chapala and neighboring Ajijic are nestled along the lake's shoreline, only separated by a few miles, with stunning mountainous backdrops. The area features unique cultural offerings, excellent restaurants, traditional festivals, boutiques, a walkable town square, and more. "With the success and demand for Margaritaville-branded residential communities in the U.S., we're always looking for licensing opportunities and destinations that are compelling and dynamic. Lake Chapala was exactly that," said Jim Wiseman, President of Development at Margaritaville. "As a popular destination for expats, and with its diverse offerings and incredible climate, the area brings together elements of both active and laid-back lifestyles, and a dedication to community all a major part of the way of life at Latitude Margaritaville International." Developed by Levy Holding, Latitude Margaritaville International Lake Chapala will feature a total of 194 accommodations, including studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, ranging from 430 sq. ft. to 915 sq. ft., as well as 1,292 sq. ft. one-story homes. With resort-style amenities and an island-inspired feel, residences will feature contemporary design elements with prices starting from the $233s. Sales will start this summer. "With its great quality of life, warm climate, abundant vegetation, and nature, as well as the impressive lake that invites reflection, Chapala is the perfect destination that evokes Margaritaville's passion and relaxation elements found in a dedicated community, not simply a real estate development," said Agustin Levy, CEO & President of Levy Holding. "We know this will be the first step in encouraging more expats to visit and invest in Mexico." The first phase of the project will feature designated food & beverage locations, pools, pickleball courts, a theater, and more. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo strikes a pose in the new issue of Vogue and is immortalized by a famed photographer. RELIVE THE ERAS: Taylor Swift sparkles in every way at NRG Stadium shows The piece, "Meet Judge Lina Hidalgo, a Young Democratic Star in GOP-led Texas," paints a glowing profile of the politician, commending her responses to local weather emergencies. "What to do in the face of ever more extreme weather an especially acute problem here in Texas that is seeing deadly ice storms and record-breaking heat with distressing regularity is the kind of question that fuels Hidalgo," it reads. Author Emma Specter calls Hidalgo "the most powerful Democrat youve never heard of." Annie Leibovitz/Vogue The profile touches on Hidalgo's upbringing in Colombia. She left at age 5, first moving to Peru, then Mexico, then landing in Cypress at 14 years of age. Hidalgo was photographed by the legendary Annie Leibovitz, whose Polaroid of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, taken five hours before Lennon's murder, became an iconic Rolling Stone cover. Leibovitz also snapped a pregnant Demi Moore for Vanity Fair and Cyndi Lauper's "She's So Unusual" and "True Colors" album covers. "This is surreal. So flattered that @voguemagazine took note of our work, and to have the legendary @annieleibovitz take the portraits," Hidalgo wrote on Instagram. "I've always admired @annieleibovitz incredible, world-renowned, photography. I'm privileged and flattered to be photographed by her." Jill Biden, who campaigned for Hidalgo's successful reelection, calls her "a role model for young women everywhere." The actress and comedian Fortune Feimster declared her first visit to Buc-ees a big success in a recent Instagram post, praising the Texas chain for its abundances of wines, hot sauce, fudge and coolers. Feimster, known for her Netflix specials and her role on "The Mindy Project" television show, posted the video Monday after visiting a Buc-ees in Alabama. I keep hearing about the food in there, and cool stuff. So lets go find out what Buc-ees has to offer, she said in the parking lot. Upon going inside after noting that the gas was cheap, at $2.97 a gallon she waved hello to an employee in costume as the stores beaver mascot and expressed amazement in the amount of jerky for sale. Anybody want some jerky? she asked, turning the camera left and right to capture the full selection. I mean good lord, that is a lot of jerky. ALABAMA JUBILEE: Auburn students pick Whataburger as best late-night food joint. Oh, and Buc-ee's just opened, too. Her video tour of the store included a shot of her giving a thumbs-up while sitting in a bathroom stall. Holding up a bag of the stores famous Beaver Nuggets, she said, I dont know what this is, but sign me up. After leaving, she showed off what shed bought: a brisket sandwich, two pieces of fudge and the Beaver Nuggets. She promised to review the nuggets in a later post. Who knew stopping for gas could be so fun? she wrote in the post. I now understand the hype I see on Tiktok about yall this place is legit! Her visit is a far cry from the experience of another visitor to one of the chains Alabama stores, Adam Armour, who in a column for the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal likened it to a nightmare, complaining of the crowd inside. For those unfamiliar with Buc-ees, the growing Texas-based chain of kaiju-sized convenience stores are what you might get if a Loves mated with a Walmart and gave birth to a small theme park which was then exposed to a blast of gamma radiation, Armour wrote. Inside and outside, people seemed to move about the store with no sense of purpose other than to create anarchy, he complained. He saidhe and his family would have left if they hadnt traveled roughly 153 miles just to visit the Buc-ee's in Alabama. It was a why-the-heck-not day trip on a Sunday, he wrote. As of noon Wednesday, Feimsters Instagram post had nearly 23,700 likes, with many of the commenters sharing her attitude about the store. Canadian here! Visited Texas a few years ago and went here, def worth the hype! one user, samanathaangela, wrote. Buc-ees has been in Alabama since 2019, when it opened a story off of Interstate 10 about 20 miles east of Mobile. That store was the chains first outside of Texas. PHOENIX (AP) An Arizona Uber driver involved in the first death connected to a fully autonomous vehicle will be tried in June on a negligent homicide charge. Rafaela Vasquez, 49, previously had been scheduled for trial next month in the March 2018 crash that killed 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg as she walked a bicycle outside the lines of a crosswalk in Tempe, Arizona. Vasquez's trial was rescheduled during a brief hearing Tuesday. Vasquez, who has pleaded not guilty to the charge, told police Herzberg came out of nowhere and that she didnt see her prior to the collision. Authorities say Vasquez was streaming the television show The Voice on a phone and looking downward in the moments before Ubers Volvo XC-90 SUV collided with Herzberg. But Vasquezs attorneys said their client was looking at a messaging activity used by Uber employees on a work cellphone that sat on her right knee. The Voice was playing on Vasquezs personal cellphone, which was sitting on the passenger seat, they said. Prosecutors declined to file criminal charges against Uber in Herzbergs death after the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the main cause of the crash was Vasquezs failure to monitor the road. The crash in Arizona wasnt the first involving an Uber autonomous test vehicle. In March 2017, an Uber SUV flipped onto its side, also in Tempe. No serious injuries were reported, and the driver of the other car was cited for a violation. Herzbergs trial will be held in Phoenix. Herzbergs death was the first involving an autonomous test vehicle but not the first in a car with some self-driving features. The driver of a Tesla Model S was killed in 2016 when his car, operating on its autopilot system, crashed into a tractor-trailer in Florida. Stellantis is offering buyouts to 33,500 U.S. hourly and salaried employees as it seeks to cut costs, citing a "competitive" market and rapid shift to electric vehicles. The automaker, which owns the Chrysler, Jeep and Ram brands, is offering the buyouts to 31,000 U.S. hourly employees and 2,500 salaried employees, spokeswoman Jodi Tinson confirmed. The company intends to cut about 3,500 hourly production and skilled trade jobs as a result of the buyouts, according to a letter posted earlier this week by the UAW Local 1264, which represents a Stellantis stamping plant in Sterling Heights, Mich. Carlos Tavares, Stellantis's chief executive officer, warned in February of more job cuts as the cost of electrification eats into the company's profit margins. That same month, the carmaker idled its Jeep plant in Belvidere, Ill., laying off about 1,350 workers indefinitely. It also said it would cut as many as 2,000 jobs in Italy. The company was formed in 2021 from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and France's PSA Group. "Stellantis is thoroughly reviewing its North American operations to improve efficiency, reduce costs and protect the competitiveness of our products to allow for further strategic investments to support our transformation," Mark Stewart, Stellantis's Chief Operating Officer for North America, said in a letter to employees Wednesday morning. The cuts come as the company prepares to negotiate a new four-year contract with the United Auto Workers union ahead of a Sept. 14 deadline. "Stellantis' push to cut thousands of jobs while raking in billions in profits is disgusting," Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers, said in a statement. "Even now, politicians and taxpayers are bankrolling the electric vehicle transition, and this is the thanks the working class gets. Shame on Stellantis." Automotive News previously reported on the local union chapter's letter. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier Wednesday that Stellantis is targeting buyouts and early retirement packages to salaried employees. --- Bloomberg's Keith Laing contributed to this report. KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (AP) KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (AP) Universal Health Realty Income Trust (UHT) on Tuesday reported a key measure of profitability in its first quarter. The real estate investment trust, based in King Of Prussia, Pennsylvania, said it had funds from operations of $11.4 million, or 82 cents per share, in the period. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Last week, I wrote about my lowest philanthropic priorities, which leads to this weeks theme. Whats on the top of my list? The short answer is Ukraine, which has been my geopolitical obsession for a little over a year, though I have only just started acting on it. ALSO READ: Taylor: Questionable philanthropy Why $35M gift to Alamo Colleges means more than $300M to Harvard My main thought during the first week of Russias invasion in February 2022 is that I would have fled. I expected Ukrainians to do the same. Their resistance to the Russians and their not being rolled over by the successor to the feared Red Army astonishes me. The conflict may last many awful years. One of my main questions over the past year has been: How can I and equally obsessed Texans support Ukraine? Official channels There are two official websites created to muster international private support for Ukraines resistance. People could and should consider these. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy created Ukraine24, which solicits donations for three purposes: Defense and demining, Medical aid Rebuilding Ukraine Mark Hamill who portrayed rebel Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars epic about scrappy resistors fighting an evil empire against all odds has joined this official effort to support Ukraine. The site accepts credit and debit cards online. As of April, Ukraine24 said it has raised $321 million. In addition, the National Bank of Ukraine created a site for direct private donations to support Ukraines armed forces. The bank said that as of April, it has raised the equivalent of $677 million 25 billion Ukrainian Hryvnia through direct donations. Unofficial channels A unique aspect of Ukraines resistance is how technology through social media and on-the-front-lines communications, for example enables individuals to offer material support in a less official capacity. Likely thousands of small-scale efforts have sprung up since February 2022 to support Ukraine. Austin-based television director Dax Martinez-Vargas met fellow advertising director Mykola while shooting TV commercials in Ukraine. Following the 2014 Russian invasion of Crimea, Mykolas television work dried up. As Martinez-Vargas tells it, Mykola over time built a discussion group on the social media platform Discord to call attention to Ukraines situation. When Russia invaded in February 2022, U.S.-based members of that Discord group asked Mykola how they could help get supplies to where they were needed most. The discussion widened to others interested in Ukraines plight on the social media platform Reddit, where Mykola continues to build his international audience using the alias JesterBoyd. ALSO READ: Taylor: Like a zombie, Texas corporate welfare threatens to rise from its grave and plague taxpayers Dallas-based entrepreneur Steve Watford joined Martinez-Vargas and Nevada-based entrepreneur Anders Boyd to found Ukraine Front Line Inc. Their original common bonds were Mykolas Discord group and a desire to help as directly as possible. Boyd built the groups website. Watford became president and got the organization recognized by the IRS as a 501(3) nonprofit, eligible for tax-advantaged giving from U.S. citizens. Since then, Watford reported, about $50,000 from 200 people and two trusts have been sent to help deliver needed supplies to soldiers and medical personnel at the front. As their man on the ground in Ukraine, Mykola arranges purchase and pickup of materials, often in Poland, and sees to their delivery by himself or via couriers. Theyve bought and delivered items such as combat medical supplies, cold weather uniforms and reconnaissance drones. Its very scrappy, lean, unofficial and grassroots. Watford, Martinez-Vargasa and a third board member Robin Rohrback, with whom I spoke prefer the efficiency of direct support to Ukrainians over more official nonprofits or big established international ones. Compared to larger organizations, the material delivered by Ukraine Front Line is tiny. But as the volunteers see it, with no overhead and volunteers who cover their own administrative costs, 100 percent of donations go to where theyre needed most in Ukraine. The risks The New York Times reported last month on Ukrainian nonprofits that have popped up and raised eyebrows since the invasion began. Accusations include lying about the biographies of key members, falsely claiming registration or pending registration as an official nonprofit, or exaggerating accomplishments or deliveries of supplies. A year ago, I sent a small amount of money via PayPal to a Ukraine-based American with an active Twitter presence who represented just such a grassroots organization. He was mentioned as a controversial figure in that recent New York Times article, and he has since gone dark on Twitter. For small organizations, one should always maintain some skepticism. For what its worth, Ukraine Front Line is a registered 501(3) organization. Mykola and his in-country couriers do an admirable job of photographing and documenting their deliveries, posting on the organizations blog and Reddit. One upside of supporting small organizations is efficiency. Another is that supporting small groups increases the chances of engaging in philanthropy that is emotionally satisfying, through a narrative and personal connection. My donations I believe the U.S. government and our NATO allies should support Ukraine generously with government funds. As of this writing, U.S. government support eclipsed $75 billion, a combination of military, financial and humanitarian aid. I also hope and think Americans who give close to $500 billion in philanthropy per year can make a difference. Last week, I was able to donate a small amount of money via credit card to Zelenskyys Ukraine24 for defense and demining. Then I tried to donate a small amount using my credit card to the National Bank of Ukraine, but the payments didnt go through. After three failed attempts, I tried to communicate via online chat, but the sites chat function was in Ukrainian, so I was not able to complete that donation. Finally, I gave a small amount to Ukraine Front Line after speaking directly with three of its members and viewing Mykolas specific communications online. ALSO READ: Taylor: The Pentagon cant keep track of $3 trillion in assets. How is this OK? As we grind into the second year of a brutal invasion and defense, I hope and think the philanthropic power of Americans can and should be a force multiplier. Watford brings a very Texan attitude to his support through Ukraine Front Line. We (Texans) bleed freedom. Thats our nature, and God help anyone that threatens it, Watford said. This same trait has been heroically demonstrated by the people of Ukraine. They were backed into a corner staring straight down the barrel of a loaded gun and said, Do it. They have and will continue to fight to preserve their freedom, and theyll die before they give it up. Thats about as Texan as it gets. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and oil companies may be cranking up prices for gasoline and diesel fuel, but Texas lawmakers are laying the groundwork for a future dominated by electric vehicles. From expanding charging stations to allowing cars and trucks to provide backup power to homes, the Texas Legislature is quietly moving, with bipartisan support, to make owning an electric vehicle more attractive. Federal incentives and automaker investments have put EVs on an unstoppable trajectory, and these new laws will turn the internal combustion engine into a hobbyists pursuit. Sen. Charles Schwertner, the Republican author of so many bad bills for the electric grid, is on the right side of the electric vehicle debate. Schwertners Senate Bill 1002 leverages $408 million in federal funding to build a statewide charging network. But the proposed law also instills conservative values by encouraging private companies to compete against one another to take advantage of the Texas Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan. The bill, which passed the Senate on a bipartisan 28-2 vote, also requires the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and the Public Utility Commission to ensure quick and affordable connections to keep transmission companies from profiteering. This bill, as filed, puts guardrails on electric utilities broadly in order to ensure competition is protected in this new market; it seeks to ensure consumer transparency by prohibiting utilities from utilizing ratepayer funds to build, own or operate charging stations, Schwertner said. Environmentalists and truck stop owners both support SB 1002. Senate Bill 1001, also from Schwertner, puts the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in charge of inspecting charging stations. The move blocks Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller from implementing his plan to charge extortionate fees for operating a charging station, an apparent effort to discourage them. Again, the bill passed the Senate on a bipartisan 28-3 vote. Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, gained unanimous passage of Senate Bill 505, which levies a $200-a-year fee on electric vehicles instead of the fuel tax imposed on internal combustion engines. The fee makes up for the states lost income from the highway fund. Finally, Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-McKinney, passed Senate Bill 1732 last week. The proposed law would require charging stations to supply adaptors so that any EV can use them. Currently, Tesla has a proprietary charging plug incompatible with other automakers. In the Texas House, Republican Rep. Ken King gained bipartisan support for his House Bill 821, which allows state agencies to lease public land to charging station operators. When lawmakers put aside petty politics and crony capitalism, they can make Texas a better place. After weeks of columns railing against bad bills, I thought it was time to give a shout-out to some good ones. These measures remove barriers for the private sector to deliver what Texans need in this case, more EV charging stations. They also fit the conservative philosophy of promoting competition and encouraging private-sector innovation. Electric vehicle charging is not the only area where the Republican-controlled Legislature has shown leadership. Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, shepherded Senate Bill 26 through to the House, where the new law would create more mental health hospital beds in Texas if approved. Republicans plan to invest $3.5 billion in the mental health system, where 2,500 Texans are on waiting lists for services. Kolkhorst and other Republican leaders are working on a dozen health care bills that would make prices more transparent, require doctors and hospitals to send simple-to-read bills, and slow mergers and acquisitions that concentrate health services in the hands of a few corporations. Lastly, public school teachers should get a raise next year. Sen. Brandon Creightons bill has several problems, including giving teachers twice as much money in small districts as in large districts. But the Republican embrace of a long-held Democratic priority is notable to stop the exodus of school teachers. Some readers complain I criticize Republican lawmakers too much. I acknowledge writing more about bad bills than good ones. I also spend more time challenging state officials with power than those without. A politician doing their job well, though, does not attract readers. Commonsense bills are less newsworthy than proposed laws designed to stoke controversy and attract supporters. At least when I call out bad bills, it gives time for the public to mobilize. Lawmakers are at their best when they are not trying to reward donors or stoke prejudices for political gain. Sometimes, the Texas Legislature manages to do something right, even if no one notices. There are 86,400 seconds in a day, and in its upcoming program, the Texas Medical Center Orchestra is acknowledging the importance of every single one. On April 30, the citys all-volunteer community ensemble, comprised mostly of health care professionals, is returning to the Hobby Centers Zilkha Hall to share with its audience The Power of This Moment. The program, showcasing guest artist Clara Saitkoulov on violin, will juxtapose the memorable melodies of two beloved Russian composers, featuring Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovskys Violin Concerto and Sergei Rachmaninoffs Symphony No. 2. TERRIFIC 'TOSCA': Tamara Wilson turns in a fantastic performance in Houston Grand Opera's production. The evening marks the final concert in the orchestras Mindful Transformations season, which founding artistic director Libi Lebel dedicated to raising awareness for mental health through music by collaborating with and highlighting the impact of a different local facility during each program. This weekends one-night-only performance will shine light on the Menninger Clinic, a nationally ranked leader in psychiatric care with expertise in a range of diagnoses, including anxiety, addiction, depression, sleep problems, bipolar disorder, self-harming behaviors and more. We are all on a transformative journey, and mental health is something that can be transformed with help, with intent, Lebel said. These composers had their own mental health issues, but they managed to attach themselves to some beauty with their music. We want to give our audience a chance to attach to classical music, to focus on the beauty of these melodies and see if they can just stay with the music. Its about trying to live in this moment and not obsess about the pain of yesterday or the worries of tomorrow. With this concert, the Texas Medical Center Orchestra joins ensembles around the world in programming pieces by Rachmaninoff in honor of his 150th birthday celebration. His Second Symphony, which premiered in 1908 to great acclaim, proved to be a personal and professional comeback for the virtuosic pianist, conductor and composer, who had plunged into a years-long depression after the utter flop of his First Symphony over a decade earlier. Rachmaninoffs mentor, Tchaikovsky, also suffered from bouts of depression throughout his life. In fact, the composer, best known for his ballets, wrote his only violin concerto in such a time of despair. In the spring of 1878, following his short-lived marriage to Antonina Milyukova, he fled to Clarens, Switzerland, and was inspired by a visit from violinist Iosif Kotek. Joining the musicians for this work of sweeping melodies and emotional intensity is Saitkoulov, an up-and-coming artist who earned her masters degree in violin performance from Rice University last May and now serves as the concertmaster for Swedens Dalasinfoniettan chamber orchestra. She will fly into Houston a week before the concert, Lebel explained, the performance opportunity being part of her award as the Grand Prize winner of the 2022 Young Texas Artists Music Competition. Texas Medical Center Orchestra What: 'The Power of This Moment' When: 5 p.m. on April 30 Where: The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Zilkha Hall, 800 Bagby St. Details: $25 GA, $15 students and seniors; thehobbycenter.org More Info: tmcorchestra.org See More Collapse This is only the second year of the Texas Medical Center Orchestras partnership with the internationally recognized, Conroe-based competition, which was established in 1983 to encourage young musicians and enrich the cultural life of the community. Yet, such a collaboration furthers the ensembles long-standing commitment to showcasing local talent and shaping the next generation of music leaders through education initiatives, a mission that runs parallel to its purpose of providing health care professionals with an outlet for creative expression. For over a decade, the orchestra, a nonprofit organization founded in 2000, has also supported a variety of charities and raised money for its own operations as a presenting partner of the Gran Fondo Texas, which took place on April 16. The annual fundraising bicycle ride also benefits the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Montgomery County Food Bank, and it starts with none other than a trumpet call. For me, as a conductor, its always been about creating a moment of beauty, where time just stops, Lebel said. We are part of an effort to leave the world a better place, and while this concert seems simplistic, we are going to make a little mark, allowing everyone to enjoy a magical moment, a moment that can change your life. Izakaya, a Japanese spot in Midtown that opened in 2015 and a former Houston Chronicle Top 100 restaurant, will close by the end of April to make way for a new concept. Josephines, a Gulf Coast-inspired restaurant with a heavy seafood focus, is slated to debut sometime in June at 318 Gray. Azuma Group, the restaurant operators behind the change, tapped Lucas McKinney to lead the kitchen at Josephines as executive chef. Hes a Mississippi native who came to Houston in 2018 and worked for chef Chris Shepherd at Georgia James, Hay Merchant and GJ Tavern. Josephines, which is named after McKinneys grandmother as well as a steamship that sank in the Gulf of Mexico in 1881, will have a substantial raw bar with oysters and seafood towers. Other Southern favorites include snacks such as country ham and pickled okra, hush puppies and poboys. The Gulf Coast is not just one dish or a certain style of eating, McKinney said. I think it's more about how seafood brings people together. HOUSTONS BEST EATS: The Chronicles Top 100 restaurants guide Houstons diversity reflects the mixed demographics and cuisines from Creole to Viet-Cajun to Croatian along the Gulf Coast but on a larger scale, McKinney said. Most of the seafood on the menu will be sourced from the Gulf of Mexico and there will be a focus on using local ingredients, but McKinney said the overarching theme is meant to be more casual than a highbrow, farm-to-table menu. For me, Gulf Coast cuisine is how I grew up, McKinney said. If you got a sack of oysters, youd grill and fry them up tailgate-style. You get a good deal on shrimp and you have a shrimp boil. Its a community thing, he added. Nest Interiors will replace Izakayas dumpling bar with an oyster bar, where diners can order the bivalves, including Gulf Coast and East Coast varieties. Theyll be served raw or chargrilled. The space will have a more rustic feel, with painted tin ceilings and vintage Southern-style features. A renovation of the patio will include string lights hanging above picnic tables. MORE FROM BAO ONG: New Montrose restaurant honors grandmothers cooking with updated Mexican and Greek classics The team behind Izakaya decided to move to a new location where it could serve sushi on its menu. They originally tapped McKinney to consult on a boil house concept before the idea for Jospehines came along. Theyve also brought on Azuma Group veteran Joseph Ramirez as the general manager. Were not closing forever, said Yun Cheng, one of the Izakaya owners, in a statement. Were making the move now because weve established the right team for the new concept, and were actively searching for an inner Loop spot for Izakaya. Montana and Texas have a few traits in common, including big skies and wide open spaces. And on Memorial Day weekend, the Resort at Paws Up a 37,000-acre luxury ranch about 30 miles east of Missoula is merging the states further. Paws Up's three-day Montana Master Grillers barbecue event this year stars some of Texas' top pitmasters: Wayne Mueller of Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor; Erin Smith and Patrick Feges from Feges BBQ in Houston; Leonard Botello IV of Truth BBQ in Brenham and Houston; and Evan LeRoy of LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue in Austin. All will be on hand May 26-29 to cook up classic cue from the Lone Star State and mingle with guests who book the inclusive package deal that starts at $2,345 per night. MORE FROM HC MAGAZINE: Houston's Bojangles Music School expands with new location The weekend also marks the start of the summer season, and there are plenty of reasons to visit Paws Up this year. Namely the Green O, the resort's newest lodging option. While the main ranch includes family-friendly timber homes and butler-serviced tented camps along the Blackfoot River, the Green O is comprised of 12 gorgeously modern, adults-only treehouses in dense forest. The best part: Classic Paws Up ranch experiences think fly-fishing, shooting, rappelling, chuck wagon dinners and horseback riding are still ready to roll when you are. To book, call 800-473-0601 or visit pawsup.com. This week help raise funds and awareness for epilepsy and breast cancer, and gain strength at endurance at Discovery Green's HIIT Class. Epilepsy Foundation Texas Epilepsy Foundation Texas invites the community to join a walk at the Houston Zoo to raise funds and awareness for its programs. 7 a.m. April 29; Houston Zoo, 200 Hermann Park Drive; give.eftx.org WEBSITE: give.eftx.org Stop The Silence 5K Run/Walk Brandon Anderson Sisters Network Inc. hosts the 13th annual Stop the Silence National African American Breast Cancer 5K. Founded in April 2010, the event is the nation's first and only Black breast cancer walk/run. 9 a.m.-noon April 29; Lynn Eusan Park, 4400 University; runsignup.com WEBSITE: runsignup.com MORE HEALTH NEWS: Art Rascon finished Ironman triathlon with two broken wrists HIIT Class with FitMix Marc M Guillen FitMix Communities hosts a fun and challenging body-weight interval-training class to burn calories while gaining strength, endurance and empowerment. 6:30-7:30 p.m. May 3; Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney; discoverygreen.com WEBSITE: discoverygreen.com Slow Flow with Stephanie McCarrey Levy Park Houston Increase strength and mobility with the help of this all-levels yoga flow set to the beat of the latest Top 40 and throwback favorites. The class will end with a sound bath Shavasana. 7 p.m. May 3; Levy Park, 3801 Eastside; levyparkhouston.org WEBSITE: levyparkhouston.org Houston Chronicle State leaders are moving to fire seven prison employees in Fort Bend County after the March suicide of a 16-year-old staying in a psychiatric facility. Five officers, a sergeant and a lieutenant face dismissal after an investigation determined they failed to follow department policy and conduct regular checks on inmates at the Wayne Scott Unit in Richmond, said Robert Hurst, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The investigation began after a teenager was found dead from suicide at the facility on March 24, officials said. Houston Chronicle Missouri City police shot and killed a man early Wednesday after an hourslong standoff outside a home in the upscale Quail Valley neighborhood, according to the police department. Officers around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday responded to the 3800 block of Pecan Valley Drive after someone called to report a man had a handgun and was yelling in the front yard of a home, said Lt. Jeffrey York of the Missouri City Police Department. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Mels Country Cafe hopes to reopen in two to three months after a fire damaged the building, according to the restaurants owner. The Tomball and Magnolia fire departments responded to a fire last week at Mels Country Cafe at 24814 Stanolind Rd. in Tomball. CAFE FIRE: Mel's Country Cafe in Tomball launches GoFundMe after fire forces restaurant's temporary closure I never thought something like this would ever happen and it was devastating to my family, said cafe owner Melanie Henry. Last Sunday afternoon, Henry said a resident near her restaurant called to tell her the building was on fire. She praised the quick response time of firefighters, who arrived at the scene in minutes. Tomball Fire Chief Joe Sykora said the department received a call about the fire at 5:19 p.m. Units arrived on scene at 5:22 p.m. and saw flames and smoke coming from the building. Henry said the cause of the fire was an electrical failure in one of its A/C units in the attic. The building itself is in good shape, she said, but the attic, roof and ceiling is damaged and 90 percent of the inside is destroyed. Just over a week later, the business had gotten more heartwarming feedback and support than Henry thought she would ever see. The cafe had hundreds of Facebook comments from patrons and community members expressing prayers and concern. The restaurant also created a GoFundMe and has surpassed its $15,000 goal, raising $17,848 in nine days. It just saddened us to have to deal with the fire and our business being closed but it was amazing, the response, Henry said. Its just been so heartwarming; I can't even put it into words how it feels. It just goes to your soul how beautiful the people are. Henry said she didnt expect to raise that amount of money and wanted to thank everyone who helped. She said the funds will go to Mels Country Cafe employees. Though the business exceeded its GoFundMe goal, donations didnt stop there for the Tomball staple. Several businesses in the area such as Gordon Foods, Fajita Pete's in The Woodlands, Lasagna House 1960, Fuhgedaboudit Bagel Company in Spring, and several others donated a percentage of proceeds to Mels Country Cafe. The restaurant industry is a tight industry and our competitors, as our friends, all came together and they're doing such gracious things with the donating 20 percent and 10 percent, Henry said. Incredible Pizza in Conroe is letting us use half their kitchen to finish all our catering jobs that we promised. A few days after the fire, Henry said two company vehicles were stolen from their parking lot, but she said with the help of the community and police, one vehicle was recovered within 24 hours. Henry said she thinks the restaurants closure may have made it a target. POLICE: Stolen license plates are on the rise in Houston As the cafe continues the process of reopening, Henry said she loves the Tomball area and has no plans of moving Mels historic location that her mom built. Henry said they are currently working with the insurance company and plan to open in upcoming months. Charles Weirich Sr. and his wife Mary Weirich first opened the establishment in 1977. Today, it is considered a staple in Tomball by many locals. The restaurant is known for using locally grown and purchased ingredients. Were hoping to get back soon. Comments and love and care they sent us has just meant so much and it keeps us going every day, Henry said. We will be back. COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) A South Carolina grand jury Tuesday charged convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh with two counts of tax evasion after prosecutors reviewed his final years of tax returns before he headed behind bars. The former attorney is currently serving a sentence of life in prison without parole after a jury found him guilty in March of the shooting deaths of his wife and younger son in 2021. From 2011 to 2021, Murdaugh made about $16 million as a lawyer, while stealing about $9 million from his law firm, settlement money for clients and other places, according to indictments. Murdaugh, 54, also faces about 100 other charges, including tax evasion for his 2011 through 2019 returns as well as charges he stole money from clients, ran a drug and money laundering ring and tried to defraud his life insurer into paying a $10 million policy by having a friend kill him. The latest indictments came from Murdaugh's 2020 and 2021 tax returns. In 2020, Murdaugh did not pay more than $67,000 he owed in taxes after making more than $1.1 million from his law firm and an additional $1.1 million through theft and money laundering, prosecutors said. In 2021, Murdaugh should have paid $65,000 in taxes from $86,000 he earned from his law firm and just over $1 million he made illegally, according to the indictment. Murdaugh's wife and son were killed in June 2021 and he rarely worked before his bond on theft and insurance fraud charges were revoked four months later. He would be charged with murder while in jail during the summer of 2022. Prosecutors argued Murdaugh's swirling financial problems led him to kill his 22-year-old son Paul with a shotgun and then his 52-year-old wife Maggie with a rifle outside the kennels at their Colleton County home. Alex Murdaugh then cleaned up the scene, went to visit his ailing mother to try to establish an alibi, then called 911 and reported his wife and son dead when he returned home, prosecutors said. Murdaugh denied killing them when he took the stand in his murder trial, but admitted it was his voice on a video taken by his son at the killings minutes before data showed the victims stopped using their cellphones forever. Murdaugh told the initial investigators several times he was never at the kennels. Murdaugh maintained his innocence as he was sentenced to life in prison without parole and is appealing the convictions. He is currently being held in protective custody at an undisclosed maximum security South Carolina prison. State prosecutors also want to try him on all the other tax evasion, theft, insurance fraud and other charges as soon as they can, although no trial date for those cases has been set. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) A British tobacco company has agreed to pay more than $629 million to settle allegations that it did illegal business with North Korea in violation of U.S. sanctions, the Justice Department said Tuesday. British American Tobacco, one of the largest tobacco companies in the world, entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department, while the companys Singapore subsidiary pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bank fraud and violate sanctions. The London-based BAT said in its own statement that the settlement concerns sales from 2007 through 2017 and that the company has since taken steps to improve its business practices. North Korea faces stringent U.S. and international sanctions going back nearly two decades for its nuclear weapons program and development of intercontinental ballistic missiles. Pyongyang has continued to research and test more nuclear weapons. It has also worked to evade sanctions with the cooperation of allies like China and illicit trade with barred countries and companies. Smuggled tobacco products are regarded as a major source of revenue for North Korea's nuclear and weapons of mass destruction programs, the Justice Department said. The penalty is the largest arising from North Korea sanctions violations in the Justice Department's history, said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen. This case and others like it do serve as a warning shot to companies, companies that support rogue regimes like North Korea through their activities that they have to have compliance programs, compliance programs that prevent these kinds of activities from taking place, he said. BAT admitted as part of the settlement that it continued to do tobacco business in North Korea despite stating publicly in 2007 that it no longer had operations with the repressive regime. Prosecutors say a third-party company operating under the control of a BAT subsidiary sold more than $400 million in tobacco products between 2007 and 2017. That money was then funneled back to BAT, the Justice Department said. North Korean purchases of the tobacco occurred through front companies that concealed the connections from U.S. banks that processed the transactions. In a statement, BAT chief executive Jack Bowles said the company regrets the misconduct arising from historical business activities that led to these settlements, and acknowledge that we fell short of the highest standards rightly expected of us. He said the company, whose brands include Lucky Strike, Kent and Pall Mall, had since transformed its ethics and compliance programs. Separately, federal prosecutors disclosed a cigarette trafficking scheme that raised money for North Koreas nuclear weapons program, announcing charges against three men a North Korean banker and two Chinese facilitators. The State Department has announced a reward for information leading to their arrest. British American Tobacco agreed in 2017 to take over Reynolds American Inc., which owned brands like Newport and Camel, creating the world's largest publicly traded tobacco company. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DECATUR, Ga. (AP) Every decision Assata Salim makes for her young son is important. Amid a spike in mass killings, questions of safety were at the top of her mind when choosing a school. Next on her checklist was the schools culture. Salim and her 6-year-old, ChoZen Waters, are Black. In Georgia, where they live, public schools are prohibited from teaching divisive concepts, including the idea that one race is better than another or that states are fundamentally racist. To Salim, the new rules mean public schools might not affirm ChoZens African roots, or accurately portray the United States history of racism. I never want to put his education in the hands of someone that is trying to erase history or recreate narratives, she said. Instead, ChoZen attends a private, Afrocentric school joining kids across the country whose families have embraced schools that affirm their Black heritage, in a country where instruction about race is increasingly under attack. At ChoZens school, Kilombo Academic & Cultural Institute in an Atlanta suburb, photos of Black historical figures hang on the walls. And every single student and teacher identifies as Black or biracial. In recent years, conservative politicians around the country have championed bans on books or instruction that touch on race and inclusion. Books were banned in more than 5,000 schools in 32 states from June 2021 to June 2022, according to free-speech nonprofit PEN America. Instructional bans have been enacted in at least 16 states since 2021. Even when a topic isnt explicitly banned, some teachers say the debates have caused them to back away from controversy. The situation has caused more Black families to leave public schools, opting for homeschooling or private schools that embrace their identity and culture. Public school enrollment of Black students between pre-K and 12th grade has declined each year measured in federal data since 2007. I think it is important to teach those harsh moments in slavery and segregation, but tell the whole story, said Salihah Hasan, a teaching assistant at Kilombo Institute. Things have changed drastically, but there are still people in this world who hate Black people, who think we are still beneath them, and younger children today dont understand that. But that is why it is important to talk about it. Kilombo goes further, focusing on the students' rich heritage, from both Africa and Black America. I want him to know his existence doesnt start with slavery, Salim said of her son. The private, K-8 school occupies the basement of Hillside Presbyterian Church just outside Decatur, an affluent, predominantly white suburb. Families pay tuition on a sliding scale, supplemented by donations. Classrooms feature maps of Africa and brown paper figures wearing dashikis, a garment worn mostly in West Africa. In one class, the students learn how sound travels by playing African drums. The 18-year-old school has 53 students, up a third since the start of the pandemic. Initially, more parents chose the school because it returned to in-person learning earlier than nearby public schools. Lately, the enrollment growth has reflected parents increasing urgency to find a school that wont shy away from Black history. This country is signaling to us that we have no place here, said Mary Hooks, whose daughter attends Kilombo. It also raises a smoke signal for people to come home to the places where we can be nourished. Notably, the student body includes multiple children of public school teachers. Simone Sills, a middle school science teacher at Atlanta Public Schools, chose the school for her daughter in part because of its smaller size, along with factors such as safety and curriculum. Plus, she said, she was looking for a school where all students can feel affirmed in who they are. Before Psalm Barreto, 10, enrolled in Kilombo, her family was living in Washington, D.C. She said she was one of a few Black children in her school. I felt uncomfortable in public school because it was just me and another boy in my class, and we stood out, she said. Racial differences are evident to babies as young as three months, research has shown, and racial biases show up in preschoolers. Kilombo provides a space for kids to talk about their race. Im Blackity, Black, Black! said Robyn Jean, 9, while spinning in a circle. Her sister, Amelya, 11, said their parents taught them about their Haitian American heritage knowledge she thinks all children should have. I want them to know who they are and where they come from, like we do, Amelya said. But in some schools, they cant. Last year, Georgia passed a bill known as the Protect Students First Act, which prohibits schools from promoting and teaching divisive concepts about race. Elsewhere, bills that restrict or prohibit teaching about race- and gender-related topics passed in states including Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. In other states, such as Arkansas, restrictions have come via executive orders. Proponents say the restrictions aim to eliminate classroom discussions that make students feel shame or guilt about their race and the history and actions of their ancestors. The bills have had a chilling effect. One-quarter of K-12 teachers in the U.S. say these laws have influenced their choice of curriculum or instructional practices, according to a report by the RAND Corporation, a global policy think tank. At Kilombo, daily instruction includes conversations about race and culture. Founder Aminata Umoja uses a Black puppet named Swahili to welcome her students, ask how they are doing and start the day with morals and values rooted in their African heritage. The puppet might say: Lets talk about iwa pele. What does that mean? and then one of the children will tell us that it means good character, said Umoja, who teaches kindergarteners through second graders. Teaching life skills and values, Umoja said, has its roots in freedom schools started during the Civil Rights Movement, in response to the inferior sharecroppers education Black Americans were receiving in the South. The school follows academic standards from Common Core for math and language arts and uses Georgias social studies standards to measure student success. But the curriculum is culturally relevant. It centers Black people, featuring many figures excluded in traditional public schools, said Tashiya Umoja, the schools co-director and math teacher. We are giving children of color the same curriculum that white children are getting. They get to hear about their heroes, she-roes and forefathers, she said. The curriculum also focuses on the childrens African heritage. A math lesson, for instance, might feature hieroglyphic numerals. Social studies courses discuss events in Africa or on other continents alongside U.S. history. When she was in public school, Psalm said she only learned about mainstream Black figures in history, such as Barack Obama, Martin Luther King Jr. and Harriet Tubman. Now, she said, she is learning about civil rights activist Ella Baker, journalist Ida B. Wells and pilot Bessie Coleman. Said Psalm: Honestly, I feel bad for any kids who dont know about Black history. Its part of who we are." ___ Data journalist Sharon Lurye contributed reporting from New Orleans. ___ The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Houston Police Department A man has been arrested in connection with the April 11 fatal shooting of a man on an East Downtown street, according to the Houston Police Department. Erick Aguirre, 29, has been charged with murder on suspicion of fatally shooting Elliot Nix, 46, officials said. Aguirre was arrested in Aransas County and extradited to Houston Tuesday. Four inmates escaped from a detention facility in Mississippi Saturday and at least one of them is believed to have fled to Texas after a stolen vehicle linked to the escape was discovered in Harris County, authorities said. The four men formerly were being held at Raymond Detention Center in Hinds County. The detention center from which they escaped was for pretrial detainees who have not been convicted of a crime as they await a court appearance. Early Sunday at the detention center, a supervisor was made aware a head count at the facility was improper and around 12:30 a.m. the facility was completely locked down, Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones said at a news conference. A search later was conducted and a breach was found in a roof. Authorities then confirmed four detainees had gone missing from the facility and the grounds. CRIME: 14-year-old wounded in southeast Houston shooting, police say Further investigation revealed the detainees escaped through the roof around 8:30 p.m. Saturday. We don't believe that they all escaped the roof at the same time, Jones said. ... We believe that they possibly camped out on the roof and departed at different times going in different ways. Officials said the escapees were Dylan Arrington, 22, who had been charged on suspicion of auto theft and being convicted felon in possession of a firearm; Casey Grayson, 24, who had been charged on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and grand larceny; Cory Harrison, 22, who had been charged on suspicion of receiving stolen property; and Jerry Raynes, 51, who had been charged on suspicion of auto theft and business burglary. A white Hinds County public works pickup reportedly was stolen in connection with the escape, and the truck was found Sunday afternoon west of Houston. We just do not know which one of the detainees drove that truck to Texas or how many actually traveled to Texas, Jones said. The Hinds County public works Ford F-150 was found in Spring Valley, Texas, having sustained heavy damage to its front, consistent with crashing through a gate. A witness near the detention center had reported a Hinds County public works truck crashing through a gate around 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Spring Valley is a roughly 7-hour drive from the Raymond Detention Center. HOUSTON: The untold story of Jim McIngvale, the complex man behind Houstons famous Mattress Mack We don't believe all of them traveled to Texas, we believe at least one of the individuals did travel to Texas, Jones said. At this time we do not have any ties or any links with any of the detainees to the Texas area. So, of course, we don't know exactly which one of the detainees it is. We do believe some of these individuals are possibly still in a central Mississippi area. Law enforcement in recent days responded to two other reports possibly related to the escape. There was a homicide and carjacking case Monday night in south Jackson, Mississippi. A pickup was taken and officials have speculated one of the escapees may have been responsible. Limited details were available but the vehicle is a 2011 maroon Dodge Ram 1500. A 2005 red Chevrolet Silverado also was reported stolen from a Hinds County residence at 2:30 a.m. Sunday and it could be connected to the escapees, Jones said in a social media post on Twitter. We are seeking the assistance of other agencies, to include our federal partners, regarding getting these individuals back into custody swiftly and in a timely manner, Jones said. Jones said an administrative and criminal investigation into the events leading up to the escape had been launched. He said there were ongoing staffing issues at the detention center it is some 50 officers short of being fully staffed and repairs still needed at the facility. We are very actively and aggressively looking for these individuals and we hope to get them back into custody soon, Jones said. A Pasadena man was sentenced to more than 18 years in federal prison Tuesday on a drug conviction and for admitting he shot at a Houston police officer during a traffic stop in 2022. Jimmy Caston Bryan, 24, pleaded guilty Oct. 13, 2022, to possessing with intent to distribute meth and to carrying and discharging a gun during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas said in a news release. U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal sentenced Bryan to a 220-month prison term, which combines a 100-month term of for trafficking meth and an additional 120 months for the gun charge. The judge ordered him to serve five years of supervised release after his incarceration. Bryan was initially arrested May 4, 2022, during a traffic stop in the 14300 block of the Gulf Freeway near Astoria in front of an Exxon Gas Station. Two Houston police officers asked Bryan for his ID and registration. Bryan did not comply. The officers ordered him out of the vehicle. As one of the officers opened the car's door, Bryan reached into his waistband, pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and shot the officer, prosecutors said in October 2022. HIGHEST PAID COUNTY EMPLOYEES: Here are top 25 highest-paid Harris County employees based on ranked 2023 salary data The injured officer managed to survive due to his ballistic vest, police officials said in 2022. As a part of the plea agreement, Bryan admitted he shot and struck the HPD officer twice once in the chest and once in the right hip, according to Justice officials. "Thank god for his ballistic vest and flashlight," HPD Chief Troy Finner said at the time of the shooting. "It probably saved his life." The officer and his partner returned fire and struck Bryan, who was taken to an area hospital and then arrested. Folloing the shootout, police found more than 48 grams of meth, heroin, cocaine, MDMA, a digital scale and two additional handguns in Bryan's vehicle. The involved officers were members of the department's Highway Interdiction Unit and both 10-year veterans at the time of the shooting. MORE STORIES FROM JONATHAN LIMEHOUSE: Read more stories from Jonathan Limehouse Prior to the shootout, Bryan had been the subject of a narcotics investigation by a multi-jurisdictional task force that included the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety. He had an active warrant for his arrest, but was free on $100,000 bond, Finner said. Bryan has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be decided in the near future. Almost a year ago, Bryan, a known drug trafficker, shot an HPD officer during a traffic stop, U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani said in the news release. That cruel act carries severe consequences, especially in the federal system, and todays 220-month prison sentence reflects those consequences. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Jalen Randle's family has waited a year to know whether the Houston police officer who killed him will face criminal charges. On Wednesday, family members learned they will wait at least a few weeks longer now that a Harris County grand jury decided to take no action one way or the other on whether to indict Shane Privette in the fatal shooting of the 29-year-old Black man. The decision marks the end of this particular grand jurys period of service. Another set of grand jurors is expected to be picked next week to consider the case again, an official said. District Attorney Kim Ogg called Randles family on Wednesday soon after the jurys decision and explained that it's possible another soon-to-be-assembled panel could make a decision by the end of May, a spokesperson for her office said. CASE EXPLAINER: What to know about Jalen Randle and the Houston cop who could eventually be indicted in his death The family spent several hours on Wednesday huddled in a quiet break room at the criminal courthouse, awaiting word on a decision. Randle's mother led a prayer circle. Evidence from the April 2022 police shooting had been expected to be presented this week to the grand jurors and Randles family had hoped Privette would be indicted. As soon as it became clear that a decision would not be reached, Randle's father, Warren Randle, and others prepared to leave the third floor, where the grand jury typically meets. His disappointment turned to hope. Justice would prevail, he said. "This wasn't the right jury God will send the right jury," he continued, walking into the elevator with several others. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer The district attorneys office statement reiterated that grand juries are comprised of 12 county residents who hear all available evidence in a case. An indictment requires the support of at least nine jurors. In some instances, a grand jury may take no action, meaning the case is unresolved and is presented to a subsequent grand jury, a district attorneys office statement said. ANNIVERSARY PROTESTS: Family commemorates anniversary of Jalen Randle's death by HPD with protests, memorials Defense attorneys with no connection to the Randle case offered differing perspectives Wednesday on what could have prompted the grand jury to arrive at no decision. Jed Silverman, president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, cautioned that what happens inside the grand jury room is confidential by law. He floated the possibility that more evidence was needed, prompting the grand jury to take no action. Evidence required to indict a police officer in someones death is more nuanced, he said. A police officer has defenses that a normal person, a civilian, doesnt have, Silverman said. Another defense lawyer, Murray Newman, who is also a former prosecutor, said the lack of decision was an unusual occurrence and hoped it wasnt an attempt to shop for a grand jury that is likelier to indict even if the evidence does not support it. Its a bad look, unless they have new evidence that the last grand jury was not privy to, Murray said. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Privette, 31, had been indicted once before following accusations that he brutally assaulted a man during an undercover drug bust in 2017. Those charges were dropped two years later after a second grand jury reviewed new, unspecified evidence. WHO WAS JALEN RANDLE?: When HPD killed Jalen Randle, the east Houston community of Pleasantville lost a son The previous indictment for Privette was a regular point of contention at protests that Randle's family and friends have held on a semi-regular basis in the year since his death with another planned Thursday on the street where he was killed. Some activists have said the possibility of a second indictment points to a pattern of violent behavior in Privettes police work. Police union officials said the prior indictment had no bearing on the current case. San Jacinto College has canceled Thursday afternoons in-person activities at its central campus in Pasadena, citing safety concerns related to a nearby memorial service. Representatives at the Grand View Funeral Home, across from San Jacinto College on Spencer Highway, declined to answer questions. An online obituary confirmed that that the funeral home is hosting a visitation at 5 p.m. Thursday for Ramiro Sosa Jr., who was identified as a Bandidos Motorcycle Club member. DEADLY I-45 SHOOTOUT: After Houston area motorcycle shootings, former investigator and motorcyclists warn violence could get worse Sosa died April 14, the same day two motorcyclists were killed and another was injured in a highway shooting in Huntsville. Police had declined to provide the names of the gangs suspected to be involved, but Houston area motorcycle club members and longtime law enforcement members told the Houston Chronicle that they feared the highway shooting, which has a possible link to an earlier shooting in April in Oklahoma City, could lead to violent retaliation. San Jacinto College officials are asking community members to be off campus by 2:30 p.m. More from Samantha Ketterer: Texas Southern University selects Carl B. Goodman as new provost, senior VP of academic affairs Pasadena police officials meanwhile said they are aware of the funeral but do not currently see any public safety issues. A person who answered the phone at Grand View declined to answer questions about the service. They said they did not ask San Jacinto College to cancel classes. Spring is a time homeowners and communities think about freshening up their gardens and planting new trees. Arbor Day is a national holiday celebrating nature and encouraging citizens to plant and nurture trees to help their communities. It is recognized on the last Friday of each April, which this year is the 28th. MORE ON LOCAL: Houston Astros legend Jose Cruz named Grand Marshal for Cinco de Mayo How did Arbor Day begin? Julius Sterling Morton, a newspaper editor and politician, is credited as the founder of Arbor Day. Morton proposed the countrys first Arbor Day resolution, suggesting it be designated and celebrated as a holiday through the Nebraska Legislature Jan. 4, 1872, at the meeting of the State Board of Agriculture. Although it wasn't yet an official holiday, the first Arbor Day celebration was held April 10 of the same year in Nebraska City, during which almost a million trees are said to have been planted. Two years later, Nebraska Gov. Robert W. Furnas recognized the state's first sanctioned Arbor Day, and more than a decade later in 1885, it became a legal holiday. The date later was changed to April 22 in honor of Mortons birthday. Just as in Nebraska, the first Texas celebration of Arbor Day was in a lone city, Temple, in 1889. And, just as in Nebraska, a statewide celebration soon followed. It was held in Austin in 1890 with the goal of encouraging residents to plant trees. By 1920, 45 U.S. states and territories celebrated Arbor Day. In 1949, the Texas Legislature adopted a resolution designating the third Friday in January as Texas Arbor Day. President Richard Nixon made Arbor Day a national holiday in 1970. But it took nearly 20 years for the Texas Legislature to pass a resolution switching Texas Arbor Day to the last Friday in April, to coincide with National Arbor Day. MORE ON LOCAL: Australia's Karen's Diner serving burgers at Houston pop-up on tour However, some states still celebrate Arbor Day on different dates, determined by their best tree-planting weather. I don't have a yard, how can I celebrate Arbor Day? There are many ways to be creative and celebrate Arbor Day in your community aside from planting trees. The Arbor Day Foundation listed many ideas for residents to get involved on their own or in community groups. The suggestions include: Hosting a beach, public park or city cleanup, committing to stop printing materials or signing up for bills and company mailings online to reduce the use of paper, making crafts of trees (without using paper), holding an Arbor Day ceremony to honor neighborhood stewards or hosting a concert, to name a few. Where can I help volunteer to plant trees? Houston has several nonprofit organizations dedicated to caring for and planting trees. Trees for Houston has planted more than 600,000 trees in the Greater Houston area and continually seeks volunteers to pitch in. Other organizations with which volunteers can plant trees include: As is standard since local agencies instituted a wrecker rotation years back, emergency responders at the helm of an East Montgomery County fire engine this weekend used the large vehicle to block traffic so law enforcement could attend to a crash on Interstate 69 South in Splendora. But while the initial wreck was under investigation, a motorist swiped the side of the truck, causing it to sustain heavy damage and rendering it out of service for repairs, according to the Montgomery County Police Reporter. At the same scene, once the road was blocked farther in front of the damaged engine, one motorist went around the roadblock and nearly hit a patrol car. When the scene was nearly clear, another motorist drove by at such a high speed it caused a police SUV to rock in its wake, according to Scott Engle of the Police Reporter. Engle called attention to the weekend crash as well as to the death of a fireman from West who had survived the town's massive explosion a decade ago, only to be killed this year when an 18-wheeler ran into a crash site at which he'd been working to highlight the dangers of drivers ignoring Texas' Move Over or Slow Down law. And Montgomery isn't the only county forced to deal with the issue. Late last year, officials in Carrollton took the issue of drivers speeding through crash scenes into their own hands by purchasing a first-of-its-kind, 80,000-pound mobile barrier that can hold nearly 3,000 gallons of water and be deployed at crash sites to protect first responders, emergency vehicles and crash sites from drivers in speeding vehicles who either don't know or don't care about the Move Over or Slow Down laws. A Harris County deputy recently spoke with KHOU about a driver rear-ending his vehicle at a crash site, despite the deputy blowing his vehicle's horn the entire time, trying to get the driver to slow down. Data released in 2021 by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed how many drivers are not aware of the Move Over or Slow Down law or don't consider it dangerous to speed past roadside emergency workers. All states have such a law, and some 42 percent of AAA survey respondents said they thought ignoring the Move Over law "was somewhat or not dangerous at all to roadside emergency workers." An additional 23 percent said they weren't aware of the law, while of those who did, 15 percent reported "not understanding the potential consequences for violating the law," according to survey results listed by the foundation. Texas' Move Over or Slow Down law was expanded beyond its initial scope to include protections for roadside workers. A new bill recently filed in the Legislature would increase the penalties for speeding through a work zone or crash site. Last week was National Work Zone Awareness Week. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, fewer people were killed or injured in highway work zone crashes last year in Texas, and the majority of those killed were drivers or their passengers. Last year was the first time since 2018 that the number of fatalities decreased, according to TxDOT. Although its encouraging to see a reduction in the number of work zone crashes and fatalities last year, one life lost is too many, said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams, according to a news release. Were calling on all Texas drivers to slow down and stay alert when traveling through work zones. Doing so could save a life, including your own. Move Over or Slow Down law Texas' Move Over or Slow Down law was enacted to protect law enforcement, first responders and roadside construction and maintenance workers on Texas highways. According to TxDOT, the law requires drivers to move over a lane or, when it is not possible to move, slow their vehicle to 20 mph below the posted speed limit. The law applies to drivers approaching: Emergency vehicles Law enforcement vehicles Tow trucks Utility service vehicles TxDOT vehicles Highway construction or maintenance vehicles The law also says drivers must reduce their speed to 5 mph if the posted speed limit is 25 mph or slower. Move Over or Slow Down law penalties According to TxDOT, failing to give emergency and work crews space or to slow down can result in a fine of as much as $200. One of the drivers who sped past the Montgomery County crash scene Saturday was chased, pulled over and issued a citation, Engle said. If there is a crash that causes injury, drivers can be fined as much as $2,000. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) Actor Angelina Jolie, home improvement duo Chip and Joanna Gaines and Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim headlined the list of big names from politics, business, sports and entertainment glamming up a fancy black-tie dinner that President Joe Biden hosted Wednesday for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. Broadway's Lea Salonga, one of the night's entertainers, confessed as she arrived that she was freaking out over the whole experience, allowing, It feels like being in the middle of a fairy tale. Kim, for her part, served up a classic understatement as she strolled in, telling reporters, I heard the foods going to be very good. Jolie wasn't inclined to chat as she arrived in a vintage Chanel jacket and a flowing cream gown, but her date, 21-year-old son Maddox, at least offered that his favorite thing about Seoul was the people. A smattering of politicians made the guest list, too, and most were determinedly on message, talking a lot of shop. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., held forth on infrastructure, debt reduction and the budget. Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., talked abortion rights. Former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, a big Democratic donor from Illinois, talked up plans for the Democratic convention in Chicago in 2024, promising, of course it will go well. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, proudly showed off her traditional hanbok gown, saying it was important to showcase cultural diversity. She added that the big challenge was not to trip over it. Also among the nearly 200 guests were Arthur Blank, a co-founder of Home Depot; Pachinko author Min Jin Lee; and former Major League Baseball pitcher Chan Ho Park. Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah also attended, as did the governors of Delaware, New Jersey and Vermont. On a perfect spring evening, guests entered the White House by strolling through the Jacqueline Kennedy garden in the East Wing and being directed to a cocktail reception before dinner in the East Room, where tables were topped with towering centerpieces of cherry tree boughs in full bloom. On the menu: crabcakes, beef ribs and banana splits. While most guests were strolling in through the garden, Biden and wife Jill welcomed Yoon and wife Kim Keon Hee on a red carpet on the steps of the North Portico, where the president flashed a thumbs-up for the assembled cameras. Kim wore a cream-colored jacket over her gown, which was also creamy. Jill Biden wore a mauve sheath gown by Reem Acra. In their toasts before dinner, President Biden said he believed Yoon's visit had brought two nations even closer together. Yoon, for his part, nodded to Biden's Irish heritage and love of Irish poets. There's an old saying, and Mr. President, this one is also Irish, that goes: A good friend is like a four-leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have, Yoon said, offering a toast to our ironclad alliance. Guests seated at the head table with the presidents and first ladies included Jolie and her son, the Gaineses, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Chloe Kim. The first lady, who oversaw planning for the administration's second state dinner, recruited Korean American celebrity chef Edward Lee to whip up a Korean-inspired menu. Lee is known for putting his Korean stamp on American food. Its not traditional Korean food but just gives you a little hint of Korean flavors, he said this week as the White House previewed the dinner setup. The crabcake appetizer was served with a cabbage, kohlrabi, fennel and cucumber slaw dressed with a vinaigrette made using gochujang, a red chili paste and a bowl of chilled yellow squash soup. The braised beef short rib main course was paired with sorghum-glazed carrots and served on a bed of grits made from butter beans instead of corn. Dessert is a deconstructed banana split, an American classic, featuring lemon bar ice cream, caramelized bananas, fresh berries and mint ginger snap cookie crumble drizzled with a caramel sauce infused with doenjang, a fermented soybean paste. Guests were ushered to the State Dining Room at the other end of the State Floor after dinner for entertainment by Broadway stars Salonga, Norm Lewis and Jessica Vosk. Lewis, for all his experience, said he still gets nervous performing at big events. Oh God, always nerves, he said. But you know what? Its for a good cause and Im very excited to be here. He sang This is the Moment" from Jekyll and Hyde. Yoon got in on the action, singing a rendition of American Pie," one of his favorite songs, to raucous applause. Biden then surprised Yoon with the gift of a guitar signed by Don McLean, who wrote American Pie. One guest who displayed not one ounce of nerves: Schumer, D-N.Y., who wore a navy business suit rather than a tuxedo, and shrugged, This is as tux-ey as I get. Chip Gaines demurred when asked if he had any decorating tips for the White House, but added that for wife Joanna, the white interior and exterior is just her thing. Joanna Gaines' mother is Korean. A state visit, including an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn and a sparkly state dinner, is the highest diplomatic honor the U.S. bestows on its closest allies. Yoon was visiting as the U.S. and South Korea mark the 70th year of an alliance that began at the end of the Korean War and committed the U.S. to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea. Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are currently based in South Korea. Bidens first invitation for a state visit went to France last year and President Emmanuel Macron was toasted at a black-tie dinner last December with more than 300 guests inside a heated pavilion erected on the south grounds of the White House. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) House Republicans pushed their debt ceiling package toward a vote as soon as Wednesday as Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his leadership team huddled with key holdouts late into Tuesday evening, working to ensure they would have majority support for passage. Prospects for the sweeping package were buoyed by a nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analysis showing the Republican plan would reduce federal deficits by $4.8 trillion over the decade if the proposed changes were enacted into law. The House Republican plan would lift the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion into 2024 in exchange for steep budget cuts Democrats and even some Republicans oppose. President Joe Biden has threatened to veto the bill. McCarthy declined to say late Tuesday whether he had the 218 votes needed from his slim majority in the face of Democratic opposition. No roll call was yet scheduled, and voting could drag into the coming days. This week, we will pass the bill on this floor, McCarthy told reporters. The Republican speaker's office at the U.S. Capitol became a revolving door of lawmakers coming and going, including a contingent of Iowa lawmakers believed to have concerns over gutting clean energy tax breaks for biofuels. With 222 Republicans in the majority, and absences expected this week, McCarthy has almost no votes to spare. While the 320-page package has almost no chance of becoming law, McCarthy is using it as a strategy to shake up the debate. Biden has so far refused to engage with the House Republicans on what the White House calls hostage taking over the debt ceiling. McCarthy hopes passage will kickstart talks with Democrats. McCarthy acknowledged after the rounds of closed-door meetings that not all House Republicans were fully on board with the proposal. He dismissed questions about certain provisions that drew concerns. Instead, he insisted that passing this bill would be merely a starting point for negotiations with Biden and Democrats, and not the final product. Theres a number of members that will vote for it going forward and say there are some concerns they have, he said. But he said they will also say they are ready to vote anyway: They want to make sure the negotiation goes forward. From the White House, the administration said the president would veto the bill. Biden dismissed the Republican ideas as the same old trickle down economics down dressed up in MAGA clothing, a reference to the Trump-era Make America Great Again" slogan that has come to represent the more extreme elements in the Republican Party. To default would be totally irresponsible, Biden said at an event Tuesday after announcing his reelection campaign. It's a first big test for the president and the Republican speaker, coming at a time of increased political anxiety about the need to raise the federal debt limit, now at $31 trillion, to keep paying the country's already accrued debts. The Treasury Department is taking extraordinary measures to pay the bills, but funding is expected to run out this summer. Economists and experts warn that even the threat of a federal debt default would send shockwaves through the economy. This economic catastrophe is preventable, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a speech Tuesday. The solution is simple: Congress must vote to raise or suspend the debt limit. It should do so without conditions. And it should not wait until the last minute. To push the bill to passage Wednesday or later this week, McCarthy was working to unite the five families the often warring factions of the House Freedom Caucus and others that make up the House Republican majority. In exchange for raising the debt limit by $1.5 trillion into 2024, the bill would rollback federal spending to fiscal 2022 levels and cap future spending at 1% a year for the next decade. The package would also impose tougher work requirements on recipients of food stamps and government aid, halt Biden's plans to forgive up to $20,000 in student loans and end the landmark renewable energy tax breaks Biden signed into law last year. It would tack on a sweeping Republican bill to boost oil, gas and coal production. Theres been a lot of fruitful conversations and were confident were going to get it passed, said Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., the vice chairman of the House Republican conference, exiting McCarthy's office. Lawmakers were negotiating late into the evening Tuesday on last-minute changes. Lawmakers for Iowa and other Midwestern states had concerns about rescinding new tax breaks on biofuels, while a member of the Freedom Caucus wanted more changes to bolster work requirements. Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., the chairman of the Freedom Caucus, said he was waiting to see the final product. Another Freedom Caucus member, Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., said hes leaning no on voting for the bill. Hes aiming for bigger spending cuts than those being considered. There's a lot of questions, said Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, the chairman of the powerful Republican Study Committee. But Hern said McCarthy let the caucus leaders know, "Hes not changing the bill. Senators have been bystanders in the debate, but are awaiting next steps. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the Republican bill a wish-list straight out of the Freedom Caucus playbook. It might as well be called the Default On America Act because thats exactly what it is: DOA. But Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said, "Its time for President Biden to stop the partisan stubbornness, join Speaker McCarthy at the grown-ups table, and get talking. On Tuesday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said if the changes proposed in the bill were carried out it would shave $4.8 trillion off the deficit over the next decade, with large chunks coming from ending the student loan forgiveness and green energy tax breaks. ___ Associated Press writers Kevin Freking, Colleen Long and Fatima Hussein contributed to this report. MEXICO CITY (AP) Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Tuesday said he is not seeking political asylum in the United States and has not ruled out the possibility of running in a presidential primary in his homeland planned for October. Guaido spoke to The Associated Press by phone from Miami, where he arrived on a commercial flight that departed Colombias capital Monday night, hours after he crossed the border between that country and Venezuela with the intent of meeting with diplomats and other participants of an international conference focused on Venezuelas political crisis. I will have work meetings and obviously also time to assess the security situation among other things, he said. I am not requesting political asylum at this time. His remarks came after Colombian authorities said he was subject to an administrative process for having crossed the border without getting his passport stamped upon entry. Colombian President Gustavo Petro insisted Guaido was not deported and traveled to the United States with permission from that country. Guaido told the AP the U.S. government intervened when he was threatened with deportation after he crossed the border and intended to take a flight from Cucuta, a Colombian city near the border, to Bogota. Basically, there was a threat that this could be grounds for deportation, he said. That was via telephone (with) diplomatic officials... It was thanks to the mediation of the United States that in my case I feel that I was not deported. He said a U.S. government official handed him the ticket to Miami after Colombian immigration agents escorted him to the airport in Bogota. His wife and two daughters remain in Venezuela, for which he is deeply worried. He said he is exploring all options regarding their future. Guaido became one of the most recognizable figures of Venezuelas opposition after the re-election of President Nicolas Maduro in 2018 was deemed a sham by several countries. Guaido, in his position as head of Venezuelas National Assembly, declared himself interim president in 2019 with the backing of dozens of nations, including the U.S., and ran a parallel government. But his popularity has waned since then and opposition lawmakers voted in January to strip him of that role and instead appoint a committee to run that government. Guaido has recently been campaigning ahead of a planned October primary in which the opposition intends to choose a single candidate to face off against Maduro in a presidential election next year. On Tuesday, he said the primary continues to be a very important objective in the short term. At this moment, I have this situation of persecution, and to rule out anything at this moment would simply be to accept the conditions of a dictatorship, he said in reference to his participation in the primary. On the contrary, we are fighting for conditions for all. Guaido had recently denounced an increase in threats against him in Venezuela. Until Monday, Guaido had not left his country since 2020. Maduros government has filed almost three dozen cases against Guaido since he declared himself interim president. The alleged crimes range from usurpation of functions, corruption, money laundering and public incitement to disobey the law, to conspiracy with foreign governments and terrorism. Tuesdays international conference organized by Petro was meant to jumpstart official dialogue between Maduros government and his adversaries. The formal negotiations between both sides guided by Norwegian diplomats and hosted by Mexico stalled at the end of last year. Colombias Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva on Monday said Guaido was not invited to the conference, which was attended by representatives of the U.S. as well as Latin American and European countries. Guaido had said he planned sideline meetings with delegates. Petro and Maduro have said they would seek an end to economic sanctions that the U.S. imposed on Venezuela. At the of the five-hour conference, which was not attended by representatives of Maduro or his adversaries, Leyva read a brief statement in which he said participants agreed it is necessary for Venezuelas government and opposition parties to set an electoral calendar that ensures free and fair conditions for all involved. Levya also said participants found consensus around lifting sanctions if there is progress in negotiations. Venezuelas complex social, political and economic crisis has driven more than 7 million to migrate, mostly to Latin American and Caribbean countries. The largest share more than 2 million live in Colombia, which under the administration of Petros predecessor, Ivan Duque, offered many of them a variety of benefits, including 10-year permits. Duque was one of Maduros strongest critics and had no diplomatic relations with Venezuelas government. But Petro, Colombias first leftist president, reestablished diplomatic and commercial relations with Venezuela after he was sworn in in August and has met with Maduro four times in person. Migrants and people who live near the border go from one country to the other every day without getting their passports stamped both through official crossing bridges and illegal dirt roads and face no consequences. Guaido, who has continuously criticized Petros policies toward Maduro, said Mondays threat of deportation was purely a political move against him. A Venezuelan crossing the border looking for food, food, shelter, protection from a dictatorship is not a novelty at all, he said. So I believe that this undoubtedly establishes a position on the part of President Petro and his government... If the president wants to be the interlocutor of the dictator, then that will be his role." South Florida is home to a large Venezuelan community that began to arrive mainly after Maduros predecessor, Hugo Chavez, rose to power in 1999. From there, Guaido said, he will keep fighting to make our vote count. Regarding "Texas GOP eyes separation of church and state in schools after Supreme Court prayer ruling," (April 24): Texans love their Constitution or maybe just the Second Amendment. They love it so much that even when an AR-15 blows the head off a small child, it is more important to have access to that AR-15 than, well, you can figure it out. Now we are going to forget about the separation of church and state by putting a Ten Commandments replica in all classrooms? The next step is forced prayer. What happened to the love of the Constitution? Not everyone is Christian. Not everyone cares about the Ten Commandments. Want to say your prayers? Do it at home. The home where if you want to teach abstinence to your children, you can do it, and where you can keep your children from reading the books that you don't want other people's children to read. Respect the Constitution, for real. Or maybe it really is time to secede. Serena Tripi, Kingwood This article focuses on the fact that the Republicans in our state Legislature are busy crafting bills that would put a copy of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom, and allow for prayer and Bible-reading sessions to take place on those campuses. The reality is that every bit of this flies in the face of what our Founding Fathers had in mind as they worked in Philadelphia drafting our Constitution. In that process, they cast aside the idea of being a secular nation with a state-sponsored religion. By design, we were to be a secular nation that welcomed all religions while favoring none. Based on this constitutional structure, one must ask, are our elected representatives unaware of its existence, or are they proceeding in spite of it to placate their supporters? Asking further, in the interest of equal treatment, shall we post the Commandments laid out in the Koran and furnish classrooms with prayer mats so that Muslim students can drop down on their knees in prayer to Allah? It is hard to escape the impression that none of this has registered with our GOP lawmakers in Austin. Marty Adams, Houston Now the Texas governor and Legislature want the Ten Commandments posted on all classroom walls. If parents and legislators want kids to learn the Ten Commandments, send them to church! Public schools are for learning reading, writing and arithmetic. School budgets need to be used for buying learning aids for the classroom, not for religious plaques. And do we really want teachers having to teach and explain to young students what adultery is? Or defining covet and graven in the text of the Commandments? Come on, stop trying to take the attention away from issues that really matter in schools, such as gun violence and teacher salaries. Julie Clark, Houston With around 4,200 religions in the world, Im wondering how the Texas GOP expects teachers to find the time to make sure that all beliefs and faiths are given equal time in the regular school day. Will they be required to provide studies of Roman Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, and Baha'i? Or the many denominations of Protestantism? Should the students learn equally about the Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Unitarians, Mormons, Church of Christ, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mennonites, Hutterites, Amish, Evangelicals and so on? As Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the country, surely there will be students of many different faith backgrounds attending our schools. If the Texas GOP intends to require only Bible study, how will they decide which translation is most appropriate? The King James? New American Standard? Common English? New International? I kind of wish they had thought of this when I was in school, since we wouldnt have had time to learn useless things like history, math, literature or science. Nancy Etheridge, Houston I recoiled in horror but not disbelief this morning as I read the latest installment of forcing one view of Christianity on Texas schoolchildren. Forcing the display of the Ten Commandments in every schoolroom and requiring schools to host prayer and Bible reading for students smacks of forced state religion, while allowing chaplains to serve as school counselors is a full-blown assault on the Constitution and separation of church and state. If parents want their children to have religion or a religious environment in the schools, then they can pay for that privilege by sending them to private or parochial schools while the rest of us pay taxes for a secular environment in which our children can learn. I have never complained about school taxes while my own children attended private schools, but I will surely begin to fight against my property taxes going towards a religious education in taxpayer-supported public schools. Their sole purpose is to educate all children, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof. Mary M. Fusillo, Houston On April 27, a large number of representatives from the U.S. State Department, former U.S. ambassadors to Israel, Middle East experts, notable Zionist individuals and heads of powerful Zionist organizations devoted to Israel advocacy will hold a conference at Rices Baker Institute of Public Policy to mark the 75th year of Israels existence. For many people, including me, the anniversary is nothing to celebrate. During the 1948 Palestine War, Zionist and Israeli forces expelled or forced the flight of between 700,000 and 800,000 Palestinians, grabbing their land, turning them into homeless refugees, and thereby decimating the economic, political and social fabric of Palestine. The American people, politicians and compassionate people everywhere deserve to know the truth about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and about its origin, present and future. I am one of the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians forced from our homeland. We confronted oppression, marginalization and historical erasure to make room for a new Jewish state to be erected on our land, a humanitarian calamity beyond imagination. In Arabic, Al Nakba: the Catastrophe. In November 1947, the Anglo-Zionist colonial project to deny the Palestinian past and destroy its present and future was realized by UN Resolution 181, which recognized the state of Israel. I vividly remember listening to radio broadcasts announcing the list of countries recognizing the state of Israel on our land. My mother exclaimed, Oh my God! How could it be that our people, who never attacked anyone, nor did any harm to anyone, how and why in one day, have all the nations of all the world suddenly turned against us? This illustrates the power of lobbying and its influence on manipulating even the smartest and most decent politician to ultimately secure any shameful outcome. The Zionist lobby of that era included Theodor Herzl, Chaim Weizmann, Lord Rothschild and David Ben-Gurion, who successfully pressured world leaders President Harry Truman, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Lord Balfour and even Joseph Stalin. Palestinian voices were either not heard or dismissed. A Palestinian lobby didnt exist. Yes, we might have had a poet or a clergyman or a schoolteacher who spoke to some people here and there. But world political leaders, especially of the colonial superpowers, were more attuned to the demands of the Zionist lobbyists, and they hardly heard about Palestinian concerns. Zionism, the idea of establishing a national homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine, resonated with world leaders because of the relentless persecution, oppression, humiliation and suffering vilely inflicted upon them by various European nations and Russia. The European nations and the Soviet Union washed their centuries-long sinful history of oppression against the Jewish people with our Palestinian blood. The state of Israels ambition to annex more Palestinian land and expel more Palestinians from their homes continues to be a full-time project. It was largely encouraged, protected and funded by the government of the United States, as well as supporters of Zionist causes. How much more suffering should the Palestinian people endure before the superpowers start thinking of a permanent, peaceful and lasting normalcy based on international law and human dignity? How many more Palestinians should be displaced from their land to make room for additional Jewish settlements? And when will the government of the United States quit abusing its veto power in each and every Security Council resolution to block any chance for justifiable action? By some calculations, as of 2022, Palestinians constitute almost 21 percent of Israel proper. And in the contested area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea which includes the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, East Jerusalem Palestinians are the majority of the population, 51 percent, with a population of 7.5 million. Amnesty International has found that in Israel, Palestinians are treated as an inferior racial group and systematically deprived of their rights. If this is not apartheid, what is? The ideologically driven Zionist concept of creating a purely Jewish state has proven impossible to achieve. The allies and supporters of Israel, as well as all peace and justice seekers, should adopt, promote and finance a policy of coexistence between all peoples in the region based on justice, international law and human dignity. It would be a great favor for the Jewish people in Israel and everywhere, as well as for the Palestinian people and more so for human dignity. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Months of protests from Asian Americans and civil rights groups have forced the Texas Senate into a major retreat on legislation that originally sought to ban Chinese citizens from buying any land in the state, even if they are legal, permanent residents. The bill passed by the Texas Senate on Wednesday still bars citizens of China and three other nations from buying agricultural land, oil and gas land, timberland or mining land in Texas, but it doesnt apply to legal residents from those countries, like green-card holders and people with dual citizenship. COLLEGE SHIFT: Texas Senate passes bill to kill diversity, equity and inclusion programs Originally the bill by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, would have prevented any citizens of those countries from buying any land in Texas out of fear they presented a national security threat. But that triggered protests all over the state, including around Houston where many called the bill racist and xenophobic. Now, even if it becomes law, citizens of China, Russia, North Korea and Iran will still be allowed to buy homes and businesses in Texas, with the exception of key natural resources. "This bill has changed a lot," Kolkhorst said Wednesday just before the Senate voted 19-12 to pass the bill. It now goes to the Texas House, where it must also pass in order to go to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature. Abbott has already said he will sign the legislation into law if they send it to him. The changes to the bill were not enough for critics who say it still sends the wrong message by stirring up dangerous, unfounded distrust of American citizens who might originally have family or are themselves from those countries. "We've got to quit dividing our society," said state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston. Even if the intent is to go after the Chinese government or the North Korean government, Whitmire said the result is creating more suspicion of people of Asian descent in this country based on their appearance, and because many people can't separate the actions of the Chinese government from those of the people. "Those are nothing but signals to disturbed people," Whitmire said. "Words matter." State Rep. Gene Wu, a Houston Democrat whose family is from China, said despite the changes, the bill still is a major problem. "National security is a serious issue, but if we are concerned about the actions of foreign governments, then legislation should only affect foreign governments and their agents, Wu said. Labeling every person from a nation as an agent of that government is not only unjust, but is also counterintuitive given the number of asylum-seekers and refugees that our nation welcomes from those same counties." Kolkhorst pushed back on the criticism, saying she's not trying to divide anyone, but is driven entirely by concern of hostile governments buying land that is important to industries that affect national security interests. "Protecting our farmland, protecting our natural resources is the right thing to do at the right time," she said. A day earlier, Kolkhorst explained during more than two hours of debate that she struggled to find a way to prevent people who want to do harm to the nation from buying land, while also protecting the ability of people fleeing those nations to pursue their American dreams. Striking the balance here has been hard, Kolkhorst said. Kolkhorst said the legislation would help strengthen our food security, our energy security and our national security, by limiting people from countries on the federal governments Annual Threat Assessments from buying land that is vital to the U.S. Currently, Russia, China, North Korea and Iran are on that threat list. Kolkhorst said instead of identifying specific countries, she wanted the legislation to include other threats in the future if other nations are deemed a danger to the U.S. Attorneys for Pappas Restaurants on Wednesday temporarily pulled their request for a judge to void the city's new Hobby Airport contract with a competing company. Rachel Hooper, the restaurant chain's lawyer, had asked Judge Tamika Craft-Demming to delay a hearing on that request for a few days to give the sides more time to arrange witnesses and review evidence. Hooper said the city missed its deadline to hand over documents by two days, and only made available two of the company's eight requested city workers as witnesses. Craft-Demming, though, said the court had rearranged its schedule to accommodate the hearing Wednesday, and the judge denied the attempt to delay the hearing twice. Hooper then pulled the Pappas effort to void the contract, saying the company's case would be harmed if it was forced to continue without all of the evidence and witnesses. The restaurant group's lawsuit remains active, but it will have to file a new request for a court order later. BACKGROUND: Pappas sues Houston over Hobby Airport deal, citing call from former mayoral aide during bid process The result is an indefinite delay in the high-profile case. Craft-Demming said she does not know when Pappas will be able to get a new hearing date, given the court's busy schedule. Hooper said she does not have a timeline for when she will file a new request but acknowledged there is urgency. Pappas is due to leave Hobby by May 11. "I know when our move-out date is," Hooper said. Pappas has alleged the city failed to follow its procurement standards in awarding a 10-year, $470 million food and beverage contract to Areas, a subsidiary of a Spanish company, and its local partners in March. A judge denied Pappas' request to keep the restaurants in place at the airport as the case plays out. It has asked the court to throw out the city's agreement with Areas. The company waged a monthlong public campaign to keep its lucrative foothold at the airport. The city's decision came after three separate rounds of bidding on the contract over four years, an unusually protracted process. Before City Council's vote, the company hired lobbyists to persuade council members, circulated a petition among supporters and changed the banners on its restaurants to make its case to stay. "The city says the procurement process was followed, you just need to accept it," Hooper said at one point during Wednesday's half-hour hearing. "Well, we don't accept it." Attorneys for the city and Areas declined comment as they left the courtroom Wednesday, and the mayor's office did not respond to a request for comment. The delay came as the two sides traded a flurry of requests before the judge, and sparred over the witnesses and evidence needed to proceed. "You guys have been filing away," Craft-Demming said when she took the bench. City attorneys had asked the judge to dismiss the case for a lack of jurisdiction. They argued the city's governmental immunity, which shields the city from most lawsuits, had not been waived, meaning the trial court does not have jurisdiction to hear the case. Craft-Demming said she would not rule on that request Wednesday, deferring it for a later hearing. RELATED: Houston council ousts Pappas from Hobby Airport, giving deal to new group after month-long debate The attorneys for Areas, meanwhile, asked the judge to close the courtroom to the public during the main hearing, arguing sensitive business information could become public otherwise. Craft-Demming had not yet reached that request before the delay. Hooper told the judge the city released 10,000 documents on Sunday night two days after the Friday deadline and labeled too many of them as confidential, which meant they could be reviewed only by attorneys. She later won a request to have procurement experts review those documents. "They got what they asked for," said Ben Stephens, an attorney representing Areas. "If they didn't want as much discovery, they could have targeted (their requests) for less." Stephens described the case as a sweeping, meritless lawsuit that is distracting Areas from its work to begin operations at the airport. He and city attorneys said Hooper had not shared her list of witnesses and exhibits prior to Wednesday's hearing, also violating their agreement. Hooper said the city only agreed to make available a few of the eight city workers Pappas requested. They included: Mayor Sylvester Turner and Andy Icken, the city's chief of economic development, both of whom are on a trade mission in Brazil; Controller Chris Brown and Councilmember Mike Knox, both of whom attended Wednesday's City Council meeting; and Mario Diaz, the director of the Houston Airport System. Chief Procurement Officer Jedediah Greenfield and procurement staffers Valerie Player-Kaufman and Libby Hurley were at the hearing. Brian Amis, an attorney for the city, said four of those officials are so-called "apex" witnesses high-level employees who generally have better protection from subpoenas. WASHINGTON In testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, one of the five women suing Texas for abortion access blamed the states Republican senators for her near-death experience when she was denied reproductive care in the state. BACKGROUND: 5 women sue Texas, saying its abortion ban put themselves or their fetuses at risk I nearly died on their watch, Amanda Zurawski said, naming U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, who both sit on the committee. And furthermore, as a result of what happened to me, I may have been robbed of the opportunity to have children in the future and its because of the policies they support. Neither Cornyn nor Cruz were in the hearing when Zurawski addressed them, noting their regrettable absence. At another point in the hearing, Cornyn suggested her case was medical malpractice. Cruz did not address her case during his questioning of witnesses and his office did not respond to a request for comment. The 35-year-old Austin resident has become one of the most high-profile figures in the fight for abortion access since it was outlawed in Texas after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. She is one of five women suing the state to clarify when exactly physicians can provide abortions during dangerous or unviable pregnancies. The states ban allows for exceptions only when there is substantial risk to a mother or if a fetus has a fatal diagnosis. But many doctors and hospitals have been fearful of intervening even when there is a clear danger because of the stiff penalties for anyone who violates the ban, including potential prison sentences of up to 99 years, tens of thousands of dollars in fines and the loss of medical licenses. Zurawski was 17 weeks pregnant when she was diagnosed with a condition called cervical insufficiency, which had caused her to dilate too soon for her baby to survive. The morning after her water broke, Zurawski still hadnt gone into labor, but doctors in the emergency room told her there was nothing they could do for her because the baby still had a heartbeat. Zurawksi later developed sepsis, a life-threatening condition, and the hospital agreed to perform the abortion. After delivering and losing her daughter, Willow, Zurawski developed a secondary infection and was entered into the intensive care unit, where she spent three days. Zurawsi testified that she is still dealing with paralyzing trauma from the preventable harm she suffered, which she said has already made it harder for me to get pregnant again. I may have been one of the first who was affected by the overturning of Roe in Texas, but I certainly will not be the last, she said. You have the power to fix this, she said, addressing the panel of senators. You owe it to me and to Willow and to every other person who may become pregnant in this country to protect our right to safe and accessible health care, emergency or no emergency. Your job is to protect the lives of the people who elected you, not endanger them. Cornyn addressed Zurawskis case at another point in the hearing. He asked a Texas-based obstetrician/gynecologist also testifying before the committee whether the way her doctor handled her pregnancy was a deviation of the standard of care. Back many years ago, I used to handle medical malpractice cases, said Cornyn, a former judge. And usually when a medical expert says that what a doctor did violated the standard of care, that gave rise to a cause of action for medical malpractice. 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. Chicago, IL (60637) Today Windy with rain likely. High 46F. Winds WNW at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 41F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Higher wind gusts possible. 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. North Adams Vacant Downtown Window Art Project NORTH ADAMS, Mass. This June, North Adams' downtown vacant storefront windows are set to receive a new collection of artwork from local artists, with the intention of beautifying the city. Existing artwork will be printed on banners which will fill each available street-level window. Artists from all mediums including, but not limited to drawing, painting, graphic design, fiber, ceramics, sculpture, photography, are encouraged to apply, and will receive a stipend for their contributions if their work is selected. "These banners are an amazing way for local artists to gain recognition for their art, and they add so much life to the empty windows downtown", said Anna Farrington, one of the program organizers and a downtown gallery owner. The empty storefront banners have been beautifying downtown North Adams since the summer of 2019. The program was inspired by a similar initiative implemented in the city of Cambridge and the first round of banners was installed as an extension of the MCLA DownStreet Art events. "The window banners are the perfect opportunity to support and highlight local artists and current/former MCLA students, all of whom contribute leaps and bounds to our local economy and make North Adams the creative and unique place it is.", said Nicholas Rigger, Assistant Director of MCLA Arts & Culture. Placement of this year's window art will be on Main and Eagle Streets. The purpose of this program is to unite artists and businesses to help create a more vibrant downtown North Adams. "It's an honor to be involved as a producer and supporter of this project. I can clearly envision a (near) future where all storefronts in downtown North Adams are filled and bustling with local businesses, residents and visitors," said Andrew Fitch, who helps produce this program and has donated nine windows of one of his buildings for the program's use this year. "Until all of our downtown commercial spaces are renovated and activated, I think it's important to fill the windows with expressions of hope and creativity." The iniciative is supported by 1Berkshire and the City of North Adams. This year, 1Berkshire launched a new pilot program to support the installation of printed vinyl artwork in vacant downtown buildings in Berkshire communities. The City of North Adams successfully applied for this grant, and secured building windows for art placement. Mayor of North Adams, Jennifer Macksey said, "We are extremely thankful for our local artists and all they bring to our City,"Mayor Jennifer Macksey said. "This project is something to be proud of and we couldn't make it happen without the generous business owners donating their windows. I look forward to viewing this year's Vacant Window Art." Artists with a strong connection to North Adams are encouraged to apply for this program by submitting 1-3 examples of their existing art by Wednesday, May 10. Submission details: The City of North Adams is seeking artists to fill vacant and/or under-utilized storefront windows with reproduction files of original artwork. Artists from all mediums including, but not limited to drawing, painting, graphic design, fiber, ceramics, sculpture, photography, are encouraged to apply. Artwork will be two-dimensionally printed on vinyl banners and installed in storefront windows. Therefore, if not already digital, artwork must be digitized with the understanding of the display method. Submissions must be high-resolution JPEG attachments and artists are allowed to submit up to three (3) works for consideration. Thirteen artists will be chosen and each artist will receive an honorarium of $200. All installation and production costs will be completed by the city at no cost to the artist. By submitting, you agree to provide us with a high-resolution image for production. Image file(s) will need to be greater than 2 megabytes. In addition, selected artists agree to allow their artwork to be used in promotional materials by the City of North Adams. Upon the end of the window installation, the City will retain ownership of the vinyl banners. All submissions must be made to tourism@northadams-ma.gov and include: Name Artist's connection to North Adams Email Phone Number Artist statement (2-4 sentence paragraph) Link to an online portfolio, website, or social media link to post on signage JPEG image submission of work(s). Up to three (3) images Timeline April 22: Open Call Begins May 10: Deadline for Submission May 12: Decision Notification 2nd Street to Host Berkshire Harm Reduction Mobile Unit PITTSFIELD, Mass. 2nd Street will host the Berkshire Harm Reduction Mobile Unit on Friday, April 28 from 1-2 pm. Supported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Berkshire Harm Reduction Program at Berkshire Medical Center provides vital services to the community, including testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV, and Hepatitis C; sharps disposal and syringe service; overdose prevention education and naloxone distribution; and referral to additional community support services. The mobile unit travels across the Berkshires to provide services in a supportive and nonjudgmental manner in areas where transportation is challenging for the client. All services are free and do not require proof of insurance. "The primary goal of Berkshire Harm Reduction programs is to reduce the negative consequences associated with substance use. This includes reducing overdose deaths and stopping the spread of infectious disease such as HIV and hepatitis," said Berkshire Harm Reduction Program Manager Sarah DeJesus. "Transportation is often a barrier for people to access these services, so the mobile unit is able to bring services into the community. The 2nd St. location has been a valuable resource in improving care, access and treatment." The Berkshire Harm Reduction program provides: Adams Community Bank Holds Annual Meeting ADAMS, Mass. The annual meeting of the Community Bancorp of the Berkshires, MHC, the parent company of Adams Community Bank, was held on April 12, 2023, at Charles H. McCann Technical School in North Adams. The meeting included a review of the 2022 financial statements for the Bank, highlighting another year of growth in assets, loans, deposits, and net income. During his remarks, Charles O'Brien, President and CEO of Adams Community Bank, presented an overview of the year's results. "Adams Community Bank reached record levels in many key areas, including growth in assets, loans, and deposits to $931 million, $751 million, and $797 million, respectively," he said. "Plus, we achieved record net income levels in 2022 as earnings totaled $5.1 million, an increase of about one million from last year." Upon the retirement of long-time Directors Jay O'Connor and Bernie Pinsonnault, Board Chair Jeff Grandchamp acknowledged their input, guidance, and leadership to the Bank during the past 25 years. A newly elected board director, John Sinopoli, was introduced and welcomed. Sinopoli is President and CEO of Synagex, an IT-managed services and cybersecurity company. O'Brien stated, "We are very pleased to have John join as a new director; his extensive exposure to the financial sector and his IT and cybersecurity expertise will be an indispensable asset to the Bank," O'Brien said. Sinopoli earned a BS from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell in Information Technology with a minor in business. Also, he holds an Executive Certificate from the MIT Sloan School of Management. The Bank continued its strategic plan of expanding its physical footprint in Berkshire County by opening the Pittsfield branch in December 2022. A Great Barrington branch is slated for late 2023. ACB's footprint will cover communities along the northern border with Vermont and extend southerly to Great Barrington. North Adams City Councilor Found in Violation of Open Meeting Law NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The City Council was found to be in violation of Open Meeting Law regarding an email sent by Councilor Keith Bona last fall. Councilor Marie T. Harpin filed the complaint after Bona relayed a message from David Carver, a real estate developer, about the tax shift the council was debating to all its members and to the media. Bona is chair of the Finance Committee and said he thought it important that his fellow councilors receive the email and a summary of the phone conversation he had with Carver before the council meeting of Nov. 22 The tax shift had been discussed at a previous City Council meeting and then at a Finance Committee meeting. Harpin, in her complaint, called the communication a deliberation of a City Council issue and an "intentional violation" because she felt Bona was expressing an opinion. The Attorney General's Office agreed, stating that Bona's argument that he was passing on "facts" and the developer's opinion were "unavailing." Assistant Attorney General Mary L. Nguyen noted that there are several exemptions to the definition of deliberations, including distributing schedules, agendas and reports and documents "provided that no opinion of a member is expressed." "We find that Councilor Bona's email, and specifically his statements to all the members of the Council when he forwarded the developer's email, did not fit within any of the exemptions to the definition of deliberation," she wrote. Bona had provided commentary with Carver's message, including that he brought up "a good example" of how higher taxes might lead nonprofits to buy rather than rent space, affecting the tax base. Any communications between a quorum outside a narrow exception constitutes a deliberation, Nguyen wrote, "even if no other members respond." "To the extent that the Councilor argues that his remarks were merely 'facts,' the Law's definition of 'deliberation' is not limited to opinion or decision-making communications and includes updates on matters to be discussed by the public body or matters that had previously been discussed by the public body and are still pending before it." Nguyen ordered the City Council to comply with the Open Meeting Law in the future but noted that the full council had read the email into the record at Nov. 22 meeting "to remedy the violation." No further relief was ordered. Harpin read the findings at Tuesday night's City Council meeting, pointing to the need for transparency after residents had raised concerns for more than an hour about being kept in the dark about plans for locating homeless families at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. "I think that it's something that we can look at as a committee, at the community level, and as the City Council and as administration to better serve the public," she said. "We are elected officials. We are here and actually required to be an open government and our decisions and our deliberations need to be done in public meetings. That's the requirement of the law. "So, hopefully, this was a learning experience in this City Council can go forward." Determination - 4-25-2023 - Oml 2023-65 - North Adams City Council by iBerkshires.com on Scribd iciHaiti - UN : Dominican national security threatened by violence in Haiti Tuesday, the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement that Wednesday, April 26, 2023, during his intervention at the UN Security Council, Chancellor Roberto Alvarez "will reiterate the country's position on the alarming levels of insecurity that affect the Haitian population and threaten the national security of the Dominican Republic." Already last January, Alvarez in a speech before the Security Council had highlighted the complex situation that exists on the border between the two countries and the threat that the Haitian crisis poses to the Dominican Republic and the measures that his government was obliged to take. take to limit the impact that the violence and the institutional deterioration of Haiti have on the Dominican territory, while criticizing the international inaction in the face of the crisis in Haiti and again called for the dispatch of an intervention force quick army to help fight the gangs. IH/ iciHaiti Want to have your say? See the latest thought leadership from the Foundry editorial brands that you know and trust, including CIO, CSO, Computerworld, InfoWorld and Network World. Members have the opportunity to participate in real-time live chat sessions, polls, surveys and discussion boards. Founded in 2020 by a 22-year-old entrepreneur, Thara Pauline Advincula, Carthal Manila has come a long way in just three years. Carthal Manila, a Philippine-based social media agency, is proud to celebrate its third anniversary that it has become a trusted partner for businesses of all sizes across industries. Carthal Manila is more than just a digital marketing agency - it's a story of perseverance, passion, and progress. What started as a one-woman marketing agency has now grown into a company that employs not only in Metro Manila but also in different parts of the Philippines. Thara's story is one of inspiration for young Filipinos who dream of making it big in the digital world. With a vision to help those affected by the pandemic, Thara started her journey by applying for clients on various online platforms. Despite the challenges of starting a business at a young age, Thara's dedication and hard work have paid off, and Carthal Manila has become a trusted partner for businesses and has delivered tangible results worldwide. Beyond these client milestones, Carthal Manila's dedication to progress extends to the professional growth of its employees. The agency believes in providing a supportive and inclusive work environment that fosters creativity and innovation. Through mentorship, training, and development programs, and fostering dynamic working culture, Carthal Manila empowers its team members to reach their full potential and contribute to the agency's continued success. "As we celebrate our third anniversary, we are grateful for the trust and confidence that our clients have placed in us," said Thara, the founder, and CEO of Carthal Manila. "Our success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team members, who are the backbone of our agency. As we look forward to the future, we remain committed to our mission of empowering businesses and individuals to succeed in the digital landscape." 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 family of a man who was executed in Singapore for conspiring to traffic just a kilogramme of cannabis has lashed out at the countrys government and said it showed no mercy despite their years-long struggle to relieve him of the charges. Tangaraju Suppiah had languished in jail since 2014 before becoming the first person to be hanged this year by Singapore for the alleged offence. The 46-year-old was sentenced to capital punishment in 2018 for being involved in a conspiracy to coordinate the delivery of a package of 1,017.9g of cannabis in 2014. He was hanged in Changi prison in the early hours of Wednesday and his death certificate was handed to his family, said the countrys officials. Singapore has often been criticised for meting out harsh punishments for simple offences and has continually faced calls to do away with capital punishment altogether. In a statement after the punishment was carried out, Suppiahs family condemned Singapores authorities for not reopening his case. Despite all our efforts, our struggle over the past many years for my brother to get a fair hearing, the [Singapore] government has shown no mercy. So many regular people, human rights groups, overseas politicians and the EU delegation to Singapore have raised their voice, Suppiahs family members told The Independent. They added that the pleas underlined how it is unsafe to execute someone based on such flimsy evidence, but the authorities still went ahead. An activist lights candles for death row inmate Tangaraju Suppiah during a vigil for him at a private office in Singapore on 26 April (EPA) So many questions remain unanswered. He didnt get justice. We asked for so little just for his life to be spared, his case to be re-opened. But they didnt even seriously consider our pleas. Theres really no mercy, they said in a statement. The capital punishment led activists to again call out Singapores strict anti-drug trafficking laws that have resulted in a dozen hangings by the administration since March last year. Tangarajus execution is a travesty. His death at the hands of the state will only lead to increased opposition to the death penalty in Singapore, inspiring more people to call for the abolition of this cruel and ineffective practice, said Maya Foa, director at Reprieve, a legal action non-profit organisation that advocates against the death penalty. She said that while Singapore claims it affords due process to people on death row, in reality fair trial violations in capital punishment cases are the norm: defendants are being left without legal representation when faced with imminent execution, as lawyers who take such cases are intimidated and harassed. Singapore is becoming isolated in its inhumanity, called out once again by the United Nations, while neighbouring countries receive praise around the world for their progressive reforms, Ms Foa said. An activist from a local anti-death penalty advocacy group, the Transformative Justice Collective (TJC), Sachi Wagh reads messages of support from the public during a livestream vigil for Tangaraju Suppiah at a private office in Singapore on 26 April (EPA) Family members have claimed their repeated requests to give Suppiah another chance were not taken up by Singapores officials. Relatives and activists had sent letters to Singapore president Halimah Yacob to plead for clemency. His niece and nephew also filmed an appeal to the public to seek help in stopping the government from carrying out the execution. On Tuesday, the UN Human Rights Office urged Singapore in an eleventh-hour appeal to not proceed with the hanging. The UN tried to point out that imposing the death penalty for drug offences is incompatible with international norms and standards. Countries that have not yet abolished the death penalty may only impose it for the most serious crimes, which is interpreted as crimes of extreme gravity involving intentional killing, the UN Human Rights Office said in a statement. We call on the Singapore government to adopt a formal moratorium on executions for drug-related offences and to ensure the right to a fair trial for all defendants in line with its international obligations, it said. Suppiah was arrested in March 2014 after Singapores Central Narcotics Bureau arrested two men they believed were connected to him. Prior to his arrest in this case, Suppiah was arrested in a separate drug consumption case and was out to report to the police for a routine urine test he had missed when he was detained by authorities. The court found him to be the owner of two phone numbers used by the contact drug delivery man and the prosecution had said he was one of the intended recipients of the parcel. Suppiah, however, told the court he lost his phone in August 2013 and it was possible someone else may have taken his phone and contacted one of the arrested men. Last year, Singapore had carried out another widely condemned death penalty that of a man with a mental disability. The island-states harsh stance on the death penalty for drugs is in sharp contrast with its neighbours, especially Malaysia, which ended a mandatory death penalty for serious crimes and recently decided to water down similar legislations on drug-related offences. 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 }} Singapore on Wednesday executed a man for abetting the trafficking of cannabis, despite pleas for clemency from his family and protests from activists that he was convicted on weak evidence. Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, was sentenced to death in 2018 for abetting the trafficking of 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cannabis. Under Singapore laws, trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis may result in the death penalty. Activist Kirsten Han of the Transformative Justice Collective, which advocates for the abolition of the death penalty in Singapore, said in a tweet that Tangaraju was hanged Wednesday morning and that his family had been given the death certificate. Although Tangaraju was not caught with the cannabis, prosecutors said phone numbers traced him as the person responsible for coordinating the delivery of the drugs. Tangaraju had maintained that he was not the one communicating with the others connected to the case. Relatives and activists had sent letters to Singapores President Halimah Yacob to plead for clemency. In a video posted by the Transformative Justice Collective, Tangaraju's niece and nephew appealed to the public to raise concerns to the government over Tangarajus impending execution. An application filed by Tangaraju on Monday for a stay of execution was dismissed without a hearing Tuesday. Critics say Singapores death penalty has mostly snared low-level mules and done little to stop drug traffickers and organized syndicates. But Singapores government says that all those executed have been accorded full due process under the law and that the death penalty is necessary to protect its citizens. British billionaire Richard Branson, who is outspoken against the death penalty, had also called for a halt of the execution in a blog post, saying that Singapore may be about to kill an innocent man. Singapore authorities criticized Bransons allegations, stating that he had shown disrespect for the Singaporean judicial system as evidence had shown that Tangaraju was guilty. At a United Nations Human Rights briefing Tuesday, spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani called on the Singapore government to adopt a formal moratorium on executions for drug-related offenses. Imposing the death penalty for drug offences is incompatible with international norms and standards, said Shamdasani, who added that increasing evidence shows the death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent. Singapore authorities say there is a deterrent effect in the city-state, where traffickers carry amounts to not exceed the threshold that would result in a death penalty. The island-state's harsh stance on the death penalty for drugs is in contrast with its neighbors. In Thailand, cannabis has essentially been legalized, and Malaysia has ended the mandatory death penalty for serious crimes. 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 }} Blake Lively has returned to the red carpet for the first time since welcoming her and husband Ryan Reynolds fourth baby earlier this year. The 35-year-old actor was spotted in New York City on Monday 24 April as she attended Barnard Colleges Annual Gala, which was held in honour of three families that truly exemplify what it means to be a part of the colleges community, according to Barnards official website. For the occasion, Lively wore a white, off-the-shoulder gown with a floral pattern, which she completed with a multi-coloured jacket. She paired the look with neon pink heels, a pink sequined purse, and long, silver earrings. The Age of Adaline star also wore her curled hair in a half ponytail. During the event, she appeared on stage to present the three families with the Frederick AP Barnard Award. In her speech, she spoke about the early days of her career and recalled how, after receiving zero acting jobs, shed decided to go back to college. However, shortly after that, she ended up get hired for one of her now-signature acting roles. Two weeks after that, the producers of Gossip Girl called me like an ex-boyfriend, she explained in the speech, shared via Barnard Colleges Instagram Story. And they said: Listen, will you please do this show? And if you do, we promise you can go to Columbia [University] one day a week, as long as it doesnt interfere with our seven-day-a-week shooting schedule. Who doesnt want to earn a bachelors degree in 77 years? Lively playfully acknowledged that she didnt end up going to college, adding: So needless to say, I think I have to accept that tonight is the closest Im going to get. So Im just going to pretend that this is me graduating tonight. So thank you, thank you. I made it. This isnt the first time that Lively has discussed how she first got the role of Serena van der Woodsen in Gossip Girl, and how it interferred with her schooling. During an interview withVanity Fair in 2017, she said that she initially wanted to turn down the role so she could focus on school. She explained that she changed her mind when producers assured her that things would quiet down after the first year of the show and that she would then be able to focus on school. However, this didnt end up happening. We cant put it in writing, but we promise you can go [to Columbia] So thats why I said: Okay. You know what? Ill do this, she recalled. This is advice to anyone: when they say: We promise, but we cant put it in writing, theres a reason they cant put it in writing. But no, the show didnt slow down. It just got more and more. Livelys appearance at Barnards Gala on Monday marked her first red carpet event since welcoming her fourth child in February. Along with their newborn, Lively and Reynolds, who have been married since 2012, share three daughters: James, eight, Inez, six, and Betty, three. (barnardcollege / Instagram) Earlier this month, Reynolds opened up about how he and his wife were adjusting to becoming a family of six during an interview with ET Canada. You know, two to three was a huge jumpthree to four less so, he said. I cannot speak for my wife, but its just from what Ive observed. But, we love it. You know, we would be idiots to do this again if we didnt love it. He also joked about his relationship with his three daughters, as he quipped: I havent met any of them yet, but they seem great. They have a private Instagram account that I follow. 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 and Queen Consort Camilla will be crowned on Saturday 6 May 2023 during a symbolic coronation ceremony. The coronation will take place at Westminster Abbey in London and will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury in a ceremony that follows nearly 1,000 years of tradition. Although there are many ways in which the coronation will be similar to Queen Elizabeth IIs 70 years ago and that of her father, King George VI, in 1937, there will also be a few key differences as King Charles announces departures from tradition. From the dress code to the role given to his grandson Prince George, these are some of the ways in which King Charles is expected to break from royal protocol during his coronation. A relaxed dress code According to Buckingham Palace, the coronation ceremony will reflect the monarchs role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in long-standing traditions and pageantry. For the King, this means choosing to replace some of the historical remnants of the symbolic ceremony with more modern approaches. One way Charles is expected to embrace modernity is through his own outfit, with reports suggesting that, rather than the silk stockings and breeches traditionally worn by Kings and Queens during coronation ceremonies, the King may instead wear his military uniform. Senior aides think breeches look too dated, a source told The Sun whileThe Daily Mail has previously reported that the King is unlikely to partake in multiple outfit changes. In addition to changes to his own outfit, the event is also expected to see a more casual dress code for attendees.The DailyTelegraph has reported that members of the House of Lords have been asked to dress down for the ceremony by swapping the coronation robes and coronets typically donned for the occasion for the parliamentary robes used during the State Opening of Parliament each year. The change stems from an effort to be sensitive to public attitudes towards the royal family and a desire to avoid excess during the cost of living crisis, according to the outlet. A shorter ceremony, a smaller guest list and a possible multiple-faith oath The dress code will not be the only aspect of the coronation pared back. The ceremony itself is also expected to be shorter than Queen Elizabeth IIs own three-hour coronation in 1953. The Kings coronation will also feature a much smaller guest list of just 2,000 guests, whereas the late Queens coronation was attended by 8,000 dignitaries from 129 nations. Additionally, The Telegraph reports that the coronation is expected to reflect the ethnic diversity of Britain with a diverse guestlist. The King is also reportedly planning to acknowledge multiple faiths during the service while still pledging to be Defender of the Faith. The alleged amendment to the service comes after Charles explained in 2015 that he feels he can be protector of faiths while at the same time being Defender of the Faith. Prince George will make history in his role Buckingham Palace announced last month that the Kings grandchild Prince George, the eldest son of Prince William and Kate Middleton, will hold a special role as a Page of Honour during the coronation. The decision to grant the nine-year-old, who is second in line to the throne, the honour of being one of the Kings four pages marks the first time that a future monarch is officially involved in the service, according to People. Foreign monarchs have been invited, and plan to attend Unlike coronations for British Kings or Queens in the past, where foreign monarchs would typically send an heir or family member, a number of foreign royals have confirmed they themselves will be attending the upcoming ceremony. Prince William may be the only duke to perform traditional ceremonial role As a result of the pared-back guest list, the portion of the coronation during which royal dukes typically pledged to serve the monarch may also look different. It has been reported that Charles eldest son will be the only duke to carry out the gesture of kneeling and swearing allegiance to the King. You can find all the details about King Charles coronation 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 }} The late Queen backed the Duke of Sussexs bid for an apology from media mogul Rupert Murdoch, but his efforts were blocked by Charles staff, the High Court has heard. Harry is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World, over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles. However, NGN is asking Mr Justice Fancourt to throw out his claim along with a claim brought by actor Hugh Grant arguing they have been brought too late. While NGN has settled numerous hacking claims in relation to the News Of The World, the publisher denies illegal activity at The Sun. In a witness statement made public on Tuesday, Harry described how in late 2017, he wanted to push for a resolution over alleged phone hacking and get an apology from News Corp owner Mr Murdoch before his wedding to the Duchess of Sussex. I spoke to her shortly afterwards and said something along the lines of: Are you happy for me to push this forward, do I have your permission? And she said: Yes. Duke of Sussex He said: I remember speaking to my brother and saying something along the lines of enough of this, I want to get permission to push for a resolution to our phone hacking claims and a formal apology from Murdoch before any of his people are allowed anywhere near the wedding, or words to that effect. However, he accused Clarence House of seemingly blocking our every move as part of a strategy to keep the media onside in order to smooth the way for my stepmother, and father, to be accepted by the British public as Queen Consort and King respectively. In his written statement, Harry said he was angry about appalling treatment his wife had faced from Murdoch-owned newspapers and was frustrated about a lack of progress on his phone hacking allegations. I thought, naively perhaps, that this might prove the perfect opportunity to air our grievances and force a resolution to our phone hacking claims, he said. Harry said his brother, the Prince of Wales, was very understanding and supportive and agreed that we needed to do it and suggested that I seek permission from granny the late Queen. The duke continued: I spoke to her shortly afterwards and said something along the lines of: Are you happy for me to push this forward, do I have your permission? And she said: Yes. Harry said the Queens then-director of communications Sally Osman was then given the green light to approach senior executives at NGN on behalf of the institution, Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, William and me, to broker a resolution and an apology from Mr Murdoch. However, Harry claimed that there was very little support from the Queens private secretary, as well as staff from Buckingham Palace and Clarence House despite my grandmother having given her consent. I remember one senior palace staff member saying that there couldnt be an apology to the Queen because she didnt have a claim, he continued. The duke said that in March 2018, following continued silence from News International, the Queen allowed a further note to be sent to Robert Thomson, CEO of News Corporation and Rebekah Brooks, CEO of News UK. In an email from Ms Osman describing the note, she said: Her Majesty has approved the wording, which essentially says there is increasing frustration at their lack of response and engagement and, while weve tried to settle without involving lawyers, we will need to reconsider our stance unless we receive a viable proposal. However, Harry said he was told shortly before his and the Duchess of Sussexs wedding that nothing could be done by Gerrard Tyrrell, who the duke later described as the institutions lawyer taking direction from Clarence House. He said: Shortly before the wedding, we were informed by Gerrard Tyrrell that nothing could be done as NGN were not in a position to apologise to Her Majesty The Queen and the rest of the Royal Family at that stage on account of the fact that, if they did so, they would have to admit that not only was the News of the World involved in phone hacking but also The Sun, and that was something that they couldnt afford to do until the end of the litigation because it would seriously undermine their settlement strategy across all the other claims. Harry said he understood this conversation took place between Charles communications secretary and Ms Brooks. The duke continued: With hindsight, I now understand why staff at Clarence House were being so unhelpful and were seemingly blocking our every move, as they had a specific long term strategy to keep the media, including NGN, onside in order to smooth the way for my stepmother, and father, to be accepted by the British public as Queen Consort, and King respectively, when the time came, and anything that might upset the applecart in this regard, including the suggestion of resolution of our phone hacking claims, was to be avoided at all costs. Anthony Hudson KC, for NGN, said that while communications show discussions took place between the Palace and NGN in 2017-2018 about resolving outstanding issues relating to allegations of (voicemail interception), they do not provide any support for a suggestion that there was an agreement by which NGN would forgo its right to bring a limitation defence in response to any claims by members of the royal family. Harry also said that when he did start his claims against NGN and also Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) in October 2019 he was summoned to Buckingham Palace and specifically told to drop the legal actions because they have an effect on all the family. The duke described this as a direct request, or rather demand from Charles, his private Secretary and the Queens private secretary. Describing going through Mr Tyrrell as a no-go, Harry said he instructed his own lawyers to bring a claim against NGN, telling the Queen, Charles and William of this while he was on tour in Africa. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A video capturing Prince Harrys charming debut on the Buckingham Palace balcony has resurfaced amidst news that only working royals will appear on the Palace balcony for King Charles IIIs coronation. In 1987, a two-year-old Prince Harry warmed hearts when he made his first-ever appearance on the balcony at Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour celebrations. Now, a TikTok video of the archival footage has gone viral with more than two million views since it was posted last week. In the clip, which was posted by @lady_frances1997, the royal family can be seen making their annual appearance on the balcony, where they celebrate Trooping the Colour each June. The video shows members of the royal family including the late Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, the then-Prince of Wales and Princess Margaret waving to the crowds from the balcony before returning inside the Palace. At the foreground of the balcony is Princess Diana, dressed in a white suit jacket with a matching skirt and white hat, alongside a toddler Harry, whose face can barely be seen above the balcony. The mother of two then picks up her youngest son and asks him to wave to the crowd. The two-year-old, wearing a white collared shirt and baby blue shorts, gives a big wave to the audience which prompts loud cheers from the audience. Little prince charming, the TikTok user captioned the viral clip. Little prince Harry delighted the crowd as he waved to them. Stealing the show, another user pointed out in the comments. So sweet, said someone else. And now hes not allowed up there, a third person wrote. The Duke of Sussex would go on to steal the show at Trooping the Colour the following year, when a three-year-old Prince Harry stuck out his tongue. More than 35 years later, the royal family will stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony once again to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Saturday 6 May. In the past, the royal balcony appearances have featured the late Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. However, King Charles coronation ceremony is expected to be a slimmed-down service with a much smaller number of royals standing on the balcony. Britain Platinum Jubilee The Balcony (AP1988) Prior to the Duke of Sussex confirming his attendance at his fathers coronation, it was reported that only working members of the royal family will appear on the balcony on the day of the coronation. According to The Mirror, the King has chosen 15 of his closest and most loyal family members to appear on the balcony with him. The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to stand beside Charles and Camilla, alongside their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. In addition, the Princess Royal and her husband, Sir Tim Laurence, will likely appear alongside the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. A source told the publication that there is little room for sentiment on the balcony, and several members of the royal family have not been invited to appear, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who stepped down as senior working royals in 2020. The King has been very clear who he wants to represent the monarchy, the source said. There is little room for sentiment, this is a state occasion, not a family occasion and it is right that only the working members of the family are there at the big public moment. Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate Middleton watch the RAF 100th anniversary flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace in July 2018 (Getty Images) On 12 April, it was announced that the Duke of Sussex will attend King Charles IIIs coronation at Westminster Abbey on 6 May without his wife Meghan Markle, who will stay in California with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6 May, the Palace said in a statement. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The news comes after months of speculation over whether Prince Harry would attend the ceremony after the release of his tell-all memoir, Spare, in January. It was previously reported that Harry was seeking an apology from his father, Charles, and his brother, the Prince of Wales, before he made any commitment to the ceremony. Harry had also said in an interview that the door is always open for reconciliation. Close Hugh Grant arrives at High Court ahead of Prince Harrys privacy trial against NGN 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 }} With less than one week until the coronation of King Charles III, millions of people around the world have been invited to participate in the ceremony next Saturday 6 May. Members of the public watching the coronation have been asked to cry out and swear allegiance to the new King, marking the first time they have been given an active role in the ancient ceremony. During the ceremony, the Archbishop will ask all persons of goodwill in The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of the other Realms and the Territories to make their homage, in heart and voice, to their undoubted King, defender of all. As preparations for the coronation continue in full swing, a full list of people taking part in ceremonial roles during the ceremony has also been released. Meanwhile, the Duchess of Sussexs father Thomas Markle has given an interview in which he declared he would not be buried by her, and claimed they had not spoken in four years. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A university student has sparked a debate about college expectations after tearfully revealing her professor gave her a zero on her six-page philosophy essay. Erika Schafrick, 22, who goes by the username @erikaschafrickk on TikTok, shared her dismay over the grade in a video posted to the platform on Monday, where she began by acknowledging that the paper she had submitted wasnt that good, but that all shed needed to pass the course was 17 or 18 per cent. I wrote an entire six-page paper and, like, I get that the paper wasnt that good, and it was for a philosophy class, so theres so many ways that whats being said and the text can be interpreted, Schafrick said, before adding: And so I wrote this entire paper, and all I needed on it was a 17 or 18 per cent to pass the course. The professor gave me a zero. As she became emotional, the college student revealed that shed initially thought the grade was a mistake, so shed reached out to her professor with proof that shed submitted the paper. And Im literally sitting here thinking it was a mistake so I sent him my submission receipt and he was like: No, its not a mistake, heres your feedback, the TikToker continued. According to Schafrick, her professor claimed in the feedback that what shed written misrepresented the text the class had been writing about. However, she alleged that the work could be interpreted in so many different ways. In the video, Schafrick then suggested that the grade was unfair because shed actually tried to interpret the ideas herself, and because she hadnt used AI like some of her classmates allegedly had. Like sorry I didnt f***ing cheat and use ChatGPT just like everyone else in the f***ing course probably did who passed, she continued. I actually tried to do it myself and use my own ideas. But thats what I get right. Thats what I f***ing get. In her follow-up video, Schafrick claimed there was no reason her essay deserved a zero, as it wasnt that bad and it was six pages of work that took [her] two days to write that was related to the prompt. Theres just no f***ing way that it was that f***ing bad, she continued, adding that the only critiques were identical comments from her professor claiming that shed misinterpreted what the text was saying. Not why it misrepresents it, not why its wrong, not how its wrong, just that its wrong, she said. And philosophy is not that objective. Its subjective. When you are reading a book, you interpret it how you interpret it when youre not allowed to use outside sources. The original TikTok, which has been viewed more than 2 million times, has since sparked a debate among users, with some arguing that Schafrick deserved at least some credit for completing the assignment and submitting it. Although she has since disabled comments on her initial TikTok, the debate has continued in the comments of her follow-up videos. Ive never ever ever seen someone get a zero on an essay that they actually completed and handed in, one person commented, while another said: Philosophy major here, its not subjective but even if everything in your paper was wrong you should still get marks for an attempt that follows the rubric. According to someone else, who said that theyve been enrolled in university for five years, its a struggle to get a zero on an assignment. I would love to see him make a very itemised review on EVERY REASON why you got that, they added. A zero should only be given if simply nothing was submitted, another person argued. The worst essay in the world still deserves literally any number above zero. Others defended the TikTokers emotional reaction on the basis that they would also be upset if they received the failing grade, while many viewers encouraged Schafrick to contest the grade with her professor or university. You need to contest the grade, one person wrote, while another said: Book an appointment or go see him in office hours in a few days once you can keep composed and challenge it, hell probably budge. In another follow-up video, Schafrick said she felt like she was being gaslit by her professor, and that, after reading it over, she believes her essay, which was based on the book Existence and Existent by French philosopher Emmanuel Levinas, deserved a grade of at least 50 per cent. Schafrick also addressed her previous comments about her fellow classmates relying on ChatGPT, with the TikToker claiming that she hadnt meant to bash the students or imply that they had been cheating. Im not trying to bash my classmates or really accuse anyone of cheating at all. Im just saying, how amazing do these other essays have to be for him to read mine and be like: This is absolute dog s**t and deserves a zero. After reiterating that she wasnt trying to accuse her classmates of cheating, the TikToker admitted that it could be that she just doesnt know how to write philosophy. In the comments, viewers continued to side with Schafrick, with many alleging that her failing grade is a reflection on the professors teaching. Its the professors job to teach so you explain the lecture properly.. so its a reflection on your prof!! Not you, one person wrote, while another said: I really hope this gets appealed, Id be so upset if this happened to me. I cant imagine what youre feeling. In a comment posted in the comment section of her most recent video, Schafrick said she would be meeting with her student accessibility advisor, and that she would be fighting the grade. The Independent has contacted Schafrick for comment. 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 prosecutor has requested a special grand jury investigate the fatal police shooting of an unarmed shoplifting suspect outside a northern Virginia shopping mall after an earlier grand jury refused to issue an indictment. Carl Crews, an attorney for the family of Timothy McCree Johnson, said he was informed Tuesday by Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano that a judge had approved the prosecutor's request to empanel the special grand jury. Descano confirmed Tuesday in a short statement that he requested the special grand jury but declined further comment. The use of special grand juries is rare. In Fairfax County, the only other time Descano sought a special grand jury was in the case of another fatal police shooting the 2017 shooting of Bijan Ghaisar by U.S. Park Police officers after a stop-and-go highway chase. The charges in that case were ultimately dismissed by a federal judge. The empanelment of the special grand jury in the Johnson case comes after a regular grand jury earlier this month declined to indict the officer who fatally shot Johnson. Johnson was shot and killed Feb. 22 after a security guard said Johnson had stolen sunglasses from a Nordstorm department store. Two officers chased Johnson into a wooded area outside the mall. Both officers fired shots. An investigation determined that one of the officers, Wesley Shifflett, fired the fatal shot. Police Chief Kevin Davis fired Shifflett last month. He also released dimly lit video showing a nighttime foot chase that lasted less than two minutes. In a slow-motion version of the video, it sounds as though two shots were fired after an officer yelled get on the ground but just before shouting stop reaching. After the shooting, the body camera video records Shifflett telling another officer he saw Johnson continually reaching in his waistband and that he told Johnson, Let me see your hands. But that command cannot be heard on the video. Police searched for a weapon but none was found. Caleb Kershner, a lawyer for Shifflett, said Tuesday that he was shocked Descano is presenting the case to a second grand jury. He said prosecutors should respect the judgment of the initial grand jury, which did not find probable cause to bring criminal charges. It's pretty clear they don't want to respect the law, and they're going to try hell or high water to get a charge, Kershner said. The rules for a special grand jury are different than those for a regular grand jury. Most significantly, in a regular grand jury, prosecutors are absent from the room when police officers present evidence and testimony to the grand jurors. When the grand jury declined to indict Shifflett earlier this month, it was clear prosecutors had concerns that officers shaded their testimony in a way that weakened the case. Descano issued a statement emphasizing he was not allowed in the room and had no idea what testimony officers gave. A lawyer for Johnson's family noted how rare it is for a grand jury to refuse indictments and said he was concerned police were trying to cover up for a fellow officer. In a special grand jury, prosecutors are in the room asking questions of officers who give testimony, and have more control over the process. I believe the commonwealth's attorney is trying to get control over the case, the Johnson family's lawyer, Carl Crews, said in a phone interview. He'll now have the ability to be in the room, and present the matter as he sees it. Johnson's mother, Melissa Johnson, said in a phone interview that she felt like the wind had been knocked out of her when the grand jury refused to indict last week. Now that new grand jury will hear the case, she said she feels revived, with renewed hope in the judicial system. 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 }} Amal Clooney has said UK laws must be reformed to prevent Russian war criminals and perpetrators of genocide visiting the country without fear of prosecution. The human rights lawyer wants genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes to be prosecuted in the UK regardless of the suspects nationality or residence. MPs have warned the International Criminal Court Act 2001 currently only applies to such crimes either committed in England or Wales, or outside the UK by a UK national, a UK resident or a person subject to UK service jurisdiction. It is time to reform our laws so that Russian war criminals can be arrested at Heathrow - and perpetrators of genocide know there is no safe haven on UK shores Amal Clooney The Universal Jurisdiction (Extension) Bill has been tabled in the House of Commons by SNP MP Brendan OHara (Argyll and Bute), who said his proposals seek to tighten up existing legislation and pave the way for more prosecutions in the UK against people responsible for the worlds most heinous crimes. Mr OHara added the accused person or victim would not need to have any specific connection to the UK. Concerns have been expressed that Russian generals responsible for atrocities in Ukraine could still travel to the UK without facing the risk of arrest unless the reforms are introduced. The Clooney Foundation for Justice and Redress, co-founded by Ms Clooney and her actor husband George Clooney, is expected to release a report later this year on the issue. Ms Clooney told the PA news agency: National courts around the world can put war criminals on trial. But in the UK genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes can only be prosecuted if the suspect is a resident or national of the UK. And only two trials for international crimes have resulted in convictions. It is time to reform our laws so that Russian war criminals can be arrested at Heathrow and perpetrators of genocide know there is no safe haven on UK shores. Mr OHara, moving his Bill on Tuesday, said the reforms would allow legal systems across the UK to take action irrespective of where the crimes were committed and regardless of the nationality or the location of the perpetrators or the victims. He told MPs: In short, this Universal Jurisdiction (Extension) Bill is about saying to the worlds worst criminals that there is no hiding place and there will be no immunity. Mr OHara added: As the Clooney Foundation for Justice report will set out, our courts already have universal jurisdiction when it comes to torture and certain other crimes which can be prosecuted regardless of the defendants nationality. So there is no convincing explanation for the distinction thats drawn between the law on torture and those other international crimes. And, as they say, one consequence of this loophole could well be that Russian generals with blood on their hands could potentially still travel to the UK, go shopping in Knightsbridge, undergo medical treatment and dine out in Londons best restaurants without facing the risk of arrest for the most serious and heinous crimes in the world. They argue this must change and I wholeheartedly agree. Mr OHara asked for his Bill to be considered further at second reading on November 24 although it is unlikely to make progress in its current form due to a lack of parliamentary time. 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 Prime Minister refused to apologise for the UKs role in historical slavery and colonialism, and rejected a call to commit to reparations when challenged in the Commons. Rishi Sunak said he was committed to ensuring the UK is an inclusive and tolerant society, and said trying to unpick our history is not the right way forward. He was answering MPs at Prime Ministers Questions when challenged on the issue by Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Streatham). She said: This month marks 23 years since the passing of the late, great, Bernie Grant, a former member of this House, and the founder of the UK reparations movement in the UK. In his last Prime Ministers Questions before his death he asked for an apology to the people of African descent living and dead for our countrys role in slavery and colonialism. But since then, prime ministers and heads of state have only ever expressed sorrow or deep regret. These are not sentiments that are befitting one of the greatest atrocities in human history. There has been no acknowledgement of the wealth that has been amassed or the fact that our country took out the largest loan it ever has to pay off the slave owners, and not the enslaved. She asked: Will he do what Bernie Grant asked all those years ago, what I have asked, and what countless others have asked since, and offer a full and meaningful apology for our countrys role in slavery and colonialism, and commit to reparatory justice? Mr Sunak said: No. What I think our focus should now be on doing is, of course, understanding our history and all its parts, not running away from it, but right now making sure that we have a society which is inclusive and tolerant of people from all backgrounds. Thats something that we on this side of the House are committed to doing and will continue to deliver, but trying to unpick our history is not the right way forward, and its not something that we will focus our energies on. A Labour spokesman said Ms Ribeiro-Addys call for reparations was not party policy. The spokesman said she is right to highlight the appalling history of the slave trade but on the specific point of reparations, the point that she was making is not Labour Party policy. Earlier this week, The Guardian reported that a group called Heirs Of Slaver, made up of descendents of some notable British slave owners, launched a campaign to seek apology, dialogue, reconciliation and reparative justice and support campaigns for institutional and national reparative justice for the transatlantic slave trade. Tony Blair, when he was prime minister and challenged and challenged over whether he was prepared to say sorry for the slave trade, said: I have said we are sorry and I say it again. Mr Blair was speaking in 2007 as the government prepared to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The first British nationals were evacuated from conflict-torn Sudan on Tuesday. A 72-hour ceasefire between warring factions has provided a window for foreign nationals to escape a dangerous, volatile and unpredictable situation, according to the prime minister Rishi Sunak. Several previous ceasefires declared since the April 15 outbreak of fighting were not observed, the Associated Press reports. Here is a look at what we know about the evacuation plans, so far. Why are people being evacuated from Sudan? Hundreds of people have died and thousands hurt in a bloody conflict between the Sudanese army and a powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. The prospect of airlifting large numbers of people out of Sudan has been complicated by the fact that most major airports have become battlegrounds, while movement out of the capital has proved perilous. The current explosion of violence comes after two generals fell out over a recent internationally brokered deal with democracy activists, which was meant to incorporate the RSF into the military and eventually lead to civilian rule. A stream of European, Middle East, African and Asian military aircraft flew in all day Sunday and Monday to ferry hundreds of diplomats out. For many Sudanese, the departure of foreigners and closure of embassies is a terrifying sign that international powers expect a worsening of the fighting that has already pushed the population into disaster. Sudanese have desperately sought ways to escape the chaos, fearing that the rival camps will escalate their all-out battle for power once evacuations are completed. Who has been evacuated so far?The first flight with UK citizens landed at Larnaca airport in Cyprus with 39 people on board on Tuesday, the BBC reported. Two more flights carrying around 220 people are expected overnight. The first flight taking British civilians out of the war torn nation was carrying everyone that was at the airfield and eligible, Rishi Sunak said. Mr Sunak told broadcasters: The first flight has taken everybody that was there at the airfield and could be processed. We actually have two more flights this evening, and then many more into tomorrow, which will be able to evacuate several hundred people if they can make their way to the airfield. How many Britons could be evacuated?A little over 2,000 British nationals in Sudan have registered with the Foreign Office, Downing Street has said, citing the latest figures. The Prime Minister said over a thousand UK citizens in Sudan have been contacted about evacuation plans, with officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) having spoken to hundreds directly already. Defence Minister Ben Wallace said 99% of the British nationals who have registered with the Foreign Office are in the capital Khartoum. The Foreign Office has urged British passport holders and their immediate family members to head to Wadi Saeedna airfield to the north of the city to board evacuation flights. Will everyone be able to be evacuated? The Foreign Office has urged British passport holders and their immediate family members to head to Wadi Saeedna airfield to the north of Khartoum to board evacuation flights. Mr Wallace told Channel 4 News that so far there are not huge queues at the airfield to try and escape. He said: What weve learned from both seeing the German and the French evacuation is this is first of all not like Kabul, not thousands at the gate, and people are making their way. Theyre being processed. The Prime Minister has announced many more flights are expected on Wednesday. How are they being evacuated?The plan is likely to involve A400M and C-130 Hercules transport planes being used to airlift citizens, with flights taking place between the airfield and RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Mr Wallace said Royal Marines are also scoping out a possible seaborne evacuation from the more benign environment of Port Sudan, some 500 miles from the capital. HMS Lancaster and the RFA Cardigan Bay have both been sent to the region. Who is helping British citizens escape the fighting?Around 120 British military personnel are at the airfield near Khartoum being used for the evacuation effort, Mr Wallace said. The UK will take over from German forces running the airfield on Wednesday with only one nation able to facilitate the airfield at a time. Germany said it was operating its final flight on Tuesday evening following the evacuation of around 500 people from 30 nations. Mr Wallace also told Channel 4 news there is is some risk that some of the planes are not full. He added: Weve seen that in the German planes and theyve then resorted, understandably, to take some other fellow foreign personnel there if theres room. Is the airbase safe and secure?Downing Street said the British military stands ready to defend the airfield in Sudan but said efforts would be made to avoid active engagement with other forces. The Prime Ministers official spokesperson said: Its worth emphasising that international evacuations have been taking place since Sunday and we havent seen any significant issues or large crowds appearing. How long do British citizens have to fly out of Sudan? Mr Sunak said he could not guarantee the long-term safety of the air route being used given the volatility of the ceasefire, but other options were being considered. The evacuation of UK nationals from Sudan is inherently dangerous as it remains unclear how long the ceasefire will hold, James Cleverly has said. The Foreign Secretary began a keynote speech to the Lord Mayors Easter Banquet in London by addressing the conflict on Tuesday. He said: As you would expect, Ive been in Cobra meetings and other meetings on our response to this situation today. I can inform you that a Royal Air Force flight has now left Sudan carrying British nationals to safety this evening and more will follow. From the onset of this crisis, weve been planning how to get our people out. And now that our and international calls for a ceasefire in Khartoum have been heeded, we are putting those plans into effect, giving priority to those in greatest need, family groups, the sick and the elderly. Im encouraged that both factions have called a 72-hour ceasefire. Of course, we cannot be sure for how long it will hold. And any evacuation from a battle-scarred city is inherently dangerous. Britain is working hand in glove with our partners across the world, and after this operation we will do everything possible alongside our friends in the region to secure a lasting settlement for this tragic conflict. 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 first evacuation flights carrying British nationals have taken off from Sudan as UK troops prepare to take over the running of the airfield. Two Royal Air Force planes have landed at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus as of 6.30am on Wednesday, with the first charter flight back to London set to depart later in the day. Families with young children were among those on the first flights that landed in Cyprus with a British man telling the BBC that his sister, who left Sudan overnight, felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Three planes were due to have left conflict-torn Khartoum for Cyprus by Wednesday morning, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledging many more would follow as he warned of a critical 24 hours. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the UK would take charge of the Wadi Saeedna airstrip near the capital from German forces, after Berlin said its final evacuation flight would leave on Tuesday night. He said 120 British troops have already been supporting the operation there. Around 260 people were expected to be flown out overnight on three flights, the first landing on Tuesday evening with around 40 people on board. British nationals have been told to make their own way to the site with some fearing they will not make it due to a petrol shortage. The UK military could be ready to use force if needed to protect the air base in the event it comes under attack during the airlift, although the troops are primarily there to help with logistics, the i paper reported. Mr Wallace told LBC Radio: The Germans are leaving tomorrow, and we will take over the facilitation at the airfield. And the reason the Germans are leaving is people have stopped coming in large numbers. He said only one nation can facilitate the airfield at a time, adding: If the Spanish or the Italians or anyone else wants to fly, well be the ones giving permissions effectively. There is some risk that some of the planes are not full, he said, as there are not thousands at the gate as in the evacuation from Afghanistan. The Government is considering other options, including a possible seaborne evacuation from Port Sudan, some 500 miles from the capital. HMS Lancaster and the RFA Cardigan Bay have been sent to the region. Announcing the completion of Germanys evacuation efforts, the countrys foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians to their own devices, in an apparent swipe at the UKs approach. She said that unlike in other countries, Germanys evacuation had included all its nationals and not just embassy staff. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck Samar Eltayeb, UK-born student Mr Sunak defended the UKs efforts, saying it was right that diplomats were prioritised because they were being targeted. The security situation on the ground in Sudan is complicated, it is volatile and we wanted to make sure we could put in place processes that are going to work for people, that are going to be safe and effective, the Prime Minister said at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) crisis centre. He told teams working on the evacuation efforts that the next 24 hours are absolutely critical. The mission was launched during a ceasefire brokered between the warring factions. But Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned the extraction of UK nationals is inherently dangerous as we cannot be sure for how long it will hold. A UK-born student attempting to flee Sudan said she does not have enough petrol to make the dangerous one-hour drive from the outskirts of Khartoum to the airstrip. Im trying to get there. But the problem is the vehicles that we have have no gas, and the petrol stations are empty, Samar Eltayeb, 20, from Birmingham, told the PA news agency. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck. More than 2,000 British citizens have registered in Sudan with the FCDO. Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, will be prioritised for the flights. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible. Nationals have been warned all travel within Sudan is conducted at your own risk. 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 nationals in Khartoum are facing dangerous journeys to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip in the hope of boarding an evacuation flight out of Sudan. One Sudanese-British citizen said some people are too scared to make the trip as another described complete chaos on the streets. Eight flights were expected to have left by the end of Wednesday to lift people to safety as the military races against time to rescue citizens while a fragile ceasefire holds. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told UK nationals on Tuesday that they must make their own way to the airstrip. Tarig Babikir, 42, who used to live in Coventry, is taking on a four-hour walk alone to get there. He told the PA news agency before setting off: It all goes down to your instinct, you have to figure out where the fires coming from and try to find a different route. Im going to go through national army checkpoints and paramilitary checkpoints, and most likely Im going to encounter some armed gangs as well. Im carrying no cash as you can get robbed on the streets, and Im going to hide my cell phone. Mr Babikir had been living in a district near to the airstrip but was forced to flee after heavy bombardment. His Ukrainian mother and Sudanese father both have expired UK visas, so he will have to leave them behind with other relatives. My dad is recovering from a stroke, but the best option right now is to leave and I will probably come back in a months time, he said. Mr Babikir said he would be staying with a friend in Kent after arriving back in the UK. He added: Its complete anarchy right now, complete chaos. Anyone can rob you, anyone can shoot you. Dr Ehab Al-Moubarak is currently on his way to the airfield from his parents home in Wad Madani, around 195km south of the Sudanese capital. He had originally travelled to the country from his home in Bristol to visit his mother and father during Ramadan and Eid. He told PA: The issue with security is that it is very difficult to get or evaluate information and as such every rumour needs to be considered. The rumour is that there is clashes here and theyre within the route (to the airfield). After waiting for a minibus with around 25 to 30 other British citizens, Dr Al-Moubarak said the number dwindled to just two as many decided not to take the risk on the estimated eight-hour journey. We dont know how long it will take, he said. To be honest, normally the drive would take around three hours to get there but now it could take eight hours if we get there. Its difficult to get a minibus because no one wants to drive there. The 46-year-old, who works as a scientist at the University of Bristol, has been forced to leave his mother and father behind. He said: I never thought something like this would happen. People are very shocked about the scenes here. I live in a city thats quite safe but many people in this city are working or studying in Khartoum. Every family has a family member in Khartoum where it is bad. Theres no fuel in Khartoum or Wad Madani. He added: My father is really ill and I wanted to take my mother and father to the UK. I asked the question but its not possible, the Government said no as they dont have a visa. He has diabetes and dementia and also cant move as well. He needs 24/7 assistance from my mother. He needs a lot of nursing in the house. The first plane bringing UK nationals back from Sudan landed at Stansted Airport from Larnaca, Cyprus at around 2:30pm on Wednesday. The Prime Ministers official spokesperson said 301 people have been lifted to safety on four flights so far, with the total number of RAF planes to depart Khartoum due to double on Wednesday. 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 }} Air evacuations of British nationals from an airfield near Sudans capital can continue even if the fragile ceasefire breaks, military chiefs have assured. More than 300 people have been airlifted from Wadi Saeedna airstrip near Khartoum since the pause in fierce fighting was agreed but thousands more may need help fleeing. Brigadier Dan Reeve, chief of joint force operations, the RAF can move 500 people per day on five aircrafts but that could be increased by calling on more, or larger, planes. More than 2,000 Britons have registered with the Foreign Office as being in Sudan under the evacuation operation. The rival generals behind the conflict have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire that started in the early hours of Monday. Brig Reeve told journalists on a call on Wednesday: The ceasefire itself was not a condition for us launching this operation although of course it helped and was a useful window. Having amassed the forces necessary to provide the Prime Minister with an emergency response option, very early on and ahead of almost any nation, we very deliberately took the decision to wait until there was a sensible window. I would say the window though is not conditional on that ceasefire holding. It wont be me that decides when the operation finishes, that will of course be the Prime Minister. We are well set to continue this operation for as long as we need to. I can see no reason at the moment why we cant continue to do that for as long as the Prime Minister wants us to. He said there are currently 20 landing slots for all allies planes to use per day. Yesterday we just didnt have that number of people totally up to me to use up all those slots, the officer said. He said the conditions at Wadi Saeedna are calm and that the Sudanese Armed Forces have good control of the surrounding area and deep towards Khartoum. Britain has a large number of troops on the ground, standing at around 160 troops. The Germans have been running the logistics at the airfield but the British forces are in the process of taking over. The queues of fleeing citizens have been calm with evacuees in good spirits, Brig Reeve said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The King and the Queen Consort will unveil the staging for the Eurovision Song Contest and tour the arena in Liverpool on Wednesday. Charles and Camilla will be shown around the M&S Bank Arena and meet Mae Muller, the UKs contestant, as well as celebrity presenters and creative teams, ahead of the contest next month. The grand final of the competition is due to take place on May 13, a week after the coronation ceremony. Eurovision 2023 will take place in Liverpool after the UK was chosen to host the competition on behalf of war-torn Ukraine. It will be the first time the competition has been held in the UK for 25 years. On Wednesday, Charles and Camilla will be met at the arena by BBC director general Tim Davie, BBC director of content Charlotte Moore and managing director for BBC Eurovision 2023 Martin Green. In the foyer, they will meet representatives from the BBC Board, BBC Studios and managing director of the arena Faye Dyer. They will be given a tour backstage to meet production staff before being invited to light and animate the arena, revealing the competition staging for the first time. The couple will also be introduced to Eurovision hosts Julia Sanina, Hannah Waddingham, Scott Mills and Rylan Clark, before meeting with this years UK entrant, Mae Muller, alongside Blue Peter presenters. Charles and Camillas visit to the arena is one of several royal engagements in Liverpool, recognising the cultural partnership of the UK and Ukraine and celebrating Eurovision. They will also visit Liverpool Central Library to officially mark its twinning with Ukraines first public library, the Regional Scientific Library in Odesa. They will meet key partners involved in both a two-week cultural festival running alongside the contest, and Eurolearn, a Eurovision-inspired education programme for primary and secondary pupils. Chief executive of Liverpool City Council, Theresa Grant, and director of Culture Liverpool and Major Events, Claire McColgan will guide the royal pair around the external exhibits. A recital of Poem For Eurovision by poet Levi Tafari, written with the help of secondary pupils from several of Liverpools Schools of Sanctuary, will take place in the librarys atrium. Touring the library space, Charles will meet Ukrainian refugees and their host families who have been supported by The Princes Trust while Camilla meets young people as part of a story telling session. The pair will then together meet members of the Ukrainian Community in Liverpool and their host families. Charles will later reveal a plaque to mark the twinning of the libraries, during a live link with the site in Odesa, and the visit will end with a performance by English National Opera. 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 }} Canadian socialite Jasmine Hartin has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after a police superintendent was shot dead in Belize. The former daughter-in-law of billionaire Lord Michael Ashcroft pleaded guilty to manslaughter by negligence at the Supreme Court in Belize City over the death of 42-year-old Henry Jemmott, with her trial due to start on Wednesday. According to Channel 5 Belize, Hartin said outside the court: I just want Henrys family to have peace now and I want this whole thing behind all of us so we can heal. It added the 33-year-old asked the court for a sentence indication to which the judge replied she could be handed a non-custodial sentence. This would involve a fine and/or compensation to the family. After reports of a gunshot, Hartin was discovered on a dock in San Pedro near where the body of Superintendent Jemmott was found in May 2021. Police commissioner Chester C Williams told local media: Upon investigating, police found the female on a pier, and she had what appeared to be blood on her arms and on her clothing. He added a single gunshot had been heard and a firearm that belonged and was assigned to the father-of-five was retrieved from the pier. Hartin, who has two children with Lord Ashcrofts son Andrew, had allegedly invited the officer, who was a friend, over to her apartment for a drink to discuss her personal security. Andrew Ashcroft, son of Conservative donor Lord Ashcroft, pictured in a launch video for his new hotel (YouTube/The Alaia) They are then believed to have broken the 10pm Covid curfew by walking to a nearby dock where she is said to have offered him a massage for his shoulder pain. What happened next is unclear. Hartins version of events appears to be that Mr Jemmott put down his gun and was shot with it accidentally when she handed it back to him. The father-of-five suffered a bullet wound behind the ear and died of his injuries. Hartins attorney, Orson OJ Elrington, told reporters his clients primary concern was to not put the family of the victim through the anguish of having to go through a trial proceeding. Channel 5 Belize reported the sentencing hearing is expected to happen on 31 May. As Hartin pleaded guilty, the judge is expected to give the non-custodial sentence. 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 former Metropolitan Police officer accused of using dead peoples bank card details to buy goods and sell them on has appeared in court following a corruption probe. Muhammed Mustafa Darr, 37, also allegedly stole a laptop and a bag from a Mercedes belonging to a suspect who had been arrested by his colleagues. He is further accused of using police computer systems to look up information about himself and others and advising a man to destroy evidence linking him to an investigation. Darr was charged with three counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of perverting the course of justice between December 2018 and June 2020, while he was a constable on a response unit, after an investigation into alleged corruption. He pulled a hood over his head and covered his face with a medical mask when he arrived at Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address in Walthamstow, east London. Darr, who was based at the Mets North Area Basic Command Unit, was not asked to enter pleas to any of the charges, which are indictable only, meaning they can only be tried in the Crown Court. One of the misconduct charges states he is accused of abusing his position to acquire credit/debit card details of deceased members of the public. Darr allegedly used the details to acquire or seek to acquire goods or money transfers for himself or others by fraud, and to sell on goods obtained fraudulently. Another misconduct charge alleges he used police computer systems to look up information about himself and others without any legitimate policing purpose. The third states he stole a laptop computer and a bag and its contents from a Mercedes belonging to a suspect who had been arrested by his colleagues. Darr also allegedly perverted the course of justice between March 22 2020 and June 6 2020 by using his access to look up the progress of a police investigation linked to Asif Mushtaq. The charge states Darr then spoke to Ali Ikram and Asif Mushtaq, advising Asif Mushtaq to conceal or destroy evidence linking him to the investigation. District Judge Briony Clarke granted Darr bail ahead of his next appearance at Southwark Crown Court on May 24 on the condition he resides at his home address. Darr was charged following an investigation carried out by the Mets directorate of professional standards under the direction of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). A file of evidence was then passed to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised criminal charges. 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 }} Ringleaders of an organised crime group have been jailed in France for smuggling migrants to the UK on small boats, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has said. Rozi Khan Sarwari, age unknown, Zaman Zahid, 31, Arman Kuba, age unknown, and Mohammed Fazel Ahmadi, 39, were jailed for a total of 21 years and fined a total of 105,000 euros. They will be banned indefinitely from French territory after serving the sentences. A total of nine men, all Afghan nationals, were convicted of immigration and organised crime offences on April 21 following a trial in Paris. Rokai Ahmadi, 21, Nesar Ahmad, 28, Shir-Ahmad Husseinkhel, 27, Fahim Ahmadi, 31, and Zahid Azizi, 28, were handed a combination of smaller jail terms, suspended sentences and lower level fines. All nine were each convicted of aiding the illegal residence of a foreigner in France as part of an organised crime group and criminal conspiracy under French law. According to the NCA, the gang based in the Paris area would buy second-hand boats and lifejackets online before travelling to the northern French coast to bury equipment in sand dunes near Wimereux, in the Pas-de-Calais region. Each inflatable boat could carry between 10 and 15 migrants, usually Vietnamese or Afghan nationals, who would be charged between 1,500 and 4,000 euro (1,327 and 3,540) each to get to the UK. The NCA believes the group made between 79,000 and 212,000 euro (69,910 and 187,611) from the venture. They were linked to at least four small boat events aimed at smuggling migrants to the UK. The gang was dismantled after a multi-agency operation involving the NCA and French law enforcement which launched an investigation into the network in November 2020. We are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle these networks, who are putting lives at risk Oliver Higgins, NCA deputy director French police made arrests in the Yvelines region, west of Paris, in March 2021, ending the groups activities. NCA deputy director Oliver Higgins said: Tackling organised immigration crime is top priority for the NCA, and we now have more than 90 active investigations into people smuggling or trafficking. Much of the criminality involved in these small boat crossings lies outside the UK, so we have built up our intelligence-sharing effort with law enforcement partners in France, Belgium and beyond. This includes having NCA officers based in those countries, sharing intelligence and working side by side on joint investigations. And, as this case demonstrates, this is bringing operational results in the form of arrests and prosecutions. We are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle these networks, who are putting lives at risk. Sarwari was jailed for six years and fined 30,000 euro (26,500) while Zahid, Kuba and Mohammed Fazel Ahmadi were each jailed for five years and fined 25,000 euro (22,120). Rokai Ahmadi, Ahmad and Azizi were each given a one year suspended jail sentence. Azizi was additionally fined 1,500 euro (1,327). Husseinkhel was sentenced to eight months suspended imprisonment and fined 1,000 euro (884). Fahim Ahmadi was jailed for one year, handed an additional four year suspended prison sentence and fined 15,000 euro (13,274). 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 British evacuation mission from Sudan has lifted 301 people to safety over four flights as the military races against time to rescue citizens while a fragile ceasefire holds. Another four RAF flights were expected to depart the Wadi Saeedna airstrip near the capital Khartoum on Wednesday afternoon, as the first flight of UK nationals arrived back in Britain. Military chiefs have told Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at least 500 people a day can be airlifted and they can continue for as long as we need to even if the 72-hour pause in fighting agreed between rival generals breaks. But British citizens in Sudan have described having to make a chaotic and dangerous journey to the airstrip they have been told to make without a military escort. Downing Street said the airlifts have been full or close to full, with no significant issues being faced by the evacuees. More than 2,000 British nationals have registered in Sudan under evacuation plans, but thousands more could be in the country. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said the operation in Khartoum is running smoothly, while there is currently no issue with capacity. He told journalists that 301 people have been lifted to safety on four flights, with the total number of RAF planes to depart Khartoum due to double on Wednesday. The official said the majority of the people on the planes were British nationals but that some will be citizens of allied countries. He had not been informed of large-scale problems of non-British passport holders turning up and being told they are not eligible. Despite nationals being told to make their own way to the airstrip, he said we are not seeing those who are making that travel having significant issues. However, Sudanese-British citizen Tarig Babikir, 42, who used to live in Coventry, told of the challenge of making it to Wadi Saeedna amid gunfire. Its complete anarchy right now, complete chaos. Anyone can rob you, anyone can shoot you, he told the PA news agency. Downing Street hopes to carry on with flights throughout the week and does not believe there will be a need to leave the airport imminently. The ceasefire has largely held since it began in the early hours of Monday. Brigadier Dan Reeve, chief of joint force operations, said at least 500 people can be lifted from the airstrip every day and that the evacuation window is not conditional on that ceasefire holding. I can see no reason at the moment why we cant continue to do that for as long as the Prime Minister wants us to, he told journalists. The first flight of British nationals arrived back in London Stansted on Wednesday afternoon, having left Larnaca in Cyprus, where they were initially evacuated. Mr Sunak was asked by the SNPs Westminster leader Stephen Flynn whether he would deport child refugees who arrive in the UK without authorisation under plans to stop the boats. The Prime Minister told the Commons of the countrys proud record of supporting asylum seekers, but did not commit to a new safe and legal route for those fleeing Sudan. HMS Lancaster is progressing towards Port Sudan, the Red Sea dock some 500 miles from Khartoum that could possibly be used in a seaborne operation. But with UK nationals being told to make their own way to evacuation sites, that trip would be made particularly challenging by fuel shortages and the traffic of people fleeing. In an apparent swipe at the UKs approach, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians to their own devices as it completed its evacuation. She said that unlike in other countries, Germanys evacuation had included all its nationals and not just embassy staff, whom the UK airlifted to safety on Sunday. The Prime Minister has argued it was right that diplomats were prioritised because they were being targeted. A UK-born student attempting to flee Sudan said she does not have enough petrol to make the dangerous one-hour drive from the outskirts of Khartoum to the airstrip. Samar Eltayeb, 20, from Birmingham, told the PA news agency: Im trying to get there. But the problem is the vehicles that we have have no gas, and the petrol stations are empty. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck. British forces are expected to take over command of the operation in Wadi Saeedna from German troops on Wednesday. Some 160 British service personnel have been sent to the airfield, but the security of the site is being maintained by the Sudanese armed forces. The military is ready to use force if needed if the site comes under attack, although the troops are primarily there to help with logistics and providing air traffic control. Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, are being prioritised for the flights. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible. Nationals have been warned all travel within Sudan is conducted at your own risk. 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 }} Sinn Feins vice president Michelle ONeill has announced that she will attend the coronation of the King. The partys leader at Stormont said the gesture demonstrated her commitment to building good relations and advancing peace and reconciliation. Ms ONeill would be in line to become Northern Irelands First Minister if the current powersharing impasse is resolved and devolution returns in Belfast. In September, she attended the Queens funeral service in London. The move to attend the coronation is the latest signal of the vastly improved relations between the republican movement and the monarchy since the outset of the peace process in Northern Ireland. I have accepted an invitation to attend the coronation of King Charles III, said Ms ONeill. We are living in a time of great change. A time to respect our differing and equally legitimate aspirations, a time to firmly focus on the future and the opportunities that the next decade will bring. I am an Irish republican. I also recognise there are many people on our island for whom the coronation is a hugely important occasion. I am committed to being a First Minister for all, representing the whole community, building good relations between the people of these islands, and advancing peace and reconciliation through respectful and mature engagement. Therefore, as First Minister Designate, I will join President of Ireland Michael D Higgins, international figures, church leaders, other party leaders and the Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey for the coronation in London. 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 }} Thousands of Afghan refugees brought to the UK during the Kabul evacuation will be evicted from their Home Office hotels with no offer of housing, the government has revealed. A Home Office letter, seen by The Independent, has been sent to Afghans living in government hotels telling them that they need to start searching for private rented accommodation as existing support will end from 2 May. Around 8,000 Afghans are living in hotels in the UK after fleeing the Taliban in August 2021. The government announced plans to evict them in March, saying the refugees would be given a few months notice. But initial reports said all refugees would be offered a property to live in. Now, the Home Office has said that only some Afghan families will receive one option of housing from the government. A government factsheet on the changes says: Most families will not receive an offer of accommodation from the Home Office. The letter, sent to Afghans in hotels, continues: From 2 May 2023, the existing matching process will cease to exist ... It is likely that most people will not receive an allocation through the new process, and we encourage you to find your own accommodation wherever possible. The new plan applies to Afghans who have arrived in the UK under two resettlement schemes: the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), and the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap). In the letter, the Home Office said it would offer support for refugees to find their own private rentals. It reads: We will provide as much support as we can to help you make your own accommodation arrangements. This includes support through the existing Find Your Own Accommodation (FYOA) scheme in the private rental sector. Unlike other asylum seekers, Afghans on these two resettlement schemes have the right to work. However, Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, said it was entirely unreasonable to expect Afghan refugees to suddenly move out of hotels without offering suitable alternatives when the reality is that finding affordable housing on the market is a real challenge. He continued: We are deeply concerned about the approach taken by the Home Office, which is likely to lead to Afghans being left homeless and destitute on our streets. This is not how those who fled the Taliban and were promised a warm welcome in the UK should be treated. Labours shadow defence secretary John Healey said the governments plans were shameful. He added: The Conservatives are failing Afghans who put their lives at risk to support our armed forces. By kicking out these Afghan families with no home to move into, ministers are making them homeless and breaking the promise Britain made to provide a new life here in the UK. Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: Although it is right that Afghan families have access to permanent homes, the government must guarantee today that these refugees who have fled danger will not be made homeless. Harrow councillor Peymana Assad also said the move was shameful. These families stood shoulder to shoulder with Britain in the fight against terrorism, and now they are being humiliated and forced into homelessness in the UK, she said. It comes after The Independent revealed the plight of an Afghan fighter pilot who arrived in the UK on a small boat and has now been threatened with removal to Rwanda. The pilots case has been supported by a coalition of senior military chiefs, politicians and charities, who have called on the government to grant the veteran asylum and reunite him with his family. A Home Office spokesperson said: Hotels are not, and were never designed to be, suitable long-term accommodation for Afghans resettled in the UK. That is why we have announced a plan, backed by 285m of new funding, to speed up the resettlement of Afghans into long-term homes. Where available, the government will continue to make offers of suitable housing, which we strongly encourage Afghan families to accept. Where an offer cannot be made or is rejected, increased government support is available to help Afghans find their own homes and begin rebuilding their lives here. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A woman died after falling out of the back of an ambulance, an inquest has heard. Anita Woodford, 66, was being rolled down the back of the ambulance ramp on a wheelchair while the vehicle was stationary when the chair toppled over. An inquest this week heard that the wrong wheelchair was used when she arrived at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for a non-urgent dialysis appointment on Nov 15, 2021. She hit her head after the wheelchair tipped over and she died two weeks later. In CCTV footage shown at the inquest the woman from Brisley, Norfolk, was wheeled in the chair down the ramp when it hit the bottom and suddenly jolted backwards. The hospital porter wheelchair was wheeled by ambulance care assistant Tracey Leigh, who was subsequently suspended and fired. Ms Leigh was visibly upset whilst giving evidence at the Norfolk Coroners Court inquest in Norwich, Norfolk. Speaking via video link, Ms Leigh said: I was going down the ramp and, I dont know what happened, but when I got to the bottom the wheelchair tipped backwards. All I know is that it tipped, and I could not hold it. Ive done that job a hundred times before and nothing like that had ever happened before. She however admitted that due to the weight and size of the porter wheelchair, she would not have been able to stop it from tipping backwards. The court heard how Ms Leigh had received training on best practices for loading and unloading patients. ERS Medical, the firm which provided the patient transport service, had alerted staff to the risk of using porter wheelchairs rather than the one provided on its vehicles. Ms Leigh added: I never thought in a million years this would happen. Norfolk and Norwich Hospital (PA) We all used the hospital wheelchairs to transport patients. I had done nothing differently that day than what I had done on any other day. She also claimed that ERS Medical management had been aware of its staff using porter wheelchairs for unloading patients from ambulances at hospital. She was fired following an internal investigation. Mrs Woodfords husband of 45 years, Graham Woodford, attended the three-day inquest. In a statement, he said the couple had travelled the world together and that she was a devoted dog owner. He added that over the years she had suffered from depression following bereavements, this being a key trigger of her mental ill health. As a result, she had gradually turned to alcohol but did not accept she had a problem.In 2019, she retired from her job working at Elmham Surgery, near Dereham, where she had been employed for 25 years. Following a visit to her GP in August 2021 she was admitted to the Norfolk and Norwich hospital with several health problems related to alcoholism, including severe liver disease. She was discharged home on November 12 that year. On the morning of November 15, she had been collected by Ms Leigh and a colleague for a hospital appointment. Following the incident, Mrs Woodford sustained a head and neck injury and was given a CT head scan, before being kept in hospital overnight. Eight days earlier, on Nov 7, she underwent the same test which had shown a small amount of bleeding on the brain. Following the injury to her head, CT results showed a further bleed. Her condition deteriorated and she died at home on November 29. Dr Curtis Ofiah, a consultant at the Royal London Hospital, told the inquest that Mrs Woodford was considered to have a number of high-risk factors leaving her susceptible to bleeding. In his statement, Mr Woodford paid tribute to his wife. He said: She was loving, kind, caring, considerate, and conscientious. She will always be loved and remembered and never forgotten. The inquest continues. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A UK-born student attempting to flee Sudan has described devastating scenes in the countrys capital, with prisoners running rampant, families being bombed out of their homes, gunfire in the streets and roads full of tanks. Samar Eltayeb, 20, from Birmingham, is a third year medical student at National University in Khartoum, Sudan. She is a dual-national and is currently waiting to be evacuated to join her parents, three brothers and two sisters back in the UK. Speaking from the house of a relative on the outskirts of Khartoum on Tuesday, she told the PA news agency: Imagine the movie, Purge its just like that. The prisoners got released from the prison yesterday. So theres murderers and people whove committed manslaughter and thieves everywhere. The Purge is a 2013 horror film about a wealthy family who find themselves in danger during the annual Purge, a night when all crime is temporarily legal. Ms Eltayeb said: People have mentioned that theyve been looted, and they took their stuff and their money, and they were just left in the middle of nowhere. It was really scary. More than 420 people, including at least 273 civilians, have been killed since fighting began on April 15. The British government is taking advantage of a 72-hour ceasefire agreed by the warring factions in Sudan to evacuate UK nationals. Asked if her family are worried about her, Ms Eltayeb said: Yes, especially the little ones who keep calling me, saying: Oh Samar, are you okay? Are you gonna die? On the day the fighting started, Samar woke up at her student accommodation to the sound of gunfire. She said: When everything first happened, I was in my dorm. It was in the hotspot and I heard everything. Im afraid that I'm never going to see Khartoum again Samar Eltayeb It was so terrifying. The sounds kept getting louder. And it was as if they were right outside the dorm. All the girls were screaming and I was like: Oh my God, this is real. Two days later, a relative picked her up and drove her 40 minutes to his house on the outskirts of Khartoum. She said: As we were driving, the actual main road was closed because there were so many tanks. That other way had the military people and they stopped us and asked where youre going, whos in the back, and asked us to open up the trunk. It was a lot. Asked about the violence she has witnessed first-hand, Ms Eltayeb said: I havent seen anything but my mum has told me our family house has been bombed. Buildings have just been destroyed by missiles. Im afraid that Im never going to see Khartoum again. There'll be constant flights within the next few days, but if I can't find gas to get there, then I'm stuck Samar Eltayeb Ms Eltayeb remained indoors for the last week while awaiting instruction from the British Government about evacuation sites. She is now trying to get to the Wadi Saidna Air Base 14 miles north of Khartoum an hours drive away, but does not have enough petrol to make the journey. Im trying to get there. But the problem is the vehicles that we have have no gas, and the petrol stations are empty, she said. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck. Ive been trying to find other ways to leave this country like the Egyptian border, or getting a boat to Jeddah in Saudi (Arabia). But as its just me, I cant travel by myself in this really unsafe country. Ms Eltayeb described the response from the British embassy as mixed, stating: I did try to call the embassy the first day this happened, and they didnt tell me anything. They were just like, stay indoors. She added: Today, theyve actually been helpful and said evacuations are going to happen within the next couple of days. Ms Eltayeb is also concerned about friends who have no route out of Sudan. A lot of people are kind of just doomed. There's no way they can escape Samar Eltayeb She said: I have other friends that arent able to leave, and theyre just stuck here. A lot of people are kind of just doomed. Theres no way they can escape. Theyre suffering and they have no water, electricity and no wifi. Theres so many resources that are just gone. Speaking about the impact of the conflict on the Sudanese people, she said: The military dont care about the people at all. Theyre just kind of fighting amongst themselves, and they dont care about the damage theyve caused to our people. Its really selfish. Theyre trying to fight in order to be the leader of the country, but they dont realise that theyre destroying the country that they want to lead. It makes no sense. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A woman flew her dogs from London to New York on an 8,000 private jet as she said it was cheaper than putting them in cargo. Maddie Young, 31, wanted to make sure her 12-year-old pug, Violet, and one-year-old Golden retriever, Olive, could move to Brooklyn with her husband, who had landed a job in the city in January 2023 Ms Young started researching how they could travel the 3,470-mile distance from London and was shocked at the cost. She said she was quoted 6,000 - 12,000 per dog by an airline for them to travel in cargo. The PR freelancer started looking into other ways she could do it and came across a Facebook group arranging private charter jets for dogs. The couple paid 10,000 for their two hounds Violet and Olive to travel in style and were refunded 2,000 as the plane was filled so the costs were split further. Ms Young said the experience was smooth and the dogs were even treated to personalised toys and dog cookies on board. Maddie, from Balham, south London, said: The quotes were crazily expensive. We were limited as airlines dont like to fly flat face breeds as they can be more prone to breathing issues although this is not the case with Violet. (Maddie Young / SWNS) I Googled lots of stuff and found old news articles of people looking at different ways to travel and found a UK to US Facebook group from there. It was full of people organising flights and splitting the costs. We paid 10k including seats for us. But it was 8k in the end as we were refunded for filling the plane. It was the cheaper option. It was a no brainer. Ms Young struggled to find many options for them as the cargo flights were expensive and the cruise liner had a two year wait. Ms Young with her 12-year-old pug Violet (Maddie Young / SWNS) Having never flown privately before Ms Young was surprised a private charter flight she found on a Facebook group was 4,000 cheaper than taking a standard flight with the dogs. The couple arrived just half an hour before the flight at Biggin Hill Airfield, Bromley, and said the dogs were given toys and cookies before the long journey. Maddie and the other dog owners bought blankets to put down and protect the seats. The experience was so smooth. There were eight dogs and 10 humans, she said. All the dogs were super well-behaved. They mostly slept, chilled and chewed bones. The pair our now settling into their new home in New York (Maddie Young / SWNS) The plane had to refuel in Canada due to strong headwinds and it meant the dogs could relieve themselves after the eight-and-a-half-hour journey. Ms Young did anything to keep them calm and tried not to feed the dogs too much so they didnt need to go to the toilet. The airline also provided puppy pads if they needed to relieve themselves. Violet and Olive arrived safely in New York in April 2023 and are now settling into their new home. 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 }} Prince Harry was kept out of the loop over alleged phone hacking by tabloids in relation to the royal household, the High Court has heard. The Duke of Sussex is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN) over alleged unlawful information gathering at two of its titles, The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World claiming that his private information was unlawfully accessed. NGN is bringing a bid to have Harrys case thrown out, along with a similar claim by actor Hugh Grant, at a three-day hearing in London which started on Tuesday, arguing they have been brought too late. Lawyers for the Duke of Sussex say he has been following the case online despite the time difference (Reuters) But, responding to the publishers strike out application, Harrys lawyers said it is an attempt to go behind a secret agreement between the royal family as an institution and NGN, which the duke was informed of in 2012. David Sherborne, representing Harry, told the court on Wednesday that, before 2012, the duke believed there was only one voicemail which his brother the Prince of Wales left for him that had been intercepted. The barrister said Harry thought the tabloid press wouldnt have been stupid enough to go after his messages, given the security services involvement, and that there were members of royal staff who he was aware believed they had been hacked but he was kept out of the loop. He was told more in 2012 but that was essentially dealt with by his family, the institution as he described it, Mr Sherborne said. That is no criticism of the [late] Queen or his family, that is how it was done and he accepted it. One also has to remember at the times he was on active service in Afghanistan. The barrister joked that Harry did not have access to The Guardian newspaper or a lawyer while he was in Afghanistan. Mr Sherborne added that the Duke of Sussex was following the case online despite the time difference and actor Mr Grant would be attending the final day of the hearing on Thursday. Hugh Grant is expected to attend court on Thursday (PA) The barrister said: The Duke of Sussex has asked me to express his disappointment at being unable to be here. He was unable to be here for these three days but he is also following by video link, despite the challenges of the time difference. NGNs legal team, led by Anthony Hudson KC, claimed that evidence provided by claimants was inconsistent and generic, emphasising that none of the claims brought against the publisher had any evidence of its involvement in illegal activity. Mr Hudson KC said that Mr Grant, who has provided evidence as part of the claim along with other star-studded names including Sir Elton John and Sadie Frost, was inconsistent in stating that he was not aware of The Suns alleged phone hacking activity. He argued that tweets and interviews by Mr Grant as far back as 2006 pointed to his knowledge of the alleged phone hacking and therefore he could have brought his claim forward earlier. He argued that both Prince Harry and Mr Grant have been at the epicentre of the scandal since as long ago as 2006 and therefore aware he could have brought a claim sooner, and said his evidence that he was prevented from doing so by a secret agreement is without merit in fact or law. In documents before the court, Mr Sherborne said the late Queen was involved in discussions and authorisation of the agreement, which was that members of the royal family would not pursue claims against NGN until after the conclusion of the litigation over hacking. Anthony Hudson KC, for NGN, said the publishers position is that there was no such secret agreement. The Prince of Wales has recently settled a claim against NGN, the High Court has heard (PA) Mr Grant is bringing a separate phone hacking claim against The Sun joined by the 7/7 London bombings survivor John Tulloch, the jockey Kieren Fallon, and David Beckhams father, Ted. Rupert Murdochs media company has always said illegal voicemail interception only took place at the now defunct News of the World newspaper and no illegality occurred at The Sun. The hearing is expected to conclude on Thursday and the judge will determine whether their claims will progress to a trial, which would be heard in January next year. Mr Sherborne said that if NGN loses its application and the case goes to a planned trial, senior News Group executives Rebekah Brooks and Robert Thomson who he said were involved in the secret agreement and subsequent negotiations will have to give evidence. Queen Elizabeth II is said to have signed off on the secret agreement but NGN deny any such deal being made (PA) NGN has previously settled a number of claims since the phone hacking scandal broke in relation to The News Of The World, which closed in 2011, but has consistently denied that any unlawful information-gathering took place at The Sun. The hearing will continue on Thursday morning at the High Court. 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 are searching for a man at a country park after a teacher was found dead nine miles away in Glasgow. Marelle Sturrock, 35, was discovered at 8.40am on Tuesday in a property in Jura Street. Her death is being treated as suspicious. Officers later descended on Mugdock Country Park, just outside the city in East Dunbartonshire, where they are searching for a man. Detective Chief Inspector Cheryl Kelly said: A visible police presence will remain at both locations as our work continues. Ms Sturrock worked at Sandwood Primary School in Glasgow, and on Wednesday parents were told of the death. Headteacher Fiona Donnelly said in a letter: It is with deep sorrow that I must inform you about the sudden death of Ms Sturrock who is a beloved member of our teaching staff. I know that this will come as a shock to our school community, and we will do all that we can to support children, staff and families through what will be a difficult and challenging time. We have had support in school today from our educational psychologists who will be here over the next few days to offer help and advice. I hope that you will understand that there are no other details that I can share at this time but wanted to let our families know the tragic news from the school. Ms Sturrock was from the Scottish Highlands, but moved to Glasgow when she was 17 to pursue a career in the performing arts. She later became a primary school teacher after completing her postgraduate diploma in education. Ms Kelly said: Our thoughts are with Marelles family and friends, as well as everyone affected by this tragic incident. We are providing her family with support at this incredibly difficult time as our investigation to establish the full circumstances continues. She added there was not believed to be any risk to the wider public but anyone with information or concerns should contact police on 101. PA Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A worker who was among 35 people injured when a US naval ship tipped over in a dry dock has spoken about the scary incident as a law firm looks into potential civil actions. Constantin Pogor said he was thrown from one side of the bridge of the Petrel to the other, cracked his ribs on a metal beam and passed out. The Romanian national is among several of those hurt in the incident currently being represented by law firm Digby Brown. The 48-year-old suffered a dislocated elbow and fractured pelvis and is still being treated for his injuries. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is investigating after the Petrel became dislodged from its holding at the Imperial Dock in Leith, Edinburgh, in March and tipped over, leaving 35 people injured. Speaking about the incident, Mr Pogor said: I heard a loud noise, felt movement and I just had this reflex reaction to try and hold onto something but I didnt get to grab onto anything. I flew from one side of the bridge to the other and landed on my right side and hit my ribs on a metal beam. I must have passed out because I remember just sort of coming to thats when I realised my elbow was dislodged. A colleague then tried to move me it was really painful and thats when I realised that although I could move my legs, something was wrong in my hip. I still dont even know what actually happened that day to cause the ship to fall. He said he had sought his own lawyers to investigate and believes there are a lot of other people on board whove done the same. I flew from one side of the bridge to the other and landed on my right side and hit my ribs on a metal beam Costantin Pogor He added: But I want to shed light on what happened to me just so people back home know Im relatively okay. It was scary at the time especially when youre not able to speak the same language. But Im being looked after now, have a translator and Im focused on my recovery. Digby Brown Solicitors have confirmed they are assisting people affected with legal inquiries. A Digby Brown spokesman said: We can confirm we assisting a number of injured people affected by the Leith docks incident. Our inquiries are at an early stage so we cannot comment further on the specifics; however we will continue to support and advise all affected people. The 76m-long Petrel was once owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who bought the ship to locate historically significant shipwrecks, discovering 30 sunken warships. But in 2022 the Isle of Man-registered vessel was sold to the US Navy, and is now operated by American-owned firm Oceaneering International. A spokesperson for Dales Marine Services, which runs the dry dock, told the Scotsman that there were no new updates or comments at this time. A spokesperson from Oceaneering told the newspaper: The safety of our employees and the communities in which we operate is our utmost priority. Company personnel were aboard at the time of the incident. The firm added that upon learning of the incident, it initiated an internal investigation and is working closely with appropriate bodies. The US Navy said previously: The Navy procured Petrel in September 2022 to support our efforts in maritime domain awareness. We are working closely with the on-site authorities, who are in the best position to help those in need and to provide status updates. We will continue to communicate with our contacts at the scene in order to understand what occurred. The Petrel had been moored at the dry dock since September 3 2020 due to operational challenges from the pandemic. Low trust and confidence in the Police means some parents may be reluctant to report their children missing, the force has been told. Just weeks after Baroness Caseys damning review which found institutional racism, misogyny and homophobia at Scotland Yard warned that the Met was still not gripping child protection, a new City Hall report highlights fears that these failings are hampering the search for missing children. Following an investigation into the causes and handling of missing child cases, London Assemblys police and crime committee found that distrust of the police could be forcing parents to search for their children themselves instead of asking the Met. The Metropolitan Police is the only force not to meet a recruitment target set by Boris Johnson. More than 20,000 new police officers have been hired in England and Wales meeting a Conservative manifesto pledge but Britains biggest police force missed its goal. A total of 20,951 extra recruits joined police forces in the past three years, in the wake of a Conservative election manifesto commitment to have 20,000 additional officers in post by March 2023, according to provisional Home Office figures. Hindus were served Halal meals, Sikhs confused for Muslims, and Christians were wrongfully arrested because public sector workers dont understand religious beliefs, a landmark review has found. The 165-page report by the governments faith adviser Colin Bloom is the most sweeping review of the governments relationship with religion in a generation. The study, published on Wednesday after years of delays, found that civil servants lacked an understanding of religion and recommended that all public sector workers be given training. Examples of religious ignorance noted in the report included police officers who confused Sikhs with Muslims or had raised concerns over the kirpan, a ceremonial sword Sikhs are obliged to carry as part of their religious observance. 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 }} Rishi Sunaks plans to tackle illegal migration to the UK have passed their first parliamentary hurdle, gaining the support of MPs in the Commons by 289 votes to 230. The government accepted several amendments from rebel Conservatives, including clarifying the limited circumstances in which unaccompanied children could be deported and a commitment to set out the safe and legal routes for asylum seekers to reach Britain. But other government amendments toughened the law, making it harder for those who are deported to seek a waiver of their ban on re-entry or gaining British citizenship, and limiting the ability of individuals to delay their removal to a third country by citing the risk of serious and irreversible harm. Mr Sunak has made stopping small boat arrivals one of his five key priorities and the Illegal Migration Bill will mean anyone who arrives on small boats will be prevented from claiming asylum and deported either back to their homeland or to so-called safe third countries. The plans include a near-half-a-billion-pound plan with France, to help fund a new detention centre near Dunkirk, more drones and an extra 500 police officers to prevent migrants making the dangerous journey across the English Channel. Mr Sunak said the legislation was needed to stop people from making the treacherous journey across the English Channel and making what he described as bogus asylum claims. Britain is already sending money to France to tackle the issue and has spent some 250m doing so since 2015, but the numbers coming to the UK have continued to rise. The Labour Party has branded the new bill a con and another gimmick that it claimed would not work. The United Nations said the plan would break international law. How many people have come to the UK on small boats? Some 85,889 people arrived in the UK by small boat between January 2018 and December 2022, according to official figures. 3,150 arrived between 1 January and 7 March 2023. The government began recording data in 2018 due to a spike in the number of people making the trip across the English Channel, most of whom set out from France. Britain already sends money to France to tackle the issue and has spent some 250m doing so since 2015, but the numbers coming to the UK have continued to rise. Analysts say the spike in numbers is due in part to increased security at the UKs land borders, making it more difficult for people to reach the UK in lorries. Are the numbers going up? Yes. The number of people arriving in the UK has been steadily increasing every year since 2018 and grew by 60 per cent between 2021 and 2022. In 2018, 299 people arrived in the UK on small boats. This increased to 1,843 in 2019, 8,466 in 2020, 28,526 in 2021 and 45,755 in 2022. (Independent) Which countries are people coming from? According to the Home Office, Iranians have accounted for 22 per cent of all small boat arrivals since 2018. People from Iran represented the majority of small boat arrivals in 2018 (80 per cent) and in 2019, 66 per cent. However, the Home Office added, a greater mix of nationalities have been detected making the crossing since 2020. Albanian and Afghan nationals became noticeably more common in 2022. In 2022, almost half of all small boat arrivals were from these two nationalities Albanians, 28 per cent, and Afghans, 20 per cent. More than 12,000 people have arrived from Iraq since 2018. View more What happens when people arrive in the UK on small boats? According to the Home Office, most people who arrive in the UK by small boat claim asylum. There have been 76,134 such applications since January 2018. Under the current system, asylum seekers who reach the UK are often able to remain in the country while their claims are assessed. Government figures showed there were more than 160,000 of these claims waiting to be processed at the end of last year. Under British law, you must be physically present in the UK in order to claim asylum. There is no visa for people to travel to the country for that purpose, meaning that they must arrive by different means. Most asylum seekers arrive in the UK through legal travel, such as commercial flights, on visas for other purposes such as tourism or study. But those who are unable to obtain visas because of their practical or financial situation, such as fleeing a war zone or hostile government, are pushed onto irregular and illegal routes often controlled by smuggling gangs. Because of the Schengen passport-free area inside the EU, many asylum seekers heading for the UK make irregular sea journeys to Greece or Italy and then travel over land until their journey ends on Frances northern coast. To be eligible to claim asylum you must have left your country and be unable to go back because you fear persecution. The government says this persecution must be because of your race, religion, nationality, political opinion or anything else that puts you at risk because of the social, cultural, religious or political situation in your country, for example, your gender, gender identity or sexual orientation. People applying for asylum in the UK must have failed to get protection from authorities in their own country. Those who have their claims rejected will be asked to leave the country, although they can challenge the decision in the courts. (AFP/Getty) Where do people get sent if they are rejected? People whose claims are rejected will be given the option to leave the country themselves and may get help with returning home, the government says. Those who refuse to leave risk being detained without warning and taken to the immigration removal centre before being deported. The UK lost the right to return migrants to EU countries after Brexit. Those who have their claims rejected could eventually be sent to Rwanda following a deal between the two governments, or another safe third country. The Rwanda scheme was set up under the Nationality and Borders Bill the governments previous plan to tackle the issue. But the scheme has failed to start, having been beset by legal challenges, and Albania is the only other nation to have agreed to accept asylum seekers from the UK. What are the current safe and legal routes to asylum? The government says it operates several safe and legal immigration routes. These are: The UK Resettlement Scheme, Community Sponsorship, and the Mandate Scheme are refugee resettlement programmes Refugee family reunion visas are available to immediate relatives of people granted refuge in the UK before they left their country of origin (known as pre-flight relatives) Nationality-specific bespoke immigration routes are available to some Afghans, Ukrainians, and people from Hong Kong Ministers have hailed the arrival of hundreds of thousands of people from Ukraine and Hong Kong, but the schemes involved in those two instances have bypassed asylum processes with the creation of bespoke visas that do not grant refugee status. The safe and legal routes the government claims those crossing the Channel ignore are programmes where the UK resettles people from abroad who are recognised by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). It also allows people to join relatives who have already been granted asylum in the UK. They effectively allow the government to pick and choose who comes to the UK, how and when. For that reason, the process is slow and extremely restricted. The UNHCR has said: Critical resettlement schemes remain very limited, and can never substitute for access to asylum. The Refugee Convention explicitly recognises that refugees may be compelled to enter a country of asylum irregularly. A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dungeness beach by a lifeboat crew following an incident in the channel (PA) What is the new bill? The government wants to deport any asylum seekers who arrive in the UK by small boats without first considering their case. The bill puts a duty on the home secretary to arrange the removal of people who have come to the UK without permission if they have not arrived directly from a country where their liberty is at risk. Suella Braverman, the current home secretary, said in a statement that the bill would allow us to stop the boats that are bringing tens of thousands to our shores in flagrant breach of both our laws. Ms Braverman said that the bill would tackle the backlog in asylum applications, which has risen to 160,000. The House of Commons approved the third reading of the bill by 289 votes to 230. It now passes to the House of Lords, where it could be amended or delayed. Two amendments proposed by Conservative lawmakers one to remove the power to deport children before they turn 18 altogether and one to exempt victims of unlawful exploitation in Britain from removal were withdrawn after the government said it would look at ways to do more on the issues raised. What do the critics say? On the very first page of the bill, Ms Braveman said that she was unable to make a statement that, in my view, the provisions of the Illegal Migration Bill are compatible with the Convention rights, but the government nevertheless wishes the House to proceed with the Bill. Ms Braverman meant that she was not sure whether or not the Illegal Migration Bill would breach human rights law. The United Nations has since said that the plan would be a clear breach of international law. The home secretary says new small boats laws will act as a deterrent (UK PARLIAMENT/AFP/Getty) What about the opposition? The Labour Party has said it wants to tackle illegal migration too but could not support the bill because it would not work. The party said it would focus on tackling people-smuggling gangs organising boat crossings. The UK has a number of migrant detention centres which are full, or close to being full, and the government has not yet set out how it plans to increase capacity. Labour has said the plan would cause a spike in the use of hotels to house people awaiting asylum decisions, claiming that this could cost the taxpayer as much as 25bn over the next five years. After Ms Braverman said some of the migrants arriving by small boats had values at odds with those of Britain, Labour said: Its pretty clear when you see politicians reaching for that sort of invective that its a sign that the policies that they are promoting have failed. Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said: This Bill is a con. It will mean thousands more people in asylum accommodation indefinitely, with the taxpayer footing the bill because of the combination of their new law and their failure on returns. Labour leader Keir Starmer said at Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday that 18,000 people were deemed ineligible for asylum last year and that fewer than 1 per cent of them had been returned. Keir Stamer raised concerns about the small boats bill at Prime Minsiters Questions (Parliament Live TV) Modern slavery Some have raised concerns that the governments bill will fail people arriving on small boats who have legitimate claims to asylum, such as those who are victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. According to the governments own statistics, between 2018-2022, seven per cent of those arriving by small boats claimed to be modern slavery victims. Of those, 85 per cent have received a positive reasonable grounds decision, meaning they are granted protection. Will the plan work as a deterrent? Some analysts have suggested that the true aim of the governments plan is to act as a deterrent to those who want to come to the UK looking for a better life. For many asylum seekers, large numbers of whom have fled war-torn countries, crossing the English Channel is only the final leg of a journey that has, in some cases, lasted for years, Hundreds of people have already died attempting to make the treacherous crossing. And some of those trying to make it have already been beaten, abused and detained on their way to the UK. "If they send us away we will come back," Jaber, a 19-year-old Afghan told Sky News earlier this week when asked what he thought about the governments new plan and whether it would work. "And if they send me to Rwanda, I havent committed a crime, so I will come back, he added, speaking from a camp in northern France, where overnight temperatures hovered around zero. 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 first flight of evacuees from Sudan is on its way back to Britain as the military races against time to lift people to safety during a fragile ceasefire. RAF flights from near the capital, Khartoum, were continuing throughout Wednesday after hundreds of UK nationals were taken to safety in Cyprus. A chartered jet flying a first group back to London Stansted left Larnaca in the morning, with officials working to rescue more than 2,000 citizens who have registered in Sudan. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said 200 to 300 people have left from the Wadi Saeedna airstrip so far. But with potentially thousands more British nationals in Sudan who have not notified the Foreign Office of their presence, the race is on to lift them to safety. A 72-hour ceasefire brokered by the warring rival generals has largely held since it began in the early hours of Monday. It is understood that if fighting resumes the evacuation operation will not necessarily end, but it will present a greater risk to the safety of evacuees, troops and officials. HMS Lancaster is progressing towards Port Sudan, the Red Sea dock some 500 miles from Khartoum that could possibly be used in a seaborne operation. But with UK nationals being told to make their own way to evacuation sites, that trip would be made particularly challenging by fuel shortages and the traffic of people fleeing. Ms Braverman defended the extensive operation from criticism that Britons are not receiving escorts on their journeys and that allies have removed their citizens quicker. The Government had to cope with a larger cohort of British nationals in Sudan compared to many other countries, she said. In an apparent swipe at the UKs approach, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians to their own devices as it completed its evacuation. She said that unlike in other countries, Germanys evacuation had included all its nationals and not just embassy staff, whom the UK airlifted to safety on Sunday. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck UK-born student Samar Eltayeb Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had argued it was right that diplomats were prioritised because they were being targeted. A UK-born student attempting to flee Sudan said she does not have enough petrol to make the dangerous one-hour drive from the outskirts of Khartoum to the airstrip. Im trying to get there. But the problem is the vehicles that we have have no gas, and the petrol stations are empty, Samar Eltayeb, 20, from Birmingham, told the PA news agency. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck. The Ministry of Defence said three flights have so far landed in Cyprus since the evacuation began. British forces are expected to take over command of the operation in Wadi Saeedna from German troops on Wednesday, but the security of the site is being maintained by the Sudanese armed forces. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said 120 British troops have already been supporting the operation at the airfield north of Khartoum. The military is ready to use force if needed if the site comes under attack, although the troops are primarily there to help with logistics and providing air traffic control. Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, are being prioritised for the flights. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible. Nationals have been warned all travel within Sudan is conducted at your own risk. 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 }} Understanding of Civil Service impartiality has corroded over the years with some ministers regarding uncomfortable advice as obstruction, peers have heard. A panel of former senior civil servants warned the Lords Constitution Committee on Wednesday that Kwasi Kwartengs decision to sack the Treasurys top mandarin at the start of his tenure as chancellor had set a dangerous precedent that could lead to ministers receiving worse advice. Lord Sedwill, who served as Cabinet secretary and head of the Civil Service between 2018 and 2020, said the dismissal of Sir Tom Scholar had been damaging and without merit. The sacking of the Treasurys then-permanent secretary was seen as a result of his perceived alignment with the Treasury orthodoxy Mr Kwarteng was seeking to challenge. Lord Sedwill said: One can only assume it was a deliberate signal to Whitehall that political alignment to the new governments views was the key criterion, and capability, loyalty and performance were not. He added: Its the signal to the system that you shouldnt speak truth to power that is damaging, because worse decisions will be made. Sir Toms predecessor at the Treasury, Lord Macpherson, agreed, saying: It was almost as if it was a pre-emptive strike designed to demonstrate to the rest of the Treasury that if you wanted to thrive and prosper under the Kwarteng regime, you kind of had to tell them what they wanted to hear, namely that unfunded tax cuts would have no consequences in the market. Baroness Prashar, the former head of the Civil Service Commission that oversees the appointment of senior mandarins, agreed that it had set a very dangerous precedent and should not become a trend. But she also identified a wider corrosion in understanding of Civil Service impartiality. She said: To make the system work, theres an equal responsibility on the ministers to appreciate the nature of this relationship. I think sometimes uncomfortable advice on contentious issues like Brexit can be seen as being obstructive, whereas what is being spelt out is what the consequences are. The former civil servants comments come shortly after the resignation of Dominic Raab after an independent inquiry found he had bullied civil servants. Mr Raab defended himself, claiming activist civil servants had tried to block changes he had been pushing for. Similar tensions between ministers and civil servants have arisen in recent years, including over Brexit, with some Conservatives claiming a Whitehall blob had worked to frustrate attempts to leave the EU. Lord Sedwill rejected the argument that the Civil Service was subversive. I dont actually think, if you look at the way the Civil Service supported the Brexit negotiations, and actually the process in the run-up to the referendum, there is any evidence to suggest any kind of latent opposition or reluctance to serve the government of the days policies is there, quite the reverse. People worked extremely hard in those departments to help several governments pursue quite different visions of how they were going to approach that. 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 }} Costs for asylum hotels could increase by a further 7.5 million every day due to the Conservative Illegal Migration Bill, the Labour Party has said. Analysis by Labour is said to have shown that spending on hotels for asylum seekers could rise to more than 4 billion a year. It comes as the Bill returns to the Commons on Wednesday. Home Office on asylum hotels" data-source="Labour Party"> The Home Office is currently spending 6 million per day on hotel accommodation for asylum seekers, a Labour statement said. Almost 50,000 people are currently in hotels on top of approximately 57,000 in long-standing asylum accommodation. The Illegal Migration Bill changes the law so that people who arrive after March 7 will still be placed in asylum accommodation, but will not ever have their case for asylum assessed, Labour said. The party added that although Government ministers have promised that people will be removed from the country, Rwanda is expected to take only a couple of hundred people. According to Government forecasts, around 53,000 people will be subject to the Bills provisions this year. The Home Office is drawing up plans for huge numbers of new hotels as well as bases and barges as a result of the Bill, Labour said. The party added that new asylum hotels have been proposed or opened across the country including in Hereford, Kegworth and Aberdeen since the Prime Minister promised to end hotel use in December. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: This Bill is going to create even more chaos in the asylum system. Far from ending hotel use, this Bill is going to mean thousands more people in taxpayer funded hotels and accommodation. No self-respecting minister who believes they will still be in the job in a years time and having to deal with this chaos would stand behind this Bill. They should vote instead for Labours plan to fast track decisions and returns to end hotel use. Labour is calling on Tory MPs to vote for fast-track asylum decision making and returns for safe countries such as Albania and India to help clear the backlog and end hotel use. Labours claims are laughable and anyone can see through them Government spokesperson The party is also demanding Tory MPs back a new requirement for the Home Office to consult local councils on new asylum accommodation and for a duty on the home secretary to deport terrorists who arrive on small boats. A Government spokesperson said: Labour dont want to stop the boats they want to scrap the Rwanda deal which would increase the costs of our asylum system. Our plan, when in force, would deter people from making the journey in the first place. Labours claims are laughable and anyone can see through them. 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 }} Plans to legislate for minimum levels of service during rail strikes could have unintended consequences of provoking further conflict, MPs have been told. The Transport Select Committee questioned rail industry and union leaders about the legislation currently going through Parliament. Jamie Burles, managing director of Abellio Greater Anglia, said the overriding objective of the industry is to avoid strikes and have good industrial relations. He stressed the importance of having absolute clarity in the planned law about the requirements on employers and workers. If we do not have that, one of the unintended consequences would be further conflict or stress between the relationship. Tom Joyner, managing director of Cross Country Trains, told the MPs he has not been lobbying the Government to bring forward legislation on minimum levels of service. The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill is set to be debated in the House of Lords on Wednesday. TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: Its time for the Government to ditch this Bill for good and protect the right to strike. No-one should be sacked for trying to win a better deal at work. This draconian legislation would mean that when workers democratically vote to strike, they could be forced to work and sacked if they dont comply. Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, told the committee he believes the law would be a disaster. Critical workers such as signallers and train drivers would be conscripted to work even if they voted legally to strike, he said. It will be a complete pigs ear. It is unsafe, it will not work and will not serve passengers. Mr Lynch said the law would spark novel forms of industrial action as well as wildcat walkouts. He said the Government often points to legislation in European countries, but highlighted recent strikes in France, Italy and Sweden. Mr Lynch said the Government does not understand how the railways operate and is making it up in terms of the legislation. He warned that industrial relations would be poisoned by the new law, with the prospect of large numbers of workers being sacked, leading to huge consequences for the rail industry. Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers union Aslef warned that the law would spark more strikes and other forms of industrial action. He told MPs that unions have not been involved in industry workshops to discuss the planned legislation. In all my 38 years in this industry I cannot see how this can be done safely. There will be more action, and it will worsen industrial relations, he said. The union leaders said laying down a minimum level of service would raise expectations among passengers about how many trains would run during a strike. Mr Lynch said that would lead to anger when the inevitable chaos means there will not be a minimum level of service. 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 }} Iraq war veteran Colonel Tim Collins has backed The Independents campaign to stop the deportation of an Afghan war hero, saying the UK owes a duty of loyalty to our allies. Col Collins, famed for the speech he gave his battalion on the eve of war in 2003, said the plight of the Afghan pilot, who has been threatened with removal to Rwanda should never have come to this. He joins more than 20 senior military chiefs and politicians who have supported our campaign calling on the government to give asylum to an Afghan pilot who arrived in the UK on a small boat. The retired British army officer said he was pleased to offer his fullest support to the campaign. We owe a duty of loyalty to our allies. It should never have come to this, he said. He also urged ministers to act swiftly in deciding the mans case. What better way to illustrate their safe and legal solution to the boats issue than demonstrating swift and positive and just action in this case, he said. Col Collins is best known for his inspirational speech, reported around the world, which he gave just before soldiers under his command went into battle in Iraq in 2003. He told them: We go to liberate, not to conquer ... if you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory. The Afghan pilot said he was forced to take the dangerous journey across the Channel to the UK because of a lack of safe and legal routes to the country. Lieutenant Colonel Tim Collins has said we owe a duty of loyalty to our allies (Getty) After the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan, the addresses and telephone numbers of Afghan Air Force pilots were left behind in their offices, leaving them at risk of attack. The pilot was forced into hiding and, after months of waiting for help that never materialised, he fled to the UK. He said: There wasnt any specific safe or legal route or some specific website for us to use. It was impossible in Afghanistan, it is completely impossible. The governments general resettlement scheme for at-risk Afghans, the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, has only brought 22 people to the UK since the initial evacuation, according to government figures. The pilot is now in a Home Office hotel in the UK (The Independent) There is no way to directly apply for the scheme and Afghan refugees have to be referred by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR). But it is not possible to register with the UNHCR while in Afghanistan, and Afghans have to seek help in neighbouring countries. The resettlement scheme run by the Ministry of Defence, for those who worked for or with British armed forces in Afghanistan is very narrow. Data shows the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy scheme (Arap) has rejected 18,946 Afghans, while just 3,399 have been accepted. Afghans who served alongside the British forces and some who worked directly for the Army are among those to have been rejected. They include members of the Afghan Territorial Force 444, known as the 444s, a unit created, trained and funded by the British Army but employed by the Afghan Ministry of Interior. Charities have warned that the lack of safe routes to the UK is contributing to the rising number of Afghans who are crossing the Channel on small boats. Afghans were the highest nationality crossing the Channel in the first three months of 2023 with 909 people making the journey. The Conservatives have expelled MP Andrew Bridgen from the party after he compared Covid-19 vaccines to the Holocaust. He was already sitting as an independent MP after being stripped of the party whip but was dismissed from the party after an investigation found his comments breached lobbying rules. Rishi Sunak denounced his comments as completely unacceptable after Mr Bridgen claimed the jabs were causing serious harms and said he had been told the vaccine programme was the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust. Brexit is healing democracy and has revived British politics, former minister Lord Frost has claimed. The Tory peer and former chief Brexit negotiator said leaving the EU had given the UK the opportunity to debate and change everything again in this country. 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 }} Scotlands External Affairs Secretary has written to the foreign secretary to express the Scottish governments deep concern over the current conflict in Sudan. Angus Robertson said a number of Scots and family members have been in touch with the Scottish government and he thanked all those in the armed forces and UK government currently working on evacuation efforts. He urged the UK government to do everything possible to work with international partners to address the humanitarian situation and to offer protection for those fleeing the violence. Prime minister Rishi Sunak said that many more flights carrying British nationals will leave Sudan into Wednesday, after the first plane took off from the conflict-torn nation on Tuesday. The prime minister said over a thousand UK citizens in Sudan have been contacted about evacuation plans, with officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) having spoken to hundreds directly already. In his letter to foreign secretary James Cleverly, Mr Robertson called for eligibility criteria to be eased to enable Sudanese citizens to be reunited with family members already in the UK, and for consideration to be given to the evacuation of non-British nationals who have worked for UK interests in Sudan. He wrote: The Scottish government stands with the UK Government and international community in deep concern over the spiralling violence in Sudan. While the current, fragile ceasefire is welcome, the situation appears bleak for Sudan, and the wider region, and we fully echo the UK governments call for a genuine and lasting ceasefire. The safety of British Nationals in Sudan is of significant concern to the Scottish government and a number of Scots and family members have been in touch with the Scottish Government. We fully support the UK governments evacuation of all British passport holders and I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to those in the Armed Forces and across the UK government who are working on this. The Scottish government also wanted to put on record our deep concern for Sudanese people at risk in this crisis who will be looking for safe passage out of Sudan. UK nationals were being processed for evacuation at an airfield near the capital Khartoum on Tuesday after an RAF mission was launched during a volatile ceasefire brokered between the warring factions. The UK government said flights will be open to those with British passports and priority will be given to family groups with children and/or the elderly or individuals with medical conditions. It warned that travel within Sudan is conducted at your own risk. 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 }} The Conservatives have admitted wrongly telling voters in Norwich that they do not need photo ID to vote in next weeks local elections in England. The campaign leaflet distributed in the Norfolk city was spotted by opposition campaigners and reported to the Electoral Commission after new voter ID rules came into force. The local Conservative Federation has apologised and said a printing error was to blame for the leaflet sent out to voters containing false advice but said the template came from CCHQ. Simon Jones, chairman of the Norwich Conservative Federation, said the leaflet had been centrally produced and printed from the Tory partys headquarters. Unfortunately, their content contained information which was out of date and did not reflect recent changes to voter ID, said the local chairman. Mr Jones said: We delivered a small number of these before realising their mistake but suspended delivery as soon as the issue was identified. The local Tory chairman added: We apologise, unreservedly, to the residents that received these and will be contacting them to correct the error as quickly as possible. The Liberal Democrats have written to Tory chairman Greg Hands demanding a party inquiry into the highly misleading local Tory leaflets. The partys local government spokesperson Helen Morgan asked: Was the material for these leaflets centrally produced by Conservative campaign headquarters, and if so how many could have been printed across the country? Liberal Democrats launch local election campaign by smashing through blue wall of hay The senior Lib Dem MP added: How many more voters could have been wrongly told they dont need photo ID to vote in next weeks local elections? The government is under pressure over new rules after estimated that around 4 per cent of the population of Britain are unlikely to have a valid form of photo ID to vote the equivalent of just over two million people. It is the first time that photo identification has been compulsory for elections in England, but only certain kinds of ID will be accepted. A passport, driving licence photocard or blue badge are all valid, as well as an older persons bus pass. Rishi Sunak has insisted that the new ID checks will mean UK elections are high-integrity processes despite no evidence of large-scale electoral fraud. Only 85,000 people applied for a free voter authority certificate. Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said it was a scandal that hundreds of thousands of people are being locked out of our democracy by the Tories. The Electoral Commission said extra staff will be deployed at some polling stations to make sure voters are aware of the new rules and to help manage queues. But local government bosses have warned that staff could be overwhelmed and could face abuse from voters denied a vote at the 4 May elections across much of England. James Cleverly has said that failing to engage with China would be a sign of weakness in a speech setting out the governments position on Beijing. The foreign secretary said the UK must engage directly with the country in order to promote stability in a keynote address to the Lord Mayors Easter Banquet in London on Tuesday. But he also said the UK must be unflinchingly realistic about Beijings authoritarianism, as he warned it against invading Taiwan. 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 }} Deputy Conservative party chair Lee Anderson engaged in an aggressive confrontation with MP Andrew Bridgen and a former Tory councillor in a parliamentary dining room. The deputy chair was said to have told 69-year-old Sebastian Leslie to come outside and well sort it out as they rowed over Mr Bridgen being expelled from the party. The extraordinary altercation during which the ex-Tory councillor asked if Mr Anderson wanted to duel using pistols or claymores came after the deputy chair clashed with Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley. Mr Bridgen and his guest Mr Leslie were having lunch in Portcullis House after it emerged Mr Bridgen had been kicked out of the Conservative Party for comparing coronavirus vaccines to the Holocaust. They said they became embroiled in an argument with Mr Anderson after seeing him having lunch with friends in the adjournment restaurant. Mr Bridgen accused by Mr Anderson of being rude and aggressive was said to have been angered by Tory officials making his expulsion public while he still has time to appeal against the decision. Mr Leslie, whose daughter Rose Leslie played Ygritte in Game of Thrones, said he told the party deputy hold on Lee because he was being so bloody rude to Andrew. He turned to me and said, Hold on grandad, come outside and well sort it out, Mr Leslie continued. As a chieftain of the Scottish clan Leslie, he asked Mr Anderson whether he wanted to use pistols or claymores, which he explained was a reference to ancient traditions of duelling. He was aggressive and out of control, Mr Leslie, a grandfather-of-six, added. It was very threatening and aggressive. Tory deputy chair Lee Anderson (BBC) Mr Leslie, who was suspended from the Tories in 2018 over council tax payments, said he did not plan to make a complaint despite believing the MP was extremely rude and obviously bloody angry. In turn, Mr Anderson said Mr Bridgen had been rude and aggressive as he lunched with two friends. I was having lunch with two friends when a very angry-looking Andrew Bridgen walked over with his friend, the MP for Ashfield said. He added: Andrew spoke briefly to one of my guests who he knew but then turned his attentions to me in a rude and aggressive manner. I literally had no idea what he was talking about and then both men left. After apologising to my guests for the outburst, I then walked over to Mr Bridgens table to express my disapproval. Earlier on Wednesday, Britains top police officer accused Mr Anderson of being personally offensive in an angry clash over policing. Sir Mark Rowley said the senior Tory had only a partial understanding of the law as he was questioned about what the Met was doing to tackle disruptive eco-protests. Mr Anderson said he did not think the Met commissioner was doing his job correctly. As the exchange came to a head, Sir Mark told Mr Anderson: I am not going to sit here ... if people want to be personally offensive, then write it in newspapers but Im not going to answer those questions. 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 }} Britains top cop has accused Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson of being personally offensive in an angry clash over policing. Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said Mr Anderson had only a partial understanding of the law as he was questioned by the senior MP at Parliaments Home Affairs Committee on what the Met was doing to tackle disruptive eco-protests. As the exchange came to a head, Sir Mark told Mr Anderson: I am not going to sit here if people want to be personally offensive, then write it in newspapers, but Im not going to answer those questions. Mr Anderson, dubbed 30p Lee for claiming people who used food banks didnt know how to cook properly and that meals could be prepared for that sum, pressed Sir Mark over activists outside Parliament he accused of setting up a Glastonbury on Thames. He asked whether there should be zero-tolerance of disruptive protests and urged Sir Mark to leave the ivory tower and got out there and sorted these people out. Youve got the powers now to do this, Mr Anderson said. But Sir Mark replied: You are making selective comments based on a partial understanding of the law. The law is very clear that protest is disruptive and to a reasonable extent that is allowed. You might not like that, but I have to work to the law rather than whim. You might want to believe the law says that no disruption is allowed whatsoever through protests, but that is not the case. Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said Lee Anderson has only a partial understanding of the law (Parliament Live) Mr Anderson said he did not think the Met commissioner was doing his job correctly and asked whether he had the confidence of the public. Committee chairwoman Diana Johnson stepped in after Sir Mark accused Mr Anderson of being personally offensive. The Labour MP said: I dont think we want to be personally offensive, we are trying to get to what the problems are in the Met and how you are going to tackle them. 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 }} Many more flights carrying British nationals will leave Sudan into tomorrow, Rishi Sunak said as the first civilian evacuation plane out of conflict-torn Khartoum landed in Cyprus. The prime minister said over a thousand UK citizens in Sudan have been contacted about extraction plans, with officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) speaking to hundreds directly already. UK nationals were being processed for evacuation at an airfield near the capital after an RAF mission was launched during a volatile ceasefire brokered between the warring factions. The first departure from the Wadi Saeedna airfield landed on Tuesday evening at Larnaca airport in Cyprus with 39 people on board, the BBC reported, citing British officials. Two more flights carrying around 220 people are expected overnight. The UK will take over from German forces running the airfield near Khartoum on Wednesday, according to Defence Secretary Ben Wallace. He said 120 British troops have already been supporting the operation. Speaking at the FCDOs crisis hub in central London, Mr Sunak told broadcasters: The first flight has taken everybody that was there at the airfield and could be processed. We actually have two more flights this evening, and then many more into tomorrow, which will be able to evacuate several hundred people if they can make their way to the airfield. Mr Sunak said he could not guarantee the long-term safety of the air route being used given the volatility of the ceasefire, but other options were being considered. Mr Wallace earlier said Royal Marines were scoping out a possible seaborne evacuation from the more benign environment of Port Sudan, some 500 miles from the capital. HMS Lancaster and the RFA Cardigan Bay have been sent to the region. Mr Wallace said there is some risk that some of the planes are not full. He told Channel 4 News: We can take, really, who turns up at the moment. What weve learned from both seeing the German and the French evacuation is this is first of all not like Kabul, not thousands at the gate, and people are making their way. Theyre being processed. I think there is some risk that some of the planes are not full. Weve seen that in the German planes and theyve then resorted, understandably, to take some other fellow foreign personnel there if theres room. Mr Wallace said the UK will take over the facilitation of the Wadi Saeedna site after Germany said it was operating its final flight on Tuesday evening following the evacuation of around 500 people from 30 nations. Mr Sunak defended the UKs approach against criticism that it is failing those stuck in Khartoum, saying it was right that diplomats were prioritised because they were being targeted. The security situation on the ground in Sudan is complicated, it is volatile and we wanted to make sure we could put in place processes that are going to work for people, that are going to be safe and effective, Mr Sunak said. He added that the UK is working together with international partners to try and bring about a more sustained ceasefire and hopefully a return to civilian government in Sudan, describing that as the best solution to avoid more humanitarian impact. British passport holders are being urged to make their way to the airfield where priority will be given to the most vulnerable, with more than 2,000 citizens having registered in Sudan with the FCDO. Africa minister Andrew Mitchell said British citizens experiencing fuel shortages must still make their own way to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip to be evacuated and should ideally be pre-cleared before they arrive. The Prime Minister thanked FCDO teams working on the evacuation effort and told them the next 24 hours are absolutely critical. Your efforts are really, really helping, making a huge difference, said Mr Sunak, who was accompanied by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. Keep at it The next 24 hours are absolutely critical. We can make a big push as were already doing and you can help us get everyone who wants to come home home. Mr Mitchell told him 200 people are working on the UK efforts day and night. Mr Cleverly earlier warned that it is impossible to ascertain how long the pause in fighting will last after the rival generals agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire. Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, will be prioritised for the flights. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible. Nationals have been warned that all travel within Sudan is conducted at your own risk. Rishi Sunaks legislation aimed at cracking down on asylum seekers crossing the English Channel in small boats has cleared the Commons and now moves to the Lords. The Illegal Migration Bill, an attempt to detain and deport small boat migrants, has passed at the third reading staged after MPs voted in favour by 289 votes to 230 a majority of 59. It came despite Theresa Mays warning that the bill would mean more people in Britain facing modern slavery with the former Tory PM condemning government attempts to address the issue as a slap in the face. 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 }} Sudan will experience a humanitarian catastrophe, the Africa minister has said. Andrew Mitchell told the Foreign Affairs Committee that the position in terms of food and the lack of humanitarian relief workers will lead to such a crisis. He said most humanitarian workers are leaving and will not be able to come back until there is a ceasefire. This isnt an ideological battle, this is a battle between two generals for power Andrew Mitchell He added: Five of them have already been murdered. Mr Mitchell denied that the government should have seen the conflict in Sudan coming. This isnt an ideological battle, this is a battle between two generals for power, he said. There is no ideology involved in this, its raw power being fought over. One might have hoped that this would never happen given the appalling humanitarian jeopardy it has placed so many people in. The minister added: We would not have expected that these two generals would have slugged it out in this way on a totally non-ideological issue, let alone deploy heavy weapons in built-up areas. Questioned on next steps, Mr Mitchell went on: What is urgently required is a ceasefire, for the combatants to lay down their arms and return to barracks and for the political process, which was moving forward significantly before the second week of April, for that to reassert itself. If you turned up at the airstrip in Khartoum seeking to be an asylum seeker you would not be eligible because you cannot be an asylum seeker from your own country Andrew Mitchell The minister was asked about the possibility of the situation in Sudan leading to a significant amount of migration. He called it a hypothetical question at this time. If you turned up at the airstrip in Khartoum seeking to be an asylum seeker you would not be eligible because you cannot be an asylum seeker from your own country, he went on. Mr Mitchell said people should ideally be pre-cleared before they arrive at the airstrip having been in touch with the Foreign Office. Otherwise we are expecting them to have a British passport and so far Im not aware of any problems in that process, he said. The minister added: If you arrive at the airstrip with children under the age of 18 who do not have documents, so long as the border force officers who are there are content that you are a family unit then you will get on a plane. British citizens in Sudan have been told that they need to make their own way at their own risk to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip in Khartoum where evacuations are taking place. Mr Mitchell reiterated this to the committee, saying it remains the case for citizens experiencing fuel shortages or other barriers to travel. He expressed enormous sympathy for British nationals facing travel difficulties within Sudan. Responding to suggestions that there has been a lack of communication from the Foreign Office, Mr Mitchell said that people who have registered with the government department should receive contact from them at least once a day. But the committee heard atmospherics in Khartoum hinder that sort of communication and make it spasmodic. Yesterday there was 2% internet that does make communicating extremely difficult but in principle that has been what we have tried to achieve, Mr Mitchell said. He also confirmed that Rapid Deployment Teams (RDT) arrived at the airstrip in Khartoum on Tuesday morning. 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 }} Air evacuations from Sudan can continue even if a fragile ceasefire breaks, military chiefs said on Wednesday, as the first flight carrying British nationals arrived back in Britain. The commander in charge of the operation also said there was the capability to rescue those who were unable to reach the Wadi Saeedna airstrip because of the fighting. It came as No 10 confirmed that only British passport holders and their dependents are being evacuated potentially leaving around 70 NHS doctors stranded because they only hold UK visas. Just over 300 people have been airlifted out so far on four flights during a 72-hour pause in fighting between forces loyal to rival generals. The first plane carrying UK nationals evacuated from Sudan landed at Stansted airport from Larnaca, Cyprus, at 2.30pm. Some of the passengers were children. It was hoped that a total of eight flights carrying British citizens would be airborne by the end of Wednesday, as the government races to rescue stranded civilians. Brigadier Dan Reeve, Britains chief of joint force operations, said that up to 500 people a day can be flown out of Wadi Saeedna, an airfield just north of Khartoum, with transport planes available to increase that number if necessary. He stressed that an end to the current ceasefire would not necessarily halt the mission. The ceasefire itself was not a condition for us launching this operation, although of course it helped and was a useful window, said Brigadier Reeve. We are well set to continue this operation for as long as we need to. I can see no reason at the moment why we cant continue to do that for as long as the prime minister wants us to, he added. He also confirmed that there were now around 160 troops on the ground at the airfield. That number can grow if I wanted it to. I'm very confident I've got all the troops I need on standby, he said. For individuals unable to make it to the airstrip themselves, he said, there are other options that can be considered. But while forces personnel are evacuating British nationals, these do not include around 70 NHS doctors who are UK visa-holders, the British Medical Association said. Dr Latifa Patel, from the BMA, called on the government to ensure that these doctors, who are invaluable to the UKs health service, are able to get to safety. The situation in Sudan is fluid and as such we do not know exact numbers, but our colleagues at the Sudanese Junior Doctors Association UK estimate that approximately 74 NHS doctors are trapped in Sudan. The government has a duty of care to ensure the safety of these NHS doctors, who work hard to care for patients in the UK NHS doctors who are not British passport holders must not be left behind. A spokesperson for No 10 said the government was keeping the criteria under review and that there was an element of discretion open to those on the ground. The ceasefire has largely held since it began in the early hours of Monday. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer went head to head in Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday 26 April. Their clash came amid a tense situation in Sudan, which could be a key issue the Labour leader chooses to push in the House of Commons. Hundreds of Britons have been evacuated from Sudan as the military races against time to bring people to safety before a ceasefire ends. Flights began landing in Cyprus on Tuesday evening and continued through the night, with more planned. Suella Braverman, the home secretary, said earlier on Wednesday that approximately 200 to 300 British nationals have been relocated in recent days. Weve commenced an evacuation mission in the last 24 to 48 hours, and we expect there to be approximately 200 to 300 people who have been relocated from Sudan in the last few flights, she said. Ms Braverman added the operation is being coordinated by the foreign office with leadership from the prime minister. Click here to sign up for our newsletters. Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police should not be intervening in debates on contested issues about race and gender identity, the home secretary has said. Suella Braverman accused forces of pandering to politically correct preoccupations during a speech marking the recruitment of 20,000 additional officers since 2019. I think that for contested issues where there's legitimate debates, freedom of expression and the lawful exchange of views should be not only allowed but actively encouraged, the home secretary added. For someone to express gender critical views on social media, please shouldn't be getting involved in that they shouldn't be getting involved, or adhering to or espousing views that are akin to critical race theory, they shouldn't be taking the knee. The speech came weeks after the home secretary contacted Essex Police over a hate crime investigation that saw golli*** dolls seized from a pub, with a source saying she believed officers should not be getting involved in this kind of nonsense. It later emerged that the landlord of the premises had hung some of the dolls by their necks and referred to US lynchings and posted white nationalist content on Facebook. A slew of recent criminal cases, disciplinary hearings, inquiries and watchdog reports have exposed racism and misogyny among officers, with 75 per cent of Brits saying they were concerned about the issue in recent polling. But Ms Braverman claimed there was a public perception that that some police are more interested in virtue signalling, or in protecting the interests of a radical minority engaged in criminality than they are protecting the rights of the law-abiding majority. The home secretary hit out at a small number of officers who took a knee in a gesture of support to the Black Lives Matter movement and diversity training that promotes contested ideology like critical race theory, claiming: Some forces have equality teams that have completely abandoned impartiality in favour of taking partisan positions. Asked by The Independent whether it was mixed messaging to accuse police of being too politically correct while calling for higher standards and tighter vetting after the murder of Sarah Everard and other scandals, she replied: No. Ms Braverman said the recruitment of over 46,000 new police officers since November 2019 across England and Wales, to reach the 20,000 extra officers target, was a turning point. Casey report: Met Police institutionally racist, misogynist, and homophobic I want this new generation of police officers to adhere to the philosophy of common sense policing, focusing on the public's priorities instead of spending time and resources on politically-correct distractions, she added. That is not to take away anything from the challenges that policing is facing relating to standards, culture and vetting. I've been very frank about the harrowing reports that we've read and the need for fundamental reform. The programme has created the highest raw number of police officers in history in England and Wales, but the figure is only 2 per cent greater than a peak before the start of austerity in 2010. Analysis by the Full Fact organisation found that the number of police officers per capita has fallen in the period because of population growth. Thousands of police staff members, special constables and PCSOs lost during government cuts have not been replaced, nor has the experience of long-serving specialist officers who retired or were made redundant. Asked whether the uplift programme was an acknowledgement that government austerity had been a failure in policing, Ms Braverman said it was not. Boris Johnson launched the police uplift campaign in 2019 The Conservative government has been delivering for the British people, she added. Senior officers have expressed concern about the proportion of the police service who are now young and inexperienced, as well as the increased risk of unsuitable recruits slipping through the net amid government pressure to hit targets. The Metropolitan Police was the only force not to meet its target falling short of its allotted number by over 1,000 with commissioner Sir Mark Rowley saying the force had been struggling to attract sufficient recruits and was striving to maintain quality. The gap meant that several forces had to over-recruit in order to hit Boris Johnsons target, with North Yorkshire, Thames Valley, Devon and Cornwall, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Avon and Somerset and Norfolk going at least 20 per cent over their allotted number of additional officers. Gavin Stephens, chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, told The Independent that under two in 10 people who applied to join police during the uplift made it through rigorous assessments. We know there is more work to do on vetting but we are absolutely determined that these colleagues come in with the right public service motivation, with the skills and experience to help us become more effective, and its changing how policing looks and feels, he added. Weve not dropped our standards at all. Home Office figures show that while the uplift programme has caused an increase in the proportion of female police officers, and those who are Black and from other ethnic minorities, they are still not representative of the wider population. Mr Stephens would not be drawn on whether he agreed with the home secretarys remarks on political correctness, saying: My view is very strongly that the thing that earns us back trust and confidence with our communities is to focus on the things that matter most to them. They can be many and varied. Conservative ministers have doubled down on their attacks on small boat migrants accusing those arriving from across the English Channel of being asylum shoppers with values at odds with our country. Home secretary Suella Braverman said those coming to Britain in small boats had heightened levels of criminality including drug dealing and prostitution but failed to provide any evidence for the claim. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said small boat arrivals were essentially asylum shoppers, as the Illegal Migration Bill cleared the Commons despite a tough time from Tory MPs concerned by the plan to detain and deport Channel migrants. Migrants who come to the UK across the English Channel in small boats possess values which are at odds with our country with heightened levels of criminality, Suella Braverman has said. I think that uncontrolled and unprecedented levels of illegal migration are totally unacceptable to our country and to our values, she told LBC. Asked whether she agreed with immigration minister Robert Jenricks view that uncontrolled migration threatens to cannibalise the compassion of the British public, the Home Secretary said: I think that the people coming here illegally do possess values which are at odds with our country. Suella Braverman has been rebuked by the UNs refugee agency for falsely claiming Sudanese asylum seekers have various legal ways to reach the UK. The Home Secretary said there was no good reason for those fleeing Sudan to cross the English Channel in small boats and instead urged asylum seekers to contact the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. "If you are fleeing Sudan for humanitarian reasons, there are various mechanisms you can use, the UNHCR is present in the region and they are the right mechanism by which people should apply if they do want to seek asylum in the UK," Ms Braverman said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill has insisted her attendance at the Kings coronation is more than just a gesture and demonstrates her commitment to reconciliation. The partys vice president said she was attending the ceremony because it is the right thing to do in terms of promoting a shared future in Northern Ireland. The republican leader and Sinn Feins Assembly speaker Alex Maskey have both accepted invitations to the coronation in London. The move is the latest signal of vastly improved relations between the republican movement and the Royal family since the outset of the peace process. Ms ONeill, who attended the Queens funeral service in September, is in line to become Northern Irelands first minister if the current powersharing impasse is resolved and devolution returns in Belfast. She has repeatedly pledged to be a first minister for all. I think at this juncture its important that I demonstrate and fulfil my commitment to be that First Minister for all and attend the coronation to represent all of our community, she told the PA news agency. Im comfortable enough in my own skin and I think that its important that at times like this that I demonstrate by words and deeds that I will be the first minister for all, I will represent everybody in our community. She added: We are living in a time of great change. A time to respect our differing and equally legitimate aspirations, a time to firmly focus on the future and the opportunities that the next decade will bring. I am an Irish republican. I also recognise there are many people on our island for whom the coronation is a hugely important occasion. Ms ONeill said her eyes were very much focused on the future. That has to be about reconciling our people, she added. So thats why in moments like this its very important that, particularly for myself as a first minister for all and somebody who feels that I can represent everybody in our community, that I reach out and that I do something that actually demonstrates my commitment to bring forward a better society for everybody. Because Im determined to look to the future, Im determined to look at the next 10 years and 20 years and what that means for our island, the people who share this island, and the relationships between our two islands. So, I think reconciliation is still something that we all need to be pushing ourselves on and making sure that we do everything that we can to reconcile all the people across these two islands. She added: I think that its important that all of us in political leadership reach out that hand of friendship. I dont do what I do for reciprocation, I do what I do because I believe in it, I believe its the right thing to do and I believe in fulfilling the promises that I make. So the first minister for all is much more than a gesture for me, it is actually following through in terms of everything that I do. So, for me, this is a juncture at which I hope that will be received in the way in which is intended, which is that I will represent everybody and then I am determined to build a better future into the decades ahead for everybody that lives here and shares this place as their home. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Schools across Liverpool and its surrounding areas have been provided with funding to celebrate Eurovision. EuroGrant funding of up to 2,000 has been given to 27 schools to host events that celebrate the song contest, the citys relationship with Ukraine, and its European heritage. Schools from across Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Halton, St Helens and Knowsley to apply for grants were invited by Spirit of 2012, Liverpool City Councils Culture Liverpool team, to apply for the grants. Among the successful schools is Our Lady of Compassion Catholic Primary School in Formby. Each class will represent a country taking part in this years contest, and will be responsible for making local cuisine from their country which will be shared at a European street food market. The school will also perform We all live in a blue and yellow submarine, in a tribute to Ukraine. Pupils at St Charles Catholic Primary School in Liverpool will create music videos. Rachel Farrell, a teacher from Our Lady of Compassion Catholic Primary School, said they were delighted to receive the funding. We are delighted to have received EuroGrant funding to realise our ideas, she said. We want children to understand the significance of such a weird and wonderful event being held in our city and appreciate that this truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The opportunity to celebrate a contest that is based on individuality and celebrating diversity will be incredible for our pupils. Claire McColgan CBE, director of Culture Liverpool, said that schools across the region have creativity in abundance. If theres one thing we know the schools across Liverpool City Region have in abundance, its creativity and we werent disappointed with their applications for EuroGrant, she said. The successful projects provide an opportunity for children to learn about different cultures though music, fashion, food, dance, drama, visual art, filmmaking and much more. Young people from nurseries to secondary schools will not only have a chance to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration which will see their hometown host the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine, but theyll also pick up some new skills along the way. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A British businessman trying to escape Sudan has described hiding in basements for three days with no food or water to avoid the fighting in Khartoum. Ibrahim Ali Ibrahim, who owns a security firm in Birmingham, travelled to Sudan in February to visit family for the first time in nearly a decade leaving his wife and four children at home. The 37-year-old was on his way to purchase a return plane ticket from a travel agency in the centre of the Sudanese capital when fighting broke out between military and militia forces on the morning of April 15. Speaking from an airbase near Khartoum, he told the PA news agency: Suddenly everybody was running. I saw a lot of people get shot and dying in front of my eyes, people getting injured it was really terrible. Mr Ibrahim hid in the basements of abandoned buildings for three days, covering himself with sheets of carboard or plywood. To avoid detection, he only moved at night. I was hiding for three days with no food, no water, he said. You go to the wrong road, youre going to get shot. One way youve got the army, the other youve got militia. I tried to move in the middle of night slowly, slowly until I got out [of central Khartoum]. I couldnt tell what day it is. Everywhere there is guns shooting, tanks and bombing. I worried a lot about not seeing my children and my wife again. My family was worrying and tried to call me but my batterys dead. Everybody I know was trying to call me to help me to escape. After three days, he knocked on the door of a family who took him in, gave him food and water and allowed him to charge his mobile phone. You go to the wrong road, youre going to get shot. One way youve got the army, the other youve got militia Ibrahim Ali Ibrahim Having contacted the British Foreign Office, Mr Ibrahim travelled to an airstrip on the outskirts of Khartoum on Wednesday morning, hoping to be evacuated. Eight flights are expected to evacuate people from Sudan to Cyprus throughout Wednesday. The first flight carrying 250 people from Larnaca Airport in Cyprus arrived at Stansted Airport on Wednesday afternoon. He said: Ive seen a lot of bad things. Ive seen injured people crying and nobody knows how to help them. Ive seen people die in the street and nobody picks up the bodies. You could smell it everywhere. He added: I miss my wife and children a lot. I miss everybody back home in the UK and I hope my family in Sudan are all safe. I hope the war stops soon as possible. 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 British-Sudanese father of three has said he told his children it was like a hide-and-seek game when his home was caught in the middle of a gunfight in Sudan. Munzir Salman was at home in Khartoum with his three children when Sudanese armed forces soldiers were ambushed by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) officers outside his block of flats. The 37-year-old, who has dual citizenship, spoke to the PA news agency while he and his children waited to fly to the UK via Larnaca, Cyprus. He said: What happened was some army soldiers were coming through and they were ambushed by the RSF. They then ran behind my house, and they were shooting at each other, I was in the middle. It was horrendous and, unfortunately, its not the first time Ive had gunshots around me. Im a single father of three kids so I had to stay calm for them. I had to tell them it was like a game and told them it was like a hide-and-seek game. I explained the danger before trying to make it like Tom and Jerry where the people outside were Tom and we were Jerry Munzir Salman It was an experience they had never been through before, it was very scary but I tried to make it a game for them. I explained the danger before trying to make it like Tom and Jerry where the people outside were Tom and we were Jerry. Mr Salman lived in Sudan until he turned 10 years old before moving to Toxteth in Liverpool, where he lived for 16 years. He then moved to Dubai before moving back to Sudan in 2013 where he had his three children, Siddig, 11, Shaden, eight, and Yasmin, six, with his wife, who died during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. British nationals have faced dangerous journeys to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip in the hopes of being able to board an evacuation flight out of the country. Eight flights were expected to have left by the end of Wednesday to lift people to safety as the military races against time to rescue citizens while a fragile ceasefire holds. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told UK nationals on Tuesday that they must make their own way to the airstrip. Mr Salman, a builder, said: It was hard to explain to them that its a dangerous journey. The first part was that the RSF were trying to spot us as we travelled through neighbourhoods. They spotted us four times but because they saw I had children they let us go. In a normal situation, the journey would have been 20 miles but because of what is going on we travelled 60 miles to get here. 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 }} Hundreds of Britons have been evacuated from Sudan as the military races against time to bring people to safety before a ceasefire ends. Flights began landing in Cyprus on Tuesday evening and continued through the night, with more planned on Wednesday. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said on Wednesday morning that 200 to 300 people had been brought out so far. She said: We are now commencing an extensive operation, working with over 1,000 personnel from the RAF and the armed forces. With British citizens, dual nationals and their dependents forced to make their own way to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip where the evacuation flights are taking off from, Ms Braverman defended the UKs response to the crisis. The Government had to cope with a larger cohort of British nationals in Sudan compared to many other countries, she said. The Ministry of Defence said three flights had so far landed in Cyprus since the evacuation started. British forces are expected to take over control of running Wadi Saeedna from German troops, something which could require a larger UK military presence on the ground. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said 120 British troops have already been supporting the operation there. The UK military could be ready to use force if needed to protect the air base in the event it comes under attack during the airlift, although the troops are primarily there to help with logistics and providing air traffic control. The Government is also considering other options, including a possible seaborne evacuation from Port Sudan, some 500 miles from the capital. HMS Lancaster and the RFA Cardigan Bay have been sent to the region. Announcing the completion of Germanys evacuation efforts, the countrys foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians to their own devices, in an apparent swipe at the UKs approach. She said that unlike in other countries, Germanys evacuation had included all its nationals and not just embassy staff. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck Samar Eltayeb, UK-born student Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was right that diplomats were prioritised because they were being targeted. The mission was launched during a ceasefire brokered between the warring factions. But Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned the extraction of UK nationals is inherently dangerous as we cannot be sure for how long it will hold. A UK-born student attempting to flee Sudan said she did not have enough petrol to make the dangerous one-hour drive from the outskirts of Khartoum to the airstrip. Im trying to get there. But the problem is the vehicles that we have have no gas, and the petrol stations are empty, Samar Eltayeb, 20, from Birmingham, told the PA news agency. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck. More than 2,000 British citizens have registered in Sudan with the FCDO. Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, will be prioritised for the flights. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible. Nationals have been warned all travel within Sudan is conducted at your own risk. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak said he was confident we are on the cusp of hitting the target of hiring 20,000 new police officers in England and Wales. The Prime Minister said the goal was at the heart of his pledge on taking office to cut crime. Opponents previously claimed the Government, which had until the end of March to reach the figure, was lagging behind its 2019 commitment to replace thousands of jobs cut during austerity measures. Home Office data due to be published at 9.30am on Wednesday will confirm whether the milestone has been met. We await the final statistics expected today but, as I have previously set out, I am confident we are on the cusp of meeting that promise Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister Following the release of the statistics, Home Secretary Suella Braverman will deliver a speech urging police to stop pandering to politically correct preoccupations and focus on criminal justice, not social justice. Mr Sunak said: When I stood at the steps of Downing Street six months ago, I made clear that I would do whatever it takes to cut crime and make our communities safer. At the heart of that pledge is recruiting 20,000 additional police officers. We await the final statistics expected today but, as I have previously set out, I am confident we are on the cusp of meeting that promise. This would be a significant moment, meaning we have more police officers in England and Wales than ever before. This is not only about putting more officers on our streets, it has also been a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change the face of policing, attracting more women and people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and making the police become more representative of the communities they serve. The Prime Minister added: While we are making good progress, we know we must go further. He pointed to his plans to stamp out anti-social behaviour for good, including increased policing in areas deemed to have high amounts of low-level crime, and more drug testing of criminals. The policing in which I believe isnt riven with political correctness but enshrined in good old-fashioned common sense Home Secretary Suella Braverman In her speech at the launch of the Public Safety Foundation campaign group, Ms Braverman is expected to say: Common sense policing means police focused on delivering criminal justice, not social justice. Thats what the public wants. I believe in the police. But the policing in which I believe isnt riven with political correctness but enshrined in good old-fashioned common sense. Policing minister Chris Philp on Tuesday said he would be very disappointed if the Government does not hit its police recruitment target. He also admitted he would be disappointed if the new recruits were not any good at their job when he faced questions from MPs on the manifesto pledge. Mr Philp told the Commons Home Affairs Committee: Clearly, the police have recruited a large number of new officers in recent years who are therefore, by definition, less experienced. Its really important that the sergeants and the inspectors who oversee them, mentor them, give them the support and the training they need. Figures published in January showed that more than 3,000 police officers needed to be hired in less than three months in order to meet the target. As of December, 16,753 officers had been hired as part of the recruitment campaign, meaning 84% of the target has been reached, with 3,247 recruits still needed. According to The Sunday Telegraph newspaper, some police forces had been inviting back failed candidates as part of efforts to meet the target, which fuelled fears of rogue officers infiltrating the ranks. The Home Office expected to spend 3.6 billion on the recruitment programme by March, with a total cost of 18.5 billion over the next 10 years, according to Whitehalls spending watchdog. In June, the National Audit Office (NAO) warned the recruitment campaign would exacerbate pressure on a criminal justice system which is already under strain in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. It also said hiring police community support officers (PCSOs), special constables or police staff to fill the roles could lead to vacancies elsewhere in the service. Meanwhile, inspectors from police watchdog His Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said problems at the Metropolitan Police had been exacerbated by the number of young and inexperienced recruits in the force as a result of the recruitment drive. A month earlier, the outgoing chief inspector of constabulary, Sir Thomas Winsor, repeated warnings that the sheer magnitude and speed of the recruitment campaign inevitably carries risks, adding that there is a heightened danger that people unsuited to policing may get through and be recruited. In October, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he was reviewing the forces recruitment targets after questioning whether it is wise to hire thousands of new officers at speed. Scotland Yard was meant to hire 4,557 extra officers during the recruitment drive. The Home Office said all recruits are subject to a rigorous vetting process and must meet national standards in order to be hired. 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 }} Suella Braverman has appeared to rule out introducing safe and legal routes to the UK for refugees trying to escape the conflict in Sudan. The Home Secretary confirmed on Tuesday the Government has no plans to consider making provisions for civilians from the war-torn country to access Britain. During a visit to Northamptonshire, Ms Braverman was asked about the prospect of turning efforts towards helping those trying to flee Khartoum once the evacuation of British nationals has been completed. She replied: We have no plans to do that. Our focus first and foremost right now, and bearing in mind this is a fast-moving situation and a complex situation, is to support British nationals and their dependents. The British evacuation mission from Sudan has lifted 301 people to safety over four flights as the military races against time to rescue citizens while a fragile ceasefire holds. Another RAF flight was preparing to depart the Wadi Saeedna airstrip near the capital of Khartoum on Wednesday afternoon, with a further three flights expected later in the day. Downing Street said the flights have been full or close to full, with no significant issues being faced by the evacuees who have been told to make their own way to the airfield. More than 2,000 British nationals have registered in Sudan under evacuation plans, but thousands more could be in the country. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said the operation in Khartoum is running smoothly, while there is currently no issue with capacity. Downing Street hopes to carry on with flights throughout the week and does not believe there will be a need to leave the airport imminently. A 72-hour ceasefire brokered by the warring rival generals has largely held since it began in the early hours of Monday. It is understood that if fighting resumes the evacuation operation will not necessarily end, but it will present a greater risk to the safety of evacuees, troops and officials. Rishi Sunak was urged by SNP leader Stephen Flynn whether he would deport child refugees who arrive in the UK without authorisation under plans to stop the boats. The Prime Minister told the Commons the country has a proud record of supporting asylum seekers, but did not commit to a new safe and legal route for those fleeing Sudan. Suella Braverman has failed to offer statistical evidence to back her claim that migrants crossing the English Channel are linked to heightened levels of criminality as the governments immigration legislation cleared the Commons. The Home Secretary said people arriving in the UK in small boats have values which are at odds with our country ahead of MPs debating the Illegal Migration Bill. Asked later whether she had figures to support the statement, she said it was based on information she had gathered from police chiefs. 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 }} Food banks are having to hand out more emergency parcels than ever before, a UK-wide charity has said. Here, the PA news agency looks at how they work. How do food banks operate? The Trussell Trust has more than 1,300 food bank centres in its network across the UK. The food banks generally receive donations of non-perishable and in-date items from the public collecting it from places including schools, churches, businesses and supermarkets. The donations are sorted into emergency food parcels by more than 28,000 volunteers across the network. There are also independent food banks outside the Trussell Trust network. Can anyone access a food bank? To use a food bank, you need a food bank voucher. These are issued after someone is referred by care professionals such as health visitors, staff at schools and social workers who identify people in crisis. A voucher entitles someone to a food parcel of three days nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food. Do food banks provide anything other than food? Yes. Food banks will often provide additional support or signposting to services including debt advice, mental health support and benefits guidance. They aim to help people break out of poverty by giving extra support to help them resolve the problems they are facing in order to alleviate the need to use a food bank in the future. As well as this, food banks also try to provide essential non-food items like toiletries and hygiene products where they can. Who might use a food bank? The Trussell Trust said the core reason people need to use food banks is because their incomes are just too low to cover essentials, with the biggest central issue being an inadequate social security system. The trust said food banks are increasingly being used by employed people amid the cost-of-living crisis. Some are having to extend opening hours to accommodate workers who need to access their emergency support around their working patterns. A project manager at one food bank in Scotland said their users include someone working three jobs, a nurse, some teaching assistants and people on zero-hours contracts. She said it is quite surprising how people are having to come to us with jobs that you wouldnt particularly expect. The Trussell Trust said it intends to publish research in the coming months which will touch on the occupations of people using food banks. What is in a food parcel? A typical food parcel includes items such as cereal, soup, pasta and rice, tinned products like meat, vegetables and fruit, and other things like lentils, beans and pulses, tea and coffee, biscuits and UHT milk. How can I find out where my nearest food bank is? You can search for the closest one to you using the Trussell Trust website and you can also access helplines here . How has demand for food banks changed in recent years? The need for food banks has increased, according to the Trussell Trust, which says a record high of 2,986,203 emergency food parcels were given out between April 2022 and March this year. This is the most parcels food banks in the charitys UK-wide network have ever distributed in a single year. The number is more than double the amount distributed by food banks in the same period five years ago, the charity said. Some 1,139,553 parcels were distributed for children, up from 835,879 the previous year and a rise from less than 500,000 in the 20172018 year. 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 }} Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a trio of bills meant to address gun violence Tuesday, one banning the sale of certain semi-automatic rifles, one imposing a 10-day waiting period on firearms purchases, and one clearing the way for lawsuits against gun makers or sellers in certain cases. A crowd of gun-control activists and Democratic lawmakers broke into cheers as Inslee signed the measures, which he said would not solve all gun violence but would save lives. Just because they dont solve all the problems does not mean the state of Washington does not take action, Inslee said. Inaction against gun violence is unacceptable. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre praised state officials for passing the ban on selling specific semi-automatic weapons. President Joe Biden "commends the leadership of Washington Governor Jay Inslee and legislative leaders as well as the advocates, survivors and elected officials who fought for years to make today a reality, she said. The sales ban drew a quick legal challenge from the Second Amendment Foundation, based in Bellevue, Washington; and the Firearms Policy Coalition, based in Sacramento, California. The groups sued in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on Tuesday, saying the law violates the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. The State of Washington has criminalized one of the most common and important means by which its citizens can exercise their fundamental right to self-defense, the plaintiffs said. Inslee and state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, both Democrats, pushed for the Democratic-controlled Washington Legislature to pass the ban on many semi-automatic weapons this session after years of failed attempts. The U.S. is setting a record pace for mass killings this year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. All of this year's mass killing have involved firearms. Washington's new law prohibits the future sale, distribution, manufacture and importation of more than 50 types of guns, including AR- and AK-style rifles. The measure does not bar the possession of the weapons by people who already have them. Washington is the 10th state including California, Hawaii, Illinois and New York to enact such a law. The bill concerning lawsuits against gun manufacturers and sellers requires them to exercise reasonable controls in making, selling and marketing weapons, including steps to keep guns from being sold to people known to be dangerous or to straw buyers who might buy weapons on someone else's behalf. It allows the attorney general or private parties, such as the family members of victims, to sue over violations or damages. The third measure, including the 10-day waiting period, will create an important buffer between people in crisis and a firearm, Inslee said. That measure also requires all gun buyers to show theyve taken safety training. Washington has moved to tighten the states gun laws in recent years, after a young man in 2016 used a newly purchased AR-15 semi-automatic rifle with a 30-round magazine to kill three teens and wound another at a house party north of Seattle. Inslee last year signed a package of bills including one that banned the manufacture, distribution and sale of firearm magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. It doesnt prohibit the possession of such magazines. ___ Lisa Baumann reported from Bellingham, Wash. 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 conflict between Sudan's army and a paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has triggered a rush to extract foreign diplomats and citizens. Several countries have evacuated nationals by air, while some have gone via Port Sudan on the Red Sea, about 500 miles (800 km) by road from Khartoum. This is the status of some countries' efforts: UK Britain is beginning a "large-scale" evacuation of its citizens, with priority given to families with children, the elderly and the infirm. Foreign minister James Cleverly said the UK is working closely with its international partners. The government estimates there are around 4,000 Britons in Sudan. It evacuated its diplomats and their families on Saturday. Germany As of Tuesday morning, a German evacuation mission had brought a total of 500 people from more than 30 countries to safety, including Belgian, British, Dutch, Jordanian and US citizens as well as Germans. The country's foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, said efforts were under way to get the remaining Germans out, but did not say how many were left. France France has evacuated more than 500 people from Sudan, comprising more than 200 French citizens as well as Americans, Britons and others, President Emmanuel Macron told his government. Paris has also sent a warship to Port Sudan to help pick up evacuees, two diplomatic sources said. Italy Italian military planes flying from Djibouti evacuated 83 Italians and 13 others overnight, including children and the Italian ambassador. The country's foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said some Italian NGO workers and missionaries had decided to stay in Sudan, while 19 others had been taken to Egypt two days ago. Japan All Japanese people who wished to leave have been evacuated, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said. Forty-five left on Monday night on a Japanese military flight, and eight others left with the help of France and other groups, he said. Cyprus Cyprus said on Tuesday it had activated a humanitarian rescue mechanism to allow third countries to use its facilities to evacuate foreign citizens from Sudan. China Most Chinese nationals have been safely evacuated in groups to neighbouring countries, China's Foreign Ministry said. United States of America US forces evacuated American and some foreign diplomats on Saturday. Washington said on Monday that several dozen Americans were travelling overland in a UN-led convoy to Port Sudan, and that dozens more had expressed an interest in leaving. It said it was positioning naval assets to assist evacuations if necessary. Ukraine Kyiv said it had rescued of its 87 citizens - most of them pilots, aircraft technicians and their families - among a total of 138 civilians, who also included citizens of Georgia and Peru. South Africa Officials said it expected the last 12 of its nationals known to be in Sudan to have left on Tuesday. Egypt On Monday, Egypt said it had evacuated 436 of its nationals out of about 10,000 in neighbouring Sudan. It said one of its diplomats had been wounded by gunfire, without giving details. About 800 Sudanese and 100 foreigners had passed through the Egyptian border with Sudan, two Egyptian security sources said, as Egypt loosened restrictions on those allowed in. Saudi Arabia and Gulf Arab states Saudi Arabia took 91 Saudis and about 66 people from other countries out from Port Sudan by naval ship to Jeddah on Saturday. Kuwait said all citizens wishing to return home had arrived in Jeddah. Qatar said Saudi Arabia had helped evacuate Qatari citizens. Sudan's army accused the RSF of attacking and looting a Qatari embassy convoy heading to Port Sudan. It was not clear if it was the same group that left for Saudi Arabia. The RSF and Qatar have not commented. Russia Moscow's ambassador in Khartoum said 140 of about 300 Russians in Sudan had said they wanted to leave, but said evacuation plans could not yet be implemented because they involved crossing front lines. He said there were about 15 people, including a woman and child, stuck in a Russian Orthodox church close to heavy fighting in Khartoum. Other countries Sweden said on Monday its embassy staff, their families and other Swedes had been evacuated to Djibouti. It said military planes and personnel would help evacuate foreign nationals as long as the security situation allowed. Jordan said four planes carrying 343 people, including Jordanians and residents of the Palestinian areas, Iraq, Syria and Germany, had left Sudan. Libya's embassy in Khartoum said 83 Libyans including diplomats and their families, students and airline and bank employees had reached Port Sudan for onward travel home. Spain said on Monday that a plane landed near Madrid, bringing 72 people, including 34 Spaniards and 11 nationals of other states. It said some citizens wished to stay in Sudan or were leaving by other routes. Madrid previously said there were 60 Spaniards living in Sudan. India said it had sent a naval ship to Port Sudan and two military planes to Jeddah as part of its preparations and was telling citizens to avoid unnecessary risks. Tunisia said it would start evacuating citizens on Monday from Khartoum. Lebanon said it was working to evacuate 51 citizens from Port Sudan. South Korea said on Friday it was sending a military aircraft to evacuate its 25 citizens in Sudan. Canada said it was suspending operations in Sudan and had extracted its diplomats. Ghana and Kenya said they were working to help their nationals get out. Nigeria said had asked for a safe corridor to evacuate 5,500 nationals, mostly students. Norway and Ireland each said they were involved in efforts to evacuate citizens. The Netherlands said about 60 Dutch citizens were evacuated on a Dutch military plane and on flights arranged by other countries. It said other nationalities also left on the Dutch plane. Belgium said eight Belgians had been evacuated so far, with about 30 remaining in the country Denmark said 15 Danish citizens had been evacuated and said another six citizens had turned down an offer to be flown out. Hungary said 18 Hungarians had been evacuated, while six more were on route to safety. Switzerland said its embassy staff and their families have been evacuated. Austria said about 25 of its citizens and dependents were evacuated on German military flights. About 30 more Austrian citizens were registered as living in Sudan, it said. Reuters 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 British medical student and NHS doctor with her children are among thousands stuck in chaotic scenes at Sudans border with Egypt, in what is rapidly deteriorating into a humanitarian crisis. The Britons became trapped in Khartoum when ferocious fighting between Sudans top generals erupted and they were forced to make the treacherous journey to the border where dire conditions awaited them. Dr Lina Badr, 42, an NHS gynaecologist based in Birmingham, and her three children have been waiting in the queue for two days. She described chaos as thousands of desperate people wait to cross into Egypt in the heat with no way of securing food or water. The number of people descending on the border is growing, with Mr Adam seeing up to 60 buses filled with at least 50 people in the queue (Mohamed Adam) My little one has been getting unwell by the day. Hes been eating dried cake in wrappers, she told The Independent. My cousins boys vomited twice, not sure if its nerves. A lack of access to clean water has forced Mohamed Adam, 21, a final-year medical student, his sister, an NHS doctor, and their cousin to drink dirty water from a communal supply that has left their cousin sick. The Britons were among those who found themselves trapped in Khartoum when ferocious fighting between Sudanese generals erupted (AP) Speaking to The Independent from the border, where he has been waiting for almost 36 hours, Mr Adam said: People are extremely stressed and fighting over everything. Yesterday, I was very stressed and tired but today I woke up feeling grateful to even be alive. Emotions are all over the place for everyone people are grateful, sad, depressed, sick. Some would prefer to die than be tortured like this waiting. This is torment to be forced to wait just to evacuate. Weve gone from one humanitarian crisis to another humanitarian crisis. We need some pressure put on the Egyptian authorities to speed up the process. Dr Badr and her cousin, a dentist from Brighton, had both been visiting the Sudanese capital for the holidays when fighting broke out and they had to drive themselves and 11 children 24 hours to the border with Egypt (Lina Badr) He said neither he nor anyone he knew had received any aid there, but buying a multipack of water would cost him almost a fifth of the total amount of money he has left, which is around 28. The Independent understands no aid agencies are currently operating at the Egypt-Sudan border. Where is everyone? questioned Sherine Tadros, deputy director of the charity Amnesty International, who said the situation in Sudan stands in stark contrast to the humanitarian infrastructure usually put in place during a conflict. She said it was taking people at least two or three days to cross the border because of slow processing times. It does seem that there is a growing humanitarian crisis at the Egypt-Sudan border as more and more people are trying to flee but the processing of them is incredibly slow, she said. Meanwhile, the number of people trying to flee using that route is growing, with Mr Adam seeing up to 60 buses filled with at least 50 people each in the queue. British nationals being evacuated from Sudan by UK military personnel, which comes days after other countries started evacuating their citizens (Handout) Like Dr Badr, Mr Adam travelled there on a bus, which cost around $20,000 (16,000) to hire as prices of vehicles and fuel have soared amid the escalating violence. He, his sister and their cousin all British-Sudanese dual nationals made the perilous journey across the Sudanese capital in a tuk-tuk to meet the bus to leave. Khartoum where Mr Adam had been studying at medical school was terrifying to say the least, he said, with gunshots constantly sounding, petrol stations being set on fire and dead bodies strewn across the ground. Hearing the sound of jets flying over the house every plane you hear makes you feel a sense of dread. The sound of a plane going overhead and releasing its payload onto the neighbourhood nearby... that will haunt many people. Like many others, Dr Badr and her cousin, a dentist from Brighton, had been visiting the Sudanese capital for Eid al-Fitr when fighting broke out. They drove for 24 hours to get themselves and 11 children to the border. Dr Badr is concerned about documentation as she was among the many who fled the capital under bombing and so could not bring their passports or money with them. Here on the borders. we have been told people are managing to pass through even with passport issues by paying their way out. These are payments of $5,000 and over, she added. Sudans military and rival paramilitary the Rapid Support Forces are battling for control of the country (Rapid Support Forces/AFP) More than 450 people have been killed and over 4,000 people have been injured since violent fighting erupted between Sudans military and rival paramilitary the Rapid Support Forces for control of the country. Tens of thousands of refugees have fled the country in recent days, according to the UN. Despite desperate pleas for the UK government for help, Dr Badr had received no communication except for automatic email replies telling them to shelter where they are. She said they repeatedly tried to call the hotlines but none of them worked. Describing his disillusionment and anger with the British government, Mr Adam said: We were waiting for the British evacuation that never came. Whatever they try to do now is too little, too late. On Wednesday, the first flights for British citizens landed in the UK from Sudan (via Cyprus) after the government announced a large-scale evacuation following an agreed 72-hour ceasefire. But it came days after other countries started evacuating their citizens and two days after UK diplomats were rescued. A house hit in recent fighting in Khartoum, from where all the Britons said they had been forced to take the potentially deadly risk of evacuating themselves after the British authorities had done little to help (AP) A British government spokesperson said: We are working on other potential options for helping British nationals leave Sudan, including from other points of exit. In parallel, we are also working intensively, alongside international partners, to maintain the ceasefire and bring an end to fighting the single most important thing we can do to ensure the safety of British nationals and others in Sudan. The situation on the ground is highly volatile and British nationals should continue to exercise judgement about their own circumstances, including whether to relocate at their own risk. The Independent has approached the Egyptian government for comment. 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 British doctor is facing an agonising choice between risking a deadly infection from his gunshot wound and leaving his vulnerable elderly mother to fend for herself in a war zone in Sudan. The doctor, who retired recently after working in the NHS for over 30 years, was visiting his family in Khartoum for Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr when fierce clashes between forces loyal to the countrys two top generals erupted in the city on 15 April. He was shot in the leg when he risked his life moving his daughter and 87-year-old mother, who requires constant care, to a safer place in Khartoum. The remains of a house destroyed during the recent fighting in Khartoum, where the retired doctor was shot in the leg (AP) It has been too risky for any of the family to get to a pharmacy or a hospital, so his daughter has been forced to treat him at home using some leftover antibiotics. Speaking to The Independent, a second daughter a British doctor based in London, who is calling herself Dr A in order to protect her family in Sudan said: Im worried about his leg. It could develop an abscess and get infected. Thats the next concern. If he gets sepsis then hes in big trouble. Following an agreed 72-hour ceasefire, the British government has begun evacuation flights from Sudan for those with British passports. The retired doctor and his daughter, both British-Sudanese dual nationals like Dr A, are eligible to be evacuated from Sudan by the British authorities but The Independent understands that the retired doctors mother is currently not. Dr A said: The Foreign Office contacted my father and told him they can only evacuate him and my sister, but not my grandmother as she is not a British citizen. Following an agreed 72-hour ceasefire, the British government has begun evacuation flights from Sudan for those with British passports (PA) The UK cannot expect him to evacuate, leaving his 87-year-old mother on her own in the middle of war in Khartoum. The house is located close to the fighting at the airport. It is inhuman. This is not acceptable. My father will not leave his mother behind, he will not leave. The Independent understands that the British government is not planning to set up a bespoke scheme to admit Sudanese citizens fleeing their country, like the schemes established in respect of Ukraine and Afghanistan, and is only intending to evacuate British citizens and embassy staff. There is no asylum visa for people wanting to travel to the UK legally, and it is unclear how they could apply for other types of visa and catch commercial flights to Britain amid the chaos in Khartoum. People flee clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum (Reuters) As a result, Sudanese refugees face being criminalised and deported from the UK, because there are no safe and legal routes for most people fleeing the conflict. The Foreign Office has said it is only evacuating British passport holders and either their partners, children, or parents if the British passport holder is under 18. This criterion does not fit Dr As grandmother. Dr A said she had tried applying for a temporary visa for her grandmother, who could then be moved on to their home in Egypt but she is still waiting to hear back. In the meantime, she said, her father has decided not to evacuate as he cannot leave without his mother. While he was in pain on Monday and a redness has developed around his wound, he has no temperature, said Dr A, so it is unlikely an infection has developed just yet. The family said they are keeping a close eye on the wound while they await news of their fate from the government. A British government spokesperson said: We are evacuating British nationals and their immediate family members who have existing eligibility to enter the UK. We are monitoring the situation carefully and keeping this situation under review recognising that there will be many people facing very challenging circumstances and decisions. We continue to work intensively, alongside international partners, to maintain the ceasefire and bring an end to fighting the single most important thing we can do to ensure the safety of British nationals and others in Sudan. Close UK evacuations from Sudan could be 'impossible' once ceasefire ends, Cleverly warns 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 final evacuation flight for British nationls has now left Sudan as a fragile ceasefire holds in the country. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) had given those looking to flee the war-torn nation until 11am UK time - midday in Sudan - to reach the departure site on the eastern coast. Officials at the Foreign Office would not confirm what time the flight was due to take off, but flight tracking websites showed a Royal Air Force (RAF) Airbus A400M Atlas plane as having landed at Port Sudan at about 3pm on Monday. The UK government said it was exceptionally offering one final flight for a limited number of British nationals still in the country. It comes as a UN official said more than 800,000 people may flee the war-torn country. The UN Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, Raouf Mazou, said: In consultation with all concerned governments and partners weve arrived at a planning figure of 815,000 people that may flee into the seven neighboring countries. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Fighting has erupted in Sudans capital city Khartoum and across the country this month as powerful rival military factions battle for control of the African nation and its future. The sudden slide into violence between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group called Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stranded thousands of foreigners, including diplomats and aid workers in the country, with the UK, US, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states among those closing embassies and racing to evacuate their nationals. Follow our live blog for latest updates More than 450 people have been killed in the conflict and another 4,000 wounded so far, according to the World Health Organisation. A brief 72-hour ceasefire has been declared to allow for the evacuations to take place, with negotiations currently underway to extend its duration. British families caught up in the fighting had initially accused the UK government of abandoning them, despite reassurances from prime minister Rishi Sunak and the Foreign Office that talks were underway to bring them home. After the truce was agreed between the two factions, the UK was able to airlift 536 citizens to safety, with foreign secretary James Cleverly now urging British nationals who may be hesitant or weighing up their options to make their way to Wadi Seidna, where there are planes and capacity in place to get people out. Alicia Kearns, chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that the number of British people hoping to be evacuated could total 3,000, 4,000 plus, adding that those on the ground were living in abject fear, had little food and water left and even been reduced to killing their pets in some cases because theyre worried theyre going to starve. Whats going on in Sudan? Tension had been building for months between Sudans army and the RSF, which together toppled a civilian government in an October 2021 coup. The friction was brought to a head by an internationally-backed plan to launch a new transition with civilian parties. A final deal was due to be signed earlier in April, on the fourth anniversary of the overthrow of long-ruling autocrat Omar al-Bashir in a popular uprising. Both the army and the RSF were required to cede power under the plan and two issues proved particularly contentious: one was the timetable for the RSF to be integrated into the regular armed forces, the second was when the army would be formally placed under civilian oversight. When fighting broke out on 15 April, both sides blamed the other for provoking the violence. The army accused the RSF of illegal mobilisation in preceding days and the RSF, as it moved on key strategic sites in Khartoum, said the army had tried to seize full power in a plot with Bashir loyalists. Who is fighting who? The protagonists in the power struggle are General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the army and leader of Sudans ruling council since 2019 and his deputy on the council, RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti. As the plan for a new transition developed, Hemedti alligned himself more closely with civilian parties from a coalition, the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), that shared power with the military between Bashirs overthrow and the 2021 coup. Smoke clouds the sky over Khartoum (Maheen S/AP) Diplomats and analysts said this was part of a strategy by Hemedti to transform himself into a statesman. Both the FFC and Hemedti, who grew wealthy through gold mining and other ventures, stressed the need to sideline Islamist-leaning Bashir loyalists and veterans who had regained a foothold following the coup and have deep roots in the army. Along with some pro-army rebel factions that benefited from a 2020 peace deal, the Bashir loyalists opposed the deal for a new transition. Whats at stake? The popular uprising had raised hopes that Sudan and its population of 46 million could emerge from decades of autocracy, internal conflict and economic isolation under Bashir. Conflict could not only destroy those hopes but destabilise a volatile region bordering the Sahel, the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa. It could also play into competition for influence in the region between Russia and the United States and between regional powers who have courted different actors in Sudan. What about other countries? Western powers including the US and the UK had swung behind a transition towards democratic elections following Bashirs overthrow. They suspended financial support following the coup, then backed the plan for a new transition and a civilian government. Energy-rich powers Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have also sought to shape events in Sudan, seeing the transition away from Bashirs rule as a way to roll back Islamist influence and bolster stability in the region. Gulf states have pursued investments in sectors including agriculture, where Sudan holds vast potential and ports on Sudans Red Sea coast. British nationals remain trapped in Sudan as fighting continues (Marwan Ali/AP) Russia has been seeking to build a naval base on the Red Sea, while several UAE companies have been signing up to invest, with one UAE consortium inking a preliminary deal to build and operate a port and another UAE-based airline agreeing with a Sudanese partner to create a new low-cost carrier based in Khartoum. Burhan and Hemedti both developed close ties to Saudi Arabia after sending troops to participate in the Saudi-led operation in Yemen. Hemedti has struck up relations with other foreign powers including the UAE and Russia. Egypt, itself ruled by military man President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi who overthrew his Islamist predecessor, has deep ties to Burhan and the army and recently promoted a parallel track of political negotiations through parties with stronger links to the army and to Bashirs former government. What could happen? International parties have called for a ceasefire and a return to dialogue but there has been little sign of compromise from the warring factions. The army has branded the RSF as a rebel force and demanded its dissolution, while Hemedti has called Burhan a criminal and blamed him for visiting destruction on the country. Though Sudans army has superior resources including air power and the RSF expanded into a force estimated at 100,000 men that had deployed across Khartoum and its neighbouring cities as well as in other regions, raising the spectre of protracted conflict on top of a long-running economic crisis and existing, large-scale humanitarian needs. The RSF can also draw on support and tribal ties in the western region of Darfur, where it emerged from the militias that fought alongside government forces to crush rebels in a brutal war that escalated after 2003. Additional reporting by Reuters 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 }} Alex Murdaugh has been hit with even more charges two months after he confessed to stealing millions of dollars from his law firm clients while testifying under oath at his double murder trial. The convicted killer was indicted on two counts of willful attempt to evade or defeat a tax by a South Carolina State Grand Jury last week, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced on Tuesday. He is accused of failing to report more than $2.1m of income earned through illegal acts in 2020 and 2021 owing the state $132,572 for the two years. In 2020 the year before the dramatic toppling of the legal scions empire he earned more than $1.1m in legitimate income from his law firm Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Elzroth and Detrick (PMPED) as well as $1.1m from his illegal fraud schemes, according to the indictment. However, he failed to file a tax return at all that year, owing $67,624 to the state of South Carolina. The following year when he shot dead his wife and son in cold blood on their $4m hunting estate Murdaugh earned $86,069 from PMPED and $1m through defrauding the company and its clients, the indictment says. He then allegedly evaded paying $64,948 of income tax for the 2021 tax year. Each count is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000. The new indictment marks only the latest legal trouble for the disgraced legal scion who is currently serving life in prison for the June 2021 murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul and is awaiting trial on a slew of financial crimes as well as a bizarre botched hitman plot. For the financial fraud scheme, he was already facing a staggering 99 charges from 19 separate indictments alleging he embezzled millions from PMPED and its clients going back at least a decade. In December, he was indicted on tax evasion charges for failing to report almost $7m of income earned through illegal means from 2011 to 2019. He owes the state $486,819 for these years, prosecutors say. Alex Murdaugh as he was sentenced to life in prison (AP) With the latest charges, Murdaugh is now facing a staggering 101 counts across 20 indictments related to his alleged financial crimes where he is accused of defrauding victims out of $8.8m and the state out of $619,000. The family killer is expected to stand trial on the financial fraud charges over the coming months where he faces up to 700 years in prison on these charges. However, he may have already incriminated himself on at least some of the charges after taking the stand at his murder trial. During courtroom testimony, he confessed to stealing millions from his clients and his company while continuing to insist he was innocent of his wife and sons murders. Even without the financial charges, Murdaugh will spend the remainder of his life in prison after he was found guilty on 2 March of murdering Maggie and Paul on the familys Moselle property back on 7 June 2021. Murdaugh, 54, was sentenced to life in prison the day after the verdict and is serving his time in the maximum security facility McCormick Correctional Institution in South Carolina. Murdaughs conviction has now shone a spotlight on some other mystery deaths tied to the South Carolina legal dynasty. Days on from the murders, an investigation was reopened into the 2015 death of Stephen Smith, who was found dead in the middle of the road in Hampton County. Alex Murdaughs new mugshot after he was sentenced to life in prison (South Carolina Department of Corrections) The openly gay 19-year-old had suffered blunt force trauma to the head and his death was officially ruled a hit-and-run. But Smiths family have long doubted this version of events, with the Murdaugh name cropping up in several police tips and community rumours. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has confirmed Smiths death is now being investigated as a homicide. An investigation was also reopened into another mystery death connected to the Murdaugh family that of their longtime housekeeper Gloria Satterfield. She died in 2018 in a mystery trip and fall accident at the family home. Murdaugh then allegedly stole around $4m in a wrongful death settlement from her sons. At the time of his murder, Paul was also awaiting trial for the boat crash death of Mallory Beach. 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 }} Steve Bannon associate Brian Kolfage has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for his role in defrauding donors to help privately build Donald Trumps southern border wall. Kolfage, a US Air Force veteran who lost his legs and right hand in a rocket attack in Iraq, pleaded guilty last year to misappropriating more than $350,000 from the We Build the Wall campaign. The 41-year-old was sentenced to 51 months in prison at a hearing in federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday. Brian Kolfage taking in the Veterans Day parade in New York in 2014 (REUTERS) Prosecutors said that he spent the money on cosmetic surgery, boat payments and jewellery. In addition, he also pleaded guilty to tax charges. Andrew Badolato, 58, another former Bannon associate, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison at the hearing, reported Reuters. While they were publicly promising that 100 per cent of donated funds would go towards construction of a southern border wall, and that Kolfage would take no money, the defendants privately arranged to steal donor money to compensate Kolfage, prosecutors wrote before his sentencing. Bannon, Mr Trumps former White House strategist, was also charged in the scheme but later received a presidential pardon in the waning hours of his single term in office. Donald Trump participates in a ceremony commemorating the 200th mile of border wall at the international border with Mexico in San Luis, Arizona, June 23, 2020. (AFP via Getty Images) However, the 69-year-old was indicted by New York state prosecutors in Manhattan last September on money laundering and conspiracy charges over wall fraud, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Presidential pardons only cover federal crimes and not ones prosecuted by the states. Federal prosecutors had asked for Kolfage to serve 51 months behind bars, while his lawyers had asked for three years of home detention because of his medical needs. The fraud perpetrated by Mr Kolfage and Mr Badolato went well beyond ripping off individual donors, US District Judge Analisa Torres said as she sentenced the men. They hurt us all by eroding the publics faith in the political process. 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 }} Three high school students have been arrested for allegedly throwing large landscaping rocks at seven vehicles in Colorado, striking and killing a 20-year-old driver. The suspects, who are all 18, were taken into custody overnight at their family homes in Arvada, Colorado, and now all face first-degree murder (extreme indifference) charges. The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office announced the arrests on Wednesday morning in a statement shared to their Facebook page and said that additional charges are expected. Authorities said that the suspects, who have been named as Joseph Koenig, Nicholas Mitch Karol-Chik and Zachary Kwak, all allegedly threw rocks during the incident, but it is unclear which of them was driving the car they were riding in. Alexa Bartell, 20, was hit by the rock as she drove in the states Jefferson County at around 10.45pm last Wednesday. Officials say Bartell was on the phone with a friend when the incident happened. The friend tracked her phone and found Bartell dead inside the car, which had come to a stop in a field. Alexa Bartell (JCSO) Officials say that in the hour before Bartell was struck and killed six other cars in the area had rocks thrown at them, and two other motorists suffered minor injuries. Ride-share driver Nathan Tipton, a father of three, was one of the four victims who was uninjured. When I found out that this series of events actually took a young ladys life, I feel for Alexa and her family. It put me in a bit of a shock. My wife, it really got to her, he told reporters on Tuesday. Nobody should lose their child for a random act. ... Its heartbreaking. Phone forensics and leads from the public resulted in the arrests, said JCSO. The three suspects are expected to make their first court appearance on Thursday. 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 }} Four inmates escaped from a Mississippi jail over the weekend, including one who then allegedly killed a good Samaritan before finding death himself during a confrontation with law enforcement. Jail supervisors at the troubled Raymond Detention Center learned about the escape during a headcount on Sunday noon, Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones said during a Monday press conference. The suspects on the run were identified as Dylan Arrington, 22, Casey Grayson, 24, Corey Harrison, 22, and Jerry Raynes, 51. Police said Arrington fatally shot 61-year-old pastor Anthony Watts on Monday night after the victim pulled over to help the fugitive, who had wrecked a motorcycle he had previously stolen. Arrington then allegedly stole Watts Dodge Ram and fled the scene. Based on information gathered from investigators, the suspect ... fit the description of 22-year-old Dylan Arrington, Jackson Police Chief James E. Davis said. On Wednesday morning, authorities in Leake County said in a statement that a suspect believed to be Arrington barricaded inside a home on Conway Road. The house became engulfed in flames and the man fired shots from inside the residence, striking a law enforcement official in the leg. The suspect is believed dead, according to WJTV, while the officer is recovering from his injuries. It is unclear whether Arrington died in the fire or was killed by police. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations and the Mississippi Highway Patrol, responded to the standoff. The US Marshalls are assisting in the search for the four inmates in several parts of the state. Jerry Raynes, 51, Casey Grayson, 24, Corey Harrison, 22, and Dylan Arrington, 22 (Hinds County Sheriffs Office ) The Leake County Sheriffs Office had previously asked residents to please keep your doors locked and have no keys or weapons in your vehicles following reports that the Arrington was spotted in the area. The inmates escaped through breaches in a cell and the roof. Police said they might have camped out on the roof before fleeing the facility and going their separate ways. One of the fugitives reportedly stole a Hinds County Public Works vehicle that was later recovered in a suburb of Houston, Texas. Only one of the prisoners is believed to have fled to Texas. Investigators also believe a stolen Chevy Silverado is connected to the escape. The four escapees were in jail for various felony charges, most involving theft and burglary. Arrington had charges of auto theft and illegal possession of a firearm. Last summer, deficiencies in supervision and staffing, and a stunning array of assaults, as well as deaths prompted a judge to order a takeover of the detention centre, according to the Associated Press. Seven people died last year while detained at the jail, according to US District Judge Carlton Reeves said. Judge Reeves wrote in his ruling that cell doors did not lock and a lack of lighting in cells made life miserable for the detainees who live there and prevents guards from adequately surveilling detainees. He also said guards sometimes slept instead of monitoring the cameras in the control room. But before an appointed receiver was scheduled to assume control over the jail this year, a court of appeals halted the lower courts order until it ruled on the countys motion for reconsideration. 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 encounter, as recalled by E Jean Carroll, was friendly at first. Ms Carroll, then a magazine feature writer and TV host, bumped into Donald Trump in the upmarket New York department store Bergdorf Goodman. As Ms Carroll wrote in her 2019 memoir What Do We Need Men For?, he recognised her as that advice lady. She knew him as that real-estate tycoon. Mr Trump supposedly told her that he was there to buy a gift for a girl, and asked for help to choose an appropriate item. She placed the incident in either late 1995 or early 1996, when the future president was married to Marla Maples. The pair made their way to the lingerie section, where Mr Trump suggested that she try on a lace bodysuit. She claims she jokingly said that he should try it on instead. As they reached the dressing rooms, Ms Carroll alleges that Mr Trump shoved her against a wall, put his hands underneath her dress and pulled down her tights. He then unzipped his pants, and forcing his fingers around my private area, thrusts his penis halfway or completely, Im not certain inside me, she wrote. A colossal struggle ensued, she said, and Ms Carroll eventually pushed him away and ran out of the dressing room. The episode was over in under three minutes, she wrote. Former President Donald Trump has not yet confirmed whether he will testify in the E Jean Carroll rape and defamation trial (Associated Press) After the allegations were first made in a book excerpt in New York magazine in June 2019, Mr Trump angrily denied it. "I've never met this person in my life. She is trying to sell a new book that should indicate her motivation. It should be sold in the fiction section, he said in an official White House statement that month. Then days later in an interview in the Oval Office with The Hill, Mr Trump went even further. Ill say it with great respect: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK? Ms Carroll then filed a defamation lawsuit against Mr Trump alleging he had damaged her reputation, substantially harmed her professionally, and caused emotional pain. After writing her Ask E Jean column for Elle magazine for nearly 30 years, the magazine terminated her contract abruptly in December of that year. The magazine denied it was related to Ms Carrolls allegations. Months after Ms Carroll filed against Mr Trump, the Department of Justice intervened and transferred the case to federal court, arguing that he was immune from prosecution as president at the time of the initial defamation. But the federal court disagreed with the position of the DoJ and allowed discovery in the case to continue. And when the former president failed to have the case dismissed last October, he took to Truth Social to again unleash his denial, and unwittingly at the same time allowed Ms Carroll to file the new defamation claim. In 2022, New York passed the Adult Survivors Act which allowed adult sexual assault survivors one year to sue their alleged abusers. Ms Carroll filed a second lawsuit against Mr Trump for rape and for additional alleged defamatory statements made by him in October 2022 where he called her a complete con job. It is this second case for which court proceedings began on 25 April. In a court filing earlier this year, Judge Lewis Kaplan wrote that the central issue in both cases is the same whether Mr Trump raped Ms Carroll. E Jean Carroll in New York in 2019 (Associated Press ) If he did not, then Ms Carrolls sexual assault claim ... and her libel claims in both cases likely would fail. If he did, then little would remain in either case except perhaps a few minor issues related to Mr Trumps statements and determination of damages. In addition to Ms Carroll herself, her attorneys plan to call several friends that she spoke to about the allegations at the time, former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, and Ashlee Humphreys, a Professor at Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University. Ms Carrolls attorney Roberta Kaplan said they tried for three years to obtain Mr Trumps DNA sample to compare it with stains found on the dress she was wearing on the day. After refusing to provide a sample, Mr Trumps attorneys then made an 11th-hour offer to do so earlier this year. Judge Kaplan rejected the offer. For the defence, Mr Trumps attorneys have listed him, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, and several others on their list of potential witnesses. As the case is being tried in civil court, the jury will likely be asked to find whether there is a preponderance of evidence to prove Ms Carrolls claims, rather than the criminal standard of beyond reasonable doubt. More than two dozen women have accused Mr Trump of sexual assault. 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 }} Donald Trump furiously tried to pour doubts on E Jean Carrolls rape claims against him as he spoke out for the first time since their civil defamation trial began. The former president took to Truth Social on Wednesday morning ahead of the first day of testimony in the bombshell case pitting himself against Ms Carroll, who accused Mr Trump of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in the 1990s. In a pair of posts, he branded the case a witch hunt as he unleashed a series of victim-shaming assumptions about her allegations. The E. Jean Carroll case, Ms. Bergdorf Goodman, is a made up SCAM, Mr Trump wrote. Her lawyer is a political operative, financed by a big political donor that they said didnt exist, only to get caught lying about that. Just look at her CNN interview before & after the commercial break - Like a different person. She said there was a dress, using the ol Monica Lewinsky stuff, then she didnt want to produce it. The dress should be allowed to be part of the case. This is a fraudulent & false story--Witch Hunt! In the second post, Mr Trump went on to claim that Ms Carroll and her attorneys got caught lying! The Miss Bergdorf Goodman case is financed by a big political donor that they tried to hide. Does anybody believe that I would take a then almost 60 year old woman that I didnt know, from the front door of a very crowded department store, (with me being very well known, to put it mildly!), into a tiny dressing room, and . her, he wrote. She didnt scream? There are no witnesses? Nobody saw this? She never made a police complaint? If I was seen there with a woman-BIG PRESS. SCAM! Mr Trumps Truth Social posts were quickly brought into the court proceedings. According to Adam Klasfeld of Law & Crime, Ms Carrolls lawyer argued that Mr Trumps posts violated two court orders, those ordering participants not to discuss the attorneys or the issue of the DNA sample. Mr Trumps initial post misleadingly suggests that Ms Carrolls attorneys did not want to enter the dress she was wearing on the day of the alleged rape into evidence. In reality, Ms Carrolls legal team tried for three years to obtain Mr Trumps DNA sample to compare it with stains on the dress. After refusing to provide a sample, Mr Trumps attorneys then made an offer to do so earlier this year - but only after the deadline to litigate concerns over evidence had passed. Judge Lewis Kaplan rejected the offer because reopening the DNA issue would delay the trial. Trump sexual accuser E Jean Carroll is 'sick' of women not being listened to Judge Kaplan addressed that issue in discussing the Truth Social posts on Wednesday, asking Mr Trumps lawyer Joe Tacopina: For three years [Mr Trump] refused to give a DNA sample, and now he wants it in the case? The judge then called Mr Trumps Truth Social comments entirely inappropriate. Mr Tacopina responded that he would try to address that with my client and that he would ask Mr Trump to refrain from any further posts regarding this case. The judge responded, Well, I hope youre more successful, and added that Mr Trump may or may not be tampering with a new source of potential liability. And I think you know what I mean. The civil trial stems from Ms Carroll claiming that Mr Trump raped her in a dressing room almost 30 years ago. She placed the incident in either late 1995 or early 1996 when the future president was married to Marla Maples. Ms Carroll, then a magazine feature writer and TV host, bumped into Mr Trump in the upmarket New York department store Bergdorf Goodman. As Ms Carroll wrote in her 2019 memoir What Do We Need Men For?, he recognised her as that advice lady. She knew him as that real-estate tycoon. Mr Trump supposedly told her that he was there to buy a gift for a girl, and asked for help to choose an appropriate item. The pair made their way to the lingerie section, where Mr Trump suggested that she try on a lace bodysuit. She claims she jokingly said that he should try it on instead. As they reached the dressing rooms, Ms Carroll alleges that Mr Trump shoved her against a wall, put his hands underneath her dress and pulled down her tights. He then unzipped his pants, and forcing his fingers around my private area, thrusts his penis halfway or completely, Im not certain inside me, she wrote. A colossal struggle ensued, she said, and Ms Carroll eventually pushed him away and ran out of the dressing room. The episode was over in under three minutes, she wrote. After the allegations were first made in a book excerpt in New York magazine in June 2019, Mr Trump angrily denied it. Ive never met this person in my life. She is trying to sell a new book that should indicate her motivation. It should be sold in the fiction section, he said in an official White House statement that month. Then days later in an interview in the Oval Office with The Hill, Mr Trump went even further. Ill say it with great respect: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK? Ms Carroll then filed a defamation lawsuit against Mr Trump alleging he had damaged her reputation, substantially harmed her professionally, and caused emotional pain. Months later, the Department of Justice intervened and transferred the case to federal court, arguing that he was immune from prosecution as president at the time of the initial defamation. But the federal court disagreed with the position of the DoJ and allowed discovery in the case to continue. And when the former president failed to have the case dismissed last October, he took to Truth Social to again unleash his denial, and unwittingly at the same time allowed Ms Carroll to file the new defamation claim. In 2022, New York passed the Adult Survivors Act which allowed adult sexual assault survivors one year to sue their alleged abusers. Ms Carroll filed a second lawsuit against Mr Trump for rape and for additional alleged defamatory statements made by him in October 2022 where he called her a complete con job. It is this second case for which court proceedings began on 25 April. 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 Florida Uber Eats driver was murdered and dismembered after bringing food to a demonic known gang members home, according to authorities. Oscar Solis, 30, is accused of randomly killing 56-year-old Randall Cooke at a home in Holiday, Florida, and dumping his remains in trash cans. Investigators say they also found the victims wedding ring and car keys in the home where he dropped off food on 19 April. Victim Randall Cooke (Cooke family) Hes a very violent individual, said Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco of the suspect. Now, we have a hard-working guy, a loving husband whos no longer with us because this violent individual killed him. The sheriff went on to describe the slaying as a horrific crime of passion. This person, you always say the word evil, but this is demonic, Sheriff Nocco said. This individual is, what he did, was demonic. Mr Solis, who is described as being 6ft 4in and 315 pounds, worked as security at a strip club, according to an arrest affidavit. He has been charged with murder while engaged in a robbery, failure to register as a convicted felon and a parole violation. Officials say that the suspect is linked to the MS-13 gang in Indiana, where he was released from prison in January after serving four years for assault and burglary. Investigators arrested him after obtaining video from the home in Florida showing the victim arriving with the food delivery but never leaving. Video from the next day allegedly shows the suspect carrying multiple trash bags to the side of the house. Sheriff Rocco said that when deputies went to the property they went through the trash bags and found the victims remains. Pasco County is just north of Tampa, Florida, on the Gulf coast. Close Graphic details released pertaining to JJ Vallows and Tylee Ryans deaths 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 }} Week five of doomsday cult mom Lori Vallows trial 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 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. On Friday, jurors heard more details about Tammys sudden death which was first ruled natural causes before her body was exhumed. Disturbing 911 calls were played in court revealing how Tammy was shot at by a masked man just 10 days before her murder. On 9 October 2019, the mother-of-five had returned from the grocery store and was unloading items from her car when the man shot at her. Jurors also heard testimony from Tammys sister Samantha Gwilliam and the 911 call Mr Daybell made to report his wifes sudden death. 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 manhunt is under way to find the final two fugitives still on the run after four inmates staged a dramatic jail break in Mississippi this week. The group of inmates escaped from the Raymond Detention Center over the weekend, with guards only discovering the prisoners were missing during an early morning headcount. One of the escaped fugitives died in a house fire on Wednesday after killing a Good Samaritan pastor who had stopped to help him and shooting a police officer. A second was captured in Texas on Thursday. Now, as of Friday morning, two of the escaped inmates are still at large almost one week on from their escape. Here is what we know so far about the saga: How the prison break unfolded Four inmates Jerry Raynes, 51, Casey Grayson, 24, Corey Harrison, 22, and Dylan Arrington, escaped from the troubled Raymond Detention Center over the weekend. Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones said in a press conference on Monday that two breaches had been found inside the jail one inside a cell and the other in the roof. The four escapees are believed to have managed to climb onto the roof at around 8.30pm on Saturday night and camped up there, before leaving the facility at different times. The jail break was discovered at around 12.30am on Sunday morning during a routine head count and the facility was instantly plunged into lockdown. The escaped inmates used a number of stolen vehicles in their getaways. From left: Jerry Raynes, Casey Grayson, Corey Harrison and Dylan Arrington (Hinds County Sheriffs Office ) Authorities said that a truck a red Chevy Silverado was stolen from close to the jail at around 2.30am on Sunday morning with a witness spotting two men inside the vehicle. Investigators believe this is connected to the jail break. Another vehicle a Hinds County Public Works vehicle was found abandoned in Spring Valley Village, Texas, after at least one of the fugitives is believed to have used it in his escape. A red Dodge Ram 1500 truck was also stolen when Arrington allegedly shot pastor Anthony Watts dead and made off in his vehicle. A manhunt was launched to track down the four fugitives. Who are the suspects on the run? The suspects were identified as Dylan Arrington, 22, Casey Grayson, 24, Corey Harrison, 22, and Jerry Raynes, 51, who were in prison on various charges. Dylan Arrington is suspected of murder and was charged with auto theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to KTRK. Corey Harrison was charged with receiving stolen property. Casey Grayson was charged with grand larceny and sale of a controlled substance, and Jerry Raynes was charged with auto theft and burglary of a business. Pastors murder and fugitives house fire death Arrington allegedly shot and killed 61-year-old pastor Anthony Watts on Monday night after the victim pulled over to help him, when he wrecked a motorcycle he had previously stolen. Arrington then allegedly stole Watts Dodge Ram and fled the scene. Close friends of Watts who was the lead pastor at St Mary Missionary Baptist Church in DLo, Mississippi paid tribute to him as someone who always wanted to look out for others. That was the type of person he was. He always wanted to help. Always wanted to know what he can do whatever the circumstance may be, Karen Fairley told WAPT. St Mary Missionary Baptist Churchs Pastor Anthony Watts (St Mary Missionary Baptist Church) He always told you he loved you and his spirit was so sincere, so kind, and so loving to just everyone he came in contact with. She said she can understand why he stopped to help the escaped inmate as that was who he was. The action that happened, we could understand why he did it, because that was just in his nature, said Ms Fairley, whose father is an associate minister at the church. Following the pastors murder, officers then tracked Arrington down to a home in Leake County on Wednesday morning. In a video update, Leake County Sheriff Randy Atkinson outlined what happened during the encounter. The sheriff said that officers went to a home where they believed the suspect had been at around 7am that morning. When they arrived, the homeowner was home and they spoke with him briefly. The homeowner then entered the residence before running out and saying the suspect was in the house. Arrington then started shooting at the officers from inside the home, with a bullet striking an officer in the leg, said the sheriff. More units responded to the address and the suspect allegedly continued to fire on them. The sheriff said that the home then went up in flames. Arrington fired at police, wounding one investigator, after being cornered (Jackson Police Department) Arringtons body was later confirmed to be found inside. I have never seen a situation where a structure was engulfed in flames and an individual inside of the structure started firing shots at law enforcement on the exterior, Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones told WAPT. This individual had violence on his mind and I will say that I believe that he did not intend to leave here alive today. The wounded officer Leake County Investigator Jerry Horn was released from hospital on Thursday. He was welcomed home with a police motorcade. The manhunt Surveillance footage captured Raynes at a service station in Spring Valley, Texas, at around 11am on Sunday morning. A stolen Hinds County maintenance truck was also recovered in Spring Valley on Sunday. Officials suspected that he was headed for the US border. On Thursday, Raynes was taken into custody in Spring Valley View, in Northwest Harris County on Thursday. Hinds County Sheriffs Office said that he was taken for evaluation at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital before being extradited to Mississippi. Escapee Jerry Raynes is in custody in Spring Valley, TX. USMFTF, Harris County Sheriffs Office and Spring Valley PD assisted with the capture. Raynes will be held facing extradition back to MS. Investigation is still ongoing, HCSO tweeted. Raynes spotted at service station in Spring Valley, Texas (HCSO) The other two inmates were still at large on Friday morning. Investigation and new charges pending The Hinds County Sheriffs Office is now conducting an administrative and criminal investigation into the escape, Sheriff Jones said. Raymond Detention Center had a chequered past long before four inmates escaped over the weekend. Last summer, deficiencies in supervision and staffing, and a stunning array of assaults, as well as deaths prompted a judge to order a takeover of the detention centre, according to the Associated Press. Seven people died last year while detained at the jail, according to US District Judge Carlton Reeves said. Judge Reeves wrote in his ruling that cell doors did not lock and a lack of lighting in cells made life miserable for the detainees who live there and prevents guards from adequately surveilling detainees. Jerry Raynes following his recapture (HCSO) He also said guards sometimes slept instead of monitoring the cameras in the control room. But before an appointed receiver was scheduled to assume control over the jail this year, a court of appeals halted the lower courts order until it ruled on the countys motion for reconsideration. Meanwhile, the escaped inmates will face additional charges of escape and also possibly auto theft. 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 }} Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has delayed starting her prison sentence for defrauding Silicon Valley investors by filing yet another appeal over her conviction. Holmes had been due to self-report to a prison camp on 27 April to begin the 11.25-year sentence she was handed after a jury convicted her on multiple counts related to her fraudulent blood-testing start-up. Now her lawyers have informed US District Judge Edward Davila that instead of entering prison she has appealed a decision he made earlier this month ordering her to begin her sentence later this week. The appeal was filed with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday and automatically delays the reporting date for Holmes, who has been free on bail since her conviction in November, according to the Associated Press. Holmes, 39, has two young children, the first of whom was born before her 2021 fraud trial and the second who was born after her November sentencing. Judge Davila had recommended Holmes be imprisoned at a low-security prison camp in Bryan, Texas, but it has not been confirmed that is where she will serve her sentence. The appeal is similar to the one used by her former employee and lover Ramesh Sunny Balwani, who is now serving a nearly 13-year prison sentence in federal prison after he was convicted of 12 counts of fraud and conspiracy. He was able to remain free for almost a month until the Ninth Circuit rejected his appeal. In her own appeal lawyers for Holmes claim that the judges ruling contained numerous, inexplicable errors and says she should remain free while she appeals her conviction as it is likely to result in reversal. The government has been given 10 days to respond to the motion, while the judge in her case has previously turned down multiple requests from Holmes for a new trial. Holmes started Theranos after dropping out of Stanford University, but the company collapsed in 2018 after it was revealed that its technology did not work. 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 body of a missing Texas mother was found on the side of an isolated road, more than 70 miles from where she was last seen alive. Tiera Strand, 25, was reported missing by relatives on 17 April after she failed to return home from a night out in downtown Austin. Her family said that before going missing, Ms Strand was violently attacked by a group of women at the Mooseknuckle Pub and that the altercation spilt outside the bar. The mother-of-one then became upset because friends who arrived at the bar with her did not intervene, and left without her phone, purse, and keys, according to her family. Part of the scuffle was recorded on surveillance and bystander video. Although her concerned mother filed a missing person report with local police, they were reportedly told that the case didnt meet the criteria and a be on the lookout (BOLO) was issued instead. Her body was found on Friday 21 April on the side of a road near Temple, nearly 70 miles from the Mooseknuckle Pub. We just want answers ... they definitely suspect foul play, Ms Strands cousin Jessica Williams told The Independent on Tuesday. They just dont have any definite answers for us at this point. Ive been back and forth calling between [Austin police] and Middle County, trying to push this. Ms Williams said an autopsy is pending, but a preliminary investigation suggested Ms Strand died as a result of blunt trauma to the head. Texas rangers have searched her vehicle and tested her clothing for evidence. Ms Strand leaves behind a six-year-old daughter, who is coping with the loss as best she can but hasnt fully processed her mothers passing, Ms Williams said. Before the tragedy, she was juggling motherhood, school, and a full-time job as a certified nursing assistant. Upon graduating this summer, Ms Strand was planning to join the Navy. She loved to have fun, she loved to have a good time and wear colourful hair. She loved to do her makeup, Ms Williams said. She was very adamant about taking care of her daughter and being there for her and providing for her. And she was so loved by so many people, shes missed by everybody. The family has created a GoFundMe to raise money for funeral costs and to hire a private investigator. Relatives have previously expressed frustration at the delay in the initial search for her and the lack of answers following her death. Our goal is to get justice for Tiera and the mishandling of her case, the description of the page read. We also want to hire a private detective who can give us the proper answers needed on what happen from the moment she was brutally assaulted in a crowd of people up until her body was discovered. More than $4,000 had been raised as of Tuesday evening. Ms Strands sister Mariah Herron described her in a Facebook post as a devoted mother, sister and daughter, who was always willing to offer a helping hand. She was a woman who was going to set out and do what she wanted and no one could step in her way, the post read. She trusted you so much because she figured the things a person in this cruel world would do couldnt possibly happen to her. We will get the justice Tiera deserves because shes more than another black woman dead. 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 }} Donald Trump allegedly raped advice columnist E Jean Carroll during 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. Ms Carroll, 79, is suing Mr Trump, 76, for battery and defamation in a civil trial in a US Federal Court in Lower Manhattan, the latest in a swirl of litigation surrounding the former president as he prepares to run for the White House in 2024. Ms Carroll had been leaving Bergdorf Goodman on 5th Avenue some time in the spring of 1996 when she met Mr Trump at a revolving door entrance, Ms Carrolls attorney Shawn Crowley told the jury in opening arguments. She recognised Mr Trump as that real estate guy, and he knew her as that advice columnist, Ms Crowley said. He told her that he wanted to find a gift for a female acquaintance and she agreed to help thinking it would be a funny story to tell her friends, the jury of six men and three women was told. The pair took an escalator up to the 6th floor, and joked about who should try on a pair of lingerie, the court heard. The lingerie section was deserted, and they continued to exchange pleasantries as Mr Trump took her by the arm to a dressing room. Then when they went inside everything changed, Ms Crowley said. Suddenly nothing was funny. E Jean Carroll arrives to the Manhattan Federal Court in New York on Tuesday. (REUTERS) Mr Trump, who was twice her size, shoved Ms Carroll up against a wall and raped her, the court was told. She shoved, kicked, hit him with her purse, while trying to break free, Ms Crowley said. The encounter lasted about three minutes, before the writer managed to escape. The allegations closely matched Mr Trumps M.O. of targeting women at random, she added. Upon leaving the store Ms Carroll immediately called her friend, the journalist Lisa Birnbach, who advised her to go to the police, the court was told. She confided in another friend, former WCBS television anchor Carol Martin, who advised her to remain silent given Mr Trumps power and influence in New York at the time. Both friends will be called to testify during the trial. This is not a he said, she said, Ms Crowley said. Ms Carroll had grown up in a post-World War II generation of grin and bear it, and decided to remain silent, the jury was told. The alleged sexual assault remained out of public view until the longtime Elle columnist published an excerpt from her book What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal in New York magazine in 2019. Ms Crowley told the court that then-president Trump used the most powerful podium in the world to claim he had never met Ms Carroll and call her a liar. He went on the attack, seeking to destroy and humiliate her, she said. Donald Trump has denied all of the many allegations of sexual assault that have been made against him (Associated Press) His claim that Ms Carroll was not my type really meant that she was too ugly to assault, Ms Crowley said. The most powerful person in the world called her a liar and a fraud. Ms Carroll was inundated with thousands of hateful messages and posts on social media, causing her career to go into freefall and suffer severe psychological harm. Months later, she decided to sue for defamation. Then after New York passed the Adult Survivors Act in 2022, which gave sexual assault survivors the opportunity to sue their alleged abusers, she filed a second lawsuit accusing Mr Trump of battery and defamation. Ms Crowley told the jury that two other women, Natasha Stoynoff and Jessica Leeds, would testify to similar alleged encounters of sexual assault with Mr Trump. The jury will be played the infamous Access Hollywood tapes, released weeks before the 2016 presidential election, in which Mr Trump bragged of being able to grab women by their private parts. This was not locker room talk, Ms Crowley said, mimicking the explanation given by Mr Trump at the time. Its actually what he did to Ms Carroll and other women. Ms Crowley also showed the jury a photo of Ms Carroll with Mr Trump, and their respective spouses at the time John Johnson and Ivana Trump, taken about six years before the alleged Bergdorf Goodman encounter. E Jean Carroll alleged she suffered severe repetitional and psychological harm from the alleged rape (AP) She said that in his deposition, Mr Trump had confused Ms Carroll with his second wife Marla Maples. Donald Trump pointed at Ms Carroll and mistook her for his wife, who he admitted was his type. In his opening statement, Mr Trumps attorney Joe Tacopina told the jurors that Ms Carroll was motivated by a hatred of the former president, and was seeking to boost sales of her book. He said the allegations were deliberately vague and had changed since her 2019 article in New York magazine. Mr Tacopina urged the jury to put aside any feelings they might have about the former president, and weigh the case on the evidence. Who would make up a story like this and who would believe it? he said. Its people with a political bent, people with a financial motivation and people who want to be in the spotlight. Ms Carroll, who sat in the front of the court, looked directly at Mr Tacopina for much of his 45-minute statement to the jury. Its all down to, do you believe the unbelievable, Mr Tacopina told the nine jurors. Ms Carroll is seeking monetary damages from the former president, who is not going to appear in person. The case is expected to take five to 10 days. 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 }} E Jean Carroll, the woman accusing Donald Trump of rape, took the stand in her civil trial against the former president where she recounted the alleged assault in detail. Ms Carroll testified on Wednesday that she was with Mr Trump at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in the mid-1990s when Mr Trump assaulted her in the dressing room. The former Elle columnist said she and Mr Trump were shopping around the department store at the time when he asked her to try on a piece of lingerie that he was looking to purchase- a blue bodysuit. He was having a good time, and so was I, Ms Carroll said, adding that the two were harmlessly flirting with one another. As the two reached the dressing room, Ms Carroll said Mr Trump shut the door and shoved me up against the wall. I was confused. I laughed, Ms Carroll said. She said she pushed Mr Trump back but he thurst her into the wall again. From there, Ms Carroll described how Mr Trump pulled down her tights and inserted his fingers into her vagina. It was extremely painful, Ms Carroll recalled emotionally. It was a horrible feeling. He put his hand inside me and curled his finger. As I sit here today, I can still feel it. When asked if she screamed for help or told Mr Trump to stop, Ms Carroll said, Im not a screamer. Im a fighter. Ms Carroll alleges Mr Trump then inserted his penis and began to rape her. I wonder why I walked in there, to get in that situation... Im proud to say I got out of there, Ms Carroll. After the assault, Ms Carroll said she left the department store quickly and called her friend, Lisa Birnbach. Later on, Ms Carroll would tell Carol Martin, an anchorwoman at ABC, about the assault, but did not confide in many others. Ms Carroll said she felt very stupid for going into the dressing room. She described how the alleged rape left her unable to ever have a romantic life again. Later on, Ms Carroll elaborated on her inability to form and maintain romantic relationships saying that because she was allegedly raped by Mr Trump after flirting with him, it hindered her ability to engage with men. Ms Carroll revealed she has not had sexual intercourse since the assault, which occurred when she was 52 years old. I have lost out on one of the glorious experiences of any human being - being in love with another human being, cuddling and eating popcorn, cooking dinner, walking the dog. I feel I should be able to overcome it, Ms Carroll said. The former columnist said she felt so ashamed about the assault that she did not seek medical attention or tell the police. Ms Carroll says she was warned by Ms Martin that Mr Trump had 200 lawyers and would bury her if she tried to come forward about the allegations. I was afraid of Donald Trump, that he would retaliate, Ms Carroll said. As Mr Trump became more powerful, and eventually the president, Ms Carroll described how seeing him everywhere forced her to be strong against her triggers. Though Ms Carroll said she kept the alleged incident a secret most of her life, she revealed it in her 2019 memoir What Do We Need Men For? Mr Trump denies all the allegations Ms Carroll has brought against him. Ms Carroll is suing Mr Trump for battery in New York under the Adult Survivors Act, which gives sexual abuse victims a one-year window to sue attackers for assaults that took place years ago. 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 }} On 7 May 2021, Jasmine Hartin looked on proudly as her partner and the father of their children, Andrew Ashcroft, unveiled his new luxury hotel on the Belize island of San Pedro. The Canadian socialite was pictured in a video on the Facebook and YouTube pages of the new resort, the Alaia Belize Hotel Autograph Collection, looking immaculately dressed in a smart, pink top and white trousers, with glamorous makeup, swept up hair and a cocktail in her hand, standing by the pool. Just weeks later, the daughter-in-law of British billionaire Lord Michael Ashcroft, 75, was in jail, charged with the manslaughter of police officer Henry Jemmott. The 42-year-old police officer had been found in the water off San Pedro on Friday 28 May, shot with his own gun, as reported by CNN. Ms Hartin, who has two children with Lord Ashcrofts son Andrew and is reportedly also a US citizen, had allegedly invited the officer, who was a friend, over to her apartment for a drink to discuss her personal security. They are then believed to have broken the 10pm Covid curfew by walking to a nearby dock where she is said to have offered him a massage for his shoulder pain. Lord Ashcrofts daughter-in-law seen at at hotel opening days before her arrest What happened next is unclear. Ms Hartins version of events appears to be that Mr Jemmott put down his gun and was shot with it accidentally when she handed it back to him. The father-of-five suffered a bullet wound behind the ear and died of his injuries. Police commissioner Chester C Williams told local media that security guards came running after hearing a single gun shot and upon investigating, police found the female on a pier and she had what appeared to be blood on her arms and on her clothing, Sky News reported. He added that she initially refused to speak to police without a lawyer. Ms Hartin was arrested on Monday 31 May, charged with manslaughter by negligence and denied bail, according to her lawyer Godfrey Smith. Jasmine Hartin, pictured in her LinkedIn photo, worked for her husbands hotel, The Alaia, in Belize (LinkedIn/Jasmin Hartin) So who is Jasmine Hartin? On her LinkedIn profile, she is listed as director of lifestyle and experience for Andrew Ashcrofts luxury Alaia resort, with a previous role as a real estate associate for SANCAS Realty Ltd. A page on the hotels website, which has since been removed, said: Along with her husband, Andrew Ashcroft, Jasmine has played an integral role in shaping the vision for Alaia Belize from the very beginning, as reported by The Sunday Times. Andrew Ashcroft, son of Conservative donor Lord Ashcroft, pictured in a still from the launch video for his new hotel, The Alaia, in Belize (The Alaia/YouTube) In a video posted on the hotels YouTube page, Ms Hartin can be seen with her two children and partner at the resort launch, which was attended by the minister of tourism. In the same video Mr Ashcroft, whose father Lord Ashcroft is the former deputy chairman of the British Conservative Party and who grew up in Belize as a child and holds dual Belizean and British citizenship, said his family was 100 per cent committed to Belize and that the children would soon start school there. Speaking over clips of his children, Mr Ashcroft says: For my family this is about the best thing, I mean we are committed as a family. My wife Jasmine, my kids, we are 100 per cent committed to Belize. They start school here this summer. Were going to start a new project here this October called The Alaia Beach Club which will double our key count so we are here to stay and do more investments in Belize. We might have a couple surprises of other projects around Belize wed like to do. Lord Ashcroft, businessman and politician, arrives at the Manchester Central convention complex in Manchester on 29 September, 2019, on the first day of the annual Conservative Party conference (AFP/Getty) Following news of Ms Hartins arrest, photos emerged in the local press appearing to show her behind bars. In Belize, manslaughter can be punished by up to 25 years in jail but Ms Hartin is believed to be facing a maximum five-year sentence, or a fine of $10,000 dollars. Marie Jemmott Tzul, one of the officers sisters, told The Daily Mail that she was overwhelmed and devastated by my brother's death. She added: I can't speculate over whether they will bail her or she will stay in prison, because I don't know the charge yet. What I would say to Jasmine is, give closure to the family. Tell us what happened. We want to know for the benefit of our family. He was my only brother. Ms Jemmot Tzul continued: He had five children and a partner for 14 years. Every time I look at my nieces and my nephews I break down and cry. Please tell us what happened. Members of the officers family denied local reports that he may have killed himself due to marital problems. Another sister, Cherry Jemmott, 48, an assistant superintendent with Belize Police, told The Mail: My brother would never ever kill himself. He had his plans. In September [2021], he was to be promoted to senior superintendent and he was to be transferred to another unit. My brother is a very top cop with a big dream. Belize Police Commissioner Williams told local media that the pair had been drinking and were in breach of the islands 10pm to 5am Covid curfew at the time. He said: They were both fully dressed. They were known to each other. They were drinking for a couple of hours before the incident occurred. His body was recovered from the water. His weapon was recovered at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. On 26 April 2023, Ms Hartin pleaded guilty to manslaughter by negligence as her trial opened at the Supreme Court in Belize City. I just want Henry's family to have peace now and I want this whole thing behind all of us so we can heal, she told local media outside the court. Hartins attorney, Orson OJ Elrington, told reporters his clients primary concern was to not put the family of the victim through the anguish of having to go through a trial proceeding, so she consistently expressed her concern about that. Channel 5 Belize reported the sentencing hearing is expected to happen on 31 May. As she pleaded guilty, it added, Mr Elrington said the judge is expected to give a non-custodial sentence. 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 }} Jasmine Hartin, a Canadian socialite and luxury real estate developer, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by negligence in court in Belize over the shooting of a police officer. Hartin, 34, formerly the partner of the son of British billionaire Lord Ashcroft, who was previously deputy chair of the Conservative Party, was arrested and charged with the manslaughter of Henry Jemmott, 42, in late May 2021. Speaking outside Belize Citys Supreme Court on Wednesday, Hartin said: I just want Henrys family to have peace now and I want this whole thing behind all of us so we can heal. Her sentencing hearing is set for 31 May and her lawyer, Orson OJ Elrington, has said he expects Judge Ricardo Sandcroft to hand down a non-custodial sentence in light of Hartins guilty plea, which might involve a fine or compensation payment to the bereaved family. Heres what we know about how the case unfolded. Thursday 27 May 2021 Jasmine Hartin and her partner Andrew Ashcroft are invited over to the oceanfront apartment of their friend and neighbour, police superintendent Henry Jemmott, in the Belizean town of San Pedro on the holiday island of Ambergris Caye. Mr Ashcroft declines so Hartin goes alone, taking a bottle of wine and a music player. Hartin and Jemmott drink cinnamon whisky together on his balcony, she subsequently says, before violating the coronavirus restrictions then in place by ignoring a 10pm curfew and taking a walk on the waterfront late at night to admire the moonlight, at which point Jemmott asks Hartin to massage his sore shoulder, having sustained a minor injury while fishing. According to Hartin, at around 12.45am, Jemmott encouraged her to handle his 9mm Glock-17 pistol in order to show her how to load it. The gun accidentally goes off when she hands it back to him, causing the father-of-five to suffer a bullet wound behind the ear. He dies of his injury, his body slumping into the sea. Friday 28 May 2021 The body of Superintendent Jemmott is recovered from the water in the early hours of the morning. Police commissioner Chester C Williams tells local media that security guards had come running to the scene after hearing a single gunshot and upon investigating, police found the female on a pier and she had what appeared to be blood on her arms and on her clothing. He also reports that officers had recovered Jemmotts firearm nearby. Monday 31 May 2021 Hartin is arrested after the weekend, charged with manslaughter by negligence and denied bail, according to her lawyer Godfrey Smith. Jemmotts family are forced to deny local media speculation that his gunshot wound was self-inflicted. Saturday 11 June 2022 Hartin gives an extensive interview to The Times in which she recounts the events of the night in question and denies being romantically involved with Jemmott. On why she had handled Jemmotts handgun, she told the newspaper: He said he thought I needed my licence to get a weapon for protection. He handed me the clip. I unloaded it and reloaded the bullets. After I unloaded it a few times, he took the bullets in his hands and he set them down on the pier. I put the empty weapon I thought was safe down beside me. At some point he said, Lets head back inside hand me the magazine so I can refill it quickly. I picked it up, Im holding it, and the next thing I know, its going off. He fell down on top of me, I can feel blood, I am panicking, I am trying to wriggle out from under him, he began slipping into the water, so I tried to grab him... under his arms and I couldnt. He was a very big guy, huge. Jasmin Hartin (48 Hours/CBS) She continued: A man comes out of nowhere, I am trying to call the police, he comes up to me, doesnt say a word, picks up the gun and walks away. I yelled at the security who were coming down, Stop this man, he is taking evidence from the crime scene at this point I dont even know if Henry is alive. They brought me to a wall. They said they found Henry, I asked if he was OK, and thats when I found out he was dead. It didnt seem real. They brought me to the police station, they photographed me, they didnt take any alcohol level, they didnt test me. Id only had, like, two glasses of wine over a few hours. She also recounted her treatment in jail, the disintegration of her relationship with Mr Ashcroft and subsequent bitter custody battle over their two children and reflected on her impoverished childhood in rural Ontario. Sunday 19 June 2022 Hartin gave another interview, this time to Piers Morgan for his TalkTV special Death on the Dock, in which she again recounted the events of that night with Jemmott. I dont ever remember touching the trigger of the weapon, but I was holding it when it went off, she told Morgan. Im not sure if it was a faulty weapon or not. I really cant tell you how it went off. She recalled the moment when it fired, however, commenting: It was a loud bang. Then my ears were ringing, I was in shock. It was a horrible night that changed everyones lives. I have to live with that for the rest of my life. Saturday 30 July 2022 In a further interview with CBS Newss 48 Hours, Hartin again relived the saga in exhaustive detail, telling the programme the incident was a horrible accident. Ive been through what I would consider hell on earth, she said. Cherry Jemmott, the deceaseds sister and also a police officer, insisted in the same programme that she did not believe Hartins account of her brothers final moments. My brother would never do a thing like that when it comes to a firearm. He is so skillful, and he is so careful, she said. Of Hartin, Officer Jemmott insisted she should be charged for murder and not manslaughter. Wednesday 26 April 2023 Hartin entered her guilty plea to the manslaughter by negligence charge at the Supreme Court in Belize City. Mr Elrington told reporters his clients primary concern was to not put the family of the victim through the anguish of having to go through a trial proceeding. She consistently expressed her concern about that. 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 }} Joe Biden and South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol held a news conference at the White House on Wednesday, 26 April. The world leaders were set to sign an agreement that includes plans to have U.S. nuclear-armed submarines dock in South Korea for the first time in more than 40 years. It aims to be a show of support to Seoul amid a period of heightened anxiety for both leaders over an increased pace of ballistic missile tests by North Korea over the last few months. Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Biden said of his counterpart: "Mr. President, ours is a future filled with unimaginable opportunity and endless possibility. Nothing nothing is beyond our ability to reach when our nations and our people stand united. We have proven that time and again over the last 70 years." Yoon opened his state visit to Washington on Tuesday by touring a NASA facility with Vice President Kamala Harris. Our alliance is leading on some of the most important and pressing issues of our time, Harris said in remarks at the NASA facility. Click here to sign up for our newsletters. 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 }} Joe Biden welcomed South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol to the White House during his state visit to the US on Wednesday, 26 April. The world leaders will sign an agreement that includes plans to have U.S. nuclear-armed submarines dock in South Korea for the first time in more than 40 years. The agreement is seen as a show of support to Seoul amid a periof of heightened anxiety for both leaders over an increased pace of ballistic missile tests by North Korea over the last several months. Yoon opened his state visit to Washington on Tuesday by touring a NASA facility with Vice President Kamala Harris. Our alliance is leading on some of the most important and pressing issues of our time, Harris said in remarks at the NASA facility. Click here to sign up for our newsletters. 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 }} Lou Whiting remembers the day local officials came to their school library in the quaint Texas town of Granbury and started carrying away boxes of books. The fact that they did it during the school day is what really shocks me, because thats blatant, thats right in your face, Whiting, who identifies as non-binary and is a senior at Granbury High School, tells The Independent. That moment was the culmination of one of the most sweeping book-ban efforts made by any school district in the entire United States. Despite fierce opposition from students, Republican school board officials moved ahead with a months-long effort to remove hundreds of books they deemed inappropriate for schools. These were not just any books; the vast majority were targeted because they contained LGBT+ themes. There were stories about gender, sexuality and race. Members of communities represented in those books began to feel like they were under attack. The incident caused a rupture in this town, and far beyond. It led students and parents to protest, caused rowdy school-board meetings, tore families apart, and even brought to the district a first-of-its-kind civil rights investigation by the Department of Education. On the Ground in Granbury, Texas. The banned book list Granburys book-banning frenzy came at a time when similar efforts were sweeping the country. Last year saw a record high of more than 1,200 attempts to remove books from schools and libraries, according to the American Library Association. Those bans, pursued by Republican lawmakers in numerous states, were ostensibly to protect children from harmful material. But just like in Granbury, the vast majority of the books they were trying to ban were restricted to a few familiar themes: PEN America described the measures as part of a concerted campaign taking place across the country to ban books with content that amounts to little more than an acknowledgment of LGBTQ+ identities or the existence of racism or sexism. Most of these campaigns were fuelled by right-wing activists with an anti-LGBT+ agenda. The town of Granbury, which has a population of just over 11,000 and was named after a Confederate general, attracts tourists from across America, who come to see its historic downtown buildings. It has won the award for Best Historic Small Town in America twice for its efforts to preserve that history. The county in which it lies voted for Donald Trump by 81 per cent in the 2020 presidential election. It counts among its residents Stewart Rhodes, leader of the anti-government Oath Keepers militia, who was found guilty of seditious conspiracy for his role in the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021. Lou Whiting, a student at Granbury High School, was involved in the campaign against book bans (Julia Saqui/The Independent ) When the book bans came to Granbury, they came at a speed and scale unseen elsewhere. One day, in October 2021, a Texas state representative called Matt Krause sent a list of more than 850 books to school districts across the state, asking them to identify which titles on the list were held in their libraries. According to an analysis by Book Riot, the list overwhelmingly targeted books about LGBT+ issues. Krauses letter asked school districts to identify books in their possession containing material that might make students feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of their race or sex. Most districts ignored the list, but the town of Granbury used it as a guide. In January 2022, Granburys school district began removing books included in Krauses list from library shelves for review. It did so without public consultation and without revealing which books were being removed. In a statement explaining its decision, the school district said: While we acknowledge some parents and community members will not agree with the potential removal of any book, we understand the conservative climate of our community and that a large majority recognises that several social and cultural topics are best left to parents and families to discuss with their children. Whiting, who was a junior at the time, saw the bans as an attack on the entire LGBT+ community. For them, it wasnt just about books, but about their very existence. They were trying to erase us, Whiting tells The Independent. The first step ever taken throughout history when it comes to genocide is lack of representation. You take away what they can give to other communities, you take away the literature, you take away art, you take away representation of culture, and then it moves on to the next step, and the next one and the next one. Students and teachers opposed to the bans did not know precisely which books were being removed, but they knew they were coming from Krauses list. That was enough to move them to act. Christopher Tackett is a parent of a former Granbury High School student and a former school board member who spoke out against the bans (Julia Saqui/The Independent) At a contentious Granbury school board meeting on 24 January 2022 one of many to shake the town throughout the year students and parents spoke out against the impending bans. Christopher Tackett, a parent of a Granbury High School senior and a former school board trustee himself, was among those who objected to the bans. He tells The Independent that the bans were the work of a small group of committed activists whose aim was to introduce more religion into schools. It is part of a larger movement to take the levers of power on school boards, city councils, county commissioners... to be able to impose a very specific ideology into that. And in most cases, its connected to religion the term that is used broadly is Christian nationalism, he says. It truly is abusing the power youve been given by your communities in local elections. Turnouts not really high. The people who feel passionately about injecting religion into schools, they show up to vote, he explains. It creates this imbalance of the reality, of a way a community really feels about these things. And youve got this small, very vocal minority with a certain ideology and a certain agenda imposing that agenda upon an entire school district, upon an entire community. At the January meeting, the school board voted 7-0 to change the rules to allow them to remove materials because they are pervasively vulgar, or based solely upon the educational suitability of the resource in question. The district pushed ahead and removed some 125 books from school libraries for review all of them from Krauses list. One student Whitings friend posted a picture of the local officials taking away the books in boxes marked Krauses list. The school board members advocating for the bans insisted they only had the best interests of students in mind. At the 24 January meeting, the school districts superintendent, Jeremy Glenn, called the opponents of the bans gaslighters and radicals, and said the books he had removed were vulgar, the variety were sexually explicit and in my opinion pornographic. It wasnt until two months later that a secret recording of Dr Glenn revealed an entirely different motivation for pursuing the bans. Lets just call it what it is In March 2022, a recording of a meeting between Dr Glenn and a group of librarians he had summoned would turn this local story into a national one, and prompt an investigation by the Department of Education. At that meeting, which took place on 10 January 2022, Dr Glenn gave an unfiltered speech about what was really behind the effort. Lets just call it what it is. Im cutting to the chase on a lot of this. Its the transgender, LGBTQ, and the sex, sexuality in books, he said, according to the leaked recording. And Im going to take it a step further with you, he said, according to the recording. There are two genders. Theres male, and theres female. And I acknowledge that there are men that think theyre women. And there are women that think theyre men. And again, I dont have any issues with what people want to believe, but theres no place for it in our libraries. He went on to say that Granbury is a very very conservative community. And our board is very conservative, and that if it is not what you believe, you better hide it. Because it aint changing in Granbury. That recording confirmed to many in Granbury what they had suspected all along: that the bans were less about protecting students than they were about targeting a particular community. The recording formed the basis of a civil rights complaint by the American Civil Liberties Union against the Granbury school district in July 2022, which argued that the comments violated Title IX, a federal law that protects students from being discriminated against based on gender or sexual orientation. Chloe Kempf, an attorney at the ACLU of Texas, says those comments were what led to the organisations direct intervention in the case. As soon as we heard those comments, we became very concerned, because its part of a broader trend that we were seeing across Texas of removing books that are specifically targeted at LGBT+ identities, she tells The Independent. This was a very clear example of somebody articulating the discriminatory intent behind the book removals. Chloe Kempf, an attorney at the ACLU of Texas, which filed a lawsuit against Granburys school district (Julia Saqui/The Independent ) The complaint alleged that the district, through its superintendents comments and also the book removals, had created a pervasively hostile atmosphere for LGBT+ students, thereby violating federal law. Essentially, the theory is that when LGBT+ students hear the top person in their district making these disparaging comments, and they see books that reflect themselves being censored as inappropriate and shameful, it sends them a very powerful message that they are not welcome in the district, and that their identities should be hidden, Kempf says. In December 2022, the Department of Educations civil rights division announced that it was investigating Granbury school district under Title IX. Legal experts told ProPublica that it was the first such investigation tied explicitly to the nationwide campaign to ban books that address LGBT+ themes. That investigation is still ongoing, but Kempf says the problem is much bigger than Granbury. Politicians in Texas at every level are essentially trying to legislate LGBTQ people out of existence, be it through censoring books about them, restricting their access to healthcare, restricting their access to playing sports, and even expressing ourselves through art and what we wear. And so I think its a very worrying time, she says. The Independent contacted every member of Granburys school board to request comment, but none replied. Thats my mom The book bans in Granbury didnt just divide a town, but families, too. Here, and across the country, the bans appeared to be fuelled by the idea that removing certain books from circulation would stop young people from being gay. The idea that exposure to LGBT+ stories would somehow convert impressionable young children to a different lifestyle, rather than help them discover who they are, was pervasive. It is an idea that Weston Brown heard frequently growing up in a strict Christian household in Texas. When he came out to his family, after many difficult years of being denied access to any kind of book about sexuality or even biology throughout his homeschooling, his family excommunicated him. Years later, he was scrolling Twitter when he saw a video of his mother, Monica Brown, trying to impose the same kind of censorship on other kids. The video showed her at a Granbury school district meeting, calling for pastors to decide which books children should read, and for punishment for librarians who stocked books she deemed unsuitable. This is my mom. Im shaking, he wrote in reply to the person who had posted the video. When he saw his mother pushing for the same kind of censorship for other children that he had faced in her home as a child, he was moved to act. Previously I really didnt have a great deal of interest in telling my story. Its one thats been told so many times before, he tells The Independent, but seeing my mom speak out like this and bring it to a public space, I thought, I have a stake in maybe breaking through to some of the folks who are listening to my parents. Weston, who was living in San Diego by now and had minimal contact with his parents, travelled to Granbury to speak at the same school board meeting where his mother had called for book bans. He didnt know at the time that his mother would be in the audience that day, too. Today I strive to be the person I needed when I was young, someone who would stand up, speak out and protect the kid that felt alone, he told the meeting, as his mother watched. I knew I didnt fit the blueprint for the life that my parents were grooming me for. I wanted so badly to know that someone like me could find peace, happiness and love. I would have given anything to read a book [with a] character that felt the feelings I felt, to ask the questions I couldnt ask, and learn the lessons that I needed to learn, he went on. Im here today to implore you to listen to librarians, educators, and students, not those speaking from a religious perspective or at the bidding of a political group. Weston Brown, whose mother spoke regularly at Granbury school board meetings in favour of book bans (Julia Saqui/The Independent ) Westons story was important to Granburys book-banning efforts because it seemed to directly contradict the very aim behind them: his mother had strictly prohibited any books about sexuality in an effort to make him into a person in her own image. None of it worked. Theyre victims, in a way, to a significant amount of misinformation, Weston says of his parents. They grew up under a lot of anti-queer propaganda. And they were in a small town that was poorly funded, poorly educated. So they werent being exposed to these stories. I picture them as young children, and I imagine that they were just curious and exploring the world, and the people that were charged to take care of them, and raise them, and educate them, failed significantly. Monica Brown did not respond to The Independents request for an interview. Hostile to queer people After community backlash, the Granbury school board eventually returned most of the books they had removed for review to the library. Of the 125 books pulled, three were banned initially and 122 were returned. Later, those returned books started to quietly disappear from the shelves, according to Christopher Tackett, the former school board member who tracked the library stocks via freedom of information requests. But the scars left by the battle over the books still remain, and the Department of Educations investigation into the school districts bans is still ongoing. The bans brought the towns LGBT+ community together in the fightback, and showed them that they were not alone. As a result of the bans, students formed a Gay-Straight Alliance club to foster solidarity and community. It also left some of them questioning their place in their hometown. I want to say I love living here in physicality, but living here as an individual who is queer, its not exactly the friendliest, Whiting says. In fact, if anything, I would say this community is quite hostile towards queer people. This was censorship, they add, basically Granbury saying we dont want you guys in our schools, just like we dont want you in our libraries. Even after everything that happened, Whiting says, the book-banners have still not come to terms with the possibility that the central justification of their whole effort is fatally flawed. If a person is queer but doesnt understand that yet, and reads a book about being queer... if anything, that will help them understand who they are. Its not going to turn them into this whole new person, Whiting says. Its going to turn them into themselves, who they havent been able to understand they are. Thats growth. 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 }} It didnt take long for Tucker Carlson to land a job offer after losing his primetime slot on the most-watched cable news network in the country. Within hours after Fox News announced that the network agreed to part ways with the far-right nationalist pundit on Monday morning, Russian state media personalities and propaganda outlets opened their doors. RT the Russian state broadcaster formerly known as Russia Today, which is banned in dozens of countries, inducing across Europe offered him a platform. Hey @TuckerCarlson, you can always question more with @RT_com, the outlet wrote on Twitter. Vladimir Solovyov, a propagandist whose channels were blocked by YouTube last year for violating the platforms policies against inciting violence, said he sent an email to Carlson, calling him the last remaining voice of reason. You have our admiration and support in any endeavor you choose yourself next, be it running for president of the United States (which you should totally do, by the way) or making an independent media project, Solovyov wrote, according to a screenshot of the message he shared to Telegram on 24 April. Tucker, come join us, he wrote in the post. You dont have to be afraid of taking the piss out of Biden here. On his Solovyov Live programme, which airs on the state-owned Russia-1, the host addressed the camera: Tucker, come work with us! Our beloved Tucker Carlson has been fired, its a disgrace! said cohost Dmitry Drobnitsky Both men suggested that Russia, China and Saudi Arabia could impose sanctions against Fox and network leadership responsible for his departure. The rules-based world doesnt suit us, well be building our own world and calling on all rational players to join us, Drobnitsky said. The flood of support for Americas most-watched conspiracy theorist follows nearly nightly rhetoric bolstering support for Russia by undermining Ukraine and questioning US military aid to support the country against Russian attacks claims that have not only advanced into Republican Party platforms but also made Carlson a star on Russian state media. After the White House announced a first wave of sanctions against Russia as armed forces launched an assault into Ukraine last February, Carlson used his platform to make an apparent defence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, posing a question to Americans: It may be worth asking yourself, since it is getting pretty serious, what is this really about? Why do I hate Putin so much? He referred to the conflict as a border issue and called Ukraine a pure client state of the US Department of State. Carlson also has characterised the US as an aggressor in a proxy war against Russia, a claim also raised by Russian propagandists, though he also has conceded that Putin started the war and pinned the blame on Putin for the assault that would lead to thousands of casualties. Meanwhile, he has cast Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky as a dictator, a pimp and a dangerous authoritarian. Carlson also stated that Ukraines defence of its sovereignty is a lie. You cant have an audit of US defence spending in Ukraine, Carlson said last month, in a sarcastic screed, because if you do want an audit of where your money is going into the most corrupt country in Europe, youre a tool of Putin! On his Tuesday programme, Solovyov renewed his offer to Carlson: We sent him an official invitation. Something tells me he wont answer right away. Still, it seems like the only place where he can work is not the United States, but Russia. Jon Roozenbeek, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge who studies Russian propaganda and disinformation, told NBC News the job offers are likely attempts to troll American audiences more than genuinely court Carlsons attention. Such propaganda campaigns are not necessarily meant to persuade viewers or audiences to a cause but to sow doubt or uncertainty and raise emotions while ensuring that Russian voices, policy and narratives receive equal attention, he said. Meanwhile, far-right influencers and media figures lashed out at Fox for Carlsons departure with similar statements, lamenting the loss of a major anti-Ukraine voice on mainstream airwaves. Steve Bannon told The Charlie Kirk Show on 25 April that Carlson successfully platformed his populist, nationalist agenda for a more mainstream audience. He knows how to make these things accessible to people, he said. Thats the power of Tucker Carlson. 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 }} Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday he will host President Joe Biden and the leaders of India and Japan for a security summit next month. The meeting in Sydney on May 24 will be Australias first time hosting the Quad Leaders Summit. It will also include Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Albanese attended a summit in Tokyo hours after he was sworn in as prime minister following elections last year. Quad partners are deeply invested in the success of the Indo-Pacific, Albanese said in a statement. Leveraging our collective strengths helps Australia advance its interests and more effectively respond to the regions needs. We are always better off when we act together with our close friends and partners, Albanese added. The Quad was committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is respectful of sovereignty and ensures security and growth for all, he said. I look forward to discussing with Quad leaders how we alongside important regional institutions, such as ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Indian Ocean Rim Association and our regional partners can shape the Indo-Pacific region we all want to live in, Albanese said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Montana transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr was silenced by her Republican colleagues on Wednesday in a vote that bars her from participating on the House floor for the remainder of the 2023 session. The crackdown followed a standoff between Montana Democrats and Republicans after Zephyr told Republican colleagues in the House they would have blood on their hands if they banned gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth. It's the latest harsh punishment meted out to an outspoken lawmaker by colleagues in state legislatures. Here are other examples. ___ TENNESSEE Republicans voted Democratic Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson out of their offices for taking to the front of the Tennessee House and chanting with gun control supporters who packed the gallery after a Nashville school shooting that killed six people last month, including three children. Expulsions in the Tennessee General Assembly are extremely rare and typically center on criminal activity. The pair were joined a fellow Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson, in standing with demonstrators calling for stronger gun restrictions particularly a ban on so-called assault weapons. Only Pearson and Jones, who are both Black, were expelled by the Republican-controlled legislature. Johnson, who is white, was not. Pearson and Jones have since been reinstated by local officials, returning them to their positions on an interim basis. The state has set Aug. 3 as the special election date for their seats, preceded by a June 15 primary election. Both lawmakers have said they intend to run. Jones, Pearson and Johnson met with President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday. ___ OKLAHOMA Last month, Oklahoma Republicans formally censured a nonbinary Democratic colleague after state troopers said the lawmaker blocked them from questioning a transgender rights activist accused of assaulting a police officer during a protest over anti-trans legislation. The party-line vote removed Rep. Mauree Turner, who uses they/them pronouns, from all committee assignments. Turner could have kept the positions by issuing a formal apology, including to the Highway Patrol, which provides security at the Capitol complex. I think an apology for loving the people of Oklahoma is something that I cannot do, said Turner, the first openly nonbinary and Muslim person elected to the Legislature in Oklahoma. Recent efforts by the GOP-controlled Oklahoma Legislature to prohibit gender-affirming medical care for trans children and pass other anti-trans legislation have led to demonstrations at the Capitol. One protest in March became heated when a protester was accused of pouring water on a state representative and scuffling with a trooper before being arrested. Officers eventually questioned and arrested the activist, who was inside Turners legislative office. Turner, who is Black and represents a diverse constituency that includes Oklahoma City, said one of their goals is making sure all people are welcome at the Capitol. ___ ARIZONA Earlier this month, the Arizona House of Representatives expelled a Republican lawmaker who organized a presentation making unsubstantiated accusations that a wide range of politicians, judges and public officials of both parties took bribes from a Mexican drug cartel. Rep. Liz Harris, a prominent supporter of discredited election conspiracies, was kicked out of the Legislature in a bipartisan vote. The lawmakers ouster came a day after the House Ethics Committee determined Harris had engaged in disorderly behavior in violation of the chambers rules. The committees report said Harris knew the person she invited to a legislative hearing in February would accuse her colleagues of criminal activity without any proof, that she took steps to hide it from House leaders ahead of time and then misled the committee investigating her actions. Rep. David Livingston, a Republican who voted to expel Harris, said the integrity of the institution was at stake. Harris, who was sworn into her first term in January, did not speak ahead of the expulsion vote. Immediately afterward, she carried boxes to her car, placed them in her trunk with the help of a handful of supporters and left. She called the ethics report a lie. 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 }} Asa Hutchinson, the former two-term Republican governor of Arkansas, will formally launch his campaign for president Wednesday with a kickoff in his hometown of Bentonville. The stalwart conservative, who announced in a television interview earlier this month that he intended to run, is a former congressman and official in President George W. Bushs administration. Hutchinson has been a rare figure among announced or expected GOP presidential hopefuls in his willingness to criticize former President Donald Trump, calling for him to drop out of the 2024 race instead of seeking another term in the White House. The 72-year-old has said Trump should step aside because his legal troubles, including criminal charges in New York, are a distraction. And while Trump has fixated his campaign messages around his false claims about the 2020 election he lost, Hutchinson has said voters need a candidate who is not focused on the past. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur and Woke, Inc. author Vivek Ramaswamy and radio host Larry Elder are also in the Republican race. They, along with expected and potential candidates like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, have largely avoided criticizing Trump and have at times defended him. While some of the other contenders who served in Trumps administration struggled to carve out distance from Trump, Hutchinson has been able to draw from his lengthy resume in government and roots in Americas heartland. His announcement Wednesday will be in the tree-lined town square of Bentonville, the birthplace of Walmart. The city of nearly 57,000 people in the northwest part of the state is where Hutchinson first served as a city attorney starting in 1977 and where he first ran for office with an unsuccessful bid for local prosecutor. The former governor told The Associated Press that he plans to introduce himself to the country on Wednesday and announce some policy initiatives. Hutchinson, the former head of the Drug Enforcement Administration and former undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said he will emphasize his background in law enforcement. Law enforcement experience is very important in addressing the needs of our country and saving lives, Hutchinson said. Hutchinson is launching his bid a day after President Joe Biden formally announced his reelection campaign with a video portraying the race as one against MAGA extremists, a reference to Trump's Make America Great Again slogan. Hutchinson said both the former and current presidents aren't focused on the future. It seems to me weve got two candidates in the race who are focused on the past, he said. Hutchinsons second term as governor ended in January, but hes been a defining figure of Arkansas politics for more than four decades. He was elected to the U.S. House in 1996, winning election to a seat his older brother, Tim, had held for two terms. Asa Hutchinson was one of the House managers prosecuting the impeachment case against President Bill Clinton starting in 1998. He stayed in the House until 2001, when he resigned to serve in the Bush administration. After the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, Hutchinson was selected by the National Rifle Association to lead a task force to study school safety and recommended putting armed guards at every school in the country. He was elected governor in 2014 and while in office signed a series of income tax cuts and restrictions on abortion, including an outright ban on the procedure that became effective when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Hutchinson later said he wished that the measure had included exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, but didn't push for lawmakers to add those exemptions after the court ruling. He drew criticism from conservatives and Trump in 2021 when he vetoed a bill that would have banned gender-affirming care for children. Hutchinson signed other restrictions regarding transgender children but said the ban went too far and should have focused on surgeries. The states Republican-controlled Legislature overrode his veto, though the ban has been temporarily blocked by a judge. Hutchinson supported many of Trumps policies but began to break with him over his lies about the 2020 presidential election. Hutchinson, who prosecuted white supremacists as a U.S. attorney, has also criticized Trump for dining with white nationalist leader Nick Fuentes and the rapper Ye, who has praised Adolf Hitler and spread anti-semitic conspiracy theories. Hutchinson said his disagreements with the former president go further than that. He criticized Trump for the peace deal he negotiated with the Taliban in 2020 and for high government spending in his administration. He was a big spender, Hutchinson said. He's one of the reasons that we added to our national debt and our deficit. Hutchinson has also shown a willingness to criticize some of his other rivals, telling the AP that he disagrees with the way DeSantis has sparred with Disney after the company opposed legislation DeSantis signed in Florida barring school instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. It seems very Trumpian to me as to how he's approached it, Hutchinson said. I don't think government ought to be punishing the private sector because we don't like what they say. Hutchinson said that he doesn't like the positions Disney has taken, but that DeSantis' approach sets a bad precedent. If a business takes a conservative position, do you want a left-leaning government punishing them? That's not conservative policy, Hutchinson said. Hutchinsons successor in Arkansas is Trumps former press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. ___ Price reported from New York. 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 }} When conservative activists and Maga influencers called for a boycott of Bud Light beer over a sponsorship deal with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney, one notable GOP figure stayed silent on the matter: Former president Donald Trump. The twice-impeached ex-presidents silence on the bubbling controversy stood out among GOP presidential contenders, many of whom spoke out against the maker of Bud Light, Anheuser-Busch InBev. One possible Republican White House hopeful and Mr Trumps highest-polling rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, said a boycott of the beverage was justified because the companys decision to partner with Ms Mulvaney, a TikTok star who garnered an invitation to the White House last fall, was rubbing our faces in it. So, if you as a consumer are Like, yeah, theyre doing that, but Im just going to keep drinking anyways. Well, then theyre going to keep doing it, Mr DeSantis said, before extolling the power of the selective boycott. So I think we have power as consumers to make our voice heard and not on every company because sometimes conservative consumers arent going to make a dent in some companies. This one is one, he said during an appearance on The Benny Show. He added that Anheuser-Buschs work with Ms Mulvaney was part of a larger thing where corporate America is trying to change our country, trying to change policy, trying to change culture. Two of Mr Trumps former allies turned rivals ex-vice president Mike Pence and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley also weighed in on the controversy in favour of boycotting the brewers products, with Ms Haley saying the marketing partnership makes a mockery of women and Mr Pence decrying what he described as gender insanity which continues to poison our public discourse. Dylan Mulvaney announces brand partnership with Bud Light. (Dylan Mulvaney / Instagram) Mr Trump is himself no stranger to hurling attacks on transgender people as part of his political persona. In a video released by his campaign to outline a second-term agenda if hes returned to the White House, he has vowed to stop the chemical, physical, and emotional mutilation of minors through federal action, and has promised to unleash federal law enforcement on doctors and other healthcare providers who provide gender-affirming treatment to transgender people. Yet Mr Trump never spoke out about the boycott of Bud Light. Recommended Ivanka Trump splits from brothers by abandoning legal team in Trump Organization lawsuit fight According to data reviewed by The Independent, its possible that Mr Trumps reluctance to criticise the company that makes the middling American beverage stems from his personal financial interests. Mr Trumps most recent financial disclosure shows he holds a significant financial interest in Anheuser-Busch InBev, the company that produces Bud Light. Donald Trump. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The disclosure form, which is on file with the Federal Election Commission, shows the twice-impeached former president owns between $1m and $5m in Anheuser-Busch InBev stock under an account listed as DJT Trust Investment Account #2. The former president is not the only member of his family not to speak out in favour of boycotting the company. His eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, became one of the first high-profile GOP figures to call for an end to the boycott, citing the iconic status of Anheuser-Busch. So heres the deal. Anheuser-Busch totally s*** the bed with this Dylan Mulvaney thing. Im not, though, for destroying an American, an iconic company for something like this, he said on a recent episode of his Triggered podcast. Donald Trump Jr speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, USA, 03 March 2023. (EPA) He added that the company does not participate in the same woke garbage that other people in the beer industry actually do and claimed the companys competitors are significantly worse offenders. Its unclear whether the younger Mr Trump also holds stock in the beverage maker, but its likely that he is at least somewhat aware that his father owns the stock through a trust because he was made one of the trustees charged with overseeing it during his fathers presidency. Representatives for Mr Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent. 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 }} Another justice of the US Supreme Court is now under scrutiny for their ethical disclosures after it was revealed that they made hundreds of thousands of dollars in a property sale that involved the owner of a prominent legal firm with business before the court. Justice Neil Gorsuch was revealed by Politico this week to have sold a property, along with other associates of an LLC formed for the purpose of managing the property, for nearly $2m to the chief executive of Greenburg Taurig, a firm which since the transaction has represented nearly two dozen clients before the high court. On subsequent financial disclosure forms where the sale was listed, Mr Gorsuch apparently did not identify Greenburg Taurig CEO Brian Duffy as the buyer. The decision by Mr Gorsuch to obscure that information is not illegal, thanks to the comparatively light financial disclosure requirements which the Supreme Court operates under. But its more fuel for the argument that judges on the Supreme Court are not avoiding basic conflicts of interest to which elected officials in other branches of government regularly adhere. The Supreme Court has largely refused to comment on the various ethical entanglements dug up by reporters in recent weeks; this latest example is no exception, with the Court ignoring Politicos request for a response on Tuesday. Chief Justice John Roberts was even asked recently by the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify about the Courts ethical guidelines, as the issue has gained steam thanks to a steady drip-drip of reporting on the issue and the outrightrefusal of the justices to take the matter seriously; Mr Roberts declined to testify in a letter Senator Dick Durbin on Tuesday. Mr Durbin responded by calling on Congress to pass legislation that would require the Supreme Court to adopt a stronger, enforceable code of ethics. The Supreme Court has steadily lost favour with Americans in recent years, and polling indicates that a majority believes that the courts justices let their own political beliefs affect their decision-making. Democrats in particular have seethed at the courts conservative supermajority for the recent overturn of Roe v Wade, which ended federal protections for abortion rights that had existed for decades. Justice Clarence Thomas has also been at the centre of questions about his behaviour thanks to twin controversies surrounding his own acceptance of lavish gifts from a wealthy conservative donor and his wife Ginni Thomass participation in the effort to overturn the legal results of the 2020 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 }} A bipartisan group of House lawmakers are introducing a resolution calling for the United States to support an outright victory for Ukraine in its war against Russia. Republican Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina emphasised the need to not make the mistakes of history. We must not repeat the error of Sept. 1, 1939, he said in reference to efforts to prevent the Nazis from invading Poland. The resolution would require a full review from the House Foreign Affairs Committee before it goes to the House floor. Yahoo! News first reported on the resolution. The text affirms that it is the policy of the United States to see Ukraine victorious against the invasion and restored to its internationally recognized 1991 borders. That year marked when the Soviet Union collapsed and an independent Ukraine emerged. But in 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin seized Crimea, which the United States did not stop. In addition, Mr Putin has supported separatists in Luhansk and Donetsk, known collectively as the Donbas. Mr Wilson is sponsoring the legislation with Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee, who co-chairs the Helsinki Commission that was co-foundeed in 1976 to ensure Russia abided by its international agreements. The only way to maintain peace is through strength, Mr Wilson said, referencing former president Ronald Reagan. The resolution comes as House Republicans have become increasingly hostile to sending aid to Ukraine. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said that the United States would not give a blank check to the country as it defends itself from Russias onslaught. Similarly, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has proposed legislation to audit speding in Ukraine. In addition, many Republicans criticised President Joe Biden for visiting Ukraine earlier this year on Presidents Day. 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 will visit Japan and Australia next month to huddle with allies on their continued response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine as well as ways to confront China's assertive economic and military moves in the Indo-Pacific region, the White House announced Tuesday. Biden will attend a summit of the leaders of the Group of Seven advanced democracies in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 19-21, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. Then he will make his first trip as president to Australia, which will include the third in-person meeting of the so-called Quad leadership of the U.S., Japan, Australia and India. The President and G7 leaders will discuss a range of the most pressing global issues, including the G7s unwavering support for Ukraine, addressing the dual food and climate crises, securing inclusive and resilient economic growth, and continuing to lead a clean energy transition at home and for our partners around the world, she said. At the Quad meeting on May 24 Biden will gather with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia. The group was formed in 2007 to bolster economic and security relations between the four democracies as a check on China's rise. It was rebooted under the presidency of Donald Trump a decade later, and elevated to a regular leader-level gathering during Biden's tenure. The Quad leaders will discuss how they can deepen their cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, maritime domain awareness, and other issues that matter to the people of the Indo-Pacific, Jean-Pierre said. The meeting with Modi comes amid growing concerns in the U.S. over democratic backsliding in India during his time in office, and efforts by the U.S. to press India to join international economic sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. 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 }} Republicans in the Montana House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to censure Representative Zooey Zephyr, a Democratic, transgender lawmaker who has been denied the right to debate for over a week after speaking out against a proposed ban on gender-affirming medical care. The vote means that Rep Zephyr, who represents the city of Missoula, will be barred from speaking during floor sessions or participating in person in House business for the rest of the 2023 session. During debate about the vote, Rep Zephyr said she wasnt sorry for speaking out against the medical care bill, then later showing her support as protesters raucously rallied in her defence earlier this week once Republicans started refusing to recognise her on the House floor. When I rose up and said there is blood on your hands, I was not being hyperbolic, the Democratic lawmaker said during remarks on the floor on Wednesday. I was speaking to the real consequences of the votes that we as legislators take in this body. When the Speaker asks me to apologise, on behalf of decorum, what hes really asking me to do is be silent when my community is facing bills that get us killed. This session, Montana Republicans are considering bills that would ban drag shows, allow for the deadnaming and misgendering of trans youth, strip anti-discrimination protections from state law, allow medical providers to deny people care for personal reasons, and ban gender-affirming treatments. The Missoula lawmaker also told colleagues about receiving calls from LGBTQ+ families that were terrified about the impact of the various bills being discussing in the Montana legislature and shared the story of a trans teenager who attempted suicide while watching representatives discuss one such piece of legislation. The dramatic censure vote follows days of controversy in the Montana statehouse. On Monday, riot police descended into the House viewing gallery and arrested seven people, as protesters rallied against the ongoing silencing of Rep Zephyr, the first transgender person elected to the state legislature in Montana history. The Montana Republican party and the House Republicans are making a fatal mistake, Keegan Medrano of the Montana ACLU told The Independent ahead of the historic vote. I think that theyre showing all Montanans that theyre unafraid to infringe on free speech. Theyre unafraid to engage in harassment and discrimination against an individual that theyve been seeking to legislate out of existence. Zooey Zephyr (Thom Bridge/Independent Record) The richness of this is all is that they have taken away her microphone but theyve only amplified her voice. Theyve take a local community leader, a real figure for Missoulians, and turned her into a national and international figure, a sort of distillation of the animus and the legislation theyre seeking to pass, they added. I think this will completely backfire on them and I think it already has. Montana Republicans defended the vote, saying it was an appropriate response to the protests on Monday, in which demonstrators drowned out lawmakers and Rep Zephyr held up her non-functional microphone in support. Representative Casey Knudsen said the decision was about the right to self-protection, and falsely suggested the protests on Monday were violent. The behaviour violated the civil rights and safety of the 99 other members of this body, our staff, our pages, and the public, he said during debate on Wednesday. Advocates working on behalf of LGTBQ+, nonbinary, and two-spirited people in Montana condemned the GOP for barring Rep Zephyr from the House. Representative Zephyr has courageously broken barriers and spoken truth to power, all while being surrounded by colleagues who misgender and tarnish her, Quinn Leighton of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana said in a statement to The Independent. She has been unwavering in her advocacy for her constituents, as well as for all trans, non-binary, intersex, and two-spirit Montanans. We will not be silent and allow the Montana GOP to destroy any vestige of democracy in broad daylight. Shawn Reagor, director of equality at the Montana Human Rights Network, told The Independent the vote was a move against democracy, and a disproportionate response to peaceful protests against a set of bills that will affect nearly every aspect of life for the states LGBTQ+ community if passed. There was no violence. There were no weapons, he said. The idea that theyre trying to make out what was a peaceful protest to be something violent follows this train that they have been following all legislative session, trying to demonise and villainise trans, non-binary and two-spirited folks and silence our voices. Were standing for our rights, our arts, and the freedom to be ourselves. This is a fight they brought to us. National leaders also weighed in. It is shameful that some of the most extreme members of the Montana House are trying to silence one of the only transgender legislators in the state simply for serving her constituents and the LGBTQ+ community, Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson said in a statement. This action is part of a deeply disturbing trend of legislatures punishing leaders for using their voices to protest against discriminatory and dangerous legislation weve seen it in Oklahoma and Tennessee already. Montanans deserve better than this. The rapidly escalating dispute began on 18 April, when Rep Zephyr pointedly criticised her colleagues for backing a proposal to ban gender-affirming medical care for minors, telling them they had blood on their hands. Republican lawmakers responded by demanding she apologise, and the states right-wing Freedom Caucus released a statement deliberately using the wrong pronouns for Rep Zephyr, condemning the Democrat for hateful rhetoric. The debate in Montana is reminiscent of the recent decision by GOP Tennessee lawmakers to expel two Democratic representatives who joined in with anti-gun violence protesters from the statehouse floor following the Nashville shooting. The representatives, Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, were both reappointed to the Tennessee House by local officials, and have since become national figures, meeting with President Biden to advocate for more gun laws. The story of the vote against Rep Zephyr also quickly spread across the country. During a hearing over a Louisiana bill requiring parental permission for transgender youth to use the name and pronouns of their choice at school, a youth trans advocate quoted from the Montana Democrat. 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 court in Moscow held a hearing Wednesday to set the stage for imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny to face a new trial on extremism charges that he has described as a Kremlin-ordered effort to extend his time behind bars. Navalny, who exposed official corruption and organized massive anti-Kremlin protests, was arrested in January 2021 upon returning to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve-agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin. He initially received a 2 1/2-year prison sentence for a parole violation. Last year, he was sentenced to a nine-year term for fraud and contempt of court. He is currently serving time at a maximum-security prison 250 kilometers (150 miles) east of Moscow. The new extremism charges against Navalny relate to the activities of his anti-corruption foundation and statements by his top associates. His ally Leonid Volkov said the accusations retroactively criminalize all the activities of Navalny's foundation since its creation in 2011 and carry a potential punishment of up to 35 years in prison. The charges come as Russian authorities conduct an intensifying crackdown on dissent amid the fighting in Ukraine. The hearing at Moscow's Basmanny District Court was held to discuss preparations for Navalny's trial on the extremism charges. Speaking via video link from prison, Navalny asked for more time to study the 196 case files. The judge closed the session minutes after it opened, ruling that it should be held behind closed doors because the case involved sensitive information. It wasnt clear when the trial might start. It's an attempt to unlawfully restrict my ability to study the materials of the case and prevent anyone from knowing about it, Navalny said before public access to the hearing ended. He said an investigator had told him he also would face a separate military court trial on terrorism charges. Navalny, who is Russian President Vladimir Putin's most prominent foe, has rejected the charges as a political vendetta and an attempt by Russian authorities to keep him out of politics for as long as possible. His associates and supporters have become increasingly worried about his failing health. Earlier this month, they said Navalny had fallen ill with acute stomach pains and suspected that he was being slowly poisoned. While imprisoned, Navalny has spent months in a tiny one-man cell, also called a punishment cell, for purported disciplinary violations such as an alleged failure to properly button his prison robe, properly introduce himself to a guard or to wash his face at a specified time. His supporters have accused prison authorities of failing to provide him with proper medical assistance, using blindingly bright light in his cell and placing him next to a mentally unstable person. Navalny said Tuesday that he had completed a 15-day stay in the punishment cell and was immediately ordered to spend another 15 days there. 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 lawyers entered court for yet another legal showdown in New York this week as the former president faces an accusation of rape from author E Jean Carroll. Its part of a long-brewing fight that has vexed the president for nearly a half decade, almost as long as the Stormy Daniels controversy which earlier this month resulted in Mr Trump being hit with 34 criminal counts by Manhattan prosecutors. Ms Carroll alleges that the former president, then a business mogul known around New York, raped her in the fitting room of a department store in 1995 or 1996. According to news reports, she plans to corroborate her story with the testimony of individuals who will say that Ms Carroll told them shortly after the alleged attack, as well as testimony from other women who will reportedly testify about unwanted sexual advances from Mr Trump. The former president has denied Ms Carrolls claims on several occasions, while resorting to his trademark strategy of insulting his perceived enemies in an attempt to disparage their credibility. But, in general, he has avoided addressing the matter which involves a more unsavoury and politically damaging allegation to the extent that he has addressed other scandals, including the Daniels matter. Lets take a look at the few times he has addressed it, and what was said: Shes not my type In June of 2019, days after Ms Carroll came forward with her allegations in a magazine article, Mr Trump responded during an interview with two reporters from The Hill . Speaking in the Oval Office, then-President Trump laid into Ms Carrolls physical appearance and accused her of totally lying about the supposed encounter. He also claimed to have never met her. Former advice columnist E. Jean Carroll arrives to federal court in New York, Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) I dont know anything about her, he told journalists Saagar Enjeti and Jordan Fabian. I know nothing about this woman. I know nothing about her. She is its just a terrible thing that people can make statements like that. The deposition Later that year, Mr Trump would sit down for a deposition in a defamation case brought by Ms Carroll. During his testimony, Mr Trump went even further than his previous comments, claiming not only that he had never met Ms Carroll, but that she herself had claimed in a CNN interview to have found the idea of rape sexy. She said that I did something to her that never took place. There was no anything. I know nothing about this nut job, said Mr Trump at the time, calling his accuser mentally sick. To her attorney, he continued: I will sue her after this is over, and thats the thing I really look forward to doing. And Ill sue you too. He then added, She actually indicated that she loved it. OK? She loved it until commercial break, Trump said. In fact, I think she said it was sexy, didnt she? She said it was very sexy to be raped. Didnt she say that? That comment prompted a question from Ms Carrolls attorney regarding whether he had just admitted that the alleged incident occurred; Mr Trump demurred. Well, based on her interview with Anderson Cooper, I believe thats what took place. And we can define that I think she said that rape was sexy, which its not, by the way. But that wasnt the only moment during the November 2019 deposition that raised a few eyebrows. In one moment during his testimony, Mr Trump was shown a picture which included Ms Carroll and, perhaps not shockingly, despite claiming she was not [his] type actually mistook her for his ex-wife, Marla Maples. It prompted a revealing exchange between the president and the attorney for Ms Carroll, as Mr Trump declared: Thats Marla, yeah. Thats my wife. No, thats Carroll, said the authors attorney. In 2022, New York passed the Adult Survivors Act allowing adult sexual assault survivors one year to sue their alleged abusers. Ms Carroll then filed a second lawsuit against Mr Trump for rape and for additional alleged defamatory statements made by him in October 2022 when he called her a complete con job. A trial for this second case began on 25 April. The original lawsuit has not yet been scheduled to go to trial. In a court filing earlier this year, Judge Lewis Kaplan wrote that the central issue in both cases is whether Mr Trump raped Ms Carroll. The Truth Social post On Wednesday 26 April, Mr Trump once again tore into his accuser, this time on social media. The E. Jean Carroll case, Ms. Bergdorf Goodman, is a made up SCAM. Her lawyer is a political operative, financed by a big political donor that they said didnt exist, only to get caught lying about that, he wrote. He also added, in one of the most surreal quotes to emanate from an American president: She didnt scream? There are no witnesses? Nobody saw this? She never made a police complaint? If I was seen there with a woman-BIG PRESS. SCAM! 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 }} E Jean Carrolls lawyers have hit back at Donald Trumps defence that she was too ugly to be assaulted, saying that a photograph of the two together proved the author was exactly his type. As the landmark rape proceedings against the former president began in New York on Tuesday, the authors attorneys started by dismissing the notion that this was a he said, she said story, and said they have enough evidence to support their claims. The trial centres on allegations made by Ms Carroll in a 2019 book excerpt that Mr Trump sexually assaulted her in the mid-1990s inside the dressing room of a New York department store. Mr Trump, who has denied the allegations, previously responded to the accusations by saying: Shes not my type. In her opening statement, Ms Carrolls lawyer Shawn Crowley described to jurors the graphic details of the assault, stating that Mr Trump jammed his hand up her dress, pulled down her tights and forced his penis inside her. Not my type. We all know what that means: He was saying she was too ugly to assault, Ms Crowley said. She presented a photograph of the two together at a party, which was embedded in her complaint. This will show you that Ms Carroll was exactly his type, Ms Crowley told jurors. The attorney also hit back at questions over why the author stayed silent for years. She said two of Ms Carrolls friends, author Lisa Birnbach and TV anchor Carol Martin, knew of the alleged assault at the time, with the former reportedly warning her that Mr Trump was too powerful to confront. Two other women, journalist Natasha Stoynoff and businesswoman Jessica Leeds, will also testify that Mr Trump assaulted them. In her view, Mr Trump was way too powerful, Ms Crowley said, adding that Ms Martin believed Mr Trump had hundreds of lawyers who would bury Ms Carroll if she came forward. Ms Carrolls lawyers intend to call her sister, Cande Carroll, who will testify that it was not unusual for the siblings, who grew up in the shadow of the Second World War, to stay silent about sexual assault. Mr Trumps attorney, Joe Tacopina, criticised Ms Carroll for the delay in coming forward with the allegations and said it was her responsibility to prove her case. Mr Trumps defence has only two witnesses listed, with Mr Tacopina hinting that his video deposition would be submitted as evidence. He also said he was unsure whether Mr Trump would testify in person. Senior US district judge Lewis Kaplan pressed Mr Tacopina to clarify whether the former president will testify, with testimony from witnesses expected to begin on Wednesday. During jury selection, none of the potential candidates said they believed Mr Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, and none of them said they used his platform Truth Social. Close Related video: Trump arrives in Aberdeen to visit his Scottish golf resort 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 }} E Jean Carroll was grilled on her old texts and emails in connection to the alleged rape by Donald Trump as the judge in the battery and defamation case against the ex-president denied his request for a mistrial to be declared. Magazine columnist E Jean Carroll is suing Mr Trump for battery and defamation after he allegedly raped her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in the 1990s. Ms Carroll ended her stint on the stand on Monday afternoon after three days of emotional testimony. In a letter sent in overnight on Monday, Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina argued that Judge Lewis Kaplan was guilty of pervasive unfair and prejudicial rulings against the Trump legal team. Ms Carroll revealed the accusation in her 2019 memoir What Do We Need Men For?: A Modest Proposal. Mr Tacopina showed a message Ms Carroll sent to her friend Carol Martin. Do not worry. I have been walking these great New York Streets the last six days ALONE and at night, and ALL DAY LONG and receive nothing but thanks! and thumbs up! It is the opposite of concern, she wrote, according to Law & Crime. 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 }} Decades after she was allegedly raped by a New York real estate mogul who would go on to be the 45th President of the United States, E Jean Carroll is getting her day in court. Ms Carroll, a writer and former advice columnist for Elle magazine, is the plaintiff in a pair of civil lawsuits against former president Donald Trump. One of those lawsuits is now being presented in a New York City federal courtroom under the supervision of US District Judge Lewis Kaplan. The proceedings began on 25 April. The jurors in the trial will remain anonymous on Judge Kaplans orders due to the risk of threats, intimidation or outright violence against anyone seen as an enemy by Mr Trump and his supporters as they hear evidence of allegations made by Ms Carroll against the twice-impeached and indicted ex-president. Ms Carroll has claimed that Mr Trump raped her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan in the mid-1990s. The magazine columnist spoke out about the allegations for the first time in 2019 when Mr Trump was president. After he denied the allegations and accused her of lying in a bid to bolster sales of her forthcoming book, she filed a defamation lawsuit against him in November 2019. That suit stalled in the courts for years and is yet to make it to trial. Then, last year, New York lawmakers passed the states Adult Survivors Act, giving sexual abuse victims a one-year window to sue attackers for assaults that took place years ago. That law paved the way for Ms Carroll to file a second lawsuit against the former president in November accusing him of both raping her and then defaming her years later by denying the assault took place. That second lawsuit seeking damages and a retraction of his denial is now playing out in a New York court. What Carroll said about the alleged dressing room rape The allegations against Mr Trump were first laid out in an excerpt from her book What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal, that ran in New York magazine in June 2019. In the book excerpt, she said she was shopping at the Bergdorf-Goodman department store in New York when Mr Trump approached her and struck up a conversation, with him asking her for help picking out a gift for a woman. She then alleged that he took her to the lingerie section of the store and asked her to try on an item for him in a dressing room before pinning her up against a wall and sexually assaulting her for three minutes. At the time, Ms Carroll said the emergence of the #MeToo movement in late 2017 motivated her to tell her story publicly. Mr Trump addressed the allegations days later when pressed on them by reporters at the White House. He claimed he had never met her and denied raping her by telling the White House press corps that Ms Carrol was not [his] type. He also accused her of lying to boost sales of her memoir. She is trying to sell a new book that should indicate her motivation, the then-president said, adding that her book should be sold in the fiction section. Ms Carroll pushed back on his claims, sharing a photo of herself and Mr Trump together with his then-wife Ivana Trump and her then-husband John Johnson at an NBC party in 1987 to show they had met. In her 2019 defamation suit against Mr Trump, she alleged his denials had caused her to suffer reputational, emotional, and professional harm and said she was suing to obtain redress for those injuries and to demonstrate that even a man as powerful as Trump can be held accountable under the rule of law. Justice Department involvement delayed the defamation suit Although a Clinton-era Supreme Court case, Jones v Clinton, allows presidents to be sued for conduct which occurred before the start of their time in the White House, Mr Trumps legal team asked the Department of Justice to aid in his defence of the 2019 case. The department filed papers seeking to shield him from liability on the grounds that he was acting in an official capacity as president when he made the allegedly defamatory statements about Ms Carroll. But Judge Kaplan rejected those arguments and said the suit could proceed. An attempt by Mr Trump to appeal that decision failed in September 2021 as well. His legal team took up another approach in February of last year when they moved to countersue Ms Carroll. But Judge Kaplan blocked that bid in a scathing decision on 11 March 2022, in which he slammed Mr Trumps continuing attempts to delay the case as futile and in bad faith. The defendants litigation tactics, whatever their intent, have delayed the case to an extent that readily could have been far less, Judge Kaplan wrote. Granting leave to amend without considering the futility of the proposed amendment needlessly would make a regrettable situation worse by opening new avenues for significant further delay. Letting Mr Trump countersue would make a regrettable situation worse, the judge added. Carroll suing Trump for alleged rape Last year, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law the Adult Survivors Act, which created a one-year suspension of statutes of limitations for rape and other civil claims arising from allegations of sexual misconduct. The law allows sexual assault survivors to sue their attackers regardless of when the alleged assault may have taken place. In November 2022, shortly after the bill signing, Ms Carroll filed a second lawsuit against Mr Trump for rape. The new case accuses him of battery and also adds a new defamation claim based on recent posts in which he called her a con job. Both lawsuits are seeking monetary damages from the ex-president. Judge Kaplan rejected Trumps last-minute delay bid After Mr Trumps lawyers made an 11th-hour attempt to once again postpone the long-delayed civil trial on the grounds that publicity surrounding his recent indictment necessitated a cooling-off period to ensure an impartial jury, Judge Kaplan said the one-month delay Mr Trumps attorneys had asked for would have no impact on the potential jury pool in the case, which will be tried in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. There is no reason to assume that a sufficient number of fair and impartial jurors cannot be found on April 25, 2023 or that it would be materially easier to find such jurors on May 23, 2023, he said. Former advice columnist E. Jean Carroll walks into Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in New York (AP) Is Trump attending? In a court filing last week, Mr Trump said he shouldnt attend the trial as he doesnt want to burden New York City. In a letter to Manhattan federal court Judge Lewis Kaplan on 19 April, Mr Trumps attorney Joe Tacopina said that the former president wishes to attend the civil trial beginning next week but is concerned about the logistical and financial burdens of his attendance on the courthouse and New York City. Ms Carroll meanwhile is attending the proceedings. 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 }} Tucker Carlson is out at Fox News. After the dueling choruses of doomsayers and giddy celebrants died down on Monday (24 April), the question of why Carlson was reportedly fired still lingered. While there is no definitive answer to that question at the moment, there are a few contenders that in part or in full may explain why the conservative cable news network axed its biggest star without giving him so much as a goodbye tweet. But first, the context. Fox News announced it was parting ways with Carlson in a statement on Monday morning. The statement confirmed that Carlson's last show occurred the preceding Friday, which ended with him eating pizza with Pennsylvanian delivery man Tyler Morrell, who was honoured after he helped police stop a suspected car thief. At the end of the segment, Carlson told his viewers he would see them again next week. The statement's language and later comments by Fox News anchors seemed to imply that Carlson and Fox split ways mutually, though the statement lacked any comment from Carlson. Later details suggested that Carlson was blindsided by the decision, which reportedly came from the top of the network as late as Monday morning. Why did Fox News drop Carlson? It seems Carlson does not even know the answer to that question; Vanity Fair reports that Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott would not reveal to him the exact reason why he was being let go. Grossberg lawsuits The most likely theory is one that lays the blame squarely on Carlson's shoulders accusations of rampant misogyny in the workplace finally caught up to him. The seeds of Carlson's demise at the network may have been planted in a lawsuit; not the Fox-Dominion lawsuit, which cost the network $787.7m to settle, but in lesser-known litigation brought by a former producer. Abby Grossberg, who formerly worked on Carlson's show, sued Fox News, alleging that Carlson and his producer, Justin Wells, had displayed rampant misogyny and anti-Semitism in the workplace. Ms Grossberg claims in a federal court filing that Carlson's show "subjugates women based on vile sexist stereotypes" and that it "typecasts" religious minorities and "belittles their traditions." Former Fox News producer Abby Grossberg in an interview with NBC News (NBC News) The filing includes examples of the alleged misconduct, like Mr Wells asking her if then-Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo who Ms Gorssberg formerly worked for has slept with House Majority Speaker Kevin McCarthy. She said that people in Carlson's shop made crude comments about women politicians' looks and theorised on which had slept their way into their positions in government. Ms Grossberg also said her direct supervisor, Alex McCaskill, mocked an Israeli colleague for taking off for Jewish holidays. He further suggested the colleague's visit to a "Jew bakery" was for him "to see his people." Further building the case of rampant misogyny in Carlsons orbit are allegations that the anchor allegations he seemingly confirmed during a deposition with Dominions lawyers that he frequently called MAGA conspiracy theorist and infamous kraken lawyer Sidney Powell a c***, according to The Daily Beast. What's most compelling about this theory is that Mr Wells who is a prominent figure in Ms Grossberg's lawsuit was fired alongside Carlson on Monday. Fox News issued a statement to The Independent responding to Ms Grossbergs claims. FOX News engaged an independent outside counsel to immediately investigate the concerns raised by Ms Grossberg, which were made following a critical performance review, a spokesperson said. Her allegations in connection with the Dominion case are baseless and we will continue to vigorously defend Fox against her unmeritorious legal claims which are riddled with false allegations against the network and our employees. He weirded out Rupert Murdoch with religious rhetoric Carlson often blended nationalism, white supremacist conspiracy theories, and conservative Christian persecution paranoia into a turgid slurry of fear-mongering and hate, and he did so again during the Heritage Foundations 50th Anniversary gala on Friday. He may have gone too far. A source claiming familiarity with Fox News owner Rupert Murdochs decision to can Carlson told Vanity Fair that the religious nature of the anchors comments made the boss-man uncomfortable and prompted the firing. Carlson spoke in absolutist terms, about good and evil, and suggested that individuals who support trans existence are simply incapable of being reasoned with. He told the crowd to pray for them. He also likened abortions to child sacrafice. That stuff freaks Rupert out. He doesnt like all the spiritual talk, the source told the publication. Mr Murdoch reportedly was similarly freaked out after his now-ex fiance whipped out a Bible during a dinner party and began reading passages out loud from the Book of Exodus, according to Vanity Fair. The source theorised that Carlson eschatological musings reminded Mr Murdoch of the incident and left him feeling uneasy about keeping the anchor on the air. Carlson's criticisms of Fox News leadership Another leading theory is that Carlson was dropped in the wake of the Dominion lawsuit due to his sharp criticism of Fox News' leadership. Those comments were made public by reporters who obtained court filings related to Dominion's lawsuit. A person familiar with the company's rationale told The Washington Post that higher-ups at Fox News did not take his comments lightly, and that they "played a role" in his firing. Do the executives understand how much credibility and trust weve lost with our audience? Carlson wrote in a message the day after Fox News called the 2020 election for Joe Biden. He later said "those f****** are destroying our credibility," and complained that there was a "combination of incompetent liberals and top leadership with too much pride to back down" causing problems at the network. Tucker Carlson Dominion Lawsuit (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Further complicating Carlson's role as Fox News' top anchor were texts revealing that he secretly loathed Donald Trump, and looked forward to a time when the network could ignore the former president. A section of redacted texts exists that could contain more and more damning comments from Carlson. Those texts are only known to Fox News, Dominions lawyers, and the individuals who sent the messages, according to Vanity Fair. It is unclear and may never be clear if those messages played any part in Carlsons downfall. Both of those explanations suggest that Carlson dug his own grave with Fox News. He has his own theory about why he was axed one which leaves him less culpable that suggests Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch's children want to sanitize the network for prepare it for a sale once their father passes. The Murdoch children theory In a theory that could easily serve as a story arc on HBO's Succession, Carlson reportedly believes he was removed from the network because Mr Murdoch's children are planning to sell the company, according to Vanity Fair. It's no secret that Carlson is divisive to advertisers. He is frequently dogged with claims that he is misogynist, transphobic, racist, and offers up apologetic defenses of nefarious actors like the Capitol riot defendants and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Advertisers stopped buying airtime on Fox News in 2018 after Carlson said immigration makes the US "dirtier," and periodic calls for advertiser boycotts by the public have caused his sponsors to dwindle since. James Murdoch, with sister Elisabeth, father Rupert and brother Lachlan at the National Portrait Gallery in 2007 (Getty) The show has almost no big-name advertisers left right now, Kara Alaimo, a public-relations expert who teaches at Hofstra University, told the New York Times in 2020. This is just not an issue you want to be on the wrong side of, if youre a mainstream brand. Under Carlson's theory, if the Murdoch children want to sell Fox News for the maximum possible profit, the brand needs to become less toxic to big name advertisers. That means he needed to go. There is currently no public indication that the Murdoch children plan to sell the company. Possible Ray Epps defamation lawsuit The night before Carlson was let go, Ray Epps a 66-year-old man who attended Donald Trump's rally that preceded the Capitol riot and who later became the focus of a conservative conspiracy theory that upended his life told 60 Minutes that the former Fox News anchor was "obsessed" with him and was trying to "destroy" his life. In short, the conspiracy theory alleges that Mr Epps is actually a federal plant who was sent to the march to incite the Capitol riot, painting Trump supporters in a bad light and justifying the mass arrests and prosecutions that followed. Mr Epps, a Trump supporter, was captured on video the day of the march telling other Trump loyalists that the police were not their enemies and cautioning against escalation. That has not stopped him from being subjected to near constant harassment and death threats from conservatives, some of which likely only know about him thanks to Carlson's regular boosting of the conspiracy theory on his show. Fox News already paid out the largest settlement for defamation in US history to Dominion Voting Systems. If Mr Epps were to sue Carlson and Fox News for defamation, it could force the company into another massive payout to avoid further public embarrassment similar to what it experienced in the Dominion case. 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 }} Donald Trump is facing the latest of his numerous legal woes in the civil trial in New York following the accusation that he raped and defamed E Jean Carroll. The proceedings began on 25 April. Mr Trump is accused of sexually assaulting Ms Carroll, an author and former magazine columnist, in the dressing room of a Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan sometime in 1995 or 1996. Ms Carroll, 79, sued the former president in 2019 and again in 2022 for defamation and battery in separate civil lawsuits, with the columnist seeking unspecified damages. When did the trial start? Despite Mr Trumps efforts to delay proceedings, the first trial started on Tuesday 25 April in the US District Court in Lower Manhattan. The 2022 lawsuit is going to trial first. Mr Trump had sought a one-month cooling off period after his recent arraignment in the Stormy Daniels hush money payments case, citing concerns that potential jurors would be influenced by the heightened media coverage. However, Judge Lewis Kaplan rejected that motion at a hearing last week. In a recent court filing, Mr Trumps attorneys indicated they expect the trial will last for 10 to 12 days, while Ms Carrolls legal team believe it will take five to seven days. Is the trial being televised? No. The trial is being held in federal court, which typically bans any visual and audio recordings from being made. Is Donald Trump attending? Possibly. Mr Trumps attorney Joe Tacopina told the court in a letter this week that the former president wishes to appear at the hearing, but is concerned about the logistical and financial burdens on New York City. E. Jean Carroll outside a courthouse in New York after a hearing in March 2020. (Associated Press) Mr Trumps presence at the unrelated criminal hush money hearing forced the closure of several blocks of lower Manhattan and Franklin D Roosevelt Drive. His attendance would also necessitate a tactical security plan, including a large detail of Secret Service agents, the attorney said. As part of that plan, courthouse floors would need to be locked down, elevators shut down, courthouse personnel confined to their offices and members of the public restricted from the area, Mr Tacopina told the court. Former US President Donald Trump sits at the defence table during a hearing in the Stormy Daniels hush money payment case on 4 April. (Getty Images) He asked that his presence is excused unless and until he is called by either party to testify. Judge Kaplan rejected the request, saying: Mr Trump is free to attend, to testify, or both. He is free also to do none of those things, Mr Trump is listed as a potential defence witness. Ms Carrolls attorneys have indicated they were likely to play a pre-taped deposition of Mr Trump, but that theres no need for him to testify live. What are the accusations? In 2019, Ms Carroll publicly alleged that Mr Trump had raped her in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman in the mid-1990s in her book What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal. The longtime Elle advice columnist and TV talkshow host said the pair had a chance meeting at the 5th Avenue department store, and he asked for help picking out a gift for a woman. She said he took her to the lingerie section of the store and asked her to try on an item in the dressing room, where he allegedly pinned her up against a wall and sexually assaulted her for three minutes. E Jean Carroll lawyers included this photo of the dress she was wearing on the day of the alleged rape in the lawsuit against Donald Trump (New York State Supreme Court) He denied the allegations at a White House press conference, saying he had never met her and that shes not my type. Following his denial, she filed a civil lawsuit for defamation in 2019. Ms Carroll then filed a separate civil lawsuit against Mr Trump in November 2022 under a New York law that allows sexual assault survivors to bring cases after the statute of limitations has expired on alleged offences. The new case accuses him of battery and also adds a new defamation claim based on recent posts in which he called her a con job. 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 }} Chinese leader Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that Beijing will send an envoy to Ukraine to discuss a possible political settlement to Russias war with the country. Beijing has previously avoided involvement in conflicts between other countries but appears to be trying to assert itself as a global diplomatic force after arranging talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March that led to them restoring diplomatic relations after a seven-year break. Xi told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call that a Chinese envoy would visit Ukraine and other countries to discuss a possible political settlement, according to a government statement reported by state TV. It made no mention of Russia or last years invasion of Ukraine. It also gave no indication of whether the Chinese envoy might visit Moscow. The Xi-Zelenskyy phone call was long anticipated after Beijing said it wanted to be a mediator in the war. WHY DOES THIS MATTER? China is the only major government that has friendly relations with Moscow as well as economic leverage as the biggest buyer of Russian oil and gas after the United States and its allies cut off most purchases. Beijing, which sees Moscow as a diplomatic partner in opposing U.S. domination of global affairs, has refused to criticize the invasion and used its status as one of five permanent U.N. Security Council members to deflect diplomatic attacks on Russia. Zelenskyy earlier said he welcomed a Chinese offer to mediate. WHY DID CHINA DO THIS? Xis government has pursued a bigger role in global diplomacy as part of a campaign to restore China to what the ruling Communist Party sees as its rightful status as a political and economic leader and to build an international order that favors Beijing's interests. That is a sharp reversal after decades of avoiding involvement in other countries conflicts and most international affairs while it focused on economic development at home. In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran issued a surprise announcement, following talks in Beijing, that they would reopen embassies in each others capitals following a seven-year break. China has good relations with both as a big oil buyer. Last week, Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts that his country is ready to help facilitate peace talks. Wednesday's statement warned against the dangers of nuclear war, suggesting Beijing might also have been motivated by what it sees as the growing danger of a more destructive conflict. Mediating between Ukraine and Russia would increase Chinas presence in Eastern Europe, where Beijing has tried to build ties with other governments. That has prompted complaints by some European officials that China is trying to gain leverage over the European Union. WHAT ARE CHINAS RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA? China is the closest thing President Vladimir Putins isolated government has to a major ally. Xi and Putin issued a joint statement ahead of the February 2022 invasion that said their governments had a no limits friendship. Beijing has tried to appear neutral but has repeated Russian justifications for the invasion. Xi received a warm welcome from Putin during a visit to Moscow in March. The Chinese defense minister visited Russia this month. China has stepped up purchases of Russian oil and gas for its energy-hungry economy, helping to offset lost revenue resulting from Western sanctions. In exchange, China gets lower prices, though details havent been disclosed. WHAT ARE CHINAS RELATIONS WITH UKRAINE? China was Ukraine's biggest trading partner before the invasion, though on a smaller scale than Chinese-Russian trade. In 2021, Ukraine announced plans for Chinese companies to build trade-related infrastructure. Zelenskyy's government was more ambivalent toward Beijing after it was clear Xi wouldn't try to stop Putin's war, but the two sides have remained amicable. Qin, the foreign minister, promised this month China wouldn't provide arms to either side, a pledge that benefits Ukraine, which has received tanks, rockets and other armaments from the United States and European governments. The Chinese ambassador to France set off an uproar in Europe when he suggested former Soviet republics a group that includes Ukraine might not be sovereign nations. That was in line with Putin's comments denying Ukrainian sovereignty. Beijing then reassured former Soviet states it respected their sovereignty and said the ambassador's comments were a personal opinion, not official policy. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Russian fighter jet has crashed into a lake after bursting into flames during a training exercise, according to Russian state media. The MiG-31 fighter jet crashed in the northern Murmansk region on Wednesday, TASS news agency said, citing Russias defence ministry. The incident took place 10km away from the town of Monchegorsk, near Russias Rizh-Guba island. One of the planes two jet engines exploded during a training exercise and the pilot then lost control before the plane plummetted into a nearby lake, state media reported. Both crewmen in the two-seater aircraft are reported to have successfully ejected. During the execution of a planned flight, one of the engines of the MiG-31 caught fire, after which it fell, a source claimed. According to preliminary data, the plane crashed into the lake. Neither pilots suffered life-threatening or altering injuries, Russias defence ministry said in a statement. It adds: On April 26, while performing a planned training flight in the Murmansk region, a MiG-31 fighter crashed. The plane crashed in a deserted place. Both pilots ejected. The pilots were promptly evacuated by a helicopter of the search and rescue service, nothing threatens their lives and health. It comes just five days after Russia accidentally fired a weapon into one of its own cities near Ukraine. A powerful bomb accidentally dropped by a Russian warplane hit the city of Belgorod (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Footage shows an explosion and damaged buildings in Belgorod, 40km north of the border. Two women were injured, according to the regional governor. The explosion knocked down power supply lines, shattered windows in nearby apartment buildings, damaged several cars and left a 20-meter crater, Belgorod regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a statement. Immediately after the explosion, Russian commentators and military bloggers were abuzz with theories about what weapon Ukraine had used for the attack. But about an hour later, the Russian defence ministry acknowledged that the explosion was caused by a weapon accidentally dropped by one of its own Su-34 bombers. It didnt offer any further details, but military experts said the weapon likely was a powerful 500kg bomb. 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 and German warplanes have intercepted two Russian jets and a spy plane caught flying without transponder signals over the Baltic Sea. The German airforce shared pictures of the encounter, with several images capturing the two Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft and one Ilyushin Il-20 aircraft in flight. RAF and German Air Force Typhoon fighters were scrambled together from Amari Air Base in Estonia on Tuesday to identify the military aircraft. Germany and Britain sent Eurofighter jets to identify the two Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft (@Team_Luftwaffe/Twitter) Reconnaissance flights intercepted. German and British Eurofighters were alerted to identify three military aircraft, the German Luftwaffe wrote on Twitter. The two SU-27 Flankers and an IL-20 from Russia were flying again without transponder signals in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. It comes amid heightened tensions between Moscow and the West over Russias invasion of Ukraine. Russian military aircraft regularly fly from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad and back, meaning that such encounters are fairly routine in the region. Germany handed over responsibility for Natos Baltic air policing mission to the UK earlier this month. Nato allies pitch in to protect the air space there because Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia do not have their own fighter jets. An RAF spokesperson confirmed: RAF and German Air Force Typhoon fighters scrambled together from Amari Air Base in Estonia yesterday against unidentified aircraft over the Baltic Sea close to Estonian airspace. The aircraft, operating as part of NATOs Baltic Air Policing (BAP) Mission intercepted a Russian military IL-20 jet that was being escorted by two Sukhoi Su-27 Flankers. The Norwegian air force said it had similarly identified a group of Russian military aircraft in international airspace over the Barents Sea to the north of the country on Tuesday. And in March, a Russian aircraft was intercepted by RAF and German fighter jets near Estonian airspace in the first joint exercise between the two Nato allies. A Russian Sukhoi Su-27 aircraft is pictured after being intercepted by Nato warplanes (@Team_Luftwaffe/Twitter) Two British and German Typhoon jets were scrambled when a Russian air-to-air refuelling aircraft failed to communicate with Estonian air traffic control. The MoD stressed the routine nature of the mission. Just one week prior, Russian fighter jets forced a US drone out of the sky over international waters in the Black Sea, according to US officials. The US airforce said a pair of Russian Sukhoi Su-27 aircraft performed a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional set of manoeuvres, dumping fuel and damaging the propeller of an MQ-9 drone, forcing the US to bring the craft down. Close WATCH: Ukrainian soldiers get targeted by rockets near Bakhmut 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 }} Vladimir Putin could face arrest if he attends a meeting of leading economies in South Africa in August. The countrys authorities reportedly say they would be compelled to detain the Russian leader if he took part in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summit after a warrant for his arrest was issued in March by the International Criminal Court (ICC). South Africas Sunday Times newspaper, citing sources in the nations government, said that a special commission had been established by president Cyril Ramaphosa to look into the arrest warrant. It concluded that South Africa would have no option but to arrest Mr Putin if he set foot in the country, a source said. In other news, the Russian military has suffered 100,000 casualties, comprising deaths and injuries, in the last five months in its continuing invasion of Ukraine, the White House said, concluding Vladimir Putins winter offensive in the Donbas as a failure. The figure, based on US intelligence estimates, includes more than 20,000 deaths. 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 held his first call with Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky since Russia invaded Ukraine and has offered to send an envoy to Kyiv and other capitals to hold talks on resolving the war. Beijing has not condemned the invasion or shied away from its close ties with Moscow and Mr Zelensky quickly played up the significance of the long and meaningful call, in which Mr Xi is said to have indicted his willingness to help facilitate peace talks aimed at achieving a ceasefire as soon as possible. Kyiv also announced the appointment of a new ambassador to Beijing. Mr Zelensky tweeted: I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraines ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations. According to a statement issued on Chinese state media following the call, Mr Xi sought to make clear that Beijing is taking a neutral stance over the conflict. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, we will neither sit idly by, nor pour oil on fire, still less seek to profit from it, President Xi said in what was a possible dig at Western nations that have been very vocal in their support for Kyiv. China will send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to Ukraine and other countries to conduct in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, the statement said. The call was clearly an effort to bolster Beijings claim to be a neutral peacemaker, but in reality, Mr Xi has provided plenty of diplomatic cover for Russias president, Vladimir Putin, while China remains one of Russias most significant trading partners. Mr Xi and Mr Putin signed a no limits partnership agreement weeks before the Russian president ordered the invasion. Since then, China has denounced Western sanctions against Russia. Mr Xi made a state visit to Moscow last month, during which he spoke about the vague 12-point peace proposal Beijing released on the first anniversary of the invasion in February. Earlier this week, European countries were alarmed by comments made by Chinas ambassador to France, who said that states like Ukraine, which won independence following the break-up of the Soviet Union, dont have actual status in international law. Beijing later said its position on the independence of ex-Soviet states was unchanged. The peace proposal put forward by Beijing in February was met with a lukewarm response in both Kyiv and Moscow, although Ukrainian officials have long called on China to use its influence with Russia to help end the war. The US was highly critical of the plan, which suggested that unilateral sanctions be dropped while failing to offer any clear plans for Ukraines future security or for the territory seized by Russia. It is this that will likely prove the biggest sticking point and makes the chance of peace talks look remote, at least at this point in time. Ukraine has been clear that it needs the land that Russia has occupied to be returned, and Mr Zelensky repeated this condition in the hour-long call with Mr Xi. Saying that he discussed with Chinas president ways of possible cooperation to reach a fair and sustainable peace for Ukraine, Mr Zelensky was clear that there can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises, adding that the territorial integrity of Ukraine must be restored within the 1991 borders. Moscow has repeatedly insisted that Ukraine must recognise its claims to have annexed seized territory. Following the Xi-Zelensky call, Russias foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said: We note the readiness of the Chinese side to make efforts to establish a negotiation process. The White House welcomed the call, but was cautious about what it will help to achieve. Thats a good thing, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said of the call. Now, whether thats going to lead to some sort of meaningful peace movement, or plan, or proposal, I just dont think we know that right now. We have long said we want this war to end, Mr Kirby added. It could end immediately if Putin would leave. That doesnt appear to be in the offing. He continued: If theres going to be a negotiated peace, its got to be when President Zelensky is ready for it, stating that the US would welcome any effort to arrive at a just peace as long as that peace could be ... sustainable, and could be credible. The 14-month war is at a juncture, with Ukraine preparing to launch a counteroffensive in the coming weeks or months following a Russian winter offensive that made only incremental advances despite the bloodiest fighting so far in the east of the country. Later on Wednesday, the top US general in Europe told Congress that Ukraines military would get the weaponry it needs in time for the long-expected counteroffensive. I am very confident that we have delivered the materiel that they need, and well continue a pipeline to sustain their operations as well, General Christopher Cavoli, the supreme allied commander for Europe, told a hearing of the House armed services committee. Gen Cavoli cited as an example the fact that more than 98 per cent of the combat vehicles promised to Kyiv had already been delivered. Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report 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 }} As troops of rival military strongmen clashed in Sudan, reports surfaced that the airport in Merowe, some 320km (200 miles) north of Khartoum, was being prepared for the arrival of transport aircraft carrying a large consignment of weapons. The lethal supplies were supposedly sent by the Wagner Group, the Russian mercenary army that has spread across a swathe of Africa after deploying in Libya and Syria, and whose forces are playing a major part in Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. Wagner soldiers have been concentrated in Bakhmut, where bloody street fighting has continued for months. An example of the brutal violence in the Donbas town came this week when two fighters, Alexey Savichev and Azamat Uldarov, admitted they had slaughtered 400 civilians, including around 40 children, who were sheltering in a basement. The pair were among conscripts who comprise a significant part of the companys fighters in the conflict. It is not known if Wagner landed arms at Merowe, which has been captured by its Sudanese ally Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, whose Rapid Support Force (RSF) is engaged in the violent confrontation with the countrys main military headed by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Some US security officials claim Wagner has been fuelling the violence in Sudan in response to Washingtons attempts to get it thrown out of the country. However, others including Western and Sudanese officials question whether Moscow actually wants such destabilisation given that it is due to make substantial military investment in Sudan, including a Red Sea naval base. What is known is that Wagner has forged highly lucrative links with the RSF and Dagalo, including the creation of gold-smuggling chains from Sudan to Russia via Dubai and Syria. A large portion of the money earned has gone to fund operations in Ukraine that are costing Wagner an estimated $100m (81m) every month. Its owner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has accused Russian military high command of treason for failing to supply his fighters with adequate weapons and ammunition. According to the US State Department, Wagner has begun to obtain arms directly from other states including rockets and missiles from North Korea. Mr Prigozhin, nicknamed Putins Chef after a catering company he owned was given lucrative government contracts, is also said to own M Invest, which controls Meroe Gold, the third-largest gold producer in South Africa and a mining concern rapidly expanding in Sudan. Both companies have been placed under US Treasury and European Union sanctions. An investigation by CNN documented 16 military flights from Sudan to Russia via the Syrian port city of Latakia and the Central African Republic (CAR). These are believed to have moved almost $2bn (1.6bn) in bullion over 18 months, it reported. Under a deal signed in 2019 with Sudans former president Omar Hassan al-Bashir, the Kremlin has agreed to export weapons to the country as well as construct a base at Port Sudan. Calls by Moscow for a ceasefire in the current violence may thus be genuine, if self-serving. Prigozhin is a long-time associate of Putin (AP) RSF leader Gen Dagalo has strong links with the Russian government as well as Wagner. He visited Moscow on 24 February 2022, the day of the Ukrainian invasion, and again in September while John Godfrey, the US ambassador to Khartoum, was pressing the Sudanese regime to scrap the deal for the naval base. Samuel Ramani, a Russia watcher and tutor of international relations at the University of Oxford, believes Wagner is keeping its powder dry in Sudan. I would say they are sitting in a more defensive position; they are not getting a green light from the Kremlin to play a more active role, they are probably staying put for now, he said. Obviously if there is civil war and Prigozhins mining is threatened, we will see a more active military role. But the interests of Wagner and the Kremlin hierarchy have increasingly diverged. Mr Prigozhin, who in the past has been low-profile while his fighters deploy abroad, has begun to increasingly seek the limelight, attacking the Russian military over strategy and tactics in Ukraine. He has been joined in the strident criticism by Chechen ruler Ramzan Kadyrov, whose troops are also in the war, and some of Russias hawkish and influential military bloggers. Russias high command in Moscow has begun to retaliate. A prisoner recruitment drive by Mr Prigozhin (himself sentenced to 13 years on charges of aggravated burglary and robbery) has been halted. Senior commanders are asking for Wagner to be placed under the command of the National Guard, moving it away from direct relationship with Russias Defence Ministry. General Valery Gerasimov, the former chief of general staff and now overall commander in Ukraine, has asked political and military bloggers to reduce their coverage of Wagner; this appears to have an effect with some of the most prolific bloggers like Rybar. Wagner mercenaries have been fighting for control of Bakhmut for months (Reuters) Vladlen Tatarsky, a blogger who promoted Mr Prigozhin, was killed in a targeted blast in St Petersburg last month. Authorities accused Russian opposition figures of carrying out the killing with Ukrainian connivance, but a lot of Tatarskys posts exposed Russian military shortcomings and it is difficult to understand what Kyiv will gain from his death. Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky, head of Russias Airborne Forces and who at one stage appeared to support Mr Prigozhins criticism, was recently filmed sitting in his office with a portrait of Gen Gerasimov and a screensaver with a picture of defence minister Sergei Shoigu. This was seen as an indication of shifting power balance. Jockeying for position in Moscow has meant little to Wagner fighters on the Ukraine frontline. Talat Nazarbekov, a young Uzbek captured by Ukrainian forces in Donbas, spoke of deep frustration and disenchantment at the losses being incurred for little gain. We have had a hundred people killed and injured for a hundred metres. This does not make any sense, he told me recently at a detention centre in Ukraine. We began to realise that a long time ago. The quality of the mobics (newly-mobilised soldiers) was not acceptable, especially those from prisons. We dont understand the thinking of the senior people, what they are trying to do, where they are going with this. Trying to gauge what the future holds for Mr Prigozhin inevitably leads to questions about his relationship with Mr Putin. Some Russian reports maintain Mr Prigozhins increasingly loud remonstrations about the military are an attempt to be heard by the president with direct channels no longer available. According to some, Mr Prigozhin has political ambitions himself, possibly even to replace President Putin in the future. The Russian independent news site Meduza reports he is trying to gain control of the party A Just Russia, whose leader Sergei Mironov has lauded Wagner as heroic. But Viktor Nikitin, a former Wagner employee who left last autumn and now lives in southern Europe, dismisses the notion that Mr Prigozhin will seek to rule Russia. That will not happen, he said. He is an outsider and the establishment will not accept him, the establishment will protect itself, he knows that. Would Prigozhin directly challenge Putin? That would be very foolish and dangerous. Mr Nikitin added: He has had a lot of money for a long time and now he has power at a time of war. But this type of power will not last in peacetime inside Russia. He can get political power abroad. He can try to run a small country in Africa through puppets for example. But I think hell stay in Russia and try to re-establish good relations with the government. Hell need them to make his money in foreign countries. Wagner deployments overseas have been followed by highly-rewarding commercial agreements. In Syria, the Kremlin approved a deal for Russian commercial concerns to receive oil, gas and mining rights on sites captured from Isis. Wagner was contracted by the companies to seize sites, and received its cut. Mr Prigozhin later struck deals directly with the Assad regime. A company owned by him, EvroPolis, generated $162m (130m) in revenue in one year from the al-Shaer gas plant and three other sites. It is also now under US sanctions. In 2018 Wagner was sent by Moscow to support Khalifa Haftar, a rebel general most of the mercenary forces are now based around oil fields owned by the Gen Haftar. Fighter jets, air defence systems and armour are stationed at the main military bases at al-Khadim airport, Sirte and al-Jufrah and Gen Haftars headquarters in al-Rujma. Washington has been seeking Wagners expulsion from Libya. William Burns, the CIA director, travelled personally to Benghazi to meet Gen Haftar to make the demand in person two months ago. According to US officials, Gen Haftar agreed to consider Wagners withdrawal but asked that the US provide a replacement and that Turkish forces based in Libya should also go. Washington viewed such terms as unrealistic. Libya is a hub for Wagner operations in Mali, where it is replacing French, British and other Western forces, and the CAR. The company first deployed in Mali in a deal reportedly worth $11m (8.9m) a month to train and support local forces. Moscow has also supplied Sukhoi warplanes and military helicopters to the government in Bamako. Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, visited Mali in February, following a trip to Sudan. It is unclear how cash-strapped Mali will pay Wagner, or for the military purchases. Opposition and civic society groups claim secret deals have been done on mineral rights and that diamond and gold is being smuggled out. Wagner took over an artisanal gold mine in CAR in 2020 and turned it into an industrial complex; in the same year, the countrys ministry of mines cancelled the licence of a Canadian company and instead gave a 25-year-old concession to a Madagascar-registered firm called Midas Resources, owned by Mr Prigozhin. Wagners mining profit from CAR so far is an estimated $1bn (810m) Wagner has also moved into timber. A 30-year forestry permit in the Congo Basin was granted to Bois Rouge, a firm located in St Petersburg and owned by people close to Prigozhin, and has traded with Meroe Gold in Sudan. The Congo Basin is one of the largest stretches of undeveloped rainforest in the world. Developing 30 per cent of it would be an environmental calamity, according to analysts, but would also yield around $900m (725m) on international markets. Another former Wagner employee, Roman, who I first met in Simferopol in Crimea in 2014, pointed out how much the company had changed since then. Roman, who now lives in the Balkans, said: At the time we were very quiet, we did not want publicity. But wars made Wagner lots of money and Prigozhin decided to become famous. He has also decided to make enemies of powerful people, and that is always dangerous. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech 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 IndyTech email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A historic attempt to land a privately-funded spacecraft on the Moon has come to an uncertain end, with the fate of ispaces Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander still unclear. The Japanese startup is currently investigating the final moments of the mission, which saw the craft lose communication with the control centre in Tokyo just seconds before it was due to touch down. So what actually happened in the moments leading up to the lunar landing attempt? And what has ispace said about its missing craft? Heres a timeline of everything that happened leading up to the loss of communication: 11 December, 2022: Hakuto-R Mission 1 lifted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. 21 March, 2023: Mission enters lunar orbit, entering an increasingly elliptical orbit as it prepares for descent to the surface of the Moon. 15 April, 2023: The landers onboard camera takes a photo of the surface of the Moon from an altitude of around 100km. A photo of the Moon taken from the ispace landers onboard camera from an altitude of 100km above the lunar surface (ispace) 20 April, 2023: The Mission 1 lander shares another photo from the onboard camera, this time showing the lunar Earthrise during the solar eclipse. The lunar Earthrise during solar eclipse, captured by the camera of ispaces Mission 1 lander at an altitude of about 100 km from the lunar surface (ispace) 4.20pm BST, 25 April, 2023: ispace begins descent to the lunar surface, losing communication with the ground crew while it passes the far side of the Moon. (ispace) 5.40pm BST, 25 April, 2023: The Hakuto-R Mission 1 lunar lander is expected to land on the surface of the Moon, but communications with the craft disappear seconds before it is due to touch down. A CGI mock-up of the landers current position (ispace) At this time, our Mission Control Center in Tokyo has not been able to confirm the success of the lander, an ispace spokesperson says. We have to assume that we did not complete the landing... Our engineers will continue to investigate the situation. Roughly six hours later, ispace issues a formal statement saying: It has been determined that Success 9 of the Mission Milestones is not achievable. (ispace) Success 9 refers to the completion of lunar landing for the Hakuto-R Mission 1 vehicle. Without this step, the final Success 10 is also not thought to be possible. This would have involved a steady telecommunication and power supply on the lunar surface after landing to support the operations of its customers payloads. The statement read: Engineers monitored the estimated remaining propellant reached at the lower threshold and shortly afterward the descent speed rapidly increased. After that, the communication loss happened. Based on this, it has been determined that there is a high probability that the lander eventually made a hard landing on the Moons surface. This illustration provided by ispace in April 2023 depicts what the Hakuto spacecraft would have looked like on the surface of the Moon (ispace) The company said it will continue to analyse the telemetry data to fully understand what exactly went wrong. The data will also be used to inform future ispace missions, the firm said. Although we do not expect to complete the lunar landing at this time, we believe that we have fully accomplished the significance of this mission, having acquired a great deal of data and experience by being able to execute the landing phase. What is important is to feed this knowledge and learning back to Mission 2 and beyond so that we can make the most of this experience, said Takeshi Hakamada, Founder and CEO of ispace. To this end, we are already developing Mission 2 and Mission 3 concurrently and have prepared a foundation that can maintain this continuity. A three-year-old child with autism was rescued from train tracks in New York by workers on an approaching Metro-North train. Locomotive Engineer William Kennedy was operating a southbound Hudson Line train on 6 April when he spotted the boy on the tracks near Tarrytown Station. He immediately alerted nearby train crews and footage shows another train, helmed by engineer Shawn Loughran and a trainee, spotting the child dangerously near - and then on top of - an electrified third rail. Once the electricity is cut from the tracks, a worker can be seen running ahead of the train to snatch the boy out of harms way. The crew then travelled back to Tarrytown, where they were met by Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department officers and Tarrytown EMS. Click here to sign up for our newsletters. The first flight transporting British nationals to safety from Sudan landed in the UK on Wednesday, 26 April. Around 300 people have been airlifted out of the country on several flights from Khartoum. By the end of today we should have eight flights (in total), a spokesperson for Rishi Sunak said. Most people on the planes are British nationals with some allies citizens. It comes as tens of thousands of Sudanese citizens and foreign nationals are attempting to escape the conflict in the midst of a US-brokered ceasefire that appears to be partially holding according to UN officials. Sign up for our newsletters. A woman who is suing the state of Texas after being denied an abortion gave a harrowing testimony of her experiences during a Senate judiciary hearing on Wednesday, 26 April. Amanda Zurawski addressed Republican senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, who were not present, saying her ordeal was "a direct result of the policies that they support." According to Ms Zurawski's lawsuit, she was told her baby would not survive and a miscarriage was inevitable, but doctors couldn't perform an abortion due to a near-total ban. She says she had to wait to enter septic shock before doctors would treat her. Sign up for our newsletters. A Tinder user who posed for photos dressed as a police officer has been arrested for impersonating a deputy. Rico TreShon Dukes, 26, was arrested by the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for impersonating a BCSO deputy while carrying a loaded firearm and loaded magazines. He was picked up while wearing a shirt with a BCSO badge on the front and two shoulder patches that are typically worn by uniformed personnel. According to detectives, Dukes had posted several pictures on his Tinder dating profile, including one where he was wearing a duty belt with a firearm. Click here to sign up for our newsletters. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Am I at all surprised that Donald Trump has appalling views on rape? No. I did not expect that the man who gave us the phrase grab them by the p***y to have a comprehensive, well-informed, empathetic understanding of those matters. So, I cant say I fell off my chair in shock when the former president, in responding to the rape claims he is currently facing in court, managed to spread multiple harmful myths about sexual assault in four short sentences. To recap: Trump is currently a defendant in a civil lawsuit filed by the writer E Jean Carroll, who alleges that Trump raped her in 1996, in the fitting room of a department store in Manhattan. Trump has denied those claims. Carroll filed the lawsuit, for defamation and battery, last year under New Yorks Adult Survivors Act, which enables survivors of sexual assault who were over 18 when the abuse occurred to sue their abusers, regardless of when the abuse happened. (That case is separate from another defamation lawsuit Carroll filed against Trump in 2019, in which she alleged Trump defamed her in statements he made denying her claims.) The 2022 lawsuit has now gone to trial. Proceedings started on Tuesday (25 April), and it took Trump less than 24 hours to go one one of his signature rants on Truth Social, the social media platform he created after being banned from Twitter and Facebook following the storming of the Capitol on 6 January 2021. Im not going to share Trumps comments in full, because life is short. Instead, I am going to share just four sentences that caught my eye. She didnt scream? Trump wrote of Carroll. There are no witnesses? Nobody saw this? She never made a police complaint? Trump isnt asking those questions in good faith, obviously. Hes using them to undermine Carrolls credibility. The blank youre supposed to fill is this: If someone is raped, they scream. If someone is raped, there are witnesses. If someone is raped, someone sees. If someone is raped, they make a police complaint. Those four concepts reflect common misconceptions about sexual assault and rape. They are part of a whole body of falsehoods that continue to make it unnecessarily hard for victims of assault to rely on the justice system, and to feel safe doing so. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), out of every 1,000 sexual assault perpetrators, 28 will be convicted of a felony, and 25 will face incarceration. And so, just because Trumps comments are sadly expected, doesnt mean we should let them go unchallenged. Below, a rapid fact-checking of the presidents comments on rape. She didnt scream? Obviously, not all victims of rape or sexual assault scream, yell, or fight back while its happening. Some cant. Some people shockingly are too scared to do any of those things while being the victims of a violent crime. James W Hopper, a clinical psychologist and a teaching associate in Psychology at Harvard Medical School, wrote in a 2015 for The Washington Post, titled Why many rape victims dont fight or yell: In the midst of sexual assault, the brains fear circuitry dominates. The prefrontal cortex can be severely impaired, and all thats left may be reflexes and habits. Hopper wrote about freezing, a brain-based response to detecting danger, especially a predators attack, as well as tonic immobility and collapsed immobility, two examples of extreme survival reflexes that can kick in during an attack. There are no witnesses? Nobody saw this? Due to the nature of sexual assault, its not exactly uncommon for those attacks not to have any direct eyewitnesses. But that doesnt mean there are no witnesses to bring forward in court. Typically, a plaintiffs team will look for people whom the victim may have told about the alleged assault after it happened. Carroll, who took the witness stand on Wednesday (26 April), said she told two friends about the alleged attack. Those friends, Carol Martin and Lisa Birnbach, have both previously confirmed that Carroll told them in the 1990s that she had been sexually assaulted by Trump. She never made a police complaint? Most victims of rape and sexual assault do not report their attacks to the police. According to RAINN, out of every 1,000 sexual assaults, 310 are the subjects of such reports. Looking at violent crimes reported from 2005 to 2010, RAINN said victims had given the following reasons for not filing a report: 20 per cent feared retaliation, 13 per cent believed the police wouldnt do anything to help, 13 per cent believed it was a personal matter, 8 per cent reported the attack to a different official, 8 per cent believed the attack was not important to report, 7 per cent didnt want to get the perpetrator in trouble, and 2 per cent believed the police could not do anything to help. Another 30 per cent gave another reason, or did not cite one reason. Ires Reit is facing a growing investor revolt after its largest shareholder joined activist fund Vision Capital in opposing the re-election of CEO Margaret Sweeney. Capreit, Iress founder and an 18.7pc owner, has told Vision that it too expects to vote against the re-election of Ms Sweeney and three other directors, as well as a number of resolutions, at the companys AGM on May 4. Vision, which owns 5pc of the corporate landlord, has been pushing for a sale of Ires and the ouster of four board members since publishing a hostile open letter two weeks ago criticising the companys performance and calling for a shareholder putsch. Now, according to a new announcement by Vision, Capreit has thrown its considerable weight behind the effort, piling significantly more pressure on the Ires board, which has resisted Visions campaign so far. Vision Capital Corporation announced today that in response to an inquiry made by it, Vision was advised that Canadian Apartment Properties Reit expects to vote its shares in Irish Residential Properties Reit PLC consistently with Visions recommendations at the upcoming Ires May 4, 2023, annual general meeting, the company said. The development comes as Ires is in the middle of negotiations to sell the prized Marker Residences to Irish Life Investment Managers (ILIM) also a 5pc shareholder in the company as part of a 100m asset disposal programme. Market sources have indicated the exclusive talks are taking place in the 60m-65m price range below the 73m valuation Ires put on the luxury Dublin property in 2019 and a small uplift on the 50m the company paid to acquire it in 2014. But Vision has already heaped scorn on the potential transaction as a knee jerk reaction and a poison pill that would destroy long-term value in the company. The fund also suggested that Ires could be selling the Marker to ILIM as a quid pro quo to marshal votes in support of the board. A spokesperson for Ires rejected the assertion. Capreits move on Ires comes just weeks after the Canadian property giant removed Ires board member Phillip Burns as the chief executive of Eres Reit, another underperforming European real estate trust where it is a major shareholder, with Capreit CEO Mark Kenney taking over. Capreit did not respond to a request for comment. Ires said it had no comment. The co-founder of aircraft leasing giant Avolon will also be a strategic adviser to the space firm Mr Slattery is the co-founder and former CEO of aircraft leasing giant Avolon SpinLaunch aims to make its first space launch in 2026 Domhnal Slattery, the co-founder and former chief executive of Dublin-based aircraft leasing giant Avolon, has invested in California-based space technology firm SpinLaunch and joined the firm as a strategic advise r. SpinLaunch, founded by 2014 by Jonathan Yaney, has been developing a system that it hopes will enable payloads to be launched into low-earth orbit without using rockets. It has developed a prototype system using centrifugal force to create supersonic acceleration that effectively lets it act as a catapult. It is targeting the launch of a class of smaller satellites that weigh up to 200kg. Its ground-based system is significantly less expensive than using rockets and SpinLaunch says it provides an environmentally sustainable approach to space access. SpinLaunchs prototype, based at Spaceport America in the New Mexico desert, has already conducted a number of successful test launches. Last September, it launched a test vehicle that carried demonstration payloads for Nasa, Airbus and others. Those payloads survived the launch. Airbus is an existing SpinLaunch partner. SpinLaunch is on target to place satellites into orbit and deliver payloads by 2026. It has so far achieved altitudes of about 30,000 ft with its prototype system, which is about one-third the size of the planned full-scale version. In September, the company also announced that it had raised $71m in Series B funding. Mr Slattery took part in that funding round, which was also backed by ATW Partners, Kleiner Perkins, GV, ATMA Capital, ONA Capital, Lauder Partners, McKinley Capital and Tyche Partners, among others. That funding included equity and debt and brought the total raised to date by SpinLaunch to $150m. Mr Slattery described SpinLaunch as one of the most exciting and innovative companies he has seen in three decades working in the global aerospace industry. SpinLaunchs end-to-end space solutions are poised to revolutionise the entire space economy, while also driving decarbonisation in the sector as we transition to a net-zero world, he said. Mr Slattery said he is looking forward to playing a role in what he said is innovation at its cutting edge. SpinLaunch said that Mr Slattery is committed to working with innovative companies which can revolutionise industries and positively contribute to a net-zero economy. Mr Slattery is also the non-executive chairman of New York-listed Vertical Aerospace, a developer of electric air taxis that has hundreds of advance orders from global airlines. Avolon is among Verticals customers and also invested in the business. Since stepping down from Avolon, Mr Slattery has also established Clahane Capital, where he is CEO and chairman. He has been joined at that business by Yvonne Gallagher, who is vice president of operations. She is a former Avolon senior executive. Last autumn, Mr Slattery was appointed a special adviser to Abu Dhabi-based agritech business Pure Harvest Smart Farms. Pure Harvest is focused on the year-round sustainable production of fruit and vegetables in the tough desert environment. It is behind the Middle Easts first commercial-scale, semi-automated high-tech growing system. Pharmaceutical services firm Hvivo, formerly Open Orphan, will pay a dividend to shareholders after a record financial and operational performance last year. The Dublin and London-listed organisation is set to pay a one-off special dividend of 3m (3.4m) in June following strong cash generation in 2022. Revenues rose by 30pc across the year to 50.7m, while the groups cash position stood at 28.4m at the end of 2022, up from 15.7m in 2021. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) increased to 9.1m from 2.9m in 2021. An improvement in Ebitda margins was attributed to running of multiple challenge trials simultaneously, as well as a flexible booking model and a re-vamped platform for its FluCamp volunteer screening programme. The group also completed seven challenge studies in 2022, inoculating 413 volunteers across the year. This reflected an increase of 32pc on the prior year. Hvivo increased its portfolio of human challenge models with the launch of models focused on malaria and Omicron and also expanded its existing facilities in London and Manchester to double screening capacity. New contracts with large clients contributed to a 65pc growth in the size of Hvivos order book as it rose to 76m by the end of last year. The company expects revenues of around 55m this year, despite cancellation of one awarded contract so far this year. 2022 marked a transformative year for Hvivo, as we achieved record financial and operational performance, providing strong validation of our sustainable growth model, chief executive Yamin Mo Khan said. The group rearmed its position as the world leader in the testing of vaccines and therapeutics using human challenge studies, added chairman Cathal Friel. Mr Friel is the founder of Raglan Capital, which specialises in creating pharmaceutical firms that it takes public. National College of Art and Design (NCAD) has launched a new interdisciplinary research hub in collaboration with a number of Irish hospitals. Researchers at NCAD DesignLabs will work to find real-world solutions to challenges in the Irish healthcare system, as well as issues created by climate change. The research hub will also look at the ways in which people learn and consume information today, partnering with industry experts to create new systems and solutions for these challenges. The first DesignLab will be focused on healthcare. The hubs current collaborations include projects with St James Hospital, the Mater Hospital, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI), as well as with the HSEs Spark innovation programme and Dublins Digital Hub. Recently, researchers from NCAD, in partnership with the Mater Hospital, designed a specialist service for nurses which allows them to provide tools to patients managing their own condition following a stroke. A total of 98pc of those rated their post hospital care as excellent when presented with these tools compared to 63pc before the development of the StrokeLink project. A further project completed at the Mater Hospital reduced nurse assessment forms from 19 pages down to just 5. This solution has now eliminated over 375,000 pages of nursing paperwork, NCAD estimated. NCAD DesignLabs creates opportunities to research and design new products, services and systems that have a positive impact on peoples lives, NCAD director Sarah Glennie said. Through collaborative work with the Mater Transformation Centre and the Design Innovation Lab at St. Jamess Hospital we are already seeing the positive impact of a design-led approach in areas like stroke rehabilitation, skin condition treatment and surgical training. The college is currently also host an exhibition showcasing how design has made a difference in healthcare settings, with examples of existing projects on show. Design-led approaches allow us to ask the right questions, be inclusive, and offer viable solutions, Science Foundation Ireland director general Professor Philip Nolan said. DesignLabs is an important new asset in our national research and innovation system. Belfast-based property developer Patrick Kearney is to formally settle his case against J & E Davy and 16 of its former employees over the 2014 onward sale of his Anglo Irish Bank bonds. The Commercial Court was informed on Tuesday that Mr Kearneys case has been settled but final court orders have yet to be agreed. It is understood Mr Kearney will receive in the region of 2m although it is unclear how much will be paid by Davy and how much will come from former employees. It is expected that the parties will return to court on Wednesday to seek final orders striking out the case. A deal has yet to be reached in a counterclaim brought against Mr Kearney by former Davy trader Tony OConnor alleging Mr Kearney reneged on a profit-share deal. Mr Justice Denis McDonald was told no order for costs would be sought against Davy. Costs orders would be sought against the personal defendants except for Mr OConnor, he heard. The businessman and his property investment firm, Kilmona Holdings Ltd, sued the stockbroker and the group comprising the so-called OConnell partnership, including top executives, who were involved in the controversial trade of junior bonds in failed lender Anglo Irish Bank. Mr Kearney claimed Davy, while acting as his agent in the sale to what he was assured was a third party, had in fact sold them to the partnership which went on to make a secret windfall profit from the onward sale. His claims were fully denied. In his case, Mr Kearney, represented by Martin Heydon SC and Eamon Marry BL, wanted to set aside a settlement of a 2015 case he brought alleging, among other things, his bonds were sold at an undervalue and there was a conflict of interest on the part of Davy. That case was settled, with Mr Kearney and Kilmona receiving 1.125m. Mr Kearney and Kilmona brought a new action against Davy and members of the OConnell partnership after the Central Bank fined Davy 4.13m for regulatory breaches and failures to flag potential conflicts of interest arising from the Kearney/Kilmona bond transaction. In this he claimed a fraud took place at a December 2015 meeting when the previous case was settled. Counsel for 15 of the 16 former employees, Marcus Dowling SC, previously told the court the partnership made a profit of 9.3m from the onward sale of the bonds. The 15 argued there were inconsistencies in Mr Kearneys allegation that he was induced into signing the 2015 settlement by fraudulent misrepresentation. They also claimed he did, in fact, know Davy employees were members of the partnership. All of the claims were denied. The case is scheduled to return to court on Wednesday. Finance Minister Michael McGrath said the state should not build up permanent expenditure and taxation commitments on the back of volatile corporation receipts. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins A new budget battle is set to open up after the EU unveiled changes to its debt and deficit rules, its first major overhaul since the 2008 financial crisis. Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama in The Light We Carry. Photo by Chuck Kennedy/Netflix 2023 Chuck Kennedy/Netflix Let me tell you that the shoulder pad is back. Michelle Obama wears them in both her casual off-stage outfit and in her good white trouser suit. Oprah Winfrey has them in her yellow trouser suit and possibly in her yellow polo neck as well. Oprah wears white pointy shoes under her yellow trouser suit, and Michelle wears white runners. Both have their hair long. Both have gold drop earrings. Oprah is in one of her thin phases at the moment. Michelle Obama - can she do nothing wrong? Shes so beautiful, wise and self-aware that all we can do is curl up and listen to her tell us about how we can all be beautiful, wise and self-aware too. Thats whatThe Light We Carry (Netflix) is all about. Michelle Obama & Oprah Winfrey | The Light We Carry | Official Trailer | Netflix In 2018, Barack and Michelle Obama signed a multimillion dollar deal with Netflix, and this extended interview with Oprah Winfrey, no less, is presumably part of it. We all know that the chances of either Jill Biden or Melania Trump being given a similar platform are somewhat remote. No first lady has had this type of impact since Jacqueline Kennedy. Youre either on board with the Oprah and Michelle school of self love or you are not. Michelle has written a book, coincidentally called The Light We Carry, and has been touring the United States to promote it. This interview was recorded on the last night of that tour, in Los Angeles. Are you ready to make some noise for Michelle Obama? says the band leader or the master of ceremonies. It was rock star stuff. Oprah introduced Michelle as Our forever first lady. Michelle and Oprah are friends and hug a lot. They met over a vase of pink flowers on the table between them. Luckily, I was watching this with my mother, who doesnt hold with that type of thing. She looks so young, said my mother of Michelle, and indeed she does. Together Michelle and Oprah, two intelligent women, tiptoed around the issues of race in America and Donald Trump. Weaponisation of fear is a dangerous thing, said Michelle as Oprah nodded. Theres a difference between a slap on the wrist and the knee on the neck said Michelle, as Oprah kept nodding. You couldnt help wondering who they were trying to protect. White people, I suppose. It was interesting to hear about how the fiery Michelle and the factual Barack fight: Dont come to me with your bullet points And how she was angry with him for 10 years of their 30-year marriage: It coincided with the birth of the children. She was bracing about how little preparation there is for modern marriage, apart from the bride ordering her third dress for the wedding day: Yall spend way too much on weddings. She seemed to be frank about how awful her first months in the White House were. As the first black first family, she said, they both knew that they could not afford to screw this up. And you didnt, not once, said Oprah, and started to cry. So it is a mixture, if one can put this way, of high and low. Michelles ambitions for her children are pretty lofty : I want our kids to be happy with who they are I hope it keeps fine for you, said my mother. Unfortunately, Michelle has no political ambitions for herself. I never expressed any interest in politics, she said. You could hear the sigh of relief emanating from a million Republican lungs. The same day that this interview dropped, Joe Biden announced that he is to run for US president again. Michelle and Oprah did a lot of hugging and then walked past the vase of pink roses and back to their beautiful lives. Our message is simple in that we want to be able to remain at home in our rural communities." Brian Farrell This protest is not just about the challenges faced by farmers but for all of the young people who live in rural Ireland such as nurses, doctors and teachers." Brian Farrell Niamh Farrell, who is due her first baby in June pictured on the diary farm she runs with her partner, Diarmuid Murray, in Knockcrochery, Co Roscommon. Brian Farrell Protest: Macra's Rural Youth Committee chair Niamh Farrell, who is due her first baby in June, on the dairy farm she runs with her partner, Diarmuid Murray, in Knockcrochery, Co Roscommon. Photo: Brian Farrell Brian Farrell For 27-year-old Niamh Farrell, who is expecting her first baby, rural life is disappearing and the Government needs to change their attitude towards how they deal with it. Niamh, who is originally from Headford in Galway but who now dairy farms and lives with her partner Diarmuid in Roscommon, is chair of Macra na Feirmes Rural Youth Committee. She is one of the instigators of a planned overnight protest from Athy, Co Kildare starting at 7pm on Tuesday, April 25 and expected to arrive at Government Buildings by 1pm the next day. Niamh Farrell, who is due her first baby in June pictured on the diary farm she runs with her partner, Diarmuid Murray, in Knockcrochery, Co Roscommon. Brian Farrell The several thousand who are expected to take part have a simple message for the Government: The Rural Revival, Steps for our Future. Macras National Council recently voted unanimously to take action on a number of issues and challenges faced by young people in rural Ireland. Two-thirds of Macras 10,000 members work in other occupations in rural Ireland, with the remainder working as farmers. The organisation wants to highlight the challenges faced by not only their members but young people in general living outside major city hubs. Macra believes some of the major challenges they face are accessing affordable housing and cumbersome housing planning guidelines, and disjointed and sparse healthcare services for rural communities. They also point out that the Governments definition of a family farm as average and typical. Niamh explains: This protest is not just about the challenges faced by farmers but for all of the young people who live in rural Ireland such as nurses, doctors and teachers. This protest is not just about the challenges faced by farmers but for all of the young people who live in rural Ireland such as nurses, doctors and teachers." Brian Farrell Our message is simple in that we want to be able to remain at home in our rural communities. There is no infrastructure in the smaller towns and villages as banks are being closed and post offices phased out and rural life is really suffering as a result. Its the lack of infrastructure, housing and planning difficulties across each county of the country as each local authority is still regulating individually, and young people are being severely affected by this. Our message is simple in that we want to be able to remain at home in our rural communities." Brian Farrell We feel the Government is just not listening to the voices of young rural people as they too are affected by housing costs and difficulties, not just those who live in cities such as Dublin and Cork. Macra are determined to get the voice of rural communities to the fore. Up to 1,400 Irish people die early every year due to air pollution 10 times the number of people who die on our roads A major new strategy to tackle air pollution will require much higher air quality standards to be met. The standards will be made legally binding in a new law, the Clean Air Act, and all government departments will be held responsible for cleaning up the problem. Pollution from the fumes, chemicals, soot and other dirt from traffic, power plants, heating systems, industry, agriculture and open fires are all in the firing line. The measures are announced in the new National Clean Air Strategy published today. It says air pollution causes 1,300-1,400 premature deaths in Ireland every year ten times the number of people who die on our roads. Air pollution also has much wider health impacts, causing or exacerbating heart disease, stroke, lung disease, cancer, asthma and dementia. More recent evidence indicates that the health impacts of air pollution are even wider ranging than previously thought, with links to cognitive development and mental health, the strategy says. Air pollution also has a range of impacts on our environment, including on biodiversity, water quality and wider ecosystems services. The personal, economic and social cost is too high, it says. A key element of the strategy is the adoption of higher air quality standards than currently apply. Ireland is obliged to comply with EU limits, and is almost always compliant, but the World Health Organisation (WHO) advises much stricter limits and the EU is moving to revise its standards in that direction. The Government has now decided that these WHO limits are the ones that Ireland should adopt straight away, although with a lead-in time that allows for gradual improvements up to a 2040 deadline. EU air quality standards provide for a minimum level of health protection, but evidence from the WHO indicates that human health impacts occur at air pollution levels below the current EU ambient air quality limits, the strategy explains. Meeting the new WHO guidelines will be challenging and will require legislative and societal change, it warns. Currently, 80pc of air quality monitoring stations around the country would not meet the WHO limit on particulate matter the microscopic pieces of soot, dust and chemical-laden droplets that hang in the air and are inhaled into the lungs. Environment Minister Eamon Ryan said, however, the move to clean up our air was essential. There are no safe levels of air pollution, he said. Clean air is central to our wellbeing, and particularly the wellbeing of the most vulnerable children, older people or people who may be medically compromised. It is also critical to our wider environment with benefits for our communities, our habitats and our wildlife. He said the policies already adopted under the climate action plan would help achieve much of the required improvements in air quality by phasing out the burning of fossil fuels. There is a clear correlation between the actions needed to lower air pollution and those needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, he said. The new Clean Air Strategy includes a range of measures aimed at addressing these overlapping issues, like electrifying our heat systems and improving the energy efficiency of our homes or moving towards more electric vehicles and away from dirty and polluting fossil fuels. The strategy requires more rigorous implementation of regulations banning or restricting the use of smoky solid fuels and for the Environmental Protection Agency to tighten up on air emissions from the industries it licences. On agriculture, which is responsible for almost all the ammonia emissions entering the air, there will be requirements for changes in farming practices. On transport, the hope is that the move to more electric vehicles, public transport and active transport will significantly reduce exhaust fumes but moves such as low emission zones in urban areas that would restrict the kind of vehicles admitted are also to be considered. Work is to begin to revise all existing air pollution legislation and a new comprehensive law, the Clean Air Act, is to be drafted. Shea Reynolds (29) is currently in custody charged with directing terrorism following an MI5 surveillance operation Prosecutors have failed in a High Court bid to stop an alleged New IRA chief from getting out of prison to attend his sons confirmation. Shea Reynolds (29) is currently in custody charged with directing terrorism following an MI5 surveillance operation against the dissident grouping. Despite a judge having already granted him compassionate bail to go to the church service in Lurgan, Co Armagh, objections were raised at a further court hearing yesterday. News in 90 Seconds Prosecution counsel claimed allowing release even for a period of hours posed too great a risk of further terrorist-related offences. That could be done by the utterance of a few words or the passing of a note, she contended. But defence barrister Desmond Hutton KC disputed the fears expressed about his client being allowed out for the family event today. He insisted: The suggestion that some doomsday or Armageddon will result if hes out of prison for that four-hour window is unrealistic. Reynolds, of Belvedere Manor in Lurgan, is further accused of membership of a proscribed organisation and conspiracy to possess Semtex explosives and firearms with intent to endanger life. The charges relate to his alleged attendance at a gathering near Omagh, Co Tyrone in 2020. According to the prosecution, all of those present were at the highest echelons of the New IRA. In a separate case, Reynolds is awaiting trial on terrorist plot charges connected to the discovery of an improvised explosive device back in 2016. On Friday, the Recorder for Belfast, Judge Patricia Smith, ruled that he can be temporarily released from custody for his sons confirmation. Backing her decision at the High Court today, Mr Justice Scoffield agreed that any risks can be managed by imposing even stricter conditions. Along with a 10,000 cash surety, Reynolds must be accompanied at all times by two solicitors from his legal firm, Phoenix Law. Mr Justice Scoffield further directed: I will require that he sits within the first three rows (of the church) within view of the fixed camera. Im also going to require that he sits between the two chaperones. Suspended solicitor daughter of former Fianna Fail TD secures new job in the Department of Social Protection Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch leaves a Dublin court after being cleared of involvement in the Regency gun attack. (Pic: Mark Condren) Detectives have interviewed a senior investigator with the Garda watchdog who has now admitted attending a party with Gerard Hutch. The experienced investigator resigned from the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) last week following allegations that he was at the gathering in north Dublin. Earlier that day Mr Hutch had been acquitted by the Special Criminal Court of the gangland murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016. The Justice Minister Simon Harris has said it is now "likely" that an independent examiner will be tasked with carrying out a review of GSOC's procedures while also mooting the possibility of in-career vetting. The watchdog launched an enquiry into the matter and subsequently asked gardai to carry out an independent investigation. It is the first time An Garda Siochana has been tasked to investigate the Gsoc whose function is to investigate potential garda misconduct. The Monk: The life and crimes of a Godfather This is being led by detectives attached to the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI). Gardai have since interviewed the now former Gsoc investigator at the centre of the controversy. He was formally interviewed under caution by gardai in recent days and has cooperated with detectives. It's understood that he has admitted attending the party for 'The Monk' which was held in Dublin following his acquittal on Monday of last week. However, the investigator has denied any wrongdoing. Following the revelations Gsoc seized the man's phone and blocked his access to their systems. Read more Resigned GSOC investigator is former police officer who was friendly with female member of the Hutch family Gardai will take possession of the device as part of their inquiry and examine it to determine if he was compromised by the Hutch crime group. One source said: "This individual has been formally interviewed under caution and has admitted that he was at the party with Gerard Hutch. "This in itself clearly isn't a criminal offence and the garda investigation will attempt to establish if there is anything more to this". Mr Harris met with members of GSOC today to discuss the matter them. Speaking to reporters in Westport, Mr Harris said that it is now "likely" that the watchdog will appoint an independent examiner to review its hiring procedures. He also raised the possibility of in-career vetting being introduced for people working in GSOC. "I think it also does raise interesting questions for GSOC, and also perhaps for others to consider, about the idea of ongoing vetting, what's also referred to as in-career or in-service vetting. "And I know these are issues that will be considered by GSOC, and I think it actually bears reflection for many organisations cause if you're working in a sensitive space, of course you are vetted upon entry, but actually it does merit consideration," Mr Harris said. Gsoc had been conducting its own inquiry into the matter after he told colleagues that he attended the party on Monday night. The investigator, who has over four decades of policing experience outside of Europe, later resigned from Gsoc. The Garda watchdog issued a statement on the hugely controversial affair earlier this week, saying it submitted a report to the Minister for Justice outlining the action it had taken. Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch leaving court When Gsoc became aware last week of a potential conflict of interest involving a member of our staff, we immediately removed that members access to our systems and commenced an initial internal investigation. The staff member in question resigned shortly thereafter. Gsoc engaged at a senior level with the Department of Justice and An Garda Siochana and continues to do so. We took these steps promptly in response to the disclosure of a potential conflict of interest so as to preserve the integrity of our systems and facilitate proper investigation of all matters relating to this. It is not Gsocs policy to investigate itself and we see independent investigation as integral to proper oversight, due process and fairness. It is of paramount importance to establish whether any concerns of a criminal nature arise. This is a matter for An Garda Siochana in the first instance and Gsoc is cooperating with them in their examination of the matter and will cooperate with any investigation that they deem necessary. Gsoc is committed to ensuring that any further investigation into this matter that may prove necessary is carried out independently, to ensure that public confidence in the oversight of policing in Ireland is both fostered and maintained, he added. It is understood that the Gsoc investigator was renting accommodation from a female relative of the Monk, he lived nearby and that is how he ended up at the party to celebrate Mr Hutchs release. The scene at Thomond Bridge, Limerick, in August 2015 where Bryan Whelan and TJ OHerlihy drowned when the cable holding their cage broke and fell into the water as the men worked on the bridge. Photo: Liam Burke/Press 22 The Director of Public Prosecutions is seeking stiffer sentences for two companies over the deaths of two stonemasons who drowned when the steel cage they were working in plunged into the River Shannon, their inquest heard today. Two firms were previously convicted and fined after pleading guilty to criminal charges relating to the deaths of Bryan Whelan and TJ OHerlihy. The inquest jury of three women and three men today recorded a verdict of misadventure in their deaths. The jury found in accordance with medical evidence outlined at Limerick Coroners Court that both men died by drowning in the River Shannon, Limerick City, on August 29, 2015. The scene at Thomond Bridge, Limerick, in August 2015 where Bryan Whelan and TJ OHerlihy drowned when the cable holding their cage broke and fell into the water as the men worked on the bridge. Photo: Liam Burke/Press 22 Mr Whelan (29), of OBriensbridge, Co Clare, and Mr OHerlihy (26), of Castleisland, Co Kerry, had been standing in a steel cage hung over the side of Thomond Bridge by a wire rope attached to a lorry-mounted winch crane, when the cranes safety mechanism that should have prevented the winch from becoming overloaded, failed. The inquest, held at Kilmallock courthouse, heard that the wire rope snapped and the cage carrying the two stonemasons plunged into the river which had been at a higher than average level for that time of year due to unseasonal weather conditions. An audible alarm which should have sounded to warn the crane operator of the critical situation, also failed. Mr Whelan and Mr OHerlihy drowned despite the heroic efforts of emergency first responders who rushed to the scene, including members of the voluntary Limerick Marine Search and Rescue Service (LMSRS), Limerick City and County Fire and Rescue Service, the Gardai and HSE paramedics. Mr Whelan and Mr OHerlihy, who were each harnessed into the cage and wearing life jackets, became trapped in the steel platform under the water and drowned. Tony Cusack, a senior rescuer with LMSRS, and firefighter Ciaran Keogh, were two of the first responders on the scene. TJ O'Herlihy with his son Conor Mr Cusack recused Paul Murphy, a third stonemason worker who had been harnessed into the cage with the other two men, but who had managed to free himself as he was being dragged by a fast water current into the wider Shannon Estuary. Mr Keogh, who was lowered off the bridge by a rope to the cage, along with Mr Cusack, and their colleagues, made valiant efforts to keep Mr Whelan and Mr OHerlihy alive. The voluntary rescue and fireman had to cut the two trapped men from their harnesses with their rescue knives in order to get them to shore. There was a stop-go traffic system in place on the bridge on the day, and Mr Murphy said he and Mr Whelan and Mr OHerlihy were afraid we would fall out of the basket if the lorry got a tip on the bridge. Mr Murphy said he had never before worked out of a cage or basket over a bridge, and because he couldn't swim he had been worried about the consequences if the cage collapsed into the river. Recalling the moment the cage fell into the water, Mr Murphy said: All I heard was a bang, I knew the rope was after breaking, I remember falling, like a rollercoaster, and dropping into the River Shannon. I took a deep breath as I hit the water, my life jacket inflated and I swallowed a gulp of water, he said. I had been thinking about this happening all week as I couldn't swim. I remember feeling my [harness] clip, I unclipped it, then I hit my head off of something, I was kicking trying to swim. After freeing himself from the cage to reach the surface, Mr Murphy said he spat out some water and I floated down river. Mr Murphy was met by Tony Cusack, who pulled him aboard the LMSRS rapid response boat and they continued on towards Thomond Bridge. There LMSRS and specially trained firefighter water rescuers continued frantic efforts to save the other two men, who were both pronounced dead at University Hospital Limerick. On the day, the operator of the lorry-mounted crane, Richie Hughes, who had 20 years experience in his field, agreed under cross-examination by Maura McNally, SC, a barrister representing the OHerlihy family, that, when he was questioned under caution by Dermot OBrien, an inspector with the Health and Safety Authority, about how much experience he had had using the remote control of the crane in question, Mr Hughes replied not much. The witness said he was not shown a risk assessment or safety statement in relation to the work he was to perform on the day. Mr OBrien said the DPP is appealing sentences imposed on Nationwide Crane Hire Ltd and Palfinger Ireland Ltd last October, claiming the sentences were unduly lenient. The two companies were fined a total of 225,000 after pleading guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act, before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, October 7, 2022. Palfinger pleaded guilty to failing to take steps necessary to ensure Nationwide was provided with adequate information about the cranes operations, in order to ensure it would be safe when it was being used. Nationwide admitted it failed as an employer to ensure that contracted workers were not exposed to risks to their safety, health and welfare. It also admitted failing to ensure the winch crane, and in particular the overload safety system, was in a safe condition on the day. Paul Murphy said his supervisor on the day told us to clip on our harnesses at all times because the workers would be scrutinised by the authorities. There was no safety boat in the water while the men worked in the cage. However, unlike the wearing of harnesses, this was not a legal requirement, the inquest heard. Mr Murphy said the cage/basket got snagged on the bridge a couple of times on the day and that he noticed the cage was vibrating more than on previous days, but he said he did not mention this to anyone. He said he did not see anyone carry out regular daily checks on the mens life jackets or harnesses. He said he had not seen a risk assessment on the day of the fatal incident, but he said, safety related paperwork had been shown to him on a previous day. Coroner John McNamara and Inspector Geraldine Thompson, of Bruff Garda Station, passed on their condolences to the dead mens families. The coroner said that although the three stonemasons were working on a job that carried some element of danger, one would expect safety to be of paramount [importance]. He added it was a miracle Mr Murphy managed to escape with his life. Bryan Whelan Speaking afterwards, Sean Fitzgerald, partner with HOLMS Assist Solicitors, acting for the Whelan family and Paul Murphy, said todays outcome was a step towards closure. They have waited almost eight years to be able to receive a death certificate for their 29-year old son Bryan, he said. We would like to thank the Coroners Court for its time and we welcome todays verdict of misadventure, death by drowning - but it would have been less distressing for [Bryans] family if they had received his death certification and the autopsy report earlier. The family would also like to thank the emergency services, fire department, search and rescue services, for everything they did to try to save their sons life. The police chief drew an angry response when he said he cant be the only one who makes a compromise Garda commissioner Drew Harris at St Laurence O'Toole Recreation Centre, Sheriff Street, Dublin for a public meeting with the Policing Authority yesterday. Photo: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin Colin Keegan The Garda commissioner was yesterday jeered and heckled by angry members of the countrys largest policing representative body. The hostile response came amid a deepening row over new rosters that Garda management want to introduce. Garda chief Drew Harris is jeered at by members of the Garda Representative Association in Westport this morning The Garda Representative Association (GRA), as well as the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), have been at loggerheads with Commissioner Drew Harris over the proposed working hours. Both representative bodies have expressed serious concerns that the new roster will impact their work-life balance and result in a potential loss of pay. Mr Harris later held a questions-and-answers session with GRA members. During the session, as Mr Harris said he cant be the only one who makes a compromise, several delegates responded with jeers and heckles. Mr Harris had also said he was only interested in a collective agreement on the new working hours which worked best for the public and gardai. The Garda chief has recently stated that talks with the various Garda bodies have been exhausted and that the matter should be referred to the Workplace Relations Commission. Ronan Slevin, general deputy secretary of the GRA, said: His comments dont help and are further from the truth on what happened in the negotiations, but we still believe there is a resolution to be found and we believe our proposal is a reasonable proposition. If we were able to go back into negotiations, we believe a resolution could be found. Brendan OConnor, president of the GRA, said: The atmosphere in the room was indicative of the feeling that the commissioner lacked a bit of sensitivity to the strength of feeling on the issue. It is about members and their work-life balance and how it impacts their families. Policing is a difficult career. It does impact on families. Earlier, the Garda commissioner said he will meet with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) about the failed prosecution of Gerry Hutch. Mr Hutch walked free from court last week after being acquitted of the murder of David Byrne in 2016. The Special Criminal Court said that, while Mr Hutch had been in charge of the guns weeks after the murder, there was no evidence to prove he was one of the gunmen. Commissioner Harris has now said he will meet with the DPP, Catherine Pierse, in relation to the failed prosecution. He also said that the Hutch gang remains under active investigation and warned the crime group: My gang is bigger than their gang. The Garda chief said authorities are also liaising with international partners in relation to the Hutch organised crime group. Were determined to make Ireland a hard place for organised crime groups to work and to operate to make Ireland, in effect, a hard target and we continue with that goal in mind. This is an organised crime group. Theyre involved in extensive criminality. There are other offences to investigate. Detectives are also continuing to investigate allegations that a senior investigator with the Garda watchdog attended a party for Mr Hutch following his acquittal. Mr Harris said he has confidence in the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commissioner (GSOC) and that gardai are making inquiries into the matter. One of the suspected gunmen in the Regency hotel attack had his home raided by gardai, Independent.ie can reveal. The target of the raid is a close associate of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch. He has been blamed by his former associates in the Kinahan cartel for involvement in the Regency attack. The senior member of the Hutch Organised Crime Gang (OCG) had his home targeted by armed gardai in north inner city earlier today. A video seen by Independent.ie shows armed officers raiding his house in an early morning swoop. The senior member of the Hutch gang - who cannot be named for legal reasons as he is before the courts on serious drugs charges and other serious offences - is considered a major player in the criminal gang, which are warring with the Kinahan cartel. It is understood that gardai executed the raid based on intelligence that the well-known criminal had weapons and drugs at his home. However, nothing of significance was found, sources say. It is understood that the suspect is known as a prolific street-level drug dealer. The armed garda raid, carried out based on intelligence by officers from Store Street garda station, took place as the force continues to monitor senior members of the Hutch gang following last weeks dramatic acquittal of Gerry Hutch for the Regency hotel murder of Kinahan cartel lieutenant David Byrne in 2016. 'The Monk' walked free from court on Monday of last week. The Special Criminal Court said while Mr Hutch had been in charge of the guns weeks after the murder, there was no evidence to prove he was one of the gunmen. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said yesterday that he will meet with the Director of Public Prosecutions, Catherine Pierse, in relation to the failed prosecution. He also said that the Hutch gang remains under "active investigation" and warned the crime group: "My gang is bigger than their gang." The garda chief was speaking at the annual conference of the Garda Representative Association in Westport yesterday morning. Asked about the Hutch trial, Mr Harris he said he hopes to meet with the director shortly to "discuss the matter further" with her. Joseph O'Donovan, who changed his name from Gary Flynn. Photo: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Cork Courts Ltd A FORMER Fianna Fail councillor who changed his name by deed poll has had a harassment charge against him struck out at Cork District Court. Joseph O'Donovan (47), who was formerly known as Gary O'Flynn, had the case against him struck out by Judge Olann Kelleher because of a delay in the receipt of instructions on the matter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). News in 90 Seconds Mr ODonovan appeared before Cork District Court on foot of a charge brought in August 2022. He faced a charge of a single count of harassment of a female which involved three dates between July 30 and August 6, 2022, at an address in Cork city. The charge was brought contrary to Section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. Det Sgt Katrine Tansley previously gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of the 47 year old. She said that the accused made no reply when the charge was formally put to him under caution at the Bridewell Garda Station in Cork city last year. Mr ODonovan last appeared before Cork District Court on March 1. On that occasion defence solicitor, Frank Buttimer, asked for the case to be struck out arising out of a delay in receiving DPP directions in the case. Mr Buttimer said that it was a relatively straightforward single count charge and the delay involved warranted the matter being dismissed. Judge Kelleher had indicated that he would strike out the charges if the DPP directions were not available by the April 26 hearing of the matter. He struck out the case against the accused today after being informed that DPP instructions had still not been received. While the matter has been struck out, it remains open to the State to seek to have the matter re-entered. Mr ODonovan of Melvindale House, Coolowen, Blarney, Co Cork, was in court for the brief hearing. He is the son of former Cork TD Noel OFlynn, who served in the constituency of Cork North Central from 1997 until his retirement before the 2011 General Election. Joseph ODonovan, when he was known as Gary OFlynn, was a sitting councillor in Cork city between 2003 to 2008. He took his fathers old seat on Cork City Council in 2003 when the dual mandate ban first came into force. He ended his political career five years later with his seat going to his brother, Kenneth. Kenneth 'Ken' OFlynn has held the council berth since 2008. Councillor O'Flynn is currently an independent, having left Fianna Fail in 2020 after 25 years of membership. He contested the 2020 General Election in Cork North Central as an independent, only failing to win a seat on the 14th and final count. The Health Service Executive (HSE) breached data protection laws nearly 200 times last year as a result of errors distributing digital Covid certificates, which provided proof of peoples vaccination status during the pandemic. Another breach occurred at a Covid testing centre when an agency worker posted a photo on the messaging app Snapchat, in which personal information relating to service users could be seen. The incidents were among 524 breaches of data protection regulations recorded by the HSE last year, according to records released under freedom of information laws. In June 2022, another beach was reported when security staff at Galway University Hospital (GUH) shared CCTV footage of an incident involving patients on WhatsApp. At Mayo University Hospital (MUH), a data protection breach was reported in April when a doctor obtained a patients phone number from their file and inappropriately contacted them by text. Patient files were found in a public car park at Sligo University Hospital last year, while a mental health service user in Cork breached data protection regulations in September when they photographed another patient and shared the images. In August, correspondence intended for a patient of the CervicalCheck service was sent to her neighbours address by mistake. Meanwhile, a BreastCheck client reported in October that she had received correspondence intended for two other patients. The Gay Mens Health Service in Wicklow, Dun Laoghaire and Dublin South-East reported that a breach had occurred when patient files that had been left on top of a bin were thrown out by mistake. In May, a patient at Limerick University Hospital accidentally took home an entire patient list, while a patient at Portiuncula Hospital was discovered alone in a triage room last November with records containing personal and health data relating to people who had attended the emergency department. A member of the public took a photo of a computer screen featuring personal data relating to a number of patients at MUH last August, while an employee at GUH inappropriately accessed medical data relating to one of their colleagues in April 2022. A spokesman for the HSE said all data protection breaches were managed in line with the appropriate legislation and the executives own policy. The HSE takes all breaches of data protection seriously and all such cases are investigated to find out how they occurred, and preventative measures are put in place to reduce the risk of such breaches happening again, he said. Explainer: What is Long Covid? These measures have included additional staff training focusing on the root cause of the breaches, the revision of guidance documents based on learning from incidents, and raising awareness of the importance of data protection. GDPR/data protection training is delivered to HSE staff on an ongoing basis and all HSE staff are made aware of HSE policy in relation to data protection and the GDPR, the spokesman added. Fine Gael TD Richard Bruton says he is unsure whether he will seek re-election. Photo: Steve Humphreys Fine Gael TD Richard Bruton has dealt a fresh blow to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar by refusing to confirm whether he will stand in the next general election. Mr Varadkar is facing a raft of Dail retirements after two TDs confirmed in the last week alone that they will not stand for re-election next time out. Now Mr Bruton, the current Fine Gael parliamentary party chair and a former cabinet minister, has said it remains to be seen if he will stand again. There's a lot of time between now and then, depending on [selection] conventions and all sorts of things. I will wait and see what happens. I think there is a process for selection and I am not going to anticipate that, said the Dublin Bay North TD. When asked specifically if he would be putting his name forward for selection to run for Fine Gael in Dublin Bay North next time out, Mr Bruton said: That remains to be seen, I will have to decide that at the appropriate time. The potential retirement of Mr Bruton, a party grandee who served in four different cabinets between 1994 and 2020, will prompt concern among party apparatchiks as it would add to a growing list of Fine Gael TDs confirming they are standing down at the next election. The comments of Mr Bruton (70) stand in contrast to several Fine Gael TDs who sought to dismiss speculation about their own futures when contacted. Former justice minister Charlie Flanagan (Laois-Offaly), former defence minister Paul Kehoe (Wexford), and former rural affairs minister Michael Ring (Mayo) all said they would be running again. Galway East TD Ciaran Cannon, a former junior minister, said he was most definitely running for re-election, as did Louth TD Fergus ODowd. Of course my position remains the same, I have said it is my intention to run again, Mr ODowd, a former junior housing minister, said. Kildare North veteran Bernard Durkan also confirmed he will be running. There was no response from Cork East deputy David Stanton, about whom there are rumours of a possible retirement at the next election. News in 90 Seconds Mr Bruton has been a TD in Dublin Bay North and its predecessor, Dublin North Central, since 1982. He stood for the party leadership and lost against Enda Kenny in 2002 before unsuccessfully challenging the future taoiseach in 2010. Mr Varadkar and Fine Gael must now scramble to identify candidates in constituencies across the country where it has either no TDs or the incumbent is retiring. Cork North-West TD Michael Creed announced he was standing down on Monday night at a constituency AGM. The former agriculture ministers announcement came less than a week after Carlow-Kilkenny TD John Paul Phelan announced his intention to stand down at the next election for health reasons. Their announcements come after similar declarations from Kerry TD Brendan Griffin earlier this year and Donegal TD and former education minister Joe McHugh last year. Former housing minister Eoghan Murphy also resigned his Dail seat in Dublin Bay South in 2021. Labour leader Ivana Bacik, who took Mr Murphys seat in a by-election, told the Taoiseach in the Dail that the announcement by a fifth Fine Gael TD Mr Creed that he was to jump ship showed a lack of confidence on your side of the House. In reply, Mr Varadkar said it might come as news to Ms Bacik, but he understood that two or three of Labours seven TDs would be retiring at the next election. However, neither Mr Varadkar nor his spokesperson provided any evidence for these claims. Last week, Mr Varadkar claimed he was not the slightest bit concerned about his position in the wake of party colleagues standing down at the next election. The most recent opinion poll by The Sunday Timesand Behaviour and Attitudes suggested Fine Gaels support stands at 15pc though most other surveys put support for the party at between 21 and 23pc. "My expectation in the next election is that we will have an election result in the mid 20s, that we will have roughly 45 seats and we'll have between 10 and 15 new TDs, the Taoiseach said. An Irish woman who was forced to flee war-torn Sudan has spoken of her fears for her husband who remains in the country. Sarah Widaa described how she and her family faced gunfire as they rushed to the French embassy for evacuation. Having been given just over an hour's notice to get to the building, the mother-of-three said she had told her children in the car "to duck, get down on the floor as she and her husband fled from their home in the Kafouri area of Sudan's capital Khartoum. "I was afraid," she told Sky News, but when she got to the embassy, the French "went above and beyond". "I felt safer," she said. "They were armed. We were in the buses for over an hour. We left for the airbase. https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1650771845589741568 "We stayed in the hangar for two hours. There was no food. There are Greeks there, Americans." Ms Widaa added that her husband did not join them in the evacuation as he stayed to care for his father who has diabetes and is on medication. She said she was "heartbroken" to leave them behind but asked that when her father-in-law's medication runs out "what is he going to do?" Before they were told they would be evacuated, Ms Widaa revealed how the water supply at their home had been cut off for five days. They had to instead try and buy water from the black market, but we didn't have a lot of money at home, we were worried we would get looted," Ms Widaa said. "It was really difficult. There's a lot of Irish citizens still in Sudan." Ms Widaa said the day before the violence started she took her children to get ice creams. "Everyone was out. The same area is now pitch black," she added. Buildings were burnt and cars with bullet holes were in the middle of the street, she said. Ms Widaa's eldest daughter, Nadine (nine) told Sky News that it was "scary" living in the Sudanese capital during the fighting. She said: "We had to sleep on the floor and we're scared of bullets coming in. "We were watching TV and a bullet hit our window, it was so loud. I was shaking until the end of the day." Another Irish national, Cathy, was also among those to be safely evacuated. The teacher, who has two sons and lives on a school campus, told Sky News the shooting "didn't stop for five days". She said: "Our window exploded. We were under the mattress. One of her sons, Liam, said: Mummy the glass hit me. It just bounced off me'." Cathy and her family managed to sneak out of the school and they eventually made it to a safe place where they were then taken to a friend's house. Ms Widaa who was airlifted out of Sudan with her children, arrived in Djibouti on Monday morning. Ms Widaa said she hopes she can go back to her home, adding: "I have my house there. My kids have friends there, school there. We were happy." On Sunday, the Irish Government announced members of the Defence Forces would be deployed to the country. 88 Irish citizens have been evacuated from Sudan so far but 100 are still in the country. Staff member Leah Nevin with bottles of Prime at MunchDiddly's in Stephens Green Shopping Centre in Dublin. Photo: Gerry Mooney Prime Hydration drinks are being sold for up to 15 a bottle across the country, as children beg parents for the collectible product. The online craze for the drink created by YouTubers KSI and Logan Paul has created queues outside shops across Ireland. The fad even led to a stampede in some British stores last December when the drinks first went on sale. One store in Dublin claimed they are selling up to 1,000 drinks a week, which would be 15,000 a week in trade. However, they declined to speak on the record. Last Thursday, Prime went on sale at Dunnes Stores for a more reasonable 2.99. On the same day, the drink was sold out in the Ilac Centre Dunnes. However, it is understood a limited supply is currently available at some Dunnes Stores outlets. Meanwhile, MunchDiddlys shop in Stephens Green Shopping Centre in Dublin, has a supply of the drinks and is charging 15 a bottle. Prime Hydration drinks by YouTube celebrities Logan Paul and KSI The store also sells packs including a Prime Hydration Duo two bottles with sachet refills for 40. MunchDiddlys is owned by a father-and-son business team, Garreth (48) and Keane Cooke (21). Garreth said a Galway man had travelled more than 200km to his shop to buy 24 bottles of Prime for his sons confirmation, costing 360. Independent.ie got a glimpse of the receipt. The man had included four of the popular Prime Meta Moon drinks in his order. The father generously purchased 24 bottles, seven of the eight varieties in multiples, Garreth said. He was a lovely guy and very gracious. Garreth said the drinks are being bought by youngsters as a keepsake and they are more than just a soft drink. The kids keep the bottles. They like the designs. I dont see this going away any time soon, he said. Theres a KSI flavour in the UK, we havent got access to yet, but people keep calling the shop asking for it and saying we could sell it for 60, if we could get it. This is a major trend thats been going on right across social media and the bottles are collectables now. Keane said he believes Prime is more of a trophy than a drink to people who come to the shop. People are collecting bottles and hanging them on the wall. Kids between eight and adults up to 20 years old are buying the drink and its so popular, because its so hard to get, he said. Its incredibly difficult to find, its also incredibly difficult to source as a business. We import from America and when we get new stock it takes about a week to sell out. Parents are coming in looking for it too. Single bottles are 15 and the bundle deals are more expensive but easier for us to pack. We get some criticism from some people who think the price is insane, but they forget Ireland is one of the highest paying tax countries in the world. We also have to pay rent and pay staff wages too. Shipping is expensive. Theres a lot of overheads people dont see. Theres a reason why we charge 15. And we werent the first to sell it at that price. Others were selling it for 15, some for 20 and 25. Prime has been a real boost to trade and now the business is set to expand to a larger store in Stephens Green Shopping Centre. The shop sells a range of products, including American sweets and novelty items, but Prime is a bestseller. Billy Jailil, owner of the Cool Ireland shop in Cork city, said he is selling the drink for 10 a can and from 12 to 15 a bottle. Its a famous YouTube brand, Mr Jalil said. Its a popular drink with the kids. It sells out very quickly as soon as we put it on our Instagram stories. House of LA hair salon in the heart of Athy town in Co Kildare has been targeted in a late-night attack over the weekend House of LA hair salon in the heart of Athy town in Co Kildare has been targeted in a late-night attack over the weekend. CCTV footage released to SundayWorld.com shows the attacker running down the main street in Athy before stopping outside the well-known salon and smashing both the windows with a rock. House of LA, run by popular hairdresser Laura and her husband Des Grufferty, who are also the stars of Virgin Medias GoggleBox Ireland said they are devastated by the senseless act of vandalism to their premises and they are releasing the footage in the hopes that someone recognises the vandal. Des told SW.com: I am appealing for anyone who thinks they may know the identity of the person in the footage to please come forward. I appreciate you cannot see their face, but someone might recognise them. "Everyone in the salon works really hard to keep this business going, so its upsetting to see this vandal caught on camera targeting our business. We will likely be forced to replace the windows out of pocket rather than getting insurance involved and impacting our premiums. Laura added: Its just such a shame, I went from the highs of winning Colourist of the Year at the HiStyle.ie and Tia Maria hair and beauty awards just last week, to the lows of someone doing this at the weekend its disgusting that someone would do this to a local business. But we'll just keep going, because if anyone knows me, theyll know it wont phase me, because Ill keep building the business up with my team at House of LA. Macra na Feirme has expressed worry about the "disjointed and sparse" healthcare facilities and lack of public transportation in rural areas, as well as the lack of future planning for rural towns "informed by rural people". The group is also urging the government to participate in negotiations about a farming succession plan and the imposition of quotas on young farmers who apply for grant aid. Sinn Feins vice president Michelle ONeill has announced that she will attend the coronation of the UKs King Charles. The partys leader at Stormont said the gesture demonstrated her commitment to building good relations and advancing peace and reconciliation. Ms ONeill would be in line to become Northern Irelands First Minister if the current powersharing impasse is resolved and devolution returns in Belfast. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill (Liam McBurney/PA). Liam McBurney In September, she attended the queens funeral service in London. The move to attend the coronation is the latest signal of the vastly improved relations between the republican movement and the monarchy since the outset of the peace process in Northern Ireland. Michelle O'Neill and King Charles III have pleasant exchange after Queen's death In a statement, Ms ONeill, who was warmly greeted by the new king on a visit to Belfast in the wake of his mothers death last September, explained her decision to attend the coronation in London on May 6 next. I have accepted an invitation to attend the coronation of King Charles III, said Ms ONeill. We are living in a time of great change. A time to respect our differing and equally legitimate aspirations, a time to firmly focus on the future and the opportunities that the next decade will bring. I am an Irish republican. I also recognise there are many people on our island for whom the coronation is a hugely important occasion. I am committed to being a First Minister for all, representing the whole community, building good relations between the people of these islands, and advancing peace and reconciliation through respectful and mature engagement. Therefore, as First Minister Designate, I will join President of Ireland Michael D Higgins, international figures, church leaders, other party leaders and the Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey for the coronation in London. The DUP continues to block her installation as First Minister through its withdrawal from the Stormont Executive and Assembly over the Northern Ireland Protocol and its replacement, the Windsor Framework, which it claims is also deficient. Trainer Willie Mullins on track to pick up bumper crop of Grade 1 race victories this week Winner Michael Walsh (second from left), with finalists in the Bollinger Best Dressed competition, from left, Faith Amond, Aine Malone, Paul Carroll and Niamh Ristin Business was brisk for Day One of the Punchestown Festival as nearly 15,000 spirited punters descended on the Kildare racecourse for a flutter at the track. In court, Mr Mateer confirmed a decision had been made that the evidential test was now not met Sex charges against three Dublin men accused of the gang rape of a woman in a Belfast hotel room are to be dropped, a senior barrister revealed today. Prosecuting KC Philip Mateer told Craigavon Crown Court that as a result of a meeting, the Directors office have instructed me not to proceed with the case so he was applying to have the charges left on the books not to be proceeded with without the leave of this court or the Court of Appeal. The three defendants, who had signed in to watch proceedings by videolink, are, Conor Lawlor (20) from the Bannow Road; Jake OSullivan (18), from Barnamore Grove and Cameron Kynes (18), from St. Jarlath Road. Lawlor and Kynes were charged of vaginal rape, sexual assault and sexual assault by penetration arising from an incident at the Balmoral Hotel on 2 April last year while OSullivan was charged with oral rape and the sexual assault offences. Giving evidence during a previous hearing, Det. Con. McAnulty outlined how the trio were arrested shortly after the night porter at the Balmoral Hotel made a 999 call just after 3am on April 2 when the complainant alleged she had been raped. He said that according to the complainant, she had met the defendants in a bar in Belfast and liked one of them so went back to his hotel but then she passed out and awoke to find them pulling her dress off. According to the police case, all three assaulted her with their fingers and while OSullivan is alleged to have forced her to perform a sex act, the other two are alleged to have had full sexual intercourse without her consent. The court also heard allegations the defendants had been recording the incident on mobile phones with police in possession of some of that footage. All of the males took their turns, he told the court adding that the alleged ordeal came to an end when the woman was able to run out of the room and down to reception to alert the night porter. All three were arrested and interviewed but refused to answer police questions. News in 90 Seconds In court today, Mr Mateer confirmed a decision had been made that the evidential test was now not met, hence the decision to discontinue the prosecution. Defence barristers for the defendants said given that stance, they wished for formal not guilty verdicts to be recorded against their names. For that to happen, a jury will have to be sworn so Judge Patrick Lynch KC adjourned the case for a week to allow that to be arranged. Trinity College Dublin is removing the name of slave owner Bishop George Berkeley from its main library. The 18th Century philosophers fall from grace was endorsed by the Trinity board today because of his links to slavery, including his advocacy for the practice. For generations, Berkeley has been memorialised at Irelands oldest university including naming the library after him in 1978. However, while the Berkeley name will be dropped from the library Trinity is adopting a retain-and-explain approach to a stained-glass window commemorating him. Trinity also has several portraits depicting Berkeley, which will be assessed in the future by a new, overall college policy on artwork. Meanwhile the academic gold medals memorialising Berkeley will be reviewed by the relevant academic department. News in 90 Seconds The university will continue to hold George Berkeleys philosophical works in the library collections and continue to teach and to research his works. Trinity said today that the name has been judged inconsistent with the universitys core values of human dignity, freedom, inclusivity, and equality. The denaming does not deny Berkeleys importance as a writer, philosopher, and towering intellectual figure. His philosophical work will still be taught at Trinity and remains of significant contemporary relevance, a spokesperson said. The decisions represented a nuanced approach and are the result of careful the consideration and detailed analysis, the spokesperson added A separate process will determine what the new name for the library should be. The boards decisions follow several months of research, analysis and public consultation overseen by the Trinity Legacies Review Working Group, which is considering legacy issues on a case-by-case basis. Trinitys Provost, Dr Linda Doyle, said the landscape of a university, especially one as old as Trinity, was not static. Each generation of students and staff deserves a chance to influence decisions. In this case, it was our students who called on us to address the issue. George Berkeleys enormous contribution to philosophical thought is not in question. However, it is also clear that he was both an owner of enslaved people and a theorist of slavery and racial discrimination, which is in clear conflict with Trinitys core values. Following a separate review, Trinity recently decided to return human remains to the island of Inishbofin, off the west coast from where they were taken without the communitys consent more than a century ago. Co Kilkenny-born Berkeley, who went on to become Dean of Derry in the Church of Ireland, was once a student at the university and later held the academic honour of a Trinity fellow But a campaign started by Trinity students, and mirroring a worldwide spotlight on colonial legacies, has culminated with the denaming decision. The library opened in 1967 named Berkeley in 1978 as part of a scheme to attach the name of distinguished graduates to newly-completed buildings. Historical evidence of his slave-owning activities and his ideological support for the slave system in settler colonialism is well documented. While living in Rhode Island, USA, between 1729-31, he bought slaves named Philip, Anthony, Edward, and Agnes Berkeley to work on his estate and sought to advance ideology in support of slavery. He had acquired a plantation while setting plans in motion for a colonial university in Bermuda to educate missionaries to proselytise amongst the native American population. His project, from the outset, was connected with Trinity and at least four of the nine founding fellows were also from TCD. By 1732 the scheme had failed. Since 2021, Trinity has been examining and reflecting on its colonial legacies through research and engagement with public audiences. Slavery, statues, curriculum development, museum and library collections are all included in the project. As part of the process, submissions were sought on the Berkeley Library name and, of 93 received, only 16 supported retaining the name. Students featured prominently amongst those in support of de-naming, including some from students of colour who expressed their discomfort about the visible presence of a memorial to a prominent enslaver on campus. Among those on the other side of the argument was Professor Nicholas Canny, Emeritus Professor of History, University of Galway, who said de-naming was entirely unjustified, because, by the moral standards of his own time, there was nothing reprehensible about owning slaves provided their owner treated them fairly." Trooper Shane Kearney, who was injured in an attack in Lebanon last year where his colleague Private Sean Rooney was killed, will today undergo cranioplasty surgery in what is hoped to be his final operation. Trooper Kearney (23), from Killeagh in Co Cork, was airlifted to Beaumont Hospital after suffering a head injury in the incident in which the UN convoy he was travelling in was targeted by a mob as it drove through the southern Lebanese village of Al-Aqibiya on December 14. Private Rooney (24) was fatally shot and Trooper Kearney suffered a head injury when the vehicle they were in crashed. Trooper Kearney returned to Beaumont Hospital today to continue the necessary medical treatment. He has been recovering at home in Cork for the last two months and is said to have been making steady progress to date. Mass held for soldier Shane Kearney in Killeagh, Co Cork Shane sustained a serious head injury in an incident that occurred in the village of Al Aqbiyeh in South Lebanon. Two other colleagues were treated for minor injuries. Shane was part of the 121st Battalion on what was his second peacekeeping tour. A spokesperson for the Defence Forces said: All Shanes colleagues in the Defence Forces are thinking of him at this time and are wishing him a speedy recovery. Disneybounding allows adults to channel characters,without breaking park rules on TikTok, the #disneybound hashtag has nearly 770 million views Leslie Kay, creator of DisneyBound, peruses her closet of Disney fashion in Waterloo, Canada. Photo for The Washington Post by Chloe Ellingson For The Washington Post John-Pail Calvo and Uriel Diaz as Donald and Daisy Duck at Disneyland in February. The married couple loves to "DisneyBound" or wear outfits inspired by Disney characters. Family photo. Handout For a subset of Disney superfans, preparing for a day at the theme parks means asking: "what would Snow White wear?" Or maybe Donald Duck. Or Tiana from "The Princess and the Frog." Or the iconic Haunted Mansion ride. Or even a theme park garbage can. Welcome to the creative, colour-blocking, accessory-rich world of Disneybounding, a practice that allows Disney adults to channel their favourite characters, experiences or objects without running afoul of the company's no-costume rules for grownups. Outfits are inspired by characters but use everyday clothes. Disney parks in the US don't allow costumes or masks for anyone 14 or older, except at certain special events. Because the company has its own costumed characters that interact with guests, it doesn't want those likenesses to be misrepresented. At Disneyland Paris, the dress code warns against any costumes that would offend, be seen as inappropriate, pose a security risk or would impede the operation while posing as or portraying any character in costume. "It's a fun way to, as an adult, have a similar interaction to what a kid would have when they're in their costumes," said Leslie Kay, who coined the DisneyBound term, runs sites devoted to the practice and wrote a book on the topic that was published by Disney in 2020. Leslie Kay, creator of DisneyBound, peruses her closet of Disney fashion in Waterloo, Canada. Photo for The Washington Post by Chloe Ellingson For The Washington Post Kay, who is in her early 30s, started blogging in 2011 in anticipation of her first Walt Disney World visit as an adult; the name came about because she was bound for Disney. She started pondering what the character Rapunzel - star of the 2010 animated film "Tangled" - would wear to the mall, pulled together outfits from fashion websites and posted them on the blog. That simple beginning has grown into a web presence that now has more than half a million followers on social media, Kay says. On TikTok, the #disneybound hashtag has nearly 770 million views; 1.8 million posts on Instagram use the tag. A challenge that inspires participants to come up with new themed bounds every day takes place each March. Though adults can't go in full costume to parks, Disney sells its own merchandise that can be used for bounding. In response to a question about the trend, a company representative provided a statement embracing the endeavour. "We are incredibly humbled by the deep connection our fans have with Disney stories, and are blown away by the creativity they show in the love for our brand," the statement said. Unlike cosplay, the intricate and true-to-character dress-up seen at events like Comic-Con, Disneybounding is generally more subtle. It can be as simple as choosing shorts and a top in the colours a character is known for, though many bounders says accessorising with jewelry, Mickey Mouse ears or backpacks is key. A Snow White outfit might include a denim shirt, yellow shorts and apple-shaped purse, while Princess Tiana might wear a green romper with frog jewellery. A trash can? Well, that's open to creative interpretation. "Every time I see a trash can Disneybound, you just know that the person has the best personality," said Kay, who has her own marketing company. John-Pail Calvo and Uriel Diaz as Donald and Daisy Duck at Disneyland in February. The married couple loves to "DisneyBound" or wear outfits inspired by Disney characters. Family photo. Handout Stephanie Williams-Turkowski, a lecturer at Texas Tech University whose dissertation included a study of Disneybounding, said she found that princess characters were popular as well as the "fab five" of Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Daisy. With the opening of Star Wars-themed areas, she said characters from those movies were also big. "I found that when you recognise somebody and their efforts that they put toward bounding - whether it was on the simplest side of the scale or the most extravagant - it was not only validation to them, but it was also like a nod to a secret club," said Williams-Turkowski. "Alice in Wonderland" and "Peter Pan" are also perennial favourites, Kay said. "Millennials I find really like the 'Never grow up' themes of Alice and Peter," she said in an email. Participants, who may wear their outfits in regular life or exclusively on theme park visits, say they love the creative outlet and the community they've found in Disneybounding. "There's very few things that I'm super confident about, and Disneybounding is one of them," said Uriel Diaz, 36, of San Antonio, who has been bounding for five or six years. "I don't know if it's because I'm extra or what." Diaz, who helps run a family retail business, has more than 233,000 followers on TikTok as @the_huntysaurus, often using a wall of themed Loungefly backpacks as a backdrop. Without Disneybounding, Diaz said, they probably would not have discovered that they are nonbinary. Visiting Disneyland earlier this year with their husband, Diaz wore a dress when bounding as Daisy Duck. It was, Diaz said, a "big deal" because they didn't know what people would say. "I literally felt like a princess that day, and it was a really, really strange but amazing and magical experience," they said. Rachel Gagne in a space pilot Disneybound at Disneyland. Photo by Tanya Olivarez Handout Rachel Gagne, a calligrapher in her 30s who started bounding in 2018 after moving to Southern California from New York, said characters in the parks are often excited to see people paying homage to them with their outfits. On a visit to Disneyland with a total of 13 family members last year, each one dressed up as a different Marvel character. She said the Thor and Loki characters at the park took note, gathered the family around and "put on a whole show" telling the story of the first Avengers movie using different members of the group. "It was one of the most magical moments I've ever had at Disneyland," Gagne said. As a New Yorker, she said her closet was full of black clothes; her first Disneybound was as Darth Vader. But more recently, she's been inspired by characters who represent her background with a Chinese mother and Puerto Rican father: Meilin from "Turning Red" and Miles Morales from "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." "I tend to do them over and over again," she said. "I love feeling connected to my culture." Tiara Henderson, a 36-year-old stay-at-home mom in Houston, says she has found a community among fellow Disneybounders after once feeling like she was "the weird quirky Black girl who likes Disney." As a plus-size bounder, she has drawn inspiration and gotten tips from others, and was recently featured in a fan magazine for her look as Scar from "The Lion King." "If you love Disney and Disneybounding and you feel like you're not going to fit in, you probably just haven't looked," she said. "I've never felt more included probably in my life as I have the last three years." Many bounders - including Henderson, Gagne and Diaz - have social media followings and consider themselves Disney content creators. Lilly and Paul Davis Disneybound as Elsa and Anna from Frozen. Family photo Handout Lilly and Paul Davis, who are on TikTok as Dear and Darling, have nearly 121,000 followers and say they get stopped and recognised regularly in the parks. The Salt Lake City couple have been bounding for just a year, but have already created some viral videos - for better or worse. Turns out not everyone appreciates a video titled "40 Year Old Princess Squad Has Arrived," which has been played more than 860,000 times. "They're brutal," Paul Davis, 38, a chiropractor, said of some of the comments. Said his wife, 42: "We're in such a beautiful day and age where people are being seen and heard. Not Disney adults. We are the exception to the rule." Still, the couple - who both grew up loving Disney and went to the parks more than a dozen times in the first couple years after they met - said they don't offend easily. They create videos with rapid outfit changes and seek comments on which look is the best for a given character and occasion. When they go to Disneyland about every other month, they will sometimes do two outfits in one day to create videos, and bring "comfies" at night, Lilly Davis said. They've also done family bounds inspired by Star Wars and Peter Pan with their six kids, ages 8 to 18. "Disneyland was already like one of our favourite places in the world," Paul Davis said. "I think it's a little bit of a cherry on top." Searching for a school without a religious ethos often yields few options. Here, parents share their experiences of trying to opt out of religious instruction, and why this is a challenge in a system dominated by faith-based schools Having only recently made Dublin my home, I confess that I knew little about the Irish education system before relocating from Belfast. As a Republic, I had assumed the Irish system to be more progressive than the religiously segregated one I had gone through in the north so it was a surprise to learn that, according to the Department of Educations July 2022 Statistical Bulletin, 88.6pc of all Irish schools still remained under the control of the Catholic Church. Jockey Davy Russell has said he and Ryanair boss Michael OLeary will remain the best of friends after the Ryanair boss suggested last month that he should not have come out of retirement. Russell (43) shocked the racing world in December when he called time on his illustrious career after winning on Gordon Elliotts Liberty Dance at Thurles. However, he performed a U-turn when Jack Kennedy, stable jockey to trainer Gordon Elliott, broke his leg, meaning he would miss many of the spring festivals. The three-time Irish Champion Jockey confirmed in mid-January that he would return to ride for Elliott until Kennedy was fit once again. He announced afterwards that his temporary comeback would extend no further than Aintrees Grand National. In an interview with ITV Racing at Cheltenham in March, OLeary said the Irish jockey had nothing to achieve by coming back. Hed retired and, personally, I wish hed stayed retired. He has a young family with young children and at a certain point in time you should put your family first and not your riding career, OLeary said in the TV interview. When you get out at that age in your early 40s you dont bounce, you dont mend the way you did before. Particularly if youre married and you have children: you put your family first. Hes had a glorious career and he has nothing to achieve by coming back and I dont think he shouldve come out of retirement. In response, Russell told ITV Racing the following day: I have about as much respect for Michael OLearys opinion as he has for my opinion. Speaking to RTE Racing this evening, Russell said it was water under the bridge. I dont know why he said it or why he felt that he had to just dig in. I dont know what I done to deserve it, he said. I gave it my all every single day I went out, whether it was taken up in the wrong aspect, I dont know it's all done. Michael has been like that all the way through and thats his way. It doesnt upset me, I rose to it, I shouldnt have and thats just Michael. We will remain the best of friends. Weve been through way better times to fall out over something like that. Thats the way life goes. Russell said he was delighted to be asked to come back by Elliott and finish his career on a high. I came back, and I got a fall, the simplest fall in the world. I broke ribs and different bits and that just took its toll, he said. I got back, I felt fine the first two days of Cheltenham, I rode away fine. But then just the pain kept going and going and I couldnt take it anymore. I was happy enough to finish up, I was disappointed, I had been to Cheltenham and not rode winners in the past. Im a big boy, I was able to handle it. It ended on such a fabulous note in Thurles and then it was going to end on such a poor note in Cheltenham. I had a marvellous career, and I rode some very good horses. And Ill be honest with you, it felt brilliant in Aintree. I loved it, Gerri Colombe, what a master horse to ride. It was just a marvellous feeling, I didnt have to move on him the whole way, he done everything for me." British deputy prime minister Dominic Raab resigned after a bullying inquiry found he acted in an intimidating and aggressive way towards officials. Photo: Carl Court/Getty Getty Images When the British deputy prime minister, Dominic Raab, had to resign his post because he was regarded by his civil service staff as a bully and abrasive, the reaction I heard among older people was sceptical. After his imprisonment at a young age, David Ervine went on to live a life of courage Some railway stations now have shelves where travellers deposit books for others to lift free of charge. Charity shops also recycle lots of used books at low cost as Kindle and online reading becomes ever more popular. Second-hand biographies are often eye-opening and filled with unexpected or new slants. Two have caught my eye in recent weeks. Uncharted Waters charts the amazing life of the late David Ervine (1953-2007), noted for his bravery in challenging the Northern Ireland community stalemate and being an architect of the Good Friday Agreement. The book reflects on how, in 1972, a day of bombings in Belfast city centre drew Mr Ervine to join a paramilitary group. During later imprisonment he was forced to honestly appraise his life and to consider how to live much more positively. A Kinder Story examines how the lives of Eva and Michel Gross were disrupted as a result of the Nazi regime. Michel Gross poses an interesting question (relevant to Northern Ireland readers) in the concluding pages of his life testimony. He quotes a 1999 speech by Isaac Herzog the current Israeli president in which a case was made for having a national monument to the tragedy of the Holocaust genocide. Does Belfast need a public monument to the Troubles in a neutral and shared community space, where the tragic death and injury of so many people can be remembered in a meaningful and positive way? One lesson of the Good Friday Agreement is that it is never too early to start talking about new possibilities and directions, even if immediate progress or consensus seems unlikely. James Hardy Belfast Good Friday Agreement not the success its made out to be It seems everyone is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. It does have its merits but are most people looking at it through rose-tinted glasses? If the Good Friday Agreement is so good, how come the Assembly has frequently not functioned for years on end? The Executive has been collapsed and suspended numerous times, as it is now. Thats a sure sign that things are not healthy. How come, in the 25 years since, sectarian divisions have remained? In some ways, they have even deepened. Walls that divide communities still tower over neighbourhoods in Belfast and other towns. Many nationalists place their hope in the Good Friday Agreement as a way to achieve Irish unity and freedom. But how many are willing to admit that it removed all their power of agency to do anything about it? How many will accept that the decision to hold a referendum on Irish unity is entirely at the discretion of a UK minister? There is nothing that anyone in Ireland can do to trigger a border poll. Lastly, while some may mark the occasion, have people noticed that most unionists no longer support the agreement? Is that something to celebrate or something to be concerned about? Celebrating the Good Friday Agreement is fine and well, but political honesty needs to be part of such celebrations. Seanan O Coistin An Caislean Nua, Contae Atha Cliath Varadkar should tell Electric Ireland to lower their prices According to newspaper reports, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has sharply criticised Irish energy supply companies for failing to reduce their prices in line with the plummeting of wholesale gas and electricity prices in the latter half of 2022. The countrys biggest energy supply company, Electric Ireland, is approximately 96.5pc owned by the Irish Government. Is the Taoiseach not criticising the Irish Government, of which he is the leader, when he criticizes Electric Ireland? If Mr Varadkar really means what he says, can he not compel Electric Ireland to reduce their prices? Is he not, as Taoiseach, the overall boss of this state-owned company? Considering that the profits from their parent company, the ESB, jumped last year from 128.4m to 390.3m, they can well afford to cut their prices. They say they have increased their hardship fund by 2m to 5m. But nobody wants to go begging to a hardship fund. Most people want to be independent and to be able to pay their own way. Martin Heneghan Dublin 3 We must equip ourselves to help compatriots abroad Ireland is in a position where it must rely on EU allies to evacuate Irish citizens. This is down to our lack of aircraft capable of carrying out such missions. We also lack appropriate sea power. I think it is time we served the Irish abroad better. Eve Parnell Dublin 8 FERMOY native Liam Hughes has been unveiled as the new group chief financial officer and executive director of the Cork-based international, dairy, flavours and nutritional ingredients giant Carbery Group. Mr Hughes, who is due to take up his new role in the coming months, joins Ballineen-based Carbery from the Kerry Group where he has worked for the past 13-years. A graduate of the Munster Technological University (MTU) with and honours degree in Business Studies/Accountancy, Mr Hughes went on to study at the Waterford Institute of Technology, earning a Master of Accountancy (MACC). Following a more than three-year stint as an internal auditor with the Bank of Ireland, Mr Hughes joined the Kerry Group in 2010 going on to hold several senior finance roles and global senior leadership positions in Europe and the US. These have included holding vice-presidency and presidency of Kerrys North American Taste business and more recently heading up its European operation. Commenting on the new appointment Carbery Group CEO Jason Hawkins said Mr Hughes has successful track record for driving growth and delivering large national and international transformation and would bring deep financial and extensive commercial experience to his new role. I am really pleased to welcome Liam to Carbery, after an extensive global search to find the right person for us. Liam joins at a crucial stage for our organisation, as we seek to build on 50-years of evolution and propel the company into the next phase of success, said Mr Hawkins. The Group CFO is a pivotal role to achieve this, and I look forward to working with Liam and drawing on his extensive financial management and commercial experience, and also his strength in driving growth supported by innovation, commercial expertise and new approaches, he added. Sentiments echoed by Carbery Group chairman Cormac OKeeffe. On behalf of the Board, I welcome Liam and look forward to working with him, said Mr OKeeffe. I would also like to reiterate our thanks to our outgoing CFO Colm Leen for his many years of commitment to Carbery and wish him all the best for the future, he added. Constituency colleagues and rivals from Cork North West paid tribute to Michael Creed following his announcement this week that he would not be seeking re-election WHILE the Civil War divide is one of the tropes of Irish politics, pure civility was the order of the day as Fine Gael colleagues and Fianna Fail rivals paid tribute to Deputy Michael Creed as he announced his intention to step down from Dail politics come the next election. The end of an era is how Cllr Eileen Lynch described the announcement by the man she started her political life by canvassing for sixteen years ago. From a party point of view and a constituency point of view hes been an elected representative for over 30 years, hes been an absolute powerhouse in Fine Gael, as indeed was his father before him. As a young councillor, hes always been very helpful to me, very supportive and I actually got involved in politics, the first election I was ever involved in was in 2007 was canvassing for Michael Creed, when he got his seat back after losing it in 2002. She said that she was following in a long tradition as her own grandfather, Jack Lynch, canvassed alongside Michael Creeds grandfather, Michael. So theres a connection. Hes done so much for our constituency, the bypass obviously was one of his more notable achievements but also the work that he did as Minister for Agriculture at what was a very difficult time at times for Irish agriculture, he handled it so well. Cllr John Paul OShea, who was Michael Creeds running mate in 2020, also joined in the tributes to the TD. I want to wish Michael and his family all the best in the future and thank him for his service to his constituents both at Council level and at TD level. Across the party divide his Cork North West Dail colleagues, Aindrias Moynihan and Michael Moynihan of Fianna Fail paid their respects to their departing rival. Michael and I worked together for many years, said Aindrias Moynihan. Like myself he followed on the excellent public service tradition of his late father Donal. He always represented his constituents diligently, working hard on their behalf. He was large on the political landscape locally for a long time and while we would have approached issues differently, I know he was a strong advocate for his constituents. I wish him a long and happy retirement. Michael Moynihan said he found his constituency rival, as they were in many elections, honourable to deal with Hes a good constituency colleague and he has worked and is working hard on behalf of his constituents. I wish him and his family the very best in the future, said Deputy Moynihan. Michael Creed says the future is a blank page upon his retirement WHILE there had been some speculation that he might not run again, the announcement from Cork North Wests longest serving TD, Michael Creed, that he would not run for reelection in the next General Election took many by surprise. In an interview with The Corkmanthis week, the Macroom politician, who has been TD since 1989, with a short hiatus after losing his seat in 2002, said that he had been mulling the issue over the past number of months. In truth its been on my mind for some time, he said. 38 years is a long time in any job. Its been a career of many highlights, chief among them perhaps from a personal point of view were his appointment as Minister for Agriculture in 2016 and his term as County Mayor. Being re-elected is always the ultimate highlight as its the electorates verdict and it serves to focus your endeavours in between elections. And there have been several re-election highlights along the way since he was first elected as TD, succeeding his father Donal Creed, in 1989. In the last General Election in 2020, he was elected having exceeded the quota after the fifth count and his first word in response to his re-election was relief as it had been what he acknowledged a difficult day for his party with several high profile colleagues losing their seats around the country. Its been a long day, its been a difficult day for Fine Gael,but Im delighted for my own team, and Id like to acknowledge them. Theyve been fantasticallyloyal and dedicated in a very difficult campaign for us. That election might havemarked the end of his Ministerial career, a four year span in which he had a key role in negotiating the best possible deal for farmers in CAP negotiations at EU level and during which he had travelled as far afield as China to promote Irish agricultural interests. However as negotiations between Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens went on until June, he remained on in a caretaker role during those early months of COVID when he had to deal with controversies when outbreaks happened in meat packing plants. Looking back now, he has alot to be proud of. His constituents will always link him to the N22 bypass of Macroom and Baile Mhuirne which partially opened before Christmas, and that has freed up Macroom from its traditional traffic logjam, and will be fully open in the Autumn. I have no regrets but many projects still to be delivered. That is the nature of politics. Its dangerous to reflect on past glories and better to concentrate on the here and now. Still many in Macroom town and its hinterland will give him credit for the ongoing restoration of the Briery Gap Theatre and Library which will be part of the transformation of the townscape in the centre of Macroom. By the time he finishes this Dail term, he will have spent 40 years in politics but he will be retiring at a comparatively young age - he turns 60 in June. The future is a blank page that I look forward to filling in when the curtain falls on this Dail, he told The Corkman. In my remaining days it will be more of the same! Filling a blank page? Maybe a book is in the offing! The memories of William OMahony, Daniel OKeeffee and Thomas Murphy - who were executed in April of 1822 remembered and honoured with the special unnveiling of a monument at Pairc na Saoirse in Tullylease Aoife, Maeve and Angie Doyle from Newtown joined by Siobhan Walsh and Bridget Whelan at the Tullylease Commemoration. Picture John Tarrant Tullylease remembered three men executed in the village more than 200 years ago in a moving commemoration last weekend. The local Tullylease Historical and Heritage Society, supported by Cork County Council marked this tragic event with the unveiling of a monument at Pairc na Saoirse. Honoured were William OMahony, Daniel OKeeffe and Thomas Murphy who were punished severely and that were part of the foundation of our independence that we have today. Newmarket Pipe Band travelled on the day to Pairc na Saoirse where Eileen OKeeffe, the Secretary of Tullylease Historical Heritage Society, welcomed the attendance to Tulach Leis, the Hill of the Huts. After a minute silence was observed to remember all those that passed away recently, Deputy Mayor of Co. Cork, Cllr. Ian Doyle addressed the masses and spoke of the delight by Cork County Council to be involved. Sheila OKeeffe, the Treasurer of Tullylease Historical and Heritage Society outlined the back ground to the commemoration. Today we are here to remember a tragic time in our history when almost 201 years ago here in this village, three men were hanged. Over a year ago, we came across a newspaper article printed on May 2 1822, said Sheila. The headline of the article read EXECUTION and the article detailed the events of a tragic weekend in April 1822 which happened in our village. On a Friday afternoon, three men were taken from Cork County Gaol which would have been on the grounds of University College Cork, taken over Patricks Bridge on route to Mallow where they stayed overnight in the Mallow Bridewell. They departed Mallow the following morning at 7am Saturday April 27 1822 on their way to Tullylease, their final destination and two priests accompanied them in a four wheeled black carriage pulled by horses. The roads were not fit for such a carriage, so much so that the springs of the carriage snapped and had to be repaired on route. They travelled through Ballyclough, Castlecor, Kilbrin, Ballybahallow, down past the old chapel in Freemount and up what we call today the old road to Tullylease. Every village which they passed through would have a procession of military awaiting them and they would have joined them on route. It must have been quite a sight when they finally arrived in Tullylease., said Sheila. A wooden gallows would have been specially constructed and we think the location was probably the Fair Green or what we call today the Fair Field which belonged to the landlord in 1822. Their names and their ages were: William OMahony aged 48 years, Daniel OKeeffe aged 39 years and Thomas Murphy aged 24 years. Newspaper reports said that they died almost without struggle. Their bodies were given to their friends and we can only assume that they were buried later that evening in the old cemetery, Sheila continued. We were enthralled by this story, and Tullylease Historical and Heritage Society was born, we asked locals if they had ever heard of such an event taking place. Nobody knew anything, such must have been the pain of this event that it was buried deep in the generation that witnessed it and never to be retold, said Sheila. We felt we needed to share this story with others and that these three men deserved to be remembered for the hard punishment that was meted out to them. And thus, we are here today, she said. Following Sheilas account of the event of April 1822, traditional Irish music was played by Catherine, Sean and Sinead Walsh from Tullylease. Guest speaker Dr Tim Horgan spoke of two types of history in Ireland, one which borders on fiction and was quickly put out by the ruling class.to justify the illegal and reprehensible actions by which they achieved and maintained power. It is a tale of half-truths and accepted by an unquestioning self-proclaimed intelligentsia. Commemorating the tragic events of 1822 in Tullylease finds its way into a willing media and school classrooms, it dictates who should be remembered and who should not, who should be commemorated and who should not, he said. Parish Priest, Fr. Peter Farrell recited a decade of the rosary for the loss of lives of the three unfortunate men. Composer Mary Leen wrote a ballad specially for the commemoration, Well see you all in Tullylease and sung it accompanied by musician Adrian Mc Sweeney. Mary related she was enthralled with the story as her father Billy Leen was working on the monument and that she had to come to Tullylease to see the place, she explained that she could not but be inspired at such a special place that Tullylease is. Tullylease Historical and Heritage Societys goal was to have a permanent monument erected to the three men during the bicentenary year, we achieved our goal as their 201st anniversary will be this Thursday April 27 2023. As Tim Horgan said men that were forgotten, will now be remembered forever. The stone was sculpted and designed by Billy Leen from Tralee and has their names and their ages and the date of the executions in both Irish and English. Also included is a replica of the famous St. Beirchearts Cross from the early Christian Abbey. The stone was unveiled by Ben Cronin and Molly OConnell, Ben is one of Tullyleases more senior members and Molly is one of the youngest children in Tullylease national school. Three school children, Olivia Larkin, Kyran Walsh and Paddy Newman each laid a laurel wreath in memory of the three men. Liscarroll poet Philip Egan, wrote a special composition for the commemoration When Summer Never Came. Nicholas Ring, Chairperson of Tullylease Historical & Heritage Society thanked all involved in making the event such a success. The event concluded with Amhran na bhFiann played by Newmarket Pipe Band, the hosting completed by refreshments in the Community Centre served by Tullylease Community Council. Michael Noonan (61) created false invoices to write cheques to himself Michael Noonan (61) created false invoices to write cheques to himself for money he claims he was owed because of unpaid fees by property owners, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. Noonan of Muckroos Park, Perrystown, Dublin 12 pleaded guilty to stealing 22,400 from the Hyde Court Property Management Company Ltd on August, 26, 2016. He also admitting having a fake invoice made out for Blitz property services on April 6, 2018 at a place in Templeogue, Dublin and to false accounting on September 30, 2015 in the company accounts for Hyde Court for the year ended March 31, 2015. Lawyers for Noonan told the court that in his role as property manager for the property at Townsend St., Dublin City, Noonan had difficulties getting management fee payments from some property owners. Shane Costelloe SC told Judge Martina Baxter that his client was using his own money to pay day-to-day bills and was increasingly distressed about the situation. At one point Noonan used his credit card to pay an electricity bill due to the management company and had paid cash to cleaning and maintenance sub-contractors, counsel said. Counsel said Noonan wanted to make sure he was not left out of pocket before the new directors elected by the property owners took over the management of the property, as would normally happen. Mr Costelloe said his client set about creating the false invoices and wrote a number of cheques to himself to be drawn down as payment for these bills. Judge Martina Baxter said that Noonan decided to go about getting back what he was owed by robbing Peter to pay Paul. She said the thefts were premeditated and planned and came to light when the property owners found the property management bank account was cleaned out by cheques written within the previous week. She noted that he is genuinely remorseful and accepts he did the wrong thing. She noted Noonan's long work history and his previous good professional reputation, saying he was a grafter all his life. She imposed an overall operative sentence of four years which she suspended for five years on condition that Noonan keep the peace for that period. Judge Baxter noted that civil proceedings have concluded and money has been returned. Noonan had begun working in this area in 2002 when he was first hired by a builder to maintain the relationship between the contractor and property owners. During the property boom, he was hired by a number of builders to work for various property management companies. He would manage each property development for the first few months until the owners appointed their own board of directors and took over the management. In this case he was appointed a director of Hyde Court and was managing the property at Townsend St., Dublin 2. Detective Garda Eoin Hickey told Kieran Kelly BL, prosecuting, that in August 2016 a number of the property owners went to check the company's bank account and found what they described as a clean out of the account. Eleven cheques had been made out to Noonan totalling approximately 116,800, including three cheques made out to 22,000. The account had 103,024 remaining in it and the bank froze it so that no more cheques could be drawn down on it. Counsel told the court that the charge of false accounting in terms of making an improper return related to his failure to properly declare his own debt. He said that he is the respondent in a civil action against him and he will be legally disqualified from sitting on a management company for five years. Mr Costelloe said his client has no intention of sitting on a management company again. He said Noonan has a significant cardiac issue and has had two heart attacks in the last two years. He said his client disagrees with the narrative that he is the only person culpable for the issues in the company and was out of pocket for a significant amount of money. He was putting himself on the book for some owners who weren't paying their subs, Mr Costelloe said. He told the court that Noonan, a married father, is assessed as being at a low risk of reoffending and had led an otherwise unblemished life. He has no previous convictions. Counsel said his client is fighting civil actions relating to this matter and has no financial resources. Noonan was indicted on 22 charges and three pleas were accepted on the basis of full facts. Residents in the Kilcummin area and commuters who would have travelled through the area on a daily basis are becoming increasingly frustrated with the ongoing sewerage scheme works that are leading to traffic congestion on a daily basis. Works began in late 2022 on the long awaited and much needed Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme. To facilitate the works, road closure are in place, including from Lower Coolcorcoran Road to Upper Coolcorcoran Road from January 3 to March 31 and on the Killarney Road, from Coolcorcoran Cross to Kilcummin Village from January 3 to September 8. This has led to significant congestion every single day and has also led to dangerous driving conditions on other roads, including the Woodline road, according to Cllr Niall Botty OCallaghan who said that Irish Water and the contractors of the project are not providing enough information on the ongoing works. His claims are reiterated by Cllr Brendan Cronin who said there is a lot of frustration which is caused by a lack of information and Irish Water claims that the project is progressing when it is clear that there has been very little progress. Councillors and residents claim the project has not made much progress in the last four months and, as the summer approaches, they have grave concerns for increased traffic congestion in the area. Given the approaching tourism season, local tourist accommodation providers and businesses are very concerned as they cannot function effectively with the works currently taking place. This is a 9m project and it hasnt moved in four months from the cross at Coolcorcoran, said Cllr OCallaghan. Residents in Pairc Chuimin in Kilcummin still cant come down the normal way, they have to go over to the Tralee road and come in where it is backlogged. It will be even more nuts during the summer. There are AirBnbs closed since the works began Tourists cant get up to Kilcummin. It was 8 in a taxi previously, now it is 24 because of the works... Id barely drive it myself. Cllr Cronin said there has been great upset in the area. There is a lot of anger, people are frustrated, he said adding that once information is provided people can understand the delays better. Shifting sands during the excavation is slowing the project and the presence of water mains on both sides of the road is also a major factor affecting the works. The Coolcorcoran road re-opened this week, a month later than first announced, but was closed by Kerry County Council for a few extra days to facilitate other works. Councillors met with Irish Water on Monday to voice the frustration of the people and called for the national body to provide more information so people know what is happening. The project is due for completion in 2024. MANAGEMENT at University Hospital Kerry (UHK) have announced details of a major development plan for the hospital. The G.R.O. plan which stands for Growing, Rejuvenating and Optimising was launched on Wednesday morning and is a response to a recent HIQA report, published in February, and a separate HSE review of the hospital carried out in 2022. The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report identified a number of issues at the hospital including serious overcrowding and understaffing in the Emergency Department. HIQA deemed that significant further work was required to improve the quality and safety at the hospital. The G.R.O. project aims to address all issues identified by the HIQA and the HSE and management at UHK said they have consolidated the recommendations from both reports into one overarching plan, containing over 200 individual actions. The most significant items in the plan include the development of a new 128 bed single room ward block. This will include 88 replacement beds and 40 new bed places. There are also plans to develop a new Oncology unit with a temporary oncology ward to open, on UHKs grounds, by July. Currently oncology services are provided in a section of the Palliative Care Unit. Previously announced plans to open a temporary oncology unit at the private Bon Secours hospital in Tralee while the new oncology unit at UHK is being built have been abandoned. There are also plans to develop a sixth operating theatre with work on this expected to begin by the end of June and take between 12 months and 18 months to complete. As part of the plan a new off site administration building opened last month and new houses approximately 60 staff, freeing up significant space in the main hospital complex. The plan also includes the establishment of a new Clinical Leadership Governance Model for UHK and the appointment of numerous new and priority posts across the hospital. Several project groups, all working under a G.R.O. Implementation Team, will oversee the execution of the overall plan. General Manager of University Hospital Kerry, Mary Fitzgerald expressed her enthusiasm for the programme but cautioned it will take time to implement. We are both excited and eager in equal measure to launch this ambitious and progressive programme of work. GRO UHK will enable us to grow and develop, rejuvenate and optimise our hospital, which will ultimately improve the care we provide to our patients, she said. Things are improving, but we have to be realistic, we wont solve everything overnight, Ms Fitzgerald said. Thirteen-year-old Ruby Casey Mulligan from Dundalk, Co Louth is living with a syndrome so rare that she is the only person in Ireland to be diagnosed with it. Her Mum Lauren from College Manor first noticed that Ruby had problems with her joints when she was just 18 months old. The toddlers joints began to swell and she didn't walk until she was three. It was initially thought that Ruby had Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, which is itself unusual but since then she has been diagnosed with NEMO-NDA, an extremely rare systemic auto inflammatory disease, "There are only eleven other known cases of people with this syndrome worldwide, said Lauren, who is Rubys full-time carer. Ruby has been treated with anti-inflammatories and other medications but these have led to serious complications and she can no longer receive them. "We have been told that she must have a stem cell transplant (SCT) at Newcastles Freeman Hospital in England as the medication she is on is causing problem, said Lauren. "Her consultants at Crumlin Childrens Hospital have recommended that she have a Stem Cell Transplant but theres no way of knowing that it will work as no-one else with this syndrome has had a STC before. While this option had been discussed for a number of years, Lauren and her husband Brian have only recently learned that they will have to travel with Ruby to Newcastle next month. "We had thought that it would be August but we have been given a date in May so we are getting ready for that. Its a daunting prospect as Ruby will be the first person with this syndrome to have a SCT but we are very hopeful that she will come out of it with a great quality of life without medication. Ruby Casey Mulligan with her parents Lauren and Brian Due to the medication that she has been on, Ruby has a weakened immune system and is prone to getting infections, some of which have led to her being hospitalised. "She wasnt able to go to school for two and a half years during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Laura. This was particularly hard for Ruby who missed socialising at school and seeing her friends. "She went to Scoil Mhuire na nGael primary school in Bay Estate and started secondary school at St Brigids last September. She loves it especially because she gets to spend time with her friends. The family will have to spend several months in Newcastle and while the cost of Rubys treatment will be covered, they will have to pay for their own flights and accommodation. "Ruby will have to have a number of tests and appointments before the treatment starts, explained Lauren. She will then undergo chemotherapy to kill her own immune system and then receive the donor cells via the stem cell transplant. The brave teenager will then be in isolation until her new immune system develops, which can take months. "One parent is allowed to sleep in the room with her until she is well enough to leave the hospital, said Lauren. After that she will have to continue to attend as a outpatient for further tests and assessment. This means that the family have to find somewhere to live in Newcastle. Lauren said that her Mam Geraldine and Brians Mam Ann will also travel to Newcastle at different times to help them. "We are travelling on May 16 and while its sooner than we had expected, it means we dont have too much time to worry about it. The hospital is a centre of excellence for transplants so people travel from all over the world to go there so we are hoping for a ood result for Ruby. A group of their family and friends have come together to help raise funds for this not inconsiderable cost and have set up GoFundMe page, and events are planned for the coming weeks. To donate see the Rally Around for Ruby page on Facebook or go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/rally-around-for-ruby?member=26412763&sharetype=teams&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer Two Irish-based people affected by the war in Sundan have spoken about their journeys out of the country. Montasier Ismail, who lives in Kerry and is studying medicine in Khartoum, was forced to flee the area he was living in. On Sunday, Montasier, his brother and their mother decided they had to flee the country to get to safety. They made their own arrangements to get out by bus and arrived safely in Aswan in Egypt yesterday. British and Irish citizens speak about their experience trying to leave Sudan He told RTE Radio 1 that clashes in the neighbourhood, along with the bombings of houses, made him realise they had to leave. Luckily we got rice before everything happened; we just had to live on rice, he said. We had no power; we had no water. It was just a nightmare in real life, a nightmare coming true. We found ourselves running very low on supplies and everything was just getting much closer to our neighbourhood; we know people personally who have been affected by the clashes, the gunfire. Everything was getting closer. They had received information from the Irish consulate that an evacuation of Irish citizens would be taking place, however, Montasier and his family did not see the communication in time. Another issue they faced was the route to reach the evacuation point was blocked. We took matters into our own hands in order to find a way. And I had been told about some people travelling to Egypt by way of buses, he said. It took me three days. I moved from Omdurman on Sunday and I just arrived three hours ago to Aswan. Thankfully the process went very smoothly due to the increased amount of people going there. There was a backlog of people. There were at least nine or 10 buses going at one time. Every bus consisted of 50 people. Montasier said the bus was overcrowded and their water was smoking hot due to the temperatures outside and travelling through desert. Their next moves will involve travelling to Cairo and booking their tickets home to Ireland. Meanwhile, Noon Abdellatif (17) has not heard from her mother, Hannah Abdellatif, and her five-year-old sister since Monday. Hannah and her daughter were visiting Sudan for a family wedding and got trapped there once the fighting broke out on April 15. On Saturday, Hannah and her extended family decided to leave Khartoum and head for the border. My last point of contact with my mother was on Monday at 8am and she had texted that they had reached the border after the bus had broken down and there were over 80 buses at the border, Noon said. She said that they dont know if the rest of the family are going to get accepted or denied. She said she might be camping out at the border for over two days. My mother had been trying to wait up until the Irish embassy would issue a statement about the evacuation of Irish citizens, but the danger had gotten too close to their house, and they could hear the bombing and the shooting and neighbourhood houses collapsing. They were almost pressured out of their home. Noons family live in Omdurman in Sudan where the bridges beside the Nile had been bombed and collapsed. This left Noons family with only one way to get out. They escaped in the dead quiet of the night at around four or five am and they organised a bus with a couple of the other local citizens that were trying to evacuate, and theyve been travelling from that Saturday up until Monday where they reached the border. We still dont know if they have gotten into Egypt. On several occasions the bus has broken down and they have been stranded in barren desolate desert areas with no food and no water. Its a very dire situation for them, especially with lots of children travelling with them. Personally, my sister, shes five years old and you just hope that the innocence of childhood shields her from the horrors of the situation currently. You dont know if the bus is going to break down, there are dangers in the desert, heat stroke. Youre not guaranteed any type of safety at all Noon and her father, who live in Mullingar, Westmeath, have been emailing and contacting the Irish embassy for the past couple of weeks since the clashes broke out. Right before they issued the statement of the Irish evacuation, the emails we were receiving were just a repetition that the advice from the department of foreign affairs was that the Irish citizens were to remain indoors and observe local restrictions, she said. There wasnt a lot of help on that side and its disappointing that my mother had to be forced out and find her own evacuation when the Irish government could have easily given a bigger notice ahead of time to what their plans were. I think they should have given a notice to people that they were planning ahead of time to email people prior to that, because that would have saved a lot of people the journey and the money and the physical movement of travelling through the desert. There is a danger in itself to try and flee, through the buses too, you dont know if youre going to get stopped by the RSF or the military. You dont know if the bus is going to break down, there are dangers in the desert, heat stroke. Youre not guaranteed any type of safety at all. The price of the bus tickets is extortionate, and people have been taking advantage of peoples desperate needs to flee the country. Many people are travelling right now with empty pockets, they have used all of their money on the buses, and they have been travelling within families. They dont know if they are going to be able to afford accommodation or food or water when they reach Egypt, theyre just hoping for the safety of the actual country itself. A total of 88 Irish citizens have been evacuated from Sudan, the Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed. Irish citizens and their family members have been evacuated from the war-torn country via Djibouti, Jordan, and Cyprus, and further flights are continuing today. A spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs said Irish embassies in Jordan, Egypt and Cyprus are providing consular assistance to citizens and their dependents as they arrive into these countries. The Emergency Civil Assistance Team (ECAT) in Djibouti continues to work with people as they are evacuated, helping to arrange accommodation when needed and supporting and advising on onward arrangements, including the logistical elements of travel to Ireland if they choose, the spokesperson said. It is estimated that over 60 Irish citizens still remain in Sudan. Sudan has descended into civil war amid a violent power struggle between the army and a heavily armed paramilitary group. Heavy fighting has erupted in major population centres across the country and all civilians have been urged to stay indoors and remain safely sheltered until the fighting eases. The spokesperson said the security of the team, citizens and their family members, is paramount. Whether, and when, the ECAT will deploy to Sudan will depend on operational and security criteria, they added. The duration of any mission will be dependent on the progress that can be made, the security situation on the ground and decisions on extraction by partners. The 72-hour ceasefire announced by US Secretary of State Blinken on Monday night is mostly holding, but there are reports of fighting in Omdurman and other areas. The Department said officials will remain in contact with citizens still waiting to be evacuated. Irish citizens remaining in Sudan are continuing to register on a daily basis with the Department of Foreign Affairs and our Embassy in Kenya which is accredited to Sudan. We will stay in contact with everyone who has registered with us. Irish citizens who have not already done so should urgently register with the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya. Citizens should follow the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya on Twitter for updated advice. Sudanese and foreigners streamed out of the capital Khartoum and other battle zones, as fighting yesterday shook a new three-day truce brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Aid agencies raised alarm over the crumbling humanitarian situation in a country reliant on outside help. A series of short ceasefires in the past week have either failed outright or brought only intermittent lulls in the fighting that has raged between forces loyal to the countrys two top generals since April 15. The lulls have been enough for evacuations of hundreds of foreigners by air and land, which continued yesterday. But they have brought no relief to millions of Sudanese caught in the crossfire, struggling to find food, shelter and medical care as explosions, gunfire and looters wreck their neighbourhoods. In a country where a third of the population of 46 million already needed humanitarian assistance, multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations and dozens of hospitals have been forced to shut. The UN refugee agency said it was gearing up for potentially tens of thousands of people fleeing into neighbouring countries. Calls for negotiations to end the crisis in Africas third-largest nation have been ignored. For many Sudanese, the departure of diplomats, aid workers and other foreigners and the closure of embassies are terrifying signs that international powers expect the mayhem to only worsen. Thousands of Sudanese have been fleeing Khartoum and its neighbouring city of Omdurman. Bus stations in the capital were packed yesterday with people who had spent the night there in hopes of getting on a departing bus. Drivers increased prices, sometimes tenfold, for routes to the border crossing with Egypt or the eastern Red Sea city of Port Sudan. Fuel prices have skyrocketed and prices for food and water have doubled in many cases, the Norwegian Refugee Council said. The new 72-hour ceasefire, announced by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was to last until late tomorrow night, extending a nominal three-day truce over the weekend. The Sudanese military, commanded by Gen Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the rival Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group led by Gen Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, said they would observe the ceasefire. A member of the Royal Jordanian Air Force carries a child as Jordanian citizens and other nationals who were evacuated from Sudan Photo: Reuters/Muath Freij REUTERS Mohamed Farouk (58) an Egyptian worker, drives his truck from a ferry carrying people who fled during the last crisis in Sudan's capital Khartoum Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Abd El Ghany REUTERS Damaged buildings are seen following clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in South Khartoum locality, Sudan Photo: Reuters/Stringer REUTERS Sudanese and foreigners streamed out of the capital of Khartoum and other battle zones, as fighting shook a new three-day truce brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Aid agencies raised increasing alarm over the crumbling humanitarian situation in a country reliant on outside help. A series of short cease-fires the past week have either failed outright or brought only intermittent lulls in the fighting that has raged between forces loyal to the country's two top generals since April 15. The lulls have been enough for dramatic evacuations of hundreds of foreigners by air and land, which continued Tuesday. A member of the Royal Jordanian Air Force carries a child as Jordanian citizens and other nationals who were evacuated from Sudan Photo: Reuters/Muath Freij REUTERS But they have brought no relief to millions of Sudanese caught in the crossfire, struggling to find food, shelter and medical care as explosions, gunfire and looters wreck their neighbourhoods. In a country where a third of the population of 46 million already needed humanitarian assistance, multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations and dozens of hospitals have been forced to shut down. The U.N. refugee agency said it was gearing up for potentially tens of thousands of people fleeing into neighbouring countries. Calls for negotiations to end the crisis in Africas third-largest nation have been ignored. For many Sudanese, the departure of diplomats, aid workers and other foreigners and the closure of embassies are terrifying signs that international powers expect the mayhem to only worsen. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the power struggle between rival generals and their military forces is not only putting Sudan's future at risk, it is lighting a fuse that could detonate across borders, causing immense suffering for years, and setting development back by decades. The UN chief urged the Sudanese military, commanded by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the rival Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, to silence the guns immediately. "The conflict will not, and must not, be resolved on the battlefield," Guterres told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council late Tuesday. Mohamed Farouk (58) an Egyptian worker, drives his truck from a ferry carrying people who fled during the last crisis in Sudan's capital Khartoum Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Abd El Ghany REUTERS UN special envoy for Sudan Volker Perthes, who moved from Khartoum to Port Sudan with most UN staff and many humanitarian organizations, accused both warring parties of fighting with disregard for the laws and norms of war, citing attacks on densely populated areas. With supply lines running out, he said, there is mounting fear of increased criminality, and reports of prisoners being released from detention centres across Khartoum have compounded these fears. Thousands of Sudanese have been fleeing Khartoum and its neighbouring city of Omdurman. Bus stations in the capital were packed Tuesday morning with people who had spent the night there in hopes of getting on a departing bus. Drivers increased prices, sometimes tenfold, for routes to the border crossing with Egypt or the eastern Red Sea city of Port Sudan. Fuel prices have skyrocketed, to $67 a gallon from $4.20, and prices for food and water have doubled in many cases, the Norwegian Refugee Council said. Those lucky enough to reach the border crossings face additional hardships. Moaz al-Ser, a teacher, arrived at the Arqin border crossing with Egypt early Tuesday with his wife and three children after a harrowing trip from Omdurman. They were among hundreds of families who were waiting to be processed. Many had spent the night in an open area near the border. The crossing point is overwhelmed and authorities on both sides dont have the capacity to handle such a growing number of arrivals, he said. Secretary-General Guterres cited reports of armed clashes across the country, with people fleeing their homes in Blue Nile and North Kordofan states and across Western Darfur as well. Terrified people remain trapped indoors with dwindling food, water, medicine and fuel, and health services near collapse, he said. Joyce Msuya, the assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said at least 20 hospitals have been forced to close due to damage, military use or lack of resources. She also told the council there have been numerous reports of sexual and gender-based violence. The 72-hour cease-fire announced by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was to last until late Thursday night, extending a nominal three-day truce over the weekend. The rival forces said Tuesday they would observe the cease-fire. In separate announcements, they said Saudi Arabia played a role in the negotiations. But fighting continued, with explosions, gunfire and the roar of warplanes overhead around the capital region. They stop only when they run out of ammunition, Omdurman resident Amin Ishaq said. Al-Roumy, a medical facility in Omdurman, said it suspended its services after it was hit by a shell Tuesday. They dont respect cease-fires, said Atiya Abdalla Atiya, a senior figure in the Sudan Doctors Syndicate, a group that monitors casualties. Dr. Bushra Ibnauf Sulieman, a Sudanese-American physician who headed the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Khartoum, was stabbed to death outside his home, the Doctors' Syndicate said. He had practiced medicine for many years in the United States, where his children reside, but had returned to Sudan to train doctors. Colleagues said he had been treating those wounded in the fighting in recent days and that it was not known who killed him. The World Heath Organization, meanwhile, expressed concern that one of the warring parties had seized control of the central public health laboratory in Khartoum. That is extremely, extremely dangerous because we have polio isolates in the lab. We have measles isolates in the lab. We have cholera isolates in the lab, Dr. Nima Saeed Abid, the WHO representative in Sudan, told a U.N. briefing in Geneva by video call from Port Sudan. He did not identify which side held the facility but said they had expelled technicians and power was cut, so it was not possible to properly manage the biological materials. There is a huge biological risk. Clashes meanwhile escalated in the western Darfur region, residents said. Armed groups, wearing RSF uniforms, attacked several areas in Genena, a provincial capital, burning and looting properties and camps for displaced people. Fierce battles are raging all over the city, said a doctor in Genena, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. "All eyes are on Khartoum but the situation here is unimaginable. Women and children were fleeing homes in the city center, and the city's main hospital has not functioned for days, with unknown numbers of dead and wounded, she said. More fighters on motorcycles and horses have flowed into the city to join the battles, with dead bodies lying in the streets, according to Darfur 24, an online news outlet focusing on covering the war-wrecked region. The RSF has its roots in Darfur, where it emerged from the notorious Janjaweed militias that committed atrocities there while putting down a rebellion in the 2000s. At least 459 people, including civilians and fighters, have been killed, and over 4,000 wounded since fighting began, the U.N. health agency said, citing Sudans Health Ministry. Among them were 166 deaths and over 2,300 wounded in Khartoum, it said. Secretary-General Guterres said four U.N. staff were killed. The U.N. said they were three Sudanese working for the World Food Program and one Sudanese working for the International Organization for Migration. Those who are able have made their way to the Egyptian border, Port Sudan or relatively calmer provinces along the Nile. But the full scale of displacement has been difficult to measure. Msuya said the UN has received reports of tens of thousands of people arriving in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Mohammed Mahdi, of the International Rescue Committee, warned that resources were growing thin at the Tunaydbah refugee camp in eastern Sudan after 3,000 people fleeing Khartoum took refuge there, joining some 28,000 refugees from Ethiopia. At least 20,000 people have fled from Khartoum to the city of Wad Madani, 160km to the south, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. Some 20,000 Sudanese have fled to Chad and around 4,000 South Sudanese refugees living in Sudan have returned home, according to the UN refugee agency, which is gearing up for tens of thousands more to flee to neighbouring countries. Former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon in the main chamber of the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh yesterday. Photo: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire PA An emotional Nicola Sturgeon has told reporters at Holyrood she could not have anticipated the events the SNP has faced in the police investigation into its finances in her worst nightmares. The former first minister appeared in public at the Scottish parliament yesterday for the first time since her husband, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, was arrested on April 5 before being released without charge pending further investigation. The partys treasurer Colin Beattie was arrested last week in the same police probe then also released without charge pending further investigation. Sturgeon: I could not have anticipated SNPs troubles in my worst nightmares Ms Sturgeon said: What I will say up front is that Im not going to go into any detail that impinges on a live police investigation. There are many questions that I would want to be able to answer and in the fullness of time I hope I will answer, but it would be wrong and inappropriate for me to go into any detail of what the police are currently investigating. I understand the view that some people might have, that I knew this was all about to unfold and thats why I walked away. Nothing could be further from the truth. I could not have anticipated in my worst nightmares what would have unfolded over the past few weeks. She said now is not the easiest time, and she has been working from home recently. Asked if she has been questioned by police, she said: No. She said: Clearly the events of the last few weeks have been difficult and - I use this word advisedly and deliberately - in some respects very traumatic. But I accept that is the nature of the process that is under way right now. Asked if what is going on is her worst nightmare, the former first minister said: The last few weeks have been very, very difficult, and I dont think anybody would believe me if I said anything other than that. She refused to comment on the campervan seized by police from the home of her husbands mother, citing the live police investigation. Earlier, Mr Beattie said he was not aware of the purchase of the vehicle - which is valued at up to 110,000 (125,000) - despite reports it was planned to be used for party campaigning. Despite the police investigation, the former first minister said the party is in good shape. She said: I believe the SNP, notwithstanding the real difficulties that surrounds the party just now, is in good shape and I think Humza (Yousaf) will take it to an even better place. Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: Nicola Sturgeon might have taken some questions but she has given no answers. Her attempt to downplay the extraordinary chaos were seeing in the SNP is an insult to the publics intelligence. That Nicola Sturgeon is proud of a leadership that failed even by its own metrics and ended in the grotesque spectacle of a police raid on her home shows that she has completely lost touch. The same old secrecy and spin from Nicola Sturgeon wont cut it anymore - we need real answers about the scandal and sleaze engulfing the SNP. Ms Sturgeons comments came hours after Mr Beattie, who remains an SNP MSP, spoke to journalists at Holyrood for the first time since being arrested last week. He stepped down as treasurer following his arrest. As part of their investigation, police have seized a Niesmann + Bischoff campervan. The vehicle was bought by the party but apparently never used. Speaking yesterday, Mr Beattie was asked if he knew about the purchase of the motorhome. He replied: No, I didnt know about it. He also denied that the SNP is in financial difficulty, insisting: The SNP is in the black. Asked if the party is not going bust, Mr Beattie said: Were a going concern, definitely. Mr Beattie went on to say that the SNPs difficulty in finding auditors is due to the market situation. He made no comment when asked if he should be suspended from the SNP following his arrest, but said he has no plans at the moment to resign from Holyroods Economy and Fair Work Committee, adding that he believes he is a fit and proper person to serve on it. The MSP was also asked if his arrest was the worst thing which has ever happened to him. He replied: No, I was in Beirut actually when I was under artillery fire. That was worse. Later, the SNPs Westminster leader Stephen Flynn was asked about the motorhome as he spoke at an Institute for Government event in London. He said he became aware of the purchase when it was printed on the front of a newspaper. Prince William settled a phone-hacking claim against Rupert Murdochs UK newspaper arm for a huge sum after a secret deal struck with Buckingham Palace, Prince Harry has said in court documents. Harry, the younger son of King Charles, is suing Murdochs News Group Newspapers (NGN) at the High Court in London for multiple unlawful acts allegedly committed on behalf of its tabloids, The Sunand the now-defunct News of the World, from the mid-1990s until 2016. NGN, which has paid out millions to settle more than a thousand phone-hacking cases, is trying to strike out Harrys claim, and that of British actor Hugh Grant. Harry railed against senior NGN figures and his own family, whom he has accused of colluding with the press to protect their image, saying a secret agreement was struck between Buckingham Palace and senior figures at NGN to avoid embarrassment, according to a 31-page statement. Prince Harry is at centre of phone hacking trial against tabloid publisher Despite having the backing of the late Queen Elizabeth to take on the Murdoch group, Harry said attempts to get an apology had been stonewalled. Still, he said NGN had settled Williams claim for a huge sum of money in 2020 ... without any of the public being told, and seemingly with some favourable deal in return for him going quietly so to speak. This goes to prove the existence of this secret agreement between the institution and senior executives at NGN. In 2012, Murdochs British newspaper group issued an unreserved apology for widespread hacking carried out by journalists at the News of the World, which the media mogul had been forced to shut down amid a backlash, although it still rejects any allegations of wrongdoing at The Sun. During a criminal trial brought against News of the Worldjournalists and others in 2014, its former royal editor Clive Goodman said he had hacked the voicemails of Harry and William, and those of Williams wife, Kate. Her phone was hacked 155 times, Williams 35 and Harrys nine, Goodman said. Williams office said it could not comment on ongoing proceedings and NGN had no comment. In his submission, NGNs lawyer Anthony Hudson denied there was any secret agreement between the publisher and the royal family. He argued that, even if there was a deal, it did not affect their case that the lawsuit was brought too late. The case, one of four Harry is currently pursuing against British publishers, comes in the wake of his Netflix documentary and memoir Spare, in which he accused tabloids of widespread unlawful activity and said his family had colluded with them to enhance or protect their own reputations. His lawyers said under the secret deal, the royals had agreed to hold off from pursuing their claims against NGN until the conclusion of other outstanding litigation. Buckingham Palace wanted to avoid at all costs the reputational damage caused by publication in the 1990s of details of an intimate telephone conversation between Charles and the now-Queen Consort Camilla, when his father was still married to his mother Princess Diana, Harrys statement said. The preliminary hearing will last three days, with a trial due in January if the judge allows it to go ahead. The alleged plot was to have taken place in 2019, at around the same time Dubai police almost arrested Daniel Kinahan A lawyer for Ridouan Taghi has claimed Dutch secret services had plotted to kill or kidnap the criminal kingpin when he was a fugitive in Dubai. The alleged plot was to have taken place in 2019, at around the same time Dubai police almost arrested Daniel Kinahan, who they had mistaken for the wanted Dutch mobster. Taghi, who is one of the suspected members of the super-cartel who attended Daniel Kinahans wedding celebration at the Burj al Arab hotel in 2017, was later arrested in a dramatic bust by Dubai police authorities and returned to the Netherlands. Daniel Kinahan in profile He is currently being held in a maximum-security prison where he is facing charges relating to 10 murders, drug trafficking and leading a criminal organisation suspected of shooting dead a lawyer. Kinahan in Dubai He is among several others who are the subject of the extensive Marengo trial that is beginning to wrap up in The De Bunker court in Amsterdam-Osdorp. However, in a surprise twist his lawyer, Inez Weski, has announced that all kinds of new developments will be discussed before the case ends. It has been reported that this is a reference to recent statements in a separate criminal case against a member of the Dutch Commando Corps, known as The Korps Commandotroepen. Named only as Sil A, the suspected drug smuggler revealed a few weeks ago during his criminal case how he was approached by, among others, a Dutch public prosecutor who discussed how Taghi could be kidnapped or liquidated in Dubai in 2019 by the elite special forces unit of the Royal Netherlands Army. Weski has now asked the court to reopen the investigation by holding a pre-trial hearing to further investigate the information provided by Sil A. She has claimed that the murder or kidnapping options were discussed during a meeting with soldiers and the Dutch intelligence services MIVD and AIVD, in the presence of a female public prosecutor. The AIVD focuses mostly on domestic non-military threats to Dutch national security, whereas the Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) focuses on international threats, specifically military and government-sponsored threats such as espionage. Weski wants to know what the role of the Public Prosecution Service was in that meeting about her client, who was being investigated at the time as a suspect in several murders. She also wants it clarified whether it is indeed the case that a public prosecutor wanted to have someone killed. Taghi was eventually arrested by Dubai police in December 2019 and extradited to the Netherlands. However, it is claimed that in the months before his arrest there were several Dutch justice officials in the UAE, in addition to officials from the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism, abbreviated as NCTV, the principal Dutch counter-terrorism unit. Daniel Kinahan It is also established in the Marengo file that the AIVD assisted in the investigation in Dubai and was in contact with the authorities there. The Public Prosecution Service has denied that the visits of the justice officials had anything to do with Taghi but it has been established that both Taghi and Kinahan were under surveillance by Dubai authorities at the time. In 2021, a trusted Dutch news website reported how Dubai police almost arrested Kinahan in a hotel lobby in 2019 when he went along to meet lawyers representing the fugitive mobster Ridouan Taghi. The website AD has said that the lawyers were under surveillance at the time as Dutch police suspected that they had flown out to meet Taghi who was wanted in the Netherlands. Dubai police, who were helping with the surveillance operation in the summer of 2019, saw the duo meet with another client but then watched as they were joined by a fourth man who was initially thought to be Taghi. As police considered moving in on the Netherland's most-wanted, they suddenly realised that the target was in fact the Irish mafia boss and not Taghi. AD says the incident happened as Dutch police were increasingly desperate to catch the fugitive Taghi whose gang are regarded as the most violent cocaine mob to ever exist in the Netherlands. The news site claims that the hunt for Taghi, operating under the name 26CapeCoral, got a tip that the Amsterdam lawyer was due to meet Taghi in Dubai. On June 19, 2019, the lawyer was seen in Schiphol airport with his colleague. The pair flew to Dubai and were picked up by undercover officers when they landed. The pair were seen meeting their own client, another suspected criminal known as Khalid J, in the lobby of a hotel. On the second day of their visit a fourth person joined the meeting which Dutch police later reported: Has similarities with Ridouan Taghi in appearance. They then asked their colleagues in Dubai to arrest the individual but hours later Dubai police said they would not detain the man because they were not convinced it was Taghi. According to AD, the police report does not address the identity of the person mistaken for Taghi who is wearing a cap and glasses but sources have said that officers in the United Arab Emirates immediately knew him to be Kinahan. Kinahan and Taghi have been previously linked in secret police papers which detail how their two organisations worked together along with the Ndrangheta mafia and the so called 'Tito and Dino' cartel. All of the four organisations have links to Amsterdam where the 'Dapper Don' Christy Kinahan Snr founded his mob. According to the investigation by AD: What the Irish top criminal had to look for in a conversation between Khalid J. and his lawyers remains unclear. "The two lawyers just want to say that during the conversation with their client, 'someone came along who showed no outward resemblance to Taghi. A mother accused of killing her three-year-old son through religious fasting told police she had locked herself away during the Covid-19 pandemic. Olabisi Abubakar (42), from Cardiff, is on trial charged with manslaughter and two counts of child cruelty relating to the death of her son Taiwo Abubakar. Cardiff Crown Court heard that police forced entry to her flat in the Cathays area on June 29, 2020, after a friend raised concerns for her welfare. Abubakar, who was thin, malnourished and dehydrated, was found lying on a sofa bed next to the body of her son, Taiwo. Cardiff Crown Court heard Taiwo weighed 9.8 kilos (22 pounds), with pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbetter finding his death was caused by malnutrition and dehydration. News in 90 Seconds The court heard Abubakar was sectioned on June 30, 2020, and has remained detained in hospital, where she is being treated for paranoid schizophrenia. Peter Donnison, prosecuting, told jurors that Abubakar was deemed fit for police interview in October 2020 and was interviewed by officers on eight occasions. In one interview, Abubakar described the effect on her of the pressures of not having help, fearing coronavirus for herself and her child, and her immigration status, the court heard. Mr Donnison said: She described them as depressing. She said she was a religious woman and prayed to God and believed he had heard her and answered prayers and kept them safe. She had been taking her child out daily but she had to stop doing that due to the coronavirus. She described herself as locking herself away due to the coronavirus and her neighbour. Abubakar had been having issues with a neighbour at the property she was living at in Cwmdare Street, Cardiff, and was an asylum seeker from Nigeria. The court heard she is a devout Pentecostal Christian and fasts as part of her faith. Prosecutors allege that Abubaker caused her young son to fast of both food and water along with her, due to fears over the coronavirus pandemic and personal pressures. However, in police interviews Abubakar repeatedly denied this and said children should not fast until the age of 12. Mr Donnison said: She said she would dry fast when she wanted to speak to God and hear something from God. She said her child did not fast, he did eat, and she gave him food to eat. Abubakar told police she had fallen asleep on June 26 and believed she had gone to heaven before being brought back to life when her neighbour and police officers arrived. Mr Donnison said: Olabisi Abubakar said she couldnt explain what happened to her. She was asleep on the bed and that is what she remembered last. She said she believed she was being punished by God. In a police interview, Abubakar said: I saw myself among the dead in heaven. I was saying, I dont want to die. Then I saw the angels of God and they brought me back to life. The court heard a series of facts agreed by the prosecution and defence in the trial, read by Mr Donnison. This included evidence that health visitors saw Abubakar and Taiwo before the pandemic and had no concerns, including in relation to her religion and religious practices. They were not seen by healthcare professionals during the Covid-19 lockdown. In February 2020, a police officer was called to a noise complaint by Abubakars neighbour and attended her room, which he described as clean and warm. Taiwo was seen playing loudly and appeared very energetic and healthy, Mr Donnison said. Police searched the property after Taiwos body was discovered on June 29 and found a note on food in a fridge, stating: Do not touch anything, whooping cough, virus, save yourself. Abubakar wrote a series of notes while in an ambulance and in hospital, stating she was very hungry and cant stand up as well that Taiwo was dead. In hospital, Abubakar told a police officer: I dont eat, I cant cook, because of coronavirus I cant go and buy food. Doctors found Abubakar was suffering delusions and she was sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983 on June 30, 2020, with detention in hospital still ongoing for her to receive treatment. The jury has been told it is not disputed that Abubakar, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and moved to London in 2011, neglected her son but the issue is her state of mind at the time. They will have to decide whether Abubakar may have been insane, which would make her not guilty of charges against her by reason of insanity. Caroline Rees KC is expected to open the defence case for Abubakar, who denies manslaughter and two counts of child cruelty, on Thursday afternoon. The trial continues. Ms Carroll is suing Trump for battery and defamation in a civil trialShe alleges Trump raped her during a chance encounter in a department store Former Elle magazine advice columnist E. Jean Carroll watches as potential jurors are questioned by US District Judge Lewis Kaplan Photo: Reuters/Jane Rosenberg REUTERS Former US President Donald Trump rape accuser E. Jean Carroll exits the Manhattan Federal Court in New York Photo: Reuters/Eduardo Munoz REUTERS Donald Trump allegedly raped advice columnist E Jean Carroll during 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. Ms Carroll (79) is suing Mr Trump (76) for battery and defamation in a civil trial in a US Federal Court in Lower Manhattan, the latest in a swirl of litigation surrounding the former president as he prepares to run for the White House in 2024. Ms Carroll had been leaving Bergdorf Goodman on 5th Avenue some time in the spring of 1996 when she met Mr Trump at a revolving door entrance, Ms Carrolls attorney Shawn Crowley told the jury in opening arguments. She recognised Mr Trump as that real estate guy, and he knew her as that advice columnist, Ms Crowley said. Former US President Donald Trump Photo: Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein REUTERS He told her that he wanted to find a gift for a female acquaintance and she agreed to help thinking it would be a funny story to tell her friends, the jury of six men and three women was told. The pair took an escalator up to the 6th floor, and joked about who should try on a pair of lingerie, the court heard. The lingerie section was deserted, and they continued to exchange pleasantries as Mr Trump took her by the arm to a dressing room. Then when they went inside everything changed, Ms Crowley said. Suddenly nothing was funny. Mr Trump, who was twice her size, shoved Ms Carroll up against a wall and raped her, the court was told. She shoved, kicked, hit him with her purse, while trying to break free, Ms Crowley said. The encounter lasted about three minutes, before the writer managed to escape. The allegations closely matched Mr Trumps M.O. of targeting women at random, she added. Upon leaving the store Ms Carroll immediately called her friend, the journalist Lisa Birnbach, who advised her to go to the police, the court was told. She confided in another friend, former WCBS television anchor Carol Martin, who advised her to remain silent given Mr Trumps power and influence in New York at the time. Both friends will be called to testify during the trial. This is not a he said, she said, Ms Crowley said. Ms Carroll had grown up in a post-World War II generation of grin and bear it, and decided to remain silent, the jury was told. The alleged sexual assault remained out of public view until the longtime Elle columnist published an excerpt from her book What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal in New York magazine in 2019. Ms Crowley told the court that then-president Trump used the most powerful podium in the world to claim he had never met Ms Carroll and call her a liar. He went on the attack, seeking to destroy and humiliate her, she said. His claim that Ms Carroll was not my type really meant that she was too ugly to assault, Ms Crowley said. The most powerful person in the world called her a liar and a fraud. News in 90 Seconds Ms Carroll was inundated with thousands of hateful messages and posts on social media, causing her career to go into freefall and suffer severe psychological harm. Months later, she decided to sue for defamation. Then after New York passed the Adult Survivors Act in 2022, which gave sexual assault survivors the opportunity to sue their alleged abusers, she filed a second lawsuit accusing Mr Trump of battery and defamation. Ms Crowley told the jury that two other women, Natasha Stoynoff and Jessica Leeds, would testify to similar alleged encounters of sexual assault with Mr Trump. The jury will be played the infamous Access Hollywood tapes, released weeks before the 2016 presidential election, in which Mr Trump bragged of being able to grab women by their private parts. This was not locker room talk, Ms Crowley said, mimicking the explanation given by Mr Trump at the time. Its actually what he did to Ms Carroll and other women. Ms Crowley also showed the jury a photo of Ms Carroll with Mr Trump, and their respective spouses at the time John Johnson and Ivana Trump, taken about six years before the alleged Bergdorf Goodman encounter. She said that in his deposition, Mr Trump had confused Ms Carroll with his second wife Marla Maples. Former Elle magazine advice columnist E. Jean Carroll watches as potential jurors are questioned by US District Judge Lewis Kaplan Photo: Reuters/Jane Rosenberg REUTERS Donald Trump pointed at Ms Carroll and mistook her for his wife, who he admitted was his type. In his opening statement, Mr Trumps attorney Joe Tacopina told the jurors that Ms Carroll was motivated by a hatred of the former president, and was seeking to boost sales of her book. He said the allegations were deliberately vague and had changed since her 2019 article in New Yorkmagazine. Mr Tacopina urged the jury to put aside any feelings they might have about the former president, and weigh the case on the evidence. Who would make up a story like this and who would believe it? he said. Its people with a political bent, people with a financial motivation and people who want to be in the spotlight. Ms Carroll, who sat in the front of the court, looked straight ahead as Mr Tacopina delivered his 45-minute statement to the jury. Its all down to, do you believe the unbelievable, Mr Tacopina told the nine jurors. Ms Carroll is seeking monetary damages from the former president, who is not going to appear in person. The case is expected to take five to 10 days. Former US president denies New York department store attack E Jean Carroll alleges former president Donald Trump raped her in the 1990s. Photo: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters REUTERS A jury of six men and three women was chosen yesterday to hear a former advice columnists lawsuit accusing former president Donald Trump of raping her in the 1990s. The federal civil trial stands to test Trumps Teflon Don reputation for shaking off serious legal problems and to reprise accounts of the type of sexual misconduct that rocked his 2016 presidential campaign as he seeks office again. He denies E. Jean Carrolls claim and all the others, saying they were falsehoods spun up to damage him. The jurors were selected after questioning about not only their background but their news-watching habits and more. They were asked whether they had made political donations, supported any of a roster of right- and left-wing groups, used Mr Trumps social media platform, read Ms Carrolls former Elle magazine column and even if they ha d seen Mr Trumps former reality show The Apprentice and whether any of these and other matters would make it difficult for them to be fair. Jurors names will be kept secret and the jurors will be escorted to and from the court to avoid any harassment or invasions of privacy, US District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said. The trial is in a federal civil court, meaning that no matter the outcome, Mr Trump is no t in danger of going to jail. He is not required to be in court, either, and his lawyers have indicated he most likely will not testify. The trial comes a month after he pleaded not guilty in an unrelated criminal case surrounding payments made to bury accounts of alleged extramarital sex. Ms Carroll is expected to testify about a chance encounter with Mr Trump in late 1995 or early 1996 that she says turned violent. The trial will also include Ms Carrolls defamation claim against Mr Trump over disparaging remarks he made about her in response to the rape allegations. She is seeking unspecified damages and a retraction. She says that after she ran into the future president at Manhattans Bergdorf Goodman department store, he invited her to shop with him for a womans lingerie gift before they teased one another to try on a garment. Ms Carroll says they ended up alone together in a store dressing room, where Mr Trump pushed her against a wall and raped before she fought him off and fled. Since Ms Carroll first made her accusations in a 2019 memoir, Mr Trump has vehemently denied that a rape ever occurred or that he even knew Ms Carroll. Trump has labelled Ms Carroll a nut job and mentally sick. He claimed she fabricated the rape claim to boost sales of her book. Shes not my type, he has said repeatedly, although during sworn questioning in October, he also misidentified her in a photograph as his ex-wife Marla Maples. Ms Carroll did not stop to speak to reporters as she arrived at the court. Jurors are also expected to hear from two other women who say they were sexually assaulted by Mr Trump. Jessica Leeds is set to testify that Mr Trump tried to put his hand up her skirt on a 1979 flight on which the two were assigned neighbouring seats. Natasha Stoynoff, a former People magazine staff writer, will testify that Mr Trump pinned her against a wall and forcibly kissed her at his Florida mansion when she went there in 2005 to interview him and his then-pregnant wife Melania. Jurors will also see the infamous 2005 Access Hollywood video in which Mr Trump is heard making misogynistic remarks about women, including an assertion that celebrities can grab women without asking. Ms Carrolls allegations normally would be too old to bring to court. But in November, New York state enacted a law allowing for suits over decades-old sexual abuse claims. Judge Kaplan, who will preside over the trial, rejected a request by Mr Trumps lawyers that jurors be told that the ex-president wanted to spare the city the disruption his presence might cause. Democrat most likely to win if its a repeat of 2020 vote Joe Biden unveiled his 2024 re-election campaign yesterday four years to the day since he launched his successful bid to knock Donald Trump out of the White House. In a three-minute video, the 46th president of the United States revisited the theme that powered his successful 2020 run, saying the contest remained a battle for the soul of America and to protect personal freedoms from pro-Trump extremists. Mr Biden, who would be 86 at the end of a second term, is hoping threats posed by right-wing Republicans will count for more among divided voters than concerns over his age. The question we are facing is whether, in the years ahead, we have more freedom or less freedom, more rights or fewer I know what I want the answer to be, he said, as images of the January 6 attack on the Capitol played on the screen. US President Biden confirms intentions to run for second term in office He said his opponents were dictating what healthcare decisions women can make, banning books, and telling people who they can love... all while making it more difficult for you to be able to vote, adding: This is not a time to be complacent. Mr Biden also exhorted Americans to visit his new-look campaign website, and closed by repeating a line that he unveiled in this years State of the Union address: Lets finish the job. Mr Bidens announcement had been widely expected for months. Aides attributed the delay to his natural reticence over big decisions, as well as the lack of significant opposition in his own party and the general dysfunction on the Republican side, which together have increased the prospect of a rematch between Mr Biden and Mr Trump. The potential for such a rematch is thought to be one of the reasons Mr Biden delayed announcing his re-election plans. He is the oldest man to be inaugurated as Americas chief executive (having stolen that title from Mr Trump), and a significant majority of voters say his age is a concern. But the president and his inner circle see the continued presence of the twice-impeached, indicted and disgraced 45th president on the US political scene as an opportunity for Mr Biden to return to the themes that helped make his 2020 campaign resonate with the American public. Mr Trumps probable emergence as the GOP frontrunner, aides say, will give Mr Biden the opening he needs to remind voters why they elected him in the first place. They also believe that the continued Republican focus on restricting reproductive rights and Mr Trumps role in nominating the Supreme Court justices who overturned abortion rights last year will lead to a Democratic turnout that is equal to, or greater than, the record number who voted for Mr Biden in 2020, and for Democratic candidates in elections that have been held since. The bet being made by Mr Biden and his inner circle is that they will be able to replicate the dynamics of that successful 2020 run by highlighting the presidents successes over the past four years, particularly his economic programme and his efforts to boost manufacturing in the US. Yet from the looks of the opinion polls, Mr Bidens re-election is not even close to a certainty. The presidents polling is decidedly mixed heading into his re-election campaign launch. Mr Bidens approval rating is under water in nearly every poll, including one from NBC this week, in which seven in 10 Americans said he should not run again, while 54pc disapproved of the job he has done in the White House. His approval took a major hit in the summer of 2021, when the messy withdrawal of the last US troops from Afghanistan was widely criticised after 13 US service personnel were killed in an attack carried out by terrorists aligned with IS. Those polling figures would be dismal for any incumbent president, but they tell far from the whole story when it comes to Americans thoughts about 2024. As his hypothetical opponent for a general election has yet to be determined, the president has not entered the level of campaigning mode that is likely to energise his supporters and hurt his rivals, should he go on the offensive. That is not to say that some sudden reversal of fortune is to be expected once the president hits the campaign trail full-time, but some early polling of match-ups with his most likely 2024 challenger, Mr Trump, still give room for optimism. Mr Biden leads his 2020 rival in most polls of voters regarding their general-election preferences albeit by single digits, just as he does in most polls that pit him against Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina who served as the UN ambassador under Mr Trump. Against Ron DeSantis, however the Florida governor who polls competitively against Mr Trump for the 2024 GOP nomination Mr Biden does not fare so well; he trails Mr DeSantis by single digits in nearly every survey. Mr DeSantis himself, though, is falling in the polls that ask about a hypothetical Trump-DeSantis fight for the GOP nomination, against a backdrop of Mr Trumps criminal indictment and a flurry of attacks the former president has aimed at his new rival. Mr Trump has his own polling problems within the GOP as well a new survey from the Associated Press and the University of Chicagos NORC research centre found that as many as 44pc of Republicans do not want the twice-impeached, criminally indicted ex-president to run at all. He does, however, continue to hold the highest net favourability rating of any of the prominent 2024 Republican contenders. The general sense from most polling is that Americans largely do not want to see a repeat of the 2020 election while at the same time, they are wholly unenthused about the alternatives. Most (65pc) think the country is on the wrong track, according to the most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll. Princess Latifa and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson at their meeting in Dubai An Instagram account purporting to belong to Sheikha Latifa, a daughter of the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed, has said that she is totally free. The account also posted a lengthy statement alleging to be from Latifa al Maktoum. This comes two years after the publication of videos in which she claimed her family was holding her hostage in Dubai. This followed a failed attempt from Latifa to escape the UAE in March 2018. Latifa was allegedly held under house arrest for years after this, with sporadic images of her released to the media, claiming that she lives as she wishes. 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 video became worldwide news and a story that saw former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, become embroiled in it after she had dinner with Latifa at the request of her mother, Haya. Photographs of Mrs Robinson, a former UN Commissioner for Human Rights, and Sheikha Latifa were issued by the United Arab Emirates. Officials in Dubai said Ms Robinson was assured Latifa was in "the loving care of her family". Mrs Robinson described Latifa at the time as a very likeable young woman but clearly troubled, clearly needs the medical care she's receiving. Mrs Robinson later said on The Late Late Show that attending the lunch was a mistake. Princess Latifa and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson at their meeting in Dubai In the Instagram post on Wednesday evening, it is claimed that Latifa is living an independent life. The photograph attached is of a well-known tourist destination in Austria. I want to share my sincere gratitude to everyone who has shown compassion towards me over the past few years. In that time, my life has changed in so many ways and I am looking forward to the next chapter. I was recently made aware of media inquiries for a piece which casts doubt on my freedom because I have not spoken publicly about what has happened. I gave statements via my lawyers and posted personal travel photos with friends and family thinking that it would be enough. I can understand it from the outside perspective of seeing someone so outspoken fall off the grid and have others speak on her behalf, especially after everything that has happened which appears to make me look like I'm being controlled. I am totally free and living an independent life. I live in Dubai for most of the year and can travel also, which is what I want, the statement said. Latifa is not the first daughter of Sheikh Mohammed to try and escape the family; in 2000, Princess Shamsa also attempted to abscond while holidaying in England and claimed she was injected and given tablets before being flown back to Dubai on a private jet. This publication is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in the Indian market and includes a gu... UNI New Delhi: India safely evacuated 534 Indian nationals from strife-torn Sudan to Jeddah, via Indian naval ships and IAF aircraft, with more sorties to follow as part of Operation Kaveri. While the first batch of 278 Indians left for Jeddah -- where a transit facility has been set up for onward journey to Indiaon Tuesday evening on board INS Sumedha, two other batches, of 121 and 135 Indians, were flown to Jeddah on board two IAF C-130J aircraft later in the night. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has been stationed in Jeddah where a control room has been set up to oversee the safe evacuation of Indian nationals from Sudan. More sorties will follow to evacuate the over 3,000 Indians who were in Sudan when the fighting broke out between the army and the paramilitary. India has launched full-scale operations to evacuate its nationals taking advantage of the three-day ceasefire that the two warring factions in Sudan announced on Tuesday. The leaders of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the rival Rapid Support Forces have agreed to halt the fighting starting from Tuesday. The ceasefire is meant to establish humanitarian corridors, allowing citizens and residents to access essential resources, health care, and safe zones, while also evacuating diplomatic missions, the RSF said. EAM S Jaishankar said in tweets: A second C-130 flight reaches Jeddah bringing 135 passengers from Sudan.#OperationKaveri moving steadily forward.#OperationKaveri - the next step. The first C-130 lands flight lands in Jeddah with another 121 passengers. They will be reaching home soon. Operation Kaveri unfolds. INS Sumedha docks in Jeddah with 278 passengers. Thank HH @FaisalbinFarhan and Saudi Arabian authorities for their fullest cooperation. MoS V Muraleedharan said in tweets: Happy to receive 278 Indians from Sudan onboard INS Sumedha at Jeddah Port. Glad Saudi Director General, MFA, Jeddah Branch H.E.Mazin Hamad Al Himly joined me. Thank Saudi authorities for excellent support in Jeddah. Appreciate Indian Navy & officials involved in this complex exercise of evacuating Indians from Sudan. First IAF C-130J aircraft under #OperationKaveri from Port Sudan carrying 121 Indians landed in Jeddah. Glad to see the joy in the Indians. Third batch comprising 135 Indians from Port Sudan arrived in Jeddah by IAF C-130J aircraft. Onward journey to India for all who arrived in Jeddah will commence shortly. (With UNI inputs) Image Credit: UNI New Delhi/UNI: The Congress on Wednesday appointed regional observers for Karnataka ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls. The regional observers for Central Karnataka, Mysore and Coastal Karnataka and two others have been appointed by the party president, as per a communique issued by Congress general secretary in-charge Organisation KC Venugopal on Wednesday. Among the regional observers appointed includes Manickam Tagore, Avinash Pande and Ajoy Kumar. Elections to the 224 member Karnataka Assembly will be held on May 10. The results will be declared on May 13. The Opposition Congress is eyeing to return to power. The BJP is hopeful that it will retain power. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons Kolkata/IBNS: The Calcutta High Court has ordered the exhumation and the second autopsy of the body of IIT Kharagpur student Faizan Ahmed, six months after his death, media reports said. On October 14 last year, Ahmeds body was found in his hostel room at IIT Kharagpur in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district. Ahmed's father appealed to the court and requested a Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigation into the death of his son, who was a third-year student. The high court took note of the affidavit filed by Ahmeds parents, providing their consent for his body to be exhumed and a second post-mortem to be conducted. Justice Rajasekhar Mantha directed the exhumation and the second autopsy stating that it is "vital and necessary for arriving at the truth behind his death". The high court ordered the investigating officer to work with the Assam Police to arrange for the exhumation. Justice Mantha instructed the West Bengal police to transport Ahmed's body back to Kolkata. Dr Ajoy Kumar Gupta, who conducted the first post-mortem examination on Ahmed's body, will also perform the second autopsy in the presence of other medical professionals. Gupta was appointed by the court as a forensic expert and is expected to provide his expert opinion on the probable reason for Ahmed's death. The case has been adjourned until June 13th. According to a preliminary report submitted to the court, Dr. Gupta, a former forensic expert of the state CID, stated that the initial post-mortem report did not mention the two marks of injury found on the back of Ahmed's head. After the student's death, cut marks were found on the arms, as per the report. The police found a bottle of Emplura (sodium nitrate) in the student's hostel room. Emplura, a yellowish chemical powder, is typically utilized as a meat preservative, according to Sandip Bhattacharya, who is serving as the court-appointed amicus curiae. According to the report, Dr Gupta and Sandip Bhattacharya found some yellowish substance in a bucket that was present in the hostel room during the investigation. It was mentioned in court that there was no odour coming from the body for the past three days, which was considered mysterious. "The presence of this chemical Emplura opens up serious questions as regards the time of death and whether it may have been used to preserve the body after the death of the victim," Justice Mantha observed, reported India Today. IBNS File Image of Mamata Banerjee Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said the teenager who was found dead near a canal in Kaliaganj last week allegedly died due to a romantic relationship, citing "WhatsApp messages" as evidence to support her assertion. It's an unfortunate incident. I have seen some WhatsApp messages also. I saw it was a love affair. The police are investigating it, Banerjee said, reported India Today. Doctors said she had taken poison. It's a suicide case. The police are investigating. The Chief Minister pledged to investigate the case, as well as the violence and arson that occurred on Tuesday. We will stand by the victims family. But the way hooliganism happened yesterday and the way the police were attacked and property was damaged, I will ask the police to investigate these incidents as well and take action, she said. Even when the body was taken, stones were thrown. I do not support the way the body was taken. But what else could they do? she asked, according to the India Today report. Despite the discovery of the girl's body in a canal last week, the initial post-mortem examination report revealed that she had not been subjected to rape, media reports said. We have suspended four policemen. I will ask the police not to spare the accused. There is no need to see which party they belong to. Their properties must be attached the way the CBI and ED do. Else this won't stop, she said, the report added. However, she blamed Tuesdays violence in the area on BJP. The BJP brought people from Bihar and set the police station on fire, instigating violence. It was a plan. The BJP is doing hooliganism since Delhi (Centre) is behind them, she alleged, stated the report. A report in the media quoting a senior police officer said 11 individuals have been arrested for their suspected involvement in the Kaliaganj violence in the Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal, after the death of a girl. On Wednesday, a large police force was deployed on empty roads. In certain areas of Kaliaganj, Section 144 of the CrPC, which prohibits the assembly of more than four people, remained in effect. Image: Videograb Raipur/IBNS: The Maoist ambush in Chhattisgarh Wednesday, which left 10 policemen and a driver dead, involved the use of a powerful 50-kg improvised explosive device (IED), said reports. The IED left a massive hole in the road and uprooted trees. The policemen of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) were reportedly travelling in a rented minivan that had no ballistic protection. The vehicle may have been flung at least 20 feet by the force of the explosion. According to reports, the debris of the destroyed van fell 150 meters from the blast site. Visuals of the ambush site in the Dantewada district show a big crater, which is 10 feet deep and 20 feet wide, covering the road's entire width, indicating that the Maoists used a huge quantity of explosives to trigger the ambush. The DRG team was returning after conducting an anti-Maoist operation when the attack happened. The special security forces tasked with combating Maoists are looking for the attackers, who have disappeared in the jungle, sources said, adding the area is a tri-junction of three states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the "sacrifice" of the policemen "will always be remembered". "Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families," PM Modi tweeted. Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2023 Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and offered his condolences to the families of the 10 policemen and the driver. "Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred jawans," Mr Shah tweeted. Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred Jawans. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 26, 2023 The attack came a week after Maoists fired at the convoy of a Congress MLA in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur while he was returning from a public meeting. No one was injured in the attack. Image: Twitter/SJaishankar New Delhi/IBNS: The first batch of 360 Indians from crisis-hit Sudan arrived in New Delhi this evening under "Operation Kaveri". "India welcomes back its own. #OperationKaveri brings 360 Indian Nationals to the homeland as first flight reaches New Delhi," tweeted Foreign Minister S Jaishakar, along with arrival pictures. The evacuation comes days after Jaishankar spoke to his Saudi Arabia counterpart. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Sudan. India welcomes back its own. #OperationKaveri brings 360 Indian Nationals to the homeland as first flight reaches New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/v9pBLmBQ8X Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 26, 2023 "Operation Kaveri" is a rescue mission launched by the government to evacuate stranded Indian citizens from Sudan where the Sudanese Army and paramilitary groups are fighting. The warring factions in Sudan agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire on Monday after the US and Saudi Arabia mediated the truce while countries are engaged in evacuating their citizens from the country. Under its evacuation mission, India has set up a transit facility at Jeddah and all the Indians have been taken to the coastal Saudi Arabian city after their evacuation from Sudan. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan is in Jeddah to oversee the evacuation mission. Earlier, on Saturday, Saudi Arabia said it has evacuated 66 citizens of "brotherly and friendly" foreign countries that included a few Indian nationals from Sudan. Image: UNI New Delhi/IBNS: A special court Wednesday adjourned till April 28 the pronouncement of order in the bail application of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the excise policy case. Special Judge MK Nagpal after hearing the matter said, "Order on the regular bail application of the accused is still not ready." He said the matter will be listed at 4 PM on April 28 for pronouncement of the order. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has opposed the bail application of the AAP leader by alleging a conspiracy in the framing of the Delhi Excise Policy to provide illegal benefits to certain people. It has been alleged that the framing of a new liquor policy for Delhi has resulted in extraordinary profits for wholesalers. Counsel for Sisodia has submitted through his bail application that not a single penny has been traced from the accused or his family account. He submitted that Sisodia has always cooperated with the investigating agency and no incriminating material was found against him during the searches. He reiterated that no offense under section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act has been made out against Sisodia. He requested to the court that no fruitful purpose would be served by keeping him behind the bar, so kindly grant him bail. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Sisodia on Feb 26 after questioning him on various aspects of the Excise Policy for 2021-22. Later, the ED got his custody under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. According to the investigating agency, the Excise Policy suffered from irregularities in its formulation and implementation. [With UNI inputs] Image: Pixabay Four passengers were arrested after a fight between them forced a flight from Australias Cairns to Groote Eylandt to make an emergency landing, media reports said. Australian Federal Police (AFP) and NT Police arrested four passengers, including two women, after they engaged in an altercation mid-air during an unnamed flight from Queensland to the Northern Territory on Thursday. As the incident took place, it prompted the flight to turn back to Queensland where a woman was charged. She was removed and charged with disorderly behaviour on an aircraft, common assault, and failing to comply with safety instructions by cabin crew, an AFP spokesperson told News.com.au. However, when the flight took off again the same group again broke into an argument which escalated into a fight. An aircraft window was damaged in the tussle between the group. A video circulating widely on the internet shows a group of passengers standing in the aisle. In the footage, one passenger can be seen holding a glass bottle above their head, apparently preparing to strike another passenger. Departing Cairns today.. Just someone trying to glass someone. More fighting amongst themselves. Complete disregard for other passengers and the plane. I wonder if there were any consequences. #VoteNO #VoiceToParliament pic.twitter.com/v5iKWbWRtM Jet Ski Bandit (@fulovitboss) April 20, 2023 After the plane landed at Alyangula on Groote Eylandt, located off the east coast of the Northern Territory, NT Police arrested three passengers. Among them, a 23-year-old man was charged with several offenses, including intentionally endangering the safety of others, aggravated assault, damage to property, disorderly conduct in a public place, and violating a domestic violence order. A 23-year-old woman was charged with property damage, disorderly conduct in a public place, and intentionally endangering the safety of others. The third passenger, a 22-year-old, was charged with several offenses, including commercial drug supply, drug possession, hindering a police officer, disorderly conduct, and possessing alcohol in a restricted area, according to News.com.au. On Monday, the three passengers are scheduled to appear before the Darwin Local Court. UNI The Taliban has killed the ISIS mastermind who is believed to have planned the 2021 bombing at Kabul airport in Afghanistan, media reports quoting The White House said. The bombing had left at least 170 people dead. The bombing occurred at a time when people were fleeing the war-torn nation after the Taliban had taken control of Kabul. The IS figure was killed weeks ago but it took time to confirm his death, US officials told BBC news partner CBS. The White House says it will not release the name of the man, but described him as the "mastermind" of the assault on Abbey Gate, one of the main points of entry for those trying to evacuate Afghanistan during the U.S. withdrawal, reports CBS News. "Experts in the government are at high confidence that this individualwas indeed the key individual responsible" for the attack outside Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 26, 2021, a senior administration official told CBS News. The U.S. was not informed about the death by the Taliban, but it made the determination from its own intelligence gathering and monitoring of the ongoing threats and actors in the region. "This was a Taliban operation. We didn't conduct it jointly with them or anything like that," the U.S. official told CBS News. U.S. law prohibits military cooperation and military intelligence sharing with the Taliban. The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021. Ottawa/IBNS: The Ontario government is boosting police recruitment numbers by eliminating tuition fees of police training, and scrapping a post-secondary education requirement to be hired as an officer. We need more police officers on our streets, more boots on the ground, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said at a news conference at the Ontario Police College. The Ford government will introduce legislation that would amend the Community Safety and Policing Act 2019 in requiring just a high school diploma or equivalent for recruiting new police officers. Currently, post-secondary education credit is required by the applicants to municipal police services for employment as an officer. Ontario is grateful to the thousands of brave women and men who serve as police officers across the province, keeping our communities safepush back the growing tide of crime in our communities expanding enrollment at the Ontario Police College and covering 100 percent of the tuition cost for Basic Constable Training, Ford has said in a news release. Currently the cost of the three-month program is $15,450 and the new police officers are required to complete it within six months of being hired. Welcoming the changes, Demkiw was reported saying that the Toronto Police Service is having difficulty keeping up with the increasing demands of a growing city. Like police services across Canada, we are working hard to recruitconstables. But this takes time and there are often barriers to getting new officers deployedWe need support in recruiting and training and welcome the news from the province, Demkiv told reporters. With the expansion of enrolment at the college, starting in 2024, the number of graduates from the college will increase from the current three cohorts of 480 officers to four cohorts of 550 officers. Solicitor General Michael Kerzner hoped the changes will encourage more people from all walks of life and backgrounds to join the force. According to the news release, the elimination of the tuition fee for the Basic Constable Training program at the Ontario Police College will be retroactive to January 1, 2023 and recruits who paid for their twelve-week Basic Constable Training earlier this year will be reimbursed. (Reporting by Asha Bajaj) Apple recently opened its first two stores in India last week - one in Mumbai and the other in New Delhi. It turns out that Apple store employees in India are reportedly earning four times the industry standard. Unsplash A comparatively higher salary Compared to other employees in India working in retail stores of other tech brands, Apple employees in the country are making a lot more. Apple is said to be paying around 1 lakh per month to its employees in the two retail stores in India, Economic Times reported. Unsplash This is four times higher than what other tech brands pay their employees monthly. To manage its two stores in India, Apple hired around 170 people who are professionals from various industries like electrical engineering, robotics and computer applications, etc. In addition, Apple has hired linguistically diverse people to be a part of its Indian workforce. Also read: Apple Opens India's Second Retail Store In Delhi: Here's A Sneak Peek It appears that some staff members have been relocated from other parts of the world to work in these two stores. Unsplash This is just the tip of the iceberg. Apple is currently planning to double or triple its investments in India along with exports, India's deputy minister for information technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar told Reuters. Also read: Tim Cook Inaugurates India's First Apple Store In Mumbai During his India visit, Apple CEO Tim Cook met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and reportedly discussed plans to grow Apple's business and manufacturing footprint in India. What do you think about Apple's expansion in India? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com. During a planned protest in Parliament Square, a video was posted online showing an unusual convoy consisting of 10 police officers on bicycles, followed by around 20 jogging colleagues and police motorbike outriders. Four blacked-out Range Rovers, a people carrier, and a Met Police vehicle completed the convoy. While it is not uncommon for high-profile individuals to have security escorts, the unusual nature of the display has drawn attention and sparked a debate online. As the video continues to circulate on social media, it is clear that people have mixed feelings about the display. Some find it amusing, while others are concerned about the safety implications of having officers run alongside moving vehicles. Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley acknowledged that his officers used "unusual tactics" to escort Rishi Sunak back to Downing Street. The incident in Whitehall on Sunday, which involved police officers jogging alongside the Prime Minister's motorcade, went viral on social media and drew comparisons to the security measures implemented for North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley was questioned about the incident in front of the Home Affairs Committee this morning. He explained that the convoy resulted from "two conflicting pressures" - the planned protest and the Prime Minister's urgent business in his office. The incident drew comparisons to the security arrangements of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and caused a stir on social media. Twitter The video shows police officers jogging alongside the convoy as it passes Sunak's car. Many people have found the comparison amusing, and some have even praised the officers for their fitness levels. However, others have criticized the display as unnecessary and potentially unsafe. Regardless of people's opinions, the video has undoubtedly caught the attention of the internet and has become a trending topic in the UK. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. It turned out to be a costly holiday for a man in China. No we are not talking about the flight or hotel expenses. The man was caught holidaying during his sick leave, after which he not only lost his job but also a mammoth amount that he had received in compensation. Man Caught Holidaying During Sick Leave istock The man, Xu Moumou, contested the company's action at Beijing's Third Intermediate People's Court, but it was rejected in mid-April 2023, China's National Business Daily (NBD) reported. He was fired after a colleague spotted him holidaying on a tropical island when he was on sick leave and was supposed to be on bed rest. Xu also lost a 620,000-yuan (nearly Rs 73 lakh) compensation, that was awarded to him earlier. Also Read: Why China's Warren Buffett Is Racing To Sell His Assets Sick Leave Applied After Paid Leave Rejected As per the report, the dispute had started in July 2019 when Xu applied for two weeks of paid leave but the request was rejected by his manager due to pressure at work. Xu told his manager that he had already bought tickets for the trip to China's southern island of Hainan with his kid, but was still not granted the leave. Interestingly, Xu was not a new joiner who could have struggled to get such a leave, as he had been working with the company since 1998. @thinking_panda/Twitter) What Xu Moumou did next was that he applied for a 14-day sick leave. Xu also provided a medical certificate that stated that he was suffering from "dizziness and cervical spondylosis" which made it difficult for him to move. According to the medical certificate, a doctor had recommended bed rest and neck exercises. This time, the sick leave was approved, NBD reported. But when Xu was at the Hainan Airport with his son, he was spotted by a colleague who alerted his manager. What happened next is what we know now. Xu was fired from the company on the grounds that he travelled abroad during his sick leave and violated integrity. Xu, however, fought back claiming that he was not travelling for fun but to recuperate. He also applied for arbitration by Beijing Chaoyang Arbitration Commission which ruled in his favour and ordered the tech company to pay Xu a compensation of Rs 73 lakh for illegally terminating his job, as per the report. But later, Beijing's Third Intermediate People's Court found that Xu had lied to his employers and he had no reason to travel given his medical condition. The court further upheld the termination and ordered the company not to give the mammoth amount of compensation to Xu. For more such interesting content and the latest financial news, keep reading Worth. Click here. Fans took to social media to express their delight A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced a 32-year-old woman, Oladitan Olufunmilayo to 15 years imprisonment for trafficking banned substances. Justice Daniel Osiagor handed down the jail term on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, after the convict pleaded guilty to five counts of trafficking in banned drugs preferred against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). NDLEA prosecutor, Augustine Nwagu, told the court that the convict was arrested with the prohibited drugs on November 3, 2022, at Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc Export Shed at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during the examination and clearing of cargo to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. READ ALSO: NDLEA Arrests Edo Cripple Who Sells Drugs While On Wheelchair He said the drugs that were found on the convict when she was arrested included, seven grams of Cocaine; 11 grams of Methamphetamine; 52 grams of Cannabis Sativa; 47 grams of Tramadol 225mg and 106 grams of Rohypnol. The prosecutor said the offences committed contravened Sections 11(b) and 20(1)(a) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and are punishable under Section 20(2)(a) of the same Act. Earlier when the convict was arraigned, she pleaded guilty and the prosecutor urged the court to convict and sentence her according to the sections of the laws she was charged with. But her counsel, Dennis Warri, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing her, adding that his client is a first-time offender. Justice Osiagor sentenced the convict to three years imprisonment in each, with an option of N350, 000, and one week on each of the counts. The judge, however, ordered that the jail term should run concurrently. Emmanuel Shior, the executive secretary of Benue State Emergency and Management Agency (BENSEMA), has disclosed that the State recorded an increase in the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in April alone. While distributing relief materials to some internally displaced persons in the State on Tuesday, Shior made the disclosure, adding that the upsurge in attacks by suspected Fulani militia and bandits in some communities in the State contributed to rise in the figure. According to him, the series of attacks which occurred in some communities in Apa, Otukpo and Guma Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the State between April 5th and 9th, also led to the death of 135 persons. Giving a breakdown of the IDPs distribution, the SEMA boss said 8,000 were recorded and camped in Adoka, Otukpo LGA; 10,000 in Apa who also took refuge in Ugbokpo, the council headquarter. READ ALSO: Gunmen Kill 34 In Benue IDP Camp His words: Benue has continued to be under siege for a long time. Recent killings in Benue State have added burden of taking care of the IDPs, Shior said while addressing newsmen. For instance, 8,000 people are currently camped in Adoka in Otukpo local government and another 10,000 people taken refuge in Ugbokpo, headquarters of Apa LGA. He further appealed to the Federal Government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Commission for Refugee, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons and other partners to increase assistance to the state to further help in lessening the burden. They should do more to increase their support. The Federal Government should do more to support the state to put in place plans to return the IDPs as they are tired of staying in camps and in the host communities for over 5 years. Spirited individuals should also help us, Shior appealed. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the speaker, Ondo State House Of Assembly, Bamidele Oleyeloogun before the state High Court in Akure , over alleged fraud . The arraignment on Tuesday marked the begining of the official trial of the head of the state legislature . Also arraigned before the court, were the lawmaker representing Akoko South-West Constituency 2, Felemu Bankole and a civil servant Segun Oyadeyi Bankole The Speaker alongside others was docked on two-count charged involving fraud. They however pleaded not guilty of the allegations level against them. READ MORE: 2023 Supplementary Elections: EFCC Arrest 12 In Kano, Katsina For Vote-Buying During the trial, the counsel to the EFCC, Kingsley Kudus asked the court to remand the defendants at the Olokuta Correctional Facility, even though they had pleaded not guilty, the defendants were still in the hands of the court while the trial continues. Reacting, counsel to the defendants, Femi Emodamore who told the court that he was fully prepared for the commencement and continuation of the trial, asked the court to strike out EFCCs prayer for remand saying the administrative bail application on the defendants were still active. He explained that the second defendant (Oleyelogun) was having health challenge that needed urgent medical attention. Emodamore also asked the court to caution the nominal complainant (the former deputy speaker, Iroju Ogundeji) in the case for allegedly sending messages to the speaker in an attempt to annoy him. According to him, if Ogundeji did not desist from such action, he would be prosecuted as his actions towards the speaker is against the law. In his rulling, Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye asked the defendants to be enjoying their administrative bail till the next hearing as he adjourned the case till May 18 for proper hearing of the trial. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is to commence a fresh prosecution of a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode and three others at the Federal High Court, Abuja on alleged misappropriation of N4.6bn and money laundering. This came barely few days after being vindicated by the Court of Appeal over some allegations leveled him by the anti-graft agency. The Counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) told Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday that the action became important following last weeks judgement of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, which quashed the charges. Oyedepo said that in view of the judgement of the Court of Appeal, all exhibits and documents tendered by the prosecution should be released to enable the Commission commence the matter afresh at the Federal High Court, Abjua. Justice Osiagor subsequently ordered the release of all exhibits and documents tendered before the court during the hearing of the matter back to the EFCC. Last week Thursday, via zoom, Justice Mohammed Danjuma of the Court of Appeal had delivered judgement on an appeal filed by one of Fani-Kayodes co-defendants, former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Lagos to hear the matter. The appellant also submitted that the charge as filed before the Lagos court was defective. The appeal court unanimously resolved the issues in favour of the appellant and also held that the Federal High Court in Lagos lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter. The appellate court also held that the facts of the case showed that all the transactions carried out by the Defendants took place in Abuja, hence the Federal High Court Abuja has jurisdiction to hear the case. Justice Fatima Akinbami and Justice Onyekachi Otisi agreed with the judgment. It would be recalled however that in an earlier appeal filed by Fani-Kayode in 2019, another panel of the same court of appeal led by Justice Mohammed Garba had agreed with the EFCC that some act forming part of the offence or at least the consequence of it happened in Lagos. The court had therefore held that the Federal High Court, Lagos had jurisdiction to hear the suit. The EFCC subsequently rearraigned the defendants before Justice Daniel Osiagor after the previous trial judge, Justice Rilwan Aikawa was transferred out of the Lagos division. In the suit, Fani-Kayode is charged alongside a former Minister of State for Finance Nenandi Usman; a former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Yusuf Danjuma, and a company Jointrust Dimensions Nigeria Ltd. They were alleged to have at various times between Jan. & March 2015, unlawfully retained over N4.6 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful acts of stealing and corruption. In counts 15 to 17, Fani-Kayode and one Olubode Oke, who is said to be at large, were alleged to have made cash payments of about N30 million to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No 125, Lewis St., Igbosere, Lagos. The said payments were alleged to have been made in excess of amounts allowed by law without going through a financial institution. All offences were said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012. HEFEI, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Rounds of applause broke out as the first Chinese female astronaut Liu Yang shared her space adventure with students at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) on Monday. "I get excited every time I look up at the sky because I know we have a space home up there, which was built by our Chinese astronauts," said Liu when she shared China's manned space program achievements and her own stories and dreams. With the launch of China's Shenzhou-9 spacecraft in June 2012, Liu became the first Chinese female astronaut in space, spending 13 days there. In June 2022, she re-entered space 10 years later in China's Shenzhou-14 spaceship and completed multiple tasks, including the construction of the space station's T-shape structure with other crew members during their six-month mission. More than 500 students from different schools in Hefei, the capital of east China's Anhui Province, listened closely to the science popularization lecture on site, while many more participated in the event through live streaming in different parts of the country. "How do you overcome various challenges in work?" "How do astronauts drink water in space?" "What's your feeling when you first enter space?" Several students were lucky enough to be picked to ask Liu questions after the lecture. "I'm excited to attend this activity. Now I know what preparations and training astronauts need to make before going into space and what it is like to work in space," said Zhou Ziqi, 14, from the middle school attached to USTC. "About 270 students from our school attended the event today. Being the first female astronaut in China, Liu Yang proved that everyone can pursue their dreams regardless of gender," noted Sun Yan, a teacher from the middle school attached to USTC. "I believe the female students would be more confident in their decisions in the future," Sun added. The activity was a part of the celebration of Space Day of China, which falls on April 24 every year. In 2016, China selected this date to celebrate Space Day to honor the launch of its first satellite "Dongfanghong-1" into space on April 24, 1970. A fresh motion on notice seeking to stop president elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from being inaugurated as Nigeria President on May 29, 2023, has been instituted at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. The fresh suit marked CA/CV/259/2023 was instituted by a Presidential candidate in the 2019 Presidential election and constitutional lawyer, Chief Ambrose Albert Owuru and his political party, Hope Democratic Party (HDP). Owuru, who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1982, is praying the Court of Appeal in Abuja to prohibit President Muhammadu Buhari, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from inaugurating the 2023 President-elect on May 29. The politician, who participated in the 2019 presidential poll on the platform of Hope Democratic Party (HDP) wants Buhari, the AGF and the INEC stopped from taking any further steps on the 2023 presidential election that produced Tinubu as winner. READ MORE: Suspended Members Conspiring To Sabotage Peter Obis Case At Tribunal Labour Party Owuru, who claimed to be adjudged constitutional winner of the 2019 presidential election predicated his grouse against inauguration of Tinubu or anybody else as successor to Buhari on the ground that he is the constitutionally adjudged winner of the 2019 election and has not spent his tenure as required by law. Among others, Owuru insisted that President Buhari has been usurping his tenure of office since 2019 because the Supreme Court has not determined his petition filed in 2019 in which he challenged the purported declaration of Buhari as the election winner. In his motion on notice marked CA/CV/259/2023 just filled at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, Owuru applied for An order of prohibitory injunction compelling Buhari, AGF and INEC, their servants, agents and privies to preserve and give due cognizance and abstain from any further undertaking or engaging in any act of usurpation of adjudged acquired Constitutional rights and mandate as winner of the 2019 presidential election. He also applied for another order directing and placing on notice that any form of handover inauguration, organized and Superintended by Buhari on 29th May 2023 outside the adjudged winner of the 2019 presidential election, subject of the pending appeal, remains and is viewed as an interim place holder administration pending the hearing and determination of his substantive appeal on constitutional interpretation thereof. Listed as respondents in the motion on notice are President Muhammadu Buhari, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 3rd, respectively. The motion on notice filed on his behalf by Mr Odion Peter has been served on President Buhari and AGF through their counsel, Mrs Maimuna Lami Ashiru of the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, while that of the INEC was served through the Head of Legal Department and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr S. O Ibrahim. Meanwhile, the motion is supported with an 8-paragraph affidavit praying the Court of Appeal for expeditious hearing before the inauguration of Tinubu. The affidavit deposed to by an Abuja based legal practitioner, Adebayo Anafowode and filed at the Court of Appeal in Abuja expressed apprehension that Owurus suit against Buhari would be rendered nugatory unless given quick hearing. Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for hearing of the suit by the Court of Appeal. An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced one Mr Ismaila Ojo to death by hanging for strangulating a man, Kareem Adu, to death over a motorcycle. Ojo was charged to court and found guilty on a charge of murder, which was committed on May 13, 2018. READ ALSO: Meat Seller Slumps, Dies On Duty In Lagos In the judgment, Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi said that having carefully considered and weighed the evidence adduced before the court, it is my finding that the defendant caused the death of the deceased by holding and pressing his neck and throat. On the whole, I find the defendant guilty as charged. You (the defendant) are hereby sentenced to be hanged on the neck until you die, the judge pronounced. Earlier, the police prosecutor, Inspector Tunde Arowosola, had told the court that one Mrs Agnes Adu came to the station with the complaint that her husband had been killed at Odo-Uro by one Ismaila Ojo over an ownership disputation and physical tussle in respect of a Hajue motorcycle. Arowosola said the woman had alleged that the defendant (Ojo) strangulated the deceased to death. Also, a police operative, Inspector Lasis Bashiru, who testified before the court, said, The defendant confessed to the crime that on May 13, 2018, when he was taking his bath inside a bathroom, Adu (the deceased) came to take a motorcycle which he parked in front of his house. Bashiru added that the defendant said that after finishing his bath, he went to Adus house and met him sleeping. The defendant, however, claimed that he neither intended nor caused Adus death as the two of them merely fought while none of them carried or used any weapon or hard object during the fight, he had told the court. Former Big Brother Naija reality TV star and business mogul, Leo Babarinde Dasilva has said many Ajah residents would be rendered homeless if the Lagos State Government decides to allocate the land to its rightful owners. According to him, the state government has already bought Ajah. Leo disclosed this while featuring as a guest on the recent episode of The Honest Bunch audiovisual podcast co-hosted by actor, Nedu. READ ALSO: BBNaija Star, Leo DaSilva Raises Alarm Over Thriving Organ Harvesting Ring In Nigeria He warned Lagosians against buying properties in Ajah, stressing that it is government-owned. He said, Ajah is a resettlement scheme. Its already sold. Its government-owned. I have documents. My father owns five thousand square meters whenever its ready to be allocated. He bought it in 1993. So, it has not even yet been allocated. Whenever we have a governor or government that is ready to go through that stress of allocating those properties, most of the people there are going to be homeless. Before you buy a property in that area, I will advise that you use your surveyor to find out. They buy a house N100m in that place, they go to Alausa, they tell them everything is fine. But the day that the government wants to do the right thing and allocate those properties to the people that rightfully own itIt happened in Magodo na. And what did they tell them? Government properties. Media adviser to Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Valentine Obienyem, has said his principal did not spew no serious leader will go on vacation. Recall that on Sunday, the former Anambra State governor who joined the Muslim community to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr at the Central Mosque in Onitsha, Anambra, said with Nigerias current situation, no serious leader will go to rest, hence he cannot go on vacation. Obienyem, in a statement on Tuesday, said Obi was asked by journalists at the event why he was not taking the holidays to rest. According to Obienyem, Obis response was: Well, those who need rest should have rest. Those of us who dont need rest should continue to work. READ ALSO: I Cant Rest, No Serious Leader Should Rest With Nigerias Situation Peter Obi Mocks Tinubu He stated Obis statement was misinterpreted by some sections of the media who reported him as saying that no serious leader will go on rest. For me, politics is not about the office; its about helping to get a better society. If you are in politics because of office, its wrong. Politics is about the good of the society. As I am leaving here, I am going to the hospital to support people in the hospital. Thats what politics is about, Obienyem quoted Obi as saying. Obienyem furthered he was unsure where the media organisations that published the quote got it from, adding that it is part of the ploy to make sure the former Anambra state governor is dragged into every controversy to distract attention and remove his focus on the issue and on the mission of rescuing Nigeria. Parents waiting and candidates sitting for the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) at the State III Elele, Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State, were on Tuesday enraged over their fate as several issues marred the exercise. According to reports from Vanguard, at about 6.30a.m., when the network failure shut out the first set of candidates from taking the Computer Based Test (CBT), the sets for 9.30a.m. and 12.30p.m. equally failed to access the system to take the two-hour examination. My son registered in Port Harcourt among the earliest candidates and to be candid, I never felt comfortable with the arrangement when his details printout mentioned Elele, two local government areas apart from Port Harcourt where he registered, an unidentified frustrated parent said. READ ALSO: Many Ladies Nowadays Prepare More For The Wedding Day, Than The Marriage, Says Pastor Mike Bamiloye The parent added, You wont believe it, we had to come the night before and stayed in a hotel. We live in Port Harcourt and he was scheduled for the very first set at 6.30 am. I never knew JAMB of today fixes exams for as early as 6.30 am in centres far from a candidates place of residence. And this morning, getting here much before 6.30 am, the children have been made to wait, that there is a network failure they would rectify. But the sets of 9.30 am and 12.30 pm have come in to meet the same challenge. My neighbour has confirmed her daughter who wrote at a Port Harcourt centre has returned home. How frustrating can it get? However, after hours of waiting to no avail, one of the officials handling the centre told the angered candidates and parents, We will send you text messages on when you will be rescheduled to take your exams. You can all go home. Also lamenting via twitter, Information Nigeria gathered that a lot of candidates in Rivers had issues sitting for the examinations. One @officialtgee01 tweeted, My sis was unable to write her JAMB today in John Wesley ICT centre Bori, Rivers States. Her exam was slated for 9:00, the generator broke down just before her time started and wasnt fixed till her time elapsed. What is her fate? Another @RuthEnyadike wrote, Over 200 students didnt write their jamb today because of poor planning (no power supply, generator was going on and off) at John Wesley Ict center 99/105, bori khana LGA. RIVERS STATE. Im one of those who didnt write today. Spokesman, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Fabian Benjamin, when contacted said, All the candidates should wait. The person in charge of that centre would address the problem and if not reschedule those affected for another day. They will surely take the exam. A Kogi State High Court sitting in Okene has sentenced a fake Pastor, Peter Micheal Michonza to eight years imprisonment for operating an illegal medical facility in Okene Local Government of the State. Hon. Justice Abdullahi Umar gave the judgment in Okene on Tuesday, April 25. Peter Micheal Michonza was operating an illegal psychiatric home, camping young women, resulting in the deaths of pregnant women and young girls. READ ALSO: 32-Year-Old Woman Sentenced To 15 Years Imprisonment For Drug Trafficking In Lagos Reacting to the court judgment, the Chairman of Okene Local Government, Engr. Abdulrazaq Muhammad lauded the judiciary for upholding the laws of the land and sanitizing the society against evils and criminalities by men who in some cases operated under the cover of religious and humanitarian activities. The Council boss advised the people to always patronize only registered medical facilities as religious houses are not licensed to diagnose or carry out any form of medical treatment. He warned people, especially youths to learn from this and always engage in legal and productive ventures. Monica Mensem, president of Nigerias Court of Appeal, has directed Ebonyi State Election Petition Tribunal to move to the Federal Capital Territory. Justice Mensem gave the directive through the secretary of the Tribunal, Nyior Henry Sekulla. READ ALSO: Ebonyi Police Declare APGA Governorship Candidate Wanted Announcing this in Abakaliki on Wednesday, Sekulla maintained that following the directive the election petition Tribunal office at the Ebonyi State Judiciary Headquarters in Abakaliki has shut down with immediate effect. He said: The Honourable Justice Monica Dongban Mensem, President Court of Appeal HPCA has through the Deputy Chief Registrar, Election Petition Tribunal (EPT) Headquarters Abuja, directed the relocation of EPT sitting here to FCT Abuja Therefore, in compliance with the HPCA directives, the petitioners, counsel to parties and general public is hereby informed via this medium that, the EPT sitting here in Abakaliki thereby cease to operate in Abakaliki as at 26-04-23; filings of processes, taking of proceedings etc. shall henceforth continue at Abuja. On the reason for the decision to move the Tribunal to Abuja, said it is not within his powers to speak on the reasons. He however noted that the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal and that of one other state are also affected by the development. The Labour Party (LP) has raised an alarm over plots by one of its factions to scuttle its ongoing case challenging the electoral process that led to the declaration of the All Progressives Congress Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president-elect. Obiora Ifoh, LPs acting national publicity secretary, disclosed the plot via a statement, in Abuja, on Tuesday. Recall that the Party, LPs presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed are currently in court seeking the nullification of Tinubus mandate before the Presidential Election Tribunal. But, a faction of the Party, under the leadership of its suspended deputy national chairman, Lamidi Apapa, through its legal representative has approached the tribunal seeking to discontinue the legal challenge. Ofoh said, Daily, the evil intention of the breakaway faction of the Labour Party, led by the suspended Deputy National Chairman, Lamidi Apapa continues to manifest and just this morning, our legal team was confronted by the stark revelation that these men have advanced their plot by approaching all the tribunals where our numerous candidates lodged their election petitions arising from the recently held general election. Alongside Lamidi Apapa on the plot to frustrate Labour Partys destined victory in the tribunals and also to derail the fledging democracy are some of the suspended members including the Samuel Akingbade, Gbenga Daramola, Anselem Eragbe and Abayomi Arabambi erstwhile National Legal Adviser, National Financial Secretary, National Youth Leader and National Publicity Secretary respectively amongst others. Recall that the leadership of the Labour Party has been swimming through the murky waters of conspiracy, treachery and sabotage orchestrated by these former officers of the party. We had long suspected that moles were planted to sabotage the efforts of the party to offer Nigerians an alternative to the wicked and clueless governance in place today, but the desperation to satisfy their pay master are beginning to threaten our common peace and of course our democracy. Approaching the tribunals to withdraw all the cases lodged by Labour Party candidates across board is the height of subterfuge and treachery, and Nigerians will resist this ploy to plunge the nation into unnecessary turmoil. READ ALSO: Ex-National Youth Leader, Others Working For APC To Destabilise Us Labour Party Alleges Compromise Their actions show that they are working against the party and that they are working to destroy the party. If they claim that they have a problem with the national leadership of the party, will they also claim that they have a problem with the candidates of the party? What offence has the candidates of the party committed that they are now moving around to withdraw their matters from the tribunal. He added that, The leadership of the Labour Party is therefore calling on the tribunals to disregard any letter emanating from our suspended National Legal Adviser, Samuel Akingbade to the effect that all our cases are to be withdrawn. We are also calling on the presidential election tribunal to disregard such letters from these ex-officials of our party asking for the withdrawal of HE Peter Obis petition. We also call on the Police, DSS and EFCC to quickly apprehend and question these agents of destruction before they succeed in igniting the nation. Meanwhile, the Partys leadership loyal to Julius Abure, the embattled national chairman, equally noted that the appointment of Ifoh followed due process as enshrined in the Partys constitution. The statement read further, All stakeholders including the state chairmen and their secretaries, Zonal officers, owners and trustees of the party including NLC and TUC, some elected members of the party, as well as the leader and presidential candidate of the party amongst others, met in Asaba on April 18, where I was elected as the National Publicity Secretary due to the vacancy that occurred after the expulsion of the former National Publicity Secretary in line with the powers conferred on it. Article 14(2) b Section XIV of the Labour Party Constitution on the Powers and Function of the NEC states To fill vacancies in the NWC as they may occur from time to time in between National Convention; Also Section XV states; To take disciplinary action against any member or organ of the party as it may seem fit in the interest of the party. All relevant government agencies including NEC were present where I was unanimously elected. It is even ludicrous that an imposter who committed a crime and forged signatures upon which he has been suspended over six months ago and for him to turn around to be calling people imposter, I wonder who is the imposter here. Hudu Yunusa Ari, suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has given reasons he controversially announced the Adamawa State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Aishatu Dahiru (Binani), as the winner of the election. The REC explained his role in a letter sent to the Nigeria Police and also the director-general of the State Security Service (SSS), National Security Adviser (NSA), and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Ari, who is in hiding, through the lengthy missive accused two national commissioners, Baba Bila and Abdullahi Zuru, who had been tasked to assist him with the supplementary election on March 15, of secretly working with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the results. According to him, he belatedly uncovered that the INEC officials held secret meetings with Governor Ahmadu Fintiri at the Government House Yola at about 8:31 p.m. on Friday, the night before the election, where they perfected plans to change the collation officers and alter the election results. The legal practitioner said that on election day, the States commissioner of police informed him of a plot that exposed how some politicians had hired Boko Haram terrorists to snatch ballot boxes and disrupt the polls. According to him, in an update the same day, the police said the security threats were still high as the insurgents had planned to attack various local governments to disrupt collation. He said in the four-page letter that he was advised to move the collation from local government areas to the States INEC headquarters, of which he complied and directed all ad-hoc staff conduct collation at the commissions headquarters office in Dougirei, Yola. Ari however said he did not realize that the two assisting national commissioners had plans of their own as they quietly and secretly gave out conflicting counter directives to the electoral officers, adding that the counter-directives also stated that collation should be done in the local government areas with new local government collation officers that he was not aware of. READ ALSO: Suspended Adamawa REC, Yunusa-Ari Reportedly Flown Out Of Yola In Private Jet This is without my knowledge or authorisation as the Resident Electoral Commissioner as recognized by laws establishing INEC and Electoral Act, Yunusa said. He later discovered that Bila and Zuru allegedly defied his order and quietly collated results at local governments using self-appointed, unapproved and illegal collation officers. The REC furthered that while he was preparing for State collation, he was shocked to learn that his name had not only been excluded but replaced with that of the administrative secretary to take charge of collation. He questioned the assisting national commissioners but got no explanation. Instead, they declared that I was nowhere to be found. Yunusa added that he was placed under house arrest by security officers from the Government House Yola and the police commissioner deployed mobile officers to rescue him. His words: It took the intervention of the commissioner of police who sent mobile policemen to my house, and when they heard a call was made to the CP, the policemen from Government House fled in a white Toyota Hilux van. But as at 1:00 a.m. on April 16, Ari said he went to the collation centre where Bila and Zuru were resting to remind them he was still the States REC and that all stakeholders for the re-run election should return to the collation centre by 11:00 a.m. later that day. Upon reviewing results uploaded on the INEC results viewing portal, he said he discovered discrepancies as the results on the portal were different because the results on the INEC portal were not signed by me. Ari said he summoned a meeting of security chiefs, including the police commissioner, SSS, commandant of the Civil Defence and others, to conclude the supplementary elections and prevent a breakdown of law and order. After compiling the results, he found Binani to be the candidate with the most valid votes and subsequently declared her winner of the Adamawa governorship elections. READ ALSO: Binani Withdraws Suit Against INEC It was based on this that I compiled all the polling unit results and declared the winner of the election based on the highest number of valid votes scored by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani, Ari wrote in the letter received by Peoples Gazette. He added: The breakdown of the valid votes scored by the two leading candidates in the supplementary election using the results from the polling units as collated into all relevant Forms EC8B, C, D, and E respectively by properly and legally appointed and recognized collation officers and my humble self as Adamawa state Chief Collation Officer and Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC). He said his declaration led thugs loyal to the PDP to descend on the two other INEC commissioners for failing to alter the election results to favour the incumbent governor despite accepting bribes from his team. So, immediately after the declaration, some PDP supporters attacked one of the National Commissioners, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, and the Returning Officer, Prof. Muhammed Mele, for failing to deliver Mr. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri in the election after collecting money from him, Ari said. Ari also alleged that one SSS operative who knew about the bribes given to the national commissioners was also overpowered, disarmed, and whisked to the Government House, where he was assaulted by police and thugs loyal to PDP. He however defended his decision to declare Binani winner of the polls to be well within his rights as contained in the Electoral Act 2022. I want to categorically say that my action is within the responsibility vested on me and within the ambit law, particularly of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended, he said. Meanwhile, INECs spokesman, Festus Okoye, reacting in a statement, said Yunusa Ari should turn himself in to the commission or police, who already have a file outlining the offenses he committed in the line of duty. Okoye said: He should report and answer to the electoral infractions and make his allegations, and it should form part of police investigation. The commission is not interested in his fictional letters from hiding. If he has a narration, he should make them to the police. Alternatively, he can report to the commission, and the commission will take him to the police. Three policemen have reportedly died in a motor accident which occurred along Kidanda, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. According to Daily Trust, the incident occurred around 9pm on Sunday, April 23, while they were travelling to Giwa LGA after participating in the Eid-el-Fitri Hawan Dauche celebration in Zaria city. READ ALSO: Police Kill Suspected Kidnapper, Nab Two, Rescue Cleric In Ebonyi It was gathered that one of the tyres of the car they were travelling in exploded at Sako village, Kidanda ward, resulting in the death of the three officers. Three others were injured and rushed to a hospital for medical attention. DSP Mohammed Jalige, the State Police Command Public Relations Officer, confirmed the accident and prayed for the deceased officers while wishing the injured quick recovery. Many organizations reach a stage in their growth where the monolithic applications that once served them well start to hold them back. Perhaps the business needs new functionality that the existing architecture cant support, or more flexible ways to store and access data for their apps. Team growth, conflicting performance requirements, and new competitive technologies can also pose a challenge to a singular, monolithic codebase. Adopting an event-driven microservices architecture can help you address these challenges. Microservices overcome the limitations of monolithic apps by dividing those apps into small, purpose-built services, which can be custom tailored to the business problem theyre meant to solve. They provide you with the freedom to choose your own programming languages, frameworks, and databases as you see fit. Microservices can remodel, manage, and store data according to their own needs, providing you with complete control over how best to solve your business problems. In an event-driven microservices architecture, systems communicate by producing and consuming events. These event-driven services consume events from input event streams (such as Apache Kafka topics) and apply their specific business logic, emitting their own output events, providing data for request-response access, communicating with a third-party API, or performing other required actions. I wrote a book on this topic if youd like a deeper dive. In this article I will cover the key points you need to know to get started. Are event-driven microservices right for you? If youre considering an event-driven microservices architecture, the first step is to ensure its something your company needs. Like many technology decisions, there are trade-offs. Monolithic apps are generally tightly coupled to their data store, providing fast data access to other internal functions. But they serve that data according to the internal data model, providing performance and access according to the underlying technology. For example, a key-value store makes for a lousy relational database, and neither is a good substitute for storing loosely structured documents. One of the most common signs that you may be ready for event-driven microservices is if you find yourself writing (or using) bulk-export data APIs. Similarly, if youre writing periodic polling jobs to pull data from one database to put into another. These are examples of an ad hoc data communication layer. You dont actually need the business functionality of the monolith associated with that data, but you simply need the data, most likely to get on with the business of writing your own new business functionality. Historically, youd commonly find this pattern when extracting data from online transaction processing (OLTP) systems to do online analytical processing (OLAP). But with the massive growth in data, performance requirements, and business needs, these same extraction and loading patterns are now prevalent for any operational system that simply needs common business data to do its function. Event-driven microservices provide a way to access both historical and new data in the form of an append-only immutable log of events. Event-driven microservices are also an excellent solution when you need to provide multiple departments and teams with access to the same set of data in a consistent way. For example, if sales data is packaged as an event stream, the analytics team can simply subscribe to it and be confident theyre using the same exact sales data that the fulfillment team is seeing. The event streams provide the basis for the data communication layer, eliminating the tangled web of point-to-point, ad hoc, purpose-built connections and replacing them with a single set of streams for easy consumption. Take advantage of modern cloud services Each new service you create (micro or otherwise) requires a deployment pipeline, container management, monitoring, and scaling services. Dozens of microservices will require more overhead and management than a single monolithic service. This overhead is known as the microservices tax. Streamlining and automating your operations will help reduce the cost but this has historically required a significant investment to achieve. Nowadays, we can rely much more heavily on managed cloud services to reduce the microservices tax. Deploying, managing, monitoring, and scaling Dockerized services on Kubernetes is extremely common and easy to do in this day and age. Similarly, creating and managing Kafka topics through cloud services, like Confluent Cloud, is easier than ever. Pay close attention to the differences between managed and fully managed services. Choosing fully managed services lets you get on with the business of actually running your business, outsourcing all of the maintenance, monitoring, scaling, and security requirements to your service provider. Relying on cloud services lets you prototype and experiment with microservices without paying any microservices taxes up front. You can simply try them out and adopt the pieces and technologies that help you best. Start small and build on existing systems Moving to a microservices architecture shouldnt be a rip-and-replace exercise. Start by identifying a specific use case that meets a real business need. For example, you might need to source and remodel data from four different relational tables in one database to power the new document-based search functionality. How do you integrate existing non-streaming data sources into an event-driven architecture? Kafka Connect is an excellent option for bootstrapping database tables into their own event streams. You can connect to a whole host of on-prem and cloud databases, snapshot historical data, filter data, mask columns, and more. Your source database remains independent of Kafka Connect, letting you incrementally source important business data without affecting existing systems. You can build your microservices incrementally while maintaining the original monolithic application for as long as you need. Its not a question of either/orits about exposing the additional data and functionality you need at a speed that makes sense for the business. Build microservices aligned to business needs Design your microservices to solve specific, closely related business problems, as similar problems tend to require similar data. Aligning your microservices with business problems means that your microservices are unlikely to need to change unless your business changes. For example, an e-commerce business could have one microservice that deals with payments, another that deals with inventory management, and a third that deals with shipping. Any changes made to the shipping workflow will only affect the shipping microservice. Aligning your microservice boundaries with business use cases reduces the risk of unintentional or incidental changes, as the functionality is encapsulated in one service. In more complex use cases, its not uncommon to have a business workflow span multiple microservices, though any atomic operations should remain within a single service for consistency. Keep your microservice count low A microservice doesnt need to be tiny. In fact, you may find it helpful to think of a microservice as simply a dedicated service for a subset of business problems. One of the main pitfalls that many people fall into is building microservices for every single piece of functionality, often ending up with hundreds or thousands of services! The goal of an event-driven microservices architecture is not to build as many services as possible, but rather to enable dedicated solutions using the right tools for the job. When adding business functionality, see if you can reasonably integrate it with an existing service first. If you can add functionality in a way that seems like a reasonable extension to an existing service, it may make sense to do that instead of building a new, possibly unnecessary service. For example, expanded inventory management functionality should be within the inventory management microservice, and not in yet another similar-yet-different microservice. Not everything needs to be a microservice from day one. One reasonable design choice is to prototype a solution using a modular monolith framework with healthy API boundaries and separation of concerns. You can treat the entire prototype monolith as a single (large) microservice, reading from event streams and writing as necessary. Once your business use cases harden and become clearer, you can split off select modules into their own microservices as necessary. Introduce new microservices only when necessary, and dont forget that less is more, particularly when starting out. Use a catalog to keep track of event streams and services As you create more microservices and event streams, youll need some way to manage, discover, and track usage and metadata. A catalog serves two primary functions: Discovering who owns an event stream, what data it contains, and what schema and structure it uses. Discovering what microservices already exist, who owns them, and what event streams (and APIs) they are responsible for. You can catalog metadata with something as simple as a shared spreadsheet when starting out. As your business grows, youll really need to move to a dedicated metadata service. Apache Atlas is a common open-source choice, though an easier answer is to look to your cloud service providers for a solution (such as Confluent Clouds Stream Catalog). Create a toolbox of approved tools, languages, and frameworks One of the advantages of event-driven microservices is that it opens the door to a wider choice of technologies, including various programming languages, frameworks, databases, and tools. This is great for innovation and accessibility but can become a problem if developers use too many different technologies, especially lesser-known or flavor-of-the-month selections. To remedy this, get your key stakeholders together and decide on the toolbox of technologies that youll support. This shouldnt be overly restrictive, but you dont want to support tools and technologies unnecessarily because it increases cost, complexity, and management overhead. Application templates, code generators, event generators, testing frameworks, monitoring frameworks, and programming languages are just some examples of things youll find in the toolbox. If a developer wants to stray outside of the toolbox, make sure they have a good reason to do sofor example, to achieve some desired business functionality that they cant create any other way. In this case, use their experience as a case study for expanding the toolbox to include the new option. However, be careful, as every new addition requires efforts to support. As a general rule, your goal should be to make it as easy as possible for developers to build and maintain the microservices your organization needs. You could even create a quick-start function that generates a GitHub repo with the skeleton for a service, builds the test framework, and so on. Take advantage of full integration and unit testing Event-driven microservices lend themselves well to full integration and unit testing. As the predominant form of input to an event-driven microservice, events can be easily composed to cover a wide range of inputs and corner cases. Event schemas constrain the range of values that need to be tested and provide the necessary structure for composing input test streams. You can usually black box test your microservice by loading the inputs with certain events and see what results are produced. For Kafka-specific events, Kafka has a built-in, Java-based, in-memory test broker. By starting the broker, you can programmatically generate events and evaluate the results produced. For container-based microservice integration tests, you can either spin up your own containerized parallel Kafka instance, or simply plug into a cloud cluster. Produce and consume your events, then strip everything down at the end. For unit testing, microservices are similar to most other application architectures. Use unit tests and test all of your functions to make sure that the outputs match the expected outputs. Unit tests are critical for making sure that your application works the first time you deploy it, and for protecting against any unintentional chances. Event streams meet diverse needs Event-driven communication is not new, but the needs of most modern organizations have changed. Data sets have gotten much larger, and singular monoliths are rarely enough to handle all the complex and diverse needs of the modern organization. Event-driven microservices provide a powerful, flexible way to meet todays requirements. Event streams form the basis of data communication, providing a reliable source of truth for other services to consume and use as they see fit. Meanwhile, microservices provide the flexibility and choice to use the right tools for solving business problems. And todays modern cloud services mean youll spend far less time working on the platform, and way more time working on the problems. I hope this guide has provided you with the basics youll need to get started with this incredibly powerful and flexible model in your own organization. Adam Bellemare is staff technologist in the office of the CTO at Confluent. New Tech Forum provides a venue to explore and discuss emerging enterprise technology in unprecedented depth and breadth. The selection is subjective, based on our pick of the technologies we believe to be important and of greatest interest to InfoWorld readers. InfoWorld does not accept marketing collateral for publication and reserves the right to edit all contributed content. Send all inquiries to newtechforum@infoworld.com. Its 9:00 Monday morning, and you arrive at the office for your first week of hybrid work to learn that your cloud application has been shut down by the security team. You later find out that the security team leader did not feel respected enough during the development process and went to the CIO and got your stuff shuttered until he or she could issue approval. It caused a three-week delay in launching a needed cloud-based system. A normal response to this situation would be anger, but you likely made mistakes here. Clearly, there was some requirement or policy that you needed approval from the security team, but you chose not to get it. Of course, the security team knows nothing about cloud-based systems and security, so you figured they would be no help. Maybe thats true. However, the end result is wasted time and money negatively impacting the business. Unfair to you? Perhaps, but that really does not matter. People setting up cloud-based platforms and running cloud-based applications often attempt to circumvent office politics. The result is usually the same: Others in the organization push back and screw up your cloud computing plans. To understand the effects of organizational politics and cloud computing progress, lets look at some fundamental issues: Control and ownership. Cloud computing can challenge traditional power structures within an organization. The IT department may feel threatened by cloud services because they may reduce ITs control over the organizations technology infrastructure. Similarly, business units may seek to adopt cloud services without consulting IT, leading to conflicts over control and ownership of technology resources. This is about 70% to 80% of the issues that Im seeing out there (see the example I started with). Adoption and resistance. The adoption of cloud services can create tension between early adopters and those who are resistant to change. Early adopters may feel frustrated by the resistance of others, while those who are resistant may feel excluded from decision-making processes and overwhelmed by the pace of change. The fix here is education and empathy. Im often in the middle between factions that both feel threatened by the pace of cloud adoption. One group believes that its too fast; the other believes its too slow. Both sides need to hear each other out and adapt a pace that seems reasonableand more importantly, that returns the most value back to the business. Integration and compatibility. Cloud services may not be compatible with existing IT systems, leading to conflicts over integration and data exchange. IT departments may feel pressured to adopt cloud services without sufficient consideration of their impact on existing systems. It often takes way longer than it should, but its important to consider interfaces carefully and work with system owners, even for systems built in the 70s and 80s. Also, the owners understand those systems better than you do, so its a good idea to bring them into the fold early. Security and privacy. Cloud services can raise concerns about security and privacy, particularly in industries that store sensitive data. Employees may be worried about the security of their personal data, while IT departments may be stressed about the security of company data stored in the cloud. Of course, cloud-based security has been better than traditional security for some time now. But thats not the perception, and youre dealing with perceptions, not realities. You must be empathetic. If people are worried about data existing outside of their physical control, they need to understand why this is okay, and how cloud makes things more secure. But do so in a friendly and non-condescending way. This one is near and dear to my heart, considering that Ive made huge mistakes in dealing with people over the years as we adopted new technologies. My approach was to blow by everyone, accomplish my objectives quickly, and ignore any pushback. After all, Im the guy who wrote books on this stuff, not you. Not the right approach, but I was young. This resulted in negative reactions that could have been avoided if I paid just a bit of attention to the feelings of others. I learned quickly to make people part of any cloud deployment plan, and its gone smoothly ever since. You need to consider peoples feelings as much as you consider the technology youre employing. For the first time in its more-than four decades on air, popular Philadelphia-based NPR talk show Fresh Air with Terry Gross is adding a cohost. Tonya Mosley, a correspondent and former host of the Boston-based news radio show Here & Now, has been named cohost of WHYYs Fresh Air, the station announced Wednesday. She will begin with the revered public radio program on May 1, a spokesperson said. Mosley who is also the creator and host of the award-winning Truth Be Told podcast, which explores Black liberation through multiple lenses has been a regular contributing interviewer on Fresh Air since 2021, speaking with actors Brooke Shields, Halle Berry, Michelle Yeoh, comedian Robin Thede, among others. Meanwhile, Gross, a fixture of the show since 1975, is not going anywhere and will remain on as Fresh Airs executive producer and host, said WHYY CEO and President Bill Marrazzo. Advertisement READ MORE: 'Fresh Air,' fresh forever: 30 years as national show, new digital archive Fresh Air listeners will be pleased to learn that Terry Gross role remains unchanged, Marazzo said in a statement. At the same time, we are adding another top-notch interviewer and host who brings her own distinctive voice and expertise to the program. In a statement, Gross said she is thrilled, and that Mosleys wide range of knowledge and experience, her warm inviting presence, and her ability to make a deep connection with guests, make her a perfect fit for our show. Mosley, a Detroit native, began her career as a television anchor, producer and correspondent, working in markets across the country, including Boston, Detroit, Louisville, Kentucky, and Seattle. Before joining Here & Now, Mosley served as a host and the Silicon Valley bureau chief for the NPR-affiliate KQED in San Francisco. She has also worked as a senior education reporter and host for WBUR, and television correspondent for Al Jazeera America. Mosley has won several awards for her journalism, including a 2016 Emmy award for her PBS series Beyond Ferguson, and a Washington State Association for Justice award for her reporting on conflicting reports from Seattle police in a murder investigation. Her public radio series, Black in Seattle, was commended by the National Association for Black Journalist, the Radio Television Digital News Association, and won an Edward R. Murrow Award. In 2015, Mosley was awarded the John S. Knight Fellowship at Stanford University, where she cocreated a curriculum for journalists on the implications of implicit bias, and cowrote an experimental study on the effects of protest coverage. Mosley, in a statement, called her new gig and the opportunity to work alongside Gross a tremendous honor. Terrys driveway moments have been like a beacon throughout my career, Mosley said. She has inspired me to use my deep curiosity to help us make sense of ourselves and each other. Fresh Air is unmatched in its ability to remind us of our humanity, and this opportunity to continue the work alongside Terry and the Fresh Air team is a dream come true. READ MORE: Terry Gross and Fresh Air team win Peabody award In 2022, Gross and Fresh Air won the Peabodys Institutional Award, which honors institutions for their enduring body of work and their iconic impact on both the media landscape and the public imagination. Gross began with Fresh Air in 1975, when the show was a local, daily interview and music program. In 1985, NPR began distributing a weekly half-hour version of the show nationwide. Two years later, Fresh Air grew again to a daily, one-hour nationally-distributed program. Today, the show is still produced from Philadelphias WHYY a station beset by turmoil and turnover in recent years and garners nearly 5 million radio listeners and 4 million podcast downloads each week, according to NPR. A Philadelphia jury on Friday awarded a $187 million medical malpractice verdict against the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Read more A Philadelphia jury on Friday awarded more than $180 million to a child born in 2018 with severe brain injuries at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, lawyers for the childs mother said. The award, part of which will be paid over the childs lifetime, is the largest ever by a jury in a Pennsylvania medical malpractice case, according to one industry source. The mothers lawsuit alleged that the child, now 5 years old, was injured because Penn doctors delayed performing a cesarean section even though they knew that the mother had an infection in her uterus. This injury was entirely avoidable, meaning had they delivered an hour before they did, this child would have avoided all neurological injury and would have been a normal, bouncy 5-year-old running around terrorizing the world, Briggs Bedigian, a lawyer at Gilman & Bedigian LLC who represented the family, said in an interview Tuesday. Advertisement The child has cerebral palsy, permanent brain damage, and substantial neurodevelopmental delays, making him completely dependent on others for care, according to court documents. Penns lawyers from Burns White argued that the childs brain injury occurred before his mother arrived at HUPs emergency department on Feb. 22, 2018, and that the mother received appropriate and timely care from doctors and other staff. We are disappointed in this verdict and continue to believe that appropriate medical care was provided. We plan to appeal this decision, Penn said in a statement Tuesday. Record-setting verdict Its the largest medical malpractice verdict in Pennsylvania, said Shanin Specter, cofounder of Kline & Specter PC, a prominent Philadelphia medical malpractice and catastrophic injury firm. The previous record was $100 million, awarded in 2000 for a child who suffered brain damage and the amputation of an arm because of a botched surgical procedure. If Fridays verdict survives an appeal, Penn, or its insurance firms, will not have to write a check for more than $180 million. Instead, the health system will be able to buy an annuity, a type of investment that will pay over time for the estimated $100 million cost of the childs care, Bedigian said. The cost of that annuity would likely be $30 million to $40 million over the childs lifetime, he said. The cost of care is based on a projection that the child will live 65 more years. If he does not, Penn would not have to pay the rest of the money, Bedigian said. Additional awards were pain and suffering, Bedigian said. The total award was $182.7 million, according to the verdict sheet filed Wednesday on the Court of Common Pleas docket. During the three-week trial, one area of contention was whether the child is in a vegetative state, as Penn contended. Bedigian and his partner in the case, Merritt Lentz, brought the child into the courtroom for no more than 20 minutes to show that wasnt true, Lentz said. The jury could see that he was responding to mom, so they could see the bond between mother and child, Lentz said. Julius Green, a former member of the PICPA who is now retired from the practice, visits Hallahan high school in Philadelphia to talk with students about careers in accounting. Read more Pennsylvania accounting firms are contending with a scarce talent market, and its driving small and medium-sized firms to rethink how they do business. Hiring is one of the greatest headaches facing local accounting firms, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Professional Accountants (PICPA) said in its latest report, released Wednesday, summarizing the state of the profession in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has seen the number of active CPA licenses decreasing, as the number of new licensees fails to keep up with the number of people retiring. The total number as of January 2022 was just over 25,000. The number of licensees statewide has been stuck around that number since 2019, when it had been growing by about 1,000 per year from 2013 to 2019. CPAs analyze financial records of individuals and organizations to make sure they are complying with financial regulations and advise them on key business decisions. A shortage of these professionals is creating roadblocks for smaller clients, who cant find someone to do that analysis in time for strict deadlines. Advertisement The local challenge is in line with a shortage of accountants across the U.S., as fewer people are sitting for the CPA exam nationally since 2016. Its now trickling down to certain regulated businesses, governments, and nonprofits that require auditing services. Every single accounting firm is challenged right now [with] more work than they can handle, Jennifer Cryder, CEO of the PICPA. Smaller organizations are not able to get the services they need because either the fees are so high they cant afford them, or nobody will take the work. In some cases, municipal governments are losing their credit ratings because they dont have anyone to audit their finances, so they struggle to get funding for planned projects. This month, S&P Global Ratings withdrew ratings for 64 local governments and utility systems that failed to file their financial information on time, Bloomberg reported earlier this week. Why recruiting accountants is difficult Flat year-over-year hiring is not sustainable: shifting demographics and career preferences mean more talent is leaving the profession than is coming in, the PICPAs report said. A large part of the problem is a mismatch between the traditional accounting workforce model and the preferences of recent generations, Cryder said. The profession is losing great talent at that mid-tier level because there are other options that offer better balance, better salary. During the pandemic, salaries were growing faster in other professional services such as finance and marketing, while fields such as private equity continued to offer greater incentives for midlevel professionals than accounting did. Most firms that increased hiring last year did so at the entry level, PICPAs report said, following the traditional pattern. Public accounting firms generally employ an up or out model for employee progression, Cryder said, starting with a large cohort of entry-level accountants each year that gradually thins out while the strongest ones advance. In recent years, she said, a many young accountants are jumping off that ladder earlier than previous generations had done. The premium really kicks in at the highest levels when youre an owner, a partner, or shareholder, Cryder said. I talked to many students who are entry-level staff at firms who say, I am not gonna wait 10, 15, 20 years to see that gigantic premium someday in the future. Building a pipeline While many firms are increasing pay to get the employees they need, smaller firms arent doing so as much as larger ones. While 62% of midsize accounting firms surveyed by PICPA increased starting salaries last year, just 35% of small firms did so. For existing employees, 71% of midsize firms gave larger-than-usual raises last year, only 41% of small firms did so. The vast majority of firms surveyed are turning to more flexible work arrangements as a way to attract staff and keep others from leaving. Back before remote work was common in professional services jobs, public accountants were already accustomed to working wherever a client needed them. Accounting firms were really ahead of the curve and flexibility, Cryder said. But just because we were ahead of the curve, doesnt mean that we should stop. The difficulty in hiring enough accountants has pushed some firms to consider merging, PICPA found. Its also motivating them to lean into technology improvements, but thats something they should be doing anyway, Cryder noted. Most of what I did the first couple of years in my career, technology does all of it today, Cryder said. That could be a good thing for the industrys talent problem, she noted, because it means that new hires get to the more interesting analytical work earlier in their careers. Cryder said the PICPA has been working on getting more young people interested in the accounting career path, sending CPAs to schools in the Philadelphia area to familiarize young people with the opportunities available in accounting and how to get the necessary education. But, she said, firms will still have to rethink their business models, particularly on salary, to stay competitive among other fields that require similar education and offer wealth more immediately. Making that investment is a tough task, when theyre also spending more on technology, and potentially giving up clients to keep workloads manageable a lose-lose for accounting firm revenue and the ex-clients who are now faced with new obstacles. When accounting firms are struggling with talent ... these impacts that we have in the capital markets start to become challenged, which is a really big deal, Cryder said. At the end of the day, we need a strong and diverse pipeline of CPAs coming into the profession. We explain Disney's feud with Gov. Ron DeSantis the most Disney way possible. Read more Disney is suing Gov. Ron DeSantis (R., Fla.), claiming that the Republican with sights on a presidential run is spearheading a targeted campaign of government retaliation. Disney officials say the governors retaliation is fueled by the companys opposition to DeSantis Parental Rights in Education law, known by critics as Dont Say Gay. The lawsuit was filed in Tallahassee shortly after a Disney World oversight board, which was appointed by DeSantis, voted to void a deal that would ensure theme park design and construction decisions remained in Disneys control. Its the latest chapter of a yearslong series of events between Disney and DeSantis that feels downright cinematic. So to explain whats going on, were breaking down significant moments the best way we know how as Disney movie plotlines. DeSantis signs Dont Say Gay as explained by Pocahontas In March 2022, despite vocal opposition from Floridas LGBT community, DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Education Act, prohibiting instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom. The laws language is intentionally vague, critics say, in turn silencing educators on all topics related to gender identity and affirmation. Because of the harm that critics said it could cause queer students, the law quickly earned the nickname Dont Say Gay. This is kind of like in Pocahontas, where Gov. Ratcliffe signs a law that lets his men mine for gold on Indigenous land. The law leads to conflict and built-up tension between the settlers and natives. In a similar vein, fans and employees of Disney which hosts Pride events and, as a brand, centers on identity affirmation urged company leaders to speak out against DeSantis new law, particularly because of the financial power Disney has. Advertisement Disney and its Orlando-area Walt Disney World are a major source of Florida tourism and economic traction. Disney speaks out against Dont Say Gay as explained by The Lion King While Disney was silent at first, officials eventually denounced the law after public pressure and walkouts from fans and employees. Then-CEO Bob Chapek publicly criticized Dont Say Gay. It could be used to unfairly target gay, lesbian, nonbinary, and transgender kids and families, Chapek said at the time. In The Lion King, when Scar becomes king, he quickly brings in policies that his constituents dont agree with and say could be harmful. Notably, he grants hyenas hunting rights in the Pride Lands, which leads to desertification and drought. In response, Simba returns to the Pride Lands and speaks out against Scars leadership. He ultimately leads a rebellion and becomes king himself. DeSantis introduces a bill to gain more power over Disney as explained by Frozen Before DeSantis became governor, Disney and the Florida House signed an agreement that allowed it to operate independently, controlling most future construction and other big decisions. The agreement removed Disneys need to ask boards to approve high-density projects or buildings of any height. The agreement is in effect until perpetuity or until 21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of Englands King Charles III. It also prevents DeSantis board from using Disneys name or branding without the companys permission. But Monday, a DeSantis-appointed oversight board voted to nullify the agreement. And before that, DeSantis signed legislation last April following the company speaking out against Dont Say Gay, that stripped Disney of its special tax zone district, which was established in 1967 and gave Walt Disney World the same municipal authority as a county government. DeSantis new bill would give Florida more oversight over future development within Disney World. Previously, Disney World functioned fairly independently from the state. Similarly, in Frozen, Queen Elsa isolates herself from the kingdom of Arendelle out of fear of her own icy powers. But once her powers are accidentally revealed, the town takes a sudden interest in her abilities. Disney says DeSantis moves are retaliatory as explained by The Little Mermaid Now, Disney claims that DeSantis gestures are motivated by an effort to retaliate against the company for initially speaking out. Theyre essentially saying that DeSantis is pulling a King Triton from The Little Mermaid. After he catches Ariel frequently visiting the human world and starting to fall for Prince Eric, King Triton punishes her by destroying her collection of human objects. In a similar vein, Disney says that DeSantis is destroying its established protocol. Whats next? DeSantis has promised additional retribution against Disney, according to the Associated Press, including proposals to enhance the states oversight of Disney World rides and floating the suggestion of building a prison nearby. In A Bugs Life, Hopper the grasshopper also imposes strict inspections where he ensures the bugs are collecting enough food for him the bugs eventually rebel against him. Unlike court scenes in Disney movies, which usually conclude within moments, if Disney and DeSantis go to court, it could take years to settle and cost the company and Florida government thousands, if not millions, of dollars, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Architects Thomas Keller and Henri Brooks (right) eat tacos from El Fuego in Washington Square Park. "I eat Mexican twice a week," Keller said. Read more Jacob Noble doesnt have many friends who eat in Italian restaurants. They go for Mexican or Chinese, said Noble, 24, a Langhorne guitar teacher. Italian cuisine is for eating sitting down, he added. Mexican and Chinese have more dishes that fit better with young peoples grab-and-go culture. The only portable Italian is pizza. Besides, he said, Mexican lends itself to be shared. Nachos are communal. And way more affordable. Advertisement Part of an intergenerational food revolution, Noble represents how Americans under 45 choose to eat these days. Millennials (ages 27 to 42) and those in Generation Z (ages 11 to 26) are the first to say that their favorite cuisines are Mexican and Chinese, breaking a decades-long pattern of Americans preferring Italian food, according to newly released findings from Datassential, Chicago-based restaurant-trend trackers. For years, 90% of baby boomers said they preferred Italian cuisine over all others. Even boomers parents in the Silent Generation (born 1928 to 1945) liked Italian best, noted Mike Kostyo, associate director and trendologist at Datassential. Millennials ranked Mexican over Italian, 82% to 79%, according to Datassential. Gen Zers listed Mexican first (75%), Chinese second (71%), and Italian third (70%). Experts offer numerous reasons for the ascendance of the taco and the dumpling over linguine from immigration patterns to trend-driving social media. Restaurant chain menus, especially, reflect the changing preferences. The presence of tacos on menus has increased by 24% in the last decade, Datessential reports. Ramen has gone from being on 0.9% of menus to 2.9% in that same period. Meanwhile, pizza has dropped from 37.5% of menus to 32.1% in the last decade, according to Dataessential. During the same time, the frequency of other Italian items on menus has also decreased, including lasagna (down 15%), ravioli (down 12%), and Italian sausage (down 9%). Im obsessed with weight and self-image, said Thomas Keller, 27, a Northern Liberties architect. And Italian food can be so carb-heavy. I eat Mexican twice a week. His colleague, Henri Brooks, 26, of South Philadelphia, said Mexican cuisine is so important to him, hed pick birria tacos as my last meal. Food cognoscenti note the difference between the hearty, red-gravy Italian American fare and Italian cuisine that includes Mediterranean staples like vegetables, beans, and fish. Importantly, millennials and Gen Zers were exposed to a diversity of foods when they were younger, making them more open to other cuisines than their parents or grandparents, said Susanna Fioratta, an anthropology professor at Bryn Mawr College. Indeed, when asked in 2020, Do you love to try new types of foods? more than 70% of millennials said yes, compared to 61% of Generation X respondents, and 56% of boomers, according to Shelley Balanko, senior vice president of the Hartman Group Inc., a Seattle-based company that studies food trends. Gen Z wasnt included. Youth is when people try on new things and identities, Balanko said. And, she added, the racially diverse millennial generation came into adulthood as food became more a part of pop culture. Meat and potatoes Immigration has long explained the changing accent of American cuisine, said Krishnendu Ray, food studies professor at New York University. In the 18th and 19th centuries, English, Irish, and German immigrants created the dominant template for American food, much of it raised on stolen native land, Ray said. That influence, which under-acknowledged the African American gustatory experience, is still seen today in Americas meat-and-potatoes bias. The next wave of immigrants (1880 to 1924), according to Ray, included 20 million Italians, Slavs, Jews, and Greeks. [Their] quintessentially ethnic food radically reshaped the American palate, with pizza, pierogies, gyros, and bagels all added to [already existent] Chinese food. Neither Chinese nor Mexican cooking is new to America. The first Chinese restaurants were established in 19th-century California, and the Southwests Latino food traditions date back forever, according to David Beriss, a University of New Orleans anthropologist and editor of the FoodAnthropology blog. Starting in the mid-1960s, however, 40 million Asians and Latinos emigrated to the United States, Ray said, creating a reconfiguration of American food as we know it. And we are still in the midst of this transformation. One result of the population influx is the current hybridization of cuisines, Ray said: Korean tacos in Los Angeles; Indian burritos in New York; Mexican pizza in Philadelphia. Fresh takes Social media along with celebrity influencers Instagram photos of their meals drive food trends among millennials and Gen Zers, said Hanna Garth, a Princeton University food anthropologist. People such as Detroit chef Jon Kung, with 1.7 million followers and 10 million views on TikTok and YouTube, play around and have fun with foods, Garth said. Kung is Chinese in origin, and tries new ingredients and puts different things together, like dan dan lasagna, or Hong Kong chicken and waffles. Theyre foods young people might be open to, Garth continued, and completely different from what Chinese food was in this country 100 years ago. Younger people are also delving into more Mexican cuisines, enjoying offerings beyond the taco Tuesdays of their middle-school days. Mexican food is very regional in style, said Michelle Zimmerman, who owns Las Bugambilias in Old City along with her husband, chef Carlos Molina. The restaurant features regional seafood dishes from Veracruz, she said. Young diners are attracted to Mexicos expansive culinary palate, Zimmerman said. Regional cooking also keeps things interesting in Italian food, said Sean Weinberg, chef and co-owner with his wife, Kelly, of Restaurant Alba in Malvern. The red-gravy Italian spots could be taking a hit, he said. But we arent worried if Italian slips to No. 2 or 3. In truth, no Italian restaurants are complaining if theyve dropped a bit in popularity, said Ben Fileccia, a director of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association. They know therell always be a spot for spaghetti and meatballs. Kathi Camp becomes emotional while talking about the death of her son, Diniar, at her home in Philadelphia, on March 21. Read more Kathi Camp called the Philadelphia Police Departments homicide unit almost every day for four months before the detective assigned to investigate her sons murder finally called her back. Camp was desperate to know whether police were any closer to locating Marcus Whitehead, the man wanted for killing her 26-year-old son, Diniar, in August. She felt as if her persistence had paid off when the detective said he would visit her South Philadelphia home with an update. So on that Monday in February, Camp stayed home from work. She moved all calls and appointments, and waited for him. But the detective never showed. Camp hasnt heard from anyone in the unit since, she said, and her calls continue to go unreturned. Leaving us in limbo is more harmful than the pain we already feel from losing our child, Camp said. Its like we dont matter. In Philadelphia, when someone is killed in a homicide, the lone victims assistance officer in the Police Departments Homicide Unit helps families coordinate initial logistics such as obtaining death certificates and applying for funeral reimbursement funds. But in the weeks, months, and sometimes years that follow, its largely the responsibility of homicide detectives to communicate with loved ones and update them on the investigation. Advertisement READ MORE: He returned to Philadelphia to bury his friend. That night, he was shot and killed. But many families say that rarely happens. Nearly a dozen families of homicide victims interviewed by The Inquirer described a lack of communication from the unit. Many said they call and send emails to detectives, but rarely hear back. Meetings and calls are promised but not fulfilled. Tiffaney Flynn, whose 19-year-old daughter Ojanae Thompson was killed in August 2021, said she didnt learn the assigned homicide detectives name until three months after her daughter died, and she met him for the first time in November 2022. A lack of communication between law enforcement and families of victims is not a new issue, and its not unique to Philadelphia, victims services experts said. It represents a widespread reluctance to invest in adequate care for victims, experts said, and there are solutions. They dont seem to have a procedure, said Chantay Love, founding director of Every Murder Is Real, a support group for Philadelphia families impacted by homicide. They know theres an issue but they wont take it upon themselves to address it. Love said she and other groups hope to raise the issue with City Council in coming months. READ MORE: Did Philly police lose the case file for an unsolved homicide from 2007? This mom wants to know. Staff Inspector Ernest Ransom, commanding officer of the Homicide Unit, acknowledged that many families havent gotten the communication they deserve. He said he is working to finally address it, and is in the early stages of setting communication standards for detectives and their supervisors. In just his first few months in this role, Ransom said he received numerous emails from families complaining about the issue, and realized this has to stop. A concrete procedure will ensure greater accountability, he said. Its a work in progress, he said, and although families frustrations may never be fully resolved, if we can minimize it, thats a start. But he also said that amid the ongoing homicide crisis, detectives are shouldering a crushing workload that often leaves them little time to speak with families, and that loved ones often dont understand how much work is being done behind the scenes on their case. The families said they understand the heavy workload, but the communication breakdown exacerbates their trauma and builds distrust in the department. Some mothers said it makes them feel as if no one is actively investigating their loved ones death, that their child is just a number whose case is sitting at the bottom of the pile. As a result, some families take it upon themselves to investigate the crimes on their own. Desperate for leads, they go to the scene of the crime and search for potential witnesses. They scour social media and question friends. They walk through neighborhoods and hand out fliers. From a human dignity perspective, its very problematic, said Heather Warnken, executive director of Baltimores Center for Criminal Justice Reform. But from a pragmatic perspective, this is an essential piece of cultivating relationships to collaborate with the community to investigate and solve cases. Checks and balances Time is the main communication barrier for Philadelphia homicide detectives, Ransom said. Each detective is assigned 10 to 15 cases a year more than double the Department of Justices recommended four- to six-case annual load. And since about half of the citys killings go unsolved, the number of families a detective must keep up with only grows over time. Thats why its important to have those checks and balances in place, so that when a detective does lose focus [on a case], supervisors can pick up the slack, said Ransom. Ransom said he met with a team last week to begin developing a digital tracking system for detectives and supervisors to log when theyve spoken with a family. He said word of mouth on whether a detective has updated a family is not going to be acceptable. It has to be documented. And Officer LaTanya Acevedo can also only coordinate so much as the sole victims assistance officer for the Homicide Unit. Acevedo, who has worked in victims services for 20 years, said her focus is largely on coordinating immediate logistics and paperwork for families, such as funeral reimbursement forms and life insurance. She does field families calls, she said, but because she cant share investigation details its often easier for detectives to answer those questions. She urged families to take advantage of the departments quarterly Next of Kin meetings, where loved ones can meet the detectives handling their cases. Ransom said that the unit needs additional victims assistance officers, especially people who speak a language other than English, but that the department has limited resources. The department is short all across the board, he said. But were in such a critical unit here, dealing with the worst of the worst crimes, and those families do need to know. We cant put this all on LaTanya, thats not fair to her. Amy Durall, who has worked with local and federal law enforcement to expand crime victim services, said departments should create a communication plan for each family, detailing how often they should expect to hear from detectives. More important, she said, agencies must invest in hiring more highly trained victim services personnel, like Acevedo, to work alongside the homicide detectives. Detectives, she said, shouldnt be solely responsible for supporting victims, and this work cant be substituted through partnerships with community organizations like grief and resource groups, which cannot access sensitive case information. Warnken, from Baltimore, said the issues go beyond that and point to deeper cultural biases in how police departments treat crime victims of color. Especially for Black and brown victims of gun violence, she said, its so hard to feel like theyre a priority when they cant even get a call back. A grieving mother searches for a witness At least once a week, Taneesha Brodie visits the corner of 63rd Street and Lebanon Avenue in West Philadelphia, where her 28-year-old son, Quenzell Bradley-Brown, was killed in September. She freshens up his vigil and makes sure his photo is still hanging on the light pole. She sweeps up trash and broken glass, and says a prayer. Then, she looks for the man who witnessed her sons murder. Brodie is one of many relatives of homicide victims in the city taking investigative measures into their own hands. In the absence of information from police, and with little hope that detectives are adequately pursuing the case, loved ones often canvass blocks, pass out fliers, and march through the city to raise awareness and find leads. READ MORE: Ubinas: Mother on mission to find son's killer Brodies son, a married father of four who loved music and poetry, was killed in what police believe was a case of mistaken identity, shot multiple times outside his apartment as he carried groceries inside for his family. Brodie knows the witness name and what he looks like. In October, just after her son was killed, he approached her at the scene and told her the shooter had mistaken her son for a drug dealer who hung on that corner. She was in such shock at the time that she didnt ask many questions or get his contact information. So Brodie regularly returns to this spot, and although the witness has never been here since, she holds out hope that she can persuade him to speak with police, or pass information along to the assigned detective. But the detective on the case rarely calls her back, she said. In January, after Brodies daughter exchanged Facebook messages with a man who said he had information about the crime, she sent the detective an urgent email, asking him to call her ASAP. He only recently got back to her, three months later, Brodie said, and asked her to bring screenshots of the exchange to the unit. At this point, I dont have any trust or hope in the police or the DA or the judicial system, she said. I feel like if it were one of their own, one of their own children, they would have been out here knocking on doors and kicking them in. Its like they think hes just another Black kid killed, she said. But he is loved, he is missed, and no one is just going to forget about it. Another mother, Tiffaney Flynn, often passes out fliers to patrons of the Olney shopping center where her 19-year-old daughter, Ojanae Thompson, was fatally shot in August 2021. As Thompson and her boyfriend sat in their car outside the ShopRite, gunmen shot at them more than a dozen times, killing them both. Their murders remain unsolved. As Flynns daughter fought to stay alive in the first few weeks, a detective in the local police district was assigned to investigate the case. But after she died and the case went to homicide, everything went silent, Flynn said. She just met the homicide detective in person for the first time this past November, when they spoke at police headquarters and he told her there were no new leads. Hundreds of people were shopping and going to the doctors and post offices, and nobody came forward to say what theyve seen, she said. How could something like that take place and you have no leads? On Ojanaes birthday and on the anniversary of her death, Flynn sets up a table outside the ShopRite. She passes out fliers with police contact information, and tells anyone who will listen about the bubbly young girl who worked two jobs through high school and was preparing for college and who was killed in broad daylight. Detectives doing the work Not all families have bad experiences. Denise Singleton, whose son Kyle was killed last May in North Philadelphia, said communication was limited at first, but as of January, the detective on her case has scheduled monthly phone calls or visits. She credits the change to the regular marches her family has hosted near police headquarters, calling for justice. And Yullio Robbins only has glowing things to say about Detective Gregory Santamala, assigned to investigate her son James Walke IIIs 2016 murder. The first detective assigned to Walkes case was very uncommunicative, Robbins said. After she complained to police officials, the investigation was reassigned to Santamala. Even after he retired in November, theyve kept in touch, she said. Hes like family, Robbins said. Its not all just about solving the [case], said Santamala. Of course families want it solved, but I think they want that connection, to know that you did not forget their loved one and you did not forget them. In his 30 years on the job, maintaining contact with families was a top priority, he said. He handed out his personal cell phone number and answered calls and texts no matter the time of day. He did this on his own accord, not through any department mandate, because he didnt want families to feel forgotten. Plus, he said, it can help solve a case, since as the saying goes, the streets talk, and families pass along helpful tips. Santamala said some colleagues would avoid family calls in part because there was often no new information to share. And thats difficult news to relay. But, he said: If you cant be available, then you shouldnt take that job. As painful as something may be, you have to maintain contact. He said supervisors need to set a standard and the department needs to hire more detectives. They are taking on caseloads that, in my 20 years, Ive never seen, he said. You cant just keep getting case after case after case. At that point its just a triage. Rachel King, 35, of Elkins Park, was shot and killed in Cheltenham Township on April 11. King was a teacher for 10 years at Grover Cleveland Mastery Charter School Read more A jilted woman, upset that a relationship had ended, hired a hit man to stalk and kill a romantic rival, sending a gunman to shoot her as she sat in a Dunkin drive-thru with her 11-year-old son in the backseat, prosecutors said Wednesday. Julie Jean, 35, was charged with first- and third-degree murder and conspiracy in the death of Rachel King, 35, a teacher at Grover Cleveland Mastery Charter School in Philadelphia who was killed April 11 in a shopping center in Cheltenham. Jean plotted with Zakkee Steven Alhakim, 33, prosecutors said, and bought him a Mercury sedan that he used to follow King as she drove her son, Jalen, to violin practice. As King, of Elkins Park, was stopped at the coffee shop, they said, he shot her at point-blank range in an early-morning ambush. Alhakim remains in custody in Philadelphia, and will be charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy and related crimes, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, who announced the arrests at a news conference. Advertisement Ive seen a lot of horrible, even horrific, evil homicides in my career as a prosecutor, Steele said. Suffice it to say, Im struggling with this one. King had been in a relationship for years with William Hayes, who started a relationship with Jean last year, according to the affidavit of probable cause for Jeans arrest. When King discovered the infidelity, Hayes cut ties with Jean, a decision that infuriated Jean, prosecutors said. The affair strained Kings relationship with Hayes, but they reconciled. READ MORE: Family of Rachel King, a Philadelphia teacher killed in a Dunkin drive-thru shooting, hopes for swift justice Meanwhile, Jean stalked and harassed Hayes, calling and texting him incessantly and appearing unannounced at his apartment, the affidavit said. She also reached out to King, calling her at work and asking about her relationship with Hayes. Hayes applied for and received a protection-from-abuse order against Jean in December, according to Steele. Two months later, Jean reached out to Alhakim, who is related to the father of her children, the affidavit said. The two began exchanging text messages, including a Google Maps screenshot of Kings apartment, the document said. Evidence pulled from Jeans cellphone showed that the two met multiple times in Philadelphia, and at one meeting, she provided Alhakim with pictures of King, according to the affidavit. In March, Jean purchased a Mercury Sable from a dealer in Cheltenham. The vehicle matched the description of the one used by the gunman who targeted King in the drive-thru, prosecutors said. Surveillance footage from Kings apartment complex also recorded the vehicle several times in the days leading up to Kings slaying. Hours after the shooting, Philadelphia Police officers spotted the car in Logan and attempted to pull it over. The driver, who sped away and led the officers on a chase until crashing into a fence, was later identified as Alhakim. In an interview with detectives, Alhakim denied being in Cheltenham on the day of Kings shooting, saying he was selling drugs in Kensington at the time, the affidavit said. He also denied knowing Jean. But Philadelphia Police Homicide detectives were able to link the Mercury to a killing in the city on April 7, in which a 9mm handgun was used. Using a national ballistics database, detectives positively matched those shell casings with ones taken from the crime scene in Cheltenham and determined that they came from the same gun, authorities said. Alhakim was charged with first-degree murder in the Philadelphia shooting, and taken into custody. A photo found on his cellphone depicted a ghost gun an untraceable firearm assembled from a kit that detectives believe was likely used in both killings. Jean was later interviewed by Montgomery County detectives and denied any knowledge of Kings slaying. The detectives obtained a warrant for Jeans cellphone, and found she had deleted 787 text messages just minutes before their meeting, including all of her communication with Alhakim. At Wednesdays news conference, Kings parents spoke briefly and thanked law enforcement officials for their dedication to solving the case. We cant articulate how grateful we are for the work that has been done and the work they continue to do, said Kings father, the Rev. Allen King Jr. We want justice to be done, we want it done swiftly, and we want it done fairly. Bryan Kravitz and Bill Rhoda who own Philly Typewriters on East Passyunk Avenue stand with a signed typewriter and letter gifted to them by actor Tom Hanks. Read more On any given day, Philly locals can now hold hands with Tom Hanks kind of. The beloved actor has gifted a typewriter from his personal collection to Philly Typewriter. Now, the shop on East Passyunk Avenue is displaying the autographed machine for fans to see and even type on themselves. Hanks is a known typewriter enthusiast and collector. His personal collection numbers about 250 machines, according to Far Out Magazine, and sparked the premise of his short story collection, Uncommon Type. Over the years, Hanks has also sent typewritten letters to fans. Now, hes sending more letters, along with pieces from his collection, to shops and collectors across the country. Last month, Hanks typed up a letter addressed to Philly Typewriter, a South Philly shop he gushed over in 2018. On April 5, the letter, enclosed in an emerald green envelope, arrived in a mystery box from California. Advertisement READ MORE: Tom Hanks has a favorite Philadelphia typewriter shop Co-owner Bill Rhoda was on his South Philly couch recovering from surgery when he got a call from typewriter mechanic and business partner Bryan Kravitz. Are we expecting something from Santa Monica? Kravitz asked. Kravitz knew from the boxs weight it was a typewriter. But the shop does not send or accept typewriter shipments. The mechanic let out a laugh as he unpacked the box. Its from Tom Hanks. In his letter to the shop, Hanks wrote: You may just be giving this miracle of a machine a fuller, newer life of use. I do hope this typewriter comes into use. It is yours now. Take good care of it and help it keep doing its job for another hundred years. The phone wont stop and people keep coming in, Rhoda said. Were going to have to hire a secretary. What kind of typewriter did Tom Hanks gift? Hanks sent a rare 1953 East German Rheinmetall Gs typewriter. Of Philly Typewriters more than 1,000 machines, this marks the shops only Rheinmetall. This machine has a rough history to it, Rhoda said. They can have the potential to have undesirable German characters, though this one does not. It can be hard to reckon with. In collectors circles, it can be a tumultuous thing to talk about. Some people want them destroyed, while some seek them out for historical purposes. In his letter, Hanks said the typewriter was No. 328 from his personal collection. What is Philly Typewriter? Kravitz and Rhoda own the space on East Passyunk Avenue where they teach a team of apprentices and mechanics how to service and refurbish typewriters. The shop hosts readings and type-ins, and invites people to stop by even if its just to type your grocery list. Kravitz also launched the Philadelphia Public Typewriter Program in 2018, which has the shop lending out machines to public spaces and schools. READ MORE: Type-In excites him: Typewriter aficionado creates event for fellow typists With few exceptions, touching and photos are encouraged, including of Hanks gift, which now sits in the main showroom. Its great to watch people type a letter and smile, Rhoda said. Its also interesting to see them freeze deciding what to write when were usually also so quick to send a text. The shop originally located in Queen Village opened about eight years ago. The shops purpose is the preservation of the history of typewriters while restoring them for a new generation, Rhoda said. In February, Philly Typewriter purchased a global manufacturer for IBM Selectric, Wheelwriter, and Xerox electric typewriters, which are still used by writers and offices, because of their versatility. Some Philadelphia police officers continue to work on electronic typewriters, sometimes with the help of Philly Typewriter. The buyout has been lucrative for Philly Typewriter, keeping mechanics regularly booked. How did Tom Hanks find Philly Typewriter? While on a book tour to promote Uncommon Type, Hanks spoke with The Inquirer. Big surprise, Hanks talked about typewriters. I mentioned owning two World War I-era antique machines, and Hanks knew the makes, the models, former Inquirer reporter John Timpane said. He even called me back on Thursday morning to relay the address, number, and store managers name at Philly Typewriter. Rhoda said Hanks never directly contacted them until this letter. You have a national resource right here in Philadelphia! Hanks told Timpane in 2018. Now go get those typewriters fixed, Hanks said. When he originally came through, he didnt know we were here, Rhoda said. We hadnt heard anything since the [2018] article. Now, out of the pure blue, we get this typewriter in the mail. But Philly Typewriter clearly struck a chord with Hanks. And Rhoda and Kravitz have treasured that chain of events ever since. Generous with his words as he is with his machines, Tom called us a national resource, Rhoda said. [Its] a title we tirelessly strive to deserve. READ MORE: Tom Hanks has a favorite Philadelphia typewriter shop Why is Tom Hanks doing this? For fun? And also to declutter, apparently. According to his letter, Hanks said the gesture takes machines off his shelves and into the greater world, gives him more space and less clutter, and gives the typewriter a new purpose. Its not the first machine hes gifted. Hanks appears to be on a typewriter-gifting spree of sorts, with typewriters from his collection making it to a collector in Stephentown, N.Y., and a typewriter shop in Arlington, Mass. in the last month. Citing his travel schedule, Hanks publicist said the actor was unavailable for comment. Where can I see the typewriter? Hanks typewriter and letter are on display at Philly Typewriter, 1735 E. Passyunk Ave. The showroom is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Below is the full transcript of Hanks typed letter. Kathi Camp, shown here in Philadelphia, on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Camps son Diniar Camp was shot and killed in 2022 Read more Today should be mostly sunny with a high of 65. A lack of communication between law enforcement and families of homicide victims isnt new, and its not unique to Philadelphia. Experts say this is a representation of reluctance to invest in adequate care for victims. The Inquirer interviewed nearly a dozen families of homicide victims who described near silence from Philadelphia Police Departments Homicide Unit. Many are often promised meetings and calls that never come to fruition. Our lead story follows the loved ones who feel they have no other choice other than to investigate on their own. Advertisement If you see this in todays newsletter, that means were highlighting our exclusive journalism. You need to be a subscriber to read these stories. Taylor Allen (@TayImanAllen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) In Philadelphia, when someone is killed in a homicide, the lone victims assistance officer in the Police Departments Homicide Unit initially helps families coordinate logistics like obtaining death certificates. But after, homicide detectives are largely responsible to communicate with loved ones and update them on the investigation. But many families say that rarely happens. Notable quote: Leaving us in limbo is more harmful than the pain we already feel from losing our child, Kathi Camp, a mother who lost her 26-year-old, said. Its like we dont matter. Its the reason why some families take matters into their own hands. With little hope that the police is pursuing the case, loved ones often canvass blocks, pass out fliers and march through the city to raise awareness and find leads. Keep reading to learn more about the lengths families go to try to solve cases themselves. Democratic candidates running in the May 16 primary election overwhelmingly support more restrictions on second jobs for lawmakers. Some are calling for a total ban. Most said restrictions should be aimed at limiting certain jobs that overlap with city business. Reminder: Former City Councilmember Bobby Henon reported to federal prison last week for a bribe in the form of a $70,000 side job at the politically-powerful electricians union in exchange for doing his union boss bidding on Council. Despite Council members bringing in $130,000 in annual salaries, lawmakers have also worked side gigs for decades. Theyve worked at law firms, unions, consultancies. Some have even held paid board positions at large corporations and maintained stakes in for-profit companies. Continue reading learn what modernizing the citys conflict-of-interest rules could look like. What you should know today Peg Botto was once a manager of group homes for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, but found that job was more about paperwork than the clients themselves. Shes now an owner of Cosmic Cafe on Kelly Drive, an unofficial Fairmount Park welcome center and the sole dining spot along Boathouse Row. Nonetheless, shes still using her previous training, hiring and nurturing a staff of 25 18 of whom have developmental or intellectual disabilities. In June, Cosmic Cafe will be among the recipients of a Brighter Future Award from the citys Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services. Continue reading to learn more about Bottos mission. Trivia time Which celebrity gifted a Philly shop a typewriter from their personal collection? A) Tom Hanks B) Denzel Washington C) Quinta Brunson D) None of the above Find out if you know the answer. What were... Explaining: Why Pennsylvania counties arent likely to count mail ballots faster. Craving: Ice cream. Its finally that season. We have a list of where to get the best scoops. Unscramble the anagram Hint: Water ice since 1969 LINTSRIZAL Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Send us your own original anagram to unscramble if youd like. Cheers to Nina Johnson, who correctly guessed Tuesdays answer: Casa Mexico. Email us if you know the answer. Photo of the day Were halfway through the week. Make the day count, and Ill see you tomorrow. Ozone, the chief component of smog, is a byproduct of emissions from automobiles, power plants, and oil refineries, such as this refinery on the Delaware River. The EPA estimates that ozone contributes to dozens of premature deaths each year in the Philadelphia area. Read more As long as societys been burning fossil fuels to get energy and heat, weve been victim to an invisible pollutant that wreaks havoc on our health and environment. Soot officially known as fine particulate matter is a dangerous and deadly man-made air pollutant that comes from burning oil, gas, and coal. Currently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in the process of updating the levels at which soot is allowed to be in the air. Implementing the strongest possible science-based standards will protect the health of all Pennsylvanians and our environment. Pennsylvanians are no strangers to polluted air. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the historic Donora smog disaster near Pittsburgh. It was one of the worst air pollution disasters in U.S. history 20 people died sparking a movement to reduce air pollution and ensure clean air to breathe for all Americans. Sadly, millions of Pennsylvanians still face elevated air pollution levels. In fact, according to the American Lung Association, Pittsburgh ranks as the 14th worst metropolitan area in the nation for year-round particle pollution, and Philadelphia ranks 18th worst in the nation. All told, more than 1.7 million Pennsylvanians live in counties receiving an F grade for particle pollution. Soot comes from power plants, vehicle tailpipes, and other industrial sources that run on dirty fossil fuels. Soot negatively impacts the health of citizens across Pennsylvania and puts our natural environment at risk. Burning fossil fuels is the source of soot pollution and is also the main driver of climate change. In addition to contributing to climate change, soot also causes haze and acid rain, which has detrimental effects on our lakes, streams, and other ecosystems. Soot is finer than natural air pollutants like dust and pollen, and as such is able to penetrate deeper into human lung tissue. Soot exposure has been shown to increase mortality rates, hospitalizations, and emergency room visits. These dangers are more prominent for children, seniors, and those with chronic illnesses, particularly asthma. More than 20% of children in both Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties have asthma, more than twice the national rate. Advertisement In addition to asthma exacerbation and other breathing issues, soot is also linked to grave illnesses and health risks including heart disease, diseases like Parkinsons and dementia, and issues related to pregnancy and childbirth. Harvard researchers estimated that Pennsylvania has the highest rates of premature deaths caused by soot pollution in the country. Sadly, Americas air quality standards for soot pollution havent been updated in over a decade. Thats why its so important that the EPA is taking steps to revise them now. Currently, the EPA is proposing a new standard that would reduce allowable levels of soot pollution in our air by about 20%. Yet, public health data show that the EPA can and should go even further with its standards. By lowering the current standard by 33%, the EPA could save four times as many lives, or nearly 20,000 lives each year. Over the course of the EPAs official public comment period, tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians added their names in support of stronger soot protections. Breathing clean and healthy air should be a right and not a privilege. Ensuring that the EPAs newly proposed public health protections are strengthened and approved will be a big step toward helping Pennsylvanians and all Americans breathe more easily. Ellie Kerns is the climate and clean energy associate with PennEnvironment, a statewide environmental advocacy nonprofit. The Atlantic City skyline is viewed from the beach in Ventnor City June 16, 2021. Read more By now, most people who head down the Shore know basic beach etiquette and the usual laws of small Shore towns like not being excessively loud after 10 p.m. However, new policies that you may not know about are constantly popping up. A fast way to dampen a vacation is getting fined or ticketed for offenses you didnt even know were illegal. There are new rules enacted in various Shore towns recently that youll need to know, from underage curfews to parking the right way. Here are the new laws passed in Jersey Shore towns in 2023. Backpacks in Sea Isle City On March 28, Sea Isle City enacted a new rule for everyone, including adults, that bans bags larger than 8 inches by 6 inches by 8 inches from the Promenade boardwalk, beaches, and beachside streets between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. from May 15 to Sept. 15. This doesnt include medical devices, equipment for journalists, people engaged in fishing, or Sea Isle City police officers. Why is this a rule? In response to recent cases of teens gathering late at night, underage drinking, and vandalism, this rule is meant to prevent teens from transporting beer, liquor, or weapons, according to city officials. Advertisement Penalties: If police see a person on the Promenade, beach, or beachside streets with a bag during restricted hours, they will fine adults $25 to $100. Minors will be given two warnings with the ability to remove the item from restricted areas. After the second warning, police will take kids to the police station to call their parents. Curfew in Sea Isle City On the same day Sea Isle City banned bags after 10 p.m., it also implemented a curfew for minors. People under 18 cannot be in public areas, unless with a parent or guardian, between 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. from May 15 to Sept. 15. During the offseason, the curfew shifts to 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. This curfew doesnt apply to minors traveling home from work, school, or religious events. Theres also a 72-hour exemption prior to and on the night of Halloween. Why is this a rule? For the same reason Sea Isle City wanted to ban backpacks these towns are trying to prevent teens from congregating in large groups at night, which officials say leads to disruptive behavior. Penalties: If police see a minor out in public areas after curfew, they will give two warnings with the ability for the minor to return home without penalty. After the second warning, police will bring kids to the police station and call their parents or guardian. Parents can be fined $250 to $1,500 if they knowingly let their child break curfew. Ocean City police can detain minors for breach of peace violations There is already a curfew for people under 17 in Ocean City, which bans them from public areas unless supervised by a parent or guardian between the hours of 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. from May 16 to Sept. 30 in the offseason, its 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. (this doesnt include students and workers). However, now police can detain underage people for breach of peace offenses, which cover violations like breaking curfew, making excessive noise, or activity that police deem loud, indecent, obscene, or offensive. This means police can now bring underage people to the police station to call their parent or guardian. Why is this a rule? Like other Shore towns, city officials and law enforcement are looking for ways to deter disruptive teen behavior at night. Penalties: If police see a minor breaking curfew or engaging in disruptive behavior, police can detain the minor and bring them to the police station to call their parent or guardian. Teens wont be arrested or charged for these violations. Pull head-in to park in Seaside Heights In March, the Seaside Heights borough passed an ordinance requiring drivers to pull head-in when parking in diagonally angled parking spots. This impacts Ocean Terrace, Bay Boulevard, Grant Avenue, Hiering Avenue, and Central Avenue where throughout are angled parking spaces. Why is this a rule? City officials noted that some drivers prefer to back into the angled parking spots, which they say leads to accidents and increased traffic. Penalties: If police see a car parked incorrectly in an angled parking spot, they will issue a ticket with a fine. No gun policy reaffirmed in Atlantic City casinos In February, each of the nine Atlantic City casinos enacted personal policies banning any firearms or weapons from casino property. Why is this a rule? Firearms have actually always been banned in Atlantic City casinos under state regulations. However, after Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law into effect in December that banned guns from casinos and other sensitive places, a federal judge tried stopping parts of the law from going into effect. In response, the president of the Casino Association of New Jersey, Mark Giannantonio, announced in February that all nine Atlantic City casinos would issue bans on firearms when guests are on casino property. The safety and well-being of our guests and employees is a top priority for the Atlantic City casino industry, said Giannantonio in a news release. Considering the Court Order temporarily restraining enforcement of the State law prohibiting the carrying of concealed firearms in public places, including casinos, all of the Atlantic City casinos are exercising their rights, as private property owners, to prohibit the carrying of firearms on their premises. Penalties: If a guest brings a gun to an Atlantic City casino, they will be asked to remove the gun from casino property. If they refuse, the casino can refuse to let that person onto the property. This policy is a casino owner exercising property rights so theres no criminal charge. However, if a person refuses to comply when asked to leave, that could lead to police involvement. Edward G. Rendell, former Philadelphia mayor and ex-governor of Pennsylvania, speaks during an announcement at the Independence Visitor Center in March. He is endorsing Rebecca Rhynhart for Philadelphia mayor. Read more Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell on Wednesday endorsed Rebecca Rhynhart for Philadelphia mayor, becoming the third ex-mayor to back her candidacy. Rendell, a former district attorney who was elected mayor in 1991, said that while other candidates are excellent public servants, Rhynhart has the greatest depth and broadest experience in the governments executive branch. Based on her experience, her record as an elected official, and her personal character, I believe Rebecca Rhynhart is the best choice, Rendell said in a statement. No candidate for Philadelphia mayor in recent memory has been endorsed by three predecessors. Rhynhart, the former city controller, is also supported by Michael A. Nutter and John F. Street, political rivals who are now appearing alongside one another in Rhynharts campaign commercials. Advertisement The high-profile endorsement from Rendell, the gregarious former mayor who steered the city through immense fiscal uncertainty, could prove significant for Rhynhart in the final weeks of campaigning ahead of the May 16 primary election. Shes running in a crowded field of nine Democrats, and at least four of her rivals have viable paths to victory. Rendell called on Rhynhart to hire some of her opponents, specifically naming former City Councilmembers Allan Domb and Cherelle Parker, as well as Maria Quinones Sanchez and Derek Green, both of whom suspended their campaigns for mayor. Doing this would take advantage of the talent of these candidates, Rendell said, and this team of rivals would be more than strong enough to raise the morale of our citizens and to effectuate a 180-degree turn in Philadelphias fortunes. In a statement, Rhynhart said Rendells endorsement is an honor and touted that her campaign now has the support of three former mayors, each of whom served two terms. Their confidence in my leadership means a great deal to me, she said, and further proves that I have the knowledge, experience, and courage to lead our city forward making it safer and cleaner and providing our residents with true opportunity. READ MORE: Rhynhart is promising to make government work. Does Philadelphia want a technocrat in a time of crisis? Rhynhart, who worked on Wall Street before joining Nutters administration in 2008, served for five years as the independently elected city controller, responsible for auditing government agencies and rooting out waste. Shes running for mayor on a pledge to make government more efficient, and she has touted that she is the only candidate with executive-level government experience. Both Nutter and Rendell have for years supported Rhynharts political ambitions and have contributed to her campaigns. Rendell endorsed her first run for office in 2017, when she challenged then-Controller Alan Butkovitz, a three-term incumbent who had the support of the Democratic Party. Rhynhart won in a decisive upset. I couldnt believe it, Rendell said at the time. I thought we had a good chance to win, but I never thought wed win 58% to 40%. Good God. Rhynharts mayoral campaign has paid Street $55,000 since November, according to campaign-finance reports. The campaign said he is working as a senior adviser and is compensated as a staff member. No similar payments were made to Nutter or Rendell, records show. Rendell hasnt endorsed in the last two competitive mayors races. In 2000, he backed Street, who was Council president when Rendell was mayor and then succeeded Rendell in the Mayors Office. During a news conference Thursday with Rhynhart, Rendell said the race could be decided by a couple hundred votes and gave his views on the top contenders. This is a very fluid race because there are so many candidates, because there was so little known about most of the candidates, Rendell told reporters. Jeff Brown got off to a big lead because he had that early money, and hes run into some stumbles. I think Allan Domb has done well. I think Cherelle has done well. I think Helen Gym has a very dedicated group of followers. Rendell said Rhynhart was best positioned to win support from neighborhoods across the city, as opposed to running up the score in one demographic or area. Rebecca is the only candidate, I think, who can get substantial help from all groups, Rendell said. But its going to be a tough race. Mayor Jim Kenney has not made an endorsement in this years race (though he has had a rocky relationship with Rhynhart, so if he does endorse, its not likely shed get the nod). The other living Philadelphia mayors are Bill Green III and W. Wilson Goode. The winner of the May 16 Democratic primary election will be well-positioned to win in the November general election, given Philadelphias heavily Democratic electorate. Former Councilmember David Oh is running unopposed for the Republican nomination. Inquirer reporter Sean Collins Walsh contributed reporting. In April 2016, Grasso moved to Hannover Re in Australia to take on the role of treaty underwriter. In October 2017, he moved back to Aon Australia to be the head of property before taking on the new role of head of treaty in Australia and New Zealand. If any of the territory workers who are in and around that setting are injured and then claim, were making sure they've got the right mental health supports and responding to that as soon as we can for them so that they can get into the right treatment, Brown said. With the addition of Matthew, we continue to build out a strong team of industry talent and move another step closer to officially launching our underwriting operation, said Matt Waters, head of US middle market for AXA XL. Matts career experience, especially his work establishing actuarial pricing infrastructure and portfolio monitoring tools to support underwriters, is particularly relevant to our situation and focus on efficiency. In his new role with us, Matt is tasked with developing our US middle market pricing strategy and infrastructure. Dhillons appointment comes within the same month that Markel named Richie Henry as the new leader of its North American claims operations. Henry, who assumed the role of chief operating officer, claims, joined Markel in 2013 and has held numerous positions managing the partnership between North America insurance and IT within the company. On this episode of The Insuring Cyber Podcast, two cybersecurity experts shared their inside view of the current cyber risk landscape. While working in the cybersecurity industry for several years, you get to understand the pain points of CISOs (chief information security officers) and, in general, security leaders in organizations, said Reuven Aronashvili. While the good news is the cybersecurity experts are learning more everyday with access to new tools and technologies, the bad news is that so are the cyber criminals. Think about the attack landscape, Aronashvili said. You have the cloud environment, you have [digital] platforms, you have the on-premises environment, you have the IoT (internet of things) devices Aronashvili is the founder and CEO of cybersecurity platform CYE, based in Israel. He is also a founding team member of the Israeli armys Red Team and Incident Response Team and is certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as an Industrial Control Systems and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition cybersecurity expert. At CYE, Aronashvili works as an advisor and a partner to organizations that range from medium-sized to Fortune 1000 and works to plan, design, assess, and optimize their cybersecurity programs. He said his time working in the army taught him some important lessons, including the fact that the timing of cyber criminals is getting faster. Things that you see in a government environment, in general, those are usually things that are more advanced than what you see in the commercial world or outside of the army, he said. In 2005 in the army, we would see things that only maybe in 2012 or 2013 we started to see in the industry. So it was quite the gap. Today, the gap is getting smaller and smaller. He said now, cyber attacks seen in the army are showing up a year or two later in the industry. So really, the cycle of things getting commercializedthats a very short cycle compared to what we had in the past, he said. This means companies, including insurers, will need to keep pace. Aronashvili said the first step is understanding where the weaknesses lie. How do you take the technical risk profile of an organization and correlate it directly to the business risk? Meaning, I have a vulnerabilityis it critical to my organization? What will be the damage in case of a compromise there? he said. Those are questions that are extremely important to answer, because based on that, you know what you need to invest, how much, and what is the effort that is required in order to recover. Gregory Hatcher, founder and CEO of White Knight Labs, helps organizations figure out the answers to those questions as well. White Knight Labs is a cybersecurity consultancy that specializes in offensive cyber engagements. Hatcher also has previous experience in the U.S. military and the U.S. government. After transitioning from the military in 2017, he has taught at the National Security Agency and led red teams while contracting for CISA, the U.S. Governments cybersecurity and infrastructure security agency. In 2021, he joined forces with John Stigerwalt to start White Knight Labs, where he works with a team of engineers to conduct penetration tests and help organizations improve their cybersecurity efforts. We work with the client to figure out what is their competitive advantage and how we can hurt it via cyber warfare, he said. We pick out two or three objectives, whether its stealing PII (personally identifiable information) or through proprietary information. Its not all about hacking into technological systems and writing malicious code, however. He said sometimes, these penetration tests become physical. Well actually go on site. Well do things like dumpster dive. Well try to break into the building. Well try to clone badges. Well do reverse tailgating, he said. Reverse tailgating means the team waits for an employee to exit the building and enters behind them without needing access to a badge or building code. He pointed to an example of a recent physical penetration test the team conducted in Boston, Massachusetts. Everyone was working from home, so there were only like five people in the building, he said. I sat in the parking lot, and we actually did reconnaissance for a couple days. We found out the custodian takes out the trash at like 10:00 a.m. every morning, so I ended up doing a reverse tailgate on the custodian and getting into the building that way. With cyber criminals using every path to attack an organization technological or physical how can companies keep up? Aronashvili said prioritization is key another lesson he carries from his time in the army. If you are not able to say what is more important, justify that, and act accordingly, practically speaking, youre not able to protect your organization, he said. Very simple, right? All the guesstimation work based on different frameworks that are considered to be market leaders or market best practices, those are all nice to have. But if you cannot justify, if you cannot back it up with a really scientific approach and scientific formula, thats not good enough. And from my point of view, thats what Ive taken from the army and continue to implement as an approach at CYE. With another vector for attack on the horizon AI chatbots and their ability to write malware, according to Hatcher, one thing is certain. Its a very interesting time to be in cyber right now, he said. AI is going to change everything. It already is. Check out the rest of the episode to hear what else Reuven and Gregory 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. Topics Cyber New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A federal appeals court is giving a Pennsylvania hospital another opportunity to have $1.75 million of its medical malpractice insurance coverage restored. The $1.75 million represents the difference between the final arbitrated settlement of $7.75 million and the plaintiffs earlier demand of $6 million that the hospital claims its insurer should have accepted as a settlement in a birth injury case. The federal court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania dismissed Moses Taylor Hospitals complaint after finding that the hospital did not seek actual monetary damages. Rather Moses Taylor sought restoration of its insurance coveragea form of equitable relief. However, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals has now vacated the district courts grant of a motion to dismiss to ProSelect Insurance Co., a division of Coverys, and remanded the case back to the district court to consider whether Moses Taylors complaint properly pleads a breach of contract action seeking equitable relief. The Third Circuit found that the lower court erred in considering only monetary damages and not the requested equitable relief of restoring insurance coverage. Under Pennsylvania law, a plaintiff bringing a breach of contract claim must plead the existence of a contract, including its essential terms, a breach of the contract; and resultant damages. Moses Taylor and the district court understood the term resultant damages to prohibit plaintiffs from bringing breach of contract actions seeking equitable relief. Judge Anthony Scirica of the appeals court found that was a misunderstanding, writing in remanding the case, This reading is too narrow. Pennsylvania law recognizes both legal and equitable remedies for breach of contract claims. Moses Taylor purchased a medical malpractice insurance policy from ProSelect Insurance Co. with a $7.25 million coverage limit applicable to aggregate liability as well as to individual claims. In 2017, the guardian of a patient who suffered catastrophic birth injuries filed a medical malpractice claim against Moses Taylor in state court. The insurer directed Moses Taylors legal defense. According to the hospitals complaint, ProSelect allegedly failed to send a representative with settlement authority to two conferences. Moses Taylor claims ProSelect then agreed to high-low arbitration because the hospital promised the insurer that it would contribute its own funds of $2,500,000 if the final award was at the low limit. Before presenting evidence to the arbitrator, the patients counsel made a final settlement demand of $6,000,000. Moses Taylor alleges it directed ProSelect to accept the demand, or at least engage in settlement discussions, but the insurer did neither. The arbitrator returned a verdict far above the high limit of $7,750,000 which was then reduced to the high limit. ProSelect paid out a portion of this settlement from Moses Taylors aggregate insurance, depleting the funds available to cover future liability. But for ProSelects inaction, Moses Taylor contends, the final settlement amount would have been lower and so would have depleted less of Moses Taylors aggregate insurance coverage. Moses Taylor brought a breach of contract claim as well as derivative bad faith and vicarious liability claims in state court. In its complaint, Moses Taylor alleged it suffered monetary damages in the depletion of the aggregate amount of insurance tail coverage available to it. Rather than requesting that it be paid money, it requested that $1.75 million, the difference between the settlement demand and the final settlement, be restored to its excess insurance policy aggregate as coverage for future claims. The federal district court, where the case was removed by ProSelect, dismissed Moses Taylors complaint for failure to plead actual monetary damages and granted leave to amend. But when Moses Taylor could not produce evidence of pending or future claims likely to exceed its policy limits, the court dismissed its amended complaint with prejudice, again citing failure to plead actual monetary damages. Moses Taylor appealed. Last week the appeals court remanded the case so that the district court can decide whether equitable relief is available to Moses Taylor. Judge Scirica noted that Pennsylvania case law suggests compensatory damages for an insurers bad faith failure to settle are only appropriate when insureds face liability that exceeds their policy limit. Even if compensatory damages are theoretically available to Moses Taylor, competing statutes of limitations complicate this casemaking it more likely any available damages would be inadequate and so requiring equitys flexible machinery. The court further noted that the statute of limitations on Moses Taylors breach of contract claim is four years. But the statute of limitations on personal injury actions, which is two years, does not begin to run for unemancipated minors until they turn eighteen. Even though the policy period for Moses Taylors policy ended in 2011, plaintiffs who were treated as infants near the end of the policy period could bring suit in 2028 or even later. Reliance on remedies at law creates a catch-22 for Moses Taylor here: sue without waiting for liability that would require use of its aggregate coverage and risk dismissal for failure to plead actual monetary damages or wait for such liability and risk running out the four-year statute of limitations. Either way, Moses Taylor would face the strong possibility that the merits of its bad faith claim would not be heard. Requesting equitable reliefrestoration of $1,750,000 to its aggregate coverageavoids this catch-22, Judge Scirica wrote. Topics Pennsylvania Medical Professional Liability New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A former Connecticut landlord must pay $400,000 to settle a federal lawsuit alleging he violated the Fair Housing Act by sexually harassing and victimizing his female tenants for at least five years, including evicting or threatening to evict those who objected to or refused his sexual advances. In an agreement reached by the U.S. Justice Departments Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative and announced last Thursday, $350,000 of the funds will be deposited in a settlement account to benefit tenants harassed by landlord Richard Bruno. The remaining $50,000 is a federal civil penalty. No person should ever have to endure sexual harassment in order to get or keep housing, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division said in a statement. Bruno, who managed multiple rental properties in New London, is currently serving a 16-year sentence in federal prison after pleading guilty in 2017 to producing child pornography with a tenants minor child in one of the properties. According to the Justice Departments lawsuit, first filed in 2019, Bruno made unwelcome sexual advances and comments to female tenants, entered their homes without their consent, took pictures and videos of tenants bodies and of their female children, and forced tenants and their female children to view dungeons or sex rooms in the rental properties. The settlement also resolves claims against two limited liability corporations that owned the properties, along with Bruno, where the alleged harassment occurred from at least 2011 through 2016. Bruno will now be permanently prohibited from owning and managing residential rental properties. The property owners must hire an independent property manager, undergo fair housing training and implement nondiscrimination policies and complaint procedures. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Connecticut New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! As Donald Trump ran for and served as president, over a dozen women publicly accused him of sexual assault and harassment. Most of those claims all denied by Trump were never taken to court. None has gone to trial. But that is about to change. Jury selection began Tuesday in E. Jean Carrolls rape lawsuit in a New York federal court. The former Elle magazine advice columnist alleges that Trump raped her in a luxury department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Carrolls civil case has taken a winding road to trial. It now comes as Trump is seeking to return to the White House and battling a roster of legal problems, including his recent indictment on charges of doctoring his business records to conceal hush-money payments to a porn star. Heres a look at the case and some key questions: WHATS THE CASE ABOUT? Carroll says a chance meeting with Trump at Bergdorf Goodman suddenly turned into sexual violence in 1995 or 1996. According to her court complaint, Trump ushered her to a fitting room after they joked about trying on a bodysuit, and then he pinned her against the wall and forced himself on her as she tried to break free. She said she ultimately kneed him away and ran out of the store. Two of Carrolls friends have said she told them about the alleged attack soon afterward. She never informed police or anyone else until she recounted the story in a 2019 memoir and magazine excerpt. (The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll did.) WHAT DOES TRUMP SAY HAPPENED? Nothing whatsoever. She said that I did something to her that never took place. There was no anything, Trump said when Carrolls lawyers questioned him under oath in October. He denies even bumping into her at the store and has accused her of making up the story to sell her book. When her account was first published, Trump said he had no idea who she was, shrugging off a photo that showed the two and their then-spouses interacting at a 1987 social event. When shown the picture again during his questioning in October, Trump misidentified Carroll as his ex-wife Marla Maples. His prior ex, the late Ivana Trump, is in the photo. ARE THERE EYEWITNESSES? ANY VIDEO? FORENSIC EVIDENCE? Carrolls legal team says there were no eyewitnesses to the alleged attack, and any security video that might have existed is long gone. For years, Carroll sought to test Trumps DNA against unidentified male genetic material found on a dress that she says she wore and never laundered. His lawyers long fought her request for a sample until February, when they offered a deal: To rebut her claim, hed give the sample if her attorneys turned over the full DNA report on the dress. The judge said it was too late. Jurors wont hear about the DNA and the dress at all. WILL TRUMP BE AT THE TRIAL? His presence isnt required and doesnt appear likely. Trumps lawyers have said that he wants to attend but that the security needed for such an appearance would burden the city and court. The judge, for his part, has expressed confidence that Trump can be protected in the lower Manhattan courthouse, where security already is tight. Even if Trump isnt there, jurors will hear from him via video of his questioning last fall. Carroll, meanwhile, plans to attend every day and to testify, according to her attorneys. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTION? No. The legal time limit for pressing criminal charges ran out long ago. New York Expects Lifting of Deadline to Bring Wave of Claims by Adult Sex Abuse Survivors THEN WHY IS THIS CIVIL CASE IN COURT NOW? Its complicated. When Carroll first came forward, the time limit for suing over a rape had expired. But after Trump reacted to her allegations by saying she was not my type and totally lying, Carroll filed a defamation suit against him in 2019. That case ground along as Trumps lawyers fought it in various ways, including by shifting it from state to federal court and asserting that Trumps remarks were part of his job as president an argument that could have sunk the defamation claim. The courts are now weighing that question. But in the meantime, New York gave people a chance to sue over long-ago sexual abuse claims. Carroll was among the first to do so. (Her case remained in federal court, however.) And Trump has continued to publicly portray Carroll as a liar, which has become the basis of a new defamation claim that will also be addressed at the trial. WHAT DOES CARROLL WANT? A retraction and unspecified damages. WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER WOMEN WHO ACCUSED TRUMP OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT? Two of them are due to testify in Carrolls case. Jurors also are expected to hear the infamous 2005 Access Hollywood hot-mic recording of Trump crudely boasting that fame gave him carte blanche to kiss and grope women. Not involved in the case are two other women who sued Trump after going public with claims that he made unwanted sexual advances. Those cases were dismissed or dropped. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Photo: March 2020, President Donald Trump in White House. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! The driver of an SUV that crashed into a Massachusetts Apple store, killing one man and injuring nearly two dozen other people, was traveling as fast as 60 miles per hour (96 kilometers per hour) in the seconds before the crash and did not apply his brakes as he had told investigators, a prosecutor said in court Monday. Bradley Rein, 53, pleaded not guilty in Superior Court in Brockton to charges including second-degree murder and 22 counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the Nov. 21 crash at an outdoor shopping plaza in Hingham, just south of Boston. Kevin Bradley, 65, of Wayne, New Jersey, who was doing construction work at the store, died when he was struck by Reins 2019 Toyota 4Runner, prosecutors said. The other 22 victims were either struck by the SUV or by debris as it went through the store, prosecutors said. Reins vehicle accelerated to a high speed before it veered to the left, drove up onto the sidewalk and then crashed through the glass door of the Apple store, went across the sales floor and crashed into the rear wall of the store, prosecutor David Cutshall said in court. Lawyer Calls Fatal Car Crash Into Apple Store 100% Preventable in Announcing Suit An analysis of the vehicles data recorder indicated that in the five seconds prior to the crash, it accelerated to up to 60 mph and there was no indication that the brakes were applied. Rein previously told investigators that when his right foot became stuck on the accelerator and he tried to apply his brakes with his other foot. The vehicle also turned left at the last moment before the crash, Cutshall said. Reins attorney, Joan Fund, said after the arraignment that the crash was an accident, and she questioned the accuracy of the vehicles data recorder. The data they collect is not infallible, and they do make mistakes, and we will show that through the trial process, she said. Rein was not impaired by drugs or alcohol, and state police investigators found no mechanical issues with the SUV that would have contributed to the crash, Cutshall said. Under an agreement between the prosecution and defense, Rein will remain free on the $100,000 bail he posted after his district court arraignment under several conditions including that he not drive and wear a GPS tracking device. Murder Charge, Civil Suits Filed in Case of Driver Who Crashed Into Apple Store Rein was indicted on the upgraded murder charge in late March. His next court date is June 21. Several victims have filed lawsuits against the owner of the property, the developer, the management of the property, Apple and Rein, alleging negligence. Photo: Worker use a tow truck to remove a damaged SUV from inside an Apple store, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Hingham, Mass. At least one person was killed and multiple others were injured Monday when the SUV crashed into the store, authorities said. The SUV was removed though a large hole in the glass front of the building that resulted from the crash. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) 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 Personal Auto New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that 27,000 people who pled guilty or were convicted of drunk driving from June 1, 2011 to April 18, 2019, are entitled to have their cases reconsidered due to the state police labs widespread mishandling of breathalyzer tests and withholding of evidence. According to the high court ruling, the 27,000 with operating under the influence (OUI) records are entitled to a conclusive presumption of egregious government misconduct because of the misconduct by the state police office of alcohol testing (OAT). They may proceed in motions to withdraw their guilty pleas, and motions for new trials, without having to establish egregious government misconduct in each case, and their breath test results are excluded from use at any subsequent trial. The court stopped short of dismissing all of the 27,000 consolidated cases with prejudice as it had done a few years ago with 30,000 drug conviction cases due to a state drug labs misconduct. The court said it did not dismiss all of the 27,000 OUI cases because the state may still be able to prove drunk driving using other evidence such as field sobriety tests, police observations, blood tests, and statements by a defendant. The court said alternative avenues to proving guilt are less available in drug cases. For years, OAT failed to maintain breathalyzer machines in a scientifically reliable manner and routinely withheld exculpatory evidence. In 2019, state prosecutors signed a joint agreement with the courts acknowledging the misconduct. In considering consolidated litigation (Commonwealth v. Ananias) on the matter, Judge Robert Brennan of the state district court banned the use of any OUI tests issued by the state lab from June 1, 2011 to April 18, 2019 in criminal prosecutions. The high court agreed with the district court that the conclusion that OATs behavior was egregiously impermissible is inescapable. The court said OATs behavior undermined the criminal justice system in the Commonwealth, compromised thousands of prosecutions for OUI offenses, and potentially resulted in inaccurate convictions. Massachusetts High Court to Weigh Fate of 27,000 Drunk Driving Cases The extensive nature of OATs misconduct, and the inability of the defendants in the consolidated cases to challenge the reliability of the breathalyzer devices, resulted in the violation of the right to due process for the 27,000 defendants, the high court found. In the individual case before the court it found that the District Judge Brennan erred in denying Lindsey Hallinans motion to withdraw her original admission of guilt after state courts found that breathalyzer test evidence was unreliable and that the state lab had a practice of withholding exculpatory evidence. Hallinan had based her admission of guilt on her lawyers advice and the expectation that credible breathalyzer evidence would be introduced against her. In denying Hallinans bid to withdraw her guilty plea, Judge Brennan found that there was no doubt that defendants who tendered pleas before his ban were victimized by OATs conduct in withholding exculpatory evidence. However, he denied Hallinans motion because he said it is not within the authority of [the trial court] to create a conclusive presumption of egregious misconduct for all cases involving the breathalyzer results. The Supreme Court was asked on appeal to reverse the district courts order denying Hallinans motion to vacate her plea, with the high courts answer potentially affecting the many drivers impacted by the OAT testing including those who went to trial and those who pled guilty during the period. In an amicus brief, public defenders had urged the Supreme Court to vacate and dismiss all affected 27,000 defendants cases based on OATs wrongdoing. The public defenders said they and the courts could not handle the volume of re-trials required and the cost would be too high. However, the state opposed that global remedy and asked the court to uphold convictions where people pled guilty on the basis of the evidence presented by the state, especially if, as in Hallinans case, they did so without any question or further discovery. Anthony Benedetti, chief counsel for the Committee for Public Counsel Services, called the ruling a victory for the thousands of people who have been living with tainted convictions and for those who believe the government should be accountable for its actions. Much like in the drug lab cases that came before, the court has wisely granted relief to all defendants impacted, he stated. The court addressed the unusual fact in the case that the particular sentence given Hallinan was actually illegal and not in accordance with state OUI laws, Thus the court ordered that where a defendant successfully moves for a new trial due to OATs misconduct, and thereafter is convicted, so long as the defendants original sentence was legal, the new sentence will be capped at no more than the original sentence. If the defendants original sentence was illegal, the new sentence will not be limited to the initial disposition. Topics Personal Auto Massachusetts Sompo Holdings Inc. will place more focus on integrating domestic and overseas operations for further growth after a spell of acquisitions abroad boosted the global presence of Japans No. 3 non-life insurer group, a senior executive said. We rapidly shifted capital allocations to overseas to secure a foothold in growth markets, with a sense of emergency over a rapidly aging home market, the groups chief operating officer Mikio Okumura told Reuters. Now that our non-life insurance business overseas has grown almost to the size of the domestic business, we no longer have to differentiate strategies for overseas and domestic operations, he said. Sompo accelerated its global push through its $6.3 billion acquisition of U.S. property and casualty insurer Endurance Specialty Holdings in 2017, which gave the Japanese company a much-needed U.S. foothold. It also bought five more companies over the last five years, including U.S. agriculture insurance company Diversified Crop Insurance Services in 2020. Sompo forecast adjusted consolidated profit of 100 billion yen ($746 million) for the overseas insurance business in the year ended in March. The groups overall adjusted consolidated profit is estimated at 160 billion yen. Okumura said he does not see an imminent need for further acquisitions. We could achieve organic revenue growth of some tens of billions of yen in a year or two by hiring a team of professionals instead of rushing for more deals, he said. To deepen integration within the group, it plans to globalize capital allocations and product launches, as well as to conduct analyzes of risks on a global basis such as cyber attacks, he said. At home, Sompo is working to grow nursing care services for the elderly as a future pillar and to eventually sell its software-driven data platform globally for predictive care that helps improve productivity of care services. The nursing care business is targeting annual revenue of about 30 billion yen by 2030 for the data platform. We want to present our own solutions to the aging society, Okumura said. ($1 = 134.0700 yen) (Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki and Ritsuko Shimizu; editing by Jacqueline Wong) Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Moscow has seen practically no results from a pact with the United Nations that aimed to help Russias grain and fertilizer exports and blamed Western countries for creating a deadlock, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday. Russia has signaled that unless a list of demands is met to remove obstacles to those exports, it will not agree to extend a related deal beyond May 18 that allows the safe wartime export of grain from Ukraines Black Sea ports. Lavrov, at a news conference at the United Nations in New York, praised the work of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths in their bid to reach agreement with countries that have announced illegitimate and lateral sanctions against the Russian Federation. But there has been practically no result, Lavrov said. Russia Threatens to Bypass UN-Brokered Grain Deal, Cites Insurance as Barrier Russia signed a three-year deal last July in which the United Nations agreed to help try and remove any obstacles to its grain and fertilizer exports. While those exports are not subject to Western sanctions imposed following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Moscow says restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance are a barrier to shipments. U.S. Bank Transaction One of Russias demands is for the Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) to return to the SWIFT banking system. Lavrov said that there were no plans for that to happen and as an alternative Guterres had proposed that U.S. banks could help the Russian Agricultural Bank with transactions. Lavrov said one bank kindly consented to finance one operation, but that this was not a long-term solution. If you want every time for us and the U.N. Secretary-General to run back and forth and to plead with any given U.S. financial structure for them to be so magnanimous, then you understand that cannot work and it will not work, he said. A source familiar with the transaction said the U.S. State Department and U.S. Treasury had asked JPMorgan Chase & Co to carry out the very limited and highly monitored transaction in relation to the export of agricultural materials, which occurred this month. The source said there could be further transactions. A JPMorgan Chase & Co spokesperson declined comment. U.S. Treasury did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Not the Deal We Reached The pact with the United Nations helped convince Russia to allow Ukrainian Black Sea grain exports under a deal also brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July last year intended to tackle a global food crisis that U.N. officials said was worsened by the invasion. Guterres met with Lavrov on Monday and gave him a letter to deliver to Russian President Vladimir Putin that outlines a way forward aimed at the improvement, extension and expansion of the Ukraine Black Sea grain deal, a U.N. spokesperson said. The reaction to this correspondence will arise after the recipient reads it, Lavrov said at Tuesdays news conference. In return for extending that agreement beyond May 18, Russia has also demanded that the supply of agricultural machinery to Russia be allowed, restrictions on insurance be lifted and for Russian ships and cargo to be allowed port access. It also wants a pipeline that delivers Russian ammonia to a Ukrainian Black Sea port to be restarted, and financial activities of Russian fertilizer companies to be unblocked. Unless Russia could export grain and fertilizer globally without hindrance, Moscow could not accept the alternative of having to each time manually take the effort and plead with American and European ports, banks and insurance companies for help, Lavrov said. Thats not the deal we reached on 22 July last year, he said. He said Russia has not discussed the Ukraine grain Black Sea export deal with Moscows strategic partner China, which is the biggest recipient of grain under the agreement. Nearly 29 million tonnes of grain has been exported under the Black Sea grain deal with 6.7 million tonnes going to China, according to data from the Joint Coordination Centre, which is made up of officials from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the U.N. and oversees implementation of the agreement. (Reporting by Reuters, writing by Michelle Nichols; editing by Grant McCool) Photograph: Bulk carrier M/V Razoni, carrying a cargo of 26,000 tonnes of corn, leaves Ukraines port of Odesa, en route to Tripoli in Lebanon, on Aug. 1, 2022. Photo credit: Oleksandr Gimanov/AFP/Getty Images Topics Trends Russia European Union lawmakers on Tuesday backed rules requiring thousands of large companies to identify and mitigate human rights abuses like child labor or slavery, and environmental damage by suppliers. The European Parliaments legal affairs committee voted to approve the draft EU corporate sustainability due diligence directive (CSDDD). The cross-party agreement means lawmakers can now open negotiations with EU states, which have already reached a position among themselves, on a final version that would likely start to be rolled out in phases from around 2030. EU companies would have to comply if they employ more than 250 people and have a turnover of more than 40 million euros ($44 million), a bigger net than EU states want. Non-EU companies from the United States and elsewhere with a net turnover of at least 40 million euros in the bloc would also be covered. Tuesdays agreement excluded small and medium sized companies from scope after opposition from center-right parties. Lawmakers backed a legal requirement for directors of companies with over 1,000 staff to be responsible for implementing a plan for cutting carbon emissions. Member states will have to set out penalties for breaches. EU states agreed last December on including the financial services sector as an option. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on Tuesday made the sectors inclusion mandatory, though with some concessions for areas like asset management. Its disappointing that MEPs have backed plans which would mean many of the biggest corporations in the EU wouldnt have to lift a finger until 2030 this is time we cannot afford to lose, said Aurelie Skrobik, corporate accountability campaigner at Global Witness. Lawmakers aim to start negotiations with EU states for a final deal by year end after a full parliament vote on Tuesdays deal around June 1. Financial services start date, and how many companies are within scope, will be key areas for negotiations with EU states, but climate lobbyists say some lawmakers could challenge parts of Tuesdays deal during the June plenary vote. ($1 = 0.9078 euros) (Reporting by Huw Jones; editing by Mark Potter) Topics Legislation Europe Pollution New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! The United States is sending more of its cyber forces abroad to help foreign governments fight hackers, a top U.S. military official said at the RSA cybersecurity conference in San Francisco. In the last three years, the U.S. militarys Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF) has conducted 47 such hunt forward defensive operations across 20 countries at the invitation of those nations, U.S. Army Major General William Hartman said on Monday. The demand for that only increases, and they are not all the same, Hartman, CNMFs commander, said of the missions, speaking on the sidelines of the conference. The initiative reflects a broader push by the U.S. government to improve collaboration with foreign allies on combating cyber crimes, which often cross borders. Some of the largest known ransomware criminal gangs, for instance, have targeted multiple countries, including the United States. Hartman said CNMF had dispatched 43 specialists to Ukraine, which has been battling Russian cyber onslaughts amid the war there, which Russia calls a special operation. Those are defense teams we send, and (they) hunt for shared adversaries, find tools and capabilities, Hartman said. He said the CNMF was working closely with the top U.S. cyber body, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Both agencies had collaborated on thwarting potential attacks against three U.S. federal agencies by foreign adversaries, said Eric Goldstein, CISAs executive assistant director. We notified the agencies, gave them guidance, and kicked off incident response. Simultaneously, we gathered all the information on the adversary infrastructure and shared it with CNMF, he said. Goldstein and Hartman declined to offer further details on the incident. A separate incident they disclosed during a joint presentation at the conference involved an Iranian hacking group that had breached voting systems in a U.S. city that were used to report the 2020 election results. The CNMF feared the hackers could make the systems website look like the vote had been tampered with, but the agency revoked access, Hartman said. There was no impact to any election infrastructure, Goldstein added. We want to make this a model find the technical evidence to hand over to CNMF, he said, adding that securing the 2024 U.S. presidential election is a top priority. Topics Cyber USA New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Anonymity is allowing crypto assets to finance illegal activities, a top U.S. regulatory official said on Tuesday, posing national security risks that must be addressed. Christy Goldsmith Romero, a commissioner at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said cryptocurrencies were being used to finance cybercrime with victims including individuals, companies, hospitals and critical infrastructure. Fraud is a hallmark of digital asset markets, the human toll of which may be overlooked, Romero told a City Week conference in London, adding that the lack of visibility in cryptomarkets must be addressed. Its essential for governments and particularly the industry to address that which makes crypto so attractive to illicit finance, and that is the allure of anonymity, she said. Legally compliant crypto companies should not be using mixers or software tools that effectively anonymize users by pooling and scrambling cryptocurrencies from thousands of addresses. Congress is already considering new laws on addressing anonymity and digital identity, Romero said. Compliant crypto companies must show they have internal controls to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. Last year the U.S. imposed sanctions on virtual currency mixer Tornado Cash, alleging that it helped hackers, including from North Korea, to launder proceeds from cyber crimes. Its possible for all crypto companies to distance themselves from mixers and anonymity enhancing technology while still providing customers financial privacy, Romero said. Regulators in the United States, European Union, Britain and elsewhere are trying to get their arms around crypto before global norms are agreed and introduced for a borderless sector. As a result, different people are doing different things and, yes, absolutely, firms are picking and choosing where to set up shop, John Schindler, secretary general of the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the G20s coordinator for financial rules, told the conference. The FSB will soon issue the final version of recommendations for regulating cryptoassets, he said. Were catching up to this innovation thats going so quickly, Schindler added. Topics USA New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A south Florida jury has found Deutsche Bank liable for failing to flag a Ponzi scheme that allegedly forced several Cayman Island companies into bankruptcy and liquidation. The Germany-based global banking firm, which faces another lawsuit over the scheme and other accusations of failed internal controls, was ordered to pay $95 million, the federal jury decided Tuesday. Defendants, despite being aware of the actual use and diversion of innocent investor funds, perpetuated the fraud through numerous strategies designed to raise new money to repay liabilities to investors or to extend the maturity of pre-existing debt obligations, reads the complaint. This prolonged the schemes duration and enabled theft on a massive scale in what Defendants knew or recklessly disregarded was a classic Ponzi scheme. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom in Miami noted in her order that $95 million judgment is for one count of negligence. The jury found in favor of the bank on all other counts alleged in the lawsuit. Deutsche Bank has offices in Jacksonville and Miami. We are disappointed by the jurys decision and will continue to defend ourselves against these claims, Deutsche Bank officials said in a statement Wednesday morning. The bank may have little trouble paying the judgment. It had more than $1.4 trillion in assets at the end of last year, according to its quarterly financial statements and news reports. But the company also plans to cut jobs, including board members, Reuters and Bloomberg news services reported this week. The suit against Deutsche Bank was filed in July 2021 by the people in charge of liquidating assets of the companies crushed by the alleged Ponzi scheme. The liquidators bring this action to recover damages from defendants for their participation in a global fraud that resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars of investor losses, looting of the companies on a massive scale, and the creation of staggering liabilities for the companies, an amended complaint reads. The investors were told by principals with two companies, South Bay Holdings and Biscayne Capital International, that their money was being invested in south Florida real estate developments. But in reality, the properties said to be backing the notes were already heavily leveraged. Effectively, the notes were unsecured because there was no real collateral backing them, the complaint charged. Bank employees knew the money raised in the scheme was actually being used for other purposes and was funneled to individuals who had no right to the funds, the liquidators said. Deustche Bank also instructed the schemers in ways to avoid anti-money laundering policies, which facilitated the theft, they charged. Two people involved in the scheme have pleaded guilty to criminal charges. Other cases are continuing. The bank said two years ago that it has cooperated with federal investigators in the criminal probes and that Deutsche Bank is a potential victim of the schemes. Its unclear if the bank is self-insured for liability in cases like this. A bank spokesman declined to comment on that. The investors in the Ponzi scheme included at least 13 Caribbean investment management firms, holding companies and others, but court records do not indicate if insurance companies were part of or had invested in any of the firms. At least one international insurer has strong ties with the bank. Reuters reported in 2020 that Zurich Insurance had renewed its contract with Deutsche Bank to offer life insurance and property/casualty and liability insurance to bank customers in Germany. Photo: Headquarters of Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt, Germany (AP Photo/Michael Probst) Topics Lawsuits New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! The Mallory Agency, a property/casualty insurance broker based in La Grange, Georgia, and Atlanta, has named Cassandra George as vice president of operations. George has more than 10 years experience at First Light Program Managers, including her recent role as operations manger, Mallory said in a news release. The 115-year-old Mallory Agency said it serves clients throughout the country and provides risk management, insurance and claims services. Matt Mallory is CEO; Libby Willingham is executive vice president; and April Simmons is chief financial officer. New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! W.R. Berkley Corp., the holding company for one of the largest commercial lines writers in the country, said it has made Jay Weber president of its Berkley Southeast Insurance Group. Weber succeeds Dennis Barger, who was named chairman. Weber has more than 30 years in commercial property and casualty and was recently North American business development leader for a global insurance group, Berkley said in a statement. He holds a bacherlors degree from Syracuse Universitys School of Management. Berkley was founded in 1967. W. Robert Berkley Jr. is president and CEO. CAC Specialty Names Governor Senior Account Exec CAC Specialty named Karmanee Governor senior account executive, underscoring the brokers plans to expand its healthcare division nationwide. Governor, called a dealmaker by CACs president, has experience in all lines of insurance, including healthcare professionals liability and excess liability programs for health systems, senior living centers, surgery centers and physician groups. Recently, she served as senior vice president for Willis Towers Watson, a consulting, risk analytics, brokerage and actuarial firm. Topics Willis Towers Watson New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Residents of a South Florida waterfront condominium that was deemed unsafe during a recent inspection have until Tuesday morning to evacuate. A building engineer conducting an inspection on April 14 for the Majestic Isle condominiums required 60-year certification found sagging floors and termite damage, North Bay Village officials said. The village is located in Biscayne Bay, along a causeway that connects Miami and Miami Beach. Its also just a few miles from the town of Surfside, where 98 people died in June 2021 when a 12- story oceanfront building collapsed. North Bay Village and the community are stepping up to help displaced residents until they can come back home, North Bay Village Mayor Brent Latham said in a statement. We are here for the affected residents for as long as they need us, to help see them through this difficult time. A roof drain leak at Majestic Isle, which was built in 1960, caused a partial ceiling collapse earlier this month, prompting the evacuation of five of the three-story buildings 36 units, village officials said in a news release. After receiving the engineering report last week, North Bay Village officials announced that all of the buildings 55 residents would need to leave. Residents have been able to move light items out of their units over the past week. Officials didnt have a timeline for when residents would be able to return home or move furniture and bigger items out completely. Village officials were hosting a meeting Monday evening to discuss the evacuation. The village has also set up a fundraiser to help displaced residents. A telephone number listed for the condo association was no longer in service. The Surfside disaster drew the largest non-hurricane emergency response in Florida history, including rescue crews from across the U.S. and as far away as Israel to help local teams search for victims. Other buildings in South Florida have been evacuated amid similar safety concerns since the Surfside collapse. In October, the 14-story Port Royale building on Collins Avenue was ordered evacuated due to concerns over its structural safety. The disaster focused scrutiny on the structural integrity of aging condominium towers throughout Florida, especially along its coastlines. The state has since moved to strengthen laws requiring inspections and periodic recertification of buildings. Miami-Dade County had required the first recertification only after 40 years. The Surfside building was undergoing that recertification process when it collapsed. New state rules signed into law last year require buildings to have their first recertification after 30 years, or 25 if they are within 3 miles (5 kilometers) of the coast, and then every 10 years thereafter. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Florida The family of an Arizona property manager who was fatally shot during an attempted eviction in Tucson last year has filed a $50 million claim against Pima County and others. An attorney representing Angela Foxs family alleges in the claim that county Constable Deborah Martinez-Garibay had cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine and alcohol in her system at the time of the fatal shooting and also was under investigation by the county for felony fraud, the Arizona Republic reported. Fox, 28, was a property manager for a management company that included Lind Commons Apartments in Tucson. She went with Martinez-Garibay to evict tenant Gavin Lee Stansell on Aug. 25 last year. An eviction complaint filed 10 days earlier by a landlord in Pima County Consolidated Justice Court indicated Stansell had previously threatened and intimidated neighbors with a gun in July. Tucson police said the 24-year-old Stansell fatally shot Fox, Martinez-Garibay and a neighbor at the apartment complex before killing himself. The claim, which is a precursor to a lawsuit, said Martinez-Garibay knew that Stansell possessed a firearm but still had Fox accompany her to serve the eviction. Martinez-Garibay, 43, was hired in March 2022 when her predecessor reportedly quit over frustration about serving eviction notices. Attorneys for Foxs family said in the claim that Martinez-Garibay was unfit for the job because she had not received the mandatory constable training. The claim also said that after Martinez-Garibay was hired, it was discovered she had falsified signatures on her nomination petition to run for constable and wasnt a resident of the countys Precinct 8 as candidates were required. Constables are elected peace officers who serve civil or criminal papers for Pima Justice Court and several county agencies. They can also serve papers from courts outside the region. The state Attorney Generals Office and the Arizona Constable Ethics, Standards and Training Board are also named in the claim. A call to Pima County officials seeking comment wasnt immediately returned. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Arizona A federal appeals court overturned Berkeley, Californias first-in-the-nation ban on natural gas in new construction, agreeing with restaurant owners who argued the city bypassed federal energy regulations when it approved the ordinance. The measure, which took effect in 2020 to cheers from environmentalists, was intended to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses that contribute to global warming. With some exceptions, it banned new residential and commercial buildings from installing natural gas piping in favor of electrical lines. A lawsuit by the California Restaurant Association claimed the regulation violated federal law that gives the U.S. government authority to set energy- efficiency standards for appliances such as stoves, furnaces and water heaters. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco rejected a lower court judges decision two years ago that had upheld the Berkeley ordinance. In her 2021 decision, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said the city was not trying to regulate energy efficiency for appliances, only the fuel they used. But Judge Patrick Bumatay wrote in the 3-0 Ninth Circuit ruling that a local ordinance that bans appliances such as gas stoves impacts the quantity of energy they consume, which is regulated by the federal government. Jot Condie, president of the restaurant association, hailed the decision. Berkeleys ban was an overreaching measure beyond the scope of any city, he said in a statement. Cities and states are not equipped to regulate the energy use or energy efficiency of appliances that businesses and homeowners have chosen; energy policy and conservation is an issue with national scope and national security implications, Condie said. Supporters of the ordinance said the decision would not affect a small number of other California cities that have promoted electrification in their building codes. The ruling was expected to be appealed, according to a statement from a group of environmental advocates. Matt Vespa, a senior attorney with the nonprofit Earthjustice, called the decision misguided. As we face a climate and air quality crisis from coast to coast, it is vital that cities and states maintain all legal pathways to protect public health, cut climate emissions, and increase safety by addressing pollution from buildings, and well continue to fight to ensure this authority is preserved, Vespa said in a statement. Research has found that gas stoves in California are leaking cancer-causing benzene, while another study determined that U.S. gas stoves are contributing to global warming by putting 2.6 million tons of methane in the air each year even when turned off. New York City has barred most new buildings from using natural gas within a few years. Most construction projects submitted for approval after 2027 would have to use something other than gas or oil such as electricity for heating, hot water and cooking. Some federal lawmakers have called on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to address the potential health risks through regulation, such as requiring that gas stoves be sold with range hoods to improve ventilation or issuing mandatory performance standards for gas stoves to address the health effects of hazardous emissions. But the Biden administration said earlier this year that there are no plans for a nationwide ban on gas stoves. The California Restaurant Association argued the Berkeley ban could end up eroding the regions reputation for fine and creative dining. Indeed, restaurants specializing in international foods so prized in the Bay Area will be unable to prepare many of their specialties without natural gas, the lawsuit stated. And while the ban applied only to some new construction, the association worried it could be the start of efforts to outlaw or restrict the use of natural gas in existing structures. The trade group said such a move would harm restaurants that rely on gas for cooking particular types of food, whether it be flame-seared meats, charred vegetables, or the use of intense heat from a flame under a wok, according to the lawsuit. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California April 26, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) It's official: the world's silver supply is in a prolonged period of shortage. In 2022, the precious metal recorded its second straight year of deficits after half a decade of oversupply. New data from the Silver Institute shows that global demand surged by 18% against a stagnant mine output in 2022, stretching the supply gap to 237.7 million ounces. This figure, says the institute, is "possibly the most significant deficit on record." Silver market fundamentals strong as it enters new era of supply deficits What's more unsettling is that it took just these two years of undersupply the 2022 deficit and the 51.1Moz shortfall from 2021 to wipe out the cumulative surpluses from the previous decade. Credit: Silver Institute Looking ahead, a large silver deficit is likely to remain for the foreseeable future. "We are moving into a different paradigm for the market, one of ongoing deficits," said Philip Newman at Metals Focus, the research firm that prepared the Silver Institute's data. To meet our future metal demands, it becomes imperative that more silver mines must be developed around the world to reverse this trend. The focus has to be on promising silver explorers and mine developers that could contribute to the future supply chain. Dolly Varden Silver One junior explorer that could help mitigate the silver market imbalance is Canada's Dolly Varden Silver Corp. (TSXV:DV, OTC:DOLLF), which is advancing its Kitsault Valley project located in the Golden Triangle of northwestern British Columbia. The 163-square-km property represents an amalgamation of the high-grade silver and gold resources of Dolly Varden's namesake project and the Homestake Ridge project it acquired in early 2022. The combined mineral resource of 34.7 million oz of silver and 166,000 oz of gold in the indicated category and 29.3 million oz of silver and 817,000 oz of gold in inferred, within multiple outcropping deposits, makes Kitsault Valley one of the largest high-grade, undeveloped precious metal assets in all of Western Canada. Deposits within the Kitsault Valley property. Credit: Dolly Varden Silver Within the boundaries of Dolly Varden's original project are the past-producing Dolly Varden and Torbrit silver mines, which together produced more than 20 million oz of high-grade silver between 1919 and 1959, with assays of ore as high as 2,200 oz (over 72 kg) per tonne. Notably, Dolly Varden was amongst the most important silver mines in the British Empire during its heyday, and the mine's manager between 1919-1921 was none other than Herbert Hoover, who went on to become the 31st US President. Other historically active mines in this area include North Star and Wolf, which remain underexplored to this day. The newly acquired Homestake Ridge project comprises the northern half (75 sqkm) of the Kitsault Valley project, featuring a high-grade gold and silver resource from three known deposits. While the existing deposits are enough to work with, DV believes the Kitsault Valley property is prospective for hosting further precious metal deposits, being on the same structural and stratigraphic belts that host numerous other, on-trend, high-grade deposits, such as Eskay Creek and Brucejack. Therefore, the company has implemented a strategy of not only expanding on the current resources, but also testing for new exploration targets for discovery, with the ultimate goal of realizing the true potential of its precious metals resource in the highly prospective Golden Triangle region. 2022 Drilling Recap Last year, DV embarked on a comprehensive drill program at Kitsault Valley. The goal was to upgrade the current inferred mineral resources to the measured and indicated classification, as well as to expand the known deposits and discover new silver-gold mineralization along the Kitsault Valley trend. Specifically, the objective was to expand the wide, high-grade silver mineralization at Wolf vein, step out and infill at Torbrit and the nearby Kitsol vein, and test several other nearby exploration targets on the Kitsault Valley property. Twenty holes for 9,994 metres were completed at Wolf Vein, 18 holes for 3,524 metres at the Torbrit deposit, eight holes for 2,900 metres of infill and step out drilling at the Kitsol vein, and six holes for 2,196 metres in additional exploration. Another 18,448 metres in 56 holes were completed at the newly acquired Homestake Ridge deposits, for a total of 37,062 metres in 108 holes. And the results, which have now all been released, certainly did not disappoint. Kitsol vein The company first teased us with results from the Kitsol vein target in August, which featured a 25m step-out hole along strike and down dip of the high-grade silver mineralization zone. The Kitsol structure is a vein-hosted, high-grade silver system located immediately west of the Torbrit mineral resource and historic mine. The step-out drill hole returned an 18m interval at an average grade of 414 g/t silver, including 15m averaging 646 g/t silver; 74m averaging 658 g/t silver, and 34m averaging 801 g/t silver. Some of the assays were even higher. Within the mineralized interval, three 0.5m long samples had silver assays of 2,910 g/t, 2,390 g/t and 2,500 g/t respectively, indicating the possibility of multiple mineralizing events. Given the grade and consistency of the silver mineralization, DV believes Kitsol fits the criteria of a potentially underground bulk-mineable deposit. Follow-up results announced in November confirmed this bulk minerability, with one hole intersecting 12.51m averaging 442 g/t silver, including 1,367 g/t silver over 1.50m, as an up-dip infill hole from previous high-grade intercepts. Wolf vein Drilling in 2022 also returned impressive results from the Wolf vein, where step-out drilling first returned a significant high-grade silver intercept: 19.85m averaging 584 g/t, including bonanza-grade silver mineralization of 4,326 g/t. The Wolf vein is a steep dipping, high-grade silver vein deposit that's part of the current mineral resource estimate at DV's Kitsault Valley trend. In 2021, geological modelling of the deposit showed expansion potential along strike to the southwest. Follow-up drilling has since defined the high-grade silver mineralization to a depth of 500m below surface and extended the zone over 350m down plunge from historic drilling and over 500m from the historic underground workings. "With an increase in vein intensity and silver grades, the Wolf Vein area is emerging as a large system, rivaling our Torbrit deposit," stated Shawn Khunkhun CEO at the time, adding that the significant widths make the Wolf vein potentially amenable to bulk underground mining, just like the Kitsol vein that is 1,400m away. In November, the company dramatically extended the limits of the Wolf vein silver mineralization through wide-spaced step-out drilling. One hole returned 412 g/t silver over 12.80m, including 2.15m grading 1,646 g/t silver, and another hit 551 g/t silver over 9.80m, including 3.60m grading 1,049 g/t silver. These results more than doubled the strike length of the Wolf deposit, as well as extended high-grade silver mineralization to over 750m in dip extent. Homestake Ridge Towards the end of 2022, DV completed a trifecta of exploration success with high-grade silver and gold results coming from the Homestake Ridge project, which it acquired from Fury Gold Mines in February 2022. Two precious metal deposits Homestake Main and Homestake Silver were the focus of the 2022 program. The objective of drilling was to expand multiple, sub-parallel mineralized zones and to upgrade inferred resources. Highlights of the first batch included 27.44 g/t gold and 463 g/t silver over 9.16m, including 75.13 g/t gold and 2,337 g/t silver over 1.77m, and 0.5m of 216 g/t gold, 113 g/t silver and 0.48% copper. "These intercepts demonstrate strong continuity of mineralization over wide intervals, similar to the recently announced high-grade results at the Wolf and Kitsol deposits, located 6 km to the south," chief executive Shawn Khunkhun said. DV followed that up with more high-grade results in January 2023, highlighted by 46.31 g/t gold, 70 g/t silver and 0.19% copper over 25m, including 1,145 g/t gold, 826 g/t silver and 0.51% copper over 0.48m, from Homestake Main; and 2,500 g/t silver, 15.04 g/t gold and 0.17% copper over 1.20m from Homestake Silver. "Dolly Varden Silver's initial drilling at the Homestake Main deposit has returned consistent mineralized intervals with some of the highest grades of gold with silver reported from the property to date, but also the entire Golden Triangle during the 2022 drilling season," Khunkhun commented. Latest Updates In February of this year, DV saved its best for last, reporting the highest silver assay received to date from the Dolly Varden property. Drilling during the 2022 season at the northern limits of the Wolf deposit returned an 8.77m intercept of 1,499 g/t silver, 1.89% lead and 0.46% zinc. Within that intercept was what the company called a "jewelry-box-style" mineralization, grading 23,997 g/t silver, 1.24% lead and 0.34% zinc over a true width of 0.19m. Towards the southern limits of the Wolf vein, drilling also encountered 321 g/t silver, 0.84% lead and 0.84% zinc over 12.85m, including 664 g/t silver, 1.24% lead and 3.54% zinc over 1.63m. "Results from the Wolf Vein continue to exceed expectations, returning the highest-grade silver assay yet received, more than doubling the strike length of the deposit through step outs to the north and south as well as returning wide, robust silver and base metal grades at depth," Khunkhun stated in a February 6 release. Elsewhere, high-grade assays continued to flow in from the Kitsol vein, highlighted by 301 g/t silver, 0.23% lead and 0.56% zinc over 15m, including 434 g/t silver, 0.41% lead and 0.69% zinc over 5.9m. A new copper discovery was also made at the Red Point target, with results of 8.10 g/t gold, 244 g/t silver and 5.16% copper over 1m, and 17.20 g/t gold and 1.65% copper over 1.15m. 2023 Exploration Building on last year's drilling success, this week Dolly Varden laid out its 2023 exploration plans for the newly combined Kitsault Valley project. The company has earmarked 40,000 to 45,000m of drilling through further step-outs following the high-grade silver and gold mineralization at the Wolf and Homestake Ridge deposits, as well as appropriately spaced exploration holes to allow the inclusion of new mineralization drilled over the past three drilling programs to be included in an updated resource estimate. "2022 was a breakthrough exploration season at Dolly Varden Silver's Kitsault Valley project. It hosts one of the largest, undeveloped high-grade precious metals projects in Western Canada," president and CEO Shawn Khunkhun said. "With the wide, high-grade silver intercepts in significant step-out holes from the Wolf and Homestake silver deposits, coupled with the highest-grade gold intercepts drilled in all of the Golden Triangle in 2022 from the Homestake Main deposit, we eagerly await the start of this season's drilling." As disclosed previously, the priority during the 2023 exploration program will be to connect the Wolf deposit with the Kitsol deposit, located 1,400m apart. Drilling allocated to the Wolf deposit expansion (approx. 13,000m) will focus on both infill drilling of the wide-spaced intercepts from 2022, as well as further step-out holes in several directions where high-grade silver mineralization remains open. Similar step-out drilling will follow up on high-grade silver mineralization at the Kitsol vein. The 2023 drilling at Homestake is influenced by the structural information gained from the infill drilling at the Main deposit, where two main plunge directions have been identified. The planned drilling will target the down plunge extensions of higher grade and wider zones of gold mineralization. Drilling at Homestake Silver will prioritize step out holes where 2022 expansion drilling had success at the southern extent. Another 2023 exploration target is the Moose vein, where DV plans to test a historic prospect with small exploration adit from the 1920s. It is located 1,500m north of the Wolf deposit within the Potassic alteration halo associated with the Torbrit, Dolly Varden and Wolf silver deposits to the south. Conclusion "We are continuing our successful strategy of expanding current resources, while also testing new exploration targets for discovery," Khunkhun commented on Dolly Varden's 2023 plans, adding that the company has over $26 million in the treasury, which positions the exploration team with "a tremendous opportunity to create value with the drill bit." Since the 2022 program, Dolly Varden has completed $22.6 million in financings, which included a $1.9 million investment from Hecla Mining's Canadian subsidiary to keep its 10.21% ownership in the company. This level of fundraising is almost unheard of in the junior mining space, and the continuous backing of Hecla, the top silver producer in the US, just goes to show the level of confidence the market has in the Kitsault Valley project. Now, we await what the 2023 exploration program brings. Dolly Varden Silver Corp. TSXV:DV, OTC:DOLLF Cdn$1.13, 2023.04.24 Shares Outstanding 254.3m Market cap Cdn$274.7m DV website Richard (Rick) Mills aheadoftheherd.com subscribe to my free newsletter Legal Notice / Disclaimer Ahead of the Herd newsletter, aheadoftheherd.com, hereafter known as AOTH. Please read the entire Disclaimer carefully before you use this website or read the newsletter. 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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 The percentage of corporation tax receipts being paid by just 10 companies in Ireland has grown to 57%, as the Finance Minister warns against building up permanent expenditure based on this windfall. On Wednesday, the Revenue Commissioners published its annual report for 2022 which showed net corporation tax receipts collected came to 22.6bn, up 48% on 2021. Corporation tax is the second largest tax-head representing 27.5% of net tax receipts in 2022. The Government is expecting to run surpluses over the coming years based largely on increasing tax take from these corporations. It is projected to take in 24.3bn in corporation tax this year and 25.1bn next year. The top 10 companies are now contributing 57% of the corporate tax receipts an increase from 53% in 2021. These 10 companies contributed more than 13bn to the total pool of corporate tax receipts. Finance Minister Michael McGrath said his department estimated that about 12bn in corporation tax expected this year was windfall in nature and cannot be relied upon in the future. Windfall receipts are now accounting for a growing proportion of our revenues. As Minister for Finance, I am determined that we use these receipts wisely to underpin the resilience of our public finances into the future, he said. He said they have to avoid the mistake of building up permanent expenditure and taxation commitments on the back of these receipts which could prove to be temporary. To make such a mistake would be to expose taxpayers, and the sustainability of our finances, to unnecessary and unacceptable risk, Mr McGrath said. In total, 19.6bn worth of corporation tax receipts came from foreign-owned companies, with Irish-owned multinationals contributing 928m and non-multinationals contributing 2.1bn. Net tax receipts from the largest companies increased by 6.6bn, or 51%, during 2022, and accounted for 86% of all receipts. The manufacturing sector, which includes the pharmaceutical sector, accounted for more than 10bn up 5.66bn while information and communication companies, which includes numerous technology companies, accounted for 4.18bn up 922m. Two sectors saw their overall corporate tax contributions drop in 2022 compared to 2021. The administrative and support service sectors contribution dropped 86m to 1.2bn and the wholesale and retail trade sector saw a decrease in tax receipts in 2022, dropping 49m to 2.3bn. More than 77,100 companies paid corporation tax in 2022, with 63,647 paying between 1 and 40,000. A total of 171 companies paid more than 10m. A total of 833m was paid in 2022 by 26,000 companies that did not pay corporation tax in 2021. On Tuesday, the Central Statistics Office revealed corporate profits surged by nearly 20% in 2022, driven by large increases in sectors dominated by multinational companies such as industry and technology. Ornua boss John Jordan said Irish dairy famers can expect to be squeezed further this year as milk prices are set to fall, but input costs are likely to remain stubborn. A collection of the latest news, views and analysis from the farming desk on the topic of Agribusiness and technology. In 2022, the States largest dairy exporter recorded a 40% year-on-year increase in milk price, but this growth was offset by input costs which rose rapidly. These costs included fuel, feed, and fertiliser. Indeed, our newest price is still quite strong. But some farmers will see a reduction in milk price, but input costs have not come off at the same pace. So, very likely for 2023, there'll be a significant margin squeeze on farmers, said Mr Jordan. Ornua, which owns the Kerrygold brand, said that while milk supplies are currently ahead of demand, markets are likely to stabilise in the coming months. Meanwhile, milk prices are expected to decline as global commodity markets plummet. What we saw in late 22, from October to December, was some softening in the market that has continued into 2023, where we're seeing buyers step back from the market, and a general weaker sentiment, said Mr Jordan. And as a result, commodity product prices have dropped significantly from the highs of last year, he added. Ornua provided fixed product price contracts for its shareholders and members last year as the industry was hit with unprecedented challenges. These contracts were designed as volatility tool which, over a ten-year period, averaged out at the same as the variable price while aiming to provide stability. However, around 10% of farming members with Ornua criticised the flexibility of the contracts when input prices surged following the invasion of Ukraine, as they felt trapped in below-cost prices. There was no question that there was a cohort of farmers that were very severely financially stressed, and indeed, undergoing personal stress having to work through a business with their input costs where they were and their output costs locked, said Mr Jordan. Mr Jordan said this measure did help farmers bridge the cost gap, though and that the response from co-ops at that time was very positive, and indeed some positive feedback from farmers. That gap obviously has significantly reduced where you see spot milk price today, he continued. Mr Jordan said despite the circumstances, farmers had a decent margin in 2022. Ornua delivered 72.5m value payment to its 14,000 members despite these obstacles, including inflation, supply chain issues and the war. This is made up of monthly and year-end cash bonuses and the premium paid on milk purchases from its members. One of the latest additions to Corks cocktail offerings, Paladar has been named among the best new international cocktail bars in Europe. The Bridge Street cocktail bar has been named a 2023 Spirited Awards Regional Top 10 Honoree under the category of Best New Cocktail Bar for Europe. The Latin American-inspired bar opened six months ago with a menu of classic and signature cocktails mostly based around rum, cachaca, agave and pisco. Run by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, the Spirited Awards recognise beverage professionals, establishments and media in the spirits and cocktail community across the globe. Since its founding in 2007, the awards have become one of the most sought-after in the industry. Other places that made it on the list of Best New International Cocktail Bar - Europe include bars in Zurich, Barcelona, Athens, Florence, London and more. Paladar is the only Irish bar on that list. Looking at other categories, the only other Irish bar mentioned among the honourees is Bar 1661 in Dublin. Speaking on their spot on the list, Paladars owner Andy Ferreira described Tales of the Cocktail as the Oscars of the bar world. Paladar getting nominated as one of the best new Cocktail bars to open in Europe this year is absolutely mind-blowing, he said. Ireland has a tradition of punching above its weight and this is the second year in a row we have Irish bars featured on this global list. We put together an amazing team in the bar and kitchen with the aim of bringing something new and unique to Cork and this is only the beginning. From the same team behind McCurtain Streets Cask, Paladar has already become a hot spot in Cork and is decorated with American art, music and photography. Bar manager Oisin Wolfe curated the cocktail menu and is also a finalist in this year's Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of The Year. Craig Walker, the singer and guitarist of Dublin band Power of Dreams remembers flying to London with his bandmates, younger brother and drummer Keith and childhood friend and bass player Mick Lennox, to sign their recording contract in late 1989. The band had been courted by major labels for a few months but things were about to get surreal. We landed in Heathrow with our families. Our parents had to come over and sign and Micks parents had to come over also. I was just over 18 but the lads were underage, says Walker. As we landed we get a message over the intercom. Would somebody from the Power of Dreams group please make their way to a telephone. We were on our way to sign to Polydor and were getting intercom messages from Sony. They wanted to offer us double the money. But we went with Polydor because it was The Velvet Undergrounds label. Polydor was a great label, we were big fans of The Who and The Jam. A few months earlier A Little Piece of God, the bands debut EP, produced by Sean ONeill of The Undertones, was released on the London-Irish indie label Setanta Records. We put our actual address on the back of our first single, remembers Walker. The single came out and did really well. So obviously it was easy to find a Walker in Walkinstown in the phonebook. I was getting these phone calls. My mother was like, Ive got Geoff Travis on the phone, he says hes from Rough Trade Records, or Ive got an Alan McGee from Creation Records on the phone. Power of Dreams duly signed to Polydor and began planning their debut album. Different producers were suggested but Craig wanted to work with Ray Shulman from 70s prog-rockers Gentle Giant. Shulman sadly passed away on March 30 this year and Craig has only fond memories of his time working with him. I met a lot of producers but Ray Shulman was easily the nicest and he was really into the music. He had been in Gentle Giant with his brothers but I had never heard of them. I did listen to them later and I liked a lot of their stuff. Walker might not have been familiar with Gentle Giant, but there were three good reasons why Shulman was picked as producer. He had produced Lifes Too Good by The Sugarcubes, The Sundays Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, and he had just produced Ian McCullochs solo album Candleland. I was a really big fan of that album. I liked the sound of those three albums so I wanted to work with Ray. Shulman picked Master Rock studio in Kilburn to record the album. He purposely picked that place because it had a massive live room, recalls Craig. We took ten days to record the bass and drums and then the lads went back to Dublin. I stayed on and did all my guitars and vocals. That was probably for a month. I was put up in the Hilton Hotel in Kensington. It couldnt get any better than that, theres a reason why I still owe them money, says Walker laughing. Immigrants, Emigrants and Me, by Power of Dreams If the sound of The Sundays debut album was an influence on Walkers choice of producer, then so too was their album title. Reading, Writing and Arithmetic was an influence. I liked the idea of saying a lot with just three words. Immigrants, Emigrants and Me, as a title it captured a moment in 1990. Ireland was a completely different place from today. I remember while we were doing the Leaving Cert in 1989 the teacher gave us an end of year speech and he said, 70% of you are going to leave and youre doing the right thing. It was just inevitable. It was either stay and be one of the lucky few or go, there just werent opportunities. It felt like everyone I knew was leaving. Walker had his album title, now he just needed a cover photograph. At the time the ISPCC had their headquarters above the Power of Dreams managers office on Suffolk Street and Craig remembers spotting a photograph of a little girl standing on a landing, a teddy bear by her side looking out a window in what appears to be a rundown tenement building. I remember seeing the photograph when it was used by the ISPCC on a short-lived campaign. I think the photographer was pretty well known. William Fagan, Chairperson of Photo Museum Ireland in Temple Bar, explains that the photo was taken by Bill Doyle in Belvedere Place, Dublin in 1975. Walker had no idea about the context of the picture. I saw it in the office and said, thats it, thats the album cover. It just fit perfectly with the album title as well. Immigrants, Emigrants and Me was released in July 1990, and received great reviews. The NME wrote that the band, have shown that they have the power to uplift, the power to inspire, the power to provoke and the power to dream. Sounds declared, theyre too young, too fast, and too confident. Theyre absolutely wonderful. The album lived up to its hyperbolic reviews. It contained some huge anthems including the singles 100 Ways to Kill a Love and Never Been to Texas. But it was in its quieter moments such as on Had You Listened and Average Day that Craigs maturity as a teenage songwriter was really revealed. Upon the albums release Cork guitarist Ian Olney (Cypress Mine! Etc) was asked to join Power of Dreams. I was a massive fan of Cypress, Mine! and particularly of Ian, says Craig. They were a great band. Ian was on another level; a great player. Ians one of the best guitar players Irelands ever produced. The album launched the band on a touring whirlwind for the next few years opening for the Wedding Present, the House of Love, Pixies, Wire and The Mission. The Mission were playing to between five and six thousand people a night everywhere we went all over Europe, says Walker. I came to Berlin for the first time on that Mission tour, it was 1990 and the Wall had just come down, that was an amazing experience. The Mission were great, super nice guys from the north of England. We really hit it off. From that tour we picked up a big following. Walkers fondest memory of recording the album? The best moment was when I got a call from Ray Shulman to go around to his house in Earls Court. Ray and his wife were both really nice and he played the finished album to me on his nice speakers and it was amazing. He said, Congratulations, youve made a fantastic record, no matter what happens from this point on youll have always made a great record. That was the best moment. Just to have made an album, we couldnt believe that. The most recent incarnation of Power of Dreams. What happened next Power of Dreams released several more albums, but in terms of commercial success, the band never quite made the breakthrough expected by some people after Immigrants, Emigrants and Me. They went their separate ways in the mid-1990s, and Walker went on to form the bands Pharmacy and Archive. As a Berlin-based songwriter he has enjoyed success collaborating with many other artists, including German dance duo Booka Shade. Power of Dreams released a comeback album Auslander in 2021, and Walker recently released Electric Shoes, a 12-track collaboration with Canadian producer and multi-instrumentalist Erik Alcock. Paul McDermotts podcast To Here Knows When Great Irish Albums Revisited is available on all listening platforms. https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/podcast Eighty-eight Irish citizens and their dependents have now been successfully evacuated from Sudan, Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said. Speaking this morning, Mr Martin said that Department of Foreign Affairs officials in Nairobi and Dublin have been maintaining "regular contact with registered Irish citizens" still in Sudan. Last week, clashes erupted across Africa's third-largest country amid an apparent power struggle between the two main factions of Sudans military regime - the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). More than 500 people, including dozens of civilians, have been killed since the fighting began. The Irish citizens evacuated thus far have been assisted by the French, Spanish and Swedish governments, amongst others. More evacuations are planned over the coming days. There were understood to be up to around 400 Irish citizens and their dependents in the country, with only around 125 registered with Irish embassy officials in neighbouring Kenya as of Monday. The Department of Foreign Affairs said they are working with those evacuated through Djibouti and helping to arrange accommodation as well as supporting and advising on onward arrangements. They said this includes the logistical elements of travel to Ireland if they choose. Irish citizens 'had to take matters into own hands' to flee Sudan A house hit in recent fighting Is seen in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Sudan's warring generals have pledged to observe a new three-day truce that was brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia to try to pull Africa's third-largest nation from the abyss. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali) Meanwhile, Mullingar student, Noon Abdellatif, has criticised the Irish Government for not giving Irish citizens trying to flee Sudan enough notice about evacuation efforts. Ms Abdellatif's mother Hannah, and her five-year-old sister, left Khartoum by bus on Saturday with members of their extended family. The 17-year-old has not heard from them since Monday. She said the Government did not move quickly enough and should have given people more notice about evacuation efforts. She said if her mother had known of the plan to evacuate Irish citizens from Khartoum, it would have saved her the perilous bus journey and the expense. The prices on buses were extortionate she said, and people were getting on with empty pockets having spent everything they had to get on board. Ms Abdellatif is now worried about how everyone on the buses will afford accommodation when they arrive in Egypt. Ms Abdellatif said her mother told her on Monday, that their bus had broken down several times in the desert and that they had no food or water. They are in a dire situation, she said. The Mullingar student said that she continues to call her mothers phone before and after school and at night. She said she was trying to stay strong for her family who were witnessing bombs and shootings and had seen dead bodies on the street. I have to stay resilient for them, she added. Irish citizen Mostasier Ismail and his family also "took matters into their own hands" and travelled by bus to Aswan in Egypt to escape the chaos. Ismail, who studies in Sudan, said the situation was really scary and a real nightmare as the fighting moved closer. It was really scary, we were not expecting something like this to happen so close to us," he said. In the days leading up to their departure he had noticed the unspoken tension in the air, which everyone felt, but no one talked about it. Concern workers Elsewhere, two Irish Concern workers have made a 'difficult' 34-hour journey out of Khartoum, alongside the aid agency's Sudan director AKM Musha. AKM Musha and his two Irish colleagues travelled from Khartoum to Port Sudan by a convoy in what he described as a "difficult" journey on RTE's Morning Ireland. When we got the opportunity, we moved out of Khartoum. People were running for their lives, they left everything behind. "Life in Khartoum now was horrendous with fighting going on day and night. Hospitals were not open, banks were not open and people could not access their money and there were food shortages," Mr Musha said. The convoy, which included 80 vehicles and hundreds of people, took 34 hours. According to Mr Musha, the journey was a terrifying and horrible experience." "If one car got a flat tyre, all the convoy stopped. It was very hard on the children and older people, Mr Musha said. Mr Musha added that even before the current hostilities, millions of people in Sudan had needed humanitarian support. Other aid organisations, like Concern, had been working there trying to improve the situation and had seen the suffering increasing. Concern has now suspended operations which is going to make peoples lives even more difficult, but aid organisations simply can not operate in such a hostile and dangerous situation. The hostilities need to stop so aid organisations can resume their support for millions of people, he urged. Those evacuated have left Khartoum to go to the neighbouring countries Djibouti and Jordan. While Ireland and other nations work to get citizens out of the east African country, it has emerged one of the two sides in the civil war has seized a laboratory containing viruses. It is not clear how big the selection of samples are or if they could be weaponized, but they are said to contain isolates of cholera and measles. UN officials have said there is a huge biological risk associated with the seizure of a health laboratory in the capital Khartoum by one of the fighting parties. The World Health Organizations representative in Sudan, Dr Nima Saeed Abid, has refused to say which side Sudans military or its paramilitary opponents in the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control of the lab. Although there is currently a ceasefire in place, the fighting, which broke out on April 15, has plunged the heavily aid-dependent country into chaos. Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill has insisted her attendance at the coronation of Britain's King Charles is more than just a gesture and demonstrates her commitment to reconciliation. The partys vice president said she was attending the ceremony because it is the right thing to do in terms of promoting a shared future in Northern Ireland. The republican leader and Sinn Feins Assembly speaker Alex Maskey have both accepted invitations to the coronation in London. The move is the latest signal of vastly improved relations between the republican movement and the royal family since the outset of the peace process. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will also be in attendance. A spokesperson for Mr Varadkar said: "The Office of the Taoiseach can confirm that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will travel to London to attend the Coronation ceremony of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May." Ms ONeill, who attended Queen Elizabeths funeral service in September, is in line to become Northern Irelands first minister if the current powersharing impasse is resolved and devolution returns in Belfast. She has repeatedly pledged to be a first minister for all. I think at this juncture its important that I demonstrate and fulfil my commitment to be that First Minister for all and attend the coronation to represent all of our community, she told the PA news agency. Im comfortable enough in my own skin and I think that its important that at times like this that I demonstrate by words and deeds that I will be the first minister for all, I will represent everybody in our community. She added: We are living in a time of great change. A time to respect our differing and equally legitimate aspirations, a time to firmly focus on the future and the opportunities that the next decade will bring. I am an Irish republican. I also recognise there are many people on our island for whom the coronation is a hugely important occasion. Ms ONeill said her eyes were very much focused on the future. That has to be about reconciling our people, she added. So thats why in moments like this its very important that, particularly for myself as a first minister for all and somebody who feels that I can represent everybody in our community, that I reach out and that I do something that actually demonstrates my commitment to bring forward a better society for everybody. Because Im determined to look to the future, Im determined to look at the next 10 years and 20 years and what that means for our island, the people who share this island, and the relationships between our two islands. So, I think reconciliation is still something that we all need to be pushing ourselves on and making sure that we do everything that we can to reconcile all the people across these two islands. She added: I think that its important that all of us in political leadership reach out that hand of friendship. I dont do what I do for reciprocation, I do what I do because I believe in it, I believe its the right thing to do and I believe in fulfilling the promises that I make. So the first minister for all is much more than a gesture for me, it is actually following through in terms of everything that I do. So, for me, this is a juncture at which I hope that will be received in the way in which is intended, which is that I will represent everybody and then I am determined to build a better future into the decades ahead for everybody that lives here and shares this place as their home. Members of Macra na Feirme who met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar along with a number of ministers on Wednesday said they had a "positive" discussion after their 79km march to Dublin to highlight the issues facing young people in rural Ireland. They welcomed a commitment from the Taoiseach to return to discussions by the end of the summer. Macra president John Keane said that the message of the steps for our future march was clear: We want a future in rural Ireland, we want our rural communities to survive and thrive into the future. "The Taoiseach has given us a commitment that he will reengage with us himself in a few months time on our issues, and in the meantime, the ministers with responsibility for these issues will also engage with our organisation. There was recognition around the table generally that there is work to be done, and that Macra has a role to play in shaping that," he said. Among the issues being raised by the group were access to affordable housing, disjointed and sparse healthcare services for rural communities, and the lack of recognition or engagement by the Government on a farming succession scheme. Macra also raised issues around a lack of transport for rural Ireland and a lack of planning for the future of rural communities that is informed by rural people. Macra president-elect Elaine Houlihan said that the proof of members achieving what they set out to achieve will be defined by what action we get from the Government. She said the organisations march to Dublin was important to show the Government that we are serious. As a person from a very rural community my community is tiny, I could name nearly everybody seeing how important rural communities are in society, I want to do this to show the younger generation in my village that we are currently fighting to stay, Ms Houlihan said. Members of Macra na Feirme arriving at the Irish Farm Centre, on the Naas Rd, Dublin after an overnight march from Athy, Co Kildare, on their way to Government Buildings. Picture: Colin Keegan/Collins We are the heartbeat of Ireland. We are the ones that produce the food, we are the ones that have an ultimate sense of community spirit." A spokesperson for Mr Varadkar said the Taoiseach thanked the group for the work that they do. "Leo Varadkar reassured the group that the Government is absolutely committed to rural Ireland and has ensured unprecedented investment in rural Ireland in recent times," said the spokesperson. "The 1bn Rural Regeneration Fund is making a real difference to rural communities and the national broadband plan is a 3bn investment in rural Ireland, the biggest in the history of the State. "The Government wants to ensure that rural Ireland is an attractive place for young people to live and work." Farm succession and the definition of a family farm were also discussed. "The Taoiseach will continue his focus on making rural Ireland a better place in which to live, to work, to farm, and to raise a family. The Taoiseach will engage with the delegation again by the end of the summer," said the spokesperson. The large group of Macra members left Athy on Tuesday evening, walking the 79km to Government Buildings. The march marked 79 years since the youth farm organisation was founded in the Kildare town in 1944. Speaking to the Irish Examiner on the march, Sean Kelly from Kilruane in Co Tipperary said that for young people, there is nothing in Ireland, and criticised the Governments lack of action. You can complain and do nothing, or you can take a stand and say listen, we are still here, were not going to let ye destroy rural Ireland, and destroy the communities, the dairy farmer said. You cant just lie down and take it because if you do, in a few years time, there will be no rural Ireland, but the Government doesnt see that and they dont understand it." A Limerick law graduate has been handed a four-year prison sentence for the rape of a woman after they had been engaged in consensual sex after meeting in a pub earlier that night. The sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court heard Eoin Considine, 24, and the complainant had been engaging in consensual sexual intercourse which then became rough. The intercourse continued after the woman had withdrawn consent and begged Considine to stop, the court heard. Considine, of Old Barna Road, Newcastle West, Co Limerick, had pleaded not guilty to rape of the woman at her then residence in the city on August 11, 2019. He was convicted after a trial last January. The woman, a student nurse, told the trial she was out drinking in a city centre pub with her friends when she met the defendant. They left together and went to her home where they began having consensual sex. She said during this he began pulling her hair and banging her head against the headboard of the bed. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and she asked him to stop and he did but then did it again. The court heard the sexual intercourse continued in a consensual way at this point. The woman testified that after a while the man became much rougher and he put his hand around my neck and started to choke me. She said at one point she was unable to breathe and she was very frightened and was shaking her head to tell him to stop. She said he moved his hands on to her shoulders and was pinning her down. Withdrew consent The court heard it was at this point she withdrew her consent and the man continued sexual penetration without consent. I started begging him to stop but he didn't stop having sex with me, she said. She said this lasted 90 seconds before she was able to move him off by getting her feet up and under him and pushing him away. Considine apologised to the woman and told her he thought she liked it and that he had had a previous girlfriend that liked it. He also told her he could not stop because she was so good looking. The woman was upset and asked Considine to leave. He initially refused and said he wanted to make sure she was okay but she told him she just wanted him to leave and he did, the court heard. Imposing sentence on Tuesday, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said rape was a very serious offence whatever form it takes. He said rape was a violation of the victim's bodily integrity and a grossly invasive act of violence. The judge noted the prosecution had emphasised there was extensive consensual engagement between the woman and Considine for most of their time together, except for the period of 60 to 90 seconds in question. He said the circumstances of this case were somewhat unusual, however consensual sexual engagement beforehand does not excuse a failure to stop. Mr Justice McDermott set a headline sentence of four and a half years. He noted Considine accepted the verdict of the jury, but continued to deny rape. Mr Justice McDermott said there was no guilty plea or expressions of remorse which would allow the court to reduce the headline sentence substantially. He said Considine's regrets are focused on the impact of this case on his family, but there has been little or no thought for the victim. Mr Justice McDermott handed Considine a prison sentence of four years. He also directed Considine to place himself under the supervision of the Probation Service for 18 months post-release. Victim impact statement In her victim impact statement, the woman said she was left with bruising on her arms and neck and suffered bleeding from her scalp. She said she lost any sense of safety in her own bedroom and felt safer staying out all night than she did in her own bed. She said she found it hard to move on from the idea that that my primary worth only goes so far to provide sexual gratification and as a result she became hyper-sexual. She said Considine's defence used photos from her phone to try to portray her as promiscuous but that these photos were taken after the assault. She said she experienced suicidal ideation and that during the trial she felt she had been the one on trial. Addressing Considine directly, she said: You've offered me no explanation, admission or remorse. You took so much from me in just 90 seconds. Justice McDermott said the evidence was that the sexual activity was consensual up to the point at which Considine pinned the woman down by her shoulders. After the woman identified Considine through Instagram and Facebook, gardai contacted Considine by phone and he knew why they were calling. He told gardai: I got it wrong, it was wrong, is she okay, I took things too far, I need to face up to that, but during the trial he attempted to resile from these admissions, Lisa Dempsey BL, prosecuting, told the court. Testimonials Defending counsel Kathleen Leader BL handed over a dozen testimonials into court from local business owners in Co Limerick. She said everyone who knew her client spoke well of him as a hard-working, gentle and inclusive young man who did his best to help people and who contributed to the community. She said what happened on the night in question was very much out of character. Considine has no previous convictions and qualified with a law degree from University College Cork. A consultant psychiatrist who treated him said since the allegations he has suffered with severe depression and significant suicidal behaviour. Justice McDermott noted the woman's victim impact statement outlined the impact of this incident on her life and that it had affected her sense of security in her own home and in intimate relationships. He noted certain aggravating factors were absent in this case and said this was not a premediated or predatory offence. Justice McDermott noted Considine was a very young man at the time with considerable prospects notwithstanding his conviction. He said he took into consideration the mitigation on behalf of Considine, including that he is considered to be at low to moderate risk of re-offending. Mr Justice McDermott also directed the man to have no contact with the victim through any means. The complainant is legally entitled to anonymity and nothing can be published that would tend to identify her. The High Court has indicated its approval of orders proposed by insurer FBD and two pub operators in relation to quantifying two pubs losses caused by Covid-19s disruption to business. The planned orders, which deal in detail with various factors affecting the level of losses sustained, will have a bearing on about 1,000 Irish pubs and restaurants holding FBD policies. Draft suggested orders were submitted to the court after pub operators Aberken and Hyper Trust, represented by Michael Cush and James Doherty, agreed last November to settle the outstanding issues in their claims against the insurer over its failure to pay out for Covid-19 losses. Aberken trades as Sinnotts Bar in Dublin, while Hyper Trust trades as the Leopardstown Inn. Activation of the intended settlement was contingent on the court being satisfied the orders, agreed between FBD and the pubs, were appropriate. On Wednesday, Mr Justice Denis McDonald said he had fully reviewed the materials before the court and was satisfied to make orders in the terms agreed between the parties. He agreed with submissions made by Declan McGrath, for FBD, relating to the construction of the insurance policies. He said it was not appropriate for him to express a view on FBDs other point regarding subrogation, which refers to an insurers right, after paying out on a claim, to request reimbursement from an at-fault party. The judge said he has not yet written what is likely to be quite a lengthy judgment explaining his reasoning for finding the orders to be appropriate. He expects to deliver this in June. Mr Justice McDonald ruled in 2021 that a policy sold by FBD covered losses pubs suffered when they were forced to close during portions of the pandemic. The judge said insurance cover is not lost when the closure is prompted by nationwide outbreaks of disease so long as an outbreak is within a 25-mile radius of the premises and is one of the causes of the closure. The judgment came in the test actions brought by Aberken, Hyper Trust, Inn on Hibernian Way Ltd, trading as the Lemon & Duke in Dublin, and Leinster Overview Concepts Ltd, which owns Seans Bar in Athlone, Co. Westmeath. Inn on Hibernian Way and Leinster Overview Concepts settled outstanding issues in their claims against FBD last November. The four pub operators challenged FBDs refusal to indemnify them and its claim the policies did not cover disruption caused by the pandemic. Cork's Trooper Shane Kearney, who was seriously injured following an attack on Irish soldiers in the Lebanon, is returning to Beaumont Hospital on Wednesday to continue with his medical treatment. Tpr Kearney will undergo cranioplasty surgery which is hoped will be his final operation. Tpr Kearney, from Killeagh in East Cork, was seriously injured after the convoy he and his comrades were in came under attack in December. His colleague, Private Sean Rooney, was killed in the attack. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Defence Forces said: "Shane has been recovering at home in Cork for the past two months and has been making steady progress to date. "All Shane's colleagues in the Defence Forces are thinking of him at this time and are wishing him a speedy recovery." In January, Lebanons military tribunal charged seven suspects in relation to the attack on the convoy. The shooting took place near the town of Al-Aqbiya in southern Lebanon, a centre of support for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which has denied any role in the killing. In late December, the Lebanese military arrested a suspect, allegedly in co-operation with Hezbollah, according to the group, which said the man was not a Hezbollah member. The arrested man and six others were charged over the attack, according to a judicial official familiar with the investigation, a legal official following the case, and a military official. The officials said a search is under way for the other six suspects and that officials are trying to determine whether they had left the country. - Additional reporting by PA Housing Minister Darragh OBrien has labelled the oppositions criticism of housing measures as entirely predictable, saying he knows what opposition parties are against but does not have a clue what they support. It comes after Sinn Fein and other members of the opposition criticised a 1bn package of additional housing measures which Mr O'Brien announced this week. Its entirely predictable because even if you take something like a vacancy grant, theyve opposed that, and Ive asked Eoin O Broin whats the issue with granting new homeowners money to help them do up a vacant home and Ive never had an answer, said Mr O'Brien. He said he is focused on delivery and making sure people can buy their own home at an affordable rate, and he criticised resistance to measures aimed at alleviating the housing crisis. The help to buy grant of 30,000 which is peoples own tax back for their deposit theyve said very clearly that they would scrap that. Mr OBrien said the first home scheme has helped almost 1,500 households to purchase a home at an affordable rate in over eight months, which he said would also be scrapped under the oppositions plans, adding that they have said they would build more homes quicker. When I look at their plans, theyre saying theyll do more with less money. Were investing 4.5bn a year, and their housing plan that they published is about 2.8bn or 2.9bn. For me, its focusing on delivery for families and individuals, so the constant criticism is predictable, I dont mind it. Where I get constructive criticism, I take that on board. He was speaking at the launch of 52 social housing units in Bluebell, Dublin which have been occupied since September. The social housing scheme was delivered by approved housing body Respond in partnership with Dublin City Council and is one of two schemes launched on Wednesday in which over 200 homes have been delivered. This is Housing for All happening on the ground. He said investment is still needed from the private sector and said in order to reach the number of homes needed, an estimated 8bn to 9bn of private investment is needed. Thats investment to build new private schemes for sale, some for rental too. Mr OBrien said there are currently 37,000 homes in various stages of construction and said he is confident the Government will reach and exceed targets this year. Separately, he defended Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins, saying he did nothing wrong and broke no law. Mr Collins recommended disposal of a property in 2007 when he was a member of Limerick County Council. His wife, Eimear OConnor, bought the land in 2008 after it was publicly advertised. At that time, Mr Collins had left the council after being elected as a TD in May 2007. I welcome the fact that hes making a statement, I think its really important though to note that when the land was disposed by the local authority, land can only be disposed by a full council, said Mr OBrien. He said he fully supports Mr Collins, adding the sale was agreed by the local authority and the land was publicly advertised. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said Northern Ireland cannot move forward without a functioning Assembly and Executive. Mr Varadkar said if an Executive is formed, Ireland is ready to use its Shared Island Fund to assist Northern Ireland with issues like housing, the health service, enterprise, the cost of living and budget deficit. Local leadership by those chosen by the people of Northern Ireland is required to respond to these challenges, he said. The institutions collapsed when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) exercised a veto and brought down devolution in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland. Mr Varadkar said he hoped all parties would step up. Mr Varadkar also said the Windsor Framework, which is a revised deal for Northern Irelands post-Brexit trading arrangements, provides a new opportunity for British-Irish partnership. During a Dail session for statements on the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, Mr Varadkar said the occasion is a timely reminder of the UK and Irish governments roles as shared guarantors of the agreement. He added: The agreement is fundamentally about both governments working in partnership. I look forward to continuing that work with the Prime Minister and advancing our shared priorities together. The agreement is built on delicate balances and we must ensure these continue to be respected in the months and years ahead. Mr Varadkar said there was a need for a functioning North-South Ministerial Council as well as a functioning Assembly and Executive. As John Bruton said, if a political vacuum is not filled by elected politicians, it leaves space for those with an undemocratic and violent agenda. We all have a responsibility to make sure this does not happen, he said. On the topic of reform of Northern Irelands institutions, the Taoiseach said this was provided for in the Agreement but a conversation on reform would be best placed to succeed when the institutions were back up and running. Tanaiste Micheal Martin and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris (PA/Niall Carson) In the same session, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said there is much more work to do renew the spirit of the agreement. The spirit of partisanship and the ongoing cycle of collapse and restoration caused by different parties has often undermined public faith and it has blocked urgently needed work on social and economic issues, he said. Mr Martin said the principle of consent is the core DNA of the agreement. Peace is not inevitable, it requires hard work, it also requires ongoing commitment The current absence of a functioning Assembly and Executive is having a very real impact on the people of Northern Ireland. He called on Northern Irish parties to respect the results of elections last year and take their seats. Mr Martin said blocking the function of the institutions was wrong. He said reform is clearly necessary once the institutions are restored. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill and party leader Mary Lou McDonald (PA/Niall Carson) Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said there is a need for a renewed commitment for all political leaders to share power together. We need to restore the agreements political institutions in the North. Ms McDonald called for increased interest from the UK and Irish governments, which she said had slipped in recent years. Above all, we need a decision from the DUP. The DUP is now at a crossroads and a moment of decision and I hope the decision they make is the right one. Because it is unconscionable that we stay in this limbo and things continue to drift. So my message to the DUP is clear: Join with Sinn Fein and other parties to restore the political institutions and together we can make politics work for everyone. Ms McDonald said there was also a need for a conversation about what orderly, peaceful, democratic, constitutional change looks like. She said the Government must establish a Citizens Assembly on Irish reunification. We need to give people the chance to engage, to come and say their piece, and I include in that our citizens who are Unionists. For those who are British in a partitioned Ireland and who will be British in a united Ireland to have their say, to have an equal stake is the most incredible opportunity for our island. This is a time for respect and reconciliation. Mr Martin criticised the UK governments legacy bill as a unilateral and unacceptable departure from the collective approach we have agreed to. The Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill would provide amnesty for those who committed crimes during the Troubles if they co-operated with a new truth-recovery body. This would also prevent future court action, including inquests, in these cases. Mr Martin said it would set back the essential work of reconciliation. When parties are capable of showing a real concern for the victims of those they honour, then and only then will we have made a real breakthrough towards reconciliation, he said. Sinn Fein TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn said the legacy bill represents a clear breach of UK governments commitments to international treaties and represents a blatant disregard for victims. Last week was a tough week for An Garda Siochana. The acquittal of Gerard Hutch was followed quickly by a revelation about how a member of Gsoc (now resigned) attended a party to celebrate Hutchs acquittal, which did little to inspire confidence in the force. Not easy if you are rank and file, out beating the streets doing a tough job. Recently, in Cork, an ugly clash between anti-racist protesters and Ireland for the Irish types, which involved the latter screaming abuse at a line of guards acting as a buffer (many of them young) made me question who would be a garda. As the recent recruitment campaign run by the force conceded: Policing is not a career for the faint of heart. Meanwhile, tensions are mounting within the Government about a plan to fast-track the introduction of facial recognition technology (FRT), which would give the guards far greater powers. Theres no doubt that this technology could be a game-changer. The gardai could feed the image of a suspect into a computer which would swiftly compare it with thousands of faces captured on camera. It was reported that in recent weeks Garda Commissioner Drew Harris wrote to Simon Harris arguing the case for the police use of FRT, which is understandable from the guards point of view. However, the words fast-track should never be conjoined in a sentence with the words facial recognition technology or artificial intelligence. Justice Minister Simon Harris is proposing to introduce FRT by way of a controversial amendment to the Garda Siochana (Recording Devices) Bill 2022. Last week, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said that he supports Simon Harris approach, which is disappointing. Introducing one of the most privacy-intrusive tools in policing without a comprehensive public consultation and proper pre-legislative scrutiny is ill-advised. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has called for proper scrutiny of [the]Government proposals because of a serious risk to peoples fundamental rights. Labour Justice spokesperson Aodhan O Riordain and many other TDs agree. The Green Party wants facial recognition technology to be rolled out through a standalone law. It believes correctly that the issue of the technology being used by the gardai is too complex to be dispatched by way of an amendment. Naturally, introducing a new piece of legislation and carrying out pre-legislative scrutiny by having a special committee examine proposals would take significantly longer than the amendment being pushed through by Simon Harris. Far-reaching consequences Far better to have a delay and to enact appropriately balanced legislation if we decide to push ahead with this because the introduction of this technology is a consequential decision with far-reaching implications. Human rights groups here and abroad have consistently hit out at facial recognition technology for being less accurate when it comes to black people, women, and people under 20. At the beginning of the month the British Metropolitan Police welcomed a research report (it commissioned it) that found that the true positive identification rate of live facial recognition was running at 89%, which translates to the chance of a false match of one in 6,000 people. As one British civil rights campaigner pointed out: One in 6,000 people being wrongly flagged by facial recognition is nothing to boast about, particularly at deployments in large cities where tens of thousands of people are scanned per day. According to The Met, there were minimal discrepancies for race and sex when the technology was used at certain settings. Leaving aside the question of what used at certain settings means most people would be unwilling to rely on the Mets view on any ethical question given that a recent review found it to be institutionally racist, misogynist and homophobic. An Garda Siochana is closely connected to the communities it serves in a way that is not true in many other countries, including Britain, and we should keep it that way. No technology is inherently good or bad, it comes down to how its used. Facial recognition can potentially serve various objectives in addressing public safety and law enforcement concerns but its current use presents levels of risk that cannot be overlooked. And which as a bare minimum must be properly examined. The reality is that AI facial recognition technology cant be trained without access to vast amounts of data (or faces) to build pattern recognition. Privately owned facial recognition companies such as Clearview AI gather data from publicly available sources building a massive dataset (or bank) of faces. They then sell this technology to the police and others. So, the processing of personal data in a law enforcement context relies on a database populated by a massive and indiscriminate collection of personal data obtained by scraping online facial pictures and photographs from social media networks by private companies. 'Threat to fundamental rights' This practice doesnt meet the standards of European law. In fact, the European Data Protection Board views facial recognition technology as a serious threat to fundamental rights. Last year facial recognition software provider Clearview AI was fined in Britain and ordered to stop scraping the personal data of British people from the public internet. And it was directed to delete the data it had already gathered of British residents from its systems. Clearview AI has also been under fire in Australia, Canada, France, Italy, and the US. And there is a broader question of whether we want the expansion of mass surveillance tools on our streets. We are being told that the technology will be used in bounded ways but can we really trust that promise off the bat? In October 2021, the EU Parliament voted to ban police use of facial recognition in public places. It also removed Hikvision thermal cameras from its own security systems. Chinese surveillance firm Hikvision is part of the systems used in Chinas internment camps for the countrys minority Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang. China with its long history of aggressively controlling its society loves FRT and ethnic profiling, which isnt a ringing endorsement. There are multiple calls to ban the use of facial recognition technology under the proposed EU Artificial Intelligence Act which is currently being scrutinised by EU legislators. The whole area of artificial intelligence and its legal regulation is in flux. This is no time to be rushing legislation through the back door. Last week, Micheal Martin said: Once the adequate safeguards are put in place, I do believe its moving in the right direction. With all respect, this isnt good enough. Civil liberties and their erosion are not to be taken lightly. When rights are gone, theyre hard to get back. Citizens in countries such as China or Russia have no choice but to live with Orwellian scrutiny in a big Brother-style society but we allegedly take fundamental rights seriously. We need to thrash out the risks of this technology, and the appropriate safeguards that would need to be enshrined in any law. Lets have a public consultation around the issue involving all stakeholders. To do anything else is irresponsible. Donald Trumps lawyer told a New York jury on Tuesday that the advice columnist E Jean Carroll conspired with other women to falsely accuse the former president of rape because they hate him for winning the 2016 election. The opening day of a civil trial in a Manhattan federal court heard that Carroll is suing Trump for battery and defamation to clear her name, to pursue justice and to get her life back after the former president allegedly raped her in a New York department store in 1996 and then denied it years later. But Trumps lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, told the jury of three women and six men that Carroll filed the lawsuit for political ends, to sell a book and for public attention. Tacopina said that the rape accusation was invented by Carroll and two other women who are expected to testify that she told them about the assault shortly afterwards. They schemed to hurt Donald Trump politically, he said. Tacopina suggested to the jury that Carroll first accused then president Trump of rape after meeting George Conway who was a vocal critic who was married to Kellyanne Conway, one of the presidents closest aides in the White House. The judge upheld an objection to the claim by Carrolls lawyers. It is not clear if Tacopina will return to it when Carroll gives evidence. Carroll accuses Trump of assaulting her in a dressing room of the New York department store Bergdorf Goodman in 1996 after they ran into each other at the entrance and he asked for help in choosing a present for a friend. Carroll sat stony faced at the front of the courtroom as her lawyer, Shawn Crowley, told the jury that Trump manoeuvred her client into a dressing room and then attacked her. Former President Donald Trump speaks at the National Rifle Association Convention in Indianapolis, Friday, April 14, 2023. The opening phase of the Republican presidential primary has largely centered on Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' escalating collision. But a new wave of GOP White House hopefuls will begin entering the race as soon as next week following a months'-long lull. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File) The lawyer said Trump banged Carrolls head against the wall, pinned her arms back with one hand, pulled her tights down with the other and then rammed his fingers into her vagina. Crowley said that Carroll kicked Trump and tried to knee him off but he was too strong for her. He removed his hand and forced his penis inside her, the lawyer told the jury. Crowley addressed what she said would be two of the biggest questions on the jurors minds. Why did Carroll go into the dressing room with Trump? And why didnt she report the alleged rape to the police at the time? The lawyer said that when Trump suggested Carroll try on a see-through bodysuit, she pushed it back at him and said he should be the one to try it on as it was his colour. Trump then took her by the arm and led Carroll to the dressing room. To her, the situation was harmless and funny, said Crowley. The truth is she didnt see Trump as a threat. Crowley said that Carroll did tell two friends after the assault. One advised her to go to the police. The other said to keep quiet because Trump was a powerful man. Crowley said that Carroll was filled with fear and shame that kept her silent for decades. In her mind, for many years, she thought what happened to her was her fault, Crowley told the jury. When Carroll did decide to speak out after Trumps election in 2016 and with the rise of the #MeToo movement, she faced a barrage of vicious attacks by the president. Crowley said that Trumps deposition late last year will provide damning evidence against him. She noted that, in denying the alleged assault, the former president had said Carroll was not his type. We all know what that means. He was saying she was too ugly to assault, the lawyer told the jury. Crowley said that during the deposition, Trump was shown a photograph of himself meeting Carroll in the late 1980s. But he mistook the woman in the picture for his second wife, Marla Maples, who Crowley said was very much his type. Trumps lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, ridiculed Carrolls account and accused her of abusing the justice system to express her hate for the former president. You learn that E Jean Carroll cant tell you the date she claims to have been raped. She cant tell you the month she claims to have been raped. She cant tell you the season. She cant even tell you the year, he said, pointing out that the plaintiff has previously said it was 1995 or 1996. Tacopina told the jury that it was not believable that no one in a major department store saw Carroll and Trump together and that there were no staff in the area where the alleged assault took place. He also said that it was standard practice at Bergdorf Goodman to keep changing rooms locked until a customer asked to be let in and yet Carroll said the door was open. Tacopina questioned Carrolls version of why she did not call the police. E Jean Carroll once called the police on teenagers who vandalised her mailbox but not when she was violently raped, he told the jury. Earlier, the jury of three women and six men was chosen from a pool of about 100 people who were questioned about whether they could set aside their political beliefs and views of the #MeToo movement to decide the case fairly. They were also asked if they supported Antifa, Janes Revenge, Redneck Revolt, the Ku Klux Klan or other extremist groups. Perhaps disappointingly for Trump and Carroll, no one in the jury pool said they followed them on social media or had read their columns or books. But nearly half had watched Trump presenting The Apprentice television programme. The trial continues. - The Guardian American and Filipino forces hit a ship with a barrage of high-precision rockets, airstrikes and artillery fire in their largest war drills in Philippine waters facing the disputed South China Sea that is likely to antagonise China. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr watched the American show of firepower from an observation tower in the coastal town of San Antonio in northwestern Zambales province the latest indication of his strong backing of the Philippines treaty alliance with the US. Mr Marcos has ordered his military to shift its focus to external defence from decades-long anti-insurgency battles as Chinas increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea become a top concern. Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr approved a wider US military presence in the country in February (Aaron Favila/AP) The shift in the Philippine defence focus falls in sync with the Biden administrations aim of reinforcing an arc of alliances in the Indo-Pacific region to better counter China. China has angered the Philippines by repeatedly harassing its navy and coastguard patrols and chasing away fishermen in the waters close to Philippine shores but which Beijing claims as its own. The Philippines has filed more than 200 diplomatic protests against China since last year, including at least 77 since Mr Marcos took office in June. Sitting beside US ambassador MaryKay Carlson and his top defence and security advisers, Mr Marcos used a pair of binoculars, as rockets streaked into the sky from the US High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, a multiple rocket and missile launcher mounted on a truck that has become a crucial weapon for Ukrainian troops battling Russian invasion forces. Together we are strengthening our capabilities in full-spectrum military operations across all domains This training increased the exercises realism and complexity, a key priority shared between the armed forces of the Philippines and the US military, Lieutenant General William Jurney, commander of US Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, said. Together we are strengthening our capabilities in full-spectrum military operations across all domains, Lt Gen Jurney, the US director for the annual joint exercises called Balikatan, Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder, said. About 12,200 US military personnel, 5,400 Filipino forces and 111 Australian counterparts were taking part in the exercises, the largest since Balikatan started three decades ago. The drills have showcased US warships, fighter jets as well as Patriot missiles, HIMARS and anti-tank Javelins, according to US and Philippine military officials. Philippine troops used Autonomous Truck Mounted Howitzer Systems during the exercise (Aaron Favila/AP) Philippine military officials said the manoeuvres would bolster the countrys coastal defence and disaster-response capabilities and were not aimed at any country. China has opposed military drills involving US forces in the region in the past as well as increasing US military deployments, which it warned would rachet up tensions and hamper regional stability and peace. Washington and Beijing have been on a collision course over Chinas increasingly assertive actions to defend its vast territorial claims in the South China Sea and Beijings goal of annexing Taiwan, by force if necessary. In February, Mr Marcos approved a wider US military presence in the Philippines by allowing rotating batches of American forces to stay in four more Philippine military camps. This was a sharp turnaround from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who feared that a larger American military footprint could antagonise Beijing. Presidents Joe Biden and Yoon Suk Yeol will sign an agreement that includes plans to have US nuclear-armed submarines dock in South Korea for the first time in more than 40 years, according to senior Biden administration officials. The planned dock visits are a key element of what is being dubbed the Washington Declaration, aimed at deterring North Korea from carrying out an attack on its neighbour. It is being unveiled as Mr Biden is hosting Mr Yoon for a state visit during a moment of heightened anxiety for both leaders over an increased pace of ballistic missile tests by North Korea over the last several months. US president Joe Biden, centre right, and South Koreas president Yoon Suk Yeol, centre left, were signing an agreement dubbed the Washington Declaration (Susan Walsh/AP) The three senior Biden administration officials, who briefed reporters ahead of the announcement, said that Mr Bidens and Mr Yoons aides had been working on details of the plan for months and agreed that occasional and very clear demonstrations of the strength of US extended deterrence capabilities needed to be an essential aspect of the agreement. The agreement also calls for the US and South Korean militaries to strengthen joint training and better integrate South Korean military assets into the joint strategic deterrence effort. As part of the declaration, South Korea will reaffirm its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, an agreement signed by several major nuclear and non-nuclear powers that pledged their co-operation to stem the spread of nuclear technology, the officials said. As a candidate for the presidency last year, Mr Yoon said he would call for the increased deployment of US bombers, aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines to South Korea as he looked to offer a firmer response to the Norths threats than his predecessor Moon Jae-in. North Korea has been steadily expanding its nuclear arsenal in the past year (Ahn Young-joon/AP) In the midst of the Cold War in the late 1970s, US nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines made frequent port visits to South Korea, sometimes two to three visits per month, according to the Federation of American Scientists. It was a period when the US had hundreds of nuclear warheads located in South Korea. But in 1991, the United States withdrew all of its nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula, and the following year Seoul and Pyongyang signed a joint declaration pledging that neither would test, manufacture, produce, receive, possess, store, deploy or use nuclear weapons. But as the North has repeatedly violated the joint declaration over the years, there has been increased support in South Korea for the United States to return nuclear weapons to the country. The Biden administration is expanding its Asian alliance, including with Japan and its prime minister Fumio Kishida (Kyodo News via AP) One Biden administration official cautioned it was crystal clear that there were no plans by the administration for returning tactical or any other kind of nuclear weapon to the Korean Peninsula. Instead, administration officials said they envisioned the visit of ballistic missile submarines would be followed by the US military more regularly deploying assets such as bombers or aircraft carriers to South Korea. North Koreas increasing nuclear threats, along with concerns about Chinas military and economic assertiveness in the region, has pushed the Biden administration to expand its Asian alliance. To this end, Mr Biden has thrown plenty of attention at Mr Yoon as well as Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida. Next week, the US president will host Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr for talks at the Oval Office. In the past year, North Korea has been steadily expanding its nuclear arsenal, while China and Russia repeatedly block US-led efforts to toughen sanctions on the North over its barrage of banned missile tests. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said he was facing new extremism and terrorism charges that could land him in prison for life as authorities set the stage for a new trial against the Kremlins leading critic. Mr Navalny said by video-link from prison during the hearing that the extremism charges that he rejected as absurd could see him in prison for 30 years. He noted that an investigator had told him that he would also face a separate military court trial on terrorism charges that could potentially carry a life sentence, adding sardonically that the charges implied that Im conducting terror attacks while sitting in prison. His top ally said that investigators were trying to link the terrorism charges against Mr Navalny to a bombing that killed a well-known Russian military blogger earlier this month. Alexei Navalny rejected the charges as a political vendetta (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP) Mr Navalny, 46, who exposed official corruption and organised massive anti-Kremlin protests, was arrested in January 2021 upon returning to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve-agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin. He initially received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for a parole violation. Last year, he was sentenced to a nine-year term for fraud and contempt of court. He is currently serving time at a maximum security prison 150 miles (250km) east of Moscow. The new charges against Mr Navalny relate to the activities of his anti-corruption foundation and statements by his top associates. His ally, Leonid Volkov, said the accusations retroactively criminalised all the activities of Mr Navalnys foundation since its creation in 2011 and carried a potential punishment of up to 35 years in prison. Mr Navalnys associate, Ivan Zhdanov, said on Wednesday that investigators were revising the charges to link them to a bombing that killed Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky at a St Petersburg cafe earlier this month. The authorities described Darya Trepova, a 26-year-old St Petersburg resident who was seen on video presenting Mr Tatarsky with a statuette moments before the blast, as an active supporter of Mr Navalny. Alexei Navalny is Russian president Vladimir Putins most prominent foe (Aleksey Babushkin, Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) They also accused Mr Zhdanov and Mr Volkov of making repeated calls for subversive activities in Russia. The new charges come as Russian authorities conduct an intensifying crackdown on dissent amid the fighting in Ukraine, which Mr Navalny has harshly criticised. Wednesdays hearing at Moscows Basmanny District Court was held to discuss preparations for Mr Navalnys trial on the extremism charges. Mr Navalny asked for more time to study the 196 case files. The judge closed the session minutes after it opened, ruling that it should be held behind closed doors, because the case involved sensitive information. Its an attempt to unlawfully restrict my ability to study the materials of the case and prevent anyone from knowing about it, Mr Navalny said before public access to the hearing ended. The Russian authorities have ramped up their crackdown on dissent amid the fighting in Ukraine, which Mr Navalny has criticised (Iryna Rybakova via AP) The hearing ended with the judge giving Mr Navalny 10 days to study his criminal case. No date for the trial has been set yet. Mr Navalny, who is Russian president Vladimir Putins most prominent foe, has rejected the charges as a political vendetta and an attempt by Russian authorities to keep him out of politics for as long as possible. His associates and supporters have become increasingly worried about his failing health. Earlier this month, they said Mr Navalny had fallen ill with acute stomach pains and suspected that he was being slowly poisoned. While imprisoned, Mr Navalny has spent months in a tiny one-person cell, also called a punishment cell, for purported disciplinary violations such as an alleged failure to properly button his prison robe, properly introduce himself to a guard or to wash his face at a specified time. His supporters have accused prison authorities of failing to provide him with proper medical assistance, using blindingly bright light in his cell and placing him next to a mentally unstable person. Mr Navalny said on Tuesday that he had completed a 15-day stay in the punishment cell and was immediately ordered to spend another 15 days there. The Russian authorities have ramped up their crackdown on dissent after Mr Putin sent troops into Ukraine under new legislation that has effectively criminalised any public criticism of Moscows military action and independent reporting on the conflict. Donald Trump made an entirely inappropriate online statement about the trial of a rape lawsuit against him, the judge said on Wednesday, warning the former presidents lawyers that he could bring more legal problems upon himself. The exchange came a day into the trial to decide E Jean Carrolls allegations. As court was about to begin Wednesday, Mr Trump who has not attended so far posted on his social media platform that the case is a made-up scam. He went on to call Ms Carrolls lawyer a political operative and allude to a DNA issue that the judge has ruled cannot be part of the case. This is a fraudulent & false story Witch Hunt! Mr Trump wrote in his Truth Social post. Former advice columnist E Jean Carroll arrives to federal court in New York (Seth Wenig/AP) Lawyers for Ms Carroll whose suit includes claims that Mr Trump previously defamed her by publicly calling her case a hoax, scam, lie and complete con job mentioned his new statement to Judge Lewis A Kaplan. He was not pleased. What seems to be the case is that your client is basically endeavouring, certainly, to speak to his quote-unquote public, but, more troubling, the jury in this case about stuff that has no business being spoken about, the judge told Mr Trumps lawyers. He called Mr Trumps post a public statement that, on the face of it, seems entirely inappropriate. Trump attorney Joe Tacopina noted that jurors are told not to follow any news or online commentary about the case. But he said he would ask Mr Trump to refrain from any further posts about this case. I hope youre more successful, Judge Kaplan said, adding that Mr Trump may or may not be tampering with a new source of potential liability. Ms Carroll, 79, may testify as soon as Wednesday. She has said she crossed paths with Mr Trump at the revolving door to Bergdorf Goodman on an unspecified spring Thursday evening in 1996. At the time, she was writing a long-running advice column in Elle magazine. Mr Trump was a real estate magnate and social figure in New York. She has said he asked her advice about selecting a gift for a woman, and she went along, thinking the experience would be funny. According to Ms Carroll, they ended up in a lingerie department, joked with each other about who should try on a bodysuit and went to a dressing room. Then, she alleges, Mr Trump slammed her against a wall, yanked down her tights and raped her while she struggled against him. She has said she finally kneed him off her and fled. Mr Trump, 76, has said he was not at the store with Ms Carroll and had no clue who she was when she first aired the story publicly in a 2019 memoir and accompanying magazine excerpt. I know nothing about this nut job, he said during sworn questioning in the lawsuit last fall. He said it was a false accusation never happened, never would happen. The trial comes as Mr Trump again seeks the Republican nomination for president, and weeks after he pleaded not guilty to unrelated criminal charges that involve payments made to silence a porn actor who said she had a sexual encounter with him. Ms Carrolls federal lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and a retraction of his allegedly defamatory comments. The suit was filed under a New York law that temporarily lets decades-old sexual abuse claims go to civil court. She never pursued criminal charges. - If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services. War Against the Junta Deaths of Myanmar Military Officers Spike Amid Intense Fighting, Targeted Attacks Myanmar regime troops parade for Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw last month. / AFP More than 40 junta personnel including an election official and military commanders were killed in a series of attacks by resistance groups this past weekend. Between April 21 and 23, a high-ranking election official and former officer was killed in Yangon while four serving military officers died in clashes on the frontline, according to media reports and resistance groups announcements. Sai Kyaw Thu, the deputy director-general of the Union Election Commission (UEC) and a former Lieutenant Colonel, was shot dead by For The Yangon, an urban guerrilla force resisting the junta, on April 22. The junta confirmed the attack, saying the killing was carried out by anti-regime forces. Sai Kyaw Thu was the right-hand man of U Thein Soe, chair of the junta-appointed UEC. He played a key role as a witness in the military regimes prosecution of civilian President U Win Myint and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. On the same day as Sai Kyaw Thu was assassinated in Yangon, an army major and four people in his entourage were shot dead when the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Peoples Defence Force (PDF) raided a karaoke joint in Hpakant, Kachin State. Those killed were Major Zaw Maung, aka Zaw Hmine, his girlfriend, a police officer and his wife, and two local jade businessmen, according to a resistance statement that included a photograph of Major Zaw Maung. Major Zaw Maung is from Division 33. He was corrupt and made a lot of money from his involvement in the jade mining business a couple of years ago, said a source close to the KIA in Hpakant. While more officers are being targeted in urban areas, junta forces have also suffered heavy casualties in recent clashes with the Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), Ethnic Revolution Organizations (EROs), and PDFs on the frontline. The fatalities are known to include many officers. On April 21, Pyi District Peoples Defense Force (PPDF) ambushed a military convoy near Paungde Township in Pyi District, Bago Region, killing a captain and two soldiers and critically injuring an army major and two others, according to PPDF. Meanwhile, the junta lost 21 troops in clashes with the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and allied PDF allied forces in Kyauk Kyi Township, Bago Region on April 22, according to a resistance statement. Among those killed was a Deputy Commander, whose army ID card was released along with the statement. We launched attacks on Yan Gyi Aung, Nyaung Kone, Naung Kone and Kyun Sakhan outposts of the military council [junta]. We killed at least 21 junta troops, including the deputy commander of the battalion, said a member of the Spring Warriors column under the KNLA, the armed wing of the Karen National Union. On the same day, a clash broke out between junta forces and the PDF on the border of Nawnghkio and Pyin Oo Lwin Townships, leading to the death of a battalion commander and other regime troops. An army ID card found on his body identified Lieutenant Colonel Myat Min Tun as the commander of Infantry Battalion 147. He was killed as he attempted to escape the PDF by driving to his battalions tactical position. On April 23, an allied force of Dawei District PDF Battalion 1, Drone Squad, DGRF, Mine Force PDF, and other resistance groups launched an attack on two military checkpoints in Dawei Township in Tanintharyi Region, killing at least 15 junta troops, including another battalion commander. The name of the officer killed in that attack is Lieutenant Colonel Kyaw Thu Swe, who was the commander of Light Infantry Battalion 406. Many of us were injured too but we achieved our aim of eliminating several soldiers including an officer, said a member of Dawei PDF (DGRF). Burma Myanmar Junta Torches Over 450 Houses in Five Days in Resistance Stronghold Sagaing Pazi Gyi village after the junta raid. / CJ Myanmars junta has torched more than 450 houses from three villages in Kantbalu Township, Sagaing Region, near the site of the devastating Pazi Gyi airstrike. Around 200 troops raided Pazi Gyi on April 20 while jets bombed the village. Residents said 215 out of 230 houses in the village were destroyed. Airstrikes on Pazi Gyi earlier this month killed more than 170 people. Regime troops torched Lay Twin Zin village near Pazi Gyi on Saturday, destroying around 200 houses. Even the village monastery was burned. All the houses have gone, Ko Bala Gyi of Ma Lae Peoples Defense Force told The Irrawaddy. He said 16 Lay Twin Zin villagers were abducted during the raid and their fate is unknown. The troops then raided about 3km away burning around 40 out of 150 houses before village defense forces extinguished the fires after the troops left, according to residents. The arsonists are stationed between Lay Twin Zin and Pazi Gyi and shelling other villages, a resident told The Irrawaddy. An estimated 20 soldiers were killed and four resistance fighters injured in the area on Tuesday, according to Ko Bala Gyi. By February, around 47,700 houses in Sagaing Region had been burned by junta forces, almost 80 percent of the total of civilian houses destroyed nationwide, according to the independent Data for Myanmar group. Burma Myanmar Shadow Govt Condemns Ban Ki-moons Unethical Meeting With Junta Chief Ban Ki-moon (left) and Min Aung Hlaing during their meeting in Naypyitaw on April 24, 2023 / Cincds The acting president of Myanmars civilian National Unity Government (NUG) has condemned former UN chief Ban Ki-moons meeting with the Myanmar regime leader as unethical and an attempt to promote a bloody thug on the world stage. Ban met with junta boss Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw on Monday at the latters invitation, in what the ex-UN secretary-general said was an attempt to find a path to end the violence in Myanmar. The country has been engulfed by violence with armed resistance to the regime spreading nationwide since a military coup in 2021. Ban said in a statement on Tuesday that he met with the regime leaders and former president U Thein Sein to discuss the current situation. He emphasized the importance of all parties playing a role in securing a lasting solution to the crisis, including the NUG, a civilian parallel government which commands the loyalty of the vast majority of Myanmar people. The regime has branded the NUG and its armed wing, the Peoples Defense Forces, as terrorist organizations. In his response to the meeting, NUG Acting President Duwa Lashi La said during a cabinet meeting on the same day that the meeting should be denounced as Ban was promoting the thug [regime], which has been committing atrocities against its own people, on the international stage. I think its ethically incorrect, he said. Since the coup, unable to bring large parts of Myanmar under its control, the regime has resorted to the increasing use of air strikes, raids and the burning of villages in its effort to defeat the resistance. It has killed more than 3,400 people, mostly civilians, so far. The acting president also said representatives of international blocs seem to be trying to coax the regime rather than punishing and isolating it. Since the coup, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the UN have sent envoys to engage with the regime, hoping to solve the countrys political crisis. But so far their efforts have failed to stop the regime from killing civilians. They used the same approach during previous military regimes. Thats why military dictatorship in our country has survived, Duwa Lashi La said, referring to failed international attempts to persuade the former junta, which ruled from 1998 to the early 2000s, to allow democratization. He said it is necessary to punish Min Aung Hlaing and his subordinates in order to end their atrocities against civilians. He said the peoples suffering under the regime cant be ignored and the international community must be made aware of it. Even though I consider international intervention as a positive approach, I would seriously condemn any efforts that would keep the military dictatorship alive, he said. Myanmars Crisis & the World Ban Ki-moon Urges Myanmar Junta Chief to Stop Violence but Min Aung Hlaing Launches Airstrikes Within 24hrs Ban Ki-moon receives a gift from Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw on April 24, 2023. Myanmar junta forces bombed a medical clinic and camp for internally displaced persons in southern Shan State less than 24 hours after former United Nations (UN) chief Ban Ki-moon urged regime leader Min Aung Hlaing to immediately cease all violence in the country. At least five civilians including a new mother and a 15-year-old boy were injured when a junta fighter launched airstrikes on Tuesday against a clinic in Saung Phwe Village in southern Shans Pekon Township at around 12.15pm, according to the Karenni Human Rights Group (KnHRG). The jet fighter conducted three rounds of shooting and bombing at the clinic, injuring at least five civilians: two man, two women and one teenage boy, a KnHRG spokesperson said. A mother who had recently given birth was seriously wounded. Fortunately, her three-day-old baby survived the attack uninjured, according to local sources. One of the injured women is a mother and she is in critical condition as she has suffered serious head injuries, a local resident said. On Monday, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met junta boss Min Aung Hlaing, defense minister Mya Htun Oo, foreign minister Than Swe and ex-president U Thein Sein in the Myanmar capital Naypyitaw. Ban is now deputy chair of The Elders, a group of former world leaders founded by Nelson Mandela which works to promote peace. But while Ban was holding talks with the military regime, six junta fighter jets carried out nine airstrikes in Sagaings Tigyaing Township between 9.00am and 5.00pm. At the same time, regime soldiers carried out three raids and arson attacks in the township, forcing over one thousand residents from six villages to flee their homes. Ban departed Naypyitaw on Monday afternoon. In a press statement released by The Elders on Tuesday, Ban urged the regime to take the first steps to find a way out of the crisis Myanmar is facing and to start constructive dialogue among all parties concerned. However, the junta is still continuing its atrocities against civilian targets despite Bans request to halt hostilities against the Myanmar people, according to the spokesperson for the civilian National Unity Government (NUG). The junta responded to Mr. Ban-Ki Moons request by launching an airstrike on a hospital in Shan State on Tuesday. This is a response to his request for the military to take the first steps, said NUG spokesperson U Kyaw Zaw. War Against the Junta Around 50 Myanmar Junta Forces Killed in Three Days of Resistance Attacks Snipers of local resistance group Tawgyi Mwaybwe in Madaya Township / Tawgyi Mwaybwe Force At least 49 Myanmar junta forces were killed in the last three days as Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs) escalated their attacks on regime targets across the country. Incidents were reported in Sagaing, Magwe, Mandalay and Tanintharyi regions. The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs. Some military casualties could not be independently verified. Pro-junta militia base seized in Sagaing At least 12 junta soldiers and pro-regime Pyu Saw Htee militia members were killed in Taze Township, Sagaing Region on Tuesday when local PDF groups jointly raided a military training camp at Nar Daung Village, Taze PDF told the media. During the raid, seven weapons and some ammunition were seized along with military equipment from the regime base. Military column raiding villages ambushed in Sagaing PDF fighters clash with a military detachment in Wetlet Township on Sunday. / Peoples Servant Revolution (Wetlet) The PDF group Peoples Servant Revolution (Wetlet) claimed to have killed four regime forces and injured 10 others when it and other resistance groups jointly ambushed a military detachment of 70 troops including Pyu Saw Htee militia members in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region on Sunday. An hourlong clash broke out between two villages when the regime forces were ambushed with land mines. After being attacked, the regime forces torched houses in two nearby villages. Other PDF groups also attacked 15 junta soldiers as they were traveling to reinforce regime troops in the clash area. Regime forces killed in urban attack in Sagaing Resistance fighters of combined PDF groups conduct a surprise attack on a regime base in Monywa town on Monday. / Golden Eagle Force (Monywa) Two junta forces were killed and one injured in Monywa town, Sagaing Region on Monday when two PDF groups coordinated a surprise attack on a military checkpoint at the entrance of the town, said Golden Eagle Force-Monywa, which was involved in the raid. 15 regime forces killed in resistance raid in Tanintharyi Combined resistance troops attack a military checkpoint in Maung Mal Shaung Village in Dawei Township on Sunday. / Dawei District PDF At least 15 regime forces were killed and many others injured in Dawei Township, Tanintharyi Region on Sunday when eight local resistance groups jointly raided a military checkpoint in Maung Mal Shaung Village, claimed Dawei District PDF Battalion 1, which joined the attack. In the clash, 17 resistance fighters suffered injuries, with one in critical condition. On the same day, local PDF groups also attacked a military checkpoint in Mae Chaung Village, Dawei Township. In the attack, a PDF member was injured. Military casualties were unknown. Seven junta troops killed in resistance ambush in Magwe At least seven regime forces were killed in Kyaukhtu town in Magwe Regions Saw Township on Sunday when two ethnic Chin defense forces and Kyaukhtu PDF jointly attacked regime forces from Kyaukhtu artillery base, said Chin Defense Force-Kanpetlet, which joined the attack. The regime forces were attacked by the combined resistance groups while traveling on the Kyaukhtu-Mindat Highway. A resistance fighter suffered minor injuries. Some military ammunition was seized from the regime forces, said CDF-Kanpetlet. Military convoy ambushed in Magwe Yesagyo PDF claimed to have killed two regime forces and injured seven others when it used a cluster of four land mines to ambush a military convoy of three vehicles and four motorbikes between two villages in Yesagyo Township, Magwe Region on Monday. The convoy was ambushed while traveling to Pakhan Nge police outpost. On the same day, Yesagyo PDF attacked regime forces from Pakhan Gyi police outpost who were traveling between two villages in the township. Some regime forces were injured in the attack. All resistance forces retreated from the ambush site when regime forces responded with a large number of rounds and heavy explosives, the PDF group said. Regime forces attacked in Magwe Resistance forces attack regime forces fishing in Yaw Creek in Pauk Township on Monday. / Myaing PDF At least six regime forces were killed and 28 injured in a series of six ambushes by resistance forces in Pauk and Myaing townships, Magwe Region on Monday, said Myaing PDF, which coordinated the attack. The combined forces used land mines and drones to attack military detachments in the area. Videos also show PDF drones dropping bombs on regime targets in villages. In one case, PDF forces attacked regime forces fishing in Yaw Creek, killing four regime forces and injuring one, who escaped, said Myaing PDF. Pro-regime military leader killed in Mandalay clash Pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia leader Soe Yarzar was killed in a clash in Madaya Township, Mandalay Region on Tuesday when local resistance group Tawgyi Mwaybwe Force and the Peoples Police Force jointly attacked the militia group near a quarry, claimed the resistance group. The military allows the militia group to extract stone in the area. Guest Column Proposed Inclusive Humanitarian Forum for Myanmar Should Not Include ASEAN ASEANs secretary general and foreign ministers (except Myanmars) attend the 32nd ASEAN Coordinating Council meeting in Jakarta on Feb. 3, 2023. / AFP The IHF is an issue for the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit in Jakarta on May 5-12 and one of the main concerns is the involvement of ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Center on Disaster Management (AHA) in the delivery of aid in Myanmar. It is clear that it has neither the experience nor the capacity to deliver the aid, and most importantly, it includes representatives of the junta and is inevitably going to work with the State Administration Council (SAC). This means that not only will aid be inefficiently delivered, but the SAC will also weaponize aid and use it for its own strategic and political advantage whilst depriving the majority of the country, which is controlled by the resistance, from receiving aid. I have heard that United Nations Organization for Coordination of Humanitarian Aid (UNOCHA) and Indonesia want the AHA to take the lead. The National Unity Government (NUG), ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) involved in the IHF strongly disagree with AHA involvement. The objective of the IHF, which was proposed by the NUG and EAOs, is to find new channels to deliver aid to those seriously affected by the war including those in NUG and EAO controlled areas. This will not happen if the aid is channeled through the AHA or the UN. The situation on the ground is that aid is urgently needed where the vast majority of those in need, such as IDPs, are located and if this doesnt happen then it will have dire consequences for the whole region. As the UN has demonstrated, aid cannot be delivered to the neediest in non-junta-controlled areas. This is blatantly obvious and should not even need to be stated but the UN continues doing this. I believe the IHF has identified three options, of which only the third makes any sense. The first is that the SAC agrees to a humanitarian pause and allows free passage of aid in NUG and EAO areas via the IHF. This is of course ridiculous and about as likely as a no-fly zone with a US aircraft carrier in the Bay of Bengal. Another option stated is that there is an agreement with donors and countries bordering Myanmar for cross border aid to EAO and NUG areas. This is not quite as ridiculous as the first option but bordering countries would not formally agree to this. India, China and Thailand have, so far, demonstrated their support for the junta. The final option discussed is the only feasible one, namely donors agree to an upscale aid delivered through local networks with a lot more flexibility concerning fund transfers, reporting and any other adaption of existing systems to ensure aid reaches the most in need in EAO and NUG areas quickly and without large overheads. In the IHF the obvious seems to be supported by the NUG, EAOs and CSOs but not by Indonesia and OCHA, who still want the AHA involved and taking the lead. One suspects this may be because of personal rather than humanitarian interests. Paul Greening is an ex-UN senior staff member with over 20 years experience in six Asian countries working for six UN agencies and four INGOs. He worked in Sittwe, Rakhine State for the IOM from 2017 to 2020 and since then has been involved in advocacy against the illegal attempted coup and supporting those who have suffered from it. 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. 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. WUHAN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday released four Yangtze finless porpoises under ex-situ conservation into the country's longest river Yangtze for the first time, with an aim to boost the population of this critically endangered species. The newly released finless porpoises were all born in Tian'ezhou National Nature Reserve in central China's Hubei Province. It is one of the earliest ex-situ conservation areas for finless porpoises in the country. Of the four, two male porpoises aged about 5 years were released into the Xinluo section of the Yangtze River. Researchers had spent two years helping them adapt to the natural water environment of the Yangtze. The other two porpoises, a 13-year-old male and a 5-year-old female, were released into the Shishou section of the river. They will be first isolated using nets and their ability to catch prey will be monitored before they are guided back to the open-water area. "This is a milestone in the protection of Yangtze finless porpoises, and indicates significant progress in the ex-situ conservation of the species," said Xia Zhicheng, deputy director of Hubei's forestry bureau. Researchers will track them for the next three months, and evaluate their adaptability and health status. The Yangtze finless porpoise, which is under top-level state protection, is an important indicator of the Yangtze River ecology. China started a porpoise relocation program in the 1990s after concerns were raised that the population of the species had shrunk despite preservation measures. The sustained improvement of the ecological environment in the Yangtze River basin and the rapid growth of the relocated population of the Yangtze finless porpoise have both provided favorable conditions for the release of porpoises back into the river. The release of the Yangtze finless porpoises under ex-situ conservation will help to increase the population of the species and improve their genetic diversity, said Hao Yujiang, associate researcher with the Institute of Hydrobiology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Thanks to China's effective measures to conserve finless porpoises, including ex-situ conservation, artificial breeding, and in-situ conservation, the population of the once-endangered mammal is now recovering. According to the 2022 comprehensive surveys on the species, there were 1,249 finless porpoises in the Yangtze, which marks a significant rebound from 2017 when the figure stood at only 1,012. As Sudanese and Foreigners Flee, Unstable Ceasefire Continues for Second Day A ceasefire brokered by the US between Sudans warring generals has entered its second day, but remains fragile as witnesses report fresh air strikes and paramilitaries claim to have seized a major oil refinery. As combat eased, foreign governments arranged civilian evacuations. Around 245 French and foreign nationals evacuated from Sudan landed in Paris Wednesday on a plane chartered by French authorities. The pause was not fully upheld, with attacks on headquarters, attempts to gain ground, air strikes, and explosions in different areas of the capital, UN Special Representative Volker Perthes told the Security Council Tuesday. Perthes said he maintained contact with both army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his rival, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), but there is yet no unequivocal sign that either is ready to seriously negotiate. The fighting has killed hundreds of people and left areas of greater Khartoum in ruins, prompting thousands of foreigners and Sudanese to flee. As combat eased, foreign governments have organised road convoys, aircraft and ships to evacuate their nationals. A boat carrying nearly 1,700 civilians from over 50 countries arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. The kingdoms foreign ministry said it had evacuated over 2,000 people, including more than 2,000 foreigners. Other evacuation efforts continued, with a British military transport plane landing in Cyprus. Bewildered civilians were seen walking down one street in Khartoum North where almost all buildings were blasted out and smoke rose from scorched ruins, in unverified video posted on social media. Witnesses in the same area later reported air strikes, and paramilitary forces firing anti-aircraft weapons. The RSF posted a video in which it claimed to be in control of an oil refinery and the associated Garri power plant more than 70 kilometres north of Khartoum. Shortly before, the army had warned in a Facebook post of heavy movement towards the refinery in order to take advantage of the truce by taking control of the refinery. Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro denied any involvement in the anti-government riots by his supporters in January during his appearance before federal police. Bolsonaro, the far-right leader, is under investigation for his alleged role in masterminding and instigating the riots to overthrow President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro was questioned for more than two hours at the federal police headquarters in Brasilia, but he left without speaking to reporters. Bolsonaros spokesman, Fabio Wajngarten, said that the former president repudiated all the unfortunate events that happened in Brasilia on the day of the riot. The investigation was launched because two days after the riot, Bolsonaro shared a video on social media of a prosecutor contesting the validity of Lulas victory. Bolsonaros lawyer, Paulo Bueno, said the president had been under the effect of medication when he shared the video. Bueno added that the sharing was so accidental that he did not mention it afterward and soon deleted it. Lula, who narrowly beat Bolsonaro in a fractious and divisive election last October, took office a week before the riots. Thousands of Bolsonaros supporters stormed Congress, the Supreme Court, and the presidential palace in Brasilia on January 8, trashing offices, smashing windows, vandalizing artworks, and calling for the military to intervene to oust Lula. Some 1,800 people have been arrested. Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes opened an investigation into Bolsonaros alleged involvement in the January 8 rampage, in which the rioters easily broke through a security cordon. A parliamentary committee of inquiry will be set up soon in Congress to shed light on the events of January 8. Bolsonaro was previously questioned by police on April 5 in relation to an accusation that he tried to illegally import millions of dollars worth of jewelry gifted by Saudi Arabia. Bolsonaro is the subject of at least 16 other investigations in which, if found guilty, he could be sentenced to prison or disqualified from politics. British American Tobacco Plc has agreed to pay over $635 million to US authorities following charges against its subsidiary for conspiring to violate US sanctions by selling tobacco products to North Korea and committing bank fraud. According to the Justice Department and the company, these tobacco sales took place between 2007 and 2017. North Korea has a range of US sanctions in place to choke off funding for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. This case and others like it do serve as a warning shot to companies, warned Matthew Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Departments National Security Division. This case represents the single largest North Korea sanctions penalty in Justice Department history, he said. British American Tobacco, the worlds second-biggest tobacco group known for making Lucky Strike and Dunhill cigarettes, has operations in several countries that are subject to various sanctions, including Iran and Cuba. The companys CEO Jack Bowles stated in a press release, We deeply regret the misconduct arising from historical business activities that led to these settlements, and acknowledge that we fell short of the highest standards rightly expected of us. The Justice Department also revealed criminal charges against North Korean banker Sim Hyon-Sop, 39, and Chinese facilitators Qin Guoming, 60, and Han Linlin, 41 as part of a multi-year scheme to facilitate the sale of tobacco to North Korea. The three defendants remain at large. The US Department of State is offering a reward of $5 million for Sim and a reward of $500,000 for Qin and Han for information leading to their capture. On Monday, the Treasury imposed sanctions on Sim, cutting him off from accessing the US banking system. Risk of Diseases Heightened as Massive Displacement from Sudan is Warned by the UN The rush to leave Khartoum continues, as both local Sudanese and foreigners try to take advantage of any opportunities presented by the delicate ceasefire to leave the capital. Sadly, malaria continues to ravage the African region, with a child dying from the disease every minute. In an effort to combat this disease, the World Health Organization has set a target of eradicating malaria by 2030. Meanwhile, Conakry is currently hosting a 72-hour literary festival to celebrate African literature and identity. As the ceasefire in Khartoum remains fragile, people are rushing to leave the capital. Both local Sudanese and foreigners are trying to take advantage of any opportunities presented by the delicate ceasefire. The situation in Sudan remains uncertain, and people are understandably concerned about their safety. However, as people flee the capital, another crisis continues to ravage the African region malaria. Every minute, a child dies from this disease, making it a major public health concern. In an effort to combat this disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target of eradicating malaria by 2030. Malaria is a preventable and treatable disease caused by a parasite that is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. It is a leading cause of illness and death in many African countries, particularly among children under the age of five. The disease can also lead to anemia, respiratory distress, and other complications. To achieve the goal of eradicating malaria by 2030, the WHO is working with governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders to implement a comprehensive approach. This includes increasing access to malaria prevention and treatment, strengthening health systems, and investing in research and development. Meanwhile, in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, a 72-hour literary festival is taking place to celebrate African literature and identity. The festival aims to promote the rich cultural heritage of Africa and to showcase the work of African writers and artists. The festival includes readings, panel discussions, and performances by writers and artists from across the continent. It also provides a platform for young and emerging writers to showcase their work and to connect with established authors and publishers. Overall, the situation in Africa remains complex and challenging, as people struggle with political instability, disease, and other issues. However, initiatives like the WHOs effort to eradicate malaria and the Conakry literary festival offer hope and inspiration for a brighter future. By working together and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the continent, we can build a better Africa for all. The US civil trial hearing a lawsuit against former US President Donald Trump was told on Tuesday that he raped a prominent former American columnist then ridiculed her with defamatory comments. Trump, who denies the allegations, was represented by a lawyer who claimed that the plaintiff, E. Jean Carroll, was motivated by money and fame. Carroll claims that Trump sexually assaulted her in a changing room at the luxury Bergdorf Goodman department store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan in the mid-1990s. The trial seeks to hold Trump legally liable for an allegation of sexual assault and is part of a barrage of legal woes that threaten to derail his 2024 run for a second presidential term. Former US President Donald Trump is once again facing allegations of sexual assault, as the trial of a lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll began on Monday. Carroll, a former magazine columnist, claims that Trump sexually assaulted her in a changing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan in the mid-1990s. Trump, who denies the allegations, was represented by a lawyer who claimed that Carroll was motivated by money and fame. The trial, which is taking place in a New York federal court, seeks to hold Trump legally liable for an allegation of sexual assault. Carrolls lawyers argue that Trumps denial of the assault is defamatory, and that he damaged her reputation by publicly calling her a liar. They are seeking damages of $75,000. The lawsuit was filed in 2019, but has been delayed by legal wrangling over Trumps claim that he cannot be sued while he was president. The case was allowed to proceed after a federal judge rejected Trumps argument that he was acting in his official capacity when he denied the allegation. The trial is part of a barrage of legal woes that threaten to derail Trumps political career. He is facing multiple investigations and lawsuits, including a criminal investigation into his business dealings and a civil lawsuit over his role in the January 6th Capitol riot. Trumps lawyers have dismissed the Carroll lawsuit as a political attack, claiming that it is part of a broader effort by Democrats to undermine his presidency. They argue that Carrolls allegations are false and that she is seeking to capitalize on her public profile by making false accusations against Trump. Regardless of the outcome of the trial, the allegations against Trump are likely to continue to haunt him. They could damage his reputation and make it more difficult for him to run for office in the future. They could also embolden other women to come forward with similar allegations, further tarnishing his legacy. The trial is expected to last for several weeks, and could provide a window into Trumps behavior and attitudes towards women. It will also test the legal boundaries of presidential immunity, and could set a precedent for future cases involving sitting presidents. Reddit Email 22 Shares ( Middle East Monitor ) The fighting between the Sudanese army led by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Chairman of the Sovereignty Council and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, Vice President of the Sovereignty Council, is no surprise. Events since Al-Burhan staged his 2019 coup against President Omar Al-Bashir more or less predicted the clash between the two generals. After the major disagreement between them over Al-Burhans conditions for merging the RSF within the Sudanese army, for example, the army issued a statement on 14 April, the day before fighting broke out, in which Hemedti and his militia were accused of rebellion, breaking the law, going against legitimacy, and being hostile to the state. Al-Burhan, meanwhile, was portrayed as a peaceful man who is preserving Sudans unity and security, and the safety of its citizens. This indicated the rising tension between the two over who governs Sudan, and how it is governed. It is the armed forces constitutional and legal responsibility to maintain and preserve the security and safety of the country, with the assistance of the various state agencies, said the army. The statement noted that Sudanese law regulates how this assistance is provided, and so senior officers felt the need to sound the alarm that the country is going through a dangerous juncture. The risks are increased by the RSF command mobilising forces inside the capital and some cities without the approval of the Armed Forces Command or even coordinating with it. This sparked panic and fear among citizens, exacerbated security risks and increased tension between the regular forces. The RSF mobilisation, said the army, violated its regular operational system as well as the law, leading to more tension and the breakdown of security in Sudan. The armed forces seek to find peaceful solutions to these violations in order to preserve public peace and prevent an armed conflict that destroys everything. The statement angered Hemedti, who felt that it was incitement against him and dismissive of his role in ruling the country, and a prelude to his exclusion from Sudanese politics. It was also a deliberate disparagement of the RSFs role, without which Al-Burhan would not have been able to succeed in his coup against Al-Bashir. The Rapid Support Forces are spreading and moving throughout the country in order to achieve security and stability, combat the phenomena of human trafficking and illegal immigration, combat smuggling, drugs and transit crime, and confront armed robbery gangs wherever they exist, said Hemedti. He added that he now regrets the coup and supports the transitional agreement backed by the UN, the West, and the Gulf to prevent the return of Islamists loyal to Al-Bashir. After a joint meeting by phone with special envoys from the US, Britain and Norway, he said that he is keen to reinforce stability and work to support the democratic transformation process in the country, adding that he remains committed to what was signed in the framework agreement in December 2022. As it is clear from Hemedtis statement, he wanted to flirt with the West that is hostile to the Islamic movement and say that he is working to exclude Islamists from the army and other state institutions, after Al-Burhan recently incorporated some within the army and gave others some important positions in the state. He is also trying to win over to his camp the civil forces which are against political Islam, which is represented by the Forces of Freedom and Change, the political component that led the revolution against Al-Bashir in 2019, and which Al-Burhan used as civilian cover for his coup. Via Pixabay. These forces are made up mainly of the Sudanese Professionals Association, the National Consensus Forces and the South Sudan Opposition Alliance, but the communists, and the left-wing in general, took over. They reduced the revolution to them alone and spoke in its name. Despite outdated policies, they found protection with the army in order to obtain power. They are the so-called elites who live in ivory towers, lording it over the people who must submit to them and be ruled, even by force. Thats why they allied themselves with the army. Meanwhile, they humiliate the people, reduce their political awareness, and deny them free and fair elections because, as a small minority in Sudan, they are unlikely to win a democratic election. Knowing that they cant take power through the ballot box, their wishes are aligned with those of the military council, which has realised that the people reject military rule, so they overthrew their commander and leader (Al-Bashir) to extinguish the popular uprising that almost eliminated them all. The revolutionary masses seek to uproot the military from political life, and demand a civilian government. The communists hindered this process and sought the help of the army, on condition that they are involved in the eventual military government. They justified this by saying that it was a transitional phase for the stability of the country, after which a healthy democracy and civilian rule will return. When the military council whose generals, headed by Al-Burhan, pretended that they are supporters and protectors of the revolution announced that the transitional period would be one year in an attempt to tempt the people and reassure them, the elites feared for themselves, and demanded that it be extended for two years, and then came back and asked for it to be extended for four years. They got what they wanted. Today, four years later, Al-Burhan is refusing to sign the agreement between the military and civilians to end the crisis that the country has been experiencing since the 2019 coup. He holds Hemedti and his militia responsible for hindering the agreement and dragging the country into a war that could lead to total civil war in Sudan. The corrupt elites have now disappeared in the midst of the violence; we dont hear their voices, of which we have grown sick. The bloodshed in Sudan places its people at the most dangerous juncture that the country has ever witnessed. According to an Egyptian proverb, There is nothing worse than my grandfather but my grandmother. This could be Al-Burhan and Hemedti; each one is worse than the other. They both want to have a monopoly over the government of Sudan and seize power for themselves, even if that means destroying the country in the process. As in most modern wars, most of the victims in this vicious power struggle are civilians, who are caught between the anvil of the army and the hammer of the RSF. These arch-enemies do not care what happens to Sudan, or the fact that it is facing civil war which could result in the breakup of the state, with Darfur, for example, becoming a separate entity. It is, after all, the stronghold of Hemedti and the Rapid Support Forces. Sudan faces a loss of sovereignty and territorial integrity, but Al-Burhan and Hemedti dont care. Nor do they care about the blood of the ordinary Sudanese citizens being spilt on the streets, and the destruction of vital infrastructure. The people of Sudan are among the kindest Arabs you could wish to meet. They have faced all kinds of hardships over the years, not least since the 2019 coup. And yet Al-Burhan and Hemedti are locked into this battler for personal authority and power. Thats all they care about. Cursed is the throne that is tainted by the blood of the people, and cursed is the person who sits on it over the ruins of the country. They should remember that. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment. Middle East Monitor VANCOUVER, BC, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Outcrop Silver & Gold Corporation (TSXV: OCG) (OTCQX: OCGSF) (DE: MRG1) ("Outcrop Silver") announces that AMC Consultants (AMC) has completed an independent mineral resource estimation of the Santa Ana high-grade silver project in Colombia. Initial Indicated Resources are estimated at 1,226,000 tonnes grading 614 grams per tonne silver equivalent, containing 24.1 million ounces of silver equivalent. Initial Inferred Resources are estimated at 966,000 tonnes grading 435 grams per tonne silver equivalent, containing 13.5 million ounces of equivalent silver (Table 1). Resources were calculated using a 158 grams per tonne equivalent silver cut-off grade and minimum vein width of 1.0 metre. In light of the project's excellent exploration and growth potential, Outcrop Silver advanced Santa Ana quickly to the resource stage to demonstrate that the exceptionally high silver grades cut in exploration drilling translate directly to an Indicated Resource and to exhibit the project's excellent metallurgy. Only 17% of mapped veins have been drilled to date, and each of the veins drilled is open at depth and along strike. Highlights Indicated Resource of 24.1 million ounces of silver equivalent grading 614 grams per tonne silver equivalent and an Inferred Resource of 13.5 million ounces of silver equivalent grading 435 grams per tonne silver equivalent. Indicated Resource grade of 614 grams per tonne silver equivalent demonstrates high-grade potential of the Santa Ana deposit. 64% of the equivalent silver ounces are categorized as Indicated. Only seven veins included in the initial Resource Estimate. Each of the veins continues to be open at depth and along strike. High success in exploration with 628 equivalent silver ounces discovered per drilled meter. Significant exploration upside. Dozens of additional veins have been identified with high-grade samples from outcrop and historical workings. These additional veins have been drill permitted and will be drilled in 2023. Excellent metallurgy. Highly commercial flotation concentrate grades of 12,133 grams per tonne silver and 172 grams per tonne gold with recoveries of 93.4% silver and 96.7% gold (see press release dated April 5, 2023 ). "Outcrop Silver's maiden Mineral Resource Estimate at Santa Ana is a significant milestone for our team, local communities, Colombia's energy transition plan and shareholders. Sixty-four percent of the equivalent silver ounces are categorized as an Indicated Resource with robust grade and continuity, creating the measurable potential for a sizeable project," comments Guillermo Hernandez, Vice President of Exploration. "As we advance, we will continue significantly enhancing our resource endowment. We are confident in the strong resource growth potential with multiple targets in the next phase of our exploration drilling." Category Veins Area Tonnage Average Grades Metal Content AgEq Ag Au AgEq Ag Au Units t (x1000) g/t g/t g/t oz (x1000) oz (x1000) oz (x1000) Indicated El Dorado 318 579 436 1.9 5,915 4,448 19.4 Las Maras 261 767 666 1.4 6,430 5,584 11.3 Santa Ana 202 344 289 0.7 2,233 1,876 4.7 Paraiso 186 969 515 6.1 5,793 3,077 36.5 Los Naranjos 126 443 363 1.1 1,788 1,467 4.4 La Porfia 119 495 265 3.1 1,887 1,010 12.0 La Isabela 15 287 213 1.0 140 104 0.5 Total Indicated 1,226 614 446 2.3 24,187 17,567 88.8 Inferred El Dorado 180 523 382 1.9 3,025 2,211 11.1 Las Maras 27 482 423 0.8 424 373 0.7 Santa Ana 390 291 244 0.6 3,651 3,061 7.5 Paraiso 172 471 312 2.1 2,600 1,723 11.6 Los Naranjos 78 337 274 0.8 846 688 2.0 La Porfia 102 866 471 5.3 2,827 1,536 17.3 La Isabela 18 226 149 1.0 130 86 0.6 Total Inferred 966 435 312 1.6 13,504 9,677 50.9 Table 1. Santa Ana Resource Estimate Notes: 1. Effective date of this Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) is April 26, 2023. 2. Rod Webster, MAusIMM(CP) of AMC Consultants has conducted the Santa Ana Silver Project MRE and is independent Qualified Persons as defined in the NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. 3. The Mineral Resources disclosed in this Statement were estimated following the 2014 CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves and the 2019 CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best Practices Guidelines. 4. Mineral Resources were reported within potentially mineable shapes, assuming an underground mining method with a minimum mining width of 1.0 m, which is common practice in Colombia. 5. Mineral Resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. 6. Geologic interpretation and modelling of the veins were completed by Outcrop Silver & Gold Corporation's team in Colombia using Leapfrog Geo software which was subsequently reviewed by AMC's QPs. AMC's Mineral Resource Specialist, Rod Webster, MAusIMM(CP), completed the MRE using Datamine Studio software. 7. The resource estimate is reported for an underground mining scenario using a Silver Equivalent (AgEq) cut-off grade. The cut-off grade of 158.0 g/t Ag was calculated using a silver price of USD 25.0/oz, Gold price of USD 1,800.0/oz; a mining cost of USD 69.0/t, processing cost of USD 32.0/t and G&A costs of USD 13.0/t and metallurgical recoveries of 93% for Ag and 96% for Au. 8. The AgEq was calculated using the prices (P), recoveries (R) and grades of each element using the following formula: AgEq g/t = Ag g/t + (((AuP*AuR)/(AgP*AgR))*Au g/t). No sales or marketing costs were considered. 9. Bulk density values were interpolated for each of the mineralized veins with the global average at reporting AgEq cut-off for the entire Santa Ana deposit is 2.7 t/m3. 10. 2D Accumulation method using Ordinary Kriging (OK) into blocks generally 10 m in size across and vertically down the vein. The block size along the dip direction covered the whole vein. 11. The Mineral Resource results are presented in-situ. Estimations used metric units (metres, tonnes, g/t, %). The number of rock tonnes and contained metal are rounded to the nearest thousand. Any discrepancies in the totals are due to rounding effects. 12. The QP is not aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title-related, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues that could materially affect the mineral resource estimate other than those disclosed in this Statement. A technical report prepared by AMC in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days. Exploration Potential Santa Ana has excellent exploration upside potential based on the distribution of known high-grade silver veins. Veins with similarly high grade x thickness characteristics exist along strike toward the south, forming a high-grade silver enriched trend that extends for 30 kilometres (Maps 1 and 2). Outcrop Silver's exploration team has identified dozens of additional veins based on high-grade samples from outcrop and historical workings that have yet to be drill tested. Outcorp Silver remains focused on identifying new vein targets and adding high-grade potential, derisked mineralized silver-bearing veins to the established resource. Recent exploration success has included the following targets, which will be drilled in 2023. New discoveries have been drilled but not included in the initial resource, as they have limited initial scout drill holes, including the Alaska shoot along the Santa Ana vein and the Espiritu Santo vein. Hole From To Vein Intercept True Width* Au g/t Ag g/t AgEq g/t Release Date DH242 84.43 85.95 Alaska 1.52 1.07 0.26 584 564 Current DH220 145.87 146.61 Espiritu Santo 0.74 0.72 2.92 352 568 May 9, 2022 Table 2. Discovery holes from the Alaska and Espiritu Santo targets. These targets are not part of the Mineral Resource Estimate.*Estimated True width. Frias Mine Life of mine production from the Frias Mine from 1891 to 1900 was reported to be 7.8 million ounces of silver at a recovered grade of 1.3 kg Ag/t. Before the Frias mine ended production, at least two vein outcrops approximately 300 metres from the Frias mine portal were developed by exploration adits and shafts and not mined. The Frias mine is within a parallel vein package. These veins are spaced approximately 200 metres apart, similar to the grouping of parallel veins hosting the Royal Santa Ana mines. At least three parallel veins are observed in the underground workings, with two showing stoping activities defining the high-grade shoot. Silver mineralization and trace gold mineralization are strongly associated with galena and sphalerite in quartz veins and shear zones (Table 3). The highest value assays from several channel samples taken underground in the Frias mine by Outcrop Silver are 11,055 grams per tonne of silver, 10,216 grams per tonne of silver and 7,944 grams per tonne of silver, all collected from the main level. The weighted average for all underground channel samples with significant assays is 3,371 grams per tonne of silver. See the press release dated December 7, 2022. Sample Sample Type Length Lithology Ag g/t Pb % Zn % Release Date 15944 UG Channel 0.22 QuartzVein 5,644 5.67 1.33 December 7, 2022 16219 Dump Grab QuartzVein 2,216 10.48 18.49 December 7, 2022 16222 UG Channel 0.35 QuartzVein 3,572 5.57 59.65 December 7, 2022 16223 UG Channel 0.50 QuartzVein 1,222 3.86 18.78 December 7, 2022 16224 UG Channel 0.45 QuartzVein 10,216 12.49 19.15 December 7, 2022 16225 UG Channel 0.90 QuartzVein 4,576 9.62 3.29 December 7, 2022 16226 UG Channel 0.40 ShearZone 3,804 8.52 6.91 December 7, 2022 16243 UG Channel 0.20 QuartzVein 5,263 8.02 20.00 December 7, 2022 16245 UG Channel 0.50 QuartzVeinlet 1,237 1.70 9.43 December 7, 2022 16247 UG Channel 0.35 ShearZone 11,055 9.79 7.04 December 7, 2022 16250 Chip ShearZone 5,992 12.41 4.86 December 7, 2022 16251 Chip QuartzVein 7,944 11.91 20.00 December 7, 2022 16262 UG Channel 1.00 QuartzVein 5,545 4.18 14.56 December 7, 2022 Table 3. Significant rock samples from the historical Frias Mine underground workings. Gold only occurs in trace amounts at the Frias Mine. Initially reported results on December 07, 2022 were re-assayed at SGS Lima for over limits based on discrepancies between SGS Medellin and SGS Lima during the routine check assays QAQC protocol. Lajas Target The Lajas target comprises a series of outcrops and vein float forming a well-defined north-northeast surface trace 750 metres long. The Lajas target could represent lateral continuity to the southwest from La Isabela vein, a distance of over 2 kilometres. Assays from quartz vein float show up to 39.73 grams of gold per tonne and 3,477 grams of silver per tonne and 16.20 grams of gold per tonne and 2,296 grams of silver per tonne (Table 4). The Lajas target shows low base metal and high silver and gold values, potentially indicating favorable metal zonation. See press release dated January 3, 2023. Sample Sample Type Length Lithology Au g/t Ag g/t Release Date 16073 Float QuartzVein 39.73 3,477 January 3, 2023 16074 Float QuartzVein 16.20 2,296 January 3, 2023 16079 Float QuartzVein 5.18 2,976 January 3, 2023 16086 Float QuartzVein 7.24 307 January 3, 2023 16087 Float QuartzVein 5.69 1,773 January 3, 2023 16211 Float QuartzVein 9.02 3,748 January 3, 2023 Table 4. Significant rock samples from Las Lajas target. Cavandia and Topacio Targets The Cavadia and Topacio targets were generated through regional geologic mapping. A surface trace of three kilometres is mapped suggesting Topacio and Cavadia are part of a larger parallel vein zone. Cavadia shows values from vein outcrop and related float up to 10.98 and 8.68 grams of gold per tonne. Topacio shows values up to 7,046 and 3,203 grams of silver per tonne and 29.63 grams of gold per tonne (Table 5). Sample Sample Type Length Lithology Au g/t Ag g/t Release Date 15571 Float QuartzVein 29.63 83 August 23, 2022 16161 Outcrop Grab 0.20 QuartzVein 0.02 1,181 August 23, 2022 16022 Float 0.22 QuartzVein 8.68 337 January 3, 2023 16024 Channel 0.50 QuartzVein 10.98 92 January 3, 2023 16271 Float QuartzVein 7.25 96 January 3, 2023 15943 Float QuartzVein 0.10 7,046 January 3, 2023 17038 Float QuartzVein 0.00 3,203 January 3, 2023 17037 Float QuartzVein 0.03 2,030 January 3, 2023 16270 Float QuartzVein 0.03 1,342 January 3, 2023 Table 5. Significant rock samples from the Cavadia-Topacio target. Aguilar Vein Exploration of the Aguilar vein extends its lateral continuity in outcrop and floats 500 metres to the southwest, to a total of two kilometres with the Aguilar, Jimenez and El Guadual targets identified. The Aguilar vein is notable for local vein boulders up to 4.7 metres wide and veins over 2 metres wide in outcrop and numerous historical workings. Results from the Aguilar vein show assays up to 18.47 and 16.87 grams of gold per tonne and up to 3,712 and 1,915 grams of silver per tonne (Table 6). Sample Sample Type Length Lithology Au g/t Ag g/t Release Date 15630 Float QuartzVein 5.74 1,020 May 9, 2022 15653 Float QuartzVein 5.98 1,282 May 9, 2022 15654 Channel 0.25 QuartzVein 5.64 1,045 May 9, 2022 15805 Float 0.20 QuartzVein 10.14 386 May 9, 2022 15808 Float 2.00 QuartzVein 16.87 1,703 May 9, 2022 15811 Float 0.28 QuartzVein 6.46 772 May 9, 2022 15812 Float 0.20 QuartzVein 13.07 1,915 May 9, 2022 15814 Float 0.62 QuartzVein 4.46 1,050 May 9, 2022 15576 Float QuartzVein 18.47 3,712 January 3, 2023 Table 6. Significant rock samples from the Aguilar vein. El Guadual and Jimenez Targets Regional generative exploration identified the Jimenez target through mapping and samplings, connecting El Guadual and Aguilar veins. Jimenez consists of parallel to subparallel veins, some observable in groups of historical adits. The El Guadual and Jimenez vein zone is complex, with multiple parallel and intersecting vein sets. The parallel veins, vein splays, and intersecting veins often occur within an interval 100 to 200 metres wide. In El Guadual, several rock samples returned high grade up to 19.51 g/t Au and 4,259 g/t Ag (Table 7). In Jimenez, significant channel samples assay over 1,000 g/t AgEq, for a weighted average on channel samples of 2,410 g/t AgEq and with all significant channel samples assays averaging 1,373 g/t AgEq (Table 7). See the press releases dated July 5, 2022 and January 3, 2023. Sample Sample Type Length Lithology Au g/t Ag g/t Release Date 15450 UG Mine Channel 0.30 QuartzVein 6.22 2,436 July 5, 2022 15682 Float QuartzVein 5.34 664 July 5, 2022 15836 Channel 15.00 QuartzVein 0.40 315 July 5, 2022 15483 Float QuartzVein 19.51 4,259 January 3, 2023 16331 UG Mine Channel 0.35 QuartzVein 12.35 1,082 Current 16332 UG Mine Channel 0.30 QuartzVein 22.99 5,722 Current Table 7. Significant rock samples from the Jimenez and Guadual targets. Alaska Target The Alaska target is the northernmost extension of the Santa Ana vein system (Map 2) and is a series of veins and veinlets that can be as wide as 2.09 metres. Surface exploration works have confirmed the extension of the vein system for more than 500 metres along strike. Channel samples have returned high-grade assays up to 13.78 grams per tonne of gold and 3,415 grams per tonne of silver (Table 8). Sample Sample Type Length Lithology Au g/t Ag g/t Release Date 13629 Float 0.20 QuartzVein 8.21 1,170 Current 13635 Channel 0.30 QuartzVein 13.78 27 Current 14852 Float 2.00 QuartzVein 0.36 1,151 Current 14853 Float QuartzVein 0.85 1,037 Current 14858 Float 2.00 QuartzVein 7.20 3,415 Current 14859 Float 3.00 QuartzVein 0.67 2,559 Current 14860 Grab ShearZone 1.53 1,626 Current Table 8. Significant rock samples from the Alaska target. Los Mangos Vein The main Los Mangos vein can be up to 1.20 metres wide, showing lateral continuity for more than 650 metres based on vein outcrops, historic mines, vein float mapping, and sampling (Map 2). Channel samples from historic workings returned up to 4,545 g/t Ag and 1,053 g/t Ag (Table 9), and samples from surface exploration returned up to 27.71 and 21.38 g/t Au in floats. Sample Sample Type Length Lithology Au g/t Ag g/t Release Date 15491 Dump Grab QuartzVein 8.07 234 August 23, 2022 15492 Float QuartzVein 1.45 1,601 August 23, 2022 15498 Grab QuartzVein 7.46 281 August 23, 2022 16011 Float 5.00 QuartzVein 27.71 1,320 August 23, 2022 16012 Float 10.00 QuartzVein 11.23 2,603 August 23, 2022 16013 Float 2.00 QuartzVein 1.90 9,738 August 23, 2022 16138 Channel 0.30 QuartzVein 0.37 1,053 August 23, 2022 16145 Channel 0.55 QuartzVein 0.60 4,545 August 23, 2022 16190 Float QuartzVein 21.38 648 Current 16300 Float 0.70 QuartzVein 7.70 47 Current Table 9. Significant rock samples from Los Mangos vein. La Ye Vein The La Ye vein is up to 1.0 metre wide with high silver and gold grades showing continuity for more than 500 metres in outcrop, float mapping, and samplings (Map 2). Vein float assays show up to 13.21 and 11.39 g/t Au. Outcropping shear zones and sheared material in float show up to 4,043 and 2,141 silver grams per tonne, respectively (Table 10). It is significant for exploration potential to see high-grade values in both veins and shear zones. Sample Sample Type Length Lithology Au g/t Ag g/t Release Date 15488 Float QuartzVein 2.95 1,796 August 23, 2022 15489 Float QuartzVein 7.46 1,332 August 23, 2022 15604 Float QuartzVein 13.21 462 August 23, 2022 15605 Channel 0.40 ShearZone 5.48 2,141 August 23, 2022 15606 Float QuartzVein 5.68 954 August 23, 2022 15611 Float QuartzVein 7.11 458 August 23, 2022 16182 Float QuartzVein 5.55 1,013 August 23, 2022 16187 Float QuartzVein 11.39 4,043 August 23, 2022 16009 Float 0.25 QuartzVein 5.88 795 Current Table 10. Significant rock samples from La Ye vein. Espiritu Santo Vein Espiritu Santo shows several outcropping veins ranging from 0.6 to 2.8 metres wide and float areas, including vein boulders up to 4 metres wide. Samples in the area returned high grades for gold and silver up to 8.47 g/t Au and 5,242 g/t Ag (Table 11). The veins are sub vertical and can be traced for over 350 metres. Espiritu Santo is located 250 metres east of Las Maras (Map 2). Sample Sample Type Length Lithology Au g/t Ag g/t Release Date 14186 Grab 1.60 QuartzVein 4.81 787 July 20, 2021 14193 Channel 0.60 QuartzVein 5.89 1,857 July 20, 2021 14194 Float 1.20 QuartzVein 8.67 881 July 20, 2021 14200 Channel 1.40 QuartzVein 0.59 815 July 20, 2021 14203 Float 1.00 QuartzVein 1.10 1,381 July 20, 2021 14206 Float 0.16 QuartzVein 4.17 5,242 July 20, 2021 14673 Float 0.30 QuartzVein 1.44 1,046 Current 15035 Float 0.26 QuartzVein 5.43 488 Current Table 11. Significant rock samples from Espiritu Santo vein. Sample Target Easting Northing Elevation 14858 Alaska 506714 567758 856 14859 Alaska 506714 567758 856 13629 Alaska 506568 567509 14860 Alaska 506695 567747 839 14852 Alaska 506682 567766 861 13635 Alaska 506554 567507 14853 Alaska 506684 567751 860 16332 Jimenez 504134 561680 797 16331 Jimenez 504127 561679 797 16009 La Ye 504702 561322 790 17045 Cavandia 502050 558884 1130 14673 Espiritu Santo 506076 564073 872 15035 Espiritu Santo 506922 564449 835 16190 Los Mangos 501980 556611 862 16300 Los Mangos 501355 557748 1021 Table 12. Coordinates for new samples reported in this release. Hole Esting Northing Elevation Depth Azimuth Dip DH242 506595.245 567738.534 846.612 110.2056 100 -55 Table 13. Collar and Survey table for the drill hole reported in this release. Silver equivalent for regional surface samples and reported drill hole intercepts Metal prices used for equivalent calculations were US$1,827/oz for gold and US$21.24/oz for silver. Metallurgical recoveries assumed are 96% for gold, 93% for silver. QA/QC Core and rock samples are sent to either Actlabs or SGS in Medellin, Colombia, for preparation and AA assaying on Au and Ag; Pb and Zn for Actlabs as well, then to SGS Lima, Peru, for multi-element analysis. Samples sent to Actlabs are then shipped to Actlabs Mexico for multi-element analysis. In line with QA/QC best practice, approximately three control samples are inserted per twenty samples (one blank, one standard and one field duplicate). The samples are analyzed for gold using a standard fire assay on a 30-gram sample with a gravimetric finish when surpassing over limits. Multi-element geochemistry is determined by ICP-MS using aqua regia digestion. Comparison to control samples and their standard deviations indicate acceptable accuracy of the assays and no detectible contamination. About Santa Ana The 100% owned Santa Ana project comprises more than 27,000 hectares located in the northern Tolima Department, Colombia, 190 kilometres from Bogota. The project consists of five or more regional scale parallel vein systems across a trend 12 kilometres wide and 30 kilometres long. The Santa Ana project covers a majority of the Mariquita District, where mining records date to at least 1585. The Mariquita District is the highest-grade primary silver district in Colombia, with historic silver grades reported to be among the highest in Latin America from dozens of mines. Historic mining depths support a geologic and exploration model for composite mesothermal and epithermal vein systems having mineralization that likely extends to great depth. At Santa Ana, it is unlikely that there is sharp elevation restriction common to high-grade zones in many epithermal systems with no mesozonal component. The extremely high silver and gold values on Santa Ana reflect at least three recognized overprinting mineralization events. At the core Royal Santa Ana project, located at the northern extent of just one of the regional vein systems controlled by Outcrop Silver, eight vein systems (commonly containing multiple parallel veins and multiple ore shoots) have been discovered to date Santa Ana (San Antonio, Roberto Tovar, San Juan shoots); La Porfia (La Ivana hanging-wall and footwall); El Dorado (El Dorado, La Abeja shoots); Paraiso (Megapozo); Las Maras; Los Naranjos; Espiritu Santo and La Isabela. The veins can show both high-grade silver and high-grade gold mineralization, and low-angle veins appear to connect to more common high-angle veins. Outcrop Silver drilling indicates that mineralization extends from surface or near surface to depths of at least 370 metres. Cumulatively, over 46 kilometres of mapped and inferred vein zones occur on the Santa Ana project. The Frias Mine on the south-central part of the project, 16 kilometres south of the Royal Santa Ana Mines, produced 7.8 million ounces of silver post-production in the Spanish colonial era at a recovered grade of 1.3 kg Ag/t. The Frias Mine is considered an analogue to each of the eleven shoots discovered to date by Outcrop Silver. Numerous priority drill targets have been discovered along this 16 kilometres trend with outcropping veins up to 4.7 metres wide and surface values up to 9,740 grams silver per tonne. About Outcrop Silver Outcrop Silver is rapidly advancing the Santa Ana high-grade silver deposit with ongoing expansion drilling. Outcrop Silver is also progressing exploration on four gold projects with world-class discovery potential in Colombia. These assets are being advanced by a highly disciplined and seasoned professional team with decades of experience in Colombia. Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been approved by Joseph P Hebert, a qualified person as defined in NI43-101 and President and Chief Executive Officer of Outcrop Silver. The Mineral Resource Estimate was completed by AMC's Mineral Resource Specialist, Rod Webster, MAusIMM(CP). The mineral resources disclosed in this Statement were estimated following the 2014 CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves and the 2019 CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best Practices Guidelines. Mr. Webster has read and approved the contents of this press release as it pertains to the disclosed mineral resource estimate. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "potential", "we believe", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Outcrop Silver to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including: the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, capital expenditures and other costs, financing and additional capital requirements, completion of due diligence, general economic, market and business conditions, new legislation, uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, political uncertainties, and the state of the securities markets generally. Although management of Outcrop Silver have 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. Outcrop Silver will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. The Canada Honda target is a large gravity anomaly extending approx. 2km east-west Drill hole CHD02 targeted a large gravity anomaly and intersected 11m of 0.6% Cu, 0.12g/t Au and 3.2g/t Ag, with the hole unable to continue after it collapsed before reaching the target New Induced Polarization (IP) survey highlights previously untested chargeability and resistivity-low anomalies extending beneath the mine tunnel Drilling initiated at Canada Honda target to test beneath historic mine tunnel for copper-gold mineralization VANCOUVER, BC, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Pan Global Resources Inc. ("Pan Global" or the "Company") (TSXV: PGZ) (OTCQB: PGZFF) is pleased to announce that it has commenced diamond drilling at the Canada Honda target at the Company's 100%-owned Escacena Project in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, southern Spain. This follows completion of a new IP survey that identified an untested IP anomaly beneath the historic mine tunnel. Results are also announced for drillhole CHD02 that attempted to test a deep gravity target at Canada Honda and was abandoned before reaching the target depth due to the hole collapsing. "New geophysics data highlights the Canada Honda target's potential to host volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) mineralization. The intersection of anomalous copper and gold above the target in hole CHD02 is another positive indication of potential for significant copper mineralization associated with the Canada Honda gravity anomaly. The new IP survey appears to show an anomaly that becomes stronger at depth beneath the historic mine workings on the margin of the gravity anomaly," said Tim Moody, Pan Global's President & CEO. The Canada Honda target is characterized by a large gravity anomaly (up to 1 mGal) that extends approximately two kilometers east-west. The target is potential sulphide mineralization within the prospective Volcanic Sequence (VS) concealed beneath overthrust rocks of the Phyillite Quartzite (PQ) unit. Previous Pan Global channel sampling of the historic mine tunnel on the southern margin of the gravity anomaly included 26m at 0.42g/t Au and assay values up to 2.9g/t Au, 27.5g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu and 0.4% Co. A single drill hole (CHD01) by Pan Global in 2019, approximately 150m northwest of the tunnel, also intersected minor anomalous gold values of up to 0.34g/t Au. Drill results for hole CHD02 are summarized in Table 1 and drill hole collar details are presented in Table 2 below. Drill hole locations are shown in Figure 1. Canada Honda Additional gravity survey data has been collected over the Canada Honda target area and a new line of IP has been completed adjacent to a historic mine tunnel along a thrust contact on the southeastern margin of the gravity anomaly. The new IP highlights a chargeability high and previously untested resistivity low anomaly beneath the tunnel. Drilling has commenced on the first of two new holes (CHD03 and CHD04) testing chargeability and resistivity-low anomalies beneath the historic mine tunnel. Drill hole CHD02 was drilled to test the eastern extension of the large Canada Honda gravity anomaly, targeting potential massive sulphide concealed beneath the overthrust Phyllite Quartzite geology unit. The hole collapsed before reaching the target and had to be abandoned. The hole intersected a zone of sulphide mineralization with anomalous copper and gold within the thrust-fault sequence above the target. Highlights include; CHD02 11m at 0.6% Cu, 0.12g/t Au, 3.2g/t Ag from 426m , including 2.0m at 1.0% Cu, 0.24g/t Au, 7.7g/t Ag 1.0m at 1.8% Cu, 0.13g/t Au, 6.1 g/t Ag Additional isolated assay up to 0.7g/t Au over 1m The results provide additional positive indicators of the potential for more significant copper-gold mineralization in the Canada Honda target area. The main gravity anomaly remains untested and further drilling is pending additional modelling. Table 1 Canada Honda drill results summary (all intersections are >90% to 100% of true thickness) hole abandoned before the target depth Hole From To Interval Cu Pb Zn Au Ag m m m % % % g/t g/t CHD02 426.0 437.0 11.0 0.6 <0.1 <0.1 0.12 3.2 Incl. 427.0 429.0 2.0 1.0 <0.1 0.2 0.24 7.7 Incl. 431.0 432.0 1.0 1.8 <0.1 <0.1 0.13 6.1 Table 2 Canada Honda drillhole collar information Hole_ID Easting1 Northing1 Azimuth () Dip () Depth (m) CHD02 736881 4156375 180 -70 542.6 1Coordinates are in ERTS89 datum UTM29N Drilling is ongoing in the Escacena Project at the La Romana and Zarcita targets. Results are pending for approximately 15 drill holes at La Romana and Zarcita. Negotiations are progressing with land owners for access to the untested potential near-surface extensions to the La Romana mineralization. QA/QC Procedures Core size was HQ (63mm) and all samples were core. Nominal sample size was 1m core length and ranged from 0.4m to 2m. Sample intervals were defined using geological contacts with the start and end of each sample physically marked on the core. Diamond blade core cutting and sampling was supervised at all times by Company staff. Duplicate samples of core were taken approximately every 30 samples and Certified Reference materials inserted every 25 samples in each batch. Samples were delivered to ALS laboratory in Sevilla, Spain and assayed at the ALS laboratory in Ireland. All samples were crushed and split (method CRU-31, SPL22Y), and pulverized using (method PUL-31). Gold analysis was by 50gm Fire assay with ICP finish (method Au-ICP22) and multi element analysis was undertaken using a 4-acid digest with ICP AES finish (method ME-ICP61). Tin was analyzed in selected intervals using Lithium borate fusion and ICP MS finish (method ME-MS81). Over grade base metal results were assayed using a 4-acid digest ICP AES (method OG-62). Over grade tin was determined using peroxide fusion with ICP finish (method Sn-ICP81x). About the Escacena Project The Escacena Project comprises a large, contiguous, 5,760-hectare land package controlled 100% by Pan Global in the east of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. The project is located near operating mines at Las Cruces and Riotinto and is immediately adjacent to the former Aznalcollar and Los Frailes mines where Minera Los Frailes/Grupo Mexico is in the final permitting stage with construction anticipated to restart in 2023. The Escacena Project hosts the La Romana copper-tin discovery and a number of other prospective targets, including Zarcita, Hornitos, La Jarosa, Romana Deep, Canada Honda, Bravo, Barbacena, El Pozo, and San Pablo. About Pan Global Resources Pan Global Resources Inc. is actively engaged in base and precious metal exploration in southern Spain and is pursuing opportunities from exploration through to mine development. The Company is committed to operating safely and with respect to the communities and environment where we operate. Qualified Persons James Royall, Vice President Exploration for Pan Global Resources and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information for this news release. Mr. Royall is not independent of the Company. On behalf of the Board of Directors www.panglobalresources.com Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this news release are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, environmental and technological factors that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products and prices. Readers should refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of its audited financial statements filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. VANCOUVER, BC, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Sable Resources Ltd. ("Sable" or the "Company") (TSXV: SAE) (OTCQB: SBLRF) is pleased to provide an update on the ongoing drill program at the Don Julio project, located in the province of San Juan, Argentina ("Don Julio" or the "Project"). All exploration activities at Don Julio are funded by South32 under the Earn-In Agreement between the Company and South32, signed in 2021. Dr. Ruben Padilla, President and CEO of Sable commented, "Don Julio is a multi-target project contained within an area of over 10 x 10 km. This season's drilling program has been designed to test several of these targets. The current drilling results from the La Gringa and Punta Cana targets along with our geological observations define large anomalous mineral systems and provide exploration vectors that take us closer to the causative porphyry intrusive centres which in porphyry systems often host the best copper and gold grades. Drilling continues at La Gringa along with the modeling of all available data from La Gringa and Punta Cana to continue exploration, refine the geological models and to plan additional drilling." Highlights 1-La Gringa Nine drill holes have been completed this season at the La Gringa target for a total of 4,098m. Drilling has defined a >1,500m NNE long and >1,000m wide porphyry system, mostly covered by thin quaternary gravels along the La Gringa valley (Figure 1). Cu-Au-Mo anomalous values are hosted by altered siliciclastic rocks and hydrothermal breccias with an upper advanced argillic alteration zone overprinting deeper sericitic and potassic alteration assemblages. The latest results increase the size of the already large porphyry style mineralization that remains open along the NNE strike and at depth. The causative intrusion, and potentially the host of the best Cu-Au grades, has yet to be found. DJ-DH-23-14 3.75% CuEq (17.3 g/t Ag; 1.44 g/t Au; 2.33% Cu; 0.58% Zn) over 2.90m from 77.6 to 80.5m Including 9.83% CuEq (46.5 g/t Ag; 3.85 g/t Au; 6.03% Cu; 1.61% Zn) over 0.50m from 78.7 to 79.2m from 77.6 to Including DJ-DH-23-15 0.17% CuEq (3.14 g/t Ag; 0.092% Cu; 163 ppm Mo) over 17.0m from 724.0 to 741.0m from 724.0 to 0.17% CuEq (0.068% Cu; 319 ppm Mo) over 157.0m from 844.0 to 1,001m Including 0.22% CuEq (0.11% Cu; 333 ppm Mo) over 22.80m from 903.20 to 926.0m from 844.0 to Including DJ-DH-23-17 1.11% CuEq (5.33 g/t Ag; 1.07 g/t Au; 0.28% Cu) over 6.0m from 155.5 to 161.5m DJ-DH-23-19 1.15% CuEq (8.63 g/t Ag; 0.42 g/t Au; 0.77% Cu) over 0.9m from 281.55 to 282.45m from 281.55 to 0.61% CuEq (5.48 g/t Ag; 0.3 g/t Au; 0.26% Cu) over 17.5m from 326.5 to 344.0m from 326.5 to 0.49% CuEq (9.77 g/t Ag; 0.16 g/t Au; 0.1% Cu) over 11.0m from 427.0 to 438.0m from 427.0 to 0.75% CuEq (14.88 g/t Ag; 0.37 g/t Au; 0.32% Cu) over 1.6m from 448.1 to 449.7m 2-Punta Cana A 437m drill hole (DJ-DH-23-16) was completed at Punta Cana targeting subcropping Au-Cu porphyry style mineralization over a strong magnetic anomaly and close to two anomalous drill holes from the last drill season (see Figure 3). The last 156m of this hole returned 0.32 g/t AuEq associated with quartz-bornite-chalcopyrite veinlets hosted by a series of subvolcanic intrusions and breccias. The Company believes that this mineralization represents the highest part or carapace of a large porphyry system at deeper level. Future drill campaigns will evaluate the grade profile of the system below the 4,500 masl horizon (Figures 3 and 5). DJ-DH-23-16 0.32 g/t AuEq (6.39 g/t Ag; 0.11 g/t Au; 0.086% Cu; 32 ppm Mo) over 156.0m from 281.0 to 437.0m Including 0.45 g/t AuEq (11.05 g/t Ag; 0.14 g/t Au; 0.11% Cu; 39 ppm Mo) over 55.0m from 330.0 to 385.0m Including 1.05 g/t AuEq (46.68 g/t Ag; 0.13 g/t Au; 0.15% Cu; 0.17% Pb; 0.14% Zn; 51 ppm Mo) over 12.0m from 330.0 to 342.0m from 281.0 to Including 3-Fermin The first round of drilling started at the Fermin base metals skarn target during the last week of March (Figure 5). Two drill holes for a total 450.8m have been completed with assays pending. Hole Descriptions DJ-DH-22-14 Hole 14 was drilled perpendicular to hole DJ-DH-23-12, previously released and which intercepted three intervals of high-grade Au-Cu-Ag mineralization associated with chalcopyrite, enargite, and sphalerite bodies (Figure 2 and Table 2). The hole encountered the first mineralized zone intercepted by hole 12 extending it around 50m towards the west with similar grade profile. Hole DJ-DH-23-18 was drilled on the western margin of the same chargeability anomaly targeting the same mineralization style but did not intercept significant mineralization (Figure 2). DJ-DH-22-15 Hole 15 was drilled as an extension of DJ-DH-22-09 drilled last season (Figure 1), the hole started at 623m and finished at 1,001m of depth, becoming the deepest hole in the history of the Project. The hole intercepted extensive biotite alteration in sedimentary rocks with abundant A and B veinlets. Although the Cu anomaly is moderate, the Moly values are consistently high reaching up to 0.16% Mo and yielding >200 ppm Mo over the entire hole (Table 2). Results from this hole increase the size of the already large moly halo external to the porphyry intrusion yet to be found. DJ-DH-22-16 Hole 16 is the only hole drilled at the Punta Cana target this season; the hole targeted the core of a conspicuous magnetic anomaly associated with the Au-Cu porphyry mineralization (Figures 3 and 5). The hole intercepted a broad zone of Au-Ag-Cu mineralization represented by porphyry quartz veinlets bearing chalcopyrite, bornite, and magnetite (Table 2). The mineralization found in the three holes forms a relatively low angled zone with apparent orientation ENE. The veinlets are hosted in a series of subvolcanic intrusions and breccias; the company believes that this mineralization represents the highest part or carapace of a large porphyry system at deeper level. Future drill campaigns will evaluate the grade profile of the system below the 4,500 masl horizon. DJ-DH-23-17 Hole 17 is a shallow hole drilled on the eastern margin of the previously shown chargeability anomaly looking for high-grade mineralization similar to the one intercepted in holes 12 and 14 (Figure 1 and Table 2). The hole intercepted sediments with SCC and minor advanced argillic alteration crosscut by abundant D veinlets. Although shallow the hole points to the large potassic alteration zone defined by holes DJ-DH- 22-07, DJ-DH-23-11, and DJ-DH-23-15, and shows a marked increase in Cu and Mo values towards its bottom helping with the larger scale vectoring at La Gringa. DJ-DH-23-19 Holes DJ-DH-23-13 and DJ-DH-23-19 were both drilled on the western margin of the large chargeability anomaly discovered along the La Gringa Valley (Figures 1 and 4). Hole 13 discovered a series of hydrothermal breccias with advanced argillic alteration and weak copper mineralization and hole 19 was a step back hole that defined a large diatreme breccia with Cu-Au-Ag anomalies. Hole 19 also discovered several mineralized zones at depth including 17.5m @ 0.61% CuEq associated with pyrite-chalcopyrite in pyrophyllite veinlets (Table 2). Hole Azimuth Dip Easting Northing Elevation Depth DJ-DH-23-13 55 70 2431386 6626757 4342 455 DJ-DH-23-14 50 50 2431681 6627231 4310 229 DJ-DH-23-15 150 80 2432193 6627441 4286 1,001 DJ-DH-23-16 90 70 2431762 6623732 5084 437 DJ-DH-23-17 50 50 2431787 6627108 4321 202.5 DJ-DH-23-18 55 65 2431236 6626884 4286 356 DJ-DH-23-19 55 70 2431272 6626678 4360 498 Table 1. Location of reported holes Hole From To Interval (m) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Mo (ppm) Zn (%) CuEq (%) AuEq (%) DJ-DH-23-14 77.60 80.50 2.90 17.3 1.44 2.33 0.58 3.75 Including 78.70 79.20 0.50 46.50 3.85 6.03 1.61 9.83 DJ-DH-23-14 137.90 140.00 2.10 2.57 0.32 0.085 0.34 DJ-DH-23-14 165.45 165.95 0.50 4.33 0.21 0.74 0.93 DJ-DH-23-15 844.00 1,001.00 157.0 0.068 319 0.17 Including 724.00 741.00 17.0 3.14 0.092 163 0.17 And 903.20 926.00 22.80 0.11 333 0.22 DJ-DH-23-16 281.00 437.00 156.00 6.39 0.11 0.086 32 0.32 Including 330.00 385.00 55.00 11.05 0.14 0.11 39 0.45 Including 330.00 342.00 12.00 46.68 0.13 0.15 51 1.05 DJ-DH-23-16 403.50 420.80 17.30 2.27 0.10 0.10 44 0.29 DJ-DH-23-17 23.50 25.50 2.00 9.71 0.14 0.12 0.30 DJ-DH-23-17 155.50 161.50 6.00 5.33 1.07 0.28 1.11 DJ-DH-23-17 181.50 183.50 2.00 1.96 0.14 0.14 0.25 DJ-DH-23-19 281.55 282.45 0.90 8.63 0.42 0.77 1.15 DJ-DH-23-19 326.50 344.00 17.50 5.48 0.30 0.26 0.61 DJ-DH-23-19 427.00 438.00 11.00 9.77 0.16 0.10 0.49 DJ-DH-23-19 448.10 449.70 1.60 14.88 0.37 0.32 0.75 Table 2. Highlighted intervals from reported holes Porphyry mineralization is characterized by broad zones of disseminated sulfides and vein stockwork; high-grade Cu-Au mineralization intercepted in hole 14 consists of irregular zones of semi-massive sulfides, sulfide-rich breccias, and stockworks; therefore, true width cannot be determined at this time. CuEq and AuEq were calculated based on 100% recovery and prices of USD 1,500 per oz for gold; USD 18.00 per oz for Ag; USD 3.00 per pound for copper; USD 10.00 per pound of molybdenum, and USD 1.10 per pound of zinc. Webinar Sable's President and CEO, Ruben Padilla, will be providing an exploration update discussing these results and the 2022 / 2023 exploration season. The webinar, hosted by Adelaide Capital, is scheduled for Monday, May 1, 2023 at 4:15pm EST. Register at the following link - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NmJer5IyT7OT8J67Ibfbkg QUALIFIED PERSON Luis Arteaga M.Sc. P.Geo., Vice President Exploration is the Company's Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. ABOUT THE DON JULIO PROJECT The Don Julio project comprises 69,350 hectares in the Cordillera Frontal in San Juan, Argentina. It includes the Don Julio cluster that contains numerous targets of porphyry (La Gringa, Poposa, Amarillo, Punta Cana, Tocota); intermediate sulfidation (Lodo, San Gabriel, Colorado); skarn (Fermin); and the regional properties that include the Los Pumas project as well as extensive unexplored ground. Since 2018, Sable has conducted systematic surface work including mapping; rock sampling; talus sampling; GroundMag, and UAV-Mag, and induced polarization. Sable performed a first drilling campaign in 2019 with 3,101m drilled in 11 holes and a second campaign in early 2022 comprising 4,294m in 9 holes. In 2021, Sable signed an Earn-In agreement with South32 to jointly explore the Don Julio project. ABOUT SABLE RESOURCES LTD. Sable is a well-funded junior grassroots explorer focused on the discovery of Tier-One new precious metal and copper projects through systematic exploration in endowed terranes located in favorable, established mining jurisdictions. Sable's focus is developing its large portfolio of new greenfields projects to resource level. Sable is actively exploring the San Juan Regional Program (163,969 ha) incorporating the Don Julio, El Fierro, La Poncha, and Los Pumas Projects in San Juan Province, Argentina; and the Mexico Regional Program (1.16Mha in application, 39,000ha titled) incorporating the Vinata and El Escarpe projects. ABOUT SOUTH32 South32 is a globally diversified mining and metals company. The company's purpose is to make a difference by developing natural resources, improving people's lives now and for generations to come. South32 is trusted by its owners and partners to realise the potential of their resources. South32 produces commodities including bauxite, alumina, aluminium, copper, silver, lead, zinc, nickel, metallurgical coal, and manganese from its operations in Australia, Southern Africa and South America. With a focus on growing its base metals exposure, South32 also has two development options in North America and several partnerships with junior explorers around the world. Related link: sableresources.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider, as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SAMPLE PREPARATION AND QA/QC Sample preparation for projects in Argentina is carried out by ALS Chemex Argentina, a subsidiary of ALS Minerals, at its facility located in Mendoza, Argentina. Analyses are carried out at their laboratory in Lima, Peru. Sample preparation includes drying in an oven at a maximum temperature of 60C, fine crushing of the sample to at least 70% passing less than 2 mm, sample splitting using a riffle splitter, and pulverizing a 250 g split to at least 85% passing 75 microns (code PREP-31). The holes contained in this press release were analyzed by methods Au-AA24 (Fire Assay Fusion and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry finish) and ME-MS61 (Four Acid Digestion with Mass Spectrometry finish); the latter one includes 48 elements (Al, Ag, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, Hf, In, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Re, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, Sr, Ta, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, Y, Zn, Zr). Both digestion methods dissolve most minerals but not all elements are quantitatively extracted in some sample matrices. Control samples (standards, blanks, and duplicates) are inserted systematically, and their results evaluated according to the Company protocols. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Sable's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of Sable's management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate. While Sable considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to variations in grade or recovery rates, risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals, risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, and regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and Sable is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. VANCOUVER, BC, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Vizsla Silver Corp. (TSXV: VZLA) (NYSE: VZLA) (Frankfurt: 0G3) ("Vizsla" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the formation of a strategic technical committee in collaboration with Dr. Peter Megaw and Prismo Metals. This joint effort aims to leverage the combined experience and knowledge of Vizsla and Prismo and reflects the commitment of both organizations to socially and environmentally responsible exploration of the Panuco silver-gold district. "We are thrilled to collaborate with Dr. Peter Megaw and Dr. Craig Gibson and establish this technical committee," commented Michael Konnert, President and CEO of Vizsla Silver. "By combining our strengths and expertise, we significantly improve our odds for making additional discoveries in the central and eastern portions of the vastly under-explored Panuco district." The technical committee will focus on regional, and district-scale generative work centered on both the Panuco and Palos Verdes claims. Through joint research and development initiatives, knowledge sharing, and collaborative projects, the committee aims to accelerate the pace of geologic understanding in the district and contribute to its long-term growth and success as the next major mining district in Mexico. The joint technical committee will be comprised of Dr. Jesus Velador, Vice President Exploration of Vizsla, Dr. Craig Gibson, President and CEO of Prismo Metals and Dr. Peter Megaw, Chief Exploration Officer of MAG Silver Corp. Peter Megaw has a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Arizona and over 40 years of mineral exploration experience in Mexico with a focus on silver. Both Dr. Velador and Dr. Megaw have worked together in the past and have each been instrumental in numerous mineral discoveries in Mexico including MAG Silver's Juanicipio Project. "The Panuco-Copala District is clearly a large-scale, long-lived district with the production profile of a major epithermal vein camp," said Dr. Peter Megaw, Technical Advisor to Prismo Metals. "Anytime you can step into a historic district and quickly find important blind veins means its worth stepping back to see where else that potential exists in the area. I look forward to working with the joint technical committee to explore Panuco as a coherent whole." Jesus Velador, VP Exploration of Vizsla Silver added, "I am very excited for the opportunity to collaborate yet again with Dr. Peter Megaw as we look to identify new centres of high-grade mineralization within the broader Panuco district." About the Panuco project The newly consolidated Panuco silver-gold project is an emerging high-grade discovery located in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, near the city of Mazatlan. The 7,189.5-hectare, past producing district benefits from over 86 kilometres of total vein extent, 35 kilometres of underground mines, roads, power, and permits. The district contains intermediate to low sulfidation epithermal silver and gold deposits related to siliceous volcanism and crustal extension in the Oligocene and Miocene. Host rocks are mainly continental volcanic rocks correlated to the Tarahumara Formation. The Panuco Project hosts an estimated in-situ indicated mineral resource of 104.8 Moz AgEq and an in-situ inferred resource of 114.1 Moz AgEq. An updated NI 43-101 technical report titled "Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Estimate Update for the Panuco Ag-Au-Pb-Zn Project, Sinaloa State, Mexico" was filed on SEDAR on March 10, 2023, with an effective date of January 19, 2023 was prepared by Allan Armitage, Ph. D., P. Geo., Ben Eggers, MAIG, P.Geo. and Yann Camus, P.Eng. of SGS Geological Services. About Vizsla Silver Vizsla Silver is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, focused on advancing its flagship, 100%-owned Panuco silver-gold project located in Sinaloa, Mexico. To date, Vizsla has completed over 250,000 metres of drilling at Panuco leading to the discovery of several new high-grade veins. For 2023, Vizsla has budgeted +90,000 metres of resource/discovery-based drilling designed to upgrade and expand the mineral resource, as well as test other high priority targets across the district. About Prismo Metals Prismo (CSE: PRIZ) is mining exploration company focused on two precious metal projects in Mexico (Palos Verdes and Los Pavitos) and a copper project in Arizona (Hot Breccia). Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources The scientific and technical information in this news release was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The terms "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" used herein are in reference to the mining terms defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards (the "CIM Definition Standards"), which definitions have been adopted by NI 43-101. Accordingly, information contained herein providing descriptions of our mineral deposits in accordance with NI 43-101 may not be comparable to similar information made public by other U.S. companies subject to the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. You are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral resources will ever be converted into reserves. Pursuant to CIM Definition Standards, "inferred mineral resources" are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Such geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource and must not be converted to a mineral reserve. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Canadian standards, including the CIM Definition Standards and NI 43-101, differ significantly from standards in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Effective February 25, 2019, the SEC adopted new mining disclosure rules under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SEC Modernization Rules"), with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements included in SEC Industry Guide 7. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". Information regarding mineral resources contained or referenced herein may not be comparable to similar information made public by companies that report according to U.S. standards. While the SEC Modernization Rules are purported to be "substantially similar" to the CIM Definition Standards, readers are cautioned that there are differences between the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definitions Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral resources that the Company may report as "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes certain "ForwardLooking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forwardlooking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forwardlooking statements or information. These forwardlooking statements or information relate to, among other things: the exploration, development, and production at Panuco, including plans for resource/discovery-based drilling, designed to upgrade and expand the maiden resource. Forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of Vizsla, future growth potential for Vizsla and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of silver, gold, and other metals; no escalation in the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; Vizsla's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms. These statements reflect Vizsla's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information and Vizsla has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in Mexico; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in Vizsla' management discussion and analysis. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information. Although Vizsla has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Vizsla does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law. Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - Green River Gold Corp. (CSE: CCR) (OTC Pink: CCRRF) (the "Company" or "Green River") is pleased to announce that it has commenced drilling on its 100%-owned Quesnel Nickel Project, located 40 kilometers by road, from Quesnel, British Columbia, in the prolific Cariboo Mining District in south central British Columbia Canada. This phase of drilling is a continuation of the Zone 1 drilling program from last year and will comprise approximately 500 meters in 5 diamond drill holes. Last year's Quesnel Nickel program consisted of 42 diamond drill holes, all of which encountered significant nickel, magnesium, chromium and cobalt from surface. The deepest hole was drilled to a depth of 128 meters and ended in mineralization (See Press Release dated January 5, 2023). This year's program (see description and images below) will also include 20 planned NQ diamond drill holes involving a 6,000 meter program to test at depths down to 300 meters and expand on the 14 kilometer strike around and between Zone 1 and Zone 2. The 2023 program also includes plans for exploration groundwork on its newly acquired Fontaine Gold Project, which will include bedrock mapping, soil and rock sampling and a geophysical program. Program details will be announced as they are finalized. Kyle Townsend, Green River Gold Mine Manager, comments, "Last year's drill program achieved results better than we had anticipated at the Quesnel Nickel Project. We hit consistent nickel assays in 42 diamond drill holes from surface to a maximum 128 meters deep in 2 separate zones situated 10 kilometers apart. We are excited to employ a larger drill rig to test both the 14 kilometer strike length between and across Zone 1 and 2, and at depth which appears to be open beyond our previous maximum depth of 128 meters. We are equally excited to have acquired additional ground, extending adjacent to and parallel with Osisko's Yanks Peak trend on the southern end of our large 20,493 hectare contiguous group of mineral claims. We will begin initial ground work and exploration on this exciting gold prospect this year." Figure 1. Ultramafic rocks in the Slide Mountain Terrane hosting nickel, magnesium and talc. Figure 2. The Deep Purple 14 km strike length within and between Zone 1 and 2 consisting of nickel-bearing ultramafic rocks (mainly serpentinized peridotite). The first phase of the 2023 drilling program will focus on definition and expansion of the ultramafic body (Slide Mountain Terrane) hosting nickel, magnesium and talc in the area of Zone 1 using a Winkie Drill. The Company applied for a permit in December of 2022 for a drilling campaign of 20 drill holes at 300 meters each for a total of 6,000 meters. The Company hopes to receive the permits by the end of Q2, 2023. The collar location of WK-23-01 shows in Figure 3. Figure 3. Drillhole location of WK-23-01 Zone 1 is an outcrop covering an area approximately 1.5 square kilometers of the 14 linear kilometer Deep Purple magnetic anomaly. Zone 1 was the subject of a drill program in the Winter of 2021 and Spring of 2022. That drill program confirmed the presence of an area of intense talc alteration which had been previously identified and studied in the 1980's. The drill program also identified the presence of anomalous amounts of nickel, chromium and magnesium along with the talc. The particular area that was targeted with the drilling was the subject of an exploration program designed to assess the potential for a commercial talc deposit in the 1980's. That earlier exploration resulted in the preparation of a preliminary talc mining plan in 1986, [1] [1] Trifaux, R (1986). Wim, Wim-Ta & Arne Claims Assessment Works 1986-1987, Retrieved from: https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/pub/aris/Report/15522.pdf/ https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/pub/aris/Report/15729a.pdf/ https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/pub/aris/Report/15729b.pdf/ https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/pub/aris/Report/15729c.pdf/ A 50-kilogram drill core sample from Zone 1 was sent to Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd., Kamloops, British Columbia, for a mineralogical assessment. This program determined the mineral composition and nickel distribution in the core sample. The analytical results indicate that the core sample contains 0.16% nickel and 0.44% sulfur. Moreover, the mineral abundance by weight (wt%) is 50.7 % talc, 27.1% dolomite, and 12.8% serpentine. The mineral content and nickel distribution have been determined by QEMSCAN BMA analysis. The analysis shows that pyrite (23.8%), pyrrhotite (33.8%), pentlandite (39.0%), and chalcopyrite (1.90%) are the main sulfide minerals. For the nickel distribution, 97.8% of the nickel composites are in pentlandite and 2.15% of nickel composites are in pyrrhotite. Pentlandite was the main nickel mineral observed. Nickel in the form of pentlandite can generally be recovered with gravity and/or flotation methods. Part of the sample was also submitted to an external lab for asbestos content determination. The core sample measured 0.3% chrysotile, which is not classified as "asbestos-containing material" as the chrysotile content is less than 0.5%. Quality Assurance, Quality Control An AQTK or 35.5 mm (1 3/8 in) diameter core barrel was used for the 2023 diamond drill program at the Quesnel Nickel and Talc Property. The drill stem dip and azimuth were orientated at each collar location by a qualified geologist prior to drilling. Core samples were generally selected between 0.5 and 1.5-meter intervals, depending on identified lithology and mineralization style. The core was cut in half with a diamond core saw, with half of the core placed in sample bags and the remaining half securely retained in core boxes at Green River's office in Quesnel. Standard samples and blanks (CDN-BL-10) were systematically inserted into each batch of samples at regular intervals. The standard samples include high-grade (CDN-ME-2001) and low-grade (CDN-PGMS-29) nickel samples purchased from CDN Resource Laboratories in Langley, British Columbia. The core samples placed in sealed bags were shipped directly to Activation Laboratories Ltd. (Actlabs) in Kamloops, British Columbia and Met-Solve Laboratories Inc. (MSA) in Langley, British Columbia. The assaying lab preparation procedure included crushing the entire sample to 80% passing 2 millimeters, riffle splitting 250 grams, and pulverizing the split to 95% passing 105 micrometers. Base metal analyses are determined using the four-acid digestion method with an ICP-OES or ICP-MS finish. Analytical results are verified with the application of industry-standard Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) Procedures. Both Labs have an ISO 17025 certificate. Qualified Person: Stephen P. Kocsis (P.Geo) is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and he has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. About Green River Gold Corp. Green River Gold Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on its wholly owned Fontaine Gold Project, Quesnel Nickel/Magnesium/Talc Project, and Kymar Silver Project which are located in renowned mining districts in British Columbia. The Fontaine and Quesnel properties cover an area exceeding 200 sqare kilometers and straddle a 32 kilometer length of the Barkerville and Quesnel Terranes. They are contiguous to Osisko Development Corp.'s mineral claim group containing a proposed mine location at its Cariboo Gold Project. The Kymar Silver Project is located in southeast BC, approximately 28 kilometers west of the town of Invermere in the Golden Mining Division. The property is made up of two mineral tenures, totaling 1,625 hectares, along the southeast flank of Mount Catherine. For more information contact: Green River Gold Corp. Mr. Perry Little - President and Chief Executive Officer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 780-993-2193 Additional information about Green River Gold Corp. can be found by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-Looking Information: This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Expressions such as "anticipates", "expects", "believes", "estimates", "could", "intends", "may", "plans", "predicts", "projects", "will", "would" and other similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are generally indicative of forward-looking information. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In addition, the forward- looking information contained in this release is based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as it is inherently uncertain, and no assurance can be given that the expectations reflected in such information will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information in this release is made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances. The securities of the Company have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This release is issued for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release. SUDBURY, ON, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - SPC Nickel Corp. (TSXV: SPC) ("SPC Nickel"), is pleased to announce new assay results from its Phase 1 drilling campaign, including the complete assay results from hole WG-23-026, at the recently consolidated West Graham and Crean Hill 3 properties (collectively, the "West Graham Project") located in the world-class Nickel-Copper mining district of Sudbury, Ontario. Highlights The ongoing 5,000 metre drill program is focused on confirming, upgrading, and extending the historical Nickel-Copper resources that straddle the consolidated property boundary (see West Graham Project summary below). Hole WG-23-026, intersected a thick zone of Nickel and Copper mineralization over 80.9 metres grading 0.49% Ni, 0.25% Cu (0.58% Nickel Equivalent (NiEq.) from 106.0 to 186.9 metres, including the previously reported higher-grade zone that returned 2.48% Ni, 0.64% Cu (2.72% NiEq.) over 7.9 metres from 170.0 to 177.9 metres (SPC Nickel's news release of April 11, 2023 ). from 106.0 to 186.9 metres, including the previously reported higher-grade zone that returned from 170.0 to 177.9 metres (SPC Nickel's news release of ). Hole WG-23-025, intersected 47.0 metres grading 0.56% Ni, 0.30% Cu (0.67% NiEq.) from 20.0 to 67.0 metres, including a higher-grade zone of 0.72% Ni, 0.42% Cu (0.87% NiEq.) over 23.0 metres from 42.0 to 65.0 metres. from 20.0 to 67.0 metres, including a higher-grade zone of from 42.0 to 65.0 metres. Individual semi-massive sulphide samples from WG-23-027 returned values as high as 3.33% Ni, 0.23% Cu over 0.50 metres. over 0.50 metres. To date, 3,600 metres in 22 holes have been completed and results from 9 of these holes have been received (See Figure 1). Grant Mourre, CEO and President of SPC Nickel commented, "We are enthusiastic about these assay results from the West Graham Project drilling program which continue to return thick mineralized zones with nickel and copper grades that are equal to or better than the historic West Graham Resource. To date, assays from only 9 of the 22 holes drilled during the campaign have been received from the lab, so we expect to continue providing updates on results through the remainder of this quarter. Our focus remains on working towards delivering a combined mineral resource estimate at the West Graham Project by the end of 2023." Assay Results Notes: Results for hole WG-23-020 and partial results for WG-23-026 were previously reported in Company's April 11, 2023 news release. 1. Width refers to downhole length. True widths are estimated at 35 to 100% of downhole lengths. 2. NiEq.% = Ni%+ Cu% x 0.32 + Co% x 0.53 and does not factor in Pt, Pd, Au or Ag values. No allowances have been made of recovery losses that may occur should mining eventually result. The NiEq.% calculation used in this release is consistent with the relative metal prices used in the West Graham resource report published by First Nickel Inc. in 2009. 3. 3E PGM represents Pd g/t + Pt g/t + Au g/t. West Graham Project On January 23, 2023, SPC Nickel announced the signing of an Agreement with Vale Canada ("Vale") granting SPC Nickel the right to earn 100% interest in the Crean Hill 3 Property which is adjacent to SPC Nickel's West Graham Property (see Figure 2 for property location and SPC Nickel's January 23, 2023 press release for full details of the Agreement). As an advanced project, the combination of the West Graham and Crean Hill 3 assets is a transformational opportunity for SPC Nickel. The historical mineral resources on these properties form one contiguous near-surface deposit and consists of the following: Crean Hill 3 hosts a historic mineral estimate of 16.78Mt @ 0.43% Ni and 0.30% Cu (0.53% NiEq.) 1 . West Graham hosts a historic indicated mineral resource of 8.55Mt @ 0.45% Ni, 0.31% Cu (0.55% NiEq.) along with an inferred mineral resource of 2.0Mt @ 0.38% Ni, 0.30% Cu (0.48% NiEq. ) 2 . SPC Nickel considers the West Graham and Crean Hill 3 resource estimates to be historic mineral estimates for purposes of NI 43-101. Neither the Company nor a qualified person on behalf of SPC Nickel have done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and SPC Nickel is not treating such historical estimates as current mineral resources. SPC Nickel considers the historic mineral estimates to be relevant to an understanding of the Project but has not done any work to validate the estimates. Nickel Equivalent value (NiEq.) % = Ni% + Cu% x 0.32 + Co% x 0.53 and does not factor in Pt, Pd, Au or Ag values. No allowances have been made for recovery losses that may occur should mining eventually result. The NiEq.% calculation used in this release is consistent with the relative metal prices used in the West Graham Resource report published by First Nickel Inc. in 20092. Reference Van Wiechen , A.G (1990): December 31, 1989 Mineral Resource Inventory table in: The Exploration Potential for Sulphide Mineralization in the Crean Hill Ellen Crean Hill No.3 Environment, Internal Inco Report, December 13, 1990 . Routledge, Richard and Churchill , Bruce (2009): Technical Report on the West Graham Property Conwest Zone Resource Estimate, Graham Township, Ontario, Canada prepared for First Nickel Inc., January 15, 2009 . Scott Wilson Roscoe Postle Associates . Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Qualified Persons The technical elements of this news release have been approved by Mr. Grant Mourre, P.Geo. (PGO), CEO and President of SPC Nickel Corp. and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. SPC Nickel follows rigorous sampling and analytical protocols that meet or exceed industry standards. Core samples are stored in a secured area until transport in batches to the ALS facility in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Sample batches include certified reference materials, blank, and duplicate samples that are then processed under the control of ALS. All samples were analyzed in Vancouver by ALS Chemex. Platinum, palladium, and gold values were determined together using standard lead oxide collection fire assay and ICP-AES finish. Base metal values were determined using sodium peroxide fusion and ICP-AES finish. Silver values were determined using an aqua regia digestion and an AAS finish. A Certified Reference Material (CRM) standard, blank or duplicate is inserted on every 10th sample in the following order: CRM, blank, CRM, duplicate. The cycle repeats every 40 samples, thus ensuring that 10% of samples submitted are control samples. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. About SPC Nickel Corp. SPC Nickel Corp. is a Canadian public corporation focused on exploring for Ni-Cu-PGMs within the world class Sudbury Mining Camp. SPC Nickel is currently exploring its key 100% owned exploration project Lockerby East located in the heart of the historic Sudbury Mining Camp that includes the Graham West Resource and the Crean Hill 3 property under option from Vale. SPC Nickel also holds three additional projects across Canada including the large camp-scale Muskox Project (located in Nunavut), the past producing Aer-Kidd Project (located in the Sudbury Mining Camp) and the Janes Project (located 50 km northwest of Sudbury). The corporate focus is on Sudbury, and SPC Nickel continues to look for new opportunities to add shareholder value. Additional information regarding SPC Nickel and its projects can be found at www.spcnickel.com. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of SPC Nickel. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, SPC Nickel expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Fabled Copper Corp. ("Fabled Copper" or the "Company") (CSE:FABL) (FSE:XZ7) announces the results of 2022 surface field work on its Muskwa Copper Project. See Figure 1 below. Figure 1 - General Property Location The Project is comprised of the Neil Property, the Toro Property and the Bronson Property all located in northern British Columbia. See Figure 2 below. Figure 2 - Location Map The north and south extension of the Eagle Creek copper occurrence is located on the Neil Property roughly 1-1.5 km east of the 6400 Eagle Vein adit where the 2022 underground LIDAR survey was completed. The Eagle creek flows northward into the Yedhe Creek and it is located in the same valley that contains the eastern end of the 6400 adit & Eagle Vein exposure that are located on the west cliff face of the valley. During the summer of 2022 the Eagle Creek (See Release dated February 7, 2023), east extension of the Eagle Creek copper occurrence (See Release dated March 1, 2023), the western extension (See Release dated April 12, 2023), north extension, southern extension and the backside of the Eagle vein were visited on sperate occasions. This release pertains to the north and south extensions of the Eagle Creek Copper occurrence site visit, see Figure 3 below. Figure 3 -North / South Part of Eagle Creek Copper Occurrence Location Peter Hawley, President, CEO reports; "The northern part of the Eagle Creek copper occurrence was visited by a 3-person field team consisting of two geologists and a geo technician on July 1st, 2022 during the summer field season. Over the course of the traverse a vertical altitude of 96 meters was examined and sampled. A total of 5 float samples were collected, of the samples collected, 4 assayed greater than 0.5%. See Table 1 below. Float sample D-723639 taken at the 1,484-meter elevation consisted of quartz carbonate with black graphic shale with abundant malachite and 1-3% chalcopyrite. This sample returned 1.29 % copper. See Table 1 below. Sample D-723640 taken 18 meters vertical below that of above consisted of 50% sheared siltstone and carbonate in a shear fabric with 50% carbonate and siltstone fragments contained 1% chalcopyrite and returned 0.50% copper. See Table 1, Photo 1 below. Photo 1 - North Part of Eagle Creek, Float Sample D-723639 - 0.50% Copper Whereas, sample D-723641 taken a further 25 meters below, of quartz carbonate with 1-2% chalcopyrite and moderate malachite alteration returned 1.51% copper. Float sample D-723642 taken at 1,423 meters of quartz carbonate with trace of chalcopyrite assayed 0.25% copper and the last sample taken on this daily traverse was D-723643 of dark brown weathered quartz carbonate with abundant malachite and 3% chalcopyrite returned 3.79% copper. See Table 1 below. Table 1- North Side of Eagle Creek Occurrence Sample Results Sample No. Elevation (m) Copper % Sample Type D-723639 1,484 1.29 Float D-723640 1,466 0.50 Float D-723641 1,441 1.51 Float D-723642 1,423 0.25 Float D-723643 1,388 3.79 Float 1% copper = 22.2 pounds On July 10th, 2022 the southern extension of the Eagle Creek copper occurrence was visited by a 3-person field team consisting of two geologists and a geo technician. During the traverse a vertical altitude of 207 meters was examined and sampled. A total of 9 float samples were collected and of the samples collected, 6 assayed greater than 0.5%. See Table 2 below. Float sample D-723683 taken at the second highest elevation of 1,798 meters consisted of 50% quartzite and 50% quartz iron carbonate with 1% chalcopyrite and assayed 0.17% copper. At an elevation of 1,635 meters, down slope float sample D-723684 of quartz and shale fragments contained moderate malachite alteration with 1% chalcopyrite and returned 1.81% copper. At the highest elevation of 1,799 meters float sample D-723685 of buff colored quartz iron carbonate with less than 0.5% chalcopyrite reported 0.21% copper. And the next sample taken 32 meters below of rusty brown quartz carbonate with 25% pyrite assayed trace at 0.01% copper. Float sample D-723687 examined and taken at the1,616 meter elevation of massive sulphides with iron carbonate and weathered rusty brown with 95% chalcopyrite returned and impressive 17.15% copper. See Table 1 and Photo 2 below. Photo 2 - South Extension of Eagle Creek Copper Occurrence, Sample D-723687 - 17.15% copper. At the 1,604 meter altitude, float sample D-723688 was taken and consisted of quartz with iron carbonate with 5-5% chalcopyrite and assayed 6.22% copper. Float sample D-723689 taken 13 meters above consisted of semi massive sulphides and quartz veining with 60% chalcopyrite and a 3% bornite returned an impressive 23.40% copper. See Table 2, Photo 3 below. Note the intense folding cross cut by the quartz veining clearly defining it as post date folding. Photo 3 - South Extension of Eagle Creek Copper Occurrence, Sample D-723689 - 23.40% copper. At an elevation of 1,745 meters, 128 meters vertically above the sample described above, float sample D-723690 consisted of quartz carbonate with 20% chalcopyrite and 2% bornite. This sample assayed 10.45% copper. See Table 2, Photo 3 below. Note the pinnacle of quartz standing out against the country rock. Photo 3 - South Extension of Eagle Creek Copper Occurrence, Sample D-723690 - 10.45% copper. The final sample was taken down slope at an elevation of 1,592 meters and float sample D-723691 consisted of white to buff colored quartz veining with 5% disseminated pyrite and 1% bornite and assayed 2.15% copper. See Table 2 below. Table 1- South Portion of Eagle Creek Occurrence Sample Results Sample No. Elevation (m) Copper % Sample Type D-723683 1,798 0.17 Float D-723684 1,635 1.81 Float D-723685 1,799 0.21 Float D-723686 1,767 0.01 Float D-723687 1,616 17.15 Float D-723688 1,604 6.22 Float D-723689 1,617 23.40 Float D-723690 1,745 10.45 Float D-723691 1,592 2.15 Float 1% copper = 22.2 pounds As per protocol, all sample locations were taken with GPS along with GPS enabled field cameras of photos of the sampled units. The photos, sample locations and all assay data pertaining to the assay taken, (36 elements were assayed) were tagged in a geo tag format for plotting in .kml / .kmz GIS systems such as Google Earth. An additional release on the 2022 exploration of the Eagle Vein "proper" of the Muskwa Project will be forth coming in the following weeks and will conclude the field work of this area. QA QC Procedure Analytical results of sampling reported by Fabled Copper Corp represent rock samples submitted by Fabled Copper Corp staff directly to ALS Chemex, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. Samples were crushed, split, and pulverized as per ALS Chemex method PREP-31, then analyzed for ME-ICP61 33 element package by four acid digestion with ICP-AES Finish. ME-GRA21 method for Au and Ag by fire assay and gravimetric finish, 30g nominal sample weight. Over Limit Methods For samples triggering precious metal over-limit thresholds of 10 g/t Au or 100 g/t Ag, the following is being used: Au-GRA21 Au by fire assay and gravimetric finish with 30 g sample. Ag-GRA21 Ag by fire assay and gravimetric finish. Fabled Copper Corp. monitors QA/QC using commercially sourced standards and locally sourced blank materials inserted within the sample sequence at regular intervals. About Fabled Copper Corp. Fabled Copper is a junior mining exploration company. Its current focus is to creating value for stakeholders through the exploration and development of its existing copper properties located in northern British Columbia. The Muskwa Project is located in the Liard Mining Division in northern British Columbia. In addition, Fabled has the newly acquired Volt 1, 2 and OHM lithium properties in the Abitibi area of Quebec. Mr. Peter J. Hawley, President and C.E.O. Fabled Copper Corp. Phone: (819) 316-0919 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. For further information please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Peter J. Hawley, P.Geo. President and C.E.O. of Fabled, who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including, that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events and that the Company obtains any required regulatory approvals. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: impacts from the coronavirus or other epidemics, general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and globally; industry conditions, including fluctuations in commodity prices; governmental regulation of the mining industry, including environmental regulation; geological, technical and drilling problems; unanticipated operating events; competition for and/or inability to retain drilling rigs and other services; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility; volatility in market prices for commodities; liabilities inherent in mining operations; changes in tax laws and incentive programs relating to the mining industry; as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law. VANCOUVER, BC, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - TinOne Resources Inc. (TSXV: TORC) (OTCQB: TORCF) (Frankfurt: 57Z0) ("TinOne" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has defined coherent and locally coincident lithium and tin soil anomalies during ongoing exploration activities at its 100%-owned, 9,600 hectare Aberfoyle Project ("Aberfoyle" or the "Project") located in the tier-one mining jurisdiction of Tasmania, Australia. Highlights Definition of a coherent lithium-in-soil anomaly (approximately 3,000 x 700- 200m at a cut-off of 200ppm) coincident with, and extending beyond, the Dead Pig-Guinea Pig lithium prospect area at a cut-off of 200ppm) coincident with, and extending beyond, the Dead Pig-Guinea Pig lithium prospect area Peak lithium in soils was 875 ppm (0.18% Li 2 O) O) Definition of two strong tin-in-soil anomalies (200 ppm cut-off) over the Rex Hill and Guinea Pig-Dead Pig prospects "We are very pleased with the initial results from our reconnaissance-style soil sampling program at Aberfoyle," commented Chris Donaldson, Executive Chairman. "We have now identified a significant lithium-in-soil anomaly across the Dead Pig and Guinea Pig prospects where we previously reported rock samples containing up to 1.14% Li2O. Sampling focus now extends to the Royal George area, which is also considered highly prospective for both lithium and tin." Key Results First pass soil sampling has been completed over prospective target areas at the Aberfoyle project (Figure 2). Initial sampling was completed on a wide-spaced 200 x 400m grid, with more detailed sampling on a 50 x 200m across the Rex Hill area (Figure 2). A total of 657 samples have been taken so far and results have been received for 364 samples. The geochemical results received to date have defined coherent lithium and tin anomalies in the Dead Pig-Guinea Pig and Rex Hill prospect areas (Figure 2). At the Dead Pig-Guinea Pig area, a core area of highly anomalous lithium, greater than 300 ppm, occurs over an area of approximately 600 x 300m. At a 200ppm cut-off, the lithium anomaly is coherent over more than 3,000 x 700-200m. Results from two lines immediately north of the Dead Pig-Guinea Pig anomaly have not yet been received and the anomaly is thus open to the north. The highest lithium in soil result was 875 ppm (0.18% Li 2 O) within a 400m, greater than 0.1% Li 2 O, zone across the Dead Pig-Guinea Pig area. The soil geochemical results also define a coherent tin anomaly at the 200ppm level over approximately 900 x 300m in the Rex Hill prospect area. The Rex Hill prospects contains a historic mine developed on a mineralized breccia surrounded by veined and greisen altered granite. The soil program has been highly successful in defining the broader footprint of the prospect area and the results will be used to define drill targets and inform the next phases of exploration. Ongoing Work and Next Steps Detailed multi-element analysis of the soil geochemical data and integration with geological and structural mapping and rock geochemical data are ongoing and the results are expected to define potential drill targets. TinOne's field team continues to undertake geological mapping and additional systematic and targeted rock sampling across the highly prospective lithium and tin mineralized areas identified to-date and across other prospective areas known from historic records. Geochemical results from ongoing rock sampling are expected in the coming weeks. In addition, TinOne geologists have located drill holes stored in the Mineral Resources Tasmania (MRT) drill core storage facility with records of micaceous alteration. These holes are being logged and where micaceous alteration (potentially lithium-bearing) is observed, sampling for geochemical analysis is being undertaken. The Company also plans a program of mapping and rock and soil sampling on the southern outlier part of EL27/2004 at Royal George. This part of the tenement covers an area around the historic Royal George tin mine hosted by a similar tin granite to the Dead Pig area. As such, the area is considered highly prospective for both lithium and tin. There has been no effective on-ground exploration in this area for nearly four decades. About the Aberfoyle Project The Aberfoyle project area straddles the boundary between the Silurian to Devonian Mathinna Supergroup sedimentary rocks and the Devonian Ben Lomond Granite. The historic Aberfoyle (tin) and Storeys Creek (tin-tungsten) mines as well as other vein systems are hosted in the sedimentary rocks and occur as strike extensive systems of sheeted and stockwork veining. Elevated lithium has not previously been reported from the project area. Historic records and drilling indicate the mineralized vein system at Aberfoyle is up to 60 metres wide, 800 metres in length and extends approximately 400 metres in the down dip direction. The Lutwyche prospect occurs approximately 1 kilometre northeast of Aberfoyle and is comprised of two sets of mineralized veins which can be traced along strike for approximately 750 metres. An additional sediment-hosted vein system, the Kookaburra, is located 200 metres southwest of the main Lutwyche vein system and is known to be approximately 40 metres wide with an along strike extent of at least several hundred metres. Mineralization at Storeys Creek is hosted within a 30 to 50 metre wide, north-northwest striking sheeted vein array which dips to the southwest. The system can be traced along strike for 300 metres and extends 400 metres in the down dip direction. The Ben Lomond Granite crops out approximately 1km west of the mine and has been identified at depth at 180 metres below the surface. Additional poorly known sediment-hosted vein systems occur at Brocks, Eastern Hill and elsewhere in the tenement. Granite-hosted occurrences are developed throughout the exposed areas of granitoid outcrop and consist of vein, disseminated and breccia style occurrences with associated greisen style alteration. These have given rise to historic small scale hard rock and more extensive alluvial production in the Gipps Creek, Rex Hill, Ben Lomond, Royal George and other areas. The Company interprets that both sediment- and granite-hosted systems have developed in structural corridors of multi-kilometre extent and that historic exploration has not systematically explored these corridors. TinOne believes systematic exploration of these prospective corridors will result in the definition of high-quality drill targets. Sample Methodology Soil samples reported here were collected by experienced field assistants using hand sampling techniques with a depth ranging from 30 to 100cm, with an average of 59cm depth. Samples were coarsely sieved in the field with typically 0.5 and 1 kg despatched to the laboratory. Samples were placed in pre-numbered, calico bags and then into large rice sacks which were sealed for shipping. On receipt by the laboratory they were dried and sieved to -180m (-80 mesh). Quality Assurance / Quality Control Rock samples were delivered to ALS Limited in Burnie, Australia for sample preparation and then forwarded to ALS Perth for analysis. The ALS Perth facilities are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Tin and tungsten are analysed by ICP-MS following lithium borate fusion (ALS method ME-MS85), overlimit results are reanalysed by XRF (ALS method XRF15b). Forty-eight element multi-element analyses are conducted by ICP-MS after a four-acid digestion (ALS method ME-MS61). Control samples comprising certified reference samples (including reference material certified for lithium) duplicates and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's quality assurance / quality control protocol. About TinOne TinOne is a TSX Venture Exchange listed Canadian public company with a high-quality portfolio of tin, tin/tungsten and lithium projects in the Tier 1 mining jurisdictions of Tasmania and New South Wales, Australia. The Company controls some of the most important tin districts in Tasmania, including Aberfoyle, Rattler Range and Great Pyramid and is focussed on advancing its highly prospective portfolio. TinOne is supported by Inventa Capital Corp. Qualified Person The Company's disclosure of technical or scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Stuart Smith., Technical Adviser for TinOne. Dr. Smith is a Qualified Person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes certain "ForwardLooking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forwardlooking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forwardlooking statements or information. These forwardlooking statements or information relate to, among other things: the development of the Company's projects; future mineral exploration, development and production; and the release of exploration results. Forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of TinOne, future growth potential for TinOne and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of gold and other metals; no escalation in the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; TinOne's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms. These statements reflect TinOne's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information and TinOne has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on early stage mineral projects; metal price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in Australia; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in TinOne's management discussion and analysis. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information. Although TinOne has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. TinOne does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law. Highly Prospective, Untested Conductive Anomalies and Magnetic Highs Exist Across the Entire 14.5 km Mineralized Strike Length Within the Apex Property Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - Kraken Energy Corp. (CSE: UUSA) (OTCQB: UUSAF) (the "Company" or "Kraken Energy") is pleased to report on the interpretation of recently flown 669 line-kilometer ("km") (416 mile) VTEM and magnetic airborne geophysical survey on its 100%-owned Apex Property ("Apex" or the "Property") in Central Nevada. Conductive graphite and sulphides (pyrite and chalcopyrite) are associated with uranium mineralization on the Property, and the VTEM survey results have identified numerous conductive anomalies associated with known uranium mineralization on the Property and also along trend to the east-southeast as high priority blind targets. Highlights: Known uranium mineralization on the Property is associated with conductive anomalies and magnetic highs. Uranium mineralization at the past-producing Apex and Lowboy Mines is strongly associated with conductive graphite and sulphides. Magnetic high signatures are also associated with these historic uranium mines. The highest-grade uranium mineralization at the historic Apex Mine is associated with graphitic and pyritic shales near the intrusive contact, and along both the hanging wall and foot wall of the aplite dikes 1 . Numerous highly prospective and untested conductive anomalies and magnetic highs exist across the entire 14.5 km mineralized strike length within the Apex Property. New priority targets have been outlined on both BLM and USFS portions of the Property. The strongest conductive anomalies on the Property are untested blind targets located in between the historic Apex and Lowboy Mines. Conductive anomalies and magnetic highs have significantly upgraded the regional prospectivity on the Apex Property. The survey was carried out by Geotech Ltd. and collected both time-domain electromagnetic and magnetic data on 100 meter ("m") (328 foot) spaced lines with a northeast-southwest flight orientation. The survey was designed to investigate multiple prospects on the Apex Uranium Property for anomalous conductivity related to graphitic and sulphide-rich horizons, and magnetic highs related to intrusive bodies that are often concurrently associated with uranium mineralization. "With a newly updated geological model and additional geophysical data for targeting, we are confident with our drill targets on the Apex Property," stated CEO Matthew Schwab. "Our team's understanding of the entire Apex Property has taken a remarkable leap forward, and we are excited to test these new targets as we continue to advance the drill permitting process with the US Forest Service." Figure 1: Apex Structural Interpretation Showing Mineralized Trend Figure 2: Conductivity Targets over Apex Uranium Property The Apex Uranium Mine was Nevada's largest past-producing uranium mine which produced ~106,000 pounds of U 3 O 8 in the 1950s at an average grade of ~0.25% U 3 O 8 . Historic drilling results include results of up to 34.1 m (112 ft) at 0.37% U 3 O 8 and 15.2 m (50 ft) at 0.51% U 3 O 8 2,3,4,5. References 1 Uranium Deposits of the World USA and Latin America, by Franz J. Dahlkamp (1965, pg 291). 2 Nevada Bureau Mines File 60000269, Report on Mines of Apex Minerals Corporation 1957, by Harry H. Hughes, Mining Geologist. 3 EPRI Report EA-498 "Uranium Price Formation" (1977, pg 2-19). 4 Nevada Bureau Mines File 38900096, Transverse Section Through Drilled Orebody, Apex Minerals Corp 1959, by Harry Hughes, Mining Geologist. 5 Nevada Bureau Mines File 38900084, Plan map of underground workings, sampling, and drill holes at the Apex mine 1959, by Harry Hughes, Mining Geologist. Technical Information: All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared by or reviewed and approved by Matthew Schwab, P.Geo., President and CEO of the Company, and Garrett Ainsworth, P.Geo., Chairman of the Company. Each of Mr. Schwab and Mr. Ainsworth is a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The drill results reported in this news release are historical in nature. Kraken has not undertaken any independent investigation, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results. The Company believes that the historical drill results and production values at the Apex Property do not conform to the presently accepted industry standards. Kraken considers these historical drill results relevant as the Company will use this data as a guide to plan future exploration programs. The Company also considers the data to be reliable for these purposes, however, the Company's future exploration work will include verification of the data through drilling. About Kraken Energy Corp.: Kraken Energy Corp. is a new energy company advancing its portfolio of high-grade uranium properties in the Unites States. The Company is advancing its 100%-owned Apex Uranium Property, located 280 km (174 miles) east from Reno, Nevada which is recognized as Nevada's largest past-producing uranium mine. The Company has additionally entered into an option agreement to earn 100% of the Garfield Hills Uranium Property. The past-producing Garfield Hills Uranium Property covers 1,238 ha (3,060 acres) and is located 19 km (12 miles) east of Hawthorne in Mineral County, Nevada. The Company has also recently staked the Huber Hills Uranium Property, located 136 km (85 miles) north of Elko, Nevada which covers 2,580 acres and encompasses the historic Race Track open pit mine. For more information about the Company, please visit www.krakenenergycorp.com. On Behalf of the Board of Kraken Energy Corp. Matthew Schwab President & Chief Executive Officer Corporate Office: Suite 907 - 1030 West Georgia Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 2Y3 T: (604) 737-2303 For investor relations inquiries, contact: Kin Communications Inc. T: (604) 684-6730 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release includes "forward-looking information" that is subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Such statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties normally incident to such events. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future events and that actual events or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements represent management's best judgment based on information currently available. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. (TSXV: SCZ) ("Santacruz" or "the Company") produced 5,644,383 silver equivalent ounces from its Bolivar, Porco, and Caballo Blanco Group of Mines and the San Lucas Ore Sourcing and Trading company ("the Bolivian Operations") and the Zimapan Mine in Mexico ("the Mexican Operations") in the first quarter of 2023. Production results from Bolivar and Porco are reported at a 100%, while the Company has a 45% net profit interest in these mines. The Caballo Blanco Group of Mines consists of the Tres Amigos, Reserva and Colquechaquita mines. Consolidated First Quarter 2023 Production Highlights: Silver equivalent production of 5,644,383 ounces; Silver produced 1,769,519 ounces; Zinc produced 22,463 tonnes; Lead produced 3,044 tonnes; Copper produced 415 tonnes. Carlos Silva, Santacruz's CEO stated, "We started the year with solid production from all of our assets and are committed to improving operational efficiencies at all our mines, the San Lucas trading company and supporting areas. We are also working closely with JDS Engineering & Mining to complete NI 43-101 compliant Resource and Reserve Estimates for all our producing mines in Mexico and Bolivia, which will provide us with additional life of mine planning information. These reports are expected to be released during the third quarter of this year." Production Details Table Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Y/Y Change Q4 2022 Q/Q Change Material Processed (tonnes milled) 482,498 227,570 112% 482,626 (0)% Silver equivalent production (oz) 5,644,383 1,613,720 250% 5,744,128 (2)% Silver production (oz) 1,769,519 469,829 177% 1,793,936 (1)% Lead production (tonnes) 3,044 1,343 127% 2,900 5% Zinc production (tonnes) 22,463 6,158 265% 23,111 (3)% Copper production (tonnes) 415 208 100% 386 8% Average Head Grade (g/t Ag Eqv.) 421 291 45% 445 (5)% Development (metres) 11,295 3,572 216% 10,653 6% *Note: On March 18, 2022 the Company closed the acquisition of all Bolivian assets from Glencore and the results of the Bolivian Operations are included in the consolidated results of the Company from that date. Silver equivalent ounces, which are provided to assist the reader, are based on the following commodity price assumptions Ag $21.86/oz, Pb $0.91/lb, Zn $1.52/lb and Cu $3.67/lb First Quarter 2023 Mine by Mine Production Table Mine Tonnes Milled Head Grade Total Develop- ment Ounces Produced Tonnes Produced AgEq Oz Produced (1) g/t % Ag Zn Pb Cu Meters Ag Zn Pb Cu Zimapan 200,970 70 2.20 0.63 0.38 3,786 320,942 3,407 957 415 1,084,600 Bolivar 74,353 250 6.40 0.65 n/a 2,310 555,914 4,313 353 n/a 1,249,153 Porco 49,909 122 6.89 0.58 n/a 2,596 162,015 3,245 217 n/a 679,144 Caballo Blanco* 85,817 187 7.01 1.50 n/a 2,604 475,026 5,650 1,043 n/a 1,436,322 San Lucas 71,448 125 8.90 0.94 n/a 0 255,623 5,848 473 n/a 1,195,164 5,644,383 The Company has a 45% Net Profit Interest in Bolivar and Porco mines. Production results of Bolivar and Porco mines are reported at 100%. *The Caballo Blanco Mines consist of the Tres Amigos, Reserva and Colquechaquita Mines. Silver equivalent ounces, which are provided to assist the reader, are based on the following commodity price assumptions Ag $21.86/oz, Zn $1.52/lb, Pb $0.91/lb, and Cu $3.67/lb Bolivian Operations General Overview Production at the Bolivian operations has been steady over the past two quarters, with production flexibility at each operation contributing to consistent output. The San Lucas ore sourcing and trading business continues to perform well and provides feed for each of the process plants at Bolivar, Porco, and the Don Diego plant, which processed Caballo Blanco feed. This third-party feed source allows each plant to operate efficiently and provides additional ore for blending, as necessary. Bolivar Mine First quarter 2023 production included material from the newly developed Rosario section, which help offset delays in mining the Central section. These delays were caused by the extension of services for pumping and ventilation as this section descends. Rosario stopes were larger and contained higher grade silver than expected, which offset lower grade toll feeds from San Lucas Ore sourcing and trading business. Zinc and lead production were lower than expected, but silver production was great than anticipated. Porco Mine Production was down slightly, and metal grades were lower than expected because of operational challenges. Equipment downtime in the trackless Hundumiento zone and stope sequencing had an impact on timing of higher-grade ore feed, which also affected metal recoveries. This was partially offset by toll feed tonnage from the San Lucas ore sourcing and trading business being greater and higher grade than anticipated, which resulted in total metal production for the quarter being higher than anticipated. Caballo Blanco Group of Mines Production and total development metres was as expected for this group of mines (Colquechaquita, Tres Amigos and Reserva mines). At the Don Diego milling facility, the toll feed from San Lucas ore sourcing and trading business was lower grade than anticipated, but in the first quarter of 2023, this was offset by mined grades. Zimapan Mine (Mexico) Two separate mines (Monte and Carrizal mines) are linked by a trackless haulage drift leading to the process plant. Production from the complex is stable at current tonnage and grade with improvements to the metal output largely driven by metallurgical performance. Issues in the first quarter of 2023 with process water shortages resulting from a regional drought provided opportunities for planned plant maintenance but have also impacted total tonnes processed. The flexible mine plan allows production from different zones based on metal values and blending requirements. During the first quarter of 2023 the Zimapan complex experienced a considerable increase in copper recoveries. Corporate Update The Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Sabina Srubiski as Manager of Investor Relations. Sabina is an investor relations professional that has spent almost 15 years in the mining industry. Her career has covered the spectrum of mining companies, from exploration, through development and into production. Prior to Santacruz she worked with a mid-tier gold producer and before that she was with a developer that brought a Tier 1 gold asset into production. Sabina will be based in the Company's Vancouver Office. Qualified Person Wayne Corso, Chief Operating Officer of the Company is a qualified person under NI 43-101, and has approved the scientific and technical information related to operational matters contained in this news release. About Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. The Company is engaged in the operation, acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Latin America, with a primary focus on silver and zinc, but also including lead and copper. The Company currently has six producing projects, the Zimapan, Bolivar, Porco, Tres Amigos, Reserva and Colquechaquita Mines and holds two exploration properties in its mineral property portfolio, the La Pechuga Property and the Santa Gorgonia Prospect, and one development project, the Soracaya Project in addition to the San Lucas ore sourcing and trading business. 'signed' Arturo Prestamo Elizondo, Executive Chairman For further information please contact: Arturo Prestamo Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Telephone: (528) 183 785707 Sabina Srubisk Manager, Investor Relations Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Telephone: (604) 351 7909 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward looking information Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements relating to production at the Zimapan Mine, the Bolivian Operations and the Company's plans relating to such properties. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions. In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events, that the Company will receive all required regulatory approvals and that future metal prices and the demand and market outlook for metals will remain stable or improve. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to: the risk that any of the assumptions referred to above prove not to be valid or reliable; market conditions and volatility and global economic conditions, including increased volatility and potentially negative capital raising conditions resulting from the continued, or escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic and risks relating to the extent and duration of such pandemic and its impact on global markets; controls or regulations and political or economic developments in Mexico and Bolivia; risk of delay and/or cessation in planned work or changes in the Company's financial condition and development plans; risks associated with the Company's plan to undertake certain post-closing reorganization steps in respect of the target entities; the uncertainty of the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits and the risk of unexpected variations in mineral resources, grade and/or recovery rates; risks related to gold, silver, base metal and other commodity price fluctuations; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licences and permits and the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; risks relating to environmental regulation and liability; the possibility that results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to mineral exploration and development activities and to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information or statements, other than as required by applicable law. After Jang Dong Yoon returns to South Korea, his brother and rival Chu Young Woo finds a way to take him down completely. He also tries to steal Seol In Ah's heart from the former. Read on to know what happened in the penultimate episode of "Oasis." Lee Doo Hak Proposes To Oh Jung Shin In the previous week, Oh Jung Shin (Seol In Ah) promises Lee Doo Hak (Jang Dong Yoon) that she will protect him from the people who want to hurt him. She also learns about the lies that Choi Cheol Woong (Chu Young Woo) and his family fabricated to save his reputation. Despite being friends with him, Oh Jung Shin refuses to see him ever again. Dejected, Choi Cheol Woong cries his heart out. His anger bubbles are amplified when he discovers that Lee Doo Hak is alive. In the brand new episode, Lee Doo Hak finally proposes to Oh Jung Shin. They both profess their love for one another not just as boyfriend and girlfriend, but as soon to be husband and wife. Choi Cheol Woong Tries To Bargain With Lee Doo Hak Their agony continues when Oh Man Ok (Jin Yi Han) finds out that Choi Cheol Woong is monitoring Lee Doo Hak. The former right hand man of the prosecutor jumps on to Lee Doo Hak's boat and pledges loyalty to save his life. With this, he reveals what he knows to the latter. Choi Cheol Woong then tries to come up with a new plan. He asks for Lee Doo Hak's forgiveness and requests for a truce. To no avail, Lee Doo Hak walks away. His older brother also orders him to return to Japan, and to never show his face again to him, his family and Oh Jung Shin. The Greatest War Between Two Brothers Choi Cheol Woong stands by his ground, which angers Oh Jung Shin even more. In "Oasis" episode 15, Choi Cheol Woong learns that Lee Doo Hak is working with Chairman Choi Dong Pal (Kim Byung Ki). He uses his power as a prosecutor to threaten the chairman and persuades him to send Lee Doo Hak back to Japan. Because of this, the small fire becomes bigger once again. Lee Doo Hak then uses Go Pung Ho (Lee Han Hwi) and Oh Man Ok to infiltrate Choi Cheol Woong's family and wealth. They learn that they are also planning to tear Oh Jung Shin down, especially now that she's a publisher of the quite popular publishing house in the country. Lee Doo Hak's Final Move Choi Cheol Woong, who learns that Oh Man Ok has been working alongside Lee Doo Hak, pulls the trigger, finishing him off for treachery. Lee Doo Hak, who was left for dead the same way in the previous episodes, becomes eager to give Choi Cheol Woong his long awaited punishment. He threatens Choi Cheol Woong about what he's capable of doing, which only leaves the latter unfazed. KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Before his much-awaited small screen return, Kim Woo Bin is reportedly preparing for a special event for his fans. Keep on reading for more details. 'Black Knight' Stars Kim Woo Bin, Song Seung Heon, More To Meet Fans Ahead of Drama Premiere The long wait is finally over. In just two weeks, as of this writing, Kim Woo Bin will greet the fans and viewers with his new series "Black Knight." But before the much-anticipated premiere, the actor and the cast are said to be preparing for a special gathering. On April 24, online streaming giant, Netflix dropped an announcement on their social media channels stating that a "Black Knight" fan event is about to happen. According to the post, there will be an application that fans need to do, and it will run until April 28. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Kim Woo Bin Exudes Bravado In 'Black Knight' Poster- What To Expected From The Series In addition, the winners, which will be announced on May 2, reportedly have the chance to meet the cast of the drama. Furthermore, on May 10, "Black Knight" director Cho Eui Seok including lead actors Kim Woo Bin, Song Seung Heon, Kang Yoo Seok, and Lee Soo Yeon are expected to be present at the fan event. To know more about the mechanics, you can check Netflix Korea's social media accounts for updates. What We Know So Far About Netflix's 'Black Knight' Based on a webtoon, "Black Knight," penned by Lee Yun Kyung, features the story of a Black Knight named 5-8 who delivers and supplies oxygen in a world where people cannot survive without it due to air pollution. His new journey will unfold after meeting a refugee named April. Kim Woo Bin takes the role of 5-8. "Black Knight" marks his first drama following tvN's "Our Blues" in 2022. This drama is also his first collaboration with director Cho Eui Seok after seven years, whom he already worked with in the movie "Master." Portraying the villain role for the first time, Song Seung Heon plays Ryu Seok, the successor of a company that monopolizes oxygen. Meanwhile, Kang Yoo Seok will take the role of April, a refugee who admires 5-8. Lee Soo Yeon, on the other hand, is Seol Ah, a military intelligence officer who saved April's life. Netflix also dropped photo and video teasers of the upcoming series giving the viewers a glimpse on what to anticipate from "Black Knight." The action-adventure K-drama, which is composed of six episodes, will premiere on May 12 on Netflix. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 'The Glory' Star Kim Gun Woo Apologizes to Kim Woo Bin for THIS Reason What are you excited about Kim Woo Bin's drama comeback? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. Houston Fugitive Placed on FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List Villegas-Palomino continues to present a grave threat to the community through his cocaine and narco-terrorist empire. Multi-ton quantities of cocaine allegedly produced in his laboratories ultimately end up on U.S. streets, plaguing local communities and driving spikes in violent crime. Our commitment to keeping the community safe includes bringing to justice those who fuel and orchestrate the violence in our communities from outside our national borders," said FBI Director Christopher Wray. "Palominos placement on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list reinforces our nations partnership with Colombia to combat both terrorism and the spread of dangerous narcotics into the U.S. and around the world. Villegas-Palomino is allegedly responsible for numerous kidnappings, ordering assassinations, money laundering, and weapons trafficking, said James Smith, special agent in charge of the FBI Houston Field Office. Under his leadership of the ELN Northeastern War Front, his laboratories allegedly contribute to the production of at least 80 percent of the cocaine entering the United States. That cocaine ends up on our streets and plays a major role in the violent crime increases we see in our neighborhoods. ELN is a terrorist organization that finances its deadly operations by trafficking dangerous drugs into Houston, said Alamdar S. Hamdani, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. Their drugs destroy lives and communities, and every dollar spent on ELNs drugs is another dollar thats spent to threaten our national security. The law enforcement efforts against ELN leader Villegas-Palomino reaffirms our commitment to dismantling and disrupting this very dangerous narco-terrorist group and combatting narco-trafficking. This remains an ongoing investigation. The FBI asks anyone with information concerning Villegas-Palomino to please contact the FBI via WhatsApp (neither a government-operated nor a government-controlled platform) at (281) 630-0330. Individuals may also contact their local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Additional information concerning Villegas-Palomino, including his wanted poster in English and Spanish, as well as the FBIs official list of the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, can be found at fbi.gov/wanted. The FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list was established in March 1950. Since then, 530 fugitives have been placed on the list and 494 fugitives have been apprehended or located163 of them as a result of citizen cooperation. Since its inception, Palomino is the seventh fugitive from the FBI Houston Field Office to be placed on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. The most recent was serial killer Rafael Resendez-Ramirez, who was placed on the list in June 1999. He was removed in July 1999 after he was arrested in Texas thanks to extensive national coverage by news media, which helped track down Resendez-Ramirez, also known as the Railroad Killer. This story has been published on: 2023-04-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. An international team led by Chinese astronomers has unveiled a new image of the supermassive black hole at the center of elliptical galaxy Messier 87, or M87, featuring its accretion disk and the powerful jet of subatomic particles being ejected from the disk, according to a study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday.... The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) has asked parliament to appropriate Shs4.8 billion needed per month for interns and Senior House Officers (SHOs) payments. The call is contained in recommendations made by the association leadership before Parliaments health committee on the issue of junior doctors and Senior House Officers payment as well as the proposed health budget cuts. This follows the announcement by the health minister, Dr Jane Aceng on April 5, that there would be a delayed deployment of the junior house officers/ medical interns for the year 2023-2024, after a wait of over 10 months for those who had completed university final exams in May 2022. Led by their President Dr. Edith Nakku, the medical doctors have demanded that the Ministry of Health deploys and pays all qualified interns in various internship centres right away as per their strategic plan. Also in the intermediate term; they ask the ministry to re-instate the Medical Officer on Probation position in the public service structure which will see an intern doctor earn a salary, instead of an allowance, like it was in the previous years. Dr. Nakku also urges the health ministry to urgently finalize the Internship and SHO policies in consultation with relevant stakeholders including UMA and Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council. In a prepared speech to the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce today, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned of the potential for severe economic consequences if the House does not address and raise the debt ceiling. It is unlikely that the federal government would be able to issue payments to millions of Americans, including our military families and seniors who rely on Social Security, The debt ceiling is an upper limit set on the amount of money that the government may borrow. On January 19, 2023, the U.S. government officially hit the debt ceiling of $31.4 trillion. U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen immediately implemented extraordinary measures to prevent the United States from defaulting such as suspending any new investments of retirement funds from government employees. The debt ceiling has been modified 20 times since 2002. However, raising the debt limit could be much more difficult than on previous occasions. Republicans are demanding dramatic cuts to future spending in exchange for increasing the debt ceiling. On April 19 House Republicans put forward the Limit, Save, Grow, Act, a 320-page bill that would raise the debt limit by $1.5 trillion through the end of March 2024. According to McCarthy the plan includes $4.5 trillion in savings through cutbacks. President Biden responded to the legislation by saying, Folks, its the same old trickle-down dressed up in MAGA clothing. Only worse. The president added that the cuts target programs that millions of working-and middle-class Americans count on while separately pushing more tax giveaways that benefit corporations and the wealthy. The divide is setting up the potential for an 11th-hour showdown. More alarming is the X-Date could occur sooner than previously anticipated. This is because 2022 tax returns are 29% below the tax revenue of prior year. Analysts believe this date could come in early August or potentially as soon as late July. Research strategist at BofA Global Research expects to hear guidance from Secretary Yellen in the next two weeks about the actual day (X-date) when the government cant meet its obligations. The uncertainty of a government default has been highly supportive of gold futures pricing which remains above $2000. As of 5:55 PM EST gold futures basis most active June 2023 contract is up $7.40 or 0.37% and fixed at $2007.20. MUMBAI, April 25 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Uday Kotak is yet to reveal who will succeed him as chief executive of the $46 billion Indian bank that bears his name, but the 64-year-old has won overwhelming shareholder support for a plan that will keep him on the board as a non-executive director when he steps down later this year. The arrangement has some logic given he owns 26%. It will also be messy and is at odds with the regulators own aim to improve governance across the industry. Bosses of the countrys private-sector banks are allowed to stay in their jobs for up to 15 years. When that rule was introduced in 2021, those who had already hit that limit were allowed to serve out their existing terms. By the time he steps down in December, Kotak will have been in charge for 20 years, two years more than JPMorgans (JPM.N) Jamie Dimon and six more than DBS Groups (DBSM.SI) Piyush Gupta. It is little surprise that more than 99% of investors voted for him to stay, per exchange filings published last week. The bank dodged the bad loan crisis that engulfed rivals over the past decade. Axis Bank (AXBK.NS) and ICICI Bank (ICBK.NS) ran into trouble and replaced their CEOs. Another, Yes Bank (YESB.NS), had its founder kicked out before eventually requiring a rescue by other lenders. Its partly why Kotak Mahindra (KTKM.NS) commands a premium valuation at 4 times its forward book value, more than twice those peers. Officials may want him to stay too. Kotak is the man who New Delhi dials when it needs a troubleshooter and he wrote Indias code for corporate governance. Yet the Reserve Bank of Indias own rules explicitly mandate a three-year gap for outgoing bank heads to return to their past employers in any capacity, and the regulator, whom Kotak has sparred with over how to trim his large stake, will have the final say. Ultimately, the regulator may struggle to look past one big problem. If Kotak sits on the board, his successor - expected to be an insider will effectively continue to work with his or her long-time boss. A similar arrangement was in place for nearly two decades at ICICI before the asset quality crisis hit the bank in 2015. If things go wrong at Kotak, regulators may end up wondering who to blame. Follow @ShritamaBose on Twitter CONTEXT NEWS Kotak Mahindra Bank said on April 21 that over 99% of its shareholders voted in favour of appointing Managing Director & CEO Uday Kotak as a non-executive, non-independent director of the bank after his term ends in December 2023. The lender is yet to announce the name of Kotaks successor. TTAWA - Canada's Trade Minister Mary Ng expressed concern with Mexico's proposed mining reforms in a call with Mexican Secretary of Economy Raquel Buenrostro on Tuesday, the trade ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. Mexico's proposed mining reforms could affect Canadian investment in Mexico's mining sector and have impacts on North American competitiveness and supply chain resiliency, the Canadian Trade Ministry said. Ng also "urged Mexico to ensure they are upholding the spirit of commitments made by Leaders at the North American Leaders Summit and of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement". Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. 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) - Fresnillo (LSE: FRES), the world's largest primary silver producer, announced today that in Q1 2023, its attributable silver production of 13.1 moz remained flat (-0.9%) compared to Q1 2022 primarily due to the lower ore grade and decreased volume of ore processed at San Julian (DOB) and Cienega, offset by the increase in volume of ore processed at Fresnillo and higher ore grade at San Julian Veins. However, the company said that its Q1 2023 attributable silver production was up 5.1% compared to Q4 2022 mainly due to a higher ore grade at San Julian (DOB) and the increased contribution of ore from Juanicipio, partly offset by the lower volume of ore processed at Saucito. Fresnillos quarterly attributable gold production of 173.0 koz was up 15.5% over Q1 2022 primarily due to the higher volume of ore processed and ore grade at Herradura and the higher ore grade at Saucito, partly offset by the decrease in gold production at Noche Buena. Compared to Q4 2022, the companys attributable gold production was up 3.0% mainly due to the higher ore grade at Saucito and higher ore grade and recovery rate at Herradura, partly offset by the lower recovery rate and decrease in ore grade at Noche Buena. On a silver equivalent basis, the company produced 27.0 moz in Q1 2023, which is an increase of 7% compared to 25.3 moz produced in Q1 2022 and an increase of 4% compared to 25.9 moz produced in Q4 2022. Importantly, the company said that its 2023 guidance remains unchanged. Fresnillo expects its attributable silver production to be in the range of 57.0 to 64.0 moz while attributable gold production is expected to be in the range of 590 to 640 koz. Expressed in silver equivalent ounces, production is expected to be 104 -115 million ounces. CEO Octavio Alvidrez commented, "I am pleased to report a solid start to the year. Silver and gold production are both up on the previous quarter driven by the increasing contribution from our new Juanicipio mine and the strong performance at our Herradura gold mine in particular. We have a very clear set of priorities that we are focused on in the second quarter. This includes the continued safe ramp up of the Juanicipio plant now that we have successfully completed the commissioning phase, while also progressing the tie-in to the national power grid of our new Pyrites Plant. Both of these projects will support our production objectives into the future. We have successfully managed through considerable recent challenges, reaching a sound level of operational consistency, putting us well on track to meet our full year production guidance." Fresnillo is the world's largest primary silver producer and Mexico's largest gold producer. Fresnillo has eight operating mines, all of them in Mexico - Fresnillo, Saucito, Juanicipio, Cienega, Herradura, Soledad-Dipolos, Noche Buena and San Julian (Veins and Disseminated Ore Body), one development project - the Pyrites Plant at Fresnillo, which has been completed and is awaiting tie-in of the plant to the national electricity grid, and four advanced exploration projects - Orisyvo, Rodeo, Guanajuato and Tajitos as well as a number of other long term exploration prospects. Fresnillo has mining concessions and exploration projects in Mexico, Peru and Chile. Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) said today that its Mt Marion FY23 volumes are expected to be at the lower end of spodumene concentrate guidance at 160-180k dmt. The company, which released its activities report for the Q3, has iron ore and lithium operations, as well as mining services division. Mineral Resources owns two hardrock lithium operations in Australia: Mt Marion in the Goldfields region of Western Australia and Wodgina in the Pilbara region. "Mt Marion FY23 volumes are expected to be at the lower end of spodumene concentrate guidance of 160-180k dmt (SC6 equivalent) and lithium battery chemicals sold guidance of 19.0-21.3kt. This reflects the impact of a delay in the plant expansion and mine sequencing, resulting in the drawdown of contact ore stockpiles," wrote the company in a news release. "Wodgina remains on track to achieve FY23 spodumene shipped guidance of 150-170k dmt (SC6 equivalent) and lithium battery chemicals production guidance of 11.5-12.5kt. Reflecting current marketing arrangements and market dynamics, FY23 lithium battery chemicals sold guidance is expected to be 5.0-6.0kt (previously 8.5-9.5kt)." In 2019 Albemarle has acquired a 60% interest in Mineral Resources Wodgina for $1.3 billion. Iron ore shipments were 4.5M wmt, up 10% qoq and in line with FY23 guidance of 17.2-18.8M wmt. Mining Services production volumes were lower in Q3 at 52Mt, following completion of two external mining contracts. Equipment and people were moved to joint venture projects but delays in approvals impacted volumes. 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) - After the first gold rush 175 years ago, prospectors are heading back into the California hinterlands hoping to find their fortune. For amateur placer miners, a literal perfect storm has hit California as the state continues to recover from years of major wildfires and record snowpacks this winter in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. As that snow melts, the rush of water pushes loose debris, dirt and boulders downstream. In all that debris: gold. According to media reports, gold hunters have been converging on Sacramento and Placerville in central California, taking to the creeks and streams with their gold pans and other equipment. "Anytime you can stand next to a river, and you hear the boulders tumbling, you know the gold is moving, too," Jim Eakin, owner of a firewood business in Placerville and amateur gold seeker, told the New York Times article published Sunday. Albert Fausel, a third-generation owner of the Placerville Hardware store, said in an interview with CBS that he is already seeing a pick in his store for gold equipment. "We do a lot of different gold supplies in here," Fausel said in the interview. "So now, instead of selling dynamite, I'm selling metal detectors." Also, in an interview with the New York Times, Fausel described his own recent treasure-hunting experience. In a wetsuit with goggles and a snorkel, the business owner spent a recent Sunday afternoon sweeping a creek bed for potential nuggets. He said that in about 20 minutes, he had found about $100 worth of gold. Not only has California's volatile weather created an environment for a new gold rush, but the precious metal holding around $2,000 an ounce is adding to the gold fever. Thomas Fuller, the author of the New York Times article, attended the monthly Gold Country Treasure Seekers club and talked with its president Tony Watley, who said he expects it to be a magnificent year. Another member of the club, Mark Dayton, said that he had seen more gold in the last two meetings than in the last two years. "There was $50,000 of gold up at that table," he said. According to a growing number of amateur miners, the best time to hit the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada will be in June and July when the water levels recede, making the sandbanks and bars more accessible. Meanwhile, anyone hoping to make an easy fortune should remember that California state law does not allow the use of heavy equipment for placer mining. Potential prospectors will have to find their gold the old-fashioned way with shovels, pans and sluice boxes. Matthew Day at the Telegraph writes: Finland formally became the 31st member of Nato this week, ditching decades of non-alignment to join the military alliance in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The legacy of the Winter War still casts a shadow over Finland. The conflict, also known as the First Finnish-Soviet War, saw Finland's armed forces inflict monumental casualties on a vast invading Red Army during the bitter winter months of 1939/40. The war, which resulted in territorial losses for Finland, taught the Finns the need for an army capable of deterring Russia from ever invading again. Under the Finnish constitution, every male citizen aged between 18 and 60 is liable for call-up, and each year some 22,000 men join the army. This means that Finland's tiny standing army of around 19,000 can quickly grow to 280,000, while thousands more could also be mobilised in a time of national crisis. Conscription also remains popular in Finland; built upon a broad societal understanding of the need to maintain national defence. A poll from December 2021, for example, revealed that 84 per cent of Finns were willing to defend their country to the best of their abilities. In line with this defensive posture, Finland has invested heavily in big guns, giving it one of the strongest artillery forces in Europe. It now has some 1,500 weapons, including 700 howitzers and cannons and 100 heavy and light rocket launchers. It also boasts a tank force of around 650 armoured vehicles, which includes 200 German-made Leopard 2 main battle tanks, putting it on a par with any army in Europe, including Britain. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Sunny. High 67F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Clear skies. Low around 35F. NNW winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. Shares of Avient Co. (NYSE:AVNT Get Rating) have been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the nine brokerages that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $48.00. A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Avient from $41.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. Oppenheimer raised shares of Avient from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $50.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Avient from $41.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Avient from $34.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Get Avient alerts: Avient Price Performance NYSE AVNT opened at $37.58 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.88 and a beta of 1.53. Avient has a 1 year low of $27.65 and a 1 year high of $52.68. The businesss fifty day moving average is $40.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is $36.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a current ratio of 1.81. Avient Increases Dividend Avient ( NYSE:AVNT Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 15th. The company reported $0.39 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.30 by $0.09. Avient had a net margin of 16.70% and a return on equity of 14.02%. The firm had revenue of $790.40 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $766.04 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.58 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Avient will post 2.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 14th were given a $0.248 dividend. This represents a $0.99 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 13th. This is an increase from Avients previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. Avients dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.86%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Raymond James & Associates increased its position in Avient by 22.7% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 29,947 shares of the companys stock worth $1,437,000 after buying an additional 5,546 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Avient by 2.2% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 10,341 shares of the companys stock worth $496,000 after acquiring an additional 221 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE increased its holdings in Avient by 3.5% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 8,862 shares of the companys stock worth $425,000 after purchasing an additional 297 shares in the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp bought a new stake in Avient in the first quarter worth approximately $110,000. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can increased its holdings in shares of Avient by 9.4% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 15,146 shares of the companys stock valued at $748,000 after acquiring an additional 1,296 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.81% of the companys stock. About Avient (Get Rating) Avient Corp. engages in the business of thermoplastic compounds. It specializes in polymer materials, services, and solutions with operations in specialty polymer formulations, color and additive systems, plastic sheet and packaging solutions and polymer distribution. The firm is also involved in the development and manufacturing of performance enhancing additives, liquid colorants, fluoropolymers, and silicone colorants. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Avient Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Avient and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Blackstone Secured Lending Fund (NYSE:BXSL Get Rating) has received a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the seven ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $27.07. BXSL has been the subject of several analyst reports. Citigroup upped their price target on Blackstone Secured Lending Fund from $26.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price objective on Blackstone Secured Lending Fund from $25.50 to $27.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Finally, Raymond James upped their price objective on Blackstone Secured Lending Fund from $25.50 to $27.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Get Blackstone Secured Lending Fund alerts: Institutional Trading of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of BXSL. US Bancorp DE lifted its position in shares of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund by 100.2% in the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 1,998 shares of the companys stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund in the first quarter valued at $50,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its position in shares of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund by 61.4% in the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 2,257 shares of the companys stock valued at $51,000 after acquiring an additional 859 shares in the last quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund in the third quarter valued at $56,000. Finally, Advisor Group Holdings Inc. lifted its position in shares of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund by 107.6% in the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 2,171 shares of the companys stock valued at $61,000 after acquiring an additional 1,125 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 31.16% of the companys stock. Blackstone Secured Lending Fund Trading Down 1.2 % Shares of NYSE BXSL opened at $25.50 on Wednesday. Blackstone Secured Lending Fund has a twelve month low of $22.00 and a twelve month high of $28.00. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $25.19 and a two-hundred day moving average of $24.09. The stock has a market cap of $4.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.45 and a beta of 0.45. Blackstone Secured Lending Fund (NYSE:BXSL Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The company reported $0.90 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.88 by $0.02. Blackstone Secured Lending Fund had a return on equity of 11.32% and a net margin of 47.55%. The business had revenue of $251.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $251.75 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.67 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Blackstone Secured Lending Fund will post 3.72 earnings per share for the current year. Blackstone Secured Lending Fund Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 31st will be issued a $0.70 dividend. This is a positive change from Blackstone Secured Lending Funds previous quarterly dividend of $0.60. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 10.98%. Blackstone Secured Lending Funds dividend payout ratio is 114.75%. Blackstone Secured Lending Fund Company Profile (Get Rating) Blackstone Secured Lending Fund is business development company and a Delaware statutory trust formed on March 26, 2018, and structured as an externally managed, non-diversified closed-end investment Fund. On October 26, 2018, the fund elected to be regulated as a business development company (BDC) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). Read More Receive News & Ratings for Blackstone Secured Lending Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Blackstone Secured Lending Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cousins Properties (NYSE:CUZ Get Rating) is scheduled to post its quarterly earnings results after the market closes on Thursday, April 27th. Analysts expect Cousins Properties to post earnings of $0.63 per share for the quarter. Individual that wish to register for the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link. Cousins Properties Trading Down 1.3 % Shares of CUZ stock opened at $20.82 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $22.22 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $24.04. Cousins Properties has a 12-month low of $18.06 and a 12-month high of $39.17. The firm has a market cap of $3.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.12. Get Cousins Properties alerts: Cousins Properties Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 5th were paid a dividend of $0.32 per share. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, April 4th. Cousins Propertiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 115.32%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Insider Buying and Selling at Cousins Properties Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com lowered Cousins Properties from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Cousins Properties in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. They set a hold rating and a $21.00 price target for the company. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on Cousins Properties from $27.00 to $25.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Barclays lowered their target price on Cousins Properties from $36.00 to $28.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on Cousins Properties from $28.00 to $24.00 in a research note on Monday, March 20th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $26.00. In other Cousins Properties news, EVP John S. Mccoll sold 36,975 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.93, for a total transaction of $921,786.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 30,814 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $768,193.02. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Cousins Properties during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $287,000. XTX Topco Ltd bought a new position in Cousins Properties during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $237,000. Pathstone Family Office LLC bought a new position in Cousins Properties during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $234,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new position in Cousins Properties during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $234,000. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC bought a new position in Cousins Properties during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $230,000. Institutional investors own 97.15% of the companys stock. Cousins Properties Company Profile (Get Rating) Cousins Properties, Inc engages in the development, acquisition, leasing and management of real estate assets. It invests in urban office towers located in Sunbelt markets. The company was founded by Thomas G. Cousins in 1958 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Cousins Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cousins Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hartline Investment Corp purchased a new stake in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 9,073 shares of the healthcare product makers stock, valued at approximately $996,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its position in Abbott Laboratories by 339.1% in the 3rd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 4,581,157 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $443,273,000 after acquiring an additional 3,537,778 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its position 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 acquiring an additional 2,235,314 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Abbott Laboratories by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 154,563,421 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $14,955,557,000 after acquiring an additional 2,011,683 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in Abbott Laboratories by 99.8% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 3,140,866 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $371,753,000 after acquiring an additional 1,568,700 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can bought a new stake in Abbott Laboratories in the 3rd quarter valued at $131,945,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.93% of the companys stock. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. SVB Leerink boosted their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $90.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, March 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $118.00 to $122.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. BTIG Research boosted their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $140.00 to $136.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Bank of America cut their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $115.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Abbott Laboratories currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $122.37. Insider Buying and Selling Abbott Laboratories Stock Performance In related news, SVP Randel William Woodgrift sold 1,032 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total transaction of $103,922.40. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 52,203 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,256,842.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink . In related news, SVP Randel William Woodgrift sold 1,032 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total value of $103,922.40. Following the completion of 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 legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total transaction of $68,375.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 70,427 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,091,998.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 1,971 shares of company stock worth $199,140. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Shares of NYSE:ABT traded down $0.97 on Wednesday, reaching $109.00. 1,150,181 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,315,238. The company has a fifty day moving average of $102.29 and a 200-day moving average of $104.95. Abbott Laboratories has a twelve month low of $93.25 and a twelve month high of $118.74. The company has a market capitalization of $189.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.43, a PEG ratio of 4.95 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $9.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.64 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 13.98% and a return on equity of 22.48%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 18.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.73 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.38 EPS for the current fiscal year. Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be given a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.87%. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is 62.01%. Abbott Laboratories Profile (Get Rating) Abbott Laboratories engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of a broad and diversified line of health care products. It operates through the following business segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment refers to the international sales of a line of branded generic pharmaceutical products. Featured Articles 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. Heritage Investors Management Corp lowered its stake in SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:MDY Get Rating) by 0.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 57,478 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 136 shares during the period. SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust makes up approximately 1.2% of Heritage Investors Management Corps holdings, making the stock its 27th largest holding. Heritage Investors Management Corp owned about 0.14% of SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust worth $25,451,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new position in SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust during the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. National Bank of Canada FI grew its holdings in shares of SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust by 102.0% during the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 99 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the period. Colonial Trust Advisors purchased a new position in shares of SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $40,000. Arcus Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust during the 4th quarter worth approximately $49,000. Finally, Marshall & Sullivan Inc. WA purchased a new position in shares of SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust during the 4th quarter worth approximately $50,000. Get SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust alerts: SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust Trading Up 0.1 % Shares of MDY stock traded up $0.37 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $447.79. 260,580 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 765,661. SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust has a 1 year low of $398.11 and a 1 year high of $499.48. The companys 50 day moving average is $458.61 and its two-hundred day moving average is $455.44. The firm has a market cap of $18.46 billion, a PE ratio of 11.00 and a beta of 1.12. About SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF is an exchange traded fund. SPDR MidCap 400 Trust focuses to correspond to the price and yield performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Index. The S&P MidCap 400 covers over 7% of the United States equities market, and is part of a series of S&P the United States indices. The index also includes companies, which should have four consecutive quarters of positive as-reported earnings, excluding discontinued operations and extraordinary items. Read More Receive News & Ratings for SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NIPPON STL & SU/S (OTCMKTS:NSSMY Get Rating)s stock price hit a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $7.35 and last traded at $7.46, with a volume of 15261 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.45. NIPPON STL & SU/S Stock Performance The firms 50-day moving average price is $7.64 and its 200 day moving average price is $10.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 1.22. The company has a market cap of $6.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2.56, a PEG ratio of 3.94 and a beta of 1.35. NIPPON STL & SU/S Company Profile (Get Rating) Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation engages in steelmaking and steel fabrication businesses worldwide. It operates in five segments: Steelmaking and Steel Fabrication, Engineering and Construction, Chemicals, New materials, and System Solutions. The company offers steel plates; hot- and cold-rolled steel sheets and coils, coated steel sheets, color coated steel sheets, electrolytic tin plates, and electrical steel sheets; bar and rod materials; and structural steel products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for NIPPON STL & SU/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NIPPON STL & SU/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC Get Rating) has received a consensus rating of Hold from the seventeen brokerages that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have given a hold recommendation and six have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $504.33. NOC has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Cowen downgraded shares of Northrop Grumman from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $478.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Friday, January 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Northrop Grumman from a neutral rating to a sell rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $440.00 to $375.00 in a research note on Friday, January 13th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $544.00 to $488.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 27th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Susquehanna decreased their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $615.00 to $535.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Get Northrop Grumman alerts: Northrop Grumman Stock Performance NYSE:NOC opened at $465.47 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $465.07 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $491.46. The company has a market cap of $70.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.21 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. Northrop Grumman has a 52 week low of $430.93 and a 52 week high of $556.27. Northrop Grumman Dividend Announcement Northrop Grumman ( NYSE:NOC Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 26th. The aerospace company reported $7.50 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.57 by $0.93. The business had revenue of $10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.64 billion. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 13.38% and a return on equity of 28.29%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 16.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $6.00 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Northrop Grumman will post 22.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 27th were given a dividend of $1.73 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 24th. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.49%. Northrop Grummans payout ratio is currently 21.96%. Insider Activity In other Northrop Grumman news, VP Sheila C. Cheston sold 2,547 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $467.81, for a total transaction of $1,191,512.07. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 24,249 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,343,924.69. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Northrop Grumman news, CAO Michael A. Hardesty sold 1,178 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $467.81, for a total transaction of $551,080.18. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 2,737 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,280,395.97. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP Sheila C. Cheston sold 2,547 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $467.81, for a total transaction of $1,191,512.07. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 24,249 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,343,924.69. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 10,534 shares of company stock worth $4,934,622 over the last ninety days. 0.26% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 14,366,015 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $6,756,624,000 after acquiring an additional 122,593 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,131,490 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $5,705,682,000 after acquiring an additional 100,116 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley increased its stake in Northrop Grumman by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,353,108 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,829,490,000 after buying an additional 114,823 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its stake in Northrop Grumman by 65.9% in the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,142,005 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,007,854,000 after buying an additional 851,071 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake in Northrop Grumman by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,409,862 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $663,087,000 after buying an additional 29,441 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 84.32% of the companys stock. Northrop Grumman Company Profile (Get Rating) Northrop Grumman Corp. engages in the provision of advanced aircraft systems. It operates through the following segments: Aeronautics Systems, Defense Systems, Mission Systems, and Space Systems. The Aeronautics Systems segment is involved in the design, development, production, integration, sustainment, and modernization of advanced aircraft systems for the U.S. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Northrop Grumman Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Northrop Grumman and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Albion, IN (46701) Today Cloudy. Some light rain is likely. Low 36F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy. Some light rain is likely. Low 36F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Higher wind gusts possible. Angola, IN (46703) Today Rain and snow this morning changing to all rain in the afternoon. High 42F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 36F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. The Barbie brand is set to launch its first-ever doll with Down's syndrome. The product will allow even more children to find a doll that represents them and it will also enable kids to tell different stories through play. Ellie Goldstein - the model who has appeared in the campaign for the new doll - said: "I am so happy that there is a Barbie with Down's syndrome. Seeing the doll, I felt so overwhelmed - it meant a lot to me and I'm so honored and proud that Barbie chose me to show the doll to the world. "Diversity is important to me as people need to see more people like me out there in the world and not be hidden away." Barbie worked closely with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) in the US in order to develop the doll, which features a new face and body sculpt that's more illustrative of women with the genetic disorder. The product is geared towards celebrating the Down's syndrome community via the doll's clothing, accessories and packaging. Kandi Pickard, the NDSS president and CEO, said: "It was an honor working with Barbie on the Barbie doll with Down syndrome. "This means so much for our community, who for the first time, can play with a Barbie doll that looks like them. This Barbie serves as a reminder that we should never underestimate the power of representation. It is a huge step forward for inclusion and a moment that we are celebrating." Carol Boys, the chief executive of the UK Down's Syndrome Association, has also welcomed the new doll. She explained: "As the only charity in the UK supporting all aspects of Down's syndrome, we often hear from families who feel their children are not represented enough in the mainstream media. We therefore welcome the fact that children in our community will be able to play with a doll that represents them and their lives." Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Rain and snow showers this morning changing to rain showers for the afternoon. High 42F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 37F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Auburn, IN (46706) Today Rain and snow showers this morning. A shower or two in the afternoon - otherwise, mostly cloudy. High 43F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 36F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. slide 2 of 6 BTS Jimin is spotted leaving for New York, USA via Incheon International Airport on the 25th to attend the opening of the flagship Landmark. The popular vacation gang is coming back with its awaited sequel Vacation Friends 2. The production house has gifted the audience with a premiere date and first look from the second installment of the franchise. The movie features actors Lil Rel Howery, Yvonne Orji, Meredith Hagner and John Cena in lead roles. The 20th Century Studios took to their Twitter handle on Tuesday to share the first look from the movie to mark the return of the cast for an exclusive fun ride. The storyline of the first film watched was about an uptight couple (Howery, Orji) who made friends with a rowdy couple (Cena, Hagner) while on vacation in Mexico, witnessing their friendship take a weird turn when they got back home. Barbie: New Footage Shown at CinemaCon Sees Margot Robbie Go Into the Real World; Features John Cena as a Mermaid. First Look of Vacation Friends 2 The fun continues John Cena, Lil Rel Howery, Yvonne Orji, & Meredith Hagner are back and joined by Carlos Santos, Ronny Chieng, Jamie Hector and Steve Buscemi in #VacationFriends2, streaming exclusively on @Hulu August 25! pic.twitter.com/Vay1XMRzxC 20th Century Studios (@20thcentury) April 25, 2023 According to Deadline, a US-based media house. the sequel will pick up a few months after where it left end of Vacation Friends, the newly married couple Marcus and Emily inviting their uninhibited besties Ron and Kyla who are also newly married and have a baby, to join them for a vacation when Marcus lands an all-expenses-paid trip to a Caribbean resort. The main reason for travelling is to meet with the owners of the resort to bid on a construction contract for a hotel they own in Chicago. But when Kyla's incarcerated father Reese is released from San Quentin and shows up at the resort unannounced at the worst possible moment, things get out of control, upending Marcus' best-laid plans and turning the vacation friends' perfect trip into a total mess. Vacation Friends Trailer: John Cena And Meredith Hagner Are The Worst People To Vacay With In This Hilarious Hulu Original. Clay Tarver directed from his script co-written by Tom Mullen, Tim Mullen, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, with Todd Garner and Timothy M. Bourne producing, and Steve Pink and Sean Robins serving as exec producers. Tarver returned to direct Vacation Friends 2, with Carlos Santos, Ronny Chieng and Jamie Hector rounding out the cast as new co-stars. Garner and Stuart Besser served as producers on the sequel. The film will premiere exclusively on August 25 on different OTT platforms. With a shortage of housing in many European cities, governments from Spain to Germany are cracking down on illegal short-term vacation rentals on platforms like Airbnb. But will it work?In the hunt for illegal vacation rentals, the authorities on the Spanish island of Mallorcaare getting serious. Within the framework of an "action plan" endowed with 700,000 ($767,000), the number of inspectors hunting out illegal flats has increased and they will not avoid resorting to trickery to catch out law-breakers. Also Read | Business News | RBI Governor to Address Global Conference on Financial Resilience Tomorrow. Posing as tourists, inspectors have been given credit cards and can book suspicious properties online to snatch culprits. They're also checking properties on the evenings and weekends. Previously, some landlords were only posting ads for their properties after inspectors' working hours. The island's authorities say they are determined to sweep the island clean of illegal apartment rentals, says a representative of the tourism department, Andreu Serra. Also Read | James Cromwell Recreates 'Babe' Movie Scene With the Rescue Piglet Named after the Film (Watch Video). Vacation rentals are an extremely controversial issue on Mallorca, just as they are in many other sought-after vacation destinations like Barcelonaand Lisbon, Portugal. The effects on the housing market are extreme. While the supply of vacation rentals on internet platforms such as Airbnband Vrbo (formerly HomeAway) is growing steadily, prices for normal rental apartments are skyrocketing, making it difficult for locals to find an affordable place to live. In Mallorca's capital Palma, for example, it's challenging to find a rental for less than 900 per month ($985). Such an amount is nearly unaffordable, considering the average salary on Mallorca is 1600 ($1752) before taxes are taken out. Tourists are part of everyday life In view of theworsening housing situation, the administration of the city of Palma declared vacation rentals in apartment buildings illegal in 2018. As a result, there should be very few offers listed online at the moment, since only detached apartment buildings may be rented out. The reality, however, is the opposite. Tourists wheeling suitcases around the city is part of everyday life, even in fully residential areas. When the Balearic government imposed a hefty fine on Airbnb in 2018, the company appealed, and a court declared the fine unlawful. The judge ruled that the platform was merely acting as an intermediary. Naturally, the island's authorities hope the stricter controls will help resolve the issue. In Portugal, too, the government is trying to address the issue after repeated protests by citizens fed up with the high prices on the housing market. New measures have been introduced that concern the short-term vacation rental sector. No more new rental licenses are to be issued, at least in major cities. The issue is also on the agenda in Italy. Tourism Minister Daniela Santanche recently criticized the "Wild West methods" on the vacation rental market in an interview with local media. "We need real regulation," he demanded. More transparency through new EU regulations In the meantime, the need for more regulation has also been recognized at the EU level. Last November, the European Commission adopted a proposal on regulations to enhance transparency in the short-term accommodation rentals market. Then, on March 2, the EU Competitiveness Ministers agreed on a plan to regulate how data is collected and shared for short-term vacation rentals. The new plan, which will likely be put into place next year, will require all hosts in the 27-country block to file for a registration number which they will have to display. Platforms like booking.com and Airbnb will be required to check the numbers and de-list hosts who don't comply. The EU Commission expects this to result in a lower number of illegal short-term holiday rentals and make it easier to for authorities to assess and mitigate the negative impact of such accommodations. Applause in Barcelona Gerry Woop, who serves as state secretary for Europe in the state of Berlin and as a member on the EU's Committee of the Regions in Brussels, largely agrees with plans. The proposal seems "workable," he says. "We are confident it will allow us to control and sanction rentals more effectively." A 2019 survey showed that 26,500 residential units were offered via Airbnb alone in Berlin, he said. "The number has certainly increased since then," Woop said, adding that this further exacerbates the situation on the housing market. Strict rules have applied to vacation rentals in Berlin for some time. However, monitoring whether the rules are being followed is difficult. "We have no sanctioning options so far," says Woop. The city of Barcelona is also setting its hopes on the new regulations. Barcelona's administration has been trying in vain for years to get illegal vacation rentals under control. The regulation is a first step in the right direction, says Janet Sanz, the responsible department head in the Catalan capital's city hall. However, the city hopes improvements will be made so that in the future platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com can be held more accountable so they can take action against illegal offers themselves. The same wish is held by the Balearic Tourism Minister Iago Negueruela, who recently made a special appearance in Brussels for this purpose. "I can't understand how platforms such as Airbnb still publish apartment ads that are illegal," he says. At least the tighter controls on Mallorca have now brought initial success. Over 300 vacation properties were inspected in the first three months of the year, according to the island's council and in 45 cases, a process to initiate fines was initiated. And the fines threatened are steep, ranging from 40,000 ($43,848) to 400,000 ($438,480). This article was translated from German. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 26, 2023 02:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) Nearly two months after an Air India pilot allowed a female friend into the cockpit during a Dubai-Delhi flight, aviation watchdog DGCA has directed the airline to deroster the entire crew till investigations are complete, according to a senior official. A cabin crew member of the flight had filed a complaint with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) about the pilot allowing a female friend into the cockpit. The incident had happened on February 27. Also Read | Delhi Weather Forecast and Update: Light Rain, Cloudy Weather to Give Relief from Heat in National Capital for Next 6-7 Days, Says IMD. On the condition of anonymity, the official at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said though prima-facie, the cabin crew seems to have no role in the incident, the entire crew of the flight has been derostered pending investigations. There is an allegation, which is being investigated and the principle of natural justice will apply, and the pilot concerned will also be given an opportunity to present his case, the official said on Wednesday. Also Read | VITEEE Result 2023 Declared: VIT Engineering Entrance Examination Results Out on viteee.vit.ac.in, Know How To Check Scorecards. The official also said the pilot will remain grounded till a final decision in the matter is taken by the regulator. While there was no immediate comment from Air India on the latest development, the airline, on April 21, said it had taken a serious note of the reported incident and that investigations were underway. Unauthorised people are not allowed to enter the cockpit and any such entry could be in violation of norms. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dhar, April 26: In a shocking incident, the bodies of three sisters, aged between 6 and 2 years, were found floating in a well in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district, the police said on Wednesday. The incident took place in Shyampura Thakur village under Sardarpur police station limits in the district on Tuesday evening. Local villagers spotted the bodies and fished them out of the well and later informed the police. Authorities Find 8 Bodies in Mexican Resort of Cancun. The villagers also claimed that their mother was also in the well but her body was not found yet. Sardarpur police station in-charge Pradeep Khanna said, "We received a call from the Sarpanch of the village on Tuesday evening that the girls along with their mother drowned in a well in Shyampura village of the district. Acting on the information, we rushed to the spot." The villagers already recovered the bodies of the three sisters from the well. "The woman is still missing. A team of divers were pressed into the search, but there is no clue of the woman yet," he added. According to reports, the father of these children Jeevan Bamniya (32), a resident of Khiledi village went out of the village to meet one of his relatives on Tuesday around 12 noon. He returned home around 3 pm and found his wife and three daughters missing. He waited for some time, and when he did not receive any information about them, he along with other family members started searching for them in and around the village. Greater Noida Shocker: Missing Toddler Found Dead, Body Recovered From Suitcase in Neighbour's House; Accused Absconding. After some time, the villagers told him that the woman was seen plucking mangoes outside the village. The family members reached there, and one of them noticed the bodies of three sisters floating in the well. The bodies were fished out. The deceased sisters were identified as Amrita (6), Jyoti (4) and Preeti (2). While their mother, Ranjana, is still missing, the police 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, April 26: In an incident bearing a chilling reminder of the Khanjawala hit-and-drag case, a car on Tuesday allegedly rammed into a rickshaw in the national capital's Lutyens' zone, dragged the rickshaw-puller a considerable distance, police said. The person behind the wheel of the vehicle, identified as 25-year-old Farman, was chased by some commuters over 300 meters before he was nabbed, police informed further. The incident took place on Ferozeshah Road. Delhi Man Injured in Hit-and-drag Case. The rickshaw puller was rushed to a nearby hospital and is currently undergoing treatment. According to eyewitnesses, the vehicle, which they claimed was going at high speed and was being driven rashly, rammed the rickshaw from the rear. Vinod, an eyewitness, said, "I was riding my scooter when a car drove past me at high speed and before I could process what happened, it rammed into a rickshaw." "The rickshaw-puller flew off his seat and held on to the car, which dragged him along over 300 metres," he said. Taking note of the incident, Delhi police said in a statement, "On Tuesday evening, a car rammed into a rickshaw, dragging the rickshaw-puller over a considerable distance. The accused driver, Farman, was caught by some commuters and handed over to the police. He is a resident of Ghaziabad." Kanjhawala Hit and Drag Case Posted for Hearing Arguments on Charge on May 25. Earlier, on New Year's night, 20-year-old Anjali Singh, who was riding a scooter in Outer Delhi's Kanjhawala, was hit by a vehicle and dragged for several kilometres. She was later found dead on the street, with her clothes tattered and torn. Five youths, who were allegedly in the car at the time of the incident, were later arrested. (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 26 (ANI): A 30-year-old cab driver was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl while ferrying her to school, said Deputy Commissioner of Police South East Rajesh Deo. The police informed that the accused had been identified as Mohd Azhar. Also Read | Manabadi AP Inter Results 2023 Declared: Andhra Pradesh Board Releases Inter 1st and 2nd Year Exam Result at examresults.ap.nic.in; Know Steps To Check Scorecards. According to the police, the accused has been arrested on the basis of a complaint registered by the victim's mother. Giving details, DCP Deo said, "The complainant reported that the accused driver engaged a cab for ferrying her six-year-old daughter to school." Also Read | West Bengal: Police Avert Hostage Crisis in School in Malda, Disarm Gun-Wielding Man. "On Wednesday, the victim informed her mother that the driver of the cab has been touching her private parts inappropriately while ferrying her from school for about last one year," added DCP. The police stated that on the basis of the complaint of the victim's mother, an FIR has been registered under section 376 Indian Penal Code and 6 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act in Shaheen Bagh police station. "On the basis of the complaint of the victim's mother, an FIR u/s 376 IPC and 6 POSCO Act has been registered in Shaheen Bagh police station," said DCP Deo. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday arrested TMC leader Anubrata Mondal's daughter Sukanya Mondal on money laundering charges linked to an alleged cattle smuggling case, officials said. Anubrata Mondal was earlier arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as well as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the alleged cattle smuggling case. Also Read | Chhattisgarh Naxal Attack: Union Cabinet Pays Tribute to Police Personnel Killed in IED Blast in Dantewada. A primary school teacher in West Bengal's Birbhum district, Sukanya Mondal has been interrogated by the ED a few times in the past as well. Anubrata Mondal, the Birbhum district president of the TMC, was arrested by the CBI last August for his alleged involvement in cattle smuggling and was also named in the charge sheet filed by the agency in the case. Also Read | Karnataka Assembly Election 2023: From V Somanna and Jagdish Shettar to Ramesh Jarkiholi, List of Key Candidates of BJP, Congress, JDS and Their Constituencies. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, April 26: Indian Air Force's first female pilot to fly the Rafale combat aircraft is part of the Indian Air Force contingent taking part in multinational Exercise Orion in France. The officer is in France to participate in the multinational exercise where India has sent its Rafale aircraft for the first time outside the country, IAF officers said. Flt Lt Shivangi Singh is IAF Rafale Squadron's First Woman Pilot, Know About Her Journey. The IAF had sent a woman fighter pilot for the first time to an international exercise in January this year when Squadron Leader Avni Chaturvedi went to Japan for the exercise Dharma Guardian. Selfies on Rafale: French And IAF Pilots Take Pictures While Flying Rafale Jet, Sukhoi 30 MKI During Exercise Garuda 2019. Shivangi Singh joined the Indian Air Force in 2017 and was commissioned in the IAF's second batch of women fighter pilots. Before flying Rafale, Shivangi also flew MiG-21 Bison aircraft. Shivangi hails from Varanasi and is part of the IAF's Golden Arrows squadron based out of Ambala in Punjab. In 2020, Shivangi Singh became the first woman fighter pilot to fly Rafale after she was selected as a Rafale pilot following a stringent selection process. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, April 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the closing ceremony of Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam today via video conferencing. According to Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the genesis of the programme lies in the vision of PM Modi of promoting the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat through initiatives which bring out and help rediscover the age-old links between people in different parts of the country. With this in mind, the Kashi Tamil Sangamam was organised earlier. Sudan Unrest: PM Narendra Modi Instructs Officials To Continuously Evaluate Safety of Indians in Violence-Hit Country. The Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam takes forward this vision by celebrating the shared culture and heritage between Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Centuries ago, many people migrated to Tamil Nadu from the Saurashtra region. The Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam provided an opportunity for Saurashtrian Tamils to reconnect with their roots, said the PMO statement. Death Threat to PM Narendra Modi: Kochi Man Issued Threat To Get Even With Neighbour, Arrested. The 10-day confluence saw more than 3000 Saurashtrian Tamils come to Somnath on a special train. The programme began on April 17, with its closing ceremony now being held on April 26 at Somnath. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Apr 26 (PTI) Poonawalla Fincorp on Wednesday said its net income more than doubled to Rs 181 crore (up 103 per cent) in the March quarter, driven by higher loan sales and better asset quality. For the full year (FY23), the Pune-based company doubled its net income to Rs 585 crore, making it the highest-ever net income reported by the firm. Also Read | Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: Full List of Janata Dal (Secular) Candidates and Their Constituencies. The company's on record loan disbursals also grew 37 per cent to Rs 16,143 crore in the financial year 2022-23 and the disbursal for the quarter were highest-ever as it jumped 151 per cent to Rs 6,371 crore. The non-deposit taking NBFC, focused on consumer and MSME finance, said its overall asset quality improved massively with gross Non Performing Assets (NPAs) coming down by 185 basis points (bps) to 1.44 per cent and the net NPAs falling 52 bps to 0.78 per cent, thus boosting its bottom line. Also Read | Air India Salary Revision Row: Protesting Pilots Seek Ratan Tata's Intervention in Revamped Pay Structure Issue. Its digital disbursements increased to 81 per cent in the quarter from 24 per cent in Q4FY22. Net interest margin climbed 87 bps to 11.3 per cent for the quarter under review and for the full year, it stood at 10.7 per cent, an improvement of 89 bps. The bottom line was also boosted by lower operating expenses, which slipped 4 per cent to Rs 196 crore. The company recommended a dividend of Rs 2 per share (100 per cent of the face value) for FY23. Capital adequacy ratio stood at 39 and its liquidity buffer at Rs 3,001 crore. (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 26 (PTI) Reliance General Insurance on Wednesday said it has become a forerunner general insurance company in the country to accept the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Central Bank Digital Currency e-Rupee for premium payments. The company has tied up with Yes Bank to facilitate the collection of premiums in the digital mode using the bank's eRupee platform, a statement said. Also Read | Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: Full List of Janata Dal (Secular) Candidates and Their Constituencies. Customers who have an active e-wallet with any bank can scan Reliance General Insurance's eRupee QR code to make immediate payment, it said. With this pioneering launch, the company is presenting its customers with an easy, safe, instant and green payment solution, and taking its promise of providing excellent customer experience to the next level. Also Read | Air India Salary Revision Row: Protesting Pilots Seek Ratan Tata's Intervention in Revamped Pay Structure Issue. eRupee is a digital token that is equivalent to a banknote i.e. legal tender, and is a sovereign currency backed by the RBI, it noted. Being digital, eRupee removes all the issues of handling physical cash and offers the same anonymity as a banknote, it said. Moreover, it said, since all eRupee transactions are done through an RBI-regulated entity, it reduces banknote-related risks like anti-money laundering, the counterfeit of currency etc. Reliance General Insurance is enabling its customers to hedge such risks by providing eRupee as a form of digital currency transaction option thereby promoting safe financial transactions, it said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Colombo, Apr 26 (PTI) As many as 13 Sri Lankan nationals were safely evacuated from strife-torn Sudan with Saudi Arabia's assistance, the foreign ministry here announced on Wednesday. The evacuation was aided by Saudi Arabia's government and the Sri Lankan consulate in Jeddah received the evacuees, the ministry said in a release. Also Read | UK Man, Who Was Caught on Camera Performing Sex Act on Seagull While Watching Porn, Pleads Guilty: Report. The ministry said that it is collaborating closely with the Indian government to aid its citizen's evacuation. Sri Lanka continues to monitor the evolving security situation in Sudan and is closely working with its international partners, including the Government of India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to evacuate the stranded Sri Lankans, the release said. Also Read | UAE: Boat Operator Charged With Negligence After Indian Expat Dies Due to Vessel Capsize in Sharjah. The island nation's government is making efforts to evacuate the remaining 12 Sri Lankan nationals in Khartoum, taking into account the need for safe passage in a volatile security situation. Foreign Minister Ali Sabry announced on Tuesday that Sri Lanka was anticipating Indian assistance for evacuating its citizens stuck in Saudan. He thanked India for offering its support and hoped to move them from the strife-torn African nation in the next few days. Sabry took to Twitter to appreciate the offer of support by India for the evacuation of Sri Lankan citizens. "We appreciate the offer of support by India in this regard. We are confident we can achieve this within the next few days, the minister said. He added that Sri Lanka is concerned about the ongoing violence in Sudan and called on all parties to end hostilities. "The only viable and lasting solution is to prioritise peaceful dialogue," the minister said, adding that the Sudanese people deserve peace, stability and progress. According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, about 30 Sri Lankans are stranded in Sudan. Sudan is witnessing fierce fighting following a power struggle between the regular army and a paramilitary force. The deadly fighting has been going on for the past 10 days and reportedly left around 400 people dead. India on Tuesday evacuated the first batch of 278 Indians from Sudan on board a naval ship and rushed in essential relief supplies for its remaining stranded citizens as a ceasefire appeared to be holding in Sudan. PTI CORR GRS (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Abu Dhabi [USE], April 26 (ANI/WAM): Borouge, a petrochemical company that provides innovative and differentiated polyolefin solutions, has completed a turnaround project at its "Borouge 2" plant in Al Ruways Industrial City to ensure safe and reliable operations of the facility for the next operation cycle. Production started at Borouge's first plant (Borouge 1) in 2001 with an annual capacity of 450,000 tonnes of polyethylene, which was increased in 2005 to 600,000 tonnes. In 2010, Borouge increased its total annual production capacity to 2 million tonnes of Borstar polyolefins (polyethylene and polypropylene) upon starting-up its second plant (Borouge 2). Also Read | US: Tibetans in New York Protest Against China, Demand To Release 11th Panchen Lama. Planning to enhance its growth and increase its capacity to meet the rising demand for differentiated polyolefin solutions, in 2015, Borouge started-up its third plant (Borouge 3) which raised its total annual capacity to 4.5 million tonnes followed by the starting up of Borouge's fifth polypropylene unit (PP5) in early 2022, bringing the company's total production capacity to 5 million tonnes of polyolefins per year. Dr Saif Al Hajri, Vice President of Maintenance at Borouge, confirmed that the production capacity of Borouge's petrochemical complex in Al Ruways Industrial City has increased by more than 10-fold in 20 years to meet the growing demand for the company's solutions and products locally, regionally and globally. Also Read | Iran to Launch Six Satellites by March 2024, Announces Iranian Deputy Defence Minister Amir Rastegari. Al Hajri pointed out that more than 6,000 employees and contractors, including a large number of Emirati engineers and managers, participated in the Borouge 2 turnaround project, where they spent more than 1.84 million safe man-hours in full compliance with health, safety and environmental rules to enhance the continuity of the company's business. He explained that the turnaround operations were carried out by employees from many departments across Borouge, including Operations, Maintenance, HSE and Operational Excellence, and planners and contractors. Al Hajri said, "We carry out turnarounds at the Borouge's petrochemical plants periodically to ensure safe and reliable operations for the next five years. The turnaround work at Borouge 2 plant began in February and was successfully and safely completed by mid-March 2023, where the plant's operational units were well maintained and are all operating smoothly." "The Borouge 2 Turnaround has helped us enhance our operational performance improvements and ensure safe operation during the next cycle, where a total of more than 31,000 activities were implemented based on more than 6,000 work orders. We also serviced 196 pieces of rotating equipment and 486 pieces of static equipment and overhauled 1,316 valves," he added. Salem Al Busaeedi, Vice President, Plant Operations (Polyolefins) at Borouge, said, "At Borouge, we emphasise the performance, profitability and efficiency of our operations and enhance the contribution and development of our people, while actively contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)." He added that Borouge is committed to operational and commercial excellence, with a detailed efficiency enhancement strategy focused on safety, plant reliability and integrity and cash flow optimisation. Al Busaeedi pointed out the importance of the 'Borouge Operational Excellence Programme', which aims to enhance efficiency and productivity and achieve higher utilisation rates, reduce energy consumption and in turn reduce GHG emissions over the medium term. It also aims to optimise outside resourcing and maintenance costs by challenging capital expenditure plans, including turnarounds to improve efficiencies and to keep low maintenance capital expenditure levels. "Our operational excellence programme leverages existing expertise across our platforms to share best practices, provide in-house technical support and cooperate with committees to implement preventative and predictive programmes, including assessment of end-of-life for equipment and associated systems," he noted. Al Busaeedi reaffirmed that commitment to 100% HSE is a key priority for Borouge as the company regularly trains its employees to implement the safest practices in the industry. Borouge has one of the lowest total recordable incident rates in the industry. Borouge has also developed a comprehensive health and safety management system by adopting international best practice frameworks and continuous learning. He explained that before launching the Borouge 2 turnaround project, over 1,800 HSE group engagement sessions were implemented and 600 HSE recognitions were received. He noted that a great example of the successful contribution of Borouge's UAE National employees in the turnaround projects is Amina Hassan AlHosani, Engineer, Mechanical Maintenance, who is the first UAE National female employee assigned as Project Lead for the Borouge 2 turnaround project. Amina, who holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, joined Borouge in 2019. Amina accepted to join the accelerated learning path opportunity, as part of the Maintenance function's contribution to the 'Value Enhancement Programme. She played a significant role in completing some major turnaround milestones and demonstrated great leadership skills while collaborating with her colleagues. She said, "I am very proud to have contributed to leading the Borouge 2 turnaround project through which my colleagues and I maintained the most important operational units in the plant so that it can continue working and producing during the next production cycle. I highly appreciate Borouge's management and my superiors for giving me this valuable opportunity to lead the Borouge 2 turnaround project as the first Emirati female employee to perform this type of task in the company, and I strongly value their confidence in my ability to manage the project successfully as one of the Emirati manpower contributing to building this country." Borouge's petrochemical complex is located in Al Ruways Industrial City, about 250 kilometres west of Abu Dhabi City. The complex is also the largest Borstar process technology-based plant in the world, providing enhanced innovative bimodal polymers for a broad range of polyolefin applications. (ANI/WAM) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Sao Paulo, Apr 26 (AP) Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro arrived at the Federal Police headquarters on Wednesday to give testimony about his actions before the Jan. 8 attacks on government buildings in capital Brasilia. One week after his leftist successor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office, Bolsonaro's supporters raided and trashed the buildings of the Supreme Court, Congress and the presidential palace. Hundreds of them are expected to stand trial. Also Read | Israel Independence Day 2023 Wishes: PM Narendra Modi Extends Greetings To Israelis on Countrys 75th Independence Day. Brazil's prosecutor-general Augusto Aras said April 14 that Bolsonaro allegedly encouraged the perpetration of crimes against the rule of law. The former president left the country after his defeat and was staying in Orlando, Florida during the attacks. He had never openly conceded defeat in the closest presidential race since Brazil's return to democracy over three decades ago. He also repeatedly made unfounded claims that sowed doubt about the reliability of Brazil's electronic voting system. Many of his die-hard supporters still believe the election was fraudulent, though there is no evidence. His sworn deposition is a step forward in just one of the investigations targeting the far-right leader that could render him ineligible for upcoming races or result in jailtime. Bolsonaro admitted March 15 that his ineligibility is possible, but said prison could only result from an arbitrary ruling. The former president has denied any wrongdoing in the cases or involvement in the Jan. 8 uprising. Also Read | Shivangi Singh, First Female Rafale Pilot, Part of IAF Team in Exercise Orion in France. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes granted a request from the prosecutor-general's office to investigate Bolsonaro's role, citing a video the former president posted on Facebook two days after the riot. It claimed Lula wasn't voted into office, but rather was chosen by the Supreme Court and the electoral body, which Justice de Moraes also oversees. Although Bolsonaro posted the video after the riot and deleted it the following morning, prosecutors argued its content was sufficient to justify investigating his conduct beforehand. Earlier this month, Bolsonaro testified to the federal police about three sets of diamond jewlery he received from Saudi Arabia during his time as president. He denies any wrongdoing in that case too. The former president is expected to testify in several other cases about his actions during his presidency. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Indians stranded in Sudan being rescued by the Indian Air Force on Wednesday. (Photo: Twitter/@IAF_MCC) Khartoum [Sudan], April 26 (ANI): Another batch of over 250 stranded Indians was evacuated from conflict-ridden Sudan by Indian Air Force under 'Operation Kaveri' as the 72-hour ceasefire has been agreed by the two warring factions on Tuesday. Operation Kaveri is a rescue operation launched by the central government to evacuate stranded Indian citizens from Sudan. Also Read | Layoffs Continue! Apparel Retailer Gap to Sack Hundreds of Employees, Manufacturing Giant 3M Cuts 6,000 Jobs Globally. Two IAF C-130 J aircraft rescued more than 250 personnel from Port Sudan. In a tweet, Indian Air Force said, "#OperationKaveri takes to the Skies! Two #IAF C-130 J aircraft have evacuated more than 250 personnel from Port Sudan. #HarKaamDeshKeNaam." Also Read | Monkeypox in Pakistan: Country Reports First Case of Mpox. To ensure no Indian national is left behind in Sudan, the Indian Air Force has deployed its IAF Garud Special Forces in Port Sudan. An IAF Garud Special Forces officer was seen carrying a child on board the C-130J Special Ops aircraft while evacuating Indian nationals from Port Sudan to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. India has deployed its military planes and warships to rescue Indians from there as well. Prior to this, a batch of another 135 stranded Indians were rescued from Sudan on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, received the second batch of the 148 evacuated Indians as the first IAF C-130J reached Jeddah airport on Wednesday. Naval vessel INS Sumedha also reached Jeddah port with 278 evacuated passengers. "#OperationKaveri in full swing. The second IAF C-130J flight departs Port Sudan for Jeddah, carrying another 135 passengers. This is the third batch of evacuees under #OperationKaveri," MEA tweeted. Earlier, on Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted that 121 passengers left by the IAF C-130J aircraft. However, the MoS MEA later tweeted saying 148 Indians were evacuated in the second batch. "First IAF C-130J aircraft under #OperationKaveri from Port Sudan carrying 148 Indians landed in Jeddah," tweeted MoS MEA V Muraleedharan. On Tuesday, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs inspected the transit facility at the International Indian School, Jeddah where Indians evacuated from Sudan will be received and put up briefly before arriving in India. "Inspected transit facility @IndianPage, Jeddah, where Indians evacuated from Sudan, will be received & put up briefly before travelling to India. It is fully equipped incl with mattresses, provisions, fresh meals, toilets, medical facilities, Wifi. Has a 24X7 control room. #OperationKaveri," the MoS wrote on Twitter. As the fighting between the Sudanese Army and paramilitary groups intensified in the capital Khartoum, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed on Monday that its 'Operation Kaveri' to evacuate its citizens from battle-torn Sudan is underway and about 500 Indians had reached Port Sudan. Indian Navy's INS Teg on Tuesday joined 'Operation Kaveri' to further facilitate the ongoing evacuation of Indians stranded in Sudan. The frigate on Tuesday arrived at Port Sudan with additional officials and essential relief supplies for stranded Indians, a senior MEA official said. "INS Teg joins #OperationKaveri. Arrives at Port Sudan with additional officials and essential relief supplies for stranded Indians," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted on Tuesday. "Will boost ongoing evacuation efforts by Embassy Camp Office at Port Sudan," Bagchi added. INS Teg is the fourth Talwar-class frigate constructed for the Indian Navy. In a recent development, warring factions in Sudan have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire on Monday after the US and Saudi Arabia mediated the truce while countries are engaged in evacuating their citizens from the country. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, April 26: The Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate Education (BIEAP) announced the exam results for inter 1st-year and 2nd-year examinations today, April 26. The Andhra Pradesh Board declared the BIEAP 1st-year and 2nd-year exam results 2023 at around 6 pm. Candidates who appeared for the BIEAP 1st-year and 2nd-year exams can visit the official website of the Andhra Pradesh board at examresults.ap.nic.in and bie.ap.gov.in to check their results. Alternatively, students can also check and download their AP Inter Results 2023 at bieap.apcfss.in. Botcha Satyanarayana, Education Minister announced the result at Lemon Tree Premier in Andhra Pradesh. Candidates are advised to keep login details handy including hall ticket number and other details in hand in order to check their exam results. VITEEE Result 2023 Declared: VIT Engineering Entrance Examination Results Out on viteee.vit.ac.in, Know How To Check Scorecards. AP Inter Results 2023 Announcement: Know Steps To Check AP Inter Result 2023: Visit the official website of BIEAP at examresults.ap.nic.in Click on the "AP Inter Results 2023 for 1st Year/2nd Year" link Enter using your Hall Ticket Number and other login details Your "AP Inter Result 2023" for 1st year and 2nd year will be displayed on the screen. Check your results for the respective year Take a printout for future reference According to reports, a total of 10,03,990 students appeared for the Andhra Pradesh Inter exams 2023, Of these, 4.84 lakh students undertook the AP Inter 1st Year exam while 5.19 lakh appeared for the AP Inter 2nd Year exam. JEE Main Session 2 Result 2023 Date: NTA Unlikely To Release JEE Main Result Today, Scorecards Expected at jeemain.nta.nic.in Tomorrow. Once the AP Intermediate Result 2023 are out, students can start applying to secure college admissions for various undergraduate courses in colleges and universities across the state. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 26, 2023 06:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). German ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann on Wednesday condemned the attack on security personnel in Chattisgarh's Dantewada district which killed 11 people, including 10 District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel. In a shocking incident that took place in Chhattisgarh, an IED attack was carried out on a vehicle carrying DRG (District Reserve Guard) personnel near Aranpur. As per reports, the IED attack took place in Dantewada district. Reportedly, the IED was planted by Naxals. As per reports, ten policemen and one civilian were killed in the blast carried out by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada. Naxal Camp Busted by STF in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur. IED Attack in Chhattisgarh Chhattisgarh | IED attack on a vehicle carrying DRG (District Reserve Guard) personnel near Aranpur in Dantewada district. The IED was planted by naxals. pic.twitter.com/3q2I8aSuKw ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 Ten Policemen, One Civilian Killed Ten policemen, one civilian killed in blast carried out by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada: officials Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 26, 2023 Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel Reacts on IED Attack #WATCH | On reports of an IED attack by naxals on security personnel in Dantewada, claiming the lives of 11 personnel, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel says, "There is such information with us. It is very saddening. My condolences to the bereaved families. This fight is in its last https://t.co/n1YV67sIoi pic.twitter.com/CC8Dj0uAca ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condoled the death of DRG jawans who were killed in an IED blast in Chhattisgarh. Taking to social media, PM Modi said, "Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada." He also paid tributes to the brave personnel who lost their lives in the attack. "Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families," PM Modi added. A total of 11 people including ten policemen and one civilian were killed in the IED blast carried out by Maoists in Dantewada. Chhattisgarh Naxal Attack: Full List of Names of DRG Personnel Who Lost Their Lives in IED Blast in Dantewada. Their Sacrifice Will Always Be Remembered Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2023 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday issued a medical product alert over contaminated syrup by an Indian manufacturer. The alert was raised after substandard Guaifenesin Syrup TG Syrup was found in the Marshall Islands and Micronesia, ANI reported. "The manufacturer of the affected product is QP Pharma Chem Limited in Punjab, India. The marketer of the product is Trillium Pharma in Haryana," WHO said. Cough Syrup-Linked Children Deaths: WHO Asks Countries to Crack Down on Substandard Medical Products After Over 300 Casualties. WHO Issues Medical Product Alert Over Contaminated Syrup: World Health Organisation has issued 'WHO Medical Product Alert' after "Substandard (contaminated)" Guaifenesin Syrup TG Syrup was found in the Marshall Islands and Micronesia. The manufacturer of the affected product is QP Pharma Chem Limited in Punjab, India. The marketer of pic.twitter.com/7IdSpmSo9J ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 QP Pharma Denies Contamination: Dera Bassi, Punjab | Food And Drug Administration of Punjab doubts that someone has duplicated the product (cough syrup) sent to Cambodia and then sold it in the Marshall Islands and Micronesia to defame the Government of India. The FDA department has taken samples of cough syrup pic.twitter.com/t5H483Hc1Z ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Mumbai, April 26: Two Russian officials, who were serving as State Duma deputies and are said to be close allies of President Vladimir Putin were reportedly found dead on Sunday. Both the Russian officials were serving as State Duma deputies with the ruling United Russia party. The two Russian officials have been identified as Nikolay Bortsov (77) and Dzhasharbek Uzdenov (57). According to a report in Newsweek, both Bortsov and Uzdenov were found dead on the same day. The news of Nikolay Bortsov's death, who served as a State Duma deputy since 2003 was confirmed by Igor Artamanov, Lipetsk region governor who said that the 77-year-old died at his home in Lebedyan. Vladimir Putin Health Update: Russian President Receiving Chemotherapy for Cancer, Confirm Leaked US Documents. Reportedly, the day Bortsov died, Dzhasharbek Uzdenov, another State Duma Deputy also passed away after a "serious and prolonged illness". As per reports, the death of two Russian officials comes as a number of Russians have passed away under "mysterious" and "unexplained" circumstances. Reports also suggest that at least 20 Russians who were connected to President Vladimir Putin have died due to various reasons since Russia began Ukraine's invasion. While Uzdenov is said to have died due to prolonged illness, no cause of death has been revealed for Bortsov's death, who was previously hit by sanctions from the United States and other Western countries. If reports are to be believed, Bortsov was one of Russia's wealthiest government employees. His net worth was estimated to be $550 million. Ironically, Bortsov was also featured in the Forbes 2021 list of the country's 100 richest federal workers. Russia Sanctioned: Moscow Reveals Food Item Most Hit by Sanctions. Meanwhile, Uzdenov was said to be a member of Russia's House Committee on Ecology, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. In September 2021, he was elected to the State Duma, however, he came under U.S. and New Zealand sanctions after the Russia-Ukraine war began. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 26, 2023 06:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). On 25 April, delegates from 20 countries and international organisations gathered in the Colombian capital Bogota for a conference aimed at reviving dialogue between the Venezuelan government and opposition. End of preview - This article contains approximately 566 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 25 April, Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva concluded his state visit to Portugal and arrived in Spains capital, Madrid, to meet Spains prime minister, Pedro Sanchez. Analysis: Before his departure from Portugal, President Lula addressed the countrys parliament to affirm that the Brazil we all know is back on the international stage, a clear signal of his governments efforts to undo the foreign policy legacy of his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2023), who had undermined Brazils cooperation on issues such as environmental protection and the ratification of the trade deal between the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the European Union (EU). Discussions on the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement (FTA) are a top priority during Lulas Europe trip, although his visit has been overshadowed by his recent comments over the war in Ukraine. The Brazilian government sees Spain as a reliable supporter of the FTA, in contrast with other EU member states, such as the large beef producers Ireland and France, who had expressed concerns about the environmental impact of importing Brazilian beef. Speaking at a business conference in Madrid, Lula stated that it was a happy coincidence that Brazil will assume the rotating presidency of Mercosur in the second half of 2023, while Spain will assume the presidency of one of the EUs legislative institutions, the Council of the European Union. Lula has also continued to walk the tricky diplomatic tightrope of not explicitly naming Russia as the aggressor in Ukraine but still declaring that we condemn the violation of Ukraines territorial integrity in his address to the Portuguese parliament. He also maintained his repeated calls for peace talks. To appease Brazils European partners allied with Ukraine, the Brazilian government has announced that Lulas foreign policy adviser Celso Amorim will travel to Ukraine to meet President Volodymr Zelensky, having already met Russias President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on 30 March. Brazil also hosted Russias foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on 17 April, but on the following day Amorim had a phone call with US national security advisor Jake Sullivan to assuage US concerns over Brazils stance on the war. Looking Ahead: The Brazilian government has pointed to the summit scheduled for 17-18 July between the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) as a good chance to announce substantive advances on trade negotiations. The Donald Trump rape trial has now kicked off in New York. The judge for the civil lawsuit filed by columnist E. Jean Carroll gave Trump a stern warning. With violent historical events like January 6, it has been shown that Trump has the tendency to incite his supporters to violence when things do not go his way. U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan told the attorneys for both parties to advise their clients against "making any statements that will incite violence or civil unrest." Kaplan noted that he did not mean to accuse either side of misconduct. However, the judge stated that he said this to "try to avoid problems down the road." The Business Insider noted that this was a thinly-veiled attempt to silence Trump during the rape trial, given his tendencies to incite violence. Trump himself has not weighed in on the first day of the civil case yet, but Trump's communications director Steven Cheung released a statement, claiming that Carroll's case against Trump lacks merit and called it a "witch hunt targeted to interfere and tamper with a Presidential election." He blamed the Democrats for resurfacing a case that happened in the 1990s. Lawyers Make Opening Arguments for the Donald Trump Rape Trial As the trial finally began, Carroll's lawyer, Shawn Crowley, told the 9-person jury that the moment they went inside the dressing room of the luxury department store Bergdorf Goodman, everything changed. "Trump was almost twice her size," Crowley stated in his opening argument. "He held down her arm, pulled down her tights, and then he sexually assaulted her." Donald Trump was not in New York for the first day of the trial as he was not required to attend. However, his lawyer, Joe Tacopina, was, and he portrayed Carroll's claim as a "sick story." He assured jury members that even though they may hate his client, they can still side with him. READ NEXT: Donald Trump Rape Trial to Move Forward After Judge Denies His Request to Delay "You can hate Donald Trump. It's OK," Tacopina told jurors. "But there's a time and a secret place for that. It's called a ballot box. Not here, in a court of law." He also argued that Carroll herself cannot recall the date of when exactly the alleged rape happened and added that evidence will show that the former Elle magazine columnist was lying. However, Crowley countered Tacopina as E. Jean Carroll's story can be corroborated by two friends, as well as former Bergdorf Goodman employees. The Carroll lawyer also stated that Trump has a pattern of sexual assault, with two dozen women coming out and accusing him of such. What Was the E. Jean Carroll Rape Case About? Former Elle Magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll alleges that Donald Trump sexually assaulted her in the dressing room of Bergdorf Goodman. She has largely stayed silent on the matter but has come out in 2019 after releasing her memoir. In his statement to the jury, Crowley said that Trump "used the most powerful platform on earth to lie about what he had done, attack Ms. Carroll's integrity, and insult her appearance." Trump has since denied this and argued that she was not his type, with his attorney, Tacopina, arguing that she is only doing this for financial gain. The former president himself does not plan to attend the trial, but Carroll has said she will attend every single session. READ MORE: Donald Trump Rape Case: Judge Allows Grab 'Em by the P*ssy' Tape as Evidence This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Here's what happened on the first day of the rape allegation civil trial against Trump - CNN Twitter CEO Elon Musk appears to be one of the many who have their own secret and alt Twitter account, with the chief executive sharing a screengrab of his own account. The Independent reported that Musk was planning to use the image to show how to use Twitter's "subscription" feature. The same image also showed in the part of the Twitter interface that is reserved for alt Twitter accounts. Musk seemed to have confirmed in response that he is operating a secret account, saying that people would "never guess it's me!" Searching for the image showed no results and there were no other details included in Musk's screenshot, making the account difficult to find. However, one user came forward and claimed to have found the burner. The supposed Elon Musk alt Twitter account reportedly went by the name "Elon Test," with the username @ErmnMusk and had the same profile image. The account sent a reply to a CNBC tweet about Tesla's FSD Beta with three test drivers. The account replied "Wow!" In a November 2022 tweet of Bitcoin Magazine, the said Elon Musk alt Twitter account also replied and said "Oh no!" The Bitcoin Magazine tweet was saying that more companies might fail in the upcoming weeks, according to the Binance CEO. READ NEXT: Elon Musk Cuts Twitter Content Moderation Team Elon Musk's Alt Twitter Account The reported alt Twitter account of the Tesla CEO was created in November 2022, which was a month after Musk closed the deal to procure Twitter, according to Gizmodo. The profile picture of @ErmnMusk seems to be a photo of X A-12, Musk and Grimes' two-year-old son, who is commonly known as "X." The toddler in the photo also seems to be holding a $300 chrome model of SpaceX's Starship, which is another of Musk's ventures. One of the account's most recent tweets noted "I will finally turn 3 on May 4th." Musk's son, X, will also celebrate his birthday on May 4. The account also follows some of the people who have been associated with Musk, including Stephen King, who Musk frequently had rows with; Donald Trump, who he allowed back on the platform; and NASA, SpaceX's ally on its space ventures. The @ErmnMusk account currently has 40.2k followers, as of writing. Gizmodo reached out to Twitter's press office for a statement regarding the matter but received a "poop emoji" as its reply. Twitter Under Elon Musk Musk removed some of the blue check marks from prominent figures and individuals on Twitter after he launched a payment scheme for the coveted blue check mark, which he calls Twitter Blue. CNN Business noted that Musk made the process of verification "even less transparent." It added that the Twitter verification now reflects a kind of loyalty pledge or a "distinct sense of un-coolness." Many legacy verified users had announced that they will not be paying for Twitter Blue. The digital newspaper The New York Times said that it will not be paying for the blue check mark, including some individuals such as William Shatner. READ MORE: Cheapskate LeBron James Avoids Paying for Twitter Blue, Thanks To Elon Musk This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: How Elon Musk shook up Twitters blue check program - from Fox Business The Florida Killer Clown case, a 1990 murder case where a clown killed a Florida woman has finally ended after a woman pleaded guilty to shooting her romantic rival dead while wearing a clown costume. According to The Miami Herald, Sheila Keen-Warren pleaded guilty to shooting and killing Marlene Warren, the wife of Michael Warren, who would soon be the admitted killer's husband. She did this while wearing a clown costume. At that time, Keen-Warren was allegedly the mistress of Michael Warren, whom she eventually married in 2002. However, in 2017, she was arrested for the murder of her husband's ex-wife. She maintained that she did not kill Marlene Warren for around 33 years. However, on Tuesday, the alleged "Florida Killer Clown," not to be confused with the infamous "Killer Clown" serial killer John Wayne Gacy, changed her plea to guilty on the charge of second-degree murder. Florida Killer Clown Took a Plea Deal Keen-Warren reportedly took a plea deal to change her plea from not guilty to guilty. However, since she took this deal, she would only remain in prison for only about two years, according to the Associated Press. Court documents stated that they agreed that the "Florida Killer Clown" would get a 12-year sentence and also be given credit for the 2,039 days (which is a little over 5 1/2 years) she spent inside a jail in Palm Beach County. Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg released a statement that said that the plea deal "obtained a measure of justice" for Marlene Warren and her son. He added, "Sheila Keen Warren has finally been forced to admit that she was the one who dressed as a clown and took the life of an innocent victim. She will be a convicted murderer for the rest of her days." READ MORE: Florida: 'Ninja Killer' Who Killed Couple in 1989 is Executed Meanwhile, Keen-Warren's attorney, Greg Rosenfeld, told the Associated Press that the deal was "an incredible win for Ms. Keen-Warren." The lawyer stated that she still insists on not being the killer despite long being accused of murdering her husband's deceased wife. The case was handled quietly during Circuit Judge Scott Suskauer's lunch break from another murder trial, with no notice of Tuesday's plea hearing being announced. The Florida Killer Clown Murder Explained During one morning in May 1990, a clown appeared before the door of Marlene Warren's home in Florida. Warren opened the door and was given carnations and balloons by the clown. However, the clown then shot her dead in front of her son. The case was considered strange, even by Florida standards, and it came to a close after the victim's own family agreed to the plea deal, according to CBS News. Many have suspected Keen-Warren to be the killer as she reportedly was having an affair with the victim's husband. She had worked for Michael Warren's used car lot and married him in 2002. They moved to Abington, Virginia together where they ran a restaurant. Witnesses in the case have repeatedly told investigators that Keen-Warren was secretly having an affair with Michael before the murder happened. Prosecutors initially wanted to have her executed for the murder, but the plea deal may have saved her life. She may get out as early as next year due to good behavior. READ NEXT: Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine Injured After Attack at Florida Gym This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Florida 'Killer Clown' Suspect Appears in Court - FL v. Sheila Keen Warren - Law&Crime Network Supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump are urging him to take Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as his vice president, according to a source. One source confirmed to Page Six that the former president is listening to suggestions from his close circle to make DeSantis his running mate, but he has not agreed to it yet. The same source added that supporters say that DeSantis being Trump's vice president pick would stop him from opposing the former president while offering a "youthful conservative vigor" to the campaign, which they believe U.S. President Joe Biden does not have. The insider also said that picking DeSantis would be ideal as he can bring in "big money to the campaign." The same person with knowledge on the matter went on to say that the Florida governor wants to raise funds and "test the waters." However, he would only run in 2028 after Trump wins or loses. The source said that some donors are already pushing for a partnership between the two. Meanwhile, the Republican governor has yet to launch his official campaign while Trump is waiting for his nomination. People close to Trump said that he has been telling friends that he already has "got the nomination locked in with Republicans." READ NEXT: 2024 US Election: Trump vs. Biden Sparks Voters' Exhaustion, Fear Donald Trump-Ron DeSantis Tandem? In March 2023, the former president announced that he had "never considered" the Republican governor as his presidential election running mate. When asked by Newsmax host Rob Schmitt if he ever considered DeSantis as an option, he noted that "he never thought of it," and that there are "a lot of great people in the Republican Party," according to Newsweek. Trump also described it as an "unlikely alliance." He then claimed that DeSantis had only won his position in 2018 due to his endorsement. The tension between the two began when DeSantis answered "I have no comment" when asked if he would run against Trump for the presidency. In a Newsmax interview with Eric Boiling, DeSantis was asked if he would consider serving as Trump's vice president. He then replied that he was more of an "executive guy." During that interview, DeSantis did not confirm whether he was running for president. Donald Trump Vs. Ron DeSantis The former president holds a 15-point lead over DeSantis in a recent NBC News poll for the GOP presidential nomination. Trump leads with 46% of Republican primary voters, which was then followed by DeSantis at 31%. Despite not winning any major demographic subgroup, DeSantis does best among young voters and has support from 49% of those who say they support the GOP over Trump. Meanwhile, a new analysis of national and state polling showed that Biden would defeat Trump in the 2024 Electoral College while losing to DeSantis, as reported by New York Post. The survey also showed DeSantis leading the president in five of six likely 2024 battleground states, such as Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. READ MORE: Donald Trump Arrest: Judge Presiding the Case, Family Get Threats After Arraignment This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Trump takes aim at DeSantis in first major campaign swing - from CNN The far-right extremist group, Proud Boys, has once viewed themselves as "Trump's Army." However, as the January 6 seditious conspiracy trial wrapped up, a lawyer of a Proud Boys leader argued that former President Donald Trump was using his client as a scapegoat. The trial of the Proud Boys finally wrapped up Monday with both sides presenting their closing statements to jurors after hearing three months of testimonies. The far-right extremist group's leader, Enrique Tarrio, of Cuban descent, and four of his lieutenants were facing charges of seditious conspiracy as they allegedly plotted to forcibly stop the transfer of power from Trump to President Joe Biden. According to the Associated Press, the group was armed and ready for "all-out war" on January 6. Tarrio became one of the top targets of the Justice Department's January 6 Capitol riot investigation. He has been accused of leading the Proud Boys from afar during the Capitol insurrection. READ NEXT: Ex-Proud Boys Leader Says Far-Right Group Saw January 6 Riot as Another 'American Revolution' Prosecution Paints Proud Boys as 'Trump's Army' During Trial In his closing statement, prosecutor Conor Mulroe told the jury that the right-wing group "lined up behind Donald Trump and willing to commit violence on his behalf." He added: "These defendants saw themselves as Donald Trump's army, fighting to keep their preferred leader in power no matter what the law or the courts had to say about it." The prosecution wanted to make it clear that on January 6, 2021, the Proud Boys were armed and willing to commit violence. The group reportedly got empowered after Trump told the group to "stand back and stand by" during his first presidential debate with Joe Biden. Prosecutors repeatedly played that clip to show the Proud Boys' loyalty to Trump and his cause. According to The Guardian, standing on trial alongside Enrique Tarrio were Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola. Nordean served as a Proud Boys chapter president in Auburn, Washington, while Biggs was a Proud Boys organizer in Florida. On the other hand, Rehl was president of a chapter in Philadelphia, while Pezzola was a member from New York. Proud Boys Lawyer Claims Donald Trump Using His Client as January 6 Scapegoat While the prosecution painted the Proud Boys as Donald Trump fanatics, the defense blamed their actions on the former president, with Enrique Tarrio's attorney, Nayib Hassan, arguing that Trump should be the one blamed for extorting supporters to "fight like hell" in his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. "It was Donald Trump's words," Hassan said in his closing statement. "It was his motivation. It was his anger that caused what occurred on January 6 in your beautiful and amazing city. It was not Enrique Tarrio. They want to use Enrique Tarrio as a scapegoat for Donald J. Trump and those in power." According to NBC News, the attorneys for the other Proud Boys on trial also echoed this argument, with Norm Pattis, an attorney for Biggs, telling jurors that "their commander-in-chief sold them a lie." While seditious conspiracy is a rarely-used charge, it was successfully used against another pro-Trump extremist group, the Oath Keepers, whose leaders and members were also found guilty of seditious conspiracy. READ MORE: Oath Keepers Founder Found Guilty of Seditious Conspiracy This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Closing Arguments Underway in Proud Boys Seditious Conspiracy Trial - From CBS News Authorities in Mexico are still trying to identify the eight bodies found dumped in a Cancun resort over the weekend. Head prosecutor of the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo, Oscar Montes de Oca, vowed to conduct more searches and identifications, WFAA reported. Law enforcement officials discovered the bodies after looking in wooded lots and even in cenotes or sinkhole ponds as part of a search operation to find more missing people. Montes de Oca said five bodies were found in an abandoned building site. He noted that the bodies were left there between one week and two months ago. Three of the bodies have been identified as people previously reported missing. Authorities also discovered three sets of skeletal remains at another site in a wooded area on the outskirts of Cancun. The bodies have yet to be identified by authorities. The bodies were found in a poor neighborhood area located some 15 kilometers from Cancun's beach and hotel zone but closer to the resort's airport. There have been a series of violent incidents in the city of Cancun in recent years, with feuding Mexican drug cartels reportedly causing violence in the popular tourist destination. READ NEXT: Mexico: 18 Dead, Including Mayor and His Father, After Los Tequileros Gunmen Sprayed Bullets at Town Hall, House in Guerrero Violence in Cancun Resort in Mexico Earlier this month, four men were killed in Cancun after what authorities suspect to be a dispute related to drug gang activity. The men were found in the area's hotel zone and near a beach. According to Al Jazeera, the reported violence coincided with the tourists flocking to Riviera Maya in Mexico during the Easter holiday break. Jose de la Pena, a security official in Quintana Roo, where Cancun is located, noted that authorities detained two suspects "related to drug dealing activities." The state of Quintana Roo has been considered generally safer compared to the other area of the country. However, recent violent activities linked to gang turf wars prompted security forces to ramp up patrols. Last month, an American tourist was shot in the leg in Puerto Morelos town near Cancun. Two Canadians were killed in Playa del Carmen, also in Quintana Roo, last year. Authorities believed the two were involved in international drug and weapons trafficking gangs. In 2021, two suspected drug dealers were also killed in a shooting on a beach near Cancun. It was also the same year that two tourists from Germany and India were killed during a shootout between two suspected gang members in a restaurant in Tulum. The U.S. State Department recently issued a travel alert, warning travelers to exercise "increased caution," at resorts like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. Violence in Mexico Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador slammed suggestions to have the U.S. sends its military troops to intervene in the country's drug violence. Lopez Obrador noted that such a move would violate the country's sovereignty. He added that his government would not permit any foreign government to "intervene in our territory." He went on to say that it was also an "offense to the people of Mexico," adding that their country does "not take orders from anyone," Al Jazeera reported. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Fox News it was time to "put Mexico on notice" while also advocating introducing legislation that would classify some Mexican drug cartels as "foreign terrorist groups." READ MORE: Jalisco Cartel Boss El Mencho's Daughter, La Negra, Freed After More Than 2 Years in U.S. Prison This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Ahead of Spring Break, Warnings of Violence at Mexico Resorts - From NewsNation Pope Francis, who made history as the first pontiff from Latin America, is planning to visit his home country of Argentina soon. The Catholic News Agency reported that the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires admitted to Argentinian journalist Joaquin Morales Sola during a recent private audience at the Vatican that he would like to go to Argentina in 2024. "I want to go to the country next year," the pope reportedly told his fellow Argentinian. The comments were reported in the Argentinian daily La Nacion last April 23. If it happens, it will be the first time Pope Francis will visit the country of his birth since he was appointed as pope by the College of Cardinals in 2013. The pontiff has yet to return home for a decade. READ NEXT: Nicaragua Limits Holy Week Celebrations as President Daniel Ortega's Feud With Catholic Church Continues Pope Francis Has Been Planning Argentina Trip Since 2017 Pope Francis has remained popular in Argentina despite not returning for a decade. However, he has not revealed any details about his planned trip. He did admit that he has been planning this since 2017. The Associated Press reported that the timing of the 2024 visit avoids any political undertones as it would happen after this year's presidential elections in Argentina. A new president is expected to be sworn in in December following elections in October, with current Argentina President Alberto Fernandez saying he would not seek re-election. Argentinians have been clamoring for the pope's return, with several politicians calling for him to come back for a visit. Several politicians, including the president, Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, and Buenos Aires Mayor Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, have all asked the former Buenos Aires cardinal to visit during his decade anniversary as pope. Politics has been highly polarized in Argentina nowadays, especially as the election looms. Analysts have said Pope Francis has been trying to postpone his Argentina visit to make sure either side of the political divide will not use his presence. As for his plans back in 2017, Pope Francis noted that he originally planned not just to visit his home country but also Chile and Uruguay. However, he said that then-Chilean President Michelle Bachelet asked him to postpone the trip until after the presidential elections in November. The pope did end up visiting Chile and Peru and postponing his Uruguay trip. However, he has been holding off on his visit to Argentina. Pope Francis Recently Presided First Meeting of the New Council Of Cardinals Pope Francis recently presided over the first meeting of the new Council of Cardinals, which was renewed last month. According to the CNA, it was a body tasked with assisting him in the governance of the Universal Church. Pope Francis established it himself, and it includes nine prominent archbishops from around the world. READ MORE: Pope Francis Wants Cuba to Release Cuban Protesters Arrested in 2021 This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: How is His Native Argentina Receiving Pope Francis? - From Channel 4 News An Easton killer has been denied a new trial despite his protests over COVID-19-era restrictions. Attorneys for Jacob Holmes Jr. asked repeatedly to postpone his trial until mask and social distancing requirements could be lifted. Instead, Northampton County Court staff spaced out the jurors. Witnesses wore clear masks during the trial so jurors could evaluate their facial expressions. To create six-foot buffers around each juror some of them had to sit in the courtroom gallery, leaving no room for spectators or Holmes family. The Pennsylvania Superior Court on Tuesday denied Holmes retrial request over the concerns. The shield and social distancing requirements herein were the least restrictive means necessary to further the important public policy goal of safety amid a global pandemic, wrote Superior Court Judge Mary Jane Bowes, joined in the ruling by Superior Court Judges Judith Ference Olson and Anne E. Lazarus. Holmes was convicted in December 2020 of the murder of Miguel Aponte. Holmes shot Aponte six times at the former Easton Cafe in the 100 block of Northampton Street in 2009. He did it out of revenge for Apontes participation in a previous murder, prosecutors said. Jurors deadlocked on whether to impose the death penalty. Northampton County President Judge Michael Koury sentenced Holmes to life in prison for murder plus 15 to 30 years for conspiracy to commit murder. Holmes also said he deserved a new trial due to too much pre-trial publicity in Northampton County. That request, too, was denied. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. An Easton man is accused of sexually assaulting a girl when he was a teenager, city police said. Jordan Thomas Levens, 25, of the 800 block of Bushkill Street in the city, was charged Tuesday with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child younger than 16, aggravated indecent assault, indecent exposure and indecent assault of a child under the age of 16. Levens is being held in Northampton County Prison after failing to post $50,000 bail. A defense attorney has not yet entered an appearance in Levens case. Easton police said the accuser contacted them in March to report a sexual assault that occurred between 2014 and 2016 in a city home. The girl was under the age of 12 at the time, and Levens was between 17 and 19 years old, police said. The girl reported Levens exposed himself and forced the girl to perform sex acts, according to court records. In an interview with investigators, Levens reportedly said the accuser told the truth about the incident, court records say. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. A 76-year-old woman was struck by an SUV and seriously injured earlier this week in Northampton County, police said. The crash occurred a little before noon Monday at the intersection where Jacksonville Road and Crofton Drive/ Hanover Glen meet in Hanover Township, Colonial Regional police said. The township woman that was hit was taken to a local hospital for treatment, police said. She was walking with another person, who was not injured in the collision. The driver of the white Kia SUV did stop and is cooperating with police, Officer Andrew Laudenslager said. The crash is still under investigation and police are looking for witnesses. Anyone who may have seen something or who has information should call Laudenslager at 610-861-4820. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. A Judge told Portlaoise District Court of his great concern in relation to money laundering cases. Judge Andrew Cody made the comments while dealing with the case of a woman accused of laundering over 15,000. Sapphire Buggy, 23, of 42 Rossconnell Square, Newbridge, Kildare is charged with money laundering a sum of 7,980 in Portlaoise on March 13, 2022 and 7,500 at the same bank branch on March 18, 2020. Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client, who had appeared previously, had since engaged with probation services and has a very positive report showing she is at low risk of offending. She said her client was a young mother of limited means but was repaying 10 a week. It is small but it is as much as she can manage, said Ms Fitzpatrick. Judge Cody noted the woman wished to become a nurse and said she would require garda clearance to work in a hospital. He said money laundering was a vital element of organised crime. These cases cause me great concern, he told Ms Fitzpatrick. It is an integral part of the entire drugs industry, he said of money laundering. Judge Cody told the woman to do something substantial by way of charity or a good deed to persuade him to strike out the charges. He adjourned the case until December 14 to enable the woman to do something to persuade him to strike out the charges. A Portlaoise man charged with a spate of robberies around four counties has been remanded in custody following a court appearance. John Drennan of Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise, is charged with offences that include being in possession of a white Volkswagen caddy van with false registration plates and high vis jackets intended for use in a theft in Banba Square Nenagh on April 14, 2023. He is also facing seven counts for theft of building materials ranging in value from 850 to 1,280. These thefts happened in hardware stores in Roscrea, Thurles, Mullingar, Leitrim, Ennis. Mr Drennan is charged that on January 14, 2023, he stole 20 plywood sheets with a value of 1,280 from Ronaynes Hardware in Thurles. He is further charged that on the same date, he stole building supplies with a value of 1,214 were stolen from Stakelums Hardware in Thurles. He is also charged with the theft of milk replacer with a value of 1,000 from Ballyduff Coop in Thurles on March 15. Mr Drennan is also charged with the theft of a Victor Whacker plate worth 1,230 from Midlands Site Supplies in Roscrea on March 25. Mr Drennan is also charged that on January 23, he took building materials to the value of 1,236 from Dpl Builders Providers in Mullingar. He is charged that the following day, he took rolls of lead with a value of 866 were stolen from Reynolds Topline Hardware in Leitrim. On March 22, 15 bags of Maverick milk replacer with a value of 850 were stolen from Dan McInerneys in Ennis, Clare. No application for bail was made by his solicitor, David Peters at Nenagh District Court for Mr Drennan was remanded in custody by Judge Elizabeth McGrath to appear in Tipperary Town District Court on Wednesday, April 26. Mr Drennans father, Peter, with an address in Edenderry, Co Offaly, appeared before Thurles District Court on April 19 charged with the same offences and was remanded in custody to Tipperary Town District Court on Wednesday, April 26. DPP directions are awaited in both cases. Laois Offaly Green Party Minister Pippa Hackett insisted that Greens are good for rural Ireland in a statement in which she lashed out at a west of Ireland TD for using Trump for votes. The Geashill-based senator issued a statement after what she describes as Michael Fitzmaurices "recent nosedive into an anti-Green culture war". Minister Hackett describe his approach in her statement as being straight from the playbook of Trumps America. Deputy Fitzmaurice is seeking to sow anger and division in rural areas and stir up anti-environment sentiment for his own narrow electoral gain. However, he flung back with a comment that her view was jus 'BS'. She claims that in recent media coverage, the Roscommon Galway TD, contended that damaging policies on farming are being enforced by the Green party in Government, destroying farm holdings across rural Ireland. Minister Hackett responded in her statement that: Nothing could be further from the truth. She continued: The Green Party in Government has been good for farmers. We have helped shape a new Common Agricultural Policy that has redistributed subsidies in a way that brings greater fairness to smaller farmers across the country. We have introduced a 60% grant rate for farmers who want to run their farms and homes on solar power. We have helped shape ACRES, the 1.5 billon agri-environmental scheme that will pay 50,000 farmers across the country to produce food in a more sustainable way over the next five years. The Green Party has negotiated the largest ever budget for organics and forestry, much of which will flow to farmers and landowners in the very rural areas Michael Fitzmaurice claims to represent. The Greens have ensured that 1.5 billion of carbon tax funds will be ringfenced for farmers this decade, she said. She compared the Independent TD to politicians in America. Michael Fitzmaurice seeks to cast the Greens as enemies of the people. His actions are no different to those who peddle division in US politics. He seeks to create anger and resentment based on conjecture and uncertainty, telling the public that the only way to secure their future is to stick with the past and not seek change for the better. It is short-sighted, wrong and dangerous. "The world is changing, and we must too. It is our job to help farmers do that, and to pay them to do it, so that we can build a more resilient sector that will survive for generations to come. That is the rural Green agenda. Michael Fitzmaurice talks of the Nature Restoration Law as if it was dreamed up by Green Party members in Dublin. This is an EU proposal and it is coming regardless of who is in Government. If Michael Fitzmaurice is Minister for Agriculture in the next Government, he will be compelled to implement it as EU legislation. That is a fact. I dont want my children to grow up in a country where their politicians angrily denounce policies to tackle climate change, and spout hatred at those trying to help farmers prepare for the future. I will stand on a platform of pro rural Ireland policies, that pay farmers to adapt to the realities of the world we live in. I will fight for budgets that put money in farmers pockets to prepare them for the demands of consumers in five- and ten-years time. I will continue to give hope to farmers that in a world increasingly concerned about climate, biodiversity, air quality and water quality, farmers will play a central role in adapting, and we will reward them financially for doing it. I want a rural Ireland fit for the future, not one stuck in the past, concluded the statement. Speaking on radio in Galway Dep Fitzmaurice replied that she "knew it was pure BS." He asked: "Is it fake news to use a Trump slogan? Is it fake news to say there's a nature restoration law being prepared in Europe that Finland and Sweden have objected to, and that I brought up in the Dail and that the Minister [Eamon Ryan] said he supports fully? "Is it fake news that there's a land use policy, LULUCF, that being put together at the moment and no-one knows what's in it? Is it fake news that, at the moment, young farmers don't know whether they're coming or going?" Listen to his comments HERE. A fire has gutted part of the premises of a major family run Laois carpentry company. Allwood Joinery in Ballymacken, Portlaoise is owned by the Magee family from Ballyfin, employing some 50 people and supplying high end architectural joinery furniture to major commercial customers in Ireland and Europe. Some time over last Friday night, Saturday morning, a fire began in their solid machining area. Fire crews from both Laois and Kildare rushed to the scene, and prevented it from spreading to other buildings, saving all works under construction. Managing Director and Financial Controller Connor Magee told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that the family are relieved it was no worse, with luckily nobody hurt. "Nearly everyone in the family came to the site to see it, it was a terrible fright. It could have been a lot worse, we were very lucky. The fire service was great. No one was hurt and they were able to stop the fire from spreading to our new building where all our new work is," he said. They will be temporarily downsizing staff numbers, but will forme a plan to get back fully on track, Connor Magee said. He thanks the other suppliers who have rallied around them. "Luckily other businesses have rallied around to help. We are lucky with our good customer base too, both commercial companies and high end architects. We have jobs underway for Jameson and google," he said. Deliveries can still go out as normal, Allwood have stressed in a social media announcement, sharing this dramatic photo of the damage caused. "Unfortunately we suffered a bad fire over the weekend in our Solid Machining Area, which destroyed a few of our machines and some damage to our office area. "Thankfully our new Building & Main Assembly area was untouched and all our work in progress is unscathed which is all being delivered to site this week with our fitting teams. "We have a great support network from similar local businesses to assist us with our machining process so we are able to continue as usual with a slightly condensed team on our premises to ensure our current works and future works continue as normal. "To anyone who heard in the meantime and reached out to assist us and offer us support, we greatly appreciate it. A small rebuild to do behind the scenes but for now its business as usual," the Magee family say. The company was founded by Gerry and Maggie Magee, designing and making domestic kitchens with their children later coming on board to run the business. It expanded with a move to Ballymacken in 2001. In 2010 they broke into the commercial market, making top end architecturally designed commercial joinery, with Twitter as their first commercial customer. The Defence Forces has said Trooper Shane Kearney is to undergo surgery on his skull following the attack on a UN vehicle in Lebanon. Trooper Kearney, 22, was seriously wounded when the armoured UN vehicle he was travelling in was surrounded by a group of armed attackers in Lebanon in December. The Irish UN peacekeeper was injured in the shooting incident which left 24-year-old Private Sean Rooney dead. Trooper Kearney, from Killeagh in Co Cork, was medically evacuated from Lebanon to Ireland. He will undergo cranioplasty surgery on Wednesday which should hopefully be the final operation that he requires, according to the Defence Forces. Shane has been recovering at home in Cork for the past two months and has been making steady progress to date, a statement said. All Shanes colleagues in the Defence Forces are thinking of him at this time and are wishing him a speedy recovery. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said those who voted in the referendum campaign to reform Irelands abortion legislation understood it would include a three-day wait for services. An independent review into Irelands abortion legislation has recommended the removal of the current mandatory three-day waiting period between the certification of a termination of pregnancy and the procedure taking place. It said this should be replaced with a statutory right of a woman to a reflection period which she may exercise at her own discretion. Expanded access to abortion was enacted in Ireland following a referendum which repealed the eighth amendment of the Irish constitution in May 2018. I have a very clear priority to make sure that these healthcare services are as accessible and as safe and as good for women in Ireland as possible, whilst critically being very cognisant that when we voted to repeal something I campaigned strongly for there were criteria that people understood, including this three days, Mr Donnelly said. The minister said the recommendation and other legislative proposals would be referred to the Oireachtas health committee. However, he said there has already been an operational adjustment to the three-day wait period such that the first consultation should be done by phone. Asked if the period of reflection should be left in place, Mr Donnelly said while he had his own personal view he did not want to unduly influence the committee. Speaking on RTEs News At One he said the independent review into Irelands abortion legislation is a good report as he thanked its author barrister Marie OShea. He said it contained sensible operational recommendations to make abortion services more accessible and safer for women and easier for healthcare professionals. The Pro Life Campaign described the report as a travesty and betrayal of women and unborn babies. Spokeswoman Eilis Mulroy said the group remains very concerned that Government will give effect to the recommendations. She said it was unconscionable that healthcare workers would be coerced to perform abortions. On the recommendation for it to be mandatory for people being hired in areas of particular shortage of services to be obliged to provide terminations, Mr Donnelly said any medical practitioner is currently fully within their rights to conscientiously object. He said the mandatory requirement could not be implemented without legislative amendment. Mr Donnelly said only 11 of the countrys maternity units are currently providing services and characterised this as not acceptable. He said it was aimed they would all be providing services by early next year. Speaking in the Dail, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he anticipates a free vote on the legislative proposals of the independent review into Irelands abortion law. Certainly for my party and I think itd be the same for Fianna Fail and perhaps Sinn Fein and other parties as well, this will be a free vote and a vote of conscience for people. Aontu leader Peadar Toibin said people were persuaded to vote in the referendum on the basis that there would be some safeguards for children. Five years later, it looks like Government are going to wash away remaining safeguards, he said. Mr Toibin said there had been an enormous jump in the number of abortions, which he described as catastrophic. He said the mandatory three-day wait and the ability of doctors to conscientiously object are both under threat. The Taoiseach said Mr Toibin was jumping the gun as the proposed legislative aspects of the review will be referred to the Oireachtas committee on health. He said the operational aspects have been referred to the HSE for implementation. Weve made no decision whatsoever on any of those legislative proposals, he said. The Irish Family Planning Association welcomed the publication of the report. IFPA chief executive Niall Behan said it draws on expertise and evidence not available in 2018. Ms OSheas comprehensive, evidence-based analysis creates a clear political imperative to strengthen abortion services and secure abortion care into the future. The Government and the Oireachtas must act promptly to ensure the harms, delays and barriers that currently impede access to abortion care are addressed, through both legislative and operational reforms. Political foot-dragging cannot be allowed to stand in the way of legislative reforms that can address these harms and deliver much needed improvements in access and in the quality of abortion care. Labour health spokesperson Duncan Smith said Government must trust the experts and implement the proposed changes in the review. Theres no time for further delay, Minister Donnelly must prioritise legislating for the much-needed changes like the removal of the three-day wait period and a more compassionate and workable approach to fatal foetal abnormalities. Compassion in a crisis is what people campaigned on and voted for in 2018. Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Greens cannot row back on their promises to the women of Ireland. A group of Laois students who visited a nursing home to read with residents, have won a national award. A committee of Portlaoise College students and teachers attended the Wellread National Award ceremony on Monday April 28. Pictured are Principal Noel Daly, English teacher Patrick Travers, Ben Campbell, Noor Fatima, Sean McComish Day, Lydia Keyes, Saoirse Fox and English teacher John Fitzpatrick. The Portlaoise College Wellread Committee joined with other schools from around the country to be commended for their initiatives relating to reading and writing various genres of literature. For the Portlaoise students, they had visited the residents of Ballard Nursing Home, to bring reading initiatives out into the community. John Fitzpatrick is one of the teachers involved. "While the initiative was due to start much earlier, due to Covid, we were only able to enter the nursing home in the latter part of the year. This is planned to continue in September with TY students visiting as part of their community engagement," he said. It is the first time for this award to come to the school. The committee includes English teachers Mr Travers and Mr Fitzpatrick, Over the course of two years, they have worked with the wider school community to promote literacy and reading for pleasure under the National Wellread Programme. To be nominated for this award required the involvement of students, teachers, parents and the Board of Management, in reading, writing and associated activities. The various initiatives that the school implemented were documented in a portfolio. They intend to retain the award by refreshing this portfolio every three years, and to engage with the Readers For Life initiative, and thus maintain a culture of reading for pleasure in the school and the wider community. The Wellread National Award is a literacy initiative supported by the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) and aims to promote the development of a reading culture in school communities. "Research has shown that this supports the personal and academic development of young people, which is something we are passionate about in Portlaoise College. We would hope that this award would be part of an ongoing milestone that would encourage the wider school community to continually engage in," Mr Fitzpatrick said. 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. Its the final chance for astro-photographers in Kildare to enter the 'Reach for the Stars' astrophotography competition, organised by the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS). The competition, seeking the best astro-photographs taken in Ireland over the period May 1, 2022 to April 28, 2023, is calling on photography and astronomy fans in Kildare to submit their images before the final closing date for entries on April 28. Commenting on the approaching deadline, Dr. Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS, said: "Now in its third year, the Reach for the Stars competition is all about making astronomy accessible to the public. "You dont have to be a professional photographer to appreciate the wonders of the night sky, you dont need to own a telescope we just ask that you follow the competition guidelines carefully to ensure your images meet the criteria." Dr Meehan continued: "There have been a number of astrological phenomena over the last year that have already made an appearance in this years entries, from blood moons to auroras and its great to see so many people from Kildare and across the country showing an interest in astronomy. "I would really encourage people in Kildare to get out with their cameras or phones over the next week, before the closing date... There were some fantastic clear skies recently so Im sure lots of photographers will have taken advantage of the perfect conditions. "We are lucky to have stunning landscapes and areas of great natural beauty, combined with areas for stargazing all across the island that will make for some great images," Dr Meehan continued. DETAILS Entries to the Reach for the Stars competition will be judged by Professor Peter Gallagher, Head of Astrophysics at DIAS, along with Brenda Fitzsimons, Picture Editor of The Irish Times; John Flannery, Vice-President of the Irish Astronomical Society; and Niamh Breathnach, Director at Alice Public Relations. The competition has two categories and entrants may submit up to two images in each of the following categories: Out of this World: Images depicting scenes / features or elements of astronomical interest. For example, deep space images or images of the solar system. Back on Earth: Astro-landscape images that depict a feature or element of astronomical interest and capture elements such as nature, cityscapes, buildings or monuments, land, or water. The winning photographers in the two main categories, as selected by the judging panel, will receive a prize package that includes: Publication of their images on the DIAS and Irish Times websites A VIP tour of DIAS Dunsink Observatory with the opportunity to peer through Irelands largest refractor telescope. One pass for up to four guests for Race to Space, a fully immersive escape room experience, hosted at DIAS Dunsink Observatory. A 500 voucher for photographic / telescopic equipment; and A 12-month digital subscription to The Irish Times. Two runners up in each category will also be selected by the judges, and will each receive a 200 voucher for photographic / telescopic equipment. The winner of the Public Choice category, as voted for by the public, will also receive voucher to the value of 150 for photographic / telescopic equipment. It is DIASs intention that the winning and highly commended images will also be included in an exhibition at DIAS during 2023. Furthermore, all shortlisted images will be included in an online exhibition for the purposes of the public vote on the competitions website. The Irish Astronomical Society are initiative supporters. Further information, including the competition guidelines and entry form, is available at www.reachforthestars.ie. ABOUT DIAS As the worlds second, and Irelands only, Institute for Advanced Studies, DIAS is a globally embedded institution that attracts scholars and academics from around the world. It conducts and publishes advanced research across three areas: Celtic Studies, Theoretical Physics and Cosmic Physics (encompassing Astronomy, Astrophysics and Geophysics). DIAS also leads Irelands participation in a number of international research endeavours that focus on big unanswered questions for mankind. For more information, visit www.dias.ie. A Dublin resident was handed down a custodial sentence for refusing to provide a urine or breath sample to gardai. Joseph Carroll, with an address listed as 16 Bawnlea Avenue in Tallaght, Dublin 24, but who is currently in custody on other matters, was convicted for the offence by Judge Desmond Zaidan at Naas District Court on Thursday, April 20. It was heard that the 44-year-old, who appeared via video-link, committed the offence on May 1, 2018, in Humphreystown, Blessington in County Wicklow. Mr Carroll was suspected of drink-driving at the time by gardai, and that he was also caught driving without insurance or a licence. He pleaded guilty to the offences. It was heard that he was involved in a road traffic collision and had to be hospitalised for his injuries. The judge was told that Mr Carroll has 23 previous convictions, ten of which were for road traffic offences. Defending barrister Donncha Craddock said that his client was very apologetic for his actions and is attending a detox programme in prison, where he has a job as a kitchen worker. However, Judge Zaidan ultimately decided to impose a five-month sentence for the refusal, and two other five-month sentences for dangerous driving and for driving with no insurance. These sentences will run consecutively, and he is due for release in 2026 for his other sentence. The judge also imposed a six-year driving ban on Mr Carroll. Kildare County Council (KCC) discussed more details regarding the planned school located near Kildare town. Back in December of 2021, it was announced that a 1,000 student Curragh Post-Primary School in South Kildare would be located on the site of Magee Barracks in Kildare town, and last month, the Department of Education and Skills said it was seeking tenders from contractors to provide a Fire Safety Design Consultancy Service for the new school. The school was further discussed at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting, which was held on Wednesday, April 19. Fianna Fail councillor Anne Connolly brought up the school in a motion, where she called for KCC to outline 'the communications that have taken place with the Department of Education and progress made, if any, on the proposed development of a second level school at Magee Barracks, Kildare?' Her motion was seconded by her party colleague Cllr Suzanne Doyle. On receipt of the question from Cllr Connolly, KCC said: "The forward planning team requested an update from the Department of Education with respect to the proposed development of a second level school at Magee Barracks, Kildare. "A major building project for the Curragh Community School will be delivered under the Departments ADAPT Programme: this Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction." KCC continued: "The appointment of the Design Team (Consultant Architect, Civil Structural Engineer, Mechanical and Electrical Engineer, Quantity Surveyor and PSDP) has just been completed. Fianna Fail councillor Anne Connolly brought up the school in a motion at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting, which was held on Wednesday, April 19. "The project is to be delivered in two phases; Phase One will deliver accommodation for 450 pupils at the Magee Barracks site for the start of the 2024 school year, and Phase Two will deliver accommodation for a Long-Term Projected Enrolment for 1,000 pupils. "A preferred design option, including the scope and extent of works to be carried out for both phases will be established during the early stages of Architectural Planning." KCC also said that the Design Team are currently preparing a Preliminary Design, where they will assess the site and prepare their initial sketch schemes for the new school. "They intend to initiate pre-planning consultations with the Local Authority at the earliest opportunity," the council concluded. Cllr Connolly told KCC that she accepted the report, and added that the council and her fellow representatives should 'keep driving on with this, for the betterment of students in the area.' Another one of her party colleagues, Cllr Noel Heavey, told KCC that a lot of parents, especially in Newbridge and Kilcullen, are 'anxious' that their children arent getting school places, and stressed the importance of opening the new school as soon as possible. A representative of KCC also told those in attendance that the council will ask for a timeline on the development. The Irish Defence Forces (DF) has released an update in relation to the condition of Trooper Shane Kearney. Back in January, the Leinster Leader reported that Private Kearney, who was injured in an ambush in Lebanon which resulted in the death of Pte Sean Rooney in December 2022, was no longer in critical condition. Speaking today, a spokesperson for the DF said: "Shane Kearney is returning to Beaumont Hospital today, Wednesday, 26 April, to continue with his medical treatment. "Shane will undergo cranioplasty surgery, which should hopefully be the final operation that he requires." The spokesperson continued: "Shane has been recovering at home in Cork for the past two months and has been making steady progress to date. "All of Shane's colleagues in the Defence Forces are thinking of him at this time and are wishing him a speedy recovery. "The Defence Forces and the Kearney family ask all media outlets to please continue to respect Shane's privacy during this time," the spokesperson concluded. Over 2.8 million has been allocated for free school books, which will be used by pupils in Kildare primary schools. The announcement of the payment of 2,842,560 from Minister for Education Norma Foley was welcomed by Fianna Fail Senator O'Loughlin. Senator O' Loughlin, who is also a former teacher, said: "This landmark scheme will provide free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for all pupils attending primary and special schools in Kildare. "Thereafter the grant should be used to eliminate costs of related classroom resources such as pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, colouring pencils and whiteboard markers. Senator Fiona O'Loughlin. File Photo. "As part of Budget 2023, Minister Foley announced over 50 million to provide free schoolbooks to primary school pupils within the free education scheme from September 2023. Senator O'Loughlin continued: "This ground-breaking, permanent measure is further evidence of Fianna Fails commitment to supporting access to education for all by enhancing the educational experience, not just in the classroom but reaching out into the family home. "By providing free school books, workbooks and copy books, we will ease some of the financial burden facing families with the back-to- school costs." More than a third of homes built in the first three months of 2023 were apartments, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The CSO examined new dwelling completions, which are described as recently constructed self-contained units of living accommodation. There were 6,716 new dwelling completions during January, February and March representing a 19.1% increase over the same period in 2022. There was a 41% rise in apartment completions compared with the same three months last year, to 2,427. This means apartment completions in the quarter were more than double what they were three years ago and more than five times higher than five years ago. More than a third of all completions in the first quarter of 2023 were in Dublin, including more than three-quarters of all apartment completions. The highest number of completions by local electoral area was 332 in Rathfarnham-Templeogue. 6,716 new homes were completed in the first three months of 2023 19.1% increase on Q1 2022 Highest Q1 figures since data series began 30,898 new homes completed over past 12 monthsQ1 trend indicates activity set to deliver or exceed 2023 #HousingForAll target https://t.co/lStasoq8FF pic.twitter.com/8Y8KmDZFvZ Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage (@DeptHousingIRL) April 26, 2023 CSO statistician Justin Anderson said: Six of the eight regions of Ireland saw an increase in completions from Q1 2022 to Q1 2023, with small drops just in the Midlands (Laois, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath) and South East (Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, and Wexford) regions. The relative increase was greatest in the South West (Cork City and County, and Kerry) at 37.3% and the West (Galway City and County, Mayo, and Roscommon) at 30.7%. Housing Minister Darragh OBrien welcomed the figures. Todays figures show supply is increasing and that we are going in the right direction, he said. Some good news 6,716 new homes completed in the first three months of this year a 19.1% increase on the same quarter in 2022. Highest Q1 completions since data series began. #HousingforAll pic.twitter.com/wmmMrNkJRf Darragh O'Brien (@DarraghOBrienTD) April 26, 2023 Yesterday, I announced extra measures to get even more homes built and quicker, including scrapping development levies to stimulate more building activity and a scheme to kick-start the delivery of thousands more Cost Rental homes. These measures will further boost supply. Housing for All contains a projected housing output of 29,000 homes in 2023 and I am confident we will meet this target if not exceed it. All of this positive momentum builds on the back of a record 7,349 homes commenced in the first three months of 2023. There is also a strong pipeline of social and affordable housing, with over 19,000 social homes at various stages of construction and over 2,700 more affordable homes already approved for funding. CampusConnect has been named by Local Enterprise Office Leitrim as County Leitrim Enterprise Award Winner and Finalist in the National Enterprise Awards 2023. They were presented with the County Award by Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Ita Reynolds Flynn in the Landmark Hotel on April 17. CampusConnect provides a white labelled mobile app software service (SaaS) to UK and Irish universities, colleges, and business schools that ensures more of their new students successfully enrol and progress through to the end of the first semester. Based in Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, CampusConnect employs five staff in their growing business. The County Leitrim Enterprise Award is given to businesses that have demonstrated exceptional innovation, entrepreneurship, and outstanding customer service in their respective fields. CampusConnect was chosen as the recipient of this award with a prize fund of 3,000 in recognition of their dedication to continued innovation, sustainability, and growth in their business. In addition to this honour, CampusConnect has also been named a national finalist in the National Enterprise Awards 2023 where they will compete against 30 other finalists from across the country for a share of the prize fund of 35,000 and the prestigious Overall Winner Award. The categories this year include Best Export Business, Green/Sustainability and Innovation, in addition to 8 Regional Awards. Declan Sweeney, CampusConnect said, "We are honoured to receive the County Leitrim Enterprise Award and be recognised as a National Finalist. This would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our talented team." Winners of the National Enterprise Awards 2023 will be announced at a national awards ceremony on 1st June in the Mansion House, Dublin. Joe Lowe, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Leitrim commented, We are very proud to have CampusConnect represent Leitrim as our National Finalist and look forward to continuing to support them to grow their business in the future. Pictured above: Cathal McArdle, Head of Product, CampusConnect, Joe Lowe, Head of Enterprise, Leitrim County Council, Declan Sweeney, Director, CampusConnect, Ita Reynolds Flynn, Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Lar Power, Chief Executive, Leitrim County Council and Adele Davey, Community Manager, CampusConnect FeatureThe Pamandzi administration detention center is located in Mayotte, in the Indian Ocean. Of the 32,000 people who passed through in 2022, 26,000 were deported. Those who work at the administrative detention center (CRA) in Pamandzi, Mayotte, say it is an atypical place in many ways. Three-quarters of deportations from France are carried out there. In Mayotte, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, border police data for 2022 shows that over 32,000 people were detained, of whom more than 26,000 were deported, mostly toward other islands in the Comoros archipelago. Since the beginning of the year, nearly 10,000 people have been placed in the Pamandzi CRA or in temporary detention facilities. The fight against illegal immigration has become a priority policy, as one of the pillars of the Wuambushu operation that the government has launched in Mayotte. As part of this law enforcement operation, the government also wants to crack down on crime and unauthorized shanty towns. One of the men's sectors of the administrative detention center in Pamandzi, Mayotte, April 25, 2023. MORGAN FACHE FOR LE MONDE The current 136-place CRA was opened in Pamandzi, on Petite-Terre, one of the two inhabited islands of Mayotte, in 2015. People stay there for a short time, usually less than two days, compared to an average detention period in France of 23 days, according to the annual report on detention centers published on Wednesday, April 26, by five organizations. "Here, there are 80 entries and exits on average every day," said police officer Jean-Pierre Touzeau, the deputy head of the CRA, during a visit to the center by Le Monde on Tuesday, April 25, that was part of the right of visit exercised by Green MEP Damien Careme. The frantic turnover rate is mainly explained by the proximity of the Comoros (every day, a boat sends deportees back to Anjouan, the nearest island) and by the special exemption law allowing the police to carry out identity checks throughout the territory. In their annual report, the organizations denounce "the special legal regime that (...) allows the authorities to carry out deportations without allowing time for those detained to exercise their right of appeal." Hostility of the Comoros This week, however, the mechanism broke down. Operation Wuambushu has aroused hostility in the Comoros, and on Monday a boat carrying 36 deportees had to turn back after it was refused entry to the port of Anjouan. Similarly, while the government has opened additional detention facilities for two months to accommodate 40 people, the pace of placements has slowed. Since April 22, French authorities have not detected any kwassa-kwassa, the fishing boats in which Comorian migrants attempt to reach Mayotte every day from Anjouan, which is 70 kilometers away. Marcellia, 23, in the administrative detention center. Originally from Madagascar, she has been in Mayotte since 2018 with her 4-year-old son. Not having obtained any papers. She requested a voluntary return to Madagascar. MORGAN FACHE FOR LE MONDE The prefecture has said it intercepted 571 of them in 2022 thanks to a battery of radars and naval means. Sporadic clashes over the past few days between police and youth gangs in several districts of Mayotte have pushed the fight against illegal immigration into the background. "The immediate focus is on public order," said deputy prefect Frederic Sautron. You have 54.85% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Displaced Sudanese women ride donkeys in Darfur from a food distribution centre in Zam Zam refugee camp in the north of Sudan. ANTONY NJUGUNA / REUTERS A US-brokered ceasefire between Sudan's warring generals brought some calm to the capital, but witnesses reported fresh air strikes and paramilitaries claimed to have seized a major oil refinery and power plant. "The pause was not fully upheld, with attacks on headquarters, attempts to gain ground, air strikes, and explosions in different areas of the capital," UN Special Representative Volker Perthes told the Security Council Tuesday, April 26. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Two rival generals plunge Sudan into deadly chaos 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 ? Perthes said he maintained contact with both generals currently at war: army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy-turned-rival, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the heavily-armed paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). "There is yet no unequivocal sign that either is ready to seriously negotiate," Perthes said. Security fears were compounded when the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of a "huge biological risk" after fighters occupied a Khartoum laboratory holding samples of cholera, measles, polio and other infectious diseases. With the heaviest combat eased thousands of foreigners and Sudanese continued to flee the capital. Ten days of heavy fighting until Monday has killed hundreds of people, left bodies rotting in the streets, and some neighborhoods of greater Khartoum in ruins. Bewildered civilians were seen walking down one street in Khartoum North where almost all buildings were blasted out and smoke rose from scorched ruins, in unverified video posted on social media. Witnesses in the same area later reported air strikes, and paramilitary forces firing anti-aircraft weapons. In the capital's twin city Omdurman, witnesses heard gunfire. Late Tuesday witnesses reported more air strikes in Khartoum North where they said fighter jets struck RSF vehicles heading north. A boat with 1,687 civilians from more than 50 countries fleeing the violence arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the foreign ministry said, the largest rescue effort by the Gulf kingdom to date. The group was "transported by one of the Kingdom's ships, and the Kingdom was keen to provide all the basic needs of foreign nationals in preparation for their departure," the ministry said in a statement. Attacks on civilians Perthes on Tuesday also denounced the "disregard for the laws and norms of war" in the conflict that has seen civilians and hospitals attacked. The fighting, he said, "has created a humanitarian catastrophe with civilians bearing the brunt." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres repeated his concerns that the conflict could spread to other countries in the region. "Sudan borders seven countries, all of which have either been involved in conflict or seen serious civil unrest over the past decade," he said. "The power struggle in Sudan is not only putting that country's future at risk. It is lighting a fuse that could detonate across borders, causing immense suffering for years, and setting development back by decades." 'Tens of thousands' fleeing A UN report said "shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel are becoming extremely acute, especially in Khartoum and surrounding areas". "In some places, humanitarian aid is all that is keeping famine at bay," UN chief Antonio Guterres said Tuesday. Despite the rocketing prices of fuel and bus tickets required to escape, the UN "received reports of tens of thousands of people arriving in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan," Assistant Secretary General Joyce Msuya said Tuesday. The UN warned it was bracing for an exodus of up to 270,000 refugees to Sudan's even poorer neighbours Chad and South Sudan. Fighting has killed at least 459 people and wounded more than 4,000 across Africa's third-biggest country, according to UN agencies. Le Monde with AFP Outside the court in Rabat on April 13, 2023, during the appeal trial of three men accused of repeatedly raping an 11-year-old girl. FADEL SENNA / AFP The victim's lawyers said they were "satisfied" with the verdict and Moroccan society felt it had been heard. On Friday, April 14, the Rabat Court of Appeal increased the sentences of the three men accused of repeatedly raping 11-year-old Sanaa in a village near Tiflet, who is now the mother of a child born of this violence. One of the defendants was sentenced to 20 years in prison, and the other two to 10 years. In the first trial, on March 20, they were each sentenced to two years in prison. That verdict had caused an outcry in Morocco, giving rise to an intense wave of indignation. Citizens, activists and intellectuals all came out to protest against a sentence deemed outrageously lenient and to demand a change to the country's judiciary system that has been too lax towards sexual aggressors. The tragic case of Sanaa, far from being isolated, echoes many others. Some have shaken Moroccan society, such as that of Khadija Souidi, a 17-year-old girl who committed suicide in 2016 after her rapists were released. Or that of 15-year-old Amina Filali, who took her own life in 2012 after being forced to marry her rapist. But many similar cases go under the radar. However, "if we look at the decisions issued by the courts, we realize that every day there are dozens of Sanaas who do not receive justice and as many aggressors who escape the law," said lawyer Laila Slassi, co-founder of "Masaktach" ("I will not be silent"), an action group that denounces violence against women and the "legitimization of rape culture" in Morocco. In 2020, the group conducted a study on the judicial treatment of cases of sexual violence. Based on 1,169 trials, it showed that 80% of defendants convicted of rape had received sentences lower than those stipulated by law, which states imprisonment of five to ten years, and between ten to 20 years when the victim is a minor (up to 30 years in case of "defilement"). "The average sentence length for rape, including in cases against children, does not exceed three years and one month," continued Slassi. "The leniency of sentences is systematic." Use of extenuating circumstances Sanaa's case crystallized "all the aberrations of the judicial system in terms of sexual violence," said Amina Bouayach, president of the Moroccan national human rights council (CNDH). Starting with the charges: "abduction of a minor" and "indecent assault," rather than "rape." In addition, the judges in the first trial granted extenuating circumstances to the accused, justifying them by their "social conditions," the "absence of a criminal record" and the fact that "the legally prescribed sentence is severe in relation to the alleged offenses." A "miscarriage of justice," criticized Bouayach, as "the facts describe organized and repeated gang rapes with the use of violence on an 11-year-old child. This is aggravated rape." This use of extenuating circumstances, left entirely to the discretion of judges, "is used fairly systematically in cases of sexual violence to promote impunity for rapists," reported Stephanie Willman Bordat, a lawyer and co-founder of Mobilising for Rights Associates (MRA), a Rabat-based NGO. "This gives judges free rein to indulge their gender stereotypes and make excuses for the perpetrators," she said. "There should be safeguards. It should not be possible to grant extenuating circumstances in cases of sexual violence against minors or adults. This would be a way of setting in stone that sexual crimes are the most serious," argued Youssef Chehbi, a lawyer in Casablanca, who also pleads for specialized criminal chambers, "with magistrates who know what sexual assault is and are aware of the seriousness of the after-effects that it causes." The penal code has 'flaws' In addition to the difficulties in obtaining justice, there is also the risk of switching from the status of victim to that of perpetrator. In cases of rape, article 490 of the Moroccan penal code, which criminalizes sexual relations outside marriage, hangs over victims. "Very often, this article is used by men as a blackmail tool to continue perpetrating their crime with impunity," explained Willman Bordat. "And if the victim nevertheless decides to file a complaint for rape but cannot prove it because it requires proof of physical injury she runs the risk of being prosecuted in return for illegal sexual relations." This is one reason that may explain why only 3% of victims file complaints in Morocco, according to a 2019 report by the high commission for planning. The criminal code also has "flaws" in the framework that governs how investigations are conducted, according to Willman Bordat: "Very often, investigators look first and foremost to see if the people knew each other beforehand. If they did, they'll take that as evidence of consent, without investigating further, without looking at the act of violence itself, the behavior of the assailant or the circumstances." In 2018, the kingdom adopted a law against violence against women. While the bill was hailed as a step forward in particular, it criminalizes sexual harassment and provides care mechanisms for victims it was nevertheless characterized as significantly inadequate by feminist organizations. It is urgent to enact laws "Marital rape is still not criminalized; it is considered a wife's marital duty. The marriage of minors, which promotes sexual exploitation, is still possible with the authorization of a judge. The culture of rape, which is universal, continues to permeate the entire judicial system in Morocco," complained activist Ibtissame Betty Lachgar, coordinator of the alternative movement for individual liberties (MALI). Furthermore, this law did not change the definition of rape, which is included in the Moroccan penal code under the heading of "crimes and offenses against family order and public morality." "It is as if what is really denounced is not so much the fact that there has been violence and an attack on the other person, but that there has been a sexual relationship outside the traditional framework, namely marriage. This can explain in part the very lenient sentences that we see," underlined Bouayach. While a reform of the penal code announced long ago but successively blocked, withdrawn and postponed is "in the finalization phase," according to the Ministry of Justice, the CNDH president is calling for the reclassification of rape as "sexual violence," in line with international standards, "that is to say a serious crime affecting the physical integrity of the victim." In her eyes, it is urgent to enact laws because the taboos around sexual violence often suppressed for fear of scandal or hchouma ("shame") are, according to her, gradually fading away. And because the indignation aroused in Morocco by Sanaa's case is indicative of "a rejection of the normalization of sexual violence and archaic stereotypes." Aurelie Collas(Casablanca (Morocco) correspondent) Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version. *SOME READERS MAY FIND THE FOLLOWING REPORT UPSETTING* A COUNTY Limerick law graduate has been sentenced to four years' imprisonment for the rape of a woman after they had been engaged in consensual sex after meeting in a pub earlier that night. The sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court heard that Eoin Considine, aged 24 of Old Barna Road, Newcastle West and the complainant had been engaging in consensual sexual intercourse which then became rough. The intercourse continued after the woman had withdrawn consent and begged Considine to stop, the court heard. Considine had pleaded not guilty to rape of the woman at her then residence in Limerick city on August 11, 2019. He was convicted by a jury following a trial last January. The woman, a student nurse, told the trial that she was out drinking in a city centre pub with her friends when she met the defendant. They left together and went to her home where they began having consensual sex. She said during this he began pulling her hair and banging her head against the headboard of the bed. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and she asked him to stop and he did but then did it again. The court heard the sexual intercourse continued in a consensual way at this point. The woman testified that after a while the man became much rougher and he put his hand around my neck and started to choke me. She said at one point she was unable to breathe and she was very frightened and was shaking her head to tell him to stop. She said he moved his hands on to her shoulders and was pinning her down. The court heard that it was at this point she withdrew her consent and the man continued sexual penetration without consent. I started begging him to stop but he didn't stop having sex with me, she said. She said this lasted 90 seconds before she was able to move him off by getting her feet up and under him and pushing him away. Considine apologised to the woman and told her he thought she liked it and that he'd had a previous girlfriend that liked it. He also told her he couldnt stop because she was so good looking. The woman was upset and asked Considine to leave. He initially refused and said he wanted to make sure she was okay but she told him she just wanted him to leave and he did, the court heard. Imposing sentence, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said rape was a very serious offence whatever form it takes. He said rape was a violation of the victim's bodily integrity and a grossly invasive act of violence. The judge noted that the prosecution had emphasised that there was extensive consensual engagement between the woman and Considine for most of their time together, except for the period of 60 to 90 seconds in question. He said the circumstances of this case are somewhat unusual, however consensual sexual engagement beforehand, does not excuse a failure to stop. Mr Justice McDermott set a headline sentence of four and a half years. He noted that Considine accepts the verdict of the jury, but continues to deny rape. Mr Justice McDermott said there was no guilty plea or expressions of remorse which would allow the court to reduce the headline sentence substantially. He said Considine's regrets are focused on the impact of this case on his family, but there has been little or no thought for the victim. Mr Justice McDermott handed Considine a prison sentence of four years. He also directed Considine to place himself under the supervision of the Probation Service for 18 months post-release. In her victim impact report, the woman said that she was left with bruising on her arms and neck and suffered bleeding from her scalp. She said that she lost any sense of safety in her own bedroom and felt safer staying out all night than she did in her own bed. She said she found it hard to move on from the idea that that my primary worth only goes so far to provide sexual gratification and as a result she became hyper-sexual. She said Considine's defence used photos from her phone to try to portray her as promiscuous but that these photos were taken after the assault. She said she experienced suicidal ideation and that during the trial she felt she had been the one on trial. Addressing Considine directly, she stated: You've offered me no explanation, admission or remorse. You took so much from me in just 90 seconds. Mr Justice McDermott said that the evidence was that the sexual activity was consensual up to the point at which Considine pinned the woman down by her shoulders. After the woman identified Considine through Instagram and Facebook, gardai contacted Considine by phone and he knew why they were calling. He told gardai: I got it wrong, it was wrong, is she okay, I took things too far, I need to face up to that, but during the trial he attempted to resile from these admissions, Lisa Dempsey BL, prosecuting, told the court. Kathleen Leader SC, representing Considine, handed over a dozen testimonials into court from local business owners in County Limerick. She said everyone who knew her client spoke well of him as a hard-working, gentle and inclusive young man who did his best to help people and who contributed to the community. She said what happened on the night in question was very much out of character. Considine has no previous convictions and qualified with a law degree from University College Cork. A consultant psychiatrist who treated him stated that since the allegations he has suffered with severe depression and significant suicidal behaviour. Mr Justice McDermott noted that the woman's victim impact statement outlined the impact of this incident on her life and that it had affected her sense of security in her own home and in intimate relationships. He noted that certain aggravating factors are absent in this case and said this was not a premeditated or predatory offence. The judge noted that Considine was a very young man at the time with considerable prospects notwithstanding his conviction. He said he took into consideration the mitigation on behalf of Considine including that he is considered to be at low to moderate risk of re-offending. Mr Justice McDermott also directed the man to have no contact with the victim through any means. PLANS to transform vacant, former bank buildings to house over 40 Ukrainian nationals are to progress, after public meetings helped allay local concerns in two west Limerick towns. Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) has announced plans to convert two former Bank of Ireland branches in Abbeyfeale and Askeaton into temporary accommodation in 12 weeks, by late June. Both properties will provide a communal kitchen and recreational space. A total of 44 people are expected to be housed under the government funded Emergency Refurbishment (Ukraine) Project - 21 in Askeaton and 23 in Abbeyfeale. While the community councils in both Abbeyfeale and Askeaton are supporting the project, it has also been met by some opposition in the latter, where a petition, created by a local, was signed by approximately 350 people. Representing Askeaton, Fine Gael councillor Adam Teskey was one of those who signed the petition and has spoken out against the plans a number of times in meetings. Cllr Teskey said: The key issue is this is about the most iconic centralised building in the town, which was originally purchased on the premise that it was going to be turned into a community e-hub to facilitate the people of Askeaton, in terms of high-access broadband, and the access of much-needed space to drive business forward. In contrast, the local authority and both community councils are supporting the repurposing of the vacant buildings, with Ukrainian Response Accommodation Lead with LCCC, Sonja Reidy, speaking highly of the welcome being given by both localities. She said: The welcome being provided by the two communities, in Abbeyfeale and Askeaton, is a reflection of the warmth and kindness of those who call west Limerick home. It provides great comfort to know that Abbeyfeale and Askeaton will be able to provide safe and inviting places to stay for those fleeing Ukraine. Community council meetings were held in both towns, respectively, on April 12 and 13. In Askeaton, the vacant bank is located on the East Square of the town. A person who attended the Askeaton meeting said: There was a lot of negativity from some quarters about this. Im much happier after hearing the facts. The general consensus in Abbeyfeale was positive: When everyone works together with a proactive mindset, the outcome is always positive. Over 2,000 Ukrainian people have already been housed in Limerick. EXCITEMENT is building in Limerick with tens of thousands of people set to descend on Shannonside for Riverfest. Limericks flagship May Bank Holiday weekend festival gets under way on Friday, with four fun days of activities set to take place on the banks of the river Shannon. The organisers are promising that it will be a one-stop festival for live music, good food, thrilling performances and all around good craic! There will be a huge choice of activities across the weekend, including the traditional barbecue on the boardwalk beside the river, the Riverfestival village in Arthurs Quay Park, while the Great Limerick Run will see runners pound the city streets on Sunday. Its the 19th time Riverfest has been staged, with last year seeing 120,000 people enjoying it as it returned following a Covid-19 hiatus. On Sunday night, the Strand Hotel will play host to the popular Abba tribute band, the Sensations, with the skies then being decorated with a spectacular fireworks display, which are set to get under way at 10.15pm. On Friday night, there will also be an exciting fireshow in Bedford Row. The Panoramic Wheel has moved from Arthurs Quay Park to the Potato Market to provide spectacular overhead views of the city. And other highlights of the weekend festival include Riverfest Flyboarding, a water-based stunt show designed to amaze and the Riverfest Freedrop for the thrill-seekers among us. For younger family members, there will be a scavenger hunt, and a slime lab providing a gooey, oozy experience for curious minds! A chill-out zone and sensory room, in partnership with ASD Ireland, has been set up outside the Hunt Museum to allow children and adults with autism to get away from it all. Festivals and events officer at Limerick City and County Council Eugene Crimmins said: The city is abuzz with excitement leading up to Riverfest Limerick 2023 with something for everyone. The councils senior executive officer for tourism Eileen Coleman added: With Riverfest, we endeavour to appeal to all audiences and age groups. Its so important for families to spend quality time together, especially during the Bank Holiday weekends and there are a number of events that families can enjoy together. Mayor Francis Foley added: Riverfest signals the start of summer for all in Limerick and the region. This years festival is busier than ever and once again Limerick City will be the place to be over the four days. With river-based fun, sport, music, culture and food to the fore, where else would you be this May bank holiday weekend than in Limerick. As always, the people of Limerick will embrace visitors from Ireland and the World for the festival where we, as a people, can showcase what were about. For a full guide to events telephone 061-556000 or visit riverfest.ie MULTI-MILLION euro works to transform OConnell Street in Limerick city are anticipated to be fully completed within the month of May, council has said. This weekend, with tens of thousands of people set to descend on the city for Riverfest, work on the revitalisation programme will cease. It comes as traders call for no more major work to take place in the city centre for the next two years to allow businesses to recover. Shane Gleeson, a member of a traders delegation who met with Neale Richmond, the minister with responsibility for retail said: Between Covid-19 and the roadworks, weve had four years of waste. We need a couple of years grace without roadworks, to recover. Work on the revitalisation of Limericks main thoroughfare began in April 2021 with a projected completion date of November 2022. That was since put back, with the Leader revealing in February that council were looking at a proposed April finish. As part of the 9.1m project, wider footpaths are in place to allow more people to gather. Planters are in place, while there are spill-out zones from shops and cafes. The new plan sees general traffic reduced to one lane on the street and a bus lane. Street furniture and water features are being added, with a central plaza at Thomas Street by Brown Thomas used as a focal point for pedestrian gathering and on-street trading. A council spokesperson said the contractor is in the final stages of work to complete the revamp. The project is anticipated to be fully completed in May, they confirmed, The project is at the on-side construction stage and is nearing handover. Asked what has caused the latest round of delays, the council added: Delays were caused by unforeseen remedial works required to address localised pre-existing soft spots uncovered within junctions in advance of laying the final surface treatment. In addition, necessary repairs were required to rectify unforeseen damage to underground vault structures. Traders have asked for governmental support to bring customers back to the city in the wake of the disruption. The Limerick City Centre Traders Association which represents almost 200 business people met Mr Richmond this week. Mr Gleeson, who runs Spar in Catherine Street, said: The key things we looked at is because the roadworks have gone on for this length of time, a lot of our custom, maybe up to half, were not able to access the city. We are hoping to re-welcome them to the city, and get a programme of events going on. We all had the same ask: between Covid-19 and the roadworks, its knocked a huge percentage off our trade which used to access the city. They are out of the habit of coming in, so we need to do something to bring them back in. We need big stuff, not little stuff. And we need it for a year or two, Mr Gleeson concluded. RIVERFEST is not the only fun-filled event coming back to Limerick this bank holiday weekend, as the west of the county gear up for a music event with "something for everyone." The county's traditional music festival, Fleadh by the Feale returns to Abbeyfeale for its 29th year. Taking place from Thursday 27, to Monday 1, inclusive, the festival celebrates Irish music, dance and culture, and welcomes both "existing and new visitors every year." According to a spokesperson for the festival, it "has developed and expanded and now encompasses a host of great events and activities across five days." Regarding the "fine events" that are due to take place at various times over from Thursday to Monday, the spokesperson added, "there will be something for everyone." From busking competitions, art exhibitions and ceilis, to workshops, trad sessions and concerts, the town "has a lot to offer over the the weekend." Another of the main unique events to take place during the Fleadh festival, is the bone playing competition which continues to welcome newcomers each year, with a workshop on playing on Monday at 4pm. Featured on the Fleadh by the Feale facebook page, Senior All Ireland bones competition winner, James Yoshizawa, from Los Angeles, California won the title in 2022. More information about the weekend ahead, and the programme of events can be found here. LIMERICK MACRA members were due to arrive at Government Buildings in Merrion Square this Wednesday afternoon after marching 79kms through the night from Athy in Co Kildare. Macra, which will be shortly led by president-elect Elaine Houlihan from Athlacca, picked Athy as that is where the organisation was founded in 1944. Ms Houlihan said: We are taking steps for our future, to ensure young people, families can live and prosper in rural Ireland as the youth are the backbone of these communities. Outgoing Macra president John Keane said: Our message is clear, we want a future in rural Ireland, we want our rural communities to survive and thrive into the future. We are walking for the future of our local communities. Macra has eight key issues: 1. Accessing affordable housing and cumbersome housing planning guidelines. 2. Disjointed and sparse healthcare services for rural communities. 3. The Governments definition of a family farm as average and typical. 4. No recognition or engagement by Government on a farming succession scheme. 5. Lack of planning for the future of our rural communities informed by rural people. 6. Imposition of quotas on young farmers availing of grant aid support. 7. Lack of public transport for rural Ireland. 8. Proposals to rewet large areas. Structures for delivering public sector procurement in Northern Ireland are currently incapable of showing that the process delivers value for money, a new report has said. Arrangements to provide leadership, governance and accountability are not working effectively, Comptroller and Auditor General Dorinnia Carville concluded. Public procurement consumes around 25% of the Northern Ireland budget. The Procurement Board is responsible for ensuring that activity is carried out effectively and delivers value for money. The report identifies several key structural weaknesses in current arrangements. It highlighted the lack of an overarching strategy to coordinate procurement activity, as well as a lack of staff with the appropriate capacity and capability to effectively manage this activity. The report also said there was an absence of high-quality and timely data, which has undermined governance and transparency, limiting meaningful oversight of the performance of public bodies involved in procurement. The report said: Without effective performance monitoring and in the absence of appropriate data, the Board is incapable of demonstrating that the Northern Ireland procurement function represents value for money. Consequently, it remains open to the perceptions of widespread failure that have bedevilled it for many years. Without fundamental changes to culture and structures, as well as to processes, this is likely to continue. The report said that recent action taken by the board has improved how procurement works. Ms Carville said: It is important to recognise that the Northern Ireland public sector delivers many successful procurements practitioners are often frustrated by what they consider blanket characterisations of how public procurement is managed and delivered. At the same time, repeated criticisms, particularly in relation to large-scale construction and IT projects, do demonstrate that the public procurement function remains vulnerable to these negative perceptions of widespread failure and financial waste. While my report does highlight examples of recent progress, strategic weaknesses in procurement arrangements remain. Until these are addressed, the fundamental changes to culture, structures and processes that are needed will not be achieved. The report made four recommendations: The Department of Finance should commission a fundamental review to ensure that arrangements support effective strategy setting, policy development, governance and accountability for procurement. The department, in consultation with procurement practitioners, should develop a new strategy to underpin how procurement functions in Northern Ireland. The department and/or the Procurement Board should develop the strategic oversight of capacity and capability. The board should establish arrangements to ensure that all bodies provide complete, accurate and timely procurement data to enable effective oversight of public procurement activity. A spokesperson for the Department of Finance said: The department welcomes the NI Audit Offices report and its recognition of the progress made in delivering and implementing significant new policies relating to social value and supply chain security alongside improvements to the way in which policy and guidance is disseminated to, and used by, public bodies. Public procurement is a key enabler to deliver economic, environmental and social considerations through public spending. At a time of financial constraints having the right strategy, leadership, governance and accountability for our procurement functions is of critical importance. Establishing the right structures and governance will require accurate and timely data, which the report has highlighted as an issue. The department will work with Northern Ireland Civil Service departments to review the recommendations and how these can be taken forward. Non-profit organisations in Limerick are being encouraged to apply to the Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund, which aims to support projects within the community that strengthen resilience in young people and help them manage anxiety. Vhi were recently joined by Dochas Midwest Autism Support and young people from Limerick City to launch the third consecutive year of the Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund. Established in 2020 in partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation (IYF), the Fund is dedicated to enhancing the health and wellbeing of young people. The emphasis this year continues to be on supporting programmes focused on early intervention and prevention for young people. It is open to applications from non-profit and charitable organisations that work directly with young people or with adults who surround them. Grants of 5K and 10K will be available through the Fund. Speaking at the launch, Karen Yelverton, Corporate Account Manager, Vhi Healthcare said: At Vhi, our purpose is to help our customers live longer, stronger, healthier lives but we also want our local communities to have the opportunity to achieve this goal too. It is with this in mind that we were delighted to be joined by Dochas Midwest Autism Support and young people from Limerick City to launch this years Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund. This is our third year of the Fund and the impact it has had on participants in Cork and beyond has been inspiring to see, Yelverton said. Impact to date Since the fund first opened for applications in 2021, 22 grassroots projects have been funded in the six counties where Vhi operate. More than 4,000 young people have been directly impacted through one-to-one project work undertaken by the organisations entering the Fund, with just under 200,000 young people indirectly benefitting from the initiative. Every young person supported by the Fund over the last two years has gained the opportunity to better understand how to manage their own health and wellbeing while also developing skills to help them navigate feelings of anxiety when they face them. Id encourage all eligible organisations to apply for the Fund, she added. Community groups benefiting A number of organisations in Limerick have benefitted from the Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund. In 2022, Dochas Midwest Autism Support was awarded a grant as part of its efforts to support children and young adults with autism in the Mid-West region. The grant from the Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund enabled Dochas Midwest Autism Support to work with schools within the city to develop workshops and site visits to decrease the fear and anxiety around transitioning from primary to secondary school for children with autism. Fund open to applicants With the current generation of young people dealing with so many challenges over the last couple of years, projects supported by the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund are vital in helping them to remain resilient and move ahead with confidence. Speaking about the impact of the programme Cyril Killeen, Manager Dochas Midwest Autism Support in Limerick said: We were delighted to receive the funding last year through the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund. With the funding, we were able to deliver three workshops and engage young people with autism in schools across Limerick. Entering secondary school can be a daunting time for any young person but particularly young people with autism. With the funding we received, we supported the participants to help them navigate the transition and overcome any fears they had. I would encourage anyone working with young people in Limerick with an idea to apply. The Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund is now open to not-for-profit or charitable organisations in Limerick that are seeking to deliver projects dedicated to supporting the resilience of young people aged 12-25 years old. For more information, or to make an application, visit www.iyf.ie/grants *Sponsored Content To equip senior professionals, business leaders and evolving Chief Operations Officers (COO) with operational excellence to drive greater business efficiency, Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM Lucknow), one of the countrys leading B-Schools, and Emeritus, a global pioneer in offering accessible and affordable high-quality education to individuals and organisations, announced the roll-out of the Chief Operations Officer Programme Batch 3 . 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Emerituss collaboration with world-class institutions such as IIM Lucknow enables us to drive high-impact to professionals across the country as distinguished professors from the institute are also the programme faculty. We are excited to play an intrinsic role in shaping the future of many successful business leaders and organisations through this well-rounded curriculum." The nine modules in the programme will delve into operations strategy for business excellence, supply chain, dynamic pricing in the supply chain, strategic leadership, business finance, digital transformation and corporate communication and crisis management, among other subjects. The real-world case studies will allow participants to take a close look at operations at some of the worlds largest companies such as Amazon, Walmart, etc. Batch 3 of the IIML Chief Operations Officer Programme will begin on June 30, 2023, with the early bird deadline being May 2, 2023. 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IIM Lucknow is now ranked 79th globally in its maiden entry into the prestigious Financial Times (FT) 100 List of Global Business Schools for its flagship PGP (MBA) Programme. The Institute scored high on student employability, career progression and research. About Emeritus Emeritus offers customised and open programmes in India, Singapore, Dubai and other global locations in collaboration with IIM Lucknow Executive Education, IIM Calcutta Executive Education, ISB Executive Education, Harvard Business School (HBS), MIT Sloan, Columbia Business School, Kellogg Executive Education, Berkeley Executive Education, and Wharton Executive Education, amongst other leading Institutes. Our world-class executive education programmes, supported by eminent programme experts, provide an immersive learning experience integrated with actionable insights and practical business applications. The meticulously curated programmes are delivered in a different range of formats; in-class, online, as well as blended programmes. Our extensive portfolio also includes short 2-4 day in-class workshops, online courses of 2-3 months duration as well as comprehensive learning journeys that run over 6-9 months, customised to an organisations requirement. The Emeritus Group has more than 1,750 employees globally and offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Shanghai, Singapore, Palo Alto, Mexico City, New York, Boston, London, and Dubai. Following its $650 million Series E funding round in August 2021, the company is valued at $3.2 billion, and is backed by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Leeds Illuminate, Prosus Ventures, Sequoia Capital India, Bertelsmann, Accel and SoftBank Vision Fund 2. Learn more at emeritus.org/in Media Contact Details Vasudha Rao, Adfactors PR, vasudha.rao@adfactorspr.com, +91-9820347118 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. Engineering firm L&T Technology Services reported a net profit of 309.6 crore in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2023. The company witnessed a growth of around 18% in net profit year on year. The revenue of also saw an increase of 19% and reached to 2096.2 crore during the quarter. Transportation, which is the biggest segment and accounts for 34.5% of the overall revenue, experienced a significant increase of 23.9% during Q4. For the fiscal year 2023, the company saw a growth of around 22% in both net profit and revenue. The revenue of L&T Tech touched 8,014 crore, while the net profit for the year was 1,170 crore. L&T Technology will offer a final dividend of 30 per share, as per the recommendation of the board of the company. FY23 was a landmark year for us as we crossed a billion dollars in revenue run rate and 1,000 crores in annual profits. Our EBIT margin was the highest ever at 18.5% driven by a strong focus on building a robust and sustainable operating model. The combination of steady growth and expanding operating margin has led to an 18% CAGR in profits over the last 5 years," L&T Tech said in a release. The company also released the details around the allotment of shares for those who had exercised their vested stock options under the Companys Employee Stock Option Scheme, 2016. We wish to inform you that the Company has allotted 16,550 equity shares of the face value of Rs. 2/- each on April 26, 2023, to those grantees who had exercised their vested stock options under the Companys Employee Stock Option Scheme, 2016. The said shares will rank pari- passu with the existing shares of the Company in all respects," L&T Tech announced in a separate statement. The company, which offers engineering services for the transportation and industrial products industries, has reported securing three contracts worth over $10 million in total during the last quarter. One of these contracts, announced in February, involves partnering with French technology company Thales to develop private 5G networks for urban railways. Another contract, announced the month before, involves becoming a strategic partner for aircraft manufacturer Airbus for several years. Read More: Bajaj Finance garners 30.5% YoY growth in Q4 consolidated PAT to 3,158 cr, NII zooms 28% Amazon.com Inc. has started laying off employees in its cloud services operation amid slowing sales growth in its most profitable division. Amazon Web Services employees in the US, Canada and Costa Rica whose jobs were being eliminated were notified early Wednesday, the units chief said in an email to employees. AWS generates most of the companys profits but is experiencing slowing growth as corporate customers look to trim expenses. Overall, Amazon is axing 27,000 mostly corporate positions after a hiring spree during the pandemic left the company with too many people. Having wrapped up a round of job cuts earlier this year that totaled about 18,000 workers, Amazon announced another 9,000 layoffs in March, which Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy said would land on AWS, human resources, advertising and the Twitch livestreaming service. Cuts were rolled out in recent weeks in areas including Twitch and the companys video game group. It is a tough day across our organization" AWS chief Adam Selipsky said in the email, which was seen by Bloomberg. AWS, like much of the rest of Amazon, expanded its headcount rapidly as the pandemic boosted demand for digital services. Given this rapid growth, as well as the overall business and macroeconomic climate, it is critical that we focus on identifying and putting our resources behind our top prioritiesthose things that matter most to customers and that will move the needle for our business," Selipsky said. In many cases this means team members are shifting the projects, initiatives or teams on which they work; however, in other cases it has resulted in these role eliminations." Some AWS-related teams had already been hit by layoffs, including recruiters and members of the Just Walk Out" physical stores technology group that joined the division in a reorganization last year. But the first rounds of cuts landed heaviest on the companys recruiting and human resources teams, its sprawling retail group and devices teams. Amazon employed 1.54 million people worldwide at the end of December. The vast majority of those workers are hourly employees who pack and ship products in warehouses. Before the first round of layoffs began in November, the company said it had roughly 350,000 corporate employees. Other tech giants have also reduced their headcount, including Meta Platforms Inc., Google parent company Alphabet Inc., Microsoft Corp., Dell Technologies Inc. and International Business Machines Corp. Amazon is scheduled to report financial results on Thursday, and investors will be watching to see if cost-cutting measures have helped profitability and whether cloud services sales growth is bottoming out. Read More: From Google to Amazon, tech giants offer 1-year salary to encourage resignation This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Throwing light upon the transformational journey of Airtel into one of India's giant telecom companies, Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal, said Airtel has changed a lot and moved from the old, typical telecom ways to become a much better consumer-centric company. Airtel doesn't think like a telecom company anymore. Telecom companies are still not doing as well as the new native digital companies like Amazon or others in terms of customer delivery," said Sunil Mittal in an interview with Economic Times. Also Read: Airtel partners Secure Meters to deploy NB-IoT services for smart meter solution in Bihar He also added that to survive the 2016's tsunami, which was mainly led by Reliance Jio, Airtel has truly exceptionally transformed itself into an institution." Lingering on the possibility of what the Indian telecom sector would have looked like if 2016's wouldn't happened, he said that some players still existed in the sector. The chances that India would have five or six operators without the 2016 event would have been a clear possibility," he said. Also Read: Airtel introduces new plans with unlimited 5G data, free Amazon Prime and Disney+ Hotstar subscriptions. Check details Shedding light upon the struggle of Bharti Airtel in 2003, when it faced tough competition from other telecom companies, and in 2020 when the Supreme Court announced its verdict on AGR, Sunil Mittal said that the company had to face a lot of difficulty in 2003 to face the tough competition. Airtel was young at that time. We came very strongly from there. We had transformational deal with IBM, Nokia, and Ericsson at that time. So, we got recognised as a trailblazer in telecommunications," he told ET. Also Read: Bharti Airtel shares a long-term 'Buy', analysts bullish ahead of Q4 The Bharti Airtel founder believes that the rough phase of 2008-9-10 in the telecom sector was the result of government policy. 10-12 new licences were given mindlessly, recklessly, giving the existing spectrum pools that the companies had and completely diminishing the hopes of existing telecom firms," he added. If required we will take complete control of Indus Towers, says Sunil Mittal Sunil Mittal told ET that Indus Towers is a very crucial part of the telecom infrastructure and the company cannot afford to lose it. He stated that his company has already increased its stakeholding in the company to 48 per cent. If required, we will take complete control of the company because it is necessary for us," reported ET quoting Sunil Mittal. Also Read: Airtel, Jio to offer 1.1 million CUG connections to Indian Railways employees Public listing of Airtel Payments bank On the public listing of Airtel Payments Bank, Sunil Mittal said, Airtel Payments Bank has got more than 56 million customers now. In FY23-24, it will start to shine." The company will enter into its eighth year of operation in FY24-25, and companies are supposed to get listed within ten years for shareholding readjustments, he added. For the listing of Airtel Payments Bank, Sunil Mittal, cited the importance of separation in the operation of the company. Mumbai: Bollywood star Akshay Kumar, who recently partnered with Mandhana Industries to launch an apparel brand Force IX, said that he wants to invest only in businesses where he sees a brand connect. My personal belief is that it doesnt make sense to invest in a start-up or any business for that matter where I dont have a personal connect. I wouldnt want to invest in a business just to be a shareholder and not be a part of it," Kumar said in an interview. On 26 January, Kumar announced the launch of his apparel label, Force IX, and a select athleisure line was made available on the e-commerce platform Myntra. On Wednesday, Force IX opened its first exclusive store in Khar in the western suburbs of Mumbai. Kumar said the plan is to open nine exclusive stores by the end of 2023, and to increase the footprint to over 200 stores in the country over the next few years. This Khar store will be the flagship one, and we should open nine Force IX stores by the end of this year. Of course, the plan is to open 200-250 stores, along with the merchandise being available across other stores like Shoppers Stop etc," he said. While Kumar declined to comment on the quantum of investment, he said that he has invested his money, time, knowledge and energies to bring alive Force IX, which is very close to his heart. It will have the kind of clothes I like to wear. It is very much inspired by the Indian armed forces. Each piece of clothing and style is done by me personally. Its not just a business thing, its a part of me. We will start with athleisure and will add other categories". Out of every product sold, 9 will go to Bharat Ke Veer, a trust created by the Ministry of home affairs and supported by Kumar, for the support of families of martyrs of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). This is not the first time that Kumar has dabbled in the apparel business. He first had the idea to start the same 12-13 years back. But this time, he said he has found the right partner in Manish Mandhana (joint MD of Mandhana Industries). I tried, and invested money, but I was not happy with the kind of clothes they were coming out with 12-13 years ago. So, before starting it, I completely shut it down. When I met Manish and his team, they are all young lads, and very deep into it. They know the business and with my experience, we decided to start Force IX," Kumar said. Mandhana Industries owns 10 production units and has 4700 employees across offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Paris. The company has also partnered with Salman Khan for the Being Human apparel line. Kumar, who also announced a partnership with the Good Glamm Group to launch personal care products for men, said that the plan there is to launch products which he uses for face, hair and other personal care. As I said, the business I want to get into are those which suits my personality and the way I am," he said. Germany's Bosch Group said it is acquiring key assets of US chipmaker TSI Semiconductors. Bosch said on Wednesday it plans to invest $1.5 billion to retool TSI's chip production facilities in Roseville, California to start producing silicon carbide chips by 2026. The worlds biggest auto parts supplier plans to acquire the buildings, machines and infrastructure of TSI as well as well as its commercial semiconductor business. The investment will heavily depend" on federal funding opportunities, said Bosch. Bosch also said that the TSI facility would become the third pillar" of in-house semiconductor production, along with two sites in Germany. Bosch's automaker customers have continued to push for more secure, diversified sources of chips. We step into a market which is developing very fast," chief executive officer Stefan Hartung said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. The new platforms of electric vehicles it doesnt matter where they are produced in the world are mostly betting on silicon carbide technology," added Hartung. The silicon carbide chips are increasingly in demand by electric vehicle manufacturers, Bosch said. The silicon carbide chemistry enables greater driving range and faster recharging, Bosch added. Demand for silicon carbide semiconductors is growing by 30% annually, it said. Financial terms for the deal werent disclosed. The TSI site currently is a foundry for application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs used in various industries, Bosch said. This $1.5 billion investment will bring down costs, strengthen our electric vehicle supply chain, help rebuild American manufacturing, and create economic opportunity," US Vice President Kamala Harris said in a separate statement. (With inputs from agencies) NEW DELHI : Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the nations top automaker on Wednesday said it will boost annual production capacity by 1 million vehicles, following an in-principle approval from its board during the annual earnings meeting. The decision will help capitalize on the anticipated growth in both domestic and overseas markets, it added. The firm will fund the capacity addition using internal resources, Maruti Suzuki chairman R.C. Bhargava said on a conference call with reporters. View Full Image Graphic: Mint At present, the firm has a combined production capacity of 1.5 million units at its Manesar and Gurugram facilities, besides another 750,000 units at Suzukis Gujarat plant. At Toyotas Bidadi facility the company makes 200,000 units of the Grand Vitara, as well as the Toyota Hyryder. The carmaker is planning to set up a capacity of 250,000 units from its newly acquired plot in Kharkhoda, Haryana, by the end of 2024, besides enhancing production at its Manesar factory. It is seeking to surpass 2 million units in annual production by FY24, and grow faster than Indias passenger vehicle market, that is estimated to grow at 6-8% for the fiscal year. Maruti Suzuki seeks to export 750,000 units every year by 2030, or the equivalent capacity of its entire capacity at Suzuki Motor Co.s Gujarat facility. Maruti Suzuki will also launch a three-row, seven-seater sport utility vehicle (SUV) based on Toyotas Innova Hycross strong-hybrid powertrain, and market it under the Suzuki brand in the next three months. The move by Suzuki will help tap into the emerging SUV sub-segments, and build a more premium positioning for the brand. The carmaker reported a 42.7% jump in net profit to 2,624 crore for the quarter ended 31 March, from 1,839 crore a year ago, supported by better realizations for every vehicle sold, hinting at a pick up in sales of the firms new SUV models. Maruti Suzukis earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) per vehicle, rose 39% from the year earlier from 36,405 to 50,700 in Q4 FY23. The companys SUV portfolio has the refreshed compact SUV Brezza, as well as the mid-SUV Grand Vitara. It will also start dispatching its crossover SUV Fronx by the end of April. Suzukis off-roader Jimny is set to be launched in late May. We have crossed a major landmark this year of crossing 1 trillion turnover. The result is our profits compared to last year have more than doubled and we have been able to declare the highest ever dividend of 90 a share. We couldnt meet the 2 million production targetwe fell short by 4,000 units, but it was largely a function of semi-conductor shortage," Bhargava said. We and our parent Suzuki, looking at what we estimate to be the future market size going forward in the next eight years or so, see that besides Kharkhoda, where the potential for production is about 1 million units, we will still need more vehicles to meet both export and domestic demand by the end of the year. The board today in principle approved that Maruti should put up to 1 million additional capacity," he said. Now we still have to do a lot of work to determine where we should put up this factory, and in what phases, so it is not a ready-made project yet. But what is clear is that we will have to go ahead with Kharkhoda if the market hopefully holds up, and in addition we will have to do another project that can go up to a million units." The outlook for small cars remains somewhat negative. We are expecting the demand in the segment to remain stagnant in FY24." In FY23, Maruti sold 1.96 million vehicles, including 1.71 million units in India, while clocking the highest-ever exports of 259,333 units. NEW DELHI : Thailand-based Minor Hotels is looking to expand its presence in India. The company recently announced its second hotel project, a 150-room hotel in Jaipur which will open end of 2024. Its first was in Bodhgaya. The group operates hotels under brands like Anantara Hotels Resorts & Spas, Avani Hotels & Resorts, NH Hotels, and NH Collection across Europe and Southeast Asia. The companys group CEO, Dilip Rajakarier told Mint that it is evaluating many more possibilities in the country and will also consider bringing the companys restaurant brand Benihana to India. In 2018, the Thailand-based firm purchased 94% of NH Hotels for $729 million and went on to become a global player from being a regional owner and operator. In the same year, it also bought a majority stake in restaurant brand Benihana for $12 million. The company runs its Oaks brand in India and also has Elewana, Nhow and Hesperia elsewhere in the world. The company has been trying to enter India for the last decade and a half and for that, it built one hotel in Bodhgaya. We didnt find the right opportunity or the partner or the brand fit," Rajakarier said. Getting the right brand is important, its not putting up flags on hotels. We wanted to begin with a hotel which would blend in with Indian culture. Today, we have many Indian customers who use our hotels in Thailand, Maldives etc. where we host a lot of Indian weddings," he added. The company is now exploring cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Goa, and will either buy or manage its assets. Globally, it owns and leases about 85% of its assets and has 530 hotels and resorts in 56 countries. When we look at Indian market, we see a lot of younger generation travelling now, many of whom like to experience different hotel brands. Its a known fact that Indians do lavish weddings," he said. Compared to anywhere in the world, domestic flights are really cheap in India. Even during the pandemic, airlines had a lot of control on their businesses unlike in the other parts of the world," he added. Other than having a younger demographic, a lot is being spent on infrastructure in India, he said. At a global level for the company, Rajakarier said he expects the losses to take at least two years to recover. We took some measures to navigate around COVID and did a lot of things like refinancing, and raising fresh capital. But we also continued our growth plan as well during this time. In the coming years, there will be a fairly strong outlook for the travel industry because the post-pandemic resurgence has taught us that no matter what happens, the industry will survive," he said. Despite several brands checking into the country, hospitality consultants project that there is likely to be an under supply of hotels in the coming years. Hotels under active development in India are unlikely to keep pace with the increasing demand for hotel rooms. Based on research that hospitality consultancy Hotelivate has done, there are about 59,000 new rooms proposed across the country in the next five years. Of this, 72% or about 35,000 rooms are under active development. In 2020, pre-COVID, only about 35,000 rooms were being developed. The active development ratio has gone up by at least 10% now when compared to 2020. This means just about 7,000 rooms are going to be added per year to India, which is only a 4.5% growth in supply and demand will outpace this number, said the consultancy. NEW DELHI : State Bank of India (SBI) is taking all measures to avoid violating US sanctions by inadvertently processing payments for Indian oil refiners that may have purchased Russian oil above the $60 per barrel price cap set by a US-led coalition. To mitigate the risk, Indias largest lender has requested data on purchasing prices from refiners such as Indian Oil Corp., Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd, and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd, two people familiar with the matter said. Given its significant exposure to the US, SBI aims to avoid any penalties from the US treasury departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The ban on Russian crude oil came into effect on 5 December for maritime transportation, and 5 February for transportation of all petroleum products. SBI has asked for a break-up that confirms that Indian refiners are buying oil below the $60 per barrel price cap. They are doing it given the stringent sanctions under the OFAC of the US treasury department. The OFAC directive is agnostic about the currency in which the payments are made, including United Arab Emirates dirhams. As of now, there is no problem," said a government official, one of the two people cited above requesting anonymity. View Full Image Graphic: Mint The development comes amid surging India-Russia trade, which reached a record $45 billion in the 11 months till February 2023, with Indian imports of Russian oil alone accounting for $27 billion, making Russia the second-largest oil supplier to India after Iraq. We have been buying crude oil below the price cap. We dont have any problem with the term contracts that we have. In addition, we are also buying a lot of Russian oil in the spot market," the government official said, requesting anonymity. In the backdrop of finance minister Nirmala Sitharamans recent statement that India could buy Russian oil even if prices neared or crossed the $60 per barrel cap, a senior executive at an Indian state-run refiner confirmed that the price cap had not been breached, and payments for Russian crude oil have been proceeding. Russia has emerged as a significant supplier to India, the worlds third-largest oil importer, as it offers discounted oil amid the Ukraine conflict. With India reliant on imports for 87% of its oil needs and 55% of its natural gas requirements, Russian oil has helped the country meet its growing demand for petroleum products.The price cap has not been breached, and payments for Russian crude oil have been taking place. Had that been the case, the payments would have stopped," said a senior executive at an Indian state-run refiner, requesting anonymity. Russian oil has helped India meet its growing demand for fuel, with 222 million tonnes of petroleum products consumed in FY23, a 10.2% increase from a year earlier. Indias imports of oil and petroleum products rose 30% to $209.6 billion in FY23, according to data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell of the oil ministry. Queries sent to spokespeople for SBI, Indian Oil Corp., Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd, Hindustan Petroleum Corp., Nayara Energy Ltd, Reliance Industries Ltd and Indias petroleum and natural gas ministry went unanswered at the time of writing.India, a crucial Asian refining hub, boasts an installed capacity of over 249.36 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) across 23 refineries and plans to increase this to 400 mtpa by 2025. Major Indian refiners include Indian Oil Corp., Bharat Petroleum Corp., Hindustan Petroleum Corp., Nayara Energy Ltd, and Reliance Industries Ltd. The US-led sanctions, supported by G7 countries, the European Union, and Australia, seeks to cap Russian crude oil prices to restrict Russias revenue and hinder its ability to finance the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, India remains committed to its longstanding strategic partnership with Russia, with state-owned firms investing $16 billion in the country to date, earning approximately $9 billion. First Republic Bank shares plunged 39.2% on Wednesday, an ongoing rout that has erased over 50% of its value just this week on concerns about the bank's financial health and a media report that the US government was unwilling to intervene in the bank's rescue process. The lenders shares were last down 20% at $6.51, after losing nearly half of their value on Tuesday. A CNBC report citing sources said the US government officials were currently unwilling to intervene in the First Republic rescue process. Earlier, on Monday the lender said it a group of large banks have stepped in to save it by depositing $30 billion in uninsured deposits. The bank now is looking at several options, and is also planing to sell off unprofitable assets, including low interest mortgages it provided to wealthy clients. It also has plans to layoff up to a quarter of its workforce, which totaled about 7,200 employees at the end of last year, news agency AP reported. The bank advisers have lined up potential purchasers of new stock in the lender if they can fix the bank's balance sheet, a report said earlier today. However, some analysts have highlighted several roadblocks which could complicate rescue efforts for the lender as it looks to emerge out of the crisis sparked by an outflow of more than $100 billion in deposits in the first quarter. Citi analyst downgraded First Republic on Wednesday, saying in a note to clients that there's still a large level of uncertainty in outcomes and expected losses beyond the next year. At least three brokerages have cut their price targets on First Republic's shares since it reported first-quarter earnings on Monday. First Republic reported first-quarter results Monday that showed it had $173.5 billion in deposits before Silicon Valley Bank failed on March 9. On April 21, it had deposits of $102.7 billion, which included the $30 billion the big banks deposited. It said since late March, its deposits have been relatively stable. As the spotlight turns on India with the G20 Summit, the Ministry of Tourism is devising strategies to regain investor confidence in the nation's tourism sector. Tourism minister Gangapuram Kishan Reddy, in an interview with Mint, said the country requires trillions in investment to establish a strong tourism-based economy. To achieve this, the ministry is focusing on fostering public-private partnerships (PPP). Edited excerpts: How much priority is the government according to tourism for this? India is a big country with a large population. Because of various reasons, for the last so many years, tourism has been a neglected sector. There are so many opportunities in the country when it comes to promotion and branding of destinations, public private partnerships, policy, and publicity. But this hasnt happened well enough. In a country the size of India, the central government alone cannot manage everything. But across different states in the country, very little has been kept aside for tourism improvement. For instance, if we look at the North East, very little was provided and a lot of that amount would be spent on salaries. The opportunity is much larger than that. What is the government doing about that? For this, the Ministry of Tourism has come up with its first Global Tourism Investors Summit which will happen in May. The summit has been conducted to attract private investments in the tourism sector keeping in mind that in order for India to compete with the rest of the world for foreign tourists, or even domestic tourists who can confidently visit our tourist destinations, there has to be a certain amount of infrastructure activity there. We also want different states to compete with each other in order to attract more investments to their states. Will that benefit these states? This will help many of these state governments formulate better policies and incentives to attract these private investments. All properties except the India Tourism Development Corporation and the Archaeological Survey of India monuments which sponsor the Swadesh Darshan scheme are owned by different states directly and so the onus lies on these states to plan their budgets and policies around tourism well. In such a time, we have to involve state governments to come up with good policies. We now also have a 100% FDI policy for investment in certain categories. But why go down the PPP model? I have said before that neither state governments nor the center can spend enough on tourism. Even if we spend many lakh crores, it wont be enough to develop tourism since there are many thousands of destinations. If we look at the second quarter of FY 22-23, inbound tourism has increased tremendously. To develop the sector further, to attract investments of large sizes, the private sector has to be involved. We want to create an investment atmosphere. We are expecting foreign investors to take part in this summit. Hospitality associations or other bodies like The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will also help reach out to their international counterparts to bring in investors. In the recent months, many international hotel chains have shown a strong commitment to developing their Indian portfolios. Is the interest in India as a destination to do business growing? Not only hotel firms, but state governments have also shown their commitment to developing tourism infrastructure. These governments are ready to give land and provide incentives to develop these businesses. Wherever there is a big hotel, there is also an immediate increase in tourism. Right now, there is a major demand for hotel rooms in India. A lot of these companies had a hard time during covid, but they have made up for their losses now and we were seeing high occupancies in most tourist destinations. For instance, we recently also spoke to a hotel association in Bengaluru and have signed MoUs with a lot of international hotel companies to identify and discuss how many hotels they could potentially open there before the summit begins. The budget for overseas promotion activities like Incredible India has been cut by more than half in this years budget to 167 crore from 525 crore two years ago. But at the same time, you have a target to bring in 25 million tourists by 2030. How will this vision be achieved? Yes, that is because of covid. In the last two years, no country was doing any overseas promotions. In fact, even till date, the center and state governments have been issuing guidelines for the covid. We now have plans to develop these promotions. After the cabinet approves it, we will also resume these activities. If we had spent on overseas promotions in the last two years, it would have been a waste since tourists were unwilling to travel. Will you be running the new campaigns digitally only or will you also be using television as a medium in the identified overseas destinations like you did before 2015? We will do it all. This is the first time we have involved various embassies and tourism offices of the top 20 countries that send tourists to India in helping develop our overseas promotion programme. They have just begun this work. For this, we are also in touch with tourism officers in these embassies to identify local media and social media influencers etc., to promote tourism in India by marketing them to the Indian diaspora. But recently the government shut down seven tourism offices in the world. What was the reason to shut down these offices in big cities, including in London, Tokyo, Beijing, Dubai, Singapore, and New York? Yes, instead of having a small tourism office with one officer sitting in these countries, we have involved the entire embassy in the same work. This will be more beneficial to us. The idea was to have a holistic approach on part of the government to developing tourism which includes using the officers of the Ministry of External Affairs, UNESCO, etc.., For instance, even during the G20, while the MoT isnt directly involved in the planning of many meetings, it draws the benefits. There are going to be 250 meetings. The handoff to the Ministry of Tourism will happen as soon as each of these meetings is conducted. How much will be spent on the G20 from the 2400 crore allocated to the Ministry of Tourism this year? We will spend what is needed and there will be nothing lacking from our end. The government will spend what is required on branding the country and could even spend more if needed. For instance, under the Swadesh Darshan tourism we have identified 50 destinations to develop. We have also spent the allocated amount on the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive or Prasad scheme. These 50 new destinations were said to be developed. Have they been identified? The prime responsibility of that lies with the state governments. We give guidelines and funds to these state governments but the identification has to be done from their end. You also envisaged making 59 new air routes and helipads etc., operational to boost tourism in the country. Could you talk about the progress in that? We have made helipads in the past in locations like Goa and the state governments whenever they have asked us, we have provided them with the funds. We do also spend through the Udaan Scheme through the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the railways ministry and other port development boards. We also make states spend on these as well as allocate central funds wherever needed. The government announced that it would have $1 trillion in tourist inflows by 2047. What is the figure right now? It was the Prime Ministers vision for India @ 100 where we would have a target for the size of the tourism economy by 2047. Its at $150 billion now and the goal is to reach $1 trillion. How many tourist arrivals are you estimating by that year? About 100 million. How will you achieve this number? G20 will add to that. We will now launch our international publicity campaign. This year, there will also be more travel marts that will happen. There will also be a Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions event that will happen this year which will help us showcase the country. We will now shift to a different structure to appoint agencies in different international markets to develop these things. Of course, we will strengthen domestic tourism which has grown much beyond our expectations, especially spiritual tourism. This government has a big focus on domestic tourism. In fact, more than 50% of the tourism budget this year has been allocated to the Swadesh Darshan scheme. Can you elaborate? In more than 150 spiritual centers, we have developed amenities for pilgrims. We have pilgrims travelling all over the country across various religions, and we are providing all those amenities. The focus has been on Ayodhya, Varanasi, Ujjain. We have seen such a growth in tourism in Varanasi after the temple redevelopment there. We recently also inaugurated the first Global Buddhist Summit. This is the first time we got Buddhists monks from around the world to participate. New Delhi: Actor Saif Ali Khan will be seen in a new film starring Jr NTR and to be directed by Koratala Siva. The film also features Jahnvi Kapoor and will release on 5 April, 2024. The past few months have seen several actors breach linguistic and geographical borders to appear in films not in their native tongues. While south Indian actors like Vijay Deverakonda, Vijay Sethupathi and Rashmika Mandanna were seen in Hindi films, Bollywood stars Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon and Deepika Padukone are working in what are primarily Telugu language films. The transition is part of the move to create films for pan-India audiences made either by Bollywood or southern film studios but to be released in multiple dubbed languages for reach across markets. While Hindi film actors have realised the appeal of these large-scale southern films, south Indian actors are also keen to look beyond their core base. Prabhas Adipurush and the untitled film with Padukone are a few upcoming titles that will see actors crossing over to other languages. Audiences in the north have seen these southern actors on streaming platforms and know what they bring to the table. The actors, on the other hand, have saturated their home markets and want to increase recoveries for their films. SS Rajamoulis Baahubali franchise had shown the way for Telugu and Tamil films to penetrate into the Hindi heartland including small towns in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, trade experts said and more recent films have built on the trend. Released late December 2021, the dubbed Hindi version of Allu Arjuns Pushpa: The Rise-Part One, had made over Rs. 100 crore, with Maharashtra and Gujarat driving the business. This was Arjuns first release in the Hindi market and had released without any marketing or promotional buzz. Alibaba Group Holding is cutting the cost of its cloud services by as much as half, a move that could win users from rivals such as Tencent Holdings at a time its considering spinning off the fast-growing Aliyun business. Alibaba and Tencent are vying to provide the raw computing power needed to train generative artificial intelligence models such as OpenAIs ChatGPT, which has ignited a global race. Core products of the Aliyun subsidiary will see 15% to 50% cuts from May 7, an Alibaba spokesperson said on Wednesday. The company has said its committed to expanding its cloud business, now led by group Chief Executive Officer Daniel Zhang, which it sees as a potential driver of exponential growth. Alibabas Tongyi Qianwen AI model, announced earlier this month, is already in demand by Chinese businesses. The Hangzhou-based company has received more than 200,000 requests from businesses to join its beta testing program, from industries as varied as fintech, electronics, transport, fashion and dairy farming. It sees the hand-in-hand provision of AI and cloud infrastructure services as a winning formula for wooing a large swath of the domestic market. We are fully committed to working closely with our partners to develop customized, specialized AI models," Zhang said in a statement. What Bloomberg Intelligence Says Alibabas price cuts of up to 50% for its cloud services raise a risk that the units adjusted Ebita in fiscal 2024 ending March will trail consensus expectations, even after a more than 5% decline in estimates over the past two weeks. The cuts raise the likelihood that Alibaba will cede 2024 cloud profit gains to spur revenue growth and fend off increased cloud and generative-AI rivalry from peers such as Tencent and Baidu this year. Catherine Lim and Trini Tan, BI analysts Founded in 2009, Alibaba Cloud provides data processing and storage services to thousands of businesses, developers and government organizations in more than 200 countries and regions. It holds the largest market share in China and across Asia, according to the divisions website. It typically contributes about 9% of revenue. As one of its early AI integrations, Tongyi Qianwen is currently being tested in Alibabas operating system for cars, AliOS. IM Motors, an electric vehicle venture backed by Alibaba and SAIC Motor Corp., has signed up to be the first auto brand to implement Tongyi Qianwen-powered AliOS when its ready. Alibaba has to fight off cloud rivals, such as state-linked services that have been growing their share, and juice growth as it considers spinning off parts of its $214 billion empire. The cloud division is one of the companys fastest-growing and is considered a prime candidate for a future initial public offering. The surge in excitement among investors after Alibabas announcement of the ChatGPT-like Tongyi Qianwen did not last. The companys shares gave up much of the initial gain in recent days, and it now has to prove that it can realize the growth spike it expects to see. Concern about potential geopolitical risk from a worsening rift between Washington and Beijing has weighed on Chinese stocks, led in particular by big tech names. Axis Bank is set to post its financial earnings report for the quarter and year-ended March 31, 2023, period on Thursday. The bottom line of Axis is likely to face certain impacts of the Citi acquisition. Among the positives, the lender's net interest income is seen to be strong in Q4, while credit-offtake is expected healthy, and asset quality may improve further. Overall, the earnings are seen to be steady. Ahead of Q4 numbers, on BSE, Axis Bank's share price closed at 887.80 apiece up by 1.08% on Wednesday. The bank's m-cap is over 2.73 lakh crore. Axis Bank's Q4 preview: It needs to be noted that the bank has already informed exchanges about fundraising and the final dividend for FY23. Earlier in April, Axis Bank said a board of directors meeting will be held on April 27, 2023, to consider and approve: - Standalone and consolidated financial results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2023. - Recommend final dividend, if any, for the year ended March 31, 2023. - Borrowing or raising of funds in Indian currency or foreign currency by issue of debt instruments including but not limited to Bonds and Non-Convertible Debentures. In its preview note, ICICI Direct said, "Axis Bank is expected to deliver healthy business growth and steady operational performance, however, optically the bank is expected to report loss in Q4FY23, owing to one-off impact of knocking off goodwill related to Citi acquisition." On March 1st, Citi completed the sale of its India consumer business to Axis Bank. The deal includes credit cards, retail banking, wealth management, and consumer loans, as well as the transfer of approximately 3,200 Citi employees. The transaction was fulfilled for a consideration of 11,603 crore. Also, Emkay Global's note said, "Excluding Citi portfolios acquisition, Axis Banks growth is relatively slow, which should weigh on margins. Goodwill write-offs will lead to a technical loss for the bank. Slippages are expected to remain flat QoQ excluding Citis acquisition." Further, on the business front, the brokerage expects Axis Bank to report advance growth of 16.2% YoY, 7.9% QoQ to 8.21 lakh crore, while the deposit base is seen to grow 11.2% YoY, 7.7% QoQ to 9.13 lakh crore. Healthy credit off-take coupled with ~10 bps improvement in margins is seen to result in in ~33% YoY growth in net interest income. Notably, integration cost related to the Citi acquisition is expected to keep the CI ratio elevated, though credit cost is seen to remain steady. Accordingly, ICICI Direct expects Axis Bank's net interest income (NII) at 11,742.2 crore up by 33.1% YoY and 2.5% QoQ. However, the brokerage expects a net loss of 5,486.7 crore in the quarter due to the write-off of acquisition-related goodwill. Overall, operational performance is expected to remain steady. On the other hand, Prabhudas Lilladher expects Axis Bank's NII growth to be at 38.4% YoY and 10.7% QoQ as rate transmission takes place. It expects credit costs to remain muted at 79bps. While margins are expected to be flat as the cost of funds is expected to move up. Axis Bank's previous quarter: In Q3FY23, the bank registered a strong growth of 62% year-on-year growth in net profit to 5,853.1 crore. NII came in at 11,459 crore in Q3FY23, registering a growth of 32% YoY and 11% QoQ. Net interest margins expanded b 73 bps YoY and 30 bps QoQ to 4.26% in the quarter. Also, provisions scaled up sharply to 1,437.73 crore in Q3FY23. As of December 31, 2022, the bank's gross NPA and net NPA stood at 2.38% and 0.47% respectively. The first flight carrying Indian nationals, who were evacuated from violence-hit Sudan has landed in Delhi. The evacuees who landed in Delhi from the African country chanted Bharat Mata Ki Jai and PM Narendra Modi zindabad slogans upon their arrival. The flight was carrying a total of 360 Indians. The Indian nationals were evacuated from Sudan on a Saudi Arabian flight. The evacuation was carried out by the kingdom's naval forces with the support of other branches of the Army. Today, the Indian nationals landed in Delhi from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. #WATCH | 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', Indian Army Zindabad, PM Narendra Modi Zindabad' slogans chanted by Indian nationals as they arrive in Delhi from conflict-torn Sudan. pic.twitter.com/Uird0MSoRx ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 The New Delhi-bound flight with 360 Indians onboard left Jeddah Airport earlier today. The Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan saw them off at the Jeddah Airport. Happy to see off 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport in a flight bound for New Delhi They will be reaching the motherland soon, reuniting with their families Under #OperationKaveri the Government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan & bring them home safely," MoS Muraleedharan tweeted. Clashes broke out between the forces loyal to Sudanese Army General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and those of his deputy-turned-rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), leaving hundreds dead and thousands wounded. An Indian, Surendra Singh Yadav, who landed in Delhi today praised the Centre for fast evacuation". He said, I went there [Sudan] for an IT project and got stuck there. The embassy and the government also helped a lot. Around 1000 people are present in Jeddah. The government is doing fast evacuation." "The Indian government has supported us a lot. It's a big thing that we reached here safely as it was very dangerous. I thank PM Modi and the Indian government," another Indian national said. Meanwhile, private carriers such as IndiGo have extended their willingness to help. India's low-cost carrier Indigo has offered its services to the government regarding evacuation under Operation Kaveri. A Gujarat High Court judge, Justice Gita Gopi, on Wednesday recused herself from hearing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's appeal against the Surat sessions court order that denied his request to suspend his conviction in a defamation case in connection with his "Modi surname" comment. Rahul Gandhi's lawyer PS Champaneri mentioned the case before the court of Justice Gita Gopi, seeking an urgent hearing. But after a brief hearing, the court said, Not before me." Rahul Gandhi has filed an appeal in the high court. A new court was assigned to hear the case on Wednesday, after the previous court granted permission for it to be heard but later recused itself. Rahul Gandhi's legal representative stated that a request will be sent to the Acting Chief Justice to assign the case to a different court. Rahul Gandhi's lawyer also said that the case was requested to be taken up in the court of Justice Gita Gopi because her court deals with the subject of criminal revision. The Congress leader was on 23 March sentenced to two years in jail after convicting him under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500 (dealing with criminal defamation) in connection with the Modi surname" case. The case was filed by Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Purnesh Modi. After his conviction, Rahul Gandhi lost his seat as an MP from Wayanad seat. Rahul Gandhi challenged the order in a sessions court in Surat along with an application to stay his conviction. While Rahul Gandhi was granted bail, the court refused to stay his conviction. BJP MLA and former cabinet minister Purnesh Modi had filed a criminal defamation case against Gandhi over his - 'How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?' - remark made during an election rally at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019. A stay order could pave the way for Gandhi's reinstatement as Member of Parliament. Gandhi is currently on bail in the case. (With agency inputs) Dantewada Maoist attack: Eleven persons, including 10 District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel, were killed in an IED blast carried out by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada, said officials. A civilian has also lost his life in the Dantewada Maoist attack. It was reportedly an IED attack on the vehicle carrying District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel near Aranpur in Dantewada district. According to the initial reports, the IED was planted by Naxals. The area where the blast took place is located around 450 km from the state capital Raipur. The DRG jawans who were killed in the Dantewada Maoist attack were in the area for an anti-Naxal operation, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said in a tweet. #WATCH | Visuals from the spot in Dantewada where 10 DRG jawans and one civilian driver lost their lives in an IED attack by naxals. #Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/GD8JJIbEt2 ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 Bhupesh Baghel expressed condolences over the killing of 10 DRG jawans and one driver in the Dantewada Maoist attack and the Naxals wouldn't be spared. Bhupesh Baghel said, There is such information with us. It is very saddening. My condolences to the bereaved families. This fight is in its last stage. Naxals won't be spared." "The news of the martyrdom of our 10 DRG jawans and a driver due to IED blast on the DRG force which had arrived for anti-Naxal operation on the information of the presence of Maoist cadre under Aranpur police station area of Dantewada is very sad. We all the people of the state pay our respects to him. We all share in the grief of their families. May his soul rest in peace", the Chhattisgarh CM tweeted. #WATCH | On reports of an IED attack by naxals on security personnel in Dantewada, claiming the lives of 11 personnel, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel says, "There is such information with us. It is very saddening. My condolences to the bereaved families. This fight is in its last https://t.co/n1YV67sIoi pic.twitter.com/CC8Dj0uAca ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel about the Maoist attack that claimed the lives of 10 District Reserve Guard personnel and one driver, in Dantewada. The Home Ministry officials have said that Amit Shah has assured all the possible help to the Chhattisgarh chief minister. IG Bastar, P Sundarraj, said the bodies of the DRG jawans and the driver are being evacuated. He said the search operation is underway. 10 DRG jawans and one civilian driver lost their lives in the attack...Bodies of all of them are being evacuated from the spot. Senior officers are present there. The search operation is underway," he said. Recap: Ten DRG personnel personnel and one driver were killed in a Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada on Wednesday. The Maoists had planted an IED in the area. Naxalites blew up the mini-goods van in which the security personnel were travelling by using an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), police sources said. Pakistan negated the claims around lack of operational preparedness on Wednesday and threatened to take the 'battle to India's territory' if the situation arises. The display of aggression came after two Pakistani journalists revealed that the country lacks ammunition and economic strength to fight against India. DG ISPR Maj General Ahmed Sharif refused all such claims and said that Pakistan has always displayed its resilience against India. The senior army official mentioned Operation Swift Retort which displayed the "resilience of nation and resolve of Air Force." The Pakistani general also made several comments on the 2019 Pulwama attack and the operation by Indian Air Force thereafter. "Under the pretext of false flag Pulwama attack, India stage managed a cowardly attack on a fictitious target. The daring, resolute & measured response from Pakistan thwarted Indian nefarious designs," Sharif said. "Pak AFs are ever ready, not only to defend every inch of motherland, but to take the fight back to the enemy, if ever, aggression is imposed on us, " the general added. On 14 February 2019, Jaish-e-Mohammad carried out a terrorist attack in Kashmir' Pulwama which killed 40 soldiers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). After the attacks, Indian Air Force launched Operation Bandar and carried out airstrikes against designated terrorist camps inside Pakistan. Sharif's comments ensued subsequent to the disclosure made by Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir that the ex-Army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, acknowledged the deficiency of ammunition and economic prowess in Pakistan to confront India with the purpose of improving the country's reputation. Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif decided to skip his India visit next month and decided to attend the defense minister's meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) virtually. Indian Defence experts have termed DG ISPR's statement as a "clear indication of desperation." Journalist Hamid Mir said that General Bajwa admitted that Pakistan "cannot go to war with India." The former Pakistan Army Chief confessed that 'Pakistan Army is no match for the Indian Army.' (With inputs from ANI) A political debate has sparked between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP-Congress over Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence. Yesterday, BJP accused AAP supremo Kejriwal of spending crores to renovate his bungalow located in Delhi's Civil Lines area. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has claimed that about 45 crore was spent on the "beautification" of Kejriwal's official residence, and therefore, the saffron party leaders demanded his resignation on moral grounds. Congress leader Ajay Maken also attacked Kejriwal for allegedly spending 45 crore of public funds on his luxurious bungalow. The party leader claimed that Kejriwal's bungalow included extravagant items like Dior polish, Vietnam marble, expensive curtains, and high-end carpets. Now, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has come forward to defend the expenditure of the bungalow. AAP Rajya Sabha leader Sanjay Singh and MP Raghav Chadha spoke to media channels and agreed the spending were 45 crore but the bungalow needed renovation. Chadha said that the Delhi chief minister's residence was constructed 75-80 years ago in 1942. The Delhi government's Public Works Department (PWD), after an audit, had recommended its renovation. AAP leader Sanjay Singh said, "The roof of the room where Kejriwal's parents were staying caved in, then the same thing happened in Kejriwal's room and the room where Kejriwal meets people". A senior PWD official said that "It was not renovation and a new structure has come up in place of the old structure. His camp office is also there. The expenditure is around 44 crore but what is to be noted is that the old structures have been replaced with new ones". Documents provided by sources showed that a total of 44.78 crore against a sanctioned amount of 43.70 crore was spent on the "addition/alternation" of Kejriwal's government accommodation on 6, Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines. The money was spent in six tranches between September 9, 2020, to June 2022, the documents showed. Here's how much was spent on Arvind Kejriwal's residence: According to the PWD documents, of the 45 crore, 11.30 crore was spent on interior designing; 6.02 crore on stone and marble flooring, 1 crore on interior consultancy, 2.58 crore on electrical fittings and appliances, 2.85 crore on fire fighting system, 1.41 crore on wardrobe and accessories fitting, and 1.1 crore on kitchen appliances. A separate amount of 8.11 crore of the sanctioned amount of 9.99 crore was spent on the camp office of the chief minister at his official residence. A number of individuals who are subscribers to the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) have raised concerns over the past few days as they have experienced difficulties logging in to the EPFO portal. The e-passbook service has been unavailable, causing numerous subscribers to be unable to download their e-passbooks either via the EPFO website or using the Umang app. When we checked the issue, the webpage showed 404 Page Not Found" error. The requested URL /MemberPassBook/Login was not found on this server," a message showed. Also Read: New EPFO circular clarifies how much one needs to pay to get higher EPS pension Dear member, we regret the inconvenience. The concerned team is looking into the matter. Kindly wait for some time. The matter will be resolved shortly," said EPF on Twitter when one of the users complained that the passbook portal was not working properly for one week. View Full Image EPFO website down Using EPFO website is also #GoPaperless, but we are unable to check Member Passbook website since many weeks. What are you guys doing for this? I don't see any SLA announcement to bring back the site online?" wrote one of the users. To this complaint, EPFO posted an identical regret the inconvenience" message as well. EPFO earlier recorded a net addition of 13.96 lakh new subscribers in February 2023.' The provisional payroll data of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation released on Thursday highlighted that EPFO has added 13.96 lakh net members in February 2023. Out of 13.96 lakh members added during the month, around 7.38 lakh new members have come under the ambit of EPFO for the first time, a labour ministry statement said. Among the newly joined members, it stated, the highest enrolment is registered in the age group of 18-21 years with 2.17 lakh members, followed by the age group of 22-25 years with 1.91 lakh members. The age group of 18-25 years constitutes 55.37 per cent of the total new members during the month. This indicates that the majority of the members joining the organised sector workforce of the country are first-time job seekers. The data also highlights that approximately 10.15 lakh members re-joined EPFO membership, which rose by 8.59 per cent compared to the last year. (With agency inputs) As the Sudan crisis continues, Ambassador India Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhussain assured on Wednesday that the situation would not affect ties with India. The remarks come at a time when hundreds are being evacuated from the country amid a three-day ceasefire. New Delhi is closely monitoring the crisis and has launched Operation Kaveri to evacuate stranded citizens. The Indian Navy is also part of the rescue mission, with INS Teg arriving at Port Sudan on Tuesday with additional officials and essential relief materials. Some Indians have also been evacuated by other nations. "I think I will appreciate and impressed about the response of the reaction of the Indian authorities and especially the people in Ministry of External Affairs. I have been working closely 24 hours a day and we really did a good job in coordinating cooperation, providing necessary permits for aircraft, for ships to fly and to land in Sudan and to bring back Indian citizens," he added. According to the official, around 300 to 500 Indian citizens have already been evacuated by ship and other evacuation processes are underway. #WATCH | Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain, Sudanese Ambassador to India, tells about the countries which have made offers to mediate between the warring sides in Sudan to restore peace in the conflict-hit country pic.twitter.com/PJ9xYcZEBA ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 Terming the ongoing conflict in Sudan as "sensitive" he also said that this conflict would not have any negative impact on relations. Lauding the deeply rooted ties between Khartoum and New Delhi he noted that Indians who came to the Northeast African country 100 years ago are now Sudanese. We have a Sudanese community originally from India, they came to Sudan 100 years ago, and they are staying there and now they are Sudanese. We have had a very special and very strong relationship with India over the years since our independence in 1956. And we hope that this will continue for the future," he said. (With inputs from agencies) In its 7 March verdict, Delhi bench of NCLT headed by Justice Ramlingam Sudhkar had approved Suraksha Realtys resolution plan to take over insolvent Jaypee Infratech. A bench led by Justices Ashok Bhushan and Barun Mitra of the NCLAT said, We have found substantial ground to entertain this appeal and hear the appeal. We make it clear that pendency of this appeal may not be treated as any restraint in implementation of plan insofar as other aspects of plan are concerned." In 2017, IDBI had referred Jaypee Infratech to NCLT and the company was admitted under corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP). Under CIRP, the Yamuna Expressway submitted a claim of 6,111.6 crore, of which claim towards additional compensation of farmers was at 1,689 crore. In its verdict in March, the NCLT had upheld the plan which had allocated 10 lakh towards the claim of additional compensation. The tribunal in its view held that since Yamuna Expressway was an operational creditor, the liquidation value of the appellant was nil and there was no error in the allocation of payment of 10 lakh towards the claim of additional compensation. After hearing both parties involved, NCLAT has decided to hear the matter on 29 May. //Web// In arbitration proceedings in 2019, an award was delivered in favour of Jaypee Infratech, holding that the company is not liable to pay additional compensation. This arbitration award was then challenged by Yamuna Expressway in the Commercial Court, Gautam Budh Nagar, under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, which is still pending before the court. Meanwhile, in this regard the NCLAT said, We direct that impugned order of 7 March insofar as it determines the claim of the Yamuna Expressway regarding additional farmers compensation shall not be relied in determination of rights and liabilities of the appellant and the corporate debtor in the pending proceedings in Arbitration Case pending before the Commercial Court." Parkash Singh Badal, a five-time chief minister of Punjab, died on April 25 at the age of 95. He was the last surviving member of a political generation that saw Independence, survived the Emergency, and witnessed Punjab politics take a surprising turn in 2022. Badal became the CM for the first time in 1970, heading a coalition government that did not complete its term. He was also the CM in 1977-80, 1997-2002, 2007-12, and 2012-2017. He was MLA 11 times, losing only twice. In 1977, he briefly joined Morarji Desai's government as the Agriculture minister at the Centre. Badal was a statesman who was loved and respected by all, including his political rivals. Badal was born on December 8, 1927, in Abul Khurana near Malout. He entered the state assembly from Malout in 1957 as the Congress nominee. He won the Gidderbaha assembly seat on the SAD ticket in 1969. When the then chief minister Gurnam Singh defected to the Congress in 1970, the SAD regrouped and formed the government with the support of the Jana Sangh. View Full Image Chandigarh: In this Monday, April 15, 2013 file image Parkash Singh Badal meets the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi. Former Punjab chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal. (PTI Photo) (PTI) Badal became the youngest CM in the country, even if the coalition government lasted just a little more than a year. In 2017, when he ended his last stint as CM, he was among the oldest to have held that post. Badal was re-elected in the 1972 elections but became the leader of the Opposition as the SAD could not form a government. He was chief minister for 15 months in 1970-71 and for 32 months in 1977-1980. During the 1977 elections, he again won from the Gidderbaha constituency and became the CM of the SAD-Janata Party government. He was again elected to the state assembly in June 1980 and September 1985 elections from the Gidderbaha assembly constituency. In 1986, Badal formed Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal). Badal's governments focused on farmers. One key decision was introducing free electricity for agriculture. His party broke off ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the farmers agitation against the Centre's new farm laws in 2020. He also returned the Padma Vibhushan award he received in 2015. View Full Image In this Friday, Nov 25, 2011 file image Parkash Singh Badal is seen with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during laying of foundation stone of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bathinda. Former Punjab chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch. (PTI Photo) (PTI) Badal had been part of the movement for a separate Punjabi-speaking state. He bitterly opposed the idea of the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal, meant to share river water with neighbouring Haryana. In 1982, he was arrested for leading an agitation over the project, which is yet to become a reality due to Punjab's continuing opposition. As a sign of tribute to the former chief minister, the Central government has declared two days of state mourning, April 26 and 27, throughout the country. The cremation ceremony is scheduled for April 27 at 1 pm. (With agency inputs) As the Sudan crisis continues hundreds of Indians were evacuated under Operation Kaveri this week. With the two warring factions agreeing upon a 72-hour ceasefire on Monday, several countries have moved to extricate citizens at the speed of light. The fight was intense. We were struggling for food. The scenario continued for 2-3 days," one of the rescued individuals told news agency ANI. "The tent of Rapid Support Forces was fixated near our company. Early morning at around 9, the forces entered our company. We were looted. They kept us hostage for 8 hours. They aimed riffles at our chest and looted us. Our mobiles were stolen. We kept in touch with the Embassy and told them to arrange for the buses, as we had diesel. The Indian Navy came and treated us well," another said. #WATCH | Indian nationals evacuated from Sudan, narrate their ordeal in the conflict-torn country. pic.twitter.com/c6zcN84r9G ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the first batch of 360 stranded Indians are set to reach Delhi by 9 pm today. They had earlier been evacuated from Sudan to Jeddah. Happy to see off 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport in a flight bound for New Delhi. They will be reaching the motherland soon, reuniting with their families. Under Operation Kaveri the Government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan and bring them home safely," tweeted MoS V Muraleedharan, sharing a video from the flight. Happy to see off 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport in a flight bound for New Delhi They will be reaching the motherland soon, reuniting with their families Under #OperationKaveri the Government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan & bring them home safely pic.twitter.com/0kCIH35jyb V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) April 26, 2023 The Indian Air Force very recently rescued another batch of around 250 trapped Indians from conflict-torn Sudan as part of the rescue effort. More than 250 people were evacuated from Port Sudan by two IAF C-130 J planes. Prior to this, 135 more stranded Indians were rescued from Sudan on Wednesday. (With inputs from agencies) Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has informed the Indian community in Panama that the government has initiated "Operation Kaveri" to safely evacuate its citizens who are stuck in Sudan due to the ongoing conflict. Jaishankar had recently visited Panama after a trip to Guyana where he met with President Nito Cortizo and conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's greetings, as reported by PTI. "Began the morning in Panama City by seeking divine blessings at the Hindu temple and meeting an enthusiastic Indian community. Immensely delighted to see their love and devotion for the nation," he tweeted. "I am here in Panama right now. I was in Guyana for the past few days. However, my mind is in Sudan. We are conducting 'Operation Kaveri' there in which we want to evacuate and save Indians who are stranded in Sudan," he said. "We are working to bring them back or shift them to some other country and safely evacuate them," he added. Earlier in the day, V Muraleedharan tweeted, Third batch comprising 135 Indians from Port Sudan arrived in Jeddah by IAF C-130J aircraft. Onward journey to India for all who arrived in Jeddah will commence shortly." Third batch comprising 135 Indians from Port Sudan arrived in Jeddah by IAF C-130J aircraft. Onward journey to India for all who arrived in Jeddah will commence shortly. #OperationKaveri pic.twitter.com/OHhC5G2Pg8 V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) April 26, 2023 On Monday, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar declared the commencement of 'Operation Kaveri', which aims to evacuate Indian citizens stranded in Sudan due to the ongoing conflict between the regular army and the RSF. Amid a temporary calm in the conflict between the regular army and a rebel paramilitary force in Sudan, India has utilized military aircraft and a warship to evacuate over 530 of its citizens, with plans to evacuate more from the country in the near future. Jaishankar is on a nine-day trip to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic, his first visit as the external affairs minister to these Latin American countries and the Caribbean. India on Sunday said it has positioned two transport aircraft of the IAF in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah and naval ship INS Sumedha at Port Sudan as part of its contingency plans to evacuate the stranded Indians. Meanwhile, The security situation in Sudan continues to be "volatile" with reports of fierce fighting coming from various locations in the country's capital Khartoum. At a high-level meeting on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had issued directions for preparation of contingency plans to evacuate Indians from Sudan. In a related development, France evacuated five Indians along with citizens of 27 other countries as part of its evacuation mission from Sudan. The French embassy in India said 388 people from 28 countries, including India, were evacuated. A 46-year-old man of Indian origin, who was convicted of drug trafficking, has been executed in Singapore after his appeal was rejected by a court. The Indian-origin man has been identified as Tangaraju Suppiah who was convicted in October 2018 by a Singaporean high court. Tangaraju Suppiah convicted of a capital charge of abetting an accomplice by delivering 1 kg of cannabis to himself considered an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Tangaraju Suppiah was detained in 204 for consuming drugs and failing to report to a drug test. A statement from the Singapore prison read that Tangaraju Suppiah had his capital sentence carried out today at Changi Prison Complex". Tangaraju was handed a death sentence as he did not meet any of the conditions that could have exempted him from being executed. On Tuesday, the court dismissed his application, seeking a review of his case and stay on his execution. The judgment of the court mentioned that Tangaraju did not present a legitimate basis for the court to review his case. British billionaire Richard Branson and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani had extensively spoken about Tangaraju Suppiahs case. The UN High Commissioner had also urged the government to review his case and fully respect the most fundamental of human rights - the right to life." Richard Branson said Suppiahs conviction in the case did not meet the standards. The Singapore government, however, rejected the charges, saying the billionaires statement disrespect" the countrys justice system. He later appealed against his conviction and sentence but it was dismissed in August 2019, with the court agreeing that Tangaraju had conspired to traffic in cannabis and that he had used a phone to communicate with his accomplice. Tangaraju, who represented himself, made a final attempt to appeal his case. He claimed that the prosecution did not provide sufficient evidence to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that he and Mogan had conspired to traffic the precise amount of 1017.9g of cannabis. However, Justice Chong said it was never Tangaraju's case at trial that the agreement with Mogan was to traffic an amount below the threshold amount for capital punishment or any lesser quantity. (With agency inputs) The Supreme Court heard the arguments on the same-sex marriage case for the fifth day on Wednesday. While the petitioners sought the blessings" of the Union of India, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central government, told the five-judge bench that it was dealing with a very complex subject" which has a "profound social impact". Reacting to the blessings" sought by the petitioners, the solicitor general said even their prayers were vague". He quoted societal acceptance" for the recognition of a union and said, it had to be through Parliament. Societal acceptance is needed for recognition of a union and this has to be through the parliamentand if it is done by the court then it is detrimental to the LGBTQI since you are forcing something against the will of the people," Tushar Mehta said. The Centre also requested the Supreme Court to consider leaving questions raised in the pleas seeking legal sanction for same-sex marriages to Parliament. He said, All the questions in this case must be left to Parliament. Here the real question is who will take a call on what constitutes marriage and between whom." Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court bench, comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, justices SK Kaul, SR Bhat, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha, that there would be ramifications on several other statutes which would need a debate in the society and also in various state legislatures. Legislative policy of this Court has been to recognise conventional man and conventional woman for marriage. All laws find this in the conventional sense. When this is being debated before your lordships for the first time ... No one is sitting on value judgment. Their right of autonomy, preference," the government argued. To which, CJI Chandrachud replied: Choice?" The government also requested the Supreme Court to leave the matter to Parliament as lordships may not be in a position of the multiple situations that will arise." My appeal is that rather than taking it any further, this is a possibly a subject that should be left to Parliament which will be law. Lordships may not be in a position of the multiple situations that will arise," the Solicitor General said. On April 19, the Centre had urged the top court that all states and Union Territories be made parties to the proceedings on these pleas, saying any decision on the issue without obtaining their view would render the present "adversarial exercise incomplete and truncated". In a fresh affidavit filed in the apex court, the Centre had said it had issued a letter on April 18 to all the states inviting comments and views on the "seminal issue" raised in these petitions. The bench was faced with several consequential legal questions, such as adoption, succession, intestacy and laws governing pension and gratuity where a once legally-acknowledged spouse is the beneficiary, if it decides to legalise same-sex marriage. As many as 19 countries have expressed an interest in joining the BRICS group of nations as they prepare to hold their annual meeting in South Africa. The BRICS nations, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, will meet in Cape Town on June 2-3 to discuss the expansion of the bloc. Anil Sooklal, South Africas ambassador to the group said, as reported by Bloomberg, What will be discussed is the expansion of BRICS and the modalities of how this will happen. Thirteen countries have formally asked to join and another six have asked informally. We are getting applications to join every day." Saudi Arabia, Iran, Argentina, UAE, Algeria, Egypt, Bahrain, Indonesia, and others have expressed their desire to join. The foreign ministers from the five member states have all confirmed that they will attend the discussions in June, where they will discuss the expansion of the BRICS and the modalities of how this will happen. The nations will also discuss Sudan apart from the regular affairs and membership, Sooklal also said. The BRICS, representing around one-fifth of the worlds economy, has emerged as a powerful new voice alternative to the West. At present, the five members of BRICS contribute 16 per cent to world trade and around 24 per cent to global GDP. BRICS was formed on June 16, 2009, and South Africa was the only country to join the block after its formation in December 2010. Last year, China initiated the conversation around expanding the body as it tried to build diplomatic clout to counter the Wests dominance in the United Nations. However, the expansion poses concerns among the present members that their influence will decrease, especially if pro-Chinese nations are admitted. Chinas GDP is more than twice the size of all four other BRICS member combined. (With inputs from agencies) Chinese leader Xi Jinping called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, their first conversation since the Russian invasion more than a year ago, as Beijing attempts to portray itself as a potential peacemaker in the conflict. Chinas Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted to its website that it would send a special representative for Eurasian affairs to Ukraine and other countries for in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis." The news was confirmed by Mr. Zelensky on Twitter, who said he had a long and meaningful phone call" with the Chinese leader. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraines ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations," he wrote. Mr. Zelenskys spokesman Serhiy Nykyforov said the leaders spoke for nearly an hour. Now that the number of rational thoughts and voices is increasing, all parties should seize the opportunity to accumulate favorable conditions for a political solution to the crisis," Mr. Xi told Mr. Zelensky, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministrys account of the conversation. We hope that all parties will reflect deeply on the crisis in Ukraine and, through dialogue, seek a common way for the long-term stability of Europe." The call followed Mr. Xis three-day trip last month to Russia, where he and Russian President Vladimir Putin deepened their nations political and economic ties as well as their longstanding personal friendship in their 40th meeting as leaders. Mr. Putin praised Chinas peacemaking initiative, saying after his meetings with Mr. Xi that many parts of it were consonant with Russian approaches." Chinas initiative, outlined in a 12-point position paper, has been largely dismissed by the U.S. and Europe, with officials saying China appears to heavily favor Russias position. Beijing has accused the U.S. of fueling the conflict by providing arms to Ukraine and rejecting Chinese efforts at a settlement. Ukrainian officials have been cautious, welcoming the first point of Chinas initiative, which calls for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries to be upheld, but not touching upon the rest. Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian foreign minister, emphasized Ukraines own peace proposal during a telephone call last month with his Chinese counterpart, Qin Gang. That plan includes demands for the restoration of Ukraines borders and removal of all Russian troopspoints not made in Chinas position paper. Some of Chinas other points, such as the view that no countrys security efforts should come at the expense of its neighbors and criticism of reliance on security blocs, echo the Kremlins arguments for its invasion of Ukraine. The position paper also criticizes unilateral sanctions, which the U.S., Europe and other countries have used to punish Russia for the invasion. Chinas effort to position itself as a mediator in Ukraine got a boost from its success last month in shepherding a deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to resume diplomatic ties after seven years of estrangement. A settlement in Ukraine appears far more elusive. Some analysts have described Chinas Ukraine overture as cover for deepening its relationship with Russia. Messrs. Xi and Putin declared their countries had a no limits" friendship shortly before Moscow launched the Ukraine war last year. In Moscow last month, they signed 10 agreements on economic ties until 2030. Mr. Xis efforts on Ukraine will likely find more support in the developing world, where views on the war are more mixed and tolerance of Russias actions is more widespread than in the West. Mr. Zelensky said in March that he hoped to meet with Mr. Xi. China hasnt publicly responded to that offer, and Wednesdays statement by Chinas Foreign Ministry didnt mention any such plans. Michela Leidi became a mother last summer when her wife gave birth to their daughter Giulia. The couple was swept up in the joyful, sleepless whirlwind of early parenthood. This month, a local court ordered Ms. Leidis name to be erased from Giulias birth certificate on the grounds that her inclusion was contrary to public order." The ruling, which left the baby with only one legal parent, her biological mother, was a headline-generating surprise in Italy but is part of a growing trend of moves against same-sex parents by Italys courts and government. I cried all my tears," said Ms. Leidi, a 38-year-old education worker from Bergamo in northern Italy. I never missed a scan, from the moment she was conceived to the moment she was born. Yet its as though I dont exist," she said. She is now trying to adopt Giulia, a tortuous path in Italy. Italian law doesnt specify whether same-sex couples should both be recognized as parents. Parental recognition on birth certificates has largely been left up to mayors. Although decisions could vary locally, many same-sex parents have gained recognition since 2016, when Italy legalized gay civil unions. Now, the right-wing government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is telling mayors they can no longer choose. In fact, it is pushing for non-biological gay parents to be retroactively struck from birth documents. Hundreds of families could be affected, gay-rights groups say. The crackdown on birth certificates is part of a broader campaign against same-sex parenthood led by Ms. Meloni, who has frequently spoken out against what she calls the LGBTQ lobby" and in defense of Christian family values. Ms. Meloni comes from a far-right background but has worked hard to burnish her credentials as a mainstream conservative, pursuing establishment-friendly policies on economics and foreign affairs. At the same time, her government has sought to keep its right-wing voters happy with hard-line stances on immigration, gay rights and national identity. Recently, her party colleagues have railed against the creeping use of English words in Italian, proposing fines for Anglomania." Ms. Melonis Brothers of Italy party has long been hostile to same-sex parenthood. All children have a mother and a father. Saying they have two mothers or two fathers is not telling the truth," Eugenia Roccella, Italys minister of family affairs, said recently. The use of surrogate mothers is a crime more serious than pedophilia," said prominent party lawmaker Federico Mollicone, sparking a firestorm. Surrogacy is illegal in Italy, like in most other European countries, but Italy is going further. The Rome government is working on a bill that would make surrogacy abroad criminally liable in Italy, a move that would mostly affect gay men. Many lawyers say such a provision would be unenforceable. All it took was for the government to change," said Alessia Crocini, an activist with LGBT group Rainbow Families. The climate that has been created over the last few months is really like a witch hunt." Italy is bucking the trend in Western countries, which have mostly been moving toward greater equality of rights and recognition for same-sex couples. Same-sex couples cant get married in Italy. Lesbians are banned from accessing fertility treatment. Gay adoption is only allowed under exceptional circumstances. The far-reaching influence of the Catholic Church helps explain why Italy has moved more slowly than many other Western countries in expanding gay rights. Italian church leaders opposed the 2016 law that legalized civil unions in Italy. In 2021, the Vatican lobbied against a bill aimed at criminalizing violence and discrimination against gay people before Italys Parliament on the grounds that it would have interfered with the Churchs religious freedom. The bill didnt pass. Italian public opinion on gay rights has become more liberal over the past decade. A global survey by Ipsos last year found that 63% of Italians view same-sex parenthood favorably, compared with 73% of Americans and 39% of people in Poland, one of Europes most socially conservative countries. But traditional family values are especially important for Ms. Melonis voter base. Around 58% of those who vote for her Brothers of Italy party oppose adoption by gay couples, compared with 32% of Italians overall, according to an Ipsos poll carried out last month. There has been a significant shift in public opinion in recent years. There used to be a lot of skepticism, a lot of opposition" to expanding gay rights, said Lorenzo Pregliasco, head of the Quorum/YouTrend polling institute in Italy. The right-wing government has a strong electoral mandate and feels it is in a position to set the agenda on questions of values where their voters are on the same page." In recent months, Italys government and courts have taken new steps to restrict gay couples standing. Rome is opposing a European Union proposal for a certificate of parenthood valid throughout the bloc, because it would force Italy to recognize the status of same-sex parents. Italys highest court in December blocked local authorities from recognizing foreign birth certificates of children born through surrogacy. Last month, the government told the city of Milan, Italys business and fashion capital, to stop registering non-biological gay parents. Only parents that have a biological relationship with the child can be mentioned in birth certificates made in Italy," the Interior Ministry said in a letter to Milans mayor and chief prosecutor. The letter called for existing birth certificates to be rectified." They are treating these certificates like mistakes that can be easily corrected. Mothers are treated like typos," said Susanna Lollini, a lawyer who works with LGBT groups. The EUs legislature, the European Parliament, has called on Italy to rescind its move on birth certificates, describing it as part of a broader attack against the LGBTQI+ community in Italy." Rome says it is merely enforcing existing laws. But many lawyers say Italian law is ambiguous. The pressure has led many mayors across the country to stop registering non-biological gay parents on birth certificates. But, in the absence of clear legislation, some mayors are carrying on. Among them is Sergio Giordani, mayor of the northeastern city of Padua. There is no clear law when it comes to two mothers," said Mr. Giordani, who has no political affiliation. Im following my conscience. Im doing what I think is right. Im doing this for the children." This month, the local district attorney began reviewing the 34 birth certificates issued by Mr. Giordani to children with two mothers since 2017the first step toward potentially deleting the non-biological parents names. Denise Rinehart, a 49-year-old American citizen, lives in the Italian city of Bologna with her wife and their two sons. When their youngest child was born in 2021, Ms. Rinehart, the non-biological parent, was included on his birth certificate. She worries it is a matter of time before her legal standing is erased. It could definitely happen," said Ms. Rinehart, who works in theater. I fear they will do it to everyone." The couple is already engaged in a court battle involving their first son, who is legally only Ms. Rineharts son. She wants her Italian wife, Giulia Garofalo Geymonat, to be recognized as his second parent. Until that happens, the 7-year-old boy, who was born and raised in Italy, is not entitled to Italian citizenship. My biggest worry is that I will be denied my parental rights over our first son and that my wife will be stripped of her parental rights over our second son," said Ms. Garofalo Geymonat, 45. If one of us dies or becomes sick, these children arent protected." For many gay and lesbian couples in Italy, the only way to be recognized as parents is through adoption. But adoption is a particularly slow process in Italy. Nadia Lettieri and her wife filed their adoption request to a court in their hometown of Naples in 2020, soon after the birth of their first son. The first hearing has been scheduled for October 2023. My wife is forced to adopt the children that she saw being born and whom she has raised with me," said Ms. Lettieri. This is why it makes me angry when people tell us: Just go through the adoption route, whats the big deal?" Their youngest son, Mattia, who is 1, has been in and out of hospital with respiratory problems since birth. Only Ms. Lettieri is officially allowed to accompany the baby to the hospital and to take time off work to care for him. We have to beg doctors to allow her to see our son, including when he was in intensive care," said Ms. Lettieri. We depend on concessions from individuals, on their good hearts, whether its teachers or doctors. Its not possible to live like this." US President Joe Biden will attend the G7 leaders' summit in Japan in May, The White House has announced on Tuesday. The G& leaders summit in Hiroshima will be held from 19-21 May. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement said that on the agenda will be the war in Ukraine, global food and climate crises, and securing inclusive and resilient economic growth." The G7 leaders Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States will be meeting at the site of the world's first nuclear attack, with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida having said he hopes to make nuclear disarmament a key plank of discussions. Apart from this, President Biden will also attend a Quad leaders' summit in Sydney, Australia on 24 May bringing together the United States, Australia, Japan and India. #WATCH | Sydney will be the host of the Quad Leaders' meeting in 2023. The hosting of this meeting at the Sydney Opera House will be a chance for us to work cooperatively with US, Japan and India, but also it will also be an opportunity to showcase this beautiful city and the pic.twitter.com/Bxddyj1Xxf ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 The leaders in the Summit will discuss how they can "deepen their cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, maritime domain awareness, and other issues," Jean-Pierre said. The meeting of the Quad, which positions itself as a bulwark against China's military ambitions in Asia and the Pacific, comes amid heightened tensions in the region, particularly between Washington and Beijing. President Biden who is set to seek a second in 2024 will also be visiting India in September for the G20 Leaders Summit. The US administration thanked India for its 'tremendous' work at hosting the G20 Foreign Ministerial meeting last month and affirmed that 2023 is going to be a big year" for the India-US relationship. The US official added that India's leadership at G20 broadens its capacity to stand as a force of good in the world. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi: Mongolia is keen to attract Indian firms to help build rail connectivity in the country, according to Mongolias Ambassador to India Dambajav Ganbold. We have only one main railway which connects the North of our country to the South. This is the Russian Trans-Siberian Railways that goes through Mongolia to Beijing. This comes from North to South, but for the further development of Mongolia, we would like to have horizontal railway lines, for example from the South to the West. Indian firms are experts in developing infrastructure like railways and highways and this will be an interesting area of cooperation for Indian companies," Ganbold told Mint. India has some experience with building railway projects in other countries. Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), a public sector enterprise set up in 1974, provides infrastructure study, rolling stock design, equipment design and a suite of engineering services to other countries. RITES has typically handled Indias railway diplomacy and has run projects in 55 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, South America and West Asia, according to the companys website. Currently, the company operates in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Mauritius, Bangladesh and Botswana. Early talks with the Indian government are underway, said Ganbold, and the matter will be brought up during the next intergovernmental commission meetings that are expected this year. Connectivity is at the forefront of the partnership between India and Mongolia. Both countries are discussing establishing regular direct flights in a bid to bring both sides closer economically. Two direct flights per month could commence as soon as this year, according to Ganbold. Indian firms are also involved in building Mongolias first oil refinery. The Mongol oil refinery, which has an expected completion date of 2025, is being built with a $1.2 billion soft loan from the Indian government. Once completed, the refinery is expected to provide for 70% of Mongolias energy needs domestically. The country is currently dependent entirely on Russian oil exports to meet its needs.India and Mongolia raised bilateral ties to the level of a strategic partnership in 2015, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the landlocked North-East Asian country. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday revealed that Sydney would be the venue for the Quad Leaders' Summit on May 24. Im pleased to announce that Australia will be hosting the Quad Leaders Summit for the first time on May 24 in Sydney. Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 26, 2023 "I'm pleased to announce that Australia will be hosting the Quad Leaders' Summit for the first time on May 24 in Sydney,' Anthony Albanese tweeted. Hosting our Quad partners in Sydney next month will be an opportunity for Australia to help shape the region we all want to live in. pic.twitter.com/UUcIwD6AuN Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 26, 2023 In another tweet, Albanese noted, Hosting our Quad partners in Sydney next month will be an opportunity for Australia to help shape the region we all want to live in." In May, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Australia to participate in the Quad leadership summit. The announcement was made in March during a joint press conference held by Prime Minister Modi and his Australian counterpart, who was on a four-day visit to India at the time. Meanwhile, according to a press release by The White House, President Biden is set to participate in the Quad Leaders' Summit in Sydney, Australia on May 24, which will be attended by Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India. As reported by ANI, the leaders of the Quad group have convened four times in the past, and their next meeting is scheduled to be held in Australia. The group's significance in the region has grown as a result of its strong focus on sustainable and inclusive economic growth, as well as its efforts to promote connections between Quad members and non-Quad members at the individual level. The Quad is a strategic platform that includes India, Japan, the United States, and Australia. Its key goal is to create a fresh approach to ensuring the Indo-Pacific's vital sea routes remain free from any form of control. Officials familiar with the matter have stated that Rajnath Singh, the Defence Minister, is expected to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu , during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting on April 28. As reported by Hindustan Times, this meeting comes shortly after the Indian Army and the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) had their 18th round of military talks to reduce tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. During the recent corps commander-level talks between India and China on April 23, both sides reached an agreement to uphold security and stability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). They also decided to maintain close communication and sustain dialogue through both military and diplomatic channels, with the goal of reaching a mutually agreeable resolution for any remaining issues. Although discussions were held, there was no immediate significant progress. On April 28, Singh is scheduled to have one-on-one meetings with the defence ministers of other nations taking part in the SCO defence ministers' conference, as stated by the defence ministry in a statement on Tuesday. The SCO is made up of eight member countries, including India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. According to officials, the SCO consists of eight member nations. Additionally, two countries observing the meeting, namely Iran and Belarus, will also participate. Several weeks ago, as Fox News lawyers prepared for a courtroom showdown with Dominion Voting Systems, they presented Tucker Carlson with what they thought was good news: They had persuaded the court to redact from a legal filing the time he called a senior Fox News executive the c-word, according to people familiar with the matter. Mr. Carlson, Fox Newss most-watched prime-time host, wasnt impressed. He told his colleagues that he wanted the world to know what he had said about the executive in a private message, the people said. Mr. Carlson said comments he made about former President Donald TrumpI hate him passionately"that were in the court documents were said during a momentary spasm of anger, while his dislike of this executive was deep and enduring. The messages were part of a trove of emails and texts from Fox executives and hosts that were made public as a result of Dominions defamation lawsuit. The voting-machine company accused Fox networks of airing false claims by hosts and guests that Dominion helped rig the outcome of the 2020 U.S. presidential election in favor of Joe Biden. Fox News parent Fox Corp. last week agreed to pay $787.5 million to settle the dispute. On Monday, Mr. Carlsons famously combative stance toward members of Fox News management and other colleagues caught up with him, as the network abruptly announced it was parting ways with him, just minutes after informing Mr. Carlson of the change. The private messages in which Mr. Carlson showed disregard for management and colleagues were a major factor in that decision, according to other people familiar with the matter. Although many portions of the Dominion court documents are redacted, there is concern among Fox Corp. executives that if the redacted material were to become public, it would lead to further embarrassment for the network and parent company. With an average audience of 3.2 million viewers during the first quarter, Mr. Carlsons Tucker Carlson Tonight" was the networks most-watched evening show over that period and second most popular telecast overall behind the afternoon talk show The Five." Within Foxs management, reservations had been mounting about risks Mr. Carlson presented for the network, people familiar with the matter said. Some of the people pointed to concerns that the populist firebrand had come to believe himself bigger than the networka cardinal sin in Fox Corp. Chair Rupert Murdochs empireand was increasingly operating as his own island. Mr. Murdoch and his family are large shareholders in Fox Corp. and Wall Street Journal parent News Corp. On air, Mr. Carlson had turned up the volume on commentary that had expanded beyond a conservative viewpoint on politics into more of an attack on marginalized groups. His show, more than those of his prime-time colleagues Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham, frequently landed the network in hot water, particularly with advertisers. Mr. Carlson sometimes trafficked in what criticsincluding some higher-ups within Foxfelt was thinly veiled racism on his show, such as when he recently suggested a Tennessee lawmaker got into a good college only because of his skin color, some of the people said. Mr. Carlson declined to comment on his departure. In recent years, battles between Mr. Carlson and Fox management got so bad that former Trump aide Raj Shah was appointed to be his internal advocate and an intermediary between Mr. Carlson and Foxs communications department, according to people familiar with the arrangement and filings in the Dominion case. Mr. Carlson was livid that Fox News didnt do more to protect him from the negative press coverage around the Dominion case that he was expected to testify in, given that the primary actors responsible for the false election-fraud claims at the heart of the suit were other Fox hosts and commentators, according to people familiar with the matter. In the messages released in the legal proceedings, Mr. Carlson voiced skepticism about Sidney Powell, the primary purveyor of the conspiracy theory that Dominions technology helped steal the election from Mr. Trump. Given that, Mr. Carlson felt the narrative in press coverage should have been different, and let Fox executives know of his displeasure, the people said. The Dominion court filings are filled with examples of him disparaging colleagues, from calling for the firing of Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich for fact-checking Mr. Trumps false claims about the 2020 election to complaining about the networks news coverage, including the decision to call Arizona for Mr. Biden on election night. Inside Fox News, there has been a growing sense that Mr. Carlson couldnt be managed, and viewed himself as untouchable, people familiar with the company said. Legal documents also revealed Mr. Carlson was unafraid to run roughshod over those whose views or actions he opposed. Although Mr. Carlson has spent much of the Covid-19 era doing his show out of his Maine homejoking recently in a Heritage Foundation speech that he hadnt been in an elevator for three years"his presence still loomed large inside and outside the networks New York headquarters. Protesters frequently gather in front of the building carrying cardboard cutouts of his head, sometimes with an X" over it, adorned with the most incendiary quotes from the Dominion case discovery. Mr. Carlsons fall from grace in the eyes of the Murdochs was swift. Just a few weeks ago, Rupert Murdoch invited Mr. Carlson to his Bel Air, Calif., home to dine with his then-fiancee, Ann Lesley Smith, according to people familiar with the gathering. Ms. Smith couldnt be reached for comment. Mr. Carlson had bonded somewhat with Fox Corp. Executive Chair Lachlan Murdoch, Rupert Murdochs son, with whom he shared a love of the outdoors and conservative politics, according to people familiar with the matter. But it was Lachlan Murdoch, in consultation with Fox News Chief Executive Suzanne Scott, who made the decision to oust Mr. Carlson, the Journal reported Monday. Mr. Carlson is a defendant in a lawsuit filed last month by Abby Grossberg, a former producer for Mr. Carlson and Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo. The suit, which also names Fox and other individuals, said, Mr. Carlsons derogatory comments towards women, and his disdain for those who dare to object to such misogyny, is well known on the set" of his show. Fox News fired Ms. Grossberg shortly afterward, saying she filed her complaint without taking steps to protect portions containing Foxs privileged information." Ms. Grossbergs lawyers described her firing as retaliatory. In a statement Monday following news of Mr. Carlsons ouster, Ms. Grossbergs lawyers said: Tucker Carlsons departure from Fox News is, in part, an admission of the systemic lying, bullying, and conspiracy-mongering claimed by our client." Mr. Carlson had no comment on the lawsuit. Fox at the time said it hired independent outside counsel to investigate the concerns raised by Ms. Grossberg. A San Francisco native, Mr. Carlson, 53, joined Fox News as a contributor in 2009. He rose to get his own show in 2016 and eventually landed the 8 p.m. time slot. His past career had included tours at both CNN and MSNBC, as well as an entrepreneurial stint as the co-founder of the Daily Caller, the conservative web publication that aimed to inject a dose of original reporting into the commentary-heavy center-right media ecosystem. Besides his nightly presence on Fox News, Mr. Carlson was also prominent on Fox Nation, the news channels direct-to-streaming service, on which his content was essentially an unplugged version of his daily show. In November, he aired a three-part special called Patriot Purge" that inaccurately suggested the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol was a plot of extreme left-wing groups and that even the FBI played a part. That program set the stage for a March broadcast on his Fox News show, suggestingusing video provided to him by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.)that the attack wasnt nearly as violent as the media had suggested. It was heavily criticized by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. While Mr. Carlsons Tucker Carlson Tonight" was popular, it was also repellent to blue-chip advertisers. Top-tier marketers tend to steer clear of content they deem too controversial, and the show was sometimes the target of advertiser boycotts. As advertisers have fled prime time, some have shifted to airing commercials on Fox at other times. Mr. Carlsons show has filled the void mostly with ads from direct-response advertisers and MyPillow Inc. The pillow manufacturers commercials star CEO Mike Lindell, who has also appeared as a guest on Tucker Carlson Tonight" and was one of the most prominent people spreading the false election-fraud narrative. Direct-response advertisers typically are smaller businesses whose ads encourage people to take actions such as calling a toll-free number. The lack of advertiser demand meant the commercials in many cases werent being sold at a premium or at a rate commensurate with its audience size, which meant it wasnt providing a financial windfall to the network, people familiar with the networks operations said. As of late, Mr. Carlsons ratings popularity on the network were surpassed by the afternoon panel show The Five." The popularity of Mr. Carlsons show along with other Fox News programs continued to give the network leverage when negotiating distribution deals with cable and satellite operators to carry the channel. Fox News costs those providers about $2 a month for a subscriber, according to industry estimates. Over the next two years, Fox News will be renegotiating deals with most major distributors. The Dominion court filings were hardly the first time that the commentators take on other personalities at the network was on display. In 2019, Mr. Carlson attacked then-Fox News anchor Shepard Smith on-air for a show Mr. Smith had done in which Fox News contributor Judge Andrew Napolitano said Mr. Trump had been guilty of criminal behavior. Mr. Carlson and Mr. Smith traded barbs at each other on their respective shows, with Mr. Smith calling Mr. Carlsons criticisms of Mr. Napolitano repugnant. Mr. Smith left Fox News soon after the tiff with Mr. Carlson. Mr. Smith didnt respond to a request for comment. Fox News founding Chairman and CEO Roger Aileswho was forced out in 2016 after numerous allegations of sexual harassment that he deniedwas known for being able to manage the larger-than-life personalities of some of the on-air talent. Mr. Ailes, who died in 2017, made sure that there was no shooting inside the tent," people who worked under him have said. In Mr. Ailess absence, longtime Fox News insiders lament that the talent often seem to get their way and that producers and executives who oversee their shows are reluctant to challenge them or use a heavy hand to rein them in. Fox News could suffer some rating declines should some of Mr. Carlsons audience leave with him or if his replacement isnt as big of a draw. On Monday night, with morning-show anchor Brian Kilmeade filling in, the show drew 2.6 million viewers, according to Nielsen. That beat rival news channels but is smaller than Mr. Carlsons usual audience. Other big-name Fox anchors including Bill OReilly, Megyn Kelly and Glenn Beck have left without harming Fox News ratings. Some of them have gone on to achieve financial success with new media ventures. Mr. OReilly makes nearly $30 million a year and Ms. Kelly makes well into the eight figures, people familiar with their finances said. Inside the network, the mantra among executives is that no one personality is bigger than the brand. History would show that the talent needs Fox more than Fox needs any particular talent," said Jonathan Klein, a former CNN president. The United States on Wednesday pledged to involve South Korea in strategic planning for the use of nuclear weapons in any conflict with North Korea, in return for an agreement that Seoul will not pursue its own nuclear weapons. The agreement, which is also termed as Washington Declaration by the two sides, emerged after talks between US President Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol, who was meeting with the President at the White House today. The talks covered several issues including North Korea, semiconductor chips and trade and the Ukraine war. At a joint news conference, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said he and President Biden had agreed on steps to strengthen South Korea's defenses in response to the threat posed by North Korea. "Our two countries have agreed to immediate bilateral presidential consultations in the event of North Korea's nuclear attack and promised to respond swiftly, overwhelmingly and decisively using the full force of the alliance, including the United States nuclear weapons," the South Korean President said. Biden called the US-South Korean relationship the linchpin of regional security and prosperity," adding, Today Im proud to say, Mr. President, that I think our partnership is ready to take on any challenges." Our alliance is an alliance of values based on our shared universal values of freedom and democracy," the South Korean President said in response. It is not a contractual alliance" but an everlasting partnership," he added. As part of the Washington Declaration, the US will deploy a ballistic-missile submarine to South Korea in a show of force. But Biden made clear no US nuclear weapons would be stationed on South Korean territory. I have absolute authority as commander in chief and the sole authority to use a nuclear weapon, but what the declaration means is that we're going to make every effort to consult with our allies when it's appropriate, if any action is so called for," Biden said. The two presidents also discussed tensions between China and Taiwan and Chinese military activities in the South China Sea. They also stressed the importance of preserving stability in the Taiwan Strait. The two leaders strongly opposed "any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific, including through unlawful maritime claims, the militarization of reclaimed features, and coercive activities". Earlier this month, Apple launched its first two retail stores in India, which was a much-awaited move. The stores, located in Mumbai and Delhi, are being managed by a team of highly educated and tech-savvy staff members who are dedicated to providing excellent customer service. According to reports, these Apple Store employees in India are earning significantly higher salaries than their counterparts working in other tech brand retail stores. During the launch event, the Apple Store employees donned green t-shirts and joined Cook in welcoming customers with enthusiastic cheers and applause as they lined up outside the stores. As per a report by the Economic Times, Apple is paying its employees managing the two retail stores in India approximately Rs. 1 lakh per month. This salary is believed to be up to four times higher than what other tech brands pay their retail store employees on a monthly basis. To manage its first two stores in India, the Cupertino-based tech giant has onboarded approximately 170 people, and it is evident that Apple has conducted thorough due diligence before finalizing its team members to take up the responsibility of running the stores. Apple has appointed highly qualified staff with educational backgrounds in IT, electrical engineering, robotics, and computer applications to work in its Indian retail stores. Additionally, the company has also hired linguistically skilled employees, some of whom have been relocated from other countries to be part of Apple's retail expansion in India. According to Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Deputy Minister for Information Technology, Apple may double or even triple its investments in India in the near future, along with increasing exports. During his visit to India, Apple's CEO also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss the company's plans for business growth and manufacturing within India. The meeting was focused on how Apple intends to expand its operations and production capabilities in India. Billionaire Elon Musk recently revealed that he earns nearly 80 lakh per month from his 24,700 subscribers on Twitter. The tech giant shared a screenshot showing the number of people who pay $4 ( 330) per month to subscribe to his exclusive content. Musk is raking in money by providing some exclusive content to its Super Followers. Twitter users can also make money like Musk does if they are able to offer quality content to subscribers. Elon Musk explained how users can earn money from Twitter through a screenshot. Musk wrote that content creators can make money using the monetization option on the platform. "Content creators may wish to enable subscriptions on this platform. Just tap on Monetization in settings," he wrote. The Tesla CEO is charging $4 to every user per month and has about 24,700 subscribers. Therefore, Musk estimated earnings from Twitter subscribers are about $98,800 (roughly 80.9 lakh). Elon Musk has 24.7k subscribers. With each subscriber paying $4/mo, he is generating $1.2m/year in passive income. It's literally this simple to achieve financial independence and retire early pic.twitter.com/ohaVx6OH26 Alex Cohen (@anothercohen) April 24, 2023 At present, the monetisation feature is now limited to users in the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, EU, UK, and EEA as per the website. However, people can choose to subscribe irrespective of region. A user needs to select the profile icon on the top left corner, tap on Professional Tools at the bottom of the screen to get to the Monetization option and then click on Subscriptions. Notably, Elon Musk is the most followed person on Twitter with 136.6 million followers. Musk's Super Followers have access to his discussions hosted on Spaces and will also be privy to the ask me anything session. Twitter has been experimenting with different monetization strategies since it was acquired by Elon Musk last year, including charging for verification and API access. Recently, social media platform told advertisers that companies that wish to advertise on Twitter Inc. are now required to pay for verification or reach a minimum monthly spend on ads. "Lessons From the Covid War: An Investigative Report" By The Covid Crisis Group PublicAffairs. 352 pp. $18.99 - - - Three years into the pandemic, America has reached - at best - an uneasy stalemate with covid: more than 1 million deaths, an exhausted health-care workforce, and a backlash that weakened public health officials' power to fight the next outbreak. And while most people have moved on, the virus remains on pace to be a top-10 cause of death again this year. Breaking through this miasma comes "Lessons From the Covid War: An Investigative Report," from 34 experts promising a "dispassionate guide" to the increasingly overheated arguments about the pandemic. The brisk analysis, published by PublicAffairs on Tuesday, explores America's myriad failures responding to the current outbreak and what it must do to prepare for the next one. One quality that separates this book from dozens of other pandemic works is its unusual origin: Its authors first assembled two years ago, anticipating that Congress or the president would empower a 9/11-style commission to probe the virus response. But the call never came, and the experts instead pivoted to this report, which offers lucid insights into how the United States relied on a creaky and fragmented public health infrastructure to combat the virus - limitations that transcended any single administration or agency. The book also synthesizes existing Trump-era memoirs and draws on the expertise of its co-authors, known as "the covid crisis group," who include physicians, epidemiologists and former senior government officials. Philip Zelikow, former executive director of the 9/11 Commission, oversaw the effort. The goal was "to provide a sketch of the overall crisis," Zelikow, a University of Virginia history professor, said in a recent interview. Zelikow described how the book's experts split into groups to tackle major issues, ranging from breakdowns in the domestic response, to the challenges with global vaccine distribution and rollout. In its effort to be nonpartisan, the group often waves away the unique chaos and mistakes by President Donald Trump and his deputies that hamstrung the United States in the first year of the crisis. And with no subpoena power or congressional staff behind them, the book falls short of the authors' ambitions. "We cannot offer the kind of exhaustive investigative report that a Covid commission might have produced," the authors acknowledge upfront. What "Lessons From the Covid War" does do is trace the root causes of America's pandemic dysfunction, such as how the rise of local health departments to fight cholera in the 1800s helped create a disorganized system that persists to this day - and is desperately in need of streamlining, strengthening and centralized leadership. "The United States faced a twenty-first-century challenge with a system designed for nineteenth-century threats," the authors conclude. The book takes repeated aim at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for its academic culture, which the experts say contributed to the agency's slow decisions on school reopening guidance and warnings about the virus' spread. "The CDC had some of the most technically gifted experts in the world. Yet the culture of the organization, emphasizing certainty before action, resulted in paralysis" on whether to warn about the spread of covid by aerosolized particles, the authors write, criticizing the agency's too-late acknowledgment, for instance, that the virus could travel far longer distances than six feet. The book also cuts through partisan grandstanding to offer some fresh perspectives. For instance, a March 2020 effort led by then-White House senior adviser Jared Kushner to secure emergency supplies - widely mocked in the media and by Democrats - "plainly offered some help," the covid crisis group acknowledges, although with the caveat that Kushner's involvement "added confusion" to the crowded and often chaotic government effort. In seeking to rise above politics, however, the book goes too far to minimize Trump's role - reducing him to a "comorbidity" in America's pandemic response - despite acknowledging his own numerous mistakes, from constructing a team riven by internal feuds, to his repeated decisions to put politics ahead of public health. For instance, Trump's loud and visible resistance to masking sent a signal that politicized the issue of face coverings and hampered local responses. "In the face of public opposition from the leader of their own party, it was very difficult for state and local Republican officials to require masks," the authors write about the breakdown of protective measures. On another page, they describe the Trump administration's failure to organize coronavirus testing in workplaces and schools, which fueled anxiety about reopenings and led to missed diagnoses and viral spread. "What was missing was a strong, clear, written articulation of a national strategy for how to use antigen or PCR tests for workplaces and schools . . . it should have been ready by the fall of 2020," the authors write. "The Biden administration finally designed such a comprehensive program, which it deployed in the first months of 2022." The book also excuses Trump officials' decision to ignore a "pandemic playbook" left by the Obama administration - a decision guide that instructed officials to begin ordering personal protective equipment and making other preparations for an outbreak once certain conditions were met. While those conditions were triggered in January 2020, Trump's government "did not start really trying to mobilize fully until about two months later, and even then in a haphazard way," the authors write. "Lessons from the Covid War" sidesteps some other issues. The book devotes just two pages to a section on "the rise of misinformation and disinformation," which many experts tie to widespread loss of confidence in vaccines, treatments and protective measures. That fallout goes beyond the response just to covid: The Pan American Health Organization warned last week that the risk of preventable disease outbreaks in the Americas has reached a 30-year high because of lack of vaccine uptake, partly due to misinformation spread during the pandemic. Among the book's strengths are its expert contributors: Michael Callahan and James Lawler, infectious-disease physicians who deployed to the virus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship in the earliest days of the crisis; John Barry, who wrote the history of the 1918 flu outbreak that Trump officials nervously studied as covid cases began to soar; Charity Dean, the former California public health official who became a protagonist of another pandemic-era book, "The Premonition," by Michael Lewis. But a book billed as the most comprehensive look yet at the pandemic response feels, definitionally, like only a partial retelling of the fight against a virus that continues to kill hundreds of Americans daily. There's no resolution on the origins of SARS-CoV-2. There's no blockbuster expose waiting in its narrative, in large part because it relies on others' reporting and memoirs. Framed as a retelling of "the Covid War," the book also makes scores of analogies between military conflicts and the medical response to the pandemic - comparisons that sometimes seem tortured, and that its authors acknowledge may not ring true to the "combatants" on the "covid frontline battlefields." And it inadvertently illustrates what might have been learned with the broad powers of a government-backed commission. The 9/11 commission - focused on tracing the events that led to that tragic day - interviewed more than 1,200 people, including key officials like then-Secretary of State Colin Powell, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and CIA Director George Tenet, who sat for interviews under oath. There were a dozen public hearings. While those authors acknowledged the 9/11 commission faced setbacks and roadblocks, the report's scope and scoops helped it have immediate and long-lasting impact. The covid crisis group - trying to tackle the systemic breakdowns that pushed American casualties so high - held listening sessions with about 300 people. But numerous key officials across both the Trump and Biden administrations did not sit for interviews, including many who told The Washington Post they weren't contacted. The notable omissions include former Trump Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Vice President Mike Pence, who took turns leading the White House coronavirus task force in 2020; Deborah Birx and Jeff Zients, who served as the nation's first two covid coordinators; and more than a dozen other officials who helped set up key efforts, such as Trump's Operation Warp Speed vaccine accelerator and Biden's vaccine-focused response. While that means the covid book lacks some sweep, it arrives as officials are being exhorted to patch the health system's holes. The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan watchdog, reiterated on April 20 that the Health and Human Services department remains on its "high-risk" list for its potential to botch the next crisis. The agency "must improve its leadership and coordination of public health emergencies to save lives, mitigate severe economic impacts, and prepare the nation to respond," GAO warned. "Lessons From the Covid War" offers some advice on where those federal health leaders might focus. It suggests HHS install a new "undersecretary for health security" who would oversee CDC and other relevant offices, to "orchestrate real strategies to contain an outbreak and design, produce, distribute, and deploy the tool kits of countermeasures to help communities defend themselves." It reiterates calls for better data systems, faster vaccine manufacturing and other investments that would speed future virus responses. But amid the covid exhaustion of those health leaders, and of the public, it's not clear whether the book's calls will be heeded. Meanwhile, the story of this pandemic has still not been fully told - and with no signs of a government-sanctioned covid commission, it may never be. "How to Blow Up a Pipeline," Andreas Malm's 2021 book calling for a more radical flank of the climate movement, does not, in fact, tell you how to blow up a pipeline. The title is "partly metaphorical," Malm said in a recent phone interview. "The intention of the title was never to come up with any detailed instructions for how to do it. To be honest, I don't know how to do it." What about the screen adaptation of Malm's manifesto, now in wide release, also called "How to Blow Up a Pipeline"? "I think in broad strokes, yes," director and co-writer Daniel Goldhaber said over the phone. Malm's book criticizes climate activists' commitment to pacifism, and argues for the adoption of strategic property destruction as a tactic. He never seriously contemplated adding a section full of specific instructions - because it simply "wouldn't make sense," he said. "Generally, this is something that's up to activists on the ground to find out: What are the concrete ways that we can do anything?" The new movie dramatizes Malm's argument by telling the story of eight fictional activists who learn to make explosives and destroy a pipeline in Texas. The action sequences feel gritty in their physicality, and the filmmakers consulted experts, including a counterterrorism consultant ("a giant bomb nerd," according to the director), so they could nail the fine details. That sense of tangibility is part of the movie's central provocation, Goldhaber said. "If we recognize that fossil fuel infrastructure will lead to the destruction of human life on Earth as we know it, and you could take a significant chunk out of it with just a couple of homemade explosives that you can make with $750 worth of materials - that presents a really interesting moral proposition." He and his collaborators "didn't feel many moral qualms" about depicting bomb-building, "in part because it's very hard. It's very technical," he said. The information undergirding those scenes, he added, is readily available online. But is anything stopping some other, hypothetical book or movie from saying - not in broad strokes but directly, step by step - how to blow up a pipeline? Legal experts say that the First Amendment broadly protects speech, even speech that could or does lead to a crime, with a few carveouts. One exception is incitement. The Supreme Court said in 1969 that there's a difference between lawful persuasion (which is protected) and speech "intentionally directed to producing an act of imminent unlawful violence" (which isn't). So how do courts define "imminent"? "If there's any cool-down time for reflection, then it's not going to meet the imminence requirement," said Brian Hauss, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union. The textbook example of incitement is someone in front of an angry mob telling them to attack a person. But broader or more abstract advocacy, even of an illegal or violent act, doesn't count. "Basically any form of written media is almost guaranteed not to meet the incitement test, because it allows for that cool-down period - simply by virtue of the fact that you have to buy the book and read it," Hauss said. In the 1990s, the family of a crime victim sued Oliver Stone, alleging that his movie "Natural Born Killers" inspired a killing spree, and relatives of a Texas state trooper killed by someone listening to "2Pacalypse Now" sued Tupac Shakur and his record label. Both lawsuits claimed incitement and ultimately failed. "First Amendment jurisprudence has a very strong bias that the listener is ultimately responsible," said Leslie Kendrick, director of the Center for the First Amendment at the University of Virginia's law school. She likened the incitement standard to the legal standard for conspiracy: "The speaker has to have intended their words to create this kind of violence or risk. They have to have been in on it, on some level." What about speech that teaches people how to commit a crime, like, say - a guide full of handy tips for pipeline sabotage? Would that be protected? Famously, in 1999, an appeals court ruled that the publisher of "Hit Man: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors," could be held liable for its contents aiding and abetting a crime (in that case, the murder of three people). But it was "a rather unique case," said Hauss: The publisher said outright, in trial court, that it intended the book to facilitate contract killing. There's also a federal statute that specifically makes it a crime to teach or demonstrate the making or use of an explosive with the intent that the information be used "for an activity that constitutes a federal crime of violence," said Eugene Volokh, a professor at UCLA School of Law. "My theory is that this statute might be unconstitutional," Volokh said. The Supreme Court has often said that free speech protection should not hinge on jurors' and prosecutors' best guesses about a distributor's purpose. But, he added, "If somebody came to me, as a lawyer, and said they were publishing this book, I'd say, 'Maybe you eventually might prevail under the First Amendment. But there is this statute. You could get into trouble.' " Generally, if a work has a lawful purpose - like informing or entertaining the public - in addition to a potentially unlawful one, the First Amendment protects it. "'Steal This Book' and 'The Anarchist Cookbook' are still on the shelves, even though those books broadly advocate all sorts of unlawful activity and provide some instruction on how to do it," Hauss said. "Especially with speech on matters of public concern, we don't outlaw it unless we know for a fact the speaker's sole goal was to facilitate criminal activity." In reality, what often constrains creators - whether of a book, a movie or a rap song - is not necessarily the law as written, but cultural and professional norms. There's also the looming threat of a lawsuit, which could be costly even if a court eventually tossed it. That's why First Amendment protections need to be robust and clearly spelled out, according to Hauss. Otherwise, many players involved in the making and distribution of media might act conservatively when assessing a legal risk. "You know, simply because I think the First Amendment protection is really clear here doesn't necessarily mean that it's impossible for some kind of rogue prosecutor or motivated plaintiff to pursue a frivolous lawsuit or prosecution," Hauss said. "The risk is very real. That unfortunately still drives how stuff plays out in the marketplace." "I have to say that I'm still a bit surprised that the book has been translated into quite a few languages and no legal problem has been reported," Malm said. When it came to the movie, Goldhaber said, "Obviously somebody could sue you at any time for anything, in this country, right? But we felt very secure in the fact that all of the bomb-making in the movie was sourced by publicly available documentation, and the fact that we're not calling for an action. We're telling a story about a hypothetical action that is entirely fiction." He and his collaborators have said at various times that they fought the initial instinct to make their version of "How to Blow Up a Pipeline" into propaganda, or a work of direct advocacy. "If we want to be able to say, climate defense is for everybody, we have to engage in a form of the medium that, for the moment, is where most people are," Goldhaber said. "And that means an entertaining form, a Hollywood ending, a little bit of fantasy, a little bit of wish fulfillment, a little bit of sex appeal. Mythmaking is part of what helps build a movement." In celebration of Earth Day, one local organization made sure to bring out the best of the border during their first-ever The Border is Beautiful festival. Organized by the Rio Grande International Study Center, hosted by the Laredo Center for the Arts and sponsored by ADJ Law in downtown Laredo, the street festival celebrating the local river, music and culture brought people of the city closer together in efforts of celebrating what is like living in the city, why it is beautiful and why it should be kept that way by making sure the citys natural resources continue to be preserved. For the organizer of the event, Lucia Macias said it was her first time planning such a large event and was certainly a learning experience. But while it was a bit scary, it was something in the end she found to be very successful. We celebrated Earth Day in such a great way by partnering with other nonprofits here from Laredo and also several Nuevo Laredo entities, said Macias, the community outreach coordinator for the RGISC. What we are trying to do here is community building, as we are bringing people from Laredo and Nuevo Laredo showcasing how beautiful this culture is, and it's because we are able to share it. ... So it creates such a unique and beautiful culture here, and so that is why we are trying to tell our own story here and trying to show people who we are and what we are about. Some of the partnerships done for the event included the Laredo entities of the Laredo Music Scene, Laredo Cultural District, the Laredo Center for the Arts and Nuevo Laredos Regionales Comunitarios de Laredo, Pura Vida Nuevo Laredo, Estudio de Danza Ambar, Baimo and others. Macias said that the event being held on Earth Day was done internationally, as the main goal of RGISC is to protect the river and ensure it is in good health. Macias said the proceeds collected went to local nonprofits such as RGISC, the Laredo Center for the Arts and the Laredo Cultural District. She was glad a lot of the organizations that took part benefited. The organizer also thanked musical act Grupo Fantasma for their efforts and said they are a big supporter of RGISC efforts and the Laredo community. I really hope the people took away from this that we are people that have a really nice community here, and that we are not going to let anybody else write that story for us, Macias said. We dont want people who are not from the border to tell us how the border is, plain and simple. ... We wont let them say that it is a violent place, that it is a bad place or not a friendly place, because this festival is an intention to exactly show what it is which is a beautiful bedding of cultures from Texas to Mexico. The festival saw many attendees from different aspects of the community, as even several councilmembers were at the event enjoying what it had to offer. The Border is Beautiful festival represents all that is unique and wonderful about Laredo, District III Councilmember Melissa R. Cigarroa said. It celebrates our historical relationship with our neighbors in Mexico and the blending of these two peoples that have produced the sounds and sights of amazing art and culture. I'm so proud to be a part of the Rio Grande International Study Center. My hat's off to the hard work of all the organizations and sponsors who came together to make this a reality, and my deep appreciation to Grupo Fantasma -- a member of the No Border Wall Coalition. According to Ciagarroa, despite Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's threat to build Trump's wall, she said the city and border continue to proclaim the border's beauty and the reality that lives are richly enhanced through the fronteriza lifestyle. We fear nothing and have so much to share with the world about deep friendship and mutual respect that has created a unique border experience for our families and our future community, she added. Several people at the event like Ricardo de Anda, a local attorney, were enjoying the event with loved ones and friends, as both the climate and scene allowed for a nice night out in downtown Laredo. It is a wonderful event. Besides the fact that it is a beautiful day in which we heard wonderful music, it's also the celebration of the border which is something that we need to appreciate. I am so glad that RGISC is bringing up this issue for us, De Anda said. I like the diversity that the border brings. While we do not have diversity racially, the fact that our border gives us diversity culture in many, many ways is one of the best things about the border in my mind. At the event, there were also several vendors who were excited to participate in the experience. Among them was Kelsey Salzar, owner of Kelseys Creations. I feel so honored to be part of this amazing event, as we are giving back to the community, and our small businesses are showing the community of Laredo what we can accomplish as a community, Salazar said. In my small booth here, everything is hand-made, and so what I want to give back to the community is show what we all can make with simply some yarn and a hook, as they can make anything that they want and sell it or give it to the community. Salazar said she has a club at Laredo College focused on the making of products and giving back to the community as she and the other members of the club make the products and donate them to local organizations like Casa de Misericordia or a local area hospital or medical practice. Everything is beautiful when it comes to the border, just because it connects both Nuevo Laredo and Laredo so it joins two different cultures into one, Salazar said. Webb County Commissioners Court held a special meeting Wednesday at United Middle School where in addition to discussing issues pertaining to the county, the meeting also served as an informational session to introduce United ISD high school students on how the county works. Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina explained to the students that the commissioners and some of the officials were dressed in denim that day as a way of showing solidarity with the victims and survivors of sexual abuse. And let me tell you a little bit about Denim Day, he said. Celebrated every year on the last Wednesday of April, Denim Day started as a campaign against sexual assault. In the summer of 1998 in Italy, an 18-year old girl was raped by her 45-year old driving instructor. One year later, the perpetrator was released after the court overturned his sentence. He felt that the girl had consensual sex with him because she was wearing tight jeans and there could only have been taken off with her help. The next day, Italian women showed up in the jeans to their workplace as a way to protest the absurdity of the overturned sentence. Then Tijerina and each one of the commissioners, as well as the officials from the different departments, introduced themselves and discussed their backgrounds and their duties with the county. Tijerina said he felt it was a privilege and an honor to serve as a Webb County Judge. "This is my third term he said. I just entered my ninth year starting in January. It is a four-year commitment ... and there are unlimited terms," Tijerina said. Wawi Tijerina, Webb County Commissioner for Precinct 2, described her passion for helping the community and why it's important to her. I am on my fifth term, so as you can see I am very passionate for serving the public, serving the community and trying to make a difference in people's lives, she said. Needless to say that I was a college professor before, so I know the importance of education, and I've always said that education is a key that opens all doors in life. I strongly urge you to continue education, always aim for the sky, always set your goals, work harder towards them, and believe me miracles happen to those who believe. Stay focused, I know what I'm telling you, and good luck to all of you. John Galo, Webb County Commissioner for Precinct 3, said that the students would learn a little about local government that day and discussed the oversight the commissioners provided to the different roles of the county, such as the court system, the sheriff system and the fiscal responsibility for the whole county. There is a lot of pieces to that that you will hear today," he said. "As Commissioner Tijerina said, education is first because I know and hope that some of you will be up here or in the City Council or in some other board in the future. We need your leadership. We need you to get out, get some experience and learn what is going on in the business world and then come back and serve to make Laredo a better place." Jesse Gonzalez, Webb County Commissioner for Precinct 1, said that this year was his seventh as a commissioner and that he has been a county employee for over 19 years. Before I took office as a county commissioner, I was captain at the Webb County Sheriff's Office. I still have my certified police officer license, so public service is my passion, he said. We hope that with you coming here today and showing interest will not only inspire you all to enrich your minds and learn about county government but maybe you can have that passion to serve the community like we do. Then it was Ricky Jaime, Webb County Commissioner Precinct 4, who said he is an active Laredo firefighter and decided to run for office to address the problems he saw in the county. When you turn 18 years of age, go ahead and express your opinion by voting, he said. Depending on where you live, you have access to certain representatives, and the more involved that you get, the more you can go ahead and address your concerns. I think that we can work smarter and harder. I think that I am seated with a great group of persons, and if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us or your representatives. At least for the most part, what Ive seen is that elected officials do address the concerns that you have. The only thing we need is for you to stand up and have the courage to make the phone call or get involved. One by one, the county officials explained their duties to the students and presented their reports. At times, Tijerina and the commissioners explained or clarified what was stated by the officials during the county meeting students were witnessing. You see the variety of different agenda items from numbers to everything else in between, Tijerina said. Trust me when I tell you that every day here is a totally different thing, and I'm proud to say that this court and pretty much all our employees add to the county. Sometimes we are going to have some discussion that sounds like you're not very happy, you're going to have that kind of discussion, but for the most part we all get along. We all do our job, we get to do it right for you and for the constituency of the Webb County. The back-and-forth battle between the Walt Disney Company and the state of Florida's governor is making its way to court. Several reports Wednesday afternoon indicate Disney is suing Gov. Ron DeSantis and state leaders in regard the company's free speech rights "A targeted campaign of government retaliationorchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disneys protected speechnow threatens Disneys business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights," the lawsuit reads. Tensions between Mickey Mouse's parent company and the Florida governor, who's expected to announce a GOP bid for president, stems from the company expressing disagreement on Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill that DeSantis signed into law last month. Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill prohibits classroom discussions regarding sexual orientation or gender identity at certain grade levels. "Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that," Disney said in a statement March 28. "We are dedicated to standing up for the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ members of the Disney family, as well as the LGBTQ+ community in Florida and across the country. DeSantis spoke out against Disney and the company's stance on the "Don't Say Gay" bill. Youre a corporation based in Burbank, California, and youre going to martial your economic might to attack the parents of my state," DeSantis said at a Miami area charter school, Politico reports. "We view that as a provocation, and were going to fight back against that." Additionally, Disney's lawsuit against DeSantis reads, "Disney has never wanted a fight with the Florida government. The Company sought to de-escalate the matter for nearly a year, trying several times to spark a productive dialogue with the DeSantis Administration. To no avail." FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) The U.S. government is embarking on an effort to record the oral histories of survivors and descendants of boarding schools that sought to civilize Indigenous students, often through abusive practices. The Interior Department announced a partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities on Wednesday to document the experiences of thousands of Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students at federally funded schools across the country. The National Endowment for the Humanities contributed $4 million for the project and will look for other ways to support research, educational programming and gatherings, the group said. The first step toward addressing the intergenerational consequences of these schools is to squarely acknowledge and examine the history of a federal system intended to separate families, erase Native languages and cultures, and dispossess Native peoples of their land, National Endowment for the Humanities' Chair Shelly Lowe said in a statement. The endowment has supported other efforts, including a permanent exhibit on boarding schools at the Heard Museum in Phoenix and a project to digitize and transcribe records at the Genoa Indian School in Nebraska. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who is a member of Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico, has prioritized publicly examining the trauma caused by the schools. The department released a first-of-its kind report pointing out 408 schools the federal government supported. Religious and private institutions that ran many of the schools received federal funding and were willing partners in assimilating Indigenous students. The U.S. enacted laws and policies in 1819 to support the schools, most of which closed long ago. None still exist to strip students of their identities. Victims and survivors of government-backed boarding schools have been sharing emotional stories during a Road to Healing tour organized by the Interior Department. They have recalled being locked in basements as punishment, hair being cut to stamp out their identities, and physical and mental abuse. Lowe, who is Navajo, attended sessions in Many Farms on the Navajo Nation and in Tulalip and heard former boarding school students talk about the effect the schools had their adult lives, and within their families and communities. Those include the diminishment of Native languages and cultures, she said. It is also clear tribal leaders and family members want to find avenues for healing for these former students while strengthening and expanding the teaching, use, and revitalization of Indigenous languages and cultural practices across their tribal nations, she told The Associated Press. The Interior Department found in the first volume of an investigative report on boarding schools that at least 500 children died at some of the schools, though the number is expected to increase dramatically as research continues. A second volume is expected by the end of the year, the agency said. Interior used existing resources to begin the work. Congress allocated $14 million over the past two fiscal years, the agency said. The tour has made stops in Oklahoma, South Dakota, Michigan, Arizona, the Navajo Nation and, most recently in Washington on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. The oral history collection is an extension of the tour and comes at the request of Indigenous communities, Haaland said. It will ensure that future generations can learn from those stories, she said in a statement. "This is one step, among many, that we will take to strengthen and rebuild the bonds within Native communities that federal Indian boarding school policies set out to break," Haaland said. damircudic/Getty Images A Texas woman pleaded guilty to committing bank fraud that resulted in the theft of thousands of dollars from banks in at least six states. Officials said 48-year-old Cristina Michelle Husbands from Dallas was accused of stealing at least $128,300 from customer accounts at Regions Bank branches in Alabama, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and possibly other states. broadcastertr/Getty Images Yet another KPRC 2 reporter is leaving the station following a slew of departures this year. Taisha Walker, who has reported for Channel 2 for five years. took to social media on Monday to announce that her last day at KPRC will be next Wednesday. She did not reveal details about her next role but said she has accepted a "wonderful opportunity" that will allow her to stay in Houston and tell stories in a different way. "I am ecstatic about what the future holds," Walker wrote on Facebook. "As I reflect on my time here, I can't help be proud of my personal and professional evolution; from being an example that natural hair is professional, to using my voice to amplify yours and advocate for marginalized communities and groups." A Texas bill aimed at protecting teens from exposure to harmful content on the Internet just received initial approval from the Texas House of Representatives. Lawmakers approved House Bill 18 by a voice vote on Tuesday with bipartisan support from nearly two-thirds of the 150-member body, according to the Houston Chronicle's Jasper Scherer. The bill is part of a larger effort by Texas lawmakers to address concerns about social media's negative effects on young people's mental health. HB 18's author, state rep. Shelby Slawson of Stephenville, said the bill is designed to "equip our parents to better protect" kids using digital platforms, and contains measures that would expand parents' ability to monitor and control the content their kids can access online, per the Chronicle's Scherer. Our kids are unquestionably suffering from many harmful effects of overexposure to digital platforms, through increased rates of self-harm, suicide, substance abuse, sexual exploitation, human trafficking and other mental health issues, plus addictions to those platforms and their algorithms, Slawson said, per Scherer. The version of the bill approved by the House on Tuesday is significantly different from the original, which sought to allow parents or guardians of minors the right file civil lawsuits against any digital entity, website or online platform found to be conducting "harmful, deceptive, or unfair trade practices" involving users under the age of 18. The measure has since been amended to reserve the levying of allegations and enforcement of proposed punishments to the discretion of the state attorney general's office. We've listened very seriously to the concerns of industry out there who were worried that this might just create a proliferation of lawsuits, Slawson said, per the Chronicle's Scherer. That's not the focus of this bill. The focus of this bill is protecting kids. tsz01/Getty Images/iStockphoto The Texas City Police Department revealed on Tuesday, April 25 that the body found inside a submerged vehicle was identified as a woman who has been missing since March 30. Officials discovered several cars underwater in a manmade lake in Texas City, which is in the Galveston area. On Monday, April 24, Texas City police were notified about a possible body in a vehicle by Texas Equusearch, a nonprofit search and recovery organization. The group used sonar equipment to search for the missing woman, Katherine "Kate" Gannon, 43. According to Texas Equusearch, Gannon was reported missing on April 19 but had not been heard from since the end of March. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HONG KONG (AP) Singapore on Wednesday executed a man accused of coordinating a cannabis delivery, despite pleas for clemency from his family and protests from activists that he was convicted on weak evidence. Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, was sentenced to death in 2018 for abetting the trafficking of 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cannabis. Under Singapore laws, trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis may result in the death penalty. Tangaraju was hanged Wednesday morning and his family was given the death certificate, according to a tweet from activist Kirsten Han of the Transformative Justice Collective, which advocates for abolishing the death penalty in Singapore. Although Tangaraju was not caught with the cannabis, prosecutors said phone numbers traced him as the person responsible for coordinating the delivery of the drugs. Tangaraju had maintained that he was not the one communicating with the others connected to the case. At a United Nations Human Rights briefing Tuesday, spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani called on the Singapore government to adopt a formal moratorium on executions for drug-related offenses. Imposing the death penalty for drug offences is incompatible with international norms and standards, said Shamdasani, who added that increasing evidence shows the death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent. Singapore authorities say there is a deterrent effect, citing studies that traffickers carry amounts below the threshold that would bring a death penalty. The island-state's imposition of the death penalty for drugs is in contrast with its neighbors. In Thailand, cannabis has essentially been legalized, and Malaysia has ended the mandatory death penalty for serious crimes. Singapore executed 11 people last year for drug offenses. One case that spurred international concern involved a Malaysian man whose lawyers said he was mentally disabled. The Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network condemned Tangarajus execution as reprehensible. The continued use of the death penalty by the Singaporean government is an act of flagrant disregard for international human rights norms and casts aspersion on the legitimacy of Singapores criminal justice system, the statement said. Relatives and activists had sent letters to Singapores President Halimah Yacob to plead for clemency. In a video posted by the Transformative Justice Collective, Tangarajus niece and nephew appealed to the public to raise concerns to the government over Tangarajus impending execution. An application filed by Tangaraju on Monday for a stay of execution was dismissed without a hearing Tuesday. Singapore claims it affords people on death row due process, but in reality fair trial violations in capital punishment cases are the norm: Defendants are being left without legal representation when faced with imminent execution, as lawyers who take such cases are intimidated and harassed, said Maya Foa, director of non-profit human rights organization Reprieve. Critics say Singapores death penalty has mostly snared low-level mules and done little to stop drug traffickers and organized syndicates. But Singapores government says that all those executed have been accorded full due process under the law and that the death penalty is necessary to protect its citizens. British billionaire Richard Branson, who is outspoken against the death penalty, had also called for a halt of the execution in a blog post, saying that Singapore may be about to kill an innocent man. Singapore authorities criticized Bransons allegations, stating that he had shown disrespect for the Singaporean judicial system as evidence had shown that Tangaraju was guilty. Porter Ovuya, 10, of Moreland, GA, left, Shashu Welcome, 12, of Smyrna, GA., center, and Lilliyn Jean, 9, of Tucker, GA, right, play games during recess at the Kilombo Academic and Cultural Institute in Decatur, GA. Ispace flight controllers in Tokyo anxiously look for a signal from the company's Mission 1 lunar lander, but the spacecraft did not respond after the planned touchdown time came and went. Inset: senior managers look on, including ispace founder and CEO Hakamada (center). Kavanagh's poem may have been written about the Grand Canal, but last Wednesday afternoon that celebration of the beauty of the commonplace was just as applicable to its Royal sister. Abbeyshyrule basked in April sunshine as Minister for Rural and Community Development and Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, and her accompanying retinue marked the official opening of The Yard Hub. This was the last stop off for the minister on a day that saw visits to Longford town's Department of Social Protection Offices, the openings of a community play area at Cullyfad Community Centre, Newtownforbes Bog Walk and Ardagh Remote Working Hub. There was also a photocall with CLAR funded Irish Wheelchair Association Bus. Abbeyshrule was abuzz; the opening of The Yard Hub was a big deal, and the Minister's visit an acknowledgement of the potential that can be realised by the social enterprise's goal to transform the local community. The monastery of the river was a picturesque destination long before Longford county started to believe it had something to offer the tourist. The Yard Hub is a renewal project aimed at enhancing economic viability of what is, essentially, a rural area. Approaching the village from the Mullingar side of the Royal Canal Greenway the redeveloped derelict buildings have created a new village hub, a space for economic and enterprise development. The volunteers who have worked to bring the project to fruition believe the Hub will provide local people with an alternative to commuting to Dublin and other urban centres with remote employment alternatives. The ethos of fostering a creative community, with a focus on IT learning, plays a strong role in where the future of this community enterprise lies. The Hub comprises three buildings, two previously employed as cattle byres, the most recent incarnation of the third was as a storage shed for canoes. Their transformation has been remarkable. One of the features of the main building is a massive window that streams light into the meeting hall. For Minister Humphrey's address the room was packed, cheek by jowl, local volunteers, elected representatives of various hues and levels, local authority staff and well wishers filling the venue. Council Cathaoirleach, Turlough McGovern, spoke of the beautiful setting, commending the work of volunteers: It's a fantastic credit to the committee here, he said. Speaking on behalf of The Yard Hub directors and Abbeyshrule Community Group members, James Byrne, gave a potted history of how the Hub came about. He referenced the 2012 TidyTowns win, the 13th century BC Clonbrin leather shield that inspired the Hub's logo, and the origin of the buildings that now house the social enterprise. As a teenager I have fond memories of tending sick bullocks and regular TB testing in this yard, he recalled, Our local vet would regularly give out to us as the block wall of the cattle crush was too low. The bigger cattle had a habit of jumping over it. Ireland is renowned for the strength of its local communities, people who are always striving to improve the quality of their local facilities and environment. None of this would be possible without the support of local and national governments. Abbeyshrule is a living example of this. Life is a journey. This is especially so with TidyTowns, where you are always looking for the next project. You have to keep moving forward, The Yard Hub director said. Mr Byrne made particular reference to the support from Longford Chief Planner Donal Mac An Bheatha and Cllr Mick Cahill. Community activist Ursula McGoey made a presentation of local honey to the special guest, and evoked great amusement recounting how the Minister was lured to the opening. As Minister Humphreys was introduced to the podium there was an audible whisper: She's lovely, isn't she? The morning was a demonstration of just how personable the Fine Gael Minister is. She had shook hands and chatted her way across the county. The Minister noted that a strong emphasis on art was a feature of the design of The Yard Hub. She said the project will breathe new life into the area while addressing a clear need for the village. As well as the economic and social opportunities this project will bring, it will also add greatly to the towns tourism offering, Minister Humphreys said, These renovated buildings, with beautifully restored stone facades, now provide a positive first impression of Abbeyshrule for visitors along the Royal Canal Greenway. The Abbeyshrule social enterprise received 842,000 under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund County Longford. The gathering was told the fund has provided 13.2 million for six Longford projects, with matched funding bringing the total spend to a total of 16.5 million. Paddy Mahon, chief executive of Longford County Council, commended the work of the local authority Regeneration Team on the project. He said the possibilities presented by the development are boundless: A key focus of Longford County Council is that everything is connected. The connections between people, places and the opportunities. A huge opportunity did arise here. It presents a huge opportunity and has real potential for the area. The Yard Hub in Abbeyshrule was co-funded under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) under Project Ireland 2040 and Longford County Council. A man was allegedly found brandishing a firearm while dressed in army clothes in a north Longford town, a court heard last week. Octavian Cebanu (36), 7 Granada Retail Park, Granard, Co Longford appeared at a sitting of Longford District Court last Tuesday in connection to an alleged offence on January 6, 2023. That incident took place at Main Street, Granard, resulting in Mr Cebanu being charged with the alleged possession of a realistic imitation firearm. Sgt Mark Mahon, for the prosecution, said gardai were alerted to reports of a man who had been spotted walking around the main street of the north Longford town in army clothing with what looked like a handgun. When gardai arrived on the scene, officers spoke to a number of witnesses and viewed CCTV footage, Sgt Mahon added. He said information relayed to investigators revealed the accused resided locally. A later search of Mr Cebanus apartment uncovered the alleged firearm and a holster. Despite the charge sheet presented to the court stating the gun was an imitation, Sgt Mahon said a follow up analysis had confirmed its authenticity as being real. Upon hearing the details of the case, Judge Bernadette Owens said she would be accepting jurisdiction in the case. A disclosure order, or direction for all statements and evidence related to the case, was made to defence solicitor Brid Mimnagh. Mr Cebanu was remanded on continuing bail to a sitting of Longford District Court on June 13. Its on that date Mr Cebanu is expected to indicate which way he intends to plead. A Romanian interpreter was also certified for. Crime By Jacob Alvear Published: April 26 2023 Three individuals, including two attorneys and an orthopedic surgeon, were sentenced for their roles in a five-year trip-and-fall fraud scheme. Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that attorneys GEORGE CONSTANTINE and MARC ELEFANT and orthopedic surgeon ANDREW DOWD were sentenced yesterday and today for their participation in a massive trip-and-fall fraud scheme between 2013 and 2018. CONSTANTINE and DOWD, who were convicted at trial in December 2022 of mail fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, were each sentenced to 102 months in prison. ELEFANT, who pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, was sentenced to 24 months in prison. U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein imposed all three sentences. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: George Constantine, Andrew Dowd, and Marc Elefant abused their professional licenses and degrees and exploited some of the most vulnerable members of society many of whom were poor, drug addicts, or homeless in order to enrich themselves through this egregious trip-and-fall fraud scheme. As officers of the court, Constantine and Elefant had a duty to honestly represent their clients and uphold the rule of law. Instead, they filed hundreds of fraudulent lawsuits that were filled with lies and stole millions of dollars from small businesses and insurance companies. Likewise, Dowd, as a medical doctor, took an oath to do no harm. But motivated by pure greed, Dowd performed hundreds of medically unnecessary surgeries, earning thousands of dollars per surgery. These sentences send a clear message to all who chose to engage in fraud no matter their professional title or degree that they will be held accountable. According to the Indictment, the evidence presented in court during trial, and other statements made during court proceedings: Between 2013 and 2018, CONSTANTINE, ELEFANT, and DOWD, among others, engaged in an extensive fraud scheme (the Fraud Scheme or Scheme), through which Scheme participants defrauded businesses and insurance companies by staging trip-and-fall accidents and filing fraudulent lawsuits arising from those staged trip-and-fall accidents. CONSTANTINE and ELEFANT were personal injury lawyers involved in the Scheme, while DOWD was an orthopedic surgeon. Fraud Scheme participants recruited individuals (the Patients) to stage or falsely claim to have suffered trip-and-fall accidents at particular locations throughout the New York City area (the Accident Sites). In the course of the Fraud Scheme, Scheme participants recruited more than 400 Patients. Members of the Fraud Scheme often recruited Patients who were extremely poor. For example, it was common for Patients to ask for food when they would appear for their intake meetings with the lawyers. Many of the Patients did not have sufficient clothing to keep them warm during the winter and had poor quality shoes. Members of the Fraud Scheme also recruited Patients who were drug addicts, and it was common for Scheme participants to recruit Patients from homeless shelters in New York City. In the beginning, Scheme participants would instruct Patients to claim they had tripped and fallen at a particular location, when in fact, the Patients had suffered no such accidents. Eventually, at the direction of the lawyers who filed fraudulent lawsuits on behalf of the Patients, Scheme participants began to instruct Patients to stage trip-and-fall accidents, i.e., to go to a location and deliberately fall. Common Accident Sites used during the Fraud Scheme included cellar doors, cracks in concrete sidewalks, and purported potholes. After the staged trip-and-fall accidents, Patients were referred to specific attorneys, including CONSTANTINE and ELEFANT, who would file personal injury lawsuits (the Fraudulent Lawsuits) against the owners of the Accident Sites and/or insurance companies of the owners of the accident sites (the Victims). The Fraudulent Lawsuits did not disclose that the Patients had deliberately fallen at the Accident Sites or, in some cases, had not fallen at all. During the course of the Fraud Scheme, the defendants, together with others, attempted to defraud the Victims of more than $31,000,000. CONSTANTINE personally filed nearly 200 Fraudulent Lawsuits and earned more than $5 million dollars in settlement fees from these fraudulent cases. ELEFANT likewise filed nearly 200 Fraudulent Lawsuits and earned millions of dollars in settlement fees. The Patients were also instructed to receive ongoing chiropractic and medical treatment from certain chiropractors and doctors, including DOWD. The Fraud Scheme participants advised the Patients that if they intended to continue with their lawsuits, they were required to undergo surgery, which was critical to boosting the value of any potential settlement. Patients generally were told to undergo two surgeries. Fraud Scheme participants looked for doctors, like DOWD, who were willing to perform surgeries, even when others would not. During the course of the Scheme, DOWD performed nearly 300 medically unnecessary surgeries and earned more than $3.2 million dollars. DOWD received approximately $10,000 per surgery. Crime By Jacob Alvear Published: April 26 2023 Robert Wise Facilitated Approximately $3.8 Million in Payments to Maintain Luxury Real Estate Owned by Viktor Vekselberg Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Andrew C. Adams, the Director of Task Force KleptoCapture, Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge of the Miami Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced today that ROBERT WISE, a New York attorney, pled guilty to participating in a scheme to make approximately $3.8 million in U.S. dollar payments to maintain six real properties in the United States that were owned by Viktor Vekselberg, a sanctioned oligarch. WISE pled guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said With todays guilty plea, Robert Wise has admitted that he misused his position of trust as a lawyer, laundering money to promote sanctions violations by Viktor Vekselbergs longtime associate, Vladimir Voronchenko. This Office is proud to continue its work to enforce the sanctions imposed in response to Russias illegal war in Ukraine. Director of Task Force KleptoCapture Andrew C. Adams said: From its inception, the Task Force has targeted those enablers of money laundering and sanctions evasion who aim to hide crime behind a veneer of professionalism. Admission to the bar carries with it a public trust that attorneys will act with honesty and integrity a trust that Robert Wise chose to betray in exchange for an easy, illicit paycheck. The Task Force will continue to pursue those who have made the same poor decision. HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: The ill-gotten proceeds of Russias oligarchs do not move and hide themselves. Instead, the funds derived from Russias crony capitalism are secreted around the world in luxury assets by a professional class of enablers who specialize in secretive methods to shield the true owners and beneficiaries of the assets from detection, investigation, and enforcement. Today, working with our partners at the Department of Justice, HSI continues to fulfill our promise to hold all individuals accountable for their actions, especially those that betray their ethical codes. According to the allegations in the Information filed in Manhattan federal court today and other public filings: On April 6, 2018, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Vekselberg as a Specially Designated National (SDN) in connection with its finding that the actions of the Government of the Russian Federation in Ukraine constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. On or about March 11, 2022, OFAC redesignated Vekselberg as an SDN and blocked Vekselbergs yacht and private airplane. Prior to his designation by OFAC, between approximately 2008 and 2017, Vekselberg, through a series of shell companies, acquired six real properties in the United States, specifically, (i) two apartments on Park Avenue in New York, New York, (ii) an estate in Southampton, New York, (iii) two apartments on Fisher Island, Florida, and (iv) a penthouse apartment also on Fisher Island, Florida (collectively, the Properties). As of the date of this Information, the Properties were worth approximately $75 million. Voronchenko, Vekselbergs longtime associate, retained WISE, an attorney who practiced in New York, New York, to assist in the acquisition of the Properties. WISE also managed the finances of the Properties, including by paying common charges, property taxes, insurance premiums, and other fees associated with the Properties in U.S. dollar transactions from WISEs interest on lawyers trust account (IOLTA account). In particular, prior to Vekselbergs designation as an SDN, between approximately February 2009 and March 2018, shell companies owned by Vekselberg sent approximately 90 wire transfers totaling approximately $18.5 million to the IOLTA account. At the direction of Voronchenko and his family member who lived in Russia, WISE used these funds to make various U.S. dollar payments to maintain and service the Properties. Immediately after Vekselbergs designation as an SDN, the source of the funds used to maintain and service the Properties changed. The IOLTA Account began to receive wires from a bank account in the Bahamas held in the name of a shell company controlled by Voronchenko, Smile Holding Ltd., and from a Russian bank account held in the name of a Russian national who was related to Voronchenko. Between approximately June 2018 and March 2022, approximately 25 wire transfers totaling approximately $3.8 million were sent to WISEs IOLTA account. Although the source of the payments changed, the management of the payments remained the same as before: WISE used these funds to make various U.S. dollar payments to maintain and service the Properties, and he did so knowing that he was promoting sanctions violations. Additionally, after Vekselberg was sanctioned in 2018, Voronchenko, WISE, and others tried to sell both the Park Avenue apartment and the Southampton estate. No licenses from OFAC were applied for or issued for these payments or attempted transfers. WISE, of Pelham, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. WISE also agreed to entry of a forfeiture order in the amount of $3,771,727.67, to be satisfied by a payment of $210,441. The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. An Indictment charging co-conspirator Vladimir Voronchenko, a/k/a Vladimir Vorontchenko, who is a fugitive, was unsealed on February 7, 2023. A civil forfeiture complaint was filed against the Properties on February 24, 2023. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of HSI and FBI. Mr. Williams further thanked the Department of Justices National Security Division and Office of International Affairs and OFAC for their assistance and cooperation in this investigation. On March 2, 2022, the Attorney General announced the launch of Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeasures that the United States has imposed, along with allies and partners, in response to Russias unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. The Task Force will leverage all the Departments tools and authorities against efforts to evade or undermine the economic actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression. This case is being handled by the Offices Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Greenwood, Joshua A. Naftalis, and Sheb Swett are in charge of the prosecution. (Alliance News) - Challenger Energy Group PLC on Wednesday said its 2D seismic survey has identified an initial prospect inventory of between 1 and 2 billion barrels of oil for its AREA OFF-1 block, offshore Uruguay. The Caribbean and America-focused oil and gas company said the 2D seismic reprocessing had confirmed a "considerable value uplift" in the block, with three high-potential prospects having been identified from two material play types. The newly identified prospects: Teru Teru, Anapreo and Lenteja, cover a total of 1,385 square kilometres. The discoveries are analogous to discoveries the company has previously made in Namibia, it said. The completed reprocessing forms part of the company's geotechnical assessment programme, which is due to be completed by the third quarter of 2023. The firm said it is aiming to accelerate value realisation from the AREA OFF-1 license by introducing a strategic partner in 2023. Chief Executive Eytan Uliel said: "Margin-opening discoveries offshore Namibia by TotalEnergies [SE] and Shell [PLC] have made it possible to correlate what are now proven, oil producing source rocks directly across into the conjugate margin basins of Uruguay's waters." "Our next-step objective is to farm-out to an industry partner(s), so we can fast-track a 3D seismic acquisition. The high-quality data set we have now compiled, and the intellectual property created, positions us well, and we will shortly be initiating a formal farm-out process." Challenger shares rose 7.7% to 0.11 pence each in London on Wednesday afternoon. By Harvey Dorset, Alliance News reporter Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Breedon Group PLC - Derby, England-based construction materials firm - Shareholders vote in favour of group reorganisation with new holding company incorporated in England & Wales. At a Jersey court meeting on Wednesday, 94% of votes were cast in favour of the motion, followed by the same margin at a general meeting for the proposed scheme. Current stock price: 67.72p, down 0.7% 12-month change: down 15% By Greg Rosenvinge, Alliance News reporter Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Zinc Media Group PLC on Wednesday reported its highest annual revenue in ten years, and it expects 2023 to meet market expectations. Shares were up 5.1% at 89.89 pence each on Wednesday morning in London. Zinc Media is a Edinburgh-based television and multimedia content producer, serving broadcasters as well as brands and businesses. It reported revenue of GBP30.1 million for 2022, up 72% from GBP17.5 million in 2021. Organic revenue growth amounted to GBP6.8 million, up 39% year-on-year. This reflected the investment in new businesses and contracts, Zinc said. Zinc Media said about 80% of revenue was delivered from existing customers, up from 69% a year earlier. However, pretax loss widened to GBP3.3 million from GBP2.6 million. This is largely due to costs related to its Edge acquisition and amortisation related to previous acquisitions, Zinc explained. Operating expenses grew to GBP13.1 million from GBP9.1 million the year before. In August, Zinc Media bought Edge Picture Co Ltd, a UK-based brand and corporate film production company, for an initial GBP1.2 million. Chief Executive Officer Mark Browning said: "We are delighted to report a strong set of results for FY22: exceeding market expectations and revenue at a 10-year high. This is a great achievement and has been testament to the breadth and depth of our creative output. Performance in [2023] is very encouraging, and there is a feeling of momentum and optimism around the group." Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation amounted to GBP75,000, compared to a loss of GBP612,000 in 2021. Looking ahead, Zinc Media said it is trading strongly with GBP26 million of revenue already booked, which is expected to be realised in the current year, adding that it is confident in delivering market expectations for 2023. By Xindi Wei, Alliance News reporter Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Following up on an announcement made in February, Microsoft on Tuesday stated its rollout of Phone Link for iOS on Windows 11. For iPhone users who also use a Windows PC as their main computer, Phone Link on Windows 11 will let users access iMessage on the iPhone and perform basic chat functions. Microsoft provides details on how it will work in its Windows Insider Blog. The Phone Link app, which previously used Bluetooth to connect only to Android phones, will have a new option for the iPhone. Once a connection is established and the setup is performed, users will have basic support for accessing contacts, making calls, and using the iPhones Messages for text conversations. Phone Link for iOS requires an iPhone with iOS 14 or later, Windows 11 on the PC, and a Bluetooth connection between the PC and the iPhone. Microsoft notes that the iPad and Mac do not work with Phone Linkas the apps name says, its for phones only. Microsoft is rolling out Phone Link over the next several weeks to its global market, so if you cant get it now, try again at a later time. The support for Messages does not go much beyond one-on-one interactions. According to the Microsoft blog post, group messaging is not supported, and you will not be able to send images, audio, or video. In an interview with The Verge, Microsofts Yusuf Mehdi also points out that Phone Link cant tell the difference between a standard text message and one sent through iMessageso no green or blue chat bubbles. Also, Phone Link can see only messages that it has sent and received, so it will not display the full chat history on an iPhone. Microsoft did not mention if iMessage features such as editing or unsending messages, or the bubble and screen effects will be available, but its safe to assume that they wont be. Still, for the very large number of iPhone users who also use Windows PCs as their main computer, its another welcome new feature to allow for access to Apple devices and services. Last November, Microsoft added to iCloud Photos access to the Windows 11 Photos app. Microsoft also has available preview versions of the Apple Music and Apple TV apps for Windows; these apps should be finalized later this year. This hurts so much. Temuera Morrisons been my favorite since the prequels and the reason why I love the Fetts. He deserved FAR better They really did him dirty and it sucks so much. You could tell how excited he was to be back as Boba Fett, and we all know what happened next https://t.co/6vtghBHdaS pic.twitter.com/YzR6r0eT98 Manchester, VT (05254) Today Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 43F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 43F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rambervillers, France French police have detained a teenage boy after a five-year-old girl was found dead in a bin bag in the east of the country, local authorities and media said Tuesday. The girls remains were found in an apartment in the town of Rambervillers in the Vosges region, the mayor, Jean-Pierre Michel, told AFP. He said the parents, a Romanian family living in the town of 5,000 people, had reported their daughter missing shortly prior to her discovery. The girl was found in the apartment, lifeless, he said. According to regional daily Le Republicain Lorrain, the victim was found in a rubbish bag in an apartment around one hundred metres from her home. ADVERTISEMENT A source close to the investigation, who asked not to be named, said the teenager was arrested in the apartment where the girls body was found. Michel said the suspect, who was 15 or 16 years old, was known to authorities for acts related to sexual abuse of young children. Le Republicain Lorrain said the teenager had suffered psychiatric problems and was in a specialised institution until only a few weeks ago. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. The USDA Forest Service recently announced it will begin conducting prescribed fires on the Huron-Manistee National Forests in preparation for the 2023 wildfire season. Prescribed fires reduce the impacts of wildfires and allow fire to play its natural part in many ecosystems on the Huron-Manistee National Forests, Forest Fire Fuels Officer Brian Stearns said in a news release. According to Stearns, before implementation, burn plans are prepared, taking into consideration a variety of ecological concerns and agency policies. Project locations are selected based upon a variety of parameters, including wind speed and direction, relative humidity and temperature, fire danger, seasonal restrictions and potential smoke impacts to best reach the identified resource objectives specific for the project area, Stearns said. In coordination with state and county partners, the Forest Service has identified opportunities to reduce hazardous fuels buildup by conducting agency administrated burning in Alcona, Crawford, Oceana, Oscoda, Lake, Manistee, Muskegon, Newaygo and Wexford counties. Alerts will be placed on the Huron-Manistees social media to inform the public that a prescribed burn may be occurring in their area. Prescribed burning is conducted with the safety of the public and firefighters as the highest priority and will only occur when appropriate resources are available. If it is necessary to temporarily close forest roads and trails, the Forest Service will notify the public of these closures by posting signs. Agency personnel remain on-site to conduct operations and monitor results for as long as there is visible smoke. During these burning operations, visitors and residents may see and smell smoke many miles away and for several days afterward. After the fire, burning material is usually extinguished near the outer edges. Logs and stumps inside the interior may burn for a few days after the burn is done. Firefighters will return until the fire is considered extinguished. Any fire lines created will be allowed to grow back with vegetation. The Michigan Prescribed Fire Council notes that prescribed burning has long been recognized by land managers as a management tool capable of bringing about a complex array of outcomes, depending on how it is applied. Those outcomes include encouraging and discouraging plant growth, reducing thatch and duff, increasing nutrient availability, increasing rates of solar soil warming, and exposing mineral soils for better seed germination. More recently, land managers have come to understand the ecological benefits of burning, particularly, increases in biological diversity. Burned areas create ideal habitat when it regenerates. Species such as white-tailed deer, turkey, butterflies, songbirds, grouse and turtles use burned areas for food, cover and a place to raise their young, Stearns said. For more information on prescribed fire on the Huron-Manistee National Forests, visit fs.usda.gov/hmnf. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MANISTEE Parkinson's disease affects about 35,000 people in Michigan. The chronic, progressive neurological disease has no known cause or cure. But many people are working to help find a cure, like Amanda Shimmel, of Manistee. The activity director at Green Acres of Manistee said that her three daughters helped come up with the idea for a fundraiser. Green Acres is an assisted living facility for retirees and seniors. Shimmel said her daughters spend time with the residents. My 13 year old brought up the idea of how we could help the people, more of like raising money, doing something good," she said. "So I found out that the month of April was for Parkinson's awareness. Shimmel and her daughters made "buckets" to collect change and placed them at local businesses from Traverse City to Ludington and all the towns in between. Im taking change as donations. My 12 year old had the idea of doing pennies because I tell them, you know, pick up a penny you have good luck, she said. Shimmel placed the donation jars in businesses on April 1, and plans to pick them up on May 1. All funds will go to the Parkinsons Foundation. To make a donation online at any time, visit bit.ly/pennies4acure. For many years the Manistee City Council and Manistee County Board of Commissioners have supported a resolution proclaiming April as Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month. Parkinson's Awareness Month helps increase awareness about the condition and its symptoms, according to the Parkinson's Research Organization. World Parkinson's Day is celebrated on April 11 each year; it began in 1997 to commemorate the birth date of Dr. James Parkinson, who first identified the disease about 200 years ago. "Michigan is a center of groundbreaking research and new treatments for Parkinsons disease, which offer hope for more effective control and possible cures for Parkinsons disease and related neurological disorders," reads part of the resolution from both entities. There are four main symptoms of Parkinsons disease, according to MyMichigan Health. Tremors pin rolling movement between thumb and forefinger Bradykinesia slow muscle movement or loss of automatic movement Rigidity a stiffness or "tightness" of arms, legs and, less often, the trunk Postural instability impaired balance and coordination No one person develops all symptoms and there are many secondary symptoms, such as: Micrographia small, cramped handwriting Freezing a feeling of being stuck in place when attempting to initiate movement Dysarthria low voice volume or muffled speech Constipation Sleep disturbances Increase in skin oils and dandruff Emotional changes, including depression Parkinson's most commonly affects people after the age of 60, but in rare cases can affect those in their 20s. "Although Parkinson's disease can't be cured, medications might significantly improve your symptoms. Occasionally, your health care provider may suggest surgery to regulate certain regions of your brain and improve your symptoms," reads the Mayo Clinic website. The progression of the disease is usually slow, but eventually it impacts a person's daily routines, according to the National Institute on Aging. That's where support groups can help. The Manistee Area Parkinsons Support Group meets at 11 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Wagoner Community Center, located at 260 St. Mary Parkway in Manistee. It's open to those with Parkinson's or similar muscular disorders, as well as their caregivers, partners, family members and interested friends. Jeannie Lewis and Linda Nickelson created the group in 2002. Lewis died on Dec. 31, 2022. The group is now headed by Marcia Holbrook. "The city of Manistee thank those people within our community who have done so much to assist others to cope with this frustrating disease," reads the 2023 proclamation from city council. Call Holbrook at 614-937-4442 for more information on the support group. Find others in the state online at parkinsonsmi.org/support-groups-map. Boston police identified the two people killed during a shooting Saturday night in the citys Hyde Park neighborhood. Reneil Miller, 23, of Hyde Park, and Joshua Marshall, 21, of Stoughton, were confirmed to be the two individuals who died in the shooting, according to the Boston Police Department. At 9:37 p.m. Saturday, police received a report of a person shot near 36 Dedham St. in Hyde Park. Officers found Marshall sitting in a car injured from a gunshot. Police later pronounced him dead at the location. While officers were at the scene, authorities were informed a second gunshot victim had walked into Milton Hospital. The second gunshot victim, later identified as Miller, died of his injuries while at the hospital. Police said an initial investigation indicated Millers injuries were related to the Hyde Park incident. Both shootings are under investigation. Police have not yet made any arrests in connection with the fatal shooting. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact police at 617-343-4470, or submit a tip anonymously by calling 1-800-494-TIPS or texting the word TIP to 27463. The McKinley Schools will soon be renamed to honor the late Boston-area activist Mel King, who died last month, the Boston Globe reported Wednesday. Consisting of four K-12 special education schools, McKinley will be renamed the Melvin H. King South End Academy, according to the newspaper. King died at 94 on March 28. The former state representative was a prominent figure in Boston since the 1960s and famously ran for mayor in 1983. Known as a radical but a self-professed mild-mannered person, hes often regarded as one of Bostons most prominent civil rights icons. Plans to rename the school after King preceded his death in March. Education advocate Edith Bazile proposed it via Schoolyard News on Medium in March 2021, writing that it should not be named after President William McKinley. On Oct. 23, 1899, a group of prominent Black citizens from Boston wrote a strong letter of protest to President William McKinley imploring him to speak out against the escalating incidents of lynching and ongoing acts of vicious racial violence against Black people in the South, she wrote. McKinley had no ties to Boston and was originally from Ohio, according to his White House biography. King, on the other hand, successfully organized a massive sit-in, known as Tent City, which led to affordable housing for low-income Black residents who were threatened with relocation due to gentrification of their neighborhoods. Mel tirelessly fought for his community and community-based schooling, including the McKinley School at 90 Warren St., where he mentored youth. Students constructed a huge school mural in honor of Mel King. Decades later, the McKinley Schools have lost their way in educating Black students, the blog post read. It is now time to reimagine their name, vision, and purpose in honor of the living legend, Mel King, now in his 90s. Boston School Committee officials warmly welcomed the proposal in December 2022, the Globe reported. Oranges Lake Mattawa was named among Insiders recent list of the most beautiful lakes in each state in the country. The 118-acre great pond can be found south of Route 2 and the Mohawk Trail, according to Massachusetts Paddler. Insider said the lake is home to year-round trout fishing as well as stunning New England fall foliage. The lake is surrounded by year-round homes and summer cottages, their story read. It also offers a site to launch boats and opportunities for swimming. Lake Mattawa has a reputation for producing trophy trout, providing conditions conducive to growing trophy-sized brown trout, Massachusetts Paddler said. Surplus Atlantic salmon, which have been placed in the lake ever since 1992, as well as smallmouth bass and yellow perch, can be found in the lake. Recreational use of Lake Mattawa is high during the summer, Massachusetts Paddler added. The lake has a boat launch at the north shore, which is considered one of the most dangerous of the lakes in western Massachusetts. The reason is that you actually block the road in order to launch, Massachusetts Paddler said. All traffic must stop for the launch. It would be extremely difficult to launch a long boat. Lake Mattawa is one of 3,000 lakes in Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Lakes and Ponds Program. Insider also listed what it deemed the other beautiful lakes from each New England state. It named Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, Saville Dam Reservoir in Connecticut, Lake Champlain in Vermont, Rhode Islands Bowdish Reservoir and Maines Echo Lake in Acadia National Park. A Cohasset man accused of murdering his wife and dismembering her body is expected in court on Thursday after a grand jury found sufficient evidence to bring felony charges. On March 30, a Norfolk County grand jury indicted 47-year-old Brian Walshe in connection with the death of his wife Ana Walshe, who prosecutors say was killed by her husband before being dismembered and disposed of in a trio of trashbags that he threw out in dumpsters at three apartment complexes. Prosecutors laid out their case in gruesome detail at Walshs first court appearance on Jan. 18 where they presented evidence that Walshe misled police at the onset of the investigation of his missing wife and searched Google in the days following her disappearance How long before a body starts to smell and How to stop a body from decomposing. Brian Walshe will be read the charges against him at Thursdays arraignment on the following felony charges: murder, misleading a police investigation/obstruction of justice and improper conveyance of a human body in connection with his wifes death. The indictment transfers Walshes case from Quincy District Court to Norfolk Superior Court, a procedural step that murder cases take in the Massachusetts court system. He previously pleaded not guilty in Quincy court. Tracy Miner, Walshes defense attorney, did not return a request for comment. Ana Walshe, 39, the mother of three young children, was first reported missing by her employer on Wednesday, Jan. 4. Police initially stated that Brian Walshe simultaneously reported her missing, but prosecutors later clarified at his initial arraignment in Quincy District Court that he never reported her disappearance. On Jan. 8, authorities arrested Brian Walshe on charges of misleading a police investigation. Prosecutors stated he lied to police about his whereabouts during the timeframe of Ana Walshes disappearance. Jan. 2 video surveillance shows Brian Walshe purchasing hundreds of dollars of cleaning supplies, including mops, drop cloths and various kinds of tape, from a Home Depot in Rockland, according to prosecutors from the Norfolk District Attorneys Office. They also stated Brian Walshe had told police he had only left the home in Cohasset on that day to get ice cream for one of his children. However, surveillance footage shows Walshe in Home Depot at that time even though he said he never left the house, according to prosecutors. A release from the Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrisseys Office stated Massachusetts State Police and detectives from Cohasset Police conducted a search for Ana Walshe north of Boston on Monday, Jan. 9, which resulted in a number of items being collected including blood and a damaged bloody knife in the basement of the Walshes Cohasset home, according to the release. During Walshes initial court appearance, a Norfolk prosecutor said he also searched online on Jan. 2 at 12:45 p.m. hacksaw best tool to dismember, at 1:10 p.m., can you be charged with murder without a body, and at 1:14 p.m. can you identify a body without broken teeth. Walshe, previously pleaded guilty in an art fraud scheme to sell fake Andy Warhol paintings on eBay in April 2021. Police had initially stated those charges were not thought to be in connection with his wifes disappearance. A 25-year-old Massachusetts man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexually exploiting a toddler in his care, Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins office said. Cody Mercure, of Taunton, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of distribution of child pornography in January. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release Tuesday. It is challenging to find the words that capture just how abhorrent and destructive this conduct was. This man sexually exploited an innocent 18-month-old child a defenseless toddler who, at the time, was still in diapers and recorded the abuse to watch again and again for his own sick gratification, said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. Cases of child exploitation are among the most difficult yet most important prosecutions our office handles. My office remains relentless in our work to ensure the safety of our children, remove dangerous predators like Mr. Mercure from our communities, and seek justice for victims. Read more: Northampton VA medical center worker pleads guilty to child sex abuse images charges On Feb. 19, 2021, officials said Mercure sexually abused a toddler in his care and recorded a video of the abuse. He then distributed numerous files of child sex abuse using an online messaging app. Hundreds of images and videos depicting child pornography were stored on both of Mercures phones which were seized at the time of his arrest and in a cloud storage account, Rollins office said. Mercure was arrested in April 2021 and remained in custody. Mercure committed monstruous acts against a child and caused irrevocable pain in the lives of so many. We hope that todays sentence offers resolution and peace for the victim and their family in this incredibly difficult time, said Michael Krol, acting special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. HSI works every day to uncover the abuse and exploitation of children and seek justice for those who cannot advocate for themselves. Boston city council president Ed Flynn is proposing that the city create an Office of Pest Control to tackle the rising complaints of rats in the city. In his proposal which he plans to introduce on Thursday council president Flynn noted that the job of pest control is split between three city departments the Inspectional Services Department, Public Works and the Water and Sewer Commission, according to the Boston Globe. Flynn wants to use city resources to narrow down the responsibility of controlling Bostons rodent population to one person: the rat czar. Flynns proposal comes days after New York City hired its very own rat czar. Over the past two years, rat sightings have increased in New York, with Boston showing similar trends. Flynn said that the pandemic caused food sources to move from restaurants to peoples homes which led to an increase in rodent activity and sightings in the city, the Globe reported. Boston is well known for its rodent problem. Last year, Boston was ranked number 13 on Orkins Top 50 Rattiest Cities list. Orkin ranks the cities by the number of new rodent treatments performed from Sept. 1, 2021, to Aug. 31, 2022. HOLYOKE The board of trustees for Holyoke Community College said it has chosen George Timmons as the colleges next president. Timmons will be HCCs fifth president pending approval of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education replacing President Christina Royal, who announced in August she would retire on July 14. Timmons currently serves as provost and senior vice president of academic and student affairs at Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson, New York. The HCC board of trustees, according to a press release, described Timmons as innovative and an excellent ambassador for the college. Were looking forward to his leadership, his work with the entire community and his ability to lead this instruction for the success of his students, faculty and staff, said Robert Gilbert, chair of the HCC board of trustees, in a statement. Helping HCC fulfill its mission statement, which aspires to be a college of academic excellence known for helping students overcome barriers to success, was Timmons reason for applying to the position. I felt that I had something to offer and to advance the mission, Timmons said in an interview. Timmons said his grandmother first instilled the value of an education in him, teaching him it is something that no one could take away. He earned his doctorate in higher education administration from Bowling Green State University, which is located in Bowling Green, Ohio. Before joining Columbia-Greene Community College in 2019, Timmons served in several administrative positions at Excelsior College in Albany, New York, one of which was dean of the School of Liberal Arts. Timmons said he plans to look at Holyoke Community Colleges student demographics and discover which age groups need more support and encouragement, perhaps adults who turn to the community college for further education. I think I bring that experience to the table in my role at Excelsior College and being the founding dean of online education (at Excelsior), Timmons said. Additionally, Timmons said would like to advance diversity, equity and inclusion at the school and make all students of all backgrounds feel invited on campus. Because he is of African-American descent, Timmons said he understands the challenges and barriers around education for minorities and said he will bring an understanding of what it means and why its important. Timmons is expected to take over as president in the last week of June, following approval from the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education in May. I am looking forward to working with faculty, staff, administrators and the board of trustees to do good work to advance the mission and values of the institution, Timmons said. This news comes after HCC announced last week it received a pledge of more than $10 million from HCC alum Margaret Wendlandt and her husband Gary Wendlandt, both of whom are longtime supporters of the institution. The college said some of the funds in the couples estate plans will be used for students in health-related programs or students with financial needs. The $10 million gift is one of the largest given to any community college in the country, HCC said when announcing the Wendlandtspledge. Matthew Peck, 72, has been identified as the Massachusetts man who died after he went into cardiac arrest while canoeing on the Westfield River during the rivers annual Wildwater Races on Saturday, April 22, the Russell-Montgomery Police Department stated. A 911 call came in around 12:45 p.m. on Saturday from a paddler on the river, who said they saw a man fall from a canoe he was paddling in with another man, Russell-Montgomery Police Lt. Sean Shattuck told The Westfield News. Shattuck told the outlet another call came in seconds later that the man, Peck, was in cardiac arrest. Two off-duty EMT-firefighters paddling in a canoe just behind stopped to help, Westfield River Wildwater Races director Ed Hamels told the outlet, along with 10 other paddlers. It took first responders 15 minutes to navigate the densely wooded area, Shattuck said. The officials from Russell-Montgomery, Huntington and State Police, along with the Russell Fire Department and Hilltown Ambulance worked to get Peck to the shoreline, and the lieutenant said it took 17 people to get him out of the water and into the ambulance because of the slippery conditions on the shore. Peck was headed to Baystate Noble Hospital at 1:52 p.m., but Shattuck stated he was pronounced dead on arrival. Peck was born in Springfield and went to school in West Springfield, according to his obituary. He was a new grandfather and enjoyed spending time with his family. The outdoorsman died doing what he loved. His obituary stated he enjoyed participating in several different outdoor activities and was an avid lover of travel, even hitchhiking through South and Central America in his 20s. The race director told the outlet there are already plans being made for next years race to memorialize Peck. The Westfield River Wildwater Races Committee and the Westfield Watershed Association extend their deepest condolences, prayers and thoughts to the individuals family, Hamels said. It is the intention of the Westfield River Race Committee to dedicate the 2024 races in the name and honor of the individual and to celebrate his life which ended all too soon while participating in something that he enjoyed doing by canoeing on the river, he told the news outlet. A United flight that took off from Newark airport early Sunday turned around and returned to New Jersey three hours into the trip to Israel due to a disruptive passenger. While waiting to use a bathroom, the man sat in a seat reserved for flight attendants and refused to move when asked by a crew member, according to YNetNews.com. He then argued with flight attendants. The man was escorted off the plane when it arrived back in Newark, the news outlet said. United flight 90 traveling from Newark to Tel Aviv returned to Newark shortly after takeoff due to a disruptive passenger, United Airlines said in a statement. Law enforcement met the aircraft and removed the passenger. A new flight was scheduled to depart Sunday evening. United flight 90 departed from Newark at 12:48 a.m. Sunday and was back at the airport at 6:28 a.m, according to FlightAware.com. The flight was already about two hours behind schedule when it left, having originally been slated to take off at 10:55 p.m. Read more: Woman with gun in fanny pack stopped by TSA at Bradley International Airpor Passengers were booked onto a flight for late Sunday. A Port Authority police spokeswoman said Tuesday she was checking for further information. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Day-o! Daaaay-o! For a generation of us, that opening lilt of a Jamaican folk song is inextricably tied to Harry Belafonte as he introduced white America to calypso music. The Harlem-born Belafonte would become the first solo artist to sell 1 million copies of an album. It happened in 1955. Before Elvis. The timeline is significant as it coincided with Belafontes simultaneous and lifelong journey as a civil rights activist and social justice champion. Belafonte, who died Tuesday at the age of 96, was a close friend of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and was at Kings side for many of the pivotal events in the struggle for freedom. Belafonte and his Hollywood contemporaries in the 1950s, including Sidney Poitier, Ozzie Davis and Ruby Dee, used their celebrity to help guide the civil rights movement in how to use television as power in the fight against racism. During the 1963 March on Washington, Belafonte proclaimed from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, As artists and as human beings, we rejoice in the knowledge that human experience has no color. Over the years, the causes to which Belafonte lent his support ran the gamut, all rooted in social justice. Many still remember his organization in 1985 of the We are the World musical tribute fundraiser to fight famine in Africa. Harry Belafonte speaks in Washington in 1983 at 20th anniversary of a famous civil rights march. (AP Photo/Ira Schwarz)AP One can only imagine that Belafonte, in his journey through life, drew on the guidance of his mother, who, he had recalled telling him: When you grow up, son, never go to be bed at night knowing there was something you could have done during the day to strike a blow against injustice and you didnt do it. Not everyone might have agreed with some of the stances Belafonte took in his political activism over the years; his fearlessness at standing up for his beliefs, however, is to be admired. In 1989, as Belafonte was recognized with the Kennedy Center honor for contributions to American culture, his friend Poitier said this: Harry Belafonte is a man who has always rallied to good causes ... always raised his voice against the dark. For that, we owe him so much. Belafonte was, as he wished to be remembered, an activist who happened to be an artist. Hundreds of cities across the country have hooked up audio sensors to street lights, telephone poles and buildings in high-crime designated areas to detect when and where gunshots are fired. This ShotSpotter technology is said to help reduce departments response times, alert police even when 911 calls are not made and help authorities locate witnesses for shooting incidents. Multiple major cities across Massachusetts including Boston, Worcester and Springfield have employed ShotSpotter for several years. The Holyoke Police Department recently put the technology to use in March to help curb gun violence in the city. Holyoke polices first ShotSpotter report from March detected 39 shots fired in and around the radius of the downtown and south Holyoke areas where the machines were installed. Of the shots detected, only three 911 calls were made. Police said zero people were reported injured and seven people were arrested in connection with the reports. Holyoke Police Department releases the city's ShotSpotter graph for the month of March. ShotSpotter also recorded 154 rounds fired. However, Holyoke police only recovered 34 spent shell casings in March. Heres how SoundThinking, the company behind ShotSpotter, says the technology works. ShotSpotter uses an array of acoustic sensors that are connected wirelessly to ShotSpotters centralized, cloud-based application to reliably detect and accurately locate gunshots using triangulation, the company wrote on its website. The acoustic sensors capture the precise time and audio that may represent gunfire. This data is used to locate the incident and is filtered by machine algorithms to categorize the event as a potential gunshot, the company said. In order to differentiate a gunshot from another loud burst i.e., fireworks, construction, car muffler, acoustic experts staffed at ShotSpotters 24/7 incident review center, analyze the sound and confirm the event to be a gunshot. SoundThinking published a blog on how acoustic experts examine sounds on the Fourth of July and other holidays with significant fireworks. The company said analysts vetting process takes less than 60 seconds from the time the sound was captured by ShotSpotters acoustic sensors. After the sound is examined, analysts send a ShotSpotter shooting notification to the areas 911 Call Center or on a patrol officers smartphone or mobile laptop. SoundThinking said its ShotSpotter system is highly accurate at detecting outdoor gunshots. From 2019-2021 the system had a 97% accuracy rate from over 150 police departments that use the technology. Two suspects in an October 2022 shooting during a party at a Worcester warehouse on Webster Street that left one person seriously injured and five more wounded pleaded not guilty to several charges in Worcester Superior Court Tuesday. Luis Fernando Alves-Silva, 20, and Carlos Alves-Silva, 21, both of Fall River, each face 10 charges in Superior Court in connection with the Oct. 16 shooting, according to court records. The charges they were arraigned on Tuesday were three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, four counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and three firearm-related charges. They both pleaded not guilty to the charges through a Portuguese interpreter. Superior Court Judge Karin Bell ordered them both to be held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for May 1. Bell allowed the prosecutors motion to impound the court documents associated with the case. Assistant District Attorney David Feraco said he was calling for the impoundment because some of the witnesses in the police reports he submitted to the court are juveniles. Charging documents indicate the two men are being charged in connection with the assaults of four of the six people that were wounded in the shooting, with charging documents listing four individuals in the charges one by name and three by their initials. A third man, Patriky Sampaio Gomes of Worcester was also arrested in connection with the shooting. Gomes was arraigned in Worcester District Court on Oct. 20, 2022 on six firearm-related charges: carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (firearm), assault with a dangerous weapon, discharging of a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling and possession of ammunition without an F.I.D. card. During Gomes court appearance in October, his lawyer Sean McGinty argued his client told police he wasnt involved in the shooting and had instead received threatening messages, including a threat to kill him, from the two other suspects before they arrived at 88 Webster St. where a party was being held. He later heard gunshots and took off, according to McGinty. McGinty also argued that one of the victims, Eric Lima, who was shot in the head, was Gomes friend and he would have no motive to shoot him. Police were sent to the warehouse at 88 Webster St. at about 3:08 a.m. for a report of a person shot. Officers entered the building and found the male shooting victim with serious injuries. He was given medical aid and driven to the hospital by ambulance, authorities said. Shortly after officers arrived at the warehouse, they found what authorities described as an after-hours gathering and also became aware of five more people who were shot. Police located the shooting victims at various locations near the warehouse and at area hospitals. They were given medical treatment, and detectives arrived to process the crime scene, the Worcester Police Department said in a statement. Luis Fernado and Carlos were initially arraigned in Worcester District Court on Oct. 27 and Oct. 21, respectively, before the case was moved to Superior Court. The men were arraigned on five firearm-related charges in district court: carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, assault with a dangerous weapon (firearm), firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling and possession of ammunition without an F.I.D. card. The president of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has called for a significant increase in Japanese investment in Africa, saying the continent is the worlds best investment destination now and in the future. Dr. Adesina is leading a Bank delegation on a five-day visit to Japan during which he will meet senior government officials, large Japanese companies, development partners and members of the African diplomatic corps in the country. Delivering a lecture at the Japan-Africa Investment Ecosystem Co-Creation Forum in the capital, Tokyo, Adesina said Africa offers enormous investment opportunities and gave examples of Japanese companies that have been running profitable businesses on the continent for many years. The forum was organized by Keizai Doyukai, a private, non-profit and nonpartisan organization that brings together nearly 1,400 top executives of some 1,000 corporations. Adesina pointed out that Japans foreign direct investment in Africa declined from $10 billion in 2016 to just $4.7 billion in 2020 during Covid-19 but recovered to $6 billion in 2021. Africa accounts for only 0.003% of Japans $2 trillion global foreign direct investments. In terms of trade, the volume of exports and imports between Africa and Japan remains lower than 2%. Dr. Adesina said there was every reason to change the trend. He mentioned the state-owned Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), which, together with TOTAL and other investors, including the African Development Bank, co-financed the $24 billion Liquified Natural Gas project in Mozambiquewhich will make it the third largest in the world. Japan will buy 30% of its production. JBIC and Mizuho Bank, along with the African Development Bank and nine other financial institutions, invested $2.7 billion to build the Nacala corridor railway and port in Mozambique. Dr. Adesina cited Japanese multinationals such as Toyota Tsusho, Mitsubishi Corporation, Hitachi and Komatsu, whose businesses make billions of dollars in profit every year. These companies will tell you investing in Africa pays! said Adesina, there is now a greater pulse and excitement for more Japanese investments in Africa. The Africa Development Bank chief said the successes of large Japanese companies operating in Africa are spurring a new generation of young Japanese to turn their eyes to venture capital and private equity funds to support small- and medium-sized enterprises. He gave the example of a startup company, Kepple Africa Ventures, which has raised $43 million and is investing along with African private equity funds in 100 seed-stage enterprises in 11 African countries. The Uncovered Fund, founded only in 2019, is another Japanese venture capital fund that has invested in 26 African startups. Speaking during the Forum, the Vice Chairperson of the Africa Project Team at Keizai Doyukai, Ken Shibusawa, said a new company, &Capital Inc, was formed early this year to promote Japanese investments in Africa. The Chairperson of the Japan-AU Parliamentary Friendship Association, Ichiro Aisawa, described Africa as a continent of hope with population power. The parliamentarian announced that with the Covid-19 pandemic under control, the association will embark on a grand tour of Africa to raise Japans presence. While the number of Japanese companies in Africa increased from 520 in 2010 to 900 in 2020, Adesina called for more venture capital and private equity funds to tap into the continents huge potentials. He thanked the Japanese government for recognizing Africas strategic importance and showing a strong political will to invest in Africa. Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced during the TICAD 8 Summit in Tunis last year $30 billion for Africa, including support for startups in Africa, green growth, and training of 300,000 professionals from Africa. The African Development Bank chief spelled out areas in Africa with enormous investment opportunities for Japanese investors. Africa has the worlds highest demographic asset. Its population will rise to 2.4 billion by 2050. The continent has the largest number of young people in the world, with over 75% of its population aged less than 35 years. With appropriate skills, they will form the labor force for global industries as many countries face a rapidly aging population, said Adesina. The recent establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area makes Africa the largest free-trade zone in the world in terms of participating countries. Manufacturing opportunities alone would reach $1 trillion in 2025. And Africas consumer spending will reach $6.7 trillion by 2030. In addition, Africa has the worlds largest renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal. The continent also holds the key for the world as it transitions towards electric vehicles with its abundant deposits of minerals and metals such as platinum, lithium, cobalt, copper, and graphite. The manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries is most competitive in Africa. For example, setting up a lithium-ion battery precursor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo would be three times less expensive than in China or the US. Africa holds 65% of the remaining uncultivated arable land in the world. What Africa does with its agriculture will determine the future of food in the world. And the size of Africas food and agriculture market will rise to $1 trillion by 2030. Other areas of enormous potential include the financial technology (fintech) sector; internet economy; healthcare; tourism; real estate, and automobile markets. For that reason, Adesina said the Japanese private sector and businesses should invest a lot more in the continent. Your investment is safe in Africa. He referred to a survey conducted in 2020 by the African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association which indicated that about 45% of Limited Partners expected returns in Africa to outperform emerging and developed markets over the next 10 years. Also, 60% of the Limited Partners plan to increase allocations to Africa in the next three years. Furthermore, in 2020, Moody Analytics looked at infrastructure debt default rates by region cumulatively over a ten-year period, comparing Africa with the rest of the world. It found that Africa had the second lowest cumulative default rate, after the Middle East, while default rates are much worse in Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Oceania. Adesina reassured investors, Africa is also not as risky to investments as many perceive, and added, Lets ramp up Japanese private sector investments in Africa. Lets do more together in Africa, faster and at scale. The African Development Banks delegation included Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate Change and Green Growth Dr. Kevin Kariuki, Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization Solomon Quaynor and Vice President for Agriculture, Social and Human Development Dr. Beth Dunford and the Executive Director of Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Japan and Saudi Arabia Takaaki Nomoto. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires OpenLM, a leading provider of license management solutions, invites attendees to check out the latest developments in software license management technology at the inaugural edition of GITEX AFRICA 2023 https://GITEXAfrica.com/), on 31 May to 2nd June 2023. IT managers, SAM Managers, Licensing Experts, Engineers, and other participants dealing with software licenses will have the opportunity to test and experience the benefits of gaining visibility of software license usage within the organization, regardless of their respective industry. The CEO of OpenLM, Oren Gabay, said, We are excited to be part of the African market. He added, OpenLM plans to invest significantly in the African continent in the future. Africa is expected to become a major production hub in many industries where OpenLM operates. Alongside OpenLMs flagship software license management solution, three new products will be announced at the event: OpenLM Virtual License Manager, Dongle Monitoring, and LDAP Connector. Our new products enable our customers to better utilize their existing expensive software assets and improve their competitiveness. OpenLMs Software License Management OpenLMs software license management is the only unified, cloud-native solution that supports 70 license managers, making it the most efficient license-tracking software on the market. It is capable of tracking and managing various license types, including Floating, Network, Concurrent, Cloud-based, Token-based, Named-user, Node-locked, Web URL, and SaaS licenses. Getting started with our Software License Management solution is simple, and saves you time and money by helping you get the most out of your experience with software licenses. By deploying OpenLMs software, SAM professionals, engineers and IT admins instantly gain visibility on the actual software usage and get access to the right toolset to identify unused or rarely used software, resulting in immediate cost savings of at least 15% for its customers. Virtual License Manager OpenLMs Virtual License Manager is another innovative product that allows companies to delegate license-allocation tasks without sacrificing security or control. With the VLM software, companies can divide their centralized license portfolio into dynamic sub-tenants to which they can allocate sophisticated administrative permissions. Dongle Monitoring OpenLM listens to its customers and incorporates their requirements into its solutions portfolio. The Dongle Monitoring solution brings the long-awaited answer to hardware asset managers looking to track the tiny piece of hardware called license dongles. It helps organizations maintain a single source of truth for everything that is related to licensing and dongles. With Dongle Monitoring, companies know where their dongles are, and who is using them. They can also blacklist lost or stolen hardware license keys to avoid compliance issues. LDAP Connector OpenLMs LDAP Connector is a solution dedicated to software publishers. The service acts as a cloud-based bridge between the organizations directories using the LDAP protocol and the publishers software. It allows them to instantly integrate their customers primary directories such as Active Directory into their software, hence reducing the total cost of ownership and speeding up app deployment. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires While only 5% of companies listed on Africas 24 stock exchanges have a woman as CEO, those that do have a woman CEO outperform financially by a wide measure according to a new analysis by Africa.com. To mark the evolution of Africa.coms Definitive List of Women CEOs, sponsored by Standard Bank Group, now in its third year, Africa.com analyzed 2,020 listed companies on Africas 24 stock exchanges to compare the performance of companies where women hold the top position as CEO. Women led companies remain a rarity across Africa in spite of a growing body of evidence that more diverse management produces better results. Despite difficult market conditions in most sectors and most geographies across the continent, in 2022, female run companies in Africa outperformed most benchmarks, said Teresa Clarke, Chair of Africa.com, the company that conducted the analysis. Transcorp of Nigeria, a diversified conglomerate with investments in the power, hospitality and energy sectors run by President and CEO Ms. Owen Omogiafo, ranked as one of the top performers on the Africa.com list gaining 8.27% in share price in 2022. She joined us on the 19th to talk about how Transnational Corp. was able to outperform its competitors in this environment. Another top performer was Bidvest Group of South Africa, a diversified industrial services company which has been run by chief executive Ms. Mpumi Madisa since 2020, saw its share price increase by 5.82% in 2022. To put the figures into perspective, the share prices of the collective group of 93 women led companies analyzed by Africa.com outperformed the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (FTSE/JSE All Share) by 506 basis points, the Nairobi Securities Exchange Index (NSEASI) by 2,712 basis points, the London Stock Exchange (FTSE All Share Index) by 1,202 basis points, and the S&P 500 by 1,714 basis points. Vera Songwe, Senior Fellow Global Economy and Development, Africa Growth Initiative joined the virtual event on April 19th for the unveiling of the Definitive List of Women CEOs to share her perspective on why women outperform in the investment arena. The trend of large, listed, women-led companies in Africa outperforming their male-run counterparts is consistent with trends seen in other parts of the world. Why do women-led firms often outperform? Patricia Lizarraga of Hypatia Capital wrote, According to McKinsey, women face well-documented additional barriers in todays workplace. The few who rise to the highest executive ranks, by definition, must possess additional leadership and performance characteristics versus the average executive, predominantly male, who did not face the same barriers. Hypatia Capital of New York designed the Hypatia Women CEO Index, measures the performance of publicly traded securities on U.S. exchanges that have female Chief Executive Officers. Over the same period, 6678 January 1, 2022 December 31, 2022, that index outperformed its benchmark by 479 basis points. Patricia Lizarraga, CEO of the Hypatia Womens CEO Index Fund in the US talked more about the Female Factor, her term for how women impact investment performance. One of the caveats to the Africa.com analysis is that the various exchanges on which the companies are listed report share prices in their local currencies. Thus, in order to achieve the results indicated, an investor would have to purchase shares in the currencies of each regional exchange. Teresa Clarke, Chair of Africa.com, said, This work represents one of the first analyses of the performance of publicly listed companies in Africa conducted through a gender lens. We look forward to advancing this work in the years to come. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires IT will never happen to me. I must have told myself that a thousand times during this life as I encountered those who had been struck down with one affliction or another. My life was always going to be perfect. It would follow a simple path where good health, mobility and long life were guaranteed. To be honest, I never really thought about any of that stuff. Poor health, disability and death were never in my plan, so they didnt feature behind the eyes. One morning last week, I spoke with Castlebar native Geraldine Lavelle and my thought-process took a detour. Geraldine was out for a cycle in 2013 when she was involved in a horrific road accident and her life changed forever. A spinal cord injury meant that three quarters of her body was paralysed. It set in train a journey through dark, bleak days when she struggled to accept the cruel fate visited upon her to her emergence as a powerful and articulate voice for people with disabilities in Ireland. When I spoke to Geraldine, my task was to interview her about her book, Weathering the Storm, but the conversation yielded so much more. Geraldines story isnt a run-of-the-mill tale of resilience or a story of hope emerging from the ashes; instead her tale is one of utterly brilliant simplicity. As she said herself she could wait in bed all day and feel sorry for herself or get up and embrace the challenges. I honestly feel I would have opted for the former, but that certainly wasnt the route Geraldine took. When reading her book, its immediately obvious that she possesses a powerful intellect because, as well as telling the story, the pages gives readers what they want. Geraldine outlines her childhood and the fun she had with family and friends. She tells about life and work and moving in with her long-term boyfriend the ordinary enough things of life. Her friend Rachel ONeill speaks of nights we danced and laughed and chased the stars without ever going to bed. Geraldine also takes readers to the very heart of the matter. Ive often been asked what paralysis feels like, she writes, before describing her feelings in the immediate aftermath of her impact with a lorry. It was as if an electrical short circuit occurred in my body, as if a trip switch had been hit and everything went instantly numb despite being fully conscious. She tells the reader about lying there on the tarmac, wondering if she was breathing her last and wondering if death would hurt. Geraldine tells her story brilliantly. The reader moves through the hours after the impact, then on to her becoming aware of her new situation and the grief, frustration and myriad of other emotions she experienced along the way. Like billions of others, Geraldine never thought she would become paralysed in a split second, but that was the fate which befell her. Speaking with her was illuminating reading her book was captivating. She tells us about not wanting to leave her room not wanting to fight back not wanting to face the challenges in front of her. But, ultimately, she was never going to shy away from them. The drive that brought her great success throughout her early life did not desert her because of a road accident, it is ingrained in her soul, and she gradually began to fight back. Family and friends gathered round her and raised funds to help her along the way. She returned to work, she returned to academia, she returned to pushing herself to the limit each and every day. Geraldine Lavelle is an ordinary woman living an extraordinary life, and thats what makes her story so interesting. Writing a book is a feat many of us would like to achieve, but often we dont have the ingredients to capture the attention of others. As a writer, Geraldine doesnt fall into that category. Her story is a mix of so many emotions, so many ups and downs, so many unpredictable moments and so many lessons for the rest of us even though shes not lecturing us about anything. In the books final sentences, Geraldine speaks about missing simple things, such as getting out of bed at night for a glass of water or being able to put her hair in a pony-tail, but she also speaks about the great things in her life. Im so grateful for my family and friends who have stuck by my side. Im grateful for all the new friends Ive made and for all those who love me. Cheers to nine years and an unpredictable, beautiful life. Weathering The Storm, an honest and inspirational account of a courageous young womans determination to survive the harshest of lifes storms, is a Mayo Books Press publication. It is available in local stockists and online at mayobooks.ie. Global absorbable heart stents market is estimated to increase at a substantial rate of 12.02% between 2023 and 2031, reaching US$ 822.7 million in revenue by 2031 from US$ 307.1 million in 2022. This is due to the increasing incidence of coronary artery disease, the growing use of minimally invasive techniques, and the aging of the population. Request Sample Copy of Research Report @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/absorbable-heart-stent-market As more and more patients explore less intrusive ways to treat their heart diseases, the demand for absorbable heart stents is increasing quickly. The substance used to create absorbable stents degrades over time, leaving behind healthy tissue. Due to its ability to prevent complications and remove the need for additional surgeries, this kind of stent is growing in popularity. The growing need for absorbable heart stents is due to various additional considerations, such as their potential to lessen atherosclerosis and enhance patient outcomes. Even more, advantages will probably find as these gadgets are the subject of greater research. Absorbable heart stents are currently a desirable alternative for many patients having cardiac operations due to these important considerations. Patients are increasingly adopting minimally invasive procedures that have a shorter recovery period and fewer side effects. Traditional cardiac stents, which need long-term drug use and may result in issues including blood clots, can be replaced with absorbable heart stents. Regional Outlook Asia Pacific is likely to be the largest region recording a market share of more than 35%. Due to the availability of cutting-edge technology and benevolent reimbursement rules, the area produced revenues of US$ 111.82 million in 2021. The need for medical equipment and treatments is increasing as the Asia Pacific regions economy continues to expand quickly. Since they can naturally dissolve over time in the body, absorbable cardiac stents are one of these technologies that are gaining popularity. As patients become more knowledgeable about absorbable stents, Europe and North America are also likely to experience significant growth. With a roughly 25% market share, the United States dominates the market for absorbable cardiac stents. Due to the high frequency of cardiovascular illnesses in the area, stent treatments are needed by a sizable patient population. With an estimated 655,000 fatalities each year, the American Heart Association lists cardiovascular disease as the countrys biggest cause of death. Similar to the United States, Canada has the cardiovascular disease as the second-leading cause of mortality, responsible for about 20% of all fatalities. Segmentation Overview In terms of Material Polymer stents are the market leader in the world for absorbable cardiac stents. By 2030, the market is likely to be worth more than US$ 480 million. Heart stents composed of biodegradable polymers are now available thanks to recent developments in the manufacturing of medical devices. These devices have minimal long-term side effects because they are made to be permanently implanted in the body and slowly decay over time. In terms of Absorption Rate The fast absorption rate segment is likely to record a revenue share of over 70% share of the global absorbable heart stent industry. Heart stents designed for quick breakdown are called fast-absorption biopolymers. These biopolymers, which have undergone significant research and have shown great biocompatibility and biodegradability in clinical studies, include polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), and polycaprolactone (PCL). An easier production procedure compared to typical metal stents supports segmental growth. In terms of End-User The hospitals and clinics segment is leading the global market, which is also expanding at a CAGR of 12.25%. Absorbable heart stents are now being used in hospitals and clinics all around the world in an effort to better care for people with heart diseases. These stents dont require surgery to remove because the substance used to make them progressively degrades over time. Absorbable stents are hoped to significantly progress the treatment of heart disease and enhance the quality of life for many patients. In terms of the Application The coronary artery disease segment dominates the absorbable heart stent segment. By 2030, it is likely to bring in $530 million in income. Absorbable heart stents are in high demand for both therapeutic and preventive uses owing to the increased prevalence of CAD. The market is expanding due to the rising demand for minimally invasive procedures. To gain more insights into the market with a detailed table of content and figures, click here: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/industry-report/absorbable-heart-stent-market Competitive Landscape Many well-known players are working in the extremely competitive market for absorbable cardiac stents. Over 80% of the markets revenue is held by the top 10 companies, demonstrating the dominance of well-established competitors. Boston Scientific Corporation is the markets second-largest competitor after Abbott. Each business is well-established in the market, and they each have a sizable product line and network of distributors. These businesses in the market for absorbable heart stents concentrate on research and development to create novel products. They also participate in strategic alliances and partnerships to increase their exposure and market share. Additionally, they spend a lot of money on marketing and advertising to promote their brand and draw in new customers. In Nov 2022, Absorbable magnesium alloy coronary stents, which leave no metal residue in the body, were implanted for the first time by a surgical team in China. In Sept 2022, In order to assess the security and efficiency of the businesss brand-new Esprit BTK Everolimus Eluting Resorbable Scaffold System, Abbott has begun the LIFE-BTK clinical research. This is the first Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) trial in the United States to test a totally bioresorbable stent for the treatment of critical limb ischemia (CLI), or blocked arteries below the knees, in patients with the severe peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Top Leading Companies Abbott Laboratories Arterial Remodeling Technologies B. Braun Melsungen AG Biotronik Boston Scientific Corporation Elixir Medical Corporation Kyoto Medical Planning Medtronic Meril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd Reva MedicalTerumo Medical Corporation Lepu Medical Technology Co. Other Prominent Players Segmentation Outline By Material Metallic Stents Polymer Stents By Absorption Rate Slow absorption rate Fast absorption rate By Application Coronary Artery Disease Peripheral Artery Disease By End User Hospitals & Clinics Cardiovascular Centers Research Institutes & Organizations Others By Region North America The U.S. Canada Mexico Europe The U.K. Germany France Italy Spain Poland Russia Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China India Japan South Korea Australia & New Zealand ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific South America Brazil Argentina Rest of South America Middle East & Africa UAE Saudi Arabia South Africa Rest of the Middle East & Africa Directly Purchase a copy of report with TOC @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/inquire-before-purchase/absorbable-heart-stent-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 Due to the rising demand for precise and reliable diagnostic tests, the adoption of cutting-edge diagnostic technologies, and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the Asia Pacific in-vitro diagnostics market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.67% from 2023 to 2031 and reach a valuation of 23.01 billion by 2031, up from US$ 15.5 billion by 2022. Request Sample Copy of Research Report @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/asia-pacific-in-vitro-diagnostics-market India, China, and Japan are the primary countries ruling the Asia Pacific in-vitro diagnostics industry. Japan holds a revenue share of 28% of the in-vitro diagnostics market in APAC. This is due to the fact that these nations have sizable populations and are experiencing a sharp rise in the prevalence of chronic diseases, which is driving up demand for diagnostic testing. India has 118 million hospital admissions and an expected 425 million outpatient visits in 2021, compared to nearly 215 million hospital admissions in China. Given that diagnostics are crucial for disease diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and disease management, this sizable patient pool has been a major driver of the IVD business. In the Asia Pacific region, the prevalence of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer has raised the demand for IVD tests. According to the International Diabetes Federation, 578 million persons in the Asia Pacific area are likely to have diabetes by 2030, up from an estimated 463 million in 2021. Similar to other major health issues, cancer is a major issue in the region. According to research by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the Asia Pacific in-vitro diagnostics industry accounts for about half of all new cancer cases worldwide. Competitive Landscape The In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) market in the Asia Pacific region is made up of both large enterprises with diverse lines of business and smaller but specialized competitors. The leading companies in the APAC in-vitro diagnostics market are Roche Diagnostics, Sysmex Corporation, Abbott Laboratories, and Siemens Healthineers. In order to preserve their market position, these businesses are continually engaged in creating cutting-edge IVD technologies, diversifying their product offerings, and making research and development investments. Numerous smaller businesses that target specialized niche markets are present in the Asia Pacific in-vitro diagnostics market. By providing specialized goods and services that cater to the particular requirements of their target customers, these smaller enterprises compete with larger businesses. For instance, in July 2022, Cambridgeshire-based Paragraf announced plans to create a new line of in-vitro diagnostic tools based on graphene that will deliver results in a matter of minutes. The business launched a two-year project to create a combination PCT/CRP proof-of-concept test that can distinguish between bacterial and other illnesses. In July 2022, in order to create an in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) tool that can help identify male infertility, Spermosens, Malmo University, and Saint Louis University (SLU) joined forces with Cellink. As part of the partnership, the businesses will cooperate to create diagnostic tools and point-of-care gadgets, such as electrochemical systems, printable bioink, and optical gadgets. Segmentation Brief Based on Product The reagents segment held a share of more than 75% of the Asia Pacific in-vitro diagnostics industry. Reagents are crucial components of diagnostic tests, and the regions reagents market is expanding owing to the rising demand for reliable and accurate diagnostic tests. The instrument segment, however, is anticipated to develop at the highest CAGR over the next few years. Based on Technique With a 29% market share, immunodiagnostics is likely to rule the IVD industry in the Asia Pacific. This expansion is linked to the rising incidence of infectious and chronic diseases and the requirement for prompt and precise diagnosis. Immunodiagnostics uses antibodies, a technique that has grown in popularity in the area, to identify antigens in patient samples. To gain more insights into the market with a detailed table of content and figures, click here: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/industry-report/asia-pacific-in-vitro-diagnostics-market Based on End-User Hospitals are the main consumers and producers of In-vitro diagnostics. With a 40% market share, the hospital segment is likely to rule the Asia Pacific in-vitro diagnostics market. The implementation of cutting-edge diagnostic technologies and the rising demand for healthcare services both contribute to the expansion of this market. Prominent Companies Abbott Agilent Technologies, Inc. Becton Dickinson and Company bioMerieux SA Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc Charles River Laboratories Danaher Corporation F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Qiagen Quest Diagnostics Quidel Corp. Siemens Healthineers Sysmex Corp. Other Prominent Players Market Segmentation Outline By Product & Services Reagents Instruments Software Services By Technique Immunodiagnostics Hematology Molecular Diagnostics Tissue Diagnostics Clinical Chemistry Others By Application Cancer diagnostics Blood glucose monitoring Human genetic testing Immunoassays Hepatitis tests Infectious Diseases diagnostics Cardiac Diseases Nephrological Diseases Gastrointestinal Diseases Others By End-User Standalone Laboratories Hospitals Academic And Medical Schools Point Of Care Others By Country India Japan South Korea Australia & New Zealand ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific Directly Purchase a copy of report with TOC @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/inquire-before-purchase/asia-pacific-in-vitro-diagnostics-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 Renub Research has recently released a report named China Vaccine Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity, and Forecast 2023-2027, providing a detailed industry analysis that includes market share insights. In addition, the report covers research on competitors and regions and current advancements in the China Vaccine Market. The China Vaccine Market shall reach US$ 12.16 Billion by 2027. With a population estimated at 1.4257 Billion as per the United Nations Population Funds (UNFPAs) State of World Population Report, 2023, Chinas high demand for vaccines to prevent and control infectious diseases is further magnified, a trend that has intensified with the outbreak of COVID-19, not just within China but globally. The vaccine industry in China has seen significant government investment, providing incentives to encourage domestic companies to develop and produce vaccines. As a result, Chinese vaccine manufacturers have made notable strides in the research and development of new vaccines, with some even earning international recognition for their efficacy and innovative practices. Category 1 & 2 Vaccines in China In China, Category 1 vaccines, crucial for public health and part of the national immunization program, are provided to citizens at no cost as the government subsidizes them. Some examples of these vaccines in China are measles, polio, and hepatitis B. In addition, the Chinese government has made significant investments in the vaccine industry, offering incentives and funding to support the development and production of vaccines, boosting the supply and availability of vaccines, including Category 1 vaccines subsidized by the government. Category 2 vaccines in China, such as vaccines for pneumococcal disease, influenza, and rabies, are not government-subsidized or part of the national immunization program. These vaccines are available for purchase by individuals or healthcare providers. The surge of the middle class in China has led to more spending on healthcare, including Category 2 vaccines. At the same time, the aging population has also contributed to their growth as older adults seek preventive measures against certain diseases. Meningococcal meningitis and DTP Vaccine are significant in the China Vaccine Market Outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis in China have created a high demand for vaccines against the disease, resulting in their dominance in the China vaccine market. The government has encouraged vaccine development, and domestic companies have made significant progress. Factors such as growing awareness of the importance of vaccination and increasing disposable income have also contributed to this dominance. The DTP vaccine, protecting against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, has a significant share in the China vaccine market due to its inclusion in the national immunization program, government investment, increased availability and affordability, pertussis outbreaks, and proven safety and efficacy, building trust among the population. Request a free sample copy of the report: https://www.renub.com/request-sample-page.php?gturl=china-vaccine-market-p.php PCV 13 has hegemony in the China Vaccine Market PCV 13 is dominant in the China vaccine market due to its inclusion in the national immunization program as a Category 1 vaccine and the governments significant investment in the vaccine industry. Pneumococcal disease is prevalent among young children in China, and PCV 13 has high efficacy in preventing it. Its proven safety and effectiveness have also contributed to building trust among the Chinese population. Competitive Landscape The report includes coverage of several key players in the China vaccine market, including Sinopharm Group, Hualan Biological Engineering Inc, Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products Co Ltd, Walvax Biotechnology Co Ltd, Beijing Tiantan Biological Products Corp Ltd, Sinovac Biotech, Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co Ltd. The increasing importance of vaccination among the Chinese population has led to heightened competition in the China vaccine market. More companies are entering the market due to the growing demand. The Chinese governments encouragement of vaccine development has attracted more investment and increased competition among manufacturers. The diversity of vaccines targeting different diseases and illnesses has created a competitive environment for manufacturers to capture a larger market share. Pricing, safety, and efficacy are crucial factors influencing market competition among vaccine manufacturers. Market Summary Sector By Sector, the China Vaccine Market is broken up into 2 viewpoints Public Private Disease Type The China Vaccine Market breakup in 6 viewpoints Meningococcal Meningitis Pneumococcal DTP Ebola Rabies Others Products Renub Research report covers the China Vaccine Market by products in 840 viewpoints MCV4 MPSV4 MCV2-Hib MCV2 MPSV2 Men A PCV13 PPV23 Others Key Players- All the major players of the China Vaccine Market have been covered from 3 Viewpoints (Overview, Strategy, and Financial Insight) Sinopharm Group, Hualan Biological Engineering Inc, Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products Co Ltd, Walvax Biotechnology Co Ltd, Beijing Tiantan Biological Products Corp Ltd, Sinovac Biotech Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co Ltd. Browse Related Report: Prostate Cancer Diagnostics Market : https://www.renub.com/prostate-cancer-diagnostics-market-p.php Multiple Myeloma Market : https://www.renub.com/multiple-myeloma-market-p.php Cervical Cancer Screening Market : https://www.renub.com/global-cervical-cancer-screening-market-and-patients-by-test-type-pap-smear-hpv-dna-via-forecast-1009-p.php About the Company: Renub Research is a Market Research and Information Analysis company with more than 14 years of experience in Research, Survey, and Consulting. Our research helps companies to take business decisions: on strategy, organization, operations, technology, mergers & acquisitions, etc. Till now we have published more than 7000 syndicated reports and worked on more than 500 custom research projects. Currently, we are supplying data to EMIS, Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters, etc. We support many blue-chip companies by providing them with findings and perspectives across a wide range of markets. Media Contact: Company Name: Renub Research Contact Person: Rajat Gupta, Marketing Manager Phone No: +1-478-202-3244 | +91-120-421-9822 (IND) Address: 225 Kristie Ln, Roswell, GA 30076 Email: info@renub.com LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/renub-research by Fern Siegel , April 26, 2023 Cheil Worldwide Chile is taking a stand. The Activist Reserve, its campaign to spotlight the critical issue of murdered environmental campaigners in Latin America, is running on Mindy.cl, the online psychology platform. The work runs until September. Most of these deaths are reported as apparent suicides. Cheil Worldwide and Mindy.cl note these activists not only fight for nature, but their own lives. Cheil used social networks to engage with NGOs across their channels on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, as well as with the networks of activists. The campaign was launched with video and social content and caught the attention of press and politicians. The Activist Reserve engaged more than 100,000 Chileans in just 24 hours after launch, generating over $27 million in free media to date for Mindy.cl and the Law of Nature bill, which modifies current law to protect environmental activists and human rights. advertisement advertisement To combat the false assertion of suicide, "The Activist Reserve," which launched March 29, utilized the suicidal ideation scale and Mindy.cls psychologists to evaluate and assess 500 key activists, setting a clinical and legal precedent about their mental health. Tests show they had no intention of taking their own lives. When we understand that the problem of nature really is in people, it is the first step to find a real solution. The Activists Reserve seeks to validate their mental health, and thus be able to defend the first link in the protection of the environment. This is a faithful example that big problems can be solved with small changes, which reflects the thinking of our team," said Felipe Ortiz, executive creative director of Cheil Chile. "We applaud the team at Mindy.cl for the courage to position their brand in our society by drawing attention to such a strong topic in our continent, which is often silenced." by Sarah Mahoney , Staff Writer @mahoney_sarah, April 26, 2023 The Sloomoo Institute started in 2019, founded by two New York City women full of midlife heartache. Struggling with loss, mental health issues and raising special-needs children, they stumbled into slime. Now Sloomoo is spreading bright blobs of fragrant joy through experiential retail. Kids of all ages make slime, walk on it, and dump vats of it on (willing!) participants. Marie Kelly, head of marketing and strategic partnerships, tells Retail Insider about Sloomoo's growth plans. Retail Insider: How do you describe Sloomoo to people who haven't heard of it? Marie Kelly: We're a sensory play experience. And because our founders were going through difficult things when they started, we're rooted in purpose, tied to mental health and neurodiversity. It's also about joy. When one of our founders first encountered slime, she says it was the first time she'd smiled in a year and a half. Sloomoo didn't come from a business plan. It came from joy. Retail Insider: And you're now in three places? Kelly: Yes. Atlanta, New York and Chicago. We still do occasional pop-ups, and plan to be in as many as ten permanent locations by the end of next year. Retail Insider: You're a tactile brand. How do you communicate that through digital marketing? Kelly: Today's consumers know ASMR, or autonomous sensory meridian response. It's pervasive on social media. So we can do a lot with visually satisfying content like videos of slime pours and swirls and the audio of pops and bubbles. We can show the joy and reactions guests are having. And we can convey that through our ecommerce, too. It helps that there's so much awareness about the benefits of sensory play. We have a resident psychiatrist who helps us make sure we increase endorphins. Sloomoo is very grounding. You're not on your device. You are talking and meeting strangers. And we're about to start doing kitchen tours, like in a brewery or distillery. Retail Insider: How are you using TikTok? Kelly: We've got a lot of content on all social channels, but TikTok is our largest audience, with about 1.7 million followers. We're working with some creators, turning that content into ads. And we're leveraging it as a search platform. It serves as a marketing funnel for our ticketed guests. People come in from places like Australia and say, "I follow you on TikTok." So it's a direct converter and more fun. It's less heavily produced than what we do on Instagram. Retail Insider: What's your most effective marketing channel? Kelly: I'll give you a grey answer. Earned media is critical, and I'm a big believer in brand awareness. But it's hard to track and getting harder. We've been in People, Forbes and Fortune and on the "Today Show." Someone could learn about us that way, then click on something that will get attributed to paid search. We are getting smarter in our systems and putting more tools in place to help us measure those things more efficiently. Press and influencers are both huge drivers for us. Retail Insider: "The Today Show" focused on your commitment to a neurodiverse workforce. What does that mean? Kelly: It started with a very early team member. And we're aligning with a couple of national partners to make sure we have the training to provide the right accommodations and support for these team members. Retail Insider: Are your ecommerce customers different than your retail customers? Kelly: From an e-comm perspective, the slime community is big. And slime enthusiasts are very interconnected. They make their own slimes and buy artisanal ones. They're particular about texture. We do lots of limited-edition drops, and they are very interested. Retail Insider: What role do partnerships play? Kelly: We have some marquee partnerships, including Elmer's Glue and Kinetic Sand. Those stretch across all channels. But we also do many hyperlocal ones. We work with Google, art museums, the city of Chicago. Retail Insider: Many people associate sensory play with little kids, but your appeal is much wider. Who else likes it? Kelly: From a day-to-day standpoint, we see people coming just to have an immersive, fun experience. Celebrities show up and often use our party rooms. Groups come, like a bunch of grad school students celebrating graduation. From a therapeutic point of view, the slime experience works for athletes and dementia patients. We work closely with Goldie Hawn's MindUP Foundation, which focuses on teen mental health. That group creates slime kits that they bring into schools. Retail Insider: So that is a lot of sensory activity. Does it sometimes overwhelm sensitive guests? Kelly: We can hand out nose plugs and earphones for people who want less stimulation. And the room with Kinetic Sand has more subdued audio. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, April 25, 2023 Alphabet reported fiscal first-quarter 2023 revenue of $69.8 billion, compared with $68.9 billion a year ago. Net earnings fell to $15.05 billion, compared with $16.44 billion in the year-ago quarter. It is the companys fifth consecutive decline in earnings. Revenue from the Search and Other category rose 1.87% in the quarter to $40.4 billion, compared with a year ago -- up from about $39.6 billion. The uptick demonstrated the resilience of search. Googles search business continues to suffer from competition as Microsoft makes a major push into the advertising space supported by artificial intelligence and ChatGPT-4 from OpenAI. Google still calls Bard, its AI technology, an experiment. Google's ad business is under threat, said Insider Intelligence senior analyst Max Willens. YouTube revenues declining again, and Search and Other revenues rising less than 2% reflect the reality that Google's core business is facing the most serious challenges it has encountered in quite some time." advertisement advertisement In 2023, Google will remain dominant in worldwide search ad revenue with $140.97 billion. That equates to 57.4% of the global search ad market, according to Insider Intelligence data. Google's worldwide display business will grow to $29.90 billion, giving it a 9.0% share of global display spending. Worldwide, the analyst firm expects Google to generate $180.59 billion in net digital ad revenue in 2023 -- up 7.2% compared with last year. This gives Google a 28.4% share of the worldwide digital ad market. Meta comes in second with a 20.1 % share. Advertising sales at Googles video platform YouTube fell nearly 3% to $6.7 billion in the first quarter. Sales at Google Cloud -- the division that offers software and technology services to other businesses -- jumped 28% to $7.5 billion, marking the first time that the division recorded a profit -- $191 million. In January, Google cut more than 12,000 jobs -- 6% of its global workforce. A leaked internal memo in March followed, revealing that Alphabet would cut back on some employee benefits to save money. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, April 26, 2023 Publicis Groupe agency Digitas has named Amy Lanzi North American CEO, succeeding Jodi Robinson. Lanzi will retain her role as Chair of Publicis Commerce. The company said that Robinson, a 22-year Digitas veteran, will be moving into a new innovation-focused role at Publicis Groupe. Lanzi was most recently Chief Operating Officer for Publicis Commerce, a practice that Lanzi is credited with building. advertisement advertisement In addition to helping many clients develop a presence in the commerce space, Lanzi drove the integration of Publicis Groupes recent commerce acquisitions, CitrusAd and Profitero, while spearheading key commerce partnerships. Prior to joining Publicis, Lanzi spent over 20 years at Omnicom commerce agency TPN, where she helped grow the company from a team of 30 to 350 and expanded its presence to include offices in Chicago, San Francisco, Bentonville and London. A pioneer in the digital agency space, Digitas now positions itself as a digital-first integrated agency. Lanzi described the agency as one with a long history of connecting platforms, people, and brands. by Colin Kirkland , April 26, 2023 While major brands like Starbucks, Nike, Gap and Clinique have launched loyalty programs in the Web3 space, offering customers gamified experiences and digital collectibles for tiered perks, IKEA's new Business Network loyalty program keeps rewards simple and basic. The Scandinavian furniture retailer is focusing on providing small businesses and their employees with resources such as freebies, discounts, training sessions, and interior design services. Design solutions -- in which IKEA will connect loyalty members with an interior designer to reimagine their workplaces at $299 per room -- are what Nicole King, IKEAs U.S. customer engagement and loyalty manager, believes elevates the Business Network beyond simple product savings. Other benefits being offered in IKEAs free loyalty program include virtual training sessions compounded into three categories: Spaces, People and Business. Each session can be accessed through videos ranging from five to 30 minutes advertisement advertisement Videos will be added on an ongoing basis to keep expanding the online resource library, IKEA wrote in a recent statement. In addition, Perks for Your People will offer discounts on automobiles, food and dining, insurance, travel, tickets, gym memberships, electronics and more via BenefitHub, a lifestyle employee benefits and rewards company. With IKEA Family benefits, small businesses can also provide employees with 5% savings on eligible in-store purchases, select discount delivery, seasonal promotions and convenient receipt tracking for personal and company records. Finally, IKEA is offering a complimentary coffee or tea to Business Network account members anytime they visit its Swedish Restaurant. The launch of its Business Network comes days after the Swedish company announced an investment of $2.2 billion in omnichannel growth strategy in the U.S., with plans to open eight new stores over the next three years, marking IKEAs largest investment in the past 40 years. According to "Forbes," the expansion would increase IKEAs U.S. portfolio by about a third -- from 51 stores and two plan and order points, which are pick-up locations where customers can speak with a consultant. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 26, 2023 A new bipartisan Senate bill would require social media platforms to verify users' ages, prohibit teens under 18 from using social media without parental consent, and completely ban children under 13 from social media. The Protecting Kids on Social Media Act, unveiled Wednesday by Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut), and Katie Britt (R-Alabama) also would prohibit social media platforms from using algorithms -- defined as fully or partially automated systems -- to recommend material to teens. The measure defines social media platforms as companies that allow users to create accounts to post or distribute media, with exemptions for a broad range of companies -- including online news sites, gaming platforms, and online retail marketplaces. The bill comes as an increasing number of states are attempting to regulate teens' use of social media. advertisement advertisement This year, Utah and Arkansas passed bills that ban minors under 18 from using most large social media platforms without parental consent. The bill in Arkansas also explicitly requires social media platforms to verify users' ages. A California law that was passed last year directs online companies to prioritize teens' best interests and well-being, and restricts online companies from collecting a wide range of data from teens. The California law is currently facing a challenge by the tech industry organization NetChoice, and the Utah and Arkansas bills are expected to be challenged in court. NetChoice on Wednesday criticized the proposed federal bill. If enacted, this would require massive, widespread data collection and retention, undermining Americans privacy and security, NetChoice general counsel Carl Szabo stated. Advocacy groups Common Sense Media, Fairplay, and The Center for Digital Democracy also expressed concerns about the bill. Those organizations, which advocate for children, said they support a ban on algorithmic recommendations to teens, but oppose other provisions, including ones banning teens from social media without parental consent. By requiring parental consent before a teen can use a social media platform, vulnerable minors, including LGBTQ+ kids and kids who live in unsupportive households, may be cut off from access to needed resources and community, the three groups said in a joint statement. They added that the age verification provisions introduce troubling implications for the privacy of all users. The Supreme Court has previously said that teens have First Amendment rights, including the right to access information. In one notable ruling, the Supreme Court voted 7-2 in 2011 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. Courts have also ruled in the past that age verification laws online unconstitutionally infringe on people's right to access information anonymously. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 26, 2023 Montana Governor Greg Gianforte is urging state lawmakers to ban all social media apps that share certain data with foreign adversaries. Gianforte's request comes in response to Senate Bill 419, passed earlier this month, which would prohibit app stores from offering TikTok to users in Montana, and prohibit from people from using TikTok in the state (with some exceptions, such as for law enforcement). The measure doesn't penalize users, but provides for sanctions of $10,000 per day against TikTok and mobile app stores. Gianforte this week returned the bill to the legislature, with proposed amendments. In addition to extending the ban to social media apps other than TikTok, Gianforte proposed removing a provision that would subject app marketplaces to sanctions. The Montana bill, like other recent efforts to curb the use of TikTok, was largely driven that data collected by the company about U.S. users is being shared with China. TikTok is owned by the Chinese-based company ByteDance. advertisement advertisement Numerous states (including Montana) have banned the use of TikTok on government owned devices, but Montana is the first to attempt to prohibit people from accessing the app on private devices. Civil rights groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Democracy and Technology and Electronic Frontier Foundation oppose the measure, arguing it violates the First Amendment. SB 419 is censorship, the groups said in a letter sent to lawmakers earlier this month. It would unjustly cut Montanans off from a platform where they speak out and exchange ideas everyday, and it would set an alarming precedent for excessive government control over how Montanans use the internet. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, will meet tomorrow, April 27, in Athens, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malta, Ian Borg, in the context of the latter's visit to Greece. The two Foreign Ministers will hold a one-on-one meeting (at approximately 12:00), followed by expanded talks between the two delegations. Subsequently, the signing of the Greece-Malta Cultural Cooperation will take place at approximately 13:30. The two Foreign Ministers will make joint statements to the press at approximately 13:40. Discussions are expected to cover, inter alia, the further promotion of bilateral relations in various sectors (such as economy, investments, tourism, and culture), cooperation between the two countries within the EU, the UN, and other international organizations, their cooperation within the EUMED-9, the migration-refugee issue, and a range of international and regional issues, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and developments in Libya. The Maltese Minister of Foreign Affairs will participate today, April 26, in the event of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the presentation of Greece's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2025-26 term, to be held at the Acropolis Museum. The above-mentioned visit follows Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias visit to Malta in October 2022. Ladies and gentlemen, First of all, it is a great pleasure to welcome you to the event for the presentation of the National Plan for Extroversion. I would like to start by pointing out that the event coincides with the tragic developments in Sudan. With the anguish of our fellow Greeks there. We must attempt in any way possible, as our top priority, to ensure the safety and evacuation of our compatriots in light of the resumption of the civil war, centered around Khartoum. And to this end, we are implementing an extremely difficult plan due to the unprecedented conditions prevailing on the ground. A considerable number of Greeks have already been evacuated from Khartoum with the assistance of our partners and allies. The number exceeds 50 and the first group of them has already landed in our country just a few minutes ago. Of course, we will continue to do everything we can to ensure their health, life and their return back at home. Getting back to the context of today's event, which takes place at the end of the current government's term, I believe, a general reference to this government's reform work should be made. The main pillar of Ministry of Foreign Affairs' reform initiatives was, first and foremost, the modernization of its structures, the upgrading of diplomatic services, and the integration of economic diplomacy into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The goal is for Greece to respond to the times' complex challenges. The effort to promote the country to traditional as well as new friends, partners, and allies continued unabated in 2022, through bilateral and trilateral cooperation schemes, the establishment of new Diplomatic and Consular Authorities, and participation in international fora. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' endeavor in the area of economic diplomacy began the day after this government was sworn in, by including economic diplomacy in the Ministrys fields of responsibility. This effort continued by adopting the Ministrys new Organizational statute in February 2021. And since then, it has been carried on consistently and continuously. I would like to tell you that it serves a broader goal, the Greek economy, and a more medium-term but easily perceptible goal, the improvement of our trade balance. Allow me to consider this an essential goal for national survival. Such features are not usually associated to economic figures, but this is an objective reality. The National Strategic Plan for Extroversion presented today is a proof of strategic targeting, a targeting that is consistently served and this is demonstrated by the fact that it is being drawn up for the third consecutive year. I will not tell you anything new if I emphasize that continuity and consistency do not primarily characterize our country. However, allow me to state that a very significant tradition is being created. Thus, this plan has begun to establish itself in the consciousness of all involved public bodies, but allow me to say even more importantly, in the private sector. It is therefore a clear roadmap aiming to: - promote our homeland's economic and commercial interests, - promote our products, - enhance our exports, and, - attract direct foreign investments. This is also absolutely essential for our survival, especially considering the disinvestment our country suffered during the years of the great crisis. The 2022 Plan included 670 actions in over 45 countries. As it matured this year, the actions reached 770. The National Strategic Plan for Extroversion is, of course, an integral part and the third pillar of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Strategic Plan 2022-2025. We are proud that the MFA is the first Ministry to implement such a plan, considering that strategic planning is an essential tool for the 21st century. Political, economic, and public diplomacy interact through 5 strategic pillars, 39 strategic goals, and thousands of actions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs exercises, and I hope it will continue to exercise, a strategically targeted economic diplomacy. A diplomacy that will decisively contribute to shaping and promoting a new, modern, and dynamic Greece. Thank you very much. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Huron-Manistee National Forests received 900 entries for the 2023 Kirtlands Warbler Young Artists Contest from kindergarteners through eighth graders. Overall, entries are up from the 793 received in 2022 from individual students and classrooms across the Great Lakes and The Bahamas. The top three artists are: First place, to be featured on the front cover of the calendar, is Nakiah C., a seventh grader from Deep Creek Middle School on Eleuthera, The Bahamas. Second place, to be featured on the back cover of the calendar, is Jon P., a fifth grader from Tarpum Bay Primary School on Eleuthera, The Bahamas. Third place, to be featured on the inside of the front cover of the calendar, is Kallie K., a fourth grader from Brethren Elementary School in Kaleva, Michigan. Entries to the Kirtlands Warbler Young Artists Contest must be original and demonstrate an understanding of the Kirtlands warbler or any other creatures that live in northern Michigans unique jack pine forests or its winter habitat site in The Bahamas. The calendar showcases the top 18 entries on its October 2023 to December 2024 pages (15 months), a profile of the Kirtlands warbler history and thumbnails of artwork from the top artists who received honorable mentions. Additionally, this years calendar will feature previous first place cover artwork from the last 20 years. Its awesome that were able to continue this contest and outreach program every year to increase awareness for a conservation-dependent species. Its so rewarding to have so many schools and youth participate from across the Great Lakes region and The Bahamas, said Dana Meder, District Wildlife Biologist, Mio Ranger District. We are very lucky to partner with Huron Pines and AmeriCorps to host Marah Ranke this year, who did a great job in outreach and follow-up presentations to the interested classrooms and organizations. Meder went on to explain how the Kirtlands Warbler Festival, held annually the first full weekend of June in Roscommon, showcases the Youth Art Contest winners artwork on their annual festival button and showcases the top 18 and honorable mentions during the festival. Initiated in 2003, the contest is a collaboration of the USDA Forest Service Huron-Manistee National Forests, Huron Pines AmeriCorps, Marguerite Gahagan Nature Preserve, American Bird Conservancy, The Bahamas National Trust, Kirtland's Warbler Audubon Society, Michigan DNR, AuSable Valley Audubon Society and Kirtland's Warbler Alliance. The contests intent is to teach children about the rare Kirtlands warbler and its habitat. Proceeds of the calendar support the USDA Forest Service Kirtlands warbler educational efforts. Calendars should be available in early June at all five HMNF's offices. To learn more, go to the USDA Forest Service's Kirtlands warbler page. La presidenta Dina Boluarte anuncio que el Gobierno, en sesion del Consejo de Ministros, aprobo diversas medidas en favor de una migracion regular, segura y ordenada, entre ellos, el decreto supremo que declara el estado de emergencia en las zonas de frontera de Tumbes, Piura, pic.twitter.com/mdOQyn8gUO Ferris State Universitys Department of Public Safety will host the 18th annual Police Memorial Ceremony at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 9, on the North Quad. The events keynote speaker is the new Ferris State Department of Public Safety director Ibrahim Haroon. Its been hosted for 18 years. Its a pretty grand event. They bring law enforcement officers from different parts of Michigan to remember the officers that have fallen. They take time to recognize any Ferris State students who graduated and lost their lives in the line of duty, Haroon said. University President Dr. Bill Pink will be the guest speaker for the event. Haroon said it can be a solemn event. It can be somber because youre remembering the people that gave their lives for the betterment of the community. There are a lot of people coming from different areas, Haroon said. The ceremony will include bagpipes, a 21 gun salute, the posting and retirement of the colors, a salute for taps (a bugle call typically played at military ceremonies and funerals that represents the close of day) and the department is currently working on getting a flyover by the U.S. Coast Guard. The officers usually show up in their dress uniform, well do a formation across the quad. Theyll recognize the posting of the colors, the retirement, theyll salute for taps. Its a very nice event, Haroon said. Haroon said the event is largely a joint effort. We do work very closely with Big Rapids and Mecosta County Sheriffs Office they help host and we have different elements that are involved. The honor guard consists of members from different communities. Its a nice joint effort that the local law enforcement does, Haroon said. All members of the community are welcome to attend, and Haroon hopes they recognize the burden that law enforcement officers take upon themselves a public servants. I hope people recognize the law enforcement and how difficult their task is, right now law enforcement is in a very difficult position, not many people are interested or want to be that public service, Haroon said. Haroon said he also hopes younger people will be inspired by the event. I hope when young people see this, they see the unity, pride and commitment, and have the drive to want to do that as they get older and are looking for career fields, he said. Find out more about the Police Memorial at www.facebook.com/FSUDPS. Metro Creative Graphics A Harbor Beach man has pleaded not guilty to three sexual assault charges and has been scheduled for trial in the fall. Keith Brian Bouverette, 58, pleaded not guilty to two charges of third-degree sexual assault, person 13 to 15 years of age, and one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, alleged force or coercion, in Huron County 52nd Circuit Court on April 17. Need some help? The Pioneer publishes a list of community resources every Wednesday. If any listing is inaccurate or to submit an event, contact Julie Norwood at 231-592-8358 or julie.norwood@pioneergroup.com. Deadline is noon Mondays. Manna Pantry of Big Rapids: 1-4 p.m. Monday-Friday in the annex of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 315B S. State St., Big Rapids. Volunteers needed, 12:30-4:15 p.m. Monday-Friday or half shifts. Call Bonnie Clark, 231-408-2940, if interested. Project Starburst: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday in the basement of the United Church of Big Rapids, 120 S. State St., Big Rapids. Volunteers needed, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 1-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call Diane Long, 231-796-5342, if interested. Lord's Table Food Pantry: Open 1-5 p.m. Wednesdays at Faith Community Church, 610 Green St., Big Rapids. Volunteers needed. Everyone is welcome, all Veterans and those in need. Contact 231-796-8389 to set up an appointment outside normal hours. Reed City Food Pantry: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, 831 S. Chestnut St., Reed City. For questions or emergency food needs, call 231-215-6996. Barryton Area Mobile Food Pantry: 2 p.m. the second Saturday of each month, rain or shine, at the Fork Township Community Center parking lot, 3265 20 Mile Road, Barryton. Registration to receive food begins at noon. For more information, visit bamfp.org. Angels of Action: 200 S. Stewart, Big Rapids. Provides children and their families access to food, essential needs and community resources. Call 231-629-8140 or email info@angelsofaction.org for assistance. Our Brother's Keeper: 405 S. 3rd Ave., Big Rapids. Provides temporary emergency housing for those homeless and looking for safety or a place to stay as they transition into more permanent housing. Call 231-629-8160 for assistance. Mid Michigan Community Action: 14330 Northland Drive, Big Rapids. Provides help with food, housing, early childhood education, home energy savings, energy assistance, homebuyer assistance and more. Multiple locations. Call 231-660-0271 for the Big Rapids location and 231-791-7078 for the Reed City location. HEALTH, INTERVENTION AND RECOVERY Mecosta County Health Department: 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 14485 Northland Drive, Big Rapids. 231-592-0130. Community Mental Health for Central Michigan: 500 South 3rd Avenue, Big Rapids. 231-796-5825. Corewell Health Big Rapids Hospital: (formally Spectrum Health) Open 24-7 at 605 Oak St., Big Rapids. Main number is 231-796-8691. To schedule an appointment, call 231-592-4440 or 877-362-8362. For emergencies, call 911. Hope House Free Medical Clinic: 405 S 3rd Ave, Big Rapids. Provides limited medical care to adults who lack insurance. For more information, call 231-598-9500 or visit hopehouseclinic.org. Central Michigan Recovery Education Network: A network of organizations that provide education, prevention, recovery and treatment for those affected by substance use disorder. Call 1-800-662-4357 or visit www.cmren.org for more information. WISE (Women's Information Services): Provides crisis intervention and support services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Call the 24-hour crisis line at 1-800-374-WISE. SUPPORT GROUPS TOPS 9189 (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly): 8:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesdays in the United Church of Big Rapids dinning hall, 120 South State St. The public is invited to join TOPS 9189 weight loss support group. Weigh-in is 8:30-9:15 a.m., followed by a meeting at 9:30-10:30 a.m. First visit is free. Men Overcoming Loss, Grieving Dads: (virtual and in-person) 6-7 p.m. first Wednesday of each month, at Hospice of Michigan, 400 Perry Ave., Big Rapids. This support group is designed for dads who are dealing with the death of a son or daughter. RSVP with David Keller at 231-527-0913, dkeller@hom.org Mommy Support Group: 10-11 a.m. Mondays at The Corner Cup, 2963 Arthur Road, Remus. Alcoholics Anonymous: To find a group, call the hotline at 1-800-367-6788 or visit area34district9.org. State Rep. Felicia Brabec, D Pittsfield, introduced House Bill 4361 on April 11 to offer a tax break for live organ donors. For tax years that begin on and after January 1, 2023, HB 4361 would amend Michigans income tax act of 1967 to allow taxpayers to claim a 1-time credit against the tax imposed by this part equal to the live organ donation expenses incurred during the tax year for which a live organ donation occurs or $5,000.00, whichever is less, according to the bill. If Michigan were to be graded on its living organ donor protection laws, it would get an F according to the American Kidney Fund. Since 2021, the American Kidney Fund has graded each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia on how well their laws encourage living organ donation and reduce barriers for living donors. Most transplanted organs are from deceased donors, and the wait for an organ from a deceased donor can last years, according to the organization. Living donation offers an alternative for individuals on the transplant waiting list and increases the existing organ supply for everyone. Living organ donors also require two to 12 weeks of recovery following surgery before returning to work, so job protection for living organ donors during recovery time is essential, the American Kidney Fund wrote in a February 2023 press release. Direct reimbursements, tax credits and tax deductions can offset all or part of the financial losses for donors that are associated with travel and lodging for testing and the surgery, medications that may be required after surgery, and other incidental costs not covered by insurance. There are 2,400 critically ill Michiganders waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, plus another 16,000 are enduring dialysis and might benefit from a transplant, Dorrie Dils, president and CEO of Gift of Life Michigan, an organization that runs the states organ and tissue donation program, said in a recent statement. The states donor registrys growth has slowed in recent years for a variety of reasons, according to the organization. Among them is a change that allows residents to renew their drivers license or state ID every 12 years instead of eight. That means residents are less frequently interacting in person with branch office clerks who are required by law to ask the donor registry question. About 95% of registrations happen during transactions at the Secretary of State. A majority of Michiganders are already registered 56% but rates are higher in other states. A financial incentive for live organ donations could raise ethical issues. But the National Kidney Foundation said 21 states provide tax breaks to living organ donors as of June 2022. HB 4361 awaits a hearing in the House Health Policy Committee. On average, 17 Michigan residents have organ transplants every week, according to Gift of Life Michigan. Organ donors can save up to eight lives and tissue donors can substantially improve life for up to 75 sick, injured or blind people. The Midland Planning Commission held a special meeting on Tuesday to hear a number of ideas for new housing and their plausibility in the City of Midland. The meeting began at 6 p.m. with a presentation by Richard Murphy from the Michigan Municipal League on pattern book housing. Murphy explained that large and small communities around the state are facing housing shortages that have grown more severe in the past few years. He said there is a need for more diverse housing options to fit the different needs of different family types. What somebody needs when theyre 20-something and just starting out in their own household is different from my family, Murphy said. I have two elementary schoolers and just recently moved to a bigger place with more than one bathroomHow do we make sure that our communities have the full range of housing options? The Municipal League decided to look at houses from a century ago. These large homes not only fit into the neighborhood, they established the regional architecture. The organization decided to take these housing types and develop plans for multi-family housing - duplexes, four-plexes, townhouses, etc. The plans were gathered into a publication: This Used to be Normal: Pattern Book Homes for 21st Century Michigan. The publication is a guide with free open source construction plans, housing types, historical roots, current needs and code amendments needed to enable the plan. The guide can be used to pre-review plans or pre-qualify for state funding programs. This means planning commissions could approve certain models or plans and anyone who wants to build one of those models would have an expedited process because the plans would already be mostly approved. Murphy said that this would save time by eliminating the uncertainty stage - the first few months of a project when developers have to wait and see if they will get approval. Does somebody even start the process if they know that theres this possibility that they get three months in and get a No? Murphy said. One of the next steps in the process is to have a zoning audit to see the plausibility of building housing options like these and identifying what hurdles are preventing desirable developments from being built in the city. The planning commission did have a zoning audit scheduled for this meeting as well, presented by Director of Planning and Community Development Jacob Kain. Kain presented three types of mixed use commercial, office and residential buildings that are popular around the country and the various barriers developers would face if they wanted to build them in Midland. The three types of developments were a three-story commercial and residential building, a mixed use office, townhouse and apartment building and a detached small lot family townhouse. None of the three developments would be allowed in the City of Midland due to restrictions in setbacks, too little parking, height rules and more. Kain said the commission is known to stick to the rules, but that the rules make popular developments like these difficult to add to Midland. You don't see a lot of these types of developments in Midland, he said. (The Planning Commission) is generally oriented towards enforcing rules, but the rules have consequences in terms of what's possible. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Pipers Pub has been in Gladwin for many years. It was purchased by Laura McDonald in March. She worked at the pub for 13 years, the last four as the manager. As the new owner, she brings the same staff with her that shes had for the past four years. Waitress Jade Walton suggested some of the fan favorites on the menu, including cheese curds, Italian Hoagie, deep fried pickle fries and the M-61 Burger. The menu also includes a variety of hoagies, pizza, burgers, sandwiches, flatbreads, and wings. More Information Piper's Pub is located at 238 W. Cedar Avenue in Gladwin. Piper's is open from 11 a.m.11 p.m. Monday to Thursday and until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday. https://www.facebook.com/pipersgladwin/ See More Collapse The cheese curds were bite-sized pieces of breaded mozzarella heaven. The perfect temperature allowed them to melt in your mouth with every bite. Adding to the pleasure was a dip of creamy ranch dressing. Having never had cheese curds before, I found them quite fun and tasty. I hear they go great with beer. As for the main course, the M-61 Burger was a tower of onion rings, dripping with tangy barbecue sauce on top of a third-pound burger draped with cheddar cheese. It is served with chips and a pickle. If you lack a ginormous mouth, its best to slip a few onion rings off before trying to eat the burger. But one customer said he eats it as it is by firmly squeezing the burger together and taking a bite. Bibs are also encouraged with this burger, which has a healthy dose of barbecue sauce. Despite having previously lived in the South for about eight years, Im not a barbecue sauce fan. Still, this burger had a way of marrying several tastes yet keeping them distinct. I never thought to put crisp onion rings with barbecue sauce on a burger, but WOW, did it work. Under the new ownership of McDonald, she hopes to one day add a rooftop bar to the pub. In the meantime, she is keeping great food in a family-friendly pub atmosphere. Pipers Pub also has a fish fry every Friday, trivia night at 7 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month, and music trivia at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays. Music trivia is immediately followed by Bingo. During my visit, I observed a father and daughter having dinner, a couple of tourists enjoying cocktails, and another family who appeared to be regulars, needing no menus. It was a very friendly atmosphere with plentiful items on the menu. I will definitely be back. Email Daily News reporter Tereasa Nims at tereasa.nims@hearstnp.com. BEIJING (AP) Chinese leader Xi Jinping told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call on Wednesday that his government will send a peace envoy to Ukraine and other nations, state media said, after Beijing said it wants to act as mediator in Russia's war with the country. A government statement reported by state TV gave no indication whether the Chinese envoy would visit Russia. China will send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to Ukraine and other countries to conduct in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, the statement said. It made no mention of Russia or President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine last year. There is no winner in a nuclear war, the statement warned. China has tried to appear neutral in the war but has refused to criticize Moscow's invasion. Xi and Putin issued a joint statement before the February 2020 attack saying their governments had a no limits friendship. Xi's government released a peace proposal in February and called for a cease-fire and talks. Negotiation is the only viable way out, state TV said in a report on Xi's comments to Zelenskyy. There is no winner in a nuclear war, the report said. All parties concerned should remain calm and restrained in dealing with the nuclear issue and truly look at the future and destiny of themselves and humanity as a whole and work together to manage the crisis. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CAIRO (AP) Sudanese and foreigners streamed out of the capital of Khartoum and other battle zones, as fighting Tuesday shook a new three-day truce brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Aid agencies raised increasing alarm over the crumbling humanitarian situation in a country reliant on outside help. A series of short cease-fires the past week have either failed outright or brought only intermittent lulls in the fighting that has raged between forces loyal to the country's two top generals since April 15. The lulls have been enough for dramatic evacuations of hundreds of foreigners by air and land, which continued Tuesday. But they have brought no relief to millions of Sudanese caught in the crossfire, struggling to find food, shelter and medical care as explosions, gunfire and looters wreck their neighborhoods. In a country where a third of the population of 46 million already needed humanitarian assistance, multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations and dozens of hospitals have been forced to shut down. The U.N. refugee agency said it was gearing up for potentially tens of thousands of people fleeing into neighboring countries. Calls for negotiations to end the crisis in Africas third-largest nation have been ignored. For many Sudanese, the departure of diplomats, aid workers and other foreigners and the closure of embassies are terrifying signs that international powers expect the mayhem to only worsen. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the power struggle between rival generals and their military forces is not only putting Sudan's future at risk, it is lighting a fuse that could detonate across borders, causing immense suffering for years, and setting development back by decades. The U.N. chief urged the Sudanese military, commanded by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the rival Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, to silence the guns immediately. ""The conflict will not, and must not, be resolved on the battlefield," Guterres told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council late Tuesday. U.N. special envoy for Sudan Volker Perthes, who moved from Khartoum to Port Sudan with most U.N. staff and many humanitarian organizations, accused both warring parties of fighting with disregard for the laws and norms of war, citing attacks on densely populated areas. With supply lines running out, he said, there is mounting fear of increased criminality, and reports of prisoners being released from detention centers across Khartoum have compounded these fears. Thousands of Sudanese have been fleeing Khartoum and its neighboring city of Omdurman. Bus stations in the capital were packed Tuesday morning with people who had spent the night there in hopes of getting on a departing bus. Drivers increased prices, sometimes tenfold, for routes to the border crossing with Egypt or the eastern Red Sea city of Port Sudan. Fuel prices have skyrocketed, to $67 a gallon from $4.20, and prices for food and water have doubled in many cases, the Norwegian Refugee Council said. Those lucky enough to reach the border crossings face additional hardships. Moaz al-Ser, a teacher, arrived at the Arqin border crossing with Egypt early Tuesday with his wife and three children after a harrowing trip from Omdurman. They were among hundreds of families who were waiting to be processed. Many had spent the night in an open area near the border. The crossing point is overwhelmed and authorities on both sides dont have the capacity to handle such a growing number of arrivals, he said. Secretary-General Guterres cited reports of armed clashes across the country, with people fleeing their homes in Blue Nile and North Kordofan states and across Western Darfur as well. Terrified people remain trapped indoors with dwindling food, water, medicine and fuel, and health services near collapse, he said. Joyce Msuya, the assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said at least 20 hospitals have been forced to close due to damage, military use or lack of resources. She also told the council there have been numerous reports of sexual and gender-based violence. The 72-hour cease-fire announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was to last until late Thursday night, extending a nominal three-day truce over the weekend. The rival forces said Tuesday they would observe the cease-fire. In separate announcements, they said Saudi Arabia played a role in the negotiations. But fighting continued, with explosions, gunfire and the roar of warplanes overhead around the capital region. They stop only when they run out of ammunition, Omdurman resident Amin Ishaq said. Al-Roumy, a medical facility in Omdurman, said it suspended its services after it was hit by a shell Tuesday. They dont respect cease-fires, said Atiya Abdalla Atiya, a senior figure in the Sudan Doctors Syndicate, a group that monitors casualties. Dr. Bushra Ibnauf Sulieman, a Sudanese-American physician who headed the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Khartoum, was stabbed to death outside his home, the Doctors' Syndicate said. He had practiced medicine for many years in the United States, where his children reside, but had returned to Sudan to train doctors. Colleagues said he had been treating those wounded in the fighting in recent days and that it was not known who killed him. The World Heath Organization, meanwhile, expressed concern that one of the warring parties had seized control of the central public health laboratory in Khartoum. That is extremely, extremely dangerous because we have polio isolates in the lab. We have measles isolates in the lab. We have cholera isolates in the lab, Dr. Nima Saeed Abid, the WHO representative in Sudan, told a U.N. briefing in Geneva by video call from Port Sudan. He did not identify which side held the facility but said they had expelled technicians and power was cut, so it was not possible to properly manage the biological materials. There is a huge biological risk. Clashes meanwhile escalated in the western Darfur region, residents said. Armed groups, wearing RSF uniforms, attacked several areas in Genena, a provincial capital, burning and looting properties and camps for displaced people. Fierce battles are raging all over the city, said a doctor in Genena, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. "All eyes are on Khartoum but the situation here is unimaginable. Women and children were fleeing homes in the city center, and the city's main hospital has not functioned for days, with unknown numbers of dead and wounded, she said. More fighters on motorcycles and horses have flowed into the city to join the battles, with dead bodies lying in the streets, according to Darfur 24, an online news outlet focusing on covering the war-wrecked region. The RSF has its roots in Darfur, where it emerged from the notorious Janjaweed militias that committed atrocities there while putting down a rebellion in the 2000s. At least 459 people, including civilians and fighters, have been killed, and over 4,000 wounded since fighting began, the U.N. health agency said, citing Sudans Health Ministry. Among them were 166 deaths and over 2,300 wounded in Khartoum, it said. Secretary-General Guterres said four U.N. staff were killed. The U.N. said they were three Sudanese working for the World Food Program and one Sudanese working for the International Organization for Migration. Those who are able have made their way to the Egyptian border, Port Sudan or relatively calmer provinces along the Nile. But the full scale of displacement has been difficult to measure. Msuya said the U.N. has received reports of tens of thousands of people arriving in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Mohammed Mahdi, of the International Rescue Committee, warned that resources were growing thin at the Tunaydbah refugee camp in eastern Sudan after 3,000 people fleeing Khartoum took refuge there, joining some 28,000 refugees from Ethiopia. At least 20,000 people have fled from Khartoum to the city of Wad Madani, 160 kilometers (100 miles) to the south, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. Some 20,000 Sudanese have fled to Chad and around 4,000 South Sudanese refugees living in Sudan have returned home, according to the U.N. refugee agency, which is gearing up for tens of thousands more to flee to neighboring countries. ___ Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London, Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, contributed to this report. LONDON (AP) The U.K. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the Jehovahs Witnesses organization isn't liable for an elder who raped a member of his congregation more than three decades ago. The decision overturned rulings by lower courts that awarded 62,000 pounds ($77,500) for the emotional harm suffered by a Welsh woman who was raped in 1990. Elder Mark Sewell was sentenced to 14 years in prison for raping the woman in his home after the two had been out proselytizing. The Supreme Court ruled that the concept of vicarious liability often used to hold an employer responsible for the reckless actions of an employee didnt extend to the Witnesses in the case, because it didn't pass a two-stage test. While the court said the elder could be considered an employee of the religious organization, the rape at his home wasn't within the scope of his duties for the congregation. The primary reason that the rape took place was not because Mark Sewell was abusing his position as an elder, but because he was abusing his position as a close friend of (the victim), Justice Andrew Burrows wrote. Four other justices on the Supreme Court agreed unanimously with Burrows in favor of the Watch Tower and Bible Tract Society of Pennsylvania, the New York-based charitable arm of the Witnesses religious activities, and the Barry Congregation of Jehovahs Witnesses. Attorney Thomas Beale, who represented the victim, said the ruling was devastating for our client, who has shown great bravery and determination. While it was loss for his client, Beale said the ruling could be helpful for others because it clarified that an organization could be held responsible for acts by volunteers, which has been the subject of disagreement in the courts. Ademas, la presidenta Dina Boluarte anuncio que se hara una evaluacion integral del personal de la @PoliciaPeru, que no esta dedicado a tareas de patrullaje y combate directo a la delincuencia, a fin de reforzar la seguridad en las calles. #PorUnPaisSeguro #ConPunchePeru pic.twitter.com/ixoNw2rnIS SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes has avoided starting her more than 11-year prison sentence on Thursday by deploying the same legal maneuver that enabled her co-conspirator in a blood-testing hoax to remain free for an additional month. Holmes' lawyers on Wednesday informed U.S. District Judge Edward Davila that she won't be reporting to prison as scheduled because she had filed an appeal of a decision that he issued earlier this month ordering her to begin her sentence on April 27. The appeal, filed with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals late Tuesday, automatically delays her reporting date because she has been free on bail since a jury convicted her on four counts of fraud and conspiracy in January 2022. The verdict followed a four-month trial revolving around her downfall from a rising Silicon Valley star to an alleged scam artist chasing fame and fortune while fleecing investors and endangering the health of patients relying on Theranos' flawed blood tests. The tactic deployed by Holmes mirrored a move made last month by her former lover and subordinate, Ramesh Sunny Balwani, to avoid a prison reporting date of March 16. After the Ninth Circuit rejected his appeal three weeks later, Davila set a new reporting date of April 20. Balwani, 57, is now serving a nearly 13-year prison sentence in a federal prison located in San Pedro, California after being convicted of 12 counts of fraud and conspiracy. Although they had separate trials, Holmes and Balwani were accused of essentially the same crimes centered on a ruse touting Theranos blood-testing system as a revolutionary breakthrough in health care. The claims helped the company become a Silicon Valley sensation that raised nearly $1 billion from investors. Holmes, 38, l ast appeared in court about a month ago, shortly after giving birth to her second child in an attempt to persuade Davila to allow her to remain free while she appeals her conviction. Davila, who scolded Holmes for betraying Silicon Valley's history of innovation when he sentenced her in November, subsequently rejected that request. Davila had recommended Holmes be incarcerated at a low-security prison camp in Bryan, Texas, but it has not been publicly disclosed if that is where she has been assigned to serve her sentence. The news of Holmes' latest legal maneuver emerged the same day that it was announced one of the federal prosecutors who helped convict her is leaving the U.S. Attorney's office in San Jose, California. Jeffrey Schenk, who also helped convict Balwani in that trial, will specialize in defending people accused of white-collar crimes as a partner for the law firm Jones Day in Silicon Valley. DETROIT (AP) Another automaker is trying to cut its workforce to trim expenses and stay competitive as the industry makes the long and costly transition to electric vehicles. Stellantis on Wednesday said it's offering buyouts to groups of white-collar and unionized employees in the U.S., as well as hourly workers in Canada. The cuts are in response to todays increasingly competitive global market conditions and the necessary shift to electrification, the company said in a prepared statement. Stellantis said it's looking to reduce its hourly workforce by about 3,500, but wouldn't say how many salaried employees it's targeting. The company has about 56,000 workers in the U.S., and about 33,000 of them could get the offers. Of those, 31,000 are blue-collar workers and 2,500 salaried employees. The company has another 8,000 union workers in Canada, but it would not say how many will get offers. Stellantis, formed in the merger of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA Groupe, says in a statement that it's reviewing its North American operations to trim costs, become more efficient and protect the competitiveness of its products. The company says it's offering packages to certain salaried workers who have 15 or more years of service. Packages also are being offered to unionized employees in the U.S. and Canada. Information about the packages will go to employees the week of May 1. The offers drew immediate criticism from Shawn Fain, the new president of the United Auto Workers union. Stellantis push to cut thousands of jobs while raking in billions in profits is disgusting, Fain said in a prepared statement. This is a slap in the face to our members, their families, their communities, and the American people who saved this company 15 years ago. The former Chrysler company went through a government-funded bankruptcy in 2009 and was eventually merged with Italian automaker Fiat. The offers follow Ford and General Motors, which have trimmed their workforces in the past year through buyout offers. About 5,000 white-collar workers took General Motors up on offers to leave the company this year. Ford cut about 3,000 contract and full-time salaried workers last summer, giving them severance packages. The union's testy statement about Stellantis comes ahead of what are expected to be contentious contract talks between Detroits three automakers, the United Auto Workers, and Unifor, the Canadian union representing auto workers. Talks with both unions will open this summer. The UAW contracts expire in September. Last week, Fain told reporters that hes unhappy with all three companies over efforts to unionize new joint-venture factories that will make battery cells for future electric vehicles. All three companies are investing billions to build at least 10 battery factories in North America to handle expected demand for EVs. Fain singled out Stellantis, saying it failed to include the union when it announced a battery factory in Kokomo, Indiana. He also said Stellantis plans to close a factory in Belvidere, Illinois, is unacceptable. Stellantis placed the Belvidere plant on idle in February and laid off most of its roughly 1,350 workers. Fain won a narrow election last month running on the platform that the union for too long has been cooperative with the automakers. He would not say if a strike against Stellantis is likely. ____ This story has been corrected to delete a line saying that Stellantis will make buyout offers to 8,000 union workers in Canada. The company has 8,000 union workers in the country but did not say how many will get offers. BALTIMORE (AP) Attorneys for Adnan Syed filed a motion Wednesday asking a Maryland appellate court to reconsider its recent decision to reinstate his decadesold murder conviction and life sentence, a ruling that upheld arguments from the victims family claiming a lower court violated their rights. Syed, whose protracted legal odyssey gained international attention from the hit podcast Serial, regained his freedom last year after Baltimore prosecutors moved to vacate his conviction, saying they reviewed the case and found alternative suspects and unreliable evidence used at trial. But the victims family said they received insufficient notice to attend the September vacatur hearing in person, which violated their right to be treated with dignity and respect, and the Maryland Appellate Court last month agreed. In a 2-1 decision that was stayed for 60 days, the judges reinstated Syeds conviction and ordered a redo of the hearing in question. Wednesdays motion asks the judges to reconsider the ruling, which prompted celebration within the crime victims rights movement and criticism from criminal justice reform advocates who warned of a potential chilling effect on existing efforts to fight wrongful convictions and excessive sentences. Syeds attorneys claim the appellate judges broke from the courts own precedent by failing to require the victims family to prove the outcome of the September hearing would have been different if they had received more notice and attended in person. The motion also questions whether the court intends to award crime victims and their representatives special treatment not even available to criminal defendants. Syed was 17 when his high school ex-girlfriend and classmate, Hae Min Lee, was found strangled to death and buried in a makeshift grave in 1999. He was arrested weeks later and ultimately convicted of murder. He received life in prison, plus 30 years. Despite the ongoing litigation, Syed remains free for the time being. His many supporters have expressed alarm at the possibility he could be taken back into custody, depending on how the case plays out. Maryland law says victims should receive prior notice of conviction vacatur hearings, and that right was violated in the case of Lees brother, the appellate court ruled last month. Young Lee was notified on a Friday afternoon that the hearing would take place the following Monday, which didnt give him enough time to make travel arrangements from his home in California. However, he attended the hearing via video conference and spoke during the proceeding about how the case has impacted his family. Syeds attorneys have argued Lees ability to participate remotely satisfied the crime victims rights requirements. In the motion for reconsideration, they also argue Lee should have to prove that his in-person attendance would have changed the hearings outcome; otherwise, the lower courts error should be considered harmless. They quoted an earlier ruling by the Appellate Court of Maryland that says it is the policy of this Court not to reverse for harmless error. David Sanford, an attorney for the Lee family, said he believes the judges will not waver in their commitment to victims rights. The Maryland Constitution and the collective wisdom of the Maryland State Legislature recognize victims rights as being an essential part of the legal fabric of Maryland, he said in a statement Wednesday. We have confidence that the Appellate Court will uphold those rights again. While the appellate judges found Lees rights were violated because of the timeline, they also found he had no explicit right to be heard during the hearing. His attorneys had requested the opportunity to present evidence and interrogate witnesses, which the judges said would result in a huge shift in practice. In a dissenting opinion that largely refuted findings of the two majority judges, Judge Stuart Berger said Maryland legislators should develop more specific victims rights requirements including how much notice they should receive for conviction vacatur hearings instead of leaving it to the courts to interpret a patchwork of existing statutes that dont directly address the issue. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HARTFORD An 18-year-old city resident returned fire in last week's drive-by shooting on Huntington Street that was captured on video and left a 12-year-old girl dead, according to his arrest warrant. Hartford police arrested Jeremy Francis in the hospital on Saturday, judicial records show, and charged him with first-degree reckless endangerment, risk of injury to a minor, unlawful discharge of a firearm and carrying a pistol without a permit, Hartford police spokesperson Lt. Aaron Boisvert said Wednesday. Police said they responded to the 40th block of Huntington Street around 8:40 p.m. last Thursday after the city's ShotSpotter system reported "numerous" gunshots in the area. At the scene, police found 12-year-old Se'Cret Pierce in the back of a gray Ford Focus, unresponsive and with gunshot wounds to her head and abdomen, according to Francis' arrest warrant. Se'Cret was taken to Saint Francis Hospital, where she died the following morning. Francis was also at the scene, lying on the sidewalk. He had been shot in the abdomen, which shattered his pelvic bone, and was transported to Saint Francis Hospital to undergo emergency surgery, his arrest warrant said. Two additional victims, a 23-year-old man who was shot in his forearm and a 16-year-old boy who sustained grazing wounds, later also showed up at the hospital for treatment of what police said were non-life-threatening injuries. Boisvert said investigators also determined the 16-year-old was on juvenile probation on firearms charges and on house arrest at the time of the shooting. He was taken into custody and "remanded to juvenile detention," he said. Police did not disclose his name because of his age. According to Francis' arrest warrant, Se'Cret had been with her friend, who picked her up in the Ford Focus. Police noted the friend was in a dating relationship with one of the victims, whose name was redacted, and that Se'Cret was also friends with him and the other two victims. Surveillance footage captured the entire shooting, police said in Francis' warrant. The video showed a dark-colored sedan going north on Huntington Street and "the rear driver's side passenger is observed to have his upper torso fully exposed and shooting a firearm over the roof of the vehicle" and into the porch of a Huntington Street apartment building, police said in the warrant. One pedestrian, later identified as Francis, appeared to be shot and fell to the ground, the warrant stated. His arm was then observed to be extended, directed toward the moving vehicle and police said a flash, similar to the gunfire coming from the suspect vehicle, could be seen coming from his arm, according to the warrant. The suspect vehicle continued north and police said they saw several more flashes come from the passenger. A flash was also seen coming from Francis' extended arm a second time, directed toward the car, the warrant said. The video also showed a second individual standing beside Francis when the shooting occurred, the warrant stated. The individual, who has not been identified, could be seen fleeing the area but, after the shots were fired, immediately returned to where Francis was lying, the warrant stated. After several seconds, he ran away again, appearing to hold an item in his sweatshirt pocket, according to the warrant. Detectives found 17 spent shell casings in the road, which were later determined to come from at least two different firearms, according to Francis' arrest warrant. Police noted that no firearms were found at the scene, but they did find a firearm-mounted laser sight near Francis. The Ford Focus in which Se'Cret was found had been parked along the curb in front of a three-story brick apartment building on Huntington Street. The driver's side back door had damage "consistent with that of being caused by gunfire," a shattered window and a pool of blood across the back seat, according to the arrest warrant. Police said in Francis' warrant that all surviving victims were interviewed and were either uncooperative or "provided minimal information." However, all were "consistent" with reporting their injuries occurred on Huntington Street. During a vigil Saturday for Se'Cret, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin again urged those who know anything about the shooting to talk with investigators. "It's not snitching when you're talking about justice for a 12 year-old girl," Bronin told the crowd gathered on Huntington Street. Se'Cret's father, Shane Oliver, was also killed in a Hartford shooting in 2012. "We are asking if you saw something, say something. Don't be afraid, don't be silent," Sam Saylor, Oliver's father and Se'Cret's grandfather said during the vigil on Saturday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) The spiritual priorities of Pope Francis will be on display during a trip this week to Hungary, where the populist government will seek to downplay its diverging views on matters like immigration and minority rights while focusing instead on points where it aligns with the pontiff. Francis will meet with children with disabilities, refugees and those living in poverty on the three-day trip that begins Friday. He will also have an audience with Hungarys president and its nationalist prime minister, Viktor Orban. The visit will be a political boon for Orban, whose contentious stances on migration, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and LGBTQ+ rights stand in stark contrast with Francis views of inclusion and acceptance for the marginalized and support for Kyiv during Moscow's war. Yet the cardinal of Hungarys Roman Catholic Church, Peter Erdo, as well as other members of the Catholic community, expect the popes visit to be a celebration of Christian unity, and that differences of opinion won't play a central role. When there is a papal Mass to which bishops and priests from different countries come in large numbers, there is a feeling that the whole church is present there, Erdo said in an interview with The Associated Press. Hes making a pastoral visit to us specifically out of love and attention to the Hungarian Catholic community and the Hungarian people ... and I think this is a great joy. Speaking after an Easter Mass celebrated by Erdo in Budapest, Erzsebet Markus, a believer from the capital, said Francis spending three full days in the country was very significant for Hungarian Christians and for Hungary at large. I think that hes spending so much time here represents an appreciation for us and for the country, she said. Francis is also scheduled to visit with members of Hungarys scientific and cultural sectors. On his final day, he plans to preside over a Sunday Mass on a square in central Budapest. But the war in Ukraine will loom large as he meets with some of the 35,000 Ukrainian refugees who have remained in Hungary after 2.5 million fled across the countrys eastern borders early in the Russian invasion. His trip is bringing Francis the closest he has traveled to the conflict in Ukraine. His itinerary includes a stop at a Greek Catholic church that has provided care for refugees. The Greek Catholic Church is one of the eastern rite Catholic churches that recognizes papal authority. The stop is a nod to Kyiv, which has begged for a papal visit of solidarity ever since Russia invaded, and is watching from the side as Francis visits neighboring Hungary for the second time in as many years. Well be just a few hundred kilometers from the border with Ukraine, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told reporters. We can certainly expect words about his pain over this conflict and the search for peace. Francis has been supportive of Ukraines plight following Russias invasion likening it to a 1930s genocide of Ukrainians blamed on Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Orban, meanwhile, has been lukewarm in his support for Hungarys eastern neighbor, refusing to supply Kyiv with weapons and threatening to veto European Union sanctions against Moscow. Still, Orban has cast his view of the war as being in line with the Vaticans, saying during a speech in February that his government and the papacy were the only powers in Europe advocating for peace in Ukraine. Andras Mate-Toth, a theologian and scholar of religions at the University of Szeged in Hungary, said that while the views of the pope and the Hungarian government on refugees had seemed to be diametrically opposed in the past, there was not so much space between them on the war. On the issue of Russias war of occupation in Ukraine, there seems to be no such diametric difference because the pope urges peace and the Hungarian government urges peace, Mate-Toth said. Hungarys ambassador to the Holy See, Eduard Habsburg, acknowledged that the country remained highly dependent on Russian energy 14 months into the war, but said he believes that Orban and Francis are of like minds when it comes to the conflict. Orban and the pope, both very clearly over the last month, several times, have asked for an immediate cease-fire and peace negotiations, Habsburg said. Francis has already expressed his appreciation for the welcome Hungary has shown to Ukrainian refugees. During a 2022 meeting with Orban at the Vatican, Francis gave the prime minister a medallion of St. Martin and said he chose it specifically to honor Hungarys reception of people fleeing the war. Such appreciation wasn't necessarily on display when Francis visited Budapest in 2021 for a seven-hour visit to close out a Eucharistic Congress. Francis didnt stay on to actually visit Hungary, which some observers perceived as a snub meant to reflect his opposition to Orbans tough line on migration. In remarks delivered at his Sunday noon blessing from his studio overlooking St. Peters Square in the Vatican, Francis addressed his upcoming trip to Hungary, touching on both the war and migration as themes that would play an elevated role during his visit. It will be an opportunity to reembrace a church and a people so dear to me. It will also be a journey to the center of Europe, over which icy winds of war continue to blow, while the movements of so many people place urgent humanitarian issues on the agenda, Francis said. Let us not forget our Ukrainian brothers and sisters still afflicted by this war, the pontiff said. Yet despite the fraught backdrop of political friction and armed conflict, Francis will use his trip to make the kinds of visits with the downtrodden for which he is well known. On Saturday, he will meet with patients at the Blessed Laszlo Batthyany-Strattmann Home for the Blind, an education and comprehensive care facility for children with visual and motor disabilities. The director of the institute, Gyorgy Inotay, said the popes itinerary in Hungary is indicative of his commitment to the most vulnerable of society. He has obviously designated a program and path for himself that speaks to him feeling connected to the most desperate, the poorest and those struggling with some kind of illness and injury, and he has demonstrated this countless times over the last decade, Inotay said. ___ Nicole Winfield reported from Rome. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. KRAMATORSK, Ukraine In the action movie "Tourist," military instructors with the Russian mercenary group Wagner deploy to the Central African Republic and find themselves reluctant warriors against rebels and a corrupt ex-politician ahead of a presidential election. Then there's "Granit," another big-budget action flick whose title character, a grizzled but idealistic Russian military trainer, sacrifices himself to protect the southern African country of Mozambique from ISIS-style bandits. And in the more recent "Best in Hell," Wagner fighters duke it out with an unnamed enemy clearly meant to be Ukrainians in an unspecified location that's an obvious stand-in for the Donbas, Ukraine's war-ravaged eastern heartland. The movie starts and ends with the lines: "We have a contract a contract with the company, a contract with the motherland. We know we're going to hell. But in hell we'll be the best." Welcome to the Wagner-verse, a multimedia propaganda project encompassing action movies, documentaries, pro-war social media channels, animated shorts, comics and even children's cartoons all aimed at building the brand of Russia's notorious private army, and promoting the Kremlin's policies while they're at it. The group, a security contractor similar in some ways to the U.S. private military company Blackwater, is making headlines spearheading Moscow's no-holds-barred battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. In Ukraine, its cadres whose ranks include prison recruits stand accused of horrific abuses against their foes, and sometimes against their own fighters. Earlier this month, two videos emerged of presumed Wagner mercenaries beheading the corpses of two Ukrainian soldiers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the perpetrators as "beasts" and vowed an investigation. The Kremlin said it, too, would investigate. That followed footage last year of the apparent summary killing of a former prison inmate-turned-Wagner conscript who was bludgeoned to death with a sledgehammer after deserting and returning to Russia. Indeed, the sledgehammer has become the group's calling card after its members filmed themselves clubbing a Syrian army deserter in 2017, cutting off his hands and head with a shovel, then setting his body alight. But that's not the image you get in the Wagner-verse. Far from brutal mercenaries, the fighters are portrayed as heroes, going beyond the call of duty to help importunate countries fend off chaos agents often linked to the West, which is held in disdain. By contrast, unsurprisingly, Russia is shown to be a reliable friend. One children's cartoon in French, "Lion and Bear," depicts a Russian bear racing across continents to help a lion in the Central African Republic beat back hyenas plundering a village's crops. In another animated short, a Wagner paratrooper comes to the aid of a soldier in Mali another African country where the company has been active and helps him repel hordes of zombies wearing helmets with the French flag; a figure in the French presidential palace pounds his fist in frustration. "The Americans fight for democracy. But we fight for justice," says a Russian trainer in "Tourist." That's of a piece with Russian propaganda, especially in Africa, where Moscow has long played on anti-colonial sentiment against France and other European powers, said Ovigwe Eguegu, a Nigerian policy analyst at the Beijing-based consultancy Development Reimagined, who wrote a report evaluating what he called Russia's "private military diplomacy." "In Mali, there was a lot of anti-French rhetoric before Russian influence. But what Russian strategic communications and outlets were able to do was to fan the flames," he said. "What it did was really position Russia as a natural ally." There is evidence that the messaging, though ham-handed, has played well in many of the places Wagner operates. "Tourist," for example, had a red-carpet premiere in the Central African Republic's capital, Bangui, that was attended by more than 10,000 people; the movie has racked up tens of millions of views on YouTube. ("Granit" and "Best in Hell" are also available on YouTube.) During a coup in Burkina Faso in September, supporters raised Russian flags as they cheered the ouster of a president deemed incapable of quelling an uprising by rebels linked to Islamic militants. One demonstrator told the news network Voice of America: "We're here because we want the defense of Russia," adding that former colonial overlord France had had no success in fighting the insurgents during its multi-year deployment of troops in Burkina Faso. The welcome for Wagner persists despite the allegations of abuses by its fighters in Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic, Mozambique, Mali and Ukraine, including reports of summary executions, kidnapping, torture during interrogations and looting, Eguegu said. Many Africans know that their governments' relationships with Wagner are purely transactional, and have become desensitized to human rights abuses in their strife-torn countries, Eguegu said. "There's awareness of all these issues, but you have to understand: If you have mercenaries killing seven to 10 people, that's Tuesday in the Central African Republic," he said. Wagner's military operations have benefited Moscow diplomatically. Many African nations chose not to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, either because of economic or military ties, historical links with Communist figures or anger with the West for dismissing African concerns. The Wagner multimedia propaganda campaign represents a sea change from the group's earlier behavior, when it maintained a mostly enigmatic (journalists' favorite word was "shadowy") profile as a paramilitary organization whose very existence went unacknowledged. Only last year did Yevgeny Prigozhin, an oligarch and former hot dog vendor close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, publicly identify himself as the chief of Wagner, formally called PMC Wagner, for private military company. Though under sanction by the U.S. and the European Union, Prigozhin is bankrolling films through Aurum Productions, a company he controls, to burnish Wagner's image and sully the West's. Take "Tourist." The main character is an ex-police officer call-sign Tourist who lands in the Central African Republic as one of 300 trainers (presumably Wagner employees) for the national army. The assignment is not meant to include combat, until rebels rush into a village on their motorcycles and terrorize residents as part of a Western-linked coup attempt. The trainers outnumbered, of course join their charges to defeat their enemies. The hero is grievously wounded, and is evacuated by helicopter while a female Central African Republic soldier looks at him with sorrowful but adoring eyes. Cue credits. The Wagner fighters are portrayed as an elite band of commandos who value every member of the team a vision not always reflected by reality. Despite what "Granit" would have you believe, Wagner had to leave Mozambique in defeat a few months into its deployment after the local Islamic State affiliate ambushed and beheaded a number of its men. And far from caring for its cadres, the group has employed human-wave tactics in Ukraine, throwing successive groups of fighters usually prison recruits for the initial assault to breach Ukrainian defensive lines. "We didn't expect in the 21st century to have an adversary using such tactics," said Sensei, a commander in the Ukrainian army's 3rd Mortar Brigade who is now fighting in the areas around Bakhmut. "They're stepping over their comrades' bodies on the way to us." Wagner has had prior experience in Ukraine. Indeed, its mercenaries first appeared in 2014 alongside pro-Russia separatists in Crimea and the Donbas, led by a retired special forces commander with a penchant for Nazi lore named Dmitry Utkin, call sign Wagner. A year later, it appeared in Syria fighting a rebel uprising alongside government troops and defending oil infrastructure. Starting in 2017, it made inroads into Africa, propping up beleaguered dictators while also commandeering extractive projects in gold, diamonds, uranium, manganese and oil. In Libya, it fought with the forces of a rogue general and former CIA asset to defeat the internationally recognized government. At the same time, it moved from being a run-of-the-mill private military company contracted by African governments to being an instrument of the Kremlin but one that can be kept at arm's length, said Lucas Webber, a researcher focused on violent non-state actors and founder of the website Militant Wire. "It was a way to create some distance between the Russians, have plausible deniability and be force multipliers by training troops," he said, describing the group as more of a semi-state organization than a traditional private military contractor. In the last few years, Wagner has become part of a wider network of companies with Prigozhin, its chief, at the center. These include a so-called troll factory for social media manipulation, Prigozhin's original Concord catering firm, Aurum Productions and the Paritet Film studio, and even a car wash. And the Wagner-verse is set to expand. In November, Prigozhin opened a new corporate headquarters in St. Petersburg meant to house IT developers and entrepreneurs and provide them with "a comfortable environment for generating new ideas in order to increase Russia's defense capability," according to a statement he released at the time. Gone is any reticence around the group's existence or its name. At the front of the headquarters is a glass-clad tower; emblazoned at the top are the words "PMC Wagner Center." 2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. More than a half million veteran claims have been filed under the PACT Act, the landmark legislation passed last year that eased requirements for many veterans exposed to burn pits and other battlefield pollutants to apply for disability benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs said Wednesday. The Department of Veterans Affairs has so far processed more than 203,000 of those 500,000 PACT Act claims, resulting in more than $1 billion in compensation, with additional funds expected to be allocated as it works through all of the applications. "We're proud that 500,000-plus veterans and survivors have applied for their hard-earned benefits to date, but we won't rest until every veteran and every survivor gets the VA health care and benefits they deserve," VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in a press release. Read Next: For 1st Time in 2 Years, VA Has a Full-Time Benefits Chief The VA began accepting claims under the PACT Act in August, shortly after President Joe Biden signed it into law, but the department was only allowed to start processing most claims beginning Jan. 1. In addition to expanding health benefits to many veterans, the legislation added a number of illnesses that are now fast-tracked for affected veterans from the Persian Gulf, post-9/11 and Vietnam eras to apply for disability compensation. As a result of the bill, more than 215,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care, up 15% from the same period the previous year, according to the VA. The department also has screened more than 3 million veterans for toxic exposures, with roughly 42% of those saying they believe they encountered at least one toxic exposure during military service. The top illnesses addressed in veterans disability claims under the PACT Act include hypertension, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, asthma and genitourinary tract cancers. The VA said it has approved 80% of hypertension claims, 83% of rhinitis claims, 56% of sinusitis claims, 52% of asthma claims, and 69% of the genitourinary malignancies. To handle the lingering backlog, the VA launched a massive recruitment effort to hire claims processors in late 2021, with a goal to add another 1,900 employees this year at the Veterans Benefits Administration. The VBA has added 2,040 new employees since Oct. 1, according to the department. As of April 22, the VA had 795,594 pending disability claims, with 213,005 considered to be backlogged -- older than 125 days. On the health care side, the Veterans Health Administration hired 27,181 new employees in the first six months of the fiscal year -- the highest hiring level in the history of the VA, according to the department. VA officials said Tuesday the new hires include physicians, nurses, licensed practical nurses, medical support assistants, nursing assistants, food service workers and environmental service workers. "All of these Big Seven occupations have seen net growth this fiscal year," VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal said during a press call with reporters. "In particular, we're seeing progress on medical support assistants, which was an area of severe shortage." According to Elnahal, medical support assistants are largely responsible for administrative work, including scheduling veterans' medical appointments. The VA is encouraging veterans to apply for disability benefits under the PACT Act before Aug. 10. Disability compensation claims filed before that date will be backdated to Aug. 10, 2022, meaning that if the veteran is awarded compensation as a result of his or her claim, they will receive back payments to that date. Claims filed after Aug. 10 will be awarded based on the date of the filing. The VA encourages veterans and survivors to learn more about the PACT Act by visiting its website or calling 1-800-MYVA411. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Related: Free Uber, Lyft Rides for Vets Program Will End in May. The VA Is Pleading with Congress to Extend It. 19:00 | Los Angeles (U.S.), Apr. 25. According to the U.S. Embassy in Peru , the two quipus are made of finely spun and braided camelid fibers in light and dark brown, red, black, cream, and beige. These two quipus are estimated to be from the post-Inca era, between 1750 and 1950, and from the central highlands of Peru. The HSI seized both Peruvian quipus from a private art gallery in March 2021, after an expert authenticated their origin. Moreover, HSI Los Angeles seized several Peruvian sculptures as part of a long-closed investigation. Consul Chavez thanked the HSI for its collaboration in recovering part of Peru's cultural heritage, which is of incalculable value for Peruvians. The restitution of these pieces is the result of the close collaboration between the United States and Peru, within the framework of the agreement for the protection of cultural heritage that was renewed in 2022, which has been in force for more than 25 years. To date, more than 2,000 objects belonging to the Peruvian cultural heritage have been returned thanks to this agreement. "The return in Los Angeles is part of our ongoing efforts to recover and return cultural property to Peru," the diplomatic mission said in a press release. "The ancient and historic monuments, objects, and archaeological sites of the world enrich and inform today's societies, and help connect us to our cultural origins," it added. The Embassy stated that the United States Government is committed to combating the theft and trafficking of cultural heritage, as well as preserving and protecting it wherever it is found, and ensuring they are secure and available to future generations. (END) NDP/RMB/MVB The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) , the principal investigative arm of the United States Department of Homeland Security , has returned two quipus and several sculptures belonging to the Peruvian cultural heritage to the Consul General of Peru in Los Angeles, Jose Luis Chavez Gonzales, during a ceremony held by the South American country's diplomatic mission based in the Californian city.Publicado: 25/4/2023 The Padres are signing veteran shortstop Jose Iglesias to a minor league deal, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com (Twitter link). Iglesias had just opted out of a contract with the Marlins last week. Iglesias spent the 2022 campaign with the Rockies. He played in 118 games and tallied 467 trips to the plate as Colorados primary shortstop, hitting .292/.328/.380 with a meager 12% strikeout rate. Iglesias demonstrated continued excellent contact skills and a similar overall offensive profile as hes shown throughout his career. He typically runs high batting averages without a ton of power or many walks. In a little more than 4000 MLB plate appearances, the Cuba native is a .279/.319/.382 hitter. That offense was more than reasonable while Iglesias was playing a Gold Glove caliber shortstop early in his career. Public metrics have soured on his glove since hes gotten into his 30s. Statcast has pegged him as a league average defender in each of the past two seasons. Defensive Runs Saved, meanwhile, has graded him a staggering 26 runs worse than average at the position since the start of the 2021 campaign. As a result, hes been limited to successive non-roster deals with Miami and now San Diego. Iglesias stuck in the Marlins organization for a couple weeks after failing to crack the roster out of Spring Training. He didnt appear in a Triple-A game before triggering his opt-out though. Hell presumably join the Padres top affiliate in El Paso in the coming days. Despite the dip in his defensive marks, Iglesias brings more than 4000 MLB innings of shortstop experience to the organization. The Friars already have Xander Bogaerts, Ha-Seong Kim and perhaps Fernando Tatis Jr. as options to play shortstop in the majors. Iglesias adds a veteran as injury insurance and could perhaps branch out to other infield spots in El Paso. " " The cobra is one of the deadliest snakes in the world. What other venomous snakes landed on our list? Roberto 33/Shutterstock Warning: If you have ophidiophobia an extreme fear of snakes you may want to avert your eyes; we're about to talk about the deadliest snakes in the world. There are more than 3,000 species of snakes on the planet. These cold-blooded reptiles live nearly everywhere except not surprisingly in the colder climates of Antarctica, Iceland, Ireland and Greenland. And somewhat surprisingly, New Zealand. Advertisement But not all of them are deadly. Only about 15 percent (450) of snakes in the world are venomous snakes, and only about a third of those (150) can kill or seriously injure a human with a single bite. While our list happens to comprise venomous snakes, let's keep in mind "deadly" doesn't have to mean they use potent venom to kill. Several non-venomous snakes are deadly, too, including the garter snake and the python, which kill by swallowing their prey alive or constricting them to death. Here are 10 of the deadliest snakes in the world, in no particular order. HAMILTON, MI - The next owner of this Michigan home will have as much privacy as they want. And even though its situated pretty much in the middle of nowhere, this large estate is a short drive from Saugatuck, South Haven and Holland. Its the MLive Dream Home of the Week where we feature a home or property in the state every Wednesday afternoon. This one is on the market for $2.1 million and is located at 3541 54th St. in Hamilton, just east of Saugatuck, just south of Holland and northwest of Allegan. At least seven guns were fired in the Dadeville Sweet 16 birthday party that left four people dead and 32 injured, leaving 89 shell casings on the floor of the dance studio, a special agent with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency testified Tuesday. Killed in the shooting were Philstavious Phil Dowdell, 18, Shaunkivia Nicole Keke Smith, 17, Marsiah Emmanuel Siah Collins, 19, and Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, 23. Those charged with reckless murder and being held in the Tallapoosa County Jail are: 20-year-old Johnny Letron Brown of Tuskegee; 19-year-old Willie George Brown Jr. of Auburn; 20-year-old Wilson LaMar Hill Jr. of Auburn, and brothers Ty Reik McCullough, 17, and Travis McCullough, 16, of Tuskeegee. A 15-year-old, who has not been publicly identified, is also charged. An Aniahs Law hearing was held this morning and the judge said he would decide within 24 to 48 hours whether the suspects will be held without bail until trial. Johnny Brown, Willie Brown, and Wilson Hill were in the court this morning. Hearings were scheduled this afternoon for the McCullough brothers but the judge said reporters would not be allowed to attend because they are juveniles. Defendants in the Dadeville shooting are brought into court on April 25, 2023. (Carol Robinson) Special Agent Jess Thornton, the lead investigator in the case, testified there were 50 to 60 people inside the hall, which is 38-feet-long and 26-feet-wide. At one point in the evening, a DJs speaker fell over, making a sound similar to a gunshot, Thornton said. When that happened, several of the young people there lifted their shirts to show they had guns. LaTonya Allen, mother of Phil Dowdell and birthday girl Alexis Dowdell, said anyone over 18 or carrying a gun needed to leave. Not long after that, shots rang out leaving multiple shell casings, blood everywhere, Thornton testified. One of the guns was found sitting on the chest of Holstons lifeless body. The gun had been fired, Thornton said. Witnesses also said Holston at one point wore a ski mask. Most of the suspects said he fired first, Thornton said. Another gun was found in Collins waistband, but it had not been fired. Those were the only two guns recovered from the scene. At least four different caliber weapons were fired, Thornton said. Those were a 9 millimeter, 22 caliber, 40 caliber and 45 caliber. Witnesses reported hearing rapid fire and Thornton testified one defendant admitted his gun had been altered to be fully automatic and investigators believe another gun had also been converted to automatic. The six defendants are all relatives or friends, Thornton said. They were not invited but knew of the party and met up there from Auburn and Tuskegee. Of the six, only Willie Brown denied being at the party. Thornton said, however, shell casings from an unrelated incident in Auburn in which he is a suspect matched one used in Dadeville. One the juvenile suspects, it was not clear which, had an ankle monitor from an unrelated shooting in Tuskegee and its GPS tracker showed he was in Dadeville. Jeanette Darden, an aunt to at least four of the suspects including the McCullough brothers, said she believes her nephews are being railroaded. I pray for all (the victims) families. I deeply pray for them and my heart goes out to them. But I also pray for my family. Asked how the suspects are holding up, Darden said, Theyre messed up. It really hurts. Were all hurting. Todays hearing Aniahs Law passed in 2022 in response to a crime that attracted statewide attention. Aniah Blanchard, a 19-year-old college student from Homewood, was abducted from a convenience store in Auburn in October 2019. A month later, authorities found Blanchards body in rural Macon County. The man charged in Blanchards kidnapping and murder, Ibraheem Yazeed, had been released from jail on a $280,000 bond after being charged with kidnapping, robbery and attempted murder from a January 2019 incident in Montgomery. Charging documents against Hill state that he, Travis McCullough and Tyreese McCullough, who also goes by Ty Reik McCullough, were present and discharged firearms into the crowd, causing the deaths of the four victims. The new expanded the list of crimes for which a defendant could be held without bail. The documents also stated Johnny Brown and Willie Brown were together that night and fired shots at the Mahoganys Masterpiece dance studio, one block from the courthouse. Under Alabama law, the crime of reckless murder is committed when a person recklessly engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death to a person other than himself or herself and causes the death of another person. This is a developing story and will be updated. DELTA TOWNSHIP, MI -- An employee at the Alliance Interiors plant died Monday night as a result of injuries suffered during a workplace accident. According to WILX-10, troopers with the Eaton County Sheriffs Office were dispatched to the property located on West Mount Hope Highway around 11:15 p.m. Details have not been released by the ECSO, but it was confirmed that worker died and an investigation is underway. The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration has also launched an investigation into the accident. According to the MIOSHA website, eight workers have been killed on the jobsite in 2023. Along with this accident, another fatal accident was reported in Negaunee Monday. READ MORE: 2 dead, 1 critically injured in Portage crash 2 women banned from Michigan steal $1.6K worth of candles from Bath & Body Works Oh, deer! Road agencies, DNR spar over carcass dumping DETROIT A Michigan man died after he was ejected from his vehicle during a high-speed crash on I-94 in Detroit, officials said. The single-vehicle crash happened around 8:25 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, on westbound I-94 at Trenton Avenue near the Addison Avenue/Ford Road exit in Detroit, Michigan State Police said in a news release. MSP troopers with the Metro Detroit Post were dispatched to the scene and made contact with medical units, police said. A preliminary investigation revealed that a 47-year-old man from Dearborn lost control of his silver sedan, which then rolled, causing him to be ejected, police said. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle. Medics attempted lifesaving measures at the scene, police said. The man died at a local hospital. Excessive speed appears to be a factor in the crash, police said. Another family is mourning the death of a family member due to a preventable crash. said MSP First Lt. Mike Shaw, public information officer, said in a statement. I cant stress enough the importance of wearing a seatbelt and making good decisions while driving. READ MORE: Michigan man stabbed woman over 75 times, set her house on fire 2 women banned from Michigan steal $1.6K worth of candles from Bath & Body Works ANN ARBOR, MI - With city officials warning an extra busy construction season is likely to bring major inconvenience, two new Ann Arbor construction projects will herald the arrival of May. The first and most impactful will be a full closure of Geddes Avenue between Observatory and Hill streets, to the east of the University of Michigans central campus. Between Monday, May 1 and Friday, June 9, city contractors will shutter the street for full-depth pavement removal and replacement, utility work and sidewalk improvements, according to city officials. Construction is slated to take place between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, though Geddes will remain closed to through traffic for the projects duration. The project will proceed in phases, with the first estimated to conclude on June 9, when Geddes will reopen to westbound traffic only. During the construction, access will only be granted to local traffic and emergency vehicles, as well as for waste collection and deliveries. City officials ask residents who can access their homes without driving through the work zone to do so. Eastbound traffic will be detoured south on Observatory Street, southeast on Washtenaw Avenue and east on Hill Street back to Geddes. Westbound traffic will follow the same route in reverse. Elm, Walnut and Linden streets will be open to two-way traffic during the first construction phase, and on-street parking wont be affected, according to the city. Pedestrians will still be able to use the Geddes sidewalks, with detours posted as necessary during sidewalk replacement work. A separate project also beginning May 1 will affect the Lower Town area across the Huron River north of downtown. There, a contractor will be occupying the dead-end section of Broadway Street southwest of the roundabout next to the Beekman on Broadway development. Workers will be completing utility installations and reconstructing the dead end, with construction scheduled 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the work week as weather permits. The closure will remain in place 24 hours a day, with the project scheduled to wrap up by June 9. Access will be maintained for businesses, with minor disruptions to driveway access as drive approaches are reconstructed, officials say. More from The Ann Arbor News: Cheaper than food: A triple at Krazy Jims Blimpy Burger is a belt-busting good lunch University of Michigan faculty withholding grades to support striking grad workers First group of National Merit Scholars includes 3 Washtenaw County students Ann Arbor administrator proposes $75K to continue work on Treeline trail ANN ARBOR, MI --Two Ann Arbor police officers were injured last week while breaking up a house party where couches were being burned in the street. Police were called to the area of Greenwood Avenue near Packard Street around 11 p.m. on Friday, April 21 for a block party when they saw a couch engulfed in flames in the street, according to an AAPD release. While the officers were waiting for crews from the Ann Arbor Fire Department to arrive, someone threw a glass bottle, striking the patrol vehicle. Flying glass cut an officer on his neck and ear. At 11:30 p.m., an officer saw a man throw a second glass bottle, which also struck the vehicle. The suspect fled on foot and was last seen on the 800 block of Packard Street. A second officer was injured during a foot chase. The Ann Arbor Fire Department expressed frustration with the group on its social media page. To the crowd on Greenwood Avenue on April 21, you were an enormous disappointment and embarrassment, someone with the department wrote. Arson, assault and unruly behavior is simply not acceptable. The Ann Arbor Police Department on Wednesday released a picture of a suspect on its social media sites. Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Ann Arbor police at 734-294-6920 or email the tip line at tips@a2gov.org. Read more from The Ann Arbor News: Ann Arbor replaces No Mow May with Pollinator-Aware Yard Care Petition campaign could threaten chosen location of new Dexter fire station U.P. man dies in auto parts store workplace accident ANN ARBOR, MI - Three Washtenaw County students are among 17 Michigan students selected in the first group of winners in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. The first group of scholars was announced Wednesday, April 26, for scholarships financed by 107 corporations, company foundations and other business organizations. Corporate sponsors provide National Merit Scholarships for merit scholarship finalists who are children of their employees, who are residents of communities the company serves or who plan to pursue college majors or careers the sponsor wishes to encourage. Most awards are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study and provide annual stipends that range from $1,000 to $10,000 per year. Some provide a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000. Recipients can use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university of their choice. Scholars are selected from students who advanced to the finalist level in the National Merit Scholarship competition and met criteria of their scholarship sponsors. Each semifinalist was asked to complete a detailed scholarship application, which included writing an essay and providing information about extracurricular activities, awards and leadership positions. Semifinalists also had to have an outstanding academic record, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirmed their qualifying test performance. The next round of National Merit Scholar $2500 Scholarships will be announced on May 10, while winners of college-sponsored scholarships are announced on June 7 and July 10. By the conclusion of the 2023 competition, more than 7,140 finalists will have been selected to receive National Merit Scholarships, totaling nearly $28 million. Sixty Washtenaw County high school students were among the approximately 16,000 semifinalists for the 2023 National Merit Scholarship. These Washtenaw County students were selected to receive corporate-sponsored merit scholarships: Ann Arbor Pioneer High School Elliott E. Besirli Sakthi Vijay Huron High School Kaan K. Lacin READ MORE: These Washtenaw County students are National Merit Scholarship semifinalists Washtenaw County educator awarded for being a pioneer in bringing middle colleges to Michigan 2 Washtenaw County high school seniors surprised with $50K scholarships Multiple Michigan universities have the nations best nursing masters schools, according to the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings. The methodology for the nursing masters rankings, which were released Tuesday, April 25, can be found here. The scores are weighted primarily by faculty resources, research activity, assessments by peers and health directors, program size and student selectivity. Read more: These Michigan universities have the best business schools, U.S. News ranking says Read more: These 3 Michigan engineering schools rank in the top-100 nationally, U.S. News says The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor was the top program in the state and only representative in the top-10 nationally, ranking No. 8 overall. Emory University in Atlanta ranked first in the country. UM announced in January its medical school would no longer provide data to participate in the U.S. News & World Report rankings. The School of Nursing is separate from the Medical School. Read more: University of Michigan Medical School pulls out of U.S. News rankings Wayne State University in Detroit was Michigans next best nursing masters program, ranking No. 34 overall. Michigan State University and Oakland University were the other Michigan universities in the top-100, slotting in at No. 73 and No. 78 overall, respectively. University of Detroit Mercy featured just outside the top-100 nationally at No. 103. Madonna University in Livonia ranked No. 123. Saginaw Valley State University was the only other Michigan university to be nationally ranked, featuring in the No. 167-184 range. U.S News also ranked the nations best doctorate nurse practitioner programs. UM-Ann Arbor ranked No. 6 nationally, followed by MSU and Wayne State tied at No. 49. Grand Valley State University in Allendale ranked No. 95 in the nursing doctorate rankings, followed by Oakland University at No. 111 and Detroit Mercy at No. 114. Madonna University ranked No. 140. Read more from MLive: 2 Michigan universities have the best bang for your buck, says Princeton Review These Michigan universities rank best in the world, per Times Higher Education These Michigan schools have the best graduate programs, U.S. News rankings say FLINT, MI Flint Community Schools is now without an assistant superintendent along with two other high-ranking administrative positions after a recent wave of resignations. Assistant Superintendent Keiona Murphy has submitted a letter of resignation effective May 5. This is the third administrator to resign during the month of April. Superintendent Kevelin Jones announced the resignation on Tuesday, April 25. I thank Keiona for her contributions to the district over the past 20 years, and we are working closely to ensure a smooth transition, Jones wrote. The Michigan Department of Education and the Genesee Intermediate School District have graciously offered their support in the interim. Chief Financial Officer Latisha Wolf was the first to submit a letter of resignation that went into effect on April 7. Sharita Galloway, executive director of Human Resources, resigned two weeks later. Murphy was appointed as assistant superintendent on Feb. 9, 2022. She had served the district for more than 20 years in total, according to Jones statement. Read more at The Flint Journal: Flint schools loses HR director two weeks after CFO resigned Staples at Courtland Center to close in June, store manager confirms Flint high school closes for second day while police investigate threat that caused lockdown Poetry writing about Flint murals allows for creative freedom in this high school classroom Flushing teacher selected as finalist for presidential teaching award GRAND RAPIDS, MI Corewell Health West, formerly known as Spectrum Health, name Dr. Alejandro Quiroga as its new president. Effective May 1, Quiroga will oversee strategy, operations, clinical oversight and financial performance for Corewell Healths West Michigan healthcare system, which includes 11 hospitals, 120 outpatient locations, and a medical group with over 2,000 healthcare providers. He will also serve as a member of the system leadership team at Corewell Health. Quiroga succeeds Dr. Darryl Elmouchi, who was appointed as chief operating officer of Corewell Health, the health system announced in a news release Wednesday, April 26. (Dr. Quiroga) has been bold and instrumental in helping us reimagine what is possible in health care, Elmouchi said in a statement. His demonstrated history of innovation and solving complex problems will help us better serve our patients in West Michigan and beyond. Quiroga previously served as chief medical officer of ambulatory care for Corewell Health in West Michigan. Before that, he was vice president of medical affairs and senior vice president of population health for Spectrum Health Medical Group. Spectrum Health and Beaumont Health in southeast Michigan merged to form Corewell Health in 2022. In his previous roles, Quiroga led cross-functional teams in building Corewells population health infrastructure with a value-based care approach, and redesigning its behavioral health, primary care and care management service delivery models. These efforts increased access to care, improved patient outcomes and reduced the overall total cost of care, the health system said. I am as passionate about helping our teams perform at their best as I am focused on reducing the burden of disease for the people we serve, Quiroga said. In this new role, I look forward to helping Corewell Health achieve its mission of improving health, instilling humanity and inspiring hope. Born in Medellin, Colombia, Quiroga earned his medical degree from Universidad del Rosario Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Senora del Rosario. He completed his residency at Nicklaus Childrens Hospital in Miami, and his fellowship in pediatric nephrology at Montefiore Childrens Hospital in New York. He earned his executive Master of Business Administration at Grand Valley State University. Quiroga first arrived at Spectrum Health in 2011 as a pediatric nephrologist, and quickly ascended to physician leader. He later held several leadership positions at Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital including division chief of pediatric specialties and associate program director for the pediatric residency program. More on MLive: Michigan police K-9 team busts delivery driver, then completes pizza order A 911 call, silver van, murder: Key moments in young mother Jessica Heeringas disappearance Charming Michigan city named one of the 16 Best Small Beach Towns in entire US YEREVAN, APRIL 26, ARMENPRESS. The High Representative of the EU's foreign affairs and security policy, Josep Borrell, emphasized that the installation of the Azerbaijani checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor contradicts the EU's calls for de-escalation of tensions. "Azerbaijan's unilateral installation of a checkpoint along the Lachin Corridor contradicts the calls of the EU to ease tensions and resolve issues through dialogue. The European Union continues to participate in the promotion of peace and stability in the South Caucasus. The rights and security of Karabakh Armenians must be ensured," ARMENPRESS reports, Borrell wrote on his Twitter microblog. KENT COUNTY, MI If your child is turning 4 years old this year, you may be eligible to enroll in a free, high-quality preschool program with locations throughout Kent County. The Kent Intermediate School District (ISD) is hosting open houses from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 28, where families can learn more about local Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) preschools available across Kent County and in parts of Barry County. The open houses will be held at GSRP locations in Byron Center, Caledonia, Cedar Springs, Comstock Park, Forest Hills, Grand Rapids, Grandville, Kent City, Kentwood, Lowell, Middleville, Rockford, Sparta, Walker and Wyoming. To find the exact location of each program, click here. GSRP is Michigans state-funded preschool program for 4-year-olds with factors which may place them at risk of educational failure, according to the state. Funding for the program is allocated by the state to ISDs and administered to local programs. The Kent ISD administers GSRP programs across Kent County and parts of Barry County. Ron Koehler, superintendent of the Kent ISD, called GSRP a life-changing option for families in the region. Preschool prepares children for success in kindergarten, Koehler said in a statement. It promotes language and thinking skills, helps children learn to make friends and spurs emotional development. And since there is no charge for qualifying 4-year-olds for GSRP preschool, I hope all families will enroll in one of the options available to them and offer these advantages to their children. Research shows that children who take part in high-quality preschool are likely to be more successful in kindergarten, learn to read and do math at recommended grade levels, and graduate from high school on time, according to a news release from the Kent ISD. The Kent ISDs GRSP program is accepting currently enrollment from children who turn 4 by Dec. 1, 2023. We are ready to welcome more young children into our educational programs that help prepare them for success, said Ashley Karsten, director of Early Childhood for Kent ISD. We now have openings and many families qualify to have their 4-year-olds participate free of charge. More on MLive: More money for public cleaning, WiFi hotspots in parks part of Grand Rapids $643M spending plan Michigan school district sued for making boys remove Lets go Brandon sweatshirts High schooler who wants to work for NASA wins award named for astronaut GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Tanger Outlets recently announced the hiring of a new general manager. Officials announced this month that they named Jesse Imhoff as the new general manager of Tanger Outlets Grand Rapids, 350 84th St. SW. As part of his new role, Imhoff will lead a team that will aim to increase foot traffic at the popular shopping destination located south of Grand Rapids along U.S. 131. Imhoff, operations manager for Northgate Resorts, initially joined Tanger Outlets from 2015 to 2022 as the operations director. As a dynamic leader with a passion for all things customer-related, Jesses enthusiastic attitude combined with his innovative vision for change makes him the perfect asset for both our local management team and the broader Tanger Outlets brand as a whole, said Jodi Hoag, regional vice president at Tanger Outlets. Related: Whats being built near Tanger Outlets? The property covers about 100 acres. Imhoff returns to Tanger Outlets Grand Rapids with more than 20 years of experience working with prominent companies like Fossil, The Childrens Place, J.Crew, and others. In his most recent venture, he served as operations manager for Northgate Resorts, the release said. In his new role, Imhoff will lead a team responsible for driving revenue, increasing traffic, creating an unmatched customer experience and enhancing Tanger Outlets brand through community partnerships and events, according to the release. The 2006 Central Michigan graduate said he looks forward to contributing to Tangers success in a new capacity. We are thrilled to have Jesse on our team, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience that will help us continue elevating Tanger Outlets Grand Rapids as the preferred regional shopping destination, Hoag added. Tanger Outlets Grand Rapids is a 357,000-square-foot open-air outlet shopping destination, featuring a collection of more than 70 leading retailers, including brands like American Eagle, Bath & Body Works, Columbia, Gap, Levis and more. Read more from MLive: Housing grant to help working, middle class Holland families buy homes in new development March planned to honor missing Indigenous people in downtown Grand Rapids STEAM Along the Lakeshore returns to downtown Muskegon offering fun adventures JACKSON COUNTY, MI Rives Townships clerk will stick around a little bit longer than her resignation letter implies. Clerk Judith McCord, who resigned, leaving the township in tough spot ahead of the May 2 election, has agreed to stay on as clerk for that election. After much debate, heated discussion and several public outbursts, McCord agreed during a Tuesday, April 25 special township Board of Trustees meeting to modify the conditions of her resignation. She agreed to stay on as township clerk until after the May election results are certified by Jackson County, which is expected by be done by May 15. McCords original plan was to leave on April 30 so she could focus on caring for her ailing son. Once McCord does leave office, the township will have 45 days to appoint a temporary clerk to fill the role until the November 2024 election. If it is not filled, a representative from the county will take over and organize a special election. The township has been in turmoil since the April 4 resignation of McCord and the news that an investigation was to be conducted on Treasurer Janina Teske, who has been accused of supplementing her income with taxpayer funds. No timeline has been set for that investigation. Related: Pending investigation, resignations leave Jackson County township in turmoil Rives Township Attorney Vic Lillich said an audit of township funds is still ongoing. The township board previously tried to appoint a someone to fill the clerks seat until the end of McCords term but failed as it could not reach a unanimous decision on one of the four applicants for the job. Related: Still no clerk in Jackson County township as board is divided on who to appoint Applying for the job were former township clerk Stacy Stoner, current deputy clerk Janet Hayward, pervious clerk contender in the 2020 election Vercilla Hart and township resident Kathleen Brooks. All presented their resumes and were interviewed by the board at the public meeting. The townships failure to appoint caught the attention of State Rep. Sarah Lightner, R-Springport, who wrote a letter to the board encouraging it to work together. The situation (in Rives Township) is unheard of, Lightner wrote. To choose to continue to draw a line in the sand is malfeasance. You must put personal feelings aside and choose a person with the most recent experience in the role of the clerk. You are failing the people who elected you. Hayward, who worked alongside McCord as deputy clerk and is election certified, was the most qualified person to be appointed clerk, Lillich said. Shes the deputy clerk and she has been working under Judy for quite some time, Lillich said. Shes ready to step in and she is qualified. Again, this a temporary appointment. Hayward claims she was fired by McCord days after her public interview, claiming McCord did not like her responses to board member questions and accused Hayward of plotting against her. The clerk told me she didnt approve of nor did she like the answers I gave during my interview. I was told to pack my office and leave, Hayward said. McCord denied firing Hayward, saying there was a misunderstanding in the office before declining to comment further. Hayward has not worked as the townships deputy clerk since last week. More from The Jackson Citizen Patriot: Man pleads guilty to setting duplex on fire in Jackson Trial begins for man charged in fatal Jackson shooting Livingston County leaders take aim at red flag gun laws, vote to become constitutional county For years, Lesa Brenner has been advocating for educators to address her daughters mental health needs. This year, she used Schools of Choice to switch her eighth grader to Portage Public Schools. We felt there was just, across the board, a major lack of trauma-informed care (in the previous district). We were dealing with constant triggers and feeling unsafe. She went through a couple of middle school settings, to the point where she just was not set up to be successful, Brenner said. Her child has been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder conditions that impact her daughters impulse control and cause a lot of mental and emotional fatigue, Brenner, of Kalamazoo, said. RELATED: Shot twice in 2 years, Kalamazoo teen navigates healing the mental wounds The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains a person may be diagnosed with PTSD when they develop long-term symptoms (longer than one month) from trauma, which are upsetting or interfere with their relationships and activities. The CDC describes ADHD as one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, usually first diagnosed in childhood, often lasting into adulthood. A person with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, may act without thinking about what the result will be (impulsivity) or be overly active. With Brenners daughter at Portage Public Schools, Brenner received calls on day one from staff who would be working directly with her daughter to implement the childs Individualized Education Program (IEP) and help her feel safe and welcome at school. Brenners daughter has been able to get regular support from her school counselor, a licensed professional counselor, when shes overwhelmed throughout the day. She has other accommodations included in her IEP that help her have better days at school. And most importantly, her mother said, the staff have connected to her and recognized her needs. There are so many different social things happening, and kids are so confused right now, said Brenner, who is also a licensed master social worker and therapist. Theres a lot of uncertainty and weird things going on and it just makes our kids feel really sad and anxious. Whats different at Portage Public Schools? Theres no typical-looking day when it comes to supporting the mental health needs of Portage Public Schools nearly 8,800 students. And in Marianne Joynts new role as mental health initiatives coordinator for the district, shes able to go wherever support is needed for staff and students and put together plans to meet their needs as best she can. Joynts position is one of many similar roles being added to school systems locally and across the nation as needs for mental health support in the schools have grown. Over the past several years, all the school districts in the county have seen an increase in anxiety and depression for students. When we look at students who were functioning well in the past, those are students who are now needing extra support, Joynt said. According to the report Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Michigan Youth with School-Based Health Services released in 2021 by Citizens Research Council of Michigan, nearly 20% of Michigan youth have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and/or ADHD. Nearly two in five Michigan youth have reported feeling sad or hopeless every day for a two-week period in a way that impacted their usual activities. The proportion of youth in Michigan experiencing a major depressive episode has increased by 83% since 2007, the report said. Joynt previously worked with Integrated Services of Kalamazoo in close collaboration with Portage Public Schools to help youth access services. Now, shes able to work within the district to create systems change, increase awareness and manage barriers hands-on with proactive strategies. Solutions to overcome crippling mental health barriers Joynt said anxiety and depression can be crippling for some students. It can make it hard to sleep at night, to get out of bed in the morning, and to take care of hygiene. We are seeing an epidemic of children not going to school due to very high levels of anxiety, the transition between home and school is often the hardest time for them, she said. Students with depression may withdraw from social activities, isolate themselves from peers and experience falling grades. Anxiety can cause work avoidance, falling grades, difficulty testing and irritability with peers and teachers. At times, the environment in schools can be overwhelming (lights too bright, hallways too noisy) when dealing with anxiety or depression. Depending on the weight that students carry into the school each morning, their day can be affected from beginning to end, Joynt said. It is crucial that school staff get to know their students and are able to identify when they may need extra support. Research supports having schools actively engaged in supporting youth mental health needs. While there are many valuable strategies to target the major barriers to youth behavioral health treatment, one approach has been proven to check all the boxes: expansion of school-based health professionals, services and centers, according to the Citizens Research Council of Michigan report. Heightened awareness of increasing youth mental health struggles sets the tone for how the 14-school district uses Joynts services. The increase in funding from state and federal resources also made it more feasible to offer a dedicated mental health role. Thats what my task is, to really bring a mental health lens and focus and coordinate those different pieces, Joynt said. We have lots of people working in the district, but everyones focus is different with just a tiny thread of mental health. I get to just focus on mental health. Funds bolster support systems in schools About $30 million was added to State School Aid Act Funding in 2018-2019, and soon after, Michigan became one of the first states to amend the Medicaid State Plan to expand coverage to include reimbursement for all Medicaid-eligible students receiving behavioral health and support services, not just students with an Individualized Education Program or Individualized Family Service Plan. This came after Michigan lawmakers were having conversations about how to harden schools to keep out would-be shooters bolstering secure entrances, reinforcing windows, upgrading security tactics and more, according to Scott Hutchins, School Mental Health and Medicaid Consultant with the Michigan Department of Education. He said lawmakers began to examine how they might also support students and staff and their mental health needs in a more preventive, internal way. Each pot of state funding has its own set of rules, which allows districts to get creative in meeting their needs. Some may purchase social-emotional learning (SEL) training for staff and materials for students; others may hire therapists to be on site. Hutchins provides technical assistance to schools to help work through their needs assessments to help them access and utilize available resources. RELATED: Assessing trauma in kids: WMU center has trained 150K, becoming model for change A lot of our schools now have the ability to get that student connected to services right there in that school, so you dont have to worry about transportation, you dont have to worry about finding time after school. Now they can literally walk down to an office within the school day and see a therapist and get service within their school, Hutchins said. To me, it really has made a huge difference. A document, formally known as 31n School-Based Mental Health Services 2021-2022 Legislative Report, offers a comprehensive overview of whats happening in public schools across the state with mental health initiatives. The overall intent of this funding is to increase the provision of mental health and support services in schools for general education students throughout Michigan. More than 62,000 students received mental health screenings or assessments in 2021-2022 compared to 12,030 in 2019-2020. More than 22,200 students received direct services from a School-Based Mental Health Services provider in 2021-2022 compared to 8,885 in 2019-2020. Youve got to teach kids math. Youve got to teach them how to read. Youve got to teach them how to play with each other, get along with each other, right? said Hutchins, who spent 20 years as a teacher and principal before taking his role with the state. But they cant do all those things, they cant learn if theyre not feeling connected, if theyre not feeling whole, if theyre dealing with depression or anxiety and theyve got a 12-month waiting list to go see somebody. In the 2019-2020 school year, 291 local school districts were served by School-Based Mental Health Services funds. In the 2021-2022 school year, that increased to 436 districts. The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) licensed behavioral health providers hired directly by an intermediate school district or local school district with such funds went from 89.78 in 2019-2020 to 257.74 in 2021-2022. The number of licensed therapists available to provide direct services to students through partnerships with community mental health and private practice also increased. Seeing the way the different districts react to the mental health crisis that were in goes to show how successful the entire student bodys going to be, Brenner said. Districts like Portage Public Schools can blend funds from different pots, including at-risk funding and 31n funding, to create and sustain a role like Marianne Joynts. She has a masters degree in counseling psychology from Western Michigan University and has focused on working with families and children for the past 20 years, including with Integrated Services of Kalamazoo, the local community mental health agency. School-based mental health is a vital part of student support systems. Early identification, referrals for treatment and general support can be life changing, Joynt said. Mentally healthy students are more likely to go to school ready to learn, use appropriate problem-solving techniques, engage in school activities, have positive relationships with staff and peers and behave in a non-aggressive manner. It is important to support staff needs as well with education and helping to build a continuum of interventions needed to make a significant impact on safety, health, learning and general well-being. Some rules have had to be relaxed around licensing requirements, and it has been difficult to attract job applicants for social workers and counselors to some parts of the state, leaving positions like these open for months at a time. Sometimes, organizations like community mental health will lose their therapists because they get hired by the school system and enjoy more regular hours and scheduled school breaks. The state has a 31n advisory council working to address these limitations, working to create pipelines for staff shortages and assessing what titles and certifications will best meet the needs of schools, among other recommendations. An unintended consequence is weve stolen from Peter to pay Paul, Hutchins said. Michigan has been at the forefront of thinking about those critical things. Were working with our partners and coming up with solutions to grow workforce development. Community and belonging enhance youth mental health, resilience In her role, Joynt is focused on promoting well-being, resilience and education for students and staff; empowering families to seek services and supports; and collaborating with the community. In Portage, we are working to identify students and families who need extra support. We are working on preventative measures for threat assessment so that students who are exhibiting risky behaviors can receive the support they need to make better choices, be safe and be successful, Joynt said. We work hard to help all students feel a sense of belonging and community. Joynt has spent time building personal connections with teachers and staff and asking directly what they need and what the students need. She said her job is to clear the way as best I can for families to access services. Sometimes its hard to get good results when families dont agree with a plan or wont follow through for some reason or another, or when theres a shortage of providers available. An estimated 9.4% of American youth have been diagnosed with ADHD and more than half of these children have at least one other mental, emotional or behavioral disorder, according to the Citizens Research Council of Michigan. We are working with students to provide mental health treatment and social support to prevent students from entering the juvenile justice system, Joynt said. We are working with students and community resources to generate content for staff professional development. I am working with parents and the PTOs to help educate them about understanding the mental health of their children and how it impacts their education. Shes building and maintaining relationships with community stakeholders that include primary care physicians, community therapists and ISK, churches, police and juvenile justice, housing resources, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and business partners. Over the years I have seen many successes. From individual students blossoming with therapy and support plans to whole system movement identifying the need for mental health support, Joynt said. Students, families, school staff and community providers are working together as teams to support our youth. That is an amazing win in my book. For children like Lesa Brenners daughter, the wins at school translate to more wins at home and in the community. Now Brenner regularly receives positive feedback that she has been able to, in turn, use to encourage her daughter. She was refusing to go to school for a while and it was just a really, really tough time for her, Brenner said. Shes still got her challenges, for sure, but, we see her smile, we see her laugh. This article is part of A Way Through: Strategies for Youth Mental Health, a solutions-focused reporting series of Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative. The collaborative, a group of 12 regional organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism and reporting on successful responses to social problems, launched its Mental Wellness Project in 2022 to cover mental health issues in southwest Michigan. More from the collaborative: Assessing trauma in kids: WMU center has trained 150K, becoming model for change Shot twice in 2 years, Kalamazoo teen navigates healing the mental wounds NORTON SHORES, MI -- Ten years ago, on April 26, 2013, a gas station attendant disappeared during her shift and has yet to be found. Jessica Heeringa, a 25-year-old mother of a 3-year-old, went missing around 11 p.m. from the then-Exxon gas station in Norton Shores where she was working the night shift alone. There were no security cameras on site, which has left investigators with missing puzzle pieces. In the video above, the MLive team created a video timeline of the case. MLive/Muskegon Chronicle gathered information about the investigation from the 352-page Norton Shores police report of the Heeringa investigation, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, and its ongoing reporting of the case. RELATED: Where is Jessica Heeringa? Shes still missing 10 years later despite serial killers conviction Police know that the last transaction Jessica Heeringa rang up on the night of April 26, 2013, was at 10:52 p.m. It was for a lighter, purchased by a female customer who was a regular. 76 The disappearance of Jessica Heeringa and the trial of Jeffrey Willis Another Exxon employee was riding her motorcycle past the station when she saw a van drive behind the station and turn off its lights. When they turned around to check it out, they saw a man outside it rearranging something in its rear hatch. They watched the van turn north onto Old Grand Haven Road and the couple turned south to head home. The investigation kicked into gear shortly after 11 p.m., when Craig Harpster made a 911 call to Muskegon County dispatch, I dont know if its an emergency. I just got out of work. Im at the Exxon gas station on Sternberg Road, Sternberg and Old Grand Haven, and theres nobody here, Harpster said. A photograph of the inside the former Exonn gas station the evening of Jessica Heeringa's disappearance during the third day of testimony in the Jeffrey Willis murder trial on Thursday, May 10, 2018 in the 14th Judicial Circuit Court in Muskegon, Michigan. Willis is facing trial for the kidnapping and murder of Heeringa, who disappeared from her late-night job at a Norton Shores gas station in April 2013. Her body has never been recovered. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com When police arrived, the cash drawer from a register that was full of money was on top of a safe in the back room. Heeringas purse was found undisturbed with $420 in cash inside. RELATED: Jessica Heeringas disappearance a tragic mystery 10 years later Surveillance cameras captured images of the van, identified as a silver Chrysler Town and Country, traveling north on Grand Haven Road. A week into the investigation, as tips were pouring into the hotline, authorities spoke to several individuals including a man named Jeffrey Willis, even searching his silver minivan. A Michigan State Police Canine Unit prepares to start a search at Hoffmaster State Park on Thursday, May 2, 2013. Norton Shores and Michigan State Police conducted the search in relation to Jessica Heeringa's alleged abduction, but only as a precautionary measure. (MLive File Photo)Jon Garcia | MLive.com Over the course of the next three years thousands of tips were received and several searches were conducted looking for Heeringa. Muskegon County Sheriff signs along W River Road near Green Creek Road. The scrolling sign said "Wanted silver mini-van...Happened April 16th 9:15-9:30...If seen call 911". These signs have been put up after a 16-year-old female reported an attempted kidnapping on Saturday April 16, 2016, in North Muskegon, Mich. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)MLive.com Muskegon Chronicle In April of 2016, a teenager, Madison Nygard, was lost in rural Muskegon and got into a silver minivan to use a mans phone. He then drove off with her and she jumped from the van, running to a nearby home for help. Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson questions teenage abduction victim "MJN" about the image of Willis she picked out of a lineup as she testifies during the Jeffrey Thomas Willis preliminary hearing in the Jessica Heeringa case at the Muskegon County Courthouse on Dec. 6, 2016 in Muskegon, Mich. Willis is charged with the alleged murder and kidnapping in the 2013 homicide of Jessica Heeringa, the alleged murder of Rebekah Bletsch in 2014 and the alleged kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl in the April of 2016. (MLive file photo)MLive.com Muskegon Chronicle On May 17, 2016 after Nygard picked Willis out of a photo lineup, Willis van was pulled over, he was taken into custody and several police agencies searched the van, his residence and a residence belonging to Willis late grandfather. A photograph showing the basement of Jeffrey Willis' grandfather's home on Bailey Street in Norton Shores is shown to the jury during his murder trial on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, at the Muskegon County Courthouse in Muskegon, Mich. Willis is charged with open murder for allegedly shooting and killing Rebekah Bletsch who was jogging along a road in rural Muskegon County in June of 2014. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com In Willis grandfathers house, where his phone pinged in the late evening of April 26 and the early morning hours of April 27, investigators found several bleach bottles manufactured in 2013 as well as a checklist of items, many of which were found in Willis van. A photograph of a external hard drive hidden inside a air return in the home of Jeffrey Willis is shown to the jury during his murder trial on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, at the Muskegon County Courthouse in Muskegon, Mich. Willis is charged with open murder for allegedly shooting and killing Rebekah Bletsch who was jogging along a road in rural Muskegon County in June of 2014. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com At Willis home in Muskegon Township, investigators found hard drives filled with hundreds of videos with a common theme, kidnapping women, restraint, rape and murder. RELATED: Jessica Heeringa detective still lives with the void and criticism 10 years later A vics folder was found that contained images and news articles about Heeringa and Rebekah Bletsch. It was revealed that several of Willis passwords were J-4-L-27-H-13, possibly a reference to Jessica Heeringa and the day after her disappearance. Michigan State Police Sgt. Thomas Flowers looks at the tool box found in Jeffrey Willis' van during Willis' murder trial on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 in the 14th Judicial Circuit Court in Muskegon, Michigan. Willis is facing trial for the kidnapping and murder of Jessica Heeringa, who disappeared from her late-night job at a Norton Shores gas station in April 2013. Her body has never been recovered. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) Joel Bissell | MLive.comJoel Bissell | MLive.com Michigan State Police Forensic Scientist David Hayhurst testifies about presence of DNA evidence on a pair of shackles found inside Jeffrey Willis' toolbox during the third day of testimony in the Willis murder trial on Thursday, May 10, 2018 in the 14th Judicial Circuit Court in Muskegon, Michigan. Willis is facing trial for the kidnapping and murder of Jessica Heeringa, who disappeared from her late-night job at a Norton Shores gas station in April 2013. Her body has never been recovered. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com Inside the van was the most chilling discovery: a locked toolbox and small black box that contained restraints, ropes, chains, ball gag, .22 caliber rounds, syringes, blue pills and an image of the female anatomy with several injection points. Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson during his closing statements to the jury on the eighth day of the Jeffrey Willis murder trial on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017, at the Muskegon County Courthouse in Muskegon, Mich. Willis is charged with open murder for allegedly shooting and killing Rebekah Bletsch who was jogging along a road in rural Muskegon County in June of 2014. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com Also inside the van was a Walther p22 with the serial number shaved off, a gun that Willis had stolen from a co-worker. A laser cover recovered from the scene where Heeringa disappeared was the same type of laser that was on the gun before it was stolen. The evidence tied Willis not only to Nygard, but to Heeringa and an unsolved murder. Kevin Lavern Bluhm, 47, of Muskegon Township, cousin to Jeffrey Willis appears in front of 60th District Court Judge Andrew Wierengo on a felony charge of lying to a police officer in the course of a violent-crime investigation on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 in Muskegon, Mich. According to an arrest warrant authorized Tuesday against Bluhm, he initially in a May 18 interview told a Michigan State Police detective that Willis had told him he had no involvement in Heeringa's April 2013 disappearance. But that statement turned out to be false based on further statements Bluhm made at a second police interview with Bluhm last week on June 14, according to the new arrest warrant against Bluhm. Willis is charged with the alleged kidnapping of a teenage girl in April of 2016 and the alleged June 2014 shooting death of jogger Rebekah Bletsch. Willis has also been named as a "person of interest" in the 2013 disappearance of Jessica Heeringa. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)MLive.com Muskegon Chronicle Willis cousin, Kevin Bluhm, told police in June 2016 he helped Willis get rid of Heeringas nude body after Willis called him the day after her disappearance. Police testified Bluhm even led them to the spot where he said her body was buried, but her body was never located. Bluhm was sentenced with accessory after the fact in the murder. An undated of Rebekah Bletsch. Bletsch was shot and killed while jogging in rural Muskegon County in June of 2014 by Jeffrey Willis. (Photo provided by Jessica Josephson) On Nov. 2, 2017, after a two-week trial, Willis was found guilty for the first-degree murder of Rebekah Bletsch, a mother who was jogging in rural Muskegon in June of 2014. The Walther p22 ballistics and DNA found on the gun matches that of Bletsch. Jeffrey Willis, right, talks to his defense attorney Fred D. Johnson at 14th Circuit Court in Muskegon, Mich., on Friday, May 11, 2018. Willis is facing trial for the kidnapping and murder of Jessica Heeringa, who disappeared from her late-night job at a Norton Shores gas station in April 2013. Her body has never been recovered. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)Cory Morse | MLive.com On May 16, 2018, after six days of testimony, Willis was found guilty in the kidnapping and murder of Heeringa. Since the convictions, Willis has filed several motions in his case. In spring of 2022, Willis van is destroyed. (Left) Jeffrey Willis was found guilty for the abduction and murder of (right) Jessica Heeringa in May of 2018. Heeringa disappeared from a gas station in Norton Shores on April 26, 2013, her body has still not been found. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) Willis is currently housed in a maximum-security prison in Jackson. He is allowed out of his cell for two, one-hour periods a day. In a short-lived interview with MLive/Muskegon Chronicle earlier this month, he maintained his innocence. I dont want to be badgered. Ive stated multiple times to multiple people that I didnt do it. Im innocent and I dont know where the body is, Willis said, moments before hanging up on the interview. Heeringas body has yet to be found. She is listed as missing in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System database. MLive/Muskegon Chronicle spoke with the now-retired lead investigator on the case, Michael Kasher, and Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson who prosecuted the Willis cases. In the videos below you can hear how the case has effected them. Read more about the Jessica Heeringa case. Also on MLive: Police identify living Jane Doe thanks to flood of tips Michigan sheriff pleads guilty to drunk driving, carrying pistol Man charged with murder after 6-month-old killed in gunfire intended for others Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson, a former pastor and self-help author, came this week to Michigan State University to pitch her longshot presidential bid, attracting nearly 300 enthusiastic students. Her argument is U.S. President Joe Biden, who has formally launched his campaign for a second term and is heavily favored to win the nomination, isnt interested in alleviating economic injustice and reversing the creeping corporate control of the country. In an interview Monday, she said Biden claims the economy is pretty good, while in reality the vast majority of Americans live in a vast sea of economic despair. The Biden administration has taken an incremental approach to dealing with that, definitely an effort to help people survive what is essentially an unjust system, Williamson said. My agenda is different. My question is, why should people in the richest country in the world be living at the effect of an unjust system? We need to end the injustice. And in order to do that we need fundamental economic reform. We need to make an economic u-turn in this country. Joe Bidens not going to do that, but I would. Its a pivot from her last campaign, when she had to share a debate stage with progressive favorite U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. Then she emphasized policies with a signature tinge of new-age spirituality. With Sanders out of the running, Williamson is placing economic issues front and center while touting progressive standbys like universal healthcare, free college and federally legalizing marijuana. Williamson has found unexpected popularity on the social media platform TikTok, and multiple students told MLive they learned of her while scrolling through social media. One student remarked, Im surprised how many people are here unironically. Madison Nathan, a student at MSU, was introduced to Williamson via YouTube earlier this year. I watched her videos from when she was in the 2020 debate, Nathan said. Then I started watching more of her stuff on her website and then she started showing up on my TikTok For You page and then I just kept reading about her. Nathan said she likes how, rather than giving narrow, detailed policy solutions to big problems, Williamson speaks passionately about the need for sweeping, systemic change. I really agree with her reasoning behind our whole government system and economical structure is kind of corrupt and we need to restructure it, because were really not headed in a good direction, Nathan said. The university is still grappling with the fallout from a February mass shooting, and Nathan said the country doesnt feel very safe now. Williamson has been capitalizing on her inroads with younger votes with an informal university tour. MSUs College Democrats had accepted a solicitation from her campaign to appear. The students attending gave Williamson, a spiritualist who lives in Washington, DC, two standing ovations during an animated address that was equal parts stump speech and sermon. To win, she told the students, it will take an arousal of consciousness among the American people so great that we will flood the ballot boxes. We will have a revolution at the ballot box. We will have an inspirational burst of energy by which we the people will march into the voting booth. We will override the corporatists of either party who would limit the rights of the American people so that a few people can afford to get health care, a few people can afford to send their college kids to college, a few people can spread their wings and have the opportunities to be everything that you can be and do everything that you want to do. Most stuck around for the duration of the 90-minute event, in an auditorium in MSUs business college, asking about her stances on a host of progressive causes. Williamson is running an insurgent campaign. Lyndon B. Johnson was the last sitting president to not secure his partys nomination for reelection in 1968, but he chose not to run under pressure from his party. The Democratic party has largely aligned itself behind Biden. Related: Gov. Whitmer joins Bidens reelection team to win battleground Michigan Williamson explained the partys apparatus, who she called corporatists and elites, are working to ensure Biden can sail to the nomination uncontested. Polling indicates Biden remains deeply unpopular even as other surveys show him beating the current Republican frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, in a head-to-head contest. This time, the system is even more corrupt than I feared; people are even more wonderful than I hoped, she said. The (Democratic National Committee) apparently has announced its not planning to have primary (debates), establishment DNC powers have deemed Robert Kennedy Jr., (another Democratic candidate) and myself un-persons, invisible-ized. I found that very problematic-al. With that in mind, Williamson didnt have a direct answer about how she envisions a path to the Democratic nomination. Electoral victory is important, but theres a larger victory which paves the way and creates that possibility, Williamson said. Its a victory that will remain whether or not you win the presidency. And thats the victory to me, the victory involved in simply saying some things that everybody knows that were all talking about, but that youre not supposed to say, within the political sphere. Her campaign staff wasnt on Monday collecting signatures, which are required for a spot on the presidential primary ballot in Michigan. Press secretary Duran Brown said they were instead recruiting volunteers. Dhyey Dalal, the president of MSU College Democrats, said he feels gun violence and reproductive rights are still the issues motivating students on campus to get involved. The event was a far cry from Sanders March 2016 visit on the eve of Michigans presidential primary. Then the progressive star nearly filled the campus roughly 15,000-seat Breslin Center for a rally. He went on to win Michigan, edging out eventual nominee Hillary Clinton by about 1.4%. MSU students, Dalal said, are still seeking a more vocal, progressive voice that will convey their deep concerns about the country and planets future. I think thats something our generation has been wanting for years, he said. Ever since we were able to vote, weve been wanting someone that actually speaks up, speaks out about the issues that are going on. Read more on MLive: Ex-Michigan House Speaker admits accepting more than $110,000 in bribes to approve marijuana licenses Michigan schools say groups DIY sex ed opt-out forms wont fly 5 things to know about Michigans pending red flag laws Democrats push ahead on thornier EV incentives, gun laws: Your guide to Michigan politics Why Democrats joined Republicans opposing money for a controversial Big Rapids battery plant LANSING, MI Research assistants behind the scenes at Michigan public colleges and universities are a step closer to union rights after state senators advanced a bill to consider them public employees. The Democrat-controlled Senate voted Wednesday along party lines, 20-17, to send Senate Bill 185 to the House. One Republican was absent. If the bill becomes law, graduate student research assistants could enter collective bargaining agreements with colleges and universities in the same way teaching assistants, lecturers and service workers can. To be able to have a voice in how a shop is run, to be able to be protected from unfair labor practices, said sponsoring Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor. Thats all on the table for these folks. SB 185 included student athletes when introduced, but Irwin told reporters that was amended out because he had mistakenly included it. Irwin conceptually supports college athlete unionization, but Im much more interested and focused on these people who toil away in labs, doing work that is genuinely important to the future of humanity. The Republican-controlled legislature of 10 years ago voted to specifically bar graduate student research assistants from being considered public employees, and Irwin says his bill will right that wrong. Sen. Kevin Daley, R-Lum, argued to his colleagues Wednesday the bill will burden taxpayers and turn classrooms into arbitration zones. But Irwin noted that research assistants do not work in classrooms, and student instructors already have union rights. Also, the Senate Fiscal Agency found the bill will have no direct fiscal impact on government. These research assistants are not contributing to tuition [costs], Irwin said. These research assistants are doing the fundamental work that brings in a huge amount billions of dollars in research money to our state. Read more from MLive: Stellantis plans to cut 3,500 hourly jobs, UAW letter warns Marianne Williamson, Democratic presidential candidate, seeks inspirational burst of energy at MSU Feds back in U.P. to find source of largest fungal outbreak in U.S. history Oh, deer! Road agencies, DNR spar over carcass dumping Michigans hate crimes statute could be seeing an overhaul for the first time since its creation, expanding who is covered under the law to include things such as a persons age, sexuality and mental disabilities. Two of a four-bill package House Bill 4474 and HB 4475 create the Michigan Hate Crime Act, which expands the states current ethnic intimidation statute. That expansion would broaden the definition of what constitutes a hate crime, adding that hate crimes are also possible on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, physical or mental disability, ethnicity and age. When a crime victim is targeted because of their race, religion, gender or ethnicity that rises to the level of a hate crime, Attorney General Dana Nessel said, and we need to ensure that our laws treat these crimes with the appropriate level of severity they deserve. The other two, HB 4476 and HB 4477, would then create the Institutional Desecration Act, which considers the targeted defacement, destruction and vandalism of property like houses of worship, cultural community centers and businesses as hate crime. Michigan enacted its initial hate crime statute in 1988 following the murder of Vincent Chin. A Chinese-American from Highland Park, Chin was beaten to death in 1982 after two autoworkers believed him to be of Japanese descent. His murder came during a time of high anti-Japanese sentiment in the United States, with the two men blaming Chin and his heritage for Japans burgeoning auto industry success within the United States. Rep. Noah Arbit, D-West Bloomfield, said the legislation needs to b updated because Michigans hate crime statute remains stuck in 1988. In the intervening 35 years, Michigan has seen an unabated rise in hate crimes with no corresponding legislative action. ... Now is our moment to take action, Arbit said. The package also ups criminal penalties associated with committing a hate crime from where its currently sits to a felony punishable by up to five-years in prison, a fine of at most $10,000 or both, depending on what occurs during the offense. That would be determined by whether the alleged hate crime results in bodily injury or severe mental anguish, the person has a prior criminal history of committing hate crimes, the victim is under the age of 18 or if the person commits a hate crime while in possession of a firearm. Should none of those conditions be met, the felony would be at most a two-year prison sentence, a $2,000 fine or both keeping the imprisonment punishment the same, but actually reducing current monetary penalties. The bill defines severe mental anguish as being caused by threatening or intentionally causing another persons death or great bodily harm. It also includes administering or attempting to administer mind-altering substances or performing a procedure that would disrupt another individuals senses or personality. Depending on the severity of the crime, however, the package would enable courts to hand down an alternative and educational sentence, such as community service with the intent to enhance the offenders understanding of the impact ... upon the victim wider community. Penalties then associated with vandalizing, threatening, destroying or otherwise injuring a place of worship, a burial ground, school, business or other institutions outlined in the bill vary by both severity of the act and the kind of place targeted. We are all in this together, said Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, a supporter of the package. Whether its the Asian-American community or the Black community or the LGBT community or religious minorities being targeted weve really got to rise against hate together. The bills now sit in the House Judiciary Committee where they await a hearing. More from MLive Michigan schools say groups DIY sex ed opt-out forms wont fly Citing election security, Ottawa County ditches digital transfer for GPS-tracked delivery of votes Michigan Senate passes bill to allow college researchers to unionize Marianne Williamson, Democratic presidential candidate, seeks inspirational burst of energy at MSU Michigan school district sued for making boys remove Lets go Brandon sweatshirts GRAND RAPIDS, MI Prosecutors have announced federal charges against 11 people and three companies in Michigan whom investigators say were involved in a complex aftermarket scheme to evade emission controls on semitrucks. Owners and employees at Griffin Transportation and Accurate Truck Service LLC of Grand Rapids, and Diesel Freak LLC of Gaylord are among the 11 individual defendants being charged in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids. The felony charges were announced Wednesday, April 26 by U.S. Attorney Mark Totten in West Michigan and officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The companies and individuals allegedly violated the federal Clean Air Act, which regulates mobile pollution sources. Totten called the case one of the largest of its kind ever charged in the United States. There are some who think that these laws dont really matter; that they are useless red tape or that no one ever gets caught, Totten said. To those people, I hope that today makes you think twice. Individual defendants in charged in the conspiracy case include Ryan Lalone, 47, of Gaylord; Wade Lalone, 44, of Gaylord; Dustin Rhine, 32, of Indian River; James Sisson, 42, of Mt. Pleasant; Douglas Larsen, 51, of Wayland; Craig Scholten, 58, of Byron Center; Ryan Bos, 45, of Grandville; Robert Swainston, 50, of Hopkins; Randy Clelland, 33, of Grand Rapids; Scott DeKock, 45, of Hudsonville; and Glenn Hoezee, 55, of Howard City. Ryan Lalone and Wade Lalone, Larsen, Scholten, Bos, Swainston, Clelland, DeKock and Hoezee have signed agreements to plead guilty. Rhine and Sisson have been indicted by a federal grand jury. Scholten and Bos own Griffin Transportation, a Grand Rapids-based trucking firm that operates across the U.S. The case remains under investigation. Prosecutors say that between 2012 and 2018, the men were involved at various levels in a scheme to delete emissions controls from heavy-duty diesel engines to improve vehicle performance, fuel economy and save on maintenance. Tampering with or removing emissions controls can increase output of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons found in vehicle exhaust. Accurate Truck Service removed or altered hardware and Diesel Freak reprogrammed the engine computers so that the trucks would still function. Griffin Transportation engaged the other two companies to delete trucks, according to court filings. Diesel Freak was involved in at least 362 deletions; Accurate Truck Service in at least 83 deletions and Griffin Transportation in at least 12 deletions, prosecutors say. Another former company owned by DeKock was allegedly involved in at least four deletions. Code words such as ECM wiring were used on invoices to conceal that the work was a deletion, according to court filings. Accurate Truck Service and Griffin Transportation have agreed to pay a combined $1 million fine and Diesel Freak has agreed to pay a $750,000 fine, although final penalty amounts are up to a sentencing judge. By illegally tampering with emissions controls on diesel trucks operating throughout the United States and Canada, defendants caused the excessive release of diesel exhaust containing toxic gases and impurities harmful to public health and the environment, said Richard Conrad, acting special agent in charge of the EPAs Criminal Investigation Division. This case highlights EPA and our law enforcement partners continued efforts to prosecute those who violate environmental and public health laws in the U.S. for financial gain. According to prosecutors, a conspiracy conviction in the case could carry a prison term of up to five years and a fine of up to $250,000 for an individual. For an organization, the fine is up to $500,000 or twice the gain from the offense, among other penalties. A conviction for violating the Clean Air Act can carry a prison term of up to two years and the same fines, among other penalties. Totten said that investigators are continuing to look at two other companies involved in the conspiracy; one in Italy, which developed the equipment to access the engine computer, and another in Ohio which distributed that equipment. Neither company was named in filings. Customers such as Griffin, Accurate Truck Service and Diesel Freak which did the reprogramming and connected the engines to the Internet are referred to as masters and slaves by the unnamed Italian and Ohio companies, according to filings. Because vehicles change hands, it is possible some altered trucks may still be on the road and are being operated by unwitting drivers, Totten said. The charges follow a nationwide EPA crackdown on aftermarket efforts to bypass emissions controls. Authorities last year fined two Oakland County companies $10 million for selling so-called diesel defeat devices for consumer trucks. The EPA crackdown on diesel emissions cheating began with onset of the Volkswagen scandal in 2015. The agency has recently begun focusing more on aftermarket devices. Griffin Transportation and Accurate Truck Service released a statement through a public relations firm on Wednesday, saying the two affiliated companies are are committed to being responsible employers, good corporate citizens and environmental stewards. We have taken this matter extremely seriously and have fully cooperated with investigating authorities, the companies stated. We have also taken action to ensure all our vehicles are fully compliant with state and federal regulations. We believe this plea agreement is in the best interests of our companies, so we can move forward and focus our time and attention on continuing to serve the needs of our customers and employees. Sign up to receive MLive's free new environment and climate newsletter, "Lake Effect." Enter your email below: Related Stories: Michigan firms fined $10M over diesel defeat devices Inside Ann Arbors EPA auto emissions lab Volkswagen scandal payout sends $9M to Michigan Truck shop fined for diesel spill into Plaster Creek A new high-tech electric vehicle charger that will reportedly charge most EVs to 80% in 15 minutes will be manufactured in southeast Michigan. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was in Auburn Hills on Wednesday afternoon, April 26, to announce the latest from FLO, the Canadian EV charging company that opened its first U.S. facility last year in Michigan. Whitmer said she was grateful for the partnership with FLO and the cutting-edge manufacturing used in solving mobility issues and addressing climate. Today were celebrating our ongoing efforts to build up our electric vehicle charging network and lead the future of mobility, Whitmer said following a tour of the Auburn Hills facility. FLOs new ultra fast charger is expected to be available to consumers in 2024. The tech features two high-powered charging ports in one aluminum enclosure that will be able to charge with up to 500 kW with multiple charging stations connected together. Configuration of the new chargers allow for flexible parking options for drivers and easier installation at sites. The design accommodates charging on one or both sides, and parallel or pull-in parking. EV demand and sales are topping all industry expectations and are now forecasted to exceed more than 45% of U.S. light duty vehicle sales by 2030, said Nathan Yang, FLOs chief product officer, in a prepared media statement. As new EV drivers hit the road, they will be looking for fast charging that is safe, accessible, convenient, intuitive and reliable. This is why we designed FLO Ultra to provide the ultimate EV charging experience. FLO offers home charging equipment for both single-family houses and multi-unit residential buildings, as well as access to thousands of public charging stations, according to the company website. Whitmers Office of Future Mobility and Electrification has touted electric infrastructure projects like charging stations in state parks, highway charging sites and an electrified roadway in Southeast Michigan as ways to get more drivers in Electric vehicles. Whitmer said Michigan is investing to build out the states EV charging network. In five years, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will invest $5 billion nationwide to build EV chargers, of which about $110 million will go to Michigan. The governor also noted that she proposed $65 million in this years state budget to help families and communities install EV chargers, as well as a sales tax cut to save families $2,400 off the price of an electric vehicle at the point of sale. FLOs Auburn Hills facility will reportedly create 730 new jobs by 2028. The expansion will help the company produce 250,000 EV chargers for the U.S. market within its first five years. FLOs Michigan operation is projected to generate $134 million in revenue from sales of EV chargers and $76 million in gross state product by 2028. Read more on MLive: Stellantis plans to cut 3,500 hourly jobs, UAW letter warns Feds back in U.P. to find source of largest fungal outbreak in U.S. history Oh, deer! Road agencies, DNR spar over carcass dumping Michigan school district sued for making boys remove Lets go Brandon sweatshirts Commentary By Iglika Ivanova and Kendra Strauss The rise of the gig economy and on-demand work through platforms like Uber has ignited public debate about precarious work and what makes a good job. Policymakers have been slow to respond, partly because the lack of data on the scale and impacts of precarious work makes it easier to skate around the issues. It took months of public engagement for the BC government to learn what worker advocates have known for yearsthat some app-based ride-hail and food-delivery workers experience serious vulnerabilities due to their lack of basic workplace protections. And gig work is only the tip of the iceberg. Our research shows that precarious work is an urgent problem in BC and has been since before the pandemic. In a province-wide survey of workers aged 25 to 65 that we conducted in late 2019, we found that only 49 percent of workers surveyed had full-time, permanent jobs with benefits. The other half experienced various levels of insecurity, including contracts that were temporary, part-time, didnt offer dependable hours or lacked benefits. In this pilot BC Precarity Survey, we asked respondents about many aspects of their work lives, including different characteristics of job quality and security like working on call, frequent unexpected scheduling changes, stringing together multiple jobs to make ends meet and being unable to raise workplace safety or employment rights concerns at work for fear of retaliation. We then used their responses to categorize workers employment experiences on a spectrum ranging from Secure to Precarious. We found that precarious employment is far more widespread in BC than many assume and puts tremendous strain on families and communities across the province. BC saw historically low unemployment rates pre-pandemic, which should signal a strong labour market, yet we found that only 18 percent of survey respondents were in Secure jobs while 37 percent had Precarious jobs. Secure jobs were not available to everyone: racialized and Indigenous workers were much less likely than white workers to have Secure jobs. And, Secure jobs were less common in Northern BC and the Interior than in Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Workers in Precarious jobsespecially those with low incomeswere more likely to experience poorer physical and mental health. For many, work demands and job strain interfered with family responsibilities on a weekly basis (or multiple times a week), impacting not only the workers themselves but also their families. Parents in Precarious employment were far less likely to be able to afford school supplies and trips, or to have time to attend or volunteer at school and community-related events and activities. While low-income workers in precarious jobs were the most vulnerable, we found that a number of higher-paying jobs were Precarious as well. A surprising proportion of jobs that have traditionally been secure, such as in the public sector or that require a university education, have now become Precarious, and precarity negatively impacts families with middle-class (or higher) incomes too. Our study provides an important piece of the puzzle and a baseline for future analysis. But we need more data to better understand precarious employment and its unequal impacts, and to be able to monitor workers experiences in todays rapidly changing labour market. That doesn't mean action can or should wait. The burden of precarious work falls more heavily on racialized and immigrant communities, Indigenous peoples, women and lower-income groupscompounding long-standing systemic and intersecting inequalities in the province. The BC government has the power to improve the lives of precarious workers and their families right away. Its crucial to modernize workplace rights and protections and to enforce them proactively so that those who dont have standard jobs arent left behind. This starts with extending basic workplace protections like minimum wage and workers compensation to gig workers but doesnt end there. Expanding access to benefits and paid time off, addressing unpaid care work and the lack of access to child care and bringing in strong pay equity legislation are additional ways to reduce precarity in BC. For thousands of workers stuck in precarious jobs, the long-promised provincial precarious work strategy cant come soon enough. Iglika Ivanova is a senior economist and public interest researcher at the CCPA-BC office. Kendra Strauss is director of Simon Fraser University's Labour Studies Program and director of the university's Morgan Centre for Labour. Research. Stellantis plans to cut 3,500 hourly jobs in its U.S. facilities, according to a United Auto Workers letter. The UAW Local 1264, which represents workers at the Stellantis Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, posted the letter from local leadership announcing corporate wide buy out plans expected to come from the automaker. Stellantis confirmed it plans to offer 33,5000 buyouts to hourly and salaried U.S. workers. The automakers target goal is 3,500 U.S. hourly workers accept the offer, Stellatnis spokesperson Jodi Tinson said. She declined to offer the target for salaried employees. Stellantis employs 56,000 U.S. employees and 9,000 Canadian employees. Canadian salaried employees will not be part of the incentive program and Tinson declined to name a target for Canadian hourly employees. The letter from union president Doug McIntosh went out to workers Monday, April 24. McIntosh writes local leadership met with Vice President Rick Boyer of the International Union to discuss incentive packages. He said the international union is in talks about accepting. Stellantis plans to reduce its hourly workforce by 3,500 for both skilled and production, according to the letter posted to UAW Local 1264s Facebook page. The Local 1264 and International Union could not immediately be reached for comment. Stellantis owns the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat brands. Downsizing the workforce is in response to Stellantis shift to electrification, Tinson said. She confirmed the automaker announced voluntary separation programs to certain non-union and union employees. Stellantis is reviewing its North American operations to improve efficiency, reduce costs and protect the competitiveness of its products to allow for further strategic investments to support our transformation, Tinson said in a statement to MLive. These voluntary programs are being offered to provide a favorable option to employees looking to pursue new opportunities, while preserving critical roles the Company needs in order to maintain its competitive advantage, Tinson said. To support the overall transformation to a mobility tech company, Stellantis continues to evolve its workforce by offering opportunities to learn new skills outside their existing skillset or enhance current skills. Voluntary separation packages are being offered to designated non-represented U.S. employees who have 15 or more years of service and work in certain organizations. Stellantis will also offer certain represented employees in the U.S. and Canada an opportunity to separate from the company, according to the statement. Information regarding the various packages will be communicated to eligible employees the week of May 1. The incentive packages outlined in the UAW Local 1264 letter included the following details: Incentive Package for Retirement: $50,000 for seniority members hired prior to the 2007 agreement Voluntary Termination of Employment Program: guaranteed lumpsum benefit payment and is applicable to employees with at least 1 year seniority. The letter listed tentative separation dates from June 30- Dec. 31 depending on when plants release the employee. The union and Stellantis are preparing for talks ahead of a Sept. 14 deadline for a new four-year contract. At the New York International Auto Show Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said high material costs are among the major hurdles facing the automaker, as it unveiled new Jeep products. He estimated the electric vehicle line cost 40% more to make than the internal combustion cars. Prior to that April event, Tavares warned in February more job cuts could be coming as the cost of electrification eats into the companys profit margins. That same month, the automaker idled its Jeep plant in Belvidere, Illinois, laying off about 1,350 workers indefinitely. The race to electrification has been costly for the Big Three. Earlier this month General Motors offered buyouts to 5,000 salaried workers, calling the buyouts a cost-saving measure to clear a path to electrification and avoid layoffs. Ford also had hiccups this year as it switches gears into EV. Production was halted for the electric SUV for seven weeks while Ford retooled a factory in Mexico to increase production. Additionally, production of the F-150 Lightning pickup truck stalled for nearly a month after a fire broke out at Fords Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn. Ford predicted it would lose $3 billion on electric vehicles this year. The automaker attributed the loss to heavy investments in new products and manufacturing offsetting sales. More on MLive: General Motors buyouts part of $2B cost savings to pave way for electrification GM jumps Ford in EV sales, both trail behind Tesla Ford to build $3.5B battery plant at Marshall mega site Detroit Auto Show presents electric future, but life outside the showroom is gas-powered Ghanaian rising star Naana Blu has just dropped her latest hit, "Cartoon," a track that seamlessly blends English and French. With her unique voice and captivating style, Naana Blu is undoubtedly one of the most talented artists in the Ghanaian music industry. Produced by Willisbeatz, "Cartoon" was highly anticipated by fans all over the world, who couldn't wait to hear what Naana Blu had in store. And the song did not disappoint, with Naana Blu delivering powerful vocals and a catchy beat that had fans dancing and singing along. But "Cartoon" is more than just a fun and upbeat song. The lyrics tell a story of love gone wrong, a cautionary tale about the importance of standing up for oneself in the face of heartbreak. In the chorus, Naana Blu sings, "You think say I be cartoon," reminding listeners that she is not someone to be taken for granted. Fans have been quick to praise Naana Blu's latest release, with many relating to the song's message and lyrics. And with the track already climbing the charts, it's clear that "Cartoon" is set to become one of Naana Blu's most popular songs yet. A valedictory service has been held in honour of one of the stalwart servants, Rev. James Awinzangiti Anafo, on 22nd April 2023 at New Life Assemblies of God, Boya in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region. Until his retirement, he was the founder of Boya Kpalsako Assemblies of God, which now has a resident pastor. He served the organization for 37 years and held several positions during his ministry. Rev. James Awinzangiti Anafo's life and ministry have been driven by two main passions - his fervency in prayer and his total obedience to the Lord. His extraordinary confidence, selfless service, and devotion to duty are always inspirations to all around him. His values of integrity, excellence, stewardship and dignity are noteworthy and worthy of emulation. Rev James Awinzangiti Anafo, throughout his ministry for 37 years, several people have responded to the call of God and are now pastoring in various churches within the Assembly of God Ghana. Rev James Awinzangiti Anafo, was born on 4th February 1956 in Tanga in Bawku West District to the late Anafo Job Azure and Sheitu Widana who were both Christians. Rev James Awinzangiti Anafo was called into full-time ministry in 1983. He later went to Northern Ghana Bible Institute now Assemblies of God Theological Seminary north campus, Kumbungu where he studied for three years from 1983-1985. He proceeded to pursue his degree program at West Africa Advance School of Theology (WAAST) in 2007 at Lome in Togo. New Life Assemblies of God, Church congregation of Boya where Rev. James Awinzangiti Anafo was pastoring has donated a bull, a house and an amount of GHS25,000.00 for his upkeep. General Council of Assemblies of God donated Ghc15,000.00 while the Assemblies of God, Kusaug Region B donated Ghc10,000.00. The death toll from a suspected Kenyan starvation cult climbed to 90 on Tuesday, including many children, as police said investigators were pausing the search for bodies because the morgues were full. The discovery of mass graves in Shakahola forest near the coastal town of Malindi has shocked Kenyans, with cult leader Paul Mackenzie Nthenge accused of driving his followers to death by preaching that starvation was the only path to God. There are fears more corpses could be found as search teams unearthed 17 bodies on Tuesday, with investigators saying children made up the majority of victims of what has been dubbed the "Shakahola Forest Massacre". Kenya's government has vowed to crack down on fringe religious outfits in the largely Christian country. A member of the Kenya Red Cross comforts a rescued follower of the Good News International Church. By Yasuyoshi CHIBA (AFP) "We don't know how many more graves, how many more bodies, we are likely to discover," Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki told reporters, adding the crimes were serious enough to warrant terrorism charges against Nthenge. "Those who urged others to fast and die were eating and drinking and they were purporting that they were preparing them to meet their creator." The majority of the dead were children, according to three sources close to the investigation, highlighting the macabre nature of the cult's alleged practices which included urging parents to starve their offspring. "The majority of the bodies exhumed are children," a forensic investigator told AFP on condition of anonymity. 'The horror is traumatising' An officer from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) also confirmed that children accounted for more than half of the victims, followed by women. Hussein Khalid, executive director of the rights group Haki Africa that tipped off the police to Nthenge's activities, told AFP that the cult appeared to require children to starve first, followed by women, and finally men. He said 50 to 60 percent of the victims were children, whose bodies were found wrapped in cotton shrouds. "The horror that we have seen over the last four days is traumatising. Nothing prepares you for shallow mass graves of children," he said. Investigators told AFP they found bodies squeezed into shallow pits -- with up to six people inside one grave -- while others were simply left exposed in the open air. Graphic showing the stages of dehydration and starvation and the timelines of survival. By Sabrina BLANCHARD (AFP) As the fatalities mounted, the DCI officer told AFP that search teams would have to pause their efforts until autopsies were completed. "We won't dig for a couple of days, so we have time to do the autopsies because the mortuaries are full," he said on condition of anonymity. The state-run Malindi Sub-County Hospital had warned that its morgue was running out of space to store the bodies and was already operating well over capacity. "The hospital mortuary has a capacity of 40 bodies," said the hospital's administrator Said Ali, adding that officials had reached out to the Kenya Red Cross for refrigerated containers. Kenya's Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki said the crimes were serious enough to consider terrorism charges. By Yasuyoshi CHIBA (AFP) Kindiki said 34 people had been found alive so far in the 325-hectare (800-acre) area of woodland. It is believed that some followers of Nthenge's Good News International Church could still be hiding in the bush around Shakahola and at risk of death if not quickly found. 'Unacceptable ideology' Kenya's President William Ruto has vowed to take action against rogue pastors like Nthenge "who want to use religion to advance weird, unacceptable ideology", comparing them to terrorists. As the investigation unfolds, questions have emerged about how the cult was able to operate undetected despite Nthenge attracting police attention six years ago. The discovery of shallow mass graves has sent shockwaves through the country. By Yasuyoshi CHIBA (AFP) The televangelist had been arrested in 2017 on charges of "radicalisation" after urging families not to send their children to school, saying education was not recognised by the Bible. Nthenge was arrested again last month, according to local media, after two children starved to death in the custody of their parents. He was released on bail of 100,000 Kenyan shillings ($700) before surrendering to police following the Shakahola raid. Nthenge is due to appear in court on May 2. The Kenya Red Cross said 212 people had been reported missing to its support staff in Malindi, out of which two were reunited with their families. The case has prompted calls for tighter control of fringe denominations in a country with a troubling history of self-declared pastors and cults that have dabbled in criminality. str-ho-dyg-amu/txw/gw The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, did not deny being Alistair Mathias friend in his response to Al Jazeeras request for his comments. The argument that Nana Addo could not have been Mathias lawyer when the president himself does not remember whether he was Mathias lawyer is spurious and diversionary. Nana Addo is an admitted friend of the alleged kingpin gold smuggler and money launderer for gold deals. Period! Befriending a criminal gang member and/or financial architect is typical of the previous conduct of the President of Ghana. President Akufo-Addos response to Al Jazeera when it sought his comments about a statement made by Alistair Mathias, a Canadian, described as a financial architect that the Ghanaian president is Alistair Mathias good friend in fact was his lawyer, was reported by Al Jazeera as follows: President Akufo-Addo of Ghana told us that he had no recollection of acting as a lawyer for Alistair Mathias or his company. Episode 4 of the Al Jazeera Gold Mafia documentary is a must-watch on: full episode 4 gold mafia aljazeera YouTube Nana Akufo-Addo knows that to use the idiom have no recollection means to remember nothing. Nana Akufo-Addos reported response convinces me that Alistair Mathias was speaking the truth at the meeting with the undercover investigators from Al Jazeera who posed as Chinese businessmen. Firstly, and very importantly, Nana Akufo-Addo does not deny Alistair Mathias assertion that Nana Addo is his good friend. Nana Addo merely uses the idiom, have no recollection in relation to being his lawyer. Secondly, an astute and experienced lawyer like Nana Akufo-Addo knows the difference between I never acted as a lawyer for Alistair Mathias or his company, and I have no recollection of acting as a lawyer for Alistair Mathias or his company which is tantamount to pleading amnesia. In spite of the astute and experienced Nana Akufo-Addos response as reported by Al Jazeera without mentioning the name of the company, a less astute, inexperienced younger lawyer, and underling claiming to be counsel for President Akufo-Addo, Kow Essuman, tweeted that: The President has not been in private practice since 2000, neither has the President nor his law firm, Akufo-Addo, Prempeh and Co, acted as a lawyer for this Alistair Mathias or Guldrest. The President does not know this Mathias or Guldrest. Ignore the spurious allegations. What was the necessity for an employee of the Jubilee House, the seat of Nana Akufo-Addos Government of cronies, family, and friends to contradict what the President, who is the principal actor in this drama, told Al Jazeera. Curiously, the tweet was not directed at Al Jazeera but to the Ghanaian public to divert attention from the implication of Alistair Mathias statement within the context of the Al Jazeera investigation into Southern Africas biggest gold and money laundering operations, otherwise known as Al Jazeeras Gold Mafia investigation. Jubilee Houses assigned Goebbel, Paul Adom-Otchere, at the Metro TVs Good Evening Ghana programme on Tuesday, 18 April 2023 also attempted to refute Alistair Mathias undisputed claim that the Ghanaian president was his lawyer during an editorial on his programme. Paul Adom-Otchere, a public officer Chairing the Ghana Airport Company Limited as an employee of Jubilee House naively uses the age of Alistair Mathias as proof that it is not true that Akufo-Addo was his lawyer as he would have been a teenager: The last time Akufo-Addo was a lawyer for anybody was the year, 2000 Paul Adom-Otchere, without adducing any evidence parrots that: in 2001 Akufo-Addo became attorney general, from there foreign minister, from there opposition leader He didnt do law, he didnt go to court, he never went to his law firm, Akufo-Addo and Prempeh, and the law firm didnt represent him. I do not know who told Paul Adom-Otchere that an opposition leader cannot practice law or that going to court is what makes a person a practicing lawyer. Above all, Paul Adom-Otchere does not produce proof that Nana Akufo-Addo ceased to be a partner in his law firm, Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co when he ceased to be the Minister for Foreign Affairs up to 7 January 2017 when he took the oath of office as President of Ghana. Surely, Alistair Mathias was not also a teenager when Nana Addo became his good friend or how does Paul Adom-Otchere explain that undenied fact by the President to Ghanaians? The poorly trained Goebbel of the Jubilee House at Metro TV cowardly and inexcusably refuses to name the supreme court judge he claims was Alistair Mathias lawyer in 2014 in a criminal case brought by one Henry Osei against Alistair Mathias for suspected fraud. Justice Clarence Thomas, the oldest Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court is making the news for suspected criminal conduct and there should be no different yardstick for Ghana as a constitutional democracy. Paul Adom-Otchere naively forgets that by the disclosures he made he was letting the cat out of the bag about Nana Addos friendship with Alistair Mathias should it turn out that the Supreme Court judge is Nana Addos protegee at the Supreme Court, whom the president praised himself on 10 December 2021 as reported by 3news.com. The 3news.com report quoted Nana Addo as follows: I must have been doing something right in my other life. When I see today, the two of my proteges, Yonny Kulendi and Godfred Dame both members of Akufo Addo, Prempeh & Co are occupying two important and sensitive positions in our state, Justice of the Supreme Court and Attorney General. I wish them well and I have every confidence that they will discharge their offices with credit. Or is Paul Adom-Octchere perusing another agenda against Supreme Court Justice Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi? With Paul Adom-Otcheres hint I researched the allegation he raised against the judge without a name and I came upon two links that led me to the possible person on the Supreme Court Adom-Otchere was referring to. The reader can read them on Alistair Jude Mathias is at large | News Ghana and http://myinfo.com.gh/2021/04/herald-responds-to-lawyer-adjei-dwomohs-frivolous-case-at-nmc/ . The second reportage names the judge specifically. Dennis Adjei-Dwomoh is currently a member of the National Investment Board (NIB) appointed by this Government. But to act as a lawyer for any suspected criminal is not a criminal conduct on the part of the lawyer. Every suspect is entitled under the Constitution to a good defence. That is why hiding the name is pernicious. The President stated on 10 December 2021 that Yonny Kulendi and Godfred Dame, both former members of Akufo Addo, Prempeh & Co, were his protegees. Mr. Godfred Dame was enrolled on the Roll of Lawyers in Ghana in 2003. This is inconsistent with the argument that: The President has not been in private practice since 2000. as contended by Mr. Essuman and Mr. Adom-Otchere. How did Mr. Dame become the Presidents protegee if he had nothing to do with Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co as a law partner? The public needs an explanation. President Akufo-Addo could have introduced Alistair Mathias as a friend to one of his numerous protegees whom he groomed in Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co after listening to the legal problems of his friend. The protegee need not to be still working at Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co. It is all a matter of confidence and trust as he exhibited to his two protegees by elevating them as the President by their appointments. The layman would consider the referral by such an astute and experienced lawyer of his legal matters to his protegees as the senior lawyer holding himself out as a practicing lawyer and will naturally describe the more senior lawyer as his lawyer. Normally, when things do not go on well with the manner the protegee handles the case, the friend returns to the astute and experienced one to complain. Holding oneself out as a practicing lawyer and referring a good friend to another lawyer is as good as being in private practice as a lawyer. Alistair Mathias cannot, therefore, be faulted if he understood his relationship with Nana Addo as one of lawyer and client. The 1 hour 12 minutes 36 seconds of the Episode 4 of the Al Jazeera documentary on the Gold Mafia in Southern Africa is very damning of the numerous African Presidents and their modus operandi. One can, therefore, understand the disquiet amongst Nana Addos underlings in his not too elegant response to Al Jazeeras request for his comments on what Alistair Mathias said about him. But who in Ghana does not know that Nana Akufo-Addo has associated with suspected criminal gang members before and after he assumed office as President? The younger generation might not have heard of the likes of Raymond Kwame Amankwah who was alleged to have attended the victory celebration of the 2020 election in Accra only to return to his base in Mozambique to die of COVID-19 said to have been contracted at the victory party in Ghana. The fact that Nana Addo has been a friend to Ernesto Taricone and his Ghanaian family members is an open secret and explains why Alfred Woyome, the financial engineer, alone had his assets sold in satisfaction of the Supreme Court judgment in the Waterville case by this Government. One of the lawyers who assisted Ernesto Taricone to register Waterville in the British Virgin Island is a known friend of Nana Addo and was suspected as being instrumental in the scandalous Agyapa Royalties Limited registered in the Island of Jersey. Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boatengs IMCIM Galamsey Report of 2021 is also a trending topic. Now, we know that Alistair Mathias the alleged gold smuggling and money laundering financial architect is at least Nana Addos good friend, to mention but a few examples. Mr. Mathias could be the financial architect behind Agyapa and Gold-for-Oil. And this is the Father or should I say, the Mother, of the nation who took the constitutional oath to ensure the nourishment of We the People of Ghana and to protect us from economic hardships and sufferings. But he instead has led the nation into the insolvency and economic mess we are witnessing for the first time in our live time as a nation. The Constitution demands that the Government be accountable and transparent to Ghanaians with allegations made against the President. Patriots are enjoined by the Constitution not to allow the Government to deceive the public as I have done in this discourse. Ghana First! Martin A. B. K. Amidu 24 April 2023 25.04.2023 LISTEN The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said it will petition the special prosecutor (SP), Inspector General of Police (IGP), and Speaker of Parliament over the involvement of New Patriotic Party (NPP) bigwigs in illegal mining (galamsey) following Professor Frimpong Boateng's Report. The party is calling for an investigation into allegations of involvement in illegal mining made against all high-ranking members of the NPP. Speaking at a press conference today at party headquarters in Accra, the national communication officer Lawyer Sammy Gyemfi said the NDC shall formally submit a request to both the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana and the office of the special prosecutor to initiate the necessary investigations into the gold mafia documentary as it relates to Ghana and the Galamsey Report of Prof. Frimpong Boateng. "The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has sighted an undercover investigative work that was recently broadcast by the International network, Al Jazeera. The said documentary forms part of a four-part investigation by Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit (I-Unit), which uncovered an international Gold Smuggling mafia and Money Laundering racket operating in various of Africa". In the particular portion of this new investigative documentary that has got many tongues wagging, the said Alistair Mathias who is described as a Canadian citizen and a financial architect operating a gold smuggling syndicate in Ghana called Guldrest, confided in Al Jazeera undercover reporters who posed as Chinese Businessmen, about his constant dealings with President Akufo-Addo Some of the underhand dealings this shady character revealed include how the Akufo/Bamumia NPP government for instance can award his company, Mathias Holdings an inflated contract worth $100 million, which he in turn subcontracts to another company for a value of about $80 million, thereby making a staggering profit of $20 million on the contract. Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, a former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, who claimed he was ousted to make way for NPP bigwigs to continue their galamsey activities. Frimpong-Boateng also claimed that people at Jubilee House were involved in illegal mining. The NDC is of the view that the only way to establish the truth and get to the bottom of the issues contained in the Frimpong Boateng report is for parliament to institute a publicly - televised and bi-partisan inquiry into this report, which essentially is an obituary of President Akufo Addo's monumentally failed fight against illegal mining. "The Ghanaian people deserve this probe because millions of taxpayers' money has gone down the drain in the name of fighting illegal mining." It is against this background that the NDC are deeply concerned about the damning revelation about our president in this latest documentary by Al Jazeera and Prof Frimpong Boateng's report. I have come across transcripts of statements made by Mr. Gabby Otchere Darko during an interview he had on CITI Fm on Thursday 20th April 2023. After listening to the words of Mr. Gabby Otchere Darko I became sad for Ghana. I wondered what happened to us to get to this state, where a person who is supposed to be the lawyer of a mining company exhibited such industrial scale ignorance about mining laws and regulations. Going over the videos and pictures depicting the monumental environmental degradation in the areas of operation of Mr. Gabby Otchere Darkos clients, and seeing his ignorance, I am no longer surprised that Mr. Gabby Otchere Darko has such a pixelated view of the illegal mining landscape in Ghana. Mr. Gabby Otchere Darko seems to have forgotten that his client has a strong history of acting with impunity. Donald Entsuah, who operated both C&G Aleska and Heritage Imperial Mining Co. Ltd. has a history of abusing mining permits and regulations. On 29th November 2016, Mr. Toni Aubyn, then Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission during the NDC administration, wrote to C&G Aleska that the Company was seriously engaged in illegal mining on its prospecting licence. On 30th January 2017, Mr. Aubyn wrote again to C&G Aleska for undertaking mining activities illegally without obtaining all the requisite permits and approvals. Again, on 2nd October 2017, Hon. John Peter Amewu, the first NPP Minister for Lands and Natural Resources wrote to G&G Aleska regarding the Dwuabo concession and directed that in view of the fact that C&G Aleska does not have a valid Mining Operating Permit, and that the Ministry has not yet ratified your mining lease, you are directed NOT T0 CARRY 0UT ANY MINING OPERATIONS in the concession until your mining lease has been ratified. C&G Aleska metamorphosed into Heritage Imperial Mining Co. Ltd. operated by Donald Entsuah. This time they settled in the Apaprama and Kobro forests in Manso in the Ashanti Region and immediately started with active mining without even a prospecting licence with the attendant destruction of forests, farmlands, and water bodies. It was in these forest reserves that the IMCIM task force attempted to stop the illegal operations of Donald Entsuah and his Heritage Imperial Company in 2018. Mr. Gabby Otchere Darko, it is laughable that you claim to have called me to seek information on your client. If you needed any information, you could have called the Minerals Commission. You know I did not operate mining information services. You called to tell me that your client had a valid mining licence and all necessary permits. I told you that Heritage Imperial Co. Ltd. did not possess documents permitting it to undertake active mining. That notwithstanding through your intervention the Chinese, who were arrested were released by the task force. The many soldiers who were providing security service to your clients company attacked the IMCIM task force team and damaged the vehicle carrying journalists who were covering the IMCIM operations. The unfortunate scenes were captured on camera and shown on JOY TV. Mr. Otchere Darko, I dont think you have retrograde amnesia, but I still want to refresh your memory about the destruction of the environment that had been perpetrated by your client over the years with the accompanying videos and pictures from Diaso forest and Apaprama. Even if your clients had all licences and permits, with the destruction that they caused, not only should they have been stopped from operating a mining company indefinitely, but they should also have been prosecuted, probably jailed, made to reclaim the land, vegetate it and clean the water bodies. Finally, the [former] Minister, whom Mr. Gabby Otchere Darko thinks had a weak understanding of his position, has done more for this country and the world than Mr. Otchere Darko would ever dream of in a million years. Prof. Dr. Med. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng In the enclosure are: 1. Pictures (13) documenting devastation of the Environment caused by Clients of Mr. Gabby Otchere Darko 2. Two Reports by Mr. Erastus Asare Donkor shown on Joy TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhEVWkopRBU https://fb.watch/k3fG3t8Nz8/?mibextid=YCRy0i 3. Letter from Tony Aubyn to C&G Aleska, dated 29th November 2016 suspending mining operations of C&G Aleska 4. Letter from Mr. Tony Aubyn dated 30th January 2017 suspending mining operations of C&G Aleska 5. Letter from Hon. John Peter Amewu to C&G Aleska dated 2nd October 2017 suspending mining operations of C&G Aleska Pictures (13) documenting devastation of the Environment cause by Clients of Mr. Gabby Otchere Darko Letter from Tony Aubyn to C&G Aleska, dated 29th November 2016 suspending mining operations of C&G Aleska Letter from Mr. Tony Aubyn dated 30th January 2017 suspending mining operations of C&G Aleska Letter from Hon. John Peter Amewu to C&G Aleska dated 2nd October 2017 suspending mining operations of C&G Aleska Authored by: Prof. Dr. Med. Dr. h.c (multi) Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng Accra, 23rd April 2023 South Africa is not planning to quit the International Criminal Court, as earlier suggested by President Cyril Ramaphosa, his office said Tuesday, citing a communication error from the ruling ANC party. Hours earlier, Ramaphosa had said his African National Congress (ANC) had decided to withdraw South Africa from the International Criminal Court, which last month issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin. The ICC arrest warrant meant that Pretoria -- due to host the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa bloc summit this year -- would have to detain Putin on arrival. "The presidency wishes to clarify that South Africa remains a signatory (to the ICC)," Ramaphosa's office said in a late night statement. It said the "clarification follows an error in a comment made during a media briefing held by the governing African National Congress (ANC)". The ANC had earlier told journalists that the issue of South Africa withdrawing from the ICC had been raised at a weekend meeting of its national executive council. Then, when questioned by a journalist during a joint media conference with the visiting President of Finland Sauli Niinisto, Ramaphosa said the ANC "has taken that decision that it is prudent that South Africa should pull out of the ICC". Pretoria has close ties with Moscow dating back decades to when the Kremlin supported the ANC's fight against apartheid. By Sergei CHIRIKOV (POOL/AFP/File) The presidency said "regrettably" Ramaphosa had "erroneously affirmed a similar position" to the ruling party. In another statement Tuesday night, the ANC said an "unintended impression may have been created that a categorical decision for an immediate withdrawal had been taken. This is not so." It said the executive committee, the party's supreme decision-making body, had discussed the "unequal" and "often selective application of international law by the ICC". Putin welcome 'anytime' The arrest warrant against Putin followed accusations that the Kremlin unlawfully deported Ukrainian children. On whether South Africa would arrest Putin, Ramaphosa said, "that matter is under consideration". But his party's secretary general Fikile Mbalula earlier declared that "Putin can come anytime in this country". Pretoria has close ties with Moscow dating back decades to when the Kremlin supported the ANC's fight against apartheid. The continental powerhouse has refused to condemn the invasion of Ukraine which has largely isolated Moscow on the international stage, saying it wants to stay neutral and prefers dialogue to end the war. Pretoria has close ties with Moscow dating back decades to when the Kremlin supported the ANC's fight against apartheid. By Phill Magakoe (AFP) South Africa has "adopted this stance of being non-aligned to ensure that we are able, as a country to play a role in helping conflict to come to an end," said Ramaphosa. He said he had spoken to Putin several times and "my message has been clear. There needs to be negotiation". Ramaphosa, who last year blamed NATO for the war in Ukraine, said he respected Finland's recent decision to join the military alliance. "It's within Finland's right to decide to join NATO. We respect that and we accept that," said Ramaphosa as he hosted his Finnish counterpart who is in South Africa for a three-day state visit. South Africa made an attempt to pull out of the ICC in 2016 following a dispute a year earlier when then-Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir visited the country for an African Union summit. It refused to arrest him, despite him being the subject of an ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes. The controversial decision to pull out was however revoked when a domestic court ruled such a move would have been unconstitutional. The United States has taken a lead in trying to end a burst of violence in Sudan but it faces a tough road ahead with limited power to rein in warring generals. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spearheaded efforts to broker a three-day ceasefire that took effect Tuesday and has largely held in the capital Khartoum, although scattered clashes persisted elsewhere in Africa's third largest country. Previous truces quickly disintegrated over 10 days of round-the-clock fighting that have pitted paramilitary forces against the army, into which the powerful unit was supposed to be integrated. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said that US diplomats remained "deeply engaged" with all sides to try to extend the ceasefire and making it permanent, with hopes of a path to civilian rule. Molly Phee, the top US diplomat for Africa, and John Godfrey, the US ambassador to Sudan who was evacuated on Saturday, have been involved in detailed negotiations with the two generals in coordination with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, regional heavyweights that have major investments in Sudan. Historic US role US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has played a key role in mediating between Sudan's rival generals. By Oliver Contreras (POOL/AFP) The United States for decades has been the key diplomatic player in Sudan, negotiating a 2005 agreement that ended the civil war and brought independence to South Sudan and later taking the forefront in efforts to stop a scorched-earth campaign in Darfur. But Washington, seeking to preserve bridges, had hesitated in the run-up to the violence to take direct action against the dueling generals. US diplomats are also now reduced to coordinating by telephone after President Joe Biden ordered an evacuation of the embassy out of safety concerns. "Whether or not we have the leverage, we are looked upon as having the leverage" due to the history, said Cameron Hudson, an Africa expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The United States can still build diplomatic coalitions but its leverage in Sudan has "substantially declined," Hudson said. Hudson said she was pessimistic that the ceasefire would hold and pointed to anecdotal reports that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have used the lull to bring in supplies from their Darfur stronghold. Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo both still hope for military victory but had an interest in a pause in fighting, which also served to please international interlocutors, Hudson said. "These guys have been fighting for 10 days, 24 hours a day, flat out. They're tired. They need a break. They need to regroup. They need to resupply," he said. "So I think that this ceasefire has the potential to backfire." Waning pressure The United States had loosened pressure on Sudan since 2019 when a coup d'etat ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir, a nemesis of the United States for much of his three decades in power which included welcoming Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden in the 1990s. In late 2020, then president Donald Trump removed Sudan from a blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism after leaders tentatively agreed to recognize Israel and to compensate US victims of Al-Qaeda terrorism. The Biden administration froze a $700 million aid package a year later after another military coup thwarted a transition to civilian rule. But some lawmakers had pressed for further action. Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat close to Biden, ahead of the latest violence had called for targeted sanctions against coup leaders to disrupt their streams of revenue -- seen as a key reason why they were clinging to power. Greek nationals from Sudan arrive with a military C-27 plane at the military airport of Elefsina, south of Athens. By Aris Messinis (AFP) Susan Stigant, Africa director at the US Institute of Peace, said that greater instability in Sudan held major risks due to the country's strategic location between North and sub-Saharan Africa and on the Red Sea, a major artery for global trade. She said it was crucial that any US strategy not involve just the two generals but the broad range of Sudanese society that has clamored for change. "We have to be very careful we don't create a false binary choice between the two generals," she said. "There has to be a third way." The European Union has imposed sanctions on several Syrians including members of President Bashar al-Assad's family accusing them of producing and trafficking the stimulant drug captagon, a key source of income for the Damascus regime. Asset freezes and travel bans were imposed on 25 people and 8 entities most of them companies at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. In a statement, the European Union said: The majority of today's designations target individuals and entities responsible for the production and trafficking of narcotics, notably captagon. The trade in amphetamine has become a regime-led business model, enriching the inner circle of the regime and providing it with revenue that contributes to its ability to maintain its policies of repression against the civilian population, it added. Experts say captagon is primarily produced in Syria and neighbouring Lebanon, from where packages containing millions of pills are smuggled into Gulf countries, Europe and elsewhere. The trade allegedly has strong ties to Assad and his associates, as well as the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, a key ally. According to UK estimates, the captagon industry is worth over 50 billion to Assad, and has been a major source of revenue throughout the Syrian conflict, now in its 13th year. Drug trade finances pro-Assad militia Assad's brutal crackdown on protests in 2011 led to his global isolation, with his forces accused of torture, bombing civilian infrastructure, and using chemical weapons with the support of allies Russia and Iran. The EU has imposed sanctions on private security companies operating in Syria and the people working for them. Brussels maintains the entities targeted also act as shell companies for regime-affiliated militia groups and supports them though activities such as the recruitment of members. To date, European sanctions against Syria target 322 individuals and 81 business entities. Commentary By Sylvain Charlebois Canadas population grew by more than one million for the first time in its history in 2022. The population in Prince Edward Island grew the most, with a jump of 4.3 percent in only one year, followed by Alberta at 3.7 percent, and Nova Scotia in third place with a jump of 3.5 percent. Canadas population could reach 40 million by June of this year. As of last fall, the worlds population has already reached eight billion. Demographic growth will help grocers and the rest of the food supply chain, with food expenditures increasing by $3.6 billion. This is because there are over one million more mouths to feed and the consumer needs to spend an average of $3,500 to eat this year. Good news for the industry, but the party wont last. For the longest time, demographic experts have been concerned about the planets overpopulation. Most of them are now more concerned about a declining population. Some are even talking about a demographic implosion, suggesting that the earth will never reach nine billion inhabitants. In fact, some experts predict that the earths population could start declining in less than 20 years. Canadas population could peak within that time frame as well. If your job is to feed people, this type of decline presents a challenge. In most areas of the world, including Canada, people are having fewer children. About 75 percent of the world has a birth rate below replacement levels. Canada is relying heavily on immigration to support its demographic ambitions, but we will reach a point when that option is no longer there, either. Immigration rules are being tightened across the Western World. The recent closure of Roxham Road in Quebec is one of many examples. Despite generous social programs to support families, many expect birth or replacement rates to continue declining. There isnt any dominant factor to explain this trend. Citizens everywhere are just having fewer children for numerous reasons. Whats more, the demographic gap between the young and the not-so-young is growing. The number of people between the ages of 25 and 64 those who significantly contribute to our economy will continue to shrink. Therefore, the size of our population wont be the main challenge for our food industry. The age of the population, however, should be the focus. The food industry needs to embrace the massive social change that is about to hit the world. Not having children is not necessarily a problem, but not planning for it certainly is. In the Western world, childlessness is slowly becoming a social norm which few governments have considered or accepted, at least not publicly. We need to accept that fewer people will have children. To respond to this, policies will have to support a reversed demographic pyramid, with fewer working adults, while supporting more seniors. Pets are the new children. There are over 16 million pet cats and dogs in Canada. Since the start of the pandemic, the number of pet owners has increased by at least 15 percent, according to some reports. Pets are less costly and are arguably less life-changing than children. The commitment is simply different in many ways. For the food industry, that is certainly an area of tremendous growth to consider. With fewer children will come a greater number of pets. The food industry will need to come to terms with a declining market and fewer physically abled workers. With fewer stomachs to fill, not having enough farmland should be less of a concern. Since 40 percent of the Canadian population lives in the major cities of Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary, we need to figure out a way to re-purpose our rural areas. In processing, distribution, and retail, we see the same challenges. With both a shrinking and aging market, health and convenience will likely drive sales even more in years to come. We have seen nothing yet. And as for shrinkflation, since older people tend to eat less, this annoying trend of seeing smaller quantities with higher prices is far from over. The food industry will continue its quest to increase sales with less volume. Pre-cut, pre-prepared, pre-cooked, pre-this, pre-that, will be the main way to maintain sales levels. So, if you think were not going to have enough food for everyone, think again. The world will continue to produce enough food with better precision agriculture, more sustainable practices, automation, the use of artificial intelligence, and sound distribution practices, which will improve over time. The food industry is only one problem. Real estate, pension funds, health care, social programs, government debt all of these aspects will need to be modified because there will soon be fewer people. And the planning needs to start now. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University. 26.04.2023 LISTEN Further examination of the Domestic Debt Restructuring reveals that some 23 banks operating in the country are projected to suffer an additional loss of GH6.1 billion. This loss is due to the reduction in coupon rate and an extension of the maturity period from five to 15 years, a report by Banking Consultant, Dr. Richmond Atuahene and Financial Consultant, K.B. Frimpong indicated. The analysis of the liquidity gap shows that the 23 banks would have had a positive cash flow of around GH10.1 billion if the original coupon rate of 19.3% per annum had been maintained. However, as a result of the implementation of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), the reduction in coupon rate and the extension of maturity period will have a significant impact on their returns from investments in Government of Ghana Bonds. This liquidity gap is a result of the drop in the average bond rate of 19.3% to a weighted average rate of 9% per annum, thus leading to a nominal negative liquidity gap of 10.3%. The liquidity gap is expected to get worse if the average customer deposit rate was around 10% per annum, but later declined to a weighted average rate of 9% per annum. For example, Bank A with a bond value of GH9,I06,452,000 and an average coupon rate of 19.3% would have had cash flow of GH1,821,290,000, but with the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, the effective rate of 9% per annum will cause a drop in cash flow to GH720,927,000, thus leading to liquidity gap of GH1,100,363,000, the banking specialists added in their report. To address the anticipated liquidity difficulties for some of the 23 banks that signed onto the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, the report proposes two recommendations. Firstly, it suggests the immediate establishment and operationalization of the Financial Stability Support Fund of 15 billion. They also urged the Bank of Ghana to implement fully the Basel III regulatory framework, which is a significant development in the international regulation of banks. citinewsroom Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Joseph Whittal, says former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng was not involved in illegal mining. Speaking on Ghana Tonight on TV3 on Tuesday, April 25, Mr Whittal said a thorough investigation was conducted into a petition filed in 2019 against the respected heart surgeon but nothing untoward was found against him. We investigated allegations made against Prof Frimpong-Boateng. We went in and did a very thorough investigation, came out with our report, a 116-page report, and the offshoot is that he was not involved in any illegal mining concessions, the CHRAJ Commissioner told host Alfred Ocansey. He had genuine concessions which he had difficulties even starting because of community violence against his company. Mr Whittal insisted that the son and wife of Prof Frimpong-Boateng were also cleared after the investigations. There have been counter-accusations since the former Environment Ministers report on the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) was leaked that he was also complicit in illegal mining. The accusers are alluding to the 2019 petition filed by Arnold Agbodo against him. Symphony Limited, the company owned by his son, is said to have been used for the illegal transactions. Prof Frimpong-Boateng and his wife, Agnes, were said to be the first directors of the company. From the findings of the Commission as sighted by 3news.com, Symphony Limited only owed the state $191,698 and it was charged to make payment to the Minerals Commission. The failure to pay is obviously in breach of law, CHRAJs findings in 2019 said. 3news.com Former Member of Parliament for Tema East, Titus Glover has said the fight against illegal small scale mining is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders. He said the fight is not for one person. The government is involved, Chiefs, the media and civil society are all involved, he said while speaking on the Big Issue on TV3 Wednesday April 26. He further admitted that fighting the menace has been a daunting task however, the President and his government are determined to continue to war against the practice. The former Deputy Transport Minister further urged the president to sack all persons who are making his work difficult. He indicated the criticisms around galamsey do not go to the people who making the work of the President difficult rather, they go to the President and the Vice President. Titus Glover said he is not comfortable when the President and the Vice are constantly attacked for the galamsey menace. 3news.com There is no illegal small scale mining activity ongoing at the backyard of the Presidents residence in his hometown Kyebi in the Eastern Region, the Director of Communications for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Richard Ahiagbah insists. His comment follows an allegation made by a former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation , who once chaired the government's Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng that galamsey is ongoing few metres from President Akufo-Addo's residence in Kyebi. Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng in his 37-page report to the chief of staff on the fight against illegal mining alleged that a party youth organizer had a concession closer to the president's house. But responding to him, Mr Ahiagbah said in a tweet that The media has a difficult job of digging for the facts to serve all of us. However, the claim that people are galamseying in the backyard of the Presidents residence in Kyebi, should be very easy for the media to verify to set the minds of Ghanaians to rest. The media must visit Kyebi to verify this disturbing claim! RECOMMENDED FOR YOU! Galamsey Fight: Posterity shall not forgive Akufo-Addo, our generation if we don't win - Gabby The Presidency earlier responded to the report of Prof Frimpong-Boateng that it could only be rightly referred to as a catalogue of personal grievances and claims by Prof Frimpong-Boateng. The seat of government said the document was handed to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President on March 19th 2021, in an informal meeting, where Prof. Frimpong-Boateng complained about public attacks and criticisms made about his tenure as Chairperson of the IMCIM. This was after Prof. Frimpong-Boateng's tenure as Minister had not been renewed by the President of the Republic in his second term. The document did not have a transmittal or cover letter nor, indeed, an addressee, such as to suggest that it was submitted to the Chief of Staff for action. It is noteworthy that the IMCIM was a creature of Cabinet, and any formal report on its activities would, normally, be submitted to Cabinet through the Cabinet Secretary, or directly to the President of the Republic as Chairperson of Cabinet. Till date, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng has done neither, the statement said. It added It is important also to point out that, whilst Prof. Frimpong-Boateng makes serious allegations against some government appointees, as having been involved in, supporting or interfering with the fight against illegal mining, not a single piece of evidence was adduced or presented to enable the claims to be properly investigated. Indeed, the allegations contained in the document are at best hearsay. It is instructive that since Prof. Frimpong-Boateng's meeting with the Chief of Staff in March, 2021, he has taken no step nor acted in furtherance of the matters contained in the document. It further stated that the President's commitment to fighting illegal mining is unassailable, and the Office of the President welcomes any information on illegal mining activities which provides a credible basis for investigations to be conducted by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service. 3news.com 26.04.2023 LISTEN Former President John Dramani Mahama is calling for the resignation of Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang-Manu over the challenges associated with the smooth implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Mr Agyemang-Manu, recently complained about the return of the 'Cash and Carry' system in most health facilities across the country despite the existence of the NHIS. He noted that almost all health facilities are not accepting health insurance cards, adding that he has received numerous complaints from the subscribers concerning the treatment they go through at some of these facilities. Mr Manu noted that even though the scheme covers Cesarean Section (CS), some of the subscribers pay more than GH1,000 to be operated on at some facilities. He described it as "sad" because the scheme was not introduced because of the middle class but the poor people in society. The Minister made these observations at the maiden Senior Managers of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) meeting in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, on Tuesday, 18 April 2023. While appealing to the head of these facilities to think about the interest of the lower class by accepting the health insurance card, he admitted that the scheme has been delaying payments but all efforts are being made for some funds to be released on time for the running of the facilities. Reacting to the Ministers complains, Mr Mahama asked who should take responsibility if the scheme is not working as it should. Speaking to NDC party executives and delegates at the Western North region as part of his campaign tour to be re-elected as the partys flagbearer ahead of the 2024 elections, Mr Mahama noted that it is unacceptable for a Minister to act as a passive observer on the side line. He said the collapse of the NHIS occurred during his tenure (Kweku Agyemang-Manu) and under his leadership, and therefore, accepting that the system is not working should be accompanied by a resignation. Source: Classfmonline.com The present situation in Ghana where the water bodies, virgin forests and fertile/arable lands have come under unrelenting devastation by illegal small scale and alluvial mining, known in the Ghanaian parlance as galamsey, it is only right that a strong, honest, dynamic and dedicated person is needed as president of Ghana. Of all those contesting to become the next president after President Nana Akufo-Addo, Kennedy Agyapong stands the tallest among them. He possess all the three qualities that make for a successful president. They are the same qualities that have made Singapore, a country without natural mineral endowments but water-logged, currently an advanced rich country. The three cardinal pillars on which Singapore has so stringently successfully revolved to catapult her into the very core but not simply the periphery of economic success and a country without official or non-official corruption, are MERITOCRACY, PRAGMATISM and HONESTY (MPH). Is Kennedy Agyapong not the embodiment of the three mentioned qualities? He believes in the award of higher official positions to people on merit without the consideration for family or friends in what has come to be known in Ghana as WHOM YOU KNOW, as regards offer of jobs. He believes in solving problems using any relevant method that will be deemed fit and capable of solving them in that instant without restricting himself to the strictest confinements of any ping pong regulations in place. Every unique problem has their unique solution. Kennedy will find such unique solutions to any unique problem that rears its ugly bestial head. Galamsey with its known devastations that have the potential to culminate in the eventual destruction of lives and the ecology of Ghana, has become a unique problem beckoning for its unique solution. Is it not Kennedy Agyapong who can find and apply that unique solution to decapitate that destructive galamsey if it were a poisonous snake? Kennedy Agyapong is undeniably honest and his track record speaks volume about him. Was he not the one who on learning on the phone about his son breaching traffic regulations in Accra asked the arresting police officer breaking the news to him to lock his son up? How many of our Ghanaian parents could do that? Before proceeding any further, watch the video below on how MPH was applied in Singapore by their leader to bring about the envious success story of the country. Dont we have some chiefs, rich men and influential persons in Ghana that are known to contact the police, judges, etc., to plead to have specific arrested or arraigned criminals released because the culprits are their family members, friends, etc.? If such people get their sons or daughters arrested, they will hurry to get them released or order for their immediate release, if they have that power. However, Kennedy Agyapong never did that but asked for his son to be punished for breaking the law. This tells how honest he is to ensure the obedience of the laws. If he has done this to his son, do you think he will spare Rockson Adofo if he, Rockson, breaks the law? No! Let me define the mentioned qualities as are in the dictionary to then quickly call it a day. 1. Meritocracy: A social system or organization in which people reach positions of power based on their abilities rather than their money, family connections, etc. 2. Pragmatism: The quality of dealing with a problem in a sensible way that suits the conditions that really exist, rather than following fixed theories, ideas, or rules. 3. Honesty: the quality of being honest: (truthfully and hiding nothing); Honest means telling the truth or able to be trusted and not likely to steal, cheat, or lie Ghanas problem is purely the lack of law enforcement. Until we are able to enforce the laws, no matter who comes to power, the country will continue to go downhill with official devastating corruption ramifying like the harmattan bushfire to the detriment of all but the corrupt leaders and criminals. The above being the case, Kennedy Agyapong is best suited to become the next president of Ghana in these uncertain times the country is wallowing and stagnating in, if we really want to see Ghana developed with a stop put to the devastating galamsey, armed robberies, murders and whatnot. However, for NPP to achieve their much touted and hoped for dream of breaking the 8, in a country where people vote along tribal lines and political affiliations but not on policies and programmes, we had better go for Dr Alhaji Mahammudu Bawumia. In my heart of hearts, I will prefer to see a team of Kennedy Agyapong, Dr Alhaji Bawumia, Dr Kwabena Duffour and Dr George Akuffo Dampare (IGP) govern Ghana after President Nana Akufo-Addo gracefully bows out of the presidency on 7 January 2025. There are unique qualities in each of the mentioned persons which when put together, can quickly solve Ghanas socio-economic problems to the admiration of all discerning Ghanaians. I will highlight on their unique qualities and some of their intended policies and programmes that I may be privy to in my future publications. Rockson Adofo Tuesday, 25 April 2023 A wanted Sudanese war crimes suspect has confirmed that he and other members of the Islamist regime ousted in 2019 have escaped from prison during recent fighting, raising new fears for a fragile ceasefire that has enabled foreigners to flee. The 72-hour ceasefire brokered by the United States was already struggling to hold after the regular army launched renewed air strikes against rival paramilitary forces in the capital Khartoum late on Tuesday. The escape of leading figures from the ousted regime of Omar al-Bashir, at least one of whom is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, has raised fears the conflict may take a turn for the worse. Ahmed Harun, a former top aide of Sudan's ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir, is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. By Ashraf SHAZLY (AFP/File) Ahmed Harun, a top Bashir aide who led the regime's infamous counter-insurgency operations in Darfur in the mid-2000s, said late Tuesday that he and other regime members had escaped from Kober prison. The ousted dictator had himself been held in the same prison but the army confirmed Tuesday that the 79-year-old had already been transferred to hospital before the current fighting erupted on April 15. Members of Bashir's regime, including the strongman himself, had been moved to a military hospital "due to their health conditions... and remain in the hospital under the guard of the judicial police", the army said in a statement, without specifying when they had been moved. A building damaged during battles between the forces of two rival Sudanese generals in the southern part of Khartoum. By - (AFP/File) It was the third reported jail break to have taken advantage of the fighting between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and those backing his deputy turned rival, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. "We remained in our detention at Kober, under the crossfire of this current battle, for nine days," even after the jail was emptied of both guards and prisoners, Harun said in a recorded address to Sudanese television. He said he and fellow jailed regime members "had now taken responsibility for our protection in our own hands" in another location. Sudan's former dictator Omar al-Bashir, on the right, in a file photo with his deputy-turned-rival Mohammed Hamdan Daglo. By ASHRAF SHAZLY (AFP/File) Security fears had already been raised on Tuesday when the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of a "huge biological risk" after combatants occupied a Khartoum laboratory holding samples of cholera, measles, polio and other infectious diseases. The fighting between the rival generals, which has involved air strikes and artillery exchanges, has killed hundreds of people and left some neighbourhoods of greater Khartoum in ruins. Mass exodus Explosions and gunfire have echoed through Sudan's capital amid the fierce battles. By Abdelmoneim SAYED (AFP/File) As the fighting eased on Tuesday in the city of five million people, foreign governments organised road convoys, aircraft and ships to get their nationals out. A ship carrying nearly 1,700 civilians from more than 50 countries docked in Saudi Arabia early Wednesday, the kingdom's foreign ministry said. Sudanese workers meanwhile complained of being left in a state of desperation, unable to leave their homes during the fighting. Britain has laucnhed a large-scale evacuation of its citizens trapped in Sudan, where urban combat has led to hundreds of deaths. By Mark JOHNSON (MOD/AFP/File) "I say to Hemeti, my brother, please, the war has destroyed the Sudanese people. My brother, Burhan, stop the war," Barir Hamad, a builder, told AFP. "Why didn't the officials care for the Sudanese people and their suffering?" said Alnour Mohamed Ahmed, another builder. "People can't leave their homes." Late Tuesday, witnesses reported renewed air strikes in Khartoum North where they said fighter jets struck RSF vehicles. The RSF posted a video in which it claimed to be in control of an oil refinery and the associated Garri power plant more than 70 kilometres (more than 40 miles) north of Khartoum. Shortly before, the army had warned in a Facebook post of "heavy movement towards the refinery in order to take advantage of the truce by taking control of the refinery". The two sides have both made unverifiable claims to control key sites, adding to what experts call an overwhelming state of fear in the capital. Famine risk Kenyan and Somalian citizens arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi after being evacuated aboard a Kenya Airforce aircraft to flee the deadly conflict in Sudan's capital. By Tony KARUMBA (AFP/File) A UN report warned that "shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel are becoming extremely acute, especially in Khartoum and surrounding areas". "In some places, humanitarian aid is all that is keeping famine at bay," UN chief Antonio Guterres said Tuesday. The UN said it was bracing for an exodus of up to 270,000 refugees to Sudan's even poorer neighbours Chad and South Sudan. The fighting has killed at least 459 people and wounded more than 4,000, according to UN agencies. Sudan has a long history of military coups. Map of Sudan and neighbouring countries as civilians flee the country during a fragile ceasefire.. By Sophie RAMIS (AFP) The RSF emerged from the Janjaweed militia that then-president Bashir unleashed in the Darfur region two decades ago. The military toppled Bashir in a palace coup in April 2019 following civilian mass protests that raised hopes for a transition to democracy. The two generals seized power in a 2021 coup, but later fell out, most recently over the planned integration of the RSF into the regular army. Thousands of Sudanese and foreign civilians have been evacuated from Sudan on the second day of a ceasefire agreed between the country's warring military factions. The latest US-brokered ceasefire in Sudan has allowed several countries to evacuate their nationals. A boat evacuating more nearly 1,700 people from more than 50 countries arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. A French-chartered flight arrived in Paris Charles-de-Gaulle airport on Wednesday morning with 245 people aboard. 195 were French citizens largely from the French Embassy in Khartoum, but Dutch, Italians, New Zealanders and Sudanese were among the other nationalities according to the French Foreign Ministry. All of the French citizens wishing to leave Sudan have been able to do so, according to Franceinfo. Britain said on Wednesday it had evacuated between 200 to 300 citizens as part of an "extensive operation". Germany said it had ended its evacuation operations, with over 700 people flown out of the country. Shaky ceasefire Fighting broke out between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 15 April following a bitter power struggle between the leaders of the two factions. The latest 72-hour ceasefire began at midnight on Monday and, while fragile, appears to be holding. Volker Perthes, the UN special envoy to Sudan and who is in the country, said the ceasefire is still being observed in some parts of the country. But witnesses late Tuesday reported gunfire and explosions in Khartoum and the nearby town of Omdurman. "The pause was not fully upheld, with attacks on headquarters, attempts to gain ground, air strikes, and explosions in different areas of the capital," Perthes told the Security Council on Tuesday. "There is yet no unequivocal sign that either is ready to seriously negotiate, suggesting that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible." Security fears were compounded when the World Health Organization (WHO) warned Tuesday of a "huge biological risk" after fighters occupied a Khartoum laboratory holding samples of cholera, measles, polio and other infectious diseases. The fighting has killed at least 459 people and wounded more than 4,000, according to UN agencies. Thousands more have fled to neighbouring South Sudan and Chad. Al-Bashir Sudan's military has confirmed reports that ousted former president Omar al-Bashir is being held at a military-run hospital under police custody. Bashir was moved from the Kober prison on the recommendation of medical staff before fighting between the army and RSF broke out, the army said in a statement on Wednesday. Ousted by the military after mass protests in 2019, Bashir had been serving a jail sentence for corruption. The ICC also accuses him of crimes against humanity in Darfur, which he denies. Joseph Whittal 26.04.2023 LISTEN Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Joseph Whittal, has given an indication of a public hearing once it establishes the need to act on a petition by the Member of Parliament (MP) of South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor. Mr. Dafeamekpor has petitioned CHRAJ to investigate allegations contained in a report issued by the former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng in his capacity as the Chairman of the erstwhile Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM). Speaking in an interview on Ghana Tonight on TV3 Tuesday, April 25, Mr. Whittal said, We can undertake a panel hearing. We can do that and that's in the interest of the complainant. But the point is that you can't do a panel hearing of all aspects of the investigation. We can do a panel hearing of persons who can come and be interviewed publicly and we can always invite the media to cover. This follows the acceptance by the Commission earlier on Tuesday to probe the report. Mr. Dafeamekpor asked CHRAJ to investigate violations of fundamental human rights, alleged corrupt practices, issues of conflict of interest and abuse of public office by the named public officials and others cited in the report of Prof. Frimpong-Boateng. The petition, filed by lawyers for the MP, also wants CHRAJ to investigate allegations of corruption, conflict of interest and abuse of office made by Charles Bissue, the former secretary of the IMCIM, against Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the former chairman of the IMCIM, in respect of matters involving some 500 excavators that supposedly went missing around February 2020. We would give it the deserved attention that this particular 'galamsey' report which has bedevilled the public space, deserves, Mr. Whitthal said on Accra-based Joy FM. According to him, although the Commission has received and is studying the report, they have to determine whether the allegations trigger the mandate of CHRAJ. It would be recalled that in a 36-page report dated 19th March, 2021, the renowned heart surgeon named some top government officials as well as NPP stalwarts as engaged in illegal mining, popularly known as 'galamsey'. Mr. Gabby Asare Otchere- Darko, a private legal practitioner and cousin to President Akufo-Addo, Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information, Mr. Lord Commey, Director of Operations at the Presidency, and Mr. Charles Bissue were some of the persons named by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng as complicit in illegal mining. They have since denied any involvement in the illegal act. -3news.com Survivors of a massacre in northern Burkina Faso have described an hours-long ordeal in which men in army uniforms carried out brutal and arbitrary killings, including women who were carrying their babies on their backs. The bloodbath unfolded on April 20 in the village of Karma, in a part of the country that has been badly hit by jihadists, but it was only officially disclosed on Sunday. Regional prosecutor Lamine Kabore told AFP "about 60 people" were killed by assailants dressed in army uniforms. But in a statement issued on Tuesday, survivors and local residents said more than 100 died, in a massacre that lasted hours. Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN's high commissioner for human rights, meanwhile said in a press release that according to reports "at least 150 civilians" may have been killed. The survivors said that at around 7:30 am last Thursday, the village of some 400 people was surrounded by a "large number of men in uniform," arriving on motorbikes, pickup trucks, armoured vehicles "and a tank". Slaughter Some villagers went out to welcome them, happy to see that "these soldiers" had arrived, but the mood swiftly turned to terror as the killings began, the statement said. "Several people were shot down where they stood without any form of process... women, children and the elderly," it said. People who tried to hide were ordered to come out, as assailants smashed down doors and set fire to storage buildings. "Wounded people who tried to flee were pursued and killed... and some women were executed as they were carrying their babies on their back," the survivors said. The killing lasted until around 2:00 pm, when the soldiers moved off in a column towards Dinguiri, a village lying to the north of Karma, they said. The community said the dead were still lying in the open as of Tuesday. They had tried to go to the village to bury the bodies on Monday morning, but the army had blocked off the road. The massacre occurred a week after 34 defence volunteers and six soldiers were killed by suspected jihadists at Aorema, a village about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Karma. Following that attack, Burkina Faso's military junta declared a "general mobilisation" to give the state "all necessary means" to combat a string of bloody attacks blamed on jihadists affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group. UN call Kabore said he was investigating the killings and had given instructions for anyone involved to be detained. Shamdasani called for a fast and rigorous inquiry. "This investigation must be prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial and must result in credible prosecutions, if such gross violations are to end," she said. Karma lies in a gold-rich area that has drawn an influx of illegal miners, close to the border with Mali -- the epicentre of an 11-year-old jihadist insurgency that has rocked the fragile Sahel. Junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traore last week ordered a 'general mobilisation' following a jihadist attack that killed 40 members of the security forces. By Issouf SANOGO (AFP) Burkina Faso has been hit especially hard, and its poorly-equipped military has been battered by a ruthless, mobile foe. The violence has left more than 10,000 people dead, according to non-governmental aid groups, and displaced two million people from their homes. Anger within the military at the mounting toll sparked two coups in 2022, the most recent of which was in September. The latest strongman, Captain Ibrahim Traore, has declared a goal of recapturing the 40 percent of the country's territory which is controlled by jihadists. 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 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. He claimed that the tabloid press felt like it owned him, despite him only being 5% funded by the taxpayer while he was a working royal. Despite the common misconception, I was no more than 5% funded by the taxpayer while I was a working royal in the UK, yet it felt as though the tabloid press thought that they owned me absolutely, and deserved to know everything there is to know about me, my life, my movements and the lives of those people who came into my orbit, he said. Harry claimed that the tabloid press cast him as a thicko and a cheat, and that he ended up playing up to the headlines they wrote about him. The Duke of Sussex said the tabloids were hoping he would have a complete breakdown (Victoria Jones/PA) As a teenager and in my early twenties, I ended up feeling as though I was playing up to a lot of the headlines and stereotypes that they wanted to place upon me, he said. It was a downward spiral, whereby the tabloids would constantly try and coax me, a damaged young man, into doing something stupid that would make a good story and sell lots of newspapers. Looking back on it now, such behaviour on their part is utterly vile. He said that the tabloids hoped for him to undergo a total and very public breakdown. Story continues Despite them all knowing about what I was dealing with throughout the years, they kept on doubling down their efforts rather than letting up, he said. That is grotesque and sadistic and no doubt they were hoping for a total and very public breakdown. Harry said he felt the tabloids wanted him to remain single as he was much more interesting to them, and said reporting more recently has been even more sinister and dangerous because of race. Whilst they would, of course, report on my successes in life, it seemed to me that they took far greater pleasure in knocking me down, time and time again. This extended to my relationships, he said. I always felt as if the tabloids wanted me to be single, as I was much more interesting to them and sold more newspapers. Whenever I got into a relationship, they were very keen to report the details but would then, very quickly, seek to try and break it up by putting as much strain on it and creating as much distrust as humanly possible. This twisted objective is still pursued to this day, even though Im now married. The methods relied on of late being even more sinister and dangerous because of race. Harry is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World, over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles. On Tuesday, NGN made a bid for a judge to throw out the case, as well as a similar claim brought against the publisher by actor Hugh Grant. During [the] second patrol of our platoon to Noong and Kollam areas, the young girls of the village invited us to their tukul (hut), which is something they never do when only male soldiers patrol the area, says Captain Seema Gowdar. Captain Gowder was recently deployed with 26 fellow women peacekeepers to the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei ( UNISFA ), as second-in-command of the Indian Engagement Platoon, Indias largest deployment of women peacekeepers in 15 years. Corporal Lakshmi Pradhan, who joins her in patrols and static security duties, shares her aspirations for the platoon: I hope that our presence and interaction here inspire and motivate young girls of Abyei to attain education so they can be soldiers, teachers, or anything they want. The United Nations Engagement Platoon , a relatively novel military capability within UN Peacekeeping, refers to groups of military peacekeepers who are deployed to support peace operations by engaging communities, particularly women and children. By deploying mixed teams that comprise around 50% of women, the capability contributes to implementing the mission mandates and promotes gender parity. "Engagement platoons help build trust, prevent conflicts, and support stabilization efforts. This is crucial because addressing the needs of entire communities, including those of women and girls, requires the building and strengthening of relationships, says Lieutenant Colonel Lausanne Nsengimana Ingabire. The UN office of Military Affairs, where Lt. Col. Ingabire works, gives priority to developing a curriculum that supports Member States to prepare their peacekeepers for deployment. The curriculum focuses on providing tailored, pre-deployment training for platoons which includes scenario-based exercises involving the technical requirements needed to engage with civil society members. Upon their arrival in Abyei, members of the Indian Engagement Platoon are given an orientation briefing at their Sector Headquarters in Dukura. Photo: UNISFA Training is a vital component in ensuring that peacekeepers can effectively deliver their duties. Part of ensuring this delivery also comes from making certain that men and women peacekeepers are given equal living and working conditions to carry out their tasks and thrive in what they do. The Elsie Initiative , a pilot project through Canada, helps create supportive conditions for women peacekeepers in the field. In Abyei, it has funded safety improvements in order to make womens living conditions in campsites equal to their male counterparts. This aspect of gender-sensitive peacekeeping helps uniformed women fully contribute their potential to implement the mission mandate and protect civilians. Members of the Indian Platoon stand in front of new gender-sensitive accommodation in Dukura. Photo: UNISFA For conflict-affected villages in Abyei, some of which experienced attacks as early as January of this year, the diversity provided by Engagement Platoons deployed by UNISFA has already yielded positive results. For instance, in Majbong, a community in Southeast Abyei, the support of the Ghana Engagement Platoon comes at the right time. Following a spike in community violence early January 2023, this 22-strong platoon has stepped up its presence and kept regular checks on the plight of displaced persons in the volatile area. According to the information gathered by the peacekeepers, including women in uniform, community members have gradually begun returning to the village and sleeping in their huts. When the violence erupted, they had begun spending the nights in the surrounding bush, placing the women at particular risk of further harm. The local leaders in Majbong say people have felt safer since the battalion increased the frequency of static and mobile patrols in the area. The mixed patrols are paving the way for normal life to continue. You see, their presence is boosting the confidence of members of the community to go about daily activities safely, asserts Deng Paul Mankuol, a traditional chief. Members of the Ghana Mixed Engagement Platoon engage with the Majbong community in Abyei. Photo: Marie Oniwa/UNISFA The Ghana Battalion sitting with community members in Abyei Photo: UNISFA The Ghana Battalion laughing with community members in Abyei Photo: UNISFA The impact of the Indian Engagement Platoon has also been noted in the village of Kollam. Similar to Majbong, local community members have been hesitant to return to the area after an attack on the village in 2022. When the Indian battalion first accessed Kollam, only one person, an elderly woman, still occupied the area. Most of the community had fled the area due to fear of future attacks. But since the platoons arrival in January, the communities in Kollam have gradually begun returning to their homes. The Indian Engagement Platoon and the Ghanaian Engagement Platoon represent two examples of the ways diverse teams can make UN peace operations more effectively support the communities they serve and protect. [ends] 26.04.2023 LISTEN Former Attorney General Betty Mould-Iddrisu says we are watching Chief Justice nominee Gertrude Torkornoo very closely because Ghana has to be rescued from the current administration of justice. Reacting to the news of President Nana Akufo-Addos nomination of the Supreme Court judge as a prospective replacement for current Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, who goes on retirement on 24 May 2023, Mrs Mould-Iddrisu told Korku Lumor in an interview on Class91.3FMs morning show on Wednesday, 26 April 2023 that she must defend justice in an impartial and professional manner if she gets the nod. In a letter to the Council of State, President Akufo-Addo said Justice Torkornoo who has been on the Supreme Court for the last four years and has been a member of the Judiciary for the last 19 years, is duly qualified and eminently fit to discharge the functions of Chief Justice. Regarding her nomination, Mrs Mould-Iddrisu said: We knew it was coming and weve been following the event and she should try and defend justice in an impartial [and] professional manner. I hope she does, I hope lives up to the maxim that women are better administrators than men, she noted. I know she knows something about intellectual property rights and gender rights because she worked at FIDA with some of us some years ago, so, lets see what she can do, Mrs Mould-Iddrisu added. Profile of Justice Gertrude Torkornoo Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo (born 11 September 1962) is a Ghanaian judge. She was nominated to the Supreme Court in November 2019 and received parliamentary approval in December 2019. She was sworn in on 17 December 2019. She has been on the bench in Ghana since 2004 and was appointed a Supreme Court judge in 2019. She was one of the first Justices of the Commercial Division of the High Court and has been active in the core reform agenda and activities of the Judiciary and Judicial Service of Ghana since 2005. Early Life and Education Gertrude Torkornoo hails from Winneba in the Central Region of Ghana. She attended Wesley Girls High School where she obtained her ordinary level certificate and Achimota School for her advanced level certificate. She is an alumnus of the University of Ghana and graduated from the Ghana School of Law in 1986. In 2001 she obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in International Law and Organization from the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), part of Erasmus University in the Netherlands. In 2011, she graduated from Golden Gate University, USA with an LLM in Intellectual Property Law. Prior to joining Fugar & Co., a law firm in Accra as an associate, Justice Torkornoo worked as a volunteer at the FIDA Legal Aid Service and did an internship with Nabarro Nathanson in London. She returned to the firm (Fugar & Co.) in 1994 to become a director. In January 1997, she co-founded Sozo Law Consult where she worked as Managing Partner until 14 May 2004 when she was appointed a Justice of the High Court of Ghana. She worked as a High Court judge until October 2012 when she was elevated to the Court of Appeal. Justice Torkornoo was nominated to the Supreme Court of Ghana in November 2019. She was sworn into office on 17 December 2019. -ClassFMonline.com The Ga Mantse His Royal Majesty (HRM) King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II has enstooled UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay as the new Developmental Queen mother of the Ga traditional council with the stool name Naa Adoley Oheyefio (beautiful) I. The entire township of the Ga Traditional Council at North Kaneshie was in a state of celebration as it was the first time since the enstoolment of Nii Dr. Tetteh Kwei II in 2015 that a new queen mother has been enstooled to oversee the development of the Ga State. As custom dictates, the queen mothers of the Ga traditional council gathered at the durbar grounds at Ga-mantse palace to adorn Ms. Azoulay with royal beads and traditional kente cloth. This was amid musket fires, drumming, and cultural displays. As the enstoolment rite was performed, five young women decorated with white charcoal rhythmically shook bells indicating the acceptance of the newly enstooled queen mother by the Ga people. UNESCO Representative in Ghana Abdourahamane Diallo, who spoke on behalf of the Director-General expressed gratitude to the Ga Traditional Council for the beautiful enstoolment rite and culture display performed in honour of Ms. Audrey Azoulay. The UNESCO delegation is very grateful for the beautiful ceremony being performed and now we understand why the Ga tradition is so renowned around the world, he said. Mr. Diallo reiterated UNESCOs commitment to ensuring that its pragmatic focus on educating young people to contribute to Ghanas culture and wealth through the power of reading remains undisrupted. The Ga Mantse HRM King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II applauded the World Book Capital Advisory Committee for selecting the City of Accra as the 2023 World Book Capital, making the vibrant city part of the prestigious World Book Capital Cities Network. He also called on the Ministry of Education to enforce compliance and ensure that all basic schools both government and private in the Greater Accra Region study the Ga language. The Ga-Adangbe language which is the mother tongue of the Ga-Dangbe region is rarely spoken or taught in schools in Accra today. This is due to the invasion of other cultures which has practically affected our ethnicity and language as a whole. It is a challenge as language defines our ethnicity as a people, he said. HRM King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II also revealed that most Ga graduate teachers are not posted into the Accra jurisdiction after completion of the course. This leads to the lack of qualified teachers to teach the subject. We appeal to the government to post the Ga graduate teachers to the Ga jurisdiction so that they can teach the Ga language in our schools. Also, we believe that UNESCOs world book capital project wants to promote Ghanaian languages, especially Ga and Dangbe hence the need to have more teachers for the subject, he added. -DGN online Earlier this month, Wissam Moustafa travelled from the United States to Sudan to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr holiday with family, only to be caught up in fierce fighting between warring generals. On Wednesday, after a harrowing overland journey and overnight boat trip across the Red Sea, she joined thousands of civilians who have fled to Saudi Arabia, grateful to have survived but wracked with guilt and worry for those she left behind. "I had the chance to leave, not like my sisters," said a tearful Moustafa, who holds an American passport, as she disembarked a hulking commercial ship that transported more than 1,600 civilians to the coastal Saudi city of Jeddah. "I don't know whether they will be able to get out." A Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighter, pictured on April 23, 2023. By - (Rapid Support Forces (RSF)/AFP) The arrivals on Wednesday represented more than 50 countries, ranging from the Philippines to Zimbabwe and from Ireland to Nicaragua, according to a Saudi foreign ministry statement. Whether they had spent only a short time in Sudan or built lives there over many years, they all voiced concern for what would become of friends, family and colleagues who remain in the country. Conditions are harsh, amid urban combat and acute shortages of food, water, fuel and medicine. Bilal Al Ayoubi, a 37-year-old Lebanese national, had only been in Sudan for a short time before he had to flee. He said he felt "very close to it". "Its people are very kind and don't deserve what's happening to them," he said. Hadia Aladwani of Egypt spent 16 years in Sudan, where her husband ran a plastics factory, staying through previous periods of turmoil including the protests that led to the army toppling longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019. This week, however, they decided that trying to ride out the current crisis was untenable. "We left our houses, all our belongings, so for sure we feel as if we are in a nightmare", Aladwani said. Sleepless journey Map of Sudan and neighbouring countries as civilians flee. By Sophie RAMIS (AFP) The fighting in Sudan pits forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against those backing his deputy turned rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). At least 459 people have been killed and more than 4,000 wounded, according to UN agencies. Evacuees began arriving in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, with boats that reached Jeddah carrying 150 people including foreign diplomats and officials. On Monday, a C-130 Hercules military plane flew dozens of South Korean civilians to Jeddah's King Abdullah Air Base, and a boat ferried nearly 200 people from 14 countries across the Red Sea from Port Sudan. The Saudi-flagged ferry passenger ship Amanah arrives at Jeddah on April 26: the arrivals on Wednesday represented more than 50 countries, ranging from the Philippines to Zimbabwe and from Ireland to Nicaragua. By Amer HILABI (AFP) Wednesday's operation was by far the largest to date, and some passengers were crammed into stairwells for the 10-hour sea voyage. After what many described as a sleepless night, the haggard-looking group was called country by country to retrieve their bags and go ashore, where they were greeted by Saudi soldiers who handed them plastic-wrapped pink and red roses. The passengers included a number of Syrian nationals who told AFP they had fled to Sudan after civil war erupted in their country in 2011, and who described a sense of shock that they were fleeing conflict yet again. Saudi Navy sailors assist an elderly woman who has been evacuated from Sudan off a ferry passenger ship after arrival at King Faisal navy base in Jeddah on April 26. By Amer HILABI (AFP) "We left our country because of the war and we reached another country which is also facing war. This experience, which we have lived twice, is very difficult," said 35-year-old Batool. As she spoke, her 17-year-old son Adham broke down crying. "I left behind me so many dreams," he said, but was unable to speak further. Former President John Dramani Mahama has called for the immediate resignation or dismissal of the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang Manu. He cited the ministers failure in ensuring the smooth running of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Speaking at a campaign event ahead of the NDCs flagbearership contest, Mahama slammed the Minister for his inaction in addressing the challenges facing the scheme. It is unacceptable for a Minister to act as a passive observer on the sideline. The NHIS has collapsed under his leadership. Accepting that the system is not working should be accompanied by a resignation. Who should take responsibility for his failure? Mahama said in a tweet accompanying his campaign video. Mahamas comment was in reaction to Minister Kwaku Agyemang Manu's recent revelation that he was made to pay cash whenever he goes to the hospital due to challenges with the NHIS. The Minister cited extortion by service providers as one of the factors collapsing the scheme. "From the end-user point of view, it looks like the health insurance is not working. I am a patient, and I know what it is, he said. "I pay when I go to Ridge Hospital. I pay when I go to UGMC. I don't even present my insurance card," the Minister added. The Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament has said every parliament is as strong as its committees. Consequently, strengthening parliamentary committees to be able to deliver on their tasks and assignments should be the primary focus of all legislatures, he noted. The Speaker of Parliament said this at a meeting in Westminster, London, with the Rt. Hon. Sir Stephen Timms, the Chairman of the Works and Pensions Committee of the UK Parliament. He is leading a parliamentary delegation to the UK Parliament to discuss cooperation between the parliaments of Ghana and the UK, approaches to conducting parliamentary business effectively, managing hung parliaments and narrow majorities, making parliamentary scrutiny and oversight more efficient, and promoting a collaborative work environment in parliament. Rt. Hon. Bagbin said given the critical role of committees in parliamentary democracy, Ghanas parliament was considering opening up the proceedings of such committees to the media for coverage. He cited the examples of the Appointments Committee and the Public Accounts Committee, which are the two that currently mostly offer public live coverage. He also shared Ghanas experience regarding the role of the Speaker or Deputy Speaker as a Member of Parliament vis a vis voting on issues before the House and how that has played out in recent times. What came out was that the Speaker in the UK Parliament only exercises the casting vote when required, which is always in favour of maintaining the status quo, and not necessarily to tilt decisions in support of partisan interests. Rt. Hon. Timms said the select committees of the UK Parliament were mandated to undertake enquiries on issues of policy within the various government departments that the committees were expected to have oversight responsibility for. Beyond the government departments, the powers of the select committees clothe them with the authority to demand information and other documentation even from individuals outside the government. The Select Committee Chair shared in Ghanas Parliaments ambition of bringing parliament closer to the people by making the proceedings of select committees open to the media. He spoke about the UK Parliaments journey along that path and said since the tenure of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister, the media had always had free access to the proceedings of the UK Parliaments Select Committees. Rt. Hon. Timms spoke about the path to chairing the various select committees in the UK and said it is determined by the composition of the House. The percentage of MPs that a political party has in the House determines the number of select committees that representatives of that political party can chair. As a result, both members of the majority and minority can chair select committees, which is determined by a simple majority vote of the members of the committee on eligible candidates. With Rt. Hon. Timms during the meeting was Diana Atungire-Ocaya, the Strategic Lead for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Associations (UK Branch) Overseas Territory Project, and Niger Mills, MP, Procedure and International Development Committees. Rt. Hon. Bagbins delegation included the Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Cyril Kwabena Oteng Nsiah, the Assistant Clerk, Mr. Ebenezer Djietror, Legal Counsel to the Speaker, Hon. Magnus Kofi Amoatey, the Director of Communication, Mr. Gayheart Mensah and the Deputy Director of Parliamentary Relations, Mr. Charles Dery Tenzagh. Sudan, which has descended into chaos with fierce fighting between rival generals, has lived through multiple civil wars since winning independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956. 1955-1972: first civil war Map of Sudan and neighbouring countries.. By (AFP) Sudan's first north-south civil war broke out several months before independence on January 1, 1956 and lasted until 1972. It pitted successive governments in the Arab and Muslim-dominated north against multiple forces of separatist rebels in the south, where people are mainly Christian or follow traditional religions. The 17-year conflict ended with a treaty signed in neighbouring Ethiopia, under which the president granted autonomy to the south. It collapsed in 1983 after 11 years of relative peace when President Jaafar Nimeiri decided to revoke the south's autonomous status, enforce Islamic sharia law and crush southern troops he said were mutinying. According to different sources, as many as 500,000 people died in the bitter conflict. 1983-2005: second civil war A Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLA) fighter in 2003, pictured in what is now the South Sudanese town of Rumbek, during the 1983-2005 Sudanese civil war. By SIMON MAINA (AFP) Sudan's second civil war erupted in 1983 when the rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), led by John Garang, rose up to change the Islamist rulers in Khartoum into a secular, democratic "New Sudan". In 1989, Omar al-Bashir, an Islamist, took power in a coup and cracked down on the southern rebellion. Southern guerrillas also fought within themselves, with one faction fighting for the south to break away. Northern rebels also battled the government in Eastern Sudan, Blue Nile and the Nuba Mountains. Some sources estimate as many as two million people were killed and another four million displaced in the 22-year war. The war ended on January 9, 2005, when Garang signed a peace accord with Bashir's government. A member of Sudan's Nuba community performs a traditional dance in 2015: South Kordofan state's Nuba Mountains have suffered decades of conflict. By ASHRAF SHAZLY (AFP) The cornerstone of the Kenya-mediated accord was a protocol exempting the south from sharia law and granting it six years of self-rule ahead of a 2011 referendum on whether to remain part of Sudan or secede. Oil-rich South Sudan proclaimed independence on July 9, 2011, splitting Africa's biggest country in two. As South Sudan separated, conflict resumed in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile in the rump state of Sudan in areas held by former guerrillas, now called the SPLM-North. In the spring of 2012, relations between Sudan and South Sudan soured in oil-rich border zones, resulting in clashes between the two armies. 2003-2020: Darfur war In this image grab taken from handout video footage released by the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 23, 2023, fighters ride in the back of an armed pickup. By - (Rapid Support Forces (RSF)/AFP) Sudan's vast western region of Darfur was plunged into a war in 2003 when mostly non-Arab armed groups rose up against the government in Khartoum, alleging racial discrimination, marginalisation and exclusion. Khartoum responded by unleashing the Janjaweed, a marauding group of nomadic Arab raiders who attacked Darfuri villages on camel and horseback alongside regular soldiers. In the first five years the conflict claimed 300,000 lives from direct combat as well as disease and malnutrition, according to the United Nations. Around 2.5 million were displaced. Omar al-Bashir, left, pictured in 2017 when he was president, waves a walking stick as he tours Dafur with the commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitaries Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. By ASHRAF SHAZLY (AFP/File) The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague in 2009 and 2010 issued arrest warrants for president Bashir for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Darfur. Bashir was ousted in 2019. On August 31, 2020, the government and most rebel groups agreed a landmark peace deal, but sporadic clashes continue. Since mid-April, the conflict between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, head of a paramilitary force born out of the Janjaweed, has caused heavy fighting in Khartoum as well as renewed conflict in Darfur. Bangladesh Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed left for India on Wednesday (April 26) on a three-day official visit at the invitation of Indian Army Chief. During the visit, he will attend the passing out parade of commissioned officers at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai, India as the chief guest and take the parade salute. During the visit, he will have a courtesy call on the chiefs of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as the Chief of Defense Staff, Defense Secretary and Foreign Secretary and other senior officials. During the meeting, they will discuss various issues of mutual cooperation and development of bilateral relations between the armies of the two countries. Besides, he will visit various important installations of the Indian Army during this visit. It should be noted that the existing relationship between Bangladesh and India Army has improved tremendously in the last two years due to the initiative of the Chief of Army Staff. After the tour, the army chief will return to the country from India on April 30. The visit is obviously as part of the outstanding bilateral defense relations between Bangladesh and India. The two may discuss ways to enhance and strengthen bilateral defense cooperation. BD Army chief this visit can strengthen relations between the two armies on a bilateral level and served as a catalyst for improved coordination and collaboration between the two nations on a variety of strategic problems. India-Bangladesh relations would reach a new level. Bangladesh could gain trust from the Indian government because India is an active member of the Indo-Pacific alliance. Bangladesh, on the other hand, can handle the Chinese predicament intelligently because its goal is to engage structurally rather than militarily. Bangladesh essentially sets an example for the other littoral nations by outlining its Indo-Pacific orientation . Bangladeshs Sheikh Hasina Wajed government has recently set an outlook for peace in the Indo-Pacific through dialogue and understanding. The foreign ministry of Bangladesh published the guidelines and objectives for the region at a press conference on Monday ahead of Prime Minister Hasinas key visit to Japan, the US and the UK. The outlook has four guiding principles and 15 objectives. Four principles are mentioned in the outline. The first of these is friendship with all, enmity with none. The principles emphasize constructive regional and international cooperation for sustainable development, international peace and security, humanitarian action and upholding fundamental rights and freedoms. It has 15 objectives. One of them is to maintain mutual trust and respect with a view to maintaining peace, prosperity, security and stability for all in the Indo-Pacific region. Expanding areas of partnership and cooperation and emphasizing dialogue and understanding. To contribute meaningfully and of international value to international disarmament, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and counter-terrorism activities in collaboration with relevant partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Bangladesh has to clarify its position on the Indo-Pacific so that no one can misunderstand or mislead. As a result, Bangladesh has moved to a better position. Because there will be important bilateral discussions with the BD Army chief's during his visit to India. Before this, India clearly knew Bangladeshs position on the Indo-Pacific. The countrys relationship with Bangladesh will move forward based on this position. The deep-sea port at Matarbari in Bangladesh has become a strategic issue for Japan and India due to various reasons. Because the Quad partners aim to counter Chinese influence. The geopolitical importance of Bangladeshs first deep-sea port, Matarbari, was evident during the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to India last March. The port has emerged as an important area for the free and open Indo-Pacific agenda. Again, in the same month, the Japan International Cooperation Agency agreed to give a new loan of 165 billion yen (1.2 billion) to Bangladesh in the infrastructure construction sector. During his visit to New Delhi, Kishida said that Tokyo wants the development of the states from the Bay of Bengal to Northeast India with the cooperation of both Bangladesh and India in South Asia. For this reason, a discussion was held in Agartala a few days ago. Hence, Matarbari would not only be the most convenient port but also the most prudent choice for Indo-Japan, as New Delhi has much more cordial relations with Dhaka than its other neighbours. Bangladesh-India-Japan will benefit from this opportunity. Bangladesh is now inching closer to embracing the Indo-Pacific Strategy. However, Bangladesh has never strayed from its founding principle of nonalignment and wisdom drawn from its independence hero Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman which can be summed up as Friendship to all and malice toward none. Bangladesh essentially aims to balance relations with rival states. Many explain that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina does not keep eggs in one basket. Thus, she wants to maintain diplomatic, economic and strategic partnerships albeit unequally with the United States, Russia, China, European Union, Arabs and of course India. Bangladesh is moving closer to an embrace of the Indo-Pacific Strategy pursued by the Americans and its partners in the region, which revolves around countering China. This move comes as the US and a few key allies have signalled that Bangladesh should be a part of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, according to a Foreign Policy magazine brief. Dhaka has friendly ties with the USA, and other members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (known as the Quad) including India, and Europe. The current governments in Bangladesh and India are very close, and New Delhi is likely to have encouraged Dhaka to embrace the strategy, according to the brief by Wilson Centre. On the other hand, in South Asia, Bangladesh is an important ally of the India. The two nations work closely together on problems like climate change, counterterrorism, and regional security. This visit may serve to cement bilateral defense ties. Defense cooperation between nations could strengthen bilateral ties. Both India and Bangladesh are essential to the region. Despite some bilateral issues, both countries are greatly interested in further solidifying their bilateral ties, which can made clear by this visit. This could assist in bolstering bilateral ties and reflecting better bilateral understanding. This visit is highly important for Bangladesh and India in the region. Bangladesh and the India must work together as reliable partners to address some shared issues. Through this visit, India and Bangladesh have further reinforced their defense ties. India played a significant role in the Bangladesh War of Liberation in 1971, helping the then-East Pakistan transform into the new country of Bangladesh, which permanently altered the dynamics of South Asia. India and Bangladesh agreed to a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation that would last for 25 years. Given the numerous cultural, diplomatic, economic, and security linkages that exist between India and Bangladesh today, the two nations bilateral ties are now stronger than ever. Bangladesh occupies a special place in Indias heart as a close neighbor and an essential part of the countrys Neighborhood First Policy. Defense, security, and strategic connections between India and Bangladesh are expanding daily. Bangladesh is seen by India as an enduring strategic ally. In addition to giving 18 brand-new 120mm mortars to the Bangladesh Army in December 2020 as part of army-to-army cooperation, India has granted a $500 million line of credit to Bangladesh for defense procurement from India. A 122-member group from Bangladeshs tri-services also took part in the Republic Day parade in India in January 2021. From March 810, two Indian naval shipsINS Kulish and INS Sumedhavisited Bangladeshs Mongla Port, making it the first naval visit India had made in the previous 50 years. Bangladesh is still Indias closest neighbor, and relations with it are at a golden age. India wants to strengthen its relationship with Bangladesh just as the US wants to engage with it more strategically. Of sure, both nations would benefit from the situation. In an effort to improve bilateral defense cooperation, Bangladeshs army chief Gen S M Shafiuddin Ahmed and Indias new army chief General Manoj Pande spoke via video chat earlier last year. It is believed that the two army commanders will also discuss how the geopolitical landscape was changing and how that would affect regional security. In recent years, India and Bangladeshs defense and security relations have improved. The 50th anniversary of Bangladeshs Liberation was in 2021. Both India and Bangladesh have highly trained, experienced military, and they work together to keep the Eastern region peaceful. Due to the close ties between the two countries, India is also hosting a number of events to commemorate the liberation of Bangladesh 50 years ago. The Bangladeshi and Indian militaries are increasingly collaborating on defense. Through a variety of initiatives, such as joint training and drills and defense discussions, the two countries armed forces have been working together more and more. Two defense agreements were signed between Bangladesh and India during Sheikh Hasinas four-day trip to New Delhi in April 2017. These were the first such pacts inked by India and any of its neighbors. According to the accords, the troops of the two nations would engage in cooperative training and exercises. In order to achieve self-sufficiency in defense manufacturing in Bangladesh, India will assist Bangladesh in setting up manufacturing and service facilities for the defense platforms that both nations currently possess. Additionally, India will offer the Bangladesh military specialized training as well as technical and logistical support. India also gave a neighboring nation, Bangladesh, its first ever line of credit for defense-related purchases, in the amount of $500 million. Additionally, the forces of the two nations have taken on a significant role in conducting training programs for dealing with counterterrorism challenges, natural catastrophes, and ensuring humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). The visit most importantly took place at a time when Myanmar and Bangladesh are trying to solve the Rohingya crisis from the inspiration of the Chinese mediation. Discussions would also be held about various ways to improve the conduct of military exercises at a more rapid and decisive scale. Defence and security are significant elements of India and Bangladeshs bilateral relations, and the armed forces of the two nations cooperate and coordinate with one another on numerous levels. As some selected items are being prioritized, Bangladesh would soon import goods connected to defense from India under the US$ 500 million Line of Credit offered by New Delhi, according to Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on December 16. On December 15, 2021, President Ram Nath Kovind met with the top officials of Bangladesh during his first state visit there at the invitation of his counterpart, M Abdul Hamid, to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Bangladeshs independence from Pakistan in 1971. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina welcomed President Ram Nath Kovind, and the two leaders spoke about a range of topics of bilateral cooperation and shared interest. They talked about the development of their intricate and extensive bilateral relations. The defense issue came up during President Kovinds meetings with Bangladeshs top officials. India has added an additional $500 million to its line of credit for defense products. Under this line of credit, a number of items have been identified and are being accelerated quickly; their processing is at a fair degree of sophistication. (In accordance with news reports) India presented Bangladesh with a $500 million line of credit in 2019 to help the neighboring nation purchase defense equipment. The Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh and the Export Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) inked a contract on April 11 to allow the latter access to a US$ 500 million line of credit (LOC). The Memorandum of Understanding aims to finance Bangladeshs acquisition of defense equipment. In April 2017, India promised to provide Bangladesh with a US$ 500 million Line of Credit during Prime Minister Hasinas visit to New Delhi. India and Bangladesh have been providing the most soldiers to United Nations peacekeeping missions in terms of bilateral military cooperation. The two Armies collaboration has grown in the field of counterterrorism. Indias determination to combat terrorism in all its manifestations was echoed by Bangladeshs resolute stance against terrorism. India is aware of Bangladeshs efforts to prevent terrorist organizations from using space to conduct activities against India. In response, India should keep up its efforts to stop any terrorist group from using its territory to harm Bangladeshi interests. India had encountered challenging circumstances in some of the States bordering Bangladesh, but since Prime Minister Shiekh Hasinas government came to office in 2009, it has provided all assistance. It made sure that no one could hurt a neighboring country by using Bangladeshi soil. Bangladesh has made a commitment to not support terrorism or radicalism in any form and to prevent these activities from taking place on its soil. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian President Ramnath Kovind, Indian Foreign Minister, Indian Home Minister, and Chief Ministers of surrounding states have frequently voiced their praise for Bangladeshs zero-tolerance approach to combating terrorism. As a result of the insurgencys current low point in North-East India, Chief Minister of Assam Hemant Bishwa Sharma has thanked Bangladesh for its assistance and emphasized his wish to improve trade and connection between Bangladesh and North-East India. To strengthen the defense and security facets of their alliance, Bangladesh and India can cooperate in the field of defense. The two nations should be dedicated to further developing the defense and security component of their partnership based on the needs expressed and each partys ability to respond to them using different methods, including through capacity building and potential technology transfer. India can assist Bangladesh in achieving the goal of implementation of Bangladeshs visionary military plan Forces Goal 2030. Dr Arpita Hazarika is a Gauhati University, Assam, India-based researcher. She is very interested in refugee affairs, political economy, security and strategic affairs, and foreign policies of the Asia-Pacific region. She visited a number of countries such as Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, UK, USA, France, Japan, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, and Canada. She has research works on India-Bangladesh affairs. A revised MTN Data Zone Bundle has been approved by the National Communications Authority (NCA). This has been confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NCA, Joe Anokye. Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, April 26, he said MTN has since submitted a revised data zone bundle which has been approved by the authority. It is our expectation that the product will soon be available. Data Zone bundle is an innovation by MTN Ghana that gives customers a 1-day validity bundle at discounted rates at the point of purchase. Subscription is through the Short Code 135. The offer was suspended by the giant telecommunications network early this month. The suspension attracted a lot of outrage from customers who took to social media to express their displeasure. In a press release from MTN Ghana to explain matters, it said, The suspension of the innovative Data Zone bundle is due to a review of the bundle offer in line with the Significant Market Power (SMP) directives applied to MTN Ghana in June 2020, not to be the lowest priced on any offer in the industry. We are currently engaging and collaborating with the Regulator, as we seek alignment on a revised DataZone bundle to be reinstated as soon as possible. We will notify you in due course of further developments. The Greater Accra Zongo Chief Alhaji Dr Yahaya Hamisu has called on Zango Communities across the country to coexist peacefully with foreigners living among them for the growth and development of their communities. The Marafa of the Greater Zongo Chief Alhaji Umurana Bako speaking on behalf Sarki Dr. Yahaya Hamisu Boko after the annual Eid-ul-Fitr procession, also called on the youth to respect their elders to live a purposeful life. He further urged the people of Sabon Zongo not to use shortcut means to get rich but rather work hard and wait for the appropriate time. Malam Umurana Adamu Bako revealed that the major challenge confronting the Zongo Communities is the confirmation of them as Ghanaian citizens at some institutions like the National Identification Authority, and Passport Office among others. He called on the government to call those institutions to order as Hausa people are Ghanaians adding that they were part of the fight for the country's Independence. The 2023 Greater Accra Eid-ul-Fitr procession was arranged in accordance with tribal Chiefs such as the Chief and elders of Kabawa community in Greater Accra, followed by the Sabon Zongo Moshie Chief, Naaba Tigri with Greater Accra Zanfara Chief next also followed by the Cabinet members of Greater Accra Zango Chief. This year the Greater Accra Zongo Chief Sarki Dr. Yahaya Hamisu Bako assigned members of his cabinet to join other tribal Chiefs in the procession due to the demise of the Waziri who is the next in command at the palace. The Marafa revealed that there was a decision by the Cabinet to put on hold the procession but the cabinet considered the fact that people have invested and made preparation towards the event therefore it will be unfair to put it on hold. This he said compel the Chief to step aside for his cabinet members to represent him at the program. An Auburn native arrested last year on accusations that he deceived two women into giving him tens of thousands of dollars and then threatened them with physical harm repeatedly when they cut off contact from him has pleaded guilty to two of the seven federal charges he was facing. In federal court in Los Angeles Monday, Kiernan Major entered guilty pleas to two counts of making threats via interstate communication, charges that are punishable by up to five years in prison and maximum fines of $250,000. He was previously indicted those two counts plus five counts of stalking, which are also punishable by five years in prison. In a 25-page plea agreement, the 2014 Auburn High School graduate admitted to sending dozens of threatening electronic messages to two women. Court records showed that one of the women was a person Major knew from Auburn whom he had persuaded to come to California to work for him. The FBI has said Major convinced the two women to make tens of thousands of dollars in purchases for him by claiming he couldn't make transactions due to the secret nature of his intelligence work, which officials said was a fabrication. When both women attempted to cut ties with him, he sent them messages that included threats to kill them and their family members. The alleged victim from the Auburn area told investigators she stopped communication with Major in October 2020, but he then began sending frequent texts and emails and attempted to call her up to 1,000 times per day. She reported the threatening messages to the Auburn Police Department in January 2021, but local law enforcement authorities said they could not investigate because the alleged conduct took place in California. Among the messages that Major admitted to sending include one sent May 31, 2021, that said "I'll kill all of your family any day. It's just a matter of will. You are the one who begs for hell." Another sent on July 10, 2022, stated: "YOU WILL DIE OVER THIS IF YOU DONT SMARTEN UP" and also "I WILL MAKE SURE YOUR FATHER DIES A BRUTAL DEATH." Less than three weeks later, he was found in Ames, Iowa, and taken into FBI custody on federal stalking charges. He was indicted the next month. FBI: Auburn native swindled two women, threatened to kill them and their relatives An Auburn native is being held in an Iowa jail on a federal stalking charge in a case that has a connection to the arrest of his mother in 2021. Major also reached out to the father of the victim from Auburn with threatening messages, but he also at one point told the father he had arranged to reimburse the man's daughter. Major had his mother, who was employed at the same organization as the victim's father, write a check to her for $25,000. That checked bounced, and Major's mother was arrested in April 2021 for knowingly issuing a bad check. According to the FBI complaint, Michelle Major has been ordered to pay restitution of $100 per month for five years. The federal investigation of Kiernan Major began in June when the other alleged victim, a woman he met in San Francisco, filed a complaint with the FBI National Threat Operations Center. Major has been in federal custody since he was found and arrested in Iowa in July. According to the plea agreement, Major will have to make restitution to the victims as part of a deal in which the U.S. Attorney's Office will consider recommending a prison time reduction if Major "demonstrates an acceptance of responsibility for the offense up to and including the time of sentencing." That sentencing is scheduled for May 22. How much prison time prosecutors recommend to the judge has not yet been determined, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's office said. The federal probation department is in the process of preparing a pre-sentence report, which the U.S. Attorney's Office uses in finalizing its sentencing recommendation. 26.04.2023 LISTEN As last year drew to a close, the 58 insurance firms in Nigeria under the umbrella of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) served notice that minimum Third-Party subscription for motor vehicles would no longer cost N5,000 but N15,000 beginning from this New Year. Some years ago, they charged N1,000 as minimum payable on motor insurance. Contrast with the current debate on the social media about MultiChoice serving a notice of increase on GOtv and DSTV subscribers. The increase ranges from 16 percent to 22 percent. Despite this, people are shouting BLUE MURDER! Subscribers are calling for the cable TV firm to be skinned or beheaded, saying MultiChoice would not dare such in its home headquarters, South Africa. Last time MultiChoice tried it, the matter went as far as the National Assembly. This same National Assembly now looks the other way with the new insurance premiums. What is the cable TVs 22 percent increment, compared to 200 percent by NAICOM? What insurers have done is brazen and indecent! To increase the minimum Third-Party motor insurance to 300 percent is not only unreasonable it is draconian. It is an act of impunity. It is extortionist, insensitive, inconsiderate, untimely, ill-advised, selfish and self-serving. It panders to the unbridled greed of industry operators. The brazenness is insulting. In short, the hike is highly inconsiderate, especially in this era of scarce and expensive fuel and an economy still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet insurers blame the N10,000 increment on current economic realities. Not acceptable! There are an estimated 13 million vehicles in Nigeria, of which only some 3 million have been captured in the insurance net. Instead of seeking ways to lure the noncompliant 10 million vehicle-owners to buy into insurance, insurers want to milk conformists to death. Where will patrons accommodate this increase, in a country with a minimum wage of N30,000? Of course, those earning minimum wage do not own vehicles. However, they use transportation. When the prices of vehicle inputs like fuel, tolls and spare parts become costlier, vehicle owners simply transfer them to commuters through higher fares. Adding a costlier insurance to the motor value chain amounts to subjecting vehicle owners to double, nay multiple, jeopardy, with the spiral effect translating to higher transport fares and costlier freighting fees. Imagine if other elements in the motor driving particulars too decide to follow suit. It means that drivers and owners would pay three times on: 1. Vehicle Licence 2. Road Worthiness 3. Hackney Permit 4. Drivers Licence 5. Customs Papers 6. Tinted Glass Permits (which the Police Force deserves kudos for waiving) and other council and business locations tickets. Someone said, "Insurance is the sale of promises. The customer pays money now; the insurer promises to pay money in the future if certain events occur. Sometimes, the promise will not be tested for decades." Sometimes the promise will not be even tested forever! In fact, only about 15 percent insurance subscribers ever bother to make accident claims. The greater proportion of claimants comes from corporate policyholders. Thus, the insurance firm is the greater beneficiary in the relationship because the individual motor policyholder would just lick his wound and settle the bills jejely. Everyone knows that the Third-Party insurance on vehicles is just to fulfil all righteousness a legal requirement with which transport owners must comply. In Nigeria here, they refer to it as, Let-My-People-Go Insurance, or Let-Me-Pass Insurance. Third-Party is the paper drivers obtain just to satisfy the police. Thats all! In case of accident or damage to Third-Party vehicles, insurance customers hardly bother to engage themselves in the stress of filing claims. The red tape and bureaucracy is so organised as to be stressful and time-wasting. Therefore, claimants simply pay from their pockets. Commercial bus and employed drivers are a common sight, kneeling and prostrating on the ground for the mercy of those whose cars they bash. Hence, the insurance firm reaps from doing NOTHING! Since owning personal cars for over two decades now, I have been involved in accidents. Not once have I made a single claim! In fact, apart from an Insurance Broker in my church, no one I know has EVER made a claim. Not one! In fact, late last year, someone in my neighbourhood had his SUV crushed by a falling container. The owner of the offending trailer came privately to plead for the victim to accept N7 million for a vehicle worth N12 million. Family members told the victim to thank God for surviving the ordeal and accept the money. That is how we roll. As of 2019, the Nigerian industry ranked 62nd in the world with $1.64 billion premium. That makes it an industry worth some N1.2 trillion. In 2021, the unaudited Insurance Industry performance in Nigeria showed that insurance firms made a gross income of N630 billion, and posted N238.05 billion as net expenditure. Talk about a fertile cash cow. Insurers benefit colossally from the statutory laws making vehicle insurance cover mandatory for cars, trucks and motorcycles. The Insurance Act 2003 mandates all motorists to carry the minimum of a Third-Party Motor Insurance Policy. Section 68 of the 2003 Insurance Act stipulates: No person shall use or cause or permit any other person to use a motor vehicle on a road unless a liability which he may thereby incur in respect of damage to the property of third parties is insured with an insurer registered under this Act. The law varies in the US, where most states, require vehicles to carry motor insurance. However, there are two US states where it is not mandatory Virginia and New Hampshire. Countries like New Zealand, Saudi Arabia and Manila do not require a compulsory insurance for vehicles to ply the roads. It is compulsory in Britain too, hence, we see that mandatory insurance is part of our colonial heritage. This colonial heritage must go now. As our colonial hangover, motor insurance is being weaponised for inordinate extortion, unbridled greed and excessive profiteering by insurers operating under a NAICOM cartel. Time has come to break up this cartel. With NAICOM calling the shots, it amounts to a monopoly, which should not hold in a free enterprise and deregulated economy. NAICOM is operating like a cartel. We consumers reject being milked by this privileged cartel. Nigeria should make insurance OPTIONAL. This Ninth National Assembly or the coming Tenth National Assembly should make this a matter of urgent public importance. Legislators should change the law to deregulate insurance or scrap this motor insurance law. The NASS should tweak the Insurance Act. Expunge, reframe, rephrase, rewrite restructure or remove that part of the law that makes it compulsory for vehicles to carry an insurance paper to travel the roads. If vehicles MUST be insured, the law should permit no more than a marginal increase, going forward. Motor insurance premium should take a cue from MultiChoice no increment should be over 20 percent. Legislators need to make a law to make motor insurance deregulated, optional or non-exploitative. They would be writing their name in gold. (OBOAGWINA IS AN AUTHOR AND JOURNALIST, AND MAY BE REACHED VIA: [email protected] ) As part of its efforts to help increase the resilience and profitability of African farming in the face of climate change and other challenges, the Ghana Food Movement organized the third Movers Connect: Lets talk seeds in Accra, to which discussed community, district, regional and international seed issues. The discussion came at a time when experts fear that climate change will worsen existing inequalities within the global trade systems, and the seed sector will not be spared. The discussion brought in more than 40 key stakeholders from government agencies, academia, students and the private sector, to discuss access to good quality seeds and why its important now for Ghana. Speaking at the dialogue, the Dean of the School of Agriculture at the University of Ghana, Professor Irene Egyir advised farmers to run their farms as a business and choose seeds varieties or agriculture practices that would increase their yield. She emphasised that the industry cannot avoid modernization in a changing world "like ours we see today." What kind of seed is important? Thats why I have said that for some of my farms, if I get the original seed and it will produce the yields, I will trade in it. Same goes with the conventional seed or the exotic seed. We should note that in everything, there are tradeoffs. There is the need for farmers to learn to manage situations and use modules to minimize toxicity. We cannot cut off modern agriculture just because of health. We are eight billion in the world, 30 million in Ghana, we need to explore ways of always getting food on the market at affordable prices, she said. Director of Communications for Food Sovereignty Ghana, Edwin Kweku Andoh Baffour argued that the indigenous seeds have proven to be cheaper, leading more farmers to opt for them in times of increasing extreme prices of seeds. He explained that the concept of using indigenous seeds was not new to most farmers, who had traditional farming knowledge passed down to them for generations. Our farmers were promised of high yield from chemical farming that made them move away from traditional farming methods which I think is the best. I think that the Plant Variety Protection Act hands control of seeds to multinational corporations, making small hold farmers dependent on expensive seeds, fertilizers and pesticides and decimating traditional agroecological practices. Farmers in Ghana have had their own way of keeping seeds year after year. If these policies are allowed to manifest, Ghanaian farmers will have to change money into foreign currency in order to purchase seeds from overseas firms. The economic impact on the lives of the farmers will be disastrous. The origin of food is seed. Whoever controls the seed controls the entire food chain. These seeds are not owned by any African entity, they are owned by American companies, he said. A patent expert, Emmanuel Sackey reiterated the significance of the Plant Variety Protection in encouraging modernised agriculture in Ghana. He observed that in order to feed the population farmers must be supported with improved varieties to be able to take care of the population. Sometimes theres a lot of confusion about GMOs and the transgenic plants and whether what we are growing to eat is harmful to us or not. But we believe that scientific interventions in the form of providing input varieties are very helpful. He is hopeful the new Plant Breeders law promulgated by the government will help breeders to produce better varieties for the country. I believe we are helping to make our agricultural systems enhanced and also to bring about agricultural productivity, he stated. Co-director of the Ghana Food Movement, Aimee Wallin explained that the motivation to start a conversation on seeds is aimed at bring the topic close to stakeholders in the agribusiness space. We organised this conversation because we think its important to bring the topic of seed, close to everyone and consumers as well. We realise that seeds are quite tricky to understand. Its very technical and we think that we should engage more in conversations like this because we all eat and all of our food comes from seeds. Again, we realised that there is a division in the seed debate I think most people dont even know about, she explained. 26.04.2023 LISTEN On Thursday, April 27, 2023 South Africa will mark 29 years since the democratic election took place in 1994. As Im writing this article today April 26, I cant help not to stress that I may not get to finish this article, should the rolling blackouts bequeath itself on the populace as has become the norm. As Im writing this piece from the Langa Public Library of Cape Town, where a thought-provoking and yet somewhat emotional event commemorating Freedom Day has just ended. The Freedom Day Imbizo was organized by the Langa Public Library. Interestingly, this year marks the 100th year of the birth of Cape Towns oldest township, Langa, which came about due the Cape Town City Council, passing the 1923 Urban Areas Act, an act driven to restrict and control the movement and lives of the indigenous Black African population. Needless to say, the staff of the Langa library quite outdid themselves for at least managing to get some of the elders of the community to come out and share their experiences, thoughts, and knowledge about colonial oppression and Apartheid. The elders of the community also would get to urge on what the community, especially the youth ought to stand up and fight for their rights and what is rightfully theirs, rather than wait on the government and other people to do things for them. In all, the crowd of about 30 people who participated in the Imbizo (community gathering) shared their views on what they understood about the meaning of freedom, while some raised the point that the lack of economic freedom for the Black majority meant that real freedom had yet to arrive. From unemployment to crime, residents and organizers set to reflect their disappointment and unhappiness about the post 1994 dispensation which has fail to offer South Africans even basic human needs like electricity, acceptable housing, water and food to name a few. The residents also raised concerns around the quality of education of the Black child, which was strongly influenced by western values and neglected the African perspective, including African languages. But an important development of the gathering was the question of the youth kept coming up. An example of this was when a female representative of the local South African Police Service (SAPS), gave a detailed account of how the youth had failed to organize themselves as the opportunities for empowerment including the Junior National Commissioner Project were available especially under the current incumbent Minister of Police, Bheki Cele. She explained that the Junior Provincial Commissioners fall under the Junior National Commissioner Project, which sadly was absent in the Langa community. The Junior National Commissioner Project is one of the SAPS Youth Crime Prevention flagship projects that seeks to provide the youth of South Africa an opportunity to contribute and play a meaningful role in ensuring a safe and conducive learning environment in schools. And according to the SAPS, among the objectives of the Junior Commissioner Project is to advocate for the development and nurturing of leadership capacity, skills and mentoring of young people in communities. There has been a growing trend in the number of young people, including those within the schooling environment, who are involved in crime either as perpetrators or victims. This is indeed one of the strategic interventions that is focusing on institutionalizing school based crime prevention and working on the psychology of these children, a critical element of developmental crime prevention said then National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Khehla Sitole, in 2019. Back to the Freedom Day Imbizo, another area that received serious attention from the residents was the issue of the lack to absence of such gatherings (Imbizos) on a regular basis and when just gatherings occur they are not well communicated to the rest of the community and after they occur theres usually little to no action to follow up on matters discussed. In this regard, the staff of the Langa library committed themselves to playing their part in addressing this matter by working with their contacts and networks and promised to deliver more of just community gatherings with leaders and representatives from various sectors playing a role in the education, informing and empowerment of people. This point of regular meetings and youth organizing themselves probably stood out during this gathering more than anything else. Just like self-introspection became another rallying cry for people to fix themselves first before looking at the outside world, this would not necessarily close shop on collaboration and collaborations of all stakeholders, especially those people in need of resources and means to make play their part. Along with the failures of elected representatives, government officials and community structures, which are meant to serve the people, Langa residents have once again, like many others throughout South Africa sent a strong message that whatever has happened or not happened until now, the changes that are needed would have to come from the peoples efforts themselves. And if you ask me where South Africa has gone wrong and is likely to go wrong in the future, by all accounts I would have to say the lack of youth leadership and development would be high among the reasons for this breakdown of this nation. Of course, the lack to the absence of these community forums and Imbizos for all citizens; and no action of fixing the problems are what South Africans need to urgently address. Mgudlwa is an award-winning journalist and resident of Langa. 26.04.2023 LISTEN The Embassy of Japan in Nigeria and Sasakawa Africa Association (formerly SG2000) have reiterated their commitment to strengthen joint efforts to help Nigeria transform the agricultural sector. The two institutions made the assurance during a courtesy visit by the Country Director of SAA, Dr. Godwin Atser to the Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday. The renewed commitment is aimed at tapping Japanese technologies including information and communication technologies (ICTs) for the improvement of farming systems in Nigeria. While receiving the Country Director, Ambassador Kazuyoshi Matsunaga appreciated the significant role played by SAA in Africa in general, and Nigeria inclusive. The meeting was strategic as Nigeria is putting more emphasis on agriculture to lift her population out of poverty and create jobs and wealth. Dr. Atser said agriculture holds a lot of potential, but the potential is yet to be fully harnessed. For instance, most improved technologies are yet to get to farmers because of a weak public extension architecture. He noted that while SAA had done a lot in revamping the public extension system, more needs to be done, which underscored the need for more partnerships. He explained that to tackle the myriad problems confronting agriculture, SAA under the leadership of President Makoto Kitanaka rejigged the strategy of the organization with a focus on Regenerative Agriculture, Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture, Market Oriented Agriculture, and other crosscutting pillars including capacity building, e-extension and inclusion (youth, women and people living with disabilities). "Through this strategy, SAA approach has become holistic and is responding to the new and emerging challenges including climate change and pests and diseases facing farmers in Africa," he added. The Ambassador promised to support SAA activities in Nigeria, adding that the Internet penetration in Nigeria was an asset to be harnessed for agricultural development. The Ambassador noted that technologies in terms of agriculture mechanization could reduce drudgery, boost productivity, and improve the efficiency of farmers in Nigeria. He reiterated that there was a need for the private sector in Nigeria to work with Japanese companies and create the needed movement of technologies to both countries. A Sudanese war crimes suspect has escaped jail amid heavy battles that have rocked the country, along with other members of the Islamist regime ousted in 2019, heightening fears for a fragile ceasefire amid new clashes Wednesday. Anti-aircraft guns targeted fighter jets over Khartoum's sister city of Omdurman, witnesses told AFP, after the army launched air strikes against rival paramilitary forces in the capital late Tuesday. Amid the chaos -- which has killed hundreds, sparked a mass flight of terrified foreigners and Sudanese citizens, and deepened a humanitarian crisis -- Ahmed Harun, a leading figure of the regime of deposed dictator Omar al-Bashir, said he had escaped prison. Kenyan and Somalian citizens arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi after being evacuated aboard a Kenya Airforce aircraft to flee the deadly conflict in Sudan's capital. By Tony KARUMBA (AFP/File) Harun, who led the regime's infamous counter-insurgency campaign in the western Darfur region in the mid-2000s and is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, said he had broken out of the capital's Kober prison. After being trapped in the empty jail in "the crossfire of this current battle", Harun said in a recorded TV address that he and fellow ex-regime members had taken "our protection in our own hands". Map of Sudan and neighbouring countries as civilians flee the country during a fragile ceasefire.. By Sophie RAMIS (AFP) The fighting has pitted army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which emerged from the Janjaweed militia that Bashir unleashed in Darfur. The Darfur conflict left some 300,000 dead and 2.5 million displaced, according to the UN. It was unclear which side may have helped to free the former regime members, but an RSF statement early Wednesday claimed the conflict was "a cover" by "coup leaders" to "get the leaders of the deposed regime out of prison". Multiple foreign governments have frantically organised road convoys, aircraft and ships to get thousands of their nationals out of Sudan, and citizens have fled overland to neighbouring countries. The UN said it has "received reports of tens of thousands of people arriving in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan". 'Disregard for norms of war' Sudan's former dictator Omar al-Bashir, on the right, in a file photo with his deputy-turned-rival Mohammed Hamdan Daglo. By ASHRAF SHAZLY (AFP/File) Bashir, 79, who was ousted by the military in 2019 in the wake of mass pro-democracy protests, had himself been held in Kober prison. But the army said he and others had been transferred to a military hospital before fighting erupted on April 15 "due to their health conditions", and that they remained under judicial police guard. The military toppled Islamist-backed Bashir in April 2019 following civilian mass protests that raised hopes for a transition to democracy. Burhan and Daglo seized full power in a 2021 coup, but have now fallen out and gone to war, hurtling Sudan into deeper turmoil. Explosions and gunfire have echoed through Sudan's capital amid the fierce battles. By Abdelmoneim SAYED (AFP/File) The fighting, which has involved air strikes and artillery exchanges, has killed at least 459 people and wounded more than 4,000, UN agencies report, and reduced some districts of greater Khartoum to ruins. The UN representative to Sudan, Volker Perthes, told the UN Security Council that "both of the warring parties have fought with disregard for the laws and norms of war". Perthes, who has stayed in Sudan, said they have been "attacking densely populated areas with little consideration for civilians, for hospitals, or even for vehicles transferring the wounded and sick". Hospitals shelled A building damaged during battles between the forces of two rival Sudanese generals in the southern part of Khartoum. By - (AFP/File) A UN report warned that "shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel are becoming extremely acute, especially in Khartoum and surrounding areas". "Why didn't the officials care for the Sudanese people and their suffering?" said one resident, Alnour Mohamed Ahmed, a builder. "People can't leave their homes." A total of 14 hospitals have been shelled, the doctors' union said Wednesday, while 19 others are out of service. "In some places, humanitarian aid is all that is keeping famine at bay," UN chief Antonio Guterres said Tuesday. Britain has laucnhed a large-scale evacuation of its citizens trapped in Sudan, where urban combat has led to hundreds of deaths. By Mark JOHNSON (MOD/AFP/File) In continued evacuations, a ship carrying nearly 1,700 civilians from more than 50 countries docked in Saudi Arabia early Wednesday, and Britain airlifted nationals to Cyprus. The two warring sides have blamed one another for starting the hostilities and for breaching the ceasefire, which is due to end Thursday, and both have made unverifiable claims to control key sites. Fighters of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) deploy in the East Nile district of greater Khartoum. By - (Rapid Support Forces (RSF)/AFP/File) The RSF claimed to be in control of an oil refinery and the associated Garri power plant more than 70 kilometres (40 miles) north of Khartoum. The army had earlier warned in a Facebook post of a "heavy movement" towards the site "in order to take advantage of the truce by taking control of the refinery". Security fears were further heightened when the World Health Organization warned that combatants had occupied a Khartoum laboratory holding samples of cholera, measles, polio, spelling a "huge biological risk". On Thursday, WHO officials said a team in Sudan was carrying out an "extensive risk assessment". France inaugurated a new visa application center in Mosul, northern Iraq, on Wednesday. It is the first European facility of its kind in the city that is being rebuilt after it was retaken from the Islamic State armed group that occupied the town between 2014-17 and used it as its administrative capital. A notice on the website of the French embassy in Iraq says that applications for French or Schengen area visa "will be dealt with at the French embassy in Bagdad" before being returned to applicants in Mosul. "The opening of this center concretely reflects France's commitment to Mosul and the province of Nineveh," added the French Consul General in Mosul, Jean-Christophe Auge. "This center will facilitate visa applications for residents, notably students, academics, businessmen, and tourists." Previously, Mosul's 1.5 million residents had to travel about 500 km to apply for visas in Baghdad. There is another visa center in the nearby city of Erbil, but that serves only residents of the autonomous Kurdistan region. Mosul hosts a Turkish consulate, UN and international NGO offices, but Niniveh Governor Nejm al-Joubouri noted that France was "the first European country" to have appointed a consul general in the city. French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Auge as French Consul in Mosul on 16 May 2022. As the second-largest city in Iraq, Mosul fell under the control of jihadists in 2014, who made it their "capital". In July 2017, Iraqi forces backed by an international coalition led by Washington recaptured the city. Reconstruction Although reconstruction is progressing slowly and large areas of the city are in ruins, Mosul has regained some semblance of normalcy: shops have reopened, traffic jams have returned, and historic sites are benefiting from restoration projects funded by international agencies. In the summer of 2022, authorities launched the reconstruction of the international airport in Mosul, which has remained abandoned nearly six years after the defeat of the jihadists. The project was entrusted to two Turkish companies by the Niniveh regional authorities. "This aspect of the economy, of investments, is one of the areas in which we intend to develop our presence," Auge told the French press agency AFP. "Of course, French actors, investors, have expectations in terms of security and transparency. But we are confident that there are economic opportunities to be explored in Mosul and its region that should allow for future joint projects to flourish." (With news agencies) 26.04.2023 LISTEN The National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagba, has criticized the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the recent press conference calling government officials all sorts of names. The National Communications Director of the NDC Sammy Gyamfi held a press conference on Monday displaying photos of senior NPP members and government officials following the leaked report by former Environment Minister, Prof. Frimpong Boateng, accusing them of galamsey activities. The list included, Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Marfo, Captain Koda, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Gabby Otchere-Darko, Laud Commey, Charles Nii Tagoe and others. In reaction, Richard Ahiagba said the NDCs claims were pointless, particularly about the Gold Mafia documentary by Al Jazeera. He argued that the opposition party should have waited for an official investigation before levelling accusations on people. The pointlessness of the NDC's press conference yesterday is legendary. The Al Jazeera documentary has been effectively discredited so, I wonder why they were talking spiritedly about it, Ahiagba said. He added, the individuals especially, the Information Minister, has responded to state his innocence, but the NDC simply refused to acknowledge it or be restrained it. Instead, the NDC went full hog to display their pictures as though they have been found culpable of anything. According to him, the NDC attempt to make political capital out of the leaked report has failed indicating that their (NDC) record on galamsey is criminal. His post read below: The pointlessness of the NDC's press conference yesterday is legendary. The Al Jazeera documentary has been effectively discredited so, I wonder why they were talking spiritedly about it. On Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng's document, as a party, we support the President's prompt referral of the document to the CID, for an independent investigation. That is the democratic way, and the NDC is fully aware. The fight against galamsey is existential, but sadly the NDC has never seen it as such. The NDC sees it first as politics, an avenue to canvass votes either by way of promising galamseyers more galamsey when they ever win power or to do what they did yesterday in the press conference to besmirch the character of the people cited in the document on the weight of simple claims. The individuals especially, the Information Minister, has responded to state his innocence, but the NDC simply refused to acknowledge it or be restrained it. Instead, the NDC went full hog to display their pictures as though they have been found culpable of anything. What would it have cost the NDC to have waited for the CID to complete its investigation and render its report for public scrutiny? Perhaps, the NDC is not aware that President Akufo-Addo has referred Prof. Boateng's report to the CID. The NPP, unlike the NDC, is committed to the fight against galamsey, and thus far has made considerable gains. But certainly, there is a lot more that needs to be done and all of us must pinch in. It is my humble appeal to all Ghanaians to get involved by reporting galamsey activities, learn about its dire implications for our very existence, and on that basis speak objectively against galamsey. The NDC must learn to keep certain things above partisan politics and galamsey is one of such things. We know the NDC's record on galamsey is criminal, to put it mildly. The fight against galamsey proceeds without fear or favor. Let's all get involve less the partisanship that often weakens the cooperation we need to triumph. Please watch the attached NDC galamsey video, and I am sure you conclude with me that the NDC needs to get serious with the fight against galamsey. Their double standard on a matter as serious as galamsey is sickening, Actor and politician, John Setor Dumelo, has expressed concerns over the impact of small-scale mining, known as Galamsey on Ghana. In a tweet on Wednesday, Dumelo warned that the country risks losing its spot as the world's second-largest producer of cocoa due to the destruction of the forest, lands and water bodies. The NDC Ayawaso West Wougon 2020 parliamentary candidate says the nation may soon import drinking water due to the adverse effect of small-scale mining on water bodies. "If we dont tackle this Galamsey menace, we will lose our spot as the world's 2nd producer of cocoa. Our farm lands will be totally wiped out, and we will start importing food. The few farmlands left will be soaked in chemicals. We will start importing drinking water," Dumelo wrote. Dumelo's comments come amid heightened controversies over a leaked report compiled by former Environment Minister Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, which implicated several high-profile personalities in the current government in illegal small-scale mining activities. Illegal mining activities have been a longstanding issue in Ghana, with miners using harmful chemicals to extract gold and other minerals, which have polluted water bodies and destroyed farmlands. The government has been taking steps to address the issue, including the deployment of joint military and police task forces to crack down on illegal mining. However, the issue persists, as evidenced by the recently leaked report which implicated several top officials engaging in illegal mining to enrich themselves. A former Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Samuel Koku Anyidoho, says Ghana will be "cursed" if former President John Mahama goes to the presidency the third time. Anyidoho said in a tweet on Wednesday, April 26, that Mahama has already served the two terms allowed under Ghana's constitution. According to him, the former president was sworn in on July 24, 2012 following the death of President John Atta Mills, and again on January 7, 2013. He alleged that the former President is only coming again with a greedy agenda. "If John Mahama holds the Sword of State for the third time, it shall be a curse on Ghana. He held the Sword of State on July 24, 2012, and January 07, 2013. Lets not allow John Mahama to curse Ghana with his greedy agenda," Anyidoho said. Mahama, who served as president from 2012 to 2017 is seeking to run for the 2024 election. A Sudanese war crimes suspect, part of the Islamist regime ousted in 2019, has escaped jail as heavy battles rock the country, heightening fears for a fragile ceasefire amid new clashes Wednesday. Anti-aircraft guns targeted fighter jets over Khartoum's sister city of Omdurman, witnesses told AFP, after the army launched air strikes against rival paramilitary forces in the capital late Tuesday. Witnesses also reported "heavy air strikes" in East Nile, east of the capital Wednesday, and "a huge explosion in the direction of a paramilitary camp". In southern Khartoum, machine gun fire was reported near one of the homes owned by paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who has led the heavily-armed Rapid Support Forces (RSF) into war with the armed forces, under army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Kenyan and Somalian citizens arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi after being evacuated aboard a Kenya Airforce aircraft to flee the deadly conflict in Sudan's capital. By Tony KARUMBA (AFP/File) Amid the chaos -- which has killed hundreds, sparked a mass flight of terrified foreigners and Sudanese citizens, and deepened a humanitarian crisis -- Ahmed Harun, a leading figure of the regime of deposed dictator Omar al-Bashir, said late Tuesday he had escaped prison. Harun, who led the regime's infamous counter-insurgency campaign in the western Darfur region in the mid-2000s and is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, said he and others had broken out of the capital's Kober prison. Daglo's RSF emerged from the Janjaweed militia that Bashir unleashed in the Darfur conflict, which left some 300,000 dead and 2.5 million displaced, according to the UN. After being trapped in the empty jail in "the crossfire of this current battle", Harun said in a recorded TV address that he and fellow ex-regime members had taken "our protection in our own hands". Bashir remains in custody Map of Sudan and neighbouring countries as civilians flee the country during a fragile ceasefire.. By Sophie RAMIS (AFP) Since fighting broke out on April 15, multiple foreign governments have frantically organised road convoys, aircraft and ships to get thousands of their nationals out of Sudan, and citizens have fled overland to neighbouring countries. The UN said it has "received reports of tens of thousands of people arriving in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan". According to Bankole Adeoye, the African Union's commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, continued fighting will increase the "risk of regional conflagration and internationalisation of the conflict". Sudan's former dictator Omar al-Bashir, on the right, in a file photo with his deputy-turned-rival Mohammed Hamdan Daglo. By ASHRAF SHAZLY (AFP/File) Bashir, 79, who was ousted by the military in 2019 in the wake of mass pro-democracy protests, had himself been held in Kober prison. But the army said he and others had been transferred to a military hospital before fighting erupted "due to their health conditions", and that they remained under judicial police guard. After Bashir's ouster that had raised hopes for a transition to democracy, Burhan and Daglo seized full power in a 2021 coup, but have now fallen out and gone to war, hurtling Sudan into deeper turmoil. The fighting has killed at least 512 people and wounded more than 4,000, according to the health ministry, and reduced some districts of greater Khartoum to ruins. A building damaged during battles between the forces of two rival Sudanese generals in the southern part of Khartoum. By - (AFP/File) The UN representative to Sudan, Volker Perthes, told the UN Security Council that "both of the warring parties have fought with disregard for the laws and norms of war". Perthes, who has stayed in Sudan, said they have been "attacking densely populated areas with little consideration for civilians, for hospitals, or even for vehicles transferring the wounded and sick". Hospitals shelled A UN report warned that "shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel are becoming extremely acute, especially in Khartoum and surrounding areas". "Why didn't the officials care for the Sudanese people and their suffering?" said one resident, Alnour Mohamed Ahmed, a builder. "People can't leave their homes." A total of 14 hospitals have been shelled, the doctors' union said Wednesday, while 19 others are out of service. Britain has laucnhed a large-scale evacuation of its citizens trapped in Sudan, where urban combat has led to hundreds of deaths. By Mark JOHNSON (MOD/AFP/File) "In some places, humanitarian aid is all that is keeping famine at bay," UN chief Antonio Guterres said Tuesday. In continued evacuations, a ship carrying nearly 1,700 civilians from more than 50 countries docked in Saudi Arabia early Wednesday, and Britain airlifted nationals to Cyprus. The two warring sides have blamed one another for starting the hostilities and for breaching the ceasefire, which is due to end Thursday, and both have made unverifiable claims to control key sites. The RSF claimed to be in control of an oil refinery and the associated Garri power plant more than 70 kilometres (40 miles) north of Khartoum. The army had earlier warned in a Facebook post of a "heavy movement" towards the site "in order to take advantage of the truce by taking control of the refinery". Security fears were further heightened when the World Health Organization warned that combatants had occupied a Khartoum laboratory holding samples of cholera, measles, polio, spelling a "huge biological risk". On Thursday, WHO officials said a team in Sudan was carrying out an "extensive risk assessment". As part of their budget discussions, most members of the Auburn City Council recommended ending a pandemic-prompted program allowing for two hours of free on-street parking in the downtown area. The council gave input on the 2023-24 budget to City Manager Jeff Dygert during a meeting Thursday as a part of efforts to eventually finalize the spending plan this spring. As part of that input, every council member chimed in on a previous proposal from city staff to return to paid on-street parking. The city government started a program in May 2021 allowing for two hours of free on-street parking in Auburn's downtown area. The program's aim was to bring people downtown as businesses fully reopened from the COVID-19 pandemic. Another initiative was to give parking violators courtesy tickets, educating them about a first violation instead of a ticket that carries a fine. Sgt. Greg Gilfus, traffic coordinator for the Auburn Police Department, suggested the city now eliminate the initial two hours of downtown parking. He noted the city has lost parking revenues over the last couple years due to the program. Gilfus also said the current on-street parking rate is 25 cents per 15 minutes, coming to $1 an hour, with a two-hour parking limit. He proposed a rate change of 50 cents for every 15 minutes, at $2 an hour, for on-street and off-street parking, with the paid two-hour limit remaining. The lost parking revenue was covered by the federal American Rescue Plan Act funds the city received during the pandemic. Councilor Terry Cuddy on Thursday said that Gilfus' presentation was "needed." "I think that, No. 1, it acknowledges that this council, in the light of COVID, wanted to bring people downtown in a time where people were less apt to want to go out," Cuddy said. He said "we do need to bring back paid parking," and mentioned the lost revenue. However, Cuddy suggested keeping the paid parking time of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, "at least at this point," as opposed to Gilfus' proposed timeframe of extending to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday. "That would be tough for people after work to get used to paying for parking (after 5 p.m.). I don't want to just jump right into 8 p.m. Let's see where we are, let's see where the revenue is, post-COVID, with the new implementation," Cuddy said. The councilor also recommended keeping the $1 an hour rate in place and also said he believed it was necessary to pay different equipment costs related to the proposal of getting rid of the two hours of free parking, including over $17,000 in upgrades to the city's parking kiosks, as the kiosks have not been turned on in two years. "I know it's a hefty price tag but we've got to do it, because we've got to do it right," he said. "We can't have machines that don't work." Councilor Ginny Kent also supported the return of the on-street parking fees, but talked about allowing the two hours of free parking at the parking garage to stay in place. She also supported Cuddy's idea to keep the paid parking at 8 a.m.-5 p.m., noting Auburn's downtown nightlife is busy. "I don't want to see anything touching that as we roll this out," she said. Councilor Timothy Locastro said he wants the two hours of free on-street parking to remain. "I think that really helps downtown and I'm going to stick to that," Locastro said. Councilor Jimmy Giannettino also said he was in favor of bringing back the paid parking system, but he suggested allowing for four courtesy tickets a year for violators, "once a quarter, so every quarter it resets." He also said he understands Locastro's stance on parking. "I think what we're proposing is kind of a middle ground amongst it all. There's a group of businesses downtown that want free parking, there's a group of businesses downtown that don't want free parking," he said. "They've come to me and said that it's hurt their business, due in large part to people who are parking out there for extended periods of time, and then we have staffing coming to us with a recommendation, so I think we're taking those three different opinions and we're coming up with a compromise." Giannettino also emphasized that he feels how the city would communicate the potential elimination of the two hours of free parking would be important. "If we're going to make a change, we really need to make a concerted effort to not only relay it to the businesses but to educate them and give them the tools necessary to educate their customers," he said, suggesting having posters in windows of businesses related to parking locations throughout downtown. Giannettino said he believes "we should allocate some funding for that so that we do it right." Mayor Mike Quill agreed with bringing back paid parking, telling Locastro he understands his perspective but said he feels the free two hour system has been misused. Budget recommendations Other budget suggestions from councilors included Cuddy requesting a $5,000 budget line for a summer camp pilot program. He said the activities campers would take on would benefit Auburn, "whether it be tree planting, the mitigation of invasive specifies in the city limits or watershed protection, these are things that directly affect the people of Auburn." Cuddy also mentioned Dr. Walt Aikman, a local forester and co-founder of the environmental group Grow Auburn's Trees!, is looking at grants for this program. He also said he has been working on the camp concept with administrators at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, where he serves as an instructor. During an April 6 presentation on the city's preliminary 2023-24 budget, Dygert said he anticipated a "tough year" ahead. City Comptroller Rachel Jacobs said at the time that Auburn's draft funding gap is around $3 million, but it could possibly be resolved via combination of increasing revenues, using city fund balance and using ARPA fund money from the federal money connected to workforce development for collective bargaining agreement increases. Locastro argued against increasing the tax levy for the 2023-24 budget, and brought up Auburn's recent efforts to potentially attract workers in the wake of the upcoming Micron project. The leading semiconductor chip company said last fall it plans to invest $100 billion over 20 years to build a chip plant in the Onondaga County town of Clay, with construction slated to begin in 2024. That facility is expected to generate 9,000 new jobs, in addition to 40,000 more positions in supporting industries. "Here we are trying to attract people from Micron to live here, we're trying to attract people just to move in to Auburn. I think we all got to work together to try to keep taxes down as low as we can to attract these people," Locastro said. "I mean, if all the sudden we're raising taxes to the (tax) cap, I mean, people aren't stupid, they're going to look at the last three or four years and what we're doing with our taxes and that's going to determine where they're going (to move.)" Agnico Eagle Mines (TSE:AEM Get Rating) (NYSE:AEM) is scheduled to post its quarterly earnings results after the market closes on Thursday, April 27th. Analysts expect Agnico Eagle Mines to post earnings of C$0.53 per share for the quarter. Agnico Eagle Mines (TSE:AEM Get Rating) (NYSE:AEM) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 16th. The company reported C$0.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$0.53 by C$0.02. The firm had revenue of C$1.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$1.91 billion. Agnico Eagle Mines had a return on equity of 6.03% and a net margin of 11.67%. Get Agnico Eagle Mines alerts: Agnico Eagle Mines Price Performance Shares of AEM stock opened at C$76.80 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of C$35.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.46, a P/E/G ratio of -1.52 and a beta of 0.80. Agnico Eagle Mines has a fifty-two week low of C$48.88 and a fifty-two week high of C$79.37. The businesss 50 day moving average price is C$69.23 and its 200-day moving average price is C$68.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.19, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 2.30. Agnico Eagle Mines Cuts Dividend Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 1st were given a dividend of $0.532 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 28th. This represents a $2.13 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.77%. Agnico Eagle Miness dividend payout ratio is presently 104.39%. Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on AEM shares. National Bank Financial lifted their price target on Agnico Eagle Mines from C$76.00 to C$95.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on Agnico Eagle Mines from C$89.00 to C$91.00 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. National Bankshares boosted their price target on Agnico Eagle Mines from C$76.00 to C$95.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Barclays began coverage on Agnico Eagle Mines in a research note on Friday, February 17th. They issued a buy rating and a C$62.00 price target for the company. Finally, Raymond James boosted their price target on Agnico Eagle Mines from C$65.00 to C$66.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of C$78.71. Insider Transactions at Agnico Eagle Mines In other Agnico Eagle Mines news, Senior Officer Ammar Al-Joundi purchased 8,200 shares of Agnico Eagle Mines stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were purchased at an average cost of C$62.17 per share, for a total transaction of C$509,822.70. Company insiders own 0.11% of the companys stock. Agnico Eagle Mines Company Profile (Get Rating) Agnico Eagle Mines Limited engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral properties in Canada, Mexico, and Finland. It operates through Northern Business and Southern Business segments. The company primarily produces and sells gold deposits, as well as explores for silver, zinc, and copper deposits. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Agnico Eagle Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Agnico Eagle Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arjuna Capital increased its holdings in General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Get Rating) by 1.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 36,618 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 662 shares during the quarter. General Mills makes up approximately 1.4% of Arjuna Capitals holdings, making the stock its 23rd largest holding. Arjuna Capitals holdings in General Mills were worth $3,070,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Capital Wealth Planning LLC boosted its stake in shares of General Mills by 42.2% during the 4th quarter. Capital Wealth Planning LLC now owns 3,547,188 shares of the companys stock valued at $297,432,000 after purchasing an additional 1,052,899 shares in the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its position in shares of General Mills by 56,697.1% in the 3rd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 857,636 shares of the companys stock worth $65,703,000 after acquiring an additional 856,126 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its stake in shares of General Mills by 112.4% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,464,414 shares of the companys stock valued at $122,791,000 after purchasing an additional 774,961 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of General Mills by 209.9% during the third quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 790,928 shares of the companys stock valued at $60,592,000 after purchasing an additional 535,715 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lord Abbett & CO. LLC bought a new position in General Mills in the third quarter worth $33,708,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.48% of the companys stock. Get General Mills alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth GIS has been the subject of several research reports. Stifel Nicolaus started coverage on shares of General Mills in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $95.00 price target for the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on General Mills from $88.00 to $89.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on General Mills from $84.00 to $86.00 in a report on Friday, March 24th. Barclays raised their price target on General Mills from $81.00 to $83.00 in a report on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and set a $76.00 price objective on shares of General Mills in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Two 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 companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $84.76. General Mills Stock Performance Shares of NYSE GIS traded down $0.81 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $87.69. 517,496 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,353,698. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 0.54. The stock has a market capitalization of $51.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.27. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $82.63 and a 200 day moving average of $81.61. General Mills, Inc. has a 1 year low of $64.94 and a 1 year high of $88.88. General Mills (NYSE:GIS Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.91 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $5.13 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.97 billion. General Mills had a net margin of 14.04% and a return on equity of 24.51%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.84 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that General Mills, Inc. will post 4.23 earnings per share for the current year. General Mills Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 10th will be paid a $0.54 dividend. This represents a $2.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.46%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 6th. General Millss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.65%. Insider Activity In other General Mills news, insider Bethany C. Quam sold 21,734 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 47,560 shares in the company, valued at $4,083,501.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 8,030 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.33, for a total value of $685,199.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 83,049 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,086,571.17. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Bethany C. Quam sold 21,734 shares of General Mills stock in a transaction that occurred 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock. 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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GIS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Get Rating). 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. Bank of Hawaii (NYSE:BOH Get Rating) released its quarterly earnings data on Monday. The bank reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.23 by ($0.09), MarketWatch Earnings reports. Bank of Hawaii had a net margin of 26.90% and a return on equity of 19.01%. The business had revenue of $229.07 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $177.67 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.32 earnings per share. Bank of Hawaii Stock Performance NYSE BOH opened at $47.77 on Wednesday. Bank of Hawaii has a 52-week low of $34.71 and a 52-week high of $85.45. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $58.95 and a 200 day simple moving average of $71.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 0.66. The company has a market capitalization of $1.90 billion, a PE ratio of 8.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.97. Get Bank of Hawaii alerts: Bank of Hawaii Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 14th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.86%. Bank of Hawaiis dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 51.09%. Analyst Ratings Changes Insider Buying and Selling A number of research firms have weighed in on BOH. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price objective on shares of Bank of Hawaii from $83.00 to $60.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. TheStreet lowered shares of Bank of Hawaii from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. DA Davidson dropped their price target on shares of Bank of Hawaii from $76.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Monday, March 20th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Bank of Hawaii in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Finally, Compass Point lowered shares of Bank of Hawaii from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $71.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and three have assigned a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Bank of Hawaii currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $66.25. In related news, CEO Peter S. Ho sold 7,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.40, for a total transaction of $534,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 226,681 shares in the company, valued at $17,318,428.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 2.11% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bank of Hawaii Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of BOH. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in shares of Bank of Hawaii by 5.8% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 70,245 shares of the banks stock worth $5,895,000 after purchasing an additional 3,843 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Bank of Hawaii by 15.3% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 15,739 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,322,000 after acquiring an additional 2,093 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Bank of Hawaii by 43.8% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 14,531 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,219,000 after acquiring an additional 4,423 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC lifted its position in Bank of Hawaii by 6.1% during the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 8,757 shares of the banks stock valued at $735,000 after purchasing an additional 501 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Bank of Hawaii by 32.7% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 26,023 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,184,000 after purchasing an additional 6,407 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.29% of the companys stock. About Bank of Hawaii (Get Rating) Bank of Hawaii Corp. is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking, Commercial Banking, and Treasury and Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers financial products and services, including loan, deposit and insurance products, private banking and international client banking services, trust services, investment management, and institutional investment advisory services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Hawaii Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Hawaii and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:BIO.B Get Rating) shares hit a new 52-week low during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $464.10 and last traded at $464.10, with a volume of 0 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $464.10. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, TheStreet raised Bio-Rad Laboratories from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Get Bio-Rad Laboratories alerts: Bio-Rad Laboratories Stock Performance The company has a market capitalization of $13.74 billion, a PE ratio of -3.82 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a quick ratio of 4.29, a current ratio of 5.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $436.76 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $411.83. Bio-Rad Laboratories Company Profile Bio-Rad Laboratories ( NYSE:BIO.B Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 16th. The company reported $3.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $730.29 million during the quarter. Bio-Rad Laboratories had a positive return on equity of 4.59% and a negative net margin of 129.66%. (Get Rating) Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc manufactures, and distributes life science research and clinical diagnostic products in the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada, and Latin America. The company operates through Life Science and Clinical Diagnostics segments. The Life Science segment develops, manufactures, and markets a range of reagents, apparatus, and laboratory instruments that are used in research techniques, biopharmaceutical production processes, and food testing regimes. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Bio-Rad Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bio-Rad Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of B&M European Value Retail S.A. (LON:BME Get Rating) have been given an average recommendation of Hold by the eight ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have assigned a hold recommendation and four have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is GBX 476.43 ($5.95). BME has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus lowered B&M European Value Retail to a hold rating and set a GBX 500 ($6.24) price objective for the company. in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Shore Capital restated a hold rating on shares of B&M European Value Retail in a research report on Thursday, January 5th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on B&M European Value Retail from GBX 350 ($4.37) to GBX 380 ($4.75) and gave the company an underperform rating in a research report on Monday, March 6th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upgraded B&M European Value Retail to an outperform rating and boosted their price objective for the company from GBX 460 ($5.74) to GBX 550 ($6.87) in a research report on Monday, March 6th. Get B&M European Value Retail alerts: B&M European Value Retail Stock Down 1.1 % Shares of LON:BME opened at GBX 475.60 ($5.94) on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is GBX 483.15 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 430.59. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 269.40. B&M European Value Retail has a 12-month low of GBX 289 ($3.61) and a 12-month high of GBX 504 ($6.29). The firm has a market cap of 4.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,232.82 and a beta of 1.10. Insiders Place Their Bets B&M European Value Retail Company Profile In related news, insider Oliver Tant purchased 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 16th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 486 ($6.07) per share, for a total transaction of 24,300 ($30,348.45). Insiders own 7.01% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) B&M European Value Retail SA operates general merchandise and grocery stores. The company operates a chain of 701 stores under the B&M brand, and 311 stores under the Heron Foods and B&M Express brands in the United Kingdom; and 107 stores under the B&M brand in France. It also provides employment and property management services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for B&M European Value Retail Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for B&M European Value Retail and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brandywine Oak Private Wealth LLC decreased its position in shares of General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Get Rating) by 7.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,450 shares of the companys stock after selling 792 shares during the period. Brandywine Oak Private Wealth LLCs holdings in General Mills were worth $876,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. James Investment Research Inc. acquired a new stake in General Mills during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. acquired a new stake in shares of General Mills in the third quarter valued at $28,000. Selway Asset Management bought a new position in shares of General Mills in the third quarter valued at about $31,000. TD Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in General Mills during the 3rd quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC grew its holdings in General Mills by 50.7% during the 3rd quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 428 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 144 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.48% of the companys stock. Get General Mills alerts: General Mills Trading Down 0.9 % Shares of General Mills stock traded down $0.83 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $87.67. The companys stock had a trading volume of 664,079 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,356,012. The company has a market capitalization of $51.49 billion, a PE ratio of 19.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.27. 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 stock has a 50 day moving average of $82.63 and a 200 day moving average of $81.61. General Mills, Inc. has a 12 month low of $64.94 and a 12 month high of $88.88. General Mills Dividend Announcement General Mills ( NYSE:GIS Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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 during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.97 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.84 EPS. General Millss revenue for the quarter was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that General Mills, Inc. will post 4.23 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Monday, April 10th will be given a $0.54 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 6th. This represents a $2.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.46%. General Millss dividend payout ratio is currently 46.65%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on GIS. Mizuho upped their target price on shares of General Mills from $75.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $76.00 price objective on shares of General Mills in a research report on Friday, March 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on General Mills from $76.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on General Mills in a report on Thursday, April 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $95.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on General Mills from $84.00 to $86.00 in a report on Friday, March 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $84.76. Insider Buying and Selling In other General Mills news, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 8,030 shares of General Mills stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.33, for a total value of $685,199.90. Following the sale, the insider now owns 83,049 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,086,571.17. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 8,030 shares of General Mills stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.33, for a total value of $685,199.90. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 83,049 shares in the company, valued at $7,086,571.17. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Bethany C. Quam sold 21,734 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.86, for a total transaction of $1,866,081.24. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 47,560 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,083,501.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock. General Mills Company Profile (Get Rating) General Mills, Inc engages in the manufacture and marketing of branded consumer foods sold through retail stores. The firm operates through the following segments: North America Retail, Europe & Australia, Convenience Stores & Foodservice, Pet, and Asia & Latin America. The North America Retail segment includes grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, drug, dollar and discount chains and e-commerce grocery providers. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GIS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Get Rating). 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. Check Capital Management Inc. CA reduced its holdings in shares of Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE:BAM Get Rating) (TSE:BAM.A) by 99.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 9,952 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 2,254,751 shares during the quarter. Check Capital Management Inc. CAs holdings in Brookfield Asset Management were worth $285,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 249,260 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $10,192,000 after acquiring an additional 6,306 shares in the last quarter. Sargent Bickham Lagudis LLC boosted its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 7.3% during the 3rd quarter. Sargent Bickham Lagudis LLC now owns 58,347 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,386,000 after acquiring an additional 3,981 shares in the last quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc boosted its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 10.5% during the 3rd quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc now owns 68,277 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,037,000 after acquiring an additional 6,500 shares in the last quarter. Veriti Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 5.7% during the 3rd quarter. Veriti Management LLC now owns 14,477 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $592,000 after acquiring an additional 781 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,613,041 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $65,957,000 after acquiring an additional 13,953 shares in the last quarter. Get Brookfield Asset Management alerts: Insider Transactions at Brookfield Asset Management In related news, Director Multi-Strategy Mast Brookfield sold 24,744 shares of Brookfield Asset Management stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.96, for a total transaction of $295,938.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 21,104,923 shares of the companys stock, valued at $252,414,879.08. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Brookfield Asset Management Stock Performance Shares of BAM stock traded up $0.16 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $32.66. 333,012 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,693,486. The companys 50 day moving average is $32.68 and its two-hundred day moving average is $35.15. Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. has a 1 year low of $26.76 and a 1 year high of $36.50. Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE:BAM Get Rating) (TSE:BAM.A) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 8th. The financial services provider reported $0.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.30 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $958.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.81 billion. On average, equities analysts forecast that Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. will post 1.39 EPS for the current year. Brookfield Asset Management Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 28th were paid a dividend of $0.32 per share. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.92%. This is an increase from Brookfield Asset Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 27th. Analyst Ratings Changes BAM has been the subject of several analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $40.00 price objective on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a research report on Tuesday, March 28th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut Brookfield Asset Management to an underperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Brookfield Asset Management in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Brookfield Asset Management from $35.00 to $39.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $47.06. Brookfield Asset Management Company Profile (Get Rating) Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. provides alternative asset management services. Its renewable power and transition business includes the ownership, operation, and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, and energy transition power generating assets. The company's infrastructure business engages in the ownership, operation, and development of utilities, transport, midstream, data and sustainable resource assets. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE:BAM Get Rating) (TSE:BAM.A). Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Asset Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Asset Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Buzzi Unicem S.p.A. (OTCMKTS:BZZUF Get Rating)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $24.11 and last traded at $24.11, with a volume of 0 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $24.11. Buzzi Unicem Stock Performance The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $23.08 and a 200-day moving average price of $19.61. About Buzzi Unicem (Get Rating) Buzzi Unicem SpA engages in the production and sale of cement, ready-mix concrete and natural aggregates. The firms geographical segment Central Europe consists of Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; Eastern Europe covers Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine and Russia. The company was founded in September 1999 and is headquartered in Casale Monferrato, Italy. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Buzzi Unicem Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Buzzi Unicem and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. lifted its stake in Ameren Co. (NYSE:AEE Get Rating) by 22.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,325 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 790 shares during the period. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd.s holdings in Ameren were worth $385,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in Ameren by 21.1% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 28,809 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,701,000 after acquiring an additional 5,025 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. acquired a new position in Ameren in the first quarter valued at about $769,000. Sei Investments Co. lifted its position in Ameren by 3.8% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 114,360 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $10,724,000 after purchasing an additional 4,148 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board grew its stake in Ameren by 3.1% during the first quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 272,246 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $25,526,000 after buying an additional 8,174 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. increased its holdings in Ameren by 14.4% in the 1st quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 2,780 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $261,000 after buying an additional 350 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.42% of the companys stock. Get Ameren alerts: Insider Transactions at Ameren In other Ameren news, EVP Mark C. Lindgren sold 3,130 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.19, for a total transaction of $254,124.70. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 45,343 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,681,398.17. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Mark C. Lindgren sold 3,130 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.19, for a total value of $254,124.70. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 45,343 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,681,398.17. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Warner L. Baxter sold 49,819 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.83, for a total value of $4,076,688.77. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 207,272 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,961,067.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 63,509 shares of company stock valued at $5,221,792 over the last ninety days. 0.42% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Ameren Trading Down 1.0 % A number of analysts have recently weighed in on AEE shares. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Ameren from $84.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Ameren from $97.00 to $101.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, April 10th. Mizuho boosted their price target on Ameren from $89.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, April 10th. Bank of America raised their price objective on Ameren from $96.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Ameren in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Ameren presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $94.60. Shares of AEE stock traded down $0.94 on Wednesday, hitting $89.82. The company had a trading volume of 167,548 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,365,084. Ameren Co. has a twelve month low of $73.28 and a twelve month high of $97.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 0.79. The firm has a market cap of $23.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.92, a P/E/G ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.43. The stocks 50-day moving average is $86.02 and its two-hundred day moving average is $85.65. Ameren (NYSE:AEE Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 16th. The utilities provider reported $0.63 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.56 by $0.07. Ameren had a net margin of 13.50% and a return on equity of 10.50%. The company had revenue of $2.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.15 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.48 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 32.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Ameren Co. will post 4.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Ameren Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 15th were issued a dividend of $0.63 per share. This is an increase from Amerens previous quarterly dividend of $0.59. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 14th. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.81%. Amerens payout ratio is currently 60.87%. Ameren Profile (Get Rating) Ameren Corp. is a public utility holding company, which engages in the provision of electric and natural gas services. It operates through the following segments: Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution, Ameren Illinois Natural Gas, Ameren Transmission, and Other. The Ameren Transmission segment consists of the aggregated electric transmission businesses of Ameren Illinois and Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois (ATXI). Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Ameren Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ameren and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG Get Rating) had its price objective raised by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $1,743.00 to $1,910.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, Briefing.com reports. The firm presently has an equal weight rating on the restaurant operators stock. Morgan Stanleys target price would suggest a potential downside of 5.19% from the companys current price. Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. BTIG Research lifted their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,825.00 to $2,175.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,713.00 to $1,657.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Argus lifted their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,800.00 to $1,900.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 9th. Credit Suisse Group lifted their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,050.00 to $2,200.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,000.00 to $2,100.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $1,998.46. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Chipotle Mexican Grill Stock Up 13.2 % NYSE:CMG traded up $234.46 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $2,014.46. 602,914 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 283,465. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $1,636.17 and its 200 day moving average price is $1,556.61. The company has a market cap of $55.62 billion, a PE ratio of 63.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.32. Chipotle Mexican Grill has a 12-month low of $1,196.28 and a 12-month high of $2,047.31. Insider Transactions at Chipotle Mexican Grill Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The restaurant operator reported $10.50 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $8.89 by $1.61. The company had revenue of $2.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.34 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 10.41% and a return on equity of 40.96%. Chipotle Mexican Grills revenue for the quarter was up 18.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $5.70 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Chipotle Mexican Grill will post 41.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In other news, CMO Christopher W. Brandt sold 1,013 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,795.00, for a total value of $1,818,335.00. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 8,125 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,584,375. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, CMO Christopher W. Brandt sold 1,013 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,795.00, for a total value of $1,818,335.00. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 8,125 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,584,375. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 5,636 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,646.82, for a total transaction of $9,281,477.52. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at $38,448,306.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 10,856 shares of company stock valued at $17,938,741 in the last three months. 1.01% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Chipotle Mexican Grill Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. American National Bank grew its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 9.6% during the 1st quarter. American National Bank now owns 250 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $427,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Everhart Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 1st quarter valued at about $203,000. Advisor Resource Council grew its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 37.5% during the 1st quarter. Advisor Resource Council now owns 1,166 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,999,000 after purchasing an additional 318 shares during the last quarter. First National Bank of Hutchinson grew its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. First National Bank of Hutchinson now owns 352 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $601,000 after purchasing an additional 13 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Chapman Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 1st quarter valued at about $299,000. 93.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Chipotle Mexican Grill (Get Rating) Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc engages in the development and operation of classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. It offers a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads prepared using classic cooking methods. The company was founded by Steve Ells in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, CA. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CLIVE, Iowa Many loyal Republicans in the state that kicks off the presidential nominating season are searching for a White House hopeful other than Donald Trump. There's less consensus on what that alternative should look like. Should a potential successor to Trump be just as pugnacious as the former president, but without the constant turmoil? Should that candidate be a next-generation inspiration with an upbeat message aimed at uniting a deeply divided country? These questions hung over the first marquee event of the 2024 Iowa caucus campaign this past weekend, as nearly 1,000 GOP activists, party officials, volunteers and Christian conservatives crowded the floor of a suburban Des Moines event center for the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition's annual spring fundraiser. Trump remained a hero to many in the crowd though interviews with nearly two dozen attendees demonstrated the opportunity and obstacles for those seeking to challenge him. "There's got to be somewhere we can get the force of a Donald Trump in a respectful tone," said Jane Jech, 66, of Marshalltown, Iowa. Trump is in a dominant position among Republicans in both Iowa and around the U.S. The question is whether that will continue as the 2024 GOP field grows. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson formally unveiled his campaign on Wednesday and others ranging from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to former Vice President Mike Pence are expected to do so in the coming months. Iowa has a history of humbling candidates who are presumed to be early front-runners, siding with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz over Trump in 2016 and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum over Mitt Romney in 2012. If that tendency were to repeat itself, it would set off alarms for Trump. Over boxed dinners of chicken sandwiches, the audience in Iowa heard in person from six presidential prospects including Hutchinson, Pence, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. Notably absent were DeSantis, who was headlining the Utah Republican Party convention, and Trump, who addressed the group in a recorded video message. "I kind of like the freshness of someone who can capture what can bring us together," said Perry Kyle, 38, from the western Des Moines suburb of Waukee, "someone who isn't afraid to tell it like it is, but has an uplifting message." First out of Kyle's mouth was Scott, who recently announced he was forming a presidential exploratory committee. In Iowa, he offered his largest audience yet his call for optimism, reminiscent of Ronald Reagan and markedly different than Trump's list of grievances. "We must restore hope, create opportunity and protect America, the city on the hill, the beacon in the midst of the storm," Scott said, sparking applause from the audience. The comments resonated with Ling Yu Detrick, 29, from the eastern Des Moines suburb of Altoona. "He expresses common sense and does not come across as divisive. Trump is just too divisive." What seemed clear from conversations Saturday is that Hutchinson and Pence may struggle to find their place with Republicans looking for a post-Trump fighter or unifier. Hutchinson, who has said Republicans must turn the page from the Trump era, has since called for him to exit the race in light of the indictment. Pence, on the other hand, is met with respect as a devout Christian, but inspires little enthusiasm, interviews Saturday and his polite, but muted reception suggest. For Iowa Republicans itching for a fighter, DeSantis, perhaps, is that candidate. DeSantis racked up conservative legislative achievements, including banning gender-affirming care for minors and eliminating diversity programs in colleges along with barring abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, all with a vocal contempt for Democrats. His record and tone appeal to Corey Daley, 37, from Des Moines, though he remains open to supporting Trump in the caucuses. "We need a fighter, someone who is aggressive, otherwise you don't get nothing done," Daley said. Similarly, Charlotte Heck, from Coon Rapids, Iowa, was torn between DeSantis, who is taking steps toward running, and Trump, who announced his bid for a comeback in November. Both are effective champions of conservative values, she said, but she finds Trump's personality distasteful while she is unsure of DeSantis' ability to deliver the way supporters say Trump did. Trump's three U.S. Supreme Court nominees, who helped last year overturn Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 decision that had recognized a federal right to abortion, and other similar anti-abortion moves absolved him among many. A number of evangelical pastors in Iowa, some who opposed Trump's candidacy in 2016, pointed to the Supreme Court and other pledges he made to the religious right where he delivered, actions Trump noted by video to applause of the audience Saturday. "I kept my promise, recognized Israel's eternal capital and opened the American embassy in Jerusalem," Trump said during his recorded remarks, prompting applause. Trump and Scott have made their moves, while former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley announced her candidacy in February. Pence, meanwhile, said he expects to announce his plans by June. Here are 20 Republicans considering 2024 presidential runs In: Donald Trump In: Nikki Haley Ron DeSantis Mike Pence Tim Scott Ted Cruz Glenn Youngkin Chris Sununu Kristi Noem Greg Abbott Out: Larry Hogan Asa Hutchinson Chris Christie Mike Pompeo Liz Cheney Will Hurd Keep an eye on: Brian Kemp Keep an eye on: Rick Scott Keep an eye on: Josh Hawley Keep an eye on: John Bolton Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Get Rating)s stock price gapped up before the market opened on Wednesday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The stock had previously closed at $1,780.00, but opened at $1,918.02. Chipotle Mexican Grill shares last traded at $2,030.00, with a volume of 530,176 shares trading hands. The restaurant operator reported $10.50 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $8.89 by $1.61. The firm had revenue of $2.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.34 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 10.41% and a return on equity of 40.96%. The firms revenue was up 18.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $5.70 EPS. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have issued reports on CMG. Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,960.00 to $2,270.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,000.00 to $2,100.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,743.00 to $1,910.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday. Loop Capital upped their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,700.00 to $1,850.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,550.00 to $1,885.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $2,003.82. Insider Buying and Selling at Chipotle Mexican Grill Institutional Trading of Chipotle Mexican Grill In related news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 2,193 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,633.11, for a total transaction of $3,581,410.23. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at $38,128,219.17. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 2,193 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,633.11, for a total value of $3,581,410.23. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at $38,128,219.17. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, CMO Christopher W. Brandt sold 1,013 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,795.00, for a total value of $1,818,335.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now owns 8,125 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,584,375. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 10,856 shares of company stock valued at $17,938,741 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 1.01% of the companys stock. Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in CMG. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. raised its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. now owns 14,000 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $23,916,000 after acquiring an additional 600 shares in the last quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. raised its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 463.2% in the 1st quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. now owns 2,433 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $4,156,000 after acquiring an additional 2,001 shares in the last quarter. American National Bank raised its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 9.6% in the 1st quarter. American National Bank now owns 250 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $427,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Everhart Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $203,000. Finally, Advisor Resource Council raised its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 37.5% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Resource Council now owns 1,166 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,999,000 after acquiring an additional 318 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.26% of the companys stock. Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Up 13.7 % The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,636.17 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1,556.61. The stock has a market cap of $55.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 62.83, a PEG ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.32. About Chipotle Mexican Grill (Get Rating) Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc engages in the development and operation of classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. It offers a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads prepared using classic cooking methods. The company was founded by Steve Ells in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, CA. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Column Capital Advisors LLC trimmed its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) by 8.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,636 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 439 shares during the quarter. Column Capital Advisors LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $509,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. JDM Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Arcus Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 283.3% in the 4th quarter. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. now owns 391 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 289 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Glassy Mountain Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter worth approximately $44,000. 72.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Abbott Laboratories Price Performance Shares of ABT traded down $1.56 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $108.41. 1,551,507 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,320,909. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $102.29 and a 200-day moving average of $104.95. Abbott Laboratories has a 52 week low of $93.25 and a 52 week high of $118.74. The stock has a market cap of $188.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.43, a PEG ratio of 4.95 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.63. Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.05. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 13.98% and a return on equity of 22.48%. The business had revenue of $9.75 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.64 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.73 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 18.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.38 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be given a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.88%. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is currently 62.01%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages recently weighed in on ABT. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $140.00 to $136.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Raymond James boosted their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $116.00 to $123.00 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Wolfe Research decreased their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $107.00 to $103.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Mizuho boosted their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, January 24th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $117.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $122.37. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, SVP Randel William Woodgrift sold 1,032 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total value of $103,922.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 52,203 shares in the company, valued at $5,256,842.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Randel William Woodgrift sold 1,032 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total 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 approximately $5,256,842.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total value of $68,375.30. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 70,427 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,091,998.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 1,971 shares of company stock worth $199,140. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. 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. Featured Stories 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. Column Capital Advisors LLC cut its position in iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:IEMG Get Rating) by 59.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 32,942 shares of the companys stock after selling 48,826 shares during the quarter. Column Capital Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF were worth $1,538,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in IEMG. Bank of New Hampshire lifted its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 70.5% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New Hampshire now owns 629 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 260 shares during the period. Leelyn Smith LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 84.5% during the 3rd quarter. Leelyn Smith LLC now owns 679 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 311 shares during the period. First PREMIER Bank lifted its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 65.7% during the 4th quarter. First PREMIER Bank now owns 686 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 272 shares during the period. Fiduciary Alliance LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Hexagon Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 33.3% during the 4th quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 956 shares of the companys stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 239 shares during the period. Get iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF alerts: iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Stock Up 1.1 % Shares of NYSEARCA:IEMG traded up $0.50 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $47.85. 4,746,777 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 13,853,538. The companys 50 day moving average is $48.25 and its two-hundred day moving average is $47.56. The firm has a market capitalization of $68.43 billion, a PE ratio of 12.26 and a beta of 0.75. iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF has a 52 week low of $41.44 and a 52 week high of $53.26. About iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF The iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Emerging Markets IMI index, a market-cap-weighted index of emerging-market firms, covering 99% of market capitalization. IEMG was launched on Oct 18, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock. See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fuchs Petrolub (OTCMKTS:FUPBY Get Rating) and COSCO SHIPPING (OTCMKTS:CICOY Get Rating) are both oils/energy companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, risk, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and dividends. Dividends Fuchs Petrolub pays an annual dividend of $0.18 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.8%. COSCO SHIPPING pays an annual dividend of $2.45 per share and has a dividend yield of 41.5%. Fuchs Petrolub pays out 35.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Get Fuchs Petrolub alerts: Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current recommendations for Fuchs Petrolub and COSCO SHIPPING, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Fuchs Petrolub 0 0 3 0 3.00 COSCO SHIPPING 2 0 0 0 1.00 Volatility and Risk Fuchs Petrolub presently has a consensus price target of $43.00, suggesting a potential upside of 319.10%. Given Fuchs Petrolubs stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Fuchs Petrolub is more favorable than COSCO SHIPPING. Fuchs Petrolub has a beta of 1.03, suggesting that its share price is 3% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, COSCO SHIPPING has a beta of 1.55, suggesting that its share price is 55% more volatile than the S&P 500. Profitability This table compares Fuchs Petrolub and COSCO SHIPPINGs net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Fuchs Petrolub N/A N/A N/A COSCO SHIPPING N/A N/A N/A Earnings and Valuation This table compares Fuchs Petrolub and COSCO SHIPPINGs top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Fuchs Petrolub $3.40 billion 1.68 $299.32 million $0.51 20.12 COSCO SHIPPING $58.12 billion 0.32 $16.30 billion N/A N/A COSCO SHIPPING has higher revenue and earnings than Fuchs Petrolub. Summary COSCO SHIPPING beats Fuchs Petrolub on 5 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About Fuchs Petrolub (Get Rating) Fuchs Petrolub SE engages in the development, production, and sale of lubricants and related specialties. Its products include engine oils, motorcycle lubricants, service fluids, greases, corrosion preventives, cleaners, and concrete release agents. It also provides analytical, technical, open gear, and coating services. The company was founded by Rudolf Fuchs in 1931 and is headquartered in Mannheim, Germany. About COSCO SHIPPING (Get Rating) COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co., Ltd., an investment holding company, engages in the container shipping, container terminals, and other terminal related businesses in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Mainland China, and internationally. The company operates through Container Shipping Business and Terminal Business segments. It offers freight forwarding and transportation, vessel chartering, marine, vessel management, manning, and liner agency. The company was formerly known as China COSCO Holdings Company Limited and changed its name to COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co., Ltd. in November 2016. COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co., Ltd. was incorporated in 2005 and is based in Shanghai, the People's Republic of China. Receive News & Ratings for Fuchs Petrolub Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fuchs Petrolub and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hamel Associates Inc. trimmed its position in Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI Get Rating) by 2.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 9,833 shares of the companys stock after selling 200 shares during the period. Hamel Associates Inc.s holdings in Cummins were worth $2,382,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of CMI. Synovus Financial Corp raised its stake in Cummins by 254.4% in the 1st quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 6,099 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,242,000 after purchasing an additional 4,378 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Cummins by 65.4% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 18,194 shares of the companys stock worth $3,732,000 after acquiring an additional 7,191 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. increased its holdings in shares of Cummins by 16.1% during the 1st 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 acquired a new position in Cummins in the first quarter valued at approximately $711,000. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers grew its holdings in shares of Cummins by 43.0% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 6,403 shares of the companys stock worth $1,313,000 after purchasing an additional 1,925 shares during the period. 80.94% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Cummins alerts: Insider Activity In related news, Director Georgia R. Nelson sold 1,933 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.64, for a total value of $486,420.12. Following the transaction, the director now owns 21,742 shares in the company, valued at $5,471,156.88. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Cummins news, Director Georgia R. Nelson sold 1,933 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $251.64, for a total transaction of $486,420.12. Following the transaction, the director now owns 21,742 shares in the company, valued at $5,471,156.88. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Sharon R. Barner sold 5,929 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 16,144 shares in the company, valued at $4,151,106.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 16,709 shares of company stock valued at $4,245,545 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 1.05% of the companys stock. Cummins Stock Performance NYSE:CMI opened at $233.46 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $238.36 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $240.83. The company has a market capitalization of $33.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 1.00. Cummins Inc. has a twelve month low of $184.27 and a twelve month high of $261.91. The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. 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. The firm had revenue of $7.77 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.21 billion. Cummins had a net margin of 7.66% and a return on equity of 24.58%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 32.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.85 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Cummins Inc. will post 19.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Cummins Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 24th were paid a dividend of $1.57 per share. This represents a $6.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.69%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 23rd. Cumminss dividend payout ratio is currently 41.56%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on CMI shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on shares of Cummins from $231.00 to $227.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Cummins from $264.00 to $262.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 20th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Cummins from $247.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 16th. Credit Suisse Group raised their target price on Cummins from $287.00 to $291.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Cummins in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Cummins currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $254.25. Cummins Profile (Get Rating) Cummins, Inc engages in the design, manufacture, and market of diesel and natural gas engines. It operates through the following segments: Engine, Distribution, Components, Power Systems, and New Power. The Engine segment manufactures and markets diesel and natural gas-powered engines under the Cummins brand name, for the heavy- and medium-duty truck, bus, recreational vehicle, light-duty automotive, construction, mining, marine, rail, oil and gas, defense, and agricultural markets. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CMI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Cummins Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cummins and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eldorado Gold (NYSE:EGO Get Rating) (TSE:ELD) is set to release its earnings data after the market closes on Thursday, April 27th. Analysts expect Eldorado Gold to post earnings of $0.04 per share for the quarter. Persons that are interested in participating in the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link. Eldorado Gold (NYSE:EGO Get Rating) (TSE:ELD) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The basic materials company reported $0.14 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.05 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $246.20 million during the quarter. Eldorado Gold had a negative net margin of 39.92% and a positive return on equity of 0.39%. On average, analysts expect Eldorado Gold to post $0 EPS for the current fiscal year and $1 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Eldorado Gold alerts: Eldorado Gold Stock Performance Shares of Eldorado Gold stock opened at $10.67 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.97 billion, a PE ratio of -5.62, a P/E/G ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 2.06 and a current ratio of 3.00. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $9.97 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $8.59. Eldorado Gold has a one year low of $5.06 and a one year high of $11.58. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Eldorado Gold Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of EGO. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Eldorado Gold by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 141,562 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,587,000 after buying an additional 2,804 shares during the period. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC increased its holdings in Eldorado Gold by 11.7% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 18,544 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $208,000 after buying an additional 1,944 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. acquired a new position in Eldorado Gold in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,128,000. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its holdings in Eldorado Gold by 24.5% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 22,921 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $257,000 after buying an additional 4,510 shares during the period. Finally, BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in Eldorado Gold by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 10,321,583 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $115,706,000 after buying an additional 141,298 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.64% of the companys stock. A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus downgraded shares of Eldorado Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. TD Securities cut their price objective on shares of Eldorado Gold from $11.00 to $10.50 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 27th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Eldorado Gold in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Eldorado Gold in a report on Friday, March 10th. They set an underperform rating and a $8.90 price objective on the stock. Finally, National Bank Financial upped their price objective on shares of Eldorado Gold from C$16.50 to C$17.50 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $12.78. Eldorado Gold Company Profile (Get Rating) Eldorado Gold Corp. engages in the mining, development, and exploration of gold. It operates through the following segment: Turkey, Canada, and Greece. The company was founded by Richard J. Barclay, Marco Antonio Romero, and Gary D. Nordin on April 2, 1992 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Eldorado Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eldorado Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fagron NV (OTCMKTS:ARSUF Get Rating) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 4,200 shares, a decline of 77.5% from the March 31st total of 18,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.9 days. Fagron Price Performance Shares of Fagron stock remained flat at $18.75 during trading on Wednesday. Fagron has a 1-year low of $18.75 and a 1-year high of $18.75. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $14.34 and a 200 day simple moving average of $13.52. Get Fagron alerts: Fagron Company Profile (Get Rating) Read More Fagron NV, a pharmaceutical compounding company, provides personalized medicine care to hospitals, pharmacies, clinics, and patients. The company also innovates concepts, vehicles, and formulations for pharmaceutical compounding. In addition, it supplies raw materials, utensils and equipment, semi-finished products, vehicles, and sterile and non-sterile compounded medicines. Receive News & Ratings for Fagron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fagron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fukuoka Financial Group, Inc. (OTC:FKKFF Get Rating)s share price hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $17.36 and last traded at $17.36, with a volume of 0 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.36. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Daiwa Capital Markets cut 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 Stock Performance The company has a market capitalization of $14.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -32.14 and a beta of 0.03. The firms 50-day moving average price is $17.36 and its 200 day moving average price is $17.36. About Fukuoka Financial Group Fukuoka Financial Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides various banking services to individual and corporate customers. The company accepts various deposits, such as current deposits, ordinary and other demand deposits, time deposits, and negotiable certificates of deposit, as well as provides loan products. Featured Articles 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. GYL Financial Synergies LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) by 16.1% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 8,790 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,222 shares during the period. GYL Financial Synergies LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $632,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dakota Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the first quarter valued at about $332,000. Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 111.5% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,052 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $150,000 after purchasing an additional 1,082 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 53.2% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 165,336 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $12,075,000 after purchasing an additional 57,444 shares in the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC bought a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the first quarter valued at about $1,997,000. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 25.1% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 338,563 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $24,725,000 after purchasing an additional 68,018 shares in the last quarter. 75.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total transaction of $835,258.27. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,043 shares in the company, valued at $1,721,081.67. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total transaction of $835,258.27. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,043 shares in the company, valued at $1,721,081.67. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total value of $17,916,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 236,104 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,625,163.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance BMY has been the topic of a number of research reports. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Monday, March 6th. They issued a hold rating and a $62.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com began coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. They set an overweight rating and a $95.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $70.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Finally, Atlantic Securities upped their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $80.00. Shares of BMY stock traded down $2.02 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $68.22. The company had a trading volume of 1,388,729 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,739,352. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $143.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.45. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $69.14 and its 200 day moving average price is $72.75. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a one year low of $65.28 and a one year high of $81.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $11.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.20 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.60% and a net margin of 13.71%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.83 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.08 EPS for the current fiscal year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.34%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is presently 77.29%. Bristol-Myers Squibb Profile (Get Rating) Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hartline Investment Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI Get Rating) (TSE:CNR) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 4,800 shares of the transportation companys stock, valued at approximately $571,000. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CNI. BCK Partners Inc. acquired a new position in Canadian National Railway during the first quarter valued at approximately $2,575,000. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in Canadian National Railway by 26.2% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 931,027 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $124,888,000 after purchasing an additional 193,116 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway by 3.1% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 762,341 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $102,260,000 after acquiring an additional 22,984 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL grew its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway by 1.4% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 60,441 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $8,107,000 after acquiring an additional 807 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway by 18.9% in the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 33,602 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $4,511,000 after acquiring an additional 5,349 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.96% of the companys stock. Get Canadian National Railway alerts: Canadian National Railway Price Performance Shares of NYSE CNI traded down $0.26 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $118.27. 408,618 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,059,828. Canadian National Railway has a 12 month low of $103.79 and a 12 month high of $129.89. The firm has a market cap of $78.69 billion, a PE ratio of 20.53, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a current ratio of 0.84. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $117.61 and its 200-day simple moving average is $119.38. Canadian National Railway Cuts Dividend Canadian National Railway ( NYSE:CNI Get Rating ) (TSE:CNR) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 24th. The transportation company reported $1.55 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.56 by ($0.01). Canadian National Railway had a net margin of 30.61% and a return on equity of 24.49%. The business had revenue of $3.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.33 billion. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Canadian National Railway will post 5.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be paid a $0.5835 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 8th. This represents a $2.33 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.97%. Canadian National Railways dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 40.11%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Canadian National Railway from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on shares of Canadian National Railway from C$185.00 to C$180.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 25th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Canadian National Railway in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Credit Suisse Group raised their price objective on shares of Canadian National Railway from $126.00 to $133.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Susquehanna raised their price objective on shares of Canadian National Railway from $114.00 to $116.00 in a research note on Tuesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $143.50. About Canadian National Railway (Get Rating) Canadian National Railway Co engages in rail and related transportation business. Its services include rail, intermodal, trucking, supply chain services, business development and maps and network. Its offers their services in automotive, coal, fertilizer, food and beverages, forest products, dimensional loads, grain, metals and minerals and petroleum and chemicals industries. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CNI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI Get Rating) (TSE:CNR). Receive News & Ratings for Canadian National Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian National Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On April 21, Chinese autonomous driving solution provider Pony.ai was granted the first and only remote passenger-carrying permit by the city of Guangzhou, allowing the company to launch fully unmanned Robotaxi services without safety drivers in the vehicle. Photo credit: Pony.ai Residents in Guangzhou can now enjoy safe, convenient, and comfortable autonomous driving services by hailing a ride via the companys PonyPilot+ mobile app. Guangzhou is one of the first cities in China to grant permission for remote testing of autonomous vehicles, and has set stringent safety and reliability requirements for autonomous driving software and hardware systems. These requirements have established a quantifiable benchmark for the performance and capabilities of autonomous vehicles based on real-time data monitoring. Pony.ai has been conducting remote testing in Guangzhou since June 2021 and has been offering Robotaxi services without safety drivers to selected users. After nearly two years of testing, the company has accumulated rich experience in remote testing operations, including extreme weather conditions like rain, fog, and lightning, as well as complex driving scenarios such as crossroads, narrow roads, flooded roads, and roads without lane markings. With the new permit, users within an 803-square-kilometer area in the Nansha district of Guangzhou can call for a truly driverless autonomous vehicle via the PonyPilot+ app to travel to destinations such as railway stations, subway stations, key commercial areas, residential communities, and public parks. During the journey, passengers can communicate with remote assistance experts in real-time via voice chat if they need support. Highwoods Properties (NYSE:HIW Get Rating) updated its FY23 earnings guidance on Tuesday. The company provided EPS guidance of $3.68-3.82 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $3.76. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms have recently commented on HIW. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Highwoods Properties in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Credit Suisse Group dropped their target price on shares of Highwoods Properties from $29.00 to $27.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on shares of Highwoods Properties from $37.00 to $35.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 27th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Highwoods Properties from $26.00 to $23.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 31st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Highwoods Properties from $34.00 to $26.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 16th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Highwoods Properties currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $29.71. Get Highwoods Properties alerts: Highwoods Properties Stock Performance HIW traded up $0.30 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $22.80. 263,761 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,061,854. The firm has a market cap of $2.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.31 and a beta of 1.13. The stocks fifty day moving average is $24.14 and its 200 day moving average is $26.92. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29. Highwoods Properties has a one year low of $19.45 and a one year high of $43.28. Highwoods Properties Dividend Announcement Insider Transactions at Highwoods Properties The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 13th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 22nd will be given a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 19th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.77%. Highwoods Propertiess dividend payout ratio is presently 136.05%. In related news, CEO Theodore J. Klinck bought 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 23rd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $19.81 per share, with a total value of $99,050.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 337,177 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,679,476.37. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Highwoods Properties A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of HIW. CENTRAL TRUST Co raised its stake in shares of Highwoods Properties by 76.6% during the third quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 1,095 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 475 shares in the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP boosted its holdings in shares of Highwoods Properties by 165.3% during the 2nd quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 2,181 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $74,000 after buying an additional 1,359 shares in the last quarter. First Manhattan Co. bought a new stake in shares of Highwoods Properties during the 1st quarter valued at $100,000. Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Highwoods Properties by 82.8% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,298 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $105,000 after buying an additional 1,041 shares in the last quarter. Finally, HighTower Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Highwoods Properties during the 1st quarter valued at $215,000. 94.57% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Highwoods Properties (Get Rating) Highwoods Properties, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust, which engages in the operation, acquisition and development of rental office properties. It operates through the following geographical segments: Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, Orlando, Raleigh, Richmond, and Tampa. The company was founded by Ronald P. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Highwoods Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Highwoods Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hills Bank & Trust Co lessened its stake in shares of American Tower Co. (NYSE:AMT Get Rating) by 1.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 24,423 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 298 shares during the period. Hills Bank & Trust Cos holdings in American Tower were worth $5,174,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of American Tower by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 60,720,664 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $13,036,726,000 after purchasing an additional 406,906 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of American Tower by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 6,223,809 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,336,250,000 after acquiring an additional 91,188 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in shares of American Tower by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 5,191,334 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,115,635,000 after acquiring an additional 89,868 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its holdings in shares of American Tower by 8.8% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 5,073,686 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,089,321,000 after acquiring an additional 408,300 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of American Tower by 19.5% during the 3rd quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 4,658,127 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,000,100,000 after acquiring an additional 760,958 shares during the last quarter. 89.65% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get American Tower alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms recently weighed in on AMT. Truist Financial decreased their target price on American Tower from $325.00 to $275.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 13th. Credit Suisse Group decreased their target price on American Tower from $251.00 to $244.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 24th. Moffett Nathanson raised American Tower from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $244.00 to $234.00 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on American Tower from $240.00 to $230.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 6th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on American Tower from $254.00 to $245.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $257.24. American Tower Price Performance AMT stock opened at $201.70 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.75. American Tower Co. has a 12 month low of $178.17 and a 12 month high of $282.47. The firm has a market cap of $93.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 52.54, a P/E/G ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 0.57. The companys 50-day moving average price is $201.94 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $208.93. American Tower (NYSE:AMT Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The real estate investment trust reported ($1.47) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.16 by ($3.63). American Tower had a net margin of 16.49% and a return on equity of 15.80%. The firm had revenue of $2.71 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.68 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.18 earnings per share. American Towers quarterly revenue was up 10.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that American Tower Co. will post 9.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. American Tower Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be issued a $1.56 dividend. This represents a $6.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. American Towers dividend payout ratio is currently 162.50%. Insider Activity at American Tower In related news, Director Samme L. Thompson sold 1,739 shares of American Tower stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $218.59, for a total transaction of $380,128.01. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 22,099 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,830,620.41. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.24% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. American Tower Profile (Get Rating) American Tower Corp. provides real estate investment services, and owns, operates, and develops multi-tenant real estate properties. It offers leasing of space on communications sites to wireless service providers, radio and television broadcast companies. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for American Tower Co. (NYSE:AMT Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for American Tower Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Tower and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT Get Rating) updated its FY23 earnings guidance on Wednesday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $5.68-5.88 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.69. Hilton Worldwide also updated its Q2 guidance to $1.54-1.59 EPS. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $154.00 to $144.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $145.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Barclays upgraded shares of Hilton Worldwide from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their target price for the stock from $151.00 to $168.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 9th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $171.00 to $167.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Hilton Worldwide from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday. Six 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 company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $150.73. Get Hilton Worldwide alerts: Hilton Worldwide Stock Performance Hilton Worldwide stock opened at $148.98 on Wednesday. Hilton Worldwide has a one year low of $108.41 and a one year high of $162.55. The business has a fifty day moving average of $142.27 and a two-hundred day moving average of $137.50. The company has a market cap of $39.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.23. Hilton Worldwide Announces Dividend Hilton Worldwide ( NYSE:HLT Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 9th. The company reported $1.59 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.20 by $0.39. The company had revenue of $2.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.35 billion. Hilton Worldwide had a negative return on equity of 155.17% and a net margin of 14.31%. Hilton Worldwides quarterly revenue was up 33.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.72 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Hilton Worldwide will post 5.66 EPS for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 28th were paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 27th. Hilton Worldwides dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 13.22%. Insider Transactions at Hilton Worldwide In other news, insider Kristin Ann Campbell sold 32,863 shares of Hilton Worldwide stock in a transaction on Friday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.93, for a total transaction of $4,960,012.59. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 221,037 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $33,361,114.41. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 2.40% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in Hilton Worldwide by 36.7% in the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,237,885 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,167,300,000 after purchasing an additional 2,480,451 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 16.1% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 4,200,822 shares of the companys stock valued at $637,433,000 after buying an additional 583,516 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 10.2% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 3,969,051 shares of the companys stock valued at $602,263,000 after buying an additional 366,054 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Hilton Worldwide in the 4th quarter valued at about $337,490,000. Finally, Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 16.3% in the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,214,963 shares of the companys stock valued at $336,098,000 after buying an additional 310,068 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.66% of the companys stock. Hilton Worldwide Company Profile (Get Rating) Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc engages in the provision of hospitality businesses. It operates through the following segments: Ownership and Management & Franchise. The Ownership segment includes owned, leased, and joint venture hotels. The Management and Franchise segment operates hotels of third-party owners. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Hilton Worldwide Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hilton Worldwide and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Toubani Resources Inc. (ASX:TRE Get Rating) insider Phil Russo acquired 189,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The shares were purchased at an average cost of A$0.16 ($0.11) per share, for a total transaction of A$30,429.00 ($20,422.15). Toubani Resources Price Performance Toubani Resources Company Profile (Get Rating) Toubani Resources Inc, an exploration and development company, engages in the exploration and development of gold properties in West Africa. It focuses on the Kobada Gold project located in Southern Mali. The company was formerly known as African Gold Group, Inc and changed its name to Toubani Resources Inc in June 2022. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Toubani Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toubani Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Intercorp Financial Services Inc. (NYSE:IFS Get Rating) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Wednesday . Approximately 108,452 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 122% from the previous sessions volume of 48,743 shares.The stock last traded at $23.05 and had previously closed at $23.19. Intercorp Financial Services Trading Down 2.0 % The companys 50 day moving average is $23.13 and its 200 day moving average is $23.47. The company has a market cap of $2.62 billion, a PE ratio of 6.20, a P/E/G ratio of 0.37 and a beta of 1.27. Get Intercorp Financial Services alerts: Intercorp Financial Services (NYSE:IFS Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 13th. The company reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.04 by ($0.15). Intercorp Financial Services had a net margin of 29.14% and a return on equity of 17.74%. The company had revenue of $395.95 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $384.75 million. Analysts expect that Intercorp Financial Services Inc. will post 3.91 EPS for the current year. Intercorp Financial Services Cuts Dividend Institutional Investors Weigh In On Intercorp Financial Services The business also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 8th. Investors of record on Friday, April 28th will be issued a dividend of $1.18 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 27th. This represents a yield of 7.6%. Intercorp Financial Servicess payout ratio is 44.39%. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new position in Intercorp Financial Services during the 1st quarter valued at about $225,000. American Century Companies Inc. increased its position in Intercorp Financial Services by 42.1% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 24,371 shares of the companys stock valued at $842,000 after purchasing an additional 7,216 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in Intercorp Financial Services by 6.5% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 806,575 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,867,000 after purchasing an additional 49,574 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP purchased a new position in Intercorp Financial Services during the 1st quarter valued at about $609,000. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Intercorp Financial Services during the 1st quarter valued at about $487,000. Institutional investors own 7.69% of the companys stock. About Intercorp Financial Services (Get Rating) Intercorp Financial Services Inc provides banking, insurance, and wealth management services for retail and commercial clients in Peru. The company operates through three segments: Banking, Insurance, and Wealth Management. It provides transactional accounts, such as cuenta sueldo and cuenta simple; savings accounts; investment accounts; and time deposits, certificates of deposit, and compensation for service time accounts. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Intercorp Financial Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Intercorp Financial Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of iShares MSCI France ETF (NYSEARCA:EWQ Get Rating) saw unusually-high trading volume on Wednesday . Approximately 3,595,679 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 398% from the previous sessions volume of 722,085 shares.The stock last traded at $39.28 and had previously closed at $39.30. iShares MSCI France ETF Trading Down 0.1 % The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $37.42 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $34.70. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.58 and a beta of 1.03. Get iShares MSCI France ETF alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in EWQ. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in iShares MSCI France ETF by 2,553.2% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 89,545 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $3,164,000 after buying an additional 86,170 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in iShares MSCI France ETF by 5,098.9% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,868,322 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $66,007,000 after acquiring an additional 1,832,385 shares during the period. Flow Traders U.S. LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI France ETF by 285.8% in the 1st quarter. Flow Traders U.S. LLC now owns 48,664 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,719,000 after buying an additional 36,051 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI France ETF by 53.9% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 37,700 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,332,000 after buying an additional 13,200 shares during the period. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI France ETF by 211.9% in the 1st quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 101,825 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $3,597,000 after buying an additional 69,183 shares during the period. About iShares MSCI France ETF iShares MSCI France ETF, formerly iShares MSCI France Index Fund, seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the French market, as measured by the MSCI France Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the French equity market. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI France ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI France ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Matson Money. Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF (BATS:VLUE Get Rating) by 8.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,141,140 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 246,661 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF accounts for 10.9% of Matson Money. Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 3rd biggest position. Matson Money. Inc.s holdings in iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF were worth $286,284,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Y.D. More Investments Ltd bought a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF in the 4th quarter worth $83,000. Goldstein Advisors LLC bought a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF in the 4th quarter worth $513,000. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF by 45.3% during the 4th quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 79,488 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,244,000 after purchasing an additional 24,789 shares in the last quarter. Tradition Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF by 207.9% during the 4th quarter. Tradition Wealth Management LLC now owns 856 shares of the companys stock valued at $78,000 after purchasing an additional 578 shares in the last quarter. Finally, D.A. Davidson & CO. boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF by 99.6% during the 4th quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 69,682 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,351,000 after purchasing an additional 34,763 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF Trading Down 1.5 % Shares of VLUE opened at $90.23 on Wednesday. iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF has a 1-year low of $71.21 and a 1-year high of $89.40. The firms 50-day moving average price is $92.50 and its 200-day moving average price is $93.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.51 and a beta of 1.04. iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF Company Profile The iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF (VLUE) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Enhanced Value index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap US equities. Stocks are selected and weighted using fundamental metrics (earnings, revenue, book value and cash earnings), aiming for exposure to undervalued stocks in each sector. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VLUE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF (BATS:VLUE Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. John Bean Technologies (NYSE:JBT Get Rating) issued its earnings results on Tuesday. The industrial products company reported $0.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.72 by $0.22, Briefing.com reports. John Bean Technologies had a net margin of 6.03% and a return on equity of 18.85%. The business had revenue of $529.50 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $513.54 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.87 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. John Bean Technologies updated its Q2 guidance to $1.10-1.25 EPS and its FY23 guidance to $5.00-5.50 EPS. John Bean Technologies Stock Performance John Bean Technologies stock traded up $0.89 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $103.36. 70,455 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 154,941. The stock has a market cap of $3.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.12, a P/E/G ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.40. John Bean Technologies has a 52-week low of $81.59 and a 52-week high of $126.75. The firms 50 day moving average is $106.79 and its 200 day moving average is $99.56. Get John Bean Technologies alerts: John Bean Technologies Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 20th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 6th were given a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.39%. John Bean Technologiess payout ratio is currently 9.80%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Insiders Place Their Bets JBT has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of John Bean Technologies in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. TheStreet upgraded shares of John Bean Technologies from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. In other John Bean Technologies news, Director Caroline Maury Devine sold 300 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.17, for a total transaction of $30,651.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 45,249 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,623,090.33. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In the last quarter, insiders sold 900 shares of company stock worth $95,787. 0.96% of the stock is owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On John Bean Technologies Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Money Concepts Capital Corp purchased a new position in John Bean Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in John Bean Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $59,000. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its holdings in John Bean Technologies by 201.2% during the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,208 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $143,000 after buying an additional 807 shares during the last quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY grew its holdings in John Bean Technologies by 5.8% during the 4th quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY now owns 1,944 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $178,000 after buying an additional 106 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Graham Capital Management L.P. purchased a new position in shares of John Bean Technologies during the 1st quarter worth $259,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.38% of the companys stock. John Bean Technologies Company Profile (Get Rating) John Bean Technologies Corp. is a technology solutions provider, which engages in the food, beverage, and air transportation industries. It operates through the JBT FoodTech and JBT AeroTech business segments. The JBT FoodTech segment designs, manufactures, and services technologically food processing systems for the preparation of meat, seafood and poultry products, ready-to-eat meals, shelf stable packaged foods, bakery products, juice and dairy products, and fruit and vegetable products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for John Bean Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for John Bean Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kiley Juergens Wealth Management LLC cut its stake in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT Get Rating) by 2.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 19,485 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 393 shares during the quarter. Caterpillar comprises about 2.0% of Kiley Juergens Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Kiley Juergens Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Caterpillar were worth $4,668,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of CAT. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Caterpillar by 286.7% during the 4th quarter. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC now owns 116 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the period. Cowa LLC bought a new position in shares of Caterpillar during the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC boosted its position in shares of Caterpillar by 44.7% in the 4th quarter. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC now owns 136 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Caterpillar in the 4th quarter worth about $43,000. Finally, New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Caterpillar during the 4th quarter valued at about $43,000. 68.02% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Caterpillar alerts: Caterpillar Trading Up 0.4 % Shares of NYSE CAT traded up $0.94 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $219.57. The company had a trading volume of 1,061,500 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,245,786. Caterpillar Inc. has a 52 week low of $160.60 and a 52 week high of $266.04. The businesss 50-day moving average is $229.09 and its 200-day moving average is $230.86. The stock has a market cap of $113.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. Caterpillar Announces Dividend Caterpillar ( NYSE:CAT Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The industrial products company reported $3.86 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.95 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $16.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.84 billion. Caterpillar had a return on equity of 45.61% and a net margin of 11.28%. Caterpillars revenue was up 20.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.69 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Caterpillar Inc. will post 15.75 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 24th will be paid a dividend of $1.20 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 21st. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.19%. Caterpillars dividend payout ratio is currently 37.94%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth CAT has been the topic of several analyst reports. William Blair reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Caterpillar in a research note on Tuesday, January 31st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Caterpillar from $228.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Bank of America raised shares of Caterpillar from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $217.00 to $295.00 in a research report on Friday, January 13th. Robert W. Baird cut Caterpillar from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and lowered their price target for the company from $230.00 to $185.00 in a report on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price objective on Caterpillar from $228.00 to $225.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $238.59. Insider Buying and Selling In other Caterpillar news, insider Cheryl H. Johnson sold 23,883 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.44, for a total transaction of $5,981,258.52. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 13,857 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,470,347.08. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Caterpillar news, General Counsel Suzette M. Long sold 8,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.04, for a total value of $2,008,320.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 8,776 shares in the company, valued at $2,203,127.04. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Cheryl H. Johnson sold 23,883 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.44, for a total transaction of $5,981,258.52. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 13,857 shares in the company, valued at $3,470,347.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 37,953 shares of company stock valued at $9,514,484 over the last three months. 0.27% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About Caterpillar (Get Rating) Caterpillar, Inc engages in the manufacture of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. It operates through the following segments: Construction Industries, Resource Industries, Energy and Transportation, Financial Products, and All Other. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CAT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Caterpillar Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Caterpillar and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kiley Juergens Wealth Management LLC reduced its position in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS Get Rating) by 4.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,945 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 536 shares during the quarter. United Parcel Service comprises 0.9% of Kiley Juergens Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 28th biggest position. Kiley Juergens Wealth Management LLCs holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $2,076,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Tsfg LLC increased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 49.8% in the 4th quarter. Tsfg LLC now owns 665 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $116,000 after acquiring an additional 221 shares during the last quarter. Fortem Financial Group LLC increased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Fortem Financial Group LLC now owns 5,828 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $941,000 after acquiring an additional 113 shares during the last quarter. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at about $39,000. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. increased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 15,176 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,638,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zhang Financial LLC increased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 7.6% in the 4th quarter. Zhang Financial LLC now owns 2,202 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $383,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares during the last quarter. 58.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get United Parcel Service alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have recently commented on UPS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $181.00 price target on United Parcel Service in a research note on Tuesday, January 31st. UBS Group increased their target price on United Parcel Service from $196.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Raymond James lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $207.00 to $205.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $220.00 to $214.00 in a research note on Monday, March 20th. Finally, KeyCorp increased their target price on United Parcel Service from $200.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $193.78. United Parcel Service Stock Performance UPS stock traded down $1.70 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $174.59. 2,706,950 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,153,392. The company has a current ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $149.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.36, a P/E/G ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $186.98 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $180.32. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12 month low of $154.87 and a 12 month high of $209.39. United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The transportation company reported $2.20 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.19 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $22.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $22.98 billion. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 66.10% and a net margin of 11.51%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 6.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.05 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 11.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. United Parcel Service Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 21st were paid a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.71%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 17th. This is a positive change from United Parcel Services previous quarterly dividend of $1.52. United Parcel Services dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 49.09%. United Parcel Service declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback program on Tuesday, January 31st that allows the company to buyback $5.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the transportation company to reacquire up to 3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are typically an indication that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued. Insider Buying and Selling at United Parcel Service In other news, CFO Brian Newman sold 19,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.46, for a total transaction of $3,466,740.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 11,677 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,130,585.42. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 20,724 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.26, for a total transaction of $3,777,156.24. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Brian Newman sold 19,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.46, for a total value of $3,466,740.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 11,677 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,130,585.42. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 54,341 shares of company stock valued at $9,848,061 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock. United Parcel Service Profile (Get Rating) United Parcel Service, Inc is a package delivery company, which engages in the provision of global supply chain management solutions. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Domestic Package, International Package, and Supply Chain Solutions. The U.S. Domestic Package segment includes time-definite delivery of letters, documents, and packages. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UPS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for United Parcel Service Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for United Parcel Service and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MIAMISayUncle has released Part 1 of the newest production for its Latin Leche subsite, "After School. The featurette follows the story of two best friends, Vic Twink and Joe Dave. According to promo materials, "In 'After School, Part 1,' Vic and Joe meet up at Vic's house after school to do some school work. To avoid being interrupted by Vics annoying older brother, Enrique Mudu, the boys go straight to Vics room to have more privacy while they study. However, when Joe excuses himself to use the restroom, Vic cant help but start to become curious about what Joes cock looks like and follows him to take a peek. "When Joe returns, he confronts Vic and asks him if he was checking him out in the bathroom. Vic denies it at first but after Joe begins to drop hints that he was into it, Vic confesses that he was looking at him in the bathroom and got turned on. Joe then comes closer to him and asks if he would like to experiment with him. Vic agrees and the two start making out. Will Victor's brother interrupt them while they do more than just make out?" Part 2 or After School premieres May 8 on Latin Leche. For more, visit SayUncle.com and follow the brand on Twitter @sayunclenetwork and Instagram @thesayunclenetwork. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor purchased 4,710 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $336,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Southern by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 94,652,372 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $6,436,360,000 after acquiring an additional 1,391,612 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Southern by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 76,360,768 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $5,192,533,000 after acquiring an additional 723,336 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Southern by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 65,068,549 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,424,661,000 after acquiring an additional 1,313,036 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its holdings in shares of Southern by 6.2% during the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 63,002,360 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,284,352,000 after acquiring an additional 3,653,841 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Southern by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 8,795,619 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $598,104,000 after acquiring an additional 66,208 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 61.78% of the companys stock. Get Southern alerts: Southern Trading Down 0.2 % NYSE SO opened at $73.98 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $80.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.55, a PEG ratio of 5.13 and a beta of 0.51. The Southern Company has a one year low of $58.85 and a one year high of $80.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47, a current ratio of 0.66 and a quick ratio of 0.52. The businesss fifty day moving average is $68.23 and its 200-day moving average is $67.76. Southern Increases Dividend Southern ( NYSE:SO Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 16th. The utilities provider reported $0.26 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.24 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $7.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.83 billion. Southern had a return on equity of 11.73% and a net margin of 12.40%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 22.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.36 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that The Southern Company will post 3.61 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 6th. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th will be issued a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 12th. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.78%. This is a positive change from Southerns previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. Southerns dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 82.93%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on SO shares. Mizuho raised Southern from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price objective for the company from $72.00 to $77.00 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Guggenheim lifted their target price on Southern from $73.00 to $79.00 in a report on Monday. StockNews.com raised shares of Southern from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Southern from $73.00 to $71.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of Southern from $79.00 to $78.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $73.14. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Christopher Cummiskey sold 852 shares of Southern stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.31, for a total value of $57,348.12. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 22,059 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,484,791.29. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Southern news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.89, for a total transaction of $359,450.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 146,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,516,356.76. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Christopher Cummiskey sold 852 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.31, for a total transaction of $57,348.12. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 22,059 shares in the company, valued at $1,484,791.29. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 7,134 shares of company stock valued at $502,179. 0.37% of the stock is owned by insiders. Southern Profile (Get Rating) The Southern Co is a holding company, which engages in the generation and sale of electricity. It operates through the following segments: Traditional Electric Operating Companies, Southern Power and Southern Company Gas. The Traditional Electric Operating Companies segment refers to vertically integrated utilities that own generation, transmission and distribution facilities, and supplies electric services in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Southern Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southern and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lenovo Group Limited (OTCMKTS:LNVGY Get Rating) shares crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $17.33 and traded as high as $21.22. Lenovo Group shares last traded at $21.14, with a volume of 18,341 shares. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Lenovo Group from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Get Lenovo Group alerts: Lenovo Group Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.64. The stock has a market cap of $12.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.09 and a beta of 0.99. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $19.84 and its 200 day simple moving average is $17.37. About Lenovo Group Lenovo Group ( OTCMKTS:LNVGY Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 16th. The technology company reported $0.69 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.75 by ($0.06). Lenovo Group had a net margin of 2.89% and a return on equity of 34.03%. The firm had revenue of $15.27 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.96 billion. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Lenovo Group Limited will post 2.59 earnings per share for the current year. (Get Rating) Lenovo Group Limited, an investment holding company, develops, manufactures, and markets technology products and services. It operates through Intelligent Devices Group, Infrastructure Solutions Group, and Solutions and Services Group segments. The company offers commercial and consumer personal computers, as well as servers and workstations; and a family of mobile Internet devices, including tablets and smartphones. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Lenovo Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lenovo Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Luxottica Group SpA (OTCMKTS:LUXTY Get Rating) were up 0.4% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $55.90 and last traded at $55.80. Approximately 2,900 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 80% from the average daily volume of 14,259 shares. The stock had previously closed at $55.60. Luxottica Group Stock Performance The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The stock has a market cap of $27.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.37 and a beta of 0.27. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $55.80 and a 200 day simple moving average of $55.80. About Luxottica Group (Get Rating) Luxottica Group S.p.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides fashion, luxury, sports, and performance eyewear worldwide. It operates through two segments, Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution, and Retail Distribution. The Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution segment engages in the design, manufacture, distribution, and marketing of proprietary and designer lines of prescription frames and sunglasses. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Luxottica Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Luxottica Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH Get Rating) was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday. Several other brokerages also recently weighed in on MOH. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on shares of Molina Healthcare in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. They issued an overweight rating and a $354.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare from $307.00 to $282.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare from $360.00 to $348.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare from $395.00 to $347.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 10th. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare from $400.00 to $380.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $356.17. Get Molina Healthcare alerts: Molina Healthcare Stock Down 1.5 % Shares of MOH stock traded down $4.38 on Tuesday, hitting $279.28. The stock had a trading volume of 492,157 shares, compared to its average volume of 534,007. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.61, a P/E/G ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 0.67. The stocks 50 day moving average is $278.44 and its 200-day moving average is $309.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a current ratio of 1.47. Molina Healthcare has a 52-week low of $249.78 and a 52-week high of $374.00. Insider Buying and Selling Molina Healthcare ( NYSE:MOH Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 8th. The company reported $4.10 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.06 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $8.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.87 billion. Molina Healthcare had a net margin of 2.48% and a return on equity of 36.05%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.88 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Molina Healthcare will post 19.76 earnings per share for the current year. In related news, Director Daniel Cooperman sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $276.77, for a total value of $1,383,850.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 4,944 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,368,350.88. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Molina Healthcare A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 18.2% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 994 shares of the companys stock worth $266,000 after acquiring an additional 153 shares during the period. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. increased its stake in Molina Healthcare by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 23,437 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,269,000 after buying an additional 576 shares during the period. Berger Financial Group Inc acquired a new position in Molina Healthcare during the 1st quarter valued at about $4,165,000. Inspire Investing LLC increased its stake in Molina Healthcare by 16.0% during the 1st quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 8,567 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,292,000 after buying an additional 1,182 shares during the period. Finally, DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale increased its stake in Molina Healthcare by 7.3% during the 1st quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 94,880 shares of the companys stock valued at $24,743,000 after buying an additional 6,474 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.25% of the companys stock. About Molina Healthcare (Get Rating) Molina Healthcare, Inc engages in the provision of health care services. It operates through the following segments: Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace, and Other. The company was founded by C. David Molina in 1980 and is headquartered in Long Beach, CA. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Molina Healthcare Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Molina Healthcare and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TELUS International (Cda) Inc. (NYSE:TIXT Get Rating) Equities researchers at National Bank Financial upped their Q1 2023 earnings estimates for shares of TELUS International (Cda) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, April 20th. National Bank Financial analyst R. Tse now forecasts that the company will post earnings per share of $0.22 for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $0.21. The consensus estimate for TELUS International (Cda)s current full-year earnings is $1.11 per share. Get TELUS International (Cda) alerts: A number of other brokerages have also commented on TIXT. Credit Suisse Group cut their price target on shares of TELUS International (Cda) from $27.00 to $25.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 10th. Bank of America raised TELUS International (Cda) from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $26.00 target price on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 11th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on TELUS International (Cda) from $23.00 to $22.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 10th. National Bankshares lowered their price objective on TELUS International (Cda) from $38.00 to $35.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group initiated coverage on TELUS International (Cda) in a report on Monday. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $27.00. TELUS International (Cda) Trading Down 2.4 % Institutional Inflows and Outflows TIXT opened at $20.13 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 1.26. TELUS International has a fifty-two week low of $17.65 and a fifty-two week high of $31.52. The companys 50 day moving average price is $20.75 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $21.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.17, a PEG ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.72. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Lazard Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in TELUS International (Cda) in the first quarter valued at $46,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC bought a new stake in TELUS International (Cda) in the 3rd quarter valued at about $101,000. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ raised its stake in TELUS International (Cda) by 343.0% during the 3rd quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 5,094 shares of the companys stock worth $133,000 after buying an additional 3,944 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its holdings in TELUS International (Cda) by 388.5% in the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 5,154 shares of the companys stock worth $135,000 after acquiring an additional 4,099 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC grew its stake in TELUS International (Cda) by 204.8% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 6,400 shares of the companys stock valued at $167,000 after acquiring an additional 4,300 shares during the period. 18.27% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. TELUS International (Cda) Company Profile (Get Rating) TELUS International (Cda) Inc provides customer experience and digital business services in Europe, North America, the Asia-Pacific, and the Central America. It offers digital experience solutions, such as AI and bots, omnichannel CX, mobility solutions, cloud contact center, big data, platform transformation, and UX/UI design; and customer experience solutions, including work anywhere/work from home, customer care, technical support, sales growth and retention, and healthcare/patient experience. Read More Receive News & Ratings for TELUS International (Cda) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TELUS International (Cda) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Olin (NYSE:OLN Get Rating) is scheduled to post its quarterly earnings results after the market closes on Thursday, April 27th. Analysts expect Olin to post earnings of $1.32 per share for the quarter. Individual that wish to listen to the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link. Olin (NYSE:OLN Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 27th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.42 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $1.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.11 billion. Olin had a net margin of 14.15% and a return on equity of 50.19%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 18.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.41 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect Olin to post $5 EPS for the current fiscal year and $7 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Olin alerts: Olin Stock Performance Shares of Olin stock opened at $54.46 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.15, a P/E/G ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 1.45. Olin has a 52 week low of $41.33 and a 52 week high of $67.25. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01. The firms 50 day moving average is $56.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $55.66. Olin Dividend Announcement Insider Buying and Selling The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 13th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 6th were paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.47%. Olins dividend payout ratio is currently 9.04%. In related news, VP Damian Gumpel sold 13,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.65, for a total transaction of $814,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 17,155 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,074,760.75. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Olin news, Director Heidi S. Alderman sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.01, for a total value of $128,020.00. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Damian Gumpel sold 13,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.65, for a total value of $814,450.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 17,155 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,074,760.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of OLN. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Olin by 10.4% in the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 7,760 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $407,000 after buying an additional 728 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Olin in the first quarter valued at $230,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Olin in the first quarter valued at $53,000. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can increased its position in shares of Olin by 8.7% in the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 82,375 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $4,437,000 after buying an additional 6,589 shares in the last quarter. Finally, U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Olin by 5.8% in the first quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,714 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $246,000 after buying an additional 259 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.77% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have commented on OLN shares. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Olin from $66.00 to $74.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. Morgan Stanley lowered shares of Olin from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and set a $50.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. Credit Suisse Group increased their price target on shares of Olin from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. StockNews.com downgraded Olin from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price objective on Olin from $58.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $65.73. About Olin (Get Rating) Olin Corp. engages in manufacturing of chemicals products. It operates through the following segments: Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls, Epoxy, and Winchester. The Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls segment manufactures and sells chlorine and caustic soda, ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride monomer, methyl chloride, methylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene and vinylidene chloride, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen, bleach products and potassium hydroxide. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Olin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Olin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of iShares Core Dividend ETF (BATS:DIVB Get Rating) by 32.0% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 16,490 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 3,994 shares during the period. Princeton Global Asset Management LLCs holdings in iShares Core Dividend ETF were worth $619,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Private Advisor Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares Core Dividend ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $425,000. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its position in shares of iShares Core Dividend ETF by 5.2% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 30,323 shares of the companys stock worth $1,265,000 after purchasing an additional 1,493 shares in the last quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. boosted its position in shares of iShares Core Dividend ETF by 94.3% in the 1st quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 24,975 shares of the companys stock worth $1,042,000 after purchasing an additional 12,120 shares in the last quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. bought a new stake in shares of iShares Core Dividend ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,944,000. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in shares of iShares Core Dividend ETF by 510.3% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 64,606 shares of the companys stock worth $2,696,000 after purchasing an additional 54,020 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares Core Dividend ETF alerts: iShares Core Dividend ETF Price Performance BATS DIVB traded down $0.52 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $37.17. The stock had a trading volume of 30,284 shares. iShares Core Dividend ETF has a 1 year low of $20.77 and a 1 year high of $32.90. The stock has a market cap of $256.47 million, a PE ratio of 12.96 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $37.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $37.70. iShares Core Dividend ETF Profile The iShares U.S. Dividend and Buyback ETF (DIVB) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Morningstar US Dividend and Buyback index. The fund tracks an index of all-cap US stocks that have a history of dividend payments and\u002For share buybacks. DIVB was launched on Nov 7, 2017 and is managed by BlackRock. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DIVB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core Dividend ETF (BATS:DIVB Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core Dividend ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core Dividend ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nevro Corp. (NYSE:NVRO Get Rating) Research analysts at William Blair issued their Q1 2024 earnings per share estimates for Nevro in a report released on Thursday, April 20th. William Blair analyst B. Vazquez expects that the medical equipment provider will post earnings of ($0.80) per share for the quarter. The consensus estimate for Nevros current full-year earnings is ($2.43) per share. William Blair also issued estimates for Nevros Q2 2024 earnings at ($0.33) EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at ($0.38) EPS and Q4 2024 earnings at ($0.07) EPS. Get Nevro alerts: Nevro (NYSE:NVRO Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 16th. The medical equipment provider reported ($0.54) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.49) by ($0.05). The business had revenue of $113.84 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $113.70 million. Nevro had a negative return on equity of 36.24% and a net margin of 0.74%. The firms revenue was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned ($0.86) earnings per share. Nevro Stock Down 3.5 % Several other analysts also recently commented on the company. Citigroup downgraded Nevro from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $40.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, January 17th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Nevro from $49.00 to $46.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 6th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Nevro in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Mizuho began coverage on shares of Nevro in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. They set a neutral rating and a $40.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their price objective on shares of Nevro from $42.00 to $40.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $47.80. NYSE:NVRO opened at $32.72 on Monday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $33.68 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $37.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 5.85 and a current ratio of 7.11. The company has a market cap of $1.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3,272.00 and a beta of 0.87. Nevro has a 52-week low of $28.75 and a 52-week high of $69.75. Institutional Trading of Nevro Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of NVRO. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in shares of Nevro by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,871,522 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $227,012,000 after buying an additional 29,906 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Nevro by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,621,085 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $168,743,000 after buying an additional 60,289 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its position in shares of Nevro by 19.1% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,797,160 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $129,989,000 after buying an additional 287,936 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Nevro during the 4th quarter valued at $50,205,000. Finally, ArrowMark Colorado Holdings LLC raised its position in shares of Nevro by 8.8% during the 4th quarter. ArrowMark Colorado Holdings LLC now owns 1,252,218 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $49,588,000 after buying an additional 101,158 shares in the last quarter. 96.03% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Nevro (Get Rating) Nevro Corp. engages in the development of medical devices. The firm focuses on providing products that improve the quality of life of patients suffering from debilitating chronic pain. It develops and commercializes the senza spinal cord stimulation system, an evidence-based neuromodulation platform for the treatment of chronic pain. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Nevro Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nevro and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE:SNV Get Rating) Equities researchers at DA Davidson issued their Q2 2023 earnings per share estimates for Synovus Financial in a research report issued on Friday, April 21st. DA Davidson analyst K. Fitzsimmons anticipates that the bank will earn $1.22 per share for the quarter. The consensus estimate for Synovus Financials current full-year earnings is $4.64 per share. Get Synovus Financial alerts: Synovus Financial (NYSE:SNV Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The bank reported $1.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.22 by $0.11. Synovus Financial had a return on equity of 19.92% and a net margin of 28.04%. The firm had revenue of $613.90 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $589.40 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.08 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 23.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Synovus Financial Stock Performance Other analysts have also issued reports about the company. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on Synovus Financial from $42.00 to $40.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Truist Financial cut their price objective on Synovus Financial from $48.00 to $35.00 in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. TheStreet lowered Synovus Financial from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 22nd. UBS Group boosted their price target on Synovus Financial from $31.00 to $33.00 in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Synovus Financial from $44.00 to $30.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $39.88. Shares of NYSE:SNV opened at $29.50 on Monday. Synovus Financial has a twelve month low of $27.08 and a twelve month high of $44.91. The firm has a market cap of $4.31 billion, a PE ratio of 5.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 0.94. The business has a fifty day moving average of $33.89 and a 200-day moving average of $37.80. Synovus Financial Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, March 16th were paid a $0.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 15th. This is an increase from Synovus Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.34. This represents a $1.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.15%. Synovus Financials payout ratio is 29.46%. Insider Activity at Synovus Financial In other news, EVP Thomas T. Dierdorff sold 1,947 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.36, for a total transaction of $84,421.92. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,314 shares in the company, valued at approximately $403,855.04. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of Synovus Financial A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Synovus Financial during the 4th quarter worth $55,365,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. bought a new stake in shares of Synovus Financial during the 4th quarter worth $34,299,000. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. bought a new stake in shares of Synovus Financial during the 1st quarter worth $20,823,000. Boston Partners lifted its position in shares of Synovus Financial by 36.9% during the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 1,413,846 shares of the banks stock worth $54,293,000 after buying an additional 380,822 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hancock Whitney Corp bought a new stake in shares of Synovus Financial during the 3rd quarter worth $12,860,000. 79.89% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Synovus Financial Company Profile (Get Rating) Synovus Financial Corp. is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. The company operates through the following segments: Community Banking, Wholesale Banking, and Financial Management Services (FMS). The Community Banking business segment serves customers using a relationship-based approach through its branch, ATM, commercial, and private wealth network in addition to mobile, Internet, and telephone banking. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Synovus Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Synovus Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Thunder Mountain Gold (OTCMKTS:THMG Get Rating) is one of 102 public companies in the Metal mining industry, but how does it compare to its rivals? We will compare Thunder Mountain Gold to related companies based on the strength of its earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk, dividends and valuation. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Thunder Mountain Gold and its rivals 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 -4.50 Thunder Mountain Gold Competitors $8.23 billion $2.21 billion -3.79 Thunder Mountain Golds rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Thunder Mountain Gold. Thunder Mountain Gold 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. Risk and Volatility Analyst Recommendations Thunder Mountain Gold has a beta of 0.89, suggesting that its stock price is 11% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Thunder Mountain Golds rivals have a beta of 1.33, suggesting that their average stock price is 33% more volatile than the S&P 500. This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Thunder Mountain Gold and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Thunder Mountain Gold 0 0 0 0 N/A Thunder Mountain Gold Competitors 918 2150 2764 94 2.34 As a group, Metal mining companies have a potential upside of 33.67%. Given Thunder Mountain Golds rivals higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Thunder Mountain Gold has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals. Institutional and 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, 11.8% of shares of all Metal mining companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Profitability This table compares Thunder Mountain Gold and its rivals 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 -412.55% -2.77% -3.30% Summary Thunder Mountain Gold rivals beat Thunder Mountain Gold on 9 of the 10 factors compared. About Thunder Mountain Gold (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. LOS ANGELESAmerican pleasure products brand The Oh Club has named reigning AVN Male Performer of the Year, four-time AVN Best Actor and acclaimed director Seth Gamble its new chief strategy officer. The adult novelty and wellness industry is a rapidly evolving market, and the need for high-end pleasure products is only increasing as the world demands innovative goods of the highest-quality," said The Oh Club CEO Devin Shanahan. Seth is not only an acclaimed performer and filmmaker, but a seasoned strategist with deep industry experience and a proven track record of identifying transformative growth opportunities. He is a strong addition to our team as we continue to grow our business and capitalize on the right opportunities to drive a leadership position and greater market share for our portfolio of sexual wellness products. In addition to his onscreen work as a performer, Gamble directs for Wicked Pictures, making his all-sex debut with the AVN Editors Choice The Red Room before helming the hit features Deranged, Privilege and the upcoming Reckless. "I'm extremely excited to join The Oh Club as CSO," Gamble said. "I look forward to working closely with Devin and his team as we develop the company's long-term and short-term strategic initiatives, guide it through future business planning processes, and further establish it as a trusted and well-known brand." In his new position, Gamble will formulate, facilitate and communicate the company's strategic initiatives and future goals. Founded in 2022, The Oh Club advocates for sexual wellness through pleasure, education and self-love. Follow the brand on Instagram and Twitter. Rollins Financial acquired a new stake in Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (BATS:COWZ Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund acquired 13,770 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $637,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of COWZ. BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF in the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Bank of Montreal Can bought a new position in Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF in the 1st quarter worth $30,000. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC bought a new position in Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF in the 3rd quarter worth $34,000. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. raised its holdings in Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF by 71.9% in the 4th quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 777 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 325 shares during the period. Finally, Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF in the 1st quarter worth $42,000. Get Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF alerts: Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF Stock Performance BATS:COWZ opened at $46.36 on Wednesday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $47.03 and its 200-day moving average is $47.33. The company has a market cap of $11.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.11 and a beta of 1.09. Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF Company Profile The Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Pacer US Cash Cows 100 index. The fund tracks a free cash flow-weighted index of companies selected from the Russell 1000 Index. COWZ was launched on Dec 16, 2016 and is managed by Pacer. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding COWZ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (BATS:COWZ Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD Get Rating) (TSE:TD) have received a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the eleven analysts that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation and six have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $100.60. A number of research firms recently commented on TD. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Toronto-Dominion Bank in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Scotiabank upgraded Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Desjardins boosted their target price on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$105.00 to C$106.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. Finally, CIBC upgraded Toronto-Dominion Bank from a neutral rating to a sector outperform rating in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Get Toronto-Dominion Bank alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in TD. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,484,341,000. National Bank of Canada FI grew its holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 406.1% in the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 26,796,674 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,734,653,000 after buying an additional 21,501,478 shares in the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board grew its holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 59.6% in the 3rd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 9,357,770 shares of the banks stock valued at $576,973,000 after buying an additional 3,493,369 shares in the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank grew its holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 45.0% in the 3rd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 11,007,320 shares of the banks stock valued at $675,016,000 after buying an additional 3,417,464 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 67,240,327 shares of the banks stock valued at $4,123,850,000 after buying an additional 2,238,912 shares in the last quarter. 49.22% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Toronto-Dominion Bank Stock Down 2.6 % Shares of TD opened at $59.51 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $108.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.40, a PEG ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.97. Toronto-Dominion Bank has a one year low of $55.43 and a one year high of $77.15. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $61.79 and its 200-day simple moving average is $64.27. Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD Get Rating) (TSE:TD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 2nd. The bank reported $1.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.61 by $0.03. Toronto-Dominion Bank had a return on equity of 16.02% and a net margin of 18.23%. The firm had revenue of $9.01 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.97 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Toronto-Dominion Bank will post 6.57 EPS for the current fiscal year. Toronto-Dominion Bank Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.721 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 5th. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.85%. This is a boost from Toronto-Dominion Banks previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. Toronto-Dominion Banks dividend payout ratio is currently 44.87%. Toronto-Dominion Bank Company Profile (Get Rating) The Toronto-Dominion Bank engages in the provision of financial products and services. It operates through the following segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The Canadian Retail segment offers various financial products and services, as well as telephone, Internet, and mobile banking services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Transatlantique Private Wealth LLC lessened its holdings in McKesson Co. (NYSE:MCK Get Rating) by 6.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,795 shares of the companys stock after selling 128 shares during the quarter. Transatlantique Private Wealth LLCs holdings in McKesson were worth $673,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Kentucky Retirement Systems boosted its stake in shares of McKesson by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 11,300 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,239,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of McKesson by 39.5% in the 4th quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 559,516 shares of the companys stock valued at $209,886,000 after purchasing an additional 158,309 shares during the last quarter. Synovus Financial Corp boosted its stake in shares of McKesson by 5.6% in the 4th quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 2,354 shares of the companys stock valued at $883,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. Main Street Research LLC boosted its stake in shares of McKesson by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Main Street Research LLC now owns 102,795 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,616,000 after purchasing an additional 475 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cordatus Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of McKesson in the 4th quarter valued at about $2,897,000. Institutional investors own 85.23% of the companys stock. Get McKesson alerts: Insider Activity In related news, CEO Brian S. Tyler sold 7,416 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $380.00, for a total value of $2,818,080.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 75,737 shares of the companys stock, valued at $28,780,060. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, CEO Brian S. Tyler sold 7,416 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $380.00, for a total value of $2,818,080.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 75,737 shares of the companys stock, valued at $28,780,060. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Nancy Avila sold 161 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $370.02, for a total transaction of $59,573.22. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 4,631 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,713,562.62. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.21% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. McKesson Trading Down 0.7 % Shares of NYSE MCK traded down $2.61 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $360.68. The companys stock had a trading volume of 225,949 shares, compared to its average volume of 953,157. McKesson Co. has a fifty-two week low of $298.69 and a fifty-two week high of $401.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $49.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.61, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.58. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $354.32 and a 200-day simple moving average of $367.72. McKesson (NYSE:MCK Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 1st. The company reported $6.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $6.36 by $0.54. McKesson had a net margin of 1.15% and a negative return on equity of 216.12%. The company had revenue of $70.49 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $70.98 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $6.15 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that McKesson Co. will post 25.92 EPS for the current year. McKesson Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 3rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 1st were issued a $0.54 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 28th. This represents a $2.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.60%. McKessons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 9.88%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth MCK has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of McKesson in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. UBS Group cut their price target on shares of McKesson from $450.00 to $440.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 31st. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of McKesson from $445.00 to $450.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of McKesson in a research report on Friday, March 31st. They issued a buy rating and a $420.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of McKesson from $420.00 to $426.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $416.64. McKesson Profile (Get Rating) McKesson Corp. engages in the provision of supply chain management solutions, retail pharmacy, community oncology and specialty care, and healthcare information technology. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Pharmaceutical, International, Medical-Surgical Solutions, and Prescription Technology Solutions (RxTS). Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MCK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for McKesson Co. (NYSE:MCK Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for McKesson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McKesson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GYL Financial Synergies LLC lifted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS Get Rating) by 3.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,953 shares of the transportation companys stock after acquiring an additional 220 shares during the quarter. GYL Financial Synergies LLCs holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $1,035,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 67,099,021 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $10,839,176,000 after acquiring an additional 601,166 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 9,273,417 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,988,777,000 after acquiring an additional 54,401 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.3% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,163,287 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $892,858,000 after buying an additional 93,463 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.7% during the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,103,236 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $501,354,000 after buying an additional 82,716 shares in the last quarter. Finally, California Public Employees Retirement System grew its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 7.2% during the third quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 2,653,108 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $428,583,000 after buying an additional 179,296 shares in the last quarter. 58.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get United Parcel Service alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 20,724 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.26, for a total transaction of $3,777,156.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 20,724 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.26, for a total transaction of $3,777,156.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Brian Newman sold 19,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.46, for a total transaction of $3,466,740.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 11,677 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,130,585.42. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 54,341 shares of company stock worth $9,848,061 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock. United Parcel Service Trading Down 0.5 % Shares of UPS opened at $175.47 on Wednesday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12-month low of $154.87 and a 12-month high of $209.39. The company has a quick ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $150.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.36, a P/E/G ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.09. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $186.98 and its 200 day moving average price is $180.32. United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The transportation company reported $2.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.19 by $0.01. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 66.10% and a net margin of 11.51%. The firm had revenue of $22.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.98 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.05 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down 6.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 11.52 earnings per share for the current year. United Parcel Service declared that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, January 31st that permits the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the transportation company to reacquire up to 3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually a sign that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued. United Parcel Service Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 21st were given a $1.62 dividend. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.69%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 17th. This is a positive change from United Parcel Services previous quarterly dividend of $1.52. United Parcel Services dividend payout ratio is 49.09%. Analysts Set New Price Targets UPS has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group lifted their price target on United Parcel Service from $196.00 to $198.00 in a report on Wednesday. Melius initiated coverage on United Parcel Service in a report on Monday, March 27th. They set an overweight rating and a $225.00 price target on the stock. Raymond James lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $207.00 to $205.00 in a report on Wednesday. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $185.00 to $180.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, StockNews.com cut United Parcel Service from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $193.78. United Parcel Service Profile (Get Rating) United Parcel Service, Inc is a package delivery company, which engages in the provision of global supply chain management solutions. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Domestic Package, International Package, and Supply Chain Solutions. The U.S. Domestic Package segment includes time-definite delivery of letters, documents, and packages. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UPS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for United Parcel Service Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for United Parcel Service and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS Get Rating) released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The health services provider reported $2.34 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.15 by $0.19, Briefing.com reports. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 12.31% and a net margin of 5.04%. The company had revenue of $3.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.45 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.15 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 5.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Universal Health Services Price Performance UHS stock traded up $0.02 on Tuesday, reaching $140.72. The company had a trading volume of 1,009,772 shares, compared to its average volume of 639,213. Universal Health Services has a 1 year low of $82.50 and a 1 year high of $154.65. The company has a market cap of $9.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.38, a PEG ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.25. The companys fifty day moving average is $131.59 and its 200 day moving average is $130.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a current ratio of 1.33. Get Universal Health Services alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have weighed in on UHS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. They issued a neutral rating and a $133.00 price target on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Universal Health Services from $114.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $154.00 to $138.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 6th. Credit Suisse Group dropped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $157.00 to $153.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $168.00 to $145.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 6th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $132.75. Insiders Place Their Bets Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services In other Universal Health Services news, Director Lawrence S. Gibbs sold 1,568 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.29, for a total transaction of $201,158.72. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,023 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $387,820.67. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . In other Universal Health Services news, Director Lawrence S. Gibbs sold 1,568 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.29, for a total transaction of $201,158.72. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,023 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $387,820.67. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, Director Lawrence S. Gibbs sold 793 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.31, for a total value of $96,991.83. Following the sale, the director now owns 2,230 shares of the companys stock, valued at $272,751.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Corporate insiders own 16.60% of the companys stock. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 76.4% in the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 187 shares of the health services providers stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 33.3% in the 1st quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 400 shares of the health services providers stock valued at $53,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 92.3% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 904 shares of the health services providers stock valued at $131,000 after purchasing an additional 434 shares in the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at $207,000. Finally, First Republic Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at $203,000. 87.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Universal Health Services Company Profile (Get Rating) Universal Health Services, Inc operates as a healthcare management company, which through its subsidiaries, owns and operates acute care hospitals, behavioral health centers, and outpatient facilities. It operates through the following segments: Acute Care Hospital Services, Behavioral Health Care Services, and Other. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Universal Health Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Universal Health Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN Get Rating) have earned a consensus recommendation of Buy from the eleven research firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $155.44. Several equities research analysts have recently commented on WCN shares. Truist Financial initiated coverage on Waste Connections in a research note on Monday, April 17th. They set a buy rating and a $160.00 price target for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on Waste Connections from $154.00 to $155.00 in a research note on Monday, January 30th. TD Cowen started coverage on Waste Connections in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. They issued an outperform rating and a $160.00 price objective on the stock. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on Waste Connections from $158.00 to $153.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Raymond James lifted their price objective on Waste Connections from $152.00 to $154.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Get Waste Connections alerts: Waste Connections Stock Performance Shares of WCN opened at $141.30 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $136.70 and a 200 day moving average price of $135.20. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. The company has a market capitalization of $36.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.08 and a beta of 0.68. Waste Connections has a 52-week low of $113.50 and a 52-week high of $148.20. Waste Connections Announces Dividend Waste Connections ( NYSE:WCN Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 15th. The business services provider reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.88 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $1.87 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.85 billion. Waste Connections had a return on equity of 14.23% and a net margin of 11.59%. The companys revenue was up 15.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.83 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Waste Connections will post 4.21 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 1st were given a dividend of $0.255 per share. This represents a $1.02 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.72%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 28th. Waste Connectionss dividend payout ratio is currently 31.58%. Insider Activity at Waste Connections In related news, Director William J. Razzouk sold 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.61, for a total transaction of $135,610.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,431 shares in the company, valued at approximately $465,277.91. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, Director William J. Razzouk sold 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.61, for a total value of $135,610.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 3,431 shares in the company, valued at $465,277.91. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, SVP David Eddie sold 1,700 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.65, for a total value of $230,605.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 24,512 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,325,052.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 8,700 shares of company stock valued at $1,177,955. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Waste Connections Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Waste Connections by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 111,853 shares of the business services providers stock worth $15,115,000 after acquiring an additional 2,340 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its stake in Waste Connections by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 47,451 shares of the business services providers stock worth $6,446,000 after acquiring an additional 2,395 shares in the last quarter. Eqis Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Waste Connections during the 3rd quarter worth about $1,150,000. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Waste Connections by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC now owns 16,535 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,192,000 after purchasing an additional 381 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fred Alger Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Waste Connections by 23.6% during the 3rd quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 276,983 shares of the business services providers stock worth $37,429,000 after purchasing an additional 52,915 shares in the last quarter. 85.58% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Waste Connections (Get Rating) Waste Connections, Inc engages in the provision of non-hazardous waste collection, transfer, and disposal services. The firm offers its services to residential, commercial, landfill and transfer stations, and industries such as office, apartments multi-family, construction and demolition, property management, retail, restaurant, and manufacturing. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Waste Connections Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Waste Connections and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wrapmanager Inc. lowered its stake in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (NYSEARCA:SPHQ Get Rating) by 5.2% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 47,352 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,581 shares during the quarter. Wrapmanager Inc.s holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF were worth $2,083,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in SPHQ. JPMorgan Chase & Co. purchased a new position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF during the 1st quarter valued at $150,000. Raymond James & Associates lifted its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 5.3% in the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 44,610 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,226,000 after acquiring an additional 2,226 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 12.7% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 5,421 shares of the companys stock worth $271,000 after acquiring an additional 610 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. grew its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 23.7% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 3,463 shares of the companys stock worth $173,000 after purchasing an additional 663 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can raised its stake in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 44.5% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 8,505 shares of the companys stock valued at $432,000 after purchasing an additional 2,618 shares during the period. Get Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF alerts: Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF Stock Up 0.1 % NYSEARCA SPHQ traded up $0.03 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $47.07. The companys stock had a trading volume of 61,624 shares, compared to its average volume of 762,061. Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF has a 1 year low of $39.18 and a 1 year high of $48.49. The firms 50-day moving average price is $46.33 and its 200-day moving average price is $45.15. The company has a market capitalization of $4.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.07 and a beta of 0.94. Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF Company Profile The Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (SPHQ) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P 500 Quality index. The fund tracks an index of US large-cap stocks selected by return on equity, changes in net operating assets and financial leverage. Stocks are weighted by these quality factors, scaled by market cap. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SPHQ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (NYSEARCA:SPHQ Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wrapmanager Inc. cut its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV Get Rating) by 2.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 15,038 shares of the companys stock after selling 310 shares during the quarter. Wrapmanager Inc.s holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF were worth $1,084,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of USMV. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 7.8% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 8,253 shares of the companys stock worth $646,000 after buying an additional 594 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 95,612 shares of the companys stock worth $7,417,000 after acquiring an additional 1,612 shares in the last quarter. AJ Wealth Strategies LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 4.4% in the first quarter. AJ Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 1,348,690 shares of the companys stock valued at $104,618,000 after purchasing an additional 57,434 shares during the last quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 27.0% in the first quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC now owns 88,779 shares of the companys stock worth $6,887,000 after purchasing an additional 18,853 shares in the last quarter. Finally, West Michigan Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 6.1% in the first quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 12,575 shares of the companys stock worth $975,000 after purchasing an additional 719 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Stock Performance iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF stock traded down $0.59 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $73.33. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,772,927 shares. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $71.89 and its 200 day simple moving average is $71.94. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF has a 12 month low of $47.44 and a 12 month high of $55.45. The company has a market capitalization of $29.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.17 and a beta of 0.75. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Profile The iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of US-listed firms selected and weighted to create a low-volatility portfolio subject to various constraints. USMV was launched on Oct 18, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Stories 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. Hyundai Motor India released the first design render of their upcoming micro-SUV, Exter. The company unveiled the micro-SUV's front-end design. The car is all set to compete with the Tata Punch. The design render shows the 'parametric' grille design which Hyundai cars feature it will also get a split headlamp design, similar to the headlamp design seen in Hyundai's other SUVs such as Venue and Creta. Also read: Maruti Suzuki drives in compact SUV Fronx at Rs 7.46 lakh Hyundai mentioned that the front design will have signature H-LED daytime running lights to enhance visibility and road presence. The micro-SUV will also feature 'distinct creases and chiseled surfaces', Hyundai said. The Chief Operating Officer of Hyundai Motor India, Tarun Garg talked about how the micro-SUV aims to attract the Gen Z car enthusiast. Hyundai Exter is set to define new aspirations of young Gen Z customers who are looking to own a modern and youthful SUV. Forming a seamless amalgamation of Hyundais SUV DNA and Global Design Identity of Sensuous Sportiness, Hyundai Exter is coming soon to fuel your wanderlust, Garg said. The Exeter is likely to feature a touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay on the interior, it will also be equipped with modern day mainstay features such as a push start-stop button, wireless charger, and leather upholstery according to a report by Cartoq.com. It is likely that the car will come equipped with a 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine capable of generating 83 PS of power and 114 Nm of torque. Also read: Hyundai Motor finalises $5 billion US battery venture, doubles Q1 profit The standard gearbox offered will be a 5-speed manual, while a 5-speed AMT may also be provided as an option. The vehicle was recently spotted testing on heavy snow. Apart from the Tata Punch, Exter will also compete with the French carmaker Citroens C3 SUV and lower-spec, naturally-aspirated variants of other compact SUVs like the Nissan Magnite, Renault Kiger, and the upcoming Maruti Suzuki Fronx. Pernod Ricard has asked an Indian court to push New Delhi city authorities to grant it a liquor sale licence, after local officials rejected the French company's request, citing certain investigations, a legal filing shows. In a 332-page court filing at the Delhi High Court on April 23, seen by Reuters, the maker of Chivas Regal and Absolut Vodka argues Delhi authorities made the decision based on criminal allegations against the company, but disregarded that no wrongdoing had been proved yet. "Merely because there may be certain allegations ... cannot be equated with a criminal or be considered as having a criminal background," Pernod Ricard's April 23 filing stated. "There is no criminal conviction." Pernod's case will be heard on Wednesday. Reuters is first to report details of Pernod's legal challenge, the latest move in a battle the French spirits group has said is causing it "massive losses" as none of its brands have been available in the capital for more than six months. The company and the Delhi city government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. India's federal agencies have accused Pernod of illegally making profits by giving false information to Delhi city authorities in 2021, and violating rules by financially supporting retailers in exchange for stocking more of its brands. Pernod has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. The Delhi government in its April 13 rejection order of the company's long-pending license request said Pernod and its employees "had active involvement in the said criminal conspiracy". Pernod has operated for more than 20 years across India, where licences to operate are individually granted by states or in this case, the national capital territory, and mostly have to be renewed every year. The company counts India as a key market where it has a 17% share and competes with Diageo. While the market share for New Delhi alone is not available, industry executives say the capital serves as a showcase market for premium brands which makes it critical for any liquor company. The Washington Nationals have won a huge ruling in their ongoing legal dispute with MASN, the RSN minority owned by the team and majority controlled by the Baltimore Orioles. On Tuesday, the New York State Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Nationals regarding the value of the teams media rights. The dispute between the Nationals and MASN/the Orioles has been going on for over a decade, though we only first wrote about it in 2014. To briefly summarize the dispute, as part of the teams carriage agreement with MASN, the Nationals were supposed to receive fair market value for their media rights beginning in 2012. MASN determined the value at $40 million per season, while the Nationals argued for $118 million per season. An MLB panel ruled in favor of the Nationals, which led to various appeals and new hearings before todays appeal went in favor of the Nationals. Heres the Washington Posts summary of the situation. The case has been a legal odyssey. Beginning in 2012, the Nationals challenged the rights fee payments they were set to receive for the next five seasons, which MASN determined was around $40 million per year, or $200 million in total. The Nationals asked MASN for far more, around $118 million a year or $475 million in total. An MLB revenue sharing committee settled closer to MASNs original offer, finding the Nationals should receive about $20 million more annually than MASN agreed to pay, meaning the network owed the team an additional $100 million. Cement makers may disappoint on the price-hike front for a second consecutive year after robust demand was not complemented with sustained price hikes last year, say brokerages. Pricing power is crucial in the commodity business and the Indian cement sector is certainly losing the plot on that front, wrote analysts with ICICI Securities in an April 19 report, adding that of the seven cement companies in their coverage, JK Cement is the only "buy" recommendation. Typically, cement companies witness their best sale volumes between January and June of every year. Construction activity in India peaks in these first six months owing to fiscal year-end related targets and the rush to complete construction before the onset of monsoon. That is also why many analysts are closely watching price-hike developments for April to predict the course for the rest of the year. However, some are already sceptical. Analysts with Ambit Capital, for instance, expect these seasonal cement price hikes to be fleeting. In their April 6 report, the analyst said they expect realisation per tonne for the industry to decline in FY24, and see a downgrade risk to consensus estimates. As cement makers focus on expanding volumes and retaining market share, pricing power has taken a beating. Analysts with ICICI Securities in their note pointed out learnings from the past (where demand rose but margins slipped) and underlying competitive intensity suggest downside risk to consensus earnings. Price hikes mixed bag To be sure, cement makers attempted to hike prices at the start of April in some pockets. The response to these hikes has been a mixed bag so far, according to cement dealers Moneycontrol spoke to last week. Prices were hiked in April by about Rs 30 per bag, and they are planning to increase it by another Rs 10 soon, said a Hyderabad-based cement dealer. The hike was confirmed by a second dealer from the same market. Other markets such as some parts of Rajasthan have not had similar success. No hikes were taken in April so far, it has been increased today (last week) for Rs 10 per bag, this should be able to sustain, said a Rajasthan-based cement dealer. While Ambit sees a downgrade risk to FY24 consensus estimates, HDFC Securities has trimmed expectations for the next two financial years. Expectations trimmed HDFC Securities said it has trimmed its industry Ebitda unitary estimates by Rs 10-20 a tonne each for FY23, FY24 and FY25. This is owing to sub-par cement price increases, analysts wrote in the report. Ebitda is earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation. Cement dealers from the North India market also remain less hopeful of any hikes. Cement companies have not taken a price hike for the last threefour months, no hike is expected anytime soon, said a cement dealer from Himachal Pradesh. A dealer operating closer to the national capital expressed similar views, stating there is limited scope for a price hike. A third dealer from Delhi said a small hike was attempted this week. Cement channel checks by Anand Rathi suggest a similar trend for hikes taken in April. In Surat, of the Rs 10-a-bag hike, only Rs 5 could be sustained. In Vidarbha, price hikes attempted by companies could not be absorbed, analysts with Anand Rathi wrote in an April 17 note. Niro, an embedded consumer-lending platform, announced on April 26 the closure of its Series A round of Rs 90 crore ($11.0 million) through a mix of equity ($8.5 million) and debt ($2.5 million). With this funding round, Niro aims to expand its partner footprint, product offerings and risk analytics capabilities and bolster its technology layer, the company said in a statement. The Bangalore-based fintech company, co-founded by Aditya Kumar and Sankalp Mathur, secured the equity funding from a consortium of investors including Elevar Equity, GMO Venture Partners, Rebright Partners, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance VC and others, according to the statement. Commenting on the announcement, Aditya Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO, Niro said, Sankalp and I are extremely humbled and excited to share news of this fundraise. Raising capital, especially in this environment, is a testament to the success of the Niro thesis which has seen rapid and real validation in a very short span of time. Were grateful for Elevars continued support, and excited to welcome GMO, Rebright Partners, MSIVC, Venture Catalysts and YAN to our journey. We strive to continue to deliver value for our platform partners, lenders, and ultimately, end consumers. The venture debt was funded by Innoven Capital and previously in October 2021, Niro raised its seed round of $3.5 million, which was led by Elevar Equity, the release further read. Niro, which was founded in 2021, is an embedded lending platform that enables consumer internet platforms to become lending superpowers. Also Read | VC funds flow to startups dries up 25% in first quarter of 2023, says KPMG Jyotsna Krishnan, Managing Partner, Elevar Equity said, Niro has demonstrated tremendous growth in a short time along with achieving robust risk metrics, near zero CAC, and in-depth partnerships. This model is unique in its effectiveness and is well poised to scale with this round of infusion - we see Niro well on its way to making a significant dent in what is a market of millions of underserved customers, looking for thoughtful credit opportunities to meet their aspirations. By providing customised credit offerings, Niro empowers platforms to drive engagement with and create value for their end consumers - driving revenue growth in the process. Ryu Muramatsu, Founding Partner, GMO VenturePartners, said, As GMO, we believe in the founders with solid execution capabilities and a genuine dedication to problem-solving. Aditya and Sankalp, serial entrepreneurs in the space, have demonstrated credentials and founder-market-fit to a great extent. We are honoured to support them by bridging Japans capital and Indias fintech ecosystem. Niro has partnered with consumer internet companies such as Snapdeal, Quikr, Housing.com, and several others since its inception. The company has disbursed over 300 crores of loans across more than 200 cities in India and has a monthly origination run rate of over 60 crores. The government has released Rs 2,874.71 crore to the beneficiaries of the production-linked incentive scheme till March, with a majority of companies from eight sectors like electronics, telecom, pharma and food processing, a senior official said on Wednesday. Additional Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Rajeev Singh Thakur said these eight sectors are doing well, while few need to increase their pace. The scheme was announced in 2020 for 14 sectors with an outlay of Rs 1.97 lakh crore to enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities and boost exports. He said that incentive claims of over Rs 3,420.05 crore have been received under the scheme for eight sectors - large-scale electronics manufacturing; electronics and technology products; bulk drugs; medical devices; pharmaceuticals; telecom and networking products; food items; and drones, of which "over Rs 2,800 crore have already been disbursed". "The next two-three years will be crucial and we hope that things will move with a fast pace," Singh told reporters here. Till December 2022, 717 applications have been approved in 14 sectors with expected investments of Rs 2.74 lakh crore. Actual investment of Rs 53,500 crore has been realised, which has resulted in incremental production/sales of over Rs 5 lakh crore and employment generation of over 3 lakhs, he added. A maximum of Rs 1,649 was disbursed in the electronics sector. It was followed by pharma (Rs 652 crore), food products (Rs 486 crore), telecom (Rs 35 crore), drones (Rs 30 crore), medical devices (12.8 crore), and electronics (Rs 5.3 crore) and bulk drugs (Rs 4.34 crore). The other sectors where the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme has been extended include white goods, speciality steel, advanced chemistry cells, auto components and textiles. When asked about plans to include more sectors under the scheme, he said that demands are coming from different industries but no decision has been taken yet. "We expect that in the next 2-3 years, things will move at a healthy rate," he added. The India-UK free trade agreement negotiations are taking place this week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Rishi Sunak reportedly decided to push ahead after demonstrations by so-called Khalistani supporters in London risked a disruption earlier this month. In 2022, India signed free trade agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Australia, aimed at providing greater market access with a reduction in tariff and non-tariff barriers on goods and services. India has over the last few years tweaked its strategy on free trade pacts and is negotiating new ones with several early-harvest deals aimed at boosting exports and making domestic industry competitive. The Asian giant is also negotiating a trade pact with the European Union. However, the agreement with the UK has been in the works for a while amid protracted negotiations and political change in the island nation. Moneycontol takes stock of what has happened so far. Why enter free trade agreements? Free trade agreements are economic instruments available to a country for leveraging its competencies in trade and investment. There has been a substantial rise in the number of regional trade agreements with 355 notifications of trade agreements having been made to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), as on December 1, 2022, according to Indias Economic Survey. Many WTO members continue to be involved in negotiations to create new regional trade agreements, which are mostly bilateral. Free trade pacts have received a boost in recent years amid limited progress in the multilateral trade negotiations at the WTO, according to the Economic Survey. Such bilateral agreements are viewed more favourably by trading countries compared with multilateral negotiation at the WTO forum as they are easy to negotiate and provide flexibility to factor in geopolitical considerations, the survey added. Also read: FTA fetish Are we on the right track? India-UK ties, trade The Indian diaspora in the UK is the largest ethnic minority community in the country, including an estimated 1.7 million British nationals of Indian origin and about 300,000 non-resident Indians. This adds up to 2 percent of the UK population which contributes 6 percent of the country's gross domestic product. Over 65,000 companies or businesses in the UK are owned by members of the Indian diaspora. There are also well over a dozen Indian-origin members of parliament in the UK. Indias merchandise exports to UK totalled $10 billion during April 2022 to February 2023, with a share of 2.5 percent of total exports. Merchandise imports from the UK stood at $8 billion during this period, with a share of 1.3 percent of all imports, data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed. In terms of total trade, UK was Indias 15th top trade partner during this period. India is the second-largest source of foreign direct investment in the UK after the US, while the UK is the sixth largest inward investor in India, according to the latest data. Through the agreement, India stands to boost its exports of pharmaceuticals, textiles, food and beverages, tobacco, leather and footwear and agricultural items like rice to the UK, as well raise prospects for digital services. The UK seeks access for its chemicals, motor vehicles, electrical equipment, medical devices and spirits. Free trade pact the story so far Negotiations for the free trade agreement were launched on January 13, 2022. The proposed trade pact was aimed at helping double bilateral trade between the two countries by 2030, a target set by Modi and then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in May 2021. The negotiations on the pact cover 26 policy areas or chapters, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Eight rounds of negotiations had been completed as of March 2023, with 13 chapters closed. An investment pact is also being negotiated as a separate treaty. An interaction between the two trade ministers was held in March to take stock of how things stood. Political change in the UK slowed progress on the pact. Johnson, who had initiated the negotiations, resigned in July 2022 after facing a mutiny in his party amid allegations of ethics scandals. With Indian-origin Sunak taking over the reins from Johnson in October, there were hopes of a quickening of negotiations. However, the comprehensive nature of the proposed pact has ensured that the final agreement might reportedly be signed only by the end of 2023. Last month, a British newspaper had suggested that trade talks between the two countries have been suspended over the UK's failure to denounce vandalism by Khalistani supporters outside the Indian High Commission in London. However, India dismissed these claims. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on April 11 said that the free trade agreement negotiations were going on. To be sure, the negotiations were expected to close by Diwali 2022 and then by March this year. Also read: UK FTA: Negotiations only at halfway point; India misses internal deadline of closing pact by March Points of contention With the negotiators racing against time to close the remaining dozen or so chapters of the agreement, India is expected to push for easier visa rules for professionals hired by its companies investing in Britain, Bloomberg reported this week. The country is also seeking more visas for Indian workers in the UK, something that has delayed negotiations in the past. This weeks negotiations are also expected to take up a carbon tax proposal that the UK is considering on steel imports as well as pending discussions on rules of origin. The European country is also seeking to lower trade tariffs India levies on whisky, which add up to 150 percent. On their part, Indian drinks makers have sought that the UK remove the condition for a spirit to be matured for three years to be called whisky. The UK is also said to be seeking lower tariffs on automobile shipments. Meanwhile, a UK House of Commons report recently held that Indias insistence on data localisation is a major stumbling block to a free trade agreement. The UK has been demanding free data flow between the two countries. Essar Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Ltd (EOGEPL) will invest another Rs 2,000 crore in the next 18 to 24 months in its coal bed methane project in West Bengal's Raniganj, an official said. The company earlier had already invested Rs 5,000 crore in the Raniganj block in drilling 350 wells and producing nearly 0.9 million metric standard cubic metres (mmscd) of gas per day. Chief executive officer (CEO) of EOGEPL, Pankaj Kalra, told PTI that another investment of Rs 2,000 crore will be made for drilling 200 more wells in the next 18 to 24 months. "We are employing the latest technology in the existing wells to ramp up production from 0.9 mmscd to 1.3 mmscd which will be completed in a few months ", Kalra said. Total CBM production from Ranigunj will touch around three mmscd when the additional wells become operational, Kalra added. He said the company is currently contributing nearly 65 per cent to the country's total CBM production, which is likely to go up to 90 per cent post drilling of the additional wells. Kalra also said two shale gas wells, another form of unconventional hydrocarbon, will also be drilled at Raniganj in 2023 as a pilot project following which a detailed appraisal will be done. The company is currently contributing Rs 150 crore to the state exchequer annually which is likely to go up to Rs 300 crore once production of CBM from Raniganj is ramped up. The official also said that being an unconventional form of energy, China and Australia are giving support to CBM production in those countries by subsidising the sector to bring in more investors. He said CBM has the potential to displace 10 to 30 per cent of the annual requirement of LNG imports in the near term thus reducing import bills. India was among the top four countries to send legal directions to Twitter to remove content and request user data between January 1 and June 30, 2022, the company said on April 26 said. Twitter said that the site received 53,000 legal requests to remove content from governments during the period. "The top requesting countries were Japan, South Korea, Turkey and India," the report said, adding that disclosure rate for these requests were "varied". Also Read: Twitter says removed more content in first half of 2022 than in previous six months On government information requests for user data, Twitter said that it received 16,000 such directions. " The top five requesting countries seeking account information in H1 2022 were India, the United States, France, Japan, and Germany," it added. These figures gain significance as Twitter has been embroiled in a legal tussle with the Indian government over a few content removal directions. In their petition before the Karnataka HC, Twitter had said that some these directions were vague, did not meet the legal criteria for removal and so on. It is also important to note that these figures correspond to the time when Parag Agrawal was still the CEO of Twitter, and before Musk took over the company in October 2022. Twitter made these revelations as it shared data on their health and safety efforts for the time period. The microblogging site also announced that it won't publish a formal transparency report for the time period. Overall, Twitter said, for the reporting period, the micro-blogging site "required users to remove" 6,586,109 pieces of content that violated the sites rules and regulations -- an increase of 29 per cent from H2 2021. "We took enforcement action on 5,096,272 accounts during this period (a 20% increase), and 1,618,855 accounts were suspended for violating the Twitter Rules (a 28% increase)," it said. AU Small Finance Bank was trading 3.5 percent lower on April 26 morning even though the lender posted its highest quarterly profit of Rs 425 crore in the March quarter of FY23, up 23 percent from the year-ago period. The bank's net profit was Rs 346 crore in the year-ago quarter. At 9.45 am, the stock was trading 3.14 percent down at Rs 639 on the National Stock Exchange. The Jaipur-based bank's net profit for the financial year 2022-23 stood at Rs 1,428 crore, up 26 percent from the previous year, the lender said on April 25. Its asset quality improved with gross NPA at 1.66 percent in the quarter against 1.98 percent in the March quarter of FY22. Net NPA stood at 0.42 percent of net advances in March 2023 against 0.50 percent in the year-ago period. The bank's net interest margin for 2022-23 was maintained at 6.1 percent (including assigned/securitised book). Its balance sheet grew 31 percent year-on-year to Rs 90,216 crore and deposits grew 32 percent to Rs 69,365 crore. "Amidst a difficult market, we have managed to grow our deposit book while keeping our CASA ratio stable and making our deposits more granular and retail. Our asset quality has also improved further this year with net NPA coming down to 0.4 percent," said Sanjay Agarwal, MD & CEO, AU Small Finance Bank. The bank's total capital adequacy stood at a healthy 23.6 percent as against the minimum requirement of 15 percent, of which tier-I capital stood at 21.8 percent as against the required 7.5 percent. The board of directors recommended a dividend of Re 1 per equity share (10 percent of face value) for the year ended March 2023. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. 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. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Shares of most public sector companies in Gujarat rallied 8-15 percent on April 26 after the state government unveiled a policy for minimum levels of dividend distribution and bonus shares for PSUs. Gujarat Industries Power Co Ltd and Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd surged as much as 20 percent, Gujarat State Fertilisers & Chemicals Ltd 18 percent, Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals Ltd rose 14 percent, Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals 10 percent, Gujarat Cotex gained 12 percent, and Gujarat Craft Industries gained 10 percent intraday on April 26. With this new policy of compulsory dividends and bonus shares, the state aims to add to the valuations of Gujarat PSUs. All seven listed PSUs of of the state are making profits. Gujarat has mandated a minimum of 30 percent of net profit, or 5 percent of net worth, whichever is higher, to be a minimum level of dividend declared for shareholders. However, only the minimum level and maximum permissible level of dividend should be declared. Catch up on all LIVE stock market updates here For share buyback, every state PSU with a net worth of at least Rs 2,000 crore and cash and bank balance of Rs 1,000 crore have been mandated to exercise the option to buy back their own shares. In the case of bonus shares, state PSUs that have defined reserve and surplus equal to or more than 10 times their paid-up equity share capital are required to issue bonus shares to their shareholders. In the case of splitting of shares, Gujarat has mandated that where the market price or book value of a state PSU shares exceeds 50 times of its value, provided its existing face value of a share is more than Re 1. 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. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept In yet another volatile session, the Indian equity indices ended higher on April 26, amid buying seen in most of the sectoral indices. At close, the Sensex was up 169.87 points or 0.28 percent at 60,300.58, and the Nifty was up 44.30 points or 0.25 percent at 17,813.60. On the back of weak global cues, the domestic market opened on a flat note and witnessed range-bound trading during the day. However, the final hour buying helped to close near the days high. Stocks and Sectors Top gainers on the Nifty included Power Grid Corporation, Nestle India, Tata Consumer Products, IndusInd Bank and L&T, while losers were Hindalco Industries, Adani Ports, Bajaj Auto, Bajaj Finserv and NTPC. Metal index is down 0.5 percent, while realty, capital goods, auto, power, FMCG, PSU Bank, and information technology indices are up 0.4-1 percent. The BSE midcap index added 0.27 percent and smallcap index gained 0.34 percent. KEI Industries, Rail Vikas Nigam, Marksans Pharma, Anant Raj, Saksoft, Siemens, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Surya Roshni, among the touched that tocuhed their 52-week highs on the BSE. A long buildup was seen in GNFC, Vodafone Idea and Indus Towers, while a short build-up was seen in Multi Commodity Exchange of India, Ipca Laboratories and Crompton Greaves Consumer Electrical. Among individual stocks, a volume spike of more than 100 percent was seen in GNFC, Multi Commodity Exchange of India and Voltas. Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Q4 profit up 43% at Rs 2,623 cr; announces capacity addition of 10 lakh Outlook for April 27 Jatin Gedia, Technical Research Analyst, Sharekhan by BNP Paribas: The Nifty opened on a flat note and after a volatile first half, it stabilized during the second half and closed with decent gains for the third consecutive day. On the daily charts we can observe that Nifty has held on to the channel support and is heading north. Today it witnessed a dip during the opening hour of trade, however it was bought into which is a bullish sign. Buying interest emerging from support zone suggests presence of bulls and this in turn shall prevent a sharp decline going ahead. Tomorrow, being the expiry of April month derivative contracts, we can expect some volatility. Crucial support zone to watch out for are 17,700 17,680 and on the upside 17,860 17,880 shall act as an immediate hurdle zone and a break above that shall lead to sharp rise towards 18,000 psychological mark. Overall, we shall continue to maintain our positive stance from short term perspective for the target of 18,100. Shrikant Chouhan, Head of Equity Research (Retail), Kotak Securities: Investors are likely to have covered their positions ahead of the monthly F&O expiry on Thursday. Markets shrugging off global weakness is an indication that our fundamentals remain intact and investors are willing to stay risk-on in Indian equities. But ahead of the US Federal Reserve policy next month, markets may take cues from global direction to exercise caution. Technically, after a reversal formation the market is hovering between 17,700-17,830 price ranges. For the bulls now, 17,830 would be the range breakout zone. Above which, the index could move up till 17,900-17,950. On the flip side, dismissal of 17,700 may accelerate the selling pressure. Below which, the index could slip till 17,650-17,625. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Equity benchmarks closed with moderate gains on April 26, continuing the uptrend for three days in a row, ahead of the monthly expiry of futures and options contracts on Thursday. Most of the sectors barring metal and oil and gas finished the session on a positive note. The BSE Sensex advanced 170 points to 60,301, while the Nifty50 seems to be inching up towards its recent swing high of 17,860, up 44 points to close at 17,814 and formed a bullish candlestick pattern on the daily charts, making higher highs and higher lows formation. "The Nifty is gradually advancing towards the crucial overhead resistance of 17,863 levels, which is not only a swing high of April 17, but also the high of Bearish Engulfing pattern of daily and weekly timeframe charts," Nagaraj Shetti, Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities said. Hence, he believes that a sustainable move above this hurdle is likely to open sharp upside momentum for the Nifty ahead, but there is a possibility of minor consolidation movement at the highs before showing a decisive upside breakout for the near term. Immediate support is at 17,700 levels, he said. The broader markets also closed higher with moderate gains. The Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 indices gained 0.15 percent and 0.46 percent respectively. We have collated 15 data points to help you spot profitable trades: Note: The open interest (OI) and volume data of stocks in this article are the aggregates of three-month data and not just the current month. Key support and resistance levels on Nifty Pivot charts indicate that the Nifty may get support at 17,740, followed by 17,712 and 17,668. If the index advances, 17,829 is the initial key resistance level to watch out for, followed by 17,856 and 17,901. Nifty Bank The Bank Nifty also extended gains for yet another session, climbing 151 points to 42,830, and has formed a bullish candlestick pattern on the daily scale, making higher tops and higher bottoms formation for the third consecutive session. "In the short term, the trend remains bullish with the new range for traders being 42,500-43,000, where writers have significant build-up," Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities said. On the lower end, a fall below 42,500 may trigger panic in the banking space; whereas on the higher end, a decisive rise above 43.000 may induce further rally, he says. As per the pivot point calculator, the Bank Nifty may take support at 42,543, followed by 42,439 and 42,269. Key resistance levels are expected to be 42,882, along with 42,987 and 43,156. Call options data On the monthly options front, the maximum Call open interest (OI) was at 18,000 strike, with 1.23 crore contracts, which is expected to be a crucial resistance level for the Nifty in the coming sessions. This was followed by 17,900 strike, comprising 1.21 crore contracts, and 17,800 strike, with more than 94.98 lakh contracts. Call writing was seen at 17,900 strike, followed by 18,000 strike. Put option data The maximum Put open interest was at 17,700 strike with 1.72 crore contracts, which is expected to act as a crucial support level in the coming sessions. This was followed by the 17,800 strike, comprising 1.05 crore contracts, and the 17,600 strike where there were 1.04 crore contracts. Put writing was seen at 17,800 strike, followed by 17,700 strike. Stocks with a high delivery percentage A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in the stock. The highest delivery was seen in Abbott India, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, NTPC, HDFC, and SRF, among others. 36 stocks see a long build-up An increase in open interest (OI) and price typically indicates a build-up of long positions. Based on the OI percentage, 36 stocks, including ONGC, Gujarat Gas, GNFC, Siemens, and Voltas saw long build-ups. 46 stocks see long unwinding A decline in OI and price generally indicates a long unwinding. Based on the OI percentage, 46 stocks, including Honeywell Automation, Indraprastha Gas, Max Financial Services, Syngene International, and Navin Fluorine International saw a long unwinding. 21 stocks see a short build-up An increase in OI along with a price decrease indicates a build-up of short positions. Based on the OI percentage, 21 stocks, including Ipca Laboratories, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals, Shriram Finance, MCX India, and Tata Chemicals saw a short buildup. 87 stocks see short-covering A decrease in OI along with a price increase is an indication of short-covering. Based on the OI percentage, 87 stocks were on the short-covering list. These included Dalmia Bharat, Bharat Electronics, Aarti Industries, Tata Consumer Products, and Escorts. Bulk deals (For more bulk deals, click here) Results on April 27 Stocks in the news Bajaj Finance: The non-banking finance company recorded a 30 percent year-on-year growth in profit at Rs 3,158 crore for the quarter ended March FY23 despite 22.4 percent increase in loan losses and provisions in the same period. Net interest income for the quarter grew by 28 percent to Rs 7,771 crore compared to the year-ago period, with the number of new loans booked during Q4FY23 increasing by 20 percent to 7.56 million YoY. HDFC Life Insurance Company: The life insurance company has reported a 0.3 percent year-on-year growth in standalone profit at Rs 358.66 crore for the March FY23 quarter. Net premium income for the quarter at Rs 19,426.6 crore increased by 36 percent over a year-ago period, and net commission jumped 79 percent to Rs 1,111.4 crore during the same period. L&T Technology Services: The L&T Group company has recorded a 2 percent sequential growth in profit at Rs 309.6 crore for the March FY23 quarter. Revenue grew by 2.3 percent QoQ to Rs 2,096.2 crore, while revenue in dollar terms increased by 2.8 percent and 2.2 percent in constant currency terms for Q4FY23 QoQ. Voltas: The home appliances company has posted a 21.2 percent year-on-year decline in consolidated profit at Rs 143.92 crore for the quarter ended March FY23 dented by weak operating performance. Revenue grew by 10.88 percent YoY to Rs 2,957 crore in Q4FY23 YoY, while EBITDA fell 16.4 percent YoY to Rs 218.2 crore with margin declining 240 bps at 7.4 percent for the quarter. The board recommended a dividend of Rs 4.25 per share for FY23. HCL Technologies: Global pigment manufacturer Heubach Group has selected HCL Tech to drive its digital transformation agenda. HCL Tech will deliver an IT system for Heubach Group across 11 countries to include deployment of hybrid cloud, cybersecurity solutions, end-user services and secure networks. Rail Vikas Nigam: The finance minister has approved the upgradation of Rail Vikas Nigam to Navratna CPSE. RVNL will be the 13th Navratna amongst the CPSEs. RVNL is a Ministry of Railways CPSE with an annual turnover of Rs 19,381 crore and a net profit of Rs 1,087 crore for FY22. Supreme Petrochem: The polystyrene polymer producer has recorded a massive 78.4 percent quarter-on-quarter growth in profit at Rs 159.8 crore for Q4FY23 driven by strong operating performance. Revenue from operations grew by 17.5 percent sequentially to Rs 1,387 crore, while EBITDA jumped 75.7 percent QoQ to Rs 208.9 crore with margin expansion of 500 bps to 15.06 percent for the quarter. Fund Flow FII and DII data Foreign institutional investors (FII) bought shares worth Rs 1,257.48 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors (DII) sold shares worth Rs 227.88 crore on April 26, according to provisional data from National Stock Exchange. Stocks under F&O ban on NSE The National Stock Exchange has added GNFC to its F&O ban list and retained Zee Entertainment Enterprises for April 27. Securities in the ban period under the F&O segment include companies in which the security has crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Monday marked the start of the first experimental high-flow releases from Glen Canyon Dam since 2018 and the first springtime flow in over a decade. The release of water from the dam is designed to wash sediment from the Paria River, just below the dam, down the river, depositing it and rebuilding beaches throughout the Marble Canyon and Grand Canyon. Those beaches are important for the local ecosystem, help protect archeological and culturally important sites, and play a critical role in recreation along the river. Throughout the summer, commercial rafters and private trips alike use the beaches to camp each night as they make the nearly 200-mile trip from Lees Ferry to the northern most parts of Lake Mead. With four years between the current flow and the last, beaches along the river are in desperate need of sediment, according to the organization Grand Canyon River Guides. But the timing of the release is somewhat unusual, and one that has long been sought by conservation groups and scientists. More often, the Department of Interior and Bureau of Reclamation opt to conduct such flows in the fall, often in November, said Kelly Burke, executive director of Wild Arizona and the organizations Grand Canyon Wildlands Council. Recent aridification made a spring flow really difficult to even consider or talk about, but then this winter happened, Burke said. It was all the way back in 2008 that the last high-flow experiment was conducted during the spring season, said Josh Korman, fish researcher and professor at the University of British Columbia. Prior to that flow, it was 1996 when the only other springtime high flow was released. This week, the release of water from the dam will reach a peak of about 39,500 cubic feet per second (CFS) for 72 hours. Normally, release from Glen Canyon Dam ranges between 8,000 to 25,000 CFS. While high releases in autumn are designed to mimic the flood of water after the monsoon season, this release mimics the same flood coming from the melting snowpack in the Rocky Mountains, and across the Colorado Plateau. Burke said its those unusually heavy snows the region has experienced over the winter that helped make this months experimental release a reality. The high flow comes as the Colorado River has found itself at ground zero for climate change, with the federal government, Western states and Indigenous tribes grappling with how to split the pieces of an ever smaller pie. Within that context, Burke said, it can be difficult to get the agreement of stakeholders to conduct a high-flow experiment, even though the release doesnt let any more water out of Lake Powell than normal. Operators at Glen Canyon Dam simply let more water flow out all at one time before cutting the flow back to make up the difference. Burke said the optics often make it challenging, as do other conservation concerns, such as fish. Case in point: a fall high-flow experiment was canceled last year over concerns the release would flush small mouth bass out of the lake and into the river, allowing the species to gain a more prominent foothold below the dam. Small mouth bass are a real threat to native fish such as the humpback chub and razorback sucker. But Burke said those concerns are lessened this time, as the April water and snowmelt in the lake is colder than the warm water certain species prefer, the water levels are higher and the time of the release does not coincide as well with the lifecycle of the small mouth bass. All those factors got a reprieve because of this amazing winter weve had, Burke said. Burke added that the high flow will also help mitigate the impact of balancing flows, which are expected later in the year. Such flows, which the Bureau of Reclamation announced earlier this month, are also in response to the extreme snowmelt the region has experienced and are meant to transfer water from Lake Powell to Lake Mead. Balancing flows, however, is also likely to erode beaches throughout Marble and Grand canyons. With the release this week building beaches up ahead of that, Burke said, the impact of the balancing flows will be somewhat mitigated. Fish impacts But the spring high flow provides more than building back beaches. The flows provide an opportunity for biologists of all sorts to see how the rush of water will impact the ecology of the river, including threatened and endangered native fish species such as the humpback chub and razorback sucker, Korman said. He said the mix of the high flow followed by the balancing flow offers researchers a really unique opportunity to see how the ecosystem is impacted. Korman, who also heads the research consultant Ecometric Research and has worked with the United States Geological Survey to study rainbow trout in the Colorado, said studies have shown high flows can rejuvenate the food base of the river. This happens as the rush of water scours the bottom of the river, removing many of the aquatic insects and plants. But then what grows back? It's kind of like a haircut, or like cutting your lawn. What grows back can be higher density and more vibrant, Korman said. That can stimulate food availability -- which is good for all fish species. But the question is: who is the winner? In that there's many different species competing for food. Based studies conducted after the 2008 spring high-flow experiment, Korman said he suspects the flow could be particularly good for the non-native rainbow trout within the Colorado. At that time, researchers saw the increase in food availability came at a critical time in the rainbow trouts life cycle -- which meant many more surviving to adulthood, according to Korman. Back in 2008, Korman said, the rainbow trout population grew so much that some of them dispersed out to the Little Colorado River, where endangered humpback chub are present. And so that [spring flow] was thought to have a negative effect on humpback chub, because it stimulated the abundance of this nonnative rainbow trout. Here is a collection of the most important stories this evening: Bajaj Finance Q4 earnings: Net profit zooms 31% to Rs 3,158 crore Bajaj Finance reported on April 26 that its consolidated net profit for the quarter ended March 2023 was at Rs 3,157.79 crore, up 30.51 percent from Rs 2,419.51 in the same quarter last year. Revenue from operations of the financial services firm came in at Rs 11,359.59 crore, up 31.68 percent from Rs 8,626.06 crore in the year-ago quarter. The Board of Directors recommended a dividend on equity shares at the rate of Rs 30 per share, the company said in a regulatory filing. Read full here 10 DRG jawans, driver killed in Naxal attack in Chhattisgarhs Dantewada Eleven persons, including 10 security personnel, were killed in a blast carried out by Naxal insurgents using an improvised explosive device (IED) in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada on April 26. The deceased include 10 jawans of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a special unit of the Chhattisgarh police that is involved in counter-insurgency operations against left-wing extremists. A driver attached to the unit was also killed in the attack, taking the death toll to 11. Read full here Demerged entity will be retained in index, says NSE; big positive for RIL Revising its methodology, National Stock Exchange has announced that a demerged company will be retained in a Nifty index vis-a-vis the earlier practice of excluding it. As per the NSE press release, the decision to revise the methodology was on the basis of global practices and feedback received from the market participants. Read full here Maruti Suzuki Q4 profit up 43% at Rs 2,623 cr; capacity addition of 10 lakh announced India's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki reported a 43 percent jump in standalone net profit at Rs 2623 crore for the quarter ended March 2023. However, the profit figure was a tad below the Street estimate of Rs 2,773 crore. Revenue from operations grew 20 percent year-on-year to Rs 32,048 crore for the March quarter. The annual turnover of the company surpassed Rs 1 lakh crore mark. Read full here NCPCR turns up heat on Bournvita maker over violation of food safety, advertisement norms Indias apex child rights body, on April 26, asked Mondelez International India Ltd, the company that sells Bournvita, to review and withdraw all misleading advertisements, packaging and labels related to the milk supplement citing non-adherence to mandatory disclosure of its sugar content. Read full India sets ambitious annual renewable energy targets for central PSUs to get to 50GW Chasing an ambitious target of having 500 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy (RE) capacity by 2030, the Indian government on April 25 released a detailed agency-wise break-up on inviting bids for RE projects totalling 50 GW in the financial year (FY) 2023-24. India's current total renewable energy capacity, excluding large hydro and nuclear plants, reached 125 GW (125,159.81 MW) in March 2023, the latest monthly report by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) showed. Read full Capital markets regulator Sebi on Wednesday asked stock exchanges and intermediaries to comply with the rules, which deal with the prevention of financing related to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. Under this, stock exchanges and intermediaries will have to maintain a record of designated persons, according to a Sebi circular. In addition, they will have to keep a check and prevent financial transactions with individuals and entities in the designated list. Further, they have been asked to immediately inform about such transactions to Chief Nodal Officer and file a suspicious transaction report with FIU-IND (Financial Intelligence Unit India). This came after the Ministry of Finance issued an order in January detailing the procedure for implementation of the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act (WMD Act). The Act bans funding of weapons of mass destruction and also empowers the Centre to freeze, seize or attach financial assets and economic resources of people engaged in such activities. Earlier, the regulations only banned the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction. 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. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept "Leverage works both ways. More money has been lost searching for yield than at gunpoint." - Ray DeVoe Market continues to struggle for a direction, foreign institutional investors continue to be net sellers and none of the sectors are showing any clear trend. Plenty of stock-specific activity, particularly in some of the railway names, but the sense one gets talking to market players is nobody is making serious money. Overall, a sense of gloom has been replaced by one of fatigue over the last month. Job change One can feel for Promeet Ghosh, the incoming MD and CEO of Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals. News of his appointment was greeted with a 12 percent drop in the stock, which has anyway been in a downtrend since September last year. A career investment banker, Ghosh steps in following the abrupt resignation of Mathew Job, who had been with the company for the last seven-and-a-half years. Market skepticism arises from Ghoshs lack of hands-on experience in running a consumer electricals business. This is even more worrying considering that the company has been ceding market share to rivals of late. From a JP Morgan report: In our view, a lack of operational experience for the incoming CEO could be a cause of concern for investors. Given there have been multiple changes in the leadership team (previous CFO resigned in May22, sales head resigned recently), we see uncertainty on strategic priorities and execution approach, more so in a subdued demand environment amid enhanced competitive activity (in the core fans, lighting and pumps categories) and the initial stages of Butterfly integration. Also, as my colleague and Dalal Street scuttlebutt Nimesh Shah of CNBCTV18 points out: The appointment of a person with an investment banking experience has sparked chatter in the market that the stock could be in play shortly. Ghosh could take heart from the fact that it is easier to surprise (positively) when expectations are low, and things have reached a point from where they can only get better. From a Goldman Sachs note: We believe the stock is under-appreciated, and believe there is scope for mean reversion as earnings improve from here and as the valuation difference with peers has increased. We continue to like the companys sector-leading return profile (ROE at 20% for 2024E vs high teens for Consumer Durables peers) and exposure to the domestic growth story. Another thing going for Ghosh is that domestic institutional investors are heavily invested; nearly every important fund house has exposure to the stock. Ghoshs priority will be to convince fund managers of his plans to get Crompton back into the big league. Institutional over-ownership can cut both ways. It can influence newer fund houses to invest in the company, but if the mood changes for the worse, the fall can be dramatic. Booster shot Biocon shares rose 2 percent on Tuesday, after Serum Institute converted its $150 million loan of Biocon Pharma into an equity investment in Biocon Biologics. The deal values Biocons subsidiary at $6 billion, a 22 percent increase in two years. Biocon shares took a pounding in March, falling to a five-and-a-half year low of Rs 192 after a leading institutional investor trimmed stake. The stock has gained around 15 percent from the March lows, but further upside will depend on whether investors are swayed by the subsidiary valuation story or the business outlook for the flagship. Last month Kotak Institutional Equities retained its reduce rating on the stock and cut price target to Rs 210 from Rs 240, after Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi, the three major insulin manufacturers that control 90 percent of the US insulin market said they would drop prices 65-80 percent starting 2024. Kotak has expects a significant improvement in Biocons biosimilar sales trajectory, but has flagged concerns over persistent price drops and delayed approvals, which would lead to the company missing its biosimilars (excluding vaccines) sales estimate of $1.04 billion and $1.21 billion for FY2024E and FY2025E. Then there is also the issue of high debt. Not out of the woods yet The turmoil in the US banking sector may have been controlled, but it seems to be far from over, looking at the quarterly numbers of First Republic Bank. The stock crashed to a record low after the companys numbers showed that the deposit outflows of over $ 100 billion in March were much higher than what the market had thought. From the Wall Street Journal: The firm said Monday it was exploring strategic options following its disclosure that it lost around $100 billion in deposits, though analysts and investors question how much room for manoeuvre the firm actually has at this point. While First Republics basic business model is broken, the bank is determined to find some way to salvage what is left. Those who could aid the bank might be wary of coming to the rescue. Wolf of Bond Street A hedge fund star driven by ambition, a short stint in jail for bankruptcy fraud, followed by a second birth as a mature thought leader for the rambunctious industry. Sounds like a Scorsese film, right? Eventually, perhaps. Dan Kamensky, once ubiquitous in the US distressed debt sector, was sent to jail in 2021 for trying to corner settlement proceeds during the 2020 bankruptcy of retailer Neiman Marcus. After serving his prison sentence, instead of trying to sneak his way into the securities market like many of his peers, Kamensky has emerged almost as a conscience keeper for the sector, as per this FT profile. He has started a non-profit advocacy group for distressed debt investors, regularly speaks at industry conferences and also tweets about the malpractices in this rowdy corner of Wall Street. A second innings worth following. The uneaten Apple Legendary fund manager Peter Lynch regrets not having taken a bite of the Apple stock when the rest of the investing community was doing that. Apple was not that hard to understand. I mean, how dumb was I? Lynch, vice chairman of Fidelity Management & Research, said on CNBCs Squawk Box. Apple has a nice balance sheet. I should have done some work on Apple... Its not a complicated company, Lynch said. Around 55 percent of the institutional investors in the seed & pre-series A stage surveyed believe that early-stage companies were overvalued in 2022, a report by venture debt firm InnoVen Capital said, as early-stage investing skyrocketed last year amidst funding winter. 2022 was also a major year for fundraising by domestic and global venture capital firms to invest in early-stage startups across India and Southeast Asia. These include Sequoia Capitals $2.85 billion fundraising, Elevation Capitals $670 million round, Accel Partners $650 million round, B Capitals $250 million round and Lightspeed Ventures $500 million round to name a few. But the wider deployment of most of these funds is yet to be seen as investors became wary of valuations, ability to turn profitable and governance issues. According to the report, about 50 percent of investors expect a slower funding environment in 2023 while 30 expect it to be flat. While the top segments to attract early-stage funding were B2B platforms, fintech and enterprise SaaS; this year its going to climate-tech along with fintech and SaaS. Interestingly, most of the early-stage funding activity happened in the pre-revenue startups, as investors chose the founding team as the most important factor given the limited track record available for these startups, the report said. Tarana Lalwani, Partner at InnoVen Capital India said, As we head into 2023, we anticipate the slowdown that began in 2022 to persist. However, we expect the early-stage environment to maintain its momentum, with an increased focus on governance and a more extensive due diligence process - which will see more viable and sustainable business models getting funded. In 2022, Bangalore, NCR and Mumbai continued to form the core of the start-up ecosystem, while over two-thirds of early-stage start-up investments done were from Bangalore or NCR. Majority of the respondents (Funds) have relied on the domestic pool of capital to raise funds. Twenty percent of respondents have 100 percent domestic Limited Partners (LPs). Family Offices and UHNIs are the top source for domestic capital followed by fund of funds like SIDBI, the report said. The Bajaj Auto share price will remain in focus on April 26 after the company posted better numbers for the quarter ended March 2023. Bajaj Auto on April 25 reported a consolidated net profit for the quarter ended March 2023 of Rs 1,704.74 crore, up 11.70 percent from Rs 1,526.16 crore in the same quarter last year. Revenue from operation came in at Rs 8,929.23 crore, registering a growth of 11.96 percent from Rs 7,974.84 crore in the year-ago quarter, the company said in a regulatory filing. The board of directors of the company has recommended a dividend at the rate Rs 140 per share. The company's EBITDA maintained its strong run, growing 26 percent on-year to Rs 1,718 crore, with a margin accretion of 220 bps to 19.3 percent. Sequentially, price realisation and material costs held flat with favourable mix, driving a slight uptick, it said. Catch all the market action on our live blog Here is what brokerages have to say about stock and the company post March quarter earnings: Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley has maintained its 'overweight' rating on the stock and raised its target price from Rs 4,486 to Rs 5,063. The report notes that although Q4 volumes were down, a better product mix drove EBITDA. The research firm raises earnings per share (EPS) estimates by 8 percent for FY24 and 12 percent for FY25. CLSA The research house has downgraded the stock from 'buy' to 'outperform' but raised its target price to Rs 4,659 per share. The Q4 results beat expectations due to a richer product mix and higher realizations, and that better forex realisations helped offset the impact of lower exports, resulting in a rise in margins. CLSA raised its profit estimates for FY24-25 by 6-8 percent based on higher assumptions for average selling prices and revenue. However, expects modest growth in two-wheeler exports for FY24. Motilal Oswal Both domestic and export volumes are expected to recover in FY24 from the low base, driving healthy earnings recovery. Brokerage firm expect company to benefit from market share gains over the long term, driven by: (1) the premiumisation trend, (2) the opportunity in exports, and (3) the potential sizeable position in the Scooter market through EVs. However, a large part of its India profit pool (of premium motorcycle and 3Ws) is vulnerable to possible disruption from electrification. At 17.7x/15.9x FY24/FY25 consolidated EPS, the stocks valuation fairly reflects the expected recovery as well as the risk of EVs. The company's dividend yield of 4.5-5 percent should support the stock. It reiterated the 'neutral' rating with a target price of Rs 4,400 (based on 16x Mar25 consolidated EPS). Prabhudas Lilladher Broking firm marginally increase its FY24/25 EPS estimates by 1-3 percent to factor in higher ASPs from increase in EV volumes, partially offset by cut in volumes for exports. The company reported better than expected 4Q revenue, while EBITDA margin was largely in line. Margins expanded helped by significant inventorisation benefit, higher spare mix and better vehicle mix, offset by lower operating leverage. Concerns on the export volumes continue (50 percent of sales) with company delaying the recovery timelines led by uncertainty on unavailability of USD and lower affordability. Also, lack of market share gains in the domestic motorcycles market over the last few years, and increase in competition could lead to further pricing actions. However, Prabhudas Lilladher expects the companys domestic premium segment volumes to grow (similar to the industry) helped by premiumisation trends and fast ramp-up of EVs could make us turn constructive on the stock. It maintains 'hold' rating with a target price of Rs 4,130 (Rs 4,020 earlier) at 16x Mar-25 EPS. Nirmal Bang Overall, the broking house remain constructive on Bajaj Auto amid its resilient domestic operations. It tweaks the FY24/FY25 EPS by 5 percent/7 percent and maintain accumulate rating with FY25 target price (TP) of Rs 4,509. It values the stock on SoTP basis, with the core business valued at Rs3,399 (15x FY25 core EPS), cash of Rs 806/share and investment in KTM at Rs 305/share. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Poonawalla Fincorp shares broke into the green territory in afternoon trade after the company managed to double its Q4 net profit to Rs 180.37 crore. Net profit stood at Rs 89.8 1 in the year-ago period. Revenue from operations for the quarter jumped 50 percent YoY to Rs 576.73 crore. In an exchange filing, the company said that gross non performing assets (NPA) reduced 25 basis points sequentially to 1.44 percent. Net NPA reduced 11 basis point from last quarter to 0.78 percent. Follow our live blog for all the market action With an efficient cost of borrowing, lower operating cost, controlled credit cost and a branch-lite tech-led model, we are well poised to deliver a sustainable and exceptional performance, CA Abhay Bhutada, managing director of the company said. The NBFC's net interest margin for Q4 FY23 came in at 11.3 percent, an improvement of 87 basis points YoY and 59 basis points sequentially. Return on Assets (RoA) for Q4 was highest-ever at 5 percent. Earlier this month, Poonawalla Fincorp had reported its highest-ever disbursements of around Rs 6370 crore in Q4, a jump of 151 percent YoY. Assets under management grew 37 percent to Rs 16,143 crore, despite the sharp reduction in discontinued loan book. On April 24, CRISIL upgraded rating on the company to 'AAA/Stable' from 'CRISIL AA+/Stable'. The rating was driven by increased strategic importance of Poonwalla Fincorp (PFL) to the Cyrus Poonawalla Group. "This is in line with the group's focus on domestic consumption as a key theme in their growth philosophy. Post the divestment of Poonawalla Housing Finance, PFL will play a key role through which this strategy will be implemented," CRISIL said. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The share price of Vodafone Idea, India's third-largest telecom company, gained 6 percent on April 26 after Emirates Telecommunications Group Co (e&) increased its stake in Vodafone Group Plc, the holding company of Vodafone Idea, from 14 percent to 14.6 percent. As of December 2022, the promoters held around 75 percent in Vodafone Idea, with Vodafone Plc holding 48 percent and the Aditya Birla Group holding 27 percent. According to e&, it has received regulatory approval to raise its stake in Vodafone Plc to 15 percent. The company has explored potential investment in Vodafone's African business, Vodacom Group Ltd, media reports said. The Emirati company is also discussing revamping the board with the British telecom group. The pursuit of board representation by Vodafones largest shareholder e&, while expected given its growing 14.6% stake, is a positive move in light of e&s plan to be a long-term investor in the carrier, making further stakebuilding likely. The Emirati companys push is a change from its original position, suggesting it may become a pro-active force to ensure execution aligns with its long-term strategy, according to Erhan Gurses, analyst, BI telecoms. Follow our live blog for all market action Vodafone Plc's shares have declined around 29 percent in the last year. The telecom company ousted Chief Executive Officer Nick Read in December 2022, and the board has not yet named a replacement. Vodafone Idea, also saw a surge of 10 percent last week when it announced Kumar Mangalam Birla is returning to the board as an additional director. In February 2023, the Centre announced that it would pick up around a 33 percent stake in Vodafone Idea in lieu of interest payouts over delayed spectrum and adjusted gross revenue payments. This move will make the government Vodafone Idea's largest shareholder and reduce promoter shareholding to around 50 percent. Also Read: Ipca Labs hits fresh 52-week low as Unichem acquisition spoils mood for second day The debt-ridden telco has lost around 33 percent of its market capitalization in the last year, declining 22 percent in the last six months. At 12.23 pm, the scrip was trading 4.76 percent up at Rs 6.6 with the benchmark Nifty up 0.13 percent at 17,792.75 points. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. The prices of sugar have increased due to a decline in overall production compounded by deteriorating weather and volatile market conditions. Raw sugar prices are trading at an 11-year high, and the Indian sugar prices have been surging for the fourth straight month in April. Analysts predict that prices could shoot even higher due to the gloomy weather that will continue to affect crop production and market supply of the commodity. Cane crushing season has started to wind down in recent weeks, and large downward crop revisions have begun in key producing nations, including India, Thailand, China, and Pakistan. India is the worlds second-largest sugar producer after Brazil. Sugar fundamentals are quite bullish for prices to remain elevated in the short to medium term, said Girish Chhimwal, a sugar analyst at S&P. Prices of processed foodstuffs are also rising globally, according to analysts. Also Read: ISMA cuts sugar output estimates by 3.5% to 328 lakh tonnes for 2022-23 marketing year Lower output in Maharashtra Sugar industry body Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) has revised downwards the country's sugar production estimate to 328 lakh tonnes for the current marketing year ending in September, from an earlier projection of 340 lakh tonnes. The downward revision has been made due to a fall in sugar output in Maharashtra, which accounts for more than one-third of the countrys sugar output. Output fell to 105 lakh tonnes in the 2022-23 marketing year (October-September), from an earlier projection of 121 lakh tonnes in the state. "Crushing season in Maharashtra has ended at 105 lakh tonnes, lower than our earlier estimate, due to unexpectedly lower cane yields owing to higher ratoon crop share and uneven distribution of rainfall," ISMA said. ISMA had earlier stated that sugar production fell six per cent to 311 lakh tonnes till April 15 of the 2022-23 marketing year ending in September, mainly due to lower output in Maharashtra. In terms of sugar production, Maharashtra is looking at a major decline of around 1.5 million tonnes while Karnataka has also seen a decline in production by 0.3 million tonnes. Analysts believe that tight supplies could start showing by October or November when the festival season begins, and consumers can expect higher sugar prices by the beginning of winter. The summer season demand is also expected to be on the stronger side, with households contributing to 33 per cent of the total sugar demand. Also Read: Sugar prices increase on production drop; mills divert sugarcane for ethanol Adverse weather to take prices higher According to S&Ps Chhimwal, sugar prices should trend towards staying elevated in the 21 to 24 cents per pound range. However, the El Nino risk on Asian production outlook could far offset in the medium term and take prices much higher, he cautioned. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there is a 62 per cent chance of El Nino conditions from May to June. Depending on the monsoon rainfall in Asia, the sugar market could potentially become very volatile and weather-driven in the medium term, according to analysts. Another factor pushing prices higher is OPECs recent surprise decision to slash oil output by around 1.16 million barrels per day, which has encouraged the diversion of sugarcane toward ethanol production and away from sugar supplies, according to a report by Fitch Solutions earlier this month. Veteran banker Uday Kotak is unlikely to face hurdles in taking up the non-executive, non-independent director role after his tenure as managing director and chief executive officer ends, experts said. This is because the three-year cooling-off period norm set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the reappointment of an MD, CEO or whole-time director (WTD) will not apply for non-executive positions, they said. Earlier, there were reports that the central bank may be looking at Kotaks appointment in the non-executive role post his tenure as CEO. Also read: Uday Kotak to transition to non-executive role after CEO tenure at Kotak Mahindra Bank As per the RBI circular dated April 26, 2021, the requirement of the three-year cooling period is for MD and CEO and whole-time director, and Kotak Mahindra Bank in its meeting has proposed to appoint him as non-executive director and, therefore, the cooling-off period is not applicable, said Pradeep K Jain, managing partner, Singhania & Co, a Delhi-based law firm. "I do not think it was the intention of the RBI to require a cooling-off period for NED (non-executive director) otherwise it would have mentioned it in the circular itself," Jain added. A senior banker who didn't want to be identified too said there is unlikely to be a conflict of interest in Uday Kotak's case and, hence, the three year cooling-off period may not apply. "However, the RBI shall be the final arbiter of the matter, the banker added. On April 21, 99 percent or 9,986 shareholders of Kotak Mahindra Bank voted in favour of Uday Kotak taking up the non-executive, non-independent directors role at the bank after he steps down as MD and CEO. Also read: Who will take Uday Kotaks job? Kotak Mahindra Bank did not respond to a specific question from Moneycontrol on whether the bank has sought the central banks permission for Kotaks reappointment in the non-executive role. A separate email sent to the RBI too did not elicit any response till the time of filing this copy. What do the RBI regulations say? According to an April, 2021, RBI circular, the MD and CEO or WTD of a bank must undergo a three-year cooling-off period post their tenure, during which the individual cannot not be appointed or associated with the bank or its group entities in any capacity, either directly or indirectly. Experts, however, point out that the central bank rules do not mention anything about top executives seeking reappointment as board members after retirement. So this is the area where Kotak Mahindra Bank will play up if any regulatory things pops up, another banker said. JN Gupta, former executive director of markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India, too said Kotak's appointment is unlikely to face pushback from the RBI. According to Gupta, the central bank will not examine the appointment as it is in the existing framework of law. What is interesting to note is such a law existed in only extremely weak economies where banking supervision is weak, which is not the case here. It is as per the provisions of the RBI circular and within the power of the bank, Gupta added. Uday Kotak, who has led the bank for more than 26 years as the CEO, is set to hang up his boots later this year. He founded Kotak Capital Management Finance as an investment and financial services company in 1985. In February 2003, Kotak Mahindra Finance received a banking licence from the RBI. Uday Kotak's tenure as the CEO and MD of the bank will come to a close on December 31, 2023. According to Bloomberg, in February 2023 the bank roped in Egon Zehnder, a global talent search firm, to find a new chief. The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday arrested TMC leader Anubrata Mondal's daughter Sukanya Mondal on money laundering charges linked to an alleged cattle smuggling case, officials said. Anubrata Mondal was earlier arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as well as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the alleged cattle smuggling case. A primary school teacher in West Bengal's Birbhum district, Sukanya Mondal has been interrogated by the ED a few times in the past as well. Anubrata Mondal, the Birbhum district president of the TMC, was arrested by the CBI last August for his alleged involvement in cattle smuggling and was also named in the charge sheet filed by the agency in the case. 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. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Around 79 percent of Indians say that attack by stray dogs in their area is becoming "common", according to a recent survey conducted by LocalCircles. This is significantly higher as compared to a similar survey conducted by LocalCircles last year, wherein 61 respondents had said that the menace was common in their area or district. The latest study was conducted among 53,000 respondents -- 67 percent men and 33 percent women -- spread across 326 districts in the country. As per the survey, 79 percent respondents also believe that the municipal authority or local body in their area is "ineffective in managing both stray dogs and registration of pet dogs". Around 71 percent of the respondents said that the management of stray dogs and other animals should be a measurement criterion for Swachh Bharat rankings and to provide funding to local bodies. Futhermore, only 33 percent of the survey respondents felt that "most of the dog owners in their area restrain and train their pets effectively". The report comes at a time when a spurt in incidents of stray dog menace has been reported. About 45,000 dog-bite cases have been recorded in New Delhi alone over the past six months, LocalCircles said in a release. The Ministry of Animal Husbandry has asked local self-governments and Resident Welfare Associations to help implement the new Animal Birth Control Rules to rein in the count of stray dogs. According to the State of Pet Homelessness Index data for India, there are around 6.2 crore stray dogs in the country. In October 2022, the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court had prohibited the feeding of stray dogs in the city, directing the civic authority to take stern action against anyone obstructing efforts to control the stray dog population. Instead, the high court suggested that those interested in feeding these strays should otherwise formally adopt them, register them with the municipal authorities and then look after them. The Supreme Court had, however, stayed the Bombay HC's observation in the matter in November, and had instead asked the municipal authority to demarcate specific areas for the public who wish to feed stray dogs. Eleven persons, including 10 security personnel, were killed in a blast carried out by Naxal insurgents using an improvised explosive device (IED) in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada on April 26. The deceased include 10 jawans of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a special unit of the Chhattisgarh police that is involved in counter-insurgency operations against left-wing extremists. A driver attached to the unit was also killed in the attack, taking the death toll to 11. The attack against the security personnel was carried out in Aranpur police station area of Dantewada, as per the information shared by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The deceased jawans had reached the area for an anti-Naxal operation, he said. "The news of the martyrdom of our 10 DRG jawans and a driver, who had arrived for an anti-Naxal operation after being alerted about the presence of Maoist cadre in Aranpur police station area of Dantewada, is very saddening. We share the grief of their families. May their soul rest in peace," Baghel tweeted. Also Read | Incidents of Naxal violence reduced by 55% over 8 years: MHA report While speaking to reporters in Raipur, Baghel assured swift action against those responsible for the attack. "This fight is in its last stage. Naxals would not be spared," he said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the chief minister over the phone shortly after the attack was reported, and assured him of all possible assistance from the Centre in the fight against the Naxal insurgents. Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred Jawans. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 26, 2023 Naxals, also known as Maoist insurgents, have a presence in parts of central and eastern India. Some pockets of Chhattisgarh, including the Dantewada and Bastar regions, were considered to be their strongholds. The group, which claims to be fighting on behalf of the country's tribal and poorest population, has killed hundreds of security personnel over the past six decades. Two military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) evacuated over 250 Indians from Sudan after a naval ship rescued another 278 citizens from the strife-torn country. The total number of Indians evacuated so far from Sudan stands at around 530, according to official data. Under its evacuation mission 'Operation Kaveri ', India has set up a transit facility at Jeddah and all the Indians have been taken to the Saudi Arabian city after their evacuation from Sudan. The first batch of 278 Indians were evacuated by Indian Navy's frontline ship INS Sumedha on Tuesday. Hours later, the first C130J heavy-lift transport aircraft of the IAF landed at Port Sudan to bring back more Indians. It was followed by evacuation by another C130J. According to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, the first C-130J aircraft brought to Jeddah 121 passengers while the second plane evacuated 135. "A second C-130 flight reaches Jeddah bringing 135 passengers from Sudan. #OperationKaveri moving steadily forward," he tweeted. India has set up a control room in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah to facilitate evacuation of Indians from Sudan. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has reached Jeddah to oversee the evacuation mission. From Jeddah, India is set to bring back the Indians home in military transport aircraft of the IAF. Sudan has been witnessing deadly fighting between the country's army and a paramilitary group for the last 12 days that has reportedly left around 400 people dead. India stepped up its efforts to evacuate the Indians from Sudan as a 72-hour truce was agreed to between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) following intense negotiations. Jaishankar on Monday announced launch of the mission 'Operation Kaveri' to bring back the stranded Indians from Sudan that has been witnessing fierce fighting following a power struggle between the regular army and a paramilitary force. India on Sunday said it has positioned two transport aircraft of the IAF in Jeddah and naval ship INS Sumedha at Port Sudan as part of its contingency plans to evacuate the Indians. Apart from the Sudanese authorities, the MEA and the Indian embassy in Sudan have been in regular touch with the UN, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and US among others. At a high-level meeting on Friday last, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had issued directions for preparation of contingency plans to evacuate Indians from Sudan. After the meeting, the PMO said Modi instructed officials to prepare contingency evacuation plans, accounting for the rapidly shifting security landscape in Sudan and the viability of various options. Last week, Jaishankar spoke to his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt on the ground situation in Sudan with a focus on ensuring the safety of the Indians. On Thursday, Jaishankar discussed the situation in Sudan with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to join US President Joe Biden and his counterparts from Australia and Japan at a summit of the Quad leaders in Sydney on May 24 that is expected to focus on implications of the Ukraine conflict and the overall situation in the Indo-Pacific. Before travelling to Australia, Modi is likely to visit the Japanese city of Hiroshima to attend the annual summit of the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies that is scheduled to take place from May 19 to 21, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. During his visit to India last month, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida invited Modi for the G7 summit. In their summit, the Quad leaders are also expected to bolster overall cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, a region that has been witnessing growing Chinese military assertiveness. The White House on Wednesday said President Biden will attend the G7 leaders summit in Hiroshima as well as the Quad summit in Sydney. From Japan, Modi may travel to a Pacific island nation from where he will likely go to Australia for the Quad summit, it is learnt. India is yet to make any official announcement on Modis proposed foreign visits next month. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses office on Wednesday formally made an announcement on hosting of the Quad summit. It said Albanese looks forward to welcoming his Quad counterparts to Australia for the Summit. Quad partners are deeply invested in the success of the Indo-Pacific. Leveraging our collective strengths helps Australia advance its interests and more effectively respond to the regions needs, Albanese said. We are always better off when we act together with our close friends and partners, he said. The Australian prime minister said the Quad is committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is respectful of sovereignty and ensures security and growth for all. I look forward to discussing with Quad leaders how we alongside important regional institutions, such as ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Indian Ocean Rim Association and our regional partners can shape the Indo-Pacific region we all want to live in, he said. In its statement, the White House said the Quad leaders will discuss how they can deepen their cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, maritime domain awareness, and other issues that matter to the people of the Indo-Pacific. On May 24, President Biden will attend the third in-person Quad leaders summit in Sydney, Australia, with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, it said. Modi is likely to hold a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G7 and the Quad summits. It will be for the first time Australia is hosting the Quad summit. This will be the third in-person Quad leaders summit. The Quad is a diplomatic partnership of four countries committed to promoting stability, resilience and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, the statement by the Australian PMO said. Australia, India, Japan and the United States share a vision for a region that is governed by accepted rules and norms, where we all can cooperate, trade and thrive, it added. It said the Quad partners are taking practical action to address shared regional challenges, including improving regional health security, advancing critical and emerging technologies, strengthening connectivity, enhancing clean energy innovation and boosting supply chain resilience. Referring to Indias presidency of G20 and Japans chairship of G7, it said this year Quad partners are playing a strong leadership role in the Indo-Pacific.In Sydney, Quad Leaders will discuss how the Quad can work alongside partners and regional groupings, foremost ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum, to strengthen our cooperation and shape the region we all want to live in, it said. The grand old man of Punjab politics and five-time chief minister Parkash Singh Badal is no more. The 95-year-old Badal passed away at Fortis Hospital, Mohali. Badal nicknamed Pash was born on December 8, 1927, in Abul Khurana village in Malout, Punjab. When Shaheed Bhagat Singh was hanged to death, Badal was a four-year-old toddler, when India won Independence Badal was a 20-year-old youth with a flowing beard. During the 1952 general elections, having graduated from Foreman College, Lahore, Badal who had earlier wanted to be a doctor, now dreamt of becoming a tehsildar. Badal had once revealed, Giani Kartar Singh, a senior Akali leader told me to forget becoming a tehsildar. One day you will be the one to appoint tehsildars. And that brought me into politics." A Calling In Politics During the 1952 general elections, Badal used to accompany political leaders and observe them closely. At times, he would even drive busloads of activists. Two qualities he had were that he was a very good public relations man and he also had a great sense of gauging any imminent danger, even if it was political. The fact that before the farm laws were passed, he got rid of the BJP, confirms how farsighted he was in gauging the political outcome of the farm laws, though ultimately it didnt benefit the Akalis, says a close Badal aide. Badal began his political career as a sarpanch of Badal village in Lambi, Bathinda. Subsequently, he became the chairman of Block Samiti, Lambi. In the run-up to the 1957 elections, he had sensed that he was meant for bigger things. In that year, he was first elected as an MLA on the Shiromani Akali Dal ticket. Entering Vidhan Sabha as a lawmaker wasnt the same as being a sarpanch. In Badals own words, he would often put his head down to make himself invisible to the senior Akali leaders in the Vidhan Sabha so that he was not asked to speak. But Giani Gurmukh Singh, (former CM of Punjab) would call us by name and force us to speak to remove our hesitation and thus we started raising issues related to people in the Vidhan Sabha, Badal had once said. Astute Politician Who Won Hearts Prof Sukhwinder Singh, a keen watcher of Sikh affairs in Punjab, has noted how Badal was one of the few politicians who despite being old could see and sense the changing culture, agriculture, climate, receding groundwater, and politics of Punjab. According to Prof Singh, Badals biggest contribution was that post-terrorism in Punjab when there was increased polarisation between the Hindus and Sikhs, he formed an alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the 1997 assembly elections, which sent a signal of communal harmony to people outside Punjab about the Sikhs. In 2012, Badal's nephew Manpreet Singh Badal had a falling out with him, and Badal's younger brother and Manpreet's father Gurdas Badal, fondly called Dash, too started campaigning for Manpreets newly formed political outfit Punjab Peoples Party (PPP) and himself fought elections against his elder brother from Lambi assembly segment. Despite the falling out, upon seeing his younger brother, Badal walked up to Gurdas Badal, held his chin, and charmed him with his kind words. And, Gurdas Badal had tears in his eyes. A senior Indian National Congress leader confided that once when he and others were sitting on a dharna outside his house when he was the chief minister, the thought that police would imminently throw them out was in their minds. But surprisingly, Badal won their hearts by coming out, enquiring about their well-being and sending tea and meals and asking them to hold the dharna inside the house rather than outside! That was the measure of the man and the statesman. Shamsher Chandel is an independent journalist based out of Chandigarh. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. I am confident that in the coming years, as it has happened in Nagaland, Meghalaya and Goa over time, a BJP-led government will come to power in Kerala too, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in early March, while addressing supporters at the party headquarters in New Delhi, after winning the Assembly polls in the Northeastern states. If theres one statement that was solely responsible for the national attention Modis latest Kerala visit has gained, it is this. The mention of three states, where the most significant chunk of Christians favoured BJP alliances, revealed in no unclear terms that the party was trying to woo the Christian community in Kerala too. Traditionally, Christians in Kerala throw in their lot with the Congress or the Kerala Congress, a party of farmers. Steady Groundswell Preceding Modi But with the Congress rendered powerless at both the Centre and the State, and the various factions of the Kerala Congress marginalised, both in government and in the Opposition, BJP has become the only avenue left open to them. Modis statement was a clarion call to them. It is for this reason that several priests and church administrators lent open support to BJP, while some offered conditional support on their terms. Apart from the time the controversial Narcotic Jihad discussion was on, such support goes against convention as BJP is portrayed as a party that tunes out minority sentiments. Amid the political turmoil that ensued, several other priests and organisations climbed on the bandwagon. If it was Union minister V Muraleedharans turn to visit the Latin Diocese Bishop House in Thiruvananthapuram on Easter, a week before Modis visit to Kerala, it was John Barla, the Union minister of state for minority affairs, who turned up at the headquarters of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Ernakulam. He reiterated that Christians were safe under the Modi Government, and the geniality was reciprocated by Major Archbishop Mar George Alancherry. Clearly, synergies were building. Optics Of The Modi Visit For onlookers, Modis meeting with Christian leaders lasted only a few minutes and he addressed eight bishops from various denominations collectively. But Cardinal Alancherry declared the meeting a success and announced that the Prime Minister gave an assurance to protect the community. Quietly, the state polity is waking up to mull sedately over BJPs short-term and long-term prospects ahead of the Parliament and Assembly polls respectively. The Christian connect was one among three key elements of Modis visit. The second was Yuvam, the much-hyped interaction with the youth in Kochi, which petered out as there was no interaction at all. Portraying Anil K Antony as a precursor to youngsters flocking to the party, BJP leaders had announced Modi would interact with the youth. But the youth had to be content with Modis roadshow and political speech. The third giving a development thrust, especially in transportation went by plan. The flagging off of Keralas first Vande Bharat Express, perceived widely as a viable alternative to the States contentious K-Rail SilverLine, was received well by the public. The buzz went up with the Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaws promise to increase the trains speed and coverage. BJPs 2024 Campaign Takes Off Will Modis outreach to the youth and minorities over development and safety assurance work to his partys advantage? Although its apparent the outreach has rattled all other political camps alike, its too early to take stock of BJPs prospects. On paper, a political alliance with Christians over religious matters offers a win-win situation all around. While the immediate litmus test could be the Parliament polls next year, a more realistic long-term goal will be to gain significantly in the 2026 Assembly polls. While other parties will try to perpetuate the hatemonger stamp on BJP, everything will ultimately depend on the BJPs own plans to continually keep the Christians in good humour and build on their current upsurge of interest in the party. It will need to find solutions to their pressing problems such as legal disputes among various denominations, demand for protection from religious attacks, increased minimum support price for crops, prospects of anti-conversion laws, extension of reservation to Dalit Christians, increased share in minority benefits, and concerns over foreign funding. In a sense, Modi has kickstarted the poll campaign in Kerala a year in advance. The agenda is set. Only time will tell whether it will transpire into a political success or an abject failure. But one thing is for sure the coming months will force both the Congress and the CPI(M) to view BJP more soberly. Else, it will be on their conscience later that they did not take the admonition seriously and sported a supine attitude. Sreejith Panickar is a Kerala-based political commentator. Twitter: @PanickarS. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said the Maharashtra government should hold a dialogue with local villagers who are opposing a refinery project in the coastal Ratnagiri district. If the issue was not resolved even after that, an alternative site should be found, he said. Pawar spoke to reporters here after state industries minister Uday Samant met him to discuss the issue. Residents of Barsu village in Ratnagiri district's Rajapur tehsil, more than 400 km from Mumbai, are up in arms against the project and the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, the NCP's allies in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, are supporting them. Pawar said his party did not oppose development projects in Konkan, but finding out the opinion of the locals was a must. "The government needs to find out why the locals are angry... having a dialogue with them is the only solution. If the matter is not resolved through a dialogue, an alternative site should be found,'' the former Union minister said. On the state government's contention that Uddhav Thackeray, when he was chief minister, had suggested Barsu as an alternative instead of Nanar, the original site, Pawar said he was not aware of that. ''Industries minister Uday Samant who met me assured that a dialogue will take place tomorrow. Yesterday only soil testing was being done at the site,'' he further said. NCP leaders will visit the site and talk to the locals, Pawar added. Samant, who is the guardian minister of Ratnagiri district, told reporters that the women protestors detained at the project site have been released. "The government will speak to the villagers," he added. Pawar, meanwhile, told reporters that he would be visiting Punjab on Thursday for Shiromani Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal's last rites. To another question, he said he was not aware of any proposal by Uddhav Thackeray that an NCP leader should become the chief minister if the MVA wins the next Assembly elections. "If Sanjay Raut is saying this, he is a journalist.....the media knows more than we do. I am not aware,'' the NCP supremo said. About the posters describing his nephew Ajit Pawar as a future CM coming up in some places, Pawar said Ajit Pawar himself had told his supporters not to do such things. In a stern letter to all states and union territories (UTs), the central government has made it clear that any tax or duty levied by them on the generation of electricity is illegal and unconstitutional. Stating that some state governments are imposing a water cess on hydroelectric projects, the Centre directed all states and UTs to immediately withdraw any such tax or duty. It has come to the notice of the Government of India (Gol) that some state governments have imposed taxes/duties on the generation of electricity. This is illegal and unconstitutional. Any tax/duty on the generation of electricity, which encompasses all types of generation viz. thermal, hydro, wind, solar, nuclear, etc. is illegal and unconstitutional, read the letter issued by the Ministry of Power to the chief secretaries of all states and UTs on April 25. ln light of the above constitutional provisions, no taxes/duties may be levied by any state under any guise on the generation of electricity and if any taxes/duties have been so levied, it may be promptly withdrawn, it stated. On March 16, the Himachal Pradesh assembly passed the Himachal Pradesh Water Cess on Hydropower Generation Bill, 2023. The Congress-led government in the hilly state, which has a number of hydropower projects, stated it will be levying a 10 paisa per cubic metre cess on projects with heads up to 30 metres, 25 paise on 30-60 metres, 35 paise on 60-90 metres, and 50 paise per cubic metre over 90 metres. This was opposed by the governments of neighbouring Haryana and Punjab. The power ministry in eight points cited the Constitutional provisions to explain that states and UTs have no power to levy such cess, tax or duty on electricity generation. It said that Article-286 of the Constitution explicitly prohibits states from imposing any taxes/duties on the supply of goods or services or on both where the supply takes place outside the state. Articles-287 and 288 prohibit the imposition of taxes on the consumption or sale of electricity consumed by the Central government or sold to the Central government for consumption by the government or its agencies, it stated. Some states have imposed taxes/duties on the generation of electricity under the guise of levying a cess on the use of water for generating electricity. However, though the state may call it a water cess, it is actually a tax on the generation of electricity - the tax is to be collected from the consumers of electricity, who may happen to be residents in other states, read the letter. ALSO READ: 7 hydropower projects with 3,110 MW capacity to be commissioned in FY 24. The Centre also explained that as per entry-56 of the Union List of the Constitution of India, regulations of issues related to inter-state rivers come under the purview of the Centre. Most of the hydroelectric plants in the states are located or proposed to be developed on inter-state rivers. Any imposition of tax on the non-consumptive use of water of these rivers for electricity generation is in violation of provisions of the Constitution of India, it said. The Centre even explained the basics of hydropower in its letter to put forward its point. It said, Hydropower projects do not consume water to produce electricity. Electricity is generated by directing the flow of water through a turbine - on the same principle as electricity from wind projects where wind is utilised to turn the turbine to produce electricity. Therefore, there is no rationale for levy of water cess or air cess. In an interview with Moneycontrol on April 13, Union Minister for Power and Renewable Energy RK Singh said the country currently has about 46,000 MW of hydropower projects installed. Another 14,000 MW is under construction. Besides, we will be starting construction for another 16,000 MW of hydropower projects soon, he said. Singh also said that the Centre is planning to merge multiple hydro PSUs into one. He also extensively talked about the measures taken to reduce delays in the completion of hydropower projects. Industrialist Anand Mahindra on Wednesday extended his support to 80-year-old US President Joe Biden after he announced his bid to run for a second term. Since Biden will be 86 at the end of a second term, critics have been targeting America's oldest President over his age. But, to Mahindra, it's Biden's "audacity" that gives him an advantage over his younger opponents. "There will be no shortage of critics scoffing at his audacity to attempt another term at his age," Anand Mahindra tweeted. "But I like audacity. He may or may not be edged out by a younger opponent. But to live your life with a never give up spirit is something I cant help cheering for" There will be no shortage of critics scoffing at his audacity to attempt another term at his age. But I like audacity. He may or may not be edged out by a younger opponent. But to live your life with a never give up spirit is something I cant help cheering for https://t.co/iEavx4dWUz anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) April 26, 2023 Joe Biden on Tuesday formally announced that he is running for reelection in 2024, asking voters to give him more time to finish this job. He is betting his first-term legislative achievements and more than 50 years of experience in Washington will count for more than concerns over his age. In his first public appearance Tuesday since the announcement, Biden offered a preview of how he plans to navigate the dual roles of president and presidential candidate, using a speech to building trades union members to highlight his accomplishments and undercut his GOP rivals, while showing voters he remained focused on his day job. Greeted with chants of Let's Go Joe from a raucous crowd of building trades union members a key base of Democratic support Biden showcased the tens of thousands of construction jobs being created since he took office that is supported by legislation he signed into law. We -- you and I -- together were turning things around and were doing it in a big way, Biden said. Its time to finish the job. Finish the job. (With inputs from AP) Read more: Joe Biden announces 2024 re-election bid: Here's his first term score card A woman in Canada is struggling with a rather strange problem -- she has to give away 1.33 lakh rum and butter vintage chocolate bars before they expire in June. The bars, which were widely beloved in the country in the 1980s, are described as rum flavored with caramilk inside. Crystal Regehr Westergard, the founder of Canadian Candy Nostalgia, spoke to CBC about how the Covid pandemic brought about the unique problem. Westergard ordered the bars from an overseas production company, but due to the pandemic there were some delays and when she finally received the chocolates, she got them in bulk, the publication reported. This posed a problem for the company because people were not always buying it in bulk and the chocolates were fast approaching their expiry date. "If you haven't had a chocolate bar in about 30 years and you see it -- holy cow, you buy the whole box because you hadn't seen it for 30 years, right? And then when you realize, no, there's boxes there every time ... then people don't buy the whole box," Westergard told CBC. "So suddenly the stores aren't ordering the same gargantuan sum." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cuban Lunch corp (@canadian_candy_nostalgia) So, to get rid of them, Westergard tried giving them to schools, and local homeless shelters but she still had too many in her hands. Since then, Westergrad has spoken out about her dilemma on social media and has been in touch with food banks that could take a couple of thousand chocolate bars off her hands. As the word spread, interested parties began to flood her with messages. "All my inboxes are crammed," Westergard told CBS adding that volunteer organisations have been coming forward and that she is confident of being able to give away all the chocolates to charity. Read more: Man says he found the 'biggest M&M in the world'. Guinness World Records responds Xem them ... Tin bai cuoi cung Khong con du lieu e load Days before he was hanged in Singapore for smuggling one kilogram of cannabis, Tangaraju Suppiah asked prison authorities for his favourite dishes: Chicken rice, nasi biryani, ice cream soda, and Milo-flavoured sweets. Kokila Annamalai, a Singapore-based rights activist representing the family, confirmed Suppiah had been executed by hanging after the president had rejected pleas for clemency on the eve of the execution. In a moving post shared before the execution, Annamalai confirmed that the 46-year-old Indian-origin man got to taste some of his favourite food items after nine years. Prison authorities, however, were not able to find the Milo-flavoured sweets he had requested. Death row prisoners who get an execution notice are given a small amount of money to buy a treat for the others on death row, in the week leading up to their execution, Annamalai said. Tangaraju used his allowance to buy fish burgers, curry puffs and soft drinks for others death-row prisoners. Tangaraju was convicted in 2017 of "abetting by engaging in a conspiracy to traffic" 1,017.9 grams of cannabis, twice the minimum volume required for a death sentence in Singapore. He was sentenced to death in 2018 with the Court of Appeal later upholding the decision, but rights groups have claimed there were several problems with the case. Singapore went ahead with the execution despite international human rights groups decrying "many flaws" in the case. Tangaraju tasted his favourite dishes after nearly a decade, but in the weeks leading up to his execution, he had been having only one meal a day in an effort to reduce weight, according to Annamalai. Maybe if I'm heavier, it'll take longer for me to go? he wondered to a childhood friend during a visit. (With inputs from agencies) The Delhi Police on April 26 told the Supreme Court that it needs to conduct a preliminary inquiry before it can file an FIR over sexual harassment allegations levelled by seven women wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Delhi police told a bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud that if the court felt that an FIR was to be lodged straight away, it could be done. The bench however asked the Delhi Police to put forth its views and bring the material it was relying on to substantiate his view registration of the FIR on April 28 when the plea of wrestlers is likely to be heard. Also read: WFI Sexual Harassment Case: India's top wrestlers get help to file FIR, still waiting to see committee investigation report On April 25, the SC issued a notice in a plea by seven Indian wrestlers against the WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over alleged sexual harassment. The court observed that the plea seeking registration of First Information Report (FIR) in serious allegations of sexual harassment has been made in the plea and it requires consideration. Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal appeared in the case and sought an urgent hearing. He submitted that the petitioners are seven women wrestlers, who include a minor. He told the court that there is a committee report on the issue which has not been made public and, therefore, he sought an urgent hearing in the case. 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. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who started his arguments on April 26 for the Union government in the pleas seeking legal validation of same sex marriage, stated that the intention of law makers while legislating the Special Marriage Act (SMA) 1954, was to provide legal sanction for a heterosexual marriage. Mehta, who took the court through various constituent assembly debates, argued even though the framers of the law were aware of homosexuality, they chose to introduce a legislation that provided legal sanction of inter-faith heterosexual marriages. Thus, the SG argued the court's opinion cannot substitute the legislative intent. The SG further submitted that court cannot use a different lens for heterosexual couples and another for non-heterosexual couples in the same enactment. The Solicitor General commenced his submissions by urging the court to leave the responsibility of legislating on same sex marriage to the parliament, as it represents the will of the people. He further submitted that the real question is who would take a call on what constitutes marriage between a particular class of people. The SG further argued there are several ramifications, not only on society but also other statutes, which would need debate in society, in state legislatures, and in civil society groups. He submitted that there are at least 160 sections of various laws other than SMA, which cannot be reconciled if the SMA is reinterpreted for the purpose of legalising same sex marriage. He thus argued that only parliament can envision several situations that may arise and provide for its regulation. It would be impossible for the Court to conceive of all situations. SG argued that the meaning of each letter in LGBTQIA+ abbreviation has 72 shades or variations. He submitted that it needs to be assessed how the court can deal with all these variations. Mehta relied on various judgments to argue that policy throughout all legislations should be dealt with by the parliament after gathering all possible considerations and facts. SG relied on Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organisation, a judgment from the United States that ruled the right to abortion is not a part of the constitution to submit and that the Courts should not intervene in the legislature process. However, CJI DY Chandrachud took a strong objection to this and remarked that India as a country is very advanced when comes to law on women's health and the SG should not rely on the judgment. Mehta, however, informed the court that he was only relying on certain principles in the judgment and not the outcome of the judgment. He further submitted that in countries where same-sex marriage is recognised, the process has been initiated by the legislature and thereafter adopted by the Courts. The Supreme Court will continue hearing SG's arguments on April 27. The court started hearing a batch of petitions seeking legal recognition to same sex marriage on April 18. The petitioners have argued that the provisions of SMA should be reinterpreted to mean marriage between 'persons' as opposed to meaning marriage between a man and a woman. Indias apex child rights body has asked Mondelez International India Ltd, the company that sells Bournvita, to review and withdraw all misleading advertisements, packaging and labels related to the milk supplement citing non-adherence to mandatory disclosure of its sugar content. A social media influencer had recently faced backlash from the company after his video, posted on Instagram on April 1, exposing the details related to the high levels of sugar in Bournvita had gone viral. He was served a legal notice by the company and had to delete his video online. In the fresh notice issued, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has pointed out that the labelling and display norms by the Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) mandate the display of red colour coding for the products that have added sugar content value more than 10 percent of the total energy provided by the 100 g/ml of the product. Prima facie (it) has been observed that your product, seem to have bypassed the threshold with the use of labels Maltodextrin liquid glucose which needs to be mentioned under the class title added sugar.. read the notice. Also read | The Bournvita Debate: Is shooting the messenger helpful? The NCPCR also observed that the company violates the advertisement norms by not making it explicitly clear that the contents of the product may be harmful to children under the stipulated norms. The Commission asked the company to also submit a detailed explanation for the violations and an action taken report on its notice. It also flagged the matter to the food safety regulator FSSAI. 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. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Four people in Australia were charged after a mid-air brawl resulted in a smashed aircraft window. According to 7 News, the unnamed flight from Cairns to Darwin on April 20 had a stopover in Groote Eylandt. However, two mid-air brawls resulted in terrified passengers, an emergency landing, a smashed plane window and hapless cabin crew. The flight was forced to turn back and make an emergency landing in Cairns shortly after take-off because unruly passengers started fighting inside. A woman passenger was removed after the flight landed in Cairns, Australia. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) charged the woman with disorderly behaviour, common assault and failing to comply with safety instructions by cabin crew. A female passenger was removed and charged with disorderly behaviour on an aircraft, common assault and failing to comply with safety instructions by cabin crew, the spokesperson said. Seriously unbelievable ( courtesy of the mango enquirer facebook page) A flight from Cairns to Groote Eylandt was forced to return mid-flight yesterday afternoon, after a fight broke out onboard the aircraft. FIFO workers had to step in to assist flight staff quell the unrest. pic.twitter.com/MWBZ4dTXyy Action for Alice 2020 - Darren Clark (@actionforalice) April 21, 2023 The flight departed for a second time but soon descended into chaos once again as passengers became involved in another brawl. Footage of the brawl shows one passenger attempting to strike another with a glass bottle. It was also during the second brawl that an internal window was smashed as other passengers looked on in horror. Police arrested three more people after the plane landed in Alyangula on Groote Eylandt. The arrested passengers include a 23-year-old man, a 23-year-old woman and another 22-year-old woman. All three are expected to appear in court on Monday. 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. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Air India has ramped up frequency of its flights to and from Dubai on the Delhi and Mumbai routes, as part of a broader network alignment between Air India and Air India Express as the former moves to consolidate all of its subsidiary airlines into its operations, the airline informed in a press release on April 26. Air India will operate up to 10 daily flights between Delhi and Dubai, including a new flight that starts on April 29, an airline spokesperson told Gulf News. Between Mumbai and Dubai, the carrier will operate up to six daily flights, resulting to eight flights each day to Dubai from the two Indian cities. Air India has also deployed its twin-aisle Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft (featuring 18 fully-flat beds in business and 238 economy class seats) on the majority of daily flights to Dubai from Delhi and Mumbai. The remaining are operated by Airbus A320/321 aircraft. The new flight timings to and from Dubai will be spread throughout the day, allowing customers to select the departure timings as per their preference, said the airline. 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. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Schengen visas are currently being processed within 15-20 working days. France is now issuing visas in five to six days, while Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Italy and Portugal are processing applications within 15 working days; Greece is taking 3 weeks, said Rajeev Kale, President and Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa - Thomas Cook (India) Limited, as per a report by Conde Nast Traveller. However, getting the first appointment is a different matter. A few slots are available for France, but most of the appointments are full. According to VFS, Bengaluru has slots on 5 May and New Delhi has slots on 12 June, while Mumbai and Kolkata do not. Mumbai has appointments in August, Bengaluru has appointments in September, and Kolkata has appointments in April. Moneycontrol could not independently verify this news development. Akash said that there will be new appointments for Germany on 15 April, while you may not be able to find any appointments right now either. May slots are available in Switzerland. However, Nihal Daswani, of EASA, says, A lot of my clients have opted for home biometrics, but yesterday, Switzerland made an announcement that all scheduled home biometric appointments stand cancelled indefinitely. A Swiss holiday may require some quick planning since there are no appointments until next month, and processing times can take up to two weeks, as per the report. As of now, we are facing a major challenge with countries like Portugal and the Netherlands, said Pratim Akash of Elite Tours and Travels. These countries have a smaller quota for tourist visas. There are no slots for The Netherlands in Bengaluru as of now, while Mumbai and New Delhi have slots in May and June respectively. For an easier visa application, Akash recommends France and a visit to the Netherlands on the way. During the evenings, Spain also has slots available. Additionally, visas are processed within one to three working days, making it one of the fastest visa-processing services in the industry. Visa appointments for Greece are available within 15 to 20 days. So people can even plan to travel in May and get a visa right now, he adds. According to Daswani, Finland has a lot of appointments and a processing time of only about two weeks. But Finland and Norway have a very high rejection rate, so thats something to be aware of if youre a first-time Schengen traveller. UK The process of obtaining a tourist visa in the UK is not nearly as difficult as it is in Schengen countries. Applications and processing times are sped up due to the availability of multiple visa categories. We have had clients who have applied for a standard UK visa, and their visas have been processed within 30 days, said Akash. As per Daswani, priority visas (500 or Rs51,000) and super priority visas (800 or Rs81,700) are processed within 5-6 working days, while the latter is processed in 1-2 working days. Typically, at this time of the year, regular visas take about 5-6 weeks to be processed. But at this point of time in April, we havent seen that happen, and visas are still coming in 3-4 weeks. Wait times for appointments are just about 1-2 days as of now, he added, as per the report. What is a Schengen Visa? Schengen visas allow you to visit any country within the Schengen area without border restrictions, i.e., any country that is part of the European Union's passport-free zone. The visa allows the holder to stay for a period of 90 days in any of the 26 European countries covered by the Schengen area. A boat with 1,687 civilians from more than 50 countries fleeing violence in Sudan arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the foreign ministry said, the largest rescue effort by the Gulf kingdom to date. The group was "transported by one of the Kingdom's ships, and the Kingdom was keen to provide all the basic needs of foreign nationals in preparation for their departure," the ministry said in a statement. Fighting broke out in Sudan on April 15 between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy turned rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). At least 459 people had been killed and more than 4,000 as of Tuesday across Africa's third-biggest country, according to UN agencies. A three-day US-brokered ceasefire between the warring generals brought some calm to the capital, but witnesses reported fresh air strikes and paramilitaries claimed to have seized a major oil refinery and power plant. Saudi Arabia has received several rounds of evacuees by air and sea, starting with boats that arrived in Jeddah on Saturday carrying 150 people including foreign diplomats and officials. On Monday, a C-130 Hercules military plane flew dozens of South Korean civilians to Jeddah's King Abdullah Air Base, and a boat ferried nearly 200 people from 14 countries across the Red Sea from Port Sudan. Thirteen of the civilians who arrived on Wednesday were Saudi, while the rest came from countries across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia and North and Central America, the foreign ministry statement said. All told, 2,148 people have been evacuated to the kingdom from Sudan so far, including more than 2,000 foreigners, the statement said. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Alphabet Inc.s Google and Microsoft Corp., whose quarterly earnings each got a boost from their established search and cloud-computing businesses, used their time with investors to emphasize whats next: artificial intelligence. In their respective earnings calls on Tuesday, the tech giants, which are becoming rivals in the competition for the future of search, offered up starkly different assessments of just how much disruption is in store for the market. Google executives encouraged investors to trust in the companys long track record as the worlds leading search engine, and framed AI as just another shift in its constantly evolving business. Microsoft suggested that something much more dramatic is underway. Investors seemed to like Microsofts thesis better, sending its shares up as much as 9.7% in extended trading, while Alphabet increased less than 2%. Until recently, Google was viewed as all but invincible in the market for online search, which it dominates worldwide. That changed with the debut of OpenAIs wildly popular chatbot, ChatGPT. Microsoft has begun weaving OpenAIs technology into its Bing search engine, and the partnership has ratcheted up pressure on Google to reinvent its core search business to allow for more of the conversational exchanges that generative AI makes possible. Speaking to analysts, Alphabet Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai stressed that Google is investing heavily in AI, yet he downplayed what the technology would mean for the search advertising business, which remains the companys lifeblood. He expressed optimism that users will continue to value online advertising even if their searches yield a summary composed by a large language model, rather than the familiar list of links that Google has long delivered. Throughout the years, we have gone through many, many shifts in search, Pichai said. And as we have evolved search, I think weve always had a strong, grounded approach in terms of how we evolve ads as well. Yet Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella suggested his company is a formidable challenger. He said app installations have quadrupled since the launch of the AI-powered Bing in February. He added that Bing took share in the US market in the quarter, without offering specific metrics. We look forward to continuing this journey in what is a generational shift in the largest software category search, Nadella said on the companys earnings call. Billions of dollars in revenue could be up for grabs with even relatively small changes in market share. But in the past quarter, at least, Googles search business appeared to be weathering the heightened competitive threats and a broader downturn in the digital advertising market. The companys revenue from search and related businesses rose to almost $40.4 billion in the period ended March 31, besting analysts estimates. As Google moves to incorporate generative AI into search, Pichai said the company would draw on its institutional knowledge. Well be guided by data and years of experience about what people want and our high standards for quality, Pichai said. And well test and iterate as we go because we know that billions of people trust Google to provide the right information. Yet the company has ample reason to be worried, said Max Willens, an analyst at Insider Intelligence. Googles core business is facing the most serious challenges it has encountered in quite some time, Willens wrote in a note. Googles partnerships with manufacturers of Android phones present another opportunity for Microsoft to gain ground. Yet there, too, Pichai suggested that Googles long track record will win the day. When we work with our partners, we work hard to create a win-win experience, Pichai said. And ultimately, partners end up choosing us because thats what their users want. The third in-person Quad summit will be held in Sydney next month to deepen cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, and other pressing issues pertaining to the strategic Indo-Pacific region, the White House said. The Quad or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue comprises India, the US, Japan and Australia. The meeting in Sydney on May 24 will be the first time that Australia will be hosting this summit. "On May 24, President Biden will attend the third in-person Quad Leaders" Summit in Sydney, Australia, with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday. Albanese attended the previous Quad summit in Tokyo hours after he was sworn in as prime minister last year. "The Quad leaders will discuss how they can deepen their cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, maritime domain awareness, and other issues that matter to the people of the Indo-Pacific," she said. President Biden will arrive in Australia after attending the G7 Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima, Japan from May 19 to May 21. India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military manoeuvring in the region. In 2017, the US, Australia, India and Japan 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 region free of any influence. China claims nearly all the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea. Sometimes what US politicians utter in public makes one wonder if they are plain stupid or just want to be in the news. Vivek Ramaswamy is a case in point. At the three-day annual meeting of the National Rifle Association, the "Republican presidential candidate" proposed the opening of an NRA branch in China's Taiwan island, handing over AR-15 rifles to every family, and training them to use it. That was his idea of how to "protect Taiwan" without going to war with the Chinese mainland. His words offer a peek into what politicians in the United States have in their minds: They claim that the US is committed to the three Sino-US joint communiques, and the country upholds the one-China policy, but in reality they can go to the extent of exporting the malaise of rampant gun culture that is eroding their own social fabric to the Chinese island to make it a pawn of the US. Those US politicians who are attending the NRA meeting are fully aware how loose gun control policies have hurt their own people, as at least three shootings were reported across the US even as they held their meeting. Instead of correcting the fault lines, they want to spread it to Taiwan, which is a part of China, and create chaos there. The central government of China has long stressed the pursuit of the island's peaceful reunification with the mainland. It is the US that dreams of taking Taiwan to war, either against its compatriots on the mainland or among the island's inmates. That Ramaswamy is a "Republican presidential candidate" explains everything. As the 2024 presidential election approaches, one politician after another is making controversial statements in the hope that voters will remember them on voting days. But in doing so they are only showing the lower threshold of their political IQ and conscience. Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, and Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, spoke by telephone on Wednesday, in the first known contact between the two leaders since Russias invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskyy said he had a long and meaningful phone call with Xi. The Chinese state news media said the two leaders had discussed the Ukraine crisis and their nations bilateral relationship. A summary of the conversation published by the Chinese state news media made no mention of Russia and did not use the word war. Xi reiterated points Beijing has made in the past, saying that Chinas core position was to promote peace and talks. Xi also said mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity was the political basis of China-Ukrainian relations. Zelenskyy said on Twitter that the call would help give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations. The Chinese state media added that China would send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to visit Ukraine and other countries to conduct in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. Since Russias full-scale invasion 14 months ago, Zelenskyy had repeatedly expressed interest in speaking with Xi. China, though it has declared itself neutral in the war and has refrained from criticizing the invasion by Russia, its close partner. Many Western officials believe China may be the only country with enough clout with both Ukraine and Russia to help negotiate an end to the conflict. But Chinese officials had long dodged questions about whether Xi would speak with Zelenskyy, even as the Chinese leader spoke or met with President Vladimir Putin of Russia multiple times, including during a trip to Moscow on March 20. Before that visit, China had issued what it framed as a peace plan for Ukraine, seemingly positioning itself as a potential mediator. China and Russias joint statement after the visit made little mention of the war, instead focusing on deepening ties between the two countries. The call took place days after Chinas ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, caused a diplomatic firestorm in Europe after he questioned the sovereignty of post-Soviet nations like Ukraine in a televised interview. Before the war, China-Ukraine ties had been strengthening. By 2019, China was Ukraines largest trading partner and the top importer of its barley and iron ore, according to a report by the Council on Foreign Relations. Ukraine was also Chinas largest corn supplier and its second-largest arms supplier. Chinas first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, was a discarded Soviet vessel bought from Ukraine that the Chinese navy refurbished. The last known contact between Xi and Zelenskyy was a phone call in January 2022, just weeks before the invasion, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic bilateral ties. But after the invasion, the official Chinese news media adopted many of the Kremlins talking points and disinformation, accusing NATO of instigating the conflict and refusing to call it an invasion. Even so, Ukraine has been careful not to antagonize China, mindful of the decisive role the latter could play in the war. Zelenskyy, for example, called Chinas position paper on the war an important signal, and has said that I really want to believe China would not supply weapons to Russia. (Western officials have suggested that Beijing may do so, despite Chinas denials.) China, for its part, has insisted that both Ukraine and Russia are its friends and rejected accusations that Xis lack of contact with Zelenskyy undermined Chinas professed neutrality. Officials have pointed to a conversation between the two countries foreign ministers in March, shortly before Xis Moscow trip, during which China said peace talks should resume, according to a Chinese summary of the conversation. But Chinese analysts also acknowledged that Beijing had far more practical interest in tending to its relationship with Moscow than Kyiv. Todays Ukraine is still at war, Chinas investments there have been bombed, and we dont know what Ukraine will look like in the future, said Zhu Feng, a professor of international relations at Nanjing University. Is there still a China-Ukraine relationship? Author: Vivian Wang and David Pierson This article originally appeared in The New York Times. April 26, 2023 Open (Not Ukraine) Thread 2023-99 News & views (not related to the war in Ukraine) ... Posted by b on April 26, 2023 at 14:38 UTC | Permalink Comments next page next page April 26, 2023 Ukraine Open Thread 2023-100 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 26, 2023 at 14:39 UTC | Permalink Comments next page "It's not like I seek out that way of meeting people or think I have to be their friend first but I think it's often a very natural thing to progress from into a relationship. The whole modern idea of 'friend zone' and all that stuff - that's a word I don't like very much." It's unsure why Robert was making a visit to a Queenstown souvenir shop, but after the million views it's received, we feel the need to explain to him that it's not what you think it is... And that we hope Robert read the comments section as Kiwis tried to rationalise this communal lip balm tube. In Paddington 2, King cast Grant as the notorious baddie and flamboyant former stage actor Phoenix Buchanan. In the sequel, Buchanan snatches a Pop-Up book that Paddington had put aside for his Aunt Lucy and sets out to hunt for treasure all across London, all in a desperate attempt to make it big and live the high life. The Beatrice downtown area recently received a designation as a creative district. Main Street Executive Director Michael Sothan said it was something that started outside of Beatrice. The legislature funded a statewide effort for creative districts and its run by the Nebraska Arts Council, he said. We knew it was something that we wanted to be a part of but we didnt have the capacity to complete it. Main Street Marketing and Events Coordinator Morgan Fox said it was a lengthy application process. We had to include all types of data and make a lot of phone calls to complete the application, she said. One of the sections required the number of creative jobs in the community which had a broad definition to include the theatres, the Gage County Historical Museum, artists, and restaurants. Some of the not so obvious jobs like creative manufacturing and unique shopping. Events such as Homestead Days, Night of the Great Pumpkin and the Gravel Road Bike Ride were also included in the application. It was almost easier to say what would not be included, Sothan said. Beatrice had a number of assets. Another portion of the application included a strategic plan with a five-year budget. Fox noted the importance of partnerships with organizations such as the Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Beatrice, and Community Players. Beatrice was such an ideal community for this program, Fox said. It really showed the arts to be an economic driver. The entire community was involved in this process." Fox has been identified as the District Administrator of the creative district in Beatrice. Sothan noted the next steps involves leveraging the designation. We hope to use it as a financial resource for the grant opportunities and also the promotional aspect that it brings, he said. We are currently making an application for grant funding to update the holiday lighting downtown. Each fiscal year we can apply for up to $250,000 in funding. Sothan said they are still trying to navigate some boundaries of the program. There are nine creative districts in Nebraska, but several communities are continuing to work towards the designation. It can include communities or neighborhoods. Art is so much of what brings joy to our lives, Fox said. A ribbon cutting for the creative district is planned with the Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce on May 25. In addition to the work that is being done with the new designation, Main Street has been planning the Beatrice Beer, Wine and Spirits Festival being held on May 13 from 4-7 p.m. A VIP hour will be held from 3-4 p.m. The beer and spirits vendors will be in Charles Park meeting attendees personally. Tall Tree Tastings is working to showcase Nebraska wines and will also be in the park. Fox said the vendor that they are most excited about Capital View Winery. They had worked with Paul Kaufman on a wine before his passing and they are allowing that to be premiered at the event, she said. The wine is called Remembrance. Tickets can be purchased from a link on Main Streets Facebook page or on the website. Early bird tickets can be purchased before May 1 for $25. May 1 to May 13 the tickets are $30. VIP tickets are also available. Designated driver tickets are available for $15. Tastings are unlimited with price of ticket. Food trucks will be onsite; however, the price of food is not included in the ticket price. Live music will also be playing throughout the afternoon and evening. There is something for everyone, Sothan said. The 21+ event is a fundraiser for Main Street Beatrice. It has a big impact on what we can do for and with our community, he said. Fox noted that everything they do at Main Street is connected. A large 100-well project in Midland County is attracting significant financial support. The Mascot Project, being drilled along Interstate 20 includes multiple producing properties, associated midstream assets, and upwards of 50 undeveloped locations expected to produce approximately 6,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day during 2023. It is majority-owned by Midland Petro D.C. Partners, LLC (MPDC), a David H. Arrington owned business, and operated by an affiliate of MPDC, Permian Deep Rock Oil Company. Speaking with the Reporter-Telegram by telephone, Arrington said the project has been underway since 2017. Approximately 50 wells are currently producing and another 50 remain to be drilled. These wells are some of the best in class in the Permian Basin, he said. To help development of the project, Arrington has recruited some partners, most recently US Energy Development Corporation which has just announced acquisition of a 25% working interest in the project for $225 million cash and other consideration. Its a great project with a great company, Jordan Jayson, chief executive officer of US Energy, told the Reporter-Telegram by telephone. Were proud to negotiate our way into the project. Jayson said what was attractive about the Mascot Project was that is being developed by a local operator with a deep history in the region and who already has rigs running. Arrington said there are two rigs drilling in the project. Last fall, Northern Oil & Gas announced it had acquired a 36.7% working interest in the project for $330 million cash. Under the agreement, Northern Oil and Midland-Petro have designed a joint operating agreement with a plan to fully develop the units, with drilling completed in 2024. We wanted strong partners, Arrington explained. We have a tremendous number of wells to drill and a tremendous amount of cash to spend. (These partners) will help us get it done quicker. Midland Petro will remain operator and US Energy and Northern Oil & Gas will each have non-operated working interests in the project. Jayson said his company anticipates full development of the project to comprise another $130 million in capital expenditures over the next two years, bringing the total transaction value to well over $300 million. He added that investment in the project only deepens its ties to the Permian Basin and highlights its continued strategy to acquire high-quality assets with proven operators in the region. He estimated 85 percent of US Energys efforts are I the Permian Basin and will be for the foreseeable future. Requirements for future acquisitions include assets with good wellbore control and that are developmental in nature. We plan to stay the course and expand our allocation, Jayson said. Id say it appears there are a number of high-quality operators in the Permian Basin open to strategic joint ventures and partnerships. US Energy has the ability to pivot between operating assets and serving as a non-operated working interest owner, and Jayson figures about 65 percent of the companys holdings are non-operated and 35 percent operated. While two-thirds of US Energys budget targets the Permian, with an investment of $575 million including the Mascot in the last 24 months, the company also works in the Powder River and Haynesville basins. The company plans to invest $200 to $300 million annually in the Permian for the next two to three years. By 2025, the company will invest an additional $400 to $600 million not only in the Permian and Midland basins but the Powder River and Haynesville. Were also working in different basins that may be overlooked. Were in the process of drilling wells in the Barnett Shale over the last two years and will look at greater exposure there. Well expand because the rates of return have been so strong, Jayson said. While operators are nearing the end of their core Tier I Permian acreage, Jayson sees opportunities in both Tier I and Tier II acreage and will work with operating partners to acquire acreage. The opportunity to deploy drilling dollars wont slow down anytime soon, he said. Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images All charges have been dropped against Trinity School of Midlands Shelby Hammer, Todd Freese, Chrystal Myers and Adrianne Clifton. The four were on trial for failing to make required child abuse reports and attempted to intentionally conceal those reports a state felony. The state Reception and Treatment Center on the western edge of Lincoln. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN Too many of Nebraskas most violent inmates are jamming out of prison without participating in rehabilitation programs and without supervision once theyre on the outside, according to State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha. On Tuesday, Wayne, the chairman of the Legislatures Judiciary Committee, explained his proposal to require such inmates to serve a period of mandatory supervision after theyre released, in hopes of reducing the need for new prisons and reducing repeat crimes. Final 15% of sentence out of prison Under the proposal, inmates would serve the final 15% of their prison sentence outside prison walls, under strict supervision in halfway-type houses. while employed and engaged in rehabilitation efforts. If they misbehave, they would be sent back to prison. We can get them out, working jobs and giving them the services they need, without reducing their sentence, Wayne said. Has to be the right people It has to be the right people, he added. We cant harm public safety. We have to make sure theyre monitored. Such a program would become the featured item in a package of criminal justice reform proposals assembled by the Judiciary Committee, which deals with criminal sentencing. Last week, on a 4-3 vote, the committee advanced the package, Legislative Bill 50. On Tuesday, committee members met in an executive session to discuss aspects of the bill and what aspects had the most support. One senator on the committee, Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, hadnt yet been appointed to join the Judiciary Committee when LB 50 was voted out. Bosn, who was appointed to fill the vacancy left when Sen. Suzanne Geist resigned, is a former Lancaster County deputy prosecutor. Many of the queries about what can you support? were directed her way during the Tuesday executive session because of her experience in court. Bosn responded with several questions about how mandatory supervised release would work and about other aspects of LB 50. Wayne said the idea of mandatory supervised release came from Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson and is something that has been used in Florida and Texas. Right now, the senator said, about one-third of Nebraskas most violent inmates and sex offenders leave prison at the end of their sentence known as jamming out without opting to participate in rehabilitation programs or parole supervision. Wayne said that mandatory supervised release of all inmates its now required of low-level offenders might improve the states recidivism rate. Right now, just under 30% of all prison inmates reoffend within three years of their release. Moving inmates out of prison and into jobs and monitoring by parole officers could also stave off the states need to build additional new prisons, Wayne said. Right now, state lawmakers appear ready to approve a new, $366-million prison this year. But inmate population projections indicate a second, new prison will be needed unless something is done to reduce the sentencing of criminals to behind bars. Wayne said he wants to get something passed this year so the state can begin building up its capability to supervise more inmates. He estimated that 500 to 1,000 additional inmates could be put on supervised release, if the right job and halfway house programs are put in place. LB 50, Wayne said, could be debated next month, after state lawmakers complete their discussion of the state budget. Midland Police Sgt. Jennie Alonzo took the stand Tuesday during the trial involving four Trinity School administrators charged with failure to report sexual abuse within 48 hours with intent to conceal. Afternoon session Defense attorneys showed the contrast between Trinity administrators investigation of improper touching allegations by a teenage student versus the three days it took then-Midland Police Department Detective Jennie Alonzo to investigate. Alonzo stated she first believed all incidents of indecency with a child had occurred by Dec. 12, 2019. After being on the other side of the glass during the females forensic interview (at the Childrens Advocacy Center on Feb. 22, 2022), she learned of additional incidents. It was only after she produced her affidavit that she learned of other certain details. She testified that a meeting with District Attorney Laura Nodolf and ADA Jennifer Lively greenlighted her actions because she was told to handle it like the other one (Midland Christian School case a few days earlier). Alonzo said she believed there was no question about probable cause, but Shelby Hammers counsel, Brian Carney, asked if it would have been less reckless to have all of the facts. She responded no, but when he asked, If you had to do this all over again, would you? she responded no as well. Melissa McCabe retired in 2022 after teaching at Trinity for 20 years. She taught both teens involved and was the advisor for the female student in sixth, seventh, and part of eighth grade. Because of that relationship, she was asked to be the safe person in the interview with Head of Middle School Chrystal Myers, Todd Freese and the student on Jan. 22, 2020. Once she knew she had the parents support, she agreed. McCabe detailed the meeting from early icebreakers to asking what the male had done. Freese left the meeting to keep it all female. The teen responded that the male slapped and pinched her butt; asked for nude photos which she refused; sent texts asking if he could touch her to which she said OK, maybe; asked if he could kiss her which she refused; asked if he could do the bad thing to which she said no, not until ninth grade. Myers immediately pursued the teens understanding of certain words based upon terms other students had used when they were questioned by Freese about these allegations. She clarified what part of her body she meant. When asked if she felt safe, the student responded in the affirmative, but she was worried that eighth-grade girls who were friends of the male student would take his side and be mean to her. Inappropriate photos were also discussed which led Myers and McCabe to decide who would submit a report and Myers did. McCabe also sat on the Student Conduct Review team with Freese and others. On Jan. 29, 2020, the male student, in addition to his suspension, was mandated to see a counselor three times and was ordered to cease texting, phoning and sending photos to the female. Attorney Frank Sellers, on behalf of Myers, asked McCabe if she believed indecency with a child occurred after hearing from the teen. She said, no, the events were inappropriate touching because the girl never mentioned breast, penis, feeling erections or four months of butt slapping to her. She claimed to like the young teen and had counseled her about minor things but had never seen anything related to the male in question or she would have intervened. The defense team also asked for McCabes assessment of her co-workers, and she had high praise for all four administrators on trial, calling them thorough professionals who are 100% about kids. Recalling Alonzo (who was promoted recently), Dan Hurley advised her that his client, Freese, has more hours of training in how to interview juveniles than Tracy Brown at the Childrens Advocacy Center. Therefore, he told her, if a professional does not have a cause to believe, a report shouldnt be made. In addition, the two MPD resource officers on campus were aware of the females assertions, and they didnt make a report or get indicted. Carney enumerated the different ways she could have handled this case -- i.e. turning interviews with CAC and parents over to the district attorney and filing it as a misdemeanor or as a felony. She admitted that the case was dropped in her lap. The day ended with Allison Claytons questioning on behalf of Adrianne Clifton. When Alonzo couldnt recall the time she and multiple police officers and the crime scene van arrived at the school, Clayton published a photo of Trinitys front door. She showed how at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 25, 2022, when the administrators were escorted out in handcuffs, the kindergartners were eating lunch in full view of the front doors. Also, numerous parents were delivering hot lunches to their children. All of this, she said, after three days of investigation. Morning session The states witness, Timothy Jones, acting head of school, became a character witness for the defense as the fifth day of the trial got underway. Four Trinity School administrators are charged with failure to report sexual abuse within 48 hours with intent to conceal. Jones gave unequivocal character references for the four defendants, said he personally had known them for five years and held them all in high regard. Brian Carney pursued Jones knowledge of the family of the female teen bringing the complaint. He said he had met the mother when her older child was in high school, and their early interaction let him know how she wanted things handled. He has gotten acquainted with the male student in the past year or so and found him to be respectful and forthcoming. The high school student is taking classes remotely at this time after adamantly denying everything but touching her butt three times in Spanish class. After his testimony, the state called Sgt. Alonzo, the arresting officer in both cases involving Midland private school administrators and faculty in February 2022 (Midland Christian School being the other). The credibility of Sgt. Alonzo was debated by counsel due to personal issues. Once she was sworn in, she responded, I dont recall, so much that Sellers asked why she hadnt reviewed her notes in preparation for this trial. At the time of the arrests, Alonzo was a detective for Crimes Against Persons. During the six years and 10 months of her tenure in that department, she did not recall arresting anyone prior to February 2022. After being assigned this case by her supervisor, she said her investigation was based solely upon disclosures by the female student during her forensic interview at the Child Advocacy Center and a lengthy interview with the teens parents. She believed that the pertinent texts and Instagram photos had been deleted and couldnt be retrieved. Alonzo never interviewed the teens in question, their peers, the Spanish teacher or anyone who might have known the parents for a long time, according to testimony. When she obtained the search warrant for electronics used by the four and the server (which shed never requested before), she also obtained arrest warrants and arrived at the school on Feb. 25, 2022. She then testified before the grand jury with Lively in November when indictments were handed down. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) The co-founder of a fundraising group linked to Steve Bannon that promised to help Donald Trump construct a wall along the southern U.S. border was sentenced to four years and three months in prison on Wednesday for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from donors. Brian Kolfage, a decorated Air Force veteran who lost both of his legs and an arm in the Iraq War, previously pleaded guilty for his role in siphoning donations from the We Build the Wall campaign. A co-defendant, financier Andrew Badolato, was also sentenced to three years for aiding the effort. He had also pleaded guilty. A third man involved in siphoning funds from the wall project, Colorado businessman Tim Shea, won't be sentenced until June. Kolfage and Badolato were also ordered to pay $25 million in restitution to the victims. Absent from the case was Bannon, Trump's former top political adviser. He was initially arrested aboard a luxury yacht and faced federal fraud charges along with the other men, but Trump pardoned him during his final hours in office. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought new, state charges against Bannon last year. He is awaiting trial. Presidential pardons apply only to federal crimes, not state offenses. Bannon has called the case nonsense. Kolfage, Badolato and Shea were not pardoned by Trump, leaving them to face the prospect of years in prison. Prosecutors said the scheme was hatched by Kolfage, who served as the public face of the effort as it raised more than $25 million from donors across the country. He repeatedly assured the public he would not take a penny from the campaign. As money poured into the cause, Kolfage and his partner, Shea, turned to Bannon and Badolato for help creating a nonprofit, We Build the Wall, Inc. The four defendants then took steps to funnel the money to themselves for personal gain, prosecutors said. An attorney for Badolato, Kelly Kramer, described Bannon as a leader and primary beneficiary of the scheme, noting that his own client received a much smaller payout than the pardoned associate. While prosecutors acknowledged that Badolato profited the least of the four defendants, they described him as the connective tissue between Kolfage and Bannon, helping to direct the kickbacks between the two parties. Kolfage, 41, told Judge Analisa Torres that he was remorseful, disgusted, humiliated. He said he had not anticipated the scale of donations that would flood in for the cause and soon found himself drifting away from his initial goal, which he said was putting a spotlight on the countrys broken immigration system. I made a promise not to personally benefit and I broke that promise, he said. Torres said the defendants not only cheated their donors but contributed to a chilling effect on civic participation by tarnishing the reputation of political fundraising. The fraudsters behind We Build The Wall injured the body politic, she said. Kolfage received more than $350,000 in donor funds, which he spent on personal expenses that included boat payments, a luxury SUV and cosmetic surgery, prosecutors said in a court filing. Bannon was accused of taking more than $1 million through a separate nonprofit, then secretly paying some of it back to Kolfage. Badolato, 58, and Shea also stole hundreds of thousands from fundraisers as well, prosecutors said. As part of a plea deal, Kolfage and Badolato agreed not to challenge a sentence within the agreed-upon range: between four to five years for Kolfage and 3 1/2 to four years for Badolato. An attorney for Kolfage previously argued that his client should avoid prison time given his lack of criminal history and severe disability. Some sections of a border barrier were built by We Build the Wall on private lands, but the nonprofit is now defunct. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Peter Kneffel/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Peter Kneffel/AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3 BERLIN (AP) Officials in Germany's southern state of Bavaria said Wednesday that they want to make it easier to shoot wolves after farmers complained that their livestock on Alpine pastures are being preyed upon. Governor Markus Soeder said his state administration has passed a decree allowing hunters to carry out a general cull in an area where a wolf has killed a single farm animal. The cull no longer has to be restricted to the specific wolf responsible for the killing Yellowstone County prosecutors have filed criminal charges against a man accused of causing a fatal crash near the Billings airport last year. Sean Allen Rafferty, 52, is facing counts of negligent homicide and criminal endangerment in Yellowstone County District Court. Rafferty, who according to court documents is prone to seizures, allegedly had morphine in his system when he got behind the wheel of an SUV and collided with a second vehicle, killing its driver. First responders were called to a wreck Aug. 4, 2022, near the roundabout at the entrance to Billings Logan International Airport where a Chevrolet Suburban struck a Honda CR-V on East Airport Road. The driver of the Honda, 39-year-old Tara Janet Sinkler, was pronounced dead at the scene. Crews extricated a child also riding in the Honda, who was taken to a local hospital. Rafferty, who was allegedly driving the Chevy, also went to a hospital for treatment. Witnesses at the scene told an officer with the Billings Police Department they saw the Chevy traveling east on East Airport Road prior to the crash, court documents said. The SUV allegedly listed into the westbound lane and returned to the eastbound lane. The Chevy then swerved back into the westbound lane and into the path of the Honda, according to charging documents. The impact, one witness told police, sent the Honda into the air and it landed on the side of the road. Police spoke with Rafferty two days after the crash, court documents said. He allegedly told an officer he could not remember any details about the wreck, and believed he had a seizure just before the collision. Rafferty said he receives treatment for seizures at Billings Clinic, according to court documents, with his last visit to address his seizures in February 2022. Raffertys doctor allegedly advised him to wait three months after a seizure before driving. Rafferty told police his most recent seizure before the wreck was sometime in May 2022, court documents said, but he started driving again the next month. During a second interview with police in January, Rafferty allegedly said he was sporadically zoning out and losing consciousness in the months prior to the collision. A test of Raffertys blood on Aug. 4, 2022, found he had prescription opioids in his system, court documents said, including morphine. On March 22, Yellowstone County attorneys charged Rafferty with negligent homicide and criminal endangerment. The following day, Yellowstone County District Judge Ashley Harada signed a $75,000 warrant for his arrest. An attorney representing Rafferty has since appeared on his behalf, and he is currently scheduled to make his initial appearence in court next month. BPD investigated 11 fatal crashes last year, Lt. Matt Lennick said in an email to the Gazette, while 2022 ended with an overall drop in traffic accidents in the city, according to BPD data. Accidents reached a 10-year peak in 2021 with nearly 4,100, then dropped to a little over 3,800 the following year. The departments Crash Investigation Team has responded to two fatal crashes in Billings so far this year, Lennick said. A 24-year-old Billings man died April 8 when his motorcycle collided with a minivan downtown. On April 7, a Yellowstone County district judge sentenced a 21-year-old man after he pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal endangerment in connection to a 2021 crash that killed a teenage girl and put her younger sister in the hospital with serious injuries. Christian James Harshbarger was ordered to serve 15 years in community placement, with 10 years suspended. Atkins Kroll is the first organization in Guam and first automotive dealership in all of Region IX to receive SHARP safety certification. AK President Alex Yap and company employees received the official certificate from the Guam Department of Labor during a presentation in the AK Toyota Showroom. Eagles Field in Mangilao is shown Feb. 27, 2023. Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson, commander of Joint Region Marianas, granted an extension of the draft lease for the area near the field, which the government of Guam is eyeing as the site of a new medical complex. FILE PHOTO: U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas (L) talks with Chief Justice John Roberts as the justices pose for their group portrait at the Supreme Court in Washington, U.S., November 30, 2018. REUTERS/Jim Young/File Photo JERSEYVILLE An Iowa fugitive was arrested and two others are facing felony charges after a burglary near Fieldon resulted in a chase, crash and search. A Jersey County sheriffs deputy was injured and flown from the scene to a hospital, but has since been released, according to Sheriff Nick Manns. David W. Wells, 50, of Iowa was arrested on warrants accusing him of violating parole on an aggravated assault of a police officer charge and failing to register as a sex offender. Cody L. Wells, 30, and Dawn M. Phillips, 43, both of Jerseyville, were arrested on charges of theft, residential burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, and criminal damage to property. Wells was also charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer. Bail for Phillips and Cody Wells was set at $100,000 each. Bail for David Wells was set at $25,000. Deputies were called Sunday to a report of a burglary in progress in the 13200 block of Bull Hollow Road near Fieldon. The homeowner was out of town but saw people on his home surveillance cameras. Deputies said they arrived to find three people trying to steal a washer and dryer set. Two of them, later identified as Cody Wells and Phillips, fled in a stolen 2012 Hyundai Elantra and the third was detained at the scene. A second deputy pursued the stolen car on Illinois Route 100 and it went off the road and crashed near a barn. The driver and passenger ran on foot into a wooded area, according to the sheriff's department. Deputies and officers from Grafton Police, Jerseyville Police and Illinois State Police assisted in the search for the two. While checking the Bull Hollow Road house, a sheriffs deputy was injured. He was treated at the scene and then flown to a St. Louis-area hospital. The investigation led deputies to an apartment in Delhi, where David Wells was located and property was found that had been reported stolen. Among items recovered were watches, bracelets and necklaces with a crucifix and charms of various saints. The sheriffs department has no reports of such items being stolen and is asking that anyone missing such items contact a detective at 618-498-6881. Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Shakil Berry, 30, of 1611 Illinois Route 78 N. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 5:01 a.m. Monday on charges of aggravated domestic battery and interfering with the reporting of domestic violence. Mary K. Potter, 30, of 289 Labor Drive was booked into the Morgan County jail at 3:18 a.m. Sunday on charges of disorderly conduct, home invasion and criminal damage to property. Antonio D. Kidd, 45, of 2417 S. 14th St.,Springfield, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 2:50 a.m. Sunday on charges of disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing. Preston P. Carter, 27, of 3127 S. Sixth St., Springfield, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 2:17 a.m. Sunday on charges of disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing. Alice M. Walker, 34, of 24837 Brooklyn Hills Road, Athens, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 1:43 a.m. Sunday on charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property. John W. Roodhouse, 20, of 617 N. Church St. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 10:32 p.m. Saturday on a charge of illegal consumption of liquor by a minor. Collin Foster, 19, of 217 Main St., Franklin, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 10:27 p.m. Saturday on charge of illegal consumption of liquor by a minor and possession of liquor by a minor. Micah S. Taylor, 33, of 118 Victory Lane, Woodson, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 6:50 p.m. Saturday on a disorderly conduct charge. Paul D. Gray, 62, of 201 S. McDonald St., Murrayville, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 8:51 a.m. April 19 on a charge of driving while license is suspended. Jesse I. Taylor, 41, of 7215 Fredricks Road, Quincy, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 9:12 p.m. April 17 on charges of driving under the influence and resisting a peace officer. Jacksonville Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Michelle R. Hardy, 22, of 301 W. Beecher Ave. was arrested at 12:14 p.m. Monday on a charge of criminal trespassing after being accused of using a window to enter a residence in the 400 block of Dorset Lane. Stephen L. Calvin, 46, of 803 W. College Ave. was arrested at 9:15 a.m. Monday on a disorderly conduct charge. Natasha D. Shinn, 41, of 803 W. College Ave. was arrested at 9:15 a.m. Monday on a disorderly conduct charge. Jasmine A. Gardner, 21, of 855 Case Ave. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 12:01 a.m. Friday on charges of driving while license is revoked or suspended and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Zacheriah R. Elmore, 27, of 1608 Lakeview Terrace was booked into the Morgan County jail at 7:06 p.m. Thursday on charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property. THEFTS, BURGLARIES Change and other property was taken from a vehicle in the first block of Pine Place, according to a report filed at 3 p.m. Monday. A 6-foot starter rod for a directional drill was stolen between 1:30 p.m. Friday and 7:30 a.m. Monday from the 900 block of Lincoln Avenue. South Jacksonville Police VANDALISM A customer kicked the front door of Circle K convenience store, 1727 S. Main St., at 1:05 a.m. Saturday after being told it was too late to buy alcohol. OTHER REPORTS A South Jacksonville woman reported being harassed Saturday to give back a pair of shoes she had been given by another woman. An officer delivered the shoes to the original owner on the woman's behalf. Brown County Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Gale E. Vaughn, age unavailable, of Mount Sterling was cited Saturday on a charge of operating an uninsured vehicle. Shane M. Gallup, age unavailable, of Springfield was cited Saturday on charges of not wearing a seat belt and illegal use of an electronic communications device. Jessica D. Clark, 33, of Mount Sterling was cited Saturday on a charge of operating an uninsured vehicle. A Mount Sterling juvenile was cited Saturday on a charge of operating an uninsured vehicle. A Mount Sterling juvenile was cited Friday on a charge of operating an uninsured vehicle. Justin E. Ford, 40, of Mount Sterling was cited Friday on a charge of operating an uninsured vehicle. Kayley M. Koch, age unavailable, of Mount Sterling was cited Friday on a charge of operating an uninsured vehicle. Emily I. Forshey, 36, of Chambersburg was cited Friday on a charge of illegal use of an electronic communications device. Robin A. Mowen, age unavailable, of Clayton was cited Friday on a charge of illegal use of an electronic communications device. Kaden R. Bartholomew, 20, of Springfield was cited April 18 on charges of speeding and having no valid driver's license. A wide range of topics were on the menu at a town hall meeting hosted by state Rep. Randy Frese, but most of the early discussion centered on the future of the shuttered Jacksonville Developmental Center. Frese introduced House Bill 1609, which would allocate $67.6 million to demolish and remediate the building and grounds of the Jacksonville center. The bill was referred to the House Rules Committee in February and has languished there since, unlikely to be acted upon further during this session. He vowed to keep pushing the issue and reintroducing the bill each session. He said he would work with state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, state Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, and the city to make sure maintenance and mowing continues. City officials have raised a number of concerns about the ground's appearance and safety and the perceived failure to maintain the grounds and cut the grass. The 18-building Jacksonville Developmental Center complex closed in 2012. It had provided care and programs for residents with special needs since 1851. With no utilities the buildings on the ground have continued to deteriorate. "We have to do something with the JDC buildings. The price tag is short of $68 million, but we undoubtedly will need more. We know the state is aware of the problem, because when we asked for figures, Central Management Services had them ready," Frese said. He said there may be federal funds available to help. "We got an audience with the governor's staff and made our case on what was needed," Frese said. "Number one is to get rid of the buildings and remove the clear and present danger that exists there. I don't know what the state has in mind for the property, but they will need to figure something out. In the meantime, we need to keep pressing to get it done because it is only going to become more costly over time." Frese used the meeting to introduce himself to those now part of his district. Redrawn state legislative boundaries will split Morgan County, moving Jacksonville and South Jacksonville into Frese's 99th District. Davidsmeyer saw his 100th District move south of Interstate 72 in Morgan County and out of Jacksonville. Frese introduced himself to an estimated 40 people in attendance by briefly talking about his background, which includes growing up on a farm, selling agricultural-related material after graduating from Western Illinois University, entering small business as a retail owner and the going into politics. Frese has been in the General Assembly since 2015 and prior to that served two terms as the circuit court clerk in Adams County. He emphasized he is ready to help his district deal with an array of issues, including the Jacksonville Developmental Center property. Frese was asked about the U.S. 67 corridor and what could be done because there are problems north of Jacksonville with the bridge over the Illinois River at Beardstown, and south of Jacksonville, where the road goes back to two lanes. Construction on a new bridge at Beardstown is expected to begin this summer and conclude in 2026. Frese said he was committed to working with others in the ongoing effort to convert the entirety of U.S. 67 in Illinois from a two-lane highway to a four-lane expressway from Godfrey to Rock Island. Another concern brought to Frese was the proposed Navigator CO2 pipeline. Roughly 125 miles of the carbon-capture pipeline would go through Brown, Scott, Morgan and Sangamon counties. Carbon dioxide would be carried to a site in central Illinois, where it would be injected deep into the ground. An audience member was concerned about Illinois being used as a "dumping ground" for carbon dioxide but also didn't like the easement requirements that call for the company to control 24 feet of land on either side of the pipeline because of its effect on land values. "The concerns of every stakeholder need to be considered. I don't like eminent domain and I will stand up for private property rights. Farmers need to farm," Frese said. Frese expressed frustration at being in the minority with only 40 Republican House members as opposed to 78 members for the Democrats. "Everyone says they want to move away from the [former Speaker Mike] Madigan rules, but things are worse now in many ways, especially with the super-majority," Frese said. "The Rules Committee is still where legislation goes to die. We still get 1,600-page bills with one day to read and consider them. Republicans need more seats to have a chance to make significant changes." Frese was headed to Springfield, where the General Assembly reconvened Tuesday. The Legislature is set to adjourn May 19. TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) China warned against continued U.S.-Taiwan cooperation Wednesday, responding to reports that the U.S. military was sending officers to help train Taiwan's counterparts and that a delegation of defense contractors would visiting the self-ruled island next week. We resolutely oppose the U.S. having any form of official or military contact with China's Taiwan region, Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a weekly press briefing in Beijing. Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war. Taiwan never has been part of the Peoples Republic of China, but the Communist Party says it is obliged to unite with the mainland, by force if necessary. President Xi Jinpings government has flown fighter jets and bombers near Taiwan in increasing numbers and fired missiles into the sea in an attempt to intimidate the island. Taiwanese media reported this month that the U.S. had sent 200 military personnel, mostly Marines, to help train Taiwan troops. Taiwans Defense Ministry has neither denied nor confirmed the report. Meanwhile, a delegation of around 25 defense contractors is visiting the island next week, hosted by the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council. Nikkei Asia reported that the weapons manufacturers will discuss joint production of drones and ammunition in Taiwan. U.S. defense contractors intentionally provoke confrontation between the two sides, taking the opportunity to make a profit," Zhu said. She accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which has been in power for six years, of colluding with the U.S. to press for the island's formal independence. The U.S. doesnt formally recognize the Taiwan government but is Taipeis most vital provider of weapons and other security assistance as well as political support. China has turned up the heat by sending fighter jets and navy vessels near the island on a near daily basis, especially in response to political meetings between the U.S. and Taiwan. Earlier this month, China held large-scale military exercises simulating a strike on key targets in Taiwan in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. WARSAW, Poland (AP) Microsoft said Wednesday it has launched a cloud service region in central Poland, the first large-scale data storage and processing hub of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe. The cloud region, which is part of Microsoft's $1 billion IT transformation plan for Poland, consists of three separate physical locations around Warsaw. Microsoft says it will give businesses fast and reliable access to cloud services, accelerating the digitization of the economy and strengthening resilience and data security. Ralph Haupter, Microsoft's president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced the launch while attending the European Economic Congress in Katowice, southern Poland. The war in Ukraine has made us all acutely aware how very important cybersecurity is and protection against the flood of fake news and propaganda tricks that Russia excels in, Morawiecki said to stress that Microsoft's state-of-the-art new service enhances cyberspace security. Each of the three locations will house at least one data storage and processing center, built to comply with Poland's restrictive regulations on data storage. Poland is among the countries with the highest IT presence in its public sphere, with many services being available on the internet or through mobile devices. The new datacenter region comes in response to growing demand for high-performance computing and fast and reliable access to Microsoft Cloud services, the IT giant said in a statement. Morawiecki stressed it showed the investors confidence in Poland, after a 30-year presence here. Microsoft said in a statement it was a commitment to continue to support the countrys technological development of society, business and the economy. The Montana Legislature is considering two election redistricting bills that would give the majority political party in the Legislature an unfair advantage over its rival political party in future elections. These bills gerrymander election districts and limit your voice as a voter. The Encyclopedia Britannica defines gerrymandering as the practice of drawing the boundaries of electoral districts in a way that gives one political party an unfair advantage over its rivals. When statewide election districts are drawn to favor the election of candidates from one political party beyond its proportion of voters, those districts are gerrymandered. Two pending bills use the gerrymandering techniques cracking and packing to ensure election victories for the majority party. SB 534 uses packing by imposing new criteria on Montanas independent redistricting Commission in the Congressional and legislative redistricting process. SB 109 uses cracking to define new districts for the Public Service Commission (PSC). If one political party secures repeated electoral dominance by gerrymandering electoral districts, our democratic republic is at risk. Gerrymandering insulates the majority party from the will of the people and allows them to impose extremist legislation not supported by the majority of voters. Packing SB 534 would impose two new criteria on our constitutionally established independent redistricting Commission. SB 534 requires minimizing dividing cities, towns, counties, and communities of interest between legislative districts. Minimizing divisions of cities would create fewer districts with higher concentrations of rival party voters, a gerrymandering practice known as packing that reduces the number of legislative districts where rival political candidates can win election. The bill also prohibits the Commission from considering political affiliation data or prior election results. During its 2022-23 redistricting work, the bipartisan members of Montanas Redistricting Commission unanimously selected 10 statewide elections as representative of the partisan distribution of voters in the state. Analysis of these ten races indicate about 42.7% vote Democrat, 2.3% or so vote for independent or other party, and 55% of Montanans vote Republican, the majority party in the Legislature. Montana has about a 55%/43% partisan distribution of voters between the two major parties. SB534 would forbid the Commission from using this type of analysis. The two criteria in SB 534 would guarantee an unfair majority party advantage. Future legislatures would be skewed to favor the majority party well beyond the 55% of partisan voters they represent. Cracking In SB 109, House legislative districts serve as the basis for the new PSC district map. The bills sponsors claim this map creates five PSC electoral districts that are compact, contiguous, and as nearly equal in population as possible, without splitting House legislative districts. The map creates five districts with solid majority-party advantage. This map also splits the major cities between PSC districts. Since rival party voters are concentrated in Montanas major cities, the map in SB 109 uses a technique known as cracking, i.e., cracking apart districts where most of the voters support the rival party. Splitting the major cities dilutes voters ability to elect a rival candidate and guarantees election victories in all five districts for the majority party. Amendments to SB 109 have been proposed with different maps that are more compact, do not divide counties or cities, and are more equal in population than the map in SB 109. The amendment maps would create the potential for one-to-two districts to elect a rival party candidate, in keeping with the proportional share of partisan voters statewide. The League of Women Voters believes that Montanans want fair, not gerrymandered, electoral districts. The sponsors of SB 109 and SB 534 are well aware of the effects of their legislation on the political fortunes of their party: gerrymandered majority-party rule. ISLAMABAD (AP) Afghanistan needs $4.62 billion in humanitarian aid from the international community this year for nearly 24 million people in need, the U.N.'s humanitarian affairs agency said. Afghanistan is facing its third consecutive year of drought, its second year of severe economic hardship and the continued consequences of decades of war and natural disasters, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Tuesday on Twitter. With Afghanistan, humanitarian aid remains the last lifeline for much of the population," the agency said. Mohammad Shukran, 32, a Kabul resident and government employee, said life in Afghanistan is difficult: Everyone is just trying to survive, he said. The U.N. food agency said earlier this month it urgently needs $800 million for the next six months to help Afghanistan, which is at the highest risk of famine in a quarter of a century. Aid agencies have been providing food, education and health care support to Afghans in the wake of the Taliban takeover of August 2021 and the economic collapse that followed it. But distribution has been severely impacted by a Taliban edict last December banning women from working at national and international nongovernmental groups. The U.N. was not part of this ban but earlier this month it said the Taliban-led government has stopped Afghan women from working at its agencies in the country. Authorities have yet to comment on the restriction. Unemployment has increased like never before, said Shah Mir, 45, a father of four children. He works at a non-governmental organization in the health sector in eastern Nangarhar province. We dont know when our office will be closed by the Taliban and we will also lose our jobs, he said. Despite initial promises of a more moderate rule than during their previous stint in power in the 1990s, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures since taking over as U.S. and NATO forces pulled out of Afghanistan after two decades of war. A spokesman for the Afghan Economy Ministry, Abdul Rahman Habib, said the government's future plans include developing the agricultural and industrial sectors and mine extraction. Supporting domestic business and products, more focus on exports, attracting foreign investors, creating special economic zones in the country are important, he said. Habib said international banking restrictions and climate change that has created years of drought are the main reasons for the country's poor economy and high rate of poverty. A citizen group that wants more details about the Bismarck Public School District's finances has successfully petitioned the North Dakota State Auditors Office for an audit. Organizer Jan Wangler said the group has been rebuffed in its efforts to obtain financial data from the district -- the state's largest in terms of students -- and is frustrated with rising property taxes and what it perceives as the School Board's lack of attention to declining student proficiency. "The education process is the most important part of this," she said, adding that group members want "more bang for our buck." School Board President Jon Lee said student proficiency was impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, and the district has sought to address that with federal COVID-19 aid. "We're always focused on trying to improve student achievement -- that's the (main) goal with the board," he said. It's unknown if the audit will cost taxpayers any additional money. It will be conducted in place of a regular audit required by law, but the scope and timeline of the review might differ from a regular audit. Auditor's Office spokeswoman Emily Dalzell said officials "don't presently have a list of the concerns," but that "a team will be meeting with the petitioners to find out what their concerns are." Petition approved Under state law 4,600 petition signatures -- 35% of qualified voters in the school district -- were needed to prompt the audit. The Auditor's Office said it received more than 5,700 signatures. Social media posts promoting the petition have referenced "rising property taxes, lack of transparency, lack of staff support and lack of accountability." We appreciate citizens being involved in their government, and sharing their concerns with our office, State Auditor Josh Gallion said in a statement. We take every concern seriously and look forward to working with the Bismarck Public School District during the audit. Wangler said it took about six months to gather the signatures, and that it wasn't hard to find willing signers. "Taxpayers spend an awful lot of money trying to provide good things for their kids, and they just want to get their money's worth," she said. She added, "This has nothing to do with teachers; this has more to do with processes and administration." Bismarck Public Schools in a statement to the Tribune said it was aware of the audit petition and has been in contact with the State Auditor's Office. "The district is subject to comprehensive yearly audits, which are conducted by an independent third party firm and reviewed by the North Dakota State auditor," said the statement provided by district spokesman Steve Koontz. "BPS looks forward to the state audit outcome and working with the state auditor. BPS staff have met with several community members over the course of the last two years regarding the North Dakota state funding formula, ESSER funds, and appropriation of BPS dollars." ESSER stands for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds, which is federal money resulting from the coronavirus pandemic response. Lee questions whether some petition signers were fully aware of what they were signing. He also said the School Board deals with policy and not day-to-day finances, and that it refers requests for financial information to district business officials. He said that while the board has oversight over the district, it's "unreasonable" to think board members who serve part time can immediately answer specific financial questions. Wangler said residents have not received satisfactory answers even through open records requests. "More like redacted answers, or partial, or none at all," she said. Wangler said group members have been "shut down" at School Board meetings "because you're asking questions that they don't want you to know the answers to." "So this is a way we can find out where those (taxpayer) dollars are being spent," she said. State audit The state audit will begin this fall, after the fiscal year ends on June 30, and will be led by a team from the State Auditor's Office's Fargo location. People who want to provide information for consideration during the audit can contact the office at ndsao@nd.gov or 701-328-2241. The audit is expected to be complete next March, according to Dalzell. State law requires school districts across the state to be audited every two years. They have the option of having the State Auditor's Office do it, or hiring a private firm. BPS in recent years has used Brady Martz & Associates, and does yearly audits. BPS is up to date on its audits, according to Dalzell. "The school district will pay for the (petitioned) audit, just like they would pay for their regular audit," Dalzell said. "The audit we are doing is not an extra audit. It will be their next scheduled audit. Our office will be conducting the BPS audit instead of a private firm." The office's hourly billing rate averages $112 per hour, while the private sector averages $157 per hour, according to Dalzell. "If issues are identified, during the audit, our team will spend time in that area to properly review concerns," she said, adding that "Until we develop the scope of the audit (by meeting with petitioners to find out what their concerns are) we will not know the approximate number of hours required to complete the audit." "In a regularly scheduled audit, we evaluate what potential risks exist and our audit team reviews those potential risk areas," Dalzell said. "Because this was a petition audit, there are specific areas of concern that will be brought up to our audit team that the team will review." Lee said that with the state stepping in to do the next audit, the district will have to add a year to its contract with Brady Martz so that taxpayers don't essentially get double-billed. He said it's "in their right" for the citizen group to ask for a state audit, and that he's not opposed to one. "It's not a bad thing, especially if it eases people's minds," he said. BPS audited financial statements from previous years are available at www.bismarckschools.org/audits and https://www.nd.gov/auditor/school-districts. DeSantis talks trade with South Korean officials View Photo SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held trade talks with South Korean officials in Seoul on Wednesday, on the second leg of his four-nation trip, as the possible rival to Donald Trump seeks to build his diplomatic profile ahead of a widely anticipated presidential campaign launch. Leading a trade mission from Florida, DeSantis met with South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and expressed hopes to create more jobs by facilitating South Korean trade and investment in his state, according to Hans office. Han, Seouls No. 2 official behind President Yoon Suk Yeol, called for stronger cooperation in industries such as space and aviation, which he described as Floridas strengths. DeSantis earlier on Wednesday met with Kim Dong-yeon, the governor of South Koreas largest Gyeonggi province, to discuss exploring partnerships in industries such as biotechnology and solar power generation, Kims office said. According to DeSantis office, merchandise trade between Florida and South Korea exceeds $1.3 billion, making Florida the countrys 7th largest bilateral trade partner in the Asia and Middle East region. DeSantis is considered the biggest challenger to former President Trump for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential race. He is expected to announce his candidacy sometime next month. DeSantis, who was accompanied by state officials and his wife, Casey DeSantis, began his multi-country trip in Japan, where he met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday and exchanged views on bilateral and regional issues, according to Japans Foreign Ministry. Following South Korea, DeSantis will travel to Israel and Britain. Ukraines Zelenskyy upbeat after talk with Chinas Xi View Photo KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping had a long and meaningful phone call Wednesday, their first known contact since Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago, and Beijing appointed an envoy to pursue a political settlement. The hour-long call came two months after Beijing, which has long been aligned with Russia, said it wanted to act as a mediator and a month after Xi visited Moscow. The call also coincided with indications that Ukraine is readying its forces for a spring counteroffensive. Zelenskyy was upbeat about the conversation, which offered him the chance to insert his views into what had been a bilateral dialogue between Moscow and Beijing. Russian President Vladimir Putin is eager to keep Xi close as a counterweight to the United States, which has sided with Ukraine. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraines ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations, Zelenskyy said on Facebook. An official readout on his website called the conversation productive and said it leads the way toward possible interaction with the aim of establishing a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine. Zelenskyy emphasized the need to regain all Ukrainian lands and stated, There can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises. In an indirect reference to U.S. reports that China had considered supplying weapons to Russia for its war, Zelenskyys office said he asked countries to refrain from doing so because any support even partial is converted by Russia into the continuation of its aggression, into its further rejection of peace. China has said it wont supply weapons to either side in the conflict. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijings core stance is to facilitate talks for peace, announcing that an envoy a former ambassador to Russia would visit Ukraine to seek a political settlement. The ministrys statement struck a positive tone, giving a nod to Kyivs insistence that its territory cannot be broken up by Russias annexations and making clear that Beijing values its longstanding ties with Ukraine. Mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is the political foundation of China-Ukraine relations, the statement said. Chinas readiness to develop relations with Ukraine is consistent and clear-cut. No matter how the international situation evolves, China will work with Ukraine to advance mutually beneficial cooperation. Analysts expressed skepticism about the prospects for peace. The call balances Chinas dialogue with Russia by showing it is recognizing Ukraines leadership and indicating Ukraine is an important entity, said political science professor Kimberly Marten of Barnard College at Columbia University in New York. But, she added in an interview with The Associated Press, unless undisclosed details reveal otherwise, its a non-starter. Its pro-Russian. I would not guess that this holds a lot of significance for ending the war. She noted the Chinese statement didnt call for Russia to leave occupied areas or brand Russia as an aggressor, and refers to the situation as a crisis, rather than a war. Elizabeth Wishnick, of the U.S.-based think tank CNA and Columbia Universitys Weatherhead East Asian Institute, noted in an email to AP that the Chinese statement about the call contains no mention of a Russian troop withdrawal, which, to my mind, makes this a less than serious initiative and unlikely to contribute in any major way to ending the war, which will likely be decided on the battlefield. In Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commended Chinas approach, praising Beijings readiness to strive to establish a (peace) negotiations process, while slamming Kyivs rejection of any sound initiatives aimed at a settlement. The White House described it as a positive development, allowing Xi to hear Ukraines view of the illegal, unprovoked invasion. We think thats a good thing, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. Talks between the two leaders had been anticipated for weeks, after China produced a 12-point proposal to end the fighting, although it did not contain details. Russia and Ukraine are far apart in their terms for peace. The Kremlin wants Kyiv to acknowledge Russias annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia, which most nations have denounced as illegal. Ukraine has rejected the demands and ruled out any talks with Russia until its troops pull back from all occupied territories. Zelenskyy said in an interview with the AP last month that he hadnt spoken with Xi since the war began and invited him to visit Ukraine. China has announced it was keen to act as mediator in the war that has reenergized NATO. Xis position reinforces Chinas claim that its neutral in the war, despite blocking U.N. efforts to condemn the Kremlins invasion. While Zelenskyy has moved his country closer to NATO and persuaded alliance members to send Ukraine sophisticated weapons to help defeat Russia, Beijing has echoed the Kremlin line in accusing the West of provoking the conflict and fanning the flames by arming Kyiv. When China called in February for a cease-fire and peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Zelenskyy cautiously welcomed Beijings involvement but said success would depend on actions, not words. Putin warmly welcomed Xi to the Kremlin, in what was seen as a powerful message to Western leaders that their efforts to isolate Moscow over the fighting in Ukraine have fallen short. Also on Wednesday, Zelenskyy used the 37th anniversary of the worlds worst nuclear disaster at Chernobyl to repeat his warnings about the threat of a new atomic catastrophe during his countrys war with Russia. Zelenskyy drew a parallel between the Chernobyl accident on April 26, 1986, to Moscows brief seizure of that plant and its radiation-contaminated exclusion zone following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Last year, the occupier not only seized the (Chernobyl) nuclear power plant, but also endangered the entire world again, Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post in English. In other developments Wednesday: Ukrainian and Russian officials announced the latest prisoner exchange, saying 44 Ukrainian and 40 Russian POWs were released this week. The head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said on Telegram that the Ukrainians included soldiers, sailors, border and national guards, and two civilians. The head of the southeastern Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, Yurii Malashko, said Russia struck 19 civilian areas with 53 artillery attacks, six rocket attacks, seven drone attacks and one airstrike overnight. At least two civilians were killed and 13 others were wounded in Ukraine since Tuesday, the presidential office said. An Italian journalist in Ukraine, Corrado Zunino, was injured and his interpreter Bogdan Bitik killed in the southern city of Kherson. Zunino, a correspondent for La Repubblica daily, told the newspaper he suspected Russian snipers hit him after passing through Ukrainian-manned checkpoints. ___ McDonald reported from Beijing. Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, and Andrew Katell in New York contributed. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine By DAVID RISING and JOE MCDONALD Associated Press China says it will send peace envoy to Ukraine China says it will send peace envoy to Ukraine View Photo BEIJING (AP) Chinese leader Xi Jinping told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call on Wednesday that his government will send a peace envoy to Ukraine and other nations, state media said, after Beijing said it wants to act as mediator in Russias war with the country. A government statement reported by state TV gave no indication whether the Chinese envoy would visit Russia. China will send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to Ukraine and other countries to conduct in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, the statement said. It made no mention of Russia or President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine last year. There is no winner in a nuclear war, the statement warned. China has tried to appear neutral in the war but has refused to criticize Moscows invasion. Xi and Putin issued a joint statement before the February 2020 attack saying their governments had a no limits friendship. Xis government released a peace proposal in February and called for a cease-fire and talks. Negotiation is the only viable way out, state TV said in a report on Xis comments to Zelenskyy. There is no winner in a nuclear war, the report said. All parties concerned should remain calm and restrained in dealing with the nuclear issue and truly look at the future and destiny of themselves and humanity as a whole and work together to manage the crisis. El Salvador tries ex-leader Funes in absentia for gang truce View Photo SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) El Salvador opened a trial Wednesday against former President Mauricio Funes alleging that he had negotiated a truce with the countrys powerful street gangs when he was president, but the trial will proceed without Funes who lives in Nicaragua. Funes has denied negotiating with the gangs or giving their leaders any privileges. I never ordered nor authorized any negotiation, Funes wrote Tuesday on Twitter, adding that the truce was between rival gangs, not with the government. Mediators in the talks between the MS-13 and Barrio 18 gangs were not representing the government, he said. El Salvadors congress reformed the law last year to allow people to be tried in absentia. Prosecutors accuse Funes of illicit association and failure to perform his duties for the gang truce negotiated in 2012. David Munguia Payes, who served as Funes security minister, is on trial for the same charges, as well as others. If convicted, Funes could face a sentence of up to 11 years in prison, but since Nicaragua awarded him citizenship, it remains unlikely he will face justice in El Salvador. El Salvador has pursued Funes, who governed from 2009 to 2014, for other alleged crimes in at least a half dozen cases. But current President Nayib Bukele has been accused of engaging in the same kind of negotiations with the gangs. In December 2021, the U.S. Treasury said that Bukeles government secretly negotiated a truce with leaders of the countrys powerful street gangs. Imprisoned gang leaders were allegedly given privileges in exchange for slowing down killings and for giving political support to Bukeles party. Local news site El Faro had previously reported negotiations. Former Attorney General Raul Melara had said at the time that he would investigate the allegations, but when Bukeles party dominated mid-term elections and took control of Congress, the new lawmakers ousted Melara. The truce apparently broke down when the gangs killed 62 people in a single day in March 2022. Bukele responded by suspending some fundamental rights and waging an all out war against the gangs that carries on today. By MARCOS ALEMAN Associated Press Pakistan says 2 soldiers, 6 police officers killed in raids View Photo ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistani police raided Wednesday a suspected hideout of hostage-takers in the countrys south, triggering a firefight that killed six officers, officials said. Earlier in the day, a military operation against militants in northwestern Pakistan killed two soldiers. The raid in southern Sindh province was part of an ongoing operation against criminal gangs there and in eastern Punjab province, police said. Security forces backed by troops have arrested dozens of suspects in recent weeks. Wednesdays raid targeted a criminal group that earlier this week abducted the son of a wealthy rice mill owner in the district of Jacobabad. Along with the six officers killed, two were wounded. The hostage, identified as Furqan Soomro, was not rescued and his fate was not immediately known. Police were still pursuing the hostage-takers, according to police officer Munir Sheikh. Hours earlier, a firefight in Tirah, a former militant stronghold in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan, left two soldiers and two militants dead. On Tuesday, the military announced it had expanded operations against militants across the country, especially in the northwest. The area is a former tribal region and had been a base for the Pakistani Taliban, w militant group that has waged an insurgency against the government in Islamabad for the past 15 years. The Pakistani Taliban, known as the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, are separate but allied with the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in 2021. The takeover emboldened the TTP, which has stepped up attacks on Pakistani forces in recent months. Black parents seek schools affirming their history amid bans View Photo DECATUR, Ga. (AP) Every decision Assata Salim makes for her young son is important. Amid a spike in mass killings, questions of safety were at the top of her mind when choosing a school. Next on her checklist was the schools culture. Salim and her 6-year-old, ChoZen Waters, are Black. In Georgia, where they live, public schools are prohibited from teaching divisive concepts, including the idea that one race is better than another or that states are fundamentally racist. To Salim, the new rules mean public schools might not affirm ChoZens African roots, or accurately portray the United States history of racism. I never want to put his education in the hands of someone that is trying to erase history or recreate narratives, she said. Instead, ChoZen attends a private, Afrocentric school joining kids across the country whose families have embraced schools that affirm their Black heritage, in a country where instruction about race is increasingly under attack. At ChoZens school, Kilombo Academic & Cultural Institute in an Atlanta suburb, photos of Black historical figures hang on the walls. And every single student and teacher identifies as Black or biracial. In recent years, conservative politicians around the country have championed bans on books or instruction that touch on race and inclusion. Books were banned in more than 5,000 schools in 32 states from June 2021 to June 2022, according to free-speech nonprofit PEN America. Instructional bans have been enacted in at least 16 states since 2021. Even when a topic isnt explicitly banned, some teachers say the debates have caused them to back away from controversy. The situation has caused more Black families to leave public schools, opting for homeschooling or private schools that embrace their identity and culture. Public school enrollment of Black students between pre-K and 12th grade has declined each year measured in federal data since 2007. I think it is important to teach those harsh moments in slavery and segregation, but tell the whole story, said Salihah Hasan, a teaching assistant at Kilombo Institute. Things have changed drastically, but there are still people in this world who hate Black people, who think we are still beneath them, and younger children today dont understand that. But that is why it is important to talk about it. Kilombo goes further, focusing on the students rich heritage, from both Africa and Black America. I want him to know his existence doesnt start with slavery, Salim said of her son. The private, K-8 school occupies the basement of Hillside Presbyterian Church just outside Decatur, an affluent, predominantly white suburb. Families pay tuition on a sliding scale, supplemented by donations. Classrooms feature maps of Africa and brown paper figures wearing dashikis, a garment worn mostly in West Africa. In one class, the students learn how sound travels by playing African drums. The 18-year-old school has 53 students, up a third since the start of the pandemic. Initially, more parents chose the school because it returned to in-person learning earlier than nearby public schools. Lately, the enrollment growth has reflected parents increasing urgency to find a school that wont shy away from Black history. This country is signaling to us that we have no place here, said Mary Hooks, whose daughter attends Kilombo. It also raises a smoke signal for people to come home to the places where we can be nourished. Notably, the student body includes multiple children of public school teachers. Simone Sills, a middle school science teacher at Atlanta Public Schools, chose the school for her daughter in part because of its smaller size, along with factors such as safety and curriculum. Plus, she said, she was looking for a school where all students can feel affirmed in who they are. Before Psalm Barreto, 10, enrolled in Kilombo, her family was living in Washington, D.C. She said she was one of a few Black children in her school. I felt uncomfortable in public school because it was just me and another boy in my class, and we stood out, she said. Racial differences are evident to babies as young as three months, research has shown, and racial biases show up in preschoolers. Kilombo provides a space for kids to talk about their race. Im Blackity, Black, Black! said Robyn Jean, 9, while spinning in a circle. Her sister, Amelya, 11, said their parents taught them about their Haitian American heritage knowledge she thinks all children should have. I want them to know who they are and where they come from, like we do, Amelya said. But in some schools, they cant. Last year, Georgia passed a bill known as the Protect Students First Act, which prohibits schools from promoting and teaching divisive concepts about race. Elsewhere, bills that restrict or prohibit teaching about race- and gender-related topics passed in states including Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. In other states, such as Arkansas, restrictions have come via executive orders. Proponents say the restrictions aim to eliminate classroom discussions that make students feel shame or guilt about their race and the history and actions of their ancestors. The bills have had a chilling effect. One-quarter of K-12 teachers in the U.S. say these laws have influenced their choice of curriculum or instructional practices, according to a report by the RAND Corporation, a global policy think tank. At Kilombo, daily instruction includes conversations about race and culture. Founder Aminata Umoja uses a Black puppet named Swahili to welcome her students, ask how they are doing and start the day with morals and values rooted in their African heritage. The puppet might say: Lets talk about iwa pele. What does that mean? and then one of the children will tell us that it means good character, said Umoja, who teaches kindergarteners through second graders. Teaching life skills and values, Umoja said, has its roots in freedom schools started during the Civil Rights Movement, in response to the inferior sharecroppers education Black Americans were receiving in the South. The school follows academic standards from Common Core for math and language arts and uses Georgias social studies standards to measure student success. But the curriculum is culturally relevant. It centers Black people, featuring many figures excluded in traditional public schools, said Tashiya Umoja, the schools co-director and math teacher. We are giving children of color the same curriculum that white children are getting. They get to hear about their heroes, she-roes and forefathers, she said. The curriculum also focuses on the childrens African heritage. A math lesson, for instance, might feature hieroglyphic numerals. Social studies courses discuss events in Africa or on other continents alongside U.S. history. When she was in public school, Psalm said she only learned about mainstream Black figures in history, such as Barack Obama, Martin Luther King Jr. and Harriet Tubman. Now, she said, she is learning about civil rights activist Ella Baker, journalist Ida B. Wells and pilot Bessie Coleman. Said Psalm: Honestly, I feel bad for any kids who dont know about Black history. Its part of who we are. ___ Data journalist Sharon Lurye contributed reporting from New Orleans. ___ The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content. By CHEYANNE MUMPHREY AP Education Writer Venezuelas Juan Guaido not seeking political asylum in US View Photo MEXICO CITY (AP) Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Tuesday said he is not seeking political asylum in the United States and has not ruled out the possibility of running in a presidential primary in his homeland planned for October. Guaido spoke to The Associated Press by phone from Miami, where he arrived on a commercial flight that departed Colombias capital Monday night, hours after he crossed the border between that country and Venezuela with the intent of meeting with diplomats and other participants of an international conference focused on Venezuelas political crisis. I will have work meetings and obviously also time to assess the security situation among other things, he said. I am not requesting political asylum at this time. His remarks came after Colombian authorities said he was subject to an administrative process for having crossed the border without getting his passport stamped upon entry. Colombian President Gustavo Petro insisted Guaido was not deported and traveled to the United States with permission from that country. Guaido told the AP the U.S. government intervened when he was threatened with deportation after he crossed the border and intended to take a flight from Cucuta, a Colombian city near the border, to Bogota. Basically, there was a threat that this could be grounds for deportation, he said. That was via telephone (with) diplomatic officials It was thanks to the mediation of the United States that in my case I feel that I was not deported. He said a U.S. government official handed him the ticket to Miami after Colombian immigration agents escorted him to the airport in Bogota. His wife and two daughters remain in Venezuela, for which he is deeply worried. He said he is exploring all options regarding their future. Guaido became one of the most recognizable figures of Venezuelas opposition after the re-election of President Nicolas Maduro in 2018 was deemed a sham by several countries. Guaido, in his position as head of Venezuelas National Assembly, declared himself interim president in 2019 with the backing of dozens of nations, including the U.S., and ran a parallel government. But his popularity has waned since then and opposition lawmakers voted in January to strip him of that role and instead appoint a committee to run that government. Guaido has recently been campaigning ahead of a planned October primary in which the opposition intends to choose a single candidate to face off against Maduro in a presidential election next year. On Tuesday, he said the primary continues to be a very important objective in the short term. At this moment, I have this situation of persecution, and to rule out anything at this moment would simply be to accept the conditions of a dictatorship, he said in reference to his participation in the primary. On the contrary, we are fighting for conditions for all. Guaido had recently denounced an increase in threats against him in Venezuela. Until Monday, Guaido had not left his country since 2020. Maduros government has filed almost three dozen cases against Guaido since he declared himself interim president. The alleged crimes range from usurpation of functions, corruption, money laundering and public incitement to disobey the law, to conspiracy with foreign governments and terrorism. Tuesdays international conference organized by Petro was meant to jumpstart official dialogue between Maduros government and his adversaries. The formal negotiations between both sides guided by Norwegian diplomats and hosted by Mexico stalled at the end of last year. Colombias Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva on Monday said Guaido was not invited to the conference, which was attended by representatives of the U.S. as well as Latin American and European countries. Guaido had said he planned sideline meetings with delegates. Petro and Maduro have said they would seek an end to economic sanctions that the U.S. imposed on Venezuela. At the of the five-hour conference, which was not attended by representatives of Maduro or his adversaries, Leyva read a brief statement in which he said participants agreed it is necessary for Venezuelas government and opposition parties to set an electoral calendar that ensures free and fair conditions for all involved. Levya also said participants found consensus around lifting sanctions if there is progress in negotiations. Venezuelas complex social, political and economic crisis has driven more than 7 million to migrate, mostly to Latin American and Caribbean countries. The largest share more than 2 million live in Colombia, which under the administration of Petros predecessor, Ivan Duque, offered many of them a variety of benefits, including 10-year permits. Duque was one of Maduros strongest critics and had no diplomatic relations with Venezuelas government. But Petro, Colombias first leftist president, reestablished diplomatic and commercial relations with Venezuela after he was sworn in in August and has met with Maduro four times in person. Migrants and people who live near the border go from one country to the other every day without getting their passports stamped both through official crossing bridges and illegal dirt roads and face no consequences. Guaido, who has continuously criticized Petros policies toward Maduro, said Mondays threat of deportation was purely a political move against him. A Venezuelan crossing the border looking for food, food, shelter, protection from a dictatorship is not a novelty at all, he said. So I believe that this undoubtedly establishes a position on the part of President Petro and his government If the president wants to be the interlocutor of the dictator, then that will be his role. South Florida is home to a large Venezuelan community that began to arrive mainly after Maduros predecessor, Hugo Chavez, rose to power in 1999. From there, Guaido said, he will keep fighting to make our vote count. By REGINA GARCIA CANO Associated Press The North Dakota Senate has overridden Gov. Doug Burgum's veto of one of two book ban bills, sending the bill to the House of Representatives for a final vote. Burgum on Tuesday had signed one of the book ban bills approved by the Legislature, and vetoed the other, which has criminal penalties and also restrictions that Bismarck's public library estimated would cost $334 million to comply with. The governor signed House Bill 1205 by House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson. He vetoed Senate Bill 2360 by Sen. Keith Boehm, R-Mandan. Both bills target "explicit sexual material," defined as "any material which, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest of minors; is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community in North Dakota as a whole with respect to what is suitable material for minors; and taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors." Supporters said the bills protect children from pornography. Opponents said the bills are censorship. The state House of Representatives needs 63 votes to override a veto; the Senate needs 32. The Senate overrode the veto on Wednesday afternoon in a 33-14 vote, sending the bill to the House, which needs nine more votes than its previous vote on the bill to override the veto. The Legislature is nearing the end of its session, with eight days left of a maximum 80 to meet. Vetoed bill Under Boehm's bill, employees of school districts, state agencies and public libraries could face a misdemeanor charge for willfully exposing "explicit sexual material" to a minor. The bill also applies to "newsstands or any other business establishment frequented by minors, or where minors are or may be invited as a part of the general public." Boehm's bill would add public libraries and public school libraries to the latter places. The State Library is exempt. Burgum in a veto message said Boehm's bill "goes too far" with its criminal penalties, and "creates an enormous burden for our 84 local public libraries and hundreds of K-12 school libraries by imposing, through the threat of criminal prosecution, a de facto requirement that libraries conduct an expensive review of library materials that have already been through a screening process to protect young people from objectionable material." "While some will argue that such a review isn't necessary because the bill states that a librarian must 'willfully' display explicit sexual material in order to be in violation of the law, librarians cannot reasonably be expected to take their chances with what's currently displayed on the shelves and assume the risk of criminal prosecution based on that subjective standard," Burgum said. The governor also knocked the bill for not including an appropriation, or money "to cover the considerable expense of this review process, making this an unfunded mandate" local and school libraries are "ill-equipped to afford and manage." Burgum said exempting the State Library and not including private K-12 schools "creates further inequities." "America is built on a foundation of free speech, the free exchange of ideas and the freedom from government interference to read -- or not to read -- books that share ideas and stories across a spectrum of human nature and experience," he said. "The best way we protect our youth is through involved and caring parents making decisions in the best interests of their children, whether at home, online or in a public or school library -- not with unfunded, one-size-fits-all government mandates," Burgum said. The bill also would require public libraries and public school libraries to submit an annual report to lawmakers about "provider compliance with technology protection measures" the bill would require for digital or online library database resources for K-12 students, to prevent viewing of "explicit sexual material." "The legislation does not ban books or censor. It merely moves it to a different part of the library," Boehm told the Senate on Wednesday. "It does not put staff in jail, unless they recklessly and willfully get obscenity to children." He said the Senate "neutered" 1205, in not removing the exemption for public libraries from the state's obscenity laws. Boehm also blasted "no less than 10 activists at the head of our libraries," who "continue to say that we shouldn't do away with this material." The Senate had previously passed Boehm's bill, 33-14. The House passed the bill, 54-38. The latter was not veto-proof. Signed bill The state House of Representatives passed Lefor's bill, 70-22. The Senate passed the bill, 39-7. Lefor's bill will remove or relocate "explicit sexual material" from public libraries' children's collections. The bill will mandate public libraries to come up with policies and procedures before next year for removing or relocating "explicit sexual material," handling requests to remove or relocate books, developing age-appropriate book collections, and periodically reviewing collections. Libraries also will have to submit a "compliance report" on their policies to lawmakers. The bill also makes clear it will apply to "any children's book inventory maintained by a public library." Burgum said, "Protecting children from explicit sexual material is common sense." He also said the bill "standardizes the process for local public libraries to review material when requested by parents, library users or other members of the public -- a process already in place and working at nearly all public libraries across the state." A Texas man was arrested for a cold case murder committed 42 years ago of a teenage girl who wasn't identified until 27 years after her death. Using advanced DNA testing, Texas Rangers linked 68-year-old Larry Allen West to the killing of 18-year-old Carol Joyce Deleon. According to authorities, Deleon's body was found on June 4, 1981 in Comal County near New Braunfels in South Texas. An autopsy determined she died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head, but investigators were unsuccessful in their attempt to identify her using fingerprints and a sketch that was released to local media. Officials said after a missing persons report was filed for Deleon by her youngest sister 26 years later in 2007, they was able to meet with her family and successfully identify her. Her family said they had attempted to file a missing person report back in 1981, but a report was not taken because Deleon was 18 and no foul play was noted. In 2020, evidence in the case underwent advanced forensic DNA testing provided by the Texas Department of Public Safetys Sexual Assault Kit Initiative program -- an endeavor brought on by the U.S. Department of Justice to provide investigative funding for agencies across the country to look into unsolved sexual assaults and sexually-related homicides with the hope of bringing justice to victims and their families. Law enforcement said advanced DNA testing and genealogy research eventually linked the evidence to West. He was arrested on April 13 and booked into the Bexar County Jail on a $125,000 bond. An indictment and trial are now pending. HELENA, Mont. (AP) The latest high-profile example of statehouses deciding who can be heard during legislative debate is playing out in Montana, where a transgender lawmaker on Monday challenged in court a decision to remove her from the House floor for the remainder of the session. Leaders in the GOP-controlled statehouse have not allowed Rep. Zooey Zephyr to speak during debates since April 18, after she told colleagues who supported a ban on gender-affirming care for youth that they would have blood on their hands. The remark provoked outrage from Republicans who said the language was belittling and an affront to civil discourse. Zephyr rebuffed demands from legislative leaders to apologize. The silencing of Zephyr's microphone drew hundreds of protesters last week to the Montana Capitol. From the House gallery they erupted in chants of Let her speak! and forced the House to temporarily adjourn. Police in riot gear forcibly cleared the gallery, seven protesters were arrested on trespassing charges and Zephyr was banished from the House floor. Zephyr's attorneys are asking a state district court in Helena to issue an injunction that would allow her to return to the House floor for the final few days remaining in the legislative session. The standoff between Zephyr and House Republicans originated in a dispute over gender-affirming care for minors. It's evolved to dovetail with a nationwide debate over the robustness of democracy in politically polarizing times. Here's what you need to know: WHO IS THE TRANSGENDER LAWMAKER AT THE CENTER OF THIS? Last year, Zephyr became the first openly transgender woman elected to the Montana Legislature putting her among a record number of transgender lawmakers who began serving across the U.S. The 34-year-old Democrat is from the left-leaning college town Missoula, where she's a former administrator at the University of Montana. She has spent much of her adult life advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and worked behind the scenes during the 2021 legislative session to help block efforts to ban gender-affirming health care. Following her November election, she said she wanted to enlist moderate Republicans to push back on what she called extreme and dangerous attacks and help people understand transgender adults like her. Instead, she and fellow members of the Democratic minority have been powerless to stop Republicans from passing proposals focused on transgender kids. In addition to banning gender-affirming care for minors, lawmakers also passed legislation that says misgendering or deadnaming students is not illegal discrimination unless it rises to the level of bullying. Deadnaming refers to using the name a transgender person used prior to transitioning. Zephyr has likened gender-affirming care bans like the one that passed in Montana to eradication, echoing fears raised throughout the transgender community that stripping transgender youth of access to care endangers their lives and mental health. WHAT STARTED THIS DISPUTE? As the House debated the governor's proposed amendments to a measure banning gender-affirming care for minors, Zephyr spoke against the bill while making a reference to the body's opening prayer. I hope the next time theres an invocation, when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands, she said. The words have been used numerous times by others in American politics without consequence, including in recent years by the governor of Texas, a GOP congressman in Florida and a city councilwoman in Denver. But a group of conservative lawmakers known as the Montana Freedom Caucus demanded that Zephyr be disciplined and she was stopped from speaking on the floor by the House speaker. The group's members have deliberately referred to Zephyr using male pronouns. Thats known as misgendering using pronouns that dont match a persons gender identity and the caucus' chairwoman has indicated it will continue. Following last week's protests the House voted to banish Zephyr from the floor of the House of Representatives and the House gallery. The legislative session could end as early as this week. Zephyr has been casting votes remotely, including on Monday from a statehouse snack bar while she awaited a ruling in her lawsuit against Regier and House Sergeant-at-Arms Brad Murfitt. WHO HAS LED THE CHARGE TO SILENCE ZEPHYR? Zephyrs punishment has thrust leaders in Montanas Republican-majority Legislature into the spotlight, including Regier, who was elected House Speaker in January. Throughout his tenure, Regier, a real estate investor from a northwestern Montana political family, has spearheaded legislation to restrict local governments from enacting gun control measures. His proposal to ban the type of abortion most commonly used after 15 weeks passed the Legislature this year. Gianforte hasnt acted on the bill. Although Montana has long leaned Republican, for years voters crossed party lines and elected Democrats to the U.S. Senate and governors mansion. But the state has recently shifted rightward. Republicans now command control of state government, which theyve used to push legislation restricting abortion and loosening gun laws. One reflection of such a shift is the newly influential Montana Freedom Caucus, which includes at least 21 of the Legislature's 102 GOP lawmakers. Its ideological leader is U.S. Rep Matt Rosendale, a hardline conservative who backed former President Donald Trumps false statements about fraud in the 2020 election and was among a core group of Republicans who opposed electing U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House. Efforts to punish Zephyr originated in the caucus, whose members said Zephyr's comments displayed a hateful rhetoric and called for a commitment to civil discourse similar to criticisms leveled against Democrats expelled from the Tennessee statehouse for joining in gun control demonstrations. The caucus later issued a statement calling the protest and arrests an insurrection and accused Zephyr of encouraging it. No property damage or threats to lawmakers were reported, and the GOP rhetoric mirrored other cases where Republicans have tried to equate nonviolent protests with insurrection. IS THIS RELATED TO THE TENNESSEE LAWMAKERS BEING EXPELLED? Not directly, but the dispute reflects tensions and harsh rhetoric around culturally divisive issues including firearms, racial justice and rights for the LGBTQ+ community that currently dominate much of America's political discourse. The Tennessee expulsions stemmed from a dispute over gun control. It drew accusations of racism after Republicans removed two Black lawmakers following their participation in a protest but retained a third lawmaker involved who was white. Zephyr has connected the fight over her words to the struggles facing marginalized groups throughout the country, including those who have the audacity to stand up and say this legislation gets us killed and have been met with punishment. Last week, Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson, who was expelled and reinstated as an interim lawmaker, called the Montana standoff anti-democratic. We will not let our democracy die without fighting for every voice. We are in this fight from Memphis to Montana! he tweeted. ___ Metz reported from Salt Lake City and Brown reported from Billings. SAN ANTONIO, Philippines (AP) American and Filipino forces sank a ship with a barrage of high-precision rockets, airstrikes and artillery fire in their largest war drills on Wednesday in Philippine waters facing the disputed South China Sea which are likely to antagonize China. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. watched the American show of firepower from an observation tower in the coastal town of San Antonio in northwestern Zambales province, the latest indication of his strong backing of the Philippines' treaty alliance with the U.S. Marcos has ordered his military to shift its focus to external defense from decades-long domestic anti-insurgency battles as Chinas increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea become a top concern. The shift in the Philippine defense focus is in sync with the Biden administrations aim of reinforcing an arc of alliances in the Indo-Pacific region to better counter China. China has angered the Philippines by repeatedly harassing its navy and coast guard patrols and chasing away fishermen in waters close to Philippine shores but which Beijing claims as its own. The Philippines has filed more than 200 diplomatic protests against China since last year, including at least 77 since Marcos took office in June. Marcos, sitting beside U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson and his top defense and security advisers, used a pair of binoculars as rockets streaked into the blue sky from the U.S. High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, a multiple rocket and missile launcher mounted on a truck that has become a crucial weapon for Ukrainian troops battling Russian invasion forces. The coastal clearing in front of Marcos resembled a smoke-shrouded war zone and thudded with artillery fire as AH-64 Apache attack helicopters flew overhead. A private light plane flew by during the exercises, briefly interrupting them, and was asked to move away, said Col. Mike Logico, a Philippine military spokesperson for the drills. Fishermen have been advised to stay away from the area. This training increased the exercises realism and complexity, a key priority shared between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military, said Lt. Gen. William Jurney, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces. Together we are strengthening our capabilities in full-spectrum military operations across all domains, said Jurney, the U.S. director for the annual joint exercises called Balikatan, Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder." About 12,200 U.S military personnel, 5,400 Filipino forces and 111 Australian counterparts are taking part in the exercises, the largest since Balikatan started three decades ago. The drills have showcased U.S. warships, fighter jets as well as Patriot missiles, HIMARS and anti-tank Javelins, according to U.S. and Philippine military officials. The ship targeted by the allied forces was a decommissioned Philippine navy warship which was towed 18 to 22 kilometers (11 to 14 miles) out to sea. Smaller floating targets, including empty drums tied together, were also used as targets to simulate a battle scene in which a U.S. Marine Corps command and control hub enabled scattered allied forces to identify and locate enemy targets and then deliver precision rocket and missile fire. Philippine military officials said the maneuvers would bolster the countrys coastal defense and disaster-response capabilities and were not aimed at any country. China has opposed military drills involving U.S. forces in the region as well as increasing U.S. military deployments, which it warned would rachet up tensions and hamper regional stability and peace. Washington and Beijing have been on a collision course over Chinas increasingly assertive actions to defend its vast territorial claims in the South China Sea and Beijings goal of annexing Taiwan, by force if necessary. In February, Marcos approved a wider U.S. military presence in the Philippines by allowing rotating batches of American forces to stay in four more Philippine military camps. That was a sharp turnaround from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who feared that a larger American military footprint could antagonize Beijing. China strongly opposed the move, which would allow U.S. forces to establish staging grounds and surveillance posts in the northern Philippines across the sea from Taiwan and in western Philippine provinces facing the South China Sea. China has warned that a deepening security alliance between Washington and Manila and their ongoing military drills should not harm its security and territorial interests or interfere in the territorial disputes. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has said that such military cooperation should not target any third party and should be conducive to regional peace and stability. ___ Gomez reported from Manila. Associated Press journalist Joeal Calupitan contributed to this report. BEIRUT (AP) Syrians living on opposite sides of the largely frozen battle lines dividing their country are watching the accelerating normalization of ties between the government of Bashar Assad and Syria's neighbors through starkly different lenses. In government-held Syria, residents struggling with ballooning inflation, fuel and electricity shortages hope the rapprochement will bring more trade and investment and ease a crippling economic crisis. Meanwhile, in the remaining opposition-held areas of the north, Syrians who once saw Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries as allies in their fight against Assad's rule feel increasingly isolated and abandoned. Turkey, which has been a main backer of the armed opposition to Assad, has been holding talks with Damascus for months most recently on Tuesday, when the defense ministers of Turkey, Russia, Iran and Syria met in Moscow. And in recent weeks, regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia which once backed Syrian rebel groups has done an about-face in its stance on the Assad government and is pushing its neighbors to follow suit. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited Damascus last week for the first time since the kingdom cut ties with Syria more than a decade ago. The kingdom, which will host a meeting of the Arab League next month, has been coaxing other member states to restore Syrias membership, although some holdouts remain, chief among them Qatar. The League is a confederation of Arab administrations established to promote cooperation among its members. A 49-year-old tailor in Damascus who gave only his nickname, Abu Shadi (father of Shadi) said he hopes the mending of ties between Syria and Saudi Arabia will improve the economy and kickstart reconstruction in the war-battered country. Weve had enough of wars we have suffered for 12 years, he said. God willing, relations will improve with not just the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia but with all the Gulf countries and the people will benefit on both sides. There will be more movement, more security and everything will be better, God willing. In the country's opposition-held northwest, the rapprochement is a cause for fear. Opposition activists took to social media with an Arabic hashtag translating to normalization with Assad is betrayal, and hundreds turned out at protests over the past two weeks against the move by Arab states to restore relations with Assad. Khaled Khatib, 27, a worker at a non-governmental organization in northwest Syria, said he is increasingly afraid that the government will recapture control of the remaining opposition territory. From the first day I participated in a peaceful demonstration until today, I am at risk of being killed or injured or kidnapped or hit by aerial bombardment, he said. Seeing the regional warming of relations with Damascus is very painful, shameful and frustrating to the aspirations of Syrians, he said. Rashid Hamzawi Mahmoud, who joined a protest in Idlib earlier this month, said the Saudi move was the latest in a string of disappointments for the Syrian opposition. The (U.N.) Security Council has failed us so have the Arab countries, and human rights and Islamic groups, he said. Syria was ostracized by Arab governments over Assads brutal crackdown on protesters in a 2011 uprising that descended into civil war. However, in recent years, as Assad consolidated control over most of the country, Syrias neighbors have begun to take steps toward rapprochement. The overtures picked up pace since a deadly 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 conflict. The Saudi-Syria rapprochement is a game changer for Assad, said Joseph Daher, a Swiss-Syrian researcher and professor at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. Assad could potentially be invited to the next Arab League summit, but even if such an invitation isn't issued for May, its only a question of time now, Daher said. Government officials and pro-government figures in Syria say the restoration of bilateral ties is more significant in reality than a return to the Arab League. The League of Arab States has a symbolic role in this matter, Tarek al-Ahmad, a member of the political bureau of the minority Syrian National Party, told The Associated Press. It is not really the decisive role. George Jabbour, an academic and former diplomat in Damascus, said Syrians hope for Saudi jobs after the return to normal relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia. Before 2011, Saudi Arabia was one of Syria's most significant trading partners, with trade between the countries reaching $1.3 billion in 2010. While economic traffic did not halt altogether with the shuttering of embassies, it dropped off precipitously. However, even before the warming of diplomatic relations, trade had been on the uptick, particularly after the 2018 reopening of the border between Syria and Jordan, which serves as a route for goods going to and from Saudi Arabia. The Syria Report, which tracks the country's economy, reported that Syria-Saudi trade had increased from $92.35 million in 2017 to $396.90 million in 2021. Jihad Yazigi, editor-in-chief of the Syria Report, said the restoration of direct flights and consular services following the current Saudi-Syrian rapprochement could bring some further increase in trade. But Syrians who are looking to Saudi Arabia as a provider of finance either through direct investment in the Syrian economy or through funding of various projects, especially concessionary loans for infrastructure projects," may be disappointed, he said. Such investments will be largely off limits for now because of U.S. and European sanctions on Syria. Even in the opposition-held areas, some greeted the normalization with a shrug. Abdul Wahab Alaiwi, a political activist in Idlib, said he was surprised by the Saudi change in stance, but on the ground nothing will change ... because the Arab countries have no influence inside Syria, unlike Turkey, Russia, Iran and the U.S., all of which have forces in different parts of the country. He added that he does not believe Damascus will be able to meet the conditions of a return to the Arab League or that Turkey and Syria would easily come to an agreement. Mohamad Shakib al-Khaled, head of the Syrian National Democratic Movement, an opposition party, said Arab countries had never been allies to the liberal democratic civil movements in the Syrian uprising but threw their support behind factions that took a radical Islamic approach. The Syrian government, on the other hand had genuine allies who defended it, he said, referring to the intervention by Russia and Iran that turned the tide of the war. But in the end, he said, No one defends a land except its people. ___ Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, and Ghaith al-Sayed in Idlib, Syria, contributed to this report. CAIRO (AP) Sudanese and foreigners streamed out of the capital of Khartoum and other battle zones, as fighting Tuesday shook a new three-day truce brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Aid agencies raised increasing alarm over the crumbling humanitarian situation in a country reliant on outside help. A series of short cease-fires the past week have either failed outright or brought only intermittent lulls in the fighting that has raged between forces loyal to the country's two top generals since April 15. The lulls have been enough for dramatic evacuations of hundreds of foreigners by air and land, which continued Tuesday. But they have brought no relief to millions of Sudanese caught in the crossfire, struggling to find food, shelter and medical care as explosions, gunfire and looters wreck their neighborhoods. In a country where a third of the population of 46 million already needed humanitarian assistance, multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations and dozens of hospitals have been forced to shut down. The U.N. refugee agency said it was gearing up for potentially tens of thousands of people fleeing into neighboring countries. Calls for negotiations to end the crisis in Africas third-largest nation have been ignored. For many Sudanese, the departure of diplomats, aid workers and other foreigners and the closure of embassies are terrifying signs that international powers expect the mayhem to only worsen. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the power struggle between rival generals and their military forces is not only putting Sudan's future at risk, it is lighting a fuse that could detonate across borders, causing immense suffering for years, and setting development back by decades. The U.N. chief urged the Sudanese military, commanded by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the rival Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, to silence the guns immediately. ""The conflict will not, and must not, be resolved on the battlefield," Guterres told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council late Tuesday. U.N. special envoy for Sudan Volker Perthes, who moved from Khartoum to Port Sudan with most U.N. staff and many humanitarian organizations, accused both warring parties of fighting with disregard for the laws and norms of war, citing attacks on densely populated areas. With supply lines running out, he said, there is mounting fear of increased criminality, and reports of prisoners being released from detention centers across Khartoum have compounded these fears. Thousands of Sudanese have been fleeing Khartoum and its neighboring city of Omdurman. Bus stations in the capital were packed Tuesday morning with people who had spent the night there in hopes of getting on a departing bus. Drivers increased prices, sometimes tenfold, for routes to the border crossing with Egypt or the eastern Red Sea city of Port Sudan. Fuel prices have skyrocketed, to $67 a gallon from $4.20, and prices for food and water have doubled in many cases, the Norwegian Refugee Council said. Those lucky enough to reach the border crossings face additional hardships. Moaz al-Ser, a teacher, arrived at the Arqin border crossing with Egypt early Tuesday with his wife and three children after a harrowing trip from Omdurman. They were among hundreds of families who were waiting to be processed. Many had spent the night in an open area near the border. The crossing point is overwhelmed and authorities on both sides dont have the capacity to handle such a growing number of arrivals, he said. Secretary-General Guterres cited reports of armed clashes across the country, with people fleeing their homes in Blue Nile and North Kordofan states and across Western Darfur as well. Terrified people remain trapped indoors with dwindling food, water, medicine and fuel, and health services near collapse, he said. Joyce Msuya, the assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said at least 20 hospitals have been forced to close due to damage, military use or lack of resources. She also told the council there have been numerous reports of sexual and gender-based violence. The 72-hour cease-fire announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was to last until late Thursday night, extending a nominal three-day truce over the weekend. The rival forces said Tuesday they would observe the cease-fire. In separate announcements, they said Saudi Arabia played a role in the negotiations. But fighting continued, with explosions, gunfire and the roar of warplanes overhead around the capital region. They stop only when they run out of ammunition, Omdurman resident Amin Ishaq said. Al-Roumy, a medical facility in Omdurman, said it suspended its services after it was hit by a shell Tuesday. They dont respect cease-fires, said Atiya Abdalla Atiya, a senior figure in the Sudan Doctors Syndicate, a group that monitors casualties. Dr. Bushra Ibnauf Sulieman, a Sudanese-American physician who headed the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Khartoum, was stabbed to death outside his home, the Doctors' Syndicate said. He had practiced medicine for many years in the United States, where his children reside, but had returned to Sudan to train doctors. Colleagues said he had been treating those wounded in the fighting in recent days and that it was not known who killed him. The World Heath Organization, meanwhile, expressed concern that one of the warring parties had seized control of the central public health laboratory in Khartoum. That is extremely, extremely dangerous because we have polio isolates in the lab. We have measles isolates in the lab. We have cholera isolates in the lab, Dr. Nima Saeed Abid, the WHO representative in Sudan, told a U.N. briefing in Geneva by video call from Port Sudan. He did not identify which side held the facility but said they had expelled technicians and power was cut, so it was not possible to properly manage the biological materials. There is a huge biological risk. Clashes meanwhile escalated in the western Darfur region, residents said. Armed groups, wearing RSF uniforms, attacked several areas in Genena, a provincial capital, burning and looting properties and camps for displaced people. Fierce battles are raging all over the city, said a doctor in Genena, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. "All eyes are on Khartoum but the situation here is unimaginable. Women and children were fleeing homes in the city center, and the city's main hospital has not functioned for days, with unknown numbers of dead and wounded, she said. More fighters on motorcycles and horses have flowed into the city to join the battles, with dead bodies lying in the streets, according to Darfur 24, an online news outlet focusing on covering the war-wrecked region. The RSF has its roots in Darfur, where it emerged from the notorious Janjaweed militias that committed atrocities there while putting down a rebellion in the 2000s. At least 459 people, including civilians and fighters, have been killed, and over 4,000 wounded since fighting began, the U.N. health agency said, citing Sudans Health Ministry. Among them were 166 deaths and over 2,300 wounded in Khartoum, it said. Secretary-General Guterres said four U.N. staff were killed. The U.N. said they were three Sudanese working for the World Food Program and one Sudanese working for the International Organization for Migration. Those who are able have made their way to the Egyptian border, Port Sudan or relatively calmer provinces along the Nile. But the full scale of displacement has been difficult to measure. Msuya said the U.N. has received reports of tens of thousands of people arriving in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Mohammed Mahdi, of the International Rescue Committee, warned that resources were growing thin at the Tunaydbah refugee camp in eastern Sudan after 3,000 people fleeing Khartoum took refuge there, joining some 28,000 refugees from Ethiopia. At least 20,000 people have fled from Khartoum to the city of Wad Madani, 160 kilometers (100 miles) to the south, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. Some 20,000 Sudanese have fled to Chad and around 4,000 South Sudanese refugees living in Sudan have returned home, according to the U.N. refugee agency, which is gearing up for tens of thousands more to flee to neighboring countries. ___ Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London, Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, contributed to this report. MERIDEN Inside classroom 28 at Hanover Elementary School, Bilingual Educator Alicia Lorenzo has formed a family with her group of 26 fifth-graders. Together, they navigate the current curriculum in their native Spanish. Lorenzo has been part of the Meriden Public Schools for 18 years, since 2005, and is passionate about her role in the lives of her students. As a result of her passion, Lorenzo is being recognized by the Connecticut Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents at their 6th annual gala Saturday, May 6. She is among the six honorees and is receiving the exceptional teacher award. She has a great rapport with the students, parents, and families, said Evelyn Robles-Rivas, supervisor of language and community partnerships at Meriden Public Schools and former president of CALAS. Robles-Rivas has worked closely with Lorenzo for several years. Once I became the supervisor of the bilingual program, [Lorenzo] immediately opened her doors to me and started sharing the wonderful things she was doing in her classroom, she said. She is kind, compassionate, and she always has a nurturing environment where the students are learning content through language. In 2022, Lorenzo was recognized by the Board of Education due to her bilingual students doing extremely well on the states standardized Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) test in comparison to English language learners. Lorenzo said when a student first comes into her classroom, she assesses their needs. I always communicate with the parents in order to see what specific needs or support they may require, Lorenzo said. If I can support them within the classroom, I will do that. If they need something beyond the classroom, I direct them to specific services that can support their needs. According to Lorenzo, its important to build trust with the families, as they are new to Meriden and the English language. Lorenzo has students from all different backgroundsPeru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and other countries of Latin America. Students can be afraid when they first walk in. Its new for them and having to learn a new language, be social, and learn new material can be scary, she said. When teaching her students, Lorenzo teaches in both Spanish and English. When in small groups, she teaches in Spanish so that students can become familiar with the material. They will also watch four videos on the material, two in Spanish and two in English, Lorenzo said. Class lectures are taught in English, which allows the students to understand the material by using context clues and cognates. One of the key elements for an above quality bilingual program is the opportunity students can receive to utilize their native language as a foundation for learning English. And also grade level curriculum. So bilingual teachers have a tremendous responsibility. Robles-Rivas said. Prior to being a teacher, Lorenzo was a paralegal for 17 years after receiving a bachelors degree in legal studies from Hartford College for Women. I felt that something was missing and I wasnt happy with being in an office with no interaction, she said. So Lorenzo obtained a Master of Education degree from the University of New Haven and a masters in Curriculum & Instruction and Language Acquisition from the University of Connecticut. I love being here with the students, Lorenzo said. I have been in the Meriden Public School system for 18 years because they truly care about their teachers. They have helped me with curriculum materials and professional development. The 6th annual CALAS gala will be held at Cascade Fine Catering in Hamden from 6 to 11 p.m. Cost is $100 per person and includes dinner, DJ, and cash bar. For more information, visit https://www.calas-ct.org/. celescano@record-journal.com MERIDEN The Curtis Home and its veteran residents were extremely grateful to U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes office for their relentless efforts in helping secure necessary reimbursement funds from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Through the contract with the Veterans Administration we are reimbursed for things like room and board, pharmacy needs, transportation etc., said Albert Mislow, Curtis Home administrator. Were honored to have the contract but we also need to get paid. Congresswoman Hayes office made that happen for us so we did get some of the money and were starting to pay our bills. A group of veteran residents welcomed Hayes to the facility Friday afternoon with flowers and big smiles. How are you? Jahana Hayes so nice to meet you, Hayes said as she went around the lobby and shook each veterans hand. Happy to finally be able to come visit. When we got the call in January, I got a frantic call from Kayla (Briere, an aide in Hayes office) and she said, do you mind if I go by and see whats going on? I cant make sense of this over the phone? She came back and said, we have to figure this out. About half of the residents at the Curtis Home are veterans. Each month the Curtis Home sends the Department of Veterans Affairs the bills and they are reimbursed within 30 days. Payment issues began in April of last year, putting the Curtis Home in arrears for upwards of $2 million through March of this year. We called on the phone every single number and we couldnt get anywhere. The website didnt help either, said Linda Fassbender, who works in the finance department at the Curtis Home. We got our payment in January (2023) for some claims that were outstanding from August and the board suggested calling (Congresswoman Hayes) office and then we talked about it and we called. Im always floored and I tell my staff at the point where a person gets to us they have exhausted everything. Its not natural that as soon as the problem occurs people are going to be like Im going to call the congresswoman. Its after you tried everything on your own, said Hayes. The reasons for the delay, we were told, was staff turnover, lack of personnel, misfiling tax paperwork (company name discrepancy), said Mislow. That got straightened out, we corrected the form. Hayes shared that her office has never had a case like this and initially was not sure where to even begin. But once they received all the documents needed from the Curtis Home her office hit the ground running following the paper trail, making calls and getting things resolved; taking notes along the way so if this problem should arise in the future with other agencies they will know what to do. The VA appointed Mr. Vo at the West Haven VA to be on our case and he worked very hard to get us payment, but that took maybe 9 or 10 weeks before we saw around $11,000 last Saturday, said Mislow. The Curtis Home officials and Hayes shared that they are happy the payments are rolling in and Hayes added that her office will be keeping an eye on it. Well make sure that the information that theyre giving us is accurate and that its some point in the approval process and make sure it comes through, said Hayes. We checked today (Friday) or yesterday (Thursday) to see what the next steps are and I think the additional payments are on some level of the approval process. The Curtis Home has been around since 1894. It is a 60-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility at 380 Crown St. that offers a wide array of therapeutic services and residential choices. There are five buildings on the property and the Curtis Home is also connected to a 34-bed resident health care center on the same property. More information on the Curtis Home can be found on its website www.thecurtishome.org. chooks@record-journal.com203-317-2279 North Dakota's judiciary won't be getting the raises it sought, nor the levels initially approved. The $130.6 million judicial branch budget, House Bill 1002, is on its way to Gov. Doug Burgum's desk after clearing the state House of Representatives, 84-8, and the Senate in a voice vote on Monday. The judiciary had asked for 20% and 15% raises in the first and second years, respectively, of North Dakota's two-year 2023-25 budget cycle for judicial officers, including the state's five Supreme Court justices and 52 district court judges. That would have cost $6.5 million. Judges and justices said the increases are overdue, would bring North Dakota toward the middle range compared to other states, and would attract more candidates for judicial spots. The House in February had approved 8% and 4% increases for the judiciary, which would have cost over $2.37 million. The Senate amended the raises down to 6% and 4%, in line with salary increases for all state employees, a change agreed to in a House-Senate conference committee and in line with what the governor advocated for raises. Supreme Court Justice Daniel Crothers said, "I have not spoken to members of the conference committees so I have no information about why they agreed to the lower amount." He declined further comment. Sen. Mike Dwyer, R-Bismarck, said North Dakota's judicial salaries will be ahead of those of nearby states with comparable populations and court systems. The justices will earn $179,312, then $186,486 in July 2024. The chief justice "is entitled to receive" an additional $5,071, then $5,274. State district court judges will earn $164,532, then $171,113. Presiding judges are "entitled to receive" an additional $4,675, then $4,862. Dwyer also said the budget adds 11 clerks, three judges, four law clerk attorneys, an assistant Supreme Court administrator and two court improvement positions. PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwas visit to the United Kingdom for King Charles IIIs coronation hangs in the balance after some parliamentarians in London demanded that he be barred over alleged human rights abuses. Mnangagwa last week said he was excited to receive an invitation to the UK for the coronation on May 6 at Westminster in London, but the visit has now generated a lot of controversy. In a letter addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth and Development secretary James Cleverly dated April 24, some House of Commons Members of Parliament (MPs) said Mnangagwa did not deserve the invite citing continued detention of opposition Zengeza West MP Job Sikhala and harassment of opposition activists and government critics. Sikhala has been in pre-trial detention for more than 300 days for allegedly inciting violence at the funeral wake of murdered Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) member Moreblessing Ali in Nyatsime in June last year. To summarise, political violence and human rights abuses are widespread with opposition MPs and party members harassed, beaten and murdered; corruption is rife, extending to the highest levels of government, destroying economy and impoverishing the Zimbabwe people; and the judiciary, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and all institutions of the State have been suborned to the ruling party, the letter read in part. Its more than 300 days since CCC deputy chairperson Job Sikhala MP was detained after providing legal representation to the family of murdered opposition campaigner Moreblessing Ali. Since then, he has been held without trial in Chikurubi Maximum (Security) Prison and denied his constitutional right to bail. The letter was signed by Nav Mishra, Lord Jonathan Oates, Lord Anthony St John of Blesto, Lord Henry Bellingham, Lord Peter Hain, Lord Robert Hayward, Baroness Kate Hoey of Lylehill and Rathlin, Rachel Hopkins, Kim Johnson and Lord Jeremy Purvis of Tweed. They said inviting Mnangagwa to the coronation would be unjust. The coronation invitation will inevitably be used by President Mnangagwa as tacit acceptance by the UK of publicly evidenced political violence and repression in the run-up to the forthcoming election and will be deeply demoralising to ordinary Zimbabweans in their struggle for democracy, the MPs said. We, therefore, urge the government to withdraw President Mnangagwas invitation until Sikhala and other political prisoners are granted their constitutional right to bail and concrete actions are taken to address human rights abuses and guarantee free and fair elections. They also raised concerns that Zimbabwe was headed towards a violent election after noting an increase in cases of political violence across the country. In October 2022, Bulawayo MP, Jasmine Toffa had her arms fractured in an attack by Zanu PF supporters when she was campaigning for a local council candidate and there are regular reports of local party campaigners and councillors being attacked, tortured and murdered with direct incitement from Zanu PF leaders, the letter added. 2023 is already proving to be a year of heightened tension due to planned elections in July (or August). Independent sources including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders are recording rising levels of political repression, arbitrary and politically motivated arrests of elected opposition party members and intimidation of the Press. Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said she was not aware of the developments and referred NewsDay to presidential spokesperson George Charamba whose phone went unanswered. Mnangagwa last week said he would announce election dates at the end of next month. According to government officials, Mnangagwa will not intervene to secure Sikhalas release in respect of the separation of powers between the Judiciary and the Executive. NewsDay Breaking News via Email THE Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)s candidate selection process has reportedly hit a brickwall in some rural wards as villagers are said to be reluctant to come out in the open and stand as opposition candidates, NewsDay has gathered. Cluster leaders who spoke to NewsDay said the party was finding it difficult to find candidates in remote areas such as Muzarabani, Mudzi and Chimanimani, among other districts. Things are not looking good on the ground. There are no takers in perceived Zanu PF strongholds because people are vulnerable and they do not know where to report if they are harassed or their houses burnt, said a party cluster leader who declined to be named. CCC has no established structures. In most rural communities, to be labelled an opposition attracts serious backlash. This comes amid reports that the party had come up with only one candidate out of 22 wards in Chimanimani and also failed to find a candidate in 24 wards in Mashonaland West province. Information gathered by NewsDay showed that most opposition leaders adopted rural constituencies under the partys Mugwazo programme, but opted for safe seats in urban areas. CCC interim secretary-general Chalton Hwende adopted Mhondoro area, but opted to be nominated in Kuwadzana (Harare), while vice-president Tendai Biti adopted Murewa, but also opted for a safe seat in his Harare East constituency. Sources in CCC said the party was also finding it difficult to deal with the issue of double nominations. There is nothing called consensus in politics. Every politician wants power and to be told to talk things over so that one concedes is a fallacy, said an aspiring legislator. The party was also accused of double standards after it emerged that some candidates renounced their Movement for Democratic Change membership at the eleventh hour so that they could be nominated under a CCC ticket. Former MDC Alliance Harare chairperson Zivanai Mhetu was allowed to be nominated in Epworth North constituency. In a circular on the selection procedures, CCC said having conducted stakeholder and citizen candidate nomination surveys in wards or constituencies, the Citizens Candidates Independent Selection Panel (CISP) will prepare a report that includes all names of nominated candidates, as well as scores and comments from stakeholders. Nominated candidates will be approached by the CISP to ascertain their willingness for consideration as candidates. Contacted for comment, CCC deputy spokesperson Gift Siziba, however, dismissed the reports that the opposition party was failing to field candidates in some rural wards. That is not true that we are failing to find candidates. We have residue of all the 1 970 wards in Zimbabwe. Those who are alleging that, maybe, they are saying so because of the nominations that come late. We are now moving to the citizens caucus stage, Siziba said. Addressing a Press conference in Harare recently, CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said the process has at least four stages, with the nomination being the first stage. Following nomination, there is going to be a vetting process and the fact that one has been nominated is not the end of the situation, it doesnt mean that you are yet eligible to be a candidate, she said. Mahere said after the vetting process is complete, they are also going to further consult key stakeholders in various communities who will have an opportunity to make their representations on who they would like to represent them. Thereafter, the very important community consensus building part of the candidate will start where there will be citizens caucuses where citizens will come together and be told there is X, there is Y candidate, who do you prefer and why? They (also) have an opportunity to make their case, deliver a very brief manifesto of what they plan to deliver in their wards or constituency and also to take questions from the community concerning their eligibility to run, she said. NewsDay Breaking News via Email In the middle of a forest not far from Kenyas coast, piles of fresh earth topped with crucifixes await the attention of forensic experts. About 14 mass graves have so far been dug up and Hussein Khalid has spent the past four days watching people exhume dozens of bodies. The stench is unbearable, he tells the BBC. The dead are thought to have been members of the Good News International Church. It is believed they were persuaded to starve themselves in order to reach heaven before what they were told was going to be the end of the world. Mr Khalid runs the rights organisation Haki Africa, which took the authorities to the grave sites at the end of last week after being tipped off by some locals. The place is quite hidden inside Shakahola forest and he says that he and his team needed to cut back shrubs and bushes in order to drive there. Eighty-nine bodies have been exhumed so far, but the final count could be much higher as the Red Cross has said that said 112 people have been reported missing. Mr Khalid estimates that there are around 60 mass grave sites in the area and only a quarter of those have been examined. Police say that 29 survivors have been found so far, but it seems that not all of them wanted to be rescued, so convinced they were about what they were told about the end of the world. On Sunday, Mr Khalid came across a woman in her late 20s looking extremely frail with sunken eyes. But she did not want to be helped. When we tried to administer first aid to give her sips of water with glucose with a spoon, she completely refused. She sealed her mouth shut and she was signifying that she doesnt want any help, Mr Khalid says, adding that the woman was now being treated in hospital. He also came across a man in his 40s who was able to talk. He said he didnt need any saving, and that he was in his senses and he knows what hes doing and he should be left alone. He even called us enemies of him going to heaven. That man has also been taken to hospital. Victor Kaudo from the Malindi Community Human Rights Centre, which is helping exhume the bodies, says he thinks there are about 150 bodies. He said his organisation had been contacted by a whistleblower who wanted help rescuing his three children. It was quite unfortunate because we only rescued one whom we found in a house, tied with a rope, he told the BBC. And this kid we believe to be six years of age. But his sister and brother were already dead and they had been buried the previous day before we got there. Body bags are seen arranged as forensic experts and homicide detectives exhume bodies. Beyond the forest itself, there is shock in the country over how dozens of people could have willingly starved themselves to death. Kenya is a profoundly religious country with 85% of the population identifying as Christian. President William Ruto, who is a devout man himself, has described the head of the Good News International Church, Pastor Makenzie Nthenge, as someone who did not belong to any religion. Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki has called what happened a massacre. Last month Mr Nthenge was charged in connection with the deaths of two children whose parents had joined his church. He was released on bail, but he is now back in police custody. The speaker of the Senate, Amason Kingi, asked how evil of such an astounding magnitude [could] take place without being detected. There is also the question of why someone would starve themself. Theologian and psychologist Dr James Kipsang Barngetuny told the BBC that there was a problem in Kenya with the mushrooming of lots of small churches, which are not properly regulated. He said that unscrupulous leaders are able to brainwash people and take advantage of their desire to find a solution to their problems. Back in the forest, Mr Khalid has been told that there is a place deeper inside where people gathered to pray and he has urged the authorities to step up a search-and-rescue operation in the forest, which covers some 800 acres (325 hectares). Local people are beginning to come to the grave sites to tell the authorities about relatives who are missing. One man told Mr Khalid that his three sons, aged 21, 17 and 14, had been taken by his brother to join the church. He feared that they were all now dead. BBC News Breaking News via Email In 2019, federal lab regulators ordered the prestigious U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases to halt all work with dangerous pathogens, such as Ebola and anthrax. Army officials assured the public there was no safety threat and indicated that no pathogens leaked outside the laboratory after flooding in 2018. But in a new book released April 25, investigative reporter Alison Young reveals there were repeated and egregious safety breaches and government oversight failures at Fort Detrick, Maryland, that preceded the 2019 shutdown. This article is adapted from Pandoras Gamble: Lab Leaks, Pandemics, and a World at Risk. Alison Young is an investigative reporter based in Washington, D.C. and has followed laboratory accidents for 15 years for news organizations that include USA Today, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and ProPublica. The following article was originally published at KFF Health News. Unsterilized laboratory wastewater from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Maryland, spewed out the top of a rusty 50,000-gallon outdoor holding tank, the pressure catapulting it over the short concrete wall that was supposed to contain hazardous spills. It was May 25, 2018, the Friday morning before Memorial Day weekend, and the tank holding waste from labs working with Ebola, anthrax, and other lethal pathogens had become overpressurized, forcing the liquid out a vent pipe. An estimated 2,000-3,000 gallons streamed into a grassy area a few feet from an open storm drain that dumps into Carroll Creek a centerpiece of downtown Frederick, Maryland, a city of about 80,000 an hours drive from the nations capital. But as the waste sprayed for as long as three hours, records show, none of the plants workers apparently noticed the tank had burst a pipe. This was despite the facility being under scrutiny from federal lab regulators following catastrophic flooding and an escalating series of safety failures that had been playing out for more than a week. *** Before the outdoor tank failed, there had already been breaches of other lab waste storage tanks inside the sterilization plant. On May 17, 2018, in the wake of devastating storms, workers at Fort Detrick discovered that the plants basement was filling with water that would reach 4 to 5 feet deep. Some of it was rainwater seeping in from outdoors. But a lot was fluid leaking from the basements long-deteriorating tanks that held thousands of gallons of unsterilized lab wastewater. As basement sump pumps forced floodwater into these tanks, the influx disgorged lab waste through cracks along the tops of the tanks, sending it streaming back toward the floor. The steam sterilization plant, referred to as the SSP, was built in 1953. It was designed to essentially cook the wastewater that flowed into it from Fort Detricks biological laboratories, ensuring that all deadly pathogens were killed before the water was released from the base into the Monocacy River. USAMRIIDs safety protocols called for a two-step kill process for lab wastewater. Before it was sent down drains into Fort Detricks dedicated laboratory sewer system for heat treatment at the plant, lab workers were supposed to pretreat potentially infectious liquids with bleach or other chemicals. But chemical disinfection can be tricky. To be effective, it requires workers to use the right kind of disinfectant at the right concentration and, importantly, to ensure that the disinfectant remains in contact with the microbes long enough to kill them. Any living organisms left behind could multiply. Despite the plants importance to protecting public health, by May 2018 it had become a rusting, leaking, temperamental hulk. It was 65 years old and was supposed to have been torn down already. But a replacement plant completed at a cost to taxpayers of more than $30 million had suffered a catastrophic failure in 2016 and couldnt be repaired, records show. So even though the sterilization plant was in significant disrepair, USAMRIID still used it, with a much smaller amount of waste coming from a U.S. Department of Agriculture lab that worked with weeds and plant diseases. On a typical day in 2018, state records show, these facilities sent about 30,000 gallons of laboratory wastewater into the plant, which had five 50,000-gallon storage tanks in its basement, plus an additional nine interconnected 50,000-gallon storage tanks outside. Fort Detrick officials had been aware for some time that the tops of the aging basement storage tanks had multiple leaks caused over the years by chlorine gases accumulating on the surface of the wastewater, according to a state investigation report of the incident and the Army garrisons responses to questions. It was so much of an issue that the garrisons Directorate of Public Works employees, who operated the plant, had to make sure the tanks didnt ever fill up completely or else the potentially infectious water would spill out. Their workaround was to try to limit the amount of waste in each basement tank to about half capacity. But the flooding in May 2018 made that impossible because the sump pumps were sending so much water into the sterilization system. Lab inspectors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had apparently failed to recognize the plant was in such disrepair. The CDC offered no explanation of how the problems were missed, but after the incident it created a new policy and task force for overseeing labs wastewater decontamination systems. Samuel Edwin, director of the CDCs select agent regulatory program, did not grant an interview. Two years before the plant flooded and failed, the CDC had hired Edwin from USAMRIID, where he had spent eight years as the biological surety officer and responsible official in charge of making sure USAMRIIDs labs complied with federal regulations. Edwin, in an emailed statement, said he wasnt aware of any corrosion or leak issues while he worked at USAMRIID. Federal Select Agent Program regulators from the CDC inspected the plant annually, Edwin said, adding: FSAP did not observe, and I did not report, any issues with the SSP during this time. Four days after the plant flooded, CDC inspectors arrived at Fort Detrick and spent May 21 and 22, 2018, inspecting the facility. As the CDC inspectors left Fort Detrick, they allowed USAMRIID to resume some research activities. The long Memorial Day weekend was coming up, and the weather forecast showed more rain headed toward Frederick. To protect the plant against further flooding, a decision was made to pump the water inside the basements waste storage tanks into the auxiliary tanks outdoors. The hope was to free up an additional 80,000 gallons of capacity, Fort Detrick said in response to questions. Things didnt go as planned. Somewhere along the way, an automatic shut-off feature designed to keep the outdoor tanks from overfilling was deactivated, Fort Detrick officials later said in response to questions. *** It was an employee of the National Cancer Institute, which has a research building at Fort Detrick near the plant, who spotted wastewater spewing from an outdoor wastewater tank, over the containment wall, and into a grassy area with an open storm drain inlet that sends runoff into Carroll Creek, according to records and Fort Detricks responses to questions. The person called it in to the trouble desk of the garrisons Directorate of Public Works on that Friday morning, May 25. But nobody checked on the tank until noon, Fort Detrick said. The dispatched workers reported back that they didnt see any leaking fluid. They checked the tanks again at 2 p.m. and still saw nothing. So nothing was done. If not for the persistence of the unidentified National Cancer Institute employee, the leak would have been ignored. On the Wednesday after the holiday, that person contacted the Fort Detrick safety manager. They wanted to follow up on their previous report and this time they provided photos proving the tank had been spraying wastewater nearly a week earlier. The photos got the bases attention. The Fort Detrick Command was immediately notified. So was USAMRIIDs leadership. But another day passed before anyone alerted state and local authorities. *** A significant question remained: What was in the lab wastewater that spewed out of the tank? If viable organisms like anthrax bacteria had been sent into public waterways, the consequences could be disastrous for USAMRIID, Fort Detrick and the CDC regulators who allowed them to keep operating despite the jury-rigged sterilization plant. The risk that people or animals would become infected was probably low, with any organisms likely reduced below infectious levels as the waste became diluted by the floodwaters still surging through the areas streams and rivers. But public backlash and headlines were certainties. So, what was in the wastewater? Nobody seemed to be looking very hard to find out. USAMRIID and Fort Detrick officials offered only generalized assurances that their tests hadnt detected any pathogens. But they would not release copies of testing reports. Rather than serve as watchdogs in the public interest, all levels of government seemed to largely defer to USAMRIID and its expertise despite the organizations egregious safety breach and potential self-interest in damage control. In the weeks before the tank started spewing wastewater, USAMRIID had been experimenting with 16 organisms, and lab officials said they had tested the concrete pad and the ground adjacent to the tanks and hadnt detected any of them. Anthrax was the organism of greatest concern because of its ability to persist in the environment, something many pathogens cant do for very long. Other organisms that were possibly in the wastewater were Ebola virus, Lassa fever virus, Junin virus, Marburg virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, eastern equine encephalitis virus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Nipah virus, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Burkholderia mallei, Francisella tularensis, western equine encephalitis virus, Dobrava-Belgrade virus, Seoul virus, and Chikungunya virus. But all test results were negative, USAMRIID officials said. How meaningful was USAMRIIDs testing? USAMRIID and Fort Detrick officials didnt do any environmental tests until May 31 and June 1 about a week after the tank overflowed. By then, it had rained, which, in response to questions, USAMRIID acknowledged would have had a dilutional effect if any pathogens had been present. Did USAMRIID test two samples or 20 samples or 200 samples? What were the detection limits of the testing methods used? How might the rain or wind or sunlight have affected the ability of the tests to detect organisms a week after their release? USAMRIID and Fort Detrick officials would not release copies of the testing reports. For months, they wouldnt even say how many samples were tested. The test plan was reviewed and approved by the CDC, USAMRIID said in a written statement. CDC lab regulators said USAMRIID developed and conducted its own testing. USAMRIID test results indicated the public health risk associated with any potential release was negligible; however, you would need to contact USAMRIID for full information about the testing methods and results, the CDC said. Eventually, after months of requests, USAMRIID said its testing to determine whether pathogens had escaped involved just five swab samples collected from various locations at the plant. As further evidence that no deadly microbes had escaped, records show that Army officials noted to state and local officials without providing reports or details that they had done additional validation testing inside USAMRIIDs laboratories that showed lab drains contained sufficient disinfectant to kill anything poured down them. The implication was that there was no risk from the plants unsterilized wastewater and that the heat-treating process was nice, but not necessary. Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that these drain tests werent performed under real-life conditions. Instead, the Army acknowledged, they were done in empty labs where no work had been occurring and no animals were present. Of perhaps greater concern: The drain tests were performed solely in response to the regulatory and public relations crisis from the lab leak in May 2018. It was the only time from January 2015 through at least March 2022 that USAMRIID had checked the adequacy of the disinfectant in its drains, the Armys FOIA response said. By KLG, who has held research and academic positions in three US medical schools since 1995 and is currently Professor of Biochemistry and Associate Dean. He has performed and directed research on protein structure, function, and evolution; cell adhesion and motility; the mechanism of viral fusion proteins; and assembly of the vertebrate heart. He has served on national review panels of both public and private funding agencies, and his research and that of his students has been funded by the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and National Institutes of Health. Two weeks ago I wrote about Vaccine Effectiveness and Scientific Communication. Today I want to follow up on that with something related that was published last year in The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (est. 1890), When Science Becomes Embroiled in Conflict: Recognizing the Publics Need for Debate while Combating Conspiracies and Misinformation (Stephen Lewandowsky of the University of Bristol, and others). That title is filled with meaning, and the article was written by nine serious scholars from an august group of research universities. It exhibits much that is good and essential in the academic approach to our common problems. But as someone who among other things has been an academic since he first entered the Main Library filled with 3 million books, I also recognize that it has blind spots that we all have in common. From the Abstract: Most democracies seek input from scientists to inform policies. This can put scientists in a position of intense scrutiny. Here we focus on situations in which scientific evidence conflicts with peoples worldviews, preferences, or vested interests. These conflicts frequently play out through systematic dissemination of disinformation or the spreading of conspiracy theories, which may undermine the publics trust in the work of scientists, muddy the waters of what constitutes truth, and may prevent policy from being informed by the best available evidence. However, there are also instances in which public opposition arises from legitimate value judgments and lived experiences. In this article, we analyze the differences between politically motivated science denial on the one hand, and justifiable public opposition on the other. We conclude with a set of recommendations on tackling misinformation and understanding the publics lived experiences to preserve legitimate democratic debate of policy. (emphasis added) Democracies and expert opinion. Yes, all governments need expert advice to function in service of the common welfare and often these experts are scientists. This is not the place delve into the nature of American democracy, but one might note that what the people want and need and what their erstwhile political leadership delivers are not one and the same. Not that they ever have been, but this book by Jane Mayer, who is the granddaughter of Allan Nevins, is as good a place to start as any. The question that is not directly addressed here is: Who are these scientists and what are their motivations? The default position of the powers-that-be has been to view scientists as disinterested seekers of the truth of the natural world. However, as pointed out so well by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway in Merchants of Doubt [1], scientists and their patrons who are science adjacent can be anything but disinterested. The people inevitably have figured this out, with the scientific and political responses to COVID-19 as the exemplary case. But 30+ years into the Statin Era, deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) are still the most common cause of death in the United States. It is not an accident that deaths from CVD have declined only marginally by 2.8% over the past ten years and remain highest in areas that are poorer and/or medically underserved. At the other end of the spectrum, neither is it unrelated that as the science of economics has become more influential over the past 40+ years, economic welfare has decreased for most people. [2] Conflict, Disinformation, and Conspiracy Theories. Yes, conflicts both imagined and real often lead to conspiracy theories. This has been covered in a remarkable book by Thomas Milan Konda, Conspiracies of Conspiracies: How Delusions have Overrun America (2019). And why is this? The reasons are many, but in my view this passage has considerable explanatory power: Contemporary research has found that people who see their situation deteriorating are particularly susceptible to conspiracy theories. Feelings of increasing powerlessness, especially of a diminution of socio-political control, lead people to conspiratorial conclusions. Believing that ones plight is caused by a conspiracy can provide a clear explanation for a negative outcome that otherwise seems inexplicable. Such powerless can also lead to increased religious intensity or greater acceptance of authoritarian leaders, but when these feelings are linked with overwhelming, shocking eventsthe odds of turning to conspiracy are increased. (p. 32) As Richard Hofstadter put it in The Paranoid Style in American Politics, this also relies on a Manichean outlook that presumes the conflict of good versus evil related to the megalomaniac view of oneself as the Elect, wholly good, abominably persecuted yet assured of ultimate triumph (with) the attribution of gigantic and demonic powers to the adversary. When I first read Hofstadter as the proverbial college freshman, I thought he was overwrought. Now I tend to believe that he exaggerated only a bit, during the era in which Lionel Trillings The Liberal Imagination was a fundamental text of the nascent Professional Managerial Class (PMC) that was soon to be confused by a book written as sociological satire. Conspiracy and the Undermining of Trust in Science and Government. Yes, but Science and Government have done quite well at undermining themselves on their own, as noted every day at Naked Capitalism, especially regarding COVID-19, of which this article is a case study. Politically motivated science denial versus justifiable public opposition. This is analyzed well in the article and will be considered below. A primary focus of this article is the COVID-19 infodemic. This is an apt term to describe the past three years and has been defined as an abundance of low-quality information (i.e., information that turns out to be false), disinformation (i.e., false information that is intentionally spread to mislead people), and conspiracy theories. That much of this low-quality information has been published in peer-reviewed journals seems to be unappreciated by the authors. The political fault-finding here is what one might expect and is not particularly useful: Trumps dissemination of misinformation has been linked to reduced compliance with pandemic control measures, which eventually translated into higher COVID-19 infection and fatality growth rates in U.S. counties that predominantly voted for Trump in 2016 than those that voted for Clinton. Facile, but perhaps. The early responses to COVID-19 were primarily theatre, not science, and one can only have high hopes for the Covid Crisis Groups book that was pre-reviewed at NC on April 24: Lessons from the Covid War (pre-ordered). I am reminded of a recent conversation with a retired internist colleague. She asked my whether I have been boosted, and I replied, No. She then asked in her PMC glory, Is that because of the Great Orange One with all his misinformation? Stifling a giggle, my reply was, No. I was immunosuppressed for most of the year after my two Pfizer shots and did not want to risk another unnecessary challenge to my immune system. After a nod that I interpreted as assent I continued with, What seems most sensible to me is the mRNA vaccines are experimental and do not work, in that they prevent neither infection nor transmission. In any case, I have not been convinced that boosters will work on the current variants of SARS-CoV-2. Or that the purported tunable character of mRNA vaccines as a practical and rapid response to emerging infections will ever matter with a rapidly evolving virus such as SARS-CoV-2. And besides, cheap and easy non-pharmaceutical interventions such as effective masks, improved ventilation, and air filters are much more likely to work in the short term, with anti-virals coming next, and then effective intranasal vaccines that will stop SARS-CoV-2 before it starts. Up to now, virtually all of our efforts have been devoted to intramuscular mRNA vaccines, which may cause too many side effects to be safe enough to justify their widespread use. No argument in response and even a short disquisition on vaccine effectiveness and how that is measured! Medical school memories, I suppose. How has COVID-19 affected our democracy, according to Lewandowsky and co-authors? Primarily by interfering with economic freedom and individual liberty (leaving the relationships between democracy and economic freedom aside for the time being). As they rightly emphasize, Any infringement upon civil liberties must be thoroughly examined before it can be justified as an unfortunate exception in the interest of public health. But this was not done effectively, or at all during the pandemic. Nevertheless, shutdowns and work-from-home did protect some of us, including yours truly who was able to work a mostly normal schedule and can survive and sometimes thrive for extended periods in a hermit-like existence. Nevertheless, these social restrictions have disproportionately impacted women, single parents, minority groups, refugees and migrants, and poor people who cannot afford to buy basic personal protective equipment (PPE). Or the essential workers who did not have the option or the wherewithal to stay home during the successive COVID-19 waves (meatpacking plant workers, for example) or work-from-home for the duration, which for the WFH contingent may last quite a while in some businesses. In one of the most effective passages in the paper the authors note that: Frustration with, and opposition to, social restrictions are therefore potentially legitimate grievances that deserve to be heard in democratic public discourse. Pandemics deprive people of their feelings of control and security, factors that are known to enhance the attractiveness of conspiracy theories. Some people may therefore be driven towards conspiratorial rhetoric out of psychological or rhetorical needs rather than out of an intrinsic disposition. Although the epistemic status of argumentation is independent of the proponents circumstances, those circumstances or grievances may be relevant to determining the appropriate response. The need to recognize and empathize with these grievances is amplified by the fact that the pandemic has had the most severe impact on low-wage and low-skill employees. These employees were hit in multiple ways, from wage insecurity for hourly workers to dense living conditions and the inability to escape crowded and unsafe workplaces. (emphasis added) Although they are generally ignored in common PMC discourse, the truth of the matter (i.e., epistemic status of argumentation in perfectly fluent academic jargon) is that legitimate grievances of the working class should be recognized and understood (one can hope) and disagreement with the status quo of our political economy should not be taken as evidence of ones deplorable character. And indeed, the pandemic has had the greatest effect on low-wage and low-skill employeeswage insecurity, dense living conditionscrowded and unsafe workplaces. At which point I must point out that the low-skill employee trope has no place in legitimate academic discourse, however common it is. Only a professor or the completely oblivious (not always the same) could view a waiter, line cook, barista, bartender, meatcutter in the meat factory in Nebraska or Kansas, certified medical assistant, or nurses aide as a low-skill employee. But I digress again to note that the problem with too many of my PMC colleagues is that they have never had to actually work for a living, which has been one of the many lessons learned from COVID-19. For an excellent recent and concise philosophical treatment of work, see A Philosopher Looks at Work by Raymond Geuss, a child of the American working class who found himself at Cambridge. Which brings us to scientific argumentation and scientific denial, the latter of which arises when people reject well-established scientific propositions that are no longer debated by the relevant scientific community. Common examples are biological evolution, anthropogenic climate change, and the link between HIV and AIDS. As with many standard academic approaches, an acronym exists: FLICC: Fake experts Logical fallacies Impossible expectations Cherry-picking Conspiracy theories. Fake scientific experts have been a thing at least since Big Tobacco enlisted scientists and physicians to deny the link between smoking and lung cancer, which was proven, even if the molecular mechanisms remained unknown for 40 years, as I have noted before by Richard Doll and Bradford Hill in the early 1950s. The relevant science is more accessible in The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee. [3] Logical fallacies include straw man arguments and false dichotomies. Another example is conflation of logical and temporal prediction. An example of the former is: Fill the atmosphere with greenhouse gases and the climate will get warmer. The latter has been common since the ancient prediction of eclipses and the development of celestial mechanics. These forms of prediction are not related. Impossible expectations include proof of global warming, which, while it cannot actually be proven by the deluge that hit Fort Lauderdale earlier this month, that Glacier National Park should be renamed National Park when our children have grandchildren, if not sooner, is good evidence for AGW. Another may be that herd immunity will save us from COVID-19. Cherry picking is self-explanatory. As I have taught my graduate students: Once is an anecdote, twice is data, three times is a result. Conspiracy theories can be an adjunct to denial, which often has understandable origins for those who will listen. The brief for the distinction between science denial and scientific argumentation is not particularly convincing, as has been illustrated throughout COVID-19. The Great Barrington Declaration may have been associated with something called the American Institute for Economic Research, but the authors are scientists associated with Oxford, Stanford, and Harvard Medical School, just as are many of the 937,000+ signers of the declaration. Scientific truth is not a matter of declaration. Herd immunity against coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2 remains problematic, and this has been known for a long time. Dr. Anthony Fauci famously told us he represents science. The context of that statement does not support the notion that he believes he is science, as commonly reported (it is no accident that a Startpage search returns mostly articles from the Right side of the political spectrum). But the statement was cringe-inducing and reminded too few actual scientists of John 14:6, in which Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. The mRNA vaccines about which Dr. Fauci was talking in his interview with CBS News were at the time, and remain, problematic. Finally, the authors conclude with: When science has an impact on policy and on peoples daily lives, two fundamental rights of the public collide: the right to be heard, and the right not to be misled. We propose that this tension can be resolved, and legitimate democratic debate be facilitated, in at least two ways. Perhaps coincide rather than collide should be used to describe the relationship between these two fundamental rights. These first recommendation is: Misleading and inappropriate argumentation must be identifiedRapidly evolving crises can overwhelm the scientific process, which cannot provide firm answers at the speed at which they are demanded by the public and policy makers. However, lack of scientific knowledge or scientific uncertainty does not legitimate misleading or inappropriate argumentation. Indeed, but the correct and proper answer from the scientific process is We do not know, but we will work hard to find answers that are needed for the public at large. With COVID-19, this was not the answer. It was clear from the beginning that the physicians who dealt with the first wave of COVID-19 in Wuhan were correct in their response that what they were seeing required rapid and effective measures, to include travel bans, masks, social distancing, and other immediate acts in the face of an apparently novel, acute disease that kills. Instead, the scientific and political establishments argued among themselves about SARS-CoV-2 origins and pathobiology and conducted several experiments on millions of people, without their consent. I wrote earlier in this series that the mRNA vaccine experiment worked but the outcome was uncertain. What I meant is that all properly performed experiments work but they often produce an answer that is inconvenient if not unwanted. Which is the case with COVID-19 vaccines, so far. The good scientist revises her hypothesis and continues with her research. The bad scientist, who is often a marketer in disguise, doubles down on his original hypothesis and cashes in as soon as possible. The second recommendation is: The functional role of inappropriate argumentation must be interrogated (another favorite but out of place academic term). Do people believe and voice those arguments to express a relevant aspect of their circumstances? If people voice conspiratorial rhetoric, do they express a deep-seated belief or does the rhetoric serve other functions such as loss of control. What strikes me most about this recommendation is that it applies to both the skeptical and perhaps conspiratorial public and the soi-disant scientists and administrators and denizens of corporate C-suites and their research directors who run the other side of the argument. All you have to do for the scientific side is replace conspiratorial with self-interested, as in having a vested interest in the outcome. And therein lies what I view as the problem with science embroiled in conflict. Fully half of the conflict comes from each side. The benefits have manifestly accrued to only one side of the argument during COVID-1, though. That result is to be expected, unfortunately. Which leads me to the question Why? I do not know. I have looked. Many proffered answers are facile. There can be no unitary answer, but I have watched our Social Capital dwindle to nearly nothing during a working life that began just before Neoliberalism asserted itself as the dominant and only acceptable paradigm of political economy. Unless and until we rebuild our social capital in the form of conventions, spaces, practices, and norms of conduct that will not fail us, either in day-to-day life or in the crises that confront us from time to time, Nothing will fundamentally change, as the politician has said. We have work to do. Notes [1] Their recent book is The Big Myth: How American Business Taught us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market (Bloomsbury, 2023). Ninety pages in and it is not clear how market fundamentalism is anything but an essential attribute of modern, especially neoliberal, capitalism, whatever the regulatory environment. [2] I violate Professor Horowitzs Rule here and generalize from my own necessarily limited experience, but as a 17-year-old high school graduate I was paid $53,000 per year in 2023 dollars, including overtime at time-and-a-half double time on holidays with meaningful fringe benefits, to work at the lowest level (a shovel and sling blade were my most commonly used tools, along with a dump truck and forklift) in Maintenance at a heavy chemical plant (union, of course) for a transnational corporation whose business address at the time was Number One Times Square. Similar jobs were readily available to many who wanted them in an economy that paid the most experienced hourly workers in that plant (relief operators who could perform every production task) $192,000 a year in 2023 dollars. Is it any wonder that many of them owned a boat and a small cabin on the river, and that they were (mostly) politically quiescent. Or that their children are often obstreperous in the early years of the new millenium. [3] In the twenty-nine months between October 1951 and March 1954, 789 deaths were reported in Doll and Hills original cohort (of 41,024 physicians). Thirty-six of these were attributed to lung cancer. When lung cancer deaths were counted in smokers versus nonsmokers, the correlation virtually sprang out: all thirty-six of the deaths had occurred in smokers. The difference between the two groups was so significant that Doll and Hill did not even need to apply complex statistical metrics to discern it. The trial designed to bring the most rigorous statistical analysis to the cause of lung cancer barely required elementary mathematics to prove its point. The Emperor of All Maladies, p. 249. Of course, not all people who smoke get lung cancer, but of those who get lung cancer about 90% smoke or have smoked. Correlation and causation. Conor here: While some of the following is certainly heartening, one wonders how successful it will be longterm against long odds. The old Hunter Thompson quote from The Rum Diary seems apt for the situation: It was the tension between those two poles a restless idealism on one hand and a sense of impending doom on the other that kept me going. Id be curious if some Puerto Rico watchers could offer any additional insight on the following article. By Pearl Marvell who has more than 10 years of experience as a writer, reporter, photographer, and producer in the Caribbean, US, and Europe. Originally published at Yale Climate Connections. Early one March morning in Rincon, Puerto Rico, a bulldozer equipped with a jackhammer rumbled across Los Almendros beach toward a half-built cement wall sticking out of the sand in front of a condominium complex called Sol y Playa. The words propiedad del pueblo, or property of the people, had been spray-painted on the wall, as was a turtle, a symbol of a growing movement in Puerto Rico. A crowd gathered around the bulldozer, cheering and chanting as the machine ripped away sections of the wall: Ese muro es ilegal y lo vamos a tumbar. This wall is illegal, and we are going to tear it down. The protesters were correct to say the wall was illegal. Multiple studies of the coastline deemed it in la zona maritimo-terrestre or in English the maritime-terrestrial zone. Simply put, that means the wall is in an area where waves are known to reach, particularly during hurricanes and seasonal storms. In Puerto Rico, all beaches are by law public property, as is any area where waves touch along the coast. The condo association of Sol y Playa was given a deadline of March 1, 2023, to pull the wall down. When they didnt, residents, environmentalists, and activists decided to take matters into their own hands. The bulldozer didnt make too much progress. The police seized it, saying the operator of the bulldozer didnt have a permit to be there. They also arrested three people on charges of trespassing. Most of the wall was left intact, but this crowd was not going to give up so easily. They had brought sledgehammers. A fight exacerbated by climate change Coastal communities in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, California, North Carolina, and elsewhere have seen an uptick in conflicts over public access and beach protections as residents debate what to do about erosion from rising seas and stronger storms, both problems fueled by the changing climate. In Puerto Rico, the problem is worsened by lax permitting and oversight permits are often given without inspection of construction sites. Adding to the pressure is a real estate boom propelled by a law that allows new residents to avoid paying income tax so long as they live on the island for a minimum of six months. Other high-profile beach access conflicts on the island have occurred along the coastline in Dorado, where public access has been drastically limited by waterfront property owners who hired private security to close public points of access a violation of Puerto Rican law, which requires public access points every few hundred meters in both urban and rural areas. There are continuing protests in San Juan against construction that would limit access to Escambron beach. At a protest over construction at Las Golondrinas caves in Aguadilla, a security guard hired by a private property owner shot a protester in the leg. Zair Dali Torres Medina was one of the protesters at the caves in Aguadilla. She said she was moved to tears when she saw the environmental impact of the construction and knew that she needed to be part of the fight against it. If I dont do anything about it, whats going to be left? she said. This is all weve got. Torres Medina left the island after Hurricane Maria, along with over 130,000 others 4% of Puerto Ricos population. She returned last year and made a promise that she wouldnt leave again no matter how many hurricanes come. She said that the sentiment on the island is el pueblo salva al pueblo, which translates to the community saves itself because the general sentiment is that nobody else will. It has been a long time since we have trusted the government, she said. Sometimes, all it takes is a turtle to start a movement The Los Almendros beach conflict began after Hurricane Maria in 2017, when the pool in front of the Sol y Playa condominiums was destroyed, as was much of the beach. In January 2021, the condo association received the permits needed to rebuild and began construction later that year. Because that construction was occurring right on the beach, near where turtles nest and the general public comes to enjoy the sand, sunshine, and water, the move triggered community concern and anger. The conflict came to a head when a hawksbill turtle clambered up the beach to nest and got stuck on the construction site for four hours in early July 2021. A group of concerned residents set up an encampment with tents, flags, and signs in the public parking lot next to the condos and along the beachfront in front of the construction. They named the encampment Campamento Carey after the trapped hawksbill turtle. The objective of the encampment was to stop all construction at the site. Within three weeks, Puerto Ricos department of natural resources produced a cease-and-desist order to stop construction, but hours later, the order was amended to allow construction to continue so long as workers blocked nesting turtles from accessing the site. Protests ensued. Since then, Campamento Carey has become a community-supported and funded movement with the goal of ensuring beaches remain public and easily accessible across the island. It has no singular leader, but Yo soy Carey or I am Carey has become a widespread motto. Thousands of people have bought merchandise, provided food and water to protesters, and attended protests. Social media has carried their messages across the island and abroad. What was happening at Sol y Playa became a symbol of intrusion on public beach access islandwide. This is not unique to Rincon. Its just here there has been so much scrutiny in it, said Steve Tamar, a Rincon resident who has been involved in the fight against the Sol y Playa construction since the beginning. Tamar is also a volunteer at the local Surfrider chapter, a nonprofit that focuses on ensuring public access to beaches, protecting coastlines, and monitoring water quality. Tamar said that he and other volunteers have been monitoring water quality at Los Almendros beach for years, and they noticed a huge difference in the beachfront in 2017. All of a sudden, 50% of the beach is gone after Hurricane Maria, he said. This is not a place where you want to authorize construction. Hurricane Maria changed everything Maritza Barreto Orta is the director of Puerto Ricos Institute of Coastal Investigation and Planning. Barreto has studied the islands coastline for decades and released a study in 2021 looking at how it has changed since the passing of Maria. What she found is that though beaches are in a constant state of flux, Maria significantly impacted the coastline and stripped a large number of natural barriers like reefs and mangroves that once protected the beaches from erosion and storms. The shoreline is moving inwards in many municipalities in Puerto Rico, Barreto Orta said. This change has caused a cascade effect, meaning that even weaker storms like the ones that occur regularly during the winter months can dramatically reshape the coastline. And climate change is increasing the risks. Warmer sea surface and atmospheric temperatures fuel hurricanes, making the possibility of another superstorm like Maria more likely, according to a report released by the Puerto Rico Climate Change Council. The report also found an average of 4.4 millimeters of sea level increase every year since 2010 on Magueyes Island, where the University of Puerto Rico has a marine science lab. Puerto Ricos changing coastline can be seen with the naked eye. A railroad built around the coastline of the island back in the late 1800s to transport sugar cane is falling into the ocean in certain areas, with much of the damage occurring in the past five years. The combination of more intense and frequent storms, sea level rise, and beach erosion do not bode well for coastal construction on the island, both old and new. Everyone loses Mrs. Perez, who did not want to be identified by her first name for fear of reprisal from protesters, bought a condo on the second floor of Sol y Playa in 2005 with the hope of retiring there eventually. Perez was born and raised in Aguada, a neighboring municipality to Rincon. After spending most of her life in the mainland U.S., she decided she wanted a place back on the island. Now she says she is afraid to go to her condo for fear of being harassed by the protesters. We find ourselves caught between a rock and a hard place, she said. Perez knows that the coastline has changed. She remembers when she could walk along the beach all the way from Sol y Playa to the town of Rincon, over two miles away. She cant do that anymore because where there used to be a beach, there are now houses that have fallen into the water. In other areas, where there was once sand, only rocks, rubble and rebar from damaged homes remain. She says that the condo owners have been unfairly portrayed as wealthy people with no regard for the environment. If we were millionaires, we would be in Dorado, she said, referring to a municipality on the northern coast of Puerto Rico where waterfront homes cost $1-45 million. Let this be a lesson for other waterfront properties, Perez said. Many Puerto Rican communities have been pushing for ways to address beach erosion. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is studying the areas of affected coastline. But last year, the Army Corps announced that Puerto Rico would have to wait until at least 2029 for a fix, potentially too late to help with another storm like Maria. Surfrider and CARICOOS, a climate and weather agency, proposed that the Army Corps build a sea wall or artificial reef off the coast of Los Almendros beach to break the force of incoming waves. Those organizations research shows that this area of the beach has been losing a meter of coastline every year. Changing neighborhoods Abigail Pastor Cotler lives not far from Los Almendros beach. She was on the island during Hurricane Maria and got stuck for weeks without cellphone service, electricity, or running water. She had sought shelter in a nearby municipality when Rincon was evacuated for the storm. When she returned home, she was horrified to discover the beach had vanished. Since then, sand has naturally accumulated again, but the beach hasnt been fully restored to its pre-Maria state. Not only did the coastline change after Maria, so did the neighborhood. Many of Pastor Cotlers neighbors sold their waterfront properties after the hurricane because they were no longer able to insure them or have a mortgage. The people that are buying them now are not worried about that, she says, alluding to the fact that many of these homes have been bought upfront and with cash, often by expats. Now many of the houses and pieces of land for sale along the coastline are listed in the millions. In 2012, Puerto Ricos government passed a law under which individuals who havent lived in Puerto Rico for the past 10 years can move to the island and so long as they live on the island for six months not pay any income tax. This law was established to encourage outsiders to invest in the island and provide employment for local residents. What many say it brought instead was a huge spike in real estate prices around the island. Properties were bought up and turned into AirBnBs, making affordable, long-term housing in coastal communities more difficult to find. Oceanfront land lots were quickly sold and developed, often leading to restrictions on access to the coast. Despite the 2019 passage of a law called Puerto Ricos Law for the Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change, which specifically highlights coastal erosion and how to address the effects of flooding, heavy seas, and sea level rise, much of the islands coastline construction goes seemingly unchecked. As restrictive access to the coastline has increased, residents and nongovernmental organizations have banded together to preserve access to beaches. Pedro Roig is an urban planner and architect, as well as the former vice president of the Junta de Planificacion, Puerto Ricos planning board. He said that in the past couple of years, there has been a big shift in the way that Puerto Ricans see their coastline. They have realized that it is something that needs to be protected. We all own it, he said. Roig has been prominent in nearly all the recent fights surrounding coastline access and zoning (he even made an appearance in Bad Bunnys El Apagon music video, which is essentially a mini-doc about the problems faced by Puerto Rico, including the communitys fight for access to its beaches). His expertise has brought a scientific basis to the fight, making it difficult for governmental agencies to ignore these conflicts. There are now many citizens who feel comfortable talking about public property and what is the high water mark, he said. These were terms that only surveyors and other individuals with technical expertise talked about. A push for a revision of low and high-water marks Roig said that taking into consideration climate change and erosion, the shorelines location should only be valid for development planning for a period of five years. The position of this line made in 2017 needs to be revised because in 2023, it is different, he said. How low and high water marks have been defined is based on Spanish law originally implemented in Puerto Rico in the 1800s. Besides being antiquated, it is based on a region of the world that is entirely different climate and weather-wise. The problem has been the interpretation of this law which has allowed for developers to use it to their favor, says Hector Varela Velez, community organizer for Puerto Ricos Surfrider chapter. Varela Velez said potential developers claim the high water mark is a lot lower than it actually is, despite the high water mark actually moving higher up the coastline over the years. This practice in combination with the lack of on-site visits from Puerto Ricos planning board and department of natural resources has meant that many permits given to developers and private owners dont follow the law. For concerned citizens and environmental nonprofits, one recourse is to challenge the permits in court, where theyre often declared null and void. Easy access to photos and video footage now makes it feasible for community members to prove where the actual high water mark is, especially during storms. Another option: create no-go zones for construction The government and the private sectors have a responsibility to know the projections and threats that are present on the coast and to avoid construction there, said Barreto Orta, lead investigator at Puerto Ricos Institute of Coastal Planning and Investigation (CoRePI-PR) when asked about development along the shoreline. She said weather models show that a heavy swell brought about by a category three, four, or five hurricane in conjunction with the projected sea level rise would put many current coastal zones underwater. Barreto Orta recommends that Puerto Rico create a no-go zone for construction near the high water line, much like what the mainland U.S. has done. The Junta de Planificacion (planning board) and the Department of Natural & Environmental Resources (DRNA) did not respond to interview requests. Better interdepartmental communication to ensure proper permitting Barreto Orta added that a concerted effort is needed to ensure that all government departments that should be involved in the planning and permitting process are sharing data and communicating clearly with each other. At times, one agency doesnt know what the other agency is doing, she said. Though Barreto Orta says that she is optimistic that agencies will work together to address coastal risks, many environmental activists and concerned citizens have more faith in the communities of Puerto Rico to protect the archipelagos coastlines and hold the government accountable. Residents interviewed for this story often mentioned two words: autogestion comunitaria, which translates to community self-management. When Hurricane Maria passed, we were incalculably affected, said Hector Varela Velez, community organizer for Puerto Ricos Surfrider chapter. Weve seen how the communities [of Puerto Rico] have understood even more what community self-management is and how they have created something similar to what they did after the hurricane in order to take back their island. This time, instead of rebuilding the island, they want to restore and preserve the coastline. Looking to the future The wall at Sol y Playa is still standing, although its smaller than it was before the bulldozer got to it. The condo association at Sol y Playa is still responsible for taking down the rest of the wall, including a foundation made up of concrete and rebar that needs to be dug up and restored to its natural state. Recently, Campamento Carey held a competition to see who could knock down parts of the wall using a sledgehammer. Supporters of Campamento Carey are growing increasingly frustrated with the fact that no official move has been made to remove the wall. But a sure bet is that if the authorities dont enforce the demolition of the wall soon, community members will again take matters into their own hands. The evolution of my position with the Post dates to 2000, when I began work with The City Paper. In 2008, SouthComm Inc. bought the Post and TCP, with the latter ceasing operations in 2013. In 2018, FW Publishing acquired the Post, for which I have served as managing editor since 2011. Follow William Williams Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Thousands of protesters made their way to the state Capitol over the past few weeks following the Covenant School shooting and the subsequent expulsions of Reps. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) and Justin Pearson (D-Memphis). Representing a wide spectrum of ages, religions, races and political affiliations, protesters traveled from all over Tennessee and across state lines to attend demonstrations. They protested inside and outside the Capitol for hours on end, even as the House and Senate engaged in lengthy sessions, and the states Republican supermajority largely avoided consideration of gun-related legislation. Some demonstrators were removed from the chambers by the Tennessee Highway Patrol due to their protests. These protests have been charged with a palpable energy there has been grief and anger as well as love and connection as folks have become galvanized over the Covenant tragedy and expressed a collective desire for gun reform. Community members screamed, cried and sang together. On April 18, demonstrators linked arms to create a three-mile human chain extending from the Monroe Carell Jr. Childrens Hospital at Vanderbilt to Legislative Plaza downtown. Musicians including Margo Price, Brittany Spencer, Maggie Rose, Drew Holcomb, Ruby Amanfu and many more have performed at events and led crowds in songs as acts of peaceful protest. Stars including Sheryl Crow and Amy Grant, leading a coalition called Voices for a Safer Tennessee, signed onto a letter calling for common sense gun reform and met with Gov. Bill Lee and other state leaders to discuss gun violence. Its been empowering to see the sustained movement, particularly being led by young people and impacted families, says Jones, who was reinstated to his seat by the Metro Council less than 100 hours after his expulsion. Thats what a movement is, and its really changing the political priorities in that building and really shifting the conversation. Despite the overwhelming turnouts and pleas from citizens including parents of Covenant students Republican lawmakers have refused to make the changes. Any red flag law is a non-starter for House Republicans, reads a statement issued by the House Republican Caucus. (So-called red flag laws are designed to temporarily remove firearms from someone perceived to be a danger to others or themselves.) This statement comes even as Gov. Lee pushed for extreme risk gun legislation and after Republican Senate leadership pushed remaining gun-related bills to 2024. A statewide poll conducted by Vanderbilt University Medical Centers Center for Child Health Policy, which was released before the Covenant School shooting, shows that school gun violence is a top concern for parents, and a majority of respondents support stricter gun measures. We had everything, says Sarah Neumann, the mother of a Covenant student. We had good security. We had locked doors, we had intense active shooter training. The teachers heard AR-15s shot in the school and had to practice locking down for that. They had everything. Our cops are heroes. They didnt hesitate a second. Its not enough. We dont have banned assault weapons. Sure, were gonna add the bulletproof glass now, but what about when theyre on the playground? House Republicans have faced widespread criticism for their inaction on gun laws and their efforts to expel those who have become nationally recognized as the Tennessee Three Jones, Pearson and Knoxville Rep. Gloria Johnson (who joined her fellow Democrats in their protests on the House floor March 30 but avoided expulsion by a single vote). Though House Republicans have largely remained stone-faced amid the protests even as protesters in some cases called them fascists the effects the demonstrations have had on lawmakers are apparent. A leaked audio recording revealed internal tension among House Republican Caucus members. This rush to get out to save face, I think, for them, is not going to work, Johnson tells the Scene. This issue is not going away, and were just going to build this movement until action is taken. The movement-building that Johnson mentions requires an immense amount of work and organization. You didnt see all of that coordination behind the scenes, says Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville). Oliver tweeted about some of that work and the players involved, among them District 29 Metro Councilmember Delishia Porterfield and At-Large Councilmember Zulfat Suara, who worked with Oliver for the swift reinstatement of Jones, as well as on other legislative matters. (Notably, Porterfield lost to Jones in the Democratic primary for the House District 52 seat last year, but in a show of goodwill, she nominated Jones back to the seat.) Thats what Black women do, we spring into action, says Oliver. We dont ask questions, we already know. Our moral compass, as people in society who are constantly unprotected in America, we have this intuition that fuels us into action. And you dont have to question where our allegiance lies. You dont have to question our stances on something, because youre going to see it in our actions. And a lot of those actions get taken for granted, because they are the things that keep the big things going. Its making the phone calls, its creating a spreadsheet, its coordinating the protests, and making sure all the moving parts are moving. But what youve seen is whats on camera, on national TV. Though gun control is the issue folks have rallied around the most during this years legislative session, the protests have created opportunities to advocate for other measures. The same people that block gun laws block health care, Bishop William Barber II told a crowd on April 17 as part of a Moral Monday protest he led. The same ones that block health care, block voting rights. And the same ones that block voting rights, they block living wages. And the same ones that block living wages, they block dealing with the environment. And if they are cynical enough to be together, we got to be smart enough to come together and stay together. (Natural News) Should the actions of a handful of criminals be used as an excuse to take away the rights of millions of innocent people? Any reasonable person would say no, but when it comes to gun-related violence the standards of logic tend to go out the window. There are many government officials that view each major shooting as a gift They believe that tragedies are political capital, a tool for leveraging away our freedoms. (Article by Brandon Smith republished from Alt-Market.us) In many cases of mass murder in the US the first inclination of the corporate media and the political left has been to rush to conclusions. They immediately blame conservative political motivations for the attacks, while also blaming our 2nd Amendment rights in general. If the shooter turns out to be anti-conservative or doesnt fit the racial mold, they simply stop reporting the story. The agenda is obvious To paint conservative men as a dangerous monolith plaguing the rest of society. Why do they pursue this particular narrative, though? Perhaps because, statistically speaking, conservative (and libertarian) men are the predominant group keeping authoritarians at bay. The government attacks us because they are afraid of us, and they are afraid of us for a reason. Its not about what we are doing, its about what we could do if they cross the line into accelerated tyranny, and this is on the verge of happening. We came within a razors edge of war during the covid mandates. If Biden had got what he wanted with his vaccine passport executive order, the country would have erupted into conflict. Many Americans have no clue how close we were. Understand that no country, including the US, is immune to rebellion, and such events tend to escalate quickly. Leftists often envision their own rebellion as a sort of modern French Revolution in which mobs march the streets and rule the day as heads roll in the town square. They believe their righteousness is a shield from harm. But this kind of mob intimidation only works within societies that still respect the rule of law. Leftist insurgencies use a nations freedoms and laws against them by saying You cant touch us because your principles prevent you US patriots have no such delusions. We know that when it comes to corrupt governments, principles and the rule of law go out the window very quickly if their power is legitimately threatened. Leftists can exploit mob actions, invade government buildings and burn cities to the ground because the government ALLOWS them to. When we do the same thing? Wellhow many years now have we heard the word insurrection over a single protest on January 6th 2021? The strategies of the leftists cannot be our strategies because government protections apply to them and not to us. This double standard is leaving constitutional Americans with few options, and the hypocrisy is getting worse by the day. As I write this, Joe Biden is calling for an assault weapons ban over a shooting perpetrated by a transgender lunatic acting on her political motivations. We used to call that terrorism. Instead, the White House is throwing their full support behind trans activist movements and blaming firearms for the deaths instead of the shooters twisted beliefs. Numerous mass murder events have been perpetrated by people indoctrinated into the leftist fold. I would usually be the first to look at the psychological triggers for a shooter, rather than pure political motivation. But, more and more, it appears that the political left is creating the very monsters we now see targeting specific groups. And in each scenario, the media argues that these tragedies were STILL caused by conservative policies. For example: 1) On November 21st 2021, Darrell Brooks jumped into his SUV and deliberately drove it through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, killing six and injuring 60 other people, including children and the elderly. He is cited on numerous social media posts supporting BLM related arguments and anti-white arguments. Some BLM activists took to social media to defend Brooks actions, and suggested that his act of mass murder was the beginning of a revolution. At first, the media denied any race related motives or political motives for the attack. When Brooks comments were made public, they went silent. Suddenly, no one in the media was talking about the Waukesha Massacre anymore, and those that did talk about it argued that it was actually the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse (a young man who acted in self defense against an attacking mob) that justified the actions of Brooks. 2) On November 19th 2022, Anderson Aldrich entered a gay club in Colorado Springs called Club Q and opened fire, killing 5 and injuring dozens of others. The immediate response by the media and the political left was to accuse conservatives of encouraging the crime and encouraging hatred against the LGBT community. Yet, when details finally emerged it became clear that the shooter identified as non-binary and had been a regular visitor to the club. Once again, the media went utterly silent and the deaths at Club Q disappeared from the radar. When a mass murder event is not useful for leftists to push their agenda, they no longer care. 3) Then there was the recent mass shooting in Nashville at The Covenant school, a private Christian institution. Audrey Hale, a biological female trans activist, entered the school with a Keltec rifle that fires pistol rounds and killed 6 people, including 3 children. Hale reportedly left behind a manifesto which authorities have yet to release (Gee, I wonder why?), but going by her social media activity it is likely that she was politically motivated by Tennessees legislation against gender bending surgeries for children as well as bans against sexualized drag shows for minors. Leftists and the media have aggressively tried to spin Hales attack as a gun control issue rather than what it is Political terrorism. 4) Finally, we have the attack in Louisville, Kentucky at Old National Bank by a man named Connor Sturgeon, an employee of the bank that was about to be laid off who killed five colleagues while livestreaming the incident. Sturgeon has the look that the media likes (tall, young white man) but not the proper politics. Sturgeons social media history including his Reddit posts indicate he was a rabid leftist. Using the pronouns He/Him, Sturgeon posted numerous anti-Trump and anti-NRA memes and rants, as well as pro-covid lockdown comments. There has in fact been a widespread effort by many platforms to scrub his comments from their pages as quickly as possible. In one group chat message, Sturgeon reportedly sent photos that included the statement They wont listen to words or protests, lets see if they hear this Media discussion on the Old National Bank shooting evaporated within a couple days, the fastest I think I have ever seen a story get buried. I could list may other ideologically inclined attacks by verified leftists, but I think you get the idea. Are there shooters with anti-leftist views? A few, but they dont receive protection from the media and the government like leftist attackers do. Beyond the issue of directed attacks there is also the issue of overall violence in America. The vast majority of violent crime in the US occurs in Democrat run cities. This is a fact. Data shows that 27 of the top 30 most violent cities in America are run by Democrat governments, including the cities with the most homicides. Fourteen of those cities also have Soros-backed prosecutors. This trend has been ongoing for years. The problem is not guns, nor is it conservatives. Conservative towns are some of the safest places in America for the exact reason that there are guns everywhere in the hands of law abiding citizens. What the stats show is a trend that directly relates to a particular ideology The leftist ideology (and by extension Globalism). Without leftists and leftist policies crime would plummet in the US. The more leftist extremism and globalism spreads the worse things get from generation to generation. The inevitable outcome is war. To be sure, there are peaceful means to delay conflict, such as separation or national divorce. This is already happening. Millions of Americans tired of leftist policies, taxes, mandates, bureaucracy, crime and cultism have left blue cities and blue states, and many millions more who have the means will leave in the near future. There will come a point, however, when leftists and establishment elites will try to stop this separation from continuing. If they let people leave they then have to admit their ideology is failing, and thats not an option for them. They will extort Americans into the society THEY want. History shows us that when a population is disarmed the worst atrocities unfold. The Soviet purge of millions of citizens through gun confiscation and then food confiscation is just one example that people should study before joining any anti-gun bandwagon. One can easily see where this is going. The establishment will try to use force to make us submit to their system and we will not let them. Thats when the shooting starts. If we consider the problem from this perspective it makes perfect sense that these people are rabidly chasing after gun bans today. They know a war is about to happen because they know they are about to start one. And, they know there is a chance they will lose the fight should Americans remain armed. Theyre afraid for a reason; theyre afraid of losing. Read more at: Alt-Market.us (Natural News) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf is calling for more censorship, particularly around so-called health misinformation. Califf said during an interview with CNBC that access to health misinformation has made life expectancy worse because peoples thinking is greatly influenced by what they read on the internet. He added that the United States is falling behind its peers in the field of health. (Related: FDA Commissioner Robert Califf dishonestly blames health misinformation for falling life expectancy rates no mention of deadly medications or vaccines.) If youre not thinking about that, talking with your patients about it, asking them where theyre getting their information, youre really missing the 95 percent of the time theyre getting other information compared to the one percent of the time that theyre spending with you as a clinician, the agency head said. I think there is a real need for better regulation of how we deal with this complex information. Califf further questioned why the U.S. is not using medical products as effectively and efficiently as many of its peers in the developed world. This he once again blamed on so-called health misinformation influencing people to make bad choices. Califf in league with Big Government, Big Pharma and Big Tech In an episode of The HighWire with Del Bigtree, co-host and investigative reporter Jefferey Jaxen noted that Califf was a longtime paid consultant for several Big Pharma companies, like Merck, Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline and Eli Lilly. Califf was also a lead strategy and policy advisor for the Google parent company Alphabets health subsidiaries. We have a curious new hybrid, someone with a three-way revolving door with Big Tech, Big Pharma and Big Government, said Jaxen. Jaxen also pointed out how the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) independent and nonprofit arm, the CDC Foundation, provided around $156 million in funding in 2021 to over 500 partners at the national, state and local levels. The said funding was specifically for increasing confidence in the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines and boosting vaccination rates. Jaxen further noted how the CDC Foundation was created by Congress as a go-between. This would allow the CDC to maintain its so-called integrity while providing it with an avenue to interact with Big Pharma and Big Tech. This nonprofit can interact directly with any corporations that want any NGOs and do this type of work, he exposed. Meanwhile, Bigtree slammed Califfs argument that the government needs to step in and better regulate the health sector because Americas life expectancy is declining. He called federal agencies like the FDA and the CDC the primary organizations responsible for the deteriorating quality of Americans health. The FDA, the CDC, is poisoning us on a constant basis, he said. We should be the healthiest people in the world but we are drugged more than anyone else using far more drugs on every single level. Jaxen and Bigtree pointed out how the U.S. pharmaceutical industrys global market share is over 40 percent. China, a nation of over 1.4 billion people, is far second with a market share of just under 11.9 percent. I dont know what [Califfs] talking about that were not using the pharmaceutical products enough or that were not taking them enough or people are getting their information in strange ways,' commented Jaxen. The United States is over-pharmad. We are the exemplary country, if there ever was one on the globe. Check out MedicalCensorship.com to read more about how the government, Big Tech and Big Pharma work together to censor vital health information. Watch this clip from The HighWire with Del Bigtree as he and Jefferey Jaxen discuss in detail Califfs call for more health censorship. This video is from the channel The HighWire with Del Bigtree on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Senator Ted Cruz asks Big Tech to hand over communications with government regarding misinformation censorship. The great COVID-19 lie machine: Stanford University project colluded with feds, social media to censor misinformation. Social media censorship: Fauci admits his daughter worked at Twitter and that he spoke with Mark Zuckerberg multiple times during the pandemic. Sources include: Brighteon.com DailyCaller.com CNBC.com (Natural News) Now that human beings are learning to reject mRNA vaccine experiments and associated biological warfare, there is a new global agenda that seeks to inject animals with mRNA bioweapons and taint the food supply with genetic weaponry. Animals cannot give consent, so they are the perfect vessels to experiment on. Animals are also the perfect vessels to reach humans who no longer consent to this experimental genetic weaponry en masse. Vaccines have been transfecting humans with animal viruses for decades The history of vaccination has proven animal cells to be a great modality to transfect humans with cancer-causing viruses. For instance, between 1955 and 1963, hundreds of millions of people in North America, South America, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Africa received polio vaccines that were contaminated with SV40, a monkey virus. Early polio vaccines were produced by growing polio viruses in monkey cell cultures that were naturally contaminated with SV40. An estimated 10-30% of all polio vaccines are contaminated with this cancer-causing animal virus. Studies suggest that oncogenic PyV was introduced into the human population through contaminated polio vaccines. Vaccines for RSV, adenovirus and hepatitis A have also been shown to spread the SV40 virus. This oncogenic PyV is associated with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), bone, brain, lung, thyroid, pituitary, and urothelial tumors, pleomorphic adenomas of parotid glands, choroid plexus tumors, and ependymomas in children. This sick, ghastly vaccine experimentation will continue to occur, albeit more directly through the food supply, and more efficiently using mRNA platforms designed for beef, swine and produce. Even worse, new mRNA programs to protect animal populations could be subterfuge altogether the perfect excuse to manipulate human DNA and prime humans for further population control. As human genetics are programmed through the food supply, their genetic and environmental vulnerabilities could be studied further, and new predatory vaccine campaigns, DNA harvesting diagnostics, and biological weapons could be formulated to exploit these engineered weaknesses. US Cattlemens Association downplays the mRNA experiments in cattle Instead of addressing the serious issues that mRNA experiments pose in the food supply and on human immune function, the U.S. Cattlemens Association is trying to downplay the impending threat. In response to increasing public concern over the use of mRNA in cattle, the Association made a public statement. The USCA strongly supports truth in labeling on consumer goods and full transparency throughout the supply chainCurrently, there are no mRNA vaccines licensed for beef cattle in the U.S. The Association is currently forming a task force to fact check mRNA concerns and provide a science-based assessment of the issue. We invite all members of the beef supply chain to participate in these discussions and look forward to identifying ways through legislation, regulation, or voluntary measures to increase transparency in the development and application of livestock vaccines and other gene therapies, the Association wrote. The fact of the matter is that there is a concerted effort by the government, universities, and industry to license mRNA platforms in cattle, swine, and produce. It does not matter if there are no mRNA vaccines licensed for beef cattle in the U.S at the moment. The experimentation is currently underway, and licenses and emergency use authorization will soon follow. The Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine Department at Iowa State University is currently testing out an mRNA vaccine system on cows, with the stated goal of augmenting immunological protection in cows that are prone to RSV infection. Merck and Genvax are in a race to transfect pork with mRNA injections. What are the consequences of this? What if these experiments weaken the animals immune systems, an atrocity that is currently being witnessed in human populations? Are there ulterior motives to manipulate humans through the food supply? This vaccine platform being launched at Iowa State University includes a prefusion F mRNA delivered continuously to the cows by a vaccine implant. The implant delivers preprogrammed mRNA into the cows cells, instructing the cells to produce a pathogenic protein antigen that the cows immune cells are trained to attack. Missouri House bill 1169 is taking on this issue, imposing regulations on all products, sold, distributed, or administered to a person that are designed to alter their genome. The law refers to these mRNA experiments as gene therapy even though they have proven to be genetic weaponry that leads to immune failure and unpredictable cardiac arrest in humans. The law seeks to implement a regulatory framework for labeling these products, but the law does nothing to address the dire situation as it is. The mRNA experimentation cannot be allowed to continue in animals and should not be allowed to pollute the food supply in any way, shape, or form. Sources include: RFDTV.com Nature.com Journals.sagepub.com FrontierIn.org Reuters.com USCattlemens.org RFDTV.com Portal.NIFA.USDA.gov NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has been ranting again, this time describing the United Kingdom as the eternal enemy of Moscow and reportedly referencing the destructive impact of a nuclear blast on Britain. Responding to the latest round of sanctions imposed by the British government following the imprisonment of dual UK-Russian citizen and opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Muza, the Kremlins top loudmouth, Dmitry Medvedev, issued his latest saber-rattling tirade on the Telegram messaging service, Breitbart News reported this week. Medvedev, the current Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federations Security Council and a former prime minister as well, described Britain as a disgustingly damp island and criticized the monarchy as a degenerate institution. Britain was, is and will be our eternal enemy, Medvedev wrote on the platform before describing recent prime ministers Boris Johnson, Theresa May and Rishi Sunak whose name he said he had forgotten as bizarre creatures. In any case, until their impudent and disgustingly damp island goes into the abyss of the sea from the wave created by the latest Russian weapons system. Let it be, as the Beatles sang, he added in his rambling message. Art of Diplomacy: Russian Security Boss Responds to Putin Arrest Warrant by Threatening to Bomb Court https://t.co/ik3WDiaPqb Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) March 22, 2023 Breitbart News noted further: The former Russian president was likely referencing the RS-28 Sarmat colloquially referred to as Satan II super-heavy intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) unveiled by Vladimir Putin in 2018. It is believed that were such a missile stationed in the Westernmost regions of Russia that it could potentially reach London in just 13 minutes. Just last month, Medvedev threatened a nuclear attack against the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague in the Netherlands after it issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine following last years invasion, including the kidnapping of people, including children, from the country to Russia a claim that Moscow denies. Medvedev went on to describe the ICC as sh**ty and useless while warning the court to be wary of raising a hand against the largest nuclear power. Alas, gentlemen, everyone walks under God and rockets, he wrote. It is quite possible to imagine the targeted use of a hypersonic launch from the North Sea from a Russian ship at the Hague courthouse. In August, Medvedev suggested that Ukraine could eventually disappear from the map not long after warning about an approaching Judgement Day. In addition, Medvedev blew off President Joe Biden as little more than a strange grandfather with dementia in a scathing post on the Telegram platform, according to the UKs Daily Mail. Also, the former Russian leader warned that NATO was actually creating a real threat of world conflict and the death of a significant part of humanity for sending lethal military aid to Ukraine as well as alliance troops to Europes eastern flank countries like Lithuania and Estonia. The Daily Mail adds: The refusal of Ukraine and Western powers to recognise Moscows ownership of the peninsula poses a systemic threat for Russia, the former president said on Sunday, before declaring the Kremlin would hit back with maximum force if the territory is attacked. In his latest Telegram post, Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russias Security Council, today warned Russias invasion and the Wests response to it could mean Ukraine would lose the remnants of state sovereignty and disappear from the world map. NATO continues, contrary to logic and common sense, to approach the borders of Russia, creating a real threat of world conflict and the death of a significant part of humanity, he said on Telegram. Russia cannot seem to make much progress against a country like Ukraine, so its probably best not to threaten a country that is more powerful. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk Breitbart.com (Natural News) The corruption permeating the federal government was already epic, but it seems as though the Biden regime has elevated it to another level. According to a recent report, the official who was earlier unidentified but accused by an IRS whistleblower of deceiving Congress regarding the Justice Departments inquiry into Hunter Biden is none other than Attorney General Merrick Garland, Breitbart News noted this week. The outlet noted further: Garland refused to name a special counsel in Hunters tax investigation to provide a degree of separation between President Joe Biden and his Justice Department. On multiple occasions, Garland has testified before Congress that U.S. Attorney David Weiss has complete power to refer Hunter Biden for criminal charges without seeking approval from the Justice Department. However, Garland emphasized that he would have to personally authorize any charges brought forward. There will not be interference of any political or improper kind in the investigation of Hunter led by Weiss, Garland claimed in April 2022 during testimony. But thats not been the case, apparently. The IRS agents attorney explained that his client can contradict sworn testimony to Congress by a senior political appointee whom the New York Post identified as Garland, Breitbart News reported. Since 2019, there has been an ongoing investigation by Weiss, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, into possible tax and gun-related offenses committed by Hunter Biden. Despite this investigation, no charges have been filed as of yet. Theres enough to indict Hunter Biden now, there was enough to indict Hunter Biden three or four years ago with whats on the laptop, House Oversight Committee chair James Comer (R-Ky.) claimed on Lou Dobbs podcast. So, for whatever reason, this U.S. attorney hasnt produced very many results. Meanwhile, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) has told Breitbart News he believes Garland and Biden are both culpable for the alleged abuses. (Natural News) Stanford University in California has raked in more than $27 million from entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since the beginning of 2021. The Washington Free Beacon first broke the news, citing the latest figures from the reporting database of the Department of Education. The $27 million came through 42 donations throughout 2021 and into early 2022. While the database does not specify the exact source of funding beyond the country of origin, it outlines the amount of every gift and contract from China as part of federal reporting requirements. Stanford received a $9.9 million contract from China in February 2021 alone. However, the California-based university is not the only institution receiving money from the communist nation. The database also revealed that the University of Delaware, which houses the Biden Institute, has accepted more than $6 million from China since 2017. (Related: University that housed Biden center pressed to end FBI China spy probe after big Beijing donations.) American higher education is addicted to funding from China, remarked Michael Sobolik of the American Foreign Policy Council. He added that this money from Beijing greases the skids for CCP malign influence in our colleges, like espionage, IP theft and censorship. The extent of this funding, alongside the millions of dollars, Beijing is giving out to prominent American universities, could place Stanford in the crosshairs of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), a member of the House Select Committee on China, told the Free Beacon that Chinese funding for American schools has skyrocketed under the Biden administration. This is because the White House stopped enforcing a federal code governing the disclosure of foreign gifts and donations. Moreover, the Biden administration has also dropped several federal investigations into the CCPs influence at American universities. Colleges are likely pocketing even more than reported, the congressman remarked. Even worse, the Biden administration shut down all ongoing investigations into the CCPs influence efforts at our universities. Stanford in bed with the CCP The university did not respond to a request sent by the Free Beacon with regard to the donations from or its partnerships with China. However, the outlet shared several instances of Stanfords partnership with the communist nation. Back in 2021, the university opened its Center on Chinas Economy that hosted scholars, guests, and programs affiliated with groups backed by the CCP. The center had ties to Peking University in the Chinese capital Beijing, which works alongside the CCPs defense industry and nuclear weapons program. That same year, federal authorities accused a Chinese researcher working at Stanford of secretly working as a member of the Peoples Liberation Army. Prosecutors alleged that Chen Song destroyed documents in a failed attempt to conceal her true identity. Concerns regarding Stanfords links with Beijing are reasonable as Stanford is also conducting research work on behalf of the Department of Defense (DoD). Back in 2022, the university received $1.9 million from the DoD to study multi-phase detonation of liquid aero-propulsion fuels. Aside from this, the Defense Department also gave grants to Stanford to study Air Force technology and science topics. According to the Free Beacon, these DoD-funded studies could be compromised given Stanfords links with China as Beijing is bent on stealing American research. In one example, the research on aero-propulsion fuels could also apply to advanced military technologies such as hypersonic missiles which China is reportedly interested in. Its outrageous that schools like Stanford are taking millions from Beijing, while partnering with [the DoD], said Banks. Not all schools take national security seriously, and the White House is making it easier than ever for them to cozy up with China. Ultimately, the Indiana congressman said the House GOP needs to force Bidens hand and pass legislation to crack down on foreign influence in Stanford and other universities. Watch this Fox News clip about China being accused of infiltrating the U.S. via the sister cities program. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: COMPROMISED: Harvard subjects students to trips, research papers authored by Chinese Communist Party propaganda front. Texas A&M ends climate research partnership with Chinese university as tense Washington-Beijing relations persist. Connection revealed between Communist China and Stanford: Researcher exposed as Chinese military officer. Exclusive: Secret China donations to University of Delaware soared after opening of the Biden Institute. Harvard has extensive financial ties to Chinese Communist Party. Sources include: FreeBeacon.com Sites.ED.gov Brighteon.com Gov. Doug Burgum should veto the two bills banning books in public libraries. The bills are an overreach and unnecessary. House Bill 1205 by House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, would remove or relocate explicit sexual material from public libraries childrens collections. Senate Bill 2360, sponsored by Sen. Keith Boehm, R-Mandan, also focuses on explicit sexual material in public libraries. It provides for misdemeanor criminal charges for willfully exposing minors to such material. The bill exempts the State Library. The bills define explicit sexual material as any material which, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest of minors; is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community in North Dakota as a whole with respect to what is suitable material for minors; and taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors. That definition, in itself, will be open to a wide range of interpretations. Some people have a low level of tolerance and find prurient interest in many topics. As written, the bills will give fits to librarians trying to enforce them. The Tribune editorial board has opposed the bills since they were introduced. The testimony and debate on the bills hasnt changed the Tribunes stance. First, the bills arent needed. Libraries have policies in place for the public to object to books and for a review process. Research by the Tribune shows that libraries across the state have fielded few complaints about books. To imply, as some have, that librarians are trying to groom minors is outlandish. Libraries across the state provide programs to encourage children to read and learn about the world. Its especially important in a society so obsessed with social media to demonstrate the importance of books and reading. These bills would create a lot of work for libraries, as they require them to review their collections, develop policies and submit a compliance report on their policies to legislators. The Tribune finds the compliance report a Big Brother intrusion into the operation of libraries. There have been other efforts during the session to order compliance reports to the Legislature. It reflects an authoritarian approach by the Legislature that needs to end. Libraries have estimated the cost of compliance with the bills as being high, with the Bismarck public library estimating it will cost $334 million to review its collection. Legislators have questioned the estimates as being too high. However, theres no doubt it will be costly to comply with the bills. Exempting the State Library appears to be an attempt to spare the state from the costs of the bills. Theres no doubt that the two bills are part of a national trend seeking to restrict libraries. Eight other states have bills similar to North Dakotas this year. Between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31 of last year there were 681 attempts to ban or restrict library resources, according to the American Library Association. There were 1,651 book titles targeted last year, up from 1,597 in 2021. According to Pen America, 41% of the books banned throughout the 2021-22 school year contained LGBTQ themes. Burgum should support our public libraries and librarians by vetoing both bills. Parents should be responsible for what their children read. The state shouldnt take that responsibility out of their hands. (Natural News) The president of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) has penned a letter in which the celebrity gender surgeon compares bans on experimental child sex changes to racial discrimination and claims that nature lacks a definitive answer to the question of what a woman is. (Article by Mia Ashton republished from ThePostMillennial.com) In the message to WPATH members sent on April 21, Dr. Marci Bowers accuses Republican lawmakers of using anti-trans-messaging as a winning political posture, citing recent bans on adolescent sex changes passed in 11 states, as well as Missouri Attorney General Andrew Baileys emergency declaration that aims to put guardrails around the experimental procedures for people of all ages. ?Today a stunning message was sent to ?@wpath? members by the orgs president, the plastic surgeon Dr. Marci Bowers- who operated on Jazz Jennings ?? https://t.co/UffpOVS9gn Genspect (@genspect) April 22, 2023 Suggesting that the WPATH Standards of Care 8 is based on the best available scientific evidence, Bowers calls for the public to hear the anguish and the stories of those in pain as a direct result of anti-trans legislation, difficult as this will be to watchand to pin this pain upon those legislators and policy makers who have inflicted the agony. Systematic reviews of the evidence for puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for youth have revealed that the research is of extremely poor quality. In light of this, Sweden, Finland, England, France and Norway have all pivoted away from affirmation and medicalization for this vulnerable cohort of young people. Bowers does not mention the anguish and pain of the detransitioned young people who testify in support of the Republican legislation banning so-called gender-affirming care. The letter accuses American lawmakers of cherry-picking language from European policies, such as lack of evidence, experimental and focus on mental health, and suggests that the exponential rise in adolescents identifying as transgender has triggered unprecedented attacks against all things trans. The WPATH president recently stated that this enormous surge is partly driven by social contagion, and yet Bowers appears to be opposed to laws that seek to prevent these young people, still in a crucial stage of identity development, from being allowed to undergo irreversible medical procedures. Bowers is also on record saying that all boys who have their puberty blocked at an early stage will never experience orgasm. Then, Bowers likens Republican legislators trying to mitigate the harm done to gender-confused children to an attack on women, black people, brown people, and Asian people, as well as Jewish, Muslim, Hindi, Sikh, and true Christian communities. It is an attack on diversity and all of the ideals that diversity holds. It is an attack on us all, said Bowers. To conclude the message, Bowers takes aim at Matt Walshs 2022 documentary What is a Woman? Calling the film trite and condescending, Bowers, a trans-identified male, criticizes Walsh for leaving out the answer to the question, as though the answer was obvious. What was cut from the piece was reality, said Bowers, seemingly without a hint of irony, before going on to claim that nature lacks a definitive answer to the question. Then, after claiming that there is no biological measure to indicate who is a woman, the president of the worlds leading transgender health organization makes a valiant attempt at defining woman. A woman is what society sees based upon the gender identity the individual projects, said the trans-identified male who has performed over 2000 vaginoplasty surgeries. No measure in biology gets it right every time. For every rule, there is an exception. Ultimately, what terrifies conservatives most is that gender diversity is a force of nature that can no longer be contained by religious conscription or enforcement of a gender binary, concludes Bowers. Read more at: ThePostMillennial.com (Natural News) Josh Yoder of the U.S. Freedom Flyers (USFF) believes America is now witnessing the deliberate destruction of the aviation industry. It almost does seem as if its being done by design. You look at Agenda 2030 and other things that many people dont actually know about. Theres language in there that they want to see a reduction of travel. You now see whats happening with 15-minute cities starting over in the United Kingdom, he told Making Sense of the Madness guest host Jason Bermas on April 20. They are really looking to lock you down to ultimately control you, to control your finances. You look at the digital currencies they are trying to rollout currently. Its all about control. He added that these things have nothing to do with safety or freedom. Thats why we need all hands on deck right now. This isnt just an aviation issue. This is something that affects everyone, including the passengers and people on the ground. Yoder recounted how he and a few pilot friends stood up against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandate imposed by airline companies. The USFF co-founder and president began to take action on August 2021 after United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby mandated the COVID-19 injections. We stood up in force. Many of us about 20 percent of people across the industry, we stood up to the airlines. And it was that pushback that we gave that truly put our success on the map. Because airlines cant afford to lose 15 to 20 percent of their workforce and still continue to operate. Its just a testament as to what happens when Americans stand together, Yoder said. (Related: Southwest Airlines Freedom Flyers take a stand AGAINST the covid regime, but Resident Biden and mass media in total denial.) Military commanders yielded to vaccine mandate Bermas agreed with his guest, and asked Yoder to deliver a message to military members being oppressed for challenging the vaccine mandate in the armed forces. In response. the USFF president called on people from inside the military to stand up for their rights. Yoder continued that while a segment of the military made a lot of noise by standing up against the vaccines, several mid-level commanders in the military did not. Instead, they yielded to the Biden administrations unconstitutional vaccine mandates. Nevertheless, he lauded the soldiers willing to resist the status quo and disobey their senior commanders. The USFF president lamented how the military is being purged of conservatives under a concerted effort by the Biden administration. This has subsequently resulted in the U.S. military becoming weaker compared to the past two decades. Its incredibly sad to see whats happening. I think that citizens need to stand up and push back. Its coming down to the wire here. We cant depend or rely on the military to save us. Its not going to happen, the government is obviously bought and paid for, Yoder said. Just like back in the early founding days of this country, it was the average people who realized that they had a responsibility for their freedom and they stood up. And I think thats where we are again. Follow Vaccines.news for more news about the COVID vaccines. Watch this video of Josh Yoder and Jason Bermas on Making Sense of the Madness below. This video is from the AMPNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Josh Yoder tells Dr. Bryan Ardis: Issue of COVID vaccine injuries is going to get worse Brighteon.TV. Pilots fear for safety of passengers as airlines continue to impose COVID-19 vaccine mandate Brighteon.TV. Exclusive: FAA granted medical clearance to pilot with history of possible vaccine-induced myocarditis. Sources include: Brighteon.com USFreedomFlyers.org (Natural News) A so-called Ministry of Truth was established by the British Government in 2019, with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) at the helm in a move that was initiated to tackle the rampant spread of fake news and misinformation online. The ministry, so to speak, was called the Trusted News Initiative and its purpose was for its members to work together to build audience trust and to find solutions to tackle challenges of disinformation. By including media organisations and social media platforms, it is the only forum in the world of its kind designed to take on disinformation in real time, according to the organizations website. Members were among the typical mainstream media outlets in several countries, nearly all of which simply echoed any BS fed to them by leftist government entities: AP, AFP, BBC, CBC/Radio-Canada, European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Financial Times, Information Futures Lab, Google/YouTube, The Hindu, The Nation Media Group, Meta, Microsoft, Thomson Reuters, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Twitter, The Washington Post, Kompas Indonesia, Dawn Pakistan, Indian Express, NDTV India, ABC Australia, SBS Australia, NHK Japan. The Ministry of Truth, spearheaded by the BBC, swiftly established rigorous regulations and protocols with the goal of ensuring that only information approved by powerful Governments and other powerful institutions, such as the BBC, the UN and the World Economic Forum (WEF) reached the public, according to The Expose. As the Ministry gained more influence, it expanded beyond news organizations to include scientists and experts in various fields. Some powerful governments and institutions argued that their research and findings needed to be vetted for accuracy and bias. Thus, the Trusted News Initiative included them under its purview, the outlets report continued. The severe consequences that news organizations, scientists, experts and individuals who dared to publish or speak the truth faced included the following, The Expose noted: Loss of livelihood: News organizations that failed to comply with the Ministry of Truths standards were defunded and smeared in an attempt to shut them down. While scientists and experts who challenged the official narrative lost their jobs or were prevented from publishing their research. Harassment and intimidation: The Ministry of Truth also used its power to intimidate and harass individuals who challenged the official narrative. This included sending threatening messages, spreading false information about them online, or even physically stalking or attacking them. The Trusted News Initiative approach was highly successful in curbing the spread of truthful information that hurt their goals to gain total control of information, the outlets report continued. Scientists and experts were effectively silenced, with any research or findings that didnt align with the Governments narrative on Covid-19 being dismissed as fake news. It also led to a society where people were afraid to speak out, where Governments had too much control over what people could know and think, and where free speech and independent thinking were stifled, the report continued. The general public, in the end, only received information that the Ministry deemed to be true, which often meant that essential and potentially life-saving information was withheld because it did not meet with the approval of the powerbrokers. This led to the tragic and unnecessary loss of millions of lives due to the Covid-19 injections, said The Expose. By November 11th, 2022, the US had experienced almost 700,000 excess deaths in 2021, while Europe had seen 382,000 excess deaths in the same year. Its worth noting that these figures dont account for any excess deaths in Ukraine, which was, and remains, under attack from Russia. In the US, 1,700 more people died by week 38 of 2022 compared to week 38 of 2020, and 109k more died by week 38 of 2021 compared to week 38 of 2020. These numbers prove that deaths increased rather than decreased following the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine, the report noted. Sources include: Expose-News.com BBC.co.uk (Natural News) No regime can be as incompetent as the Biden regime has shown itself to be, which only leaves one option, the destruction of our military, and our depleting of our weapons and munitions in our Ukraine proxy war with Russia, has been deliberate. (Article by Susan Duclos republished from AllNewsPipeline.com) Lets go back to 2020 for just a moment. We knew when Joe Biden was campaigning from his basement in 2019 that he was a few crayons short of a whole box, and his mental decline has continued to get worse, as evidenced by his own stumbling and bumbling self with each and every outing into the real world that his people allow him. This means the actual decision-making is being done by Bidens handlers. THE PUZZLE PIECES.. After taking a few huge steps back, and trying to see the big picture from coinciding events, as well as separate events, almost like putting a jigsaw puzzle together, in my minds eye, the picture when finished, is devastating beyond belief. #1. Throughout the past years China and Russia have formed an alliance, from sharing a monetary system (BRICS), to backing each other on the world stage. #2. February 2022, Russia/Ukraine war goes hot. #3. Biden regime starts sending billions to Ukraine, along with weapons and munitions, undermining Americas military abilities. #4. The American military goes woke, and produces cartoon recruitment videos. #5. U.S. Military faces severe recruitment shortages. The US Army is now projecting that for the next two years it will massively fail to recruit as many troops as it hoped, falling short by nearly 40,000 new recruits, according to the latest estimates and testimony from the Armys second highest leader. Weve got unprecedented challenges with both a post-Covid-19 environment and labor market, but also private competition with private companies that have changed their incentives over time, General Joseph Martin, vice chief of staff of the Army, told the House Armed Services readiness subcommittee on Tuesday. The Army is projecting it likely will fall short of its fiscal year 2022 recruiting goal by as many as 10,000 troops and could miss the fiscal year 2023 recruiting goal by as much as 28,000 troops, according to Army estimates. #6. The U.S. military starts lowering physical training and mental standards. Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com (Natural News) If short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are banned, how come they are still present in everyday products? A study published in the journal Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts reported that these banned chemicals and potential carcinogens have been discovered in a wide array of household products. The study showed that SCCPs, a group of chemicals used in metalworking and the production of plastics, PVC, rubbers and other materials, are still widely present in household goods despite bans on the chemicals. (Related: Beware of these common household items that cause cancer.) Steven Kutarna, a doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto and the lead author of the paper, said they found SCCPs in almost everything, which was surprising because the use of SCCPs has been prohibited in Canada since 2013 and in the United States since 2012. The chemicals were also listed for elimination under Annex A of the 2017 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, reported Global News Canada. Kutarna and his colleagues found SCCPs in 84 of the 96 household products they tested in Canada. The products were purchased at least one year after Canadas 2013 prohibition of the chemicals went into effect under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), suggesting that chemical regulation against SCCPs has not been effective. According to a study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, more than a million tons of chlorinated paraffin are still produced each year. A study published in the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research International also reported that even in countries like Canada, where the chemicals are banned, SCCPs have been detected in dust, prompting researchers to look for an indoor source of the chemicals. Kutarna and his team collected 96 indoor products, including electronics, plastic toys, personal care products and furniture, from Toronto stores and homes. They found SCCPs in 88 percent of the products, with the highest concentration of the chemicals found in the outer plastic coatings of two electronic devices one of which was earbud wires. The researchers also found high concentrations of SCCPs in childrens plastic toys, including baby chew toys and foam toys, and in toy packaging. All the toys had been purchased in 2019, a full seven years after the prohibition of the use and importation of SCCPs in Canada. The discovery of high concentrations of SCCPs in toys is especially concerning, given that persistent chemicals are particularly dangerous for a childs development. Children are also at greater risk of SCCP exposure via their hands and mouths coming into contact with contaminated toys. Since the tested products were manufactured internationally, its likely that similar levels of SCCPs can be found in household products sold in the United States. In fact, international manufacturing may be the main reason for the presence of SCCPs, despite regulation. Although many of the toys were bought from Dollarama, the products were imported from countries like China and Taiwan, so it wouldnt be surprising if other stores had similar chemicals in their products. It may well be unintentional because these compounds are commonly used in plastics, said Kutarna. It may just be that manufacturers are using plastic pellets from overseas, or [SCCPs] are getting added at some point in the production chain. Its very hard to tell where its coming from. The high cost of testing for SCCPs, as well as the complex nature of international trade, also makes the chemicals difficult to regulate, said Hui Peng, one of the study authors. Harmful effects of SCCPs All chlorinated paraffins are categorized as toxic chemicals under the CEPA. They are typically used in metalworking fluids, paints, sealants, rubber and flame retardants in plastics, explained Karl Jobst, assistant professor from the Department of Chemistry at Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada. In a study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, researchers reported that chlorinated paraffins can accumulate in human breast milk. Another study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment also found that SCCPs can kill small aquatic creatures. Meanwhile, a study published in the journal Environment International reported that SCCPs exhibited endocrine-disrupting properties in vitro models. SCCPs are recognized as possible carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). A study published in the journal Fundamental and Applied Toxicology has shown that these chemicals can cause cancer in mice and rats, and are specifically damaging to the kidneys, liver and thyroid. One of the most concerning properties of SCCPs is their persistence and their potential to bioaccumulate, Jobst said. Once a person is exposed to SCCPs, either through inhalation of dust or hand-to-mouth contact with electronics, these chemicals can remain in their blood for many years, causing harmful effects over time. Watch the following video to know some 10 toxic household products you should banish from your home. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Male fertility warning: Chemicals in household items can damage sperm in men, dogs. These common, everyday household items are DAMAGING your health. Is hair color worth dying for? Sources include: TheNewLede.org RSC.org ScienceDirect.com 1 PubMed.NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 1 NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov ScienceDirect.com 2 PubMed.NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 2 ScienceDirect.com 3 Brighteon.com (Natural News) A German review of several dozen studies on face coverings has confirmed that wearing a piece of cloth or plastic over your nose and mouth causes carbon dioxide (CO2) poisoning, which in turn increases the risk of stillbirths, testicular dysfunction, and cognitive decline in children, among other serious health problems. When worn over long periods of time like many were told they had to do throughout the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, face masks create a pocket of dead space between the mouth and the mask, trapping in toxic gas that the person then breathes in as opposed to oxygen. In pregnant women, wearing a face mask deprives not only her body but also her unborn babys body of life-giving oxygen. All that CO2 being breathed in causes oxidative stress, which damages both body and brain. In men, wearing a face mask damages testicular, and thus reproductive, function. Put simply, face masks destroy a mans physical manliness not to mention the fact that it just looks stupid. (Related: Last year, Japanese researchers published a study showing that face masks are teeming with bacteria, fungi, and other filth.) Wearing a face mask for just five minutes increases CO2 content of inhaled air by anywhere from 1.4 percent to 3.2 percent One of the studies evaluated as part of the review found that prolonged exposure to just 0.3 percent CO2 resulted in brain damage in both pregnant and young mice, which developed anxiety and poor memory as a result. Another study that looked specifically at male mice found that four hours of exposure to 2.5 percent CO2 the equivalent of 0.5 percent CO2 exposure in humans destroyed the animals testicular cells and sperm counts. Yet another paper included in the review found that three percent CO2 the equivalent of 0.8 percent CO2 in humans caused pregnant rates to suffer stillbirth and birth defects. It is that third study that finally explains the major uptick in stillbirths that occurred throughout the scamdemic. It turns out that covid had nothing to do with it, as forced masking was the real culprit. Circumstantial evidence exists that popular mask use may be related to current observations of a significant rise of 28 percent to 33 percent in stillbirths worldwide, the German researchers who conducted the review stated. [And] reduced verbal, motor, and overall cognitive performance of two full standard deviations in scores in children born during the pandemic. Wearing a face mask for as little as just five minutes, another study in the review determined, increases the CO2 concentration of inhaled air by anywhere from 1.4 percent to 3.2 percent just imagine how much CO2 a person inhales while wearing a mask for hours on end. Another study included in the review looked at CO2 concentration in the air behind surgical masks worn by 15 healthy men for 30 minutes. In that one, researchers found that it jumped by anywhere from 2.8 percent to 3.2 percent. CO2 concentrations in normal air outside of a mask are typically around 0.04 percent. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that safe levels of CO2 inhalation should be below 0.5 percent for an eight-hour exposure duration. Even that 0.5 percent threshold is too high, though, as another study found that exposure to just 0.48 percent CO2 for 10 minutes a day, 20 days in a row, in pregnant guinea pigs resulted in stillbirth and birth defects in 68 percent of their pups. Prolonged exposure to just 0.3 percent CO2, which millions of people easily succumbed to during the covid masking days, is linked to irreversible neuron damage, the review further determined. The latest news about face masks and other covid scams can be found at Plague.info. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Teachers will not be able to discuss gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools outside of reproductive health curriculum in the state of Florida after a controversial bill was expanded. When the law was first signed into effect last year by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, it limited instruction about these topics to students in kindergarten through third grade, while prohibiting it from being taught in a way that was not considered age appropriate in all other grades. However, the Florida State Education Board has now voted to extend the ban through high school. It specifies that outside of reproductive or health-related courses, this type of instruction is not considered appropriate regardless of the students age. Any teacher who is caught violating the policy could face penalties ranging from a suspension to the revocation of their teaching license. DeSantis said: Gender ideology has no place in our K through 12 school system. Its wrong for a teacher to tell a student that they may have been born in the wrong body or that their gender is a choice and so we dont let that happen in Florida. Not surprisingly, many mainstream media outlets reported that Florida instituted an outright ban on all discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, but this is a misrepresentation of what the bill actually states. For example, CNN used the misleading headline Florida bans teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation through 12th grade. However, the bill does not institute an outright ban. Instead, middle and high school teachers cannot intentionally teach students about these matters unless it is part of the curriculum of a reproductive health class or otherwise expressly required by Florida academic standards. These discussions are still permitted when required for reproductive health courses, and parents can opt students out of these courses if they wish. While the law does govern classroom instruction, it does not ban discussions about these topics when they come up naturally. Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. noted that the new rule aims to clarify some of the confusion surrounding the existing law and emphasized that teachers cannot deviate from the existing curriculum. He explained: Were not removing anything here. All we are doing is we are setting the expectations, so our teachers are clear: that they are to teach to the standards. The law has also been at the center of an ongoing battle between DeSantis and Disney. Last year, the company released a statement opposing the restrictions, and the two parties are now feuding over this and other matters. Expanded rule praised for encouraging families to have conversations about important matters Many groups support the rule, praising it for encouraging conversations about these matters to take place at home rather than in school, strengthening familial relationships. However, others have voiced their opposition to it. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre referred to the rule as dystopian, saying: Censoring our classrooms is not how public education is supposed to work in a free country. Conservative politicians love to complain about the so-called cancel culture, all while threatening teachers with losing their jobs if they teach something that MAGA extremists dont agree with. Some LGBTQ advocates have even gone so far as to claim that the rule change could put teachers careers at risk, but Diaz Jr. disagrees. The curriculum and the standards taught in an academic classroom have nothing to do with the schools compassion and being able to provide services to individual students, he said at a meeting. Theyre not being shunned; none of this is being addressed here. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk MiamiHerald.com (Natural News) Jim Price thinks theres only one way for Americans to get the president they really want, and thats by fixing the election system. If we dont fix our election system that Dominion system and actually do it the way we actually know it can be done, were never really going to get the president we want, he said during the April 18 episode of The Jim Price Show on Brighteon.TV. Its always [going to] be the president they select. We got to be the ones that push back and say, Were not going to stand for this any longer.' According to Price, Americans must be the ones pushing back against both the mainstream media that continues to lie to the people and the federal government willing to kill its people just to silence them. He mentioned that the campaign team of former President Donald Trump is fighting to ensure that his name remains on the ballot in certain states for the 2024 elections. This comes amid small non-profits bankrolled by globalist money trying to undermine his return to the White House. To back up his claim, Price cited a Newsmax article that expounded on the issue. According to the piece, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and Free Speech for People (FSP) is challenging the inclusion of Trumps name in the ballot. Both nonprofits claimed that their efforts are focused on protecting the American public from a subversionist Trump. Nonprofits to challenge Trumps candidacy using Civil War-era section of 14th Amendment CREW and FSP plan to challenge Trumps inclusion on the ballot under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Under the section, any officer of the U.S. is disqualified from holding public office in the future if they have engaged in insurrection or rebellion in the union after taking an oath to support the Constitution. It was ratified in 1868 to punish Confederate officers and officials. The two groups claim that Trump engaged in insurrection both before and during the Jan. 6 false flag riot at the Capitol, which the House Jan. 6 Select Committee attested to. They are not even trying to hide it anymore, Trump campaign spokesman Steve Cheung said in a statement. It is sad that they want to deprive the American people of choosing Trump the overwhelming front-runner by far as their president. History will not judge them kindly. However, attorneys aware of the issue pointed out that state officials cannot ban candidates and that Trumps team will probably dispute the insurrection claims. Moreover, Section 3 cannot be invoked without an Act of Congress. Any challenges based on this section cannot be filed until Trump applies for ballot access this year. According to experts, judges or election officials can damage the electoral process if they deny Republican voters the ability to choose Trump on a ballot after most of the campaign season has passed. The practical implications of this is the greatest disruption of our electoral system that has been contemplated since the Civil War, said conservative lawyer James Bopp. Price then said: Now imagine that and wonder where were gonna find that funding comes from. ActBlue, or maybe Facebooks [Mark] Zuckerberg, which is directly paid by your federal government to run his platform. (Related: Election interference: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg spent $500 million to influence Democrat election officials and unlawfully change the election system.) The host of The Jim Price Show ultimately remarked that organizations such as CREW and FSP are doing blatant election interference and tampering. Watch the April 18 episode of The Jim Price Show below. The Jim Price Show airs every weekday at 9-9:30 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. More related articles: Michael Flynn tells The Right Side: Americans need to fix election systems and processes Brighteon.TV. Polling indicates Trumps nomination by the Republican National Convention is ALL BUT GUARANTEED. Right Now with Ann Vandersteel: Trump hit with 34 (politically motivated) felony counts of business fraud Brighteon.TV. Sources include: Brighteon.com Newsmax.com (Natural News) If you believe for one second that the Democratic regime currently in charge of the administration is filled with half-wits and incompetent dummies, you need to change your thinking. It isnt. In fact, it is filled with evil geniuses some of the most diabolical people youll ever meet who have made it their lifes work to destroy America as it was founded because they are tyrants at heart. Case in point: There is a reason why Joe Biden appointed Alejandro Mayorkas to head up the Department of Homeland Security. It was because the people who are running Bidens administration knew that Mayorkas was a team player on the Destroy America squad and intellectually deft enough to be able to contribute to the countrys continued destruction, in this case by diluting the native-born population with tens of millions of people from third-world countries who have no ties to Americas founding or history. And all under the guise of trying to solve a shortage of workers. Alejandro Mayorkas was asked on April 21 if there was room for a compromise on border security before a deal on migration policy. Mayorkas, a lawyer, responded with an answer that mimicked the style used in law books, Your News reported this week, referencing an appearance Mayorkas made before Congress to lie about how hes trying real hard to address the ongoing illegal alien crisis. Here is what he said: I am an unrelenting optimist, but I will share with you the following. What was articulated this week [by congressional legislators at hearings] is that We have 10 to 11 million vacant jobs, we have an incredible supply of [migrant] labor, and we will not fix something like that until you secure the border. And my view of that is, it is a remarkable formula that [Congress] is holding the solution hostage until [Congress] fixes the problem. Translated, Mayorkas is saying Congress should throw open the doors to the country even wider to allow illegal aliens the opportunity to take jobs away from Americans who are entering the workforce every day. Breitbart News noted in March this is strictly a push by Democrats and their corporate masters/donors: Elected Democrats are making a new pitch for more legal immigration to the United States, teaming up with big business to suggest that green energy jobs ought to be filled with foreign workers rather than Americans on the labor market sidelines. A number of mass migration lobbying groups, often corporate-funded, as well as Democrats told Politico that their latest venture includes pitching President Joe Bidens administration to increase legal immigration levels so as to funnel foreign workers into green energy jobs. Theres no question that addressing our broken immigration system in America would address many workforce shortages, Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) told Politico. Theres employment needed right now. Jobs are available. Again, there are native-born American citizens who are entering the workforce every single day not to mention that a tight labor market means companies will offer higher wages to attract workers. But flooding those job openings with millions of migrants will not only kill the labor market, it will also disincentivize companies from raising their pay. In fact, theyll be able to either lower wages or keep them stagnant, which helps their bottom lines and fattens the retirement accounts of our Democratic political class (as well as their election coffers). The nations largest green energy companies serve as massive donors to elected Democrats, giving tens of thousands of campaign donations to the likes of Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Joe Manchin (D-WV), among others, Breitbart News revealed. The fact is, the Democratic left hates America as founded, hates individual freedom, hates our traditions, and believes that they should be perpetually in charge in a uniparty system where they decide how we live. We cannot ever allow that to happen. Sources include: YourNews.com Politico.com Breitbart.com (Natural News) Whistleblower and renowned writer Naomi Wolf recently revealed that no more normal placentas have been seen since the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines were rolled out. The DailyClout CEO obtained the information from midwives she had talked to. According to the midwives, placentas of vaccinated mothers are shrunken and have a silver-gray color. These signs mean that the placentas are not big enough to sustain a normal baby. Wolf shared her interview with California nurse-midwife Ellen Jasmer, who has seen these silver-gray placentas since 2022. Some of these are shrunken. She showed me an image of a placenta that was like two inches in circumference, which is narrower, shorter and smaller than a normal placenta. Normal, healthy placenta is deep purple, or maroon and kind of thick. Theyre a home for a baby for nine months, Wolf said. Jasmer also told Wolf about what she dubbed as COVID bumps or calcifications all over the placenta. According to the DailyClout CEO, these are visible to the naked eye. Ben Armstrong of the New American magazine, who played Wolfs video about the abnormal placentas on his show, expressed shock over the revelations. I thought she would say 40 percent, but no, none. One hundred percent of the people shes dealt with havent seen a normal placenta. COVID-19 shot a tool for depopulation Armstrong pointed out that Wolfs expose about the abnormal placentas only proves that the COVID-19 vaccine is a bioweapon aimed at depopulating the world. If the globalists cannot kill unsuspecting victims through the shots themselves, the injections will still sterilize people. Weve all been saying this: One of the ways to depopulate would be to damage peoples reproductive systems, he said. Armstrong recounted reports of the COVID-19 vaccine dramatically reducing mens sperm counts and seriously impacting womens reproductive systems. Yes, women do get pregnant. But these jabs are making it very difficult for them to go through their full-term pregnancy because their placentas are no longer normal after the shots. Armstrong also played an interview of Childrens Health Defense founder and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who denounced Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates for rolling out the tetanus vaccines in Kenya. (Related: Bill Gates says vaccines can help reduce world population.) According to Kennedy, Gates and the World Health Organization administered a million vaccines to [Kenyans] that are designed to sterilize them without their knowledge and against their will. He told podcast host and former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly: Tetanus toxoid is essentially a chemical castration drug, and he gave at least a million women in Kenya. They had similar programs in Nicaragua, Mexico and the Philippines. Moreover, Armstrong pointed out that Kenyan doctors and priests have noticed that the WHO and Gates administered the vaccines to Kenyan women six times a year instead of once every 10 years. On top of that, the tetanus program was only for women of childbearing age, the program host added. They made that obvious. Thats how they got caught. Head over to VaccineInjuryNews.com for more stories about the impacts of the COVID-19 vaccine on fertility. Watch the full episode of The Ben Armstrong Show where he talks about abnormal placentas on vaccinated mothers. This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Tetanus vaccines found spiked with sterilization chemical to carry out race-based genocide against Africans. Ben Armstrong: Pfizer knows the COVID vaccine is dangerous for pregnant women. Singapores birth rate started to decline 9 MONTHS after vaccinating nearly every Singaporean adult of childbearing age. Pfizers COVID vaccine causes miscarriages, stillbirths. Sources include: Brighteon.com LifeSiteNews.com A recent NBC News poll affirms the unpopularity of President Donald Trump and his brainchild, the fascistic MAGA movement. A scant 24% of respondents viewed the traffic-cone-colored demagogue's movement favorably, while nearly twice as many, 45%, expressed their distaste for the antidemocratic ideology. For Biden and his Democratic cohorts, MAGA has become shorthand for fervent, pro-Trump cultists who cling to the former president's extremist rhetoric like barnacles to a sinking oligarch's yacht including the baseless conspiracy that the 2020 election was filched from their leader. Among Republicans, a modest majority of 52% hold a favorable view of the MAGA movement. However, the movement faces a harsher reception among the unaffiliated, with a mere 12% of independents giving it their blessing. The MAGA movement finds solace in the embrace of its core constituencywhite, less-educated, rural Americans. Rural dwellers, the highest-ranked geographic subgroup, offer the most robust support, with just over a third viewing the movement positively. Why does MAGA persist? Blame it on the underpinnings of a political system riddled with chicanery and imbalance. Voter suppression and the dark arts of gerrymandering work hand-in-glove to dilute the majority party's power, while the anachronistic Electoral College skews representation in favor of the few. A corrupt Supreme Court further tips the scales for Christian nationalists, and an inequitable legislative framework grants two senators to both Democratic California (pop. 39 million) and Republican Wyoming (pop. 575 thousand). Despite almost everyone hating it, the MAGA movement endures, fueled by the very mechanisms that threaten the integrity of democracy itself. (Natural News) The U.S. Department of Defense is now expediting the delivery of M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. This was confirmed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during an April 21 joint meeting of the Defense Contact Group (DCG) at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. The DCG is composed of 54 allied nations that have provided military aid and weapons to Ukraine since the Russia-Ukraine war broke out in February 2022. Weve expedited our M1 Abrams timelines to supply Ukraine with more armored capability in the coming months, said Austin. The [tanks] that the Ukrainians will use for training will arrive here in Germany in the next few weeks. Austins confirmation followed reports from earlier in the day that 31 Abrams tanks are set to arrive in Germany soon. Ukrainian operators will then undergo an additional 10 weeks of training. Given this timeline, the tanks could finally reach the battlefield by fall 2023. Aside from the announcement regarding the Abrams tanks, the DCG meeting also announced the establishment of the repair hub for German Leopard II tanks being used in Ukraine. (Related: Secret factory in Poland now repairing Ukrainian armor, artillery and equipment to send it back to the front lines.) Berlin, Warsaw and Kyiv signed the tripartite agreement to establish the tank repair hub during the meeting. According to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the hub will cost around 150 million ($165 million) to 200 million ($221 million) to operate every year. He added that it could begin operations at the end of May this year. The DCG meeting revolved around Ukraines declaration that a tank coalition involving partner nations now exists. However, it is unclear whether the tanks would do any better given that Russia clearly has the upper hand in the city of Bakhmut part of the Donetsk Peoples Republic. Defense officials tout continued assistance to Kyiv Right after Russia invaded, we surged in Javelins and Stingers, and then we provided Ukraines defenders with howitzers, HIMARS and other artillery. We continue to rush in ground-based air defense capabilities and munitions to help Ukraine control its sovereign skies and to help Ukraine defend its citizens from Russian cruise missiles and Iranian drones, Austin said. Our collective efforts have made a huge difference on the battlefield, and now, in just a few short months, the Contact Group has delivered more than 230 tanks, more than 1,550 armored vehicles and other equipment and munitions to support more than nine new armored brigades. The defense secretary also addressed the recent leaks of U.S. intelligence documents, telling the attendees of the meeting that he takes the matter extremely seriously. Austin continued: We will continue to work closely and with our deeply-valued allies and partners in a spirit of abiding respect and friendship. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, also reiterated that the U.S. has committed more than $35 billion in military assistance to Ukraine as of writing. These include over two million tank and artillery rounds; tens of thousands of anti-armor weapons systems, air defense systems; and other forms of munitions; hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles; and precision aerial munitions for use against drones. In addition, there are about 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers conducting training right now in Germany. Another 8,800 have completed training and have returned to Ukraine. And there are 65 Ukrainians that completed training on Patriot missile systems just recently. At a later question and answer session, Milley told Rachel Cohen of Defense News that Washingtons task and commitment to Ukraine were to train and arm nine brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Our task and our commitment to Ukraine was to provide the training and the equipment for up to nine armored [mechanized] brigades to conduct either offensive or defensive operations. Those brigades are trained, theyre manned, theyre equipped and they are prepared for combat operations. Watch this clip of a Ukrainian tank firing at Russian trenches and getting artillery fire in return. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Biden sends 31 Abrams M1 tanks to Ukraine after previously warning that doing so would lead to World War III. Ben Armstrong: Biden goading Russia into WWIII by sending tanks, equipment to Ukraine. West dead set on hastening start of World War III after approving heavy tanks for Ukraine. NATO countries set to provide modern tanks to Ukraine as war with Russia grinds on. Footage captures large amount of US military equipment at Polish port. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com Defense.gov ANews.com.tr Brighteon.com (Natural News) Ever since Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines were unleashed through Operation Warp Speed, there has been a sharp uptick in the number of patients suffering from mysterious and severe symptoms associated with their teeth and bones. Dr. Amy Hartsfield, an Alabama-based orofacial pain and dental sleep medicine specialist, says she has seen a massive increase in patients as of late who say their otherwise healthy teeth and jaw bones are hurting and even deteriorating for no apparent reason. Ive seen patients with no previous history of health issues [who] have perfectly healthy teeth and now have pain syndromes associated with these healthy teeth, Hartsfield told the independent media. Many of Hartsfields patients are suffering with head and facial neurovascular and myofascial pain that includes headaches, toothaches unrelated to the actual tooth or teeth, osteonecrosis of the jaw, sleeping problems, tinnitus, and oral and facial autoimmune conditions. Such conditions are linked to the propensity of Fauci Flu shots to cause micro blood clots throughout the body, Hartsfield explained. (Related: Covid vaccines are also linked to baldness.) Covid jabs are causing a lot of destruction to peoples bodies, eventually leading to early death One such person who started suffering severe bone loss after getting injected with Modernas mRNA injection is 79-year-old Cheryl Alverson, who had to have all of her lower teeth extracted due to a massive recurring infection caused by extensive, post-injection bone loss. Alverson went to see Hartsfield, who ordered multiple blood tests, including several specifically associated with blood clotting. They showed that Alversons body had become overloaded with microclots from the shots. Hartsfield discovered that these microclots directly interfere with bone healing following extractions, not to mention the fact that they typically only occur in patients who are taking osteoporosis medication or who underwent radiation therapy, neither of which applied in Alversons case. The only thing Alverson did prior to developing these symptoms was take the Moderna mRNA series of injections for covid, as well as a follow-up booster shot. And almost immediately afterwards, her bone and teeth problems began. Dr. Doug Denson, another Alabama-based oral surgeon, says he is seeing much the same thing with his patients, many of whom he is now referring to Hartsfield for treatment. Denson says he is not 100 percent sure covid jabs are the cause behind his patients troubles, though there does seem to be a connection. In my opinion, correlation does not always equal causation again, there have been some odd symptoms since the pandemic started, he said. Its just impossible to tell the exact mechanism or cause. Hartsfield has had to start screening her patients for their vaccine status due to the onslaught of new patients she is seeing who are suffering from teeth and bone problems post-injection. I have to screen these people to see if theyve been vaccinated, when and how many times, and then I see if I can treat them, she said, adding that most practitioners do not screen for covid shots. When you ask the whole population to have a mandatory vaccine that has more side effects than any other vaccines in history showing in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, you will definitely see injuries. In the comments, someone emphasized the fact that so-called SARS-CoV-2 has still never been isolated or proven to exist. The disease is the vaccine, this person argued, adding that lockdowns, mask mandates, job losses, and social isolation only made matters worse. Another monumental scam, from the fake PCR test to wearing disgusting face diapers that lower your oxygen uptake and increase carbon dioxide inhalation from your own breath, which increases bacteria growth in the mouth. Covid jabs are a death sentence. To learn more, visit ChemicalViolence.com. Sources for this article include: Infowars.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Former top Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who was ousted by his network this week because hes an amazing truthteller who actually did what journalists are supposed to do and hold the powerful accountable, gave what many have said is the best speech of his life at an event in recent days before his firing. Carlson kicked off his keynote speech at The Heritage Foundations 50th-anniversary gala by claiming, accurately, that the real battle in the country today is not political but spiritual, as literally being between good and evil. Its not a political movement. Its evil, Carlson said regarding the left-wing Democratic Partys agenda. According to reports, Tucker Carlson described the side of evil as being characterized by traits such as violence, hatred, disorder, divisiveness, lack of organization, and filthiness. He also reportedly admitted to forgetting to pray for Americas protection against these negative influences, a practice which he suggested should be part of everyones daily routine. He went on to say that the battle today is not about economics or policy papers like it was decades ago when he worked at the foundation. He said its his belief that those who support what he considers to be goodness must confront what he considers to be violent movements, such as transgenderism and pro-abortion, but with a different approach. Carlson suggests that this fight must be approached from a more spiritual perspective. Revolver News noted further: Tucker declared that promoting abortion as good is actually child sacrifice. And that line actually earned him a thunderous round of applause. As we all know, the US government and corporate America are behind the transgender push. Tucker says theres no other way to explain it because this plot makes no sense in conventional political terms. Amen to that. As we look around, we see decent Americans caving to the pressures of this evil agenda. Tucker says people are now saying things they dont believe in like calling a man a her and pretending men can now have babies and they do it in order to avoid being canceled by a small, rabid mob. WATCH: Tucker Carlson During Speech At @Heritage Explains How To Understand What The People Wrecking Our Country Are Doing None of this makes sense in conventional political terms. When people. . .decide that the goal is to destroy things, destruction for its own sake, hey lets pic.twitter.com/qFZOZtjAvg The Columbia Bugle ?? (@ColumbiaBugle) April 22, 2023 Fox News announced on Monday that the popular primetime host and the network have agreed to part ways after more than a decade. Carlsons last program was Friday April 21st, Fox News said, meaning Carlson did not get a chance to sign off to his viewers. The news comes days after Fox News reached a historic 11th hour settlement with Dominion Voting Systems for over $787 million, Axios reported exclusively. FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways. We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor. Mr. Carlsons last program was Friday April 21st. Fox News Tonight will air live at 8 PM/ET starting this evening as an interim show helmed by rotating FOX News personalities until a new host is named, Fox News said in a statement. FOX News Media operates the FOX News Channel (FNC), FOX Business Network (FBN), FOX News Digital, FOX News Audio, FOX News Books, the direct-to-consumer streaming services FOX Nation and FOX News International and the free ad-supported television service FOX Weather. Currently the number one network in all of cable, FNC has also been the most watched television news channel for more than 21 consecutive years, while FBN ranks among the top business channels on cable. Owned by Fox Corporation, FOX News Media reaches nearly 200 million people each month, the statement added. BREAKING: Tucker Carlson is out at Fox News. This is the biggest mistake Fox has ever made. I dont know the reason for the exit but the timing couldnt be worse for Fox. pic.twitter.com/c04unaFcwT Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) April 24, 2023 Sources include: Revolver.news Axios.com Lake Prespa is one of the oldest and most biodiverse freshwater ecosystems in Europe. But it is facing a serious crisis due to climate change, overexploitation, and pollution. Climate Change Reduces Water Levels and Snowfall Lake Prespa is located in a valley that borders Albania, Greece, and North Macedonia. It is estimated to be between one and five million years old and hosts thousands of species of fish, birds, mammals, and plants, as per Phys.org. However, in recent decades, the lake has been shrinking at an alarming rate. According to NASA, the lake lost seven percent of its surface area and half of its volume between 1984 and 2020. One of the main reasons for this decline is climate change. The warming temperatures have reduced the annual snowfall in the area, which is a vital source of water for the lake. The lack of snow also affects the nearby streams that feed into Prespa. Moreover, climate change has increased evaporation and decreased precipitation, leading to a drop in water levels. In some places, the lake has receded by up to three kilometers (nearly two miles). "The changes noted in the lake's levels are connected to climate change," said Spase Shumka, a professor at the Agricultural University of Tirana in Albania. Also Read: Surprising Genetic Similarity of Balkan Turtles Suggests They are Very Good Swimmers Farmers Pump Water and Pollute the Lake Another factor that threatens Lake Prespa is the intensive agriculture that surrounds it. The lake is a major source of irrigation for the apple farms that dominate the landscape. However, the farmers are pumping more water than the lake can replenish, causing further depletion. According to a study by the Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP), the farmers use about 40 percent of the water that enters the lake every year. Agriculture also contributes to pollution, as fertilizers and pesticides run off into the lake. This causes eutrophication, a process where excess nutrients stimulate algae growth and deplete oxygen in the water. This can create dead zones where no life can survive. "The lake has been polluted intensively for decades," said Zlatko Levkov, a biologist at the University of Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, North Macedonia. The Need for Joint Action and Conservation Lake Prespa is not only important for its ecological value but also for its cultural and economic significance. The lake supports local communities that depend on fishing, tourism, and agriculture. It also has a rich history and heritage, as it was once part of ancient kingdoms and empires. To save Lake Prespa from further deterioration, experts and activists call for joint action among the three countries that share it. They urge for better management of water resources, stricter environmental regulations, and more public awareness. Some initiatives have already been taken to protect the lake, such as the establishment of transboundary protected areas, the restoration of wetlands, and the promotion of sustainable practices. However, more efforts are needed to ensure the long-term survival of this ancient Balkan lake and its unique biodiversity, as per IBT. The majority of experts feel that more must be done to safeguard the lake's future, including improved enforcement of a number of agreements that North Macedonia, Albania, and Greece signed in 2012. To raise awareness, activists have urged for a switch to organic farming and investments in sustainable tourism. Related article: Days of Torrential Rain in Balkans Caused Flooding, Evacuations, and 6 deaths There is often a certain energy or excitement around inventions being used in an unrelated field. When a physicist in the 1930s discovered nuclear magnetic resonance, little did he know his work would be the foundation of MRI technology. Similarly, when IVR (Immersive Virtual Reality) took the gaming industry by storm, no one would have foreseen the technology's potential in the medical field, but here we are. Local and regional anesthesia has been instrumental in helping patients get rehabilitated and discharged from the hospital faster. Regional anesthesia patients might experience anxiety because they are awake during surgery, seeing and hearing everything. This is where VR immersion as a distraction method comes in. Distraction methods reduce anxiety and pain in patients while increasing satisfaction post-surgery. IVR can be used as a part of moderation sedation, although there is a chance the patients get cybersickness - a type of motion sickness that VR (Virtual Reality) can trigger in some people. It is suggested that staying hydrated leading up to an IVR session and picking programs that feature slow moving scenery can be useful in preventing cybersickness in patients. A patient on conscious sedation is monitored to avoid administering too much anesthesia because it can lead to devastating effects like low blood pressure or respiratory failure. Medical professionals are advised to take moderate sedation training to learn the best practices and techniques to make the procedure as comfortable as possible for their patients. Exploring the Sedative Effect of VR In December 2016, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) dropped the bombshell that a warning would be added to the labels of most anesthetic drugs. The FDA warning states, "Repeated or lengthy (more than 3 hours) use of general anesthesia or sedation drugs during surgeries or procedures in children younger than 3 years of age, or in pregnant women during the final trimester, may affect the development of children's brains." Children's social life and cognitive abilities can be severely affected in the short term, which has fueled the need to reduce the impact of anesthesia. Despite IVR being a non-medical procedure, it has massive potential in the medical field. The visuals calm patients as they can get lost in another world and forget the present. Below are explained some cases where this technology is best suited for. Perioperative Anxiety Surgery is stressful, and about 80% of patients experience perioperative anxiety due to fear of pain, death, and complications. Perioperative anxiety can lead to more anesthesia, painkillers, and the patient spending more time in the hospital than necessary. Research shows that patients who used VR immersion had lower anxiety levels during and after surgery than those who didn't. Before surgery, VR can familiarize the patient with the operating room and calm them down. During surgery, VR immersion is a powerful distraction from such a stressful and painful situation. The visuals preoccupy a patient's mind, which explains why they have less perioperative anxiety than patients who didn't use VR. Less perioperative anxiety means higher patient satisfaction levels and lower use of anesthesia. Procedural Anxiety Procedural anxiety is the fear of any medical procedure that the patient anticipates. It can be due to the recollection of a past procedure or fear of pain, be it actual or perceived. Patients undergoing surgery under regional anesthesia were administered premedication with IVR in a clinical trial. It was found that premedication with IVR was more effective than midazolam in reducing anxiety levels in patients. Regional anesthesia has been shown to have a good analgesic effect that helps patients discharge faster. However, the patient has to see and hear everything in the operating room, which can cause anxiety and discomfort. IVR creates a virtual world in which the patient is immersed and completely forgets their reality on the operation table. The potential of IVR as a non-pharmacological solution to procedural anxiety has enormous potential and advantages in the medical field. It reduces the postoperative recovery time for patients, healthcare costs, and the use of sedatives. Dental Procedures Dentists are like the bad boys of medicine - everybody fears visiting them. Imagine visiting a dentist with the Oculus Quest ready to whisk you to a virtual world as the dentist operates on you. VR distraction in dental treatment reduces fear and anxiety in children and adults with mild to moderate symptoms. Studies found that oxygen levels and heart rate were also significantly reduced in patients before, during, and after dental procedures. Adults having their teeth removed and children having dental procedures were also found to respond the same way. Virtual reality gives the patient an immersion experience that results in less anesthesia, which benefits the healthcare industry. Caregivers can use VR immersion without worrying about the dangerous effects of sedation overdose such as low blood pressure, airway obstruction, and fatal complications. On the other hand, patients experience less anxiety and are discharged from hospitals earlier than those who don't experience VR immersion. What the Future Holds As VR technology advances in the gaming world, its effectiveness and usage will continue to rise in the medical field. The technology isn't short of investment, which means it will get better and cheaper in the future. The healthcare industry has tested, utilized, and appreciated the effects of VR immersion technology and should not fall behind in researching it. Further technology development is essential as we try to make patients as comfortable as possible in the operating room. We can use VR technology before surgery to give the patient a slight idea of what's to come, and it's been shown to have a calming effect on them. During surgery, patients experience less pain and anxiety. Patients are more satisfied after surgery and are discharged earlier. The healthcare industry would be unwise not to further explore the limits of this amazing technology. SpaceX's Starship rocket was launched for the first time in Boca Chica, Texas, on April 20 but exploded minutes after its takeoff. Now, local authorities are investigating the SpaceX launch disaster following claims that it emitted potential hazardous debris, which apparently poured down on homes, smashed windows, and covered beaches with toxic particles, according to reports. Chemicals from the rocket's fumes are reportedly harmful to habitats of endangered animals in the area. As a result, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has conducted a probe into the April 20 test launch and has halted SpaceX from operating further launches until it has concluded its investigation, with no definite duration in place. In previous years, experts have reported that smoke or particulate matter, like the ones coming from wildfires and space rockets, are also detrimental to the health of animals, as they are to humans. Smoke inhalation in general has been found by scientists to cause injury or even death to both pets and wild animals. Endangered Animal Habitats at Risk Endangered animal habitats along Boca Chica's beaches, which are known as nesting grounds for birds, sea turtles, and other animals, are likely at risk. This is following the fall of dust and debris from the SpaceX rocket's explosions, which occurred around 4 minutes later after takeoff, Live Science reported. Prior to the incident, concerns emerged regarding the potential impact of SpaceX's attempt to launch largest rocket ever produced. Surrounding its site in south Texas are fragile Boca Chica ecosystems and are some of the most sensitive animal habitats in the world, according to Texas Public Radio. Justin LeClaire, a conservation biologist, stated the company's presence in the area has impacted the shorebirds and Boca Chica Beach in general, as cited by the local Texas media. Also Read: Elon Musk's Secret Behind SpaceX's Million-Dollar Success SpaceX Rocket Launches Since March 2006, the private American aerospace company SpaceX has launched different space rockets, including Falcon 1, Falcon 9, Starship. However, most of these launches have been reported with only relative success, ranging from partial failure to complete failure, due to explosive events and other technical malfunctions occurring pre-flight or during mid-air. Such explosions also cause damage on the ground. In the case of the April 20 SpaceX launch, the dust cloud created by Starship left Texans with a mess, according The New York Times, which reported residents of Port Isabel said their city was covered in dirt. Smoke Inhalation and Animals As mentioned earlier, smoke inhalation is also dangerous to animals and a hazard that must not be ignored. The MSD Veterinary Manual defines this phenomenon as smoke inhalation injury, which pertains to the damage to one's body linked with breathing superheated air or steam, as well as other harmful gases, vapors, and particulate matter from thermal combustion. For instance, smoke inhalation caused by wildfires is a major cause of deaths in animals that are susceptible of inhaling complex combination of toxicologic agents and pyrolysis products, the animal health care manual explains. Related Article: SpaceX Rocket Fumes are Hazardous to Both Humans and the Climate: Scientists Issue Warning Last week, a Burger King franchise owner from Texas closed more than two dozen locations around Detroit, Michigan. Those shut down left more than 400 people unemployed. That's when Stiizy, a Michigan-based cannabis brand, decided to offer jobs to every laid-off individual. Full- and part-time positions are available. From the Detroit Metro Times: The company says the new jobs will pay more than most Burger King workers got $16 an hour for the day shift, $16.50 for the night shift, plus benefits. The new employees will work at Stiiizy's manufacturing facility in Orion Township, where the company makes its popular line of vape pods, infused blunts, and pre-rolls[] YMCA Norfolk needs an Executive Assistant YMCA Norfolk needs an Executive Assistant YMCA Norfolk is looking for an Executive Assistant to join its Norwich-based Corporate Services team. Position: Executive Assistant Pay: 13.27 per hour Grade F (25,876.50 per annum pro rata) Location: YMCA Norfolk, Aylsham Road, Norwich Contract Type: Permanent Hours per week: 22.5 hours per week Were looking for an Executive Assistant to join our Corporate Services team. This is an exciting time to be joining YMCA Norfolk, and you could make a real difference in this role while working closely with the CEO. Job Role: To ensure effective delivery/functioning of: Support to the Chief Executive Corporate Administration support The Corporate office at Aylsham Road, Norwich The Organisation: What youll need to succeed: What youll get in return: Healthshield Health Care Plan 34 days (pro rata) per annum inclusive of Bank and Public Holidays An additional day of annual leave (pro rata) awarded after 5 and 10 years of continuous Long Service Access to contributory stakeholder pension scheme after 3 months Health and wellbeing events and activities Family friendly policies In service training opportunities and bursaries investing in your development Annual staff day and staff awards to celebrate our successes Death in service benefit of 2 x annual salary Regular line management and support Staff discount at Williams Kitchen Cafe, Explorers Soft Play & Muddy Puddles Nursery The role will also help to expand the Corporate Services team with the view to take on and line manage a Corporate Administration Assistant Apprentice in the near future.Further information can be found in the Job Description YMCA Norfolk is a great place to work, offering meaningful opportunities to make a difference in the lives of young people. Working at YMCA Norfolk is an opportunity to be a part of an organisation which is challenging, innovative, rewarding and fun! We place young people at the heart of all we do and are committed to building an organisation that is responsive to the needs of young people and our stakeholders.You will be an excellent communicator and be highly organised with the ability to prioritise a large and varied workload in a time pressured setting. You will have a good knowledge of filing and administration systems, be a proficient user of Microsoft Office, and have the ability to quickly learn other systems. Having experience of coordinating meetings, agendas and preparing relevant materials is essential, and the role requires a high level of integrity, confidentiality and discretion at all times. Norwich Foodbank's alarming figures on hunger Norwich Foodbank has today released its figures on the number of emergency food parcels provided within the local community last year, showing a dramatic increase. The alarming new figures (from April 26) reveal that Norwich Foodbank has provided 11,797 people with emergency food parcels who couldnt afford the essentials in Norwich, Wroxham, Wymondham, Loddon and surrounding villages over the last year and 4,398 were children. Foodbanks across the Trussell Trust network provided nearly 3 million (2,986,203) emergency food parcels to people experiencing hunger during this time with over 1 million of these going to children. This is the most parcels food banks in our network have ever distributed in a single year and represents a 37% increase compared to last year, and more than double the amount distributed by food banks in the same period five years ago. Hannah Worsley, Norwich foodbank Project Manager, said, "This isnt right and we cant allow this to go on. No one should need the support of our food bank because everyone in our local community should be able to live lives free from hardship and poverty." Together, with food banks across the Trussell Trust network, Norwich Foodbank is calling for MPs across the region to support a social security system that guarantees our essentials, by making sure that the basic rate of Universal Credit is at least enough to afford the essentials we all need to live. If you would like to support them by writing to your local MP, please click here to find out more. Norwich Foodbank is appealing for donations f the following items: Tinned meat Tea bags 40s/80s/160s/180s Tinned vegetables Rice pudding Chocolate Long life milk Long life juice This is our most up to date list of what we are currently running low on. We update our list regularly on our website's Donate Food page where you can also see local collection points. Please make a financial donation. o You can Donate Online via PayPal or Debit Card as a one-off payment or regular monthly payment. o More ways to give a financial donation can be found here. Volunteer with us We are always grateful for applicants and are currently looking for drivers to help with collections. Click here for a link to our Volunteering Information page which also includes our Volunteer Application Form. We recognise how difficult times are right now, which is why we really appreciate all and any support you are able to offer. Together, we can ensure help is here for everyone who needs it In Norwich, Wroxham, Loddon and Wymondham, whilst we also collectively work towards a more just future where no one needs our food bank to get by. Helen Baldry, 26/04/2023 Daily Prayers for the Coronation of King Charles Daily Prayers for the Coronation of King Charles A reader of Network Norfolk, Ann Waterhouse, recommends a prayer resource for the coronation of king Charles III. Ann is a member of Chapel Field Road Methodist church, and worked alongside her husband in his 46 years of circuit ministry, and has many friends and links in other denominations. She came across the 48-page A6 size booklet containing material for use from Easter Day through to Coronation Day itself and would like to recommend it to others. Each day in just a few words provides a daily theme, reading, reflection on an aspect of the symbolism of the Coronation service and a prayer. Ann said, "I am glad I discovered this booklet at the start of the period leading up to the Coronation. It is an attractive publication and a delight to use and will be treasured as a memento following the Coronation." "This booklet came into my hands from a local Anglican church on Easter Day and since then I have recommended it to friends of various Christian traditions and church involvement, here and abroad, who have welcomed hearing about it and are faithfully using it each day. An American friend who is an English professor in Idaho is especially impressed with it and is using it daily." The booklet has proved to be so popular it has sold out, however, the daily reflections can be accessed by signing up through the Church of England website: https://www.churchofengland.org/coronation/reflections Helen Baldry, 26/04/2023 First rule: don't start shit in LA traffic. Just don't. People are all trying to get somewhere, and it's likely they're already late or otherwise struggling in some distinct corner of their lives. I started telling strangers about their brake lights being out around a decade ago. I had just finished a three-year lease in Glendale, where a basic jaunt to the store could quickly turn into some shit out of Mad Max. It was swerve-or-be-swerved in those days; the otherwise sleepy LA burb had the steepest insurance rates in California and some of the highest in the country. You learned to dodge random obstacles and remain calm when infringed upon. If you didn't, you usually started to grind your teeth in your sleep or develop some other nervous tic. Those who came away from Glendale traffic culture without dings on their vehicles were, at the very least, forever changed in terms of their reflexes behind the wheel. Since then, I've been on a karmic mission to return kindness to our dotted lanes, one random driver at a time. Look, cops can pull you over for any little thing. And they will. You're on the side of the road, you dig out your registration and proof of insurance, and before you know it you've revealed your precious horde of stolen spoons and napkins from Wendy's that you spent years diligently stashing away. The shame is real. Let's go over some of the basics on how to let your fellow driver improve their safety and reduce run-ins with Johnny Law. No Freeways: This is a strict rule, for the safety of yourself and those around you. There might be the odd traffic jam in which you're able to deliver your message, stuck behind a line of trucks rubbernecking around a wreck. Beyond the physical risks, the freeway folk who are delayed are more likely to be emotionally combative. Stick to local streets with lots of lights and stop signs, ideally when traffic has ebbed and everyone is puttering along at a reasonable pace. Consider the Whip: Do you drive an asshole car? If so, do not engage. Me, I roll in an old Toyota Camry with rust damage. It's a dad machine. It exudes passivity and hapless vibes. Look at this fucking thing, I'm stuck with it, let's put on some B-52's and eat some Combos. Does the other car look menacing? Like, does it have racing stripes and a snowboard for a spoiler? Do the side panels shudder to rhythmic bursts of EDM at 8 am in the morning? Do not engage. One time I hailed a Mustang with black-tinted windows, and the gent who rolled his window down had a teardrop tattoo. He was nice about the news, but I don't do tints anymore. If your car is chill and the other car seems friendly, all systems go. Drop Your Glass: Roll your window down. This creates an open channel on your end, which helps let the other driver know that you may need to speak to them. Bid Them Howdy-Do: I have big hands, so I like to use a calm, open-palmed wave like I'm gesturing to an old acquaintance. Make sure to have at least a minimal smile so you don't appear to be a threat. Uplift the eyebrows so the other driver has a sense that you may have a question. Signals and Charades: As a society, our use of archaic action phrases versus practical movements is nothing short of adorable. We no longer "hang up" phones, but cannot say that we are "buttoned off" when someone hangs up on us. Anyway, take your hand and mime the old "rolling-down-a-window" circular crank motion so you can speak to your fellow driver. Most of the time they will miraculously still know what this means. And yes, you have also paid tribute to Buster Keaton for the day. Hand Puppets: Shape your hand like a talking clam and chomp the jaws together. This motion lets them know that you're trying to say something. If they don't immediately take the hint, you can also possibly mouth the words "Need to Talk to You" while gesturing from yourself to them with the other hand. By this point, the other party usually rolls their window down, smiles and ignores you, or gives you a stunning glare. Use Your NPR Voice: When the other window cracks or comes down, shoot over a "Hey! Your Brake Light is Out," in an even, pleasant tone. If it's noisy and you do need to speak up, I recommend using a voice that I call the "Rowdy Rick Steves," which is as bright and smooth as root beer with Jameson in the bottom. Most of the time the other party will be pleasantly surprised, their brow going from furrowed to uplifted. There may be some thanks, they might ask which side is out, you exchange a nice little wave and both cruise onto a better day as the light turns green. Don't Creep: If the traffic light doesn't immediately change and things don't flow like the end of a gum commercial, say "Yes sir" or "Yes ma'am," roll your window back up and fiddle with your radio or phone. Whatever you do, do not keep looking at them. You've already done the hand-clam, for God's sake. One of my favorite parts of Scott McCloud's masterpiece Understanding Comics is a brief moment in which he addresses the concept of cars as an exoskeleton. Shaw points out the representation of a vehicle as an extension of the self and how drivers tend to say "he hit me" instead of "he hit my car" when in an accident. In this sense, we must always bear in mind the vulnerability of our fellow drivers; we all retain a private function with our respective vehicles. The modern car is its own life pod. Driver A uses the machine for work and it smells like ancient hot dog farts. Driver B might keep it pristine, vacuuming the cabin every Sunday afternoon. Driver C uses it as a changing room and phone booth to escape office life, her back seat full of old salad containers and yoga pants waiting to be washed. Given the nature of its repetition, mobility and sense of urgency, this space is always disposable and yet somehow more familiar than home. When we speak between these spaces, it must be with kindness. You could be heading to work or just hunting for a Starbucks to poop in. No matter your destination, at some point you're going to find yourself rolling up behind a car, truck, or jeep with only one red brake light staring back at you. The red cyclops must be slain and we can do this if we work together. Lee Keeler is a writer and educator living in Northeast Los Angeles. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Over 1,500 pilots of Air India have written a letter to Ratan Tata, the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, which owns Air India, alleging that they are not being treated with respect and dignity by the HR department of the airline. The fresh petition by the disgruntled pilots comes days after they have sought Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekarans intervention to resolve the disagreement them and the management over the revised pay structure. We are facing a difficult situation with the current HR department. We feel we are not being treated with the respect and dignity that we deserve as employee of Air India. As a result, our morale is low, and we are concerned that this will have a negative impact on our ability to perform our duties to the best of our abilities, the pilots wrote in their petition to Ratan Tata. On April 17, Air India rolled out a revamped compensation structure for its pilots and cabin crew, which has since been rejected by two unions -- Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) and Indian Pilots Guild (IPG). Air India pilots unions have urged the management to not coerce pilots to accept the revised pay. They feel Ratan Tatas intervention might help them to find a solution. NEW DELHI: Over 1,500 pilots of Air India have written a letter to Ratan Tata, the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, which owns Air India, alleging that they are not being treated with respect and dignity by the HR department of the airline. The fresh petition by the disgruntled pilots comes days after they have sought Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekarans intervention to resolve the disagreement them and the management over the revised pay structure. We are facing a difficult situation with the current HR department. We feel we are not being treated with the respect and dignity that we deserve as employee of Air India. As a result, our morale is low, and we are concerned that this will have a negative impact on our ability to perform our duties to the best of our abilities, the pilots wrote in their petition to Ratan Tata. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); On April 17, Air India rolled out a revamped compensation structure for its pilots and cabin crew, which has since been rejected by two unions -- Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) and Indian Pilots Guild (IPG). Air India pilots unions have urged the management to not coerce pilots to accept the revised pay. They feel Ratan Tatas intervention might help them to find a solution. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Tuesday refused to urgently hear an appeal by Google against an order directing the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to decide the application filed by start-ups against the tech giants new in-app billing policy. The HC had on Monday ordered the CCI to hear plea of Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF), an industry body of start-ups, urgently against Googles user choice billing system (UCB). Google is to introduce the new billing system on April 26, 2023. The ADIF, which has members like PaytM, Matrimony.com, TrulyMadly, MapMyIndia and several other start-ups, said the move of the US tech giant violates the anti-trust watchdogs order. The CCI on October 25, 2022, directed Google to not impose any condition on app developers which is unfair, unreasonable or discriminatory to the services provided to them. On April 24, the HC had asked the CCI to hear the application moved against Googles UCB. Subsequently, the competition regulator had summoned Google and representatives of Indian start-ups on April 25 to hear ADIFs plea against the tech giants new billing policy. However, Google has filed an appeal against a single-judge order of the Delhi high court. The appeal was mentioned before a Bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad by Google, which requested that the matter be listed on Tuesday. However, the bench refused to hear its case on Tuesday. NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Tuesday refused to urgently hear an appeal by Google against an order directing the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to decide the application filed by start-ups against the tech giants new in-app billing policy. The HC had on Monday ordered the CCI to hear plea of Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF), an industry body of start-ups, urgently against Googles user choice billing system (UCB). Google is to introduce the new billing system on April 26, 2023. The ADIF, which has members like PaytM, Matrimony.com, TrulyMadly, MapMyIndia and several other start-ups, said the move of the US tech giant violates the anti-trust watchdogs order. The CCI on October 25, 2022, directed Google to not impose any condition on app developers which is unfair, unreasonable or discriminatory to the services provided to them.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); On April 24, the HC had asked the CCI to hear the application moved against Googles UCB. Subsequently, the competition regulator had summoned Google and representatives of Indian start-ups on April 25 to hear ADIFs plea against the tech giants new billing policy. However, Google has filed an appeal against a single-judge order of the Delhi high court. The appeal was mentioned before a Bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad by Google, which requested that the matter be listed on Tuesday. However, the bench refused to hear its case on Tuesday. VR Ferose By Express News Service BENGALURU: Have you ever imagined how your life would be if some of the most important moments in your life had turned out differently? Say you followed a different profession, moved to a different country or married a different person. In the world of literature, this idea is explored in the context of history. Called Alternate History, it is considered a sub-genre of fiction (mainly historical fiction or science fiction). It is a niche space with the most common theme being around the outcomes of war and Presidential elections e.g. what if Germany had won World War 2 (Fatherland by Robert Harris); what if Napolean had won the Battle of Waterloo or if Lincoln had lost the Civil War (Peter G Tourass Napoleon Victorious and Gettysburg: An Alternate History). The most popular theme related to presidential elections has been the US election of 1880: what if James A Garfield had become President of United States instead of Abraham Lincoln (Benjamin T Arringtons The Last Lincoln Republican)? Two of the most popular books around alternate history are The Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove and The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick (the latter was made into an OTT series by the same name). However, an interesting twist to the concept of alternate history has been to explore different outcomes for fictional ideas like what if Superman sides with the British during the Revolutionary War; Batman sails the seas as the dreaded pirate Leatherwing; the armoured hero Steel faces a vicious slavemaster on a Civil War-era plantation. These are the themes of the graphic novel Superman/Batman: Alternate Histories, which comprises a bunch of stories collected from the 1994 DC Elseworld Annuals. Its a great introduction to the what-ifs of the DC superhero universe. You take a history that was fiction, to begin with and move it into an alternate possibility. Such narratives have spawned some of the most imaginative comics. Another intriguing biographical tale is Rodham by Curtis Sittenfield, which asks the question: what if Hillary Rodham had not married Bill Clinton but had achieved something significant on her own? The book imagines a timeline where a 20-something Yale Law School graduate Hillary Rodham ultimately rejects Bill Clintons marriage proposal (in reality she accepted his proposal the third time!). Harry Turtledove is considered The Master of Alternate History and has been credited with bringing the sub-genre into the mainstream. He is known for creating original alternate-history scenarios, such as the survival of the Byzantine Empire or an alien invasion in the middle of the Second World War. In addition, he has been credited with providing original treatment to alternate themes that had been dealt with by many others. Most of his books have a strong military theme. Guns of the South where he imagines the rebels winning the Civil War is his most popular book. When Harry Turtledove was asked how he writes alternate fiction, he said, I use the same extrapolation techniques of a science fiction writer, except that instead of projecting it into the future I turned it into the past. A book that generated a lot of controversy in India was the 2009 book by Wendy Doniger, The Hindus: An Alternate History. The book was explicitly intended as an alternative history of Hinduism, the mainstream history being (in the authors view) written from male Brahminical and white Orientalist perspectives. Doniger instead portrays the history of Hinduism from the point of view of women, dogs, horses and outcastes in a playful, iconoclastic, and inherently controversial style. I am waiting for someone to write a fictional account of what if Donald Trump had won the 2020 election instead of Joe Biden. Going by what Trumps fans believe, many may not consider this as fiction to begin with! BENGALURU: Have you ever imagined how your life would be if some of the most important moments in your life had turned out differently? Say you followed a different profession, moved to a different country or married a different person. In the world of literature, this idea is explored in the context of history. Called Alternate History, it is considered a sub-genre of fiction (mainly historical fiction or science fiction). It is a niche space with the most common theme being around the outcomes of war and Presidential elections e.g. what if Germany had won World War 2 (Fatherland by Robert Harris); what if Napolean had won the Battle of Waterloo or if Lincoln had lost the Civil War (Peter G Tourass Napoleon Victorious and Gettysburg: An Alternate History). The most popular theme related to presidential elections has been the US election of 1880: what if James A Garfield had become President of United States instead of Abraham Lincoln (Benjamin T Arringtons The Last Lincoln Republican)? googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Two of the most popular books around alternate history are The Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove and The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick (the latter was made into an OTT series by the same name). However, an interesting twist to the concept of alternate history has been to explore different outcomes for fictional ideas like what if Superman sides with the British during the Revolutionary War; Batman sails the seas as the dreaded pirate Leatherwing; the armoured hero Steel faces a vicious slavemaster on a Civil War-era plantation. These are the themes of the graphic novel Superman/Batman: Alternate Histories, which comprises a bunch of stories collected from the 1994 DC Elseworld Annuals. Its a great introduction to the what-ifs of the DC superhero universe. You take a history that was fiction, to begin with and move it into an alternate possibility. Such narratives have spawned some of the most imaginative comics. Another intriguing biographical tale is Rodham by Curtis Sittenfield, which asks the question: what if Hillary Rodham had not married Bill Clinton but had achieved something significant on her own? The book imagines a timeline where a 20-something Yale Law School graduate Hillary Rodham ultimately rejects Bill Clintons marriage proposal (in reality she accepted his proposal the third time!). Harry Turtledove is considered The Master of Alternate History and has been credited with bringing the sub-genre into the mainstream. He is known for creating original alternate-history scenarios, such as the survival of the Byzantine Empire or an alien invasion in the middle of the Second World War. In addition, he has been credited with providing original treatment to alternate themes that had been dealt with by many others. Most of his books have a strong military theme. Guns of the South where he imagines the rebels winning the Civil War is his most popular book. When Harry Turtledove was asked how he writes alternate fiction, he said, I use the same extrapolation techniques of a science fiction writer, except that instead of projecting it into the future I turned it into the past. A book that generated a lot of controversy in India was the 2009 book by Wendy Doniger, The Hindus: An Alternate History. The book was explicitly intended as an alternative history of Hinduism, the mainstream history being (in the authors view) written from male Brahminical and white Orientalist perspectives. Doniger instead portrays the history of Hinduism from the point of view of women, dogs, horses and outcastes in a playful, iconoclastic, and inherently controversial style. I am waiting for someone to write a fictional account of what if Donald Trump had won the 2020 election instead of Joe Biden. Going by what Trumps fans believe, many may not consider this as fiction to begin with! Subashini Vijayakumar By Express News Service CHENNAI: More than 25 families who were living along the banks of the Cooum River on Mayor Ramanathan Salai were evicted by the Water Resources Department (WRD), as part of the Cooum River Restoration Project on Tuesday. Most of these families belong to the Betta Kurumbar community, which was recently declared as Scheduled Tribes, who sell bamboo products. Their makeshift houses including tarpaulin sheets were pushed into the river and the bamboo products were dumped on the pavement during the eviction drive. All the families, along with small children, were forced to sit on the pavements as eviction was carried out without providing them alternative accommodation. We have been living here for more than 40 years now. Our parents migrated from Andhra Pradesh. Our livelihood depends on doing business on this road, said P Raja, a resident. The residents alleged that the officials often take away their belongings, including knives used to make furniture and other finished items, during eviction drives. Officials demand bribes to allow us to do business here. While we have applied for ration cards and Aadhaar Cards, but we havent received them yet. We only have voter identity cards. Despite being a marginalised community, we also cant get any benefits since we were denied community certificates, said a resident on condition of anonymity. Evicting vulnerable families without alternate accommodation, during exams, confiscating belongings, smashing water pots and leaving women and children without shelter is a human rights violation, said Vanessa Peter, founder of the Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities (IRCDUC). Meanwhile, officials said a meeting was held between residents and various departments. There were problems in allotting houses for them since the residents dont have address proof. During the meeting, they told us they would provide necessary documents in a few days after which their request will be considered, said an official. CHENNAI: More than 25 families who were living along the banks of the Cooum River on Mayor Ramanathan Salai were evicted by the Water Resources Department (WRD), as part of the Cooum River Restoration Project on Tuesday. Most of these families belong to the Betta Kurumbar community, which was recently declared as Scheduled Tribes, who sell bamboo products. Their makeshift houses including tarpaulin sheets were pushed into the river and the bamboo products were dumped on the pavement during the eviction drive. All the families, along with small children, were forced to sit on the pavements as eviction was carried out without providing them alternative accommodation. We have been living here for more than 40 years now. Our parents migrated from Andhra Pradesh. Our livelihood depends on doing business on this road, said P Raja, a resident. The residents alleged that the officials often take away their belongings, including knives used to make furniture and other finished items, during eviction drives. Officials demand bribes to allow us to do business here. While we have applied for ration cards and Aadhaar Cards, but we havent received them yet. We only have voter identity cards.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Despite being a marginalised community, we also cant get any benefits since we were denied community certificates, said a resident on condition of anonymity. Evicting vulnerable families without alternate accommodation, during exams, confiscating belongings, smashing water pots and leaving women and children without shelter is a human rights violation, said Vanessa Peter, founder of the Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities (IRCDUC). Meanwhile, officials said a meeting was held between residents and various departments. There were problems in allotting houses for them since the residents dont have address proof. During the meeting, they told us they would provide necessary documents in a few days after which their request will be considered, said an official. Hridyambika A Manu By Online Desk Development for whom? Development at what cost? These questions hardly get asked by the state when a development project is conceived, constructed, and put into use. The lives and livelihoods that get impacted by the project get dismissed as collateral damage. In many instances, the state has been seen to stifle the voices of protests either using its police force or money power in the form of compensation to the affected families. In Tamil Nadu, advocate Vetriselvan, an activist belonging to the environmental group Poovulagin Nanbargal was recently taken into preventive custody by Kancheepuram police while he was on the way to Eganapuram, a village near Parandur, about 60 km from the city, to take part in a protest against the Greenfield airport project proposed by the state government. There is opposition among the people against the project. The people fear it would ruin their fertile agricultural land. The environmentalists state that the water bodies would disappear from the site once the airport project takes off. Tamil Nadu Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu has affirmed that the airport was the need of the hour for the development of the state. Vetriselvan, who believes otherwise, shared his insights. What do we have to know about the Parandur Airport project and its inception? The Parandur Airport project centres around the Union of India's new Greenfield Airport policy. This policy allows airports to be run on public-private partnerships which means privatisation is an essential part of it. Any state can apply to the Union of India to construct an airport. The state government is responsible for acquiring land for the project. Thereafter, the central government would review the site and grant permission. Following that, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) will approve it. This is the basic procedure for this policy. So, in 2018 or 2019, the announcement for a second airport, in the name of the new Greenfield Airport in Chennai was proposed when the AIADMK government under Edapadi Palaniswami was in power. The project demands around four thousand acres of land. Of this, around a thousand acres of the land consist of waterbodies and the rest three thousand acres are being used for agriculture which also includes households when combined. The spot where the runway is to be constructed has not been finalised yet. However, reports suggest a part of the Kamban canal, which reportedly connects 85 waterbodies, falls within the proposed airport area. Of course, all these specifics can only be confirmed once the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is submitted. This report will include technical feasibility studies which have to be approved by the AAI, as well as clearance from various other departments, including environmental clearance. Before applying for environmental clearance, applications for land acquisition and proceedings must be filed, and officers will need to approve and fine them. So, once the environmental clearance is obtained, the land acquisition process commences. At the same time, land surveys should also be conducted. Prior to land acquisition, a social impact assessment will be conducted. Once that is completed, we will conduct a public hearing. Here, clearance for pollution and water for the airport has to be done simultaneously. Also, under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, only private land can be acquired. Hence a public consultation process is required. So, you see, there are many steps involved in this process. Therefore this project is still in its initial stage. The technical feasibility study is still pending. So, for conducting that study, a global tender has been asked for. However, no company has come forward to bid and accept it. The exertion for the bid has been carried out thrice, however, protest is still ongoing to stop this project. How will this project impact the people? The villagers are opposing this project for several valid reasons. Out of the thirteen villages which have been marked, two villages, especially Eganapuram, will no longer have their postal address, as it will be used as the airport runway. This is crucial because around 2,500 families reside there. Half the area of 10 villages is to be usurped for the project. Is there a difference of opinion among villagers over the project? There is no division or difference of opinion among the people of Parandur. All of them are in support of the people of Eganapuram. The state government has been trying to create division among the protesters. However, we are not ready to change our stance until we find a solution. Because the people who own the land are aware that such fertile land suitable for cultivation cannot be compensated with what the government has been offering them. In fact, if they lose this land, it will be difficult for them to find equally fertile land elsewhere for cultivation. Hence there is no division among the people because they are well aware of the effect this project could have on their livelihood. Advocate Vetriselvan. On the government's decision to study the issue and recommend solutions. Yes, the governments recent decision to announce a high-level committee is definitely a positive step. However, we are yet to receive the notification for the same. Also, if two third of the people are not in favour of the project, then this project cannot proceed due to a lack of public support. Hence as a democratic state, the government should ensure the project meets all these criteria and that there isn't any serious impediment to scientific progress. However, the governments strong statements of bringing this project to immediate action by announcing it in the assembly are what we are apprehensive of. The project needs to be transparent to the public. ALSO READ | Deadline to choose consultant for Parandur airport extended On compensation for land owners... As mentioned earlier, the government has apparently announced to compensate the villagers with an amount thrice the current market value. However, the land acquisition proceeding will be initiated for each individuals land only after the district collector finalises the land value for each individual. So, based on that, the governments offer is minimal, as the land here is any way of very low value. So, when there is so much valuation difference in land here as compared to nearby towns, will it be viable for them to purchase land elsewhere? Secondly, once the compensation is paid to each individual, the acquisition proceeding will be initiated, and this talk will come up again. So, all of this is pretty complicated . On the legal battle... Legally, there isn't much improvement, since the case still awaits judicial clearance plus there are still legal obstacles in our way. In situations like this where there is no clearance, our judiciary will go through the subject matter and if necessary, file a case for public incidents. This is a very serious issue to be dealt with. What do you foresee? The residents are very much still fighting to get the matter resolved. However, the government is trying hard to not let this matter spread outside the state. It has been taking actions to let the matter stay within this village and be controlled specifically. It's a people's movement. Of course, it will spread from town to town, but here the residents and villagers are completely under the governments surveillance. Recently, on the occasion of the two hundredth day of our protest, when I made a visit, they didn't allow me. They are clearly trying to silence our voices. Development for whom? Development at what cost? These questions hardly get asked by the state when a development project is conceived, constructed, and put into use. The lives and livelihoods that get impacted by the project get dismissed as collateral damage. In many instances, the state has been seen to stifle the voices of protests either using its police force or money power in the form of compensation to the affected families. In Tamil Nadu, advocate Vetriselvan, an activist belonging to the environmental group Poovulagin Nanbargal was recently taken into preventive custody by Kancheepuram police while he was on the way to Eganapuram, a village near Parandur, about 60 km from the city, to take part in a protest against the Greenfield airport project proposed by the state government.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); There is opposition among the people against the project. The people fear it would ruin their fertile agricultural land. The environmentalists state that the water bodies would disappear from the site once the airport project takes off. Tamil Nadu Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu has affirmed that the airport was the need of the hour for the development of the state. Vetriselvan, who believes otherwise, shared his insights. What do we have to know about the Parandur Airport project and its inception? The Parandur Airport project centres around the Union of India's new Greenfield Airport policy. This policy allows airports to be run on public-private partnerships which means privatisation is an essential part of it. Any state can apply to the Union of India to construct an airport. The state government is responsible for acquiring land for the project. Thereafter, the central government would review the site and grant permission. Following that, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) will approve it. This is the basic procedure for this policy. So, in 2018 or 2019, the announcement for a second airport, in the name of the new Greenfield Airport in Chennai was proposed when the AIADMK government under Edapadi Palaniswami was in power. The project demands around four thousand acres of land. Of this, around a thousand acres of the land consist of waterbodies and the rest three thousand acres are being used for agriculture which also includes households when combined. The spot where the runway is to be constructed has not been finalised yet. However, reports suggest a part of the Kamban canal, which reportedly connects 85 waterbodies, falls within the proposed airport area. Of course, all these specifics can only be confirmed once the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is submitted. This report will include technical feasibility studies which have to be approved by the AAI, as well as clearance from various other departments, including environmental clearance. Before applying for environmental clearance, applications for land acquisition and proceedings must be filed, and officers will need to approve and fine them. So, once the environmental clearance is obtained, the land acquisition process commences. At the same time, land surveys should also be conducted. Prior to land acquisition, a social impact assessment will be conducted. Once that is completed, we will conduct a public hearing. Here, clearance for pollution and water for the airport has to be done simultaneously. Also, under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, only private land can be acquired. Hence a public consultation process is required. So, you see, there are many steps involved in this process. Therefore this project is still in its initial stage. The technical feasibility study is still pending. So, for conducting that study, a global tender has been asked for. However, no company has come forward to bid and accept it. The exertion for the bid has been carried out thrice, however, protest is still ongoing to stop this project. How will this project impact the people? The villagers are opposing this project for several valid reasons. Out of the thirteen villages which have been marked, two villages, especially Eganapuram, will no longer have their postal address, as it will be used as the airport runway. This is crucial because around 2,500 families reside there. Half the area of 10 villages is to be usurped for the project. Is there a difference of opinion among villagers over the project? There is no division or difference of opinion among the people of Parandur. All of them are in support of the people of Eganapuram. The state government has been trying to create division among the protesters. However, we are not ready to change our stance until we find a solution. Because the people who own the land are aware that such fertile land suitable for cultivation cannot be compensated with what the government has been offering them. In fact, if they lose this land, it will be difficult for them to find equally fertile land elsewhere for cultivation. Hence there is no division among the people because they are well aware of the effect this project could have on their livelihood. Advocate Vetriselvan. On the government's decision to study the issue and recommend solutions. Yes, the governments recent decision to announce a high-level committee is definitely a positive step. However, we are yet to receive the notification for the same. Also, if two third of the people are not in favour of the project, then this project cannot proceed due to a lack of public support. Hence as a democratic state, the government should ensure the project meets all these criteria and that there isn't any serious impediment to scientific progress. However, the governments strong statements of bringing this project to immediate action by announcing it in the assembly are what we are apprehensive of. The project needs to be transparent to the public. ALSO READ | Deadline to choose consultant for Parandur airport extended On compensation for land owners... As mentioned earlier, the government has apparently announced to compensate the villagers with an amount thrice the current market value. However, the land acquisition proceeding will be initiated for each individuals land only after the district collector finalises the land value for each individual. So, based on that, the governments offer is minimal, as the land here is any way of very low value. So, when there is so much valuation difference in land here as compared to nearby towns, will it be viable for them to purchase land elsewhere? Secondly, once the compensation is paid to each individual, the acquisition proceeding will be initiated, and this talk will come up again. So, all of this is pretty complicated . On the legal battle... Legally, there isn't much improvement, since the case still awaits judicial clearance plus there are still legal obstacles in our way. In situations like this where there is no clearance, our judiciary will go through the subject matter and if necessary, file a case for public incidents. This is a very serious issue to be dealt with. What do you foresee? The residents are very much still fighting to get the matter resolved. However, the government is trying hard to not let this matter spread outside the state. It has been taking actions to let the matter stay within this village and be controlled specifically. It's a people's movement. Of course, it will spread from town to town, but here the residents and villagers are completely under the governments surveillance. Recently, on the occasion of the two hundredth day of our protest, when I made a visit, they didn't allow me. They are clearly trying to silence our voices. By Online Desk CHENNAI: A youth was run over by a train after he jumped off a moving EMU to save his friend who slipped and fell off on the track near Saidapet on Wednesday evening, a report said. The victim has been identified as Gautham (26). He was part of a group from Tirupattur that had come to Chennai to see off a friend who was flying to Singapore from Chennai airport. According to an agency report, the group of friends had arrived at Chennai Central railway station and thereon they boarded an EMU at Park Railway station to head for Tirusulum. When the train was nearing Saidapet railway station, one of the friends, Asaithambi, who was standing near the door, slipped and fell down. While the others alighted the train onto the platform as it slowed down while approaching Saidapet railway station, Gautham jumped from the train and ended on the tracks. At that moment, an electric train bound for Beach Station hit Gautham. Asaithambi got lucky and did not get hit by the train, the report said quoting a railway police officer. Gautham was rushed to a hospital where he was declared as brought dead. His body was sent to the Government Royapettah Hospital for autopsy. CHENNAI: A youth was run over by a train after he jumped off a moving EMU to save his friend who slipped and fell off on the track near Saidapet on Wednesday evening, a report said. The victim has been identified as Gautham (26). He was part of a group from Tirupattur that had come to Chennai to see off a friend who was flying to Singapore from Chennai airport. According to an agency report, the group of friends had arrived at Chennai Central railway station and thereon they boarded an EMU at Park Railway station to head for Tirusulum. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); When the train was nearing Saidapet railway station, one of the friends, Asaithambi, who was standing near the door, slipped and fell down. While the others alighted the train onto the platform as it slowed down while approaching Saidapet railway station, Gautham jumped from the train and ended on the tracks. At that moment, an electric train bound for Beach Station hit Gautham. Asaithambi got lucky and did not get hit by the train, the report said quoting a railway police officer. Gautham was rushed to a hospital where he was declared as brought dead. His body was sent to the Government Royapettah Hospital for autopsy. Ashish Srivastava By ENS & Agencies NEW DELHI: The stage is set for the high-stakes Delhi mayoral election on Wednesday, which will be a direct contest between incumbent Shelly Oberoi from the AAP and BJPs Shikha Rai. The AAP is the ruling party in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The two candidates, current mayor Oberoi and BJPs Rai had earlier filed their nominations for the mayoral polls slated to be held on April 26. Oberoi was elected as the mayor on February 22. She defeated BJPs Rekha Gupta by a margin of 34 votes. Oberoi polled 150 votes, while Gupta received 116 of the total 266 votes polled. The post of mayor sees five single-year terms on a rotational basis, with the first year reserved for women, the second for the open category, the third for the reserved category and the remaining two again for the open category. The city gets a new mayor after the end of a financial year. Oberoi and her fellow party man Aaley Mohammad Iqbal filed their nominations earlier this month for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor, respectively, for a possible second consecutive term, with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party exuding confidence that its candidates are poised for a win. The BJP too has entered the fray and senior party leader Rai, the councillor from the Greater Kailash-1 ward, is its candidate for the mayoral poll, while Soni Pandey, an activist of the Purvanchal Morcha and the councillor from ward number 249, will be its candidate for the deputy mayor's post. Delhi had got a mayor on February 22 in the fourth attempt since the earlier elections were stalled amid a ruckus over voting rights being given to nominated members. According to the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, 1957, the mayor and the deputy mayor are to be elected in the very first session of the House after the civic polls. The civic polls held on December 4 last year were the first after the three corporations were unified into the MCD and a fresh delimitation exercise was carried out, reducing the number of wards from 272 in 2012 to 250. The AAP had emerged victorious in the high-stakes polls. (With inputs from PTI) NEW DELHI: The stage is set for the high-stakes Delhi mayoral election on Wednesday, which will be a direct contest between incumbent Shelly Oberoi from the AAP and BJPs Shikha Rai. The AAP is the ruling party in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The two candidates, current mayor Oberoi and BJPs Rai had earlier filed their nominations for the mayoral polls slated to be held on April 26. Oberoi was elected as the mayor on February 22. She defeated BJPs Rekha Gupta by a margin of 34 votes. Oberoi polled 150 votes, while Gupta received 116 of the total 266 votes polled.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The post of mayor sees five single-year terms on a rotational basis, with the first year reserved for women, the second for the open category, the third for the reserved category and the remaining two again for the open category. The city gets a new mayor after the end of a financial year. Oberoi and her fellow party man Aaley Mohammad Iqbal filed their nominations earlier this month for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor, respectively, for a possible second consecutive term, with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party exuding confidence that its candidates are poised for a win. The BJP too has entered the fray and senior party leader Rai, the councillor from the Greater Kailash-1 ward, is its candidate for the mayoral poll, while Soni Pandey, an activist of the Purvanchal Morcha and the councillor from ward number 249, will be its candidate for the deputy mayor's post. Delhi had got a mayor on February 22 in the fourth attempt since the earlier elections were stalled amid a ruckus over voting rights being given to nominated members. According to the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, 1957, the mayor and the deputy mayor are to be elected in the very first session of the House after the civic polls. The civic polls held on December 4 last year were the first after the three corporations were unified into the MCD and a fresh delimitation exercise was carried out, reducing the number of wards from 272 in 2012 to 250. The AAP had emerged victorious in the high-stakes polls. (With inputs from PTI) The Walt Disney Company today sued Florida governor Ron DeSantis, claiming his political campaign against it amounts to unconstitutional interference in its business, a "relentless campaign to weaponize government power." The move dramatically escalates the drawn-out feud between DeSantis, who is expected to become a top Republican contender for the 2024 presidential race, and Disney, which is among Florida's largest employers. The fight began last year, Disney came out against a Florida bill limiting classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity, dubbed "Don't Say Gay" by critics. Soon after, the governor and his allies targeted the special tax district that has allowed Disney to essentially self-govern its Florida operations since the 1960s. Gokul Krishnan V and Romil Udaykumar T N V By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Assam native Shukla Rani and her family are content. They finally have a place to call home in Kerala, thanks to Kudumbashrees Pachakadu unit. After 10 years, my family and I are enjoying a good nights sleep, says Rani, 35, who moved into her new house at Vattappara recently. A widow, Rani had come to Vattappara 10 years ago with her husband Jeevan Majumdar, a welder. He passed away earlier this year. His untimely death shook the family to its core, and left them financially vulnerable. Rani could barely manage to pay rent. Rani was not willing to return to Assam, as she felt it would affect the education of her children. Though she took up work as a maid, she had trouble managing her work and her responsibilities at home. Thats when her friend Sreelatha, a Kudumbashree member, stepped in. She, along with other women of the group, supported Rani through thick and thin. The Pachakadu Kudumbashree members pitched in with contributions to build Rani a house on a three-cent plot. Akashs school, LPS-Vattapara, also helped financially. I feel it our responsibility to help the family get back on its feet said Sreelathas father Ashok who, along with his son-in-law and grandson, handled the construction of the new house. For Rani, Kerala is now her home. I feel comfortable speaking Malayalam. I share a bond with the people of Vattappara, she said. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Assam native Shukla Rani and her family are content. They finally have a place to call home in Kerala, thanks to Kudumbashrees Pachakadu unit. After 10 years, my family and I are enjoying a good nights sleep, says Rani, 35, who moved into her new house at Vattappara recently. A widow, Rani had come to Vattappara 10 years ago with her husband Jeevan Majumdar, a welder. He passed away earlier this year. His untimely death shook the family to its core, and left them financially vulnerable. Rani could barely manage to pay rent. Rani was not willing to return to Assam, as she felt it would affect the education of her children. Though she took up work as a maid, she had trouble managing her work and her responsibilities at home. Thats when her friend Sreelatha, a Kudumbashree member, stepped in. She, along with other women of the group, supported Rani through thick and thin. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Pachakadu Kudumbashree members pitched in with contributions to build Rani a house on a three-cent plot. Akashs school, LPS-Vattapara, also helped financially. I feel it our responsibility to help the family get back on its feet said Sreelathas father Ashok who, along with his son-in-law and grandson, handled the construction of the new house. For Rani, Kerala is now her home. I feel comfortable speaking Malayalam. I share a bond with the people of Vattappara, she said. By AFP TEHRAN: Dissident filmmaker Jafar Panahi has left Iran for the first time in 14 years for a trip to France, weeks after being released from prison, his lawyer said Wednesday. The 62-year-old Iranian director, whose films have won numerous international awards, was freed on bail in early February after nearly seven months in detention in Tehran. "After having fully served his sentence, Panahi was authorised to leave the country and obtained his passport," his lawyer Saleh Nikbakht told AFP. On Tuesday evening Panahi's wife, Tahereh Saidi, posted a photo on Instagram of herself and the filmmaker at an airport, with both appearing happy to leave the country after a 14-year ban. The lawyer said Panahi was travelling to France to visit his daughter. Panahi was banned from making films and leaving the Islamic republic after supporting mass protests in 2009 and making a series of films that critiqued the state of modern Iran. That did not stop him from working clandestinely in the country, and his 2015 film "Taxi" won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. Arrested in Tehran in July last year, the director was to serve a six-year prison sentence handed down in 2010 for "propaganda against the system". However, Panahi was released two days after going on a hunger strike in early February to protest the conditions of his detention. "As far as I know, there are no more court cases against him," Nikbakht said. As well as scooping the Golden Bear in Berlin, Panahi won a Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2000 for his film "The Circle". In 2018, he also claimed the best screenplay prize at Cannes for "Three Faces". Panahi's latest film, "No Bears", which like much of his recent work stars the director himself, was screened at the 2022 Venice Film Festival when the filmmaker was already behind bars. It won the Special Jury Prize. TEHRAN: Dissident filmmaker Jafar Panahi has left Iran for the first time in 14 years for a trip to France, weeks after being released from prison, his lawyer said Wednesday. The 62-year-old Iranian director, whose films have won numerous international awards, was freed on bail in early February after nearly seven months in detention in Tehran. "After having fully served his sentence, Panahi was authorised to leave the country and obtained his passport," his lawyer Saleh Nikbakht told AFP.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); On Tuesday evening Panahi's wife, Tahereh Saidi, posted a photo on Instagram of herself and the filmmaker at an airport, with both appearing happy to leave the country after a 14-year ban. The lawyer said Panahi was travelling to France to visit his daughter. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tahereh saeedi (@taherehsaidii) Panahi was banned from making films and leaving the Islamic republic after supporting mass protests in 2009 and making a series of films that critiqued the state of modern Iran. That did not stop him from working clandestinely in the country, and his 2015 film "Taxi" won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. Arrested in Tehran in July last year, the director was to serve a six-year prison sentence handed down in 2010 for "propaganda against the system". However, Panahi was released two days after going on a hunger strike in early February to protest the conditions of his detention. "As far as I know, there are no more court cases against him," Nikbakht said. As well as scooping the Golden Bear in Berlin, Panahi won a Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2000 for his film "The Circle". In 2018, he also claimed the best screenplay prize at Cannes for "Three Faces". Panahi's latest film, "No Bears", which like much of his recent work stars the director himself, was screened at the 2022 Venice Film Festival when the filmmaker was already behind bars. It won the Special Jury Prize. Kartik Bhardwaj By Express News Service While talking to actors, directors, writers or any artist, one questioneven if actively avoidedinevitably sneaks in. When did you realise you were an artist? Wamiqa Gabbi, who recently starred as Niloufer Qureshi in Vikramaditya Motwanes Jubilee, had a rather interesting first audition. Usually, newborns have their eyes shut. My father tells me that when I was just 15 minutes old, he picked me up and I looked at him wide-eyed and pouty. He said, At that moment I knew you were a draamebaaz. In Jubilee, Wamiqas character Niloufer is a courtesan, a mistress, an aspiring actor, and a heartbroken woman. We spoke to Wamiqa about her growth as an actor and why she was once rejected. Excerpts: Your portrayal of Niloufer is very lively. What was the best compliment you received for the performance? One of the best compliments I got was from Imtiaz Ali. I was in Class 8 when I worked with him in Jab We Met. I played the youngest sister-in-law to Shahid Kapoors Aditya in the film and Imtiaz sir still calls me choti waali (Youngest one). He came to the screening of Jubilee and I was very anxious. After the screening he messaged me and it read, You were tremendously good choti waali. That meant a lot. You have worked in the industry for a while now. How has your relationship with acting evolved? I feel very satisfied with my work now. In the past 1.5 years I have shot Jubilee, three other projects with Vishal Bhardwaj and another fourth I am currently doing. Work has become really fun now, I am really thankful for that. Was there a time when it was not fun? I dont even know what I was doing when I started out. I think I acted very superficially. Sometimes, I thought, Maybe I am not made for this. I should consider doing something else. Then in 2019 and I went to audition for Vishal Bhardwajs Midnights Children. I realised that acting doesnt mean you dont have to be yourself. To better your acting, you have to work on yourself. The more empathic, accepting and non-judgmental you are towards yourself, the better you will understand your character. Your Jubilee character Niloufer seduces men to rise up but your portrayal of the character is so non-judgmental When I was shaping the character, I asked myself, Where does Niloufer get her acting talent from? And I realised it is because as a courtesan she has spent her entire life acting in a way men might like. You were earlier rejected for the role. What happened there? My audition went well but for some reason, Vikramaditya sir was not sure about me. Later, when he saw my content on Instagram, he realised I was as quirky as he wanted Niloufer to be. When your father saw Jubilee, what was his reaction? After the first episode, all of them were praising the show. I asked my father, Daddy, ye ki ho riya hain? (Dad, what is happening?) We hugged and he just said, Sahi hain, sahi hain (Everythings going great, dont worry) While talking to actors, directors, writers or any artist, one questioneven if actively avoidedinevitably sneaks in. When did you realise you were an artist? Wamiqa Gabbi, who recently starred as Niloufer Qureshi in Vikramaditya Motwanes Jubilee, had a rather interesting first audition. Usually, newborns have their eyes shut. My father tells me that when I was just 15 minutes old, he picked me up and I looked at him wide-eyed and pouty. He said, At that moment I knew you were a draamebaaz. In Jubilee, Wamiqas character Niloufer is a courtesan, a mistress, an aspiring actor, and a heartbroken woman. We spoke to Wamiqa about her growth as an actor and why she was once rejected. Excerpts: Your portrayal of Niloufer is very lively. What was the best compliment you received for the performance?googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); One of the best compliments I got was from Imtiaz Ali. I was in Class 8 when I worked with him in Jab We Met. I played the youngest sister-in-law to Shahid Kapoors Aditya in the film and Imtiaz sir still calls me choti waali (Youngest one). He came to the screening of Jubilee and I was very anxious. After the screening he messaged me and it read, You were tremendously good choti waali. That meant a lot. You have worked in the industry for a while now. How has your relationship with acting evolved? I feel very satisfied with my work now. In the past 1.5 years I have shot Jubilee, three other projects with Vishal Bhardwaj and another fourth I am currently doing. Work has become really fun now, I am really thankful for that. Was there a time when it was not fun? I dont even know what I was doing when I started out. I think I acted very superficially. Sometimes, I thought, Maybe I am not made for this. I should consider doing something else. Then in 2019 and I went to audition for Vishal Bhardwajs Midnights Children. I realised that acting doesnt mean you dont have to be yourself. To better your acting, you have to work on yourself. The more empathic, accepting and non-judgmental you are towards yourself, the better you will understand your character. Your Jubilee character Niloufer seduces men to rise up but your portrayal of the character is so non-judgmental When I was shaping the character, I asked myself, Where does Niloufer get her acting talent from? And I realised it is because as a courtesan she has spent her entire life acting in a way men might like. You were earlier rejected for the role. What happened there? My audition went well but for some reason, Vikramaditya sir was not sure about me. Later, when he saw my content on Instagram, he realised I was as quirky as he wanted Niloufer to be. When your father saw Jubilee, what was his reaction? After the first episode, all of them were praising the show. I asked my father, Daddy, ye ki ho riya hain? (Dad, what is happening?) We hugged and he just said, Sahi hain, sahi hain (Everythings going great, dont worry) By PTI GUWAHATI: It is an unending wait of uncertainty for Safikul Islam and his two children, who did not find their names in the highly contentious National Register of Citizens (NRC), published three years ago in Assam. The final NRC, released on August 31, 2019, left out 19,06,657 persons, leading to uncertainty over their citizenship. A total of 3,11,21,004 names were included out of 3,30,27,661 applicants. Islam, a resident of Dhalpur 'Char' (sand bar) of Brahmaputra, claimed that he had provided all required documents to prove his Indian citizenship to the NRC authorities, but his name did not appear in the final list. "I was born in 1970 in a village in Barpeta district. My father migrated to Dhalpur after our village was eroded by Brahmaputra. My family linkage was also established. Still, my name, one son and daughter's names did not appear," he told PTI. However, his wife Nazma's name appeared in the final list of the NRC. "Though nobody in the village is questioning my citizenship as they know me very well, but I have faced uncomfortable situations at other places," Islam said. "You cannot do anything sir by knowing our situation. Many reports have been published in the press and many NGOs visited us. Still, everything remained the same. People just question us on our appearance and clothes outside the village. This is unfortunate," he lamented. For 79-year-old Rehena Khatun of Cachar district, it has been a battle of prestige and recognition. "My husband died two years ago, proving our entire family's citizenship issue at the Foreigners Tribunal (FT). It is still pending. Because of the legal case, our names did not appear in the NRC," she said, weeping. After the publication of the final list, the authorities were supposed to issue the Rejection Slip, mentioning the reasons for excluding a person's name from the final NRC. Before publishing the final NRC, the Centre had extended the time limit for filing of appeals in Foreigners Tribunals with the Rejection Slips by the excluded persons to 120 days from 60 days and necessary amendments were made. However, the process got inordinately delayed and no tentative schedule for issuing the Rejection Slips was announced. The slips are yet to be issued. A person whose name is not a part of the NRC, can approach any FT with a certified copy of the Rejection Slip received from the NRC authorities along with the grounds for appeal. As per the law, the NRC cannot decide if someone is a foreigner or not. Only FTs can declare a person a foreigner in Assam. Ashraful Hussain, an activist fighting for people with citizenship issues, said the inordinate delay in solving the NRC issue is helping a section with vested interests in "creating disturbances" from time to time to "destabilise the society". "According to our estimates, at least 81 people have committed suicide in the last 15-20 years for uncertainty of their citizenship. Many people were excluded on technical grounds and nothing has been done to correct that," he told PTI. Hussain, currently an MLA of the opposition AIUDF, said that unless the issue is solved immediately, politics will be played with the fate of some poor and underprivileged people. Social Justice Forum (SJF), an NGO working on the issue, demanded the government to settle the matter for permanent peace of the state. "The entire issue is hanging in balance. The affected people, mostly very poor, are losing every penny of their savings in fighting out the legal battle. It is not an easy thing," SJF president Golap Mazumder said. However, the Assam government and all the political parties have termed the present list of the NRC as faulty. They claim that genuine Indian citizens were excluded and many illegal foreigners were included. While taking charge of the state in May last year, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said that his government wants verification of 20 per cent names in the border districts, while the same should be done for 10 per cent elsewhere. "If a very negligible error is found, then we can proceed with the existing NRC. But if huge anomalies are found in reverification, then I hope the court will take note of this and do the needful with a new perspective," he had said. GUWAHATI: It is an unending wait of uncertainty for Safikul Islam and his two children, who did not find their names in the highly contentious National Register of Citizens (NRC), published three years ago in Assam. The final NRC, released on August 31, 2019, left out 19,06,657 persons, leading to uncertainty over their citizenship. A total of 3,11,21,004 names were included out of 3,30,27,661 applicants.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Islam, a resident of Dhalpur 'Char' (sand bar) of Brahmaputra, claimed that he had provided all required documents to prove his Indian citizenship to the NRC authorities, but his name did not appear in the final list. "I was born in 1970 in a village in Barpeta district. My father migrated to Dhalpur after our village was eroded by Brahmaputra. My family linkage was also established. Still, my name, one son and daughter's names did not appear," he told PTI. However, his wife Nazma's name appeared in the final list of the NRC. "Though nobody in the village is questioning my citizenship as they know me very well, but I have faced uncomfortable situations at other places," Islam said. "You cannot do anything sir by knowing our situation. Many reports have been published in the press and many NGOs visited us. Still, everything remained the same. People just question us on our appearance and clothes outside the village. This is unfortunate," he lamented. For 79-year-old Rehena Khatun of Cachar district, it has been a battle of prestige and recognition. "My husband died two years ago, proving our entire family's citizenship issue at the Foreigners Tribunal (FT). It is still pending. Because of the legal case, our names did not appear in the NRC," she said, weeping. After the publication of the final list, the authorities were supposed to issue the Rejection Slip, mentioning the reasons for excluding a person's name from the final NRC. Before publishing the final NRC, the Centre had extended the time limit for filing of appeals in Foreigners Tribunals with the Rejection Slips by the excluded persons to 120 days from 60 days and necessary amendments were made. However, the process got inordinately delayed and no tentative schedule for issuing the Rejection Slips was announced. The slips are yet to be issued. A person whose name is not a part of the NRC, can approach any FT with a certified copy of the Rejection Slip received from the NRC authorities along with the grounds for appeal. As per the law, the NRC cannot decide if someone is a foreigner or not. Only FTs can declare a person a foreigner in Assam. Ashraful Hussain, an activist fighting for people with citizenship issues, said the inordinate delay in solving the NRC issue is helping a section with vested interests in "creating disturbances" from time to time to "destabilise the society". "According to our estimates, at least 81 people have committed suicide in the last 15-20 years for uncertainty of their citizenship. Many people were excluded on technical grounds and nothing has been done to correct that," he told PTI. Hussain, currently an MLA of the opposition AIUDF, said that unless the issue is solved immediately, politics will be played with the fate of some poor and underprivileged people. Social Justice Forum (SJF), an NGO working on the issue, demanded the government to settle the matter for permanent peace of the state. "The entire issue is hanging in balance. The affected people, mostly very poor, are losing every penny of their savings in fighting out the legal battle. It is not an easy thing," SJF president Golap Mazumder said. However, the Assam government and all the political parties have termed the present list of the NRC as faulty. They claim that genuine Indian citizens were excluded and many illegal foreigners were included. While taking charge of the state in May last year, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said that his government wants verification of 20 per cent names in the border districts, while the same should be done for 10 per cent elsewhere. "If a very negligible error is found, then we can proceed with the existing NRC. But if huge anomalies are found in reverification, then I hope the court will take note of this and do the needful with a new perspective," he had said. By PTI GUWAHATI: Widespread protests in Assam after the enactment of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) on this day three years ago have left behind a festering wound that has kept the citizenship issue alive in the northeastern state sharing a long border with Bangladesh. The BJP government at the Centre asserts that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 will be implemented but is yet to frame the rules, leading to allegations from various quarters that the saffron party is using it as a "political card" to polarise the nation. The Citizenship Act, of 1955 was amended to provide citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian religious minorities fleeing persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan and seeking refuge in India till 2014. The Opposition protested the Act as being based on religious criteria and wanted it to be amended. The protests against the Act in Assam were led by the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) but the stir was different from those in other parts of the country as agitators asserted that the state cannot be a dumping ground for foreigners irrespective of their religion. The agitation in Assam had turned violent, with five people losing their lives in police firing and KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi and four others being arrested. The stir was called off with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the aftermath of the agitation, two new political parties -- Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) led by the then AASU leader Lurinjyoti Gogoi and Raijor Dal headed by Akhil Gogoi -- were born in Assam. "The BJP uses CAA as a political tool, particularly during elections, and it has not framed the rules as it wants to keep the 'foreigners' issue' alive in Assam. What's worse is that the party has brought a communal angle through the Act with its narrative 'Hindu khatre mein hain' (Hindus are in danger)," AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi told PTI. ALSO READ | No CAA rollout, yet MHA moves to grant citizenship The CAA has made the Assam Accord and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) irrelevant, he claimed. "The Centre must give constitutional safeguards to Assam like those accorded to other northeastern states against further settlement of 'foreigners' as those who came after 1971 - Hindu 'Bangladeshis' or others - cannot be rehabilitated in our state," Raijor Dal working president Bhasco de Saikia said. "We are firm on our opposition to the Act which we consider to be a part of the BJP's communal politics and if they frame the rules, the 'foreigners' should be taken to other states," Saikia said. The RSS and the BJP, however, asserted that both the CAA and NRC are not against any Indian and that the communal narrative has been created "by some" for political mileage. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat pointed out here last year that no Muslim will face any persecution due to CAA. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had also asserted that the CAA is for those who are "victims of Partition and persecuted in a communal country created on the basis of religion." Sarma had claimed that "so-called secular protesters" at the national level tried to give a communal colour to the protests in Assam. Political writer and analyst Sushanta Talukdar said the government has been delaying the implementation of CAA as it is wary of adverse reactions in Assam and Tripura where the ruling BJP has high stakes. "The Centre is apprehensive of exposing linguistic and ethnic fault lines in the Northeast and antagonising its own and alliance partners' electoral support base because, without adequate constitutional safeguards, the Act could lead to the marginalisation of indigenous people by the migrant population which might result in their loss of political power and identity," Talukdar added. ALSO READ | 'Won't accept foreigners': Voices against CAA get louder GUWAHATI: Widespread protests in Assam after the enactment of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) on this day three years ago have left behind a festering wound that has kept the citizenship issue alive in the northeastern state sharing a long border with Bangladesh. The BJP government at the Centre asserts that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 will be implemented but is yet to frame the rules, leading to allegations from various quarters that the saffron party is using it as a "political card" to polarise the nation. The Citizenship Act, of 1955 was amended to provide citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian religious minorities fleeing persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan and seeking refuge in India till 2014.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Opposition protested the Act as being based on religious criteria and wanted it to be amended. The protests against the Act in Assam were led by the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) but the stir was different from those in other parts of the country as agitators asserted that the state cannot be a dumping ground for foreigners irrespective of their religion. The agitation in Assam had turned violent, with five people losing their lives in police firing and KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi and four others being arrested. The stir was called off with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the aftermath of the agitation, two new political parties -- Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) led by the then AASU leader Lurinjyoti Gogoi and Raijor Dal headed by Akhil Gogoi -- were born in Assam. "The BJP uses CAA as a political tool, particularly during elections, and it has not framed the rules as it wants to keep the 'foreigners' issue' alive in Assam. What's worse is that the party has brought a communal angle through the Act with its narrative 'Hindu khatre mein hain' (Hindus are in danger)," AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi told PTI.ALSO READ | No CAA rollout, yet MHA moves to grant citizenship The CAA has made the Assam Accord and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) irrelevant, he claimed. "The Centre must give constitutional safeguards to Assam like those accorded to other northeastern states against further settlement of 'foreigners' as those who came after 1971 - Hindu 'Bangladeshis' or others - cannot be rehabilitated in our state," Raijor Dal working president Bhasco de Saikia said. "We are firm on our opposition to the Act which we consider to be a part of the BJP's communal politics and if they frame the rules, the 'foreigners' should be taken to other states," Saikia said. The RSS and the BJP, however, asserted that both the CAA and NRC are not against any Indian and that the communal narrative has been created "by some" for political mileage. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat pointed out here last year that no Muslim will face any persecution due to CAA. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had also asserted that the CAA is for those who are "victims of Partition and persecuted in a communal country created on the basis of religion." Sarma had claimed that "so-called secular protesters" at the national level tried to give a communal colour to the protests in Assam. Political writer and analyst Sushanta Talukdar said the government has been delaying the implementation of CAA as it is wary of adverse reactions in Assam and Tripura where the ruling BJP has high stakes. "The Centre is apprehensive of exposing linguistic and ethnic fault lines in the Northeast and antagonising its own and alliance partners' electoral support base because, without adequate constitutional safeguards, the Act could lead to the marginalisation of indigenous people by the migrant population which might result in their loss of political power and identity," Talukdar added.ALSO READ | 'Won't accept foreigners': Voices against CAA get louder Pronab Mondal Namita Bajpai and Ramashankar By Express News Service KOLKATA/LUCKNOW/PATNA: AS part of his efforts to unite the Opposition ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav met West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav separately on Monday. Both Mamata and Akhilesh offered their support to the coalition in the works. After the 30-minute closed-door meeting with Mamata in Kolkata, Kumar said the outcome was positive. Mamata said her objective is to defeat the BJP. I want the BJP to become zero, she said, adding: Jayprakashjis movement started from Bihar. If we have an all-party meeting in the neighbouring state, we can decide our next course of action. Later in the day, Nitish met Akhilesh in Lucknow and secured his support. We are with you in this campaign to oust BJP out of power and save the constitution, the democracy and the country, Akhilesh said. For the record, Nitish sought to clarify that he was not in the race to be the leader of the Opposition coalition nor is a PM candidate. Meanwhile, the BJP took potshots at Nitish with party MP Sushil Kumar Modi terming the Bihar politicians hurried visits to Kolkata and Lucknow as political tourism meant for photo sessions. KOLKATA/LUCKNOW/PATNA: AS part of his efforts to unite the Opposition ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav met West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav separately on Monday. Both Mamata and Akhilesh offered their support to the coalition in the works. After the 30-minute closed-door meeting with Mamata in Kolkata, Kumar said the outcome was positive. Mamata said her objective is to defeat the BJP. I want the BJP to become zero, she said, adding: Jayprakashjis movement started from Bihar. If we have an all-party meeting in the neighbouring state, we can decide our next course of action. Later in the day, Nitish met Akhilesh in Lucknow and secured his support. We are with you in this campaign to oust BJP out of power and save the constitution, the democracy and the country, Akhilesh said. For the record, Nitish sought to clarify that he was not in the race to be the leader of the Opposition coalition nor is a PM candidate.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Meanwhile, the BJP took potshots at Nitish with party MP Sushil Kumar Modi terming the Bihar politicians hurried visits to Kolkata and Lucknow as political tourism meant for photo sessions. Mayank Singh By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Even as the India-China standoff in Eastern Ladakh is about to enter the fourth year, Defence Ministers of both countries will hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers' meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. This will be the first visit by Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu since the fatal clashes between the Indian Army and the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army at Galwan in June 2020. Confirming the bilateral meeting, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Tuesday said, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also hold bilateral meetings with the Defence Ministers of participating countries on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers Meet. All the defence ministers from SCO countries barring Pakistan have confirmed their visit to New Delhi. Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif will join the event virtually. India-Russia relations have also been facing complexities due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Western nations having imposed sanctions on Russia. ALSO READ | India, China agree to maintain security and stability in eastern Ladakh after 18th round of talks India is the Chairman of the SCO in 2023. The MoD on Tuesday said, The SCO membership includes Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan besides India. Apart from the member states, two observer countries Belarus and Iran will also be participating in the SCO Defence Ministers meeting on 28 April 2023. The Defence Ministers will discuss issues concerning regional peace and security including counter terrorism efforts within the SCO and an effective multilateralism, the MoD added. The Corps Commanders of India and China met on Sunday to discuss the easing of tensions. But there was no breakthrough as the standoff persists at Depsang and Demchok. There have been a total of 18 rounds of Corps Commander level talks between India and China which have resulted in disengagement of troops from multiple points in Eastern Ladakh. The SCO is an intergovernmental organisation established in 2001 based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, equality of all member states and mutual understanding and respect for opinions of each of them. The theme of Indias Chairmanship of SCO in 2023 is SECURE-SCO. India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. The ongoing engagement with SCO has helped India promote its relations with the countries in the region with which India has shared civilizational linkages, and is considered Indias extended neighbourhood. NEW DELHI: Even as the India-China standoff in Eastern Ladakh is about to enter the fourth year, Defence Ministers of both countries will hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers' meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. This will be the first visit by Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu since the fatal clashes between the Indian Army and the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army at Galwan in June 2020. Confirming the bilateral meeting, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Tuesday said, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also hold bilateral meetings with the Defence Ministers of participating countries on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers Meet.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); All the defence ministers from SCO countries barring Pakistan have confirmed their visit to New Delhi. Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif will join the event virtually. India-Russia relations have also been facing complexities due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Western nations having imposed sanctions on Russia. ALSO READ | India, China agree to maintain security and stability in eastern Ladakh after 18th round of talks India is the Chairman of the SCO in 2023. The MoD on Tuesday said, The SCO membership includes Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan besides India. Apart from the member states, two observer countries Belarus and Iran will also be participating in the SCO Defence Ministers meeting on 28 April 2023. The Defence Ministers will discuss issues concerning regional peace and security including counter terrorism efforts within the SCO and an effective multilateralism, the MoD added. The Corps Commanders of India and China met on Sunday to discuss the easing of tensions. But there was no breakthrough as the standoff persists at Depsang and Demchok. There have been a total of 18 rounds of Corps Commander level talks between India and China which have resulted in disengagement of troops from multiple points in Eastern Ladakh. The SCO is an intergovernmental organisation established in 2001 based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, equality of all member states and mutual understanding and respect for opinions of each of them. The theme of Indias Chairmanship of SCO in 2023 is SECURE-SCO. India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. The ongoing engagement with SCO has helped India promote its relations with the countries in the region with which India has shared civilizational linkages, and is considered Indias extended neighbourhood. Pranab Mondal By Express News Service KOLKATA: In a spine-chilling incident, a man in his 40s stormed into a high school in Malda on Wednesday morning brandishing a pistol and entered a classroom with the intention of taking students hostage, which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described as a conspiracy hatched in Delhi. The man, identified as Dev Ballav, also placed a petrol bomb and a container full of acid on the table of the classroom. On being alerted, police personnel surrounded the school and a deputy superintendent of police pounced on Ballav and pinned him down. A search revealed another pistol tucked in the mans waist. Preliminary investigation revealed the mans wife is a BJP member of a Trinamool Congress dominated panchayat. Police are probing whether the mans wife had any dispute with the ruling party or the couple had any conjugal issue which might have led to the incident. The incident took place around 11.30 am when classes were going on as usual in Muchia Chandramohan High School in Old Malda area. Ballav, with a bag on his shoulder, entered the school unnoticed. He went straight to a classroom on the ground-floor and brandished a firearm. He threatened the teacher to stop teaching. Ballav then placed the petrol-bomb and the acid container on the table, said a police officer. Ballav took out a piece of paper and started reading out how his complaints to higher authorities in the administration fell on deaf ears. On hearing the incident, police swung into action quickly. Personnel from the local police station rushed to the spot. I carefully went close to the door of the classroom. I saw the frightened pale faces of the students. I got married recently and I do not have a child. I could not resist myself and pounced on the man and forced him to lie on the floor. Soon, other policemen came to help me, said DSP Mohammad Azharuddin. Ballav was arrested and booked under the Arms Act. Reacting to the incident, the West Bengal CM said, Conspiracies are being hatched from Delhi. I dont know who are behind it. I urge people to be very careful about it. The police said Ballav, during the course of interrogation, said his wife had left him with her son and he complained to different layers of the state administration. We are yet to ascertain whether Ballavs grievance is the reason behind his act, said a police officer. KOLKATA: In a spine-chilling incident, a man in his 40s stormed into a high school in Malda on Wednesday morning brandishing a pistol and entered a classroom with the intention of taking students hostage, which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described as a conspiracy hatched in Delhi. The man, identified as Dev Ballav, also placed a petrol bomb and a container full of acid on the table of the classroom. On being alerted, police personnel surrounded the school and a deputy superintendent of police pounced on Ballav and pinned him down. A search revealed another pistol tucked in the mans waist. Preliminary investigation revealed the mans wife is a BJP member of a Trinamool Congress dominated panchayat. Police are probing whether the mans wife had any dispute with the ruling party or the couple had any conjugal issue which might have led to the incident.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The incident took place around 11.30 am when classes were going on as usual in Muchia Chandramohan High School in Old Malda area. Ballav, with a bag on his shoulder, entered the school unnoticed. He went straight to a classroom on the ground-floor and brandished a firearm. He threatened the teacher to stop teaching. Ballav then placed the petrol-bomb and the acid container on the table, said a police officer. Ballav took out a piece of paper and started reading out how his complaints to higher authorities in the administration fell on deaf ears. On hearing the incident, police swung into action quickly. Personnel from the local police station rushed to the spot. I carefully went close to the door of the classroom. I saw the frightened pale faces of the students. I got married recently and I do not have a child. I could not resist myself and pounced on the man and forced him to lie on the floor. Soon, other policemen came to help me, said DSP Mohammad Azharuddin. Ballav was arrested and booked under the Arms Act. Reacting to the incident, the West Bengal CM said, Conspiracies are being hatched from Delhi. I dont know who are behind it. I urge people to be very careful about it. The police said Ballav, during the course of interrogation, said his wife had left him with her son and he complained to different layers of the state administration. We are yet to ascertain whether Ballavs grievance is the reason behind his act, said a police officer. Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRI NAGAR: The twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir have witnessed more killing of army men in militant attacks in the last one and a half years as compared to militancy-hit Kashmir. Only six army men were killed in militancy violence in Kashmir since October 2021 as against 21 in Poonch and Rajouri districts during the same period. On April 20, a group of heavily armed militants ambushed an army vehicle in the Bhatta Durian area of Mendhar in Poonch district. The militants fired from automatic weapons and lobbed grenades towards the army vehicle. In the militant attack, the army vehicle caught fire and five soldiers were killed and another critically injured, who is undergoing treatment at the hospital. It was the sixth militant attack in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu province since October 11, 2021. On October 11, 2021, five soldiers including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) were killed in a gunfight with militants at Surankote in Poonch. Three days later, two army men were killed and two army men including a JCO went missing during an encounter with militants during combing and search operation in Dera Ki Gali forest area of Poonch. On October 15, the two missing soldiers including JCO were killed by militants in the Poonch forest area. On October 30, two army men including an officer were killed in an explosion in Kalal, Nowshera area of Rajouri district. Nearly 10 months later (August 11, 2022), militants carried out a fidayeen (suicide) attack on an army camp in Rajouri in which five soldiers were killed. Two attackers were also killed in the fidayeen attack. While there has been no trace about the militants involved in this months attack on an army vehicle in Poonch, there was also no trace of the militants involved in other attacks on the army in Poonch and Rajouri in the last one and a half year. A security official said either the militants involved in the attack might have returned back to Pakistan after carrying out the attack or are hiding in the caves in the dense forest area. In contrast, the army has suffered only six casualties in Kashmir since October 2021. Of the six soldiers killed, one was an off-duty jawan SRI NAGAR: The twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir have witnessed more killing of army men in militant attacks in the last one and a half years as compared to militancy-hit Kashmir. Only six army men were killed in militancy violence in Kashmir since October 2021 as against 21 in Poonch and Rajouri districts during the same period. On April 20, a group of heavily armed militants ambushed an army vehicle in the Bhatta Durian area of Mendhar in Poonch district. The militants fired from automatic weapons and lobbed grenades towards the army vehicle. In the militant attack, the army vehicle caught fire and five soldiers were killed and another critically injured, who is undergoing treatment at the hospital. It was the sixth militant attack in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu province since October 11, 2021. On October 11, 2021, five soldiers including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) were killed in a gunfight with militants at Surankote in Poonch.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Three days later, two army men were killed and two army men including a JCO went missing during an encounter with militants during combing and search operation in Dera Ki Gali forest area of Poonch. On October 15, the two missing soldiers including JCO were killed by militants in the Poonch forest area. On October 30, two army men including an officer were killed in an explosion in Kalal, Nowshera area of Rajouri district. Nearly 10 months later (August 11, 2022), militants carried out a fidayeen (suicide) attack on an army camp in Rajouri in which five soldiers were killed. Two attackers were also killed in the fidayeen attack. While there has been no trace about the militants involved in this months attack on an army vehicle in Poonch, there was also no trace of the militants involved in other attacks on the army in Poonch and Rajouri in the last one and a half year. A security official said either the militants involved in the attack might have returned back to Pakistan after carrying out the attack or are hiding in the caves in the dense forest area. In contrast, the army has suffered only six casualties in Kashmir since October 2021. Of the six soldiers killed, one was an off-duty jawan By PTI NAGPUR: The Congress in Maharashtra has a plan in place in the event of alliance with anti-BJP parties doesn't materialise, state unit party president Nana Patole said on Wednesday amid buzz about the future of tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). He was responding to a query on the current political scene in the state and whether MVA- comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP, and Congress- will remain intact in future. "We are taking efforts to take everybody who is against BJP; be it NCP or Shiv Sena (UBT), along," the Congress leader told Marathi news channel TV9. When asked about the future scenario if the alliance doesn't take shape, he said, "We (Congress) have plans ready". Speculation about the MVA unity started doing rounds after NCP chief Sharad Pawar's remarks on the unity of the tripartite alliance ahead of the 2024 elections caused a flutter. When asked to name the party among MVA constituents which will get the chance to install the next chief minister of Maharashtra, Patole said such discussion is premature at this stage. "There is no need for such discussion over this aspect as there are no elections scheduled now. But, Congress is fighting every day on issues concerning people," he added. Queried whether senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar would be acceptable as the chief minister to MVA, Patole said," It is simple. A chief minister is from that party which has the largest number of MLAs". Speaking on whether MVA will contest the 2024 elections together, Sharad Pawar on Sunday said, "There is a willingness to work together. But mere desire is not always enough. Seat allotment, whether there are any other issues or not, all this hasn't been discussed yet, so how can I tell you." Political circles in Maharashtra are abuzz with speculation that Ajit Pawar may break NCP ranks to join hands with the ruling BJP though he asserted that he would remain with NCP till he lives. However, the talks refuse to die down as Ajit Pawar in an interview had said that he would "100 per cent like to be the chief minister of Maharashtra". Meanwhile, the state Congress has appointed six leaders as coordinators for the May 1 MVA rally scheduled to be held in Mumbai and said all three constituents of MVA are unitedly highlighting the "misdeeds" of the Central government. NAGPUR: The Congress in Maharashtra has a plan in place in the event of alliance with anti-BJP parties doesn't materialise, state unit party president Nana Patole said on Wednesday amid buzz about the future of tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). He was responding to a query on the current political scene in the state and whether MVA- comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP, and Congress- will remain intact in future. "We are taking efforts to take everybody who is against BJP; be it NCP or Shiv Sena (UBT), along," the Congress leader told Marathi news channel TV9.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); When asked about the future scenario if the alliance doesn't take shape, he said, "We (Congress) have plans ready". Speculation about the MVA unity started doing rounds after NCP chief Sharad Pawar's remarks on the unity of the tripartite alliance ahead of the 2024 elections caused a flutter. When asked to name the party among MVA constituents which will get the chance to install the next chief minister of Maharashtra, Patole said such discussion is premature at this stage. "There is no need for such discussion over this aspect as there are no elections scheduled now. But, Congress is fighting every day on issues concerning people," he added. Queried whether senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar would be acceptable as the chief minister to MVA, Patole said," It is simple. A chief minister is from that party which has the largest number of MLAs". Speaking on whether MVA will contest the 2024 elections together, Sharad Pawar on Sunday said, "There is a willingness to work together. But mere desire is not always enough. Seat allotment, whether there are any other issues or not, all this hasn't been discussed yet, so how can I tell you." Political circles in Maharashtra are abuzz with speculation that Ajit Pawar may break NCP ranks to join hands with the ruling BJP though he asserted that he would remain with NCP till he lives. However, the talks refuse to die down as Ajit Pawar in an interview had said that he would "100 per cent like to be the chief minister of Maharashtra". Meanwhile, the state Congress has appointed six leaders as coordinators for the May 1 MVA rally scheduled to be held in Mumbai and said all three constituents of MVA are unitedly highlighting the "misdeeds" of the Central government. The Texas Department of Agriculture announced two new dress codes for its employees one for those born with a penis and the other for those born with a vagina. The "Dress code and grooming policy," according to the bizarre memorandum sent out Friday by the department's genital-obsessed commissioner Sid Miller, states that "Employees are expected to comply with this dress code in a manner consistent with their biological gender." So, for instance, if a penis owner puts on something, say, even a necklace, that the DoA style police deem "feminine," they will be "subject to corrective action" and "asked to leave the premises to change their clothing." Same goes for vagina owners, who, theoretically, could be banished from the premises if caught wearing a pair of pants that the anti-freedoms commission deem "masculine." If putting the wrong shaped material on said body configurations happens more than once, the transgressors face repercussions, "including termination." Miller sounds about as obscene as they come. From The Texas Tribune: The two-page policy applies to all employees for the agency that Miller leads, the Texas Department of Agriculture, as well as interns and contract employees. Brian Klosterboer, an attorney with the ACLU of Texas, said this dress code provision violates Title VII which bans employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity as well as the First Amendment's right to free expression and the Equal Protection Clause. "State agencies should be focused on doing their jobs and not discriminating against their own employees and trying to make political statements through their agency regulations," he said. "There is no important governmental interest that this can meet." The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the policy. You can read the Miller's transphobic, anti-freedoms memorandum here. By PTI NEW DELHI: A Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Adani issue is essential to present the "unvarnished truth" to the people, the Congress said on Wednesday after billionaire Gautam Adani's elder brother reportedly resigned as director of three companies. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that while the Congress awaits the report of the Supreme Court-appointed Expert Committee on the "Adani mega scam", it notes that its mandate is limited to violations of securities regulations and lacks formal judicial authority over various regulatory and investigative agencies. News reports suggest that Gautam Adani's elder brother Vinod has resigned as director of three companies closely connected to the Adani Group's Australia port and mining projects, Ramesh said in a statement. "Vinod Adani has previously been alleged to have engaged in 'brazen stock manipulation' and 'accounting fraud' via 'a vast labyrinth of offshore shell entities'," he alleged. "Likewise in Australia, Abbot Point Port Holdings --- controlled by him via shell companies in the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands --- helped offload billions of dollars of Adani Group debt via related party transactions aimed at disguising the true extent of the Adani Group's losses from investors," the Congress leader alleged. ALSO READ | Only way forward is JPC probe: Congress after man at centre of Adani-China row says he's Taiwanese Two UAE-based shell companies controlled by him also lent USD 3.3 billion in opaque funds to the Carmichael project in Australia, as similar offshore entities controlled by him have done with other Adani Group firms, he said. The Opposition led by the Congress has been seeking a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe after the US-based Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations against the Adani Group, including fraudulent transactions and share-price manipulation. The Gautam Adani-led group has dismissed the charges as lies, and said they comply with all laws and disclosure requirements. "As we pointed out in our February 16, 2023 Hum Adani ke Hain Kaun (HAHK) questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vinod Adani-related entities in the UAE were also found by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence to be involved in the power equipment under-invoicing scam under which Rs 5,500 crore was allegedly syphoned out of India," Ramesh alleged. "While we await the report of the Supreme Court-appointed Expert Committee into the Adani Mega Scam, we note that its mandate is limited to violations of securities regulations and that it lacks formal judicial authority over various regulatory and investigative agencies," he said. It will not, for instance, look into whether Prime Minister Modi allegedly "forced" the State Bank of India (SBI) to sign an MoU to lend the Adani Group USD billion over a lunch meeting with Gautam Adani and SBI chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya, Ramesh said. The committee will also not investigate the true source of the Rs 20,000 crore of unaccounted investment in the Adani Group, he said. "We, therefore, reiterate the opposition demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to examine all the relevant aspects of the Adani Mega Scam and to present the unvarnished truth to the people of India," Ramesh said. Posting his statement on twitter, Ramesh urged the prime minister to break his "silence" on the issue. The Congress has also posed a set of 100 questions to Prime Minister Modi on the Adani issue. NEW DELHI: A Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Adani issue is essential to present the "unvarnished truth" to the people, the Congress said on Wednesday after billionaire Gautam Adani's elder brother reportedly resigned as director of three companies. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that while the Congress awaits the report of the Supreme Court-appointed Expert Committee on the "Adani mega scam", it notes that its mandate is limited to violations of securities regulations and lacks formal judicial authority over various regulatory and investigative agencies. News reports suggest that Gautam Adani's elder brother Vinod has resigned as director of three companies closely connected to the Adani Group's Australia port and mining projects, Ramesh said in a statement.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Vinod Adani has previously been alleged to have engaged in 'brazen stock manipulation' and 'accounting fraud' via 'a vast labyrinth of offshore shell entities'," he alleged. "Likewise in Australia, Abbot Point Port Holdings --- controlled by him via shell companies in the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands --- helped offload billions of dollars of Adani Group debt via related party transactions aimed at disguising the true extent of the Adani Group's losses from investors," the Congress leader alleged. ALSO READ | Only way forward is JPC probe: Congress after man at centre of Adani-China row says he's Taiwanese Two UAE-based shell companies controlled by him also lent USD 3.3 billion in opaque funds to the Carmichael project in Australia, as similar offshore entities controlled by him have done with other Adani Group firms, he said. The Opposition led by the Congress has been seeking a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe after the US-based Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations against the Adani Group, including fraudulent transactions and share-price manipulation. The Gautam Adani-led group has dismissed the charges as lies, and said they comply with all laws and disclosure requirements. "As we pointed out in our February 16, 2023 Hum Adani ke Hain Kaun (HAHK) questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vinod Adani-related entities in the UAE were also found by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence to be involved in the power equipment under-invoicing scam under which Rs 5,500 crore was allegedly syphoned out of India," Ramesh alleged. "While we await the report of the Supreme Court-appointed Expert Committee into the Adani Mega Scam, we note that its mandate is limited to violations of securities regulations and that it lacks formal judicial authority over various regulatory and investigative agencies," he said. It will not, for instance, look into whether Prime Minister Modi allegedly "forced" the State Bank of India (SBI) to sign an MoU to lend the Adani Group USD billion over a lunch meeting with Gautam Adani and SBI chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya, Ramesh said. The committee will also not investigate the true source of the Rs 20,000 crore of unaccounted investment in the Adani Group, he said. "We, therefore, reiterate the opposition demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to examine all the relevant aspects of the Adani Mega Scam and to present the unvarnished truth to the people of India," Ramesh said. Posting his statement on twitter, Ramesh urged the prime minister to break his "silence" on the issue. The Congress has also posed a set of 100 questions to Prime Minister Modi on the Adani issue. Dilip Singh Kshatriya By Express News Service AHMEDABAD: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi moved the Gujarat High Court challenging the Surat sessions court order dismissing his plea for a stay of conviction in the Modi surname criminal defamation case on Tuesday. Rahuls lawyer Pankaj Champaneri stated, Today we filed a petition in the Gujarat High Court against the order of the Surat Court Criminal Case 20/04 23. We have appealed for a stay against the judgment of the Surat Sessions Court as well as a stay against the sentence in the petition. Importantly on April 20, 2023, in a criminal defamation case involving Rahul Gandhis Modi surname statement, a Surat sessions court rejected Gandhis request for a stay on defamation conviction. Additional Sessions Judge Robin Mogera refused to stay the conviction. Today, the Congress leader filed an appeal against the Surat courts decision. While rejecting Gandhis Petition, the Surat sessions court, said, Rahul should have been more careful with his words that would have a large impact on peoples minds. Mogera found merit in former BJP minister Purnesh Modi suing Rahul for defamation, saying, Such defamatory remarks would have harmed his reputation and caused him pain in society. Judge Mogera said the SC had, in a number of pronouncements, held that the powers accorded under Section 389 (1) of the CrPC to suspend/ stay the conviction needs to be exercised with caution, or it would impact public perception. Previously, the sessions court granted Gandhi bail and postponed his two-year jail sentence, which was imposed by a metropolitan magistrate court on March 23, until the outcome of his appeal seeking a stay of his conviction. AHMEDABAD: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi moved the Gujarat High Court challenging the Surat sessions court order dismissing his plea for a stay of conviction in the Modi surname criminal defamation case on Tuesday. Rahuls lawyer Pankaj Champaneri stated, Today we filed a petition in the Gujarat High Court against the order of the Surat Court Criminal Case 20/04 23. We have appealed for a stay against the judgment of the Surat Sessions Court as well as a stay against the sentence in the petition. Importantly on April 20, 2023, in a criminal defamation case involving Rahul Gandhis Modi surname statement, a Surat sessions court rejected Gandhis request for a stay on defamation conviction. Additional Sessions Judge Robin Mogera refused to stay the conviction. Today, the Congress leader filed an appeal against the Surat courts decision.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); While rejecting Gandhis Petition, the Surat sessions court, said, Rahul should have been more careful with his words that would have a large impact on peoples minds. Mogera found merit in former BJP minister Purnesh Modi suing Rahul for defamation, saying, Such defamatory remarks would have harmed his reputation and caused him pain in society. Judge Mogera said the SC had, in a number of pronouncements, held that the powers accorded under Section 389 (1) of the CrPC to suspend/ stay the conviction needs to be exercised with caution, or it would impact public perception. Previously, the sessions court granted Gandhi bail and postponed his two-year jail sentence, which was imposed by a metropolitan magistrate court on March 23, until the outcome of his appeal seeking a stay of his conviction. Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Family members of the eight Indian Navy veterans who have been held captive in Doha since August 2022 have been permitted to visit them. This visit has been facilitated by the company they were working for -- Dahra Consultancies. "This is being viewed as a goodwill gesture by Dahra as they have provided for the air travel and accommodation and have ensured that the visit is seamless. Dahra has already offered the officers a severance package and would be shutting down all operations in Doha on May 31," said a source. The second hearing in the case in which the eight have been charge-sheeted is on May 3. ALSO READ | Jolt to 8 Navy veterans languishing in Qatar jail as employer fires them "It is possible that these family members will be allowed to attend the hearing. It is likely that they would be informed about the charges that have been levelled against them. Some sources have been pointing out that some charges are common for the eight naval veterans and also the CEO of Dahra Global (Khamis al-Ajmi) and Major General Tariq Khalid Al Obaidly (former head international military in Doha) (both of them are out on bail)," said a source. Meanwhile, the Ambassador of India in Doha, Deepak Mittal, has returned to India. The new Ambassador hasnt taken charge yet. The Indian government has been regularly following up with the authorities in Qatar to enable these eight veterans to be repatriated home. "The first hearing of the case was on March 29 and the second hearing is on May 3. The charges have not been shared so far. We attach high priority to this case and we would like to see early repatriation of our nationals," said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. NEW DELHI: Family members of the eight Indian Navy veterans who have been held captive in Doha since August 2022 have been permitted to visit them. This visit has been facilitated by the company they were working for -- Dahra Consultancies. "This is being viewed as a goodwill gesture by Dahra as they have provided for the air travel and accommodation and have ensured that the visit is seamless. Dahra has already offered the officers a severance package and would be shutting down all operations in Doha on May 31," said a source. The second hearing in the case in which the eight have been charge-sheeted is on May 3.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ALSO READ | Jolt to 8 Navy veterans languishing in Qatar jail as employer fires them "It is possible that these family members will be allowed to attend the hearing. It is likely that they would be informed about the charges that have been levelled against them. Some sources have been pointing out that some charges are common for the eight naval veterans and also the CEO of Dahra Global (Khamis al-Ajmi) and Major General Tariq Khalid Al Obaidly (former head international military in Doha) (both of them are out on bail)," said a source. Meanwhile, the Ambassador of India in Doha, Deepak Mittal, has returned to India. The new Ambassador hasnt taken charge yet. The Indian government has been regularly following up with the authorities in Qatar to enable these eight veterans to be repatriated home. "The first hearing of the case was on March 29 and the second hearing is on May 3. The charges have not been shared so far. We attach high priority to this case and we would like to see early repatriation of our nationals," said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The first flight with 360 Indians evacuated from Sudan has landed in Delhi. Around 534 Indians have so far been evacuated from Sudan and reached Jeddah. From there, they are being sent to India through Indian Air Force C130 J aircraft. "Another 250 evacuees are likely to board a flight to India from Jeddah and we are optimistic that around 300 more Indians will be brought into Jeddah from Sudan by Thursday morning. This is an ongoing and continuous process and we are doing our best to get our citizens back to safety," said the Ministry of External Affairs. "Happy to see off 360 Indians at Jeddah airport in a Delhi-bound flight. The government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan and bring them home safely," said Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan. The minister is in Jeddah to personally oversee the evacuation of Indians stranded in Sudan. ALSO READ | First batch of 278 Indians reach Jeddah from Sudan Meanwhile, the rescued Indians have shared their ordeal through videos that have been shared on social media. "The fight was intense and we were struggling for food. The tent of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) was installed near our company. However, we were looted and held hostage for eight hours. Our mobiles were taken away and they had aimed rifles at us," said one evacuee. They kept in touch with the Embassy in Khartoum and requested it to arrange for buses. Once the Navy took over, the evacuated Indians heaved a sigh of relief as there was food to eat and a safe ship to travel on (INS Sumedha). Meanwhile, India has to make the most of the 72-hour ceasefire and evacuate as many people as they can. Nearly 3000 Indians were based in Sudan before the conflict began. Indians are boarding ships from Port Sudan to Jeddah. Port Sudan is around 835 km from Khartoum and the journey takes nearly 12 hours. The journey from Port Sudan to Jeddah by sea takes another 12 hours. India is focused on moving its nationals from conflict zones to safe zones before transporting them to Port Sudan. Indian authorities are also exploring other places to evacuate Indians from Khartoum including the use of military airbases. In Jeddah, India has set up a control room and transit facility to facilitate evacuation. The transit facility has beds, fresh meals, medical aid and wi-fi. NEW DELHI: The first flight with 360 Indians evacuated from Sudan has landed in Delhi. Around 534 Indians have so far been evacuated from Sudan and reached Jeddah. From there, they are being sent to India through Indian Air Force C130 J aircraft. "Another 250 evacuees are likely to board a flight to India from Jeddah and we are optimistic that around 300 more Indians will be brought into Jeddah from Sudan by Thursday morning. This is an ongoing and continuous process and we are doing our best to get our citizens back to safety," said the Ministry of External Affairs.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Happy to see off 360 Indians at Jeddah airport in a Delhi-bound flight. The government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan and bring them home safely," said Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan. The minister is in Jeddah to personally oversee the evacuation of Indians stranded in Sudan. ALSO READ | First batch of 278 Indians reach Jeddah from Sudan Meanwhile, the rescued Indians have shared their ordeal through videos that have been shared on social media. "The fight was intense and we were struggling for food. The tent of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) was installed near our company. However, we were looted and held hostage for eight hours. Our mobiles were taken away and they had aimed rifles at us," said one evacuee. They kept in touch with the Embassy in Khartoum and requested it to arrange for buses. Once the Navy took over, the evacuated Indians heaved a sigh of relief as there was food to eat and a safe ship to travel on (INS Sumedha). Meanwhile, India has to make the most of the 72-hour ceasefire and evacuate as many people as they can. Nearly 3000 Indians were based in Sudan before the conflict began. Indians are boarding ships from Port Sudan to Jeddah. Port Sudan is around 835 km from Khartoum and the journey takes nearly 12 hours. The journey from Port Sudan to Jeddah by sea takes another 12 hours. India is focused on moving its nationals from conflict zones to safe zones before transporting them to Port Sudan. Indian authorities are also exploring other places to evacuate Indians from Khartoum including the use of military airbases. In Jeddah, India has set up a control room and transit facility to facilitate evacuation. The transit facility has beds, fresh meals, medical aid and wi-fi. Santosh Mehrotra By No country in the world has managed to reduce poverty consistently or sustain GDP growth without a strong manufacturing base. Between 19792014, manufacturing remained at 1618% of Indias Gross Value Added (GVA). Since 2015, it has declined and reached 13% by 2019, the lowest ever since 1960. By contrast, in Bangladesh, it rose from 15% till 2006 to 21% in 2021. In Vietnam, it increased to 25% of GVA in 2021 from 17% till 2010. These countries have also attracted a significant share of FDI, except China, which vacates billions of dollars worth of manufactured exports. In India, manufacturing employment has not grownthe exact opposite of what is needed in a labour-surplus economy with 30 million unemployed pre-Covid (and nearing 40 mn now). Five to six million are added to the labour force annually (and twice that number to the working-age population). Meanwhile, employment in manufacturing as a share of total work rose from 10.5% in 200405 to 12.8% in 201112 and fell to 11.6% or less between 201922. This is despite Make in India and the Performance Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI). India had never had an explicit industrial policy or manufacturing strategy since 1991, although the Industrial Policy Statement (1991), when economic reforms began, did articulate what today can only be called an implicit industrial policy. It relied on (a) liberalisation of the domestic economy and deregulation of sectors, including a reduction in sectors reserved for the public sector; (b) opening up to a reduced tariff regime and a new focus on export orientation; (c) de-licensing of industrial capacity in existing or new industries. However, there was little by way of explicit measures to ensure that Indias manufacturing capacity was strengthened. It was only in 2011 that the government came up with a National Manufacturing Policy, followed by an Electronics System Design and Manufacturing Policy in 2012, along with a newfound emphasis on industrial policy in the 12th Five Year Plan chapter on industry (to which I had the good fortune of contributing as the director general of the Planning Commissions research institute). Unfortunately, that government went into policy paralysis in its last two years. Make in India was not really an industrial policy at all, as it only emphasised on doing business and attracting FDI. The actual results in the last eight years have been the falling share of manufacturing in GDP as well as of manufacturing employment in total employment. The only other initiative in manufacturing has been PLI, which has many issues. First, it is based on a conceptually flawed approach to industrial policy of picking winning firms (rather than sectors). This is the opposite of the successful approach adopted in East Asia, which did not select winning firms but adopted a combination of a horizontal, cross-sectoral industrial policy and a focus on some key sectors. The second problem with PLI is the choice of sectors. Eleven of 14 sectors selected to receive financial subsidies are capital-intensive. India is in desperate need of more industrial jobs of good quality; hardly any jobs will result from PLI, except for a few thousand highly skilled ones. The country is desperate for more low and semi-skilled jobs where people can be employed in more labour-intensive sectors. Third, giving the bureaucracy a role in picking winners harks back to Licence Raj; we know how well that went. It encouraged rent-seeking on a grand scale. Fourth, there is a significant fiscal cost of PLI: 1.5 trillion over five years (between 202122 and 202425); this is when the fiscal deficit is at a historic high, and the debt to GDP ratio has increased in the Covid years from 60% to 85%. Besides, funds are needed for human capital (technical and vocational education, higher education, R&D), apart from an investment in hard infrastructure. Fifth, there is a risk: on the completion of five years of subsidy, the beneficiary industries will demand an extension of benefits beyond five years, a demand that the Indian industry was used to making during the Licence Raj. A sunset clause is needed. Finally, in PLI, there is no expectation that winning firms are expected to export when expanding capacity, an essential prerequisite in East Asia. By contrast, in India, the labour-intensive manufacturing sectors like food processing, tobacco, textiles, apparel, leather, wood and furniture have declined since 2012. The tobacco and textiles sub-sectors within manufacturing have seen a fall in their share of total manufacturing employment in India (though total jobs grew slightly). Nearly every successful economic growth take-off in post-war history in East Asia was associated with rapid expansion in apparel exports in the early stages. The ratio of jobs to investment is as follows: in apparel, 31.1, in autos only 2.6, and steel, 1.0 (based on the Annual Survey of Industries, 201314). India could take a part of the market share that China is losing in international markets due to rising Chinese wages. But India is losing to Bangladesh, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Ethiopia. However, the government is focused exclusively on selecting winning firms in certain sectors through the Performance Linked Incentive Scheme. This has added to some exports of mobiles. But that does not amount to a broad industrial policy, just as Make in India has, far from increasing manufacturing contribution to GDP or employment, only managed to reduce it. Santosh Mehrotra Editor of Planning in the 20th Century & Beyond: Indias Planning Commission and the NITI Aayog (Cambridge University Press, 2016) (santoshmeh@gmail.com) No country in the world has managed to reduce poverty consistently or sustain GDP growth without a strong manufacturing base. Between 19792014, manufacturing remained at 1618% of Indias Gross Value Added (GVA). Since 2015, it has declined and reached 13% by 2019, the lowest ever since 1960. By contrast, in Bangladesh, it rose from 15% till 2006 to 21% in 2021. In Vietnam, it increased to 25% of GVA in 2021 from 17% till 2010. These countries have also attracted a significant share of FDI, except China, which vacates billions of dollars worth of manufactured exports. In India, manufacturing employment has not grownthe exact opposite of what is needed in a labour-surplus economy with 30 million unemployed pre-Covid (and nearing 40 mn now). Five to six million are added to the labour force annually (and twice that number to the working-age population). Meanwhile, employment in manufacturing as a share of total work rose from 10.5% in 200405 to 12.8% in 201112 and fell to 11.6% or less between 201922. This is despite Make in India and the Performance Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI). India had never had an explicit industrial policy or manufacturing strategy since 1991, although the Industrial Policy Statement (1991), when economic reforms began, did articulate what today can only be called an implicit industrial policy. It relied on (a) liberalisation of the domestic economy and deregulation of sectors, including a reduction in sectors reserved for the public sector; (b) opening up to a reduced tariff regime and a new focus on export orientation; (c) de-licensing of industrial capacity in existing or new industries.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); However, there was little by way of explicit measures to ensure that Indias manufacturing capacity was strengthened. It was only in 2011 that the government came up with a National Manufacturing Policy, followed by an Electronics System Design and Manufacturing Policy in 2012, along with a newfound emphasis on industrial policy in the 12th Five Year Plan chapter on industry (to which I had the good fortune of contributing as the director general of the Planning Commissions research institute). Unfortunately, that government went into policy paralysis in its last two years. Make in India was not really an industrial policy at all, as it only emphasised on doing business and attracting FDI. The actual results in the last eight years have been the falling share of manufacturing in GDP as well as of manufacturing employment in total employment. The only other initiative in manufacturing has been PLI, which has many issues. First, it is based on a conceptually flawed approach to industrial policy of picking winning firms (rather than sectors). This is the opposite of the successful approach adopted in East Asia, which did not select winning firms but adopted a combination of a horizontal, cross-sectoral industrial policy and a focus on some key sectors. The second problem with PLI is the choice of sectors. Eleven of 14 sectors selected to receive financial subsidies are capital-intensive. India is in desperate need of more industrial jobs of good quality; hardly any jobs will result from PLI, except for a few thousand highly skilled ones. The country is desperate for more low and semi-skilled jobs where people can be employed in more labour-intensive sectors. Third, giving the bureaucracy a role in picking winners harks back to Licence Raj; we know how well that went. It encouraged rent-seeking on a grand scale. Fourth, there is a significant fiscal cost of PLI: 1.5 trillion over five years (between 202122 and 202425); this is when the fiscal deficit is at a historic high, and the debt to GDP ratio has increased in the Covid years from 60% to 85%. Besides, funds are needed for human capital (technical and vocational education, higher education, R&D), apart from an investment in hard infrastructure. Fifth, there is a risk: on the completion of five years of subsidy, the beneficiary industries will demand an extension of benefits beyond five years, a demand that the Indian industry was used to making during the Licence Raj. A sunset clause is needed. Finally, in PLI, there is no expectation that winning firms are expected to export when expanding capacity, an essential prerequisite in East Asia. By contrast, in India, the labour-intensive manufacturing sectors like food processing, tobacco, textiles, apparel, leather, wood and furniture have declined since 2012. The tobacco and textiles sub-sectors within manufacturing have seen a fall in their share of total manufacturing employment in India (though total jobs grew slightly). Nearly every successful economic growth take-off in post-war history in East Asia was associated with rapid expansion in apparel exports in the early stages. The ratio of jobs to investment is as follows: in apparel, 31.1, in autos only 2.6, and steel, 1.0 (based on the Annual Survey of Industries, 201314). India could take a part of the market share that China is losing in international markets due to rising Chinese wages. But India is losing to Bangladesh, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Ethiopia. However, the government is focused exclusively on selecting winning firms in certain sectors through the Performance Linked Incentive Scheme. This has added to some exports of mobiles. But that does not amount to a broad industrial policy, just as Make in India has, far from increasing manufacturing contribution to GDP or employment, only managed to reduce it. Santosh Mehrotra Editor of Planning in the 20th Century & Beyond: Indias Planning Commission and the NITI Aayog (Cambridge University Press, 2016) (santoshmeh@gmail.com) P S Raghavan By The social media age craves competition, comparison and instant verdicts on trends within and between societies. It generates rankings of countries on various parameters, reinforcing old stereotypes or creating new ones. Among these are a Democracy Index and a recently launched Atlas of Impunity. The Democracy Index, annually published by the UK-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), records the progression (or regression) of global democracy over the years. The index ranks countries in five categories: electoral processes, government functioning, political participation, political culture and civil liberties. Based on these scores, a country is classified as a full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regime or authoritarian regime. According to the 2022 Index, only about 8% of the worlds population reside in a full democracy. More than a third live under authoritarian regimes. Interestingly, the Index demoted the United States from a full democracy to a flawed democracy in 2016, which is where it stayed in 2022. India has been a flawed democracy in the Index from its inception in 2006. The EIU notes a stagnation in the world democracy scene in 2022, with a hint of moves towards illiberal democracy, with the election of right-wing parties to power in Italy and Sweden. It notes the weakness of democratic institutions and political culture in some Central European and Baltic countries. Such assessments raise hackles in these countries. Poland, for example, has an ongoing tussle with the European Union about its proposed judicial reforms, which the EU deems inconsistent with its democratic values. Polands argument for national sovereignty in such matters finds resonance in other countries. The judiciary-executive-legislature balance varies across democracies. Poland argues that its proposed reforms are being opposed, not so much for their content as for their presumed intent. In February this year, former British Foreign Secretary David Miliband unveiled an Atlas of Impunity. Arguing that the narrow lens of democracy versus autocracy does not capture the complex nature of global challenges, the Atlas presents an analytical framework of impunity versus accountability, covering governance in the political, socioeconomic and environmental spheres. It defines impunity as the exercise of power without accountability, when the powerful think that the law is for suckers. Impunity is measured in five dimensions: unaccountable governance, conflict and violence, abuse of human rights, economic exploitation, and environmental degradation. The Atlas makes the unsurprising point that most countries exhibiting the highest levels of impunity are in Asia and Africa, grappling with internal conflict and economic deprivation, exacerbated by the geopolitical interests of foreign powers. Equally unsurprisingly, considering the origin of the study, most of the liberal democracies of Western Europe are declared to exercise the lowest levels of impunity. The impunity rankings are in reverse orderthe best country (Finland) is ranked 163. Indias rank of 46 means it is among countries exhibiting the highest impunity. The main contributor to this abysmal rank is the low score for conflict and violence: seventh worst in this category, purportedly because of the prevailing level of violence against its own citizens. This ranks below chronically conflict-ridden countries of the world, including Myanmar, Pakistan, Sudan and Ethiopia! The score for human rights is poor as well: worse than that of many African, Central Asian and West Asian countries, which are classified as autocracies in the Democracy Index. And then, there is environmental degradation. India, China, Russia and the US are among the worlds largest greenhouse gas emitters, but India has the lowest per capita emission among them. Yet, India is ranked 20 in this category, well below the other three. The Atlas claims to use universal, independent, and credible datasets. If this is taken at face value and the obvious suspicion of bias is put aside, the analysis demands scrutiny. It has been pointed out that a higher level of impunity is attributable to major global powers because of their involvement in foreign conflicts and large arms exports. The latest data of SIPRI shows that about 80% of global arms exports are by six major powers, with the US share being almost as much as that of the next five exporters combined: Russia, France, China, Germany and Italy. Arms exports may promote global and regional stability by enhancing deterrence, but they also fuel and sustain conflicts. The wars in Asia and Africa all feature weaponry of one or more of these six powers. It is not clear what weightage has been given to this aspect in the impunity rankings. The adherence to international law by major powers is relevant in a study of impunity. Their accession to international treaties and the level of compliance with them depends on their power, national interests andsimplywhat they can get away with. Russia in Ukraine, the US in Iraq and China in the South China Sea are only the most egregious examples. The US and Russia are not parties to UNCLOS, the treaty codifying international maritime law. The US is not a party to the Statute of the International Criminal Court. This did not prevent it from applauding the Courts investigation of alleged Russian war crimes and issue of an arrest warrant against President Putin. Four years ago, the US imposed sanctions against an ICC prosecutor investigating possible war crimes by US soldiers in Afghanistan. The then US Secretary of State (Pompeo) described the ICC as an unaccountable political institution masquerading as a legal body. Sanctionsexercising the economic leverage of the strong over the weakdo not have a place in international law (except with UN approval). But they have become commonplace weapons in the diplomatic armoury of countries. There is a hierarchy of impunity: secondary sanctions, through which third countries can be punished for dealing with a sanctioned country, are the weapons of the really strong. The US Act, CAATSA, under which a country entering into significant defence transactions with Russia could be denied access to the US market, directly targeted India. CAATSA also covered major energy pipeline projects with Russia; this was aimed at Russian gas import projects of Germany and Turkey. The US State Department stated publicly that these measures are intended to serve US geopolitical and economic interests by weaning defence and energy partners off Russia. Only an equitable and representative world order can attenuate levels of impunity in global affairs. It is nowhere in sight today. P S Raghavan Distinguished Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation, and a former diplomat (raghavan.ps@gmail.com) The social media age craves competition, comparison and instant verdicts on trends within and between societies. It generates rankings of countries on various parameters, reinforcing old stereotypes or creating new ones. Among these are a Democracy Index and a recently launched Atlas of Impunity. The Democracy Index, annually published by the UK-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), records the progression (or regression) of global democracy over the years. The index ranks countries in five categories: electoral processes, government functioning, political participation, political culture and civil liberties. Based on these scores, a country is classified as a full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regime or authoritarian regime. According to the 2022 Index, only about 8% of the worlds population reside in a full democracy. More than a third live under authoritarian regimes. Interestingly, the Index demoted the United States from a full democracy to a flawed democracy in 2016, which is where it stayed in 2022. India has been a flawed democracy in the Index from its inception in 2006. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The EIU notes a stagnation in the world democracy scene in 2022, with a hint of moves towards illiberal democracy, with the election of right-wing parties to power in Italy and Sweden. It notes the weakness of democratic institutions and political culture in some Central European and Baltic countries. Such assessments raise hackles in these countries. Poland, for example, has an ongoing tussle with the European Union about its proposed judicial reforms, which the EU deems inconsistent with its democratic values. Polands argument for national sovereignty in such matters finds resonance in other countries. The judiciary-executive-legislature balance varies across democracies. Poland argues that its proposed reforms are being opposed, not so much for their content as for their presumed intent. In February this year, former British Foreign Secretary David Miliband unveiled an Atlas of Impunity. Arguing that the narrow lens of democracy versus autocracy does not capture the complex nature of global challenges, the Atlas presents an analytical framework of impunity versus accountability, covering governance in the political, socioeconomic and environmental spheres. It defines impunity as the exercise of power without accountability, when the powerful think that the law is for suckers. Impunity is measured in five dimensions: unaccountable governance, conflict and violence, abuse of human rights, economic exploitation, and environmental degradation. The Atlas makes the unsurprising point that most countries exhibiting the highest levels of impunity are in Asia and Africa, grappling with internal conflict and economic deprivation, exacerbated by the geopolitical interests of foreign powers. Equally unsurprisingly, considering the origin of the study, most of the liberal democracies of Western Europe are declared to exercise the lowest levels of impunity. The impunity rankings are in reverse orderthe best country (Finland) is ranked 163. Indias rank of 46 means it is among countries exhibiting the highest impunity. The main contributor to this abysmal rank is the low score for conflict and violence: seventh worst in this category, purportedly because of the prevailing level of violence against its own citizens. This ranks below chronically conflict-ridden countries of the world, including Myanmar, Pakistan, Sudan and Ethiopia! The score for human rights is poor as well: worse than that of many African, Central Asian and West Asian countries, which are classified as autocracies in the Democracy Index. And then, there is environmental degradation. India, China, Russia and the US are among the worlds largest greenhouse gas emitters, but India has the lowest per capita emission among them. Yet, India is ranked 20 in this category, well below the other three. The Atlas claims to use universal, independent, and credible datasets. If this is taken at face value and the obvious suspicion of bias is put aside, the analysis demands scrutiny. It has been pointed out that a higher level of impunity is attributable to major global powers because of their involvement in foreign conflicts and large arms exports. The latest data of SIPRI shows that about 80% of global arms exports are by six major powers, with the US share being almost as much as that of the next five exporters combined: Russia, France, China, Germany and Italy. Arms exports may promote global and regional stability by enhancing deterrence, but they also fuel and sustain conflicts. The wars in Asia and Africa all feature weaponry of one or more of these six powers. It is not clear what weightage has been given to this aspect in the impunity rankings. The adherence to international law by major powers is relevant in a study of impunity. Their accession to international treaties and the level of compliance with them depends on their power, national interests andsimplywhat they can get away with. Russia in Ukraine, the US in Iraq and China in the South China Sea are only the most egregious examples. The US and Russia are not parties to UNCLOS, the treaty codifying international maritime law. The US is not a party to the Statute of the International Criminal Court. This did not prevent it from applauding the Courts investigation of alleged Russian war crimes and issue of an arrest warrant against President Putin. Four years ago, the US imposed sanctions against an ICC prosecutor investigating possible war crimes by US soldiers in Afghanistan. The then US Secretary of State (Pompeo) described the ICC as an unaccountable political institution masquerading as a legal body. Sanctionsexercising the economic leverage of the strong over the weakdo not have a place in international law (except with UN approval). But they have become commonplace weapons in the diplomatic armoury of countries. There is a hierarchy of impunity: secondary sanctions, through which third countries can be punished for dealing with a sanctioned country, are the weapons of the really strong. The US Act, CAATSA, under which a country entering into significant defence transactions with Russia could be denied access to the US market, directly targeted India. CAATSA also covered major energy pipeline projects with Russia; this was aimed at Russian gas import projects of Germany and Turkey. The US State Department stated publicly that these measures are intended to serve US geopolitical and economic interests by weaning defence and energy partners off Russia. Only an equitable and representative world order can attenuate levels of impunity in global affairs. It is nowhere in sight today. P S Raghavan Distinguished Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation, and a former diplomat (raghavan.ps@gmail.com) A legendary institution in Chennai has been roiled with agitations and allegations of sexual misconduct, moral policing, colourism and casteism. Murmurs of issues at the Kalakshetra Foundation, which runs the Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts, came to the fore late last year and exploded into student protests late in the night on the streets after the youngsters felt the administration was not paying their complaints any heed. The sexual misconduct allegations have focused on four individualsa faculty member and three dancers. After matters came to a head, the institution suspended the faculty and terminated the contracts of the dancers. The faculty has been arrested. The institutions internal complaints committee (ICC) had initiated an inquiry into the faculty members conduct but had given him a clean chit. Many students told reporters they felt the process had been an eyewash. Meanwhile, the faculty members supporters have alleged that other faculty members instigated the complainants and protesters. Even as the police pursue the investigation, other problems at the institution have come to the limelight through accounts of students and alumni to reporters. Classical arts in India are taught in a guru-sishya tradition that mandates veneration of and obedience to the teacher. This may amplify the already skewed power dynamic in favour of the teacher. Further, the teachers are influential artists in their own rights at the institution. With great power comes the great potential for abuse of that power. At Kalakshetra, this dynamic is also imbued with a quasi-familial colour (teachers are referred to as akkas or annaselder siblings), which could contribute to the blurring of boundaries while further enmeshing students in obedience and compliance. While the institutions supporters argue that this is the traditional way in which arts have been taught, the reality is that Kalakshetra is a Central government entity that must comply with the rules and regulations governing other institutions of learning. The Madras High Court on Wednesday told the institution to frame an appropriate policy on harassment and reconstitute the ICC, including parents and teachers. The police probe, too, continues. The institution and its well-wishers must embrace this opportunity to examine its culture with fresh eyes and build one that is safe, open and egalitarian, keeping with the aspirations of its students. A legendary institution in Chennai has been roiled with agitations and allegations of sexual misconduct, moral policing, colourism and casteism. Murmurs of issues at the Kalakshetra Foundation, which runs the Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts, came to the fore late last year and exploded into student protests late in the night on the streets after the youngsters felt the administration was not paying their complaints any heed. The sexual misconduct allegations have focused on four individualsa faculty member and three dancers. After matters came to a head, the institution suspended the faculty and terminated the contracts of the dancers. The faculty has been arrested. The institutions internal complaints committee (ICC) had initiated an inquiry into the faculty members conduct but had given him a clean chit. Many students told reporters they felt the process had been an eyewash. Meanwhile, the faculty members supporters have alleged that other faculty members instigated the complainants and protesters. Even as the police pursue the investigation, other problems at the institution have come to the limelight through accounts of students and alumni to reporters. Classical arts in India are taught in a guru-sishya tradition that mandates veneration of and obedience to the teacher. This may amplify the already skewed power dynamic in favour of the teacher. Further, the teachers are influential artists in their own rights at the institution. With great power comes the great potential for abuse of that power. At Kalakshetra, this dynamic is also imbued with a quasi-familial colour (teachers are referred to as akkas or annaselder siblings), which could contribute to the blurring of boundaries while further enmeshing students in obedience and compliance. While the institutions supporters argue that this is the traditional way in which arts have been taught, the reality is that Kalakshetra is a Central government entity that must comply with the rules and regulations governing other institutions of learning.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Madras High Court on Wednesday told the institution to frame an appropriate policy on harassment and reconstitute the ICC, including parents and teachers. The police probe, too, continues. The institution and its well-wishers must embrace this opportunity to examine its culture with fresh eyes and build one that is safe, open and egalitarian, keeping with the aspirations of its students. By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modis policies, TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said differences between the TDP and BJP were only over the Special Category Status (SCS) for Andhra Pradesh. Speaking during a summit conducted by a national television channel in New Delhi on the theme Time of Transformation: The need to keep fighting, Naidu said, I endorse and support the policies of the Prime Minister. The country is more important than politics. The former Chief Ministers remarks assume significance as his party has been left isolated after its electoral debacle in 2019. With the saffron party in alliance with actor-politician Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena, the TDP is of the view that it can give a tough fight to the formidable YSRC, if the three parties come together. While Naidu has been moving in that direction for a while now, he made his intentions clear in Delhi. Asserting that India received due recognition because of Modi, the 73-year-old politician said, The Prime Minister has promoted India and gained recognition for the country on a global level through networking. I entirely agree with his vision and aim to associate Telugu people in achieving the same.However, he dodged a question on whether he was willing to join the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) in the coming days. I cannot answer hypothetical questions, but it is all a matter of time, he maintained. Elaborating on his vision, the TDP chief said he wanted to make India the number one or two economy by 2047. I want to contribute to this vision and, if the Prime Minister is thinking along the same lines, I agree with him. We had differences only over Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh, he reiterated. Asked about the Opposition parties at the national level opposing Modis vision, Naidu said they had also criticised his Vision 2020 and branded him as 420 (cheat). There are criticisms, but politics is one aspect and development another. The country and society are permanent, and everyone should dream and work towards making India number one, he opined. In the same breath, Naidu advised the Centre to abolish currency denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000. Today, we are ahead of other countries in using digital payment methods. This will make politics transparent as too much money will not be spent during elections. Our country will go a long way if a whip is cracked on political corruption, he observed. Further, he said, My vision is to bring India above the poverty line by 2047. VIJAYAWADA: Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modis policies, TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said differences between the TDP and BJP were only over the Special Category Status (SCS) for Andhra Pradesh. Speaking during a summit conducted by a national television channel in New Delhi on the theme Time of Transformation: The need to keep fighting, Naidu said, I endorse and support the policies of the Prime Minister. The country is more important than politics. The former Chief Ministers remarks assume significance as his party has been left isolated after its electoral debacle in 2019. With the saffron party in alliance with actor-politician Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena, the TDP is of the view that it can give a tough fight to the formidable YSRC, if the three parties come together. While Naidu has been moving in that direction for a while now, he made his intentions clear in Delhi. Asserting that India received due recognition because of Modi, the 73-year-old politician said, The Prime Minister has promoted India and gained recognition for the country on a global level through networking. I entirely agree with his vision and aim to associate Telugu people in achieving the same.However, he dodged a question on whether he was willing to join the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) in the coming days.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); I cannot answer hypothetical questions, but it is all a matter of time, he maintained. Elaborating on his vision, the TDP chief said he wanted to make India the number one or two economy by 2047. I want to contribute to this vision and, if the Prime Minister is thinking along the same lines, I agree with him. We had differences only over Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh, he reiterated. Asked about the Opposition parties at the national level opposing Modis vision, Naidu said they had also criticised his Vision 2020 and branded him as 420 (cheat). There are criticisms, but politics is one aspect and development another. The country and society are permanent, and everyone should dream and work towards making India number one, he opined. In the same breath, Naidu advised the Centre to abolish currency denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000. Today, we are ahead of other countries in using digital payment methods. This will make politics transparent as too much money will not be spent during elections. Our country will go a long way if a whip is cracked on political corruption, he observed. Further, he said, My vision is to bring India above the poverty line by 2047. Bosky Khanna By Express News Service BENGALURU: Over 200 Hakki Pikki tribals, who were stranded in war-torn Sudan, have reportedly boarded buses on their way to Port Sudan and later they will reach Bengaluru. They will be part of the second batch of evacuees who will be arriving in India under Operation Kaveri, initiated by the Indian government to bring back its over 2,000 citizens. Packed into four buses, the tribals left El Fashir for Port Sudan. They belong to tribal hamlets in Mysuru, Shivamogga, Davanagere, HD Kote, Channagiri and surrounding areas. We are relieved and happy, but still nervous. Till we move out of here completely, we will not be able to rest. We have not been able to sleep because of anxiety and fear. Sounds of the gunfire and bomb explosions still haunts us, said one of the tribals. After being informed about their departure from the war-torn African country, their relatives are eager to know their arrival dates. We boarded the buses on Tuesday afternoon. It would take around 7-8 hours by road to reach Port Sudan. We have been told that from there, we will go to Saudi Arabia by sea. After the verification of our papers, we will be allowed to board a direct flight to Bengaluru, said Shandi, who had gone to Sudan with his wife around nine months ago. Another tribal said, I dont know how long I will take to reach my hometown and then my hamlet. But anything out of here is welcome. I will not return for sure. I had not eaten properly for nearly a week. The office of the Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday tweeted that the first batch of 278 stranded Indians left Port Sudan onboard INS Sumedha and will reach Jeddah. MEA officials said they are supplying all essential materials and supplies to all the stranded who were rescued. Meanwhile, officials at the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre said they have been told that among the first batch of evacuees, there is one from Karnataka. 43 People from Davanagere villages rescued Davanagere DC Shivananda Kaapshi on Tuesday said that 30 people from Gopanal and 13 from Astapanhalli, both villages in the district, have been rescued from war-torn Sudan. He said the stranded Indian citizens have been rescued by Indian Embassy officials in Sudan and are being moved towards Port Sudan. Once they reach the port, they will be shifted to India safely, and rescue operations to bring them back home are in full swing, he added. The DC added that all the people are safely being transported to rescue sites. The embassy is in touch with all those stranded in the African country. People from Gopanal and Astapanhalli are traditional Ayurveda practitioners, who travel to Africa to sell medicines and stay at one place for years on end. BENGALURU: Over 200 Hakki Pikki tribals, who were stranded in war-torn Sudan, have reportedly boarded buses on their way to Port Sudan and later they will reach Bengaluru. They will be part of the second batch of evacuees who will be arriving in India under Operation Kaveri, initiated by the Indian government to bring back its over 2,000 citizens. Packed into four buses, the tribals left El Fashir for Port Sudan. They belong to tribal hamlets in Mysuru, Shivamogga, Davanagere, HD Kote, Channagiri and surrounding areas. We are relieved and happy, but still nervous. Till we move out of here completely, we will not be able to rest. We have not been able to sleep because of anxiety and fear. Sounds of the gunfire and bomb explosions still haunts us, said one of the tribals. After being informed about their departure from the war-torn African country, their relatives are eager to know their arrival dates. We boarded the buses on Tuesday afternoon. It would take around 7-8 hours by road to reach Port Sudan. We have been told that from there, we will go to Saudi Arabia by sea. After the verification of our papers, we will be allowed to board a direct flight to Bengaluru, said Shandi, who had gone to Sudan with his wife around nine months ago. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Another tribal said, I dont know how long I will take to reach my hometown and then my hamlet. But anything out of here is welcome. I will not return for sure. I had not eaten properly for nearly a week. The office of the Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday tweeted that the first batch of 278 stranded Indians left Port Sudan onboard INS Sumedha and will reach Jeddah. MEA officials said they are supplying all essential materials and supplies to all the stranded who were rescued. Meanwhile, officials at the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre said they have been told that among the first batch of evacuees, there is one from Karnataka. 43 People from Davanagere villages rescued Davanagere DC Shivananda Kaapshi on Tuesday said that 30 people from Gopanal and 13 from Astapanhalli, both villages in the district, have been rescued from war-torn Sudan. He said the stranded Indian citizens have been rescued by Indian Embassy officials in Sudan and are being moved towards Port Sudan. Once they reach the port, they will be shifted to India safely, and rescue operations to bring them back home are in full swing, he added. The DC added that all the people are safely being transported to rescue sites. The embassy is in touch with all those stranded in the African country. People from Gopanal and Astapanhalli are traditional Ayurveda practitioners, who travel to Africa to sell medicines and stay at one place for years on end. Ashwini M Sripad By Express News Service BENGALURU: With just weeks left for the May 10 Assembly polls, the state this time is seeing a higher demand for helicopters as political leaders have geared up for the heated polls. Ever since the nomination process began on April 13, Congress and BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, former chief minister BS Yediyurappa, KPCC president DK Shivakumar, Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramiah and others, are busy campaigning for their party candidates. They need helicopters to campaign in three to four places a day in different, distant parts of the state. BJP sources told The New Indian Express that with airports coming up at many places, including Shivamogga and Kalaburagi, many leaders take chartered flights to reach these towns and then hop on to helicopters to campaign at nearby places. As the state does not have many agencies that rent out helicopters that are suitable for the leaders, parties reach out to agencies in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and even New Delhi. Of all the parties, BJP seems to be hiring the most number of choppers. This is because apart from local leaders, they have a stream of netas coming in from different parts of the country, including chief ministers like Yogi Adityanath. We might need at least 40 helicopters a day, as it is not just the leaders, but their security staff and others too fly with them, the sources said. For a few campaigners, the party has hired helicopters for the entire month. Congress is opting for helicopters for their star campaigners, including AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, who are expected to campaign in various Assembly segments. The party has formed a team only to coordinate the travel and to hire choppers. The opposition party is expected to get 10 to 20 helicopters per day, and the numbers could go up. The rentals vary depending on the engine capacity and seating. Some agencies rent them out on an hourly basis at Rs 2.10 lakh to Rs 2.30 lakh, while others give on a daily basis at Rs 7 lakh for single engine and Rs 10 lakh for double engine. All the helicopters are four-seaters. Most six-seater helicopters are hired from Hyderabad. The rent for special flights, with an eight-seater capacity, starts at Rs 12 lakh. Poll officers watching chopper rides Election Commission officials have kept a watch on the helicopters hired and the cost involved. Additional Chief Electoral Officer Venkatesh Kumar told The New Indian Express that the cost of hiring helicopters is like the rentals of any other vehicles that the leaders use. If a star campaigner uses the helicopter and makes speeches without taking the name of the candidate or without sharing the dais with the candidate, then the entire expenditure is on the party. If a campaigner uses the name of the candidate or shares the dais with the candidate, then the expenditure is divided equally between the party and the candidate at 50 per cent each, he said. Those who want to use helicopters have to take permission from the district election officer, the local deputy commissioner. Through the Suvidha app, they can apply online while hiring vehicles, including helicopters. For those who own helicopters, the flying time is considered for the rent and the cost accrued to the candidates. BENGALURU: With just weeks left for the May 10 Assembly polls, the state this time is seeing a higher demand for helicopters as political leaders have geared up for the heated polls. Ever since the nomination process began on April 13, Congress and BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, former chief minister BS Yediyurappa, KPCC president DK Shivakumar, Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramiah and others, are busy campaigning for their party candidates. They need helicopters to campaign in three to four places a day in different, distant parts of the state. BJP sources told The New Indian Express that with airports coming up at many places, including Shivamogga and Kalaburagi, many leaders take chartered flights to reach these towns and then hop on to helicopters to campaign at nearby places. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As the state does not have many agencies that rent out helicopters that are suitable for the leaders, parties reach out to agencies in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and even New Delhi. Of all the parties, BJP seems to be hiring the most number of choppers. This is because apart from local leaders, they have a stream of netas coming in from different parts of the country, including chief ministers like Yogi Adityanath. We might need at least 40 helicopters a day, as it is not just the leaders, but their security staff and others too fly with them, the sources said. For a few campaigners, the party has hired helicopters for the entire month. Congress is opting for helicopters for their star campaigners, including AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, who are expected to campaign in various Assembly segments. The party has formed a team only to coordinate the travel and to hire choppers. The opposition party is expected to get 10 to 20 helicopters per day, and the numbers could go up. The rentals vary depending on the engine capacity and seating. Some agencies rent them out on an hourly basis at Rs 2.10 lakh to Rs 2.30 lakh, while others give on a daily basis at Rs 7 lakh for single engine and Rs 10 lakh for double engine. All the helicopters are four-seaters. Most six-seater helicopters are hired from Hyderabad. The rent for special flights, with an eight-seater capacity, starts at Rs 12 lakh. Poll officers watching chopper rides Election Commission officials have kept a watch on the helicopters hired and the cost involved. Additional Chief Electoral Officer Venkatesh Kumar told The New Indian Express that the cost of hiring helicopters is like the rentals of any other vehicles that the leaders use. If a star campaigner uses the helicopter and makes speeches without taking the name of the candidate or without sharing the dais with the candidate, then the entire expenditure is on the party. If a campaigner uses the name of the candidate or shares the dais with the candidate, then the expenditure is divided equally between the party and the candidate at 50 per cent each, he said. Those who want to use helicopters have to take permission from the district election officer, the local deputy commissioner. Through the Suvidha app, they can apply online while hiring vehicles, including helicopters. For those who own helicopters, the flying time is considered for the rent and the cost accrued to the candidates. Indie musician John Vanderslice announced on his social media last week that someone broke into the recording studio he runs, Tiny Telephone, in Oakland, California. CBS News explains: The studio lost all of the vintage electric guitars and basses kept onsite as well as several valuable microphones. One of the microphones a 1961 Telefunken U47 is valued at $38,000, according to Vanderslice. The lost guitars include a 1952 Nash Telecaster, a 1964 Epiphone Texan. a 1967 Gibson SG and an electric Gibson ES125 hollowbody from 1950. Vanderslice has started a GoFundMe to help raise the money to replace the equipment. The campaign has already raised $56,000 of its $70,000 goalincluding a $15,000 donation by fellow musician Jack White. Vanderslice describes the campaign: Hello!!!! It's John Vanderslice. Early on the morning of April 15, we experienced every recording studio's worst nightmare a crew forced their way through two reinforced doors, broke into Tiny Telephone and stole a number of items from the studio: all of our electric guitars & basses, and some very valuable microphones (including our 1961 Telefunken U47). We are all devastated. These are things we use daily to make music, beloved by the engineers and artists that record at Tiny Telephone. If you've ever played the Nash Telecaster or heard that U47, you know what I'm talking about! Thankfully, nobody was hurt but the damage to the studio and the loss of equipment is incredibly painful we're a small arts organization in Oakland, without any kind of corporate backing or tech money behind us. At our current rates, it would take years of booked studio time to pay for everything. The value of our single U47 microphone was $38,000. The cost of fixing and reinforcing all three points of entry alone to prevent future break-ins is around $15,000. Tiny Telephone's day rate has stayed the same for 10 years: $400 a day. We want to remain affordable for new artists and foster a democratic and accessible culture for bands of all levels to make masterpieces here. (And they do!) Because of this, we're raising money to offset these costs: help replace some of what was lost, repair the damage, and upgrade security in and around the studio. Over on his Facebook page, he's been posting photos of the missing equipment, urging folks to be on the lookout for their 1961 Telefunken U47 (serial #2233), Nash T52 Telecaster (serial #km-117), and 1972 Fender Stratocaster. Be on the lookout, and donate here if you can. Namrata Sindwani and Puran Choudhary By Express News Service BENGALURU: Representation of women in Karnatakas political spectrum remains low. The number of women candidates this year has reduced to 185 from 219 in the 2018 elections. As per data from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka, there are 5.05 crore voters in the state, and of them, 2.50 crore are women. Yet, there arent enough women candidates in the Legislative Assembly, according to experts. The highest number of women members seen in the Assembly was 18 in 1962. Sandeep Shastri, national coordinator of Lokniti Network, said, Men are considered more winnable by political parties, masking their insecurities of seeing women leaders in positions of power. However, there is no data to back the notion that men have higher chances of winning elections. Analysts said women themselves refrain from being in the public eye, fearing that their image may get tarnished. Parties are keen only on votes of women, but not having them as leaders. The patriarchal system in all parties showcases a sense of fear in them of losing their position to women in case they come to power, said Prof Shastri. Womens strength in Assembly poor The Womens Reservation Bill introduced 26 years ago, proposing reservation of one-third seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, remains pending due to this fear, he added. Congress MLA Sowmya Reddy, daughter of KPCC working president Ramalinga Reddy, said that the representation of women in Karnatakas Legislative Assembly is really abysmal when compared to other states. A regressive mindset is the reason for this. Women from different parts of Bengaluru share their grievances with me as they feel more comfortable with a woman representative, she added. Muzaffar Assadi, a political analyst and dean at the University of Mysore, said it is a societal flaw. There is a tendency of seeing women only as teachers, housewives and personal assistants but not as elected representatives. This mindset should change. Analysts pointed out that usually women in politics are seen as proxies to their husbands, fathers or sons. Political parties give them tickets mostly because of this reason, they added. Congress MLA contesting from Khanapur, Anjali Hemant Nimbalkar, wife of Hemanth Nimbalkar, said that it is tough to be in politics and hence, not many women take it up. Popularity, financial status, reach and quality of work make it tough for women. Prominent women candidates Sowmya Reddy Jayanagar - Congress Dr Anjali Nimbalkar Khanapura - Congress Chaithra Kotakar Karwar - JDS Shashikala Annasaheb Jolle Nippani - BJP Manjula Limbavali Mahadevapura - BJP Laxmi Hebbalkar Belagavi Rural - Congress BENGALURU: Representation of women in Karnatakas political spectrum remains low. The number of women candidates this year has reduced to 185 from 219 in the 2018 elections. As per data from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka, there are 5.05 crore voters in the state, and of them, 2.50 crore are women. Yet, there arent enough women candidates in the Legislative Assembly, according to experts. The highest number of women members seen in the Assembly was 18 in 1962. Sandeep Shastri, national coordinator of Lokniti Network, said, Men are considered more winnable by political parties, masking their insecurities of seeing women leaders in positions of power. However, there is no data to back the notion that men have higher chances of winning elections.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Analysts said women themselves refrain from being in the public eye, fearing that their image may get tarnished. Parties are keen only on votes of women, but not having them as leaders. The patriarchal system in all parties showcases a sense of fear in them of losing their position to women in case they come to power, said Prof Shastri. Womens strength in Assembly poor The Womens Reservation Bill introduced 26 years ago, proposing reservation of one-third seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, remains pending due to this fear, he added. Congress MLA Sowmya Reddy, daughter of KPCC working president Ramalinga Reddy, said that the representation of women in Karnatakas Legislative Assembly is really abysmal when compared to other states. A regressive mindset is the reason for this. Women from different parts of Bengaluru share their grievances with me as they feel more comfortable with a woman representative, she added. Muzaffar Assadi, a political analyst and dean at the University of Mysore, said it is a societal flaw. There is a tendency of seeing women only as teachers, housewives and personal assistants but not as elected representatives. This mindset should change. Analysts pointed out that usually women in politics are seen as proxies to their husbands, fathers or sons. Political parties give them tickets mostly because of this reason, they added. Congress MLA contesting from Khanapur, Anjali Hemant Nimbalkar, wife of Hemanth Nimbalkar, said that it is tough to be in politics and hence, not many women take it up. Popularity, financial status, reach and quality of work make it tough for women. Prominent women candidates Sowmya Reddy Jayanagar - Congress Dr Anjali Nimbalkar Khanapura - Congress Chaithra Kotakar Karwar - JDS Shashikala Annasaheb Jolle Nippani - BJP Manjula Limbavali Mahadevapura - BJP Laxmi Hebbalkar Belagavi Rural - Congress By Associated Press KOCHI: On a tiny sliver of land in southern India, the future of an ancient grain that helps combat climate change is in doubt. An ongoing tussle in Chellanam village, a suburb of the bustling city of Kochi, which has the Arabian Sea on one side and estuaries on the other, could decide the fate of the cultivation of pokkali rice. In many wetlands in the area, farmers have traditionally dedicated half the year to pokkali rice and the other six months to prawns. In 2022, the Fisheries Department of Kerala issued an order that farmers no longer needed to dedicate part of the year to pokkali, exacerbating a trend away from pokkali already underway. While prawns fetch more money than pokkali, a focus on them is upending a delicate ecosystem, making it difficult for farmers who want to continue with pokkali, environmental experts say. M.M. Chandu, a 78-year-old farmer with about 0.8 hectares (a little over 2 acres), said that increasing salinity in the land from year-round prawn cultivation was degrading soil and making it more difficult for him to grow pokkali. "Everything was ruined" when farmers were pushed away from pokkali and toward aquaculture, he said. When pokkali is grown, salt water is pushed out and farmers use rain water to irrigate their crops. Stalks from the pokkali later become food for prawns. That arrangement produces two kinds of crops and maintains natural barriers to rising seas and sequesters carbon in the soil. "Pokkali is the oldest variety of rice in Kerala, which is at least 3,000 years old. It is also among the oldest known crops cultivated by organic farming methodologies in the world," said Francis Kalathunkal, from the Pokkali Samrakshana Samithi, a group formed in 2011 to encourage farmers to cultivate pokkali. ALSO READ | Scientists find Indian farmers adapted to temperature change for rice, maize Kalathunkal said in the 1990s, pokkali was grown on 485 hectares (1,200 acres) in Chellanam compared to just 2 to 4 hectares (5 to 10 acres) today. Across Kerala, it's a similar story: two decades ago, pokkali was cultivated on more than 25,000 hectares (about 61,800 acres) in Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Thrissur districts compared to about 1,000 hectares (about 2,500 acres) today, according to Shan AC, president of Palliyakkal Service Cooperative Bank, which works with pokkali farmers in the production, procurement and distribution of the grains. Pokkali is also being cultivated on experimental basis in the Sundarbans region of West BengaI, after vast tracts of paddy lands were filled with brackish water during a large cyclone in May 2021. A long grain version of pokkali is cultivated along the southwestern coastal belt of Sri Lanka. Rice is the staple of southern and eastern parts of India, and is highly water intensive. About 3.35 cubic meters (118 cubic feet) of water are needed to grow 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of rice, according to India's Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices. Pokkali, by contrast, doesn't require groundwater for irrigation, as it is cultivated in low lying wetlands that are inundated with rain water. Compared to white rice, pokkali, rich in antioxidants, requires a longer time to cook. It has a more pronounced flavor and texture, making it an acquired taste for many. Some varieties have thick or long grains, and colors range from dark brown to white. To make pokkali enticing both for consumers and farmers the Rice Research Station at Kerala Agricultural University is working to develop new kinds. So far, they have come up with 11 high-yielding varieties. Just developing more pokkali options alone will not solve the larger issues, said Dr. A.K. Sreelatha, head of the Rice Research Station. "The biggest problem is the unavailability of skilled laborers," Sreelatha said. "The soil is so soft that the various prototypes of machines developed (to harvest it) failed." Women wade through waist deep water to harvest paddy cultivated as part of Pokkali farming system at Kadamakkudy wetlands in Kochi. (Photo | AP) Mahesh S, joint director at the Fisheries Department of Kerala, said a 2010 law allows the department to issue licenses for aqua farming on land that has been left fallow. If a farmer claims the land is not being used for paddy cultivation, "we will make a field visit and if we find the claim to be true, we issue a license," he said. Because the crop floats in water, mechanized paddy cutters cannot be used. Instead, pokkali requires laborers, today mostly women, that stand in the water and cut the matured stalks manually, bundle them and bring them to the bund. Chathamma, another suburb of Kochi, is surrounded by a salt water lake, making it perfect for pokkali-prawn farming. Yet, Nandakumar VM is forced to leave 20 hectares (50 acres) of his 28-hectare (70-acre) holding fallow during paddy season, as he could not find enough people to help harvest. "It is really difficult to get people to come and work these days," he said. "They don't want to stand in knee deep water sometimes even chest deep to harvest the stalks." ALSO READ | Kerala residents try to save Periyar river, officials deny problems The lack of a market is yet another barrier to making money with pokkali. "This rice is known only in this region. If you go to the north of Kerala or to its hills, people do not know the benefits of pokkali," said Sreelatha. A father-son duo, Joseph and Tom PV, who own seven acres in Chathamma, manage better, thanks to Tom's marketing efforts. When he could not convince his father to get into year-round prawn cultivation, Tom reached a deal with him: "Grow pokkali, but leave marketing to me." The hacks that the software engineer has come up with add value by selling the finished rice and not just the paddy, branding and selling online are bringing in more money. People fish at a tidal swamp after water is drained at the end of prawn farming season before preparing the field for pokkali rice cultivation in Kochi. (Photo | AP) Three years ago, the family made 60 to 80 rupees (75 cents to $1) per kilogram. Today, thanks to processing the rice and branding, they are making between 120 and 150 rupees ($1.46 and $1.83). Impressed, other farmers in Chathamma have started trying to follow the pair's footsteps, but Tom is skeptical. "None of them know how to make money," he said. Environmental experts say that if the Chellanam model a focus just on prawns wins out, it would prove unsustainable to Kerala, which comprises 13% coastal wetlands. Usha S, founder of Thanal Agroecology Center, which does research and training on sustainable agriculture, said managing land that way in Chellanam is already having an impact. Soil has become more acidic, making it more difficult to cultivate pokkali, while sources of drinking water have become saltier. ALSO READ | Climate change threatening tea sector globally: Indian Tea Association "This has led to the fields being left fallow," she said, adding that on fallowed lands farmers don't bother fortifying tidal embankments, which leads to yet more salt. In post graduate work at Kerala Agricultural University, Anju Sajan studied three kinds of land use: the pokkali-prawn combo, just pokkali and just prawns. She concluded that the pokkali-prawn combination produced soil most apt to store carbon, which combats climate change. For 99-year-old matriarch, Baby Joseph Kalathungal, who has been growing pokkali since she was 17 years old, the science behind the decline in pokkali doesn't make much sense. All she knows is that her stately home in Chellanam, which withstood the test of time for nearly a century, is corroding and her granary is empty. While her family's 1 hectare (2.5 acres) no longer produces viable yields, they still grow pokkali because they are part of a farmers' collective holding out against all-year fish farming. "I have seen it all, but even for me what is happening now is a bit too much to digest," she said. KOCHI: On a tiny sliver of land in southern India, the future of an ancient grain that helps combat climate change is in doubt. An ongoing tussle in Chellanam village, a suburb of the bustling city of Kochi, which has the Arabian Sea on one side and estuaries on the other, could decide the fate of the cultivation of pokkali rice. In many wetlands in the area, farmers have traditionally dedicated half the year to pokkali rice and the other six months to prawns. In 2022, the Fisheries Department of Kerala issued an order that farmers no longer needed to dedicate part of the year to pokkali, exacerbating a trend away from pokkali already underway.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); While prawns fetch more money than pokkali, a focus on them is upending a delicate ecosystem, making it difficult for farmers who want to continue with pokkali, environmental experts say. M.M. Chandu, a 78-year-old farmer with about 0.8 hectares (a little over 2 acres), said that increasing salinity in the land from year-round prawn cultivation was degrading soil and making it more difficult for him to grow pokkali. "Everything was ruined" when farmers were pushed away from pokkali and toward aquaculture, he said. When pokkali is grown, salt water is pushed out and farmers use rain water to irrigate their crops. Stalks from the pokkali later become food for prawns. That arrangement produces two kinds of crops and maintains natural barriers to rising seas and sequesters carbon in the soil. "Pokkali is the oldest variety of rice in Kerala, which is at least 3,000 years old. It is also among the oldest known crops cultivated by organic farming methodologies in the world," said Francis Kalathunkal, from the Pokkali Samrakshana Samithi, a group formed in 2011 to encourage farmers to cultivate pokkali. ALSO READ | Scientists find Indian farmers adapted to temperature change for rice, maize Kalathunkal said in the 1990s, pokkali was grown on 485 hectares (1,200 acres) in Chellanam compared to just 2 to 4 hectares (5 to 10 acres) today. Across Kerala, it's a similar story: two decades ago, pokkali was cultivated on more than 25,000 hectares (about 61,800 acres) in Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Thrissur districts compared to about 1,000 hectares (about 2,500 acres) today, according to Shan AC, president of Palliyakkal Service Cooperative Bank, which works with pokkali farmers in the production, procurement and distribution of the grains. Pokkali is also being cultivated on experimental basis in the Sundarbans region of West BengaI, after vast tracts of paddy lands were filled with brackish water during a large cyclone in May 2021. A long grain version of pokkali is cultivated along the southwestern coastal belt of Sri Lanka. Rice is the staple of southern and eastern parts of India, and is highly water intensive. About 3.35 cubic meters (118 cubic feet) of water are needed to grow 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of rice, according to India's Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices. Pokkali, by contrast, doesn't require groundwater for irrigation, as it is cultivated in low lying wetlands that are inundated with rain water. Compared to white rice, pokkali, rich in antioxidants, requires a longer time to cook. It has a more pronounced flavor and texture, making it an acquired taste for many. Some varieties have thick or long grains, and colors range from dark brown to white. To make pokkali enticing both for consumers and farmers the Rice Research Station at Kerala Agricultural University is working to develop new kinds. So far, they have come up with 11 high-yielding varieties. Just developing more pokkali options alone will not solve the larger issues, said Dr. A.K. Sreelatha, head of the Rice Research Station. "The biggest problem is the unavailability of skilled laborers," Sreelatha said. "The soil is so soft that the various prototypes of machines developed (to harvest it) failed." Women wade through waist deep water to harvest paddy cultivated as part of Pokkali farming system at Kadamakkudy wetlands in Kochi. (Photo | AP) Mahesh S, joint director at the Fisheries Department of Kerala, said a 2010 law allows the department to issue licenses for aqua farming on land that has been left fallow. If a farmer claims the land is not being used for paddy cultivation, "we will make a field visit and if we find the claim to be true, we issue a license," he said. Because the crop floats in water, mechanized paddy cutters cannot be used. Instead, pokkali requires laborers, today mostly women, that stand in the water and cut the matured stalks manually, bundle them and bring them to the bund. Chathamma, another suburb of Kochi, is surrounded by a salt water lake, making it perfect for pokkali-prawn farming. Yet, Nandakumar VM is forced to leave 20 hectares (50 acres) of his 28-hectare (70-acre) holding fallow during paddy season, as he could not find enough people to help harvest. "It is really difficult to get people to come and work these days," he said. "They don't want to stand in knee deep water sometimes even chest deep to harvest the stalks." ALSO READ | Kerala residents try to save Periyar river, officials deny problems The lack of a market is yet another barrier to making money with pokkali. "This rice is known only in this region. If you go to the north of Kerala or to its hills, people do not know the benefits of pokkali," said Sreelatha. A father-son duo, Joseph and Tom PV, who own seven acres in Chathamma, manage better, thanks to Tom's marketing efforts. When he could not convince his father to get into year-round prawn cultivation, Tom reached a deal with him: "Grow pokkali, but leave marketing to me." The hacks that the software engineer has come up with add value by selling the finished rice and not just the paddy, branding and selling online are bringing in more money. People fish at a tidal swamp after water is drained at the end of prawn farming season before preparing the field for pokkali rice cultivation in Kochi. (Photo | AP) Three years ago, the family made 60 to 80 rupees (75 cents to $1) per kilogram. Today, thanks to processing the rice and branding, they are making between 120 and 150 rupees ($1.46 and $1.83). Impressed, other farmers in Chathamma have started trying to follow the pair's footsteps, but Tom is skeptical. "None of them know how to make money," he said. Environmental experts say that if the Chellanam model a focus just on prawns wins out, it would prove unsustainable to Kerala, which comprises 13% coastal wetlands. Usha S, founder of Thanal Agroecology Center, which does research and training on sustainable agriculture, said managing land that way in Chellanam is already having an impact. Soil has become more acidic, making it more difficult to cultivate pokkali, while sources of drinking water have become saltier. ALSO READ | Climate change threatening tea sector globally: Indian Tea Association "This has led to the fields being left fallow," she said, adding that on fallowed lands farmers don't bother fortifying tidal embankments, which leads to yet more salt. In post graduate work at Kerala Agricultural University, Anju Sajan studied three kinds of land use: the pokkali-prawn combo, just pokkali and just prawns. She concluded that the pokkali-prawn combination produced soil most apt to store carbon, which combats climate change. For 99-year-old matriarch, Baby Joseph Kalathungal, who has been growing pokkali since she was 17 years old, the science behind the decline in pokkali doesn't make much sense. All she knows is that her stately home in Chellanam, which withstood the test of time for nearly a century, is corroding and her granary is empty. While her family's 1 hectare (2.5 acres) no longer produces viable yields, they still grow pokkali because they are part of a farmers' collective holding out against all-year fish farming. "I have seen it all, but even for me what is happening now is a bit too much to digest," she said. SV Krishna Chaitanya By Express News Service CHENNAI: One of the buzzwords ever since the DMK came to power in the state is climate change, and how to tackle it. A slew of big-ticket missions was announced, with steep targets and international experts roped into the Tamil Nadu Governing Council on Climate Change. Now, the question is will the state government walk the talk and become climate resilient? The current actions will shape the future of the state, considering 43% of the coastline eroding, weather patterns changing and more industries putting enormous stress on land and water. So far, the government has fared well. The Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission announced by Chief Minister MK Stalin with a total outlay of Rs 500 crore is a first of its kind at the sub-national level. In the year 2022-23, several preparatory works - rehabilitation of coastal habitats for climate change adaptation through nature-based solutions, climate-smart villages under which a set of 11 villages are hand-picked to make them climate resilient - have started. Also, the government has established a climate studio called the Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management (CCCDM) at Anna University with a high-performance computation facility cluster and accessories for climate modelling. The CCCDM will provide high-resolution and robust cadastral-level regional climate scenarios for micro-level policy planning, covering the entire Tamil Nadu. Supriya Sahu, additional chief secretary of, the Environment, Forest & Climate Change department, told TNIE the government understands the threat posed by climate change and that some of the initiatives undertaken in the past one year will help the state mitigate the problem in the long run. We have not just framed the policies. Realistic targets are fixed and work is under way to achieve them. For instance, to support climate change mitigation and greening projects, the government has set up Tamil Nadu Green Climate Fund (TNGCF) with a fund size of Rs 1,000 crore, Sahu said. Minister for Environment Siva V Meyyanathan said the process of registering TNGCF as a category 1 (social venture fund) under the SEBI Alternative Investment Fund Regulations, 2012 is in the final stages of completion. Once the registration is done, we will open the efforts. G Sundararajan from the city-based environmental advocacy group, Poovulagin Nanbargal, said though the government is taking proactive steps, some of the projects envisaged recently puts questions on its wisdom like building Pen Monument, and the proposed Chennais second airport in Parandur, destroying hundreds of acres of wetland. ALSO READ | Indias first environmental monitoring studio to come up in TN: Minister The recent IPCC reports show the gap to achieve or mitigate climate change is closing very fast. The report states the city will reach its wet-bulb temperature very soon. In Tamil Nadu, disaster risks are high while officials are largely reactive in their responses or act in silos. There is an urgent need for hybrid, comprehensive solutions to adapt to climate change and create resilience, he said. The DMK government, so far, has fared well on the climate front; Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission with an outlay of Rs 500 cr is a first-of-its-kind initiative at the sub-national level; the govt established a climate studio at Anna University with a high-performance computation facility cluster and accessories for climate modelling CHENNAI: One of the buzzwords ever since the DMK came to power in the state is climate change, and how to tackle it. A slew of big-ticket missions was announced, with steep targets and international experts roped into the Tamil Nadu Governing Council on Climate Change. Now, the question is will the state government walk the talk and become climate resilient? The current actions will shape the future of the state, considering 43% of the coastline eroding, weather patterns changing and more industries putting enormous stress on land and water. So far, the government has fared well. The Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission announced by Chief Minister MK Stalin with a total outlay of Rs 500 crore is a first of its kind at the sub-national level. In the year 2022-23, several preparatory works - rehabilitation of coastal habitats for climate change adaptation through nature-based solutions, climate-smart villages under which a set of 11 villages are hand-picked to make them climate resilient - have started. Also, the government has established a climate studio called the Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management (CCCDM) at Anna University with a high-performance computation facility cluster and accessories for climate modelling.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The CCCDM will provide high-resolution and robust cadastral-level regional climate scenarios for micro-level policy planning, covering the entire Tamil Nadu. Supriya Sahu, additional chief secretary of, the Environment, Forest & Climate Change department, told TNIE the government understands the threat posed by climate change and that some of the initiatives undertaken in the past one year will help the state mitigate the problem in the long run. We have not just framed the policies. Realistic targets are fixed and work is under way to achieve them. For instance, to support climate change mitigation and greening projects, the government has set up Tamil Nadu Green Climate Fund (TNGCF) with a fund size of Rs 1,000 crore, Sahu said. Minister for Environment Siva V Meyyanathan said the process of registering TNGCF as a category 1 (social venture fund) under the SEBI Alternative Investment Fund Regulations, 2012 is in the final stages of completion. Once the registration is done, we will open the efforts. G Sundararajan from the city-based environmental advocacy group, Poovulagin Nanbargal, said though the government is taking proactive steps, some of the projects envisaged recently puts questions on its wisdom like building Pen Monument, and the proposed Chennais second airport in Parandur, destroying hundreds of acres of wetland. ALSO READ | Indias first environmental monitoring studio to come up in TN: Minister The recent IPCC reports show the gap to achieve or mitigate climate change is closing very fast. The report states the city will reach its wet-bulb temperature very soon. In Tamil Nadu, disaster risks are high while officials are largely reactive in their responses or act in silos. There is an urgent need for hybrid, comprehensive solutions to adapt to climate change and create resilience, he said. The DMK government, so far, has fared well on the climate front; Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission with an outlay of Rs 500 cr is a first-of-its-kind initiative at the sub-national level; the govt established a climate studio at Anna University with a high-performance computation facility cluster and accessories for climate modelling By Express News Service MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court recently directed the judicial magistrate of Ambasamudram to furnish copies of certain documents relating to two cases registered by the VK Puram and Ambasamudram police against some men who were allegedly subjected to custodial torture by former Ambasamudram ASP Balveer Singh. Justice G Ilangovan passed the order on the petitions filed by one T Arun Kumar, one of the alleged victims of the said custodial torture, seeking copies of the FIR, remand report, arrest memo, arrest card, medical examination report, and footnotes of the judicial magistrate concerned among others, pertaining to the above-mentioned cases. Kumar stated that he is one of the accused in the 'attempt to murder' case registered by the VK Puram police. He claimed he was taken to the Ambasamudram police station, where Singh pulled out his teeth and assaulted him, causing bleeding injuries. He said he needed the above documents in order to defend himself and also prosecute the IPS officer for the torture. Though he is not a party to the other case registered by the Ambasamudram police, he sought the documents of that case as well, claiming that the accused in the said case were also tortured by Singh along with him. Though he filed an application before the lower court to get the documents, his application was returned by the lower court on the same date with an endorsement that the said documents could not be produced at this stage as the chargesheet has not been filed in the cases. Hence, he approached the HC. Justice Ilangovan noted that at the time of the hearing, he found that even the senior police officers were briefing the additional public prosecutor in the case. The reason is that it is yet another case of brutality alleged to have been exhibited by the Senior Police in the IPS rank, to the accused in both matters, the judge observed. He opined that the lower court ought to have heard the applications before returning them. Though the additional public prosecutor opposed Kumar's plea by saying that he is not entitled to some of the requested documents, the judge observed, "Right to know, is a human right, need not be granted by the State in the form of legislation." Leaving out the barred documents, he directed the magistrate to provide Kumar with the FIR copies, remand orders, arrest cards, medical examination report, and footnotes of the magistrate in both cases, along with the permitted portion of the remand report. MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court recently directed the judicial magistrate of Ambasamudram to furnish copies of certain documents relating to two cases registered by the VK Puram and Ambasamudram police against some men who were allegedly subjected to custodial torture by former Ambasamudram ASP Balveer Singh. Justice G Ilangovan passed the order on the petitions filed by one T Arun Kumar, one of the alleged victims of the said custodial torture, seeking copies of the FIR, remand report, arrest memo, arrest card, medical examination report, and footnotes of the judicial magistrate concerned among others, pertaining to the above-mentioned cases. Kumar stated that he is one of the accused in the 'attempt to murder' case registered by the VK Puram police. He claimed he was taken to the Ambasamudram police station, where Singh pulled out his teeth and assaulted him, causing bleeding injuries. He said he needed the above documents in order to defend himself and also prosecute the IPS officer for the torture. Though he is not a party to the other case registered by the Ambasamudram police, he sought the documents of that case as well, claiming that the accused in the said case were also tortured by Singh along with him.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Though he filed an application before the lower court to get the documents, his application was returned by the lower court on the same date with an endorsement that the said documents could not be produced at this stage as the chargesheet has not been filed in the cases. Hence, he approached the HC. Justice Ilangovan noted that at the time of the hearing, he found that even the senior police officers were briefing the additional public prosecutor in the case. The reason is that it is yet another case of brutality alleged to have been exhibited by the Senior Police in the IPS rank, to the accused in both matters, the judge observed. He opined that the lower court ought to have heard the applications before returning them. Though the additional public prosecutor opposed Kumar's plea by saying that he is not entitled to some of the requested documents, the judge observed, "Right to know, is a human right, need not be granted by the State in the form of legislation." Leaving out the barred documents, he directed the magistrate to provide Kumar with the FIR copies, remand orders, arrest cards, medical examination report, and footnotes of the magistrate in both cases, along with the permitted portion of the remand report. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Justice G Anupama Chakravarthy of Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the 5th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate-cum-Principal Magistrate of the Juvenile Justice Board to conduct a fresh preliminary inquiry and determine afresh whether the five minor accused in the sensational Jubilee Hills gangrape case should be tried as majors. Setting aside the orders of the Magistrate as well as the Appellate Court, Justice Chakravarthy said that the copies of documents should be given to the appellants by May 3, 2023, as per rules. The judge was hearing a plea challenging the orders of the special judge for trial of POCSO cases-cum-XII Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge dated September 30, 2022, as well as the 5th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court-cum-Principal Magistrate of Juvenile Justice Board, treating the juvenile accused in the case as adults. Senior counsel appearing for the appellants told the court that there were deviations in the orders of the magistrate and the JJB member. The senior counsel also said that the accused, parent, or guardian was not provided with the documents required by the Act and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2016. Furthermore, he reminded that after the petitioner was detained by the police on June 4, 2022, the preliminary evaluation report was hastily completed in one day. In response to the Supreme Court judgement, in which it categorically issued the guidelines to be followed by the JJB as well as the committee and the court in light of the various crimes committed by juveniles, the orders of the Supreme Court were not properly complied with by the courts and despite specific instructions to the juvenile courts, the senior counsel said. The senior counsel also argued that the Magistrates order makes it abundantly clear that the board member submitted a preliminary assessment report on September 28, 2022, concurring with the psychiatrists assessment that the juvenile accused possessed mental and physical capacity but deferring on the issue of their ability to comprehend the legal ramifications of their actions. The magistrate further noted that the child accused may have been drawn in by the victims friendly demeanour and that since they lack legal education, they are unable to comprehend the ramifications of their actions, Senior counsel for the petitioners said. He argued that the magistrate, board member, and psychiatrist must all reach a consensus about the physical and mental capabilities of the child accused within three months. However, the Board, which included the Magistrate, sent its report within two months, he said. Senior counsel argued that because the petitioner was detained on June 4, 2022, the investigation had to be completed by September 4, 2022, but according to the proceedings from September 28, 2022, the evaluation was done in one day, indicating that it was performed in a hurry. Consequently, he requested a reversal of the decisions made in both the lower court and the appeal. The Assistant Public Prosecutor, on the other hand, argued that under Cr.PC, there is no requirement for the board to provide copies of all documents to the petitioner and all other accused parties, and that participation by the juvenile alone was sufficient up until and unless juveniles request copies of the documents. Hearing the arguments raised by senior counsel representing the petitioner and the APP, it is clear that the entire assessment was completed in a single day, the judge opined. The Magistrate also deferred to the board members findings and came to the conclusion that the CCLs are of sound mind and body and can be tried as adults based on her interactions with them, the orders said. HYDERABAD: Justice G Anupama Chakravarthy of Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the 5th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate-cum-Principal Magistrate of the Juvenile Justice Board to conduct a fresh preliminary inquiry and determine afresh whether the five minor accused in the sensational Jubilee Hills gangrape case should be tried as majors. Setting aside the orders of the Magistrate as well as the Appellate Court, Justice Chakravarthy said that the copies of documents should be given to the appellants by May 3, 2023, as per rules. The judge was hearing a plea challenging the orders of the special judge for trial of POCSO cases-cum-XII Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge dated September 30, 2022, as well as the 5th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court-cum-Principal Magistrate of Juvenile Justice Board, treating the juvenile accused in the case as adults. Senior counsel appearing for the appellants told the court that there were deviations in the orders of the magistrate and the JJB member. The senior counsel also said that the accused, parent, or guardian was not provided with the documents required by the Act and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2016.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Furthermore, he reminded that after the petitioner was detained by the police on June 4, 2022, the preliminary evaluation report was hastily completed in one day. In response to the Supreme Court judgement, in which it categorically issued the guidelines to be followed by the JJB as well as the committee and the court in light of the various crimes committed by juveniles, the orders of the Supreme Court were not properly complied with by the courts and despite specific instructions to the juvenile courts, the senior counsel said. The senior counsel also argued that the Magistrates order makes it abundantly clear that the board member submitted a preliminary assessment report on September 28, 2022, concurring with the psychiatrists assessment that the juvenile accused possessed mental and physical capacity but deferring on the issue of their ability to comprehend the legal ramifications of their actions. The magistrate further noted that the child accused may have been drawn in by the victims friendly demeanour and that since they lack legal education, they are unable to comprehend the ramifications of their actions, Senior counsel for the petitioners said. He argued that the magistrate, board member, and psychiatrist must all reach a consensus about the physical and mental capabilities of the child accused within three months. However, the Board, which included the Magistrate, sent its report within two months, he said. Senior counsel argued that because the petitioner was detained on June 4, 2022, the investigation had to be completed by September 4, 2022, but according to the proceedings from September 28, 2022, the evaluation was done in one day, indicating that it was performed in a hurry. Consequently, he requested a reversal of the decisions made in both the lower court and the appeal. The Assistant Public Prosecutor, on the other hand, argued that under Cr.PC, there is no requirement for the board to provide copies of all documents to the petitioner and all other accused parties, and that participation by the juvenile alone was sufficient up until and unless juveniles request copies of the documents. Hearing the arguments raised by senior counsel representing the petitioner and the APP, it is clear that the entire assessment was completed in a single day, the judge opined. The Magistrate also deferred to the board members findings and came to the conclusion that the CCLs are of sound mind and body and can be tried as adults based on her interactions with them, the orders said. Express News Service By BHOPAL: Two women Maoists both area committee members (ACMs) were gunned down by the Madhya Pradesh polices special anti-Maoists Hawk Force in the jungles of Maoist-affected Balaghat district on Saturday early morning. The two women ACMs identified as Sunita and Sarita, carried bounties of Rs 14 lakh each, announced by multiple states in connection with several cases of Maoist violence. With this eight Maoists have been gunned down by the security personnel in alleged encounters in Maoist-affected Balaghat and Mandla districts of Madhya Pradesh over the last two years. Two 303 rifles, ration and live cartridges were seized by the Hawk Force team from the site of the alleged encounter in the jungles of the Garhi area, which was around 70 km from Balaghat headquarters, but a few kilometres from Maharashtra. Sources said while Sunita was Bhoramdeo ACM, Sarita was Khatiamocha ACM. Sunita was earlier with the Tanda Dalam (the initial Maoists group in Balaghat) and is now part of Vistar Dalam/Platoon. BHOPAL: Two women Maoists both area committee members (ACMs) were gunned down by the Madhya Pradesh polices special anti-Maoists Hawk Force in the jungles of Maoist-affected Balaghat district on Saturday early morning. The two women ACMs identified as Sunita and Sarita, carried bounties of Rs 14 lakh each, announced by multiple states in connection with several cases of Maoist violence. With this eight Maoists have been gunned down by the security personnel in alleged encounters in Maoist-affected Balaghat and Mandla districts of Madhya Pradesh over the last two years. Two 303 rifles, ration and live cartridges were seized by the Hawk Force team from the site of the alleged encounter in the jungles of the Garhi area, which was around 70 km from Balaghat headquarters, but a few kilometres from Maharashtra.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Sources said while Sunita was Bhoramdeo ACM, Sarita was Khatiamocha ACM. Sunita was earlier with the Tanda Dalam (the initial Maoists group in Balaghat) and is now part of Vistar Dalam/Platoon. By PTI DHAKA: Hindus living in Bangladesh are not enthusiastic about the CAA which seeks to provide Indian citizenship to the persecuted minorities in the neighbouring countries, a prominent community leader said on Saturday, asserting that the minority community will get its rights by staying here in the Muslim-majority country. Moninder Kumar Nath, a prominent leader of the Hindu community and president of Mahanagar Sarvajan Puja Samiti, said that a lot remains to be done for the community. Hindus in Bangladesh will have to deal with their own challenges, Nath told PTI-Bhasha. He said that the Hasina government is also taking steps in this direction. Commenting on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of India, Nath said that the Hindu community living in Bangladesh is not very enthusiastic about it and does not consider it to be of much help. "We do not need it, this is our country and we will get our rights by staying here," he said. The Government of India passed the CAA in 2019 which is aimed at providing Indian citizenship to the minorities who have been persecuted in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. There is a demand for a separate minority ministry and a minority commission on his agenda and he is trying his best to get them for his community after the next year's elections, Nath said. "Our demand for a minority ministry and minority commission is yet to be fulfilled. We are raising our voice for this right of ours," he said. Nath said that the interests of the minorities will be protected through the minority ministry and the minority commission. He said that Hindus and other minorities living in Bangladesh are safer than ever under the regime of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, but more steps are needed to be taken. It is worth mentioning that last year, communal incidents took place in the Brahmanbaria and Cumilla areas and spread to Chittagong. Durga Puja pandals were targeted in the attacks. Nath claimed that the situation was seeing an improvement due to the prompt steps and action taken by the Hasina government. He said that due to the measures taken by the government, the number of Durga Puja pandals in the country has increased from 15,000 to nearly 30,000 in the last 12 years. Mahanagar Sarvajan Puja Samiti is a central body for religious affairs of Hindus that allows the community members to perform Durga Puja celebrations in Bangladesh. Nath said that in the last few years, the Hasina government has taken excellent steps in matters related to the minority community, due to which the untoward incidents happening here have been brought under control. This has had an impact on the representation of the community in the government institutions, he said, adding that the number of people from the minority community in the bureaucracy has increased. In the Hasina government, there is a ministry of religious affairs, but there is no separate ministry of minority affairs. The Ministry of Religious Affairs looks after the mosques, temples, churches, pagodas and gurudwaras in the country. Nath said that the Hasina government is working for the interests of the minorities of Bangladesh. It is the result of the efforts of the government that the Dhakeshwari temple in Dhaka has been able to get back its formerly-occupied land. He said that the temple has got about 1.5 acres of land for its expansion. DHAKA: Hindus living in Bangladesh are not enthusiastic about the CAA which seeks to provide Indian citizenship to the persecuted minorities in the neighbouring countries, a prominent community leader said on Saturday, asserting that the minority community will get its rights by staying here in the Muslim-majority country. Moninder Kumar Nath, a prominent leader of the Hindu community and president of Mahanagar Sarvajan Puja Samiti, said that a lot remains to be done for the community. Hindus in Bangladesh will have to deal with their own challenges, Nath told PTI-Bhasha.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He said that the Hasina government is also taking steps in this direction. Commenting on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of India, Nath said that the Hindu community living in Bangladesh is not very enthusiastic about it and does not consider it to be of much help. "We do not need it, this is our country and we will get our rights by staying here," he said. The Government of India passed the CAA in 2019 which is aimed at providing Indian citizenship to the minorities who have been persecuted in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. There is a demand for a separate minority ministry and a minority commission on his agenda and he is trying his best to get them for his community after the next year's elections, Nath said. "Our demand for a minority ministry and minority commission is yet to be fulfilled. We are raising our voice for this right of ours," he said. Nath said that the interests of the minorities will be protected through the minority ministry and the minority commission. He said that Hindus and other minorities living in Bangladesh are safer than ever under the regime of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, but more steps are needed to be taken. It is worth mentioning that last year, communal incidents took place in the Brahmanbaria and Cumilla areas and spread to Chittagong. Durga Puja pandals were targeted in the attacks. Nath claimed that the situation was seeing an improvement due to the prompt steps and action taken by the Hasina government. He said that due to the measures taken by the government, the number of Durga Puja pandals in the country has increased from 15,000 to nearly 30,000 in the last 12 years. Mahanagar Sarvajan Puja Samiti is a central body for religious affairs of Hindus that allows the community members to perform Durga Puja celebrations in Bangladesh. Nath said that in the last few years, the Hasina government has taken excellent steps in matters related to the minority community, due to which the untoward incidents happening here have been brought under control. This has had an impact on the representation of the community in the government institutions, he said, adding that the number of people from the minority community in the bureaucracy has increased. In the Hasina government, there is a ministry of religious affairs, but there is no separate ministry of minority affairs. The Ministry of Religious Affairs looks after the mosques, temples, churches, pagodas and gurudwaras in the country. Nath said that the Hasina government is working for the interests of the minorities of Bangladesh. It is the result of the efforts of the government that the Dhakeshwari temple in Dhaka has been able to get back its formerly-occupied land. He said that the temple has got about 1.5 acres of land for its expansion. By Associated Press NEW YORK: A nearly 30-year-old rape claim against Donald Trump went to trial Tuesday as jurors in the federal civil case heard a former advice columnist's allegation of being attacked in a luxury department store dressing room. The former president says nothing happened between them. E Jean Carroll will testify that what unfolded in a few minutes in a fitting room in 1996 "would change her life forever," one of her lawyers, Shawn Crowley, said in an opening statement. "Filled with fear and shame, she kept silent for decades. Eventually, though, silence became impossible," Crowley said. And when Carroll broke that silence in a 2019 memoir, the then-president "used the most powerful platform on Earth to lie about what he had done, attack Ms. Carroll's integrity and insult her appearance." Trump who wasn't in court but hasn't ruled out testifying has called Carroll a "nut job" who fabricated the rape claim to sell her book. Defense attorney Joe Tacopina told jurors Tuesday that her story was wildly implausible and short of evidence. He accused her of pursuing the case for money, status and political reasons, urging the jurors from heavily Democratic New York to put aside any animus they themselves might hold toward the Republican ex-president and ex-New Yorker. "You can hate Donald Trump. That's OK. But there's a time and a secret place for that. It's called a ballot box in an election. It's not here in a court of law," Tacopina told the six-man, three-woman panel. "Nobody's above the law, but no one is beneath it." The trial stands to test Trump's "Teflon Don" reputation for shaking off serious legal problems and to reprise accounts of the type of sexual misconduct that rocked his 2016 presidential campaign as he seeks office again. Trump denies all the claims, saying they are falsehoods spun up to damage him. The trial comes a month after he pleaded not guilty in an unrelated criminal case surrounding payments made to bury accounts of alleged extramarital sex. Carroll's suit is a civil case, meaning that no matter the outcome, Trump isn't in danger of going to jail. She is seeking unspecified monetary damages and a retraction of Trump's statements that she alleges were defamatory. Among his comments: "She's not my type," which her lawyers say was tantamount to calling her too unattractive to assault. Jurors whose names are being kept secret to prevent potential harassment range in age from 26 to 66 and include a janitor, a physical therapist and people who work in security, health care collections, a library, a high school and other settings. They were questioned about their news-watching habits (which vary from watching "everything" to ignoring it all), political donations and support for any of a roster of right- and left-wing groups. They were asked, too, whether they used Trump's social media platform, read Carroll's former Elle magazine column and even if they'd seen Trump's former reality show "The Apprentice" and whether any of these and other matters would make it difficult for them to be fair. Carroll, 79, is expected to testify as soon as Wednesday that a chance encounter with Trump, 76, turned violent, and that he defamed her when responding to the rape allegations. She says that after she ran into the future president at Manhattan's Bergdorf Goodman on an unspecified spring Thursday evening in 1996, he invited her to shop with him for a woman's lingerie gift before they teased one another to try on a bodysuit. Carroll says they ended up alone together in a store dressing room, where Trump pushed her against a wall and raped her before she fought him off and fled. Her suit argues that she was psychologically scarred by the alleged attack, and then subjected to an onslaught of hateful messages and reputational damage when Trump painted her as a liar. "This case is Ms. Carroll's chance to clear her name, to pursue justice," Crowley said. Tacopina countered that it was "an affront to justice." He suggested her account of being violently raped in the Fifth Avenue store, with no one around, was preposterous. Also, Tacopina noted, there was no record that Carroll had any injuries, sought out a doctor or therapist, asked the store about surveillance video or even wrote about the alleged attack in her diary. "It all comes down to: Do you believe the unbelievable?" he asked in his opening statement. Jurors are also expected to hear from two other women who say they were sexually assaulted by Trump. The jury will also see the infamous 2005 "Access Hollywood" video in which Trump is heard asserting that celebrities can grab women sexually without asking. Carroll's allegations normally would be too old to bring to court. But in November, New York state enacted a law allowing for suits over decades-old sexual abuse claims. The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll has done. NEW YORK: A nearly 30-year-old rape claim against Donald Trump went to trial Tuesday as jurors in the federal civil case heard a former advice columnist's allegation of being attacked in a luxury department store dressing room. The former president says nothing happened between them. E Jean Carroll will testify that what unfolded in a few minutes in a fitting room in 1996 "would change her life forever," one of her lawyers, Shawn Crowley, said in an opening statement. "Filled with fear and shame, she kept silent for decades. Eventually, though, silence became impossible," Crowley said. And when Carroll broke that silence in a 2019 memoir, the then-president "used the most powerful platform on Earth to lie about what he had done, attack Ms. Carroll's integrity and insult her appearance."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Trump who wasn't in court but hasn't ruled out testifying has called Carroll a "nut job" who fabricated the rape claim to sell her book. Defense attorney Joe Tacopina told jurors Tuesday that her story was wildly implausible and short of evidence. He accused her of pursuing the case for money, status and political reasons, urging the jurors from heavily Democratic New York to put aside any animus they themselves might hold toward the Republican ex-president and ex-New Yorker. "You can hate Donald Trump. That's OK. But there's a time and a secret place for that. It's called a ballot box in an election. It's not here in a court of law," Tacopina told the six-man, three-woman panel. "Nobody's above the law, but no one is beneath it." The trial stands to test Trump's "Teflon Don" reputation for shaking off serious legal problems and to reprise accounts of the type of sexual misconduct that rocked his 2016 presidential campaign as he seeks office again. Trump denies all the claims, saying they are falsehoods spun up to damage him. The trial comes a month after he pleaded not guilty in an unrelated criminal case surrounding payments made to bury accounts of alleged extramarital sex. Carroll's suit is a civil case, meaning that no matter the outcome, Trump isn't in danger of going to jail. She is seeking unspecified monetary damages and a retraction of Trump's statements that she alleges were defamatory. Among his comments: "She's not my type," which her lawyers say was tantamount to calling her too unattractive to assault. Jurors whose names are being kept secret to prevent potential harassment range in age from 26 to 66 and include a janitor, a physical therapist and people who work in security, health care collections, a library, a high school and other settings. They were questioned about their news-watching habits (which vary from watching "everything" to ignoring it all), political donations and support for any of a roster of right- and left-wing groups. They were asked, too, whether they used Trump's social media platform, read Carroll's former Elle magazine column and even if they'd seen Trump's former reality show "The Apprentice" and whether any of these and other matters would make it difficult for them to be fair. Carroll, 79, is expected to testify as soon as Wednesday that a chance encounter with Trump, 76, turned violent, and that he defamed her when responding to the rape allegations. She says that after she ran into the future president at Manhattan's Bergdorf Goodman on an unspecified spring Thursday evening in 1996, he invited her to shop with him for a woman's lingerie gift before they teased one another to try on a bodysuit. Carroll says they ended up alone together in a store dressing room, where Trump pushed her against a wall and raped her before she fought him off and fled. Her suit argues that she was psychologically scarred by the alleged attack, and then subjected to an onslaught of hateful messages and reputational damage when Trump painted her as a liar. "This case is Ms. Carroll's chance to clear her name, to pursue justice," Crowley said. Tacopina countered that it was "an affront to justice." He suggested her account of being violently raped in the Fifth Avenue store, with no one around, was preposterous. Also, Tacopina noted, there was no record that Carroll had any injuries, sought out a doctor or therapist, asked the store about surveillance video or even wrote about the alleged attack in her diary. "It all comes down to: Do you believe the unbelievable?" he asked in his opening statement. Jurors are also expected to hear from two other women who say they were sexually assaulted by Trump. The jury will also see the infamous 2005 "Access Hollywood" video in which Trump is heard asserting that celebrities can grab women sexually without asking. Carroll's allegations normally would be too old to bring to court. But in November, New York state enacted a law allowing for suits over decades-old sexual abuse claims. The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll has done. Washington state banned the sale of assault rifles, joining 10 others in enacting restrictions on them. "Assault weapons have no reason other than mass murder. Their only purpose is to kill humans as rapidly as possible in large numbers," [Governor] Inslee said at the state capitol Tuesday. "AR-15s should not be idolized, they should be prohibited, and that's what we're doing here today." The White House praised the legislation, which press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said makes "every community in the state from Seattle to Spokane and everywhere in between safer and more secure." Last month, President Biden called on Congress to pass an assault weapons ban after six people were killed in a school shooting in Nashville. TN govt to hold Grama Sabha on International Labour Day Chennai, April 25: Tamil Nadu government has given directive to the district collectors on Tuesday to hold Grama Sabhas on May 1- the International Labour Day or May day. TN govt to hold Grama Sabha on International Labour Day The Grama Sabhas will be conducted in all village panchayaths. The government has directed the district collectors to conduct the Grama Sabhas at 11 am on May 1.It may be noted that Tamil Nadu government used to conduct Grama Sabha meetings on all important days including ARepublic Day (January 26), Labour Day (May 1), Independence Day (August 15) Gandhi Jayanthi (October 2), World Water Day (March 22) and Local Governance Day (November 1). This means the Grama Sabha meetings are held six times a year in Tamil Nadu.Grama Sabhas are the primary bodies of the Panchayath Raj system and the largest and is a permanent body. Grama Sabha is a body of the electorate while all other institutions under the Panchayath Raj system like Gram Panchayath, Block Panchayath and Zilla Panchayath are constituted by elected representatives.The Grama Sabhas in Tamil Nadu is to solicit support from the public for community welfare schemes. This includes support in cash or kind or both and also voluntary labour. This is also used for supporting programmes like mass education and family welfare schemes.This is also a medium for promoting unity and harmony among all sections of the society in the village.IANS25 April 2023 Shared Recently! 9 European nations set to turn North Sea into green power plant Brussels, April 25: Nine European countries have signed a declaration aimed at transforming the North Sea into a green power plant. 9 European nations set to turn North Sea into green power plant The declaration, signed on Monday at the second North Sea Summit in Ostend, Belgium, sets ambitious targets including the production of at least 120 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy in the North Sea by 2030, reports Xinhua news agency.The signatory countries also aim to double their total offshore wind capacity to at least 300 GW by 2050.Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said at a press conference after the meeting that today's summit has proved affordable energy can be produced for both citizens and companies.The declaration aims to accelerate the deployment of offshore renewables and connectivity within the maritime area encompassed by the signatory countries.It focuses on the mass production of offshore wind and renewable hydrogen, as well as on electricity and hydrogen interconnections and national projects. The declaration also indicates the possibility of co-financing by countries that do not have direct access to the sea.The nine signatory countries have committed to take measures to promote the balanced coexistence of renewable energy deployment, biodiversity and environmental protection, as well as to contribute to the health and robustness of marine ecosystems.This second edition of the North Sea Summit brought together the heads of state and government and energy ministers of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Ireland, Norway and the UK, as well as the president of the European Commission and the commissioner for energy.This declaration is the successor to the Esbjerg declaration, which resulted from the first summit in Denmark on May 18, 2022.IANS25 April 2023 Shared Recently! Braymiller Market opened in downtown Buffalo in September 2021 with great promise and fanfare as a much-needed downtown grocery option in an area with few other food shopping choices. But the last 18 months havent been easy. The store, which opened in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, has suffered tremendously because of the pandemic, said Lisa Hicks, director of development for the citys Office of Strategic Planning. Braymiller Market seeks grant funding after pandemic upends its downtown plan The market is seeking slightly more than $562,000 in grant funding through the city from a program designed to help Buffalo businesses affected by the pandemic. The OSP is seeking approval from the Common Council to provide about $562,000 in a forgivable loan to Braymiller through the Community Development Block Grant CARES Act (CDBG-CV). The funding, which was requested by Braymiller owner Stuart Green, would help the market pay its vendors and provide working capital, Hicks said during the Councils Finance Committee meeting Tuesday. The funding amount would come from prior year activities that have leftover balances, came in under budget or were not carried out. But some community members at the meeting were against the proposal, saying prices are higher at Braymiller, and it is not equitable to give one business such funding when other small businesses that were impacted by Covid-19 did not survive. It shines a light on the wide disparities that already existed with many Black business in Buffalo, and Ive seen a number of businesses along Jefferson (Avenue), along Bailey (Avenue) and others that have not been able to weather the storm because they were not able to get financial help, said Sydney Brown, economic development director for Citizens Alliance, a non-profit organization. Brown was among about six audience members who spoke against the proposal. Murray Holman, candidate for the Masten District seat on the Council, called Braymiller a "jewel" for downtown Buffalo. Holman, co-founder of Stop the Violence Coalition and co-leader of WNY Peacemakers, said he worked with Green to develop a plan to hire 10 young men to work in the store. They had gun charges or were on their way back to the streets, said Holman, one of about four people who support the funding plan. I want to let you know that the young men that work at Braymiller they come back to me and say, Im doing great, and that is worth the money." To receive the loan, Braymiller would have to meet certain eligibility requirements specified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and CDBG-CV. Hicks said city officials also can set ongoing local requirements, including marketing and business plans from the company, monitoring of the financials and community benefits, such as continued hiring of diverse staff and selling locally-sourced products from diverse businesses. With these changes, we do anticipate that there will be increases in revenue over time. What were hoping to do is provide some support to the market so that it does not shut down and gives the market a bit of an opportunity to ramp up its revenue and make some changes to its business model that would allow growth and profitability, Hicks said. There also would need to be some security on the forgivable loan, Hicks added, so if theres some default or some of the requirements that we set out are not met, we have a method to recoup those costs and bring them back into the city. Nina Ferguson, director of the Buffalo Food Equity Network, said, This request feels to community residents like a bailout to a business that was not considering the needs of the 14203 Zip Code in the first place, she said. Instead, the Common Council should consider a $500,000 special economic development program to provide a pathway to short term assistance to address the Covid impacts on the East Side of Buffalo not just for this one store downtown. The Council will discuss the funding proposal again at an upcoming Council meeting. The way they keep targeting PM Modi, his popularity increases, Fadnavis attacks MVA Mumbai, April 24: Hitting out at the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi was being targeted, his popularity was increasing. The way they keep targeting PM Modi, his popularity increases, Fadnavis attacks MVA "Uddhav Thackeray keeps repeating the same thing. Issues related to development and farmers were absent in his speech. The way they keep targeting PM Modi, his popularity increases," Fadnavis told reporters.Meanwhile, with the Uddhav Thackeray faction's plea, challenging last year's change of guard in Maharashtra, pending arbitration in the Supreme Court, the former Maharashtra chief minister on Sunday said elections can happen any time and they were "prepared".Addressing a public meeting in Jalgaon on Sunday, Uddhav, who now heads the Shiv Sena (UBT), said, "Elections [in Maharashtra] can happen at any time and we are prepared. The matter is in Supreme Court and we are hopeful that the eventual verdict will be in our favour. After that, anything can happen any time."The rift in undivided Shiv Sena led to present Chief Minister Eknath Shinde forming a breakaway front with over 40 loyalists.After camping in a hotel in BJP-ruled Assam over days, the breakaway camp eventually joined hands with the BJP to bring about the demise of the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) -- an alliance of Congress, NCP and the Shiv Sena -- government in Maharashtra.The BJP and the rival Sena camp later formed the government and Eknath Shinde took oath as the chief minister, with former CM Devendra Fadnavis taking over as his deputy.While the Election Commission (EC), earlier this year, decided to allot the official 'bow and arrow' symbol of the Shiv Sena to the Shinde camp along with the original party name, the plea by the Uddhav camp challenging the change of guard and re-allotment of the party symbol is still sub judice at the apex court.Uddhav claimed he did not allow injustice to any religion during his term in office."The Maha Vikas Aghadi has completed three years of its existence. They (BJP and the Shinde camp) accuse me of abandoning Hindutva but the truth is that I did not allow injustice to any religion, bearing true allegiance to the oath of office that I took. All places of worship were closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, without any discrimination," he said.Uddhav also dared the BJP's state unit to declare that it would contest the next Maharashtra elections under the leadership of Eknath Shinde.Hitting out at the Shinde camp, Uddhav said, "You do not have any ideal of your own and neither do you have any leader. So, you steal others' ideals and the names of someone's father and mother to contest elections. I challenged the BJP earlier and will do so again. I dare them to declare that they will contest the coming elections under the leadership of Eknath Shinde," he said.ANI25 April 2023 Shared Recently! Film on Transman who became parent is in works by Kanpuriye helmer Ashish Aryan Mumbai, April 25: Director Ashish Aryan, who earlier directed the 2019 film 'Kanpuriye' starring Aparshakti Khurana and Vijay Raaz, is set to write - direct a film on the recently surfaced news of a trans man's pregnancy in Kerala. Sahad and Ziya Paval, a transgender couple living in Kozhikode, started their gender transition process two years back. Film on Transman who became parent is in works by 'Kanpuriye' helmer Ashish Aryan Early last year, Sahad paused the journey to become a trans man midway, to first become a parent. The director went to Kerala and stayed with the couple for three-four weeks.He understood their life, their world, and their story. And took rights from them to make the yet-to-be-titled film on the topic.Talking about the same, Ashish said, "Back in 2021 when writer Swati Jha came up with the story of male pregnancy, it blew my mind and I instantly jumped on the project. Since it's a rare global phenomena it was difficult for people to understand here. But after working for two years, we got to know about this couple from Kerala who became parents recently where the father successfully delivered a child."Sahad and Paval have been living together for the last three years. While Paval is from Kozhikode, Sahad, who worked as an accountant before going on maternity leave, is from Thiruvananthapuram.He further mentioned, "We met them in Calicut and it was an instant connection between us and the entire family. We bonded really well and I can say it's a beautiful Indian love story of Sahad and Ziya that we want to take to the global audience. Despite many challenges right from their childhood, it's a story about triumph of love over social stigma. We have acquired the official rights of the story and are currently developing it into a feature length film."IANS25 April 2023 Shared Recently! Odisha govt to bring Ordinance to amend OSCBC Act Bhubaneswar, April 25: The Odisha Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday approved a proposal for the promulgation of an Ordinance, enabling the state government for the inclusion of 22 castes/communities in the State list of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs). Odisha govt to bring Ordinance to amend OSCBC Act "In view of the social and educational backwardness of these 22 castes/communities along With their synonyms, they are required to be included in the list of SEBCs for the State of Odisha for extending all social welfare measures and benefits leading to their inclusive growth, thereby bringing them to the mainstream of development," the state government said in a statement."State Cabinet has approved the proposal for promulgation of Ordinance for amendment of the Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (OSCBC) Act 1993 enabling State government to include such Backward Classes in the State list of SEBCs," it added.Further details are awaited.ANI25 April 2023 Shared Recently! Minsiter Bhupender Yadav launches new features in eShram Portal to facilitate ease of registration for unorganised workers New Delhi, April 24: Union Minister for Labour and Employment Bhupender Yadav on Monday launched new features in eShram Portal in the presence of Arti Ahuja, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment and other senior officers of the ministry. Minsiter Bhupender Yadav launches new features in eShram Portal to facilitate ease of registration for unorganised workers The new features added in eShram portal will enhance its utility and facilitate ease of registration for unorganised workers. The eShram-registered workers can now connect with employment opportunities, skilling, apprenticeship, pension scheme, digital skilling and states' schemes through the portal.As on March 16, 2023, as many as 28.64 crore unorganised workers registered on eShram portalThe minister of State for Labour and Employment Rameswar Teli on March 16 in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha informed that as on March 10, 2023, a total of 28.64 crore unorganised workers have been registered on eShram portal.In the reply it was stated that as on March 31, 2022, a total of around 3,250 representations have been lodged in the Grievance Management System claiming for accidental deaths/ disability by eShram registrants.The Ministry has taken several steps to provide benefits to eShram registrants.The eShram portal is integrated with National Career Service (NCS) Portal. Till date over 13 lakh, eShram job seekers have registered on NCS portal. eShram is also integrated with Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM). PM-SYM is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for unorganised sector workers who are aged between 18-40 years. eShram registered users can seamlessly get benefit of PMSYM Scheme. eShram registrant, who is registered on NCS can avail digital skills training which is free of cost, according to the statement from teh ministry.In Andaman Nicobar Islands, as many as 28,541 registered in the eShram portal. As many as 79,44,509 were registered in Andhra Pradesh; 1,40,935 were registered in Arunachal Pradesh; 69,37,489 were registered in Assam; 2,85,73,732 were registered in Bihar; 1,74,223 were registered in Chandigarh, 82,67,354 were registered in Chhattisgarh; 32,53,701 were registered in Delhi; 58,322 were registered in Goa; 93,61,906 were registered in Gujarat and 52,59,088 were registered in Haryana.As many as 19,24,152 were in Himachal Pradesh; 33,82,813 were registered in Jammu and Kashmir; 91,61,363 were registered in Jharkhand; 75,04,588 were registered in Karnataka; 59,05,051 were registered in Kerala; 29,301 were in Ladakh; 2,442 were in Lakshadweep; 1,69,41,863 were registered in Madhya Pradesh; 1,35,07,560 were registered in Maharashtra; 4,05,373 registered in Manipur; 2,89,751 were in Meghalaya; 58,345 were registered in Mizoram; 2,18,759 were registered in Nagaland; 1,33,30,505 were in Odisha; 1,76,507 were registered in Puducherry; 54,98,061 were registered in Punjab; 1,28,21,298 were registered in Rajasthan and 25,016 were registered in Sikkim.As many as 83,91,059 were in Tamil Nadu, 41,27,415 were registered in Telangana; 72,914 were registered in The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu; 8,44,823 were registered in Tripura; 8,30,22,007 were registered in Uttar Pradesh; 29,73,004 were registered in Uttarakhand and 2,58,06,407 were registered in West Bengal.The eSharm portal is the national database of unorganised workers including migrant workers, construction workers, gig and platform workers, etc.A feature of capturing family details of migrant workers has been added to the eShram portal. This feature can help in providing child education and women-centric schemes to workers who have migrated with family, according to a statement from the Ministry of Labour and Employment.Further, a new feature on sharing of data of construction workers registering on eShram with the concerned Building and Other Construction Workers' (BOCW) Welfare Board, has been added to ensure registration of eShram construction workers with the respective BOCW board and access to the schemes meant for them.The Union minister also formally launched Data Sharing Portal (DSP) for sharing of eShram data with the state/ UT governments. Data sharing portal will allow sharing of eShram beneficiaries data with the respective states and Union Territories in a secured manner for targeted implementation of social security/welfare schemes for the unorganised workers registered on eShram.Recently, the ministry initiated mapping of different schemes data with eShram data to identify the eShram registrants who have not yet received the benefits of these schemes. This data is also being shared with states or UTs based on which, states or UTs can identify unorganised workers who have not yet received the benefit of the social welfare/security schemes and provide schemes' benefit to them, on priority.ANI25 April 2023 Shared Recently! Check out inside pictures of Ram Charan, Upasana Kamineni Konidelas baby shower Mumbai, April 24: Actor Ram Charan and his wife Upasana Konidela who are soon to embrace parenthood had a grand baby shower hosted by their friends and family. On Monday, Mom-to-be Upsana shared celebration pictures on social media. Check out inside pictures of Ram Charan, Upasana Kamineni Konidela's baby shower Upasana took to Instagram and posted a couple of photos where family members and close friends posed with the couple with a big smiles. Upasana wore a pink dress while Ram Charan wore a black shirt and trousers.Along with the post, she wrote, "Soooo grateful for all the love. Thank you @sushmitakonidela @sreejakonidela, @smireddy_14 and @sarin_katta for having such lovely baby showers for us. Our baby is truly blessed."Sania Mirza, Allu Arjun and Kanika Kapoor were among the guests at the baby shower party.Allu Arjun took to Instagram Story and dropped a picture with Upasana. He wrote, "So happy for my sweetest Upsi @UpasanaKamineniKonidela."Sania Mirza and Kanika Kapoor also took to Instagram Story and shared some glimpses of the party.Ram Charan and his wife Upasana announced their pregnancy in December 2022."With the blessings of Shri Hanuman Ji, we are delighted to share that Upasana and Ram Charan are expecting their first child. With love and gratitude Surekha and Chiranjeevi Konideli, Shobana and Anil Kamineni (sic)," the couple announced.Earlier, Upasna took to Twitter to clarify that their first baby's delivery will take place in India.Dating for several years, the duo tied the knot on June 14, 2012, and since then they have been sticking with each other in thick and thin.Meanwhile, on the work front, Ram Charan made a special appearance in Salman Khan and Venkatesh in the Yentamma song from the upcoming family entertainer film 'Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan'.He will be next seen in director Shankar's upcoming film 'Game Changer' opposite Kiara Advani.ANI25 April 2023 Shared Recently! Flydubai aircraft, which caught fire, lands safely in Dubai Airport Dubai, April 25: Following a bird strike during take-off from Kathmandu, a flydubai flight which caught fire, safely landed in Dubai International (DXB) Airport on Monday morning. Flydubai aircraft, which caught fire, lands safely in Dubai Airport The flight crew followed a standard operating procedure and continued its journey after determining that the engine was within normal operating parameters.A statement from a flydubai spokesperson said, "flydubai flight FZ 576 from Kathmandu Airport (KTM) has safely landed in Dubai International (DXB) at 0011 local time after experiencing a bird strike during takeoff from Kathmandu. Our experienced flight crew followed standard operating procedure and continued the onward journey after determining that the engine was within normal operating parameters. The aircraft landed normally in Dubai and further inspection will be conducted. The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our passenger's travel schedule."The aircraft reportedly caught fire after the bird hit. Fire tenders were scrambled at the airport.Nepal's Minister of Tourism, Sudan Kirati, too, confirmed that the flight had landed safely in Dubai.According to the minister, all passengers were safe. Officials said the plane flew on one engine after the bird hitNepal's Civil Aviation Authority on Monday tweeted "Flydubai flight number 576, (Boeing 737-800) Kathmandu to Dubai flight is normal now and proceeding to her destination Dubai as per the flight plan. Kathmandu airport operation is normal from 1614 UTC (0959 pm local time)."Recently, a Saudia Airlines cargo flight made an emergency landing at Kolkata Airport after its windshield cracked mid-air, airport officials told ANI.The aircraft landed safely at the Kolkata Airport at 1202 pm.Before the landing, the airport had made all the necessary arrangements.A full emergency was withdrawn after the flight landed, according to airport officials.Earlier, an Abu Dhabi-bound Etihad Airways flight returned to the Bangalore International Airport shortly after take-off due to a technical issue.The airline said the aircraft did a normal landing at Bengaluru airport.The flight inspection was done and later it took off to its destination.ANI25 April 2023 Shared Recently! 1994 lynching incident unfortunate, left two more victims, says Anand Mohan Singh Patna, April 25: A day after the Bihar government issued a notification for release of 27 prisoners, including 'Bahubali' Anand Mohan Singh, he on Tuesday said that there were two more victims in the murder case of then Gopalganj DM G. Krishnaiah - Uma Krishnaiah and Lovely Anand. 1994 lynching incident 'unfortunate', left two more victims, says Anand Mohan Singh "The incident that happened in December 1994 was unfortunate. Whatever happened on that day was painful. One of the victims of that case was the wife of Gopalganj DM G Krishnaiah and the other was my wife Lovely Anand. The former had lost her husband and the latter spent more than 15 years without her husband," he said."When you read the judgement of the Supreme Court, it says that Anand Mohan and other accused have no direct role in the murder of G Krishnaiah. He was not on duty and returning from Hajipur to Gopalganj via Muzaffarpur when a mob lynched him," he added.On the charge of the Nitish Kumar government tweaking the law for his release, he said "As far as changing the law of Bihar government is concerned, it was drafted in 2012. If the Nitish Kumar government had changed the law for me, why would I spend one and half years more than my actual jail term of 14 years? The allegation levelled on Nitish Kumar government is absolutely false."Asked to comment on BSP chief Mayawati's objection to his release, he said that he does not know who Mayawati is. "I have lost many things while serving a jail term of 15-and-a-half years," he said.On the changes that enabled Anand Mohan's release, state Law Minister Dr Shamim Ahmed said "... the amendment was made after deep discussion on the 2012 law. It was passed in the cabinet and then discussed in the committee that decides on release of any inmate who has completed a prison term on remission."IANS26 April 2023 Shared Recently! Madras HC directs School Education Dept to appoint those who know Tamil as security staff Chennai, April 25: The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the state School Education Department to appoint people who have knowledge of Tamil or the local language in the area where the school is located while choosing private firms engaged in security services, cleaning, and maintenance. Madras HC directs School Education Dept to appoint those who know Tamil as security staff A division bench of Acting Chief Justice T. Raja and Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy directed the appropriate Tender Floating Committee to apply its mind and appropriately frame the conditions taking into account all the material, including the criteria adopted by other departments, in the best interests of the work to be done.The Tamil Nadu School Education Department has, for the first time, invited tenders for housekeeping, sanitary, and security services in all the schools under it. The criteria for the bidders is that they should have operated in an area of 25 lakh square feet with a turn over of Rs 50 crore in the last three years and have an employee strength of 5,000.An organisation, Quality Property Management Services Pvt Ltd moved the Madras High Court against it but a single judge bench dismissed the petition.When the appeal petition had come before the division bench, Additional Advocate General, J. Raveendran submitted that by virtue of the pre bid meeting, the conditions have been diluted - the area from 25 lakh square feet to 10 lakh square feet, the turnover from Rs 50 crore to Rs 30 crore, and the number of personnel from 5,000 to 3,000.The division bench refused to accept the explanation made by the AAG and questioned why the tender criteria was diluted. It set aside the single bench order and quashed the tender notification.IANS26 April 2023 Shared Recently! Netflix to invest $2.5 bn in S. Korea for original content Washington, April 25: Riding on the success of Squid Game and The Glory, streaming giant Netflix said it will invest $2.5 billion in South Korea over the next four years to produce Korean TV series, movies and scripted shows. Netflix to invest $2.5 bn in S. Korea for original content The US streaming service announced the plan following a meeting between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos after Yoon arrived in Washington for a state visit."We were able to make this decision because of our great confidence in the Korean content industry, and we'll continue to make great stories," Sarandos said following the meeting at Blair House."I have no doubt that our investment will strengthen our long-term partnership with Korea and Korea's creative ecosystem," he said, reports Yonhap news agency.Sarandos said the sum is twice the amount Netflix has invested in South Korea since it started there in 2016.Citing Korean hits, such as "Squid Game," "The Glory", and "Physical 100", he also said stories produced by Korean creators are "now at the heart of the global cultural zeitgeist".Yoon welcomed the investment, saying he expects it to be a "large opportunity" for the South Korean content business, creators and Netflix.South Korea's Culture Ministry said in a release that the investment is the largest ever to be made in the country's content industry and will help create 68,000 jobs.The ministry also said it will help strengthen the capabilities of domestic production companies and increase their chances of advancing to the global market.A presidential official later told reporters in Washington the investment decision was three months in the making.The presidential office proposed the investment first, and Netflix carried out internal deliberations before ultimately deciding on $2.5 billion, the official said.Yoon and Sarandos "exchanged letters in the process, and the President and the first lady had some level of interaction with Netflix's top management in advance", the official said.Asked how first lady Kim Keon Hee was involved, the official said he first reported developments to the President and also reported to the first lady, who had "quite a large interest in the content industry".Kim was present during the Blair House event earlier in the day.IANS26 April 2023 Shared Recently! UAE evacuates its citizens and nationalities of number of countries from Sudan, prioritises most vulnerable groups Abu Dhabi, April 25 (ANI/WAM): The UAE has evacuated its citizens and nationals of a number of countries from the Republic of Sudan. UAE evacuates its citizens and nationalities of number of countries from Sudan, prioritises most vulnerable groups The UAE has also provided hosting and care services for 19 different nationalities during its evacuation operation to the city of Port Sudan, in preparation for facilitating departures. The evacuees will be hosted in the UAE before being transferred to their home countries.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) announced that in line with its commitments to humanitarian assistance and strengthening global cooperation and solidarity, the UAE has evacuated its citizens and nationals of a number of countries from Sudan, aligned with its humanitarian values based on providing protection for civilians, and extending assistance to countries in times of need.In this regard, the UAE has prioritised the sick, children, the elderly and women as the most vulnerable groups during the evacuations. The Ministry has expressed the UAE's commitment to working with its partners and the international community to achieve the interests of the Sudanese people.Furthermore, the Ministry stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to secure a ceasefire and to return to the political process and dialogue to achieve progress in the transitional phase, in order to reach the desired political stability and security in Sudan. (ANI/WAM)ANI26 April 2023 Shared Recently! India B. Walton secured a spot Tuesday in the Democratic primary for the Masten District seat on Buffalo's Common Council after a key decision by the Erie County Board of Elections went in her favor. Erie County's deputy elections commissioner ruled that objections to her candidacy filed by two community activists were "invalid," Democratic Elections Commissioner Jeremy J. Zellner said. Those objections claimed Walton, a formal mayoral candidate, had not lived in Masten long enough to legally occupy its seat on the Council. India Walton's residency in Buffalo's Masten District challenged for Common Council seat The question is whether Walton has lived in the Masten District long enough to represent it on the Common Council. But Deputy Commissioner Robin L. Sion decided she did not have the authority to decide the question of Walton's residency because doing so would go beyond the "ministerial duties" elections commissioners are tasked with by law, Zellner said. He added that because the deadline to challenge such a decision in court has passed, the decision effectively guarantees Walton a spot in the June 27 Democratic primary. "My focus right now is just enjoying this small victory and talking to the voters and residents of Masten," Walton said Tuesday. "I feel validated. I feel like the commissioners were very fair in the assessment of their ministerial duties." Walton is one of three Democratic candidates running for the seat vacated by Ulysees Wingo, who announced in February that he would not seek re-election. Also seeking the seat are Zeneta B. Everhart, the endorsed candidate of the Erie County Democratic Committee and a staff member for State Sen. Tim Kennedy, and Murray Holman, executive director of the city's Stop the Violence Coalition. In the past, Walton has claimed that Democratic officials including Zellner, who is also chairman of the Erie County Democratic Committee, used election law technicalities to keep her off the ballot when she ran for mayor in 2021. Zellner has denied the claims. Not everything went Walton's way Tuesday at the elections board. Zellner said that because Walton did not state that she is a commissioner of deeds on her nominating petitions, elections officials could not certify her as being on the ballot in November for the Working Families Party, even though the party has endorsed her and there appears to be no opponent on that line. Walton brushed off the setback, though, saying she intends to win the Democratic primary in June, when voters will effectively choose their next council member because there are no Republican challengers to face in November. "I wouldnt say that it frustrates me," she said. "I would say this is the reason civic engagement is important, and this is one of the technical things that keeps regular, everyday people off the ballot." She declined to comment further about the Working Families line, saying she was consulting her lawyers about a possible legal challenge. India Walton enters Common Council campaign for 'everyday people looking for help' Since her run for Buffalo mayor a couple of years ago, India Walton says she has been "thrus Earlier this month, two community activists, citing an obscure part of Buffalo's City Charter, filed objections with the Erie County Board of Elections, arguing that Walton, a democratic socialist, was not eligible to run in Masten because she hadn't lived in the district for a full year, as the charter requires. The dispute centered on when exactly Walton moved from her apartment on Seventh Street in the Niagara District and began living in the Masten District, which she won with 53% of the vote in the 2021 mayoral election. Documents filed with the county elections board show Walton completed a change of address form on Nov. 1, 2022. Erie County property records show Walton bought her home on Eastwood Place later that month, on Nov. 22. This year's election for Council takes place Nov. 7, which is 15 days short of a year since Walton's home purchase was filed with the county clerk. The City Charter states that "no person shall be eligible for election or appointment as a successor to the office of district council member who has not been a resident ... of the district for which he or she is chosen for a period of at least one year immediately preceding the date of his or her election or appointment." The notarized deed Walton and the sellers filed with the county was dated Oct. 31, 2022 more than the required year of residency stipulated in the charter. But Nov. 22, 2022, is listed as the date of sale and the date the deed was recorded with the county. If that date was used to determine residency, Walton could have been kicked off the ballot for Council. Stephanie Barber Geter, one of the community activists who filed the challenge about Walton's residency, did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday about the ruling. Barber Geter previously said she filed the objection to Walton's nominating petition because she supports her Democratic opponent, Zeneta Everhart. CloudMinister launches New Web Hosting Plans for small, medium and enterprise businesses New Delhi, April 25: CloudMinister Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a qualified web hosting and server management company, has announced the launch of new web hosting plans for small, medium and enterprise businesses. The new plans are designed to provide reliable, scalable, and affordable web hosting solutions for various online needs. CloudMinister launches New Web Hosting Plans for small, medium and enterprise businesses CloudMinister offers a range of web hosting services, including shared hosting, reseller hosting, dedicated server, low latency server and email and productivity solutions. The company also provides server management services for various cloud platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Digital Ocean, Linode and more. The company has a team of experts who can handle web hosting control panels such as cPanel/WHM, Plesk, DirectAdmin, CentOS Web Panel, ISPConfig, Virtualmin, Webmin and more.The new web hosting plans are tailored to suit different business requirements and budgets. The plans include features such as free SSL certificates, unlimited bandwidth, SSD storage, 24/7 technical support, a 99.9 per cent uptime guarantee and more. The plans also come with a 30-day money-back guarantee for customer satisfaction."We are excited to launch our new for small, medium and enterprise businesses. Our aim is to provide our customers with the best web hosting solutions that can help them grow their online presence and achieve their goals. We have network partnered with, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, E2E Networks AWS, a leading cloud service provider in India, to offer high-performance and cost-effective cloud servers. We also have our own data centres in India to ensure low latency and data security. We invite our customers to explore our offerings and experience the difference with CloudMinister," said Tanuj Chugh, CEO and Founder, CloudMinister Technologies Pvt. Ltd.CloudMinister Technologies Pvt. Ltd. was founded in 2011 and has been serving over 5k+ customers across the world with its web hosting and server management services. The company is based in Jaipur, Rajasthan and has a motto of "Your Trust, Our Power". The company strives to fulfil its client's requirements and provide 24/7 troubleshooting. The company also has a blog where it shares useful tips and insights on web hosting and server management.For more information about CloudMinister and its new web hosting plans, please visit https//cloudminister.com/ or contact +91-8447755312 or sales@cloudminister.com.This story has been provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV)ANI26 April 2023 Shared Recently! Sidharth Malhotra, Disha Patanis action thriller Yodha release date changed again Mumbai, April 25: Makers of the upcoming action thriller film 'Yodha' has now postponed the official release date of their film. Sidharth Malhotra, Disha Patani's action thriller 'Yodha' release date changed again Starring Sidharth Malhotra, Disha Patani and Raashii Khanna in the lead roles the film is all set to hit the theatres on September 15, 2023.Taking to Instagram, trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared a picture which he captioned, "SIDHARTH MALHOTRA 'YODHA' GETS NEW RELEASE DATE... #Yodha - starring #SidharthMalhotra, #DishaPatani and #RaashiiKhanna - gets new release date In *cinemas* on 15 Sept 2023... Directed by #SagarAmbre and #PushkarOjha."This is the second time the release date of 'Yodha' has been pushed forward.Earlier the film was first scheduled to release on November 11, 2022, post that the makers pushed the release date to July 2023 and now 'Yodha' is slated to hit the theatres on September 15.Talking about 'Yodha' Sidharth earlier said, "As an artist, you would want to work on scripts that bring out the best in you. This truly unveiled a newer version of me, which I am very thankful for. The amount of love I have received from audiences and fans is magical. I can't wait to showcase what Yodha has for them."Apart from that, he will also be making his digital debut with the upcoming web series 'Indian Police Force'.Helmed by Rohit Shetty, the series also stars Vivek Oberoi and Shilpa Shetty in pivotal roles and will stream exclusively on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video.ANI26 April 2023 Shared Recently! 283 foreign tour operators from 56 nations took part in GITB in Jaipur Jaipur, April 25: The 12th edition of the Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB 2023) concluded at the Jaipur Exhibition and amp; Convention Centre (JECC) on Tuesday, in which 283 inbound foreign tour operators (FTOs) from 56 countries took part. 283 foreign tour operators from 56 nations took part in GITB in Jaipur The three-day GITB was organised by the Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).It was supported by leading national and regional associations like Hotel iamp; Restaurant Association of Rajasthan (HRAR), Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA) and Rajasthan Association of Tour Operators (RATO).Speaking about the success of the event, Principal Secretary (Tourism), Rajasthan government, Gayatri Rathore said that GITB has been hugely successful in attracting serious buyers and sellers. As many as 11,000 pre-scheduled B2B meetings were held over the course of two days. The participation of nine states, including Rajasthan, shows that the mart has established itself across the country. It is a leading event in terms of FTOs, which take part in the mart in large numbers, she said.Chairman, FICCI Rajasthan State Council and President, Indian Heritage Hotels Associations (IHHA), Randhir Vikram Singh said that GITB has been an excellent networking platform for standalone hotels which can interact with foreign buyers and meet all the stakeholders under one roof.The Managing Director of the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC), Vijay Pal Singh, also visited the Travel Bazaar and appreciated the efforts put in to make this networking event effective and successful.The President of Rajasthan Association of Tour Operators (RATO), Mahendra Singh Rathore, informed that FAM Tours (Familiarisation Tours) are also being organised for the visiting buyers on Wednesday. The tours will cover three itineraries Jaipur-Jodhpur-Jaisalmer-Bikaner; Jaipur-Sariska-Ranthambore; and Jaipur-Udaipur- Deogarh-Pushkar.A detailed report on 'Inbound Tourism in India - Unlocking the Potential' was released at the GITB 2023. Prepared by FICCI and Nangia Andersen LLP, the report aims to provide insights into the current scenario of inbound tourism in India.IANS26 April 2023 Shared Recently! SCO Defence Ministers Meeting: Rajnath likely to hold talks with Chinese counterpart New Delhi, April 25: India, as the Chair of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2023, will host the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting here on April 28, the Defence Ministry said on Tuesday. SCO Defence Ministers Meeting: Rajnath likely to hold talks with Chinese counterpart Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to hold bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Gen Li Shangfu. Before the SCO meet, the 18th round of India-China Corps Commander level talks held on Sunday, but it failed to make headway on the contentious issue of the Depsang Plains and de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.The repeated attempts by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) to violate the LAC, leading to tension in Ladakh, spurred the institution of the Corps Commander-level meetings.While the two sides agreed on mutual withdrawals from Pangong Tso, Gogra, and Hot Springs, the Depsang Plains and Demchok remain points of contention and tension.Now all eyes are now on the visit of the Chinese Defence Minister.Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), established in 2001, comprises Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan besides India. Apart from the member states, two observer countries - Belarus and Iran - will also be participating in the SCO Defence Ministers Meeting.The Defence Ministers will discuss amongst other issues matters concerning regional peace and security, counter terrorism efforts within SCO and an effective multilateralism.According to the Defence Ministry officials, the theme of India's Chairmanship of SCO in 2023 is 'SECURE-SCO'. India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. The ongoing engagement with SCO has helped India promote its relations with the countries in the region with which India has shared civilisational linkages, and is considered India's extended neighbourhood.SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, equality of all member states and mutual understanding and respect for opinions of each of them.Rajnath Singh is likely to hold bilateral meetings with other Defence Ministers of participating countries on the sidelines of the meet, the officials added.IANS26 April 2023 Shared Recently! Punjab CM expresses grief over demise of Badal Chandigarh, April 25: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday expressed grief over the demise of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who passed away at a private hospital in Mohali after a brief illness. Punjab CM expresses grief over demise of Badal In a condolence message, Mann recalled the services rendered by Badal as Chief Minister and Minister in the Union Cabinet, terming him an able administrator and above all, a fine human being with qualities of head and heart.Sharing his heartfelt condolences with the members of the bereaved family, the Chief Minister prayed to the Almighty to give them strength to bear this huge loss in this hour of grief and grant eternal peace to the departed soul.IANS26 April 2023 Shared Recently! SC stays Madras HC order quashing ban on gutka, tobacco products in TN New Delhi, April 25: The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed a Madras High Court order, which quashed a May 2018 notification prohibiting sale, manufacture, and transport of gutkha, and other tobacco-based products in Tamil Nadu. SC stays Madras HC order quashing ban on gutka, tobacco products in TN Senior advocate Kapil Sibal and Additional Advocate General Amit Anand Tiwari, representing the Tamil Nadu government, submitted before a bench headed by Justice K.M. Joseph that health is a state subject and cited a top court directive justifying the ban imposed on sale, manufacture and transport of gutkha, and other tobacco-based products.Sibal argued that the state exchequer is burdened by health issues, which arise as a consequence of chewing of tobacco and the government has every right to take care of the health of its citizens.The state government had contended that orders of the Food Safety Commissioner banning sale, storage, manufacture of gutkha and other tobacco products are backed by Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011.The bench, also comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna, stayed the high court order passed on January 20, saying that the state government has made out a case to stay the impugned judgment.The top court allowed the manufacturers to approach the appropriate forum.In March, the top court had sought a reply on a plea filed by Tamil Nadu government challenging an order of the Madras High Court quashing the May 2018 notification.The top court sought response from the food safety commissioner, Jayavilas Tobacco Traders and others.The state government, in its appeal, contended that the high court erroneously held that notifications banning gutkha and pan masala in the state issued by the Food Safety Commissioner under Regulation 2.3.4 of the 2011 regulations are not within his powers.The high court had observed that the Food Safety Commissioner, by issuing successive notifications imposing a permanent ban on tobacco products, would amount to conferring a power that was not provided in the law.IANS26 April 2023 Shared Recently! Taiwan tracks 13 Chinese military aircraft, 3 naval vessels around country Taipei, April 25: Taiwan tracked 13 Chinese military aircraft and three naval vessels around the country between 6 am on Sunday and 6 am on Monday, reported Taiwan News. Taiwan tracks 13 Chinese military aircraft, 3 naval vessels around country Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said that 13 People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) military aircraft and three People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels had been tracked around Taiwan.One of the detected aircraft entered the southeast section of Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ), reported Taiwan News.Harbin Z-9 anti-submarine warfare helicopter was tracked in the southeast sector of ADIZ.The MND said it monitored the situation and responded by scrambling combat patrol aircraft, dispatching naval vessels, and deploying land-based air defence missile systems, reported Taiwan News.According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, grey zone tactics are "an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one's security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force."Since September 2020, China has increased its use of grey zone tactics by routinely sending aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ.So far in March, Beijing has sent 325 military aircraft and 101 naval vessels around Taiwan. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of grey zone tactics by routinely sending aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ, reported Taiwan News.ANI26 April 2023 Shared Recently! India a vibrant spot of development despite global headwinds: PM Modi in Kerala Thiruvananthapuram, April 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the country has demonstrated resilience despite a challenging global environment, adding that India is being seen as a vibrant spot of development. India a vibrant spot of development despite global headwinds: PM Modi in Kerala PM Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Kerala made the remarks after laying the foundation stone of the Digital Science Park in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.While addressing the gathering, PM Modi said, "Kerala has been a land full of literacy, hard work, capability and intellect. You all must have been aware of the economic situation of countries worldwide. Despite the global headwinds, India has been globally seen as the vibrant spot of development.""Kerala is a state of literate people. Hard work and humility of people here are part of their identity," PM Modi added.Congratulating the people of the state on the various development projects, PM Modi said, "Today Kerala got its first Vande Bharat train, and today Kochi got the gift of water metro. Along with connectivity, today many other projects related to the development of Kerala have been inaugurated and the foundation stone laid. Many many congratulations to the people of Kerala for all this.""Our government lays emphasis on cooperative federalism. It considers the development of the states as the formula for the development of the country. If Kerala develops, the country's development will be faster. We are working with this service spirit," the PM added.Hailing the central government's efforts towards development, PM Modi said, "There have been many reasons behind the world's belief in India- a decisive government at the helm, unparalleled investments in infrastructure development by the Central Government, investments for reaping demographic dividends, skilling of youth and the Central Government's commitment to ease of living and ease of doing business."PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the Digital Science Park in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.Earlier in the day, PM Modi flagged off Kerala's first Vande Bharat Express which will run from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod.PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone and inaugurate projects worth more than Rs 3,200 crore in Kerala.Prime Minister also will inaugurate the Kochi Water Metro, one of its kind project that connects 10 islands around Kochi through battery-operated electric hybrid boats for seamless connectivity with the city.Apart from Kochi Water Metro, rail electrification of the Dindigul-Palani-Palakkad section will also be inaugurated by the Prime Minister.During the event, Prime Minister will also lay the foundation of various rail projects including the redevelopment of Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, and Varkala Sivagiri railway stations; the comprehensive development of Thiruvananthapuram area including Nemon and Kochuveli and increasing of sectional speed of Thiruvananthapuram-Shoranur section.ANI26 April 2023 Shared Recently! Breaking Barriers: TendersOnTime empowers small business owners on Indias GeM Platform New Delhi, April 25 (ANI/NewsReach): GeM (Government e-Marketplace) is an online platform launched on August 9th, 2016 by the Prime Minister of India, aimed at bringing efficiency and transparency to the country's public procurement system. GeM provides direct access to government departments, semi-government entities, and public sector undertakings, totaling over 50,000, making it a one-stop shop for sellers to market their products and services with minimal effort. Breaking Barriers: TendersOnTime empowers small business owners on India's GeM Platform It offers tools such as e-bidding, reverse e-auction, and demand aggregation to facilitate government users in achieving the best value for their money. Sellers benefit from features such as a new product suggestion facility, dynamic pricing based on market conditions, a seller-friendly dashboard for monitoring supplies and payments, auto-notification for bid participation, and consistent purchase procedures. The geM promotes transparency and ease of selling, making it an ideal platform for sellers in India's government procurement ecosystem.TendersOnTime, a prominent company specializing in public procurement information and support services, has come up with a groundbreaking solution to address the challenges faced by MSMEs in utilizing the benefits of GeM (Government e-Marketplace) in India. Many of these small businesses struggle find it difficult to navigate the online platforms and complete necessary procedures. TendersOnTime offers comprehensive services to handle the entire process on behalf of these owners, which includes but not limited to services like company registration, vendor assessment, brand approval, catalogue approval from GeM, bid participation, direct orders, and comparison etc.With strong foundation in technology and solid domain expertise, TendersOnTime has built a reputation based on trust and professionalism. The company boasts a team of experts who professionally manage the entire process and communicate with government departments on behalf of their clients. They also provide constant follow-up with the client's team or themselves, ensuring smooth progress. TendersOnTime assists with product uploading and obtaining approvals and offers one-year assistance for any queries that may arise. This, not only saves time for the clients but also guides them in maintaining a good rating on GeM, a crucial aspect of succeeding in government procurement.In addition to their services for GeM, TendersOnTime is recognized as the largest aggregator of tenders databases worldwide. They process over 50,000 tenders daily from various industry segments and countries and provide this information to individual businesses as well as organizations such as India Mart, CII, IEEMA, HT Syndication, and the International Trade Centre (ITC), an agency with a joint mandate with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations. TendersOnTime's services include daily tracking of over 600,000 purchasers globally, scanning more than 500 newspapers, daily addition of 50,000+ selected opportunities, translation of tender notices in multiple languages, and classification of business opportunities based on Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV). They also add over 100,000 contract awards monthly from across the globe to their extensive database.TendersOnTime's comprehensive and professional approach, combined with its global reach and strong track record, make them the preferred choice for small businesses seeking to leverage the benefits of GeM and access procurement opportunities worldwide.This story has been provided by NewsReach. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsReach)ANI26 April 2023 Shared Recently! Tibetans in-exile offer prayers on 34th birthday of 11th Panchen Lama, urge China to disclose his whereabouts Dharamshala, April 25: Tibetans in-exile on Tuesday offered prayers for the well-being of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, on his 34th birth anniversary. Tibetans urged China to disclose the whereabouts of the 11th Panchen Lama. Tibetans in-exile offer prayers on 34th birthday of 11th Panchen Lama, urge China to disclose his whereabouts Hundreds of Tibetans gathered in the main Buddhist temple Tsuglagkhang in Dharamshala to offer prayers for the well-being of the 11th Panchen Lama. Buddhist monks and nuns led the prayer service in the temple.The Panchen Lama is the highest spiritual leader after the Dalai Lama. Shortly after the Dalai Lama recognized Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the 11th Panchen Lama in 1995, the six-year-old boy and his family disappeared.The Chinese government appointed Gyaincain Norbu in his place. Despite 28 years of China's pressure to accept the Panchen Lama appointed by them, Tibetans still consider Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the true Panchen Lama. Tibetans have been calling for his return to his rightful seat in Tashihunpo Monastery.Various Tibetan NGOs in exile, including the Tibetan Women's Association, Students for a Free Tibet, Tibetan Youth Congress and National Democratic Party of Tibet jointly organized the prayer ceremony.Tenzin Nyima, President of the Regional Tibetan Women's Association Dharamshala said that they are celebrating the 34th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama. She called on United Nations to pressurise China to disclose information regarding the 11th Panchen Lama.Speaking to ANI, Tenzin Nyima said, "We are celebrating the 34th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama. He was captured by the Chinese authorities when he was just six years old and nobody knows his whereabouts. So, we are praying for his long life and also for the well-being of his family. We are also demanding the United Nations to pressurise China to disclose information regarding him."Tenzin Phakdon, an activist from Students for a Free Tibet said that they are celebrating the birthday to remind the world that a six-year-old boy was kept in prison by China. She called on the world to ask China about the whereabouts of 11th Panchen Lama.Speaking to ANI, Tenzin Phakdon said, "Today we are celebrating the 34th birthday of 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. The whole world doesn't know about his whereabouts except the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Xi Jinping because they captured him when he was six years old. He was actually recognized by his holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and since then he is imprisoned and for the last 28 years, we don't know about him.She further said, "So for the last 28 years we have been celebrating his birthday in his absence. We are celebrating his birthday to remind the world that a six-year-old boy was kept in jail by China so we are demanding the world should ask the CCP about him."ANI26 April 2023 Shared Recently! MOSCOW (AP) Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Wednesday that he was facing new extremism and terrorism charges that could keep him behind bars for life, as authorities set the stage for a new trial against the Kremlin's leading critic. Navalny said by video link from prison during the hearing that the extremism charges which he rejected as absurd could land him in prison for 30 years. He noted that an investigator had told him he also would face a separate military court trial on terrorism charges that could potentially carry a life sentence, adding on a sardonic note that the charges imply that I'm conducting terror attacks while sitting in prison. His top ally Ivan Zhdanov said investigators were trying to link the terrorism charges against Navalny to a bombing that killed a well-known Russian military blogger earlier this month. Navalny, 46, who exposed official corruption and organized massive anti-Kremlin protests, was arrested in January 2021 upon returning to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve-agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin. He initially received a 2-year prison sentence for a parole violation. Last year, he was sentenced to a nine-year term for fraud and contempt of court. He is currently serving time at a maximum-security prison 250 kilometers (150 miles) east of Moscow. The new charges against Navalny relate to the activities of his anti-corruption foundation and statements by his top associates. His ally Leonid Volkov said the accusations retroactively criminalize all the activities of Navalny's foundation since its creation in 2011 and carry a potential punishment of up to 35 years in prison. Navalnys associate, Zhdanov, said Wednesday that investigators were revising the charges to link them to a bombing that killed Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky at a St. Petersburg cafe earlier this month. The authorities described Darya Trepova, a 26-year-old St. Petersburg resident who was seen on video presenting Tatarsky with a statuette moments before the blast, as an active supporter of Navalny. They also accused Zhdanov and Volkov of making repeated calls for subversive activities in Russia. An investigator told the court Wednesday that 11 other suspects facing extremism charges alongside Navalny have remained at large and have been put on an international wanted list. The new charges come as Russian authorities conduct an intensifying crackdown on dissent amid the fighting in Ukraine, which Navalny has harshly criticized. Wednesday's hearing at Moscow's Basmanny District Court was held to discuss preparations for Navalny's trial on the extremism charges. Navalny asked for more time to study the 196 case files. The judge closed the session minutes after it opened, ruling that it should be held behind closed doors, because the case involved sensitive information. It's an attempt to unlawfully restrict my ability to study the materials of the case and prevent anyone from knowing about it, Navalny said before public access to the hearing ended. The hearing ended with the judge giving Navalny 10 days to study his criminal case. No date for the trial has been set yet. Navalny, who is President Vladimir Putin's most prominent foe, has rejected the charges as a political vendetta and an attempt by Russian authorities to keep him out of politics for as long as possible. His associates and supporters have become increasingly worried about his failing health. Earlier this month, they said Navalny had fallen ill with acute stomach pains and suspected that he was being slowly poisoned. Navalny looked gaunt when he appeared via video link from prison, but he smiled and laughed as he warmly greeted journalists who were watching his appearance in court. While imprisoned, Navalny has spent months in a tiny one-person cell, also called a punishment cell, for purported disciplinary violations such as an alleged failure to properly button his prison robe, properly introduce himself to a guard or to wash his face at a specified time. His supporters have accused prison authorities of failing to provide him with proper medical assistance, using blindingly bright light in his cell and placing him next to a mentally unstable person. Navalny said Tuesday that he had completed a 15-day stay in the punishment cell and was immediately ordered to spend another 15 days there. The Russian authorities have ramped up their crackdown on dissent after Putin sent troops into Ukraine under new legislation that has effectively criminalized any public criticism of Moscow's military action and independent reporting on the conflict. Earlier this month, a Russian court convicted a top opposition figure, Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., of treason for publicly denouncing Moscows war in Ukraine. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Another prominent opposition figure, Ilya Yashin, was sentenced to 8 years in prison last year on charges of spreading false information about the military. On Wednesday, a court in Yekaterinburg opened a trial of the city's former mayor, Yevgeny Roizman, on charges of discrediting the military that he rejected. Roizman, a sharp critic of the Kremlin, is one of the most visible and charismatic opposition figures in Russia who enjoyed broad popularity as mayor of Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city of 1.5 million people in the Ural Mountains. Last month, Roizman, 60, was ordered to spend 14 days in custody on separate charges of reposting material containing a reference to Navalny's organization. As part of a relentless clampdown, a Russian court last month convicted a father over social media posts critical of the war and sentenced him to two years in prison. His 13-year-old daughter, who drew an antiwar sketch at school, was sent to an orphanage. Colt Data Centre Services (DCS) announces launch of fourth data centre in Inzai Inzai, April 25: (Colt DCS), a leading provider of global hyperscale and large enterprise data centre solutions, has today announced the commencement of construction of its fourth major data centre in Inzai City, Japan. Inzai City is located in the Chiba Prefecture, north-east of Tokyo, Japan. This region is one of the most competitive areas of data centre real estate for enterprise, research, and technology customers. Colt Data Centre Services (DCS) announces launch of fourth data centre in Inzai Colt DCS' Inzai 4 Data Centre has been designed to meet the needs of hyperscale cloud service providers and large enterprises that require scalable infrastructure. The site is located 600m from Colt Data Centre Services' existing Inzai Campus and forms its fourth development in Inzai. This addition marks a further milestone in the company's implementation of its global expansion strategy.Inzai 4 represents the second development under the joint venture between Fidelity Investments and Mitsui following the announcement of the grand opening of the first development in Osaka Keihanna in March 2023. Colt DCS was appointed by the joint venture as the exclusive service provider for the design, development, operations and customer service management for the venture.The design of the Inzai 4 Data Centre will build on Colt DCS' key learnings as a long-time provider in the Japanese market, since 2001. It has a site area of 8,747m2 and a designed capacity of approximately 20MW and is already 100% pre-let. The combined IT capacity of the extended Inzai campus is nearly 70MW.Inzai 4 is an attractive proposition for customers. The data centre facility is located in an area with resilient fibre and connectivity solutions, a strong bedrock and a very low risk of natural disaster. It is easily accessible for customers and is located within close proximity to the three other Inzai data centres and Chiba New Town train station. Inzai 4 is approximately 30 minutes from Narita International Airport and 35 minutes from Tokyo by express train. The new data centre is expected to provide employment opportunities for 50 ~ 60 people., CEO Colt DCS said "Colt DCS' latest expansion within Inzai City is part of our long-term strategy to provide scalable growth for our customers with refined data centre design and proven experience. We are trusted by our customers to effectively build their digital infrastructure, as well as manage and operate their data centre with their scalability needs in mind.We see this as an exciting opportunity to deepen our digital footprint and increase our IT capacity within the region. Colt DCS' customer-centricity has always been at the heart of our operations and growth strategy, and we look forward to continuing our ethos with Inzai 4 -the fifth hyperscale data centre Colt DCS has built in Japan."Takashi Nakai, General Manager of the Financial Business Division of Mitsui and Co. said "The launch of Inzai 4 is testament to the service and operation that Colt DCS offer, and highlights them as a trusted data centre operator. We're delighted that our partnership with Fidelity Investments encompasses the launch of Inzai 4, and we're excited to see how this new hyperscale data centre can help to further serve the data centre needs of businesses worldwide."Ellen Hall, Fidelity's Head of Direct Real Estate said "The announcement of Inzai 4 is a prime example of our strong partnership with Mitsui and Colt DCS. The new data centre is a great opportunity for Colt DCS to extend their reach within Japan as well as the wider APAC region. We are proud to be working on such an exciting and expansive project within the market."The first phase of the Inzai 4 Data Centre is currently expected to be completed by the end of 2024.provides true service and operational excellence in the sustainable design, build, delivery, and operational management of hyperscale data centres across Europe and APAC. We provide data centre solutions to hyperscale and large enterprise customers across 15 state-of-the-art carrier neutral data centres spanning 8 cities.Our Hyperscale and colocation solutions allow our customers freedom to plan effectively for the growth of their business, knowing that their data centre strategy is ready for the demands of tomorrow.We have over 25 years of experience in the industry, delivering on our vision of being the most trusted and customer centric data centre operator in the market. We put environmental awareness at the heart of everything we do because we know it's the right thing to do for our planet. That's why we're taking the ownership to reduce our environmental impact globally and make sustainability a key strategic driver. As part of our sustainability journey, alongside our sister company we are committed to achieving global net zero emissions for our own operations by 2045.This story has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI26 April 2023 Shared Recently! KD- The Devil: Meet KDs queen MachhLakshmi on this date Mumbai, 25: Makers of the upcoming Pan-India film 'KD-The Devil' are all set to introduce KD's queen MachhLakshmi to their audience. 'KD- The Devil': Meet KD's queen MachhLakshmi on this date Actor Shilpa Shetty who is playing Satyavati in the film took to Instagram story and treated fans with exciting news along with a poster.Sharing the poster, she wrote, "When the king is hurt in battle, the queen converts his pain into power. Introducing #KD's queen - #MachhLakshmi on the 28th of April at 1005 AM."The poster depicted a hen with a rustic background and announcement date.Druva Sarja headlined the film. 'KD- The Devil' also stars V Ravichandran and Sanjay Dutt. With Shilpa Shetty Kundra now entering the war zone, this one is guaranteed to leave audiences wanting more."A war is fought between kingdoms and every kingdom needs a 'Satyavati'. I'm so excited and pumped to join the 'KD' battlefield and step into this powerful role," said Shilpa Shetty Kundra.Directed by Prem, 'KD-The Devil', the Pan-India multilingual is set to release in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi.Shilpa was last seen in an action comedy film 'Nikamma' alongside Abhimanyu Dasani and Shirley Setia. The actor is also part of Rohit's OTT debut 'Indian Police Force', which also stars Sidharth Malhotra and Vivek Oberoi. The series will stream on the OTT platform Amazon Prime.ANI26 April 2023 Shared Recently! Panama Presidents resonance with PM Modis Panch Prann reflects strength of Global South bonds: Jaishankar Panama City [Panama], April 25: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his visit to Panama, called on President Nito Cortizo and said that his strong resonance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Panch Prann' reflects the strength of the two nations' as well as their shared outlook for the world. Panama President's resonance with PM Modi's 'Panch Prann' reflects strength of Global South bonds: Jaishankar The EAM also extended the "personal greetings" of PM Modi to the Panama President."Honoured to call on President @NitoCortizo of Panama. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. His strong resonance with PM Modi's 'Panch Prann' reflects the strength of our Global South bonds and shared outlook for the world. The EAM Valued his guidance for advancing our bilateral and multilateral partnership," Jaishankar tweeted on Tuesday.EAM Jaishankar during his Latin America tour also met the Foreign Minister of Panama, Janaina Tewaney Mencomo and thanked him for hosting him.He said that he was glad to meet SiCA colleagues and that he look forward to their discussions in the future.Jaishankar tweeted, "New India and New Panama will work together in the contemporary era. Thank FM @JanainaGob for hosting us tonight. Glad to meet SiCA colleagues. Look forward to our discussions tomorrow."During his visit, EAM Jaishankar met Indian-origin members of the National Civil Protection System.He also interacted with them and asked the group about their working procedure.Jaishankar tweeted, "Met Indian-origin members of the National Civil Protection System @Sinaproc_Panama."EAM Jaishankar is on a two-day visit to Panama. He arrived in Panama City on Monday and was received by Panama's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Vladimir Francos.Taking to his official Twitter handle, Jaishankar stated on April 24, "Arrived in Panama City. Thank Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs @VladimirFrancoS for the warm reception. Look forward to a packed bilateral and multilateral agenda."EAM Jaishankar also attended the India-Latin America Business event and delivered a keynote address highlighting ten important reasons why the India-Panama business collaboration has strong prospects and merits-focused endeavours.After his visit to Panama, the EAM on April 25 will embark on a Colombia visit where he will be meeting several top representatives of the Government, business and civil society. His Colombia visit would be the first Foreign Ministerial level visit to the country, the Ministry of External Affairs said in its release.Jaishankar and Colombia's counterpart Alvaro Leyva Duran will review the bilateral ties. Following his visit to Colombia, Jaishankar will head to the Dominican Republic, according to an MEA release.PM Modi on August 15, 2022, while addressing the nation on August 15, 2022, outlined his "Panch Pran Targets" (Five resolves) to make India a developed country by the time it celebrates its 100th Independence Day in 25 years.ANI26 April 2023 Shared Recently! Autistic children more likely to be aggressive: Study Washington, April 26: At least half of all autistic children exhibit aggressiveness, such as punching, kicking, or name-calling, while their parents are tasked with helping them in coping and social integration. However, the incidence and definition of aggressive behaviours in autistic children remain unknown. Autistic children more likely to be aggressive: Study To address this knowledge gap, researchers in the Family and Community Intervention Lab at the University of Arkansas compared autistic children to non-autistic children on different types of aggressive behaviours over three critical developmental periods and found that parents of autistic children reported more frequent aggression at greater intensities than non-autistic children."Aggression represents a pervasive and serious problem faced by autistic youths and their families," said Lauren Quetsch, assistant professor of psychology and lead author of "Understanding aggression in autism across childhood Comparisons with a non-autistic sample.""While our knowledge about the unique needs of autistic children has grown exponentially over the last several decades, we still have a long way to go," she said. "And understanding the role aggression plays in autistic youths' lives can help us to better address our gaps in care."Between December 2020 and March 2021, Quetsch and her colleagues gathered quantitative and qualitative data on 450 autistic and 432 non-autistic children. The data were broken down into three age-matched groups -- younger than six, six to 12 and 13 to 17. The children were compared on multiple caregiver-report measures of aggressive and disruptive behaviour across these critical developmental periods.The researchers' analysis of the data revealed higher levels of verbal aggression and disruptive behavioural intensity for autistic children across all three stages of development. Autistic children younger than six had more physical aggression than their non-autistic peers. However, these levels became equal to non-autistic peers as the children aged.In the qualitative study, according to parents, non-autistic children more frequently expressed anger in a controlled manner, whereas autistic children were more apt to quickly lose their temper."We surmise that this can be attributed to several factors," Quetsch said. "Frustration from regularly being misunderstood, challenges with recognizing emotions in others or expressing their own emotions to others, sensory overstimulation, and even co-occurring health challenges, such as physical discomfort from gastrointestinal issues and exhaustion due to irregular sleeping patterns, all likely contribute to aggression."Quetsch's co-authors on the study were Cynthia Brown, assistant professor of psychology at Pacific University; Harlee Onovbiona and Rebecca Bradley, doctoral students in clinical psychology in Quetsch's lab at the U of A; Lindsey Aloia, associate professor of communication at the U of A; and Stephen Kanne, clinical pediatric neuropsychologist at Weill Cornell Medicine.The researchers' study was published in Autism Research, the official journal of the International Society for Autism Research.ANI26 April 2023 Shared Recently! Thrissur is cultural capital of Kerala: PM Modi New Delhi, April 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a programme of Sree Seetharama Swamy Temple in Thrissur via video conferencing on Tuesday, acknowledged its status as the cultural capital of Kerala where culture, tradition and arts thrive along with spirituality, philosophy and festivals. Thrissur is cultural capital of Kerala: PM Modi During his address, PM Modi greeted everyone on the auspicious occasion of the Thrissur Pooram Festival.He said Thrissur is keeping its heritage and identity alive and Sree Seetharama Swamy Temple is working as a vibrant centre in this direction.Prime Minister Modi conveyed his happiness on the expansion of the temple, noting that a gold-plated sanctum sanctorum (Garbha Grih) is being dedicated to Lord Sree Seetharama, Lord Ayyappa and Lord Shiva. He also praised the installation of a 55-foot-long Lord Hanuman statue and greeted everyone on Kumbhabhishekam.Lauding the contribution of the Kalyan family and TS Kalyanraman and recalling his earlier meeting and discussion about the temple, Prime Minister Modi expressed the spiritual joy he felt on the occasion.He remarked that Thrissur and Sree Seetharama Swamy Temple are not only the pinnacle of faith but also reflect the consciousness and soul of India."India's soul has been proclaiming its immortality in the form of Sree Seetharama Swamy and Bhagwan Ayyappa. These temples from those times declare that the idea of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' is immortal, going back thousands of years. Today, in the golden age of independence, we are taking this idea forward by taking a pledge to be proud of our heritage," PM Modi said."Our temples and pilgrimages have been symbols of the values and prosperity of our society for centuries," he said, expressing delight at how Sree Seetharama Swamy Temple was preserving the grandeur and splendour of ancient India.Highlighting the many public welfare programmes that are run through this temple, Prime Minister Modi said a system is in place where the resources received from the society are returned as service.He urged the temple committee to add more resolutions of the country to these efforts, be it Shri Anna Abhiyan, Swachhta Abhiyan or public awareness towards natural farming.Concluding his address, PM Modi said with blessings of Shri Sree Seetharama Swamy, the country will realise all its goals.ANI26 April 2023 Shared Recently! Al Marar urges UN Security Council to peacefully resolve conflicts by promoting dialogue and cooperation between states New York, April 26 (ANI/WAM): Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State, urged United Nations Security Council members to peacefully resolve conflicts by promoting dialogue and cooperation between states. Al Marar urges UN Security Council to peacefully resolve conflicts by promoting dialogue and cooperation between states Al Marar spoke to the Council during an open debate titled "Effective multilateralism through the defence of the principles of the UN Charter.""Our sustained commitment to effective multilateralism, grounded in international law and the principles of the UN Charter, is essential to maintaining international peace and security," Al Marar said."In turn, defending the principles of the Charter is vital to maintaining effective multilateralism. To address our common challenges and threats, it is imperative to promote dialogue and cooperation among nations. We must double down on efforts to bring a peaceful resolution to conflict and crises, from Sudan to Ukraine," he added.In his statement, Al Marar emphasised the need for the multilateral system to serve all UN members, not only member states with disproportionate influence over the multilateral system.He noted that the multilateral system must facilitate the peaceful settlement of disputes, promote security, and devise collective solutions to key global threats. Al Marar said the multilateral system must include all stakeholders -- not only governments -- including civil society and the private sector.The meeting took place during the Russian Federation's Council presidency in April. It was chaired by Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov. (ANI/WAM)ANI26 April 2023 Shared Recently! Kohli-Faf du Plessis batting form will keep RCB in good stead in IPL 2023: Imran Tahir New Delhi, April 26: The first half of IPL 2023 has witnessed some high-adrenaline contests between all ten teams. The contest between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders kicks off the reverse fixtures on Wednesday. Kohli-Faf du Plessis' batting form will keep RCB in good stead in IPL 2023: Imran Tahir RCB lost the first game between the two teams in the TATA IPL 2023 by a big margin of 81 runs when they played at Eden Gardens. The hosts will be aiming to settle the scores at their home ground and pick two crucial points as well.Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh reckons the biggest strength of RCB has been the good form of their regular and acting skipper i.e. Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli, and runs coming out of their bats will keep the dressing room relaxed.Speaking on Star Sports' Cricket Live, Harbhajan Singh said, "Virat Kohli will have to take the responsibility to keep RCB up. His partnership with Faf will be crucial. Virat and Faf are in good form and this will always give relief to RCB."Former South Africa cricketer Imran Tahir believes Virat Kohli will have to continue to be the backbone of RCB and he needs to bat long in the upcoming games."Virat Kohli is a class batsman. It has always been difficult for me to get him out. I want him to score a lot of runs in IPL. His team has high hopes for him and for this reason, Virat should think about staying on the wicket for a little longer."IANS26 April 2023 Shared Recently! As Sharad Pawar intervenes, Maha govt to talk to Ratnagiri protesters Mumbai, April 26: A team of Maharashtra government officials will on Thursday meet representatives of the villagers opposing the proposed giant Ratnagiri Refinery and amp; Petrochemicals Ltd (RRPL), coming up with Arab help near Barsu. As Sharad Pawar intervenes, Maha govt to talk to Ratnagiri protesters Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar said that he met Industry Minister Uday Samant and discussed the situation."The Minister said that presently only soil testing and survey is being carried out. I have said that if the villagers are objecting, then the government should meet and hammer out their problems before going ahead with the work," Pawar told mediapersons.He pointed out that before taking up any such mega-projects, it is necessary to take the locals into confidence and resolve their grievances."If the RRPL project is going to benefit the people of Konkan we have no objections, but it should be after the cooperation of the locals. First the government must find out why the people are protesting," Pawar said.However, he said that if an amicable solution is not worked out on Thursday, then all the political parties could sit together and evolve a solution.The NCP supremo's comments come as the Ratnagiri Police extended the prohibitory orders in the proposed RRPL site vicinity till May 31 and prevented Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders, including MP Vinayak Raut, from visiting on Wednesday.The prohibitory orders are applicable within 1 km of Barsu, Panhale, Dhopeshwar, Goval, Varchiwadi-Goval, Khalchiwadi-Goval and those flouting them will be penalised, said the Police Inspector Vineet Chaudhary.The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders have urged the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP government to exercise restraint, call off the soil survey and testing and allow the Ratnagiri villagers their right to protest against the project in the lush coastal belt.Protests and a political slugfest again hit the planned Rs 300,000-crore RRPL mega-venture -- promoted by IOCL, HPCL and BPCL -- coming up in Rajapur taluka with help of Saudi ARAMCO and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, and would be world's biggest single location refinery.The RRPL project will be barely kilometres from the proposed world's largest Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant (JNPP) in Ratnagiri, which has also been mired in controversies, strong opposition and protests by the locals since over a decade.IANS26 April 2023 Shared Recently! Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon indigenous lands jumps 129% in 2013-2021 Brasilia, April 26: Illegal deforestation on indigenous lands in the Brazilian Amazon jumped 129 per cent between 2013 and 2021, a study released by the Sao Paulo Research Foundation revealed. Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon indigenous lands jumps 129% in 2013-2021 This generated 96 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, with 59 per cent occurring between 2019 and 2021, the study published in the journal "Scientific Reports" detailed.The study analysed 232 indigenous territories and found deforestation in the territories reached 1,708 square km, equivalent to 2.38 per cent of the Brazilian Amazon, reports Xinhua news agency."Deforestation also creates other problems inside these areas, such as the spread of diseases and threats to the survival of isolated indigenous peoples," said Celso Silva, professor in biodiversity and conservation at the Federal University of Maranhao.Guilherme Mataveli, one of the co-authors of the study, said that indigenous lands are "essential" for Brazil to meet such environmental goals as reducing the impacts of climate change, since the South American country holds 60 per cent of the Amazon rainforest.IANS26 April 2023 Shared Recently! Its not essential to become an engineer, can excel in any field: Deepa Malik at Mann Ki Baat @100 conclave New Delhi, April 26: Indian para-athlete Deepa Malik on Wednesday, attended the national conclave 'Mann Ki Baat @100' organised by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry to celebrate 100 episodes of PM Narendra Modi's programme. It's not essential to become an engineer, can excel in any field: Deepa Malik at 'Mann Ki Baat @100' conclave The Indian athlete emphasized that it is not necessary to become an engineer. If a person can excel and contribute in whatever field he or she decides to pursue in her life, PM Narendra Modi will be there to appreciate you."It is not essential to become an engineer. Whatever field you choose, if you excel in or contribute to the development of the nation then PM Modi will be there to appreciate you," said Deepa Malik, Indian Para athlete at "Mann Ki Baat@100" National Conclave in Delhi."'Mann Ki Baat' has had a huge impact on the people of India. This is a very historic thing that the Prime Minister has done," Aamir said.The conclave was organised by Prasar Bharati in Vigyan Bhawan, here in the national capital. The inaugural session of the Conclave was graced by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar in the presence of Union Minister Anurag Thakur.Around 100 esteemed citizens from various parts of the country whose name has been mentioned by the Prime Minister in the previous episodes of "Mann Ki Baat" attended the event."Since its inception on October 3, 2014, 'Mann ki Baat' has become a national tradition, with the Prime Minister addressing the nation every month, inspiring millions to participate in India's developmental journey. Since then, it has struck a chord with citizens of India who have reached out to their Pradhan Sevak every month, sharing their achievements, anxieties, happiness and proud moments as well as suggestions for a New India," the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said in a statement.PM Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat program was started on October 3, 2014. Prime Minister Narendra Modi found such personalities of the world through the Mann Ki Baat program, who made special contributions in their field, but their identity was hidden, today people know such people in society and only know them. Not only this, but people are also moving forward with their inspiration.Apart from this, the Prime Minister included all the topics of climate change, agriculture, art, culture, and health in Mann Ki Baat and presented something new to the society every time in his Mann Ki Baat program so that the society could get information about that subject. The aim is to unite the country in one thread and develop by taking everyone along.ANI26 April 2023 Shared Recently! This is in response to Helping patients end their lives cannot be justified," (Another Voice, April 11). As a Hospice and Palliative Care physician for nearly 25 years I can categorically state that the author is wrong on key points regarding Medical Aid in Dying (MAID). Even with the best palliative care, not all physical pain can be controlled, nor can all non-physical suffering be managed. For example some people experience severe air hunger with their illnesses that can be more difficult to treat than physical pain. Additionally, intolerable suffering is not confined to physical symptoms and the amount of suffering someone should endure at the end of their life should be decided by the dying person. MAID laws in the U.S. are written to be used only by terminally ill people. Such people choose to end their lives by taking the prescribed medication themselves, usually in their own homes, if and when they choose to do so. About one-third of patients never opt to take the medicine. The reality is that physicians are much more actively involved in deaths when they withdraw a respirator, stop dialysis, or remove a feeding tube of a dying patient, procedures done daily across America. Withdrawing such care is now considered ethical although decades ago was highly controversial. There is zero evidence that U.S. states are following Canada, which has a more expansive law than all of those in the U.S. All U.S. MAID laws require a patient to be terminally ill. The U.S. has its own distinct culture and history. And, of course, the only way any expansion could occur here is by legislative or court action. That is not happening. The evidence in the U.S. since the 1990s shows that MAID laws are working as intended, benefiting terminally ill people and not harming anyone. There is no evidence of problems emerging as expected by opponents; no successful court or administrative cases proving any abuse or coercion. Governors and legislatures have managed to navigate the moral and ethical challenges, writing careful laws that allow the terminally ill to avoid agonizing deaths and to die peacefully, on their terms, with their dignity intact. Medical aid in dying is a reasonable end-of-life option for the tiny number of dying patients who wish to end their suffering a little sooner with a peaceful death. Polls show the majority of Americans agree. Like in 10 other states, terminally ill New Yorkers should also have the freedom to use this option if it is right for them. Dr. Judy Setla has worked in end-of-life care since 2001. This opinion is solely that of Dr. Setla. Her employer, Hospice and Palliative Care of Central New York and the Finger Lakes, is neutral on the issue of medical aid in dying. SGT University honours promising students at the Navonamesh - 2023 program Gurgaon, April 26: recently organised its 'Navonamesh - 2023' program, marking the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations and India's 75th year of Independence at campus grounds. This event was organized by the Central Academic Association and was graced by various dignitaries including Pulock Bhattacharji, Senior Vice President, Bombay Stock Exchange Institute Limited; acclaimed TEDx Speaker Pravin Rajpal and Varun Vaid, Business Director, Wazir Advisors. During the program, promising and high-achieving students of the university were felicitated with awards for their innovations. SGT University honours promising students at the 'Navonamesh - 2023' program During the felicitation ceremony, awards were given in the following categories Domain-Specific Events, Interdisciplinary Events, and Future Aligned Events. The recipients were as follows The Faculty of Physiotherapy and Dental Sciences won the Most Aspiring Faculty Award. The Faculty of Nursing, Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Engineering won the Most Emerging Association Award. The Most Promising Faculty Award was won by the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Dental Sciences, and the Faculty of Physiotherapy.Speaking about the rising stature of university students, the Pro-Chancellor of SGT University, Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma, said, "We have several capability enhancement and holistic development schemes for the students, including 80 academic associations from all 18 faculties. These associations, composed of both faculty members and students, organize and conduct multiple academic and co-curricular activities throughout the year. SGT University's faculty is committed to providing students with hands-on workshops that up-skill them in a variety of areas, from healthcare to industry, agriculture, and more."Similar sentiments were also expressed by the various dignitaries, with Pulock Bhattacharji telling the students, "You all are very lucky to have got such infrastructure and growth prospects. I truly believe that all the students sitting here today will be the millionaires and billionaires of tomorrow, and will contribute to the golden development of India in times to come."Pravin Rajpal while addressing the students said, "He is pleasantly surprised to see the confidence and spirit of the students of SGT University today. If the students know at this age what they want to do in life and there is such a university to support them, then the children will go far in life and become successful."Varun Vaid also highlighted the fact that the university is not only teaching students but also promoting and inculcating scientific skills in them. He told the students to keep working and believing in themselves. He also appreciated the fact that the university invites international entrepreneurs from outside so that they can share their personal experiences with the students, which plays an important role in building their future outlook.Dr Rajneesh Wadhwa, Dean of External Affairs at SGT University, said, "Our faculty is dedicated to enhancing the student experience beyond the traditional classroom setting. We provide a comprehensive learning environment that includes real-world applications, expert-led sessions, interdisciplinary education, and industry visits. Our graduates possess strong skills in behavior and pressure handling, as well as domain expertise making them fully equipped to tackle real-world challenges."The event concluded with an address by the Dean of the Department of Dental Sciences, Dr Omkar Shetty, who thanked the guests and said that, "The children have learned a lot in today's innovation program and this department will continue to organize similar skilful programs from time to time so that the all-round development of the students can take place."One of India's leading educational institutions, SGT University, Gurugram, offers programmes across 18 faculties, featuring a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD courses. It has a noble mission of providing opportunities for higher education to all sections of society, and a vision of bridging the existing skill gap and developing world-class industry professionals.SGT University is a research and innovation powerhouse, and home to Asia's only National Reference Simulation Centre for Nursing and Medical Sciences, which was established in association with Jhpiego, Laerdal Medical India. The University also has a dedicated multi-speciality with NABL and NABH accreditation. The Hospital serves the local communities around the University and also provides practical exposure to students of medical courses.The University ensures that its focus is on the community, and prides itself on cultivating links between its researchers and local businesses in need of research partnerships. Moreover, SGT University is known for its innovation in medicine, dental sciences, environmental science, engineering, and data science. It has also received several awards for its work in higher education, including the Diamond rating from QS I-GAUGE. The University has excellent industry linkages which have resulted in the setting-up of modern laboratories in collaboration with reputed global organisations like Apple, IBM, SAP, Oracle, SMC India, UNESCO Bioethics, Laerdal-Jhpiego, and many more.Over time, SGT University has carved out a reputation in the academic world by providing a steady stream of highly trained and industry-ready professionals. Additionally, the University has established several Centres of Excellence, laboratories, incubation cells and industry-academia associations in alliance with global leaders. These Centres of Excellence help SGT University to pursue academic excellence and cutting-edge research work.This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI26 April 2023 Shared Recently! 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. Champaign, IL (61820) Today A mix of clouds and sun with gusty winds. High 62F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy early, becoming mostly clear after midnight. Low 37F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. News / National by Staff reporter THE 63rd edition of the premium trade exhibition the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair kicks off in Bulawayo today amid high optimism that the platform will strengthen existing business linkages and create new ones.The annual trade exhibition will be held under the theme, "Transformative Innovation, Global Competitiveness" and will run from 25 to 29 April.In the lead up to the exhibition, captains of industry said they looked forward to expanding their networks and establishing new export markets. The focus on new export markets dovetails with the part of the theme on global competitiveness.Added to that, the country under its successful economic blueprint, the National Development Strategy 1 (NSD1), which among other measures, seeks to develop an export-led economy.The exhibition has been identified as a unique platform for sealing and enhancing business synergies.It has attracted an array of local exhibitors with a range of products and services, including agricultural implements and equipment, automotive products, building and construction, civic representation, clothing and textiles, education and training, energy products and equipment.Food products manufacturing and processing, business tourism products and services, information communication and technology, medical/health-related products, mining equipment, pharmaceuticals and chemicals are also on display.Speaking to journalists during a post-Cabinet briefing last week, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said "the nation should therefore look forward to a resoundingly successful 2023 Edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.""As the Second Republic's re-engagement and engagement policy continues to yield tremendous results in facilitating trade and investment, more than 100 participants have registered as first-time exhibitors, including the European Union."Local exhibitors have a huge opportunity to expand their global reach as more than 20 countries confirmed participation.Among the participants is the European Union which is exhibiting for the first time as a bloc. In previous years, EU member states exhibited individually."The foreign nations expected to exhibit include Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Angola, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Belarus, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, China, and the United States of America," said Minister Mutsvangwa.The economic diplomacy thrust, which is critical in attracting fresh investments and transforming the economy, dovetails with the Second Republic's engagement and re-engagement policy. This has seen the Government and the private sector scaling up trade and investment campaigns across the region and beyond.EU countries are on a drive to develop new business partnerships in Africa to increase total trade and investment in Africa.Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Matabeleland Chapter chairperson, Mr Mackenzie Dongo, is of the view that the exhibition presents an opportunity for businesses to expand their footprints locally and abroad."The premium trade show will provide vast business opportunities for local suppliers to match international business partners. We expect to generate a lot of international trade as a result of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair."We are mainly focusing on exporting our own local produce and marketing our local tourist destinations given the positive response from new airlines that have started landing in Zimbabwe with the latest being Eswatini Airways. This points to the positive trajectory the Government is focusing on as Zimbabwe is open for business," he said.Posting on its website and unpacking the theme, "Transformative Innovation, Global Competitiveness," the ZITF Company said: "The theme is apt as it posits innovation as the driving force, which will push our society into the future where new ideas are increasingly becoming the currency of achieving success."ZITF 2023 is taking place in the epoch of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) which represents changes in work, everyday life and relationships with innovation and technological advancements at the heart of it all."Consequently, economic mobility and impactful entrepreneurship will be key indicators of a positive trajectory in this revolution while sustainable economic confidence and global competitiveness are the ultimate end goals."ZITF 2023 is undoubtedly the ideal platform to position your business for global competition through innovation exploration and information interchange among economic visionaries determined to be positively disruptive in their various fields through both entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship." A new study from The University of Toledo suggests early exposure to a common class of insecticides called pyrethroids may increase the risk of autism and other developmental disorders, even at levels currently recognized as safe by federal regulators. The findings, which come from a study of mice, were published today in the peer-reviewed journal PNAS Nexus. Pyrethroids are some of the most widely used insecticides in the country, appearing in both consumer products and industrial preparations. If you have someone who comes and sprays in your house, this is likely what they're spraying. It's used in landscaping, it's what they fog in the streets for mosquitos. It's everywhere. Our study, however, adds to the evidence that these chemicals might not be as safe for children and pregnant women as we once believed." Dr. James Burkett, assistant professor of neuroscience in the UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences and the paper's corresponding author Interest in a possible link between autism and pyrethroids has grown after several epidemiological studies documented higher rates of neurodevelopmental disorders in areas where the pesticides were used. The new UToledo-led research sought to build on those population-based studies by analyzing the specific behavioral changes attributable to low-level exposure to pyrethroids. Working with a team that included scientists from Columbia, Emory, and the University of Southern California, Burkett examined the offspring of female mice who were exposed to small doses of the pyrethroid insecticide deltamethrin before, during and immediately after pregnancy. The researchers found those mice exhibited increased hyperactivity and repetitive behaviors, less vocalization, and were more likely to fail basic learning tests compared to controls. The young mice also experienced disruptions in their dopamine system. "These are all similar to symptoms human patients with neurodevelopmental disorders might have," Burkett said. "We are not saying these mice have autism or that they have ADHD. That's not the goal here. What we are saying is that something in their brain has been altered by this exposure and it's resulting in the same kinds of behaviors that we see in children with autism." Dr. Gary Miller, vice dean for research strategy and innovation at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and a co-author on the study, said the research builds on prior efforts to identify other potentially harmful pest control chemicals. "We have reduced our exposures to many classes of dangerous pesticides over the past few decades through restrictions and regulations." Miller said. "This study adds to a growing body of literature that the widely used pyrethroids are not without adverse effects and should be further evaluated for their safety." The prevalence of autism in the United States has risen significantly over the past two decades, rising from one in 150 children in 2000 to one in 44 children in 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some of that increase is being driven by more awareness of autism spectrum disorder and better diagnostic processes. However, scientists still don't know what causes most cases of autism. "Research has traditionally focused on genetics, but it's come to be appreciated there's also a significant environmental element," Burkett said. "Unfortunately, those factors are very poorly understood. That's why this kind of research is so important. You can't change someone's genetics, but you can address environment factors." Pyrethroids are not the only class of pesticides that have been linked to autism, and scientists generally agree that development of the condition requires more than one single trigger. "This research represents a piece of the puzzle. It is not definitive proof that the pesticide is unsafe or directly causing autism in humans," Burkett said. "It may, however, suggest that the safe level of the pesticide needs to be revisited for pregnant women and children." Muscle function typically improves during adolescence and deteriorates with age. Sarcopenia is one such type of muscle weakening, caused primarily by the natural aging process. As compared to other ethnicities, Asians with a relatively low body mass index (BMI) are more likely to develop sarcopenia as they grow older. The condition significantly impacts their quality of life, and thus, it is crucial to have strategies that prevent its onset. In a new study published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle on April 13, 2023, a research team led by Associate Professor Yoshifumi Tamura from the Faculty of International Liberal Arts, Juntendo University, including Dr. Hiroki Tabata, Dr. Ryuzo Kawamori and Dr. Hirotaka Watada of the Sportology Center, and Department of Metabolism & Endocrinology, Juntendo University, Graduate School of Medicine investigated whether the habit of exercising and being physically active not only during older ages, but also during adolescence lowered the risk of sarcopenia at an older age. "Preventing sarcopenia is an important strategy for preventing disability and the need for long-term care in the older age. By establishing the association, we can move one step closer to reducing risk factors of sarcopenia in older Japanese adults," says Prof. Tamura. The team assessed the exercise habits of 1,607 community-dwelling Japanese adults with comprised 679 males and 928 females aged 6584, as part of the "Bunkyo Health Study". The participants underwent a complete health examination, including measurements of skeletal muscle index, handgrip strength, and gait speed. They were further divided into four groups based on their exercise habits in adolescence and older age: no exercise in either period, exercise only in adolescence, exercise only in older age, and exercise in both periods. Multivariate-adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for the prevalence of sarcopenia in each group. Low muscle performance was defined as low muscle strength and/or low gait speed. Of the total participants, 6.6% of the men and 1.7% of the women had sarcopenia. Low muscle mass was prevalent in 14.3% of the men and 5.2% of the women, while low muscle performance was recorded in 25.6% of the men and 19.6% of the women. In men, the ORs for sarcopenia, low muscle mass, and low muscle performance were significantly lower in the group that exercised during adolescence and older age. In contrast, in women, the OR for low muscle performance was significantly lower in those who exercised during their adolescence and older age. The study indicated that older men who exercised in their adolescence and older age were at a lower risk of sarcopenia and had better muscle mass and muscle performance. In contrast, older women with exercise habits during these phases of their lives were at a lower risk of poor muscle performance. "We would like to emphasize that exercising not only during old age but also during adolescence, i.e., junior and high school, may influence the maintenance of skeletal muscle function in old age," explains Prof. Tamura. It is concerning that in Japan, the rate of exercise implementation has been shown to be highest during junior high school and then rapidly decreases with age. So, how do we address this problem? Prof. Tamura responds, "By creating the awareness that inculcating the habit of exercising during adolescence, people can prevent several problems in their older ages. In the long run, exercising during adolescence has the potential to improve the quality of life of the older adults by providing maintenance of their skeletal muscle function." Kudos to the research team for highlighting the benefits of exercising on the risk of sarcopenia. We are confident that these findings will push more young people in Japan toward a healthier lifestyle! In the majority of cases, graft failure after heart transplantation is attributable to abnormalities like severe coronary artery disease. As donors with extended criteria like advanced age and pre-existing heart conditions become eligible for heart transplantation, careful screening for congenital abnormalities has become crucial. Invasive coronary angiography is an essential screening tool that can detect coronary artery disease (CAD), a condition characterized by cholesterol deposits in the heart's arteries. However, logistical challenges limit utility so it's used for fewer than a third of donors who are at risk of developing CAD. To overcome this limitation, a new heart preservation procedure called "ex situ heart perfusion" (ESHP) has been developed. By allowing the supply of oxygenated nutrients to the heart via blood vessels, ESHP allows doctors to monitor the performance of the heart and screen it for any defects outside the body. However, coronary angiography conducted during ESHP is known to damage the heart and result in primary graft failure. Alternative coronary imaging tools are, therefore, required to identify abnormal blood flows in donor hearts and to determine their eligibility for transplantation. As reported in the Journal of Biomedical Optics (JBO), a team of researchers led by Professor Elise Colin from Paris Saclay University, France, introduced a safe and noninvasive optical technique that allows imaging of coronary blood circulation in donor hearts during ESHP. The method utilizes a recently developed speckle imaging technique, known as Laser Speckle Orthogonal Contrast Imaging (LSOCI), that was developed to detect the multiple scattering of moving red blood cells. In this study, the researchers improved the imaging capability of LSOCI to observe small blood vessels in the heart. The proposed method thus analyzes blood flow in the heart using a specific polarimetric filtering process that allows suppression of surface scattering. Thus, the time varying speckle patterns used for the imaging process are mainly generated by multiple scattering on moving red blood cells inside peripheral vessels. The optical technique allows high-resolution imaging of the entire peripheral vasculature of the heart in real time." Professor Elise Colin from Paris Saclay University, France To test this method, the researchers developed a clinical model to study coronary circulation on donor hearts before transplantation. They then used a laser and a camera mounted on an articulated arm fixed above the perfusion module-;which contained the donor heart-;to generate and analyze rapidly varying speckle patterns. To overcome the challenges in tracking vasculature due to the beating of the heart, the researchers further optimized the technique with a method called Multi-Period-Enhanced Signal-to-Noise Ratio (MPE-SNR). They took a series of images over time to build a set of frames that depicted the vasculature at similar heart positions. Each image in this sequence was then optimized using the other images to reduce noise and enhance details. The optimized image represented the vasculature at a different time point, and the researchers used a sequence of such images to visualize vasculatures as small as 100 microns in a few seconds. The newly developed imaging technique enables precise visualization of blood circulation. In the future, this technique can potentially identify myocardial perfusion abnormalities that indicate underlying heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease. According to Amy Oldenburg, Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and JBO Associate Editor, "The noncontact technique, based on laser speckle, provides imaging of blood circulation within donor hearts and has important implications for identifying hearts that are safe and suitable for transplantation." Multicenter International Study, Led by Cedars-Sinai and Presented at American Association of Neurological Surgeons Scientific Meeting, Finds Medical Management Yields Similar Results to Surgery New research led by Cedars-Sinai found that for patients who experience sudden bleeding or death of a tumor on the pituitary gland (shown here), medical management is as effective as surgery in most cases. Image by Getty. The first prospective study comparing outcomes in patients with pituitary apoplexysudden bleeding or death of a pituitary tumorfound that patients managed medically fared as well as those treated surgically in the majority of cases. The multicenter international study, led by Cedars-Sinai investigators, was presented today at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Scientific Meeting in Los Angeles. This is the best data to date on the question of surgery versus medical management in patients with this rare but serious condition, said Adam Mamelak, MD, co-director of the Pituitary Center and director of the Functional Neurosurgery Program at Cedars-Sinai and lead author of the study. It demonstrates in a prospective, controlled way what previous studies had begun to suggest, namely that pituitary apoplexy is very rarely a surgical emergency. The pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain, controls the function of several hormone-producing glands. Pituitary apoplexy occurs when a benign tumor in the pituitary gland area begins to bleed or dies, causing the tumor to grow and press on the surrounding brain tissues. This, in turn, causes symptoms such as severe headache, fatigue, confusion, and vision problems including vision loss. Most commonly, these tumors are undetected prior to the apoplexy event. To relieve the pressure on brain tissues and the symptoms of apoplexy, patients can either have the tumor surgically removed or be treated with medications to relieve pain and other symptoms while they wait for it to naturally shrink over time. In both cases, patients generally also need hormone replacement therapy, Mamelak said. Pituitary apoplexy has long been considered an emergency requiring rapid surgical treatment to achieve best results. Small retrospective studies, where investigators look back at previously collected data, have suggested that pituitary apoplexy patients have equally good outcomes with medical management, but these observations have failed to significantly change clinical practice. While we've seen a growing trend toward clinicians being a little more comfortable with medical management of pituitary apoplexy, in general, most patients still end up getting surgery. Those small retrospective studies really didnt move the needle that much. Adam Mamelak, MD, Director of Functional Neurosurgery Program, Cedars-Sinai To provide a more solid basis for clinical decision making, Mamelak and fellow investigators from the Department of Neurosurgery and the Pituitary Center at Cedars-Sinaias well as colleagues from 11 other medical centers in North America, Japan, South Korea and Europedeveloped the Pituitary Apoplexy Surgical Timing & Outcomes Registry (PASTOR). The registry enrolled 97 patients with pituitary apoplexy at the time of diagnosis and compared outcomes for the 67 patients who had surgery with those for the 30 patients whose symptoms were medically managed. This type of prospective registry allows investigators to draw stronger conclusions because data collection is the same for all participants. Investigators found that: Length of hospital stay was the same for patients who had surgery as for those who did not. Patients who had surgery experienced the same outcomes whether they had surgery right away or days after the onset of symptoms. There were no statistically significant differences in hormone function, vision or quality of life between the two groups of patients three and six months after treatment. Mamelak noted that patients experiencing more severe vision symptoms were more likely to have surgery than those experiencing milder symptoms, but that surgery didnt necessarily lead to better outcomes. Cedars-Sinai and the other sites taking part in this study all have expert pituitary neurosurgery and endocrinology teams, which could help account for the positive outcomes experienced by surgical patients, said Keith L. Black, MD, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and the Ruth and Lawrence Harvey Chair in Neuroscience at Cedars-Sinai. A wealth of solid research tells us that outcomes from pituitary surgery are directly tied to surgical experience. Mamelak said that further research specifically looking at outcomes for people with visual field deficits would be needed to determine whether surgery is best in those cases. Meanwhile, the current findings could especially benefit medical centers that do not have the expertise to surgically treat pituitary tumors. These findings take some of the urgency out of managing these cases, Mamelak said. Clinicians at these centers now know that they can safely manage these patients medically and transfer them when its reasonable and available, or allow patients to forgo surgery entirely if they are comfortable with that. Also at the conference: In a recent study published in the JAMA Pediatrics Journal, researchers reported on a dog screening program to complement a school-based severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) rapid antigen testing program. Scent-trained dogs are a strategy for rapid, non-invasive, low-cost COVID-19 testing. Study: Lessons Learned From a COVID-19 Dog Screening Pilot in California K-12 Schools. Image Credit: obertAvgustin/Shutterstock.com Background The Public Health Department of California funds a state-level, school-based rapid antigen testing program for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Despite being effective, the program requires healthcare personnel, resources for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing, and the collection of samples. Moreover, the programs result in medical waste generation. Dogs trained to recognize scents provide a non-invasive, rapid, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable approach to screening for SARS-CoV-2. Previous studies have reported on the capability of dogs to detect COVID-19-associated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in specimens obtained from individuals infected or uninfected with SARS-CoV-2. About the study In the present study, researchers reported on SARS-CoV-2 detection by dogs as an initial screening approach before performing SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests. The team partnered with the Early Alert Canines Organization to train two medical alert dogs to detect VOCs released from SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals. In-person COVID-19 screening using dogs was performed in several schools, which provided elementary-, middle- and high-level education, on the days of the scheduled SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests. Individuals stood six feet apart, and their handlers led the medical alert dogs to sniff the ankles and feet of the study participants. The individuals did not face the dogs to maintain confidentiality. The dogs sat down to indicate an individual as probably SARS-CoV-2-positive. All participants subsequently underwent SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen testing for a comparative assessment of the specificity and sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 detection by dogs. The results of dog screening and rapid antigen testing were recorded on the primary health digital platform. If the dogs signaled SARS-CoV-2-positive but the rapid antigen test reports were SARS-CoV-2-negative, the dog screening-rapid antigen test pair signal was considered false positive. Likewise, if the dogs did not provide any signal but the rapid antigen testing reports were SARS-CoV-2-positive, the pairing signal was regarded as a false negative. Demographic data were obtained on participant age (five to 10 years, 11 to 14 years, 15 to 18 years, 19 to 49 years, 50 to 64 years, and 65 years); sex (male, female, nonbinary, transgender male); and race or ethnicity (American Indians or Alaskan natives, Asians, Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, multiracial non-Hispanics, Native Hawaiians, and other types of Pacific Islanders). In addition, data were obtained on the type of schools (public or private) and the number of dog-performed screenings (one, two, three, and four or more). Results and discussion Following two months of dog training on scents emitted from SARS-CoV-2-positive laboratory specimens, the dogs attained >95.0% specificity and sensitivity for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Subsequently, on-field COVID-19 screening by dogs was performed across 27.0 schools in 50.0 visits between April 1 and May 25 2022. Among 1,558 participants, the median age was 13.0 years; 56% (n=870) were female, 43% (n=670) were male, and 1.20% (n=18) were of nonbinary, undisclosed, or transgender sexes. The sample population largely comprised students (89%), and 68% of the study participants were screened 2.0 times. Among students (n=1,383), 450 (33%), 565 (41%), 53 (4.0%), and 315 (23%) were screened by dogs one time, two times, three times, and four or more times, respectively. For staff members (n=145), the corresponding numbers (percentages) were 55 (38%), 64 (44%), 11 (8.0%), and 15 (10%), respectively. Among community members (n=30), 18 individuals (60%) and 12 individuals (40%) were screened by dogs once and twice, respectively. In total, 3,897 paired rapid antigen test-dog screenings for SARS-CoV-2 were performed. The animals accurately signaled 85 COVID-19 cases and eliminated 3,411 SARS-CoV-2 infections, yielding a diagnostic accuracy of 90.0%. However, the animals inaccurately signaled SARS-CoV-2 presence in 383.0 instances and could not detect SARS-CoV-2 in 18.0 cases, providing specificity and sensitivity of 90.0% and 83.0%, respectively. The results of COVID-19 screening using dogs directly on individuals could be impacted by distractions (including noises and pediatric individuals) and environmental variables such as wind and smells present in the surroundings, apart from those emitted by individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions Overall, the study findings showed that after scent training using laboratory specimens, and field testing, the medical alert dogs accurately detected SARS-CoV-2 presence in the majority of instances. Contrasting to the approaches used in previous studies that used specimens, the dogs performed on-field COVID-19 screening to enable more cost-effective and swifter screening. The approach improved SARS-CoV-2 testing efficiency; however, a modest specificity and sensitivity reduction was observed compared to the laboratory testing results. Performing extensive VOC-based screening using dogs followed by SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen testing only for individuals who are signaled as SARS-CoV-2-positive by the dogs could reduce rapid antigen test requirements by nearly 85.0%, and therefore, reduce the burden of COVID-19 on health resources. The study findings underpin using dogs to non-invasively and efficiently screen for SARS-CoV-2. Air India is in the process of modernising its digital systems landscape. The company is also in the process of becoming the most technologically advanced in the world. Air India also aims to build a cutting-edge digital and technology team. The team will have a presence in the Silicon Valley, United States as well as Kochi and Gurugram in India. The airline has invested almost $200 million in the creation of an industry-leading digital workforce, new digital engineering services and digital systems. Air India expects to maintain this pace of investment in the field over the next five years. Vihaan.AI, Air Indias transformational roadmap, will focus on clear milestones over the next five years. The plan will work on expansion of airlines fleet and network, develop a revamped customer proposition, and improve the reliability and on-time performance of the company. Also Read: Chennai International Airport: Flight Arrival, Departure Starts at New Terminal Some of the areas where Air India is in the advanced stage of implementation or has already deployed new technologies are employee empowerment, operational improvements, enterprise systems transformation and customer engagement. Air India is set to modernise its website and mobile app. It will provide a user-friendly customer notifications system and a customer service portal with real-time request tracking. The airline will also develop modern, secure digital workplace tools for employee engagement. The Tata Group-owned airlines is set to modernise its passenger service system and departure control system, flight planning and tracking, fuel management and Core Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. Air Indias Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Dr. Satya Ramaswamy said that the airline was on a mission to make its customers happy and create a sustainable competitive advantage in its operations by this move. The scope of the technology transformation at Air India is extensive and covers every aspect of the airline including commercial, engineering, operations, ground handling, finance, human resources, and corporate functions. We are empowering employees across the company, ranging from our frontline flying staff to ground crew with the best technology capabilities to help them excel at their jobs. We are adopting a cloud-only, mobile-friendly, design-rich, AI-infused, digital-first approach to all our technology initiatives that we are executing with speed, Ramaswamy stated. Air Indias move to modernise its digital and technology landscape will also aid all airlines of the group. The company has emphasised on having common-systems across the full-service as well as the low-cost segments. Read all the Latest Auto News here The Road Transport Ministry is set to expand the list of acceptable documents for proof of identity, address, and age, for getting a license or registration certificate. At present, documents like Aadhaar, voter ID card or passport are required if you want to get a driving license or get your vehicle registered. According to Times of India, authorities are now planning to include documents like service certificates of central and state government employees issued by a gazetted officer, Kisan photograph passbook, ration cards or PDS photograph cards, disability ID cards and marriage certificates issued by the government as proof of identity, address and age. The new list of acceptable documents will include as many as 30 documents. Additionally, transgender ID cards or certificates issued by the government will also be considered as valid documents. The motive behind this move by the road transport ministry is to offer more options for documents to get a driving license or registration certificate. Also Read: Kochi Holds Greatest Promise for Adoption of Active and Shared Mobility, Claims OMI Foundation Report At the same time, an Aadhaar card, voter ID and passport remain the most preferred documents for proof of identity, address, and age. The set or the proposed documents not more than one year will be accepted for proof of identity and address. Similarly, a Class 10 mark sheet or any other certificate issued by a recognised board will be enough to establish proof of identity and age. The ministrys proposal includes accepting a long-term visa along with a foreign passport (both valid or expired) of origin country issued to minority communities of Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan, namely Sikhs, Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians, as a valid document. It can be said that the process to get a driving license will certainly get more convenient after this decision of the road transport ministry. In February, news surfaced that driving tests in Delhi will be completely automated soon. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 governs the issuance of driving license and registration certificate across the country. Rule 4 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules provides the list of documents which can be submitted as proof of correct address and age for obtaining a driving license. Read all the Latest Auto News here Skoda Auto, the Czech automaker, has announced plans to launch six new electric vehicles (EVs) by 2026. The company has invested a total of 5.6bn in e-mobility and plans to expand its EV range to six models by 2026. The four new EV models include the Small" BEV in the small SUV segment, the Compact" Elroq in the compact SUV segment, a spacious Combi" estate model, and a seven-seater SUV called Space". The Enyaq iV and Enyaq Coupe iV were the first two Skoda models based on the Volkswagen Groups Modular Electrification Platform (MEB). These models will be updated in 2025 to reflect the new design language that will be featured in all future Skoda EV models. Having said that, Skodas first upcoming BEV is the Elroq, the all-electric successor to the Skoda Karoq, expected to launch in 2024. The new model measures around 4.50 metres in length and offers a combination of compact dimensions and spacious, practical interiors. Skodas future entry-level model, with a working title Small," will make electric mobility more affordable, priced around 25,000. The sub-compact car will be produced at a Volkswagen Group Plant in Spain and introduced in 2025. The new BEVs, along with new generations of the Superb and Kodiaq, refreshed Octavia, Kamiq, and Scala, will make Skodas portfolio the most diverse in its history. During the transition to all-electric mobility, Skoda will continue to offer models with internal combustion engines and plug-in hybrid powertrains to cater to varying market demands. According to Skoda, ICE engines will continue to play a crucial role in individual mobility as e-mobility adoption varies. The companys engineers are also constantly improving ICE engine efficiency to ensure they remain competitive. Also Read: Andhra Auto Driver Makes Electric Vehicle Capable Of Running 100 KM On Single Charge In addition, Skoda Auto will develop the entire EA211 engine range within the Volkswagen Group. The brand is dedicated to affordability, and its ICE vehicles remain a key element of its strategy to provide affordable individual mobility for a wide range of customers. Skoda Auto is also committed to sustainability in vehicle production and supply chains, using renewable energy and recyclable materials. The company aims to increase the use of natural and recycled materials in its vehicles, and even uses recycled plastics from old battery housings and bumpers in underbody panels for the Skoda Enyaq iV. By the end of the decade, Skoda aims to operate its three Czech plants with net-zero carbon emissions and will use only renewable energy sources. The carmaker is also set to launch several new battery electric vehicle (BEV) models, which will sport a new design language called Modern Solid." The design emphasizes a minimalist and functional exterior that conveys a sense of safety and strength, while the interior offers spacious, contemporary designs marked by superb functionality and intuitive controls. The Skoda Design team has reinterpreted traditional Skoda hallmarks to create a vehicle that embodies modern simplicity, practicality, and honest design. Read all the Latest Auto News here The launch of Apple stores in India earlier this month was a sight to behold. Hundreds of people flocked to the stores in Mumbai and Delhi to get a glimpse of the tech giants latest offerings. Now details have emerged about the employees at the outlets, once again sparking curiosity about Apples exclusive stores. According to reports, the employees at Apple Indias stores are earning significantly higher salaries compared to their counterparts in other tech retail stores. As per a report by Economic Times, the workers are paid Rs 1 lakh monthly by Apple. The report also claimed that the workers get health and wellness schemes, tuition fees for studies and discounts for buying Apple products. Apart from this, the staffers also get paid leave. Apple has recruited about 170 people for its two stores in India. The workers have degrees like Bachelor of Technology (BTech), Master of Technology (MTech) and Master of Business Administration. The Cupertino-based tech giant has recruited people who have studied information technology, management, electrical engineering and computer science. Employees at Apples Delhi store, which is located in Saket, can speak over 15 languages. As per ET, people who have studied abroad have also been recruited by the company. Staffers have also been brought in from countries in the Middle East and Europe. The workers at Apples exclusive stores went through global level customer service training. Apple opened its first store in India on April 18 in Mumbais BKC. The energy, creativity, and passion in Mumbai is incredible! We are so excited to open Apple BKC our first store in India, CEO Tim Cook tweeted before the stores opening. The energy, creativity, and passion in Mumbai is incredible! We are so excited to open Apple BKC our first store in India. pic.twitter.com/talx2ZQEMl Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 18, 2023 The second store, in Delhi, was opened on April 20. After his meeting with Tim Cook on April 20, union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said Apple may double, or even triple, its investments in India in the coming years. I am very confident that this Apple-India partnership has a lot of headroom for investments, growth, exports and jobs - doubling and tripling over coming years," he told Reuters. Apple already has a presence in India in the manufacturing sector. Taiwanese firms Foxconn and Wistron Corp have facilities for assembling Apples products in the country. Apple is keen to expand its production capabilities in India as a step towards reducing its reliance on China. Read all the Latest Business News, Tax News and Stock Market Updates here News / National by Staff Reporter PROMINENT Gweru businesswoman and philanthropist, Dr Smelly Dube last week attended high-level meetings in Glasgow and England to prepare her entry into the United Kingdom's most lucrative property market.The industrious Dube was also part of the two-day Zimbabwe Capital Markets Indaba in London headed by Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube.She was part of the over 300 public and private sector executives from Zimbabwe who attended the high-valued business gathering in London.The two-day workshop was co-hosted by the Finance Markets Indaba (FMI) and the Zimbabwe Embassy in the United Kingdom at the London Stock Exchange.The River Valley proprietor has managed to carve her own niche in male-dominated property development. She has now expanded her enterprise to include gold mining.The eccentric businesswoman said she attended a couple of business meetings in Glasgow to explore more investment opportunities in Europe as well as lure investors to Zimbabwe."We had a hectic schedule here as we seek to expand our business, for now, we were fully booked with various business meetings lined up as we explore investment opportunities here," said Dr Dube.She said while on a mission to explore some business ventures in the UK, she was also carrying President His Excellency President Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa's message that Zimbabwe is Open for business."While we seek to invest in the UK, we have also not forgotten to remind the potential investors here that Zimbabwe is a great nation with various investment opportunities as well under the Second Republic, we are thus carrying President Mnangagwa's message that Zimbabwe is open for Business," she said.Dr Dube said she will be in the UK to also witness the coronation of Charles III and wife Camilla as King and Queen of England which is scheduled for 6 May.She is also set to attend the Leaders Without Borders International Business and Investment Summit and Honours to be held late next month in London.She is accompanied by her husband, Eng Mncedisi Dube who is also the River Valley Group of Companies chairman. Petrol, and Diesel Prices Today: There was no change to fuel prices in four major metro cities on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Except for individual cases, petrol and diesel rates across the country have been steady since May 21 last year, when the previous pan-India revision was announced. However, many cities saw petrol prices above Rs 100 mark. On Wednesday, the cost of one litre of petrol in Delhi continue to remain Rs 96.72 and for an equal quantity of diesel, customers have to pay Rs 89.62. Similarly, customers in Mumbai will have to pay Rs 106.31 for a litre of petrol and Rs 94.72 for equal quantity of diesel. According to government oil companies, earlier this week, petrol became costlier by 29 paise in Himachal, 24 paise in Punjab, and 62 paise in Jammu and Kashmir. Diesel became costlier by 26 paise, 23 paise and 50 paise respectively at these places. At the same time, petrol-diesel became cheaper by 25 paise in Uttar Pradesh. Petrol became cheaper by 44 paise and diesel by 41 paise in West Bengal. Petrol in Noida has gone up to Rs 96.58 and diesel to Rs 89.75 per litre. Rs 96.58 in Ghaziabad and Rs 89.75 per liter of diesel. Petrol in Lucknow will cost Rs 96.57 and diesel Rs 89.76 per liter. Whereas, petrol rates in Patna has become Rs 107.24 and diesel Rs 94.04 per liter. And, petrol has become Rs 84.10 and diesel Rs 79.74 per liter in Port Blair. In India, oil marketing companies (OMCs) such as Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum determine petrol and diesel prices. This is done on a daily basis, and rates are determined in accordance with the price of crude oil throughout the world. Why do fuel prices vary across states? The rates for each day, whether new or unchanged, are announced at 6 am on the day. These, however, vary from state to state; this is due to criteria such as Value Added Tax (VAT), freight charges, local taxes, etc. Petrol, and Diesel prices in Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Noida, and Gurugram on April 25, 2023 CITY Petrol (Per Litre) Diesel (Per Litre) Bengaluru Rs 101.94 Rs 87.89 Chandigarh Rs 96.20 Rs 84.26 Chennai Rs 102.86 Rs 94.46 Gurugram Rs 96.66 Rs 89.54 Kolkata Rs 106.03 Rs 92.76 Lucknow Rs 96.54 Rs 89.81 Mumbai Rs 106.31 Rs 94.27 New Delhi Rs 96.72 Rs 89.62 Noida Rs 96.58 Rs 89.75 Crude Oil Price Today Oil prices rose in early Asian trade on Wednesday after a US trade group reported a significant draw in crude oil stocks ahead of the governments data release. Brent crude rose by 16 cents, or 0.2%, to $80.93 a barrel by 0006 GMT. Read all the Latest Business News, Tax News and Stock Market Updates here Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Indias largest IT services company, is planning to reduce pay disparity in the company by up-skilling its employees and evaluating them at a high bar to double their salaries, according to a Moneycontrol report. The company employs more than 6 lakh employees globally. The company finds this a better strategy than shelling out very high increments to new hires as the industry has started to come out of a pandemic-induced rally of high employee attrition and massive hikes of over 80-120 per cent. Those two years of instant gratification were definitely there. While we lost people because they were getting X per cent more somewhere, we also hired people, not with that kind of increase but there was some increase definitely. We also ensured that internally people get the opportunity to upgrade their compensation through various initiatives, to reduce disparity internally," Milind Lakkad, chief human resources officer (CHRO) of TCS, told Moneycontrol. To give a chance of doubling salary amid high attrition rates, the company is enrolling more employees in its existing programmes across levels of experience even if the bar of people managing to clear these high-level programmes in the first attempt is only around 10 per cent a year. TCS total workforce stood at 6,14,795 as on March 31, 2023. This is lower than the 6,16,171 employees recorded in the September 2022 quarter. The workforce continues to be diverse, comprising 150 nationalities and women making up 35.7 per cent of the base. The companys IT services attrition rate continues to trend downwards and was 20.1 per cent on an LTM (last-twelve-month) basis. In the previous quarter ended December 2022, the attrition rate had stood at 21.3 per cent, marginally lower than the 21.5 per cent during the quarter ended September 2022. TCS added a net of just 821 employees during January-March 2023 and 22,600 for the year. Tata Consultancy Services has reported a 14.8 per cent jump YoY in its net profit to Rs 11,436 crore for the quarter ended March 2023 (Q4 FY23). Its revenue from operations also rose 16.94 per cent to Rs 59,162 crore, compared with Rs 50,591 crore in the year-ago period. TCS net profit had stood at Rs 9,959 crore in the corresponding period last year (Q4 FY22). Read all the Latest Business News, Tax News and Stock Market Updates here Do we feel less concerned by a natural disaster when it occurs far from home? And does this psychological distance apply to the climate crisis? A recent meta-analysis conducted by a team of researchers in the Netherlands suggests that this might not be the case. Studies have even shown that, on the contrary, climate events that occur far away do not necessarily lead to less citizen engagement on climate issues. Are we less affected psychologically by a war or a natural disaster if it takes place far from the country in which we live? Well known to psychologists, this theory refers to the concept of psychological distance. Studied for years, it describes the capacity of the human brain to put events at a distance, often to protect itself from emotions such as stress or anxiety. So does this concept apply to the climate crisis? To find out, Dr. Anne M. van Valkengoed, a researcher at the University of Groningen (Netherlands), reviewed a large number of opinion polls. The results of her work have now been published in the journal, One Earth. Among the studies reviewed, two, conducted in 2019 and 2021, surveyed more than 100,000 respondents in 121 countries and territories. According to these polls, 41% of respondents believe that climate change is a very serious threat to their home country. Even in countries that are assumed to have many climate skeptics, most people perceive climate change as a risk for their home country," the study says, citing the example of the United States, where more than 60% of respondents believe that climate change will harm the American population. Contradictory findings Some studies included in this analysis suggest that, the more people perceive climate change through a lens of psychological distance, the less likely they are to engage in climate-friendly behavior and/or support climate change policies. This is not the case for all, however, as conversely, other research finds no significant relationship between perceptions of psychological distance and climate action. Some research has even shown that viewing climate change as impacting distant places and communities actually encourages people to take more action. In addition, 25 out of 30 studies failed to show that experimentally decreasing psychological distance increased participants ecological engagement. Reducing psychological distance is considered an effective strategy to increase climate action. Yet, the idea of psychological distance as a barrier to climate action has also been criticized. It currently remains unclear to what extent psychological distance hinders climate action," the study states. The effect of social influence According to the research, the widespread (and obviously unfounded) idea that distancing oneself from an event leads to a lack of willingness to commit to the climate can also be counterproductive. Social influence plays a major role in an individuals propensity to act (or not) for the planet. For example, if someone explains to another person that they arent bothering to be green because they think that their actions would have too little impact," the other person might be discouraged and not take action themselves. Also, [people] might think that their efforts are futile because real environmental change relies on the combined efforts of many," explains the study news release. In light of this evidence, the paper suggests that businesses and policymakers should be focusing on prioritizing evidence over intuition in policymaking to promote climate action." In other words, they should focus communication and outreach strategies on the understanding that many people already perceive climate change as happening in the here and now," and that they may be affected by, or feel concerned about, events related to the climate crisis, even if these are happening far from home. Read all the Latest Buzz News here The primary job of a police officer is to stop crime and establish peace in the society. They are known to help ordinary people when in trouble and provide a safe space. But sometimes we tend to associate the police force with terror and panic because of how harshly they speak and behave. Also, movies have somewhat tainted our perception of the police, making us believe that only corruption and bribery exist among the police force. But, this heart-warming video of a policemans kindness and generosity towards a poor boy, living on the streets will change your perception of the police. The lovely visual clip was shared on Instagram on April 25 by a user named Abhay Giri. The video shows a police officer offering water to a homeless boy. After he finishes drinking from the bottle, the policeman surprised the boy with another thoughtful gift. He brought out a pair of blue slippers for the boy to wear and assisted him in wearing those. The boy, supposedly overwhelmed at the kind gesture, sported a beaming smile on his face and tried to touch the feet of the policeman. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Abhay Giri (@abhaygiri21) After offering water to the boy and giving him new slippers to wear, the police officer once again showed his generosity by surprising the lad with new clothes which included a pair of pants and a blue shirt. Elated at his new gifts, the boy could not seem to control his smile as he yet again tried to touch the police officers feet with the utmost respect. By the end of the video, the boy struck a goofy pose while the policeman looked at him with affectionate eyes. This smile wins the heart, reads the caption of the post. The video was quick to lure in social media users, who lauded the police officer for his kindness. Good job sir, praised one user. Very nice sir, we salute you. Jai Hind, sir, wrote another impressed netizen. Sir, salute from the heart. I am feeling proud to see your good work. I wish every police were like this, wished a third individual. So far, the heart-touching video has collected more than 3 lacs and 35 thousand views on Instagram. Did the video melt your heart too? Read all the Latest Buzz News here The AI bot ChatGPT has passed exams, written poetry, and deployed in newsrooms, and now politicians are seeking it out but experts are warning against rapid uptake of a tool also famous for fabricating facts". The chatbot, released last November by US firm OpenAI, has quickly moved centre stage in politics particularly as a way of scoring points. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently took a direct hit from the bot when he answered some innocuous questions about healthcare reform from an opposition MP. Unbeknownst to the PM, his adversary had generated the questions with ChatGPT. He also generated answers that he claimed were more sincere" than Kishidas. The PM hit back that his own answers had been more specific". French trade union boss Sophie Binet was on-trend when she drily assessed a recent speech by President Emmanuel Macron as one that could have been done by ChatGPT". But the bot has also been used to write speeches and even help draft laws. Its useful to think of ChatGPT and generative AI in general as a cliche generator," David Karpf of George Washington University in the US said during a recent online panel. Most of what we do in politics is also cliche generation." Limited added value Nowhere has the enthusiasm for grandstanding with ChatGPT been keener than in the United States. Last month, Congresswoman Nancy Mace gave a five-minute speech at a Senate committee enumerating potential uses and harms of AI before delivering the punchline that every single word" had been generated by ChatGPT. Local US politician Barry Finegold had already gone further though, pronouncing in January that his team had used ChatGPT to draft a bill for the Massachusetts Senate. The bot reportedly introduced original ideas to the bill, which is intended to rein in the power of chatbots and AI. Anne Meuwese from Leiden University in the Netherlands wrote in a column for Dutch law journal RegelMaat last week that she had carried out a similar experiment with ChatGPT and also found that the bot introduced original ideas. But while ChatGPT was to some extent capable of generating legal texts, she wrote that lawmakers should not fall over each other to use the tool. Not only is much still unclear about important issues such as environmental impact, bias and the ethics at OpenAI the added value also seems limited for now," she wrote. - Agitprop bots - The added value might be more obvious lower down the political food chain, though, where staffers on the campaign trail face a treadmill of repetitive tasks. Karpf suggested AI could be useful for generating emails asking for donations necessary messages that were not intended to be masterpieces. This raises an issue of whether the bots can be trained to represent a political point of view. ChatGPT has already provoked a storm of controversy over its apparent liberal bias the bot initially refused to write a poem praising Donald Trump but happily churned out couplets for his successor as US President Joe Biden. Billionaire magnate Elon Musk has spied an opportunity. Despite warning that AI systems could destroy civilization, he recently promised to develop TruthGPT, an AI text tool stripped of the perceived liberal bias. Perhaps he neednt have bothered. New Zealand researcher David Rozado already ran an experiment retooling ChatGPT as RightWingGPT a bot on board with family values, liberal economics and other right-wing rallying cries. Critically, the computational cost of trialling, training and testing the system was less than $300," he wrote on his Substack blog in February. Not to be outdone, the left has its own Marxist AI". The bot was created by the founder of Belgian satirical website Nordpresse, who goes by the pseudonym Vincent Flibustier. He told AFP his bot just sends queries to ChatGPT with the command to answer as if it were an angry trade unionist". The malleability of chatbots is central to their appeal but it goes hand-in-hand with the tendency to generate untruths, making AI text generators potentially hazardous allies for the political class. You dont want to become famous as the political consultant or the political campaign that blew it because you decided that you could have a generative AI do [something] for you," said Karpf. Read all the Latest Buzz News here The long-awaited AP Inter 2nd year 2023 results are now out, and students appear to have performed exceedingly well this year. The pass rate for this year in 1st year is 61% while for the 2nd year it is 72%. In 2022, BIEAP 2nd year pass percentage was 61 per cent. The AP board achieved 100 per cent pass percentage in 2021. Between 2020 and 2019, the pass percentage has remained between 50 to 70 per cent. Manabadi AP Inter Result 2023 LIVE There were about 5.17 lakh candidates who had appeared for the AP 2nd year Inter examination this year. The 1st year Andhra Pradesh inter results girls outperformed as compared. All over females scored 65% while males total percentage is 58%. In the second year as well, girls performed better than boys. Females scored 75% and males created 68% in the AP Inter Examination Results 2023. AP Inter Result 2023: District Wise Merit List Rank 1: Krishna with 77% pass percentage Rank 2: West Godavari with 70% pass percentage Rank 3: Guntur with 68% pass percentage Rank 4: Nellore with 67% pass percentage Rank 5: Vishakhapatnam with 63% pass percentage In the last years AP inter results, girls outperformed boys in both AP Inter 1st and 2nd year classes. This year, girls passed the class 12 exam at a rate of up to per cent, while boys scored a pass percentage of - per cent. In 2022, in the second year, 68 per cent girls passed the exam as compared to boys with a pass percentage of 54 per cent. The Andhra Pradesh Board conducted the Inter 2nd year exams from March 16 to April 4. The exams took place in a single shift from 9 am to 12 noon. To qualify in the exam, students are required to secure at least 35 per cent marks. Soon after the declaration of the AP Inter results, the re-evaluation process will begin. Students who are not satisfied with their intermediate exam scores can get their answer sheets rechecked. They will have to submit an application form along with an essential fee. If the marks are changed or increased, a revised mark sheet will be handed over to students. Students who were unable to secure the minimum qualifying marks on the first attempt can opt for supplementary or compartment AP Inter exam. A total of 9,42,350 students appeared for BIEAP inter exams in 2022. In the 2nd year, as many as 4.23 lakhs have appeared out of which 2,58,449 students passed. Read all the Latest Education News here The Andhra Pradesh 2nd-year intermediate results will be declared today by the Board of Intermediate Education (BIEAP). Students who are awaiting for their results can check their scores on the official website at bieap.apcfss.in. Like in earlier years, the BIEAP will announce the Inter results in a press conference. Soon after the results and toppers names are declared, a direct link on the main site will be activated. To download the results, students will have to key in their roll number or hall ticket number on the candidate portal. Read | AP Inter Result 2023 LIVE Updates There were about 5.17 lakh candidates who had appeared for the AP 2nd year Inter test this year. The Andhra Pradesh Board conducted the Inter 2nd year exams from March 16 to April 4. Apart from the official website, 2nd-year intermediate results can be checked via phone in two ways First via SMS, and secondly, students can also refer to mobile-based applications including Kaizala Mobile App, APCM connects, AP Fiber TV, Peoples First Mobile App, and DigiLocker website and mobile app. AP Inter Results 2023: How to Check via Website Step 1: Visit BIEAPs official website at bieap.apcfss.in. Step 2: Click on the AP Inter 2nd-year Result link. Step 3: On the new window, enter the Class 12th hall ticket or roll number. Step 4: The AP Inter 2023 result will be displayed on the screen. Step 5: Check the score and download the confirmation page. Step 6: Keep a copy of the AP Inter scorecard for further reference. AP Inter Results 2023: How to Check via SMS Step 1: Open the SMS body and type APGEN2 (space) roll number Step 2: Send to 5626 Step 3: You will receive your BIEAP inter result as a reply to the message. AP Inter Results 2023: How to Check via DigiLocker Step 1: Go to digilocker.gov.in through any internet browser or install the app Step 2: Look for the Education section on the homepage of the website and click on it Step 3: You will be directed to a new tab where a list of education boards and universities will appear. Step 4: Search for Board of Intermediate Education, Andhra Pradesh or BIEAP Step 5: Sign in Step 6: Enter your roll number and other relevant details. Submit Step 7: The result document will open on a new page To qualify in the exam, students are required to secure at least 35 per cent marks. Soon after the declaration of the AP Inter results, the re-evaluation process will begin. Students who are not satisfied with their intermediate exam scores can get their answer sheets rechecked. They will have to submit an application form along with an essential fee. If the marks are changed or increased, a revised mark sheet will be handed over to students. Meanwhile, the AP Inter 1st year results are likely to be announced on April 29. However, there is no official confirmation from the board yet. Over 5 lakh candidates had appeared for the Andhra Pradesh Inter 1st and 2nd year exams each, this year. There were about 5.10 lakh students who appeared for the AP Inter 1st year exams. The Andhra Pradesh Board conducted the Inter first-year exams from March 15 to April 3. Read all the Latest Education News here The Tamil Nadu Directorate of Government Examinations (TNDGE) recently announced that the Tamil Nadu High School Examination (HSE) results would be released on May 8 at 9.30 AM. Students who took the Tamil Nadu +2 exams can view their results at tnresults.nic.in, dge1.tn.nic.in, dge2.tn.nic.in, and dge.tn.gov.in. Approximately 8.8 lakh students enrolled for the Class 12 or HSC board exams, which were held between March 13 and April 3. Students can access the results online by entering their roll number or any additional credentials that were requested. The National Informatics Centers (NIC) also offer free access to the Tamil Nadu board class 12th results in addition to the official website. The TN Board will additionally deliver the results to the registered mobile numbers of the candidates who took the examination. Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, the Tamil Nadu minister of school education, will announce the HSE results on May 8 at a press conference that will be held at the Anna Centenary Library Conference, according to the official notification. Students must score at least 35 out of 100 in every subject for them to pass the TN board examination in 2023. This guideline also applies to students taking compartmental subjects. Students taking the Tamil Nadu board exams must pass both parts of the exam for subjects that have both theory and practical components. Those who receive a failing grade in one or more subjects may apply for the compartmental exams. According to the information bulletin 2023, the Tamil Nadu Class 10 supplementary exam is expected to be held in June or July. The results of the TN class 12 board exam have been delayed until after the NEET UG 2023 is conducted. The NEET UG is scheduled for May 7 from 2 PM to 5:20 PM in a pen and paper format across 546 cities in India and 14 cities abroad. The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to soon release the NEET UG 2023 admit card as well as the examination city intimation slip. Read all the Latest Education News here Known for his fiery oratory style, Telangana Congress president Anumula Revanth Reddy is one of the star campaigners for the Grand Old Party in the Karnataka elections. With his Yatra for Change, the Congress leader is now preparing the ground for the upcoming assembly elections, focusing on his oratory skills which not only earned him a place in the list of star campaigners but also helped him rise fast in politics. The Congress MP from Malkajgiri constituency shot onto the political scene as an Independent MLC in 2007. He soon joined the Telugu Desam Party and became MLA from Kodangal in 2009. He won the seat again in 2014 and was elected the Floor Leader in Telangana Assembly. In 2017, he joined the Congress and in 2021, he became the TPCC president after Uttam Kumar Reddy. Born in a village called Kondareddypalle in Nagarkurnool district, Reddy was always active in politics. He did his BA from AV College in Osmania University. A close associate of the leader tells News18: Revanth Reddys father was a Police Patel, a person who had a powerful position in the now-abolished Dalapathi system of south India. The Police Patel was responsible for maintaining the law and order in a village. They commanded a lot of respect as a family. A self-confessed fan of the leader, who hails from the same village, said: I am a Congress supporter because of him. His family, involved in social work, is looked up to by villagers. Reddy is married to the niece of late S Jaipal Reddy, a former MP. Calling his speeches laced with quips and similes interesting, political analyst Kambalapally Krishna, who runs a consultancy called Voice of Telangana and Andhra, said: He became the president of the state party shortly after joining the Congress. It is not so easy to get that position. He is a crowd puller, an orator and good speaker. He worked in such a way that there is no other direction for Congress except him. Even if the party seniors do not cooperate, he does the work himself. Traditional Congressmen naturally do not like Revanth Reddys style. The national party leaders do not accept the one-man rule like the regional parties. Controversies In 2015, Reddy was booked in the infamous cash-for-vote scam. He was caught trying to bribe an MLA to cast his vote in favour of TDP. However, he was acquitted in the case in 2021. Recently, he was summoned by an SIT after he claimed that he had evidence that IT minister K Taraka Rama Raos assistant was known to an accused in the TSPSC leak case. Reddys quick promotion as the Congress president has rubbed many seniors the wrong way. The unit is now split into two groups original Congress leaders and migrant Congress leaders. The latter is the term used for the ones who defected from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and are considered to be supporters of Reddy. In December last year, a senior Congress leader had told News18: Since Revanth Reddy took over, his group has been posting on social media against their own party leaders. He has not taken any action against them. He does not work in the interest of the party. Speaking about his controversial image, Kambalapally Krishna said: Revanths speech hurt many people. His language and mannerisms are alienating many people from the party. Now Revanth is anchoring only his group. This is hurting those who have been working for the party for a long time. That is why the party is not getting full control. But the Congress party would not have had the image it has now even if there was another leader other than Revanth as the PCC president. Read all the Latest Politics News here The candidates with criminal antecedents contesting the Karnataka Assembly election will have to publish the details about the cases in their names, as per existing guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI). Its mandatory for the candidates to publish about their criminal past in local media at least thrice during the campaign period. According to the ECI guidelines, the candidates with criminal antecedents will have publish the information regarding this in local newspapers and TV channels anytime between the day following the last date of the withdrawal of nomination and two days before the polling date in the constituency. The ECI has clarified that the matter should be published in a font size of 12 and be placed suitably in the local newspapers. The move has been aimed at deterring political parties from fielding candidates with criminal background for the assembly and parliamentary elections. A political party that has fielded candidates with criminal records must publish the same information on its website. In case, a candidate or political party fails to comply with this condition then the returning officer will issue notices to them. In the event of non-compliance till the end of the elections, the RO will report to the States chief election commissioner, who will send a report to the ECI about the same. Following this, the ECI will take a final decision on the matter. The move of the ECI will help the voters to know who they elect. Dharwad deputy commissioner and district election officer Gurudatt Hegde have stated the candidates are complying with the new ECI directions, according to a Times of India report. The ECI guidelines on candidates with criminal background were issued in October 2018 following the directions from the Supreme Court in two separate cases in 2011 and 2015 on the matter. Candidates in all elections are required to file an affidavit in Form-26, along with a nomination paper, declaring information about criminal cases, assets, liabilities and educational qualifications. Read all the Latest News here News / National by Staff reporter Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF is going to do yet another rerun of its primary elections in some areas as it battles to overcome intensifying factionalism and internal strife amid failure to run its own polls properly ahead of general elections in August.President Emmerson Mnangagwa is battling rising factionalism and growing fears of "bhora musango" (sabotage from within).A number of party political bigwigs, some of them prominent Mnangagwa allies, lost the primaries.Mike Bimha, the Zanu-PF political national commissar, wrote a memo to provincial chairpersons yesterday informing them more reruns are coming because primaries were not completed in some areas due to disputes over delimitation boundaries. He also said some uncontested winners have pending court cases, while there were no absolute winners in some places as the candidates were tied in results.This follows a recent politburo meeting which endorsed the primary election results and ordered some reruns.Just like the party itself internally, the Zanu-PF government always struggles to conduct free, fair and credible elections through the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, which is accused in every poll of rigging and undermining the people's will. Actor Daniel Radcliffe and his partner Erin Darke have become proud parents for the first time, as reported by Page Six. Fans of Harry Potter and Daniel Radcliffe were delighted when news broke in March that Daniel and his partner Erin Darke were expecting their first child. The excitement only grew when Darke showed off her baby bump while taking a stroll with Radcliffe in New York City that same month. According to a statement from Radcliffes representative, Express.co.uk has confirmed the news. However, the couple has not disclosed the babys gender or birth date yet. The couple has been together for over a decade, having met on the film Kill Your Darlings set in 2013. In the film, Radcliffe played poet Allen Ginsberg and Darke played his love interest, Gwendolyn. The actors have remained tight-lipped about their relationship, rarely appearing on red carpets or discussing their personal lives in the media. The British actor previously opened up about his decade-long relationship with his girlfriend, expressing how content he is with his life to People. Ive got a really nice life. Ive been with my girlfriend for a decade pretty much. Were really happy," he said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Daniel Radcliffe (@daniel9340) The actor has several projects lined up for the year, including his latest movie, a Weird Al project, which he called one of the most pleasurable, exciting experiences in my career." Additionally, he is working on the final season of his TBS comedy series Miracle Workers and another Broadway show, which has him feeling pretty good about his future both personally and professionally. Despite their successful on-screen collaboration on Miracle Workers, Radcliffe and his girlfriend Erin Darke prefer to keep their work and personal life separate. While they may do more projects together in the future, they both have writing aspirations and could potentially collaborate on a project. Radcliffe, who shot to fame playing the titular character in the Harry Potter film franchise, has continued to act in a variety of roles since the series ended in 2011. He most recently starred in the TV series Miracle Workers alongside Steve Buscemi. With the arrival of their first child, Radcliffe and Darke are embarking on a new chapter in their lives together. Read all the Latest Bollywood News and Regional Cinema News here Kannada actor Dhruva Sarja has buckled himself up, gearing up for the release of KD - The Devil. Movie enthusiasts are waiting with bated breath for the film to mark its premiere on the big screens. Amid the huge uproar surrounding the Jogi Prem directorial, the makers have kept mum about KDs lead actress. Now, to take the excitement of the masses a notch higher, Jogi Prem has announced a piece of intriguing information, assuring cinephiles that he would be revealed the name of KDs female lead on April 28. The film director shared the announcement on Instagram on April 25. Giving a barely-there hint about the actress whose on-screen name will be MachhLakshmi, Jogi Prem captioned his post, When the king is hurt in battle, the queen converts his pain into power. Introducing KDs queen - MachhLakshmi on the 28th of April at 10:05 AM. The seemingly, impossible-to-guess poster showed a picture of a rooster, against a rustic and rural background. The films title, KD was inscribed on the poster in impressive calligraphy. To give an intense look, there were also blotches of blood, mixed with fire burn marks on the two letters. A red-coloured flag was also hoisted on top of the letter K. Earlier, rumours had it that model-actress Reeshma Nanaiah might be cast opposite Dhruva Sarja in the KD. According to the New Indian Express, the filmmaker was keen on roping in a Kannada actress for the film, and Reeshma was deemed suitable to slip into the shoes of the character. Whats more, the actress shares a good equation with Jogi Prem, having worked together in the 2022 film Ek Love Ya. But an official confirmation regarding the same is awaited. KD is touted to be Dhruva Sarjas most ambitious project. Not long ago in an extensive social media post, the 34-year-old tweeted how he shed 18 kgs in just 23 days for the film, whipping up a storm on the Internet with his honest confession. Apart from Dhruva, KD also marks Bollywood actress Shilpa Shettys return to the Kannada film industry. The name of her character is Satyavati. Produced under the banners of KVN Productions, KD will be a pan-Indian marvel that is scheduled to release in five languages, namely - Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi. The release date of the Dhruva Sarja directorial is still awaited. Read all the Latest Bollywood News and Regional Cinema News here A 46-year-old Indian-origin man Tangaraju Suppiah was executed by Singapore authorities on Wednesday after being convicted of conspiracy to smuggle one kilogramme of cannabis. Despite requests for clemency from his family, campaigners, and the United Nations, his death penalty was implemented on Wednesday morning and his family was issued the death certificate. Suppiah was executed despite a request from the United Nations Human Rights Office for Singapore to urgently reconsider" as well as pleas from British businessman Richard Branson to postpone the execution. Read more on the story here As per a report by BBC, activists claimed he was convicted based on flimsy evidence and had minimal legal representation during his trial. Singapore officials, on the other hand, claimed he was granted a fair trial and chastised those who questioned the courts. Singapore has some of the most stringent anti-drug legislation in the world. It contends that these are an essential deterrent to drug crime, which is a big concern throughout South-East Asia. Drug Laws in Singapore, Death Penalty Around World Anyone caught trafficking, importing, or exporting certain quantities of illegal narcotics is sentenced to death under Singapores Misuse of narcotics Act, as per a report by CNN. Traffickers who possess more than a particular amount of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, or cannabis face the death penalty. In Singapore, the heroin threshold is 15 grammes or above. In comparison, first-time offenders found trafficking 100 to 999 grammes of heroin in the United States risk jail terms ranging from 5 to 40 years. Longer and heavier punishments may be imposed if the dealing results in death or serious injury. Singapores ruling party officials argue that the fear of capital punishment is important to keep the city-state from becoming engulfed in drugs in an area that is a global centre for the drug trade. Singapores ruling party officials argue that the fear of capital punishment is important to keep the city-state from becoming engulfed in drugs in an area that is a global centre for the drug trade. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) stated in May that the scale and reach" of the methamphetamine and synthetic drug trade in East and Southeast Asia was staggering." According to a briefing note from the Asia and Pacific Amphetamine-Type Stimulants and Information Centre (APAIC), methamphetamine was the leading substance of concern in Singapore in 2021. Seizures and methamphetamine use fell that year, according to APAIC, but heroin seizures reached a new high, the report says. According to the BBC report, the countrys strict drug policies and usage of the death penalty put it at odds with advanced nations and others in the region. Malaysia, Singapores neighbour, eliminated obligatory death penalties earlier this month, claiming they were ineffective as a deterrence to crime. Meanwhile, cannabis is no longer illegal in many parts of the world, including Thailand, where its trading is encouraged. Harm Reduction International (HRI), a non-profit, non-governmental organisation says Singapore is one of 35 countries and territories in the world that sentence people to death for drug offences. According to HRI, the United States and South Korea are the only two OECD member nations that have kept the death penalty for drug offences, but they have not carried out such executions in the recent five years, the BBC report says. At least 579 people were put to death in 18 countries in 2021, 96 more than in the previous year, rights group Amnesty International says. But the uptick followed six years of marked decline in the number of executions. Although the global trend remains unmistakably in favour of abolition, the recorded increases in 2021 should act as a warning that it is not yet time to let off pressure," Amnesty wrote in a May 2022 report. Three countries accounted for 80 percent of all reported executions in 2021: Iran, with 314 (up 28 percent), Egypt with 83, and Saudi Arabia with 65 (an increase of 240 percent). Amnestys figures do not include executions in China, believed to be the worlds biggest executioner, as well as North Korea and Vietnam. The three countries keep their data secret. Drug Smuggling Sentence in India Even in the 1950s, rules were in place to combat illicit drug trafficking in India. The Opium Acts of 1857 and 1878, as well as the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1930. However, all three of these laws have been repealed, and the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985 has taken their place. For minor amounts, six months in prison with rigorous punishments or a fine of up to Rs 10,000, or both. For less than commercial quantity but higher than small quantity, imprisonment for up to ten years and a fine of up to Rs. 1 lakh. For commercial quantities, imprisonment shall not be less than ten years but may be extended to twenty years, and a fine shall not be less than Rs. 1,00,000 but may be extended to Rs. 2,00,000, according to a report by Legal Services India. Other Hardline Policies The war on drugs" strong drug policies implemented throughout the 1980s in the US, including mandatory minimum sentences for some drug-related offences, resulted in exceptionally high numbers of incarceration in the country, as per a report by the Guardian. The United States has more than 2 million individuals incarcerated by 2016. Irans drug policy is complicated. It imposes draconian punishments for drug possession, which can end in public shaming, as well as drug trafficking. Drug-related offences account for over 70% of all executions in the country. However, the country, which has one of the worst rates of drug addiction in the world, has won accolades for progressive addiction-treatment initiatives, such as government-supported clean needle programmes. Read all the Latest Explainers here The Border Security Force (BSF) has recently seized fish eggs worth approximately Rs 5.75 lakh and later Rs 2.85 lakh from the India-Bangladesh border. Earlier, smugglers were found to smuggle gold, silver, and cattle across the border. But now the seizure of fish and eggs has raised questions about whether smuggling gangs are adopting new methods to maintain their operations. Border guard forces reported that soldiers from the 68th battalion in the Ranaghat area under the South Bengal border observed some smugglers attempting to transport goods from India to Bangladesh. The on-duty soldiers alerted their officer-in-charge after spotting 10-12 smugglers carrying plastic bags toward the border. The smugglers abandoned their bags and fled into a border village when they realized they were being pursued. After searching the area, soldiers recovered 19 plastic bags full of fish eggs, valued at around Rs 85,000. The seized fish eggs were then handed over to Bagda police station. A few days earlier, a similar bag of fish eggs had been recovered from the Boltola border area. According to BSF sources, late at night, soldiers noticed some individuals carrying sacks on their shoulders and moving quickly toward the border. The soldiers from the 118th Border Guard Force deployed at the Boltola border post chased them and called for them to stop, but the suspects fled, leaving behind the bags. The area was subsequently searched, leading to the recovery of 21 plastic bags filled with fish eggs, as well as 20 more bags from other areas. The Commanding Officer of the 68th Battalion said, Border Security Force personnel always perform their duties at the international border, and smugglers can never evade their watchful eyes." He added, The smugglers tried new ways of smuggling, but the alert BSF jawans foiled their attempts. However, it is believed that due to strict security measures, smugglers are now attempting to traffic fish eggs to maintain their operations." Read all the Latest India News here The mortal remains of former Punjab Chief Minister and chief of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Parkash Singh Badal have reached the party office in Chandigarh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached SAD party office around 12.30pm to pay final tributes to the leader. People started queuing up at the SAD office here since early on Wednesday to pay their last respects to Badal. The Punjab government has also declared a holiday on Thursday in honour of the five-time Punjab chief minister, who died on Tuesday, aged 95. #WATCH | PM Narendra Modi pays last respects to Shiromani Akali Dal patron Parkash Singh Badal in Chandigarh pic.twitter.com/gIrJYHHt6h ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 All government offices, departments, boards, corporations and educational institutions in the state will remain shut on Thursday, according to an official order. Badal Was Not Well Badal had not been keeping well for some time and was admitted to the Fortis Hospital in Mohali near here over a week ago after he complained of uneasiness in breathing. The SAD patriarchs mortal remains will be taken to his native village Badal in Muktsar via Rajpura, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Rampura Phul and Bathinda. The cremation will take place at 1 pm on Thursday, a party leader said. Centre Had Announced Two Days of State Mourning The central government has already announced two days of state mourning on April 26 and 27 across India as a mark of respect to the former Punjab chief minister. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Modi, several central ministers and the Punjab and Haryana chief ministers and leaders cutting across party lines condoled Badals demise and hailed his immense contributions to the state as well as the country. Know The Leader The grand old man of Punjab politics first became chief minister in 1970, heading a coalition government that did not complete its term. He was also the chief minister in 1977-80, 1997-2002, 2007-12 and 2012-2017. Born on December 8, 1927, in Abul Khurana near Malout, Badal graduated from Forman Christian College in Lahore. His first political posts were the sarpanch of Badal village and the chairman of the block samiti. He entered the state assembly from Malout in 1957 as the Congress nominee. In 1969, he won the Gidderbaha assembly seat on the SAD ticket. When Gurnam Singh, the then chief minister, defected to the Congress in 1970, the SAD regrouped and formed the government with the support of the Jana Sangh. Badal then became the youngest chief minister in the country, even if the coalition government lasted just a little more than a year. In 2017, when he ended his last stint as chief minister, he was among the oldest to have held that post. Badal was re-elected in the 1972 elections, but as the SAD could not form a government, he became the leader of the Opposition. He was chief minister for 15 months in 1970-71 and for 32 months in 1977-1980. During the 1977 elections, he again won from the Gidderbaha constituency and became the chief minister of the SAD-Janata Party government. He was again elected to the state assembly in June 1980 and September 1985 elections from the Gidderbaha assembly constituency. Badal, after shifting to the Lambi constituency, was elected legislator in 1997 and became the chief minister on February 12 that year as the leader of the SAD-BJP government. During this tenure, his government took the decision of providing free electricity and waiving land revenue for farmers. Badal was re-elected from Lambi seat in 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017. In 1967, he lost the Gidderbaha seat to Congress Harcharan Singh Brar by a margin of just 57 votes. This was his first electoral loss. The second came last year when lost to AAP candidate Gurmeet Singh Khuddian. Read all the Latest India News here Around Rs 250 crore was generated by various accused like former West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee and his close aide Arpita Mukherjee in the primary teachers recruitment scam. The amount could go up to Rs 500 crore as more revelations are being made day by day, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe has found. The ED while probing this case further found links of one of the accused, Ayan Sil, to another scam in recruitments in various municipalities in West Bengal. Sil has revealed to the ED that Rs 200 crore has been collected from candidates in the same. All of this is mentioned in the status report of ED submitted before the High Court on April 21, following which the CBI has now lodged a fresh case in the municipality recruitment scam in West Bengal. Investigation has revealed that proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 250 crore has been generated by various accused persons in the primary teachers recruitment scam and it has been further utilised for personal use or siphoned off or invested in movable or immovable properties. Investigation has further revealed that the proceeds of crime have also been invested by some of the accused persons in the Bengali film industry Tollywood and efforts are on to identify the same, the ED status report before the court says. Importantly, the ED in its status report further said the proceeds of crime being generated by various persons involved in the case is only increasing day by day and is likely to double the amount already identified. It says the total seizure and attachment out of the generated proceeds of crime stands at Rs 111 crore so far. The CBI and ED have arrested former West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee, Arpita Mukherjee, TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya, Kuntal Ghosh, Santanu Bhattacharya and Ayan Sil in this case. The New Rs 200 Cr Scam ED says during searches on Ayan Sils premises on March 19-20 this year, documents have been recovered which reveal that the scam is not limited to the recruitment of teachers but also covered several appointments by the various municipalities. The interrogation of Ayan Sil revealed that an amount of Rs 200 crore has been collected from candidates towards giving them illegal appointments in various municipalities of West Bengal, the ED has mentioned. All this forms part of the FIR lodged by the CBI. Importantly, the ED says political leaders are also involved in the new scam as Ayan Sil and other high functionaries including public servants and political leaders hatched the criminal conspiracy among themselves including private persons. Sil, who was the Director of ABS Infozone Pvt Ltd, was responsible for printing, designing and evaluation of OMR sheets of candidates and manipulated the same to facilitate the illegal appointments. It has been noticed that several persons including Ayan Sil, other agents and political persons have obtained the bribe money both in the illegal recruitment of teachers in the education sector as well as for securing various employments in various municipalitiesand even the proceeds of crime of Teachers Recruitment Scam and Municipality Recruitment Scam have got intermingled on account of common agents and common beneficiaries, the ED has mentioned. ED asked the CBI to step in and lodge an FIR regarding the latest scam too as the victim in both the cases is the same public or common people at large. According to the ED, the illegal appointments were made in various municipalities like Kanchrapara, New Barackpur, Kamarhati, Titagarh, Baranagar, Halisahar, South Dum Dum, Dum Dum, Taki etc and ranges from recruitment of mazdoors, sweepers, clerks, peons, ambulance attendants, pump operators, helpers, sanitary assistants, drivers and assistant mistries. The CBI on April 22 lodged an FIR against Ayan Sil and other unidentified persons. Read all the Latest India News here A 30-year-old woman from Bengaluru has alleged sexual harassment by a Rapido bike driver, because of which she had to jump off the moving vehicle. According to the woman, the incident took place in Yelahanka and the driver hailing from Andhra Pradesh, touched her inappropriately, groped her and sexually harassed her. As the driver didnt stop touching her, she was forced to jump from the bike, she said. The incident took place on April 21 and a complaint has been registered at the Yelahanka Newtown police station. The accused has been arrested by the police. Driver Snatched Phone on Pretext of Checking OTP According to a Deccan Herald report, the driver met the woman at around 11:10 pm on the night of the incident. He took her phone on the pretext of checking the OTP (one-time password) for starting the ride, but instead changed the drop location from Indiranagar to Doddaballapura, the news report further said. The driver was identified as Deepak Rao, a 27-year-old Tindlu resident. The young woman is an architect working in the city and according to her, she suspected the driver is taking her to the wrong location and asked her about it. The woman and her friend said the bike driver was speeding at 60kmph, the DH news report further stated. The woman also snatched her phone upon realising the driver was drunk, but when he sped the bike even more, she had to jump off near the BMS Institute of Technology and Management (BMSIT). She also called her friend in Indiranagar and even CCTV cameras caught her jump. #WATCH| Bengaluru, Karnataka: Woman jumps off a moving motorbike after the rapido driver allegedly tried to grope her & snatched her phoneOn 21st April, woman booked a bike to Indiranagar, driver allegedly took her phone on pretext of checking OTP & started driving towards pic.twitter.com/bPvdoILMQ2 ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 Bike Registered on Rapido Different From Bike Used Some other peculiar details about the incident came to the fore. The bike driver had registered a Honda Activa with the Rapido application but he came to pick the woman up on a Bajaj Pulsar. The womans friend alleged that police refused to help her, saying its a girlfriend-boyfriend problem,". She said she had gone to the JB Nagar police station to lodge a complaint but tell police that her friends phone could not be traced, but police declined the request to trace the womans location. However, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) Laxmi Prasad said, The accused has been arrested." Read all the Latest India News here Under Indias rescue mission Operation Kaveri aimed to bring back Indians stranded in conflict-hit Sudan, the first special flight carrying 360 nationals landed in Delhi on Wednesday evening. Upon landing at the Delhi airport, people chanted slogans such as Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Indian Army Zindabad, and PM Narendra Modi Zindabad. #WATCH | Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Indian Army Zindabad, PM Narendra Modi Zindabad slogans chanted by Indian nationals as they arrive in Delhi from conflict-torn Sudan. pic.twitter.com/Uird0MSoRx ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar took to Twitter and said, India welcomes back its own. Operation Kaveri brings 360 Indian Nationals to the homeland as the first flight reaches New Delhi." ALSO READ: Operation Kaveri: First Flight Carrying 360 Indians Evacuated from Sudan Lands in Delhi India welcomes back its own. #OperationKaveri brings 360 Indian Nationals to the homeland as first flight reaches New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/v9pBLmBQ8X Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 26, 2023 Speaking to ANI, an Indian national, who returned from Sudan, said, The Indian government supported us a lot. It is a big thing that we reached here safely as it was very dangerous. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government." Earlier today, Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan shared a video showing 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport on a flight bound for New Delhi. Happy to see off 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport on a flight bound for New Delhi. They will be reaching the motherland soon, reuniting with their families. Under #OperationKaveri the Government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan & bring them home safely," tweeted the minister. V. Muraleedharan is in Jeddah to oversee the evacuation mission. Happy to see off 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport in a flight bound for New DelhiThey will be reaching the motherland soon, reuniting with their families Under #OperationKaveri the Government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan & bring them home safely pic.twitter.com/0kCIH35jyb V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) April 26, 2023 India has set up a transit facility at Jeddah to facilitate the evacuation of Indians from Sudan. According to News18, the Indian government is in touch with private airliners to facilitate the onward journey to India. The poverty-stricken South African country has been witnessing fighting between the countrys army and a paramilitary group for the last 12 days that has reportedly left more than 400 people dead and thousands injured. Read all the Latest India News here Several commonly used medicines including calcium, folic acid, multivitamins, antibiotics, anti-diabetic, and cardiovascular have been flagged for failing quality tests in the latest drug safety alert issued by the countrys apex health regulator in March. The monthly list, issued by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on its website, has flagged 48 medicine batches failing the quality parameters in the month of March out of the total 1,497 samples tested reflecting a failure rate of over three per cent. The list includes medicines, medical devices or cosmetics which are either not of standard quality or spurious, adulterated or misbranded. However, the flagged products were declared not of standard quality or NSQ. Top-selling medicines such as epilepsy drug Gabapentin, hypertension drug Telmisartan, anti-diabetes drug combination Glimepiride and Metformin and HIV drug Ritonavir are part of the drug alert. It also includes the popular hypertension drug Telma which includes Telmisartan and Amlodipine. Other commonly used medicines flagged include iron and folic acid tablets, probiotics and several multivitamin pills. It also includes Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid and Niacinamide injections. These drugs are manufactured by private as well as public drug makers, including PSU Karnataka Antibiotics & Pharmaceuticals, Uttarakhand-based Synokem Pharmaceuticals, Haryana-based Nestor Pharmaceuticals, Uttar Pradesh-based JBJM Parenterals, Solan-based Ronam Healthcare and Mumbai based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. Reacting to the development, a Glenmark spokesperson said: We have investigated the matter and found that the TELMA AM Tablets (Telmisartan 40 mg and Amlodipine 5 mg Tablets IP) batch number 18220076 from the NSQ list of March 2023 Month Drugs Alert are counterfeit medicines and have not been manufactured by Glenmark. We have requested the CDSCO to take action on this and also made an appeal for removal of the product from the drug alert list. As a responsible manufacturer, we have provided proactive information and leads to all concerned regulatory officials from time to time. Additionally, we have taken the necessary measures, which include engaging an external agency to investigate the presence of counterfeit drugs across the country." According to industry experts, once the drug features in the list along with the batch number, manufacturing date and expiry date the company recalls the entire batch. After the recall, the entire batch has to be destroyed, an industry veteran said. Not-of-standard quality (NSQ) drugs can adversely impact the quality of treatment and cause harm to patients, besides contributing to the emergence of drug resistance and spread of the disease. The alerts are used by the government to seek cues and conduct investigations at manufacturing units which are frequently failing quality checks. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is already conducting massive nation-wide audits and raids at several drug manufacturing units to fix the gaps in good manufacturing practices. In another move, in March, the central government cracked the whip on more than 70 drug makers for manufacturing spurious or lower-quality medicines in India, cancelling the licenses of 18 manufacturers. The government raided drug makers in 20 states across India after identifying 203 pharmaceutical companies. Both the moves have been driven by multiple allegations levelled by importers of Indian medicines, including Uzbekistan, Gambia and the United States. Since October last year, India has been facing allegations of exporting spurious quality drugs, raising concerns of denting the decades-old reputation of pharmacy to the world. Read all the Latest India News here A division bench of the Bombay High Court comprising Justice Sunil B Shukre and Justice MM Sathaye recently allowed Mohammad Sajid Margub Ansari, a life convict in the 2006 Mumbai Train Bomb Blast case, to take his LLB exams. Considering the fact that on the last occasion, conditional permission was granted to the Applicant and there has been no complaint of any breach of those conditions having been committed by the Applicant, we find appropriate to allow this application on similar terms as earlier imposed. Accordingly, the permission is granted to the Applicant to appear at all four papers, Sem-II of third year LLB on 25.04.2023, 27.04.2023, 02.05.2023 & 04.05.2023 at Siddharth College of Law, Anand Bhavan, Dr. D.N. Road, Fort, Mumbai, the court directed. In 2022, the high court granted permission to Ansari to take his LLB semester 1 exam, but with certain conditions. First, Ansari was to be placed in a separate examination room where he could be monitored to prevent any malpractice. Second, the court instructed the college to inquire about the availability of a separate room for Ansari to take the exams, and to confirm that such a room would be provided to him along with security personnel. Third, the authorities of Nashik Central Prison, where Ansari was incarcerated, were directed to permit him to travel to Mumbai and back at his own cost. During the court hearing, the Special Public Prosecutor could not attend and the States Additional Public Prosecutor, JP Yagnik, represented the government. Yagnik submitted before the court that Ansari should be allowed to take the exams subject to the conditions that were previously imposed by the court when Ansari took his first semester exams. After hearing the arguments, the high court issued further directions. The court instructed the authorities of Nashik Central Prison to agree to let Ansari undertake travel from Nashik Central Prison to the venue of the examination on the dates given, subject to the conditions that were previously imposed. Additionally, the court ordered that Ansari should be promptly returned to Nashik Central Prison or any other prison in Mumbai for a temporary period of time immediately after the examination was over. The division bench also directed the authorities to make necessary arrangements for security personnel where Ansari will be writing his paper. Furthermore, the court instructed Siddharth Law College to provide a separate hall and invigilator for Ansari to take his exams. The court in its order recorded the cost of all the arrangements should be paid by Ansari and if the cost arrangement is not made by Ansari or any of the authorities deny permission then the order would become inoperative. If any of the above authorities does not agree as aforesaid or Applicant does not pay cost, this order will be rendered inoperative in that event, the bench noted. Read all the Latest India News here Rishi Sunak is facing MPs during Prime Ministers Questions as evacuations continue for British passport holders trying to flee war-torn Sudan. Hundreds of Britons have been evacuated as a third flight landed in Cyprus on Wednesday morning. Three more flights are planned and a warship is set to arrive off the coast of Sudan amid a 72-hour ceasefire. The Government has been criticised for its slow response to rescue British citizens trapped in Sudan after it rapidly evacuated UK diplomats and their families on Sunday. The Prime Minister said it was right that diplomats were prioritised because they were being targeted. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said the Government had to cope with a larger cohort of British nationals in Sudan compared to many other countries. As the Governments Illegal Migration Bill faced its final hurdle in the House of Commons, Ms Braverman has claimed that migrants arriving on small boats were criminals and possessed values which are at odds with our country. Key Points Up to 300 UK nationals evacuated from Sudan 11:25 , Miriam Burrell Home Secretary Suella Braveman said that between 200 and 300 British nationals have already been taken out of Sudan on rescue missions. Military and diplomatic chiefs are understood to be planning at least three more flights on Wednesday. A British warship, HMS Lancaster, was also set to arrive off the coast of Sudan. A third evacuation flight landed in Cyprus on Wednesday morning. Two had already touched down, with the first one carrying around 39 rescued citizens. Read more about the evacuations from Sudan here. (PA) Small boat migrant values at odds with British, Braverman claims 11:29 , Miriam Burrell Migrants crossing the English Channel on small boats have values at odds with British norms and are linked to heightened levels of criminality, Suella Braverman has said. Story continues Her legislation aimed at deterring migrants from risking the journey faced its final Commons hurdles. We are seeing heightened levels of criminality when related to the people whove come on boats, related to drug dealing, exploitation, prostitution, she said. Read more here. (PA) Police recruitment target reached, but Met falls behind 11:41 , Miriam Burrell More than 20,000 new police officers have been hired in England and Wales meeting a Conservative manifesto pledge but the Metropolitan Police was the only force to miss its target. The Met fell short by about 1,000. It was tasked with hiring 4,557 new officers but had provisionally recruited only 3,468 in the period. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told MPs: The reputation of the organisation at the moment doesnt help recruiting, but also the employment market and the pay situation is really challenging. Labours shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has accused the Government of taking the country for fools and having no grip on law and order. Pictured: Rishi Sunak leaves No10 11:50 , Miriam Burrell Rishi Sunak has left No 10 Downing Street ahead of Prime Ministers Questions. He will address MPs in the House of Commons at midday. (Getty Images) PMQs begins 12:02 , Miriam Burrell The UK will continue to end the bloodshed in Sudan and support a democratic Government, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said as PMQs gets underway. Torys are vandals when it comes to economy 12:05 , Miriam Burrell Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to British personnel involved in the evacuations of British nationals from Sudan. Mr Starmer said the Torys have been described by a former chancellor as a bunch of vandals in respect to their handling of the economy. Its been 13 years of failure, he said, saying that there have been 24 tax rises in that time. Rishi Sunak pointed to the Governments generous cost of living payments. Almost eight million households are benefitting from the scheme, he said. Labour is the same old party, PM says 12:08 , Miriam Burrell Rishi Sunak has accused Labour as being the same old party when it comes to the economy. But Sir Keir Starmer said the Prime Minister has refused to take credit for the Torys failings. He could stop the handouts hes giving to oil and gas companies, he said. Rishi Sunak said record numbers of people are in work, and the number of people in poverty is lower under the Government. PM looks at petrol pump like its come from Mars, Labour says 12:11 , Miriam Burrell Rishi Sunak pointed to the rank hypocrisy of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmers alleged own special pension scheme. But Sir Keir Starmer accused the prime minister of being out of touch with ordinary people. He said Mr Sunak looks at a petrol pump and debit card like theyve come from Mars. He doesnt have a clue about the rising cost of food, Mr Starmer accused. PM asked about safe routes for Sudanese children to UK 12:14 , Miriam Burrell SNP leader Stephen Flynn asked the Prime Minister to outline the safe and legal route available to a child refugee seeking to flee Sudan to arrive in the UK. Rishi Sunak said the priority is to evacuate diplomats and their families. Since yesterday there has been a large scale of British national evacuations, he said. Mr Sunak said it is reasonable, legal and fair to prioritiese vulnerable families including children. Food banks at record high 12:21 , Miriam Burrell MP Kerry McCarthy said food banks have given out a record number of meals, nearly three million meals, with a million going to children. Rishi Sunak said he is very grateful to volunteers and substantial provision has been put in place for food in schools. He said the Government has raised the national living wage to national records. PM asked to condemn Turning Point UK 12:24 , Miriam Burrell MP Vicky Foxcroft has said there is a drag story event planned for Saturday in her constituency. She claimed Turning Point UK members seek to intimidate young people, while asking the Prime Minister to condemn the group, which opposes drag story events. Rishi Sunak said hes not aware of the specific allegations, but said people should treat everyone with respect and compassion. He said its important that material seen by children in classrooms is age appropiate. PM will not apologise for colonialism 12:27 , Miriam Burrell MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy has urged the prime miniser to offer a full and meaningful apology for the UKs slavery and colonial past. No, Mr Speaker, Rishi Sunak said. Trying to unpick our history is not the right way forward and not something we will focus on. Should the poor just accept being poorer?' 12:29 , Miriam Burrell SNP MP Angela Crawley asked Rishi Sunak if the poor should just accept being poorer, as posed by an economist. The prime minister pointed to the Governments energy bill support and direct payments going to the most vulnerable families. He said the Government is delivering for the people of Scotland. PM congratulates Wrexham Association Football Club 12:31 , Miriam Burrell MP Sarah Atherton said Wrexhem Association Football Club is back in the league and asked Prime Minister to congratulate the team. Rishi Sunak congratuled everyone at Wrexham, including its Hollywood owners. They are indeed a jewel in the Crown, he added. Welsh villagers fear plans to house 400 asylum seekers in hotel 12:38 , Miriam Burrell Residents in a Welsh village feel the Government isnt listening to them over plans to house 400 asylum seekers in a hotel and shipping containers, MPs have heard. Independent MP Rob Roberts said: Can the Prime Minister facilitate a meeting for myself and some local residents with the Home Secretary? Rishi Sunak replied: Its not right that our local hotels in all our communities are being used to such a degree to house illegal asylum seekers, not least because its costing the British taxpayer something like 5.5 million or 6 million a day. We want to put an end to that and thats why were bringing forward legislation that will enable us to swiftly detain and send back those who should not be here. PM clueless about life outside his bubble' 12:42 , Miriam Burrell Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has accused the Prime Minister of being clueless about life outside of his bubble. Rishi Sunak replied: A single mother working full-time on the national living wage this year will get 1,300 more support from this Government. A working couple on low income with two children will get 1,800. Thats what delivering for working Britain looks like, but if he has any actual ideas for the economy he should say so because all I hear from the party opposite, its more spending, more borrowing, higher inflation, higher interest rates, its the same old Labour Party. Sunak so out of touch, Starmer claims 12:47 , Miriam Burrell Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer claimed Rishi Sunak was so out of touch that he looks at a petrol pump and a debit card like theyve just arrived from Mars. He went on: Is it any wonder that he smiles his way through the cost-of-living crisis while putting other peoples taxes up? Is it any wonder he doesnt have a clue how food prices are hammering families across country? The Prime Minister responded: Lets just look at whats happened just in this week, where the Labour Party have put themselves. On Monday in the House of Lords they decided to side with extremist protesters, just yesterday they sided with polluters, and tonight we will see them siding with the people smugglers. (PA) Sunak refuses to apologise for UKs role in slavery 12:57 , Barney Davis The Prime Minister has refused a challenge to apologise for the UKs role in historical slavery and rejected a call to commit to reparations when asked in the Commons. Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Streatham) said: Prime ministers and heads of state have only ever expressed sorrow or deep regret. These are not sentiments that are befitting one of the greatest atrocities in human history. There has been no acknowledgement of the wealth that has been amassed or the fact that our country took out the largest loan it ever has to pay off the slave owners, and not the enslaved. She asked: Will he do what Bernie Grant asked all those years ago, what I have asked, and what countless others have asked since, and offer a full and meaningful apology for our countrys role in slavery and colonialism, and commit to reparatory justice? Rishi Sunak said: No. What I think our focus should now be on doing is, of course, understanding our history and all its parts, not running away from it, but right now making sure that we have a society which is inclusive and tolerant of people from all backgrounds. Thats something that we on this side of the House are committed to doing and will continue to deliver, but trying to unpick our history is not the right way forward, and its not something that we will focus our energies on. Prime Minister challenged on whether he agrees the poorest should just accept being poorer' 13:01 , Barney Davis The Prime Minister was challenged on whether he agrees the poorest should just accept being poorer. SNP MP Angela Crawley (Lanark and Hamilton East) said: The Bank of England has already announced that it is likely to increase interest rates once again, which will affect the poorest most and hike up mortgage rates once again. Does the Prime Minister, after 13 years of Conservative government, agree with the Bank of Englands chief economist that the poorest should just accept being poorer? Rishi Sunak said: Were doing an enormous amount to support those who most need our help with the cost of living, and some of the pressures, particularly on energy bills, that they face. Thats why we made a decision to tax the windfall profits of energy companies and use that money to help pay around half of a typical familys energy bill, that is support worth 1,500, it applies across the United Kingdom. On top of that, there are direct payments going to the most vulnerable families in our society. Rishi Sunak hails Wrexhams promotion to Football League 13:20 , Barney Davis The Prime Minister has said Wrexham is a jewel in the crown and congratulated the football club on its promotion. Conservative MP Sarah Atherton (Wrexham) said: After a 15-year break, Wrexham Association Football Club is back in the English Football League. Will the Prime Minister join me in congratulating everyone at the club, including the loyal supporters and the owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, and does he agree that Wrexham is no longer a neglected place, but quickly becoming a jewel in the crown of the United Kingdom? Rishi Sunak said: Can I join my honourable friend in congratulating everyone at Wrexham, from the owners to the players to the supporters, and everyone in the community. Its been an incredible ride, weve all enjoyed watching them. We wish them every future success. I join with her in saying they are indeed a jewel in the crown and she deserves enormous credit for championing them in this place. Former chancellor George Osborne defends Rishi after Starmer attack 13:29 , Barney Davis To be fair, Rishi Sunak did everything he could to try to stop the economic vandals who tried to undermine the Bank of Englands independence and dismantle the OBR from being elected to the Tory leadership in the first place https://t.co/ekbBBnlHqs George Osborne (@George_Osborne) April 26, 2023 Live coverage ends 14:34 , Miriam Burrell Thats all for our live coverage today. The Congress on Wednesday termed Home Minister Amit Shahs remarks that Karnataka will be afflicted with riots if the grand old party comes to power as a brazenly intimidatory statement", and accused him of issuing threats" during the election campaign. Addressing a public meeting on Tuesday in Karnatakas Belagavi district, Shah said the development of the state will be on the reverse gear" if the Congress forms the government. If the Congress comes to power, dynastic politics will be at an all-time high and Karnataka will be afflicted with riots," the home minister had said. Hitting back at Shah, Congress general secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said, This is a brazenly intimidatory statement. The Union Home Minister having allegiance to an organisation banned by Indias very first Home Minister is now issuing threats during an election campaign when staring at certain defeat." The Congress had slammed Shah on Tuesday as well over his reported remarks that the upcoming Karnataka polls are not just to elect MLAs but to entrust the future of the state in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Opposition party had claimed that the comments were an insult" to 6.5 crore Kannadigas. Voting for the Karnataka Assembly polls will take place on May 10 and the counting of votes is scheduled for May 13. Read all the Latest India News here At least 10 jawans and a civilian have been killed in an IED explosion carried out by Naxals in Chhattisgarhs Dantewada. Sources said Naxals attacked a patrolling party on Wednesday afternoon on Aranpur road in Chhattisgarhs Dantewada. A Team of DRG was returning in a vehicle to their headquarters when an IED planted on the Aranpur road exploded, killing at least 10 jawans and the driver. While the number of casualties is yet to be verified by authorities, it could rise further, sources added. Last week, Naxals threatened through a letter to attack security forces, sources said. Read More At least 10 jawans and a civilian were killed in an IED explosion carried out by Naxals in Chhattisgarhs Dantewada on Wednesday. Sources said Naxals attacked a patrolling party on Wednesday afternoon on Aranpur road in Dantewada. A team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) was returning in a vehicle to their headquarters when an IED planted on the Aranpur road exploded, killing at least 10 jawans and the driver. The blast took place under Aranpur police station area between 1 pm to 1:30 pm when a team of the state polices District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday strongly condemned the Naxal attack on Chhattisgarh police personnel and paid tributes to those killed in the incident. Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families," the prime minister tweeted. The area where the blast took place is around 450 km from state capital Raipur. The Multi-Utility Vehicle (MUV) carrying ten DRG jawans was blown up between Aranpur and Sameli villages. All ten jawans and the civilian driver of the vehicle were killed on the spot," the IGP said. The MUV had been rented by the security personnel, said another official. Here are the important points on the dastardly attack: The blast was carried out using an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) containing an estimated 40 kg of explosive material. Around 150 meter-long wire connected to the trigger of the command IED was recovered. The explosion created a nearly 10-feet deep crater, splitting the road and completely destroying the vehicle. Sources said a pressure bomb was used to attack the patrolling party in Dantewada. This was the biggest strike by the Maoists on the security forces in the state in the last two years. On Wednesday morning, there was an exchange of fire between the patrolling team and Naxals near Nahadi village, around seven km from Aranpur, following which two suspected Naxals were held, an official said. The official said security personnel were subsequently returning to their base in a convoy of vehicles. There was a gap of around 100-150 meters between vehicles, and the Naxals targeted the second vehicle in the convoy, he said. The MUV was completely destroyed while bodies covered with plastic sheets were also seen. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said the fight against Naxalism was in its last phase, and the Naxals will not be spared under any circumstances. We will work in a coordinated way and eliminate Naxalism, he added. The CM held a high-level meeting to review the situation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and took stock of the situation. He also assured the chief minister of all possible help from the central government to deal with the situation. Security officials cite the lack of foolproof technology to detect IEDs and the increasing desperation of Naxals, who are avoiding direct combat with the forces involved in operations to completely stamp out LWE violence in the state, for such incidents. The Odisha government sounded a high alert in three districts- Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur- bordering Chhattisgarh following the Naxal attack in Dantewada. (With PTI inputs) Read all the Latest India News here A division bench of the Bombay High Court comprising Justice GS Kulkarni and Justice RN Laddha recently asked a residential society of Mumbai to address complaints of security guards scaring away animals with sticks. The HC also asked members of the society to make provisions for animals to drink water during the summer season. We direct the Society to entertain complaints from the petitioner and other members of the society in this regard, so that appropriate action can be taken against such Security Guards who are indulging in such actions. This would be necessary as we are of the clear opinion that such coercive methods would certainly amount to an act of cruelty to the animals, the bench noted. The high court while directing the society members to make provision for water for animals said, It would be an obligation of the residents of the society to always make provision for adequate water to be made available to the animals more particularly considering the onset of the summer season. The court was hearing a plea filed by Paromita Puthran, who lives in RNA Royale Park CHSL, regarding a dispute about where to designate areas in the society for feeding stray dogs. Puthran had requested that specific areas in the housing complex be designated for this purpose, as she claimed that the society was unwilling to do so and was also preventing her from feeding the dogs. Following the HCs instructions, Abodh Aras, the chief executive officer of The Welfare of Stray Dogs organisation visited the society and created a report on suitable areas for feeding stray dogs. After reviewing the report, both Puthran and the society agreed to reconsider the designated areas and come to a mutually agreeable solution. Puthran also alleged that the society had employed bouncers to prevent dogs from entering the compound. However, the society argued that these individuals were merely security guards. The bench then dismissed the petition while allowing the petitioner to pursue legal action if there was any illegality committed by the security personnel in question. The counsel appearing for the petitioner informed the court that she would not bring any new stray dogs within the premises of the society and this was accepted by the HC. Read all the Latest India News here Defence ministers of China, Russia and other member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) except Pakistan will travel to India to attend a key meeting of the grouping this week. Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif will attend the SCO defence ministers meeting in New Delhi on Friday through virtual mode, according to an official readout. Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu are among those who are visiting India to attend the meeting. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will chair the meeting that is expected to deliberate on the regional security situation including developments in Afghanistan. Defence Ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan will participate. India has invited Belarus and Iran, currently observers in SCO, to participate in the SCO defence ministers meeting," the defence ministry said. Defence Minister of Pakistan would be participating virtually. The ministers will discuss matters related to regional peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts within SCO and effective multilateralism," it said in a statement. The ministry said Singh will be holding bilateral meetings with the participating defence ministers on April 27 and 28 where bilateral defence-related issues and other matters of mutual interest will be discussed. It said India has ancient civilizational, cultural and spiritual ties with the SCO member countries. Indias membership of SCO in 2017, was, therefore, a reaffirmation of New Delhis keenness to deepen these historic ties. India considers SCO as an important regional group to promote multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region," it said. The ministry said India continues to bring more ideas and initiatives to strengthen cooperation among SCO countries. Under its Chairmanship, this year, India organised two defence-related activities to enhance interoperability amongst SCO member states," it said. The first was a workshop on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and the second was a seminar of SCO countries defence think tanks on the issue of armed forces contributing to military medicine, healthcare and pandemics," the ministry said. India stands committed to taking forward the Agenda of SCO under its chairmanship," it added. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Over the years, it has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations. India and Pakistan became permanent members in 2017. Read all the Latest India News here Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, has received a bomb threat through an email. After initial probe, however, cops said that no suspicious items or bombs were found from the schools premise. According to cops, they received a call around 8.10am from the school authorities over the bomb threat after which a team of cops rushed to the spot. DCP South East, Rajesh Deo, who reached DPS, Mathura Road said: There is no threat as no suspicious object found on the school premises yet. The situation is normal. Bomb Disposal Squad, Dog squad and SWAT team sanitising the school buildings." In a similar case on April 12, a school in Delhis Defence Colony was evacuated after an e-mail said there were bombs on the premises, police said. The bomb squad and other agencies had inspected the school for explosive substances but found nothing. In that case, a senior police officer said a person named Brijesh of Indian School, BRT Road, informed them about the email. The email was received at 10:49 am, the officer said. Ten Chhattisgarh police personnel and a civilian driver were killed in a suspected Naxal attack on Wednesday. While an investigation has been ordered, preliminary information is raising questions about whether the guerrillas laid a trap and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawans walked into it. 1) Prior intelligence: As per a Chhattisgarh Police statement, an anti-Naxal operation was launched after specific intelligence about the presence of the insurgents in Aranpur, Dantewada. Police say the personnel killed had encountered the guerrillas a day before, and there was an exchange of fire. Some suspects believed to be Naxal cadres were also taken into custody by the DRG and they were on their way back to Dantewada. Question: Was this prior intelligence a trap to lure the police into the forest areas of Aranpur where the Naxals were waiting? 2) Renting vehicles: At least four vehicles were part of the convoy returning to Dantewada. Two of the vehicles were locally hired. The drivers of these two vehicles were also locals. Past attacks have taught the forces that the movement plans of police often get leaked if private vehicles are hired. Question: Did the DRG inadvertently give a heads-up to CPI (Maoist) to plan their ambush by hiring local drivers and vehicles? 3) No road-opening party: The decision to not sanitise the route that the DRG jawans were taking on their return is baffling. Witness accounts suggest that after the vehicle carrying the DRG men was hit, there was gunfire directed at the remaining personnel from the opposite side of the road. Remains of wires found at the spot are added proof that Naxal insurgents waited for the convoy and triggered the blast the moment they spotted the DRG men. Question: Two vehicles ahead of the one that was hit by the explosives speeded through the scene of the crime and got saved. The vehicle that was blown up, overtook an SUV and was hit by explosives 100 metres ahead. Why was the SOP of maintaining distance between vehicles in a convoy not followed? 4) Tactical counter-offensive campaign (TCOC): The month from the end of March to June, before monsoon hits, is prime time for a tactical counter-offensive by CPI (Maoist). Local police had carried out an inspection of the road from Dantewada to Jagargunda recently to check for IEDs that could have been planted during road construction. Usually, such IEDs are planted near milestones or prominent trees to indicate the exact spot to Naxals when the wires have to be connected. Question: Was it plain bad luck that the IED went undetected? Or, with no major incident in the past few months, had operational fatigue set in? The focus of the security grid in recent times has been area domination. More and more camps are being opened to deter Naxals from reclaiming a zone and giving government employees the confidence to move to interior villages with anganwadis, primary schools, ration cards, primary health centres, and other facilities. While the approach has yielded results, the flouting of basic SOP at Aranpur raises the red flag once again. Naxals may be on the back foot but are constantly looking for opportunities to strike. Letting ones guard down, even momentarily, like in this case, is something the forces cannot afford. Read all the Latest India News here While reports claim that amid LoC tension, India has refused a bilateral meeting with Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, who will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Goa on May 4-5, sources in Pakistans Foreign Office claimed they didnt propose such a meeting. Pakistan will also participate in the SCO Defence Ministers virtual meeting to be hosted by India on April 27-28. ALSO READ | Poonch Ambush: Planned in Pakistan, Jammu Man Gives Shelter to Attackers at His Home for 3 Months Five soldiers were killed and one was injured after terrorists attacked the lone Army truck, which was carrying eatables for iftar to a village, in the dense forest area of Bhata Dhurian in Poonch district last Thursday. The ambush in Bhata Dhurian, a preferred infiltration route for terrorists from across the Line of Control, is being seen as an indication of the revival of terrorism in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, where militancy was almost wiped out over a decade ago. After Pakistan confirmed his arrival, Bhutto had reportedly said on a programme on Dunya News: We are committed to the SCO charter and this visit should not be seen as a bilateral one but in the context of the SCO. Meanwhile, after the Poonch attack, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said, It is very difficult to engage with a neighbour who practices cross-border terrorism against India." THE POONCH ATTACK The officials said security forces and intelligence agencies investigating the latest attack were startled to find a striking resemblance" between the ambush and the attack on a police vehicle in Gambhir Mughlan village of Rajouri on January 1, 2001, in which 14 personnel of the special operations group (SOG) and two health workers were killed. The site of the Bhata Dhurian ambush is only 23 km from the 2001 Gambhir Mughlan ambush location. Both the vehicles were set ablaze by terrorists using explosives or chemicals after firing indiscriminately from a very close range on the on-board personnel. Thereafter, they decamped with service rifles of the victims, a security official told PTI. He said the latest attack is a cause for concern among the security setup as the entire area was considered almost terrorism free, but the attackers struck the vehicle in broad daylight on the Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch national highway and melted away in the dense forest. The Poonch ambush was the latest in a series of attacks in different areas of Jammu province, including the killing of innocent civilians at Dhangri village of Rajouri and the twin bomb attacks in Jammu city. S Jaishankar attacks Pakistan after #PoonchAttack. Will this spark tensions ahead of FM #BilawalBhuttoZardari's SCO visit to India?"Issues are not bilateral, but multilateral", says Maj Gen (R) AK Siwach; Maj Gen (R) KK Sinha shares his views@anjalipandey06 pic.twitter.com/SqCmoBjujW News18 (@CNNnews18) April 25, 2023 THE IMPACT In this scenario, the Indian government might not give its nod to a formal engagement between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan. The SCO meet in Goa may be low-key as both the countries ministers will not hold any bilateral meetings on the sidelines. New Delhi has been maintaining that while it has been ready to hold discussions with Islamabad to resolve outstanding issues bilaterally within the framework of the 1972 Sh The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has identified six Congress workers, including a Gram Panchayat member, for pasting a poster praising Congress MP from Palakkad VK Sreekandan on the Vande Bharat Express on its inaugural trip on Tuesday. The incident took place upon the semi-high speed train flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reaching the Shoranur Junction in Palakkad on Tuesday evening where the MP and his supporters were present to greet it. The Congress MP, who posted a video saying the incident was a ploy by the BJP workers to tarnish his image, soon after it became news on social media, made a volte-face on Wednesday and said all workers involved in this were given a denunciation. Though the MP tried to keep a distance from the incident following across-the-board expletives on the incident in social media, BJP leader Sandeep G Warrier revealed the identity of the person who pasted the posters on the windows of the train. Is this Senthil, your follower and Congress Member of Attappady Puthur Grampanchayat? he asked in a Facebook post. According to Senthil, the act was not deliberate but out of sheer excitement. He said the poster was not pasted with any glue but with the help of rainwater on the boggy. RPF personnel had to intervene in the taking down of posters of the MP that had been stuck on the train by his followers who were unleashing their appreciation for his efforts in ensuring a stop at Shoranur Junction. Later, the RPF took cases under 145 C, 147 and 166 under the RPF Act following a complaint from Yuvamorcha district president KH Haridas. Sreekantan, the first time MP, had a hero image as a stop was allotted to the first Vande Bharat Express train at Shornur Junction, the biggest of its kind in the state. The stop was not in the original plan of the train running between Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur. However, following protesters from various quarters including the MP, who warned of a protest, the railways dropped the Tirur stop and included Shornur instead before the trial run. Also, the train was extended to Kasargod. Sreekandan told the media that he had not authorised anyone to paste his posters on the train and alleged that the BJP was deliberately trying to create a controversy out of it. Keralas first Vande Bharat Express connects the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram with Kasaragod, the northernmost district in eight hours. It will have eight halts at Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Thrissur, Shoranur Junction, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod. Read all the Latest India News here 'Now in this situation we only have to pray for them, you know, just to be safe,' says Taha Ismail. (Shane Ross/CBC - image credit) Members of P.E.I.'s Sudanese community say they fear for loved ones who are still living in the war-torn country. Hundreds have been killed since conflict between the Sudanese government and paramilitary forces broke out over a week ago. Charlottetown's Taha Ismail says he's been having a hard time reaching family and friends in Sudan. "Now in this situation we only have to pray for them, you know, just to be safe. You know, we don't like anything else. We just need them to survive," said Ismail, adding he hopes for a solution in Sudan as soon as possible. Marwan Ali/The Associated Press "I tried to call my friends and family in Darfur," he said, but he hasn't been able to contact them. "They don't have electricity, and even, they don't have food and also they don't have medical supplies." Ismail left western Sudan for Libya along with his wife and two children to escape violence in Darfur, where millions have been killed or displaced over the last two decades. "I spent over three years and six months in Libya," he said. Ismail and his family eventually landed in P.E.I. as refugees in 2019. Shane Ross/CBC With the new conflict engulfing the country, Ismail fears more people will suffer the same fate. "Unfortunately this militia, you know, they took everything they want, you know, even from citizens they took their anything, their money, whatever they needed they take it from civilians. So, it is very hard to survive," he said. "It's a very serious and bad situation." A few days ago, Naxals in Chhattisgarh had in a letter threatened to attack the security forces, who, they claimed, were exploiting the locals and creating problems for them. Clearly, the attack on the District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel on the Aranpur road in Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday showed that the warning was ignored and no Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was followed in the combing operation. At least 10 personnel of the DRG and a civilian have been killed in an IED blast by Naxals in the district after a lull of violence for nearly a year. According to the protocol, security forces can move forward during an operation only after receiving intelligence inputs and after sanitisation of the route Sometimes, the security forces also take help of the Road Opening Party (ROP) who ensure that there is no threat to the convoy. Sources told News18 that no intelligence was gathered to sanitise the route when the DRG team was leaving for the headquarters. According to sources, the DRG had left their headquarters for conducting an anti-Naxal operation. The team began to move after it received a tip-off on the Naxal presence in Aranpur. When the team was returning to their headquarters, an IED planted on the Aranpur road exploded, killing the 10 jawans and their driver. It is learnt The DRG vehicle was already on the radar of the Naxals, who were tracking the route and movement of the convoy. The party also didnt change the route and used the same way which is another lapse at the level of planning. The DRG was formed to carry out anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh. It has inducted locals in the force, especially from the Bastar region, and has performed several anti-Naxal operations. Naxals have also threatened to attack the local leaders in a letter a few days ago. Naxals annual Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC) is ongoing, which is undertaken from April to June where they get more aggressive and strengthen their cadres. They launch big attacks on security forces during the campaign. Its an annual affair and forces remain on alert during this time. The last major attack by the Naxals took place in April 2021 when at least 22 security personnel lost their lives in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur. Around 31 sustained injuries in the firing during the anti-insurgency operation on April 4, 2021. CRPFs CoBRA unit, DRG, and the Special Task Force were attacked in the operation by the Naxals. Attacks by Naxals on the Rise in Chhattisgarh since 2019 According to the home ministry data, the Naxal incidents have been increasing every year since 2019 except for 2021. The data shared in February said 182 attacks were carried out by Naxal in 2019, which increased to 241 in 2020. But the number of incidents declined to 188 in 2021. In 2022, a total of 246 incidents were reported. Also, the casualties of jawans increased from 10 in 2022 to 18 this year. Read all the Latest India News here Indias rescue mission Operation Kaveri aimed to bring back Indians stranded in conflict-hit Sudan is well underway. Three batches of Indians have left the country so far and reached Jeddah. Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan on Wednesday shared a video showing 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport on a flight bound for New Delhi. Happy to see off 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport on a flight bound for New Delhi. They will be reaching the motherland soon, reuniting with their families. Under #OperationKaveri the Government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan & bring them home safely," tweeted the minister. V. Muraleedharan is in Jeddah to oversee the evacuation mission. Happy to see off 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport in a flight bound for New DelhiThey will be reaching the motherland soon, reuniting with their families Under #OperationKaveri the Government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan & bring them home safely pic.twitter.com/0kCIH35jyb V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) April 26, 2023 As part of Operation Kaveri, India has set up a transit facility at Jeddah to facilitate the evacuation of Indians from Sudan. According to News18, the Indian government is in touch with private airliners to facilitate the onward journey to India. The first batch of 278 Indians was evacuated by Indian Navys frontline ship INS Sumedha on Tuesday, while two military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) evacuated over 250 nationals on Wednesday. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said the first C-130J aircraft brought 121 passengers to Jeddah while the second plane evacuated 135. According to a PTI report, the total number of Indians evacuated so far from Sudan stands at around 530, as per official data. #OperationKaveri - the next step.The first C-130 lands flight lands in Jeddah with another 121 passengers. They will be reaching home soon. pic.twitter.com/uzjTwGxjFy Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 25, 2023 A second C-130 flight reaches Jeddah bringing 135 passengers from Sudan.#OperationKaveri moving steadily forward. pic.twitter.com/JvwKgelnqN Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 25, 2023 Sudan has been witnessing fighting between the countrys army and a paramilitary group for the last 12 days that has reportedly left more than 400 people dead and thousands injured. Read all the Latest India News here After the sixth batch of Indians was evacuated from Sudan under Operation Kaveri on Wednesday, the total count of Indian nationals rescued from the war-torn African nation stood at 1100. The 4th IAF C-130J flight takes off from Port Sudan for Jeddah with 128 passengers. This is the sixth batch of Indians to be evacuated from Sudan under #OperationKaveri, taking the total to nearly 1100 persons," tweeted Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The 4th IAF C-130J flight takes off from Port Sudan for Jeddah with 128 passengers.This is the sixth batch of Indians to be evacuated from Sudan under #OperationKaveri, taking the total to nearly 1100 persons. pic.twitter.com/lBhEHOiY9o Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 26, 2023 Earlier on Wednesday, nearly 500 stranded Indians departed in two separate batches from Port Sudan for Jeddah. #OperationKaveri continues. 4th batch of stranded Indians departs from Port Sudan for Jeddah. IAF C-130J takes off with 136 passengers on board," said Bagchi. INS Teg departs from Port Sudan with 297 passengers. This is the fifth batch of stranded Indians enroute to Jeddah," he said in another tweet. #OperationKaveriINS Teg departs from Port Sudan with 297 passengers. This is the fifth batch of stranded Indians enroute to Jeddah. pic.twitter.com/IHF7JPQ6M7 Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 26, 2023 Under Operation Kaveri, India is looking at rescuing more of its citizens from Sudan before the end of a tenuous ceasefire between the regular army and a paramilitary force. A C-130J military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force brought to Jeddah 392 Indians from Port Sudan in three flights on Wednesday. India welcomes back its own. #OperationKaveri brings 360 Indian Nationals to the homeland as first flight reaches New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/v9pBLmBQ8X Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 26, 2023 On Wednesday night the first group of evacuees arrived in New Delhi from Jeddah in a commercial aircraft. India welcomes back its own. #OperationKaveri brings 360 Indian Nationals to the homeland as first flight reaches New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted. On Monday, Jaishankar announced the launch of the mission Operation Kaveri to bring back the stranded Indians from Sudan. Under its evacuation mission Operation Kaveri, India is taking the evacuees from Sudan to the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah from where they are returning home. India has positioned two transport aircraft of the IAF in Jeddah and the naval ship INS Sumedha at Port Sudan as part of its contingency plans to evacuate the Indians. New Delhi started evacuating Indians from Sudan both via sea and air as clashes after clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in Khartoum. Despite high-level calls for a ceasefire, clashes between the warring parties have continued as of April 24. The death toll from the conflict continues to rise, with over 427 people killed and over 3,700 injured as of 23 April according to WHO reports. Nearly 4,000 people have been registered moving from Sudan to #SouthSudan, following the clashes that erupted on 15 April in #Sudan.Humanitarian partners in South Sudan are preparing an emergency humanitarian response. Read more: https://t.co/fcSU7HF4CW pic.twitter.com/8B5jwKEE6A OCHA South Sudan (@OCHASouthSudan) April 26, 2023 Acute shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel and limited access to communications and electricity continue to be reported. Several humanitarian organizations have evacuated or relocated their staff from locations where operations are not feasible currently due to insecurity. (With PTI inputs) Read all the Latest India News here The first special flight carrying 360 Indian nationals, who were evacuated from the strife-torn Sudan, on Wednesday evening landed in Delhi. The Central governments efforts are underway to rescue more citizens from the violence-hit African nation before the end of a tenuous ceasefire between the regular army and a paramilitary force. After landing at the Delhi airport, people chanted slogans such as Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Indian Army Zindabad, and PM Narendra Modi Zindabad. Speaking to news agency ANI, an Indian national, who returned from Sudan, said, The Indian government supported us a lot. It is a big thing that we reached here safely as it was very dangerous. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government." #WATCH | 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', Indian Army Zindabad, PM Narendra Modi Zindabad' slogans chanted by Indian nationals as they arrive in Delhi from conflict-torn Sudan. pic.twitter.com/Uird0MSoRx ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 Another Indian national Surender Singh Yadav was quoted as saying, I went there for an IT project and got stuck there. Embassy and the government also helped a lot. Around 1,000 people are present in Jeddah. The government is doing fast evacuation." Taking to Twitter, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, India welcomes back its own. #OperationKaveri brings 360 Indian Nationals to the homeland as the first flight reaches New Delhi." India welcomes back its own. #OperationKaveri brings 360 Indian Nationals to the homeland as first flight reaches New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/v9pBLmBQ8X Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 26, 2023 Another Indian national Paras told ANI, I am thankful to Indian Army, PM Modi, EAM Dr S Jaishankar for the evacuation." Gaurav Jain, who also returned to India through special flight, said, The Indian government is currently the only government that has put more focus on Indian citizens including diplomats. Developed countries are primarily focusing on diplomats." #WATCH | "I am thankful to Indian Army, PM Modi, EAM Dr S Jaishankar for the evacuation," says Paras, an Indian national who returned from Sudan"Indian govt is currently the only govt that has put more focus on Indian citizens including diplomats. Developed countries are pic.twitter.com/eVB3nmFg5A ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 Under its evacuation mission Operation Kaveri, India is taking the evacuees to the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah from where they are returning home. India has set up a transit facility at Jeddah and Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan is overseeing the evacuation mission from the Saudi Arabian city. On Sunday, India said it has positioned two transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Jeddah and the naval ship INS Sumedha at Port Sudan as part of its contingency plans to evacuate the citizens. Apart from the Sudanese authorities, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian embassy in Sudan have been in regular touch with the United Nations, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and the US among others. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting on Friday and issued directions for the preparation of contingency plans to evacuate Indians from Sudan. Jaishankar had also spoken to his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt on the ground situation in Sudan with a focus on ensuring the safety of the Indians. He also discussed the situation in Sudan with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. (with inputs from PTI) Read all the Latest India News here West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that outsiders were brought to the state to carry out attacks on the local police station and private property at Kaliaganj in Uttar Dinajpur district. Banerjee alleged BJP was behind the incidents of vandalism that rocked Kaliaganj on Tuesday following the death of a minor girl last week and directed the state police to explore attaching properties of those found involved in the case of arson and violence. BJP dismissed her charges as absurd. "Outsiders were brought in to set fire to Kaliaganj police station as well as ordinary people's property. Police will explore attaching properties of those involved in rioting," Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat after an administrative meeting. "BJP brought hooligans from Bihar and they ransacked and set on fire the Kaliaganj police station. They planned the entire vandalism. Even policewomen were assaulted," the chief minister claimed. She said the police will probe both the girl's death as also the arson and vandalism which occurred on Tuesday. "Our government is with the family of the victim," Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat after an administrative meeting. "The BJP is carrying out hooliganism in Bengal. They are attempting to create disturbance in Bengal. We will defeat this conspiracy to create anarchy," she said. She claimed the centre was trying to "disturb all states where the opposition was in power." Referring to the suspension of four police officers for allegedly dragging the body of the minor girl who was found dead on April 17, Banerjee said that while their behaviour could not be defended, the police were attacked by miscreants who pelted them with stones and indicated this may have led them to try to rush out of the area. The girl had been missing overnight before her body was found floating in a canal, and though locals had voiced suspicion that she may have been raped and then killed, a post-mortem report indicated she was not sexually violated. She said that a decision has been taken to provide body bags to every police station at the administrative meeting held here today. "The way the girl's body was dragged was not correct. But how could they carry it because they were pelted with stones? We have decided to give every police station at least 10 bags to carry dead bodies. We have suspended four policemen and their roles will be reviewed," she said. BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya dismissed Banerjees allegations of BJPs involvement as "absurd". "The CM is in the habit of making such statements when she finds the going tough. It was a case of spontaneous mob fury. How can the BJP be accused of instigating the mob," he asked. Bhattacharya also claimed the CM had insulted the people of Bihar. "On the one hand, she is inviting kin of fodder scam accused (RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav) to Bengal, while on the other she is insulting the neighbouring state" by claiming outsiders from Bihar were involved in the violence, Bhattacharya claimed. A BJP delegation led by BJP chief whip in West Bengal Assembly Manoj Tigga, on Wednesday also met West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose to apprise him of their view on the prevailing situation in Kaliaganj and to demand swift action against the culprits. "We have urged the Governor to ensure that action is taken against the culprits. The way tribals are being attacked in various parts of the state is unacceptable. The state government must take swift action to ensure justice is delivered," Tigga said. The chief minister also lashed out at the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which visited the state in the Kaliaganj case, questioning why they were silent on other cases like the Bilkis Bano case in Gujarat or the recent Delhi court firing. "I do not have any problem with them coming here. But I would like to ask them why they do not have faith in the state child commission. Why are they silent in the Bilkis' case and the recent firing incident in Delhi court?" she said. Lauding the police for disarming and arresting a man who barged into a school in Old Malda brandishing a gun on Wednesday, thereby averting a school hostage crisis, Banerjee alleged that the entire matter may have been a plot. "Case of a man brandishing a gun at Malda school may not be an act of lunacy," the chief minister said. The hostage crisis was defused by police officers and locals overpowering the gun-wielding man who entered a classroom full of students in a local high school and claimed he wanted to draw attention to a year-old complaint that his wife and son were missing. Locals however said the man's wife and son were living apart after separation from him. Read all the Latest Politics News here A local Gujjar from Poonch-Rajouri area, on instructions from Pakistan-based terrorists, had planned and arranged the logistics for ambush on an Army truck. The attack on Jammu-Poonch national highway, amid rain and low visibility, had killed at least five soldiers. According to sources, the local Gujjar had kept terrorists at his home for three months. During their stay, the attackers believed to be three in numbers got instructions by a local handler on voice notes. This is confirmed that the attack was planned from Pakistan," a source added. The banned Peoples Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), an offshoot of Pakistan-backed terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, had claimed responsibility for the attack on the military truck on an isolated road at Bhata Duriyan in Poonch district of J&Ks Jammu division. The outfit had released some pictures on social media, claiming them to be from the site of ambush. It also stated that some parts of the videos of the Operation will be released soon. A massive search and combing operation is going on in Bhata Dhurian-Tota Gali and neighbouring areas to hunt down the terrorists involved in the attack. The special forces and NSG are also engaged in the operation in the dense forest areas, news agency PTI quoted official sources as saying. They added that drones, sniffer dogs and metal detectors are being used. They said nearly 50 people, including 14 OGWs, have been detained in connection with the attack and some of them have been let off after questioning, they said. PTI quoted sources as saying that two group of seven to eight terrorists, are believed to have engineered the attack. According to the investigation, terrorists reportedly hid themselves in a culvert on this road stretch before attacking the vehicle. Over 50 bullet marks have been found on the vehicle that shows intensity of the firing by terrorists, the sources said. During the search operation, troops came across a few natural cave hideouts in the area, which could possibly have been used by the terrorists in the past, they said, adding the troops are also looking for any improvised explosive devices (IEDs) terrorists may have planted in the densely forested areas, especially in deep gorges and caves. The army truck attacked in Poonch was carrying fruits, vegetables and other items from the Bhimber Gali camp to Sangiote village for Iftar celebration on Thursday. The slain soldiers were from a Rashtriya Rifles unit deployed for counter-terror operations. The Bhimber Gali-Poonch road, which was closed for traffic following the terror attack, was reopened for traffic on Sunday. Armys Northern Commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Sunday said necessary action to nab the terrorists responsible for the deadly attack is under way. Experts from various agencies, including the National Security Guard (NSG) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), have visited the site of the attack in the past two days to probe the incident, the officials said. Hundreds of people in Kishtwar on Sunday took out a candle light march in solidarity with the family of the jawans killed in the attack. (With inputs from PTI) Read all the Latest India News here Mumbai-based actress Chrisann Pereira, who was framed in a drugs case and lodged in Sharjah central jail, was on Wednesday released from prison by UAE authorities and is expected to return to India in the next 48 hours. This development came a day after the Mumbai Police arrested two accused - Anthony Paul and Rajesh Bobate alias Ravi - who framed her with drugs in a fit of rage. Chrisann was jailed after she was found carrying drugs hidden in an award trophy. Paul (35), a bakery owner of Borivali, and his associate, a banker Ravi are in police custody till May 2. Her distraught family in Mumbai said that 27-year-old Chrisann was lodged in Sharjah jail since April 1 and sought an early release from the UAE prison. We are appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister for External Affairs for their intervention in the matter to secure the release of our daughterAfter the Mumbai Police investigation, it is clear that she was framed in the whole thing," her mother Premila Pereira told the news agency IANS. Both accused have confessed to handing three persons the award trophies with drugs concealed in them and two others with drugs-laced cakes before they flew to Dubai, ostensibly as vendetta against the Pereira family. While two, including Chrisann, unwittingly walked into the trap, three others managed to evade the authorities in Sharjah. The accused, identifying himself as a talent consultant, had approached Premila Pereira in March-end, to lure Chrisann with an audition for a role in an international web-series in Sharjah. He also persuaded the actress to carry the trophy in which he had hidden the drugs to be handed over to an associate in Sharjah who would give details of her hotel booking. After reaching Sharjah, Chrisann found that nobody came to receive her at the airport, but the local police landed, detected the drugs in the trophy and hauled her to the lockup, and later the Sharjah Central Prison from April 1. Paul, said to be the brain behind the revenge con, apparently nursed an old grudge against the Pereira family, especially Premila (the mother), and even got into fisticuffs with her son Kevin. Police have found that the accused Paul had used the same modus operandi with some other wannabe actors, assuring them of plum roles in global web-series, though one person declined to carry the trophy, which Chrisann later agreed to take with her. The Mumbai Police does not suspect a drug syndicate involvement but only Pauls revenge tactics" against all the victims with whom he had some or other problems, but they are investigating from various angles. An upcoming actress, Chrisann has played roles in films like Sadak 2", Batla House", web-series Thinkistan", several stage plays, and lives in Borivali suburb with her family. (with inputs from IANS) Read all the Latest India News here A massive fire broke out at a multi-storey residential building in Uttar Pradeshs Greater Noida on Wednesday. The fire broke out at 14th Avenue of Gaur City 2 in Greater Noida West. The fire reportedly broke out on the ground-floor of Tower L of the society and has spread upwards. #BreakingNews | Fire erupted at 14th avenue of Gaur city of Noida; fire brigade has arrived , doused the fire and no casualties were reported@GoyalYashco shares more details@toyasingh | #Noida #UttarPradesh pic.twitter.com/2p3aNyUKf2 News18 (@CNNnews18) April 26, 2023 Videos showed portion of the building on fire with plumes of thick smoke coming out. Fire tenders rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control. No casualties have been reported so far. Read all the Latest India News here India is evacuating its citizens under Operation Kaveri after a 72-hour truce was agreed between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) following intense negotiations. Recalling his experience in Sudan, one of the Indians evacuated from the violence-hit country said he witnessed intense fighting between the two forces. We were struggling for food. The scenario continued for 2-3 days," he was quoted as saying by ANI. Another Indian said that he along with others was looted at his company. They kept us hostage for eight hours. They kept riffles at our chest and looted us. Our mobiles were stolen," he said. We kept in touch with the Embassy and told them to arrange for the buses, as we had diesel. The Indian Navy came and treated us well," the Indian national evacuated from Sudan said. Sudan has been witnessing deadly fighting between the countrys army and a paramilitary group for the last 12 days that has reportedly left around 400 people dead. Operation Kaveri Under its evacuation mission Operation Kaveri launched on Monday, India has set up a transit facility at Jeddah and all the Indians have been taken to the Saudi Arabian city after their evacuation from Sudan. Two military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) evacuated over 250 Indians from Sudan after a naval ship rescued another 278 citizens from the strife-torn country. The total number of Indians evacuated so far from Sudan stands at around 530, according to official data. The first batch of 278 Indians was evacuated by Indian Navys frontline ship INS Sumedha on Tuesday. Hours later, the first C130J heavy-lift transport aircraft of the IAF landed at Port Sudan to bring back more Indians. It was followed by evacuation by another C130J. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has reached Jeddah to oversee the evacuation mission. Happy to see off 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport in a flight bound for New DelhiThey will be reaching the motherland soon, reuniting with their families Under #OperationKaveri the Government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan & bring them home safely pic.twitter.com/0kCIH35jyb V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) April 26, 2023 Apart from the Sudanese authorities, the MEA and the Indian embassy in Sudan have been in regular touch with the UN, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and the US among others. At a high-level meeting on Friday last, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued directions for the preparation of contingency plans to evacuate Indians from Sudan. States Announce Steps to Assist Evacuees from Sudan Several states have opened help desks and announced assistance like free travel and lodging for Indians evacuated from strife-torn Sudan once they arrive in the country. The Kerala government said it would make necessary arrangements to bring Malayalees evacuated from Sudan by the Centre to the state . A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided that Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department would assist evacuees at various airports, according to the chief ministers office. Uttar Pradesh government opened a help desk at the resident commissioner office in Delhi for people from the state trapped in Sudan, a senior official said in Lucknow. Those coming from Sudan can contact Neeraj Singh, assistant review officer on 8920808414 or Ashish Kumar, protocol assistant on 9313434088 or Whatsapp them about their problems," an order issued by Additional Resident Commissioner, New Delhi, Saumya Srivastava said. The Rajasthan government has decided to bear the transportation expense of all migrants from the state after they land in Delhi. The government will also arrange for boarding and lodging for the returnees, officials said Chief Resident Commissioner, Bikaner House, Shubra Singh urged all those affected from Rajasthan to furnish details to state authorities. Dhiraj Srivastava who is the Commissioner of Rajasthan Foundation - a government organisation that works to strengthen relationships between the state and non-Rajasthani residents - said the state government has decided to assist the returnees. It will make sure that all the returnees from Sudan reach their families in Rajasthan free of cost from Delhi irrespective of whether they are they are travelling by flight, bus or any other form of transport, Srivastava said in a statement. The Madhya Pradesh government has started a helpline to assist people from the state as well as other parts of the country who are stranded in strife-torn Sudan. Those stranded in Sudan and are keen to come back to MP or other states can contact the helpline 91-755-2555582 and share their details, the official said. The state government will coordinate with the Centre to facilitate their evacuation, he said. The government has appointed the states home secretary Gaurav Rajput as the nodal officer for the purpose. Besides, relatives of Madhya Pradesh residents stuck in Sudan can also contact the CM Helpline 181 to register details about their near and dear ones for getting assistance, the official said. According to the official, the information can also be registered on the CM Helpline Portal http://www.cmhelpline.mp.gov.in. (With PTI inputs) Read all the Latest India News here At the national conclave on Wednesday to mark 100 episodes of PM Modis radio address Mann ki Baat in New Delhi, dignitaries and panellists were presented with unique products made by artists lauded on the show for reviving traditional art forms. The 100th episode will be broadcast on Sunday. Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the event, with Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur as the guest of honour. Dhankhar was gifted a unique Kaavi painting from Goa. Other dignitaries and panellists were gifted Pattachithra paintings on stone and Etikoppaka wooden toys from Andhra Pradesh. The conclave saw four sessions highlighting the wide-ranging themes of the prime ministers interactions during Mann Ki Baat to highlight the transformative impact the radio programme has had in the country. The four themes were Nari Shakti (women power), Virasat Ka Uthhan (taking pride in heritage), Jan Samvad se Atmanirbharta (self-reliance through conversations with people), and Ahwahan se Andolan (from clarion call to a revolution). Actors Aamir Khan and Raveena Tandon, former Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, music composer Ricky Kej, sportspersons Nikhat Zareen and Deepa Malik, storyteller Neelesh Misra, entrepreneurs Sanjeev Bhikchandani and T V Mohandas Pai, and others who found a mention in various episodes of Mann Ki Baat participated in the sessions. Spanning numerous countries and multiple events, the prime minister has narrated inspiring stories in his radio show about those who stand out with their dedication, hard work, and excellence. Reflecting a global outlook, Modi has shared stories of those trying to preserve their mother tongue in foreign lands, as well as those who have won international accolades. Modi has also pressed upon Indias civilisational gifts to the world, with one such example being yoga that has made an unprecedented impact on foreign shores. These stories, shared by the PM, weave a tapestry of Indias growing influence on the global stage and reflect the collective efforts of its people. Prasar Bharti Chief Executive Officer Gaurav Dwivedi said the 100th episode will be broadcast over 1,000 radio stations, including the numerous community radio stations and private radio stations, across the country. With PTI Inputs Read all the Latest India News here On a stretch of Lakeshore Drive on French Island sit five riverside bungalows. All but one of the homes have river water up to their back doors. The one dry resident said he rebuilt his home in 2013 and made it 17 feet higher than the original 1959 home to escape any future floodwaters. Not all residents are so fortunate. Many who live along western waterfront have worked tirelessly to divert flood water from their homes with sandbags and electric water pumps. Those experiencing the worst of the flooding have abandoned their homes and evacuated to hotels or the homes of family members. Ive been working (to keep water out) from the minute I wake up to the minute I go to sleep these last couple of days, and Im exhausted, said town of Campbell resident Jules Black. This is like a bomb going off in your life. By Saturday the water had risen to her front yard, so Black put sandbags to block her garage and back door. But the water found its way in and now she has about 6 inches of water in her garage. River water has completely engulfed Blacks street. She and her neighbors traverse the community in knee-high water boots and work together to clear trash and debris. Black is worried the water could damage her washing machine, dryer, water heater or furnace all of which are located in her garage. Shes put the machines on cinder blocks to keep them as far out of the water as possible. I thought I had time, we all thought we had more time, but it just came up so fast, Black said. So Ive just been scrambling ever since then to get everything up and out of my garage and to get pumps in. Black purchased two water pumps over the weekend to remove some of the water from her garage. The pumps suffice in removing some of the flooding, but the water continues to seep in. Flooding from the Mississippi River at La Crosse reached the major flood stage early Sunday morning and will continue to rise until it reaches 16.1 feet on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service in La Crosse. The town of Campbell on French Island has been using a high volume pump to remove water from some significantly flooded streets. The town also has a sandbag station for residents. Many residents experiencing flooding have purchased personal transfer pumps and called off work to manage the constant water influx. Some residents have had their power or gas turned off by Xcel Energy if the water level endangers the meter. Xcel has been working on a house by house basis when deciding whether to turn off the electricity or gas. This is Blacks first flood experience as a homeowner. She said she would be lost if it wasnt for the help of her neighbors who have advised her on how to keep water out of her home, helped her lift sandbags and kept her spirits up. Black wishes there was more preparation assistance for homeowners who experience their first flood event. As a new homeowner it would have been helpful to know exactly what to expect and what to prepare for and then (financial) help with the pumps, Black said. One street over from Black, lives a resident who was living in his home in 2019 the last time in recent history French Island saw moderate flooding of about 14 feet. In 2019, David said he wasnt affected by any of the flooding and that his property is just outside the floodplain. He thought he would fare OK through this flood season. However, Monday morning, David, who declined to provide his last name, and his wife woke up to squishing floors, water coming up out of the drain in their basement and water bubbling out of cracks in the foundation. He said he purchased one of the last water transfer pumps from Menards first thing Monday morning. The water pump maintains the current level of flooding in Davids home, which is about a couple inches covering the basement floor. Without the pump, David believes the water would rise higher. From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 From Tribune files: Photos from the Great Flood of 1965 A 55-year-old woman, who works as a legal advisor for a women business organisation, has accused the staff of JW Marriott Hotel in Aerocity of holding her hostage for hours and harassing her when she complained of poor services and sought time to settle the hotel bill. The hotel has denied all allegations as baseless. The JW Marriott New Delhi Aerocity strongly refutes the allegations made against the hotel in the concerned matter and are cooperating with the relevant authorities in their investigation," a spokesperson from JW Marriott told PTI. The spokesperson further said, We operate with the highest levels of integrity, ethics and values that extend to all our partners, associates and guests. Given the matter is currently being handled by the police, we are unable to provide any further information." The woman, who doesnt want to be named, said in her complaint to police that the hotel staff verbally berated her and held her captive under the watch of two male employees, who constantly followed her in the hotel. Even when I went to the lavatory, they kept waiting outside," she wrote in her complaint, based on which the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport Police Station lodged an FIR. According to the FIR, written in Hindi, the dispute arose over payment of a bill for an event held on December 26, 2022 for which the organisation had booked 94 rooms and halls in the hotel. The firm paid Rs 55 lakh in advance for holding the event which was attended by people from different parts of the country and abroad. When the event concluded on December 31, 2022, the organisers complained of poor service and food quality. However, the firm made another payment of Rs 25 lakh on December 31 and told the hotel it would pay the remaining sum on January 1, 2023 after checking all the bills and adjusting the advance amount. The complainant alleged in the FIR that there were some discrepancies in the room tariff and her organisation had sought time to check bills thoroughly as it had already paid 80 per cent of the bill. We had 30 rooms booked till January 1 and we requested them to allow us to make the remaining payment by January 1 but they held me and some other organisers hostage and didnt allow us to leave the hotel," she said in the FIR. She said it was only after she dialled 1091, a helpline number of Delhi Police for women in distress, that a Sub Inspector was dispatched to the hotel and she was let go of by the hotel staff. It was only at 12.10am that I was allowed to leave for home. The hotel staff detained me illegally for several hours and harassed me the whole time," she said. She has also alleged that during the event one of the chefs of the hotel deliberately touched her in an inappropriate manner for which she scolded him and he left. I dont know his name but if he comes in front of me, I can recognise him," she said. The woman told PTI that the police did not file an FIR in the matter till April 11, even though the incident took place December last year. However, according to the IGI police, they needed her to clarify some of the points in her initial complaint but she was too busy to come to the station, and when she did visit it on April 11, they filed an FIR. Read all the Latest India News here Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was spotted arriving for a media event in the Mumbai on Tuesday as she prepared for the second installment of Mani Ratnams epic Ponniyin Selvan." For the occasion, the actress wore traditional Indian clothing. She donned a similar dupatta and an ivory anarkali outfit with shimmering embellishments. She kept her long hair open and completed her ensemble with an eye-catching emerald neckpiece. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Aishwarya Rai Bachchan portrays two characters in the movie: Mandakini, Poonguzhalis aunt, and Nandini, the Queen of Pazhuvoor. The film is based on the title novel by novelist Kalki. The early years of the Chola prince Arunmozhi Varman, who would go on to become the famed ruler Rajaraja I, are dramatised in the first portion of the movie. ALSO READ: Adoring Chiyaan Vikrams Suave Look at PS II Promotions That Is Everything Cheery and Dashing Numerous Tamil filmmakers have looked into making a movie based on the novel Ponniyin Selvan" ever since it was published in 1955. However, due to lack of funds, it was never realised. Even Mani Ratnam tried unsuccessfully to adapt the book in the late 1980s and the early 2010s Calling it his dream project, Mani Ratnam revived the effort in January 2019. While the first part was released back in September 2022, the second part will land in theatres on April 28. Read all the Latest Lifestyle News here India was the second most tourist-generating market for Singapore in 2022 with 686,000 Indians visiting the country, whose cruise industry has seen a significant recovery post-Covid-19 pandemic. In total, tourists visiting Singapore reached 6.3 million in 2022, exceeding the Singapore Tourism Boards (STB) forecast of 4-6 million following a recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Indian market is an important source for our cruise industry," Minister in charge of Trade Relations and Transport S Iswaran told PTI on Wednesday. Together with Singapore tourism partners, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is looking forward to welcoming our Indian friends to experience our new and transformed attractions and experiences, and reimagine what a completely enjoyable family vacation can be," said STB. The top tourist-generating market was Indonesia with 1.1 million visitors. India was among the second most tourist-generating markets for Singapore in 2022 with 686,000 visitors followed by 591,000 visitors from Malaysia, the city-states immediate neighbour, it said. Indian tourists were also the second-highest spenders in Singapore after Indonesia and Australia in the first nine months of 2022. As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapores cruise industry is recovering well in tandem with global travel. Last year, a total of 1.2 million passengers passed through Singapores ports, which is about two-thirds of pre-pandemic levels," said Iswaran. Cruise passengers in Singapore have also doubled from about 900,000 in 2012 to more than 1.8 million in 2019. This bodes well for the industry to recover to pre-pandemic levels soon," he said. Collaboration between cruise lines, STB and the Changi Airport Group has also seen an increase in the number of fly-cruise visitors to Singapore," said Iswaran, elaborating on the cruise sector growth here. Singapore Tourism Board also launched a campaign promoting the Disney Cruise Line and welcoming Indians to experience a reimagined enjoyable family vacation. Meanwhile, Singapores tourism receipts are estimated to reach SGD 13.8 billion (USD 10.3 billion) to SGD 14.3 billion (USD 10.7 billion) in 2022 - about 50 to 52 per cent of 2019 levels, according to figures released by STB earlier this year. In the first nine months of 2022, receipts came up to an estimated SGD 8.96 billion (USD 6.7 billion). As a long-term campaign to boost tourism, the STB has agreed to collaborate with homeport, a brand-new Disney cruise ship exclusively in Singapore for at least five years beginning in 2025. Read all the Latest Lifestyle News here The shaded grand courtyard of the Sree Siddaganga Math (monastery) in Tumkur, one of the oldest and most influential shrines of the Shiva-focused Lingayat sect, is an unlikely place for a political conversation. Nestled amid rocky hillocks that house several sacred caves, the monastery was founded in the 15th century as a Sharana (Shiva devotee) abode for spreading the teachings of the twelfth-century Lingayat statesman-saint-social reformer Basavanna. Trying to understand the famed influence of Lingayat voters in Karnataka politics, I once asked its president, Sri Sri Siddalinga Mahaswamigalu, about how his institution viewed politics. While carefully staying away from any kind of political statement about either the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or Congress, the swami said something that has stayed with me ever since. Elections are for voting by each and everyone, but wherever you go, religion and caste are ridden with politics," the 55-year-old monk said. Without caste and religion, there is no politics in India. That is bad, but we hope that one day all will come out without religion and caste. But today, we are seeing everyone running behind caste and religion. Five years ago, when we had this conversation at the monastery, it was at the epicentre of a heated political exchange, because the Congresss then chief minister Siddaramaiah had tried to reduce the BJPs dominance among Lingayat voters by recommending minority status for the sect. While many Lingayats also call themselves Veerashaivas, the then Congress government also simultaneously recognised Veerashaiva-Lingayats as a separate Lingayat subsect, opening up another contentious religious argument. It proved to be a lightning rod among Lingayat voters. So much so that when the BJP emerged as the single largest party in the polls in 2018, its lead was powered by wins in a majority of the 70 assembly seats where Lingayat voters were dominant (over 15 per cent of the voters). Today, five years later, we are seeing another BJP vs Congress political fight over the Lingayat vote in Karnataka. While the BJPs greatest state stalwart, BS Yeddiyurappa, remains Karnatakas tallest Lingayat leader and is campaigning heavily in the state, others like its former chief minister Jagadish Shettar and former deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi have defected to the Congress. Whether this will dent the BJPs Lingayat vote base or not will be crucial to its poll fortunes. Likewise, the Congress challenge is being fronted by Vokkaliga strongman DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, who has long sought to resurrect a wider social coalition of AHINDA a Kannada acronym for Alpasankhyataru (minorities), Hindulidavaru (backward classes) and Dalitaru (Dalits). Similarly, former prime minister Deve Gowdas JD (S), which is hoping to play kingmaker after the elections, is banking on its Vokkaliga bastions in the states Old Mysore region. In a state, where the Lingayat-Vokkaliga factor has always been politically pivotal, what exactly does this mean? And why does it matter? LINGAYATS, VOKKALIGAS AND CHANGING DOMINANT CASTE PATTERNS Karnatakas power matrix, since Independence, has been defined by its changing dominant caste a term coined by sociologist M.N. Srinivas in 1959 politics. The Ekikaran (Unification) movement had led to Kannada-speaking regions from the adjoining states of Madras, Hyderabad and Bombay being incorporated into the old princely state of Mysore. Mysore State was first reorganised on November 1, 1956, with the addition of new areas vide the States Reorganisation Act. It was renamed Karnataka on November 1, 1973 vide the Mysore State (Alteration of Name) Act, 1973. Before this reorganisation in 1956, Vokkaligas, a land-owning farming community, were the biggest caste in Mysore. The Congresss Lingayat leaders had led the demand for Karnatakas unification and came to constitute the largest caste community in the enlarged state. Lingayats also formed a major support base for the party in the non-Mysore regions of the new state. By way of background, while the Lingayat lineage goes back to the 12th century, they were first listed as a caste within Hinduism in the Mysore states 1881 Census and first referred to as a sect in 1928 by scholar R.G. Bhandarkar. The communitys unique religious attributes the wearing of an Ishtalinga (a symbol of Shiva) on the body, strict vegetarianism, rejection of temple worship, the substitution of Brahmins with their own priests in life-death ceremonies, their rejection of the caste system and their practice of burying the dead instead of cremation meant that, by the time of Independence, some caste scholars had begun referring to them as a caste-sect. Others, like M.N. Srinivas, regarded the Lingayats as a status-honour group linked with the process of Sanskritisation. It was this longstanding debate that Siddaramaiah had waded into with his minority-status proposal in 2018. THE HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE LINGAYAT-VOKKALIGA FACTOR The two traditionally powerful caste groups, Lingayats and Vokkaligas, virtually controlled state politics between 1956 and 1972 and the L-V caste equation powered the Congresss political hold over Karnataka until the mid-1970s. As political scientist James Manor summed up, This system worked well so that the period between 1956 and the early 1970s can be seen as an era of Lingayat raj (with Vokkaliga support) in which the dominant groups had a rather smooth sailing. The political dominance of these castes was so pronounced that, in the 1952-72 period, Lingayats accounted for an average of 31 per cent of the Karnataka assemblys legislators (despite being only 15.5 per cent of the population at the time). Vokkaligas made up an average of 27.9 per cent of legislators (despite being 12.98 per cent of the population then). In other words, for several decades, every second Karnataka legislator belonged to one of these two castes. This is also reflected in the choice of chief ministers. Before the 1956 reorganisation, two of Mysore states first three chief ministers were Vokkaligas (1947-56). After the reorganisation, the first four chief ministers were all Lingayats (1956-71). Thereafter, leaders from other caste groups started occupying the seat of power in Bengaluru as new caste coalitions began to challenge the traditional structures of power. But Lingayat leaders still made up 42.1 per cent (eight of 19) of all state chief ministers between 1956 and 2020 (see table below). After Lingayat regional satrap S. Nijalingappa (chief minister in 1956-58 and then 1962-68) broke away from the Congress in the great split of 1969 between Indira Gandhi and the Old Guard (called the Syndicate), state Congress leaders wove together a new rainbow caste coalition. Chief Minister Devaraj Urs in 1972 sought to break the stranglehold of the Lingayats and Vokkaligas by giving political representation to other caste groups that had so far been relatively marginalised. He coined a new acronym for this fresh social coalition: AHINDA. This was a Kannada acronym for Alpasankhyataru (minorities), Hindulidavaru (backward classes) and Dalitaru (Dalits). Presaging V.P. Singhs 1989 move to change the politics of the Hindi heartland with his adoption of the Mandal Commission report, Urs sought to stir up Karnataka politics with the appointment of the states first Backward Classes Commission. It was headed by L.G. Havanur, who hailed from the backward Beda (hunter) community. This commission identified 15 backward communities, 128 backward castes and 62 backward tribes, and created a new basis for affirmative reservation in the state. The Havanur Commissions findings, as political scientist Valerian Rodrigues has shown, led to strong protests by upper castes and a challenge in the Karnataka High Court, which upheld its findings. Subsequent Backward Classes Commissions in Karnataka Venkataswamy Commission (1983-86) and Justice Chinnappa Reddy Commission (1988-90) led to Vokkaligas also being classified as OBCs. Politically, this meant that many Lingayat leaders drifted away from the Congress in the 1970s. They realigned, instead, with the anti-Congress JP movement. The BJPs rise in Karnataka owes a great deal to the Lingayat vote shifting away from the Congress and towards the BJP from the 1990s. This especially gathered momentum after the unceremonious sacking of Veerendra Patil as chief minister by Rajiv Gandhi in 1990 (more details in part 3 of this series). BJP, CONGRESS AND JD (S) SOCIAL DISTRIBUTION OF TICKETS A look at the ticket distribution by the three major parties in 2023 reflects their traditional social matrices of support. The BJP has given the largest share of its tickets to Lingayat candidates: 62. In comparison, the Congress has fielded 51 and JD (S) 44 Lingayat candidates. The next highest chunk of tickets is for Vokkaliga candidates among all three parties. The BJP has fielded 42, Congress 43 and JD (S) 54 candidates from the community. The third biggest chunk is for OBC candidates: the BJP and Congress have both fielded 40 each, and JD (S) 28. All three parties have fielded a similar number of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates. For SCs, the BJP has 37, Congress 35 and JD (S) 34. For STs, the BJP has 17, Congress 16 and JD (S) 14. This distribution indicates that in Karnataka, all three major parties are looking to secure their traditional social bastions, even as they look to expand into newer areas. For example, the Congress is looking to break off chunks of the BJPs traditional Lingayat base, while the BJP is making an aggressive pitch to increase its presence in the 60+ seats of the Old Mysore region, where it has traditionally been weak. THE MODI FACTOR With Prime Minister Narendra Modi slated to campaign aggressively in Karnataka later this week, the BJP is also banking majorly on the Modi factor. It is betting that the Modi factor and the PMs connect with Kannadiga voters can help it regain momentum in a contest that has so far been an uphill battle for the party. In that sense, Narendra Modis recent photo-op with Yediyurappa, holding hands with him at the inauguration of the Shivamogga airport in February, was key political signalling by the Prime Minister. Home Minister Amit Shahs subsequent photo-op with the former chief minister over breakfast, where he insisted on taking a bouquet of flowers from his son BY Vijayendra was yet another important signal in the same vein. In an election where the BJPs internal challenges have dominated some of the headlines in the first part of the campaign, these pointed photo-ops by Modi and then Shah were meant to reassure Lingayat voters. In contrast, the Congress has basically been focusing its campaign on local issues in Karnataka, banking on anti-incumbency, an appeal to regional pride and allegations of local corruption. Overall, the Karnataka election result, to a large extent, will hinge on how much the major parties can safeguard their core vote-banks in key geographies. And the extent to which the Lingayat and Vokkaliga vote may shift. This is the second part in a 3-part series by Nalin Mehta on the Karnataka elections. See Part 1 here. Coming up in Part 3: Veerendra Patil, Rajiv Gandhi and why a four-decade-old incident still matters in Karnataka politics Nalin Mehta, an author and academic, is the Dean of School of Modern Media at UPES University in Dehradun, a Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University Singapore, and Group Consulting Editor, Network 18. He is the author of The New BJP: Modi and the Making of the Worlds Largest Political Party. Read all the Latest Opinions here On April 20, 2023, five Indian Army bravehearts from the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) Unit, onboard a military truck, were killed in an ambush, reportedly laid by at least seven Pakistani terrorists, presumably including the OGW (Overground Worker/s), while approaching a crossroad at Tota Gali area en route to Poonch after crossing Bhimber Gali along the National Highway 144A. The only survivor is in a critical state and undergoing medical treatment at Army Hospital. The bravehearts that were killed in action are Havildar Mandeep Singh, Lance Naik Debashish Baswal, Lance Naik Kuldeep Singh, Sepoy Harkrishan Singh, and Sepoy Sewak Singh. Enemys Ambush and Ammunitions Used It was a rainy day in Poonch with low visibility on April 20, 2023, when the six Indian Army jawans, including the driver, were carrying various necessary materials from the Rashtriya Rifles Headquarters in the Basooni area of Balakote, meant for distribution among the residents of Sangiote Village for the 7 PM Iftar celebration event, entirely organised by the RR Unit, where a crowd of 4000 from the village would have gathered to mark the celebrations. The truck, with its wipers on all the way, reportedly moved carefully at a slow speed on its way from Bhimber Gali, where the RR Unit has a significant presence owing to the movement of the Indian Army convoys between Poonch and Rajouri, and picked up more items as it moved along the NH 144A that covers Akhnoor, Sunderbani, Nowshera and Rajouri between Jammu and Poonch. The point of pertinence and concern is that NH 144A is located extremely close to the city of Rawalpindi in Pakistan, which hosts the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Pakistan Army. The distance between Bahawalpore, the HQ of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror outfit and Rawalpindi is close to seven and a half hours by road. Travel time can significantly be decreased when dedicated helicopters are flown with their transponders off through the enemys Delta class air space using Visual Flight Rules (VFR) to ferry the plain cloth-wearing paid mercenaries from places like Bahawalpore or Muridke or Ghazi Base in Attock, Punjab to ferry the SSG, a.k.a core of the Border Action Teams (BAT). The Special Service Group (SSG) of the Pakistan Army, trained to deal with special operations, counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare, foreign internal defence, special reconnaissance and direct action, is the core of the BAT, a joint venture of the Pakistan Army and the terrorists deployed for India-centric attacks along the Line of Control (LoC). The distance between SSG HQ, located at the Ghazi Base is close to just two hours by road and considering that it has an airbase too, it would again be a matter of minutes to gather the SSG/BAT at the GHQ Rawalpindi along with the ISI officials for planning, reconnaissance missions and finally, the implementation of the beyond barbaric attacks. Relevant Geo-Strategic Importance of Poonch and Rajouri Districts in Jammu Division, located at the South and East of Pir Panjal Rajouri and Poonch have remained preferred routes for infiltration as they get less snow and the terrain is easier than Kashmir. People in this region are overwhelmingly nationalist and against terrorism but Hurriyat and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) have tried to radicalise them in the past, stated former DGP of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, SP Vaid, in an interaction with the media in 2021, when at least nine Indian Army bravehearts were killed by separate ambushes in the same terrain in the month of October and the massive retaliatory buildup by the Indian Army that included the Para Special Forces yielded practically no results even after three weeks of combing and search operations. It also has reportedly been mentioned by concerned authorities, on the condition of anonymity, that Sangiot and Balakote in Mendhar is an infiltration route. Once in, the terrorists cross Bhimber Gali and enter Nar Khas and Bhata Dhuriyan forests from where they can go to Thannamandi or Bufliaz to Pir Ki Gali and head towards Shopian. It is my suspicion as a National Safety, Security, Aviation and Avionics Analyst that the multiple ambushes faced by the Indian Army along these areas in recent times and the past have been executed by highly trained uniformed personnel of the enemy, resulting in recurring and beyond barbaric fatalities on the Indian side that went mostly non-avenged purely owing to the enemys extremely well-executed utilisation of the dense forests, an area which they certainly have worked on for many years. The G20 Meeting to be attended by the world leader, scheduled to take place in Leh from 26 to 28 April, 2023 and Srinagar from 22 to 24 May, 2023 Needless to state, it has sent severe shockwaves both in China and Pakistan. While China, with its most surreal and daring footfall, built infrastructure inside PoK, which is justifiably Indias integral part after Pakistans brazen violation of aeons of UNSC directive to vacate its illegally occupied part of Kashmir via UNSC Resolution No. 47/1948, in which Pakistan sent tribesmen and Pakistani nationals were prominently identified and documented by the UN Security Council in Page 4 of the Resolution under restoration of peace and order (a) as non-residents (raiders) that entered Kashmir for the purpose of fighting. The question of a plebiscite does not arise as it has become meaningless and obsolete with the passage of time and Pakistans complete violation of the UNSC directives for aeons. Thus, both China and Pakistans misadventures are facing the inevitable danger in the forms of irreplaceable loss of illegal investment and territorial occupation respectively. The last nail on the coffin has also been most firmly and precisely fixed by India for China and Pakistan respectively with the G20 meeting in Leh post the Galwan clash and ongoing China-India standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and in Srinagar post the abrogation of Article 370. The ambush pattern and the name of the terrorist group that claimed the attack (PAFF) has a lot of similarities with the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) supported Peoples Liberation Army of Manipur (PLA-M) and other VBIGs (Valley Based Insurgent Groups) along the densely forested India-Myanmar border. This Blitzkrieg is, in my opinion, a joint venture of China and Pakistan against India. The enemys plan of action is a revalidation that the terrorists certainly had pre-planned the ambush. They, in all practicalities, have done prior recce of the area and could have been also accompanied by one or more messengers that passed on information about the approaching truck to the terrorist hiding in the forests. In my opinion, encrypted and continuous communication through easily available transceiver sets at online marketplaces is a high possibility. Such sophisticated transceivers could also have been provided by the Pakistani Army/SSG to its units in disguise operating in the area. For, waiving or any other mode of body movements would have carried the risk of getting the attention of other plying vehicle drivers/passengers, besides communication between different points of the open highway and between the open highway and the dense forest, where the mercenaries were hiding, couldnt have been realistically possible without the encrypted wireless communications. The terrorists reportedly shot the front of the truck first, using a sniper rifle, and subsequently surrounded the truck probably from all sides and mercilessly fired on the soldiers in the truck. The armour-piercing 7.62 mm steel bullets reportedly had a marking that read 71, a validation that these were manufactured in ammunition factories inside China. They reportedly fired RPG (Rocket-Propelled Grenade), a shoulder-fired missile weapon. It launches rockets with explosive warheads and can be carried and operated by a well-trained individual. The attackers also used sticky bombs and fled with the arms and ammunition of our helpless soldiers under a heavy and extremely well-executed attack. Another point that I would like to bring to the notice of all the concerned authorities in Military Intelligence and other appropriate agencies of ours is the knowledge of the attackers and their informers on the distance maintained between the other vehicles in both directions of NH 144A, whether civilian or military and their targeted Indian Army truck. We must remind ourselves once again that the area roars with the frequent Army convoys, primarily belonging to the Rashtriya Rifles Unit, between Poonch and Rajouri in the Jammu division. In such a situation, the terrorists or the highly trained uniformed personnel of the enemy had to be precisely aware of the place and time to hit its target in an isolated zone with sufficient time, so that no vehicle, whether civilian or military, would be able to spot their barbaric operations from a safe distance, which would certainly have jeopardised their execution and escape as extremely skilled RR units equipped with the most advanced weaponry to its teeth would have rushed from Bhimber Gali to Tota Gali in a matter of minutes, and not only blood bathed the cowardly perpetrators but also would have waged war against the enemy after gaining knowledge on enemys probable camouflaged hideouts within the dense forests. That intriguing factor topped by the swiftness of not only the total operation but also their smooth and professional running away from the spot with the extra and presumably heavy loads of stolen arms and ammunition only points out that it was not an ordinary terrorist attack by any stretch of imagination, but a well-collaborated and coordinated Blitzkrieg, conducted by highly trained uniformed personnel of our unchangeable enemies. Conclusion Bhata Dhuriyan forest area remains a notorious infiltration route for terrorists attempting to sneak into India by crossing the LoC due to its topography, dense forest cover and natural caves as per the people having adequate knowledge. The highly trained enemy professionals, I suspect, have built an undetectable, impenetrable mechanism and infrastructure deep within the dense forests for a smooth crossover or stationed themselves for long hauls with enough food and other essential materials to sustain and are equipped with state-of-the-art navigational, communication equipment and most sophisticated armaments. We need to take control of the batton to change the music that China- Pakistan orchestra are currently playing and at the same time, we need to be the ringmaster to keep both reined in. For this to happen, we have to be extraordinarily aggressive in changing the topographic dominance in Poonch and Rajouri districts under the Jammu division. A random and/or stray surgical strike this time will just be a waste of time, energy and money which will not only help the cash-starved enemy across the LoC and the IB in deviating the attention of its angry citizenry but also influence the global opinion. It has to be a pushing of the Western borders and reunion of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) with no IFs and BUTs to checkmate the enemy. Use of Indian Air Power will have to be utilised in full capacity while calculating the smaller enemys maximum strength. Indian Armys infantry and special forces have to be prepared to be all over the Pakistani hinterlands in a highly systematic manner, especially in the regions where the terror infrastructures exist. For example, Bahawalpore and Muridke, the bases for JeM and LeT, respectively. Pakistans SSG HQ and training centre will have to be razed alongside the LeT, JeM headquarters and all the launch pads plus the human assets. Indian Navy has to block and bomb the waterways of Pakistan and needs to inflict massive damage to Pakistans naval capabilities. GHQ Rawalpindi, all military establishments including the residential addresses of Pakistani Army Generals, the ISI HQ and its organisational head must bear the brunt. The Poonch Attack of April 20, 2023, will have to be retaliated in an unprecedented and befitting manner that should not only be unpredictable for the enemy but should also leave them in a helpless state as they did with our head held high heroes and have been doing since aeons. We also have to be doubly swift, agile and silent in our planning, preparations and highly precise executions. Collateral damage prevention should no more be a priority for our forces. This time around, Indias scale and dimension of retaliation has to be very different from the past. The unavoidable, imminent and widespread retaliatory actions of the Poonch attack are going to be not only a test of the mettle of the glorious Indian tri forces, but also a test of resolve for the people of the Indian Republic, across all religious beliefs, caste and creed. Arya Ghosh is a National Safety, Security, Aviation and Avionics Analyst. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication. Read all the Latest Opinions here On December 22, 1887, Srinivasa Ramanujan was born to Kuppuswamy Srinivasa Iyengar and Komalathammal. Kuppuswamy worked at a saree shop in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, while Komalathammal took care of the household work. Ramanujan had three younger siblings but none of them survived beyond infancy. His father spent much of his time at work, so Ramanujan spent a lot of time with his mother and learned all their family traditions from her. Poverty and family circumstances forced Ramanujan and his mother to move from Kumbakonam to Kanchipuram and back to obtain family support and, eventually, to Madras (as Chennai was known at that time) during his childhood. His obsession and talent for mathematics was evident from childhood, as he would regularly complete exams in half of the time allowed and exhaust the mathematical knowledge of everyone he talked to. In his teens, he was lent books whose dense information he absorbed quickly, before building on the work they contained by scrawling on his slate. He had a few notebooks, which he used sparingly, only to write the results he obtained as opposed to including the steps he took to get there. The first book he really grappled with was Synopsis of Elementary Results in Pure Mathematics. It compiled thousands of theorems without proof and was intended as a summary of the undergraduate-level math that was developed at the time for students to revise. This book probably influenced him the most, as he became an experimental mathematician playing around with numbers, seeing what comes up, and trying to make sense of the results afterwards. This contrasts with most mathematics then (and indeed today), wherein one starts from a set of axioms and makes logical deductions until a theorem is proven. While this experimental approach had been used by others before (Newton would have long pages of calculations in his notebooks), they took care to differentiate between statements they logically proved (theorems) and statements they believed but werent proved (conjectures), whereas Ramanujan did not. He saw himself as a scientist in a lab, making empirical observations. Upon graduating school, he got a scholarship to go to college, but focused too much on math and too little on other subjects, leading to him failing in all subjects except math and, thereby, his expulsion. After leaving college in 1906, he struggled to find a job, often living in extreme poverty. Due to his intense passion, he continued his research. His first real recognition was a chance encounter in 1910 with the founder of the Indian Mathematical Society (IMS), V. Ramaswamy Aiyer, who saw his work, was stunned, and introduced him to his mathematician friends in Madras. With the help of others in the society, particularly financial support from R. Ramachandra Rao, who was the Secretary of IMS, he continued his work and started contributing to the societys journal. He eventually got a job in March 1912, as an accounting clerk (essentially a human calculator) for the Madras Port Trust. Since he didnt have any degree in accounting (or in anything for that matter), he had to use his connections from earlier, one of them being that of Edgar William Middlemast, a Mathematics professor at the Presidency College, whose recommendation stated that Ramanujan was a young man of a quite exceptional capacity in Mathematics. Ramanujan, predictably, did his job very quickly and in his spare time, he continued his research, still in relative obscurity. In 1909, Ramanujan married 10-year-old Janaki, a girl from Rajendram village near Marudur in Coimbatore district. After marriage, Janaki continued to live at her parents home and came to live with Ramanujan in his home at Triplicane when she came of age in 1912. In the spring of 1913, Ramanujan wrote to British mathematicians about his work, with aid from the other mathematicians in India who had supported him with the job. Many were drawn away due to Ramanujans mathematics being too novel and unfamiliar, combined with his terse just the facts presentation. Eventually, he wrote to G.H. Hardy at Cambridge University. While Hardy was sceptical, like the others, he took a rather different approach. He concluded that the results must be true, because, if they were not true, no one would have the imagination to invent them. He discussed the letter with his close friend Littlewood, whose research interests were more similar to Ramanujans and he echoed similar sentiments. Hardy wrote back, explaining his interest in Ramanujans work. He lumped the results into three categories: already discovered, new and interesting but probably not important, and new and important. For Hardy, and indeed for all mathematicians, logically airtight proofs of results were important not just for confidence, but to shine a light on why the result is true and how well it can be generalised. Thus, he asked Ramanujan for proof of the assertions. When Ramanujan replied, he attempted to give some fragments of reasoning for his results but because his methods differed so starkly from everyone elses, it was a struggle. He made a point to state that of the three categories Hardy mentioned, the already discovered one was the most heartening to him as it reassured him that those results were indeed correct. Hardy and Littlewood pored over what little arguments Ramanujan gave, and while some of them were flat-out wrong, they were, for the most part, impressed with what they saw. Impressed enough that they invited Ramanujan to come to Cambridge and work with them. Ramanujan refused since leaving India was considered taboo for a Brahmin at the time. In the meantime, news of Hardys response prompted the University of Madras to give Ramanujan a mathematician with no formal training a research scholarship, and he regularly published results in Indian journals. Eventually, Ramanujan relented and on March 17, 1914, he boarded the S.S. Nevasa and arrived in London on April 14 where he was received and taken to Cambridge where his most productive period began. He spent nearly five years working with Hardy and Littlewood. Ramanujan was awarded a Bachelor of Arts by Research (the predecessor of the PhD degree) in 1916 for his work on highly composite numbers. In 1917, Ramanujan was elected to the London Mathematical Society and in 1918, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (the second Indian admitted after Ardaseer Cursetjee in 1841) and one of the youngest fellows in the Royal Societys history. Again in 1918, he became a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, being the first Indian to be elected. Ramanujans impoverished life in colonial India had resulted in an extremely weak immune system and he was prone to frequent illnesses. The extremely cold weather at Cambridge and the difficulty to meet his requirements for strict vegetarian food did not go well with him. In 1917, as the First World War raged, he fell extremely sick and had to be hospitalised several times. Due to the war, he was not able to return home and his wife, too, was unable to come to England to take care of him. During that time, Hardy came to see him and remarked to Ramanujan that the number on the cab that he had ridden 1729 seemed rather a dull one. No, replied Ramanujan, it is a very interesting number; it is the smallest number expressible as the sum of two cubes in two different ways. Just prior to this, Littlewood had told Hardy, Every positive integer is one of Ramanujans personal friends. Hardy said that from a scale of 0 to 100, if mathematicians were to be gauged, he would give himself 25, Littlewood 30, Hilbert an 80, and Ramanujan a 100. Littlewood remarked that Ramanujan was of a different species. Ramanujans connection to numbers was intuitive, perhaps even subconscious. He looked to Namagiri Thayar, his family deity, for inspiration in his work. He said that he had visions of complex mathematical content unfolding before his eyes. He said, An equation for me has no meaning unless it expresses a thought of God. Finally, the war ended and in 1919, he returned home to a more suitable climate and the comfort of being with his family and home-cooked food. However, his health did not improve despite the best efforts of Janaki, who cared for him relentlessly. He passed away on April 26, 1920. He was just 32 years of age. Later, from the description of his symptoms, it was observed by medical experts that he suffered from a curable infection which had been misdiagnosed as Tuberculosis. The year after his death, Nature listed Ramanujan among other distinguished scientists and mathematicians on a Calendar of Scientific Pioneers who had achieved eminence. Tamil Nadu celebrates December 22 as State IT Day. Ramanujan IT City is an information technology special economic zone in Chennai that was built in 2011. Stamps commemorating Ramanujan were issued by the Government of India in 1962, 2011, 2012 and 2016. Since Ramanujans centennial year, December 22 has been annually celebrated as Ramanujan Day by the Government Arts College, Kumbakonam, where he studied, and at IIT Madras. In 2011, on the 125th anniversary of his birth, the Indian government declared December 22 to be celebrated as National Mathematics Day and that 2012 would be celebrated as National Mathematics Year. The International Centre for Theoretical Physics has created a prize in Ramanujans name for young mathematicians from developing countries in cooperation with the International Mathematical Union, which nominates members of the prize committee. SASTRA University has instituted the SASTRA Ramanujan Prize of $10,000 to be given annually to a mathematician, not exceeding age 32, for outstanding contributions in an area of mathematics influenced by Ramanujan. Based on the recommendations of a committee appointed by the University Grants Commission, the Srinivasa Ramanujan Centre has been declared an off-campus centre under the ambit of SASTRA University. House of Ramanujan Mathematics, a museum of Ramanujans life and work, is also on this campus. The University purchased and renovated the house where Ramanujan lived in Kumbakonam. The impact of Ramanujans work continues with mathematicians poring over his formulae and working to solve them. His discoveries have found applications in many spheres of science and continue to find new uses. No one was talking about black holes back in the 1920s when Ramanujan first came up with mock modular forms, and yet, his work may unlock secrets about them, says Ken Ono, Mathematician at Emory University. His discovery, the K3 surfaces, has been the foundation of the String Theory. At IIT Madras in 2011, Bruce Berndt said, Over the last 40 years, as nearly all of Ramanujans conjectures have been proven, there has been a greater appreciation of his work and brilliance, and his work is now pervading many areas of modern mathematics and physics. Ishwar Karthik studies Mathematics at Oxford University in the UK. He was among the first 4 recipients and the youngest to receive the Spirit of Ramanujan Prize at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia in 2017, at the age of 13; Yamuna Harshavardhana is a karyakarta at Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal. She authored the book, Vidya: Re-rooting the Beautiful Tree which was published in 2022. Views expressed are personal. Read all the Latest Opinions here On 20 April, Pakistans foreign ministry announced that foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will visit India to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Council (SCO) foreign ministers meeting in Goa on 4-5 May. As the SCO has been under the deep influence of China and given Pakistans nexus with China, it is impossible to conceive that Bilawal would have attended the meeting if the Chinese had asked him to stay away. Clearly, they have not done that. It is noteworthy that Bilawal could have attended the meeting virtually but is coming in person. Bilawals choice of doing so could not have been his alone. The leaders of the three major constituent parties of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would have been taken on board. Thus, Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman would have signalled their consent to this trip. Besides, the present army chief General Asim Munir too would have given his approval. For many Indians, especially in the security and political classes, the conviction that Indias main external challenge is from China has taken a firm hold. Hence, Pakistans salience has gone down in the countrys security calculus. However, on account of Pakistans continuing ability to instigate terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and also in some other places in India, the country remains high in the general Indian consciousness. This is also because of historical factors and its leaders constant statements against India and its leaders. An extreme example of such a comment was made by Bilawal himself against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a press conference at the United Nations premises in New York in December last year. Bilawal said, I would like to remind the honourable external affairs minister of India that Osama bin Laden is dead but the butcher of Gujarat lives and he is the prime minister of India. This writer can say with near certainty that never have such obnoxious words been used by even Pakistan against an Indian prime minister. These comments of Bilawal should be kept in mind when he is on Indian territory even if he is visiting India to take part in a multilateral ministerial meeting and an invitation to him could not be avoided. On the very day that the Pakistan foreign ministry announced Bilawals visit to India a terrorist attack occurred in Poonch in which five jawans were martyred. The sophistication of the attack, the weapons and bullets used as well as its timing leaves little doubt that its origin lay in Pakistan. Besides, experience shows that the ISI often seeks to coincide terrorist attacks with political visits or an announcement of political visits to send a signal that India should not take the visit to imply that the army is softening its attitude towards India. In this case, it also wants to send the message that despite Pakistans domestic troublespolitical and economic as well as in the security sphere caused by the Tehreek-e-Taliban-e-Pakistan (TTP)-it retains the capacity to strike against the Indian Army through terrorist attacks. It is not known as yet if Bilawal will travel straight to Goa or first come to Delhi. He will be tempted to visit Delhi if for nothing else to make strong statements to the Indian media mixed with a desire to improve ties. He would know that after his unforgivable comments against Modi, no political leader would be willing to meet him. Certainly, till Bilawal withdraws these comments no Indian political leader should meet him. However, some members of the Indian media would find it difficult to not give him some kind of a platform to speak. This can also happen if he visits only Goa. It is this writers conviction that Indian media bodies and organisations should advise their members to insist on an apology from him for the words he has used against Modi before they give him any kind of platform. Whatever may be Indias domestic controversies it is simply unacceptable that a foreign minister of another country should be allowed to spew such venom against an elected prime minister. It is customary for a foreign minister visiting a country to take part in a multilateral conference to seek a call on his host. It is also customary to respond positively to such a request. It is likely that Bilawal would follow international custom and ask for a call on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. How should Jaishankar respond? It would be prudent for Jaishankar not to break international customs. He could therefore have a brief bilateral courtesy meeting with Bilawal and restrict the conversation to only SCO issues. As terrorism is an issue which concerns SCO member-states, Jaishankar can use that opening to convey a strong message of Indias continuing will and capacity to take, whenever necessary, deterrent action against terrorists based outside India. It would also be desirable to reiterate the doctrine of preemption that India had emphasised immediately after the Pulwama attack of 2019. Bilawal is only 34. He is articulate and skilful and hence his comment on Modi cannot be excused as the exuberance of an up-and-coming politician. He may need to make such comments for his domestic constituency and would be aware that whatever he would say in India would be part of the election rhetoric whenever it takes place in Pakistan. He may also like to curry favour with the army for his own political future by saying harsh things from Indian soil. Naturally, the government will respond suitably to such comments from him. The writer is a former Indian diplomat who served as Indias Ambassador to Afghanistan and Myanmar, and as secretary, the Ministry of External Affairs. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication. Read all the Latest Opinions here Sara Ali Khan is a born entertainer and over time and again she has also confessed in several interviews that she loves food and travelling to bits. Every time Sara is travelling, she makes sure to take her fans and followers along with her on this journey. Take a look at some of her amazing vacay pictures- Donald Trump is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination and was the pick of 50% of registered Republicans in the poll. (Photo/News18) Tsering Lhamu, the BJP MLA from Lumla constituency in Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh, has announced to donate her entire MLA tenure salary to Deepak Nabam Living Home (DNLH), a shelter home in Itanagar for the destitute people and those facing mental and physical challenges. The MLA said she learned about the shelter home from her cousin and decided to visit the place. After visiting, she found that the shelter lacks basic facilities and residents are in dire need of help and support. Speaking to the media, Lhamu said, After the death of my husband Jambey Tashi, I was keen to visit homes for the destitute and those with mental and physical challengesWhen I got my first salary as MLA, I arranged food items, loaded them in vehicles, and went to the shelter home to donate." She also donated Rs 2 lakh to the organisation for immediate needs. I have decided to contribute the entire salary which may be received as an MLA tenure to the Deepak Nabam Living Home for the cause of humanitys suffering." Deepak Nabam, the owner of DNLH, has expressed gratitude for Lhamus contribution and said it has boosted the morale of the staff members. She has generously contributed a cash amount of Rs 2 lakh and further officially announced to donate her MLA tenure monthly salaries to our unprivileged inmates home Senki Park Itanagar," he said. Lhamu is the wife of the late Jambey Tashi, a former MLA who was actively involved in social activities and had served as an Anchal Samiti member since 2001. Tashi was a three-time BJP MLA from Lumla constituency in Tawang district and the elder brother of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu. Read all the Latest Politics News here Loup Public Power District officials are working on repairing a damaged fishing pier at Lake North. During a Loup board of directors meeting held April 25 in Columbus, Vice President of Engineering Korey Hobza said the pier, which was constructed less than a year ago, sustained damage to its support structure over the winter due to an ice sheet on the lake. Originally, Hobza said, they believed some work was only needed to make the supporting structures more substantial. However, he added, during lake maintenance this spring, they were able to walk underneath the pier and saw more issues. These piers that are put 16 feet into the ground, we can actually push on them, the fiberglass columns, Hobza said. If you're going to continue to use those, they need to be filled with concrete. We need to anchor this back; there needs to be some more structure put in. Additionally, anchoring had been done with construction screws and not brackets. Hobza said that wasnt done to code but it also saved the top portion of the pier, as the screws were simply sheared off when the damage occurred. We can either take that off with a crane, set it on the ground, fix it and put it back on; or take the decking off and through the top and try to repair this and then re-anchor it back, he said. Notably, Hobza said, concerns had been expressed during the piers construction about it being able to withstand ice but the business had reportedly said its decisions were the best option. He also noted the design options were fine for a small lake but not really suitable for one the size of Lake North. We went from 8-inch columns to 10-inch columns at our request because we were worried that their design wouldn't hold up to the ice, he said. The business who did the work, Hobza said, indicated it wasnt going to be held responsible for the pier being unable to handle battering from ice sheets. After discussing with them for a while, they did offer up a 50/50 split, up to $30,000, of total cost of repairs for the support structure underneath, he added. Discussions are underway with legal counsel regarding what options we have on this right now. Currently, the pier is closed to the public and a solution is being worked on. We have a nice structure here; we need to make it right, Hobza said. In other business, President/CEO Neal Suess gave an update that the Nebraska Supreme Court will be hearing Loups appeal involving a proposed interbasin transfer of water from the Platte River to the Republican River. The Lower Republican and Tri-Basin natural resources districts have applied to divert water from the Platte to a tributary of the Republican, through which it will flow into Kansas. A number of entities filed objections with the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (DNR), including Audubon Nebraska, Loup and the Central Platte and Lower Loup natural resources districts. The DNR released a ruling in December that objectors did not have standing in the case. Loups concern with that ruling has to do with the potential of setting a precedent that would leave entities like Loup without a say in future water issues. Loup, along with other objectors, filed an appeal of that decision in January, with the DNR granting a stay for 90 days pending a status conference. At the end of March, Loups attorneys filed a brief that essentially asked to bypass the Court of Appeals and go straight to the Nebraska Supreme Court. That was going to save us time, money and a lot of other things. On April 17, the Nebraska Supreme Court granted our petition, Suess said. We will be before the Supreme Court of Nebraska on our standing in this case. And if we win that, that will be a benefit to all NRDs (natural resources districts) and other water users throughout the state. Suess added he will know in May a better timeline of when the appeal will be reviewed. In other Loup Public Power District news: Loup is preparing to move forward with the final design drawings for an overflow project near the headworks next to Genoa, a required mediation project from the March 2019 storm event. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is expected to make final comments. Once completed, Loup will bid out for the project with work slated to be completed at the end of 2023 or early 2024. In an effort led by Loup and Platte County to bring high-quality broadband to the area, Stealth Broadband has applied for money through the Nebraska Public Service Commission and the Nebraska Capital Projects Fund, which includes $40 million for the deployment of broadband in the first legislative district. Stealth filed five applications within rural Platte County. Two other broadband companies filed challenges to Stealths applications; one company dropped its challenge after discussions with Stealth. The awards are set to be released at the end of June. The board of directors reviewed a list of bridges that span across Loups man-made canal. There have been concerns regarding Loup-owned bridges located west of the Monroe Powerhouse that have a much lower load rating than the equipment crossing them, and there is one bridge in particular that has a hole in the approach. Loup officials believe Platte County will approach them in the future about sharing costs to rebuild a bridge. As reports of AAP chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal spending nearly Rs 45 crore in beautification" of the Chief Ministers residence, both the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress have slammed the AAP convenor and raised questions on the expenditure. While Congress leader Ajay Maken raised questions on Kejriwals right to remain in his position. Maken on Tuesday alleged that Kejriwal spent public funds on his luxurious bungalow, including on extravagant items like Dior polish, Vietnam marble, expensive curtains, and high-end carpets BJP on the other hand alleged that such a big sum was a pointer to the ideological renovation" of the AAP founder, who claimed to promote honesty and simplicity when he entered politics. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra slammed the Aam Aadmi Party leader as a maharaj" and said even kings will bow to Kejriwal for his choice of superior" products in the residence and his lust for luxury and comfort". He also alleged that Kejriwal offered Rs 20 crore to Rs 50 crore to media houses to not highlight the story but news channels and newspapers ignored the offer. AAP Backs Kejriwal In Kejriwals defense, while speaking to Times Now, senior AAP leader Raghav Chadha said the chief ministers residence was constructed 75-80 years ago in 1942. The Delhi governments Public Works department (PWD), after an audit, had recommended its renovation. A senior PWD official said, It was not renovation and a new structure has come up in place of the old structure. His camp office is also there. The expenditure is around Rs 44 crore but what is to be noted that the old structures have been replaced with new ones." Documents provided by sources showed that a total of Rs 44.78 crore against a sanctioned amount of Rs 43.70 crore was spent on addition/alternation" of Kejriwals government accommodation on 6, Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines. A Hindustan Times report mentioned AAP issued a statement, defending the expenditure. The house was in a dilapidated condition, having been built 80 years ago in 1942. After three serious incidents, which included the ceiling of the CMs parents room falling, the ceiling of the CMs bedroom collapsing, and the office ceiling collapsing, the Public Works Department recommended the construction of a new house, the statement said, reported HT. How It was Spent The money was spent in six tranches between September 9, 2020, to June, 2022, the documents showed. According to the documents, the total expenditure included Rs 11.30 crore on interior decoration, Rs 6.02 crore on stone and marble flooring, Rs one crore on interior consultancy, Rs 2.58 crore on electrical fittings and appliances, Rs 2.85 crore on fire fighting system, Rs 1.41 crore on wardrobe and accessories fitting, and Rs 1.1 crore on kitchen appliances. A separate amount of Rs 8.11 crore of the sanctioned amount of Rs 9.99 crore was spent on the camp office of the chief minister at his official residence, it showed. Read all the Latest Politics News here Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday said as an opposition leader, the late Arun Jaitley yielded space to the government and accepted the other point-of-view, something which is missing 100 per cent" today. He also said one of Jaitleys greatest failures" was he could never make a single enemy". The vice president made these remarks at the conclusion of the first Arun Jaitley memorial debate in the presence of Jaitleys spouse Sangeeta Jaitley. As chairman, Rajya Sabha I miss him every day If you look at the political spectrum, you will not find another Arun Jaitley," Dhankhar said. He recalled that as the governor of West Bengal, he had a tough chief minister (Mamata Banerjee) to face". But she was all admiration for Jaitley. That is the kind of reputation he had earned," he said. Before being elected as the vice president last year, Dhankhar was the governor of West Bengal for three years. Dhankhar said as Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Jaitley yielded space to the government. The government, he said, was always assured that if it is a rational point, its point of view will always be appreciated. Something we miss today, 100 per cent to the determent of our political governance," he said. As Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, nothing changes for Jaitley except his seat. His humility increased, which was the only slight change", Dhankhar said. Jaitley was known to achieve things without making noise", Dhankhar said while crediting him for the GST rollout. It was the toughest task," he claimed. Those in command know his worth. Some of the challenges the country is facing today would have been closer to resolution with this great son of soil being around," Dhankhar said. He also recalled that Jaitleys forte was debate. In the debate, he has always shown restraint, patience. He never believed in aggression. He believed in persuasion. He gave due weightage to the other point-of-view," he said. In her remarks, Sangeeta Jaitley said her husband liked to spend time with people. As a minister he used to find out what was happening with the youth so that their issues could be addressed, she said. She recalled when Jaitley entered the Rajya Sabha, he gave ample time to the House, at times giving up cases as a lawyer. The event was organised by the Shri Ram College of Commerce in New Delhi. Read all the Latest Politics News here Shelly Oberoi, presently the Delhi Mayorm was yet again elected to the position on Wednesday, as BJP councillor Shikha Rai withdrew her nomination papers. They were set to contest the Delhi Mayor elections, but Rai took back her papers saying the matter of election of mayor and deputy mayor is pending before the court. Similarly, BJPs Deputy Mayor candidate Soni Pandey also took back her candidature. With this, AAP candidate Aaley Mohammad was elected unopposed as the deputy mayor. The polls are conducted at the end of every financial year AAPs Oberoi and BJPs Rai had earlier filed their nominations for the Delhi mayoral poll slated to be held on April 26, officials had said. After retaining the Delhi Mayor post, Oberoi thanked the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP for showing faith in her. AAP is the ruling party in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Aam Aadmi Partys Shelly Oberoi unanimously elected mayor of Delhi MCD after BJP candidate Shikha Rai withdraws her nomination.BJP candidate for Deputy Mayor elections also withdraws her candidature pic.twitter.com/yx9la6zTbB ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 Oberoi was elected Delhi mayor for the first time on February 22 in the fourth attempt since the earlier elections were stalled amid a ruckus over voting rights being given to nominated members. She had defeated BJPs Rekha Gupta by a margin of 34 votes by polling 150 votes. Gupta got 116 of the total 266 votes polled. The post of mayor in the national capital sees five single-year terms on a rotational basis, with the first year reserved for women, the second for the open category, the third for the reserved category and the remaining two again for the open category. Oberoi and Aaley Mohammad Iqbal filed their nominations earlier this month for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor for a possible second consecutive term, with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party exuding confidence that its candidates are poised for a win. Later, the proceedings at the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) house, were adjourned for the day. The next session of the house will take place on May 2. Read all the Latest Politics News here Read more votes. Oberoi polled 150 votes, while Gupta received 116 of the total 266 votes polled. A fresh mayoral poll will be held at the Civic Centre the headquarters of the MCD on Wednesday. The post of mayor in the national capital sees five single-year terms on a rotational basis, with the first year reserved for women, the second for the open category, the third for the reserved category and the remaining two again for the open category. AAPs Aaley Mohammad and BJPs Soni Pandey, the councillor from ward number 249 will fight for the post of Delhis deputy Mayor. Oberoi and Aaley Mohammad Iqbal filed their nominations earlier this month for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor for a possible second consecutive term, with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party exuding confidence that its candidates are poised for a win. Oberoi will continue to hold charge till a new mayor is elected, official sources said on April 3, a PTI report stated. BJP too has entered the fray and senior party leader Rai, the councillor from the Greater Kailash-1 ward, is its candidate for the mayoral poll. Four nominations were received by the municipal secretarys office two each for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor. The last day for filing nominations for the mayoral poll was April 18. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva has nominated second-time councillor Rai for the mayoral poll. Sachdeva has also nominated Soni Pandey, an activist of the Purvanchal Morcha and the councillor from ward number 249, for the deputy mayors post. Read all the Latest Politics News here Jagdish Shettar was desperate to be an MLA. Thats why he decided to join the Congress. Its all about the money, owner of Hublis famous Renuka Peda sweet shop commented casually with a smile. Thats how normalised the concept of making money is in Karnataka. Its taking on this money power and corruption that is at the core of the Congress campaign in upcoming Karnataka elections. 40% Sarkara is the campaign pitch unleashed by the Congress, a reference to allegations of 40% kickbacks in government contracts. There are basically two factors at play in Karnataka elections, two campaign pitches that will decide the vote corruption versus reservation. The ruling BJP has openly opposed 4% reservation for Muslims. With Union Home Minister Amit Shah declaring the BJP opposes any reservation based on religion, the party is hoping that the Hindutva vote-bank will be further crystallised in its favour, especially in its bastion north Karnataka. North Karnataka is also the area where the Jagdish Shettar factor had worked in previous elections. He had helped the BJP assert its supremacy here. With Shettar in its camp now, the Congress hopes to breach this turf. The BJPs calculation is that its stand against Muslim reservation would counter the loss of Shettar factor. Building its campaign around corruption in Karnataka, the Congress is planning to build on the pitch for 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well, where it will likely accuse the Narendra Modi government of crony capitalism and corruption. And herein lies the problem. While state Congress leaders have not cosied up to the idea of Rahul Gandhi stressing on the Adani issue, they hope corruption charges against the Bommai government will swing the narrative in their favour. But if the Congress wants to paint Bommai as the symbol corruption, the BJP is hitting back with the same charge against DK Shivkumar, a CM aspirant in the Congress camp. Its the pot calling the kettle black. Look at their CM face DK Shivkumar, says a BJP leader while talking about the Congresss 40% Sarakara campaign. While the Congress has steered clear of projecting either DK Shivakumar or Siddaramaiah as the face of the party to control infighting, the BJP has started a whisper campaign that the grand old party will announce Shivakumar as the CM if it wins. The strategy is clear Shivakumar, who went to jail and is facing an ED investigation, is the perfect tool to counter the 40% Sarkara campaign. News18 travelled through Karwar, Hubli, Yellur and Belgavi and found that the Congress campaign has been met with some cynicism. As commissions are normalised, and even institutionalised, people have little hope of change. All we want is development, even if it means we have to pay commission for it, says 21-year-old Aditya, a college student in Hubli. Given the public response towards corruption as an election issue, is the Congress too little too stale? Read all the Latest Politics News here TMC, whose strongman Anubrata Mondal's daughter was arrested by the ED on Wednesday, said that the party has "zero tolerance" for corruption but there should not be any politics of vendetta by the BJP against its political opponents. The Enforcement Directorate arrested the TMC leaders daughter Sukanya in Delhi on Wednesday on money laundering charges linked to an alleged cattle smuggling case. Reacting to Sukanya's arrest, TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh told a TV channel that the party will not be on the side of any wrongdoer as it has "zero tolerance" for corruption. "But we wonder if Sukanya could not be interrogated outside the jail first." He said, "We (TMC) are confronted with the thought whether this arrest is another manifestation of the vendetta politics by BJP" and hoped that the investigations by the central agency will be fair and unbiased. Ghosh, who is also the TMC state general secretary, wondered why the central agencies have not taken any action against BJP leaders whose names figured in monetary scandals and have not been questioned by the probe agencies "even once". "Why has no action been taken against BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari despite being named in the Saradha and Narada scams? Why has BJP leader Dilip Ghosh not been questioned even once though his name was found in a copy of a land deed in the possession of an accused in the teachers' recruitment scam? We want CBI and ED to be impartial in their probe," he added. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said the ED probe has found that Sukanya had amassed huge amounts of wealth within a few years disproportionate to her known sources of income. "She is young and had been a primary school teacher for a short time. But she has crores in her account. Where did she get so much money?" he asked. Majumdar said that according to reports she was not cooperating with the investigators. "Now with the ED taking her into custody, the money trail will be known," he added. Sukanya was interrogated by the ED a few times in the past as well. Anubrata Mondal, the Birbhum district president of the TMC, was arrested by CBI in August last year for his alleged involvement in cattle smuggling and was also named in the charge sheet filed by the agency in the case. He was arrested by the ED, which probes the money trail, as well. Read all the Latest Politics News here It is a dream for many to settle and relocate to a foreign country. Living in pristine locations, basking in the glory of the new city, and meeting new people is a source of joy for many. Relocating your base is a job easier said than done. You have to select the property of your choice and keep in mind the budget as well. Do you know that there are certain countries which pay you for moving there? Yes, these countries offer you a hefty sum of money for settling in their lands. Here are five of such amazing destinations that follow this strange principle. Presicce - Italy The beautiful country of Italy is a dream destination for many, especially because of its delicious pasta, savoury croissants, and freshly-brewed coffee. If you want to shift your base to Italy, then do consider moving to Presicce. Shifters are given a stipend of Rs 25 lakh for settling there because most of the people in Presicce comprise the older generation, due to which the population in this Italian city has come to a standstill. Antikythera - Greece The Greek island of Antikythera will offer you a stipend of about Rs 50,000 every month for three consecutive years. The government will also provide you with land and a home. There are approximately 40 inhabitants on the island. The Orthodox Church in this area is sponsoring families who are prepared to relocate because the island has experienced underpopulation for the past few years. Just 50 people are living on this island right now. Albinen - Switzerland Switzerland is known as the land of snow-capped mountains, mouth-watering chocolates, and beautifully crafted watches. The beauty of the land is unparalleled. You will be amazed to learn that there is a small village in Switzerland known as Albein, where the government pays you to settle there. If you are below 45 years, you will be paid Rs Rs 20 lakh, for couples the rate is doubled to Rs 40 lakh. If you have kids, an extra amount of Rs 8 lakh will also be provided. Alaska - United States Due to the biting cold and freezing temperatures in Alaska, residents here often move to other countries. So, if you are willing to stay in Alaska, the government here is ready to offer you a handsome price of one and a half lakh rupees per year, provided that you decide to live here for at least one year. Ponga - Spain Spains Ponga is a little village, housing only a handful of people which is about a meagre 1,000. To increase the population in Ponga, couples are given a stipend of Rs 1.5 lakh for settling here. If children are born in Ponga, an additional amount of Rs 2 lakh is also given. Read all the Latest News here The Afghan intelligence and the US security agencies have started secretly working closely in some areas, sources have said. Top sources in Afghanistan have told CNN-News18 that the Kabul intelligence agency General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) has a secret relationship with the Americans and they are cooperating with the US in some cases. The development comes around two years after the US ended its two-decade-long war in Afghanistan as the Taliban took over the control of Kabul in August 2021. The sources also said that the agencies of the two countries recently held secret meetings in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. During the series of meetings, the two sides explored areas where they can cooperate and follow up in the future. Top sources also said that the attack on ISIS militants in Takhar province in northeastern Afghanistan last year in October was based on the information provided by GDI. Four Islamic State militants, including 2 senior commanders, were killed in the Dashti Qala district on October 22. The same militant group was also responsible for the Kabul airport blast in August 2021, sources said. Haqqani and Kandhari Divide Sources have said that the rift between the Haqqani and Kandhari groups in Afghanistan is because of some insiders in Taliban, who have taken help from Pakistan. After the Taliban came to power in August 2021, the world community started having good relations with the Haqqani network because the group had become the international face of Taliban. The assurance of the Haqqani network was also important for any investment in the war-torn country. The sources said that the prominence of the Haqqani group was not acceptable for some people in Kandahar and Pakistan and as a result, Aymen Al Zawahiri, who was in the safehouse belonging to a top aide to Sirajuddin Haqqani, was killed. Zawahiri was killed in a counter-terrorism operation carried out by the CIA in Kabul in August last year. According to sources, Zawahiris killing happened because Sirajs rivals shared the information with the Americans. Read all the Latest News here The United States and South Korea will sign the Washington Declaration which will give South Korea detailed insights and a greater voice during a potential American nuclear response in the event of a North Korean attack but Seoul in return must continue to adhere to non-proliferation, the Wall Street Journal said in a report. The accord allows the South Korea leadership to present its views on the use of US nuclear forces to defend the country but allows the US to have full rights on targeting and executing nuclear operations, the Wall Street Journal said. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his American counterpart Joe Biden will unveil the Washington Declaration when the former visits the White House. In a bid to show South Korea that the US will use its nuclear deterrents to protect its ally, the US will send a nuclear ballistic missile submarine to South Korea, for the first time since the 1980s. A separate report by Axios says that after North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un committed to developing Pyongyangs nuclear arsenal, South Koreans are worried if the US would use its nuclear weapons to help South Korea and most support obtaining their own nuclear weapons. The fundamental thrust of the Washington Declaration is to set forth a series of concrete ways in which the United States is reinforcing and enhancing its extended deterrence commitment to the Republic of Korea, US national security advisor Jake Sullivan was quoted as saying by the Wall Street Journal. And the Republic of Korea is reaffirming its enduring commitment to its obligations under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, he further added. Under the Washington Declaration, the US will commit to holding discussions with South Korean leadership on the potential use of nuclear weapons. The Wall Street Journal report said that the US will commit to developing a robust communications infrastructure so that highly-placed officials can hold important conversations during a nuclear crisis. Under the declaration, a new US-South Korea nuclear consultative group" will be set up. NSA Sullivan told the Wall Street Journal that the group will focus on the North Korean nuclear threat and how the US and South Korea will respond to North Korean attacks or other similar situations. The Wall Street Journal said that discussions will be held to explore if South Korean forces could train alongside US nuclear forces where the former is trained to support the latter during a conflict. Following the NATO model, where fighters from nonnuclear nations escort warplanes capable of carrying out nuclear strikes, the South Korean forces will explore the possibility of escorting US bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons. It will be the place to talk about what is the exact nature of the nuclear threat from North Korea and how it is changing, Sullivan told the Wall Street Journal. Read all the Latest News here Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time since the onset of the war in Ukraine on Wednesday, news agency Bloomberg reported. The phone call took place amid reports that Ukrainian forces are planning a counteroffensive to dispel Russians from occupied territories along the eastern belt of the country. I had a long and meaningful phone call with President Xi Jinping. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations. (@ZelenskyyUa) April 26, 2023 I had a long and meaningful phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraines ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations, Zelensky said. Meanwhile, the state-run Global Times said: Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. On its Twitter page, the state-run Chinese news outlet said that the Chinese President Xi Jinping told Volodymyr Zelensky that his government will send a special envoy on Eurasian affairs to visit Ukraine and related countries to have in-depth communication on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. Xi also told his Ukrainian counterpart that negotiations are the only solution for the war during a phone call. The phone call also came days after Chinese ambassador to France Lu Shaye said former Soviet countries dont have effective status in international law, forcing the Chinese foreign ministry to offer a clarification. Meanwhile, news agency AFP citing Yu Jun from Chinas foreign ministry said the telephone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was initiated by Kyiv. Moscow reacted to the phone call by praising Chinas readiness to make efforts to establish a negotiation process but at the same time lambasted Kyiv for undermining any peace attempts. The Ukrainian authorities and their Western minders have already shown their ability to mess up any peace initiatives, the Russian foreign ministry said, according to AFP. The French presidents office told AFP that France backs all dialogues after Xi-Zelenskys call. Xi Jinping through this phone call showed that China will continue to portray itself as the neutral mediator in major conflicts and will continue the momentum gained when it helped Saudi Arabia and Iran, major foes in West Asia, to broker a deal to normalise relations. Both West Asian nations discussed reopening diplomatic missions within two months and resuming flights, seven years after severing formal ties and sending shockwaves through Washington as Beijing sought to replace it as a key player in the region. However, a ceasefire is unlikely to be announced because Volodymyr Zelensky wants Russian troops in Ukrainian territory to depart and is also receiving military support from the US and its allies who have accused China of arming Russia. They also dismissed the 12-point peace deal put forth by China which prioritised a ceasefire and Zelensky himself believes that it is a non-starter because it benefits the Kremlin. Moscow also has refused to back down and claims that Crimea is its territory along with parts of eastern Ukraine. Despite some of US allies backing Ukraine and remaining critical of China, French President Emmanuel Macron broke rank and urged Xi to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war but also made comments on the Taiwan issue that divided the West. Read all the Latest News here SCRANTON One of the most important munitions of the Ukraine war comes from a historic factory in this city built by coal barons, where tons of steel rods are brought in by train to be forged into the artillery shells Kyiv cant get enough of and that the U.S. cant produce fast enough. The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant is at the vanguard of a multibillion-dollar Pentagon plan to modernize and accelerate its production of ammunition and equipment not only to support Ukraine, but to be ready for a potential conflict with China. But it is one of just two sites in the U.S. that make the steel bodies for the 155 mm howitzer rounds that the U.S. is rushing to Ukraine to help in its fight to repel the Russian invasion in the largest-scale war in Europe since World War II. The invasion of Ukraine revealed that the U.S. stockpile of 155 mm shells and those of European allies were unprepared to support a major and ongoing conventional land war, sending them scrambling to bolster production. The dwindling supply has alarmed U.S. military planners, and the Army now plans to spend billions on munitions plants around the country in what it calls its most significant transformation in 40 years. It may not be easy to adapt: practically every square foot of the Scranton plants red brick factory buildings first constructed more than a century ago as a locomotive repair depot is in use as the Army clears space, expands production to private factories and assembles new supply chains. There are some things that Army and plant officials in Scranton wont reveal, including where they get the steel for the shells and exactly how many more rounds this factory can produce. Thats what Russia wants to know, said Justine Barati of the U.S. Armys Joint Munitions Command. So far, the U.S. has provided more than $35 billion in weapons and equipment to Ukraine. The 155 mm shell is one of the most often-requested and supplied items, which also include air defense systems, long-range missiles and tanks. The rounds, used in howitzer systems, are critical to Ukraines fight because they allow the Ukrainians to hit Russian targets up to 20 miles away with a highly explosive munition. Unfortunately, we understand that the production is very limited and its been more than a year of war, Ukraine parliamentary member Oleksandra Ustinova said at a German Marshall Fund media roundtable in Washington on Monday. But unfortunately we are very dependent on 155. The Army is spending about $1.5 billion to ramp up production of 155 mm rounds from 14,000 a month before Russia invaded Ukraine to over 85,000 a month by 2028, U.S. Army Undersecretary Gabe Camarillo told a symposium last month. Already, the U.S. military has given Ukraine more than 1.5 million rounds of 155 mm ammunition, according to Army figures. But even with higher near-term production rates, the U.S. cannot replenish its stockpile or catch up to the usage pace in Ukraine, where officials estimate that the Ukrainian military is firing 6,000 to 8,000 shells per day. In other words, two days worth of shells fired by Ukraine equates to the United States monthly pre-war production figure. This could become a crisis. With the front line now mostly stationary, artillery has become the most important combat arm, said a January report by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. Currently, the metal bodies for the 155 mm shells are made at the Armys Scranton plant, operated by General Dynamics, and at a General Dynamics-owned plant in nearby Wilkes-Barre, officials say. Together, the plants are under contract for 24,000 shells per month, with an additional $217 million Army task order to further boost production, although officials wont say how many more 155 mm shells are sought by the task order. The Russians are firing 40,000 shells per day, said Ustinova, who serves on Ukraines wartime oversight committee. So were doing five times less than they do and trying to keep it up. But if we dont start the production lines, if you dont warm it up, it is going to be a huge problem, Ustinova said. The obstacles the U.S. faces in ramping up production can be seen at the Scranton plant. The factory built for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad just after 1900, when the city was a rising coal and railroad powerhouse has produced large-caliber ammunition for the military going back to the Korean War. But the buildings are on the National Historic Registry of Historic Places, limiting how the Army can alter the structures. Inside, the floor is crowded with piles of shells, defunct equipment and production lines where robotic arms, saws, presses and other machines cut, heat, forge, temper, pressure test, wash and paint the shells. The plant is in the midst of $120 million in modernization plans and the Army hopes to open a new production line there by 2025. Still, clearing space for it has been a complicated task while the military adds newer machinery to make existing lines more efficient. Theres a lot going on, said Richard Hansen, the Army commanders representative at the plant. Meanwhile, the Army is expanding supply chains for parts metal shells, explosive fill, charges that shoot the shell and fuses and buying the massive machines that do the work. The Army has new contracts with plants in Texas and Canada to make 155 mm shells, said Douglas Bush, an assistant Army secretary and its chief weapons buyer. The U.S. is also looking overseas to allies to expand production, Bush said. Once the shells are finished in Scranton, they are shipped to the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, where they are packed with explosives, fitted with fuses and packaged for final delivery. The Scranton plant is ill-suited for that task: an accident with an explosive could be devastating. If we had a mishap here, Hansen said, we take half of the city with us. Donald Trump raped a prominent former American columnist then ridiculed" her with defamatory comments, a US civil trial hearing a lawsuit against the ex-president was told Tuesday. A lawyer for Trump, who denies the allegations, said the plaintiff E. Jean Carroll was motivated by money and fame as opening arguments kicked off the much-anticipated proceedings. Carroll, 79, says Trump sexually assaulted her in a changing room at the luxury Bergdorf Goodman department store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan in the mid-1990s. She says the attack came after Trump playfully asked her for advice on buying a womens lingerie gift. The moment they were inside (the dressing room) everything changed. Suddenly nothing was fun. Trump was almost twice her size," Carrolls lawyer Shawn Crowley told the Manhattan court. The trial, which is not criminal in nature, is part of a barrage of legal woes that threaten to derail Trumps 2024 run for a second presidential term. It comes just weeks after Trumps historic arraignment on criminal charges related to a hush-money payment made to a porn star. Carroll, who was in court Tuesday, first made the allegation in an excerpt from her book published by New York Magazine in 2019. Trump responded then by saying he has never met her, that she was not my type" and that she was totally lying." Carroll initially sued Trump for defamation in 2019 but was unable to include the rape claim because the statute of limitations for the alleged offense had expired. But a new law took effect in November last year in New York that gave victims of sexual assault a one-year window to sue their alleged abusers decades after attacks may have occurred. Lawyers for Carroll filed a new suit that accused Trump of battery, when he forcibly raped and groped" her. It also included defamation for a post that Trump made on his Truth Social platform in October where he denied the alleged rape and referred to Carroll as a complete con job." He went on the attack. He ridiculed her. He destroyed her," Crowley said. Joe Tacopina, representing Trump, said there was no evidence of the assault and that Carroll was abusing the system for money, for political reasons, and for status." Psychological harm Her suit seeks unspecified damages for significant pain and suffering, lasting psychological and pecuniary harms, loss of dignity and self-esteem, and invasion of her privacy." It also asks that Trump retract his comments. Around a dozen women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct. He has denied all the allegations and has never been prosecuted over any of them. No criminal prosecution can stem from the Carroll case but if Trump loses it will be the first time he has ever been held legally liable for an allegation of sexual assault. Trump has provided sworn testimony in the case and is not expected to take the witness stand during the trial as Carrolls lawyers have said they do not intend to call him. The trial is likely to last one to two weeks. Trump became the first sitting or former president to have ever been charged with a crime when he was arrested in the hush-money case earlier this month. He pleaded not guilty to 34 counts related to the payment made just before the 2016 election that propelled him to the White House. Trump is also being investigated over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the southern 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. Read all the Latest News here Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said on Wednesday that investigators had opened what he called an absurd" terrorism case against him that could see him sentenced to an additional 30 years in jail. Navalny, a former lawyer who rose to prominence by lampooning President Vladimir Putins elite and alleging vast corruption, is serving combined sentences of 11-1/2 years for fraud and contempt of court on charges that he says were trumped up to silence him. The 46-year-old opposition leader appeared in a Moscow court via video link on Wednesday, dressed in a black Russian prison jacket and looking gaunt, as part of a case into extremism, Reuters reporters at the court said. It was the first time he was seen in public since his supporters said earlier this month that he was suffering stomach pain in jail that could be some sort of slow acting poison. He smiled and joked with reporters until his video link was muted. They have made absurd accusations, according to which I face 30 years in prison," he said in a statement published by his supporters. It was not immediately clear what the terrorism case could relate to but Russias Federal Security Service, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said that Ukraine and Russian opposition figures from a fund set up by Navalny were behind the killing of a prominent war blogger in a St Petersburg cafe. Navalny said it was absurd to argue he had committed terrorism while in prison. He said the case would be tried by a military court. RUSSIAS OPPOSITION Less than a year ahead of a 2024 presidential election which Putin is expected to run in, Russian courts and security services have been upping their fight against perceived enemies, spies and traitors. Navalny earned admiration from Russias disparate opposition for voluntarily returning to Russia in 2021 from Germany, where he had been treated for what Western laboratory tests showed was an attempt to poison him with a nerve agent in Siberia. Navalny says he was poisoned in Siberia in August 2020. The Kremlin denied trying to kill him and said there was no evidence he was poisoned with a nerve agent. His supporters cast him as a Russian version of South Africas Nelson Mandela who will one day walk free from jail to lead his country. But Russian authorities view him and his supporters as extremists with links to the United States CIA intelligence agency who are seeking to destabilise Russia. They have outlawed his movement, forcing many of his followers to flee abroad. His campaigning organisations have been banned in Russia as extremist". This month Russian investigators formally linked Navalny supporters to the murder of Vladlen Tatarsky, a popular military blogger and supporter of Russias military campaign in Ukraine, who was killed by a bomb in St Petersburg. Navalny allies have denied any connection to the killing. Separately on Wednesday, Russian investigators said that 11 people had been put on an international wanted list" in a case linked to Navalny, state-owned news agency TASS reported. Read all the Latest News here Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif is likely to skip his India visit and attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers meeting virtually, sources have said. The defence ministry officials said that there is no confirmation on the Pakistani ministers arrival, sources familiar with the development said. They also said that a delegation of the Pakistani Defence Ministry has already arrived in India for the SCO Working Group meeting, scheduled for Wednesday. However, Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu, Russias Sergei Shoigu and their counterparts from the other member countries of the grouping are set to attend the meeting. India as the chair of SCO in 2023 will host the SCO Defence Ministers Meeting on 28 April 2023 in New Delhi. The Defence Ministers will discuss amongst other issues matters concerning regional peace and security, counter terrorism efforts within SCO and an effective multilateralism. Recently, Pakistan announced the participation of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto in the SCO Foreign Ministers meet which is all set to take place in Goa on May 4-5. Pakistans foreign minister would be making his first trip to India since 2011. India had earlier invited Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial for the foreign ministers SCO meet, but he skipped it, and Justice Muneeb Akhtar instead attended the meet via video link on March 10-12. SCO is an intergovernmental organization established in 2001. The SCO membership includes Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan besides India. Apart from the member states, two observer countries Belarus and Iran will also be participating in the SCO Defence Ministers Meeting on 28 April 2023. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also hold bilateral meetings with the Defence Ministers of participating countries on the side-lines of the SCO Defence Ministers Meet. Read all the Latest News here Prince Harry will be seated ten rows behind the rest of the senior royals at his father King Charles coronation on May 6, a royal associate has said. Paul Burrel has said that the prince will also make a quick exit at the May 6 coronation amid the ongoing feud between the royals. He further said that there is no chance of reconciliation and the Duke of Sussex will be in and out in a flash. It is not a surprise, he is coming to show face. He is coming to put his foot in the door and he is coming because his father wants him to be there, Paul Burrel said while speaking to GB News. He said that Harry sitting in the tenth row may be a blessing to him as he will be well-poised for a quick getaway. His father will be delighted that both his sons will be there to witness this incredible day in his life, Burrel said adding that Harry is not going to hang around. The former butler also said that there is no chance of a reconciliation between Harry and the Royal Family anytime soon. According to a report in The Independent, Prince William also has no interest in speaking to Prince Harry before King Charles and Camillas coronation. The Buckingham Palace earlier this month said Prince Harry will attend the coronation, ending months of speculation about whether the prince would be welcome at the Royal event. Harry will not be accompanied by his wife Meghan who will stay at home in California with their children. Harrys attendance is seen as particularly sensitive since the publication of his blockbuster memoir Spare" in January. In the explosive autobiography, the 38-year-old prince claimed his elder brother Prince William attacked him during an argument about Meghan, an American former television actress. Read all the Latest News here The third in-person Quad summit will be held in Sydney next month, to deepen cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, and other pressing issues pertaining to the strategic Indo-Pacific region, the White House said. The Quad or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue comprises India, the US, Japan and Australia. The meeting in Sydney on May 24 will be the first time that Australia will be hosting this summit. On May 24, President Biden will attend the third in-person Quad Leaders Summit in Sydney, Australia, with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday. Albanese attended the previous Quad summit in Tokyo hours after he was sworn in as prime minister last year. The Quad leaders will discuss how they can deepen their cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, maritime domain awareness, and other issues that matter to the people of the Indo-Pacific, she said. President Biden will arrive in Australia after attending the G7 Leaders Summit in Hiroshima, Japan from May 19 to May 21. India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of Chinas rising military manoeuvring in the region. In 2017, the US, Australia, India and Japan 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 region free of any influence. China claims nearly all the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea. Read all the Latest India News here If UK media reports are to be believed Andrew Parker Bowles, the first husband of Queen Consort Camilla, will attend the upcoming coronation ceremony of UKs King Charles III on May 6. The couple, who were married for 22 years and have two grown-up children, will reunite as the 83-year-old watches his ex-wife being crowned at Westminster Abbey, British publication Daily Mail reported. Former Tory minister Nadine Dorries expressed her excitement upon hearing the news and praised the former couple for setting an example of how ex-spouses can remain a positive part of each others lives. According to the Daily Mail, Dorries described Andrews attendance as a moment of pride" for both him and Camilla. Despite their separation, the couple has maintained a healthy relationship and often communicate with each other. Andrew, who previously served with the Blues and Royals as an army officer and was awarded a Queens Commendation for Bravery in Zimbabwe, is commonly referred to as The Brigadier. He has been a part of royal circles for many years. Dorries, in the Daily Mail report, revealed that Andrew would call Camilla to correct her when she was wrong, and she would call him to point out his misbehavior. The former couple has shown that its possible to live in relative harmony after divorce, and their grandchildren, three of whom will play a key role in the coronation, are a testament to their bond. Read all the Latest News here Ahmad Harun, a former Sudanese politician, accused of alleged crimes against humanity, said that he and his associates have broken out of prison as the country plunges into crisis. The International Criminal Court (ICC) slammed charges on Ahmad Harun and he was held in Sudanese capital Khartoums Kober prison. Sudan is currently facing a political crisis as armed forces chief General Abdel-Fattah Burhan and the head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo are fighting to take control of the resource-rich nation. A ceasefire for 72-hours agreed between both military factions largely appears to be holding, the BBC said. The news agency pointed out that doubts remain regarding the warring factions commitment to a lasting peace. Harun confirmed on Tuesday that he and other fellow former officials who served under former president Omar al-Bashir left the jail and said he would present himself in front of the judiciary when it starts functioning properly. We made a decision to protect ourselves due to lack of security, water, food and treatment, as well as the death of many prisoners in Kober, Harun told al-Sudani, the BBC said in its report. The news agency citing Sudans military officials said that former president Omar al-Bashir has been moved to a military hospital. Bashir was ousted from power in 2019 by the military following mass protests in the country of 46 million people. Harun said he left the prison with the help of some prison guards and the armed forces. The International Criminal Court (ICC) says Harun faces - 20 counts of crimes against humanity, which include murder, persecution, forcible transfer of population, rape, inhumane acts, imprisonment or severe deprivation of, and torture Harun also faces 22 counts of war crimes, which include, murder, attacks against the civilian population, destruction of property, rape, pillaging, and outrage upon personal dignity. These were committed between 2003 and 2004 in Darfur, Sudan, widely known as the Darfur crisis. Rebel groups in 2003 launched an insurrection to protest what they perceived as the Sudanese governments, consisting mostly Arabized indigenous Africans, disregard for the non-Arab Muslim population. It was during the Darfur crisis, Bashir and the Sudanese army along with Janjaweed carried out genocide of the non-Arab Muslim Fur, Zaghawa, and Masalit peoples living in Darfur region. At least 459 people have died in the ongoing conflict and several thousands have been injured. Read all the Latest News here UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned that the ongoing power struggle between Sudans top generals not only puts the future of the country at risk but threatens to detonate across borders. It is incumbent on Sudanese leaders to put the interests of their people front and center," he said in his remarks to the Security Council on Sudan. Guterres said a prolonged full-scale war was unbearable to contemplate warning that seven countries border Sudan, all of which had seen conflict or serious civil unrest in the past decade. The parties to the conflict must respect the 72-hour ceasefire brokered by the United States and come together to establish a permanent cessation of hostilities."- @antonioguterres in his remarks to the Security Council on #Sudan Full remarks https://t.co/DZheSHXn4e pic.twitter.com/bqBDzqx4Pv UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) April 25, 2023 Poverty and hunger are already rampant across the whole region, he added. This conflict will not, and must not, be resolved on the battlefield, with the bodies of Sudans children, women and men. Following the popular overthrow of long-term dictator Omar al-Bashir four years ago, the generals carried out a joint military coup in 2021, ending the brief and fragile civilian power-sharing agreement that it was hoped would take Sudan into a new era of peace and civilian rule. As negotiations advanced following positive steps towards elections and a democratic future, the two military factions failed to agree on how to integrate the SAF and RSF forces, sparking this months in-fighting. Guterres said the Sudanese people, have made their wishes very clear. They want peace and the restoration of civilian rule through the transition to democracy, he told ambassadors in New York. He urged all with influence and interests in restoring peace, to press the generals to return to the negotiating table immediately. Since Sudan erupted in warfare between the army and the RSF on April 15, derailing a transition to civilian democracy, the paramilitaries have embedded themselves in residential districts and the army has sought to target them from the air. At least 450 have been killed, and over 3,700 injured, according to conservative UN estimates which are climbing upwards. Late on Tuesday, fighting flared anew in Sudan despite a ceasefire declaration by the warring factions as more people fled the capital Khartoum and former officials, Reuters reported. The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire beginning on Tuesday after negotiations mediated by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. But gunfire and explosions could be heard after nightfall in Omdurman, one of Khartoums sister cities on the Nile River where the army used drones to target RSF positions, a Reuters reporter said. The army also used drones to try to drive fighters back from a fuel refinery in Bahri, the third city at the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile. (With agency inputs) Read all the Latest News here Tangaraju Suppiah was executed on Wednesday by the Singapore authorities after he was convicted of conspiracy to smuggle one kilogram of cannabis. He was hanged on Wednesday morning and his family was given the death certificate despite pleas for clemency from his family, activists and the United Nations. Suppiah was executed in defiance of a plea by the United Nations Human Rights Office for Singapore to urgently reconsider" and calls by British tycoon Richard Branson to halt it. Tangaraju Suppiahs family gathered at Changi Prison near the citys airport to receive his body soon after the hanging. #Singapore: We urge the Government not to proceed with the imminent hanging of Tangaraju Suppiah. Imposing the death penalty for drug offences is incompatible with intl norms & standards. pic.twitter.com/DPfiahHcqo UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) April 25, 2023 Singapore has some of the worlds toughest anti-narcotics laws and insists the death penalty remains an effective deterrent against trafficking. Last year the Southeast Asian country hanged 11 people, all on drugs charges - including an intellectually impaired man convicted of trafficking three tablespoons of heroin. Tangaraju Suppiahs Case History Tangaraju Suppiah was convicted in 2017 of abetting by engaging in a conspiracy to traffic" 1,017.9 grams of cannabis, twice the minimum volume required for a death sentence in Singapore. In 2018, he was sentenced to death with the Court of Appeal later upholding the decision, but rights groups have claimed there were several problems with the case. Tangaraju was not found with the drugs or during the delivery. But prosecutors said he had been responsible for coordinating it, and they traced two phone numbers used by a deliveryman back to him. If a criminal justice system cannot safeguard and protect those at risk of execution despite credible claims of innocence, the system is broken beyond repair. This is why Tangaraju Suppiah (a man on death row in Singapore) doesnt deserve to die: https://t.co/zMQ4owW4os pic.twitter.com/bUWYXhTUEc Richard Branson (@richardbranson) April 24, 2023 He later appealed against his conviction and sentence, but it was dismissed in August 2019, with the court agreeing that Tangaraju had conspired to traffic in cannabis. Tangaraju filed a criminal motion in November 2022 for permission to apply to review the concluded appeal. The court dismissed this as well in February 2023. Despite his familys countless appeals for mercy, a Singapore court dismissed an application by Tangarajus family to have his case reviewed, a day before the death row convict was set to be hanged. The judge agreed in the last appeal that he had been responsible for coordinating the delivery, which made him ineligible for a more lenient sentence. Flaws in the Case Several international bodies pointed to flaws in the case and urged Singapore authorities that Tangaraju Suppiah should be given a fair trial. Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson said the evidence was far from clear cut since he never actually touched the marijuana in question, was questioned by police without a lawyer, and denied access to a Tamil interpreter when he asked for one." He added the hanging raises serious concerns that Singapore is launching a renewed spree to empty its death row in a misguided effort of deterrence." Amnesty International Deputy Regional Director Ming Yu Hah said there were many flaws" in the case and that the hanging showed the staggering failure of Singapores stubborn embrace of the death penalty." Read all the Latest India News here The U.N. Security Council is set to vote on Thursday to condemn a ban on Afghan women working for the United Nations in Afghanistan and call upon the Taliban administration to swiftly reverse its crackdown on the rights of women and girls. The resolution to be voted on drafted by the United Arab Emirates and Japan and seen by Reuters describes the ban as unprecedented in the history of the United Nations and asserts the indispensable role of women in Afghan society. Diplomats said it is expected to be adopted. A resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, Britain or France to pass. The draft resolution says the ban on Afghan women working for the United Nations undermines human rights and humanitarian principles. Earlier this month the Taliban began enforcing the ban on Afghan women working for the U.N. after stopping most women working for humanitarian aid groups in December. Since toppling the Western-backed government in 2021, they have also tightened controls on womens access to public life, including barring women from university and closing girls high schools. The Taliban says it respects womens rights in accordance with its strict interpretation of Islamic law. Taliban officials said decisions on female aid workers are an internal issue. The draft Security Council resolution demands all parties allow full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access regardless of gender and stresses the urgent need to continue addressing the dire economic and humanitarian situation. It also recognizes the need to help address the substantial challenges facing Afghanistans economy, including through efforts to enable the use of assets belonging to Afghanistans Central Bank for the benefit of the Afghan people. The United States froze billions of the banks reserves held in the U.S. and later transferred half of the money to a trust fund in Switzerland overseen by U.S., Swiss and Afghan trustees. The draft resolution also stresses the critical importance of the United Nationss continued presence across Afghanistan. Read all the Latest News here Among the consumer products recalled in the last week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that Stanley Black & Decker is recalling its DeWalt, Stanley Fatmax and Craftsman fiberglass sledgehammers because of an injury hazard. The commission reported that the head of the sledgehammers can loosen and detach during use. The company has received 192 reports of the head detaching, including two reported injuries to consumers face and head. For model numbers and descriptions of affected sledgehammers, check out the commissions website at www.cpsc.gov. They were sold at Home Depot, Ace Hardware and other hardware stores, as well as online at Amazon and hardware store websites from November 2013 to November 2022. Consumers should stop using the products and contact the company at 855-418-3032 for instructions on how to receive a full refund. An injury and fall hazard is behind a recall from Rollerblade USA over its Fury inline skates and Fury brake supports. The commission said the brake support for the rear brake of the skate can fracture or separate, which can reduce user stability. The company has received 11 reports of brake supports fracturing or breaking off, though no injuries have been reported. For SKU numbers and size ranges, check out the commissions website. The skates were sold at sporting goods stores and dealers nationwide, as well as online at Amazon, Dicks Sporting Goods, Inline Warehouse and Rollerblade from May 2020 to March 2023. A variant of the skate with gray, nonmarking brake pads was sold for indoor institutional use directly to schools and rental facilities. Consumers should stop using the skates and contact the company at 866-734-5708 to receive a free replacement brake support. Lucky Global is recalling its Lelinta multipurpose childrens helmets because they do not comply with positional stability requirements and safety standards for bicycle helmets. No incidents or injuries have been reported. The helmets were sold in pink and blue with elbow, knee and wrist guards in a mesh bag. They were sold exclusively on Walmarts website from July 2022 to February 2023. Consumers should stop using the helmets and contact the company at 929-250-8198 for a full refund. Lil Anglers is recalling its childrens fishing rods that were sold with Kid Casters No Tangle combos because the fishing rods contain a level of lead that exceeds the federal lead content ban. No illnesses have been reported. The packages of the product contain a 34-inch inline rod and reel combo, plastic casting plug, rattle bobber and pre-tied snap swivel. For models and date codes, check out the commissions website. They were sold at Bass Pro Shops, Dicks Sporting Goods and other specialty sporting goods stores nationwide, as well as online at Amazon and Lil Anglers from January 2021 to March 2023. Consumers should take the fishing rods away from children and contact the company at 844-347-4543 for a full refund or free replacement fishing rod. Davey Water Products is recalling its DynaDrive fresh water well pumps because the pumps are not adequately grounded and can pose an electric shock hazard to the user. The company has received one report in Australia of a consumer who received an electric shock. The recall involves the pumps with model numbers DD60-10NPT and DD90-11NPT with serial numbers between 190791000 and 223365720. They were sold online, in stores and via contractors from August 2020 to December 2022. Consumers should not attempt the turn off the water pumps, change settings, inspect or repair it, or otherwise touch them. They should instead register their pumps on Daveys website at daveywater.com to schedule a free inspection to verify their pumps are correctly grounded. For more information, call 888-755-8654. The Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site was abuzz on Saturday with Turner Brigade Civil War reenactors and visitors including Cub Scouts and hundreds of other students who had seen demonstrations the day before, such as fourth graders from Roosevelt Elementary in Farmington, eighth graders from De Soto and middle schoolers from Arcadia Valley. Saturday was designated as the annual "Spring Drill" for local Civil War reenactors. Beginning about 9 a.m. with brigade formation, the various companies of the unit performed drills according to their military duties. Tri-annually, the Turner Brigade Civil War Reenactors participate in the official Civil War reenactment detailing the September 1864 Battle of Pilot Knob at Ft. Davidson. Its reenacted every three years at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site, with the next reenactment set for September 2024. Saturdays reenacting exercises involved drilling, mustering, firing and education for the crowd of civilians. Before seeing the remains of the fort, many visitors toured the on-site museum and watched a short video detailing the battle of Pilot Knob. The scouts were able to roam through the ruins of the Ft. Davidson site, read the informational placards placed strategically throughout the grounds, and even enter the crater that remains from the September 1864 explosion when Union Soldiers, after a day of pitched battle, destroyed the armaments remaining in Ft. Davidson just before they abandoned the fort in the dead of night, breaking through Confederate lines to safety. The visitors were able to watch as one group of reenactors marched onto the battlefield and ran through a series of commands ranging from soldier placement while marching, to firing while in pitched battle. Another group of reenactors manned two cannons and occasionally the boom of cannon fire rang out, adding realism to the day. Included in the group of militia re-enactors was a young boy of about 11 years old. The Turner Brigade Civil War reenactors also presented several "stations" of Civil War activities to the kids, who in addition to touring the on-site visitors' center museum, met with engineers; watched infantry drills and artillery demonstrations; heard about the Western Sanitary Commission, which cared for the military sick, dying and dead; learned about women's roles as civilians during the era; and saw a collection of Civil War-period toys. Cub Scouts from Pack 423 wandered through the militia encampment Saturday until they found Assistant Cub Master and Union Sergeant Chris Warren of the First Missouri Engineers, who was re-enacting and drilling for the day with his wife, Twyla, and his daughter and fellow scout, Abbie, 9, who are also Civil War re-enactors. Warren led the scouts in military drills and enlisted those who were old enough to serve in the Union ranks. Abbie, who is a Bear scout, assisted in demonstrating the 1860s period toys such as a "buzz saw," "Jacob's ladder," various rag and hankie dolls, and even some of her "school books" including a 1830s McGuffey Reader. Warren and his reenacting friend, Cpl. Andrew Porter, explained how engineers designed and built fortifications like Fort Davidson, requirements of being an "engineer", and some of the soldiers' personal equipment. Other Turner members explained the importance of marching, loading and firing, and much more. A "Civil War Show & Tell" gave the public a chance to see soldier's gear, what they ate on the march and engineering tools. When asked what part of the experience was their favorite, 8-year-old Cub Scout Drew Northrup replied, Visiting the crater. Another scout, 11-year-old Alex Northrup, couldnt pick a favorite experience. Id do all of it again, he said. More information on Civil War living histories and events in the area can be gotten by contacting Chris Warren at the_civilwar_guy@yahoo.com Don Lemon's departure from CNN Monday came as a surprise to manyapparently including the "stunned" host himselfbut insiders say leaders at the network had come to see it as inevitable. Sources tell the New York Times that execs "gradually concluded" Lemon's position had become "untenable" after the uproar that followed his February remark about 51-year-old GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley not being "in her prime." Lemon's status at the network also suffered from disappointing ratings at CNN This Morning, which he moved to in November, and clashes with co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. The sources say guests had become increasingly unwilling to appear with Lemon and polls found his popularity with audiences had faded. The New York Times' sources say execs decided Lemon's prime-time persona wasn't a good fit for CNN This Morning and they were "exasperated" by his exchange last week with another Republican candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy. Lemon, who is Black, clashed heatedly with Ramaswamy over issues including gun rights and Black history, the New York Post reports. Lemon said it was "insulting" that Ramaswamy was "sitting here, whatever ethnicity you are, explaining to me what its like to be Black in America." Ramaswamy told Fox Monday that the firing was a "sound decision" and he believes the exchange played a role. "I think that any network that wants to foster open debate should embrace that principle by not restricting what someone can say or saying what someone can say is restricted based on their skin color," Ramaswamy said. The Washington Post reports that Harlow and Collins had warm words for Lemon on Tuesday morning's CNN This Morning, but they did not discuss the reasons for his departure. Lemon and Tucker Carlson, the other host fired by a major network on Monday, have hired the same lawyer. (Read more Don Lemon stories.) If you're eager to see how GOP presidential candidates will fare in primary debates against the current frontrunner, you may have a long wait. That frontrunner, former President Trump, suggested Tuesday that going head-to-head with his Republican rivals might not be in the cards. "I see that everybody is talking about the Republican Debates, but nobody got my approval, or the approval of the Trump Campaign, before announcing them," the erstwhile commander in chief wrote on Truth Social. Trump's reasoning behind a possible debate snub? "When you're leading by seemingly insurmountable numbers, and you have hostile Networks with angry, TRUMP & MAGA hating anchors asking the 'questions,' why subject yourself to being libeled and abused?" he continued. Trump also took issue with the venue for the second GOP debate, already penciled in for a date TBD at Southern California's Ronald Reagan Presidential Library"the Chairman of which is, amazingly, Fred Ryan, Publisher of The Washington Post. NO!" Trump wrote. The first debate will take place in August in Milwaukee and be broadcast by Fox News, reports the New York Post. Per the Hill, Trump has threatened to skip town halls and debates in the past, including 2020 face-offs with Joe Biden (the men ended up meeting twice). USA Today, however, notes that Trump has followed through on his threats on occasion, most famously ditching an early 2016 debate in Iowa because he claimed Fox News and moderator Megyn Kelly were biased against him. As for debates between the eventual Democratic and Republican nominees, the status of those are unclear: The RNC withdrew from the Commission on Presidential Debates last year, citing bias against Republican candidates. (Read more Donald Trump stories.) Two executives are on leave at Anheuser-Busch following the brouhaha over Bud Light's partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Alissa Heinerscheid is Bud Light's marketing VP and Daniel Blake, her boss, is in charge of marketing for Anheuser-Busch's mainstream brands, the Wall Street Journal reports. A statement released by the company Tuesday doesn't mention the Mulvaney controversy, but simply says changes have been made "to streamline the structure of our marketing function to reduce layers so that our most senior marketers are more closely connected to every aspect of our brands activities." The goal, the statement concludes, is to "maintain focus on the things we do best: brewing great beer for all consumers, while always making a positive impact in our communities and on our country." Heinerscheid had been harassed by critics of the Mulvaney promo can who found an interview she did in March calling out some previous Bud Light ads for having "fratty, sort of out-of-touch humor"; tabloids and conservative outlets unearthed and published photos of her at a college party in 2006, the New York Times reports. "Given the circumstances, Alissa has decided to take a leave of absence which we support, an Anheuser-Busch spokesperson said before the Tuesday statement was released. Daniel has also decided to take a leave of absence. But sources say those decisions weren't voluntary. The publisher of Beer Business Daily notes of Bud Light, "They seemingly took a stand although they didnt really back it up that well. They threw it out there and hid, which I think is unfair to Dylan and unfair to the trans community a little bit." (Experts say this controversy will one day be "embarrassing.") Tucker Carlson has a lot of sympathizers in Russia, not only those who've offered him jobs on Russian state TV, but Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov himself. While speaking on the topic of freedom of speech at the United Nations on Tuesday, Lavrov brought up Carlson's surprise ouster from Fox News unprompted. "Perhaps it would be useful to consider how things are with freedom of speech in the United States," Lavrov said in a clip aired on CNN, per Mediaite. "I've heard that Tucker Carlson has left Fox News. It's curious news. What is this related to? One can only guess. But, clearly, the wealth of views in the American information space has suffered as a result." CNN's Erin Burnett described the comment from "the most senior Russian official to visit the United States since Putin invaded Ukraine" as "unbelievable" considering everything else that should be of concern to Russia's Foreign Ministry, though she did note Carlson is a "star" in Russia "for repeatedly being pro-Russia, anti-American, and anti-Ukraine." As Mother Jones reported, shortly after Russia's war in Ukraine began, the Kremlin issued a memo to friendly media outlets, saying "it is essential to use as much as possible fragments of broadcasts of the popular Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who sharply criticizes the actions of the United States [and] NATO." Clips of Carlson's shows have become "an everyday occurrence on Russian state television," per the Daily Beast. But Carlson was popular in Russia even before the war. In 2020, a host of Russia 1's 60 Minutes described Carlson as "practically our co-host." In the wake of his firing, Russian state TV hosts have blamed the US government. "The main issue is that he started to discuss, in harsh terms, all of the goals that the liberal establishment is pursuing abroad," Dmitry Drobnitsky said Monday on Russia 1, per the Beast. "They'll throw him in prison, wait and see." Mediaite's Michael Luciano claims Lavrov also "implied" Carlson's firing "was done at the behest of the US government." (Read more Tucker Carlson stories.) Despite protests that spread far beyond its borders, Singapore on Wednesday executed a man who was convicted in 2018 of aiding an attempt to smuggle 2.2 pounds of cannabis into the country. British billionaire Richard Branson was among those urging Singapore to give Tangaraju Suppiah clemency, warning, "Singapore may be about to kill an innocent man." But the 46-year-old's family confirms to CNN they have received his death certificate after he was hanged in Changi Prison. Singapore, which has some of the harshest drug laws in the world, allows the death penalty for trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis, the AP reports. Activists and Tangaraju's family pointed out that he never touched the cannabis in question and was convicted on weak, circumstantial evidence as well as a police interrogation carried out with no lawyer or interpreter present. Rather, a phone number found on the cellphones of two men who were arrested in the trafficking case was linked to him; authorities said that he was responsible for coordinating the delivery of the drugs. But Tangaraju insisted he was not communicating with those men. "Even from inside prison, he wanted to fight for his innocence," his sister says. "He believed that there would be a fair trial and wanted to prove his innocenceevery step of the way. His execution cuts particularly deep considering cannabis is increasingly being legalized around the world. Putting him to death also shows just how far Singapore has fallen behind Malaysiaits leaders like to claim that their country is more modern and developed but in the case of criminal justice and the death penalty, Singapore is clearly the laggard," the Asia deputy director of Human Rights Watch says. Malaysia recently cut down on the number of drug crimes and other offenses punishable by death, and also removed the mandatory death penalty. Adds a UN Human Rights spokesperson, "Imposing the death penalty for drug offenses is incompatible with international norms and standards." (Read more Singapore stories.) Montana Republican leaders will vote Wednesday on censuring or expelling lawmaker Zooey Zephyr, a transgender state representative who's been silenced in the House since last week after telling colleagues that if they voted for a bill to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender children, they'd "have blood on their hands." On Tuesday night, Zephyr tweeted a letter she received from House leaders informing her of the plan to consider disciplinary action against her during Wednesday's session, per the AP. "I've also been told I'll get a chance to speak," Zephyr tweeted. "I will do as I have always donerise on behalf of my constituents, in defense of my community, & for democracy itself." Montana's House speaker canceled Tuesday's floor session without explanation, the latest development in a standoff over whether Montana Republicans will let the lawmaker from Missoula speak unless she apologizes for her remarks last week on a gender-affirming care ban. Much like events in the Tennessee Statehouse weeks agowhere two lawmakers were expelled after participating in a post-school shooting gun control protest that interrupted proceedingsZephyr's punishment has ignited a firestorm of debate about governance and democracy in politically polarizing times. "Republicans are doubling down on their agenda of running roughshod over Montanans' rightsto free expression, to peaceful protest, to equal justice under the law," House Minority Leader Kim Abbott said of the plan to discipline Zephyr. Zephyr's remarks, and the Republican response, set off a chain of events that culminated in a rally outside the state Capitol at noon Monday, and seven arrests later that afternoon when protesters packed into the gallery at the Statehouse brought House proceedings to a halt. The events have showcased the growing power of the Montana Freedom Caucus, a group of right-wing lawmakers that has spearheaded the charge to discipline Zephyr. In a statement Monday, they said that Zephyr's decision to hoist a microphone toward the gallery's protesters amounted to "encouraging an insurrection." Although several protesters resisted law enforcement officers trying to arrest them on Monday, Abbott pushed back at characterizing the activity as violent. She acknowledged it was disruptive but called the demonstration peaceful. There were no reports of damage to the building, and lawmakers weren't threatened. Such a protest won't be allowed to happen Wednesday: Republican leaders said in their letter that the gallery will be closed "to maintain decorum and ensure safety." Speaker Matt Regier didn't explain Tuesday why lawmakers weren't returning to the floor, but in a brief statement called the disruptions a "dark day for Montana." "Currently, all representatives are free to participate in House debates while following the House rules," Regier told reporters. "The choice to not follow the House rules is one that Rep. Zephyr has made. The only person silencing Rep. Zephyr is Rep. Zephyr." On Monday, Zephyr said the seven arrested were "defending democracy." She said she doesn't intend to apologize and argued that her "blood on your hands" remark accurately reflected the stakes of such bans for transgender kids. (Read more Montana stories.) At least one person is dead and nearly 200 buildings have been destroyed in fires raging through Russia. Six "massive" fires were burning in the Sverdlovsk region on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Anadolu Agency reports. The Russian Emergency Ministry said 178 buildings were destroyed, including 134 homes and 32 non-residential buildings. Flames may have first erupted at a sawmill before spreading with aid from high winds and dry vegetation, per Radio Free Europe. Flames "decimated" the village of Sosva, per Reuters, where one person was reported dead. "Here everything is just burned downthere are no houses anymoreeverything is burning," one witness said, according to the Daily Beast. There were reports of large fires erupting in other regions around the same time, per RFE. The Russian media group RBC described fires in the city of Lesozavodsk in the Primorsky region, which borders China, and the village of Balyaga in the Trans-Baikal Territory in eastern Russia, in addition to several fires burning far apart in Sverdlovsk. There has been an uptick in fires in Russia in recent months. An analysis shows major fires increased 26% in November and December, per Forbes. Then there were 212 in the first three months of 2023, compared to 414 for the entirety of 2022, according to the report, which suggested Russians opposed to Vladimir Putin's regime or Ukrainian forces could be responsible. (Read more Russia stories.) For more than a decade, former President Trump and other owners of the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago have sought to recoup a hefty property tax refund on the building. Now, it looks like Trump can claim success in this longtime battle: On Monday, the Illinois Appellate Court concurred with Team Trump that the skyscraper had been overvalued by Cook County assessors in 2011, and that Trump and the other investors are due nearly 340 refunds for the building's hotel rooms and retail space, totaling around $1 million, report the Chicago Sun-Times and Crain's Chicago Business. The tower's residential condos aren't affected by the ruling by the three-member appeals court. The money will come out of the coffers of the property taxes due to the city this year, with Chicago Public Schools looking to lose more than half a million dollars. The court deemed that the state's Property Tax Appeal Board was in the right when, in 2021, it slashed the original estimated market value of the building of $62.4 million, placed on the property by Cook County Board of Review assessors 12 years ago, down to just $37 million. Unless the board, which brought the appeal before the court, pursues the case with the Illinois Supreme Court, this could wrap up years of legal wrangling over the contested taxes at 401 N. Wabash Ave. (Read more Donald Trump stories.) Many people search deep inside for answers to questions about connection, significance, pain and possibilities. Author Shannon McLeod decided to take a good look outdoors. I grew up in the Detroit area, so there was not a lot of access to nature, McLeod said. Gray concrete everywhere. McLeod, author of the novella Whimsy, said that arriving in Charlottesville brought a fresh experience: a wealth of nature trails leading into Virginias woods and quiet spaces. I moved to Charlottesville about six years ago and have been in awe of how many trails there are, McLeod said. Ive been walking constantly since I moved here. It has brought me a lot of peace. As McLeod spent more time walking under the tree canopy, she noticed something shifting in her writing. All of my characters ended up on nature trails, she said. At 7 p.m. on Friday, McLeod will be at New Dominion Bookshop on Charlottesvilles Downtown Mall to read from Nature Trail Stories, her new collection of short stories, and introduce listeners to characters who take a chance on finding the healing, wholeness and answers they seek out in the natural world. After the reading, McLeod will take part in a conversation with author Katharine Schellman. Schellman writes historical mysteries, and her latest series began in 2022 with Last Call at the Nightingale. In Nature Trail Stories, some of McLeods characters are savoring solitude and the focus it brings. Many are trying different paths to confront trauma and its impact. Others are encountering interactions with neighbors, she said. Many are just singular; a person is kind of processing their life. Nature becomes a place where the books characters seek communion, contact, change. One character decides to replace conventional counseling with therapeutic screaming. A mother tries to deepen bonds and forge new connections with her teen son as the lockdown wears on. Another young man hunts for a way to save his addicted brother. The longest story of the collection is about a music festival that becomes a backdrop for a young womans search for healing. At first, its a euphoric experience, McLeod said. But as the character keeps finding beer cans and trash in the bucolic setting, humanity is revealing itself on the nature trail, she said. McLeod said that her time on the trails has offered her welcome new ways to approach her writing process. It has allowed me to embrace a more meandering storytelling style, McLeod said. Having regular exposure to nature has led me to read more Korean and Japanese writing. It also has reminded her not force her voice into unnatural ventures. Trying to shoehorn her creativity into a purely commercial project simply didnt ring true once McLeod had experienced the expansiveness of the soul on the trail. I really tried to write something that had sales and marketing appeal, and it failed, McLeod said. I havent been able to sell that book. The lesson is to stay true to yourself. Fridays reading is free. The bookstores staff recommends arriving early for the best seating. Get more details at ndbookshop.com or call (434) 295-2552. Monday morning is perhaps not the best time for a rocket launch, as Sweden may have learned when it fired off a research rocket, only to have it land off target in neighboring Norway. The rocket launched at 7:20am local time Monday from the Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden, reaching zero gravity some 155 miles above the Earth, where it carried out experiments related to solar cells and potential carbon-free fuels, according to the Swedish Space Corporation, which owns the center. It then plunged back to Earth, landing 25 miles off target and 9.3 miles into Norwegian territory, per the BBC. No injury or damage was reported, as the mountainous landing site in the far northern area of Malselv is a little over 6 miles from the nearest inhabited area. Norway wasn't happy, regardless. "The Norwegian authorities take any unauthorized activity on the Norwegian side of the border very seriously," said a rep for Norway's Foreign Ministry, adding the ministry "did not get formal notification, and when an incident like this happens across the border it's important that those responsible immediately inform the Norwegian authorities through proper channels," given the potential for "large damage," per the BBC and Al Jazeera. Norway's Civil Aviation Authority said it only learned of the incident from the SSC's press release, per Deutsche Welle. Esrange officials countered that Norwegian Armed Forces were notified of the launch in advance and were contacted again shortly after the landing, per Sky News and the BBC. Still, the SSC has apologized and is looking into what went wrong. "This is a deviation that we take seriously," said Marko Kohberg, head of rocket and balloon operations at the space center, which had carried out the launch as part of a program commissioned by the European Space Agency, per the BBC. "We are now investigating the reason why the rocket flew farther northwest than normal," Kohberg continued, per Al Jazeera, adding "it is still too early to speculate about the cause." The payload, which descended with a parachute, has been recovered in "good condition" and returned to the center by helicopter, the SSC said. (Read more Sweden stories.) If you've been wondering what Jacinda Ardern has been working on since she stepped down as New Zealand's prime minister earlier this year, her plans for the fall seem to be coming together, with "a stint of quiet reflection within academia overseas," notes CNN. The former PM has been appointed to two fellowships at the Harvard Kennedy School, the Ivy League's public policy and government center, which means she'll be doing "some speaking, teaching, and learning," per her Instagram post announcing the news Tuesday, adding that she's "incredibly humbled" at the invitation. Ardern will spend her time on the campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, serving as the Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellow, which is geared toward big names transitioning out of public service roles, and as a Hauser Leader in the School's Center for Public Leadership, assisting faculty and students on leadership best practices. She'll also serve as a Knight Tech Governance Leadership Fellow with Harvard Law School's Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, looking into ways to combat online extremism. The New Zealand Herald notes that Ardern isn't a complete Harvard newbie: She was the recipient in 2020 of the Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership's Gleitsman International Activist Award, and last year she delivered the university's commencement address. "Jacinda Ardern showed the world strong and empathetic political leadership," Kennedy School Dean Douglas Elmendorf said in a release, per the AP, which notes how Ardern led New Zealand through the "devastating" Christchurch mass shooting in 2019. Elmendorf adds that Ardern will "bring important insights for our students and will generate vital conversations about the public policy choices facing leaders at all levels." New Zealanders need not fret that Ardern has ditched them for the long term. "While I'll be gone for a semester (helpfully the one that falls during the NZ general election!) I'll be coming back at the end of the fellowships," she wrote on Instagram. "After all, New Zealand is home!" (Read more Jacinda Ardern stories.) After four of her roommates were killed in a November stabbing, Bethany Funke moved home to Reno, Nevada. Now, attorneys for Bryan Kohberger, who has been charged with murdering the four University of Idaho students, have requested that she return to Idaho to testify at a June preliminary hearing. An investigator for the defense claims Funke could provide testimony that would be exculpatory to Kohberger, reports CNN, which viewed court documents. "Ms. Funkes information is unique to her experiences and cannot be provided by another witness," they read in part. CBS News reports the affidavit signed by investigator Richard Bitonti claims Funke was "interviewed by police on several occasions" and "disclosed things she heard and things she saw." Funke's attorney is pushing back against the subpoena, arguing in a motion filed Friday that "there is no further information or detail pertaining to the substance of the testimony, its materiality, or the alleged exculpatory information of Ms. Funke or why it would be entertained at preliminary hearing." Funke lived on the Moscow home's first floor with Dylan Mortenson, who also survived. Mortenson told police that after hearing crying in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, she opened her door and saw "a figure clad in black clothing and a mask ... walking towards her." Fox News reports she saw the figure exit via a sliding door. Kohberger has yet to enter a plea; he has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary in the deaths of Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and Xana Kernodle and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, both 20. (Read more Bryan Kohberger stories.) The US hasn't docked a nuclear ballistic missile submarine in South Korean waters since the 1980s. That's about to change under the "Washington Declaration," which President Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol are set to announce Wednesday. The agreement outlines stepped-up deterrence commitments the US is making to Seoul as North Korea barrels forward with its missile and nuclear testing; in return, South Korea will reaffirm its commitment to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Driving the declaration: As Axios explains, North Korea's recent moves have "inflamed debate in South Korea about whether the country can still entrust its security to its nuclear-armed ally in Washington." The declaration is intended to quiet those concerns and give South Korea something it has been asking for, per NPR: more of a voice in how to deter North Korea via joint planning, consultation, and intelligence sharing. About that debate: NBC News reports that polls show an increasing number of South Koreans want the country to develop its own nuclear arsenal, a sentiment fueled by concerns that the US is increasingly preoccupied with China. South Korea abandoned its own nuclear program under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty almost half a century ago, reports the AP. NBC News reports that polls show an increasing number of South Koreans want the country to develop its own nuclear arsenal, a sentiment fueled by concerns that the US is increasingly preoccupied with China. South Korea abandoned its own nuclear program under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty almost half a century ago, reports the AP. The submarines: Axios suggests the US' pledge to regularly deploy strategic assets to the areaplanned visits from a nuclear ballistic missile submarine, bomber aircraft, aircraft carriers, and moreis likely to vex the North. The US doesn't plan to station any nuclear weapons there. Axios suggests the US' pledge to regularly deploy strategic assets to the areaplanned visits from a nuclear ballistic missile submarine, bomber aircraft, aircraft carriers, and moreis likely to vex the North. The US doesn't plan to station any nuclear weapons there. One take: Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, tells NBC News the new pledges "don't have any military value" but are rather "symbolic" measures designed to "reassure the South Korean public." Indeed, NPR characterizes the declaration as "repackaging previous commitments or adding new material to existing policies." (Read more South Korea stories.) The TSA says a teenage traveler assaulted three of its agents in an "unprovoked" attack at Phoenix's airport on Tuesday, sending two to the hospital, according to the agency. The 19-year-old woman was passing through security screening at Sky Harbor International Airport shortly before 6am when she began an "unprovoked and brazen physical attack against our employees," TSA said, per NBC News. Phoenix police identified the woman, who was subsequently arrested, as Makiah Coleman, per KSAZ. Two agents were taken to a hospital and later released. It's unclear what injuries they suffered. Coleman was booked into jail on charges including aggravated assault disfigurement, two counts of assault with intent to injure, criminal damage, and disorderly conduct, per KPNX. A police rep said authorities are investigating what led up to the assault. Terminal 4's Checkpoint D was closed as a result, meaning "approximately 450 travelers ... had to be redirected to a nearby checkpoint," the TSA said. (Read more TSA stories.) Pope Francis has decided to give women the right to vote at an upcoming meeting of bishops, and the AP reports that's a historic reform that reflects his hopes to give women greater decision-making responsibilities and laypeople more say in the life of the Catholic Church. Francis approved changes to the norms governing the Synod of Bishops, a Vatican body that gathers the world's bishops together for periodic meetings, following years of demands by women to have the right to vote. The Vatican on Wednesday published the modifications he approved, which emphasize his vision for the lay faithful taking on a greater role in church affairs that have long been left to clerics, bishops, and cardinals. Catholic women's groups, which have long criticized the Vatican for treating women as second-class citizens, immediately praised the move as historic. "This is a significant crack in the stained-glass ceiling, and the result of sustained advocacy, activism, and the witness" of a campaign of Catholic women's groups demanding the right to vote, said Kate McElwee of the Women's Ordination Conference. Ever since the 1960s' Second Vatican Council that modernized the church, popes have summoned bishops to Rome for a few weeks at a time to debate particular topics. At the end of the meetings, the bishops vote on specific proposals and put them to the pope, who then produces a document taking their views into account. Until now, the only people who could vote were men. But under the new changes, five religious sisters will join five priests as voting representatives for religious orders. In addition, Francis decided to appoint 70 non-bishop members of the synod and has asked that half of them be women. They, too, will have a vote. The aim is also to include young people among these 70 non-bishop members, who will be proposed to the pope by regional blocs, with Francis making a final decision. "It's an important change; it's not a revolution," said Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, a top organizer of the synod. The next meeting, scheduled for Oct. 4-29, is focused on the very topic of making the church more reflective of, and responsive to, the laity. The October meeting has been preceded by an unprecedented two-year canvasing of the lay Catholic faithful about their vision for the church and how it can better respond to the needs of Catholics today. A look at what Francis' decision means: So far, only one women is known to be a voting member of that October meeting: Sister Nathalie Becquart, a French nun who's undersecretary in the Vatican's Synod of Bishops office. When she was appointed in 2021, she called Francis "brave" for having championed women's participation. By the end of May, seven regional blocs will propose 20 names apiece of non-bishop members to Francis, who will select 10 names apiece. Cardinal Mario Grech, who's in charge of the synod, stressed that with the changes, some 21% of the gathered representatives at the October meeting will be non-bishops, with half of that group women. Acknowledging the unease within the hierarchy of Francis' vision of inclusivity, he stressed that the synod itself would still have a majority of bishops calling the shots. Hollerich declined to say how the female members of the meeting would be known, given that members have long been known as "synodal fathers." Asked if they would be known as "synodal mothers," he responded that it would be up to the women to decide. (Read more Pope Francis stories.) Sudan's journey towards democratic rule has hit a wall. As rival generals clash, fomenting internal turmoil, the question of former dictator Omar Hassan al-Bashir's whereabouts is "swirling around the country," the New York Times reports. Deposed in 2019 after three decades, the former leader is wanted by the International Criminal Court which seeks to charge him with war crimes and crimes against humanity. In Sudan, he's still on the hook for charges tied to the 1989 coup that catapulted him into leadership. Al-Bashir faces a death sentence or life behind bars if convicted. The AP reports that questions about al-Bashir's whereabouts arose after an attack on Khartoum's Kober prison, where he has been held for four years along with other former members of his government, out of reach for the ICC though they have been accused of committing atrocities. The ICC initially issued a warrant for al-Bashir in 2009the first time one had been brought against an active head of state. An accompanying press release said he was accused of "intentionally directing attacks" in Darfur, in which civilians were murdered, raped, tortured, and "forcibly" moved. According to Reuters, Sudan's military said al-Bashir and at least five others were sent from Kober to a military hospital on April 15, before hostilities beganthis following an earlier, vague announcement that he'd simply left the prison. In a Facebook notice pointed out by the Times, the General Command of the Armed Forces said the former officials were "at the Aliaa Hospital in the Armed Forces due to their health conditions," and "they are still in the hospital under the custody and supervision of the judicial police." The military has not, however, provided photographs or any other evidence, the Times reports. The current conflict in Sudan is a tale of two generals, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan and Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. They joined forces four years ago during an uprising to give al-Bashir the boot. The generals cooperated in a coup in late 2021, ditching a power-sharing agreement between the military and civil authorities. That cooperation lasted until this April, when their respective forces went to war. (Read more Sudan stories.) An escaped inmate in Mississippi suspected of killing a man and stealing his pickup truck is presumed dead after a standoff and fire at a home in Leake County. Police say fire engulfed the home around two hours after 22-year-old Dylan Arrington barricaded himself inside Wednesday morning, WLBT reports. Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones told the station that there was an exchange of gunfire around the time the fire started. "And it started smoking from that particular part of the house, and it just came up, I guess, spreading throughout the residence," the sheriff said. A deputy was injured in the exchange of fire. The sheriff said a deceased person who has yet to be identified was located within the charred home. Arrington is believed to have killed 61-year-old Anthony Watts Monday night after he crashed a stolen motorbike and Watts, a church pastor, stopped to help. Leake County Sheriff Randy Atkinson says officers combed the area but found no sign of the pastor's Dodge Ram. Arrington is one of four inmates who escaped Saturday night from the Raymond Detention Center near Jackson, the AP reports. Casey Grayson, Corey Harrison, and Jerry Raynes are still at large. (Read more Mississippi stories.) In what CNN calls an "unprecedented step," Oklahoma's attorney general on Wednesday appeared before the state's parole board to lobby for clemency for Richard Glossip. The board wasn't swayed. It voted 2-2 to not recommend that Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt grant Glossip clemency, meaning the request was denied. The 60-year-old's execution is scheduled for May 18. Attorney General Gentner Drummondwho commissioned a special investigation into the case that found "multiple and cumulative errors"did not argue that Glossip is innocent but told the board that moving forward with the execution would be a "grave injustice." Handyman Justin Sneed admitted to fatally beating motel owner Barry Van Treese in 1997, but claimed he did so at the direction of Glossip, the motel manager, who agreed to pay him $10,000. Sneed received a life sentence in exchange for his testimony against Glossip. But Glossip's lawyers point to letters in which Sneed suggested he wanted to walk back his testimony, and Drummond says he can no longer stand behind Glossip's conviction and death sentence, which "is not to say I believe he is innocent." But "I do not believe that justice is served by executing a man based on the testimony of a compromised witness." The AP notes the Supreme Court has yet to weigh in on a petition to stop the execution. (Read more Richard Glossip stories.) The co-founder of a fundraising group linked to Steve Bannon that promised to help Donald Trump construct a wall along the southern US border was sentenced to four years and three months in prison on Wednesday for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from donors. Brian Kolfage, a decorated Air Force veteran who lost both of his legs and an arm in the Iraq War, previously pleaded guilty for his role in siphoning donations from the We Build the Wall campaign, the AP reports. A co-defendant, financier Andrew Badolato, was also sentenced to three years for aiding the effort. He had also pleaded guilty. A third man involved in siphoning funds from the wall project, Colorado businessman Tim Shea, won't be sentenced until June. Kolfage and Badolato were also ordered to pay $25 million in restitution to the victims. Absent from the case was Bannon, Trump's former top political adviser. He was initially arrested aboard a luxury yacht and faced federal fraud charges along with the other men, but Trump pardoned him during his final hours in office. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought new state charges against Bannon last year; he is awaiting trial. Presidential pardons apply only to federal crimes, not state offenses. Bannon has called the case "nonsense." Kolfage, Badolato, and Shea were not pardoned by Trump, leaving them to face the prospect of years in prison. Prosecutors said the scheme was hatched by Kolfage, who served as the public face of the effort as it raised more than $25 million from donors across the country. He repeatedly assured the public he would "not take a penny" from the campaign. As money poured into the cause, Kolfage and his partner, Shea, turned to Bannon and Badolato for help creating a nonprofit, We Build the Wall, Inc. The four defendants then took steps to funnel the money to themselves for personal gain, prosecutors said. Kolfage, 41, told Judge Analisa Torres that he was "remorseful, disgusted, humiliated." He said he had not anticipated the scale of donations that would flood in for the cause and soon found himself drifting away from his initial goal, which he said was "putting a spotlight on the countrys broken immigration system." "I made a promise not to personally benefit and I broke that promise," he said. Kolfage received more than $350,000 in donor funds, which he spent on personal expenses that included boat payments, a luxury SUV, and cosmetic surgery, prosecutors said in a court filing. (Read more Steve Bannon stories.) A little more than a week after the CEO of Charlottesvilles embattled animal shelter was put on administrative leave, the independent review that led to that decision has been released to the public. The Charlottesville Albemarle Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has been advised to immediately stabilize its human resources department by appointing an interim HR director, assess personnel policies, review its employee and volunteer handbook and create a streamlined process for employee and volunteer grievances, according to an executive summary of the review by international law firm McGuireWoods. As part of the process, McGuireWoods reviewed thousands of documents and interviewed dozens of current and former employees and volunteers, the summary reads. We determined that an unfavorable work environment existed at CASPCA resulting in significant and unsustainable high rates of employee and volunteer turnover in recent years. We further determined that the workplace environment negatively impacted shelter operations, particularly with respect to maintaining adequate staffing levels and retention of employees with specialized knowledge and experience in animal care. Though the local SPCA said the review led to placing CEO Angie Gunter on leave, Gunters name does not appear in the one-page executive summary that has been made public. Jenn Corbey, president of the SPCAs board of directors, told The Daily Progress on Tuesday that the shelter is already working to implement the recommendations McGuireWoods has made. Last week, she said, Darcy Furr started as the organizations interim HR director. Our sole focus now is implementing those recommendations and moving this shelter forward in a productive way, said Corbey. Were going to undertake a number of responsive actions to address issues identified during the review. McGuireWoods also had recommendations specifically aimed at the shelters board and management: enhancing management training for current and new managers, conducting an operational review, improving the boards governance training with new directors with experience in specialized animal care or human resources and increasing engagement with shelter managers and leaders. Our objective has always been the humane treatment of animals, Corbey said. We went to treat our staff and volunteers with respect and compassion. We want to care for our animals. We know, as a board, we could have done a better job in recent years, so its something that were going to accomplish and move toward equipping ourselves with stronger training. Were going to implement the recommendations made and continue to move forward. The independent review of the local SPCA began on Feb. 8 after allegations of human and animal mistreatment began to mount earlier in the year. Current and former employees and volunteers at the shelter banded together in a group called CASPCA Concerns and sent a letter, which has since garnered more than 100 signatures, detailing what signatories describe as misconduct and mismanagement at the shelter that has translated into animal neglect bordering on abuse. The shelter, the group said, is overcapacity and understaffed, with animals often kept in unsafe living conditions and their carers overworked in order to keep adoption rates high and contributions rolling in. The letter called out Gunter by name and included photos of dogs in pens full of urine and feces, animals living in crates the group said are stored in the shelters basement and facilities that appear to be unclean, unkempt and dangerous to the animals living there. The allegations spurred protests online, in the streets and at City Hall meetings. After the release of McGuireWoods executive summary, that group says it feels partially vindicated, but it still wants answers. Namely, will Gunter return? We were pleased that the report found what most of the letters sent from former employees and current and former volunteers had detailed, CASPCA Concerns told The Daily Progress. We are concerned that a decision has not been made to dismiss Angie Gunter even after the report found an unfavorable work environment existed at CASPCA resulting in significant and unsustainable high rates of employee and volunteer turnover in recent years. The group also raised concerns over Buckley Warden, the Richmond-based attorney of the Thompson McMullan law firm who the SPCAs board hired in addition to McGuireWoods. Warden has been used to fire volunteers and has sent the CASPCA Concerns group a cease-and-desist letter. Warden wrote a letter to the group dated March 17 claiming that members had made continued allegations of mistreatment persist despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, referring to an investigation by the Virginia Department of Agriculture. While that investigation reported no evidence of animal abuse or neglect, it did find that multiple documents at the shelter were missing information required by state law. The CASPCA Board of Directors has extensive work to do in order to gain back community and donor trust, and their actions moving forward will pave the way for the future of the shelter, CASPCA Concerns said. Carrie Fisher is getting what Star Wars co-star Mark Hamill says is a "long overdue" star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Fisher, who died at age 60 in 2016, was best known for playing Princess Leia in the original trilogy and later films. Fisher will be honored next week on May 4Star Wars Daywith daughter Bille Lourd accepting the star on behalf of her mother, People reports. Harrison Ford, who played Han Solo, got his Walk of Fame star in 2003 and Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker, got one in 2018. Fisher was also a scriptwriter and bestselling author. Beyond the two Star Wars trilogies she appeared in, her many other film credits include The Blues Brothers and When Harry Met Sally. "Her star is just a few feet away from the star of Mark Hamill and across the street from the star of her legendary mother Debbie Reynolds," Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez said in a statement, per CBS. "Long overdue & so well-deserved," Hamill tweeted, adding the hashtag #CarrieOnForever. (Read more Carrie Fisher stories.) Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Snow this morning will give way to partly cloudy conditions this afternoon. High 47F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 90%.. Tonight A few clouds. Low around 25F. Winds light and variable. Agencies | London The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The reform era of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa affirms the reinforcement of democracy, tolerance, coexistence, and openness values, contributing to promoting the national process of human rights, justice, and reform. This was emphasised by Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, during a visit to the UK while holding a meeting with UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman in the presence of Bahrains Ambassador to the UK, Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, and Assistant Chief of Public Security for Operations and Training Affairs. Human rights are a solid part of our culture and religion, the Minister said. General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah noted that the alternative sentencing project is a bright and distinguished side of the human rights field in Bahrain. He asserted that the expansion of the Alternative Sanctions and Measures Law, including the open prison programme, is a turning point that reflects the wisdom and humane vision of HM the King in considering the social and humanitarian situations of convicts. The Minister said that all inmates receive their full rights and services as per the law, including the rights for education and training, citing the fact that 281 inmates are studying and receiving vocational training. During the meeting, the Director-General of Verdict Enforcement briefed the UK official about the alternative sentencing project. He said that 588 inmates had been included recently, increasing the beneficiaries to 5,432 since its launch in 2018. The meeting reviewed cooperation and coordination, in addition to various security topics and regional developments. Angela Kathleen Johnson, the woman whose wrong-way wreck last summer on the Route 250 Bypass caused life-changing injuries to a Wawa market worker, was sentenced Tuesday to the term stipulated in her late-February plea agreement: six years and eight months. The sentence marks Johnsons third drunk driving incident, one of which claimed the life of a 9-year-old boy. Quite frankly, as counsel has indicated, you are a danger to the public, said retired Judge H. Thomas Padrick Jr. as he pronounced the sentence on the 50-year-old Johnson. Former Wawa market worker Kristie Howard was not in the courtroom on Tuesday afternoon, but a victim impact statement from her was entered into evidence. I dont know if Ill ever be the same, wrote Howard. In her statement, Howard recounted some of the aftermath from the 3:22 a.m. incident on August 27 when, Johnson admitted, she passed out at the wheel and crossed into Howards path with a 0.19 blood-alcohol concentration. On what should have been a seven-minute drive home from her shift at the Wawa on Pantops, Howard reportedly suffered four skull fractures, two back fractures, 18 broken ribs, a lacerated liver and a broken sternum. I walk with a cane to be stable on my feet and not fall, Howard wrote. My ribs, chest and back hurt every day. I have headaches every day. Howard noted that the incident cost her the Wawa job as well as the ability to travel to see her mother, who lives out of state and was recently diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. This accident has shattered me in every way, wrote Howard. Financially, mentally, physically and emotionally. Johnsons mother Rosemary Moody, a retired Norfolk teacher, took the stand to express regret that alcoholism ran in the family. Being in education, Im supposed to be very observant, but I didnt see it, Moody said. She was suffering for a long time. The problem burst into view in 2000 when, with two families on board, Johnson lost control of the SUV she was driving on Interstate 64. Nine-year-old Kaseem Christopher Woodhouse-Faulks was ejected and died. Found with a 0.13 blood-alcohol level, Johnson pleaded guilty the following year in York County to driving under the influence and involuntary manslaughter. Third-year University of Virginia law student Natalia Heguaburo narrated this history for the commonwealths attorneys office and prosecuted the current case, which found Johnson guilty of second-offense drunk driving and feloniously injuring someone in such an event. Heguaburo noted that 10 years after the fatal crash Johnson again drove over the legal alcohol limit and was again convicted in York County. She never learned from the fact that she killed a 9-year-old boy, said Heguaburo. Wearing an orange jumpsuit from the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail where she has been held since last summers wreck, Johnson appeared sad and remorseful while answering questions from her attorney Scott Goodman. Sorry is not enough, Johnson said in a tearful voice. But I really and truly am sorry. As her mother, sister, a close friend named Marie Cox and her adult son watched from the gallery on the ground floor of the Charlottesville Circuit Court, Johnson expressed frustration. Im desperate basically, she testified. Im sick of this life, this jail and hurting people. I just want to apologize to my family for bringing them here and being a burden. Johnsons mother said her daughter needs help. Alcoholism is a disease, and she wants to do an in-patient program, said Moody. And her family is behind her 100%. Johnsons mother said that her daughter never intended to hurt anyone. I think she has been suffering since the death of the child, Moody told The Daily Progress. When youre all alone and have nothing but that to think about, you do crazy things. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Reported by Zahra Ayaz Turkey is the top travel destination for Bahrainis during the Eid Al Fitr holiday, followed by the Maldives, London, Japan, and South Korea, according to travel officials. The demand for travel has begun high since the beginning of Ramadan, with some people choosing to travel to Mecca and Medina for Umrah. The increase in airfare prices is due to the global crisis and the rise in fuel prices. Travel packages and offers are contributing to the high demand for travel offices. Other popular travel destinations include Egypt, Thailand, and Dubai. According to travel officials, more than 100,000 people are expected to be packing their bags in Bahrain and heading for an upcoming summer vacation abroad. Bahrainis will be looking for cooler climates or value-for-money breaks, and expats will be visiting family and friends for annual treks back home. Areas such as Istanbul, Bursa, Yalova, Trabzon, and Antalya are all popular with Middle Eastern travelers. Most tourists come to us in the summer period of June to August and winter months of December to February, travel officials said. AFP | Jeddah The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com A ship carrying 1,687 civilians from more than 50 countries fleeing violence in Sudan docked in Saudi Arabia Wednesday, the foreign ministry said, the largest evacuation effort by the Gulf kingdom so far. Saudi Arabia has received several rounds of evacuees by air and sea since fighting broke out in Africa's third-biggest country on April 15, part of what analysts describe as an effort to position itself as a major player in responding to regional crises. The group that arrived in the coastal city of Jeddah from Port Sudan on Wednesday was "transported by one of the kingdom's ships, and the kingdom was keen to provide all the basic needs of foreign nationals in preparation for their departure," the ministry said. It included 13 Saudis, while the rest came from countries across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas, the ministry added. The Indonesian foreign ministry said 560 nationals had been successfully evacuated from Sudan to Saudi Arabia, though it was not clear if all of them were on the same boat that reached Jeddah on Wednesday morning. Jakarta is moving another group of more than 300 Indonesians by land from Khartoum to Port Sudan in readiness for a second round of evacuations, spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah told AFP. Sri Lanka's foreign ministry said that 13 of its nationals had arrived in Jeddah from Sudan, and another 12 were awaiting evacuation in Port Sudan. The Saudi state-affiliated Al-Ekhbariya channel broadcast footage of passengers waving the green, sword-emblazoned Saudi flag as they disembarked and Saudi security forces walking babies off the boat. The fighting in Sudan pits forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against those backing his deputy turned rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). At least 459 people have been killed and more than 4,000 wounded, according to Tuesday figures from UN agencies. A US-brokered three-day ceasefire between the warring generals brought some calm to the capital, but witnesses reported fresh air strikes and paramilitaries claimed to have seized a major oil refinery and power plant. Evacuees began arriving in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, with boats carrying 150 people including foreign diplomats and officials. On Monday, a C-130 Hercules military plane flew dozens of South Korean civilians to Jeddah's King Abdullah Air Base, and a boat ferried nearly 200 people from 14 countries across the Red Sea from Port Sudan. All told, 2,148 people have been evacuated to the kingdom from Sudan so far, including more than 2,000 foreigners, the ministry said. Japan will aim to attract 100 trillion yen ($750 billion) worth of foreign direct investment by 2030, and more foreign talent and remote workers known as "digital nomads," as part of its drive to boost economic growth and global competitiveness, the government said Wednesday. Under the plan, Japan will use funds and other resources to attract investment in strategic areas such as semiconductors, digitalization, green technology and health care. It will seek to develop necessary human resources via tripartite cooperation among the government, firms and academia. As the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a fresh look at work styles, the government will consider ways to enlist digital nomads who travel while working remotely for companies, including those located overseas. ...continue reading Digital payments have become increasingly popular in recent years. This pattern is likely to persist in the coming years. With the rise of e-commerce and mobile payments, more and more people are turning to digital payment solutions for their everyday transactions. As a result, several stocks have emerged as leaders in the digital payments space, and investors are taking notice. This blog post will explore some of the top stocks for investors looking to capitalize on the digital payments boom. We will also discuss some of the key drivers behind the growth of digital payments and the industry's opportunities and challenges. Top Players in Digital Payments The top players in digital payments include PayPal, Square, Mastercard, and Visa. These companies have a significant market share in digital payments and offer a wide range of payment solutions to businesses and consumers worldwide. Their platforms enable users to make transactions through various channels, including mobile devices, computers, and point-of-sale systems, and they have been investing heavily in new technologies to enhance their offerings. PayPal (PYPL) PayPal (PYPL) is one of the leading digital payments companies in the world. It was founded in 1998 and has since grown to become a household name, offering various payment solutions to individuals and businesses. With over 392 million active accounts, PayPal's platform allows users to send and receive payments, shop online, and manage their finances. The company has also been making strategic acquisitions to enhance its offerings, including the popular mobile payment company Venmo. PayPal's strong brand recognition, extensive network, and user-friendly platform have contributed to its success in the digital payments space. Square (SQ) Square (SQ) is a digital payment company offering various payment solutions to businesses and individuals. The company's core offering is a payment processing system that allows businesses to accept payments through various channels, including mobile devices, computers, and point-of-sale systems. Square's payment processing system is complemented by a suite of other services, including payroll management, inventory tracking, and invoice generation. Square has experienced impressive growth in recent years, with revenue increasing by over 100% in 2020. The company's focus on innovation and customer-centric solutions has made it a popular choice among small and medium-sized businesses looking for easy-to-use payment solutions. Mastercard (MA) Mastercard (MA) is a global payments company that provides a wide range of payment solutions, including credit and debit cards, digital wallets, and mobile payments. Mastercard has a vast network and brand recognition, which makes it a leader in the digital payments space. The company has been investing heavily in new technologies, such as blockchain and biometric authentication, to enhance its offerings. Mastercard also offers other solutions, such as fraud detection and prevention, loyalty programs, and analytics, to help businesses manage their payments and enhance customer experiences. In addition, Mastercard has been collaborating with various partners to expand its digital payments ecosystem and enable new use cases, such as contactless payments and real-time payments. Visa (V) Visa is a global payments company that provides various payment solutions, including credit and debit cards, digital wallets, and mobile payments. With a network spanning over 200 countries and territories and over 3 billion cards, Visa is a leader in digital payments. The company has been investing heavily in digital payments, including developing its own digital wallet, Visa Checkout. In addition, Visa has been making strategic acquisitions in the digital payments space, such as the acquisition of the payments start-up Plaid. As consumers continue to adopt digital payment solutions, Visa is well-positioned to benefit from this trend. Key Drivers Behind the Growth of Digital Payments The growth of digital payments has been driven by various factors in recent years, including the increasing popularity of e-commerce, the widespread use of mobile devices, and the convenience and security offered by digital payment solutions. As consumers continue to seek out faster, more convenient, and more secure ways to make payments, the demand for digital payment solutions is expected to continue to grow. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of contactless payments, further driving the growth of the digital payments industry. Several factors drive the growth of digital payments. Convenience: Digital payments offer a more convenient way to pay for goods and services, particularly in a world where people increasingly use mobile devices. Digital payments offer a more convenient way to pay for goods and services, particularly in a world where people increasingly use mobile devices. Security: Digital payments are generally more secure than traditional payment methods, such as cash or checks. Digital payments are generally more secure than traditional payment methods, such as cash or checks. E-commerce: The rise of e-commerce has been a significant driver of digital payment growth as more and more people shop online. The rise of e-commerce has been a significant driver of digital payment growth as more and more people shop online. Contactless Payments: The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the trend towards contactless payments as people seek ways to avoid touching shared surfaces. Opportunities and Challenges Facing the Digital Payments Industry The digital payments industry is experiencing rapid growth fueled by convenience, security, e-commerce, and contactless payments. However, with growth come challenges, and the digital payments industry is no exception. Some of the opportunities and challenges facing the industry include Opportunities: Emerging markets: The digital payments industry presents a significant opportunity for growth in emerging markets, where digital payments are still in their infancy. With the rising adoption of smartphones and other mobile devices, there is a huge potential for digital payments to become the preferred mode of payment in these markets. Innovation: The industry is ripe for innovation, particularly in areas such as paystub generator and APN settings for android, which can enhance the user experience and increase adoption. Companies that can offer innovative solutions that address the needs of consumers and businesses are likely to succeed in the digital payments space. Increased adoption: As more and more people adopt digital payments, businesses have a growing opportunity to offer more seamless and secure payment solutions. This can increase customer loyalty and revenue growth for businesses offering a convenient and secure payment experience. Challenges: Competition: The digital payments industry is becoming increasingly crowded, with new entrants entering the market regularly. Established players such as PayPal, Square, Mastercard, and Visa will need to continue to innovate and offer new solutions to stay ahead of the competition. Regulatory scrutiny: The industry faces increased regulatory scrutiny, particularly concerning privacy and security issues. Companies that can demonstrate a commitment to protecting consumer data and providing secure payment solutions are likely to have a competitive advantage. Security: While digital payments are generally considered more secure than traditional payment methods, they are not immune to fraud and security breaches. Companies that can offer robust security measures and quickly respond to security incidents are likely to have a competitive advantage. Conclusion The digital payments industry is expected to continue its growth trajectory in the coming years, driven by the convenience and security of digital payments, the rise of e-commerce, and the trend towards contactless payments. PayPal, Square, Mastercard, and Visa are the top players in the space and are well-positioned to capitalize on this growth. However, the industry also faces challenges such as increased competition and regulatory scrutiny. Despite these challenges, the digital payments industry presents several growth opportunities, particularly in emerging markets and through innovation in user experience. Investors looking to capitalize on the digital payments boom may want to consider adding these top players to their portfolio. Japan's foreign ministry has raised the danger rating in Sudan to level three and advised against all travel to the country amid worsening violence between rival military groups. The ministry's decision follows armed clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces across large areas of Sudan, including the capital Khartoum. Japan follows a four-level travel risk assessment, with immediate evacuation at level four and currently advised for Syria, Libya and Yemen. In other Arab countries, some areas have been rated between levels one and three. The foreign ministry has warned Japanese citizens to get the latest security information through overseas safety websites to minimize the risk of terrorism or kidnapping. Police at the University of Virginia are asking for the publics assistance to find a man suspected in a reported purse-jacking near the schools hospital. The University of Virginia Police Department is searching for 40-year-old Travis Maxey of New Canton after identifying him as a suspect in the reported theft at the 11th Street Garage near UVa Medical Center on Tuesday around 11:49 a.m., according to a statement from the police. The departments investigation revealed the suspect took the purse from a person inside the garage which has validated parking available to patients, hospital visitors and health care workers and fled the area on Tuesday morning. University police issued a grand larceny warrant for Maxeys arrest on Tuesday and are asking the public to contact UVa police at (434) 924-7166 with any information related to the case. A state judge upheld a license revocation and $750,000 penalty on a one-time East Hartford mortgage business, ruling the Connecticut Department of Banking did not act unreasonably or arbitrarily in reaching its conclusions as the company's CEO claims. The Connecticut Department of Banking had investigated whether 1st Alliance Lending LLC allowed employees to perform mortgage loan origination activities without licenses required under the Connecticut Secure and Fair Enforcement Act. Connecticut enacted the SAFE Act in 2009 after the Great Recession collapse in real estate, when banks had rubber-stamped mortgages to borrowers who lacked the financial wherewithal to keep up with payments ballooning as adjustable rates went higher. Judge John Cordani also ruled that 1st Alliance did not comply with a subpoena that was within the Department of Banking's investigatory purview and cited additional violations of the Truth in Lending and Fair Credit Reporting acts. Over the years, 1st Alliance CEO John DiIorio has accused the Department of Banking and its commissioner, Jorge Perez, of pursuing an improper investigation targeting his company well beyond the ordinary regulatory scope. However, Cordani ruled the department properly executed its oversight responsibilities based on evidence, including a 1st Alliance internal auditor having flagged issues with employees undertaking mortgage work without required licenses. Cordani added that 1st Alliance's business model relied on lower-paid employees, which allowed it to field a larger sales force, and who may have been overly aggressive both in how they were paid and in not having licenses that could be at risk of any transgressions. While 1st Alliance home loan consultants were instructed not to write down addresses of homes or discuss loan terms with potential borrowers to comply with the law, Cordani stated in his ruling that the evidence suggests there were violations by those unlicensed HLC staff. "The HLCs repeatedly violated ... instructions and did both acquire property addresses and negotiate loan terms," Cordani wrote in his decision. "Relying on relatively low-level employees such as HLCs to purposefully avoid collecting basic information such as a property address for a mortgage loan appears unreliable, particularly when the HLCs are incentivized to close loans by commissions and prizes." In 1st Alliance's original complaint, the company had argued it amended its practices in 2018 after being informed of the Department of Banking's position and asserted no borrowers were harmed by any prior practices. It added the department did not "provide any rationale for imposing what is essentially a corporate death penalty" nor a justification for the size of the $750,000 penalty. The company has yet to state whether it will appeal the Cordani ruling to the Connecticut Supreme Court. In separate litigation, a 2021 lawsuit against 1st Alliance by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is ongoing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. In its defense in that lawsuit, 1st Alliance maintains it was examined by nearly three dozen state agencies between 2010 and 2019 while operating the same business model as in Connecticut, with no citations for SAFE Act violations by its call center employees. MIDDLETOWN Fired Old Saybrook Police Officer Joshua Zarbo has been granted accelerated rehabilitation that could dismiss a third-degree computer crime charge after an internal investigation found he used the department's system to get information about a woman he was interested in dating. A Superior Court judge in Middletown approved Zarbo's request for the program Tuesday morning. If Zarbo stays out of trouble for one year and doesn't contact the victim, the charge will be dismissed and erased from his record, Judge Julia Dewey said. Zarbo is embarrassed by the arrest and the negative attention the case has generated, his attorney Richard Lynch said. "He accepts responsibility for his mistake in this case," said Lynch, who also pointed out his client lost his job and his career. "He has had no other complaints as a police officer," Lynch said. "But he is a human being and he made a mistake." Zarbo was terminated from his position as an Old Saybrook police officer in February, weeks after he was charged by his own department. He is also on the list for decertification as a police officer in Connecticut. He pleaded not guilty in December and applied in March for the accelerated rehabilitation program. A six-year veteran of the department, Zarbo is accused of misusing his access to the statewide police information system to obtain the identity of a woman he encountered while monitoring shoppers on Black Friday, according to a warrant for his arrest. The 30-year-old Clinton resident sent a text message to an emergency dispatcher to check the woman's license plate to obtain her name and personal information, the warrant stated. The dispatcher told Zarbo he would have to request the information over the radio, the warrant said. Zarbo then told the dispatcher he was "gaming" for a date when he requested the license plate information, according to the warrant. Investigators construed Zarbo's response to mean he was seeking to contact the woman for a date, which would be an improper use of the system, the warrant said. The dispatcher and Zarbo exchanged quips and crying with laughter smiley face emojis by text before the officer asked over the radio for the woman's license plate to be checked, the warrant said. But the radio communication unraveled the date-seeking plot when the fire chief's wife heard the request and recognized the woman's name, according to the warrant. The fire chief told the woman, who filed a complaint with police. TORRINGTON Five Points Gallery, 33 Main St., is presenting three new exhibitions, opening April 28 from 6-8 p.m. The public is welcome to the opening, free of charge. The West Gallery features the installation Flood 2.0, by Water Women Art. The exhibition focuses on environmental concerns associated with floods. The TDP Gallery showcases Meredith Miller & MJ Millingtons collaborative project, Dreaming Animals, which combines photography and poetry in an effort to raise awareness of declining biodiversity. The East Gallery exhibition, Nature Remains, features work from the late Margaret Grimes who lovingly painted the forests and landscapes of New England. Krisanne Baker, Susan Hoffman Fishman & Leslie Sobel - Flood 2.0: Water Women Arts, formed by artists Krisanne Baker, Susan Hoffman Fishman, and Leslie Sobel addresses the environmental factors of climate change specific to issues surrounding water. This exhibition is a result of the Five Points Arts Center's first low-residency program which took place in the summer of 2022. The Water Women have honed their attention to imagined predictions of a future apocalyptic flood and destruction of the environment caused by human behaviors. The exhibit incorporates video projections and historical images of the Flood of 1955 which decimated much of Torrington and the Naugatuck Valley. Also included are painted scrolls imitating the motion of water, and a makeshift boat complete with sails, and a mast. The goal of the installation is to use art, mythology, and history to inspire community dialogue on local water issues. Meredith Miller & MJ Millington - Dreaming Animals: The work selected for this exhibition focuses on declining biodiversity and endangered species. Miller re-photographs prints from the digital collection of Yale Universitys Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. She then collages the imagery with related household objects. The resulting compositions fuse vintage and contemporary aesthetics in ways that draw connections between animals, objects, and Millers childhood memories. Each photograph is paired with a poem by artist MJ Millington. Inspired by the individual animals represented in the print, Millington said, I follow the clues inside it, think about what kind of associations I have with that animal and what it means to meOne of the rewarding challenges is that many of the animals that Meredith has chosen to focus on are endangered, and thus not something with which I have lived experience; it requires a different way of conceiving of and writing a poem than Im used to. Margaret Grimes - Nature Remains: In memory and honor of Margaret Grimes (1943 - 2020), Five Points Gallery is exhibiting various paintings from the artists vast career. Grimes complexity of form and detail is derived from her on-site observations and studies of the woodlands that surrounded her studios in Connecticut and Maine. Her vigorous sensuous paint handling captures the stillness, magic, and ominous power of the forest in ways that inspire contemplation of the natural world. To reach the gallery, call 860-618-7222. In addition to the opening reception, a Virtual Artist talk will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 26. There is no admission charge. All artwork is for sale. Five Points exhibitions and educational events are free and open to the public. Five Points respects your masking preferences per CDC guidelines. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MADRID (AP) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with Spain's prime minister Wednesday for talks aimed at making progress on an intercontinental trade deal, but his differences with the European Union on the war in Ukraine remained evident. The 27-member EU completed negotiations in 2019 on a wide-ranging trade deal with Mercosur, a South American bloc that includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. But ratification stalled during the presidency of Lula's predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, due to concerns over environmental standards and price protections for European farmers. Lula and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez held a news conference after signing bilateral agreements Wednesday. The warmth between the two left-wing leaders was evident, but their divergent views on Ukraine left a note of tension in the room. There is no doubt that we condemn Russia's violation of Ukraines rights with the invasion, but it is of no use to say who is right or wrong. The war must be stopped, Lula said. He drew a comparison between Russia's actions in Ukraine and wars waged by other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, invoking the United States' invasion of Iraq in 2003 without a United Nations mandate. Earlier this month, Lula irked Western leaders when he said that both Ukraine and Russia had decided to go to war and that U.S. military aid was fueling the conflict. In Spain, Lula reiterated his call for a G-20 of peace, which he envisions as a group of nominally neutral nations that would try to mediate an end to the Ukraine conflict. The U.N. Security Council's permanent members are the ones who sell the most weapons in the world," the Brazilian president said, suggesting that countries like Brazil, Egypt or South Africa were better positioned to mediate. Earlier in his visit, Lula said that peace must be restored in Ukraine because of the war's knock-on effects on global food and fertilizer prices. He later reassured his Madrid audience of Brazil's commitment to international cooperation, reeling off a list of world leaders he had met with since he began his third non-consecutive term at the beginning of the year, and stating his intention to meet many more. Brazil is back, he said. Sanchez trod a fine line on Ukraine, thanking Lula for his peace proposal but telling the Brazilian leader that in this war, there is an aggressor and a victim, and the aggressor is Putin. The Spanish prime minister added: If we want a fair and long-lasting peace, it is fundamental that the voice ... of Ukraine and its president be heard. Separately, Brazil and Spain are pushing to get the fine print of the Mercosur deal ready for scrutiny by member nations at a joint July 17-18 summit of the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). Spain takes over the EUs rotating presidency in July, and Brazil will simultaneously assume the equivalent role in Mercosur. Sanchez described the CELAC meeting as an excellent opportunity to push the treaty forward, while Lula added: we need to get it done. The Mercosur-EU agreement would integrate a market of around 800 million people that represents about one-forth of the worlds gross domestic product and more than $100 billion in bilateral trade of goods and services. The deal would cut customs duties and ease access for agricultural exporters to the EU market, and for European manufacturers to Mercosur countries. Mario Sergio Lima, a senior political analyst for Brazil at Medley Global Advisors, said Lula's Ukraine comments were not helping the deal's progress. I dont think that this is what will determine the relationship with Europe, but it is something that rather complicates the conversations," he told The Associated Press. "Its reversible, but Brazil should try to distance itself as much as possible from the Russia issue. Following meetings with Spanish business leaders on Wednesday, Lula also made sure to promote his longstanding links with the country's trade unions, and tweeted a photo with a delegation from the main UGT union. He was hosted by Spain's King Felipe VI for a lunch at the royal palace and was due to return to Brazil on Wednesday afternoon. - Martins reported from Sao Paulo This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate North Dakota has become the latest state to ban abortion in most cases again. Gov. Doug Burgum on Monday signed a ban that has narrow exceptions: Abortion is legal in pregnancies caused by rape or incest, but only in the first six weeks of pregnancy. Abortion is allowed later in pregnancy only in specific medical emergencies. The law is intended to replace a previous ban that is not being enforced while a state court weighs its constitutionality. Ten months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and a nationwide right to abortion, actions by lawmakers and in courts and the interplay between them continue to create confusion. Here is a look at what is known and not known about where abortion policy stands in North Dakota and where it falls in the national landscape. ___ WHAT LAWS ARE IN PLAY IN NORTH DAKOTA? The state adopted a trigger law in 2007 to ban abortion in the event that Roe was overturned. But soon after last years Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health decision did just that, a judge said the blanket abortion ban could not be enforced while courts decided if it complies with the state constitution. In March, the state Supreme Court kept enforcement on hold. That left in place a ban on abortion after 22 weeks of pregnancy. But in the sparsely populated state, the impact of any policy change is muted. Until Dobbs, the state had only one abortion clinic. After the ruling, the clinic moved from Fargo to nearby Moorhead, Minnesota. The state averaged about 75 abortions a month in the first half of 2022. But since the only clinic left the state, the state Department of Health says there have been no "reportable" abortions. ___ WHATS NEXT? While the latest ban's sponsor and lawyers critical of it say the law is now in effect, the state attorney general was not available Tuesday to comment on how and when the state would enforce the new law. The director of Red River Womens Clinic, which sued over the previous ban, said lawyers at the Center for Reproductive Rights are assessing the new one and considering whether to challenge it in court, too. The director, Tammi Kromenaker, said in a message to The Associated Press that the new law leads patients to wonder if they are doing something criminal by accessing healthcare. No patient should be faced with that feeling. In a statement Tuesday, Center for Reproductive Rights director Elisabeth Smith suggested there could be grounds to challenge the new law. North Dakota lawmakers are attempting to bypass the state constitution and court system with this total ban, Smith said. They are simply trying to repackage a ban that the North Dakota Supreme Court recently said likely violates North Dakotans fundamental rights under the state constitution. ___ HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO OTHER STATES? Thirteen other states have in place bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy. They are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Four other states have bans throughout pregnancy where enforcement is blocked by courts. The majority of these bans were adopted in anticipation of Roe being overturned, and most do not have exceptions for rape or incest. Exceptions have been a major point of contention in Indiana and West Virginia laws. They are now being considered in Louisiana and have been added to a new, more restrictive ban in Florida. The idea of trying again after a court blocks enforcement isn't unique to North Dakota. The Republicans who control South Carolinas legislature are at odds about what kind of ban to put in place after the states top court blocked one in January. ___ WHAT ACTION HAVE OTHER LEGISLATURES TAKEN? Since Dobbs was adopted, some of the biggest state-level abortion debates have not been about whether to allow abortion, but rather on related policies. In Wyoming, abortion pills were specifically banned in March. This month, Idaho lawmakers made it illegal for an adult to help a minor obtain an abortion without parental consent. The Democratic governor in Kansas has vetoed measures to fund anti-abortion centers and require clinics to tell patients that medication abortion can be reversed with a regimen rejected by major U.S. medical groups. Some Democrat-controlled states, including Colorado, Minnesota and Oregon, are moving in the opposite direction: adopting or considering measures intended to protect people who travel from states where abortion are illegal to obtain one and the doctors and others who help. ___ DO THE POLICY CHANGES CREATE CONFUSION? Theres some evidence that they do. A new report by groups that advocate for access to abortion used researchers posing as patients to ask Oklahoma hospitals about emergency obstetric care policies. The groups Physicians for Human Rights, Oklahoma Call for Reproductive Justice and the Center for Reproductive Rights said that none of nearly three-dozen hospitals they contacted could outline a clear, consistent policy about the decision-making process for abortions necessary to save the life of the woman. ___ Trisha Ahmed is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Trisha Ahmed on Twitter: @TrishaAhmed15 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate U.S. prosecutors who introduced Russian spy intrigue into the case of a couple accused of living for decades in Hawaii under identities stolen from dead babies are now saying they dont want jurors to hear about photographs showing them wearing foreign uniforms. A U.S. judge granted the request last week, ruling that the uniforms are not relevant to the upcoming trial for charges involving identity theft and passport fraud. Defense attorneys have said from the start those uniforms were worn once for fun. When the former U.S. defense contractor and his wife were arrested last year, prosecutors suggested the case was about more than just identity theft. According to prosecutors, Walter Glenn Primrose and Gwynn Darle Morrison are the real names of the couple who have been fraudulently living for decades under stolen identities Bobby Fort and Julie Montague. Prosecutors say Primrose spent more than 20 years in the Coast Guard as Bobby Fort, where he obtained secret-level security clearance. After retiring in 2016, he used the secret clearance for his defense job, prosecutors said. There is no indication in court papers why the couple in 1987 assumed the identities of deceased children, who would have been more than a decade younger than them. A search of the couples home in Kapolei, a Honolulu suburb, turned up Polaroids of them wearing jackets that appear to be authentic KGB uniforms, an invisible ink kit, documents with coded language and maps showing military bases, prosecutors said. They have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, false statement in a passport application and aggravated identity theft. Trial is scheduled for next month but it will likely be delayed because a new lawyer was appointed for Primrose last week. At a video hearing Tuesday, his new attorney, Marc Victor, said he thinks the earliest he can be ready for trial is next year. Prosecutors last month filed a motion to preclude examination or testimony concerning Defendants wearing or being photographed in foreign military uniforms. Prosecutors said they were irrelevant to the charges, and U.S. District Judge Leslie Kobayashi agreed. Defense attorneys for the couple have said they took a photo wearing the same jacket years ago as a joke. In an email from prosecutors to defense attorneys, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Muehleck wrote that a witness said the photos were taken sometime in the 1990s and U.S. agents were given the alleged uniform. Defense attorneys said that debunks the spy theory. In a subsequent email from prosecutors to defense attorneys about seized letters referring to the couple using other aliases, Muehleck wrote, The United States retracts that argument," adding that they later learned those were just nicknames and some of them were the product of inside jokes in relation to Primrose and Morrison. Alexander Silvert, a retired federal defender for the Hawaii district who is not involved in the case, said it sounds like prosecutors overreacted to the photos. Upon searching further, they probably ... realized they overreacted and these are not Russian spies, he said. These are people who stole other peoples identity, which is not, unfortunately, uncommon these days. But there's also another far-fetched possibility, he said. The wild conspiracy theorists would say maybe they really are Russian spies, but the government doesnt want anybody to know that, Silvert said. In response to an Associated Press email asking what became of the spy speculation, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Enoki, a spokesperson for the office, said, We have nothing further to add to any public filings or comments already made. A hearing is scheduled Wednesday for Morrison's request to reconsider a previous detention ruling. A hearing for Primrose's similar request hadn't yet been scheduled. I said from the beginning this is not a Russian spy case, Silvert said. It's just a vanilla ID theft that had a wrinkle to it. Mid-Willamette Valley residents will have the opportunity this spring to attend the tale of "Sweeney Todd" at the Majestic Theatre in Corvallis. The Steven Sondheim masterpiece, revived on Broadway last month, tells the story of an unjustly exiled man who returns to London as Sweeney Todd, otherwise known as "the demon barber of Fleet Street." Todd and his partner, Mrs. Lovett, kill their customers and bake their remains into meat pies, so its only fitting that the Corvallis Meat Pie Shop is sponsoring the April 28 opening night gala. Director Ruth Mandsagar said she has been obsessed with the dark and witty production ever since college, when a friend told her she would make a good Mrs. Lovett. Im 5-foot-10, and Im an alto, Mandsagar said. In theater, a lot of the roles for women are the little ingenues that sing soprano and they just kind of go along with whatever the dude says. But Mrs. Lovett is an amazing, strong, complex character. Mandsagar learned all of the songs in Sweeney Todd, so she would be prepared to audition in case an opportunity presented itself. Finally, in 2016, she got to play her dream role at Albany Civic Theater. Instead of making my dream die, it was just like, Now I need more, Mandsagar said. I needed to dive into all the other characters, and I thought, I really should direct this someday. Now as a director, Mandsagar gets to explore the other characters as deeply as she has Mrs. Lovett. She has enjoyed listening to Steven Sondheims lyrics, and noticing the little treats he throws in for the audience and characters if theyre able to listen closely enough. It's just really interesting, complex music that I probably am not even touching the tip of the iceberg on getting through all of it, Mandsager said. But I'm trying. The cast and orchestra both have members with professional music experience. Some of the orchestra players come from the Willamette Valley Symphony, and Gregory Brumfield, who plays Sweeney Todd, sings professionally with the Portland Opera. Jim Martinez is the music director, and Mandsagar said the two of them feel strongly about raising the bar for community theater. Some people are here to spend time with their friends and do theater, but I think everybody wants to do good theater, she said. They want to be challenged, and they want us to raise the bar and expect more and really have a good show that they're proud of. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. Mandsagar said the cast members have been amazing from the Day 1 rehearsal, and shes enjoyed helping them step out of their safety zone to be successful in the show. They scoop each other up; they love each other, they support each other, she said. We've cast them for their voices, but somehow they all gelled as great human beings too. "Sweeney Todd" will run from Friday, April 28 through May 21. Evening performances, which start at 7:30, are set for April 28 and 29, and May 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20. Matinee performances, which start at 2:30 p.m., will be April 30, May 7, 14 and 21. The Majestic is at 115 SW Second St. Tickets are $20 for adults and $17 for students and seniors. Mandsagar said this show may not be appropriate for children. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.majestic.org/. WASHINGTON (AP) A ground assault by the Taliban killed the Islamic State militant who spearheaded the August 2021 suicide bombing at the Kabul airport that left 13 U.S. troops and about 170 Afghans dead during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, U.S. officials said. Initially, neither the U.S. nor apparently the Taliban were aware that the mastermind was dead. He was killed during a series of battles early this month in southern Afghanistan between the Taliban and the Islamic State groups affiliate, according to several officials. But in the past few days, U.S. intelligence confirmed with high confidence that the Islamic State leader had been killed, a senior administration official said Tuesday. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters. Late Tuesday night, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder issued a statement confirming that the plotter had been killed by the Taliban. The United States was not involved in this operation," Ryder said. Over the weekend, the U.S. military began to inform the parents of the 11 Marines, the sailor and the soldier who were killed in the blast at Abbey Gate, and they shared the information in a private group messaging chat. The father of one of the Marines said the death of his son's killer brings little comfort. Whatever happens, its not going to bring Taylor back and I understand that, Darin Hoover, the father of Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, said in a phone call with The Associated Press. About the only thing his mom and I can do now is be an advocate for him. All we want is the truth. And were not getting it. Thats the frustrating part. Hoover said he and his sons mother, Kelly Henson, have spent the past year and a half grieving his death and praying for accountability from the Biden administration for the handling of the withdrawal. He added that the Marines provided only limited information to him and did not identify the Islamic State leader or give the circumstances of his death. U.S. officials declined to provide many details because of sensitivities in the intelligence gathering. The administration official said it was their moral responsibility to let the victims families know that the mastermind and person most responsible for the airport attack had been taken off the battlefield. The official added that intelligence officials determined that the leader had remained a key plotter and overseer for the group. Several officials said the U.S. played no role in the killing and did not coordinate at all with the Taliban. The administration official called the Taliban action significant and said the U.S. only learned of the operation through its over the horizon intelligence capabilities. Hoover is among a group of 12 Gold Star families that have kept in touch since the bombing, supporting one another and sharing information through the messaging chat. The chat was created by Cheryl Rex, the mother of Marine Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, who died in the blast. Rex, who has been a vocal critic of the Biden administrations handling of the withdrawal, told the AP it was through the chat group that they were informed late Monday about the killing as they awaited official confirmation from U.S. military officials. The fallen service members were among those screening the thousands of Afghans frantically trying on Aug. 26, 2021, to get onto one of the crowded flights out of the country after the brutal Taliban takeover. The scene of desperation quickly turned into one of horror when a suicide bomber attacked. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility. The blast at Abbey Gate came hours after Western officials warned of a major attack, urging people to leave the airport. But that advice went largely unheeded by Afghans desperate to escape the country in the last few days of an American-led evacuation before the U.S. officially ended its 20-year presence. The Afghanistan-based offshoot of the Islamic State called Islamic State-Khorasan has up to 4,000 members and is the Talibans most bitter enemy and top military threat. The group has continued to carry out attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, especially against the countrys minority groups. After the Trump administration reached a 2020 deal with the Taliban to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan and the Biden administration followed through on that agreement in 2021, there had been hope in Washington that the Talibans desire for international recognition and assistance for the countrys impoverished population might moderate their behavior. But relations between the U.S. and the Taliban have deteriorated further since they imposed draconian new measures banning girls from school and excluding women from working for international aid and health agencies. However, a line of communication still exists between the two sides, led by the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, Tom West. Wests contacts are primarily with Taliban officials in Kabul and not with the groups more ideological wing based in Kandahar. The U.S. decision to withdraw all troops fueled the swift collapse of the Afghan government and military, which the U.S. had supported for nearly two decades, and the return to power of the Taliban. In the aftermath, President Joe Biden directed that a broad review examine every aspect of this from top to bottom and it was released earlier this month. The Biden administration in the publicly released version of the review largely laid blame on President Donald Trump for the deadly and chaotic 2021 withdrawal, which was punctuated by the suicide bombing at Abbey Gate. News of the killing came on the same day that Biden formally announced he will seek a second term as president, offering a reminder of one of the most difficult chapters of his presidency. The disastrous drawdown was, at the time, the biggest crisis that the relatively new administration had faced. It left sharp questions about Biden and his teams competence and experience the twin pillars central to his campaign for the White House. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday the U.S. has made clear to the Taliban that it is their responsibility to ensure that they give no safe haven to terrorists, whether from al-Qaida or the Islamic State. We have made good on the Presidents pledge to establish an over-the-horizon capacity to monitor potential terrorist threats, not only from in Afghanistan but elsewhere around the world where that threat has metastasized as we have done in Somalia and Syria, Kirby said in a statement. Yet Rex said the administration has not done enough to take responsibility for what happened at Abbey Gate. "I feel like this is the administration trying to get the pressure off of them for accountability by saying that were holding ISIS accountable for our kids death, Rex said. ___ Associated Press writers Tara Copp and Ellen Knickmeyer contributed to this report. MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin residents looking for work would receive fewer unemployment benefits and face stricter qualification requirements under a package of Republican-authored bills passed on party-line votes Tuesday in the Assembly. The seven measures follow a statewide April election in which more than three-quarters of voters supported a nonbinding ballot question saying they believe able-bodied adults should have to look for work to receive government assistance. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers vetoed nearly identical legislation in his first term, and it's likely he will do the same this time around if the Republican-controlled Senate passes the measures. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos cited the results of the April vote to argue that Evers should sign the bills this time. I heard Gov. Evers in his inaugural address where he said the will of the people should be the law of the land," Vos said. Well, heres a prime example. Hopefully hes changed his mind. Reached by email and by phone, Britt Cudaback, a spokesperson for the governor, had no immediate comment on that assertion. Assembly Democrats told reporters Tuesday that most Wisconsin residents are working, and if Republicans want to help fill job openings they should bolster state aid for child care, make housing more affordable and expand public transit. The states unemployment rate stood at 2.5% in March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The best thing we as a Legislature can do is thank (people) for their work and pass policies to support them, not harm them, said Rep. Katrina Shankland, a Stevens Point Democrat. Unemployment recipients in Wisconsin already must perform four work-search activities each week. Under the seven bills passed Tuesday, employers would be able to report recipients who decline or don't show up to an interview. People who have been reported multiple times and don't have good reasons for declining or missing interviews could have their benefits rescinded. Other proposals in the package would enact stricter identity verification checks for unemployment benefits, prohibit local governments from using taxpayer money to create guaranteed income programs and require the Department of Health Services to review every six months the eligibility of people participating in Medicaid programs reserved for low-income people, family caretakers and pregnant women. Lawmakers did not vote on an eighth measure scheduled for consideration Tuesday that would tie the number of weeks someone can receive unemployment benefits to the statewide unemployment rate. With current rates under 3%, the bill would limit recipients to 14 weeks of benefits. The existing standard of 26 weeks of benefits would only apply if rates rise above 9%, which hasnt happened since the 2008 financial crisis. Major conservative business lobbyists including the National Federation of Independent Business and Opportunity Solutions Project have endorsed many of the bills, while local unions and the state League of Women Voters oppose them. ___ Harm Venhuizen 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 Venhuizen on Twitter. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BEIRUT (AP) Syrians living on opposite sides of the largely frozen battle lines dividing their country are watching the accelerating normalization of ties between the government of Bashar Assad and Syria's neighbors through starkly different lenses. In government-held Syria, residents struggling with ballooning inflation, fuel and electricity shortages hope the rapprochement will bring more trade and investment and ease a crippling economic crisis. Meanwhile, in the remaining opposition-held areas of the north, Syrians who once saw Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries as allies in their fight against Assad's rule feel increasingly isolated and abandoned. Turkey, which has been a main backer of the armed opposition to Assad, has been holding talks with Damascus for months most recently on Tuesday, when the defense ministers of Turkey, Russia, Iran and Syria met in Moscow. And in recent weeks, regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia which once backed Syrian rebel groups has done an about-face in its stance on the Assad government and is pushing its neighbors to follow suit. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited Damascus last week for the first time since the kingdom cut ties with Syria more than a decade ago. The kingdom, which will host a meeting of the Arab League next month, has been coaxing other member states to restore Syrias membership, although some holdouts remain, chief among them Qatar. The League is a confederation of Arab administrations established to promote cooperation among its members. A 49-year-old tailor in Damascus who gave only his nickname, Abu Shadi (father of Shadi) said he hopes the mending of ties between Syria and Saudi Arabia will improve the economy and kickstart reconstruction in the war-battered country. Weve had enough of wars we have suffered for 12 years, he said. God willing, relations will improve with not just the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia but with all the Gulf countries and the people will benefit on both sides. There will be more movement, more security and everything will be better, God willing. In the country's opposition-held northwest, the rapprochement is a cause for fear. Opposition activists took to social media with an Arabic hashtag translating to normalization with Assad is betrayal, and hundreds turned out at protests over the past two weeks against the move by Arab states to restore relations with Assad. Khaled Khatib, 27, a worker at a non-governmental organization in northwest Syria, said he is increasingly afraid that the government will recapture control of the remaining opposition territory. From the first day I participated in a peaceful demonstration until today, I am at risk of being killed or injured or kidnapped or hit by aerial bombardment, he said. Seeing the regional warming of relations with Damascus is very painful, shameful and frustrating to the aspirations of Syrians, he said. Rashid Hamzawi Mahmoud, who joined a protest in Idlib earlier this month, said the Saudi move was the latest in a string of disappointments for the Syrian opposition. The (U.N.) Security Council has failed us so have the Arab countries, and human rights and Islamic groups, he said. Syria was ostracized by Arab governments over Assads brutal crackdown on protesters in a 2011 uprising that descended into civil war. However, in recent years, as Assad consolidated control over most of the country, Syrias neighbors have begun to take steps toward rapprochement. The overtures picked up pace since a deadly 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 conflict. The Saudi-Syria rapprochement is a game changer for Assad, said Joseph Daher, a Swiss-Syrian researcher and professor at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. Assad could potentially be invited to the next Arab League summit, but even if such an invitation isn't issued for May, its only a question of time now, Daher said. Government officials and pro-government figures in Syria say the restoration of bilateral ties is more significant in reality than a return to the Arab League. The League of Arab States has a symbolic role in this matter, Tarek al-Ahmad, a member of the political bureau of the minority Syrian National Party, told The Associated Press. It is not really the decisive role. George Jabbour, an academic and former diplomat in Damascus, said Syrians hope for Saudi jobs after the return to normal relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia. Before 2011, Saudi Arabia was one of Syria's most significant trading partners, with trade between the countries reaching $1.3 billion in 2010. While economic traffic did not halt altogether with the shuttering of embassies, it dropped off precipitously. However, even before the warming of diplomatic relations, trade had been on the uptick, particularly after the 2018 reopening of the border between Syria and Jordan, which serves as a route for goods going to and from Saudi Arabia. The Syria Report, which tracks the country's economy, reported that Syria-Saudi trade had increased from $92.35 million in 2017 to $396.90 million in 2021. Jihad Yazigi, editor-in-chief of the Syria Report, said the restoration of direct flights and consular services following the current Saudi-Syrian rapprochement could bring some further increase in trade. But Syrians who are looking to Saudi Arabia as a provider of finance either through direct investment in the Syrian economy or through funding of various projects, especially concessionary loans for infrastructure projects," may be disappointed, he said. Such investments will be largely off limits for now because of U.S. and European sanctions on Syria. Even in the opposition-held areas, some greeted the normalization with a shrug. Abdul Wahab Alaiwi, a political activist in Idlib, said he was surprised by the Saudi change in stance, but on the ground nothing will change ... because the Arab countries have no influence inside Syria, unlike Turkey, Russia, Iran and the U.S., all of which have forces in different parts of the country. He added that he does not believe Damascus will be able to meet the conditions of a return to the Arab League or that Turkey and Syria would easily come to an agreement. Mohamad Shakib al-Khaled, head of the Syrian National Democratic Movement, an opposition party, said Arab countries had never been allies to the liberal democratic civil movements in the Syrian uprising but threw their support behind factions that took a radical Islamic approach. The Syrian government, on the other hand had genuine allies who defended it, he said, referring to the intervention by Russia and Iran that turned the tide of the war. But in the end, he said, No one defends a land except its people. ___ Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, and Ghaith al-Sayed in Idlib, Syria, contributed to this report. QUEBEC CITY, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - iA Financial Group (Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.) (TSX: IAG) will disclose its earnings results for the first quarter of 2023 on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Management will discuss the results during a conference call to be held at 11:30 am (ET), followed by the Company's Annual Meeting at 2:00 pm, which will be held virtually. First Quarter 2023 Earnings Results The conference call will be held at 11:30 am on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. The conference call can be accessed by calling 416-981-9030 or 1-800-908-8370 (toll-free within North America). Please note that the question and answer period following will be reserved for financial analysts. A webcast of the conference call (in listen-only mode) will be available on the iA Financial Group website at ia.ca. A replay of the conference call will be available for a one-week period starting at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, until midnight on May 17, 2023. To listen to the replay, call 18005585253 (tollfree) and enter access code 22026433. A transcript of the conference call will be posted the week following the conference call on the Company's website at ia.ca, under About iA, in the Investor Relations/Financial Reports section. All documents related to iA Financial Group's first quarter earnings results will be published on the Company's website at ia.ca, under About iA, in the Investor Relations/Financial Reports section, at around 9:00 am (ET) on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Annual Meeting The iA Financial Group Annual Meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 2:00 pm (ET). An audio webcast of the Annual Meeting will be available on the Company's website at ia.ca under About iA, in the Investor Relations/Events and Presentations section. About iA Financial Group iA Financial Group is one of the largest insurance and wealth management groups in Canada, with operations in the United States. Founded in 1892, it is an important Canadian public company and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbols IAG (common shares) and IAF (preferred shares). iA Financial Group is a business name and trademark of iA Financial Corporation Inc. and Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. SOURCE iA Financial Group For further information: Investor Relations: Marie-Annick Bonneau, Office phone: 418-684-5000, ext. 104287, Email: [email protected]; Public Relations: Pierre Picard, Office phone: 418-684-5000, ext. 101660, Email: [email protected] Related Links https://ia.ca/ VANCOUVER, BC, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Sable Resources Ltd. ("Sable" or the "Company") (TSXV: SAE) (OTCQB: SBLRF) is pleased to provide an update on the ongoing drill program at the Don Julio project, located in the province of San Juan, Argentina ("Don Julio" or the "Project"). All exploration activities at Don Julio are funded by South32 under the Earn-In Agreement between the Company and South32, signed in 2021. Figure 1. Location of reported holes from the La Gringa target. CuEq (%) is shown along the hole trace to highlight the large size of the geochemical anomaly associated with the La Gringa porphyry system. Holes from the 2021/2022 exploration season are shown in blue and holes from the current season (2022/2023) are shown in black. (CNW Group/Sable Resources Ltd.) Figure 2. Cross section along drill holes DJ-DH-23-12, 14, and 18 with chargeability section on the background. (CNW Group/Sable Resources Ltd.) Figure 3. Cross section along DJ-DH-23-16 showing the intercepted mineralization with respect to holes 06 and 08 from last season as well as magnetic 3D model on the background. (CNW Group/Sable Resources Ltd.) Figure 4. Cross section along holes DJ-DH-23-13 and DJ-DH-23-19 drilled from the western margin of the chargeability anomaly shown on the background. Bars display CuEq (%) to highlight the significant geochemical anomaly. (CNW Group/Sable Resources Ltd.) Figure 5. Location of drill holes from Punta Cana and Fermin targets. (CNW Group/Sable Resources Ltd.) Dr. Ruben Padilla, President and CEO of Sable commented, "Don Julio is a multi-target project contained within an area of over 10 x 10 km. This season's drilling program has been designed to test several of these targets. The current drilling results from the La Gringa and Punta Cana targets along with our geological observations define large anomalous mineral systems and provide exploration vectors that take us closer to the causative porphyry intrusive centres which in porphyry systems often host the best copper and gold grades. Drilling continues at La Gringa along with the modeling of all available data from La Gringa and Punta Cana to continue exploration, refine the geological models and to plan additional drilling." Highlights 1-La Gringa Nine drill holes have been completed this season at the La Gringa target for a total of 4,098m. Drilling has defined a >1,500m NNE long and >1,000m wide porphyry system, mostly covered by thin quaternary gravels along the La Gringa valley (Figure 1). Cu-Au-Mo anomalous values are hosted by altered siliciclastic rocks and hydrothermal breccias with an upper advanced argillic alteration zone overprinting deeper sericitic and potassic alteration assemblages. The latest results increase the size of the already large porphyry style mineralization that remains open along the NNE strike and at depth. The causative intrusion, and potentially the host of the best Cu-Au grades, has yet to be found. DJ-DH-23-14 3.75% CuEq (17.3 g/t Ag; 1.44 g/t Au; 2.33% Cu; 0.58% Zn) over 2.90m from 77.6 to 80.5m Including from 77.6 to Including 9.83% CuEq (46.5 g/t Ag; 3.85 g/t Au; 6.03% Cu; 1.61% Zn) over 0.50m from 78.7 to 79.2m DJ-DH-23-15 0.17% CuEq (3.14 g/t Ag; 0.092% Cu; 163 ppm Mo) over 17.0m from 724.0 to 741.0m from 724.0 to 0.17% CuEq (0.068% Cu; 319 ppm Mo) over 157.0m from 844.0 to 1,001m Including from 844.0 to Including 0.22% CuEq (0.11% Cu; 333 ppm Mo) over 22.80m from 903.20 to 926.0m DJ-DH-23-17 1.11% CuEq (5.33 g/t Ag; 1.07 g/t Au; 0.28% Cu) over 6.0m from 155.5 to 161.5m DJ-DH-23-19 1.15% CuEq (8.63 g/t Ag; 0.42 g/t Au; 0.77% Cu) over 0.9m from 281.55 to 282.45m from 281.55 to 0.61% CuEq (5.48 g/t Ag; 0.3 g/t Au; 0.26% Cu) over 17.5m from 326.5 to 344.0m from 326.5 to 0.49% CuEq (9.77 g/t Ag; 0.16 g/t Au; 0.1% Cu) over 11.0m from 427.0 to 438.0m from 427.0 to 0.75% CuEq (14.88 g/t Ag; 0.37 g/t Au; 0.32% Cu) over 1.6m from 448.1 to 449.7m 2-Punta Cana A 437m drill hole (DJ-DH-23-16) was completed at Punta Cana targeting subcropping Au-Cu porphyry style mineralization over a strong magnetic anomaly and close to two anomalous drill holes from the last drill season (see Figure 3). The last 156m of this hole returned 0.32 g/t AuEq associated with quartz-bornite-chalcopyrite veinlets hosted by a series of subvolcanic intrusions and breccias. The Company believes that this mineralization represents the highest part or carapace of a large porphyry system at deeper level. Future drill campaigns will evaluate the grade profile of the system below the 4,500 masl horizon (Figures 3 and 5). DJ-DH-23-16 0.32 g/t AuEq (6.39 g/t Ag; 0.11 g/t Au; 0.086% Cu; 32 ppm Mo) over 156.0m from 281.0 to 437.0m Including from 281.0 to Including 0.45 g/t AuEq (11.05 g/t Ag; 0.14 g/t Au; 0.11% Cu; 39 ppm Mo) over 55.0m from 330.0 to 385.0m Including from 330.0 to 1.05 g/t AuEq (46.68 g/t Ag; 0.13 g/t Au; 0.15% Cu; 0.17% Pb; 0.14% Zn; 51 ppm Mo) over 12.0m from 330.0 to 342.0m 3-Fermin The first round of drilling started at the Fermin base metals skarn target during the last week of March (Figure 5). Two drill holes for a total 450.8m have been completed with assays pending. Hole Descriptions DJ-DH-22-14 Hole 14 was drilled perpendicular to hole DJ-DH-23-12, previously released and which intercepted three intervals of high-grade Au-Cu-Ag mineralization associated with chalcopyrite, enargite, and sphalerite bodies (Figure 2 and Table 2). The hole encountered the first mineralized zone intercepted by hole 12 extending it around 50m towards the west with similar grade profile. Hole DJ-DH-23-18 was drilled on the western margin of the same chargeability anomaly targeting the same mineralization style but did not intercept significant mineralization (Figure 2). DJ-DH-22-15 Hole 15 was drilled as an extension of DJ-DH-22-09 drilled last season (Figure 1), the hole started at 623m and finished at 1,001m of depth, becoming the deepest hole in the history of the Project. The hole intercepted extensive biotite alteration in sedimentary rocks with abundant A and B veinlets. Although the Cu anomaly is moderate, the Moly values are consistently high reaching up to 0.16% Mo and yielding >200 ppm Mo over the entire hole (Table 2). Results from this hole increase the size of the already large moly halo external to the porphyry intrusion yet to be found. DJ-DH-22-16 Hole 16 is the only hole drilled at the Punta Cana target this season; the hole targeted the core of a conspicuous magnetic anomaly associated with the Au-Cu porphyry mineralization (Figures 3 and 5). The hole intercepted a broad zone of Au-Ag-Cu mineralization represented by porphyry quartz veinlets bearing chalcopyrite, bornite, and magnetite (Table 2). The mineralization found in the three holes forms a relatively low angled zone with apparent orientation ENE. The veinlets are hosted in a series of subvolcanic intrusions and breccias; the company believes that this mineralization represents the highest part or carapace of a large porphyry system at deeper level. Future drill campaigns will evaluate the grade profile of the system below the 4,500 masl horizon. DJ-DH-23-17 Hole 17 is a shallow hole drilled on the eastern margin of the previously shown chargeability anomaly looking for high-grade mineralization similar to the one intercepted in holes 12 and 14 (Figure 1 and Table 2). The hole intercepted sediments with SCC and minor advanced argillic alteration crosscut by abundant D veinlets. Although shallow the hole points to the large potassic alteration zone defined by holes DJ-DH- 22-07, DJ-DH-23-11, and DJ-DH-23-15, and shows a marked increase in Cu and Mo values towards its bottom helping with the larger scale vectoring at La Gringa. DJ-DH-23-19 Holes DJ-DH-23-13 and DJ-DH-23-19 were both drilled on the western margin of the large chargeability anomaly discovered along the La Gringa Valley (Figures 1 and 4). Hole 13 discovered a series of hydrothermal breccias with advanced argillic alteration and weak copper mineralization and hole 19 was a step back hole that defined a large diatreme breccia with Cu-Au-Ag anomalies. Hole 19 also discovered several mineralized zones at depth including 17.5m @ 0.61% CuEq associated with pyrite-chalcopyrite in pyrophyllite veinlets (Table 2). Hole Azimuth Dip Easting Northing Elevation Depth DJ-DH-23-13 55 70 2431386 6626757 4342 455 DJ-DH-23-14 50 50 2431681 6627231 4310 229 DJ-DH-23-15 150 80 2432193 6627441 4286 1,001 DJ-DH-23-16 90 70 2431762 6623732 5084 437 DJ-DH-23-17 50 50 2431787 6627108 4321 202.5 DJ-DH-23-18 55 65 2431236 6626884 4286 356 DJ-DH-23-19 55 70 2431272 6626678 4360 498 Table 1. Location of reported holes Hole From To Interval (m) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Mo (ppm) Zn (%) CuEq (%) AuEq (%) DJ-DH-23-14 77.60 80.50 2.90 17.3 1.44 2.33 0.58 3.75 Including 78.70 79.20 0.50 46.50 3.85 6.03 1.61 9.83 DJ-DH-23-14 137.90 140.00 2.10 2.57 0.32 0.085 0.34 DJ-DH-23-14 165.45 165.95 0.50 4.33 0.21 0.74 0.93 DJ-DH-23-15 844.00 1,001.00 157.0 0.068 319 0.17 Including 724.00 741.00 17.0 3.14 0.092 163 0.17 And 903.20 926.00 22.80 0.11 333 0.22 DJ-DH-23-16 281.00 437.00 156.00 6.39 0.11 0.086 32 0.32 Including 330.00 385.00 55.00 11.05 0.14 0.11 39 0.45 Including 330.00 342.00 12.00 46.68 0.13 0.15 51 1.05 DJ-DH-23-16 403.50 420.80 17.30 2.27 0.10 0.10 44 0.29 DJ-DH-23-17 23.50 25.50 2.00 9.71 0.14 0.12 0.30 DJ-DH-23-17 155.50 161.50 6.00 5.33 1.07 0.28 1.11 DJ-DH-23-17 181.50 183.50 2.00 1.96 0.14 0.14 0.25 DJ-DH-23-19 281.55 282.45 0.90 8.63 0.42 0.77 1.15 DJ-DH-23-19 326.50 344.00 17.50 5.48 0.30 0.26 0.61 DJ-DH-23-19 427.00 438.00 11.00 9.77 0.16 0.10 0.49 DJ-DH-23-19 448.10 449.70 1.60 14.88 0.37 0.32 0.75 Table 2. Highlighted intervals from reported holes Porphyry mineralization is characterized by broad zones of disseminated sulfides and vein stockwork; high-grade Cu-Au mineralization intercepted in hole 14 consists of irregular zones of semi-massive sulfides, sulfide-rich breccias, and stockworks; therefore, true width cannot be determined at this time. CuEq and AuEq were calculated based on 100% recovery and prices of USD 1,500 per oz for gold; USD 18.00 per oz for Ag; USD 3.00 per pound for copper; USD 10.00 per pound of molybdenum, and USD 1.10 per pound of zinc. Webinar Sable's President and CEO, Ruben Padilla, will be providing an exploration update discussing these results and the 2022 / 2023 exploration season. The webinar, hosted by Adelaide Capital, is scheduled for Monday, May 1, 2023 at 4:15pm EST. Register at the following link - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NmJer5IyT7OT8J67Ibfbkg QUALIFIED PERSON Luis Arteaga M.Sc. P.Geo., Vice President Exploration is the Company's Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. ABOUT THE DON JULIO PROJECT The Don Julio project comprises 69,350 hectares in the Cordillera Frontal in San Juan, Argentina. It includes the Don Julio cluster that contains numerous targets of porphyry (La Gringa, Poposa, Amarillo, Punta Cana, Tocota); intermediate sulfidation (Lodo, San Gabriel, Colorado); skarn (Fermin); and the regional properties that include the Los Pumas project as well as extensive unexplored ground. Since 2018, Sable has conducted systematic surface work including mapping; rock sampling; talus sampling; GroundMag, and UAV-Mag, and induced polarization. Sable performed a first drilling campaign in 2019 with 3,101m drilled in 11 holes and a second campaign in early 2022 comprising 4,294m in 9 holes. In 2021, Sable signed an Earn-In agreement with South32 to jointly explore the Don Julio project. ABOUT SABLE RESOURCES LTD. Sable is a well-funded junior grassroots explorer focused on the discovery of Tier-One new precious metal and copper projects through systematic exploration in endowed terranes located in favorable, established mining jurisdictions. Sable's focus is developing its large portfolio of new greenfields projects to resource level. Sable is actively exploring the San Juan Regional Program (163,969 ha) incorporating the Don Julio, El Fierro, La Poncha, and Los Pumas Projects in San Juan Province, Argentina; and the Mexico Regional Program (1.16Mha in application, 39,000ha titled) incorporating the Vinata and El Escarpe projects. ABOUT SOUTH32 South32 is a globally diversified mining and metals company. The company's purpose is to make a difference by developing natural resources, improving people's lives now and for generations to come. South32 is trusted by its owners and partners to realise the potential of their resources. South32 produces commodities including bauxite, alumina, aluminium, copper, silver, lead, zinc, nickel, metallurgical coal, and manganese from its operations in Australia, Southern Africa and South America. With a focus on growing its base metals exposure, South32 also has two development options in North America and several partnerships with junior explorers around the world. Related link: sableresources.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider, as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SAMPLE PREPARATION AND QA/QC Sample preparation for projects in Argentina is carried out by ALS Chemex Argentina, a subsidiary of ALS Minerals, at its facility located in Mendoza, Argentina. Analyses are carried out at their laboratory in Lima, Peru. Sample preparation includes drying in an oven at a maximum temperature of 60C, fine crushing of the sample to at least 70% passing less than 2 mm, sample splitting using a riffle splitter, and pulverizing a 250 g split to at least 85% passing 75 microns (code PREP-31). The holes contained in this press release were analyzed by methods Au-AA24 (Fire Assay Fusion and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry finish) and ME-MS61 (Four Acid Digestion with Mass Spectrometry finish); the latter one includes 48 elements (Al, Ag, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, Hf, In, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Re, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, Sr, Ta, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, Y, Zn, Zr). Both digestion methods dissolve most minerals but not all elements are quantitatively extracted in some sample matrices. Control samples (standards, blanks, and duplicates) are inserted systematically, and their results evaluated according to the Company protocols. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Sable's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of Sable's management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate. While Sable considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to variations in grade or recovery rates, risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals, risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, and regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and Sable is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. SOURCE Sable Resources Ltd. For further information: Please contact: Ruben Padilla, President & CEO at [email protected] or +1 (520) 488-2520 Not all $25,000 electric cars are equal. Many car analysts believe that Tesla must have a $25,000 electric car to reach mass volumes of an extra 4 million or more vehicles on top of 2 million or more Model Y and Model 3 cars. Car Expert Cory Steuben did some physical calculations for the minimum range and scaled-down cost of standard range Model Y. His team determined that a simple scaled-down compact version of the Tesla Model Y would have 254 miles of range and a starting cost with 20% margin of $25000. Cory has a 100-person company that does vehicle teardowns and cost estimates from the components on up. This factors in the smaller vehicle size, smaller battery pack and various other simple assumptions for the compact car. He feels this will be a $25,000 car that people will want to drive and own instead of an uninspiring car like the Chevy Bolt EV. GM has just canceled the Chevy Bolt EV which it was making from 2016-2023. The Chevy Bolt EV sold 21,630 units in Q1 2023. This is despite MSRP selling prices starting at $26,000. The total number of Chevy Bolts sold over eight years is about 200,000. Tesla sold more Model Ys in Q1 2023 than the eight-year cumulative sales history of the Bolt. The Tesla Model Y sells for about twice the price of the Chevy Bolt EV. It is the belief of many car analysts that cheaper EVs will have higher sales volume. The GM Chevy Bolt also had a major safety problem where all of the Bolts made from 2016 to 2021 were recalled for a battery fire risk. BYD and some chinese electric car makers have unit sales of over a million for their $25000 price range EV car models. Those are 95%+ sales in China where there are lower regulatory standards. This means the electric cars can be made more cheaply to lower safety standards. The exported versions of those China low price EVs have far higher foreign prices. Prices can some times double when those China EVs go to Australia or Europe. In the recent quarterly earnings call, GM estimates EV gross revenue of $50-billion-plus in 2025 and total gross revenue of at least $225 billion. They expect low to mid-single digit (2-6%?) earnings before income taxes-profit margin that year. GM battery cell cost is expected to be below $87 per kilowatt hour. GM CEO Mary Barra reiterated GMs plan to produce 400,000 EVs between last year and the first half of 2024, and to have capacity for 1 million EVs in North America by 2025.. In 2022, General Motors delivered 39,096 all-electric vehicles in the US (up 57% year-over-year). Thats 1.7% of GMs total volume and the best year ever for BEVs. GM target in North America is 50,000 EVs produced in the first half of the year and double that in the second half of the year, which indicates 150,000 in total. Sacha Dench is the founder of the charity Conservation Without Borders who have been working to contain the outbreak in The Gambia. She told the Guardian, 'It's migration season, so these outbreaks threaten birds and poultry all the way from Africa to Europe and the UK.' 'Rapid reaction is critical. So having staff on the ground with the resources that enable them to act is essential. Investing in monitoring activities in developing countries would save a lot of birds we love, and could save [the poultry farming] industry a lot of money.' What is the East Atlantic Flyway? The East Atlantic Flyway is one of eight major migratory routes used by birds, such as waders and shorebirds, to move around the world between breeding and wintering grounds. It connects northern Europe both to North America in the east but also to the warmer climes of Africa to the south, with the southern route tracing the Atlantic coastline of Africa from Morocco all the way down to South Africa. It is estimated that some 90 million birds use the flyway going in both directions. As the birds make their epic migrations, they frequently stop off at wetlands and marshes along the way to replenish their energy and take in the sights. This means that to conserve migratory birds, their habitat needs to be protected right along this migratory corridor so they always have enough places to feed and rest. But it also means that the flyway can become a significant highway for highly transmissible diseases, such as the current bird flu outbreak. This isn't the first time that this has occurred, with an upsurge of avian influenza in the early 2000s also spreading along this route, while in 2022 there was confirmation that birds infected with a European strain of the virus were carrying it into North America. The high stakes standoff between two Florida heavyweights - Ron DeSantis and the Walt Disney Co. - escalated Wednesday when the company sued the governor over what it calls a "relentless campaign to weaponize government power" and squelch free speech. The lawsuit was filed minutes after the expected presidential contender's handpicked board declared a Disney-friendly deal null and void, the latest in a tit for tat feud that began a year ago when the corporate giant took a stance against a DeSantis-backed education bill critics dub "don't say gay." Now the fight between DeSantis and a hallmark of American childhood has turned so acrimonious, it is spilling into the 2024 presidential race and threatening to pose yet another challenge to the Florida leader's still unannounced campaign. DeSantis's poll numbers have slipped in recent weeks and Republican opponents are seizing on the feud to cast him as a zealot bent on punishing a private enterprise over their opposition to one of his signature laws. Meanwhile, Disney is refusing to back down, setting the stage for a protracted legal fight that has some Florida residents on edge. The outcome could have implications for DeSantis far beyond the Magic Kingdom - though analysts noted his base may also be drawn to a strongarm approach against a large employer that even Democrats concede has enjoyed privileges other companies do not. "DeSantis essentially picked the fight," said Doug Heye, a longtime Republican strategist unaffiliated with any of the GOP presidential campaigns. "So when you pick the fight and then you lose it, it's very easy to see real problems." The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida on Wednesday accuses DeSantis of punishing it for exercising its right to free speech, threatening its business operations, jeopardizing its economic future in the region and violating its constitutional rights. "There is no room for disagreement about what happened here: Disney expressed its opinion on state legislation and was then punished by the State for doing so," the complaint said. It went on to accuse the governor and legislature of "employing the machinery of the State" to damage the company. "State leaders have not been subtle about their reasons for government intervention. They have proudly declared that Disney deserves this fate because of what Disney said." DeSantis is on an international trade trip but a spokeswoman called Disney's lawsuit "another unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters" and circumvent state law. "We are unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state," said Taryn Fenske, communications director for the governor's office. The standoff began in early 2022 when Disney leaders criticized the Parental Rights in Education Act, a controversial bill advanced by DeSantis and other Florida Republican prohibiting lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools through the third grade. The DeSantis-backed Board of Education recently voted to expand the rule to all grade levels. Disney's resorts in Florida are some of the state's prime attractions, but DeSantis expressed outrage that the company dare criticize the legislation, and he began attacking the company, saying it had received preferential treatment for too long. DeSantis - regarded as the most powerful Florida governor in at least a generation - has repeatedly turned to the state's Republican-controlled legislature to help him rein in Disney. The first effort came in a special session in April 2022, when lawmakers dissolved the special taxing district created in 1967 to help the company develop and control its vast property near Orlando. But that move quickly caused concerns about what would happen with Disney's tax and debt burden. Local government officials called it "a $1 billion debt bomb" and said they could have been forced to raise taxes on property owners to pay for what Disney's district used to fund, such as roads and other services. DeSantis ordered another special session in February to address that issue by keeping the tax district, but replacing the board selected by Disney - called the Reedy Creek Improvement District - with a new panel. DeSantis chose the five new board members and called the agency the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. When the new board held its first meeting in March, members said they discovered that the outgoing Disney board had handed over most of their power to Disney by approving a new development agreement with the company. That's what they voted to overturn on Wednesday. The toll of the fight is starting to show both in the halls of power in Florida's capital and in Disney's backyard. Some local business owners who run cafes and restaurants on Disney's property, as well as nearby residents, pleaded with the new board Wednesday to end the feud. They said they can't afford to pay higher taxes the board said will be necessary to pay legal fees to fight Disney, and that ideas floated by the governor - such as new toll roads within Disney's property, or even a state prison - would be a burden on their employees. Mark Gibson, who owns three businesses at Disney, said he's voted for DeSantis twice but finds the battle with Disney worrisome. "This dispute has continued for more than a year. There's already been a lot of negative publicity that we have to deal with, with guests and with our customers," Gibson said. "Ultimately, we're concerned about the repercussions for our restaurants and our employees." Debra McDonald said she and her family have lived at Celebration, a town built by Disney within the Reedy Creek district, for more 26 years. The company provides utilities, including electricity, to its more than 11,000 residents. "People are afraid of losing their homes," McDonald said. "Many people in our community are afraid. Uncertainty, fear, and controversy are not good." Martin Garcia, chairman of the new DeSantis-backed board, told concerned business owners they should blame Disney, because the company "created an absolute legal mess, it will not work." The GOP-dominated state legislature has been swift to pass most of what DeSantis asked for, but even some Republicans are complaining about being exhausted by culture war issues, including the battle against Disney. "These policies are not popular, not only with us, but they're not popular with Republicans either," Michele Rayner-Goolsby, a Democratic state representative, said recently. "So many of my colleagues have been like, 'I would just like to talk about roads, I would like to talk about boring stuff.' But they are being pushed into a corner." At the national level, Republican opponents have jumped in, with former president Donald Trump recently stating in a Truth Social post that "this is all so unnecessary, a political STUNT!" After news of the Disney lawsuit broke, Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is also seeking the GOP nomination, tweeted, "Hey Disney, my home state will happily accept your 70,000+ jobs if you want to leave Florida." Meanwhile, memes of DeSantis being beaten up by Mickey Mouse have spread online as the feud makes international headlines. Republican strategist Sarah Longwell, publisher of conservative site the Bulwark, said that while DeSantis's battle against Disney is not automatically "bad" because he's developed a brand as a "cultural warrior," Disney is not the best enemy to have - notably because it is not the type of enemy Trump would choose. "Donald Trump chooses enemies that the voters are pretty attached to being against," she said, citing some of the former president's favorite targets: the "deep state," the "elites," "the left." Compared to Trump's battles, Longwell said, the fight with Disney "starts to look a little silly." "He did it once, and it gave him some profile," Longwell said. "He made his point, he's fighting against 'woke' corporations, but I'm not sure this one has legs in a way that people are going to be continually invested in it." Disney's Magic Kingdom location near Orlando is considered the busiest theme park in the world, drawing nearly 13 million visitors in 2021. Its Animal Kingdom resort is also a top draw, attracting more than 7 million people that year, according to AECOM and the Themed Entertainment Association. Despite the high-profile feud, business has been booming at Disney's parks. The business segment that includes theme parks netted $8.7 billion in the last quarter of 2022, reflecting a 21 percent jump from the year before. Matt Roseboom, the editor and publisher of Attractions Magazine, which covers Disney and other theme parks, said the Disney-DeSantis feud hasn't impacted visitors to the Florida park. While most guests are probably aware of the battle, "it's not really affecting anything." "I think everybody's pretty confident that Disney is not going to have to have a prison in the Magic Kingdom," he said. "I think people are just more making a joke out of it right now." - - - The Washington Post's Amy B Wang, Mariana Alfaro and Cate Brown contributed to this report. A New Haven man who federal authorities say stole from hundreds mailboxes in Connecticut with his girlfriend, using the ill-gotten gains to steal victims' identities and cash and forge checks in their names, has been sentenced to more than six years in prison, the U.S. attorney's office said. Marquis Williams, 46, was sentenced Tuesday to 78 months in prison in an appearance before U.S. District Judge Vanessa Bryant in Hartford, the office said. He was also sentenced to five years of supervision upon his release. Among the more than 70 victims of the Williams' crimes were elderly nursing home residents, the government said. Marquis was also ordered to pay $116,152 in restitution. Between 2018 and November 2019, Williams and Dara Morrison, his girlfriend at the time, burglarized hundreds of mailboxes at Connecticut homes, according to authorities. "The mail pieces contained checks, drivers licenses, passports, social security cards, banking information, and other personally identifying information from businesses and individuals throughout Connecticut, including elderly nursing home residents," the U.S. attorney's office said in a news release. "Williams and Morrison used stolen identities to produce fake identification and then used the fake identification to cash or deposit stolen checks." Prosecutors also said the pair used the stolen checks to forge copies that they also cashed or deposited, and that Morrison also used stolen credit cards. Investigators arrested Williams on Nov. 14, 2019. During a search of his home and vehicles, law enforcement found "numerous drivers licenses and identification cards with photographs of Williams or Morrison, but with different names and addresses," the U.S. attorney's office said. They also found dozens of victims' bank cards, notebooks containing personal information from victims, about 130 checks, including some that had been altered, items used to forge checks and "trash bags filled with stolen mail," the office said. Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud on May 19, 2022. Morrison has also pleaded guilty to the same offense. She was sentenced to time-served on April 18, after having been held for 37 months, the government said. Prosecutors said both defendants have histories involving similar crimes. Williams was sentenced to 51 months in prison for "conspiracy, identity fraud and credit card fraud offenses" in 2002, the U.S. attorney's office said. For performers at Paranormal Cirque II, its a shame that Halloween comes only once a year. However, circus-goers in Corvallis will have another chance to get scared at this R-rated show. Paranormal Cirque II is just like any other two-hour Vegas-quality show, except for the fact that the acrobats are zombies, theres a juggler who is a serial killer and the contortionists are dressed as creepy dolls, performer Steve Copeland said. He himself plays a ghost hunter, Copeland said. Described as "thrilling, wicked and sexy," the show is filled with performers from all over the world, from Mexico to Kenya, he said. The medley of cabaret, theater and circus is making its way to the Benton County Fairgrounds in Corvallis. The stage will be filled with metal music and rock 'n' roll, bloody makeup and red lights. An hour before the show is a pre-show, where attendees can buy merchandise and have the chance to be scared by performers. Fair warning: Some of the snacks are a little naughty and shaped like female and male genitalia, he said. But as much as its scary, its also funny, he said. Part of the reason its rated R is the adult humor, he said. Children under 13 are not allowed to attend, and those between the ages of 13 and 17 require an accompanying parent or adult, according to the site. Its a show with all kinds of emotion; there is excitement, tension and laughter, he said. Copeland is used to being in shows, but not usually ones rated R, he said. Its really gratifying to have a show for adults, to just let go, he said. A self-proclaimed horror movie fanatic, Copeland is in his element. He knew he wanted to be a clown ever since he was 4 years old and living in a small town in South Carolina, he said. At age 19, he joined the circus. "I found something where I get to make other people happy and laugh and forget about whatever may be bothering them," he said. Its been about 20 years since those earliest of days, and when you work with the same people and go home and see them and travel in the same trailers, they become a family, he said. The show has traveled from New Mexico through California before making its way to Oregon, he said. "You don't have to wait until Halloween; we're bringing it right to your backyard," he said. If you go: Paranormal Cirque II will be at the Benton County Fairgrounds, 110 SW 53rd St. in Corvallis, from Thursday, April 27 through May 1. Tickets range from $20 to $60, and can be purchased online at paranormalcirque.com. To get $5 off enter promo code 5OFF. Tickets can also be purchased at the fairgrounds. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CONWAY, Miss. (AP) A man who escaped from a Mississippi jail and is suspected in a Monday night killing died after barricading himself in a home and setting it on fire during an armed standoff with deputies, authorities said Wednesday. Plumes of smoke emanated from the charred remains of the home in Conway, hours after a body was recovered. Dylan Arrington, 22, perished inside the home, setting it ablaze after shooting a deputy in the leg, Leake County Sheriff Randy Atkinson told The Associated Press. He inflicted that kind of terror after escaping from jail, killing people and shooting law enforcement. But that guy wont be killing anyone else, Atkinson said. In a statement posted online in the evening, Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones said the remains had been positively identified as Arrington. The cause of death was under investigation by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Authorities have been pursuing Arrington and three other inmates who broke out over the weekend from a Mississippi jail under federal scrutiny. Arrington is suspected of killing a man and stealing his pickup truck after the escape. The owner of the torched Conway home said he saw someone matching Arringtons description hiding inside a trailer behind his house on Tuesday evening. He notified the sheriffs office and fled with his family. Investigators searched the property, but there was no trace of Arrington. They continued the search through the night with drones and a helicopter. Around 7 a.m. Wednesday, Atkinson and a deputy returned to the property with the homeowner. After a short meeting, the homeowner discovered Arrington inside. He sprinted outside and alerted the officers, who were standing in the driveway. Arrington then exchanged gunfire with them through a window, striking the deputy in the leg, Atkinson said. Within a two-hour period, the house was set ablaze from within, he said. Investigators waited until the fire was out before they approached the home and found a body. The injured deputy was transported to a hospital where he was stabilized. Multiple law enforcement agencies continued searching parts of the state, after the Leake County Sheriff's Office told residents to please keep your doors locked and have no keys or weapons in your vehicles." The U.S. Marshals Service and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation are among the agencies assisting in the search. Police said Anthony Watts, a 61-year-old church pastor, was shot and killed Monday around 7 p.m. on Interstate 55 in Jackson after he pulled over to help a man who had wrecked a motorcycle. That man shot Watts several times and then stole his Red Dodge Ram, police said. Watts died at the scene. The suspect in that shooting fit the description of Arrington, Jackson Police Chief James E. Davis said. Casey Grayson, Corey Harrison and Jerry Raynes are the other three prisoners who escaped Saturday night from the Raymond Detention Center, a facility near Jackson, through breaches in a cell and the roof. Jones said the men might have camped out on the roof before fleeing and going their separate ways. Raynes was spotted on surveillance footage at a service station in Spring Valley, a suburb of Houston, at 11 a.m. Sunday, Jones said Wednesday in a statement. Investigators believe he fled to Texas after stealing a Hinds County Public Works vehicle, which was recovered in Spring Valley. It was unknown whether Raynes traveled alone. The four escapee had been in custody for various felony charges, most involving theft. Arrington had charges of auto theft and illegal possession of a firearm, WAPT-TV reported. Watts' stolen Red Dodge Ram, which has tan trim and Cowboys stickers on the front and the back, was last seen heading south on I-55 in Terry, Mississippi, police said. Investigators also believe a stolen Chevy Silverado is connected to the escape. Raynes, Grayson and Harrison remained at large. In July, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves ordered a rare takeover of the Raymond jail after he said deficiencies in supervision and staffing led to a stunning array of assaults, as well as deaths. But before the appointed receiver was scheduled to assume control over the jail Jan. 1, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the lower courts order until it ruled on the countys motion for reconsideration. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WEST HAVEN The University of New Haven reached a $2.29 million settlement in a COVID-19 semester tuition and fee refund class-action lawsuit, pending court approval. Students who were enrolled at UNH in the spring 2020 semester each will get an equal part of $1 million, less taxes and court-approved attorney fees, in form of a check, according to the proposed settlement filed in Connecticut District Court. Also, students who were enrolled in the spring 2020 semester who currently are enrolled in a UNH course commencing in September 2023 or later will receive a one-time, non-cash $200 tuition credit. Eligible students will get the credit automatically through their bursar account, according to the document. The overall gross settlement fund is at about $2,285,600. Any non-matriculated high school student who took a UNH course during the semester and those who choose to opt out of the settlement fund wouldnt be eligible. The university said in a statement that it continues to take pride in its commitment to providing "a high-quality education" both during the sudden and far-reaching impact from the pandemic. "The conclusion of this matter enables us to ensure our focus is solely on investing in resources that support the success of our students in and out of the classroom," university officials said. South Carolina-based law firm Poulin Willey Anastopoulo, which represented the case, said: "We are proud to have achieved this significant recovery for our clients and were eager to continue advocating for the rights of those unjustly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic." Students and former students who are qualified for the settlement money will receive a notice through email or regular mail. Should the court approve the settlement, those who receive a check have 180 days to cash it, otherwise the uncashed checks will be donated to UNH. The class-action lawsuit was filed in fall 2020 by Krystian Wnorowski, a former finance student at UNH who graduated in 2021. The case alleged the university of a breach of contract after it transitioned to remote learning and closed the campus due to the pandemic, because he was deprived of the benefit of the bargain for which he had paid. The lawsuit also alleged unjust enrichment claims. UNH has denied all allegations and filed for motions to dismiss throughout the court process. As stated in the proposed settlement, both parties sought to end the suit as a summary judgment will be ruled upon otherwise, or it will take time before a jury trial starts. According to the court document, UNH has produced evidence showing there wasn't any difference in tuition charged for in-person and online courses, that the university continued to provide services despite being virtual, and that there wasn't any express or implied contract. The university faced a similar lawsuit in the same year but it ultimately was withdrawn. Colleges nationwide faced lawsuits seeking tuition refunds over the pandemic semester. One of them was nearby Quinnipiac University, which agreed to pay $2.5 million last year to end the federal litigation. In 2021, a lawsuit seeking tuition refund against Yale University was dismissed as the student plaintiff didnt prove that online classes were in some way inferior to in-person teaching and constituted educational malpractice. At the University of Connecticut, a suit was voluntarily ended by the plaintiff, court records show. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) Chief Justice John Roberts has declined a request from the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify at a hearing next week on ethical standards at the court, instead providing the panel with a statement of ethics reaffirmed by the court's nine justices. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., invited Roberts' testimony last week, saying that there had been a steady stream of revelations regarding Supreme Court justices falling short of ethical standards expected of other federal judges. The invitation came after news reports that detailed a close relationship between Justice Clarence Thomas and a conservative donor from Texas. The donor, Dallas billionaire Harlan Crow, had purchased three properties belonging to Thomas and his family in a transaction worth more than $100,000 that Thomas never reported, according to the nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica. In a letter to Durbin on Tuesday, Roberts said he would respectfully decline the committee's request. Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee by the Chief Justice of the United States is exceedingly rare, as one might expect in light of separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence. Accompanying the letter to Durbin was a Statement on Ethics Principles and Practices signed by all nine justices describing the ethical rules they follow about travel, gifts and outside income. While the rules are not new, the statement said that the undersigned justices today reaffirm and restate foundational ethics principles and practices to which they subscribe in carrying out their responsibilities as Members of the Supreme Court of the United States. The statement details standards for justices' activities outside the court and describes the recusal process, which is generally up to each individual justice. It does not require any justice to say why they are recusing from a case. Nothing about Roberts letter or the statement attributed to all nine justices suggests that they feel chastened in any way by recent reports. But it is the first time the current membership has spoken on ethics issues as a group. Durbin said in a statement that he was surprised because the response from the court suggests current law is adequate and ignores the obvious. The actions of one Justice, including trips on yachts and private jets, were not reported to the public, Durbin said. That same Justice failed to disclose the sale of properties he partly owned to a party with interests before the Supreme Court. Durbin said he would proceed with the hearing, which will review common sense proposals to hold Supreme Court justices more accountable to ethics guidelines. Gabe Roth, executive director of the court transparency group Fix the Court, said the justices' statements rehashed inadequate ethical standards. Make no mistake: Roberts statement is nowhere near an appropriate response to the ethical failures of the current Court, Roth said in a statement. ProPublica also revealed that Crow gifted Thomas and his wife Ginni with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of annual vacations and trips over several decades including international cruises on his mega-yacht, private jet flights and stays at Crows invitation-only resort in the Adirondacks. But the 2014 real estate deal is the first public evidence of a direct financial transaction between the pair. Ethics experts have offered conflicting views about whether Thomas was required to disclose the luxury trips funded by Crow. Thomas said in a statement that he was advised by colleagues that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable. Thomas did not name the other justices or those in the judiciary with whom he had consulted. Last month, the federal judiciary bolstered disclosure requirements for all judges, including the high court justices, although overnight stays at personal vacation homes owned by friends remain exempt from disclosure. The ethics statement sent to Durbin notes that the Judicial Conferences Committee on Financial Disclosure had provided clarification on the scope of the personal hospitality exemption to the disclosure rules." The original letter from Durbin had asked Roberts or another justice to appear before the committee on May 2. He told Roberts that the scope of his testimony would be limited to the ethics rules governing justices of the Supreme Court and potential changes to those rules. Roberts refusal to testify is the latest hitch for Democrats on the Judiciary panel. With Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California absent indefinitely, the committee has a tied number of Democrats and Republicans and cant move certain judges to the floor - or presumably subpoena Roberts, if Democrats wanted to. In declining to testify, Roberts ignored Durbins invitation to have another justice appear instead. The last time justices met with the Senate Judiciary Committee was in October 2011, when Justices Antonin Scalia and Stephen Breyer testified. ___ Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) The latest death toll in Kenyas cult investigation has risen to 95 as the government announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the ranch owned by a pastor who is accused of ordering his followers to fast to death. Journalists and human rights activists on Wednesday were barred from accessing the 800-acre (320-hectare) ranch, which has been declared a disturbed area and an operation zone. Pastor Paul Makenzi, who was arrested for allegedly directing his followers to fast to death in order to meet Jesus, remains in police custody until at least May 2. He heads the Good News International Church. Police say they took 22 people into custody during Wednesdays search and rescue operation. Authorities have rescued 34 people from the property, which is near the town of Malindi, since police raided the ranch earlier this month. The Kenya Red Cross Society said that 314 is the latest missing persons figure. Movement will now be restricted on the ranch for 30 days. Curfew orders have also been declared and Gazetted within the said area between 1800 hours in the evening up to and until 0600 hours in the morning for 30 days, Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki said in a statement. Human rights activists have questioned the move to bar them from accessing the ranch where the police have been conducting search and rescue operations alongside exhumations. We are the ones who highlighted this case. Why are we being left out now? activist Victor Kaudo said. It is unclear why the bodies exhumed on Wednesday were the lowest number since the operation started on Friday. The director of public prosecutions, Noordin Haji, on Wednesday directed investigating officers to identify the assets of the suspects for purposes of preservation, confiscation and forfeiture in accordance with the law. Linn County Sheriffs deputies have arrested a Lebanon woman on suspicion of arson in connection to a residential fire. Deputies arrested Abrianah Malayna Smith, 24, on suspected charges of first-degree arson, second-degree criminal trespass and tampering with evidence. Court documents allege that on Thursday, April 20, Smith intentionally caused $50,000 or more of damage to someone elses property by starting a fire or causing an explosion. Smith was arraigned in Linn County Circuit Court on Tuesday afternoon, April 25 on one count of first-degree arson. During the arraignment, prosecutor Coleen Cerda alleged Smith lit her grandparents' house on fire. Cerda said Smith lived with her grandparents, but they were allegedly upset about Smith using drugs. Smith then set her room on fire before leaving the house with her grandmother, Cerda alleged. Smiths grandfather, who was still in the house, eventually noticed the fire. The fire damaged 50% to 60% of the house, Cerda said, displacing its occupants. 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. Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan said Smith returned to the residence while fire investigators were onsite and tried to enter the building. A deputy eventually located Smith on Monday at the property and arrested her. During Tuesday's arraignment, Judge Michael Wynhausen set bail at $25,000. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for May 22. According to a Lebanon Fire District news release from last week, firefighters responded to a structure fire in the 300 block of Cascade Drive on Thursday night. During the arraignment, Cerda seemingly acknowledged that this was the fire in question. Cerda said the fire occurred at an address that matched Lebanon Fire Districts description from the news release. When crews arrived on scene that night, they discovered heavy smoke showing from the front door and out of the buildings eaves. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to a single bedroom, the news release said, but the occupants of the home were displaced due to smoke damage throughout the building. No one was injured during the fire. At the time of the news release, LFD said the cause of the fire was under investigation. Paige Devlin is one of the tenants who was forced to vacate her apartment after the building, located at 38 Clothier St. E., was deemed unsafe on Thursday, April 20. She and her three children and their father were provided temporary emergency housing, but come Wednesday, April 26, the family has nowhere to go. Kemptville residents were left scrambling after their apartment building was deemed unsafe and they were told to vacate. The Municipality of North Grenville issued an "Order to Remedy Unsafe Building" for the property located at 38 Clothier St. E. on Thursday, April 20. A second order to prohibit occupancy was issued on Friday, April 21, according to Amy Martin, director of planning and development. The order requires a structural engineer review and the requirement to obtain a building permit if repairs are required, she wrote in an email. The municipality in issuing the orders was acting on the recommendation of a third-party engineer. The orders, obtained by The Kemptville Advance, state that "the building is structurally inadequate or faulty for the purpose for which it is used," and is "in a condition that could be hazardous to the health or safety of persons in the normal use of the building, persons outside the building or persons whose access to the building has not been reasonably prevented." Paige Devlin is one of the five tenants displaced by the order. She has lived in the building for a year-and-a-half, with her three young children and their father. Everything has been such a blur, said Devlin. Being temporarily homeless with three kids is scary. The family was provided emergency housing through Victim Services of Leeds and Grenville and has been staying at a local motel, she explained, while they try to sort out what to do. Devlin noted theyre going to look at a potential rental on May 1, but their emergency housing allowance ends on Wednesday, April 26. I dont even think well have accommodations after that, so were back to scrambling around. She stated that she has renter's insurance and is hoping to get some coverage to help pay for a place to stay in the meantime. Devlin described the situation as scary really, really scary. She said she didn't know "what were going to do. Im trying to figure something out because I need to make sure theres a roof over my kids heads. Devlin added that it was her daughters birthday on Sunday, April 23. We got to spend it in a hotel, thats what hurts the most. Mayor Nancy Peckford, who also serves as warden of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, said she reached out to the housing support team to identify options. The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville housing support team is working with them, to help find mid to long-term solutions for the family, she noted. Peckford explained this situation shows that North Grenville is poorly equipped right now to respond to emergency housing needs. Thats partly because we dont have enough counties housing here we dont run any emergency family shelters here so if people dont have access to other supports, what often happens is housing is sometimes made available in other communities, but a lot of people arent necessarily able to avail of it because its disruptive to the routines of their kids or schooling or work. Chief building official David McGurrin was on site at the apartment building on Monday, April 24, letting some of the residents back in to collect their belongings, including Devlin. He said he couldn't provide any other information, aside from what was posted in the public notice taped to the doors. When pressed for the reason the building was deemed unsafe, McGurrin reiterated that he could not provide additional comments. SHARE: New city parks in Wellands south end will be named in remembrance of two Niagara teens who lost their lives during a Take Your Kids To Work Day event at John Deere in November 2000. Both parks are in new Empire Communities subdivisions and will face the Welland Canal. During a special city council meeting Tuesday, Ward 6 Coun. Bonnie Fokkens found support from her fellow councillors in bringing forward a motion, that was not on the agenda, to name the parks. The park in the Dain West subdivision will be named after Wainfleets Rob Fulbrook and located at Block 67 between Canal Bank Street and the former canal. The park in Dain East will be named after St. Catharines Amanda Peat and located at Block 124, north of Forks Road and overlooking the working canal. Fulbrook and Peat, both 14, died after a crash at the Dain City plant on Nov. 2, 2000. The property is being redeveloped for homes. Fokkens said with April 28 the National Day of Mourning in Canada it recognizes workers injured or killed on the job she felt it appropriate to bring her motion forward. The horrific accident (at John Deere) paved the way for making the workplace safer for Take Your Kids To Work Days. A coroners inquest six months after the incident recommended students not be permitted to drive motorized vehicles during job-shadowing days; that keys to vehicles be removed, students be under direct supervision of an adult at all times; students must sign waivers prior to visiting job sites describing what they will be exposed to; and participating companies must develop clear rules for employees who will oversee visiting students. Fokkens said the families of Fulbrook and Peat gave their approval for the parks to be named in honour of their children. NOTE: This story was edited Friday, April 28 to correct the spelling of Rob Fulbrooks last name. SHARE: Welland Ward 4 Coun. Tony DiMarco has admitted to being shirtless during a special council meeting last month, but said it wasnt for the entire night. Yet on Tuesday DiMarco asked city clerk Tara Stephens for an apology for comments she made to The Tribune in a story two weeks ago about his being shirtless during the meeting. I dont know what she has to apologize for, said Mayor Frank Campion. DiMarco said it was in the media that I was shirtless with no explanation for a period of time or whatever. I thought it was just wrong the way it was written. It made me sound like I was shirtless for the entire meeting, which I was not. It was not even close, said DiMarco. Campion said he didnt believe the councillors comment about the story was accurate. In the story, Stephens said yes when asked if she had seen the councillor without a shirt and that was what she saw on her screen around the council table. Several emails and voicemails were left with DiMarco following the March 28 meeting for comment, but he never replied for the April 5 story. I cant control what the media puts in the Welland Tribune. They contacted me after they had heard it happened and I advised them it appeared to be a brief moment in time, said Stephens Tuesday during a special council meeting. Campion said Stephens did not say it was the whole meeting. Council meetings are held via a livestream on the citys website that anyone can watch. They also operate on Zoom, with council and members of staff taking part in meetings remotely. Councillors can be seen on the large screen in chambers and on city-owned electronic devices used by elected officials through Zoom when speaking, unlike the public livestream. DiMarco appeared to have withdrawn his request for an apology from the clerk, but the audio in council chambers was slightly muddled when he spoke. I wont ask the media to apologize. They usually go by what they write, he said. After the March 28 meeting, city councillors were reminded about on-camera etiquette and Stephens redistributed an etiquette sheet staff created at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when all council meetings were held online. It recommended certain things councillors should do and not do. One of the suggestions is that they dress for your audience. It also advised council about making sure their internet connection is strong and advises against eating meals and snacks while in a meeting. The list of etiquette items tells councillors to keep their cameras on during meetings. If a camera needs to be turned off for a personal reason, the clerk should be notified. With files from Kris Dube SHARE: A woman has pleaded guilty to manslaughter for her role in the 2015 stabbing death of a Niagara Falls senior. Jasmine Doxtator, 42, appeared in Superior Court of Justice in Welland Wednesday. She is to return to court in May to be sentenced. A jury convicted the Hamilton woman of first-degree murder in the death of Guiseppe (Joe) Caputo following a trial held in Welland in 2017. Her cousin, 45-year-old Richard Doxtator, was also convicted of first-degree murder. Both were sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 25 years. But the Ontario Court of Appeal in 2022 overturned the verdicts based on the judges instructions to the jury, which it ruled did not allow for lesser verdicts of second-degree murder or manslaughter and ordered new trials for both individuals. The judge who wrote the appeal decision found the Crowns case on planning and deliberation and murderous intent was not overwhelming and the supporting evidence was potentially equivocal. Caputos body was found in his Portage Road apartment in Niagara Falls on June 19, 2015. The 70-year-old suffered 18 cutting wounds and four stab wounds. In court Wednesday, assistant Crown attorney Tim Hill said Jasmine Doxtator met with her cousin in June 2015 and told him she was upset with Caputo, a man with whom she had been friends for six years, because he had told his family he was no longer involved with her as he believed she had stolen from him. Hill said the cousins devised a plan to confront the victim at his home and to scare and threaten him to stay away from her. Miss Doxtator knew that Mr. Doxtator was a violent man who was likely to inflict bodily harm on Mr. Caputo which could cause his death, the Crown said. Unbeknownst to Miss Doxtator, Mr. Doxtator had formed a plan to kill Mr. Caputo and brought with him a knife that he used to stab Mr. Caputo to death. At the original trial, Jasmine Doxtator testified Caputo was her longtime drug dealer and, in the days before the killing, had drugged and raped her. She told the jury she went with her cousin to Caputos apartment to confront him about the sexual assault. SHARE: District School Board of Niagaras longest serving education director is set to say goodbye at the end of the calendar year. After 18 years at the helm of Niagaras largest school board, Warren Hoshizaki announced his retirement at DSBNs board meeting Tuesday evening. With more than 40 years in education, Hoshizaki served as director of two Ontario school boards, principal of two elementary schools, teacher to both elementary and secondary students, as well as superintendent before being named DSBN director. In a media release, DSBN highlighted the tremendous gains made for students during Hoshizakis time, including an emphasis on embedding equity, inclusion, diversity, anti-racism and social justice into the curriculum and school culture, as well as a focus on math and literacy with excellent results. In his retirement announcement, Hoshizaki said above all, I will miss the opportunity to visit with students, to watch their development and witness their success. For me, it always has been and must always be about the students. In an interview Wednesday, board chair Sue Barnett said the meeting was difficult to get through, despite knowing ahead of time what was coming. As chair a position she has held five times in the past 12 years shes relied on Hoshizaki heavily for advice and information, and is very proud to have worked with him for so long. Barnett said during his tenure, he listened to reason, taking input from trustees, but every piece that he does with the board is focused on students and what they need. He has always has the students and the staff at the centre of every decision that weve made. A lot of people dont know the number of hours and the amount of work hes put in, said Barnett. The man is smarter than all get-out but hes also very kind. You want to see him shine, see him work with a bunch of kids. Its just amazing the way the kids flocked to him, he has that magnetism. Im going to miss his smarts, thats for sure. As she looks back on his years, Barnett highlighted Hoshizakis vision and development of DSBN Academy, founded in 2010 with a commitment to empower students to become the first in their family to graduate from a post-secondary institution. We took a lot of backlash from politicians in the community who didnt understand our vision was to catch kids that were falling through the cracks and give them a chance to step up and be there to support them, she said. The program really works and that was Warren researching and trying to find out what we could do to catch these kids that we were probably going to lose if we didnt do something different. She also spoke about fundraising efforts that were vital in building 10 synthetic turf fields and enhancement of outdoor learning facilities, as well as Hoshizakis development of partnerships and collaborations across the peninsula. We have a partnership with the City of Welland where Diamond Trail Library is a school library and after 4 p.m. it turns into a public library so that people in the area can use it, she said. You can see it at Harriet Tubman school, look at the playground, thats a partnership with the City of St. Catharines. Hoshizaki will stay as director through Dec. 31, 2023, but Barnett said there is still a tremendous amount of work to do, including the budget for the next school year, of which is he is a big part. In the meantime, the board will put together a committee to find his replacement. Once it reaches the interview process, all 11 trustees have a hand in hiring the combined role of director of education and secretary of the board. Its going to take somebody very, very special to fill his shoes, said Barnett. We have lead-up time to put together our thoughts about who we want, what we want and the direction we want to go. Its a new chapter for DSBN. SHARE: JOIN THE CONVERSATION Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free) Sign In Register Times are lean, so the King has turned to beans. Quite literally. Ahead of King Charles May 6 coronation, Buckingham Palace released a special recipe to mark the occasion. What did King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, select? A meatless quiche filled with wait for it beans, spinach, tarragon and enough fats to give you a heart attack by just looking at the recipe. The royal concoction has received mixed thats being generous reviews. UK tabloid paper Metro gathered thoughts from its staff. One employee described the quiche as, the food equivalent of getting caught in a grey, April drizzle: cold, unpleasant and out-of-place. Another said, My first thought was to puke. One of the dishs few endorsements came from celebrity chef Prue Leith of The Great British Bake Off, who praised the baked dish as absolutely delicious. Thats quite the rave review from an authoritative source, you may be thinking. Yes, but it also warrants a big asterisk: the coronation quiche Leith tested was presented by none other than Prince Edward, the Kings brother. It would have been next to impossible for her to offer anything but those glowing remarks. So amid all the hubbub, I decided to test the recipe myself and offer an objective opinion. Lets start with the beans. (The recipe calls for either the soy or fava variety.) First off, why? There are 60 grams of beans in this quiche, ensuring every mouthful is overwhelmed with sandy, starchy overtones, no matter how you slice it. Then, theres the tarragon one tablespoon, to be exact. If you can get past the beans, youre subsequently hit with the herbs pungent licorice flavour. All that is suspended in a wet spinach custard, filled with so much milk, cream and cheap cheddar cheese that it barely sets into something resembling quiche. As for the recipe, its simple to follow, though the cooking instructions dont allocate nearly enough time to blind bake the pastry. (Thats probably why almost everyone is saying the crust, topped with that milky liquid, is such a soggy mess.) If youve made it this far through the review, youre probably now wondering why the King would choose such an unappetizing dish to mark his special day. Alas, taste is subjective, and believe it or not, it does appear that the King enjoys this recipe and isnt just trying to torture his subjects. Its no surprise that King Charles III has shared Coronation quiche to celebrate his Coronation, tweeted former royal chef Darren McGrady after the dish was revealed. Made this for him many times. The recipe, rife with symbolism and specially selected by the King and Queen Consort, is said to reflect not just their tastes but their values. Throughout his public life, the King has emphasized the importance of sustainability, and certainly a vegetarian dish fits in with his wider philosophy about the importance of being in harmony with nature, Toronto-based historian, author and royal commentator Carolyn Harris told me in a phone interview. And Queen Camilla, one of her patronages is The Big Lunch, which encourages communities to share meals with one another, and a vegetarian quiche is a comparatively accessible dish for that, Harris added. (Though Buckingham Palaces original recipe isnt vegetarian as the crust is made from lard, it notes that you can also use pre-made short crust pastry, of which there are vegetarian varieties.) In short, this coronation quiche is supposed to be affordable, accessible and sustainable something that reflects the times. At least thats what Buckingham Palace and the royal family, estimated to be worth $28 billion, were trying to achieve. But it doesnt take long to realize this is just another half-baked royal attempt to connect with the masses. Upon closer inspection, its a recipe in which its results so obviously contradict its intentions. Beyond the irony that the King selected a German dish popularized by France to commemorate his British coronation, its almost laughable when you realize that theres a national egg shortage in the UK, making that key ingredient a favourite of the Kings, dont forget nearly impossible to source. Talk about accessibility. Yet with days to go before the coronation, the jury is still out on whether the Kings quiche will land with the people. Like his reign, the King has large shoes to fill with this special recipe. His mothers coronation chicken, unveiled in 1953, has remained enduringly popular some seven decades later. My verdict? Im with the UK tabloids on this one. Buckingham Palaces quiche is the Kings sordid and dour attempt to craft a dish that connects with us commoners. It is, put simply, a coronation abomination. As for me, Im still washing the taste of coronation quiche from my mouth. But I rest easy knowing we probably wont need to wait another 70 years for the next coronation specialty. The bar is low, William and Kate. SHARE: Warning: This story has details that may disturb some readers Bodies on the street. The endless echoes of explosions and artillery shells. Pandemonium as gangs raped and looted those caught in their warpath. And finally, an impossible decision. After more than a week being caught in a violent conflict, a family from Mississauga, whose vacation took a dark turn after fighting broke out in Sudan on April 15, were offered a glimmer of hope in the form of a spot on a plane to the Netherlands. Details were scant, but information from Global Affairs advised Nagwa El Mamoun, her husband Bushra, and daughter, Dalia, to get to the Wadi Seidna Air Base north of Khartoum by 11 a.m. Monday morning. But Bushra was hesitant to make the trip through Khartoums streets because of reports circulating that gangs of looters, as well as some armed forces members, were raping female civilians. I pressured him to (leave), El Mamoun, said. And he was telling me, If something happened to you or Dalia, if they want to rape you, I am an old man, I cannot protect you. At the same time, I cannot bear this to be happening. So please let us die in our house. The family decided it was their last chance to escape, and embarked on the perilous trip two hours north. The scariest time was the trip from our house to the base, because we have the RSF (Rapid Support Forces), we have the gangs and we have the random bullets that are coming. Most of the people who died in Sudan, the civilians, were from random bullets, El Mamoun, who works as an immigration consultant, said. In addition to the armed forces from both the Sudanese army and the opposing RSF, there were also gangs of looters engaging in random violence. As soon as you lower the speed of the car they attack you, El Mamoun said. With the help of a relative, they managed to circumvent the looters and checkpoints and make it to the airbase, but by the time they arrived, they were told the plane to the Netherlands had departed. El Mamoun remembers sitting on the ground and wondering if that airbase would be her final resting place. If I stay at the airbase I might be bombed, if I go back, I might be killed, she recalled. They then learned there was another aircraft, operated by Germany, that could take them. When it arrived, they were immediately accepted after they said they were Canadian citizens. The plane stopped in Jordan, where they were given blankets, food and other supplies, before landing in Berlin on Monday evening. El Mamoun said she felt tremendous relief as she realized she would see her other three children, who were awaiting the family in Canada. It gave me the feeling I am near home, I will see my daughters again, I will see my son again, I will drive my car again. I will feel safe again, El Mamoun said. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada is co-ordinating with its allies in the region and looking to help with evacuation efforts, but added theres very limited places where those airlifts can happen from. He said hes spoken with the chairperson of the African Union to look at how Canada can help. On Monday, Trudeau said 58 Canadians left Sudan on a German flight. By Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said that 100 Canadians had by then made it out of Sudan and thanked Germany, France, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia for their help in the evacuation. Joly said there were 1,700 Canadians registered with the government as being in Sudan, who the federal government is reaching out to. Of the 1,700 people, 550 have asked for assistance, she said. The Mamoun family is now celebrating, and getting their first taste of coffee in 11 days, after being evacuated. But they also recognize they face a long road ahead to recover from the trauma of losing family and friends in the violence, and being confined in what now resembles a full-out war zone for more than a week. The first thing I need to do is go for counselling, El Mamoun said from a hotel in Berlin, as she and her family await a plane back to Canada. The stress, the tension, the assurance that Im going to die is now all gone. But theres a long road to go because I cannot leave my extended family, or my acquaintances, or my neighbours (I) have to do something to help them, she added. Her family was in a precarious situation in Khartoum because they were staying near the airport, where much of the combat was occurring, and El Mamoun was running low on medication for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes leading up to their scheduled flight home that was supposed to leave on Tuesday. Last week, El Mamoun told the Star she was frustrated by the Canadian government because she had repeatedly been told there were no plans to evacuate Canadians. All they would tell her is to shelter in place. The borders to neighbouring countries except for Egypt are all shut down, El Mamoun said, and the road out of Khartoum was extremely dangerous. Still, the family tried to flee Sudan on their own twice. They were turned away at checkpoints by armed forces. He said do you want to go back or do you want to be shot? El Mamoun recalled. She said she got little sleep over the past 10 days, her family having to constantly huddle on the ground as they heard gunshots and explosions, and they were losing hope that they would make it out alive. But while she and her family are now safe, she has family members who are not as fortunate. And she has already lost a relative, a friend and two acquaintances in the violence. As she returns to Canada, she said her focus is on helping others who are stuck in the country. Sudanese are peaceful people and they are caught in the middle. Women are being raped, children are dying Canada is known for human rights and peace and taking care of people. So Im pleading to the Canadian government to take care of the people of Sudan, at least settle them until they know what is going on. Read more about: SHARE: Police say a Sweet Home resident who was experiencing a mental health crisis shot at an elementary school building in March. An officer heard a potential gun shot in the area of 54th Avenue and Quince Street on March 19 and conducted an area check, according to a Sweet Home Police Department Facebook post. The officer contacted nearby residents but could not find the cause of the noise. A few hours later, according to police, the department received a report that someone in the area of Quince Street was experiencing a mental health crisis. Officers responded and put the person in question into protective custody for a mental health hold. Officers determined the person in custody likely fired a weapon into the ground. Police handed over the case to the Linn County District Attorneys Office for review of criminal charges and obtained an "extreme risk protection order," which suspends a persons rights to own or purchase a firearm. Executing a search warrant March 24, officers seized seven firearms and noticed multiple bullet holes in a window of the residence and corresponding holes in the side of Foster Elementary School, which is across the street from the home, according to Sweet Home police. The individual in question is still receiving mental health treatment, the agency Facebook post said, and does not have a release date at this time. Neighbors are caring for the individuals dog. 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. Police will continue to evaluate the situation and encourages community members with questions about school safety measures to contact the school district. Because this situation was resolved and any potential threat to the public was mitigated upon removing this individual from the situation, information was only shared with the people and entities that had an immediate interest in the case, the Facebook post said. Due to an enhanced public concern and the possibility that the individual may be released from custody at some point soon, we are releasing this information now. In its own Facebook post, the Sweet Home School District said police informed it there was no continuing threat to the school and no one was physically at risk. Student safety is our top priority, the district said. BURNABY, B.C. - An initial drug screening report suggested Myles Gray had a natural psychoactive compound in his system when he died, but followup testing revealed a concentration that didnt meet the threshold for detection, a forensic toxicologist told the British Columbia coroners inquest into the 33-year-olds death. Aaron Shapiro testified that he reviewed the original toxicology report and changed the finding for mitragynine, an extract from an Asian plant known as kratom. What this means is that the drug was either not present in the sample, or it means that the drug was present at a concentration that was below our instruments ability to detect it, said Shapiro, testifying as an expert witness. Unfortunately I cant tell the difference between those two scenarios. Gray died in August 2015, shortly after a beating by several Vancouver police officers that left him with injuries including a fractured eye socket, nose and rib, a crushed voice box and ruptured testicles. A paramedic told the inquest in Burnaby, B.C., this week that the bruising was so severe, he initially thought Gray was not Caucasian. A statement from the BC Prosecution Service in December 2020 announcing its decision not to pursue charges against the officers involved in the struggle to arrest Gray noted that toxicology evidence showed hed ingested kratom, and a pathologist found the drug may have been a contributing factor in his death. Shapiro, the associate scientific director of toxicology at the BC Centre for Disease Control, said he reviewed the raw toxicology data and found that if the drug was present in Grays blood, it was not at a level that would be considered toxic or lethal. There were some indications that it was present, but it didnt meet all the criteria for us to say that it was there. It could have been that it was just a low amount, he said, lower than what the instrument at the time was capable of detecting. Or it could have been, basically, instrument noise that led to the signal. As a result, Shapiro said he reversed the original finding that kratom was detected. An advanced life support paramedic testified later Wednesday that she arrived at the scene as firefighters were performing CPR on Gray, whose heart was not showing any electrical activity that would have allowed for defibrillation. Jenette Ziegler told the inquest she believed that before Gray stopped moving he may have been experiencing an increased metabolic drive that can contribute to a buildup of acid in the body called acidosis. When someones in that extreme and medically fragile state, Ziegler said its important that the patients breathing is not inhibited in any way, allowing them to expel the carbon dioxide in their system. Anything that impedes the chest wall from moving should be avoided, and the least preferred position is to have someone lying on their stomach. Sometimes you end up there, but it is absolutely the least preferred, she said. If thats what happens, pressure on the persons back should be avoided, she said. We try to put that weight onto their pelvis, and maybe onto their shoulders, but not onto the chest. Ziegler agreed with a lawyer for the Vancouver police officers involved in the struggle with Gray that it may not be possible to move someone into an ideal position for breathing if they still thrashing around, posing a safety risk. Another paramedic testified this week that he arrived to to see four officers restraining Gray, one of whom had his chest on top of Grays torso. Shapiro told the inquest that the general drug screening performed at the time of Grays death looked for well over 200 different substances with the goal of flagging potential findings, although it should not be used on its own as evidence. It just gives you an idea that you might want to look further into it, he said. Kratom can have different effects, he said, but in general, its a stimulant similar to caffeine when taken in lower amounts. At higher concentrations it can have an opioid-like effect, and it also interacts with dopamine and serotonin, with the potential for effects similar to those of some antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs as well, Shapiro said. Its consumed recreationally around the world, with some people using it to self-medicate for conditions such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, he said. The inquest has heard Gray was diagnosed with bipolar disorder around 1999, but hed been stable since then, operating his business on the Sunshine Coast. The lab also screened for several anabolic steroids, but nothing was confirmed, and it did not have the ability to detect a number of other steroids at the time, he said. A pathologist and personnel from the Independent Investigations Office are among those expected to testify before the inquest is scheduled to conclude on Friday. An inquest jury isnt able to make findings of legal responsibility but it may make recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: SASKATOON - Relatives of an Indigenous man left brain-dead after an altercation with police in Prince Albert, Sask., say he has died. Boden Umpherville, 40, had been hospitalized since he was stopped by police on April 1 in the city north of Saskatoon. Family took him off life support last week and he died Wednesday morning. Every time me and the family have been there, its been like a goodbye every day, said Chase Sinclair, a close family friend. Sinclair said its even more difficult for the family because of how Umpherville was injured. The family has alleged that Prince Albert Police Service officers used excessive force during the police stop. The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team, which reviews cases when a person is injured or dies as a result of a police officers actions, said in a news release the vehicle involved in the traffic stop had been reported stolen. But when officers pulled it over, the registered owner was inside, it said. Videos shared on social media show officers using stun guns multiple times and struggling with the driver of a vehicle. The police watchdog said Umpherville went into medical distress once he was in police custody. The family alleges Umpherville was left on the ground in handcuffs and his heart stopped beating for 20 minutes before it was revived when an ambulance arrived. The Prince Albert Police Service has said it cant comment. The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team has said a loaded handgun was found at the scene. Family stayed by Umphervilles bedside throughout his time in hospital, holding his hand and singing songs. Umpherville was a father of five who loved the outdoors, Sinclair said. The family is taking it pretty hard, especially his mom, Sinclair said. Sinclair said the family wants to see transparency around the investigation. They have a lot of questions about what happened and how the officers involved can be back on patrol, he said. They also want to see justice for Umpherville. He was so strong, taking on so much in his life, Sinclair said. It was as if someone who is unstoppable is taken from you. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2023. SHARE: REGINA - Saskatchewans public safety minister says she is considering releasing a report that investigated Prince Albert police amid ongoing concerns from Indigenous leaders over serious incidents in the community connected to the force. Christine Tell, minister of corrections, policing and public safety, told reporters Wednesday she couldnt provide the reports details, but said its worthwhile for the public to see. I think that when things are released, then theres those fulsome conversations (where) everybody knows what everybody else knows, Tell said. And I do believe in a process of renewal, a process of making the necessary incremental changes. It all needs to be done co-operatively with the board of police commissioners, (Prince Albert) Police Service, the ministry. And I think its good for the public to have a look and see. A provincial spokesperson had initially said it had no plans to publicly discuss the release of the report, saying the work is inherently sensitive and often requires a certain degree of discretion and confidentiality, but Tells remarks suggest a change in tune. Last year, the Saskatchewan government appointed former Edmonton police chief Rod Knecht to conduct an independent review of the force following ongoing concerns over operations. Prince Albert is 140 kilometres north of Saskatoon. The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations urged accountability after an altercation between a man and police left him brain-dead. The man, Boden Umpherville, has since died. Umphervilles family alleged officers used excessive force during a police stop in early April. The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team, which looks into serious incidents involving police, is investigating. The Prince Albert Police Service has said it cant comment. Vice Chief Edward Dutch Lerat with the federation has said Indigenous leaders and community members have been awaiting the results of the review into the police service. Its not just your organization here but also the community in Prince Albert and the First Nations in Prince Albert ... we are all anticipating the results of that audit, he said. Lerat said its important that there is transparency because Indigenous people feel like they have not received justice for a string of recent tragedies that involved police. The police service came under scrutiny last year following the death of a 13-month-old boy in February 2022. The childs mother alleged that when she called police for help in the hours before his death, she was taken into custody because officers racially profiled her. The boys father was later charged with second-degree murder in the childs death. The federation also called for changes following the deaths of three Indigenous men in custody in 2021. When asked about these incidents, Tell said it is concerning to the people of Prince Albert, its concerning to the government of Saskatchewan. However, she said the incidents are not the genesis of the reasons why the province conducted a review. Tell said there were a number of incidents, but couldnt provide details. She also declined to say whether there were issues with management at the police service. When you have a number of people dying in custody in probably higher than what we have seen in other municipalities, then, of course, my radar goes up, and our radar goes up, she said. That doesnt mean there was anything wrong, but theres a higher number than what has previously been experienced in other municipalities. A Prince Albert police spokesperson said all questions should be directed to the ministry because the province conducted the review. The spokesperson said the police service has been supportive of the inquiry. Opposition NDP justice critic Nicole Sarauer said she would like the report to come out to ensure full transparency. She said she hopes it can spur public discussion and improvements. (Police) are given an elevated role in our society, theyre allowed to carry guns, and in return we expect a level of accountability and transparency, she said. We want to see that the minister is respecting that, as well. Tell said she remains confident in the police service and has no concerns about its quality. She said the government will need about two weeks before it decides on releasing the report. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2023. - With files from Kelly Geraldine Malone in Saskatoon. SHARE: The looming trial of a prominent Chinese journalist and former Harvard University fellow is being held up as the latest example of Beijings efforts to deter Chinese citizens from engaging with foreigners. In combination with other high profile incidents such as the detention of Canadas the Two Michaels its raising questions about how international organizations should respond to the perception that collaborations with Chinese counterparts might put more people in danger. Dong Yuyu was arrested in February in Beijing while having lunch at a hotel restaurant with a Japanese diplomat. The targeting of the inquisitive 61-year-old shocked his international friends and is the latest case to reflect Beijings efforts to deter Chinese citizens from engaging with foreigners, according to family members and experts. We are losing exchanges with people in China, said Susan Shirk, professor of China and global relations at University of California San Diego, who recalls meeting Dong in China. Its really tragic, as well as dangerous for both foreigners and Chinese citizens, she told the Star. Dong was detained last February on charges of espionage, but his family kept his arrest quiet in hopes that doing so would convince authorities to drop or reduce charges. Japans Foreign Ministry had lodged a formal protest about the incident at the time without mentioning Dong, saying their diplomat was detained and interrogated for hours. But now that his case will be going to trial and he is facing a potential sentence of more than 10 years in prison, his family is speaking out. As a journalist, he was curious about the world, the family said in a statement, requesting anonymity out of fear of persecution. He held liberal views, but always worked within the Chinese media system and was careful to avoid criticizing the Chinese Communist Party. His arrest is a message to foreigners and Chinese that trying to understand each other might lead to trouble. We hope the world will pay attention, relatives told the Star. In addition to working as deputy editorial director of Guangming Daily, Dong contributed to the New York Times Chinese-language website, and had been a visiting research fellow at Harvard University and Japans Keio University, as well as taught at Hokkaido University. His familys pleas come a month after book publisher Li Yanhe, a Chinese citizen living in Taiwan, disappeared during a visit to Shanghai. His Taiwanese publishing house, Gusa, has long published Chinese translations of numerous books by international writers, including former New Yorker writer Evan Osnos and U.S. academic Leta Hong Fincher. Angeli Datt, China research and advocacy lead at PEN America, said the use of national security charges is a common tactic in politically sensitive cases in China involving journalists or human rights activists detained purely in violation of their rights to free expression. The jailing of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor showed these cases often have nothing to do with criminal activities, Datt told the Star. That overseas connections would put people at risk is what weve already seen in Xinjiang with the Uyghur population, and now there is an expansion where more people in China face retaliation for these exchanges, Datt said. Since 2016, Chinas education ministry has required Chinese academics to apply for approval for international trips and research collaborations. In 2020, universities began strictly applying these rules for online events hosted by international organizations as well. We were waiting to see if these restrictions were mostly related to COVID-19. But now that COVID restrictions are over and greater controls on Chinese academics are still in place, it seems this approach is here to stay, said Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, senior fellow at the Institute for Science, Society and Policy at the University of Ottawa. There appears to be much more sensitivity around the humanities and social sciences. Most scholars in Canada are aware, but conversations about how to respond are just starting, she said, adding that logistically, it is difficult to offer Chinese participants anonymity for in-person or virtual events. For her part, McCuaig-Johnston said she has avoided contacting certain people in China for the last several years, in case her own public criticism of the Chinese government puts citizens at risk. When Shirk was starting out as a China researcher in the 1970s, she said her only option for field research was to interview refugees who had fled mainland China. Im afraid were going back to that, said the academic, who was in Toronto to receive the Munk School Lionel Gelber Prize for her book, Overreach: How China Derailed its Peaceful Rise. I havent personally given up. We should try to test whats possible and certainly there is still a tremendous hunger for exchanges inside of Chinese intelligentsia and certainly from we on the Western side as well. I think well keep trying and hope that the limits dont become severe. Jeremy Daum, a senior scholar in law at Yale Universitys Paul Tsai China Centre, who has worked in Beijing, said that while generalized suspicion of foreigners isnt a new trend in China, the definition of sensitive areas is constantly shifting. The shifting landscape and Beijings expansive view of national security mean that there are potential landmines everywhere. Its also worth noting that Chinese academics Ive spoken with also express a fear that they will be under intense scrutiny by U.S. officials. When security concerns from different sides bleed into paranoia, its one more barrier to continuing these interactions, he said. Daum said he uses encrypted messaging tools to communicate with people in China, and aggressive transparency about what an event or program entails, could help alleviate suspicion and give people more information about risks. Dong is only the latest journalist to be arrested. Cheng Lei, an Australian journalist with Chinese state broadcaster CGTN, was detained in 2020 on national security charges, while Haze Fan, a reporter with Bloomberg, was recently released on bail after more than a year in prison on suspicion of national security violations. A petition for Dongs release has been signed by more than 60 current and former journalists and academics. The National Press Club in D.C. called for Dongs release in a Monday statement and said China should support person-to-person contacts. It makes their country stronger. He has helped the world have a better understanding of China and has brought back with him from Japan and the U.S. a very complete understanding of life in those countries, it said. Joanna Chiu is a B.C.-based staff reporter for the Star. She covers global and national affairs. Follow her on Twitter: @joannachiu Read more about: SHARE: The federal government could appoint someone from outside the RCMP as its new commissioner, but a civilian would likely not go over well with members, says the head of the Mounties union. Canadas national police force is currently without a permanent leader, after RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki stepped down earlier this year. The police force is currently being led by interim commissioner Michael Duheme. The federal government will make the appointment through an independent process that has not been detailed yet. You could bring in someone from, I have no idea, the London Met, Brian Sauve told the Star during a recent interview in downtown Edmonton. Sauve leads the National Police Federation, a union representing 20,000 RCMP members across the country. You might bring in someone who was a former chief of the OPP, or someone from Calgary, or Vancouver, I dont know. Theres a lot of police leaders out there who are qualified and could probably take up the charge. You know, if were talking about a civilian, the morale of the membership would probably not appreciate that as much. Whoever is tapped to lead the Mounties will have to help a force facing widespread resource shortages, systemic problems under the public microscope, and a changing landscape when it comes to where in the country the RCMP will be deployed. Doug King, a justice studies professor at Mount Royal University, said appointing someone without policing experience isnt realistic but giving the job to someone outside of the RCMP may be just what the service needs. There was a civilian appointed as RCMP commissioner under Stephen Harpers government. William Elliott, a senior public servant, was in the role from 2007 to 2011. It was a controversial move by the federal government, said King, and it brought internal dissent at a time when the RCMP was facing perceptions in the public that it had problems with its culture. King said it will be necessary for the next appointee to help usher in systemic change and get buy-in from members. I dont think theres anybody whos arguing that that isnt necessary, he said. If youre going to bring about a systemic change within the RCMP, you may need someone who is not a part of the RCMP culture. And as we all know now, police agencies are very, very kind of closed. A civilian may struggle in that sense. But someone from a different police force could be able to get internal buy-in while leading the service in a new direction, added King. Who is picked may also be a signal from the federal government as to the direction it wants to take with the RCMP. King said theres been some speculation Ottawa may want to get out of the contract policing business and let more provinces set up their own police forces. If that happens, the federal government will want someone in place who they believe can help lead that shift, said King. There have been some hints as to who the government might eye for the job. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last month that having an Indigenous commissioner was an excellent idea. There are significant hurdles for the RCMP as far as resource shortages and staffing go. Recruitment has been an ongoing problem and criticism of the force has been rampant in recent years, particularly during the Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission hearings and in the wake of its report into the Nova Scotia shootings, which heavily criticized the RCMP response. It might be the hardest police leadership job in North America, King said. The FBI would be easier to be the leader of than the RCMP because the FBI is very much focused on what it does. The RCMP is just spread out across the country and is doing everything for everybody. Read more about: SHARE: MONTREAL - Police in Ontario are urging people to come forward with anything they know about a young Montreal homicide victim whose body was discovered north of Toronto. Zackhry Ramnath, 18, was found on a trail in the township of King on Sunday morning by a passerby walking his dog, and local police said on Tuesday they believe the death was a targeted killing. Media reports have suggested Ramnath was an acquaintance of another homicide victim, Isaiah Leopold Roach, 16, whose body was found April 17 in a farmers field in St-Zotique, west of Montreal. York Regional Police Sgt. Clint Whitney said he cannot confirm if police have established a link between the deaths of the two teens. Quebec provincial police said Wednesday they had nothing new to report on the investigation into Roachs killing. Whitney said investigators in Ontario are in contact with law enforcement in Ramnaths home province, and he urged anyone with information to call York Regional Police. Our murder investigation is still in its early stages and our detectives will follow the evidence where it leads, Whitney said in an email. Our investigators would like to speak with people who knew Zackhry Ramnath and can shed light on his lifestyle and activities. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: Rupi Kaurs poetry book Milk and Honey, an international bestseller amongst young women, was one of the most banned books in U.S. classrooms for the first half of the 2022-23 school year, according to data by non-profit PEN America. The reason for the ban of Milk and Honey, which surpassed sales of Homers Odyssey, is that it includes mentions of sexual assault and violence. In total, 1,477 books were banned between July 1 and Dec. 1, 2022, says the group. Out of the 874 unique titles banned, 44 per cent dealt with themes of violence. Other books in the list discuss race and racism, LGBTQ+ characters, grief or death, student health and well-being, and teen pregnancy, abortion or sexual assault. The report shines a light on the debate around the book-banning movement in American schools, which saw a resurgence in recent years and hit record highs in 2022. While some parents believe certain books deal with subjects that are not suitable for high schoolers, educators say they are vital to making schools more inclusive. I remember sitting in my school library in high school, turning to books about sexual assault because I didnt have anyone else to turn to. This is the reality for many students. We all find comfort in literature that reflects our experiences, Kaur said in a social media post. Other renowned titles on the list include Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye, which is also among the most challenged books in Canada, Maia Kobabes Gender Queer: A Memoir, and Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale: The Graphic Novel. The 2022-23 school year has been marked to date by an escalation of book bans and censorship in classrooms and school libraries across the United States. PEN America recorded more book bans during the fall 2022 semester than in each of the prior two semesters, read the report by PEN America, an organization that advocates for freedom of expression. In February, revisions in some Roald Dahl books sparked controversy, as phrases such as fat and crazy were removed because some of the language was offensive and lacked inclusivity. Following the backlash, Dahls publisher announced it would release a classic collection of unaltered versions of the books in question. The Dahl revisions have reignited discussions over whether the preservation of important literary works outweigh the importance of not continuing to use language that reinforces discrimination in texts. The same month the Dahl revisions sparked public outcry, the Toronto Public Library announced their new Book Sanctuary Collection, featuring 50 adult, teen and childrens books that were banned, challenged or censored in schools or libraries across North America. Ana Pereira is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @anabpereiraa Read more about: SHARE: As the weather warms up in Toronto, Laila has been going outside to walk. Its something that was never possible for her to do as a judge on the streets of her hometown, Kabul, due to the fear of targeted attacks by the Taliban. The jaunts on foot are a small bit of solace amid her life in a new world, one where she looks out of her window every day and ponders the future. With a deep sigh, she says that she has lost everything her home, her family and her country. Laila, 40, is the mother of two sons and one daughter, all of them born in the capital of Afghanistan. After the first reign of the Taliban ended in 2001, she graduated from the faculty of law and political science, and worked as a judge in different departments of the courts for nearly 13 years. But the Talibans triumph in August 2021 changed everything and displaced her, with her husband and children, to Canada. She says that when Afghanistan fell into the Talibans hands, the prisons were emptied, and many convicts went in search of judges to take revenge. There was no night that I slept peacefully. I changed houses several times and I was still afraid that they would come one night and kill me in front of my children, Laila tells the Star, speaking in Farsi. She asked that her last name not be used due to fears of retaliation against family members still in Afghanistan. Two weeks ago, Marzia Babakarkhail, a well-known judge who settled in Britain after the Taliban returned to power, launched an online campaign to support female former judges and asked the international community to protect those in imminent danger. Last month, the Association of Afghan Prosecutors (operating out of Pakistan), said that at least 29 prosecutors, including two women, have been killed in Afghanistan since August 2021. Laila says that in October 2021, after nearly three months of living in hiding under the Taliban, her family reached Greece with the help of the International Association of Women Judges, and after nine difficult months they were transferred to Canada, where they lived in a hotel for about half a year before moving into a house a few weeks ago. Still, she remains preoccupied by thoughts of those who are out of reach, especially her mother. I spend my days and nights inside these four walls without my family, friends and colleagues. Each of us has been displaced to a corner of the world where we do not belong. Laila stays silent for a moment, with a lump in her throat, and starts crying. She says that all these days and nights separated from her mother, sister and brother all still in Afghanistan have been very painful for her. She adds that she will never forget her mothers cries when she and her family had to leave. The moment when my mother cried, everything was over for me. What happened to us? What did our world do? They killed our motivation and we said goodbye to everything. I will not forget that black night when I hugged my mother for the last time and said goodbye to her. My mother prayed and said, go my daughter, this is not your place. Go to a place where being a woman and being a judge will not be a crime, Laila says, crying again. She adds that although she feels safe in Canada, she thinks every moment about whether it will be possible to return to Afghanistan one day. Laila says that she follows the news about Afghanistan every day and imagines one day learning that the Taliban is gone, but going back may have become an unattainable dream for her. These thoughts have caused me to experience severe depression. The doctor told me that I should be busy working or studying. Now I have started the English language training course. It is hard for me to integrate with the new language, culture and people. But I am trying to learn the language quickly and find a job for myself and serve my second home, which is Canada. Canada gave us shelter and now I am trying to find peace here. Laila thinks for a moment about life before August 2021, and says that although there were security problems, she was happy, and keen to serve Afghanistan. The motivation was there and I thought I was in my own country and that gave me energy and every day I told myself to go forward and never stop. She says that although she now has physical safety, her mental health is not secure, due to being away from her mother and starting everything from scratch in Canada. Still, according to her, the situation of her former colleagues who remain in hiding in Afghanistan is pathetic. Everything has been reduced to zero, everyone worked hard for years and became a judge or prosecutor, but now life has turned into hell for them because of the fear of revenge from the Taliban or the criminals. The desperation and suffocating situation of female judges and prosecutors in Afghanistan leads them to destruction and they experience gradual death My colleagues in Kabul are asking me for help, but as an immigrant, I cant do anything. I am trying to contact the organizations that support judges in Canada. Laila says that she is thankful that Canada, especially the female judges of this country, have kindly accepted her and her family. I wish to see my country free from the Taliban one day and to be able to invite Canadian female judges to Afghanistan and serve them. Read more about: SHARE: PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) Police pledged Wednesday to crack down on unrelenting gang violence that has paralyzed swaths of Haitis capital, and pleaded with Haitians to end a string of grisly vigilante killings. The appeal came after an angry crowd on Monday killed at least 13 suspected gang members who police had arrested, with video and pictures shared on social media suggesting that an even greater number since then have died after being stoned and set on fire. If anyone hears anything, please advise the police, Garry Desrosiers, spokesman for Haitis National Police, said at a news conference. Do not take justice into your own hands. Desrosiers said police are mobilized and that anti-gang operations will continue as he urged people to contact police if they see unusual activity or people they dont recognize in their neighborhoods. He told The Associated Press that a lot of victims were killed this week but declined to provide specifics. The vigilante violence Monday took place in the Canape Vert neighborhood of Port-au-Prince after police stopped and searched a minibus for contraband and confiscated weapons from suspects who were face down on the pavement when they were lynched. Desrosiers said a limited number of police were on the scene when it happened: They couldnt sustain the crowd, and the crowd reacted. Six other suspected gang members in the nearby neighborhood of Turgeau who allegedly were shot by police were also set on fire Monday. The gang violence in recent days has injured three police officers and prompted people in Canape Vert and Turgeau to arm themselves with machetes, rocks and bottles to defend their neighborhoods as they set up makeshift checkpoints and blocked entrances with large trucks. Desrosiers said he understands peoples anger and frustration over ongoing gang violence. Theyve been victimized. Theyve been suffering. The young women are being raped. Professionals are being kidnapped. That is not acceptable, he said as he also condemned vigilante violence. The United Nations estimates that gangs now control 80% of Port-au-Prince as lawlessness has escalated since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. On Wednesday, the new U.N. special envoy for Haiti called for the immediate deployment of a specialized international force that Prime Minister Ariel Henry first requested in October, echoing a similar plea from U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Gang violence is expanding at an alarming rate in areas previously considered relatively safe in Port-au-Prince and outside the capital, said special envoy Maria Isabel Salvador. The Haitian people cannot wait. We need to act now. But the U.N. Security Council has shown no interest in deploying a foreign force, and neither have the U.S. or Canada. Salvador said that in the first quarter of 2022, more than 690 criminal incidents that include killings, rapes, kidnappings and lynchings were reported. That number more than doubled to 1,647 in the same period this year, she said. Salvador also noted that Haitis National Police is severely understaffed: Barely 3,500 police officers are on public safety duty at any given time, nationwide. More than 11 million people live in Haiti, where an estimated seven major gang coalitions and some 200 affiliated groups operate. ___ Associated Press reporter Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico contributed. SHARE: American democracy is perfectible. But its got a long way to go, as seen in the presidential re-election showdown that looks to be shaping up between Joe Biden, 80, and Donald Trump, 76. For the present discussion, this is not a left-versus-right thing. Its not a case of Canada looking down its northern nose at the U.S. either. Its a simple matter of a representative democracy in which the two frontrunners for the nations most powerful and important post president no longer bear much resemblance to those they seek to represent. Joe Bidens 2024 re-election bid, announced Tuesday, is no great surprise. Hes been hinting at it for weeks. The real surprise would have been if he had declined and opted instead to join the club of voluntary one-term presidents, the first since Lyndon Johnson. The three-minute video announcement hits all the notes that Biden has been striking in the three years since hes been elected. Hes for voting rights, abortion rights, gay rights, job creation and economic recovery. Hes against Trump and the sort of right-wing extremist sentiment Trump embodies. The question were facing is whether in the years ahead we have more freedom or less freedom. More rights or fewer. I know what I want the answer to be and I think you do, too, Biden says in the video. This is not a time to be complacent. Thats why Im running for re-election. He calls this the battle for the soul of America. Its a noble idea, that there is good and evil, and that the country has a soul worth battling for. But its a phrase Biden has been using for at least six years now. He seems to bring it out each time the country goes to the polls. The longer Biden clings to this Marvel Comics-conception of politics, the more he risks appearing like an elderly statesman clinging to a notion of how things used to be. A recent poll conducted for NBC News found that 70 per cent of respondents, and 51 per cent who identified as Democratic voters, believed Biden should not run again. Most cited his age as the major factor in reaching that decision. One thing working in Bidens favour, at least according to Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBCs Morning Joe Live, is that the president appears normal up against the alternative. Theres not the fascism, theres not the radicalism, theres not the violent overthrow of governments attempted. Heres a guy that does his job, works with the Republicans, gets things done, he said. Thats something that may not show up in polls a year later, but thats something that probably will put the Democrats back in the White House for another four years. Thats not a great endorsement, but it may be good enough as a political strategy for 2024. Its no easy thing to shift any countrys politics into a new era. Less so in America, where the populace seems to cling to binary positions for or against abortion, for or against guns, for or against immigration. Biden claims a host of accomplishments, including investments in infrastructure, creating jobs and lowering the unemployment rate, fighting to maintain abortion rights in the face of the Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade, and spearheading the defence of Ukraine after the Russian invasion of 2022. But after more than five years waging a fight for Americas soul three of them from the White House Biden might face fair criticism for having waged a battle that seems to be locked in a stubborn stalemate. The 2024 presidential vote is still a year and a half off, but the fact that Bidens primary challenger looks to be Trump and his Make America Great Again movement is yet another indication of Americas problematic politics. Trump is an alleged liar, and alleged rapist, an alleged insurrectionist and an alleged risk to national security. Hes a billionaire trying to both stoke and embody the grievances of the ordinary American. You could take the five worst presidents in American history, and put them together, and them would not have done the damage Joe Biden has done to our nation in just a few short years. Not even close, Trump said in a statement on Bidens re-election bid. There has never been a greater contrast between two successive administrations in all of American history. Ours being greatness, and theirs being failure. And though he spouts the contrary into every microphone shoved into his face, his four years in the Oval Office, which will forever be scarred by the riotous storming of the U.S. Capitol Building in the hopes of overturning the 2020 presidential election results, left America hopelessly divided. Two elderly men are now heading into an election fight to occupy the White House. They are a good 40 years older than the average American. A good 25 years older than the average American chief executive officer. A good 10 to 20 years older than the average member of the House of Representatives or U.S. Senator. Experience is important. It cant easily be discounted. But Americans have to make a choice. They cant have a re-elected president who, like Biden, has personal recollections of Martin Luther King Jr.s 1968 assassination he was a young lawyer, just five years away from election to the U.S. Senate and also expect him to have the vitality that he is afforded in the quick-cut video announcing his re-election bid. They also cant pick a bombastic tycoon who has a long history of questionable professional and private conduct and expect him to be the guarantor of greatness. But until some better options with fresh ideas and new ways of tackling old problems come along, thats what the United States is stuck with. Two men chanting the same old slogans and expecting different results, as if neither knew that they were acting out the definition of insanity. Allan Woods is a Montreal-based staff reporter for the Star. He covers global and national affairs. Follow him on Twitter: @WoodsAllan Read more about: SHARE: Police have arrested a Sutherlin man in connection to a February fire that damaged a church in Sweet Home. In court on Wednesday, April 26, he admitted he did it. Deputies arrested Andrew Jacob Justin Cartwright, 36, on suspected charges of arson, burglary and criminal mischief. The fire On Feb. 25 at around 1:25 a.m., someone called 911 to report that the Fir Lawn Lutheran Church at 109 W. Holley Road was on fire. Firefighters responded and found flames and smoke billowing from the church. The Sweet Home Fire District called in for backup from Albany, Brownsville and Halsey, and upgraded the fire to a two-alarm emergency. Battalion Chief Shannon Pettner said firefighters worked for more than an hour on the scene. Pettner told Mid-Valley Media at the time that an investigation at the scene suggested the fire likely started under suspicious circumstances. Following the fire, the Oregon State Police arson unit, Oregon State Fire Marshals Office and the Sweet Home Fire District all assisted Sweet Home police with the investigation. 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. According to a Wednesday, April 26 Sweet Home Police Department Facebook post, Cartwright was located outside of Linn County. The aftermath for the church "We're kind of happy about (the arrest)," Fir Lawn Lutheran Church Council President Barb Moody said. "We hope he gets the help he needs." Moody said the church is trying to figure out next steps. The council will consider the church and community's needs before deciding on where to rebuild. For now, services have been happening and will continue at the Sweet Home United Methodist Church. Cartwright was arraigned in Linn County Circuit Court on Wednesday afternoon on charges of first-degree arson, second-degree burglary and first-degree criminal mischief. "I don't want an attorney," Cartwright told Judge Michael Wynhausen. "I'm guilty." Wynhausen appointed Dillon Duxbury as Cartwright's attorney. According to Oregons online court database, Cartwright has another open case in Linn County Circuit Court where hes accused of robbery and theft. During Wednesday's arraignment, prosecutor Coleen Cerda said Cartwright had previously confessed to the robbery and the church fire. A motive "I did it because I don't like church," Cartwright told the court Wednesday. He added that he wanted to proceed with sentencing as quickly as possible. Cerda said the arson is now a bias crime following Cartwright's admission. "He's lucky nobody was in the church," Cerda said. Court records show Cartwright has been convicted of multiple crimes in Linn County over the years, including harassment, possession of methamphetamine and unauthorized use of a vehicle. "I ain't going nowhere," Cartwright said. "I'm going to prison for life." Wynhausen set Cartwright's bail at $50,000 total for the two open cases. The next court appearance in the matter is scheduled for May 8. Did SpaceXs failed Starship launch signal a problematic program, or was it just another step in deep space exploration? Despite the outcome, experts say the launch was a milestone. SpaceX was aiming to send the nearly 120-metre Starship rocket on a round-the-world trip from the southern tip of Texas, but it exploded over the Gulf of Mexico four minutes after it launched. It did not carry people or satellites. SpaceXs Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket collectively referred to as Starship is designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the moon, Mars and beyond. But the launch of the rocket is a big step forward in a broader sense and investigation of the flight data will be valuable, experts told the Star. The first stage (Super Heavy) seemed to perform very well overall and there are plenty of positive take-aways, said Paul Delaney, Professor Emeritus of York Universitys Faculty of Science. The fact that the most powerful rocket ever built reached nearly 40 km is great news. New rocket engines using new fuel (liquid methane) appear to have worked well. The entire rocket stack survived maximum aerodynamic pressure, so SpaceX will have lots of data to push into the design of the hardware and the next flight. To build and operate the most powerful rocket that will allow astronauts to reach the lunar surface from lunar orbit and potentially take people to Mars is not easy. Thursdays failed launch was a big step forward in making the systems work safely, said Delaney, who emphasized that the valuable lessons based on the data analysis will be useful to engineers. SpaceX made no secret that they expected this flight to not perform successfully, said Delaney, pointing out that even NASA stressed that test flights are necessary to the process. Their rocket development philosophy from the outset has been to build things quickly, test them and learn from the subsequent failures. That process resulted in the Falcon 9 which has seen some 200 flights in a decade with only 2 failures. SpaceX currently seems to be billing this launch as a successful failure, said Lawrence Faria, co-coordinator at Queens University Observatory, which seems to be the companys general process. While one of the major goals of this program is to ultimately work toward manned missions to Mars, also exciting to astrophysicists is Starships ability to deliver extremely large payloads to space, Faria said. If we want space habitats anywhere we need big rockets like Starship, echoed Delaney. If the average person wants to buy a ticket to a space hotel or a weekend getaway to the moon, Starship and its successors must be reusable and reliable to bring costs down. 60 years ago, little space hardware existed and our lives on earth did not rely very much on satellites. That has all changed and will continue to evolve. Humanity now relies on space-based industries and technologies and soon, people will be living in space, he said. Despite the explosion, the rocket successfully lifted off from the orbital launch pad and climbed up 39 km over the Gulf of Mexico the highest of any Starship to date, according to SpaceX. SpaceX later said multiple engines on the 33-engine booster were not firing as the rocket ascended, causing it to lose altitude and begin to tumble. NASA chief Bill Nelson has endorsed SpaceXs test on Twitter. Every great achievement throughout history has demanded some level of calculated risk, because with great risk comes great reward. Looking forward to all that SpaceX learns, to the next flight test and beyond, he said. Starship gave us quite a show, read a SpaceX statement after the flight test. Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, said in a tweet that the team of scientists has learned a lot for the next test launch in a few months. Todays test will help us improve Starships reliability as SpaceX seeks to make life multi-planetary, the company wrote on Twitter. With files from Associated Press Correction April 25, 2023: SpaceXs Starship exploded over the Gulf of Mexico four minutes after it launched. A previous version of this article said the rocket crashed into the Pacific Ocean. As well, the rocket engines use liquid methane, not methanol. The Star was supplied inaccurate information. Read more about: SHARE: HONG KONG (AP) Singapore on Wednesday executed a man accused of coordinating a cannabis delivery, despite pleas for clemency from his family and protests from activists that he was convicted on weak evidence. Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, was sentenced to death in 2018 for abetting the trafficking of 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cannabis. Under Singapore laws, trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis may result in the death penalty. Tangaraju was hanged Wednesday morning and his family was given the death certificate, according to a tweet from activist Kirsten Han of the Transformative Justice Collective, which advocates for abolishing the death penalty in Singapore. Although Tangaraju was not caught with the cannabis, prosecutors said phone numbers traced him as the person responsible for coordinating the delivery of the drugs. Tangaraju had maintained that he was not the one communicating with the others connected to the case. At a United Nations Human Rights briefing Tuesday, spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani called on the Singapore government to adopt a formal moratorium on executions for drug-related offenses. Imposing the death penalty for drug offences is incompatible with international norms and standards, said Shamdasani, who added that increasing evidence shows the death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent. Singapore authorities say there is a deterrent effect, citing studies that traffickers carry amounts below the threshold that would bring a death penalty. The island-states imposition of the death penalty for drugs is in contrast with its neighbors. In Thailand, cannabis has essentially been legalized, and Malaysia has ended the mandatory death penalty for serious crimes. Singapore executed 11 people last year for drug offenses. One case that spurred international concern involved a Malaysian man whose lawyers said he was mentally disabled. The Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network condemned Tangarajus execution as reprehensible. The continued use of the death penalty by the Singaporean government is an act of flagrant disregard for international human rights norms and casts aspersion on the legitimacy of Singapores criminal justice system, the statement said. Relatives and activists had sent letters to Singapores President Halimah Yacob to plead for clemency. In a video posted by the Transformative Justice Collective, Tangarajus niece and nephew appealed to the public to raise concerns to the government over Tangarajus impending execution. An application filed by Tangaraju on Monday for a stay of execution was dismissed without a hearing Tuesday. Singapore claims it affords people on death row due process, but in reality fair trial violations in capital punishment cases are the norm: Defendants are being left without legal representation when faced with imminent execution, as lawyers who take such cases are intimidated and harassed, said Maya Foa, director of non-profit human rights organization Reprieve. Critics say Singapores death penalty has mostly snared low-level mules and done little to stop drug traffickers and organized syndicates. But Singapores government says that all those executed have been accorded full due process under the law and that the death penalty is necessary to protect its citizens. British billionaire Richard Branson, who is outspoken against the death penalty, had also called for a halt of the execution in a blog post, saying that Singapore may be about to kill an innocent man. Singapore authorities criticized Bransons allegations, stating that he had shown disrespect for the Singaporean judicial system as evidence had shown that Tangaraju was guilty. Read more about: SHARE: TOKYO (AP) Japans public safety chief has come under fire for his remark that he enjoyed eel rice so much that he kept eating after his agency informed him of Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas narrow escape from a pipe bomb attack two weeks ago. Koichi Tani, chair of the National Public Safety Commission for Kishidas Cabinet, told a governing party gathering Tuesday that he had the local delicacy in front of him for lunch when the phone rang. I was told that we can eat delicious unagi (eel) rice bowl there, and I was really looking forward to it, Tani told party lawmakers. Just as I was going to dig into it, I got a call from the National Police Agency saying something was thrown at the prime minister in Wakayama, Tani said. But I fully savored and finished my unadon (eel rice bowl), he said, beaming. Tani was in the Shimanto area in the southwestern prefecture of Kochi during the attack about 250 kilometers (150 miles) southwest of Wakayama, where a man threw an explosive device at Kishida as the prime minister was about to make a campaign speech to cheer a local governing party candidate. Kishida was unharmed and the suspect arrested. The attack on the prime minister came less than a year after former leader Shinzo Abe was killed while delivering a campaign speech. The assassination investigation found holes in police security and led to reinforcement of dignitary protection. Experts, however, said the attack on Kishida raised questions if any lessons were learned from the Abe case. Tanis eel comment immediately sparked criticisms and concern at Parliament and on social media about Japans public safety as the country makes its final preparations for the Group of Seven summit that Kishida will host May 19-21 in Hiroshima. During a parliamentary session, some opposition lawmakers demanded Tanis dismissal. As head of the National Public Safety Commission, (Tani) lacks sense of urgency, said Jun Azumi, an executive of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. Isnt this a negative for the prime minister to have such a person as chief executive responsible for Japans security? But Kishida said Tani handled his duties adequately and that he wanted the public safety chief to stay on. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno also defended Tani. He said the public safety chief, who was in Kochi as the disaster prevention minister, juggled both duties and gave adequate instructions to officials responding to the explosion in Wakayama. I also contacted Minister Tani and once again told him to carry out his duties firmly, Matsuno said. Tani later Wednesday told reporters he wanted to highlight eel as a local delicacy of the area he visited, but that he had poorly expressed myself in my brief comment and might have caused misunderstanding and I must take it seriously. With the G-7 summit coming up, Im aware of the importance of protecting Japans public safety, and I will carry out my duty with a sense of alertness, Tani added. Kishida told a group of foreign media journalists last week that he planned to improve security before G-7. Tani is the latest member of Kishidas government to come under fire over controversial remarks. In November, then-Justice Minister Yasuhiro Hanashi resigned after saying his low-profile job only makes news when he places a stamp approving a death penalty. In February, a Kishida aide was dismissed after making homophobic remarks that he didnt want to live next door to or see LGBTQ+ people. ___ Associated Press video journalist Haruka Nuga contributed to this report. Read more about: SHARE: BEIJING (AP) Chinese leader Xi Jinping said Wednesday that Beijing will send an envoy to Ukraine to discuss a possible political settlement to Russias war with the country. Beijing has previously avoided involvement in conflicts between other countries but appears to be trying to assert itself as a global diplomatic force after arranging talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March that led them to restore diplomatic relations after a seven-year break. Xi told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call that a Chinese envoy, a former Chinese ambassador to Russia, would visit Ukraine and other countries to discuss a possible political settlement, according to a government statement. It made no mention of Russia or last years invasion of Ukraine and didnt indicate whether the Chinese envoy might visit Moscow. The Xi-Zelenskyy phone call was long anticipated after Beijing said it wanted to serve as a mediator in the war. WHY DOES THIS MATTER? China is the only major government that has friendly relations with Moscow as well as economic leverage as the biggest buyer of Russian oil and gas after the United States and its allies cut off most purchases. Beijing, which sees Moscow as a diplomatic partner in opposing U.S. domination of global affairs, has refused to criticize the invasion and used its status as one of five permanent U.N. Security Council members to deflect diplomatic attacks on Russia. Zelenskyy earlier said he welcomed a Chinese offer to mediate. WHY DID CHINA DO THIS? Xis government has pursued a bigger role in global diplomacy as part of a campaign to restore China to what the ruling Communist Party sees as its rightful status as a political and economic leader and to build an international order that favors Beijings interests. That is a sharp reversal after decades of avoiding involvement in other countries conflicts and most international affairs while it focused on economic development at home. In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran issued a surprise announcement, following talks in Beijing, that they would reopen embassies in each others capitals following a seven-year break. China has good relations with both as a big oil buyer. Last week, Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts that his country is ready to help facilitate peace talks. Wednesdays statement warned against the dangers of nuclear war, suggesting Beijing might also have been motivated by what it sees as the growing danger of a more destructive conflict. Mediating between Ukraine and Russia would increase Chinas presence in Eastern Europe, where Beijing has tried to build ties with other governments. That has prompted complaints by some European officials that China is trying to gain leverage over the European Union. Political science professor Kimberly Marten of Barnard College at Columbia University in New York doubted China would succeed in a peacemaker role. I have a hard time believing that China can act as peacemaker, she said, adding that Beijing has been too close to Russia. WHAT ARE CHINAS RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA? China is the closest thing President Vladimir Putins isolated government has to a major ally. Xi and Putin issued a joint statement ahead of the February 2022 invasion that said their governments had a no limits friendship. Beijing has tried to appear neutral but has repeated Russian justifications for the invasion. Xi received a warm welcome from Putin during a visit to Moscow in March. The Chinese defense minister visited Russia this month. China has stepped up purchases of Russian oil and gas for its energy-hungry economy, helping to offset lost revenue resulting from Western sanctions. In exchange, China gets lower prices, though details havent been disclosed. Marten said the Xi-Zelenskyy call was kind of a slap at Russia, because Russia has been very keen to portray China as its ally. She said the direct China-Ukraine contact indicates China is taking at least a step away from Russia. WHAT ARE CHINAS RELATIONS WITH UKRAINE? China was Ukraines biggest trading partner before the invasion, though on a smaller scale than Chinese-Russian trade. In 2021, Ukraine announced plans for Chinese companies to build trade-related infrastructure. Zelenskyys government was more ambivalent toward Beijing after it was clear Xi wouldnt try to stop Putins war, but the two sides have remained amicable. Before the full-scale Russian invasion, China was Ukraines number one trading partner. I believe that our conversation today will give a powerful impetus to the return, preservation and development of this dynamic at all levels, an official Ukrainian readout of the call reported. Qin, the foreign minister, promised this month China wouldnt provide arms to either side, a pledge that benefits Ukraine, which has received tanks, rockets and other armaments from the United States and European governments. The Chinese ambassador to France set off an uproar in Europe when he suggested former Soviet republics a group that includes Ukraine might not be sovereign nations. That was in line with Putins comments denying Ukrainian sovereignty. Beijing then reassured former Soviet states it respected their sovereignty and said the ambassadors comments were a personal opinion, not official policy. Elizabeth Wishnick, of the U.S.-based think tank CNA and Columbia Universitys Weatherhead East Asian Institute, said in an email: I wonder if Xis call was set up quickly to deflect attention from the uproar over the Chinese ambassadors remarks. ___ Andrew Katell in New York contributed to this report. Read more about: SHARE: JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Separatist rebels in Indonesias restive Papua region released a video Wednesday appearing to show the New Zealand pilot they took hostage in February saying that recent Indonesian military attacks threatened his safety. In the video sent to media by the spokesperson of the West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, known as OPM, a man in handcuffs and a black shirt is identified as Philip Mark Mehrtens of Christchurch, a pilot for Indonesian aviation company Susi Air who was abducted by the groups independence fighters. Sitting on a wooden log and flanked by two men, apparently members of the group, he said in the video recorded Monday: Its almost three months since OPM kidnapped me from Paro. As you can see, Im still alive and Im healthy and eating well. He said he has had no problems while living with his abductors, but lately he has been worried about military attacks launched by the Indonesian army following a deadly ambush by the rebels on April 15 that killed at least five Indonesian soldiers who were deployed to rescue him. Indonesia has been dropping bombs in the area over the last week, he said. Please, there is no need. Its dangerous for me and everybody here. The five Indonesian army troops were killed after rebels attacked 36 soldiers in Nduga district in Papua Highlands province. Rebel spokesperson Sebby Sambom said last week that his groups fighters killed at least 15 soldiers but offered no proof to back up the statement. Sambom said earlier the rebels carried out the attack in retaliation for Indonesias massive military operation in Papua and the killings of two rebels in a shootout with security forces last month. Adm. Yudo Margono rejected the rebel claims and said the military operations in Papua were launched with a view to keep casualties at a minimum. However, he said that authorities will increase pressure on the rebels around several separatist strongholds, including in Nduga. The rebels in February stormed a single-engine plane shortly after it landed on a small runway in Paro and abducted Mehrtens, the pilot. The plane initially was scheduled to pick up 15 construction workers from other Indonesian islands after the rebels threatened to kill them. Authorities will continue to prioritize a peaceful approach for the release of Mehrtens, Margono said. The kidnapping of the pilot was the second that independence fighters have committed since 1996, when the rebels abducted 26 members of a World Wildlife Fund research mission in Mapenduma. Two Indonesians in that group were killed by their abductors, but the remaining hostages were eventually freed within five months. The pilot kidnapping reflects the deteriorating security situation in Indonesias easternmost region of Papua, a former Dutch colony in the western part of New Guinea that is ethnically and culturally distinct from much of Indonesia. Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969, after a U.N.-sponsored ballot that was widely seen as a sham. Since then, a low-level insurgency has simmered in the region, which was divided into five provinces last year to boost development in Indonesias poorest region. Rebels attacks have spiked in recent years, as the government extended infrastructure and the controversial Trans-Papua Highway, a road being built into the heart of highland Papua that has inflamed resistance. Many indigenous Papuans believe the moves are a threat to their identity and traditional way of life, prompting attacks by separatist groups that have been followed by further Indonesian military deployments. Data collected by Amnesty International Indonesia showed at least 179 civilians, 35 Indonesian troops and nine police along with 23 independence fighters were killed in clashes between rebels and security forces between 2018 and 2022. Read more about: SHARE: BERLIN (AP) Officials in Germanys southern state of Bavaria said Wednesday that they want to make it easier to shoot wolves after farmers complained that their livestock on Alpine pastures are being preyed upon. Governor Markus Soeder said his state administration has passed a decree allowing hunters to carry out a general cull in an area where a wolf has killed a single farm animal. The cull no longer has to be restricted to the specific wolf responsible for the killing The move has angered conservationists, some of whom have accused Soeder of exaggerating the problem to drum up support for his conservative Christian Social Union ahead of state elections in October. Regional lawmaker Florian von Brunn of the opposition Social Democrats accused Soeder of stoking fear about wolves and predicted that European Union conservation rules would result in the decree being nixed in the courts. Soeder dismissed concerns about the protection of wolves, which have returned to various parts of Germany in recent years after decades of conservation efforts. The wolf doesnt belong here, he told reporters during a visit to Oberaudorf, near the Austrian border, adding that Alpine farming was more important than protecting the predator. He also trained his sights on another potential threat to livestock and humans the brown bears that have made their way back into the Alps. Citing the recent killing of a jogger by a bear in northern Italy, Soeder made clear that, in his view, humans come first. In Italy's eastern neighbor Slovenia, a debate is under way over the need for an organized culling of bears, amid demands that their population in the Alpine country be lowered from the current 1,100 to around 800. Read more about: SHARE: OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahomas state parole board voted Wednesday not to recommend clemency for death row inmate Richard Glossip, even though the state attorney general said he doesnt think the condemned man whose case has drawn celebrity interest received a fair trial. The Pardon and Parole Board deadlocked 2-2, meaning it wont recommend that Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt grant clemency to Glossip, who is scheduled to die by lethal injection on May 18. One board member recused himself because his spouse is a prosecutor who had previous involvement in Glossips case, leading Glossips lead attorney to object to the move in his opening remarks Wednesday. There is no formal mechanism to appeal the boards decision, and Stitt would have needed the boards recommendation in order to grant clemency. But Glossips attorneys filed a motion in state district court asking a judge to prevent his execution from being carried out until a full five-member clemency panel can review his case. They also have a pending petition before the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to halt the execution. We will pursue every avenue in the courts to stop this unlawful judicial execution, Glossips lead attorney, Don Knight, said in a statement after Wednesdays vote. The vote came despite the states new Republican attorney general, Gentner Drummond, taking the unusual step of arguing on behalf of granting clemency his office typically asks the board to allow executions to proceed. Drummond said that although he doesnt believe Glossip is innocent, he thinks he didnt receive a fair trial and deserves a new one. After the hearing, Drummond issued a statement expressing his disappointment. Public confidence in the death penalty requires that these cases receive the highest standard of reliability, he said. While the state has not questioned the integrity of previous death penalty cases, the Glossip conviction is very different. I believe it would be a grave injustice to execute an individual whose trial conviction was beset by a litany of errors. Before the hearing, reality TV star Kim Kardashian urged her millions of social media followers to contact the parole board and Stitt in a bid to stop the execution. Two years ago, she threw her support behind another Oklahoma death row inmate, Julius Jones, whom Stitt spared hours before his scheduled execution. Glossip, 60, has long maintained his innocence in the 1997 killing of his former boss, motel owner Barry Van Treese. Glossip, who was convicted of paying an accomplice, Justin Sneed, to kill Van Treese, told the board Wednesday via video from death row that he knew of no plan to harm Van Treese and that he feels terrible about what Van Treeses family has endured. I would never have thought about paying anybody to commit a crime. I absolutely did not cause Justin Sneed to commit any crime against Mr. Van Treese, let alone to murder him, a tearful Glossip said. Im not a murderer and I dont deserve to die for this, he said. Van Treeses widow and son, Donna and Derek Van Treese, asked the board to deny clemency. The fact is he was brutally murdered, a visibly emotional Donna Van Treese said. Our desire and our hope today is justice will be served for our beloved Barry. Derek Van Treese said he has felt angry and frustrated by years of delays in the case and the publicity that has come to surround it. This case has been pushed from being a legal matter to a political issue. Its been pushed from the court of law to the court of public opinion. he said. All due diligence has been served. Two juries 24 members of the public listened to the same evidence. Both juries have found Richard Glossip to be guilty of these charges and rendered the same sentencing. Last week, an Oklahoma appeals court upheld Glossips conviction despite Drummonds concerns about some testimony and evidence. Drummond said in a court filing that although the state isnt suggesting that Glossip is innocent, he had numerous concerns about the case, such as trial evidence that was destroyed while his appeal was pending and the states failure to disclose potentially exculpatory evidence, including that the key witness against Glossip, Sneed, lied to the jury about his psychiatric treatment and reasons for taking the mood-stabilizing drug lithium. But the court rejected that request last month, paving the way for Glossips May execution. Two independent investigations one by a Houston law firm and another requested by Drummond have concluded that based on all of the evidence available today, it would be unlikely a jury would vote to convict him. Glossip was convicted and sentenced to death at two separate trials after his first conviction was tossed for ineffective counsel. Sneed, a handyman at the motel, admitted robbing and killing Van Treese but claimed he did so only after Glossip promised to pay him $10,000. In exchange for his testimony, Sneed received life in prison. He has denied several Associated Press interview requests. Glossips attorneys claim that police suspected Glossip because of some inconsistent statements he made during the search for Van Treese, and that while interviewing Sneed, he never mentioned Glossip until after detectives brought up his name six times and emphasized that Glossip was snitching on him. The attorneys suggest in their clemency application that Van Treeses killing was not a murder for hire, but a botched robbery for drug money committed by Sneed and his girlfriend. Richard Glossip is an innocent man who has been the victim of a massive breakdown in the justice system that would have been disturbing had it occurred even in a minor case, they wrote. Glossip has been scheduled to be executed three times, only to be spared shortly before the sentence was set to be carried out. He was only hours from being executed in September 2015 when prison officials realized they had received the wrong lethal drug, a mix-up that helped prompt a nearly seven-year moratorium on the death penalty in Oklahoma. Glossips case attracted international attention after actress Susan Sarandon who won an Academy Award for her portrayal of death penalty opponent Sister Helen Prejeans fight to save a man on Louisianas death row in the 1995 movie Dead Man Walking took up his cause in real life. Prejean herself has served as Glossips spiritual adviser and frequently visited him in prison. His case also was featured in a 2017 documentary film titled Killing Richard Glossip. ___ Associated Press writer Ken Miller contributed to this report. ___ Follow Sean Murphy on Twitter: @apseanmurphy SHARE: Premier Doug Ford knows a good deal for Ontarians when he sees one, as he did with the federal daycare and health-care deals. With the recently unveiled federal budget, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has put another good deal on the table for provinces and territories that make credible commitments to achieving net zero. Ford should take advantage of the whopping $50 billion of federal support for clean electricity over the next decade by doubling down on Ontarios clean energy advantage. Ontarios recently launched Clean Energy Credit Registry and Future Clean Electricity Fund, as well as the work of the Electrification and Energy Transition Panel are significant steps toward demonstrating the provinces net zero commitment. Now with the potential to tap into federal funds, Ford can go even further and faster in accelerating the build out of an affordable, resilient, and clean electricity system that powers Ontarios future economy. The need to go further and faster has never been more important. In 2022, Ontarios grid was 90 per cent non-polluting which is a good news story until you realize that the year prior it was 94 per cent. Near-term electricity supply constraints have pushed the province to procure 1,500 megawatts of new emitting gas-fired power plants. Now that there is new federal support, investments should be made to reverse these recent trends in order to maintain Ontarios clean energy advantage. Fortunately, Ford understands the value of Ontarios clean energy advantage with his recent budget noting that clean energy has become an economic imperative as companies around the world want to invest in jurisdictions with affordable, reliable and clean energy. And this advantage is already paying dividends for Ontario. Take, for example, the hard-won victory of getting Volkswagen to build a gigafactory for battery cell manufacturing in St. Thomas. Volkswagen, it should be observed, has a corporate commitment to 100 per cent renewable electricity for all its North American plants by 2030. And this type of corporate commitment isnt unique to Volkswagen. Other companies that have recently announced investments in Ontario have similar goals and have taken note of Ontarios clean energy advantage: Stellantis/LG, in announcing its $5 billion battery manufacturing Windsor plant, praised Canadas leadership in the generation of electricity from renewable sources. Umicores plans for a manufacturing facility for cathode active battery materials was even more effusive, noting Ontario offers critical advantages such as access to a highly skilled workforce, key infrastructure and renewable energy, which the new plant will be running on 100 per cent from start of production. Magna, which recently unveiled plans to invest $471 million into six facilities in Ontario including $265 million toward a new battery enclosure facility in Brampton is committed to net zero operations by 2030 and wants to transition all operations to renewable power. The Ontario government has responded to these investments with the Clean Energy Credit Registry to enable companies to fulfil their climate commitments by purchasing 100 per cent clean electricity. Proceeds from the program will fund new clean energy investments. Yet this program must go even further by ensuring the purchased credits come from new clean electricity generation, rather than recycled credits from existing generation. Such an improvement would increase the confidence of companies, which are facing ever-greater shareholder scrutiny around whether their deeds match their words and demonstrate to the federal government that Ontario has a robust commitment to a net zero grid. Now with the federal governments new clean energy support, there is no reason for Ontario not to pursue the investments needed to fully decarbonize the grid and to attract more companies to the province. By demonstrating the provinces commitment to clean energy, Ontario can leverage federal funds to help continue attracting companies committed to net zero, ensuring a competitive economy and good jobs for Ontarians. Bruce Lourie is president of the Ivey Foundation . Moe Kabbara is vice president at The Transition Accelerator . Dan Woynillowicz is principal of Polaris Strategy + Insight. Read more about: SHARE: YELLOWKNIFE - Germanys president is visiting the Northwest Territories for the final leg of his four-day official visit to Canada. Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife, Elke Budenbender, were welcomed at the Yellowknife airport Wednesday morning by territorial commissioner Margaret Thom, Deputy Mayor Stacie Smith and Yellowknives Dene First Nation Chief of NDilo Fred Sangris, among other dignitaries. Steinmeier then joined Gov. Gen. Mary Simon at the Canadian militarys Joint Task Force North headquarters for a tour and briefing with senior officials. Outside, federal government employees formed a picket line as part of a countrywide strike involving more than 150,000 Public Service Alliance of Canada workers. Steinmeier and Simon headed further north Wednesday to the hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk to meet with Indigenous leaders and members of the community. While in Tuktoyaktuk, they plan to visit the shore of the Arctic Ocean to learn about the effects of climate change and view homes that were relocated due to coastal erosion. They are also set to visit a traditional sod house, known as igluryuaq in Inuvialuktuk, built with sawed drift logs covered with sod clumps for insulation, as well as an ice house that was dug in the permafrost in 1963 that is used to store meat and fish. Steinmeier and Simon are then scheduled to attend a presentation on the Smart Ice Project, which combines traditional knowledge with modern technology to monitor ice, as well as dog sledding and ice fishing demonstrations. They are to end their time in Tuktoyaktuk by attending a community event at Kitti Hall before returning to Yellowknife via Inuvik. The House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence recently released a report on Arctic security and sovereignty with 26 recommendations for the federal government. Those included fast-tracking recruitment of members of the Canadian Armed Forces, tabling timelines to enhance forwarding operating locations in the Arctic, and collaborating with territorial and Indigenous governments to ensure military infrastructure includes dual-use benefits. Germany and Canada co-operate on security and defence issues as long-standing partners in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and are both members of the G7 and G20, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and the World Trade Organization. The German-Canadian High Level Steering Group on Bilateral Cooperation was established in 2021 to strengthen relations between the countries. It brings together senior officials from the Canadian and German governments to strengthen co-operation on areas including peace and security, climate change, energy and natural resources, and innovation, digitalization and the economy. In March and May 2022, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz agreed to work together to advance the adoption and expansion of carbon pricing and both countries signed onto the G7 Hydrogen Action Pact. Steinmeier arrived Sunday in Ottawa, where he attended events including a reception held by the German ambassador during which he spoke about the importance of liberal democracies. On Tuesday, he was in Burnaby, B.C., and Vancouver, where he toured fuel cell company Cellcentric and attended a roundtable discussion with German and Canadian business representatives. Steinmeier is to depart Yellowknife for Germany on Wednesday evening. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2023. ___ This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship. Read more about: SHARE: Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election, has commended Allen Onyema, chairman of Air Peace, for offering to help evacuate Nigerians from Sudan. Onyema had said his airline was willing to evacuate Nigerians stranded in the war-torn country free of charge. In a statement on Tuesday, Obi described Onyemas offer as an act of altruism. He said such an act speaks to the need for Nigerians to be their brothers keeper, irrespective of diversity. Thank you once again, for your patriotism and for helping our nation in its time of difficulty. Your consistent efforts in promoting national interest and cohesion are exemplary, Obi said. Such selflessness speaks to the need for our greater unity and being our brothers keeper irrespective of tribe and religion and in spite of our diversity. May your various noble gestures, serve as instructive lessons to our people, that acts of nation-building by patriotic citizens come in different strands. Those who can make meaningful contributions must be ready to do so selflessly. God bless you and God bless Nigeria. The federal government had said the evacuation of Nigerian students in the country would begin on Tuesday. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), said the government had asked for a safe corridor for the evacuation. The federal government says the 40 buses evacuating Nigerians from the civil unrest in Sudan cost about $1.2 million. According to NAN, Geoffery Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs, spoke on Wednesday. The minister said the high cost of the evacuation was to provide security cover for the Nigerians journey to the Egyptian borders. The sum of $1.2 million is what were being charged for all the 40 buses. We have huge transporter luxury buses made available to us to transport to the Egyptian border, Onyeama said. Of course you know, because of the risks involved and so many other things, a lot of people are going to also take advantage, youre going to hike up the price. We saw that the French convoy was attacked and so forth. It was difficult procuring these buses. But we had to do it because you know, Nigerians lives matter to us. The ongoing conflict between Sudans army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, has killed over 400 people and injured thousands since it began on April 15. Several Nigerians were among international citizens stranded by the civil unrest. The Nigerian in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) shared pictures of buses arriving in Sudan ready to whisk stranded Nigerian students to safety. The buses will take the Nigerians to the Egyptian border where they are expected to be airlifted to Nigeria. Michael Aondoakaa, a former Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, has said the furore about President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubus dual citizenship is a mere academic exercise. Recall that the Guinea Passport of Tinubu caused a stir after surfacing on social media weeks ago. Although the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, dismissed the claims that Tinubu has dual citizenship, some critics believed the President-elect had a case to answer. But, Aondoakaa, SAN, in an Arise Television Interview on Monday, put the matter to rest, saying anyone born in Nigeria and who acquired citizenship in another country can contest an election in Nigeria. Aondoakaa said: But assuming it was in the petition, the position of the law is that a person who has dual citizenship by naturalisation or registration cannot contest for president in Nigeria. But a person born in Nigeria and acquired citizenship in another country can contest an election. It would be strange to say that the winner of the election, Tinubu, has the citizenship of another country. Recall that a popular investigative journalist, David Hundeyin, was the progenitor of Tinubus dual citizenship claim when he posted the President-elects Guinea Passport on social media. Over the years, the activities of daredevil Boko Haram terrorists have continued to raise concern across the world as unsuspecting members of the public, particularly northerners, continue to lose their lives and valuables to the menace. It had seemed a temporary problem to vanish soon, but many years down the line, Nigeria is still battling the security crisis. According to reports, nearly one million homes and 5,000 classrooms have been razed in the protracted onslaughts as the terrorists continue to kill citizens and destroy both private and public facilities. While the terrorists are in top gear, killing and destroying lives and properties, they also actively recruit young men as foot soldiers to continue infiltrating the nooks and crannies of various cities to perpetrate the bloodbaths. Reports indicated that since 2009, more than 8,000 girls and boys have been recruited and used as child soldiers in different roles, including suicide bombing by insurgents. While some of the youths willingly joined the insurgents due to poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and weak family structures, many others were forcefully conscripted into the group. The insurgents usually leverage threats of all forms to force the unwilling youths into their demonic activities. This was the beginning of the ugly story of Bashiru Ibrahim, a former resident of Madalla in Niger State and his family members. According to a family member who narrated Bashirus ordeal on the condition of anonymity over fear of attacks, an elderly friend he (Bshiru) considered his boss was a member of the deadly group unknown to him. The true identity of Bashirus boss was uncovered following the bomb blast that rocked the St. Theresa Catholic Church Madalla on Christmas Day in 2011. The incident had left at least 44 people dead and several others injured. She said, After the Madalla bombing, my brother was abducted by Boko Haram to undergo initiation into the sect to prepare him for the task of attacking people. Bashiru and other young men were captured and locked in a dark room. But through the grace of God, weeks after their abduction, the Nigerian Army busted the hideout and dislodged them and that was how he escaped that day. A few weeks after he escaped, the terrorists traced him to his house, but luckily for him, that night, he was not at home. They ransacked and broke every valuable item in the home, looking for Bashiru, but they could not find him. No one could tell his whereabouts, we even thought he was already dead. But his phone later started ringing and we were talking to him. He said those terrorists were still threatening his life. According to the family source, Bashirus father, who resided in Niger State, and his wife, Bashirus mother, who lived in their hometown Benin, the Edo State capital, were attacked by the terrorists who threatened to kill the entire family if he failed to provide his son. She said, By Gods grace, Bashiru was able to depart the country, leaving us with threats from Boko Haram. Although he was already out of the country, my family was as good as left in the open as his boss who has ties to the insurgents knew some basic details about us. However, years after Bashiru left the shores of the country, news of his father, stepmother and step-mothers sisters murder reached him. The terrorists had kept to their word. According to sources, the terrorists stormed Mr Mohammed Ibrahims (Bashirus father) home at night and murdered him, his step-mother who was heavily pregnant and her sister, a caregiver, over their inability to provide their son. Similarly, in November 2022, Bashirus mother, Mrs. Maria Ibrahim, was traced to Benin City, where the terrorists murdered her. Bashirus sister told our correspondent that her embattled brother may never return to the country again. She lamented that despite the killing of several family members, the insurgents have continued to send threats to Bashirus remaining siblings, who are scattered across the country. Efforts to reach the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, proved abortive as he did not take calls. The Lamidi Apapa faction of the Labour Party has denied claims that it approached the presidential election tribunal to withdraw the petition filed by the partys presidential candidate, Peter Obi. Recall that the embattled Julius Abure faction had on Tuesday raised the alarm that Apapa and his team had gone to the tribunal in Abuja to withdraw Obis petition challenging the victory of Bola Tinubu. But, Apapa described the publication as one laced with deliberate falsehood, saying it is an epistle of personal bitterness, ignorance and complete unintelligent outburst. In a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday by the factions Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, Apapa said Abure had been restrained by the Abuja high court over confirmed allegations of forgery of court seal and others, saying it is not new that he could engage in cheap blackmail to gain public sympathy in order to cover up his criminal tracks. Apapa challenged Abure to produce a copy of the letter which he or the Secretary signed to seek the withdrawal of the petition at the tribunal. While saying he and his team would not be intimidated by these wicked lies, Apapa pointed out that the publication was a well orchestrated plan by Abure to incite violence and chaos in order to make Nigeria ungovernable. The statement quoted the Labour Party leader as saying that he and his team would not engage in any verbal war with those he called pedestrian political misfits and despots, saying it was obvious that Abure is trying to whip up sentiment on his travails. He concluded that the Labour Party under his leadership stands with Obi on the mission to reclaim the mandate freely given to him and our party during the February 25th 2023 Presidential and National Assembly election. A governorship aspirant during the last governorship election in Enugu State, Mr Dons Udeh has been found dead. Ude, who contested under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, was reported missing a few days ago. Emerging reports indicate that his lifeless body was found at the 9th Mile Area of Enugu State. His vehicle was also said to have been recovered. It is unclear whether he was a victim of kidnapping or assassination. Our correspondent reached out to the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Enugu State Police Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe. He is, however, yet to respond to the enquiry. The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has said only God can stop the President-elect, Bola Tinubus swearing-in on May 29. Keyamo said the All Progressives Congress, APC, has no fear over Tinubus swearing in. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also noted that those who think Tinubu will not be sworn in as President on May 29 for legal reasons are living in a fools paradise. In a statement yesterday, Keyamo charged the opposition to focus on their petitions at the courts or start preparing for the 2027 general elections. According to Keyamo: Why should we exercise any fear? Any opposition member alive now who believes that for some legal reasons Asiwaju will not be inaugurated must be living in fools paradise. Except there is an Act of God who is Almighty, nothing will stop the inauguration of Asiwaju. The opposition should just concentrate on their petitions in court or start preparing for 2027. Despite winning the presidential election, there has been speculations surrounding his inauguration. The Spiritual Head of Soul Revival Outreach in Anambra State, Prophet, Iyke Uzukwu had urged Nigerians to pray for Tinubu as he prepares for his inauguration. Uzukwu said the president-elect needs prayers to complete his tenure, which is expected to kick off on May 29. He, however, said the former Lagos Governor would be a successful president, stressing that the president-elect would not be manipulated like the outgoing president, Muhammadu Buhari. Valentine Obienyem, media adviser to Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), says his principal did not say serious leaders do not go on rest. Obi, on Sunday, joined the Muslim community to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr at the Central Mosque in Onitsha, Anambra state. In a statement on Tuesday, Obienyem said Obi was asked by journalists at the event why he was not taking the holidays to rest. According to Obienyem, Obis response was: Well, those who need rest should have rest. Those of us who dont need rest should continue to work. However, he said Obis statement was misinterpreted by some sections of the media who reported him as saying that no serious leader will go on rest. For me, politics is not about the office; its about helping to get a better society. If you are in politics because of office, its wrong. Politics is about the good of the society. As I am leaving here, I am going to the hospital to support people in the hospital. Thats what politics is about, Obienyem quoted Obi as saying. Well, those who need rest should have rest. Those of us who dont need rest should continue to work, Obi added. Obienyem said he was unsure where the media organisations that published the quote got it from. He said such interpretation was part of the ploy to make sure the former Anambra state governor is dragged into every controversy to distract attention and remove his focus on the issue and on the mission of rescuing Nigeria. The Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of showing bias in favour of Bola Tinubu, president-elect. Obi and the LP filed a petition challenging the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the presidential election. In the petition marked CA/PEPC/03/2023 Livy Ozoukwu, lead counsel to LP and its presidential candidate, contended that Tinubu was not duly elected by the majority of the lawful votes cast at the time of the election. Amongst other allegations, they also claimed that Kashim Shettima, vice-president-elect, had a double nomination in contravention of the electoral act. However, INEC, through its lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud, said the reliefs sought by Obi and his party are not grantable. The commission prayed the court to either dismiss or strike out the petition for being grossly incompetent, abusive, vague, nebulous, generic, general, non-specific, ambiguous, equivocal, hypothetical and academic. OBI, LP FILE RESPONSE In a response filed on April 21, the petitioners faulted the electoral umpire for filing a preliminary objection. The petitioners reprimanded the electoral commission for not maintaining neutrality in the matter, describing it as an embarrassment. The 1st respondent, forgetting its role as an electoral umpire, gave a notice of preliminary objection to challenge the alleged incompetence of the petition, they held. The global best practice for electoral umpires in national elections is that an electoral body must avoid creating the impression that it has no respect for neutrality in an electoral contest between candidates. The appellate courts have repeatedly admonished the 1st respondent of its need to remain neutral in election proceedings. However, the 1st respondent hereof has remained impervious to change. Therefore, it is not only an embarrassment but a repudiation of the duty of the 1st respondent when it adorns the garb of a contestant in an election it conducted as an umpire to raise preliminary objection against an election petition as in the case hereof. The expectation is that INEC will maintain a neutral stance in all litigations where participants in elections are challenging the outcome of the elections and not indulge in filing objections to the petition. The petitioners will before or at the pre-hearing session or at the hearing of the petition, urge the honourable court to strike out and or to dismiss the 1st respondents notice of preliminary objection. The petitioners further faulted INEC for claiming that their petition is defective and not grantable. The 1st respondents contention that the reliefs sought in the petition are not grantable is false and made in manifest disregard of the specific and concise pleadings in the petition, they said. The pleading in the 1st respondents notice of preliminary objection that the allegation in paragraph 20(ii) of the petition is defective and does not disclose a cause of action, is wishful thinking. The Nigerian in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) says buses have arrived to evacuate Nigerian students amid the ongoing crisis in Sudan. In a statement issued on Wednesday, NiDCOM said the buses will take the students to the Egyptian border. The students are thereafter expected to be airlifted from Egypt to Nigeria. Last night, the Nigeria Evacuation team in SUDAN received some buses to transport Nigerian Students to nearby borders in Egypt, before airlifting them to Nigeria, this has been sorted by Federal Government through @nemanigeria and the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan, the commission said. More buses are arriving this morning and the stranded students will depart today. The commission said the students are undergoing registration ahead of departure. The Labour Party has raised the alarm over a plot by a breakaway faction of the party to scuttle its ongoing suit challengeing the electoral process which led to the declaration of the All Progressives Congress, APCs Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu as President-elect. Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Pastor Obiora Ifoh, raised the alarm in a statement in Abuja, on Tuesday. Recall that the LPs presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, his running mate, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed and the Labour Party are currently in court seeking for the nullification of Tinubus mandate before the residential Election Tribunal. However, a faction of the party, under the leadership of its suspended Deputy National Chairman, Lamidi Apapa, through its legal representative has approached the tribunal seeking to discontinue the legal challenge. Ofoh said, Daily, the evil intention of the breakaway faction of the Labour Party, led by the suspended Deputy National Chairman, Lamidi Apapa continues to manifest and just this morning, our legal team was confronted by the stark revelation that these men have advanced their plot by approaching all the tribunals where our numerous candidates lodged their election petitions arising from the recently held general election. Alongside Lamidi Apapa on the plot to frustrate Labour Partys destined victory in the tribunals and also to derail the fledging democracy are some of the suspended members including the Samuel Akingbade, Gbenga Daramola, Anselem Eragbe and Abayomi Arabambi erstwhile National Legal Adviser, National Financial Secretary, National Youth Leader and National Publicity Secretary respectively amongst others. Recall that the leadership of the Labour Party has been swimming through the murky waters of conspiracy, treachery and sabotage orchestrated by these former officers of the party. We had long suspected that moles were planted to sabotage the efforts of the party to offer Nigerians an alternative to the wicked and clueless governance in place today, but the desperation to satisfy their pay master are beginning to threaten our common peace and of course our democracy. Approaching the tribunals to withdraw all the cases lodged by Labour Party candidates across board is the height of subterfuge and treachery, and Nigerians will resist this ploy to plunge the nation into unnecessary turmoil. Their actions show that they are working against the party and that they are working to destroy the party. If they claim that they have a problem with the national leadership of the party, will they also claim that they have a problem with the candidates of the party? What offence has the candidates of the party committed that they are now moving around to withdraw their matters from the tribunal. He further said, The leadership of the Labour Party is therefore calling on the tribunals to disregard any letter emanating from our suspended National Legal Adviser, Samuel Akingbade to the effect that all our cases are to be withdrawn. We are also calling on the presidential election tribunal to disregard such letters from these ex-officials of our party asking for the withdrawal of HE Peter Obis petition. We also call on the Police, DSS and EFCC to quickly apprehend and question these agents of destruction before they succeed in igniting the nation. The party leadership loyal to Comrade Julius Abure equally noted that the appointment of Pastor Ifoh as Acting National Publicity Secretary followed due process as enshrined in the partys constitution. The statement read further, All stakeholders including the state chairmen and their secretaries, Zonal officers, owners and trustees of the party including NLC and TUC, some elected members of the party, as well as the leader and presidential candidate of the party amongst others, met in Asaba on April 18, where I was elected as the National Publicity Secretary due to the vacancy that occurred after the expulsion of the former National Publicity Secretary in line with the powers conferred on it. Article 14(2) b Section XIV of the Labour Party Constitution on the Powers and Function of the NEC states To fill vacancies in the NWC as they may occur from time to time in between National Convention; Also Section XV states; To take disciplinary action against any member or organ of the party as it may seem fit in the interest of the party. All relevant government agencies including NEC were present where I was unanimously elected. It is even ludicrous that an imposter who committed a crime and forged signatures upon which he has been suspended over six months ago and for him to turn around to be calling people imposter, I wonder who is the imposter here. The Federal Government will today commence the evacuation of about 5,500 Nigerians, including students stranded in Khartoum and other cities in Sudan. To facilitate the repatriation, the government has released N150m for hiring 40 buses to convey its desperate citizens from Sudan to Cairo in Egypt. The money was paid to an undisclosed transport company on Tuesday at 12:37 pm by the Central Bank of Nigeria through the National Emergency Management Agency. The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, confirmed on Tuesday that the payment had been made, noting that the evacuees would take off on Wednesday morning. The evacuation is taking place against the backdrop of the three-day ceasefire starting midnight Tuesday declared by the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Force. Foreign countries are taking advantage of the temporary suspension of hostilities to move their nationals from Sudan as deadly fighting between the two forces entered the second week. The clashes broke out between erstwhile allies, General Abdel al-Burha, who heads the Sudanese Armed Forces and leader of the RSF paramilitary group, General Mohamed Dagalo, over a power-sharing disagreement. The conflict had so far claimed about 500 lives with thousands of others injured and millions displaced. Foreigners are also fleeing the capital Khartoum in a long-United Nations convoy, while millions of frightened residents hunkered down inside their homes, many running low on water and food. Across the city of five million, army and paramilitary troops have fought ferocious street battles since April 15, leaving behind charred tanks, gutted buildings and looted shops. Several ceasefires that were agreed by both sides were ignored, including a three-day pause to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which started on Friday. The Federal Government had planned the repatriation of Nigerian nationals in that country on Tuesday but had to shift the evacuation to Wednesday (today) for security reasons. It was reported that the government sought the support of the Egyptian authorities to evacuate the 5,500 stranded Nigerians out of Sudan through Luxor, Egypt. The Director of the Special Duties, National Emergency Management Agency, who doubles as Chairman of NEMAs Committee for the Evacuation of the Stranded Nigerians from Sudan, Dr Onimode Bandele, had said the government met with government officials in Egypt on how to move Nigerians through Luxor. Following the delay in evacuating students from Sudan, the National Association of Nigerian Students arranged the transportation of some students through Ethiopia. The students were, however, denied access to Ethiopia by the countrys authorities because they lacked security clearance. Bandele, who advised Nigerians against self-evacuation, said such an arrangement was risky. Whatever you meet is your headache, because you did not listen to the authorities that are supposed to cater for you, he had warned Nigerians. There were indications on Tuesday that the Federal Government had intensified efforts to evacuate the students and other stranded Nigerians. In a letter dated April 23, 2023, signed by the Charge D Affairs, Nigerian Embassy in Sudan, Haruna Garko, the mission requested 200 buses to convey 3,500 students from Khartoum to Cairo. According to the payment receipt sighted by The PUNCH, the Federal Government through NEMA transferred N150m to one Abubakar Ali through Jaiz Bank for the transportation of the beleaguered citizens. Allen Onyeama, Chief Executive of Air Peace, has warned that his support to evacuate stranded Nigerians from war-torn Sudan should not be considered an ethnic matter. Onyeama disclosed this on Wednesday during an Arise Television interview. He stated that his action was not a publicity stunt but instead borne out of the deep conviction to promote the unity of Nigeria. He, however, regretted that some Nigerians on social media had turned his gesture to ethnic warfare. He said the countrys unity is paramount to him, which should be true for all Nigerians. He added that he would send three jets to Egypt to airlift Nigerians being evacuated from Sudan. I am a good adherent of what you can do for your nation, not what your country can do for you. I feel personally honoured to help my country; it is not a publicity stunt because I have been doing it right from my university days. However, it pains me that my gesture has started causing some problems on social media. People are trying to bring an ethnic angle into it, for those supporting me, the Igbos rooting for me, saying an Igboman is doing this and this, please stop. And people from the other tribes with one or two things to say about the development should stop. It is a Nigeria thing, not about Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa. It isnt a good gesture to turn into an ethnic debacle; it pains me and makes me uncomfortable to the extent that I might not do it again. I want to promote unity, not disunity, he said. Recall that Onyeama offered to evacuate stranded Nigerians in Sudan for free; however, his gesture generated mix-reactions. Sudans crisis erupted on 15 April 2023, involving warring factions led by two Generals. Though a 72-hour cease-fire was announced on Tuesday, countries had continued to evacuate their Nationals from the region. Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Timi Frank, has petitioned the Department of State Services, DSS, alleging that the former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipreye Sylva, forged his certificate. The petition, which was addressed to the Director General of the Department of State Services, was copied to the National Assembly and asked that Sylva be investigated in the national interest. In a statement he sent to Abuja on Wednesday, Frank alleged that the former Governor of Bayelsa State, currently the Bayelsa governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the coming November election, was also involved in identity theft. The revelation, according to him, was contained in the petition raised by his solicitors. In the petition, dated March 31, 2023, and signed by the Principal Partner of Graylaw Practice LP, Edward Omaga Esq., Frank urged the National Assembly to summon Sylva and officials from his alma maters in Nigeria and Switzerland to explain the inconsistencies in the identity of the politician. He said: Sylvas primary school certificate carried his name as Anagha Timipere as evident in documents the ex-Minister filed before a court in the United States as part of an ongoing defamation suit brought by his lawyers. Anagha Timipere was different from Marlin Anagha Timipre, which is the name on Sylvas WAEC certificate. The ex-petroleum minister had also obtained his bachelors degree in English from the University of Port-Harcourt, with the certificate bearing Anagha Timipre Marlin. The petitioner further explained that Sylvas doctoral degree in International Relations, which he claimed to have obtained from Ubis University, Switzerland, bears Chief Timi Sylva. He said Sylva did not participate in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, scheme and did not obtain an exemption certificate as required by law. The petition reads in part: Obviously, the certificates mentioned above have visible anomalies and do not depict the true identity of CHIEF TIMPRE SYLVA. It is confusing as to who CHIEF TIMIPRE SYLVA is; who ANAGHA TIMIPRE MARLIN is; who MARLIN ANAGHA TIMIPRE is and who ANAGHA TIMIPERE is. There is no evidence anywhere showing that CHIEF TIMPRE SYLVA ever changed his name from ANAGHA TIMIPRE MARLIN to TIMIPRE SYLVA in 1986 after he purportedly graduated from University of Port Harcourt. The president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, departed his Asokoro residence for Defence Guest House in the Maitama District of Abuja, from where he will function until May 29 inauguration. Recall that the current President, Muhammadu Buhari, also lodged at the same base months before his May 29, 2015 inauguration, from where he moved into his official residence at the Aso Rock Villa. Tinubu, who was dressed in a free-flowing white Babaringa with a red cap to match, arrived at his new operational base at about 12.15pm. He was accompanied by the vice president-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Secretary of the dissolved APC Presidential Campaign Council, James Faleke; Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege; Kwara State Governor, AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman and the Senator representing Ekiti Central, Opeyemi Bamidele. Shortly after his arrival, the president-elect received a delegation of party stalwarts led by the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Adamu; National Secretary of the party, Idowu Omisore; former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha; Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule as well as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru. The Bayelsa State coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Independent Campaign Council, ICC, Prince Preye Aganaba, has predicted that those attacking President-elect Bola Tinubu will surely sing his praise after May 29th. Aganaba observed that most people attacking Tinubu were doing so from the position of ignorance while others, who knew him but chose to hate him, were acting out of jealousy. Aganaba, who also congratulated the family of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on the safe return of the President-elect from France, said ignorant haters of Tinubu would be his immediate converts while his core enemies would bury their heads in shame after his inauguration on May 29th. He further said: The President-elect has always been a celebrated performer whether in his public or private practice. He has the capacity and will display that capacity from May 29th after his inauguration. We are confident that Tinubu will disappoint his enemies. He will surely reposition the country and usher in an era of economic turnaround and rapid development of Nigeria. We know him and we know he has the capacity to assemble a team that will make us proud. Aganaba, who is also a founding member of APC advised persons making evil speculation about the health of Tinubu to desist as the power of life and death belongs to God Almighty. Aganaba also hailed the emergence of the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, as the governorship candidate of the APC in Bayelsa State. He said Sylva is the best candidate for the APC in Bayelsa, having garnered enough experience and exposure as a one-time governor and Minister of Petroleum. He said Sylvas time as minister attracted over $3.6b of investments into Bayelsa State according to statistics from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), coming behind Lagos State in 2021 alone. He said with Sylva, the Bayelsa APC would surely defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to connect the state to the centre. Aganaba said: In 2019, our people in Bayelsa demonstrated a burning desire to connect the state back to the centre. Propelled by that desire, they voted massively for the APC. Nothing has changed this time. Our people are still desirous to connect to the centre. We are no longer ready to keep being an opposition state and with Sylva as our candidate that desire will be actualised this year. Aganaba appealed to all members of the APC, including persons who contested against Sylva to embrace unity to ensure total victory for the party in November. He urged the candidate to continue his reconciliation process by reaching out to everyone, knocking at every door to bring everyone on board. The camp of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has suggested why the incoming administration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu may fight President Muhammadu Buharis government. Atikus spokesman, Daniel Bwala, said Tinubus manifesto has shown that he might fight Buhari over his administrations policies. Bwala made the remark while recounting how Buhari blamed the PDP administrations for the countrys woes. Tweeting, Bwala said it would be interesting to hear the excuses that would emanate from Tinubus administration. He wrote: It will be interesting to hear the excuses they would give because there would be tons of excuses. The outgoing government in 8 years blamed their failures on PDP. The next one who will he point to? Because his manifesto is built to fight his predecessor. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-political organization has said it is not in a hurry to congratulate President-elect Bola Tinubu. Ohanaezes national Vice President, Damian Okeke-Ogene, said it cannot congratulate Tinubu until the outcome of the court process. Recall that Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had approached the tribunal, challenging the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the February 25th general election. Speaking on Tuesday, Okeke-Ogene said, Ohanaeze is not in a hurry to recognise Tinubu as the President-elect because any house built on a faulty foundation is bound to collapse. We believe that the process of the 2023 presidential election is still on. The voting has been done and the court has taken over and until the outcome of the court process is known, we cannot take a stand on the 2023 election. Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has confirmed the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is scheduled to inaugurate the iconic Rumuola-Rumuokwuta flyover and Magistrate Court building in Port Harcourt on May 3 and 4. The 1007.5 metres Rumuola-Rumuokwuta flyover, which connects Rumuola road to Ikwerre road, is the 12th flyover built by Wikes administration since 2019. Wike, in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, announced Tinubu would pay a two-day official visit to Rivers State to inaugurate the projects. The Governor spoke on Wednesday when he inspected the Rumuola-Rumuokwuta flyover and Magistrates Court building in Port Harcourt. He said: To God be the glory. We are expecting the President-elect on the 3rd and 4th of next month to commission the 12th flyover and the Magistrates Court building. You can see the Magistrate Court building and how amazing it is. We commend the contractor too who has done this job, and quite on time. I dont think you can find this anywhere in this part of the country. Wike explained that the President-elect was told when he came to campaign in Rivers State and paid a courtesy call in Government House Port Harcourt in February 2023 that he would be invited to inaugurate some of the landmark projects of his administration. He said: We had invited presidential candidates of other parties like Labour, NNPP (New Nigeria Peoples Party), they all came and inaugurated projects and we did say to him (President-elect) that we believe that after the election we are going to invite him to inaugurate projects too. And luckily, these two very important projects are ready. The Rivers governor said it was gratifying that his administration was able to commence and finish the construction of 12 flyovers within the last four years. According to him, Rivers people will attest to the fact that his administration has conscientiously delivered on the promises made to them. More than 2,000 shirts hanging on clotheslines blew in the wind on the Green across from the Bergen County Court House in Hackensack on Tuesday. The shirts, created by survivors of violence, were on display as part of the 29th annual Clothesline Project in recognition of National Crime Victim Rights Week, April 23 to 29. The Center for Hope & Safety, a Bergen County-based nonprofit agency that works to help adults and children rebuild their lives beyond domestic violence and abuse, joined with event host, YWCA Northern New Jersey healingSPACE, to raise awareness about violence against all people in community and to demonstrate to survivors that they are not alone. T-shirts designed by domestic violence survivors and clients of Center for Hope & Safety were part of the Clothesline Project display to give a voice to survivors of domestic abuse and trauma. Dr. Julye Myner, executive director of Center for Hope & Safety, described the project as affirming. A lot of victims of violence live in isolation, Myner said. Domestic abusers isolate their victims from family and friends and might meddle with employment. When a victim sees the shirts of other victims hung in a (public) place she sees shes not alone; it reduces isolation. Some survivors are not sharing their experience of domestic abuse but seeing this empowers them and affirms their experience. Myner said art therapy is used at the for Center for Hope and Safety to help with the healing process. We have a safe house where residents meet as a group once a week and oftentimes will engage in creative art therapy, Myner said. Marta Levy, who serves as director of Child Services and The Art of Survival Community Program at Center for Hope & Safety, made T-shirts and markers available to members of the group, and when they met, they worked on shirts together. Another group, the members of Art of Survival group, also worked on shirts together. After the daylong Clothesline Project was over, the shirts were taken down, neatly folded, boxed and stored at the Center for Hope & Safety. Myner said they will be used for future events, such as the nonprofits Walk Together Against Domestic Violence, being held on Oct. 28 in Van Saun County Park, 216 Forest Ave., Paramus. Im glad that people are out in the community again, Myner said of this years Clothesline Project. And the county seat location is also meaningful. I really hope a lot of survivors were able to feel empowered and will thrive beyond domestic violence. The Clothesline Project was started on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in 1990 as a means to address the issue of violence against women. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. With 94% of districts reporting, a mayoral-backed slate of three Newark Board of Education candidates swept Tuesdays election by a nearly 3-1 margin, with voters overwhelmingly approving a local tax levy projected to cut the average homeowners bill by $15 for the coming school year. The Moving Newark Schools Forward slate backed by Mayor Ras Baraka included two incumbents, Josephine Garcia and Hasani Council, and Allison James-Frison, who ran unsuccessfully against the mayors slate last year. Turnout was 3%, about the same as last year. Council, 26, chief of staff to his father, Newark City Councilman Patrick Council, was the high vote-getter, with 3,149 votes, according to unofficial results posted by the Essex County Clerks Office, with 161 of 172 election districts reporting. Garcia, 46, a mother of three who is the boards vice president, finished second in the balloting with 3,074. And James-Frison, 54, a formerly homeless mother of one who runs a girls mentoring service, attracted 2,923 votes, according to the clerks office. They believe in us, Council said of his slate after polls closed Tuesday night, with only 11 districts unreported and their sweep assured. He attributed his high-vote total to his work to maintain school facilities and his presence in the community. James-Frison was elated after what she said felt more like a two-year campaign. It feels amazing, said Frison, whose daughter is a junior at Newarks Bard High School Early College, where students graduate with a high school diploma and an associates degree. I actually campaigned for two years. When I lost last year, I never stopped campaigning. The three will be sworn in at the boards reorganization meeting on May 11. Voters approved a proposed $138 million school tax levy the amount to be raised through local property taxes by a margin of 2,739 to 422, with 161 of 172 districts reporting. The levy is identical to last years, but district officials say it would mean a $15 tax cut for the 2023-24 school year for the owner of a home with the citywide average assessment of $175,000 thanks to an increase in the value of Newarks total taxable property. About $1.14 billion in state aid covers nearly all of the rest of the $1.3 billion school budget under New Jesreys education funding formula. The Moving Newark Forward slate beat a Newark Kids Forward slate whose three running mates all have close ties to charter schools: Thomas Luna, 36, who teaches at Rise Academy; James Wright Jr., 22, who teaches at North Star Academys Harriet Tubman Plaza campus; and Tawana Johnson-Emory, 46, whose 16-year-old son attends North Stars Tubman campus. Wright led the three with 1,139 votes, followed by Lunas 1,096 and Emorys 890. A pair of independent candidates, Latoya Jackson and AdeKamil Kelly, received 574 and 385 votes respectively. During the campaign, the Newark Kids Forward slate tried to seize on recent controversies as evidence voters need to elect more independent board members to exert stronger oversight, an assertion rejected by the Moving Newark Forward slate. The controversies include the redevelopment of a shuttered hospital into a high school for architecture and design thats been plagued by labor problems; the automatic, unannounced renewal of Leons contract last May; and tensions between Black and Latino students at the School of Global Studies. The Moving Newark Forward slate rejected the assertion and emphasized the importance of experience and continuity. Two city nonprofits, Project Ready and the Newark Trust for Education, tried to boost turnout by opening a pop-up civil and voting rights museum dubbed the Voting Power Experience and holding a candidates forum two weeks ago in conjunction with local news outlets. But turnout was minuscule nonetheless on Tuesday, when 4,963 of the citys 161,631 registered voters cast ballots, or 3%, with 161 of 172 districts reporting, according to the clerks office. Turnout was depressed at least temporarily Tuesday morning at a polling place at the Georgia King Village affordable housing complex in the citys West Ward, when voters couldnt cast ballots for nearly three hours after polls were supposed to have opened at 7 a.m. It was one more frustration for tenants at the complex, plagued over the winter by rodent infestation and neglected repairs that the owner, L + M Development Partners, is now making under the citys threat to revoke its tax abatement. Poll workers said there was a communication breakdown between L + M and the Essex County Board of Elections over which of Georgia Kings two apartment towers would serve as the polling place, aggravated when someone misplaced the key to activate the voting machine. Juan Santiago, 58, a regular poll worker at the complex, estimated that about 10 people couldnt vote in the morning because of the delay. They come out in the morning to go to work, and they passed by us, and we werent open, Santiago said. Five people had voted at Georgia King as of 10:30 a.m., about 45 minutes after balloting began. George Belton was one of them. Belton, 64, who was recently laid off as a painter at a local barrel refurbishing business, said he wasnt familiar with the candidates and that he voted for the first three names on the ballot all belonging to the Moving Newark Forward slate, which had drawn the top spots. Even so, Belton said voting was both a privilege and a civic duty. We need more people to vote, Belton said. If you dont speak your mind, if you dont vote, it doesnt help the school system. George Belton said after voting in Tuesday's Newark school election, "If you don't vote, you're not helping the process."Steve Strunsky | NJ Advance Media For NJ.com Nobody knows Jersey better than N.J.com. Sign up to get breaking news alerts straight to your inbox. Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com A doctor admitted Wednesday that he participated in a health care fraud scheme that targeted Amtrak, federal prosecutors said. Muhammad Mirza, 50, of Cedar Grove, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud before a federal court judge, according to a statement from the US Attorneys Office. From April 2017 through June 2022, Mirza and others, who were not identified Wednesday, were part of a scheme to bill the Amtrak health care plan for fraudulent claims for services that either were never provided or were medically unnecessary, the office said. They would recruit Amtrak employees by paying them to allow the conspirators to use their patient and insurance information to submit fake claims, which they submitted. It caused Amtrak losses of more than $1.3 million, investigators said. Amtrak officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Mirza faces a maximum of 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on Sept. 13, federal prosecutors said. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Assemblyman Will Sampson IV says that New Jerseys withdrawal from the bistate Waterfront Commission will allow him to return to his role as a crane operator and union leader with the longshore workers local in Bayonne. The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously agreed on April 18 the state can withdraw from the agency formed with New York more 70 years ago to police one of the countrys largest ports once rife with crime. The Waterfront Commission had jurisdiction over all the regions piers and terminals in Newark, Elizabeth, Bayonne, Staten Island and Brooklyn. Sampson, a Democrat whose 31st District includes Bayonne and part of Jersey City, was removed from the longshoremens register when his crane operator licences was revoked by the commission in December due to what it considered to be excessive absenteeism between January and June last year. He told the commission some of his absences were the result of meetings and events associated with his role as assemblyman. The commission pointed out on its website in December that Sampson failed to present any evidence to justify his absences in February 2022 and testified that he had no particular reason for not working or making himself available for work on Saturdays. The commission also noted that Sampson acknowledged a possibility that, on certain dates, he could have attended the (Assembly-related) events and still worked later on those days as a longshoreman. In a letter to the editor Wednesday, Sampson said As the well-equipped New Jersey State Police prepare to take on the responsibilities of the Waterfront Commission, I look forward to having an opportunity to return to my role as a longshoreman. For decades, the Waterfront Commission has lived by an outdated set of rules that has held the shipping industry back, impacting economic growth and hiring. Sampson, who had been working at Bayonne Container Terminal, and a spokesperson for the International Longshoremens Association Local 1588, which represents longshore workers at the New York Harbor, could not be reached for comment. It could not be determined if Sampson would return to the terminal, or if he would maintain that in his role as assemblyman he was also serving the unions interests as he argued after his license was revoked. Back in December when the commission made its decision, Sampson was just wrapping his first year as an assemblyman. He felt the commission was seeking retribution against Gov. Phil Murphy, who argued the agency wasnt needed. A community meeting has been planned for tonight, April 26, for local residents to voice concerns about a four-story apartment building planned for Old Bergen Road in Jersey City, ahead of Thursday nights city zoning board meeting. Critics of the proposed 31-unit building say it will inconvenience the nearby residences, with features that dont take their concerns into consideration. The area is zoned for one- and two-family homes. During the Jersey City Zoning Board meeting that took place March 9, three residents said neighbors of the project between Winfield and Neptune avenues, in the South Greenville section have not been given ample chances to discuss the pros and cons of the proposal. The project would include three affordable housing units, 31 off-street parking spaces, 16 bike parking spaces and other associated improvements, according to zoning board documents. Among the complaints about the project is that a four-story building is out of place in the neighborhood, as well as the possibility of more noise and the lost of a parking lot used by residents in the area. Tonights meeting will take place Mercy House, 20 Greenville Ave., in the basement, at 6:30 p.m. The Thursday, April 27 zoning board meeting takes places 6:30 p.m. at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83659307838. The meeting ID is 836 5930 7838. Last fall, Dave Scott Schwartzman gifted the world with the hilarious If Its Tuesday, This Must Be Walla-Walla: The Wacky History of Adrenalin O.D., regaling readers with tour stories and tall tales from his days in one of New Jerseys pioneering hardcore bands. If the book sailed under your radar, fear not: On Tuesday, May 2, Schwartzman will be at Word Bookstore in Jersey City, signing books and discussing the memoir with radio personality and musician Chris Tskais. Drummer Schwartzman and guitarist Paul Richard, suburban high schoolers at the time, formed Adrenalin O.D. (affectionately known as A.O.D.) in 1981, inspired by the hyperspeed hardcore punk of the era. Nathaniel Harvey died in South Woods prison, maintaining his innocence for the 1985 rape and murder of a young widow. A former death row inmate before New Jersey abolished the death penalty, he fought his conviction all the way to the state Supreme Court. But three years after his death in prison at age 70, New Jersey authorities announced Wednesday theyve connected Harvey to a strikingly similar crime: the sexual assault and killing of 19-year-old Donna Macho, of East Windsor, who went missing in 1984. A developers plan to transport combustible gases by rail from Pennsylvania to a terminal in New Jersey has been blocked on the federal level after years of community organizing to stop the project. The U.S. Department of Transportation denied a special permit on Monday sought by Energy Transport Solutions, a subsidiary of New Fortress Energy, to transport liquefied natural gas by rail to a port on the Delaware River in Gibbstown in Gloucester County, according to the Federal Register. State and national environmental groups are celebrating the denial because it may block the proposed project that critics say would send polluting, combustible bomb trains across dozens of South Jersey and Pennsylvania towns daily. The denial of the Energy Transport Solutions special permit is a huge victory for halting this planet-warming, water-polluting, community-endangering fossil fuel project, Kimberly Ong, senior attorney at Natural Resources Defense Council said in a statement. The future of the Gibbstown liquefied natural gas terminal is looking bleaker by the day. The site in the Gibbstown section of Greenwich Township which is being developed by Delaware River Partners, an affiliate of the natural gas company New Fortress Energy was planned to be New Jerseys first terminal for exporting liquefied natural gas. Delaware River Partners, developers of the Gibbstown terminal and their affiliate New Fortress Energy, could not be reached on Wednesday for comment. Under the projects full proposal, the natural gas would first be fracked, or liquefied and pressurized, at a planned plant in Wyalusing, Pennsylvania. Then, it would travel about 175 miles by train or truck to the Gibbstown Logistics Center the proposed export facility at 200 N. Repauno Ave. in Greenwich Township. The project once had a special permit granted under the Trump-Administration in 2019. But it expired in 2021. Mondays denial by the U.S. Department of Transportations Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration for the renewed permit to transport liquified natural gas will hamper Delaware River Partners and their affiliate companies plans for Gibbstown and Wyalusing, according to critics of the project. Theoretically, the developers could move forward with a plan to carry the liquified natural gas by truck instead of rail, but it would require so many trucks that it would be impractical, according to Ong. Environmental groups, students and community members in Camden and other communities where the proposed trains could pass through have been organizing in opposition of the terminal since at least 2019. Residents, community leaders and Rutgers-Camden students rally in March, carrying signs to call on Camden City Council to join the movement to stop the Gibbstown Liquified Natural Gas Terminal that would send train cars and trucks carrying explosive materials through the city.Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance Todays decision is long overdue and provides some measure of protection for the communities across South Jersey threatened by New Fortress Energys Gibbstown export scheme, Matt Smith, the state director for Food and Water Watch New Jersey said in a statement on Monday. Organizers who oppose the project have called liquified natural gas-carrying trains bomb trains because if the cars were to derail, an explosion could occur or toxic chemicals could be released similar to what happened after a train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, in February. Now the Biden administration should go further and suspend the Trump-era rule entirely and protect communities across the country from the threats posed by LNG bomb trains, Smith said. Environmental groups are trying to overturn the Trump administrations 2020 rule, which for the first time, lifted the long-standing ban on liquefied natural gas transport by rail. The current rule allows transport of trains with up to 100 tank cars, each with upwards of 30,000 gallons of liquified natural gas, known as LNG, to be transported across the country. In order to stop the Gibbstown project, the Department of Transportation must also revoke the Trump era LNG by rail rule, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Denial of the special permit is a necessary, but not sufficient, step to stop the construction of the Gibbstown LNG Terminal, said Ong. Secretary Buttigieg must stand up for communities and the climate by denying this special permit. Especially after the tragic disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, there is no excuse for Buttigieg to not suspend the federal LNG by rail rule immediately, she continued. At least 14 states, including New Jersey and a cohort of environmental groups, have launched efforts to overturn the LNG rule, arguing that the method of moving gases by rail is untested and potentially dangerous. The Department of Transportation was supposed to suspend the LNG-by-rail rule in March, but missed its deadline and then indicated in a court filing that it would not make its own March 20th deadline to propose a replacement regulation, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. There are other delays that could affect the New Jersey terminal project, including expiring permits, pending lawsuits filed by environmental advocacy nonprofits, including the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, and a pending rule by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission related to jurisdiction over the Wyalusing plant. There are a lot of moving parts here, but I think all the way around this project is definitely not able to proceed and certainly not as its been proposed and conceived, said Maya K. van Rossum, the leader for the Delaware Riverkeeper Network. They should just give up and go home, she said. Residents, community leaders, and Rutgers-Camden students rally in March to protest the Gibbstown Liquified Natural Gas Terminal that would send train cars and trucks carrying explosive materials through the city.Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nyah Marshall may be reached at Nmarshall@njadvancemedia.com. Note: This is a copy of our weekly Wednesday a.m. Opinion newsletter, which points out the most popular editorials and op-eds of the past week. Click HERE to sign up and never miss a week! Just when you thought the uproar over Fox News escape act with Dominion Voting Systems was about to fade into a muted slobber, we can take some satisfaction that there was some accountability after all. Tucker Carlson was let go, sacked and gutted and set adrift in a shark-filled sea by Rupert Murdoch. No subtext was necessary: Take a hike and bring your rabbit hole of crankery with you, the Teflon mogul ordered, and suddenly everyone felt a breeze of karma wash over the proceedings. It was somehow more satisfying than the $787.5 million that Fox had to pay Dominion for its two-year torrent of lies about how the tech companys machines flipped votes from Trump to Biden in 2020, bribed government officials and was owned by crooked Venezuelans who fixed elections for Hugo Chavez. The settlement was the subject of the most-read story in our Opinion section last week, though it lamented the annulment of seeing Fox personalities having to explain their devotion to a venal, proto-dictator that they alternately feared and despised. And that disappointment was only moderately assuaged when Tucker was flung from the 40th-floor window of the MAGA Chat Room on Sixth Avenue. But even as Carlsons career gets blowtorched even if Foxs other prime-time fiction peddlers, race baiters and grudge farmers get sacked with him we should pause here for this reality check: Nothing will change at Fox because its on-air personalities, repugnant as they are, are disposable. Ruperts Brinks truck never stops rolling, because nothing stops the money from rolling in. The $787 million it paid to Dominion was less than one-quarter of the cash it had on hand at the end of 2022, and the bank are always full. And it bears repeating that you are probably the one who fills it. Its true: You might hate Fox News, and you may not even watch a minute of it only 14% of cable TV subscribers watch it but if you have cable TV, you subsidize Ruperts money machine. The lions share of the networks business does not come from sponsors the only regular sponsor Carlson had was the My Pillow guy but sponsorship represented only $1.4 billion of Fox revenue last year. Three times that amount comes from affiliate fees: It made $4.2 billion from cable operators such as Verizon and Comcast, which pays Fox just to carry its content. Thats twice as much as CNN and three times as much as MSNBC, and it protects Fox when advertisers abandon them for their wretched content, which is often. Thats why Carlson is just a placeholder. The same was true of Bill OReilly and Glenn Beck, who were once deemed irreplaceable. And the same will hold true for whatever xenophobic bigot replaces Tucker, though many of us will miss the incredulous squinting that he tried to sell as astute commentary. Here are some other compelling issues we wrote about in this weeks Opinion section: Gov. Murphy kills another watchdog | Editorial: The Waterfront Commission is history, and mobbed-up dockworker unions rejoice. The Waterfront Commission is history, and mobbed-up dockworker unions rejoice. The Waterfront Commission will soon be consigned into history metaphorically dumped into Newark Bay, where it shall sleep with the fishes because this is what the governor, his legislative collaborators, and his union supporters from the International Longshoremans Association have sought for many years.Ted Sherman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Chris Christie interviewer asks a dull question and gets a sharp response | Mulshine: Why do liberal journalists keep asking conservative politicians why they dont support liberal candidates? Why do liberal journalists keep asking conservative politicians why they dont support liberal candidates? The actual story showed it was not a tough question at all. At a town hall in New Hampshire, our former governor was asked by an audience member, Do you think that Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton would have been the better bet for democracy in 2016?SL Yet another strike against Murphys pick for prosecutor | Editorial: This adds to the many good reasons that Camelia Valdes should quit. This adds to the many good reasons that Camelia Valdes should quit. Passaic Prosecutor Camelia Valdes has finally released public records to show what her office was doing over the past couple of years, when it was supposed to be creating a protocol for cops responding to people in mental health crises, among the most dangerous calls they get. NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Music festival has to deliver for Atlantic City | Editorial: The planned Bamboozle festival next month is apparently having some difficulties. Now is the time to right the ship. The planned Bamboozle festival next month is apparently having some difficulties. Now is the time to right the ship. Its almost inconceivable to imagine a creation thats a cross between the notorious Fyre Festival that was slated for the Bahamas and the debacle over Taylor Swift tickets that fans tried to order via the Ticketmaster monopoly but what such a fantastic beast might look like could be on view at the Jersey Shore. Strangers fed my mind and soul at a fast-breaking dinner this Ramadan | Calavia-Robertson: The holy month of Ramadan, in which Muslims fast from the break of dawn to sunset, is a time to foster common ground and friendship. The holy month of Ramadan, in which Muslims fast from the break of dawn to sunset, is a time to foster common ground and friendship. As a Catholic, Ive only ever fasted during Lent. And that fast is always fast because its only on two days, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. But Ive always felt admiration for the dedication of my Muslim colleagues and friends during Ramadan when their faith calls on them to fast, from the break of dawn till sunset, for nearly 30 days. New Jerseys public worker pension fund rebounded slightly in the first quarter of 2023, adding about $3.8 billion in market value as fund managers continued to navigate challenging financial markets. The fund posted a return of 4.3% for the quarter, bringing its total market value to $87.5 billion, which was still more than $7 billion below where it stood just one year ago, according to a report from the New Jersey Treasury Departments Division of Investment. Investors seem to be looking for optimism in the market, so we have seen a rebound, Division of Investment Director Shoaib Khan told the State Investment Council during a virtual meeting Wednesday. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 53F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 38F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. 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. Through acquisitions and shareholdings, the Hungarian government led by Prime Minister Victor Orbans Fidesz party is increasingly displaying its determination to boost the states role in the telecoms sector, arguing that it will deliver an economic boost to Hungary, strengthen its position on the global stage, and prove beneficial for consumers. ABI Researchs Fei Liu noted that the Hungarian government has emphasised its desire to boost the size of all sectors of strategic national importance under a national ownership, adding that telecommunication is a top priority after the energy, banking and media sector. The reasons for this are manifold; Liu notes that despite the significant focus from the government, Hungarys digital transformation is progressing at a rate slower than expected. International TRADE Administration stats shows that the gross value added (GVA) from the ICT sector was estimated to be US$20 billion in 2020, suggesting the digital economy is about 20% of Hungarys overall GVA, while Liu notes that the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the momentum for digital transformation in Hungary. However, on a macro level Orbans desire for greater national ownership in strategic sectors goes a lot deeper, and is shared by many former Eastern bloc states. As noted by the FT, many such countries sold off their Soviet-era assets in the 1990s and then found that this degree of foreign ownership left them highly vulnerable following the 2008 financial crash. Since coming to power in 2010, Orbans government has introduced taxes and price caps that appeared to benefit consumers, but that had the effect of nudging foreign players out of the market. The FT notes that Hungarian ownership has climbed above 50% in sectors including banking, media and energy. Telecommunications is another strategic sector targeted by Orbans government; last August, the state partnered with Hungarian IT firm 4iG to acquire the Hungarian unit of UK-based Vodafone, which has now exited the market. State investment vehicle Corvinus took a 49% holding in the unit; it has since reduced this to 30%, albeit via a share-swap with 4iG that has allowed it to take 25% stakes in both Yettel Hungary and its infrastructure unit CETIN Hungary. At the time of the sale, Vodafone Chief Executive Nick Read noted that Orbans government had laid out a clear strategy to build a Hungarian owned national champion in the ICT sector, but it was significant that Orbans government exempted the acquisition of Vodafone Hungary from competition scrutiny by issuing a decree to this effect - a move that underlined the concerted efforts by Orban to move towards an environment of crony capitalism, as oligarchs with strong ties to Fidesz increase their influence in strategic sectors. According to Jozsef Peter Martin, Executive Director of Transparency International Hungary, 4iGs chief Gellert Jaszai is one of the oligarchs closest to Orban. While Jaszai was already a successful businessman under Hungarys previous government, with his wealth derived from real estate, he had nowhere near as much clout as he does under Orban, and Martin cites the decree exempting the Vodafone acquisition from competitive scrutiny as an example of this. Its a reflection of crony capitalism and also state capture says Martin. Development authorities dont do their work - they turn a blind eye when they should oversee or investigate. The conflict of interest here is obvious the Hungarian state has stakes in two of the three operators, the competition authority should obviously intervene. The Hungarian government argues that state ownership in strategic sectors will benefit the economy, and Liu notes that in theory, folding government policy into economic decision-making could result in a more competitive market. However, Martin argues that Hungarys brand of economic nationalism relies so heavily on EU funding that it could have the opposite effect; if multinationals leave the market, the playing field would become more uneven, raising red flags for the EU. However, if the EU then opted to apply financial pressure to Hungarys government by withholding funds, this would also impact foreign firms in the market. Therefore, a compromise is the most likely scenario; Martin expects a limited portion of EU funding to be made available, on the condition of strict oversight. The EUs reaction to Hungarys shift towards national ownership has been somewhat muted, although Martin believes that there is an increasing recognition among member states that the governments strategy no longer reflects the unions values. He argues that Hungary cannot be considered a western-style democracy anymore, and claims that it is more of a hybrid system somewhere between this and a dictatorship. This is perhaps reflected by an increased blurring of boundaries within Hungary, such as those between the state and the market or private and public interest. Martin notes that the economy is increasingly less autonomous, and cites his own research which shows that around 50% of its total value added comes from multinationals, while 25%-30% belongs to the crony economy, and the remaining 20%-25% domestic market players. There are signs that attitudes are changing. A study by the German-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce found that nearly 20% of businesses arent satisfied with the business environment, in a significant drop for German businesses (Magyar Telekom, the dominant player in Hungarys mobile market, is a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom). Martin is unsurprised: At least in the EU, this is unprecedented this kind of over-centralisation, this transitory nationalisation, its a method of huge wealth transfer from incumbent market players to crony players. Its unprecedented both in terms of its volume, and the methods. These methods vary from sector to sector; surtaxes and other special charges were applied to the banking sector, as well as hostile takeovers (a savings cooperative has been created from three separate banks that were requisitioned by law from their foreign owners). Martin cites Vodafone Hungarys sale as an example of a friendly takeover; there is no suggestion that Orbans government tightened the screws on Vodafone, and the group is currently strategically streamlining its operations so the sale makes sense - but the governments offer of 1.8 billion for Vodafone Hungary was undeniably well above market price, and as such one that Vodafone effectively could not refuse. Still, despite Hungarys push for ever-greater state ownership in strategic sectors to the benefit of Fidesz cronies - the statistics currently do not indicate that Foreign Direct Investment is decreasing; indeed, it hit a record level last year. Orbans strategy applies on a sector-by-sector basis depending on strategic importance, and many foreign firms in other sectors are receiving incentives to remain perhaps to ensure a minimum level of FDI, although motives are unclear and the situation is complex. While there are theoretical upsides to increased state intervention in Hungarys telecoms sector, it appears that neither consumers nor foreign enterprises are the current beneficiaries. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We asked for your guidance as we got ready for the 2023 Jazz Fest, and you did not disappoint. Here are your smart, and smart-aleck, suggestions. Pedal in: Ride your bike to the Fest and back every day, advises Catharine Todd. It greases the wheels. Look for the bike corral near the Gentilly entrance. Fueling up: Jonny List says his custom is stopping at Liuzza's by the Track to hear the first sounds of music while slurping the best bloody mary in town! Beating the heat 1: As my husband always says, wear 'loose, light clothing, move slow, and powder your privates,'" writes Mary Gottschalk Moses. Flowers and mementos are seen Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at the location where the body of Linda Frickey was recovered after she was carjacked and dragged to her death a day earlier in New Orleans. Senate Bill 35 faces fierce opposition from the petrochemical industry, which says the new monitors will be costly and may spark unnecessary fear among the public. Fields knows the bill has a lot more hurdles to go, but called its committee-level approval a step in the right direction. People have a right to know what they breathe, he said. Thats the whole basis of this bill. The bill would require all facilities that produce toxic chemicals to install and operate monitoring systems that can detect violations of air quality standards and trigger alerts when pollution levels threaten public health. The systems would need to offer immediate, real-time data to the public and text message alerts to emergency responders and people living near the facilities. Avery Hamilton, left, and Dean Woods shake hands and chat following an unveiling ceremony for a memorial honoring those who were killed and injured in the 1873 Colfax Massacre Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Colfax, La. Hamilton, whose ancestor was killed in the days leading up to the massacre, and Woods, whose ancestor fought for white supremacy and was involved in the massacre, are the founders of the Colfax Memorial Organization. Chinese equipment vendor ZTE announced double-digit profit growth despite the external environment remaining complex and volatile in 2023 for the company. In a statement, the company reported net profit in Q1 increased by 19.2% year-on-year to CNY2.64 billion (US$377.3 million), despite an asset impairment loss of CNY409.3 billion. Revenue grew 4.3% to CNY29.1 billion, while consolidated operating expenses dropped 6.9% to CNY16.1 billion, and R&D spending grew to CNY5.9 billion. ZTE said it had adopted strategies for "precision and pragmatism for steady growth", and it will aim to be more resilient to uncertainties, while also allocating resources more efficiently and optimizing processes. Elsewhere in the business, senior director of the ZTE CTO Group Hans Neff, urged operators to build sustainable green fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks, stating this is a key direction for network development to benefit the whole of society. The executive was speaking at the annual FTTH Conference in Madrid. You are clearly a super-user of NUVO.net. Thats a good thing. It means you depend on independent and local news sources to keep you informed. You are a smart person. Coincidentally, independent and local news sources depend on you too. Youve read 25 articles this month and now, wed like you to be join our mission and become a NUVO Supporter. For as little as $4 a month, you can keep us alive and fighting -- and can have unlimited access to the independent news that cant be found anywhere else. The first time Joe Biden announced a campaign for the White House, 36 years ago, he portrayed himself as the candidate of youth. At the train station in Wilmington, Del., his son Hunter, then 17, held his sister Ashley, then five, in his arms. Later, at the Savery Hotel in Des Moines, Iowa, Mr. Biden stood with his strategist, John Reilly, and his pollster, Patrick Caddell. (Both are now dead.) Public-opinion surveys put him at 1 per cent, and he conceded that "no one knows me." That is no longer the case. And when Mr. Biden launched his fourth presidential campaign Tuesday, his remarks were not remotely like the ones he delivered all those years ago in Des Moines, when he said, "In 1988, the clarion call for my generation is not 'It's our turn,' but rather 'It's our moment of obligation and opportunity.'" Though both campaign announcements featured "our moment" language, the contrast between the two reflects the differences between the man, the message and the two moments. A second term for Joe Biden is a terrible idea except for all the alternatives The formal entry Tuesday was on video. It had a controlled atmosphere no risk of an unscripted moment. There was an opportunity for a media mulligan; if he hesitated or stammered, he could start again. He first sought the presidency by portraying himself as part of the advance guard of a new breed of Democrat, and his early campaign was full of generational-transformation rhetoric distant enough (28 years) from the "time for a new generation of leadership" of John F. Kennedy yet recent enough to stir the heartstrings of older Democratic voters who might be lured to the renewal of the idiom. (Mr. Reilly was a JFK campaign aide in 1960, worked in the Justice Department in the Kennedy administration and was marked deeply by his association with Robert F. Kennedy. Mr. Caddell was 13 when JFK was killed.) Now, at age 80, Mr. Biden offers himself as a repository of wisdom. He set out with his first White House drive as a jolt to the governing order. He has portrayed himself in this campaign not as a challenger but as a curator. Tuesday morning's video asserted quite plainly, "There should not be a revolution." He adumbrated a campaign on behalf of democratic values and institutions that were not under assault in 1987, when he ran against Democratic rivals who, apart from civil-rights leader Jesse Jackson, were the very personification of established political practice (the straight-man governors Michael Dukakis and Bruce Babbitt) and Republican contenders who in retrospect are so bland as to be unimaginable GOP leaders today (the starchy Vice-President George H.W. Bush and Senator Bob Dole). Tuesday's announcement combined gauzy images of Americans at work and at play a clear borrowing from the successful 1984 re-election campaign of Ronald Reagan's "Morning in America" TV ad with "Nightmare in America" glimpses of the 2021 assault on the Capitol. In saying "I know we're good and decent people," some voters may have heard Jimmy Carter's 1976 pledge to create a "government as good as the American people" a campaign Mr. Caddell helped script. When a parking garage collapsed in Lower Manhattan last week, killing one person and injuring five others, the Fire Department deployed a digidog: a four-legged robot with a Dalmatians spotted torso that scoured rubble in a structure deemed too dangerous for humans. It was, according to its maker, the first U.S. use for the robot in such real-world circumstances. On the day of the collapse, Mayor Eric Adams hailed the digidog, which was dispatched with several drones to hunt for victims and bodies, saying it had enabled the search operation to proceed safely. On Tuesday, he cited its performance again, reiterating his commitment to using futuristic gadgets for public safety, despite critics concerns. Some people call them toys, Mr. Adams said at a news conference. This is not playtime. This is real time. And this is an administration that is not going to be fearful of using everything possible to save the lives of New Yorkers and to save the lives of first responders. Under my predecessor, infrastructure week became a punchline, Mr. Biden told the union members, mocking former President Donald J. Trumps failure to pass legislation rebuilding the nations worn public facilities that his successor did succeed in enacting. On my watch, infrastructure has become a decade headline a decade. Mr. Trump, now seeking a rematch against Mr. Biden in 2024, gave his potential opponent no credit. When I stand on that debate stage and compare our records, he said in a statement, it will be radical Democrats worst nightmare because theres never been a record as bad as they have, and our country has never been through so much. Along with the $1 trillion infrastructure package, which passed with Republican votes, Mr. Biden can boast of sweeping legislative victories that would have seemed improbable when he took office. Among other measures he pushed through a Congress with narrow Democratic majorities were a $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package; major investments to combat climate change; lower prescription drug costs for seniors; increased corporate taxes; expanded treatment for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits and incentives to turbocharge the semiconductor industry. He has been unable, however, to fulfill other major promises, including an assault weapons ban; an immigration overhaul providing a path to citizenship for migrants in the country illegally; two years of free community college; free universal preschool for all three- and four-year-olds; national paid sick leave; greater voting rights protections; and policing changes to counter excessive force. Some of those were never realistic in the first place, but Mr. Biden was the one to highlight them as priorities. His economic record is similarly complicated. More than 12 million jobs have been created since he took office as the economy bounced back from the pandemic, and unemployment is at or near its lowest level in a half-century. But inflation rocketed up to its highest level in four decades, which some critics blamed on excessive federal spending under Mr. Biden, although cost increases have been a global phenomenon. Likewise, gas prices shot up to record levels. While both have begun to come back down inflation has fallen from 9 percent to 5 percent Americans remain skittish about the economy, according to polls, and economists still worry about a possible recession. When she was named Anheuser-Buschs marketing vice president, Alissa Heinerscheid explained in a recent podcast interview, I had this super clear mandate: We need to evolve and elevate this incredibly iconic brand. Doing that, she said, means having a campaign thats truly inclusive. But the limits of that mandate, and of how Anheuser-Busch defined inclusive, became apparent in recent days, when the company announced that Ms. Heinerscheid and her boss, Daniel Blake, were on a leave of absence after a wave of right-wing outrage over a Bud Light marketing campaign that involved the transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. The backlash and subsequent scrambling provide a lesson in the newly unsettled politics of corporate America. In the past decade, major companies have leaned into liberal social politics that are increasingly anathema to their longstanding allies in the Republican Party and the consumers who vote for them. Bud Lights trials this month have underscored the difficulty of straddling that divide. Ms. Heinerscheids efforts reflected the companys aspirations of shoring up years of eroding market share among consumers in predominantly liberal urban areas. Ms. Heinerscheid did not respond to a request for comment. In the letter, Chief Justice Roberts attached a statement of ethics principles and practices signed by the current justices and included an appendix of the relevant laws that apply to judicial disclosures. In the ethics statement, the justices wrote that they aimed to clarify how they address certain recurring issues and to dispel some common misconceptions. To deal with ethical questions, they look to judicial opinions, treatises, scholarly articles, disciplinary decisions, and the historical practice of the court and the federal judiciary, their signed statement said, which added that they could seek advice from colleagues and the courts legal office. The justices also said they may be limited in what to disclose because of security concerns. In fact, financial disclosures are not filed immediately and must be submitted each year in May. (The court has asked for more funding for security because of threats, including an alleged assassination attempt that targeted Justice Brett Kavanaugh last summer.) In a statement, Mr. Durbin said that the hearing would proceed regardless. I am surprised that the chief justices recounting of existing legal standards of ethics suggests current law is adequate and ignores the obvious, Mr. Durbin wrote. It is time for Congress to accept its responsibility to establish an enforceable code of ethics for the Supreme Court, the only agency of our government without it. WASHINGTON Kamala Harris, the vice president, was featured heavily throughout a video that President Biden used to announce his 2024 campaign on Tuesday, a strong signal that she will be a central part of his re-election efforts. Somehow, both her harshest critics and her staunchest allies see this as a good thing. To her supporters, Ms. Harris, 58, represents broad swaths of the American electorate that Mr. Biden does not: She is a woman, she is biracial and she is decades younger than the 80-year-old president, who would be 86 at the end of a second term. She is seen as the administrations most visible advocate on issues including voting rights, access to abortion and combating climate change. But her detractors who include both Republicans and Democrats say she is unprepared for the scrutiny that is sure to come her way as she positions herself as the potential heir apparent to a Biden presidency. And some do not think the issues in her portfolio will appeal to the independent and moderate voters who tend to decide presidential elections. What swing voter wakes up and says, Boy, Kamala Harris is going to move me? said Mike Murphy, a political strategist who was a longtime adviser to John McCain, the Republican senator and presidential candidate. WASHINGTON In 2011, as a wave of populist fervor swept through Congress, delivering a restive class of anti-spending Republicans who had no appetite for raising the debt limit, House G.O.P. leaders rallied their members around a bill with a blunt, snappy slogan: Cut, Cap and Balance. The phrase neatly encapsulated the unequivocal nature of the conditions Republicans were demanding in exchange for allowing the government to avoid a debt default. Their legislation a purely symbolic measure that had no chance of enactment would have slashed spending deeply enough to cut the deficit in half within a year, imposed austere caps on future federal spending, and required that Congress amend the Constitution to require a balanced budget before raising the debt limit. Now, as another group of Republicans resists raising the debt ceiling, Speaker Kevin McCarthy has presented a list of spending demands that he hopes to push through the House along party lines as soon as Wednesday. But this time, in a bow to political reality and economic necessity, it is a substantial retreat from what hard-right Republicans once sought, and it carries a kinder, gentler catchphrase to match: the Limit, Save, Grow Act. Mr. McCarthy and his team were still scrounging on Tuesday for the votes to pass the legislation, which would be dead on arrival in the Democratic-led Senate and at the White House, as President Bidens advisers said on Tuesday that he would veto it. Mr. Biden has been calling on Republicans for months to raise the debt ceiling without conditions to avoid a catastrophic default that could come as soon as this summer. After more than a year of surprisingly solid European unity in support of Ukraine, grains of discord are piling up in the barn of Robert Vieru, a Romanian farmer with 500 tons of wheat and 250 tons of sunflower seeds now sitting unsold because of cut-price Ukrainian competition. A glut of Ukrainian cereals and other produce has nearly halved the value for the results of Mr. Vierus labors and left farmers across Eastern and Central Europe and their governments, most of which face elections this year or next caught between solidarity with Ukraine and their own survival. I feel sad for them but my heart breaks for myself, Mr. Vieru said of Ukrainians living across the nearby border in Romanias Danube River delta, as he opened the sliding door of a concrete barn, filled to the brim with last years unsold harvest. Prices have been driven so low by a flood of cheap food from Ukraine, he said, that selling would mean earning less than he paid to produce his crops. Three weeks ago, two Wiregrass men headed to Nepal on a special expedition. Leaving on March 28, Enterprise High School engineering teacher Nick Ciuzio of Enterprise and retired Army officer James Bullinger of Level Plains had a multi-day trip to the other side of the planet on an adventure of a lifetime. Ciuzio is on a quest, along with a mutual friend Jay Beaudoin of Colorado, to scale Mount Everest, the highest mountain in Asia at 29,029 feet. For nearly two weeks, the men traveled by foot on the 40-mile trek up the Khumbu Valley toward the Everest Base Camp at the base of the Khumbu Ice Falls. Ciuzio, 63, and Bullinger, 65, along with Beaudoin and the rest of their Climb The Seven Summits (CTSS) team, stopped at the base of the Lobuche East, a 20,075-foot peak on the way to Everest. On April 12 around 2:30 a.m. in 15 degree Fahrenheit temperatures, the CTSS team of about 15 climbers and guides began their ascent from a high camp at 17,750 feet. All team members successful reached the summit by 9:20 am after a very hard climb up rock, snow, and ice using fixed rope routes without oxygen. Bullinger thinks that he may be the oldest Alabamian to have successfully summited Lobuche East at 65.8 years of age. By climbing Lobuche East, it saves Everest climbers one rotation up and down through the potentially hazardous Khumbu Ice Falls. After accompanying Ciuzio up to the Everest Base Camp, Bullinger departed on April 15 and spent three days hiking back down the Khumbu Valley to the village of Lukla for a flight back to Kathmandu. He was in the capitol city until his return flight to Qatar and then onward to Atlanta on April 22. Ciuzio and his partner Beaudoin are continuing their acclimation climbs and training with the rest of their team. They made their first climb through the Khumbu Ice Falls on April 20 in preparation for their summit bid on Everest later in early May. This year is the 70th anniversary of the first successful summit of Everest by Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary on May 29, 1953. Russias foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, hinted on Tuesday at the possibility of a prisoner swap involving two Americans detained in Russia, Paul Whelan and the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. Speaking at a wide-ranging news conference at the United Nations, Mr. Lavrov said the channel to discuss detained American and Russian citizens was created when President Biden and Russias president, Vladimir V. Putin, met in Geneva in 2021. Back then, Mr. Lavrov said, the channel did not provide for the involvement of journalists. This is work that is not public in nature and publicity here will only complicate the process, Mr. Lavrov said at the United Nations, where Russia is wrapping up a contentious monthlong stint as president of the Security Council, a rotating position. Mr. Lavrov said that several American citizens were serving prison sentences in Russia for various crimes, but that Mr. Whelan and Mr. Gershkovich had been detained when they were committing a crime, receiving material that he maintained consisted of state secrets. A group of leading Russian lawyers on Tuesday asked the countrys highest court to declare unconstitutional a law banning criticism of the armed forces, in a rare display of opposition to the draconian censorship imposed by the Kremlin in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. The complaint, filed by three lawyers and supported by 10 more, most of whom are still in Russia, asked the Constitutional Court to strike down the measure, which has emerged as the Kremlins most effective tool for stifling dissent in the country. This law was passed with only one goal to suppress antiwar activism, said Violetta Fitsner, a lawyer with OVD-Info, a Russian rights group, and one of the authors of the complaint. Such restrictions cannot exist in a democratic society. The censorship laws effectively ban anything that does not correspond to the Kremlins depiction of the war, which it continues to call a special military operation. They have virtually silenced debate in Russia. Situated on an East Harlem street corner overlooking Central Park, the Center has welcomed billionaires Bill Gates and Mo Ibrahim talking about the future of African business as well as the actress Lupita Nyongo reading from her childrens book on colorism. Hank Willis Thomass Afro Pick installation was situated on its plaza. The Center has hosted African presidents and prizewinning authors and a sweaty crowd breaking into a dance party. There are places where your behavior has to be precious, said Iweala, speaking about his vision. Then there are the places that are about community the way we interact with each other, the way we build that community, the way we are in that space eating, drinking, talking. It took a long while for The Africa Center to get to this point, and Iweala acknowledges its still far from reaching its potential. The Center, with an annual budget of $4 million, occupies only about 20 percent of some 70,000 square feet of the space allotted for it in the Robert A.M. Stern-designed tower that includes 17 floors of luxury condos. Plans call for the rest to be filled out with an auditorium, cafe, administrative offices, an events venue, artists studios and galleries, a performance space and a learning laboratory for science and math. But that would require significant new fund-raising and a bump in staffing, which now stands at 11 full-time positions and four part-time. This article is part of our Museums special section about how art institutions are reaching out to new artists and attracting new audiences. In 2020, as statues of Confederate generals and other contentious historical images were being taken down in many cities, Sanford Biggers, the acclaimed New York-based contemporary artist, and Amy Gilman, the director of the Chazen Museum of Art at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, were watching with keen interest. A year earlier, while visiting the museum, Mr. Biggers had encountered a statue by Thomas Ball that depicted Abraham Lincoln standing tall, his outstretched arm hovering above a freed slave who crouches seminude at his feet. Known as The Emancipation Group, it was a four-foot marble sculpture from 1873. Ms. Gilman had expressed her discomfort about continuing to show it without context. They had agreed to think about it together. But do what? The museum was almost ashamed, it seemed, of the piece being in their collection, Mr. Biggers said in a recent interview in his studio in the Bronx in New York City. They were about to put that thing into storage. And I was like: This is actually an opportunity to open things up. This article is part of our Museums special section about how art institutions are reaching out to new artists and attracting new audiences. At the Queens Museum, theyre getting ready for a show. Its a Monday afternoon in early spring, and canvases of various sizes are lined up along the 14-foot-high wall of Gallery 6, one of six exhibition spaces in the museum, in the New York City Building that was constructed for the 1939 Worlds Fair. A gaggle of curatorial staffers gathers around an iPad on a worktable. Theyre examining the layout for the 1,144-square-foot space and an adjoining gallery of similar size, discussing how to best display the works of Aliza Nisenbaum who happens to be standing nearby, smiling as she watches the exhibition coming together.Its my first solo museum show in New York, she said. Im so excited. Although Ms. Nisenbaum is an accomplished artist her works have been exhibited in the Tate Liverpool, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art, among others this is a show that, at other institutions, might never have happened. Ms. Nisenbaum, a native of Mexico who now lives in New York, is an artist in residence at the Queens Museum. Her show, scheduled to run through Sept. 10, represents the culmination of two years of work during her residency, which in turn grew out of her decade-long involvement with Corona, the neighborhood in Queens. This article is part of our Museums special section about how art institutions are reaching out to new artists and attracting new audiences. It is a journey we all make. But is its destination what Hamlet called the undiscovered country from whose bourn/No traveler returns merely an abrupt conclusion? Or is it the beginning of another existence? Religious leaders, artists and ordinary people have been grappling with these questions for millenniums. And now several museum exhibitions are doing the same, with results that are surprising, poignant and even comic. According to studies, most people in the world believe in some sort of afterlife, even those who have no specific religious affiliation, said Elena Pakhoutova, senior curator of Himalayan art and the organizer of Death Is Not the End at the Rubin Museum of Art in Manhattan. Objects reflecting those convictions may be especially comforting because of the Covid-19 pandemic, whose arrival subtly reshaped and often postponed the plans for these shows. The Rubin, for instance, has made Death Is Not the End part of Life After, a thematic focus for 2023. On view through Jan. 14, the exhibition examines attitudes toward mortality in both Tibetan Buddhism (the museums specialty) and Christianity. Starter episode: A Dressed Guide to Dressed, Part 1 99% Invisible, the long-running radio show-turned-podcast, considers the hidden or unappreciated role of design in our everyday lives, often focusing on architecture and physical structures. Articles of Interest, hosted by Avery Trufelman, started out as a clothing-focused mini-series within 99% Invisible but spun off into an independent series about how clothing design both mirrors and shapes society. Now in its fourth season, the show has examined gender constructs within clothing, the surprisingly complex history of Hawaiian shirts, and Cher Horowitzs iconic closet in Clueless (more specifically, the question of why it doesnt exist in the real world yet). Last year, the show debuted its first mini-series, American Ivy, on the perennial popularity of the preppy look. Preppy style, which evolved from Ivy League style, favors neat and understated staples Oxford shirts, chinos, blazers and has become so ubiquitous that its now, to quote Trufelman, not the clothing of a subculture but the clothing of the dominant culture. That provides plenty of fodder for the insightful seven-part deep dive that follows. Starter episode: Pockets Begun in 2014, this weekly fashion podcast offers a rare blend of down-to-earth comedy and sartorial commentary. With a stated aim of appealing to industry insiders and outsiders alike, Lisa Rowan. a finance writer, and Kaarin Vembar, a fashion journalist, talk fashion news, breaking down whats happening with retailers, designers and celebrity labels, as well as on the runway and the red carpet. As hosts, Rowan and Vembar are well-informed, but never in a way that feels alienating to novices. And the range of subjects makes for enjoyably unpredictable listening: In a given episode, you might hear about Estee Lauder buying Tom Ford, how the pandemic affected retail worker pay, or the extraordinary story of the biggest diamond heist in world history. Starter episode: Fashion Inferno The Business of Fashion, which started life as a Typepad blog in 2007, has grown into a resource for news and analysis within the fashion industry. Its accompanying podcast has found similar success, with Imran Amed, its chief executive and founder, delivering coverage geared toward fashion creatives and executives. But its not the most accessible entry point for non-insiders, which is where The Debrief comes in. Hosted by Lauren Sherman, the former chief correspondent for The Business of Fashion, this shorter-lived weekly show offered deep dives into more mainstream fashion subjects, like the much-exaggerated downfall of skinny jeans, the rise of direct-to-consumer clothing, and how Gen Z is reshaping the industry as both consumers and employees. The Debrief wrapped up its run in January when Sherman departed BoF, but the back catalog is well worth the delve for anyone seeking a better understanding of modern fashion. Starter episode: The Decline of the Skinny Jean Who What Wear" was one of the first digital-only fashion brands, founded in 2006 by the former Elle magazine editors Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power, and in the years since the duo have launched clothing lines, a media company and written books on style. In May 2021 came the brands first podcast, offering trend analysis, runway coverage and interviews with designers, stylists and celebrities. Kerr, who also leads Second Life, a podcast about career pivots, is a warm and affable host whose interviews go deeper than many others in the genre. The show is also an especially smart resource for anyone curious about Hollywood costuming; interviewees have included designers from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Daisy Jones & the Six and the original Gossip Girl. Starter episode: WWW 100: Your Definitive (and Exhaustive) Guide to Spring Shopping The exhibition at the Zimmerli was going to be called You Are Feeling Good!, the title of one of their earliest signature works from 1972, which shows the slogan painted in white on a red background. It was meant to channel an imaginary Soviet artist producing sincere propaganda and, in retrospect, mocking both Communist and capitalist slogans that they later sought to undermine once they were in New York. American Pop Art was a reaction to the overproduction of consumer goods and advertisements, said Julia Tulovsky, the museums curator of Russian and Soviet nonconformist art. Sots Art in the Soviet Union was a reaction to the overproduction of ideological propaganda. But Russias invasion of Ukraine last February led the museum to rename the exhibition to A Lesson in History. It opened on Feb. 11, almost a year after the war began. Mr. Komar and Mr. Melamid first met as art students in the 1960s at the Stroganov Academy, founded in 1825 when Russia was ruled by czars. They were taught the fundamentals of classical, Russian and Soviet Realist art during the waning of the cultural thaw introduced under Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev following the death of his predecessor, Joseph Stalin. In 1977, the duo emigrated to Israel. A year later they moved to New York; they became U.S. citizens in 1988. For decades, they were deeply embedded in the New York art scene and achieved serious fame. Now, they are being reintroduced to another generation of audiences two decades after they split up. AMSTERDAM During World War II, a clutch of whimsical childrens books were published in the Netherlands under a pen name, El Pintor. One book shows children flying on the backs of sparrows. In another, they float, attached to balloons. There is a pop-up book with people and animals nestled in trees and an activity book with paper cutouts. The books sold thousands of copies, and were popular not only in the Netherlands, which was invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany in 1940, but in Germany as well. The books did more than entertain children during the grim days of war. Behind the pseudonym El Pintor was a Jewish couple, Galinka Ehrenfest and Jacob Kloot. They used the name El Pintor to obscure their heritage, and funneled the proceeds from their picture books to fund Dutch resistance efforts and to help Jews who were hiding from the Nazi regime. They did so at great risk, said Linda Horn, who wrote a book published in the Netherlands about Ehrenfests life. British American Tobacco has agreed to pay more than $635 million as a penalty for selling cigarettes to North Korea through an intermediary in Singapore, in violation of American sanctions. A small portion of the amount, about $5 million, was part of a civil settlement with the Treasury Department. The rest, obtained and announced by the Justice Department on Tuesday, was the biggest in that departments history related to sanctions on North Korea. Even though British American Tobacco said publicly in 2007 that it had agreed to sell its share in a cigarette business it ran with a state-owned North Korean firm, the London-based company and its Singapore subsidiary secretly continued to operate the venture through a third party, an independent conglomerate based in Singapore, federal prosecutors said in a court filing this month. North Korean clients paid that intermediary, which was not identified in the filing, at least $415 million through front companies over about a decade, in some cases using American banks, according to the court documents. The operation relied on financial facilitators linked to North Koreas weapons of mass destruction proliferation network, Brian E. Nelson, the Treasurys under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in the statement issued by the Justice Department. MARIANNA, Florida A Dothan man who was expected to be on trial this week for a 2020 murder, pleaded to the charge Monday morning. Trayvon Leon Dorsey, 21, of Dothan, pleaded no contest to second-degree murder with a firearm for the 2020 shooting death of Shannon Weatherington. Judge Ana Maria Garcia adjudicated Dorsey guilty, and he was sentenced to 30 years in prison with the first 25 being minimum mandatory, according to the plea agreement. On Nov. 21, 2020, Dorsey met Weatherington inside of a Hardees in Graceville in order to purchase marijuana from him. While the two were in the bathroom conducting the deal, Dorsey used counterfeit money to pay for the drugs. According to a release from the Office of the State Attorney, Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, when Weatherington realized the money was fake, he confronted Dorsey who then turned around and shot him twice before fleeing the scene in a car driven by a co-defendant. Graceville Police found counterfeit bills in the victims possession and in the vehicle Dorsey fled in. A .38-caliber pistol used in the shooting was also recovered at Dorseys residence. Officials believe the victim and defendant did not know each other and the deal was set up by Dorseys co-defendant. It is notable that even when compared with the extreme rhetoric Mr. Carlson was allowed to use on air, the messages released publicly had the ability to shock. In one, he referred to the lawyer Sidney Powell, a major proponent of the debunked theory that the Dominion machines switched votes, with a crude and misogynistic slur. Amid the cache of redacted messages was one in which he used a similar vulgarity to describe a senior Fox News executive, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. One person briefed on the contents of the redacted material said one of the messages was particularly offensive, adding to the concern at the top of the company. The Times has not seen the contents of the message. Dominion lawyers planned to press the judge about using the contents of the redacted messages in their questioning of Mr. Carlson. The lawyers prepped dozens of potential questions for the host, along with hypothetical rejoinders they thought Mr. Carlson might use to deflect the toughest of them. And they planned to pin him down on the ones that were most demeaning toward women. The two sides had different views of whether much or any of Mr. Carlsons unredacted messages would be seen in court a difference that, at trial, would have been sorted by the presiding judge, Eric M. Davis of Delaware Superior Court. The settlement of the Dominion case, however, has not ended the threat posed by the messages. The New York Times, The Associated Press and National Public Radio have challenged the redactions, meaning they could still become public. And Mr. Carlsons indiscretion has exposed him further. Given how polarizing he has been, both inside and outside Fox News, more evidence of embarrassing and inappropriate conduct could emerge. In video obtained by The Times, for instance, Mr. Carlson is shown off camera discussing his postmenopausal fans and whether they will approve of how he looks on the air. In another video, he is overheard describing a woman he finds yummy. What kind of cheesecake withstands burning and triumphs, and sears itself into the memories of child and worldly wise alike? The ingredient list is brief: for the filling, only cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract. And the crust isnt gently coaxed and toiled over. It comes from a can: crescent-roll dough, which pops out with a twist its so fun to open, Kitsopoulos said unfurls, turns fluffy when baked and is somehow precision-engineered to evoke the rich, milky purity of the fattest butter (even if the dough might contain vegetable shortening instead). Unknown to Kitsopoulos, who grew up in New Jersey, she had stumbled on a Southwestern tradition: a mash-up of cheesecake and sopapillas, pieces of dough dropped into hot oil until they puff into little pillows and often served dusted with cinnamon sugar and dripping with honey. The origins of sopapillas, also spelled sopaipillas, go back to Latin America the word is believed to derive from Mozarabic, a medieval Spanish-Arabic vernacular and regions of the United States that were once part of Mexico. In 2003, Texas briefly proclaimed the sopaipilla as its official state pastry (alongside strudel) and a much-savored part of Texans shared cultural identity. Sopapilla cheesecake was the dish most Googled during Thanksgiving week in Texas and Oklahoma from 2004 to 2013. Oklahoma State University even features a recipe on its website, one of seemingly countless online. Kitsopoulos took a recipe from Pillsbury, developed by Deborah Harroun, the writer of the Taste and Tell blog. The cellist made a few adjustments: a little less sugar and a lot more cinnamon. Baking, like music, demands discipline and precision, but in the kitchen, Kitsopoulos is the least fussy of bakers, approximating more than measuring. Where Pillsbury advises first rolling out the dough for the topping on parchment paper, she just plops it on. Im so not an exact person, she said with a laugh. Im flying by the seat of my pants. Sometimes I forget I have something in the oven. In December, when the young Finnish maestro Klaus Makela came to town he looks exactly like my son, she said she gave him brownies. He had eight of them, she recalled in wonder. I dont think they give the guest conductors enough food. In the early 1980s, Nicolas Cage got his first big breaks in Martha Coolidges Valley Girl and Amy Heckerlings Fast Times at Ridgemont High, films that zeroed in on the peculiar allure of his dopey bad boy persona. Watching him was like eating a banana split: You tasted something nutty, sweet, indulgent, all-American. Since then, few actors have been able to match how nimble a polymorph Cage is in genre, how easily he power-bounces between action (National Treasure), comedy (Moonstruck) and horror (Pay the Ghost). In the new vampire comedy Renfield, as he did in the bloodsucker-themed Vampires Kiss more than three decades ago, he plows through genres as hard as he chews the scenery. Hes done the same for a whos who of boundary-pushing directors, including the Coen brothers (Raising Arizona), David Lynch (Wild at Heart) and Spike Jonze (Adaptation). Not that every Nicolas Cage movie is gonzo; his sole Oscar win was for a sublime portrayal of an ugly alcoholic in the drama Leaving Las Vegas. To get a sense of the Cage range, heres a look at 10 of his performances from the last decade that paint a portrait of a man and his methods of madness. Each is rated on a scale of bees one for sleepy, five for loony in honor of the insects that tortured him in the 2006 remake of The Wicker Man. But Mr. Sullivan often insisted that crime was a losing issue for Ms. Hochul. He believed the campaigns resources would be better spent motivating Democrats to turn out on the issue of abortion rights, so he pushed to limit public safety messaging in areas like Long Island or to issues like gun laws. In the end, the campaign did not meaningfully challenge Republicans on crime statewide until October, after they had already whipped up a frenzy. Ms. Hochul survived by just six percentage points in an overwhelmingly Democratic state, and some party leaders believe her approach on crime helped Republicans win congressional seats. Representative Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker, told The Timess Maureen Dowd that Ms. Hochul needed to deal with crime early on, not 10 days before the election. Mr. Sullivans allies said he stood by the campaigns commitment to prioritizing attacks on Ms. Hochuls Republican opponent on abortion. Mr. Sullivan declined to comment on campaign strategy. Since then, he has also resisted any quick course correction at the state Democratic Party. He and Ms. Hochul have stood by its chairman, Jay Jacobs, who has become a punching bag for Democrats, especially on the left. Mr. Sullivans allies say he and Ms. Hochul want to strengthen the party, but they could only describe vague plans. In the meantime, national Democrats do not appear to be waiting, announcing their own $45 million New York political machine. Adam is the first person to pick up the phone and call me and be supportive, Mr. Jacobs said in an interview. I dont think he has any agenda other than the governor being successful. Susan C. Beachy contributed research. Why It Matters With more than 200 locations across New York, the citys public library systems are beloved as a community resource and a foundation of critical priorities like childhood reading and providing access to the internet. Earlier this week, the leaders of the citys three public library systems warned that the mayors latest directive for city agencies to cut their budgets by 4 percent for the coming fiscal year would force them to suspend Saturday service at a number of locations and completely eliminate Sunday service. Anthony W. Marx, president of the New York Public Library, thanked the mayor for restoring that funding. This investment is an investment in the people of New York City, he said in a statement. We also know that the citys finances are precarious, and appreciate all the more his decision to restore vital funding and ensure all New Yorkers can enjoy the opportunities that come from their libraries. Background The mayor and the City Council are negotiating a city budget for the fiscal year that starts in July, and must synthesize their different priorities for the city. Mr. Adams has said that across-the-board budget cuts are necessary as the city grapples with a host of financial challenges, including paying for housing, food and schools for an influx of migrants from the southern border, and for new labor deals with city workers. His latest executive budget proposal, the largest in city history, included $2.1 billion in increased tax revenues for the current fiscal year and $2.3 billion next year, driven by better than expected growth in personal income tax, business tax and sales taxes. But Mr. Adams continued to raise concerns over the arrival of more than 57,000 migrants in the city and said that providing them with services was expected to cost $4.3 billion through next year. No one wants to factor in asylum seeker costs, Mr. Adams said. The mayor also trumpeted several spending priorities, including plans to build a citywide organics waste recycling program and two new health care campuses that would create thousands of jobs. Whats Next Leaders in the City Council have vowed to fight the mayors cuts, with a budget deal expected in June. They have called on the mayor to reverse budget cuts to public schools and to a popular preschool program for 3-year-olds, and for more spending on social services like food assistance and for expanding half-price MetroCards for poor New Yorkers. On Wednesday, Adrienne Adams, the City Council speaker, said the budget fight was far from over. The mayors executive budget, she said, still leaves our libraries facing significant service cuts, agencies that deliver essential services harmed, and programs that deliver solutions to the citys most pressing challenges without the investments needed. The Local decided to go all out, with a 64-page whopper to be delivered just as it was for its first-ever press run to every house in Montclair. Its our send-off issue, its much bigger than what we usually put out, said its editor in chief, Carla Baranauckas. Copy was filed and edited, headlines were written, pages were laid out. The issue would be sent to the printer at midnight on Tuesday. But on Monday morning, Ms. Baranauckas received an email with some troubling news: There had been a fire at the printing plant in Rockaway, N.J. Suddenly, the Locals last edition was in jeopardy. Though print newspapers have been fading for years, many older readers and journalists still cling to a fondness for them. Ms. Baranauckas said the Locals print edition had some younger fans, too: children. When theyre in the newspaper, they get a kick out of it, she said. Stuyvesant has a lot of additional requirements. At high schools throughout the city, you have to take six math credits, six science credits and six world language credits. At Stuyvesant, you have to take additional science courses and additional math courses. You have to spend more time on foreign language studies. Theres a computer science requirement. Pressure, thats a big factor here. Stuyvesant is the most selective high school in New York City, period. And the Stuyvesant diploma is a seal on their diploma signifying that theyve earned the extra credits. Ultimately that seal isnt a factor in deciding between two applicants for colleges, and on the outside, it might seem like a small thing. But for students at Stuyvesant, because of the environment theyre in and because theyve worked hard to do the extra requirements, it does carry a lot of meaning. What about accommodations for Muslim students at other high schools? Are there accommodations for them to pray during the school day? A lot of schools are making accommodations. Those could be halal meals provided at lunch, or giving different assignments to students who have religious objections. But some students are asking for more. At Hillcrest High School in Jamaica, Queens, theres a cohort of Muslim students that has been hoping to use a meditation room for prayer. Its empty during the times they want to use it, but its locked. Administrators initially said they couldnt use it because of the Education Departments rules and guidelines on prayer in schools, so they had been praying in a small closet in a teachers office that has classroom materials in it. Sometimes they were interrupted and asked what they were doing, but they were not allowed to answer during prayer if they adhered to their religious guidelines. Follow our live coverage of E. Jean Carrolls testimony in Trump rape case. The judge in the civil trial of E. Jean Carrols rape allegation against former President Donald J. Trump sharply criticized comments by Mr. Trump on social media about an hour before the trial resumed on Wednesday morning. Mr. Trump posted twice about the lawsuit, calling it a scam and writing that Ms. Carrolls lawyer was a political operative. He also said that the dress Ms. Carroll wore should be allowed to be part of the case. The posts tested boundaries set forth Tuesday by Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who instructed the parties to inform your clients and witnesses to please refrain from making any statements that are likely to incite violence or civil unrest. He said that he was especially concerned for the safety and privacy of jurors. On Wednesday, the judge said Mr. Trumps out-of-court statements seemed entirely inappropriate and suggested Mr. Trump might be trying to influence members of the jury. But the call between the two men changed the course of both their lives. And it changed the way that celebrities would think about using, and imperiling, their stardom to advance a social cause. Just months earlier, Rosa Parks had refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Ala., sparking a citywide boycott and thrusting Dr. King into a position of leadership that neither he nor anyone else could have imagined. Now Mr. Belafonte was cast into a new role, too, one that caused him to suppress his career ambitions as he joined Dr. King in pursuit of loftier goals. Dr. King sought to build a support system in those early days and sensed that I was one of the forces in that historical moment that was willing, as Mr. Belafonte later told me, to commit to that cause. But Mr. Belafonte might not have committed so fully if not for the almost instant bond the men forged. Even in that first phone call, Mr. Belafonte said, he was struck by Dr. Kings attentiveness. Dr. King listened more than he spoke. He asked questions. He keyed in on Mr. Belafontes interest in labor unions, wondering how unions might support this growing movement, which, it should be remembered, had not yet transcended Montgomery. In the very beginning, Dr. King was not quite as vocal as he became, Mr. Belafonte said. He was very much a listener. He was in a turf with which he was not deeply familiar. Though many people received Dr. King warmly, Mr. Belafonte said, he just did not know where he fit. His task was to gather around him people who could help reveal for him what his course would be. In days gone by, it was possible to broach such subjects, albeit gently. But in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine and the Kremlins repression of dissent, the space for candid discussion has been sealed off. The Carnegie Moscow Center, for example, where I worked and was able to converse with members of the ruling elite, was shut down by the authorities last spring. The bulk of its scholars have left the country and are now creating another think tank in Berlin. Those who remain in Russia have lost the opportunity to engage in an open dialogue on the countrys future. Yet the extraordinarily high level of interest in the book is evidence that, despite the fiction of consensus that state propaganda has tried to reinforce, Russians have not stopped asking questions about what comes next. Given the books focus, it seems that readers are thinking not about the regimes continuation as the authorities would wish but about how it might end. For many, the simple act of buying the book is a political statement, and numerous bookstores are using it to quietly indicate their positions. major store near the notorious Lubyanka, the headquarters of the Federal Security Service (and previously the K.G.B.) in Moscow, placed copies of The End of the Regime right next to Putins Path, a hagiography devoted to the Russian leader, and a book on Stalin. The implication was clear. Unlike many authors of the Soviet and czarist eras, who deprived of the opportunity to discuss their country and their future directly masked those discussions by focusing on other peoples and eras, I didnt set for myself the goal of writing a book about Mr. Putin: This is not a book about Russia disguised as a book about Spain, Portugal and Greece. Nevertheless, unlike numerous Western works on similar topics, the book is written by an inhabitant of an autocracy for other inhabitants of an autocracy. This links author and readers with a special, almost conspiratorial view of the subject. Most important, the book gives readers a new, more accurate perspective on the country they live in. Russian and informed international readers are aware that analogies with the collapse of Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union are misleading. It is difficult to imagine a defeat along the lines of that suffered by Germany being experienced by a nuclear power such as Russia. Similarly, the collapse of the Soviet regime came about first and foremost because of its sclerotic economic system, which left the population behind the Iron Curtain without food and consumer goods. A fifth suspect who was sought after in a 2022 double murder was arrested in Georgia Wednesday morning. MacAuthur Mike Hawkins of Decatur, Georgia, was taken into custody without incident by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force from Atlanta and is formally charged with one count of capital murder, one count of first-degree kidnapping, and one count of abuse of a corpse. He is currently being held in Georgia awaiting extradition to the Houston County Jail. Once he arrives, he will have no bond. In July 2022, Dothan Police launched a joint investigation with the Holmes County Sheriffs Department in Florida after family members reported Shauna Terry and her boyfriend Damien Bell, both of Dothan, missing. During the investigation, it was discovered both individuals were shot and killed; one in Dothan, and the other in Holmes County. Both bodies were discovered buried in Holmes County. In the months that followed, four individuals, Sheena Marie Thurman, 35, of Bonifay, Florida, David Allen Bastian, 37 of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, Joshua Deavours Parks, 36, and Davante Laquae Williams, 32, of Dothan, were arrested last year in connection with the murder. Hawkins had been on the run until he was captured and was living under a false identity with an individual portraying to be someone he was not. The reverberations through families like mine dont show up in the official statistics, but they are a part of the toll of a mass shooting. One 2020 study found significant increases in antidepressant prescriptions written for young people by treatment providers who practice within five miles of mass shootings. Concentric circles of anguish after the Tree of Life shooting extended out through the community of all American Jews, who were left to reckon with the hatred that is directed toward them and the fear that their own place of worship could be next. The full extent of harm done by that one days violence can never be accurately counted. Jury selection finally began on Monday in the trial of the man who is believed to have perpetrated that violence. Federal prosecutors are expected to seek the death penalty. But though this tragedy has caused more suffering than can ever be described in a court of law, my family feels strongly that the perpetrator should not be put to death. We believe the present-day Jewish tradition prohibits capital punishment. Our community was targeted because of our religion. Prosecutors should take its precepts into account as they decide how to secure justice for those we have lost. Im well aware that the Bible has many sections that mandate the death penalty, but I also know that an eye for an eye has been interpreted since at least the time of the Mishna, roughly 1,800 years ago, as monetary compensation for the value of a persons sight rather than physical retribution. That applies even to the command in Deuteronomy 21 that mandates the death penalty for a rebellious son who does not listen to the voice of his father or mother. Rabbis in the first and second centuries went so far out of their way to avoid the literal meaning that they decided capital punishment was in order only if both the father and the mother were the exact same height. The rabbis themselves wrote, There has never been a stubborn and rebellious son and there will never be in the future. For a finite period in ancient Jewish history from the building of the Temple in Jerusalem until the year 70 C.E. a high court in Jerusalem did have the power to mete out the death penalty, though it is unclear if it ever actually used that right. Jews have since lived centuries without such a court. Instead, the Talmud explains in Sotah that there are forces at work that ensure divine justice when humans are incapable of granting it. And for journalism, those attributes included a college-level education. I quickly learned during my discouraging job search that summer how easy it is to get ensnared by an applicant tracking system when your schooling stops at a G.E.D. or when you have gaps in your job history because of struggles with addiction or when you spent your 20s working in retail. With nuance, I could perhaps explain my unusual back story to a human being, but how do you reason with a portal? The good news is, future job searches may not always be as bleak as mine have been. Companies from Google to G.M. to Delta Air Lines are dropping college degree requirements for many roles, focusing instead on skills-based hiring, a philosophy that emphasizes people over pedigrees. Some high-profile chief executives, including Ryan Roslansky of LinkedIn, have been vocal about the benefits of a skills-based approach for companies looking to broaden their talent pipelines. And the Business Roundtable introduced its Multiple Pathways Initiative with the goal of improving diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of corporate America by emphasizing the value of skills in recruitment, retention and advancement. This movement is not new, but the tight labor market, along with some of the inequities that were made more apparent by the pandemic, has brought it to the fore. Having spent so many years in a profession where college is the default starting point, I suspect that it will take more than a few adjustments to H.R. software filters to produce meaningful change. Consider the ever-persistent education wage gap, which has been widening for decades and by some measures got even worse during the past few years. Recently updated data published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicated that the median annual wage for younger workers with a bachelors degree was $52,000 in 2022, compared with $34,320 for high school graduates in the same age group. Meanwhile, wage gaps along racial and gender lines persist at all education levels, as evidenced by a 2021 report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Education can be a reasonably reliable predictor of lifetime earnings, the report found, but its only one part of a complex equation. Its probably also worth pointing out that most studies youll read about the education divide are written by people on one side of it. The same holds true for most news articles. Can we be so surprised that the media presents an incomplete picture of higher education when so few journalists navigate the working world without a four-year degree? Assumptions around higher education just need to evolve. I still remember the boss at a weekly newspaper where I once worked who told me to toss resumes in the garbage if they didnt have a college listed on them. Changing hearts and minds is hard, but changing habits is harder. One 2022 survey conducted by Morning Consult found that even though 72 percent of employers said they didnt believe a college degree was a great indicator of a persons skills, more than half still hired candidates from degree programs anyway because they saw doing so as a less risky choice. Something clearly went wrong, Anthony Fauci told me, reflecting on the long pandemic, in an interview for The New York Times Magazine. I dont know exactly what it was. It has been a brutal three years. As the Covid-19 death toll first grew past 100,000 and then did that 11 times over, the country cast around desperately for those to blame, not just for the growing mountain of American deaths but also for unprecedented disruptions to the lives of survivors. It was Chinas fault, or Donald Trumps, or the spring breakers in Daytona Beach or those selfish enough to travel home for Thanksgiving. It was those who forced essential workers to stay on the job and those who kept ordering delivery from them. It was the people who socialized in pods and those who werent strict enough about them. It was the Sturgis motorcycle rally in 2020. It was those who cut the line to get vaccinated, then those who didnt get vaccinated, then those who stopped wearing masks once they did. It was conservatives who called Covid a disease of the elderly, and it was liberals who called it a terrifying, society-ordering risk. It was the governors who reopened and those who didnt, and those who insisted that Omicron was mild and those who insisted it wasnt. It was the teachers unions. It was the kid who infected the whole fourth grade. It was the parents who didnt feel safe reopening classrooms at all. It was the people who didnt bother to install air-filtration systems despite billions in federal funding and those who didnt stage randomized control trials to measure the actual threat of transmission in schools. It was people who didnt talk enough about long Covid and people who never talked about anything else. It was those undermining the vaccines and then those overlooking their shortcomings. It was mask holdouts, once we could no longer complain about mask mandates. It was the unvaccinated and it was Joe Biden saying pandemic of the unvaccinated. It was the C.D.C. revising its thresholds for local spread, then telling you it was safe to return to work after five days even without a negative test. And it was those people who kept annoyingly insisting that the pandemic wasnt over, when, in truth, well, it both was and wasnt. It was the virus, in the end, in ways hardly any of us were comfortable acknowledging. And so many, instead, pointed fingers at one another, whether we wanted more done or less. Perhaps out of a desperate need to believe that it was actually possible to defeat Covid-19, we chose to tell morality tales about pandemic response. By observing its subject at slightly longer radio wavelengths, the team was able to bring into visibility the cooler outer regions of the black holes fiery accretion disk, from which the jet seems to emanate. We know that jets are ejected from the region surrounding black holes, Dr. Lu said in a statement issued by the European Southern Observatory. But we still do not fully understand how this actually happens. To study this directly we need to observe the origin of the jet as close as possible to the black hole. In the meantime, the Event Horizon Telescope team is gathering resources for more observations, with the goal of making a black-hole movie. Kazunori Akiyama, an astrophysicist at the Haystack Observatory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a member of the Event Horizon project and an author of the new image, said, Im really excited to see this result, because now we have a new tool to capture what is surrounding the famous E.H.T.s black hole. We will be able to film how the matter falls into a black hole and eventually manages to escape. Background Dr. Lieber, now 64, had been chairman of Harvards chemistry and chemical biology department. For his work on nanotechnology, he had been seen by some as a contender for the Nobel Prize. Since 2008, prosecutors said, his laboratory at Harvard had received research grants totaling $18 million from the Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health. But he also secretly accepted money from China, which had established a government initiative, the Thousand Talents program, to gain access to scientific knowledge and expertise, often paying scientists lavishly. When questioned about his involvement with Thousand Talents in 2018 by federal investigators, he denied it. He also failed to report his income to the I.R.S. But the Justice Department found that Dr. Lieber had a three-year contract with Thousand Talents, under which he agreed to establish a research lab at Wuhan University and to publish articles, organize international conferences and apply for patents on the schools behalf. The university agreed to pay him up to $50,000 a month as a salary and to provide living expenses of up to $150,000. At his trial he said that a portion of his salary was deposited in a Chinese bank account. The rest, between $50,000 and $100,000, was paid in $100 bills. They would give me a package, a brown thing with some Chinese characters on it, I would throw it in my bag, he said at the trial. After returning home, he said, I didnt declare it, and thats illegal. At his trial he confessed that money was not the lure it was the opportunity to advance his career. This is embarrassing, he said at his trial. Every scientist wants to win a Nobel Prize. His lawyers, noting that he has an incurable blood cancer, had asked that he be sentenced to probation or home confinement instead of serving time in prison. Why It Matters Dr. Liebers conviction in December 2021 resulted from the China Initiative, an effort launched in 2018, under the Trump administration, to identify scientists suspected of sharing sensitive information with China. In early 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said it had more than 2,000 open investigations related to theft from China of information and technology from the United States. But critics said that the China Initiative had unfairly targeted academic researchers of Asian descent. While the initiative led to the conviction of Dr. Lieber and other researchers, another prosecution of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientist, Gang Chen, was dismissed. In February 2022, the Justice Department ended the effort, with one official, Matthew G. Olsen, saying it helped give rise to a harmful perception that the department applies a lower standard to investigate and prosecute criminal conduct related to that country or that we in some way view people with racial, ethnic or familial ties to China differently. Claire Ptak first learned about Meghan Markle through Ms. Markles former lifestyle blog, The Tig, a so-called hub for the discerning palate that she started in 2014. After Ms. Ptak, the owner of Violet, a cafe and bakery in London, published The Violet Bakery Cookbook in 2015, she sent a copy to Ms. Markle, who later asked to interview her. Great questions, Ms. Ptak, 48, said of that conversation. Ms. Ptak had by then been living in London for about a decade. Raised in Northern California, she moved to England soon after she married a Briton in 2005, and opened her bakery in 2010. (She is now divorced.) In 2018, Ms. Ptak was asked to make what has probably become her most famous dessert: a lemon and elderflower cake served at Meghan and Prince Harrys wedding. Last year, Ms. Ptak made a version of the cake for a birthday party for the couples daughter, Princess Lilibet Diana. For years, the giant cryptocurrency exchange Binance has had a reputation for dodging regulators and skirting financial rules, all without significant consequences. Now the worlds largest crypto exchange is facing mounting legal pressure. Changpeng Zhao, Binances founder and chief executive, has hired white-collar defense lawyers at the law firm Latham & Watkins to represent him personally, as he and his company face a tightening legal net. Justice Department prosecutors are investigating the exchange for money laundering violations, as the Securities and Exchange Commission is looking into the companys business practices. Last month, another agency, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, sued Mr. Zhao, accusing him of compliance failures that allowed criminals to launder money on Binance. The legal threats have converged to create the most precarious moment in Binances history. Criminal charges against Mr. Zhao or his company could set off mass panic in the crypto markets, which are reeling from the FTX exchanges collapse last year and the arrest of the firms founder, Sam Bankman-Fried. Binance is several times larger than FTX was, processing tens of billions of dollars in trades every day. Its the biggest exchange for crypto, and if it gets clamped down on, thats going to be a big deal, said Hilary Allen, a crypto expert at American University. Its hard to see the rest of the crypto industry remaining unscathed. Many Americans say they do not want President Biden to run for re-election, and his age is a big reason. In an NBC News poll released last weekend, 70 percent of adults said Mr. Biden, who is 80, should not run again. Asked if age was a factor, 69 percent of them said yes. Other recent surveys detect a similar lack of enthusiasm, with many voters including around half of Democrats calling him too old to seek the White House again. Taken at face value, its easy to imagine that his age could undermine the re-election campaign he formally announced on Tuesday. Mr. Biden, already the oldest president in U.S. history, would be 86 at the end of his second term. Republicans have amplified video of his verbal miscues he also has a stutter and suggested they reflect cognitive decline. Mr. Bidens age is a frequent punchline on late-night television. But a review of the polling and academic research paints a surprisingly mixed picture. With the obvious caveat that a serious age-related gaffe or health crisis could change things, there are good reasons to think that Bidens age may matter less than some polls suggest. 1. Theory vs. practice Americans often express concern about aging leaders, but that hasnt stopped them from voting for older candidates. Although not every childs recording made the final cut, the project has aimed to broaden acceptance of children with autism and to give them a chance to have their voices broadcast at train stations, which many of them adore. Many children with autism focus intensely on the technical aspects of trains and buses, subway maps and train schedules, said Jonathan Trichter, a co-founder of the Foundry Learning Center a school for children with developmental disabilities in Manhattan and the driving force behind the public service announcements. Children with autism also latch onto phrases they hear in spaces where they are intensely focused and use them as some of their first means of communication, Mr. Trichter said. As a result, it is not unusual for a child in New York City who is on the spectrum to have, as his or her first full sentence, something like Stand clear of the closing doors, please, Mr. Trichter said, reciting the familiar warning that plays throughout the citys subway system. That phenomenon, he said, gave him the idea to pitch the childrens announcements to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York, which was the first agency to broadcast them last April. Quite the opposite, the statement said. Church policy explicitly demands Scientologists abide by all laws of the land. What are the allegations? According to a trial brief filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office in September, Masterson raped a woman, identified only as Jen B., in April 2003 after she went to his house to pick up keys and he gave her a red vodka drink. About 20 or 30 minutes later, she felt very disoriented, the brief states. According to the brief, Masterson raped her after she regained consciousness on his bed. She reached for his hair to try to pull him off and attempted to push a pillow into his face, it states. When Masterson heard a man yelling in the house, he pulled a gun from his night stand and told her not to move or say anything, adding expletives, the document states. The trial brief says that Masterson raped a second woman, identified only as Christina B., who had been in a relationship with him and had lived with him for six years. In November 2001, the document says, she awoke to Masterson having sex with her and told him to stop. I tried pushing him off me and saying, No, I dont want to have sex with you, the document states. She also pulled his hair, and he hit her, it states. In December 2001, she had one or two glasses of wine at a restaurant with Masterson and woke up naked in her bed the next morning, feeling that it hurt to sit down or go to the bathroom, the brief states. She said she went downstairs and confronted Masterson, and he acknowledged having sex with her while she was unconscious, the document states. The brief says that sometime between October and December of 2003, Masterson raped a third woman, identified only as N. Trout, who occasionally saw him at parties and gatherings and, like him, was in the Celebrity Centre branch of Scientology. The Alabama Community College Systems top scholars from across the state were recently honored as members of the 2023 All-Alabama Academic Team during a recognition program. Wallace Community College-Dothan students Jammie Sanchez, Slocomb, and Natalia Lara-Trejo, Union Springs, were selected to the 2023 Team. Each year it is an honor to help celebrate the accomplishments of our students. Jammie and Natalia have distinguished themselves as accomplished scholars and campus leaders, said Daymesha Reed, WCCD Student Life Coordinator. Through determination and discipline, they have reached levels of success they probably thought not possible. We applaud their success and good work on our college campus. The All-Alabama students were selected from their colleges by members of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for the students demonstration of academic excellence and intellectual rigor, leadership and service, and for a commitment to extending their education beyond the classroom to benefit society. The All-Alabama Academic Team recognition program was founded in 1995 to complement the All-USA Academic Team Program that is sponsored by USA Today, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and the American Association of Community Colleges. A divided Oklahoma panel declined on Wednesday to recommend clemency for Richard Glossip, a death row prisoner whose case has been taken on by a diverse range of supporters, including state lawmakers, Kim Kardashian and the Republican state attorney general, who argued that it would be a grave injustice to put him to death. Mr. Glossip, 60, was convicted of arranging the 1997 murder of Barry Van Treese, who owned a motel in Oklahoma City where Mr. Glossip worked as manager. But Mr. Glossips lawyers and supporters have argued that the motel handyman who carried out the killing, Justin Sneed, had acted alone. State lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have said Mr. Glossip should be spared, with one Republican death penalty supporter saying he would vote to outlaw executions in the state if Mr. Glossip was put to death. Gentner Drummond, the state attorney general, told the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board that though he believed Mr. Glossip most likely arranged the murder, the evidence was not strong enough to warrant a conviction, let alone a death sentence. At moments, the campaign rollout had the feel of a nostalgia tour, like an old band trying to recapture the magic of the past. The announcement was timed to the exact day of Mr. Bidens kickoff four years earlier. His first speech, then and now, was to a labor union. And then as now, Jill Biden, the first lady, snapped a photo in front of the same building at the Northern Virginia Community College where she teaches English. The 2024 presidential race is expected to revolve around about half a dozen highly competitive states. The epicenter will be the two Sun Belt states, Georgia and Arizona, that Mr. Biden in 2020 put into the Democratic column for the first time since the 1990s, as well as the three industrial states touching the Great Lakes that are perennial battlegrounds: Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Nevada and North Carolina, which has been just out of Democrats grasp in recent years, are expected to have heavy spending, as well. Mr. Biden held a video call on Tuesday with roughly a dozen Democratic governors to discuss messaging in battleground states and carrying out the administrations agenda, according to a person with direct knowledge of the call. The call included, among others, the governors of Michigan, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. In Mr. Bidens labor conference speech, he delivered a lengthy recitation of the policy achievements of his first two years in office, and was briefly interrupted with the four more years chant familiar to every presidential re-election campaign. He spoke of signing trillions in stimulus and infrastructure spending and, as in his announcement video, warned of MAGA Republicans who he said threatened to destroy the fabric of the country. WASHINGTON In the four years since President Donald J. Trumps leader-to-leader diplomacy with Kim Jong-un of North Korea collapsed after a failed meeting in Hanoi, the Norths arsenal of nuclear weapons has expanded so fast that American and South Korean officials admit they have stopped trying to keep a precise count. North Koreas missile tests are so frequent that they prompt more shrugs than big headlines in Seoul. So when President Biden welcomes President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea to the White House on Wednesday, only the second state visit of Mr. Bidens presidency, there will be few pretenses that disarming North Korea remains a plausible goal. Instead, American officials say, Mr. Bidens most vivid commitment to Mr. Yoon will focus on what arms control experts call extended deterrence, renewing a vow that Americas nuclear arsenal will be used, if necessary, to dissuade or respond to a North Korean nuclear attack on the South. WASHINGTON President Biden moved on Wednesday to bolster the American nuclear umbrella guarding South Korea and vowed that any nuclear attack by North Korea would result in the end of the government in Pyongyang, underscoring a broad turn from diplomacy to deterrence in response to the threat from the volatile dictatorship. Hosting President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea at the White House for a state visit, Mr. Biden committed to giving Seoul a central role for the first time in strategic planning for the use of nuclear weapons in any conflict with North Korea. In return, the South disavowed any effort to pursue its own nuclear arsenal, a move Mr. Yoon briefly appeared to embrace earlier this year. Mr. Biden also announced that the United States would send American nuclear ballistic missile submarines to dock in South Korea for the first time in decades. Look, a nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States, its allies or partisans partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action, Mr. Biden said during a news conference in the Rose Garden, where he and Mr. Yoon described their agreement, called the Washington Declaration. Its about strengthening deterrence in response to the D.P.R.K.s escalatory behavior and the deal is complete consultation between the allies, Mr. Biden said, using the initials for the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. While past presidents had also warned North Korea that a nuclear attack on the South would result in a devastating American response, the blunt language about bringing about the end of the North Korean regime was reminiscent of Mr. Bidens bellicose predecessor, Donald J. Trump. Mr. Trump once threatened North Korea with fire and fury like the world has never seen if it were to attack. On the day of a special election in New Hampshire in April 2021, Michael Drouin posted a fake advertisement on Craigslist offering a free trailer and listed the phone number of Bill Boyd, a candidate for a state House seat. Mr. Drouin thought he was playing a harmless practical joke, but it was no laughing matter to Mr. Boyd, a Republican, who told the police that he received dozens of texts and phone calls in under an hour on the morning of April 13, 2021, before he shut off his phone. Mr. Drouin was indicted in November 2022 on a felony charge of interference with election communications. On Monday, Mr. Drouin, 30, of Merrimack, N.H., pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of creating a false document, an election law offense, admitting that he knowingly interfered with Mr. Boyds ability to use his cellphone on Election Day. The charge is a misdemeanor, not a felony, but it still cost him his right to vote in the state. People who are convicted of a willful violation of the states election laws lose their right to vote under the New Hampshire Constitution. Gov. Jim Justice of West Virginia is set to announce a Senate campaign on Thursday, giving Republicans a strong recruit against Senator Joe Manchin III, one of the most vulnerable Democrats up for re-election in 2024. The West Virginia race is one of the most essential pickup opportunities for Republicans if they are to retake control of the Senate, which Democrats hold by a narrow 51-49 seat margin. Mr. Manchin, who represents by far the most Republican state held by any Democratic senator, has yet to announce whether he will seek re-election, but Republicans are hoping that Mr. Justices entry might spur him toward retirement. Mr. Manchin in recent years has been one of the few Democrats who can compete in the overwhelmingly Republican state. WASHINGTON For more than a year, the notion that Vladimir V. Putin is seriously ill has been a subject of lurid speculation, internet video forensics and potential wartime propaganda, even though U.S. officials say there is no evidence the Russian leader is dying. Now, a document among the trove of leaked classified materials offers the latest example of the fascination with Mr. Putins health. It describes a conversation between two Ukrainian officials about what one claimed was a conspiracy among Mr. Putins internal opponents to challenge his rule at a moment when he was said to be undergoing chemotherapy. No evidence has emerged to substantiate the claim, or many earlier ones, and the leaked document gives no indication that the United States finds it credible. In July, the director of the C.I.A. dismissed speculation about Mr. Putins health, and many Russia experts find no reason to doubt him. Analysts called the public discussion of Mr. Putins well-being unsurprising. It is a predictable byproduct of the aura of mystery around powerful autocrats who keep their distance from observers and their personal lives well concealed, said John Sipher, a former C.I.A. official who ran the agencys Russia operations. A mother of two students in Howard City, Mich., filed a lawsuit claiming the public school district violated her sons First Amendment rights by asking them to remove sweatshirts with the slogan Lets go Brandon on them. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday against the Michigan Tri County Area Schools district, an assistant principal and a teacher, claims that their school censored her sons peaceful, non-disruptive politics by having them take off the sweatshirts, causing them to suffer irreparable injury. The phrase Lets go Brandon, born of a viral NASCAR race moment in October 2021, is understood to be code for swearing at President Biden, the lawsuit confirms. The slogan conveys the same opposition as saying a four-letter expletive and then Joe Biden, just sanitized to express the sentiment without using profanity or vulgarity, the suit said. In February of 2022, the mothers sixth-grade son wore a Lets go Brandon sweatshirt to Tri County Middle School. The assistant principal at the school stopped him in the hallway and asked him to take it off, according to the lawsuit, telling him the slogan was equivalent to the F-word. He took it off because he feared getting in trouble. A man in Virginia who illegally caught and sold turtles across the United States has pleaded guilty to conducting a trafficking scheme that made him thousands of dollars and sent many of the animals to Asia, where they are in high demand as pets, the Justice Department said Monday. The man, Stanlee Fazi, 41, of Louisa, Va., pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking turtles from July 2017 to June 2020. During that time, he collected Eastern box turtles which have bright yellow or orange markings on their cocoa-colored shells and shipped them to buyers in the United States. Many of the animals were then sold to people in Hong Kong and China, where the illegal pet turtle trade is booming, prosecutors said. Turtle populations there are in decline because of their use in the pet trade, in Asian folk medicines and as food. Mr. Fazi admitted that he had bound the turtles in socks and shipped them via FedEx from Fredericksburg, Va., making about $12,700 in the scheme, the Justice Department said in a news release. He will be sentenced in July and faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. At least fifty-five people drowned after their boat sank off the coast of Libya, the United Nations migration agency said on Wednesday, the latest in a series of deadly accidents in just a few days involving migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. The rubber boat, carrying 60 people, left Tuesday morning from Garabouli, a small town a few dozen miles east of Tripoli, Libyas capital, according to the agency, the International Organization for Migration. Only five survivors were brought to shore by the Libyan coast guard. This is a very high number of lives, said Safa Msehli, a spokeswoman for the organization. And these deaths have become normalized, as a matter of fact, she added. That is a very, very dangerous thing. Human rights organizations have for years protested the lack of preventive search and rescue patrols by countries around the Mediterranean. Small businesses (SMEs) are the backbone of many economies, providing essential goods and services to their communities. SMEs are vulnerable to various crises, from natural disasters to financial downturns, and now, cyber-attacks have become an additional threat. Therefore, it is imperative for small businesses to have a crisis management plan that includes cyber security measures. In todays feature, our experts provide insights into why small businesses must prioritise crisis planning and practical tips to develop a comprehensive crisis management plan. Well cover the steps involved in assessing potential risks, implementing security measures, and offering practical advice for SMEs to protect themselves and their customers from the consequences of a crisis. Lets Talk. Discover more Lets Talk Business episodes Contribute to Dynamic Business Manu Mehra, Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, Lenovo ISG Manu Mehra, Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, Lenovo ISG Crisis can take any form. The biggest risk factor today with emergence of tech-first businesses is cyber security. Cyberattacks evolve faster that an organisations strategy to adopt new technologies. And todays distributed workloads in hybrid cloud, edge, and on-premise, have higher vulnerability. While Large enterprises have the capital to take immediate measures in adversity, SMBs as we saw during the pandemic are the worst impacted. The most important part of cyber crisis management is IT preparedness to avoid it and the demand for technologies in security, fraud/risk, and IT operations in ANZ is increasing. As a technology leader, we see the following steps critical to ensuring security and resiliency of any business: Streamline, simplify, and automate protection of your data using solutions like ThinkShield that offer self-healing BIOS, encrypted storage, and robust authentication capabilities Ensure there is a disaster recovery (DR) infrastructure in place any unexpected downtime has the potential for severe business disruption and data loss, costing millions in lost revenue SMBs are always growing partner with the right technology provider to benefit from As-a-Service offerings like Lenovo TruScale that allows the businesses to only pay for what they use and scale as required Establish a Zero-Trust approach eliminating implicit trust and continuously validating every stage of digital interaction. Jennifer Harrison, Director, Startups and Scaleups, Reputation Edge In case of crisis, and as a strategic business planning tool, small businesses should have a one-page map of stakeholders and their interests. And its essential to include non-obvious stakeholders because its the ones you forget who can end up blindsiding you! In a crisis, the only control you have is how you respond. Your top priority must be keeping the trust of your customers and your employees because this helps to prevent escalation. Dont leave an information vacuum, because thats how rumours start, and youll be on the back foot. Prioritise communicating with the right internal and external stakeholders transparently and with empathy. Stick to the facts and be consistent. Do not make speeches or submissions. You need flexibility to pivot as new information comes to light. There is no perfect crisis management plan, rather there are checklists and guiding principles like the four Rs (readiness, response, resolution and recovery) and the four Cs (cooperation, containment, control and cauterise). When using those checklists and guiding principles, keep sight of the big picture and dont get dragged into the weeds. Stay true to your vision and your values, rather than feel you need to respond to every small detail. Shiva Pillay, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Asia and Japan, Veeam Software Shiva Pillay, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Asia and Japan, Veeam Software It is imperative that small businesses develop a crisis management plan, especially for cybersecurity, as no business is immune from attacks it is a matter of when, not if. In 2022, 85% of organisations were successfully attacked by ransomware at least once, and less than 50% could recover encrypted or destroyed data. Small businesses can start building crisis management plans by identifying potential scenarios and prioritising by risk. Businesses can then develop standard protocols to prepare, such as by creating immutable backups and performing regular backup recovery tests to ensure data can be restored efficiently. Data resiliency is key to a businesss crisis plans. This means ensuring that data is securely backed up and can be easily restored in the case of a crisis. Veeam recommends adopting the 3-2-1-1-0 backup strategy, which means having three copies data on two different media one copy being off-site and one copy being offline, air-gapped, or immutable; lastly, there should be zero errors after automated backup, testing and recoverability verification. A crisis management plan that emphasises data resiliency can help businesses of all sizes respond effectively to unexpected attacks, minimising the impact on brand reputation and ensuring business continuity. Lyndelle Morgan, Director, Niche Marketing Group Although small businesses may not have the same level of resources as larger organisations, having a crisis management plan can help them stay prepared and protect their business. A crisis management plan should outline: roles and responsibilities, communication protocols, contingency plans, and procedures for handling different types of crises. Potential crisis scenarios should be devised and included in the plan, with each outlining potential issues, responsibilities, courses of action, relevant internal policies, and draft statements for responding to media. Much of crisis management relies on clear, concise communication with stakeholders including media, customers, general public, and the internal team. A crisis management communications plan should include: Key messages which can be used or adapted to respond to media enquiries and general public announcements, as well as owned channels, to ensure messaging consistency Draft Q&As for all relevant audiences Media interview dos and donts as reminders for the organisations spokesperson and team A timeline of actions to manage the issue. Caitlin Zotti, Co-CEO, Pin Payments Small businesses are often vulnerable to unexpected events that can disrupt their operations, and the pandemic really put a spotlight on the importance of having a crisis management plan. Up until that point, many small businesses had been operating without any consideration for unforeseen events. Having a crisis management plan in place, ideally, enables businesses to incur the least financial impact and have a swift return to normal business operations. The recent bout of cyber-attacks has presented businesses with yet another reason to be prepared for the worst, demonstrating that a comprehensive, holistic assessment of internal and external risks is critical to the success of a crisis management plan. Only once key risks to your business have been identified, can you start to prepare a successful crisis management plan for your business. Brodie Haupt, CEO and Co-founder, WLTH Brodie Haupt, CEO and Co-founder, WLTH Nowadays, small businesses need more than a solid financial plan and a reliable product or service offering. A crisis management plan is worth having in the toolkit to navigate unforeseen challenges and ensure long-term success. With a well-prepared plan, small businesses can continue to operate despite adverse situations. It ensures they can maintain their cash flow and uphold commitments to customers, suppliers, and employees. An effective crisis management plan can help maintain and even boost a businesss reputation by demonstrating its ability to handle difficult situations professionally and efficiently. To develop a crisis management plan, begin by evaluating your businesss operations, industry, location, and partnerships to identify potential hazards and vulnerabilities. Next, consider internal and external risks, ranging from natural disasters to technology failures, assemble a team of key personnel responsible for managing crises, and designate roles and responsibilities, such as decision-making, communication, and resource allocation. Its important to ensure all employees are familiar with the crisis management plan and their roles in it. Regular training and drills can help ensure everyone is prepared to respond effectively in the event of a crisis. Regularly review and update the plan to ensure it remains relevant and effective. Mel Greig, PR and Media Manager, BRANDiT Agency Mel Greig, PR and Media Manager, BRANDiT Agency EVERY business should absolutely have a crisis management plan or at least have the internal discussion with the team of What could go wrong? When it comes to crisis a lot of it can be unpredictable, but you will lessen that risk if you do a risk assessment. For small businesses some of your risks can stem from behaviour: A staff member or owner says or does something controversial, offensive, or unethical publicly or on social media and the situation is managed with no regard. Angry customers or clients that can drive your reviews from 4 stars to 1 star due to public backlash on an incident that wasnt handled well in a crisis. When putting together your crisis management plan, think of these 3 top tips: People will be very forgiving if youre honest about a situation (seek legal advice to ensure you arent confirming liability) There is always a way to say sorry or show emotion in a crisis. Have a representative/staff member media trained in preparation for a crisis and learn your key messages. Sally Branson, Director, Sally Branson Consulting The myth-making of crisis management does small businesses a disservice. Many people mistakenly assume that crises only happen in high-stakes, big businesses putting small businesses on the back foot. Because, in real life, crisis happens in all businesses, almost every day. It could be a supply chain issue, a negative social media review, or difficulty finding staff to fill a shift. As a small business, its time to forget the myths surrounding crisis management and ensure that crisis planning becomes an ordinary, everyday business activity. By doing so, you can be better equipped to handle challenges, protect your business, and even turn a crisis into an opportunity for growth. Starting out on crisis planning is formulaic, once you ignore the myths, it is a streamlined process. The first way forward is to think about every worst-case scenario, what keeps you or your staff up at night? What sort of crisis are they? Slow burn? Creeping Crisis or just an ugly everyday dramatic and instant crisis. Being aware of what you face, gives you power to act and more authetoically and appropriately. The most important part of crisis management is the preparation work identifying worst-case scenarios, establishing a chain of command, making sure you have a media-trained spokesperson and talking points, and setting up advice channels. By planning for a crisis, you can ensure that you have a way forward, and be prepared to respond responsibly, appropriately, and quickly. Effective crisis planning can also help minimize losses, communicate authentically, and build resilience during a crisis event. Meena Wahi, Director/SME Insurance Specialist, Aspect SME Insurance Anticipating potential scenarios that may cause significant disruptions to a business is critical (regardless of your business size). Small businesses are possibly more at risk in some situations as even minor crises can seriously impact operations, or blow the business up entirely. Small businesses can incorporate crisis management planning into their insurance planning, which is easiest done with the help of an insurance broker who can identify relevant risks and potential crisis scenarios. A well-developed crisis management plan should include risks that can be eliminated or effectively managed, risks that are accepted, and also risks that can be transferred to an insurance company. The plan may include an incident response plan that outlines necessary actions and tasks to manage the impact on various stakeholders and the business as a whole, from clients/customers, to restoring operations to (saving) the brand. Certain insurance policies offer more assistance than others in the event of a crisis as well. A good example of this is cyber insurance policies which often have a Cyber Incident Response Panel that can help you respond to a cyber incident. For this reason its important to consider what assistance your insurance will be able to provide first as you will need to plan in more detail for the risks youre deciding not to have covered. By having a well-developed crisis management plan that accounts for potential risks, small businesses can minimise the impact of a crisis if it occurs and respond with some level of confidence. Thomas Fu, Executive Director and Founder, Motor Culture Australia During the 2022 QLD floods, we saw firsthand at Motor Culture Australia the impact a crisis can have on a business. While we had a general plan in place, our team learnt a lot from that experience and the importance of setting up the right processes to minimise the impact on operations. An effective plan should consider all potential scenarios from natural disasters to pandemics to internal situations. Likewise, make sure you appoint a crisis management team, so theres always someone who can step up if others are unable. Workshopping different scenarios, and considering the impact of each on the business, will help you to effectively create policies and guidelines for each. Dont forget to include a crisis social media plan, as these channels are vital during disasters. Once youve outlined potential crisis scenarios in your plan, be sure to brainstorm solutions for each. Have templates and guidelines in place and appoint a media spokesperson who can communicate to the public during this time. Remember, disaster management isnt a set and forget process, to be effective its essential that your plan is reviewed and updated regularly. Ultimately, thinking ahead and being open to change during challenging times is important to ensure your business model is flexible and adaptable to evolving circumstances. Anthony Caruana, Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Media-Wize Every business needs a crisis management plan. Without a plan, there is a high likelihood that you will make things worse before you make things better and recover. Creating a crisis management plan starts with a risk assessment. For each risk, plan what you will do and how you will communicate with all affected stakeholders. This includes customers, suppliers, shareholders and the media. Planning and practicing how to handle the media spotlight during an incident is critical. Its too late to start thinking about how to handle media attention when a crisis is unfolding. Weve all seen people crumble when theyre unprepared. Even if you are doing a good job of managing the crisis, poor communication can result in damage to your brand and reputation. Crisis communications must include all stakeholders and all communications channels including social media. Preparation reduces the cognitive load during a period of stress and reduces the risk of mistakes. If youve rehearsed responding to unexpected questions, your brain wont be overloaded when youre asked a more challenging question. A well-managed crisis doesnt have to be the end of a business or the death of a brand. It can be an opportunity to communicate, fix problems and emerge wiser and stronger. Remonda Martinez, Managing Director, Blue Haven Being proactive is king. Here are a few personal tips: Identify potential crises: Begin by listing potential threats, including natural disasters, cyberattacks, or supply chain disruptions. Consider internal and external factors that could negatively affect your business, and prioritise them based on probability and potential impact. Develop response strategies: For each identified crisis, outline appropriate response strategies to address and mitigate the situation. This may include assigning responsibility to specific team members, establishing communication protocols, and creating contingency plans for business continuity. Communicate with stakeholders: Ensure all employees and relevant stakeholders are aware of the crisis management plan. Provide training and resources to help them understand their roles and responsibilities in case of an emergency. Establish a crisis communication plan: Effective communication during a crisis is crucial. Develop a plan that outlines how the information will be disseminated, identifies key spokespersons, and ensures transparent, accurate, and timely communication with employees, customers, suppliers, and the media. Test and update the plan: Regularly conduct simulations and drills to test your crisis management plans effectiveness so you can identify gaps and refine the plan accordingly. Needless to say, update the plan as your business evolves, ensuring it remains relevant and effective. Annette Densham, Creative Director, The Audacious Agency You need a plan. In business, especially in this age of social media and trolls, a crisis can be anything from a negative review on your Facebook page to a product recall or staff member committing fraud. Not all crises end up in the media, but if you are part of a community, word of mouth travels fast, and social media is powerful, if not more powerful than mainstream media. None of us expect the worst, but not planning for it is like not having insurance. You may never need it. But when you have a fender bender, youre glad you did. Crisis management is not the sole domain of big business. Small businesses need to Without a plan, youre lost and at the whim of the crisis tide, being carried wherever it takes you. Without a plan, many react emotionally and illogically, taking knee jerk actions a big no, no since it often compounds the issue. Having a plan in place generally means you can bounce back quickly and with minimal disruption to your business. A plan should touch on ALL potential threats to the business, some draft content on how you respond to each, who will do the responding and how you will mitigate the damage to your brand. Discover Lets Talk Business Topics Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa said on Tuesday that his party, the African National Congress, had decided it is prudent to withdraw from the International Criminal Court only for representatives for him and the party to later clarify that neither was actually advocating quitting the court, at least for now. The A.N.C. would push for withdrawal only as a last resort, if other efforts aimed at ending what it considers the courts inequitable treatment of certain nations failed, according to separate statements issued late in the night by a spokeswoman for the party and a spokesman for the president. The shifting statements underscore the complexities and sensitivity of the matter at a fraught geopolitical moment, when South Africa and other countries are pushing back against a world order dominated by the United States and the West. The I.C.C. has issued an arrest warrant on war crimes charges for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, who has been invited to a summit in South Africa in August. South African officials have not said whether they would honor their commitment to the I.C.C. and arrest Mr. Putin, and Mr. Ramaphosa said his government was still considering what to do. As Sudan is ripped apart in a battle between rival generals, one question was swirling around the country on Wednesday: Where is the former dictator Omar Hassan al-Bashir? Mr. al-Bashir, who was deposed in 2019 after three decades in power, is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. In Sudan, he still faces charges related to the 1989 coup that propelled him to power, and he faces a death sentence or life in prison if convicted. The uncertainty over his whereabouts was another sign of Sudans descent into lawlessness and could deal a blow to the receding hopes of bringing democratic rule to the country. The latest developments came as a 72-hour cease-fire brokered by the United States that began on Tuesday held in some parts, according to the United Nations envoy to Sudan, Volker Perthes. Some residents of the capital reported a lull in fighting on Wednesday, but others were still caught amid clashes and reported hearing heavy gunfire and shelling. TAIPEI, Taiwan A Taiwan-based publisher who disappeared while in China has been detained for suspected violations of security laws, Chinese authorities confirmed on Wednesday, fanning concerns in Taiwan that Beijing is sending a warning to the islands vibrant publishing sector. The publisher, Li Yanhe, widely known by his pen name, Fu Cha, is a Chinese citizen who has been living in Taiwan since 2009. His company, Gusa Publishing, is well known in Taiwan for books that cast a critical eye on Chinas ruling Communist Party. Mr. Li had returned to China early last month to visit relatives but fell out of contact shortly after, according to his colleagues and friends. Mr. Lis detention is a strong blow and will have a chilling effect, Bei Ling, a writer from China living in Taiwan, said on Wednesday. Publishing houses, publishers and freedom of the press are the basic indicators of an open society all over the world. I dont think he should be condemned in this way just because he published books that are unacceptable to China. Mr. Lis detention could become a new test case in already tense ties between Taiwan and China. Beijing asserts that Taiwan, a self-governing democracy, is a part of Chinese territory that must accept unification. But many in Taiwan reject Beijings claim and have been repelled by the authoritarian rule of Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, including his crackdown in Hong Kong, which has chilled publishing and stifled many liberties such as the right to protest. More weapons could come. After the foreign and defense ministers of both the United States and the Philippines held talks earlier this month, Washington said it would commit to adopt a security sector assistance road map in the Philippines, which will guide shared defense modernization investments. Mr. Marcos is set to meet President Joe Biden next week in Washington. Collin Koh, a research fellow and expert on maritime security in Southeast Asia, said that the Philippines could help to complicate Chinese defense planning in the South China Sea. Even weaker actors can pull off certain victories, he said, pointing to how Ukraines vastly outgunned military had shocked and stymied Russian forces over the past year. In the event of an attack on the Philippines, General Brawner said his army will defend it unilaterally at first, but then we will be expecting help from our allies and our partners. Although the United States and the Philippines are bound by a 1951 mutual defense treaty, many Filipino officials had long been skeptical about whether the United States would come to the aid of the Philippines in the event of a Chinese attack. Now, they say they are more reassured, especially after several visits by high-level U.S. officials. Maj. Gen. Joseph A. Ryan, commander of the 25th U.S. Infantry Division, based in Hawaii, said the U.S. Army had a seminar with their Philippine counterparts in Manila in late February, during which the Filipinos discussed their concept for the defense of the Philippines if it were to come under attack from China. Singapore on Wednesday executed a man convicted of conspiring to traffic about two pounds of cannabis, a punishment that human rights groups called grossly excessive with other countries around the world relaxing their stances on marijuana. The man, Tangaraju Suppiah, a 46-year-old Singaporean, was sentenced in 2018 for coordinating with two other men to import the cannabis in 2013. Although he never came into contact with the drug, he was sentenced to death by hanging after a judge ruled that he was linked to the other men through two phone numbers belonging to him. Singapores narcotics laws are some of the harshest in the world and mandate the death penalty for some drug trafficking offenses. Last year, the country executed 11 people, all for nonviolent drug offenses. Singapore has continued to use executions for drug-related crimes even though its neighbor and rival, Malaysia, recently ended its mandatory death penalty for serious crimes, including drug offenses. Aleksei A. Navalny, the jailed Russian opposition leader, said on Wednesday that Russian authorities had initiated absurd new terrorism charges against him that could lead to life in prison. Mr. Navalnys comments, which were posted on his teams Twitter account, came as he appeared via video link at a court hearing over separate extremism charges that are widely seen as politically motivated. Mr. Navalny, who started as an anticorruption activist before becoming one of the Kremlins most prominent critics, is already serving a sentence in a penal colony for fraud and contempt of court. Since returning to Russia after recovering in Germany from a poisoning attempt that the West has blamed on the Kremlin, he has repeatedly faced new charges from Russian authorities. In the comments relayed from the courtroom by his supporters on social media, Mr. Navalny said that an investigator had informed him on Tuesday that a terrorism case had been initiated against him that would be heard in a separate trial by a military court. The Russian authorities did not confirm the charges. The critical importance of heat pumps to the German economy was underscored this week when the sale of a family-owned maker of the heating machines to a U.S. company prompted a review by the government in Berlin. Carrier Global Corp. said Tuesday that it had agreed to pay 12 billion euros, or about $13.3 billion, to acquire a unit of Viessmann Group, based north of Frankfurt, that produces heat pumps. The cash-and-stock deal would allow Carrier to expand in Europe and capitalize on the green energy transition underway on the continent, the company said. It also comes days after Berlin announced a ban on new furnaces fired by fossil fuels, starting next year. Climate change, sustainability requirements and geopolitical factors are driving an unprecedented energy transition in Europe, David Gitlin, chief executive of Carrier, said in announcing the deal. Accelerated by government regulations and incentives, the transition creates a significant, long-term growth opportunity. On Monday, I was having a conversation with Pavithra Suryanarayan, a political scientist at the London School of Economics, about what fuels far-right populism, when she suddenly stopped, midsentence, and gasped. She had just seen a news alert, she told me: the TV host Tucker Carlson had been fired from Fox News. The moment was an object lesson in the bigger point that she hammered home in our conversation: that to understand the rise of far-right populist politicians around the world, we need to think about institutions that did not check them. Much of Suryanaryans work has focused on the reasons that expanding democratic rights often produces a political backlash from groups that fear losing their status and privileges in a more equal society. (Such as the response of White Southerners in the United States during the Civil Rights era, for instance, and members of the Brahmin caste in India after the government instituted affirmative action in the 1990s.) Disaffected groups can potentially make up willing constituencies for populist politicians and their allies in the media, and Suryanarayan cited several right-wing examples of recent years: Carlson and Donald Trump in the United States, Narendra Modi in India, Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil. We passed three checkpoints, Bogdan talked to the Ukrainian military, and they let us pass without problems, Mr. Zunino told the paper from his hospital bed. It wasnt a fighting zone. Then we got hit. I heard a hiss, and I saw Bogdan on the ground. He wasnt moving. I crawled out of the line of fire. I ran until I passed a civilian car. I was full of blood. I had to be taken to Kherson hospital. He said he had been trying to contact Mr. Bitik but got no answer. He was a great friend of mine Mr. Zunino said. Its excruciating. La Repubblica said the continued threats posed by Russian snipers made it difficult to recover Mr. Bitiks body. His death was confirmed by Ukrainian officials in public statements. Ukrainian forces drove the Russians out of Kherson last fall, but the city has come under near daily bombardment by Russian forces positioned on the east bank of the Dnipro River. They have used long-range artillery, airstrikes, rockets, snipers, drones and other weapons to keep the region under threat. Dozens of civilians have been killed in the attacks in and around the city since the Ukrainians regained control over the area. The last time President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and Chinas top leader, Xi Jinping, communicated, they celebrated 30 years of diplomatic ties, hailing their deepening political mutual trust and their peoples profound friendship. That was in January 2022. Less than two months later, Russia, one of Chinas closest partners, invaded Ukraine. Since then, Mr. Xi had not spoken to Mr. Zelensky until Wednesday, despite the Ukrainian leaders repeated requests. The sound and stable relationship they touted had seemed like a distant memory, and the question of when the pair would speak reflected their countries uncertain state of relations amid Russias war in Ukraine. Before the war, trade and cultural exchanges had been growing. Now, both sides are juggling goals that sometimes conflict. Passengers wait to get checked baggage at Tan Son Nhat airport in HCMC, January 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran Claiming baggage at HCMCs Tan Son Nhat airport takes over an hour since infrastructure is inadequate considering the number of passengers, according to aviation authorities. In a recent report it sent to the Ministry of Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) said the terminal at the airport was built years ago, and the baggage carousels have failed to keep pace with the number of passengers using the airport. The report came in response to a VnExpress article about passengers complaining about becoming exhausted from waiting to claim their baggage. According to the CAAV, the aircraft are parked far away from the terminal and so it takes a lot of time to transport luggage from the plane to the belt. The time taken for the first baggage to reach the carousel after a plane halts is eight to 15 minutes, and for the last one, 27-43 minutes. However, for aircraft parked far from the terminal, they increase to 27-42 minutes and 38-71 minutes. To temporarily ease the situation, the CAAV has told the Southern Airport Authority to dispatch more staff to the conveyor belts to supervise things and assist passengers, especially when it is crowded. During the five-day holiday starting this month-end for Hung Kings commemoration, Reunification Day and May Day (April 29-May 3), the airport is expected to handle 756,000 passengers, more than 30% higher than last year. Tan Son Nhat is the country's busiest airport with an average of 60,000-70,000 passengers a day. Last year it served 34 million passengers as against its designed capacity of just 28 million. When Sweden sent a research rocket 155 miles into the air at 7:20 a.m on Monday, the expectation was that it would land in the same country from which it had been launched. Things did not go as planned. The route taken by the TEXUS-58 rocket on its return from zero gravity to the Esrange Space Center was longer than anticipated, and part of it parachuted down 25 miles northwest of its original target, in a mountain range. As it happens, that turned out to be in Norway. And although nobody was injured, the mishap was enough to cause some rare diplomatic friction between the two Scandinavian neighbors. The rocket part that came down in the far northern municipality of Malselv, roughly nine miles into Norwegian territory, was about 13 feet long and weighed about 1,650 pounds. Nearly all the combat vehicles Ukraines Western allies promised to deliver in time for Kyivs expected spring counteroffensive have arrived, NATOs top military commander said on Wednesday. Over 98 percent of the combat vehicles are already there, said the officer, Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, who is also the top commander of U.S. forces in Europe. In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, he said, I am very confident that we have delivered the materiel that they need, and well continue a pipeline to sustain their operations as well. General Cavolis comments were his most expansive on the war in Ukraine and Americas military support of Kyiv since he assumed the European and NATO commands last year. The United States and NATO allies have supplied Ukraine with extensive artillery and ammunition for the long-heralded counteroffensive, and officials now say they are hopeful that the supplies will last a change from two months ago, when they were only trickling in and U.S. officials worried that they might run out. Two months after issuing a vague plan for ending the war in Ukraine, Chinas leader, a close ally of Vladimir V. Putin, on Wednesday acceded to repeated requests from the Ukrainian president to talk. The one-hour telephone discussion between Chinas Xi Jinping and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine was the first known contact between the two leaders since Russia invaded Ukraine last year. Chinas official account of the discussion was notable for its omission of two words: Russia and war. It referred instead to the need for a political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, and warned of the danger of nuclear escalation. For his part, Mr. Zelensky said the two leaders had a long and meaningful phone call. In recent months, Mr. Xi has been trying to burnish his image as a global statesman by helping restore diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran and by rolling out the red carpet in Beijing for visiting world leaders like President Emmanuel Macron of France. A senior Iranian cleric and member of a powerful government committee was shot and killed by a security guard at a bank in the northern province of Mazandaran on Wednesday, according to the Iranian authorities. In CCTV camera footage shown on the Iranian news media, the cleric, Ayatollah Abbas Ali Soleimani, is seen sitting on a chair in the bank when the security guard casually approaches him from behind, points his rifle at his head and fires a shot. Ayatollah Soleimani, 75, slumps in the chair, his white turban knocked to the floor, as the guard calmly wanders to the side. Strangely, nobody comes immediately to the clerics aid, and the room remains rather calm. Two men grab the security guard and wrestle away his gun, then seem to let him slip away. The authorities said he was later apprehended. Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida has conducted a long-running campaign to limit the autonomy of Disney World, one of his states largest employers. His efforts have widely been seen as retaliation for Disneys opposition to legislation that Mr. DeSantis signed last year that prohibits classroom instruction and discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in some elementary school grades. Here is some background on the yearlong dispute. What have Mr. DeSantis and Disney been fighting over? In March of last year, the governor signed into law the Parental Rights in Education Act, often referred to by critics as the Dont Say Gay bill. The legislation prohibited classroom instruction and discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in certain elementary school grades. The Tokyo Shimbun newspaper recently sparked controversy in Japan with an article on consuming raw crow meat, a practice that experts say could cause serious health problems, even death. Last month, the Tokyo Shimbun, one of the most-read newspapers in Japan, published an article on the consumption of so-called crow sashimi (raw crow meat marinated in various sauces). The journalist basically described their experience eating crow meat both cooked and raw at a gathering of crow meat lovers in Ibaraki Prefecture, claiming that the crow sashimi was both refreshing and easy to chew, compared to the grilled meat which was extremely tough and dry. The article caused a lot of confusion online, and the Japanese Health Ministry ultimately posted a message on its official Twitter account warning people not to indulge in raw crow meat, as it could cost them their lives. Photo: Kasturi Roy/Unsplash The crows breast is apparently the best for sashimi, with the dark red meat served with soy sauce to enhance its taste. Only a few grams of breast can be harvested from a single crow, but the taste and texture of the meat are apparently worth it, at least according to the writer of the controversial Tokyo Shimbun article. Its different than beef and fish sashimi, but it doesnt smell at all and tastes refreshing. On the other hand, the charcoal-grilled crow thigh meat was muscular and therefore very tough, similar to beef jerky. Although the article did mention that Japans Environmental Health Division advised against the consumption of raw crow meat, because of a considerable risk of food poisoning, many considered that the overall tone of the article was positive, and crow sashimi actually became a popular topic online. It became so popular that experts felt that they had to put out a warning about consuming raw crow meat. Photo: Elisa Stone/Unsplash The Japanese Health Ministry took to Twitter to warn people that although eating crow meat is not illegal, consuming it raw involved a severe risk of infection with the hepatitis E virus, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, as well as various parasites, which could prove fatal. The Health and Sanitation Division of Ibaraki Prefecture also advised against the consumption of raw crow meat, adding that it would not file a complaint against the Tokyo Shimbun, but asking other outlets to avoid promoting the practice. Its unclear how popular raw crow sashimi is in Japan right now, but judging by the number of Twitter posts mentioning the unusual dish, there are many curious to try it. A teacher takes care of children during nap time at Nam Ke Kindergarten in the mountainous district of Muong Nhe in the northern Dien Bien Province in 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh The education ministry has proposed to let kindergarten teachers retire five years earlier than regulated if they have worked for 15 years. Making contributions for the draft amendments to the Law on Social Insurance, the Ministry of Education and Training said teachers at kindergartens have to work harder to take care of children from three months to six years old, and the nature of the occupation affected their health more compared to teachers at higher levels. Before 2021 the retirement age was 55 for women and 60 for men. Starting in 2021 the government has gradually increased the retirement age. It will reach 60 years for women and 62 for men over the next decade. However, the education ministry proposed that kindergarten teachers should be allowed to retire at 55 for women and 57 for men. A survey in 2020 by the National Education Union of Vietnam showed around 95% of respondents thought female kindergarten teachers should retire at 55. In the past three years, the union has submitted several proposals to higher authorities, asking to add kindergarten teachers to the list of heavy, hazardous, dangerous jobs, so that they can be granted more benefits, including being allowed to retire five years earlier as long as they have worked for at least 15 years. The draft amendments to the Law on Social Insurance will consult opinions until the end of this month before submission to the National Assembly in October. Suoszowa, a Polish village of around 6,000 people located in the Olkuska Upland, less than 30 km northwest of Krakow, has been dubbed Little Tuscany because of its unusual layout. The village of Suoszowa has been around for many years, but it only recently started attracting international attention after birds eye photos and videos went viral on social media. Millions of people around the world were mesmerized by the unusual layout of the rural settlement hundreds of houses on either side of a singular street, snaking through multi-colored agricultural fields as far as the eye can see. Every one of the 5.819 inhabitants according to a 2017 census lives on the same street, which stretches for over 9 kilometers. Aerial photos of Suoszowa originally went viral in Poland back in 2021, but this month a drone-shot video of the Polish village garnered international attention. People were amazed by the unique look of the village surrounded on all sides by patches of agricultural land, as well as by the fact that everyone just built their home along the main road, instead of expanding outwards. The linear, single-street layout of Suoszowa was dubbed bizarre by major international news outlets like Mail Online and The Sun, but to the Poles commenting on national news websites, its just a typical Polish village. Apparently, having a single road passing through a village is not at all unusual in the central European country, but the aerial viewpoint just makes it look more impressive. The normal layout of a traditional street village, only the village is very long, one person commented. Someone explain to me what this unusual arrangement is. Ordinary street, someone else wrote. Suoszowa: A Birds Eye View of Polands 9km Long Street and Its Narrow Strip Farms pic.twitter.com/n1LuQhD7fi Kiplagat (@KipChes) April 3, 2023 While having a singular street may not be that uncommon for European villages, its location in the middle of a natural mosaic of agricultural fields is definitely not something you see every day. Some have gone as far as to compare it to Italys Tuscany. Chautauqua Co. Seeks Craft Beer/Wine Marketing Plan Fri., Apr. 28, 2023 Chautauqua County, which is the western-most county in New York, has issued an RFP for a craft beverage, wine and ecotourism branding and marketing campaign. A GROUP of Spanish travel agents has been visiting Offaly and Ireland this week, as guests of Tourism Ireland, Failte Ireland and Icarion (a major Spanish tour operator). The aim of the trip is to showcase some of the many sustainable tourism experiences available in Ireland to the Spanish travel professionals, as well as to highlight our rich culture and heritage, spectacular scenery and fantastic food and drink offering. Their action-packed itinerary included a visit to Lough Boora Discovery Park. Susan Bolger, Tourism Irelands Manager Spain, said: "We are delighted to welcome this group of Spanish travel agents to Offaly and Ireland. This visit is an excellent opportunity to showcase some of our sustainable tourism experiences, as well as our superb visitor attractions, food and scenery. Our aim is that the travel agents will be more enthusiastic than ever about the destination when they return home helping to secure a greater share of their business for Ireland in 2023 and beyond. Sustainability will be at the heart of Tourism Irelands work over the coming years. As well as focusing on the economic sustainability of the tourism industry (the contribution overseas tourism makes to economic prosperity and, in particular, to jobs and livelihoods), Tourism Irelands strategy also has social sustainability (the benefit that communities across the island experience from overseas tourism) and environmental sustainability at its core. Spain is the fifth-largest market for overseas tourism to the island of Ireland. In 2019, we welcomed 431,000 visitors from Spain to the island of Ireland, who spent 218 million during their time here. CONCRETE has been poured for the first turbine base on what will be Offaly's biggest wind farm. SSE Renewables started work on a 29-turbine wind farm between Croghan and Rhode in October and construction is scheduled to be finished by 2024. The project is expected to support up to 80 full-time construction jobs at peak delivery and the company has hailed the work on the first turbine base as a major milestone. Yellow River project manager, Paul Rodgers said: "While we are at the start of the construction journey for Yellow River Wind Farm, we have come so far in a relatively short time and were another step closer to realising Irelands net zero ambitions. Our Yellow River wind farm project is also contributing to SSE Renewables own ambitious Net Zero Acceleration Plan which sees us spending around 8m a day on critical low-carbon infrastructure needed for the global transition to net zero emissions. At a community level, our focus is now on building strong and meaningful relationships with people living and working in the vicinity of the Yellow River Wind Farm. As a responsible developer and operator, we are looking forward to working closely with the community in Rhode, Co Offaly and the wider region to fully realise the benefits of this exciting project. According to SSE, once completed, the wind farm will be capable of generating enough green energy to power over 66,000 homes and offset over 70 million kg of carbon dioxide annually. This will help Ireland meet its target of 80% renewable energy by 2030, as set out under the Climate Action Plan of 2021. Forty-six lorryloads of concrete were delivered for the first turbine base by BD Flood from local batching plants. The lead contractor is Farrans, working with supply chain members, KR Formwork, BD Flood Concrete and Erne Concrete Pumping. Each turbine base will support one of 29 Nordex N117/3600 wind turbines. The wind farm is the first large scale project of its kind to be located on private land. A total of 22 local landowners leased sites to the company for the turbines. SSE Renewables is part of SSE plc, the UK-listed integrated energy group which is investing 12.5bn over five years in its net zero acceleration programme. Bags of drugs seized by authorities during investigation into a drug trafficking case from Paris to HCMC that involved four Vietnam Airlines flight attendants. Photo courtesy of the police A total of 65 people were arrested in a drug trafficking case involving four Vietnam Airlines attendants after a month-long investigation. HCMC police on Wednesday said authorities discovered an additional six drug batches that had already been shipped to Vietnam in part of the same Paris to HCMC drug trafficking route involved in the case of the four flight attendants caught transporting over 11 kg of drugs in March. Authorities arrested the 65 for multiple crimes, not 50 as it had been revealed earlier. They are being investigated for drug trafficking and concealing crimes. Twelve people were fined. Around 50 kg of drugs have been seized in total, along with guns and other evidence. Police discovered the group not only utilized airline attendants to deliver drugs to Vietnam, but also looked for Vietnamese studying and living in France and used international shipping services to bring the drugs into the country. Once the drugs arrived at Vietnamese airports, the criminals would use domestic delivery services to transport them to a person in Dong Nai Province that borders HCMC, who would divide them up and transport them to multiple localities for distribution. "Investigators had many difficulties finding suspects, as information about the group is limited. Most do not directly transport and receive drugs, but do so through delivery service apps. However, the police have cooperated with multiple units to clarify every lead, no matter how small," a source close to the investigation said. On March 16, a security inspection at Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC found hundreds of toothpaste tubes containing 11.4 kg of drugs, including ecstasy, ketamine, and cocaine, hidden in the carry-on luggage of four female attendants of Vietnam Airlines. The attendants were promptly arrested after their shift aboard flight VN10 from France to Vietnam. They told the police they had agreed to transport 60 kg of toothpaste tubes at the request of a person in France made via another Vietnam Airlines employee. On March 22, they were released on bail after investigators confirmed that the attendants did not know that about half of the 327 toothpaste tubes contained drugs. Vietnam is a key trafficking hub for narcotics despite having some of the world's toughest drug laws. Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kg of meth face the death penalty. The production or sale of 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal narcotics is also punishable by death. OPINION: Anand Mohans release puts many to test Feature lekhaka-Smita Mishra It was a beautiful winter evening in early December 1994, in a sleepy town close to the Bihar-Nepal border. I was studying for my college exams while a few staffers were chatting in the front verandah when the cook announced 'Saheb aa gaye'! I looked up from the notebooks as my elder uncle walked in and slumped on the sofa. He beckoned me to switch on the TV but all our efforts to involve him in conversation were futile. The only words he uttered were 'Krishnaiah... bechara'. And his voice choked. Nobody ate anything that night. For the next two days, my uncle who was serving as the DM, went to few officers' meetings and condolences in the Collectorate but gloom was writ large on his face. I don't know what all was going on in his mind. As for myself, though not very familiar with the deeper nuances of politics, I was old enough to understand that the brutal roadside lynching of G. Krishnaiah, then DM of Gopalganj, was horrific even by standards of violence in the Bihar of early 90s. Now Anand Mohan Singh, strong man, messiah-like figure for magazine covers, caste icon for some and murder convict is 'freed' from jail after remission of his sentence. His 'walking free' is only technical because he is already 'out' on parole for the much publicised engagement of his son. That's why all those sound bytes in his living room even before the release order. Anand Mohan has been given the benefit of a recent amendment in the Bihar Police Jail Manuals, 2012, which allows remission of sentence after serving 14 years. This was facilitated by dropping the words '...civil servant on duty' from the list of offences where remission was not allowed up to 20 years in jail. But Anand Mohan Singh's release puts a lot of people to test, in Bihar and beyond. Let us start with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the so-called 'Sushasan Babu' (Mr. Good Governance). The admiration he earned in his first term by giving a free hand to the police and prosecution against dreaded gangsters, stands obliterated. 'Mockery of administration of justice': Top IAS body on Anand Mohan's release It is laughable of the JDU spokesmen to claim that the proposal was mooted by Sushil Modi because the amendment has been effected on April 10, 2023, long after Kumar dumped the BJP for the RJD. So whether Sushil Modi wanted Anand Mohan out or not, he certainly wasn't in the Secretariat to get it done. Incidentally, Anand Mohan's son Chetan Singh is an RJD MLA. So much for the BJP's role. So Nitish Kumar has already failed the test. The RJD (and perhaps Nitish too) are calculating that by releasing Anand Mohan, they will consolidate Rajput votes like never before. The caste already votes for 'Lalten' in many pockets. Thus, the BJP would be left with an extremely truncated vote share as the caste umbrella of the RJD-JDU looks much wider. It remains to be seen how much of a force Anand Mohan still is in 2023-24. The coming days would be a test of his popularity or lack of it. But the paradox is the situation also puts the BJP to test. Will the BJP also like to ride the Anand Mohan horse and try to consolidate the Rajputs in the process? If it does, what happens to the image of Narendra Modi, the only USP the party has in Bihar? Will BJP backroom strategists risk such a compromise for a section of Rajput votes which never voted for them en masse anyway? This question is important because few BJP leaders are also indicating support for the move. Let us drop the moral question for a moment and look from a crassly real-politik angle? If the Rajputs indeed vote on the issue of Anand Mohan, why would vote for the BJP when it is the Mahagathbandhan that got him out? Interestingly, this totally pathetic turn of events has also put the Rajputs of Bihar to test. Any caste, community can take a call about which political party/alliance to vote for en masse or otherwise. But do the Rajputs really want to be seen bracketed with the image of 69-year-old murder convict-gangster just because he is a 'swajatiya' (from the same caste)? Bihar: 'Bahubali' Anand Mohan Singh to be released from jail as Nitish govt tweaks rule Is the aspirational Rajput youngster of Bihar, in 2023, ready to be taken for granted in this manner? And no, it does not matter today if any JDU or spokesmen of any party thinks Anand Mohan was not directly involved in the gruesome killing. That ship sailed the day the court pronounced him guilty. (Smita Mishra writes on politics and current affairs) Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 15:59 [IST] OPINION: India-South Korea ties: Moving from strength to strength Feature lekhaka-Jagdish N Singh Since the Modi government adopted 'Act East' policy, relations between India and South Korea have improved a lot. Today, New Delhi and Seoul have several dialogue mechanisms to chart out a common course of action. The recent talks External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar had with his South Korean counterpart Park Jin, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations, offer yet another substantial indication that relations between New Delhi and Seoul are set to move from strength to strength. During the talks in New Delhi, Jaishankar and Park agreed to develop their "special strategic partnership," and expand cooperation in economic security, science and technology. Park also expressed a willingness to strengthen strategic communication and solidarity with India. Knowledgeable sources say the foundations of friendship between India and South Korea are very strong. History bears out that Indian Princess (from Ayodhya) Suriratna went to Korea, married King Kim-Suro, and became Queen Heo Hwang-ok in 48 AD. OPINION: Indo-Japan ties: Attaining greater heights During the Korean war, New Delhi condemned the North as an aggressor against the South. The Indian Army (60 Para Field Hospital Unit) rendered glorious services in this war. In 1973, India established diplomatic ties with South Korea. After then Prime Minister P.V. Narsimha Rao opened up the country's economy and adopted his famous 'Look East' policy in the nineties, relations between the two nations improved a lot. India and South Korea signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2009 and the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (2011). Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over in June 2014, relations between the two nations have improved further. His government has had an 'Act East' policy. During Modi's visit to Seoul in May 2015, the two sides elevated their ties to a 'Special Strategic Partnership'. In 2018, they signed 11 agreements, including in the areas of trade, cultural and, scientific and technological cooperation. In 2019, they concluded seven agreements (2019) to enhance cooperation in areas, including infrastructure development, start-ups and combating trans-border and international terror. In 2020, the two nations agreed on a long-term 'Roadmap on Defense Cooperation. This has led to regular bilateral consultations between the armed forces, navy and air force of the two countries. Today, New Delhi and Seoul recognise the importance of the freedom of navigation, overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce. They have mechanisms, such as the foreign ministers-led Joint Commission, the Vice-Ministerial 2+2 and the National Security Council-level meet, to chart out a common course of action to serve their mutual interests. Today, India and South Korea share strong appreciation of each other. South Korea backs India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Defence cooperation between New Delhi and Seoul is growing. South Korea is a major supplier of weapons and military equipment to India. India has developed the K9 Vajra, a 155mm, 52 Calibre artillery gun. It has been produced by the L&T and Korea's Hanwha Defense. India has been supportive of South Korea against the nuclear threat North Korea poses to it. India condemned North Korea's biggest nuclear test in 2017. In January 2018, India endorsed the "Vancouver Dialogue" - aimed at containing the proliferation of North Korean nuclear weapons. Recently, India has expressed its apprehension regarding North Korea's missile tests at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). OPINION: North Koreas missile tests: Need for constant vigilance Needless to add, New Delhi has been committed to maintain its friendship with Seoul irrespective of any change of guard in the latter. Prime Minister Modi had a telephone conversation with President Yoon Suk-yeol after the latter's election. They agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the fields of climate change, green economy, high-end technology and supply chain resilience. In December last, the Yoon administration unveiled its "Strategy for Ina Free, Peaceful and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Region." This strategy views India as a special strategic partner of South Korea. The Yoon administration seems to calculate New Delhi could be helpful in advancing South Korea's new interest in being included as part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). Regrettably, the sources say, all is not well between India and South Korea on the trade front. India's trade deficit with South Korea is increasing. The India-South Korea trade volume reached an impressive figure of $23.7 billion in 2021. But currently, India has a trade deficit against South Korea. Because of the nationalist spirit in South Korea (and Japan), Indian companies are not able to secure the required foothold to export their steel. (Jagdish N. Singh is a senior journalist based in New Delhi. He is also Senior Distinguished Fellow at the Gatestone Institute, New York) Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 12:35 [IST] 4 women among 6 killed in massive fire at Hyderabad high-rise building Ram Navmi violence in Hyderabad; Telangana sixth State to witness it PM flags off Vande Bharat Express from Telangana: Travel time to Tirupati comes down drastically After YS Sharmila, her mother too slaps constable in Hyderabad A P Intermediate Result 2023 Date & Time: BIEAP declares class 12 results at bieap.apcfss.in Hyderabad oi-Deepika S The Board of Intermediate Education Andhra Pradesh (BIEAP) has declared class 11 and class 12 results on Wednesday. Candidates can now check their results on the official website of BIEAP. The Andhra Pradesh government conducted the first-year intermediate exams from 15 March-3 April while the second-year intermediate exam was held from 15 March-4 April. A total of 10,03,990 students appeared for the Andhra Pradesh Inter exams this year. Out of these, 4.84 lakhs appeared for first-year exams while 5.19 lakhs appeared for the second year. Candidates are advised to keep their hall tickets handy to check their results. In 2022, around 4,64,756 students appeared for Andhra Pradesh Class 12 exams and the results were declared on June 22, 2022. The overall pass percentage stood at 61 per cent. For more details, students are advised to visit the official website of BIEAP. AP Inter results 2023: How to check Visit the official website bie.ap.gov.in On the homepage, open the intermediate 1st year or 2nd year result link Fill in your login credentials Submit and your Class 11 or Class 12 results will be displayed on the homepage Download and keep a copy for future reference World is at last joining Indias fight against terrorism as a common enemy CPI (Maoist) rank 12 in terror index: Why you should never take your eyes of their urban friends A timeline of the major terror attacks in Chhattisgarh India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Naxalites struck after more than a year-long lull in violence in Chhattisgarh. The naxalites detonated an IED in which 11, including 10 police personnel of the District Reserve guard were killed. The spot of the incident is around 450 kilometres from the capital city of Raipur. The team launched a massive operation following inputs were received about the presence of naxalites in the area. The operation was launched at the Puru Hidma region, which is known to be infested with naxalites. Following the operation, the police team were returning to Dantewada, when the naxalites targeted an IED when the vehicle reached Aranpur-Sameli. 10 policemen, driver killed in naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada Recommended Video Chhattisgarh: 10 policemen and one driver Killed in Naxal attack in Dantewada | Oneindia News Here is a timeline of the major naxal attacks in Chhattisgarh: April 2021: 22 security personnel were killed in a gun fight with the naxalites in the Terram jungles located along the borders of Bijaour and Sukma districts. 22 security personnel were killed in a gun fight with the naxalites in the Terram jungles located along the borders of Bijaour and Sukma districts. March 2018: Two Chhattisgarh police personnel were killed by naxalites at Bhejji, Sukma. Two Chhattisgarh police personnel were killed by naxalites at Bhejji, Sukma. April 24 2017: 24 personnel of the CRPF were killed in an encounter with naxalites in Sukma. 24 personnel of the CRPF were killed in an encounter with naxalites in Sukma. March 12 2017: 12 CRPF jawans were killed in Sukma in an encounter with naxals. 12 CRPF jawans were killed in Sukma in an encounter with naxals. March 11 2014: 15 security personnel killed in a naxalite attack in Sukma. 15 security personnel killed in a naxalite attack in Sukma. February 28 2014: In an attack at Dantewada,, six police personnel were killed in a naxal strike. In an attack at Dantewada,, six police personnel were killed in a naxal strike. May 25 2013: 25 members of the Congress party including former state minister, Mahendra Kumar were killed in a Maoist attack in the Darbha Valley. 25 members of the Congress party including former state minister, Mahendra Kumar were killed in a Maoist attack in the Darbha Valley. June 29 2010: Naxalites killed 26 CRPF jawans at the Narayanpur district. Naxalites killed 26 CRPF jawans at the Narayanpur district. May 8 2010: Naxalites carried out an explosion of a bullet-proof vehicle in the Bijapur district in which 8 CRPF personnel were killed. Naxalites carried out an explosion of a bullet-proof vehicle in the Bijapur district in which 8 CRPF personnel were killed. April 6 2010: 75 CRPF personnel killed in an ambush in Dantewada district. 75 CRPF personnel killed in an ambush in Dantewada district. September 4 2009: Six personnel killed following a landmine blast in Dantewada district. Six personnel killed following a landmine blast in Dantewada district. July 18 2009: Naxals kill villagers in the Bastar district. If Cong comes to power, Karnataka will be beset with riots: Amit Shah Congress for FIR against Shah for his 'riots if it comes to power' remark Amit Shah assures Chattisgarh CM of all help following deadly naxalite attack India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured of all help in the event of 11 persons including 10 policemen being killed in a naxalite attack. In a phone call with Chattisgarh Chief Minister, Bhupesh Baghel, Shah took stock of the situation and assured him that all possible help will be extended to the state. Ten policemen and their driver was killed when their vehicle was blown up by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. The policemen were returning from an anti-naxal operation that as launched following intelligence inputs. The policemen belonged to the District Reserve guard, a special force of the state police which comprises mostly local tribals who have been trained to combat Maoists. The force has been instrumental in several operations against the naxalites in Bastar, which is a hot-bed of left-wing extremism. 10 jawans, driver killed in naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada "The news of the martyrdom of our 10 DRG jawans and a driver due to an IED blast targeting the DRG force which had arrived for anti-Naxal operation on the information of the presence of Maoist cadre under Aranpur police station area of Dantewada is very sad. We share the grief of their families. May their soul rest in peace," Baghel said in a tweet following the incidents. The naxalites have wagged an armed insurgency against the government. They have killed hundreds of people in over six decades. They claim that they are fighting on behalf of the poorest people. The CPI (Maoist) which is a proscribed terror group has been the greatest threat to India since 1967. Assam: Major tragedy averted as security forces recover suspected IED in Tinsukia India oi-Prakash KL A major tragedy was averted as the security forces on Wednesday recovered a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) in Tinsukia's Makum area in Assam. The IED was found in a plastic bag planted on the Makum bypass road passing through the overbridge, according to news agency ANI. "With the help of bomb squad team of Indian Army, we defused the object in a safe place. It is an IED-like object. Our investigation is on to find who had planted it and what was their motive," ANI quoted Gaurav Abhijit Dilip, Superintendent, Tinsukia Police, in a tweet. Talking to EastMojo website, the SP said that a joint team of police and the Army recovered the suspected IED-like object based on input. "Immediately, the area was cordoned off, and the bomb disposal squad was called in. The experts from the Army neutralised the suspected IED by carrying out a controlled blast. The remains from the site will be sent to forensics for examination to find out the kind of explosive," he added. #WATCH | Assam: Security forces recovered a suspected IED in Tinsukia's Makum area The IED was found in a plastic bag planted on the Makum bypass road passing through the overbridge. With the help of bomb squad team of Indian Army, we defused the object in a safe place. It is pic.twitter.com/patUrawroL ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 It comes on a day when 10 police personnel and a driver were killed in a blast carried out by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district. A senior official told the PTI that the incident took place under Aranpur police station limits when a team of the state police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) was returning after an anti-Naxalite operation. "The news of the martyrdom of our 10 DRGsecurity personnel and a driver due to IED blast on the DRG force which had arrived for anti-Naxal operation on the information of the presence of Maoist cadre under Aranpur police station area of Dantewada is very sad. The people of the state pay our respects to them. We all share in the grief of their families. May their souls rest in peace," Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel tweeted. When Atiq Ahmed tried to grab property of Sonia Gandhi's relative SC to hear on April 28 plea for independent probe into Atiq killing SC seeks status report from UP Govt on steps taken after killing of Atiq Ahmed Atiq murder: UP govt files caveat urging SC to hear its side before passing order India oi-Deepika S The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday filed a caveat in the Supreme Court, urging it to hear the state's side before passing an order on the killing of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf amid tight police security. The Yogi Adityanath government filed the caveat through advocate Ruchira Goel, pleading that no order be passed without hearing them. Atiq and his brother were shot dead at point-blank range by three men posing as journalists in the middle of a media interaction on April 15. The shooting took place when police personnel were taking them to a hospital in Prayagraj for a medical checkup. On Monday, the top court agreed to hear a plea seeking an inquiry into the 183 encounters that have taken place in Uttar Pradesh since 2017, including the killing of the mafia brothers. Fact Check: Is this man criticising CM Yogi for the killing of Atiq Ahmed Advocate Vishal Tiwari, who has filed the petition, urged a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha that his plea be listed for hearing on April 24. "Several judges are down with Covid-19, and some cases in which dates were given have not been listed. We will try to list this on Friday," the CJI said. Recently, the Uttar Pradesh Police announced that they have gunned down 183 alleged criminals in encounters in the six years of Yogi Adityanath's government, that includes Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and his accomplice, who were killed in Jhansi. The petitioner also sought the setting up of an independent expert committee to investigate the killing of Atiq and Ashraf. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 15:00 [IST] The meeting between the President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili and parents of children diagnosed with achondroplasia took place in the Orbeliani palace. After the meeting, one of the parents, Makuna Gochiashvili, stated that the president would assist them in persuading the government to provide the necessary medicine.Gochiashvili reported that the President expressed her full support to them and had consulted with experts on the medicine for achondroplasia. Zourabichvili confirmed that the medicine is necessary and safe for their children."The President expressed her full support, and noted that in recent days she had consulted with qualified individuals regarding the medicine. She confirmed to us that it is necessary and safe for our children.The President also expressed her joy at the news that there is money in the budget, as the Prime Minister had mentioned. Since the funds are available and the Prime Minister has expressed his readiness, the President will assist us in the procedures," Gochiashvili stated.For the past few months, parents of children diagnosed with achondroplasia have been protesting, urging the government to provide funding for Voxzogo, a vital medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The Ministry of Health has stated that there is limited information available on the drug, and as a result, developed countries worldwide are taking a cautious approach to ensure patient safety.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia has reported the completion of the first phase of the evacuation of Georgian citizens from Sudan. Georgian citizens who were in the capital city of Khartoum have been relocated to the neutral zone located at the Sudan-Egypt border. The Ministry has ensured that their health and lives are not at risk. The next step is for them to be transferred to Egypt and eventually back to Georgia, as per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."Now the citizens of Georgia are on the border of Sudan and Egypt, in the neutral zone. We expect them to have already left Sudan and moved to Egypt, from where they will be transported to their homeland, Georgia.It can be said that with the involvement of our embassies, partners and companies, this evacuation was carried out successfully and no Georgian citizen is in Sudan today. Everyone has been safely taken out of this country," states the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aleksandre Khvtisiashvili. A recent series of scientific symposiums has provided information about the role of anticoagulant medicines in reducing cases of blood clots and strokes. Held in early April, the "Extra Moments" symposium series attracted 2,000 doctors, clinical pharmacists and healthcare professionals from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and other provinces across the country. The series was organized by the Vietnam Cardiology Association in collaboration with Bayer Vietnam. Seminars discussed the strategies, current challenges and best practices in stroke prevention and venous thrombotic embolism treatment by using anticoagulant medicines, especially in high-risk patients. Prof. Nguyen Lan Viet, Ph.D., (R) and Dr.Nguyen Quoc Thai, Ph.D. are co-chairing the session "Using anticoagulant for stroke prevention in patient with atrial fibrillation". Photo by Minh Thanh The programs featured many international and local speakers who are renowned cardiologists and neurologists, providing the latest updates and results of clinical research on using anticoagulant medicines, especially in high-risk patients. Prof. John Camm from the United Kingdom shared insights and clinical data on the topic of "Thrombosis management for patients with atrial fibrillation and renal failure." As a former chairman of the editorial board of the European Society of Cardiology, his works helped usher in the use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs). Around 2,000 doctors and healthcare professionals attended in the hybrid Extra Moment symposium series which were organized in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi and virtually via Zoom & Docquity platforms. Photo by Minh Thanh Vietnam is entering an ageing population phase with an increase in non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular and thrombosis diseases which can cause serious health complications, such as stroke, disability and death. Prolonged and costly treatment will likely be a burden for the current and future healthcare system. Therefore, stroke prevention and thrombosis treatment, especially in high-risk cases such as elderly and renal failure patients, is a top priority nationwide. Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants have become one of the key treatments for stroke prevention and systemic embolism in patients. Prof. Nguyen Lan Viet, vice chairman of the Vietnam Heart Association, said: "NOACs can be given in fixed doses without routine coagulation monitoring, which is very convenient for patients." "Depending on the patient's medical condition and financial ability, the physicians should administer the appropriate type of anticoagulant to patients to optimize the treatment outcomes and limit the possible adverse events." According to healthcare experts, the effectiveness of the anticoagulant medication depends heavily on the degree of compliance and adherence to treatment. With oral anticoagulant medications, patients must follow the physician's instructions, strictly adhere to the medication regimen, and take the right dose at the right time. It is critical to not increase or decrease the dose without consulting doctors. In cases of surgery or medical procedures, patients must inform doctors about their use of anticoagulants in advance. Additionally, patients should avoid physical activities that could lead to bleeding and must adhere to routine check-ups. Indo Brandenburg, managing director of Bayer Vietnam. Photo by Minh Thanh Pro. Viet said: "With accelerating advances in health information and technology, healthcare professionals have to regularly keep up with new techniques and technologies and expand their knowledge and skills to ensure the safe, effective and high-quality patient care. "Hence, scientific symposiums such as Extra Moments series are very helpful and necessary for the healthcare community." According to Ingo Brandenburg, managing director of Bayer Vietnam, research and developing new solutions for cardiovascular and thrombosis disease prevention and treatment is one of the company's priorities globally. Going forward, Bayer will continue to strengthen collaboration with strategic partners to fulfill its commitment to supporting the healthcare community in enhancing the quality of medical treatments for the benefit of patients. "Our clear goal is to develop new treatment options and innovative medical approaches to create positive changes in patient health, thereby reducing the burden on patients, the community and the health system," said Brandenburg. Congress committed to increase quota cap to 75%: Siddaramaiah India oi-Prakash KL With just two weeks away for the polling for 224 Assembly seats in Karnataka, Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said that his party is "committed" to increasing the reservation limit from the current 50 per cent to 75 per cent. "Congress party is committed to increasing the reservation limit from 50% to 75%, and to increase reservation to all castes based on their population," the former Karnataka CM tweeted. His comment is seen as an attempt to consolidate SC and OBC votes in the upcoming polls. It has to be noted that Rahul Gandhi had recently raked up the quota issue while calling for the removal of the 50 per cent ceiling on quotas. In an election rally in Kolar, Rahul Gandhi demanded reservations for Dalits and tribals based on their population. "Take these three steps: Make the 2011 census figures public, tell how many OBCs are there in the country and remove the 50 per cent cap on reservations. Give reservation to Dalits, tribals according to their population," Gandhi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make the 2011 census figures public. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding an up-to-date caste census, saying meaningful social justice and empowerment programmes are not complete in the absence of such data. Since then, many parties have joined the Congress demanding the Centre to conduct caste census. Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar's government in Bihar has already started a caste survey. Meanwhile, the 'quota' issue became a campaign issue after the BJP scrapped 4 per cent for Muslims, just days before the Election Commission announced the date for the polls. The four per cent reservation for Muslims was to be equally split between Lingayats and Vokkaligas. Meanwhile, former Karnataka CM and BJP leader BS Yediyurappa slammed Siddaramaiah over his tweet and said, "When he is going to lose miserably, that question does not arise. We are going to form the Govt. We will do whatever is needed." K'taka polls: Decoding caste arithmetics after all parties release final lists India oi-Vicky Nanjappa When it comes to caste arithmetic, Karnataka is no different. In this election year all parties are playing the caste card and are leaving nothing to chance as Karnataka like most states in the country votes on this equation. If one goes by the list of candidates released by the three major parties- BJP, Congress and Janata Dal (S), it is clear that they have chosen a mix of leaders belonging to all castes. While the Lingayats and Vokkaligas, the two most dominant castes have got a lion's share, leaders from the other castes too have been accommodated in the list. While the BJP and Congress have fielded 67 and 51 tickets each to the Lingayats, the JD(S) has fielded 54 Vokkaliga candidates. For the BJP the Lingayat dominated seats are important as in the 2018 elections, it had won 38 of the 70 seats, where the community is dominant. On the other hand the JD(S) pulled off 24 of the 40 constituencies in which the Vokkaligas are dominant in the previous elections. Karnataka polls: Why Siddaramaiah can't stop 'politicising' Op Kaveri Not just the Vokkaligas and Lingayats who form 14 and 17 per cent of the population, the parties have also given equal importance to the Schedule Castes, Schedule Tribes and Other Backward Classes as well. The BJP and Congress have fielded 40 OBC candidates, while the JD(S) has given tickets to 28. When it comes to the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes, the BJP has fielded the most candidates, while the Congress comes second. In the case of the Muslims and Christians, the BJP does not have a single candidate. In fact it is the JD(S) which has fielded the most number of Muslim candidate. The number stands at 23 Muslims. Among the Brahmins, it is the BJP that tops the list. All three parties have also given tickets to Kurubas, a dominant community from which former chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah hails. However all three parties have shied away from fielding a large number of women candidates. Although the population of the woman electorate is equal to that of the men, the BJP has fielded just 11, while in the case of the Congress it is 12. The JD(S) however leads this pack with it fielding 13 women candidates. Will C T Ravi be the next chief minister of Karnataka? Eshwarappa clarifies OneIndia spoke with several experts to understand the choice of candidates that have bee fielded. They said that this is probably one of the toughest elections that the state has seen. The focus is on the winnability factor and that is what all parties have concentrated on. "No doubt caste is a factor in Karnataka. However this time all parties have taken that calculated risk to ensure that the candidate has that winnability factor," the expert said. Female friend in cockpit: DGCA derosters entire crew till probe is over India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Two months after an Air India pilot allowed a female friend into the cockpit during a Dubai-Delhi flight, aviation watchdog DGCA has directed the airline to deroster the entire crew till the investigations are completed. A cabin crew member of the flight had filed a complaint with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) after a pilot had allowed a female friend into the cockpit. The incident had taken place on February 27. News agency PTI while quoting a source said that the official at the DGCA said though prima-facie the cabin crew had no role in the incident, the entire crew of the flight has to be derostered pending the probe. The report also said that the pilot would remain grounded until a final decision is taken on the mater by the regulator. There has been no immediate word from Air India on the incident. On April 21 the Airlie had said that it had taken serious note of the incident and that the probe was underway. Woman friend let into cockpit by Air India pilot says crew in complaint According to the rules unauthorised people are not allowed to enter the cockpit and any such incident is considered to be a violation of the norms. "DGCA is conducting an investigation into the matter. The Investigation team will examine the relevant facts," said a senior DGCA official. The official added that the incident happened on February 27 when an Air India pilot operating from Dubai to Delhi allegedly entertained a female friend in the cockpit. "The act violates aviation regulator DGCA safety norms," the aviation regulator had said in a statement. "We have taken serious note of the reported incident and investigations are underway in Air India. We have also reported the matter to the DGCA and are cooperating with their investigations. We have zero tolerance in aspects related to the safety and well-being of our passengers and will take requisite action, "Air India had said in a statement. Operation Kaveri: 117 out of 1,191 passengers evacuated from Sudan put under quarantine Operation Kaveri: Among those rescued from Sudan, one is aged 102 Flight with 360 Indians evacuated from trouble-hit Sudan lands in Delhi India oi-Prakash KL A special flight, carrying 360 Indian evacuees from Sudan, landed in Delhi from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday evening. "India welcomes back its own. #OperationKaveri brings 360 Indian Nationals to the homeland as first flight reaches New Delhi," External Affairs Minister S Jaishakar tweeted along with arrival pictures. The government has launched 'Operation Kaveri' to bring back the stranded Indian nationals from trouble-hit Sudan. In the visuals shared by ANI, the Indian nationals, who arrived from Sudan, are heard chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', 'Indian Army Zindabad' and 'PM Narendra Modi Zindabad'. #WATCH | 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', Indian Army Zindabad, PM Narendra Modi Zindabad' slogans chanted by Indian nationals as they arrive in Delhi from conflict-torn Sudan. pic.twitter.com/Uird0MSoRx ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 An Indian woman also thanked the government after landing safely in Delhi from conflict-torn Sudan. "The Indian government supported us a lot. It's a big thing that we reached here safely as it was very dangerous. I thank PM Modi and the Indian government," she said in the clip. #WATCH | Delhi: "Indian govt supported us a lot. It's a big thing that we reached here safely as it was very dangerous. I thank PM Modi and Indian Govt," says an Indian national, who returned from Sudan pic.twitter.com/iyRo6gpEYr ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 On the other hand, India has evacuated a total of 670 Indian nationals from Sudan. 392 Indian nationals were brought to Jeddah by a C-130J military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force from Port Sudan in three flights on Wednesday, a day after an Indian Navy ship rescued 278 citizens from that country. As per the official data, the total number of Indians evacuated from Sudan now stands at 670. An Indian named Bharat, who returned from Sudan, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for making good arrangement for their return. "I am thankful to Indian Govt. Saudi Arabia also did a good job. I salute PM Narendra Modi and Dr S Jaishankar for the good arrangements," he said. "Indian govt is currently the only government that has put more focus on Indian citizens including diplomats. Developed countries are primarily focusing on diplomats," says Gaurav Jain, an Indian national who returned from Sudan. To facilitate the evacuation of Indians from Sudan, India has set up a control room in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and sent Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan to oversee the evacuation mission. The fighting erupted between the nation's two top Generals, who have the backing of tens of thousands of heavily armed fighters, on April 15. Sudan's military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo were together till recently, brought down Omar al-Bashir's government in 2019 by orchestrating a military coup in October 2021 resulting in the suspension of the constitution. However, differences between the two Generals cropped up during negotiations to integrate the RSF into the country's military as part of plans to restore civilian rule. Meanwhile, the fifth batch of stranded Indians has left Sudan. Current COVID strain mild, SII has produced five to six million Covovax doses: Adar Poonawalla India reports 9,629 fresh Covid cases today, 44% higher than yesterday India oi-Deepika S India on Wednesday saw a rise in Covid-19 cases with a total of 9,629 fresh infections registered in 24 hours, 44 per cent more than yesterday, data shared by the Health Ministry stated. With 29 new fatalities, the death count rose to 5,31,398. The total case tally is at 4,43,11,078, the data showed. Photo Credit: Of the 29 deaths, Delhi reported six fatalities, followed by three each in Maharashtra and Rajasthan, two fatalities in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, and one each in Odisha, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh. Kerala has reported a total of 10 reconciled Covid deaths. Kerala, Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh continue to contribute to the overall case tally with the most number of infections. Recommended Video India logs 9,629 fresh Covid cases and 29 Covid-related fatalities in 24 hours | Oneindia News The daily positivity rate stood at 5.38 per cent and the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 5.61 per cent. The active cases account for 0.14 per cent of the total infections, while the Covid-19 recovery rate stood at 98.68 per cent, the ministry said. The number of people who have recovered from covid surged to 4,43,23, 045 while the case fatality rate stood at 1.18 per cent. Nearly 220.66 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far, according to the heath ministry. The nationwide Covid-19 vaccination began on 16 January 2021. Intelligence Bureau grills Amritpal Singh, more central agencies to follow India oi-Vicky Nanjappa To get more leads and his possible international connection a team of the Intelligence Bureau grilled radical Sikh preacher, Amritpal Singh at the high-security Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam. Sources tell OneIndia that the questioning went on for several hours, but so far nothing much has come out of the interrogation. Another round of interrogation will take place today. Due to the fact that Amritpal Singh has possible international links, the Research and Analysis Wing too will join the probe. Other central agencies along with the Punjab Police too will question Singh, the source cited above said. Photo Credit: What the agencies are trying to find out is how Singh was planted into Punjab by Pakistan's ISI. Intelligence Bureau reports clearly suggest that he is a stooge of the ISI and appeared out of nowhere following the death of Deep Sidhu who had founded the Waris Punjab De, which Singh now heads. Singh was arrested earlier this week following a four week chase. The case is also important in the event of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) probing the gangster-terror nexus case. An IB official said that it is important to prove the international links to this case. The ISI has operated very smartly in this case and used gangsters who have taken refuge abroad to run the show in Punjab. If one looks at the RPG attack case, it was clear that it was planned by gangsters in Canada. They had used local gangsters to carry out the attack in Punjab, the official further added. Why Amritpal Singh was a no-show at the end of it Meanwhile Amritpal has been kept in solitary confinement away from his aides. His food is being served to him by the jail staff, while his health is being monitored regularly. A 16-member team of the Punjab Police will stay over at Assam for more days as there is more interrogation to be done. The Punjab Police is focused on Singh's links to pro-Khalistan elements. Amritpal prior to his arrest had been openly propagating for a separate Khalistan state. His supporters have turned violent on many occasions. The last straw for him was when his followers attacked the Ajnala police station, demanding the release of one of their aides. The crackdown by the police began following that incident. Jaishankar speaks to his Saudi, UAE counterparts over situation in Sudan Jaishankar's veiled dig at Pak: 'Difficult to engage with a neighbour who...' Jaishankar-Bilawal Bhutto Zardari meet unlikely at SCO summit India oi-Deepika S External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is unlikely to meet his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who is visiting India to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit that will be held in May. The development comes a day after Jaishankar took a veiled dig at Pakistan while speaking at a joint press conference with Panama's Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney Mencomo in Panama City. "It is very difficult for us to engage with a neighbour who practices cross-border terrorism. We have conveyed to them that they have to stop encouraging, sponsoring, and carrying out cross-border terrorism. We continue to hope we will reach that stage someday," he said. Last week, five Indian Army soldiers were killed in a terrorist attack in Jammu Kashmir's Poonch. The attack added to the bitterness in India-Pakistan ties, which are already in a deep freeze. Zardari's India visit is significant as this will be the first visit by any Pakistani Foreign Minister since Hina Rabbani Khar in 2011. Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto to visit India in May The relations between India and Pakistan suffered a severe blow after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama in 2019 by Pakistan-backed terrorists. India hit back with an aerial strike at a terror training centre in Balakot of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on February 26 last year. The ties further deteriorated after India scrapped the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370. Congress locked up Lord Rama, now it wants to lock up those who worship Hanuman: PM Modi K'taka MLAs attended Assembly for an average of 25 days a year: Report India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections, an interesting report says that on an average the MLAs from the state attended assembly proceedings for just 25 days a year. The repot has been prepared by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Karnataka Election Watch based on the RTIs filed in the Karnataka Assembly Secretariat asking for the information pertaining to the performance of the MLAs and the Legislative Assembly. The longest session according to the report was the 12th one held between February 14 and March 30. In all this session had 26 sittings. 'Congress talks about development, but: Yogi Adityanath in Karnataka K S Longish of the Janata Dal (S) and Channappa Mallappa Nimbannavar of the BJP have a 100 per cent attendance in the Assembly the report noted. Jyothiganesh and Sanjeeva Mataondoor of the BJP recorded a 99 per cent attendance, the report added. Out of the 224 MLAs in the Karnataka Assembly, 218 have asked questions on the floor of the House, the report said. The highest number of questions (591) asked was by Congress MLA, N A Harris. Yashvanthrayagouda Patil, an independent candidate was second on this list. He asked 532 questions. The highest number of questions asked were related to general administration, finance, revenue, social welfare and education, the report said. The report added that 2,285 were related to general administration, while 2,281 were about finance and revenue. Social welfare came third with 1,516 questions, the ADR report noted. Karnataka polls: Why Siddaramaiah can't stop 'politicising' Op Kaveri In all there were 214 Bills that were tabled in the 15th Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Of these, 202 Bills were passed, the report added. In the Karnataka Legislative Assembly there are 224 seats and the magic number to form the government is 113. Elections are due in Karnataka this year. The results of the elections to be held on May 10 will be declared on May 13. Karnataka polls: Why Siddaramaiah can't stop 'politicising' Op Kaveri India oi-Deepika S Even as India launched 'Operation Kaveri' to bring back Indians stranded in crisis-hit Sudan, senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah took a veiled dig at External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar saying when he raised his voice seeking help from the government, the foreign minister accused him of doing politics. Taking to Twitter, the former Karnataka Chief Minister said, "When I raised my voice on behalf of the helpless lives waiting for help without food and water, the foreign minister of the country accused me of politicising the situation of Indians in violence-hit Sudan." "But, people from all over the country backed me and raised their voices to remind the Central government about its duty," he claimed, adding, "Nothing is beyond humanity, politics too." On April 24, India launched Operation Kaveri to bring back Indians stranded in Sudan where Army and paramilitary groups are fighting. A transit facility in Jeddah will host the Indians being evacuated for the time being before they arrive in India. Indian Navy has also joined the operation with INS Teg reaching Sudan port on Tuesday with additional officials and essential relief materials. First batch of 278 Indians leave Sudan under 'Operation Kaveri At least 3,000 Indians, including 31 Hakki Pikki tribals of Karnataka, are stuck in the war-hit nation with little food and water. In poll-bound Karnataka, a political row erupted after Congress hit out at the Centre alleging "delay" in rescuing the stranded Indians. Siddaramaiah asked the government to take immediate steps to rescue the stranded Hakki Pikkis while party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala made scathing remarks, both targeting the foreign minister. Jaishankar snubbed Siddaramaiah for 'doing politics' when several lives were at stake. "Simply appalled at your tweet! There are lives at stake; don't do politics. Since the fighting started on April 14th, the Embassy of India in Khartoum has been continuously in touch with most Indian Nationals and PIOs in Sudan. Plans regarding them have to take into account a very complicated security scenario. The Embassy is in constant touch with the Ministry in that regard. It is grossly irresponsible of you to politicize their situation. No electoral goal justifies endangering Indians abroad," Jaishankar tweeted. Recommended Video Operation Kaveri: 3rd batch of 137 Indian evacuated from Sudan reach Jeddah | Oneindia News Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting and asked the officials to prepare for contingency evacuation, following which Operation Kaveri was launched. The operation is going on successfully with scores of Indians already being evacuated from Sudan. 2 IAF planes on standby to evacuate Indians stuck in Sudan However, with Assembly elections just a fortnight away, Siddaramaiah, who is a front-runner for the CM post, is apparently looking for taking advantage of the situation by still raking up the issue. As it seems Jaishankar's retort has hurt his ego and the CM aspirant continues to take dig at the foreign minister in a bid to keep the controversy alive with an eye on the polls. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 11:18 [IST] 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 Congress talks about development, but: Yogi Adityanath in Karnataka India oi-Deepika S Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday held a massive roadshow in Mandya as part of his election campaign for the upcoming assembly election in Karnataka. Photo Credit: Addressing a public rally in Mandya, Adityanath said, "Congress only talks about development but the fact is that the 5-year schemes which they used to announce never became reality. But, when PM Modi keeps the foundation of a scheme, he also inaugurates it." "Congress appeased Popular Front of India (PFI) and announced reservation based on religion, which is against Constitution. But the BJP has carried out massive development in Karnataka. Ram Mandir will be ready by 2024," said Yogi Adityanath in poll-bound Karnataka. "In Uttar Pradesh, the law and order is under control. There is no curfew and no riots in the past six years. The concept of 'Ek Bharat, Sreshtha Bharat' that the BJP believes in, can alone take India forward, he said. "BJP does not believe in appeasement; but in empowerment", he added. The UP chief minister urged the voters to ensure that BJP candidates win and thereby strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Adityanath, who was among the list of star campaigners for the BJP in Karnataka, is likely to address more than a dozen election rallies and also hold roadshows in the state. Adityanath is also one of the most sought-after BJP leaders from outside Karnataka and the party workers wanted him to campaign extensively in the state, a BJP leader said. Decoding the caste arithmetic and the list released by all parties in Karnataka Yogi Adityanath began his maiden poll rally from Mandya as the BJP looks serious in making inroads into the Vokkaliga heartland. In the previous election election, JDS got 26 seats from the old Mysuru region and the BJP won just 16, even as it swept across central and coastal Karnataka. The Congress bagged in 22seats. Lack of direct routes, expensive airfares keep tourists away from Vietnam A lack of direct flights and skyrocketing air tickets prices have prompted foreign tourists to cancel plans to visit Vietnam and switch to neighboring countries, insiders have said. Pham Thien Trang, a branch director at luxury cruise operator Lux Group, said at a conference in Nha Trang on Tuesday that a group of 30 Italians booked her company's service to visit Vietnam for 16 days earlier this year, but they changed their itinerary and canceled their bookings due to high airfares. Currently, there are no direct routes between Vietnam and Italy. Return flights from Rome to Vietnamese tourist destinations such as Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Da Nang involve one or two stops and start at around VND35 million ($1,500). A group of British tourists also canceled their bookings and switched to Thailand with cheaper airfares, Trang added. "Air ticket prices from the U.K. and Germany to Vietnam are double pre-pandemic levels, forcing European tourists to change their travel plans to Vietnam and move to neighboring countries instead," Trang said. Truong Tran Ngoc Hung, vice head of Product Marketing Department of Vietnam Airlines, said that the airline has recently increased air tickets to cover the losses incurred during the two years of the Covid crisis. Nhu Thi Ngan, general director of Hanoi Tourism JSC, said foreign tourists had started tightening their budgets amid the global economic slowdown. Therefore, current expensive airfares were a big disadvantage for the tourism industry. Ha Van Sieu, deputy chairman of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said aviation "plays a vital role" in tourism recovery. He proposed the government review aviation agreements signed with countries and territories to create more favorable conditions for airlines to launch new routes to Vietnam, opening up more opportunities to attract foreign tourists. Currently, there are 69 carriers operating flights to and from Vietnam. Despite being one of the first Southeast Asian countries to fully reopen to international tourism post-pandemic, Vietnam received only 3.6 million foreign tourists last year, around 20% of the pre-pandemic figure. Vietnam aims to receive 8 million foreign visitors this year. Kochi Water Metro commences commercial operations India oi-PTI Kerala government's ambitious Kochi Water Metro service, a first in the country and launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a day ago, commenced its commercial operations on Wednesday. The flagship project of the Left front government, set up at a cost of Rs 1,136.83 crore in the port city, will connect 10 islands using 78 electric boats and 38 terminals. Currently, 15 electric air-conditioned catamaran boats have started ferrying city residents across eight water routes. There are 15 proposed water routes. A group of differently-abled children enjoyed the inaugural trip of the water metro on the launch day. The vessels and the terminals which are constructed in a disabled-friendly manner. "The boats will start operating from High Court Water Metro Terminal and Vypin Water Metro Terminal from 7 AM. The ticket rate for this route is Rs 20. During peak hours, there will be boat service every 15 minutes in the High court- Vypin route. The boat services will continue till 8 PM," the Kerala Water Metro Limited (KWML) said in a statement. PM Modi launches India's first Water Metro in Kochi It said the country's first Water Metro service will provide safe, affordable and pocket friendly travel for people in and around Kochi and also the tourists from across the world. The eco-friendly vessels can ferry up to 100 people each across the proposed 76-km-long routes at a speed of eight to ten knots. The boat had also won Gussies International Electric Boat awards, 2022. Metro officials said the vessels are fitted with the most advanced and safest battery technology which is capable of supercharging in 15 to 20 minutes. The vessels are also equipped with life-saving equipment including lifejackets and technology to prevent overcrowding. Apart from having an automatic boat location tracking system and a night navigation equipment, the panoramic windows of the vessels provide a visual treat of the scenic backwaters of Kochi. The solar-powered electric vessels with zero emissions have recyclable aluminum alloy hull bodies and the engines produce near to zero sound and vibration while running. India's first water metro in Kochi: 10 points The Kochi Water Metro service is fully funded by the Kerala government and KfW, a German funding agency. The terminals are built with state-of-the-art facilities and the jetties have floating pontoons with automatic docking system technology. The Water Metro is expected to ferry 34,000 passengers everyday. The integrated ticketing system allows passengers seamless travel on water metro and metro rail using the Kochi One card. For the future, KMRL plans to make the smart card usable for travel on feeder buses and auto-rickshaws. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 10:11 [IST] Maha CM should follow in footsteps of Yogi and use bulldozers to remove encroachments: T Raja Singh I'll pay Rs 10 lakh each to Shah, Shinde if they sit under sun: MIM MP Maha CM Shinde in hometown amidst reports of political realignment India oi-Vicky Nanjappa With the buzz around a realignment, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has reached his home village of Dare Tarfe Taam, in Satara district. The move comes ahead of the Supreme Court's decision over the disqualification of several Shiv Sena MLas on the grounds of defection last year. According to a Times of India report, Shinde had met with the district collectors on Monday. He announced that he will going to the Dare village on an unofficial visit. Details of his tour have however not been made official as yet by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). Post his landing, Shinde was received by district officials. He reached his village in an official chopper. Following his visit, the opposition parties minced no words and took a dig at the alliance of the Shiv Sena and BJP. Minister Uday Samant however cleared the air and said that Shinde had gone to take part in a village fair. Shinde's supporters claimed that he had arrived to listen to Prayan, a discourse by a spiritual thinker. Death warrant of Shinde govt issued, will collapse in 20 days: Sanjay Raut Meanwhile the Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena (UBT) said that Shinde is on his way out. Who would be his rubber-stamp successor, the party asked. The BJP on the other hand rubbished a claim by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, Sanjay Raut. He had claimed that a change of Chief Minister is being plotted in Delhi. BJP spokesperson, Ram Kadam said that Raut is clearly rattled and is daydreaming like 'Mungerilal ke sapne' with such comments." Raut had said that Shinde had not lived up to the expectations of the BJP and there are moves underway in Delhi to topple him. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 12:43 [IST] CBSE Class 10, 12 Result 2023: Board result to be out soon, check latest details AAP's Shelly Oberoi is Delhi Mayor as BJP candidate pulls out India oi-Madhuri Adnal The Aam Aadmi Party's Shelly Oberoi was elected mayor of Delhi on Wednesday without contest as her BJP rival Shikha Rai withdrew her nomination. With this, Oberoi got another term as mayor of Delhi. Rai told the House that she took the step because the election to the standing committee has not been conducted. Incumbent Deputy Mayor Aaley Mohammad Iqbal also got another term at the post, as BJP candidate Soni Pal withdrew her nomination. Iqbal and Pal were the two rival candidates for the post of deputy mayor. The AAP is the ruling party in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The two candidates, current mayor Oberoi and BJP's Rai, had earlier filed their nominations for the Delhi mayoral poll slated to be held on April 26, officials told PTI. The mayoral election in Delhi was supposed to be a direct contest between incumbent Oberoi and Rai. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is the ruling party in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Recommended Video Delhi Mayor: AAPs Shelly Oberoi wins after BJP candidate withdraws nomination | Oneindia News Here are the Highlights: Newest First Oldest First Aaley Md Iqbal from Chandni Mahal ward will be the deputy Mayor of Delhi for 2023-24. Aam Aadmi Party's Shelly Oberoi has been elected Delhi Mayor after Bharatiya Janata Party's Shikha Rai withdraws her nomination, reports PTI. The unification of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (104 wards), South Delhi Municipal Corporation (104 wards) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (64 wards) happened last year, with a notification issued to that effect in May. The AAP had emerged victorious in the high-stakes polls. The civic polls held on December 4 last year were the first after the three corporations were unified into the MCD and a fresh delimitation exercise was carried out, reducing the number of wards from 272 in 2012 to 250. According to the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, 1957, the mayor and the deputy mayor are to be elected in the very first session of the House after the civic polls, as reported by PTI. Delhi had got a mayor on February 22 in the fourth attempt since the earlier elections were stalled amid a ruckus over voting rights being given to nominated members. Delhi mayoral poll norms Former North Delhi mayor Jai Prakash said the presiding officer for the mayoral poll will be chosen by the lieutenant governor. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva has nominated second-time councillor Rai for the mayoral poll. Sachdeva has also nominated Soni Pandey, an activist of the Purvanchal Morcha and the councillor from ward number 249, for the deputy mayor's post. Four nominations were received by the municipal secretary's office - two each for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor. The last day for filing nominations for the mayoral poll was April 18. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) too has entered the fray and senior party leader Rai, the councillor from the Greater Kailash-1 ward, is its candidate for the mayoral poll. Candidates Aam Aadmi Party's Oberoi and Aaley Mohammad Iqbal filed their nominations earlier this month for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor for a possible second consecutive term, with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party exuding confidence that its candidates are poised for a win. Oberoi will continue to hold charge till a new mayor is elected, official told news agency PTI on April 3. The city gets a new mayor after the end of a financial year. The mayor post in Delhi sees 5 single-year terms on a rotational basis, with the first year reserved for women, the second for the open category, the third for the reserved category and the remaining two again for the open category. AAP's Shelly Oberoi is seeking a second term after her tenure ended on March 31 this year. The voting was held at the Civic Centre - the headquarters of the MCD, where the fresh mayoral poll will be held. Shelly Oberoi was elected as the Delhi mayor on February 22 after three failed poll attempts over disputes regarding nominated members' voting rights. She had defeated BJP's Rekha Gupta by a margin of 34 votes. Oberoi polled 150 votes, while Gupta received 116 of the total 266 votes polled. The AAP is the ruling party in the MCD. The two candidates, current mayor Oberoi and BJP's Rai, had earlier filed their nominations for the Delhi mayoral poll slated to be held on April 26, officials told PTI. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi will choose its next mayor today in a direct contest between incumbent Shelly Oberoi from the AAP and BJP leader Shikha Rai. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi will choose its next mayor today in a direct contest between incumbent Shelly Oberoi from the AAP and BJP leader Shikha Rai. The AAP is the ruling party in the MCD. The two candidates, current mayor Oberoi and BJP's Rai, had earlier filed their nominations for the Delhi mayoral poll slated to be held on April 26, officials told PTI. Shelly Oberoi was elected as the Delhi mayor on February 22 after three failed poll attempts over disputes regarding nominated members' voting rights. She had defeated BJP's Rekha Gupta by a margin of 34 votes. Oberoi polled 150 votes, while Gupta received 116 of the total 266 votes polled. The voting was held at the Civic Centre - the headquarters of the MCD, where the fresh mayoral poll will be held. AAP's Shelly Oberoi is seeking a second term after her tenure ended on March 31 this year. The mayor post in Delhi sees 5 single-year terms on a rotational basis, with the first year reserved for women, the second for the open category, the third for the reserved category and the remaining two again for the open category. The city gets a new mayor after the end of a financial year. Oberoi will continue to hold charge till a new mayor is elected, official told news agency PTI on April 3. Candidates Aam Aadmi Party's Oberoi and Aaley Mohammad Iqbal filed their nominations earlier this month for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor for a possible second consecutive term, with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party exuding confidence that its candidates are poised for a win. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) too has entered the fray and senior party leader Rai, the councillor from the Greater Kailash-1 ward, is its candidate for the mayoral poll. Four nominations were received by the municipal secretary's office - two each for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor. The last day for filing nominations for the mayoral poll was April 18. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva has nominated second-time councillor Rai for the mayoral poll. Sachdeva has also nominated Soni Pandey, an activist of the Purvanchal Morcha and the councillor from ward number 249, for the deputy mayor's post. Delhi mayoral poll norms Former North Delhi mayor Jai Prakash said the presiding officer for the mayoral poll will be chosen by the lieutenant governor. Delhi had got a mayor on February 22 in the fourth attempt since the earlier elections were stalled amid a ruckus over voting rights being given to nominated members. According to the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, 1957, the mayor and the deputy mayor are to be elected in the very first session of the House after the civic polls, as reported by PTI. The civic polls held on December 4 last year were the first after the three corporations were unified into the MCD and a fresh delimitation exercise was carried out, reducing the number of wards from 272 in 2012 to 250. The AAP had emerged victorious in the high-stakes polls. The unification of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (104 wards), South Delhi Municipal Corporation (104 wards) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (64 wards) happened last year, with a notification issued to that effect in May. Aam Aadmi Party's Shelly Oberoi has been elected Delhi Mayor after Bharatiya Janata Party's Shikha Rai withdraws her nomination, reports PTI. Aaley Md Iqbal from Chandni Mahal ward will be the deputy Mayor of Delhi for 2023-24. (with PTI inputs) Woman friend let into cockpit by Air India pilot says crew in complaint Air India pilots seek Ratan Tata's intervention on pay structure India oi-Deepika S Nearly 1,500 Air India pilots have written a letter to Ratan Tata, the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, seeking his intervention to resolve the deadlock between the management and the crew over the revised pay structure. "We are facing a difficult situation with the current HR department. We feel we are not being treated with the respect and dignity that we deserve as employees of Air India," pilots wrote in an online petition. Photo Credit: "As a result, our morale is low, and we are concerned that this will have a negative impact on our ability to perform our duties to the best of our abilities," news agency PTI reported quoting the petition. "We have always been committed to Air India's success and have gone above and beyond to ensure that we provide our passengers with the best possible experience," pilots added. As the Chairman Emeritus of Air India, "we believe that your benevolent leadership can help us to find a solution that is fair and respectful to all parties involved", they added. On April 17, Air India rolled out a revised compensation structure for its pilots and cabin crew, which was straight away rejected by the two pilot unions - Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) and Indian Pilots Guild (IPG). They claimed that Air India's move is a violation of labour practices, as the management did not consult them before finalising the new contracts. The pilot unions also urged their community not to sign/accept the revised contract and salary structure. Panic in Bengal school after gun-wielding man enters classroom, cops avert hostage crisis India oi-Prakash KL Panic gripped students in Muchia Anchal Chandra Mohan High School at Old Malda in West Bengal on Wednesday after a gun-wielding man tried to hold hostage students. In the visuals shared by ANI, the man is yelling inside a classroom before he is overpowered and arrested by the cops. He has been identified as Deb Ballabh. They seized a pistol, two bottles containing some liquid and a knife from him. A senior cop has told PTI that the class had nearly 35-40 students including girls. After barging into the classroom, the gun-wielding man asked class teacher Pratibha Mahanta to sit in one corner and asked students to sit quietly, she said. He then issued threats and complaints that the administration was not doing enough to trace his missing wife and child. The teacher said that the man also claimed that his child was a student at the school. "I somehow managed to escape when he was busy shouting and alert other teachers," Mahanta told newspersons. #WATCH | Malda, WB | A gun-wielding man, Deb Ballabh, tried to hold hostage students in a classroom of Muchia Anchal Chandra Mohan High School. He was later overpowered & arrested by Police. No one was injured in the incident. A police probe is underway (Note: Abusive language) pic.twitter.com/86OU8Cw8Np ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 The man has reportedly claimed that his complaints to the various authorities about his missing wife and child have been ignored. Following the incident, his neighbours said that he was separated from his wife and his child was with her. Sources have told India Today that he is a "mentally-unstable" man. As the news of the incident spread, anxious parents entered the school while the school suspended the classes. "The situation has now been brought under control ... we are investigating why and how the man entered the school and managed to get into a classroom," Police Pradeep Yadav told reporters. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee complimented the police for averting a hostage crisis, which is quite common in the US. She said that the incident may have been a plot. "Case of the man brandishing a gun at Malda school may not be an act of lunacy," she said. With inputs from PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 21:47 [IST] 'Patriot Muslims vote for BJP, Pak supporters vote for Cong, JDS: CT Ravi India oi-Prakash KL BJP's National General Secretary CT Ravi said that many patriots in "Muslims" vote for the BJP, but some of them who support Pakistan will vote for Congress and JDS. He also stated that the BJP does not want votes who have a "Pakistani mindset." "There are many patriots among Muslims who vote for BJP. But some of them who support Pakistan and have divisive ideology vote for Congress and Janata Dal. We don't want the votes of those who have a Pakistani mindset," ANI quoted CT Ravi as saying. The Chikkamagaluru MLA said that the BJP comes out with schemes keeping 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' in mind. "People who are like Abdul Kalam and Shishunala Sharifa vote for BJP. We bring government schemes keeping 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' in mind and not on the basis of caste-like former CM Siddaramaiah did earlier. He brought many of the government schemes for Muslims only," he said while giving clarification on former Karnataka minister KS Eshwarappa's statement that the BJP does not need a single vote from the Muslim community. Talking about Rahul Gandhi's campaigning in Karnataka, CT Ravi stated that Congress will lose wherever Gandhi campaigns. "Rahul Gandhi campaigned in UP and Congress lost there. But wherever PM Modi campaigns, BJP wins and it will continue to win," he said. CT Ravi is in old Mysore on Wednesday to campaign for the BJP candidate R Ashok. Will C.T. Ravi be next CM of Karnataka? Eshwarappa clarifies On Tuesday, CT Ravi was in the news after KS Eshwarappa, who has stepped away from electoral politics, hailed him as a good leader and urged voters in Nidughatta near Chikkamagaluru to elect him with a big margin to make him the next CM of the state. Later, he clarified that a decision on picking the CM face is not within his domain. "I do not have the authority to make such a decision and decide on who the party's CM face would be," he said. KS Eshwarappa also said that the Chikkamagaluru MLA has the qualities to become the Chief Minister of the state. "CT Ravi is a good leader. He is doing very good work in Chikkamagaluru. I did not say anything about him being the next chief minister. I have no authority to make such a statement," KS Eshwarappa told ANI. With inputs from ANI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 17:28 [IST] Smriti Irani slams Jagadish Shettar, says the party was backstabbed India oi-Vicky Nanjappa A war of words has broken out following the exit of Jagadish Shettar, one of BJP's senior-most leaders in the state. Union Minister, Smriti Irani has gone on to calling him a backstabber and said that those who can not be of their religion, family or ideology can never be of the public. "Today, I want to ask him whose number 2 are you? Shivakumar's or Siddaramaiah's?" Smriti Irani asked. She was addressing a public meeting in Dharwad. "A few days ago one of our men backstabbed us and went to the other camp. Everyone knows, who I am talking about. I want to tell the people of Hubli-Dharwad that who cannot be of their religion, ideology of family, can never be of the public," she said. "He is elder to us. We made him Chief Minister and got him to the top and for his own greed he went to the other camp," Smriti Irani added. The comments come days after Union Home Minister, Amit Shah said that Shettar will lose the elections in Hubli as the party has always won this seat. "There will be no loss. Shettar himself will lose the elections. Hubli has always voted fro the BJP and all workers of the party are united," Shah had said. Jagadish Shettar blames BL Santhosh for missing BJP ticket Shettar hit back by saying, " he is tithe Home Minister. He must have taken a report of the constituency and the report of Karnataka politics. Day by day, the party is coming down.With that apprehension, he began attacking me." Shettar ended his long alliance with the BJP and quit the party. This brought the Lingayat issue to the forefront. He became the second BJP leader from the community to leave the party. Prior to this Laxman Savadi from the Lingayat community had quit the party. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 9:58 [IST] Now, Tejashwi Yadav faces criminal defamation complaint for calling Gujaratis thugs India oi-Prakash KL A criminal defamation complaint has been filed against Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav for his alleged remark suggesting "only Gujaratis can be thugs in the current situation". A social worker and businessman named Haresh has filed a complaint under Indian Penal Code sections 499 and 500 (dealing with criminal defamation) in the court of additional metropolitan magistrate DJ Parmar, PTI reported. "We submitted the complaint along with proof in form of a pen drive containing the statement. The court has accepted the complaint and will verify it on May 1," the news agency quoted Mehta's lawyer PR Patel as saying. "Only Gujaratis can be thugs in the present situation, and their fraud (crime) will be forgiven. Who will be responsible if they run away with the money belonging to LIC or banks?" the Bihar Deputy CM had allegedly said. The complainant has claimed that Yadav's comments project the entire Gujarati community as "thug". Mehta said that a "thug" is a rogue, sly and criminal person, and such a comment will make non-Gujarati people view Gujaratis with suspicion. The Bihar minister had allegedly made those comments in front of media on March 21. It has to be noted that the Surat court in March sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in the defamation case filed on the basis of a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for the Congress leader's remark "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" while delivering a speech in 2019. As a result, Gandhi, who had won the Lok Sabha seat from Wayanad in Kerala, was disqualified from Lok Sabha. Also, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh have been summoned by a court in Ahmedabad for their remarks on the institute. 'They kept guns on our heads, looted us': Evacuated Indians recount ordeal India oi-Prakash KL The Indian nationals who returned to India from trouble-hit Sudan have opened up on the ordeal they faced after the fighting broke out between the two military generals in the trouble-hit country. India has launched 'Operation Kaveri' to bring back 3,000 citizens struck in Sudan. Speaking to ANI, a person who returned from Sudan said, "The fight was intense. We were struggling for food. The scenario continued for 2-3 days." Another person accused the "forces" of looting them. "The RSF - paramilitary force in Sudan - were close to our company. Early morning 9 am, they entered our company and began firing and looting us. They kept us hostage for eight hours. They kept their guns on our heads and chest and looted us. They destroyed everything in the company. They destroyed files and stole our laptops and mobile phones. We then contacted the embassy... We didn't have any food and we then hid in a village. We arranged for diesel and asked the embassy to arrange buses for us to be evacuated," Hindustan Times quoted him as saying. The fighting erupted between the nation's two top Generals, who have the backing of tens of thousands of heavily armed fighters, on April 15. #WATCH | Indian nationals evacuated from Sudan, narrate their ordeal in the conflict-torn country. pic.twitter.com/c6zcN84r9G ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 Sudan's military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo were together till recently, brought down Omar al-Bashir's government in 2019 by orchestrating a military coup in October 2021 resulting in the suspension of the constitution. However, differences between the two Generals cropped up during negotiations to integrate the RSF into the country's military as part of plans to restore civilian rule. According to the official data, India has evacuated 530 people stuck in Sudan. Two military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) evacuated over 250 Indians after a naval ship rescued another 278 citizens from the trouble-hit country. "Operation Kaveri is underway to bring back our citizens stranded in Sudan. About 500 Indians have reached Port Sudan while more are on their way. Our ships and aircraft are set to bring them back home. We are committed to assisting all our brethren in Sudan," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday tweeted on the evacuation process of Indians in Sudan. India has set up a control room in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to facilitate the evacuation of Indians from Sudan and Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan is there to oversee the evacuation mission. On Saturday, Saudi Arabia evacated 66 people from "brotherly and friendly" foreign countries that included three Indian nationals. Also, five Indian nationals were evacuated from Sudan and brought to France's military base in Djibouti on Monday. The death toll due to the fighting has increased to 460 and left 4,063 people injured, so far. An aerial view of Langbiang Mountain, considered as the roof of Da Lat Plateau. Photo by Andy Nguyen Vietjet has announced that it will operate the first direct route connecting the resort town of Da Lat in the Central Highlands with Busan, the largest coastal city of South Korea, starting July. It will operate seven flights per week, starting July 13. Flights take off from Lien Khuong Airport in Da Lat at 1:25 a.m. (local time) and land in Gimhae Airport in Busan at 8:00 a.m. (local time), while flights from Busan to Da Lat take off at 9:30 a.m. (local time) and land at 12:15 a.m. (local time). Da Lat is famous for its French colonial heritage and year-round cool climate in a tropical country. South Korea sent the highest number of visitors to Vietnam in the first quarter of this year at 810,000. Top Delhi school receives bomb threat, cops find nothing as yet India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The Delhi Public School, located on Mathura Road has received a bomb threat on email. Soon after the bomb threat, the cops rushed to the school. Ambulances and police vans are present at the school and an investigation is underway currently. Photo Credit: The police said that hey received a call from the school authorities at around 8.10 am today. The school was immediately evacuated. So far the cops have found nothing and it may have been a hoax, a source tells OneIndia. Delhi school bomb threat e-mail a 'hoax, says a cop Recommended Video Delhi Public School in Delhis Mathura Road receives alleged hoax bomb threat | Oneindia News Earlier this month, The Indian School in Delhi's Sadiq Nagar had received a threat via an email. The mail claimed that there were bombs on the premises. Following this the school was evacuated as the bomb squad and other agencies inspected the premises for any explosive substance. It was later learnt that the email was a hoax. In September the Spring Dale School in Amritsar received a bomb threat on the social media, following which a police complaint was filed. The threat was reported just four days after a similar incident was reported at the DAV school. It turned out to a hoax and was said to have been the handiwork of three students of the school. Weather update: Rains in Bengaluru; Yellow alert in parts of Karnataka India oi-Madhuri Adnal Weather alert in Bengaluru: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted thunderstorm warning in Karnataka including Bengaluru for Wednesday and Thursday. Rain or thunder showers are very likely to occur at few places over the state over the next 48 hours, the department said. ''Rain/thundershowers likely to occur at a few places over all the districts of South Interior Karnataka and at isolated places over all the districts of Coastal Karnataka & over Bidar, Bagalkote, Haveri, Koppal, Kalaburgi, Raichur, Vijayapura, Yadgir districts of North Interior Karnataka. Dry weather likely to prevail over remaining districts of North Interior Karnataka,'' according to the IMD. Meanwhile, Bengaluru and its adjoining areas will also witness cloudy weather with light to moderate rain and thundershowers towards evening or night. In view of the possible rain situation, the weather agency has also issued a yellow alert for the city till April 29. On camera: Bengaluru woman jumps off moving Rapido bike to escape molestation bid The weather department also said that heavy rain likely to occur at isolated places over Chamarajanagara, Chikkamagaluru & Kodagu districts of South Interior Karnataka. Thunderstorm with rain accompanied by lightning & gusty winds with speed reaching 40-50 kmph likely to occur at isolated places over Interior Karnataka. In the next 48 hours, the met department said that thunderstorm with rain accompanied by lightning & gusty winds with speed reaching 30-40 kmph likely to occur at isolated places over North Interior Karnataka. Thunderstorm with rain accompanied by lightning likely to occur at isolated places over all the districts of South Interior Karnataka. Congress locked up Lord Rama, now it wants to lock up those who worship Hanuman: PM Modi Will C.T. Ravi be next CM of Karnataka? Eshwarappa clarifies India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Will C T Ravi, be the next chief minister of Karnataka if the BJP retains power in the state, is a question that is doing the rounds in the poll bound state. The news made a buzz after it was claimed that the same was confirmed by former minister and senior BJP leader, K S Eshwarappa. He however denied making any such statement. Eshwarappa who stepped down from electoral politics earlier said that Ravi is a good leader, but a decision on the CM face is not within his domain. "I do not have the authority to make such a decision and decide on who the party's CM face would be," he said. Karnataka election 2023: Congress clear winner, predicts TV9-CVoter pre-poll survey He went on to add, "C T Ravi is a good leader. He is doing very good work in Chikkamagaluru. I did not say anything about him being the next chief minister. I have no authority to make such a statement," news agency ANI cited Eshwarappa as saying. He however went on to add that Ravi being a prominent leader from the Vokkaliga community, he has all the qualities to become a future chief minister of the state. Reports said that Eshwarappa was addressing party workers at a meeting in Nidaghatta near Chikkamagaluru. He said that he hoped that Ravi wins by a huge margin and becomes MLA and also chief minister. The remarks come a day after Ravi himself had expressed his wish to become the chief minister, if the BJP returned to power. On Monday, Eshwarappa had remarked that the BJP does not want a single vote from the Muslim community in Shivamogga. Hijab not a major issue in coastal Karnataka election campaign "We do not want even a single vote from the Muslims. Nationalist Muslims will, however vote for the BJP," he had said. The results of the Karnataka elections to be held on May 10, will be out on May 13. Security breach at PMs roadshow in Mysuru as cellphone pelted at him Congress locked up Lord Rama, now it wants to lock up those who worship Hanuman: PM Modi 'Will remember their sacrifice': PM Modi on Naxal attack in Dantewada India oi-Prakash KL Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday strongly condemned the Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada which killed 10 policemen and a driver. PM Modi expressed his condolence to the families of those killed in the incident and said the "sacrifice" of the policemen "will always be remembered". "Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families," PM Modi tweeted. The preliminary investigations have found that the bomb used by the Naxalites in Chhattisgarh weighed 50 kilograms. It is described as one of the deadliest attacks in recent times. The incident occurred when the police personnel were travelling in a rented mini-van and the explosion was so powerful that the vehicle was flung by at least 20 feet. The team was returning after an anti-Naxalite operation, a senior official told PTI. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and assured all possible help to the state government. Recommended Video Chhattisgarh: 10 policemen and one driver Killed in Naxal attack in Dantewada | Oneindia News "Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred jawans," Shah tweeted. The Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister said that the Dantewada incident is "heart-rending" and their sacrifice will not go to waste. "Pressure is being created on Naxals, so they did this cowardice. Naxalism will be uprooted. I spoke with HM Amit Shah and Mallikarjun Kharge," he told ANI. On his turn, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called the incident a cowardly act. "The martyrdom of our 10 DRG (District Reserve Guard) jawans and a driver in a cowardly attack in an anti-Naxal operation in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh is deeply saddening. Humble tributes to the bravehearts. We are with the bereaved families," he said in a tweet in Hindi. "The fight against Naxalism in Chhattisgarh is in its last phase and our government will win in it," he added. California Senate committee passes bill to end caste discrimination International oi-PTI A bill seeking to explicitly ban caste discrimination in California has been unanimously passed by the state's Senate Judiciary Committee, amidst strong opposition from Indian-American business and temple organisations. The California Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday unanimously voted 'Yes' to move the anti-caste discrimination bill forward to the Senate. This is for the first time that a US State legislature would consider legislation on caste. If passed, the bill could make America's most populous state also the country's first to make caste bias illegal by adding it as a protected category in the state's anti-discrimination laws. ''Today, I proudly stand in solidarity with my caste-oppressed community members, caste equity movement organisers, and allies to say that caste-oppressed Californians are now one step closer to attaining the protections they deserve and are entitled to," said Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Equality Labs and author of 'The Trauma of Caste'. 2 people injured in a shooting incident at California Gurudwara; hate crime ruled out Earlier at a news conference, she said the bill was a result of 15 years of hard-won organising in the state by caste-oppressed people. ''The need for this bill is urgent. We have then some of the highest rates of discrimination of any Asian American community in the state. That is why we are here to stand in our truth to organise for our freedom,'' she had said. Equality Labs, the brain behind the anti-caste discrimination resolution in Seattle, has been spearheading a nationwide campaign. Seattle became the first US city to outlaw caste discrimination in February. California, a western US state located along the Pacific Coast with nearly 39.2 million residents, is the most populous US state and the third-largest by area. "Caste discrimination is unlawful and unjust-this bill will heal us all from the horrors of caste," Pooja Ren from 'Hindus for Caste Equity' said after the bill cleared its first big legislative hurdle. Amar Shergill, Democratic Chair of Progressive Caucus, said California has made it clear that it will not tolerate discrimination or violence of any kind. State Senator Aisha Wahab, the first Muslim and Afghan American elected to the state legislature, introduced the bill last month. The move came exactly one month after Seattle became the first US city to outlaw caste discrimination after its local council passed a resolution moved by an Indian-American politician and economist. The resolution, moved by Kshama Sawant, an upper-caste Hindu, was approved by the Seattle City Council by six to one vote. Major Indian businesses and temples issued a joint statement opposing the proposed California Caste Bill SB 403. Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the largest hotel owners association in the US with 20,000 members, Asian American Store Owners Association (AASOA), representing over 8,300 store owners throughout the nation condemned it. Hindu Mandir Executives' Conference (HMEC), an umbrella organisation of Hindu temples in North America, the Hindu Business Network (HBN), and the Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective (HinduPACT) also criticised the bill. Three dead, 4 hurt in latest California shooting; fourth incident in month Kalpesh Joshi, a Board Member of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, said AAHOA is strongly against the bill. "We believe that it will disproportionately impact Indian hotel and motel owners," he said. Vipul Patel, president of Asian American Shop Owners Association (AASOA), said the bill is based on the fabricated narrative of caste discrimination in America. "This bill is misguided and will promote prejudice against all Indian-American small business owners including shop owners who form the backbone of California's economy in these challenging economic times. ''We fear that this bill, if passed, will encourage frivolous lawsuits against small businesses, causing many of them to go out of business," he said. Tejal Shah, convenor of the Hindu Mandir Executives' Conference (HMEC), said the organisations and individuals behind the bill have made their disdain for Hindu customs and traditions very clear. ''Common Hindu greeting 'Namaskar' ('I bow to the divinity within you'), traditional Hindu practices such as classical dance, music, and sacred festivals such as Diwali and Holi have been vilified. Passage of SB 403 will legitimise this assault on the freedom of religions and make Hindu temples more vulnerable to physical attacks," Shah said. Led by the Coalition of Hindus of North America, over 100 other organisations said the bill is biased against minority groups and targets South Asians, along with other people of colour such as those from other regions. "We fear the bill will encourage religious profiling and stereotyping of a minority. We believe it advances baseless hateful narratives against these communities by legalising a presumption of guilt and turns a long-standing bedrock principle of American justice on its head. ''If passed, the bill violates the civil rights of South Asians and other people of colour and denies them equal protection and due process," it said. Many Indian Americans fear that codifying caste in public policy will further fuel instances of Hinduphobia in the US. Over the last three years, ten Hindu temples and five statues, including those of Mahatma Gandhi and Maratha emperor Shivaji, have been vandalised across the US as an intimidation tactic against the Hindu community. Indian Americans are the second-largest immigrant group in the US. According to data from the 2018 American Community Survey (ACS), which is conducted by the US Census Bureau, there are 4.2 million people of Indian origin residing in the United States. India banned caste discrimination in 1948 and enshrined that policy in the Constitution in 1950. Pak fears surgical strike by India: Ex-envoy after Poonch terror attack International oi-Prakash KL Former Pakistani diplomat Abdul Basit has said that Pakistan is fearing another surgical strike by India as retaliation to the recent terrorist attack in Poonch that killed five soldiers. According to him, it is a hot topic among the Pakistanis who think that India might carry out a surgical or air strike. "Now people in Pakistan are talking about another surgical strike or air strike by India. I do not think that now they will do the same because they are holding SCO meet and G20 presidency this year. I don't see any misadventures from India till the time they hold presidencies. But next year during elections, India may do this again. This may happen just before the elections in India," ANI quoted him as saying in a recent video. His statement refers to India's surgical strikes against militant launch pads across the Line of Control in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in 2016 and an airstrike conducted by Indian warplanes in 2019 in Balakot against a terrorist training camp. However, Abdul Basit defended the Poonch terrorist attack saying that it targeted the army and not the civilians. "Whoever has done it, be it Mujahedeen or whosoever, they have targeted the military, not civilians. They are engaged in a legitimate struggle. If you are conducting a movement, you are targeting the military but not civilians, international law allows it," he said. He further stated, "India knows where we stand," In the recent terrorist attack, five soldiers were killed and one was injured after the militants attacked the lone Army truck. The truck was carrying eatables for iftar to a nearby village. However, investigations have revealed that the Lashkar-e-Tayiba was behind the Poonch attack and not Jaish-e-Mohammad. A source had told Oneindia that the intent of the attack was to create panic and unrest ahead of the G20 meetings, slated to be held in Jammu and Kashmir in May. The investigations have also shown that the Army vehicle was attacked from three sides. When Turkish prez cuts off live broadcast citing a stomach bug International oi-Vicky Nanjappa Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey stopped a live television interview, to which he later returned saying that he had developed a stomach bug. He also said that he is apologetic for the interruption. The 69-year old leader gave three campaign speeches ahead of the parliamentary and presidential election, which will take place on May 14. Photo Credit: The television appearance began over 90 minutes behind schedule. It was cut off in the middle of a question ten minutes into the show. In the live-session, the camera shook and the reporter asking the question stood up from his chair. The broadcast was then cut off. 'Oh wow,' an unheard voice was heard saying off camera. The President then returned 15 minutes later to apologise for getting sick, an AFP report said. Death toll from Turkey, Syria earthquake crosses 50,000 "Yesterday and today were hard work. That's why I got a stomach flu. At one point, I wondered if it would be misunderstood if we cancelled the programme. But we promised. I ask for your and our audience's forgiveness," a tired looking Erdogen said. His eyes appeared to water as he spoke. Following this the President took a few more questions before the braodcast ended. Erdogen is facing one of his toughest campaigns. The opinion polls are not exactly in his favour. Some polls show that the fight would be a neck-and-neck one or he could end up losing to opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. UK faith review warns against 'aggressive' pro-Khalistan extremism International pti-PTI A major independent review commissioned by the British government into engagement with faith groups on Wednesday warned against the "subversive, aggressive and sectarian actions of some pro-Khalistan activists and called for action to ensure such groups are not unwittingly allowed access to the UK's Parliament. 'Does Government 'do God'?: An independent review into how government engages with faith by Independent Faith Engagement Adviser Colin Bloom is dubbed one of the most comprehensive public consultations of its kind, involving over 21,000 peoples responses. In a section entitled 'Sikh Extremism the review goes into detail of how members of the British Sikh community expressed their growing concern over a small but extremely vocal group "hijacking" the Sikh faith to push a subversive pro-Khalistan narrative. "There is a small, extremely vocal and aggressive minority of British Sikhs who can be described as pro-Khalistan extremists, promoting an ethno-nationalist agenda," notes the review. "Some of these extremists have been known to support and incite violence and intimidation in their ambition to establish an independent state called Khalistan, the physical borders of which are largely shared with specific parts of the Punjab state in India. Interestingly, this territorial claim does not include the part of the Punjab located in Pakistan. It is not entirely clear if the motivation for these extremists is faith-based or not," it notes. The review - which comes weeks after an attack by pro-Khalistan separatists at the Indian High Commission here - pointed to fears that proscribed terrorist groups were able to use aliases to continue their subversive agenda, referencing Babbar Khalsa International banned in 2001 under the UKs Terrorism Act and also the International Sikh Youth Federation banned in multiple countries but de-proscribed in the UK in 2006. The review specifically called on the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Sikhs, which is chaired by Britain's first female Sikh MP Preet Kaur Gill and has the first turbaned Sikh MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi as its vice-chair both from the Labour Party, to ensure such organisations are not able to exert influence in parliamentary affairs. The British Sikhs APPG, an informal cross-party group of MPs, has the stated aim to support and promote the interests of Sikhs in the UK, work with British Sikhs to celebrate Sikh culture in the UK, and ensure full equality for all British Sikhs. The Bloom Review warns: "It is difficult to prove given the complex structures and multiple aliases of various groups, but conversations with academics and political figures have given this reviewer grounds to suspect that there is at least overlap of membership between some Sikh groups operating in the UK and proscribed (or previously proscribed) groups. "In particular, this report recommends that the MPs who are in the All-Party Parliamentary Group for British Sikhs consider the findings of this report. The parliamentary authorities must do what they can to ensure that the parliamentary estate is not unwittingly hosting organisations and individuals who have been linked to bullying and harassment at best, and subversive behaviours at worst, which are antithetic to the parliamentary estates own values of truth, justice, peace, tolerance and democracy." In its recommendations, it stresses that the government should identify where extremist activity exists within the British Sikh community and ensure that unacceptable and extremist behaviours are not "inadvertently legitimised" by government or parliamentary engagement. Besides warnings around Sikh extremism, the 159-page report covers other forms of religious extremism including a brief warning that some British Hindus have expressed frustration with Hindu nationalist involvement in UK politics, which can create division within Indian communities in the UK. "While many faith communities are likely to be interested in regional and geopolitical disputes outside of the UK, government should be attentive to the possibility of nationalist movements exploiting religious rhetoric to incite prejudicial views that may destabilise British society, it recommends. On Islamist extremism, it calls on the British government for better faith literacy and to redouble its efforts to reinforce the distinctions between extremist Islamism and Islam and between Islamist extremists and Muslims. The report also calls for appropriate registration and regulation of madrassas, which are currently not required to be registered as so-called faith-based out-of-school settings. The governments Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will now consider the review findings and issue a response. "Our government's understanding of the role of faith in society must remain both current and alive to its evolutionary changes. It must also not shy away from some of the challenges that exist in small pockets within faith communities, from forced and coercive marriages to faith-based extremism, financial exploitation, and child safeguarding. These must not be consigned to the 'too difficult box, said Bloom. Following his review of government engagement with faith in a broad range of public institutions from the Civil Service and the Armed Forces, to schools and prisons he has called for a new programme of faith literacy training for all public sector staff, ensuring public servants understand those they are helping, and to increase partnership opportunities with faith groups who are playing a valuable role in the social fabric of society. The South African Police Service (SAPS) is the national police force of the Republic of South Africa. Its 1,154 police stations in South Africa are divided according to the provincial borders, and a Provincial Commissioner is appointed in each province. The nine Provincial Commissioners report directly to the National Commissioner. The head office is in the Wachthuis Building in Pretoria. About 200 Canadian Armed Forces members and two Hercules aircraft are in the Sudan region, the defence minister says, ready to help evacuate people from the country when conditions permit. I procrastinated a deep dive into transformers for a few years. Finally the discomfort of not knowing what makes them tick grew too great for me. Here is that dive. Transformers were introduced in this 2017 paper as a tool for sequence transductionconverting one sequence of symbols to another. The most popular examples of this are translation, as in English to German. It has also been modified to perform sequence completiongiven a starting prompt, carry on in the same vein and style. They have quickly become an indispensible tool for research and product development in natural language processing. Before we start, just a heads-up. We're going to be talking a lot about matrix multiplications and touching on backpropagation (the algorithm for training the model), but you don't need to know any of it beforehand. We'll add the concepts we need one at a time, with explanation. This isn't a short journey, but I hope you'll be glad you came. One-hot encoding In the beginning were the words. So very many words. Our first step is to convert all the words to numbers so we can do math on them. Imagine that our goal is to create the computer that responds to our voice commands. Its our job to build the transformer that converts (or transduces) a sequence of sounds to a sequence of words. We start by choosing our vocabulary, the collection of symbols that we are going to be working with in each sequence. In our case, there will be two different sets of symbols, one for the input sequence to represent vocal sounds and one for the output sequence to represent words. For now, let's assume we're working with English. There are tens of thousands of words in the English language, and perhaps another few thousand to cover computer-specific terminology. That would give us a vocabulary size that is the better part of a hundred thousand. One way to convert words to numbers is to start counting at one and assign each word its own number. Then a sequence of words can be represented as a list of numbers. For example, consider a tiny language with a vocabulary size of three: files, find, and my. Each word could be swapped out for a number, perhaps files = 1, find = 2, and my = 3. Then the sentence "Find my files", consisting of the word sequence [ find, my, files ] could be represented instead as the sequence of numbers [2, 3, 1]. This is a perfectly valid way to convert symbols to numbers, but it turns out that there's another format that's even easier for computers to work with, one-hot encoding. In one-hot encoding a symbol is represented by an array of mostly zeros, the same length of the vocabulary, with only a single element having a value of one. Each element in the array corresponds to a separate symbol. Another way to think about one-hot encoding is that each word still gets assigned its own number, but now that number is an index to an array. Here is our example above, in one-hot notation. So the sentence "Find my files" becomes a sequence of one-dimensional arrays, which, after you squeeze them together, starts to look like a two-dimensional array. Heads-up, I'll be using the terms "one-dimensional array" and "vector" interchangeably. Likewise with "two-dimensional array" and "matrix". Dot product One really useful thing about the one-hot representation is that it lets us compute dot products. These are also known by other intimidating names like inner product and scalar product. To get the dot product of two vectors, multiply their corresponding elements, then add the results. Dot products are especially useful when we're working with our one-hot word representations. The dot product of any one-hot vector with itself is one. And the dot product of any one-hot vector with any other one-hot vector is zero. The previous two examples show how dot products can be used to measure similarity. As another example, consider a vector of values that represents a combination of words with varying weights. A one-hot encoded word can be compared against it with the dot product to show how strongly that word is represented. Matrix multiplication The dot product is the building block of matrix multiplication, a very particular way to combine a pair of two-dimensional arrays. We'll call the first of these matrices A and the second one B. In the simplest case, when A has only one row and B has only one column, the result of matrix multiplication is the dot product of the two. Notice how the number of columns in A and the number of rows in B needs to be the same for the two arrays to match up and for the dot product to work out. When A and B start to grow, matrix multiplication starts to get trippy. To handle more than one row in A, take the dot product of B with each row separately. The answer will have as many rows as A does. When B takes on more columns, take the dot product of each column with A and stack the results in successive columns. Now we can extend this to mutliplying any two matrices, as long as the number of columns in A is the same as the number of rows in B. The result will have the same number of rows as A and the same number of columns as B. If this is the first time you're seeing this, it might feel needlessly complex, but I promise it pays off later. Matrix multiplication as a table lookup Notice how matrix multiplication acts as a lookup table here. Our A matrix is made up of a stack of one-hot vectors. They have ones in the first column, the fourth column, and the third column, respectively. When we work through the matrix multiplication, this serves to pull out the first row, the fourth row, and the third row of the B matrix, in that order. This trick of using a one-hot vector to pull out a particular row of a matrix is at the core of how transformers work. First order sequence model We can set aside matrices for a minute and get back to what we really care about, sequences of words. Imagine that as we start to develop our natural language computer interface we want to handle just three possible commands: Show me my directories please. Show me my files please. Show me my photos please. Our vocabulary size is now seven:{directories, files, me, my, photos, please, show}. One useful way to represent sequences is with a transition model. For every word in the vocabulary, it shows what the next word is likely to be. If users ask about photos half the time, files 30% of the time, and directories the rest of the time, the transition model will look like this. The sum of the transitions away from any word will always add up to one. This particular transition model is called a Markov chain, because it satisfies the Markov property that the probabilities for the next word depend only on recent words. More specifically, it is a first order Markov model because it only looks at the single most recent word. If it considered the two most recent words it would be a second order Markov model. Our break from matrices is over. It turns out that Markov chains can be expressed conveniently in matrix form. Using the same indexing scheme that we used when creating one-hot vectors, each row represents one of the words in our vocabulary. So does each column. The matrix transition model treats a matrix as a lookup table. Find the row that corresponds to the word youre interested in. The value in each column shows the probability of that word coming next. Because the value of each element in the matrix represents a probability, they will all fall between zero and one. Because probabilities always sum to one, the values in each row will always add up to one. In the transition matrix here we can see the structure of our three sentences clearly. Almost all of the transition probabilities are zero or one. There is only one place in the Markov chain where branching happens. After my, the words directories, files, or photos might appear, each with a different probability. Other than that, theres no uncertainty about which word will come next. That certainty is reflected by having mostly ones and zeros in the transition matrix. We can revisit our trick of using matrix multiplication with a one-hot vector to pull out the transition probabilities associated with any given word. For instance, if we just wanted to isolate the probabilities of which word comes after my, we can create a one-hot vector representing the word my and multiply it by our transition matrix. This pulls out the row the relevant row and shows us the probability distribution of what the next word will be. Second order sequence model Predicting the next word based on only the current word is hard. That's like predicting the rest of a tune after being given just the first note. Our chances are a lot better if we can at least get two notes to go on. We can see how this works in another toy language model for our computer commands. We expect that this one will only ever see two sentences, in a 40/60 proportion. Check whether the battery ran down please. Check whether the program ran please. A Markov chain illustrates a first order model for this. Here we can see that if our model looked at the two most recent words, instead of just one, that it could do a better job. When it encounters battery ran, it knows that the next word will be down, and when it sees program ran the next word will be please. This eliminates one of the branches in the model, reducing uncertainty and increasing confidence. Looking back two words turns this into a second order Markov model. It gives more context on which to base next word predictions. Second order Markov chains are more challenging to draw, but here are the connections that demonstrate their value. To highlight the difference between the two, here is the first order transition matrix, and here is the second order transition matrix. Notice how the second order matrix has a separate row for every combination of words (most of which are not shown here). That means that if we start with a vocabulary size of N then the transition matrix has N^2 rows. What this buys us is more confidence. There are more ones and fewer fractions in the second order model. There's only one row with fractions in it, one branch in our model. Intuitively, looking at two words instead of just one gives more context, more information on which to base a next word guess. Second order sequence model with skips A second order model works well when we only have to look back two words to decide what word comes next. What about when we have to look back further? Imagine we are building yet another language model. This one only has to represent two sentences, each equally likely to occur. Check the program log and find out whether it ran please. Check the battery log and find out whether it ran down please. In this example, in order to determine which word should come after ran, we would have to look back 8 words into the past. If we want to improve on our second order language model, we can of course consider third- and higher order models. However, with a significant vocabulary size this takes a combination of creativity and brute force to execute. A naive implementation of an eighth order model would have N^8 rows, a ridiculous number for any reasonable vocubulary. Instead, we can do something sly and make a second order model, but consider the combinations of the most recent word with each of the words that came before. It's still second order, because we're only considering two words at a time, but it allows us to reach back further and capture long range dependencies. The difference between this second-order-with-skips and a full umpteenth-order model is that we discard most of the word order information and combinations of preceeeding words. What remains is still pretty powerful. Markov chains fail us entirely now, but we can still represent the link between each pair of preceding words and the words that follow. Here we've dispensed with numerical weights, and instead are showing only the arrows associated with non-zero weights. Larger weights are shown with heavier lines. Here's what it might look like in a transition matrix. This view only shows the rows relevant to predicting the word that comes after ran. It shows instances where the most recent word (ran) is preceded by each of the other words in the vocabulary. Only the relevant values are shown. All the empty cells are zeros. The first thing that becomes apparent is that, when trying to predict the word that comes after ran, we no longer look at just one line, but rather a whole set of them. We've moved out of the Markov realm now. Each row no longer represents the state of the sequence at a particular point. Instead, each row represents one of many features that may describe the sequence at a particular point. The combination of the most recent word with each of the words that came before makes for a collection of applicable rows, maybe a large collection. Because of this change in meaning, each value in the matrix no longer represents a probability, but rather a vote. Votes will be summed and compared to determine next word predictions. The next thing that becomes apparent is that most of the features don't matter. Most of the words appear in both sentences, and so the fact that they have been seen is of no help in predicting what comes next. They all have a value of .5. The only two exceptions are battery and program. They have some 1 and 0 weights associated with the. The feature battery, ran indicates that ran was the most recent word and that battery occurred somewhere earlier in the sentence. This feature has a weight of 1 associated with down and a weight of 0 associated with please. Similarly, the feature program, ran has the opposite set of weights. This structure shows that it is the presence of these two words earlier in the sentence that is decisive in predicting which word comes next. To convert this set of word-pair features into a next word estimate, the values of all the relevant rows need to be summed. Adding down the column, the sequence Check the program log and find out whether it ran generates sums of 0 for all the words, except a 4 for down and a 5 for please. The sequence Check the battery log and find out whether it ran does the same, except with a 5 for down and a 4 for please. By choosing the word with the highest vote total as the next word prediction, this model gets us the right answer, despite having an eight word deep dependency. Masking On more careful consideration, this is unsatisfying. The difference between a vote total of 4 and 5 is relatively small. It suggests that the model isn't as confident as it could be. And in a larger, more organic language model it's easy to imagine that such a slight difference could be lost in the statistical noise. We can sharpen the prediction by weeding out all the uninformative feature votes. With the exception of battery, ran and program, ran. It's helpful to remember at this point that we pull the relevant rows out of the transition matrix by multiplying it with a vector showing which features are currently active. For this example so far, we've been using the implied feature vector shown here. It includes a one for each feature that is a combination of ran with each of the words that come before it. Any words that come after it don't get included in the feature set. (In the next word prediction problem these haven't been seen yet, and so it's not fair to use them predict what comes next.) And this doesn't include all the other possible word combinations. We can safely ignore these for this example because they will all be zero. To improve our results, we can additionally force the unhelpful features to zero by creating a mask. It's a vector full of ones except for the positions you'd like to hide or mask, and those are set to zero. In our case we'd like to mask everything except for battery, ran and program, ran, the only two features that have been of any help. To apply the mask, we multiply the two vectors element by element. Any feature activity value in an unmasked position will be multiplied by one and left unchanged. Any feature activity value in a masked position will be multiplied by zero, and thus forced to zero. The mask has the effect of hiding a lot of the transition matrix. It hides the combination of ran with everything except battery and program, leaving just the features that matter. After masking the unhelpful features, the next word predictions become much stronger. When the word battery occurs earlier in the sentence, the word after ran is predicted to be down with a weight of 1 and please with a weight of 0. What was a weight difference of 25 percent has become a difference of infinity percent. There is no doubt what word comes next. The same strong prediction occurs for please when program occurs early on. This process of selective masking is the attention called out in the title of the original paper on transformers. So far, what we've descibed is a just an approximation of how attention is implemented in the paper. It captures the important concepts, but the details are different. We'll close that gap later. Rest Stop and an Off Ramp Congratulations on making it this far. You can stop if you want. The selective-second-order-with-skips model is a useful way to think about what transformers do, at least in the decoder side. It captures, to a first approximation, what generative language models like OpenAI's GPT-3 are doing. It doesn't tell the complete story, but it represents the central thrust of it. The next sections cover more of the gap between this intuitive explanation and how transformers are implemented. These are largely driven by three practical considerations. Computers are especially good at matrix multiplications. There is an entire industry around building computer hardware specifically for fast matrix multiplications. Any computation that can be expressed as a matrix multiplication can be made shockingly efficient. It's a bullet train. If you can get your baggage into it, it will get you where you want to go real fast. Each step needs to be differentiable. So far we've just been working with toy examples, and have had the luxury of hand-picking all the transition probabilities and mask valuesthe model parameters. In practice, these have to be learned via backpropagation, which depends on each computation step being differentiable. This means that for any small change in a parameter, we can calculate the corresponding change in the model error or loss. The gradient needs to be smooth and well conditioned. The combination of all the derivatives for all the parameters is the loss gradient. In practice, getting backpropagation to behave well requires gradients that are smooth, that is, the slope doesnt change very quickly as you make small steps in any direction. They also behave much better when the gradient is well conditioned, that is, its not radically larger in one direction than another. If you picture a loss function as a landscape, The Grand Canyon would be a poorly conditioned one. Depending on whether you are traveling along the bottom, or up the side, you will have very different slopes to travel. By contrast, the rolling hills of the classic Windows screensaver would have a well conditioned gradient. If the science of architecting neural networks is creating differentiable building blocks, the art of them is stacking the pieces in such a way that the gradient doesnt change too quickly and is roughly of the same magnitude in every direction. Attention as matrix multiplication Feature weights could be straightforward to build by counting how often each word pair/next word transition occurs in training, but attention masks are not. Up to this point, we've pulled the mask vector out of thin air. How transformers find the relevant mask matters. It would be natural to use some sort of lookup table, but now we are focusing hard on expressing everything as matrix multiplications. We can use the same lookup method we introduced above by stacking the mask vectors for every word into a matrix and using the one-hot representation of the most recent word to pull out the relevant mask. In the matrix showing the collection of mask vectors, we've only shown the one we're trying to pull out, for clarity. We're finally getting to the point where we can start tying into the paper. This mask lookup is represented by the QK^T term in the attention equation. The query Q represents the feature of interest and the matrix K represents the collection of masks. Because it's stored with masks in columns, rather than rows, it needs to be transposed (with the T operator) before multiplying. By the time we're all done, we'll make some important modifications to this, but at this level it captures the concept of a differentiable lookup table that transformers make use of. Second order sequence model as matrix multiplications Another step that we have been hand wavy about so far is the construction of transition matrices. We have been clear about the logic, but not about how to do it with matrix multiplications. Once we have the result of our attention step, a vector that includes the most recent word and a small collection of the words that have preceded it, we need to translate that into features, each of which is a word pair. Attention masking gets us the raw material that we need, but it doesnt build those word pair features. To do that, we can use a single layer fully connected neural network. To see how a neural network layer can create these pairs, we'll hand craft one. It will be artificially clean and stylized, and its weights will bear no resemblance to the weights in practice, but it will demonstrate how the neural network has the expressivity necessary to build these two word pair features. To keep it small and clean, will focus on just the three attended words from this example, battery, program, ran. In the layer diagram above, we can see how the weights act to combine the presence and absence of each word into a collection of features. This can also be expressed in matrix form. And it can be calculated by a matrix multiplication with a vector representing the collection of words seen so far. The battery and ran elements are 1 and the program element is 0. The bias element is always 1, a feature of neural networks. Working through the matrix multiplication gives a 1 for the element representing battery, ran and a -1 for the element representing program, ran. The results for the other case are similar. The final step in calculating these word combo features is to apply a rectified linear unit (ReLU) nonlinearity. The effect of this is to substitute any negative value with a zero. This cleans up both of these results so they represent the presence (with a 1) or absence (with a 0) of each word combination feature. With those gymnastics behind us, we finally have a matrix multiplication based method for creating multiword features. Although I originally claimed that these consist of the most recent word and one earlier word, a closer look at this method shows that it can build other features too. When the feature creation matrix is learned, rather than hard coded, other structures can be learned. Even in this toy example, there's nothing to stop the creation of a three-word combination like battery, program, ran. If this combination occurred commonly enough it would probably end up being represented. There wouldn't be any way to indicated what order the words occurred in (at least not yet), but we could absolutely use their co-occurrence to make predictions. It would even be possible to make use of word combos that ignored the most recent word, like battery, program. These and other types of features are probably created in practice, exposing the oversimiplification I made when I claimed that transformers are a selective-second-order-with-skips sequence model. There's more nuance to it than that, and now you can see exactly what that nuance is. This won't be the last time we'll change the story to incorporate more subtlety. In this form, the multiword feature matrix is ready for one more matrix multiplication, the second order sequence model with skips we developed above. All together, the sequence of feature creation matrix multiplication, ReLU nonlinearity, and transition matrix multiplication are the feedforward processing steps that get applied after attention is applied. Equation 2 from the paper shows these steps in a concise mathematical formulation. The Figure 1 architecture diagram of the of the paper shows these lumped together as the Feed Forward block. Sequence completion So far we've only talked about next word prediction. There are a couple of pieces we need to add to get our decoder to generate a long sequence. The first is a prompt, some example text to give the transformer running start and context on which to build the rest of the sequence. It gets fed in to decoder, the column on the right in the image above, where it's labeled "Outputs (shifted right)". Choosing a prompt that gives interesting sequences is an art in itself, called prompt engineering. It's also a great example of humans modifying their behavior to support algorithms, rather than the other way around. Once the decoder has a partial sequence to get started with, it takes a forward pass. The end result is a set of predicted probability distributions of words, one probability distribution for each position in the sequence. At each position, the distribution shows the predicted probabilities for each next word in the vocabulary. We don't care about predicted probabilities for each established word in the sequence. They're already established. What we really care about are the predicted probabilities for the next word after the end of the prompt. There are several ways to go about choosing what that word should be, but the most straightforward is called greedy, picking the word with the highest probability. The new next word then gets added to the sequence, substituted in at the with the "Outputs" at the bottom of the decoder, and the process is repeated until you get tired of it. The one piece we're not quite ready to describe in detail is yet another form of masking, ensuring that when the transformer makes predictions it only looks behind, not ahead. It's applied in the block labeled "Masked Multi-Head Attention". We'll revisit this later when we can be clearer about how it's done. Embeddings As weve described them so far, transformers are too big. For a vocabulary size N of say 50,000, the transition matrix between all pairs of words and all potential next words would have 50,000 columns and 50,000 squared (2.5 billion) rows, totaling over 100 trillion elements. That is still a stretch, even for modern hardware. Its not just the size of the matrices thats the problem. In order to build a stable transition language model, we would have to provide training data illustrating every potential sequence several times at least. That would far exceed the capacity of even the most ambitious training data sets. Fortunately, there is a workaround for both of these problems, embeddings. In a one-hot representation of a language, there is one vector element for each word. For a vocabulary of size N that vector is an N-dimensional space. Each word represents a point in that space, one unit away from the origin along one of the many axes. I haven't figured out a great way to draw a high dimensional space, but there's a crude representation of it below. In an embedding, those word points are all taken and rearranged (projected, in linear algebra terminology) into a lower-dimensional space. The picture above shows what they might look like in a 2-dimensional space for example. Now, instead of needing N numbers to specify a word, we only need 2. These are the (x, y) coordinates of each point in the new space. Here's what a 2-dimensional embedding might look like for our toy example, together with the coordinates of a few of the words. A good embedding groups words with similar meanings together. A model that works with an embedding learns patterns in the embedded space. That means that whatever it learns to do with one word automatically gets applied to all the words right next to it. This has the added benefit of reducing the amount of training data needed. Each example gives a little bit of learning that gets applied across a whole neighborhood of words. In this illustration I tried to show that by putting important components in one area (battery, log, program), prepositions in another (down, out), and verbs near the center (check, find, ran). In an actual embedding the groupings may not be so clear or intuitive, but the underlying concept is the same. Distance is small between words that behave similarly. An embedding reduces the number of parameters needed by a tremendous amount. However, the fewer the dimensions in the embedded space, the more information about the original words gets discarded. The richness of a language still requires quite a bit of space to lay out all the important concepts so that they don't step on each other's toes. By choosing the size of the embedded space, we get to trade off computational load for model accuracy. It will probably not surprise you to learn that projecting words from their one-hot representation to an embedded space involves a matrix multiplication. Projection is what matrices do best. Starting with a one-hot matrix that has one row and N columns, and moving to an embedded space of two dimensions, the projection matrix will have N rows and two columns, as shown here. This example shows how a one-hot vector, representing for example battery, pulls out the row associated with it, which contains the coordinates of the word in the embedded space. In order to make the relationship clearer, the zeros in the one-hot vector are hidden, as are all the other rows that don't get pulled out of the projection matrix. The full projection matrix is dense, each row containing the coordinates of the word it's associated with. Projection matrices can convert the original collection of one-hot vocabulary vectors into any configuration in a space of whatever dimensionality you want. The biggest trick is finding a useful projection, one that has similar words grouped together, and one that has enough dimensions to spread them out. There are some decent pre-computed embeddings for common langauges, like English. Also, like everything else in the transformer, it can be learned during training. In the Figure 1 architecture diagram of the original paper, here's where the embedding happens. Positional encoding Up to this point, we've assumed that the positions of words are ignored, at least for any words coming before the very most recent word. Now we get to fix that using positional embeddings. There are several ways that position information could be introduced into our embedded represetation of words, but the way it was done in the original transformer was to add a circular wiggle. The position of the word in the embedding space acts as the center of a circle. A perturbation is added to it, depending on where it falls in the order of the sequence of words. For each position, the word is moved the same distance but at a different angle, resulting in a circular pattern as you move through the sequence. Words that are close to each other in the sequence have similar perturbations, but words that are far apart are perturbed in different directions. Since a circle is a two dimensional figure, representing a circular wiggle requires modifying two dimensions of the embedding space. If the embedding space consists of more than two dimensions (which it almost always does), the circular wiggle is repeated in all the other pairs of dimensions, but with different angular frequency, that is, it sweeps out a different number of rotations in each case. In some dimension pairs, the wiggle will sweep out many rotations of the circle. In other pairs, it will only sweep out a small fraction of a rotation. The combination of all these circular wiggles of different frequencies gives a good representation of the absolute position of a word within the sequence. I'm still developing my intuition for why this works. It seems to add position information into the mix in a way that doesn't disrupt the learned relationships between words and attention. For a deeper dive into the math and implications, I recommend Amirhossein Kazemnejad's positional encoding tutorial. In the canonical architecture diagram these blocks show the generation of the position code and its addition to the embedded words. De-embeddings Embedding words makes them vastly more efficient to work with, but once the party is over, they need to be converted back to words from the original vocabulary. De-embedding is done the same way embeddings are done, with a projection from one space to another, that is, a matrix multiplication. The de-embedding matrix is the same shape as the embedding matrix, but with the number of rows and columns flipped. The number of rows is the dimensionality of the space we're converting from. In the example we've been using, it's the size of our embedding space, two. The number of columns is the dimensionality of the space we're converting to the size of the one-hot representation of the full vocabulary, 13 in our example. The values in a good de-embedding matrix aren't as straightforward to illustrate as those from the embeding matrix, but the effect is similar. When an embedded vector representing, say, the word program is multiplied by the de-embedding matrix, the value in the corresponding position is high. However, because of how projection to higher dimensional spaces works, the values associated with the other words won't be zero. The words closest to program in the embedded space will also have medium-high values. Other words will have near zero value. And there will likely be a lot of words with negative values. The output vector in vocabulary space will no longer be one-hot or sparse. It will be dense, with nearly all values non-zero. That's OK. We can recreate the one-hot vector by choosing the word associated with the highest value. This operation is also called argmax, the argument (element) that gives the maximum value. This is how to do greedy sequence completion, as mentioned above. It's a great first pass, but we can do better. If an embedding maps very well to several words, we might not want to choose the best one every time. It might be only a tiny bit better choice than the others, and adding a touch of variety can make the result more interesting. Also, sometimes it's useful to look several words ahead and consider all the directions the sentence might go before settling on a final choice. In order to do these, we have to first convert our de-embedding results to a probability distribution. Softmax The argmax function is "hard" in the sense that the highest value wins, even if it is only infinitessimally larger than the others. If we want to entertain several possibilities at once, it's better to have a "soft" maximum function, which we get from softmax. To get the softmax of the value x in a vector, divide the exponential of x, e^x, by the sum of the exponentials of all the values in the vector. The softmax is helpful here for three reasons. First, it converts our de-embedding results vector from an arbitrary set of values to a probability distribution. As probabilities, it becomes easier to compare the likelihood of different words being selected and even to compare the likelihood of multi-word sequences if we want to look further into the future. Second, it thins the field near the top. If one word scores clearly higher than the others, softmax will exaggerate that difference, making it look almost like an argmax, with the winning value close to one and all the others close to zero. However, if there are several words that all come out close to the top, it will preserve them all as highly probable, rather than artifically crushing close second place results. Third, softmax is differentiable, meaning we can calculate how much each element of the results will change, given a small change in any of the input elements. This allows us to use it with backpropagation to train our transformer. If you feel like going deep on your softmax understanding, (or if you have trouble getting to sleep at night) here's a more complete post on it. Together the de-embedding transform (shown as the Linear block below) and a softmax function complete the de-embedding process. Multi-head attention Now that we've made peace with the concepts of projections (matrix multiplications) and spaces (vector sizes), we can revisit the core attention mechanism with renewed vigor. It will help clarify the algorithm if we can be more specific about the shape of our matrices at each stage. There is a short list of important numbers for this. N: vocabulary size. 13 in our example. Typically in the tens of thousands. n: maximum sequence length. 12 in our example. Something like a few hundred in the paper. (They don't specify.) 2048 in GPT-3. d_model: number of dimensions in the embedding space used throughout the model. 512 in the paper. The original input matrix is constructed by getting each of the words from the sentence in their one-hot representation, and stacking them such that each of the one-hot vectors is its own row. The resulting input matrix has n rows and N columns, which we can abbreviate as [n x N]. As we illustrated before, the embedding matrix has N rows and d_model columns, which we can abbreviate as [N x d_model]. When multiplying two matrices, the result takes its number of rows from the first matrix, and its number of columns from the second. That gives the embedded word sequence matrix a shape of [n x d_model]. We can follow the changes in matrix shape through the transformer as a way to tracking what's going on. After the initial embedding, the positional encoding is additive, rather than a multiplication, so it doesn't change the shape of things. Then the embedded word sequence goes into the attention layers, and comes out the other end in the same shape. (We'll come back to the inner workings of these in a second.) Finally, the de-embedding restores the matrix to its original shape, offering a probability for every word in the vocabulary at every position in the sequence. Why we need more than one attention head It's finally time to confront some of the simplistic assumptions I made during our first pass through explaining the attention mechanism. Words are represented as dense embedded vectors, rather than one-hot vectors. Attention isn't just 1 or 0, on or off, but can also be anywhere in between. To get the results to fall between 0 and 1, we use the softmax trick again. It has the dual benefit of forcing all the values to lie in our [0, 1] attention range, and it helps to emphasize the highest value, while agressively squashing the smallest. It's the differential almost-argmax behavior we took advantage of before when interpreting the final output of the model. An complicating consequence of putting a softmax function in attention is that it will tend to focus on a single element. This is a limitation we didn't have before. Sometimes it's useful to keep several of the preceding words in mind when predicting the next, and the softmax just robbed us of that. This is a problem for the model. The solution is to have several different instances of attention, or heads running at once. This lets the the transformer consider several previous words simultaneously when predicting the next. It brings back the power we had before we pulled the softmax into the picture. Unfortunately, doing this really increases the computational load. Computing attention was already the bulk of the work, and we just multiplied it by however many heads we want to use. To get around this, we can re-use the trick of projecting everything into a lower-dimensional embedding space. This shrinks the matrices involved which dramatically reduces the computation time. The day is saved. To see how this plays out, we can continue looking at matrix shapes. Tracing the matrix shape through the branches and weaves of the multihead attention blocks requires three more numbers. d_k: dimensions in the embedding space used for keys and queries. 64 in the paper. d_v: dimensions in the embedding space used for values. 64 in the paper. h: the number of heads. 8 in the paper. The [n x d_model] sequence of embedded words serves as the basis for everything that follows. In each case there is a matrix, Wv, Wq, and Wk, (all shown unhelpfully as "Linear" blocks in the architecture diagram) that transforms the original sequence of embedded words into the values matrix, V, the queries matrix, Q, and the keys matrix, K. K and Q have the same shape, [n x d_k], but V can be different, [n x d_v]. It confuses things a little that d_k and d_v are the same in the paper, but they don't have to be. An important aspect of this setup is that each attention head has its own Wv, Wq, and Wk transforms. That means that each head can zoom in and expand the parts of the embedded space that it wants to focus on, and it can be different than what each of the other heads is focusing on. The result of each attention head has the same shape as V. Now we have the problem of h different result vectors, each attending to different elements of the sequence. To combine these into one, we exploit the powers of linear algebra, and just concatenate all these results into one giant [n x h * d_v] matrix. Then, to make sure it ends up in the same shape it started, we use one more transform with the shape [h * d_v x d_model]. Here's all of the that, stated tersely. Single head attention revisited We already walked through a conceptual illustration of attention above. The actual implementation is a little messier, but our earlier intuition is still helpful. The queries and the keys are no longer easy to inspect and interpret because they are all projected down onto their own idiosyncratic subspaces. In our conceptual illustration, one row in the queries matrix represents one point in the vocabulary space, which, thanks the one-hot representation, represents one and only one word. In their embedded form, one row in the queries matrix represents one point in the embedded space, which will be near a group of words with similar meanings and usage. The conceptual illustration mapped one query word to a set of keys, which in turn filtered out all the values that are not being attended to. Each attention head in the actual implempentation maps a query word to a point in yet another lower-dimensional embedded space. The result of this that that attention becomes a relationship between word groups, rather than between individual words. It takes advantage of semantic similarities (closeness in the embedded space) to generalize what it has learned about similar words. Following the shape of the matrices through the attention calculation helps to track what it's doing. The queries and keys matrices, Q and K, both come in with shape [n x d_k]. Thanks to K being transposed before multiplication, the result of Q K^T, gives a matrix of [n x d_k] * [d_k x n ] = [n x n]. Dividing every element of this matrix by the square root of d_k has been shown to keep the magnitude of the values from growing wildly, and helps backpropagation to perform well. The softmax, as we mentioned, shoehorns the result into an approximation of an argmax, tending to focus attention one element of the sequence more than the rest. In this form, the [n x n] attention matrix roughly maps each element of the sequence to one other element of the sequence, indicating what it should be watching in order to get the most relevant context for predicting the next element. It is a filter that finally gets applied to the values matrix V, leaving only a collection of the attended values. This has the effect of ignoring the vast majority of what came before in the sequence, and shines a spotlight on the one prior element that is most useful to be aware of. One tricky part about understanding this set of calculations is keeping in mind that it is calculating attention for every element of our input sequence, for every word in our sentence, not just the most recent word. It's also calculating attention for earlier words. We don't really care about these because their next words have already been predicted and established. It's also calculating attention for future words. These don't have much use yet, because they are too far out and their immediate predecessors haven't yet been chosen. But there are indirect paths through which these calculations can effect the attention for the most recent word, so we include them all. It's just that when we get to the end and calculate word probabilities for every position in the sequence, we throw away most of them and only pay attention to the next word. The Mask block enforces the constraint that, at least for this sequence completion task, we can't look into the future. It avoids introducing any weird artifacts from imaginary future words. It is crude and effective - manually set the attention paid to all words past the current position to negative infinity. In The Annotated Transformer, an immeasurably helpful companion to the paper showing line by line Python implementation, the mask matrix is visualized. Purple cells show where attention is disallowed. Each row corresponds to an element in the sequence. The first row is allowed to attend to itself (the first element), but to nothing after. The last row is allowed to attend to itself (the final element) and everything that comes before. The Mask is an [n x n] matrix. It is applied not with a matrix multiplication, but with a more straightforward element-by-element multiplication. This has the effect of manually going in to the attention matrix and setting all of the purple elements from the mask to negative infinity. Another important difference in how attention is implemented is that it makes use of the order in which words are presented to it in the sequence, and represents attention not as a word-to-word relationship, but as a position-to-position relationship. This is evident in its [n x n] shape. It maps each element from the sequence, indicated by the row index, to some other element(s) of the sequence, indicated by the column index. This helps us to visualize and interpret what it is doing more easily, since it is operating in the embedding space. We are spared the extra step of finding nearby word in the embedding space to represent the relationships between queries and keys. Skip connection Attention is the most fundamental part of what transformers do. Its the core mechanism, and we have now traversed it had a pretty concrete level. Everything from here on out is the plumbing necessary to make it work well. Its the rest of the harness that lets attention pull our heavy workloads. One piece we havent explained yet are skip connections. These occur around the Multi-Head Attention blocks, and around the element wise Feed Forward blocks in the blocks labeled "Add and Norm". In skip connections, a copy of the input is added to the output of a set of calculations. The inputs to the attention block are added back in to its output. The inputs to the element-wise feed forward block are added to its outputs. Skip connections serve two purposes. The first is that they help keep the gradient smooth, which is a big help for backpropagation. Attention is a filter, which means that when its working correctly it will block most of what tries to pass through it. The result of this is that small changes in a lot of the inputs may not produce much change in the outputs if they happen to fall into channels that are blocked. This produces dead spots in the gradient where it is flat, but still nowhere near the bottom of a valley. These saddle points and ridges are a big tripping point for backpropagation. Skip connections help to smooth these out. In the case of attention, even if all of the weights were zero and all the inputs were blocked, a skip connection would add a copy of the inputs to the results and ensure that small changes in any of the inputs will still have noticeable changes in the result. This keeps gradient descent from getting stuck far away from a good solution. Skip connections have become popular because of how they improve performance since the days of the ResNet image classifier. They are now a standard feature in neural network architectures. Visually, we can see the effect that skip connections have by comparing networks with and without them. The figure below from this paper shows a ResNet with and without skip connections. The slopes of the loss function hills are are much more moderate and uniform when skip connections are used. If you feel like taking a deeper dive into how the work and why, there's a more in-depth treatment in this post. The second purpose of skip connections is specific to transformers preserving the original input sequence. Even with a lot of attention heads, theres no guarantee that a word will attend to its own position. Its possible for the attention filter to forget entirely about the most recent word in favor of watching all of the earlier words that might be relevant. A skip connection takes the original word and manually adds it back into the signal, so that theres no way it can be dropped or forgotten. This source of robustness may be one of the reasons for transformers' good behavior in so many varied sequence completion tasks. Layer normalization Normalization is a step that pairs well with skip connections. There's no reason they necessarily have to go together, but they both do their best work when placed after a group of calculations, like attention or a feed forward neural network. The short version of layer normalization is that the values of the matrix are shifted to have a mean of zero and scaled to have a standard deviation of one. The longer version is that in systems like transformers, where there are a lot of moving pieces and some of them are something other than matrix multiplications (such as softmax operators or rectified linear units), it matters how big values are and how they're balanced between positive and negative. If everything is linear, you can double all your inputs, and your outputs will be twice as big, and everything will work just fine. Not so with neural networks. They are inherently nonlinear, which makes them very expressive but also sensitive to signals' magnitudes and distributions. Normalization is a technique that has proven useful in maintaining a consistent distribution of signal values each step of the way throughout many-layered neural networks. It encourages convergence of parameter values and usually results in much better performance. My favorite thing about normalization is that, aside from high level explanations like the one I just gave, no one is completely certain why it works so well. If you'd like to descend a little deeper than this rabbit hole, I wrote up a more detailed post on batch normalization, a close cousin of the layer normalization used in transformers. Multiple layers While we were laying the foundations above, we showed that an attention block and a feed forward block with carefully chosen weights were enough to make a decent language model. Most of the weights were zeros in our examples, a few of them were ones, and they were all hand picked. When training from raw data, we won't have this luxury. At the beginning the weights are all chosen randomly, most of them are close to zero, and the few that aren't probably aren't the ones we need. It's a long way from where it needs to be for our model to perform well. Stochastic gradient descent through backpropagation can do some pretty amazing things, but it relies a lot on luck. If there is just one way to get to the right answer, just one combination of weights necessary for the network to work well, then it's unlikely that it will find its way. But if there are lots of paths to a good solution, chances are much better that the model will get there. Having a single attention layer (just one multi-head attention block and one feed forward block) only allows for one path to a good set of transformer parameters. Every element of every matrix needs to find its way to the right value to make things work well. It is fragile and brittle, likely to get stuck in a far-from-ideal solution unless the initial guesses for the parameters are very very lucky. The way transformers sidestep this problem is by having multiple attention layers, each using the output of the previous one as its input. The use of skip connections make the overal pipeline robust to individual attention blocks failing or giving wonky results. Having multiples means that there are others waiting to take up the slack. If one should go off the rails, or in any way fail to live up to its potential, there will be another downstream that has another chance to close the gap or fix the error. The paper showed that more layers resulted in better performance, although the improvement became marginal after 6. Another way to think about multiple layers is as a conveyor belt assembly line. Each attention block and feedforward block has the chance to pull inputs off the line, calculate useful attention matrices and make next word predictions. Whatever results they produce, useful or not, get added back onto the conveyer, and passed to the next layer. This is in contrast to the traditional description of many-layered neural networks as "deep". Thanks to skip connections, successive layers don't provide increasingly sophisticated abstraction as much as they provide redundancy. Whatever opportunities for focusing attention and creating useful features and making accurate predictions were missed in one layer can always be caught by the next. Layers become workers on the assembly line, where each does what it can, but doesn't worry about catching every piece, because the next worker will catch the ones they miss. Decoder stack So far we have carefully ignored the encoder stack (the left hand side of the transformer architecture) in favor of the decoder stack (the right hand side). We'll fix that in a few paragraphs. But it's worth noticing that the decoder alone is pretty useful. As we laid out in the sequence completion task description, the decoder can complete partial sequences and extend them as far as you want. OpenAI created the generative pre-training (GPT) family of models to do just this. The architecture they describe in this report should look familiar. It is a transformer with the encoder stack and all its connections surgically removed. What remains is a 12 layer decoder stack. Any time you come across a generative model, like BERT, ELMo, or Copilot, you're probably seeing the decoder half of a transformer in action. Encoder stack Almost everything we've learned about the decoder applies to the encoder too. The biggest difference is that there's no explicit predictions being made at the end that we can use to judge the rightness or wrongness of its performance. Instead, the end product of an encoder stack is disappointingly abstracta sequence of vectors in an embedded space. It has been described as a pure semantic representation of the sequence, divorced from any particular language or vocabulary, but this feels overly romantic to me. What we know for sure is that it is a useful signal for communicating intent and meaning to the decoder stack. Having an encoder stack opens up the full potential of transformers instead of just generating sequences, they can now translate (or transform) the sequence from one language to another. Training on a translation task is different than training on a sequence completion task. The training data requires both a sequence in the language of origin, and a matching sequence in the target language. The full language of origin is run through the encoder (no masking this time, since we assume that we get to see the whole sentence before creating a translation) and the result, the output of the final encoder layer is provided as an input to each of the decoder layers. Then sequence generation in the decoder proceeds as before, but this time with no prompt to kick it off. Cross-attention The final step in getting the full transformer up and running is the connection between the encoder and decoder stacks, the cross attention block. We've saved it for last and, thanks to the groundwork we've laid, there's not a lot left to explain. Cross-attention works just like self-attention with the exception that the key matrix K and value matrix V are based on the output of the final encoder layer, rather than the output of the previous decoder layer. The query matrix Q is still calculated from the results of the previous decoder layer. This is the channel by which information from the source sequence makes its way into the target sequence and steers its creation in the right direction. It's interesting to note that the same embedded source sequence is provided to every layer of the decoder, supporting the notion that successive layers provide redundancy and are all cooperating to perform the same task. Tokenizing We made it all the way through the transformer! We covered it in enough detail that there should be no mysterious black boxes left. There are a few implementation details that we didnt dig into. You would need to know about them in order to build a working version for yourself. These last few tidbits arent so much about how transformers work as they are about getting neural networks to behave well. The Annotated Transformer will help you fill in these gaps. We are not completely done yet though. There are still some important things to say about how we represent the data to start with. This is a topic thats close to my heart, but easy to neglect. Its not so much about the power of the algorithm as it is about thoughtfully interpreting the data and understanding what it means. We mentioned in passing that a vocabulary could be represented by a high dimensional one-hot vector, with one element associated with each word. In order to do this, we need to know exactly how many words we are going to be representing and what they are. A naive approach is to make a list of all possible words, like we might find in Websters Dictionary. For the English language this will give us several tens of thousands, the exact number depending on what we choose to include or exclude. But this is an oversimplification. Most words have several forms, including plurals, possessives, and conjugations. Words can have alternative spellings. And unless your data has been very carefully cleaned, it will contain typographical errors of all sorts. This doesnt even touch on the possibilities opened up by freeform text, neologisms, slang, jargon, and the vast universe of Unicode. An exhaustive list of all possible words would be infeasibly long. A reasonable fallback position would be to have individual characters serve as the building blocks, rather than words. An exhaustive list of characters is well within the capacity we have to compute. However there are a couple of problems with this. After we transform data into an embedding space, we assume the distance in that space has a semantic interpretation, that is, we assume that points that fall close together have similar meanings, and points that are far away mean something very different. That allows us to implicitly extend what we learn about one word to its immediate neighbors, an assumption we rely on for computational efficiency and from which the transformer draws some ability to generalize. At the individual character level, there is very little semantic content. There are a few one character words in the English language for example, but not many. Emoji are the exception to this, but they are not the primary content of most of the data sets we are looking at. That leaves us in the unfortunate position of having an unhelpful embedding space. It might still be possible to work around this theoretically, if we could look at rich enough combinations of characters to build up semantically useful sequences like words, words stems, or word pairs. Unfortunately, the features that transformers create internally behave more like a collection of input pairs than an ordered set of inputs. That means that the representation of a word would be a collection of character pairs, without their order strongly represented. The transformer would be forced to continually work with anagrams, making its job much harder. And in fact experiments with character level representations have shown the transformers dont perform very well with them. Byte pair encoding Fortunately, there is an elegant solution to this. Called byte pair encoding. Starting with the character level representation, each character is assigned a code, its own unique byte. Then after scanning some representative data, the most common pair of bytes is grouped together and assigned a new byte, a new code. Ths new code is substituted back into the data, and the process is repeated. Codes representing pairs of characters can be combined with codes representing other characters or pairs of characters to get new codes representing longer sequences of characters. There's no limit to the length of character sequence a code can represent. They will grow as long as they need to in order to represent commonly repeated sequences. The cool part of byte pair encoding is that in infers which long sequences of characters to learn from the data, as opposed to dumbly representing all possible sequences. it learns to represent long words like transformer with a single byte code, but would not waste a code on an arbitrary string of similar length, such as ksowjmckder. And because it retains all the byte codes for its single character building blocks, it can still represent weird misspellings, new words, and even foreign languages. When you use byte pair encoding, you get to assign it a vocabulary size, ad it will keep building new codes until reaches that size. The vocabulary size needs to be big enough, that the character strings get long enough to capture the semantic content of the the text. They have to mean something. Then they will be sufficiently rich to power transformers. After a byte pair encoder is trained or borrowed, we can use it to pre-process out data before feeding it into the transformer. This breaks it the unbroken stream of text into a sequence of distinct chunks, (most of which are hopefully recognizebable words) and provides a concise code for each one. This is the process called tokenization. Audio input Now recall that our original goal when we started this whole adveture was to translate from the audio signal or a spoken command to a text representation. So far all of our examples have been worked out with the assumption that we are working with characters and words of written language. We can extend this to audio too, but that will take an even bolder foray into signal preprocessing. The information in audio signals benefits from some heavy-duty preprocessing to pull out the parts that our ears and brains use to understand speech. The method is called Mel-frequecy cepstrum filtering, and it's every bit as baroque as the name suggests. Here's a well-illustrated tutorial if you'd like to dig into the fascinating details. When the pre-processing is done, raw audio is turned into a a sequence of vectors, where each element represents the change of audio activity in a particular frequency range. It's dense (no elements are zero) and every element is real-valued. On the positive side, each vector makes a good "word" or token for the transformer because it means something. It can be directly translated into a set of sounds that is recognizeable as part of a word. On the other hand, treating each vector as a word is weird because each one is unique. It's extremely unlikely that the same set of vector values will ever occur twice, because there are so many subtly different combination of sounds. Our previous strategies of one-hot representation and byte pair encoding are of no help. The trick here is to notice that dense real-valued vectors like this is what we end up with after embedding words. Transformers love this format. To make use of it, we can use the results of the ceptrum pre-processing as we would the embedded words from a text example. This saves us the steps of tokenization an embedding. It's worth noting that we can do this with any other type of data we want too. Lots of recorded data comes in the form of a sequence of dense vectors. We can plug them right in to a transformer's encoder as if they were embedded words. Wrap up If you're still with me, thank you. I hope it was worth it. This is the end of our journey. We started with a goal of making a speech-to-text converter for our imaginary voice-controlled computer. In the process, we started from the most basic building blocks, counting and arithmetic, and reconstructed a transformer from scratch. My hope is that the next time you read an article about the latest natural language processing conquest, you'll be able to nod contentedly, having pretty darn good mental model of what's going on under the hood. Resources and credits Heirs of a musician who co-wrote the soul classic Lets Get It On say the British pop star knew how similar it is to Sheerans Thinking Out Loud. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has listed what he said were fabrications about Russia in a speech on the countrys history since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union. Upworthy 01 May 2023 Donald Trumps lawyer is asking the judge for a mistrial in a civil rape case against the former president, citing frustration.. The arraignment of the tech consultant charged with the killing of Cash App founder Bob Lee has been delayed until next week. Nima Momeni's defense attorney told a San Francisco judge Tuesday that prosecutors have not shared all their evidence with her. Momeni is charged with murder after he allegedly used a knife in the April 4 stabbing death of Lee. Momeni is being held without bail. He was scheduled to return to court on May 2. Momenis defense attorney says Momeni will enter a plea of not guilty and ask to be released during his trial. By Vivek Mishra and Sameer Patil* From its inception, the conflict in Ukraine has been, and is being, fought as.. Eurasia Review 25 Apr 2023 British American Tobacco will pay over $635 million to US authorities after a subsidiary confessed to supplying cigarettes to North Korea in breach of sanctions. Iran's Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of Iranian-German citizen on charges of "corruption on earth." Germany's Foreign Minister said the decision was "unacceptable." The recording -- made by Abby Grossberg, a former producer at Fox News -- shows the scope of the senator's scheming to assist President Donald Trump in overturning Joe Bidens victory. While Israelis take to the streets in record numbers, Arab citizens see their issues as ignored. A boatload of civilians from more than 50 countries have arrived in Saudi Arabia from Sudan. Meanwhile, Germany said it had evacuated 700 people from the country. DW has the latest. The most recent tension in the EU is about grain, although it has larger, geopolitical implications. Specifically, there is a large influx of grain on the EU market which caused the prices to go down and severely impact the Eastern European farmers income. Some of the countries affected decided to unilaterally ban Ukrainian products from entering their territory, which is straining relationships with their neighbor and violating EU law. Following Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine last year and its control of Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea, the European Union offered to help Ukraine export its products by opening up so-called solidarity lanes- meaning it allowed Ukrainian grain, fruit, vegetables and poultry to transit EU territory without the usual tariffs. The problem is that these products then remained in the EU market instead of being shipped further to Africa and the Middle East, the intended destinations. This oversupply caused prices to drop significantly, and the farmers and producers affected in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Hungary starting protesting. In response, the governments in each of these countries (and especially in those preparing for elections, like Poland and Slovakia) have either already implemented a ban or are seriously considering it. After a few bilateral meetings between the Eastern European governments and Kyiv, transit is again allowed but only in sealed containers and tracked. The European Commission stepped in to mediate the tension. Officials highlighted that according to the treaties, trade is an exclusive competence of the European Union as a whole, so unilateral actions taken by some Member States are breaking that rule and endangering the single market. However, sanctions are not the answer, so instead the Commission has offered 56 million in aid to the farmers in the five European countries, with 100 million more on the way. It is also working jointly with the Eastern bloc to come up with a solution which can be implemented EU-wide. The European Union Agriculture Ministers met today in Council format and expressed their continued support for Ukraine. At the same time, they asked for a thorough analysis of the impact of imports from Ukraine and they agreed that this issue requires a coordinated approach at EU level. The Ministers sent out a clear message of unity and of willingness to find solutions which would not compromise EU's solidarity with Ukraine. While the European Christian Political Movement remains in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and prays continually for their peace and territorial integrity, we can acknowledge that our own farmers have a reason for their discontent, and we support their right to have their voices heard. Additionally, poor countries in Africa or countries in the Middle East which are the originally intended recipients of this grain are struggling with shortages and would greatly benefit from these products reaching their borders. If ahead of the next harvest season we can find consensus and solutions to ensure Ukrainian grain and foodstuffs reach the places on this globe which most need them, in transit via European safe corridors, we believe everybody wins. Army officials said Sudan's former dictator was transferred to a military hospital just before fighting broke out. He remains in police custody alongside other former officials. The United Kingdom's competition regulator expressed concerns that the deal would alter the future of the fast-growing cloud gaming market. 2008-2023 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Sudan's neighbors are working to prevent an escalation of fighting in the region. Ethiopia is mediating through the African bloc, but experts say the neighbor in the Horn of Africa should take a stronger leadership role. Upworthy 27 Apr 2023 U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is expected to meet with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday. The event is.. The German parliament has given its approval to the emergency evacuation operation in Sudan. Meanwhile, civilians from over 50 countries have arrived in Saudi Arabia. DW has the latest. New York lawmakers are examining potential means of cracking down on illicit marijuana dispensaries as a potential addition to the state's overdue budget plan. Texas lawmakers advanced House Bill 13 on Tuesday, which would allow stipends of up to $25,000 for public school staff members authorized to act as armed guards on campus. In 1935, the Congress of American Writers was held in New York City, followed by another two years later. They called on the.. Eurasia Review 01 May 2023 Suella Braverman has ruled out introducing a safe and legal route for asylum seekers in Sudan to seek refuge in the UK. The United States remains deeply concerned about endemic corruption in Lebanon and actively seeks to combat corruption both in Lebanon and around the world. For years, Lebanese elites have ignored the publics calls for transparency and reform while shielding their own assets from depreciation by transferring their own money out of the country to other jurisdictions, explained Brian Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. As part of ongoing U.S. efforts to combat corruption in Lebanon, the United States imposed sanctions on April 4 on Raymond and Teddy Rahme, two brothers who used their companies to secure energy contracts through a highly opaque process that undermined democratic institutions and the rule of law in Lebanon. Raymond Rahmes company, ZR Energy DMCC, won a December 2019 Lebanese Government contract to import 150,000 tons of fuel to help avoid a fuel crisis in Lebanon. Instead of importing quality fuel, however, this company imported a cheaper, tainted product, contributing to damage to critically needed power stations. The brothers profited from this scheme, even as the Lebanese people sank further into crisis. While in most countries, electricity production increases state revenues, it has not done so in Lebanon, said Under Secretary Nelson: But despite spending tens of billions of dollars over the past decades, the ministry of electricity and the Electricite du Liban have left ordinary Lebanese vulnerable to the so-called generator mafia and the rest of the dysfunctional electricity sector has drained state funds and padded the foreign bank accounts of Lebanese businessmen. The United States prioritizes accountability, the rule of law, and democratic renewal in Lebanon irrespective of political affiliation or religion, said Under Secretary Nelson: The United States hears your calls for transparency and accountability; and to those choosing between continuing corrupt practices or creating change, know that we will continue to sanction those who profit from corruption, money laundering, and threats to the Lebanese people. We call on Lebanese politicians to end the political gridlock, elect a president, form a government, and undertake the reforms needed to pave the way for Lebanons economic recovery. This is not the first time we have taken action against corrupt actors in Lebanon, said Under Secretary Nelson. And if corrupt activities continue, it will not be the last. Former GOP Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas jumps into the White House race, joining former President Donald Trump in the battle for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination Two Democratic state lawmakers in Virginia were caught on hot mic mocking Republican efforts to strengthen parental rights as "garbage," "crap," and "stupid." Here's the latest for Wednesday April 26th: Kabul airport bombing mastermind killed by Taliban; Biden to meet with South Korean president; UN Envoy says Sudan truce holding up in some areas; Lawyer says woman suing Donald Trump will testify. In a rush against a new 72-hour ceasefire, a number of governments are racing to evacuate their citizens out of Sudan. President Joe Biden made his case for a second White House term Wednesday and said while he may not be the "only one" who could beat former President Donald Trump in a potential 2024 matchup, he has "a job to finish." (April 26) India is about to surpass China as the worlds most populous nation in the coming days, the UN population data chief told reporters on Monday. The main driver of these trends is the fertility level in the two nations, said John Wilmoth, Director of the UN Population Division. Together, China and Indias collective... On May 15, 2023, the Palestinian Nakba will be 75 years old. On this date, Palestinians all over the world will commemorate the tragic catastrophe, which saw nearly 800,000 Palestinians made refugees and nearly 500 towns and villages in historic Palestine ethnically cleansed of their inhabitants. The depopulation of... Ms Carroll's case is not a "he said, she said" dispute, her lawyer said during opening statements. The latest flights carrying British nationals from Sudan are expected to arrive in Cyprus on Wednesday morning, as UK troops prepare to take over the running of the airfield near Khartoum. Upworthy 26 Apr 2023 US Sending Nuclear Submarines To South Korea For 1st Time In 40 Years In a move which is certainly to explode tensions on the.. Aakanksha Kaur Founder & Principal India is undergoing substantial reform in its childcare sector. Since a childs brain develops at a rate of 80 percent during the first three to five years of life, what parents and other carers do to support the childs overall development during this time has a significant impact on the childs future. As a result, parents generally have higher standards for child care now. The preschool years are the most important learning time of all.Little Bright Stars Preschool, with its main office in Kolkata, is one such company that offers all-encompassing, comprehensive assistance, possibilities, guidance, and happy learning activities. Its mission is to deliver the best education and childcare that lays a solid foundation for lifelong learning in a safe, considerate, and inclusive environment and its vision is to offer a new-age education where all students reach their full potential through a holistic learning approach, where each child will develop their social, physical, emotional, and intellectual abilities.Among the different initiatives used by other preschools in Kolkata, Little Bright Stars offers a stimulating yet demanding atmosphere that encourages the growth of abilities crucial for a childs long-term success in school and life. The teaching strategies used by Little Bright Stars place a strong emphasis on treating each student as an individual and allowing them to grow and learn at their own rate. Children learn best through play when they are provided a variety of scheduled and unstructured playtime, which is why it bases its teaching approaches on the play. Children are continuously urged to learn, and the school even imparts concepts like mathematics and The writer suing Donald Trump for allegedly raping her nearly 30 years ago began testifying on Wednesday at a civil trial, telling jurors the former US president sexually assaulted her and defamed her by lying about it. Union Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said that the govt is in touch with all sides for the safe evacuation of Indians stranded in.. Zee News 27 Apr 2023 Denmark Allocates 3.6m to Address Problem Gambling Over the next three years, Denmark's government has pledged to allocate an extra DKK30m (3.6m/4.0m/$4.4m) to tackle problem gambling in the country. Denmark has pledged to release DKK10m annually between 2023 and 2025 to aid ongoing efforts and projects addressing problem gambling. According to recent research, almost 500,000 Danes suffer from some form of gambling addiction. The first year's allocation of DKK10m will target children and young people and focus on further research into gambling addiction. Of this sum, DKK5.0m will be specifically designated for research into gambling addiction. In addition, the Ministry of the Interior and Health will create an application pool that emphasizes treatments and remedies for individuals with addiction. Meanwhile, DKK2.5m will be allocated to the national gambling regulator, Spillemyndigheden, for a nationwide information campaign on gambling. This initiative will target children, young people, their parents, and other family members. A further DKK1.5m will be spent on creating new content for a national platform providing advice and information on gambling addiction. Moreover, DKK1.0m has been set aside for Spillemyndigheden to conduct a joint study on gambling addiction across Nordic countries. However, this project would require the support of other nations, and if such support is not forthcoming, the funds will be reallocated to the nationwide campaign in Denmark. Tax Minister Jeppe Bruus expressed concern about the worrying developments in the gaming area. "Gambling addiction can have major and long-lasting consequences for those involved," he said, "and we have a special obligation to protect children, young people, and other vulnerable groups. Therefore, there is a need for us to both strengthen information efforts towards children and young people and research gambling addiction. And I am happy that we are now adding more resources to the effort." This funding allocation demonstrates the Danish government's commitment to addressing the gambling problem and supporting those affected by addiction. The emphasis on initiatives for children and young people acknowledges the potential long-term effects of addiction and the need to safeguard vulnerable groups. Furthermore, the focus on research and treatment highlights the government's recognition of the complex nature of addiction and the importance of developing effective solutions. In conclusion, Denmark's commitment to funding ongoing efforts to combat problem gambling is important in addressing the issue and supporting those affected. Furthermore, allocating resources toward research, treatment, and education demonstrates a comprehensive approach prioritizes prevention and care. Jeddah: The government of India has been evacuating its citizens from war-torn Sudan under Operation Kaveri. On Wednesday morning, an IAF aircraft carrying the third batch comprising 135 Indians from Port Sudan arrived in Jeddha. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan is coordinating the rescue operations by camping in Jeddah. India launched the mission 'Operation Kaveri' on Monday. Third batch comprising 135 Indians from Port Sudan arrived in Jeddah by IAF C-130J aircraft. Onward journey to India for all who arrived in Jeddah will commence shortly. #OperationKaveri pic.twitter.com/OHhC5G2Pg8 V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) April 26, 2023 External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar tweeted that the first C-130 flight landed in Jeddha with another 121 Indians from Sudan and they will be taken to home soon. Earlier on Tuesday, naval vessel INS Sumedha took 278 Indians who were stranded in Sudan to Jeddah port. Hours later, a C-130J heavy-lift transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force also landed at Port Sudan to undertake evacuation operations, officials said. Separately, the Indian Navy's second ship, INS Teg, arrived in Port Sudan to bring back more Indians under New Delhi's mission 'Operation Kaveri' that has been launched to evacuate around 3,000 Indians from Sudan, the officials said. India has set up a control room in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah to facilitate the evacuation of Indians from Sudan. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has reached Jeddah to oversee the evacuation mission. From Jeddah, India is set to bring back the Indians home in military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force. In another tweet, Bagchi said INS Teg also joined the evacuation mission. "INS Teg joins #OperationKaveri. Arrives at Port Sudan with additional officials and essential relief supplies for stranded Indians. Will boost ongoing evacuation efforts by Embassy Camp Office at Port Sudan," he said. INS Teg joins #OperationKaveri. Arrives at Port Sudan with additional officials and essential relief supplies for stranded Indians. Will boost ongoing evacuation efforts by Embassy Camp Office at Port Sudan. pic.twitter.com/pUPijD6wF5 Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 25, 2023 Sudan has been witnessing deadly fighting between the country's army and a paramilitary group for the last 12 days that has reportedly left around 400 people dead. India stepped up its efforts to evacuate the Indians from Sudan as a 72-hour truce was agreed to between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) following intense negotiations. The Indian Navy said its mission deployed warship INS Sumedha was diverted for evacuation of the citizens stranded in Sudan. Referring to the evacuation mission, Muraleedharan said necessary infrastructure is in place in both Port Sudan and Jeddah. "Upon arrival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to join Team #OperationKaveri, visited the control room set up to facilitate evacuation of Indians from Sudan," he said on Twitter. "Necessary infrastructure is in place in both Port Sudan and Jeddah. The team is in full readiness on the ground," he added. Muraleedharan also inspected a transit facility for the Indians in Jeddah. "Inspected transit facility @IndianPage, Jeddah where Indians evacuated from Sudan will be received & put up briefly before travel to India," he tweeted. The minister said the facility is fully equipped with mattresses, fresh meals, toilets, and medical support. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday announced the launch of the mission 'Operation Kaveri' to bring back the stranded Indians from Sudan that has been witnessing fierce fighting following a power struggle between the regular army and the RSF. India on Sunday said it has positioned two transport aircraft of the IAF in Jeddah and the naval ship INS Sumedha at Port Sudan as part of its contingency plans to evacuate the Indians. Apart from the Sudanese authorities, the MEA and the Indian embassy in Sudan have been in regular touch with the UN, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and the US among others. At a high-level meeting on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued directions for the preparation of contingency plans to evacuate Indians from Sudan. After the meeting, the PMO said Modi instructed officials to prepare contingency evacuation plans, accounting for the rapidly shifting security landscape in Sudan and the viability of various options. Last week, Jaishankar spoke to his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt on the ground situation in Sudan with a focus on ensuring the safety of the Indians. On Thursday, Jaishankar discussed the situation in Sudan with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. (With PTI inputs) King Henry VIII historical portrait sculpture by artist-historian George Stuart (5) (Image by mharrsch from flickr) Details DMCA Reprinted from hartmannreport.com I'm proposing Congress change the rules of how the Court operates around decisions in which they invoke the Constitution to change or strike down laws America was never intended to have kings or queens, unaccountable to the people, ruling for life. But that's what we have, because Congress and the White House never seriously pushed back against a power grab executed by the Supreme Court itself. It's time to reduce the Court's power in a way that agrees with the Constitution. We'll almost certainly have to wait until the next time Democrats control the House, Senate, and White House, but that could happen in another 20 months, so we need to start planning now. I'm proposing Congress change the rules of how the Court operates around decisions in which they invoke the Constitution to change or strike down laws. Instead of operating along partisan majority lines, I'm suggesting they must have an absolute consensus "" a unanimous decision "" on any decisions involving the US Constitution. The Supreme Courts of Belgium, France, and Italy work this way by law and those of Germany and Spain do so by tradition. It has served those nations well, stripping politics and partisanship out of their judicial systems. Even Alexander Hamilton and James Madison knew how toxic an out-of-control Supreme Court could be. We need to put some guard rails around the Court's ability to act politically, and this would be a great place to start. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say decisions must be issued exclusively by majority opinion; it does, however, say in Article III, Section 2 that Congress has the power to "regulate" the Supreme Court. I'm proposing a regulation that would require a majority for non-constitutional questions and an absolute consensus for all decisions involving any interpretation of the Constitution. There's plenty of fascinating history that supports this argument. From the founding of our republic in 1789 until 1803, the Supreme Court was only the final court of appeals in normal civil and criminal cases. After all, the buck had to stop somewhere. "But what about the Court deciding the Constitution says we can own guns or can't get an abortion?" you may ask. The simple fact is that there's no explicit reference in the Constitution about the Court deciding what the Constitution says, and there was only little discussion of it during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Nonetheless, in 1803 the Supreme Court decided that it, and it alone, could instantly overthrow, edit, or even rewrite laws passed by Congress and signed by the president. All based on its own unique interpretation of the plain language of the constitution. This was not what most of the Founders and Framers intended. In 1788, when James Madison and Alexander Hamilton published a long series of newspaper articles promoting to the American people the idea that they should ratify the Constitution (today we call them The Federalist Papers), Hamilton took on the job of selling Article III, which created the court system, including the Supreme Court. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Reprinted from hartmannreport.com If it seems to you like women in Red states are the subjects of witch hunts, you're right. And it has nothing to do with "life": it's all about economic and political power. Jaci Statton wanted her baby, but the fetus wasn't developing properly and was dying inside her. If it wasn't removed from her uterus it might kill her, too. She was experiencing vaginal bleeding, high blood pressure, debilitating cramps, and "intense nausea." As reporter Ben Felder wrote for The Oklahoman: "The longer the fetus remained inside her, the higher risk she would be for internal bleeding, kidney and liver failure, and even a stroke." She and her husband first went to a nearby hospital, but "" like one-in-six hospital beds in America "" it was run to earn money for the Catholic Church and so refused to provide her with any help beyond fluids. Next up was the hospital at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center but that, too, was a dead end. As Felder reported: "They said, 'We can't touch you because of the Oklahoma law,' Statton recalled the doctors telling her husband, even as they acknowledged the pregnancy posed serious health risks and removing the fetus was the best medical decision." To save her life, Jaci's husband drove her to an abortion clinic in Kansas where she was forced to walk through a gamut of jeering anti-abortion protestors carrying signs proclaiming their followers should "STONE ALL THE WHORES!" If it seems to you like women in Red states are the subjects of witch hunts, you're right. And it has nothing to do with "life": it's all about economic and political power. Prior to the 1980 election, the official position of the GOP was the same as the Democratic Party. Pre-viability abortions were a decision to be made by a woman alone, with consultation "" if she wished "" with her physician, spouse, and/or religious counselor. California Governor Ronald Reagan had, in fact, signed into law the nation's most permissive abortion regulation in 1967, a full six years before the Supreme Court's Roe v Wade decision. And Reagan's 1980 running mate, former Texas Congressman George HW Bush, had supported Planned Parenthood "" including abortion rights "" all the way back to the 1960s as well. But leading up to the election of 1980, the Reagan campaign determined that the growing backlash to Roe v Wade was a great issue to help ride to victory in the polls. It combined a general Republican distrust of the Supreme Court "" dating back to the 1954 Brown v Board decision desegregating public schools "" with an embrace of both Catholic and Evangelical Protestant positions that were ardently opposed to abortion. In this, the Reagan campaign was following a long tradition of men seizing political power on the metaphorical (and sometimes literal) backs of women. The first widespread witch hunts in the 1500s, in fact, were the Catholic Church's response to the growing Protestant Reformation competing successfully for church membership. As researchers Peter T. Leeson and Jacob W. Russ noted in The Journal of the Royal Economic Society: 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). Once known as the unmistakably proud Donald John Trump, this guy has now become the perfection of the Dilemma Man, having more problematic entanglements than you can shake a stick at. State courts, federal courts, and civil suits are all assaulting the poor Mr. Trump. Pity the man. What's that you say? No pity for this guy? You say he fully deserves the multifaceted combination he is embroiled in? Well, maybe so. You could be right about that. After all, he is now the only president or ex-president to ever be indicted for a crime. And that's just the first one he has received. The Dilemma Man is up to his neck in trouble from several investigations, the first of which (#1), in New York State, has already resulted in charges being filed against him at the end of March. A trial is scheduled for early 2024. This trial will cover the presumed "hush-money" payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The Trump playbook has been remarkably consistent in each and every one of these cases. He simply denies any charges, calls the opposition ugly names, and attempts to dismiss it all as "fake," a "hoax," a "sham," or "political retribution." But my, oh my, has he ever had a lengthy career at denying accusations from others. And I don't believe he has ever actually used the word, retribution. It is a bit lengthy for him. More charges are anticipated as early as July 11, for a trial (#2) to begin later in 2024. This State trial will cover his alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. The three most likely charges involve various examples of election fraud and interference with officials' performance of election duties. That will make two investigations that have gone to trial in the same year that this man intends to be re-elected to the presidency. This intention is the absolute height of arrogant presumption on his part. But the man has never been known for his intelligent assessment capabilities. Who knows how many more of the various investigations will have progressed to more meaningful levels by the time the November election rolls around in 2024? Let's examine a few of those investigations. Not one, but two, U.S. Justice Department investigations (#2, #3) are under way. One deals with Trump's retention of classified materials, which could result in multiple felony charges. The other investigation deals with his 2020 election behaviors that resulted in a violent insurrection at the Capitol, a coup attempt in which people died. The special January 6 Committee investigation (#4) has concluded and resulted in a referral to the Justice Department to charge Trump (#5) with "corruption of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to make a false statement, and inciting or aiding an insurrection." New York State Attorney General Letitia James has filed a civil lawsuit (#6) against Trump as well as his organization, charging fraud in many asset valuations. In a separate action, she has also referred to the Justice Department (#7) as well as the Internal Revenue Service (#8), various examples of criminal wrongdoing that were discovered through her investigation. The State civil case is set for trial in October, 2023, and seeks at least $250 million, and the barring of any of the Trumps from ever again operating businesses in New York. In addition, not one, but two separate defamation lawsuits (#9, #10) have been filed by columnist E. Jean Carroll, one of which could go to trial as early as this week, and may indeed have already begun by the time this article is published. These are at least ten examples of endeavors to sink DJT into the depths of prosecutorial hell. For Trump, Georgia looks particularly ominous. And the DOJ has several rather tempting options. "Poor" Donald Trump? Nah, he deserves everything he winds up getting. What he is used to "getting," is away with it, and it may finally be time to pay the piper. His record speaks for itself. Prison time might prove to be an adequate conclusion to this travesty. It would be truly sweet if he got nailed on even just half of these. As I have stated before, if no one is above the law, guess what Donnie gets. For him to escape all of these things, he would have to be anointed from On High. And here is a spoiler. He's not. Created by Wisconsin U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970, Earth Day activists sponsor an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EARTHDAY.ORG, including 1.0 billion people in more than 193 countries. The official theme for 2023 is: Invest in Our Planet. Unfortunately, in 2023 some 53 years after the original Earth Day celebration that I celebrated in my senior year of college, the planet staggers forward having jumped from 3.5 billion humans to 8.0 billion humans with an added 4.5 billion more people since 1970, hundreds of millions of cars, boats, planes and motors of all kinds""spewing carbon by the billions of tons into our biosphere 24/7. Humans were burning 50 million barrels of oil 24/7 in 1970. Today, humans burn 100 million barrels of oil, daily. Have you ever wondered who thought that was a good idea? "The next few decades will be the end of the kind of civilization we're used to. Humanity is consuming 175 percent of what the earth can regenerate. Our current way of life is unsustainable." Paul Ehrlich, population expert. Thousands of scientists agree with him. Remember Dustin Hoffman in "The Graduate"? One of his buddies said, "Your future is in plastics!" Today, our current reality of 5.5 trillion pieces of plastic floating on the surface or sunk below the waves of all the oceans of the world""makes anyone sick to their stomach. Additionally, humans toss another 8,000,000 pieces of plastics into the oceans every single day of the year. Millions of avian and marine lives die because they swallow plastics or get caught in drift nets. Essentially, we're killing the oceans. Why haven't the leaders of Earth Day promoted a 50-cent or even $1.00 international deposit-return law for all plastic containers as well as all metal and glass containers? Who thinks we can continue trashing the planet like this? Special note: within America, only 30 percent of Americans recycle regularly. Seventy percent of Americans toss millions of their cans, bottles, plastics, cars, trucks, tractors, motor homes, cars, trailers, construction materials, and more, into the wilderness. Why haven't we created collection sites for all our heavy metal waste? Who are we fooling on Earth Day? With all that carbon being dumped into the biosphere, it always falls into our oceans. It's changing the alkaline-acidity PH of our oceans. It's killing our reefs. It's killing the marine life on the reefs. I've scuba dived all over the world since 1963. We humans have brought devastation to our oceans with our 84,000 chemical poisons, our plastics, our carbon footprint, our human waste pumped by the quad-trillions into our oceans. The beaches off Rio de Janeiro are brown with human waste. Signs read: Poison water. I witnessed it. "We've poured our poisons into the world as though it were a bottomless pit"and we go on gobbling them up. It's hard to imagine how the world could survive another century of this abuse, but nobody's really doing anything about it." Daniel Quinn 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). "His accomplishments include providing leadership and fighting to: Improve the process for parent participation in the IEP process for children with special needs" - Re-elect Scott Schmerelson, 2020 For children with Special Education needs, the Individual Education Program (IEP) team decides the types of support and services the students will receive. While parents are supposed to be equal members of this team, experience presents a different reality. Some will find that successful programs, like Aut Core, are not being offered as the LAUSD forces children out of specialized classrooms. For those with severe needs, entire campuses have been declared out of bounds as the District continues to starve Special Education Centers of new students as it aims towards closing these schools. As parents attempt to negotiate past these roadblocks, they cannot count on help from their child's teacher because the LAUSD has cultivated a fear of retaliation for any employee who refuses to tow the company line. These teachers have been made to believe that they must choose between giving parents their honest opinion and keeping their jobs. Those who successfully appeal IEP decisions through the mediation process are forced to sign confidentiality agreements. This prohibits them from sharing best practices with other parents. They must choose between accepting services that their children need and making sure that all of their children's classmates have the same access. To protect parents as they negotiate the IEP process, I wrote the proposed "Improving Special Education Within the LAUSD" resolution. At Tuesday morning's LAUSD Board meeting, I once again made an appeal to our representatives to make this the official policy of the District: As of publication, I had not heard from any of the Board Members. To encourage them to act, please sign the petition that can be found at bit.ly/SpEdpetition. Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs. He was elected to the Northridge East Neighborhood Council and is the Education Chair. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him "a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles." For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own. The project will directly supply the Acton Water District's microfiltration treatment plant, its largest electrical load, and will allow it to benefit from discounted clean power and lease revenues from the solar and storage system. The project will also further Massachusetts' clean energy goals to achieve Net Zero in 2050. The system is expected to generate approximately 1,872 MWh of clean energy each year, enough to power nearly 200 Massachusetts homes for one year and offset the carbon dioxide equivalent of burning more than 700 tons of coal in one year. This project is the second solar installation Standard Solar owns and operates for the Acton Water District. The first is the 4.7 MW solar and 4 MWh storage Lawsbrook Project, also developed by EDF Renewables. The system was constructed on land owned by the Acton Water District, previously disturbed from gravel extraction and part of the W.R. Grace Superfund Site. "We're proud to continue our partnerships with EDF Renewables and the Acton Water District to accelerate solar + storage deployment in Massachusetts," said Eric Partyka, Director of Business Development, Standard Solar. "The Knox project is the latest in a series that demonstrates our continued growth in Massachusetts and around the U.S. We look forward to adding many more projects like this one that helps save energy costs and meet sustainability goals in 2023 and beyond." The Knox project is part of Standard Solar's rapidly expanding portfolio in Massachusetts and the U.S. It currently owns and operates nearly 20 MW in the state and 300 MW of commercial and community solar projects throughout the United States. "EDF Renewables is proud to deliver a second project to the Acton Water District in support of their ambitious clean energy goals while also reducing costs," said Peter Bay, VP, Project Development for EDF Renewables. "Beyond the significant economic benefits the project will bring to the District, it embodies the intentions of Massachusetts' SMART Program as it's located on a superfund site while interconnecting directly to the South Acton Water Treatment Plant. We appreciate the collaborative partnership with Standard Solar and the Acton Water District and look forward to future opportunities." "Producing clean water is energy intensive and the ability to utilize clean energy is immensely beneficial," said Matthew Mostoller, District Manager, Acton Water District. "That's why we're delighted to announce our latest solar project. EDF Renewables and Standard Solar have been wonderful partners for us as we decarbonize our operations and begin to reap the benefits of our solar + storage installations." About Standard Solar Standard Solar, a Brookfield Renewable company, is powering the nation's energy transformation - channeling its project development capabilities, financial strength and technical expertise to deliver the benefits of solar and solar + storage to businesses and institutions, farms, governments, communities, and utilities. Building on 18 years of sustainable growth and in-house and tax equity investment capital, Standard Solar is a national leader in developing, funding and long-term ownership and operation of commercial and community solar assets. Recognized as an established financial partner with immediate, deep resources, the company owns and operates more than 300 megawatts of solar across the United States. Standard Solar is based in Rockville, Md. Learn more at standardsolar.com, LinkedIn and Twitter: @StandardSolar. For project acquisition and development inquiries, contact Eric Partyka, Director of Project Development, 443-350-1776, eric.partyka@standardsolar.com and on LinkedIn. About EDF Renewables North America EDF Renewables North America is a market leading independent power producer and service provider with 35 years of expertise in renewable energy. The Company delivers grid-scale power: wind (onshore and offshore), solar photovoltaic, and storage projects; distribution-scale power: solar and storage; asset optimization: technical, operational, and commercial expertise to maximize performance of generating projects, and onsite solutions, through the Company's PowerFlex subsidiary, offering a full suite of onsite energy solutions for commercial and industrial customers: solar, storage, EV charging, energy management systems, and microgrids. EDF Renewables' North American portfolio consists of 16 GW of developed projects and 13 GW under service contracts. EDF Renewables North America is a subsidiary of EDF Renewables, the dedicated renewable energy affiliate of the EDF Group. For more information visit: www.edf-re.com. Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Multnomah County voters will decide this May whether to impose a capital gains tax that would fund lawyers for tenants facing eviction. Measure 26-238 would levy a 0.75% countywide tax on capital gains the profits from the sale of property, such as a business, real estate or stocks and bonds. Zells Cafe, a popular breakfast spot in Southeast Portland, will close early next month. Employees who answered the phone Tuesday confirmed the 40-year-old restaurant was planning to shutter. A note posted on the door and shared on Reddit, said Zells, which is located at 1300 S.E. Morrison St., would close May 2. Due to increased labor and food costs the Zells Cafe model does not work in 2023, the note read. We are reimagining the space and will return with a different concept at some point. Employees who answered the phone were not able to talk about the closure due to a busy service. In 2019, The Oregonian/OregonLive listed Zells corned beef hash as one of the top 10 in Portland. In 2010, The Oregonian/OregonLive named Zells the best breakfast restaurant in the city. With as much window space as wall, the paper wrote at the time, this quaint and inviting corner cafe has won the spot as top breakfast pick with incredible angel-light miniature scones, press pots of fragrant loose black tea, and creamy omelets and frittatas including the Hangtown Frittata ($10.25), packed with plump oysters, generous chunks of salty bacon, creamy Asiago cheese, and a dusting of scallions. According to Eater, Tom Zell opened Zells in 1983. The restaurant has changed hands several times since then. The restaurants website notes that most recently, in 2022, the restaurant was sold to new owners who are carrying on the legacy of Zells while offering new food and traditions. Oregon business records show that it is currently owned by Grass Rabbit Eats Ltd. A representative from Grass Rabbit Eats Ltd. did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Lizzy Acker 503-221-8052; lacker@oregonian.com; @lizzzyacker Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Jeanne Shioshi just celebrated her 100th birthday. Frankly, shes doing better than most of us. Shioshi, who was born and raised in Redmond and lives in Southeast Portland, doesnt have much to offer in terms of how to get where she is, though you would find hints to her success if you poked around. In key ways, Shioshi embodies longevitys secrets. Her mother lived to be 113. So theres that. It was after Shioshis husband, Sam, died shes been widowed 32 years, longer than most American marriages last that she decided to take up water aerobics. When you get older you cant walk so straight as you want to, she said. You miss not being able to do everything you used to do. Being in the water liberates Shioshi from the everyday aches and pains that come with an aging body. In the pool at the local gym she frequents with her daughter Judy and son-in-law Jerry, she is free. Jeanne Shioshi, who turned 100 last month, swims three times a week at a nearby gym with her daughter, Judy, and son-in-law, Jerry. Swimming is very relaxing. You can reach up to the sky. All these things that you can do. It makes you feel good. In Redmond, Shioshis family had deep roots in the community. While they were the only Japanese Americans living in Redmond, Shioshi said the family never really felt any different from anybody else. We got to know all our neighbors. Everybody really got along. Then came Dec. 7, 1941. Experiencing the immediate impact of Pearl Harbor would have on her life was very disturbing, Shioshi said. Why could Japan attack a country like ours? she remembers thinking to herself. Their family was forcibly rounded up along with more than 200,000 other people of Japanese ancestry, most of them American citizens, most living along the West Coast. Shioshi said her family felt obligated to do whatever the government ordered us to do. We were a law and order family, she said. Her mother insisted they all stay together. They ended up at the Pacific International Livestock Exposition (renamed the Japanese Assembly Center). To see the prison camp was quite a shock, she said. Then you saw all the guards around the camp and all that; to think were going to be imprisoned in there. She was 19 years old. Jeanne Shioshi, left, ironing while imprisoned at the the Portland Livestock Exhibition, now the Portland Expo Center, where 3,676 people of Japanese descent were imprisoned from May to September 1942 before being moved to permanent camps elsewhere.Oregon Historical Society The toilet and shower stalls were out in the open with nothing but canvas to separate them. It was also sweltering, she remembers. The most awful part was the eating area, she said. Fly tape hung everywhere and the flies were a steady presence. After four months, Shioshi was moved to Heart Mountain and later Minidoka. It was quite an experience, she said. Shioshi said her mother would often encourage her to go with the flow and things will work out. While at the Japanese Assembly Center, Shioshi, whod been editor of her high school newspaper, worked at the newspaper published by Japanese Americans and circulated in the camps. At Heart Mountain, she worked for a dentist. At Minidoka, Shioshi took a job that focused on helping transition people out of the camps and back into the community. The work Shioshi did in the camps made a meaningful difference on her ability to endure the experience. By 1945, after three years of incarceration, the family was released. In celebration of Shioshis 100th birthday, all six of her children threw a large party in her honor, held last month at the American Legion. The hall was decorated with balloons and flowers. Several photographs from Shioshis life were displayed on poster boards. Her family made a thousand paper cranes in her honor. The cranes, a symbol of longevity, hung on a wall behind where she sat only occasionally. Mostly she circulated throughout the room, catching up with friends and family. A 100th birthday party was held at the American Legion Hall for Jeanne Shioshi, March 11, 2023. The event drew well over a hundred people, each from different chapters in her life. Many knew Shioshi from the business she ran with her husband, Sam and Jeans Market. The grocery, which was located on Powell Boulevard, closed in 1978. John Lundberg, 64, has fond memories of the store from when he was a kid. I used to go in there and get penny candy when I was about 8 or 9, he said. She was always very kind and motherly. Just a typical neighborhood mom. Her kindness extended to her children, too, he said. At that time you just figured that was the way neighborhoods were, he said. As an adult you realize thats not, you know, every neighborhood. 32 Jeanne Shioshi turns 100 Shioshi has seen and weathered a lot over the years. As for advice, she recognizes the guidance of those closest to her. She may have outlived them, but its clear shes internalized their influence. My mother was always an optimist, she said. Look forward, dont look back, shed tell me. Think of the good things that happen and keep going. Being busy, keeping active, trying to make things better, those are important things, Shioshi said. Exercise and keeping busy are key. Theres always negative things that come into your life, she acknowledged. Think of the good things, how to make things better, she said. In your life there are people who give you strength and advice, she said. You think of these people. Shioshi said her husband, Sam, was a ongoing source of encouragement. Keep going, keep going, hed tell me. Things will work out for you. Things will always work out. Beth Nakamura Twitter: @bethnakamura Instagram: @bethnakamura The Oregon Brewers Festival is back from the dead. At least, kind of. The festival, which earlier this year canceled this summers event, is getting new life as a tap takeover at the Portland Rose Festivals CityFair from Friday, June 2, to Sunday, June 4. The Rose Festival in a news release Wednesday morning said that after the announcement of the beer festivals cancellation, it invited the 35-year-old craft beer celebration to be the featured attraction in CityFairs second weekend at Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park. After 34 years of running the fest, Im looking forward to the OBF taking a new shape in partnership with the Rose Festival, Oregon Brew Festival founder Art Larrance said in the release. Im already working on selecting the beers that will be featured, and I cant wait for this June its going to be a great event. I hope that all of our OBF friends will stop by and have a beer with me! The theme of the 2023 festival, which begins on May 26, is Focus on Fun. The Rose Festival is very focused on helping bring fun back to downtown Portland, said the Rose Festivals chief executive officer, Marilyn Clint, in the release. Portland is known as Beervana for a reason, and combining these two waterfront traditions at CityFair was an easy decision. One thing that will skip downtown? The Grand Floral Parade, which will, for the second year in a row, stay on the East side of the Willamette River. The full route through downtown is not in the foreseeable future, said festival spokesperson Rich Jarvis, noting that the current status of police support is one of the constraining factors on the parade route. CityFair admission will allow visitors to access the Oregon Brewers Festival activities. Attendees can purchase the 2023 Rose Festival edition Oregon Brewers Festival mug and 12-ounce pours from a selection of the specially curated beers on tap. Cash and cards, not Brewers Fest tokens, will be accepted. Lizzy Acker 503-221-8052; lacker@oregonian.com; @lizzzyacker Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Mourners gathered Tuesday night at Portlands Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, filling most of the nearly 3,000 seats, to honor the life of Walter Cole, better known by his stage name, Darcelle. Cole, who died March 23 at age 92, was a well-loved Portland figure and internationally known as The Worlds Oldest Drag Queen. His memorial was a whos who of Portland and the state a Royal Rosarian Honor Guard presented his ashes, then Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek took the stage and told a story of knocking on Coles door as a young politician. Storm Large shared a song over video, and former governor Barbara Roberts and activist Terry Bean introduced as Portlands Will and Grace sang a slightly altered version of My Way. The Portland Gay Mens Chorus did two numbers, and artist Michael James Schneider, known for his word balloons and wine box boyfriend, had an installation. There was even a video message from the Unipiper and boos for Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler when he came on stage to talk about Cole. It was a fitting send-off for someone who has defined Portland for decades. For more than 50 years, Cole donned the makeup, dresses and wigs of Darcelle and entertained visitors to his Old Town nightclub, Darcelle XV Showplace. And Darcelle wasnt just a performer at the club, she was the master of ceremonies, welcoming other drag queens and dancers to the stage. Beyond the club, Darcelle appeared in numerous Rose Festival and Pride parades over the years and received the Spirit of Portland Award from the citys mayor. For those who showed up to pay their respects Tuesday, Cole was a pillar of Portland, a trailblazer who created a safe space for LGBTQ+ people when those spaces were few. And for many, he was a beloved friend. Read more: Darcelle is finally having her Portland moment The doors opened for the event at 6 p.m., an hour and a half before it was set to begin. Sean Bug was one of the many people who arrived early and dressed for the event. He wore a headpiece covered in yellow flowers, a dress of swirling colors and earrings that were life-size lemon slices. Bug said he was there to honor the magic and light that Darcelle brought to the world and the Portland LGBTQ community, of which Ive been part of my whole adult life. She was actually the first queer club I went to when I turned 21 and I found myself, said Donavon Sinclair, as he stood in line for the bar. Shes not just a person. Shes a whole mood. Shes an atmosphere. Shes an icon. If the night had a theme, it was Coles gift to Portland: Helping create a city where people feel safe to live as their authentic selves. In a video message, drag performer Jinx Monsoon, who grew up in Portland, said, I knew there was a place for me in the world. I knew there was a fabulous drag cabaret bar in my hometown. Another drag performer, Edie, flew up from Las Vegas for the event. Edie was born and raised in Portland, she said, and Darcelle was always part of my life. When I decided to do drag, Edie said, I knew that it was safe. It was Darcelles example, she said, that gave her the confidence she needed. At a time when many states are attempting to restrict drag shows, the feeling in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall was joyful. We are so lucky to be from this state and have the most positive role model for almost 60 years, Edie said. And many people, both in the audience and onstage, expressed anger at the current national political climate and the need for people locally to stand up against bigotry elsewhere in the nation. If you really want to honor Darcelle and her memory, said one of the evenings speakers, Queen Mother I of the Americas, Empress Nicole the Great, you must all become activists and vote. While voting might be one way to honor Darcelle, the crowd loudly supported another as well. A call from Empress Nicole to Wheeler to name a street after Darcelle got the loudest applause of the evening. The cheering crowd consisted of people of all ages, genders and sexual orientations some in sequined dresses and wigs, some in t-shirts. But when one speaker asked everyone who had a picture with Darcelle to raise their hands, a vast majority of hands went up. Its not fame that makes an icon, Kotek said during her remarks, its the impact they have on others. On Tuesday night, Darcelles impact could be felt everywhere in the building. The evening ended with Pink Martinis Thomas Lauderdale playing piano along with a recording of Darcelle singing her signature song, The Rose. Everyone stood, some swayed and some sang along. Then, well after 9 p.m., the memorial for a Portland icon ended and people floated out into the night. Lizzy Acker 503-221-8052; lacker@oregonian.com; @lizzzyacker Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe The COVID-19 pandemic may be mostly in the rearview mirror, but Portland Public Schools is continuing to feel the effects both in students academic decline and behavioral health. Add in the districts shrinking student enrollment and the looming expiration of emergency federal funds, and its clear that Oregons largest school district faces some uncomfortable questions ahead. This May, voters will elect four people to the board charged with steering the district through those challenges. With three of the positions drawing only one candidate each, we are issuing an endorsement only in the contested race for Zone 3, Northwest Portland. Voters should pick Derrick Peterson, a former chief deputy for the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office, to join the board. Peterson, 60, rightly recognizes the harm to youth caused by both the pandemic and prolonged distance learning and is pushing for ways to increase students access to counselors and psychologists. Behavioral health struggles, he notes, are a driving factor in fights among students to incidents of gun violence just outside school doors. When we talk about adults and the wrap-around services that are needed out there, its equally as important to look at our youth, he said. Are we going to pour (resources) into them now so that in the future they are whole, ready to move into the workforce or continue in education? Such support is key for ensuring that children dont end up in the justice system, he added, a priority that informs his views on how to address school safety. Rather than bring back armed police officers to schools, he suggests employing a version of Portland Street Response, in which trained social workers respond to situations and help build trust with students, teachers and families. Petersons background in law enforcement may turn off some voters. And his school board campaign marks a sharp change in direction from his run last year for Multnomah County sheriff. But his experience as a Black man in law enforcement who was born and raised in North Portland gives him personal understanding of community mistrust and the road ahead for law enforcement. As a former diversity instructor at the state police academy, he is well-steeped in the complicated work of helping organizations to grow and embrace diversity. And his experience managing people and budgets in his role at the sheriffs office connects directly to the work of a board member. His opponent, Patte Sullivan, 80, is a retired PPS elementary school teacher who brings a strong commitment to equity. But her interest in running stems more from an ethic of community service than a focus on specific issues she would tackle. Her motivation is to be commended we would love to see more volunteerism from members of the community, particularly in areas where their expertise lines up, as Sullivans does. But Petersons background and priorities make him the stronger choice. The three remaining seats up for election include two current board members Andrew Scott for Zone 1 and Michelle DePass for Zone 2. The seat for Zone 6 has drawn former PPS teacher and small-business owner Eddie Wang. They, as well as the winner of the Zone 3 race, will join elected board members Herman Greene, Gary Hollands and Julia Brim-Edwards, whose terms expire in 2025. -The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board To read our editorial endorsements for the May 2023 cycle, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. To view YouTube videos of our endorsement interviews, go to the editorial board playlist here. Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: Brodie Cass Talbott Cass Talbott is the educator and trips specialist for Portland Audubon and serves as president of the Oregon Birding Association. He lives in Portland. Last week, The Oregonian/OregonLive published an op-ed by Alan Contreras decrying the decision by Portland Audubon to change its name (Dropping Audubon from Portland chapters name would be a mistake, April 19). Contreras is well-known and well-regarded in the Oregon birding community, as author and editor of publications on the birds of Oregon, a founding member of the Oregon Birding Association and the longtime editor of the associations journal, Oregon Birds. As the current president of the association, I have communicated with Contreras many times, and he is someone I respect and admire. So it was with great disappointment that I read his op-ed. I hoped Contreras would have understood our reasons for changing the Portland Audubon name in the interest of inclusion. After all, Contreras himself had made a similar argument just 10 years ago in the debate over converting the name of our association from the Oregon Field Ornithologists to the Oregon Birding Association. Back then, the organizations board voted to adopt the new name after many existing and potential members expressed that having ornithologists in the organizations name made them feel like they didnt belong. But a minority of the membership continued to protest changing the name, even after a membership vote showed 80% support. They argued that it was a terrible idea, sounds expensive for no reason and that the Oregon Field Ornithologists was a well-recognized brand. All arguments that sound strikingly similar to those we hear now about the name change decisions by the Audubon organizations of Portland, Seattle, New York and others. But in response, Contreras defended the change on a statewide birding discussion site. The board has heard for years that many birders would not join because they thought the organization was only for professionals. Our hope and expectation is that we will see a significant boost in membership. He put inclusion over convenience and used his prominent position in the community to spread the word. So, what is the difference between then and now? Well, to be sure, Portland Audubon is a much different organization - a leading conservation voice in Oregon with a large staff and 121-year history that dwarfs the all-volunteer Oregon Birding Association and its 35 years. But the principle at the heart of this name change remains the same. I will admit that the first time I heard the idea to change the name, it felt like this was somehow an attack on me, a white man who had long loved Portland Audubon. However, after talking to a Black colleague who said she didnt want to have to wear a slaveowners name on her shirt every day she went to work, I realized that my own defensiveness and privilege were terribly selfish reasons to resist such a change and that I would much rather be a part of an organization that is diverse and welcoming to people of color. There is no doubt that the name Audubon signifies bird conservation for many, and it will be some time before another name is equally revered in that space. But if the name also means enslaver, anti-abolitionist, and desecrator of Native American graves to Black and Native American members of our community, prioritizing posterity over these concerns is in essence telling people of color that the white majority of the birding and conservation community does not care about feelings on the matter. Fortunately, Portland Audubon has committed itself to being more diverse, equitable, and inclusive, and step one on that journey is listening. The board listened and acted accordingly. Contreras had it right 10 years ago. When considering a change like this, we should listen first to those who feel excluded - not those for whom inclusion isnt an issue. Ten years on, the Oregon Birding Association has more members and is stronger than ever, and its decision to change its name is unquestioned. I have no doubt that 10 years from now, we will look back and feel the same about the decision to change the name Portland Audubon. Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: Its only fitting that downtown Corvallis newest wine bar located in the heart of the valley is called Corazon, which translates to heart in Spanish. Corazon opened Jan. 31 at 208 SW Second St. Owner Nick Cheatham, a 2017 Oregon State University graduate who studied fermentation sciences, said he noticed the need for a wine bar in a primarily brewery-loving city, and he wanted to open something new for the Corvallis community to enjoy. I think theres a demographic here who wants to hang out and have a glass of wine and not necessarily have to go to a restaurant to do that, Cheatham said. Cheatham, 29, started out on the brewery route himself, but fell in love with the winemaking community. He considered making his own wine, but instead decided to open a tasting room/lounge to provide a different kind of experience. The restaurants we have in town are awesome, and they have great glass pours, but I wanted something a little more dialed back and geared towards exploration, he said. Corazon has about 25 varieties of wine, half from the Pacific Northwest and half imported. The majority of imported wines are from Spain and Mexico, although there are also some from South Africa, France and Italy. Walking through the door, customers may feel as if they have taken a step into Mexico. Spanish and Mexican influences are apparent everywhere, from the guitar and Mexican art at the entrance to the tile roof, brick wall and architectural arches throughout the bar. The decor at Corazon is influenced by Spanish and Mexican cultures.Joanna Mann/Corvallis Gazette Times The glass pour list at Corazon is approachable for both novice and experienced drinkers alike.Joanna Mann/Corvallis Gazette Times Cheatham is half-Mexican, and his partner lived in Spain. Cheatham said their backgrounds influenced several design decisions with Corazon. He has curated his glass pour list to be approachable for both novice and experienced drinkers. He said he knows how it feels to be intimidated by wine, and he encourages people to ask questions, read descriptions of tasting notes and try new things until they find something that feels right. Its OK to not like something, Cheatham said. There are no wrong answers when it comes to wine tasting. Its all about exploration and discovery. Corazon offers a charcuterie board with Spanish cheeses, Olympia Provisions salami, olives, Spanish olive oil and sustainably caught canned fish from Top Chefs Sara Hauman in Portland. Cheatham will be holding weekly winemaking events where real winemakers will pour what theyre growing to give the Corvallis community a chance to expand their palettes and ask questions about the business. Corazon is open from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and from noon to 10 pm. Friday and Saturday. More information is available at https://www.corazoncorvallis.com/. The people who make wine, especially the hardworking laborers in the vineyard, are really down-to-earth, wonderful people, Cheatham said. When I drink wine, I like thinking about the stories of different wines and the historical aspect of those wines. Joanna Mann, Corvallis Gazette Times PacifiCorps reckoning over its alleged culpability for Oregons catastrophic Labor Day 2020 wildfires arrived Tuesday in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Opening arguments began in a $1.6 billion class action lawsuit against the utility, with victims of four fires accusing PacifiCorp of being responsible for much of what theyve called the largest man-made disaster in state history. The Labor Day blazes in 2020 burned more than 1.2 million acres in Oregon, destroyed upwards of 5,000 homes and structures, and claimed nine lives. PacifiCorp is the primary defendant in litigation stemming from the fires. The Portland-based utility, Oregons second largest, didnt turn off the power to any of its 600,000 customers during the windstorm and its lines have been implicated in six separate blazes, one of which started in its California service territory and burned into Oregon. Jurors in the Multnomah County trial will determine PacifiCorps responsibility, if any, in four of those blazes: the Santiam Canyon fires east of Salem; the Echo Mountain Complex near Lincoln City; the South Obenchain fire near Eagle Point, and the Two Four Two fire near the southeast Oregon town of Chiloquin. Its a historic trial and regardless of the outcome, its likely to reshape the way Oregons electric utilities respond to increasing wildfire risks amid climate change, consistent drought conditions and a jump in the average number of acres burned annually. Nicholas Rosinia, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, asked jurors to hold PacifiCorp accountable for its failure to shut off power on Labor Day 2020. These fires were predictable and preventable and devastated the lives of thousands of Oregonians, Rosinia told jurors. They had the knowledge, they understood, and they chose to do nothing. Doug Dixon, an attorney representing PacifiCorp, disputed that the utilitys lines caused three of the four fires and most of the resulting damage. He told jurors that PacifiCorp is a pioneer in mitigating wildfire risk, was on high alert before the windstorm and acted similarly to most other utilities that did not proactively shut off power. This case is about reasonable precautions that PacifiCorp takes to provide safe, reasonably priced power, he said. Climate change is here to stay. PacifiCorp has and will continue to take its role very seriously. Neither the state nor the U.S. Forest Service has released the official results of their investigations into the four Labor Day fires in question. The trial will ultimately turn on questions of whether the utilitys power lines caused ignitions in four Labor Day fires; whether the extreme weather conditions that day were reasonably foreseeable; and if the utility was negligent in failing to turn off the power. Rosinia kicked off the trial by walking jurors through the backdrop to that catastrophic day: a utility that had been repeatedly warned by state regulators for deficient tree trimming and vegetation management around its power lines; increasingly alarming forecasts about the coming Labor Day windstorm and extreme fire danger from the National Weather Service in the days before the fires; and a dire warning from the utilitys own contract meteorologist. Fires ignited in PacifiCorps Washington service territory hours before the windstorm pushed south into Oregon, providing ample warning of what was to come, Rosinia said. Likewise, the first fire in PacifiCorps territory ignited outside the southeast Oregon town of Chiloquin hours before the other blazes started. Then came an 11th hour attempt by the state fire chief and then-Gov. Kate Browns chief of staff to encourage utilities to turn off the power. At some point, Rosinia told jurors, a power shutoff was the only tool left to the utility to prevent ignitions, but he said PacifiCorp never seriously considered it, even as employees in its Portland headquarters were receiving real time reports of fires burning under its power lines around the state. The opening statements provided the first look at how PacifiCorp plans to defend itself in the trial. The defense counsel tried to turn the plaintiffs narrative on its head. Dixon said the plaintiffs were attempting to pin the blame on PacifiCorp with an overly simplified, hindsight version of what happened, one lacking any context about the realities of climate change and the role that forest management has in causing and preventing wildfires. Far from being unprepared, PacifiCorp was a pioneer in mitigating wildfire risk, the first in the Pacific Northwest to develop a wildfire preparedness plan, he told jurors. PacifiCorp was the first utility to identify areas in its service territory at high risk of wildfires and roll out a plan for public safety power shutoffs in those areas. It also heavily boosted spending on tree pruning in the two years before the fire. No utility (in Oregon) had ever initiated a public safety power shutoff before September 2020. It is truly a measure of last resort that comes with its own risks to public safety, he told jurors. A public safety power shutoff is like a sledgehammer when what utilities really need is a scalpel, he said. Dixon said PacifiCorp employees were on high alert, watching weather conditions throughout the pending windstorm, but that its own forecasts showed relatively benign winds in its service territory, including those areas deemed high risk. He said Oregon is home to 41 separate power companies, and only two Portland General Electric and Consumers Power either proactively shut off the power or left it off after the windstorm triggered a blackout in the Santiam Canyon. PacifiCorp intends to challenge whether its power lines and the fires they ignited in the Santiam Canyon caused property damage to most of the plaintiffs in the class action suit. It blamed those damages on the Beachie Creek fire, a lightning-caused blaze that ignited miles away and smoldered for three weeks before blowing into a major conflagration amid the Labor Day winds. Dixon acknowledged that power lines did cause a fire at the Gates School that night but said the company will show there is no way it could have spread beyond a very contained area. Likewise, Dixon said there was no conclusive evidence that PacifiCorps power lines caused Echo Mountain Complex near Lincoln City and that its power lines could not have caused the South Obenchain Fire near Eagle Point. Dixon acknowledged that a tree falling into a power line near Chiloquin started the 242 fire but said that tree was on U.S. Forest Service land 46 feet away from its power line and was not identified as a hazard tree during line inspections. The trial is being held in Multnomah County because PacifiCorp, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, is headquartered in Portland. The trial will determine PacifiCorps liability and any actual property damages for 17 named plaintiffs, each of whom is also seeking $3 million in non-economic damages for emotional distress and suffering. The liability findings, if any, would then potentially apply to a larger class of some 2,400 individuals who had property damaged in the fires. The trial is expected to last at least six weeks. PacifiCorp also faces a separate trial scheduled for November in Douglas County Circuit Court involving some 215 families and seven timber companies who were victims of the Archie Creek fire and are claiming nearly $600 million in economic damages alone. --Ted Sickinger; tsickinger@oregonian.com; 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger In recognition of their contributions to the deployment of clean energy and demonstrated leadership in their industries and communities in 2022, the Connecticut Green Bank has announced the honorees of its eighth annual awards. The awards recognize key partners in the dedicated network of contractors, developers, lending partners, community leaders, and home and building owners. As a result of projects and partnerships like these, the Green Bank has helped create more than 26,000 job years and 66,000 clean energy projects since 2011. "We are excited to honor this diverse group of our community members, and we are proud of their continued leadership and support," said Bryan Garcia, President and CEO of the Green Bank. "Each year, the list of recipients for our annual awards grows. For 2022, we are recognizing the first contractors and homeowners participating in the Public Utility Regulatory Authority's (PURA) Energy Storage Solutions program, which launched in 2022 and has reduced the cost of installing battery storage in homes and businesses through incentives." Here are the award recipients for 2022: Building Solutions Awards C-PACE and Solar PPA Outstanding Project Energy efficiency and solar project at Mystic Aquarium This project is an outstanding example of the ability of the Green Bank's Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing and Solar Power Purchase Agreement (Solar PPA) programs to reduce energy burdens and increase efficiency. The Green Bank recognizes Mystic Aquarium for its innovation and collaboration to accomplish its efficiency and sustainability goals at the aquarium. This award also recognizes ESC Controls for its energy efficiency contributions, including HVAC, lighting, and energy-monitoring equipment, and Verogy for the 272 kW solar installation. This comprehensive project is helping the Aquarium reduce energy usage and costs, with savings estimated at $1.8 million over the expected useful life of the measures. C-PACE Outstanding Project Project at the Daughters of Mary of the Immaculate Conception in New Britain This project is an outstanding example of the ability of C-PACE financing to support innovative green energy projects that positively impact our communities and improve resilience. The Green Bank honors Daughters of Mary of the Immaculate Conception in collaboration with Citizens Energy, EcoSolar, and Schneider Electric, for leveraging C-PACE financing to establish a microgrid providing backup power that enables the critical care facility to operate even when the electric grid is down. Citizens Energy Corporation (a C-PACE capital provider) financed a microgrid that combines 1.4 megawatt hours (MWh) of battery storage capacity with 1.2 megawatts (MW) of solar generation. Both the solar and battery systems were jointly installed by EcoSolar and Schneider Electric. The project also received grant funding for microgrid development from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Outstanding Partner for Solar MAP Greenskies Clean Focus Greenskies Clean Focus is the installation partner for the inaugural round of municipalities participating in the Solar Marketplace Assistance Program for Towns & Cities, Solar MAP. Greenskies was competitively selected to install 11 projects in Branford, Manchester, Mansfield, and Portland, totaling 2.8 MW of solar using the Green Bank's Solar PPA, which are producing electricity and helping to reduce costs. Greenskies was a key driver in getting these projects to completion despite many hurdles in the industry from COVID-related supply chain impacts on equipment and timelines. Accelerating PACE Earthlight Technologies Earthlight Technologies, headquartered in Ellington, CT, is a clean energy company providing solar, energy efficiency, and electric vehicle charging solutions to communities and businesses. The Green Bank recognizes Earthlight with an Accelerating PACE award for integrating C-PACE into its business model and continuing to demonstrate an innovative and forward-thinking approach to the market. Earthlight collaborates with the Green Bank, offering ideas that help contractors and customers. Greenleaf Energy Solutions Greenleaf Energy Solutions is an energy efficiency & renewable energy company in Oxford, CT. Greenleaf has demonstrated strong engagement across the Green Bank's building solutions, especially C-PACE, in addition to the Solar PPA and Solar Roof Lease. The Accelerating PACE award recognizes Greenleaf's significant participation within the C-PACE program and ability to drive business growth by integrating Green Bank programs within the sales process. Investment Solutions Awards Outstanding Partners Amalgamated Bank The Green Bank honors Amalgamated Bank for its outstanding partnership and support of Green Bank initiatives, including Green Liberty Bonds, the Small Business Energy Advantage (SBEA) program, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), and the Groton Fuel Cell project. Headquartered in New York, NY, Amalgamated Bank is on a mission of environmental and social responsibility. KeyBank The Green Bank honors KeyBank for its outstanding partnership and support of Green Bank initiatives, including residential & commercial solar PV. Headquartered in Cleveland, OH, KeyCorp is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies. Liberty Bank The Green Bank honors Liberty Bank for its outstanding partnership and support of Green Bank initiatives, including Green Liberty Bonds, C-PACE, and the Groton Fuel Cell project. Based in Connecticut, Liberty Bank is one of the oldest and largest mutual banks in the country. Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union For leadership in the Smart-E loan program, the Green Bank honors Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union. Headquartered in Rocky Hill, Nutmeg has consistently provided excellent support to homeowners and contractors in Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, and Tolland counties, and select municipalities in Fairfield. A Smart-E lender since 2013, Nutmeg has specifically shown expertise in helping low-to-moderate-income borrowers. Mutual Security Credit Union For leadership in the Smart-E loan program, the Green Bank honors Mutual Security Credit Union (MSCU). Headquartered in Shelton, MSCU continues to offer its members in Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties high-quality service throughout the loan process. A Smart-E lender since 2016, MSCU has been a leader in the closing of solar loans. Webster Bank The Green Bank honors Webster Bank for its outstanding partnership and support of Green Bank initiatives, including residential & commercial solar PV, Green Liberty Bonds, and C-PACE. Headquartered in Stamford, CT, Webster Bank delivers financial solutions to businesses, individuals, and families, with locations across the Northeast. Energy Storage Solutions Early Adopters Energy Storage Solutions is a new energy storage program that incentivizes Eversource and UI customers to install batteries in their homes and businesses, helping customers across Connecticut be more secure in the face of our changing climate. PURA oversees this program, which is paid for by electric ratepayers and is administered by the Green Bank, Eversource, and UI. This year the Green Bank honors two commercial contractors and four residential contractors for being among the first to have projects installed and dispatching within the program. The Green Bank also recognizes four residential participants as early adopters in the program for installing battery storage in their homes in Durham, Hartland, Mansfield, and Southbury. Battery systems can help homeowners be more prepared when storms are on the horizon, providing a backup power source when the grid goes down to keep lights and essential appliances running. Though they work great on their own, pairing batteries with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems can ensure that homeowners can not only use power during an outage but also recharge when the sun comes out. RWE Clean Energy RWE Clean Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of RWE AG, acquired Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses in March 2023. The Green Bank recognizes RWE Clean Energy as an early adopter of renewable energy applications based on its initiative and success in developing commercial and industrial market opportunities from the onset of the Energy Storage Solutions program. RWE has been awarded 10 MW of battery storage systems for the first tranche of the program and plans to continue its strong effort to further the growth of energy storage. CPower CPower, headquartered in Baltimore, MD, has been active in the Connecticut market for over 15 years. The Green Bank recognizes CPower as an early adopter for its strong initiative in the commercial and industrial contractor segment from the onset of the Energy Storage Solutions program, with more than 25 MW of battery systems awarded for the first tranche. The company plans to continue to help the state reach its energy storage goals through ongoing engagement in the program. Green Power Energy Green Power Energy has been in operation since 2009, serving homes and businesses across the Northeast and Central Texas, with their Connecticut office located in Durham. Green Power Energy is recognized as an early adopter in the Energy Storage Solutions program for a project in Durham. SunBug Solar Founded in 2009, SunBug is a solar energy company headquartered in Westfield, MA. SunBug is recognized as an early adopter in the Energy Storage Solutions program for a project in Hartland. Earthlight Technologies Also recognized with an Accelerating PACE Award for their work within the Green Bank C-PACE program, Earthlight Technologies is a clean energy company based in Ellington, CT. Earthlight is recognized as an early adopter in the Energy Storage Solutions program for a project in Mansfield. SAVKAT SAVKAT is a solar energy installation company headquartered in Bristol, CT. SAVKAT is recognized as an early adopter in the Energy Storage Solutions program for a project in Southbury. Home Solutions Awards Smart-E Loan - Top Performers For 2022, the Green Bank is recognizing 24 Smart-E Loan Top Performers. These Top Performers helped over 350 families across Connecticut make home energy improvements - allowing them to save money, reduce their carbon footprint, and live more comfortably in their homes. The Smart-E Loan offers homeowners no money down, low-interest financing for more than 40 qualifying projects that reduce energy use and lower utility costs. Since 2013, the Smart-E loan has enabled more than 6,000 families to make improvements with a projected lifetime energy cost savings of over $80 million. In partnership with nine participating local lenders, the Top Performers' projects surpassed $5.8 million in closed Smart-E Loans. Financed projects included insulation and window upgrades, high-efficiency heating and cooling solutions, rooftop solar PV and battery storage systems, health and safety improvements, and more. The 2022 Top Performers (in alphabetical order; * denotes 2021 Top Performer recognition): 20/20 Air Mechanical (New Milford)* Air Inc. (Branford) Absolute Air Services LLC (Portland)* Aiello Home Services (Windsor Locks)* Benvenuti Oil Company (Waterford)* Call The Bee (Burlington)* Campbell Cooling LLC (Newington)* Celco Heating and Air Conditioning (Bridgeport)* Deitch Energy LLC (Hartford)* Douglas Mechanical Services (Berlin) Ductworks HVAC Services (Southington)* East Coast Mechanical, Inc. (Cheshire) Glasco Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. (South Windsor)* HARP Home Services (Windsor Locks) Homestead Comfort (Ellington)* Link Mechanical Services Inc. (New Britain)* Nutmeg Mechanical Services, Inc. (Manchester)* Omni Mechanical Services (South Windsor)* Onofreo Home Comfort Systems LLC (Milford) R&W Heating Energy Solutions LLC (Salem)* Service Stars (Danbury)* State Line Oil and Propane (Granby) Tyler Heating, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration LLC (Stratford) Viglione Heating & Cooling Inc. (East Haven)* About the Connecticut Green Bank The Connecticut Green Bank was established by the Connecticut General Assembly in 2011 as the nation's first state-level green bank and has since supported the creation of more than 26,000 green jobs in the state while reducing the energy cost burden on over 66,000 families, businesses, and nonprofits. The Green Bank's vision is a planet protected by the love of humanity, and its mission is to confront climate change by increasing and accelerating investment into Connecticut's green economy to create more resilient, healthier, and equitable communities. This is accomplished by leveraging limited public resources to scale-up and mobilize private capital investment into Connecticut. In 2017, the Connecticut Green Bank received the Innovations in American Government Award from the Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation for their "Sparking the Green Bank Movement" entry. To date, the Green Bank has mobilized nearly $2.5 billion into the State's green economy. This has reduced the energy costs for thousands of families and businesses, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change and worsen public health. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LANSING State health agencies and advocates are providing more resources to address Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is the nations fastest-growing developmental disability. We are encountering people more and more who have a diagnosis of autism on this scale, said Jon Hart, vice chair of the Disability Network of Michigan. The increase is particularly noted among young people, he said. The definition of autism has broadened, encompassing more people who fall on the spectrum, he said. That could explain the increased diagnosis of the disorder. 5.4 million Americans have autism and about 50,000 are in Michigan.In 2000, one in every 150 children had autism and by 2018, the rate increased to one in every 44 children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is also more awareness of the characteristics of autism. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies in declaring April Autism Acceptance Month. The health agency serves over 10,000 autistic children through the Michigan Medicaid Program, said Lindsay McLaughlin, director of the agencys Bureau of Childrens Coordinated Health Policy & Supports. The bureau provides resources for childrens behavioral health, including autism spectrum disorder and intellectual development disabilities, McLaughlin said. The sooner we work with folks with autism spectrum disorder, the sooner that they receive the support they need, and usually thats in adolescence, McLaughlin said. More screenings and better access to healthcare for younger people can explain the increase in diagnosis, she said. The bureau is supporting evaluations by reducing wait times for autism spectrum evaluations, providing more training to those doing evaluations and expanding the evaluations network with more clinical partners, McLaughlin said. It is bringing more standardized systems of eligibility for treatment and access to services, and it is creating a directory, so families are better aware of their options for therapy, she said. McLaughlin said ensuring there are systems in place to support those with autism moving into adulthood is also a priority. The best advocacy centers on education, respect and the presumption of competence of all persons, said Kathy Johnson, the board president of Autism Support of Michigan. There is no epidemic of autism, Johnson said. Instead, what we face is an epidemic of need. The main reason we are finding more autism is simple: Clinicians are getting better at spotting what was always there. The state funds the Statewide Autism Resources and Training (START) Project at Grand Valley State Universitys Autism Education Center to support those with autism. It was first funded in 2001 to serve students from preschool up to age 26, according to the projects director Amy Matthews. Our goal is to build the capacity of staff within the schools to support their own students. Matthews said. The program is connected statewide with every intermediate school district and serves public schools and private schools with training, peer to peer support, and resources to educators who serve students with autism. The Disability Network of Michigan is the association of all 15 centers for independent living that receive state and federal funding to provide community-based support to promote independence and self-determination for those with disabilities. Their priorities include eliminating autisms stigma, building self-belief and addressing discomfort in communication, said Hart, who is also executive director of Jacksons Disability Connections Center for Independent Living. Disability Network of Michigan is working on a youth leadership development program to support youth with disabilities, including autism, and to help them secure and preserve jobs into adulthood. People with disabilities can work, they do want to work, and are under employed, Hart said. If we really want to fully staff our businesses, (then) learn how to work with people who have disabilities with autism and put them in places where they can succeed. There is a shift to autism acceptance instead of autism awareness, Matthews said. People are aware we need to kind of move into acceptance, and really listen to the voices of people with autism, Matthews said. Weve done a lot of things without listening to them. Greenskies Clean Focus, a national leader in renewable energy solutions, today (April 25) announced that Connecticut Green Bank selected them as a recipient of a 2022 Green Bank Award for outstanding performance in the Solar MAP program. "Greenskies is honored to receive the 2022 Outstanding Partner for Solar MAP award," said Stanley Chin, President and CEO of Greenskies Clean Focus. "We're proud to partner with Connecticut Green Bank to help bring clean, renewable energy to more towns and cities across the state." The Green Bank created these awards to acknowledge its partners advancing the green energy movement and helping bring resilience, health, and equity to Connecticut. The Green Bank is hosting an Awards Ceremony and Breakfast on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, to recognize and honor impactful partnerships and shared accomplishments in 2022. "We are proud to recognize Greenskies as a key partner in this program that helps reduce the challenges of going solar for municipalities seeking to save energy and money," said Mackey Dykes, Vice President of Financing Programs at the Green Bank. Greenskies is the installation partner for the inaugural round of municipalities participating in the Solar Marketplace Assistance Program (MAP) for Towns & Cities. Green Bank selected Greenskies as part of a competitive bid process to install 11 projects in Branford, Manchester, Mansfield, and Portland, totaling 2.8 MW. Using the Green Bank's Solar PPA, the electricity produced by these projects will reduce costs for each municipality. Greenskies was a key driver in completing these projects despite lingering COVID related supply chain impacts on equipment and timelines across the solar industry. About Greenskies Clean Focus Greenskies Clean Focus offers a full suite of decarbonization solutions, including onsite and offsite solar, battery storage, microgrids, and CCHP. Our vertical integration delivers the most cost-competitive solutions for commercial, public sector, and utility energy users throughout the US. From beginning to end, our customers work with a single delivery team. Greenskies originates, develops, constructs, and operates, while Clean Focus finances and owns the systems. Since our founding in 2009, we have constructed and operate 310 MW of renewable energy facilities across 578 sites in 19 states. Solar Power World ranks Greenskies Clean Focus as the number one commercial solar developer in the Northeast and top three in the US, based on cumulative kW installed. For more information, please visit www.greenskies.com About the Connecticut Green Bank The Connecticut Green Bank was established by the Connecticut General Assembly in 2011 as the nation's first green bank and has since supported the creation of more than 26,000 green jobs in the state, while reducing the energy cost burden on over 66,000 families, businesses, and nonprofits. The Green Bank's vision is a planet protected by the love of humanity and its mission is to confront climate change by increasing and accelerating investment into Connecticut's green economy to create more resilient, healthier, and equitable communities. This is accomplished by leveraging limited public resources to scale-up and mobilize private capital investment into Connecticut. In 2017, the Connecticut Green Bank received the Innovations in American Government Award from the Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center for Democratic Governance and innovation for their "Sparking the Green Bank Movement" entry. To date, the Green Bank has mobilized nearly $2.5 billion into the State's green economy. This has reduced the energy costs for thousands of families and businesses, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change and worsen public health. Learn more at www.ctgreenbank.com. Contact: Domonique Bedbury Marketing Manager (401) 481-2244 dom.bedbury@greenskies.com A former Flint-area priest accused of sexually assaulting a 5-year-old boy more than 30 years ago pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel Tuesday announced Vincent Delorenzo, 84, a former priest with the Lansing Diocese, was pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a five-year-old boy following a service he officiated for the boys deceased family member in 1987. Delorenzo was among the first five priests charged by Nessel on a total of 21 counts involving sexual crimes allegedly committed while they served as priests in Michigan as part of her office's clergy abuse investigation. Delorenzo was arrested in late May 2019 in Marion County, Florida where he moved to in 2008, according to an affidavit by Michigan State Police detective Craig Carberry. In exchange for his guilty plea, the remaining charges Delorenzo was facing were dismissed, according to a Tuesday press release. He was charged with three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. The charges related to the sexual assault of a child from 1995 to 2000 while he was a student at Holy Redeemer School and Church in Burton. DeLorenzo was pastor at Holy Redeemer Church from June 1988 to January 2002, per the affidavit. Authorities say a young boy, about 5 or 6 years old, who attended the church school was abused by DeLorenzo between 1995 to 2000. In 2002, the detective wrote, DeLorenzo admitted to sexually abusing a boy in the 1980s, and the Catholic Church placed DeLorenzo on restricted ministry. But he remained within the church, the detective said in his report. "While the crime occurred more than 10 years ago, Michigans statute of limitations is tolled when a defendant leaves the state for any reason within the statute of limitations and resumes if and when the defendant returns to the state," Nessel's office wrote in the release. DeLorenzo's sentencing was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on June 13. He is expected to be sentenced to five years of probation, with the first year served in the Genessee County Jail. He will also be mandated to register as a sex offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act for a lifetime period. And will be ordered to engage in sex offender counseling, pay restitution and all the victims of Delorenzo will have the chance to provide an impact statement at the time of his sentencing hearing. "Our team continues to work day and night to bring an end to an era of abuse that has hidden in plain sight for far too long and provide justice to those who have suffered years of unimaginable trauma," Nessel said in the Tuesday release. "This guilty plea will hopefully close this painful chapter and open the opportunity for much-needed healing for those victimized by Delorenzo." Anyone who would like to report an incident related to clergy sexual abuse in Michigan can call Nessel's investigation hotline at (844) 324-3374. The Michigan High-Speed Internet office held a small meeting at the Harbor Beach Community Schools Media Center to discuss internet access to the Thumb with members of the community. the MIHI office is looking to determine the need of rural areas, as it has $1.6 billion in funding coming to Michigan through the Broadband Equity Access and Development Program. With this, it has created a "community in a box" program, which allows local members of these smaller communities to put together meetings to gather data. "I think it's good to get the community involved," said David Roggenbuck, a computer science teacher for Harbor Beach, who ran the meeting. "It's very easy for voices to get lost here than in larger communities. We don't want to be in the past, we want to thrive, grow and survive." Roggenbuck took those in attendance and separated them into two groups after figuring out what the overall sentiment was as far as what was the main barrier to internet access for people in Huron County in accessibility and affordability. "Fiber is the only reliable future-proof plan, but the issue is that it's not available around here," said Kevin Mazure at the meeting. "We have to build mile by mile just like we did electric lines 80 years ago. That takes time and that really limits the availability right now to more dense areas. If you're the only house for a mile then it's difficult to get fiber internet to you because it's really expensive to run it out there." "I view availability and affordability as the two biggest problems here," said Rick Nunez, who was in attendance at the meeting. "Technically there is satellite in my area, I can run faster than it transfers data. Affordability is the other leg to that. Not only is it slow, but it costs a lot of money in comparison to cable or fiber that's available in some of the larger communities." In the end, both groups leaned toward both issues being hand-in-hand, saying that making it available will make it too expensive and that by trying to make it affordable it will not be accessible. "Our group was affordability and we feel as though private enterprise is not going to give it (to us)," said Bob Lynch, a community member who spoke up. "We think that there needs to be some kind of government mandate or assistance to make this whole program affordable for people that are living in rural communities or with less education. That whole group of people needs this service, they don't have it, and they're not going to get it unless it is mandated or supported by the government." One other barrier that also came up was tech savviness, as it was noted that there is a larger senior population in Huron County. The participants then submitted a survey, which would be sent back to the MIHI office as they collect data for the next few months. "Whether people are using it for work, or education, or recreation we want people to have access to this," said Roggenbuck. "People know they can work remotely now. If we want to attract new businesses and we don't have the infrastructure in place then they won't come. From my end, the representation of our needs has to be shared to make sure we are not forgotten about, we need our voices heard." The funding will be provided by the federal government and will be distributed across Michigan in the near future. For more information on the MIHI office and information on the Connected Future Tour Schedule, visit them online at michigan.gov/MIConnectedFuture. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Sarah Geisert has been at summer camp enough times to know that sometimes you forget to pack an item or two. After a creative endeavor that she and some friends are carrying out, she is ensuring her fellow adult campers at Camp Fish Tales in Pinconning won't have to worry if that happens. Geisert and campers and Midland residents Doug Dean and Joe Dopp, along with Deb and Mike Stark of Midland, spent several hours Tuesday at Cultivate Coffee and Tea in the Midland Mall, assembling shower kits to be provided to Camp Fish Tales campers who need them this summer. "I thought it would be a great idea to put some shower kits together," Geisert explained while adding tubes of toothpaste to gallon ziploc bags as part of an assembly-line process with the other four people. Camp Fish Tales, which opened in 1996, is a 67-acre, barrier-free, year-around camp whose stated goal is "to promote an atmosphere for individuals with disabilities to meet and make new friends while participating in group growth activities." The camp will have seven sessions for adults and three for kids this summer, each lasting five nights. Geisert is looking forward to attending camp in the first summer session June 4-9. In the meantime, she hopes to fill at least 100 shower kits, and donations for the kits are being collected at St. John's Lutheran Church in Midland through May 14. Each kit includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, shampoo, washcloth and goat soap, along with a laminated card that contains an explanatory note about the kit and the businesses and organizations that have donated to it. Those include Cultivate Coffee, Drakeview Dental, Family Dental Center, Great Lakes Bay Dental, Dr. Karl Hague, Supercuts of Eastman Avenue and Washington Street, Disability Network of Mid-Michigan, St. John's Lutheran Church, and Red Rooster Acres of Rose City. Camp Fish Tales Executive Director Shannon Forshee said Geisert, who has been attending Fish Tales for at least five years, is "a gift to camp." "She's always thinking ahead," Forshee said. The same goes for Dopp and Dean, Forshee said. Those three also help fill a couple of vanloads of supplies to be taken to Fish Tales at the beginning of each summer. "They love their time at camp and they come up with amazing ideas," she said. "The most wonderful thing about them is they come to camp and they're able to spread the good word about us. "People like Sarah and Joe and Doug, they make us (Camp Fish Tales) who we are," Forshee added. A Bay City man will get five years probation and 11 months in jail with two days credit for aggravated possession of child pornography. Phillip Wager will also have to register as a sex offender per Midland County Circuit Court Judge Michael Beales sentencing on April 20. Wager pleaded guilty on Jan. 12 to aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material. Such material is considered aggravated if it depicts prepubescent children, according to the Michigan Legislature. Midland County Sheriffs Office deputies arrested Wager after Midland County Prosecutor J. Dee Brooks said detectives learned of his possession. He admitted to downloading the material and that he had a problem, Brooks said. Brooks emphasized that child pornography is not a victimless crime. He said people make these movies by exposing and victimizing children. Authorities learned in April 2019 that Wager had downloaded the material. Due to a COVID delay and an investigation, he wasnt arrested until later. Brooks said there were several search warrants to determine where the material came from and who accessed it. The process takes awhile, Brooks said. Brooks said his office sees a handful of these cases each year, but says one is too many. More Information Phillip Wager will serve 11 months in jail and five years probation for possession of child phonography See More Collapse It is not something we see in large amounts in Midland County," he said. The prosecutor said his office could not track down who the children were in the videos. This is extremely damaging (to the children), Brooks said. And its something that a lot of times we have no idea where the material came from. Gregorio Borgia/AP ROME (AP) Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, who has leukemia, is now stable after three weeks in the hospital being treated for a lung infection, his doctors reported Wednesday. Berlusconi, who was initially admitted to the intensive care unit of Milans San Raffaele clinic, has responded well to treatment in recent days with his lungs recovering in an optimal and convincing way, Drs. Alberto Zangrillo and Fabio Ciceri said. GENEVA (AP) Switzerland's executive body agreed Wednesday to help pay for the country's first national memorial to honor the six million Jews and other victims of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution. The Federal Council, the seven-member executive branch, approved 2.5 million Swiss francs (about $2.8 million) for the memorial that will be erected at an unspecified central location in the capital, Bern, at a time when the number of Holocaust survivors has dwindled and antisemitism has risen again. Switzerland has long grappled with its ties to Nazi Germany. In the 1990s, Switzerland's first Jewish and woman president, Ruth Dreifuss, called for national introspection on the issue, and a government report said Switzerland had taken part in over three-fourths of worldwide gold transactions by Nazi Germanys Reichsbank both as a buyer and an intermediary. Federal and local officials said details of the memorial are still being worked out, and didnt specify when it would be completed. The Federal Council considers it of great importance to keep alive the memory of the consequences of National Socialism, namely the Holocaust and the fate of the six million Jews and all other victims of the National Socialist regime, a government statement said. Switzerland and its capital, through the move, were creating a strong symbol against genocide, antisemitism and racism, and for democracy, the rule of law, freedom and basic individual rights, it said. The Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities, an umbrella group, and federal officials said Switzerland has about 60 small, private sites remembering the Holocaust and other crimes of the Nazis. There is, however, no official or national memorial for the numerous Swiss victims of persecution, for the thousands of refugees repelled at the borders or deported, but also for the many courageous helpers in this country, the federation said, noting that the memorial would be created to honor them all. The group says recent studies have shown that a sizable number of Swiss citizens were victims of the Nazi regime, persecuted because they were, for example, Jews, socialists, Sinti or Roma. Both Sinti and Roma are peoples who live predominantly in eastern Europe. Thousands of people flocked toward Swiss borders during World War II seeking protection and were turned away "and, in many cases, sent back to certain death, the group said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate IZMAIL, Ukraine (AP) U.S. and European officials on Wednesday toured Ukraine's southern port of Izmail that's important in bringing Ukrainian grain to the world and could become critical if a deal with Russia to allow grain exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports expires. From Izmail, which has been upgraded since the start of the war with the help of U.S. and other funding, grain is taken by barge down a branch of the Danube through Romania to its Black Sea port of Constanta for shipment onward. U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink told The Associated Press after looking over the port facilities with Ukrainian and EU officials, as well as Ukrainian grain companies, that they were exploring ways to increase the exports from Danube ports. Ukrainian grain supplies are critical to millions of people around the world, and Wednesday's visit comes after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov again this week threatened to abandon the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July. 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, but is set to expire May 18 unless renewed. There is no time to lose, Brink said. Russia has put tremendous pressure on the Black Sea Grain Initiative by deliberately and very cynically controlling and limiting the amount of ships that can go in and out, which means that people who need the food arent able to get it. She added that grain exports are also critical to the Ukrainian economy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy brought up the issue of the grain initiative Wednesday in a call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the first known direct contact between the two leaders since the war began. China has offered to act as a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow, and in a statement on his website Zelenskyy's office said he and Xi had expressed joint support for the need for proper implementation and continuation" of the deal. Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, who hosted Brink along with representatives from the European Union's executive Commission and the Danube Commission an international organization on navigation on the river said newly constructed terminals in the region are already processing thousands of tons of agricultural products daily. This region and its ports have become crucial for us, he said. The increased exports down the Danube Europe's second longest river have also increased pressure on Romanian facilities, and Alain Baron, from the European Commission's Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, said he would be traveling there next for talks. We will be visiting our friends in Romania to continue our common work, our common goals, to increase capacity for Ukraine and to fully use the infrastructure that exists, he said. CNR: According to reports, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said in his speech on foreign policy and the position on China on April 25 that it would be a betrayal of national interest to declare some kind of new Cold War or to isolate China. This Government will engage robustly and constructively with China, and at the same time, steadfastly defend the UKs security and values. He said, China should fulfill its obligations in the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The UK is entitled to say so and act. China should not see the UKs remarks on Xinjiang as interference in its internal affairs. He also said the UK hopes to see a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question and it is essential that no party takes unilateral action to change the status quo. Whats Chinas comment? Mao Ning: In todays deeply interconnected world, the multiple challenges facing humanity require joint responses. Bloc politics and the Cold War mentality are against the trend of history and do not serve the interests of the UK or any other party in the world. China has grown its relations with the UK in the spirit of equality and mutual respect. However, the UK has not kept up with the times and has been repeating old lines from an outdated playbook, which will only keep the UK itself further and further away from the advancement of our times. Regarding the Hong Kong issue, all provisions concerning the UK under the Sino-British Joint Declaration have been fulfilled. The UK has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or right of supervision over Hong Kong and no so-called rights or responsibilities concerning Hong Kong. Xinjiang enjoys economic development, social stability, religious harmony and cultural prosperity and people there lead a happy life. These are facts for all to see, yet the UK side chooses to be oblivious to this and has deliberately smeared and slandered China. The status quo of the Taiwan Strait is that both sides of the Strait belong to one and the same China. The biggest threat to peace in the Taiwan Strait comes from the Taiwan independence separatist activities and external connivance at and support for them. If the UK side wants sustained peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, it needs to strictly abide by the one-China principle and stand firmly against the Taiwan independence separatist activities. I want to reiterate that the Taiwan question and issues concerning Hong Kong and Xinjiang are purely Chinas internal affairs which brook no external interference. We urge the UK to be prudent in its words and actions, stop making groundless accusations against China and interfering in Chinas internal affairs, and do more things that are conducive to the development of China-UK relations and world peace and stability. Peoples Daily: You told us yesterday that most of the Chinese nationals in Sudan have been safely evacuated in batches and in an orderly manner to the ports on Sudans border or Sudans neighboring countries. Could you offer any updates on the evacuation efforts? When is the evacuation expected to be completed? Mao Ning: Efforts are still underway to safely evacuate Chinese nationals from Sudan in an orderly way. We are organizing Chinese nationals to move to Sudans neighboring countries by sea. A total of nearly 800 of them are expected to be transferred from April 25 to 27. Another 300-plus have headed to Sudans neighboring countries by land. Diplomats from our embassies and consulates in relevant countries are there to receive them at border ports and will help our compatriots go through entry procedures and get ready for their transfer. TASS: UK Secretary of State for Defense James Heappey said in a written statement yesterday that Britain has sent to Ukraine thousands of shells for Challenger 2 tanks, including those with depleted uranium. He also stressed that the UK does not monitor the use of this ammunition and has no obligation to eliminate the consequences of the use once the conflict is over. Whats Chinas comment on this? Mao Ning: As far as I have learned, relevant countries once employed depleted uranium ammunition in the Middle East, Europe and other regions, attracting global attention. On the Ukraine crisis, relevant countries should cool down the situation and promote diplomatic settlement rather than fan the flames and further escalate the situation. CCTV: Ya Ya, the giant panda who has been living in a US zoo for 20 years, will soon return to China. Do you have any update on this? And what are Chinas considerations regarding giant panda cooperation with other countries going forward? Mao Ning: According to what we have learned from relevant government agency, the giant panda Ya Ya, who has been living at the Memphis Zoo in the US, will soon return to China as scheduled. The Chinese and US sides are actively making sound preparations and arrangements for the return of Ya Ya. The two sides have confirmed the transportation plan and flight route, put in place contingency measures and are doing our utmost to ensure that she will return home safe and sound. The Memphis Zoo has a relatively complete management system and operation procedures for giant pandas. During the giant pandas stay at the Memphis Zoo, they received good care from the zoo and great affection from the American people. The collaborative research on the conservation of giant panda has made positive contributions to the conservation and public education concerning giant pandas as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges. China stands ready to continue to work with cooperation partners including the US to play our part in protecting endangered species. KBS: According to the ROK embassy in China, Chinese President Xi Jinping accepted the credentials presented by ROK Ambassador to China Chung Jae Ho at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Ambassador Chung conveyed to President Xi a message from ROK President Yoon Suk Yeol that he looks forward to a visit by President Xi to the ROK this year. Whats the Chinese governments position on this? Mao Ning: China and the ROK are in communication over promoting the sound and steady development of bilateral relations, including properly handling each others concerns and sensitive issues. As to the high-level exchange you referred to, I have nothing to offer. The Paper: It was reported that the hospital in Chimaltenango, Guatemala built with support from the Taiwan authorities, was involved in a corruption case. The Vice Minister of Health and the director of the hospital were arrested for embezzling US$8.6 million. Whats Chinas comment on this? Mao Ning: This is not Guatemalas first Taiwan-related corruption case. In the name of enhancing so-called diplomatic relations, the DPP authorities have been spending Taiwan peoples hard-earned money to seek dollar diplomacy to advance the Taiwan independence separatist agenda. Such attempts not only undermine the real benefits of people in Taiwan but also breed corruption in relevant countries. We also urge the Giammattei administration not to selfishly succumb to the Taiwan authorities dollar diplomacy. The Guatemalan people are clear-eyed about who actually benefits from it. I would like to reiterate that recognizing the one-China principle is the right choice that echoes the trend of the world and advances national development and peoples interests. Dragon TV: According to reports, Shinsuke Yamanaka, Chairman of the Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan, said at a press conference on April 25 that, regarding the serious damage to the base supporting the reactor pressure vessel of Unit 1 of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, hes dissatisfied with TEPCOs delay in considering emergency measures in such events as the collapse of the pressure vessel. When the damage to the concrete was discovered last year, TEPCO should have responded, he said. Whats your comment? Mao Ning: We have noted relevant reports and will keep monitoring the issue closely. The Fukushima nuclear accident, rated the highest level globally, caused the leakage of large amounts of radioactive substances, which can have an enormous impact on the marine environment and human health. Japan has the obligation to properly handle the decommissioning of the nuclear facilities and the disposal of the nuclear-contaminated water in the wake of the accident to ensure absolute safety. Judging from the current situation, there are worrying uncertainties and safety hazards with regard to the decommissioning of the nuclear facilities and the management of radioactive waste. It has been found that the base of the reactor pressure vessel of Unit 1 was severely damaged, creating risks that the pressure vessel could collapse. If mishandled or not treated in time, the problem could worsen the environmental impact and add to the amount of radionuclides in the nuclear-contaminated water. This further proves that the international communitys concern over Japans ocean discharge plan is well-founded and the questioning of TEPCOs professionalism in handling relevant issues is fully justified. We once again urge Japan to take the international communitys concern seriously, step up to its due international obligations, and properly handle issues related to the decommissioning of the Fukushima nuclear power plant. In particular, it needs to make sure that the nuclear-contaminated water is disposed of in a science-based, open, transparent and safe manner, for example, by fully studying other options than ocean discharge, and subjecting itself to stringent international oversight. It should not start dumping the nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean unless all stakeholders and relevant international agencies could confirm that the discharge plan is safe. Reuters: The EU has singled out 19 tech giants to be subjected to landmark rules on online content. This includes TikTok and Alibabas AliExpress. The rules, known as Digital Services Act, require the company to do risk management, and conduct external and independent auditing and such. Does the ministry have any comment on this? Mao Ning: What you mentioned hasnt come to my attention. Broadly, let me say that we oppose politicizing, weaponizing and instrumentalizing economic and trade cooperation. We hope all sides will provide a fair, transparent, open and non-discriminatory business environment for foreign companies. AFP: A question on the US and the Philippines. Joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines are ending today in the Philippines. These military drills have the obvious objective to counter China. Do you have any comment on these drills? Mao Ning: China believes that defense and security cooperation between countries needs to be conductive to regional peace and stability. They should not escalate tensions or undermine trust between countries, still less target any third party. Reuters: There is a group of Republican Senators who are urging President Biden to impose sanctions on Huawei Cloud and other Chinese cloud service providers. They are citing national security concerns on this. Does the ministry have a comment on this? Mao Ning: We have stated our position on similar questions many times before. We oppose overstretching the concept of national security and unjustifiably suppressing Chinese companies. To deliberately block the normal trade and economic exchanges between China and the US will find no support and will eventually undermine the interests of US consumers. ELKO Nevada Division of State Parks is planning a reservation system to meet the needs of park visitors who want a reservation system and to reduce traffic congestion at packed places like Lake Tahoe, according to the divisions administrator, Robert Mergell. Its been a thing for awhile that people want reservations, he told Elko County Commissioners on April 19, recalling when he was based at South Fork State Park in Elko County and literally had calls from people in Salt Lake who wanted reservations and wouldnt take no for an answer. Mergell said he would tell them there wasnt a reservation system but I will guarantee you a spot or let you camp in my front yard, and they still wouldnt do it. He said, however, that even when the new system is in place online, reservations will not be mandatory. Meanwhile, state park usage remains first-come, first-served. People want to know they have a spot, said Commissioner Wilde Brough. The rollout of the reservation system is planned for September, and we will work out the kinks before the following spring and summer seasons, Mergell said. There is a whole lot to putting the reservation system in place. The reservations will include day use, and people going to places like Sand Harbor at Lake Tahoe or Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area at Laughlin or Valley of Fire at Overton will be willing to pay for it, Mergell said, while places like South Fork State Park may not fill up. He said people drive around and around at Valley of Fire looking for a spot or for someone to leave so they can take that spot. At Tahoe, for example, the park will be closed to those without reservations until 10 a.m. each day to help reduce traffic blockages, and then open to everyone, Mergell said. The reservation system will begin with a pilot program at Big Bend before extending to Lake Tahoe and to the rest of the state parks. Those making online camping reservations for one of the 28 state parks in Nevada will be charged a $5 fee that will help pay for the new system, and there will be a day-use reservation charge, as well, but we are still working through that, Mergell said. There also will be a three-day window for making reservations, so people in camping spots already are safe for at least three days, he said. Park staff will have printouts of reserved spots and will be checking campgrounds. There is a 14-day maximum stay at the state campgrounds. Mergell, who worked at Wild Horse in northern Elko County and South Fork from 1995 to 2008, said the contract for the reservation system is for four years, which will give the parks division time to determine problems and see how well it works. The state park division describes South Fork Recreation Area as flourishing meadows and rolling hills filled with northeastern Nevada wildlife, with the Ruby Mountains as a backdrop, a reservoir filled with catfish, bass and trout. The 25-site campground includes campsite tables, grills and a restroom with showers. Wild Horse in the northern part of the county is described as a popular fishing site, not only in warm weather but for ice fishing. Cold winters make the lake an ideal location to ice fish and skate, or to explore on snowmobiles or skis, the description says. The park offers swimming and boating in the warm weather, and camping. Both Elko County parks have a $5 entrance fee. Commissioner Jon Karr asked whether a camper could reserve a spot, place a camper trailer there and leave the camper if called into town, to which Mergell answered that sites must be occupied overnight because of liability and crime potential when stuff is left unattended. Were trying not to create victims of crime, he said. Karr said at the end of Mergells presentation that he was cautiously optimistic about the new reservation system. It sounds like it is worth trying. According to a question and answer posting on the Nevada Division of State Parks website, the reservation system is a response to an increased demand in camping and day-use facilities and to effectively and sustainably manage Nevadas natural resources. The site also states that the reservation system will be phased in over time, so potential visitors can check with a park to see if it is on the system for campsites and cabins, day-use and special events. Although parks currently are first-come, first-served, there are cabins or group-use spots that already require advanced reservations through the individual parks, according to the website. Right now, we have places like cabins that are literally now tracking reservations on paper calendars, which is not super convenient for staff and definitely not for visitors, Mergell told commissioners. Details about all the parks operated by the Nevada Division of State Parks are on its website, and details about the new reservation system will be updated as more information becomes available. Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday launched a new initiative to help strengthen countries ability to plan for, and deal with, another deadly pandemic like COVID-19, as latest figures show a huge fall in COVID deaths this year Rottneros Mill to Increase Capacity of CTMP by 40,000 Tonnes Per Year Rottneros Mill will increase its current production capacity of CTMP from 125,000 tonnes per year to approximately 165,000 tonnes per year. Rottneros Mill will increase its current production capacity of CTMP from 125,000 tonnes per year to approximately 165,000 tonnes per year. April 26, 2023 - Rottneros announced that its Board of Directors has decided to invest approximately SEK 180 million to significantly expand the production capacity of CTMP (chemical thermomechanical pulp) at Rottneros Mill in Sweden. Rottneros said the decision will increase the mill's current capacity of 125,000 tonnes per year to approximately 165,000 tonnes per year at a relatively low investment cost. Rottneros explained that the additional volume of CTMP is primarily intended for the growing board and packaging market segments as well as tissue. Given the low investment cost per tonne, Rottneros strengthens its long-term competitiveness in the growing CTMP market. "The decision to significantly increase capacity within CTMP is a milestone in the continued development of the Rottneros Group as a leading niche player in the global pulp industry," said Lennart Eberleh, President and CEO of Rottneros. "It is also an aggressive next step in the structural transformation of Rottneros Mill after the decommissioning of the groundwood pulp line. "We assess that the future profitability conditions for CTMP are very good, not least through the steadily growing demand for packaging, which is one of the most important application areas," Eberleh added. The additional 40,000 tpy of CTMP capacity will come on-line in 2024. Rottneros is an independent producer of market pulp. The Group comprises the parent company Rottneros AB and its subsidiaries Rottneros Bruk AB and Vallviks Bruk AB with operations involving the production and sale of market pulp. The Group also includes Rottneros Packaging AB, which manufactures fibre trays, the wood procurement company Rottneros Baltic SIA in Latvia and the forest operator Nykvist Skogs AB. SOURCE: Rottneros AB Photo: (Photo : Getty Images/JACK GUEZ/AFP) The left is pushing children to make their own decisions and disregard their parents' ruling to put a family unit in disarray, an op-ed states. Dr. Leonard Sax, a family doctor for almost 34 years and author of the New York Times bestseller "The Collapse of Parenting," recently shared an alarming story about a mom who brought her six-year-old daughter who had a fever and a sore throat into his clinic yet refuses to open her mouth and be checked. The doctor then asked for the mother's help, to which the latter replied, "Her body, her choice," with an eyebrow arched. The doctor was shocked as right in front of him was a mom "invoking the 'My body, my choice' slogan of abortion-rights activists" to inform him that she had no plans of doing anything towards her 6-year-old daughter's refusal to let the doctor see her throat. In an article he wrote entitled "Do Your Political Beliefs Affect Your Parenting?," he expressed that in his years of serving families as a doctor, never did he see a connection between parenting and politics, except in this time and age. He wrote his book eight years ago because he noticed that permissive parenting is becoming a trend. "As I showed in the book, that trend toward permissiveness wasn't confined to families in my practice: scholars now find that the culture of the United States is increasingly a culture in which "children rule," Sax expressed. Left 'openly trying to indoctrinate' kids He further stated that a growing number of parents are on the extreme side of showing love and giving their kids freedom, truly believing that it is "virtuous" to make the children be in charge. In an op-ed by Karol Markowicz published in Fox News Friday, she described permissive parenting as the "natural progression" or the result of the ideology that kids, instead of being followers, should be "leaders in parenting." She blames the left for this political dimension that is now seen in parenting, just like how they have forced political facets into corporations, institutions, government agencies, and almost everything for the past years. "The left is openly trying to indoctrinate children, and there's evidence, like the parent in Dr. Sax's office, that many of the parents have been captured already," Markowicz declared, also stressing that the left is aiming at children right now as obviously seen in the battles over ideology in schools. Read More: School Handbook Advising Parents To Stop Calling Daughters Pretty, Princess Draws Flak Keep politics away from parenting The op-ed further stressed that the left is quite succeeding in separating the family unit by persuading parents that they do not and should not have control over their children. "A family in disarray is much easier to control. This isn't a conspiracy theory. It's exactly what totalitarian societies of the past have done so that they gain control of the population. It's not new. It's just happening in America for the first time," Markowicz boldly stated. She then challenged parents to act like one, reminding them that children have parents because they need guidance and direction. If they surrender their control to their children's whims, other people and influences will take their parents' place. Resilient children and adults do not grow from parents who can be swayed but from confident parents who know and fight for what's best for their kids, Markowicz concluded, to which Sax strongly agrees, especially that permissive parenting or also called indulgent parenting, is one of the worst parenting styles. He stated that parents must "keep politics out of their parenting." Sax emphasized how children need their parents "to provide structure, to set boundaries, and to lay down guardrails that are enforced." Parenting should be independent of politics. Parenting is all about what a child needs to thrive. And if this kind of parenting is done, then parents would save their children from experiencing worse academic performance and social skills, impulsiveness and aggressiveness, high risk towards delinquency, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, poor self-regulation, and being overweight. Related Article: Permissive Parenting Is Not Positive Parenting; Why Children Should Not Grow Up Overindulged Photo: (Photo : Saul Loeb/Getty Images) Dr. Anthony Fauci looks back at what went wrong with the country's COVID-19 response. During a recent interview, Dr. Fauci reflected on the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and acknowledged that mistakes were made despite his best efforts. He stated that while something clearly went wrong, he should not be held responsible for some of the most impactful results of his recommendations, such as the shutdown of schools and factories. He also emphasized that he never personally ordered the school shutdown. Dr. Fauci played a significant role during the pandemic; he was the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, making him lead the Covid-19 public health emergency response. What Dr. Fauci Believes Went Wrong in the COVID-19 Response According to CNN, Dr. Anthony Fauci reflected on the US government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted two major factors that contributed to the country's struggle to control the virus. Firstly, he emphasized the political divisiveness that led to many conservatives distrusting public health recommendations such as getting vaccinated and wearing masks in public. This mistrust resulted in a lower vaccination rate among conservatives, which allowed the virus to spread more easily. Secondly, Fauci pointed out the fragmentation of the healthcare delivery system in the US, which made it challenging to implement a unified national strategy to combat the virus. The New York Post reported that during the pandemic, Fauci faced criticism for changing his stance on preventive measures, most notably mask mandates. He initially did not endorse masks as necessary to prevent the spread of the virus, but he later emphasized their importance in controlling the pandemic. Despite the criticism, Fauci defended his actions, stating that he was only relaying the CDC's recommendations and that the decision to implement preventive measures was ultimately made by others. Fauci also expressed his concern about the impact of the culture wars on public health policies. He acknowledged that anything that intensified the culture wars made things worse from a public health standpoint. Additionally, Fauci admitted his uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of masking, but he remains confident that preventive measures such as vaccination and social distancing are necessary to overcome the pandemic. Read Also: Biden Administration Allocates $1.1 Billion For Free COVID-19 Vaccines To Uninsured Americans Dr. Fauci Admits To a Flawed COVID-19 Response Dr. Fauci acknowledged in a recent interview that the response of the CDC and other government officials to the COVID-19 pandemic could have been better, especially given that the US has suffered over 1.1 million deaths, a higher per-capita rate than most other countries. He expressed frustration that such a wealthy country could have experienced such high mortality. He acknowledged that there was no clear explanation for why the response fell short but suggested that a lack of unity and collaboration may have been contributing factors. According to Fox, Fauci was criticized by some for advocating mandatory vaccination, and he acknowledged that this had made some people hesitant to get vaccinated. He said he understood the independent spirit of Americans but believed that such independence could also be counterproductive in fighting the pandemic. Regarding the origins of the virus, Fauci reiterated his view that it was likely to have originated from a Wuhan wet market but acknowledged that the possibility of a laboratory leak could not be ruled out. He admitted that, in hindsight, there were things that officials could have done differently to handle the pandemic, but he defended the decisions they made at the time, given the limited knowledge they had. Related Article: UNICEF COVID-19 Fuels Vaccine Hesitancy, Disrupting Childhood Immunization- Biggest Setback in 30 Years Photo: (Photo : SAVO PRELEVIC /Getty Images) A public health emergency was declared in American Samoa due to a measles outbreak that has affected the U.S. territory. The Department of Health reported 31 suspected and/or probable cases and one confirmed case in an 8-year-old as of Tuesday. Dr. Scott Anesi, the department's chief epidemiologist, revealed during a press conference that all suspected cases involved children aged between 2 months and 13 years old. Measles Outbreak in American Samoa According to ABC, due to the public health emergency caused by the measles outbreak, the schools have been ordered to close until May 12th, affecting 12,000 students. Parents have been instructed to pick up virtual learning packets and any meals their children are eligible for at their schools through Friday. To prevent the further spread of measles, anyone who tests positive for the virus has been ordered to isolate for 21 days. The local government is also closely monitoring those who may have been exposed to the virus and is also required to quarantine them for up to 21 days. Measles can be prevented through vaccination, with the measles-containing vaccine being primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. For children aged 12 months through 12 years, the combination measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine can also be used for protection against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that anyone who has had measles at some point in their life or has received two doses of the MMR vaccine is protected against the virus. One dose of the vaccine is 93% effective at preventing infection if exposed to the virus, while two doses are 97% effective. According to the World Health Organization, fortunately, accelerated immunization activities have played a significant role in reducing measles deaths globally. The WHO reports that global measles deaths have decreased by 73%, from an estimated 536,000 in 2000 to 142,000 in 2018. Read Also: Grocery Retailers Are Revolutionizing Shopping With AI To Boost Sales: Instacart, Sam's Club, BJ's Wholesale What Is Measles? Despite the availability of a safe and cost-effective vaccine, measles remains a serious disease that causes significant morbidity and mortality globally. In 2018, more than 140,000 people died from measles, with the majority being children under the age of five. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus and was responsible for an estimated 2.6 million deaths annually before the introduction of the vaccine in 1963 and widespread vaccination. According to the CDC, measles is an acute viral respiratory illness that begins with a fever and malaise, followed by cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis (known as the three "C"s), and a rash characterized by Koplik spots that appear about two weeks after exposure. Measles is particularly dangerous for infants and children under five, adults over 20, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems due to conditions like leukemia and HIV. Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases, with up to 9 out of 10 people who come into close contact with an infected person developing the disease. The virus spreads through direct contact with infectious droplets or airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. It is essential to continue vaccination efforts to prevent the spread of this dangerous disease and protect vulnerable populations. Related Article: Autism Diagnostic Fads: Prominent Psychiatrist Apologizes for Contributing To the Overdiagnosis Crisis, DSM-4 Its easy to talk tough on crime when you want to score political points, but shortchanging funds for victims of crime is unacceptable, said Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro said. (Photo: Trevor Bexon/Nevada Current) Policy, politics and progressive commentary Lawmakers scolded the governors office for failing to provide a solution to fix a $2.3 million budget shortfall for program that provides financial assistance for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. The fund, which is expected to receive less federal funds this year than anticipated, is at risk of being insolvent during the 2023-2025 biennium without additional money, lawmakers were told Tuesday during a joint hearing of the Assembly Ways and Means and the Senate Finance subcommittees on Human Services. In a statement following the hearing, Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro said Gov. Joe Lombardos office had months to bring forward a budget amendment to address the Victims of Crime Fund shortfall but has failed to do so. Its easy to talk tough on crime when you want to score political points, but shortchanging funds for victims of crime is unacceptable, Cannizzaro said. The committees met Tuesday to approve budget recommendations for the Division of Child and Family Services. During a committee hearing March 21, lawmakers were assured a $4.4 million general fund appropriation would be enough to keep the victims of crime fund for the 2023 2025 biennium. However, the proposed amount came with the assumption the state would also receive $2.3 million from the federal government, similar to the amount it was awarded in 2022. Days after the March hearing, the state learned it would receive $1 million from the federal government, less than half what was expected. The fund is facing a $2.3 million total budget shortfall, and without immediate action the program wont be able to compensate future claims during the biennium. Amy Stephenson, the director of the governors finance office, said the administration put forth a proposal that sought to replace the use of court assessment fees to fund the program with general funds, but the legislation hasnt received a hearing yet. Once we figure out that legislation, we can actually address the shortfall in the interim after the current legislation session is concluded, she said. Thats where we were figuring that out. That response did not sit well with the committee. Lawmakers questioned why the governors office hadnt brought forward a budget amendment that takes care of the problem at hand rather than waiting for the interim, especially if a lack of funding could result in victims not receiving assistance. I think its disingenuous on our part and probably a slap in the face to victims of crime to say the only way to take care of this is during the interim when we know there is a problem now, said Democratic Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe Moreno, adding that the interim fix proposed by the governors office would leave the funding to depend on a bill that may or may not live. If we could get a budget amendment to take care of this now, I believe thats what we should do as a body, Monroe Moreno said. The victims of crime fund program pays for a variety of expenses including compensation for wage and income loss related to violent crimes, funeral expenses, home security repair and emergency shelter. Melanie Young, the director of Division of Child and Family Services, told lawmakers at a March 21 hearing that in fiscal year 2022 the program received nearly 4,000 claims from victims seeking compensation: 29% for domestic violence; 22% for sexual assault over 18 years old; 6% for sexual assault under 18 years old; 18% for physical assault; 5% for homicide; 20% for driving under the influence, robbery with injury, physical abuse, and hit and runs. In addition to a federal grant, the program relies on funds from court assessment fees and restitution from incarcerated people. At the close of fiscal year 2017, the program had about $12 million in reserves, Young said. That slowly dwindled down since the program wasnt bringing in enough revenue from its current funding sources. Young told lawmakers Tuesday the fund could be insolvent in the second year of the biennium. The committee voted to bring the problem before the entire joint committee on April 29 to discuss proposals to fill the budget shortfall while legislators are still in the current legislative session, which is scheduled to adjourn June 5. In a new supply chain report this morning we learn that Apple's new Mixed Reality (MR) devices have entered their final sprint. In addition to the previously known Luxshare and Yang Mingguang, China's GIS, a manufacturer known for its touch and display module technology, is now responsible for the lens lamination process that is the closest to the final product stage. It's also the most technically challenging stage of production. Taiwan's United Daily News further reports that Apples first-generation MR Headset has been assembled by Luxshare. The market thought that there would be no members of the Hon Hai Group included in the new product supply chain. However, GIS has been in charge of the iPad lamination business for a long time and has a very high yield rate, so it was awarded by Apple which paves the way for Hon Hai to obtain OEM orders for Apple's second-generation MR headset. It is also reported that the GIS Chengdu factory had developed a special production line just for attaching Apple MR headset lenses. It is expected that mass production and shipment will begin in the second and third quarters. Apple's MR headset features makes it quite difficult to fit the lens, which drives the cost up and improves gross profit margin for GIS. Source. In February Patently Apple posted a report titled "Apple taps Chinese Supplier Luxshare to assist in developing next-gen XR Devices while Foxconn is working on new entry-priced Units." George Herriman, Creator of Krazy Kat: A Mind Bubble George Herriman died on this day, the 25th of April, in 1944. Ive read that his creation Krazy Kat was likely more influential than popular. And thats probably so. But he certainly had a fan base beyond other cartoonists. Me, for instance. I adored the strip. And in the years since Herrimans death his recognition as a major figure in the advancement of the comic has become a critical tidal wave. Among the professionals he has an impressive following. Modern cartoonists from Charles Schulz to Art Spiegelman, Robert Crumb and Bill Patterson have all acknowledged his influence. Herriman was a black Louisiana Creole born in New Orleans on the 22nd of August, 1880. At ten the family moved to Los Angeles. Right out of High School he went to work as an engraver and illustrator. He started publishing cartoons by 1901, quickly developing many of the themes we consider standard for comic strips. Herriman developed the character Krazy Kat in 1910 for the strip the Dingbat Family. Krazy was featured in a strip starting in 1913. Much of the storylines followed Ignatz Mouse throwing bricks at Krazy. Which Krazy would interpret as signs of Mouses love. Eventually Offisa Pupp enters the picture and there is something of a three way tug for affection. Interestingly, to me, anyway, Kats gender is never quite clear. Sometimes referred to as he and sometimes as she. Unlike the fate for too many artists with limited followings, Herrimans genius was recognized where it needed to be. The publisher William Randolph Hearst gave the artist a lifetime contract with his King Features Syndicate, guaranteeing him a living and freedom to do his work, even though he lack a significant popular following. Among the small things I love about the Krazy Kat strips as a native Californian who also has lived in Arizona for some years was the backgrounds are filled with Southwestern and Mexican allusions, and in fact the strip takes place in a surrealistic Coconino county, which in our universe is the part of Arizona with Flagstaff. It doesnt hurt for me that Herriman also illustrated Don Marquis Archy & Mehitabel. Sadly in his lifetime he was ambiguous about his racial heritage, and largely passed for white. He was sometimes referred to as the Greek. But, as Wikipedia tells us Sociologist Arthur Asa Berger made Herrimans mixed-race heritage known in 1971. While researching for Herrimans entry for the Dictionary of American Biography, Berger discovered the cartoonists race was listed as colored on his birth certificate obtained from the New Orleans Board of Health. The 1880 census for New Orleans listed his parents as mulatto. For me this is important in that in our time and place it is critical that we acknowledge the contributions of people of African descent as such. Theyve been marginalized, abused, and demeaned for too long. Herrimans decision to pass a sad example of the abuse that has shadowed African American lives to this day. That Herriman was one of the creative geniuses at the dawn of our contemporary culture, someone in whose debt we all live, but had to mask this essential part of who he was, only makes this reality more poignant. While today, the 79th anniversary of his death, things are better, were a long way from where anything that looks like justice should be. With all that, a pause. To recall the master The City of North Las Vegas is not buying the Texas Stations property, nor has Council allocated $80 million dollars for this site, says a missive from the citys Government Affairs Team.(Photo: Ronda Churchill/Nevada Current) Policy, politics and progressive commentary The City of North Las Vegas says its not buying 73 acres of vacant land at the sites of the bulldozed Texas Station and Fiesta, despite a request to the state to pitch in $10 million in funds earmarked for affordable housing toward the $80 million price tag. In September of last year, city manager Ryann Juden wrote to the state housing division of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to purchase the land and transform what is currently a stark reminder of the economic devastation caused by COVID into a solution for the regions attainable housing crisis. Judenn told the state the city intended to purchase all 73 acres, with the final acquisition dependent on the amount of support Home Means Nevada funds. Home Means Nevada is a $500 million housing initiative implemented during Gov. Steve Sisolaks administration and made possible by federal American Rescue Plan Act funding following a lengthy series of meetings and public comment focused on the need for affordable housing. Juden said the citys vision lays out a plan for a vibrant community comprised of 1,004 residential units, 10 acres of commercial retail space and seven acres of open space for residents to enjoy. Of 1,004 residential units planned for the project, 270 were designated as affordable, according to Judens letter. Affordable housing is generally defined by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as that which costs the occupant no more than 30 percent of gross income, including utilities. Judens letter makes no mention of a low-income housing component to the project. Nevada has a shortage of 84,000 low-income rental units, according to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition. NLVs proposed purchase came to light April 6 when Sen. Dina Neal inquired about the citys grant request to the state during a meeting of the Interim Finance Committee. Steve Aicroth of the Nevada Housing Division told the committee that NLV intended to assemble money from its general fund, the American Rescue Plan, and a $10 million grant from the state to fund the purchase. Youve got to be kidding me, Neal said following Aicroths presentation. Neal wants NLV to contribute $20 million and the state to add $10 million to relocate the remaining 90 homeowners in Windsor Park, a predominantly Black neighborhood where homes have been sinking since the 1980s. She said the city is claiming that they dont have any money to do the work of housing or relocation, and $80 million just happens to fall out of the sky for freakin Texas station. Now, in an undated attachment emailed to the IFC hours after its April 6 meeting, NLV says the deal is off. The City of North Las Vegas is not buying the Texas Stations property, nor has Council allocated $80 million dollars for this site, says the missive from the citys Government Affairs Team. Assistant City Manager Delen Goldberg did not respond to requests for comment. Station Casinos declined to respond. It is just disheartening to me that the city that represents these individuals would find $80 million to do something on vacant land and not even consider those 90 residents who are living in poverty, potentially with lead poisoning and every other potential hazard that is on those properties and that they have no interest in trying to use any of their money to help these families, Neal said during the IFC hearing. Earlier this month, the citys finance director was unable to tell Neal how NLV spent $14 million in federal funds earmarked in 1994 for Windsor Park residents. Some homeowners accepted $50,000 at the time to relocate. Others, who had built up equity in their properties and didnt want to start over, declined the offer. The Current also requested a breakdown of how the city spent federal funds intended for Windsor Park homeowners but it has not been provided. Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown has not responded to questions submitted by the Current. It is my understanding the deal isnt off, Neal told the Current on Tuesday. Neal says shed like to see NLV provide homes in the same neighborhood for Windsor Park residents. The Texas Station land would do just fine, she says. In the states eyes, NLV is still pursuing the deal, Aicroth said this week. North Las Vegas has not canceled its request for the $10 million. Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) Ghana, a revenue and assurance audit firm, recently held a stakeholder engagement with the Board of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to discuss a sustainable roadmap that both parties could take to accelerate revenue growth in the country. The engagement's goal was to improve good governance by promoting transparency and accountability in the governments financial affairs. During the meeting held at the SML Ghanas office in Tema, Managing Director for SML Ghana, Christian Tetteh Sottie, stated that this meeting comes on the back of an already fruitful relationship between both parties. He added that the interaction would deepen the collaboration between SML Ghana and the GRA as they discuss challenges and prospects around the advancement and achievement of the country's enhanced revenue mobilisation drive. "This meeting with the Board is part of our mandate to deepen our synergies with the Ghana Revenue Authority, and by that, we took them through the detailed methodology of how SML Ghana is leveraging technology to improve the sector. When we do this, we are always on the same page and are able to communicate effectively as well," he said. Mr. Sottie also reaffirmed SML Ghana's commitment to increasing government revenue mobilisation, saying, "We appreciate your presence and the effort you put into assisting us in smoothly performing our daily activities, and we assure you that SML Ghana will continue to put in all the necessary measures and processes in place to ensure a smooth audit process because we understand the impact that these activities have on the overall state of the economy. Board Chair for the GRA, Dr. Anthony Oteng-Gyasi, lauded SML Ghana for adopting and putting into place significantly more effective digital and innovative controls leading to an increase in the government's ability to raise revenue. "What we have seen here today is indeed a good job by SML Ghana, and we are very happy to know that they keep monitoring in real-time and at all times, and we hope that these processes should further enhance our tax collection and also increase our revenue mobilisation," he said. To address any future shortcomings, Dr. Oteng-Gyasi urged SML Ghana to continue investing in innovative measures, while emphasising the importance of building ongoing relationships that enrich the audit quality and improve revenue mobilisation processes. "We will urge you to maintain the standard in terms of the sensors you use and the management devices and to avoid falling out and giving incorrect readings. The entire nation is counting on you for these revenues, and the GRA is prepared to provide the necessary assistance to ensure smooth revenue assurance," he stated. The GRAs Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, whiles similarly extolling SML Ghanas role, stated that the tax authority is increasingly seeing the need to apply data in revenue collection. Consequently, he said, the GRA would look at other sectors where SML Ghanas audit processes could be applied to help close the country's revenue gap. "Since they began, we have seen an increase in revenue, and whatever opportunity we have to look at it in other areas, we will pursue it, but at the end of the day, the goal is to be able to increase revenue, and we are quite pleased with what they have done thus far. So we will continue to monitor the areas where we know that monitoring will aid in closing the revenue gap," he said. Instant Impact SML Ghana partnered with the Customs Division of the GRA to implement the Electronic Metering Management System (EMMS) project. This digital measurement project aims to monitor revenue from downstream petroleum products from over 20 depots across Ghana. The EMMS digitises the entire process chain, providing an end-to-end audit and assurance for the GRA in the downstream petroleum sector. Since its introduction in 2020, SML Ghana's technological solutions have resulted in an average monthly volume of 450 million litres of petroleum products recorded by its meters in the petroleum sector. 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 Builsa South Member of Parliament, Dr. Clement Apaak has called for a ban on all forms of mining activities following the leaked report of Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng on illegal mining. The lawmaker says the issues and allegations raised by the former minister are alarming and should not be taken for granted. In his view, this would help address the issues relating to illegal mining, popularly referred to as galamsey. In his 37-page report, the former minister alleged that some NPP officials hired Chinese nationals to engage in galamsey on their behalf. He also claimed that, despite the president's commitment to protecting the environment, many party officials were involved in illegal mining. Dr. Apaak, reacting to the issues raised, believes there should be an immediate ban on all forms of mining activities for at least two years. He also wants a national forum led by CSOs to be initiated to determine the way forward for mining activities. He tweeted and said, "We must demand a total ban on all forms of mining immediately, at least for two or more years. In the meantime, a national forum led by CSOs should be initiated to determine the way forward. This is the only reasonable option available given the levels of official complicity." 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 About three out of four shops at the revamped Kejetia Market do not have any form of insurance, anecdotal evidence gathered by the B&FT has revealed. This discovery was made weeks after an inferno destroyed several shops and their wares on the markets second floor, popularly referred to as Kejetia Dubai in Kumasi. The issue of insurance became a major topic for discussion when traders accused market managers of not renewing the facilitys insurance for over a year. However, investigations conducted by the B&FT revealed that most traders did not see the need to insure their wares citing reasons such as dishonesty on the part of insurance companies. Isaac Kwasi Nti, who trades in mens clothing, admitted that he had never considered getting insurance for his wares until the inferno occurred. He stated: I have never thought of acquiring insurance. It has never crossed my mind. The way things are going, and looking at the extent to which people have lost so much in the inferno, I am considering one because we dont know what might happen again, he stressed. Another trader, known as Sister Kumiwaa a grocery dealer, expressed fear of being duped by insurance companies, even though she is aware of the benefits of insurance. It is a few individuals here who have insurance; but for me, I am not really interested. When we first came here, the market leaders had a talk with us about acquiring insurance; all of us here were registered, but we have since not heard about it again. I know insurers would have come to our aid if we had a thing with them, she stated. Kusiwaa affirmed that insurance is good, but however, lamented that the issue has to do with traders themselves including her. We are all guilty of not doing the right thing to insure our businesses; some of the insurance companies are good, others too are crooks, she stressed. A disposable plates and cups shop owner, who gave his name only as Ben, said because of how delicate his goods are he has insured them with a local insurance firm over the past four years. He further encouraged other traders to also get themselves and their wares insured. For me, I have insurance with SIC. I have worked with them for the past four years. I like their mode of work. I would urge my fellow traders to insure their business, because we do not know when this unfortunate situation will reoccur. So, it is good especially in times of trouble like when the inferno happened here, he added. Meanwhile, insurance expert Justice Peprah Agyei, told the B&FT in an interview that in an attempt to boost confidence among the public, insurance companies should make their payment of claims public. There should be more education and awareness on insurance. Insurers also need to take advantage of some of these events happening, and publicly make payments to victims who have insurance. It would restore confidence among the people. People need trust from insurance companies, and that trust must be earned. This also means insurers must show professionalism at every step of the way from underwriting to claims payment, he emphasised. Source: B&FT Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The UK's first evacuation flight carrying British nationals has now left Sudan, Downing Street has confirmed. At least two more flights are expected overnight, as the military attempts to get hundreds out of the war-torn country during a 72-hour ceasefire. Families with children, the elderly and people with medical conditions will be prioritised on RAF flights leaving from an airfield near the capital Khartoum. They are being told to make their own way to the airport, without an escort. No 10 said the situation is "fast-moving" but the first flight is expected to arrive in Cyprus later, before people are transported back to the UK. A temporary pause in fighting between rival military factions appears to be holding, although there have been reports of new gunfire and shelling. At least 459 people have been killed since fighting broke out on 15 April. UK ministers have come under increasing pressure to help its citizens flee the fierce fighting. Around 4,000 UK citizens are thought to be in Sudan and 2,000 of them have already requested help, Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell said on Monday. Only British passport holders and their immediate family with existing UK entry clearance are eligible, the government has said. The Foreign Office initially said people should not travel to the evacuation site until told to do so - but updated its advice on Tuesday afternoon urging people to make their own way to the Wadi Saeedna airfield to the north of Khartoum "as soon as possible". The advice published online warned evacuees that "travel within Sudan is conducted at your own risk and plans may change depending on the security situation". An RAF plane took off from the airfield north of Khartoum and landed in Cyprus earlier on Tuesday afternoon, according to a flight tracking site. It is understood the initial flight was not carrying civilians and was instead focused on security. Germany, which has been running operations at airfield, is due to end its evacuation later on Tuesday after airlifting around 500 people. UK defence secretary Ben Wallace told a Commons committee earlier today that 120 British troops were involved and "stand prepared to take over" from the Germans when they leave the site. He also confirmed that Royal Marines are continuing to prepare an alternative route out of Sudan via a port on the east coast, as well as making contingencies for any humanitarian response. Source: BBC 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 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has nominated Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, a Justice of the Supreme Court, as the next Chief Justice of Ghana. In a letter to the Council of State, President Akufo-Addo said Justice Torkornoo who has been on the Supreme Court for the last four (4) and has been a member of the Judiciary for the last nineteen (19) years is duly qualified and eminently fit to discharge the functions of Chief Justice. When approved, Justice Torkornoo will replace Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, who retires as Chief Justice on May 24, 2023. According to President Akufo-Addo, "Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah is due to retire from the bench on 24th May, 2023, his seventieth birthday. in order to avoid a vacuum and ensure that a new Chief Justice is immediately in office after his retirement, I have decided to being the process of appointment now. Article 144 (1) of the constitution, which governs the appointment of a Chief Justice, requires that I, first, consult with the Council of State before seeking the approval of Parliament. "Consequently, I am nominating Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, a member of the Supreme Court, as the new Chief Justice," his letter, added. Profile of Gertrude Torkornoo Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, formerly a judge of the Appeals Court, was nominated Supreme Court Judge in November 2019 and vetted on 10 December 2019. She was sworn in on 17 December 2019. Gertrude Torkornoo hails from Winneba in the Central Region of Ghana. She was born on 11 September 1962 in Cape Coast. She had her secondary education at Wesley Girls' High School for her ordinary-level certificate and Achimota School for her advanced-level certificate. She had her tertiary education at the University of Ghana and completed the Ghana School of Law in 1986. Prior to joining Fugar & Co., a law firm in Accra as a pupil associate, Torkornoo worked as a volunteer at the FIDA Legal Aid Service and had her internship at Nabarro Nathanson in London. She returned to the firm (Fugar & Co., a law firm) in 1994 to become its director. In January 1997, she became a Managing Partner at Sozo Law Consult until May 2004 when she was appointed a Justice at the High Court of Ghana. She worked as a High Court judge until October 2012 when she was elevated to the Court of Appeal. She had been a justice of the Court of Appeal until her nomination for the role of Supreme Court Judge in November 2019. She was sworn into office on 17 December 2019. Prior to her appointment as Supreme Court justice, Torkornoo has held a number of leadership positions, some of which include; Supervising Judge of Commercial Courts, Chair of the Editorial Committee of Association of Magistrates and Judges, Chief Editor for the development of Judicial Ethics Training Manual, Vice-Chair of the E-Justice Steering/Oversight Committee and Vice-Chair of the Internship and Clerkship Programme for the Judiciary. She is also a Faculty Member of the Judicial Training Institute and a member of the Governing Board of the Judicial Training Institute. 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 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr Mustapha Hamid has argued that it will be very easy for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to beat John Mahama in the 2024 Presidential Election given their credentials and the policy positions they have both espoused so far. Speaking on Metro TVs Good Evening Ghana show last Thursday, Dr Hamid while declaring his support for Dr Bawumias bid to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) argued Dr Bawumia is in pole position to beat John Mahama, the presumptive flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Well, I back Dr Bawumia. Hes going to win the NPP primaries. There is absolutely no doubt about it. Oh yeah! Its done. I am sure the others [ aspirants to the flagbearer position] know. But its a competition so its okay for them to show up . . . so inside the NPP, he is going to win. Then when it comes to the national [ level], that is an even easier job. Have you heard John Mahama articulate any serious policy position? I dont know; I havent heard. He has absolutely nothing to his name. "I want to sound very respectful. But with the greatest of respects, John Mahama is quite empty. And where we are as a country, we dont need that hollowness, that shallowness. We need depth. We need deep thinking. We need someone who knows the craft of Government to be able to fashion out the kinds of programmes that will transform this country. And those are the programmes that under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and with the support of Dr. Bawumia, the NPP has put all the way for the transformation of this country . . . we are going to make sure that by the time we go into the elections in 2024, Ghanaians have absolutely no doubt in their minds that Bawumia is the choice, he expatiated. Campaigns for the 2024 Presidential Election have started in earnest even though Ghanas dominant parties the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are yet to select their flagbearers. John Mahama is predictably the NDCs candidate for the election while it is still anybodys game for the NPP even though Dr Bawumia is amassing massive support from party grassroots and high-ranking officers. 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 Guinness Ghana's 'EEBO SO' promo', one of the most rewarding promotions in the beverage industry in Ghana, has ended after rewarding Ghanaians with free drinks, airtime, and cash prizes worth up to GHS3million. Having kicked off on March 1, the EEBO SO promotion was a National Consumer Promotion designed by Guinness Ghana to give every Ghanaian above 18 the opportunity to win their share of 3 million Ghana cedis worth of prizes in loads of airtime, free drinks, cash prizes of GH50, GH100 daily and a grand prize of GH5,000 every week. Estella Muzito, Marketing and Innovation Director at Guinness Ghana, noted in an interview: "This promo, was set up to express our appreciation to Ghanaians for their loyalty and we are glad that we've been able to inspire them. We want to assure them that we have got their back in these challenging economic times. As this promo ends, our resolve to continuously create joyful moments with our quality products is stronger than ever." "EEBO SO' has also given us real insight on how we can make other promotions bigger to make the lives of our consumers even better, she intimated. Roland Ofori, Head of Beers at Guinness Ghana, said the reception from Ghanaians was positive. "We are happy about the acceptance level we've received from Ghanaians. Overseeing the number and speed with which our customers participated in this campaign leaves us with no doubt that we have made a real impact. Our ambition to be the best-performing, most trusted and most respected consumer goods business in Ghana remain true and we are delighted about the outcome of this promo." "We urge our customers to keep being on the lookout for us as we continue to create new experiences for them." he added. With Guinness Ghana's EEBO SO' Promo ending successfully, there will be a period of 2 weeks for Ghanaians to redeem all free drink crown corks. The two weeks redemption period will be held up until May 9th, 2023. 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 Vu Thu Ha, vice chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Committee received Subhash Prasad Gupta, deputy chief of the mission from the Embassy of India in Vietnam (Source: VGP) Accordingly, diverse cultural exchange activities will take to take place in the capital to introduce Indian culture this year. A number of art troupes from India will arrive in Vietnam this year, Gupta informed his host, hoping India would continue to receive support from the municipal administration to deploy cultural exchange activities between the two countries this year. The Indian diplomat revealed that the highlight of the exchange proramme will be International Yoga Day and Run for Peace due to take place in Hanoi from June 18. Both of events are expected to attract the participation of over 1,000 people. For her part, Vu Thu Ha, vice chairwoman of the municipal administration, expressed Hanois wish to continue ramping up ties with India across multiple spheres, especially in culture, tourism, sports, and conservation of historical relics. Hanoi is ready to join India in organszing the upcoming activities effectively with the aim of enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples whilst elevating joint relations to new heights./. The Federal government has sent out luxurious buses to carry Nigerian students stranded in Sudan to nearby borders in Egypt where they are expected to be flown back home. There have been concerns about their safety since the Sudanese conflict broke out. Abike Dabiri-Erewa who is the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission NIDCOM shared photos of the students on Twitter and stated that they were undergoing registrations and will be evacuated in no distant time. As our students in Sudan queued up orderly to board their buses to Egypt enroute to Nigeria, supervised by Nigerian mission officials in Sudan. Lets remember them in our prayers as they journey home. War is a terrible thing !!'' she said Source: LIB 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 STC Chief Executive Officer, Nana Akomea has called on the nation to support the Police to investigate the allegations leveled against some government officials by Professor Frimpong-Boateng, a former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation. Professor Frimpong-Boateng has accused some officials in government and at the Jubilee House of involving themselves in galamsey activities. His accusations have raised serious concerns with President Nana Addo tasking the Police to launch investigations into it. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service are in charge of the probe. However, a statement from the Presidency has rubbished Professor Frimpong-Boateng's claims, describing it as hearsay. The statement pointed out that "whilst Prof. Frimpong-Boateng makes serious allegations against some government appointees, as having been involved in, supporting or interfering with the fight against illegal mining, not a single piece of evidence was adduced or presented to enable the claims to be properly investigated. Indeed, the allegations contained in the document are at best hearsay". Discussing the report during Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' show, Nana Akomea called on the Police to do thorough investigations to ascertain the truth. "It's essential to investigate this for the people involved themselves . . . it won't help the reputation of the people alleged to be involved if we don't find out the truth," he said. He also charged all and sundry to provide the Police with every support in their investigations. "We should all support the Police. Let's encourage and support the Police to do thorough investigations. Their thorough investigations will help all the accused persons in this matter for us to know who is innocent and who is not. It will also help to resolve this galamsey menace." 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 Ghanaian actor and politician, John Dumelo, has urged Ghanaians to be angry about the ongoing illegal mining across the country which is affecting prime water bodies. According to him, if the menace, also known as galamsey, is not curbed, Ghana will begin to import foodstuff and water because there will be none left to drink or cook with. He explained that it will go a long way to affect Ghanas stand as the second cocoa producer in the world due to the soaked chemicals used in the illegal mining process. Taking to Twitter, he advised: If we dont tackle this galamsey menace we will lose our spot as worlds 2nd producer of cocoa. Our farmlands will be totally wiped out, and we will start importing food. The few farmlands left will be SOAKED in chemicals. We will start importing drinking water, he said. Meanwhile, Mr Dumelos statement follows former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Kwabena Frimpong- Boatengs claim that some top government officials are engaged in the illegal mining canker, popularly known as galamsey. The renowned professor, who served under President Nana Akufo-Addo during his first term, insisted that the rot goes as high as the government seat, Jubilee House. If we dont tackle this galamsey menace We will lose our spot as worlds 2nd producer of cocoa.Our farm lands will be totally wiped out and we will start importing food.The few farm lands left will be SOAKED chemicals.We will start importing drinking water. Farmer John (@johndumelo) April 26, 2023 I visited galamsey sites yesterday and became speechless.. pic.twitter.com/2wBPdiNkWL Farmer John (@johndumelo) April 21, 2023 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 Rising Afro Hip-Hop sensation Kwasi Ofosu, known by his stage name "KFT" has appealed to Ghanaian music lovers to listen to other genres to pave the way for the expansion of the industry. According to the Canadian-based musician, music lovers in Ghana are very narrow with regard to the kind of music they listen to, which often hinders the progress of some artistes in other genres. During an interview on his recent media tour in Ghana, KFT opined that one major way to expand the industry is by exploring new sounds. "Sometimes I wish Ghanaians would be receptive to artistes like myself in the disapora. I sometimes think that some Ghanaians are accustomed to one particular sound and are not open to other sounds. "I believe listening to other sounds grows the industry and opens new opportunities for artistes to excel internationally," he said. KFT further stated that this would help to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for musicians from the diaspora. KFT, who released his "Heart Break Story" EP two years ago and recently signed with New Revolution Records, is currently in Ghana promoting his new song, "Odo Nwom," which translates to English as "Love Song." His latest release, Odo Nwom, has been widely praised by music lovers as having an authentic and dynamic sound. 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 man found dead in the charred remains of a car parked on a Virginia road has been identified as a York County resident, according to news reports. Ethan Bert, 20, of York, was found April 18 on Sandy Level Road in Bedford City, Virginia, according to the York Dispatch. ABC 3 News reported Bert died under violent circumstances before the car he was in was set on fire. Joseph R. Walker, 29, of Roanoke, Virginia, has since been charged with second-degree murder for Berts death. Bedford County Commonwealth Attorney Wes Nance told the Dispatch Walker was taken into custody in Florida. A 22-year-old who has spent the majority of his adult life in prison will likely spend the rest of it there for a calculated and deliberate 2020 killing he committed at a Lancaster County motel, prosecutors said Wednesday. Joshua Luciano was sentenced to life in prison plus 67 years Tuesday for shooting Alexander Rivera in the head and a 24-year-old man in the stomach on March 19, 2020, at the 1722 Motor Lodge, at 1722 Old Philadelphia in East Lampeter Township, according to the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office. Lancaster County Judge Jeffrey Wright estimated Luciano had spent 87% of his life from age 18 onward in prison. Landmark legislation is on its way to Gov. Josh Shapiros desk that represents a major step forward in the fight against breast cancer and is a sign that bipartisanship is possible in Pennsylvanias divided General Assembly. The House on Wednesday voted 200-0 to pass a bill that won unanimous support in the Senate last month to help detect and prevent breast and other cancers by removing the financial barrier for women at high risk for the disease by requiring insurance companies to cover genetic counseling and testing, starting in 2025. Pennsylvania will be the first state in the nation that provides these services to women and their families, said Pat Halpin-Murphy, the founder of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. Senate Bill 8 is a game changer. The reason is that it will provide for women at high-risk MRIs at no cost. No copay. No coinsurance. No deductible. The bills passage was celebrated at a joint news conference with Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland County, who sponsored the bill, and House Speaker Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, along with a bipartisan group of lawmakers from both chambers. Both leaders commented on the satisfaction of seeing the GOP-controlled Senate and Democratic-controlled House produce legislation that Ward said serves as proof that we can do big things together. The measure removes out-of-pocket costs associated with genetic testing and genetic counseling for people at high risk of the BRCA gene mutations, which predisposes them to breast cancer, ovarian cancer and prostate cancer. It further provides for those at high risk of a breast cancer diagnosis to get an MRI, which can be more costly but is better able to detect breast cancer, and/or ultrasound at no cost. The high-risk conditions covered by the bill include dense breast tissue, a personal history of breast cancer, family history of breast cancer, genetic predisposition and prior radiation therapy. Ward, a breast cancer survivor, credited her own battle against the disease with bringing her attention to the financial barriers that stood in the way of others receiving screenings that can lead to an earlier diagnosis and less expensive and aggressive treatments. As I went through this journey, this breast cancer journey, I did see things that needed to be addressed, Ward said. Displaying a sense of humor about her diagnosis that led to this legislation, she said, I always think whats my job? Whats my job? Well, God said youre getting breast cancer, honey and youre going to do this. I said I would have answered your email. For women of color, McClinton said breast cancer mortality rates are staggering, mostly due to late detection. Once Shapiro signs the bill, McClinton said, were going to see changes in the law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to quote our president pro tem, we did that. We should be very proud of this moment because were combating real-life challenges, addressing these health issues and making sure that our constituents regardless of where their insurance plan is from will be able to get the help. McClinton added she is hopeful that it is the first of many times her House colleagues stand with senators to celebrate the passage of bills that help people and improve their lives and create solutions for everyday problems. Some 14,000 women in Pennsylvania annually are diagnosed with breast cancer. If detected early, Halpin-Murphy said the five-year survival rate is 90%. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. By LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) The case against a Fugees rapper accused in multimillion-dollar political conspiracies across two presidencies wound down with closing arguments Thursday that capped off a trial that included testimony from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Prakazrel Pras Michel is accused of funneling money from a now-fugitive Malaysian financer through straw donors to Barack Obamas 2012 reelection campaign, then trying to squelch a Justice Department investigation and influence an extradition case on behalf of China under the Trump administration. He willingly broke the law to line his pockets and generate access and influence at the highest reaches of government, prosecutor Sean Mulryne said. He wanted money. Lots of it. And he got it. The defense argued the Grammy-winning rapper from the 1990s hip-hop group the Fugees simply got bad advice as he reinvented himself in the world of politics. Mr. Michel is a proud American (and) entrepreneur, said defense attorney David Kenner. Mr. Michel was simply being himself a connector. He saw an opportunity to make easy money for himself, and theres nothing wrong with that. The case is expected to go to a jury on Monday. When first met Low Taek Jho in 2006, the businessman usually known as Jho Low was dropping huge sums of money and hobnobbing with the likes of Paris Hilton. He helped finance Hollywood films, including The Wolf of Wall Street. DiCaprio testified Low had appeared to him as a legitimate businessman and had mentioned wanting to donate to Obamas campaign. Michel also testified in his own defense. He said Low wanted a picture with Obama in 2012 and was willing to pay millions of dollars to get it. Michel agreed to help and used some of the money he got to pay for friends to attend fundraising events. No one had ever told him that was illegal, he said. Prosecutors said he was donating the money on Lows behalf, and later tried to lean on the straw donors with texts from burner phones to keep them from talking to prosecutors. After the election of Donald Trump, prosecutors say Michel again took millions to halt an investigation into allegations Low masterminded a money laundering and bribery scheme that pilfered billions from the Malaysian state investment fund known as 1MDB. Low is now an international fugitive and has maintained his innocence. Prosecutors said Michel also tried to convince the U.S. to extradite back to China a government critic suspected of crimes there. (backslash) This case is about foreign influence, its about foreign money, and its about greed, Mulryne said. The defense also pointed to testimony from Sessions, who was Trumps top law enforcement officer until he resigned in 2018. He said hed been aware the Chinese government wanted the extradition but didnt know Michel. The rappers ultimately futile efforts to arrange a meeting on the topic didnt seem improper, said Sessions What happened in 2017 was not willful and it was not deliberate, Kenner said. A Pennsylvania Lottery Match 6 Lotto ticket worth $6.6 million was sold in central Pa., according to a news release from the lottery. The ticket, which matched all six numbers in the Tuesday, April 25, 2023, drawing, was sold at Rushi Petroleum, 2270 New Holland Pike, Lancaster. President Vo Van Thuong (R) and President of the LFNC Central Committee Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune. (Photo: VNA) President Thuong expressed his belief that the LFNC delegation's visit will contribute to further deepening great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos while promoting close and effective cooperation between the LFNC Central Committee and the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee. He spoke highly of the results of talks between Sinlavong and President of the VFF Central Committee Do Van Chien, with consensus on enhancing the sharing of information and professional experience in various areas, especially in building great national unity, upholding the peoples right to mastery, and ethnic affairs which are important for development of each country. The host suggested both sides continue regularly sharing information and experience in national development not only at central but also at local level, including the front work as they share a lot of similarities. The Vietnamese leader wished that the LFNC Central Committee would continue working closely with the VFF Central Committee to effectively carry out their cooperation agreements, actively launch cooperation in the front work, human resources training, mass mobilisation, ethnic and religious affairs, thereby helping to foster the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations. Sinlavong, for his part, conveyed Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisouliths greetings to President Thuong. He thanked the VFF Central Committee for working closely with the LFNC Central Committee in various areas. He said the ongoing visit aims to reinforce cooperation between the two committees and effectively realise agreements reached by senior leaders of the two Parties and States. Informing the host about the results of his talks with Chien, Sinlavong said both sides pledged to beef up comprehensive collaboration and share experience in the front work, mass mobilisation, great national unity building and supervision, among others./. By ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE, The Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Disney sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday over the Republicans takeover of its theme park district, alleging the governor waged a targeted campaign of government retaliation after the company opposed a law critics call Dont Say Gay. The suit, filed in Tallahassee, was filed minutes after a Disney World oversight board appointed by DeSantis voted to void a deal that placed theme park design and construction decisions in the companys hands. Its the latest conflict in an ongoing feud between DeSantis, a Republican expected to run for president, and Disney, a powerful political player and major tourism driver in Florida. The dispute with Disney has drawn significant criticism from the governors White House rivals and business leaders who view it as an extraordinary rejection of the small-government tenets of conservatism. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaigns with Pa. Sen. Doug Mastriano Aug. 19, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (Barry Reeger | Special to PennLive, file)PennLive The fight began last year after Disney, in the face of significant pressure, publicly opposed a state law that bans classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades, a policy critics call Dont Say Gay. As punishment, DeSantis took over Disney Worlds self-governing district and appointed a new board of supervisors that would oversee municipal services in the sprawling theme parks. But before the new board came in, the company pushed though an 11th hour agreement that stripped the new supervisors of much of their authority. The DeSantis board on Wednesday said Disneys move to retain control over their property was effectively unlawful and performed without proper public notice. Disney picked the fight with this board. We were not looking out for a fight, said Martin Garcia, chair of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, adding bottom line, what our lawyers have told us, is factually and legally what they created is an absolute legal mess. It will not work. DeSantis has also vowed additional retribution, with proposals to enhance state oversight of the resorts rides and monorail, as well as a suggestion to build a prison nearby. Disney has said all agreements made with the previous board were legal and approved in a public forum. Disney CEO Bob Iger has also said that any actions against the company that threaten jobs or expansion at its Florida resort was not only anti-business but anti-Florida. With help from a unique confluence of local organizations, Dauphin County residents with blindness and visual impairments will now have improved access to reading and other materials through Dauphin County Library Systems new, state-of-the-art reading enhancer. The new equipment unveiled Monday at the East Shore Area Library in Colonial Park is a result of a partnership between three local Lions Clubs who joined forces to raise funds; Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation, provider of a matching grant; and Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania, which trained staff on how to assist users. The effort raised $3,700, enough for all the equipment. As we celebrate National Library Week with this years theme Theres More to the Story, its fitting that we introduce equipment to ensure everyone can enjoy the stories and information The Library has to offer, said Karen Cullings, The Librarys executive director. For more information about local National Library Week events, visit www.dcls.org/nlw Dauphin County Commissioners Mike Pries, George P. Hartwick, III and Chad Saylor joined in Mondays celebration of National Library Week by presenting a proclamation and reading books to children at the East Shore Area Library. Said Richard Krieger, Lower Paxton Township Lions Club treasurer: 'We put our heads together and our resources. The equipment offers ease of use and a huge screen and has a lot of capabilities.' Libraries play a crucial role in our communities, said Pries, who chairs the board of commissioners. From access to computers and the internet to help looking for jobs to research for school projects, The Library is an invaluable resource for all our residents. The new high-tech reading equipment includes a computer and software with the latest magnifying and text-to-speech capabilities. With the new equipment, residents can have printed materials magnified or voiced, access websites, and scan important materials. Roughly 6,000 Lower Paxton Township residents are visually impaired or blind, and another 2,000 have reading impairments, Richard Krieger, Lower Paxton Township Lions Club treasurer, said. There is a need, Krieger said, adding the Lions hope to continue partnering with The Library on future projects. We put our heads together and our resources. The equipment offers ease of use and a huge screen and has a lot of capabilities. Dauphin County Commissioner George P. Hartwick III was among those who joined in Mondays celebration of National Library Week. The commissioners presented a proclamation and then read books to children at the East Shore Area Library. Having the equipment freely available also lets residents with blindness or visual impairments from throughout Dauphin County decide whether to acquire it for home use. Todays technology opens a world of reading for fun and self-sufficiency, but access remains a challenge, Cullings said. This equipment opens a new door to reading for Dauphin Countys thousands of residents with blindness or visual impairments. An attempted robbery became deadly Tuesday night in Philadelphia when the would-be victim shot and killed his would-be assailant. The incident took place a little before 7 p.m. along the 7000 block of North 15th Street in the citys West Oak Lane neighborhood, according to 6ABC and NBC10. A 25-year-old man was walking along a nearby intersection when another man approached him, pulled out a gun and announced he was robbing him, police said. The 25-year-old, who police said has a license to carry, then pulled out his own weapon and fired about ten times, NBC10 said. The robber was shot three times in the back and was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead around 7:23 p.m. The shooter stayed at the scene and was cooperating with police, NBC10 said. We were also told by the shooter, the perpetrator of the robbery was parked inside a vehicle. There was also a female in that vehicle. We believe the female that was with the male who was shot, after the shooting drove the vehicle to 6700 block of North 17th Street. Thats where we found it, parked unattended and riddled with multiple bullet holes, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said to 6ABC. Police are still looking for the woman that was inside the car. READ MORE: Driver dies a month after being charged in Mechanicsburg pedestrians death Police are saying the end of a love affair is what led a woman to hire a hitman to ambush and kill a Pennsylvania teacher as she sat in a Dunkin drive-thru with her 11-year-old son in the backseat. Now, authorities in Montgomery County have announced the arrests of two people in connection with the killing, according to news sources. Zakkee Steven Alhakim, 33, of Philadelphia, and Julie Jean, 34, of Elkins Park, are charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Rachel King, a 35-year-old mother and teacher at Grover Cleveland Elementary School in Philadelphia, according to 6ABC and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Update 7:30 p.m.: Daliessio was found safe, according to police. Pennsylvania State Police are searching for a Chester County woman whos been missing since she drove away from home Tuesday. Maureen Daliessio was last seen Tuesday on the 1000 block of South Ridge Road in Pennsbury Township, according to state police. Daliessio is driving a red 2020 Nissan Sentra with Pennsylvania registration HJD-7835. State police said she could be confused and at special risk of harm or injury. Daliessio is about 5 feet, 5 inches tall; 160 pounds, with blonde hair and brown eyes, according to state police. State police said anyone with information on Daliessios whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the Avondale barracks at 610-268-2022. READ MORE: Driver dies a month after being charged in Mechanicsburg pedestrians death OMAHA, Neb. Norfolk Southern expects Februarys fiery Ohio derailment to cost it $387 million, but that total will likely increase over time and that doesnt reflect how much the railroads insurance companies will eventually cover. The railroad provided a detailed estimate of the cost of Feb. 3 derailment outside East Palestine, Ohio, Wednesday along with first-quarter earnings. That derailment, and others since then, sparked a nationwide focus on railroad safety. Regulators and members of Congress have proposed reforms like capping freight trains lengths and setting standards for the trackside detectors used to spot problems. CEO Alan Shaw told Congress that he backs some proposals like enhanced standards for tank cars, but insists the data doesnt support other ideas like minimum two-person crews. Shaw reiterated his often-stated promise Wednesday to do whatever it takes to make it right for East Palestine and the surrounding areas. The $387 million estimate includes the $30.9 million the railroad pledged to help residents and the community around East Palestine recover from the derailment. Norfolk Southern said it has already spent about $55 million to dig up and remove nearly 34,000 tons of contaminated soil and trucked away another 13.2 million gallons of tainted water. Yet those who live near the derailment site close to the Ohio-Pennsylvania border are fearful of possible long term health impacts even though officials say that repeated testing hasnt shown harmful levels of chemicals in the air or drinking water. That estimate doesnt include money Norfolk Southern, based in Atlanta, will put into funds to help cover any long-term health issues, protect drinking water and compensate residents for the loss in their property values because the details are still being worked out with Ohios attorney general. The railroad will also have to reimburse the Environmental Protection Agency for its oversight of the cleanup. The railroad does have insurance coverage that will kick in after the first $75 million spent on damage to peoples property and after the first $75 million of damage on its own. But the details of how much insurance will actually cover will be worked out over time. Norfolk Southern and other major freight railroads have announced new safety measures, including installing more than 1,000 more trackside detectors. But theyre not likely to totally abandon the lean operating model adopted over the past six years that labor unions say has made the industry riskier because so many jobs have been cut, forcing inspections to be rushed and leaving train crews on call 24-7. 13 1 / 13 50-car train derailment causes big fire, evacuations in Ohio A worker safety advocacy group, the National Council on Occupational Safety and Health, issued a report Wednesday labeling Norfolk Southern and the other major freight railroads as some of the most dangerous employers in the nation because of those labor concerns about the impact of the cost cutting. The railroads defend their record as the safest way to transport hazardous chemicals over land and say recent changes to eliminate nearly one-third of all rail jobs and rely more on fewer, longer trains havent compromised safety. Federal Railroad Administration data shows that Norfolk Southern reported 12.95 train accidents per every million miles last year. Thats better than the three previous years but still worse than a decade earlier when it reported 11.4 total accidents per million miles. Shaw pledged to continue working to improve that record as the railroad applies the lessons from East Palestine. Moving forward, Norfolk Southern will be known for safe operations, Shaw said. Yet the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Railroad Administration are investigating the railroads practices to see where they can be improved. Norfolk Southerns first quarter profit fell 34% to $466 million, or $2.04 per share, because of the derailment costs. Thats down from $703 million, or $2.93 per share, a year ago. Without the derailment costs, the railroad estimated that it would have made $1.1 billion, or $3.32 per share, exceeding the $3.15 Wall Street expected, according to a survey by Zacks Investment Research. Citi analyst Christian Wetherbee said the railroads core results were weaker than he expected and shares were down more than 3% Wednesday afternoon at $200.58. Expenses jumped 32% to $2.4 billion, along with labor expenses tied to significant hiring over the past year and a new contract for employees. Revenue grew 7% to $3.13 billion, in line with expectations, as it increased rates for most of the cargo it delivered. Volume was flat overall. The derailment cleanup has slowed traffic on a busy east-west corridor for the railroad because it has only had one of its two tracks in service since March while it is digging up contaminated soil. That work is expected to wrap up in early June, which will boost traffic in the area. Josh Funk of The Associated Press wrote this story. More: Fractured rail found as probe continues into fiery Minnesota derailment Fiery derailments renew Americans focus on railroad safety Want a say in the news? Email Claudia at todayinpa@pennlive.com to have your thoughts on the stories covered here or on PennLive heard during Listening to Listeners, an original Today in Pa. segment that occurs every other Friday. 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 26, 2023 A teenager who was picked up by two men he met online has been found safe. A citys parking authority has been accused of handing out tickets to people waiting online at a food bank. One school district got $6 million in funding for electric buses. Also, a tasting room plans on hosting a boozy spelling bee. 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. The parents of a 20-year-old Massachusetts man that died in 2020 have sued Cabelas in Worcester Superior Court in Massachusetts and are seeking more than $1 million after they say he purchased a gun from the retailer without showing an FID card or license to carry, according to a news report. An FID card is a firearms identification card in Massachusetts that permits the purchase, possession, and transportation of non-large-capacity rifles, shotguns, and ammunition. The parents of Justin Fillios filed an amended civil suit on April 19 that seeks to hold the company, store and employee who sold a the gun to Fillios responsible for carelessness, recklessness and gross negligence resulting in Fillios death, MassLive reported. The newspaper said that Fillios died on Feb. 3, 2020 at UMass Memorial Medical Center after shooting himself with an 1851 Pietta .44 caliber black powder revolver, which was purchased along with ammunition, powder and accessories, three days earlier at a Cabelas store in Hudson, Massachusetts. At around 5:30 a.m., Feb. 1, Fillios brought the gun to a friends house and attempted to unjam or dislodge ammunition from the gun, and it went off and a lead ball entered his head through his chin, the report said. When asked by police about the transaction, MassLive reported that the lawsuit said that the general manager at the Cabellas location said the store employee erred in not asking the 20-year-old to show an FID card or license to carry while making his purchase. Justin was proud of his time as a student at the Advanced Math and Science Academy in Marlborough and was active with the former Central Mass Young Marines, his obituary said. In addition to his parents, he was survived by three brothers. Justin was very much a free spirit, known for his spontaneity and high energy. He loved to be on the go. Justins special gift was sharing his heart with others. He had a keen awareness of others needs and was always willing to help. He was thoughtful, empathetic, and selfless. His joy was in giving to others in need, the obituary said. Officials from Cabelas/Bass Pro Shops couldnt immediate be reached for comment. Cabelas is owned by Bass Pro Shops. There is a Bass Pro store in Swatara Township and a Cabelas store in Tilden Township, Berks County. A United flight that took off from Newark airport early Sunday turned around and returned to New Jersey three hours into the trip to Israel due to a disruptive passenger. While waiting to use a bathroom, the man sat in a seat reserved for flight attendants and refused to move when asked by a crew member, according to YNetNews.com. He then argued with flight attendants. The man was escorted off the plane when it arrived back in Newark, the news outlet said. United flight 90 traveling from Newark to Tel Aviv returned to Newark shortly after takeoff due to a disruptive passenger, United Airlines said in a statement. Law enforcement met the aircraft and removed the passenger. A new flight was scheduled to depart Sunday evening. United flight 90 departed from Newark at 12:48 a.m. Sunday and was back at the airport at 6:28 a.m, according to FlightAware.com. The flight was already about two hours behind schedule when it left, having originally been slated to take off at 10:55 p.m. Passengers were booked onto a flight for late Sunday. A Port Authority police spokeswoman said Tuesday she was checking for further information. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. More: Giving up her car keys left 91-year-old feeling the world is coming to an end Montana House cancels session after boisterous rally for transgender lawmaker Making America great again seems to be a primary objective of our Central Pennsylvania Republican legislators. Often advertising themselves as Patriots, Businessmen, Leaders and Soldiers, they remain loyal to at least to the memory of former President Donald Trump even though he doesnt personify the person you would want in the foxhole next to you or looking out for your employees in your business. He cant even win an election by getting more votes than his leading opponent. I havent found a major Republican candidate since Tom Ridge, John Heinz and Bill Scranton Jr. to vote for. This is the 21st century and we have a highly diverse population of some 340 million people who have to interact with each other, which bears no resemblance to the 18th century republic of some 4 million people, mostly farmers including about seven hundred thousand slaves. The ceremony held in Germany (Photo: VNA) The event was directly attended by more than 100 overseas Vietnamese from the eastern provinces of Canada and representatives of the Canada-Vietnam Associations chapters across the country through online. Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada Pham Cao Phong said that the ceremony shows gratitude to ancestors, and expresses the unity, strong will and solidarity which has helped the nation overcome many difficulties to achieve great achievements like today. According to the Ambassador, in recent times, the embassy has worked as a bridge connecting Vietnamese communities in Canada. Through the embassy, Vietnamese-Canadian scientists will make more contributions to the homelands development, while many exchange and support activities between overseas Vietnamese in Canada and people in the homeland will be held in the coming time, he said. In addition, a project to teach the Vietnamese language will be re-started in order to educate overseas Vietnamese in the nation about the cultural tradition, he added. On the same day, a similar event was organised by the Vinh Phu fellow-countrymen association in Sachsen states Leipzig city, with the support of the Vietnamese Embassy and dozens of Vietnamese organizations and associations in Germany. Do Mai Dang, Chairman of the Vinh Phu fellow-countrymen association in Germany, said that the Vietnamese community in Germany always work hard on preserving and promoting the precious tradition of the nation. Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh highlighted the fruitful development of Vietnam Germany relations, saying that the Vietnamese community in Germany has made significant contributions to the bilateral ties. The diplomat called on overseas Vietnamese in Germany to be more united and make their most effort to make more contributions to the homelands development. Dr. Gabriele Goldfu, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Leipzig city, highly appreciated the contributions of the Vietnamese community to the German citys development. On this occasion, she wished the friendship between twinned cities - Leipzig of Germany and Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam as well as between the two nations stronger development./. Minister of International Development Harjit Sajjan prepares to appear at the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, studying the government's response to the final report on the Special Committee on Afghanistan, in Ottawa, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang Professor Aleks Subic, Rector of Aston University speaking at the event (Photo: VNA) The event was organized by Vietnamese Student Associations of Aston University, University of Birmingham, and University of Northampton of the UK and it drew the participation of 150 people, who are Vietnamese and international students and overseas Vietnamese people in the city. During the program, various activities were held, including a photo exhibition, art performances introducing contemporary dance and folk songs from the three regions, a Vietnamese cuisine show, and a fashion show of traditional Vietnamese long dress (Ao Dai). Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to UK Nguyen Hoang Long called on the Vietnamese student community in the UK to actively introduce Vietnams image to British friends, helping promote solidarity, friendship, and people-to-people exchanges between the two sides. He said that within the framework of Vietnam Days in the UK, a series of activities are held in Birmingham, including a meeting between the Ambassador and the Mayor of Birmingham, as well as talks to discuss joint trade and investment opportunities. The Ambassador highlighted the role the Midlands region of the UK plays in bilateral cooperative relations, noting that Birmingham and the Midlands will serve as the driving force for the Vietnam UK relationship moving forward, especially in the fields of education, training, production, trade, and investment. Director of International Relations at Aston University Matt Dean said that he was very impressed with traditional art programs performed by Vietnamese students, and the program helped British people understand more about the culture and people of Vietnam./. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the third meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the 14th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on Tuesday heard reports on the deliberation results of relevant drafts and proposals. These reports were tabled at the third meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), which was presided over by Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee. The meeting heard reports on suggested changes to draft revisions of the Counter-Espionage Law and the draft law on ecological conservation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, as well as the results of deliberations on draft revisions to the codes of conduct for senior Chinese lawmakers. Relevant revised drafts were deliberated at the meeting. The meeting also heard reports on deliberations on draft lists for chairperson, vice chairpersons and members of the credentials committee of the NPC Standing Committee, as well as proposals regarding appointments and removals. The meeting adopted the decision to submit the revised drafts to the ongoing NPC Standing Committee session for further deliberation. Editor: ZAD Will Kassouf Denies Leaving Poker Table with Chips from Pot He Lost April 26, 2023 Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S. On Tuesday's Doug Polk Podcast, Will Kassouf denied allegations that he pocketed the chips he lost in an all-in pot during a low-stakes pot-limit Omaha cash game at the 2023 Irish Open. Earlier this month, Leo Worthington-Leese posted a video on social media sharing a second-hand story about Kasssouf he was told by a friend in the aforementioned cash game. In that story, which made its way around poker Twitter, Worthington-Leese, who competed in the Irish Open, claimed he was told that Kassouf lost his entire stack in a three-way pot about 300 euros and then proceeded to take his chips with him out of the card room instead of paying off the bet. Kassouf Tells a Different Story to Polk Kassouf, known for his "speech play" which helped him finish 17th in the 2016 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, appeared on Doug Polk's podcast to set the record straight on what went down during the Irish Open. Or, at least, give his side of a he-said-she-said story, and it was quite different from the one Worthington-Leese told. As the poker player explained in the hour-long conversation with Polk, there were no cameras in the cash game area, so there is no video to prove the allegations against him. According to Kassouf, he didn't take off with the money he lost and suggested that the dealer may have miscounted the pot instead. "I was sitting right next to the dealer, my chips were in the pot," Kassouf claimed. "There was no issue at the time." Kassouf then continued to claim "they knew I didn't run out of the poker room," referring to those who made the accusations. He said he remained in the area for a few minutes chatting it up with friends at other tables after the hand he lost. Check out Kassouf's Player Profile on PokerNews here His account of the incident then shifted to Keith Littlewood, who won part of the pot. Littlewood wrote on Twitter following Worthington-Leese's accusations confirming he was shorted in the pot. But he also said that "no one saw him take the chips but when the dealer came to pull in the chips his stack was gone." According to Kassouf, his chips were already in the pot and he claims it was likely the dealer simply miscounted the size of the pot. Littleton's statement to PokerNews contradicts much of Kassouf's interview with Polk. "The dealer then counted seat 4's stack and gave him the 725 from mine (a quarter of the pot)," Littleton said. "Then [the dealer] went to do the main pot, and just the blinds and antes were there. Kassouf's stack had disappeared, and so had Kassouf. Everyone was asking where Will's stack was. The dealer called the floor, who then got the security guards to go and find him. He had disappeared without a trace." "Rumors and speculation with no evidence or proof whatsoever." Kassouf said he exited the room like any normal day a poker player busts from a cash game. Per his comments on Polk's podcast, he engaged in some banter with friends and then left, and it wasn't until the next morning before he'd discovered there was a controversy brewing. "My chips were in the middle on the turn. My chips were in the middle by the dealer. I was sitting in Seat 1. Seat 2 re-potted it, Seat 4 went all in, and we all agreed to run it twice. My chips were in the middle. I had no more chips in front of me or behind. Nobody saw me take chips off the table because I didn't take chips off the table," Kassouf stated. Later on in the interview, Kassouf referred to the allegations against him as "rumors and speculation with no evidence or proof whatsoever." He then reiterated that he didn't bolt out of the card room with chips. "I would never do anything to jeopardize my poker career, or try to take chips from the table, be it a cash game or a tournament," Kassouf told Polk. "I'll never cheat in a game I love so much. So these are false allegations that are completely made up based on rumor and hearsay." Previous Controversies This wasn't the first time Kassouf found himself in the middle of a controversy. During the 2016 WSOP Main Event, captured on ESPN's broadcast, the British poker pro received a one-round penalty for repeatedly talking about the contents of his hand in a pot against Stacy Matuson. As the final table approached, he memorably busted with pocket kings against the pocket aces of Griffin Benger, who was fed up with Kassouf's speech play and constant tanking. "Check your privilege," an irritated Benger told Kassouf during the hand in question. Kassouf told Polk the incident was blown out of proportion and that his reasoning for tanking before moving all in with pocket kings was because he was genuinely concerned he was up against aces. But there was another alleged scandal involving Kassouf that he had to address on Polk's podcast. In 2018, he lost his Grosvenor sponsorship after allegations were made that he palmed a $100 casino chip from a roulette table and was banned from the property. His explanation for what went down was that there was a $100 chip in front of him following a spin at the roulette table, which he assumed was his. "No one said anything to me at the time," he claims. "We carried on playing, we carried on betting on other numbers." Kassouf then said he was drunk having a good time with friends, and then later at the bar, his friend approached him and informed him the chip in question was actually his. According to Kassouf, he agreed with his friend and paid him back, and that was that. One thing is certain, and that is controversy seems to find Will Kassouf every few years. Sharelines Will Kassouf denied some harsh allegations on the @DougPolkVids podcast. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print A report from the Center For Effective Lawmaking ranked Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) 217 out of 220 Republicans in the House in terms of effectiveness. The Center For Effective Lawmaking measures 15 different metrics to evaluate how many bills a member of Congress sponsors, how far they get toward becoming law, and the substantiveness of their proposals. According to Cleveland.com, Jim Jordan did not grade well: One of the best-known Republicans in Ohios congressional delegation top House Judiciary Committee Republican Jim Jordan was rated among the least effective GOP Congress members for the second consecutive time, at 217th out of 220. I didnt come to Congress to make more laws, Jordan said recently, when asked about the ratings. I actually came to Congress to reduce regulations and taxes on American families and the American people. My goal is not to pass a bunch of bills. Ill support the legislation that I think makes sense. I dont have to have my name on it to to be supportive of that. And Im certainly not going to do that in the committee. For More Stories Like This, Subscribe To Our Newsletter: Jordans excuse for why he is so ineffective doesnt make sense. The primary duty of members of Congress is to pass laws. The mechanism for reducing taxes and regulations is passing laws. The effectiveness report exposes members like Jim Jordan, who are more interested in publicity and political grandstanding than doing the job of legislating. Rep. Jordan has demonstrated that he is not very good at the oversight function of Congress either, as his attempts at oversight as chair of the House Judiciary Committee have been a series of laughable flops and failures. If you believe that the job of a member of Congress is to represent their constituents in the legislative process, Jim Jordan is not very good at his job. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The judge presiding over E. Jean Carrolls rape lawsuit against Donald Trump warned the former president that he could be charged with jury tampering over social media posts. The AP reported: What seems to be the case is that your client is basically endeavoring, certainly, to speak to his quote-unquote public, but, more troubling, the jury in this case about stuff that has no business being spoken about, the judge told Trumps lawyers. He called Trumps post a public statement that, on the face of it, seems entirely inappropriate. Trump attorney Joe Tacopina noted that jurors are told not to follow any news or online commentary about the case. But he said he would ask Trump to refrain from any further posts about this case. I hope youre more successful, Kaplan said, adding that Trump may or may not be tampering with a new source of potential liability. For More Stories Like This, Subscribe To Our Newsletter: This is the first time that I can recall that a judge has publicly warned Trump about facing possible charges over his social media posts. The judge mentioned that Trump was trying to go beyond speaking to his supporters and appeared to be trying to speak to the jury. Jury tampering is on page one of the Trump trial playbook. The former president has a long history of trying to drag out legal proceedings, destruction of evidence, and jury tampering. Trump has also shown that he is not above-threatening witnesses and their families. If Trump continues to try to influence the E.Jean Carroll case with public statements, he may not only lose a civil trial but could also open himself up to a world of legal hurt. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Former Michigan House Speaker Rick Johnson pleaded guilty on Tuesday to accepting bribes from marijuana businesses in his position as Chair of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Board, with power over which businesses got in first. He faces up to ten years in prison. Rick Johnson was the Chairperson of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Board (MMLB) between May 2017 and April 2019. In this position, he set himself up to accept cash payments from lobbyists (another scourge on our democracy with their huge corporate funds far outreaching the impact of citizens, who are supposed to be the represented). For More Stories Like This, Subscribe To Our Newsletter: Johnson, a man of tremendous power in Michigan having served as Republican Speaker of the House for several years, pleaded guilty to taking $110,000 in bribes over a two year period. The government charging release explained the scheme, Brian Pierce and Vincent Brown were lobbyists doing business as Philip Alan Brown Consulting, LLC and Michigan Growers Consultants, LLC, who lobbied on behalf of businesses and individuals who were seeking operating licenses from the MMLB. Johnson provided valuable non-public information about the anticipated rules and operation of the MMLB and assistance with license application matters to Dalaly, Pierce, Brown, and others that paid money to Johnson while he was Chairperson of the MMLB. The cash payments were made to three business entities, which Johnson used to accept payments from the companies, Philip Alan Brown Consulting, LLC, and Michigan Growers Consultants, LLC, to help hide those payments to Johnson while he was Chairperson of the MMLB. Between July 2018 and April 2019, Johnson voted in favor of approving the prequalification status of one of Dalalys companies and a company that was represented by Pierce and Brown and voted in favor of granting medical marijuana licenses to those companies. While this might just seem like part of a spate of crimes regularly committed by politicians being brought to light, it is also telling the broader story of the heightening corruption of our political process. This particular ongoing corruption investigation is wide-ranging and centered on the huge amounts of money at play to impact policy decisions and the power of lobbyists behind the scenes. At the time of charging, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten made exactly this point, Public corruption is a poison to any democracy. Those who wield the power of state have a sacred obligation to serve the people they represent. But when a government official takes a bribe, they spurn that solemn duty in favor of the connected, the crooked, and ultimately themselves. Political corruption has always been around, but in the post-Trump era, its taken hold of an entire political party. The Republican Party is currently led by a criminal defendant, and their motto seems to be f law enforcement unless we can weaponize it against opponents. The law, of course, is supposed to be applied to all without fear or favor. This has never been the case, but it is the ideal and less than that is a cause for objection. This month in particular, its seemed as if one dark secret after another is being brought to justice in some form. We can only hope this results in a cleaning out of government and a restoration of the goals of morals and ethics instead of celebrating criminality and thuggery in our political leaders. * China's tourism market is steadily recovering with the removal of travel restrictions. The country saw nearly 1.22 billion domestic tourist trips in the first quarter of 2023, up 46.5 percent year on year. * In response, China's tourist destinations are avidly developing new technologies and products, from robotic entertainers to camping. * The travel frenzy has made unlikely tourist hotspots, including the "barbecue city" of Zibo, while sending ripples of excitement to overseas destinations. WUHAN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Robots performing kung fu, interactive murals and deluxe camps -- tourists returning to Chinese scenic spots this year may find many new services on offer. Chinese tourists are coming back with a vengeance, having made 1.22 billion domestic tourist trips in the first quarter of this year. In response, the country's tourism sector is actively developing new technologies and products to heat up the market. The just-concluded China (Wuhan) Culture and Tourism Expo, which attracted 2,000 exhibitors from home and abroad, has offered a glimpse into the shift toward high-quality development. Tourists visit the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, April 21, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) INDUSTRY UPGRADES A variety of new technologies have been stealing the spotlight at the expo, from VR tours, robot guides to intelligent wearables, that are vying for a place in Chinese museums and scenic spots. Meet "Crinoid," a humanoid robot playing dulcimer at the expo. It is designed to read music scores, compose music and stage musical performances. "We are discussing collaborations with several tourist sites, where our robots can be deployed to entertain the tourists," said Zhou Li, head of Crinoid's development team at the China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). "People are really interested in this new type of performance. What's more, the robot can perform for longer hours at a lower cost," said Zhou. Industry observers have pointed to the increasing use of new technologies in the tourist sector to not only raise management efficiency but also cater to the rising demand for unconventional travel experiences. "Technologies such as 5G, big data and cloud computing have been widely used in the tourism sector in recent years to develop new tourist products and business models," said Fu Caiwu, head of the National Institute of Cultural Development in Wuhan University. "For instance, many tourist sites are now harnessing mobile internet and livestreaming to attract visitors. This has become a new promotion strategy," said Fu. Other tourist attractions are embracing burgeoning new forms of tourism, such as camping and nighttime travel, to appeal to the wealthier and younger holidaymakers. Prior to the expo, more than 200 tents were set up along the East Lake of Wuhan, where exhibitors showcased motorhomes and camping equipment to the visitors. On Shuangfeng Mountain in Hubei Province, a campsite with over 100 motorhomes is crowded with barbecuers seeking a respite from the urban hustle and bustle. Hu Xiaojun, manager of the campsite, said all the motorhomes had been booked up 20 days ahead of the upcoming May Day holiday. Though new to Chinese holidayers, camping has seen explosive growth in China. Data from research firm iiMedia Research shows that the core market size of China's camping economy reached 113.47 billion yuan (about 16.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022, up from 74.75 billion yuan in 2021. The figure is expected to hit a new high this year. Dai Bin, president of China Tourism Academy, said leisure tourism is now welcomed by a greater number of Chinese people as China enters into a moderately prosperous society. "Moreover, the epidemic has boosted demand for local and short-distance travels, which also contributes to the emergence of new leisure tourism such as camping," said Dai. People enjoy camping at the Donghu Lake scenic area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) NEW DESTINATIONS China saw nearly 1.22 billion domestic tourist trips in the first quarter of 2023, up 46.5 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Both the Spring Festival and the Qingming Festival recorded significant yearly rises in the number of tours. The number of inbound and outbound flights in popular tourist destinations such as Hangzhou, Chengdu, Sanya and Dali rose by 20 percent in March from the same period in 2019, according to travel service provider Qunar. In the first quarter of 2023, hotel bookings in popular tourist cities grew by 60 percent from pre-epidemic levels. "March is usually an off-season for travel, but this year the tourism market has seen better-than-expected recovery," said Guo Lechun, vice head of the big data research institute of Qunar. The market rebound is also reflected by the number of newly founded tourism-related companies in the first three months of this year, which according to Qichacha, a leading platform offering company information inquiry services, reached 79,900. The ongoing travel frenzy has created unlikely tourist hotspots. Zibo, an industrial city in Shandong Province, has become one of the most popular tourist spots in China after its iconic barbecue, which wraps grilled meat in crispy pancakes, made waves on the social media. The sudden influx of foodies from across China has reportedly overwhelmed local eateries and prompted local authorities to add trains and temporary bus routes. Tourists have also swarmed into Jiangmen, a coastal city in the southern province of Guangdong where the popular Chinese TV series "The Knockout" was filmed. According to the local government, the number of trips into the city between January and February surged by about 68 percent year on year. People visit the Hong Kong pavilion during the 2nd China (Wuhan) Culture and Tourism Expo in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, April 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) Overseas destinations have also begun to feel the excitement rippling from China's fast-recovering tourism market. Thailand for instance saw 269,745 Chinese tourist arrivals in March, a 70-percent increase from February, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. During the first four days of April, the country welcomed no fewer than 8,000 Chinese tourists per day. At the Wuhan expo, officials and tourist practitioners from 15 countries and regions, including the United States, France, Germany and Serbia, were promoting their products and seeking cooperation with local partners. "We are focusing on promoting Serbia as a tourist destination, and developing more business relations with Chinese travel agencies during the expo," said Vladimir Koricanac, managing partner with Serbia Tour Operation Group. "China's tourism industry is rebounding now, and I believe it will be renewed in full capacity this year as it was before," he said. Editor: WXL Sweet tea, humidity and heat greeted two social media influencers from across the pond this past week. Joshua Cauldwell-Clarke and Jason Riley from London have been making online content about the cultural differences between the United Kingdom and U.S. on TikTok, reaching a combined 5 million users. They decided to make their first trip to the United States, with Aiken and the CSRA as their their first stop in their three-week stateside excursion . You cant pick a more niche place, can you? Cauldwell-Clarke said. Every time someone asks where are you going in America and we say Aiken, the next question is why. Its cool, Ive really enjoyed it. We wanted to make some friends that live around this area, and they are just showing us the less touristy side of America, which is really cool, Riley said. The duo said they wanted to experience a small town, support small businesses and see the reality of life in America and contrast the cultures. The content creation duo are documenting their trip by creating small "vlogs" on their joint TikTok page @josh_and_jas_intheusa and on their subscription-based Patreon account. I think a lot of good can come from it. People can get a real vision of America and also, small businesses, Riley said, noting that he hoped people would be inspired to try some of the restaurants they visit. I think as Aiken is currently looking at who it is as a tourism destination, one of our largest assets is our downtown area. We really dont have any chains but a lot of stuff on the streets is mom and pops and its a pretty walkable downtown, said Eric Gordon, a tourism manager with Visit Aiken. We think that when people come visit South Carolina and they come internationally to visit the United States from overseas that they see what a small town can be like. According to Gordon, many of Aikens travelers come from within a two- to four-hour driving distance for weekend or day trips, or visit the region for equestrian-related events and business. We love to get publicity, and we do use social media. We currently dont use TikTok," Gordon said. I think that it's cool that they are going to put us out there to 5 million followers on TikTok. It is something that we are excited about It can definitely raise awareness as to who we are to a particular group, and we can see if there is any change in the future in our visitation. In addition to taste testing Southern food delicacies, like Waffle House, barbecue joints and seeing the inside of a Walmart, Cauldwell-Clarke and Riley were taken aback by the kindness and Southern hospitality of the people they have encountered. We are like kids in a sweet shop, candy store. Everything is so new to us, Riley said. Everyone is so polite, genuinely every American we have spoken to is so polite and welcoming. People have reached out and said come and do this, Ill take you horseback riding, Ill take you to do this. Everyone is really polite, Cauldwell-Clarke added. Riley and Cauldwell-Clarke plan to see other parts of the United States, as well, including cities in Florida and Texas. What we try to do as Visit Aiken is get those people who are coming to the coast whether they be Europeans, Americans or whatnot to come inland to see what a small town is like, Gordon said. We were voted one of the top 5 small towns in South Carolina and we were the only one that wasnt on the coast by Southern Living magazine, so to get people to come inland and see what small town South Carolina living is. I would hope what they are doing could raise awareness for that and what they are going to do and people who come to Aiken no matter their ages really find something charming and special about Aiken. I feel that they are going to get that same idea. Come to a small town in America, just really experience America. I am glad we did that and didnt go to a big city, Cauldwell-Clarke said. Its nice that we can see the backroads and we can be in the countryside and see these different animals and really experience it and be a part of the culture. I fully recommend coming to a place like Aiken. A lawyer for the South Carolina Ethics Commission said Wednesday no members of the Aiken City Council need to recuse themselves from voting on an ordinance dissolving the Aiken Municipal Development Commission. Courtney Laster, general counsel for the S.C. Ethics Commission, said in a letter answering City Attorney Gary Smith's request for an informal opinion that Mayor Rick Osbon, Mayor Pro Tempore Ed Woltz and City Council members Lessie Price and Gail Diggs don't need to recuse themselves. Smith submitted a request for an informal opinion April 13, two days after the city council voted to continue second and final reading of the ordinance. The ordinance dissolves the Aiken Municipal Development Commission and transfers ownership of the properties and other assets under its control to the city council. The AMDC owns the Beckman Building, Hotel Aiken, the building where Taj Aiken is located, the Dr. C.C. Johnson Drug Store, Warneke Cleaners, Newberry Hall and the former Jackson Petroleum property. It also has around $100,000 in a bank account. In his request, Smith said one council member owns a dry-cleaning business that completes with another dry-cleaning business that rents property owned by the AMDC. Osbon is the owner of Osbon's Laundry and Cleaners. Smith said another council member operates a business adjacent to property owned by the AMDC. Woltz and his wife, Holly, own Sutton Marine which is located adjacent to the Jackson Petroleum properties. When the city council approved the first reading of the ordinance March 27, Osbon and Woltz, citing these business interests, recused themselves from voting. Laster said their recusal wasn't necessary. She said Osbon and Woltz did not appear to have an economic interest in the ordinance because there does not appear to be an economic benefit if the properties owned by the AMDC change ownership. Laster added even if there was an economic interest, a "large class exception" would apply because the owner of every property adjacent to the AMDC properties would gain the same benefit. Smith said two council members previously served on the Aiken Corporation Board of Directors before resigning in March 2023. Price and Diggs resigned from the Aiken Corporation board in 2023. Laster said even assuming a conflict existed when Price and Diggs served on the Aiken Corporation Board of Directors there's an exception for council members serving on boards because they're on the city council like Price and Diggs were on the Aiken Corporation board that conflict ceased to exist when Price and Diggs resigned. "Accordingly, it is the opinion of Commission staff that the four Council Members are permitted to vote on the proposed ordinance," Laster said. Aiken, SC (29801) Today Plenty of sunshine with gusty winds developing this afternoon. High 73F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Clear skies. Low 46F. W winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. COLUMBIA A South Carolina grand jury Tuesday charged convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh with two counts of tax evasion after prosecutors reviewed his final years of tax returns before he headed behind bars. The former attorney is currently serving a sentence of life in prison without parole after a jury found him guilty in March of the shooting deaths of his wife and younger son in 2021. From 2011 to 2021, Murdaugh made about $16 million as a lawyer, while stealing about $9 million from his law firm, settlement money for clients and other places, according to indictments. Murdaugh, 54, also faces about 100 other charges, including tax evasion for his 2011 through 2019 returns as well as charges he stole money from clients, ran a drug and money laundering ring and tried to defraud his life insurer into paying a $10 million policy by having a friend kill him. The latest indictments came from Murdaugh's 2020 and 2021 tax returns. In 2020, Murdaugh did not pay more than $67,000 he owed in taxes after making more than $1.1 million from his law firm and an additional $1.1 million through theft and money laundering, prosecutors said. In 2021, Murdaugh should have paid $65,000 in taxes from $86,000 he earned from his law firm and just over $1 million he made illegally, according to the indictment. Murdaugh's wife and son were killed in June 2021 and he rarely worked before his bond on theft and insurance fraud charges was revoked four months later. He would be charged with murder while in jail during the summer of 2022. Prosecutors argued Murdaugh's swirling financial problems led him to kill his 22-year-old son Paul with a shotgun and then his 52-year-old wife Maggie with a rifle outside the kennels at their Colleton County home. Alex Murdaugh then cleaned up the scene, went to visit his ailing mother to try to establish an alibi, then called 911 and reported his wife and son dead when he returned home, prosecutors said. Murdaugh denied killing them when he took the stand in his murder trial, but admitted it was his voice on a video taken by his son at the killings minutes before data showed the victims stopped using their cellphones forever. Murdaugh told the initial investigators several times he was never at the kennels. Murdaugh maintained his innocence as he was sentenced to life in prison without parole and is appealing the convictions. He is currently being held in protective custody at an undisclosed maximum security South Carolina prison. State prosecutors also want to try him on all the other tax evasion, theft, insurance fraud and other charges as soon as they can, although no trial date for those cases has been set. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, speaks at a meeting marking the 75th anniversary of April 30, 1948, when the CPC Central Committee called on non-communist parties and people without party affiliation to convene a political consultative conference and found a democratic coalition government, in Beijing, capital of China, April 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Tao) BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Huning on Tuesday called on the country's multiparty cooperation system to further contribute to socialist modernization Wang is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He made the remarks at a meeting marking the 75th anniversary of April 30, 1948, when the CPC Central Committee called on non-communist parties and people without party affiliation to convene a political consultative conference and found a democratic coalition government. Wang noted that the call marked a milestone in the development of a united front and multiparty cooperation in China. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, historic achievements have been made for the cause of multiparty cooperation since the 18th CPC National Congress, Wang said. Upholding and improving China's new type of political party system requires constant commitment to the CPC leadership, Wang said. He called on members of non-CPC parties and people without party affiliation to share one mind with the CPC, work together with the CPC, and devote themselves to Chinese modernization. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, speaks at a meeting marking the 75th anniversary of April 30, 1948, when the CPC Central Committee called on non-communist parties and people without party affiliation to convene a political consultative conference and found a democratic coalition government, in Beijing, capital of China, April 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Tao) Editor: ZAD The failed lender had no branches in South Carolina but had underwritten several dozen home mortgages in Charleston County over the past decade. Read moreFirst Republic Bank seized, sold in fire sale to JPMorgan Chase Boeing Co. expects to build 10 787 jets a month at its North Charleston factory by mid-decade, or a third more than the plant's previous record production rate, the planemaker's top boss told investors April 26. CEO Dave Calhoun said consolidating all Dreamliner production to the South Carolina site in 2021 made the program more efficient because parts such as the rear fuselage section made at the site off International Boulevard no longer have to be transported across country to the original assembly line near Seattle. "I'm confident we will achieve that," Calhoun told a financial analyst who asked about the investment it will take to get the North Charleston plant ready to ramp up to the projected double-digit rate. At its peak, the Lowcountry site produced about seven 787s a month. "We don't see a big demand on investment to get us from, what you noted, seven to 10," Calhoun said. "It has a lot less to do with physical investment in equipment and more to do with how we route things through that factory." Boeing has a crew working full time to figure out ways to move aircraft and parts at the site more smoothly, he said, adding the company won't reach the 10-per-month rate until 2025 or 2026. Calhoun didn't express any concerns about getting the workforce in place to execute the production leap, and he previously said the company has "had no trouble hiring people none." Boeing grew its South Carolina workforce by about 17 percent last year, to 6,465, and the company said in January it plans to hire 10,000 workers across all of its sites in 2023. "We think we've got a very good plan in front of us, and we are very focused on 10," said Brian West, chief financial officer. "Ten is the number, and there is a lot of execution that's underwriting that." Right now, the North Charleston site is building about three Dreamliners each month up from about one every 30 days late last year. The biggest constraint now is clearing the roughly 120 Dreamliners that were put into inventory when minor production flaws were discovered in May 2021, halting deliveries until August 2022. About half of the North Charleston factory floor is devoted to repairing those planes so they can be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and delivered to customers. Some of that work is also taking place on the West Coast. "It's just going to take some time," Calhoun said, adding there are about 95 of the inventoried planes still being worked on. Boeing expects to be making five Dreamliners per month in North Charleston by the end of this year. The company delivered 11 787s during the first quarter of 2023 and reaffirmed its commitment to handing over 70 to 80 of the twin-engine wide-body jets to customers by the end of the year. The company also told analysts Wednesday it stands by its forecast of producing cash flow of between $3 billion and $5 billion for the year and its guidance of between 400 and 450 deliveries of its single-aisle 737 Max jet built in the Seattle area. Boeing delivered 111 of the popular planes to customers in the first quarter. Those commitments boosted Boeing stock despite a first quarter in which the company lost $425 million more than Wall Street expected and took a $245 million charge related to problems with its military KC-46A refueling tanker. Rising demand for commercial aircraft pushed revenues to $19.92 billion in the first quarter a 28 percent increase from last year and better than analysts' forecasts. Some airlines have complained that they can't get their planes fast enough, and Calhoun said Boeing will delay deliveries of some planes carriers were counting on for the busy summer travel season. The delays are tied to unapproved fittings that a contractor installed between sections of the fuselage on most 737 Max jets built since 2019. Calhoun didn't give a number of deliveries that will be delayed by the actions of subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems, but said that 9,000 seats would be missing from airline schedules this summer, which works out to about 50 Max jets. Boeing repeated earlier assurances that the fuselage issue on the Max does not affect safety and that airlines can keep using planes that are already carrying passengers. A former Charleston technology executive seeking to further delay his sentencing on federal fraud charges has been ordered to show up next week as previously scheduled. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Gergel agreed this week with prosecutors and denied the request for more time from Micfo LLC founder and CEO Amir Golestan, who pleaded guilty in November 2021 and whose unusual case is nearing the four-year mark. Sentencing is set for May 2. Last week, Golestan asked that his hearing be delayed until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on an appeal out of Buffalo, N.Y., that "bears directly" on his case, according to a document filed by his public defender. Gergel said it doesnt. Golestan was hoping the high court would invalidate a legal theory known as "right to control," which states that a wire fraud case can be established if someone is induced into making a financial or other economic transaction based on incomplete and inaccurate information. If the ruling went his way, what he did may no longer ... meet the statutory definition of fraud," one of his attorneys wrote. Gergel disagreed. He said the decision in the Buffalo case will have no legal relevance beyond the federal court systems New York-based 2nd Circuit. He added that Golestan pleaded guilty to traditional wire fraud and his counts of conviction contain no element of the right to control theory. Prosecutors charged Golestan and his shuttered downtown technology services business in May 2019 with 20 counts, each punishable by 20 years in prison. They were accused of deceiving an organization that allocates the valuable 32-digit numerical combinations that allow smartphones and other devices to communicate with the internet. The case was described as a first-of-its-kind criminal prosecution. Golestan later admitted to using fake notarized documents to help create a web of fictitious executives and companies that were able to amass nearly 758,000 of the unique internet protocol numbers after Micfo was having trouble obtaining them under its own name. Theyve been valued at more than $14 million on the open market. He vowed to fight the charges because he felt he hadn't broken any laws. His November 2021 bench trial before Gergel ended when he unexpectedly changed his plea on the second day of testimony without explanation. His sentencing already has been postponed several times. Golestan, 40, has been held in the Charleston County Detention Center since February 2022 over a contempt of court penalty tied to his divorce case. Cheryl Linderman has applied to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management for a permit for a proposed private recreational bulkhead. The wall is to be built into the critical line. Located in the Fishing Creek Resort subdivision on Edisto Island, lot 16, GIS address 631 Foredeck Lane. Comments will be received by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, 1362 McMillan Ave suite 400, North Charleston, SC 29405 by May 5th, 2023. AD# 2042724 LEXINGTON A judge has yet to make a decision on whether to dismiss a lawsuit over instructional materials filed against Lexington County School District One by the S.C. House Freedom Caucus and some district parents. The state's sixth-largest school district filed a motion April 18 to partially dismiss the complaints, which were filed in March. The plaintiffs claim the district violated a state budget proviso that prohibits the use of state funds for instructional materials related to critical race theory. But the district questions whether such materials even exist. After a hearing in which both sides presented their arguments on April 25, Judge William Keesley did not immediately issue ruling on whether to dismiss the case. Arguments during the 1-hour hearing dealt with plaintiff's allegations of districtwide racism against White students. The district pushed back, questioning the mission and purpose of the conservative Freedom Caucus whether any specific harm to students was being alleged. Both sides discussed the nature of the school district's partnership with the nonprofit organization EL Education. Six schools in the 27,000-student district partner with New York-based EL for teacher training and supplementary materials. The Freedom Caucus claims the education nonprofit is a major source of anti-White racism and critical race theory in the district. While the district asked the court to dismiss complaints from the caucus and from a parent whose children do not attend EL schools, the district was willing to concede that two children anonymous, along with their parents, who sued on their behalf have standing to sue because they do attend schools with EL instruction, like River Bluff High School or Lakeside Middle School. Christopher Mills, an attorney representing the Freedom Caucus and the three district parents suing on behalf of their children, argued that regardless of EL's mission, students throughout Lexington One are subjected to "racist instructional material" and are actively taught that "all White people are racist." "Though (Lexington One's) use of EL leads to one set of violations, it independently uses instructional materials that say, for instance, 'we have a White people problem,'" Mills said during the hearing. "Teachers will be forced to impart the district's beliefs that some students have internalized racial superiority because of their skin color." Mills also argued that the school district has caused "classic pocketbook injury" through its instruction and its plans to expand its partnership with EL Education. The attorney said parents fear that they will one day be forced to choose between keeping their children at a school with curricula pertaining to race or spend money to send their student somewhere else, like a private school. Representing Lexington One, attorney Rob Tyson said the district denies the allegations that it taught the things alleged or violated any state law, statute or budget proviso. Tyson also said the Freedom Caucus made no mention of any specific use of the materials referenced in their complaint. He said there was nothing to indicate that a book that supposedly said "we have a White people problem," for example, was actually used for classroom instruction, and if so where, when, how or by whom. "There's no harm that's been alleged," Tyson said of the complaints, referring to the allegations as "rank speculation." "They're based on potential events that may or may not happen," he said. While Tyson said he and the district understand parents' concerns, other avenues are actually available for them to take to get those concerns addressed. He cited the law signed by Gov. Henry McMaster in 2022 giving the Office of the Inspector General the authority to do so at the governor's request. After hearing both arguments, Judge Keesley asked the attorneys to send him a written order explaining why he should rule in each of their sides' favor by May 17. The Freedom Caucus is one of four plaintiffs in the suit. The other three are parents who filed the complaint on behalf of their children. Two of those parents, one of them also a district teacher, are anonymous. This is to protect them and their children from potential retaliation or harassment, Mills said. Tyson motioned for the court not to allow any of the plaintiffs to remain anonymous, however, on the grounds that the entirety of the proceedings should be open to the public. "Exposing the identities would subject both families to social stigma and harm," Mills said. "It would especially harm the children whose teachers and peers are told they are oppressors if they speak on race." Keesley asked the attorneys to submit separate written orders on the anonymity motion by May 17 as well. Lexington One also found itself under pressure from the Freedom Caucus in 2022, after an audio recording surfaced of an EL Education employee speaking about critical race theory and River Bluff High School in the same conversation with a person who remained anonymous. Because the recording had been edited before it was released, the context of those remarks was unclear. In February, parents of a River Bluff student brought a federal suit against the school district alleging that their child was assaulted by a teacher for not saying the Pledge of Allegiance. The district has denied the allegations. Click here for more news from Columbia, S.C. COLUMBIA After hundreds of residents at a north Columbia apartment complex evacuated in December following days without heat or water and with natural gas leaks, the Columbia City Council is considering a tenant's bill of rights. The bill of rights would not change renters' rules in the city's code but would instead require landlords give tenants a notice outlining their rights under city, state and federal law. "It's human rights, man," Councilman Ed McDowell, who proposed the ordinance, said during an April 25 committee meeting. "We just need to make sure we take care of our brothers and sisters. Simple as that." If a landlord failed to give residents a copy of the bill of rights, keep a signed copy on file or post a copy in a common area, in the case of larger complexes, the owner could face either a civil penalty or points on their rental permit. Enforcement is up in the air as council members consider how to penalize landlords breaking the law without the consequences trickling down to tenants. "We want to make sure we're not punitive to the point of (eviction), or where we get that unintended consequences of, 'They threw me out because now it's just uninhabitable,'" Councilman Peter Brown said. "What we want is something in place that's going to help get the needed repairs or a temporary place without shutting them down or throwing them out." In the case of the Colony Apartments, residents spent days without heat or water and with natural gas leaking into apartments during a cold snap until a complaint to the city raised an alarm. Police investigating an unrelated shooting discovered some residents were using ovens and space heaters to keep themselves warm. Many of the renters living in the privately owned but federally subsidized complex didn't report the problems for days because they were worried about retaliation, city officials said. But retaliation is illegal under state law. With the bill of rights, anyone moving into an apartment complex would have to sign a document outlining requirements for landlords to maintain a certain standard of living, along with giving residents phone numbers to call to report problems. The document would be laid out simply, in a way anyone signing their lease could understand. "I want people, regardless of their literacy level or background, to be able to truly understand what their rights are," Councilwoman Aditi Bussells said. Fire marshals and code-enforcement officers evacuated more than 300 people from the Colony complex in December, then went unit-to-unit determining whether each was safe for renters to return. After four days, some renters were allowed to come home, but others had to wait at least two weeks. The city is suing the Colony's parent company, Colorado-based Monroe Group, for more than $50,000 in expenses the city incurred in helping fix the problem. City crews repaired the busted waterline, evacuated and fed residents, and inspected more than 300 apartments, all of which cost thousands of dollars in resources and staff time, according to the lawsuit. Monroe Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Colony Apartments accepts Section 8 housing vouchers, which allow people under a certain income threshold to pay reduced rent. Long waitlists for a limited number of units that accept the federally issued vouchers means residents have fewer options if they get evicted or need to move. The Department of Housing and Urban Development requires its properties to meet "minimum standards of health and safety," including providing heat and running water, according to the agency's website. The bill of rights is just a start, McDowell emphasized. Beyond enforcing existing standards, the city's actions are limited. "The biggest hurdle right now is, of course, getting this ball rolling," McDowell said. Housing advocates said the bill of rights would be a step in the right direction, though they agreed that enforcement is lacking. "I love that we're talking about tenants' rights," Emily Blackshire, a housing justice attorney with SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center's Equal Justice Works Housing Justice Program, said. "But as it's written, this lacks a lot of teeth, in my opinion." Blackshire said she wanted to see more options for recourse for tenants who already have had problems, as well as more resources in general to answer questions, support tenants and help people relocate if necessary. "My concern is, we put these (bills of rights) up, but who's fielding those calls and making sure that your tenants are ultimately relieved and these things are dealt with, and it's not just sign a piece of paper and file it?" she said. Enforcement for the violations themselves could be stricter, Blackshire said. Macaulay Morrison, a staff attorney for the University of South Carolina's CHAMPS Clinic, suggested higher fines for landlords violating the law. "Until it hurts (landlords) in the pocket and costs money to have poor housing conditions, I'm a little pessimistic about change, unfortunately," Morrison said. The overarching solution is to start finding ways to build more affordable housing that will stay up to code, said Lila Anna Sauls, president of Homeless No More. She called on the city and county to start working together to find ways to build more affordable homes and apartments. "If you look at a family or a renter and they know this is the only place they can find because they don't have the income, they are more likely to stay in that house, so a bill of rights is not going to be taken advantage of," Sauls said. The bill of rights will return to a city committee for further consideration, particularly around enforcement, before moving on to the full council. "It's going to take us some time to hash this thing out," McDowell said. Click here for more news from Columbia, S.C. Food Writer Hannah Wade is the food writer for the Free Times. Before joining Free Times, Hannah worked as a reporting and photojournalism intern with The Greenville News. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2021. SUMMERVILLE As more families across the country flock to the growing Lowcountry counties north of Charleston, Summerville Medical Center is preparing to meet the needs of an expanded population with a multi-million dollar expansion on its original campus. This month, officials at the Summerville hospital announced it would officially start its over $60 million inpatient bed project in August. The project will add 56 new inpatient beds, a 40-percent increase to its existing 124 beds. "As we work to meet the health needs of our community, it is vital that we add capacity and clinical programs," said Jeff Taylor, the hospital's CEO, in a recent press release. Dorchester County's population has exploded in recent years, with more than 18,000 residents moving to the county in the last two decades. Currently, over 166,000 people reside in the county. Projections put the number of residents at more than 200,000 by 2030, The Post and Courier previously reported. Many of those moving in are settling in the Summerville area. Meanwhile in nearby Berkeley County, one of the fastest growing counties in the state, there are already more than 245,000 people, according to census data. The county grew by more than 52,000 people between 2010 and 2020. Summerville Medical Center's expansion will add a fourth and fifth floor to the hospital, along with 30 medical and surgical private beds on the existing third floor, 14 intensive care unit beds and 12 progressive care unit beds on the fourth floor. There are no current plans for the 5th floor space at this time, the hospitals communications director, Kelly Bowen said. "It's designed to give us flexibility to meet future needs." The hospital has a 24-hour emergency room, which saw at least 80,000 people in 2022. ER visits at SMC rose nearly 10 percent since 2019. The hospital also runs the highest volume pediatric only emergency department in the lowcountry. Maury Baker, chief operating officer for SMC, said a significant portion of the hospital's inpatient admissions come from its emergency room. "As our emergency room visits have increased, that translates to a need to increase our inpatient capacity," he said. Out of the thousands of emergency department visitors last year, 10 percent were admitted for inpatient care. The hospital isn't new to expanding its facilities, upgrading its operating room capacity from four rooms in 2019 to nine rooms as of March of this year. "As our surgical capacity continues to grow, we want to be able to accommodate the patients that need an inpatient stay post-surgery," Baker said. Completion of the project is estimated for spring 2025. Also in the north area, Roper St. Francis Hospital is aiming to begin its $1 billion construction project in North Charleston in 2024. Upon completion, the health care system will have built a seven-story hospital, five- to six-story medical office building and conjoining parking deck. A recent Post and Courier report deemed the hospital project as a wholesale corporate relocation from the flood-prone peninsula of downtown Charleston after 166 years. Roper's future hospital will sit on roughly 14 acres where the former North Charleston City Hall now stands. The Rotary Club of Summerville honored two of their own at the conclusion of the group's April 19 meeting, as both John Zeigler (Photo 1) and Corey Green (Photo 2) were the proud recipients of their respective Paul Harris Fellow pins for their recent monetary contributions to The Rotary Foun Read moreRotary pair share spotlight Kingstree, SC (29556) Today Sunny. High 74F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 46F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, speaks at a seminar with NPC deputies attending the second session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee, April 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji Tuesday urged efforts to maintain a firm political stance, fulfill duties under the law, and give full play to the role of deputies to people's congresses. Zhao, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, made the remarks at a seminar with NPC deputies attending the second session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee. Based on their work, the deputies shared their experiences and thoughts on issues such as maintaining close ties with the people and conducting fact-finding research and studies. Hearing the remarks, Zhao said deputies to people's congresses should adhere to the correct political orientation and earnestly perform their duties prescribed by the law. He also urged them to keep close ties with the people and serve as the bridge that links the Party and the country with the people. Zhao also stressed the importance of the NPC Standing Committee to enhance work capacity building for deputies to people's congresses and ensure that deputies can fulfill their duties according to the law and play their due role. Editor: ZAD A Kingstree man has been arrested in connection with a November 2022 shooting that left one dead, according to the Williamsburg County Sheriffs Office. Read moreKingstree man charged in connection with deadly 2022 shooting incident Theres really no way to dress this up: Some people have dropped all pretense of polite society. And our unsocial media has sped it along. Earlier this month, former South Carolina governor and current presidential candidate Nikki Haley posted a photo from her daughters wedding on Twitter. Basically, it was the Haley family with their new son-in-law. Nice moment, big smiles all around. The trolls went wild. People blasted Haley for wearing a dress they considered too close to the same color as her daughters white wedding gown. Yes, they accused the governor of trying to steal the brides big day, like some rom-com villain. Theres no point in repeating what they said, because its not worth repeating its stream-of-consciousness pap. Like most stuff on social media. Newsweek did an online story about this mild controversy because, hey presidential candidate. Or, rather, clickbait. But people are jerks online isnt exactly a newsflash. Too many keyboard warriors today have no filter, no sense of whats appropriate. They feel obliged to add vile, unsolicited commentary things theyd never say to anyones face to every online conversation. What passes for public discourse these days is a train wreck. Of course, some of that criticism was political, which doesnt make it right. But some of it was just plain ol sexism. A lot of people today whine about cancel culture, say people are just too sensitive, too politically correct ... and too quick to label comments racist or sexist. Perhaps thats because there are so many examples right there on our screens. We walk around with more technology than NASA used to send men to the moon, and what do some people use it for? To fight about politics they dont understand with people they dont know. And insult everyone. There are ample recent examples of things for which Haley could legitimately be criticized: possibly overstating the haul on her presidential fundraising, an egregious overuse of the word woke in an attempt to pander to voters shell never pry away from Donald Trump. Who, by the way, is often erroneously credited for this decline in civility. Trump didnt start this mess; he just capitalized on it. Point is, social media has normalized behavior that would not have been acceptable 25 years ago. And shouldn't be today. As the Haley story circulated Monday, CNN announced that it had parted ways with longtime host Don Lemon. This came two months after Haley launched her White House bid and Lemon said that, at 51, she was not in her prime. Digging the hole even deeper, he went on live, on the air to explain that a womans prime was in her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s. Which sounds exactly like the usual Neanderthal-speak on Facebook or Twitter. But thousands of people say even worse online. Every. Single. Day. You have to wonder how those people hold down jobs. Of course, some dont. We often see these ill-advised comments end with trolls being escorted from their former workplaces. And they always seem so surprised. Who knew saying ignorant, inappropriate things would have consequences? Now, because Haley is a politician, she blasted Newsweek for doing the story. She said on Twitter, natch This is why people dont trust the media. Liberal journalists spend their time harassing conservatives about outfit choices. Yeah, governor, but its not just liberals. Fox spent a month whining about the footwear of cartoon M&Ms. And the Republican-dominated Missouri legislature this year tried to police what female lawmakers could wear in their own Statehouse. Its madness. Haley should take this opportunity to stand out in the presidential field by making herself the civility candidate. Despite the popularity of bile on the internet, a lot of people likely would appreciate a return to decency in the public arena. And honestly, Haley is better at diplomacy; her insults dont sound like her. Remember that she once responded to a Trump tirade against her with the ultimate in polite Southern insults: Bless your heart. She kind of did the same thing over the weekend, noting in her tweet that the dress was gold, not white. Thats a bless your heart" right there. And, hey, anyone who disagrees with Haleys characterization of her dress should feel free to not share their thoughts. Some folks have forgotten that our constitutional right to free speech includes the underused option of just not saying anything. PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 16:46:36 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 414 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 RALEIGH, NC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / ACCESSWIRE, a newswire service standout that provides regional, national and global news to thousands of clients worldwide is proud to announce its gold-level sponsorship of this year's Public Relations Society of America's Employee Communications Connect23 Conference.The conference, which welcomes communications professionals from around the country, will take place from Monday, May 1st through Wednesday, May 3rd at the World Center Marriott in Orlando, FL.The theme of this year's event is Blurred Lines: Embracing the New Demands of "Mixternal" Communications. As a gold-level sponsor and exhibitor at the event and an industry leader in press release distribution services, the ACCESSWIRE team will share its expertise and experience in helping companies, public and private, amplify their messaging above the noise of a crowded marketplace to connect with the media and their target audiences."Communications professionals know all too well how confusing and difficult it can be to develop and execute a plan that turns their stories into earned media mentions. This is our sweet spot and we're thrilled to connect with attendees and talk about how we can help them unlock their potential to maximize their message and build brand awareness," said Jennifer Hammers, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Issuer Direct. "We continue to strengthen our relationship with PRSA and are proud to be an exhibitor and gold-level sponsor of this year's event." ACCESSWIRE, an Issuer Direct company, is one of the top newswires in the industry and offers global distribution, predictable flat-fee pricing, and top-tier customer service that's been recognized by numerous G2 badges including, "Easiest To Do Business With," "Best Relationship," "Most Implementable" and more.All in attendance are encouraged to visit the ACCESSWIRE table to enter its raffle. If you'd like to set up a private meeting with our team during the Employee Communications Connect23 Conference, click here###About ACCESSWIRE/Issuer Direct CorporationIssuer Direct is a leading communications company, providing solutions for both Public Relations and Investor Relations Professionals for over 16 years. Our comprehensive solutions are used by thousands of customers from emerging startups to multi-billion-dollar global brands, ensuring their most important moments are reaching the right audiences, via our industry-leading newswire, IR website solutions, events technology, and compliance solutions. For more information, please visit www.issuerdirect.com Issuer Direct Corporation Media Contacts:Brian R. Balbirnie+1 919-481-4000Jennifer Hammers+1 919-481-4000SOURCE: ACCESSWIRE PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 12:15:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 772 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Amplifidor, the forthcoming web and mobile platform that aims to transform the influencer industry by bridging the gap between creators, brands, and fans, has successfully closed on its pre-seed funding. The funding round was led by multiple institutional and value-add angel investors who recognized the potential of the platform's innovative approach to influencer marketing automation and network relations management.Amplifidor resonate graphicAmplifidor icon, logo, and branding pattern.The Amplifidor platform has been designed as a space for open collaboration between influencers and their communities, along with brands and their stockholders. The platform's amplified discovery algorithms suggest collaboration candidates based on users' interests and shared values, making it easier than ever to find new opportunities, and join ongoing campaigns, which are called "missions".Creators can manage their network, track their growth, and find new creators or brands to work with, while brands are able to search for the perfect creators or communities that fit their needs, track their influencer ROI, and manage their collaborations all in one place. Brands can also unleash their internal influence by discovering and engaging internal influencers and stakeholders, like employees, investors, advisors and others.Mr. Adel Alsubeaei is also announced to be joining the board of directors, bringing extensive entrepreneurial & financial expertise, and ecosystem connections. Mr. Adel has more than 20 years of experience in the financial industry while serving on boards of directors at various institutions and other committees. Mr. Adel had this to say about the future of Amplifidor: "This investment will enable a truly industry-shaking platform to enter public beta, first in the MENA region and then throughout the world. Social marketing is very siloed at the moment - a platform that makes collaborative relationships more fluid is a very big deal." Chief Vision Officer and founder of Amplifidor, Faisal Alqahtani, a recognized thought-leader on social influence, and the mastermind behind many influencer marketing industry innovations and standards, such as "The Fair Market Pricing Initiative", "The Social Influence Matrix" and the "Direct Influence Strategy Format", has led strategy and execution with multiplied ROI and cost savings for over 500 high-profile startups, brands, and government programs (G20, Riyadh Season, Hungerstation, etc). Faisal recognized that the concept of "influencers" was becoming less and less accessible, while the influence of the average social networker continued to grow. This led to his co-founding of the company alongside co-founder Waleed Alqahtani to enable a more inclusive and collective economy of influence.Speaking on the close of the funding round, Faisal commented, "Our vision is to be the enabler of more meaningful and purposeful human connection, communication and collaboration, with more collective creation of wealth and culture. The world needs less individualistic and reactive social influencers and content creators, and more proactive impact amplifiers and inclusive community ambassadors - thus the name Amplifidor. We are at a moment in history between the no-more and not-yet, transitioning to a whole new reality - and we're well positioned to shape the future and the narrative of our industry and adjacent markets, leveraging the significant shift in social and business norms." Co-founder Waleed Alqahtani is also excited about what this round of funding will mean for Amplifidor, stating: "This round will enable us to build the platform, the services and the ecosystem that will empower each social media user to grow their influence and become part of something bigger, and each organization to achieve sustainable growth with the support of their extended networks, regardless of their size, budget and objectives." The founder also notes the impact that this round will have on continued team growth - stating, "We've got great leadership in place and a full plan to scale with a new round of partnerships and hiring starting today. We really want everyone to be part of the Amplifidor movement and ecosystem, with so many collaborations, partnerships and incubation programs to be announced soon, to co-shape and co-own the future of influence. We believe that everyone can positively influence and be influenced, given the empowering tools, opportunities and platform." A private alpha test of the platform is already well underway, and excited users won't have to wait long to finally install Amplifidor on their iOS and Android devices - the web app and public beta are planned to launch early this summer. The company encourages anyone interested in staying updated on development progress and beta announcements to sign up at www.amplifidor.com Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3lBxUPC Contact InformationChad HaganMarketing Managerchad@ amplifidor.com 609-970-8079SOURCE: Amplifidor PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 17:35:53 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 747 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 ARMONK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Mark Mariani, an accomplished landscape and home designer, is proud to announce the creation of the Mark Mariani Grant for First Generation Americans. The $10,000 grant is intended to provide financial support for undergraduate and graduate students who are the first generation in their family to live in the United States and who demonstrate academic excellence, financial need, and a commitment to achieving their educational and career goals."I understand the challenges and opportunities that come with pursuing a non-traditional career path," said Armonk native Mark Mariani. "I'm excited to support students who share my passion for creativity, innovation, and making a positive impact on communities through design." As the first generation in your family to live in the United States, you have a unique perspective and experience that has undoubtedly shaped your aspirations for the future. The Mark Mariani Grant for First Generation Americans recognizes and celebrates the achievements of these students and provides them with financial support to help achieve their educational and career goals.To apply for this grant, you must be a current undergraduate or graduate student studying in the United States. The grant is open to all students regardless of their major or field of study. We believe that every student has the potential to make a difference in their community, regardless of their chosen field. That's why we welcome students from all disciplines to apply for this grant.To apply, students should submit an essay of no more than 1000 words that creatively addresses the following question: "How has your experience as a first-generation American shaped your aspirations for the future, and how do you plan to use your education to give back to your community?"We want to hear your personal story and how your background has influenced your career aspirations. We also want to know how you plan to use your education to make a positive impact on your community. We're looking for essays that are creative, thoughtful, and demonstrate a clear commitment to achieving your goals.Mark Mariani, Armonk entrepreneur, understands the challenges and opportunities of pursuing a non-traditional career path, and he wants to support first-generation students as they work to achieve their dreams.Mark's passion for landscape and home design began at a young age, as he explored the woods and climbed trees in his hometown of Armonk, NY. His deep connection to nature informs his design philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of balance, beauty, and sustainability.Mark's commitment to sustainability and his love of nature are reflected in his designs, which incorporate a wide range of elements to create beautiful, functional spaces that harmonize with the natural environment. He believes that every project should be a reflection of the client's unique style and preferences, and he works closely with his clients to create spaces that are tailored to their specific needs and desires."We're looking for students who demonstrate potential, creativity, and passion for their chosen field," said Mariani. "The grant will provide financial assistance and opportunities to connect with leaders in the landscape and home design industry." Mariani's deep connection to nature and passion for landscape design serve as the inspiration for the grant. His exacting, detailed style and commitment to excellence have earned him a reputation as one of the top designers in the region. Over the past four decades, he has built a career defined by award-winning designs that continue to inspire and delight his clients in Armonk, Greenwich, the Hamptons, and the surrounding Connecticut and New York areas.The deadline to apply for the Mark Mariani Grant for First Generation Americans is December 15, 2023. The winner will be announced on January 15, 2024.To apply for the grant or for more information, please visit https://markmarianigrant.com/mark-mariani-grant/ About Mark Mariani:Mark Mariani of Armonk is an accomplished landscape and home designer with over 40 years of experience in the industry. He founded the landscape and home design firm of Mark Mariani, Inc. in 1982, with a mission to create beautiful and functional spaces that harmonize with the natural environment. His work is characterized by a deep respect for the land and a commitment to creating designs that are both beautiful and sustainable. In addition to his work as a designer, Mark is a passionate advocate for the importance of connecting with nature.Contact Info:Spokesperson: Mark MarianiOrganization: Mark Mariani GrantWebsite: https://markmarianigrant.com Email: apply@ markmarianigrant.com SOURCE: Mark Mariani Grant China's tourism market is steadily recovering with the removal of travel restrictions. The country saw nearly 1.22 billion domestic tourist trips in the first quarter of 2023, up 46.5 percent year on year. In response, China's tourist destinations are avidly developing new technologies and products, from robotic entertainers to camping. The travel frenzy has made unlikely tourist hotspots, including the "barbecue city" of Zibo, while sending ripples of excitement to overseas destinations. WUHAN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Robots performing kung fu, interactive murals and deluxe camps -- tourists returning to Chinese scenic spots this year may find many new services on offer. Chinese tourists are coming back with a vengeance, having made 1.22 billion domestic tourist trips in the first quarter of this year. In response, the country's tourism sector is actively developing new technologies and products to heat up the market. The just-concluded China (Wuhan) Culture and Tourism Expo, which attracted 2,000 exhibitors from home and abroad, has offered a glimpse into the shift toward high-quality development. Tourists visit the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, April 21, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) INDUSTRY UPGRADES A variety of new technologies have been stealing the spotlight at the expo, from VR tours, robot guides to intelligent wearables, that are vying for a place in Chinese museums and scenic spots. Meet "Crinoid," a humanoid robot playing dulcimer at the expo. It is designed to read music scores, compose music and stage musical performances. "We are discussing collaborations with several tourist sites, where our robots can be deployed to entertain the tourists," said Zhou Li, head of Crinoid's development team at the China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). "People are really interested in this new type of performance. What's more, the robot can perform for longer hours at a lower cost," said Zhou. Industry observers have pointed to the increasing use of new technologies in the tourist sector to not only raise management efficiency but also cater to the rising demand for unconventional travel experiences. "Technologies such as 5G, big data and cloud computing have been widely used in the tourism sector in recent years to develop new tourist products and business models," said Fu Caiwu, head of the National Institute of Cultural Development in Wuhan University. "For instance, many tourist sites are now harnessing mobile internet and livestreaming to attract visitors. This has become a new promotion strategy," said Fu. Other tourist attractions are embracing burgeoning new forms of tourism, such as camping and nighttime travel, to appeal to the wealthier and younger holidaymakers. Prior to the expo, more than 200 tents were set up along the East Lake of Wuhan, where exhibitors showcased motorhomes and camping equipment to the visitors. On Shuangfeng Mountain in Hubei Province, a campsite with over 100 motorhomes is crowded with barbecuers seeking a respite from the urban hustle and bustle. Hu Xiaojun, manager of the campsite, said all the motorhomes had been booked up 20 days ahead of the upcoming May Day holiday. Though new to Chinese holidayers, camping has seen explosive growth in China. Data from research firm iiMedia Research shows that the core market size of China's camping economy reached 113.47 billion yuan (about 16.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022, up from 74.75 billion yuan in 2021. The figure is expected to hit a new high this year. Dai Bin, president of China Tourism Academy, said leisure tourism is now welcomed by a greater number of Chinese people as China enters into a moderately prosperous society. "Moreover, the epidemic has boosted demand for local and short-distance travels, which also contributes to the emergence of new leisure tourism such as camping," said Dai. People enjoy camping at the Donghu Lake scenic area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) NEW DESTINATIONS China saw nearly 1.22 billion domestic tourist trips in the first quarter of 2023, up 46.5 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Both the Spring Festival and the Qingming Festival recorded significant yearly rises in the number of tours. The number of inbound and outbound flights in popular tourist destinations such as Hangzhou, Chengdu, Sanya and Dali rose by 20 percent in March from the same period in 2019, according to travel service provider Qunar. In the first quarter of 2023, hotel bookings in popular tourist cities grew by 60 percent from pre-epidemic levels. "March is usually an off-season for travel, but this year the tourism market has seen better-than-expected recovery," said Guo Lechun, vice head of the big data research institute of Qunar. The market rebound is also reflected by the number of newly founded tourism-related companies in the first three months of this year, which according to Qichacha, a leading platform offering company information inquiry services, reached 79,900. The ongoing travel frenzy has created unlikely tourist hotspots. Zibo, an industrial city in Shandong Province, has become one of the most popular tourist spots in China after its iconic barbecue, which wraps grilled meat in crispy pancakes, made waves on the social media. The sudden influx of foodies from across China has reportedly overwhelmed local eateries and prompted local authorities to add trains and temporary bus routes. Tourists have also swarmed into Jiangmen, a coastal city in the southern province of Guangdong where the popular Chinese TV series "The Knockout" was filmed. According to the local government, the number of trips into the city between January and February surged by about 68 percent year on year. People visit the Hong Kong pavilion during the 2nd China (Wuhan) Culture and Tourism Expo in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, April 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) Overseas destinations have also begun to feel the excitement rippling from China's fast-recovering tourism market. Thailand for instance saw 269,745 Chinese tourist arrivals in March, a 70-percent increase from February, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. During the first four days of April, the country welcomed no fewer than 8,000 Chinese tourists per day. At the Wuhan expo, officials and tourist practitioners from 15 countries and regions, including the United States, France, Germany and Serbia, were promoting their products and seeking cooperation with local partners. "We are focusing on promoting Serbia as a tourist destination, and developing more business relations with Chinese travel agencies during the expo," said Vladimir Koricanac, managing partner with Serbia Tour Operation Group. "China's tourism industry is rebounding now, and I believe it will be renewed in full capacity this year as it was before," he said. (Reporting by Tian Zhongquan, Wan Pengqi, Xu Penghang, Yu Pei, Yao Yuan) Editor: ZAD PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 17:32:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 503 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Handcrafted Beverage Chain Joins Leading Foodservice Cloud Platform for Supply Chain Intelligence NetworkCHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / ArrowStream, Inc. ("ArrowStream"), the leading foodservice cloud platform for supply chain intelligence, welcomes Aroma Joe's, one of the nation's leading handcrafted beverage chains, to its network of over 275 chain operators across 105,000 restaurant locations, 1,300 distribution locations and 10,000 manufacturers.Headquartered in South Portland, Maine, Aroma Joe's is a major disruptor in the quick-service coffee space. The chain's proprietary coffee blends are craft roasted and Rainforest Alliance Certified, which means they are sustainably grown and ethically sourced. And the chain's signature AJ's RUSH Energy drinks have resonated with a new generation seeking their daily energy in new and unique beverages. With over 100 locations, Aroma Joe's is looking to ArrowStream to put a supply chain visibility solution in place that allows the company to scale and maintain its aggressive growth objectives moving forward."As we are beverage-led with a large majority of our business through drive-thru, our disposable cups are critical," said Julie Visser, Chief Procurement Officer at Aroma Joe's. "Through ArrowStream, we'll have access to daily and accurate data on our product spend, inventory levels, and deliveries, allowing us to always have a real-time pulse of our supply chain. ArrowStream will improve our inventory risk identification, allowing us to proactively take action and not worry about running out of the products or ingredients necessary to serve our customers." Behind the scenes, ArrowStream's proprietary technology and data management team are transforming raw distributor and manufacturer data into clean, actionable data. A key part of the solution includes a multi-tier product categorization design which enables next-level category management and analytics. With complete visibility and actionable insights, risks are mitigated, costs are reduced, and supply chain operations become more efficient."Aroma Joe's is committed to always improving and modernizing their supply chain through technology and we're proud to be the strategic partner they chose," said Marc Larson, VP of Sales at ArrowStream. "With guided analytics and auto-refreshed dashboards, Aroma Joe's can focus their attention on business opportunities and supply chain threats instead of wrangling data. We're excited to partner with Aroma Joe's during such an important time of their business's growth." Aroma Joe's is the latest business to partner with ArrowStream, joining a growing list of customers including Sweetgreen, Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, and Mellow Mushroom, among others. ArrowStream's solutions are developed specifically for the foodservice industry to help its operator customers evolve their supply chain team's capabilities with a digital supply chain that enables them to manage food costs and ensure end-to-end visibility.Learn more on how ArrowStream can help your business and request a consultation with one of our supply chain experts today.About ArrowStreamArrowStream is the leading foodservice cloud platform for supply chain intelligence. ArrowStream provides unparalleled levels of transparency, control, and actionable insight to mitigate risks, streamline operations, protect the brand, and optimize profitability.Contact Information:Joe FerrellSr. Director, Marketingjferrell@ arrowstream.com SOURCE: ArrowStream, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 08:00:52 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 880 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Half-year results for the six months ended 31 January 2023Up to $402 million AstraZeneca deal for NRF2 Activator programme; Third global out-licensing deal executedFuture strategic focus to deliver high value small molecules to treat immuno-inflammatory diseasesLaunched PatientSeek, a Precision Medicine platform for optimised patient selection based on its Taxonomy3 genetic analysis technologyMANCHESTER, UK / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / C4X Discovery Holdings plc (AIM: C4XD), a pioneering Drug Discovery company, today announces its half-year results for the six months ended 31 January 2023.Dr Clive Dix, CEO of C4X Discovery, said:"C4XD has continued to make significant strides across our portfolio during the period, culminating in our third global out-licensing deal, this time with AstraZeneca for our NRF2 Activator programme worth up to $402 million. This external validation of our ability to generate high-quality small molecule discovery programmes builds on previous deals with globally recognised partners Sanofi and Indivior and brings our total potential deal value to $1.2 billion1."I'm excited that following a review of our expertise and previous successes, our strategy is now focused on treatments for immuno-inflammatory diseases. With our proven expertise in drug discovery and our rigorous approach to programme development, we believe that a more focused approach on immuno-inflammatory diseases will allow us to harness our skillset and take the development of our programmes further, providing greater value for shareholders." Operational Highlights (including post-period events)Indivior'sPhase 1 multiple ascending dose clinical trial of C4XD'soral Orexin-1 receptor antagonist,C4X_3256 (INDV-2000), for substance use disorder is ongoing.Sanofi is progressing C4XD's IL-17A inhibitor programme for inflammatory diseases towards the next milestoneC4XD signed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with AstraZeneca in November 2022, worth up to $402 million, for its NRF2 Activator programme.47 integrin inhibitor programme for inflammatory bowel disease delivered compounds showing improved activity at a lower dose compared to example competitor clinical compounds in a pharmacodynamic model after oral dosing.MALT-1 inhibitor programme for cancer examined a lead compound in a mouse xenograft study that showed equivalent efficacy at equivalent dose to the Johnson & Johnson clinical compound JnJ-67856633 (in Phase 1) and the project is moving forward to identification of candidate shortlist molecules.C4XD internal portfolio expanded in inflammatory diseases and new programmes identified to progress into Lead Optimisation and beyond.C4XD launched PatientSeek, a Precision Medicine platform for optimised patient selection based on its Taxonomy3 genetic analysis technology, following key results from a collaboration with Australia's Garvan Institute of Medical Research ("Garvan Institute").Dr Nick Ray has been appointed as Chief Scientific Officer.Financial HighlightsRevenue was 1.7 million (January 2022: 0.1 million)Total loss after tax of 3.9 million or 1.55 pence per share (January 2022: 4.5m or 1.98 pence per share)R&D expenses was 5.2 million (January 2022: 3.9m), reflecting focused investment in key Drug Discovery programmesNet assets of 13.6 million (January 2022: 15.2m)Net cash as at 31 January 2023: 9.6 million (31 January 2022: 11.7m)Analyst webcast and conference call todayDr Clive Dix, Chief Executive Officer, and members of the management team will host a webcast for analysts at 9:30am BST today. The webcast can be accessed online at:A copy of the final results presentation will be released later this morning on the Company website at www.c4xdiscovery.com 1. Total deal value calculation based on exchange rates at the time of each deal.- Ends -ContactsC4X Discovery HoldingsMo Noonan, Communications+44 (0)787 6444977Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (NOMAD and Broker)Freddy Crossley, Emma Earl (Corporate Finance)+44 (0)20 7886 2500Rupert Dearden (Corporate Broking)C4X Discovery Media - Consilium Strategic CommunicationsMary-Jane Elliott, Chris Gardner, Matthew Neal+44 (0)203 709 5700Notes to Editors:About C4X DiscoveryC4X Discovery ("C4XD") is a pioneering Drug Discovery company, combining scientific expertise with cutting-edge Drug Discovery technologies to efficiently deliver worldleading medicines. We have a highly valuable and differentiated approach to Drug Discovery through our enhanced candidate molecule design and patient stratification capabilities, generating small molecule drug candidates across multiple disease areas focused on immuno-inflammation. Our commercially attractive portfolio ranges from early-stage target opportunities to late-stage Drug Discovery programmes and we have three commercially partnered programmes with one candidate in clinical development.For more information visit us at www.c4xdiscovery.com or follow us on twitter @C4XDiscovery.Corporate OverviewWe have continued to make strong progress across the entire portfolio, both during the period and into the beginning of 2023. Our most significant news was announced in November with the out-licensing of our NRF2 Activator programme to AstraZeneca for up to $402 million, including $2 million upfront, and up to $16 million in potential pre-clinical milestone payments, plus the potential for tiered single-digit royalties.Our portfolio of partnered programmes continues to advance. Indivior's Phase I multiple-ascending dose clinical trial of C4XD's Orexin 1 Antagonist candidate C4X_3256/INDV-2000 is underway and, following the first milestone received from Sanofi, our IL-17A Inhibitor programme is advancing through pre-clinical studies towards the next milestone. We look forward to hearing how these programmes progress throughout the year.Following a review of our expertise and previous successes, C4XD is evolving its strategy to become a company focused on treatments for immuno-inflammatory diseases. With the majority of our portfolio already focused on immuno-inflammatory diseases, a proven drug discov PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 18:30:38 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 381 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Cadence Design Systems:Giving back to communities is a core part of Cadence's history and culture. We have several Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, including in education, all of which are creating a positive impact in society. We are committed to providing underprivileged students with an equal chance of success in this competitive world through access to education.We are delighted to mark a new milestone in our journey with the inauguration of the Vidya & Child School for underprivileged children in Khoda village, near New Delhi. We have been working closely with Vidya & Child, providing both financial and advisory support to build this school. The school provides a nurturing learning environment for over 300 students, from nursery to eighth standard, after which they are enrolled in mainstream schools in the locality. The school also offers after-school educational support and extra-curricular activities to the students even after they join their mainstream schools.Cadence India leadership, along with teachers, staff, students, parents of Vidya & Child, and others, recently gathered for a launch event to inaugurate the newly constructed school building.The event started with the traditional lighting of the lamp, followed by a prayer recited by the students of the school. After this, a few alumni of the school were invited to share their experiences and learnings and how the school has shaped them to be the person they are today. This was followed by talks by Supriya Akhaury, founder of Vidya & Child, and Jaswinder Ahuja, corporate vice president, and Cadence India managing director.The school features modern and environmentally-friendly amenities, including rainwater harvesting, solar-powered energy panels, a dedicated computer lab, and a STEM lab. A lot of thought, planning, and brainstorming has gone into conceptualizing and designing the building with a vision of creating a meaningful facility conducive to teaching and learning.Cadence is committed to enabling education for underserved communities. Our partnership with Vidya & Child in building the Khoda school is an important milestone in the journey, along with the Cadence Scholarship Program, several other projects with Vidya & Child, and many other projects.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cadence Design Systems on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Cadence Design SystemsWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cadence-design-systems Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Cadence Design Systems PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 14:20:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1003 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Mattie, one of Habitat for Humanity's homeowners, had been living comfortably for 10 years in her Habitat for Humanity home she helped to build in Rochester, New York. She worked full time, but a chronic autoimmune disease that requires her to be on oxygen caused her to move more slowly. In 2020, her health began to decline, causing her start working part time. The combination of increased medical costs, no longer being physically able to work full time and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic made it harder to keep up with critical needs and to make ends meet, including her mortgage.But after speaking with Habitat staff, she learned about the Homeowner Assistance Fund. Through Habitat's Cost of Home campaign, Habitat for Humanity, our communities and partners across the U.S. successfully advocated - sending emails, making phones calls and hosting meetings with congressional representatives and leveraging the media - for the $9.96 billion fund to support homeowners at risk of default, foreclosure and displacement because of the COVID-19 pandemic to be included in the American Rescue Plan. Mattie applied, was approved and was able to receive assistance. After successfully making mortgage payments for more than a decade, it was a huge relief for her to remain in her beloved home and neighborhood where her roots run deep. Mattie once again has the security and stability to focus on managing her health and to continue helping others in her community.Since Habitat's Cost of Home campaign launched in 2019, Whirlpool Corporation has collaborated in the work to access more stable, affordable homes for people like Mattie - helping to secure more than 200 policy wins across the U.S. Through the five-year Cost of Home campaign, Habitat for Humanity is mobilizing local Habitat organizations, partners, volunteers and community members across the country to find the solutions and help create the policies that will allow 10 million individuals to meet their most basic needs.Below is a roundup of the policy wins experienced through the Cost of Home campaign to date by Habitat for Humanity affiliates in areas where Whirlpool Corp. is located:Fiscal Year 2021Supply and preservation of affordable homesIn Ohio, Preble Habitat advocated locally for their commissioners to allocate $50,000 of the local Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funding for a housing program to assist homeowners with mortgage and utility payments. Once this allocation was made, the affiliate's executive director chaired the allocation plan's working committee. This funding will assist approximately 50 individuals.Under the leadership of Habitat Michigan, a sign-on letter was organized, which influenced Governor Whitmer to include $100 million in the budget for the state American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Governor said those funds will assist 6,000 Michigan residents with their housing needs.Good News Habitat, in Richmond, Indiana, worked in conjunction with the local economic development committee to attract housing developers and the local Wayne County Foundation to promote affordable housing. Their goal was to lobby the city to make affordable housing more accommodating, rather than restricting, in their economic revitalization efforts. They partnered with neighborhood associations through the Neighborhood Involvement and Community Engagement (NICE) Program and received funds to help build 15 homes.Communities of OpportunityHabitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati partnered with the Lower Price Hill neighborhood to provide affordable homeownership opportunities for parents of students at the school at the center of the community. This is a significant commitment for the affiliate because the rehabs are costly and take a long time. In October 2020, the affiliate joined three other non-profits to advocate for $1 million in project funding from the City of Cincinnati to support a project planned by one of the organizations to rehab 46 apartment units in Lower Price Hill. Unfortunately, the City of Cincinnati denied the funding request, putting the first major rehabilitation of multi-family units in the neighborhood in jeopardy. Habitat Greater Cincinnati joined the advocacy effort and testified at a Cincinnati Council committee hearing to advocate for the funding, encouraging the city to reconsider investing in the project. Subsequently, the City Administration found the funds and committed $1 million to the project to enable the rehab of 46 apartment units to move forward. This effort resulted in improved housing conditions for an estimated 96 individuals.Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, successfully advocated for the At-Home in Pittsfield program, which is an exterior renovation loan program that enables eligible homeowners to renovate the outside of their homes through a combination of funding from local lenders and the City of Pittsfield. Central Berkshire Habitat played a leading role in advocating for the program, and the affiliate will also be a partner in its implementation. The city will receive $500,000 from this Cost of Home policy win. Central Berkshire Habitat also successfully petitioned Governor Baker for COVID relief funding for non-profits and small businesses. This advocacy resulted in $78,500,000 for non-profit organizations and small businesses that experienced economic hardship due to the pandemic.Access to creditIn 2020, Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Michigan advocated against House Bill 5097, which would allow payday lenders to give out small loans for up to $2,500. The monthly fees on the loan would be 11% of the principal of the loan, with an annual percentage rate of 132%, meaning a borrower could end up paying more than $7,000 on a $2,500 two-year loan. In addition, HB 5097 established no term limits on the length of the loans, resulting in borrowers getting into a perpetual debt trap. Habitat for Humanity of Michigan and affiliates across the state collaborated with several other housing organizations and met with 35 legislators, urging them to vote against HB 5097. Ultimately, HB 5097 died before getting a vote in the Michigan Senate committee.Fiscal Year 2022Supply and preservation of affordable homesSince May 2021, Habitat Michigan has advocated for budget items in Senate Bill 565 relating to critical home repairs, missing middle housing, and development of a Housing and Community Development Fund. In March 2022, the legislation was signed by Governor Whitmer. This effort was a collaboration between Habitat Michigan, the state's network of affiliates, and partner organizations like Communit PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 07:45:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 759 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Did you lose money on investments in Credit Suisse? If so, please visitCredit Suisse Group AG Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com to discuss your rights.NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the securities of Credit Suisse Group AG ("Credit Suisse" or the "Company") (NYSE:CS) between March 10, 2022 and March 20, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.Credit Suisse, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services in Switzerland, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and Asia Pacific. The Company offers wealth management solutions, including investment advice and discretionary asset management services; risk management solutions, such as managed investment products; and wealth planning, succession planning, and trust services.In October 2022, Credit Suisse began experiencing a sharp increase in customer outflows, or withdrawals of client funds, after a series of quarterly losses and risk and compliance failures significantly decreased the Company's American Depositary Share ("ADS") price.On December 1, 2022, Credit Suisse's Chairman, Defendant Axel P. Lehmann ("Lehmann"), stated in an interview with Financial Times that customer outflows had not only "completely flattened out," but had, in fact, "partially reversed." The following day, in an interview with Bloomberg Television, Defendant Lehmann reiterated his previous statements, reassuring investors that as of November 11, 2022, customer outflows had "basically stopped".Following Defendant Lehmann's statements, Credit Suisse's ADS price rose $0.29 per ADS, or 9.36%, to close at $3.38 per ADS on December 2, 2022.Plaintiff alleges that Defendants made materially false and misleading statements throughout the Class Period. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants failed to disclose that: (i) contrary to Defendant Lehmann's representations in December 2022, the sharp increase in customer outflows Credit Suisse began experiencing in October 2022 remained ongoing; (ii) accordingly, Credit Suisse had downplayed the impact of the Company's recent series of quarterly losses and risk and compliance failures on liquidity and its ability to retain client funds; and (iii) as a result, Credit Suisse had overstated the Company's financial position and/or prospects.On February 9, 2023, Credit Suisse issued a press release announcing its 2022 financial results. The press release revealed that, contrary to Defendant Lehmann's prior statements, large customer outflows had continued through year-end 2022. Specifically, the press release reported customer outflows of 110.5 billion Swiss francs in the final three months of 2022, a figure which far exceeded market expectations.On this news, Credit Suisse's ADS price fell $0.56 per ADS, or 15.64%, to close at $3.02 per ADS on February 9, 2023.Then, on February 21, 2023, Reuters reported that the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority ("FINMA") was reviewing Defendant Lehmann's previous comments regarding customer outflows.On this news, Credit Suisse's ADS price fell another $0.10 per ADS, or 3.31%, to close at $2.92 per ADS on February 21, 2023.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. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.If you purchased or acquired Credit Suisse securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Credit Suisse Group AG Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for ten consecutive years.ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. 2023 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.Contact Information:Peter AlloccoBernstein Liebhard LLP(212) 951-2030pallocco@ bernlieb.com SOURCE: Bernstein Liebhard LLP PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 16:55:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 742 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 11-MW battery will operate alongside existing solar facilityBoth are located inside the site boundary of Camp Lejeune on leased landCHARLOTTE, NC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Duke Energy is expanding its battery storage capabilities in North Carolina and has begun commercial operation of the state's largest battery system, an 11-MW project in Onslow County.The battery system will frequently be operated in conjunction with an adjacent 13-MW solar facility located on a leased site within Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, which has been generating carbon-free energy since 2015. The two sites can also be operated independently."Battery storage is an important resource for our transition to cleaner energy," said Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy's North Carolina state president. "Pairing the energy storage system with our existing solar facility at Camp Lejeune helps strengthen the reliability of our energy grid and makes better use of our existing solar generation." Together, the projects enable the most efficient and reliable use of renewable resources. Both projects are connected to a Duke Energy substation and will be used to serve all Duke Energy Progress customers. Future work could enable the solar and battery systems to improve the resiliency of MCB Camp Lejeune against outages."Through an enhanced use lease (EUL) and strategic partnership with Duke Energy Progress, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune has been able to make an important investment in the pursuit of energy security inside the fence-line," said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Ross Campbell, director, Public Works at MCB Camp Lejeune. "Integration of the solar plant with a battery energy storage system, unthinkable a decade ago, presents the installation with a number of opportunities to achieve energy resilience objectives. These systems are part of the ongoing collaboration with the Department of Defense and its utility providers to ensure energy security at federal facilities." The battery's chemistry is lithium iron phosphate with the system rated at 11-MW/11-MWh, and its physical footprint is about 1 acre. Duke Energy partnered with Black & Veatch construction entity OCI, which acted as the prime contractor for engineering, procurement and construction.In recent years, Duke Energy has been expanding battery storage in North Carolina. In the city of Asheville, a 9-MW lithium-ion battery system is operating next to a Duke Energy substation in the Shiloh community. In Madison County in the town of Hot Springs, the company has a 4-MW lithium-ion battery system that is part of a microgrid in the town.Battery storage is essential to speed the clean energy transition in the United States. It helps maximize the positive impact intermittent generation sources like wind and solar have on the energy grid.The company plans to continue investing in battery technology over the next few years. Duke Energy expects to have more than 1,600 MW of battery storage in service by 2029. Currently, the company's regulated utilities have about 90 MW of battery energy storage projects in operation in three states.Duke EnergyDuke Energy (NYSE:DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2023 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "World's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com . The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.Contact: Randy Wheeless24-Hour: 800.559.3853Twitter: @DE_RandyWView original content hereView additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Duke Energy on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Duke EnergyWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/duke-energy Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Duke Energy PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 07:45:37 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 735 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Did you lose money on investments in Fidelity National? If so, please visit Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com to discuss your rights.NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the common stock of Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. ("Fidelity National" or the "Company") (NYSE:FIS) between February 9, 2021 and February 10, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.Fidelity National provides global e-commerce and payment technologies to financial institutions and businesses and, in recent years, has become the largest processing and payments company in the world. The Company is most known for its development of Financial Technology, or FinTech, and offers its solutions in three primary segments: Merchant Solutions; Banking Solutions; and Capital Market Solutions. The Merchant Solutions segment accounted for approximately 30% of the Company's total revenue in 2021, and serves merchants by enabling them to accept, authorize, and settle electronic payment transactions.Throughout its history, Fidelity National has acquired several other financial technology firms. On July 31, 2019, Fidelity National announced it had closed the acquisition of payments company Worldpay, Inc. ("Worldpay") for $43 billion, consisting of $35 billion in cash and the assumption of $8 billion in debt. As a result of the acquisition, the Worldpay business became part of the Merchant Solutions segment.Plaintiff alleges that Defendants made materially false and misleading statements throughout the Class Period. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants failed to disclose that: (1) the integration of Worldpay was not ahead of schedule; (2) the integration of Worldpay was not successfully completed during the Class Period; and (3) the increases in revenue synergies were not driven by the Worldpay integration.On August 4, 2022, Fidelity National announced that its Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), James Woodall, planned to "step down" as Corporate Executive Vice President and CFO effective November 4, 2022. On this news, the price of Fidelity National stock fell more than 7% to close at $96.57 per share on August 4, 2022.On November 3, 2022, Fidelity National reported that its Merchant Solutions segment - namely, Worldpay - suffered a "margin contraction of 430 basis points." On this news, Fidelity National stock price declined more than 29% to close at $57.18 per share on November 3, 2022. Analysts reported the new Fidelity National management "recognize[d] the need to rebuild investor confidence." Finally, before markets opened on February 13, 2023, Fidelity National announced it would spin off Worldpay, and in the process, the Company recognized a stunning $17.6 billion write-down on the asset. On this news, Fidelity National stock price fell more than 12% to close at $66.00 per share on February 13, 2023.If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 5, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.If you purchased or acquired Fidelity National common stock, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for ten consecutive years.ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. 2023 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.Contact Information:Peter AlloccoBernstein Liebhard LLP(212) 951-2030pallocco@ bernlieb.com SOURCE: Bernstein Liebhard LLP PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 19:11:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 601 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CAMDEN, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Building on its reputation for being More than a Car Company, Subaru of America, Inc. today announced it was named one of the top brands on Forbes' Best Brands for Social Impact 2023 list. Subaru is the number one brand listed in the automotive category.To create the list, Forbes partnered with HundredX to survey more than 100,000 consumers and rank the 300 brands respondents rated most highly in four categories: overall brand values and trust, social stances, sustainability, and community support. Close to four million ratings were gathered across more than 2,000 unique brands. The list features brands that are most admired for doing good across sectors including the environment, social issues, and their local communities. Subaru placed in the top six in all four of the categories in the survey."Giving back is at the core of everything we do at Subaru, and it exemplifies our efforts to be more than a car company, and we're honored to be recognized for that work," said Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Subaru of America, Inc. "The causes that we invest in and partner with are very close to our hearts, and we take pride in our passion for helping others." The Subaru Love Promise is the vision that guides the company and its retailers in making the world a better place. The pillars of Earth, Care, Help, Learning, and Pets, as well as the Subaru Share the Love Event, spread that love and philanthropy across a diverse group of partners and causes including The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Make-A-Wish, Meals on Wheels America and the National Park Foundation.Respondent feedback to the survey indicated that Subaru not only produces excellent vehicles that are built to last, but that customers appreciate what the automaker does on both a national and local scale for their community, and support causes its owners care about.For more information about America's Best Brands for Social Impact, visit here. Learn more about Subaru giving back by visiting here.###About Subaru of America, Inc.Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $300 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged nearly 88,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do.For additional information visit media.subaru.com . Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Dominick InfanteDirector, Corporate Communications(856) 488-8615dinfante@ subaru.com Diane AntonCorporate Communications Manager(856) 488-5093danton@ subaru.com Forbes recognizes Subaru as one of the "Best Brands for Social Impact" in inaugural list based on consumer survey.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Subaru of America on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Subaru of AmericaWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/subaru-america Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Subaru of America PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 12:30:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1005 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Hannan Metals Ltd. ("Hannan" or the "Company") (TSXV:HAN) (OTC PINK:HANNF) is pleased to announce the commencement of a rapid and cost-effective ground geophysical program designed to accurately locate drill targets at the Cerro Rolando Project, located within the Paleocene metallogenic belt 100 km northwest of Calama, in Region 2 of northern Chile.Highlights:A geophysical crew has been mobilised to commence ground geophysical surveys that includes ground magnetics, and based on success of the magnetic survey, a moving-loop ground electromagnetic ("EM") survey will be undertaken.The aim of the geophysical surveys is to precisely locate targets for follow-up drill testing.Michael Hudson, Chairman & CEO of Hannan states, "We are wasting no time in testing Cerro Rolando with field crews mobilised within a month of signing of our agreement to earn up to 100% of this high-value porphyry copper target in the Paleocene Belt of Region 2, Chile. The rapid and cost-effective surveys are aimed at defining drill targets that we can then permit within 3-4 months and be drilling in Q3 2023. Meanwhile diamond drilling at the Kilmurry target in Ireland is proceeding well with the target expected to be reached in mid-May." Regional magnetics shows Cerro Rolando is located on a major north-south trending structure. This structure is thought to be the control for a regional basement high. Historic airborne EM data models a 1.2 km long conductor at the base of 200 m thick pampa cover (overburden defined by seismic surveys), just above a modelled magnetic body from historic airborne data. A rapid and cost-effective ground geophysical survey is now underway to confirm the historic data and accurately define drill targets. The surveys include:Ground magnetics - 100 line km (25 lines @ 4 km) that will cover 50% the 4,800 hectare project area, and is designed to identify and map a magnetic body that may correlate to the buried potassic core of a copper-bearing porphyry.If successful, the magnetic survey will be followed by a fixed loop EM survey, consisting of 36 x 200 m x 200 m loops (6 lines @ 600 m line x 500 m station spacing) designed to identify an interpreted conductive and flat laying supergene chalcocite zone.About Cerro RolandoHannan recently entered into a Letter of Agreement with arm's length private parties that provide an option for Hannan to acquire up to 100% of the Cerro Rolando Copper Porphyry Project.The Cerro Rolando project is located within the Paleocene metallogenic belt about 100 km northwest of Calama, in Region 2 of northern Chile. The project consists of 16 contiguous exploration concessions covering a total of 48 km2. Elevation in the area ranges from 1,290 m in the east to 1,050 m in the west. The project is accessible using existing roads and tracks.The Cerro Rolando Copper Porphyry Project is a high-value porphyry copper target in the Paleocene Belt of Region 2, Chile. Around 80% of Chilean copper production comes from copper-gold porphyry deposits, with most situated in northern Chile (Figure 1). The Paleocene Belt hosts important porphyry copper deposits and mines such as Cerro Colorado (BHP), Spence (BHP), Sierra Gorda (KGHM & Sumitomo) and Relincho (part of Nueva Union - Teck-Goldcorp), yet the belt has seen less exploration as it is mostly under pampa cover.About Hannan Metals Limited (TSXV:HAN) (OTCPK: HANNF)Hannan Metals Ltd. is a natural resources and exploration company developing sustainable resources of metal needed to meet the transition to a low carbon economy. Over the last decade, the team behind Hannan has forged a long and successful record of discovering, financing, and advancing mineral projects in Europe and Latin America. Hannan is a top ten in-country explorer by area in Peru and has recently optioned a copper-porphyry project in Northern Chile.Mr. Michael Hudson FAusIMM, Hannan's Chairman and CEO, a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release.On behalf of the Board,"Michael Hudson"Michael Hudson, Chairman & CEOFurther Information1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7Mariana Bermudez, Corporate Secretary,+1 (604) 685 9316, info@ hannanmetals.com Forward Looking Statements. Certain disclosure contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. These statements may relate to this news release and other matters identified in the Company's public filings. In making the forward-looking statements the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: The Company's expectations regarding the Cerro Rolando Project, timing and successful completion of the stages pursuant to the Letter of Agreement, the political environment in which the Company operates continuing to support the development and operation of mining projects; the threat associated with outbreaks of viruses and infectious diseases, including the novel COVID-19 virus; risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; planned work programs; permitting; and community relations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.Figure 1: Cerro Rolando is located in Region 2 of northern Chile in the highly productive Northern Paleocene belt. Tenements cover 48 km2. Elevation slopes gently from 1,290 m in the east to 1,050 m in the west. The project is accessible using existing roads and tracks. SOURCE: Hannan Metals Ltd. PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 21:00:56 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 807 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / HenkelBy Steven Essick, President Henkel North AmericaAs sustainability leaders, Henkel is focused on transformational impact for the good of generations. Throughout our long history, we've developed innovative products and manufacturing processes that conserve natural resources and reduce waste. And we've made a commitment to transparency along the way.In fact, back in 1992 (long before it was the norm), Henkel became one of the first companies in Germany to publish an environmental report. With the 2022 Henkel Sustainability Report hot off the presses, Henkel is showcasing its 2030+ Sustainability Ambition Framework, which spans three key dimensions:Regenerative Planet, Thriving Communities and Trusted Partner.Below are a just few highlights from our 2022 Sustainability Report - stepping stones in our ongoing journey of sustainability, and how we are implementing action here in North America.REGENERATIVE PLANETAt Henkel, we continuously transform our processes, products, and use of raw materials to provide relief for our planet. Using more renewable ingredients in our products and packaging and leveraging energy efficiency technology at our manufacturing sites are two effective strategies. For example:Here in North America, a 5-year collaboration with Shell will replace up to 200,000 tonnes of fossil-based feedstocks used in the manufacture of laundry surfactants (an ingredient that helps lather and lift dirt) with feedstocks that are based on renewable raw materials. The renewable-based surfactants will be used in many varieties of Persil, Purex and all brands.Across our North American manufacturing sites, Henkel is committed to sustainability progress. For example, in 2022, our adhesive plant in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, installed a new, energy-efficient cooling system that will save an estimated 18,000 cubic meters of water every year. In addition, an overhaul to a more efficient thermal oxidizing process resulted in annual natural gas savings of approximately 1,100 MWh and a significant positive climate impact due to lower emissions.THRIVING COMMUNITYThrough our business and brands, Henkel directly contributes to quality of life around the world. Beyond that, our desire to create sustainable change for customers and communities makes social engagement a driving force at Henkel. We support sustainable social projects around the world through volunteerism; social partnerships; emergency aid; and brand engagement. Here are just a few examples:To cultivate curiosity and build science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills in young people, Henkel Researchers' World (known as "Forscherwelt" in German) provides a research and development-based educational curriculum that has reached more than 81,000 children around the world since 2011. Here in North America, we launched the Henkel Researchers' World program in Stamford, Connecticut, in 2021, in partnership with local nonprofit Mill River Park. The program has already reached more than 1,000 children. We look forward to expanding the program to reach more children - who may one day bring their STEM skills to the Henkel team.Another signature program, Make an Impact on Tomorrow (MIT), supports thriving communities through employee volunteerism. Celebrating its 25th year in 2023, the MIT program provides financial and other resources to support the causes closest to our employees' hearts.Since the MIT initiative was launched in 1998, Henkel has provided $41 million to support over 17,000 charitable projects in more than 100 countries. In 2022, the work of Henkel volunteers in North America impacted the lives of more than 110,000 people.TRUSTED PARTNERFrom the companies we collaborate with to customers, consumers and investors, Henkel has earned the trust of stakeholders through our long history of integrity, transparency and best-in-class products and solutions. Today, we view every aspect of our business through an environmental lens. And we report on sustainability progress openly to further build trust with stakeholders who share our concern for the environment. Here are two ways we are partnering to better the planet:Through a long-term partnership with Novoenzymes, we have developed new variants that increase the concentration of key enzyme outputs in detergents and cleaning agents by up to 40%. This enables us to eliminate about 1,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year.Celebrating 10 years of partnership, Henkel and Solidaridad recently announced a grant from personal care brand Dial to help create 35,000 acres of farmland for certified sustainable palm oil production in Colombia and provide 250 farmers with training and access to additional financial support.These are just a few of the ways our sustainability strategy is creating measurable, meaningful change. For more information about our efforts, please check out our 2022 Sustainability Report, or our sustainability page on the Henkel North America website.While we are proud of our successes at Henkel, we know that we need to stay full speed ahead when it comes to sustainability. Henkel continues to bring that same pioneering spirit to create a more sustainable world for future generations. There's no area where innovation is more important.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Henkel on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: HenkelWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/henkel Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Henkel President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking via video link to the participants of the Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine (Rome), called on Italian businesses to invest in the Ukrainian economy based on new security standards. As the president said, Ukraine and its partners will have to prepare the most ambitious economic project of modernity in Europe this year, in particular, the project of restoring Ukraine. "Europe has not seen such destruction since the Second World War, which Russia brought to Ukraine. But it was after that war that Europe saw what real recovery gives and what growth it brings. We are now on the threshold of no less opportunities. There is a demand for new standards in the world security so that every country can defend itself against any manifestations of aggression. We in Ukraine are creating such security standards," Zelenskyy said. The head of state called on representatives of Italian business and investors to join the restoration of Ukraine based on new security standards in five key sectors: energy, construction, technology, access to global markets and cooperation in pharmaceuticals and rehabilitation of people. Referring to the energy sector, Zelenskyy said now everything must be done so that the enemy no longer has a theoretical opportunity to break the Ukrainian energy sector. The answer to this can only be its transformation and decentralization of energy generation. "The more renewable energy generators, the more sustainable the system. The more sources of energy supplies, the more reliably each city, community and family is provided. Italy is one of the leaders in the creation of smart grids. I urge your companies to develop Ukrainian networks together. Do not forget that in the short term Ukrainian networks will be EU networks," he said. The president also said Ukraine has an enormous need to restore infrastructure on a new basis of security, in connection with which he invited Italian companies to plan, design and build together with the Ukrainians. In addition, he called on Italy to invest in the production of military equipment in Ukraine, which it receives from partners, in particular, marine drones, UAVs, and others. According to the president, Ukraine will be assisted in processing its own resources with subsequent entry into the global market, which, in turn, will help replace Russia-based companies. Finally, the latest example of cooperation between Ukraine and Italy can be pharmaceuticals and the rehabilitation of people affected by the war. Ukraine is a huge market for pharmaceutical products. Localization of production gives us large benefits. But the war has given a new level to this industry it's about people who need rehabilitation after injuries and about those whose lives are poisoned by post-traumatic disorders. We will work on this in Ukraine together with the best representatives in the world. Ukraine has a unique experience in protecting the state and people in the face of aggression. We invite Italy to build a new security together with us, we invite your business, investments and experience to come to Ukraine now," Zelenskyy said. PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 22:45:22 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 866 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Shake Roofing Company, Braswell Construction Group, transforms homes with elegant Brava Roof Tile Shake & Slate Roofing and wins Brava Excellence Award for Shake Roof Installed on a Custom DreamBuilt Lake Oconee Home.HIGHLANDS, NC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / One of the largest Brava contractors in the nation, and one of the only preferred Brava contractors in the Southeast, Braswell Construction Group (BCG), is honored to receive Brava's Excellence Award for 2022. Brava awarded BCG for the quality and craftsmanship of the Lake Forest Shake' roof they installed on a custom DreamBuilt home located in Reynolds, Lake Oconee. This immaculate and newsworthy home by Lake Oconee's top builder DreamBuilt, with Shake roof by Braswell Construction Group, was the first home built in the new luxury development of Homesteads which is part of Reynolds Lake Oconee. Not only was this the first home to be completed in this 5-star development, but the home has paved the way for other homes in Homestead to have the luxury look of synthetic slate and shake.Braswell Construction Group is recognized in Georgia as the top roofing specialist for real cedar shake, real slate and synthetic shake/slate roofing, and prides itself on its high-quality service. One attribute that separates BCG from other Georgia roofing contractors is that they are one of very few installers of Brava Roof Tile that is certified. Additionally, BCG has recently been awarded Brava Preferred Contractor' making this the first roofing company recognized for this honor in the state of Georgia. Once named as a Brava Preferred Contractor', the provider is considered among the best in the industry known for their experience and commitment to quality roofing.More information about Brava products can be found on the company website via: https://www.braswellconstructiongroup.com/brava-roofing BCG offers premium shake and slate roofing options for customers wanting to improve the look and function of their home. The expanding category of synthetic roofing products cater to homeowners, builders, and remodelers who prefer renewable resources that come with the advantage of extreme durability and longevity yet want the look of natural slate or shake roofs. Braswell Construction Group explains that synthetic slate roofing is a mixture of recycled rubber and plastic put into molds that are taken from real slate and shake roofing. As contrasted to real slate & shake roofing, this is less costly, lighter, and is much more resilient and durable because it can be installed without the concern of damaging the product. And just like the real slate & shake roofing, its life expectancy can also last a hundred years.Advanced materials and manufacturing technologies give the synthetic products better resistance to weathering, greater durability, and longer lifespans than real slate or cedar, according to manufacturers. "The material is mimicked to obtain efficiency and also longer life over the natural product," says Chris Braswell, owner of BCG. "Other composite roofing materials pale in comparison to Brava. We use Brava products because they perfectly resemble the natural beauty of cedar shake roofs and slate roof shingles, but without the drawbacks and upkeep." More information about BCG's Brava Roofing specialty slate and tile options can be found at: https://bravaroofer.com About DreamBuiltFounded in 1999, DreamBuilt was created with the mission of enhancing the lives of their clients and shaping a better lake community. With an approach focused on thoughtful design, quality construction, and craftsmanship of their work, DreamBuilt homes stand out in the landscape of Lake Oconee.The four original DreamBuilt partners chose to move to the lake with their young families from various design and construction backgrounds in Atlanta. Jim and Paige Ruhl & Derek and Ann Welch set out to foster partnerships in the community with clients and trades to create a reputation of uncompromising excellence, always. As the lake community has grown, DreamBuilt has expanded its partnership to grow alongside it. The addition of Jep Pound and Haley Ruhl has allowed their business to continue to serve all clients - past, present and future - to the exceptional standard of personal attention and thoughtfulness that DreamBuilt was founded on.About Braswell Construction GroupBraswell Construction Group is a leader in specialty roofing and in addition to being a Brava Preferred Contractor, the top Georgia Roofing Company is also a DaVinci Roofer Masterpiece Contractor, and Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor.BCG has been locally owned and operated since 2002, and prides itself on its high-quality craftsmanship, exceptional customer service, and professional acumen. They have a reputation for always completing its roofing and restoration projects on time and on budget while providing customized service, top-notch customer service, and unparalleled workmanship.Braswell Construction Group has been featured dozens of times in Yahoo Finance, ABC, FOX, CBS, Atlanta Leader among many others as an industry leader and the top Roofing Contractor in the state of Georgia.Braswell Construction Group operates from four Georgia locations to service homeowners with all their roofing and restoration needs in Greensboro/Lake Oconee, Covington/Conyers, Stone Mountain, Atlanta, and their respective surrounding areas.Organization: Braswell Construction Group, Inc. Roofing & RestorationContact:Email: info@ braswellconstructiongroup.com Contact: Michelle BirdAddress: 6105 Emory St NW, Covington, GA 30014Phone: +1-678-283-2551Website: https://www.braswellconstructiongroup.com SOURCE: Braswell Construction Group PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 02:20:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 677 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 25, 2023 / Entrepreneur Sam Stathis is set to embark on a trip to Ukraine to offer his technologies to help rebuild and resurrect the country, which has been devastated by war and economic crisis. Stathis will be using Theometrics Global and Bevis by Theo innovative solutions to aid in the rebuilding efforts. Theometrics has already donated limited edition NFTs, solely for the purpose of raising money for humanitarian and military aid for Ukraine. Stathis will be initiating the next phase of support during his trip and offering his technologies to help rebuild the country.TheometricsTheometrics Logo Stathis has established several programs, including conferences on construction and technical innovation, contributing to Startup New York, and founding Theometrics University to train young people in precision measurement and navigation in real estate and construction. His philosophy is rooted in the ancient Greek ideals, with a focus on helping people figure out their place in the universe through Theometrics Global. Theometrics has a broader mission of promoting global peace and prosperity by training and preparing the new generation for the modern economy, technology, arts, and sciences. Stathis launched Theometrics in Greece in the summer of 2021 to help his homeland recover from the Greek Economic crisis of 2007, which plagued the country for decades. Stathis had issued a call to action to the Greek diaspora to invest back in their homeland, to help bring Greece up to modern standards and create new job opportunities. Sam Stathis has also been involved with professional Chariot Racing competitions and tournaments for years, and as part of his initiative, he also aims to revive chariot racing as a modern-day Olympic sport, reinstating it as one of the five events that founded the ancient Greek Olympic Games.In February 2022, Stathis also focused his attention to the War in Ukraine. Working with world leaders on Theometrics worldwide peace and prosperity campaign, the efforts multiplied and Team Stathis and Theometrics sprang into action."I immediately began efforts to support Ukraine by donating drones to the front lines, and the military sent me videos of the drones in use with their gratitude for this support. I accomplished this with a partnership with a Ukrainian news agency, a young group of volunteers at Sky Over Ukraine. In addition to publicizing and raising awareness, Sky Over Ukraine uploads footage and videos daily of what was happening at the front lines - including footage from the drones I donated that are used for reconnaissance missions," said Stathis.Theometrics Global has already donated NFTs that are limited edition, solely for the purpose of raising money for humanitarian and military aid for Ukraine. Stathis stresses, "Neither Theometrics Ukraine, nor Sky Over Ukraine have received or will receive any administrative fees or any fees of any kind, thus all proceeds go directly to Ukrainian aid." Stathis will be traveling to Ukraine to witness the atrocities of war first-hand and to initiate the next phase of support, in offering his technologies to help rebuild and resurrect Ukraine, with his new set of NFTs and real coins minted in copper, silver & gold.In March 2023, while traveling for a Chariot Racing tournament in Palermo, Sicily, and Syracuse, Stathis was awestruck by the ancient Greek temples in Agrigento, Sicily, and prompted Stathis' passion for Greek heritage to now further extend to investing in technology and innovation, leading the effort to resurrect Magna Graecia, particularly in the Valley of the Temples, in Agrigento and expanding freedom and democracy in Ukraine.What began as Sam Stathis' vision for a New Greece, now has expanded to Sicily's Agrigento and Ukraine, and is grounded in his belief of the potential of each region, its human capital, and his entrepreneurial spirit. By investing in technology and innovation and engaging young people in profit management and growth, he aims to create a brighter future for these countries.For more:Bevis by Theo: www.bevisbytheo.com Sky Over Ukraine: https://skyoverukraine.com Contact InformationPress ContactDirector of Communicationspress@ theometrics.com 212-627-8220SOURCE: Theometrics Global PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 18:30:44 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 768 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / International Paper CompanyPromoting LiteracyInternational Paper is a proud sponsor of Rally to Read 100, a six-month initiative launched in September 2021 to inspire children across the U.S. to read 100 books over the school term. Organized by nonprofit Reading is Fundamental, which champions children's literacy, the inaugural event engaged more than 64,000 children who pledged to read a total of 272,000 books.Tackling HungerThrough our long-standing partnership with Feeding America, we contributed more than $890,000 to food banks in each of our more than 200 U.S. communities. The contributions helped support millions of people through the distribution of over 7.9 million meals they need to thrive every day and in times of disaster. We also continued to support the Global FoodBanking Network (GFN). In the final year of our 4-year, $1 million commitment, our contribution helped GFN support 175 food banks across Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Poland, Spain Italy and Guatemala distributing 1.5 million kilograms of food to people in need.Addressing Period PovertyWe doubled our feminine care kit packing program to address Period Poverty, with more than 14 facilities packing kits to donate in their communities. We put in place plans to continue to expand this program in 2022 in conjunction with International Women's Day and Menstrual Hygiene Day.Offering Disaster ReliefIn 2021, locally and internationally, our teams helped build resilient communities:Our team in our Europe, Middle East and Africa Region provided 10,000 in disaster relief funding following July's devastating flash floods in Germany and Belgium, as well as 12,000 Euros in disaster relief funding after the devastating volcano eruption in La Palma/Canary Islands, Spain.Through the IP Foundation, the Savannah, Georgia, Mill donated $15,000 and partnered with local agencies and businesses to prepare 1,500 buckets of emergency supplies ahead of hurricane seasonIn Orange, Texas, our team donated pallets of water and personal care items to assist local communities impacted by Hurricane IdaMore than $200,000 was donated in response to disasters to Feeding America, American Red Cross, United Way Worldwide and Team Rubicon for disasters including winter storms across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, and tornadoes in the U.S. MidwestTrees play an immeasurable role in the health of our ecosystems. They produce oxygen, improve air quality, store carbon, stabilize soil and offer wildlife a home. In addition, as a walk in the park will attest, they also make humans feel better. Yet, today, trees face more threats than ever.The Morton Arboretum is a tree champion. Over the last century, the Chicago-area arboretum has built a 1,700-acre living collection of nearly 5,000 different kinds of plants that offer a forest of opportunities for people to understand the vital role trees play in our ecosystems. Its STEM Pathways Program opens the door for young people to appreciate, learn about and protect trees, perhaps through a lifetime career.The Arboretum STEM Pathways Program serves a broad constituency, from pre-school through high school and college students to parents, educators, and conservation and horticultural professionals. Engaging its audience through day programs, summer camps, classroom resource bins, college-level botany courses, teacher training and more, its aim is to increase plant knowledge and improve science literacy through hands-on planting and caring for trees, working in natural areas and, for students, exploring STEM as a future career path. For example, its Youth Volunteer Program engages young people in experiences to support the Arboretum's summer family program while also providing citizen science education, opportunities to explore STEM careers with Arboretum tree science staff and community service hours. Over a five-year period, 211 youth volunteers, most volunteering multiple years, contributed more than 15,000 hours (about 3,000 hours each year).International Paper's contributions to the Morton Arboretum STEM program include:Supporting 165,000 engagements with children and youth focused on creating lifelong connections to trees and natureExpanding staff capacity to build and deliver new experiences for Arboretum visitorsHelping to shape the next generation of STEM professionals.Donating more than $240,000 since 2014About International PaperInternational Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global supplier of renewable fiber-based products. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods, and enable worldwide commerce, and pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal care products that promote health and wellness. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 38,000 colleagues globally. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2021 were $19.4 billion. See how we're building a better future for people, the planet, and our company at internationalpaper.com/Vision-2030 Read moreView additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from International Paper Company on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: International Paper CompanyWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/international-paper-company Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: International Paper Company PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 17:45:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 862 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Prysmian Group North America - a world leader in energy and telecommunications cable systems - and Invenergy Transmission- an affiliate of American-led Invenergy, the leading privately-held developer, owner, and operator of sustainable energy solutions - today announced a long-term supply agreement that includes a $22.5 million investment to expand domestic manufacturing capacity of advanced transmission conductor technology. The expansion of Prysmian's existing manufacturing facility in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, funded in substantial part by the supply agreement with Invenergy Transmission, will create at least 27 new jobs in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania and retain 407 jobs statewide, including 250 jobs at the project site.Conductors are the metallic lines that electricity travels along on transmission infrastructure projects, and they are a critical technology for the reliability and resilience of the U.S. power grid. Through this long-term supply agreement, Prysmian will supply up to 12,500 miles of overhead conductor cable through 2029 to support Invenergy's portfolio of long-distance high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission projects in the U.S. Invenergy Transmission expects the conductor order to support projects including the Grain Belt Express and New Mexico North Path lines. The 5,000-megawatt Grain Belt Express project will improve affordability and reliability for consumers across four vital U.S. power grids, including the regional grid that serves Pennsylvania, the PJM Interconnection."High-voltage direct current transmission has the potential to reshape our country's power grid by providing unmatched reliability and resilience," said Shashank Sane, executive vice president and head of transmission at Invenergy. "Through this long-term supply agreement with Prysmian, Invenergy Transmission is securing the best technology for our transmission projects to deliver electricity Americans can count on while also supporting U.S. manufacturing jobs and onshoring key parts of the clean energy supply chain." This expansion will double the United States' ability to manufacture advanced transmission conductors with E3X technology. Prysmian's E3X advanced conductor technology increases the capacity, efficiency, and reliability of transmission lines, allowing for more electric power to be transmitted with low losses and delivered across long distances without expanding the physical footprint of the project. The facility expansion includes a 51,000-square-foot addition to the existing building to create more manufacturing space, and a retention pond to handle increased stormwater run-off."This agreement between Prysmian and Invenergy will bring new jobs to Pennsylvania and help support the Commonwealth's role in the clean energy industries and technologies of the future," said Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Rick Siger. "The companies' investments in domestic manufacturing and jobs to produce advanced transmission conductor cabling will provide American energy consumers with more access to affordable, reliable, clean energy. The DCED team is pleased to have worked work with both partners on this important manufacturing facility expansion." "Across North America, we're upgrading our centers of excellence like Williamsport to meet the growing needs of the power transmission and distribution market. Through our partnership with Invenergy Transmission, we're able to invest in not only expanding our capacity for the entire North American market, but we are also investing in cutting-edge technology, like E3X, that helps create a flexible, resilient, and low-carbon grid," said Andrea Pirondini, CEO of Prysmian Group North America. "The partnership reflects not only a shared dedication to building a grid prepared to meet the challenges of the future but also a shared commitment to retaining and creating U.S. manufacturing jobs." "We are pleased to have this investment being made by Invenergy Transmission and Prysmian at the Williamsport plant," said Jason Fink, President/CEO, Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce. "Prysmian is a great employer and corporate citizen in the community. This expansion will add another 27 family-sustaining jobs here with wages for 20 of the positions paying over $50,000 and the remaining seven at more than $70,000."Prysmian Group North AmericaPrysmian Group is a multinational company headquartered in Milan, specializing in the production of cable and systems for use in the energy and telecom industries. Prysmian is the largest cable producer in the world with 30,000 associates and $16 billion in sales. Prysmian is present in North America with 28 plants, 48 in Europe, 13 in Latin America, 7 in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, and 13 in Asia-Pacific.Based in Highland Heights, Ky., Prysmian Group North America's operations include 28 manufacturing facilities, eight distribution centers, six R&D centers, and more than 6,000 associates with net sales of $6 billion. Additional information is available at na.prysmiangroup.com Invenergy TransmissionInvenergy Transmission is an affiliate of Invenergy. Invenergy and its affiliated companies develop, own, and operate large-scale renewable and other clean energy generation, and storage facilities in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Invenergy's home office is located in Chicago, and it has regional development offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Japan, Poland, and Scotland.Invenergy and its affiliated companies have successfully developed more than 30,000 megawatts of projects that are in operation, construction, or contracted, including wind, solar, transmission infrastructure and natural gas power generation and advanced energy storage projects. Learn about Invenergy at Invenergy.com Media RelationsLauren KanePrysmian GroupDia KuykendallInvenergydkuykendall@ invenergy.com SOURCE: Prysmian Group PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 14:30:58 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 441 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Recently named law partner, Fan Li, and longtime partner Todd R. Falzone, both with Fort Lauderdale law firm Kelley|Uustal, have successfully obtained a $53.7 million jury verdict on behalf of a Coral Springs widow and her two children following a high-speed vehicle crash nearly four years ago that took the life of her husband and the children's father.Fan Li (left) and Todd R. FalzoneBrian Raik, 64, died in September 2019, after the car he was driving was hit head-on by a pickup truck that police say was traveling 73 miles per hour - 28 miles per hour over the speed limit - on West Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano Beach.According to witnesses, the driver of the pickup was recklessly driving east on West Atlantic, speeding and weaving in and out of traffic when he lost control of his truck, crossed the median into the westbound lanes, and violently crashed head-on into Raik's 2017 Toyota. Raik suffered severe internal injuries and died at the hospital shortly thereafter.Raik and his wife Nancy were a happy and loving couple, and this tragic incident took place the day before their 31st wedding anniversary. They had a son and a daughter, both in their 20s when their father died."The Jury got to meet and know the Raik family at trial, and it was abundantly clear that this tragic incident has been utterly devastating to Brian's widow and his two children. Brian was a wonderful man, a loving husband and an amazing father," Falzone said."We are so very thankful that the jury recognized the true magnitude of this loss and returned the exact damage award for each of the survivors that I asked for in closing argument," Li added. "While no verdict, no matter how large, can ever bring Brian back, I think the Jury truly felt the loss the Raik family has experienced and honored it with this verdict. Hopefully this process has brought the family some closure and sends a message to other people in the community that they should never, ever, drive like the defendant drove that day." The jury awarded $17.9 million apiece to Raik's widow and their two children.Kelley|Uustal ( www.kelleyuustal.com) is a Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based law firm focusing on catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and complex commercial litigation matters. The firm can be reached at (954) 522-6601.Contact InformationDavid BloomMedia Relations Manager954-334-5822Related ImagesFan Li (left) and Todd R. FalzoneKelley|Uustal, Ft. Lauderdale, Floridainjury, wrongful death, and complex commercial litigation matters. The firm can be reached at (954) 522-6601.SOURCE: Kelley|Uustal PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 14:16:14 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 761 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / MilliporeSigmaOver 250 events expected to reach more than 45,000 future scientists on two continentsHands-on experiments to focus on the impact of contamination on the planet and everyday lifeMilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, has kicked off its 2023 Curiosity Cube tour in North America and Europe. This year, the Curiosity Cube, a retrofitted shipping container that offers hands-on experiments focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), will engage 45,000 students at schools and public spaces with more than 250 events across North America and Europe. All experiments are led by MilliporeSigma employees, allowing visitors to connect with real-life scientists and learn firsthand about STEM careers."In recent years, there has been considerable concern regarding a shortage of STEM professionals. As a science and technology company, we want to help spark curiosity in children and young people for the fascinating world of science," said Meeta Gulyani, Head of Strategy, Business Development and Sustainability for the Life Science business sector of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. "That's why our Curiosity Cube will continue its world tour to make science accessible and interactive, while also demonstrating all the possibilities that the life science field has to offer." This year's Curiosity Cube features a brand-new curriculum, where students can interact with technology such as virtual reality (VR) to make learning fun and engaging. Students will conduct experiments about contaminants and gain a glimpse into the world of a scientist by:Exploring evidence of environmental contamination in a variety of samples and learning ways conservationists try to mitigate the negative environmental impact of contamination.Working with VR technology to discover what contaminants are commonly found on classroom surfaces and learn how to stop their spread.Using scientific instruments to run quality control tests on different beverages and determine if any contaminants are present.In North America, the Curiosity Cube already embarked on its fifth tour, starting in San Diego. It will include 124 events across the U.S. and Canada, including Austin, Boston, Cleveland, Houston, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Seattle, St. Louis, Toronto, and more. The Curiosity Cube starts its second European tour with stops in Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K.To learn more about the Curiosity Cube mobile science lab and view the 2023 tour schedule, visit TheCuriosityCube.com and follow the Curiosity Cube on Instagram @curiositycube_milliporesigma.About the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, GermanyThe Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada, has more than 28,000 employees and more than 55 total manufacturing and testing sites worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 300,000 products focused on scientific discovery, biomanufacturing and testing services. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and electronics.More than 64,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From providing products and services that accelerate drug development and manufacturing as well as discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices - the company is everywhere. In 2022, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany generated sales of 22.2 billion in 66 countries.The company holds the global rights to the name and trademark "Merck" internationally. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare and EMD Electronics in electronics. Since its founding 1668, scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to the company's technological and scientific advances. To this day, the founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. For more information about Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, visit www.emdgroup.com Follow MilliporeSigma on Twitter @MilliporeSigma, on Facebook @MilliporeSigma and on LinkedIn.All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the EMD Group website. In case you are a resident of the U.S. or Canada please go to www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register again for your online subscription of this service as our newly introduced geo-targeting requires new links in the email. You may later change your selection or discontinue this service.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from MilliporeSigma on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: MilliporeSigmaWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/milliporesigma Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: MilliporeSigma PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 07:45:56 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1026 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Did you lose money on investments in Norfolk Southern? If so, please visit Norfolk Southern Corporation Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com to discuss your rights.NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the common stock of Norfolk Southern Corporation ("Norfolk Southern" or the "Company") (NYSE:NSC) between October 28, 2020 and March 3, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.On Friday, February 3, 2023, eastbound NSR general merchandise freight train 32N derailed 38 railcars in East Palestine, Ohio, about a mile from the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, leaving behind what the Associated Press called "a mangled and charred mass of boxcars and flames." Train 32N was made up of 2 head-end locomotives, 149 railcars, and 1 distributed power locomotive. Although no formal regulatory definition exists, 150 cars is the Federal Railroad Administration's threshold for classifying a train as "very long." Train 32N was being operated by just three Norfolk Southern personnel that day: a conductor, an engineer, and a conductor-in-training.Even though the train was not officially classified as a hazardous material train, which would have required the Company to post and display notification of its cargo, the consist (i.e., the group of rail vehicles which make up a train) included 20 placarded hazardous materials tank cars transporting liquids, flammable liquids, and flammable gas. Among the hazardous materials being transported were vinyl chloride, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate, isobutylene, and butyl acrylate. The derailed equipment included 11 tank cars carrying hazardous materials that subsequently ignited, fueling fires that damaged an additional 12 non-derailed railcars.According to a subsequent preliminary investigative report about the accident by the National Transportation Safety Board ("NTSB"), the derailment occurred after a wheel bearing on a hopper car (a type of railroad freight car used to transport loose bulk commodities such as coal, ore, and grain) overheated and failed. In this instance, the hopper car contained plastic pellets, and the combination of the hot axle and plastic pellets started an initial fire. Video surveillance from a business 20 miles out of East Palestine showed the axle had been on fire for at least 20 miles before the derailment occurred.Plaintiff alleges that Defendants made materially false and misleading statements throughout the Class Period. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants failed to disclose, among other things: (a) that Norfolk Southern's Precision Scheduled Railroading ("PSR)", including its use of longer, heavier trains staffed by fewer personnel, had led to the Company suffering increased train derailments and a materially increased risk of future derailments; (b) that Norfolk Southern's PSR, including its use of longer, heavier trains staffed by fewer personnel, was part of a culture of increased risk-taking at the expense of reasonable safety precautions due to the Company's near-term focus solely on profits; and (c) that Norfolk Southern's PSR, including its use of longer, heavier trains staffed by fewer personnel, rendered the Company more vulnerable to train derailments and train derailments with potentially more severe human, financial, legal, and environmental consequences.On February 21, 2023, the EPA issued a unilateral administrative order requiring Norfolk Southern to pay for all cleanup actions at the site. EPA Administrator Michael Regan said at a press conference that day in East Palestine that the agency was using its power under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA") to force the Company to act. "Norfolk Southern will pay for cleaning up the mess that they created and for the trauma that they've inflicted on this community," Regan said. "If the company fails to complete any actions as ordered by EPA, the Agency will immediately step in, conduct the necessary work, and then force Norfolk Southern to pay triple the cost." According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the wheel bearing passed three hot bearing detectors prior to the derailment, with the temperature increasing each time. However, the hot bearing detectors would not have notified the crew to stop and inspect the wheel bearing until it recorded a temperature 170 degrees or higher, per Norfolk Southern rules. "It wasn't until it was 253 degrees Fahrenheit above ambient temperature that [the crew] got a notification that they needed to immediately stop and inspect the hot axle and possibly set out the car." Before the market opened on March 6, 2023, the Company announced a 6-part plan to improve operational safety that included, inter alia, adding about 200 temperature sensors along its tracks where existing sensors are at least 15 miles apart, reviewing the temperature levels that set off alarms for train crews, and adding more acoustic sensors that analyze vibrations for potential problems.On this news, the price of Northern Suffolk common stock declined $5.97 per share to close at $222.42 per share on March 6, 2023.If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 15, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.If you purchased or acquired Norfolk Southern common stock, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Norfolk Southern Corporation Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" thirteen times an PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 08:45:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1054 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 STOCKHOLM, SE / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Hilbert Group (STO:HILB-B) (FRA:999) The shareholders in Hilbert Group AB (publ), corporate identity number 559105-2948 ("Hilbert Group" or "the company"), are hereby summoned to the Annual General Meeting to be held on Friday, May 26, 2023 at 10.00 AM in the office of Advokatfirman Nerpin, Birger Jarlsgatan 2, 3rd floor in Stockholm.A. Entitlement to participation and notificationShareholders who wish to participate in the EGM must: (i) be recorded in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB ("Euroclear") as of Wednesday, 17 May 2023, and (ii) notify the company of their intention to participate in the EGM no later than Friday, 19 May 2023. The notice may be done in writing by post to Hilbert Group AB, c/o Advokatfirman Nerpin, Mailbox 545, SE-114 11 Stockholm, or by e-mail to ir@ hilbert.group , or by telephone to +46 8 502 353 00. When registering to attend, the shareholder must provide name, personal identity number or registration number, address, and telephone number, as well as the number of any advisors (no more than two).Shareholders whose shares are nominee-registered must temporarily re-register their shares in their own name in the shareholders' register maintained by Euroclear in order to participate in the EGM. Voting rights registrations made no later than the second banking day after the record date 17 May 2023 will be taken into account in the preparation of the share register. Shareholders must, in accordance with the respective nominee's routines, in due time before said date, request their nominee to carry out such voting rights registration.If the shareholder is represented by a proxy, a written and dated power of attorney, signed by the shareholder, is to be issued to the proxy. The power of attorney or any other documents of authorization, such as a copy of the registration certificate, is to be provided at the EGM. Any power of attorney or other document of authorization should also be enclosed in the notice to attend the EGM. A form of proxy is available on the company's website, www.hilbert.group B. Shareholders' right to request informationThe board of directors and the CEO shall, if any shareholders so requests, and if the board of directors considers that it can be done without significant harm for the company, give information on circumstances that can affect the assessment of an item on the agenda and the company's relation to other group companies.Proposed agendaOpening of the Annual General MeetingElection of chairman at the Annual General Meeting.Establishment and approval of the voting list.Approval of the agenda.Selection of one or two adjusters.Examination of whether the Annual General Meeting has been duly convened.Presentation of the annual report and the auditor's report as well as the consolidated accounts and the consolidated auditor's report.Decision on approval of the income statement and balance sheet as well as the consolidated income statement and consolidated balance sheet.Decision on dispositions regarding the company's profit according to the approved balance sheet.Decision on discharge of liability for the members of the Board of Directors and the President.Determination of the number of board members.Determination of the number of auditors and deputy auditors.Determination of fees to the Board.Determination of fees to the auditor.Election of board members and chairman of the board.Election of auditor and any deputy auditors.Resolution authorizing the Board of Directors to decide on the issue of shares and/or warrants.Resolution to implement an Employee Stock Option PlanResolution to issue warrants and approval of transfer of warrantsResolution on principles for the appointment of a Nomination Committee and instructions for the Nomination CommitteeClose of the MeetingMotions for resolutionItem 2 - Election of chairman at the Annual General MeetingThe Board of Directors proposes that the Chairman of the Board, Erik Nerpin, be elected Chairman of the Annual General Meeting.Item 9 - Resolution on dispositions regarding the company's profit according to the approved balance sheetThe Board of Directors proposes that no profit dividend be paid and that disposable profits be capitalized in a new account.Item 11 - Determination of the number of board membersA group of shareholders who together represent approximately 62 per cent of the voting rights in Hilbert Group (the "Principal Shareholders") has submitted the proposals outlined under items 11-16 below.The Principal Shareholders propose that the number of Board members be four.Item 12 - Determination of the number of auditors and deputy auditorsThe Principal Shareholders propose that a registered auditing company without a deputy be appointed as auditor.Item 13 - Determination of fees to the BoardThe Principal Shareholders propose that the yearly fee to the Chairman of the Board shall be SEK 150,000 and that the yearly fee to other Board members elected by the Annual General Meeting who are not employees of the company shall be SEK 110,000 each.Item 14 - Determination of fees to the auditorThe Principal Shareholders propose that fees to the auditor be paid in accordance with an approved invoice.Item 15 - Election of board members and chairman of the boardThe Principal Shareholders propose re-election of the Board members Erik Nerpin, Frode Foss-Skiftesvik and David Butler and election of Stuart Connolly as new Board member for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting. Furthermore, it is proposed that Erik Nerpin be re-elected Chairman of the Board.Item 16 - Election of auditor and any deputy auditorsThe Principal Shareholders propose re-election of the registered auditing company PricewaterhouseCoopers AB as auditor for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting. The principal auditor will be the authorized public accountant Johan Engstam.Item 17 - Resolution authorizing the Board of Directors to decide on the issue of shares and/or warrantsThe Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to authorize the Board of Directors to, on one or more occasions, during the period up to the next Annual General Meeting, decide on the issue of shares and/or warrants with or without preferential rights for shareholders. The Board of Directors may decide that such issues be made with a provision on non-cash, set-off or cash payment.The purpose of the authorization and the reasons for any deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights is that issues should be able to take place to increase the company's financial flexibility and PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 13:46:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 477 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Nurraysa has emerged as a leading brand in the cosmetics industry. Recently, the company announced its premium edition of perfect glow cushion foundation comes with jojoba oil.KUANTAN, MALAYSIA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / In the latest development, Nurraysa launches its new premium edition Perfect Glow Cushion Foundation with jojoba oil. The company designed this new product to provide flawless coverage that lasts all day. The innovative product improves skin tone with its high-quality manufacturing ingredients. It has lightweight and non-greasy features that make it comfortable for long hours without making it heavy on the skin. The product provides some essentials for dull and patchy skin. It works as a moisturizer that covers all dull and rough skin. With the foundation, the company gives a sponge applicator that the users can easily apply and blend the foundation without any streaks or patchiness.Perfect Glow Cushion Foundation has been developed as an innovative solution for all skin-related problems. The company manufactures this product with the use of jojoba oil, which is a natural moisturizer and enhances the quality of the product. The product has the ability to hydrate and nourish the skin without clogging pores. With the organic ingredient, the product helps to remain the skin hydrated and healthy looking throughout the day.Including more, the company offers multiple shades in the perfect Glow Cushion Foundation to cater to different skin tones, from fair to medium to deep. The customers can choose a shade that matches their skin tones.In addition to providing smooth coverage and hydration, the Perfect Glow Cushion Foundation gives sunscreen protection to those who spend a lot of time outdoors. The product helps to protect their skin from harmful UV rays, and the company ensures their customers that their skin remains protected from the damaging effects of the sun's rays. Additionally, the product helps to reduce premature aging and other skin problems. The company formulated this foundation without harmful chemicals such as parabens and sulfate making it safe for regular use.The company gives surety to the users for satisfactory results or money back.Furthermore, Nurraysa offers high-quality products and services that cater to users' unique needs. The company is praised for providing a wide range of skincare and beauty products. From cleaner and toners to moisturizers and serums, Nurraysa offers a range of products that address different skincare concerns.About the Company - Nurraysa Global Sdn Bhd:Nurraysa Global Sdn Bhd is a company established on October 23, 2015. The company manufactures its products with the source of halal and natural ingredients so as not to bring harmful side effects to its customers. Apart from providing skincare and beauty products, the company sparked an evolution in health products.Company name: Nurraysa GlobalContact name: Nur Aini ZolkepeliCompany Contact: Nur Aini ZolkepeliEmail: nurraysaglobal@ gmail.com Phone: 09-5701212Country: MalaysiaWebsite: https://nurraysa.com/premium-edition-perfect-glow-cushion-foundation/ SOURCE: Nurraysa Global PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 03:25:35 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 434 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Refresh, an Akron Company, on the Inc. 5000 Regionals List for Second Consecutive YearCLEVELAND, OH / ACCESSWIRE / April 25, 2023 / Refresh has once again made its mark on the third annual Inc. 5000 Regionals Midwest list, coming in at No. 102 with a two-year revenue growth of 160%. This award recognizes the fastest-growing private companies based in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, and is the most prestigious ranking of its kind.Refresh Team WorkAll four Refresh franchisees working in one unit. Shows the teamwork of all four Refresh brands.For Refresh, this recognition is a testament to its resilience in the face of adversity, having weathered the challenges that the past couple of years have presented."It's amazing to be included by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing companies in the Midwest for the second year running. Our team has worked so hard to get here and we are so incredibly proud of this accomplishment," says Adam Ferracane, founder and President of Refresh.The companies on this list have shown an impressive rate of growth across all industries in the Midwest region. Between 2019 and 2021, these 144 private companies had an average growth rate of 147%, and in 2021 alone, they added 19,821 jobs and nearly $11.7 billion to the Midwest region's economy."This year's Inc. 5000 Regional winners represent one of the most exceptional and exciting lists of America's off-the-charts growth companies. They're disrupters and job creators and all delivered an outsize impact on the economy. Remember their names and follow their lead. These are the companies you'll be hearing about for years to come," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc.Since its inception in 2016, Refresh has offered home services to both large apartment communities and homeowners alike, providing a highly sought-after solution for real estate investors and property managers to turn over apartments quickly. Refresh is not only expanding through its service offerings, but also expanding its business model with franchise opportunities in each of its primary service categories. Refresh's new franchise model offers a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to tap into the booming home services market. With Refresh's proven success and dedication to quality service, the company's franchise opportunities provide a compelling investment opportunity for those looking to enter the industry.Refresh's continued growth and success are a testament to its dedication of providing high-quality services and the company's commitment to serving its clients' needs. For more information about Refresh's business and franchise opportunities, please visit www.refreshcompanies.com and https://refreshfranchising.com , respectively.Contact InformationRachel BatesMarketing Managermarketing@ refreshcompanies.com 330-237-9333SOURCE: Refresh Italy's export credit agency SACE is ready to resume work with Ukraine, which is a very important signal for Italian business, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said at a briefing with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome. "In addition to the EUR500 million line, the agency is ready, according to our data, to allocate another EUR1 billion to support trade and financial operations, in particular, in the field of healthcare and infrastructure," the head of the Ukrainian government said. He added that the Italian financial development institution SIMEST would support the investments of Italian companies in the reconstruction of Ukraine through export credit instruments, concessional lending and direct investments. In turn, Meloni noted that the Italian government would support the private sector, cooperation between the enterprises of the two countries, stressing that the restoration of Ukraine is a matter for all of Europe. "Today, investing in Ukraine is not a risk, in my opinion, but one of the most far-sighted investments that can be made today," the Italian prime minister said. As reported on the government portal, Shmyhal also said during a meeting with Meloni that he counts on Italy's active participation in the restoration of the Ukrainian state, in particular, in the implementation of joint infrastructure, logistics, production and commercial projects. "In 2023, Ukraine needs $14 billion for rapid recovery. This is the amount that is needed to meet the most basic needs of people, such as a roof over their heads, light and warmth in winter. The G7 countries are joining the reconstruction of Ukraine. The United States is providing $2.3 billion. The European Commission some EUR 1 billion. We expect the same assistance from the SACE agency in the amount of EUR 1 billion, which will help Ukraine restore the economy, infrastructure, basic humanitarian and social needs of the people," Shmyhal said. PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 10:01:01 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 nitrous scavenger systems 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 nitrous scavenger systems industry, allowing clients to make well-informed business decisions. The report reveals key insights about the global nitrous scavenger systems 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 nitrous scavenger systems 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/Nitrous-Scavenger-Systems-Market/request-for-sample-report The global nitrous scavenger systems 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 nitrous scavenger systems 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 nitrous scavenger systems 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 Nitrous Scavenger Systems Market ReportThe global nitrous scavenger systems 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 nitrous scavenger systems 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 nitrous scavenger systems 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 ReportNitrous Scavenger Systems Market SegmentsThe market by product type is segmented into active systems, passive systems.The market by application is segmented into hospital, clinic, other.Regions Covered in the Global Nitrous Scavenger Systems 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 nitrous scavenger systems 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 nitrous scavenger systems 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 nitrous scavenger systems market and its expected trajectory.It is clear that the nitrous scavenger systems 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 nitrous scavenger systems market.The following Companies as the Key Players in the Global Nitrous Scavenger Systems Market Research Report:Accutron, Air Techniques, Albemarle, Alldent, Crosstex, Patterson DentalContact UsDhirtek Business Research and Consulting Private LimitedContact No: +91 7580990088Email Id: sales@ dhirtekbusinessresearch.com PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 11:45:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 354 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Trinseo PLC ("Trinseo" or "the Company") (NYSE: TSE) for violations of 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.Investors who purchased the Company's securities between May 3, 2021 and March 27, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the firm before June 20, 2023.If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Trinseo's plant in Bristol, Pennsylvania, suffered from a troubled history of safety problems under its previous ownership, which continued to be plagued with safety problems after it was acquired. The Company failed to disclose the specific risks involved in this plant's normal operations. The Company was at risk of chemical spills and other problems due to its operation of an unsafe plant. Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Trinseo, investors suffered damages.Join the case to recover your losses.The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT:The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq.Office: 310-301-3335info@ schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 13:33:25 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/ # 956 Words 1st Floor, The Work Lab, Model Colony, Shivajinagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411016CEO+91-7400-24-24-24 The global Smart Hospital market research report is focuses on an overall consumption patterns, development trends, sales patterns and sales in key countries of the Smart Hospital market. The report focuses on global Smart Hospital 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=664 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 Smart Hospital market is segmented on the basis of solution, industry, and end user. Based on solution, the Smart Hospital market is segmented into component, services. On the basis of industry, the Smart Hospital market is segmented into manufacturing, others. Based on end user, the Smart Hospital market is segmented into consumer and enterprises. The global Smart Hospital market report includes a detailed analysis of the segmentation of this industry by Types and Applications.Global Smart Hospital by Segments:By Offering Hardware Software Serviceso Training and Consultingo Implementation and Maintenanceo Design and Developmento OthersBy Hospital Size Small and Medium Hospitals Large HospitalsBy Application Asset and Inventory Monitoring Hospital Information Management Electronic Health Records Laboratory and Pharmacy Management Energy and Utilities Management Tele-health / Remote Health OthersCompetitive Landscape:The competitive landscape of the Smart Hospital 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.Allscripts Healthcare, LLC, Amazon Web Services, Inc., Archer Software, Axonize, Cassia Networks, Inc., Cerner Corporation, Comarch SA, GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, Google LLC, Honeywell International Inc., IBM Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V.,McKesson Corporation, Medtronic, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP SE, Siemens Healthineers, STANLEY Healthcare and Thales Groupamongst others.Smart Hospital 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 Smart Hospital market.Ask for Discount: https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=664 The Study Objectives are: A comprehensive insight into key players operating in the Smart Hospital 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, Smart Hospital market segments by application, study goals and years considered.Market Landscape: Here, the global Smart Hospital 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 Smart Hospital 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 Smart Hospital 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 Smart Hospital 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 Smart Hospital 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=664 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: 2023-04-26 20:02:44 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 497 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TAIGER empowers Vietnamese Businesses with Omnitive IDP Solution's Language SupportSINGAPORE / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / TAIGER, the category-defining Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) company that brings together the power of Generative and Predictive A.I.for private use, has announced that its Omnitive IDP solution can now support the Vietnamese language. This latest update is a significant step forward for the company, as it will enable businesses in Vietnam to benefit from Omnitive IDP's document extraction capabilities.Omnitive IDP is a no-code, industry & document-agnostic solution that utilizes advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to extract information from any type of document. The solution can process both structured and unstructured data and can extract information from documents in multiple languages from less than 100 samples of training set. The solution can also learn and adapt to new document types and formats, making it highly versatile and customizable.With the addition of support for the Vietnamese language, Omnitive IDP can now process documents in Vietnamese and extract information from them accurately and efficiently. This means that businesses in Vietnam can now automate their document processing workflows and reduce the time and resources required for manual data entry.The Vietnamese language is a complex language with a unique set of characters and symbols. TAIGER's Omnitive IDP solution has been specifically designed to handle the complexities of the Vietnamese language, ensuring that documents are accurately processed and information is extracted with a high degree of accuracy."Vietnam is a growing market with a vibrant economy, and we are delighted to be able to support businesses in Vietnam with our Omnitive IDP solution. TAIGER offers a simple-to-use tool to automatically classify, read, understand, extract and validate information that is locked in paper, messaging platforms and digital stores. We are solving an operational efficiency problem that is worth US$77.6b globally (and growing) for customers, bringing Generative tech behind firewalls for private commercial use," said Sinuhe Arroyo, CEO of TAIGER. "We are confident that businesses in Vietnam will benefit greatly from this latest update." In addition to supporting the Vietnamese language, Omnitive IDP also supports 94 different languages, including English, Spanish, French, German or Portuguese. Other languages like Thai, Chinese and Japanese languages will also be added soon. This makes it an ideal solution for businesses that operate in multiple regions and need to process documents in different languages.About TAIGERTAIGER offers the first behind-firewall Generative & Predictive AI-based solution to automatically classify documents and convert unstructured information into structured data. We help corporations optimize middle and back-office operation, removing the need for large teams of clerks, boosting operational efficiency while complying with ongoing security and privacy regulations. Key application areas include Powers of Attorney, Bills of Lading, Mortgages or Loans, etc. Some of the world's top financial and legal institutions in Europe, Latam & Asia rely on TAIGER to automate their document processing operations. Learn more about TAIGER at taiger.com Contact InformationJuanjo MisisMarketing ManagerSOURCE: TAIGER PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 19:48:50 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 641 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Lead Plaintiff Deadline Is June 20, 2023NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP ("Wolf Haldenstein") announces that a federal securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired the American Depositary Receipts ("ADR's") of Teleperformance SE (OTC PINK:TLPFY) between July 29, 2020 and November 9, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period")All investors who purchased shares and incurred losses are advised to contact the firm immediately at classmember@ whafh.com or (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774. You may obtain additional information concerning the action or join the case on our website, www.whafh.com If you have incurred losses, you may, no later than June 20, 2023, request that the Court appoint you lead plaintiff of the proposed class. Please contact Wolf Haldenstein to learn more about your rights.PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR CONTACT AND TRANSACTION INFORMATIONTeleperformance is a subcontractor for various Fortune 500 companies, including TikTok, in the field of content moderation.The filed complaint states that Teleperformance failed to disclose that:Teleperformance's growth in Core Services and Digital Integrated Business Services, which included content moderation services, had been achieved, in part, by requiring its content moderators to engage in inappropriate, traumatic, abusive, and potentially criminal activities;certain Teleperformance social content moderators had been trained with materials which included illicit images of child sexual exploitation;contraband images had been included in Teleperformance Daily Required Reading reports for its content moderation staff;Teleperformance had failed to safeguard child sexual abuse material and had potentially violated strict rules governing the handling of such materials, including rules relating to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children;Teleperformance had failed to provide adequate training or emotional and psychological support to content moderators exposed to egregious materials, including those exposed to extreme graphic violence and sexual images;Teleperformance had imposed unreasonable time and performance targets that compounded the occupational trauma suffered by its content moderators; andTeleperformance had failed to implement or maintain the working conditions represented to investors, including by subjecting Teleperformance's content moderation workers to widespread occupational trauma without psychological support, and with paltry pay, punitive salary deductions, extensive surveillance, and aggressive union-busting tactics.On August 4, 2022, Forbes published an article entitled "TikTok Moderators Are Being Trained Using Graphic Images of Child Sexual Abuse," revealing that Teleperformance had subjected its workers to unconscionable working conditions, including being "shown uncensored, sexually explicit images of children." On this news, the price of Teleperformance ADR's fell by nearly 5%.Then, on November 9, 2022, Time reported that "Colombia's Ministry of Labor has launched an investigation into TikTok subcontractor Teleperformance, relating to alleged union-busting, traumatic working conditions and low pay." On this news, the price of Teleperformance ADR's declined nearly 19%, further damaging investors.Wolf Haldenstein has extensive experience in the prosecution of securities class actions and derivative litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has attorneys in various practice areas; and offices in New York, Chicago and San Diego. The reputation and expertise of this firm in shareholder and other class litigation has been repeatedly recognized by the courts, which have appointed it to major positions in complex securities multi-district and consolidated litigation.If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions regarding your rights and interests in this case, please immediately contact Wolf Haldenstein by telephone at (800) 575-0735 or via e-mail at classmember@ whafh.com Contact:Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLPPatrick Donovan, Esq.Gregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial AnalysisEmail: gstone@ whafh.com , donovan@ whafh.com or classmember@ whafh.com Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.SOURCE: Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 07:46:02 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 624 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Did you lose money on investments in Tupperware Brands? If so, please visit Tupperware Brands Corporation Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com to discuss your rights.NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the securities of Tupperware Brands Corporation ("Tupperware" or the "Company") (NYSE:TUP) between March 10, 2021 and March 16, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.Tupperware purports to be a leading global consumer products company that designs innovative, functional, and environmentally responsible products. Worldwide, the Company purports to engage in the marketing, manufacture, and sale of design-centric preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home through the Tupperware brand name. The Company primarily uses a direct selling business model to distribute and market products.Plaintiff alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants allegedly made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Tupperware did not disclose its serious issues with internal controls; (2) Tupperware's financial statements, from its 2020 Annual Report to the present, included misstatements, particularly relating to the Company's accounting for income taxes; and (3) as a result, Tupperware would need to restate its previously filed financial statements for certain periods.On March 1, 2023, before the market opened, the Company announced that it had identified misstatements in prior annual and unaudited interim periods, including misstatements related to the Company's historical accounting for income taxes.On this news, Tupperware's stock fell 14.88% to close at $3.49 per share on March 1, 2023.Then, on March 16, 2023, after the market closed, the Company filed with the SEC a Late Filing Notice on Form NT 10-K, reporting that it was unable to file its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.On this news, the price of Tupperware's stock declined by $0.19 cents a share, or 7.7%, to close at $2.27 per share on March 17, 2023.If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 19, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.If you purchased or acquired Tupperware securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Tupperware Brands Corporation Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for ten consecutive years.ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. 2023 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.Contact Information:Peter AlloccoBernstein Liebhard LLP(212) 951-2030pallocco@ bernlieb.com SOURCE: Bernstein Liebhard LLP PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 08:03:45 Press Information Published by ACN Newswire +65 6304 8926 e-mail https://www.acnnewswire.com/ # 1001 Words ACN Newswire+65 6304 8926 HANOI, Vietnam, Apr 25, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - With a projected value of $18 billion by 2024, the country's fintech market is at an all-time high. While acknowledging the shift in consumer behavior, Vietnam has welcomed myriad fintech advances in its financial ecosystem. Digital payments, peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, cryptocurrencies, blockchain-based solutions, investment tech, point of sales and a host of other streams have proliferated in the recent years.While World Financial Innovation Series (WFIS), organised by Tradepass, has always been at the heart of exposing these fast-evolving markets wherein also facilitating numerous organisations to capitalize on the same, this time the platform made its entry to Hanoi on 4-5 April 2023 at Intercontinental Hanoi Landmark72.The event had a one-of-a-kind start and received phenomenal attention from numerous media houses as it was jointly opened through a ribbon cutting ceremony, that was graced by the top officials from Vietnam Banks Association (VNBA), State Bank of Vietnam, World Bank, Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam JSC and Tradepass.Vietnam Banks Association and Digital Pilipinas were the supporting partners for the event and garnered massive recognition for the platform in the country and also the entire region that's Southeast Asia.Acting as the bridge between members and state agencies for the further development of credit institutions has always been VNBA's top priority and WFIS emerged as a very crucial step in supporting VNBA's vision as it brought together the country's leading Banks, Insurance and Micro-Finance Institutions under one roof.Talking about the importance of the event, Dr Nguyen Quoc Hung (Secretary General, Vietnam Banks Association) expressed, "The event is meaningful and useful for all financial organisations, Banks in Vietnam can access knowledge from around the world through shared experiences that will aid banks in having a more comprehensive identity and will fully prepare them in finding solutions for digital transformation in the fastest and most effective way." Ketut Ariadi Kusuma (Senior Financial Sector Specialist, World Bank) one of the key speakers at WFIS 2023 - Vietnam, shared his views about the event, "WFIS is a very interesting event. I can see a lot of attention from the industry players and policy makers." The two-day event showcased what's currently driving Vietnam's FSI through multiple knowledge sharing sessions that were powered by the industry's most renowned thought leaders. It also shed light on the latest, most trending developments that are shaping to be the areas attracting maximum investor focus.The Deputy Director of Information Technology Department from the State Bank of Vietnam, Doan Thanh Hai expressed why the event was a great platform for the financial services industry, "This year's conference paved a great opportunity for us to discuss the most exciting technology application development issues in the banking & financial sector such as cloud computing of centralized digital currency, artificial intelligence and blockchain." The entire venue was swamped with 500+ top FSI professionals who showed a very keen interest at the Exhibition Hall that was decked with a very impressive line-up of technology providers and related cutting-edge fintech products. The line-up included Nucleus Software, Perfios Software Solution, MoEngage, Clayfin, OutSystems, Xebia, Genesys, NGS Telecommunication and Equipment Joint Stock Company, Alibaba Cloud, FPT Telecom International, iProov, AppSealing, SmartNet Technology Co., Ltd., MineSec, Contour, Parasoft and VietNet Distribution Joint Stock Company (VietNet Distribution JSC.).Saurabh Madan (GM & VP - SEA, ANZ & Japan, MoEngage) gave his take on the quality of delegates at the event, he said, "Vey high quality of delegates to start off with, you had some strong movers and shakers from the Vietnam market on stage and a lot of people from the audience also are from different banks, so well done on the quality of delegates." The curation of topics for the conference was completely on point and paved the future road map for the country's FSI. Some of the topics from the conference included, 'Revolutionizing of Digital Lending', 'Big Data in Banking', 'Streamlining Legacy System in Banking', 'Unlocking the Speed and Innovation of Cloud in the Digital Transformation Journey' and 'Digital Transformation in Insurance'.Nucleus Software's Head of Global Marketing, Ashish Khanna expressed his enthusiasm for WFIS, "It is a great platform for us to connect with industry peers as well as with different banks and financial institutions and it's an opportunity to share our global experience of managing more than $500 billion worth of retail assets and corporate assets. So, it is a great event and we are privileged to be here." Kalidas Ghose (Chief Executive Officer, VPBank SMBC Finance Company Limited (FE Credit)) during his session gave an amazing insight about how his organisation tried to simplify digital banking, he said, "We actually went into customer's life to find out how a digital bank can be embedded in his life rather than us trying to prompt him to use digital banking." Some of the key speakers from the event included: DR NGUYEN QUOC HUNG, Secretary General, Vietnam Banks Association; KETUT ARIADI KUSUMA, Senior Financial Sector Specialist, World Bank; PHAM THI NGUYET NGA, Deputy CEO, Chief Data Scientist, TNEX; JOHNSON POH, Chief Data Officer, VPBank; DOAN THANH HAI, Deputy Director of Information Technology Department, SBV; DR LUC CAN, Chief Economist, Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam JSC; NGUYEN MANH KHANG, Deputy CEO, CIO, Mcredit; KANISHK UPADHYAY, Executive Vice President, Techcombank; KALIDAS GHOSE, Chief Executive Officer, VPBank SMBC Finance Company Limited (FE Credit); MICHAL SKALICKY, Chief Customer Officer, Home Credit Vietnam.For more information about the event, log on to: https://vietnam.worldfis.com/ About TradepassProviding access to the global emerging markets, Tradepass brings together people, products and solutions to power events for unparalleled business and networking opportunities. Being the most accredited event company, it helps organizations: enter new markets, grow sales pipeline, close prospects, raise capital and identify the right solution-providers.As a deal facilitator, Tradepass is always determined about exposing the most agile liquid growth markets, to enable all-round scalability and growth.Media contact:Shrinkhal SharadPR & Communication Leadshrinkhals@ tradepassglobal.com + (91) 80 6166 4401Tradepass PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-26 19:01:03 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 707 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 OVERLAND PARK, KS / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Expanding a business into foreign markets can be a daunting yet rewarding experience. From understanding cultural differences to navigating new sets of government regulations, there are various factors to consider when going global. With the right strategies and preparation, however, new businesses can successfully expand into the international market and reach a wider audience. As Kansas-based on-demand vehicle delivery company, Draiver, continues to grow and expand globally, its CEO, Zarif Haque, shares his insights on what it takes to successfully expand a business to foreign shores.Unique and ScalableIn today's fast-paced world, a unique and scalable business model is the foundation for any successful business. It is what sets one company apart from others, and allows it to grow and succeed in the long-term. A business model that is unique should address a specific market need and provide solutions that are both innovative and efficient. It should be scalable so that as the business expands, it can continue to meet the demands of its partners"A key advantage of having a unique and scalable business model is that it provides a competitive edge in the market. By solving a problem that no one else is addressing or by offering a solution that is more efficient than those of other companies, a business can quickly gain traction and establish itself as a leader in its industry," Haque says.The Draiver proprietary business model, which utilizes AI technology and a gig-ified approach to moving vehicles with independent contractors, provided a solution with a built-in marketplace that enabled the company to scale quickly, both domestically and internationally."This unique approach sets Draiver apart from other companies and has allowed us to thrive in the highly competitive vehicle delivery industry," Haque points out.PartnershipsEstablishing partnerships with industry leaders is an important aspect of expanding a business to global markets. These partnerships can provide valuable resources and support as a business navigates the intricacies of entering a foreign market."Draiver has attracted renowned industry partners like Penske and Budget, who recognize our market-leading vehicle delivery approach. These partnerships not only lend credibility to Draiver, but also provide a vehicle for further growth and expansion," Haque says.Hire LocalHiring talent in a market where a business plans to expand is an essential aspect of going global. By hiring local employees, a business can tap into the expertise, knowledge, and networks of those who are familiar with the market, culture, and business environment. These employees can provide valuable insights into consumer behaviors, cultural norms, and regulations that are unique to the foreign market."As Draiver expands into new markets like Mexico and Brazil, we have hired general managers for each country to oversee operations. By hiring local talent, we are able to understand the local market and culture, which is crucial to the success of our expansion," Haque says.AdaptingAdapting a company's business model to the needs of a foreign market is critical when expanding into other countries. Different markets often have unique regulations, cultural norms, and consumer behaviors that warrant a more tailored approach. Failing to adapt to these needs can result in misunderstandings, lost opportunities, and even failure for most businesses."While our business model has proven successful in the United States, we recognize the need to adapt to local needs as we expand into new markets. By understanding the local market and culture, we are able to tailor our services to meet the needs of our clients in each country," Haque explains.Whether it is scaling quickly, building partners, hiring local talent or adapting to a market needs, all of these efforts are pivotal when expanding your business into new markets. With these key tactics, any company or business owner will be able to drive success in new markets and beyond.About DraiverDraiver is a leading vehicle delivery company offering best-in-class AI logistics software with a vetted, insured driver marketplace. The company's full suite of services is available in North America and South America. Clients include global Fleet and Rental Companies, OEMs, Large Automotive Groups, and single location businesses. ( www.draiver.com) CONTACT:Patricia GaleaSOURCE: Draiver 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 on Tuesday arraigned four persons, Eniola Adeniyi, Donatus Osabanumonu, Idorenyi Okon and Michael Rodolphe before a Yaba Magistrates Court in Lagos for allegedly threatening Tiwa Savages life. They were arraigned by the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Annex, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos, before Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun on three counts of conspiracy, intent to defraud and threat to life. The prosecutor, Idowu Oshubure, told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offence on or before 13 April 2023. About a week ago, the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Ikoyi in Lagos, said it had arrested some persons concerning the alleged offence. It gathered that the failed plot was allegedly planned by Savages new domestic staff, who had been entrusted with vital information about her. Charges The charge sheet partly read, That you, Eniola Adeniyi, Donatus Osabanumonu, Idorenyi Okon, Michael Rodolphe, and others at large on or before April 13, 2023, in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of Lagos, in this honourable court, with intent to commit the offence, fraudulently conspired among yourselves to conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace, to the annoyance of one Tiwa Savage and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. That you, on the date above within the same court jurisdiction, with intent to defraud, did fraudulently sent messages to one Tiwa Savage through phone no 09061665942 which caused her reasonable apprehension of threat to her life, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14(3) of the Cyber Crime Prohibition Prevention Act, 2015. However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Magistrate Olatunbosun, after going through their case file and the consent of the prosecutor who did not object to bail, granted the suspects bail in the sum of N300,000 with one responsible surety each in like sum. Mr Olatunbosun adjourned the case to 31 May 2013 for mention. 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. Queen Silekunola Naomi, a former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has ruled out any hopes of reconciliation with the monarch. The queen announced her separation from the Ooni, confirming that her three-year marriage to the monarch had ended in December 2021. In her post on Instagram, the former Olori said she shall no longer be referred to as wife to the Ooni of Ife or as Queen of Ile-Ife but as the Queen of the people. Despite the monarch marrying six wives in quick succession in October 2022, some still believe that having birthed his heir, there is a chance they would reunite. However, the former Queen, who recently turned 30, in a recent interview with the Punch newspaper, has ruled out the possibility of reconciliation with the Ooni or returning to the palace. She said: I am going to answer that question with a question. As I have been speaking to you for the past one hour, do I look like someone who can survive in the midst of six mature and strong women? No! She is but a soft, strong, gentle woman and I cant be a square peg in a round hole. Life in the palace Although she was hesitant about speaking about her experience in the palace, she said it was a bittersweet experience. Queen Naomi explained that there were delightful and bitter moments. It is not yet time to talk about it because some things are meant to just teach you by yourself. I believe the messages are just for me at the moment; when God wants to enlarge and expand on it and make it a message for the whole world, I will hear his words and talk about it. Lessons learned are personal, and they have helped in shaping me. I am enjoying 30 so much; 30 makes me strong. I am too innocent; I think I entered the palace too innocent and soft, but life is not like that; you have to be strong, bold and courageous, she said. Iya Oba Although the title of the Ooni of Ife rotates among four houses, Oshinkola, Ogboru, Giesi and Lafogido, she said the son she has for the present monarch during their three years of marriage is the greatest miracle she has experienced in three decades of her life. She said: The birth of my son, the boy himself, everything about him is a miracle. His father used to tell me that his children were coming, and he said, They chose you. He would talk about that, and I thought it was one of those things that men would say to make you happy, however, for that boy to have chosen meTake everything from me, and you cant take away this crown. Dont call me Olori, call me Ayaba, Iya Oba. Ministry, other endeavours The former Queen noted that she started to have a good relationship with God at a very tender age. At 30, she has run her ministry for 12 years. She said that before she got to know the Lord, she had some supernatural experiences. However, at the age of nine, I gave my life to Christ and got baptised with the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in tongues. I went through primary and secondary schools at the Akure Academy before I got admitted to Adekunle Ajasin University. I became popular there. I was going to 18 years when I got Gods call to start my ministry formally, and I went into evangelistic ministry. For some reasons, I could not continue at the university at that time; that was because of the call. I was doing fine academically; I came out with flying colours in anything I did at that time. However, one was stronger than the other, she revealed. Despite getting married to the Ooni at 25, she continued the ministry. Many assumed that I got married and stopped ministry. I had several crusades while in the palace, and I have gone on outreaches; we have videos to back it up. I am currently back in school, studying at Elizade University, she added. She also runs an NGO, Women in Need of Guidance and Support which caters to the spiritual, emotional and financial needs of women. I have been instrumental in a lot of peoples successes. You will see 50-year-old people calling me their mother. They are not calling me mummy because I was married to a king, but because of the impact, I made in their lives. It is quite a lot, she said. Marriage, divorce In October 2018, she wedded the Ooni On 18 November 2020, she gave birth to Tadenikawo, their son and the crown prince of the Ife Kingdom. I, at this moment, announce that I shall no longer be referred to as wife to the Ooni of Ife or as Queen of Ile-Ife but as the Queen of the people and mother of my adorable Prince. I did my best to endure and make it work; many times, I smiled through the struggle, but I have finally realised I had just one assignment, my son, and when God is done, He is done, she wrote. Before her, the king married Adebukola Bombata, in 2008 seven years before his coronation as Ooni of Ife. Shortly after he became king in 2015, the couple parted ways. In March 2016, Ooni Ogunwusi married Zaynab Otiti Obanor who was born and raised in Benin, the Edo State capital. The marriage ended in August 2017. The reason for the divorce was never made publicimage0.jpeg Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print No one can feel safe anywhere unless the aggressor is defeated. This is what every day in Ukraine proves everything that the Russian troops and special services of the occupier are doing on our land against our people. And this is what they dream of bringing to the lands of other nations. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video message on Tuesday. Throughout the day today, the rubble in the town of Kupyansk, Kharkiv region, was being cleared after a Russian attack with S-300 missiles. Attack on an ordinary civilian neighborhood. The terrorists targeted the local history museum and nearby houses. Russia killed two women with this strike. My condolences to the families and friends of the victims ..., he said. According to him, in total, more than 60 museums and galleries in different regions of our country have also been destroyed or damaged by the occupier. Today, a church was destroyed by Russian aircraft in Kherson region. In the village of Kizomys, Bilozerka community. An Orthodox church ... By a guided bomb. That is, the Russian military knew what they were destroying. This church became one of hundreds of churches and prayer houses destroyed by Russian strikes, the president noted. Crimea ... Today the occupiers broke into the house of Abdureshyt Dzhepparov. He is one of the representatives of the Crimean Tatar national movement, a human rights activist, a citizen of Ukraine. It is unknown where he is now and what his condition is. This is another example of Russian repression against the indigenous people of Crimea, against all our people. There have been thousands and thousands of such examples since the beginning of aggression both in Crimea and in our other regions occupied by Russia, Zelenskyy said. The world also knows that Russia can be stopped. This is a common interest. Stopped by the might of our warriors on the frontline. By our weapons, both Ukrainian and those we receive from our partners. By the power of law, that is, sanctions that need to be constantly enhanced, and by our joint work for justice. Every manifestation of Russian terror, every day of aggression is an additional argument that all this must end in the Tribunal - in a new Nuremberg against ruscism, against those who destroy lives and people, who use missiles against museums and guided bombs against churches, he noted. 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. Nollywood actress Ini Edo, on Tuesday, debunked tales circulating about her involvement with her colleague, Empress Njamahs ex-lover, Nicholas Davis. Disguised as George Wade, Davis was said to have leaked nude pictures and videos of Ms Njamah after their relationship went sour. He went on to blackmail her. The ex-lover turned blackmailer was said to have been arrested by the Liberian police on Monday. After this, the police disclosed that he victimised 20 other women, including top Nollywood actresses. Late Monday, screenshots of Ini Edos alleged video call conversation with Davis made a round on Instagram alongside a picture of her international passport. The speculations claimed that the video call clip and passport picture was found in Davis phone after his arrest, with many insinuating that the actress allegedly had a relationship with the suspect. However, the actress, currently in Texas, USA, exonerated herself from the alleged involvement with Davis in an Instagram live on her verified Instagram page. Debunking the allegations, Ini said people, who released the alleged evidence, picked on her because she barely responded to rumours about her. Ini Edos side of the story During the Instagram Live, the actress, who studied theatre arts at the University of Uyo, disclosed that Davis texted her with a foreign number last year about a film he wanted her to be in. The actress, who co-produced Shanty Town, said he introduced himself as a filmmaker, which ensued their conversation after claiming the colleague she knew gave him her number. Along the line, the Shanty Town lead said the conversation began personally and that Davis wanted to be in a relationship with her, which made her suspicious. She said, Someone texts me with a foreign number. It was around August to November 2022. He said he is a filmmaker and that he wants to make a film with me. I asked how he got my number and mentioned a colleagues name. He starts to chat me up about the film he wants to make. I literally had the entire chat the time this man was chatting with me. He drifts and starts to go personal, saying he wants to have a relationship with me, which I said didnt add up. Ive never seen this guy face to face. Ms Edo, who started her film career in the year 2000, further revealed that Davis had requested that she send her passport and ticket, but she declined. She said she eventually blocked him. She didnt have it anymore with where the conversation was going. She stated that she did not know Davis, saying that the alleged blackmailer had called her on video call once, and she picked up, hence the screenshot of the video call he allegedly had in his possession. He suggested we see him at my friends wedding in London, but I declined because I knew I had to go to South Africa for a paid gig I was committed to. He asks me to send him my passport and ticket. I declined. All these conversations, I forwarded to the guy in question. When the conversation wasnt going well, I eventually blocked him. The one time he called me on video call was when I was going to Akwa Ibom. Do you know when you just pick a random call because? I never saved his number. I later hung up and told him to call me on voice call. Then this guy saves the video. Why didnt they release the audio of the video? The actress, who has appeared in over 100 movies, further noted that people had dragged her into their web of lies because she always kept quiet about it. She emphasised that all the allegations about her involvement with Davies are lies. Back story On Monday, Nollywood actress Empress Njamah confirmed the arrest of her ex-fiance turned blackmailer, Nicholas Jack Davis, in his home country, Liberia. In December 2022, the Nollywood actress alleged her ex-lover assaulted her and that he blackmailed her with nude videos she had shared with him. Ms Njamah, reacting to a video about being engaged, claimed that she met her ex-lover when she lost her good friend Ada Ameh and was in the wrong place. She described the relationship as going well and had no idea of falling for a scam until her ex-lover got hold of her nude videos. On Monday evening, a video of the Liberian police addressing the public on the arrest of Davis surfaced online. The actress revealed that when Davis came to Nigeria, he claimed all his things were stolen, including his phones, credit cards, and clothes. He got into trouble needing lawyers, which led to her giving him money running into millions of naira. The 42-year-old actress also revealed that the suspect had other victims, including her colleagues in the industry. 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 FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board says it will commence medical screening for the 2023 Hajj intending pilgrims from May 5 to May 7. The Director of the Board, Abubakar Evuti, announced this in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the board, Muhammad Aliyu, on Tuesday in Abuja. Mr Evuti also disclosed that the inoculation exercise for all the intending pilgrims would be conducted from 15 May to 17 May 2023, in line with the procedure for the trip to Saudi Arabia. He advised intending pilgrims to participate in all activities earmarked by the board for proper guidance to get value for their money without any hindrance. The director however warned all intending pilgrims who are yet to return their completed application forms or submit their International passports to do so. This, according to him, will enable the board fast track the process of obtaining their travel documents in good time before the commencement of the airlift to Saudi Arabia. Mr Evuti said that the board would commence the second phase of the education and orientation exercise for intending pilgrims on 29 April to 30 April. The director explained that activities have been outlined to actualise the success of the operation and ensure that intending pilgrims are well prepared for the spiritual journey to the holy land of Saudi Arabia. He assured that intending pilgrims would get the rudiments of performing Hajj in order to have value for their hard-earned money paid to perform the religious obligation. Mr Evuti disclosed that intending pilgrims who paid through Abaji, Kwali and Gwagwalada Area Councils as well as those who registered through the Hajj Saving Scheme would be trained on April 29. READ ALSO: Muslims pilgrims agency NAHCON announces 2023 Hajj fare While those who registered through the Headquarters, Bwari, Kuje and Abuja Municipal Area Councils would have their orientation exercise on April 30 at the Permanent Hajj Camp located at Bassan Jiwa, close to the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja. He said that Islamic scholars and relevant stakeholders have already been mobilised for the exercise scheduled to take place from 8 a.m. on April 30. He added that the phased orientation exercises would enable the intending pilgrims to get enlightened on the Hajj rites as well as guidelines and new policies introduced for this years Hajj by the Saudi authorities and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). (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 Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has launched a rejuvenated digitalised Central Motor Registry (CMR) Information Service to curb the menace of car theft in the country. A statement by the NPF spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, urged Nigerians and residents to utilise the portal effectively. Mr Adejobi said the digitalised CMRIS will effectively serve the purpose of obtaining additional information from members of the public about stolen vehicles and populating the Stolen Vehicle database so as to ensure that vehicles to be registered by the CMR are not stolen and to aid investigation of stolen vehicles and vehicle-associated incidents. The full statement of Mr Adejobi is reproduced below. PRESS RELEASE NPF REJUVENATES DIGITALIZED CENTRAL MOTOR REGISTRY (CMR) INFORMATION SERVICE Urges Nigerians, Residents to Utilize Portal Effectively Sequel to the earlier commissioning of the rejuvenated Central Motor Registry (CMR) Unit of the Nigeria Police Force and flag-off of the 1st Phase (Stolen Vehicle Report Portal), a module in the digitalized Central Motor Registry Information System (CMRIS), by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, NEAPS, fdc, CFR, on the 7th of December, 2022, the mandatory registration of vehicle information by the Central Motor Registry since inception about 7 decades ago, which was done manually and therefore fraught with some challenges has now given way to the digitalized Central Motor Registry Information System (CMRIS) for seamless management of information of every motor vehicle and its ownership. The digitalized CMRIS will effectively serve the purpose of obtaining additional information from members of the public about stolen vehicles and populating the Stolen Vehicle database so as to ensure that vehicles to be registered by the CMR are not stolen and to aid investigation of stolen vehicles and vehicle-associated incidents. Similarly, owners of motor vehicles operating on Nigeria roads and members of the public are hereby notified that the new procedure for requesting the Nigeria Police Force Central Motor Registry services such as Motor Vehicle Information, Change of Ownership, Change of Engine/Chassis/Body, Change of Colour, International Motor Vehicle Certificate, International Drivers Permit, etc. is to create a profile on the CMRIS portal and apply for the desired service via https://cmris.npf.gov.ng/. The Inspector-General of Police has directed the discontinuation of manual processing and issuance of all CMR documents/certificates and a migration to the digitalized NPF CMR platform. Consequently, all other CMR Certificates hitherto issued by the Nigeria Police Force are therefore no longer valid/recognized forthwith. The IGP urges members of the public to cooperate with the Police as the digitalized CMR platform will provide motor vehicle information for robust and proactive actions in crime prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution, and efforts toward enhancing national security. CSP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja. 17th April, 2023 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 contender for the Speakership position of the 10th House of Representatives, Rep, Muktar Betara, on Tuesday, held a closed-door meeting with president-elect Bola Tinubu, the formers campaign team has said. Mr Betara, who represents Biu/Bayo/Shani and Kwaya Kusar Federal Constituency of Borno, has been canvassing support for his speakership aspiration with party members, House of Reps members-elect, former lawmakers and other stakeholders. The information about the meeting is contained in a statement made available by Betaras Campaign Media Office in Abuja Wednesday, the News Agency of Nigeria reports. Mr Tinubus spokespersons were yet to comment on the meeting at the time of this report. Betaras campaign and consultation with the president-elect is one out of many consultation he had embarked upon in the last three months ahead of the June inauguration. Betara who currently chairs the House of Representatives Appropriation Committee, had earlier exchanged warm pleasantries with the incoming Commander-in-Chief shortly after having some photo sessions. Beteras consultation visit to the President-elect took place at his new official residence at the Defence House in Abuja, following the latters return from vacations and the Muslim lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia, the campaign office said. It did not disclose the details of what the two men discussed. PREMIUM TIMES reported that although Mr Betara is a leading candidate for House speaker, he is from the same region and state as the vice president-elect, Kashim Shettima, a factor that may work against him. Messrs Tinubu, Shettima and Betara are all members of the APC, Nigerias ruling party which also won the most seats in the next parliament to be inaugurated in June. The party is, however, expected to zone the positions of leadership of the parliament; most likely to regions different from the South-west, where Mr Tinubu is from, and the North-east, where Mr Shettima is from. 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 Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Simbi Wabote, has called for transparency, prudent management of financial resources, and the deployment of a new master plan to attract private sector investment in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Mr Wabote made the recommendation at the NDDC Public-Private Partnership Summit 2023 held in Lagos on Tuesday. In a statement by the board, Mr Wabote emphasised that once the finances of the commission are transparently and prudently managed, it will attract local and international partnerships. He also recommended that the NDDC should project itself positively through its choice of signature projects and interventions and open its accounts and project sites for public scrutiny. Mr Wabote further suggested that development and infrastructure projects should no longer be considered as gifts but as commercial ventures that need to be managed for profitability. Speaking further, he lauded the management of the NDDC for embarking on the summit themed Rewind to Rebirth, describing it as the start of a new dawn in making the Commission retrace its steps back to the original objectives of its formation as an intervention agency for the development of the Niger Delta. The high point of the summit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth over $15 billion between the NDDC and Atlanta Global Resources Inc, an international infrastructure project financing firm, for the construction of a mega rail line that would connect the nine states that makeup NDDC and ease the infrastructure deficit in the region. NDDC Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku, described the deal as the first harvest of the PPP approach. He noted that NDDC could no longer shoulder the enormous responsibility of developing the Niger Delta region alone, hence the recourse to the PPP model to provide alternative funding sources for critical developmental projects and programmes to effectively drive sustainable development in the region. READ ALSO: Reps ask NDDC to halt release of N15 billion to federal govt The statement pointed out that other dignitaries who spoke at the event said that most of the funds that had accrued to the NDDC in previous years had not been properly applied, thereby contributing to the continued underdevelopment of the region. They charged the management of NDDC to chart a new course and partner with the various state governments and other relevant bodies to deliver impactful projects for the region. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. The Nigerian government, on Wednesday, commenced the evacuation of Nigerians in Sudan. This was revealed in a tweet by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) where it shared a video showing buses parked in line. It also shared a picture of people queued up which it captioned at the registration point this morning. Last night, the Nigeria Evacuation team in SUDAN received some buses to transport Nigerian Students to nearby borders in Egypt, before airlifting them to Nigeria, this has been sorted by the Federal Government through @nemanigeria and the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan, NiDCOM tweeted. NiDCOM added that more buses are arriving this morning and the stranded students will depart today. The evacuation was initially scheduled to start on Tuesday but did not happen because buses were unable to secure passes to move, a source at the ministry of foreign affairs who did not have permission to speak to the media, told PREMIUM TIMES. Another explanation on the WhatsApp group for Nigerians in Sudan said it was due to some logistics issues. PREMIUM TIMES reported how some Nigerian students studying in Sudan appealed to the Nigerian government for help. Since the fighting erupted over a week ago, nearly 500 people have been killed and almost 4,100 injured, the UN said. ALSO READ: Nigeria announces challenges evacuating citizens from Sudan Several countries including UK, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, France amongst others have been able to evacuate their citizens from torn Sudan. Four attempts at a ceasefire failed last week, however, the U.S. was able to broker a partial ceasefire that enabled more countries to evacuate and the Sudanese to run to safety. There are no signs that the warring parties in Sudan are ready to seriously negotiate an end to fighting, UN envoy to Sudan Volker Perthes told a UN Security Council meeting in New York City on Tuesday. 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 former President of Guinea, Alpha Conde, has spoken on the raging controversy over the alleged citizenship of Nigerias President-elect, Bola Tinubu, of his country. Mr Conde said he conferred Mr Tinubu with Ambassador extraordinaire because of the role that the latter played during his election in 2015. Mr Conde, who is currently in exile in Turkey following a 2021 coup that ousted him, is a close friend of Mr Tinubu. A video recently surfaced online showing the president-elect, the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Guinean ambassador to the African Union (AU) for Agenda 2063, Ousmane Yara, in a Guinea-government-owned helicopter. Sun Newspaper reported that Mr Yara had during an interview placed a video call to the exiled leader, who confirmed that he conferred the privilege on Mr Tinubu. Mr Conde, while answering a question on his relationship with Mr Tinubu, said: Tinubu is the biggest pan-Africanist I have seen. Before I met Tinubu, I had noted his accomplishments, right from when he was governor. I see him as a Lion of Africa because of his contributions towards the stability and development of Africa. He has always supported African presidents who were pan-Africanists in disposition and others. The former president expressed confidence in the ability of Tinubu to do well as Nigerias leader. He said: I am convinced that Tinubus leadership will be good for Nigeria. Nigeria is a country other West African nations look up to. I am happy for Tinubu. Anything he may require of me to make his government successful, in my personal capacity, I will willingly do. He helped us in Guinea and I will never forget that. Nigerians should pray for the success of Tinubus government because his leadership will be impactful. Dual Citizenship Mr Tinubus connection to Guinea has become the latest controversy trailing him. A Guinean passport with details of Nigerias president-elect recently surfaced on social media. His opponents believe that Mr Tinubu violates the 1999 constitution by acquiring the citizenship of another country. Section 137 provides that (1) A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if (a) subject to the provisions of section 28 of this Constitution, he has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a country other than Nigeria or, except in such cases as may be prescribed by the National Assembly, he has made a declaration of allegiance to such other country. Section 28, however, excludes citizens by birth from restriction by section 137. Vira video was taken in 2016 Yara During the interview, Mr Yara explained that the helicopter video was taken in 2016 when Mr Tinubu was a guest of the ousted president during the independence anniversary celebration. President Conde invited Tinubu to the independence anniversary. Since the official function at every independence anniversary was done in different regions, Tinubu was required to fly from the countrys capital, in a helicopter, to Mamu, where that years event was held. That was the video being circulated. At the independence anniversary celebration, President Conde gave Tinubu the honour and privilege of a president, in appreciation of what he did for him during his reelection bid and towards economic development of Guinea. He also explained how Mr Tinubu got involved in the 2015 presidential election in Guinea and the role he played during that election. Through one of Tinubus aides at that time, who is now a minister in the government of Nigeria, I facilitated a meeting between President Conde and Tinubu. President Conde was going for reelection, for the second term, in office then in 2015. He came to Nigeria to see Tinubu, who organised a dinner in his honour. At the dinner, Tinubu invited many Nigerian businessmen and others. President Conde then invited Tinubu to Guinea about one month to the election for his second term. Tinubu honoured the invitation and came with a team of economic experts and businessmen, who took time to discuss with Guinean government officials how the country could better harness its resources for economic prosperity and development. READ ALSO: Tinubu spent only one day and travelled to London from there, but left the team he came with to continue engagement with Guinean officials on how to transform Guinea. The team and Guinean government officials worked for three days, and came up with an economic roadmap. It is, however, not clear from the story if a passport was issued to Mr Tinubu by the former president of Guinea. When PREMIUM TIMES contacted Bayo Onanuga, the spokesperson of the now-dissolved APC Presidential Campaign Council, he said Mr Yara has provided the needed details on the passport online. 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. Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 25 February election, says Nigerias president-elect, Bola Tinubu, is encumbered by drug and identity scandals. Atiku and his party are challenging Mr Tinubus victory at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja. The drug allegation is part of the grounds on which Atiku anchored his petition. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Mr Tinubu the winner of the election with 8,794,726 votes, to defeat his closest challenger, Atiku, who polled 6,984,520 votes. But Atiku accused INEC and Mr Tinubu of fraud and substantial non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the constitution during the conduct of the 25 February election. Mr Tinubu in his response to Atikus petition described the former Nigerias vice president as a serial loser. The president-elect detailed Atikus several, but unsuccessful bids for the presidency since 1993 when he first ran for the top job before becoming President Olusegun Obasanjos deputy from 1999 to 2007. Tinubu a giant in forfeiture, drug-related offences Responding to Mr Tinubus reply to his petition, Atiku noted that, unlike Mr Tinubu, he had been able to vie for the presidency without any controversy. Atikus reply is on point of law which closes further exchange on the substance of his petition before court hearing begins in court. The former Vice President boasted that records of his identity and educational qualifications have remained untainted. Atiku argued that Mr Tinubu is constitutionally barred from contesting for the presidency on account of his indictment for drug-related offences in the United States of America. In the filings, Atikus lawyer, Chris Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said Mr Tinubu forfeited a sum of $460,000 as a compromise agreement. Tinubus alleged dual citizenship Responding further, Atiku faulted Mr Tinubus victory on the ground that he holds dual citizenship of Nigeria and Guinea, having voluntarily acquired the citizenship of the Republic of Guinea. Moreover, the PDP presidential candidate accused the president-elect of failing to disclose facts of his constitutional qualifications in his Form EC9 submitted to the INEC, in breach of the law. Atiku admitted that Mr Tinubu may be a Titan and a Maestro, but that the President-elect is certainly not a titan and maestro in national stature but in controversies such as age, state of origin, identity, educational qualifications represented by certificates obtained from universities and colleges. The comparison of the second respondent (Mr Tinubu) with the first petitioner (Atiku) who had attained the eminent position of Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for eight years is totally unfounded. Atiku is urging the court to either declare him as president or nullify the polls on account of Mr Tinubus failure to secure a majority of lawful votes cast during the presidential election. He is also contending that Mr Tinubu did not score 25 per cent of lawful votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, as statutorily required. Tinubu dodgy on issues The petitioner further accused Mr Tinubu of deliberately refusing to respond to serious issues raised in the petition. Atiku said Mr Tinubus reply to the petition has been contradictory, evasive, speculative and vague. On the issue of abuse of the court process raised by Mr Tinubu against the petitioners, Atiku argued that his suit was properly filed. He noted that the earlier suit filed by PDP- controlled states at the Supreme Court had been withdrawn. In the suit filed on 28 February, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Taraba and Sokoto States sued the federal government at the Supreme Court, questioning INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubus declaration of Mr Tinubu as president-elect. 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 Muhammadu Buhari has extended heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and associates of Peter Enahoro, one of Nigerias foremost journalists, who died on Tuesday at the age of 88. The president made his feelings known in a statement by his media aide, Femi Adesina, on Tuesday in Abuja. According to him, as a gifted and iconic journalist, author and publisher, Mr Enahoro earned public trust through his fearless writings, tenacity, and commitment to the pursuit of truth. Mr Buhari recognised that the passion of the former Editor-in-Chief/Managing Director of the Daily Times; Assistant Publicity Officer, Department (now Federal Ministry) of Information and Pioneer Chairman of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, for public service was second to none. He also lauded the deceased for using his knowledge and mastery to mentor people, who have also added value to journalism practice in the country. Mr Buhari urged those mourning the demise of this compatriot to reflect on his contributions to the country and build on the many honours credited to him for journalistic excellence. May the soul of Peter Pan rest in peace, the president prayed. Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has expressed sadness over the death of Mr Enahoro, popularly known as Peter Pan. READ ALSO: Nigerian journalist Peter Enahoro is dead In a statement issued by Lanre Lasisi, the special adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Gbajabiamila commiserated with the family of the deceased. He said, with the passing of Peter Pan, Nigeria has lost one of its finest journalists who lent their voices for the betterment of the country. He said as a columnist, Mr Enahoro used his pen patriotically, calling attention to the salient issues in society. Mr Gbajabiamila prayed for the repose of the soul of the late writer, author and publisher. He equally prayed to God to give his family the fortitude to bear the loss (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. A former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Musa Gwadabe, is dead. Mr Gwadabe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) died in Kano at the age of 86 after battling an undisclosed ailment. A relation of the deceased, Nasiru Gwadabe, confirmed the incident to SOLACEBASE, an online Newspaper, that he died on Tuesday in an hospital in a Kano. The family source said funeral prayer of the late minister would hold at 2.00pm Wednesday at his residence on Maiduguri road in Kano metropolis. Mr Gwadabe was a minister from 1999 to 2003 in the first term of President Olusegun Obasanjo administration. He was also Secretary to Kano State Government in the second republic under the administration of governor Sabo Bakin-Zuwo. Until his death he was the chairman of the board of Industrial Training Fund, (ITF) He is survived by two wives, 12 children and many grandchildren. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The result of our victory will be an opportunity for Ukraine to be a real supplier of security, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video message on Tuesday. The President held a meeting on the economic recovery of Ukraine on Tuesday. They presented the economic strategy for today and for the postwar period. It is already clear that our victory will result in Ukraine's ability to be a real security provider for all our partners, for everyone in the world who values a rules-based international order, he said. According to Zelenskyy, the new security standards that we will implement in our life: in our infrastructure, energy, logistics and communications, social and educational spheres, in our production - all this can be scaled up in other parts of the world. The same goes for Ukrainian defense systems, our weapons, and the experience of our people gained in confronting Russian terror, he added. The President believes that all this will work for global peace to ensure that no one in the world will ever repeat Russia's crimes. 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 Governor-elect of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, has criticised the media coverage of the just concluded 2023 general elections in the state. From what was being emitted in the name of news during the campaigns, some non-residents of the State, who read such stories, must have mistaken Akwa Ibom for a war zone, Mr Eno, who was a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the election, said on 14 April at a one-day seminar organised by a senior lawyer in the state, Samuel Ikpo for some journalists in Uyo. The seminar, facilitated by Ndon Asian, honourary special adviser to Governor Udom Emmanuel on judiciary matters, was attended by the spokesperson to Governor Emmanuel, Ekerete Udoh. The governor-elect was represented by a former commissioner for information in the state, Chris Abasi-Eyo. Mr Eno said he was both a victim and beneficiary of bad and good press during the election, and that there were times he read false stories about himself and wondered if they were really about him or someone else. It is imperative that, for the sake of Akwa Ibom and her development, media practitioners should revert to their professional role of mediating between the masses and events, instead of being transmitters of falsehood. As conveyors of information, journalists must be able to discern that which is worthy of communicating to others and present the same with clarity, while the recipients of information must learn to sift through it, evaluate it, and integrate it properly into an intelligent world view. On the whole, journalists must resist the temptation of being used to ridicule their noble profession, thereby reducing journalism to an unethical field, where quackery has a field day, he said. Mr Eno, however, admitted, that the media played a crucial part in his election, and that he has respect for journalism profession, which is why the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council, was among the early set of groups he consulted at the beginning of his gubernatorial journey in February 2022. ALSO READ: NYSC member shot as INEC cancels Reps rerun election in Akwa Ibom At this point, I must thank the generality of journalists in the state for the co-operation I received till my election on March 18, 2023, he said, while urging journalists in Akwa Ibom to give priority to development journalism in the interest of our people. Mr Ikpo, who is the head of Zion Chambers, Uyo, spoke to the journalists on how to avoid committing libel in their reporting. Anietie Usen, an award-winning journalist and author of Audacious Journalism: The Art, Style & Depth, shared his journalism experiences with the journalists and told them that self-development, building contacts, and having great reputation are the keys to career success. Cletus Ukpong, PREMIUM TIMES regional editor for South-east and South-south, who was among the resource persons at the seminar, took the reporters on the value of specialisation in journalism. 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 Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali (IGP), has presented N38.3 million to 16 families of police officers who lost their lives in active service in Anambra State. The police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday. Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Echeng Echeng, presented the cheques to the families on behalf of the IGP. The gesture is an initiative of the IGPs family welfare insurance scheme aimed at giving succor to the family of police officers who died in active service, he said. He said the gesture was aimed at spurring officers to greatness while discharging their statutory duties with assurance that their welfare is of paramount importance to the leadership of the (Nigeria Police) Force. Mr Echeng thanked the IGP for his relentless efforts towards ensuring a good welfare package for personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, Mr Ikenga said. The police commissioner urged the beneficiaries to use the money wisely by investing in a profitable venture to be able to provide for the people left behind by the slain officers. He pointed out that the IGP has sent similar funds to the police in the state within the last three months. This is the second time the command had received similar cheques from the inspector-general of police and it was presented to the beneficiaries, Mr Echeng said. He assured the IGP that police officers in Anambra State will continue to put in their best to ensure the peace, security and safety of the state. The benefitting families thanked the IGP and pledged to make good use of the money, the statement said. Police officers and officials of other security agencies have been the target of deadly attacks mainly in the South-east and South-south by gunmen said to be part of Biafra agitation in the two regions. Several police officers and officials of other security agencies in two regions have been killed by gunmen in such attacks. The Indigenous People of Biafra, a group leading the agitation for the creation of an independent state of Biafra in the South-east and some parts of South-south, has been accused of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the two regions. But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks. 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. Five persons were on Tuesday arraigned in an Akure Magistrate Court over the lynching of a 25-year-old man, Temitope Olorunfemi. Mr Olorunfemi was driving in Akure on the morning of 10 April when his car hit some motorcycles, killing two persons. A mob immediately descended on him, beating and stoning him to death before setting his car on fire. The suspects accused of taking part in the lynching of Mr Olorunfemi are Victor Amos, 30; Ismalia, 32; Pelumi Farotimi, 42; Nurudeen Kumuyi, 22 and Samuel Olatunji, 23. They face a three-count charge of felony, unlawful murder and arson. The accused persons were driven into the court premises in a black police Hilux van, under tight security. They were later guarded into the court by police officers, followed by their family members, friends and sympathisers of the deceased. According to the prosecution, the accused persons and others at large committed the offence opposite Odopo Town Hall, along Ijoka Road, in Akure. The prosecutor, Nelson Akintimehin, a police inspector, informed the court that the accused conspired to commit a felony and murder of Mr Olorunfemi, who was wrongly suspected to be a fraudster, also known as Yahoo boy. He said the accused persons murdered the deceased in cold blood with sticks, stones and other weapons. Mr Akintimehin also told the court that the accused also maliciously damaged the victims Toyota Camry car with number plate KRD 627 GY, by setting it ablaze. According to the charge, the offences contravene Sections 324, 316(1) and 451(6)(J) of the Criminals Code, Cap 37 Vol. 2 Laws of Ondo State. The court did not take the pleas of the defendants for lack of jurisdiction. The prosecutor, through a written application, urged the court to remand the defendants at the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending the issuance of advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The defence team led by O. Agbede, in their separate responses, prayed for an adjournment to enable each defendant to file a counter affidavit to the application sought by the prosecutor. The Chief Magistrate, Musa Al-Yunus, granted the requests of the defence lawyers and adjourned the case till April 27, for a reply to the affidavit and ruling. He ordered the defendants to remain in police custody till the next date of adjournment. Mr Olorunfemi was beaten to death by a mob who reacted to the deceaseds reckless driving which resulted in the death of two persons and injuring several others. The mob suspected the victim was acting a ritual script, after spotting what were allegedly considered fetish items in his car. But the parents of the deceased later denied that he was a fraudster, saying he was visiting home in Akure from Lagos for the Easter celebration with his family when the incident occurred. 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 Oyo State have arrested seven persons suspected to be involved in a clash in which an officer was killed in Ibadan, the state capital. The police spokesperson in the state, Adewale Osifeso, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday. Mr Osifeso said the officer died after receiving a blow to his head from one of the suspected hoodlums attempting to dispossess him of his gun. He said the police have also seized 12 motorcycles from suspects in the incident. Operatives attached to Moniya Area Command under the Oyo State Police Command, while on lawful intelligence led Stop and Search around a major black spot, were attacked in the line of duty, Mr Osifeso narrated. Preliminary Investigation reveals that the Patrol team while acting on credible intelligence through visible policing duties, extended their presence around major black spots, highways and major roads under Akinyele Local Government Area Axis in a bid to deter criminal elements from settling and establishing dominance within the location. In furtherance of the above, the team of operatives on patrol led by one Inspector Stanley Ikhine, flagged down an ash-coloured Lexus 350 Jeep with a faintly inscribed worn-off number further arousing suspicion from the officers on watch. In the process, the vehicle initially slowed down in compliance with the directive before eventually picking up speed and dashing off to evade the officers on duty. Mr Osifeso added that the suspicious action prompted the police to give a hot chase to the vehicle. A few metres away from the initial stoppage point, the Lexus Jeep veered off the road to a nearby garage, driving directly into the waiting hands of hoodlums who were also collaborators in the criminal process, thereby not only obstructing the officers from discharging their duties but as well aiding the escape of the SUV and its occupants. Consequent to the above, the hoodlums attacked the officers unprovoked and attempted forcefully dragging a rifle from one of the officers which led to a shot being discharged from the barrel during the process of the struggle. Sadly, the gallant officer paid the supreme price, suffering a heavy blow to his skull inflicted by one of the hoodlums while preventing them from dispossessing him of his firearm. According to the police spokesperson, the body of the officer has been deposited at the state morgue in Ibadan. 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. An Ikeja high court on Wednesday sentenced a 32-year-old carpenter, Onyekachi Agu, to seven years imprisonment for pouring acid on his former girlfriend, Aishat Adefarati, and her new lover, Monsuru Ahmed. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Oyindamola Ogala held that the prosecution proved the one-count charge of grievous harm against Mr Agu. Mrs Ogala said Mr Agus retraction of his confessional statement was an attempt to lie and escape punishment. According to her, the convict failed to bring to court, his brother, whom he claimed to have been with on the day of the incident. The judge said: The defendant tried to mislead the court by claiming to have been with his brother on the said day but he failed to corroborate his evidence by giving the date and day he visited him. His brother who he tried to use as an alibi, was nowhere to be found to give evidence before this court. Pouring a corrosive substance on the victims was never contradicted by the defendant. The action of the defendant was considered an intention. The victims showed to the court, the level of damage to their bodies. Mr Ogala said the case of the prosecution was premised on circumstantial evidence. The testimony of the defendants former lover on how she had been harassed and assaulted by him, later led to their separate ways after three years of relationship. In view of the evidence before the court, I hereby find the defendant guilty of the charge against him, and he is hereby sentenced to seven years jail term, Mrs Ogala said. NAN reports that the convict, in his plea for mercy, told the court that he was sorry, and asked Mr Ahmed, who was present in court, to forgive him. The prosecution presented four witnesses and tendered several pieces of evidence during the trial, while Mr Agu testified as a sole witness for the defence. According to the prosecution, the carpenter committed the offence on 3 July 2020 at Gangare Hotel, Mile 12, Lagos, where he traced the ex-girlfriend and her new lover to. The offence contravenes Section 245 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (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. Global partnerships and investments in the fight against malaria have yielded positive results by preventing some two billion malaria cases, saving 11.7 million lives and putting eradication within reach. The President of Dangote Group and United Nations Malaria Ambassador for Nigeria, Aliko Dangote, made this known Tuesday in his World Malaria Day (WMD) statement titled With Urgent Investment, Innovation and Implementation, Zero Malaria Spread is Possible. Mr Dangote also called for joint actions by all concerned partners globally if the collective goal of disease elimination by 2030 is to be achieved. According to him, development organisations must work together to decimate malaria, which had brought untold human suffering on people, with ripple effects on global productivity. He noted that the urgent investment, innovation and implementation would help curtail malaria spread wherever the disease is found around the world. More than ever, we must collaborate to ensure that no child or person dies of malaria or loses another day to this debilitating illness again. We must also drive further progress toward malaria elimination in Nigeria and Africa at large by focusing on three key areas to ensure that malaria elimination remains high on Nigerias public health and development agenda; advocate at all levels to ensure sufficient funding to sustain the progress made so far, as we jointly seek to end malaria for good and encourage private sector leaders to implement malaria prevention and treatment programmes in their companies, as we do across our businesses in the Dangote Group, Mr Dangote said. He, however, said that 96 per cent of malaria deaths globally were found in 29 countries, with Nigeria among the four countries which accounted for over half of all malaria deaths globally in 2021. He noted that this years World Malaria Day has presented an opportunity to galvanise global efforts towards advocacy and sustained political will and investment that will be aimed at ending the scourge of the disease. Mr Dangote expressed his readiness to lead the way, pledging that his Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) will further strengthen its engagements with the various key partners in Nigeria and globally to support the efforts to address malaria in our workplaces, communities, and especially high burden areas to attain our collective goal of malaria elimination by 2030. He noted that billions of dollars were pledged by donors at the historic Global Fund Replenishment meeting in Geneva, Switzerland in 2022 to boost the fight against HIV, TB and Malaria. Burden He, however, expressed regret that an unprecedented shortfall of more than 50 per cent in global malaria funding is now holding countries back from maintaining life-saving malaria programmes, despite the historic pledge. Consequently, he said the funding gaps have been contributing to declining progress in the countries with the highest burden of malaria. Countries will not reap the rewards of these investments without further commitment to scale up and roll out these innovations where they are needed most. For Africa to move forward, he said the Continent has to get rid of malaria once and for all. Now is the time to take decisive action to deliver on our goal of zero malaria, spur overall development and achieve the 2030 targets, he said. Mr Dangote urged that the theme of this years World Malaria Day: Time to Deliver Zero Malaria: Invest, Innovate, implement highlighted the need for urgent action and further investments to ensure existing investments deliver maximum impact in the fight to end malaria. As a United Nations (UN) Malaria Ambassador for Nigeria, I would like to add my voice to the global call on governments and partners around the world to: Invest more in malaria programmes to bridge critical funding gaps and accelerate progress towards the total elimination of malaria. Innovate further to deliver improved solutions to end malaria that are tailored to those who need them most and Implement national strategies to accelerate progress against this age-old disease, by demonstrating leadership, adopting innovative and sustainable approaches, and scaling up national malaria programmes to deliver lifesaving tools to those at highest risk, he added. Mr Dangote acknowledged the positive efforts of the Nigerian National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as the second national drug regulator to approve the use of the R21 vaccine. As we look forward to its rollout soon. All efforts must be made to sustain the adequate sourcing and application of this innovative vaccine in the fight against malaria, akin to the noble efforts made to ensure the eradication of polio in Nigeria and Africa, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has again, assured that the indigenous airline, Nigeria Air, would take off on or before 29 May. Mr Sirika gave the assurance while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. According to the minister, the infrastructure and staffers are ready and only await the final approval by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). He also assured the workers in the aviation sector that all issues relating to their agitations on minimum wage would be taken care of by relevant government agencies and ministries. The minister further disclosed that the council approved N9billion for the procurement, installation, and inauguration of voice and data recorders in nine airports across the country. Also speaking, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed that the 137kms Kano to Zaria and 73 kms Zaria to Kaduna expressways, as well as the second Niger bridge projects would be handed over to the federal government on 15 May for inauguration. According to him, the 116kms Lagos to Ibadan will also be handed over to the government on 30 April, while the Loko-Oweto bridge linking Nasarawa and Benue States and the Utor bridge in Delta had been completed. (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. Former Vice-President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday, visited the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu, over the death of his wife, Ifeoma. Atiku, who arrived Mr Kalus Abuja residence at 3:30 p.m., expressed sadness over the senators wife. Mr Kalus wife, Ifeoma, died on 3 April at the age of 61. While commiserating with the former governor of Abia, Atiku urged him to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a purposeful life. The former vice-president described the deceased as a woman of virtue, who was committed to service to humanity. He prayed God to grant the deceased a peaceful rest and the family the fortitude to bear the loss. Responding, Mr Kalu, an APC senator, commended Atiku for finding time to visit him in his time of grief. NAN also reports that the duo thereafter went into a closed door meeting, which lasted for 30 minutes. (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 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has rescheduled the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for candidates who couldnt take their tests on Tuesday due to technical hitches. The tests, to be administered to about 1.6 million candidates between 25 April and 2 May, commenced nationwide on Tuesday. Due to technical hitches recorded in some of the accredited computer-based test centres, JAMB announced a rescheduling of tests for affected candidates. The examination body urged the affected candidates to re-print their examination slips on Wednesday, 26 April to know their new scheduled venue, date and time. JAMBs spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, gave the directive in a statement issued on Tuesday. The decision, Mr Benjamin said, followed a meeting of the management of the board at the end of Tuesdays sessions, It is to be noted that about 100 centres out of the 708 participating in the 2023 UTME exercise across the country experienced technical challenges that prevented their allotted candidates from successfully taking their examination, he said. He said the technical hitches experienced were a result of some innovations deployed by the examination body to safeguard the sanctity of the examination by checkmating all incidences of examination misconduct being perpetrated and perpetuated by vested interests. He added that the technical teams are working to ensure that such challenges were not experienced during the remaining days of the examinations. Mr Benjamin also assured that no candidate would be denied the right of taking their examination due to any hitches experienced. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how a supervisor at Dantata Universal Services CBT centre at Government Secondary School, Zone 3, said the assessment body was responsible for the delay experienced during the second session of the examination on Tuesday. The supervisor, Victoria Ebute, said the first session went on smoothly until a technical challenge was experienced during the second session which also led to a delay in the commencement time of the third session. Other centres visited by our reporters in Lagos and Abuja, however, revealed that there were minimal challenges. 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. Labour Party (LP) has called on all election petition tribunals to disregard letters by its suspended National Legal Adviser, Samuel Akingbade, withdrawing all the partys petitions. The partys Acting National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, stated on Tuesday in Abuja that the presidential election petition tribunal in particular should dismiss the letter. He called on the police, the State Security Service (SSS) and anti-graft agencies to quickly apprehend and question the partys ex-officials involved in the letter before they succeeded in igniting the nation. The partys suspended Deputy National Chairman, Mr Lamidi Apapa has approached all election tribunals wherein LP has pending matters, including that of our presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, asking for withdrawal of cases. We are by this statement informing all arms of the Judiciary, including the tribunals and courts to ignore the ignoble antics of these compromised, suspended members of the party. Daily, the evil intention of the breakaway faction of the Labour Party, led by the suspended deputy national chairman, Mr Apapa continues to manifest. Just on Tuesday morning, our legal team was confronted by the stark revelation that these men have advanced their plots by approaching tribunals where our candidates lodged petitions to discontinue the cases, Mr Ifoh stated. He added that the plan was to frustrate Labour Partys destined victory at the tribunals and also to derail the countrys fledgling democracy. He listed some of the suspended party members to include Messrs Akingbade, Gbenga Daramola, Anselem Eragbe and Abayomi Arabambi. They were the National Legal Adviser, National Financial Secretary, National Youth Leader and National Publicity Secretary, respectively. Mr Ifoh recalled that the leadership of Labour Party had been swimming through the murky waters of conspiracy, treachery and sabotage orchestrated by the former officers. He stated also that party had long-suspected that moles were planted to sabotage its efforts to offer Nigerians alternative governance. The desperation of the moles to satisfy their paymaster is beginning to threaten the nations peace and democracy. Approaching the tribunals to withdraw all the cases lodged by Labour Party candidates is the height of subterfuge and treachery, and Nigerians will resist this ploy to plunge the nation into unnecessary turmoil. Their actions show that they are working against the party to destroy it. If they claim they have problem with the national leadership of the party, will they also claim that they have problem with the candidates of the party? What offence have the candidates of the party committed that they are now moving around to withdraw their matters from the tribunals, he queried. Mr Ifoh stated that he was appointed national publicity secretary of the party at a meeting in Asaba because of the vacancy created by the expulsion of the former national publicity secretary. All relevant government agencies, including the National Executive Council of the party were present where I was unanimously appointed, he stressed. Mr Obi, the presidential candidate of the LP in the 25 February election is currently challenging the declaration by INEC of Bola Tinubu of the APC as the winner of the election. Crisis broke out in the party shortly after the poll leading to its factionalisation. While the faction recognised by INEC is led by Julius Abure, the other one is led by Mr Apapa, the suspended deputy national chairman. The crisis deepened on Tuesday when the breakaway faction asked the tribunals to withdraw the petitions of the partys candidates in the recent elections. It is not clear if the tribunals have responded to the request. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Kremlin continues to avoid adopting overtly repressive measures likely out of concern for the stability of Putins regime, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says in a report for April 25. Thus, The Russian government withdrew a bill from the Russian State Duma that would have increased taxes from 13 to 30 percent for Russians who have fled the country. In addition, despite Russian ultranationalists have repeatedly called on the Kremlin to nationalize property belonging to Russians who had betrayed the country by fleeing, but the Kremlin appears to remain hesitant to introduce such unpopular measures. Unnamed sources also told that the Russian presidential administration does not support the return of capital punishments in Russia another issue that recently reemerged in Russian policy discussions. The Kremlin could use the threat of the death penalty to scare Russians into supporting the war effort (or remaining passively resistant to it), but Putin likely remains hesitant to destroy his image as a diplomatic and tolerant tsar, the analysts say. Against this background, Russian civil rights groups OVD-Info, Memorial, and Rus Sidyashchaya (Russia Behind Bars) issued a legal challenge to the Russian censorship law against discrediting the Russian military on April 25. OVD-Info announced that its lawyers filed 10 of 20 planned complaints against the law to the Russian Constitutional Court in hopes that the court will rule the law unconstitutional. The complaints centered around individual cases of alleged discreditation, including one case wherein authorities fined a man 50,000 rubles (about $612) for holding a sign calling for peace. A fringe group of at least 20, mostly smaller, pro-war Russian milbloggers amplified a call for the Russian government to repeal the censorship laws on April 11 following the prosecution of a Russian medic for telling battlefield truths. VD-Info and other human rights organizations are most likely to face prosecution under Russian censorship laws. The Russian government is unlikely to repeal or strike down these laws without direction from the Kremlin, the analysts believe. At the same time, Russian ultranationalists are continuing to advocate for the Kremlin to adopt Stalinist repression measures. Russian State Duma Parliamentarian Andrey Gurulyov a prominent Russian ultranationalist figure within the ruling United Russia Party stated that Russia needs to reintroduce the concept of the enemy of the people. Former Russian officer Igor Girkin and Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin often echo similar calls to prosecute Russian officials who are hoping to end the war via negotiations with the West. At the same time, senior U.S. and EU officials assess that Russian President Vladimir Putin would remain unwilling to negotiate in response to a successful Ukrainian counteroffensive. The New York Times (NYT) reported on April 24 that a senior European official stated that the chances of Putin backing down in response to a successful Ukrainian counteroffensive are less than zero. The official stated that Putin would likely mobilize more soldiers to fight in Ukraine. U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander said that there is very little evidence to suggest that Putin would alter his strategic goal of subjugating Ukraine politically, if not fully militarily. U.S. National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby told Voice of America on April 25 that the USA is increasing security assistance to Ukraine because the USA expects that Russia will attempt to go on the offensive as the weather improves. As for the course of the fighting, Russian sources claimed that Russian troops conducted limited ground attacks on the Svatove-Kreminna line. Also, Russian troops continued to strike at Bakhmut and its environs, as well as along the Avdiyivka-Donetsk front line. Russian milbloggers continued to issue vehement denials that Ukrainian forces established sustained positions on east (left) bank Kherson region. At the same time, a Ukrainian military official claimed on April 25 that Ukrainian forces are achieving impressive results in counter-battery combat against Russian forces on the Russian-occupied eastern (left) bank of the Dnipro River. Also, the Ukrainian Resistance Center reported that Ukrainian partisans detonated a Russian military checkpoint near Oleshky. Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. A Nigerian laptop technician has won praise and admiration after he reportedly fixed a MacBook Pro for a client at a fraction of the cost charged by an official Apple dealer. The laptop owner, Joe Abah, in a tweet, narrated how he accidentally spilt some liquid on his new MacBook Pro. According to Mr Abah, who is also the Country Director of Development Alternatives Inc., an international development company, the accident left the touchpad and keypad unresponsive. When he took it to an Apple dealer, he was asked to pay N320,000 (about $700) to fix the damage. Undeterred, he decided to seek out alternative options at Banex, a popular computer gadget and electronics hub in Abuja, the Nigerian capital. Mr Abah said he met a repair technician, Godwin, who, within just 10 minutes, was able to fix the MacBook Pro for a mere N10,000, about $22. According to Mr Abah, he was so impressed by Godwins skills and the money he saved that he even decided to give him a generous tip. I accidentally spilt some liquid on my new MacBook Pro. Touchpad stopped working and keypad was unresponsive. Took it to an Apple dealer: N320,000 to change both. Took it to Godwin at Shop C19, Emab Plaza. It took him 10 minutes to fix it and cost me N10,000. I dashed him extra, he wrote on Twitter. Reactions The story of the technician has generated a lot of reactions on Twitter, with many people hailing him as an embodiment of the Nigerian spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness. Some Twitter users, however, were indifferent about the cheap option Mr Abah opted for, considering that the warranty on the device may have been voided. You do know going forward the good doc, your Apple warranty is voided oh , think am oh, a Twitter user, @Aized10, tweeted. In his response, Mr Abah said: Apple warranty ba? When I have an urgent paper to write today?. He further explained how important the paper was for him to wake up at 5 am on a public holiday. He noted that he will henceforth patronise Godwin as his new warranty. Another user, @Rapidmax 01, said: Same thing happened to me. Took my Apple ipad and laptop to a repair shop in the UK and these guys gave me a very high repair bill. I quietly collected my items and gave it to my friend going to Nigeria. Both items were fixed and returned to me at no more than 15k total. Another user,@drhammed, narrated how a similar incident happened to him. I experienced this last year too. My other Macbook had liquid damage & the touchpad wasnt working well. Apple wanted to charge over $900, lmao. I took it to Nigeria & repaired it in computer village for about 100,000 naira (~$200). We have a lot of talents in that market, he wrote. Hardworking Nigerians like the technician need to be appreciated, a user named @jerrybest7 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 Kaduna State High Court has nullified Governor Nasir El-Rufais revocation of the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of Durbar hotel, belonging to the family of a former Nigerian dictator, late Sani Abacha. The Kaduna State Government had in 2020, demolished Durbar Hotel and revoked the Certificate of Occupancy which led to a legal tussle between the government and the Abacha family. The counsel to the Abacha family, Reuben Atabo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), filed a case against Mr El-Rufai and three others at the Kaduna State High Court. He accused the government of unlawful demolition of the property and revocation of the certificate of occupancy. Those joined in the suit are Mr El-Rufai, the states Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Kaduna State, Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency, as well as Kaduna State Geographic and Information Service. Mr Atabo, in pursuant to Order 15 Rules 1 of the Kaduna State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2007 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the honourable Court, dated and filed on 17 December 2020, prayed for an order setting aside and/or nullifying the purported notice of revocation of Certificate of Occupancy No. 177789 of thr hotel. He also prayed for an order setting aside and/or nullifying the revocation of the title of the Plaintiff/Applicant on 24 January 2020 by the defendants/respondents but received on 29 of January 2020 during the pendency of the action. Mr Atabo also prayed for an order to maintain status quo prior to the commencement of this action, and for other orders the court may find fit to make. Delivering the ruling on Tuesday, the Judge, Hannatu Balogun, stated that having heard both Counsel, the oral application to stay hearing of the motion dated 17/12/2020 and filed on the same date cannot be granted because the matter in the Court of Appeal is an appeal against the grant of leave to amend the Plaintiffs processes. There is currently no stay of proceedings in this court, and the defendants appear not to be diligent in prosecuting their appeal while at the same time, they continue to disobey the orders of this court and also are trying to do acts that will prejudice the other side. The duty of this Court is to ensure that there is a level playing ground for all parties. In the circumstance, the application to stay proceedings or adjourning this matter cannot be granted in the interest of justice and fairness. It is accordingly refused, and the business of the day shall proceed. I have considered the application to adjourn this matter made again after the motion has been moved, and I agree with the Plaintiffs counsel that the defendants have not shown bona fide. They have not denied the fact that there is tampering of the rest by them or others at their instance. In the circumstance, since the application has bearing on the rest and the defendants have not deemed it fit to respond to the motion for over two years, there is nothing to show that the interest of justice will be achieved by an adjournment of this matter. The application for adjournment is accordingly refused. Having considered the Plaintiffs motion of 17/12/2020 which is uncontested, I am of the view that the application has merit in view of the grounds of the application, the unchallenged affidavit and the exhibits annexed. The Supreme Court and in deed all courts of the land have decried the use of self-help by litigants. It is the duty of the courts to provide a level playing field for all parties and not allow any side to use the judicial system side by side with self-help to the disadvantage of the other. On the whole, I grant the Plaintiffs motion dated 17/12/2020 and nullify the purported Notice of revocation of Certificate of Occupancy No. 177789 in respect of Durbar Hotel and nullifying the revocation of the Plaintiffs title made on the 24/01/2020 and received on the 29/1/2020 during the pendency of this action. The status quo antebellum i.e. prior to commencement of this action shall be maintained by all parties, Mrs Balogun ruled. She adjourned the case to 4 July. 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) candidate in the Adamawa governorship election, Aisha Dahiru, popularly called Binani, on Wednesday withdrew the suit filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC candidate had asked the court for a judicial review of the decision by INEC to reverse her earlier announcement as winner of the poll by the states Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari. Binanis counsel, Mohammed Sheriff, upon resumed hearing in the matter, told Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja that a notice of discontinuance had been filed to that effect and urged the court to strike out the case. Justice Ekwo reminded Mr Sheriff that an order was given on the last adjourned date directing him to address the court on whether the court had the jurisdiction to entertain the case or not. The lawyer, who informed the court that a lot of issues had come up between the last date of adjournment and today, begged for an order striking out the suit. The judge, however, held that since Mr Sheriff had failed to go by the order of the court, the appropriate thing to do was to dismiss the matter. I hereby make an order dismissing this suit, Justice Ekwo declared. NAN reports that the judge had, on 18 April, refused to hear an ex-parte motion filed by Binani. Mr Ekwo, instead, ordered the APC candidates counsel to address the court on the issue of jurisdiction before hearing the substantive motion. The judge said though he was ready to hear Mr Sheriff, the lawyer must address the court on the issue of jurisdiction before he proceeded. He held that the application would be taken together with the issue of jurisdiction on the next adjourned date and adjourned until April 26 for a hearing. But the electoral umpire had, on April 19, declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)s candidate and Governor Ahmadu Fintiri the winner of the governorship election held in the state. Binani and APC, in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/510/2023, had sued INEC, PDP and its candidate, Mr Fintiri as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents respectively. Binani, through her lawyer, Hussaini Zakariyau, had sought a judicial review of the administrative decision of INEC on April 16 in respect of her declaration as the winner of the governorship elections held on March 18 and the supplementary poll of April 15. She also sought an order of prohibition preventing INEC and its agents from taking any further steps towards the declaration of the winner of the elections pending the determination of her application for judicial review. The application was brought pursuant to Order 34 Rules 1a, Order 3(1) & 3(2) a, b, c, Order 6 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure Rules), 2019 and Section 251 (1)q & r of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Section 149 & 152 of the Electoral Act, 2022. Giving grounds why the motion should be granted, Binani stated that after the collation of results, INEC declared her as the winner of the elections but the PDP and its candidate, Governor Fintiri, resorted to fighting and causing a public disturbance which led to the beating and manhandling of an INEC staff. This crisis, she said, led INEC to cancel the initial declaration which it had no power to do as only the election petition tribunal is vested with such powers. By cancelling her declaration, Binani contended that INEC usurped the powers of the election petition tribunal which is the only court vested with powers on a declaration from the conduct of an election. In the application, she averred that a judicial review exists to enable the superior court to checkmate the actions and decisions of inferior courts as well as the legislative and administrative arm of government including agencies and public officers. The applicant further submitted that INEC, being an agency of the government, can have its actions, records, and decisions checked by the court and only a court can nullify the actions of an INEC official and not the INEC itself. (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 divisional police officer of Olosan Division Mushin in Lagos has been removed over professional misconduct by his officers. The Commissioner of Police, in the state, Idowu Owohunwa, also directed that all the officers involved in the act be identified, arrested and made to face disciplinary actions. Benjamin Hundeyin, the police spokesperson in the state, made this known via his Twitter handle on Tuesday. Backstory In a recent video, a lady identified as Omolara James narrated how she was sexually harassed and assaulted by an auto spare parts dealer popularly called Bebex in Ladipo, Mushin area of the state. She also said that her phone and neck chain were forcefully taken from her. In the video which has now gone viral, the nursing mother said she had gone out to get food to break her fast in the evening when the incident occurred. On my way back, he (Bebex) called me, name your price. I asked, Are you talking to me, Uncle? He said, Name your price, I want to touch those things that you are holding (referring to her breast), she recounted. So I asked, What am I holding? Do you want the food? He then asked me, Dont you need money? I told him I am married but he insisted on asking if my husband has money. I told him what sort of rubbish is that and I insulted him. Then he asked someone to slap me. I told him he was supposed to apologise and not to command his people to slap me. When someone slapped me, some elders in the area intervened and Bebex threatened that he will do more and wont be held accountable. She said that Bebex immediately called some police officers while shouting that it would only cost him some money. Second video Days after the video surfaced, another where the woman recanted her earlier statement came up. In the new video, she said what she had posted was not what really happened. She said Bebex only admired her, adding that she mistook it for molestation. However, in another video that surfaced, it appeared that she had been instructed to recant her initial statement. Disciplinary action The police spokesperson said the police chief had a meeting with all parties in this case, community members, landlord association, councillor representing the area, the committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Omolara and family, Bebex and his employees, and lawyers representing both sides are in attendance. He said that it is elating and morale-boosting that the complainant is willing and the matter will be taken to court. The CP also identified professional misconduct on the part of some of the police officers involved in the case. For this, the Command Provost has been directed to immediately commence disciplinary action against the officers concerned, he tweeted. And finally, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Mushin, in whose division all the officers aforementioned are serving, has been relieved of his posting with immediate effect. 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. Nigerians who migrated to the United States recorded a significant increase in their earnings, a new report by the World Bank has said. The report, The World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies, released on Tuesday, found that low-skilled workers who move from a society with high socioeconomic inequalities to a country with fewer inequalities and a lower wage gap between low and high-skilled workers earned higher earnings. The report highlighted the success of Nigerian migrants in the US, where they have seen a 1,500% increase in their earnings. Many Nigerians migrate to Canada, the U.S., and European countries, in search of greener pastures. The World Bank report highlighted the potential benefits of migration for low-skilled workers. The potential gains are highest for people who move from low- to high-income countries. The labour demand at the destination also shapes outcomes. Gains depend on migrants skills, gender, age, and language ability, the report said. Although the absolute gains are larger for high-skilled workers than for low-skilled workers, low-skilled workers experience a multifold increase in their income as well. Yemenis and Nigerians moving to the United States increase their earnings by about 15 times. The gains achieved by low-skilled workers are higher when they move from a society with high socioeconomic inequalities to a country with fewer inequalities and where the difference in wages between low- and high-skilled workers is lower. The report said the socioeconomic conditions in the destination country can play a significant role in determining the success of the migrants. The report also said the high costs associated with low-skilled migration, including fees paid to agents, transportation costs, and pre-departure training expenses, limit the ability of workers to benefit from migration opportunities and go against the principles of fair recruitment. Migrants incur a range of expenses before their departure, from the job information and job matching fees they pay to intermediary agents to the regulatory compliance or documentation fees (for a visa/ sponsorship, medical tests, and security clearance), transportation costs, and pre-departure training costs they must pay, it said. For low-skilled migration, these costs tend to be borne by the workers, thereby contravening the principles of fair recruitment. These costs tend to increase with the duration of contracts, and they limit the ability of many low-skilled workers to benefit from migration opportunities. Remittances The report highlighted that households that receive remittances invest more in agrochemical materials, and thus their farms have larger yields in Nigeria. Remittances reduce poverty even in households that do not receive them. Households that receive remittances increase their spending, which boosts local economic activity and the incomes of other households in the community. Spending from remittances creates local jobs in non-tradable sectors such as construction, the report said. It added that remittance inflows jumped by almost 10 times in one year and then declined in Nigeria, even though economic fundamentals suggest they should have increased steadily. 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 Federal High Court in Lagos, on Wednesday, struck out an interim order of forfeiture, seeking to forfeit properties linked to Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which instituted the case against the governors properties, said it has appealed against the judgement. A statement by the EFCCs spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said the judge erred on different grounds. EFCC had filed an ex parte application seeking a temporary order of forfeiture of 14 properties associated with the governor. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge, Nicholas Oweibo, held that in view of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, the EFCC lacks the power to initiate a criminal suit against an incumbent governor or President. Recall that Mr Oweibo had, on 22 February, granted an interim forfeiture, following an ex parte motion filed by the anti-graft agency, seeking to seize 14 properties located in Lagos, Abuja and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The court had also directed EFCC to make publications in two national dailies for any interested parties to show cause why the order should not be made absolute. Meanwhile, following publications of the preservative order, Gov Bello had filed a Notice of Intention to oppose, as well as an application seeking to vacate the interim forfeiture order. Mr Bello premised his application on the grounds that the properties listed were not proceeds of an unlawful act, as they were acquired long before he was elected Governor. He further stated that by Section 308 of the Constitution, the EFCC is prevented from instituting any civil or criminal suit against him. Besides, he contested the illegality of the suit by EFCC on the grounds that the case was in flagrant disobedience to an existing order of a State High Court. He averred that the order had restrained the EFCC from investigating any account of the Kogi State Government, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice On the issue of jurisdiction, the applicant stated that the properties listed were in Abuja, Kogi and UAE, while the personality involved is based in Lokoja. He, therefore, averred that the suit ought to have been instituted either in Abuja or in Kogi State and consequently, urged the court to vacate the order for want of jurisdiction. Responding to the applicants averment, counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, argued that the applicant had brought nothing before the court to convince the court to vacate the order. He argued that contrary to the submissions of the applicant, the Kogi State High Court or any other court in Nigeria had not stopped the EFCC from carrying out its constitutional duties. He argued the properties which include Hotel Apartment Community, Burj Khalifa lying, being and situate at, Plot 160 Municipality NO 345-7562, Sky View Building No 1, Property No 401, Floor 4, Dubai U.A.E., were suspected to have been derived from unlawful activities. Mr Oyedepo had also asked the court to order the forfeiture of N400 million, which he said was also reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activities. In his ruling, however, Mr Oweibo held that, given Section 308 of the Constitution, which provides immunity to a serving governor from any civil or criminal prosecution, the court lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter. The court consequently, struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that section 308 of the constitution provides: No civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against a person to whom this section applies during his period of office. EFCC appeals EFCC faulted the courts decision in the appeal it said it filed shortly after the judgement on Wednesday. The commission said the EFCC erred in law when he struck out the suit as the immunity conferred on the Respondent against any civil or criminal proceedings during his incumbency as a governor of Kogi State does not extend to properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime traced to him. It added that the court erred and occasioned a miscarriage of justice when it refused to bind itself with the decision of the Court of Appeal in EFCC V Fayose (2018) LPELR 44131 CA, as well as the decision of the Supreme Court in Fawehinmi V IGP (2002)7 NWLR (PT767)606. It said the Federal High Courts judgement conflicted with the superior courts decision on the proper interpretation of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution. It added that the court also erred in law when it struck out a preservation order of properties reasonably suspected to have been derived from proceeds of unlawful activities notwithstanding its findings that the Respondent failed to show the genuine origin of funds used to acquire the properties under the preservation order. (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 President-elect, Bola Tinubu, and the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima, alongside other APC stakeholders on Wednesday visited the Defence House, Maitama, to inspect facilities. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Defence House will serve as the official operational base of the President-elect till 29 May when he will be inaugurated as the countrys 16th democratically elected president. Mr Tinubu was also accompanied on the visit by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu; the Speaker House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, among others. From the Defence House, Mr Tinubu will receive briefings and hold key meetings as president-elect when he eventually moved into it. This is not a new development as incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari also lodged at the same facility months before his inauguration on 29 May 2015, before he moved into his official residence at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. Mr Tinubu returned to Abuja on Monday aboard his private jet, accompanied by his wife, Oluremi, and son, Seyi, after a month-long trip to Paris. The president-elect, who left Nigeria on 21 March for Paris on vacation after a hectic campaign and election season, on his return, said he was strong and ready to work. He was quoted in a statement by one of his media aides, Tunde Rahman, as saying: I am ready for the task ahead. I have rested; I am refreshed and I am ready for the task ahead, forget about what the rumour mill may have told you. Im strong; very strong. On his plans for the country, Mr Tinubu said he had been consulting and planning, with a view to putting together a strong team, so he could hit the ground running once he assumed office on 29 May. Since his return to the country, Mr Tinubus residence in the Asokoro district of Abuja has been a beehive of activities as APC stakeholders, including Mr Adamu, its national chairman, had continued to throng the place for consultations. The nations electoral body, INEC, had on 1 March, declared the former Lagos State governor winner of the 25 February presidential election. However, his victory is being challenged in court by about five parties and a former presidential candidate, Ambrose Owuru. (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. Nigeria will spend about $1.2 million (about N550 million) on the hiring of luxury buses that will transport its stranded citizens from Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, to Egypt. The citizens will then be airlifted from Egypt to Nigeria, an official has said. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said this while addressing journalists at the State House, Abuja, at the end of Wednesdays meeting of the Federal Executive Council, chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Nigeria has commenced the evacuation of its citizens from Sudan following the recent fighting between security agencies in the North African country. Just to provide an update on what is happening with regard to the evacuation of Nigerians in Sudan, Mr Onyeama said. You recall that the main challenge we had was first of all securing the authorization of the Sudanese government and then security support for the convoy. This is because it has been decided that we will transport or convey Nigerian to the Egyptian border Aswan. We are liaising with our embassy in Egypt as well so we have been able to overcome these challenges and we have started the process which we are very happy about. $1.2 million is what were being charged for all the 40 buses. We have huge transporter luxury buses made available to us to transport our citizens to the Egyptian border. The minister said the price for the hiring of the buses was hiked by the providers because of the risks involved. Of course you know, because of the risks involved and so many other things, a lot of people are going to also take advantage; youre going to hike up the price. We saw that the French convoy was attacked and so forth. It was difficult procuring these buses. But we had to do it because you know Nigerian lives matter to us. No Nigerian killed In his comments, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, disclosed that no Nigerian has been killed in Sudan since the conflict broke out on 15 April. The violence has pitched Sudans regular army against a paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF is led by an army general, Mohamed Dagalo, while the Sudanese army is led by another general, Abdel al-Burhan. The evacuation is being done in batches to ensure the safety of all Nigerians. But the good news is that no Nigerian life has been lost so far, Mr Dada said. I think its important to stress that all Nigerians are very safe. And were very confident and hopeful that we shall not lose any Nigerian life Insha Allah shall in this exercise. All is well and were good to go. Over 400 people have been killed since the fighting began in Sudan, AlJazeera reports. Mr Dada said the Nigerian government was making every effort to evacuate as many Nigerians as possible during the 72-hour window provided by the Sudanese government. On whether all Nigerians will be evacuated before the 72-hour window, he said: We have no problem about the 72-hour window. Because weve talked to all the authorities concerned and were on the same page. But talking about the window, we are making every effort to ensure that we make use of this window to evaluate as many Nigerians as we possibly can. He also disclosed that some Nigerians have already been evacuated by ship by the government of Saudi Arabia. Over 1,000 people arrived in Saudi Arabia by ship from Sudan on Wednesday, with the majority of them being foreigners, Saudi officials said. Mr Dadas statement thus means that some of those who arrived in Saudi Arabia were Nigerians. Let me also add that some Nigerians have actually been evacuated by ship, I guess from Port Sudan, by the government of Saudi Arabia, he said. Dont forget, this is a joint effort. We have friendly nations that are ready to assist, you know, so that were having to record that the Saudi authorities have been able to pick up some Nigerians, theyre transporting them by ship, I guess to Saudi Arabia, to Jeddah in particular. From where, of course, again, well link up and find a way of bringing them back from Jeddah those that succeed in going to Jeddah, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. A leading contender in the race for Senate Presidency, Orji Kalu, on Wednesday held a closed-door meeting with the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, in Abuja. Mr Kalu, who arrived Tinubus Asokoro residence in Abuja at 5:31p.m., decked in white attire and red cap, was ushered into a meeting with Mr Tinubu. Mr Tinubu returned to Nigeria on Monday after a four-week vacation in France. Mr Kalu, currently the Senate chief whip, before the closed door meeting, expressed gratitude to God for Mr Tinubus successful vacation and safe return to Nigeria. The reason for their meeting might not be unconnected with the race for the Senate Presidency. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Mr Kalu said the purpose of his visit was to officially welcome and felicitate with the president-elect on his return from a successful vacation in Europe. According to him, the successful return of the president-elect attests to the comments which he made on Friday, in which he dismissed claims that Mr Tinubu is not well and receiving medical treatment. Mr Kalu, who spoke during the celebration of Mass in Abuja to mark his 63rd birthday, said that Mr Tinubu is fit and healthy and would return soon. I told Nigerians that Tinubu is not sick and that he will return soon and a few days after I made that comment, today you can see for yourself that he is here. So this shows that our president-elect is fit and fully ready for the Job of leading Nigerians just like I said. I just came to congratulate and officially welcome him back to the country and we are ready to support him for the task ahead, Mr Kalu said. The former governor of Abia State said that they discussed some key issues on the future of the country. On his ambition for the Senate Presidency, Mr Kalu said that he remained the best candidate among other contenders to partner with Mr Tinubu in the overall interest of the country. I am the best among all other candidates, I have the capacity to unite Nigeria and I am the best to work with our president-elect for the best Interest of Nigeria. Nigerians need to feel the impact of our party. I have the integrity, honesty and experience to lead the senate, Mr Kalu said. Messrs Tinubu and Kalu were former governors of Lagos and Abia states respectively, from 1999 to 2007 with a relationship spanning over 30 years. While Mr Tinubu served as a senator in the botched Third Republic, Mr Kalu is the current senator representing Abia North Senatorial District in the ninth senate. Other aspirants for senate president who have met with Mr Tinubu include Godswill Akpabio and Jibrin Barau. The president-elect has also met with a speakership aspirant, Muktar Betara. The election of the principal officers of the 10th National Assembly will hold during its inauguration in June. (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 Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the dismissal of three police officers and reduction in rank of five others. Head of Press and Public Relations of PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that 20 other officers were severely reprimanded. He said the dismissed officers were three Assistant Superintendents of Police, while those affected by reduction in rank include an Assistant Commissioner, a Chief Superintendent, two Superintendents and one Assistant Superintendent. Mr Ani said those severely reprimanded were an Assistant Commissioner of Police, a Chief Superintendent of Police, four Superintendents, two Deputy Superintendents and 12 Assistant Superintendents. He said the decisions were taken during the 20th Plenary Meeting of the Commission, presided over by its Chairman, Solomon Arase. Mr Ani said the meeting treated 43 pending disciplinary matters, appeals and petitions. The PSC spokesperson said the commissions chairman had pledged to prioritise police officers welfare and deal decisively with cases of infractions where necessary. He said the meeting also approved the reprimand of six officers, one Superintendent and five Assistant Superintendents. Mr Ani added that the promotion of 109 senior staff of the Commission was approved during the meeting. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba believes that there is not enough political will in NATO to make a decision on Ukraine's accession, and calls for recognizing reality and making it happen. To anyone who says that Ukraine's accession to NATO is impossible, I would advise to look at the case of Finland. Finland is a member of NATO. A year ago it was impossible to imagine that this would happen. But now that there is political will, Finland is in NATO. And we are happy for them. Therefore, everything is possible when there is a political will, everything else is secondary. Political will is a fundamental thing. But yes, there is not enough political will in the Alliance, Kuleba said in an interview with CNN. The minister noted that since the NATO summit in Bucharest in 2008, many arguments have been voiced why Ukraine cannot join NATO. History has shown that all these arguments are wrong. The time has finally come to recognize reality and implement it, he stressed. According to the Foreign Minister, Ukraine's membership in NATO cannot stop the war, but it can help prevent wars in Europe and the Euro-Atlantic space in the future. As long as Ukraine remains outside NATO, being a close friend, the most respected ally, a special partner or in some other surrogate form of cooperation, there will be a risk of a repeat of Russian aggression against Ukraine. That is why it is strategically reasonable to exclude such a risk from the international agenda. Whatever the price of preserving peace, the price of restoring peace is always higher, the minister said. ( Read 1650 Times) New Delhi : Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India Private Limited (formerly known as Baxalta Bioscience India Pvt. Ltd.), a global values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader, has been certified as a Great Place To Work in India (March 2023 - March 2024). This certification has been awarded second time in a row to Takeda. The acknowledgment serves as evidence of the exceptional culture that the organization has nurtured by prioritizing the key values of Integrity, Fairness, Honesty and Perseverance. Commenting on the recognition, Mrs. Serina Fischer, General Manager, Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India Private Limited said, "This is the second year we have been recognized; it's an acknowledgment of our unwavering commitment to creating a work culture where our employees feel heard, included, valued and empowered. We remain steadfast in providing a fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory workplace where our people can be their own true selves and contribute meaningfully to solving complex challenges as we seek to improve healthcare in India. We also understand that growth for our people means growth for our business, and we are constantly improving our ways of working to ensure agility and provide our employees the space to share and implement innovative ideas while developing their skill sets. What we do and how we do it has the power to influence our culture. We, therefore, encourage our employees to adopt Takeda Leadership Behaviors to foster an environment that enables us to fulfill our purpose while always remaining committed to our value system." Adding to the same, Mr. Anoop Kamat, Head of Human Resources, Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India Private Limited said, "At Takeda, we have always placed a strong emphasis on our employees and their well-being. This achievement is a testament of our commitment to fostering a workplace culture of inclusivity and growth. As an equal opportunity employer, we have strived to nurture our employees' talents by providing them with the necessary support to help them reach their full potential as we work towards fulfilling our vision for India. We remain committed to creating an environment where all our employees feel welcomed, understood, and encouraged." Great Place To Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Their employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting, and insights they need to make strategic people decisions. The Institute serves businesses, non-profits and government agencies in more than 60 countries and has conducted pioneering research on the characteristics of great workplaces for over three decades. In India, the institute partners with more than 1400 organizations annually across over 22 industries to help them build High-Trust, High-Performance Cultures designed to deliver sustained business results. Hundreds of CEOs and CXOs from India Inc. are part of the great place community that is committed to the vision of making India a great place to work for all. The Institute's research shows that great workplaces are characterized by great leadership, consistent employee experience, and sustainable financial performance. These organizations can deliver a consistent experience to all their employees irrespective of their role, gender, tenure, or level. Their leaders believe in the vision of creating and sustaining a great place to work for all and role models being for all leaders. Source : The Ukrainian and European sides have completed official procedures for amending the Association Agreement, paving the way for Ukraine's de facto accession to the EU roaming area. This was announced by the National Commission for the State Regulation of Electronic Communications, Radiofrequency Spectrum and the Provision of Postal Services (NCEC) on Facebook. The Ukraine-EU Association Committee in Trade Configuration approved updates to Appendix 17-3 (Rules applicable to telecommunication services) to the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, which allows starting the procedure for harmonizing Ukrainian legislation with EU legislation for joining the EU Roam like at home. "Roaming with the EU: the official procedure for amending the Association Agreement has been completed. The Ukrainian and European sides have completed the official procedures for amending the Association Agreement, which pave the way for the actual accession of Ukraine to the EU roaming area," the commission said. Ukraine is moving on to fulfilling its homework harmonization of Ukrainian legislation with EU legislation in roaming. Earlier it was reported that Ukraine could join the Roam like at home (RLAH) free roaming area in 2024 if all the necessary changes to the legislation are implemented in less than 12 months. In Kherson, ten reinforced concrete shelters will be installed in crowded places with the support of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS). "In order to save the lives of residents of Kherson who are under constant shelling, the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, with the assistance of the Ministry for the Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories, will install 10 shelters in public places," the URCS reported on its official website. Reinforced concrete structures will help protect people from attacks by various types of weapons, including multiple rocket launchers, and blast waves. In one shelter with an area of 10 square meters, 10-15 people will be able to stay at the same time. Shelters will be placed near markets, bus stations, public transport stops and places where administrative services are provided. "Now the situation in Kherson is difficult. The city is shelled daily by heavy artillery, as a result of which people, including children, are being killed. We are doing everything possible to help people these are cash payments, and the issuance of food vouchers, food and hygiene kits. But now we see a great need for the arrangement of shelters in public places ...," said Maksym Dotsenko, Director General of the National Committee of the URCS. According to Iryna Vereschuk, Deputy Prime Minister for the Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, at present, the safety of citizens of the state is in the first place. "Very many thanks to the Red Cross of Ukraine for constantly coming to the aid of people who are suffering from Russian aggression and in need of humanitarian assistance. There are all possible means to minimize the risks for citizens who remain in Kherson, including those who work on the life support of the city, provide public services and restore critical infrastructure. Thanks to the strong support of humanitarian organizations, we can take care of the safety of our people," Vereschuk said. Renowned Global Architecture Firm Henning Larsen Has Designed the Innovative UK Facility in St John's Innovation Park CAMBRIDGE, England, April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Breakthrough Properties, a leading global life sciences real estate developer, today unveiled development plans for Vitrum by Breakthrough, a world-class research and development environment tailored to cutting-edge biotechnology companies that rely on modern, flexible workspaces to advance scientific discovery. Vitrum Rendering (courtesy Breakthrough Properties) Located inside St John's Innovation Park in Cambridge, England, Breakthrough will transform the existing 1.8-acre site into a flexible, high-performance laboratory. Working with world-renowned architectural studio Henning Larsen, Breakthrough has designed the five-story, 132,588-square-foot building for maximum flexibility and adaptability for a wide range of scientific uses. Vitrum by Breakthrough will promote site biodiversity and embrace the theme of "nature as a workplace." The unique design will harness the natural green spaces of St John's Innovation Park, extending them into the entrance plaza and the foyer of the building through the transparent facade. The surrounding landscaping is continued on the landscaped terraces and roofs. The ground floor will feature a co-working area, event space and coffee provisions to increase opportunities for interaction between people and teams, sharing knowledge and experiences. Construction is expected to begin in 2024, with occupancy anticipated in 2026. "Vitrum by Breakthrough will further enhance the vitality of the local Cambridge market by offering an innovative and collaborative scientific environment for companies to advance life-changing research," said Breakthrough Properties Chief Investment Officer Daniel D'Orazi. "The development will appeal to R&D companies across the industry spectrum looking to establish a presence in the North Cambridge cluster where there is limited availability of purpose-built, Class A lab space." Breakthrough's plans reflect the company's ongoing commitment to increasing energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and providing healthy workspaces. As with all of its European projects, Breakthrough commits to at least BREEAM Excellent certification, while striving to reach BREEAM Outstanding. Net zero in both construction and operation (for landlord areas only) is also being targeted for the project, as are WELL Platinum, WiredScore and ActiveScore accreditations. The building is designed to function free of fossil fuels, with all-electrical heating and cooling systems. Built-in climate resilience will be achieved through passive design and reduced water consumption, mitigating flood risk and reducing the urban heat island effect. The facility will include more than 102 parking spaces and on-site electric vehicle charging stations, as well as dedicated bicycle storage. "Vitrum by Breakthrough reflects our signature eye for design, landscaping, and wellbeing elements, with our uncompromising approach to specification, lab efficiency and functionality," said Thomas Renn, Breakthrough Properties Vice President of Acquisitions and Development for Europe. "More than ever, clients are seeking developments that offer best-in-class environments within world leading ecosystems. The planned Vitrum by Breakthrough delivers on both of these fronts with unrivaled work spaces, labs and amenities." St John's Innovation Park sits on 21 acres with access to both the Cambridge town center and major transportation routes. Breakthrough intends to work collaboratively with local stakeholders to reposition Vitrum by Breakthrough in a manner that respects and enhances the long-term plan for the campus. Founded in 2019, Breakthrough has established itself as one of the most active players in the life sciences sector, with approximately five million square feet of projects in its global pipeline. Earlier this year, Breakthrough unveiled its plans to transform Trinity by Breakthrough, located in Oxford, England, into a unique life sciences environment featuring nearly 170,000 square feet of bespoke labs and offices. Breakthrough is also active in major life science markets throughout the United States. In Boston, it recently completed The 105 by Breakthrough, which now serves as CRISPR Therapeutics' U.S. Research & Development headquarters. It is also currently constructing Torrey View by Breakthrough, a 10-acre research and development campus in San Diego that will be anchored by a new innovation center for Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD). About Breakthrough Properties (www.btprop.com) Formed in 2019 as a joint venture between global real estate owner, developer, and investor Tishman Speyer and biotechnology investment firm Bellco Capital, Breakthrough Properties is a life science real estate development company that leverages cross-sector collaboration to deliver environments that foster innovation and scientific breakthroughs. Breakthrough Properties' mission is to acquire, develop and operate the best life science properties in leading urban technology centers around the world and support scientific innovation across biotechnology, agriculture, and nutrition. Breakthrough combines Tishman Speyer's decades of global real estate development experience with Bellco Capital's industry-making biotechnology entrepreneurship to reimagine environments where companies can create life-changing therapies for patients. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2062676/Breakthrough_Properties_Vitrum_Rendering.jpg SOURCE Breakthrough Properties EVANSTON, Ill., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 160 Driving Academy's newest location in Glendale, Arizona hosted a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to celebrate the Grand Opening of the Academy. The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Phoenix Location occurred on Tuesday, April 18th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Attendees included Glendale Chamber of Commerce and 160 Driving Academy Phoenix Leadership team. 160 Driving Academy launches their newest Academy in Glendale, Arizona The Phoenix Branch is located at 7448 W Glendale Ave Suite C-132, Glendale, AZ 85303. Overview of 160 Driving Academy CDL Training Programs in Phoenix: Starting salaries for 160 Driving Academy graduates (on average) start at $65,000/annual, with tremendous growth potential. Commercial Truck Driving is one of today's fastest growing career paths. Estimates predict 300,000 new jobs for CDL Holders. Technologically Driven: Our unique and data-driven programs focus deeply on driver safety and personalized analytics to provide our students with individual feedback and top of the line instruction via our proprietary App. Lifelong Career Support: We offer continuous job placement opportunities through our subsidiary company, Truckers Network the premier job posting and hiring platform in the trucking industry. About 160 Driving Academy 160 Driving Academy is the nation's largest commercial driving school. As the fastest growing vocational school in the country, in 2023, the Company will train over 35,000 students on how to safely operate a semi-truck. 160 Driving Academy is licensed and operates in 43 states and each school is certified and licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Entry Level Driver Training Program. The 160 Driving Academy is integrated with over 400 Workforce offices nationwide to create jobs for unemployed and underemployed workers. The 160 Driving Academy supplies the largest employers in the nation with an unparalleled level of recruiting, high-quality training, safety effectiveness, and driver analytics. Many of these employers have trusted the Company to provide the majority of their driving workforce. 160 Driving Academy's sister companies, Truckers Network , and the 160 Driver Score provide the most advanced job placement and compliance scoring capabilities in the industry. 160 Driving Academy has recently implemented HAZMAT Certification training. SOURCE 160 Driving Academy TAMPA, Fla., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of World IP Day, the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) will release its annual list of the Top 100 worldwide university utility patent holders on April 26th. The Academy has been releasing the rankings based on calendar year data provided by the United States Patent and Trademark Office since 2013. The National Academy of Inventors Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, commented: "As we celebrate World IP Day, I am so pleased to see this evidence of the international impact of research and innovation conducted at academic institutions around the globe. On this special day, we at the USPTO pledge to do all we can to maintain a strong intellectual property system here at home and around the world." "Throughout its existence, the National Academy of Inventors has sought to quantify with hard data, the vital role research and patented technology developed at academic institutions play in our society", Dr. Paul Sanberg, President of the Academy noted. "Nothing we do more clearly illustrates that point than this annual report. We will continue to seek other ways to reinforce that message. I will be announcing next steps in that regard during our Annual Meeting in Washington DC June 25-27." In a change from past practice, the Academy has updated the requirements for the Top 100 placement to include all named inventors listed on the patent to provide a more comprehensive view of the patents held by these universities. Previously only the first named inventor was included in the count. See the full Top 100 list here. About the National Academy of Inventors The National Academy of Inventors is a member organization comprising U.S. and international universities, and governmental and non-profit research institutes, with over 4,000 individual inventor members and Fellows spanning more than 250 institutions worldwide. It was founded in 2010 to recognize and encourage inventors with patents issued from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate, and mentor innovative students, and translate the inventions of its members to benefit society. The NAI has a close partnership with the USPTO and is one of three honorific organizations, along with the National Medals and National Inventors Hall of Fame, working closely with the USPTO on many discovery and innovation support initiatives. The NAI publishes the multidisciplinary journal, Technology and Innovation . www.academyofinventors.org Media Contact Richard Maulsby [email protected] 917.655.1027 SOURCE The National Academy of Inventors WUHU, China, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 18-22, 2023, JETOUR AUTO held its first International Business Annual Conference for its global dealers, involving Shanghai, Wuhu and Wuzhen. It invited more than 400 dealers and other partners from over 40 markets worldwide, as well as guests from Chinese and overseas media, to witness the JETOUR AUTO' s Future Strategy Release. JETOUR speed - new force for Chinese automobile to go global In 2022, China has exported 3 million vehicles, being the world's second largest automobile exporter beyond Germany. In this background, innovating through changes and surviving through speed, JETOUR AUTO, a 5-year-old brand, has become one of the fastest growing brands in the Chinese automotive industry, and has created many industry miracles in China. According to public information, "Yin Tongyue, Chairman & CEO of Chery Holding Group, said in the public media that, JETOUR is to become the 'dual mainstream' brands of Chery Group in the future and the 'dual pioneers' of Chery Group's exports." Just like German, Korean and other mainstream automotive brands in the current international market, their sub-brand strategies aim to expand their market shares to different markets. Strategic deployment - ushering in a new era At JETOUR AUTO 2023 International Business Annual Conference, Yin Tongyue, Chairman & CEO of Chery Holding Group, pointed out that Chery Group has ranked first in export among China's overseas brands for more than 20 consecutive years . Although JETOUR Auto is a "new force" for Chery Group to go global, its development is fast. Chery Group will fully support the innovative development of JETOUR brand from product development and other dimensions, with 26 years of technology accumulation and overseas experience. Dai Lihong, Executive Vice President of JETOUR Auto, President of JETOUR Auto R&D Institute, said, "JETOUR deeply cultivates travel+, with four series supporting global sales of one million vehicles in 2025 (including sales in the Chinese market): the X series positioning young technology/urban SUV, the T series positioning urban hardcore/off-road ORV, the P series positioning new energy high-end pickup truck, and the exclusive international series specifically designed for overseas users. Ke Chuandeng, Vice President of JETOUR AUTO, mentioned that JETOUR has formulated an ambitious 6060 strategy. In 2027, JETOUR's international market development will cover the left and right steering markets, as well as the two tracks of new energy and traditional energy, cover 60 core markets, build 8 overseas factories, and reach an annual sales scale of 600,000 vehicles. Jack Chen, Assistant President of JETOUR Auto, President of JETOUR International,said that "due to four-year accumulation, global market layout and three major marketing platforms, 2023 will be a booming year of JETOUR's overseas market, and the sales target for overseas market in 2023 is to maintain 150,000 vehicles and sprint for 200,000 vehicles". At the JETOUR Global Key Dealers Roundtable Forum, management of Chery Holding Group and JETOUR AUTO conducted in-depth discussions and exchanges with the dealers on brand image building, product adaptability development, marketing innovation, user operation and services, spare parts satisfaction rate, and other aspects in overseas core markets. Zhang Guozhong, Executive Vice President of Chery Automobile Co. Ltd, and Li Xueyong, Vice President of Chery Automobile Co. Ltd, President of JETOUR Auto, emphasized that JETOUR will provide more accurate services to users based on the "travel+" strategy, and continuously iterate JETOUR AUTO products with the user-centered concept. In addition, JETOUR will increase their support for overseas markets and dealer partners, practicing the "travel+" strategy together with overseas dealer partners, and creating greater value for users. New product experience - global dealers CALL for it During the Annual Conference, JETOUR invited dealer partners to visit the Group's super factory and the four top-level laboratories in Asia, and also arranged for test ride and test drive. Not only does it demonstrate JETOUR AUTO's determination to go global, but it also demonstrates JETOUR AUTO's strength and the "Chinese strength" behind it. Performance award - sharing rich fruits At the Annual Conference, JETOUR AUTO also held a grand "Global Dealer Commendation Conference" to present awards to the dealers who have made outstanding contributions to the globalization process of JETOUR AUTO; and signed cooperation agreements with potential dealers from multiple countries to work together with global partners for a new future, a new journey, and a new chapter. Together to win - accelerating development of JETOUR In the face of the ever-changing international automotive market, JETOUR AUTO has maintained strategic focus, demonstrated accumulated resilience, and burst into high and upward vitality. We firmly believe that, in the future, JETOUR AUTO and its global dealer partners will, with a breakthrough and decisive attitude, gather together to win, and advance together to develop! SOURCE Jetour Auto SINGAPORE, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 51Talk Online Education Group ("51Talk" or the "Company") (NYSE: COE), a global online education platform with core expertise in English education, announced its unaudited results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. First Quarter 2023 Financial and Operating Highlights Net revenues were US$5.6 million , a 195.6% increase from US$1.9 million for the first quarter of 2022. , a 195.6% increase from for the first quarter of 2022. Gross margin was 77.6%, compared with 77.9% for the first quarter of 2022. GAAP net loss was US$2.4 million , compared with GAAP net loss of US$3.4 million from continuing operations [1] for the first quarter of 2022. , compared with GAAP net loss of from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2022. Non-GAAP net loss [2] was US$2.2 million , compared with non-GAAP net loss of US$3.1 million from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2022. was , compared with non-GAAP net loss of from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2022. Cash, cash equivalents and time deposits balance stood at US$23.7 million as of March 31, 2023 . as of . Operating cash inflow was US$0.6 million for the first quarter of 2023. for the first quarter of 2023. Gross billings[3] for the first quarter of 2023 were US$8.1 million . [1] "Continuing operations" refers to the Company's remaining international business after the divestiture of its China mainland business. [2] For more information on non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section of "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and the table captioned "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to the Most Comparable GAAP Measures" set forth in this press release. [3] Gross billings for a specific period, which is one of the Company's key operating data, is defined as the total amount of cash received and receivable from third party payment platforms for the sale of course packages and services in such period, net of the total amount of refunds in such period. The gross billings data included herein was from the Company's business system and converted with quarterly corresponding exchange rate, which may lead to differences with bank records. Key Financial and Operating Data For the three months ended March. 31, March. 31, Y-o-Y 2022[4] 2023 Change Net Revenues (in US$ millions) 1.9 5.6 195.6 % Gross Margin 77.9 % 77.6 % -0.3 % Gross Billings (in US$ millions) 5.3 8.1 52.5 % Active students with attended lesson consumption[5] (in thousands) 9.3 25.2 171.0 % "We have seen growth momentum picking up sequentially in the first quarter as more markets have started to produce returns following our investments last and early this year. Our guidance for the second quarter reflects our continued confidence in our growth trajectory." said Mr. Jack Jiajia Huang, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of 51Talk. "In fact, as we continue to deepen our understanding of the international markets, we are growing increasingly confident that our products can meet the needs of students and parents in many geographies. We apply a multi-step approach to fully unlock the potential of each market and have seen encouraging signs that some early-stage markets have been developing at a faster pace than the existing markets when they were at a similar stage. During this quarter, we continued to intensify our localization efforts, especially in products, sales, marketing, and support functions. Specifically, we have plans for more online and offline branding activities throughout 2023. We have been able to achieve this progress while maintaining positive operating cash flow during this quarter." Mr. Huang concluded. [4] For purposes of comparison, the financial and operating data of continuing operations for the first quarter of 2022 are presented in this column [5] An "active student with attended lesson consumption" for a specified period refers to a student who attended at least one paid lesson, excluding those students who only attended paid live broadcasting lessons or trial lessons. First Quarter 2023 Financial Results Net Revenues and Gross Margin Net revenues for the first quarter of 2023 were US$5.6 million, a 195.6% increase from US$1.9 million for the same quarter last year. The number of active students with attended lesson consumption was approximately 25,200 in the first quarter of 2023, a 171.0% increase from 9,300 for the same quarter last year. Cost of revenues for the first quarter of 2023 was US$1.2 million, a 199.3% increase from US$0.4 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily due to the increase in total service fees paid to teachers, mainly resulting from an increased number of paid lessons. Gross profit for the first quarter of 2023 was US$4.3 million, a 194.6% increase from US$1.5 million for the same quarter last year. Gross margin for the first quarter of 2023 was 77.6%, compared with 77.9% for the same quarter last year. Operating Expenses Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were US$6.7 million, a 33.8% increase from US$5.0 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was mainly due to the increase in sales and marketing expenses. Sales and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were US$4.3 million, a 117.0% increase from US$2.0 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was mainly due to higher sales personnel costs related to increases in the number of sales and marketing personnel and higher marketing expenses. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were US$4.3 million, a 113.7% increase from US$2.0 million for the same quarter last year. Product development expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were US$0.4 million, a 64.6% decrease from US$1.1 million for the same quarter last year. The decrease was primarily due to lower product development personnel costs. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, non-GAAP product development expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were US$0.3 million, a 68.4% decrease from US$1.1 million for the same quarter last year. General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were US$2.0 million, a 3.4% increase from US$1.9 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily due to higher general and administrative personnel costs. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, non-GAAP general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were US$1.8 million, a 14.9% increase from US$1.6 million for the same quarter last year. Loss from Operations Operating loss for the first quarter of 2023 was US$2.4 million, compared with operating loss of US$3.5 million for the same quarter last year. Non-GAAP operating loss for the first quarter of 2023 was US$2.1 million, compared with non-GAAP operating loss of US$3.2 million for the same quarter last year. Net Loss Net loss for the first quarter of 2023 was US$2.4 million, compared with net loss of US$3.4 million from continuing operations for the same quarter last year. Excluding share-based compensation expenses of US$0.2 million, non-GAAP net loss for the first quarter of 2023 was US$2.2 million, compared with non-GAAP net loss of US$3.1 million from continuing operations for the same quarter last year. Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2023 was US$0.01, compared with basic and diluted net loss per share of US$0.06 for the same quarter last year. Excluding share-based compensation expenses of US$0.2 million, non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2023 was US$0.01, compared with non-GAAP basic net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of US$0.06 for the same quarter last year. Basic and diluted net loss per American depositary share ("ADS") attributable to ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2023 was US$0.43, compared with basic and diluted net loss per ADS of US$3.80 for the same quarter last year. Each ADS represents 60 Class A ordinary shares. Excluding share-based compensation expenses of US$0.2 million, non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2023 was US$0.39, compared with non-GAAP basic net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of US$3.74 for the same quarter last year. Balance Sheet As of March 31, 2023, the Company had total cash, cash equivalents and time deposits of US$23.7 million, compared with US$23.1 million as of December 31, 2022. The Company had advances from students[6] of US$17.7 million as of March 31, 2023, compared with US$15.2 million as of December 31, 2022. The financial statements for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 herein have not been audited or reviewed by the Company's independent registered accounting firm. [6] "Advances from students" is defined as the amount of obligation to transfer goods or service to students or business partners for which consideration has been received from students in advance. The deposits from students are also presented in the total amount of "advances from students" Outlook For the second quarter of 2023, the Company currently expects net gross billings to be between $8.8 million and $9.5 million, which would represent a sequential growth of 9.1% to 17.7%. The foregoing outlook is based on current market conditions and reflects the Company's current and preliminary estimates of market and operating conditions and customer demand, which are all subject to change. About 51Talk Online Education Group 51Talk Online Education Group (NYSE: COE) is a global online education platform with core expertise in English education. The Company's mission is to make quality education accessible and affordable. The Company's online and mobile education platforms enable students to take live interactive English lessons, on demand. The Company connects its students with a large pool of highly qualified teachers that it assembled using a shared economy approach, and employs student and teacher feedback and data analytics to deliver a personalized learning experience to its students. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures In evaluating its business, 51Talk considers and uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC as supplemental metrics to review and assess its operating performance: non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses, non-GAAP product development expenses, non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP operating income/(loss), non-GAAP net income/(loss), non-GAAP net income/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders, and non-GAAP net income/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders per share and per ADS. To present each of these non-GAAP measures, the Company excludes share-based compensation expenses. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures" set forth at the end of this press release. 51Talk believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance by excluding share-based compensation expenses that may not be indicative of its operating performance from a cash perspective. 51Talk believes that both management and investors benefit from these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to 51Talk's historical performance. 51Talk computes its non-GAAP financial measures using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter and from period to period. 51Talk believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision-making. A limitation of using non-GAAP measures is that these non-GAAP measures exclude share-based compensation expenses that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in the 51Talk's business. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying table at the end of this press release provides more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "aims", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "likely to" and similar statements. Among other things, 51Talk's quotations from management in this announcement, as well as 51Talk's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. 51Talk may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about 51Talk's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: 51Talk's goals and strategies; 51Talk's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its brand and platform; 51Talk's ability to retain and increase its student enrollment; 51Talk's ability to offer new courses; 51Talk's ability to engage, train and retain new teachers; 51Talk's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; 51Talk's ability to maintain and improve infrastructure necessary to operate its education platform; competition in the online education industry in its international markets; the expected growth of, and trends in, the markets for 51Talk's course offerings in its international markets; relevant government policies and regulations relating to 51Talk's corporate structure, business and industry; general economic and business condition in the Philippines, its international markets and elsewhere; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in 51Talk's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and 51Talk does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. 51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) As of Dec. 31, Mar. 31, 2022 2023 US$ US$ ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 18,186 18,804 Time deposits 4,872 4,910 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 3,509 3,289 Total current assets 26,567 27,003 Non-current assets Property and equipment, net 25 28 Intangible assets, net 104 26 Right-of-use assets 769 677 Other non-current assets 169 220 Total non-current assets 1,067 951 Total assets 27,634 27,954 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Advances from students 15,167 17,719 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 4,341 4,031 Amounts due to related parties 389 658 Lease liability 427 438 Taxes payable 186 186 Total current liabilities 20,510 23,032 Non-current liabilities Lease liability 307 204 Other non-current liabilities 156 168 Deferred tax liabilities 84 86 Total non-current liabilities 547 458 Total liabilities 21,057 23,490 Total shareholders' equity 6,577 4,464 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 27,634 27,954 51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (In thousands except for number of shares and per share data) For the three months ended Mar. 31, Dec. 31, Mar. 31, 2022 2022 2023 US$ US$ US$ Net revenues 1,878 5,051 5,552 Cost of revenues (415) (1,062) (1,242) Gross profit 1,463 3,989 4,310 Operating expenses Sales and marketing expenses (1,993) (3,985) (4,324) Product development expenses (1,101) (435) (390) General and administrative expenses (1,885) (1,742) (1,950) Total operating expenses (4,979) (6,162) (6,664) Loss from operations (3,516) (2,173) (2,354) Interest income 48 24 33 Other income/(expenses), net 43 147 (75) Loss before income tax expenses and discontinued operations (3,425) (2,002) (2,396) Income tax expenses (12) - (9) Loss from continuing operations, net of income tax (3,437) (2,002) (2,405) Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax (17,734) - - Net loss, all attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders (21,171) (2,002) (2,405) Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing basic and diluted loss per share 334,056,649 337,549,708 339,338,128 51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (In thousands except for number of shares and per share data) For the three months ended Mar. 31, Dec. 31, Mar. 31, 2022 2022 2023 US$ US$ US$ Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders Basic and diluted (0.06) (0.01) (0.01) Net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders Basic and diluted (3.80) (0.36) (0.43) Share-based compensation expenses are included in the operating expenses as follows: Sales and marketing expenses 8 (30) (48) Product development expenses (38) (45) (54) General and administrative expenses (293) (34) (120) 51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to the Most Comparable GAAP Measures (In thousands except for number of shares and per share data) For the three months ended Mar. 31, Dec. 31, Mar. 31, 2022 2022 2023 US$ US$ US$ Sales and marketing expenses (1,993) (3,985) (4,324) Less: Share-based compensation expenses 8 (30) (48) Non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses (2,001) (3,955) (4,276) Product development expenses (1,101) (435) (390) Less: Share-based compensation expenses (38) (45) (54) Non-GAAP product development expenses (1,063) (390) (336) General and administrative expenses (1,885) (1,742) (1,950) Less: Share-based compensation expenses (293) (34) (120) Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses (1,592) (1,708) (1,830) Operating expenses (4,979) (6,162) (6,664) Less: Share-based compensation expenses (323) (109) (222) Non-GAAP operating expenses (4,656) (6,053) (6,442) Loss from operations (3,516) (2,173) (2,354) Less: Share-based compensation expenses (323) (109) (222) Non-GAAP loss from operations (3,193) (2,064) (2,132) 51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to the Most Comparable GAAP Measures (In thousands except for number of shares and per share data) For the three months ended Mar. 31, Dec. 31, Mar. 31, 2022 2022 2023 US$ US$ US$ Income tax expenses (12) - (9) Less: Tax impact of Share-based compensation expenses - - - Non-GAAP income tax expenses (12) - (9) Loss from continuing operations, net of income tax (3,437) (2,002) (2,405) Less: Share-based compensation expenses (323) (109) (222) Non-GAAP loss from continuing operations, net of income tax (3,114) (1,893) (2,183) Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax (17,734) - - Less: Share-based compensation expenses - - - Non-GAAP loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax (17,734) - - Net loss, all attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders (21,171) (2,002) (2,405) Less: Share-based compensation expenses (323) (109) (222) Non-GAAP net loss, all attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders (20,848) (1,893) (2,183) Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing basic and diluted loss per share 334,056,649 337,549,708 339,338,128 Non-GAAP net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders basic and diluted (0.06) (0.01) (0.01) Non-GAAP net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders basic and diluted (3.74) (0.34) (0.39) SOURCE 51Talk Online Education Group Research from Alibaba reveals businesses embracing exports to overcome domestic pressures, but supply chain, red tape and cultural challenges continue to hold small businesses back LONDON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- European businesses surveyed are going global to unlock growth opportunities, with 80% of businesses currently exporting and 70% expecting their exports1 to grow next year. These are just some of the findings from Alibaba Group's Export Opportunity Report, in which over 9,000 European businesses across nine markets were surveyed.* The report shows buoyant export activity, with 79% of companies saying exporting has made their businesses stronger2 and the same proportion saying international sales are critical for their future success. On average, the business owners surveyed said 52% of their annual revenue was derived from exports in the past year. Benefits beyond economic impact In addition to the direct benefits of international trade, the survey also reveals that exporting delivers a wide range of additional benefits, with 80% of respondents saying it has fuelled innovation in their business and enhanced their production capabilities2. The same proportion say it has increased their headcount and encouraged them to broaden their product range. SMEs lagging behind Despite these advantages, the report shows that SMEs are lagging behind larger businesses when it comes to seizing the benefits of exporting. Currently 23% of SMEs3 do not export at all, showing untapped potential for export growth among Europe's smaller companies. Protection against domestic uncertainties At a time of economic uncertainty and rising costs, the report reveals how exports protect European businesses by helping them diversify and access new opportunities. In particular, firms say exports provide protection against potential problems in their home market, with almost four in five (79%) saying exporting had relieved pressures at home2. "This report underscores the vital importance for small businesses of having an export strategy and a digital strategy. Both are essential for businesses to support long-term, sustainable growth," says Michael Evans, Director and President of Alibaba Group, which enables thousands of European businesses to export globally by leveraging its technology and commerce infrastructure. "These findings reveal that businesses that export are more resilient, innovative, can attract and retain top talent and, critically, they are achieving growth in the currently challenging business climate." Barriers to export Despite the clear benefits of exporting, there remain hurdles to businesses, particularly SMEs, trading internationally. Supply chain and logistics challenges are cited as the biggest barriers to export (20%), followed by a lack of cultural awareness/familiarity with overseas markets (19%), increased paperwork and red tape (18%), price competition (18%) and inadequacies in production capacity (18%). Difficulties in finding a trusted export partner also ranked high on the list of barriers to international trade (18%). Businesses in the UK and France list supply chain and logistics challenges as their biggest barriers to export (22%), while German companies ranked lack of cultural awareness/familiarity with the overseas market as the biggest barrier (22%). For businesses in Sweden, increased paperwork and red tape was the main issue to exporting (22%). Over a quarter of respondents (28%) export to other countries in the EU, 21% to North America and 19% to China. Belgium and Denmark have the highest proportion of businesses that export (90%), with Germany (73%) and the Netherlands (70%) lower, but still a high proportion. Digitalisation and online marketplaces boost exports Digitalisation and online marketplaces are seen by businesses as a key way to expand into new markets, especially since the pandemic. Overall, some 61% of businesses are currently working with online marketplaces to boost exports. Around a quarter (25%) of the businesses surveyed started working with online marketplaces during the pandemic, with the highest proportion in Belgium (38%) and the UK (30%). Overall, 80% of businesses agree2 that exporting has driven their digital transformation, and 76% agree2 that digital transformation has accelerated their business since the pandemic. Nearly a third (30%) of businesses working with online marketplaces say they have enabled them to expand into new geographic markets, with improved inventory planning (29%), better access to technology and communication tools (29%), and enhanced competitor and market insights (29%). Of the companies that have digitalised, 76% say it has helped make their business more efficient and reduced costs2. Companies also say investments in digital processes have yielded insights that have increased the quality of products and/or customer service2 (77%). Digital tools commonly used are social media (16%), smart marketing (14%), digital advertising (13%), data analytics (14%) and digital custom clearance (12%). Overall, the report shows that European businesses are embracing the opportunities and benefits of exporting. Although there are still many perceived barriers to exporting particularly among smaller companies it is clear that digitalisation and online marketplaces can help overcome these challenges and enable businesses to sell their goods abroad. By doing so, companies have more potential to grow, innovate and protect themselves from pressures in their domestic markets. Notes to editors The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 9,108 business owners of companies offering 'goods' rather than 'services' with 2+ employees and a revenue of + 1m / 1m from the UK, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, France (Aged 18+). The data was collected between 21 February and 2 March 2023. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct which is based on the ESOMAR principles. * Exports are goods that are produced in one country and sold to buyers in another. Footnotes 1 Combining answer options 'Significantly increase' and 'slightly increase' 2 Combining answer options 'Strongly agree' and 'Somewhat agree' 3 Combining answer options 'No, have never done so' and 'No, but have done so in the past' SOURCE Alibaba NEW YORK, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The African Shifts report , launched by the Africa Climate Mobility Initiative, documents the climate vulnerability & mobility patterns of communities in Africa as well as presents scenarios for future migration and displacement resulting from increasing climate impacts. The African Shifts report is accompanied by an Agenda for Action, which outlines proposals for action to address these urgent challenges. The Report shows that most future climate mobility in Africa will take place within countries, reflecting current patterns of movement. The number of people on the move could increase significantly from 1.5% of Africa's population today to 5% by 2050, amounting to up to 113 million people. In the Horn of Africa, climate impacts could force up to 9% of the population up to 49 million people to move in the decades ahead, making the case for adequate planning to build local adaptive capacity, especially in smaller cities and towns. The Report calls for advance planning for climate mobility as part of Africa's strategies for climate adaptation and climate-resilient development. It identifies potential 'climate mobility hotspots', where building resilience to climate stressors can avert and minimise the risk of displacement and prepare communities for future arrivals, thus preventing escalating loss and damage. The Agenda for Action proposes eight key actions for the next eight years. These can support countries in achieving the aspirations of the 2030 SDGs and their adaptation commitments under the Paris Agreement. "Climate induced migration is already real. Unless we anticipate and plan for increased climate mobility, we can expect socio-economic, political and security calamities," said Ambassador Namira Negm, Director of the African Migration Observatory at the African Union. "Africa is already bearing the brunt of climate change. All countries, especially the developed and fast-developing nations, need to act by raising ambition and slashing heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions. Developing nations must take the issue of human mobility into consideration when designing their National Adaptation Plans," said UN Climate Change Deputy Executive Secretary Ovais Sarmad. "African Shifts will drive greater momentum toward people positive climate action by bridging the current gaps in climate mobility knowledge, policy and data," said Kamal Amakrane, Managing Director of the Global Centre for Climate Mobility. Notes: https://bit.ly/ACMI-Notes-Media Contact: David Lonnberg, [email protected] , +1 347 836 2121 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2052908/4005216/1_GCCM_primary_horizontal_RGB_blue__6_Logo.jpg SOURCE Global Centre for Climate Mobility The agreement allows educators who complete the Lexia Aspire Professional Learning program to apply up to three credit hours to an ACE master's degree INDIANAPOLIS, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading online college, American College of Education ( ACE ), has announced a partnership with Lexia and its Lexia Aspire Professional Learning program a digital, flexible and self-paced education platform for educators supporting students with literacy development in grades 4-8. Educators who complete the Lexia Aspire Professional Learning program can now apply up to three credits to an ACE master's program. Lexia Aspire Professional Learning's solution equips classroom teachers, ELA educators, reading interventionists and other education professionals with the evidence-based tools needed to apply literacy development strategies in curricula. Programs are personalized to fulfill specific needs and lead educators to career advancement a mission directly aligned with ACE. "Partnering with Lexia, the developer of Lexia Aspire Professional Learning, is a testament to our combined unwavering commitment to educating educators and serving those who serve," ACE President and CEO Geordie Hyland said. "Our desire is to contribute to a movement of empowered educators who advance their careers in affordable, flexible ways without sacrificing quality. Connecting with leaders like Lexia enables us to further this mission, and we're excited to work with such an influential literacy organization." ACE was recently named the second-best online college in America for 2023 by Newsweek for its dedication to offering flexible, affordable and high-quality programs that promote career advancement. The college boasts industry-low costs and a fully online course model that allows busy adult students to continue their education anytime and anywhere with an online connection. "We're excited to see that the credits earned by professional educators will contribute to enhancing their careers even further," said Lexia President, Nick Gaehde. "Our mission is always for professional educators and administrators to pursue career advancement and be the best education professionals they can be. Partnering with ACE allows us to expand that mission to even more educators nationally." Lexia Aspire Professional Learning is one of two Lexia organizations ACE partners with; the second, Lexia LETRS, was established in 2020. About American College of Education American College of Education (ACE) is an accredited, 100% online college specializing in high-quality, affordable programs in education, business, leadership, healthcare and nursing. ACE is ranked #2 on Newsweek's 2023 top online colleges list. Headquartered in Indianapolis, ACE offers more than 80 innovative and engaging programs for adult students to pursue a doctorate, specialist, master's or bachelor's degree, along with micro-credentials and graduate-level certificate programs. In addition to being a leader in online education, ACE is a Certified B Corporation. Certified B Corporations are leaders of a global movement to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. About Lexia Lexia, a Cambium Learning Group company, is the structured literacy expert. For over 35 years, the company has focused solely on literacy and today, provides a full spectrum of solutions for both students and teachers. With robust offerings for differentiated instruction, personalized learning, assessment and professional learning, Lexia helps more learners read, write and speak with confidence. For more information, visit www.lexialearning.com . About Cambium Learning Group Cambium Learning Group is the education essentials company, providing award-winning education technology and services for K-12 markets. With an intentional collection of respected global brands, Cambium serves as a leader in the education space, helping millions of educators and students feel more universally seen, valued and supported each and every day. In everything it does, the company focuses on the elements that are most essential to the success of education, delivering simpler, more certain solutions that make a meaningful difference right now. To learn more, visit www.cambiumlearning.com or follow Cambium on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Medium. The Cambium family of brands includes Cambium Assessment, Lexia, Learning A-Z, Voyager Sopris Learning, ExploreLearning, Time4Learning and Kurzweil Education. SOURCE American College of Education The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continues making efforts to protect the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Enerhodar, which is occupied by Russian troops, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has said. "Honoured to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the 37th anniversary of the accident at Chornobyl and announce to him an IAEA programme of medical assistance for personnel at all Ukraine Nuclear Power plants (NPPs). We continue our efforts to protect the Zaporizhzhya NPP," Grossi wrote on Twitter. As Grossi said on March 29 during his stay at the ZNPP, the IAEA is developing a new concept for protecting the plant, which involves narrowing the Nuclear Safety and Security Protection Zone (NSSPZ) around it. SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Angeles Investments, a multi-asset investment management firm with approximately $6 billion in discretionary assets and $32 billion in consulting assets, has been recognized by Coalition Greenwich as a recipient of a Greenwich Quality Leader Award for 2022, marking the firm's sixth consecutive year achieving this accolade. Coalition Greenwich, a global division of CRISIL that provides strategic benchmarking, analytics and insights to the financial services industry, seeks to identify firms that distinguish themselves from competitors by delivering superior levels of client service to help institutions achieve their investment goals and objectives. Research study results identified Angeles as a leader across several key categories supporting client investment needs, including communication of philosophy and beliefs; offering innovative ideas; credibility with investment committees; satisfaction with managers recommended; timeliness in providing written info and reports; responsiveness to requests, and more. "For over twenty years, Angeles has focused on delivering the best client service and driving the best possible investment outcomes to help our clients further their missions and impact on the world," said Howard Perlow, Co-Founder of Angeles. "We are incredibly proud to be recognized for our excellence across these important aspects of managing institutional capital. The intellect, diligence, and commitment of our Investment Officers, Chief Investment Officer, and investment teams are second to none in the business. I am grateful for the trust and partnership from our clients, some of the best institutions in the world." Coalition Greenwich's 51st annual U.S. Institutional Investors research included voluntary responses from 727 individuals from 590 of the largest tax-exempt funds in the United States, including corporate, public, union and endowment and foundation funds, with either pension or investment pool assets greater than $150 million.1 About Angeles Angeles Investments is an investment management firm that serves as the Outsourced Chief Investment Office (OCIO) for institutions and nonprofits, including higher education, independent schools, and corporations, and advises distinguished investors through its wealth management platform. As fiduciaries, we are dedicated to creating the best outcomes for our clients through asset allocation and high conviction investments across alternative and traditional asset classes delivered through a full-service investment office. Angeles was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA with offices in New York City, Chicago, and Houston. https://www.angelesinvestments.com/ Media Contact Prosek Partners for Angeles Investments [email protected] 1 The study included 14 Angeles' client respondents. Angeles does not pay to have its clients participate in the study. The results may not be representative of any one client's experience because the results represent an average of all of the experiences of responding clients only. SOURCE Angeles Investments SHANGHAI, April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 18, the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition officially opened. Appotronics Corporation Ltd., the laser display Technology Company, independently participated in the exhibition, and released the immersive auto-level laser display and illumination technology and the automobile-grade colored laser headlights. They also presented immersive in-car digital interaction solutions such as exterior window displays, in-car transparent displays, rollable large screen projection, and smart surface displays, showcasing their new concept for the future of intelligent cockpit displays. Appotronics unveils the auto-level laser display and illumination technologies Appotronics Unveiled Automobile-Grade Colored Laser Headlights Appotronics automobile-grade colored headlights upgraded the traditional digital pixel headlights to be capable of display colorful images, significantly enhancing the interaction capabilities of the headlights. Vice president of Appotronics, Yu Xin, explained: "After using ALPD full-color laser digital headlights, automobiles can achieve human-machine information interaction inside and outside the car in a more eye-catching and vivid way, improving driving and pedestrian safety." The era of intelligent automobiles has given headlights the potential to display rich personalized features and expand unlimited scene interactions. This has led to the integration of display functions into headlights, allowing headlights to interact more with the driver. There has also been a trend towards integrating lighting and display functions, including road surface projection and pixelated signal lights. Appotronics original and patented ALPD technology can simultaneously meet the requirements from both illumination and display. It has high brightness, strong reliability, and low cost, and can operate stably in high-temperature environments in automobiles. In addition to the colored laser headlights, Appotronics exhibition car also demonstrated a fully immersive digital experience created using laser display technology that covers both the exterior and interior of the car. Among them, the window external display solution, which was previously showcased on the BMW I Vision Dee concept car at CES 2023, mainly serves as a welcome and human-automobile interaction function. The transparent display solution in the car includes side window displays, in-plane sunroof displays, smart surface displays, etc. Rear passengers can control cabin functions such as air conditioning, travel information settings, driver interactions, and inter- automobile communication through side window displays. There are also projection screens that can be raised or hidden inside the car, which can switch between viewing modes with one click, forming a ubiquitous display throughout the car and achieving more comprehensive human-automobile interaction in the era of intelligent cockpits. Li Yi, Chairman and CEO of Appotronics, said: "Looking towards the future, we will adopt an open and cooperative attitude, dedicated to developing a healthy ecosystem, actively cooperating with outstanding domestic and foreign automakers, as well as excellent partners upstream and downstream in the supply chain, to empower scenes with technology. At the same time, we are confident in our self-developed technology, which can achieve a leading position and work together with our partners to seek development in the changing times." SOURCE Appotronics Corporation Ltd. MEXICO CITY, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: ASR; BMV: ASUR) (ASUR), a leading international airport group with operations in Mexico, the United States, and Colombia, today announced that shareholders approved the following resolutions and considered the following matters at the General Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting held in Mexico City on April 26th, 2023: General Annual Ordinary Meeting Summary of Resolutions Approval of the report submitted by the Chief Executive Officer to the Board of Directors, accompanied by the independent auditor's report, with respect to the operations and results of the Company during the fiscal year ended December 31 st, 2022, as well as the Board of Directors' opinion regarding the content of said report. Approval of the report submitted by the Board of Directors which contains the principal accounting and reporting policies and criteria followed in the preparation of the Company's financial information. Furthermore, note was taken of the report submitted by the Board of Directors with respect to the transactions entered into with Related Persons and Relevant Shareholders, or contracts exceeding US$2,000,000.00 . Due note was taken that the report of the activities and operations in which the Board of Directors intervened, pursuant to Article 28 IV (e) of the Securities Market Law, was not prepared because during the fiscal year ended on December 31 st, 2022, the Board of Directors did not intervene in any such activities or operations to be reported. Approval of the audited individual and consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31 st, 2022. Approval of the report submitted by the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee of the Company with respect to its activities during the fiscal year ended December 31 st, 2022. Approval of the activities of the Board of Directors during the year ended December 31 st, 2022. Approval of the report on fulfillment of the tax obligations of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31 st, 2021. Due note was taken that the report for the year ended December 31 st, 2022 has not yet been issued and will be presented for approval at the first General Shareholders' Meeting to be held after the report is issued. Approval to set aside 5% of the accumulated net profits for the year ended December 31 st, 2022 to increase the legal reserve of the Company, in accordance with Article 20 of the Mexican General Corporations Law (Ley General de Sociedades Mercantiles). Approval of (i) an ordinary cash dividend from accumulated retained earnings in the amount of Ps. 9.93 ( nine pesos and ninety-three cents , Mexican legal tender) per share, payable in May 2023 ; as well as an extraordinary cash dividend from accumulated retained earnings in the amount of Ps. 10.00 ( ten pesos and zero cents, Mexican legal tender) per share, payable in November 2023 , to be paid out in a single installment to each of the outstanding, common, Series "B" and "BB" shares representing the paid-in capital stock of the Company, and that are issued, subscribed, fully paid and released on such date and (ii) the taxes that the Company incurs with respect to the dividend payment. Payment of the ordinary dividend shall be made through the Variable Income (Renta Variable) department of S.D. Indeval, S.A. de C.V., at its offices located at Paseo de la Reforma No. 255-3rd floor, Colonia Cuauhtemoc , 06500, Mexico City, Mexico , from Monday through Friday from 9:30 through 13:00 hours as of May 31, 2023 . Payment of the dividend shall be made against delivery of coupon "15" (fifteen) of the outstanding stock certificates in accordance with the terms notified to shareholders. Payment of the extraordinary dividend shall be made through the Variable Income (Renta Variable) department of S.D. Indeval, S.A. de C.V., at its offices located at Paseo de la Reforma No. 255-3rd floor, Colonia Cuauhtemoc , 06500, Mexico City, Mexico , from Monday through Friday from 9:30 through 13:00 hours as of November 29, 2023 . Payment of the dividend shall be made against delivery of coupon "16" (sixteen) of the outstanding stock certificates in accordance with the terms notified to shareholders. The dividend payment notices shall be published no later than April 27th, 2023 in a newspaper in general circulation. Approval to set aside all remaining accumulated net profits for the year ended December 31 st, 2022 for the repurchase of shares by the Company during the fiscal year 2023, pursuant to Article 56 of the Securities Market Law. Approval of the activities of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Assistant Secretary during the year ended December 31 st, 2022, and release from any liability they might have incurred in the execution of their duties. Ratification of Mr. Fernando Chico Pardo as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Ratification of all other members and alternate members of the Board of Directors, as well as ratification of non-member Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Board of Directors. Ratification of Mr. Ricardo Guajardo Touche as Chairman of the Audit Committee. Ratification of Ms. Barbara Garza Laguera Gonda, Mr. Fernando Chico Pardo and Mr. Jose Antonio Perez Anton as members of the Nominations and Compensation Committee. Approval of the proposal made by the Nominations and Compensation Committee to pay the following compensation to the members of the management bodies of the Company: - Each member of the Board of Directors will receive Ps. 85,000.00 ( eighty-five thousand pesos 00/100 Mexican currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended. - Each member of the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee will receive Ps. 120,000.00 (one hundred and twenty thousand pesos 00/100 Mexican Currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended. - Each member of the Operations Committee will receive, Ps. 85,000.00 ( eighty-five thousand pesos 00/100 Mexican currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended. - Each member of the Nominations and Compensations Committee will receive Ps. 85,000.00 ( eighty-five thousand pesos 00/100 Mexican currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended. - Each member of the Acquisitions and Contracts Committee will receive Ps. 28,000.00 ( twenty-eight thousand pesos 00/100 Mexican Currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended. Special delegates of the Ordinary Annual General Shareholders' Meeting were appointed to appear before a notary public to legalize the minutes of the meeting and to undertake any other action necessary to formalize and give effect to the resolutions taken at this meeting. About ASUR: Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. (ASUR) is a leading international airport operator with a portfolio of concessions to operate, maintain, and develop 16 airports on the American continent. The company operates nine airports in the southeast of Mexico, including Cancun Airport located in the biggest tourist destination in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Latin America; as well as six airports in northern Colombia, including Medellin international airport (Rionegro), the second busiest in Colombia. ASUR also holds a 60% stake in the capital stock of Aerostar Airport Holdings, LLC, operator of Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. The airport in San Juan is the main point of entry to the island for international flights and continental flights from the U.S.; it was the first and is currently the only airport in the United States to have achieved a successful public-private partnership under a pilot program implemented by the FAA. Based in Mexico, ASUR is traded on the Mexican Bolsa (BMV) under ticker symbol ASUR, and on the NYSE under the symbol ASR. One ADS represents ten (10) B-series shares. For further information, visit www.asur.com.mx SOURCE Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky, Kline & Specter, and Michael A. Donio represent Mario P. Terruso, Jr.'s family CAMDEN, N.J., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The family of Mario P. Terruso, Jr., 41, the Mays Landing father-of-five fatally beaten in 2019 by New Jersey officers entrusted with his care while in custody, today believe elusive justice is finally in sight after the state's Attorney General just announced a series of indictments following a lengthy grand jury investigation into the alleged crime and conspiracy. The legal team from Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky, Kline & Specter, and Michael A. Donio, that filed, in 2021, a federal civil rights, negligence and wrongful-death action resulting from the horrific, unlawful, unprovoked and unjustified incident, says it now also looks forward to obtaining the full measure of justice, including through civil court proceedings. Family Photo: (Mario Jr. with parents, Linda and Mario Sr., and son, Nico) Robert J. Mongeluzzi, of Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky, said following the AG's announcement, "We have great respect for the overwhelming majority of police, correctional officers, and healthcare workers who serve our communities. However, we also have a solemn duty to represent the loved ones of innocent people like Mario Terruso who are, for no reason, deprived of their fundamental constitutional rights; all those responsible for his senseless and preventable death not just the individuals named in this indictment but those defendants in our comprehensive 14-count federal court complaint (Terruso-Crespo v. Atlantic County Justice Facility, et al., Case Number: 1:21-cv-15288-CPO-SAK), must and will be held accountable through our justice system." Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky attorneys Andrew R. Duffy and Michael A. Budner are also part of the legal team. Tom Kline, of Kline & Specter, explained, "The indictments of the Atlantic County correctional officers and the Hamilton Township police officers including supervisors for an attack on a man who was wrongfully taken into custody is one step on the long path to justice for his family in the criminal and civil justice systems. They seek all those involved to be held fully accountable." Kline & Specter attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, is also serving as plaintiff's co-counsel. Michael A. Donio, of Donio Law, a retired state Superior Court judge and personal attorney to the Terruso family, added, "I grew up with Mario's father, Mario Sr., the distinguished former New Jersey State Police lieutenant, and I know first-hand that his extended family longs for justice, first and foremost, but also real reforms in correctional and police policies and practices to avert another preventable death of an innocent member of our community who was inhumanely denied the medical care he desperately and so obviously needed. If he'd have been treated properly, with compassion not contempt, he'd be alive today." According to the complaint, "Mr. Terruso, despite exhibiting no signs of resistance, was violently thrown to the floor, and fatally beaten" by Atlantic County Justice Facility correctional officers. It added, "The beating and use of excessive force against Mr. Terruso by the defendants and the subsequent cover up was not an isolated or aberrational incident. It was the direct result of systemic deficiencies in the training, supervision and discipline of the ACJF officers. . . that began long before the brutal assault and killing of Mr. Terruso and continue to this day." It is alleged that the coverup included efforts to block cameras from capturing the brutal beating and spreading lies that Mr. Terruso was not compliant. Despite attempts to the contrary, much of his mistreatment was, in fact, videotaped and the office of state Attorney General made those videos publicly available prior to yesterday's indictment announcement. SOURCE Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky P.C. The Ceremony for the Literary Awards Will be Held on April 29th, 2023 SAN ANTONIO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Author Rudy Ruiz is the 2023 winner of the Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Book of Fiction from the Texas Institute of Letters for his novel, Valley of Shadows. Author Rudy Ruiz Valley of Shadows is Ruiz's second novel and was published in September 2022 by Blackstone Publishing. The novel is set on the US-Mexico border in the late 1800s and follows Solitario Cisneros, a Mexican sheriff of the town Olvido. When a shift in the course of the Rio Grande River places the town on the US side of the border, Solitario is ousted as sheriff. What ensues is a neo-Western tale that explores isolation, injustice, and redemption. Ruiz said about the award, "It is an honor to be recognized by the Texas Institute of Letters, whose membership consists of some of the state's most respected writers. Texas is a place with a past whose complexity is only rivaled by that of its present. Valley of Shadows explores the dark corners of that history, aiming to reclaim the narrative of Mexican-Americans and Indigenous people while also imagining the good that can come from greater cross-cultural empathy and collaboration. My hope is that this award helps introduce the novel to more readers, so they too can envision how the tragic truths of our past can illuminate our path to a better future." In addition to this recognition from the Texas Institute of Letters, Valley of Shadows was longlisted for the Reading the West Book Award and was placed on the following reading lists: CrimeReads Pick of Best Horror Fiction Books of 2022 A Publishers Weekly Pick of SF, Fantasy & Horror Fiction for Fall A BuzzFeed Books Pick of Best Fall Books Furthermore, the novel has received critical acclaim. Publishers Weekly said, "Ruiz offers an engrossing blend of historical fiction, ghost story, and mysteryHe employs elements of magic realism to haunting effect, and the depictions of human cruelty and injustice are unflinching." CrimeReads said, "Ruiz's latest is a chilling meditation on life and death in the 1870s borderlands between the US and Mexico, a neo-Western that brings a fatalistic noir sensibility to a story with deep spiritual and literary roots." Valley of Shadows has also received recognition for the relevance of the story to current social injustice issues, including racially motivated police brutality, immigration and border policy, and climate refugees, with the Southern Review of Books saying the novel "is a supernatural genre fusion that sheds light on real issues." Ruiz will receive the award on April 29th, 2023 at the Texas Institute of Letters' annual banquet. Valley of Shadows is available for order on Amazon and at bookstores nationwide. About Rudy Ruiz Rudy Ruiz grew up in Brownsville, Texas. He attended Harvard University, where he received a Bachelor's in Government and a Master's in Public Policy. While there, he also studied literature and creative writing and he received a Ford Foundation grant to support his writing. His first fiction book was a collection of short stories titled Seven for the Revolution. His second fiction book, a novel titled The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez, was published in 2020. His first novel won two Gold Medals at the 2021 International Latino Book Awards and was named in the Top 10 Best First Novels of 2020 by the American Library Association's Booklist. In addition to being an author, Ruiz is a contributor to CNN and other major media outlets, and is the CEO and co-founder of Interlex, an advocacy marketing agency that focuses on social issues. SOURCE Rudy Ruiz NEW YORK, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Axoni, a provider of data synchronization technology and financial market infrastructure, announced today the close of a $20 million equity financing round led by EJF Ventures, with participation from Laurion Capital Management, Communitas Capital, and existing investors. Axoni has raised more than $110 million since inception. Axoni's AxCore software synchronizes data across enterprises, solving decades-old coordination problems between large companies. By guaranteeing data is continually and automatically replicated in real time, with guaranteed accuracy and completeness, Axoni technology reduces cost, risk, and errors when moving trade data and other critical information between financial institutions. With AxCore now deployed across various asset classes and markets, it is also standardizing the internalization of data, further reducing costs for institutions who can leverage existing familiarity with Axoni software. Since its founding in 2017, Axoni's client base has grown to include many of the world's leading market infrastructure companies, asset managers, hedge funds, and global banks in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Axoni's mission critical technology processes trillions of dollars of transactions annually across international markets. "We're delighted to add these financial technology experts to our list of partners and deeply appreciate the continued support from our existing investors," said Axoni CEO Greg Schvey. "This investment will facilitate further advancement of our technology as well as our continued global expansion." "Modernizing legacy financial infrastructure is essential as market participants grapple with the challenges of an increasingly real-time world. Axoni solves key data-related problems with a modular architecture resulting in improved operational efficiency and greater client satisfaction. We believe AxCore has applicability across many lines of financial services and we are excited to support the exemplary team at Axoni," said Jonathan Bresler, Managing Partner of EJF Ventures. "We believe Axoni is ideally positioned to serve the industry's secular trend in post-trade operational efficiency," said Emmanuel Naim from Laurion Capital Management. "Laurion is thrilled to participate in the company's new round of financing." Axoni software has been deployed or is in development in a wide range of markets, including: Cleared stock loan transactions at OCC (Options Clearing Corporation) Global credit derivatives in partnership with The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) Global communications platform for primary issuance of corporate bonds in partnership with DirectBooks Global equity swaps in partnership with a consortium of leading market participants Global derivatives platform slated to launch in 2023 About Axoni Axoni is a New York-based technology firm that specializes in the coordination of data across financial institutions. Founded in 2017 by a team of distributed systems and financial markets veterans, the company offers core data infrastructure, application development, and automation tools. Axoni's technology is used across global capital markets by the world's leading banks, asset managers, hedge funds, and infrastructure providers. Existing investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Citi, CME Ventures, Coatue, DCG, Deutsche Bank, DCVC, FinTech Collective, F-Prime, Franklin Templeton, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Intel Capital, J.P. Morgan, LSEG, Nyca Partners, UBS, Wells Fargo, and Y Combinator. SOURCE Axoni WALTHAM, Mass., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ballentine Partners, an independent wealth management firm headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, is pleased to announce that Kelly Lora Ewart has joined the company as Head of Marketing. In this newly formed role, Kelly will lead the firm's marketing department and create strategies to enhance the firm's brand and position it for continued success. Kelly Lora Ewart joins Ballentine Partners as Head of Marketing Tweet this Kelly Lora Ewart joins Ballentine Partners as Head of Marketing. Prior to joining Ballentine Partners, Kelly served as VP of Strategic Relationships at PURE Insurance and as an AVP of Sales and Marketing at W.R. Berkley Companies. She began her career at Chubb, where she spent 14 years growing from an Insurance Underwriter to AVP and Strategic Partnership Manager. Kelly is an inclusive leader with 20+ years of experience implementing creative marketing strategies, championing business development efforts, perfecting brand standards, and executing exceptional client experiences. "We are excited to welcome Kelly to our team," said Drew McMorrow, President and CEO of Ballentine Partners. "Her extensive marketing experience and expertise will enable us to further strengthen our brand and build on our organic growth." "I am thrilled to be part of the Ballentine Partners team and look forward to collaborating with colleagues who share my values," said Kelly. "This team is passionate about understanding its clients' aspirations and helping them secure their legacy through smart, sophisticated advice." Kelly holds a BBA in Marketing from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she graduated with distinction. She also completed an executive certificate program at the Latino Leadership Institute of the UCLA Anderson School of Management. About Ballentine Partners Ballentine Partners is committed to providing tailored investment and wealth management solutions to high-net-worth families and families across the country. With a team of experienced professionals and a client-focused approach, the firm strives to deliver exceptional service and meaningful results. Ballentine Partners serves clients across the country through its offices in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Florida. For further info about services available from Ballentine Partners, please visit www.BallentinePartners.com. Contact: Carly Augeri [email protected] SOURCE Ballentine Partners, LLC CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America Corporation today announced the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend on Bank of America common stock of $0.22 per share, payable on June 30, 2023 to shareholders of record as of June 2, 2023. The Board also declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $1.75 per share on the 7% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series B. The dividend is payable on July 25, 2023 to shareholders of record as of July 11, 2023. Bank of America Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 68 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs and award-winning digital banking with approximately 56 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts. Investors May Contact: Lee McEntire, Bank of America Phone: 1.980.388.6780 [email protected] Jonathan G. Blum, Bank of America (Fixed Income) Phone: 1.212.449.3112 [email protected] Reporters May Contact: Bill Halldin, Bank of America Phone: 1.916.724.0093 [email protected] Christopher P. Feeney, Bank of America Phone: 1.980.386.6794 [email protected] SOURCE Bank of America Corporation Highlights Berkshire's Transformational Efforts to Build More Equitable and Sustainable Communities BOSTON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB), the parent company of Berkshire Bank, a leading socially responsible community bank with financial centers in New England and New York, announced the release of its 2022 Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Report, Purpose & Performance that Matters. The report highlights the totality of the Company's environmental, social and governance activities, its performance as well as its progress on its $5 billion BEST Community Comeback program. "We believe where you bank matters and since our founding in 1846, Berkshire has been at the forefront of empowering our communities' financial potential," stated Gary R. Levante, SVP, Corporate Responsibility at Berkshire Bank. "The collective actions of the Company and all our employees are helping build more just and sustainable communities, creating jobs along our main streets, putting more people in homes, and supporting a green and equitable economy." Berkshire CEO Nitin Mhatre added, "Our purpose will continue to help power Berkshire on our path toward becoming a high-performing, leading socially responsible community bank in New England and beyond. All of Berkshire's collective ESG efforts are positively contributing to our commercial performance, creating capacity to invest more in our business, customers, employees, communities, and shareholders." Since its first deposit of $25 more than 175 years ago, Berkshire has provided support, guidance, and financial solutions to help its customers and communities navigate successfully through all economic environments. Berkshire collaborates with local government, nonprofit, private sector, and individual stakeholders to harness its financial resources, expertise and operations to help unlock the potential of communities across its footprint. Berkshire's accomplishments over the last year, which are highlighted in the report, include: In addition to its commitment to being a leading socially responsible community bank, Berkshire is known as a strong and secure steward of its customers finances, above industry credit quality, and superior suite of financial solutions delivered through robust technology platforms, dedicated relationship managers and 100 community-based financial centers. The Bank has an A3 deposit rating from Moody's Investors Service, which was affirmed on April 21, 2023 and Newsweek named Berkshire one of the most trustworthy banks in the nation. Berkshire's full ESG report is available online at berkshirebank.com/esg2022. ABOUT BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP Headquartered in Boston, Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE:BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire Bank. Founded in 1846, the Bank's vision is to be a high-performing leading socially responsible community bank. It empowers the financial potential of its stakeholders by making banking available where, when, and how it's needed through an uncompromising focus on exceptional customer service, digital banking, and positive community impact. Providing a wide range of financial solutions through its consumer banking, commercial banking and wealth management divisions, the Bank has approximately $12.3 billion in assets and a community-based footprint of 100 financial centers in Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Named one of America's Most Trusted Companies by Newsweek and America's Best Midsize Employers by Forbes, Berkshire is also listed in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality. To learn more, follow us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and LinkedIn . Investor Contact Kevin Conn Investor Relations 617.641.9206 [email protected] Media Contact: Alicia Jacobs Corporate Communications 413.242.6540 [email protected] SOURCE Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. Dr. Javad Sajan At Allure Esthetic Plastic Surgery Is The Best Plastic Surgeon In Washington State SEATTLE, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Javad Sajan, of Allure Esthetic Plastic Surgery, is among one of the United States' top plastic surgeons and the best in Washington State. His skills and specialties range from hair transplant to breast augmentation to gender affirming surgery for transgender individuals. Dr. Sajan is also known for his particular skill in fat transfer to the breast procedures which are not widely performed by plastic surgeons due to the nuance and precision required. Along with his proven surgical skill, Dr. Javad Sajan is frequently referenced in news and media outlets. As one of the foremost plastic surgeons in Washington, Dr. Sajan has been featured in Cosmopolitan magazine and Plastic Surgery Practice magazine . In combination with his media appearances, Dr. Sajan also hosts the Plastic Surgeon Podcast where he features real patient stories and provides background on each surgery. He also created realdrseattle , a TV series that shows transgender and plastic surgery journeys from start to finish. Dr. Sajan's patients also agree that he is the best plastic surgeon in Washington. One of his tummy tuck patients says, "I had a lot of skin and fat around my midsection because of my pregnancy. I just need to feel better and move better. After the surgerybefore I was at a size 24now I'm a size 14/16. I have not had back pain since the surgery. I can move better. I can run and play with my kids better. It's been a huge benefit to my life overall." About Dr. Javad Sajan: Dr. Javad Sajan of Allure Esthetic Plastic Surgery is Washington State's most sought plastic surgeon. He is also one of the few who specialize in transgender surgeries such as FTM top surgery and facial feminization . Patients come from across the United States for Dr. Sajan's expertise and knowledge in plastic surgery. He works with each patient to customize the best procedure possible so that they can achieve their goals. Contact: Allure Esthetic Plastic Surgery Phone: 206-209-0988 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Allure Esthetic Maintenance, repair of Leopard tanks from Ukraine to begin in Poland in May - Minister of Defense The Leopard-2 tank maintenance center from Ukraine will open in May at the Bumar Labedy plant in Gliwice (Silesian Voivodeship, Poland), Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Wednesday. "Leopard 2A4 and 2A6 tanks from Ukraine will be serviced and repaired at the Bumar Labedy plant in Gliwice. This service center will start working in May," Polish Radio quoted the minister as saying. Blaszczak recalled that at a meeting of NATO defense ministers, he signed an agreement with his German counterpart on the establishment of a service center for a whole family of Leopard tanks on the basis of the Bumar Labedy plant. According to the minister, this center will give a chance for the development of the plant in the future, so that, in particular, new jobs will appear in Gliwice. "There is a huge chance for development, and I am confident that this chance will be used," said Blaszczak. He stressed that the reason for choosing this particular plant was the fact that for 20 years they have been engaged in the maintenance, repair and modernization of Leopard 2A4 tanks. The minister also recalled that Polish T-72 tanks are being repaired and modernized in Gliwice. SB 556 will hold oil companies presumptively liable for causing cancer, asthma, preterm and high risk births for people living within 3200 ft of an oil well. SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SB 556 legislation that gives people who live near oil wells and have developed cancer, respiratory illnesses and birth defects the right to hold oil drillers liable for their illnesses passed the California Senate Judiciary Committee in a 8 - 2 vote. SB 556 will now be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The legislation will hold the oil drillers presumptively liable for damages with minimum penalties of $250,000 and maximum penalties of $1 million. The presumption could be rebutted if the driller proved it used the best technologies to mitigate risk or that the illnesses were caused another way. SB 556, authored by California State Senator Lena Gonzalez, builds on scientific evidence proving a direct link between drilling and these maladies, the same evidence that was used to enact SB 1137 (Gonzalez), which banned drilling in the 3200 foot "set-back" zone. Oil drillers qualified a referendum that put SB 1137 on hold until voters vote on it in November 2024. If SB 556 becomes law, it would further protect communities by making drillers liable for the harms they cause starting January 2024. "One of my children suffered from multiple symptoms and it was scientifically proven that the toxic emissions from the oil industry was the cause," Monic Uriarte, co-founder of People Not Pozos, testified at the committee, explaining how her family lived within 30 feet of an oil well. "In 2020 she was diagnosed with stage two reproductive cancer at age of 19. She needed to choose between her life or her reproductive system, and I am sure she is not the only one. The oil industry poisons our lands, air, water and is killing people. When will it be enough?" Uriarte's daughter Nalleli Cobo spoke out about her experiences in an OPED published in the Los Angeles Times on Monday, titled, "I grew up next to an L.A. oil well. California can protect others from what I went through." The members of the Last Chance Alliance had these comments: "We thank the Senate Judiciary Committee for seeing what we see: this bill is simply the logical thing to do. The evidence makes clear that living near oil drilling and the emissions it creates causes the illnesses in this bill; therefore, it only makes sense that we shift the presumption of liability from communities to owners and operators. Taking into account the fact that 3,200 ft setbacks are not yet settled law and California continues to issue permits within that zone and beyond, additional protections for those harmed by drilling are critical." Maricruz Ramirez, Community Organizer, The Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment (co-sponsor of SB 556) "Like the firearms industry in California, oil drillers need to be legally accountable when they don't use the best technologies to protect communities. Senators rightly voted to hold them to that same standard." Jamie Court, President of Consumer Watchdog (co-sponsor of SB 556) "Fossil fuel executives have known for decades that their products wreck our climate and poison our communities. Instead of acting to protect public health and the environment, they've lied and spent millions of dollars to convince politicians to look the other way. It's long past time they're held accountable. We applaud Senator Gonzalez for her leadership in standing up to oil and gas bullies and urge the legislature to pass SB 556." Woody Hastings, Phase Out Polluting Fuels Program Manager, The Climate Center "Nearly two years ago, the Oil and Gas Public Health California Scientific Advisory Panel concluded with high level of certainty that living near oil and gas drilling sites, cause a significant increased risk of poor birth outcomes and poor respiratory outcomes. A Number of toxic chemicals released in the process of oil and gas operations, such as benzene, are recognized by the state of California to cause cancer. Children born near an active well site are two to three times more likely to be diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer at a young age. Nearly 3 Million Californians live within 3200 ft from an operational well, majority of whom are people of color and a new study has shown that black residents are exposed to the most intense oil and gas operations. While big oil is pocketing record profits, Californians, particularly people of color and low income, are paying with their health and their lives. It's time to hold big oil accountable. It is time for California to put an end to environmental racism and prioritize public health." Marjaneh Moini, MD Board Member, Physicians for Social Responsibility "With Big Oil raking in $200 billion last year, it's high time for the industry to pay damages to those they have been hurting. For decades Big Oil operations have exposed people who live near oil and gas drilling to harmful pollution putting them at greater risk of developing several different types of cancer. Finally, people suffering from oil operation activities would be given a measure of justice as SB 556 would make oil drillers presumptively liable for illnesses linked to their operations within the setback zone of 3,200 feet. EOPA California thanks the Senate Judiciary Committee and all legislators who are standing with frontline communities to ensure SB 556 becomes law." Ramona Cornell du Houx, Communications Director Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) representing over 435 California elected officials "With today's vote, legislators are joining California's frontline communities in saying enough is enough. It's time to hold fossil fuel operators accountable for neighborhood drilling and the harms that it perpetuates. We won't put working families on the hook for expensive medical bills any longer - not while Big Oil continues to make the problem worse." Kobi Naseck, Coalition Coordinator, Voice Voices In Solidarity Against Oil In Neighborhoods, VISION "The fossil fuel industry isn't just fueling the flames of climate change, it's bringing sickness and death into our homes. For over 100 years, oil wells and refineries have poisoned our air, land, water, and bodies. From respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular disease to high rates of cancer, our loved ones have paid the price while oil executives rake in record profits. We applaud Senator Gonzalez for championing SB 556 which will give communities the tools we need to finally hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the irreparable harm they do to our health." Faraz Rizvi, Asian Pacific Environmental Network "Making the oil industry pay for the cancer it causes is common sense. Oil companies put profit over people's health, so being presumed financially liable for poisoning communities may make them reconsider drilling near homes and schools. This bill is an important step toward ending dangerous oil and gas extraction across the state and creating a healthy, livable future for all Californians." Hollin Kretzmann, Senior Attorney, Center for Biological Diversity's Climate Law Institute SOURCE Consumer Watchdog MARLBOROUGH, Mass., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) generated net sales of $3.389 billion during the first quarter of 2023, growing 12.0 percent on a reported basis, 14.9 percent on an operational1 basis and 14.0 percent on an organic2 basis, all compared to the prior year period. The company reported GAAP net income attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders of $300 million or $0.21 per share (EPS), compared to $97 million or $0.07 per share a year ago, and achieved adjusted3 EPS of $0.47 for the period, compared to $0.39 a year ago. "I'm pleased with our excellent results this quarter, which highlight our team's strong performance across each business and region," said Mike Mahoney, chairman and chief executive officer, Boston Scientific. "With a robust pipeline in 2023 and beyond, I'm optimistic about our ability to continue to deliver differentiated financial performance and the opportunity to reach more patients with life-changing therapies." First quarter financial results and recent developments: Reported net sales of $3.389 billion , representing an increase of 12.0 percent on a reported basis, compared to the company's guidance range of 3 to 5 percent; 14.9 percent on an operational basis; and 14.0 percent on an organic basis, compared to the company's guidance range of 6 to 8 percent, all compared to the prior year period. , representing an increase of 12.0 percent on a reported basis, compared to the company's guidance range of 3 to 5 percent; 14.9 percent on an operational basis; and 14.0 percent on an organic basis, compared to the company's guidance range of 6 to 8 percent, all compared to the prior year period. Reported GAAP net income attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders of $0.21 per share, compared to the company's guidance range of $0.23 to $0.26 per share, and achieved adjusted EPS of $0.47 per share, compared to the guidance range of $0.42 to $0.44 per share. per share, compared to the company's guidance range of to per share, and achieved adjusted EPS of per share, compared to the guidance range of to per share. Achieved the following net sales growth in each reportable segment, compared to the prior year period: MedSurg: 11.0 percent reported, 13.4 percent operational and organic Cardiovascular: 12.7 percent reported, 15.9 percent operational and 14.4 percent organic Achieved the following net sales growth in each region, compared to the prior year period: U.S.: 12.7 percent reported and operational EMEA ( Europe , Middle East and Africa ): 14.2 percent reported and 20.0 percent operational , and ): 14.2 percent reported and 20.0 percent operational APAC ( Asia-Pacific ): 5.9 percent reported and 15.4 percent operational ): 5.9 percent reported and 15.4 percent operational LACA ( Latin America and Canada ): 17.4 percent reported and 20.0 percent operational and ): 17.4 percent reported and 20.0 percent operational Emerging Markets 4 : 20.2 percent reported and 26.3 percent operational : 20.2 percent reported and 26.3 percent operational Received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance and launched in the U.S. and Japan the LithoVue Elite Single-Use Digital Flexible Ureteroscope System , the first ureteroscope system with a built-in sensor that enables urologists to monitor intrarenal pressure in real time during ureteroscopy procedures. the , the first ureteroscope system with a built-in sensor that enables urologists to monitor intrarenal pressure in real time during ureteroscopy procedures. Received Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), Health Canada and CE Mark approval for the POLARx FIT Cryoablation Balloon Catheter , an expandable balloon catheter capable of enabling 28 and 31mm sizes, which promotes procedural efficiency and adaptability to varying patient anatomies during the treatment of atrial fibrillation. , an expandable balloon catheter capable of enabling 28 and 31mm sizes, which promotes procedural efficiency and adaptability to varying patient anatomies during the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Announced real-world outcomes from the SURPASS one-year analysis of more than 66,000 patients with the WATCHMAN FLX Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device during a late-breaking session at the Cardiovascular Research Technologies (CRT) 2023 meeting, with data demonstrating a low 1.2% rate of ischemic stroke and 0.11% rate of systemic embolism at one year. Also exceeded 300,000 patients worldwide who have been treated with the WATCHMAN technology. during a late-breaking session at the Cardiovascular Research Technologies (CRT) 2023 meeting, with data demonstrating a low 1.2% rate of ischemic stroke and 0.11% rate of systemic embolism at one year. Also exceeded 300,000 patients worldwide who have been treated with the WATCHMAN technology. Completed enrollment in the ACURATE IDE trial, a prospective, multicenter, randomized study in the U.S. and Canada evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the ACURATE neo2 Aortic Valve System for the treatment of patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis across all surgical risk levels who are indicated for transcatheter aortic valve replacement. evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the for the treatment of patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis across all surgical risk levels who are indicated for transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Commenced enrollment of the global ADVANTAGE AF clinical trial, which will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the FARAPULSE Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System for the treatment of drug-resistant, symptomatic, persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Also, presented as late-breaking science at the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) annual meeting were real-world outcomes from the independent MANIFEST-PF registry, which demonstrated the real-world safety, efficacy and efficiency of the FARAPULSE PFA System. Despite a variety of workflows, procedure times remained at approximately one hour, and there was only one case of phrenic palsy and no reports of esophageal complications or pulmonary vein stenosis. One-year freedom from recurrence was 82% in patients with paroxysmal, or intermittent, AF and 72% in patients with persistent AF. for the treatment of drug-resistant, symptomatic, persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Also, presented as late-breaking science at the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) annual meeting were real-world outcomes from the independent MANIFEST-PF registry, which demonstrated the real-world safety, efficacy and efficiency of the FARAPULSE PFA System. Despite a variety of workflows, procedure times remained at approximately one hour, and there was only one case of phrenic palsy and no reports of esophageal complications or pulmonary vein stenosis. One-year freedom from recurrence was 82% in patients with paroxysmal, or intermittent, AF and 72% in patients with persistent AF. Closed the acquisition of Apollo Endosurgery, Inc., expanding the Boston Scientific endoluminal surgery portfolio and enabling entry into the endobariatric market. Completed the acquisition of a majority stake investment in Acotec, a Chinese medical technology company that offers innovative solutions designed for several types of interventional procedures . This investment is expected to create strategic value for both companies through a variety of opportunities, including collaboration in research and development, manufacturing and commercial strategies. This investment is expected to create strategic value for both companies through a variety of opportunities, including collaboration in research and development, manufacturing and commercial strategies. Released the 2022 Performance Report, measuring progress on the ways in which the company is transforming care, investing in employees, protecting the environment and creating value responsibly. 1. Operational net sales growth excludes the impact of foreign currency fluctuations. 2. Organic net sales growth excludes the impact of foreign currency fluctuations and net sales attributable to acquisitions and divestitures for which there are less than a full period of comparable net sales. 3. Adjusted EPS excludes the impacts of certain charges (credits) which may include amortization expense, goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges, acquisition/divestiture-related net charges (credits), investment portfolio gains and losses, restructuring and restructuring-related net charges (credits), certain litigation-related net charges (credits), EU MDR implementation costs, debt extinguishment charges, deferred tax expenses (benefits) and discrete tax items. 4.Periodically, we assess our list of Emerging Markets countries, and effective January 1, 2023, modified our list to include all countries except the United States, Western and Central Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. We have revised prior year amounts to conform to the current year's presentation. Net sales for the first quarter by business and region: Increase/(Decrease) Three Months Ended March 31, Reported Basis Impact of Foreign Currency Fluctuations Operational Basis Impact of Recent Acquisitions / Divestitures Organic Basis (in millions) 2023 2022 Endoscopy $ 577 $ 531 8.6 % 2.9 % 11.5 % % 11.5 % Urology 469 413 13.5 % 2.1 % 15.6 % % 15.6 % Neuromodulation 234 209 11.9 % 1.8 % 13.7 % % 13.7 % MedSurg 1,280 1,153 11.0 % 2.4 % 13.4 % % 13.4 % Cardiology 1,606 1,407 14.1 % 3.1 % 17.3 % (1.9) % 15.4 % Peripheral Interventions 503 465 8.2 % 3.4 % 11.5 % % 11.5 % Cardiovascular 2,110 1,873 12.7 % 3.2 % 15.9 % (1.4) % 14.4 % Net Sales $ 3,389 $ 3,026 12.0 % 2.9 % 14.9 % (0.9) % 14.0 % Increase/(Decrease) Three Months Ended March 31, Reported Basis Impact of Foreign Currency Fluctuations Operational Basis (in millions) 2023 2022 U.S. $ 2,003 $ 1,778 12.7 % % 12.7 % EMEA 712 624 14.2 % 5.8 % 20.0 % APAC 548 517 5.9 % 9.5 % 15.4 % LACA 126 107 17.4 % 2.6 % 20.0 % Net Sales $ 3,389 $ 3,026 12.0 % 2.9 % 14.9 % Emerging Markets4 $ 529 $ 440 20.2 % 6.0 % 26.3 % Amounts may not add due to rounding. Growth rates are based on actual, non-rounded amounts and may not recalculate precisely. Growth rates that exclude the impact of foreign currency fluctuations and/or the impact of acquisitions / divestitures are not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Guidance for Full Year and Second Quarter 2023 The company now estimates net sales growth for the full year 2023, versus the prior year period, to be approximately 8.5 to 10.5 percent on a reported basis, and approximately 8 to 10 percent on an organic basis. Full year organic net sales guidance excludes the impact of foreign currency fluctuations and net sales attributable to acquisitions and divestitures for which there are less than a full period of comparable net sales. The company now estimates EPS on a GAAP basis in a range of $0.93 to $1.02 and estimates adjusted EPS, excluding certain charges (credits), of $1.90 to $1.96. The company estimates net sales growth for the second quarter of 2023, versus the prior year period, to be in a range of approximately 6.5 to 8.5 percent on a reported basis, and approximately 7 to 9 percent on an organic basis. Second quarter organic net sales guidance excludes the impact of foreign currency fluctuations and net sales attributable to acquisitions and divestitures for which there are less than a full period of comparable net sales. The company estimates EPS on a GAAP basis in a range of $0.23 to $0.27 and adjusted EPS, excluding certain charges (credits), of $0.48 to $0.50. Conference Call Information Boston Scientific management will be discussing these results with analysts on a conference call today at 8:00 a.m. ET. The company will webcast the call to interested parties through its website: www.bostonscientific.com . Please see the website for details on how to access the webcast. The webcast will be available for approximately one year on the Boston Scientific website. About Boston Scientific Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 40 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. For more information, visit www.bostonscientific.com and connect on Twitter and Facebook . Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "anticipate," "expect," "project," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "may," "intend" and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our expected net sales; reported, operational and organic revenue growth rates; reported and adjusted EPS for the second quarter and full year 2023; our financial performance; acquisitions; clinical trials; our business plans and product performance, and new and anticipated product approvals and launches. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include, among other things: the impact of foreign currency fluctuations; future U.S. and global economic, political, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions; manufacturing, distribution and supply chain disruptions and cost increases; disruptions caused by cybersecurity events; disruptions caused by extreme weather or other climate change-related events; disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and financial results; labor shortages and increases in labor costs; new product introductions; expected procedural volumes; the closing and integration of acquisitions; demographic trends; intellectual property; litigation; financial market conditions; the execution and effect of our business strategy, including our cost-savings and growth initiatives; and future business decisions made by us and our competitors. New risks and uncertainties may arise from time to time and are difficult to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A - Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file hereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions, or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Note: Amounts reported in millions within this press release are computed based on the amounts in thousands. As a result, the sum of the components reported in millions may not equal the total amount reported in millions due to rounding. Certain columns and rows within tables may not add due to the use of rounded numbers. Percentages presented are calculated from the underlying numbers in dollars. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information A reconciliation of the company's non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP measures, and an explanation of the company's use of these non-GAAP financial measures, is included in the exhibits attached to this press release. CONTACT: Media: Kate Haranis Investors: Lauren Tengler 508-683-6585 (office) 508-683-4479 (office) Media Relations Investor Relations Boston Scientific Corporation Boston Scientific Corporation [email protected] [email protected] BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, in millions, except per share data 2023 2022 Net sales $ 3,389 $ 3,026 Cost of products sold 1,040 955 Gross profit 2,349 2,071 Operating expenses: Selling, general and administrative expenses 1,215 1,060 Research and development expenses 337 319 Royalty expense 11 12 Amortization expense 203 198 Contingent consideration net expense (benefit) 12 12 Restructuring net charges (credits) 20 4 1,797 1,605 Operating income (loss) 552 466 Other income (expense): Interest expense (65) (279) Other, net (43) (31) Income (loss) before income taxes 444 156 Income tax expense (benefit) 131 45 Net income (loss) 314 110 Preferred stock dividends (14) (14) Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests Net income (loss) attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders $ 300 $ 97 Net income (loss) per common share - basic $ 0.21 $ 0.07 Net income (loss) per common share - diluted $ 0.21 $ 0.07 Weighted-average shares outstanding Basic 1,435.8 1,427.8 Diluted 1,446.0 1,438.4 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION NON-GAAP NET INCOME AND NET INCOME PER SHARE RECONCILIATIONS (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 (in millions, except per share data) Gross Profit Operating Expenses Operating Income (Loss) Other Income (Expense) Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes Net Income (Loss) Preferred Stock Dividends Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Boston Scientific Common Stockholders Impact per Share (1) Reported $ 2,349 $ 1,797 $ 552 $ (108) $ 444 $ 314 $ (14) $ 300 $ 0.21 Non-GAAP adjustments: Amortization expense (203) 203 203 175 175 0.12 Acquisition / divestiture-related net charges (credits) 11 (39) 50 9 59 66 66 0.05 Restructuring and restructuring-related net charges (credits) 17 (27) 44 44 37 37 0.03 Investment portfolio net losses (gains) 21 21 16 16 0.01 EU MDR implementation costs 11 (5) 16 16 14 14 0.01 Deferred tax expenses (benefits) 41 41 0.03 Discrete tax items 25 25 0.02 Adjusted $ 2,388 $ 1,523 $ 865 $ (78) $ 787 $ 687 $ (14) $ 673 $ 0.47 Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 (in millions, except per share data) Gross Profit Operating Expenses Operating Income (Loss) Other Income (Expense) Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes Net Income (Loss) Preferred Stock Dividends Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Boston Scientific Common Stockholders Impact per Share (1) Reported $ 2,071 $ 1,605 $ 466 $ (310) $ 156 $ 110 $ (14) $ 97 $ 0.07 Non-GAAP adjustments: Amortization expense (198) 198 198 170 170 0.12 Acquisition / divestiture-related net charges (credits) 27 (45) 72 72 72 72 0.05 Restructuring and restructuring-related net charges (credits) 18 (11) 29 29 25 25 0.02 Investment portfolio net losses (gains) 7 7 5 5 0.00 EU MDR implementation costs 10 (6) 16 16 14 14 0.01 Debt extinguishment charges 194 194 149 149 0.10 Deferred tax expenses (benefits) 30 30 0.02 Discrete tax items 0 0 0.00 Adjusted $ 2,127 $ 1,346 $ 781 $ (110) $ 671 $ 575 $ (14) $ 562 $ 0.39 (1) For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the effect of assuming the conversion of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (MCPS) into shares of common stock was anti-dilutive, and therefore excluded from the calculation of EPS. Accordingly, GAAP net income and adjusted net income were reduced by cumulative Preferred stock dividends, as presented in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations, for purposes of calculating net income available to common stockholders. An explanation of the company's use of these non-GAAP financial measures is provided at the end of this document. BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION Q2 and FY 2023 GUIDANCE RECONCILIATIONS (Unaudited) Net Sales Q2 2023 Estimate Full Year 2023 Estimate (Low) (High) (Low) (High) Reported growth 6.5 % 8.5 % 8.5 % 10.5 % Impact of foreign currency fluctuations 1.0 % 1.0 % 0.5 % 0.5 % Operational growth 7.5 % 9.5 % 9.0 % 11.0 % Impact of acquisitions / divestitures (0.5) % (0.5) % (1.0) % (1.0) % Organic growth 7.0 % 9.0 % 8.0 % 10.0 % Earnings per Share Q2 2023 Estimate Full Year 2023 Estimate (Low) (High) (Low) (High) GAAP results $ 0.23 $ 0.27 $ 0.93 $ 1.02 Amortization expense 0.13 0.13 0.49 0.49 Acquisition / divestiture-related net charges (credits) 0.05 0.04 0.15 0.14 Restructuring and restructuring- related net charges (credits) 0.04 0.03 0.14 0.13 Other adjustments 0.04 0.04 0.20 0.19 Adjusted results $ 0.48 $ 0.50 $ 1.90 $ 1.96 Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement our unaudited consolidated financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, we disclose certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders and adjusted net income (loss) per share (EPS) that exclude certain charges (credits); operational net sales, which exclude the impact of foreign currency fluctuations; and organic net sales, which exclude the impact of foreign currency fluctuations as well as the impact of acquisitions and divestitures with less than a full period of comparable net sales. These non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and should not be considered in isolation from or as a replacement for the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Further, other companies may calculate these non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do, which may limit the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes. To calculate adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders and adjusted net income (loss) per share we exclude certain charges (credits) from GAAP net income and GAAP net income attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders, which include amortization expense, goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges, acquisition/divestiture-related net charges (credits), investment portfolio gains and losses, restructuring and restructuring-related net charges (credits), certain litigation-related net charges (credits), EU MDR implementation costs, debt extinguishment charges, deferred tax expenses (benefits) and discrete tax items. Amounts are presented after-tax using the company's effective tax rate, unless the amount is a significant unusual or infrequently occurring item in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740-270-30, "General Methodology and Use of Estimated Annual Effective Tax Rate." Please refer to Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our most recent Annual Report filed on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that we file thereafter for an explanation of each of these adjustments and the reasons for excluding each item. The GAAP financial measures most directly comparable to adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders and adjusted net income (loss) per share are GAAP net income (loss), GAAP net income (loss) attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders and GAAP net income (loss) per common share - diluted, respectively. To calculate operational net sales growth rates, which exclude the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, we convert actual net sales from local currency to U.S. dollars using constant foreign currency exchange rates in the current and prior periods. To calculate organic net sales growth rates, we also remove the impact of acquisitions and divestitures with less than a full period of comparable net sales. The GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to operational net sales and organic net sales is net sales on a GAAP basis. Reconciliations of each of these non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP financial measure are included in the accompanying schedules. Management uses these supplemental non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate performance period over period, to analyze the underlying trends in our business, to assess our performance relative to our competitors and to establish operational goals and forecasts that are used in allocating resources. In addition, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to further its understanding of the performance of our operating segments. The adjustments excluded from our non-GAAP financial measures are consistent with those excluded from our operating segments' measures of net sales and profit or loss. These adjustments are excluded from the segment measures reported to our chief operating decision maker that are used to make operating decisions and assess performance. We believe that presenting adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders, adjusted net income (loss) per share, operational net sales growth rates and organic net sales growth rates, in addition to the corresponding GAAP financial measures, provides investors greater transparency to the information used by management for its operational decision-making and allows investors to see our results "through the eyes" of management. We further believe that providing this information assists our investors in understanding our operating performance and the methodology used by management to evaluate and measure such performance. SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation TUSTIN, Calif. , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The legal team at Carrazco Law is hosting its first annual Toy Drive and meals in celebration of Dia De Los Ninos. Their target is to provide enough food and toys for 400+ children to the local Latin community of Orange County California. The event will also have a family photoshoot wall, balloons, music, and a mobile Covid-19 vaccine clinic, all onsite. With collaboration from fellow sponsor Serve the People 501 (c)3, a nonprofit organization located in Santa Ana, CA, they are confident in reaching this goal and are dedicated to serving the community. "Bringing Smiles to the children of our community" Angel Carrazco Event information: Address : Carrazco Law APC; 18301 Irvine Blvd. Tustin CA 92780 : Carrazco Law APC; 18301 Irvine Blvd. Tustin CA 92780 Date : April 28th : Time : 2PM until supplies last : 2PM until supplies last Delivery Method: The toys and food will be brought to the cars. The toys and food will be brought to the cars. Requirements: Show up on the day of the event through the entrance on Irvine Blvd. The entire Carrazco Law team will support as volunteers and look forward to the participation of Serve the People and The Consulate of Mexico. Carrazco Law will set up a drive through in their parking lot in which families can come and pick up toys, as well as stay for free food and music. The volunteering legal team is committed to the well-being of Latin families. About Carrazco Law: Attorney Angel Carrazco Jr. Establish Carrazco Law in 2004 and is the President and one of the Founders of Serve the People: a non-profit organization that began in 2008 distributing food bags for families and the homeless. The organization has since expanded its resources and now offers a legal clinic where everyone is eligible for services, regardless of ability to pay. He is also the Consulting Attorney for the Mexican Consulate in Santa Ana and San Bernardino, where he offers free legal advice. He is an expert in cases involving Workers' Compensation, Personal Injury, and Civil Rights. SOURCE Carrazco Law, A. P. C. NEW YORK, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CelebExperts has built a reputation for creativity and results in influencer marketing campaigns. CelebExperts will offer 5 companies its premium services without charging a retainer, just a percentage of talent spend. The goal of this program is to assist brands with great products but limited budgets succeed. Tweet this CelebExperts will offer 5 companies its premium services without charging a retainer, just a percentage of talent spend. The industry has become riddled with companies signing on brands high retainers and providing little to no results. CelebExperts run by industry experts Evan Morgenstein (CEO/Founder) and Christina Brennan (President) will invest their team's experience in creating some of the successful influencer programs for five brands. Brands will be chosen from various categories of expertise including but not limited to food, nutrition, plant-based products, healthy living and outdoor living. The goal of this program is to assist brands with great products but limited budgets succeed. CelebExperts President and Founder Evan Morgenstein says, "We have found that brands are much more comfortable going back to a more traditional model commission on spend versus the retainer. This is especially so for start-ups, emerging brands new to influencer marketing. We are excited to take our expertise in creating influencer marketing campaigns that have been wildly successful and showing new clients how to avoid the pitfalls of failure that so many brands have experienced." CelebExperts will be reviewing companies interested from April 25 through May 5. The investment for securing influencers will be discussed on a brand-by-brand basis with a minimum spend required to qualify. For more details email Evan at [email protected] with your company website and information on your product ASAP. SOURCE CelebExperts DUBLIN, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "AI Foundation Model and Autonomous Driving Intelligent Computing Center Research Report, 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. New infrastructures for autonomous driving: AI foundation models and intelligent computing centers are emerging. In recent years, the boom of artificial intelligence has actuated autonomous driving, and the troika of artificial intelligence is: data, algorithm, and computing power. This report highlights the research on new infrastructures for autonomous driving algorithms and computing power: AI foundation models and intelligent computing centers. Large AI model, or foundation model, internationally known as pre-trained model, refers to a model trained on a vast quantity of unlabeled data at scale resulting in a model that can be adapted to a wide range of downstream tasks. The Transformer networks Google proposed in 2017 laid the foundation of mainstream algorithm architecture for current foundation models. The ViT (Vision Transformer), introduced by Google in 2020, first applied the Transformer architecture to the image classification task in the field of computer vision (CV). And then Tesla's introduction of Transformer foundation models into autopilot started the adoption of large AI models in autonomous driving. Key features of AI foundation models: Generalization capability is strong. AI foundation models can capture knowledge from a mass of labeled and unlabeled data, and fine-tunes specific tasks by storing knowledge into enormous parameters. For example, Baidu ERNIE Foundation Model learns from large knowledge graphs and massive unstructured data, and then works with companies to build industry foundation models. Up to now, ERNIE Model has released 11 industry models. Wherein, Geely-Baidu ERNIE, a large automotive industry model co-built by Baidu and Geely in November 2022, uses Baidu ERNIE Foundation Model 3.0 for fine-tuning and verification in three tasks: intelligent customer service knowledge base expansion, short answer generation for vehicle speech systems, and knowledge base construction in automotive field. Have self-supervised learning capability, reducing training and development costs The self-supervised learning method of AI foundation models can reduce data annotations, and partly solve the problems of high cost, long cycle and low accuracy of manual annotations. For example, the video self-supervised foundation model, unveiled by Haomo.ai in January 2023, first builds a large model based on data clips, and adjusts the model using a part of manually annotated clip data, in which only 10% of the key frames are manually annotated, and the other 90% are not; and then trains the entire model to guess the content of the next frame according to the current frame, and automatically annotates the remaining 90% frames, so as to achieve 100% automatic annotation and lower the cost of annotation. AI foundation models can break the accuracy limitations of existing model structures. The experimental researches in recent years show that larger models and data scale may break the existing accuracy limitations. For example, the INTERN Foundation Model 2.0 SenseTime released in September 2022 has been a leading performer in model support in more than 40 visual tasks in 12 categories, outperforming world-renowned institutions in related fields. The use of AI foundation models can not only greatly expedite algorithm iteration, but also directly shorten the iteration cycle of autonomous driving systems. To match large-scale parameters and mass data calculations in models, some OEMs and autonomous driving technology developers have begun to build data computing centers that can provide large computing power and train foundation models, namely, intelligent computing centers. Intelligent computing center refers to the infrastructure for building intelligent computing server clusters based on chips (e.g., GPU and FPGA) to provide intelligent computing power. For intelligent computing centers need long construction period and huge initial investment, only some powerful OEMs and companies make layout of construction at present. Examples include Geely which launched the Xingrui Intelligent Computing Center in January 2023, with total investment of RMB1 billion and 5,000 cabinets planned. The facility currently boasts total cloud computing power of 810 petaflops per second, which is expected to expand to 1,200 petaflops per second in 2025. It covers such services as intelligent connectivity, intelligent driving, new energy safety, and trial production experiments, improving Geely's overall R&D efficiency by 20%. Furthermore, China is also encouraging rapid development of intelligent computing centers. In 2022, the State Council issued the 14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Digital Economy, suggesting promoting the orderly development of intelligent computing centers and building new intelligent infrastructures that integrate intelligent computing power, general algorithms, and development platforms. In February 2022, the East-Data-West-Computing Project was fully launched. National computing power hub nodes started construction in 8 regions, i.e., Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Chengdu-Chongqing, Inner Mongolia, Guizhou, Gansu, and Ningxia, and 10 national data center clusters were planned. So far, there have been more than 30 cities in China building or proposing to build intelligent computing centers, some of which have become operational. Key Topics Covered: 1 Overview of AI Foundation Model and Intelligent Computing Center 1.1 Definition of AI Foundation Model 1.1.1 Development History of AI Foundation Model 1.1.2 Role of Foundation Model in Development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) 1.1.3 Business Models of AI Foundation Model 1.1.4 Challenges in Implementation of AI Foundation Model and Future Development Trends 1.1.5 Advantages of AI Foundation Model Applied to Autonomous Driving 1.2 Definition of Intelligent Computing Center 1.2.1 Development History of Intelligent Computing Center in China 1.2.2 Intelligent Computing Center 2.0 1.2.3 Construction of Intelligent Computing Centers 1.2.4 Intelligent Computing Center Industry Chain 1.2.5 Reasons for Establishing Intelligent Computing Centers for Autonomous Driving 1.2.6 Cost of Building An Intelligent Computing Center for Autonomous Driving 1.2.7 Problems in Building An Intelligent Computing Center for Autonomous Driving 1.3 Summary of Automotive Companies with Foundation Models and Intelligent Computing Centers 2 Autonomous Driving Companies Comparison of Foundation Models and Intelligent Computing Centers between Autonomous Driving Companies 2.1 Haomo.ai 2.1.1 Profile 2.1.2 Data Intelligence System - MANA System 2.1.3 Intelligent Computing Center - MANA OASIS 2.1.4 Research and Application of Foundation Models 2.1.5 Five Models of MANA 2.1.6 Separate Introduction of Five Models 2.1.7 Real Scene Simulation System 2.1.8 Data Sources 2.1.9 Assistance of the Five Foundation Models and the Intelligent Computing Center to Haomo.ai 2.2 QCraft 2.2.1 Profile 2.2.2 Feature and Timing Fusion Foundation Model - OmniNet 2.2.3 OmniNet Foundation Model Promotes the Implementation of Production Solutions 2.2.4 Autonomous Driving R&D Toolchain - QCraft Matrix 3 Providers Comparison of Foundation Models and Intelligent Computing Centers between Providers 3.1 Baidu 3.2 Inspur 3.3 SenseTime 4 OEMs Comparison of Foundation Models and Intelligent Computing Centers between OEMs 4.1 Xpeng 4.2 Geely 4.3 Tesla For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/du342u 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 DENVER, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cities throughout the Americas are playing a leading role in responding to historic levels of human mobility. To understand the opportunities and challenges present in a wide range of responses, Emerson Collective, Mayors Migration Council, Inter-American Dialogue, and CAF-Development Bank of Latin America are partnering to sponsor the closing plenary session of the Cities Summit of the Americas in Denver, Colorado on April 28, 2023 at 3:45 PM MT. "We are so proud that the Cities Summit builds on the mayors' workshops that we hosted with CAF at last year's Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles ," said Rebecca Bill Chavez, President & CEO of the Inter-American Dialogue. "As we did in Los Angeles, we see the historic gathering of mayors in Denver as an opportunity to shine a light on the positive impact of migration in cities and towns, especially as local leaders and civil society have developed innovative policies to advance the integration and inclusion of migrants throughout Latin America and the Caribbean." The closing plenary of the Cities Summit will feature remarks from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken; Senator John Hickenlooper, Colorado; and Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States; followed by a conversation moderated by CBS News' Lilia Luciano including Mayor Jaime Pumarejo (Barranquilla, Colombia), Mayor Bruce Harrell (Seattle, U.S.), Mayor Claudia Lopez (Bogota, Colombia), Mayor Yamileth Lopez Obregon (Upala, Costa Rica), Commissioner Brigid Shea (Travis County, U.S.), and Christian Asinelli, Corporate Vice President of Strategic Programming, CAF-Development Bank of Latin America. "Too often we focus on migration as a border situation when really it's an urban reality with 70% of refugees looking to cities for safety and opportunity," said Vittoria Zanuso, Executive Director, Mayors Migration Council. "This session makes it clear, investing in city-led action for migrant inclusion will help national governments make their promise of regional solutions to migration in the Los Angeles Declaration a reality." "City-led solutions are a critical part of any sustainable effort to manage migration in a safe, legal, and orderly way throughout the entirety of the Americas," said Ana Macouzet, Director of Regional Migration at Emerson Collective. "As U.S. cities increasingly receive new migrant populations, we think there is a lot to be learned from the experience of Latin American and Caribbean cities as they have been on the frontlines of responding to historic levels of displacement for nearly a decade." At the 2022 Summit of the Americas, national governments committed in the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection to improve support for migrant hosting communities and to increase access to services for migrants and refugees. National governments must work with cities to achieve these goals given the urban dynamics of migration. Better understanding and learning from the role cities small, medium, and large, at borders and in interiors play when it comes to human mobility is central to fulfilling the economic and social potential of cities and countries across the hemisphere. The closing plenary is scheduled to begin at 3:45 PM MT in the Mile High Ballroom of the Denver Convention Center. It will be open press with simultaneous interpretation provided. It will also be live streamed on the CSOA website: www.citiessummitoftheamericas.org . Emerson Collective is an organization designed to develop opportunities and solutions in education, environment, immigration, gun violence and health equity through philanthropy, creativity and investments. Established and led by Laurene Powell Jobs in 2011, Emerson Collective is working to create new possibilities for individuals, families, and communities. For press inquiries contact: Celestine Maddy at [email protected] The Mayors Migration Council (MMC) is a mayor-led coalition that accelerates ambitious global action on migration and displacement. With most of the world's migrants and displaced people living in cities, our mission is to use the power of city diplomacy and city practice to create a world where urban migrants, displaced people, and receiving communities can thrive. Created by mayors for mayors, we are a nimble team of political advisors and urban practitioners guided by a Leadership Board of global city leaders, including the Mayors of Amman, Bristol, Dhaka North, Freetown, Kampala, Milan, Montevideo, Montreal, and Zurich. As a Sponsored Project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, our work is made possible by philanthropic and government funders. For press inquiries contact: Maggie Powers at [email protected] The Inter-American Dialogue engages our network of global leaders to foster democratic governance, prosperity, and social equity in Latin America and the Caribbean. Together, we work to shape policy debate, devise solutions, and enhance cooperation within the Western Hemisphere. For press inquiries contact: Gaston Ocampo at [email protected] CAF-Development Bank of Latin America has the mission of promoting sustainable development and regional integration, by financing projects in the public and private sectors, providing technical cooperation and other specialized services. Established in 1970 and currently made up of 21 countries - 19 from Latin America and the Caribbean, together with Spain and Portugal - and 14 private banks, it is one of the main sources of multilateral financing and an important generator of knowledge for the region. For press inquiries contact: [email protected] SOURCE Cities Summit of the Americas; Emerson Collective; Mayors Migration Council; Inter-American Dialogue; CAF-Development Bank of Latin America Concludes the appointments for business leaders of its three market segments LONDON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Plc (NYSE: CLVT), a global leader in connecting people and organizations to intelligence they can trust, announced today that it has appointed Henry Levy as President, Life Sciences & Healthcare, effective May 1, 2023. Henry joins from Veeva Systems, a global leader in cloud software for the life sciences industry, where he most recently served as President, Global R&D and Quality, with responsibility for driving sales across the segment. Jonathan Gear, Chief Executive Officer, Clarivate said: "I'm delighted to announce the appointment of Henry as President for our Life Sciences & Healthcare (LS&H) market segment. With an excellent track record in the industry focusing on helping customers use data and technology to transform their businesses, I'm confident he will deliver progress for Clarivate. Our Life Sciences & Healthcare segment innovates to improve patient lives and create a healthier tomorrow by connecting customers to transformative intelligence and data technology. In the newly created President role, Henry will be responsible for accelerating growth, supporting companies from early-stage drug discovery to commercialization. I'm excited to work with our complete executive leadership team towards our vision of fueling the world's greatest breakthroughs by harnessing the power of human ingenuity." With over 25 years of experience, Henry is a life sciences expert who has published multiple articles on drug development and technology trends and is a frequent speaker at industry forums. Prior to Clarivate, Henry held several roles at Veeva Systems, including Chief Strategy Officer, General Manager for the Clinical Data Management product suite and, most recently, President, Global R&D and Quality. Previously, he was Chief Commercial Officer for PPD, where he defined new models for biopharmaceutical companies to partner with contract research organizations to drive down costs and improve the speed of drug development. Before that, he led Accenture's global life sciences R&D practice, where he helped 90% of the top 20 biopharmaceutical companies improve through consulting, technology and outsourcing solutions. The announcement follows the Company's recent appointments of Gordon Samson as President, Intellectual Property and Bar Veinstein as President, Academia & Government. About Clarivate Clarivate is a leading global information services provider. We connect people and organizations to intelligence they can trust to transform their perspective, their work and our world. Our subscription and technology-based solutions are coupled with deep domain expertise and cover the areas of Academia & Government, Life Sciences & Healthcare and Intellectual Property. For more information, please visit clarivate.com. Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, which express management's current views concerning future business, events, trends, contingencies, financial performance, or financial condition, appear at various places in this communication and may use words like "aim," "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "future," "goal," "intend," "likely," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "see," "seek," "should," "strategy," "strive," "target," "will," and "would" and similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. Instead, they are based only on management's current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include those factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K, along with our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). However, those factors should not be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Additional risks and uncertainties not known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. Forward-looking statements are based only on information currently available to our management and speak only as of the date of this communication. We do not assume any obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws. Please consult our public filings with the SEC or on our website at www.clarivate.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1159266/Clarivate_Logo.jpg SOURCE Clarivate Plc The companies will collaborate in the development, engineering and manufacturing of CLEANR's, solutions, which efficiently filter microplastics (particles smaller than five millimeters, or one-fifth of an inch, in length) from residential, commercial and industrial washing machine wastewater. CLEANR's unique patent-pending technology can be applied as an external filter or readily integrated into modern washing machine designs as a pre-installed solution. The technology has been shown to capture over 90% of microplastic fibers larger than 50 microns in size outperforming any major solution in the market. CLEANR also offers a consumer-friendly dry disposal mechanism that prevents hands-on contact with microfiber waste and prevents it from being washed down the drain. "Washing-machine manufacturers around the world are facing growing demand for consumer-friendly, cost-efficient microplastic filtering solutions to address pending regulations in Europe, North America and beyond," said Max Pennington, CLEANR CEO. "Our partnership with GKD ensures the highest quality and precision manufacturing capabilities for our clients, along with GKD's 100-year track record of woven mesh innovation. Our two companies are bound by a shared vision of creating a safer and healthier world by tackling the global microplastics problem at its primary source." Over a half-million tons of plastic microfibers spill into the oceans every year in the form of washing machine wastewater. This accounts for 35% of all microplastics in the environment, making clothing and textiles the world's number-one source of microplastic pollution. Over the past decade, an alarming body of evidence has emerged regarding the impacts of microplastic pollution on waterways, ecosystems, food chains and human health. Research[i] has shown that: Microplastics now cover 88% of the ocean's surface and have been identified in areas as remote as the beaches of the Arctic and Antarctic, the summit of Mount Everest and the bottom of the Mariana Trench. On average, humans ingest a credit-card size amount of plastic every week , according to a study published by WWF International, causing microplastics to enter our circulation systems, tissue, and even placenta. One recent study discovered the presence of microplastics in the blood of nearly 80% of human test subjects. , according to a study published by WWF International, causing microplastics to enter our circulation systems, tissue, and even placenta. One recent study discovered the presence of microplastics in the blood of nearly 80% of human test subjects. The effects of microplastic pollution on the health of wildlife, aquatic organisms and humans is not well understood. But studies have found evidence that high levels of exposure to microplastics and certain types of polymers may lead to lower feeding efficiency and growth rates, tumor promotion, endocrine disruption, liver toxicity, physical deterioration, autism spectrum disorder and even higher rates of mortality. Without intervention, current levels of global microplastic pollution are set to rise dramatically over the coming decades. Recent research from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) indicates that the accumulation of plastic waste emitted from clothing and other textiles is on course to double by 2050. "Microplastic pollution is becoming an urgent environmental and public health concern," said Dr. Stephan Kufferath, GKD Group CSO. "But microplastic filtering of washing-machine wastewater is a game changer. That is why we're so keen to help CLEANR achieve its market potential by leveraging our innovative microplastic stainless-steel mesh and our long-established network of global manufacturing and distribution centers. This is an opportunity to help deliver the first filtration solution that actually meets upcoming regulatory requirements for Europe and beyond." A number of large governments are studying the problem and developing new rules to curb the flow of plastic microfibers from washing machines into waterways. Beginning in January 2025, France will require all new washing machines sold in-country to include a microplastic-filtration solution. Meanwhile, members of the UK parliament, California, Illinois, and Oregon state legislators in the U.S., and provincial legislators in Ottawa, Canada are working through similar proposals, with other governments around the world following suit. This fall, the state of California will begin a pilot test for microplastics in its drinking water, and New Jersey is working through a proposal to provide rebates of up to $100 to residents who purchase microfiber washing-machine filters. "The growing focus on microplastic pollution by consumers, governments, healthcare organizations and manufacturers of textiles, apparel and appliances has created a dynamic market with potential to achieve rapid change," said Terry Moore, chairman of CLEANR's board of directors. "By closely collaborating with washing-machine manufacturers and global leaders like GKD, CLEANR will help overcome the world's number one source of microplastic pollution, while driving growth for our clients and shareholders." About GKD Group GKD Group is a leading provider of technical woven solutions for industries and architecture. It develops and manufactures customer-specific technical woven solutions and innovative procedures for processing wire meshes for more than a dozen industries. Headquartered in Duren, Germany GKD Group has been creating high-performance, application-specific mesh designs for nearly a century, and has more than 900 employees, with production sites and branches in Germany, the United States, Chile, South Africa, India, China, France, Spain and Dubai. www.gkd-group.com About CLEANR CLEANR is a U.S. technology company focused on making sustainability effortless. CLEANR has developed a platform filtration technology to remove microplastics from impacted fluid streams. The CLEANR microplastic filter is the first of its kind to filter incredibly small particles, to be fully mechanical, completely reusable, and incredibly easy to use. We challenge the status quo and create innovative, new solutions to complex and intertwined problems. Based out of the Sears think[box] in Cleveland Ohio, the CLEANR team has been working since 2020 to limit the microplastic emissions from every washing machine. CLEANR has landed on a market-disruptive, biomimicry inspired filter which can capture particles smaller than the width of a human hair. www.cleanr.life [i] "Primary Microplastics in the Oceans," (Page 9) International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 2017 (https://bit.ly/3LRxYWc); "Policies to Reduce Microplastics Pollution in Water," (Section 1.5) OECD, 2022 (http://bit.ly/40gsBUF); "Assessing Plastic Ingestion from Nature to People," (Page 7) University of Newcastle Australia, 2019 (https://bit.ly/3K6SdOk); "Plastic Debris in the Open Ocean," (Page 10240) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014 (https://bit.ly/3K2xivD); "White and Wonderful? Microplastics Prevail in Snow from the Alps to the Arctic," (Page 1) Science Advances, 2019 (https://bit.ly/3ni1bPR); "Campaigners Call For Microfibre Filters To Be Mandatory In New Washing Machines," Forbes, May 30, 2022 (http://bit.ly/40c17zu); Pre/post-natal Exposure to Microplastic as a Potential Risk Factor for Autism Spectrum Disorder," (Page 1) Environment International, 2022; "Global Plastics Outlook," (Figure 4.1 source data) OECD, 2022 (https://bit.ly/3FKUE6j) SOURCE CLEANR SAN FRANCISCO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital services company Compass UOL today announced it is expanding its investment in the Compass Academy training initiative to help 15,000 computer science students in universities worldwide learn to program cloud platforms and prompt engineering on generative AI tools, on Compass UOL's AI-assisted software engineering approach. The expansion will prepare students to work with Amazon Web Services (AWS) in large transformational digital projects for global enterprises in industries like financial services, consumer product goods and healthcare. Since 2013, the Compass Academy initiative has granted over 2,600 scholarships in 180 editions in partnership with 100 universities. For this expansion, Compass UOL is now seeking to partner with more U.S. and international universities to reach underserved communities with new transformational job and career opportunities. The University of Port Harcourt (Uniport) in Nigeria, Africa, is the latest Compass Academy partner. The program at Uniport, one of the top universities in Africa with over 37,000 enrolled students, follows the pattern of previous editions consisting of five months of training in two levels, foundational and advanced. The foundational level combines asynchronous classes, live tutoring, and practical challenges to train students for an average of 5 months in programming languages Node and React, and in using prompt engineering on generative AI tools to develop software. Outstanding students will then take two additional months of preparation before their AWS certification exams in October. The classes also cover AWS Bedrock and AWS Code Whisperer platforms, released by AWS this week. "When we started Compass Academy, we were 150 people and today we are 6,000, mostly software developers with many program graduates among them, including some of Compass UOL top leaders," Compass UOL CEO Alexis Rockenbach told students. "We intend to continue hiring Compass Academy students because we might not know what the future will bring, but we know you will have learned to adapt." The AWS Communities program is co-funding Compass Academy expansion to reach underprivileged students around the world. AWS certifications are in high demand because they show an overall knowledge of cloud systems independent of a specific job role. The ability to program ecommerce, marketing, and sales systems to run on the cloud is the top technology skill companies are looking for, according to a worldwide survey of 7,900 IT professionals by education technology company Skillsoft. If your university wants to explore a Compass Academy partnership, please visit https://compass.uol/en/lets-talk/. About Compass UOL Compass UOL is a digital transformation services company. We design and build digital native platforms using cutting-edge technologies to help companies innovate, transform their businesses, and thrive in their industries. We cultivate the best talent, creating opportunities to improve people's lives and focusing on how disruptive technologies can positively impact society. SOURCE Compass UOL Surrogates Weigh-In On What Matters CHICAGO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This Mother's Day we honor all of the courageous, generous women in Massachusetts who answer the call to become surrogates. Through their generosity, more women can and will celebrate motherhood. The decision to become a surrogate is a life changing choice. Being a surrogate is more than a labor of love; it takes a profound commitment that requires comprehensive support. Gina-Marie Madow, Esq. earned her Juris Doctorate from the Massachusetts School of Law and has been involved in ART law for 13 years. ConceiveAbilities is not only the top paying agency in Boston; our All-In Surrogate Care and Compensation Package provides first-in-class comprehensive support for the physical, emotional, and mental health health each surrogate needs for a successful journey. 600 experienced surrogates, including women throughout New England, answered our survey about what matters most when deciding to move forward with surrogacy. Here are their top five priorities: Matching with the right intended parents The right amount of pay without any hassles or receipts Free legal support to ensure contract is fair and valid Peace-of-mind insurance coverage at no cost with no out of pocket expenses Expert guidance through the surrogate IVF process preparing for embryo transfer We listened and responded with our new upgraded All-In Surrogate Care and Compensation Package - the first and only program of its kind - featuring: Our proprietary Matching Matters process that creates the most compatible match possible and ensures a surrogate is an equal partner in the surrogacy process, sharing important decisions with the intended parent. The most comprehensive surrogacy compensation package on the market. First-time surrogates can earn up to $72,000 with our limited time bonus. with our limited time bonus. Our Life Simplicity PromiseTM which includes a dedicated match manager coordinating expert legal, insurance and IVF support throughout the entirety of her surrogacy journey. ConceiveAbilities Director of Legal Services and Bostonian, Gina-Marie Madow, Esq , says ConceiveAbilities is proud to offer the most comprehensive package for surrogates in Boston and all of Massachusetts. "Carrying a baby takes effort and necessitates vigilance, courage, and selflessness," adds Madow, "ConceiveAbilities is not only the top paying agency in Boston; our All-In Surrogate Care and Compensation Package provides first-in-class comprehensive support for the physical, emotional, and mental health each surrogate needs for a successful journey." ConceiveAbilities is grateful, on this Mother's Day and every Mother's Day, for all the amazing surrogates and other professionals who help women bring new life into the world. Learn more about why ConceiveAbilities is the best surrogacy agency for Massachusetts surrogates. SOURCE ConceiveAbilities The Russian Federation is holding 131 representatives of the National Guard captured during the occupation of the Chornobyl exclusion zone at the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, said Ruslan Strilets, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources. "Unfortunately, today a significant part of the people who were taken captive by the occupiers from the Chornobyl nuclear power plant remain there. These are 131 defenders of the station, National guardsmen. Chornobyl workers have all been returned home," he said at a briefing during a visit to the exclusion zone on the 37th anniversary of the Chornobyl accident on Wednesday. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, initially there were 169 defenders of the station in captivity. At the same time, Strilets noted that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and head of the Presidents Office Andriy Yermak are making every effort to return Ukrainians from Russian captivity. At the same time, he pointed out that it is extremely important to remember the feat of the Chornobyl workers, who were under enemy occupation for 35 days. As reported, the occupation of the Exclusion Zone lasted from February 24 to March 31, 2022. The firm recommends fostering a culture of cross-organizational continual improvement to help create a collaborative and innovative work environment that benefits both employees and the business. TORONTO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - With the ongoing shifts to the economic climate, many companies are reconsidering their priorities and staffing strategies. As a result, optimizing productivity has become an increasingly crucial exercise for businesses of every scale. To accomplish this daunting task, IT managers must make it a top priority while navigating various obstacles, including increasing stakeholder expectations. Achieving the goal of continuous improvement requires strong leadership, commitment, and robust processes to sustain improvements. Moreover, continual improvement necessitates a cultural shift within the organization, making securing stakeholder buy-in even more challenging. To help businesses overcome these challenges in 2023 and improve their various IT services, global IT research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group has released a new advisory deck titled Build a Continual Improvement Program. Info-Tech Research Group's six-step process to foster a culture of iterative improvement within an organization, from the firm's "Build a Continual Improvement Program" blueprint. (CNW Group/Info-Tech Research Group) According to the firm's latest research-backed advisory deck, several obstacles can hinder the development of a continual improvement program, including the constant effort required by IT managers to maintain and enhance service quality. Failure to overcome this significant challenge can lead to a decline in performance over time. Additionally, a backlog of improvement initiatives can further worsen the situation, making it more challenging for managers to succeed. To address these issues, managers must involve the right people in the process and establish a dedicated team responsible for monitoring, measuring, prioritizing, implementing, and testing improvements. "IT managers often learn how to standardize IT services. Where they usually fail is in keeping these improvements sustainable," says Mahmoud Ramin, senior research analyst at Info-Tech Research Group. "Without a continual improvement plan, managers may find themselves lost and unsure of next steps, leading to a misalignment between ongoing, increasingly high stakeholder expectations and ability to fulfill these requirements." Info-Tech's research emphasizes the importance of aligning ongoing product and service improvements with effective management practices. Continual improvement plays a vital role in enabling service providers to adapt to dynamic and ever-changing environments. The firm recommends that organizations adopt a proactive approach to service management and regularly evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of people, processes, and technology in order to identify areas that require improvement. To foster a culture of continual improvement within an organization, Info-Tech suggests the following six-step process. This process will enable the implementation of an iterative continual improvement model, where each subsequent step uses the output of the previous step as its input: Determine the Goals : Ensuring alignment between IT and organizational goals is essential, as IT goals are high-level objectives that the IT organization needs to achieve to reach a target state. : Ensuring alignment between IT and organizational goals is essential, as IT goals are high-level objectives that the IT organization needs to achieve to reach a target state. Define the Process Team : Confirm that ongoing improvement tasks are assigned to the existing resources, and assess whether it is necessary to bring in others to fulfill all tasks. : Confirm that ongoing improvement tasks are assigned to the existing resources, and assess whether it is necessary to bring in others to fulfill all tasks. Determine Improvement Initiatives : Instead of solely improving current procedures, concentrate on identifying gaps in practices. : Instead of solely improving current procedures, concentrate on identifying gaps in practices. Prioritize Initiatives : Prioritization should be transparent and available to stakeholders. : Prioritization should be transparent and available to stakeholders. Execute Improvement : Establish a strategy for achieving the improvement goals by outlining methods for enhancing processes. : Establish a strategy for achieving the improvement goals by outlining methods for enhancing processes. Establish and Apply a Learning Culture to Other Practices: Reflect on lessons learned to drive change forward. Info-Tech recommends that organizations adopt a cross-organizational continual improvement approach to enhance end-user satisfaction, positively impact brand reputation, and promote a culture of growth and development. This mindset enables organizations to identify improvement opportunities and implement effective strategies, ultimately strengthening their competitive edge. To learn more, download the complete Build a Continual Improvement Program blueprint. For more information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and Twitter. About Info-Tech Research Group Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading information technology research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals. The company produces unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For 25 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with IT teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations. Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and over 200 IT and industry analysts through the Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected]. SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group Partnership will support cloud and technology adoption, sharpening the competitive edge of Italian banks that cover local and global markets MILAN and LONDON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Finastra, a global provider of financial software applications and marketplaces, today announced its partnership with Corvallis, Tinexta Group, a leading IT provider in the Italian financial services sector, to support Italian banks with their digital transformation journeys. With Finastra's Essence, a SaaS solution deployed on the cloud via Microsoft Azure, Corvallis' customers can upgrade their business models, embrace new innovations and adapt quickly to their customers' demands. "Cloud adoption is becoming increasingly significant in Italy for all financial institutions," said Roberto Casalini, Digital Tech Business Line Director at Corvallis. "This is bringing greater efficiencies and flexibility to the sector, enabling banks to scale as required, optimize resources and enhance security. Deploying Essence will give them the ability to quickly transform their operations at a reduced cost, while providing their customers with the end-to-end, personalized and seamless experiences they expect. Above all, Finastra will help our customers achieve success, today, tomorrow and always." Essence is a cloud-first, next-generation digital banking solution that combines sophisticated functionality and advanced technology to increase enterprise agility, reduce costs and improve operational efficiency. Powered by open architecture and integrated with FusionFabric.cloud, Essence's rich, broad and deep retail and commercial banking functionality enables institutions to rapidly deploy market leading products and services. Banks can also tap into Finastra's Retail Analytics, a module that delivers a 360 view and turns raw data into actionable insights. Corvallis provides implementation expertise and complementary solutions, such as for anti-money laundering (AML), payment and settlement, and fraud management. "The Italian financial services marketplace is unique, so we needed a partner with strong knowledge of local banking processes and regulations alongside deep expertise in implementation and delivery," said Saraswathy Parthasarathy, COO, Universal Banking at Finastra. "Collaborating with trusted and experienced partners is integral for Finastra's growth and success. With more than 30 years of experience in supporting Italian financial institutions, we believe that Corvallis has the skillset required to deliver our solution to a wider pool of Italian banks, through a smooth and seamless customer experience." Finastra and Corvallis' first mutual customer went live in March 2023. For more information about Essence, click here. About Finastra Finastra is a global provider of financial software applications and marketplaces, and launched the leading open platform for innovation, FusionFabric.cloud, in 2017. It serves institutions of all sizes, providing award-winning software solutions and services across Lending, Payments, Treasury & Capital Markets and Universal Banking (Retail, Digital and Commercial Banking) for banks to support direct banking relationships and grow through indirect channels, such as embedded finance and Banking as a Service. Its pioneering approach and commitment to open finance and collaboration is why it is trusted by ~8,600 institutions, including 90 of the world's top 100 banks. For more information, visit finastra.com About TinextaCyber SpA TinextaCyber (Tinexta Group) is the Italian cybersecurity hub with strong vertical skills and proprietary custom solutions for digital security's risks mitigation and governance. With Italy-based services and in compliance with EU data residency, data protection and GDPR's regulations, the company assists customers with specialized assessment and advisory activities. It lays out the design, development and integration of solutions, also taking care of their monitoring and management. The company operates through its subsidiaries Corvallis, Swascan and Yoroi. In particular, Corvallis has a long experience as a provider of high value and tailored solutions for - but not limited to - financial companies' large projects. Swascan is an innovative Italian start-up, both creator and owner of the Cloud Security Testing platform and a reference point for SMEs in terms of IT security and regulatory compliance. Yoroi provides adaptive and dynamic cyber defense integrated systems to those who want to prevent risks or reduce damage from possible cyber-attacks. Through the Cyber Hub, these three companies guarantee the client's security with solutions for the mitigation and governance of the risks deriving from cyber-attacks, making companies increasingly competitive. About Corvallis Corvallis (Tinexta Group) is one of the Italian leaders in the Information Technology field, with specific solutions aimed at banking, insurance, industrial, service and public administrations sectors. Over 30 years of experience and a deep knowledge of production processes, have strengthened its business model focused on the sharing of partnership's strategies and enriched by the consolidated wealth of skills. Corvallis pays constant attention to technological evolution with the aim of bringing highly innovative solutions to the market. In supporting digitalization, it aids to increase the compliance and security with which its customers carry out their activities. Corvallis has become an essential player for Tinexta Cyber, the first Italian Cyber Security hub and part of Tinexta Group. Corvallis is expanding its competitive offer thanks to Advisory, Implementation and Managed Security Services. Visit Corvallis.it Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1916021/3985047/FINASTRA_Logo.jpg SOURCE Finastra SAN FRANCISCO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The global cryptocurrency industry size garnered USD 40.09 billion in 2021 and will depict a CAGR of 26.8% from 2022 to 2030, according to the "Cryptocurrency Industry Data Book, 2022 2030," published by Grand View Research. The growth of cryptocurrencies from digital novelties to billion-dollar business (and potentially trillion-dollar market) is mainly attributed to the penetration of distributed ledger across gaming, healthcare, trading, e-commerce, retail and government sectors. The rising prominence of digital currencies for transparency, safety and decentralization has encouraged businesses to bank on digital assets. Entrepreneurs and investors are gearing up to use cryptocurrencies and explore their upsides, including but not limited to: easy fund transfer, removal of a third party, bolstering control over the firm's capital and removing single points of failure. Soaring demand for blockchain across industry verticals for instant traceability, speed, efficiency and automation will augur growth and innovation. These trends have fueled the demand for cryptocurrency exchange platforms and crypto wallets across advanced and emerging economies. The foray of Ethereum into games and financial apps, along with the growth in the decentralized finance space, has spurred the footprint of cryptocurrency exchange platforms. Industry leaders expect the soaring footprint of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to solidify the position of key players in the market. NFTs have become sought-after in the gaming industry to represent characters, including tradeable items and consumables. The cryptocurrency exchange platform market size stood at USD 30.18 billion in 2021 and is slated to witness a 27.8% CAGR during the forecast period. The growth is mainly due to buoyant demand for cryptocurrencies across commercial spaces for better transparency vis-a-vis cash. Order your copy of the Free Sample of "Cryptocurrency Industry Data Book - Cryptocurrency Mining Hardware & Exchange Platform, Crypto Wallet, Cryptocurrency Payment Apps and Crypto ATM Market Size, Share, Trends Analysis, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030" Data Book, published by Grand View Research Stakeholders are exploring opportunities in crypto wallets for unparalleled safety and security. The expanding penetration of hardware wallets and software wallets will usher in innovation across industry platforms. Hot wallets (or software wallets) have received an impetus with heightened demand for android and iOS devices. The applications of mobile apps and online wallets have furthered the footfall of hot wallets, boding well for market growth. The crypto wallet market size was pegged at USD 6.97 billion in 2021 and will observe an impressive CAGR of 24.4% over the assessment period. The growing need to manage cryptocurrency amidst surging trading of digital asset will boost the market share. Some dynamics that are slated to encourage stakeholders to inject funds into the ecosystem are elucidated below: Cryptocurrency payment apps have amassed huge traction following the legalization of digital assets across various countries. In 2021, El Salvador became the first country to adopt bitcoin as a legal tender. payment apps have amassed huge traction following the legalization of digital assets across various countries. In 2021, became the first country to adopt as a legal tender. Crypto ATMs are slated to be the mega-trend on the back of surging installation of bitcoin ATMs and easier trading options. ATMs are slated to be the mega-trend on the back of surging installation of ATMs and easier trading options. Europe could be a happy hunting ground for cryptocurrency service providers owing to soaring popularity of the digital currency across industry vertical. Currently, it is not illegal to use Bitcoin in the EU. Go through the table of content of Cryptocurrency Industry Data Book to get a better understanding of the Coverage & Scope of the study North America is slated to witness investment abound with the legalization of cryptocurrencies and the rising purchase of digital assets in the U.S. and Canada. The White House cited data mentioning that 16% of adult Americans have purchased digital assets and exhorted that these currencies provide opportunities to underscore the U.S. leadership in the global financial system. Moreover, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is expected to join forces with the NSF to initiate research on next-gen cryptography, privacy protection, cybersecurity and measures to reduce the digital assets' environmental impact. Favorable government policies and the surging footprint of cryptocurrencies across gaming, financial, healthcare and automotive sectors could spark innovation and growth. Leading players may seek crypto to keep abreast of the trend and expand footfall in the untapped regions. The competitive landscape alludes to the growth trajectory emphasizing organic and inorganic strategies, including technological advancements, innovation, research & development activities, product offerings, collaboration and mergers & acquisitions. To illustrate, in March 2023, Bybit announced the rollout of Mastercard-powered Bitcoin card in the EU and the U.K. Meanwhile, in February, VISA reportedly contemplated launching Bitcoin and crypto cards in the U.K. and 40 Asia Pacific countries. Check out more Industry Data Books, published by Grand View Research About Grand View Research Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead. Contact: Sherry James Corporate Sales Specialist, USA Grand View Research, Inc. Phone: 1-415-349-0058 Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/sector-reports-list Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661327/Grand_View_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc. While TikTok is under fire for its ownership, Debt.com rewards its most responsible content producers. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As governments and schools ban TikTok on their WiFi networks over Chinese spying concerns, Debt.com is focusing on the social network's financial content producers and honoring the best ones. TikTok is the target of a bipartisan bill in Congress that could lead to further bans, yet the app is still extremely popular for money advice. Debt.com has chosen this moment to launch the first-ever FinTok Awards recognizing the most trustworthy financial advice on the controversial app. To celebrate Debt.com's 10th anniversary they are recognizing the best financial TikTokers amid the app's controversies. Tweet this Debt.coms staff of certified financial counselors reviewed hundreds of TikTok accounts and shortlisted the best advice. They have chosen 5 categories with 3 nominees each and they need your help picking the winners. Votes should be determined by balance: Good advice in the form of good content. Voting closes on Friday, May 26th, 2023. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 31st, 2023. "April is Financial Literacy Month, and while I trust the government to make the right decisions about the future of TikTok in this country, I also know it's being used every minute by young people seeking financial advice," Howard Dvorkin, CPA and Debt.com Chairman says. Debt.com President Don Silvestri doesn't believe TikTok's financial video content is always credible, but it's the reach of that content which intrigues him. "The users are people who may not have been otherwise interested in personal finance," Silvestri says. "For the first time, they're thinking about money and how to make it work for them. For many Gen Zers and Millennials, TikTok is their source for financial education." The Debt.com FinTok Awards are a three-step process: Debt.com's staff of certified financial counselors reviewed hundreds of TikTok accounts that offer personal finance education (excluding investment advice). They narrowed down the top three creators in five categories: Best Personal Finance, Best Financial Advice for Under 30, Best Hispanic Focused Money Advice, Best Credit Repair Advice, and the Best Bankruptcy Advice. The public will vote, and they will have the opportunity to choose their favorite creator in each category from the nomination list. "This is a hybrid of a traditional competition and a People's Choice award," explains Debt.com associate editor Joe Pye. "TikTok has been called the Wild West of social media platforms, so we needed to shortlist the nominees or madness would ensue. We're eager to highlight the best creators providing solid advice in an entertaining way." The nominees are Best Personal Finance Advice Best Financial Advice for 30 and Under Best Hispanic Focused Money Advice Best Credit Repair Advice Best Bankruptcy Advice For Dvorkin, success will look like this: "TikTok viewers will know who has their best interests at heart, the messy or even evil accounts will have to work harder to do better or be called out." Winners will receive an official Debt.com FinTok 2023 Award badge that they can share across their social platforms and integrate on their website. They will also have an in-depth profile story and video posted on Debt.com. The contest will start at the end of Financial Literacy Month and winners will be announced on May 31, 2023. About: Debt.com is the consumer website where people can find help with credit card debt, student loan debt, tax debt, credit repair, bankruptcy, and more. Debt.com works with vetted and certified providers that give the best advice and solutions for consumers 'when life happens.' SOURCE Debt.com BEIJING, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from People's Daily: Saudi Arabia and Iran recently signed a joint statement in Beijing, with which the two countries announced the resumption of diplomatic relations. Since they held talks in Beijing in March, the two sides have made new strides in improving bilateral relations in accordance with the roadmap and timetable laid out in their Beijing agreement. The improved ties between the two countries are believed to be a significant matter of the evolving international relations today, which not only opened a path for peace and stability in the Middle East and set an important example for countries to use dialogue and consultation to resolve their conflicts and differences, but also demonstrate how major countries should responsibly resolve international hotspot issues and safeguard world peace. The international community gave high recognition to the important results achieved in the Beijing agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, believing that the agreement marked an important step of turning conflicts in the Middle East into reconciliation. The major diplomatic breakthrough is constantly releasing its positive influence, creating new opportunities for the political resolution of regional hotspot issues. "Ice-breaking dialogues" have frequently made the headlines in the Middle East. This fully proves that the Middle East, a region torn by wars and turbulence, aspires to peace and security. The will and capability of countries in the region to safeguard peace and security through enhancing solidarity and coordination are on a rise. Ezzat Saad, director of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, noted that people in the Middle East have long suffered from wars and they long for peace. Seeking peace and development has become a mainstream voice of regional countries especially in the recent years, the director added. Countries in the Middle East should keep the future and destiny of the region firmly in their own hands, which is conducive to the peace and stability in the Middle East and the world at large. Military force is not a solution, and zero-sum game can never bring lasting peace. Upholding dialogues and strengthening communication holds the key to resolving differences. Only results achieved from equal consultation are the most sustainable. Following the Beijing agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a foreign media outlet pointed out that dialogues are the most powerful weapon, which helps achieve peace better than however many troops. All relevant parties have seen the new hope to resolve international hotspot issues from the Chinese philosophy and actions that prioritize dialogues, diplomacy and peace. China advocates the Global Security Initiative (GSI), calls on countries to adapt to the profoundly changing international landscape in the spirit of solidarity, and champions the win-win mindset to address the complex and intertwined security challenges, so as to eliminate the root causes of international conflicts and improve global security governance. The Beijing agreement just marked a successful practice of the GSI. Major countries shoulder special responsibility for world peace and stability. They should always use their resources and strength to promote dialogues and reconciliation, rather than the other way around. Factors of instability, uncertainty and insecurity are increasing in the international situation. The reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran told the world that constructive dialogues and peace talks are the best approach to resolving conflicts and promoting peace. No matter how complex the issues are or how thorny the challenges may be, equal-footed dialogue on the basis of mutual respect will lead to a mutually acceptable solution. To resolve differences and conflicts through dialogues and consultation and jointly safeguard peace remains the right choice of human beings. SOURCE People's Daily CHICAGO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Diesel Engines Market is projected to reach USD 78.8 billion in 2028 from USD 63.9 billion in 2023 at a CAGR of 4.3% according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The market growth has been attributed to the growing demand for commercial vessels, which will anticipate maritime tourism, and will eventually drive the demand for diesel engines used in the marine industry. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=44084125 Browse in-depth TOC on "Diesel Engines Market" 329 - Tables 50 - Figures 277 - Pages Diesel Engines Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Size USD 78.8 billion in 2028 Growth Rate 4.3% of CAGR Largest Market Asia Pacific Market Dynamics Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities & Challenges Forecast Period 2023-2028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Speed, Power Rating, End-User, and Region Geographies Covered Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, South America, Middle East & Africa Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Growth in hybrid power generation in rural and remote locations Key Market Drivers Increasing urbanization and industrialization Above 1800 rpm segment, by high-speed, is expected to be the largest segment during the forecast period The growing focus on industrial developments through improved trade integration, manufacturing growth, and regional economic integration will further bolster the demand for high-speed diesel engines during the forecast period. High-speed capacity is an essential factor for commercial cruisers. Increasing demand for tugboats would fuel the adoption of high-speed marine diesel engines during the forecast period. The above 1,800 rpm segment is mainly driven by the demand from the industrial and commercial sectors. Industrial and commercial end users prefer high-speed engines due to their quick-start capability, better fuel efficiencies, and low initial cost and maintenance costs, driving the high demand for above 1,800 rpm high-speed diesel engines. Marines segment is expected to be the second-largest segment in the market Marine engines are the main power source in ships for propulsion and auxiliary power and therefore play a vital role in the shipbuilding industry. The shipbuilding industry experiences peaks and troughs that directly affect the demand for diesel engines from the marines market. Maritime transport is the backbone of international trade. Stringent IMO sanctions and geopolitical scenarios can directly impact maritime transport, affecting the demand for diesel engines used in marine applications. Also, diesel locomotives have commonly utilized diesel engines as the main propulsion system, and diesel fuel is the common fuel for locomotives among railway end users. Asia Pacific is expected to be the largest region in the Diesel Engines Market Asia Pacific is expected to be the largest Diesel Engines Market during the forecast period. Increased construction activities are expected to create new industrial zones. Increased urbanization and government initiatives are other vital factors accelerating the Diesel Engines Market in the country. Also, the investment in fisheries and the government support pertaining to the growth of the fishing industry in Asian countries will drive the market for marine diesel engines in the forecast period. Make an Inquiry: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=44084125 Key Market Players: Some of the major players in the Diesel Engines Market are Caterpillar (US), Cummins Inc. (US), Volvo Penta (Sweden), Hyundai Heavy Industries (South Korea), and MAN Energy Solutions (Germany) to boost their position in the Diesel Engines Market. Companies operating in this market also focus on product launches, agreements, and contracts to increase their market shares and expand their geographic presence. Recent Developments In March 2023 , Caterpillar announced the development of the CAT C13D, a new 13-liter diesel engine platform designed to achieve best-in-class power density, torque, and fuel efficiency for optimizing the performance of heavy-duty off-highway applications. The C13D would meet the emissions standards of higher regulated markets, such as EU stage v, US EPA tier 4 final, China non-road IV, Korea stage V, and Japan 2014, with models available for lesser regulated markets. , Caterpillar announced the development of the CAT C13D, a new 13-liter diesel engine platform designed to achieve best-in-class power density, torque, and fuel efficiency for optimizing the performance of heavy-duty off-highway applications. The C13D would meet the emissions standards of higher regulated markets, such as EU stage v, US EPA tier 4 final, non-road IV, Korea stage V, and 2014, with models available for lesser regulated markets. In June 2022 , WinGD and Hyundai Heavy Industries' Engine Machinery Division (EMD) collaborated on delivering the first WinGD engine capable of running on ammonia, providing a vital step in shipping's progress toward decarbonization. , WinGD and Hyundai Heavy Industries' Engine Machinery Division (EMD) collaborated on delivering the first WinGD engine capable of running on ammonia, providing a vital step in shipping's progress toward decarbonization. In February 2021 , Cummins provided Isuzu with midrange B6.7 diesel platforms for medium-size trucks to meet global customer needs. Cummins and Isuzu would closely work together to integrate the engine with Isuzu's chassis and to meet Japan's emission regulations. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=44084125 Browse Adjacent Markets: Energy and Power Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: High-Speed Engine Market - Global Forecast to 2028 Gas Engines Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Diesel Power Engine Market - Global Forecast to 2025 About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/diesel-engines-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/diesel-engines.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets California Law Unlawful and Unconstitutional LOS ANGELES, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the United Spinal Association ("United Spinal"), Not Dead Yet ("NDY"), Institute for Patients' Rights ("IPR"), Communities Actively Living Independent & Free ("CALIF"), and individual plaintiffs, Lonnie VanHook and Ingrid Tischer, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, asking that California's End of Life Option Act (EOLOA) be declared unlawful and unconstitutional. The current state law, passed in 2021, permits a physician to prescribe lethal drugs to suicidal patients and removed or weakened many of the supposed "safeguards" in the original law. Death by suicide can now be fast-tracked in 48 hours and doctors who have professional, moral, or ethical objections to writing a lethal prescription for a patient now must participate in the EOLOA process. EOLOA, by design, is unregulated by any California public entity, leaving patients and their loved ones at grave risk of harm and without recourse. "The State of California needs to be stopped from running a deadly and discriminatory system that steers people with disabilities towards death by suicide under the guise of mercy and dignity in dying and away from the necessary mental health care and disability accommodations they deserve and are entitled to under the law," said Michael Bien co-founding partner of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP. Van Swearingen, Kara Janssen, and Michael Nunez from the firm join Mr. Bien in representing the plaintiffs as well as co-counsel Haben Girma. "The laws violate federal anti-discrimination laws and the Constitution. A public health system that fails to provide equal access to minimally adequate mental health care, hospice, palliative care, and independent living should not be empowered with a license to kill as a cheap alternative." The lawsuit states that the defendants, including the Governor of California and other state officials, and agencies, operate systems that, under the current law, treat people with life-threatening disabilities differently than less and non-disabled people when it comes to expressions of suicidality and supplying appropriate mental health and medical care. Information in the filed lawsuit includes: Publicly reported data from over 2,000 patients in the U.S. who used Physician-Assisted Suicide show that they sought help in killing themselves from their doctors primarily out of disability-related fears of losing their autonomy, dignity, abilities to engage in activities they used to enjoy, control of bodily functions, and becoming a burden on caregivers. Every person who qualifies for lethal drugs under EOLOA is a person with disabilities under federal law. Physician-Assisted Suicide makes it easier for heirs, family members, and untrustworthy caregivers to pressure a person with life-threatening disability to end their life, with no questions asked and without consequence. Assisted suicide has been used to cut costs everywhere it is legalized. In states where the practice has become legal, there have been several documented instances when financially motivated insurers denied people access to life saving or life extending treatment, such as chemotherapy, while offering to provide a lethal prescription instead. People of color, especially those who are economically marginalized, are more likely to be steered towards suicide by their providers, who may view their lives as less worthy of preservation due to the combined forces of racism and ableism. Research has documented Black, Asian, and Hispanic persons regularly experience "barriers to palliative/hospice care utilization." A 2016 JAMA Internal Medicine study found that hospice patients were less likely to be visited by staff in their last two days of life if they were Black. Even more alarming, California nursing facilities with higher numbers of Black and Latino residents have "had higher rates of death." Stopping California's assisted suicide law is both a disability rights and health equity issue. Plaintiff Ingrid Tischer of Berkeley, California is disabled, having muscular dystrophy, a degenerative neuromuscular condition, that's led to quadriplegia. She uses a wheelchair and BiPap machine, and says, "Biased attitudes and disability discrimination are not new to me but assisted suicide policies undermine my trust in the system when I'm at my most fragile. My own doctor recently challenged my quality of life while I was hospitalized with pneumonia and newly diagnosed with depression and denied me some rehab services based on a faulty diagnosis. For a brief time, I bought into the idea assisted suicide was my best option. Fortunately, my spouse steered me away from assisted suicide toward mental health care and physical recovery. But I'm scared now in a way I never have been because legalized assisted suicide is destroying my already-shaky faith in healthcare systems." "Due to the many barriers to access I face as a black quad, I have been in some dark places so dark that I had planned to die by assisted suicide," says plaintiff Lonnie VanHook, U.S. Navy veteran from Oakland, California, who suffered a spinal cord injury and is paralyzed from the neck down. "Thankfully, my personal relationship with a physician saved my life, but this law makes me feel like my life, as a disabled person, is seen as not worth living by so many in society, even though I have lived independently for decades. And that is a pressure for sure." Vincenzo Piscopo, President and CEO of the United Spinal Association, says, "Many of our members are vulnerable to suicide and victimized by Physician-Assisted Suicide statutes, especially while they are adjusting to living with paralysis. They need long-term services and support to live a meaningful life and assistance in mourning the loss of their former abilities. Instead, they may be provided with lethal medications. With the proper peer support and mental health care, most of us come to see that there is life after our injury. Assisted suicide laws make it far too easy for a system stacked against us to provide a cheap, easy way out." Currently, California is one of nine states and the District of Columbia that have legalized Physician-Assisted Suicide where a patient's perceived physical health, i.e., disability status, is the sole legal determinant of whether their doctor must help them live or may help them die. The lawsuit asks the Court to declare that the California law violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and is unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses. The lawsuit asks that the Defendants be preliminarily and permanently enjoined from enforcing the California law. For more information, please find filing here: https://endassistedsuicide.org/complaint About United Spinal Association Formed in 1946 by paralyzed veterans, United Spinal is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization dedicated to empowering people with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), including veterans, to live successful and fulfilling lives. Membership is free and open to all individuals with SCI/D, with over 60,000 members across 49 chapters, close to 200 support groups and more than 100 rehabilitation facilities and hospital partners nationwide. Known for its revolutionary advocacy efforts, United Spinal played a significant role in writing the Americans with Disabilities Act, provided important contributions to the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act, and was instrumental in attaining sidewalk curb ramps and accessible public transportation in New York City, which created the standard accessibility model used in many United States cities. For more information visit: https://unitedspinal.org/ About Communities Actively Living Independent & Free Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF) is an independent living center, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides advocacy programs and services for people with disabilities primarily residing within the 50 zip codes of Los Angeles County covering south and central Los Angeles and neighboring communities. For more information visit: https://calif-ilc.org/ About Not Dead Yet Not Dead Yet is a national, grassroots disability rights group that opposes legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia as deadly forms of discrimination against old, ill, and disabled people. Not Dead Yet helps organize and articulate opposition to these practices based on secular social justice arguments. Not Dead Yet demands the equal protection of the law for the targets of so called "mercy killing" whose lives are seen as worth-less. For more information visit: https://notdeadyet.org/ About Institute for Patients' Rights The Institute for Patients' Rights, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) that conducts research, educates the public, and works to expand and implement tools of empowerment for older adults, people with disabilities, marginalized persons, and their families to combat policies and medical practices that devalue some people's lives, putting them at greater risk of deadly harm . For more information visit: https://instituteforpatientsrights.org Suicidal thoughts or actions (even in very young children, older adults, and people with life-threatening illness/disability) are a sign of extreme distress and should not be ignored. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call or text the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Learn more about ways you can help someone who might be at risk for self-harm. SOURCE RBGG On 04/26, the Dodge brand launches a 22-minute video, "Dodge Demon 170: Devil in the Details," taking viewers behind the scenes of the spectacular helicopter-drop of the 1,025-horsepower Demon SRT 170 in Las Vegas Enthusiasts can watch the entire video at Dodge Garage (www.dodgegarage.com), the Dodge brand's digital content hub for muscle car and race enthusiasts Interviews include Tim Kuniskis, Dodge brand chief executive officer; Jay Leno; Jim Wilder, vehicle development manager, Challenger SRT Program; and Neal Jenson , pilot, Mountain West Helicopters , pilot, Mountain West Helicopters Video content from the Dodge Last Call Powered by Roadkill Nights Vegas event will also run across the Dodge brand's social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok 04/26 is the date celebrated by Dodge and Mopar enthusiasts as HEMI Day AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate HEMI Day on April 26, the Dodge brand is launching a 22-minute video, "Dodge Demon 170: Devil in the Details," capturing the stunning reveal of the 1,025-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 in Las Vegas last month. Dodge owners, fans and enthusiasts will learn how the epic stunt came to life at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 20, 2023, and hear from Dodge executives, including Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis, the manager of the Challenger SRT program, the helicopter pilot who safely delivered the Demon 170 onto the track, and insiders. including Jay Leno, who describe their inspiration behind the reveal and passion for the Dodge brand. "Dodge Demon 170: Devil in the Details" can be viewed on DodgeGarage.com. To celebrate HEMI Day on April 26, the Dodge brand launched the Dodge Demon 170: Devil in the Details video at DodgeGarage.com Tim Kuniskis, Dodge brand CEO, said at the event, "There was no way we were going to let this era end quietly. We wanted to go out with a bang, and our goal with the reveal of the Demon 170 was ultimately about celebrating our 13 million-plus fans and giving them pride in ownership." Added Kuniskis about the helicopter reveal with the Demon 170 hovering high above, "I'm not going to lie, I was a little nervous when the car was rotating but you can't practice something like that, you gotta go 'no net.' So, it kind of fits with the car, right?" Some facts and details of the event include: The Demon 170 at event was elevated at the rear end prior to its reveal on the track and run for three to four miles to get the transmission, the driveline, the differential, all the grease, all the metal pieces that are spinning, warmed up to temperature, so that when it was on the track hot, the Demon 170 was ready to go The milestone completed for testing the Demon 170 on the dragstrip was 100 passes Helicopter pilot Neal Jenson needed to be in constant contact with Nellis Air Force Base, as he says, "Their runway is right over there. The problem that (Nellis Air Force Base has) is their planes are taking off or landing, I'm right in their path" needed to be in constant contact with Nellis Air Force Base, as he says, "Their runway is right over there. The problem that (Nellis Air Force Base has) is their planes are taking off or landing, I'm right in their path" The K-MAX helicopter was originally designed and produced by Kaman in the early 90s and began production in 1995 in Bloomfield, Connecticut . It was bult to lift external loads. Sixty K -MAX helicopters were produced over 30 years . It was bult to lift external loads. -MAX helicopters were produced over 30 years K-MAX helicopter blades are unique. The rotor blades are made out of wood. They absorb the twist. Wood is the only material that can absorb that twist and maintain its strength The generator used for the daylong event could power a town of 50,000 people The production truck, built specifically for live television, could handle up to 22 cameras The event took place at the Las Vegas Speedway, which is near the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada , and home of the Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron assigned to the 57th Wing "Drag testing is difficult because every pass on the dragstrip is a different surface. The temperature may change. The rubber and the glue on the surface may change. Did you warm the tire up to exactly or very close to the very same temperature during your burnout? Did you line up cross track, left, right, in the same spot? And then on top of that as the driver, am I applying the throttle at the exact same rate to get consistency?," said Jim Wilder, vehicle development manager, Challenger SRT program. "Being consistent is super, super important. Putting performance out there in a product is one thing, but putting the performance out there in a car that lives is an absolute must. If you can run down the track 10 times and set crazy track times and performance ... if that car dies, that's not a production car. This is a VIN car that's going to drive to the grocery store." Conrad Piccirillo, director of Dodge Last Call Powered by Roadkill Nights Vegas: "First of all, nothing can go wrong. We have a helicopter carrying a 1,000-horsepower car near an air force base over a track. So, what we want to have happen is simple. Things that fly, we need them to fly. Things that drive, we need the rubber side down. That's it." "You break a lot of eggs making an omelet, right?," added Wilder. "It's the old saying, and we have. We've broken a lot of engines, we've broken transmissions, we've broken prop shafts, we've broken differentials. At the end of the day, we come together, we put all the pieces together, and we end up with the fastest, quickest, most powerful Challenger muscle car in the world, mass-produced car." Car aficionado Jay Leno: "They always talk about the 60s as the Golden Age of the muscle car. This is the Golden Age of the muscle car." The Dodge brand unveiled its seventh and final "Last Call" special-edition model in a dramatic helicopter-drop debut during the Dodge Last Call Powered by Roadkill Nights Vegas performance festival at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 20, 2023. The 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 pulls the highest G-force acceleration of any production car at 2.004 gs, hits the 60-ft. mark in 1.24 seconds, and reaches 60 mph in 1.66 seconds on its way to a quarter-mile elapsed time (ET) of 8.91 seconds at 151.17 mph. A replay of the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 entire reveal, as well as event highlights from Dodge Last Call Powered by Roadkill Nights Vegas event, is available for viewing at DodgeGarage.com. Production of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 will begin this summer and total series production volume will be limited to not more than 3,300 units, with 3,000 for the U.S. and 300 for Canada. Actual production volume could be less depending on production capacity and component availability. HEMI Day is a reference to the numerical version of the date, 4/26, which corresponds with the displacement of the 426 cubic-inch HEMI V-8 of 1964-1971 known as "The Elephant." Dodge//SRT For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into high gear with a lineup that delivers unrivaled performance in each of the segments where they compete. Dodge drives forward as a pure performance brand, offering SRT Hellcat versions of the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger and Dodge Durango, as well as an R/T performance hybrid version of the all-new Dodge Hornet, representing the brand's first-ever electrified performance vehicle. Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock; the 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world; and the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, the most powerful SUV ever; and best-in-class standard performance in the compact utility vehicle segment with the Dodge Hornet. Combined, these four muscle vehicles make Dodge the industry's most powerful brand, offering more horsepower than any other American brand across its entire lineup. In 2022, the Dodge brand ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market), making it the only domestic brand ever to do so three years in a row. In 2020, Dodge was named the "#1 Brand in Initial Quality," making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS). Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com. Follow Dodge and company news and video on: Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com Dodge brand: www.dodge.com Direct Connection: www.DCPerformance.com DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge Instagram: www.instagram.com/dodgeofficial Twitter: www.twitter.com/dodge and @StellantisNA YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge, https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA SOURCE Stellantis HMI-IIoT solutions provider to the world's market leaders to fuel international growth and productization of its Smart Structural Surface IP portfolio MONTREAL, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- e 2 ip technologies, a global printed electronics and embedded system technologies innovation leader of the Human Machine Interface (HMI) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) sectors, announced today the completion of its oversubscribed global growth funding round. The Series B financing is co-led by Export Development Canada (EDC) and McRock Capital with existing investor Investissement Quebec, who more than doubles its position, and new investor DNA Fund. The round is also supported by National Bank of Canada (BNC). Founding investors W and Namakor remain. The investment provides e 2 ip technologies with growth capital to productize decades of HMI and IIoT technology leadership from its high-performance engineered solutions business and to grow global revenue through the digital deployment of its productized and ready-to-use printed electronics, embedded systems, touchscreen and In-Mold-Electronics (IME) platforms. "e 2 ip's technology is revolutionizing the HMI and IIoT industry. Backed by world-class proprietary and patented technology, they are supporting their customers from ideation to fabrication," said Guillermo Freire, Senior Vice-President, Mid-Market Group at EDC. "Working with like-minded investors, EDC is thrilled to have played a meaningful role in this round of funding. As a strategic investor, EDC can support e 2 ip by leveraging our financial solutions, trade knowledge and international networks, providing the company with even more momentum to expand into new markets and become a more dominant international market leader." The round will enable e 2 ip to immediately expand its embedded systems capabilities in its existing high-volume facility in Casablanca, Morocco. Canadian facilities will additionally be consolidated into a new integrated Manufacturing-R&D facility in Montreal by the end of 2024, which will house e 2 ip's new head office. The company will also immediately begin the deployment of the new production lines in its Canadian facilities to provide global market leaders with a high volume, fully scalable In-Mold-Electronics Manufacturing Service (IM-EMS). Leveraging e 2 ip's global portfolio of patents, these facilities will be the first fully integrated center of excellence, from material and process innovation to product ideation, industrial design, engineering and through to high-volume fabrication. "e 2 ip's Smart Structural Surface technologies enable functions such as touch controls, lighting, telecommunication and energy harvesting to be printed using additive manufacturing processes, and then directly integrated within the structural surface material of the objects, machines, appliances, and systems we all interact with in our everyday lives," said Eric Saint-Jacques, CEO of e 2 ip technologies. "This significantly reduces the eco-footprint and cost of our customers' products as the structural material is reused to integrate functions within the material, during the automated surface manufacturing process, versus adding components, labour and cost to the exterior of the structure during the final assembly. Overall weight and space are further reduced, and the overall design is made more appealing, usable and durable, creating greater differentiation for our market leading customers." e 2 ip is part of the advanced materials research and innovation center PRIMA Quebec and the National Research Council of Canada, where, in partnership with different universities, it invests in fundamental research and applied science. The company's R&D teams have developed market disruptive innovations through these collaborations, which have added further depth to the company's broad patent portfolio of Smart Structural Surface technologies. "Technology is a flagship sector for our economy, and Investissement Quebec is strongly committed to supporting companies such as e 2 ip, proven leaders who put innovation at the forefront of their business strategy. We are proud to renew our partnership with e 2 ip and to help them grow and develop new international markets" said Guy LeBlanc, President and CEO of Investissement Quebec. DNA Fund, a Quebec-based private Equity fund, joins the e 2 ip investor eco-system with this round. "We are proud to support a great Quebec-based company that has a long history of operational excellence in its transition towards a product-based business model and a global technology leadership," said Stephane Leveille, CEO and co-Founder of DNA Fund. About e 2 ip technologies e 2 ip develops new technologies and products that transform how people interact with the physical world through innovations in printed electronics, material science, advanced manufacturing processes and embedded system-touchscreen development. From ideation to fabrication, we rethink the boundaries between technology and design to deliver innovative Human Machine Interface (HMI), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Smart Structural Surface technologies, products and solutions to global market leaders in the aerospace, medical, industrial, transportation and appliance sectors. Annie Couture, e2ip technologies, Director, Strategy Execution, [email protected], 514-575-7426; For interview requests: Mylene Demers, [email protected], 514-261-5840 SOURCE e2ip technologies Leading Disability Advocates, Academic and Corporate Changemakers Gather on Capitol Hill to Address Findings which Impact 1 in 4 Americans with Disabilities Today WASHINGTON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Easterseals today released findings of a new report, State of Disability Equity and Access, that examines current research on equity, inclusion, and access for the 61+ million individuals in the United States with disabilities in key social determinants of health including employment, transportation, healthcare, and education. Kendra E. Davenport, president and CEO, Easterseals, said, "This report serves as a benchmark to measure future progress in achieving civil rights for the disability community. As one of the nation's leading services providers and advocates for 61 million Americans with disabilities, we intend for the report to inform policies and programs which ensure that people with disabilities can fully participate in society." Leading disability advocates, corporate and academic changemakers, and members of the Bipartisan Disability Caucus joined Easterseals at the U.S. Capitol to discuss the report, authored by the Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy & Innovation at Loyola Marymount University Law School with support from Voya Financial. "Corporations like Voya can and do make a big impact in advancing disability inclusion, as well, and are making it easier for people with disabilities to gain competitive integrated employment with hybrid and virtual workplaces and eliminate transportation barriers," said Jessica Tuman, vice president, Voya Cares and ESG Practice Center of Excellence. "For corporate America, the benefits of competitive, integrated employment must be viewed as a differentiator. We are proud to support this report and encourage other leaders to include disability in their DEIA practices." The Easterseals report highlights the most pressing issues and solutions to ensure disability equity across the United States: Education: Respond to systemic disparities, especially among Black, Indigenous, and students of color with disabilities who have been most impacted; continue focus on early identification and intervention services; and remedy ongoing impacts of the COVID pandemic on disabled students. Respond to systemic disparities, especially among Black, Indigenous, and students of color with disabilities who have been most impacted; continue focus on early identification and intervention services; and remedy ongoing impacts of the COVID pandemic on disabled students. Employment: Bolster public and private sector commitments to provide disability employment opportunities and to fully embrace Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access initiatives. Bolster public and private sector commitments to provide disability employment opportunities and to fully embrace Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access initiatives. Health: Increase access to home- and community-based services and Medicaid funding necessary to support millions in critical need of these services. Increase access to home- and community-based services and Medicaid funding necessary to support millions in critical need of these services. Transportation: Advance accessible air travel and continue to increase mobility and access in other community transportation modes. "Long-held, outdated stereotypes about disability remain across every aspect of American life, regardless of legislative success or improved outcomes for people with disabilities," says author and disability activist, Emily Ladau. "No conversation about disability equity and access is complete without addressing stigma." Easterseals Affiliates and disability advocates from across the country are in Washington, D.C., to meet with legislators to advocate for programs and policies that address disparities cited in the report. On Thursday, they will convene at the National Press Club for Easterseals' inaugural Policy and Partnership Forum, featuring representatives from the Department of Labor and the Department of Transportation and moderated by MSNBC's Symone Sanders. "We are honored to collaborate with Easterseals and the disability community on this comprehensive report to advance innovative approaches and achieve disability equity in education, employment, healthcare, transportation and more," said Katherine Perez, executive director, The Coehlo Center for Disability Law, Policy and Innovation. About Easterseals Easterseals is leading the way to full equity, inclusion, and access through life-changing disability and community services. For more than 100 years, we have worked tirelessly with our partners to enhance quality of life and expand local access to mobility and transportation, healthcare, education, and employment opportunities. And we won't rest until every one of us is valued, respected, and accepted. Through our national network of Affiliates, Easterseals provides essential services and on-the-ground supports to millions of people each year from early childhood programs for the critical first five years, to autism services, medical rehabilitation and employment programs, veterans' services, and more. Our public education, policy, and advocacy initiatives positively shape perceptions and address the urgent and evolving needs of the one in four Americans living with disabilities today. Together, we're empowering people with disabilities, families, and communities to be full and equal participants in society. Learn more at www.easterseals.com . The Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy and Innovation The Honorable Anthony "Tony" Coelho has spent his entire adult life helping advance the lives of people with disabilities. He calls this his "ministry". Diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 22 years old, Tony's ministry is marked by significant milestones: primary author and sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) the most important piece of civil rights legislation in the last 30 years; advocating for the ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and persuading President Bill Clinton to establish the Office of Disability Employment Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor. Tony continues to advocate for civil rights for individuals with disabilities. He persuaded President Barack Obama to issue an executive order enforcing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requiring federal contractors and subcontractors to hire people with disabilities -- something they have been doing since 1973 for women and minorities. In 2018, Tony founded The Coelho Center at Loyola Law School to continue his legacy. The mission of The Coelho Center is to collaborate with the disability community to cultivate leadership and advocate innovative approaches to advance the lives of people with disabilities. About Voya Financial Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), is a leading health, wealth and investment company with 7,200 employees who are focused on achieving Voya's aspirational vision: Clearing your path to financial confidence and a more fulfilling life. Through products, solutions and technologies, Voya helps its 38 million individual, workplace and institutional clients become well planned, well invested and well protected. Benefitfocus, a newly joined Voya company, extends the reach of Voya's workplace benefits and savings offerings by providing benefits administration capabilities to 16.5 million individual subscription employees across employer and health plan clients. Certified as a "Great Place to Work" by the Great Place to Work Institute, Voya is purpose-driven and equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible. Voya has earned recognition as: one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute; a member of the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index; and a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion" on the Disability Equality Index. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @Voya. SOURCE Easterseals China will send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to visit Ukraine, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday. "China will send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to visit Ukraine and other countries to conduct in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis," it said with a reference to phone talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ELEVAI LABS, INC. , a medical aesthetic biotechnology company specializing in physician-dispensed skincare, is pleased to report a stem cell exosome research partnership with Dr. Stanislav Sokolenko's Lab at Dalhousie University and a non-repayable Grant from the Mitacs Accelerate Grants Program ("Mitacs"). Mitacs is an organization that funds projects intended to grow research and development initiatives between industry and institutions. ELEVAI Founder, Jordan R. Plews, Ph.D. states, "We are excited to be working with Dr. Sokolenko to further understand the protein dynamics of our stem cell exosomes." He notes, "This partnership will continue to accelerate and expand ELEVAI's innovation capabilities, and with the help of our other research partners, enable ELEVAI to continue to rapidly improve proprietary manufacturing processes and innovative products to better serve the medical aesthetics community and beyond." About the project: ELV3000 ELV3000 is a two-year research collaboration between Dr. Sokolenko's Lab and ELEVAI LABS. The primary aim of this research project is to establish novel techniques for characterizing the bioactive 'payload' of ELEVAI LABS' exosomes and provide ELEVAI with a greater understanding of how specific exosome contents may be attributable to positive skincare outcomes. The secondary goal of the project is to further optimize the ELEVAI Exosome production process which may improve product efficacy through the ability to exert greater control over exosome payloads. The ELEVAI E-Series is currently the first-to-market topical exosome product series intentionally developed to support skin before and after energy-based procedures to optimize aesthetic outcomes and elevate the patient experience. The resulting process improvements are expected to result in new and improved products designed to markedly improve the appearance of the skin, scalp, and hair. Dr. Stanislav Sokolenko shares, "My team and I are very excited to work with ELEVAI. Exosome production is a rapidly growing field and developing robust characterization strategies will be essential moving forward. My lab has first-hand experience in the development and characterization of new analytical methods/software that we are eager to apply as part of ELV3000. The underlying challenge in this type of work always remains the same: to separate signal from noise and generate conclusions that are both biologically and statistically sound." Dr. Stanislav Sokolenko earned his PhD from the University of Waterloo in 2016, where he received the UW Outstanding Achievement Award for PhD Research. After a brief postdoctoral at the University of Nantes, he joined the Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science at Dalhousie University in 2017. ABOUT DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY Dalhousie University was established in 1818 as a public research university in Nova Scotia, Canada, with over 21,000 students from 115 countries. Dalhousie offers more than 4,000 courses and 180-degree programs in 13 undergraduate, graduate, and professional faculties. Dalhousie's Faculty of Health is a leader and innovator within the health landscape regionally, nationally, and internationally. With over 3,000 students, 200 faculty members and 80 staff, the faculty is a health research and teaching powerhouse with wide-reaching impact. The university is a member of the U15, a group of research-intensive universities in Canada. ABOUT DR. SOKOLENKO'S LAB Dr. Sokolenko's lab focuses on large-volume biological data gathering and analysis using high-precision analytical techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS), among others. Regardless of the instrument, the fundamental goal behind all of the lab's research is to translate the wealth of data generated by modern analytical instruments into relevant and actionable information. Some past projects that the lab has worked on with industry and academic partners have included translating genomic and proteomic data into metabolic models to predict carbohydrate utilization in microorganism-derived biofuel production; identifying metabolic biomarkers that can predict relapse in childhood cancer patients; and using lipidomics to develop a better understanding of muscular dystrophy. ABOUT ELEVAI LABS, INC. ELEVAI LABS, INC. is a medical aesthetic biotechnology company developing cutting-edge physician-dispensed skincare applications. The company solves the unmet needs in the aesthetic skincare space through a combination of cutting-edge science and next-generation consumer applications. ELEVAI Labs develops state-of-the-art topical aesthetic skincare, with a focus on leveraging a proprietary stem cell exosome technology. Learn more about ELEVAI Skincare at www.elevaiskincare.com . SOURCE Elevai Labs Inc. DALLAS, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kindly Human, a leading mental well-being technology platform providing 24/7 preclinical peer support, has welcomed Joshua Ellison as its new Chief Growth Officer. In this role, Ellison will lead Kindly Human's revenue-generating initiatives, including business development and go-to-market strategies designed to bring peer support to workplaces and other partners. "I'm thrilled to add Josh to the Kindly Human leadership team; his background and deep knowledge of the employee benefits space are a great fit to help lead our ambitious growth plans," said Cole Egger, co-founder and CEO of Kindly Human. "Adding this C-suite role is part of our ongoing strategic hiring, which also includes recent additions to our product development and service delivery departments." Ellison brings over 20 years of consulting, benefits, and health care expertise to Kindly Human, including more than a decade at Willis Towers Watson (WTW). He served in multiple roles at WTW, most recently as West Region Growth Leader and Senior Consultant for the company's health and benefits business. Ellison also brings a relevant employer perspective, with six years as Director of Global Health and Wellbeing Strategy at Fluor Corporation, a leading engineering and construction company. He holds master's degrees in both business administration and health services administration from Arizona State University. "What I love about Kindly Human is that it sits at the center of helping employers with something fundamental to their entire employee population: the human condition," said Ellison. "There isn't a single individual that hasn't experienced stress, loneliness, career decisions, relationship challenges, grief, or something similar at some point in their life. With Kindly Human, employers can offer hope to all employees and their families with the right, personalized support at the right time." About Kindly Human Kindly Human is the leading provider of peer-based mental well-being solutions for employers. Through authentic, human conversations and on-demand technology, our platform connects individuals dealing with everyday life struggles to empathetic, professionally trained peers who share the same experiences and cultural characteristics. Our members have access to 24/7 preclinical support, helping humans in the moment of need without waiting or navigating a complicated system of scarce mental health resources. For more information, visit kindlyhuman.com and follow us on LinkedIn. MEDIA CONTACTS: Paul Maccabee 612-366-5287 Lauren Peck 612-294-3129 SOURCE Kindly Human Crave-Worthy Ice Cream Sandwiches Are Available Just in Time for Summer ISLANDIA, N.Y., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ice cream lovers rejoice! For the first time ever, the iconic taste of Entenmann's baked goods can now be enjoyed in its newest form delicious ice cream novelty treats. The crave-worthy lineup of ice cream sandwiches is inspired by all-time favorite Entenmann's products such as Original Recipe Chocolate Chip Cookies and Rich Frosted Donuts. Perfect for summer snacking, these new frozen varieties are available now in the freezer aisle at Walmart stores across the US! Entenmann's Ice Cream Sandwiches "Entenmann's is thrilled to expand its portfolio into the freezer aisle and offer consumers a new lineup of ice cream sandwiches inspired by the iconic flavors our fans know and love," said Alicia Rosas, VP of Innovation at Bimbo Bakeries USA. "We are looking forward to seeing how our fans enjoy these special treats, perfect for any occasion!" Bimbo Bakeries USA tapped Sorrisa Group Inc. to help develop these never-seen-before frozen treats, which feature six ice cream sandwich flavors inspired by fan-favorite Entenmann's baked goods! The assortment includes: Brownie Cookie Salted Caramel Ice Cream Sandwiches Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches Chocolate Chip & Brownie Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches Chocolatey Glazed Cookie Donut Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches Chocolatey Glazed Cookie Donut Salted Caramel Ice Cream Sandwiches Glazed Cookie Donut Ice Cream Sandwiches For more information on Entenmann's brand and its delicious lineup of products, visit www.entenmanns.com. To purchase this product, visit a Walmart store near you. About Bimbo Bakeries USA Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU) is a leader in the baking industry, known for its category leading brands, innovative products, freshness and quality. Our team of 20,000+ U.S. associates operates more than 50 manufacturing locations in the United States. Over 11,000 distribution routes deliver our leading brands such as Arnold, Artesano, Ball Park, Bimbo, Boboli, Brownberry, Entenmann's, Little Bites, Marinela, Mrs Baird's, Oroweat, Sara Lee, Stroehmann and Thomas'. BBU is owned by Mexico's Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B de C.V., the world's largest baking company with operations in 33 countries. About Sorrisa Group Inc. Sorrisa Group Inc., incorporated in 2017, is a food development and marketing company dedicated to introducing innovative, fun food solutions for retailers across North America. The company focusses on private label innovation and has successfully launched the Heavenful brand of ice cream novelties in Canada and the USA. Visit www.sorrisagroup.com. SOURCE Entenmanns DUBLIN, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Europe Frontotemporal Dementia Market By Drug Class Type (Cognitive Enhancers, Antipsychotics, Antidepressants, CNS Stimulants, Others), By Disease Type, By End User, By Country, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Europe frontotemporal dementia market is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period 2024-2028 The growing prevalence of dementia, along with the growing aging population in the region, is anticipated to facilitate the growth of the market. The gradual increase in the number of new cases of dementia registered directly every year is strengthening the growth of the frontotemporal dementia market. Moreover, the rising funding provided by the government as well as by several non-profit organizations for the target disease care, support, and R&D activities to develop new drugs are the major factor propelling the growth of the market. Furthermore, the advent of novel Frontotemporal dementia therapies as well as new diagnosing biomarkers, are projected to augment the growth of the market. The rising number of clinical trials in the region is propelling the growth of the market. Frontotemporal dementia refers to a group of uncommon brain disorders that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. These areas of the brain are generally associated with personality, behavior, and language. It often begins between the age of 40 and 65. Growing Prevalence of Dementia The growing incidence of dementia among European people is likely to impel the growth of the market. In 2019, the occurrence of dementia in Europe was roughly 188 per 100,000 population. The growing geriatric population is more susceptible to dementia than the younger generation due to their rising age, which, in turn, is projected to propel the growth of the market. In 2019, about 45 percent of women and 30 percent of men aged 90 years and above were living with dementia in Europe. Generally, the share of women living with dementia in Europe was much higher when compared to men. Increasing Number of Clinical Trials There is a large number of clinical studies which are going on for frontotemporal dementia in the region, which is projected to bolster the growth of the market. There is a total of 25 clinical studies which are completed in Europe. Recent Developments In 2022, AviadoBio, a pioneering, pre-clinical stage gene therapy company that emphasized developing and delivering transformative medicines for patients with neurodegenerative disorders, announced that both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Commission (EC) had granted orphan designation to AVB-101, a one-time gene therapy for the treatment of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). In 2021, Centogene N.V., a commercial-stage company that emphasized producing data-driven insights to diagnose, understand, and treat rare diseases, announced that they had enrolled the first patient in the international EFRONT Study, an observational study to know the prevalence of genetic mutations in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Competitive Landscape Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in Europe frontotemporal dementia market. GlaxoSmithKline PLC Eli Lilly Italia - S.P.A. Pfizer Deutschland GmbH. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Novartis AG AstraZeneca GmbH Sanofi S.A Allergen plc Johnson & Johnson Viatris Inc. Report Scope: Europe Frontotemporal Dementia Market, By Drug Class Type: Cognitive Enhancers Antipsychotics Antidepressants CNS Stimulants Others Europe Frontotemporal Dementia Market, By Disease Type: Frontotemporal Dementia Primary Progressive Aphasia Others Europe Frontotemporal Dementia Market, By End User: Hospitals & Clinics Ambulatory Surgery Centers Others Europe Frontotemporal Dementia Market, By Country: France Germany United Kingdom Italy Spain Belgium Netherlands Switzerland Poland Sweden For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nhcbf8 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets BEIJING, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China Daily: The 2nd China (Wuhan) Culture and Tourism Expo, held during April 21 to 23 in the capital of Hubei province, showcases the integrated development of China's culture and tourism industry, injecting strong confidence and vitality into the sector as the market is experiencing a strong recovery. The 2nd China (Wuhan) Culture and Tourism Expo held during April 21 to 23 in Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province. Chen Weilin / For China Daily Themed as "Beautiful China, Better Life", the expo, with an exhibition area of 80,000 square meters, attracted 179,000 visitors, resulting in a total on-site transaction volume of 209 million yuan ($20.9 million) and online trading amount of 170 million yuan. A signing conference specifically for 62 key culture and tourism projects valued at 112.5 billion yuan was hosted. Beijing Tourism Group and Hubei Tourism Group reached a strategic cooperation agreement, focusing on the development and operations of middle- and high-end hotels in the Central China's province. They plan to sign at least 100 hotel projects over the next five years. China Oriental Performing Arts Group signed a creative cooperation agreement with the Huanggang Municipal Government on the creation of a musical drama based on Su Dongpo's life. Su Dongpo, was a renowned Chinese poet, calligrapher, writer, and artist of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Representatives from 15 international tourism regulatory authorities and travel organizations, as well as 22 leading culture and tourism companies, such as Shanghai Disney Resort, China Telecom, China Mobile, Alipay, China Youth Travel Service, and Meituan, showcased new achievements, new models, and vitality of the industry in the new era. The expo presented six major highlights, according to the organizers. First, it highlighted national-level brands, with China's five national parks on show and the Beautiful China Pavilion presenting the natural beauty of China's ecology and the soul of traditional Chinese culture. Second, it emphasized internationalization, with the participation of foreign travel organizations showcasing key cultural and tourism resources from countries and cities abroad. Third, it highlighted the power of technology, combining new technologies, materials, and methods for immersive and interactive exhibition experiences. This includes the first-time use of 270-degree curved screens, 3D printing technology, and laser pianos. Fourth, it showcased the unique characteristics of Jingchu (referring to the Hubei province), highlighting the advantages and core culture and tourism resources in the province. The Wuhan Pavilion, using hyper-realistic digital robots to lead visitors into an interactive and futuristic world. The expo highlighted the importance of the "Ten-Thousand-Mile Tea Road" and "Oriental Tea Port" in Hubei and set up a 20,000-square-meter exhibition area for the integration of tea and tourism. Fifth, it highlighted trade functions, with online live streaming sales and promotion activities organized and offline art auctions, intangible cultural heritage products exhibition and sales held. Finally, it places a strong emphasis on public participation and interaction between exhibitors and visitors. Before and during the expo, a variety of culture and tourism activities were launched to create a festive atmosphere. SOURCE China Daily 60% of independent retailers reported that their business is thriving since embracing digital and in-store operations, and 48% say technology has increased their revenue 40% of consumers shopped at independent stores in last 12 months, and a third (30%) feel responsible for supporting independent retailers 73% of consumers would shop at independent stores more if they integrated some form of digital retail service into their operations LONDON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New research commissioned by Faire , the online marketplace used by independent retailers to discover and buy unique products from around the world, finds that embracing technology is key to independent retail's success during one of the most turbulent times in retail history - and that by competing on quality and values retailers can outcompete big box retailers who optimise on price. In the survey of 2,000 consumers and 100 independent UK retail leaders, conducted by Opinium on behalf of Faire, 66% of British independent retailers said that since embracing digital operations, their business was thriving and 48% reported that embracing technology had increased their revenues. Consumers want to support their local shops, and see value beyond price In difficult times, almost a third (30%) of British consumers say they feel responsible for supporting independent retailers and, in the last year, 40% have shopped at an independent retailer. While some consumers (48%) say that independent retailers are too expensive, those surveyed also cited a number of reasons they still prefer independents over big box retailers. These included being able to support their local communities, finding new and interesting products, and the great customer service they provide. Many also cited social good as a reason to shop independent, with 32% saying it allows them to reduce their carbon footprint and 20% saying they provide more sustainable products. This interest is reflected on the Faire platform, with retailers in the UK spending over nine figures in volume on products that are eco-friendly, women-owned, or handmade over the past year. One of the most popular product categories for UK retailers shopping on Faire are products not sold on Amazon, demonstrating that consumers shopping at independent retailers are doing so to find unique products they can't get from online channels. Clearly, there are opportunities for retailers that lean into their advantages and provide unique non-commodity products that appeal to their customers' interests and values. Combined with the adoption of digital tools that allow them to operate as efficiently as large chains, this points to a bright future for independents. Digital innovation provides a way forward The majority (73%) of British consumers believe that independent retail businesses need to be open to digital innovation in order to thrive over the next 10 years. Adopting digital operations alongside a physical presence is a proven strategy for boosting economic growth among independent retailers: of the small-to-medium-sized independent retailers surveyed who operate both in-store and digitally, 61% report that their business is thriving. 58% of independent retailers rejected the idea that technology was a threat to their business, while 92% agreed that offering consumers the ability to browse goods online would enhance the shopping experience. Meanwhile, 73% of consumers said that integrating some form of digital retail service would encourage them to shop at their local retailers more. Within Faire's own global customer base of 700,000 retailers, less than 20% had an online presence before the pandemic. By 2021, more than 70% took their businesses online through new websites, social media marketing, or live shopping on FaceTime. Faire's early adopters also demonstrate how leveraging online tools for more efficient and effective sourcing, has helped retail businesses grow. The number of independent retailers using Faire in the UK has now hit 45,000: four times the number of stores than the four largest supermarket chains combined. Olivier Buffon, Head of International, Faire, said: "Small and independent businesses are the backbone of our economy and our local communities. What this report shows is that consumers turn to them to provide products that are quality, which reflect their values, and which are thoughtfully curated. Combine this with the promise of digital innovation, both in how retailers source goods but also in offering digital ecommerce options to consumers, and it's clear that despite some challenges, independent retail has a bright future. "Knowing that consumers and retailers alike are ready to embrace innovation gives us great hope for the future. We look forward to working alongside our customers, and the wider industry, to help retailers become more agile in tough economic times, so that they don't just survive, but thrive." Helena Chow, owner, and co-founder of AIDA Shoreditch , an independent retailer and Faire customer, said: "The cost-of-living crisis has made us all rethink the way we shop, but my hope is for people to see that buying cheaper products isn't the way forward and that independent shops like ours can help them slow down their consumption by buying better quality goods. "Through Faire, we discover and connect with like-minded businesses producing unique and beautiful products without the need to attend expensive trade shows. It has helped us to stay agile as we continue to navigate the huge challenges currently facing independent retail and has helped us feel more confident about our future." Other notable findings in the research include: More than half (58%) of consumers expect poor economic growth on their local high street One fifth (20%) of consumers are cutting back on shopping with independent retailers as a result of the cost of living crisis Faire commissioned the research to gain a better understanding of the issues facing independent brick-and-mortar retailers today, and to better support them with the tools and technology they need to navigate the challenges they face, transition into the digital economy, and eliminate the costs traditionally incurred by doing business online. To date, Faire has helped more than 700,000 independent retailers discover and access products from 100,000 independent brands. The company absorbs the costs of returned or unwanted goods on an independent retailer's first order with a brand to give them the freedom to try out new stock. Faire also provides its customers with digital capabilities including data and trends monitoring and customer experience curation, as well as additional touchpoints with potential partners via digital trade shows. About Faire: Faire is a wholesale marketplace taking a data-driven approach to connect local, independent retailers with the best brands and artisans to stock their shelves with the best goods. Faire retailers rely on Faire for the convenience of ordering from thousands of their favourite brands all in one place, net 60 payment terms, free returns on opening orders, and freight caps. For brands, the platform provides powerful sales, marketing, and analytics tools, so sellers can simplify their wholesale business and focus on making great products. https://www.faire.com Research methodology The research was conducted by Opinium Research via two online surveys between 30/01/2023 and 08/01/2023 . The two samples included one sample of 100 Independent retailers (<50 employees) and one sample of 2,000 UK adults nationally representative of the UK population. SOURCE Faire NEW YORK, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc., OTCQB: LZGI) (the "Company," or "we"), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use AI solutions for enterprise stars of tomorrow, issued a shareholder update from CEO Peter B. Ritz. The shareholder update is included in its entirety below and can be found on FatBrain AI's website at www. FatBrain.AI . Dear Fellow Shareholders: Market tailwinds accelerate our mission to deliver powerful AI solutions for the enterprise stars of tomorrow. Tweet this On behalf of FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc., OTCQB: LZGI) Board of Directors, our global solutions team and our clients, we are grateful and delighted to have you as a shareholder, a valued part of the FatBrain AI family. We reported over $9.55M in the Dec'22-Feb'23 revenue cycle, with guidance to gain $22.88M revenue in Mar'23. On a consolidated basis, our trailing twelve months (TTM) revenue as of Mar'23 projects $44.01M, with calendar 130% Q/Q growth rate on average. We continue to streamline operations with our unified global team and integrated structure for scalable growth. While we do not have plans to acquire other companies at this time, we are tracking a $587M pipeline in new acquisitions across 27 businesses which score high on our accretive AI Solutions scale. Our customers can boost productivity, process automation and personalization using our AI solutions, knowledge cloud, peer intelligence across targeted markets, including: (i) Retail intelligence for 4.5M ecommerce businesses globally; (ii) Digital compliance through chambers of commerce (e.g., 350K strong in KZ); (iii) P&C Insurance intelligence for independent agents (e.g., 330K in US/UK); (iv) Cashflow forecasting and foreign exchange (e.g., 149K import/exporters US); (v) Trade risk, intelligence (e.g., 112K suppliers to a sovereign fund KZ). To this end, we have expanded a distribution relationship with a global systems integrator with a nine-figure insurance business. We have also won a strategic supplier contract with a ministry of digital transformation, innovation and aerospace. The market for AI Solutions projects a massive impact at global scale. According to PwC analysis, accelerating AI uptake will increase global GDP by 14% by 2030, or additional $15.7 trillion, driven by increased client demand and productivity gains from process automation, augmented decision-making and personalization. These market tailwinds project to accelerate our mission to become the world's leading provider of AI solutions for the enterprise stars of tomorrow. We greatly appreciate the confidence you have shown in us and look forward to earning your continued support. With kindest personal regards, Peter B. Ritz Co-founder and CEO This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to buy any securities of any entity. This release contains certain forward-looking statements based on our current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially from those stated or implied in such forward-looking statements, due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business, which include the risk factors disclosed in our Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 13, 2022. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions, or strategies regarding the future and can be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," and "would" or similar words. All forecasts provided by management in this release are based on information available at this time and management expects that internal projections and expectations may change over time. In addition, the forecasts are based entirely on management's best estimate of our future financial performance given our current contracts, current backlog of opportunities and conversations with new and existing customers about our products and services. We assume no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc., OTCQB:LZGI): FatBrain AI provides powerful and easy-to-use AI solutions to empower the star enterprises of tomorrow (SMEs) to grow, innovate, and drive the majority of the global economy. FatBrain's AI 2.0 technologies and advanced data services transform continuous learning, narrative reasoning, cloud and blockchain technologies into auditable, explainable and easy to integrate AI solutions. FatBrain's subscription model allows all companies to deploy its advanced AI solutions quickly and easily, securely utilizing them on premises behind their firewalls or via cloud. FatBrain's global footprint includes design and development centers in the US, UK, India, and Kazakh Republic. For more information, please visit: https://www.fatbrain.ai SOURCE LZG International, Inc. PALM BEACH, Fla., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Catholic Charities, the Lighthouse Guild, and the Town of Palm Beach United Way were among the organizations to honor Findlay Galleries' Chairman & CEO James R. Borynack during the 2022/2023 season in Palm Beach. These awards recognize Borynack's and Findlay Galleries' consistent efforts to assist local and national charities. Findlay Galleries Palm Beach Entrance The Most Reverend Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito & James R. Borynack In January, at the 40th Annual Caritas Dei Bishop's Gala, The Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito, Bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach, awarded Borynack the with the distinctive Bishop's Charity Medal. The award was in recognition of Borynack's lifetime of charitable outreach, including his long-standing commitment to supporting the work of Catholic Charities, and has only been awarded once before. In February, at the Lighthouse Guild's 'Visionary Evening' Dinner Dance, Borynack was awarded The Lighthouse Guild's Visionary Award, recognizing his philanthropic vision and community spirit. Lastly, at the 32nd Annual Alexis de Tocqueville Society Award Dinner in March, Borynack was presented with the Distinguished Citizen Award, the highest accolade bestowed by the Town of Palm Beach United Way, recognizing unparalleled leadership in philanthropy. Town of Palm Beach United Way's Board Chairman, Bill Tiefel, commented "Jimmy Borynack represents the very best in our society, bringing talent, expertise, originality, friendship and empathy to every business endeavor, non-profit position and community role he undertakes. From children and families to hospice patients, to artists, Jimmy Borynack goes above and beyond to serve others." These awards recognize the philanthropic efforts not only of James Borynack, but also of Findlay Galleries, which is often the platform for his efforts. Indeed, throughout the Palm Beach season, Borynack and his partner Adolfo Zaralegui (Findlay Galleries' President) made significant contributions of time and treasury to several organizations. In 2022/2023, Borynack and Zaralegui hosted several pre-gala cocktail receptions for the Catholic Charities Diocese of Palm Beach, the Palm Beach Symphony, the Lighthouse Guild, Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, the Center of Creative Education, and the Town of Palm Beach United Way's Red Feather Society. They also hosted individual receptions and dinners on their renowned terrace for major donors of the Four Arts' "Americans in Paris" Dinner Dance and for the donors of the Cleveland Museum of Art. As a special tribute to the Friends of the Uffizi, they hosted a cocktail reception on their terrace for that organization's regional members. In step with its leadership, Findlay Galleries is committed to supporting recognized regional and national charities in Palm Beach and New York on an ongoing basis. As such, the gallery's exciting and engaging charitable events schedule for the 2023-24 season promises to bring the utmost support and awareness to the needs of those less fortunate and the charitable programs that support those in our community that need it most. SOURCE Wally Findlay Galleries International, Inc. Independent research data shows franchise owners are highly satisfied with their investment in the fast-growing bath remodeling franchise SPRINGVILLE, Utah, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Five Star Bath Solutions, one of the fastest-growing bath remodeling franchises in the world and part of the Five Star Franchising platform of home service brands, was identified by independent franchise research firm Franchise Business Review as a 2023 Top Low-Cost Franchise. Five Star Bath Solutions, one of the fastest-growing bath remodeling franchises in the world and part of the Five Star Franchising platform of home service brands, was identified by independent franchise research firm Franchise Business Review as a 2023 Top Low-Cost Franchise. Five Star Bath Solutions provides premier bath solutions for everyone and every need, with a mission to design and build dream bathrooms through expertise and trust. Five Star Bath Solutions is advancing the bathroom renovation industry through innovative technology, custom products, and attention to customer service. "At Five Star Bath Solutions, we're committed to giving our franchise owners proven tools and processes to help them succeed in their market," said Dean Hartley, president of Five Star Bath Solutions. "This recognition reflects our passion for supporting our franchise owners and our powerful strategy for growing our brand through their success." Franchise Business Review provides the only rankings of franchises based solely on actual franchise owner satisfaction and performance. FBR publishes its rankings of top franchises in its annual Guide to Today's Top Franchises, as well as in quarterly reports throughout the year that rank the top franchises in specific sectors. "Five Star Bath Solutions is raising the bar for bath remodeling franchises," said J. Andrew Mengason, chief growth officer for Five Star Franchising. "They offer value and excellence for franchise owners and their customers, and that's driving extraordinary growth throughout North America." Nearly 12,000 franchise owners participated in Franchise Business Review's franchisee satisfaction survey over 18 months. The brands that were named to the list of the best low-cost franchises to buy had to have high franchisee satisfaction and an investment of under $100,000 at the time their franchise owners participated in FBR's satisfaction survey. Five Star Bath Solutions franchise owners were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems, including training and support, operations, franchisor/franchisee relations, culture, and financial opportunity. "One of the most common myths around buying a franchise is that it's too expensive. But what many people don't know is that there are a number of very solid business opportunities out there that can provide the satisfaction and perks of business ownership but don't require a huge financial investment," said Eric Stites, CEO of Franchise Business Review. "Approximately one-third of the franchise companies we survey have initial investments starting under $100,000. "More importantly, the franchises that made this year's list of the Top Low-Cost Franchises have average owner satisfaction 12% higher than our industry benchmark, making them all excellent options for entrepreneurs considering franchise ownership." Visit https://franchisebusinessreview.com/page/top-franchises/ to see the full list of the Top Franchises of 2023. To learn more about franchising with Five Star Bath Solutions, visit https://www.bathsolutionsfranchising.com/ . About Five Star Bath Solutions Five Star Bath Solutions is the premier bath transformation franchise in the home remodeling industry. The company designs and builds dream bathrooms through expertise and trust, providing affordable transformations and beautiful solutions. Part of the Five Star Franchising portfolio of home service brands since 2014, Five Star Bath Solutions is one of the fastest-growing bath remodeling franchises in the world with more than 80 franchise locations. For more information, visit fivestarbathsolutions.com . To learn about franchising with Five Star Bath Solutions, visit bathsolutionsfranchising.com . About Five Star Franchising Five Star Franchising is an innovative, growing platform of seven home service brands with more than 800 franchises collectively across North America. The company empowers franchise partners' success with industry-leading tools and support while maximizing profitable growth for their franchise owners. Five Star Franchising's brands include Five Star Bath Solutions, Gotcha Covered, Bio-One, 1-800-Packouts, 1-800-Textiles, and Mosquito Shield as well as ProNexis, a leader in growth and customer experience solutions for home services franchises. Five Star's commitment to its core values Driven, Real, Innovative, Vital, and Enthusiastic (DRIVE) ensures its brands are top performers in technology, marketing, operations, local market success, and people. For more information, visit fivestarfranchising.com . About Franchise Business Review Franchise Business Review (FBR) is a leading market research firm serving the franchise sector. FBR measures the satisfaction and engagement of franchisees and franchise employees and publishes various guides and reports for entrepreneurs considering an investment in a franchise business. Since 2005, FBR has surveyed hundreds of thousands of franchise owners and over 1,200 leading franchise companies. FBR publishes free and unbiased franchisee satisfaction research reports throughout the year online at http://www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com . To read our publications, visit https://franchisebusinessreview.com/page/publications/ . MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Ripley Ripley PR (865) 977-1973 [email protected] FRANCHISE BUSINESS REVIEW CONTACT: Ali Forman B2B Marketing Director (603) 319-4818 [email protected] SOURCE Five Star Bath Solutions Award recognizes women in STEM for their contributions to Rochester's tech community. ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Foundry Digital LLC ("Foundry"), a digital asset mining and staking company focused on empowering a decentralized infrastructure, announced that TechRochester Association selected Foundry's VP of Product Strategy, Zoe Koulouris, as a Tech Woman of the Year Award finalist. The award recognizes contributions to the technology profession, the support of other women in the field, and stewardship in the community. Providing strategic direction to Foundry's product teams, Koulouris' insights and leadership help shape the roles and career paths of product managers and reinforce the success of Foundry's product portfolio. Foundry's portfolio includes a suite of mining services designed to see institutions through every phase of the mining cycle and best-in-class staking infrastructure with support for leading protocols. Before joining Foundry, Koulouris co-founded women-owned Web3 software development and consulting company Upstate Interactive. Driven by her passion for inspiring women in technology, she also co-founded Women in Coding to provide coding workshops and resources in the Syracuse community and is an active member of Meta Gamma Delta a DAO supporting women-led projects. Koulouris holds a B.S. in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises from Syracuse University and completed web development coursework at the New York Code + Design Academy and StartFast Code. Koulouris said, "I am honored to be nominated among so many talented women. Through representation, I hope to inspire and open the door for other women looking to have fulfilling careers in tech and have support to navigate the field's challenges." Previous Emerging Tech Woman of the Year nominee Rachael Simmonds stated, "I was happy to nominate Zoe for Tech Women of the Year. She's an extraordinary example of what tech careers can grow into. As a woman of color just beginning my career as a software engineer, I hope to follow in her footsteps to provide more representation in the tech industry and encourage others to pursue careers in this field." About Foundry Digital LLC A subsidiary of DCG, Foundry Digital LLC was created to meet the institutional demand for better capital access, efficiency, and transparency in the digital asset mining and staking industry. Headquartered in Rochester, NY, Foundry uses its institutional expertise, capital, industry relationships, and market intelligence to empower participants within the crypto ecosystem by providing the tools they need to build tomorrow's decentralized infrastructure. For more information, please visit foundrydigital.com. please visit foundrydigital.com. About Tech Rochester TechRochester is an organization comprised of professionals and companies that are working together to strengthen the Greater Rochester Area's technology community. We accomplish this through the development and sponsorship of relevant events and stimulating programs focused on skill building and the cultivation of individual and business relationships. For more information, visit www.techrochester.org. SOURCE Foundry Digital LLC Ukraine returned 44 more people from Russian captivity, including 42 military personnel and two civilians, Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak has said. "We managed to return home 44 of our people. They include 36 privates and sergeants and six officers. These are the military, border guards, national guardsmen, sailors. People defended Mariupol, Azovstal, Kherson region, fought the enemy in the east. We also freed two civilians," Yermak said in Telegram. Among the liberated are the wounded, who were tortured by the enemy in captivity. According to the President's Office head, two men were released, whose spouses had previously returned from captivity. Yermak also said the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War continues to fulfil the task of the president to return all Ukrainians home. CHANGSHA, China, April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EviDenS de Beaute, a French luxury skin care brand, hosted a grand brand ceremony in Changsha, China, on April 18, showcasing its brand image and achievements in the Chinese market. The ceremony, supported by its partner S'Young International, aimed to showcase the brand's commitment in developing anti-aging products for sensitive skin and its ambitious expansion in China. Charles-Edouard Barthes, founder of EviDenS de Beaute introducing the brand at the Ceremony Changsha is one of the representative new Tier 1 cities in China, representing a high urban population share of new Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities (500 million), while Tier 1 cities like Beijing and Shanghai account only for 5% of the 1.4 billion population. Changsha, which has also been recognized as one of the new internet-famous cities in China, came as an ideal location for EviDenS de Beaute's grand brand ceremony, as it represents a new consumer demographic with distinct characteristics and various beauty demands, especially Gen Z. At the same time, EviDenS de Beaute is able to link more consumer groups with anti-aging skincare needs in China. The ceremony, which gathered over 300 guests, began with the performance of a romantic and beautiful love story depicting the original love story journey from acquaintances to couple in France and Japan, where the brand originated 15 years ago. Founder Charles-Edouard Barthes then gave a keynote speech, sharing the brand's mission, development history and the team's commitment to high-quality products. EviDenS de Beaute came as a gift of love inspired by the ultra-sensitive skin of the founder's Japanese wife. Barthes traveled throughout Japan to seek out exceptional biologists and successfully created gentle and efficient formulas for sensitive skin. He then founded EviDenS de Beaute with a touch of French art de vivre. Also at the ceremony, Prof. Masaaki Ishibashi, the brand's biotechnology scientist, gave a speech that emphasized the brand's efforts in delivery quality products. EviDenS de Beaute, with over 1.98 million consumers globally, also presented product showcases "Evidens de Beaute SAHO" and "She's EviDenS" to feature consumers' feedback. Meanwhile, Jessie Giraud, CEO of EviDenS de Beaute, presented on stage the "Evidens de Beaute Global Plan" for the next three years, pledging to continue partnering with S'Young International to achieve new heights in the Chinese market. Specifically, for the Chinese market, the brand's focus is primarily on high-end female consumers. Estimates show that the Chinese market for sensitive skin is worth US$8 billion and is gradually increasing. With that in mind, EviDenS de Beaute has invested heavily in brand assets and communication to increase their luxury profile, with a differentiated positioning as an anti-aging skincare brand specially formulated for sensitive skin. In a bid to better promote its products, EviDenS de Beaute has centered its marketing strategy around the precise understanding of its target audience's mindset and demands. The brand targets urban elites who value quality of life and taste, and have unique aesthetic preferences. With such approach, the brand has focused on the precise promotion of certain products, enabling the brand to exceed its sales targets in China. Notably, EviDenS de Beaute maintained a 600% growth rate in 2022 on Douyin (Chinese Tiktok), the most popular short video and live-streaming platform. Its high-end mask has been ranked No. 1 in sales volume among high-spending customers. The brand's customer repurchase rate comes in over 40%, well above the industry average. In addition, EviDenS de Beaute has adopted an all-rounded marketing strategy to boost its high-end market penetration. For its online campaign, the brand has strengthened its endorsement through its presence on major e-commerce platforms and has deployed strong social media marketing to establish a more dynamic brand image. EviDenS de Beaute has also invited Chinese influencers, such as Teacher Xu and Li Jiaqi, to evaluate the brand's products and services. For its offline promotion, EviDenS de Beaute has built up its presence through high-end offline channels such as Rosewood, SKP SELECT, WANGFUJING, Joyce Beauty and niche channels like Little B. To enhance consumer experience, EviDenS de Beaute has launched a variety of membership services, including one-on-one skin care consulting, VIP spas and customized afternoon tea, for its over 1 million high-end members. SOURCE S'Young International Comprehensive medical lien servicing and legal funding company with artificial intelligence-powered platform now serving healthcare providers, attorneys and uninsured and underinsured patients. ATLANTA, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gain , a comprehensive medical lien servicing and legal funding company with an artificial intelligence-powered platform, launched today. Previously, the company had been doing business as a variety of operating companies, including Cherokee Legal Holdings, Cherokee Funding and Gain Servicing. The rebrand is meant to streamline the companies and build efficiencies in order to serve as a centralized, AI-powered hub to those with medical lien servicing and legal funding needs. "Since 2011, we have provided legal and medical funding services. Over the years, we have added new companies, new divisions and expanded offerings. Our exceptional growth has led us to today. An exciting time has come in the evolution of our organization and that is the need to streamline all of our services and capabilities under one go-to-market brand," said Gain Founder and CEO Reid Zeising in a recent letter to clients. "Under our new company name, we aspire to provide solutions and services that are undeniably Gain." Gain Brand Launches, Commits to Leveling the Insurance Playing Field Tweet this With a two-year revenue growth of 251%, Gain recently ranked no. 83 on Inc. magazine's list of the Southeast Region's Fastest-Growing Private Companies. Between 2005 and 2022, Gain, doing business as Cherokee Legal Holdings, Cherokee Funding and Gain Servicing, has provided $250 million in medical care and serviced $800 million in medical liens. Honored with three Inc. 5000 designations, 15,000 law firm partners, and over 3,000 health care clients, Gain is well-positioned for continued growth. The new brand identity and company consolidation was launched initially on an updated website, www.gainservicing.com . The company headquarters are and will remain in Atlanta, Ga. About Gain Gain is the fastest growing medical lien servicing and legal funding company in the United States. Gain's innovative artificial intelligence-enabled servicing platform and its collective services and solutions come together to meaningful serve the personal injury ecosystem and create better outcomes. Gain is the critical hub connecting medical providers, lawyers and personal injury plaintiffs. Gain's industry-leading platform serves as the source of truth, providing both needed transparency and efficiency for all of those supporting personal injury cases and plaintiffs. Gain is committed to leveling the insurance playing field for those injured through no fault of their own. To learn more, go to gainservicing.com . SOURCE Gain Inaugural "Best of the Best" award recognizes Garmin's outstanding aviation systems, services and support OLATHE, Kan., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Garmin (NYSE: GRMN) today announced it has been named the 2022 "Best of the Best" Supplier by Embraer, a leading aerospace company, at its Suppliers Conference in Campos do Jordao, Brazil on April 18. Additionally, Garmin was recognized as the top supplier in both the Systems and Services & Support categories for its G3000 Prodigy Touch flight deck systems in the Phenom 100EV and Phenom 300E. Embraer honored Garmin with multiple awards, including the 2022 'Best of the Best' Supplier at its annual Suppliers Conference. These awards recognize Garmin's outstanding aviation systems, services and support. This annual award program honors an elite group of suppliers for their outstanding performance, continuous improvement and increased customer satisfaction among all suppliers who serve Embraer's global commercial aviation, business aviation and defense markets. "It's an honor to be recognized by Embraer with these prestigious supplier awards, including the first 'Best of the Best' in the company's history. These accolades are a testament to Garmin's commitment to Embraer and our mutual customers around the world, and we are honored by the confidence they have entrusted in us as we strive to deliver the most innovative flight deck solutions backed by the best support in the industry." Phil Straub, Garmin Executive Vice President & Managing Director, Aviation Embraer's supplier awards recognize Garmin's design innovation, ease of use and overall system architecture, as well as outstanding efforts in production line support, quality, and on-time reliability of the supply chain. These accolades validate Garmin's achievement in designing and manufacturing state-of-the-art flight deck systems, while remaining responsive to market needs and preferences. This is the eighth consecutive year Garmin has received a supplier award from Embraer. Over the past 13 years, Embraer has presented Garmin with 15 honors across various categories, including: Electric & Electronics Systems, Technical Support to Operators, Electro-Mechanical Systems, Material Support to Operator, Systems, Services & Support, and Best of the Best. Garmin products and services have revolutionized flight and become essential to the lives of pilots and aircraft owners and operators around the world. A leading provider of solutions to general aviation, business aviation, rotorcraft, advanced air mobility, government and defense, and commercial air carrier customers, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate. Recipient of the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy for Garmin Autoland, Garmin developed the world's first certified autonomous system that activates during an emergency to control and land an aircraft without human intervention. Visit the Garmin Newsroom, email our media team, connect with @garminaviation on social, or follow our blog. About Garmin International, Inc. Garmin International, Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (NYSE: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin and G3000 are registered trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved. Notice on Forward-Looking Statements: This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management's current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0001-411180). A copy of such Form 10-K is available at http://www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Media Contacts: Carly Hysell & Mikayla Minnick 913-397-8200 [email protected] SOURCE Garmin Ltd. Training series highlights solutions for HIV and COVID-19 screenings in primary care WASHINGTON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) is hosting a free webinar on May 10 to discuss HIV screening guidelines. The webinar is a part of a training series for the Two in One: HIV + COVID Screening and Testing Model, a national medical education program, and will feature Clover Barnes, RN, the senior deputy director of the HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and TB Administration of Washington D.C.'s Department of Health. "Informed consent is crucial in HIV testing, as it honors everyone's right to be actively involved in their own healthcare decisions," said Maranda Ward, EdD, MPH, principal investigator of the Two in One Model and assistant professor of clinical research and leadership at GW SMHS. "Clover Barnes will show us how informed consent facilitates trust between patients and clinicians." The webinar is entitled "We Test Everyone, Unless You Say No: State Level HIV Opt-Out Testing and Screening Guidelines." During the webinar, attendees will learn about the issues surrounding the importance of patients' right to refusal, in addition to informed consent, and will learn about the District of Columbia's opt-out HIV testing and screening guidelines. The webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, May 10, from 12 1 p.m. ET. Anyone can register for the event here. This is the fifth webinar in the Two in One Model training series, which utilizes a combined health and racial equity lens to provide primary care practitioners the tools to routinize HIV, PrEP, and COVID vaccine screenings for all patients to better engage in culturally responsive communication with their racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender-minoritized patients. The series will ultimately offer nine live-streamed continuing medical education (CME) lectures as well as an asynchronous CME-bearing module-based training course and PCP toolkit. This program has been supported by an independent educational grant from Gilead Sciences, Inc. For more information on this research-informed model, visit the Two-in-One website at: twoinone.smhs.gwu.edu. SOURCE The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences DUBLIN, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Anti-Venom Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023-2028)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The anti-venom market is expected to register a CAGR of nearly 8.54% during the forecast period. Companies Mentioned Bharat Serums and Vaccines Ltd Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH Boston Scientific Corporation CSL Limited Flynn Pharma Ltd (Micropharm) Merck & Co. Inc. Merck KGaA (Sigma Aldrich) Pfizer Inc. Rare Disease Therapeutics Inc. South African Vaccine Producers (Pty) Ltd Anti-venom Market Trends The Polyvalent Anti-venoms Segment is Expected to Hold Significant Share in the Market Over the Forecast Period Polyvalent anti-venoms consist of antibodies that are capable of counteracting several homologous venoms from various species/genera. Polyvalent snake antivenom contains the active ingredients brown snake antivenom, tiger snake antivenom, death adder antivenom, taipan antivenom, and black snake antivenom. Polyvalent antivenoms can save the lives of victims of snake envenomation, even when the culprit snake is unknown and a monovalent antivenom cannot be chosen. Due to the obvious advantages that they have, polyvalent anti-venoms are the most preferred anti-venom drug. Polyvalent anti-venoms are beneficial in regions where there is a large presence of venomous species and when it is difficult to produce monovalent anti-venoms against all of them. Owing to the numerous advantages, the key players dealing in the anti-venom market are focusing on developing polyvalent anti-venoms. Furthermore, rising research and development activities proving the efficacies of existing treatments are further expected to drive the studied segment. For instance, according to the study published in Toxin Basel in October 2021, two Indian polyvalent anti-venoms, VINS and Bharat, showed positive results in preventing or reversing in vitro myotoxicity induced by common cobra (Naja naja) venom from Sri Lanka and hence can be proactively used as a therapeutic in treating cobra bites. As a result of the aforementioned factors, such as the advantages of polyvalent anti-venom and expanding research and development activities, the segment's growth is expected to accelerate over the forecast period. North America is Expected to Hold a Significant Share in the Market and Expected to do Same in the Forecast Period The North American anti-venom market is expected to hold a significant share during the forecast period, owing to the high incidence of snake bites and other venomous bites in the region, the rise in awareness of venomous bites, and rising technological advancements. The United States within North America is expected to contribute significantly to the market growth in the region. As per the June 2021 article by the CDC, each year, an estimated 7,000-8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the United States, and about five of those people die. Workers are far more likely to suffer long-term injuries from snake bites than to die from them. Thus, due to the high prevalence of snake bites in the country, the demand for its therapeutics is expected to increase, thereby boosting the market's growth. Moreover, product approvals and strategic initiatives by key market players are also expected to augment market growth in the country. For instance, in March 2022, Ophirex, Inc., announced that the US FDA had granted Fast Track designation to varespladib-methyl ('oral varespladib') for the treatment of snakebite. Ophirex is currently conducting a clinical trial of oral varespladib, its lead investigational drug candidate, as a broad-spectrum snakebite antidote in the United States and India. Furthermore, in April 2021, Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the US FDA approved a new expanded indication for ANAVIP (crotalidae immune F(ab')2 (equine)), an equine-derived antivenin, for the management of adult and pediatric patients with North American pit viper envenomation. Thus, due to the above-mentioned factors, such as the high prevalence of snake bites and strategic initiatives by market players, the market in the North American region is expected to witness strong growth over the forecast period. Key Topics Covered: 1 INTRODUCTION 2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 MARKET DYNAMICS 4.1 Market Overview 4.2 Market Drivers 4.2.1 Increasing Awareness on Anti-venoms Available 4.2.2 Technological Advancements 4.3 Market Restraints 4.3.1 Complexities Involved in the Preparation of the Correct Immunogens 4.3.2 Lack of Regulatory Capacity for the Control of Anti-venoms in Countries 4.4 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 5 MARKET SEGMENTATION (Market Size by Value - in USD Million) 5.1 By Species 5.1.1 Snake 5.1.2 Scorpion 5.1.3 Spiders 5.1.4 Other Species 5.2 By Anti-venom Type 5.2.1 Polyvalent Anti-venoms 5.2.2 Monovalent Anti-venom 5.2.3 Other Anti-venom Types 5.3 Geography 6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 6.1 Company Profiles 6.1.1 Bharat Serums and Vaccines Ltd 6.1.2 Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH 6.1.3 Boston Scientific Corporation 6.1.4 CSL Limited 6.1.5 Flynn Pharma Ltd (Micropharm) 6.1.6 Merck & Co. Inc. 6.1.7 Merck KGaA (Sigma Aldrich) 6.1.8 Pfizer Inc. 6.1.9 Rare Disease Therapeutics Inc. 6.1.10 South African Vaccine Producers (Pty) Ltd 7 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1tw867 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets NEW YORK , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A latest research report [115+] pages with 360-Degree visibility, titled "FRP Vessels Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Resin Type (Polyester, Epoxy, and Others); By Fiber Type; By Application; By Region; Segment Forecast, 2023 - 2032" published by Polaris Market Research in its research repository. "According to research report, the global FRP vessels market size/share was valued at USD 3.90 Billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 8.07 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 7.6% during the forecast period." What is FRP Vessels? How Big is FRP Vessels Market Size & Share? Report Overview FRP is a refurbished composite substance utilized for chemical plant devices and equipment, namely tanks and vessels. The rapidly rising demand for the FRP vessels market can be attributed to its handy implementation involving both factory and mercantile water processing techniques. FRP vessels are sturdy, delicate, potent, decay-proof, and less costly. One of its features is that it does not rust and therefore does not need recladding or painting. The growth of the market can be attributed to the growing acquisition of FRP vessels in chemical workshops due to their advantageous features such as lightweight, effortlessly manageable, and it being tailored relying on customer needs and easy inauguration procedure. Further, the increasing requirement for municipal misuse water treatment and the growing figure of movable water treatment workshops are the salient trends in the global market. Request Sample Copy of FRP Vessels Market Research Report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/frp-vessels-market/request-for-sample (The sample of this report is readily available on request. The report sample contains a brief introduction to the research report, Table of Contents, Graphical introduction of regional analysis, Top players in the market with their revenue analysis and our research methodology.) Our Sample Report May Includes: 2032 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis. 115+ Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research). Provide Chapter-wise guidance on Request. 2023 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends. Includes Updated List of table & figures. Updated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis. Some of the Top Market Players Are: Hexagon Composites Luxfer Group Worthington Industries Everest Kanto Cylinders Quantum Fuel Systems Faber Industries Avanco Group Shawcor. NOV Inc. Zhongfu Lianzhing Composites ZCL Composites Swami Plastic Industries Fiberglass Coating Reinforced Olastic Manufacture TROY Dualam For Additional Information on Key Players, Request to Download Sample Pages Here: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/frp-vessels-market/request-for-sample Key data covered in the market report Porter's five forces analysis helps analyze the potential of buyers and suppliers and the competitive scenario of the industry for strategy building It outlines the current trends and future estimations of the market to understand the prevailing opportunities and potential investment pockets The major countries in the region have been mapped according to their individual revenue contribution to the regional market The key drivers, restraints, and opportunities and their detailed impact analysis are explained in the study The profiles of key players and their key strategic developments are enlisted in the report Key Factors Driving Market Growth Effective treatment of domestic wastewater to push the market FRP vessels are utilized in water and wastewater treatment plants with an everyday distillation potency of 10,000 and 1,50,000 liters. The FRP vessels market size is expanding due to contrasting FRP repositories usage relying on the procedure type, such as aerobic or anaerobic. Further, they might be utilized productively to treat domestic wastewater for bathrooms, restrooms, washing areas, and kitchens. They are an outstanding substance for fabricating wastewater treatment vessels as they are eco-friendly and sturdy, have effortless installation procedures, and have no leakage. Because of it being corrosion-hostile and lightweight, FRP is a substance of option in the chemical sector for assembling procedure tanks, sunken repository tanks, and vats. FRP vessels market sales are soaring due to it being used as a sandwich substance with steel tanks and as a defensive lining, thereby improvising the steel strength. Fabrication of reaction vessels, exhaust channels, valves, towers, chimney stacks, pumps, cryogenic pressure vessels, and instigators are additional implementations of FRP in the chemical sector. Request for a Discount on this Report Before Purchase @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/frp-vessels-market/request-for-discount-pricing Recent Trends Influencing the Market The growing demand for the automotive sector to drive the market The growing demand in the automotive and transportation sectors is the main element impacting the development of the market. The demand for substitute fuel vehicles, such as substitute fuels in the transportation and automotive sector, is anticipated to generate a massive demand in the market. The government restrictions for substitute fuels and advancement in fuel configuration are anticipated to develop the market. The dielectric feature of FRP has escalated its purview in devices where electric conductivity cannot be permitted. The utilization of expensive FRP vessels in sporting commodities, construction, marine, and aerospace is anticipated to propel the market's growth. Segmentation Assessment The polyester segment accounted for the largest market share Based on resin type, the polyester segment accounted for the largest market share. The FRP vessels market demand is on the rise as extended duration, enhanced glass fibre wetting, chemical and waterproof and repellent to weathering together with the potential to offer sizeable safeguarding and congeal the edifice speedily. The Glass Fibre segment dominated the market Based on fiber type, the glass fiber segment held the largest market revenue share. The FRP vessels market trends include its outstanding corporeal and perfunctory features such as lightweight, flexibility, sturdiness, and toughness. They are also damp, heat, and temperature repellent. Glass fiber is extensively utilized as an environment-friendly construction substance with the appearance of buttress concrete with relatively dense advent without damaging the environment. Inquire more about this report before purchase @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/frp-vessels-market/inquire-before-buying (Inquire a report quote OR available discount offers to the sales team before purchase.) FRP Vessels Market: Report Scope & Coverage Report Attribute Details Revenue forecast in 2032 USD 8.07 Billion Market size value in 2023 USD 4.18 Billion Expected CAGR Growth 7.6% from 2023 2032 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 2032 Top Market Players Hexagon Composites ASA, Luxfer Group, Worthington Industries Inc., Everest Kanto Cylinders, Quantum Fuel Systems LLC, Faber Industries SpA, Avanco Group, Shawcor Ltd., NOV Inc., Zhongfu Lianzhing Composites, ZCL Composites Inc., Swami Plastic Industries, Fiberglass Coating Inc., Reinforced Olastic Manufacture Co. Ltd., and TROY Dualam Inc. Segments Covered By Resin Type, By Fiber Type, By Application, By Region Customization Options Customized purchase options are available to meet any research needs. Explore customized purchase options Geographic Overview Extensive use of vessels in oil and gas to propel the Asia Pacific market Asia Pacific held the largest FRP vessels market share due to the extensive use of vessels in oil and gas, chemical, transportation, and automotive implementation in nations such as South Korea, Malaysia, India, and China. North America is anticipated to develop notably in the near future due to strict government directives in the context of the assembling sector, together with escalated demand for lightweight commodities that entail higher properties. Additionally, escalated enhancements and augmentation of tax stimulus or benefits that are being accepted by the government of the US and Canada to lessen carbon dioxide discharge are the elements to boost regional market growth. Browse the Detail Report "FRP Vessels Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Resin Type (Polyester, Epoxy, and Others); By Fiber Type; By Application; By Region; Segment Forecast, 2023 - 2032" with in-depth TOC: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/frp-vessels-market For Additional Information OR Media Enquiry, Please Mail At: [email protected] Recent Developments In July 2022 , Rev1 Ventures collaborated with Worthington Industries Inc. to propel the breaking of new grounds in IoT, smart manufacturing, data and analytics, and sustainability. In this partnership, Worthington will fund approximately USD 10 million into breakthrough technologies that would improvise the firm market scope and authorize them to distribute better to the present and future markets. Polaris Market Research has segmented the FRP vessels market report based on resin type, fiber type, application, and region: By Resin Type Outlook Polyester Epoxy Others By Fibre Type Outlook Glass Carbon Others By Application Outlook Water & Wastewater Chemical Automotive & Transportation Oil & Gas Industrial Others By Region Outlook North America (U.S., Canada ) (U.S., ) Europe ( France , Germany , UK, Italy , Netherlands , Spain , Russia ) ( , , UK, , , , ) Asia Pacific ( Japan , China , India , Malaysia , Indonesia , South Korea ) ( , , , , , ) Latin America ( Brazil , Mexico , Argentina ) ( , , ) Middle East & Africa ( Saudi Arabia , UAE, Israel , South Africa ) About Polaris Market Research: Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for PMR's clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve PMR's diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide PMR's customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. Adept with a highly competent, experienced and extremely qualified team of experts comprising SMEs, analysts and consultants, we at Polaris endeavor to deliver value-added business solutions to PMR's customers. Contact: Likhil G 30 Wall Street 8th Floor, New York City, NY 10005, United States Phone: +1-929 297-9727 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | twitter Blog: https://polarismarketresearch.medium.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1316207/Polaris_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Polaris Market Research LONDON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Key Takeaways: Global Polyclonal Antibodies Market is expected to witness a CAGR of 4% over 2022-2029. Growing chronic disease prevalence, increase in healthcare expenditure, and widespread technological advancements are propelling market growth. Middle East & Africa is witnessing substantial progression due to evolving healthcare expenditure and rising demand for personalized medicines. & is witnessing substantial progression due to evolving healthcare expenditure and rising demand for personalized medicines. The numerous players operating in this industry are facing intense competition from each other. Get Sample of [email protected] https://www.aimarketreport.com/downloadSample/PostId/859 Global Polyclonal Antibodies Market Outlook (2022-2029) The Global Polyclonal Antibodies Market is anticipated to amplify with a CAGR of 4% over the assessment timeline of 2022-2028. Polyclonal antibodies are predominantly produced by numerous B-cells in response to a foreign substance termed as an antigen. These antibodies comprise of a mixture of diverse antibodies which can recognize specific parts of the antigen, known as epitopes. These epitomes are produced by a single clone of B-cells. Polyclonal antibodies are commonly used in research and diagnostics because they can recognize multiple epitopes on a target molecule, which increases the chances of detection. They are also utilized in therapies, such as antivenoms, which are used to treat bites from different species of venomous snakes or spiders. Competitive Hierarchy The prominent players defining the competitive terrain of the Global Polyclonal Antibodies Market are Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.), Merck KGaA (Germany), Abcam plc (UK), BD (U.S.), Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. (U.S.), Cell Signaling Technology Inc. (U.S.), F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland), Danaher (U.S.), Agilent Technologies (U.S.), PerkinElmer Inc. (U.S.), Lonza (Switzerland), GenScript (China), BioLegend Inc. (U.S.), Illumia Inc. (U.S.), ImmonoPresice Antibodies Ltd (Canada), Fujirebio (Sweden), Analytik Jena GmbH (Germany), Omega BioTek Inc. (U.S.), Dovetail Genomics (U.S.), and Atlas Antibodies (Sweden). Segmental Outlook Based on product type, the secondary antibody segment is presently leading the owing to their cost effectiveness, versatility, and broad range of applications. In terms of application, the commercial segment is projected to amass notable gains over the estimated timeframe. This is due to the increasing number of biotech and biopharma companies associated with the production of polyclonal antibodies. Get Methodology @ https://www.aimarketreport.com/requestMethodology/PostId/859 Region-Wise Outlook Middle East & Africa The industry in this region is gaining significant traction because of the ever-rising healthcare spending, rising pervasiveness of chronic ailments, along with continuous R&D investments. Also, the surge in the geriatric population, elevating demand for personalized medicines, and rapidly evolving medical infrastructure are adding to the growth of this regional industry. Europe Europe has been showcasing promising growth over 2022-2029. This is attributable to the escalating demand for early and accurate disease diagnosis and treatment. Besides, increasing healthcare expenditure, rapidly evolving healthcare infrastructure and technological advancements in the field are further contributing to the industry development in this region. Elaborating The Key Trends and Dynamics of This Industry The rising prevalence of both chronic and infectious diseases along with the increasing healthcare expenditure are primarily augmenting the outlook of this industry sphere. Furthermore, increasing R&D activities in the field, rapidly evolving healthcare infrastructure across various regions, along with widespread technological advancements in the field are creating an upward trend in this market. Besides, surging neurobiology and stem cell-based research activities, escalating demand for therapeutic antibodies, and growing cancer pervasiveness worldwide are adding momentum to the progression of this business vertical. Alongside, increase in the geriatric population base and the affordability of polyclonal antibodies are aiding the expansion of this industry. Major Growth Drivers Growing prevalence of chronic diseases- There is a rising prevalence of chronic ailments like cancer, diabetes, COPD, and autoimmune diseases across the globe. Genetic defects, age, unhealthy lifestyle, and surging pollution levels are some of the major reasons leading to the rapid occurrence of such ailments. Polyclonal antibodies are predominantly used in the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases due to their affordability and efficacy. Apart from that, these antibodies can also be customized to target specific antigens, which makes them ideal for use in personalized medicine. It is worth noting that personalized medicines are gaining immense popularity when it comes to the treatment of diseases like cancer. This is because they are specifically developed as per the need of an individual and therefore are highly effective in nature. These factors together are positively swaying the dynamics of this market vertically. Increasing cognizance about the benefits of these antibodies- The growing awareness about the benefits of polyclonal antibodies, such as their ability to recognize multiple epitopes and their high specificity is another growth stimulant for this market. This increased awareness has accelerated the adoption of these antibodies in research, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Alongside, rapid technological advancements are further helping this industry to evolve. Challenges Animal cruelty related ethical concerns- Polyclonal antibodies are generally obtained from animals. They are first immunized using an antigen before extracting these antibodies. But several regulatory bodies have voiced opposition to this practice before of its invasive nature. Some animals also react adversely to these antigens. This is a potential challenge being faced by this industry. Opportunities Rising application of polyclonal antibodies in disease diagnostics: These antibodies are being used in the diagnostics sector which is creating potential growth prospects for this market. These antibodies can be effectively used in point-of-care testing devices to enhance their efficacy. Apart from that, with rapid technological advancements, polyclonal antibodies can also be used in novel diagnostic techniques for the early detection of ailments like cancer. These factors together are projected to create an upward trend in this industry in the ensuing years. Restraints High production costs: The production process of antibodies is quite complicated. Laboratories and research institutes which are facilitating the same should have adequate infrastructure, skilled professionals, and proper equipment. This increases the cost of the entire production process. Smaller laboratories have budget constraints which in turn prevent them from entering this industry. This is obstructing the development of this industry. Porter's Five Forces Analysis Threat of new entrants- The production process of polyclonal antibodies is quite complex. It requires adequate infrastructure and expertise, along with high-end technologies and equipment. This makes the entire process quite expensive. This creates a barrier for the new entrants. Apart from that, the already existing companies have already built a strong foothold in the market and have captured a broad consumer base. Due to all these factors, the threat of new entrants is low in this industry. Bargaining power of suppliers- This industry has a large number of raw materials and equipment suppliers. Thus, the buyers have a diverse range of options to choose from. They generally opt for suppliers who provide quality products at reasonable rates. Every supplier tries to hook the customers by producing quality raw materials and equipment while fixing reasonable rates for the same. Hence the bargaining power of suppliers is low in this market. Bargaining power of buyers- The buyers get a wide range of options to choose from since there are numerous suppliers operating in this industry. These buyers have strong purchasing power along with the ability to negotiate the prices with their potential suppliers. They mostly try to procure high quality products at lower prices from the suppliers. Thus, the bargaining power of buyers is high in this business space. Threat of substitute- The threat of substitutes in this market is relatively high. This is because of the existence of alternate technologies and products like monoclonal antibodies, nucleic acid-based assays, and recombinant proteins, among others. These substitutes can be used for disease diagnosis, R&D activities, and treatments. Competitive Rivalry- The existing players in the market face intense competition from each other. They are keen on staying ahead of the curve and emerging as global leaders. These companies compete on the basis of quality, price, and product portfolio. Therefore, the competitive rivalry in this market is high. On Special Requirement Polyclonal Antibodies Market Report is also available for below region: North America U.S, Canada Europe Germany , France , U.K., Italy , Spain , Sweden , Netherland, Turkey , Switzerland , Belgium , Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific South Korea , Japan , China , India , Australia , Philippines , Singapore , Malaysia , Thailand , Indonesia , Rest Of APAC Latin America Mexico , Colombia , Brazil , Argentina , Peru , Rest of Latin America Middle East and Africa Saudi Arabia , UAE, Egypt , South Africa , Rest Of MEA Purchase Copy of Report @ https://www.aimarketreport.com/Checkout?report_id=859 Major Developments Acquisitions In 2021, Bio-Rad Laboratories, a leading provider of life science research tools, announced the acquisition of Celsee, a microfluidic systems manufacturer. This acquisition expanded Bio-Rad Laboratories' capabilities in the analysis of rare cells, including the detection of circulating tumor cells. In December 2021, Ziylo, a synthetic glucose binding molecules manufacturer was acquired by Novo Nordisk. This acquisition allowed the latter to enhance its diabetes treatment portfolio. Partnerships In May 2021, Sino Biological joined forces with polyclonal antibodies manufacturer Precision Antibody. This decision is likely to enable the former to enhance its offerings in the polyclonal antibodies sector. In August 2021, BioLegend inked a partnership deal with US based digital cell biology platforms provider Berkeley Lights. Related Reports: Brandessence Market Research & Consulting Pvt ltd. Brandessence Market Research publishes market research reports & business insights produced by highly qualified and experienced industry analysts. Our research reports are available in a wide range of industry verticals including aviation, food & beverage, healthcare, ICT, Construction, Chemicals and lot more. Brand Essence Market Research report will be best fit for senior executives, business development managers, marketing managers, consultants, CEOs, CIOs, COOs, and Directors, governments, agencies, organizations and Ph.D. Students. We have a delivery center in Pune, India and our sales office is in London. Follow Us: Linkedin M & A Advisory: Merger & Acquisition, and Capabilities Blog: Published Reports 2023 What is Market Research? What is Market Sizing? How to Measure Your TAM, SAM, and SOM Top 10 Frozen Potato Companies in 2023 Top 5 Natural Food Colors Companies in Global Market 2023 | Here's Everything need to know About Everything You Need to Know About the Top 5 Companies Operating in Global mRNA Vaccines and Therapeutics Market The Rise of DIY Medicine: Exploring the Home Diagnostics Market Top Activated Carbon Manufacturers in the Global Market 2023 Top 5 Skateboard Companies in Global Market 2023 Top 10 Healthcare Staffing Companies in Global Market 2023 TOP 5 Distributed Antenna System (DAS) COMPANIES 2023 Top 10 Plant-based Meat Companies : growing sustainable, plant-based food industry Contact: Mr. Vishal Sawant Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Corporate Sales: +44-2038074155 Asia Office: +917447409162 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1392316/BEMR_Logo.jpg SOURCE Brandessence Market Research And Consulting Private Limited DUBLIN, April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 bioeconomics 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. 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. Report Includes 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 The scope for biodegradable polymers: Based on chemistry, the market is segmented into: Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT). Polybutylene succinate (PBS). Polylactic acid (PLA). Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Starch blends. Cellulose films. Based on application, the market is segmented into: Flexible packaging. Rigid packaging. Agriculture. Consumer goods. Coatings and adhesives. Fibers. Electronics and electricals. Building and construction. Automotive and transport. Others. The scope for bio-based polymers: Based on chemistry, the market is segmented into: Polylactic acid (PLA). Starch blend. Bio-polyethylene (bio-PE). Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Bio-polyamides. Bio-polyvinyl chloride (bio-PVC). Bio-polytrimethylene terephthalate (bio-PTT). Cellulosic. Bio-polypropylene (bio-PP). Others. Based on application, the market is segmented into: Flexible packaging. Rigid packaging. Consumer goods. Fibers. Electronics and electricals. Building and construction. Automotive and transport. Others. 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. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5lsio7 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 GDP contribution 5% off 2019 peak by the end of 2023 Almost 22 million more Travel & Tourism jobs last year International visitor spend up more than 80% NEW YORK, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Travel & Tourism Council's ( WTTC ) 2023 Economic Impact Research (EIR) today shows the Travel & Tourism sector is closing in on its 2019 peak, recovering by more than 95%. In 2023, the sector is forecast to reach $9.5 trillion, just 5% below 2019 pre-pandemic levels when travel was at its highest. 34 countries have already exceeded 2019 levels. According to the research conducted by WTTC in collaboration with Oxford Economics, the global tourism body also forecasts that the sector will recover to 95% of the 2019 job level. A look back on last year Last year, despite the economic and geopolitical difficulties, the Travel & Tourism sector's recovery continued at pace, growing 22% year-on-year to reach $7.7 trillion. This recovery represented 7.6% of the global economy in 2022, the highest sector contribution since 2019, although its global GDP is still 22.9% behind its 2019 peak. In 2021 the global sector grew 24.7% year-on-year, and last year it grew a further 22% to reach a GDP contribution of $7.7 trillion. The research shows that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and prolonged travel restrictions imposed by a number of countries such as China had a significant impact on the global recovery. But the recent decision by the Chinese government to reopen its borders from January will propel the sector and see it recover to pre-pandemic levels next year. From a pre-pandemic high of more than 334 million, the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged employment in the sector which saw losses of more than 70 million to bring the total number employed in 2020 to just 264 million. Following the recovery of 11 million jobs in 2021, the sector created 21.6 million new jobs in 2022 to reach more than 295 million globally one in 11 jobs worldwide. Spending from overseas visitors grew by a record 82% to reach $1.1 trillion in 2022, showing that international travel is firmly back on track. Julia Simpson, WTTC president & CEO, said: "The Travel & Tourism sector continues to recover at pace, demonstrating the resilience of the sector and the enduring desire to travel. "By the end of the year, the sector's contribution will be within touching distance of the 2019 peak. We expect 2024 to exceed 2019. The recovery will speed up this year as Chinese travelers re-enter the market and over the next 10 years, Travel & Tourism will continue to grow as a sector." What does the next decade look like? The global tourism body is forecasting that the sector will grow its GDP contribution to $15.5 trillion by 2033 representing 11.6% of the global economy and will employ 430 million people around the world, with almost 12% of the working population employed in the sector. The latest EIR also reveals that 34 of the 185 countries analyzed in the EIR have now recovered to pre-pandemic levels in terms of GDP contribution. WTTC forecasts that by the end of 2023, nearly half of the 185 countries will have either fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels or be within 95% of full recovery. For more information, please visit wttc.org Editors Notes The research was carried out in partnership with Oxford Economics with information sourced from UNWTO, Oxford Economics and national sources. All values are in constant 2022 prices and exchange rates, as reported in March 2023. About the World Travel & Tourism Council The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global travel & tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the travel & tourism sector. SOURCE World Travel & Tourism Council "We are thrilled to have completed this project and to have taken a significant step towards reducing our carbon footprint," said Todd Godbey, the CEO at GLOW Academy. "Not only will solar help us save money on our energy bills, but it will also provide a valuable learning opportunity for our students about the importance of sustainability and renewable energy." GLOW Academy plans to add solar energy to their curriculum and will utilize their solar panels to educate students. The solar panel installation is expected to generate approximately 410,000 kWh of clean energy each year, which will help GLOW Academy reduce its carbon emissions by over 639,000 lbs annually. This is equivalent to removing 65 passenger vehicles from the road each year, powering 56.5 homes for the year, and planting 4,800 trees. Additionally, the system is expected to save nearly $33,000 in electric bill cost during the first year and $1,119,894 over the 25-year warrantied life of the solar panels installed by Cape Fear Solar Systems. "We are proud to have partnered with GLOW Academy on this important project," said Robert Parker, the Chief Operating Officer at Cape Fear Solar Systems. "As a local company, we are committed to helping our community transition towards a more sustainable future, and this solar power installation is a significant step in that direction." GLOW Academy's commitment to sustainability is commendable and the installation of the solar power system is a significant milestone in the school's ongoing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. This initiative serves as a model for other educational institutions and businesses in the Wilmington area and beyond. About Glow Academy The Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington is North Carolina's only single gender public charter school. The school opened in August 2016, with its inaugural sixth grade class, adding a new sixth grade each successive academic year. With a focus on providing a single-sex educational choice for students from predominately underserved communities who are often the first in their families to attend college, the 6th thru 12th grade school is part of a nationwide network of 21 groundbreaking and successful single-gender schools. This Young Women's Leadership Network is guided by a proven educational model focused on academic rigor, personal responsibility, leadership and college preparedness. At GLOW Academy, she will: graduate, go to college and succeed in life. For more information about GLOW Academy, visit www.glowacademy.net or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GlowAcademy1/ About Cape Fear Solar Systems, LLC Cape Fear Solar Systems is currently ranked as the number one installer in southeastern North Carolina by Solar Power World. Established in 2007, the company has designed and installed nearly 4,500 local solar systems to date. Cape Fear Solar's pride is in its team, providing the highest quality of craftsmanship, products, and material. Additionally, customers receive unlimited post-installation support. Cape Fear Solar offers turnkey energy systems such as photovoltaic (solar electric) panels, home batteries, and electric vehicle charging stations for residential and commercial customers. To learn more about Cape Fear Solar visit www.CapeFearSolarSystems.com. For more information about Cape Fear Solar Systems, go to: https://www.facebook.com/CapeFearSolar/ https://twitter.com/CapeFearSolar https://www.linkedin.com/in/cape-fear-solar-systems-41b36153/ SOURCE Cape Fear Solar Systems; GLOW Academy The White House has welcomed the news that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, CNN said, citing National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby. "We welcome the news that there was a phone call between President Xi and President Zelensky. We think that's a good thing. We've been saying for quite some time that we believe it's important for President Xi and PRC officials to avail themselves of the Ukrainian perspective on this illegal and unprovoked invasion by Russia," Kirby was quoted as saying by CNN on Wednesday. However, the U.S. National Security Council's coordinator for strategic communications expressed caution "whether the call could lead to some sort of meaningful peace movement or plan." "Whether that's gonna lead to some sort of meaningful peace movement or plan or proposal, I just don't think we know that right now," Kirby told journalists. When asked if China could help in concluding a peace agreement, the official said it "has to be on Zelensky's terms." "The agreement will not be sustainable or credible unless the Ukrainians and President Zelensky personally is invested and supportive of it," the CNN said, citing Kirby. The National Security Council's strategic communications coordinator also said the White House had no advance knowledge that the call between the PRC leader and Zelenskyy would take place, adding "nor would we necessarily expect to." As reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday. "I had a long and meaningful phone call with China's President Xi Jinping. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations," Zelenskyy said on Twitter. CHICAGO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE: GWW) held its annual meeting of shareholders in Lake Forest, Ill., today. Chairman and CEO D.G. Macpherson provided a company update, which included financial and operational highlights from 2022 as well as an update on the Company's environmental, social and governance (ESG) program. Shareholders elected the following 11 directors: Rodney C. Adkins Beatriz R. Perez V. Ann Hailey E. Scott Santi Katherine D. Jaspon Susan Slavik Williams Stuart L. Levenick Lucas E. Watson D.G. Macpherson Steven A. White Neil S. Novich In addition, the shareholders ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as its independent auditor for the year 2023. Shareholders also voted in favor of the advisory say on pay resolution on executive compensation and determined that the preferred frequency of the advisory vote on the compensation of the Company's Named Executive Officers is one year. About Grainger W.W. Grainger, Inc., with 2022 sales of $15.2 billion, is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan and the United Kingdom. Grainger achieves its purpose, We Keep the World Working, by serving more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with innovative technology and deep customer relationships. The Company operates two business models. In the High-Touch Solutions segment, Grainger offers more than 2 million maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products and several services, such as technical support and inventory management. In the Endless Assortment segment, Zoro.com offers customers access to more than 11 million items, and MonotaRO.com provides more than 20 million items. For more information, visit invest.grainger.com. SOURCE W.W. Grainger, Inc. Tactical Combat Training System Increment II Program Exclusively Uses INTEGRITY-178 tuMP SANTA BARBARA, Calif., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Hills Software, today, is thanking Collins Aerospace for highlighting the Tactical Combat Training System (TCTS) Increment II program in the technical white paper "Face 3.1 Enhancements: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?". Coauthored with LDRA and Lynx Software Technologies, the white paper highlights how conformance to the FACE Technical Standard is vital to the TCTS II program. Because Lynx is a coauthor of the white paper, some readers might come to the erroneous conclusion that a Lynx product is being used for the TCTS II program when it really is the INTEGRITY-178 tuMP real-time operating system (RTOS) from Green Hills Software. The TCTS II program exclusively uses the FACE certified INTEGRITY-178 tuMP RTOS. TCTS II provides multi-domain Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training capabilities to modern warfighters while aligning with industry software standards such as the FACE Technical Standard and the Software Communications Architecture (SCA). TCTS II fields the first certified multi-level security (MLS) training equipment in both airborne and ground equipment to protect the tactics, techniques, and procedures being used. Collins Aerospace selected the INTEGRITY-178 tuMP RTOS due to its proven Multiple Independent Levels of Security (MILS) architecture, the ability to host MLS applications such as cross domain solutions (CDS), the ability to host a guest OS and legacy applications in a secure virtualized partition, and its conformance to the FACE 3.0 Technical Standard. Collins Aerospace is using the INTEGRITY-178 tuMP RTOS as part of the TCTS II system to meet the NSA's Raise the Bar (RTB) initiative for Cross Domain Solutions. The RTB standard goes well beyond the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Risk Management Framework (RMF) controls that many government agencies implement. RTB standards ensure that CDS systems are at low risk of failing, even when under persistent attack. Jim Marek, CISSP, Technical Fellow for Mission Systems at Collins Aerospace, explained that the integration of Green Hill Software's INTEGRITY-178 tuMP made this Raise the Bar CDS certification approval possible, by "uniquely meeting the functionality requirements of the Navy's TCTS II CDS and security assurance requirements of RTB." INTEGRITY-178 tuMP is the only RTOS that has been used to meet RTB standards. The INTEGRITY-178 tuMP high-assurance RTOS from Green Hills Software is uniquely designed to meet both DO-178C DAL A airborne safety objectives and the strictest security requirements. The INTEGRITY-178 tuMP RTOS is a MILS operating system that has been deployed on numerous MLS and CDS programs. Long before the creation of the RTB standards, Green Hills Software led the way to meeting CDS requirements for an operating system by getting INTEGRITY-178 certified to the NSA-defined Separation Kernel Protection Profile (SKPP) in 2008. The SKPP is the highest assurance set of requirements ever created for an operating system, and INTEGRITY-178 was certified to Common Criteria EAL 6+ and "High Robustness." Beyond the separation kernel, INTEGRITY-178 tuMP provides a complete set of APIs for use by multi-level security applications within a secure partition, e.g., an MLS guard, which is a fundamental requirement in a cross-domain system. INTEGRITY-178 was the first commercial RTOS approved as complying with DO-178B Level A objectives, and INTEGRITY-178 tuMP is the only RTOS to be part of a civil certification on a multicore system to DO-178C and CAST-32A multicore objectives. INTEGRITY-178 tuMP directly supports a Modular Open Systems Approach, and it was the first RTOS to be certified conformant to the FACE Technical Standard, edition 3.0. Further Reading: "Raise the Bar: Demanding Cybersecurity Excellence for Cross Domain Solutions in the Battlespace," The Modern Battlespace, 3-Mar-2021. www.modernbattlespace.com About Green Hills Software Founded in 1982, Green Hills Software is the worldwide leader in embedded safety and security. In 2008, the Green Hills INTEGRITY-178 RTOS was the first and only operating system to be certified by NIAP (National Information Assurance Partnership comprised of NSA & NIST) to EAL 6+, High Robustness, the highest level of security ever achieved for any software product. Our open architecture, integrated development solutions address deeply embedded, absolute security and high-reliability applications for the military/avionics, medical, industrial, automotive, networking, consumer and other markets that demand industry-certified solutions. Green Hills Software is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA, with European headquarters in the United Kingdom. Visit Green Hills Software at www.ghs.com . Green Hills, the Green Hills logo, INTEGRITY and tuMP are trademarks or registered trademarks of Green Hills Software in the U.S. and/or internationally. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE Green Hills Software NEW YORK, April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The size of the grocery retail market in UK is set to grow by USD 52.54 billion between 2022 and 2027, progressing at a CAGR of 3.83% during the forecast period, according to Technavio Research. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This report offers an up-to-date analysis of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment, Download a Sample Report Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled UK Grocery Retail Market 2023-2027 Although rapid urbanization and rising consumer spending, growing demand for convenient food products, and rising promotions will offer immense growth opportunities, the threat of counterfeit grocery products is likely to pose a challenge for market vendors. In a bid to help players strengthen their market foothold, this report provides a detailed analysis of the leading market vendors. The report also empowers industry honchos with information on the competitive landscape and insights into the different product offerings offered by various companies. Frequently Asked Questions: Based on segmentation by product, which is the leading segment in the market? The market will observe significant growth in the food and beverages segment. The market will observe significant growth in the food and beverages segment. What is the major trend in the market? Innovative store layouts and offerings to amplify customer experience is identified as the major trend in the market. Innovative store layouts and offerings to amplify customer experience is identified as the major trend in the market. At what rate is the market projected to grow? The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.83% during the forecast period. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.83% during the forecast period. Who are the top players in the market? Amazon.com Inc., Carrefour SA, Costco Wholesale Corp., EG Group, EH Booth and Co. Ltd., Farmfoods Ltd., Heron Foods Ltd., HOFER KG, Iceland Foods Ltd., Lidl US LLC, Marks and Spencer Plc, National Coop Grocers, Ocado Retail Ltd., PROUDFOOT SUPERMARKETS, SPAR (UK) Ltd., Tesco Plc, Waitrose Ltd., Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd., McCormick and Co. Inc., and B and M Retail Ltd. are the top players in the market. Amazon.com Inc., Carrefour SA, Costco Wholesale Corp., EG Group, EH Booth and Co. Ltd., Farmfoods Ltd., Heron Foods Ltd., HOFER KG, Iceland Foods Ltd., Lidl US LLC, Marks and Spencer Plc, National Coop Grocers, Ocado Retail Ltd., PROUDFOOT SUPERMARKETS, SPAR (UK) Ltd., Tesco Plc, Waitrose Ltd., Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd., McCormick and Co. Inc., and B and M Retail Ltd. are the top players in the market. What are the key market drivers and challenges? The market is driven by rising promotions, including bundled prices, volume discounts, and seasonal sales. However, the threat of counterfeit grocery products will challenge the growth of the market. Grocery Retail Market in UK 2023-2027: Segmentation Product Food and Beverages Non Food Distribution Channel Hypermarkets and Supermarkets Convenience Stores Discount Stores Online Others The market growth in the food and beverages segment will be significant over the forecast period. The growth of the segment is driven by the increasing demand for snacks and the introduction of innovative products by vendors. Also, the rise in the per capita income of consumers and the rise in the demand for organic and gluten-free products are driving the growth of the segment. The report comprises of various segments as well as analysis of the trends and factors that are playing a substantial role in the market, download a sample report Grocery Retail Market in UK 2023-2027: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The grocery retail market in UK report covers the following areas: Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Grocery Retail Market in UK 2023-2027: Vendor Analysis and Scope The grocery retail market in UK is fragmented due to the presence of several international and local players operating across the country. Vendors in the market compete by expanding their presence through mergers and acquisitions and launching marketing campaigns. The competition is expected to intensify during the forecast period with the entry of several new players, private-label brands, price wars, and M&A. Global vendors remain under constant threat from regional and local vendors, as well as emerging start-ups. Therefore, they need to invest in constant service innovations and ensure easy and convenient service delivery to sustain themselves in the market. Some of the key vendors covered in the report include: Amazon.com Inc. - The company offers 400-gram English Oven multigrain bread, which is used as a health supplement meal. - The company offers 400-gram English Oven multigrain bread, which is used as a health supplement meal. Carrefour SA - The company offers Aero honeycomb chocolate bar, which is used as a confectionery food item. - The company offers Aero honeycomb chocolate bar, which is used as a confectionery food item. Farmfoods Ltd. - The company offers Simply Lunch deli vegetarian sandwich platter, which is used as a ready-made meal consumed mostly as an evening snack. - The company offers Simply Lunch deli vegetarian sandwich platter, which is used as a ready-made meal consumed mostly as an evening snack. Heron Foods Ltd. - The company offers groceries and chilled foods, bread, milk, fresh fruit, and vegetables along with a wide range of household items. - The company offers groceries and chilled foods, bread, milk, fresh fruit, and vegetables along with a wide range of household items. Costco Wholesale Corp. EH Booth and Co. Ltd. HOFER KG Iceland Foods Ltd. Lidl US LLC Marks and Spencer Plc National Coop Grocers Ocado Retail Ltd. PROUDFOOT SUPERMARKETS SPAR (UK) Ltd. Tesco Plc Waitrose Ltd. Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd. Why Buy? Add credibility to strategy Analyzes competitor's offerings Get a holistic view of the market Grow your profit margin with Technavio - Buy the Report Grocery Retail Market in UK 2023-2027: Driver The market is driven by rising promotions, including bundled prices, volume discounts, and seasonal sales. Vendors are adopting various strategies to attract customers. Product bundling is one of the key strategies adopted by vendors in recent times. The strategy benefits and help them save around 7%-15% on the cost of purchasing the bundled items separately. In addition, promotional offers, such as volume discounts, are being adopted by retail stores to drive more sales. Many retail stores offer seasonal discounts on grocery products on occasions such as Christmas. This helps in attracting several people to department stores. Many such marketing strategies adopted by vendors drive the growth of the market in focus. Grocery Retail Market in UK 2023-2027: Challenge The threat of counterfeit grocery products will challenge the growth of the market. The grocery retail market in UK faces a significant threat from counterfeit products. The market has a wide availability of numerous spurious products ranging from fast-moving consumer goods to electronic goods. The availability of such products is adversely affecting the sales as well as the reputation of popular brands. This is expected to reduce the growth potential of the market. Grocery Retail Market in UK 2023-2027: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2023-2027 Detailed information on factors that will assist grocery retail market growth in UK during the next five years Estimation of the grocery retail market size in UK and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the grocery retail market across UK Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of grocery retail market vendors in UK Related Reports: The instant grocery market size is expected to increase by USD 123.85 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 16.88%. The market is segmented by product (nonfood products and food products) and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The online grocery market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 13.14% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecasted to increase by USD 740.88 billion. The market is segmented by product (food products and non-food products), type (one-time customers and subscribers), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa). Grocery Retail Market in UK: Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 3.83% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 52.54 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 3.46 Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Amazon.com Inc., Carrefour SA, Costco Wholesale Corp., EG Group, EH Booth and Co. Ltd., Farmfoods Ltd., Heron Foods Ltd., HOFER KG, Iceland Foods Ltd., Lidl US LLC, Marks and Spencer Plc, National Coop Grocers, Ocado Retail Ltd., PROUDFOOT SUPERMARKETS, SPAR (UK) Ltd., Tesco Plc, Waitrose Ltd., Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd., McCormick and Co. Inc., and B and M Retail Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse through Technavio's Consumer Staples Market Reports Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Country Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Product Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 07: Parent market Exhibit 08: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 09: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 10: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2022 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027 Exhibit 11: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 12: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 13: Chart on UK: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 14: Data Table on UK: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 4 Historic Market Size 4.1 Grocery retail market in UK 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 15: Historic Market Size Data Table on Grocery retail market in UK 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.2 Product Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 16: Historic Market Size Product Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.3 Distribution channel Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 17: Historic Market Size Distribution channel Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 5 Five Forces Analysis 5.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 18: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027 5.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 19: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027 5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 20: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 21: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 22: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 23: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.7 Market condition Exhibit 24: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027 6 Market Segmentation by Product 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 25: Chart on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 26: Data Table on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Product Exhibit 27: Chart on Comparison by Product Exhibit 28: Data Table on Comparison by Product 6.3 Food and beverages - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 29: Chart on Food and beverages - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 30: Data Table on Food and beverages - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 31: Chart on Food and beverages - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 32: Data Table on Food and beverages - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 Non food - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 33: Chart on Non food - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 34: Data Table on Non food - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 35: Chart on Non food - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 36: Data Table on Non food - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.5 Market opportunity by Product Exhibit 37: Market opportunity by Product ($ billion) Exhibit 38: Data Table on Market opportunity by Product ($ billion) 7 Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 39: Chart on Distribution Channel - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 40: Data Table on Distribution Channel - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 7.2 Comparison by Distribution Channel Exhibit 41: Chart on Comparison by Distribution Channel Exhibit 42: Data Table on Comparison by Distribution Channel 7.3 Hypermarkets and supermarkets - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 43: Chart on Hypermarkets and supermarkets - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 44: Data Table on Hypermarkets and supermarkets - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 45: Chart on Hypermarkets and supermarkets - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 46: Data Table on Hypermarkets and supermarkets - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.4 Convenience stores - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 47: Chart on Convenience stores - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 48: Data Table on Convenience stores - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 49: Chart on Convenience stores - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 50: Data Table on Convenience stores - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Discount stores - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 51: Chart on Discount stores - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 52: Data Table on Discount stores - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 53: Chart on Discount stores - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 54: Data Table on Discount stores - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.6 Online - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 55: Chart on Online - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 56: Data Table on Online - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 57: Chart on Online - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 58: Data Table on Online - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.7 Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 59: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 60: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 61: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 62: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.8 Market opportunity by Distribution Channel Exhibit 63: Market opportunity by Distribution Channel ($ billion) Exhibit 64: Data Table on Market opportunity by Distribution Channel ($ billion) 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 65: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 9.1 Market drivers 9.2 Market challenges 9.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 66: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027 9.4 Market trends 10 Vendor Landscape 10.1 Overview 10.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 67: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 10.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 68: Overview on factors of disruption 10.4 Industry risks Exhibit 69: Impact of key risks on business 11 Vendor Analysis 11.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 70: Vendors covered 11.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 71: Matrix on vendor position and classification 11.3 Amazon.com Inc. Exhibit 72: Amazon.com Inc. - Overview Exhibit 73: Amazon.com Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 74: Amazon.com Inc. - Key news Exhibit 75: Amazon.com Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 76: Amazon.com Inc. - Segment focus 11.4 B and M Retail Ltd and M Retail Ltd Exhibit 77: B and M Retail Ltd - Overview Exhibit 78: B and M Retail Ltd - Product / Service Exhibit 79: B and M Retail Ltd - Key offerings 11.5 Costco Wholesale Corp. Exhibit 80: Costco Wholesale Corp. - Overview Exhibit 81: Costco Wholesale Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 82: Costco Wholesale Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 83: Costco Wholesale Corp. - Segment focus 11.6 EG Group Exhibit 84: EG Group - Overview Exhibit 85: EG Group - Product / Service Exhibit 86: EG Group - Key offerings 11.7 EH Booth and Co. Ltd. Exhibit 87: EH Booth and Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 88: EH Booth and Co. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 89: EH Booth and Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 11.8 Farmfoods Ltd. Exhibit 90: Farmfoods Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 91: Farmfoods Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 92: Farmfoods Ltd. - Key offerings 11.9 HOFER KG Exhibit 93: HOFER KG - Overview Exhibit 94: HOFER KG - Product / Service Exhibit 95: HOFER KG - Key offerings 11.10 Iceland Foods Ltd. Exhibit 96: Iceland Foods Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 97: Iceland Foods Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 98: Iceland Foods Ltd. - Key offerings 11.11 Lidl US LLC Exhibit 99: Lidl US LLC - Overview Exhibit 100: Lidl US LLC - Product / Service Exhibit 101: Lidl US LLC - Key offerings 11.12 Marks and Spencer Plc and Spencer Plc Exhibit 102: Marks and Spencer Plc - Overview Exhibit 103: Marks and Spencer Plc - Business segments Exhibit 104: Marks and Spencer Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 105: Marks and Spencer Plc - Segment focus 11.13 National Coop Grocers Exhibit 106: National Coop Grocers - Overview Exhibit 107: National Coop Grocers - Product / Service Exhibit 108: National Coop Grocers - Key offerings 11.14 Ocado Retail Ltd. Exhibit 109: Ocado Retail Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 110: Ocado Retail Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 111: Ocado Retail Ltd. - Key offerings 11.15 Tesco Plc Exhibit 112: Tesco Plc - Overview Exhibit 113: Tesco Plc - Business segments Exhibit 114: Tesco Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 115: Tesco Plc - Segment focus 11.16 Waitrose Ltd. Exhibit 116: Waitrose Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 117: Waitrose Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 118: Waitrose Ltd. - Key offerings 11.17 Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd. Exhibit 119: Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 120: Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 121: Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd. - Key offerings 12 Appendix 12.1 Scope of the report 12.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 122: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 123: Exclusions checklist 12.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 124: Currency conversion rates for US$ 12.4 Research methodology Exhibit 125: Research methodology Exhibit 126: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 127: Information sources 12.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 128: 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 MEXICO CITY, April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Comercial Chedraui, S.A.B. de C.V. reports its 2023 first quarter results. All figures in this report are shown in nominal terms and reported in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Quarter Highlights: + 12.2% SSS in Mexico vs ANTAD's + 9.0% increase + 7.9% SSS increase in the US +14.0% consolidated EBITDA increase EBITDA margin increases: +58 bps Consolidated margin, +30 bps Retail Mexico; +73 bps Retail US Consolidated Net Income +46.3% in the quarter Net debt to EBITDA leverage ratio: 0.18x CONSOLIDATED RESULTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER 2023 The following chart summarizes the Income Statement in million pesos for the first quarter of 2023. The margin for each figure represents its ratio to net sales and the comparison to the same period in 2022. MXN in millions Q1'22 % NS Q1'23 % NS Var % Net Sales 60,728 100.0 % 64,427 100.0 % 6.1 % Gross Profit 13,654 22.5 % 14,897 23.1 % 9.1 % Operating Income 2,850 4.7 % 3,500 5.4 % 22.8 % EBITDA 4,748 7.8 % 5,412 8.4 % 14.0 % Net Income 1,095 1.8 % 1,602 2.5 % 46.3 % Antonio Chedraui, Grupo Comercial Chedraui's CEO, remarked: "In this first quarter of 2023, we have continued with good results in both countries. In Mexico, as we have done in the last two years, we grew at a faster pace than the market in almost all of the regions in which we operate. In the United States, our focus on value has allowed us to increase customer traffic in stores year over year, resulting in sales growth in all banners. With these results, we reaffirm our commitment to continue creating value for Chedraui, its customers and its shareholders." To access the full document, please click here. Conference Call information Date Wednesday, April 26th 2023 11:00 am (EST) 09:00 am (Mexico City) Contacto Contacto Estados Unidos (toll-free): +1 877 407 3982 Contacto Mexico: 01 800 522 0034 Contacto Internacional: +1 201 493 6780 https://callme.viavid.com/viavid/?callme=true&passcode=13731734&h=true&info=company&r=true&B=6 Webcast Grupo Comercial Chedraui SAB de CV Q1'23 Conference Call - 1610055 Contact Information: Humberto Tafolla Nunez Jesus Arturo Velazquez Diaz Deputy General Manager Ticker symbol (BMV): IR and Financial information Deputy Director Tel. + 52 (228) 8-42-11-10 CHDRAUIB Tel. + 52 (228) 8-42-11-17 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Grupo Comercial Chedraui, S.A.B. de C.V. Consolidated revenue increases 12%, to Ps.42,219 million as a result of strong dynamism in financial income The consolidated gross portfolio grows 16%, to Ps.165,666 million 11% increase in consolidated deposits, to Ps.216,631 million, reaffirms solid prospects for the financial business, with optimal cost of funding MEXICO CITY, April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Elektra, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: ELEKTRA* Latibex: XEKT), Latin America's leading specialty retailer and financial services company, and the largest non-bank provider of cash advance services in the United States, today announced first quarter 2023 results. First quarter results Consolidated revenue grew 12% to Ps.42,219 million in the period, compared to Ps.37,532 million in the same quarter of the previous year. Operating costs and expenses were Ps.36,062 million, from Ps.31,911 million in 2022. As a result, EBITDA was Ps.6,158 million, 10% higher compared to Ps.5,622 million a year ago. Operating income was Ps.3,767 million this quarter, 45% above Ps.2,606 million in the same period of 2022. The company reported net income of Ps.459 million, compared to a loss of Ps.4,615 million a year ago. 1Q 2022 1Q 2023 Change Ps. % Consolidated revenue $37,532 $42,219 $4,687 12 % EBITDA $5,622 $6,158 $537 10 % Operating profit $2,606 $3,767 $1,162 45 % Net result $(4,615) $459 $5,075 --- Net result per share $(20.43) $2.07 $22.50 --- Figures in millions of pesos EBITDA: Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization. As of March 31, 2022, Elektra* outstanding shares were 225.9 million and as of March 31, 2023, were 221.4 million. Revenue Consolidated revenue increased 12% in the period, as a result of a 23% growth in financial revenues and a 2% decrease in commercial sales. The increase in financial income to Ps.26,699 million, from Ps.21,715 million the previous year reflects, to a large extent, a 31% increase in the income of Banco Azteca Mexico which further strengthens its solid financial margin within the framework of dynamic growth of the gross credit portfolio in the period, which boosts the well-being of millions of families and the development of businesses. The reduction in sales of the commercial business to Ps.15,520 million, from Ps.15,817 million a year ago largely reflects the decrease in sales of certain lines of merchandise due to lower seasonal demand, partially offset by strong growth in income from commercialization of motorcycles which strengthen the productivity of businesses and the mobility of millions of families. Costs and expenses Consolidated costs for the quarter were Ps.19,904 million, compared to Ps.16,791 million for the previous year. The growth is explained by a 69% increase in the financial cost derived from greater creation of credit preventive reserves, in the context of solid dynamism of the consolidated gross portfolio, as well as higher interests paid, in line with growing market rates and a 4% reduction in commercial costs, consistent with the performance of income from merchandise sales. Selling, administrative and promotion expenses increased 7% to Ps.16,158 million, from Ps.15,120 million a year ago, as a result of higher personnel and operating expenses. Expenses grow to a lesser extent than consolidated revenue, which is the result of solid strategies that drive Grupo Elektra's operating efficiency, together with strict budgets throughout the organization in the context of measures to rationalize structures and optimize processes. EBITDA and net result EBITDA was Ps.6,158 million, from Ps.5,622 million the previous year. The company reported operating income of Ps.3,767 million, compared to Ps.2,606 million in the same quarter of 2022. The main variations below EBITDA were the following: A reduction of Ps.805 million in other expenses, due to impairment of Purpose Financial's intangible assets in the first quarter of 2022, consistent with the company's performance and financial perspectives a year ago. A positive variation of Ps.5,832 million in other financial results, which reflects a 7% reduction this quarter in the market value of the underlying financial instruments held by the company and which does not imply cash flow compared to a 17% reduction a year ago. Consistent with the results of the quarter, an increase of Ps.1,909 million was registered in the provision for taxes in the period. Grupo Elektra reported a net income of Ps.459 million, from a loss of Ps.4,615 million a year ago. Unconsolidated Balance Sheet A proforma balance sheet exercise of Grupo Elektra is presented, which allows knowing the non-consolidated financial situation, excluding the net assets of the financial business, whose investment is valued in this case under the participation method. This presentation shows the debt of the company without considering Banco Azteca's immediate and term deposits, which do not constitute debt with cost for Grupo Elektra. Also, the pro forma balance sheet does not include the bank's gross loan portfolio. This provides greater clarity about the different businesses that make up the company and allows financial market participants to make estimates of the value of the company, considering only the relevant debt for said calculations. Consistent with this, the debt with cost was Ps.39,026 million as of March 31, 2023, compared to Ps.32,525 million of the previous year. The growth of the debt balance is mainly related to issuances of Certificados Busatiles. The balance of cash and cash equivalents was Ps.10,078 million, from Ps.6,691 million the previous year. As of March 31, 2023, the company's stockholders' equity was Ps.89,036 million, and the ratio of stockholders' equity to total liabilities was 1.1 times. As of March 31 2022 As of March 31 2023 Change Ps. % Cash and cash equivalents $6,691 $10,078 3,386 51 % Marketable financial instruments 32,606 28,059 (4,547) (14 %) Inventories 19,549 17,663 (1,885) (10 %) Accounts receivables 49,505 43,350 (6,154) (12 %) Other current assets 4,433 5,083 650 15 % Investments in shares 39,839 39,692 (147) (0 %) Fixed assets 7,620 10,037 2,416 32 % Right of use assets 9,027 12,848 3,821 42 % Other assets 1,838 3,619 1,781 97 % Total assets $171,108 $170,429 ($679) (0 %) Short-term debt $12,535 $9,386 (3,149) (25 %) Suppliers 8,221 8,016 (205) (2 %) Other short-term liabilities 15,921 17,934 2,013 13 % Long-term debt 19,990 29,640 9,650 48 % Differed taxes 4,272 1,510 (2,763) (65 %) Other long-term debt 11,109 14,908 3,798 34 % Total liabilities $72,049 $81,393 $9,344 13 % Stakeholders equity $99,059 $89,036 ($10,023) (10 %) Liabilities and equity $171,108 $170,429 ($679) (0 %) Figures in millions of pesos. Consolidated Balance Sheet Loan Portfolio and Deposits The consolidated gross portfolio of Banco Azteca Mexico, Purpose Financial and Banco Azteca Latin America as of March 31, 2023, grew 16%, to Ps.165,666 million, from Ps.142,964 million the previous year. The consolidated delinquency rate was 5.7% at the end of the period, compared to 4.6% the previous year. Banco Azteca Mexico's gross portfolio balance increased 18% to Ps.160,451 million, from Ps.135,721 million a year ago. The Bank's delinquency rate at the end of the quarter was 4.9%, compared to 4.2% a year earlier. Grupo Elektra's consolidated deposits grew 11%, to Ps.216,631 million, from Ps.195,383 million a year ago. Banco Azteca Mexico's traditional deposits were Ps.215,332 million, 12% above the Ps.192,166 million of the previous year. The ratio of traditional deposits to gross credit portfolio of Banco Azteca Mexico was 1.3 times, which allows solid growth of the Bank, with optimal funding cost. The Bank's liquidity coverage ratio computable liquid assets / total net cash outflow was 1.304%, an outstanding figure in the Mexican banking sector. The capitalization index of Banco Azteca Mexico was 14.79%. Infrastructure Grupo Elektra currently has 6,307 contact points, compared to 6,235 units the previous year. The increase results from the net opening of 245 contact points in Mexico and 43 in Central America, partially offset by the closure of 216 Purpose Financial units in the United States in the context of strategies aimed at boosting online credit operations and strengthening efficiency operations of this company. The company has 4,981 storefronts in Mexico at the end of the quarter, 917 in the United States and 409 in Central America. The important distribution network provides the company with proximity to the customer and closeness in service and generates a superior market position in the countries in which it operates. Company Profile: Grupo Elektra is Latin America's leading financial services company and specialty retailer and the largest non-bank provider of cash advance services in the United States. The group operates more than 6,000 points of contact in Mexico, the United States, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama. Grupo Elektra is a Grupo Salinas company (www.gruposalinas.com), a group of dynamic, fast growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating economic value through market innovation and goods and services that improve standards of living; social value to improve community wellbeing; and environmental value by reducing the negative impact of its business activities. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies. These companies include TV Azteca (www.TVazteca.com; www.irtvazteca.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Purpose Financial (havepurpose.com), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx), Punto Casa de Bolsa (www.puntocasadebolsa.mx), Totalplay (irtotalplay.mx; www.totalplay.com.mx) and Totalplay Empresarial (totalplayempresarial.com.mx). TV Azteca and Grupo Elektra trade shares on the Mexican Stock Market and in Spain's' Latibex market. Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. The group of companies shares a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance. Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are concepts about the future that involve risks and uncertainty that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Other risks that may affect Grupo Elektra and its subsidiaries are presented in documents sent to the securities authorities. Investor Relations: Bruno Rangel Grupo Salinas Tel. +52 (55) 1720-9167 [email protected] Rolando Villarreal Grupo Elektra, S.A.B. de C.V. Tel. +52 (55) 1720-9167 [email protected] Press Relations: Luciano Pascoe Tel. +52 (55) 1720 1313 ext. 36553 [email protected] GRUPO ELEKTRA, S.A.B. DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS MILLIONS OF MEXICAN PESOS 1Q22 1Q23 Change Financial income 21,715 58 % 26,699 63 % 4,985 23 % Commercial income 15,817 42 % 15,520 37 % (298) -2 % Income 37,532 100 % 42,219 100 % 4,687 12 % Financial cost 5,215 14 % 8,808 21 % 3,593 69 % Commercial cost 11,576 31 % 11,095 26 % (480) -4 % Costs 16,791 45 % 19,904 47 % 3,113 19 % Gross income 20,741 55 % 22,316 53 % 1,574 8 % Sales, administration and promotion expenses 15,120 40 % 16,158 38 % 1,038 7 % EBITDA 5,622 15 % 6,158 15 % 537 10 % Depreciation and amortization 2,210 6 % 2,390 6 % 180 8 % Other expense, net 805 2 % 1 0 % (805) -100 % Operating income 2,606 7 % 3,767 9 % 1,162 45 % Comprehensive financial result: Interest income 192 1 % 377 1 % 185 96 % Interest expense (947) -3 % (1,470) -3 % (523) -55 % Foreign exchange gain, net 43 0 % 436 1 % 393 100 % Other financial results, net (8,370) -22 % (2,538) -6 % 5,832 70 % (9,082) -24 % (3,195) -8 % 5,887 65 % Participation in the net income of CASA and other associated companies 118 0 % 56 0 % (62) -52 % (Loss) income before income tax (6,358) -17 % 628 1 % 6,986 ---- Income tax 1,740 5 % (169) 0 % (1,909) ---- (Loss) income before discontinued operations (4,618) -12 % 459 1 % 5,077 ---- Result from discontinued operations 2 0 % (0) 0 % (2) ---- Impairment of intangible assets 0 % 0 % - ---- Consolidated net (loss) income (4,615) -12 % 459 1 % 5,075 ---- GRUPO ELEKTRA, S.A.B. DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET MILLIONS OF MEXICAN PESOS Commercial Business Financial Business Grupo Elektra Commercial Business Financial Business Grupo Elektra Change At March 31, 2022 At March 31, 2023 Cash and cash equivalents 6,691 31,128 37,819 10,078 31,216 41,294 3,475 9 % Marketable financial instruments 5,750 95,650 101,400 5,077 94,672 99,749 (1,651) -2 % Performing loan portfolio - 76,718 76,718 - 85,349 85,349 8,631 11 % Total past-due loans - 5,121 5,121 - 7,533 7,533 2,412 47 % Gross loan portfolio - 81,839 81,839 - 92,882 92,882 11,043 13 % Allowance for credit risks - 11,063 11,063 - 14,063 14,063 3,001 27 % Loan portfolio, net - 70,776 70,776 - 78,819 78,819 8,043 11 % Inventories 19,549 - 19,549 17,663 - 17,663 (1,885) -10 % Other current assets 16,887 11,354 28,241 19,676 13,699 33,376 5,135 18 % Total current assets 48,877 208,909 257,786 52,495 218,407 270,901 13,115 5 % Financial instruments 26,856 40 26,896 22,981 3 22,985 (3,912) -15 % Performing loan portfolio - 59,613 59,613 - 70,807 70,807 11,193 19 % Total past-due loans - 1,512 1,512 - 1,977 1,977 465 31 % Gross loan portfolio - 61,125 61,125 - 72,784 72,784 11,659 19 % Allowance for credit risks - 3,771 3,771 - 4,918 4,918 1,147 30 % Loan portfolio - 57,353 57,353 - 67,865 67,865 10,512 18 % Other non-current assets 24,245 183 24,428 16,627 331 16,958 (7,470) -31 % Investment in shares 2,209 - 2,209 2,103 - 2,103 (106) -5 % Property, furniture, equipment and investment in stores, net 7,620 7,365 14,985 10,037 11,028 21,065 6,080 41 % Intangible assets 541 8,352 8,893 780 8,134 8,914 22 0 % Right of use asset 8,840 2,254 11,094 12,675 2,189 14,864 3,770 34 % Other assets 1,297 8,194 9,491 2,839 7,734 10,573 1,081 11 % TOTAL ASSETS 120,486 292,650 413,136 120,537 315,692 436,228 23,092 6 % Demand and term deposits - 195,383 195,383 - 216,631 216,631 21,248 11 % Creditors from repurchase agreements - 24,546 24,546 - 27,753 27,753 3,207 13 % Short-term debt 12,465 384 12,850 9,281 542 9,823 (3,027) -24 % Leasing 1,647 933 2,580 2,317 887 3,204 624 24 % Short-term liabilities with cost 14,112 221,247 235,359 11,598 245,813 257,411 22,052 9 % Suppliers and other short-term liabilities 22,271 18,604 40,875 23,409 20,183 43,592 2,717 7 % Short-term liabilities without cost 22,271 18,604 40,875 23,409 20,183 43,592 2,717 7 % Total short-term liabilities 36,383 239,851 276,234 35,006 265,997 301,003 24,769 9 % Long-term debt 19,710 12 19,722 26,970 0 26,970 7,248 37 % Leasing 8,140 1,418 9,558 11,402 1,440 12,842 3,284 34 % Long-term liabilities with cost 27,851 1,430 29,280 38,372 1,440 39,812 10,532 36 % Long-term liabilities without cost 7,241 1,322 8,563 5,015 1,362 6,377 (2,186) -26 % Total long-term liabilities 35,092 2,751 37,843 43,387 2,802 46,190 8,347 22 % TOTAL LIABILITIES 71,475 242,602 314,077 78,394 268,799 347,193 33,116 11 % TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 49,011 50,048 99,059 42,143 46,893 89,036 (10,023) -10 % LIABILITIES + EQUITY 120,486 292,650 413,136 120,537 315,692 436,228 23,092 6 % INFRASTRUCTURE 1Q22 1Q23 Change Points of sale in Mexico Elektra 1,162 19 % 1,224 19 % 62 5 % Salinas y Rocha 36 1 % 33 1 % (3) -8 % Banco Azteca 1,885 30 % 1,937 31 % 52 3 % Freestanding branches 1,653 27 % 1,787 28 % 134 8 % Total 4,736 76 % 4,981 79 % 245 5 % Points of sale in Central America Elektra 105 2 % 119 2 % 14 13 % Banco Azteca 204 3 % 225 4 % 21 10 % Freestanding branches 57 1 % 65 1 % 8 14 % Total 366 6 % 409 6 % 43 12 % Points of sale in North America Purpose Financial 1,133 18 % 917 15 % (216) -19 % Total 1,133 18 % 917 15 % (216) -19 % TOTAL 6,235 100 % 6,307 100 % 72 1 % Floor space (m) 1,497 100 % 1,527 100 % 30 2 % Employees Mexico 61,465 88 % 60,897 87 % (568) -1 % Central and South America 5,421 8 % 6,082 9 % 661 12 % North America 2,829 4 % 2,673 4 % (156) -6 % Total employees 69,715 100 % 69,652 100 % (63) 0 % SOURCE Grupo Elektra, S.A.B. de C.V. MEXICO CITY, April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo IDESA, S.A. de C.V. (the "Company") announced today the expiration and results of the exchange offer and consent solicitation (the "Offer and Solicitation") for its 9.375% Senior Notes due 2026 (the "Existing Secured Notes") on the terms previously announced in the offering and solicitation memorandum dated March 28, 2023 (as supplemented from time to time, the "Offering Memorandum"). The Offer and Solicitation expired at 5:00 pm, New York City time, on April 25, 2023 (the "Expiration Date"). The Existing Secured Notes tendered in the Offer and Solicitation will be exchanged for 6.500% Senior Notes due 2028 (the "New Secured Notes"). Settlement is expected to occur on April 28, 2023 (the "Settlement Date"), subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer and Solicitation. The Company also announced today that on April 21, 2023, it capitalized US$310 million (equivalent to MXP$5,615,805,000.00) of its outstanding debt with its main financial lender. Based on information provided by the Exchange and Information Agent, as of the Expiration Date, approximately US$287 million of the Existing Secured Notes (or approximately 92.2% of the outstanding principal amount thereof) has been validly tendered in the Offer and Solicitation with (i) approximately US$117 million in aggregate principal amount of Existing Secured Notes electing Early A Consideration, (ii) approximately US$170 million in aggregate principal amount of Existing Secured Notes electing Early B Consideration, and (iii) the remainder of the Existing Secured Notes receiving the Base Exchange Consideration. On the Settlement Date, Eligible Holders that elected Early A Consideration will receive approximately 86% and 14% of the Early A Consideration in cash and New Secured Notes, respectively. Additionally, the Minimum Tender Condition was satisfied as of the Early Tender Date. The New Secured Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or any state securities laws. Therefore, unless so registered, the New Secured Notes may not be offered or sold except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Company has applied to list the New Secured Notes on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and for trading on the Euro MTF Market. The CUSIP numbers for the New Secured Notes are 40053L AC9 (144A) and P4954W AC4 (Regulation S). The Offer and Solicitation are only made, and copies of the offering documents will only be made available, to a holder of the Existing Secured Notes who has certified its status as (1) both a "Qualified Purchaser" for purposes of Section 3(c)(7) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act or (2) a person who is not a "U.S. person" as defined in Rule 902(k) under the Securities Act who is not a "Disqualified Non-U.S. Holder" (each, an "Eligible Holder"). The Offer and Solicitation are subject to certain conditions, as described in the Offering Memorandum. Concurrent with the expiration of the Offer and Solicitation, the Company has, in its discretion and subject to applicable law, waived the proposed amendment to the indenture for the Existing Secured Notes (the "2026 Indenture") in the Offering Memorandum which stated that Section 12.6 of the 2026 Indenture will be amended to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The 2026 Indenture, the Existing Secured Notes, and the Subsidiary Guarantees (as defined in the 2026 Indenture) will continue to be governed by and construed in accordance with the Law of the State of New York. In addition, the Company has removed paragraph (b) from the "Limitations Regarding the Braskem Idesa Shareholder Loans at Grupo Idesa Level" in the Description of Notes as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, due to the fact that the capital structure of the Company has changed since 2020, and, further, that the collateral supporting the New Secured Notes has already been enhanced by (i) a first-priority lien on all shares of Etileno XXI; (ii) a conditional first-priority lien on any receivables (net of any taxes and retentions) payable to the Company and Etileno XXI under the Braskem Idesa shareholder loans; and (iii) a first-priority lien on all of the Company's right to collect payment from available funds in respect of the Braskem Idesa shareholder loans. The Company has also removed certain additional requirements in connection with the delivery of notices under Section 12.1 of the 2026 Indenture. The Company does not believe any of these changes are material, and expects settlement to occur on April 28, 2023 as previously disclosed. To access the Offering Memorandum, please visit: https://gbsc-usa.com/eligibility/idesa This press release is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. The Offer and Solicitation ARE being made solely by the OFFERING MEMORANDUM THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE EXCHANGE AND INFORMATION AGENT and only to such persons and in such jurisdictions as is permitted under applicable law. ANY PUBLIC OFFERING OF SECURITIES TO BE MADE IN THE UNITED STATES WILL BE MADE BY MEANS OF A PROSPECTUS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY OR THE SELLING SECURITY HOLDER THAT WILL CONTAIN DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The New Secured Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act. The Offer and Solicitation are made in the United States only to U.S. Persons that are qualified purchasers for purposes of Section 3(c)(7) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") who are also "qualified institutional buyers" within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to a person who is not a "U.S. person" as defined in Rule 902(k) under the Securities Act who is not a "Disqualified Non-U.S. Holder." The New Secured Notes are also being offered outside the United States in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Company, as issuer of the New Secured Notes, has not been registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act. THE OFFER AND SOLICITATION IS NOT BEING MADE IN MEXICO. THE NEW SECURED NOTES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED WITH THE MEXICAN NATIONAL SECURITIES REGISTRY (REGISTRO NACIONAL DE VALORES) MAINTAINED BY THE COMISION NACIONAL BANCARIA Y DE VALORES (NATIONAL BANKING AND SECURITIES COMMISSION OF MEXICO, OR THE "CNBV") AND, THEREFORE, THE NEW SECURED NOTES MAY NOT BE PUBLICLY OFFERED OR SOLD NOR BE THE SUBJECT OF BROKERAGE ACTIVITIES IN MEXICO, ABSENT AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION UNDER THE MEXICAN SECURITIES MARKET LAW (LEY DEL MERCADO DE VALORES). AS REQUIRED UNDER THE MEXICAN SECURITIES MARKET LAW, THE COMPANY WILL NOTIFY CNBV OF THE OFFERING OF THE NEW SECURED NOTES OUTSIDE OF MEXICO. SUCH NOTICE WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE CNBV TO COMPLY WITH A LEGAL REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY, AND THE DELIVERY OF SUCH NOTICE TO, AND THE RECEIPT OF SUCH NOTICE BY, THE CNBV, DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR IMPLY ANY CERTIFICATION AS TO THE INVESTMENT QUALITY OF THE NEW SECURED NOTES, THE COMPANY'S SOLVENCY, LIQUIDITY OR CREDIT QUALITY OR THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION SET FORTH HEREIN. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE OFFERING MEMORANDUM HAVE NOT BEEN FILED WITH THE CNBV, AND THE CNBV HAS NOT REVIEWED OR AUTHORIZED THE CONTENT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OR THE OFFERING MEMORANDUM. Exchange and Information Agent Global Bondholder Services Corporation 65 Broadway Suite 404 New York, New York 10006 212-430-3774 (Banks and Brokers) 855-654-2015 (toll free) [email protected] Attn: Corporate Actions SOURCE Grupo IDESA, S.A. de C.V. STURGIS, Miss., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gwendolyn Gray, independent candidate for governor of Mississippi, is proposing a groundbreaking new model for public education that addresses the special needs of children from impoverished backgrounds. Mrs. Gray's new school model aims to bridge the gap between home life and school, removing many of the student home life responsibilities that have fallen on teachers and placing them on staff members specifically trained and dedicated to the emotional, physical, and educational needs of the children. Gwendolyn Gray's innovative school model is a cornerstone of her independent run for governor in Mississippi. Tweet this Mrs. Gwendolyn Gray downtown Sturgis Mrs. Gray has seen firsthand the impact that poverty and inadequate education can have on the lives of Mississippi's youth. Her proposed school model is designed to address these issues head-on and help stop the preschool-to-prison pipeline that has affected so many of Mississippi's children. In announcing her proposal, Mrs. Gray stated, "Mississippi sits as the poorest state in the union. Our state's incarceration numbers rival that of communist dictatorships. The children of Mississippi are the future of Mississippi, and we must do everything in our power to ensure that they have the opportunity to succeed. Many of the failures for our youth are happening at home, and we need a new model for public education that addresses these challenges. My proposed school model is designed to provide emotional, physical, and educational support for the massive number of children who lack intentional influence for life long success." Aside from education, Mrs. Gray's campaign platform focuses on a comprehensive approach to addressing the state's most pressing issues, which include poverty, mass incarceration, infrastructure, health care, workforce participation, and gun violence. By developing innovative solutions and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, Mrs. Gray aims to create a Mississippi where people of all backgrounds can thrive and contribute to the common good. Gwendolyn Gray's innovative school model is a cornerstone of her independent run for governor. She believes it's time for Mississippi to take bold steps to address poverty, education, and the many challenges facing its citizens. Her candidacy is built on a foundation of hope, perseverance, and a deep commitment to the people of Mississippi. As Mrs. Gray continues her campaign for governor, she is calling on all Mississippians to join her in building a brighter future for the state. Her proposed school model is just one example of the kind of innovative thinking that she believes is needed to address the challenges facing Mississippi. Gwendolyn Gray is committed to working tirelessly to create a brighter future for all Mississippians. For more information on Gwendolyn Gray's campaign for governor, and to support her, please visit www.msgwengray.com. SOURCE Gwendolyn Gray for Governor NEW YORK, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- JLM Couture, Inc. (JLM) announces a significant victory in the ongoing legal battle with Hayley Paige Gutman. Laura Taylor Swain, Chief United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, has denied Ms. Gutman's motion for reconsideration, upholding the prior ruling that requires Gutman to pay $118,806.59 to cover JLM's reasonable attorneys' fees and costs stemming from her willful contempt. The Court dismissed Gutman's arguments as an improper attempt to relitigate previously decided issues, finding no new evidence to support her claims of financial hardship. The Court emphasized that Gutman has been aware of the fee award since September 2021 and should have "anticipated the need to address payment of the award even as she was making financial decisions, incurring obligations, and addressing her opportunities to earn income." Additionally, the Court upheld that the preliminary injunction does not hinder Gutman's from seeking employment opportunities in alternative fields that are noncompetitive with JLM, as evidenced by her recent venture into the shoe industry. As JLM continues to defend its rights and interests in this litigation, it appreciates the Court's recognition of the willful nature of Gutman's violations, and the subsequent award of fees and costs incurred as a result of her conduct. JLM Couture is represented by Sarah Matz and Gary Adelman of Adelman Matz P.C. ABOUT JLM COUTURE, INC. JLM Couture, Inc. (OTC: JLMC) is a leading designer and manufacturer of wedding dresses and bridal accessories. With a strong commitment to excellence in design, craftsmanship, and customer service, JLM Couture has grown to become a globally recognized name in the bridal industry. SOURCE JLM Couture HANGZHOU, China, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hikvision has released its full-year 2022 financial results, reporting a total revenue of RMB 83.17 billion, achieving a year-over-year (YoY) growth of 2.14%. The net profits attributable to shareholders of the company was RMB 12.84 billion, reflecting a YoY decrease of 23.59%. Overseas revenue in 2022 amounted to RMB 26.28 billion, with YoY growth of 19.51%, accounting for 31.59% of the total revenue of the company. Hikvision YoY Growth 2022 Hikvision Financial Table 2022 Hikvision also released its Q1 2023 financial results, and reported a revenue of RMB 16.20 billion, which represents a YoY decrease of 1.94%. Net profits attributable to shareholders of the company was RMB 1.81 billion, representing a YoY decrease of 20.69%. Hikvision continues to embrace new trends in technology development and lead the future of AIoT. The company remains committed to making solid investments in perception technology, artificial intelligence, etc., and always to explore new opportunities for innovation in its technologies, products, solutions, and application scenarios. The full annual report 2022 and Q1 2023 report can be read here. SOURCE Hikvision Digital Technology NORTHBROOK, Ill., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Amsterdam-based Hilco Industrial Acquisitions, an operating company of U.S.-based Hilco Global, announced today the strategic partnership for the sale and project management relating to the disposition and removal of all assets at Vallourec Deutschland GmbH, which are located at two production sites in Dusseldorf-Rath and Mulheim an der Ruhr. The assets to be sold, are primarily related to Seamless Steel Pipe Production Lines. The sale will be conducted in partnership with National Machinery Exchange, Inc. Hilco Industrial Acquisitions has listed these assets for sale on their website Hilcobid.com. The production will cease at the end of 2023. Vallourec Deutschland is a global leader in the production of premium tubular solutions catering to the energy markets and demanding industrial applications such as oil & gas wells in harsh environments, new generation power plants, challenging architectural projects, and high-performance mechanical equipment. On 18th November 2022, the company management and employee representatives have mutually agreed to close their German operations. Vallourec is known for its innovative spirit and cutting-edge research and development, which enables them to explore new technological horizons. Featured Equipment Plant No. 1 - Dusseldorf-Rath, Germany 16" & 26" Pipe Manufacturing Equipment PILGER MILL (complete), including 2017 DANIELI Cross Rolling Mill and 2012 Rebuilt SMS Pilger Mill BRONX 28"Hot Straightener; Cold Straighteners; Sizing Mill 16"and 26"HEAT TREATMENT Plants (2018) Ultrasonic Testing GE KRAUTKRAMER; (2016) TAYLOR WILSON Hydrotester. (2017) RAGA Inside + Outside Shotblasting Units; Cut-off and Circular Saws; Bevelling Machines (2017) Hydraulic UPSETTING Press Line GFU (6) Mori-Seiki SL 80, SL60, SL 45, HW 700 CNC Lathes Plant No. 2 - Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany 7.5" Pipe Manufacturing Equipment (2019) BILLET SAWS "MFL" + (2) WAGNER Cooling Bed Cold Saws:(2) SMS; End Saws (4) "Reika" (2016) Rotary Hearth Furnace (3) Mandrel Furnace Units (6) Roll-Turning Lathes (10) Saws (2) Straighteners (2014) Hydro- & Ultrasonic Testing Line SMS INNSE (2011) Ultrasonic Tester "GE-KRAUTKRAEMER" According to Robert Bouland, CEO at Hilco Industrial Acquisitions, the sale of assets on behalf of Vallourec Deutschland presents an exceptional opportunity for buyers who are looking for modern, high-quality machinery for various industrial applications. These applications include mechanical pipes, structurals, cylinder pipes for industrial usage, boiler heads, nuclear for power generation, and OCTG for oil and gas purposes. Bouland further added that they anticipate receiving a considerable level of interest from Asia, Middle East, and the Americas. Additionally, the company is willing to explore offers from potential buyers for purchasing a comprehensive package of significant assets. To arrange an inspection, access more detailed information about the assets which are being sold, or to learn specific information about the sales process please contact: Margot Ter Bogt ([email protected]) About Hilco Industrial Acquisitions, B.V.: Hilco Industrial Acquisitions, B.V. (www.hilcohia.com ) is based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands and provides industrial asset acquisition and disposition services, specializing in machinery, equipment and inventory auctions and negotiated sales. It sells the broad range of industrial assets found in manufacturing, wholesale, and distribution companies. The company buys and sells assets through on-site, online and combination webcast auction sale events as well as negotiated (private treaty) sales. In addition to providing services on a fee or commission basis, Hilco Industrial Acquisitions, B.V. puts capital at risk and often acquires assets or provides guarantees. Hilco Industrial Acquisitions, B.V. is part of Northbrook, Illinois based Hilco Global (www.hilcoglobal.com), the world's leading authority on maximizing the value of business assets by delivering valuation, monetization, and advisory solutions to an international marketplace. Hilco Global operates more than twenty specialized business units offering services that include asset valuation and appraisal, retail and industrial inventory acquisition and disposition, real estate repositioning and renegotiation, strategic advisory, operational consulting, and strategic capital solutions. SOURCE Hilco Global Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Minister of Ukraine Ruslan Strilets has said that he sees no prerequisites for the resumption of tourism in the Chornobyl exclusion zone. "The territory of the zone is under special control. I think, tourism will not resume here until the end of martial law. First of all, it is not safe for the tourists, in particular die to mining," he said at a press briefing during a visit to the exclusion zone on the 37th anniversary of the accident at Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant on Wednesday. The minister also said that a big reform will be implemented soon, and it will touch not only the exclusion zone, but also nature reserves in general. According to Strilets, the ministry is already working on the adoption of relevant laws and by-laws. He added that Ukraine will become the most visited country after its victory in the war against Russia, so there should be appropriate locations. Speaking about the exclusion zone, the minister said that he also sees it as a scientific hub. "Work on this is already underway. We have adopted the documents necessary for its launch. Right now, when there is already a fact of violation by the Russian Federation of that peaceful atom that has been resting for many years, we can conduct research that no one in the world can conduct," he said, explaining the idea. According to the minister, Russia's invasion, which violated the conditions for the safe maintenance of the exclusion zone, gave impetus to scientific research. He also said that there are already relevant agreements on the creation of a hub with many countries. In particular, France confirmed its interest in the idea, Strilets said referring to the results of a recent meeting with his French counterpart. Names David Morrissey as Vice President of Brand Strategy OAKLAND, Calif., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- H/L today announces a rebrand, an expansion of its unique Insights 360 and Data Analytics + Engineering practices, and appoints David Morrissey as vice president of brand strategy. Aligning the brand with its core values, services, and philosophy and decades of success with leading companies including McDonalds, Toyota and other newcomers, the agency is widely known for its creative prowess and robust media department. HL rebrand On the heels of achieving record revenues over the past two years, H/L unveils a new visual identity, a simplified brand name (from "H&L Partners" to "H/L"), more contemporary brand values, and an updated positioning under Make Momentum. This is in line with the company's credo and philosophy to Make Momentum. for clients' businesses, empower the diverse and driven team of H/Lers, and invigorate the communities where H/L operates. "We take great pride in our ability to grow client relationships that span decades' worth of positive impact," said Trey Curtola, Chairman of H/L. CEO Andrea Alfano adds, "The sum of our partsour people, creativity, localized media capabilities, analytics and insights offerings, and the work we do to give back in our communities, adds up to something much biggerwe Make Momentum." The unique Insights 360 practice studies industry trends, consumer behaviors, and evolving product preferences to help H/L's clients predict what's next and grow their businesses more sustainably. Combined with H/L's distinctive Data Analytics + Engineering platform, the offerings help clients expand consumer usage and loyalty, drive impactful media behaviors, all while maximizing profitability. The Data Analytics + Engineering practice further blends data from consumer insights, media, creative performance, and sales metrics to show a holistic and customized view into clients' customers, marketing campaigns, and business KPIs. This automation enables much quicker data analysis, and supports live web-based dashboards and direct data integrations with clients' data science teams. "It's like working with family, there is an incredibly high level of trust that has been established over the years. H/L understands every aspect of the franchise business and the fact that profitability is the holy grail," says Angel Veliz, president, South Florida Co-op Business Unit, McDonald's. "They keep our business objectives top of mind and they go to great lengths to understand how the consumer feels about our brand and how we need to evolve." "Our relationship with H/L goes back to the 1980s, which says it all," explains Dave Johnston, president, Northern California Toyota Dealers Advertising Association. "The foundation is solid with a top-notch team, strong creative, great analytics and an uncanny ability to localize in-market so the message resonates within the community, H/L is second to none." The appointment of David Morrissey is timed perfectly with the H/L brand relaunch. Morrissey will oversee the Insights 360 practice, expand the agency's brand strategy offering, and partner with VP, Executive Creative Director, Dallas Baker, to further amplify H/L's award-winning creative product. Morrissey brings nearly 20 years of marketing and branding expertise to the H/L team. Prior to joining H/L he held senior-level positions with MRM//McCann, Ogilvy & Mather, Leo Burnett, and San Francisco creative boutique, Camp + King. About H/L Since 1985, H/L has been fiercely independent and making Momentum. The company's strengths include local and national media activations, creative development, insights and analytics, full-scale digital and video production, multicultural marketing, and PR. H/L is headquartered in Oakland, California, with people in 20 states, and offices in Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix, and St. Louis. What unites H/Lers across the country is a common driveto pioneer new ways to push clients' businesses forward and serve its communities. Learn more at www.HL.Agency . CONTACT: Nicole Conley Tanis Communications [email protected] SOURCE H/L Project aims to improve patient outcomes through better clinical management of disease exacerbations using self-reported data Exciting opportunity to improve education and empowerment and for patients to be active participants in their own care Huma's EU MDR Class IIb regulated Software as Medical Device technology will advance proactive, predictive, personalised care for people with a rare disease NEW YORK and LONDON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Huma Therapeutics ("Huma"), a leading global digital health company, and UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company, are partnering to offer a digital technology solution to help patients with the rare disease, Myasthenia gravis (MG), better understand and manage their condition with the support of their clinician. The digital platform is launching in Europe ahead of international expansion. The technology platform is founded on Huma's EU MDR Class IIb regulated Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) - the only disease agnostic SaMD to receive this level of EU MDR regulatory classification to-date. It will provide patients with access to MG-specific, trusted educational materials, and the ability to report and track their symptoms over time using the MG-Activities of Daily Living Scale (MG-ADL)[1]. These data are shared with clinicians through a web-based dashboard to detect exacerbations in symptoms early and intervene where necessary. Identifying exacerbation triggers will support proactive clinical decision-making and should improve patient experience. Patients can download summary reports of their health data to discuss with their clinician to maximise in-person consultations. Dan Vahdat, CEO and Founder of Huma, said: "There has been a huge growth in drug development for rare diseases and creating treatments for this population requires a greater degree of personalisation, which is exactly what our digital health platform provides. Our new classification of Class IIb level regulation means that we can work more collaboratively and in a shorter time frame with our pharma partners to launch solutions with predictive algorithms that can have a major impact for patients at the individual level, that's why our approach is revolutionary. We're excited to partner with UCB and be able to bring benefit to rare disease patients again, which is where we began when the company launched over a decade ago." The partnership is part of UCB's approach to offer a patient-centred approach to transform the way care is delivered to rare disease populations in a meaningful, tangible, and real-world setting. Charl van Zyl, Executive Vice President Neurology & Head Of Europe/International Markets at UCB, said: "UCB is working to enable people with rare diseases to live the best life that they can. Symptoms of Myasthenia gravis can vary greatly and each person experiences the disease in a uniquely personal way. We believe that innovations in digital health solutions can offer the necessary personalised support, education, and resources for each patient." Colin Lake, Vice President, Head of Digital Care Transformation, Neurology, Head of Digital Rare Disease UCB, said: "This digital solution is an important first step in demonstrating UCB's commitment to the rare disease community. We are beginning in Myasthenia gravis and we have the ambition to expand to other rare diseases. We're delighted to work with Huma as we believe that partnerships are key to creating the best-in-class patient experience for patients across the rare disease community." About Huma Huma Therapeutics is a global digital health technology company that advances digital-first care delivery and research to help people live longer, fuller lives. Huma's award-winning modular platforms are used by more than 3,000 hospitals and clinics, with 1.8+ million active users in healthcare and 650,000+ participants across research. Huma's regulated Software as a Medical Device is the only disease agnostic platform to hold EU MDR Class IIb certification status. It powers: Digital first care for health systems companion apps to support patients through treatment and drug therapies virtual clinical trials to accelerate research Please visit www.huma.com and follow us on LinkedIn at Huma About UCB UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or the central nervous system. With approximately 8 700 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of 5.5 billion in 2022. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB). Media contacts: Contact (Huma): Karen Birmingham PhD Head of PR & Communications, Huma [email protected] Contact (UCB): Jim Baxter Brand Communications, Rare Diseases T+32.2.473.78.85.01 [email protected] [1] Talking, chewing, breathing, swallowing, impaired ability to brush teeth or comb hair, impaired ability to rise from a chair, double vision, eyelid droop. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1427908/Huma_Logo.jpg SOURCE HUMA Therapeutics The global hydrogen fuel cell truck market is driven by factors such as an increase in environmental regulations, development in infrastructure, and longer driving range of hydrogen fuel cell trucks PORTLAND, Ore., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck Market by Truck Type (Light Duty Truck, Medium Duty Truck, and Heavy-Duty Truck), by Range (Below 400 Km, and Above 400 km), by Power Output (Below 150 KW, 151 - 250 KW, and Above 250 KW): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the global hydrogen fuel cell truck industry generated $181.6 million in 2022, and is anticipated to generate $3.7 billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 36.0% from 2023 to 2032. Download Sample Report - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/75091 Prime determinants of growth The global hydrogen fuel cell truck market is driven by factors such as an increase in environmental regulations, development in infrastructure, and longer driving range of hydrogen fuel cell trucks. However, the limited availability of refueling infrastructure restrains the growth of hydrogen fuel cell truck market. Furthermore, factors such as lower operating costs and partnership & collaboration between government & private companies are expected to create lucrative opportunities for leading players of hydrogen fuel cell truck market. Hydrogen Powered Truck Industry Report Coverage & Details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $181.6 million Market Size in 2032 $3.7 billion CAGR 36.0 % No. of Pages in Report 366 Segments covered Truck Type, Range, Power Output, and Region. Drivers Increase in environmental regulations Development in infrastructure for hydrogen trucks Longer driving range of hydrogen fuel cell trucks Opportunities Lower operating cost Partnership and collaboration between government and private companies Restraints Limited availability of refueling infrastructure Higher cost of hydrogen fuel cell trucks Covid-19 Scenario The COVID-19 pandemic had a sizable impact on the hydrogen fuel cell truck industry, specifically in terms of deployment and production. Several companies were forced to shut down their facilities due to reduced demand and supply chain disruptions which resulted in delays in the production and delivery of fuel cell trucks. This in turn slowed down the deployment of these vehicles. Moreover, the transportation sector, which is a major user of hydrogen fuel cell trucks, had been severely impacted by the pandemic, resulting in reduced demand for these vehicles. The economic downturn caused by the pandemic had also made it more difficult for businesses to invest in new technology, including hydrogen fuel cell trucks. However, the pandemic highlighted the importance of reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to cleaner forms of transportation. This led to increased government support and funding for the development and deployment of hydrogen fuel cell trucks. For example, in the U.S., the Biden administration had proposed significant investments in clean energy and infrastructure, including the development of a national network of hydrogen refueling stations to support the deployment hydrogen of fuel cell trucks. The heavy-duty truck segment will strive to uphold its position as the market leader over the forecast period Based on truck type, the heavy-duty truck segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for around three-fifths of the global hydrogen fuel cell truck market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status over the forecast period, as these trucks can be configured in many different ways, including dump trucks, cement mixers, and tractor trailers, among others. The heavy-duty trucks often feature multiple axles and large wheels to distribute weight more evenly and improve stability. The light duty truck segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 44.2% from 2023 to 2032, as there is a growing need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, and hydrogen fuel cell technology offers a zero-emission solution. Procure Complete Research Report Now - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/hydrogen-fuel-cell-truck-market/purchase-options The below 400 km segment aims to sustain its leadership position throughout the forecast period Based on range, the below 400 km segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global hydrogen fuel cell truck market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership position throughout the forecast period, as the governments around the world are increasingly imposing strict emission standards on heavy-duty vehicles, which leads the fleet operator to look for cleaner and more sustainable alternatives to traditional diesel trucks. The above 400 km segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 39.5% from 2023 to 2032. The above 250 KW segment to maintain its dominant position during the forecast period Based on power output, the above 250 KW segment accounted for the largest share in 2022, contributing nearly two-thirds of the global hydrogen fuel cell truck market revenue, and is projected to maintain its leading position during the forecast period, as it is driven by the need for heavy-duty vehicles to have sufficient power to transport large loads over long distances. With advances in fuel cell technology, it is now possible to achieve power outputs of up to 350 kW or more, making fuel cell trucks a viable option for heavy-duty transport. The below 150 KW segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 44.3% from 2023 to 2032. Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2032 Based on region, Asia-Pacific held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting near to around three-fifths of the global hydrogen fuel cell truck market revenue, and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period as the government in this region has set ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions and has identified hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, including trucks, as a key component of its strategy to achieve these targets. According to a long-term strategy for the development of the nation's hydrogen industry unveiled in March 2022, China plans to have 50,000 fuel cell vehicles on its roads by 2025. Europe is projected to grow at a CAGR of 40.3% from 2023 to 2032. Trucks powered by hydrogen fuel cells are being introduced by several well-known automakers in Europe, and some governments are providing incentives to promote the use of this technology. The European Union has also established challenging goals for lowering carbon dioxide emissions from heavy-duty vehicles, which is fueling demand for cleaner transportation solutions. Interested to Procure the Research Report? Inquire Before Buying - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/75091 Leading Market Players: - Dongfeng Motor Company ESORO AG Hyundai Motor Company Hyzon Motors Kenworth Truck Company Nikola Corporation Renault Trucks SANY Group XCMG Group Xiamen King Long International Trading Co. Ltd. The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global hydrogen fuel cell truck market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. Similar Reports We Have on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Industry: Hydrogen Aircraft Market Research Report 2023-2035 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Train Market Research Report 2023-2035 Hydrogen Powered Tractor Market Research Report 2023-2035 Hydrogen Powered Engine Market Research Report 2023-2035 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Market Research Report 2023-2035 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 [email protected] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/automotive-and-transportation Follow Our Blog: www.theinnovativereport.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research PHILADELPHIA, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Kroll Settlement Administration regarding the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government Tow Lot Settlement. What is the purpose of this notice? This is about an order of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky entered March 17, 2021, which certified a settlement class and granted Preliminary Approval of a settlement by Order entered March 17, 2023, Tyrome Lott v. Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government, et al. This Notice is to inform you that the class action case is pending, that preliminary approval of a settlement has occurred and to advise you of your rights as a potential class member. How do I know if I am a class member? The members of the settlement class, as certified by the Court, include: All persons with vehicles registered to them whose vehicles were assessed a storage fee in excess of $10 for each of the first seven days a vehicle was in storage, plus a $5.00 fee per day for each additional day thereafter that a vehicle remained in storage since on or about February 2, 2008. All class members who do not exclude themselves from the class action on a timely basis (as described below) will be bound by the orders issued by the court regarding the class action. You should carefully read this entire Notice before making any decision regarding the class action lawsuit. What is this class action lawsuit about? The class action alleges that Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government has been overcharging for storage of vehicles impounded at the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government Tow Lot since February 2, 2008, in violation of Ordinance 76.062. The Class action is seeking a determination that the fees and charges were improper because they exceeded the limits authorized by Ordinance 72.062. The Class action also seeks reimbursement for amounts overpaid and damages. You can view the Complaint and the Court's Order at www.LottClassAction.com. Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government denies any liability to Plaintiff and the class on the claims asserted in the Complaint. No trial has been held on the merits of any allegations against Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government or its defenses. This Notice is simply to advise you of the nature of the proceedings, the Court's class certification ruling and your rights associated with that ruling; and does not imply that there has been any finding of any violation of the law by Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government specific to you or that recovery may be had by you in any amount. What are the options of class members? If you fit the description of a class member, you have a choice to remain a member of the class, submit a claim, request to be excluded from the class, or object to the Settlement. Any choice will have its consequences, which you should understand before making your decision. Remain in the Class : If you wish to remain a member of the class, you do not need to do anything. By remaining a class member, you are agreeing that the claims against Louisville /Jefferson County Metro Government will be determined on a class-wide basis and will not be presented individually by you in this case or in any other action. As a member of the class, you will be bound by the terms of the settlement. If the settlement is granted approval by the Court and your claim is approved by the Administrator, you will be entitled to share in the benefits of that settlement. : If you wish to remain a member of the class, you do not need to do anything. By remaining a class member, you are agreeing that the claims against /Jefferson County Metro Government will be determined on a class-wide basis and will not be presented individually by you in this case or in any other action. As a member of the class, you will be bound by the terms of the settlement. If the settlement is granted approval by the Court and your claim is approved by the Administrator, you will be entitled to share in the benefits of that settlement. File a Claim : If you are an eligible Settlement Class Member and you want to receive a benefit under the Settlement, you need to file a valid Claim by June 13, 2023 . You can file a claim online via the Settlement Website www.LottClassAction.com . A copy of the Claim Form can also be found on the Settlement Website, or you may also request a copy of the Claim Form by contacting the Settlement Administrator at 833-630-4781 . If you file a paper claim, your Claim Form must be postmarked no later than June 13, 2023 and addressed to Lott v. Louisville, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration, PO Box 225391 New York, NY 10150-5324. : If you are an eligible Settlement Class Member and you want to receive a benefit under the Settlement, you need to file a valid Claim by . You can file a claim online via the Settlement Website . A copy of the Claim Form can also be found on the Settlement Website, or you may also request a copy of the Claim Form by contacting the Settlement Administrator at . If you file a paper claim, your Claim Form must be postmarked no later than and addressed to Lott v. Louisville, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration, PO Box 225391 10150-5324. Ask to Be Excluded : If you do not wish to participate in this class action settlement, you can request to be excluded from the class. If you choose to be excluded from the class, you will (1) not share in the benefits, if any, that class members may be entitled to as a result of the settlement of this lawsuit; and (2) you will not be bound by the settlement. If you request exclusion from the class, you will have the right to pursue individually, at your own expense, any claim you may have against Louisville /Jefferson County Metro Government. To request exclusion, you must send a written and signed notification entitled "Request for Exclusion" to the following: Lott v. Louisville Case 3:19-cv-00271-RGJ-CHL Document 89-1 Filed 02/07/23 Page 3 of 7 PageID #: 1790 c/o Kroll Settlement Administration PO Box 225391 New York, NY 10150-5324 To be valid, your Request for Exclusion must be postmarked no later than May 29, 2023 (the "Exclusion Deadline Date"), and must include your name, current address, telephone number and signature. If the request is not postmarked by the Exclusion Deadline Date, your request for exclusion will be invalid and you will be included in the class, bound by the settlement and resulting final judgment, and barred from bringing any claims against Louisville /Jefferson County Metro Government related to fees and charges for impoundment and storage services. How do I get payment from this settlement? To receive a Class Award, you need only to complete a Claim Form and submit it online or via U.S. Mail. You do not need to attach any documentation or provide any other proof to file a claim. If you do not want to submit a claim online, you can mail your claim to the Claim Administrator at the return address. SOURCE Kroll Settlement Administration MUNICH, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IFCO, the world's leading provider of Reusable Packaging Containers (RPCs) is strengthening its sustainability credentials and expanding its pooling capacities with the opening of the company's state-of-the-art service center in Dannstadt, Germany. Strategically located in a central transportation hub for Europe, the best-in-class service center sets impressive standards in terms of energy-efficiency, conservation and sustainability measures that are in line with IFCO's ambitious goals to be carbon neutral in operations by 2025 and to reach net-zero emissions across the whole business by 2040. Newly opened IFCO service center in Dannstadt, Germany. The high-tech facility was awarded the gold certification for green buildings from the German Sustainable Building Council (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Nachhaltiges Bauen), which is internationally recognized as an independent global benchmark for sustainability. The Dannstadt service center is therefore designed and ideally situated to serve customers who are committed to reducing the environmental impact of their end-to-end supply chain operations and targeting Scope 3 emissions, those indirect emissions that occur in the upstream and downstream activities of an organization, such as packaging and transportation. In terms of automation and digitalization, the Dannstadt service center is one of the most modern and technologically sophisticated facilities of its kind in Europe. Equipped with an automated sorting and crate recognition system, the entire high-pressure wash and sanitization process is fully automated and designed to handle and sort all sizes and types of IFCO RPCs. In addition, the established IFCO SmartCycle wash process maximizes water reutilization while meeting global standards for hygiene and food-safe packaging. The process, which is validated both by IFCO and independent third-party food safety experts, removes approved customer labels efficiently and reliably. Dirk Schaich, Director IFCO Supply Chain & Operations, said, "The new facility will benefit customers on multiple levels. The Dannstadt area is one of the largest agricultural regions in Germany and is ideally positioned to optimize transport routes to serve our retail partners in the southwest of Germany. Additionally, by inspecting, repairing and sanitizing our RPCs in this state-of-the-art service center, we will serve our customers with reusable packaging in the most sustainable way." Following IFCO's ESG strategy to thrive in the circular economy by further building on the circular principles of its business model and achieve ambitious goals to become even more sustainable, the site was designed and developed with the local community and natural eco-system in mind. As well as fostering employee wellbeing, the park-like design, wildflower meadow and natural pond offer a haven for native birds and local wildlife. Eco-friendly permeable paving rounds off the future-oriented design. Health and safety are paramount, which is why the site is equipped with a high-tech fire safety and sprinkler system. In addition, the roof features greened areas and is fitted with a photovoltaic system that supplies power to the building, which is also equipped with modern underfloor heating and LED lighting. A heat-and-power plant feeds energy to a resource-efficient air-to-water heat pump, which powers the washing machines and heats the water used in the wash center. This innovative concept allows IFCO to reduce gas consumption and the associated CO 2 emissions by close to 23% compared to a standard service center in Europe. "This flagship service center underscores IFCO's commitment to provide the most comprehensive, sustainable and efficient reusable packaging which enables our customers to actively participate in the circular economy. This is how we make the fresh grocery supply chain sustainable," said Mike Pooley, IFCO CEO. Additional information IFCO is the leading global provider of reusable packaging solutions for fresh foods, serving customers in 50+ countries. IFCO operates a pool of over 370 million Reusable Packaging Containers (RPCs) globally, which are used for 2 billion shipments of fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, bread, and other items from suppliers to grocery retailers every year. IFCO RPCs ensure a better fresh food supply chain by protecting freshness and quality and lowering costs, food waste and environmental impact compared to single-use packaging. More: www.ifco.com | Follow us on LinkedIn @IFCO SYSTEMS SOURCE IFCO Together with Infosys, Walmart Commerce Technologies will make implementation of its experience solutions even easier NEW YORK, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced a new collaboration with Walmart Commerce Technologies to help retailers leverage technology solutions that simplify customer and store employee experiences. Infosys will help retailers implement and use Store Assist, which enables them to provide seamless omnichannel experiences such as pickup, delivery and ship from store for both employees and customers. Infosys has an industry leading Consumer and Retail focused practice that has been helping retailers, consumer tech, consumer packaged goods and logistics companies navigate their next through digital and emerging technologies over the last three decades. Through platforms like Infosys Equinox, partner products, and leading digital capabilities, Infosys has helped over 190 retailers globally transform themselves into sentient enterprises by augmenting their core digital capabilities, advancing their operating models and transforming their talent for the future. Karmesh Vaswani, EVP & Global Head Consumer, Retail & Logistics, Infosys, said, "To navigate an increasingly complex supply chain and serve the modern intelligent shopper the way they want, retailers are looking for innovative ways to deliver seamless omni-channel experiences with convenient fulfilment options. Infosys is proud to work with Walmart Commerce Technologies to enable retailers to implement Store Assist, thereby improving digital retail experience for customers and store employees." The Store Assist app is built on the same fulfilment technology that Walmart stores leverage, giving retailers access to decades of operating expertise from the Fortune 1 company. With Store Assist, retailers can optimize in-store fulfilment by increasing picking accuracy, speed, and efficiency. Store associate productivity can be enhanced through order queueing, multi-order batch picking and prioritized pick paths, all enabled in the Store Assist app. It also provides a seamless handoff experience between employees and customers, whether they're picking up orders in-store or curb side, having them shipped, or getting last-mile delivery all while letting businesses maintain control of their customers' experience. Store Assist is a lightweight, cloud-based, API-first solution that seamlessly integrates into a retailer's existing Commerce or OMS platform, including dedicated integrations with out-of-the-box capabilities for Salesforce and Adobe customers. Sunil Kumar, Vice President and General Manager of Walmart Commerce Technologies, said, "Infosys is a trusted partner to businesses that are navigating their digital transformation. We are excited to have Infosys help streamline implementation of the Store Assist app and to serve as a trusted system integration team for our customers." About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, in more than 50 countries, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by the cloud. We enable them with an AI-powered core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. Safe Harbor Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, financial expectations and plans for navigating the COVID-19 impact on our employees, clients and stakeholders are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding COVID-19 and the effects of government and other measures seeking to contain its spread, risks related to an economic downturn or recession in India, the United States and other countries around the world, changes in political, business, and economic conditions, fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India and the US, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry and the outcome of pending litigation and government investigation. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/Infosys_Logo.jpg SOURCE Infosys BEIJING, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, held every year on the 21st of May, is meant to promote cultural diversity and cohesion worldwide. Since the first moment in time that man started to record his own history, intangible cultural heritage has served as a priceless aspect of human culture that has guided the course of civilization and, to this day, continues to bring forth new vitality. Inheritor Wen Zhenyu Shares Innovative Ways to Promote Intangible Cultural Heritage Food culture is very much a part of everyone's life, and is well represented by the many cuisines that originated in Asia's palaces. The ingredients are rich and diverse, the process meticulous and the result exquisite. The manner of dining remains faithful to the Eastern concept of "harmony between man and nature". As a result of the blending of global cultures, Chinese traditional palace cuisine is also being constantly revitalized and gradually entering the family of world culture. Among China's intangible cultural assets, a unique honey refining process, preserved by the Chinese royal palace afternoon tea ceremony's sole inheritor Wen Zhenyu, represents one of the most innovative aspects of Eastern culture. As an important and unique skill developed by the imperial court, the time-honored technique has proven difficult to popularize due to its understated and complicated production process. As the inheritor, Wen has spent decades perfecting the traditional skill by expanding the number of scenarios at which the tea could be enjoyed by adapting it to today's lifestyles while remaining faithful to the original recipe, transforming the tradition into an intangible cultural heritage representative of the blending of the world's cultures. The honey refining technique has evolved over the centuries, reaching its apex during the Qing Dynasty as the ideal complement to a royal court afternoon tea. As the new-generation inheritor, Wen started becoming versed in oriental health philosophy and, more specifically, in the technique during his youth. In contrast to the conservative views of his predecessors, Wen believes that as society changes, so does the meaning of food. Food is not there simply to satisfy the desire for taste, but to also maintain one's health in the fast-paced world we live in. Wen explained that the technique provides an excellent bridge through which he can share with the world what he has learned about intangible cultural heritage. Inspired by the royal court afternoon tea, he has spent decades traveling the globe in search of intersections between intangible cultural techniques and world cultures. In 2008, he made his first attempt to incorporate afternoon tea using the honey refining process into French cuisine. As the first person to blend any aspect of Eastern cooking techniques into French cuisine, his efforts soon attracted the attention of the food world's leading practitioners. Oriental cuisine culture soon thereafter emerged as a new example of cultural fusion. Since then, he has been working closely with several institutions to popularize the Chinese cultural delicacy that has been handed down through the generations for more than a century. With his deep understanding of traditional cultures and his innovative spirit, Wen is credited with taking the first step in bringing this wonderful piece of Eastern traditional culture onto the world stage. Wen worked on enhancing the artistic design of the royal palace afternoon tea while enhancing the adaptability of the honey refining technology. He used cutting-edge technologies and measuring tools to remove any obstacles that had previously prevented the production process from being standardized. He also improved the packaging of honey refining products for the mass market by creating portable bags and capsules, which can be used with coffee machines and have been well received by both the world's consumers and food purveyors. In addition, Wen's contribution to the creativity of intangible cultural assets has also received well-deserved recognition by all sectors of society. He has been invited as a special guest to many international events including the GIC Global Innovators Conference, Beijing International Design Week, and Beijing International Fashion Week. Attendees from all over the world have sampled this cultural delicacy. Wen also participated in a series of video documentaries on food culture produced by national culture think tanks, where he talked about the intangible cultural legacy. In 2013, China's nationwide TV channel CCTV-4 aired a special report on the rising popularity worldwide of Eastern afternoon tea culture. Multiple media outlets, among them, Fashion TV, Great Chef, Shandong Qilu TV and Tencent News, quickly followed suit. In 2019, Wen served as curator of the Summer Palace's "Summer Palace Wuwei" event. The project garnered the official Award of Excellence by the Park Management Office, standing out among more than 500 artistic and cultural works that sought the coveted honor. Anyone who has had a chance to observe his preparing of a royal court afternoon tea and partake of the result has remarked that he performs the task with all the soul and inspiration of a true artist. Wen's mission is for the world to become aware of the special cuisine culture of the East. He summed up his experience and his mission when he said, "The afternoon tea represents the creativity and culture that have been passed down through the ages. All I can do in this new era is to bring new vitality to it, make the lifestyle of 'harmony between man and nature' known to as many people as possible, and hand down this precious treasure that benefits humanity." SOURCE Wen Zhenyu SAN FRANCISCO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Invitae (NYSE: NVTA), a leading medical genetics company, today announced that it will report its first quarter 2023 financial results on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, and will host a conference call and webcast that day at 4:30 p.m. Eastern / 1:30 p.m. Pacific to discuss its financial results and recent highlights. To access the conference call, please register at the link below: https://www.netroadshow.com/events/login?show=cd3e99e2&confId=49697 Upon registering, each participant will be provided with call details and access codes. The live webcast of the call and slide deck may be accessed here or by visiting the investors section of the company's website at ir.invitae.com . A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call and will be archived on the company's website. About Invitae Invitae (NYSE: NVTA) is a leading medical genetics company trusted by millions of patients and their providers to deliver timely genetic information simplified by digital technology. With accurate and actionable answers to strengthen medical decision-making, Invitae gives individuals and their families powerful, personalized insights that could improve and extend their lives. Invitae's genetics experts apply a rigorous approach to data and research, serving as the foundation of their mission to bring comprehensive genetic information into mainstream medicine to improve healthcare for billions of people. To learn more, visit invitae.com and follow for updates on Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and LinkedIn @Invitae. Invitae Contacts: Investor Relations Hoki Luk [email protected] Public Relations Amy Hadsock [email protected] SOURCE Invitae Corporation TAIZHOU CITY, China, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- We are thrilled to announce that RayHua (Zhongshan) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has officially become a member of Jiuzhou Pharmaceutical. The move will enhance our CDMO formulation capacity, accelerate the implementation of our "API + Formulation" integrated platform strategy, and facilitate the rapid launch of high-quality products to better serve our clients at Jiuzhou, Raybow Europe and Raybow USA. This integration occurred after Jiuzhou Pharmaceutical and Sandoz (China) signed a sale and purchase agreement on September 27, 2022, to acquire 100% of the equity interest of RayHua Zhongshan, a newly established subsidiary of Sandoz (China) to host the site facilities. The acquisition has allowed us to advance our CDMO "API + Formulation" strategy. Before the acquisition, the manufacturing site was established by Sandoz, a division of Novartis, in China. It boasts of world-class formulation production capacity, a high-quality management team, advanced production and manufacturing technology, and quality management and operation management systems that meet international standards. The formulation site strictly complies with Chinese GMP standards, as well as the global unified quality standards of Novartis Group. This acquisition gives Jiuzhou strict control of the whole process from supplier development, incoming material testing, product production, finished goods testing and release, adverse effect reporting and customer complaints handling to ensure the high quality of products. With RayHua Zhongshan joining Jiuzhou Pharmaceutical, we will further transform and expand our CDMO formulation project, improve supporting facilities, and build a green factory with low energy consumption, low emissions, and high efficiency. We are excited to welcome RayHua Zhongshan to join our family and look forward to the positive impact this integration will bring to our clients, stakeholders, and the healthcare industry as a whole. Jiuzhou Pharmaceutical - Caring for Life | Maintaining Health Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/972499/4005986/Raybow_Pharmaceutical_Logo.jpg SOURCE Jiuzhou Pharmaceutical BOYDTON, Va., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- America is a peculiar land that killed off its native peoples but preserved the names honoring their ancient history, writer Jamaica Kincaid once observed. That historic pattern survives in modern Tennessee, according to John W. Boyd, Jr., president of the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA). Boyd believes that Tennessee supported a "land grab" that will rob Black farmers of land and economic stability by approving the Ford Motor Company's BlueOval City, a $5.6 billion electric truck and battery factory under construction in western Haywood County. "This is what happens every time these mega companies come into our ancestral community. We lose our land, and their companies grow larger at the Black farmers' expense," Boyd charged. He also said that Ford has done little to support and assist Black farmers whose land is subject to government seizure via eminent domain. Meanwhile, Governor Bill Lee and Ford executives continue to tout the massive development. The campus occupies an area of six square miles near Stanton, Tennessee, in western Haywood County. The rural area, located some 50 miles northeast of Memphis, has a population of about 17,000. The plant is set to open in 2025. Ford announced that it is collaborating with the University of Tennessee on ecological concerns and expansion of STEM education for K-12 students. Lee said BlueOval City promised 6,000 new jobs and a huge economic boost, but arrived with serious questions such as whether the company and local governments could recruit and train an adequate work force. "Ford's historic investment in West Tennessee is a testament to our state's strong business climate and unmatched workforce," Lee said. He called it the "largest single investment in this state's history" and one that will have a "generational impact on people and families across our state." Workers would be drawn from surrounding areas, the planners projected. BlueOval City is named for Ford's familiar logo, a symbol of the nearly 120-year-old company and dominant American industrial entity. The project required a $500 million investment to be supported by the state legislature, Lee estimated. Boyd, who farms in Baskerville, Virginia, declared the Ford Company deal a "national disgrace," adding, "we are facing extinction." According to Boyd, by 1900, there were nearly 1 million Black farm families. "Today we are less than 50,000 Black farmers left in the United States," he said. "At the turn of the century, Black farmers represented 14% of the nation's farmers," Boyd continued. "Today, we are less than 1% of the nation's farmers." He said the NBFA plans to meet with local farmers to discuss possible court action to protect affected NBFA members. "We will not sit back and allow them to steal another foot of Black soil," said Boyd. He called for a national boycott of Ford cars and trucks. He said the NBFA has requested a meeting with Ford company executives to explore solutions to the Tennessee project's negative effects on Black farmers. "Ford has not yet responded," he said. "I am asking Black Americans to stop buying Ford cars and trucks," Boyd said. "We cannot buy their products when they are contributing factors to stealing our land." For interviews, please contact John Wesley Boyd, Jr., President, National Black Farmers Association (434) 865-3456 [email protected] BlackFarmers.org JohnBoydJr.com SOURCE National Black Farmers Association Corrado Zunino, a journalist from the Italian edition of La Repubblica, was wounded near Kherson as a result of shelling, he is under the supervision of the Italian embassy in Kyiv, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has said. "La Repubblica journalist Corrado Zunino, who was wounded in the shoulder during a drone attack near Kherson, is feeling well and is under surveillance by our embassy in Kyiv. I am with Minister [Dmytro] Kuleba, who assured the full cooperation of the Ukrainian authorities," the minister said on Twitter. Tajani also briefed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni about the incident. In turn, La Repubblica said that after the attack, Zunino was treated and hospitalized in Kherson Civil Hospital with a shoulder wound. Earlier on Wednesday, Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak said that a representative of the foreign press was injured during the shelling of the Antonivsky Bridge by Russian troops. LONDON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Karakuri , the company revolutionising quick service (QSR) and fast casual restaurants with intelligent robotic kitchen automation, today announced that Jestic Foodservice Solutions will become the exclusive Sales and Service partner for Karakuri's /FRYR automated fry lines in the UK. Jestic, a leading distributor of foodservice equipment, represents some of the world's finest and most innovative foodservice equipment manufacturers. Under this new partnership, Jestic will have exclusive distribution rights for Karakuri's range of /FRYR automated fry lines in the UK. In addition, Jestic's Technical Services team will provide nationwide support 364 days a year, ensuring maximum uptime and reliability of Karakuri's smart kitchen robotics, regardless of the restaurant location. Barney Wragg, founder and CEO of Karakuri, said; "The team at Jestic provide the gold standard for sales and service for the foodservice industry they have a strong market presence and a stellar reputation for being a trusted partner who understands the needs of the restaurant and QSR industry. Having them on board as Karakuri's first Sales & Service partner is a major step forward for our business and we look forward to introducing /FRYR to Jestic's extensive portfolio of leading restaurant brands." Michael Eyre, Product Director, Jestic Foodservice Solutions added; "We pride ourselves on having the solutions to take foodservice operation to the next level. Karakuri has embodied that with their development of the /FRYR fry lines. The cutting-edge automation addresses one of the biggest issues we know many of our customers face - how to maintain perfect fried food quality and consistency in the fast-paced environment of QSR kitchens and with high levels of staff turnover." Karakuri /FRYR The /FRYR family of automated fry lines combines Karakuri's innovative hardware and software to ensure increased throughput, consistency, and quality - from freezer to scoop. These intelligent, high-precision frying solutions combine robotics and real-time data analysis to provide restaurants with optimal fried food production of up to 60kg of french fries per hour. Simultaneously, /FRYR fry lines improve food quality and consistency by ensuring every restaurant's SOP is adhered to 100% of the time. Nando's is the first restaurant brand to trial the /FRYR210 , which is the first model in Karakuri's family of intelligent fry line solutions. /FRYR210 is available today from Jestic, starting at 1,800 per month. About Karakuri www.karakuri.com Karakuri is revolutionising Quick Service (QSR) and Fast Casual restaurants with intelligent, robotic kitchen automation. Karakuri brings together food, people, and robotics to deliver unprecedented levels of quality, consistency, and efficiency to restaurant kitchens. Our compact, modular designs fit seamlessly into existing kitchen layouts with little to no interruption in operations. Our unique Performance/Partnership business model equips customers with all the real-time data and insights needed to ensure positive ROI, month after month. About Jestic Jestic Foodservice Solutions is the source for the industry's finest catering equipment brands. Its comprehensive portfolio of quality catering equipment ranges from stone hearth ovens to smallwares and everything in between - holding, cooking, frying, pizza ovens and theatre-style cooking. However diverse the offering, all the equipment they offer is engineered to the highest standards and combines exceptional craftsmanship with the latest technology to provide the performance, safety and efficiency required by demanding chefs and commercial kitchens. Customers receive expert advice from their knowledgeable sales team, award-winning staff training and menu development from their experienced culinary team, and the support of Jestic Technical Services their own nationwide service and maintenance team, available seven days a week, 364 days a year. SOURCE Karakuri For the Fourth Consecutive Year Keebler will Help Make Dreams Come True for Children with Critical Illnesses PARSIPPANY, N.J., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- To spread magic around World Wish Day on April 29th the anniversary of the wish that inspired the founding of Make-A-Wish more than 40 years ago, Keebler and the global nonprofit continue their partnership for its fourth year by granting life-changing wishes for children who need it the most. To date, Ernie and the Elves have donated $750,000 and are on track to donate $1 million this year with help from consumers who've purchased Keebler's specially marked Make-A-Wish Fudge Stripes, which features a magical star-shaped center and the brand's iconic stripes in Make-A-Wish's signature blue. With their contributions, Keebler has been able to make children's lifelong dreams come true including: Gigi, 12, who wished for a place to escape the burdens of her medical journey and was granted a treehouse full of her favorite things such as a reading nook, art desk, dumbwaiter and a screened-in back porch. Olyvia, 14, who wished to visit her aunt in Beeville, Texas , during a school break was gifted a Texas adventure full of family time, riding horses and exploring a theme park. , during a school break was gifted a adventure full of family time, riding horses and exploring a theme park. Harrison, 9, who desired to make a wish in a volcano and was granted a family trip to Hawaii where they made unforgettable memories hiking to the top of the local volcanic rock. where they made unforgettable memories hiking to the top of the local volcanic rock. Jacob, 4, who wished for a drum set so he could escape into music even on his toughest days and was gifted that plus a special concert for others to hear him. "Keebler is all about creating magical moments for families. We appreciate our partnership with Make-A-Wish to help play a role in bringing this purpose to life," said Jess Bernard, Associate Brand Manager of Keebler Fudge. "Knowing we're helping to put a smile on a child's face even during their hardest days is what keeps us going." You can shop Keebler's limited-edition Make-A-Wish Fudge Stripes at select retailers nationwide now through June 24th. For additional information about Keebler, please visit Keebler.com and stay connected with Keebler on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter). About Keebler The Keebler Elves make more than 30 varieties of delicious cookies and sweet treats made from quality ingredients, including the classic Fudge Stripes, Chips Deluxe, Sandies and more. Ernie and the elves bring magic to family moments by delighting cookie lovers. Keebler cookies are available at mass, grocery, and convenience stores nationwide. For additional information, please visit Keebler.com and stay connected with Keebler on social (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube). ABOUT FERRERO The Ferrero Group brings joy to people around the world with beloved treats including Kinder, Nutella, Ferrero Rocher and Tic Tac. Ferrero Group is one of the world's largest sweet-packaged food companies, with over 35 iconic brands sold in more than 170 countries. More than 35,000 "Ferrerians" are committed to helping people celebrate life's special moments with high-quality products. Commitment to the planet and communities in which we operate are at the heart of Ferrero Group's family culture. Our programs and partnerships ensure our work is environmentally sustainable and beneficial to local communities. Ferrero entered the North American market in 1969 and has grown to more than 5,100 employees in 15 plants and warehouses, and eight offices in North America across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It has expanded its presence and portfolio with the addition of iconic brands such as Butterfinger, CRUNCH, Keebler, Famous Amos, Mother's Cookies, and other distinctive cookie and chocolate brands. Follow @FerreroNACorp on Twitter and Instagram. www.ferreronorthamerica.com . About Make-A-Wish Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Founded in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the #1 most trusted nonprofit operating locally in all 50 states throughout the U.S. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 24,000 volunteers across the country, Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 550,000 wishes in 50 countries worldwide; more than 360,000 wishes in the U.S. and its territories alone. For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org. CONTACT: Rebecca Block [email protected] SOURCE Ferrero North America REDMOND, Wash., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SystImmune Inc ("SystImmune"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing cancer therapeutics, has announced the creation of its Clinical Science Advisory Committee ("CSAC"), appointing Dr. Hope Rugo, M.D., Dr. Sara Tolaney, M.D., M.P.H, Dr. Pasi Janne, M.D., Ph.D., MMSC. and Dr. Helena A. Yu, M.D., as its clinical advisors. Dr. Rugo, Dr. Tolaney, Dr. Janne, and Dr. Yu are world-renowned clinicians with extensive expertise in Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) development in the oncology treatment space. Leaders in Breast and Lung Cancer treatment join SystImmune Inc's Clinical Science Advisory Committee Dr. Rugo and Dr. Tolaney bring more than 40 years combined of breast cancer clinical experience in early oncology research and global drug development. They have led high-profile clinical programs, including the development of Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy), the most recent drug approved for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Their expertise will guide SystImmune in the advancement of its ADC pipeline into breast cancer. Dr. Janne and Dr.Yu bring more than 30 years of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) experience in oncology clinical research and global drug development, working with patritumab deruxtecan, a novel ADC targeting HER3 Cancers. Their expertise will support Systimmune in the advancement of its ADC pipeline into NSCLC. "I'm excited about the contribution that these top-tier clinicians will make to our promising ADC pipeline. Our CSAC members are highly accomplished medical oncologists that have already made a significant impact in the landscape of oncology therapeutics. I am motivated to continue growing our advisory team as we explore more cancer indications and make a difference in the lives of patients who face these hard-hitting diseases," said Dr. Martin Olivo, CMO of SystImmune Inc. "This is a pivotal time for SystImmune as we continue to expand our clinical operations beyond China and lay the groundwork in the United States and Europe for the most advanced agents in our therapeutic pipeline and having industry-leading experts on our team will certainly provide us with invaluable guidance on achieving our goals," said Dr. Yi Zhu, the president & CEO of SystImmune. Dr. Hope Rugo, M.D., is a medical oncologist and hematologist specializing in breast cancer research and treatment. A clinical professor of medicine, Dr. Rugo joined the UCSF Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center in 1999 after a decade of experience at UCSF in malignant hematology and bone marrow transplantation for a variety of diseases, including breast cancer. She entered the field of breast cancer in order to incorporate novel therapies based on an understanding of the biology of cancer, providing an excellent quality of care to women with breast cancer. Dr. Rugo is the director of UCSF's breast cancer clinical trials program and the principal investigator of multiple clinical trials focusing on combining novel targeted therapeutics with standard treatment to improve the treatment of both early and late-stage breast cancer. She is an active member of the national Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) cooperative group and is a founding member of the Breast Cancer Research Consortium, as well as serving as an investigator in the UCSF Breast Bay Area Specialized Program of Research Excellence in Breast Cancer (SPORE). Dr. Sara Tolaney, M.D., M.P.H., is the Chief of the Division of Breast Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and is internationally recognized for her research and educational leadership in breast cancer. Dr. Tolaney also serves as Associate Director of the Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers and is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Tolaney's research focuses on the development of novel therapies in breast cancer and developing more effective and less toxic treatment approaches. Her work has demonstrated that a relatively low-risk regimen is beneficial in women with early-stage node-negative HER2-positive cancers, and this work has been incorporated into national and international guidelines. Dr. Tolaney has developed several follow-up studies looking at novel approaches to early-stage HER2-positive disease and has also played a significant role in the development of CDK 4/6 inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates, and immunotherapy in breast cancer. Dr. Pasi Janne, M.D., Ph.D., MMSC., is the director of the Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology, the director of the Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, and the director of the Chen-Huang Center for EGFR Mutant Lung Cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In addition, Dr. Janne also serves as a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and leads the Janne Lab, which is located at Longwood Center in Boston, where his research in mutations and disease guide the field in pursuit of precision medicine. Dr. Janne's main research interests include studying the therapeutic relevance of oncogenic alterations in lung cancer. He was the codiscoverer of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and has led the development of therapeutic strategies for patients with EGFR mutant lung cancer. Dr. Helena A. Yu, M.D., is the research director and section head of targeted therapy and thoracic oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering, NY and associate attending physician of medical oncology, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Yu is a translational researcher whose research focuses on improving the survival of patients with EGFR mutations in their lung cancer. She oversees the clinical and translational research program for EGFR-mutant lung cancers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), and cares for patients with lung cancer in her medical oncology practice. Her aim is to develop effective new therapies for lung cancer, and is interested in identifying biomarkers that predict response and resistance to targeted treatments. About SystImmune SystImmune established in 2014, and located in Redmond, Washington, is a clinical-stage immune-oncology biotech company focused on the development of bi-specific, multi-specific antibody therapies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Biokin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.("Biokin"), a pharmaceutical company founded in 1996 in Chengdu, China. Biokin recently launched its IPO on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (Stock Code: 688506). SystImmune has several proprietary multi-specific antibody-based platforms developed as immune cell engagers, checkpoint inhibitors, and tumor growth inhibitors. SystImmune also developed the first-in-class bi-specific ADC drug platform. Currently, the company has eight molecules in Phase I or II oncology clinical trials in China, including SI-B001, SI-B003, GNC-038, GNC-039, GNC-035, BL-B01D1, BL-M02D1, and BL-M07D1. Recently, the BL-M11D1 IND obtained approval from the NMPA, enabling the molecule to proceed to Phase 1 clinical trials. Forward-Looking Statement Any research and development information provided by SystImmune is intended for general information purposes only. Such information is not intended to provide complete medical information. We do not offer patient-specific treatment advice and if you have medical conditions, please see your own medical doctor or healthcare provider. This press release may contain forward-looking statements with the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which reflects the expectations regarding the company's goals, strategies, results of operations, performance, business prospects, and opportunities, including but not limited to the ability to gain Investigational New Drug status for the resulting new product and the ability to develop a successful formulation. Terms such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "estimates," "could," "intends," "may," "plans," "potential," "projects," "will," "would" and other similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are generally indicative of forward-looking statements. While SystImmune believes that expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements are based on the company's reasonable assumptions and beliefs in light of the information available to the company at the time such statements are made, it cannot give assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to have been correct. Such forward-looking statements are not fact and are subject to uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after its date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. SOURCE SystImmune Inc. Industry group seeks comments on its proposed protocol for a single low-carbon steel standard. WASHINGTON , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Steel Climate Council (GSCC) today released a draft of The Steel Climate Standard, a global standard to measure and report steel carbon emissions. The standard focuses on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the global steel industry with a science-based glidepath to reduce emissions in line with the goal of the Paris Climate Agreement to achieve a 1.5 C scenario. The standard offers a single, technology-agnostic protocol that would apply to all steel producers equally on a global basis and would enable steel customers to know and compare the actual carbon emissions associated with steel products. In publishing its standard, the GSCC is inviting interested organizations to review The Steel Climate Standard and submit comments, which are due by May 17, 2023. The full text of the document and guidelines on submitting comments can be found at: https://globalsteelclimatecouncil.org "Steel companies and associations from around the world have come together to develop a standard that will enable our industry to reduce carbon emissions and encourage investments in lower emission technology as part of the global effort to decarbonize," said Greg Murphy, Executive Vice President, Nucor Corporation, and Chair of the GSCC. "Steel is integral to the functioning of global economies, including clean energy infrastructure. The Steel Climate Standard is a simple and understandable benchmark for reducing our industry greenhouse gas emissions and provides a transparent means for decision makers to make informed decisions," said Jeff Hansen, Vice President Environmental Sustainability, Steel Dynamics, and GSCC Board Member. GSCC is one of several groups and companies advocating for a global standard. Some in the United States and Europe are promoting a standard that features a "ferrous scrap usage sliding scale" one standard for steel made from traditional production processes and another for steel made from circular processes. "Creating a dual standard would allow high-carbon emissions steel to be prioritized over lower-carbon steel. This is a form of greenwashing and serves to discourage innovation and allows high-carbon steelmakers to postpone making changes in their production process," said Phil Bell, President, Steel Manufacturers Association. GSCC's proposed standard is comprised of two main components: (1) product certification criteria that allows customers to know if the steel they are buying is on the glidepath to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement; and (2) a corporate-wide, science-based target-setting framework based on a 1.5-degree glidepath. The GSCC standard would measure all key GHG pollutants from Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Producers would have to report independent verification of their emissions and reduction targets. The GSCC standard's product intensity goals for the steel industry are based on the International Energy Agency's (IEA) carbon budget for the iron and steel sector, which is aligned with the 1.5C scenario for net zero emissions by 2050. "Steel will also contribute to the transition to a greener economy with the production of electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar arrays and other clean technology products. The GSCC standard offers a clear future for steel in a decarbonized economy and aims to achieve the lowest overall emissions from the sector by 2050," said Franc Cardona, Head of Public Affairs, CELSA Group and GSCC Board member. About the Global Steel Climate Council GSCC is a non-profit organization created to lead an effort to reduce steel carbon emissions and encourage investments in lower emission technology as part of the global effort to decarbonize economies and societies. GSCC members are steel manufacturers, associations and other organizations in the steel supply chain that have a presence in 79 countries around the world. For more information, please contact Caitlin Carroll at [email protected] or 770-330-3870. SOURCE Global Steel Climate Council The Family-Focused Brand Can Now be Found Across the U.S. With Latest Distribution Deal LOS ANGELES, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Madison Brown , the family-owned and celebrity-favorite ice cream brand, announces its retail distribution expansion to Publix stores nationwide, bringing their exceptional, delicious flavors to even more customers. The move follows Madison Brown's previous wholesale successes, with the brand rapidly growing its retail footprint to become a staple in freezers across America. Madison Brown Ice Cream Launches at Publix Stores Nationwide. Co-Founded by Jay Jay Brown, son of Roc Nation Co-Founder and Vice Chairman Jay Brown, Madison Brown is focused on establishing a new culture of ice cream around shared laughs and the true happiness that can only be captured with the perfect sweet treat. The brand offers six original premium ice cream flavors ranging from tried-and-true elevated classics to unique and innovative options, truly living up to its "fabulous ice cream" tagline. Flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Mint Chocolate Chip and Red Velvet are now available for purchase at all Publix stores nationwide and priced at $8.99 per pint. Additionally, Madison Brown partnered with Rihanna's Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) earlier this year to create a new Neapolitan Swirl flavor. Made with high-quality ingredients and maximum creaminess, the Neapolitan Swirl features vanilla and strawberry ice cream with a unique Rihanna twist - a special chocolate crunch ribbon and her signature on the back of each pint. As a commitment to giving back to communities, 100% of proceeds of the Neapolitan Swirl is donated to Rihanna's CLF to support climate justice initiatives in the Caribbean & United States and helps communities prepare for and withstand natural disasters. "We're excited to be rolling out into Publix stores nationwide," says Jen Francis, Head of Sales at Madison Brown. "Following the success of our limited-edition flavor in collaboration with Rihanna earlier this year, we believe this wholesale expansion will boost our brand exposure and introduce consumers to our quality ice cream, boasting a high inclusion rate of all ingredients in every bite." Madison Brown's expansion continues, with the brand also available at all Ralph's and Berkeley Bowls, and select BevMo! and GoPuff. The core lineup of Madison Brown flavors include: Vanilla: Subtle yet rich creamy vanilla ice cream with just the right amount of sweetness Subtle yet rich creamy vanilla ice cream with just the right amount of sweetness Chocolate: Indulgent milk chocolate ice cream with a hint of dark chocolate throughout Indulgent milk chocolate ice cream with a hint of dark chocolate throughout Mint Chocolate Chip: Refreshing peppermint and spearmint extracts blended with bittersweet dark chocolate chunks Refreshing peppermint and spearmint extracts blended with bittersweet dark chocolate chunks Cookies & Cream: Classic vanilla ice cream blended with generous pieces of chocolate cookies with creme filling Classic vanilla ice cream blended with generous pieces of chocolate cookies with creme filling Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: Vanilla-based ice cream with added chunks of buttery soft cookie dough and blended with tiny milk chocolate chips Vanilla-based ice cream with added chunks of buttery soft cookie dough and blended with tiny milk chocolate chips Red Velvet: Classic vanilla-based ice cream with delicious pieces of luxurious red velvet cake and decadent swirls of real cream cheese frosting You can learn more about Madison Brown on Twitter @MadisonBrown , Instagram @MadisonBrownFrozen, and at MadisonBrown.com . ABOUT MADISON BROWN Madison Brown is redefining and establishing a new culture of fabulous ice cream. Co-Founded by Jay Jay Brown, son of Roc Nation Co-Founder and Vice Chairman Jay Brown, Madison Brown is a family-focused CPG brand honoring his family. Some of his fondest memories growing up included spending quality time with his family over a bowl of ice cream, so it was natural for Jay Jay Brown to start an ice cream venture together to create the ultimate indulgent experience. Entering the marketplace with six premium flavors, including its signature Red Velvet along with Vanilla, Chocolate, Cookies & Cream, Mint Chocolate Chip, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, aiming to blend the beloved pastime with today's culture. PR inquiries, please contact: [email protected] SOURCE Madison Brown Ice Cream Through April 29th, patients and consumers can make a donation to RESOLVE and HelpCureHD through partnership between Main Line Fertility and NutraBloom PHILADELPHIA, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In observance of National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW April 23-29, 2023), Main Line Fertility, a premium fertility provider that combines personalized care with cutting-edge reproductive technology, announces today an exclusive partnership with leading supplement brand NutraBloom to support two family building resources: RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association and The HelpCureHD Foundation (HelpCureHD). NutraBloom Main Line Fertility During NIAW, patients and visitors to Main Line Fertility's Reading, Pennsylvania office at 2210 Ridgewood Road in Wyomissing can donate to RESOLVE and HelpCureHD with an in-store purchase of any NutraBloom product. Online consumers can contribute to these organizations when completing a purchase at bloomhealthier.com. Main Line Fertility is part of The Prelude Network(Prelude), North America's largest and fastest-growing network of fertility centers, and offers a full spectrum of fertility services. NutraBloom is a line of expertly formulated supplements that support women's and men's health and wellness goals from preconception and beyond. Designed to make the journey towards wellness and fertility health simple, NutraBloom kits are built to fit any lifestyle and lifecycle and include Couple's Conception, Couple's Conception + PCOS, Men's Fertility Strength, PCOS Conception, PCOS Support, and Ovarian Support. Both organizations are part of Inception Fertility, North America's largest provider of comprehensive fertility products and services. "Main Line Fertility, like all clinics within The Prelude Network, treats patients with a holistic, 360-degree lens that considers the overall health and well-being of our patients, so it's only fitting that we partner with NutraBloom to offer in-store products and use this opportunity to support fertility-focused organizations that in turn support the journeys of other aspiring parents," Leigh Herzog, Executive Vice President, at Inception, the parent company to Prelude. "We are honored to use National Infertility Awareness Week to give back to RESOLVE and HelpCureHD." RESOLVE is a national patient advocacy group dedicated to ensuring that all people challenged in their family-building journey reach a resolution through knowledge, support, and advocacy. HelpCureHD is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to families at-risk for HD to achieve their dreams of having a child that is HD-free through in vitro fertilization (IVF) with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). About NutraBloom Developed by leading fertility specialists, NutraBloom is a premier supplement line that supports individuals' health and wellness goals from preconception and beyond and is designed to make the journey towards wellness and fertility health simple and straightforward. NutraBloom's expertly formulated supplements are made in the US with top-of-the-line, whole-food-based vitamins and nutritional supplements. Each product is free of contaminants, never tested on animals, and evaluated for purity by an outside reference laboratory. About The Prelude Network The Prelude Network (Prelude), the fastest-growing network of fertility clinics and largest provider of comprehensive fertility services in North America, is the clinic network of Inception Fertility a family of fertility brands that touches every part of the fertility journey, including diagnostics and treatment to financial accessibility. Each clinic, as part of the Prelude Network, is committed to delivering the highest level of personalized fertility care by the nation's leading reproductive endocrinologists, embryologists and practitioners by focusing on an excellence in science, medicine and the patient experience. The growing Prelude Network has over 40 total locations nationwide, offering a wide range of fertility services including egg freezing, IVF, genetic testing, and egg/embryo storage, among others. Media Contact: Mia Humphreys 239-297-6592 [email protected] SOURCE The Prelude Network Enables Marex Solutions to quickly respond to client requests for enhanced digital services MDXT Connect is fully integrated with Workflow to automate and de-risk post-trade processes Scaled grains trading business in under 12 weeks with plans to extend across other asset classes LONDON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MDX Technology (MDXT), an innovator in connectivity and SaaS low-code workflow solutions for financial institutions, announces a significant expansion of their existing relationship with Marex Solutions. The firm is now using the MDXT low-code workflow platform to automate post-trade processes for their US-based grains business. Marex Solutions, a division of Marex, specialises in the manufacture and distribution of customised OTC Derivatives and Structured Products. Marex Solutions is an existing customer of MDXT Connect for the distribution of real-time data from internal trading systems. The addition of the MDXT workflow module allows them to seamlessly automate addendum creation, enriched with trade, customer and legal data. In addition, it connects multiple teams within Marex Solutions and externally with their trading partners. MDXT delivered an MVP (minimum viable product) in under four weeks, and the project went live within 12 weeks. The grains business implementation is the first phase of a wider rollout across multiple asset classes. Eugene Faller, Head of Enterprise Solutions at Marex Solutions, commented. "This project represents a customer-led pivot in how we develop and adopt modern, highly flexible technology-driven service capabilities. Traditionally new development initiatives would disrupt the core development roadmap but now we can quickly spin-up and sandbox novel ideas in parallel. Low-code means that we can test embryonic ideas and implement continuous feedback and improvement cycles as a collaborative approach with our customers. The commodities market is diverse and highly fragmented, so there is no "off the peg" solution that works well across a broad spectrum. However, with MDXT, we can now quickly and cost-effectively develop different solutions for more targeted or specialist business areas." Nigel Someck, CEO at MDXT, concluded. "Interoperability across the trading infrastructure the ability to seamlessly integrate multiple applications and data has long been the holy grail for financial markets firms. Particularly in the front office, where traders across both the buy and sell side often have a number of applications open at any one time to perform a wide range of repetitive tasks. Our workflow solution is designed specifically for financial services firms. We have a unique understanding of how to connect different teams in a highly regulated and time critical environment. The Marex team are an inspiration to work with, their forward-thinking approach is completely aligned to ours and we are delighted that we have continued to further enrich the services we offer." About MDX Technology Ltd MDX Technology is an established tech company underpinned by deep domain expertise and experience. Our low-code, SaaS workflow and data connectivity platform is specifically designed for the global financial services industry. Our mission is to enable our clients to execute and exploit lucrative opportunities faster than their competitors. Users include international banks, brokers, exchanges, asset managers, hedge funds, and trading venues. Headquartered in London we serve Europe, North America and Asia. About Marex Marex is a diversified global financial services platform, providing essential liquidity, market access and infrastructure services to clients in the energy, commodities and financial markets. The Group provides comprehensive breadth and depth of coverage across four core services: Market Making, Agency Execution, Clearing, and Hedging & Investment Solutions. It has a leading franchise in many major metals, energy and agricultural products, executing around 50 million trades and clearing over 205 million contracts in 2022. The Group provides access to the world's major commodity markets, covering a broad range of clients that include some of the largest commodity producers, consumers and traders, banks, hedge funds and asset managers. Marex was established in 2005 but through its subsidiaries can trace its roots in the commodity markets back almost 100 years. Headquartered in London with 36 offices worldwide, the Group has over 1,800 employees across Europe, Asia and America. Marex Solutions, a division of Marex Group plc is a specialist producer of tailored OTC derivatives and Structured Products on equities, commodities, credit, FX, funds, fixed income and digital assets. For more information visit www.marex.com SOURCE MDX Technology The Service- Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business is expanding up to an additional 75,000 square footage. DALLAS, April 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Providing clinical laboratory testing services and solutions to Federal, State, and Local Government entities and their partners that will ensure that stakeholders are receiving the best health care and products for their patients., MCI Diagnostic Center is expanding its National Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory space to an additional 75,000 sq ft. to better accommodate the stakeholders' needs MCI Diagnostics Headquarters Located at 1155 Kas Dr.Ste.180, Richardson TX 75081, MCI Diagnostic Center is the largest certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Women-Owned laboratory in the country, "Expansion signals growth," said MCI CEO Colleen Payne-Nabors. "We want to be strategically positioned internally and externally to accommodate the needs of government agencies by managing and operating projects with the skills, capabilities, and manpower we possess. We are excited to expand and look forward to creating many new jobs and servicing thousands of Veterans and other government officials and personnel." The company is launching a recruitment campaign seeking candidates for every department, including executive management, HR, accounting, biochemistry, cytology, hematology, pathology, medical technicians, laboratory processors, and many others. MCI Diagnostic Center is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Women-Owned business, certified and accredited by CLIA, CAP, and COLA. In addition, MCI provides full-service laboratory testing currently in all 50 states, including Puerto Rico. They are committed to supporting the nation by providing the best laboratory testing services, the capacity to process over 400,000 tests per day with life-saving results and testing solutions which save lives. On staff they have a board-certified pathologists team that supports a range of laboratory services including Immunochemistry (IHC), Flow Cytometry, Bacteriology, Mycobacteriology, Mycology, Parasitology, Virology, Immunology, Chemistry, Endocrinology, anatomic pathology and more. "We are Proud to be a Veteran owned laboratory and Proud to serve our Veterans." SOURCE MCI Diagnostic Center AUSTIN, Texas, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Metafora's Chief Growth Officer, Ryan Schreiber, has won a Neal Award for Best Commentary as part of Metafora's contributions to thought leadership on FreightWaves. Schreiber penned the article " Viewpoint: How the Supreme Court's decision on C.H. Robinson could upend trucking " which was honored along with two other pieces by FreightWaves authors in the category of Best Commentary/Blog. In its 69th year, the prestigious Neal Awards serve to recognize editorial excellence in business media. The Best Commentary/Blog award is judged based on "the strength of the opinions expressed, relevance of topics and the skill and clarity of the writing." This accolade is a testament to Metafora's commitment to the transportation and logistics industry. Tweet this Metafora would like to extend special congratulations to FreightWaves, especially their CEO Craig Fuller and Editorial Director Rachel Premack who wrote the other two pieces in the winning submission. This accolade is a testament to Metafora's deep domain expertise and commitment to providing high-quality and insightful commentary on pressing issues facing the transportation and logistics industry. Metafora is dedicated to delivering content that helps its customers stay informed, competitive, and ahead of the curve. Metafora regularly contributes industry commentary on topics ranging from technology trends and innovation to growth challenges and legal and regulatory headwinds facing the industry . "We are proud of Ryan and his contribution to this award-winning publication," said Peter Rentschler, CEO of Metafora. "Ryan's unique combination of expertise in building / advising logistics businesses and legal background allows him to provide unparalleled insight into a variety of topics within the transportation and logistics industry. He is truly a thought leader in T&L. We, and our clients, are lucky to have him on our team." Ryan Schreiber commented, "I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Metafora's overwhelming expertise, and that people read and found value in this particular piece. Huge thanks to FreightWaves for being such a credible and dependable source of news for our industry and for selecting my voice to share their platform." About Metafora At Metafora , we are experts in all things technology with a focus on transportation, logistics and supply chain strategy . Our mission is to help your business overcome roadblocks toward progress and growth through better application of software , so we can contribute to a more efficient world together. SOURCE Metafora SHANGHAI, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MGI Tech Co., Ltd. ("MGI"), a global life science tools leader, announced its partnership with Shanghai-based JMDNA Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd. ("JMDNA") for DNBSEQ-T202 ("T20"), a sequencer that broke records for its ultra-high throughput and cost-efficiency. This was the first corporate order of the T20 sequencer that MGI has secured worldwide. "Life sciences and technology is one of the most important fields, and as a provider of such tools, we are committed to creating cutting-edge and high-quality platforms for global partners," said Ms. Jiang Hui, Chief Operating Officer at MGI, at the signing and unveiling ceremony. "We trust that the T20 sequencer will lend itself well to improving JMDNA's capability in fourth-party testing services. We look forward to harnessing T20's ultra-high throughput and great cost-efficiency to achieve universal access to gene technology." "In 2020, JMDNA installed four DNBSEQ-T7* sequencers, whose excellent performance has been widely recognized by customers," added Mr. Pan Jiakui, CEO of JMDNA. "Today, as the world's first enterprise user of the T20 sequencer, JMDNA aims to further enhance its sequencing capacity as a fourth-party testing public service platform and empower the entire life science industry." MGI's ultra-high throughput sequencer T20 was officially launched at the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) in the United States in February, 2023. Hailed as "a trailblazing sequencing factory", a single set of T20 can produce up to 50,000 WGS per annum for under USD 100 per 30x human genome. It is expected to open up new, exciting possibilities for the future of gene technology. According to Data Bridge Market Research, the global next generation sequencing (NGS) market is expected to account for USD 29,307 million by 2029, with the reduced costs of genetic sequencing per base fueling this growth. The growth of gene sequencing technology, which has surpassed Moore's Law, is enabling more diverse applications in downstream businesses within the industry, which in turn contributes to considerable progress in the overall downstream genomics industry. Equipped with the ultra-high throughput T20 sequencer and other sequencing platforms from MGI, JMDNA's Large-scale Genome Sequencing Center diligently supports gene-specialized application scenarios and research projects on large population cohort and Stereo-seq, in order to ease the supply-and-demand tension in sequencing, expand on industry applications, and facilitate scientific and technological advances. Notably, MGI's T20 addresses the challenges that lie in the computing, storage, and management of massive genetic data by providing an optional one-stop toolkit for ultra-large-scale genome projects. The toolkit includes sample preparation systems and reagents, automatic instruments and reagents for WGS library construction, as well as a series of supporting tools and modules for massive data processing all of which will help enable scientific and clinical studies based on ultra-high throughput sequencing. As of March 31, 2023, MGI has been active in over 90 countries and regions across six continents and offered premium services to more than 2,000 clients worldwide, backed by its leading-edge DNBSEQ sequencing technology and ultra-high throughput sequencing platforms. Guided by the principle that innovation is the primary driving force for life science and technology development, MGI continues to work closely with customers and partners to achieve steady, consistent progress in the life science industry. About MGI MGI Tech Co. Ltd. (MGI), headquartered in Shenzhen, is committed to building core tools and technology to lead life science through intelligent innovation. Based on its proprietary technology, MGI focuses on research & development, production, and sales of sequencing instruments, reagents, and related products to support life science research, agriculture, precision medicine, and healthcare. MGI is a leading producer of clinical high-throughput gene sequencers*, and its multi-omics platforms include genetic sequencing*, medical imaging, and laboratory automation. MGI's mission is to develop and promote advanced life science tools for future healthcare. For more information, please visit MGI website or connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn or YouTube. *Unless otherwise informed, StandardMPS and CoolMPS sequencing reagents, and sequencers for use with such reagents are not available in Germany, Spain, UK, Sweden, Italy, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Hong Kong (CoolMPS is available in Hong Kong). *Products are provided for research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures (except as specifically noted). SOURCE MGI Tech Co., Ltd. During a phone conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the ongoing Russian occupation of Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and Russia's use of the ZNPP as a cover for military strikes on Ukrainian cities and villages indicate that Moscow does not respect a fair the interest of all the people of the world to live in guaranteed safety from any nuclear or radiation threats. In this regard, the presidential press service said on Wednesday, "the head of state called on China to play an effective role in the settlement of the security issue around the ZNPP." "This will be in line with the essence of the Budapest Memorandum," he said. Zelenskyy briefed the Chinese leader on the situation at the frontline: "The situation at the front is difficult, but we are standing. And we will continue to liberate our land. We did not start this war, but we have to restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country. Within the internationally recognized borders of 1991. Including Crimea. This is fully consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter." The head of state spoke separately about the devastating consequences of the Russian invasion, emphasizing the abduction by Russia of twenty thousand Ukrainian children. The President of Ukraine outlined the content of the Ukrainian formula for peace and informed about the ongoing diplomatic work to organize the Global Peace Summit. Zelenskyy expressed hope for China's active participation in efforts to restore peace. "Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainian people. We are on our land and fighting for our future, exercising our inalienable right to self-defense. Peace must be just and sustainable, based on the principles of international law and respect for the UN Charter. There can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises. The territorial integrity of Ukraine must be restored within the 1991 borders," the president said. The parties noted the importance of efforts to establish peace. The head of the Ukrainian state outlined the importance of all states refraining from supporting Russia in the war. This should apply to military-technical cooperation, including the supply of weapons. "Russia converts any support - even partial - into the continuation of its aggression, into its further rejection of peace. The less support Russia receives, the sooner the war will end and serenity will return to international relations," Zelenskyy said. "The President of Ukraine emphasized the readiness of our country to remain a guarantor of global food security. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Ukrainian ports are currently hostage to Russian aggression and are blocked by the aggressor state, and our export routes are blocked with them," the press service said. In this context, the parties expressed joint support for the need for proper implementation and continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Zelenskyy informed about the implementation of the Grain from Ukraine global humanitarian program. The leaders of Ukraine and China agreed to maintain a regular dialogue. COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sunday, May 21, at 4:00 p.m., the award-winning, and internationally recognized Columbus International Children's Choir will delight audiences with a family-friendly spring concert, featuring many different ensembles comprised of 4 to 18 year old children, singing exquisitely in many languages, and including beloved masterworks, folk songs, and musicals. The Concert will be held at Saint Mary Church 684 S 3rd St. General Admission is $20, CICC Members $15, Early Bird $15, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis. "I'm a big fan of CICC. Tatiana Kats and her colleagues provide superb musicianship and a love of kids." - Christopher Purdy The Columbus International Children's Choir has garnered top prizes at numerous national and international competitions, including a Gold Medal in the 10th World Choir Games 2018 (Tshwane, South Africa) and 3rd place in the Youth Choirs Division of The American Prize in 2012. CICC has performed in the White House for President Obama and the First Lady, at Carnegie Hall, St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, on the Great Wall of China, Ireland, Canada, and locally at the Ohio Theatre, in collaboration with BalletMet, the Columbus Symphony, Opera Columbus, among many other venues and artists. The choir also hosts and sponsors the Central Ohio Singing Competition, which offers the stage for the best Ohio youth talents. Tatiana Kats is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Columbus International Children's Choir and the Columbus Music and Art Academy. Founded in 1998, CICC is an inclusive program that empowers children of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels through the gift of high-quality music education. The group is demographically diverse, with many students from families of different origins, including Bulgaria, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, and Ukraine, among many others. The repertoire includes classical and contemporary music from different periods in various languages as well as folk songs and musicals. Tatiana's thirst for knowledge and excellence lead her to earn a double master's degree, one in choral conducting and the other in piano pedagogy, from The Ohio State University. She also serves as R&R Committee Chair for the Ohio Choral Directors Association and runs a flourishing piano studio in Dublin, Ohio. Her many awards and accolades include 3rd place in The American Prize in Choral Conducting, the Steinway Top Teacher Award in 2023, the Columbus Symphony's Music Educator Award, and recognition as a "Founding Teacher ... instrumental in establishing a national standard for developing musicians in the United States of America" by the National Music Certificate Program. "The Columbus International Children's Choir is a comprehensive organization that provides first-rate choral education for participants from elementary age through high school youth. They develop musical skills through a wide variety of music, build community, and have wonderful travel experiences that help them grow as musicians and humans. They sing with commitment and joy!" - Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt Artistic Director Mark Voris founded the Music at St. Mary Concert Series to support the artistry of local top-ranked musicians in the beautifully renovated sanctuary of Saint Mary Catholic Church in German Village. Contact: Music at St. Mary Concert Series Mark Voris (614) 352-7177 [email protected] www.musicatstmary.com Tickets: Columbus International Children's Choir SOURCE Music at St. Mary STOCKHOLM, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Three years of data in The Truth About Laundry report, shows 35 million households have turned down wash temperatures for potential saving of nearly 1 million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions. Today the results of the longest and largest study of its kind into laundry behaviors across Europe have been published by leading global appliance company Electrolux Group. The study reveals long established behaviors are changing at pace, in favor of the environment, as consumers seek to save energy costs: 35m European households have turned to washing at 30C since 2020; over 14m of which have switched in the past 12 months. European households have turned to washing at 30C since 2020; over of which have switched in the past 12 months. The turn to 30C is likely to have saved over 952,000 tons of CO2 equivalent*. 44% of households are now mainly washing their clothes at 30C or below, compared to 35% three years ago. Majority of Europe will be 30C laundry zone by 2025 if trend continues. will be 30C laundry zone by 2025 if trend continues. 86% of all households have tried to reduce energy usage in the past twelve months and over half (56%) have specifically changed the way they launder. Current energy crisis is accelerating change While the study shows habits have been changing for the good of the planet over the past few years, it is the current energy crisis that is helping to accelerate change. These changes include 43% now washing full loads more, 31% wearing clothes more often between washes, 29% laundering more at night and 30% now using Eco-settings. Many of them for the first time. Concerns over energy it seems is never too far from the consumer's mind with 83% of adults thinking more about the energy they are consuming when using appliances than ever before. 58% also say that 'energy efficiency' will be a key consideration when they buy their next appliance. "The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that urgent climate action can secure a livable future for all but that the window for positive action is closing fast," comments Sarah Schaefer, VP Sustainability Europe, Electrolux Group. "Our latest research, which has reviewed data from the past three years, shows consumers are changing their behaviors positively, which should give everyone hope that together we can help tackle climate change. But a lot more is needed from us all if we are to succeed." Five steps to change Electrolux Group is recommending five small steps everyone can take which, together, can make a big difference to the planet: Make 30C the new 40C. As often as possible. 52% of Europe is still mainly washing at 40C and above. Pick more energy efficient appliances. They reduce energy usage and are more resource efficient which can be kinder to the planet. They can also help to reduce household energy costs over time. Skip a wash, refresh instead. 62% of Europeans say "getting rid of odors" is the main reason they wash their clothes and nearly a quarter of adults (23%) have also consistently reported the main reason they wash clothes is because they like to wear freshly laundered clothes. New technology though means consumers can refresh clothes by steaming them and also tackle odors by automatically adding a fragrance to the wash. Other great benefits of steam, of course, are it saves water compared to a full wash and, for those short on time, it reduces wrinkles and the need to iron. Unlock appliance potential. One effortless way consumers can look to reduce costs and lessen environmental impact is by exploring the settings on their appliances more. 22% of adults have reported never reading their appliance's instructions and the average number of settings people use is 3. It means there are a lot of technological advancements not being taken advantage of. Start small, wash full. 43% of Europeans are now washing full loads more often due to concerns over energy costs. Checking your load is full before washing it is a small and fairly easy step to take which can reduce the use of resources and costs. "The positive changes we are witnessing in laundry are many," continues Schaefer. "Millions of people across Europe making small changes which are adding up to big differences. That's the journey we are on and the more people who join, the better chance we have for creating the liveable future we all want." *Calculation is based upon: total number of households which have turned to 30C from 40C in Europe since 2020 is 35,015,308 (i.e. 10% of 350,153,081, the total number of households) multiplied by an annual CO2-eq saving of up to 27.2kg per household per year, divided by 1000, to arrive at 952,416 tons of CO2-eq likely to have been saved. A household saving up to 27.2kg of CO2-eq per year from turning down the wash temperature from 40C to 30C, is based upon decreasing washing temperature from Cotton 40C cycle to Cotton 30C cycle, using powder detergent, 8Kg FL WM delivers ~ 25% less impact on Global Warming Potential (GWP) of use phase. In real terms it reduces CO2 equivalent from 1436Kg CO2-eq to 1164 Kg CO2-eq over ten years or up to 27.2Kg of CO2-eq every year per household, based on one household having an average of one washing machine. Click here for more information: Electrolux The Truth About Laundry 2021. The Truth About Laundry report The Truth About Laundry, the Resource Efficiency Edition 2023 is the third consecutive study by leading global appliance company, Electrolux Group. Each year it studies the responses from up to 14,000 adults across Europe as well as analyzing 1.4m actual wash cycle data collected from its connected appliances. In 2020, it shared insights into laundry behavior during the pandemic and published new scientific research which pinpointed the CO2 equivalent saving from turning wash temperature down from 30C to 40C. In 2021 it continued to monitor key behaviors while also sharing insights into consumer understanding of microplastics in clothes and what can be done to reduce their release into the planet's waterways. About the most recent research The research findings are based on quantitative data collected from 14,000 adults across fourteen European markets. OnePoll, a survey-led market research company, managed the research in collaboration with Electrolux Group and its partners. The survey was fielded between 20th December 2022 to 16th January 2023 with data collected from the general population in the following countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and, the UK. The data were weighted for each country to ensure accurate representation by age, marital status, income/social class, ethnicity, and region. For a statistic of 50% the margin of error for sampling on a sample of 1,000 respondents is 3.1%. For smaller or larger statistics, the margin of error will decrease and falls to 1.9% for a statistic of 10% or 90%. This is based on all countries having 1,000 respondents per market. This margin of error is small making the data highly reliable. For further information, please contact Electrolux Press Hotline, +46 8 657 65 07. The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/1853/3758170/2012077.pdf PR_The Truth About Laundry 2023_Electrolux Group https://news.cision.com/electrolux-group/i/infographic-truth-about-laundry,c3171065 Infographic Truth About Laundry https://news.cision.com/electrolux-group/i/sarah-schaefer--vp-sustainability-europe--electrolux-group,c3171072 Sarah Schaefer, VP Sustainability Europe, Electrolux Group SOURCE Electrolux Group Company's new sustainability impact report highlights achievements in renewable energy, animal care, diversity, equity and inclusion, and strengthening communities SMITHFIELD, Va., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Smithfield Foods, Inc. today published its 21st annual sustainability impact report tracking progress toward its ambitious sustainability targets in its continuing commitment to produce "Good Food. Responsibly." "Smithfield's sustainability programs have accelerated over the past several years, and 2022 was a year of significant progress," said Stewart Leeth, chief sustainability officer for Smithfield Foods. "We completed a comprehensive watershed analysis, made progress toward our food loss and waste goals and expanded our renewable energy footprint to further reduce GHG emissions. Smithfield's culture of continuous improvement continues to drive our company forward to produce good food the right way while minimizing our impact on the environment." Smithfield's sustainability program is informed by the company's sustainable impact priorities and guided by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, the IFRS Foundation's SASB Standards (SASB) and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. The company's strategy spans seven pillars of animal care, environment, diversity, equity and inclusion, helping communities, worker health and safety, food safety and quality, and health and wellness. In 2022, Smithfield remained on track to achieve carbon-negative status in all company-owned U.S. operations, reduce GHG emissions across its U.S. value chain by 30% and obtain 50% of its electricity needs from renewable resources by 2030. Additional highlights of this year's report include: Producing Clean, Renewable Energy: Smithfield's joint venture with Monarch Bioenergy saw investments in 2022 from TPG Rise Climate, the climate investing strategy of TPG's global impact investing platform TPG Rise, to rapidly accelerate the development of its clean, low-carbon renewable natural gas (RNG) systems. The company's Align RNG joint venture is also nearing completion of new RNG projects in North Carolina and Arizona, with another project in North Carolina and one in Virginia currently under construction. Minority Farmer Program: Smithfield continued to make life-changing investments in U.S. farm families through its minority contract farmer program, welcoming the first family of Asian descent to its farming operations. The Ng family are Burmese refugees who had farmed hogs in their village before emigrating to the United States. They now own and operate a farm and will be able to create successful family outcomes through wealth generation. Diversity, equity and inclusion: In 2022, Smithfield achieved its target to increase the racial diversity of its leadership team by promoting and hiring Black, Hispanic and other underrepresented groups to reflect at least 30% of supervisors and above by 2030 eight years ahead of schedule. Additionally, the company's Operations Leadership Program welcomed six cohorts, served more than 130 graduates representing 37 company locations and resulted in nearly 50 promotions. Eighty-five percent of current program participants and alumni are from diverse backgrounds with a focus on women and underrepresented groups. Animal Care: The company continued to maintain group housing for all confirmed pregnant sows on company-owned farms globally in 2022. In its European facilities, Smithfield continues to provide pigs and poultry with housing, floor area and surface area consistent with EU requirements. The company also achieved an annual audit score of excellent (97-100%) on farms and at every processing facility globally in 2022. Smithfield's 2022 sustainability impact report is available at smithfieldfoods.com/2022sustainabilityreport. About Smithfield Foods, Inc. Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is a U.S. food company that employs nearly 60,000 people in seven countries and partners with thousands of American farmers. As one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies, we are dedicated to producing "Good food. Responsibly." to feed a growing world population. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including our industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in our U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30% across our entire U.S. value chain by 2030. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to food banks, disaster relief efforts and community outreach programs in all 50 U.S. states. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield, Eckrich, Gwaltney and Nathan's Famous, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. SOURCE Smithfield Foods, Inc. NextGen CDR Facility (NextGen) announces first contracts to purchase carbon dioxide removals (CDRs), demonstrating support for scaling the market for carbon removal and durable long term storage by 2030. The advance purchase of close to 200K tonnes of CDRs from three projects, including the world's largest Direct Air Capture and Storage (DACS) project and the world's largest technological carbon removal project, demonstrates tangible corporate interest for various CDR technologies that offer long term removal of CO 2 . NextGen plans to purchase over one million CDRs by 2025 , all of which must be certified under independent ICROA- endorsed standards to ensure carbon project quality. NextGen, a joint venture between South Pole and Mitsubishi Corporation, includes industry leaders Boston Consulting Group, LGT, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines , Swiss Re, and UBS as founding buyers. ZURICH, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NextGen CDR Facility (NextGen) - a joint venture between global climate project developer and solutions provider, South Pole, and Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi Corporation backed by founding buyers Boston Consulting Group, LGT, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Swiss Re, and UBS has announced the advance purchase of 193,125 tonnes of CDRs from carbon removal projects that will constitute the world's largest diversified portfolio of CDRs offering 1000+ years of CO 2 storage once delivered. The advance purchase of carbon removals, which will be registered under ICROA-endorsed certification standards, will include CDRs from the world's largest scale Direct Air Capture and Storage (DACS) project, being developed by 1PointFive in Texas, which is expected to remove and permanently store up to 500k tonnes of carbon dioxide per year once fully operational. NextGen will also purchase CDRs from the world's largest tech carbon removal project, the Summit Carbon Solutions' $5.1bn biomass carbon removal and storage (BiCRS) project being implemented in the Midwestern region of the United States, which will remove over 9M tonnes per year through the capture, transportation and permanent storage of biogenic carbon removals once completed. NextGen will also purchase carbon removal credits from climate tech company Carbo Culture's inaugural high technology biochar project (C1) in Finland. The company is scaling up with the first series of commercial facilities planned to produce high quality biochar to remove and durably store 2.5M tonnes of CDRs by 2030. NextGen's portfolio establishes market best practice for project standard certification. All projects will be certified and verified under standards endorsed by the International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance (ICROA) to ensure an independent third-party assurance that the projects are of the highest environmental integrity and benefit local communities. Strong monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) standards in the carbon removal industry are vital to ensure that removals approaches only incentivize the creation of high-quality CDR that are additional, measurable and highly durable. By bringing together high integrity buyers and sellers of ICROA-endorsed certified CDRs, NextGen is helping to create the conditions the market needs to scale: making permanent CDRs accessible for corporate buyers with an average target price of $200 per tonne, enabling risk diversification through a portfolio approach, and providing access to deep market expertise. Companies in NextGen will have access to a diverse global portfolio of carbon removal technologies and storage solutions, including Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS), Direct Air Capture and Storage (DACS), Enhanced Weathering, High-Temperature Biochar and Product Mineralization allowing them to demonstrate and operationalize commitments to long-term CDRs, while addressing the challenge that technology companies face in urgently scaling their projects. In March 2023, the IPCC Synthesis Report underscored that global rates of CDR deployment are "far below" those necessary to limit global warming to 1.5C*. However, the market has not yet scaled to a level close to what the IPCC deems as necessary for a safe and sustainable future. Today's announcement marks a major milestone in building a scalable market for durable stored CDRs, representing 25% of all purchases to date according to industry data source CDR.FYI . Creditworthy CDR purchases from large projects providing long-term storage will remove significant volumes of atmospheric and biogenic CO 2 in the next few years, while helping companies to secure the financing needed to ensure these projects can be built and scaled up to the highest standards. These projects represent NextGen's first advance purchase of a targeted one million CDRs by 2025 that can be realized by 2030 to deliver significant climate impact. Further details on the portfolio will be featured at the Carbon Unbound conference on May 11 in NYC. "Permanently removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at scale is vital to achieving net-zero by 2050 and meeting the Paris agreement. We are proud to be an anchor buyer in the NextGen Facility and support pioneering carbon removal technologies that are removing emissions now. This key milestone announced today is another important step to unlock the potential of breakthrough climate technologies," says David Webb, Chief Sustainability Officer, at Boston Consulting Group. "The launch of NextGen with three promising, innovative projects is an important milestone - for us as a founding buyer as well. We are convinced that Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) is one of the solutions crucial to achieving our climate goals. We can only make progress towards our goal of net-zero with scalable solutions, concerted action and investments in the right projects can. NextGen offers the right model to do so," says H.S.H. Prince Max von und zu Liechtenstein, Chairman LGT. "We are delighted to be making solid progress on our climate journey by purchasing Carbon Dioxide Removals (CDRs) and supporting pioneering carbon removal technologies. To achieve our net-zero emissions by 2050, reducing our emissions in accordance with the science-based abatement curve is a must and our priority; however, it is no longer enough. We will support climate actions beyond our value chain by purchasing CDRs and add to our chances of keeping 1.5 within our reach. In this way, we will contribute to sustainable growth for people, society, and the planet, for all life in the next generation," says Takeshi Hashimoto, President & CEO of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. "Development of CDRs is essential for net-zero emissions by 2050, and we are proud to be part of the great achievement announced by NextGen. Our team contributes to NextGen's further development by leveraging our insight and network in the global CDR businesses. Mitsubishi Corporation will further strengthen our commitment to the sustainable future and continue the contribution for environmental protection through innovation and collaboration," says Masaru Saito, EVP, Next-Generation Energy Business, Mitsubishi Corporation. "NextGen's ambition to scale the market has taken a major step forward following these initial CDR purchases and puts us on a clear pathway to realize our target of 1M durably stored tonnes of CO 2 by 2025. Not only will these advance purchases establish a quality standard by ensuring independent certification of technological carbon removals, these commitments from our buyers will unlock financing for many emerging CDR projects and technologies that now have a clear route-to-market for removing historical emissions," says Philip Moss, Chairman of NextGen and Global Director, Tech Carbon Removals, at South Pole. "Today's announcement is another exciting step in making carbon dioxide removal a scalable reality. Offering certainty as an anchor buyer is one of the ways UBS is supporting the development of innovative climate technologies. We are committed to working in partnership on the solutions we need to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050," says Michael Baldinger, UBS Chief Sustainability Officer. "Large-scale Direct Air Capture is a vital technology to accelerate the world's path to net zero emissions. We believe transparent, high-integrity and, high-durability CDRs are a necessary carbon removal solution to help achieve global climate targets," says Michael Avery, President and General Manager, 1PointFive. "A few years ago, very few people were buying carbon removal. This is a clear market signal that high quality removals are here to stay. NextGen's commitment will be catalytic for the industry," says Tim Preisenhammer, director of carbon markets, Carbo Culture. "The world is waking up to the need of radical emission reductions and carbon removal today to reach net zero. The NextGen facility led by South Pole and Mitsubishi is a best practice example, and shows the catalytic effect of bankable offtake contracts in financing this critically needed infrastructure," says Henrietta Moon, CEO of Carbo Culture. "Global carbon markets are experiencing a dramatic shift as buyers favor investment in high-quality Carbon Dioxide Removals from transformative projects that help achieve long-term environmental protection goals," says Jim Pirolli, Chief Commercial Officer at Summit Carbon Solutions. "Through this landmark purchase of CDRs, NextGen and their founding partners have taken a bold step to accelerate the implementation of the technologies and infrastructure required to permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at a meaningful scale. We are thrilled that CDRs from our biomass carbon removal and storage project were selected for one of the largest, most important transactions of carbon removals in history." "This is a historic announcement for Summit Carbon Solutions," says Lee Blank, CEO of Summit Carbon Solutions. "The voluntary carbon market is a powerful tool when financing carbon removal projects, achieving meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and improving long-term environmental outcomes. Commitments from organizations like NextGen are key in ensuring the success of significant, innovative projects like Summit Carbon Solutions." * According to the IPCC Special Report "Global Warming of 1.5 C" (SR15) there is an urgent need to scale up efforts to remove carbon from the atmosphere in order to achieve the 100-1,000 Gt of carbon removals by 2050 required to keep global warming within 1.5C. If we are to reach net zero GHG emissions by 2050, we will require both nature-based and technological solutions in addition to steep decarbonisation and emissions avoidance efforts (such as forest conservation). * According to the latest State of Carbon Dioxide Removal , an additional 1GT of additional removals will need to take place every year between now and 2030 almost double current removals that are primarily nature based. What makes NextGen unique Ambition : NextGen aims to contract over a million tonnes of certified technological carbon removals (CDRs) from projects that will be operational by 2025. : NextGen aims to contract over a million tonnes of certified technological carbon removals (CDRs) from projects that will be operational by 2025. Quality : Credible, verifiable quality CDRs that can meet emerging methodologies under ICROA-approved standards to satisfy corporate net zero requirements. : Credible, verifiable quality CDRs that can meet emerging methodologies under ICROA-approved standards to satisfy corporate net zero requirements. Price & accessibility : A target average price of $200 per tonne, to demonstrate that removals can be delivered at a price that aligns with corporate procurement targets. : A target average price of per tonne, to demonstrate that removals can be delivered at a price that aligns with corporate procurement targets. Delivery : Dedicated team to optimize delivery through active due diligence, portfolio diversification and experienced monitoring experts. : Dedicated team to optimize delivery through active due diligence, portfolio diversification and experienced monitoring experts. Pipeline : Companies joining the facility will have access to an curated portfolio of projects across a range of technologies, including Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS), Direct Air Capture and Storage (DACS), Enhanced Weathering, High-Temperature Biochar and Product Mineralization. : Companies joining the facility will have access to an curated portfolio of projects across a range of technologies, including Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS), Direct Air Capture and Storage (DACS), Enhanced Weathering, High-Temperature Biochar and Product Mineralization. Design: Innovative model that allows leading corporations to secure CDR supply on a long term basis, and to vet each project before inclusion. About the NextGen CDR Facility The NextGen CDR Facility (NextGen) brings technical expertise and global networks together to unlock the potential of large-scale technical carbon removal. It holds the ambition of purchasing over one million certified carbon removal credits by 2025. The establishment of NextGen follows South Pole's approval as an Implementing Partner of the First Movers Coalition (FMC). Its development was strongly influenced by the Carbon Removal Climate Action Group of the World Economic Forum Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders. NextGen will purchase technical CDRs from projects using a range of technological approaches that offer significant potential to scale, including BiRCS, DACCS, biochar, enhanced weathering, high-temperature biochar, and product mineralization. NextGen is a partnership between global climate project developer and solutions provider, South Pole, and Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi Corporation backed by founding buyers Boston Consulting Group, LGT, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Swiss Re, and UBS. https://www.southpole.com/nextgencdr SOURCE NextGen CDR Facility FELTHAM, England, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nomad Foods Limited (NYSE: NOMD) today announced it will report results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 before New York Stock Exchange market open on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. A conference call with members of the executive management team will be held to discuss the results with additional comments and details. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 8:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. To participate on the live call listeners in North America may dial +1-844-826-3033 and international listeners may dial +1-412-317-5185. Additionally, there will be a presentation to accompany the conference call and the call is being webcast. Both can be accessed at the Nomad Foods website at www.nomadfoods.com under Investor Relations. A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company website for two weeks following the event and can be accessed by listeners in North America by dialing +1-844-512-2921 and by international listeners by dialing +1-412-317-6671; the replay pin number is 10177893. About Nomad Foods Nomad Foods (NYSE: NOMD) is Europe's leading frozen food company. The Company's portfolio of iconic brands, which includes Birds Eye, Findus, iglo, Ledo and Frikom, have been a part of consumers' meals for generations, standing for great tasting food that is convenient, high quality and nutritious. Nomad Foods is headquartered in the United Kingdom. Additional information may be found at http://www.nomadfoods.com. Nomad Foods Contacts Investor Relations Contact Anthony Bucalo Nomad Foods Limited +1-914-907-8724 SOURCE Nomad Foods Limited Deadline to apply is June 16, 2023 DAVIS, Calif., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning today, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California is setting aside $2 million in federal financial assistance to help California's agricultural producers recover from recent flooding. This funding is in addition to recent USDA funding allocated through the USDA Emergency Watershed Protection Program (administered by NRCS) and the USDA Emergency Conservation Program (administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency). "NRCS is working with farmers and ranchers to assess the damage to their land and to provide conservation planning assistance to help them return back to normal operations," said NRCS California State Conservationist Carlos Suarez. "We have been hearing from our customers that this funding is needed, and we are answering that call." This funding applies to resource concerns that threaten the ongoing agricultural operation or create an imminent threat to agricultural operations. Eligible emergency practices primarily fall into four categories of repairing or stabilizing animal waste structures, irrigation equipment, forestry improvement, or vehicle access. Eligible counties include Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial Inyo, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo and Yuba. Eligible Practice Damaged by Natural Disaster For damaged practices installed and certified under an active Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) contract that has not yet expired, the contract may be modified allowing participant to re-install the damaged practice(s). For damaged practices installed and certified under a past EQIP contract, producers may sign up for EQIP to re-install the practice(s) at the current payment rates. For damaged practices that were never certified by NRCS through any conservation program, producers may sign up for EQIP to install NRCS practices as long as all EQIP eligibility requirements are met. Other Requirements for NRCS Practices All installed practices must meet NRCS practice standards including: design and specifications. Practices installed or work performed prior to an approved engineering design or practice plan is not eligible for EQIP. Practices approved for EQIP-Disaster funding do not overlap with the Farm Service Agency's Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). Producers should seek assistance either through ECP or EQIP depending on the type of practice(s) that was damaged. The deadline to apply for this disaster assistance funding is June 16, 2023. Please visit your local NRCS service center to apply, which can be found at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/find-a-service-center. Since its inception in 1935, NRCS has worked in partnership with private landowners and a variety of local, state, and federal conservation partners to deliver conservation based on specific, local needs. Please visit www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov for more information about NRCS. Contacts: Brandon Steinberg [email protected] Jonathan Groveman [email protected] SOURCE USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Offers Free Black Panther Comic Books to Encourage Savings BOSTON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of National Superhero Day, OneUnited Bank, the nation's largest black-owned bank, is proud to announce its collaboration with Marvel Comics and Visa, Inc to provide a free custom comic book (featuring Black Panther and Shuri) in its branches on April 28, 2023 and a digital version of the comic book to all participants in its 13th Annual "I Got Bank!" National Financial Literacy Contest. ONEUNITED BANK ANNOUNCES MARVEL COMICS AND VISA COLLABORATION TO PROMOTE FINANCIAL LITERACY The one-of-a-kind custom edition comic book was created by Marvel Comics and Visa, Inc. and includes financial literacy exercises developed by OneUnited Bank. On April 28th, National Superhero Day, the Bank will offer up to 500 comic books at its branches in Boston (Grove Hall), Miami, Los Angeles, and Compton on a first come, first served basis. No purchase required. For branch locations visit www.oneunited.com/locations. The 13th Annual "I Got Bank!" National Financial Literacy Contest selects ten children to win a $1,000 savings account. To make financial literacy a core value of the Black community, the Bank is offering a free "I Got Bank" E-Book. In addition, every child who submits their entry online, can access a digital version of the Black Panther Comic Book. Students from across the country between the ages of 8 and 12 are encouraged to read a financial literacy book of their choosing, and either write a 250-word essay or create an art project to show how they would apply what they learned from the book to their daily lives. Submissions must be emailed or postmarked by June 30, 2023. The Bank will choose ten winners and award each winner a $1,000 savings account at OneUnited Bank by August 31, 2023. For more information, please visit: www.oneunited.com/book. Teri Williams, OneUnited Bank President states, "We are excited to collaborate with Marvel Comics and Visa to promote financial literacy. Our contest, free e-book, and now this new comic book make it easy for families to teach their children how to save and make financial literacy a core value in the Black community!" "I Got Bank! What My Granddad Taught Me About Money" is published by The Beckham Publications Group, Inc. (Beckhamhouse). Comic Book: Investing In Each Other: Jim Zub (Writer), J.L. Giles (Artist), Carlos Lopez (Colorist). For more information about the official contest rules, please visit: www.oneunited.com/book. Media Contact: Suzan McDowell, Circle of One Marketing, [email protected], or 305-576-3790 About OneUnited Bank OneUnited Bank is the premier bank for urban communities, the nation's largest Black-owned bank, the first Black internet bank and a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Its mission is to provide affordable financial services to support economic development in urban communities and maintain superior financial performance to maximize shareholder value. OneUnited is an FDIC insured bank and an Equal Housing Lender. SOURCE OneUnited Bank The opioid use disorder market is expected to grow in the coming years due to factors like an increase in the patient pool and the expected entry of emerging therapies by leading companies such as Braeburn Pharmaceuticals, BioXcel Therapeutics, MediciNova, AstraZeneca, and others. LAS VEGAS, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's Opioid Use Disorder Market Insights report includes a comprehensive understanding of current treatment practices, opioid use disorder emerging drugs, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted market size from 2019 to 2032, segmented into 7MM [the United States, the EU-4 (Italy, Spain, France, and Germany), the United Kingdom, and Japan]. Key Takeaways from the Opioid Use Disorder Market Report As per DelveInsight analysis, the opioid use disorder market size in the 7MM was approximately USD 1.9 billion in 2022. in 2022. According to the assessment done by DelveInsight, the estimated total prevalent opioid use disorder cases in the 7MM were approximately 3.9 million in 2022. in 2022. Leading opioid use disorder companies such as Braeburn Pharmaceuticals, BioXcel Therapeutics, MediciNova, AstraZeneca, Cerevel Therapeutics, LLC, Indivior Inc., Aptinyx , and others are developing novel opioid use disorder drugs that can be available in the opioid use disorder market in the coming years. , and others are developing novel opioid use disorder drugs that can be available in the opioid use disorder market in the coming years. The promising opioid use disorder therapies in the pipeline include CAM2038, BXCL501, MN-166, AZD4041, CVL-354, INDV-2000, NYX-783 , and others. and others. In December 2022 , FDA accepted Braeburn's NDA resubmission for BRIXADI (buprenorphine) extended-release subcutaneous injection for moderate to severe opioid use disorder. Discover which therapies are expected to grab the major opioid use disorder market share @ Opioid Use Disorder Market Report Opioid Use Disorder Overview Opioids are substances that interact with opioid receptors in the body and brain to diminish pain perception. They can be natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic. While the terms opioids and opiates are sometimes used interchangeably, opiate explicitly refers to natural substances derived from the poppy plant, such as heroin or morphine. In contrast, opioids can be natural or synthetically derived. Opioid use disorder is defined as the prolonged use of opioids that causes clinically substantial distress or impairment. Opioid use disorder is characterized by an overwhelming desire to use opioids, increased opioid tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms when opioids are withdrawn. The most severe form of opioid use disorder includes dependency and addiction. Opioid use disorder has substantial potential effects, including disability, relapses, and death. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines opioid use disorder as a problematic pattern of opioid use that causes issues or distress. Opioid Use Disorder Epidemiology Segmentation DelveInsight estimates that there were approximately 3.9 million prevalent cases of opioid use disorder in the 7MM in 2022. According to estimates based on DelveInsight's analysis, the United States contributed to the largest number of diagnosed prevalent cases of opioid use disorder (~53%) in the 7MM in 2022. Whereas EU4 and the UK accounted for around 36% of the total prevalent cases of opioid use disorder in the 7MM, respectively, in 2022. The opioid use disorder market report proffers epidemiological analysis for the study period 20192032 in the 7MM segmented into: Total Opioid Use Disorder Prevalent Cases Opioid Use Disorder Gender-Specific Cases Opioid Use Disorder Age-Specific Cases Opioid Use Disorder Severity-Specific Cases Download the report to understand which factors are driving opioid use disorder epidemiology trends @ Opioid Use Disorder Epidemiological Insights Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Market Although effective therapies are available, only roughly 1 in every 4 patients with OUD receives specialized care. Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), considered the "gold standard" of opioid use disorder treatment, is an evidence-based treatment for people suffering from opioid use disorder. Counseling and behavioral therapies may be an important aspect of opioid use disorder treatment in addition to drugs, but they are not successful on their own. Medications are also used to treat cravings, alleviate withdrawal symptoms, and prevent opioid euphoria. These drugs do not "cure" the illness but rather increase safety and minimize withdrawal symptoms, which might lead to relapse or continuing drug use. Methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone are three FDA-approved drugs often used for opioid use disorder treatment. Unlike individuals with substance-use disorders, individuals with other diseases, individuals with substance-use disorders are encouraged to participate in self-help programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. The combination of education, motivational enhancement, and self-help groups, which are incorporated into individual and group counseling approaches in inpatient and outpatient programs, helps patients change how they think about how opioids affect their lives, recognize that change is possible, and work to reduce behaviors that perpetuate illicit drug use while developing new behaviors that reduce drug-related problems. To know more about opioid use disorder treatment guidelines, visit @ Opioid Use Disorder Management Opioid Use Disorder Pipeline Therapies and Key Companies CAM2038: Braeburn Pharmaceuticals BXCL501: BioXcel Therapeutics MN-166: MediciNova AZD4041: AstraZeneca CVL-354: Cerevel Therapeutics, LLC INDV-2000: Indivior Inc. NYX-783: Aptinyx Learn more about the FDA-approved drugs for opioid use disorder @ Drugs for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Opioid Use Disorder Market Dynamics The opioid use disorder market dynamics are expected to change in the coming years. After the United States acknowledged and addressed its opioid issue, there has been an increase in awareness and overall financing for opioid use disorder research and development in the opioid use disorder market. Although just a few active compounds have been demonstrated to be beneficial in opioid use disorder treatment, their various and creative formulations have revolutionized the therapeutic landscape by considerably enhancing treatment adherence among patients and reducing relapses. Moreover, the elimination of the DATA 2000 waiver and the cap on how many patients can be treated with buprenorphine by a physician is expected to revolutionize the opioid use disorder market landscape in the US, expanding the use of buprenorphine in the treatment environment even more. Furthermore, the upcoming policy reforms are projected to improve opioid use disorder patients' access to MOUD and their use in the therapy environment. However, several factors may hamper opioid use disorder market growth in the coming years. Despite being demonstrated to be the greatest opioid use disorder treatment option, the use of MOUD in the treatment context is relatively low in the US, as opioid agonist therapy, which is the most recommended type of opioid use disorder treatment, is often perceived as a person changing from one form of addiction to another. Because of the societal stigma connected with drugs in Japan, therapeutic choices are restricted, and many individuals may be misdiagnosed. In addition, low-cost generics can frequently jeopardize the opioid use disorder market expansion of freshly produced products. Moreover, MOUD is most effective for long-term success when therapy is initiated willingly rather than coerced or mandated. Additionally, MOUD treatment reimbursement is inconsistent across the United States, with policies varying by state. Thus all these factors may cause a dip in the growth of the opioid use disorder market in the future. Report Metrics Details Study Period 20192032 Coverage 7MM [the United States, the EU-4 (Italy, Spain, France, and Germany), the United Kingdom, and Japan] Base Year 2019 Opioid Use Disorder Market CAGR 4.2 % Opioid Use Disorder Market Size in 2022 USD 1.9 Billion Key Opioid Use Disorder Companies Braeburn Pharmaceuticals, BioXcel Therapeutics, MediciNova, AstraZeneca, Cerevel Therapeutics, LLC, Indivior Inc., Aptinyx, and others Key Pipeline Opioid Use Disorder Therapies CAM2038, BXCL501, MN-166, AZD4041, CVL-354, INDV-2000, NYX-783, and others Scope of the Opioid Use Disorder Market Report Therapeutic Assessment: Opioid Use Disorder current marketed and emerging therapies Opioid Use Disorder current marketed and emerging therapies Opioid Use Disorder Market Dynamics: Attribute Analysis of Emerging Opioid Use Disorder Drugs Attribute Analysis of Emerging Opioid Use Disorder Drugs Competitive Intelligence Analysis: SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies Unmet Needs, KOL's Views, Analyst's Views, Opioid Use Disorder Market Access and Reimbursement Discover more about opioid use disorder drugs in development @ Opioid Use Disorder Clinical Trials Table of Contents 1. Opioid Use Disorder Market Key Insights 2. Opioid Use Disorder Market Report Introduction 3. Opioid Use Disorder Market Overview at a Glance 4. Opioid Use Disorder Market Executive Summary 5. Disease Background and Overview 6. Opioid Use Disorder Treatment and Management 7. Opioid Use Disorder Epidemiology and Patient Population 8. Patient Journey 9. Opioid Use Disorder Marketed Drugs 10. Opioid Use Disorder Emerging Drugs 11. 7MM Opioid Use Disorder Market Analysis 12. Opioid Use Disorder Market Outlook 13. Potential of Current and Emerging Therapies 14. KOL Views 15. Opioid Use Disorder Market Drivers 16. Opioid Use Disorder Market Barriers 17. Unmet Needs 18. SWOT Analysis 19. Appendix 20. DelveInsight Capabilities 21. Disclaimer 22. About DelveInsight Related Reports Opioid Use Disorder Epidemiology Forecast Opioid Use Disorder Epidemiology Forecast 2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted opioid use disorder epidemiology in the 7MM, i.e., the United States, EU5 (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom), and Japan. Opioid Dependence Market Opioid Dependence Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast 2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key opioid dependence companies, including GW Pharmaceuticals, Opiant Pharmaceuticals, ATAI Life Sciences, C4X Discovery, among others. Opioid-Related Disorder Pipeline Opioid-Related Disorder Pipeline Insight 2023 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key opioid-related disorder companies, including GW Pharmaceuticals, Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Trevi Therapeutics, Aphios, among others. Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome Pipeline Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome Pipeline Insight 2023 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key opioid withdrawal syndrome companies, including Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., BioXcel Therapeutics, Aphios Pharmaceutical, among others. Opioid-Related Disorder Market Opioid-Related Disorder Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast 2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key opioid-related disorder companies, including GW Pharmaceuticals, Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Trevi Therapeutics, Aphios, among others. Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome Market Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast 2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key opioid withdrawal syndrome companies, including Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., BioXcel Therapeutics, Aphios Pharmaceutical, among others. 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It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. Get hassle-free access to all the healthcare and pharma market research reports through our subscription-based platform PharmDelve. Connect with us on LinkedIn|Facebook|Twitter Contact Us Shruti Thakur [email protected] +1(919)321-6187 www.delveinsight.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082265/DelveInsight_Logo.jpg SOURCE DelveInsight Business Research, LLP Sunset Loop Bar & Grill, a New Concept Celebrating Denver's Culinary Scene, to Open alongside Starbucks in DEN's Concourse B-East NEW YORK, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OTG, the hospitality group responsible for transforming the airport dining experience across the country, today announces the 2024 opening of two food and beverage concepts within Denver International Airport's United Airlines Concourse B-East. This initial entry into the Denver market will include the introduction of Sunset Loop Bar & Grill, a new concept curated specifically for Denver International Airport that celebrates the Mile High City's local food culture, as well as Starbucks, the beloved national coffee chain. OTG will also integrate its mobile-first technology, flo Xgen, within the Concourse B-East experience, which will aim to streamline travel for customers while easing operations on in-terminal restaurants. "OTG is passionate about introducing new culinary concepts that serve as a true extension of the community's food scene" Tweet this OTG x DEN Starbucks OTG x DEN Sunset Loop Market Sunset Loop Bar & Grill "OTG is passionate about introducing new culinary concepts that echo the airport's sense-of-place and serve as a true extension of the community's food scene," said Rick Blatstein, CEO of OTG, "We are excited to partner with local community organizations and celebrate the chefs, farmers, brewers and purveyors that have turned Denver into the mecca of culinary innovation that it is today. Coupled with OTG's technology innovations, we're confident that Concourse B-East will be both a seamless and enjoyable experience for travelers and employees alike and assist Denver International Airport with its goal of serving 100 million annual passengers." The one-of-a-kind Sunset Loop Bar & Grill will be an all-day dining experience offering elevated, health-conscious cuisine and traditional American fare, with a locally sourced menu overseen by Denver-based Chef Daniel Young ("Chef D"). Chef D has spent the past 40 years as a leading figure in the Denver food scene and is an expert in creating healthful meals that are high in protein and low in carbs and fat. His proficiency in nutrition led him to his current role of over 15 years as the personal chef of the Denver Nuggets. He is also renowned in the community for his philanthropic efforts. "Food is my life's passion, and I'm fortunate to have built a vibrant culinary career right here in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, where we enjoy a wealth of healthy and sustainable ingredients," said Chef Daniel Young. "Whether you're departing from or passing through Denver, Sunset Loop Bar & Grill will be the perfect stop along your journey to experience a delicious selection of dishes and cocktails that truly reflect this region and all the natural resources it has to offer." Chef D's dishes will be served in an open space inspired by the Denver sunset; warm woods, rich materials and elegant brass and black metal accents are set against a hand-painted tile mural depicting the Sunset Loop trails, the restaurant's namesake series of hiking routes found in White Ranch Park in Golden, CO. The centerpiece of the restaurant will be an expansive bar with over 30 seats. There, travelers will be able to relax and indulge in signature cocktails inspired by the city, as well as a rotating menu of beers from Denver's famous craft beer scene, including Colorado Cider Company, New Belgium Brewing Company and Lone Tree Brewing. In addition to extensive bar seating and comfortable dining tables, Sunset Loop Bar & Grill will offer a sprawling, 67-foot-long market with locally sourced products and prepared foods for travelers in a hurry, as well as an adjacent communal seating area, where guests will be able to order dishes from the restaurant's menus while waiting at nearby gates. Anchoring the corner of Sunset Loop Bar & Grill will be a signature Starbucks with a sculptural build inspired by the natural rock formations found across the Colorado mountains. This singularly designed location will be fully outfitted with mobile ordering capabilities, ultimately allowing travelers to place their coffee orders in advance and cut down on time spent waiting in line. Customers can also rest assured that their coffee is a product of responsible farming and purchasing practices and a company committed to reducing its environmental footprint. "We are excited to partner with OTG as they bring a fun, new concept to our airport," said DEN Senior Vice President of Concessions Pam Dechant. "We're always looking for ways to make traveling through DEN a breeze, and the ability to bring mobile ordering to our passengers takes service to the next level." OTG's new hospitality concepts within Concourse B-East will be powered by its industry-leading flo Xgen technology, which enables customers to place their food and beverage orders through a mobile platform across all OTG restaurants and retail markets. From wherever the order is placed, the platform's contactless payment will allow users to complete their transaction with either a credit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Venmo, PayPal or their United airline miles, all with one click. OTG is thrilled to introduce this best-in-class technology at DEN with the goal of providing a safe, convenient and unparalleled customer experience, along with streamlined restaurant operations that allow for greater focus on the delivery of quality dishes and exceptional service. About OTG OTG develops and operates restaurants, retail markets and food halls in airports throughout North America. With more than 350 locations across 22 terminals in 10 of the world's busiest travel hubs, OTG continues to elevate the passenger-terminal relationship by merging state-of-the-art technology with farm-to-terminal dining, award-winning cuisine, carefully curated food and retail options, world-class hospitality, and a striking redesign of the terminal space. Founded in Philadelphia in 1996, OTG serves hundreds of millions of passengers annually. For more information, visit www.otgexp.com. SOURCE OTG Management Bipartisan members sharply question CMS Administrator why Alzheimer's drugs aren't reasonable and necessary WASHINGTON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Alzheimer's Association brought its purple presence again to Capitol Hill, urging access to FDA-approved Alzheimer's treatments during Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure's testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce's Health Subcommittee. Adding to the bipartisan momentum from last month's budget hearings in the House and Senate , members of Congress from both sides of the aisle urged Administrator Brooks-LaSure to reverse CMS's unprecedented decision blocking access to Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved Alzheimer's treatments. "Thank you to the bipartisan members of Congress for standing up for the Alzheimer's community today and urgently calling on CMS Administrator Brooks-LaSure to ensure full access to FDA-approved Alzheimer's treatments," said Robert Egge, chief public policy officer of the Alzheimer's Association and Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM) executive director. "Like so many members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, pointed out today, accelerated approval is full approval according to the FDA, and it's past time for CMS to acknowledge that fact and reverse its unprecedented and unfair decision blocking access to Alzheimer's treatments." During the hearing, Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) spoke about Alzheimer's and the CMS decision. "[Alzheimer's has] touched every family, and there's been a lot of attention to a decision by CMS to severely limit access to an entire class of FDA-approved Alzheimer's drug treatments." Referring to the coverage guidelines for CMS, Guthrie directly asked Administrator Brooks-LaSure about coverage of an Alzheimer's treatment. "In the case of Leqembi, what is unnecessary and unreasonable about this FDA-approved drug?" "It is deeply disappointing that the CMS Administrator was unable to answer many of the members' questions today, including why CMS has determined Alzheimer's treatments are not 'reasonable and necessary,'" said Egge. "She also failed to explain why CMS has imposed an inconsistent, stricter standard for this class of treatments. Requiring a registry will impose barriers to access and exacerbate health inequity. CMS must reverse course and ensure full access to FDA-approved Alzheimer's treatments." Subcommittee Ranking Member Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) pointed out the inconsistency between CMS and the Veterans Health Administration on FDA-approved Alzheimer's treatments, and emphasized that a lack of preparation and guidance from CMS will further limit access to these treatments. "Here's the thing if doctors don't know, if patients don't know, and Medicare doesn't really seem to know what this registry entails, how are Medicare patients going to get the drug, potentially beginning in July?" asked Eshoo. Eshoo went on to describe the real-world impact of the current policy on individuals living with Alzheimer's throughout the nation. "Let me describe to you two constituents. One is a grandfather and a veteran. He has coverage. He's been diagnosed. His wife was also diagnosed. She's not a veteran. How do I, or any of us, explain that to our constituents?" asked Eshoo. Eshoo concluded by urging Brooks-LaSure to take action. "This is a progressive disease," Eshoo said. "We know that early intervention with progressive diseases is really essential, so I hope that you will leave this hearing with a new commitment and a new view of how to do this, because you're not prepared." Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) asked about the evolving role of CMS: "When did CMS decide or get authority to operate like a scientific regulatory body when that's the FDA's job? And isn't that what you're doing? You've turned yourself into a regulating body, a scientific regulatory body, by denying paying for the Alzheimer's medication that this subcommittee and this committee on a bipartisan basis worked hard to make sure it was available to the patients of Alzheimer's?" A longtime congressional champion with a personal connection to the disease, Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-Calif.) also recognized the Alzheimer's Association advocates and stood with them in support of access to FDA-approved Alzheimer's treatments. "This is a bipartisan issue," said Barragan, "and a failure, really, of CMS to provide meaningful coverage for the class of therapies targeting Alzheimer's disease. CMS's decision continues to concern me." Rep. Larry Buschon (R-Ind.) asked Administrator Brooks-LaSure about the discrepancy between the FDA and CMS on accelerated approval. "Has the FDA told you that accelerated approval is not full approval and should be treated differently?" Administrator Brooks-LaSure responded: "We have many conversations with the FDA. We consider accelerated approval in a different category." "You do, but the FDA does not. I just want to make that clear," Buschon concluded. Reps. John Joyce (R-Pa.) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) added their support to the calls for access to FDA-approved treatment. "I would like to add my voice to the list of those concerned of what CMS has decided on restricting coverage for anti-amyloid treatment for Alzheimer's disease," said Joyce. "I want to also echo the sentiments my mother had Alzheimer's, so I appreciate all of you here in purple supporting Alzheimer's and our support for getting drugs that have been approved through the FDA onto the marketplace and covered," said Miller-Meeks. "Thank you to subcommittee members on both sides of the aisle for reaffirming the bipartisan support for access to FDA-approved Alzheimer's treatments," said Egge. "Our passionate and dedicated advocates who attended this hearing and those across the nation will relentlessly pursue access to Alzheimer's treatments, and we will not stop until people have access to the Alzheimer's treatments they need and deserve." Medicare has always covered FDA-approved treatments. Each day CMS blocks access, more than 2,000 people transition to a more advanced stage of Alzheimer's where they are no longer eligible for treatment. The broad bipartisan support seen during today's hearing is just the latest example of the growing momentum and political pressure on CMS to change its policy and stop blocking access to FDA-approved Alzheimer's treatments. In February, Reps. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) led a letter to Secretary Xavier Becerra and CMS Administrator Brooks-LaSure emphasizing the importance of access to FDA-approved Alzheimer's treatments, which was signed by 72 of their bipartisan colleagues. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) also led a bipartisan letter in the Senate, signed by 20 bipartisan leaders. Rep. Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-Del.) recognized the Alzheimer's Association presence in the hearing room and reiterated the bipartisan support in the fight against Alzheimer's and other dementia. "This has touched so many of us whether it's my grandmother, my mother, one of my good neighbors, that the reason why you wear purple is because this is not a red issue or a blue issue, it's an American issue. So thank you so much for your advocacy." SOURCE Alzheimer's Association Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal held meetings with the leadership of the Italian parliament and, as a result, announced "unconditional support" for Ukraine in both chambers. "In a conversation with Head of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa, we discussed the recognition of the Holodomor as genocide of the Ukrainian people. The corresponding bill is already being prepared. Our Italian partners are aware that the Holodomor is one of the most terrible crimes that should not be repeated," Shmyhal said in Telegram on Wednesday. According to him, he discussed with Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy Lorenzo Fontana issues of economic and rapid restoration of the Ukrainian state. "I received confidence in the support of the Chamber of Ukraine's accession to the EU, the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine and the recognition of the Holodomor as genocide," the head of the Ukrainian government said. Shmyhal thanked the Italian Parliament for making decisions aimed at supporting Ukraine in the struggle for freedom and democracy. TSXV: PGZ OTCQB: PGZFF The Canada Honda target is a large gravity anomaly extending approx. 2km east-west Drill hole CHD02 targeted a large gravity anomaly and intersected 11m of 0.6% Cu, 0.12g/t Au and 3.2g/t Ag, with the hole unable to continue after it collapsed before reaching the target of 0.6% Cu, 0.12g/t Au and 3.2g/t Ag, with the hole unable to continue after it collapsed before reaching the target New Induced Polarization (IP) survey highlights previously untested chargeability and resistivity-low anomalies extending beneath the mine tunnel Drilling initiated at Canada Honda target to test beneath historic mine tunnel for copper-gold mineralization VANCOUVER, BC, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Pan Global Resources Inc. ("Pan Global" or the "Company") (TSXV: PGZ) (OTCQB: PGZFF) is pleased to announce that it has commenced diamond drilling at the Canada Honda target at the Company's 100%-owned Escacena Project in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, southern Spain. This follows completion of a new IP survey that identified an untested IP anomaly beneath the historic mine tunnel. Results are also announced for drillhole CHD02 that attempted to test a deep gravity target at Canada Honda and was abandoned before reaching the target depth due to the hole collapsing. Figure 1 Canada Honda gravity anomaly map with drill hole locations and cross section location A-A in Figure 2. (CNW Group/Pan Global Resources Inc.) Figure 2 Cross section showing new planned drill holes CHD03 and CHD04 targeting a resistivity low anomaly beneath the historic Canada Honda mine tunnel. (CNW Group/Pan Global Resources Inc.) "New geophysics data highlights the Canada Honda target's potential to host volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) mineralization. The intersection of anomalous copper and gold above the target in hole CHD02 is another positive indication of potential for significant copper mineralization associated with the Canada Honda gravity anomaly. The new IP survey appears to show an anomaly that becomes stronger at depth beneath the historic mine workings on the margin of the gravity anomaly," said Tim Moody, Pan Global's President & CEO. The Canada Honda target is characterized by a large gravity anomaly (up to 1 mGal) that extends approximately two kilometers east-west. The target is potential sulphide mineralization within the prospective Volcanic Sequence (VS) concealed beneath overthrust rocks of the Phyillite Quartzite (PQ) unit. Previous Pan Global channel sampling of the historic mine tunnel on the southern margin of the gravity anomaly included 26m at 0.42g/t Au and assay values up to 2.9g/t Au, 27.5g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu and 0.4% Co. A single drill hole (CHD01) by Pan Global in 2019, approximately 150m northwest of the tunnel, also intersected minor anomalous gold values of up to 0.34g/t Au. Drill results for hole CHD02 are summarized in Table 1 and drill hole collar details are presented in Table 2 below. Drill hole locations are shown in Figure 1. Canada Honda Additional gravity survey data has been collected over the Canada Honda target area and a new line of IP has been completed adjacent to a historic mine tunnel along a thrust contact on the southeastern margin of the gravity anomaly. The new IP highlights a chargeability high and previously untested resistivity low anomaly beneath the tunnel. Drilling has commenced on the first of two new holes (CHD03 and CHD04) testing chargeability and resistivity-low anomalies beneath the historic mine tunnel. Drill hole CHD02 was drilled to test the eastern extension of the large Canada Honda gravity anomaly, targeting potential massive sulphide concealed beneath the overthrust Phyllite Quartzite geology unit. The hole collapsed before reaching the target and had to be abandoned. The hole intersected a zone of sulphide mineralization with anomalous copper and gold within the thrust-fault sequence above the target. Highlights include; CHD02 11m at 0.6% Cu, 0.12g/t Au, 3.2g/t Ag from 426m , including 2.0m at 1.0% Cu, 0.24g/t Au, 7.7g/t Ag 1.0m at 1.8% Cu, 0.13g/t Au, 6.1 g/t Ag Additional isolated assay up to 0.7g/t Au over 1m The results provide additional positive indicators of the potential for more significant copper-gold mineralization in the Canada Honda target area. The main gravity anomaly remains untested and further drilling is pending additional modelling. Table 1 Canada Honda drill results summary (all intersections are >90% to 100% of true thickness) hole abandoned before the target depth Hole From To Interval Cu Pb Zn Au Ag m m m % % % g/t g/t CHD02 426.0 437.0 11.0 0.6 <0.1 <0.1 0.12 3.2 Incl. 427.0 429.0 2.0 1.0 <0.1 0.2 0.24 7.7 Incl. 431.0 432.0 1.0 1.8 <0.1 <0.1 0.13 6.1 Table 2 Canada Honda drillhole collar information Hole_ID Easting1 Northing1 Azimuth () Dip () Depth (m) CHD02 736881 4156375 180 -70 542.6 1Coordinates are in ERTS89 datum UTM29N Drilling is ongoing in the Escacena Project at the La Romana and Zarcita targets. Results are pending for approximately 15 drill holes at La Romana and Zarcita. Negotiations are progressing with land owners for access to the untested potential near-surface extensions to the La Romana mineralization. QA/QC Procedures Core size was HQ (63mm) and all samples were core. Nominal sample size was 1m core length and ranged from 0.4m to 2m. Sample intervals were defined using geological contacts with the start and end of each sample physically marked on the core. Diamond blade core cutting and sampling was supervised at all times by Company staff. Duplicate samples of core were taken approximately every 30 samples and Certified Reference materials inserted every 25 samples in each batch. Samples were delivered to ALS laboratory in Sevilla, Spain and assayed at the ALS laboratory in Ireland. All samples were crushed and split (method CRU-31, SPL22Y), and pulverized using (method PUL-31). Gold analysis was by 50gm Fire assay with ICP finish (method Au-ICP22) and multi element analysis was undertaken using a 4-acid digest with ICP AES finish (method ME-ICP61). Tin was analyzed in selected intervals using Lithium borate fusion and ICP MS finish (method ME-MS81). Over grade base metal results were assayed using a 4-acid digest ICP AES (method OG-62). Over grade tin was determined using peroxide fusion with ICP finish (method Sn-ICP81x). About the Escacena Project The Escacena Project comprises a large, contiguous, 5,760-hectare land package controlled 100% by Pan Global in the east of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. The project is located near operating mines at Las Cruces and Riotinto and is immediately adjacent to the former Aznalcollar and Los Frailes mines where Minera Los Frailes/Grupo Mexico is in the final permitting stage with construction anticipated to restart in 2023. The Escacena Project hosts the La Romana copper-tin discovery and a number of other prospective targets, including Zarcita, Hornitos, La Jarosa, Romana Deep, Canada Honda, Bravo, Barbacena, El Pozo, and San Pablo. About Pan Global Resources Pan Global Resources Inc. is actively engaged in base and precious metal exploration in southern Spain and is pursuing opportunities from exploration through to mine development. The Company is committed to operating safely and with respect to the communities and environment where we operate. Qualified Persons James Royall, Vice President Exploration for Pan Global Resources and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information for this news release. Mr. Royall is not independent of the Company. On behalf of the Board of Directors www.panglobalresources.com Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this news release are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, environmental and technological factors that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products and prices. Readers should refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of its audited financial statements filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. SOURCE Pan Global Resources Inc. MyPanera loyalty members get early access to shop the new collection and exclusive daily savings on Panera Faves from May 1 through May 7 ST. LOUIS, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Panera Bread is taking guests' "Panera Faves" to the next level as it announces a weeklong celebration of iconic menu favorites, from mac & cheese and bread bowls to everyone's favorite soup, salad or sandwich. On Monday, May 1, Panera will kick off its second MyPanera Week with the launch of its first-ever online merchandise storefront, The Panera Shop, where, for the very first time, fans of the brand can score a variety of 'Carb Couture' inspired by favorite menu items. Offering cozy "Mac Drip" sweatshirts and sweatpants, "Just Baked" baby onesies and more, The Panera Shop will go live on Monday, May 1 exclusively for MyPanera members through May 7. 100% of the net profit from sales during MyPanera Week will be donated to the Panera Bread Foundation.* The Panera Shop MyPanera Members Save on Panera Faves All Week Taking place from May 1 to May 7, MyPanera Week will celebrate more than 52 million MyPanera loyalty members with exclusive perks and offers on "Panera Faves," throughout the week, including: Monday 5/1: Exclusive Access to The Panera Shop and NEW Panera merchandise. Plus, $0 Delivery Fee on orders of $5 or more for MyPanera members from 5/1 5/7**. Exclusive Access to The Panera Shop and NEW Panera merchandise. Plus, Delivery Fee on orders of or more for MyPanera members from 5/1 5/7**. Tuesday 5/2: MyPanera members receive $2.50 off Panera at Home soups & macs and $1 off salad dressings.*** MyPanera members receive off Panera at Home soups & macs and off salad dressings.*** Wednesday 5/3: Buy One Get One Soup 50% off - available only on the Panera app.**** Buy One Get One Soup 50% off - available only on the Panera app.**** Thursday 5/4: Buy One Get One Salad 50% off - available only on the Panera app.**** Buy One Get One Salad 50% off - available only on the Panera app.**** Friday 5/5: Buy One Get One Sandwich 50% off - available only on the Panera app.**** Buy One Get One Sandwich 50% off - available only on the Panera app.**** Saturday 5/6 : National Beverage Day! MyPanera Members can sign up for Panera's Unlimited Sip Club annual plan for only $99 (plus tax). Current Unlimited Sip Club members get their Sip Club Saturday offer of Buy One Get One Entree 50% off. : National Beverage Day! MyPanera Members can sign up for Panera's Unlimited Sip Club annual plan for only (plus tax). Current Unlimited Sip Club members get their Sip Club Saturday offer of Buy One Get One Entree 50% off. Sunday 5/7: Panera introduces the launch of MyPanera Knead to Know Trivia. Starting on 5/7 through 6/11, members can visit playmypanera.com to register for their chance to win $500 in Panera Bread gift cards, $250 to The Panera Shop, and one year free of an Unlimited Sip Club. Play the trivia game to answer questions for their chance to instantly win one of 250,000 prizes! Additionally, every qualifying purchase made during MyPanera Week will automatically enter members to win free Panera through the end of the year. 5 Grand Prize winners will be chosen to receive a free You Pick 2 each week from May 14 through December 31, 2023. "MyPanera Week is back and we couldn't be more excited to bring our guests more perks inspired by their Panera Faves from BOGO deals on our signature menu items to early access to our newly launched merch," said Eduardo Luz, Chief Brand and Concept Officer, Panera Bread, "MyPanera has always been focused on delivering personalized experiences and disruptive value to our guests, and we look forward to rewarding and celebrating our loyal members all MyPanera week long." MyPanera members are rewarded for enjoying their Panera favorites from soups and salads to flatbread pizzas and Unlimited Sip Club, and enjoying perks including complimentary bakery-cafe items, birthday rewards, exclusive menu previews and tastings, access to exciting Panera content and more. Head to ThePaneraShop.com starting May 1 to shop all things 'Carb-Couture'. For more information on MyPanera Week or to join MyPanera, visit PaneraBread.com *The Panera Bread Foundation, Inc. (EIN: 43-1950869), 3630 S Geyer Rd, St. Louis, MO 63127, is a public charity and exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the IRS as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3). For more information visit: www.panerabread.com/panerafoundation. **Must be a MyPanera member to redeem this offer. Purchase required. Valid through 5/7/23. The $1 delivery fee will be waived on your online delivery order only. Minimum order of $5 required, exclusive of taxes, fees, or charges that may apply. Maximum delivery fee discount of $1. MyPanera login is required. Offer valid at participating U.S. bakery-cafes only. Gift Card purchases, orders placed on third-party delivery sites, in-cafe, curbside, drive-thru, kiosk, Rapid Pick-Up and catering orders excluded. Order must be placed online with credit card. Menu pricing for delivery is higher and charges and fees apply. A $1.00 delivery fee and a Convenience Fee apply to online delivery orders. If applicable, the Convenience Fee offsets costs associated with online ordering including technology development, marketing, and administrative activities. For select CA cafes, a $2 Supplemental Delivery Charge will be added to your order due to added delivery costs in the state where this cafe is located. Delivery fees and charge and pricing may vary. Our delivery fees and charges are not a tip or gratuity provided to the driver. Tracking available only in participating U.S. bakery-cafes that offer delivery. Delivery hours may vary. Limited delivery area. Visit www.panerabread.com/deliveryinfo to determine if you're in a delivery area or for more information. Not valid with any other coupon or offer. Void if modified, copied, reproduced, transferred, purchased, traded, or sold. Applicable taxes paid by bearer. Offer may expire without notice due to error, fraud, or other unforeseen circumstances. Other restrictions may apply. ***Restrictions apply. Coupons available while supplies last. Must print coupons by 5/15/2023. Prints limited to two per person. Pricing and availability of Panera products may vary. See manufacturer's coupon for complete details. ****BOGO 50% OFF SOUP. Purchase required. Participating U.S. Panera Bread bakery-cafes only. Buy one cup or bowl of soup and receive a second cup or bowl of soup for 50% off. 50% off applies to lower price item. Offer available on 5/3/23 only. One redemption per MyPanera member. Must be an active MyPanera member to be eligible for reward. Reward will automatically be loaded onto your MyPanera account. Max value: $5.75. Excludes: You Pick Two's, Group Soups, Kid's meals, Family Feasts and Value Duets. Must redeem thru the Panera mobile app. Not valid with catering orders or on orders placed on third party delivery sites. Not valid with any other coupon or offer. Promotion may expire without notice due to error, fraud or other unforeseen circumstances. While supplies last. Other restrictions may apply. Visit https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/company-information/terms-of-use.html#themypaneraprogram for complete terms. BOGO 50% OFF SALAD. Purchase required. Participating U.S. Panera Bread bakery-cafes only. Buy half or whole salad and receive a second half or whole salad for 50% off. 50% off applies to lower price item. Offer available on 5/4/23 only. One redemption per MyPanera member. Must be an active MyPanera member to be eligible for reward. Reward will automatically be loaded onto your MyPanera account. Max value: $8.50. Excludes: You Pick Two's, Kid's meals, Family Feasts and Value Duets. Must redeem thru the Panera mobile app. Not valid with catering orders or on orders placed on third party delivery sites. Not valid with any other coupon or offer. Promotion may expire without notice due to error, fraud or other unforeseen circumstances. While supplies last. Other restrictions may apply. Visit https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/company-information/terms-of-use.html#themypaneraprogram for complete terms. BOGO 50% OFF SANDWICH. Purchase required. Participating U.S. Panera Bread bakery-cafes only. Buy half or whole sandwich and receive a second half or whole sandwich for 50% off. 50% off applies to lower price item. Offer available on 5/5/23 only. One redemption per MyPanera member. Must be an active MyPanera member to be eligible for reward. Reward will automatically be loaded onto your MyPanera account. Max value: $8.25. Excludes: You Pick Two's, Kid's meals, Family Feasts and Value Duets. Must redeem thru the Panera mobile app. Not valid with catering orders or on orders placed on third party delivery sites. Not valid with any other coupon or offer. Promotion may expire without notice due to error, fraud or other unforeseen circumstances. While supplies last. Other restrictions may apply. Visit https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/company-information/terms-of-use.html#themypaneraprogram for complete terms. For new, lapsed or active monthly subscribers that sign up for an Unlimited Sip Club annual subscription from 5/1/23 to 5/7/23 using the Promo Code MYPYEAR99A at checkout, you will receive the first year of your Unlimited Sip Club Annual subscription for $99 plus tax. Not valid with any other coupon or offer and cannot be combined with other promotions. Other restrictions apply. The Unlimited Sip Club Subscription is available for registration and redemption in participating U.S. Panera Bread bakery-cafes. Must be a MyPanera member and at least 18 years of age or older to register. Registration available online only including Kiosk. You may cancel at any time. If you do not cancel either before your renewal date or after the expiration of any free trial or discounted subscription offer, your credit card will automatically be charged $119.99 plus tax for the annual subscription until you cancel your subscription. To cancel your subscription online, visit the Cancellation section at https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/mypanera/subscription/terms-and-conditions.html or on the Panera Bread app. The subscription entitles eligible subscribers to the following subscription benefits: (1) drip hot coffee, iced coffee, hot tea, fountain soda beverages, bubbler drinks (regular, sweet, and Passion Papaya green iced teas, and Agave Lemonade), and Charged Lemonade beverages (Fuji Apple Cranberry, Mango Citrus Yuzu, and Strawberry Lemon Mint) once every two hours during normal bakery-cafe business hours, including unlimited refills. Beverages may vary by location. Excludes all other beverages, including, without limitation, bottled beverages, smoothies, frozen blended drinks, cold brew iced coffee, and espresso and cappuccino beverages. Customizations, including, but not limited to, added espresso and added syrups (Madagascar vanilla, bittersweet chocolate, cinnamon, and caramel) are not included in the subscription monthly price. Upcharges apply. Other additions such as milk, skim milk, almond milk, half & half, and sweeteners are included in the monthly subscription price. One subscription per person. Excludes catering orders and orders placed on third party delivery sites. Visit here for complete terms www.panerabread.com/UnlimitedSipClub. Must be a MyPanera member and an Unlimited Sip Club subscriber to redeem this offer. Purchase required. Rewards will be automatically loaded onto your MyPanera account as they become available during the Promotion Period (as defined). Offer valid for 50% off an entree with purchase of another entree on Saturday, May 6th, 2023. Discount will be applied to the lower value entree. Max discount of $8.99. Includes breakfast, lunch or dinner entrees. Must remain an Unlimited Sip Club subscriber during the entire Promotion Period to receive all rewards. If you cancel your subscription during the Promotion Period, you will not receive any remaining rewards. Participating U.S. bakerycafes only. Not valid on catering orders, group orders, or on orders placed on third party delivery sites. Not valid with any other coupon or offer. Offer may expire without notice due to error, fraud, or other unforeseen circumstances. While supplies last. Other restrictions may apply. Visit https://www.panerabread.com/enus/companyinformation/termsofuse.html#themypaneraprogram for complete terms. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 U.S. (D.C.) 18 years and older. Ends 6/11/23. To play and for Official Rules, including odds and prize descriptions visit https://playmypanera.com. Void where prohibited. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES (D.C.) 18 AND OLDER AND WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE MYPANERA LOYALTY PROGRAM AT THE TIME OF ENTRY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Panera employees are not eligible to win. Participating US bakery-cafes only. Entry period begins on 5/1/2023 and ends on 5/7/2023. For Official Rules, how to enter without purchase, prizes, and odds visit https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/legal/fine-print/free-faves-thru-end-of-year-giveaway.html. Sponsor: Panera, LLC 3630 S. Geyer Road, St. Louis, MO 63127. Free Panera through 2023 means the winner will receive a weekly reward for one You Pick 2 (maximum value $25) through 12/31/2023. Entries may be earned on eligible transactions. Purchases of gift cards, catering orders, orders placed on third party delivery sites, MyPanera reward redemptions, and Unlimited Sip Club redemptions without any other item attached are excluded. About Panera Bread Panera Bread opened in 1987 as a community bakery, founded with a secret sourdough starter and a belief that sharing great bread is an expression of warmth and generosity. That vision holds true today with a robust menu of delicious, chef-curated recipes created with a simple principle: The Familiar, Made Fantastic. At Panera, we serve food that we are proud to serve our own families, made with responsibly raised proteins and freshly prepared with Clean ingredients--food that does not contain the artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, and colors from artificial sources set forth on our No-No list served in U.S. bakery-cafes. From crave-worthy soups, salads and sandwiches to flatbread pizza and sweets, we offer our guests more than great food. Our ethos of generosity drives us to meet our guests where they are through technology and through our shared values. We are stewards of our communities and the planet with programs like Day-End Dough-Nation that donates unsold baked goods in the evening to local non-profits, or labeling climate-friendly low carbon Cool Food Meals. As of March 28, 2023 there were 2,118 bakery-cafes, company and franchise, in 48 states and in Ontario, Canada, operating under the Panera Bread or Saint Louis Bread Co. names. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast casual restaurant companies in the U.S., comprised of Panera Bread, Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels. For more information, visit panerabread.com or find us on Twitter (@panerabread), Facebook (facebook.com/panerabread) Instagram (@panerabread) or TikTok (@panerabread). Media Contacts ALISON BROD MARKETING + COMMUNICATIONS [email protected] SOURCE Panera Bread NEW YORK, N.Y., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Pelham Investment Partners LP ("Pelham LP") announces the expiry of its tender offer for up to 10,000,000 common shares of Nickel 28 Capital Corp. (formerly Conic Metals Corp.) (TSXV: NKL) ("Nickel 28" or the "Company"), at a price of $1.20 per share, payable in cash (the "Tender Offer"). The Tender Offer expired in accordance with its terms at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on April 25, 2023 (the "Expiry Time"). In accordance with the terms of the Tender Offer, Pelham LP will complete the purchase of the shares validly tendered to the Tender Offer as at the Expiry Time and not withdrawn within three business days. Following taking-up and paying for the tendered shares, Pelham LP will own and control a total of 9,635,778 shares, representing approximately 10.50% of the total issued and outstanding shares, which will make Pelham LP (to its knowledge), the Company's single largest shareholder. Ned Collery, the managing member of the general partner of Pelham LP, commented: "I would like to thank the shareholders who tendered shares. As well, we acknowledge the numerous unsolicited expressions of frustration with Company management that we have received. There is no doubt in my mind that the current board and management have lost shareholder support, and any mandate to undertake business on behalf of shareholders. We very much hope for a change in course on the board's part and remain open to dialogue should they seek to re-establish shareholder support and, as the Company's single largest shareholder, we call on them to do so." Pelham LP also notes with disappointment the filing by the Company on April 24, 2023 of a notice of meeting and record date on its SEDAR profile, in respect of an annual general and special meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held on June 12, 2023, with a record date of April 24, 2023 (being one day prior to the expiry of the Tender Offer). The unusual timing of the Company's chosen record date and meeting date (coming more than two months earlier than the Company's previous AGM held on August 15, 2022), coupled with the fact that the Company elected to abridge the usual timing requirements for filing such a notice (being at least 25 days in advance of a record date), which were each determined at management's discretion, indicates a strategy of entrenchment by threatening to unduly hinder Pelham LP's ability to vote the shares acquired in the Tender Offer. Pelham LP is unable to reconcile the board's conduct to date with its fiduciary duties to shareholders and Pelham LP intends to take any and all steps necessary to protect itself against actions taken by management which have the effect of disenfranchising shareholders or entrenching management against the will of shareholders. Information Relating to Early Warning Requirements To the knowledge of Pelham LP, based on publicly available information, the head office of the Company is located at 155 University Ave., Suite 1240, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3B7, Canada. The acquisition of common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Common Shares") is being made pursuant to the Tender Offer, and resulted in Pelham LP acquiring beneficial ownership and control over a total of 3,663,478 Common Shares. Pelham LP will pay a total of $4,396,173 to shareholders who tendered Common Shares to the Tender Offer, at a price per Common Share of $1.20. Immediately prior to the time that Pelham LP agreed to take-up and pay for such Common Shares, Pelham LP owned and controlled a total of 5,972,300 Common Shares, representing approximately 6.51% of the total issued and outstanding Common Shares. Following completion of the Tender Offer, Pelham LP will own and control an aggregate of 9,635,778 Common Shares, representing approximately 10.50% of the total issued and outstanding Common Shares. The approximate percentage of Common Shares is based on the number of Common Shares issued and outstanding as at April 19, 2023, as disclosed by the Company in a news release dated the same date and available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, being 91,777,198 Common Shares. Depending on market conditions and other factors, Pelham LP may, in the future, increase or decrease its control or direction over the securities of the Company, through open-market transactions, private agreements or otherwise. Pelham LP is committed to protecting the value of its investment in the Company, and reserves the right to take whatever other steps and actions that it believes may be appropriate to do so. Subject to applicable law, such steps and actions may include without limitation, and subject to Pelham LP's sole discretion: speaking with other shareholders and other persons, the exercise of shareholder rights, seeking appropriate remedies in Court or through regulatory proceedings, and seeking changes to the management of the Company. Pelham LP's head office is located at 709 Main Street, 3rd Floor, New Rochelle, New York, 10801, USA. This press release is being issued, in part, pursuant to National Instrument 62-103 The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Issuer Bids, which requires a report to be filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) containing additional information respecting the foregoing matters. A copy of such report may be obtained by contacting Mr. Ned Collery at +1-212-813-3414. Shareholder Questions Shareholders who have questions with respect to the Tender Offer may contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group, the Depositary and Information Agent for the Tender Offer, at 1-877-452-7184 (North America Toll Free), 416-304-0211 (Calls Outside North America), or by email at [email protected] Additional Information The information contained in this press release does not and is not meant to constitute a solicitation of a proxy within the meaning of applicable securities laws, however Pelham LP is providing the following disclosure in reliance on section 9.2(4) of National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations in respect of public broadcast solicitations. Pelham LP may, in its discretion, file a dissident information circular in due course in connection with the upcoming meeting of shareholders of the Company, in compliance with applicable securities laws. The information contained herein, and any solicitation made by Pelham LP in advance of any such shareholder meeting, is or will be, as applicable, made by Pelham LP and not be or on behalf of management of the Company. All costs incurred for any solicitation will be borne by Pelham LP, provided that subject to applicable law, Pelham LP may seek reimbursement from the Company of its out-of-pocket expenses, including proxy solicitation expenses and legal fees, incurred in connection with a successful outcome resulting from shareholder activism that Pelham LP, in its discretion, may pursue. Pelham LP may engage the services of one or more agents (including Laurel Hill Advisory Group) and authorize other persons to assist in soliciting proxies on behalf of Pelham LP. Any such proxies may be solicited pursuant to a dissident information circular, or by way of public broadcast, including through press releases, speeches, publications and by any other manner permitted under Canadian corporate and securities laws. Any such proxies may be revoked by instrument in writing executed by a shareholder or by his or her attorney authorized in writing or, if the shareholder is a body corporate, by an officer or attorney thereof duly authorized, or by any other manner permitted by law. None of Pelham LP nor, to its knowledge, any of its associates or affiliates, has any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of Nickel 28's most recently completed financial year, or in any proposed transaction which has materially affected or will materially affect Nickel 28 or any of its subsidiaries. None of Pelham LP nor, to its knowledge, any of its associates or affiliates, has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at any upcoming shareholders' meeting, other than as set out herein. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements contained in this press release, including without limitation statements regarding the future intentions of Pelham LP with respect to its investment in the Company contain "forward-looking information" and are prospective in nature. Statements containing forward-looking information are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the future outcomes expressed or implied by the statements containing forward-looking information. Often, but not always, statements containing forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "plans", "expects", "intends", "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might", or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Although Pelham LP believes that the expectations reflected in statements containing forward-looking information herein made by it (and not, for greater certainty, any forward-looking statements attributable to the Company) are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Material factors or assumptions that were applied in formulating the forward-looking information contained herein include the assumption that the business and economic conditions affecting the Company's operations will continue substantially in the current state, including, without limitation, with respect to industry conditions, general levels of economic activity, continuity and availability of personnel, local and international laws and regulations, foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates, inflation, taxes, that there will be no unplanned material changes to the Company's operations, and that the Company's public disclosure record is accurate in all material respects and is not misleading (including by omission). Pelham LP cautions that the foregoing list of material factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Pelham LP and there is no assurance that they will prove correct. Important facts that could cause outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information include, among other things, actions taken by the Company following the completion of the Tender Offer, the content of subsequent public disclosures by the Company, general economic conditions, legislative or regulatory changes and changes in capital or securities markets. These are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of Pelham LP's forward-looking information. Other unknown and unpredictable factors could also impact outcomes. Statements containing forward-looking information in this press release are based on Pelham LP's beliefs and opinions at the time the statements are made, and there should be no expectation that such forward-looking information will be updated or supplemented as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, and Pelham LP disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by applicable law. SOURCE Pelham Investment Partners LP Unique Approach in Regional Planning Process Builds Upon Successful Collaboration VALLEY FORGE, Pa., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities today announced the latest milestone in its historic collaboration with PJM to advance the state's offshore wind goals through the grid operator's competitive transmission planning process. Today's formal request made by the NJBPU on behalf of the state of New Jersey asks PJM to solicit transmission solutions to serve an additional 3,500 MW of offshore wind energy, totaling 11,000 MW by 2040. Through its unique State Agreement Approach, PJM will initiate a second competitive solicitation process on behalf of the NJBPU. This process will examine whether an integrated array of open-access transmission facilities, both onshore and potentially offshore, can achieve New Jersey's expanded offshore wind goals in an economical and timely manner. This evaluation is conducted as part of PJM's Regional Transmission Expansion Planning process, and the results will be shared with the NJBPU for a final decision to determine which, if any, additional projects they may wish to pursue. "We are pleased to be working with New Jersey again to plan for the transmission needed to realize their renewable energy goals," said PJM President and CEO Manu Asthana. "The State Agreement Approach is a proven tool that states can use to advance their policy initiatives, leveraging PJM's planning expertise and competitive processes to drive down costs for New Jersey ratepayers. We believe it can serve as a blueprint for other states to advance their own policies." The NJBPU in November 2020 invoked the State Agreement Approach to incorporate New Jersey's initial offshore wind goals (7,500 MW by 2035) into PJM's regional transmission planning process. That culminated in the NJBPU awarding $1.1 billion in projects to construct the onshore transmission facilities necessary to deliver those 7,500 MW to New Jersey customers, while minimizing community and environmental impacts and customer costs. "New Jersey has been a pioneer in developing infrastructure needed to achieve its ambitious offshore wind policies," said NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. "NJBPU recognized early on the value of PJM's independent, competitive and proven transmission planning process, and we look forward to continuing to achieve New Jersey's offshore goals reliably and as cost-effectively as possible." In today's order (PDF), the NJBPU staff also recommends that the Board explore the interest of other East Coast states in coordinating regional offshore transmission solutions, potentially including a regional offshore "backbone" transmission system. Following today's formal request from the NJBPU and building upon past studies, PJM will include New Jersey's needs for offshore-wind-related transmission improvements in a competitive proposal window tentatively set to open in 2024. Transmission developers may submit proposals for the development of reliable and cost-effective transmission solutions to help bring offshore wind energy to consumers, and may also include grid-to-onshore substations, onshore substations to offshore collector farms, and an offshore transmission backbone. Additional information and updates will be available through PJM's Planning Community webpage and through PJM's Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee. About the State Agreement Approach The State Agreement Approach (SAA) was incorporated into the PJM Operating Agreement in 2013, with the implementation of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Order 1000. With that order, FERC required regional grid operators to "provide for the consideration of transmission needs driven by public policy requirements in the regional transmission planning processes." The SAA may be used by any state, or combination of states, to advance state public policy goals, as long as the state (or states) agrees to pay all costs of the project's build-out included in the PJM Regional Transmission Expansion Plan. PJM Interconnection, founded in 1927, ensures the reliability of the high-voltage electric power system serving 65 million people in all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. PJM coordinates and directs the operation of the region's transmission grid, which includes over 88,115 miles of transmission lines; administers a competitive wholesale electricity market; and plans regional transmission expansion improvements to maintain grid reliability and relieve congestion. PJM's regional grid and market operations produce annual savings of $3.2 billion to $4 billion. For the latest news about PJM, visit PJM Inside Lines at insidelines.pjm.com. Contact: PJM News, at [email protected] or toll free at (866) PJM-NEWS | (866) 756-6397 SOURCE PJM Interconnection PHILADELPHIA, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PREIT (OTC:PRET) intends to release its financial results for the quarter ending March 31, 2023 before market trading begins on Thursday, May 4, 2023. Management has scheduled a conference call for 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 4, 2023, to review the Company's results and future outlook. To listen to the call, please dial 1 (888) 330-2024 (domestic toll free), or 1 (646) 960-0187 (international), and request to join the PREIT call, Conference ID 913781768, at least fifteen minutes before the scheduled start time as callers could experience delays. Investors can also access the call in a "listen only" mode via the internet at the Company's website, preit.com. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download the necessary software to listen to the Internet broadcast. Financial and statistical information expected to be discussed on the call will also be available on the Company's website. For interested individuals unable to join the conference call, the online archive of the webcast will also be available for one year following the call. In connection with this event, PREIT has partnered with Say Technologies, LLC, a Robinhood Markets company, to address questions from registered shareholders via the Q&A platform. To submit questions ahead of the earnings call, qualified investors can submit questions by visiting this link. The Q&A platform will remain open until May 3, 2023 at 12:00 pm ET. About PREIT PREIT (OTC:PRET) is a real estate investment trust that owns and manages innovative properties developed to be thoughtful, community-centric hubs. PREIT's robust portfolio of carefully curated, ever-evolving properties generates success for its tenants and meaningful impact for the communities it serves by keenly focusing on five core areas of established and emerging opportunity: multi-family & hotel, health & tech, retail, essentials & grocery and experiential. Located primarily in densely-populated regions, PREIT is a top operator of high quality, purposeful places that serve as one-stop destinations for customers to shop, dine, play and stay. Additional information is available at www.preit.com or on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "may" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans, strategies, anticipated events, trends and other matters that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future events and conditions and are based on currently available financial, economic and competitive data and our current business plans. Actual results could vary materially depending on risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that may affect our operations, markets, services, prices and other factors as discussed in the Risk Factors section of our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. While we believe our assumptions are reasonable, we caution you against relying on any forward-looking statements as it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the effectiveness of strategies we may employ to address our liquidity and capital resources in the future, our ability to achieve our forecasted revenue and pro forma leverage ratio and generate free cash flow to further reduce our indebtedness; our ability to manage our business through the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, a weakening of global economic and financial conditions, changes in governmental regulations and related compliance and litigation costs and the other factors listed in our SEC filings. Additionally, our business might be materially and adversely affected by changes in the retail and real estate industries, including bankruptcies, consolidation and store closings, particularly among anchor tenants; current economic conditions, including consumer confidence and spending levels and supply chain challenges and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the public health and governmental response as well as the corresponding effects on tenant business performance, prospects, solvency and leasing decisions; our inability to collect rent due to the bankruptcy or insolvency of tenants or otherwise; our ability to sell properties that we seek to dispose of, which may be delayed by, among other things, the failure to obtain zoning, occupancy and other governmental approvals and permits or, to the extent required, approvals of other third parties or our ability to obtain prices we seek; our ability to maintain and increase property occupancy, sales and rental rates; increases in operating costs that cannot be passed on to tenants; the effects of online shopping and other uses of technology on our retail tenants; risks related to our development and redevelopment activities, including delays, cost overruns and our inability to reach projected occupancy or rental rates; social unrest and acts of vandalism and violence at malls, including our properties, or at other similar spaces, and the potential effect on traffic and sales; the frequency, severity and impact of extreme weather events at or near our properties; our substantial debt and the liquidation preference of our preferred shares and our high leverage ratio and our ability to remain in compliance with our financial covenants under our debt facilities; our ability to refinance our existing indebtedness when it matures, on favorable terms or at all; our ability to raise capital, including through sales of properties or interests in properties and through the issuance of equity or equity-related securities if market conditions are favorable; and potential dilution from any capital raising transactions or other equity issuances. Additional factors that might cause future events, achievements or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements include those discussed herein, and in the sections entitled "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. We do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise. Contact: Heather Crowell [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE PREIT TORONTO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Quarterhill Inc. ("Quarterhill") (TSX: QTRH) (OTCQX: QTRHF) will release its financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. John Gillberry, Interim CEO, and John Karnes, CFO, will host a conference call and audio webcast at 10:00 a.m. ET the same day. Webcast Information The live audio webcast will be available at: https://app.webinar.net/d2Y8K3vbEpN Webcast replay will be available for 365 days at: https://app.webinar.net/d2Y8K3vbEpN Traditional Dial-in Information To access the call from Canada and U.S., dial 1.888.664.6383 (Toll Free) and U.S., dial 1.888.664.6383 (Toll Free) To access the call from other locations, dial 1.416.764.8650 (International) Rapidconnect To instantly join the conference call by phone, please use the following URL to easily register and be connected into the conference call automatically: https://emportal.ink/3Us9bu8 Telephone Replay Telephone replay will be available from 1:00 p.m. ET on May 10, 2023, until 11:59 p.m. ET on May 17, 2023, at: 1.888.390.0541 (Toll Free North America) or 1.416.764.8677. Conference ID: 60265813 and Replay Passcode: 265813# About Quarterhill Quarterhill is a leading provider of tolling and enforcement solutions in the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) industry, as well as, through its Wi-LAN Inc. subsidiary, a leader in Intellectual Property licensing. Our goal is global leadership in ITS, via organic growth of the Electronic Transaction Consultants, LLC (ETC) and International Road Dynamics Inc. (IRD) platforms, and by continuing an acquisition-oriented investment strategy that capitalizes on attractive growth opportunities within ITS and its adjacent markets. Quarterhill is listed on the TSX under the symbol QTRH and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol QTRHF. For more information, visit www.quarterhill.com. SOURCE Quarterhill Inc. STOCKHOLM, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Finance software provider Quartr, most known for its Mobile App with over half a million users, launches its long-awaited desktop version. The Quartr Web App is a comprehensive research and productivity tool built entirely on first-party information from public companies. It is designed to meet the everyday needs of investors, analysts, journalists, and investor relations departments. The remarkable success of the Quartr Mobile App, having attracted over half a million users within two years of its launch, has sparked a strong demand for a desktop version. This resulted in the development of the Quartr Web App, which gives users access to first-party information from over 7,000 public companies. It is catering to the everyday needs of investors, analysts, journalists, and investor relations departments. All features are built on top of Quartr's global coverage of live events such as earnings calls, capital market days, and investor conferences, with its accompanying documents like transcripts, slides, and earnings reports. To make the research process even more efficient, all of the aforementioned documents are simultaneously searchable for any keyword. Users can also access collaborative features, a customizable event calendar, AI summaries of Q&A sessions, financial segment data, and track the evolution of companies' slides with History Mode. "Quartr Web App places a strong emphasis on researching the original source material and not relying on third-party interpretations of it, which is critical for every investor and makes this product stand out from the crowd. We take great pride in providing a financial research tool that offers not only unique insights but also a modern user experience unburdened by legacy structures," comments Sami Osman, CEO & Co-founder of Quartr. Whether you are a professional or a dedicated private investor, Quartr Web App is the ultimate tool for staying ahead of the curve. With flexible pricing options to suit every market participant, you can get the insights you need at a price that works for you. Start off with a free 7-day trial to experience the product firsthand with no commitment or risk. Contact Sami Osman CEO & Co-founder, Quartr [email protected] The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Public/21895/3757649/9c6218c510888b24_org.png Web App Launch - Cision Product Image https://mb.cision.com/Public/21895/3757649/827f88db3bba8fe5_org.png Web App Launch - Cision Product Image 2 https://mb.cision.com/Public/21895/3757649/bf20e1927861c42d_org.png Sami Osman Quartr CEO https://mb.cision.com/Public/21895/3757649/a00e1fd0ee636814.pdf Quartr Launches Its Long-Awaited Desktop Version https://mb.cision.com/Public/21895/3757649/be4407bd0d636383_org.png Web App Launch - Cision Quartr Logo Black https://mb.cision.com/Public/21895/3757649/ae7b348bad44bbd2_org.png Web App Launch - Cision Quartr Logo White SOURCE Quartr Free To Play App Features a "Carnival" of Casual Mobile Games Allowing Users the Opportunity to Win Cash and Sponsored Prizes TORONTO and MUMBAI, India, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - QYOU Media Inc. (TSXV: QYOU) (OTCQB: QYOUF), the fast-growing creator driven media company doing business in India and the United States, announced today the launch of Q GAMESMELA, its first direct to consumer casual mobile gaming app. The launch follows the closing of its acquisition of mobile game developer, Maxamtech Digital Ventures in January of 2023. Q GAMESMELA (MELA translates to "CARNIVAL" in English) offers a variety of engaging casual mobile games and can be downloaded from the Google Play store for Android phone users. All games are free to the user and game players can win a variety of cash and sponsored product prizes by topping leader boards that are regularly updated. Monetization will be driven by ads and promotions on the platform. Q GAMESMELA logo (CNW Group/QYOU Media Inc.) Maxamtech logo (CNW Group/QYOU Media Inc.) QYOU Media acquired a controlling interest in Maxamtech Digital Ventures in early 2023 to facilitate a direct to consumer capability for casual mobile gaming for the QYOU business in India. The driving business strategy is to leverage the immediate reach of Q branded content offerings across broadcast TV, connected (Smart) TV's and app based platforms that collectively now reach approximately 125 million Indians each week. The gaming app will be initially promoted to this audience via a variety of marketing initiatives across the Q branded channels and content offerings. A direct link to download the app will be provided via a QR code in the promotional ads. In addition, the company expects to create new ad sales programs on the app that will attract and leverage its vast universe of brand partnerships that now numbers over 100 advertisers across its various India business units. The mobile gaming industry in India continues to experience massive growth with over 450 million casual mobile gamers today. Analysts expect that number to grow to 650 million by 2025. According to Business Today magazine, India is now the world's largest online gaming market by app downloads with over 15 billion downloads in 2022. Curt Marvis, CEO and Co-Founder commented, "We are thrilled that our first gaming product is hitting the market only three months after we closed our acquisition of Maxamtech. We remain confident that fans of Q branded content offerings across India are perfectly suited to become customers of our gaming products. In addition, with recently developed data mining capabilities taking shape, we look to truly begin to leverage our audience data and influencer marketing capabilities to maximize stickiness and overall revenue generation. We view today as the kick off of an entirely new revenue vertical for our business in India." Xerxes Mullan, Co-Founder of Maxamtech added, "This is exactly why we were so excited about joining the QYOU Media family. It provides a unique opportunity to get products to market quickly and with the ability to reach the right audience and build momentum. We have many more exciting plans going forward to grow the gaming business across a variety of user segments and business models. Q GamesMela is only the beginning!" About QYOU Media One of the fastest growing creator-media companies, QYOU Media operates in India and the United States producing, distributing and monetizing content created by social media influencers and digital content stars. In India, under our flagship brand, The Q, we curate, produce and distribute premium content across television networks, VOD and OTT platforms, mobile phones, smart TV's and app-based platforms. We now have numerous additional content destinations, apps and gaming platforms poised to engage the over 125 million Indian households we reach weekly. Our influencer marketing company, Chtrbox, has been a pioneer in India's creator economy, leveraging data to connect brands to the right social media influencers. In the United States, we power major film studios, game publishers and brands to create content and market via creators and influencers. Founded and created by industry veterans from Lionsgate, MTV, Disney and Sony, QYOU Media's millennial and Gen Z-focused content reaches more than one billion consumers around the world every month. Experience our work at www.qyoumedia.com , www.theq.tv and www.theqyou.com and www.chtrbox.com. QYOU Contact: Contact [email protected] or Doug Barker at 437-992-4814 for more information. Join our shareholder chat group on Telegram: http://t.me/QYOUMedia 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. SOURCE QYOU Media Inc. Windy City Favorite to Bring Its World-famous 5-Flavor Cone to More Chicago Areas CHICAGO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Original Rainbow Cone, a Chicago tradition for over 95 years is excited to announce its 2023 seasonal location openings and new additions to existing Buona locations. Currently, Buona and Rainbow Cone have six dual concept locations: five locations scattered across Illinois in Darien, Skokie, Harwood Heights, Lakemoor and Mount Prospect and one location in Valparaiso, IN., the first, out of market dual brand concept which opened earlier this month. Get ready to make your summer unforgettable with The Original Rainbow Cone! Starting May 4, Buona's Bolingbrook location will open a permanent Rainbow Cone kiosk and its Flossmoor location will welcome a Rainbow Cone truck stationed on site for the 2023 season. "Bringing together the timeless flavors of Buona's Italian beef and Rainbow Cone's iconic ice cream is a match made in Chicago foodie heaven." said Joe Buonavolanto Ill, third generation Buona family member and VP of Franchise Operations at the company. "The fusion of these two beloved classics in one location has been a delectable success, serving up a taste of Chicago's culinary heritage in every bite." In addition to Rainbow Cone's dual concept locations with Buona are the company's seasonal and stand-alone locations. North Siders can get a taste of The Original Rainbow Cone at its trucks stationed at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium and Lincoln Park Zoo as well as its Navy Pier stand. As a beloved South Side brand, The Original Rainbow Cone can also be enjoyed by Chicago White Sox fans at Guaranteed Rate Field. Coming in late May 2023, South Siders can also get a taste of Rainbow Cone at its new Orland Park location which will join its original Beverly, and Lombard locations as the company's third standalone brick and mortar store. Rainbow Cone's roaming trucks can be found at various locations around the city and suburbs this summer at https://rainbowcone.com/truck-finder/ . To book an Ice Cream Truck for your private event and festivals visit: https://www.rainbowcone.com/catering/ ; for more information about Rainbow Cone, visit https://rainbowcone.com. About The Original Rainbow Cone: The Original Rainbow Cone serves ice cream featuring extraordinary flavors and textures, including the world-famous 5-flavor "Rainbow Cone," stacked with the same five colorful slices of orange sherbet, pistachio, Palmer House, strawberry and chocolate. After opening in 1926, the "Rainbow Cone'' received its fame and quickly became the most unique ice cream cone anyone has ever seen. As Rainbow Cone works to expand their locations and showcase our new adventures, like ice cream trucks, they are excited to share their love for Rainbow Cone's signature sliced cone with even more communities. The Original Rainbow Cone is also available for nationwide shipping via Goldbelly., locals count on The Original Rainbow Cone as a Chicago staple and a sweet treat. For more information, https://rainbowcone.com or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. SOURCE The Original Rainbow Cone Leading suicide prevention organization strongly opposes bills that can harm the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ people NEW YORK, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As we grapple with numerous states across the country enacting harmful anti-LGBTQ legislation, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the nation's leading suicide prevention organization, calls upon local legislators to reject anti-trans legislation and encourages people to rally around the LGBTQ community by asking their elected officials to enact laws supporting these individuals. In the past few years, research has shed light on concerning trends for the LGBTQ community. According to the latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on data from 2021, LGBQ+ youth are more likely to experience all forms of violence and close to 70% of LGBQ+ students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness during the past year, up from 60% in 2015 . Nearly one quarter 22% of LGBQ+ youth reported attempting suicide in 2021. Also, a national survey of over 27,000 transgender individuals ages 16 years and older in the U.S. found that: 81.7% reported having serious thoughts of suicide in their lifetime including 48.3% in the past year, and 40% reported attempting suicide in their lifetime, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality and the Williams Institute . These alarming data underscore concerns about potentially negative impacts of the 450 anti-LGBTQ bills being introduced at the state level across the country, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. The majority of these bills target transgender individuals. It's important to emphasize that it's not an individual's LGBTQ identity that elevates risk for suicide. It's experiences of trauma, violence, discrimination, and marginalization that increase the risk of suicide for LGBTQ people when experienced at the individual level as well as at the macro policy and culture level. AFSP has released the following statement regarding recent anti-LGBTQ legislation from Chief Medical Officer Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, and Chief of Public Policy Laurel Stine, J.D., M.A.: "The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention calls upon policymakers to consider the negative physical and mental health impact that can be brought on by laws that discriminate and harm the LGBTQ community, including recently introduced bills across the country specifically targeting the rights of transgender individuals. Our organization is dedicated to improving access to evidence-based LGBTQ-affirming physical and mental health care that in turn reduces stigma, harm and suicide risk. We take our responsibility to educate the public about mental health and suicide very seriously, especially when communities are at increased risk. Each one of us has an opportunity to be an ally of the LGBTQ community. In addition to AFSP funding LGBTQ research studies , we advocate for legislative initiatives that: increase data collection and analysis to better inform LGBTQ suicide prevention public policies and strategies, ensure access to LGBTQ-affirming physical and mental health care, and contribute to the overall safety and wellbeing of LGBTQ people. We ask lawmakers to reject bills that create inequalities for the LGBTQ community and support legislation that addresses existing health disparities, and remove barriers to quality, accessible, affordable and comprehensive healthcare for LGBTQ youth and adults." Statement from National Board Member Lisa Riley, LGBTQ leader advocate from the AFSP New Hampshire Chapter: "Many recent legislative policies aim to limit access to gender-affirming health care for transgender individuals. This directly threatens the physical and mental health of our community and poses an increased risk for deterioration in mental health. You may think this does not impact you. However, we are your brothers, sisters, your neighbors, and your co-workers. For me and my family, allies have proven to be a crucial part of gaining and maintaining access to equitable healthcare. LGBTQ individuals need and deserve access to quality physical and mental healthcare and I, with AFSP, will continue to advocate for the fundamental human rights to health and safety." Ongoing Efforts AFSP funds research to better understand the experiences and suicide risk of LGBTQ people and supports public policies at the federal and state levels that improve mental health and reduce suicide risk for LGBTQ populations. Stemming from our national policy position on LGBTQ communities , we work with local AFSP chapters to support these communities by opposing restrictions on access to gender-affirming care, supporting bans on the practice of conversion therapy, opposing restrictions on discussion of LGBTQ issues in schools, supporting efforts to increase data collection of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) at the time of death, and enlisting local volunteers to prioritize opposing harmful bills when meeting with state and local public officials. We also encourage media to consider these Safe Reporting Guidelines to ensure effective suicide prevention messaging and to increase help-seeking when covering this and other topics related to suicide. Take Action For those looking to play a role in reducing the likelihood of suicide and promoting wellbeing for the LGBTQ community, we encourage you to take action to: Increase family acceptance and affirmation of a person's LGBTQ identity and affirmation of a person's LGBTQ identity Reduce anti-LGBTQ stigma and prejudice Reduce bullying, violence, and other forms of victimization Increase access to LGBTQ-affirming physical and mental health care Increase legal protections from discrimination Please contact your local chapter and sign up as an AFSP volunteer advocate to learn more about how you can help. Additional Resources Resources on how to help LGBTQ populations with mental health and suicide prevention, visit afsp.org/lgbtq-mental-health-and-suicide-prevention . Talk Saves LivesTM: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention LGBTQ A 60-minute education presentation that provides insight on suicide, research on prevention, and what people can do in their communities to save lives. This presentation discusses the stressors that LGBTQ people face, and how these contribute to a higher suicide attempt rate among this population. Stronger Communities: LGBTQ Suicide Prevention A full-day conference hosted by local AFSP chapters to raise awareness about LGBTQ suicide risk, bring research findings to the attention of professionals and the public, and explore strategies for LGBTQ suicide prevention in local communities. Healing Conversations A program that connects those who have lost a loved one to suicide with trained volunteers who are also suicide loss survivors. Within this program we connect loss survivors to volunteers of similar identity and loss experience, including for LGBTQ people and their loved ones. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss . AFSP creates a culture that's smart about mental health through public education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, with a public policy office in Washington, DC, AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states including Puerto Rico, with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report , and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube. SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Rena Murshud NATO's highest military body, the Military Committee, will meet in person on 10 May 2023 in Brussels with attendance of 32 chiefs of general staffs, Azernews reports with reference to the statement of the alliance. The meeting is expected take place in Brussels, Belgium. Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the Military Committee, will preside over the meeting, which will be attended by the Allied Chiefs of Defence and their Invitee counterpart from Sweden. They will be supported by General Christopher Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), and General Philippe Lavigne, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT). The meeting of the NATO Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session (MCCS) will enable the 32 Chiefs of Defence, to meet and discuss issues of strategic importance to the Alliance. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will join the Military Committee for the first session to address the Alliance's key priorities and challenges. The second session will see the Chiefs of Defence discuss Russia-Ukraine. The third session will focus on strengthening the Alliances deterrence and defence posture ahead of the Vilnius Summit decisions and beyond. The Chiefs of Defence will discuss the implementation and the sustainment of this strengthened posture. Sessions four and five will see the Military Committee provide additional direction and guidance regarding the major overhaul of NATOs defence posture, agreed at the Madrid Summit. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday. "Thanked her for holding the conference on the recovery of Ukraine and for her personal leadership in unflagging support for the Ukrainian people. We also discussed further defense cooperation and upcoming international events," he wrote on the Telegram channel. The funding will fuel Relay's continued rapid revenue growth and help the organization scale to serve the thousands of frontline businesses choosing Relay. RALEIGH, N.C., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Relay, a cloud platform for frontline teams, announced the close of a $13 million Series-A funding round from Sovereign's Capital, Wind River Ventures, and existing shareholders. "We are thrilled to partner with our investors to bring innovative solutions to frontline teams," said Chris Chuang, CEO of Relay. "The need for digital transformation in frontline work has never been greater, especially with pervasive labor shortages and the lingering effects from the pandemic. This is the time for Relay to accelerate our vision of transforming frontline work by delivering innovative technology, designed specifically for the way frontline teams work and the unique challenges they face." Relay Closes $13 Million Series A Funding Round Tweet this Relay is a cloud-based platform that helps frontline teams improve communications, stay safe, and get more done. Demand for Relay's platform has skyrocketed in the past year, with revenue growth of over 130% year-over-year and the addition of high-profile customers in Hospitality, Healthcare, Facilities Management, and other frontline industries. "This round of funding will enable us to continue accelerating our rapid growth rate, scale our team, and support further product R&D innovation." "Frontline workers are the lifeblood of our economy, and they have unique needs that can't be solved by tools built for desk-bound workers," said Chuang. "With Relay, we're making it easier than ever for frontline teams to communicate and collaborate effectively, no matter where they are or what device they're using. Relay also provides workflow and communications data that frontline leaders have never before been able to accurately measure. With this data, they can improve their operations in multiple ways, as evidenced by a recent customer survey revealing 78% of our customers report an increase in productivity from Relay." While many technology companies are experiencing declining revenues and layoffs, Relay's revenues have more than doubled and the company has hired over 35 new team members in the last 18 months and expects to continue growing its staff. Relay has thrived during these challenging times because the need for its solutions is more critical as frontline businesses urgently search for ways to improve their productivity in the face of recessionary market conditions and unprecedented labor shortages. "In this economy, frontline businesses have to get more done with fewer people. Achieving that requires more efficient communication and better coordination of teams and resources. Relay delivers both and we're excited to partner with them on this important mission," said Jake Thomsen, Managing Partner at Sovereign's Capital. Driving Relay's rapid growth is demand for its recently unveiled "Operational Intelligence" platform. Relay's Operational Intelligence platform provides leaders of frontline teams with real-time analytics on team performance against goals, allowing them to pinpoint areas for improvement. Relay is delivering its Operational Intelligence platform to tens of thousands of frontline workers across the US working in Hospitality, Healthcare, Food Services, Manufacturing, Facilities management, and other industries. "What excites us most about Relay is how impactful their seemingly simple solution is for frontline teams. Their platform not only enables teams to communicate more efficiently but to collaborate more effectively as they unlock the data around personal job performance and accountability, overall team productivity, and reduction of operational bottlenecks. It's clear to us why Relay's key metrics around customers and revenue retention and expansion are well above industry norms," said Stephen Mutz, Co-founder and CEO of Wind River Ventures. Relay is also growing fast in the Hospitality industry, where it serves thousands of hotels and resorts across the US, providing best-in-class safety and communications solutions for their teams. By combining real-time communication with real-time indoor location data, Relay can offer a solution that not only satisfies the requirements of many states and brands, but also allows staff members to summon and efficiently coordinate help in the event of an incident. In a recent survey, 77% of customers reported that Relay improved overall employee safety at their property. Looking ahead, Relay expects to continue to rapidly grow revenues and scale its team, particularly in sales and customer operations roles, as the company fills out its headquarters office space located in the Advanced Auto Parts Tower in North Hills, Raleigh. About Relay: Relay is a cloud-based technology platform that helps frontline teams (80% of the global workforce) improve communications, increase employee safety, and digitize their physical workflows to become more data-driven and efficient. Relay helps frontline teams digitally transform their operations with the modern tools they need to be successful and the actionable real-time data they need to track performance and improve their operations. Software has not yet transformed the frontline world, and Relay is on a mission to change that. For more information, visit www.relaypro.com . SOURCE Relay Inc. NEW YORK, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The retimer (redriver) market size is set to grow by USD 137.32 million from 2022 to 2027. The market growth is estimated to progress at a CAGR of 5.26% during the forecast period, according to Technavio's latest market research report. With a focus on identifying dominant industry influencers, Technavio's reports present a detailed study by the way of synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. This report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Technavio offers in-depth market insights that assist global businesses to obtain growth opportunities. Read Sample Report Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Retimer (Redriver) Market 2023-2027 The report also covers the following areas: Retimer (Redriver) Market 2023-2027: Segmentation The Retimer (Redriver) market is segmented as follows: Application Server Storage Others Type Redriver Retimer Geography North America APAC Europe South America Middle East And Africa The market growth share by the server segment will be significant for the overall market growth during the forecast period. A server consists of a memory device, a network, processors, and different ports. Rack servers, blade servers, tower servers, microservers, and OCP servers are some of the types of servers currently used in data centers. The increasing number of data centers is expected to drive the market demand. The PCIe market is also expected to grow. To help a root complex communicate with an endpoint, PCIe retimers participate in the PCIe protocol. Furthermore, they enhance the maximum permitted PCIe trace length and offer additional flexibility in system design by improving signal integrity. Hence, such factors drive the growth of the server segment during the forecast period. Request our market sample report now to gain access to detailed analysis on the retimer (redriver) market. Retimer (Redriver) Market 2023-2027: Vendor Analysis and Scope The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. To help businesses improve their market position, the retimer (redriver) market provides a detailed analysis of around 15+ vendors operating in the market. Some of these vendors include Analog Devices Inc., Analogix Semiconductor Inc., Astera Labs Inc., Broadcom Inc., Diodes Inc., Intel Corp., Kandou Bus SA, Lenovo Group Ltd., Microchip Technology Inc., Montage Technology, Nuvoton Technology Corp., NXP Semiconductors NV, ON Semiconductor Corp., Parade Technologies Ltd., Phison Electronics Corp., Rambus Inc., Softnautics Inc., Texas Instruments Inc., THine Electronics Inc., and Renesas Electronics Corp.. Vendor Offerings Analog Devices Inc. - The company offers redriver such as MAX14950 redriver. The company offers redriver such as MAX14950 redriver. Analogix Semiconductor Inc. - The company offers retimer such as SlimPort retimers. The company offers retimer such as SlimPort retimers. Astera Labs Inc. - The company offers retimer such as Aries Pcle smart retimers. Retimer (Redriver) Market: Market Dynamics Key Drivers The increasing number of investments toward the construction of data centers is a major driver in the retimers market during the forecast period. Due to the growth in the amount of data being generated, various companies build their own data centers or lease out data center space. The growing focus on cloud computing is further expected to drive the demand for data centers. Various firms continuously focus on investing in the construction of new data centers. For example, in October 2021 , Singtel signed an MoU with Thai Gulf Energy and announced plans to establish a new data center company in Southeast Asia . , Singtel signed an MoU with Thai Gulf Energy and announced plans to establish a new data center company in . In data centers, retimers are used to ensure that the signals transmitted onto wires are clean, it is also preferred owing to its simplicity and low cost. Thus, the increasing investments toward the construction of data centers are anticipated to drive the growth of the global retimer (redriver) market during the forecast period. Major Trends The increasing integration of retimer with USB4 is an emerging trend in the retimers market that is expected to have a positive impact on the market growth. USB4 is the most recent iteration of the USB connector technology, which allows improved port utilization, faster transfers, and tunneling of display ports and PCle to external devices. The data transmission speeds of USB4 can reach up to 40 Gbps. It is about twice the speed of USB 3.0, which helps in transferring large files, such as 4K movies and graphics, in a few seconds. movies and graphics, in a few seconds. A retimer is required for USB4 to improve speed and signal quality. Market vendors focus on launching retimers for USB4. For instance, in June 2021 , Kandou Bus SA announced First Device in USB-C multiprotocol retimer product family for USB4. , Kandou Bus SA announced First Device in USB-C multiprotocol retimer product family for USB4. Hence, the increasing demand for retimer for USB4 for high-speed signal integrity is anticipated to augment the growth of the global retimer (redriver) market during the forecast period. Key Challenges Failure to manage inventory during changing customer demand is a major challenge impeding the retimer (redriver) market growth during the forecast period. Vendors usually sell their products to enterprises based on purchase orders and owing to continuous technological changes, enterprises can defer shipment without incurring any liability. Excess inventory can affect the profitability of vendors due to the changes in demands and revoking of orders. Furthermore, enterprises can terminate agreements with little to no warning to the vendor if there is no minimum order requirement. As a result of the continuous technological changes and innovations, the market can experience drastic fluctuations leading to overcapacity. Therefore, vendors may have to reduce the price of their products to clear the stock, which can affect the overall market revenue of the global retimer (redriver) market. Thus, such factors may hinder the market growth during the forecast period. To get insights about the impact of different drivers, trends, and challenges on the market growth, buy now! Retimer (Redriver) Market 2023-2027: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2023-2027 Detailed information on factors that will assist retimer (redriver) market growth during the next five years Estimation of the retimer (redriver) market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the retimer (redriver) market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of retimer (redriver) market vendors Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports and world-class market intelligence. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The global audio driver IC (integrated circuit) market size is estimated to grow by USD 3,128.31 million between 2022 and 2027 at a CAGR of 15.86%. This report extensively covers market segmentation by application (consumer electronics, telecommunication, and automotive), type (mono channel, 2-channel, 4-channel, and 6-channel), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The increasing penetration of smart devices is notably driving market growth. The automotive advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) market size is expected to increase by USD 18.99 billion from 2020 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 8%. Furthermore, this report extensively covers automotive advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) market segmentations by technology (AEBS, TPMS, PAS, and others), application (passenger cars and commercial vehicles), and geography (Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and MEA). The decline in sensor prices is notably driving the automotive advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) market growth. Retimer (Redriver) Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.26% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 137.32 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023(%) 4.82 Regional analysis North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 43% Key countries US, China, Japan, South Korea, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Analog Devices Inc., Analogix Semiconductor Inc., Astera Labs Inc., Broadcom Inc., Diodes Inc., Intel Corp., Kandou Bus SA, Lenovo Group Ltd., Microchip Technology Inc., Montage Technology, Nuvoton Technology Corp., NXP Semiconductors NV, ON Semiconductor Corp., Parade Technologies Ltd., Phison Electronics Corp., Rambus Inc., Softnautics Inc., Texas Instruments Inc., THine Electronics Inc., and Renesas Electronics 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 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 Information Technology Reports Table Of Contents : 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Application Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Type Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 09: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 10: Parent market Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 13: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2022 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027 Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 4 Historic Market Size 4.1 Global retimer (redriver) market 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size Data Table on Global retimer (redriver) market 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.2 Application Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size Application Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.3 Type Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size Type Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 5 Five Forces Analysis 5.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027 5.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027 5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.7 Market condition Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027 6 Market Segmentation by 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 Server - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 34: Chart on Server - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Server - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 36: Chart on Server - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Server - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 Storage - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 38: Chart on Storage - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Storage - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 40: Chart on Storage - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Storage - 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 Type 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 48: Chart on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 7.2 Comparison by Type Exhibit 50: Chart on Comparison by Type Exhibit 51: Data Table on Comparison by Type 7.3 Redriver - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 52: Chart on Redriver - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 53: Data Table on Redriver - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 54: Chart on Redriver - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 55: Data Table on Redriver - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.4 Retimer - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 56: Chart on Retimer - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 57: Data Table on Retimer - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 58: Chart on Retimer - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 59: Data Table on Retimer - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Market opportunity by Type Exhibit 60: Market opportunity by Type ($ million) Exhibit 61: Data Table on Market opportunity by Type ($ million) 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 62: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 9 Geographic Landscape 9.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 63: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 64: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) 9.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 65: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 66: Data Table on Geographic comparison 9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 67: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 68: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 69: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 70: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.4 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 (%) 9.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 75: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 77: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 78: 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 79: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 80: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 81: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 82: 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 83: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 84: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 85: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 86: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 87: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 88: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 89: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 90: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.9 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 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 (%) 9.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 95: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 96: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 97: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 98: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.11 Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 99: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 100: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 101: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 102: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.12 South Korea - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 103: Chart on South Korea - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 104: Data Table on South Korea - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 105: Chart on South Korea - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 106: Data Table on South Korea - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 107: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) Exhibit 108: 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 109: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027 10.4 Market trends 11 Vendor Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 110: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 11.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 111: Overview on factors of disruption 11.4 Industry risks Exhibit 112: Impact of key risks on business 12 Vendor Analysis 12.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 113: Vendors covered 12.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 114: Matrix on vendor position and classification 12.3 Analog Devices Inc. Exhibit 115: Analog Devices Inc. - Overview Exhibit 116: Analog Devices Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 117: Analog Devices Inc. - Key news Exhibit 118: Analog Devices Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 119: Analog Devices Inc. - Segment focus 12.4 Analogix Semiconductor Inc. Exhibit 120: Analogix Semiconductor Inc. - Overview Exhibit 121: Analogix Semiconductor Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 122: Analogix Semiconductor Inc. - Key offerings 12.5 Astera Labs Inc. Exhibit 123: Astera Labs Inc. - Overview Exhibit 124: Astera Labs Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 125: Astera Labs Inc. - Key offerings 12.6 Diodes Inc. Exhibit 126: Diodes Inc. - Overview Exhibit 127: Diodes Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 128: Diodes Inc. - Key news Exhibit 129: Diodes Inc. - Key offerings 12.7 Intel Corp. Exhibit 130: Intel Corp. - Overview Exhibit 131: Intel Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 132: Intel Corp. - Key news Exhibit 133: Intel Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 134: Intel Corp. - Segment focus 12.8 Kandou Bus SA Exhibit 135: Kandou Bus SA - Overview Exhibit 136: Kandou Bus SA - Product / Service Exhibit 137: Kandou Bus SA - Key offerings 12.9 Microchip Technology Inc. Exhibit 138: Microchip Technology Inc. - Overview Exhibit 139: Microchip Technology Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 140: Microchip Technology Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 141: Microchip Technology Inc. - Segment focus 12.10 Montage Technology Exhibit 142: Montage Technology - Overview Exhibit 143: Montage Technology - Product / Service Exhibit 144: Montage Technology - Key offerings 12.11 NXP Semiconductors NV Exhibit 145: NXP Semiconductors NV - Overview Exhibit 146: NXP Semiconductors NV - Product / Service Exhibit 147: NXP Semiconductors NV - Key news Exhibit 148: NXP Semiconductors NV - Key offerings 12.12 ON Semiconductor Corp. Exhibit 149: ON Semiconductor Corp. - Overview Exhibit 150: ON Semiconductor Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 151: ON Semiconductor Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 152: ON Semiconductor Corp. - Segment focus 12.13 Parade Technologies Ltd. Exhibit 153: Parade Technologies Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 154: Parade Technologies Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 155: Parade Technologies Ltd. - Key offerings 12.14 Phison Electronics Corp. Exhibit 156: Phison Electronics Corp. - Overview Exhibit 157: Phison Electronics Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 158: Phison Electronics Corp. - Key offerings 12.15 Renesas Electronics Corp. Exhibit 159: Renesas Electronics Corp. - Overview Exhibit 160: Renesas Electronics Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 161: Renesas Electronics Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 162: Renesas Electronics Corp. - Segment focus 12.16 Texas Instruments Inc. Exhibit 163: Texas Instruments Inc. - Overview Exhibit 164: Texas Instruments Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 165: Texas Instruments Inc. - Key news Exhibit 166: Texas Instruments Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 167: Texas Instruments Inc. - Segment focus 12.17 THine Electronics Inc. Exhibit 168: THine Electronics Inc. - Overview Exhibit 169: THine Electronics Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 170: THine Electronics Inc. - Key offerings 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 171: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 172: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 173: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 174: Research methodology Exhibit 175: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 176: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 177: 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 provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio MIAMI, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) has scheduled a conference call for 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, Thursday, May 4, 2023, to provide a business update and discuss first quarter financial results. The call will be simultaneously webcast on the company's investor relations website, www.rclinvestor.com. A replay of the webcast will remain available at the same website for 30 days following the call. About Royal Caribbean Group Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) is one of the leading cruise companies in the world with a global fleet of 64 ships traveling to more than 1,000 destinations around the world. Royal Caribbean Group is the owner and operator of three award-winning cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises, and it is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Together, the brands have an additional 10 ships on order as of March 31, 2023. Learn more at www.royalcaribbeangroup.com or www.rclinvestor.com. SOURCE Royal Caribbean Group ELMA, N.Y., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Servotronics, Inc. (NYSE American SVT) a designer and manufacturer of servo-control components and other advanced technology products announced today that Robert Fraass has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective May 1, 2023. He replaces Lisa F. Bencel who will be leaving the Company later in May to pursue other interests. Mr. Fraass most recently comes from Stark Technologies Group, Inc. where he served as Senior Vice President of Finance Corporate Controller & Treasurer. He has also held several executive finance roles of increasing responsibility at PostProcess Technologies, Ivoclar Vivadent, Integer and Integrys Energy Services. "Rob is a seasoned professional who comes to Servotronics with over twenty years of experience developing financial strategies for sustainable growth, working collaboratively to achieve strategic goals and providing accurate and timely financial reporting," said William F. Farrell, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Servotronics. "We are delighted he is joining our organization and look forward to the addition of his strategic leadership to our executive team. We also want to thank Lisa for her dedication and contributions during the past six years, and wish her the very best of success in her future endeavors." Mr. Fraass attended Bucknell University in Pennsylvania where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. ABOUT SERVOTRONICS The Company is composed of two groups the Advanced Technology Group (ATG) and the Consumer Products Group (CPG). The ATG primarily designs, develops and manufactures servo controls and other components for various commercial and government applications (i.e., aircraft, jet engines, missiles, manufacturing equipment, etc.). The CPG designs and manufactures cutlery, bayonets, pocket knives, machetes and combat knives, survival, sporting, agricultural knives and other edged products for both commercial and government applications. SERVOTRONICS, INC. (SVT) IS LISTED ON NYSE American SOURCE Servotronics, Inc. SANTA BARBARA, Calif., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- International disaster response organization ShelterBox announced today that it is responding to Tropical Cyclone Freddy, a devastating, long-lasting storm that has swept through parts of Eastern Africa leaving tens of thousands homeless. ShelterBox will provide emergency shelter and live-saving essential household items for families displaced by the catastrophic flooding in Malawi. "This is a historic storm that deserves the world's attention," said Kerri Murray, president of ShelterBox USA. Tweet this Aid workers build emergency shelter in Malawi after Tropical Cyclone Freddy caused devastating flooding. ShelterBox aid workers assess damage after Tropical Cyclone Freddy flooded parts of Malawi. Experts say Cyclone Freddy may become one of the most powerful on record, displacing more than 650,000 people from their homes so far. It travelled across the southern Indian ocean for five weeks in February and March, making landfall in Madagascar, before Mozambique and Malawi and causing widespread devastation. In Malawi, more than 700 have died and hundreds remain missing. "Tropical Cyclone Freddy is a historic storm that deserves the world's attention," said Kerri Murray, president of ShelterBox USA. "As climate change continues, we're seeing the severity of storms increase, and they are causing unprecedented damage. In Malawi, there has been significant loss of life, property, and critical infrastructure. ShelterBox is working around the clock to respond and provide life-saving aid to families who lose everything in an instant." Catastrophic floods and mudslides have consumed homes and washed away farmland and livestock. Lack of adequate shelter and mosquito nets have exposed communities to malaria, and there are growing concerns about water-borne and other diseases, including as a recent cholera epidemic. Malawi's president has described it as the most devastating Malawi has ever experienced. A ShelterBox emergency response team deployed to Malawi and is now working with the nonprofit CARE Malawi to provide thousands of people with emergency shelter and other essential items. "The floods and mudslides have left huge scars on the hillsides, with enormous car sized rocks destroying everything in their path," said Melanie Hughes, a ShelterBox program manager who led the response team on deployment in Malawi. "They've left nothing but boulder fields in their wake that will be impossible to clear and so the people in the communities that lived there will have no choice but to move." ShelterBox will provide aid as flooding subsides, allowing it to access hard to reach locations. The aid package is likely to include shelter kits to build temporary structures, and timber for framing. It will also include kitchen sets, blankets, mosquito nets, solar lights, sleeping mats, and water filters. The aid organization is also considering multi-purpose cash in its aid package. "People will be able to use the aid to construct a shelter that offers protection from the elements, gives safety, and provides privacy helping people, families, and communities start their road to recovery," Hughes said. ShelterBox has responded in Malawi previously. After Cyclone Idai in 2019, it helped more than 10,000 people. The impact of Cyclone Freddy, however, is anticipated to be five times worse than Cyclone Idai. In addition to this response, ShelterBox is helping people affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, those displaced by the monsoon flooding in Pakistan, and the worst drought to hit East Africa in 40 years. It is also supporting people displaced by conflict in Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Mozambique. About ShelterBox USA Since 2000, ShelterBox has provided shelter and life-saving items following more than 300 disasters in nearly 100 countries. ShelterBox responds urgently to earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami, or conflicts. It works with local partners and individuals to customize each response, which can include a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, a water filtration system, emergency lighting, and other tools for survival. ShelterBox was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 and 2019. ShelterBox USA is based in Santa Barbara, California. SOURCE ShelterBox USA SAN JOSE, Calif. and FARMINGTON, Conn., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nest Collaborative, the nation's first and largest virtual lactation consultation platform, announced it is teaming up with Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, Calif., part of the national HCA Healthcare enterprise, to bring virtual breastfeeding support services to the Silicon Valley. The partnership will augment lactation support services offered at Good Samaritan Hospital by providing telehealth access via mobile phone or desktop computer to Nest Collaborative's nationwide network of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), who are experts in human lactation. The 473-bed acute care hospital is located in the heart of Silicon Valley with campuses in San Jose and Los Gatos. Good Samaritan Hospital is recognized as a leader in neurosciences, high-risk obstetrics, comprehensive cancer services, advanced cardiology, and innovative surgery techniques. Readers of Bay Area Parent magazine have chosen the hospital as the "Bay Area's Best Place to Have a Baby" for over 10 years. Good Samaritan Hospital chose Nest Collaborative to give parents a convenient and easy way to connect with lactation consultants for breastfeeding education before giving birth and for support once they leave the hospital. The partnership will also provide critical support to families of premature babies who return home and want to breastfeed and/or provide breast milk while their baby is in the neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU). "Families who give birth at Good Samaritan Hospital now have access to additional, evidence-based breastfeeding support both prenatally and when they leave the hospital to return home with their newborn," said Kelli Wray, DNP, APRN, Chief Nursing Officer of Good Samaritan Hospital. "Parents will be able to make same-day, telehealth appointments with Nest Collaborative's team of IBCLCs who can provide the expert guidance in the first days when breastfeeding can be the most challenging. They will also be a critical lifeline for parents of babies staying in our NICU." Good Samaritan Hospital has a deep connection with generations of families in the Silicon Valley area and serves a culturally diverse population. Nest Collaborative's IBCLCs are available to families for virtual consultations, seven days a week and in multiple languages. Families with active insurance or Medicaid pay no co-pay or deductibles for the service and Nest Collaborative handles all insurance billing. "We are thrilled to join Good Samaritan in providing the best possible support for new parents who give birth at the hospital," said Judith Nowlin, CEO of Nest Collaborative. "Breastfeeding has so many health benefits yet there are barriers that prevent many families from attempting and continuing to breastfeed. Our IBCLCs work with families to ensure they are informed about safe feeding options so they can make the best choice possible on their breastfeeding journey." How To Get Support Good Samaritan families wishing to book a same-day or future appointment with a Nest Collaborative IBCLC can call or text 888-598-1554 or 410-443-0022, or follow this link. Nest Collaborative consultations for all Good Samaritan families include: Unlimited 1-to-1 sessions On-demand consults 7 days a week (including mornings, evenings & weekends) No out-of-pocket costs with active insurance or Medicaid No copay, no deductible Appointments in multiple languages Prenatal or postpartum appointments (or both) About Nest Collaborative Nest Collaborative, Farmington, CT, is the creator of the nation's first virtual lactation platform. The company's nationwide network of lactation consultants is available to families for same-day virtual consults, meaning more parents and their health providers have access to the help that creates successful breastfeeding journeys. Nest Collaborative was recognized by Verywell Family as the Best Online Lactation Consultant of 2021 and 2022, beating out competitors by offering insurance-covered appointments, same-day availability, and group sessions through their offering of Latch Lounge. For more information, visit: www.nestcollaborative.com. About Good Samaritan Hospital Good Samaritan Hospital, a 473-bed acute care hospital in the heart of Silicon Valley, has been delivering elite level care with compassion since 1965. Locations include the main campus in San Jose, California and the Mission Oaks campus, in Los Gatos, California. We also serve patients at our Breast Care Center in Los Gatos, California. Good Samaritan Hospital offers a comprehensive array of inpatient and outpatient services including Emergency, Orthopedics, Cardiovascular, Neurosciences, Women's and Children's Services including a level 3 NICU, and Medical/Surgical services. Good Samaritan's care team of dedicated medical professionals consists of more than 1900 employees and more than 650 active physicians. Good Samaritan is part of HCA Healthcare, the nation's leading provider of healthcare services, composed of 182 hospitals and 2,200 sites of care located in 20 states and the United Kingdom. Media Contact: Todd Stein [email protected] SOURCE Nest Collaborative All-in-one drone application, SkyGrid Flight Control, named Best Services & Utilities Apps, dApps and Software in the 27th Annual Webby People's Voice Awards AUSTIN, Texas, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SkyGrid, a Boeing, SparkCognition company, announced today that its end-to-end airspace management system, SkyGrid Flight Control, has been named the Best Services & Utilities Apps, dApps and Software in the 27th Annual Webby Awards Internet Celebration. Hailed as the "Internet's highest honor" by The New York Times, The Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet. SkyGrid Flight Control is a Webby People's Voice Winner in Apps, dApps and Software - Services & Utilities category. "SkyGrid has set the standard for innovation and creativity on the Internet," said Claire Graves, Executive Director of The Webby Awards. "This award is a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and vision of its creators." Powered by SkyGrid's AerialOS, SkyGrid Flight Control makes it easy for drone operators to explore the airspace, automate flights, and get real-time insights as one integrated solution, enabling safe, secure, and efficient operations. With over a hundred thousand downloads, the all-in-one drone application is available for free on the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad users across the world and provides the following features for users: Airspace intelligence: Provides a map of airspace classes, boundaries, temporary flight restrictions, notices to airmen, and other advisories Weather layers: Details local precipitation, wind speed and direction, temperature, cloud cover, and more Automated flight planning: Automatically generates area exploration, waypoint, and multi-objective missions based on custom flight parameters, such as desired speed, altitude, and location Autonomous flight execution: Launches the mission to autonomously perform the predefined flight plan or scheduled flight "At SkyGrid, we are committed to creating an intelligent airspace management system that is an essential component for integrating unmanned aircraft of all types in the global airspace," said Amir Husain, Founder and CEO of SkyGrid. "The recognition from the Webby Awards is a testament to the innovation and hard work of the SkyGrid team, who are dedicated to creating solutions that will help shape the future of unmanned air travel and drive positive change in the world." More advanced enterprise features are also available for organizations looking to deploy, manage, and scale their drone operations. These features include AI-based mission planning and rerouting, multi-drone missions, custom object detection and counting, micro-weather, geofencing and alerts, and more. IADAS, which nominates and selects The Webby Award Winners, is comprised of internet industry experts, including Werner Vogels, CTO, Amazon and Reshma Saujani, Founder, Girls Who Code. Previous notable award winners include Apple, Electronic Arts, Lenovo, Audible (Amazon), Discord, NASA, and United Airlines, with this year's Breakout of the Year Award to OpenAI's ChatGPT generative AI text tool. Presented by IADAS, SkyGrid will be honored at the 27th Annual Webby Awards in New York City on May 15th, hosted by comedian Roy Wood Jr. Fans can follow and watch show highlights, including hallmark 5-Word speeches from the night's big winners on May 15th by following The Webby Awards @thewebbyawards on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and on YouTube. About SkyGrid SkyGrid, a Boeing, SparkCognition company, is powering the next generation of aviation. As the only airspace management system built on AI and blockchain, SkyGrid is solving the industry's biggest challenges integrating unmanned aircraft in the global airspace and executing autonomous operations. SkyGrid's AerialOS monitors, predicts, and adapts to changes in airspace traffic, environmental conditions, and vehicle health to intelligently route, synchronize, and manage unmanned aircraft. Based in Austin, Texas, SkyGrid is enabling a wide variety of commercial drone operations from package delivery to emergency assistance. For more information, visit skygrid.com, LinkedIn, or Twitter. About The Webby Awards: Hailed as the "Internet's highest honor" by The New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites and Mobile Sites; Video; Advertising, Media and PR; Apps, dApps & Software, Social; Podcasts; Games and Metaverse, Immersive & Virtual. Established in 1996, The Webby Awards received nearly 14,000 entries from all 50 states and over 70 countries worldwide this year. The Webby Awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include Canva, WP Engine, Verizon, Omidyar Network, YouGov, NAACP, KPMG, Wall Street Journal, All Tech Is Human, Podcast Movement and AIGA. SOURCE SkyGrid LOS ANGELES, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- California-based affordable luxury furniture brand, Soka Home, announces the launch of a new sofa collection: Freedom, adaptable to different room sizes and making home more creative. Let's invest and explore Freedom today. Struggled to get a suitable sofa for the house? Or having trouble sharing one sofa with other family members constantly? Don't worry. Freedom sofa can fix it easily. The flexible modular design of Freedom makes it adaptable to different room sizes. From loveseat to sectional with chaise or even double-sided sectional, Freedom can satisfy customer's needs. With creative combinations, it provides a versatile and diverse lifestyle that is suitable for both daily living and social gathering. Moreover, the double-sided design offers ample space for both kids and adults. While the little ones play and dance on one side, the adults can enjoy their favorite T.V. shows or simply stretch out and relax on the other. This versatile sofa promotes creativity and encourages family harmony, making it an ideal choice for families of all sizes. Invest in the Freedom Sofa today and experience the ultimate comfort and functionality for home. Made to Last The sturdy construction with a high-quality pine wood frame, bold spring, and strong elastic band make it a long-lasting investment, ensuring that people can enjoy this sofa for years. Unbelievably Comfortable 45HD foam and soft cotton as the filling of the Freedom sofa make it bouncy enough to support your body, meanwhile bringing customers a fluffy soft sitting experience. To make it more comfortable, Soka Home designer team has sourced natural linen for Freedom covering. As a natural fiber, linen is breathable, pliable, soft, and skin-friendly, which is timeless and always in season. Extraordinarily Convenient Thoughtfully designed with easy-clean removable linen covers, this modern seating collection is life-proof. When customers are tired of the same old one. Order a new set of sofa covers, then they will have a brand-new sofa. Considerable Size A combination of the deep seat and considerable backrest allows customers to relax and unwind after a long day. With the high armrest and low armrest combination, customers can also choose the best height they need. Freedom sofa always provides a comfortable space for sitting, lying, reclining and sleeping. Easy & Funny Assembly D.I.Y. a unique sectional in a Click. Enjoy the fun of assembling the Freedom sofa with family & friends, like piecing a puzzle together. About Soka Home Soka Home is more than just a furniture brand - It's a passion project that grew from a deep love of design and a commitment to creating high-quality, beautifully crafted pieces that make our homes inviting, warm, and stylish. We believe that everyone deserves to live in a beautiful and comfortable space. This is the reason why we created Soka Home. Our aim is to connect people and spaces through exceptional design. Therefore we partner with direct manufacturers globally to provide our customers with modern, high-quality furniture at exceptionally fair prices. For more information, please visit sokahome.com Contact information: Mail: [email protected] Tel: (213)442-3284 Follow our social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube Pinterest Tiktok SOURCE Soka Home With over 200 e-bike battery fires in New York City in 2022, Soteria is organizing a coalition of companies to address the problem and identify best practices for e-bike battery safety. GREENVILLE, S.C., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Soteria Battery Innovation Group (BIG) is organizing a coalition of companies across the industry to address the e-bike battery fire problem by identifying best practices and collective next steps to help the industry progress for a safer future. With several partners who have already agreed to help with this initiative, Soteria is extending the invitation to other companies and organizations to join, too. With 200 e-bike battery fires in NYC in 2022, Soteria is organizing a coalition to address the problem for e-bike safety Tweet this Graphic that includes text overlay on an image of an e-bike. Text says: "Soterias mission is battery safety, and this is one area where we feel we are in a unique position to bring together industry partners and help everyone cooperate to improve the safety of this important application of lithium-ion batteries, - Brian Morin, CEO. Lithium-ion battery safety is a massive problem. Standard risk-analysis, implemented for lithium-ion batteries, predicts that the safety hazard of a battery scales as the size of the battery squared. This means that an e-bike, which has a battery that is 100 times the size of cell phone battery, imposes 10,000 times the risk, necessitating significant safety design features that are not necessary in a smaller battery. Recognizing that this hazard will not be reduced to an acceptable level with a single innovation or individual company, the E-bike Battery Safety Project will bring companies together in an open innovation atmosphere for the common good of the industry. At Soteria's Battery Pack Safety Center of Excellence, Soteria and its partners will run a project to identify and promote the best practices for e-bike battery packs. In 2022, there were over 200 e-bike battery fires in New York Citydoubled from 2021. The project will include several facets: E-bike pack disassembly: Interns from the Clemson University Automotive Engineering Department will disassemble new e-bike batteries to identify best practices and beneficial design features. Automotive Engineering Department will disassemble new e-bike batteries to identify best practices and beneficial design features. Used e-bike pack disassembly: Used packs will be disassembled to identify potential dangerous wear conditions and dangerous damage. Rider profiling: E-bike riders will be polled and interviewed to understand use patterns that may need to be accommodated in the battery pack design. E-bike OEM Interviews: E-bike OEMs will be interviewed to understand how safety is designed into the packs, what is necessary and what may be missing in the market and regulations. Soteria invites you to participate and will be holding two informational webinars to outline the project more fully and discuss participation. Register to attend one of our informational webinars at https://soteriabig.com/events-webinars/. An interested company may participate in this project in three different ways. At the Observer level, you will receive monthly reports as well as a copy of the final report, at a cost share of $2,500. The Participant level allows monthly meeting attendance and advisory board participation, giving real-time input to guide the experiments and contribution to the best practices report at a cost share of $5,000. And the Sponsor level allows all of the above, in addition to editorial input into the final report, at a cost share of $7,500. "Soteria's mission is battery safety, and this is one area where we feel we are in a unique position to bring together industry partners and help everyone cooperate to improve the safety of this important application of lithium-ion batteries," said Brian Morin, CEO and co-founder of Soteria. Please contact Dan Garrison at [email protected] to initiate discussions. About Soteria Battery Innovation Group, Inc. Soteria is a lithium-ion battery safety platform that includes both a technology to eliminate battery fires and consortium to promote best practices for lithium ion battery safety. Soteria's patented technology eliminates the root cause of thermal runaway by forming a fuse around internal short circuits and allowing cells to continue to function. Soteria's mission is to have inherently safe batteries everywhere, which Soteria believes will take a wholistic approach to safety, combining complementary safety technologies from many companies and strategies. Soteria's consortium has over 125 members including NASA, Mercedes, Bosch, Motorola, Lenovo and many more. Soteria was founded in 2017 by Dr. Brian Morin and is headquartered in Greenville, SC. For more information, please visit www.soteriabig.com. Follow Soteria BIG LinkedIn | YouTube | Twitter Contact: Kelsey Cook [email protected] www.soteriabig.com SOURCE Soteria Battery Innovation Group Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway Launches in Romeoville, Illinois, Offering a Fast Track to the Flight Deck Click HERE for Spirit & Lewis University photos MIRAMAR, Fla., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aspiring pilots in the Chicago area can soon soar from a college classroom to the flight deck at Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE). The carrier and Lewis University today announced a new partnership to launch the Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway program at the university's College of Aviation, Science and Technology in Romeoville, Illinois. The program provides graduates with a direct path to a rewarding career flying for Spirit. Lewis University students can gain valuable experience and complete the steps needed to become a Spirit First Officer while attending a leading aviation university and finishing their college degree. "We're on a mission to expand our pilot pipeline with more top-notch talent as we continue to grow, and the Chicago area is a great fit to launch the first university-based Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway program in the Midwest," said Ryan Rodosta, Senior Director of Flight Operations and System Chief Pilot at Spirit Airlines. "We can't wait to welcome the next generation of pilots from Lewis University, which has exceptional resources and is highly regarded as a leader in aviation training." Lewis University students pursuing an aviation technology degree can apply for the program after obtaining a recommendation from a faculty member in the College of Aviation, Science and Technology and completing their sophomore year. If successful in Spirit's interview process, they will receive a conditional offer of employment, a Spirit Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) and mentorship as they complete their degree and all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for a Restricted Airline Transport Pilot (R-ATP) certificate. Graduates who meet all program requirements will join the team as a Spirit First Officer. "Lewis University is proud to partner with Spirit Airlines and the Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway program," said Dr. Ryan Phillips, Chair and Professor of Aviation and Transportation at Lewis University. "This agreement allows our high-achieving flight students to earn positions at Spirit. The agreement provides mentorship, resources, and training to Lewis University students and gives them the opportunity to secure a position flying for a mainline carrier after graduation." Spirit's signature yellow planes include some of the newest, most fuel-efficient aircraft in the industry that fly across a network of 90+ destinations. More than two dozen brand-new planes are planned for delivery in 2023, creating opportunities for First Officers to quickly upgrade to Captain. Spirit's Pilots recently approved a contract that provides a significant pay increase and other enhanced benefits. Spirit also offers its Pilots industry-leading training and great quality of life. Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway expands the carrier's presence in Illinois. Spirit currently offers about two dozen daily departures from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), which is also home to one of the airline's ten pilot crew bases. To learn more about the program and application process, visit www.lewisu.edu/spirit-airlines/ Recognition Spirit was recognized by Forbes as one of America's Best Employers for Diversity 2022 following its active efforts to create and celebrate a diverse workplace environment. Spirit was also recently named the Value Airline of the Year by Air Transport World (ATW). In addition, the airline was recognized as one of LinkedIn's Top Companies in Travel & Hospitality in 2022, which ranks the 25 best workplaces to grow a career in the industry. Spirit was also recognized for safety with the FAA's "Aviation Maintenance Technician Diamond Award of Excellence" for the fourth consecutive year. About Spirit Airlines: Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE) is committed to delivering the best value in the sky. We are the leader in providing customizable travel options starting with an unbundled fare. This allows our Guests to pay only for the options they choose like bags, seat assignments, refreshments and Wi-Fi something we call A La Smarte. Our Fit Fleet is one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient in the United States. We serve destinations throughout the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean, making it possible for our Guests to venture further and discover more than ever before. We are committed to inspiring positive change in the communities where we live and work through the Spirit Charitable Foundation . Come save with us at spirit.com . About Lewis University: Lewis University is an innovative Catholic university offering market-relevant undergraduate and graduate programs to 6,500 students. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis University is nationally recognized for preparing intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, and globally-connected graduates who impact the world for the better. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information. SOURCE Spirit Airlines, Inc. AFU: Western equipment has own characteristics, but our defenders quickly mastering it, ready to destroy invaders Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykola Oleschuk demonstrated Patriot air defense systems, which have been on combat duty in Ukraine since April 2023. Oleschuk published a video with a demonstration of the air defense system in the Telegram channel. "Modern Western technology has its own characteristics, but our sky defenders are quickly mastering it, and are already ready to destroy the Russian occupier. The division commander allowed me to protest the Patriot," he said. The commander also thanked the Western partners, the leadership of the state and the military command for the anti-ballistic missile weapons received by the Air Force. BUDAPEST, Hungary, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Spring is proud to announce the launch of IVFinfo.AI the world's first patient-focused, multilingual website offering an AI-powered chatbot to answer questions about assisted reproduction (ART) and fertility. Until now, there has been an information asymmetry in the field of ART, with limited access to accurate and reliable information for patients undergoing the stressful process of a program. IVFinfo.AI offers a ground-breaking solution to this challenge. Due to AI's ability to reply using large sets of data, explain complex topics in simple terms and offer the possibility of follow-up questions, it helps understanding like it has not been possible before. In addition, it can communicate in numerous languages. IVFinfo.AI is different from other general AI-powered services available today. With a focus on accuracy and confidentiality, IVFinfo.AI offers up-to-date information on ART and fertility, helping users make informed decisions. "We're proud to be leading the charge in providing AI-based quality information about assisted reproduction and fertility," said Miklos Nyiri, CEO of Spring. "We believe that IVFinfo.AI is an important step forward in terms of levelling the playing field for patients, and we're excited to see the impact it will have on the lives of our users." Around 4 million ART cycles are estimated each year, with about 1 million babies born. IVF is the acronym for in vitro fertilization. IVFinfo.AI is the first of its kind and is available at no cost to users. It should not be considered a substitute for medical advice, but rather as an informational resource. Visit https://www.ivfinfo.ai and experience the AI-powered chatbot yourself! Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2062814/Spring_Molecular_Logo.jpg SOURCE Spring Molecular MONTREAL, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Strategic Resources Inc. (TSXV: SR) (the "Company" or "Strategic") is pleased to announce the results of its annual general meeting of shareholders held on April 26, 2023 in Vancouver (the "Meeting"). Strategic's shareholders voted in favour of each of the matters considered at the Meeting, including electing each of Sean Cleary, Amyot Choquette, Scott Hicks, Michael Moore, Mark Serdan and Kurt Wasserman as directors of the Company to hold office for the ensuing year, appointing KPMG LLP as the Company's auditors for the ensuing year and authorizing the board of directors to set their remuneration, approving Strategic's incentive plans and approving the prior grant of certain RSU's as described in the Information Circular. About Strategic Resources Strategic Resources Inc. (TSXV: SR) is a Montreal, Canada-based mineral exploration and development company focused on high-purity iron and vanadium projects in Canada and Finland. The Company is primarily focused on its flagship BlackRock project, which is a fully permitted and ready to construct mine, concentrator and metallurgical facility in Quebec. Further details are available on the Company's website at https://strategic-res.com/ . To follow future news releases, please sign up at https://strategic-res.com/contact/ . Follow us on: Twitter or Linkedin . STRATEGIC RESOURCES INC. Signed: "Sean Cleary" Sean Cleary, CEO & Chairman Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Strategic Resources Inc. Findings show children's mental health crisis shows no sign of slowing as Mightier launches new enterprise business offering BOSTON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fewer than half of working parents are satisfied with their current pediatric mental health benefits according to a new survey* from Researchscape International commissioned by Mightier , a digital program for children that uses game-based play to build emotional health. The Massachusetts Psychological Association estimates the average wait time for a family to get pediatric therapy is six months . If a child requires specialized treatment, the wait can extend to a year. Per the National Center for Children in Poverty, children with mental health problems may miss as many as 18 to 22 school days. Further compounding these alarming findings, one-third of working parents report changing or even quitting their jobs in the past two years due to a child's mental health issue, as stated by a recent On Our Sleeves report. To combat these growing concerns, Mightier has launched "Mightier for Business" that provides employers, health plans (both commercial and Medicaid) and digital health partners a solution to immediate access to pediatric mental health services. Designed for children, Mightier complements and enhances other employee mental health resources by helping promote positive changes in a child, reducing family stress at home and ultimately improving workplace productivity. The Researchscape International survey found that 86% of working parents think that employers should provide mental health services for the employee's children. Data gathered from the 1,021 survey participants revealed that the need doesn't stop there. The results show: 52% of working parents have experienced work interruptions to address a child's mental health needs 44% of those polled have had to miss work due to a child's mental health needs 46% of survey participants have discussed a child's mental health needs with a manager or employer 81% of the respondents are completely or very interested in having their employee health benefits offer services specific to children's mental health Other findings included: 58% of the surveyed parents reported that their children have suffered from anxiety and/or ADHD 61% have sought therapy or mental health services for a child "We are in the midst of a pediatric mental health crisis. This is impacting children, parents, employers and healthcare providers," said Craig Lund, CEO of Mightier. "The crisis is being exacerbated by challenges with access to care and long waiting times for traditional talk-based therapy. It's no surprise that parents and caregivers are looking to health plans and employers to provide new forms of accessible, high-quality care." "Employers everywhere are looking at ways to support the mental health of their working families," said Kerry Sain, Board Member at Mightier and former Chief Growth Officer at AETNA. "Mightier for Business provides employers and health plans an efficient new way to get clinically validated and immediately accessible care, that actually helps." Of those families who have already turned to Mightier as a mental health tool, a Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School study shows that Mightier's technology significantly reduces outbursts and oppositional behavior, and alleviates family stress. Eighty-seven percent of families who use Mightier three times per week in 15-minute increments report positive change after 90 days. About Mightier Mightier is a digital program for children that uses game-based play to build emotional health. Developed out of Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Mightier is clinically proven to help kids ages 6 to 14 prepare for life's big emotions. To date, more than 2.5 million games have been played on the Mightier app by more than 100,000 kids. Mightier can be accessed by families directly on Mightier.com or as a mental health benefit through employers, health plans, and Medicaid providers. Learn more at mightier.com. *On behalf of Mightier, Researchscape International conducted an online survey of 1,021 U.S. parents employed full-time with 6 to 14-year-old children. The survey collected responses from April 14 to 18, 2023; results were weighted to be representative of the overall population by six demographic variables. Media Contact Kim MacKenzie for Mightier [email protected] SOURCE Mightier MINNEAPOLIS, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to recent flooding at the original event site, Susan G. Komen, the world's leading breast cancer organization, announces a new location for the 2023 Race for the Cure, Viking Lakes. The Minnesota Race for the Cure is Susan G. Komen's annual fundraising event honoring breast cancer survivors in a fun-filled day for the whole family. The event will raise critical funds that support breast cancer patients, research, and patient navigation services to better serve those impacted by the disease. Participants can expect to enjoy an energizing warm up with moves from the Apple Valley Jazzercise and Hope Village, a gathering space to celebrate and honor those living with breast cancer and breast cancer survivors. Midday host of KOOL 108FM, Lee Valsvik will serve as emcee of the 2023 Race for the Cure. The opening ceremony will also feature this year's Race for the Cure Start and Finish Line sponsor Minneapolis Radiation Oncology's (MRO) Dr. Stephanie Childs as honorary speaker. Sponsors for the event include Allina Health, Dick's House of Sports, Freestyle Production, Inc, KOOL108, Northland Ford Dealers, myTalk, Faribault Foods, and Quantum Fiber. Hennepin Healthcare, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Boker's, Inc., Sage Screening Program, and Healthy Kids Running Series are community partners that will be on site. Additionally, walk and run participants will include breast cancer survivors, metastatic breast cancer thrivers, and supporters of Susan G. Komen and those impacted by breast cancer. What: Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure When: Sunday, May 14, 2023, Hope Village opens: 8:30 AM, Opening Ceremony: 9:30 AM Where: New Location Viking Lakes 2600 Vikings Circle, Eagan, MN 55121 Details: Register at: komen.org/minnesotarace Please contact Cristobal Martinez at [email protected] for more information on the event. Interviews with event attendees, Komen staff, and honorees can be granted upon request. About Susan G. Komen Susan G. Komen is the world's leading nonprofit breast cancer organization, working to save lives and end breast cancer forever. Komen has an unmatched, comprehensive 360-degree approach to fighting this disease across all fronts and supporting millions of people in the U.S. and in countries worldwide. We advocate for patients, drive research breakthroughs, improve access to high-quality care, offer direct patient support and empower people with trustworthy information. Founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy's life, Komen remains committed to supporting those affected by breast cancer today, while tirelessly searching for tomorrow's cures. Visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN. Connect with us on social at www.komen.org/contact-us/follow-us/. CONTACT: Cristobal Martinez Susan G. Komen (972) 701-2135 [email protected] SOURCE Susan G. Komen for the Cure DALLAS, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Susan G. Komen , the world's leading breast cancer organization, today announced it is continuing its partnership with Mielle Organics. This partnership will help Komen's mission to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer. As part of the partnership, Mielle Organics has co-branded its Oats & Honey collection with Susan G. Komen, and for the second consecutive year will be making a $100,000 donation to support Komen's mission lifework. "Mielle Organics is a leader in the natural hair and personal care industry, and we are thrilled to partner with them this year," said Sarah Rosales, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Susan G. Komen. "We value their commitment to creating high-quality products, and we look forward to working with them to continue to reach Black and Latino communities. Komen is committed to closing the health equity gap, and partnerships like these help us reach and inform historically marginalized communities about the disease." "Through education, outreach programs, and the funding of representative research, we can remove barriers to care and achieve health equity for all women. Mielle is proud to support Komen in this important effort by co-branding our most gentle collection, Oats & Honey, which is targeted toward sensitive scalp consumers. Over two years, Mielle has donated $200,000 to the cause. Together, we can power progress and make a meaningful difference for people in Black and Brown communities." Everyone is at risk of breast cancer though some are at higher risk than others. Black women are about 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. Latina women are more likely to be diagnosed later than white women. Komen is a trusted breast health organization, providing timely breast health information, support and resources to diverse populations. Funds raised by this partnership will help Komen continue its efforts to improve breast health disparities in Black and Latino communities by connecting them to personalized breast health resources and support, which helps break down barriers to high-quality breast care for these populations. Komen's goal is to create a world without inequities where marginalized populations have the same chances of surviving breast cancer as anyone else. "Mielle is honored to continue its partnership with Susan G. Komen, supporting their health equity work to eliminate breast cancer disparities by ensuring that Black women have access to high-quality care and treatments," says Mielle Chief Marketing Officer, Jolorie Williams. About Mielle Organics Founded in 2014 by CEO Monique Rodriguez, Mielle Organics is a popular Black-founded, woman-led global beauty brand that is rooted in natural ingredients. With a heavy emphasis on incorporating healthier ingredients as its "root to results," Mielle Organics' collection of beauty products is designed for Black women. Their products can be found in more than 100,000 stores across the U.S. in retailers such as Ulta Beauty, Sally Beauty, Target, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and Walmart. About Susan G. Komen Susan G. Komen is the world's leading nonprofit breast cancer organization, working to save lives and end breast cancer forever. Komen has an unmatched, comprehensive 360-degree approach to fighting this disease across all fronts and supporting millions of people in the U.S. and in countries worldwide. We advocate for patients, drive research breakthroughs, improve access to high-quality care, offer direct patient support and empower people with trustworthy information. Founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy's life, Komen remains committed to supporting those affected by breast cancer today, while tirelessly searching for tomorrow's cures. Visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN. Connect with us on social at WW5.KOMEN.ORG/social . SOURCE Susan G. Komen for the Cure BEIJING, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn: Editor's Note: During his visit to the Chinese mainland between March 27 and April 7, many students accompanied former Kuomintang chairman Ma Ying-jeou. Let's hear what they have to say about what they experienced during the trip. Ho Chia-lin: Chinese culture shapes my life The author is a second-year postgraduate student majoring in commercial law at the College of Law of Taiwan University. I used to feel a familiarity for and yet also a strangeness toward the Chinese mainland. It felt familiar because, in Taiwan, we also celebrate the Lunar New Year, eat Chinese food and learn about the 5,000-year history of the Chinese civilization. It was simultaneously a strange place to me as I had only set foot on the mainland's soil once before this visit. That was in 2002, when my elders took me to visit relatives in our hometown on the mainland. When Mr Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, visited the mainland, I was lucky to be included in the delegation to personally see, experience and learn about the mainland further. The first stop on our 12-day trip was the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the final resting place of Sun Yat-sen, the forerunner of China's democratic revolution, on Zijin Mountain in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. Walking on the stone steps leading to the mausoleum, I felt as if I were traveling back to that turbulent time. "The world is for the public" is one of the core beliefs of Mr Sun Yat-sen's philosophy. Originating from ancient Chinese classic Liji (The Book of Rites), it remains relevant even today. Then we went to Wuhan in Central China's Hubei province, a city rich in cultural and historical legacy including the Wuchang Uprising, which ended the millennia-long absolute monarchy in the country. The unique local customs and human touch remain unchanged after being hit hard by the once-in-a-century pandemic. Located in Hunan University in the neighboring Hunan province, the thousand-year-old Yuelu Academy naturally prompts admiration from students. In Southwest China's Chongqing, I visited the cemetery of General Zhang Zizhong, who was killed during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), saw related relics, and laid a flower to pay tribute on Tomb-Sweeping Day, as well as taking photos with the Taiwan Restoration Monument. The previous generations defended the peace and integrity of the nation regardless of their personal safety. I was deeply moved again. Shanghai, where we landed to start the 12-day exchange, was also where we concluded the trip. Jin Li, president of Fudan University, shared with us how the university takes its name from a famous line in A Commentary on The Classic of History: "Brilliant are the sunshine and moonlight, again the morning radiance returns at dawn", indicating relentless efforts for self-reliance and diligence. I think it works for life as well. I was most impressed with the people we encountered during the trip. I was touched by the attentive care of Taiwan affairs offices at all levels, the sincere communication with students and teachers from the mainland, and the warm welcome from local residents. The consideration and thoughtfulness of the Taiwan office staff were shown in small details again and again, from the itinerary booklets printed in traditional Chinese characters, the use of the most convenient way of transportation such as shuttle buses, and the specially prepared Chongqing hotpot with our preferred level of spiciness. Along the way, we communicated with young friends from Wuhan University, Hunan University and Fudan University. When discussing daily life, we talked about whether it is difficult to become a civil servant and the differences between the life of graduates and undergraduates, as well as comparisons between only children and children with siblings. Academically, we discussed sustainable development and exchanged opinions on the research I am currently conducting on carbon trading and green finance. Resonance seems to be planted in our mind, with no need to seek from the outside. Upon our departure from Chongqing, the tour guide shared a text from elementary school textbooks in Chongqing, titled "Taiwan, the treasure island". He is drawn by the spectacular scenery of Ali Mountain and wants to look out over Taipei from Taipei 101's observation deck. However, due to cross-Strait tension and policy reasons, he was not able to visit Taiwan. After face-to-face communication during these days, I feel from the bottom of my heart that there is mutual trust and appreciation out of sincerity between the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. During an exchange activity at Hunan University, a student from Xinjiang wanted to learn about the influence of Chinese culture on young people in Taiwan. I remembered my first winter vacation assignment in elementary school was to recite educator Zhu Bolu's Maxims for Managing the Home. We eat mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival, burn incense and worship Buddha on the first and fifteenth days of every lunar month, and read "The Legendary Swordsman" by martial arts novelist Jin Yong after growing up. Chinese culture is embedded in my feelings and emotions, and shapes the way I interact with others. Of the 8 billion people on Earth, almost one in every four is Chinese, and we share the same language and cultural and spiritual systems, so "de-sinicization" is impossible and meaningless. As inheritors of Chinese culture, what we should really think about is how to promote China's continuous progress with the efforts of all Chinese people, so that Chinese culture can be interpreted positively and be admired and desired by the whole world. Let's meet next year when the magnolia blooms again, striving for peace and national rejuvenation in mind. The author is a second-year postgraduate student majoring in commercial law at the College of Law of Taiwan University. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily. Translated by Liu Ming Yung Po-kang: History should be remembered correctly The author is a fourth-year postgraduate student at Chengchi University's College of International Affairs. If I could use one word to describe my trip to the Chinese mainland, I would say it was "amazing". This was the first time I had been to the mainland. The closest place to it I had been before was Hong Kong. I'd heard that the mainland developed rapidly, which later proved true during my visit and even went beyond my expectations. One thing that stood out to me was the appropriate spacing between new buildings here, ensuring adequate sunlight and ventilation for each household, which is often overlooked in newly constructed buildings in Taiwan. Another thing that impressed me was the concept of "civilization" is vigorously promoted in all aspects of life on the mainland. I first saw this promotion at dining tables, with slogans advocating using serving chopsticks and spoons and not wasting food. There were also other signs on the streets such as encouraging travelers to exhibit civilized behavior and drivers to be courteous. Even public restrooms posted signs reminding people to avoid bad behavior. During exchanges with mainland students at the meetings, their confident speeches touched me. But I didn't expect to find they were no different from my classmates in Taiwan: We all use smartphones and social media, look for delicious food on campus and engage in campus life in much the same way. Without exception, the students of our visiting delegation all cherished this opportunity for face-to-face communication. We hope to maintain contact with each other in the future to lay a good foundation for mutual understanding between the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The difference between what I learned during this trip about the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and what I had learned in Taiwan before was that the latter was mostly theoretical. Almost all the battles in the war took place on the mainland. Through this trip, I was able to visit the sites and museums of the war and experience the historical environment firsthand, which helped deepen my understanding of history. I hope other young people in Taiwan can also come to the mainland to visit those sites and honor the martyrs. I was born in 1996, and I didn't learn much history until sixth grade. The content in the schoolbooks was minimal. I studied liberal arts in high school, so I read quite a bit of history compared to other students. The six history textbooks in high school included two on Chinese history. When covering the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, key events were included, such as the September 18th Incident in 1931, the Lugou Bridge Incident, the Battle of Shanghai and the Battle at Sihang Warehouse in 1937, and the Nanjing Massacre, which took place between December 1937 and January 1938. It was also mentioned in the textbooks that General Zhang Xueliang forced Chiang Kai-shek (after failing to persuade him) to join hands with the Communist Party of China to resist the Japanese invaders. However, in the textbooks, the end of the war was attributed to the two atomic bombs dropped by the United States. My history teacher then added the front in the Chinese mainland trapped the Japanese army and cost them a significant amount of troops and materials, laying the foundation for final victory. The Democratic Progressive Party authorities attempt to dilute and remove all Chinese elements from Taiwan in an effort to highlight the differences between Taiwan and the mainland. However, this approach is seen as unnecessary and a waste of administrative resources to most in Taiwan. Due to the bitter sacrifices during the war against Japanese invasion, this part of history cannot be completely erased from Taiwan's curriculum. Nevertheless, it is increasingly understated and replaced with an emphasis on the contemporary history of Taiwan, along with its friendly relationship with Japan. In recent years, the DPP has argued only the people on the mainland participated and suffered in the war, while Taiwan, under the "rule" of Japan at that time, was not a victim. This is a narrative that is disrespectful to historical facts. During the early stages of Japanese colonial rule, there were a series of activities against the occupation which gradually evolved into unarmed political resistance during the middle and later stages. I agree we should not use historical events to foster hatred toward a nation or country. Still, the historical facts need to be recognized and remembered accurately. The author is a fourth-year postgraduate student at Chengchi University's College of International Affairs. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily. Translated by Chen Ziyan Chou Yung-chin: No distance between students across the Strait The author is a junior at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences of Hsinchu-based Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. The Ma Ying-jeou Foundation had previously held three sessions of Da Jeou Academy, all of which took participating students to visit historical sites in Taiwan. This time, the session offered me a rare opportunity to visit the mainland and explore the history of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945). This was my second visit to the mainland. My first time was in late autumn of 2018 on a secondary school exchange program. This visit was a completely different and novel experience. What most surprised me was the high-speed train, which was very comfortable, fast and smooth. While riding the high-speed train from Nanjing to Wuhan, I fell into the deepest slumber I've ever had on any moving vehicle. I've had the experience of interacting with secondary school students in Shandong during my 2018 visit. I fully felt that no distance existed between students across the Taiwan Strait at that time. In the exchange activities with three mainland universities during this visit, the passion, closeness, and naturalness of interaction between students across the Strait showed no difference from 2018, despite the rising cross-Strait tensions and confrontation in recent years. This was the most moving and memorable. I now still stay in touch with some of the mainland students who I met during this visit, including a postgraduate student from Hunan University. He will go to Taiwan for an exchange program in September, and I've arranged to take him on a tour of Taiwan and to visit Hsinchu-based Tsing Hua University, where I am studying. I am really looking forward to his visit. Memorial sites about the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression were a highlight of the visit. I'm interested in the war and have studied it. However, my understanding is limited to a military perspective and I know very little about ordinary people's stories. On the second day of this trip, we visited the House of John Rabe, a German businessman who was dubbed the Oskar Schindler of China for saving hundreds of thousands of civilians during the 1937 Nanjing Massacre. It provided me with new information and I was impressed. I haven't read any history books used on the mainland, but as far as the historical sites and monuments we visited, they are well preserved and have ample historical materials. Such abundant resources will certainly be a great help to students who wish to learn history. Though the war of resistance is taught in Taiwan secondary schools, and the senior secondary school curriculum includes some deep content, it hasn't taken up many pages. More focus is placed on the outbreak, the end of the war and post-war international environment changes. Under the influence of the "de-sinicization" policy promoted by the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan, the entire Chinese history section has been reduced, while content about the history of Southeast Asia, South Korea and Japan have been increased. It's not a bad thing to have an extensive understanding of the history of different nations and peoples, but it's a pity to remove part of Chinese history. For future exchanges with the mainland, I've always wanted to visit Beijing. At the beginning of the year I applied for a cross-Strait summer exchange program through my university and the list of successful applicants was published the other day. I have been assigned to conduct short-term research at Peking University. I may visit the capital city during the summer vacation at the earliest. I am very excited and look forward to seeing this magnificent and splendid city with a history of several thousand of years. The author is a junior at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences of Hsinchu-based Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily. Translated by Liu Ming SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn The leading academic medical center's inclusion on the list highlights its commitment to putting team members first. TAMPA, Fla., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa General Hospital (TGH) the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is among the top places in the U.S. to work in health care according to Becker's Hospital Review's 2023 "150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare" list, which focuses on hospitals, health systems and health care companies that invest in their employees' well-being, satisfaction and fulfillment. Tampa General Hospital (TGH) the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is among the top places in the U.S. to work in health care according to Beckers Hospital Reviews 2023 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare list, which focuses on hospitals, health systems and health care companies that invest in their employees' well-being, satisfaction and fulfillment. Tampa General's inclusion on this list underscores its commitment to putting team members first, a crucial component of the organization's focus on driving innovation to deliver world-class care. "Here at Tampa General, providing support and meeting the needs of our team members is our number one priority and this recognition is a testament to our commitment. Every day, our leaders work tirelessly to create a supportive environment where all team members can thrive, contribute, and truly excel in their roles, something that is only possible when they feel supported in their personal lives as well," said John D. Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General. "We recognize our ability to provide exemplary, world-class patient care is inextricably linked to the work we do to ensure all our team members feel cared for, supported, heard, and empowered. When your team members feel both satisfaction and security in their roles, they can give the highest level of care to our patients and everyone benefits." The inclusion on Becker's list comes on the heels of several recent accolades for TGH around team member satisfaction, workplace culture and environment. In 2022, Tampa General was recognized for its commitment to advancing women at all levels of the hospital, being named No. 1 in the country on Forbes' America's Best Employers for Women list. Tampa General was also named a top-10 employer in the state of Florida by Forbes, reflecting its commitment to supporting team members through personal and professional development. Most recently, Tampa General was named by Newsweek as one of "America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2023" and recognized as a top 100 company on "Glassdoor's Employees' Choice Awards" in which the academic medical center was the only Florida-based health care company recognized. A critical component to Becker's list of criteria is the holistic well-being of employees comprehensive benefits packages, professional development, work environment and work-life balance. Tampa General was specifically noted for its full benefits package provided to team members which includes wellness programs, discounts and an array of professional growth programs. "Creating a welcoming and inclusive culture where all team members feel they can contribute to innovation and the vision of Tampa General is of utmost importance in developing a strong culture for our team members. This recognition is an honor and a testament to the work our leaders and teams have done to foster and cultivate this environment," said Qualenta Kivett, Chief People and Talent Officer, Tampa General. "We are all better when our team members feel their personal and professional needs are being met, which translates into better outcomes for patients. I am proud of the work we continue to do to go above and beyond for our team members, including providing opportunities across the full spectrum of educational, professional and personal development." Tampa General invests in its team members in many ways, ensuring that their voices are heard, that they feel supported in their own growth, and that they are involved in the continued growth and building of the safest and most innovative academic health system in America. The following initiatives are examples of the academic medical center's investment in its teams: The People Development Institute (PDI) offers classes through a partnership with the University of South Florida (USF) Muma College of Business, at no charge. Classes are based on academic-backed best practices and research. Topics include emotional intelligence, health care finance, remote working leadership best practices, and leading through Authenticity, Kindness, Transparency, and Vulnerability (AKTiVe). Leading with the AKTiVe leadership competencies is a requirement of all leaders and team members through Tampa General. (USF) Muma College of Business, at no charge. Classes are based on academic-backed best practices and research. Topics include emotional intelligence, health care finance, remote working leadership best practices, and leading through Authenticity, Kindness, Transparency, and Vulnerability (AKTiVe). Leading with the AKTiVe leadership competencies is a requirement of all leaders and team members through Tampa General. Team members are invited to participate in a Modern Advances in Leadership series facilitated through the University of Tampa's Sykes College of Business. The series is designed to provide transformative and interactive learning experiences to advance the skills of current and future leaders. Sykes College of Business. The series is designed to provide transformative and interactive learning experiences to advance the skills of current and future leaders. In addition to Modern Advances in Leadership, other leadership development programs such as LEAD (Leadership, Enrichment and Development), and the Nurse Leadership and Physician Leadership programs through PDI are available to all team members. Participants are chosen through an application-based, objective process that offers a fair opportunity to all. To assist with meeting team members' personal and professional needs, Tampa General actively seeks continual feedback directly from team members through various methods, including surveys, team member communication forums and internal communication channels. This feedback guides organizational decisions around the evaluation of team member compensation structures and benefits offerings, including free mental health support through an innovative solution that provides team members and their families access to an appointment with a licensed mental health professional within 72 hours. Becker's Hospital Review is a leading source of hospital business news and analysis for the health care industry. The list highlights exceptional employers, many of which invest in team members' professional development, wellness benefits and continued education, honoring establishments that are committed to advocating for diversity in the workplace, promoting work-life balance, and boosting employee engagement. Tampa General and the rest of this year's "150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare" honorees are profiled online here. ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL Tampa General Hospital, a 1,040-bed, not-for-profit, academic medical center, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's 2022-23 Best Hospitals, and is tied as the third highest-ranked hospital in Florida, with seven specialties ranking among the best programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic medical center's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by two prestigious Forbes magazine rankings first nationally in the 2022 America's Best Employers for Women and sixth out of 100 Florida companies in the 2022 America's Best Employers by State. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2021, provided a net community benefit worth more than $224.5 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With six medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Brandon Healthplex, TGH Virtual Health, and 21 TGH Imaging powered by Tower outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that provides real-time situational awareness to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org. Media Contact: Beth Hardy, Senior Communications Specialist (813) 844-7322 (direct) (727) 510-6363 (cell) [email protected] SOURCE Tampa General Hospital Introduction of 1-click sessions: simplifying the connection process similar to joining an online meeting New web client includes all features bridging the gap between desktop and browser Redesigned user journeys with streamlined interactions and a modern and intuitive user interface A new level of misuse-prevention and security: mandatory account creation and increased transparency on incoming connections Remote monitoring and management capabilities are integrated into TeamViewer Remote client to add value for IT professionals TAMPA BAY, Fla., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TeamViewer today launched the next generation of its iconic remote access and support solution, used by hundreds of millions of people across the globe. With the newly named TeamViewer Remote, the tech stack, usability and overall look and feel have been extensively reworked and modernized, while retaining TeamViewer's popular and proven remote connectivity functionalities. One of the main improvements is a new, more intuitive and modern interface. Customers deserve the most up to date UI and streamlined interactions, whether for professional or personal use. As a result, TeamViewer Remote has redesigned the entire user experience. A new web client bridges the gap between desktop and browser interactions and connections have been simplified so a session can be created in one click, as easy as joining any online meeting. In addition, transparency has been increased to support users in making the right decision to accept only legitimate connections. For business customers, remote monitoring and management (RMM) has been added natively to give more functionality. RMM in TeamViewer Remote includes device monitoring, asset management, software deployment and patch management making the management of devices across a company seamless and efficient. Dr. Hendrik Witt, Chief Product Officer at TeamViewer: "TeamViewer's best-known product became the global de facto standard for remote access and support, and we are committed to strengthening our lead in this space with the best quality solutions on the market. To continue to serve our subscribers, mostly SMBs from all industries, and hundreds of millions of non-commercial users we have reimagined the product with the user journey in mind. Time poor individuals want to be able to support customers, colleagues and friends and family with one click, they want a modern interface that guides them through a connection, and most importantly they want to ensure connections are secure. TeamViewer Remote delivers all this via a browser in addition to a downloadable desktop app." The underlying software architecture underwent a major renewal and key components have been redesigned in line with TeamViewer's platform approach, with the goal of offering a single access to the entire TeamViewer product portfolio in the future. Functionalities and add-ons that required a separate login, such as the Remote Management package, are now integrated and accessible through the same interface as TeamViewer Remote. TeamViewer will continue to enhance the new solution with more features in the future. TeamViewer Remote is available for download as of today for all new customers. All existing users of the remote access and support solution can choose to upgrade their existing installation to TeamViewer Remote for free, or log into the web client with their existing TeamViewer credentials. For more detailed information regarding the different features please find the explanatory two-pager attached. About TeamViewer TeamViewer is a leading global technology company that provides a connectivity platform to remotely access, control, manage, monitor, and repair devices of any kind from laptops and mobile phones to industrial machines and robots. Although TeamViewer is free of charge for private use, it has more than 625,000 subscribers and enables companies of all sizes and from all industries to digitize their business-critical processes through seamless connectivity. Against the backdrop of global megatrends like device proliferation, automation and new work, TeamViewer proactively shapes digital transformation and continuously innovates in the fields of Augmented Reality, Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence. Since the company's foundation in 2005, TeamViewer's software has been installed on more than 2.5 billion devices around the world. The company is headquartered in Goppingen, Germany, and employs more than 1,400 people globally. In 2022, TeamViewer achieved a revenue of around EUR 566 million. TeamViewer SE (TMV) is listed at Frankfurt Stock Exchange and belongs to the MDAX. Further information can be found at www.teamviewer.com. Press Contact Michael Kornspan Phone: 727-910-7340 E-Mail: [email protected] Important Notice Certain statements in this communication may constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions that are believed to be reasonable at the time they are made, and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties described in TeamViewer's disclosures. You should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events, and TeamViewer's actual results may differ materially and adversely from any forward-looking statements discussed in these statements due to several factors, including without limitation, risks from macroeconomic developments, external fraud, lack of innovation capabilities, inadequate data security and changes in competition levels. TeamViewer undertakes no obligation, and does not expect to publicly update, or publicly revise, any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE TeamViewer MELBOURNE, Australia, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX, Telix, the Company) today announces the expansion of its artificial intelligence (AI) capability with the signing of an agreement to acquire Vienna-based Dedicaid GmbH (Dedicaid), a spin-off of the Medical University Vienna. Dedicaid's core asset is a clinical decision support software (CDSS) AI platform capable of rapidly generating indication-specific CDSS applications from available datasets, for use with positron emission tomography (PET) and other imaging modalities. Each CDSS application is trained to predict outcomes such as the severity of disease, risk to the patient and/or inform treatment decisions. The AI platform is also favourably differentiated from commercially-available AI solutions currently used in PSMA-PET imaging, which are limited to supporting clinicians in the interpretation and reading of images without a prediction capability. This differentiation is driven by the Dedicaid developed AutoML (automated machine learning) engine behind the AI platform, effectively meaning it is a "zero code" solution. This greatly reduces the time, cost and level of expertise required to build, test and validate new CDSS applications, facilitating a streamlined development and regulatory pathway for each new application. The technology has been developed by Dedicaid in collaboration with the Medical University Vienna, with proof of concept on the machine-learning methodology and applications developed for prostate, breast and lung cancer published in leading peer-review journals.[1] The acquisition accelerates the development of Telix's AI platform denoted as Telix AI by adding predictive capabilities alongside the imaging analysis module, being developed in partnership with Invicro LLC,[2] which automates the classification of lesions to support greater efficiency and standardisation in the imaging workflow. This acquisition will give Telix the ability to rapidly generate CDSS applications that are highly complementary to the Company's radiopharmaceutical pipeline. Following completion of the transaction, Telix aims to finalise validation activities and regulatory submissions (United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) and CE Mark (Europe)) for the AI platform as a 'software as a medical device' during 2023. Dr Michael Wheatcroft, Chief Scientist at Telix said, "AI adds a new dimension of support to the clinician and patient by using data generated through medical imaging to facilitate timely and effective clinical decision making. This acquisition provides Telix with a powerful AI development platform that greatly enhances our ability to rapidly generate new applications from clinical imaging data. These applications have the potential to assist clinicians in predicting disease progression and treatment response, thus supercharging and differentiating Telix's AI offering. It is also intrinsically aligned to the philosophy behind theranostics - which is to use the insights from medical imaging to inform and guide an optimal treatment pathway." Thomas Beyer, Co-founder and CEO of Dedicaid and Head of the Research Domain 'Quantitative Imaging and Medical Physics (QIMP)' of the Medical University Vienna said, "We have built the Dedicaid platform with the mission of enriching medical imaging with artificial intelligence in order to help clinicians navigate the complex task of diagnosing and treating cancer and deliver state-of-the-art patient care. After extensive research and validation, we are excited that Dedicaid will now become a part of Telix to complete the transition of this technology to commercial stage." The purchase price is comprised of 1.1 million upfront, paid in equity, and a further 1.1 million earn-out subject to the achievement of regulatory approval in the U.S., and which is payable in cash or equity, at Telix's election. Telix will issue ordinary shares to the vendor within its Listing Rule 7.1 placement capacity as consideration for the acquisition. A proportion of each equity component will be subject to a 12-month escrow period. Following the acquisition, Telix will have ownership of all intellectual property related to the Dedicaid AI Platform. About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited Telix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Telix is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia with international operations in the United States, Europe (Belgium and Switzerland), and Japan. Telix is developing a portfolio of clinical-stage products that aims to address significant unmet medical need in oncology and rare diseases. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: TLX). Visit www.telixpharma.com for further information about Telix, including details of the latest share price, announcements made to the ASX, investor and analyst presentations, news releases, event details and other publications that may be of interest. You can also follow Telix on Twitter (@TelixPharma) and LinkedIn. Telix's lead product, Illuccix (gallium-68 (68Ga) gozetotide (also known as 68Ga PSMA-11) injection), has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),[3] and by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA),[4] and by Health Canada.[5] Telix is also progressing a marketing authorisation application for this investigational candidate in the United Kingdom.[6] This announcement has been authorised for release by the Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited Disclosure Committee on behalf of the Board. Legal Notices This announcement is not intended as promotion or advertising directed to any healthcare professional or other audience in any country worldwide (including Australia, United States and the United Kingdom). This announcement may include forward-looking statements that relate to anticipated future events, financial performance, plans, strategies or business developments. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "outlook", "forecast" and "guidance", or other similar words. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's good-faith assumptions as to the financial, market, regulatory and other risks and considerations that exist and affect the Company's business and operations in the future and there can be no assurance that any of the assumptions will prove to be correct. In the context of Telix's business, forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about: the initiation, timing, progress and results of Telix's preclinical and clinical studies, and Telix's research and development programs; Telix's ability to advance product candidates into, enrol and successfully complete, clinical studies, including multi-national clinical trials; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, manufacturing activities and product marketing activities; the commercialisation of Telix's product candidates, if or when they have been approved; estimates of Telix's expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; Telix's financial performance; developments relating to Telix's competitors and industry; and the pricing and reimbursement of Telix's product candidates, if and after they have been approved. Telix's actual results, performance or achievements may be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by such statements, and the differences may be adverse. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable laws or regulations, Telix does not undertake to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance. Readers should read this announcement together with our material risks, as disclosed in our most recently filed reports with the ASX and on our website. 2023 Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited. The Telix Pharmaceuticals and Illuccix name and logo are trademarks of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited and its affiliates (all rights reserved). [1] Papp, L et al. Journal of Nucl Med. 2018; Papp, L et al. European Journal of Nucl Med and Mol Imaging. 2021; Zhao, M et al. European Radiology. 2022; Krajnc, D et al. Cancers. 2021; Papp, L, Journal of Nucl Med. 2019. [2] Telix media release 14 June 2022. [3] Telix ASX disclosure 20 December 2021. [4] Telix ASX disclosure 2 November 2021. [5] Telix ASX disclosure 14 October 2022. [6] Telix ASX disclosure 3 April 2023. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1920208/Telix_Main_Logo_Logo.jpg SOURCE Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited GUANGZHOU, China, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The second phase of the 133rd China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), running from April 23 to 27, showcases a diverse selection of daily-use products. With a focus on quality and functionality, buyers can explore an extensive range of options, including kitchenware, furniture, and home decorations, aimed at improving the daily lives of more people. At the exhibition, Guangdong Jinhui Knife and Scissors Incorporated Co., Ltd. (Jinhui) is showcasing two new products that stand out for their environmental focus and functionality. "Our commitment to creating eco-friendly products is our response to the growing awareness of global sustainability," said Joe Zhong, General Manager of Jinhui."Our new product is made from over 65% recycled materials, with a plastic-free design and a wooden handle sourced from a specially planted area for product use. By using recyclable and traceable materials, we aim to reduce our environmental impact while providing customers with high-quality, sustainable products." In addition, the company has developed a technology to address the shrinkage problem of the wooden handle, ensuring that the entire product series is fully recyclable, traceable, and environmentally friendly. The packaging is also made from biodegradable products, emphasizing the recyclable concept, and further reducing the product's environmental impact. Another product from Jinhui that has garnered much attention is the award-winning Yinjin knives from Wangmazi, a centuries-old brand owned by Jinhui. These Chinese knives are designed for versatile use in Chinese kitchens and were awarded the prestigious iF award in 2022. Bazhou NuoYiEr Display Rack Co.,Ltd. (NuoYiEr) is another standout exhibitor showcasing its latest products, including half-surrounding chairs and new bow-shaped chairs. The half-surrounding chairs are designed for long-lasting comfort, with chair legs that can support more weight for added durability. The bow-shaped chairs feature a more mature spray coating process, ensuring a longer product lifespan. Specializing in professional furniture manufacturing, NuoYiEr offers a wide range of office, hotel, and home furniture to meet the diverse needs of customers. Their products are popular worldwide for their simple yet practical design and excellent quality, with exports to over 30 countries and regions. The company places a strong emphasis on technology and high-tech equipment to ensure precise and efficient production. For more information about the highlights at the 133rd Canton Fair, please register at https://invitation.cantonfair.org.cn/BuyerUser/RegisterUser?MediaType=16 or contact: Ms. Cai, [email protected]. SOURCE Canton Fair At the suggestion of Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, the Czech government approved the inclusion of head of the Russian Orthodox Church Vladimir Gundyaev, known as Patriarch Kirill, on the national sanctions list, the Czech Foreign Ministry said on its website on Wednesday. "Gundyaev is on the sanctions list precisely because faith cannot be abused to justify the atrocities committed by Russian soldiers in Ukraine. Due to the frequent public appearances of this person, all information is available in public sources. I can assure you that the evidence package contains more than a hundred pages," he said. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the condition for inclusion in the national sanctions list is the commission by a person of actions punishable in accordance with one of the EU sanctions regimes, and if this is in the interests of the foreign policy or security of the Czech Republic. In this particular case, the Czech Foreign Ministry said, actions that violate or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine have been documented. "Sanctions against this person have already been approved, for example, by Great Britain, Canada, Lithuania or Ukraine," Lipavsky said. Inclusion in the national sanctions list means a ban on entry and the impossibility for a person to receive funds from the Czech Republic. The Department of Financial Analysis of the Ministry of Finance is responsible for the implementation of measures aimed at freezing assets, in particular real estate in the Czech Republic. CHICAGO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas is to take part in the first-ever Cities Summit of the Americas in Denver to share her digital and automation expertise with city leaders from North and South America. The Cities Summit of the Americas is a U.S. government-led effort to convene city, state and municipal leaders from throughout the Western Hemisphere to focus on shared challenges and solutions. Speakers include U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Kyiv, Ukraine, Mayor Vitali Klitschko who will appear on a panel about global leadership. Pappas is to participate in a panel discussion with five mayors from North and South American cities on Thursday, April 27, titled: "Digital tools for improving cities' revenue and public service delivery." Pappas, whose office collects and distributes $16 billion in property taxes yearly, is to explain how she used technological innovation to increase efficiency and reduce the number of government workers in her office by more than 75% since being elected in 1998. "Digital transformation was the magic that allowed me to make my office efficient and transparent," Pappas said. "I've hosted officials from more than 100 countries in my office and they need magic, too. They want to see how we do things in Cook County." The Cities Summit, a localized version of the Summit of the Americas, runs from April 26 28. Approximately 250 U.S. and international mayors and more than 3,500 delegates will attend. Pappas has traveled the globe touting the digital advancements in her office. In 2021 she spoke to forums in Spain and in the Dominican Republic. In 2022 she hosted a property tax summit for representatives from more than a dozen countries from the Organization of American States. The immersive two-day event dove into the mechanics of running the second-largest property tax system in the U.S. She is to speak before the Greek Parliament this summer. SOURCE Cook County Treasurer's Office Now reaching 55 million adults in Florida , California and Washington , Two Chairs continues intentional expansion rooted in high-quality, outcomes-based, trusted mental health care Aetna-covered Floridians can access Two Chairs in-network, with more health plan coverage options coming soon With Miami in-person clinic opening in May to augment virtual care option, behavioral care innovator is actively hiring state-wide for therapists interested in practicing at the top of their license SAN FRANCISCO and MIAMI, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Two Chairs , a modern behavioral healthcare company, today announced its expansion into Florida. At launch, Two Chairs now reaches 18 million adults residing in Florida with its individual and group therapy services, building on its existing California and Washington footprint. Floridians with Aetna commercial insurance coverage can access Two Chairs as an in-network care provider, with additional health plan coverage options coming soon. The company is also actively hiring Florida-based or Florida-credentialed clinicians, including Doctors of Psychology, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and Licensed Mental Health Counselors, among other roles. Nearly three million Florida adults are living with a mental health condition. The state is routinely ranked last for mental health access, with a quarter of Floridian adults being unable to find counseling or therapy. Beyond access, quality of care and care outcomes are a chronic state-wide issue . While many modern-era mental health companies have sprinted to achieve national coverage, inclusive of Florida, Two Chairs has methodically focused on delivering the highest quality care possible, rooted in a measurement-based clinical culture, exceptional therapeutic alliance and industry-leading client-clinician matching. "As hard as it is, finding a therapist is usually not enough for most people. Finding the right therapist is crucial for treating symptoms, addressing root causes and achieving positive health outcomes," said Colleen Marshall, Vice President of Clinical Care, Two Chairs. Decades of clinical research have shown that therapeutic alliance is the single best predictor of therapy success . Rooted in a tight-knit therapeutic bond , therapeutic alliance depends almost entirely on making the right client-therapist match. Two Chairs' matching approach, informed by comprehensive client and clinical data , impacts treatment retention and outcomes. 98% of Two Chairs clients report strong therapeutic alliance. 90% of Two Chairs clients reach their fourth therapy session, compared to a 36% industry average. And within 12 sessions, 85% of Two Chairs' clients experience reduced symptoms, with 67% seeing meaningful improvement. "We're not interested in bringing more of the same to Floridians. Those residents living with mental health conditions deserve to be matched with therapists they trust, to understand their progress over time, and to leave therapy feeling better than when they started," said Alex Katz, Founder & CEO, Two Chairs. "We know that many therapists who practice or reside in Florida share our view that better care is possible, and we invite those clinicians to join our effort." Two Chairs individual and group therapy services are available now as a virtual offering to all Floridians age 18 and up. In May, the company will open an in-person clinic in Miami, extending in-person services to those in the Miami region. Clinicians interested in joining Two Chairs can visit twochairs.com/careers . About Two Chairs Two Chairs was founded in 2017 with a mission to build a world where everyone has access to exceptional mental healthcare. We're creating a better experience for both patients and clinicians by starting with an in-depth, research-backed matching process to ensure the ideal patient-therapist fit, offering hybrid care that gives patients and clinicians flexibility between in-person and virtual sessions, and measuring outcomes to ensure patients get better faster. With a growing team of 330+ licensed clinicians across 90 areas of expertise, Two Chairs has 22M covered lives. State population by adults SOURCE Two Chairs MACON, Ga., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers union (USW) today filed unfair labor practice charges against Blue Bird Corporation, alleging the bus manufacturer's management broke the law in trying to dissuade workers from forming a union. "Organizing and collective bargaining offer workers a tried and true pathway to better wages, safer working conditions and a voice on the job," said USW District 9 Director Dan Flippo, who represents workers in Georgia and six other Southern states. "Management must respect workers' right to choose for themselves." Some 1,400 workers at Blue Bird's Fort Valley, Ga., facility filed for their union election on April 3 and will vote on May 11 and 12. "This behavior from Blue Bird, which manufactures school buses, including low-emission and zero-emission models, is especially egregious given the massive amount of taxpayer-funded support it's gotten," Flippo said. Blue Bird has been approved to receive more than $40 million in rebates through the EPA's Clean School Bus program, funds the agency stipulated cannot be used for anti-union activity. "Investing in our infrastructure means both building safer communities and creating good, family-sustaining jobs. Blue Bird cannot in good faith claim to be contributing to a brighter future for our children while simultaneously interfering in workers' efforts to form their union," Flippo said. Flippo further called on Congress to quickly pass legislation that would better protect workers seeking to organize. "Unless Congress passes legislation like the PRO Act, it's clear corporations will continue their attempts to divide and bully workers," Flippo said. "Until then, we call on Blue Bird management to change course and respect workers' right to a free and fair union election." The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations. For more information: http://www.usw.org/. CONTACT: Jess Kamm Broomell, 412-562-2444, [email protected] SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW) SHENZHEN, China, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vantrue recently announced the release of their 4-channel dash cam Nexus 5, is the first on the market to feature a rear cabin camera. This is Vantrue's heavy-hitting product following the release of the market's first 3-channel dash came N4. Vantrue has a secial presale promotion for Vantrue N5 4 channel wifi smart dash cam. In recent years, there has been a growing focus on safe driving. With the approach of vacation season, the demand for self-driving tours has also increased significantly. For family trips, a camera that can record front and in-car scenes is undoubtedly the best choice. For rideshare drivers, a dash cam that can record full cabin is a necessity. You may have doubts. Why do we need the fourth camera while 3-channel dash cam already available? Firstly, it can capture scenes in rear seats. When passenger accidentally leaves something behind, the driver can help locate the lost item more quickly with the rear cabin camera. When you have a baby in the back seat, you can monitor the baby at any time. If you have a bus or van, it can also provide more comprehensive interior recording including trunk area. Most importantly, with four cameras covering 360around the vehicle, if an accident occurs, it can help you restore the entire incident from all angles. The Vantrue N5 is equipped with Sony's latest generation STARVIS 2 sensor, providing better image, reproduction and night vision. In addition, the dash cam supports WiFi & voice control, providing a better WiFi connection experience. When you want to save a clip, you can just speak to dash cam with the exact command. The dash cam also has other professional features, such as buffered parking mode and customizing motion detection area setting, which can provide personalized monitoring of the core area. With its advanced 10-second pre-recording function, it can capture the entire incident to ensure no details are missed. It has Low-light night vision, with front and rear hidden infrared light design, ensuring the vehicle is monitored even in complete darkness, providing 24-hour protection for your vehicle. Vantrue N5 is now offering a special pre-sale promotion. Purchasing this new 4-channel dash cam during presale will entitle you to free accessories worth $120. Visit Vantrue official website to learn more information and place your order. Experience the latest dash cam now! CONTACT: Wendy Meng, [email protected] SOURCE Vantrue Official Insurance veteran brings rich background and expertise to lead Vertafore's finance team and drive operational excellence and corporate strategy DENVER, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vertafore , the leader in modern insurance technology, has named Teresa Chia to the role of chief financial officer. With a decade of experience helping fast-growing companies across the insurance sector implement operational practices to support growth at scale, Chia will play an important role in supporting Vertafore's strategy and continued development of market-leading solutions. In addition, Chia will focus on driving excellence across the company's planning, processes and systems. Teresa Chia, Vertafore CFO Her experience optimizing financial and operational processes will enable Chia to make significant contributions to both Vertafore's finance team and its executive leadership more broadly. Chia's work will ensure that the company is able to deliver the best possible products, service and support to its customers. "Vertafore's dedication to providing mission-critical technology to its insurance partners is a major reason why I'm so excited to be here," said Chia. "Vertafore provides tools to help customers maximize their productivity, enable their continued success and improve outcomes for the millions of people they serve." Before joining Vertafore, Chia was a senior partner and managing director at White Mountains Insurance Group, a publicly traded holding company that provides long-term capital support for innovative companies in insurance and financial services. She was responsible for White Mountains' direct investing and corporate mergers and acquisitions activity, and she provided support to executive leadership teams in White Mountains' portfolio companies as they set strategy and formalized internal processes. Prior to that, she was a private equity investor at Permira Advisors, where she focused on investments in the global technology and consumer verticals. Chia has also served on a variety of governance boards for companies in the insurance industry, including Kinsale Capital Group, Velocity Risk Underwriters and Spark Advisors. "We have an amazing finance team here at Vertafore, and I'm extremely pleased to have Teresa join us to make that team even stronger," said Vertafore CEO Amy Zupon. "Teresa is an innovator with a deep understanding of the insurance market. I look forward to collaborating closely with her as we optimize our processes to continue to accelerate the value we deliver to our carriers, independent agents and MGAs." About Vertafore As North America's InsurTech leader for more than 50 years, Vertafore is modernizing and simplifying the insurance life cycle so that our customers can focus on what matters most. Vertafore's solutions provide end-to-end connectivity across the distribution channel, improve the client and agent experience, unlock the power of data, and streamline essential workflows to drive efficiency, productivity, and profitability for independent agencies, MGAs and carriers. 2023 Vertafore and the Vertafore logo are registered trademarks of Vertafore. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. MEDIA CONTACT: Liz Reilly, Next PR [email protected] SOURCE Vertafore We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Engages Students Learned about the U.S. Constitution in Inspiring Academic Competition WASHINGTON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Students from Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies placed first in the 36th annual We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals, an annual competition that brings together high school students from across the nation to answer difficult questions about the U.S. Constitution. Oregon's Grant High from Portland placed second and California's Foothill High School from Pleasanton placed third in the event, which was held at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, Virginia. Full results can be found on the Center for Civic Education's website . Students from Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies in Richmond, Virginia, celebrate their first-place finish in the 36th Annual We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals. Students from Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies in Richmond, Virginia, placed first in the 36th Annual We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals. "These students were truly impressive in their deep knowledge of the Constitution and the research and public speaking skills they so clearly demonstrated during the course of the National Finals," said Dr. Donna Phillips, Vice President and Chief Program Officer for the Center for Civic Education. "They came from across the nation to explain their opinions on the most difficult constitutional questions facing the United States and were challenged to demonstrate a deep understanding of our nation's founding documents." More than 1,000 students participated in two of the Center for Civic Education's We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution national competitions on the U.S. Constitution on April 20-24. The We the People National Invitational was held online and the National Finals took place in person. The competition results were announced at an awards ceremony Monday evening before an in-person and online audience of more than 3,400 people. The National Finals has taken place every year since the bicentennial of the Constitution in 1987. Fourteen middle school teams and 48 high school teams from 31 states and the District of Columbia participated in this year's events. Seventy-two judges volunteered their time at the National Finals and an additional 24 judges assisted with the National Invitational. The National Invitational, now in its 11th year, took place virtually on April 20 and 21 and was immediately followed by the in-person National Finals on April 22-24. About the Center for Civic Education The Center for Civic Education has long been recognized as a leader in providing civic education to K12 students and adults, with its research-based curriculum reaching more than 42 million students and 440,000 educators in the United States and in more than 80 countries since 1965. Learn more about the Center for Civic Education at www.civiced.org . Information on the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals can be found at https://civiced.org/national-finals-2023 . Information on the National Invitational can be found at https://civiced.org/national-invitational-2023 . Photos of students competing in the National Finals can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/civiceducation/albums/72177720307622123/with/52775754370/ . Media contact: Mark Gage Center for Civic Education 805-794-7650 [email protected] SOURCE Center for Civic Education Announced at London's Retail Technology Show, the new device delivers the precise comfort, sustainability and functionality enterprise retailers have asked for OXFORD, England, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VoCoVo , the retail communications specialists, has today announced its new Series 5 Pro headset at the Retail Technology Show in London. For the first time, with a design entirely developed by VoCoVo and driven by store colleague feedback, the new device ticks all the boxes for enterprise retail customers, delivering the precise comfort, durability, sustainability considerations, intelligent power management and HD audio functionalities needed to support those on the shop floor. Drawing specifically on over 20 years of experience in retail communications technology, and following feedback from retail decision makers and store colleagues, the light, ergonomic design of VoCoVo's Series 5 Pro prioritises comfort and durability. Its fully adjustable design, with completely redeveloped ear cushion, reduces pressure on the colleague's head, making for a more comfortable experience when worn continually over a working day. Importantly, with retailers increasingly looking for sustainable innovation, VoCoVo's new device provides a long-term, durable solution, with low failure rates to eliminate the need for repairs or replacements. Ideal for busy shop floors, the Series 5 Pro headsets are protected against dust and water damage and have undergone extensive testing to withstand being dropped from up to 1.8 meters (6ft) onto concrete multiple times. Designed for durability and longevity, the device's buttons are affixed from the inside, meaning there are no loose parts, and the technology is safe to use in areas such as food preparation. The Series 5 Pro headset has a modular design, meaning that individual components can be replaced, allowing for ease of repair. Series 5 also delivers on the ability to add peripheral components without having to buy a specialised headset for users with accessibility needs. For example, colleagues who wear hearing aids can fix the new device to a belt clip or in other cases, alternative earpieces can be added to slot under a head covering. Another key advancement of Series 5 Pro lies within its processing power and power consumption. VoCoVo's new headset monitors and manages power usage to conserve battery, with its power to size ratio second to none. The innovative technology is lightweight and more compact in size and benefits from a smaller battery. It provides quicker charge times thanks to its rapid charge feature that gives 50% battery in just 30 minutes. Altogether these sustainable considerations have led to the Series 5 headset being recognised by EcoVadis , the world's largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings. Thanks to its unique noise cancelling algorithm, the new device eliminates retail noise to give the best audio experience for shop floor colleagues. The Series 5 Pro with its short boom and digital microphone technology boasts VoCoVo's smartest and most discreet headset yet. DSP technology in the headset and base units enables the VoCoVo Series 5 Pro to handle conference and telephony audio at 4x the clarity of previous headsets without sacrificing system capacity. This provides the best-in-class voice clarity for users and enhances the accuracy of voice recognition systems. VoCoVo's retail communication devices are already loved and embraced globally by recognised tier one retailers, including Asda, Dunelm and Halfords, with the most recent enrolment across the US-based premier supermarket, The Fresh Market. The Series 5 Pro will be available to VoCoVo's existing customer base and new enterprise retailers wishing to unlock the power of voice in Q4 2023. Rob Gamlin, Chief Executive Officer, VoCoVo, said: "In our two decades in retail, it's always been key to talk to our customers and find out first-hand what they really want and need, which is how we were uniquely placed to develop the Series 5 Pro headset. Designed around colleague feedback and perfected by our experts over the last couple of years, the new headset delivers the exact functionalities, sustainability credentials and precise comfort our customers and users have asked for." Attendees at the Retail Technology Show can visit VoCoVo's stand 6C40 for a live demo. https://s5pro.vocovo.com/ Notes to editors About VoCoVo Established first in 2011 as Strongbyte Solutions Limited, VoCoVo enables businesses to release the power of voice. Currently used by 30 tier 1 global retailers and active in over 13,000 stores with 250,000 daily users, VoCoVo's solutions drive actionable insights that empower retailers to improve employee communication and make better decisions that enhance customer experience and drive profitability. Based in Oxford, England and Chicago, USA, VoCoVo is growing fast with customers across the UK, Europe, Australia, Canada and America. In 2019 the company became a winner of the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Award and a finalist in the Santander Growing Business of the Year Award. VoCoVo has also ranked 5th in the Sunday Times Tech Track 100. For more information visit: https://www.vocovo.com/ Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1980693/VoCoVo_Logo.jpg SOURCE VoCoVo HENDERSON, Nev., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VolitionRx Limited (NYSE AMERICAN: VNRX) ("Volition"), a multi-national epigenetics company is hosting a Capital Markets Day in a hybrid format (in-person and live-webcast) on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at 2 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Volition's executive team will be joined by Key Opinion Leaders: Dr. Andy Retter (Intensive Care Consultant) and Veterinary Oncologists, Professor Heather Wilson-Robles and Dr. Sue Ettinger, aka Dr. Sue Cancer Vet. Event: VolitionRx Limited Capital Markets Day Date: Thursday, May 11, 2023 Time: 2:00 p.m. Eastern time In-person Venue: Hamilton Suite, New York Stock Exchange, 11 Wall Street, New York To attend in person, contact [email protected] To attend virtually please register HERE Presentations will cover: Corporate Strategy Mr. Cameron Reynolds Nu . Q NETs Q NETs The role of Nu . Q NETs in Sepsis Dr. Andy Retter Nu Q NETs Retter Volition's Commercial Strategy Mr. Remi Rabeuf Nu . Q Vet Q Volition Veterinary's Commercial Strategy Dr. Tom Butera Butera Clinical Evidence Professor Heather Wilson-Robles Wilson-Robles Case studies of Nu . Q Vet Dr. Sue Ettinger , aka, Dr. Sue Cancer Vet A question-and-answer session with management will follow the prepared remarks and formal presentation. To attend the event in-person please contact [email protected] To access the virtual event, register by clicking HERE. The event will be webcast and the presentations will be posted to Volition's website. A replay will also be made available. For additional information or questions please contact Investor Relations at [email protected] Volition is developing simple, easy-to-use, cost-effective blood tests to help diagnose and monitor a range of life-altering diseases including cancer in both humans and animals. For more information about Volition's Nu.Q technology go to: www.volition.com About Volition Volition is a multi-national epigenetics company powered by Nu.Q, its proprietary nucleosome quantification platform. Through its subsidiaries, Volition is developing simple, easy to use, cost effective blood tests to help diagnose and monitor a range of life-altering diseases including some cancers and diseases associated with NETosis such as sepsis and COVID-19. Early diagnosis and monitoring have the potential to not only prolong the life of patients but also improve their quality of life. The tests are based on the science of Nucleosomics, which is the practice of identifying and measuring nucleosomes in the bloodstream or other bodily fluid - an indication that disease is present. Volition's research and development activities are centered in Belgium, with an innovation laboratory and office in the U.S. and additional offices in London and Singapore. The contents found at Volition's website address are not incorporated by reference into this document and should not be considered part of this document. The website address is included in this document as an inactive textual reference only. Media Enquiries: Louise Batchelor/Debra Daglish, Volition, [email protected], +44 (0)7557 774620 Investor Enquiries: Scott Powell, Volition, [email protected], +1 (646) 650 1351 SOURCE VolitionRx Limited New MIT Sloan research offers investors and financial firms a method for data valuation CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a new study co-led by MIT Sloan School of Management, researchers have developed a statistical method that investors and financial firms can use to value their existing data and/or a potential data stream that they are considering acquiring. This new research uncovers key factors that play a part in how investors' willingness to pay for data can change. Tweet this In a new study co-led by MIT Sloan School of Management, researchers have developed a statistical method that investors and financial firms can use to value their existing data and/or a potential data stream that they are considering acquiring. This methodology also enabled the researchers to uncover key determinants of investors willingness to pay for data. Authors of the paper, "Valuing Financial Data," which is currently under peer review, are Maryam Farboodi, assistant professor of finance at MIT Sloan; Laura Veldkamp, professor of finance at Columbia Business School; Venky Venkateswaran, associate professor of economics at New York University Stern School of Business; and Columbia Business School PhD candidate Dhruv Singal. "Valuing data is not an easy task, because data is not observable," says Farboodi. "How much investors value data depends on the profits they can make from it, which in turn depends on who else knows the data, and how aggressively they trade on it." Valuations are critically important because they offer information around consumer surplus and welfare, and show how demand responds to changes in price, markups, and market competition. Valuations also show whether prices are efficient. The researchers' novel statistical approach bypasses the need to understand what other investors know in order to value data. In their paper, Farboodi and her co-authors use real-world data to measure several components of an existing asset pricing and portfolio choice model, the so-called "noisy rational expectations model," with the goal of illuminating what the data valuations are and how they vary across investors. Their statistical method can be applied to any finance-relevant data series or bundle of data series as long as the purchasing investor's characteristics are known and there is access to a history of market prices and data realizations. The method involves specifying the regressions that should be run to value data. It then outlines the statistics that need to be computed based on the regression results. Lastly, it shows how to aggregate these statistics into a single number that corresponds to the value of the data. This methodology enabled the researchers to uncover key determinants of investors' willingness to pay for data. The research also uncovered key factors that play a part in how investors' willingness to pay for data can change. These determinants include their style of investing, how big their portfolios are, the data they already have, and market liquidity. The researchers found that differences in investor characteristics have a considerable impact on how investors value the same data. In other words, data, as an asset, is not equally valuable to all investors. In general, wealthy investors are willing to pay more for data because they may be able to use it to earn a healthy return on their sizable investments. For example, when markets are competitive and a trade has no impact on the market price, the researchers find that an investor with $250 million in initial wealth would be willing to pay almost 300 times that of an investor with only $500,000. When the researchers applied their approach to the model using real-world data, they found that an investor with $250 million who invests in five different portfolios of S&P 500, growth, value, large and small stocks is willing to pay $1.2 million for I/B/E/S (Institutional Brokers' Estimate System) forecasts. But an investor with $500,000, they find, will only pay $35,000 for the same data. "Large investors value data of each asset more than small investors because data can help them make more money. Growth investors value data more because growth stocks are more uncertain," Farboodi says. "In both cases, data can improve their expected payoff." The researchers also found that all investors are willing to pay less for data when asset markets are illiquid since they cannot incorporate the data into their trading strategy as effectively. Most strikingly, they note that in illiquid asset markets, the amounts by which different investors value data become more similar as wealthy investors exhibit a sharper decline in data value. This could be because, when a large investor places a big order to buy, asset prices move against this purchase, and other investors then demand a higher price to sell to the large investor. With expenses adding up, the large investor, in turn, is less willing to pay for data. This means that liquid asset markets and illiquid data markets go hand in hand. The findings suggest that, as data becomes an even more important asset for financial firms selling data, these firms' prices and market value may become more sensitive to market liquidity. "In a world in which data is becoming increasingly abundant," the authors state, "this new effect could grow much stronger." "Data markets are still far from being competitive, as they are very opaque and mostly on a bilateral basis, making it an area that requires additional research," Farboodi says. For further information, contact: Casey Bayer or Patricia Favreau Director of Media Relations Associate Director of Media Relations c: 914.584.9095 c: 617-895-6025 o: 617-253-0576 o: 617-253-3492 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE MIT Sloan School of Management NEW YORK, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WHP Global, the parent company of Toys"R"Us, has announced a new partnership with leading omnichannel retailer El Puerto de Liverpool, SAB de CV ("Liverpool") to launch the beloved toy brand in Mexico for the very first time. The partnership will bring Toys"R"Us to Mexican customers through standalone flagship stores and e-commerce, marking a significant milestone for the brand's global expansion. Toys"R"Us Rendering of a Toys"R"Us flagship in the U.S. with new flagship locations set to launch in Mexico for the first time through partnership with EL Puerto de Liverpool. Toys"R"Us has experienced significant growth since its acquisition by WHP Global in 2021, doubling its footprint by 50% in 2022 with the national rollout in the U.S. at all Macy's stores and recent launches in India, United Kingdom and Australia. The momentum will continue with a digital eCommerce launch and the first Toys"R"Us flagship store in Mexico planned for Holiday 2023. "We are very proud of partnering with WHP Global to bring the iconic Toys"R"Us brand to Mexico. At El Puerto de Liverpool, we always seek to bring the best brands and products to Mexican families, and we are sure that this new partnership will bring value to them through new spaces and the best and latest options of toys," said Charles Johnson, General Manager of Liverpool International and Boutiques at El Puerto de Liverpool. "Toys"R"Us is a beloved brand around the world, and we are confident that it will quickly become a favorite of Mexican families as well." The partnership between WHP Global and Liverpool will see the opening of multiple Toys"R"Us flagship stores in key locations across Mexico, as well as a robust e-commerce platform. The stores will offer a wide range of toys and games from top brands, including exclusive private brands from Toys"R"Us. Stanley Silverstein, Chief Commercial Officer of WHP Global said, "We are excited to introduce Toys"R"Us in Mexico with a powerful partner like El Puerto de Liverpool, one of the world's largest and most dynamic omnichannel retailers." "Toys"R"Us has been the authority of toys and play for generations of children and families around the world, and the expansion into Mexico marks an exciting new chapter in its history," added Jamie Uitdenhowen, Executive Vice President of Toys"R"Us at WHP Global. "With a commitment to providing the best selection of toys, along with a fun and engaging shopping experience, Toys"R"Us is poised to become the go-to toy destination for Mexican families for years to come." Further details on the Toys"R"Us e-commerce and flagship national roll out in Mexico to follow. About Toys"R"Us Toys"R"Us has been a global leader in the toy category celebrating the joys of childhood and play with kids of all ages for more than 70 years. Geoffrey the Giraffe, the beloved mascot of Toys"R"Us, is adored by millions of kids and their families around the world. The brand generates more than USD$2 billion in global retail sales annually through 1,350+ stores and e-commerce businesses in 30 countries. For more information, visit www.toysrus.com. About El Puerto de Liverpool El Puerto de Liverpool is a Mexican omnichannel company, with a leading presence in department stores and a solid e-commerce platform. It is present throughout Mexico with 303 stores, including Liverpool and Suburbia stores and 112 specialized boutiques, along with 28 shopping centers in 18 states of Mexico. For 175 years, it has been offering the widest selection of comprehensive quality products and services: from the latest in fashion for the whole family to advice on interior design, food and drink, housewares, technology and much, much more. It also has the best gift registry program. Liverpool is recognized as one of the best places to work in Mexico, employing more than 76,000 workers throughout the country. Its commitment is to operate with the greatest efficiency, growth, innovation, prestige, service, profitability and adaptation to specific markets, building a strong sense of social responsibility toward the world around us. Follow Liverpool: elpuertodeliverpool.com.mx, www.liverpool.com.mx / IG: @liverpool_mexico / FB: /liverpoolmexico / TW: @liverpoolmexico Visit El Puerto de Liverpool Newsroom: https://www.elpuertodeliverpool.mx/sala-prensa/sala-prensa.html About WHP Global WHP Global is a leading New York based firm that acquires global consumer brands and invests in high-growth distribution channels including digital commerce platforms and global expansion. WHP owns ANNE KLEIN, JOSEPH ABBOUD, JOE'S JEANS, WILLIAM RAST, ISAAC MIZRAHI, LOTTO, TOYS"R"US, BABIES"R"US, and a 60% interest in the EXPRESS brand. Collectively the brands generate over USD $6.5 billion in global retail sales. The company also owns WHP+, a turnkey direct to consumer digital e-commerce platform and WHP SOLUTIONS, a sourcing agency based in Asia. For more information, please visit www.whp-global.com. Media Contacts WHP Global / Toys"R"Us Jaime Cassavechia EJ Media Group [email protected] +1 646.701.7041 El Puerto de Liverpool Jorge A. Garcia Weber Shandwick Mexico [email protected] +52 1 55.1510.2584 SOURCE WHP Global The Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine denied the information about their alleged ban on the movement of merchant ships under the Black Sea Grain Initiative and reported on the blocking of the corresponding humanitarian transport corridor by the Russian side on Wednesday. "Today, on April 26, 2023, the Black Sea Grain Corridor is once again suspended by the Russian side. On April 25, 2023, Russian representatives in the Joint Coordination Centre (Istanbul), refused to agree on the movement of vessels to/from the seaports of Ukraine along the Maritime Humanitarian Corridor, which operates within the framework of the Black Sea Initiative for the export of grain and related foodstuffs by the sea," the Ukrainian Navy reported on the Facebook page on Wednesday. As a result, today four vessels, including vessel AKDENIZ-M, which has been chartered by the World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations to deliver wheat to Ethiopia, were unable to leave the ports of Chornomorsk, Odesa and Pivdenny and had to wait for additional time for their passage to be approved. Also, one vessel is waiting for transit to the port of Odesa in the area of Sulina. "In addition, from the morning of April 26, 2023, false information began to spread on the Internet regarding the alleged ban by the Ukrainian Navy on the movement of merchant vessels engaged in the Black Sea Grain Initiative to/from the ports of Great Odesa. This information is absolutely incorrect. We emphasize that Ukraine steadfastly fulfills all obligations assigned within the frames of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and makes maximum efforts to maintain and expand the export of grain and related foodstuffs by the sea in the interests of our state," the report notes. According to the UN data, as on April 25, 2023, some 28.9 million tonnes of agricultural products were shipped from Ukrainian ports through the grain corridor to the countries of Africa, Asia, and Europe, including corn 14.5 million tonnes, wheat 7.9 million tonnes, and sunflower oil 1.5 million tonnes. SAN DIEGO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Women's Public Leadership Network (WPLN)a non-partisan non-profit that educates, organizes and inspires women to seek public officeannounced Joel Noyes as the new Chair of the Board at their second annual National Summit in San Diego, CA. "WPLN has always been open to and grateful for the support of male allies who recognize the need for diverse voices at decision-making tables and who work to elevate them," said Martinez. "In short, we can't do this work alone." WPLN announced Joel Noyes as the new Chair of the Board at their second annual National Summit in San Diego, CA. Tweet this Noyes is the Director of Government & External Affairs for Hess Corporation. With two decades of legislative, political, communications and corporate experience, he serves as the lead for legislative initiatives at both the federal and state levels, and also manages corporate social responsibility activities for the company's U.S. operational assets. "I'm honored to serve as the Chair of the WPLN Board of Directors," expressed Noyes. "My motivation to be involved with WPLN is rooted in my desire for my 6-year-old daughter to grow up and see more women in leadership positions that are a reflection of her. And I want her to see the path that has been blazed by other women, to be inspired by that, and toknow there are no limitations to what she can accomplish." "I also believe there's a big role for men to play in helping women to take on more leadership and professional opportunities," said Noyes. Noyes has been on WPLN's Board of Directors for three years. In 2021, he received ALLY Energy's G.R.I.T. Award, which recognized him as an Ally and Male Champion for women and diversity. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation, as well as the Louisiana Mid-continent Oil and Gas Association (LMOGA), where he also serves as Chairman. "Joel's willingness to leverage his network, use his experience and collaborate with the greater WPLN Board makes him an invaluable asset," said Martinez. "This appointment recognizes Joel's efforts and sincere commitment to our mission and elevates him as an example to others across industries and across the country." Other members of the WPLN Board of Directors include: Jenifer Sarver - Immediate Past Chair of the Board - CEO of Sarver Strategies - Immediate Past Chair of the Board - CEO of Sarver Strategies Valerie Dowling - Vice Chair of the Board - Director of the Women's Democracy Network at the International Republican Institute Larissa Martinez - Founder and President of WPLN WPLN Jessica Rubie - Secretary of the Board - Chief of Staff, College Track Amy Whited - Treasurer of the Board - Founder of Pink Granite Foundation - Treasurer of the Board - Founder of Pink Granite Foundation Matthew Ralston - Senior Manager of State Affairs in the Atlanta office of Troutman Pepper Strategies WPLN works to remove the barriers that hold women back from getting involved in politics or running for office by providing training programs, support and mentorship networks. WPLN provides free childcare at every training program, including at our National Summit. WPLN accepts applications for our Board positions on a rolling basis. Interested candidates can apply here: https://womenspublicleadership.net/board-of-directors-apply Contact: Cassie Alsfeld [email protected] SOURCE Women's Public Leadership Network CARY, N.C., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wood Partners, a national leader in multifamily real estate development, together with its partner Trei Real Estate, announced today that it has broken ground on Alta Ivy, a 300-unit apartment community in Cary. Centrally located in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill "Triangle", Alta Ivy will provide residents with modern amenities in close proximity to the ample employers within Cary, Raleigh, and Durham. Alta Ivy is located minutes away from Research Triangle Park (RTP), which is the largest research park in the United States with over 50,000 highly-skilled jobs, and soon to be home of the new, highly anticipated, Apple campus. "Wood Partners is thrilled to bring a community of the highest quality to this submarket, which is one of the most desirable in the area in part because of its excellent proximity to major employers" said Caitlin Shelby, Managing Director at Wood Partners. "Residents will have quick access to all that the Triangle has to offer while enjoying a peaceful sense of community." The community will offer a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. Each home will include top-of-the-line finishes including stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, tile backsplash, in-home washer and dryer, and wood-style flooring throughout the kitchen, living room and bathrooms. Alta Ivy will feature many attractive amenities including a courtyard with saltwater pool, 1.5 acres of preserved open space, a dog park, a large public art feature, and a well-appointed clubhouse including 5,000 square feet of office space. The community is expected to begin leasing in early 2024. About Wood Partners Wood Partners is a national leader in the development, construction, and management of multifamily communities across the United States. The company has been involved in the acquisition and development of nearly 90,000 conventional multifamily homes with a combined capitalization of $17.3 billion. The company currently owns more than 70 properties across the United States representing over 20,000 homes. Headquartered in Atlanta, Wood Partners has offices in 22 major markets across 15 states nationwide. The company also operates Wood Residential , an award-winning, full-service property management group that proudly operates both properties developed by Wood Partners and communities owned by third parties. For three years running, Wood Residential has ranked No. 1 nationally for online reputation in the J Turner ORA Power Rankings (Division III). For more information, visit woodpartners.com . CONTACT: Donya Mansoorian, [email protected] About Trei Real Estate Trei Real Estate GmbH, a German real estate company with registered office in Dusseldorf, acquires, develops and manages customised and sustainable residential and retail properties. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Tengelmann Group, it focuses on real estate investments and developments in Germany, Poland and the United States within the framework of its long-term strategy. In addition to c. 1.3 billion euros in assets under management, Trei Real Estate GmbH has c. 2.0 billion euros worth of developments in the pipeline. In Poland, the company develops, raises and lets retail parks under the Vendo Park brand. Also active on Germany's housing market, e. g. in Berlin, Trei currently develops residential quarters combined with commercial premises as well as student apartments under the Quartillion brand. The company's residential activities outside Germany include development projects in Poland and in the United States. For more details, go to www.treirealestate.com and www.trei-wohnen.de. SOURCE Wood Partners GUANGZHOU, China, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In anticipation of the World Intellectual Property Day, at the 133rd China Import and Export Fair ("Canton Fair", "the Fair"), Guangdong Provincial Market Supervision Bureau (Intellectual Property Office) and China Foreign Trade Centreorganizer of the Canton Fair, signed the "Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement on Intellectual Property Protection ("the Agreement")." By signing this agreement, Canton Fair will be able to improve the whole chain of intellectual property protection, and through continuous optimization of IPR protection mechanism, it will continue to foster international trade. Wen Zhongliang, Vice Secretary General of the Canton Fair and Deputy Director General of China Foreign Trade Centre, said in the signing ceremony that, with a comprehensive "online + offline" intellectual property protection system in place during the exhibition, coupled with a team of authoritative experts from various industries, the Canton Fair is committed to facilitating high-quality and orderly trade between suppliers and buyers. With the support of the Agreement, the Canton Fair's intellectual property protection will reach an unprecedented level. It will provide global buyers with a comprehensive international trade platform with improved functions, better services, and enhanced efficiency. The Canton Fair launched IPR protection special campaign back in 1992, the earliest exhibition in China to protect IPR. As part of its efforts to provide better and more convenient intellectual property support services to global business people, the 133rd Canton Fair established service desks in each of the 4 exhibition areas and introduced a new online and offline service system simultaneously. By doing so, both buyers and exhibitors have been able to maintain their trade interests more effectively, creating a harmonious and safe international trade environment for the Canton Fair. The 133rd Canton Fair has effectively rejuvenated the exhibitors' drive towards innovation and safeguarding intellectual property. Timed to coincide with the World Intellectual Property Day, the Fair has partnered with an influx of high-quality companies that specialize in patent R&D and boast significant innovation potential. These companies showcase their latest research and development achievements in various industries throughout China to a worldwide audience. For more information about the exhibits and intellectual property technologies at the 133rd Canton Fair, please register at https://invitation.cantonfair.org.cn/BuyerUser/RegisterUser?MediaType=16 or contact: Ms. Cai, [email protected]. SOURCE Canton Fair GUANGZHOU, China, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yatsen Holding Limited ("Yatsen" or the "Company") (NYSE: YSG), a leading Chinese beauty company, today announced that the Company has filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on April 26, 2023. The annual report is available on the Company's investor relations website at ir.yatsenglobal.com and on the SEC's website at https://www.sec.gov/. The Company will provide hard copies of the annual report, free of charge, to its shareholders and ADS holders upon written request. Requests should be directed to Investor Relations Department, Yatsen Holding Limited, Building No. 35, Art Port International Creation Center, No. 2519 Xingang East Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510330, People's Republic of China. About Yatsen Holding Limited Yatsen Holding Limited (NYSE: YSG) is a leading China-based beauty group with the mission of creating an exciting new journey of beauty discovery for consumers around the world. Founded in 2016, the Company has launched and acquired numerous color cosmetics and skincare brands including Perfect Diary, Little Ondine, Abby's Choice, Galenic, DR.WU (its mainland China business), Eve Lom, Pink Bear and EANTiM. The Company's flagship brand, Perfect Diary, is one of the leading color cosmetics brands in China in terms of retail sales value. The Company primarily reaches and engages with customers directly both online and offline, with expansive presence across all major e-commerce, social and content platforms in China. For more information, please visit http://ir.yatsenglobal.com/. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: In China: Yatsen Holding Limited Investor Relations E-mail: [email protected] The Piacente Group, Inc. Hui Fan Tel: +86-10-6508-0677 E-mail: [email protected] In the United States: The Piacente Group, Inc. Brandi Piacente Tel: +1-212-481-2050 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE Yatsen Holding Limited Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said the only goal of the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is the liberation of the entire territory of Ukraine. "There will be a counteroffensive in the spring, but I won't say when. We are preparing. The only goal is to liberate the territory of Ukraine, we will liberate our territory," Kuleba told the Italian television channel Sky Tg24. Kuleba also commented on the information that the journalist of the Italian edition of La Repubblica, Corrado Zunino, was wounded near Kherson as a result of shelling. "As soon as I heard the news about this ominous event, I contacted our military, who told me the details of the case. They contacted the journalist and will do everything possible to help him," the Foreign Minister said. In addition, Kuleba noted the importance of the conversation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Chinese President Xi Jinping. "China can play an important role. There is great respect for territorial integrity, China has reaffirmed its firm commitment to territorial integrity," Kuleba said. The implementation of individual solutions according to customers requirements and needs is one of the main priorities of the Piranha-Tech company. Our products are constantly being upgraded, modernized and improved, as a result new modern and competitive military goods appear. So, recently, the Piranha-Tech company produced the new complex for suppressing drone communication channels in the form of an ultralight rifle system by order of one of the special purpose military agencies. The product is unique because of its power balance of suppression channels up to 100W and mobility. The product weight of this capacity is only 6 kg, which is considered ultra-light weight for this product type. The length of this anti-drone rifle system does not exceed 900 mm. The system is developed to counter military and civilian drones. Its operating principle is based on setting up radio interference in several frequency ranges. This can cause the intercepted drone to crash, lose orientation, abort the mission and returning to the take-off point prematurely. The use of this countermeasure system significantly hinders the drone operator to complete tasks or makes it impossible. The Ministry of Digital Transformation launched the announced BRAVE1 defense cluster based on the Ukrainian Startup Fund to support innovative developments in the defense sector during the BRAVE1 Defense Innovation Council. Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Development of Education, Science and Technology, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov said the project will support innovation in the defense sector, but the focus will be on four areas: UAV projects, satellite communications, electronic systems and electronic warfare. "Today, the fund has more than UAH 100 million to issue grants. We are also negotiating with other funds that are ready to join the financing," the Minister of Digital Transformation said, answering questions from an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent. In addition, describing the system of grants from BRAVE1 for startups, Fedorov told Interfax-Ukraine that the possibility of issuing grants of $5,000, $25,000, $50,000 and $75,000 on a non-refundable basis, depending on the project, is being considered. Fedorov said the BRAVE1 cluster will also serve as a platform that will bring together both entrepreneurs who have ideas and developments, and entrepreneurs who are ready to invest in their development. "There are many entrepreneurs who are ready to invest in companies, they call everyone they know on the phone. It's impossible to build an institute like that. Now every entrepreneur can apply to BRAVE 1 and, after passing a certain compliance, get access to applications, among which they can choose a project for support," Fedorov said. Minister of Defense of Ukraine Reznikov said BRAVE1 will become an incubator that will help initiative projects rise to a level that will correspond to state orders from the Defense Ministry. "We are primarily interested in 'mature developments' that can be quickly brought to use. We expect that BRAVE1 will help bring initiatives to the appropriate level of maturity," Reznikov said. Kanpur, April 26 : A 19-year-old youth has been arrested here for allegedly issuing a 'death threat' to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from a number belonging to his girlfriend's father, police said on Tuesday night. The youth, identified as Ameen, had allegedly issued a death threat to Yogi Adityanath by calling on the police's 112 emergency number. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ankita Sharma said that he was arrested from Kanpur's Begum Purva area and the mobile phone used to make the call seized. Ameen hatched the conspiracy after being frustrated by the father of his girlfriend who was not happy with their relationship, she said. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Babu Purva) Santosh Kumar Singh said that the police contacted the woman's father, an e-rickshaw driver, who claimed that his mobile phone had been stolen about 10 days ago. Ameen's neighbours also said during questioning that he hatched the conspiracy to trap the man as he wanted to marry his daughter. Ameen admitted to stealing the mobile phone of his girlfriend's father about 10 days ago and using his SIM card to make the threat call. Three criminal cases have been registered against Ameen, who will be produced before the court on Wednesday, the police said. United Nations, April 26 : Despite a ceasefire, shortages of essentials are becoming acute in Sudan, sending prices soaring while evacuees head for the borders, UN humanitarians has said. Authorities reported that a 72-hour cessation of hostilities went into effect midnight Monday and appeared to be mostly holding Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it received reports that civilians continue to flee Khartoum, Northern, Blue Nile, North Kordofan, North Darfur, West Darfur and South Darfur states. People are also crossing borders to surrounding countries. "After 10 days of fighting, shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel are becoming extremely acute, especially in Khartoum and surrounding areas," the office said. "The price of essential items -- as well as transport -- are skyrocketing." OCHA said that in Wad Madani, Aj Jazirah state, bordering Khartoum, prices of essential goods increased 40 per cent to 100 percent. Access to health care, including sexual and reproductive health care, is also critically impacted. The World Health Organization has confirmed 14 attacks on health care facilities since the start of the fighting. "We and our partners continue to deliver whenever and wherever feasible," OCHA said. The UN Population Fund continues to support partners to provide life-saving health care, distribute supplies for safe births, and manage obstetric emergencies through a network of midwives. "We also want again to emphasize the heroic efforts of the Sudanese people themselves," the office said. "Civil society networks are responding to the most urgent needs in their communities, including mobilizing medical assistance, distributing food and water, and assisting civilians." Fighting broke out in the capital city of Khartoum on April 15 between two factions of the Sudanese military and quickly spread to different areas in the country. Data from the Sudanese Health Ministry said more than 400 people have been killed and more than 4,000 others wounded. Washington, April 26 : Senior Islamic State leader, who was allegedly behind the 2021 bombing at Kabul's airport in Afghanistan, has been killed by the Taliban, US officials have said. The August 2021 bombing at the Abbey Gate entrance of the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul killed 170 civilians and 13 US troops as people were trying to flee Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. US officials told CBS news that the leader died weeks ago, but it took time to confirm his death, the BBC reported. The identity of the IS leader has not been released yet. US officials said they determined through intelligence gathering and monitoring of the region that the leader had died, though they did not provide further details on how they learned that he was responsible for the bombing, the British news broadcaster reported. According to a report in the New York Times, the US learned of the leader's death in early April. It is unclear whether he was targeted by the Taliban or if he was killed during ongoing fighting between IS and the Taliban, the newspaper reported. On Monday, the US began notifying families of the deceased troops about the death of the IS leader. Darin Hoover, father of Marine Staff Sergeant Taylor Hoover who died in the blast, confirmed to CBS that he had been notified of the news by the Marine Corps. "They could not tell me any details of the operation, but they did state that their sources are highly trusted, and they've got it from several different sources that this individual was indeed killed," Hoover said in an interview on Tuesday. Jerusalem, April 26 : Israel has marked its 75th Independence Day amid protests and political divisions between supporters and opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "contentious plan to overhaul the judiciary". The celebration on Tuesday began at sundown, with an official torch-lighting ceremony held at the Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. As Netanyahu spoke at the state ceremony for the fallen soldiers at Mount Herzl, protesters rallied outside the site, Xinhua news agency reported. Tens of thousands of Israelis rallied in the city of Tel Aviv for what the organisers called an "Independence Party" to protest the overhaul plan. The Tel Aviv police blocked parts of the Ayalon Highway and several main streets. Over the past few days, Netanyahu and opposition leaders called for putting their differences aside. However, the day was still marked by clashes as bereaved families laid wreaths and lit candles at cemeteries across Israel. In Beersheba, where hardline National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir spoke, clashes erupted between some bereaved families and the supporters of the judicial reforms. "Ben-Gvir came here despite repeated calls by bereaved families over the past days, asking him not to do so. It a disgraceful provocation that shows no respect for our fallen sons," Shaula Levi, a bereaved mother, told Channel 12 TV news. In the Druze town of Isfiya in northern Israel, protesters prevented Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel from entering the military cemetery. Gamliel had to leave without delivering her scheduled speech. The far-right government's plan to "overhaul" the judicial system has torn apart the Israeli society, sparking mass weekly demonstrations over the past four months. Israel declared independence on May 14, 1948, but it marks the Independence Day on different dates every year based on the Hebrew calendar. United Nations, April 26 : Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that India has been invited to join the core group of four countries neighbouring Afghanistan that say they seek to bring stability there. The Quartet of Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran has been working together on Afghanistan "and we invited India as well" to join making it a quintet, he said at a news conference at the UN in New York on Tuesday. "We want this Quintet to be constituted as something of a core for the format of neighbouring states," he said. The foreign ministers of the Quartet met in Samarkand in Uzbekistan earlier this month under the chairmanship of China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang and offered to cooperate with the Taliban regime in reconstruction and in economic matters. But the ministers also expressed concern over the presence of terrorist organisations in Afghanistan that "continue to pose a serious threat to regional and global security". Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was at the meeting, while Pakistan was represented by Minster of State Hina Rabbani Khar. Their statement included criticism of the West that said that "the NATO countries should bear primary responsibility for the predicament in Afghanistan" and should immediately lift sanctions on Afghanistan and return its frozen assets. Posing a dilemma for India in joining a "Quintet" is that the four countries in the Quartet have the makings of a distinct anti-West grouping and two of them, Pakistan and China are hostile to New Delhi. Lavrov said that while the Taliban regime, which has no international recognition, is a "reality on the ground and there's a need to talk with them", Russia will not recognise it "until they comply with (and) honour their own pledges". He made political inclusivity that extends beyond ethnicities to political groups a condition. They will have to "ensure inclusivity in the governing structures, not just inclusivity at the ethnic level, but also at the political level", he said. While they include minorities like Hazaras, Tajiks and Uzbek they are all members of the Taliban, and "it is very important for there to be strong representation and political forces", he added. There is also the issue of human rights, including the rights of women and girls, he said. These issues will be discussed at a meeting of special representatives for Afghanistan convened by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Doha next month, he added. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Washington, April 26 : Visiting South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his US counterpart President Joe Biden paid a visit to the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington as part of events to mark the 70th anniversary of the bilateral alliance. During Tuesday's visit, Yoon and Biden each laid a wreath and silently bowed their heads as they paid tribute to the Korean and American service members killed in the 1950-53 conflict, reports Yonhap News Agency. First Ladies Kim Keon Hee and Jill Biden stood closely behind them. The two couples later stopped in front of the Wall of Remembrance, which was added to the memorial last year. The wall displays the names of more than 43,000 Korean and American troops killed during the war. It was the first time Yoon and Biden met after the South Korean President arrived in Washington on Monday for a six-day state visit. On Wednesday, the Presidents are scheduled to hold a summit and attend a state dinner at the White House. Berlin, April 26 : German police have arrested two Syrian brothers on suspicion of planning an attack motivated by a "radical Islamist and jihadi mindset". The men were seeking to use a homemade explosive belt to "carry out an attack against civilian targets", according to a joint statement by German local and national police authorities. However, a specific target had not yet been chosen, reports Xinhua news agency. The older suspect, who is aged 28 and lives in Hamburg, had acquired "basic materials for the production of explosive material", according to the statement. His brother, who is 24 and lives in the south of the country, had "encouraged him in planning the crime and thus aided and abetted". In recent years, there have been a number of Islamist terrorist attacks in Germany, including knife attacks in Dresden in 2020 and Bavaria in 2021. An attack that left four people seriously injured in a Duisburg gym last week could also have been motivated by Islamist extremism, according to the latest findings. Stockholm, April 26 : A Swedish research rocket veered off its planned course and instead landed in Norway, local media reported. The nine-metre-long rocket was launched from Esrange Space Centre, approximately 200 km north of the Arctic Circle, reports Xinhua news agency. In a report on Tuesday, Sweden's Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper reported that after reaching an altitude of 250 km, where zero-gravity experiments were carried out, it landed 40 km northwest of the planned landing site. Esrange Space Center launched an investigation into the incident and initiated work to retrieve the payload from the landing site approximately 15 km across the border into Norway, DN reported. The Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), which owns and runs the centre, has apologised for the incident. Meanwhile, Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson told Norway's Folkebladet newspaper: "We have received no notification about the incident from Esrange or the Swedish authorities, but we have registered that Esrange has sent out a press release that a rocket has landed in Norway. "In general, we take a serious view of unauthorised activity on the Norwegian side of the border and it is crucial that involved parties immediately notify the relevant Norwegian authorities." In a statement on Tuesday, Norway's Foreign Ministry said that it was not properly informed about either the rocket's landing or the recovery of its payload, and that it takes any unauthorised activity within its borders seriously. "When such a border violation occurs, it is crucial that those responsible immediately inform the relevant Norwegian authorities through the proper channels," it said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. The amount of the road tax levied by the Iranian side for the transit of specific goods from vehicles transporting fuel to Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan, and other relevant expenses has been reduced, Azerbaijani Ministry of Digital Development and Transport told Trend. According to the ministry, following the reduction, Azerbaijani carriers began paying the road tax of not $520, but $175 per truck for transportation of specific goods by a truck to and from Nakhchivan through Iran. It was also determined that the road tax is calculated for the transportation of goods weighing not over 38 tons, but over 41 tons by trucks, and the amount of tax for cargo-free vehicles has been reduced from $105 to $85. These changes have been applied from the current month. Thus, the costs of national carriers engaged in international road transport in this specific direction have been reduced by about three times. Amaravati, April 26 : A total of 56 expatriates from Andhra Pradesh are stranded in strife-torn Sudan and efforts are on to bring them back safely, officials said. Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has directed the officials to take steps to bring the stranded Telugus. The chief minister told the officials to coordinate with the Central government officials and make travel arrangements to bring back stranded Telugus safely. Jagan Mohan Reddy also wanted them to ensure that they are sent to their native places on their return to India He asked the officials to extend all possible support to the stranded Telugus as was done during the Ukraine crisis. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu Society (APNRTS) said 34 of those stranded have been found to be safe. These expatriates have already reached Port Sudan by the coast of Red Sea and are expected to proceed further to a safe place. According to APNRTS president Medapati Venkat, the remaining 20 people are 30 kms from the conflict zone and efforts are underway to reach out to them. APNRTS has set up a special helpline desk to identify natives of Andhra Pradesh in Sudan. More than 400 people have died due to the fierce fighting between Sudan's Army and paramilitary forces during the last two weeks. The conflict has left over 3,700 people wounded. The Government of India has launched 'Operation Kaveri' to evacuate Indians from the strife-torn country. There are an estimated 4,000 Indians in Sudan. Kolkata, April 26 : A woman was killed in a shootout on a highway in West Bengal's Malda district. The incident took place on Tuesday night in the Shimuldab area of National Highway-12. The victim was identified as Ainur Bibi (28). According to her husband Masu Seikh, the tragedy happened when he was returning home riding his bike with his wife and their seven-year-old son as pillion riders. "As we reached the NH-12 at the Shimuldab area, suddenly a couple of miscreants riding a motorcycle, shot at my wife from a close range and left the scene. The locals rushed and with their help my wife was taken to a local hospital. But by then she had died," Seikh told newspersons on Wednesday morning. "I have no idea of what prompted the assassination. I am unable to identify the killers as their faces were covered by the tinted glass of the helmets they were wearing. We have no enmity with anyone." The police said that the motorcycle on which the deceased woman was travelling with her husband and son is in their possession now. The cops have started an investigation to identify the killers. The local MLA from Malda (SC) constituency Gopal Chandra Saha and BJP Lok Sabha member from Madla (North) constituency, Khagen Murmu met the husband. Both have demanded speedy enquiry to identify the killers. Bengaluru, April 26 : A young woman jumped off a moving Rapido bike to escape a molestation bid by the rider, police said on Wednesday. According to police, the incident took place late on April 21 in the limits of Yelahanka New Town police station here. Twenty-seven-year-old Deepak Rao, a resident of Thindlu and a native of Andhra Pradesh, was arrested. Police explain that the woman had booked a Rapido bike at about 11 p.m. to reach a friend's place in Indiranagar on April 21. The accused took her mobile on the pretext of getting OTP and started harassing her sexually, while moving. He had also taken a deviation from the route and headed towards Doddaballapur Road instead of Indiranagar. On being questioned by the woman, he started to speed. Shocked by this, the woman jumped off from the vehicle near BMS College in Nagenahalli near Yelahanka. The security staff at the college gate rushed to her help. The accused, after seeing this, escaped from the spot. The girl had suffered injuries in hands and legs. As she was wearing a helmet, she escaped without major injuries to head and face. The victim then borrowed a mobile from them and informed her family and friends about the incident. Later, the police were informed. The police obtained the CCTV footage of the incident and arrested the accused and sent him to judicial custody. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused was inebriated during the incident. An investigation is underway. New Delhi, April 26 : The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is scheduled to hold elections for the positions of mayor and deputy mayor on Wednesday. The outcome of the elections will likely have significant implications on the composition and functioning of the Standing Committee, which plays a crucial role in local civic governance and is responsible for making important decisions related to the city's development and management. Despite lacking adequate numbers in the House, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had fielded Shikha Rai and Soni Pandey as the candidates for the mayoral and deputy mayoral elections in the MCD. Shikha Rai is currently serving as the councillor from Greater Kailash-1 ward, while Soni Pandey represents the Sonia Vihar ward in northeast Delhi in the civic body. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) named Shelly Oberoi and Aaley Mohammad Iqbal as the mayoral and deputy mayoral candidates respectively for the MCD elections. The party decided to renominate the two and the decision was taken by Chief Minister and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, in recognition of their performance in the MCD, Delhi government. The AAP, as the ruling party in the MCD, has expressed confidence that its candidates will emerge victorious in the upcoming election. The MCD elections for mayor and deputy mayor are held by secret ballot, and anti-defection laws do not apply. In the civic elections held on December 4, the Aam Aadmi Party won 134 out of the 250 municipal wards, giving it a clear numerical advantage. Johannesburg, April 26 : More than 2.44 million travellers, including arrivals, departures and transits, went through South Africa's ports of entry and exit in March, official data revealed. There were more arrivals, departures and travellers in transit for both South African citizens and visitors from other countries when compared to the movements in February, Statistics South Africa said in its latest tourism and migration report. About 28.5 per cent of all tourists in March were from abroad, Xinhua news agency reported citing the data. Holiday continues to be the main purpose of people visiting the country as 96 per cent of all tourists in South Africa last month were for holiday purposes, the report said. For business purposes, the report said Asia accounted for the biggest percentage of business travellers visiting South Africa in March, which stood at 6.6 per cent, followed by Central and South America at 3.9 per cent, and the Middle East at 2.3 per cent. New Delhi, April 26 : A new book on Afghanistan's de facto rulers claimed that Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi had a detailed meeting with Pakistans former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa before asking India to send back its diplomats and technical staff to Kabul, the media reported. The book, titled 'The Return of the Taliban' is authored by Hassan Abbas, who teaches international relations at the National Defence University (NDU), Washington, reports Dawn news. "India's return to Kabul could not have happened without Pakistan -- and Pakistan acted this way because it just might open up prospects of some aid for the Taliban in Afghanistan," Abbas writes, arguing that Islamabad is as desperate about getting financial support to run Afghanistan as the Taliban themselves. The book points out that India has strategic interests in Afghanistan, although it notes that unlike Russia and China, India had cut off diplomatic ties with Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. But it also that "India is now seriously reassessing its position and moving towards a balancing act in its effort to engage with the Taliban and help stabilise Afghanistan", Dawn reported. Discussing why the Taliban are eager to mend ties with India, the book says that "the Taliban desire is simple -- international legitimacy and recognition". Kabul's new rulers also need "huge external investments... to reconstruct and revive the country" and India has the resources to do so, it says. The book also discusses former ISI chief Faiz Hamid's visit to Kabul soon after the Taliban takeover, claiming that Foreign Office had advised him to stay at the Pakistan embassy in Kabul, "but the overconfident spy chief dismissed it". Later, at a meeting with Pakistani politicians, including Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, he defended his action saying that US and Chinese intelligence chiefs had also visited Kabul around then. He was reminded that "he was the only one photographed" and "photographs and video clips of him sipping tea in the Serena Hotel, Kabul, went viral", Dawn reported. Bhopal, April 26 : Proposals for a semi-high speed Vande Bharat train by BJP leaders and unverified information on social media, had apparently left the district administration a confused lot during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Rewa in Madhya Pradesh on April 24. A buzz was created that Prime Minister Modi will flagg off a new Vande Bharat train between Rewa to Indore on April 24. Notably, PM Modi had visited to Rewa and had launched various projects including railway projects. Before PM's visit to Rewa, social media and some section of local media had reported that a new Vande Bharat train would be launched between Rewa to Indore. What was more surprising was that various school administrations of two districts - Rewa and Satna - had issued letters to parents to send their children to participate in the launch of Vande Bharat train. IANS has learnt that at least 30 schools from both districts (Rewa and Satna) had issued such letters to the parents of school children regarding the same. "This is to inform you that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Vande Bharat train from Rewa to Indore. West Central Railway has invited to travel from Rewa to Satna along with one staff member and to interact with PM Modi. Thirty schools have been selected to send their children for this event," a letter issued by Sacred Heart Convent School in Rewa to the presidents of school children read. The school management had also requested the parents to fill a form (form was also sent by schools along with the letters) mentioning that they should send their children, as per their own consent. However, it turned out that there was no such proposal from West Central Railway department. At least two proposal letters in the name of two BJP leaders - MP BJP president V. D. Sharma and Indore Lok Sabha MP Shankar Lalwani circulated in social media suggested that both these leaders had made a proposal to run Vande Bharat train between Rewa and Indore. Sharma, who is also a Lok Sabha MP from Khajuraho constituency (district Chhatarpur) had sent a proposal letter to Union Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnav requesting to run a new Vande Bharat train between Rewa to Indore. He had made this proposal on April 8, letters are available with IANS. New Delhi, April 26 : The Karnataka government told the Supreme Court that it took a conscious decision not to continue with the reservation for the Muslim community on the sole basis of religion since it is unconstitutional and contrary to the mandate of Article 14 to 16 of the Constitution. The state government said that two orders dated March 27, 4 per cent reservation in favour of Muslims was deleted and the members of the community were allowed to claim benefit of reservation under EWS scheme which is at 10 per cent (In EWS Scheme there are other communities namely, Brahmins, Aryavyashyas etc.). The government said it is pertinent to note that the groups within the Muslim community who were found to be backward and found mention in Group I of the 2002 reservation order continue to enjoy the benefits of reservation. In the counter affidavit, it said: "It is humbly submitted that reservation solely on the basis of religion is also contrary to the principles of Social Justice... the concept of social justice aims to protect those who are deprived and discriminated against within the society. "Including within the said ambit an entire religion would be an antithesis to the concept of social justice and the ethos of the Constitution. It is humbly submitted that therefore reservation cannot be extended to any community on the sole basis of religion." The state submitted that the provision of reservation on the basis of religion would also be contrary to the concept of secularism. The government said merely because reservations have been provided in the past on the basis of religion, the same is no ground for continuing the same for perpetuity, more so when the same is on the basis of an unconstitutional principle. "The petitioners herein have sought to give a colour to the exercise in question which is completely baseless. The timing of the decision, etc are immaterial without the petitioners clearly demonstrating that the reservation on the basis of religion is constitutional and permissible," it said. The state stressed that the reservation solely on the basis of religion is unconstitutional and contrary to the mandate of Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution. The affidavit said: "The power to classify a group of citizens as Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) has to be constitutionally exercised in accordance with the provisions of Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution. Assuming for the moment that any of the commissions had recommended for the inclusion of Muslims as Backward castes, the same does not denude the power of the State Government to take a decision in accordance with law." It said the power thereunder is a constitutionally conferred power conferred upon the state government to provide for protection to the Backward Classes and the states powers under Article 16 has been discussed in Indira Sawhney case (1992 Mandal Commission). "The exercise of power to provide for reservations emanates from Articles 15 and 16 and the same can be done by executive instructions which amount to law within the meaning of Article 13 of the Constitution." The state government said there were socially and educationally backward classes in society who have historically been deprived and discriminated against and the same cannot be equated with an entire religion, and stressed that the Mandal Commission clearly found that the religion could not be the sole basis for reservation. The affidavit said: "It is verily believed that there is no reservation given to Muslim community on the basis of religion as a whole in the Central List. Even throughout the country, it is believed verily, except State of Kerala, there is no state that provides for reservation for the Muslim community as a whole. There are various communities from the Muslim religion who are included in the SEBC which also continues to be the case in Karnataka." The state government said the reservation solely on the basis of religion is not the practice followed anywhere in the country except Kerala and in Karnataka, till recently. "It is submitted that reservation, solely on the basis of religion, also amounts to over classification under Article 14. The classification of the entire religion as backward is bereft of any rational basis and would be arbitrary and unreasonable and thus violative of the principles of Article 14 of the Constitution." The state government said the reservation issue has anyway undergone a radical shift with the introduction of reservation on the basis of economic criteria (EWS) by virtue of the 103rd Amendment and the Muslim community suffers no prejudice as they can avail the benefit of EWS reservation which is 10 per cent. Opposing any interim relief, it said the petitioners directly moved the apex court without filing a plea before the high court, even as its March 27 order was passed in persuance of the high court's order on March 23. The initial inclusion of Muslim community into the category of other backward classes in 1979 was contrary to the recommendations of the First Backward Class Commission headed by L.G .Havanur, said the affidavit. In the case of Andhra Pradesh, the Supreme Court permitted the reservation for only limited identifiable communities amongst Muslims and not the entire religion, it pointed out. Ahmedabad, April 26 : Gujarat Titans (GT) batter Abhinav Manohar has expressed his belief that Noor Ahmad will be as good as his fellow countryman Rashid Khan once he gains more experience. The 18-year-old Afghan spinner has excelled for Titans in the IPL 2023. After registering figures of 2/18 in the seven-run win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Titan's mystery spinner worked his magic in GT's 55-run thumping win over Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Noor, who completed 50 T20 wickets on the day, claimed the dangerous duo of Cameron Green and Tim David in a space of two deliveries. He also got the wicket of Suryakumar Yadav off the final ball of his spell. Besides Noor, senior leg-spinner Rashid was impressive against MI as he returned with figures of 2/27. Praising the Afghan duo, Manohar admitted that both Rashid and Noor are tough to pick in the nets. "Rashid and Noor are really tough to pick in the nets. It's been a year and a half and I can't pick Noor in the nets so I'm sure for a new batter playing from some other team is very hard to pick him. He's just not got enough experience to play matches but once he gets that experience he'll be as good as Rashid Khan," Manohar said in a post-match press conference. Manohar exhibited some fantastic power-hitting, smacking it out of the park with ease against MI and stitched a stunning 71-run partnership off 35 balls with David Miller (46 off 22) to help GT post 207/6 in their 20 overs. Chasing the target, MI were restricted to 152/9 in front of Titan's disciplined. Speaking on GT's performance, the batter said: "To be honest I feel it was easier to bat in the second innings because of the dew but our bowlers really bowled well and they lost a few wickets early on which didn't allow the batsmen to come out and play their game." Another clinical show against the Mumbai Indians, the Titans ascended to the second spot in the points table with this big win on Tuesday and halfway through the league stages, they now have 10 points in their kitty. Latest updates on IPL 2023 Bengaluru, April 26 : HerKey, the leading career engagement platform for women in India, has announced a $4 million funding round from Kalaari, 360 ONE Asset, earlier known as IIFL Asset Management (IIFL AMC), and angel investors, including Zia Mody, Puneet Dalmia, Pramit Jhaveri, Aditi & Shuchi Kothari, KP Balaraj, Ranjan Pai, Neeraj Bajaj, Akash Bhansali and others. Formerly known as JobsForHer, HerKey has transformed into a career engagement platform that unlocks opportunities, learning, and communities for women in India by connecting them with career champions. The platform seeks to address the gender gap in the Indian workforce, where only 20 per cent of women participate in the labour force, compared to 60 per cent in China and 55 per cent in the US. The company started by enabling women to restart their careers after a break, and it has grown to enable women to start, restart and rise in their careers. Neha Bagaria, the Founder and CEO of HerKey, expressed her excitement at the funding round, by stating that "We are grateful to our esteemed investors for their support in helping us create a more inclusive workforce for women in India." Under Neha's leadership, HerKey has grown to service over 3.5 million women across India and plans to scale to power 30 million women's careers in India. Companies use the HerKey platform to engage with women candidates in their entire career lifecycle, from recruitment to retention to promotion. HerKey's services are designed to support companies in building a diverse and inclusive workplace, attracting and retaining top talent, and creating a positive impact on their business. Currently, there are over 10,000 companies on the platform, and HerKey invites more companies to unlock opportunities, learning, and communities for women candidates on the platform. "A crucial aspect of India's economic ascent in the coming decade will be increasing participation of women in the workforce. A digital platform like Herkey is the need of the hour to make progress towards this goal. HerKey helps women exchange diverse knowledge, perspectives and enables them to interact without being constrained by time and location. Neha, as founder and CEO, has done a stellar job in creating pathways for many women to come back into the workforce after a break. We have been impressed by HerKey's growth trajectory and look forward to partnering with them as they redefine the landscape of women's careers in India," said Vani Kola, Founder and Managing Director of Kalaari Capital. The investment was backed by Kalaari Capital through its CXXO programme that seeks to build a vibrant community of women leaders to champion the next generation of women founder-CEOs for inclusive growth and opportunities to reach the top. Commenting on the announcement, Nidhi Ghuman, Senior EVP, 360 ONE Asset, earlier known as IIFL Asset Management, stated: "We are thrilled to collaborate with Neha and her team in their efforts to establish a platform that enables women to excel and realize their maximum potential. Herkey, (formerly JobsforHer) has accomplished remarkable feats over the years, and the launch of this new platform is evidence of its commitment and achievements in recent times. "Neha's leadership, passion and commitment to this business and its purpose has been a strong motivator for us to commit further to this opportunity. On average 80 per cent women on a career break look forward to coming back into the workforce and we are delighted to participate in this endeavour to empower women and promote a more inclusive and equitable society." As Neha Bagaria puts it, "We need to create a movement where everyone, including men, supports and champions women's careers. By working together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable workforce, which will benefit all." First version posted 12:29 FUZULI. Azerbaijan, April 26. A meeting of the working group on environmental issues under the Interdepartmental Center of the Coordination Headquarters, created to centrally resolve issues related to Azerbaijan's lands liberated from Armenian occupation, was held in the city of Fuzuli, Trend reports. The meeting was attended by representatives of the relevant state structures represented in the working group, and the special representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Gubadli, Jabrayil and Zangilan regions, which are part of the East Zangezur economic region, the special representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in territories liberated from occupation that are part of the Karabakh economic region (with the exception of the Shusha region), the Department of the State Reserve of the city of Shusha, the Reconstruction, Construction and Management Service in the Karabakh economic region, the Restoration, Construction and Management Service No. 1 in the East Zangezur economic region. The head of the working group, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Vugar Karimov reported on the work done, including the assessment of groundwater and surface water sources, development of a database and an electronic map of water resources, as well as other activities carried out by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan. In accordance with the soil and climatic conditions of the liberated territories, the ministry planted 121,420 tree seedlings on an area of about 160 hectares, sown 3,000 kg of seeds of oak and oriental plane tree, 11 automatic hydrological stations were set up on 10 rivers in order to assess surface waters. During the environmental monitoring carried out after the liberation of the Fuzuli region, the damage done during the occupation was revealed. In particular: 5,688 trees and shrubs that do not belong to the forest fund, 2 hectares of forests, 11 relict trees (eastern plane tree), registered in 1982 as natural monuments were destroyed, while the illegal exploitation of six local deposits of mineral raw materials was noted. Based on the results of the assessment of mineral resources, the illegal exploitation of the Guruchay sand and gravel deposit located in Fuzuli, the Dovletyarly and Dilagardy limestone deposits was revealed, and it was also revealed that wells with fresh water were completely destroyed. In order to assess the geo-ecological and radioactive conditions of the territory of the Fuzuli region, complex geological studies were carried out. It was also noted that the contracting company was entrusted with the purchase of instruments and equipment for the installation of a meteorological station in the Fuzuli region. Soil preparation work has been completed on 60 hectares of a land plot with an area of 251.1 hectares allocated by the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture for laying green spaces near the city of Fuzuli, and landscaping work is planned for the next sowing season. It was noted that within the framework of the visit of an international expert group to Azerbaijan in order to assess the environmental damage caused during the period of occupation, the experts conducted an inspection in connection with the destroyed natural objects and destroyed infrastructure in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, including Fuzuli. In order to restore the ecosystem in the liberated territories, including forests, laying new green spaces, along with measures to restore infrastructure in specially protected natural areas, projects are being implemented to reintroduce fauna species. For this purpose, on October 19-20, 2022, 33 gazelles were released into the Jabrayil region, and monitoring is currently underway in this regard. Also, during 2022, 417,500 fish were released into the Basitchay, Khakarichay, Kendelenchay and Bargushad rivers flowing through the territory of Zangilan, Gubadli and Fuzuli regions, and 440,000 fish (white carp, silver carp) were released into the Sugovushan and Khachinchay reservoirs. The Ministry provides for the continuous implementation of projects for the reintroduction and enhancement of aquatic biological resources. In addition, information was provided on de-mining activities, measures to prevent fires, work carried out in the field of creating tourism infrastructure, as well as monitoring and inspection of mineral reserves and groundwater in Fuzuli, information on the work done on the repair and restoration of the Kondelenchay reservoir. New Delhi, April 26 : Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi and her deputy Aaley Mohammad Iqbal were yet again elected on Wednesday, as BJP councillor Shikha Rai and Soni Pandey representing the Sonia Vihar ward in northeast Delhi in the civic body withdrew their nomination papers minutes before the elections. AAP councillor Mukesh Goyal, presiding over the elections, announced the results. This comes after Shikha Roy, the BJP councillor from Greater Kailash, during the meeting, announced withdrawal of her candidature. She demanded that the standing committee be constituted in accordance with the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act. When the mayor, Oberoi, councillor from East Patel Nagar, asked the two deputy mayor candidates if they wished to withdraw their candidature, Soni Pandey, the BJP councillor from Sonia Vihar, opted out from the race. Both Oberoi and Iqbal were elected unopposed. After successful completion of Delhi mayoral election, the House was adjourned till May 2. In the civic elections held on December 4, the Aam Aadmi Party won 134 out of the 250 municipal wards, giving it a clear numerical advantage. Tehran, April 26 : Iranian Deputy Defence Minister Amir Rastegari announced that the country is preparing six satellites to be launched by March 2024. Rastegari made the remarks in an interview with the semi-official Tasnim news agency, which was published on Tuesday. He said preparations were being made to launch an Iranian satellite constellation, expressing hope that IEI would be able to put into low Earth orbit two CubeSats and the homegrown Earth observation satellite Tolou-3 by March 2024, reports Xinhua news agency. With a weight of 150 kg, Tolou-3 is Iran's first miniature satellite. It is capable of taking black-and-white photos with a five-meter spatial resolution and coloured photos with a 10-meter resolution, said Rastegari. Rastegari noted that Iran Electronics Industries (IEI) had carried out good cooperation with the Iranian Space Agency and Russia. He added that IEI is negotiating with the Aerospace Industries Organization of Iran's Defence Ministry and Russia to accelerate the launch of domestic satellites into space. In August 2022, Iran successfully launched the Khayyam satellite into space from the Baikonur space station in Kazakhstan by Russia's Soyuz satellite carrier rocket. Chennai, April 26 : Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Services is likely to give licenses to fair-price shops in the state to sell cooking gas cylinders. Currently, the cooking gas cylinders of 5 kg and 10 kg Free trade license (FTL) cylinders of the three state-run oil marketing companies (OMC) are being sold through its supermarkets, including Tamil Nadu Urban Cooperative Societies (TUCS). Notably, Tamil Nadu has 35,000 fair price shops and this network is spread across the state including in remote areas. Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies department secretary, J. Radhakrishnan, IAS, told media persons that the discussions for this proposal is in the initial stages with the representatives of Oil marketing companies. He said that if this proposal is through, then more cylinders could be sold across the state and added that existing customers of the oil companies could pick up the cylinders from the fair price shops in remote areas of the state. The Civil Supplies secretary said that the department had worked hard to get ISO certification for 5,000 fair price shops and is striving to get ISO certification for as many more shops. The fair price shops are now painted fresh with amenities like drinking water and washroom facilities for both -- the consumers and the staff. Staff are also being provided soft skill training. Guwahati, April 26 : Indian Youth Congress chief Srinivas B.V. filed an appeal on Wednesday in the Gauhati High Court to quash the complaint made by former Assam Congress leader Angkita Dutta. This comes after the Assam Police summoned Srinivas to appear at the Dispur police station on May 2 in connection with the harassment complaint lodged by Dutta. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Assam Police went to Srinivas' residence in Bengaluru and served a notice to appear in person before the police in Guwahati. In the notice, Srinivas was asked not to tamper with the evidence in the case and to not make any threat, inducement or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case. Srinivas was further asked to join the investigation and cooperate in the investigation. He has also been asked to disclose all the facts truthfully. The Youth Congress leader will have to produce all relevant documents as and when required. "Failure to attend/comply with the terms of this notice can render you liable for arrest under section 41A (3) and (4) of CrPC," the notice added. Meanwhile, the Congress leaders have questioned the timing of the complaint lodged against Srinivas as Karnataka election is scheduled on May 10, and the opposition alleged that Angkita Dutta was working on the 'provocation' of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Angkita Dutta, the former Assam Youth Congress president, had filed a complaint against Srinivas B.V. in Assam's Dispur police station accusing him of being "sexist and chauvinistic" and using derogatory comments. Mumbai, April 26 : A team of Maharashtra government officials will on Thursday meet representatives of the villagers opposing the proposed giant Ratnagiri Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd (RRPL), coming up with Arab help near Barsu. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar said that he met Industry Minister Uday Samant and discussed the situation. "The Minister said that presently only soil testing and survey is being carried out. I have said that if the villagers are objecting, then the government should meet and hammer out their problems before going ahead with the work," Pawar told mediapersons. He pointed out that before taking up any such mega-projects, it is necessary to take the locals into confidence and resolve their grievances. "If the RRPL project is going to benefit the people of Konkan we have no objections, but it should be after the cooperation of the locals. First the government must find out why the people are protesting," Pawar said. However, he said that if an amicable solution is not worked out on Thursday, then all the political parties could sit together and evolve a solution. The NCP supremo's comments come as the Ratnagiri Police extended the prohibitory orders in the proposed RRPL site vicinity till May 31 and prevented Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders, including MP Vinayak Raut, from visiting on Wednesday. The prohibitory orders are applicable within 1 km of Barsu, Panhale, Dhopeshwar, Goval, Varchiwadi-Goval, Khalchiwadi-Goval and those flouting them will be penalised, said the Police Inspector Vineet Chaudhary. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders have urged the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP government to exercise restraint, call off the soil survey and testing and allow the Ratnagiri villagers their right to protest against the project in the lush coastal belt. Protests and a political slugfest again hit the planned Rs 300,000-crore RRPL mega-venture -- promoted by IOCL, HPCL and BPCL -- coming up in Rajapur taluka with help of Saudi ARAMCO and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, and would be world's biggest single location refinery. The RRPL project will be barely kilometres from the proposed world's largest Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant (JNPP) in Ratnagiri, which has also been mired in controversies, strong opposition and protests by the locals since over a decade. New Delhi, April 26: Panama, a small Central American country known more for its unique geographic location, is quite keen on having an alliance with India to access quality, effective and cheap medicines for its population of about 4.5 million. Listing it as a "goal of the current administration", Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen discussed his country's strong desire to make an alliance with the Indian pharmaceutical industry when he met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar - the first EAM from India to visit the country - in the capital Panama City, earlier Tuesday. Both President Cohen and Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney Mencomo spotlighted India's growing economic prowess, calling it a "powerhouse" which is the world's largest democracy and fifth largest global economy, having just pushed the United Kingdom to sixth place. As they discussed trade, technology and pharmaceutical relations, Cohen listed the advantages that Panama offers for the establishment of more companies and also its plan to develop a centre of technological excellence and innovation in the country that links the continents of North and South America. The Panamanian President accentuated the strategic geographical, logistical and port position of Panama, to attract good foreign investment, and highlighted his country as an ideal destination to establish Indian companies. The politically, strategically and economically important Panama Canal that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean is the only international waterway with port terminals in two oceans and has an undisputed effect on world economic and commercial development. The rapprochement between Panama and India corresponds to the strategic objectives of Panama's Foreign Policy, directed by Cohen and which contributes to strengthening commercial investment, cooperation in innovation and energy, and pharmaceutical industries. At the same time, it drives forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative of using India's ongoing G20 presidency to give resonance to the voice of the global south. Jaishankar told the Panamanian President that India considers Panama as the gateway to the American continent and that, as the fifth largest global economy, it could benefit from entering the Latin American market with technology, medicine production and the strengthening of companies, especially those dedicated to pharmaceutical production, to through the Panama Logistics Hub. Later, while delivering the keynote address at the India-Latin America Business event in the capital city, Jaishankar told the gathering that India-Latin America trade is nearing US$ 50 billion with a much-diversified basket that has seen a significant increase in investments and interest in mining, energy, agro and infrastructure sectors. "As the fifth largest economy, our presence across the world is steadily growing. Transformation in manufacturing, infrastructure, innovation and startup culture within India are game changers. Long awaited reforms in India has led to record Indian exports. Latin America is an attractive market," said Jaishankar. The EAM mentioned that Indian project execution has grown across geographies with 'Made in India' and 'Delivered by India' becoming realities globally. He also underscored how by providing Covid vaccines to 100 countries and medicines to 150 nations, India's proposition as 'Pharmacy of the World' is welcomed by all. "A robust digital backbone in India allows delivery of public goods and tools for business. Manufacturing pick-up via Production Linked Incentives and support to vendor chains and MSMEs. Indian products are a natural fit for Latin American middle class," he reasoned. During his visit, Jaishankar also spoke on the importance of the Indian diaspora in Panama, the presence of which dates back to the middle of the 19th Century when groups of Indians came to Panama to work on the construction of Panama Railways and later the Panama Canal in the early 20th Century. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Guwahati, April 26 : : In a shocking incident, an elderly man was hacked to death by his three sons in Assam's Dhubri district, officials said on Wednesday. The incident happened in Saslapura village on Tuesday evening. A senior police officer said that after a brief chase around the village, the sons attacked their father, identified as Sopiyal Ali, with a machete. Police said that a family dispute was the cause of the escalation and that the accused trio fled the scene after carrying out the horrific murder. The local police team went to the crime scene to assess the situation. The body was handed to the family after an autopsy. Police launched a manhunt to nab the accused persons. Hyderabad, April 26 : The Telangana High Court posted to Thursday orders on the CBI petition to cancel the bail of Yerra Gangi Reddy, the main accused in former Andhra Pradesh Minister Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy's murder case. The court completed hearing on the petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and adjourned the case to Thursday for judgement. The judgement is eagerly awaited as the CBI investigation in the case has entered a crucial phase. The Supreme Court recently extended the deadline for completing the investigation into the sensational case till June 30. The CBI sought the cancellation of the bail on the ground that Gangi Reddy is the main accused and has been influencing key witnesses in the case. During the previous hearing, the CBI counsel had argued that Gangi Reddy is having political backing and is trying to put pressure on the witnesses through his connections. Justice D. Ramesh had asked the CBI to submit some evidence that Gangi Reddy is influencing witnesses. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Andhra Pradesh police, which was then investigating the murder case, arrested Gangi Reddy on March 28, 2019 Gangi Reddy was granted default bail by a local court at Pulivendula in October 2021 on technical grounds as the CBI failed to file the charge sheet within 90 days of registering the FIR. Later, the Andhra Pradesh High Court also upheld the decision of the lower court. The CBI had approached the Supreme Court, challenging the order of the High Court. The Supreme Court in November last year transferred the trial in the murder case from Andhra Pradesh to CBI court in Hyderabad. Consequent to this, the apex court asked the CBI to approach the Telangana High Court for cancellation of bail of Gangi 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 murdered at his residence in Pulivendula of Kadapa district on March 15, 2019, weeks before 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 while observing that doubts raised by Suneetha Reddy about getting a fair trial and investigation in Andhra Pradesh were reasonable. New Delhi, April 26 : Professional social networking platform LinkedIn now has 100 million members in India, up 19 per cent year-on-year, Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella has informed. The Microsoft-owned LinkedIn saw record engagement in the March quarter as more than 930 million members globally now turn to the professional social network to connect, learn, sell and get hired. "Member growth accelerated for the seventh consecutive quarter as we expanded to new audiences. We now have 100 million members in India, up 19 per cent," Nadella said during the company's Q3 2023 earnings call late on Tuesday. As Gen Z enters the workforce, "We saw 73 per cent year-over-year increase in the number of student sign-ups," Nadella added. LinkedIn Talent Solutions continues to help hirers connect to job seekers and professionals to build the skills they need to access opportunity. "Our hiring business took share for the third consecutive quarter. The excitement around AI is creating new opportunities across every function from marketing, sales and finance to software development and security," said Nadella. The LinkedIn revenue increased 8 per cent in the March quarter for the tech giant. In 2016, Microsoft acquired LinkedIn for more than $26 billion. The platform has introduced new AI-powered features, including writing suggestions for member profiles and job descriptions and collaborative articles. "Our exclusive partnership with Netflix brings differentiated premium video content to our ad network, and our new Copilot for the web is reshaping daily search and web habits," Nadella informed. Tripoli, April 26 : The Libyan Coast Guard has rescued 61 illegal migrants and recovered 11 bodies off the coast of Garrabulli, some 55 km east of the capital Tripoli. "We recovered 11 bodies, including a child. The total number of illegal migrants rescued today is 61 of different African, Asian and Arab nationalities," Esa al-Zarrug, a Coast Guard officer, told Xinhua news agency late Tuesday. A total of 4,335 illegal migrants have been rescued or intercepted by the Libyan authorities so far this year. Meanwhile, 310 illegal migrants have died and 227 others have gone missing on the central Mediterranean route off the Libyan coast, according to the International Organization for Migration. Migrants and asylum seekers use the Central Mediterranean route to enter the EU on an irregular basis. They embark on long, dangerous journeys from North Africa and Turkey, crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Italy, and to a much lesser extent also Malta. The large majority of the migrants transit through Libya on their journey towards Europe. This has contributed to the development of well-established and resilient smuggling and trafficking networks in Libya. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has congratulated Israel on the 75th anniversary of the declaration of independence, Trend reports via the ministrys tweet. "Looking forward to deepening of Azerbaijan-Israel strategic partnership," the tweet said. The State of Israel recognized the state independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan on December 25, 1991. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on April 7, 1992. On January 21, 2016, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with the Prime Minister of the State of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, within the framework of the Davos Economic Forum in Switzerland. On December 13, 2016, Netanyahu paid a working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan. On January 24, 2018, President Ilham Aliyev met with Netanyahu within the framework of the World Economic Forum in Davos. There are about twenty Jewish socio-cultural and charitable organizations in Azerbaijan. At the national level, there are the Jewish House, the Azerbaijan-Israel Society, the Azerbaijan Jewish Women's Association, the Jewish Cultural Center, the Azerbaijani branch of the Sokhnut International Jewish Organisation, and others. In total, 13 documents were signed between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State of Israel on cooperation in various fields. The Israeli Embassy has been functioning in Azerbaijan since 1993. On November 26, 2022, President Ilham Aliyev issued an order to establish the Azerbaijani Embassy in the State of Israel, signaling another important step forward in the diplomatic relations between the two countries. On January 11, 2023, the President of Azerbaijan appointed Mukhtar Mammadov as the first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Israel, marking another significant milestone in the bilateral relationship between the Muslim-majority nation and the Jewish state. Ambassador-designate Mammadov arrived in Tel Aviv on February 28 and presented his credentials to Israeli President Isaac Herzog on March 26. Tehran, April 26 : Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said his country and Oman held consultations on restoring a 2015 nuclear deal and removing the sanctions on Tehran. Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in an address to reporters following his meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Hamad al-Busaidi in Muscat, reports Xinhua news agency. The Iranian top diplomat said that Oman has always played a "constructive" role in the nuclear talks. Over the past years, Oman has sought to mediate between Iran and the US to help bring the nuclear talks to fruition. Amir-Abdollahian noted that in the meeting with his Omani counterpart, the two sides agreed to soon hold the meeting of the joint economic commission. He added that, based on the official invitation extended by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, the two ministers discussed the date for the trip. Heading a political delegation, Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Muscat on Tuesday for talks on bilateral, regional and international issues with Omani officials. Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to put some curbs on its nuclear program in return for the removal of the sanctions on the country. The US, however, pulled out of the deal in May 2018 and reimposed its unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to reduce some of its nuclear commitments under the deal. The talks on the JCPOA's revival began in April 2021 in Vienna, Austria. No breakthrough has been achieved after the latest round of talks in August 2022. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Prayagraj : , April 26 (IANS) Police officials probing the Umesh Pal murder in Prayagraj are now using the "economic route" to reach Shaista Parveen, wife of slain Atiq Ahmad and an accused in the case. According to police sources, Shaista has information about her husband's massive wealth and property acquired in the past four decades. "We have information that Shaista is desperately trying to hold on to the wealth and ensure that she saves it for her sons. We are now probing sources that helped the family get these properties, many of which may be 'benami'. The police carried out raids at Sallahpur and Hatwa villages of Prayagraj. Atiq Ahmed's brother Ashraf's in-laws' house is also in Sallahpur village," said a police official. Sources said that Atiq had acquired properties in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Hyderabad and Shaista may be hiding in one of these places, along with some other women of Atiq's family who are also accused in the Umesh Pal murder case. Atiq also made investments in diamond mining, dairy and other projects in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and even in Mumbai. Shaista Parveen has knowledge about these properties. Officials say that Shaista and Ashraf's wife Zainab Rubi may be changing locations frequently to avoid arrest while locals in Chakia area claim the duo may be observing the period of 'iddat' (over three months of seclusion after husband's death) in hiding. Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were shot dead by three assailants in full public view while they were being taken for a medical check-up at a hospital in Prayagraj on April 15 night. Vijayapura : , April 26 (IANS) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis while campaigning for the BJP in Karnataka said on Wednesday that the health insurance scheme launched by his government for the border villages in Karnataka was planned by the previous government. Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis maintained that it was the time of elections and matters of dispute should not be discussed at this juncture. He clarified that the stand taken by the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) is not the stand of his party. He maintained that the BJP will win the most number of seats in elections. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government headed by Chief Minister Bommai will regain power. "PM Modi has ensured the welfare of the poor and the double engine government has achieved development. The Congress party is appeasing Muslims. We will not indulge in vote bank politics," he said. The Maharashtra government earlier had announced the Jyotirao Phule Health Scheme for people of 865 villages of Karnataka. The move created a rift with neighboring Karnataka state. CM Bommai had slammed that it was a decision against the federal system. "Maharashtra government should immediately take back the announcement and respect the direction of Union Home Minister Amit Shah," CM Bommai had urged. The harmony between two states must be protected, he added. "If Maharashtra continues with its obstinacy, the Karnataka government will announce certain schemes for Kannada people living in border regions of Maharashtra. It is a condemnable move by the Maharashtra government to take declaration letters from the people that they belong to Maharashtra on the pretext of giving health schemes," CM Bommai had stated. Dubai, April 26 : Following the death of a 38-year-old expat from Kerala in a vessel capsizing incident, police in Sharjah have charged the management of the tourist boat company for negligence and arrested onboard staff members on duty, a media report said. According to Khaleej Times, authorities in Sharjah have also launched a crackdown on several other tourist boat operators violating security and safety procedures. Abhilash had gone boating with his colleagues when the accident took place off Khor Fakkan beach last week, killing him and injuring four others, including a seven-year-old child. "The management of the tourist boat company behind the fatal accident has been charged with negligence and referred to the public prosecution," the Khaleej Times reported, citing Sharjah Police. Maj-Gen Saif Al Zari Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of the Sharjah Police, said that following the incident, an emergency response team was dispatched to the site, and a probe by them revealed that overloading was the cause of the accident. There were 16 passengers on the boat when the accident took place, whereas the vessel could accommodate a maximum of 10 people. Multiple rescue teams, including the police and paramedics, rushed to the spot. The investigation showed that the company took in more people to make higher profits, the Khaleej Times reported. Following the probe's outcome, the boat's management and all staff on duty were arrested. Police, meanwhile, have issued a warning to all other boat operators in the Emirate to carry out safety checks. Maj-Gen Al Shamsi ordered the boat operators to strictly follow safety and security guidelines. Abhilash's body is presently being kept at the mortuary in Khor Fakkan Hospital. He is survived by his wife and daughter. Chennai, April 26 : The Tamil Nadu health department continues its vigil with regard to Covid-19 cases. However, the number of fresh Coronavirus cases has come down. In the 24 hours ending Tuesday, the number of fresh cases in Tamil Nadu stands at 470. The number of active cases in the state dropped to 3585 when compared to 3640 in the previous day. The Test Positivity Rate in Tamil Nadu is 7.2. However, except Ramanathapuram, Kallakurichi and Tirupattur, all districts recorded fresh Covid-19 cases and the state health department has directed people not to let down their vigil. The department in a statement said that even though the number of Covid-19 cases are coming down in the state, the health professionals should continue to work wearing masks. The department has also called upon the people to abide by the Covid-19 protocol and to keep safe distancing and washing of hands regularly in addition to wearing of masks. The number of fresh cases stood at 94 in Chennai while it was 55 in Coimbatore, 38 in Salem, 31 in Chengalpattu, 28 in Tiruppur, 27 in Kanyakumari and 20 in Tiruvallur. One patient from Malaysia tested positive while being tested at the airport. Tamil Nadu health minister, Ma Subramanian while speaking to IANS said, "The number of fresh Covid-19 cases have come down during the last few days. However, people must not reduce their vigil in the days to come." Kolkata, April 26 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths probing the multi-crore teachers' recruitment scam, have sought details of all the primary school teachers who qualified the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) conducted by the West Bengal Board of Primary Education in 2014. A communication on this count dated April 25 from the office of the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) office of CBI in Kolkata reached the office of WBBPE on Wednesday. In the communication, the board authorities have been asked to submit the details of all who qualified in TET-2014 and secured jobs. The details sought by the central agency sleuths on this count include roll numbers and serial numbers of the candidates, father's name, birth certificates, current institute and place of posting, current address and their mobile numbers. In the communication, the central agency has said that these details are required for the sake of taking the investigation forward which was started on the basis of a verdict of the Calcutta High Court on June 8 last year. In the communication addressed to the current president of WBBPE, the CBI has also sought the copies of notifications issued by the board in 2106, 2017 and 2018. State education department sources said that on receiving the communication from the central agency, the board authorities have asked the office of the chairmen of the different district primary education councils to send the details of such candidates posted in the respective districts. The offices of the district councils have asked to forward all documents in the respective district to the head office of the board at the earliest. Caracas, April 26 : Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has affirmed his government's support for peace talks with the opposition as an international forum on the country's political crisis opened in neighbouring Colombia. Convened by Colombian President Gustavo Petro in Bogota, the International Conference on the Political Process in Venezuela aims to promote dialogue between Maduro's government and opposition groups, reports Xinhua news agency. "Venezuela promotes and supports the peace talks," Maduro posted on his Twitter account, adding that his government has a "vocation for dialogue" and has "always sought" an agreement towards recovery and the prosperity of the people. Speaking on his new television program, Maduro said he wanted "the international conference in Bogota to be a complete success for President Gustavo Petro, for Venezuela, for Latin America and for the Caribbean. "We are committed to doing everything that needs to be done to make the conference a success for peace and the sovereignty of Venezuela," Maduro said. He stressed, however, that to make progress towards dialogue with the opposition, it was necessary to "lift all US sanctions" against the South American country. Petro said that "20 countries are already in Bogota with their Foreign Ministries" to participate in the conference. Mumbai, April 26 : Amid a jumpy political situation in Maharashtra since the past few weeks, Nationalist Congress Party's Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar has emerged as the front-runner in banners proclaiming him as the 'Future Chief Minister', here on Wednesday. It started on Tuesday in his 'sasural', Ter town in Osmanabad district, where his in-laws reside, some supporters erected huge banners and posters with the message: "Ajit Pawar, Son-in-Law of Ter, Our Leader, The Future Chief Minister'. On Wednesday, Ajit Pawar's banners-posters as 'Future CM' popped up in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Nashik and all the way in Nagpur -- the last where a similar poster had come up with the name of Bharatiya Janata Party's Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. However, NCP President and his uncle Sharad Pawar was not exactly enthused at the banner-poster proclamations concerning his brash nephew and has pulled up the party activists to refrain from such blatant propaganda. An obviously unapproving Congress state President Nana Patole merely commented that "whichever party has the maximum number of MLAs will get the CM's post". In a swipe, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that even Union Home Minister Amit Shah has come to Nagpur this day to view whose banner is more impressive -- an obvious hint at Fadnavis' posters in his hometown. Earlier, in January-February, besides Ajit Pawar, even other NCP bigwigs like state President Jayant Patil and MP Supriya Sule-Pawar had shot to prominence as 'Future CM', but the issue died down soon after. The latest round of soothsaying comes days after the mercurial Ajit Pawar, 64, publicly expressed a pet desire to ascend to the Top Post, triggering a furious political debate. After all, he has been a former four-time Deputy CM, including in the 80-hour-long two-man government headed by ex-CM Devendra Fadnavis in November 2019, and considered sufficiently experienced for a 'promotion'. The state has been agog with speculation over Ajit Pawar's next political move, like hopping over to the BJP in return for the CM's post, though he himself has repeatedly and vehemently denied any such intentions, often in his humorous and wise-cracking style. New Delhi, April 26 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice on the plea of alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekar against punishment handed to him by jail authorities. Starting from May 1 till 15, the jail authorities' order stops him from meeting family, using phone and canteen facilities. The alleged conman is lodged in the national capital's Mandoli Jail. It is Chandrashekhar's prayer before the court to set aside and quash the order dated April 17 passed by the office of the Jail Deputy Superintendent of Prison, Mandoli and put a stay on it until the adjudication of the instant petition. On Chandrashekhar's plea, Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma issued notice to the concerned jail authorities and even directed them to file a report on the same. As Additional standing counsel Nandita Rao accepted the notice, the court listed the matter for next hearing on April 28. It is Chandrashekhar's case that two punishment tickets were issued to him without hearing him. Appearing for the petitioner (Chandrashekhar), advocate Anant Malik argued that principle of natural justice is being violated and that it is a serious issue as the family of the petitioner's mother resides in Bangalore. There is an urgency and the punishment should be stayed, Malik said. However, Rao opposed the submissions denying the urgency in the matter and that she would file a status report. The plea said that the Jail Deputy Superintendent has arbitrarily, erroneously and without any application of mind, awarded two punishment tickets against the petitioner, depriving him of the canteen facility and the mulaqat/phone call facility for 15 days. It is contended by the petitioner that these restricted facilities are the only ways to communicate with his aged mother, who is currently residing in Bangalore and cannot travel to meet his son (Chandrashekhar) due to her health conditions. Washington, April 26 : US officials have said that the Islamic State (IS) terror group mastermind thought to have planned the devastating 2021 bombing at the Kabul airport has been killed by Afghanistan's ruling Taliban government. According to multiple media reports, the US identified the suspect as a leader within the terror group's Afghan branch known as IS-K, but didn't name the individual and refused to reveal how this person was killed, for fear that doing so would jeopardise American intelligence-gathering capability in the region, reports Xinhua news agency. The individual was "the mastermind of the horrific attack" on August 26, 2021 that killed 13 US service members as well as 170 Afghan civilians. John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council, was quoted by CNN as saying, referring to it as one of a "series of high-profile leadership losses" that IS-K has suffered this year. The US was not involved in the Taliban's operation, nor was it notified by the regime about the death, the reports said. Confirmation of the person's death and identity was based on the US' own intelligence gathering. The administration reportedly began calling relatives of the US troops killed in the suicide bombing to inform them of the suspect's death, but its refusal to disclose further details left one relative frustrated. "They couldn't give me his name; they couldn't tell me the details of the operation," Darin Hoover, the father of Taylor Hoover of the US Marine Corps, was quoted by The New York Times as saying. Dissatisfied about the inadequate information he got from the government, Hoover said the call left him feeling "frustrated, again". The death of the suspect "doesn't absolve the administration or the State Department or the Pentagon from taking responsibility or accountability for what happened, Hoover was quoted by CNN as saying. They haven't stepped up and said we messed this up and it won't happen again". "And I personally think it can happen again," he added. Three days after the Kabul airport attack, the US launched a drone strike on August 29, 2021, hitting a white Toyota the officials believed at the time was loaded with explosives. It later became clear that what were inside the car turned out to be water containers, and that those killed by the US Hellfire missile were not terrorists, but 10 Afghan civilians, including seven children. The August 2021 pull-out of US troops from Afghanistan marked the end of America's longest war. It led to the collapse of the Afghan government and military, which the US government had supported for two decades. It also led to the return of power to the Taliban. The Biden administration was criticised both at home and abroad in the aftermath of the pull-out. Many had expressed anger over the abandonment of Afghans and of US weaponry, and one US Marine injured in the blast described the pull-out as a "catastrophe" during Republican-led hearings examining the withdrawal. Qabil Ashirov The Russian peacekeeping troops temporarily stationed in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan in accordance with the November 9 Statement in 2020, have appointed a new commander. Andrey Volkov, who headed the troops until today, hands over his chair to the newly appointed Colonel-General Aleksandr Lentsov. However, the newly appointed 67-year-old commander has an interesting dossier. Colonel-General Lentsov has started his career in Afghanistan, served in Donetsk, Ukraine in 2014-2015, and took part in Russian operations in Syria in 2016. He was the commander of the 98th Guards Airborne Division. Between 2009 and 2013 he served as deputy commander of the Russian Airborne Forces, and from 2013 to 2020 as deputy commander of the Russian Ground Forces. Besides that, it said he is a trusted man and advisor of Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu. It is also an interesting point that Russia has been replacing the commander of the peacekeeping contingent for the 4th time in the past three years - and Lentsov is the fifth one. Nevertheless, the frequent replacements in the very short time has not been accepted unequivocally either in Azerbaijani or Armenian societies. Especially the coincidence of the last replacement with the establishment of the border checkpoint at the start of the Lachin-Khankendi road by Azerbaijan has put the limelight on some questions. In a comment for Azernews on the issue the Former Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Tofig Zulfugar clarified all the dark points as follows: "I not think that the last replacement relates to the establishment of the border checkpoint," the diplomat said. "Azerbaijan had been doing preparations for a long time in this matter. The establishment of the checkpoint was in the agenda. Even Andrey Volkov, the former head of the peacekeepers, voiced it. In fact, this should have happened a long time ago. The peacekeepers do not conduct border guard and there is no such international experience. They usually deal with security issues. This function should have been taken from them. I do not believe that Volkov's replacement is related to this issue. However, in order to calm the Armenians, perhaps they will spread such information that Russia was not aware of it [the establishment of the border checkpoint]. Or it is Volkov's arbitrary decision. I do not rule out the spread of similar images. Even the Armenians were aware of this because they installed their border checkpoints before us. Now, if the Armenian side claimed that they had not known, it will not be believable. We are just dealing with a wave of propaganda, but the reality is that this is a process that should have happened a long time ago. The main purpose of the established border checkpoint is to stop radicalism and terror. The movement of radicals will now be under control. the former minister noted. As for the frequent replacements, the former foreign minister noted that it could have different reasons. As it is known, the contingent is under the Ministry of Defense, and now the main priority of the Ministry of Defense is the war in Ukraine. The Rotations that are happening may have something to do with it. Certain personnel may be needed in Ukraine. Secondly, the leadership of the Russian Defense Ministry or the political leadership of Russia is dissatisfied with the work style of the military personnel in Karabakh. From this point of view, these changes could occur. Thirdly, it may be related to the fact that the troops in Karabakh have come under the influence of the local Armenians due to subjective reasons. I mean, in exchange for financial interests and it could dissatisfy the Azerbaijani side and dissatisfy the Russian Ministry of Defense, ex-minister opined. He stressed that the appointment of Colonel-General Aleksander Lentsov will not affect the process politically in the region because military personnel perform a technical function. In this regard, it is not right to expect some new steps from them. The former minister added that the Azerbaijani side may require him to help in some processes such as integration issues. However, the peacekeepers do not have the power, nor do they have the leverage, to seriously change the nature of the ongoing processes. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Armenian terrorism, extremism, aggressive separatism, and all forms and manifestations of racial discrimination must be fought decisively without any ambiguity or double standards, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on the monument to the terrorist "Nemesis" operation in Armenia, Trend reports. "We strongly condemn the unveiling of a monument to the terrorist Nemesis operation in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, on April 25 of this year," said the ministry. According to the ministry, building this monument with the permission and approval of the relevant government agencies of Armenia, the participation of the Deputy Mayor of Armenia who is a member of the ruling party, as well as other officials in the unveiling ceremony is the promotion of the terrorist policy by Armenia and the propaganda of terrorist acts carried out throughout the history. "During the terrorist Nemesis operation targeting the officials of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, as well as the Ottoman Empire, in 1920-1922, along with officials of the Ottoman State, former Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Fatali Khan Khoyski, former Deputy Chairman of the Parliament of Azerbaijan Hasan Bay Aghayev, Former Minister of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan Behbud Khan Javanshir, former Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Nasib Bey Yusifbeyli were killed," said the statement. As the ministry noted, it is well known to all that, terrorism promoted in Armenia at the state level, as well as ASALA and other Armenian terrorist organizations committed more than 22 terrorist acts in 235 countries of the world and killed 24 Turkish diplomats in 1970-1980. Since the end of the 1980s, Armenia has committed about 30 large-scale terrorist acts against Azerbaijan, including the bombings of public buses and metro trains, as well as the civilian population has been targeted by terrorists. "It is known that ASALA and its sub-branches Arabo and Aramo terrorist groups were closely involved in committing the Khojaly genocide against Azerbaijanis. Heroization of Armenian terrorist, ASALA member Hampig Sassounian, who is the murderer of the Turkish diplomat Kemal Arikan, Nazism propagandas constitution of an integral part of the state policy in Armenia, the propaganda of SS General Garegin Nzhdeh and Drastamat Kanayan (known as Dro) as a national hero, the perpetuation of their names and the promotion of Nzhdeism clearly show the true essence of the Armenian regime," the ministry added. Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also noted that the support of terrorism at the state level, which has been used by radical Armenian groups throughout history, must be strongly condemned by the international community, and in order to ensure peace and tranquility in the region, the policy of terrorism should be stopped by Armenia. As noted in the statement, Armenian terrorism, extremism, aggressive separatism, and all forms and manifestations of racial discrimination must be fought decisively without any ambiguity or double standards. Such steps by Armenia seriously question the country's alleged sincerity and goodwill in connection with the ongoing normalization negotiations with Azerbaijan and Turkiye, said the ministry. "It should be noted that the path to peace and reconciliation does not lie in the further glorification of crimes and mistakes but in the recognition of them," the statement concluded. Melbourne, April 26 : The Australian state of Victoria on Wednesday announced that it will raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 years old to 12, and to 14 by 2027. The Victoria government said in a statement that the decision is aimed at preventing young people from entering the criminal justice system early and keeping the community safe, reports Xinhua news agency. As part of the reforms, the government will also codify and strengthen the existing legal presumption, known as 'doli incapax', which states a child under 14 can not be held criminally responsible unless they knew their actions were seriously wrong. For the first stage of the reforms, support services will be used to help 10- and 11-year-olds and their families address the causes of problematic behaviours and prevent future contact with the criminal justice system. Once the first step of raising the age to 12 has been implemented, a further lift to 14 years old will be carried out by 2027, with exceptions for certain serious crimes. The state government said that consultation with key stakeholders and agencies will commence in the development of the legislation, which is expected to be introduced to Parliament later this year with the change to 12 expected to be phased in late 2024. "When very young children engage in harmful behaviour, we know that something has gone terribly wrong in their life. We need to respond effectively and compassionately whilst still making sure they're accountable for their actions," said Victoria's Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes. "This important reform is a careful and considered first step toward making sure fewer children are entering the criminal justice system and ensuring the safety of all Victorians," Symes added. However, Michael O'Brien, the state's shadow attorney-general, voiced concerns and questions over the government's proposal. "If a child who knowingly commits a crime isn't going to be held legally accountable, how are they going to be set on the right path?" O'Brien was quoted as saying in a local media report. "We want to see the detail of this legislation, we want to see what is going to be replacing it as a form of accountability for children who do and knowingly commit crimes," he noted. Mumbai, April 26 : Actor Vyom Yadav, who played the lead role in the streaming series 'Garmi', has shared that working with show creator-director Tigmanshu Dhulia was an enriching experience for him. Prior to 'Garmi', the actor faced multiple rejections so, when he got the opportunity to work with Dhulia, it turned out to be very cathartic for him and also a learning curve. The show is a political drama that weaves together the lives of several characters and is set in Prayagraj. Talking about working as one of the lead characters in 'Garmi', Vyom said, "Bagging the role in 'Garmi' was truly a dream come true for me. After facing multiple rejections, getting to work with Tigmanshu sir, one of the best directors in our country, on such a grand project was a life-changing moment. Tigmanshu sir is an absolute institution on the move." He also spoke about how it made the actor in him a better artiste. He shared, "Working with him was like being in an acting school, learning insightful and informative tips and tricks every day. I felt like he was a father figure to me and he has always extended unwavering support to me. He gave me the space to bring my own interpretation to the scenes as an actor, and I appreciated how open he was with my contributions. It was a dream come true to work with such a wonderful director, and I cannot wait for more opportunities to collaborate with him." Talking about his role preparation, he said that while preparing for his role as Arvind Shukla in 'Garmi', he created a timeline for his character development after every prime incident in the script. He even changed his way of living to embody the character's aggression - speaking less and constantly thinking like Arvind in everyday life situations, not just on set. The actor further mentioned, "That's what's so fascinating about this art form - it allows you to experience things you wouldn't otherwise. I remember talking to students in the hostel where we were shooting, observing their lifestyle and room setup, which was nothing like what I've seen before. They were welcoming and addressed me as 'bhaiyaji'. Being in their world helped me tap into the skin of the character and bring him to life on screen." "When I first read the script for 'Garmi', I realised that some of the qualities of the character matched with my own, but the political aspect was completely new to me. It was uncharted territory for me, and I had to spend hours watching and researching videos to be able to see the overlap between my traits and the character's. But I was determined to make it work, and I put in the effort to really connect with the character", he concluded. Vyom has earlier acted in character roles in some critically acclaimed projects like 'Badhaai Do' and 'Delhi Crime'. 'Garmi' is available to stream on Sony LIV. London, April 26 : In a significant move, the UK market regulator on Wednesday announced it was blocking Microsoft's proposed $68.7 billion acquisition of gaming giant Activision Blizzard, the developer behind hugely-popular Call of Duty (CoD) franchise. The final decision to prevent the deal comes after Microsoft's proposed solution failed to effectively address the concerns in the cloud gaming sector, outlined in the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) provisional findings published in February. Microsoft entered into a $68.7 billion deal to buy Activision, one of the most popular video games publishers in the world, in January 2022. The CMA launched an in-depth review of the deal in September 2022, and in February 2023, provisionally found that the merger could make Microsoft even stronger in cloud gaming, stifling competition in this growing market. Microsoft submitted a proposal to address some of these concerns which the CMA examined in considerable depth. The proposed remedy set out requirements governing what games must be offered by Microsoft to what platforms and on what conditions over a ten-year period. "Cloud gaming is growing fast with the potential to change gaming by altering the way games are played, freeing people from the need to rely on expensive consoles and gaming PCs and giving them more choice over how and where they play games. This means that it is vital that we protect competition in this emerging and exciting market," said Martin Coleman, chair of the independent panel of experts conducting this investigation. Microsoft already enjoys a powerful position and head start over other competitors in cloud gaming and "this deal would strengthen that advantage giving it the ability to undermine new and innovative competitors," he added. Microsoft President Brad Smith, in a tweet, said that the company remains fully committed to this acquisition and will appeal against the decision. "The decision rejects a pragmatic path to address competition concerns and discourages technology innovation and investment in the United Kingdom. We have already signed contracts to make Activision Blizzard's popular games available on 150 million more devices, and we remain committed to reinforcing these agreements through regulatory remedies," Smith argued. According to the CMA, Microsoft's proposal contained a number of significant shortcomings connected with the growing and fast-moving nature of cloud gaming services. "It did not sufficiently cover different cloud gaming service business models, including multigame subscription services. It was not sufficiently open to providers who might wish to offer versions of games on PC operating systems other than Windows," said the UK regulator. Microsoft already accounts for an estimated 60-70 per cent of global cloud gaming services and has other important strengths in cloud gaming from owning Xbox, the leading PC operating system (Windows) and a global cloud computing infrastructure (Azure and Xbox Cloud Gaming). "The deal would reinforce Microsoft's advantage in the market by giving it control over important gaming content such as Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft. The evidence available to the CMA indicates that, absent the merger, Activision would start providing games via cloud platforms in the foreseeable future," according to the UK regulator. Noida, April 26 : More than 50 private schools have been fined Rs 1 lakh each after they failed to return 15 per cent of the fees charged during the Covid-19 pandemic as was directed by the Allahabad High Court. Noida District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma said that the schools have 30 days time. If the fees are not refunded to the parents, then the same fine will increase to Rs 5 lakh. The names of the schools which have been fined are Father Agnel School, Ryan International School, G.D. Goneka Global School, Lotus Valley International School, Shiv Nadar School, Ramagya School and others. On January 16 this year, the Allahabad High Court had ordered all schools to refund 15 per cent of the fees charged during academic session 2020-21 when physical classes could not be conducted due to outbreak of the coronavirus. Some schools have said in response that during the Corona period, they themselves had given 20 to 30 per cent discount to the parents, so the discount should be included in the court order. In this regard, the District Magistrate has sought information from the concerned department. He said in the order that the schools should follow the order of the High Court. Chandigarh, April 26 : Inspired by a giant Bhagavad Gita weighing 800 kg at ISKCON temple in Delhi, 72-year-old advocate Madan Mohan Vats on Wednesday claimed that he has come out with the 'longest' Gita written by him on 15-mm wide 1,365-m long cassette ribbon, weighing 510 grams only. A total of 700 'slokas' of all the 18 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita and related texts, published by Geeta Press, Gorakhpur, and each Sanskrit 'shlokas' followed by its verse, prepared by Geeta Manishi Swami Gyananand, including the brief thoughts of 20 eminent thinkers like Mahatma Gandhi and Madan Mohan Malviya, have been written by Vats with acrylic colour and triple zero brush by devoting 905 working hours. He told the media here that he used 10 Video Home System cassettes to complete the job. To make it readable, the ribbon passes through a specially designed double acrylic sheet 2" X 12", joined with two mounted 10" diameter cassettes on two vertical stands. The speed of the ribbon can be controlled by two 12 volts motors and a battery. Vats has a passion to present the Bhagavad Gita in different forms. Earlier, he had presented the Bhagavad Gita in Sanskrit on 44" X 29" single paper sheet and then on a sheet of 29" X 14" in verse form. The other presentation is a print of all 'slokas' on artificial peepal tree leaves. These presentations can be seen in the museum of Geeta Gyan Sansthanam in Kurukshetra in Haryana. Dantewada : , April 26 (IANS) Ten men drawn from Chhattisgarh Police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) and a civilian were martyred on Wednesday in a forested patch of Dantewada district as Maoists blew up a vehicle using an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The incident created widespread anger in Chhattisgarh and locals in picturesque Bastar region, which includes Dantewada, sought revenge but Maoists slipped into the forested hilly parts after killing DRG personnel at Aranpur police station area. The bloodshed in Dantewada on Wednesday took place after a prolonged period of peace and there was a wider belief in the state that Chhattisgarh government has finally contained Maoist violence. The paramilitary forces have launched a major operation immediately, along with local police, to track down the armed Maoists who carried out the deadly attack. The tragic incident has been strongly condemned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said in a tweet that sacrifices of martyred jawans will always be remembered. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that he was anguished by the cowardly attack on Chhattisgarh Police and assured all help to state government. He spoke to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel too. Baghel has put off his scheduled Karnataka trip to campaign for party in May 10 Assembly polls and he would be visiting to Dantewada on Thursday to assess the security situation on ground. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi have strongly condemned the Dantewada attack. Islamabad, April 26 : As the Supreme Court's deadline for talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) looms, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that the top court has no power to act as an arbitrator on the issue of elections between the opposition and government, a media report said. "The function of the Supreme Court is not that of a panchayat, but to give judgments according to the Constitution and law," Sharif said in a televised address after meeting his coalition partners, The News reported. The premier had called the meeting of the coalition partners on Wednesday, as the deadline for talks with PTI, ordered by the Supreme Court, nears. The apex court is scheduled to hear a petition, seeking to hold general elections to national and provincial assemblies simultaneously. During his address, Sharif said that a parliamentary committee will discuss the terms of talks between the ruling alliance and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) regarding holding elections across the country on the same day. He also said the door for negotiations should not be closed. "We can decide what the format of the talks will be. The parliamentary committee can create room for this," he said. The premier said the Parliament had dealt with challenges in the past and taken constitutional and legal steps regarding the Supreme Court, The News reported. The situation is still challenging, he continued. Referring to the verdict of a three-member Supreme Court bench that ordered polls to the Punjab Assembly on May 14, he said the Parliament did not accept the bench's decision. "The Parliament did not accept that bench's decision. The unanimous decision was that we accept the four-three verdict," Sharif said, referring to the controversies surrounding the bench's members, The News reported. Chandigarh, April 26 : An educational-cum-motivational tour for students of the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies of Post Graduate Government College in Sector 11 in Chandigarh was organised by 'Flaming Arrow Brigade' under the aegis of the 'Vajra Corps' on Wednesday. Seventy students and four faculty members visited New Amritsar military station for an enriching experience. The students were exposed to the rich history, evolution and functioning of mechanised forces of the Indian Army, an official statement said. Brig P. Sunil Kumar, Commander 'Flaming Arrow Brigade', while addressing the students shared his experience and motivated them to strive hard to achieve their dreams. The young officers from the brigade also interacted with students and provided them with a deep insight into the ethos, tradition and glorious past of the Indian Army. The students were given an informative insight on the equipment held with the mechanised forces of the Army during the visit. The students and faculty members exchanged their views on various issues during the interactive session. For many of the students, it was the first time that they had visited a military station. This visit gave students a broad horizon of the Indian Army's commitment towards safeguarding the nation. Kolkata, April 26 : Debasish Chakraborty, the Superintendent of Presidency Special Correctional Home, faced the ire of a special court on Wednesday for allowing former Education Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee to continue wearing finger rings as an undertrial lodged under his care. Chakraborty had appeared in court on Wednesday to give his explanation on this count, as wearing rings while in custody goes against the jail code. In his defence, Chakraborty said that since Chatterjee's fingers were swollen, the rings couldn't be taken out. This explanation irked the judge further, as he said: "What was not possible in nine months became possible in nine minutes after the court's order. How is that possible?" The judge also examined the registrar of the jail, and asked the Superintendent to give a written submission of his explanation in this matter. "Are you setting your own set of correctional home rules and trying to justify them," the judge asked Chakraborty. During a hearing on April 19, the ED counsel had pointed at Chatterjee wearing rings despite being in judicial custory, claiming that it showed how influential Chatterjee was. Chatterjee had said then that he wears rings for health and religious purposes, which the authorities never asked him to take off ever since he has been in judicial custody. On Wednesday, ED counsel Phiroze Edulji claimed in the court that there have been several charges levelled against the jail superintendent earlier also. "A financial penalty of Rs 20,000 was imposed on him in an earlier case. Probably, some invisible hands are active and that is why he has not been transferred elsewhere yet," Edulji said. As per Rule 250 of the West Bengal Jail Code, the superintendent is to ensure that no inmate wears any ornaments or carries any valuables including cash. All of these are collected and locked up under the responsibility of the superintendent. New Delhi, April 26: Pakistan's stringent blasphemy laws could dent its already battered economy. The recent arrest of a Chinese engineer, who was accused of blasphemy has sent chills across the country's industry and economic managers.The blasphemy laws along with Islamabad's deteriorating security situation owing to the rise in threat from the militant outfit Pakistani Taliban or the TTP poses a serious threat to the country's economic dynamics. The country's industry captains fear that the incident will choke inflow of investments into the country, which is in the middle of an unprecedented crisis. Many experts have opined that not only will the shocking incident dent Pakistan-China relations but will act as a deterrent for other foreign investors as well. That apart, staring at a default, Pakistan is seeking China's nod for a rollover of a substantial amount of loan. "The incident (of the arrest of the Chinese engineer) may spell trouble for Islamabad as it tries to renegotiate the terms of the loans," an analyst said. Earlier this month, Sweden, in view of the deteriorating "security situation" decided to shut down its embassy "indefinitely". In February, the Chinese embassy announced shutting down its consular section citing "technical reasons". Though it offered no reason for the closure, sources said that the growing political unrest in the country was a key factor. In 2021, a Sri Lankan working as a manager at a factory in Sialkot was beaten to death after being falsely accused of insulting Islam. The list is long. According to the Conversation, Pakistan has the world's second-strictest blasphemy laws after Iran. It noted that the country recorded about 1,500 blasphemy cases over the past three decades. The country registered about 200 blasphemy cases in 2020 alone -- the highest in a year. "Domestic and international rights groups say allegations of blasphemy are enough to cause mob attacks and the killing of the accused," Voice of America said. Notwithstanding the rising challenges -- political as well as economic -- that were further aggravated by the devastating floods last year, in January this year, Pakistan's National Assembly unanimously voted to expand the blasphemy laws, carrying the death penalty for anyone who insults Prophet Muhammad. This has led to further dampening of sentiments among the foreign investors and expatriates. "The hyper religiosity promoted through state institutions and the toxic education in our schools is not getting us admiration anywhere. Instead, it is producing a wild, uncontrollable population. Even our friends now fear us," Dawn in its opinion columns wrote. The news organisation also noted that while other Islamic countries including Saudi Arabia are now switching gears by opening up social structures and inviting foreign capital, Pakistan's focus has remained unchanged. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Azerbaijani Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Israel Mukhtar Mammadov has shared a tweet on occasion of the countrys 75th independence anniversary, Trend reports. "Happy 75th Independence Day! Wishing peace & prosperity to all the people of Israel as well as strengthening of the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Israel!" the tweet said. The State of Israel recognized the state independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan on December 25, 1991. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on April 7, 1992. On January 21, 2016, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with the Prime Minister of the State of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, within the framework of the Davos Economic Forum in Switzerland. On December 13, 2016, Netanyahu paid a working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan. On January 24, 2018, President Ilham Aliyev met with Netanyahu within the framework of the World Economic Forum in Davos. There are about twenty Jewish socio-cultural and charitable organizations in Azerbaijan. At the national level, there are the Jewish House, the Azerbaijan-Israel Society, the Azerbaijan Jewish Women's Association, the Jewish Cultural Center, the Azerbaijani branch of the Sokhnut International Jewish Organisation, and others. In total, 13 documents were signed between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State of Israel on cooperation in various fields. The Israeli Embassy has been functioning in Azerbaijan since 1993. On November 26, 2022, President Ilham Aliyev issued an order to establish the Azerbaijani Embassy in the State of Israel, signaling another important step forward in the diplomatic relations between the two countries. On January 11, 2023, the President of Azerbaijan appointed Mukhtar Mammadov as the first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Israel, marking another significant milestone in the bilateral relationship between the Muslim-majority nation and the Jewish state. Ambassador-designate Mammadov arrived in Tel Aviv on February 28 and presented his credentials to Israeli President Isaac Herzog on March 26. New Delhi, April 26 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told the Delhi High Court on Wednesday that the excise policy scam it is probing is a "deep-rooted conspiracy" and that it is not as simple as depicted. As Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma heard submissions in the bail plea filed by AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the CBI, said: "Yesterday (April 25), we filed the charge sheet in the case. Cognizance is yet to be taken." Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) D. P. Singh also appeared for the CBI. Raju said: "The main players being, the accused (Manish Sisodia), Vijay Nair who was closely related to the Aam Aadmi Party and was in fact occupying a Ministers Bungalow, one Kailash Gehlot's, side by side to the CM (Arvind Kejriwal). Nair was the communication in charge of AAP, and had access to party meetings. "Our case is that at the behest of the 'South Group', the 5 per cent interest was increased to 12 per cent, right after a meeting that happened with the members of the South group." While the "South group" was residing in the Oberoi Hotel in the national capital from March 14 to 17, 2021, they had prepared a note and taken the printout from Sisodia's computer, according to the ASG. He added that Sisodia is capable of pressurising persons and the day the CBI arrested him, he destroyed his phone. After hearing the matter at length, Justice Sharma said: "At the stage of bail, we cannot go into much details. Please show me evidence on which you (CBI) are relying in the present case." Accordingly, the court adjourned the matter and scheduled it for next hearing on April 27. During the last hearing, Sisodia had told the High Court that the CBI has no evidence to show his involvement in the alleged Delhi excise policy case, and that he is being singled out so that he could be kept in jail. On April 5, Sisodia had moved the high court challenging the March 31 order of CBI Judge M.K. Nagpal (Rouse Avenue Court) dismissing his bail plea. Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, appearing for the AAP leader, had submitted before the bench of Justice Sharma that all the other accused in the CBI case have been released on bail except Sisodia. He had also said that the probe agency has no proof to show that the AAP leader has tampered with evidence. "They say that I do not cooperate. This can never be the ground to deny me bail. I am not required to cooperate, confess, or answer questions in the way they want. I am required to answer in the way I want, that is the Constitutional guarantee," Krishnan had argued. Another counsel for Sisodia, senior advocate Mohit Mathur, had said that CBI's figures are just on paper and no money trail has been found. "They have made me the chief architect of this alleged conspiracy through Vijay Nair. But Vijay Nair was arrested in September 2022 and was released in November, even before the charge sheet was filed. I was only called for questioning for the second time in February 2023. So, all these allegations about me being capable of influencing the witnesses is totally wrong," Mathur contended on behalf of Sisodia. New Delhi, April 26 : The Chhattisgarh government on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), saying that the central investigation agencies are being misused by those in power in order to intimidate, harass and disturb the normal functioning of an opposition government in Chhattisgarh. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and advocate Sumeer Sodhi, representing the Chhattisgarh government, submitted before a bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha that the issue is of constitutional importance and urged the court to grant urgent hearing in the matter. The bench said it will take up the matter on May 4. Chhattisgarh has filed the original suit challenging the law under Article 131 of the Constitution which empowers a state to move the apex court directly in matters of dispute with the Central government or any other state. The state government, which is first to challenge the PMLA and its provisions, said that several complaints are being received by it on behalf of its officials as well as the residents of the state to the effect that ED is "torturing, abusing, and manhandling" them in the garb of conducting a probe. "The present case is a perfect example of how the Central investigation agencies are being misused by those in power in order to intimidate, harass and disturb the normal functioning of an opposition Government in the State of Chhattisgarh," it said. In the suit, the Bhupesh Baghel government said: "It is due to this blatant and excessive misuse of powers that the plaintiff state is being forced to approach this court. It is imperative to state that this is not the first occasion wherein the ED has resorted to an illegal modus operandi. On multiple occasions, the aforementioned approach has been employed concerning various states that hold a political stance opposite to the one in power at the Centre." The state said such conduct amounts to a severe misappropriation and arbitrary use of power, which goes against the constitutional mandate and investigative agencies are expected to be entirely independent and uninfluenced. It said that it is seeking interference of the court under its original jurisdiction bestowed by virtue of Article 131 of the Constitution, in light of a dispute that has arisen between the state and defendants -- Union of India, state of Karnataka and Directorate of Enforcement (ED) - which involves questions of law and facts affecting its legal and constitutional rights. The state said that a FIR was registered at police station Kadugodi of Bengaluru against Suryakant Tiwari for offenses punishable under various sections of IPC including assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty and destruction of evidence. "The complainant in the FIR is Income Tax Department official and the allegation pertains to alleged illegal collection on levy of coal as well as attempts to influence public servants through corrupt and illegal means in the State of Chhattisgarh," said the state's suit. The state government, in the suit, said that the ED on the basis of the predicate offense, registered an ECIR dated September 29, 2022 and started conducting its investigation. "The said investigation has resulted in indiscriminate surveys and raids at various Departments and Offices of the state government, and arrests of Ssate officials," it said. The suit said, "Karnataka Police has no jurisdiction to register the FIR; if registered on the basis of commission of a cognisable offense, the FIR must be forthwith transferred to the Police which has the jurisdiction to investigate the FIR." The suit said "public order" and "police" are state subjects under Seventh Schedule List II, Entries 1 and 2 and the act of allowing one state to register and sit over an FIR for an offense that admittedly took place in another state violates constitutional federalism and autonomy of a state. "The case of the Plaintiff State is that the said FIR was lodged maliciously in Karnataka by a Central Agency being the Informant, solely with the aim of facilitating the registration of ECIR by ED, so as to disrupt the smooth functioning of the Government in the Plaintiff State," it said. It said that ECIR registered by the ED deserves to be quashed as the predicate offense is not registered by the jurisdictional Police and the said registration of the case by ED is ex-facie in teeth of law laid down by this court in its last year, verdict on validity of various provisions of PMLA in the case of Vijay Madanlal Choudhary versus Union of India. "To name a few, the Environment Conservation Board (CECB), Labour Commission, Commissioner of State Tax, Chhattisgarh, Commercial Tax-GST Department, and Commissioner of State Tax have been searched under the guise of an FIR registered by Karnataka Police," it said. Shillong, April 26 : Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills District authority on Wednesday issued an advisory to pet owners, urging them to have responsible, lifelong commitment towards the domestic animals as pet parenting is a responsibility and not a casual interest. East Khasi Hills District Deputy Commissioner, S.C. Sadhu, also advised the caregivers that they should avoid feeding street dogs immediately adjacent to areas in which children play, or people take walks, or that are otherwise crowded. Moreover, feeding must not be done in a manner that contributes to littering or dirtying any feeding site. Care-givers are advised to clean up feeding sites after feeding is over. Congested and mountainous capital city Shillong falls under the East Khasi Hills District. The Deputy Commissioner in his 14-point advisory said that selection of pets should not be impulsive rather it should suit one's lifestyle, home environment and economy and to keep only the numbers and kind of pets that one can afford emotionally, economically and time schedule you can afford for your pets. The advisory recommended sufficient space according to the kinds of pets one is adopting for company, proper shelter from cold, heat and rain, timely feeding and watering, proper training, adequate play time, proper cleaning and grooming are mandatory, pets parenting should be considered as a responsibility, company, lifelong friends and guards for many. Adoption of indigenous breeds is the need of the hour in order to reduce the challenges of strays, the advisory said. Jaipur, April 26 : A SC-ST court in Dholpur, Rajasthan, has sentenced a man to death for the murder of four NREGA workers, besides slapping a fine of Rs 10 lakh on him. According to information, 4 NREGA workers were killed in Dhaundhe ka Pura village in Bari Sadar police station area of Dholpur district in 2008. Twelve armed men had assaulted the NREGA workers while opening fire. Justice Narendra Meena of the SC-ST court convicted Kirti Ram (82) in the murder case and sentenced him to death and also imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh. Public Prosecutor Mahir Hasan Rizvi said that during the NREGA work, about 12 people had beaten up the labourers, resulting in four deaths. He said that there was old enmity between the two sides. Due to this, in 2008, the people from one group, who were working in NREGA, were fired upon by people from the other side. Kirti Ram was sentenced to death by special judge Narendra Meena on Wednesday after nearly 15 years. The accused will also have to pay a fine of Rs 10 lakh. In this case, 3 accused are in jail, whose trial is on and 7 accused are absconding after bail. Judge Narendra Meena, considering the murder of 4 people, sentenced the main accused to death. Along with this, the judge also ordered the disbursal Rs 2 lakh each to the wives of the deceased labourers out of the Rs 10 lakh fine imposed on the accused. Ahmedabad, April 26 : The Gujarat State Farmers' Front, in collaboration with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), organised a millets awareness programme at 90 locations across 35 districts and cities. The programme was conducted under the guidance of Gujarat BJP President C.R. Paatil, State Organization General Secretary Ratnakar, and Gujarat State Farmers' Front chief Hitesh Patel. During the programme, various dishes made from millets, a type of coarse grain, were prepared by the officers of the Farmers' Front and the Women's Front. The event aimed to raise awareness about the nutritional benefits of millets among the general public. The United Nations General Assembly, recognising the growing importance of millets, declared the year 2023-24 as the Year of Millets, thanks to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The initiative is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to increase farmers' income, promote organic farming, and maintain a healthy population. The state government, led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, supports these objectives and aims to provide better opportunities for farmers in the agricultural sector. State Farmers' Front chief Hitesh Patel, Front's general secretaries Sardar Chaudhary, Hiren Hirapara, and other officers of the Front attended the programme at various locations across Gujarat to ensure its success. Ahmedabad, April 26 : Gujarat High Court judge Justice Gita Gopi recused herself on Wednesday from hearing a plea filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The appeal sought a stay on his conviction by a magistrate court in a criminal defamation case against him. Gandhi's appeal was mentioned before single judge Justice Gopi, who responded with "not before me" and advised the advocate to approach the acting Chief Justice of the High Court, who can assign another bench for hearing the appeal. Earlier, a sessions court in Surat had dismissed Gandhi's plea seeking suspension of his conviction by the magistrate court on April 20. In a detailed order, the sessions court held that Gandhi's disqualification would not amount to an irreversible loss to him and refused to grant interim relief. Background of the case The now-disqualified parliamentarian from Wayanad, Kerala, was convicted by a magistrate court on March 23 for his controversial remark "All thieves have Modi surname." Gandhi made the statement during a political campaign in 2019 in Kolar, Karnataka, linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi with fugitives like Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi. He had said, "Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi. How come all the thieves have 'Modi' as a common surname?" Purnesh Modi, a former BJP Member of the Legislative Assembly, took exception to this, claiming that Gandhi humiliated and defamed persons with the Modi surname. The magistrate court in Surat accepted Purnesh Modi's contention that Gandhi intentionally insulted people with the 'Modi' surname. In his 168-page judgment, Judge Hadirash Varma stated that since Gandhi is a Member of Parliament, his words have a greater impact, and he should have exercised restraint. "The accused had taken the reference of the surname of the current Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, to satisfy his political greed and insulted and defamed 13 crore people living in the whole of India having the surname 'Modi'," the judge held. Gandhi was disqualified last month after receiving a two-year jail term, the maximum possible in a criminal defamation case and enough to bar him from parliament. The law mandates that if a MP is convicted for any offence for two years, their seat will be vacant. One can stay on as a MP only if the conviction is suspended. In his appeal to the Surat court earlier this month, Gandhi argued that the trial court treated him harshly, overwhelmingly influenced by his status as a MP. However, Judge Robin Mongera disagreed, stating that Gandhi had "failed to demonstrate that by not staying the conviction and denying an opportunity to contest the election, an irreversible and irrevocable damage will be caused to him." Chikkamagaluru : , April 26 (IANS) AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday stated that her family is facing a period of struggle in the contemporary period and made an appeal to the people to stand with the Congress party. On her second day of tour, she continued her poignant attack on BJP. Addressing a poll rally in Sringeri of Chikkamagaluru district, Priyanka Gandhi stated, "In 1978, when Indira ji (late ex-PM Indira Gandhi, her grandmother) came to Chikkmagaluru, it was a period of struggle for her. In that tough time, people of Chikkamagaluru stood with her. Today also there is a period of struggle for Rahul ji (Rahul Gandhi) and my family. We have full confidence that people of the country will stand with us," she said. "I have full hope that you will make Congress win in Karnataka. Our country, your state is at such a turning point that if we don't understand that there is a need for such politics which doesn't make people fight, which works for all of us, which makes all of us progress, then the country and the state may undergo heavy loss," she maintained. Priyanka Gandhi further explained, "Today morning, I went to Mylari Hotel in Mysuru. Its owner told me that his father had started that work. He taught me how to make Dosa. I also met his daughter who works in Infosys. Looking to the future while preserving traditions, culture and civilisation... that is the identity of Karnataka." When big ministers say 'don't look at your candidates, hand over Karnataka to PM Modi'. Why? Can the sons and daughters of Basavanna ji, Narayan Guru ji not run the state on their own? Priyanka Gandhi questioned. "Six months ago, I went abroad to drop my daughter off at her college. There I met a youth from Bengaluru who was working in an IT company. Both of us felt proud; there was Karnataka's self-respect, self-confidence and pride on his face. I felt proud that my country's youth has progressed so much, my father's dream has been fulfilled," she stated. "I feel proud of Karnataka, your hard work, honesty. But I also feel sad for you. The government, which has been in Karnataka for the last 3.5 years, has broken your trust. It was formed on the basis of greed; it was formed by stealing MLAs, by breaking Congress-JD (S) government. BJP government has broken every promise. It had said that it'll give jobs, double farmers' income, reduce prices but did nothing," Priyanka Gandhi charged. Youths have not been given employment; 2.5 lakh government posts are lying vacant but they are not getting them. Rate of every post has been fixed, there is a scam in every exam for recruitment. Contractors are committing suicides. The Contractors' Association and School Management Association wrote letters to the PM about corruption but they didn't get any reply, she said. MLA's son was caught with Rs 8 crore cash but no action was taken, rather his MLA father took out a parade to show that they can do anything and nobody can touch them. Even Covid patients were looted; nothing was spared, not even eggs meant for school children, she alleged. "Who made a cooperative like Nandini? You made it by your hard work. Earlier, milk used to be distributed in schools. The Congress government had brought 'Ksheer Bhagya' and 'Ksheer Dhare' schemes. Now, BJP says that less milk is being produced because they want 'Nandini' to merge with Gujarat's Amul. Earning of more than 1 crore people is at stake but they don't care for it," Priyanka Gandhi charged. In Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, farmers' debt has been waived off. It has the highest MSP in Chhattisgarh. In Himachal Pradesh, implementation of Old Pension Scheme has begun as per our promise, she claimed. New Delhi, April 26 : The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved setting up of 157 new nursing colleges in co-location with the existing medical colleges, established since 2014. This will add approximately 15,700 nursing graduates every year, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told media persons after the cabinet meeting. It will further ensure quality, affordable, and equitable nursing education in India, particularly in underserved districts and states, he added. The total financial implication of the project will be Rs 1,570 crore. The Central government will give Rs 10 crore for setting up of these colleges, while the states can invest the remaining amount, which will depend as per the project report to be prepared for each college, Mandaviya said. Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are among the major states, which will get 20-odd nursing colleges under the initiative, he added. The initiative aims to address the geographical and rural-urban imbalances in the healthcare sector, which have led to the skewed availability of nursing professionals and impacted healthcare services in underserved areas, the minister said. The establishment of these nursing colleges will provide a significant boost to the availability of qualified human resources in healthcare. Co-location of these nursing colleges with existing medical colleges will allow optimal utilisation of the existing infrastructure, skill labs, clinical facilities, and faculty. Itanagar, April 26 : The Chakma Development Foundation of India (CDFI) on Wednesday urged Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu not to perpetuate prejudices against the Chakmas and Hajongs by terming them as refugees, who are not eligible for permanent settlement in the state and therefore, proposing their relocation to other states of India. The CDFI said that while addressing a training programme commemorating the national Panchayati Raj Day in Itanagar earlier this week, Khandu had declared that after resolving the Assam-Arunachal boundary dispute, he would resolve the Chakma and Hajong issue by sending them to other states as these tribals being refugees cannot be permanently settled in the state, which is protected as a tribal state under the Constitution. "The Chakmas and Hajongs were settled by the Union of India, the competent authority of the then North Eastern Frontier Agency (NEFA), from 1964 onwards and those born in the NEFA/Arunachal Pradesh are citizens of India by birth. "There is no provision in the Constitution empowering any state or UT to declare us as non-resident and therefore forcibly remove us from our territorial jurisdiction," CDFI founder Suhas Chakma said. He said that most of those who had migrated during 1964-1969 are dead now, and those who are alive cannot be removed from the state as per the directions of the Supreme Court in its 1996 judgment in the NHRC vs State of Arunachal Pradesh case. "There is also no provision in the Constitution defining Arunachal Pradesh or any other state as a tribal state, and in fact, Article 371(h) of the Constitution only gives special responsibility and powers to the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh. "Therefore, the statements such as Chakmas and Hajongs are refugees, Arunachal Pradesh is a tribal state protected by the Constitution etc. are incorrect and only perpetuate the prejudices against a section of the Indian citizens," Suhas Chakma said in the statement. He also cautioned the state government by saying, "If Arunachal Pradesh expects other states to take in a few thousand Chakmas and Hajongs, there would be call upon Arunachal to share the burden of 1.9 million people excluded from the NRC in Assam and other states like Tripura, considering that the density of population in 2022 was 17 persons per sq km in Arunachal Pradesh compared to the national average of 431 people per sq km. Also, considering the claim of China on Arunachal Pradesh, including renaming of the Indian territories, along with the extremely low population density in the state, the demand for settlement of people from other parts of India to Arunachal Pradesh to counter the threats of China may arise in the near future, the statement said. "After all, many groups, including ex-Assam Rifles, refugees from erstwhile East Pakistan etc. were settled in the then NEFA to address the security threat from China following the 1962 Indo-China war," it added. In his address, Chief Minister Khandu had also stated that whenever he visits eastern Arunachal and meets the Chakmas, he feels extremely sad to see that they have no facilities, the housing conditions are bad and there are so many poor Chakmas, the CDFI said. Suhas Chakma said that the Chief Minister must realise that the deplorable economic condition and extreme poverty have been created by the state of Arunachal Pradesh by denying all the rights and facilities to the Chakmas and Hajongs for the last 60 years. "Mere expression of sadness is not enough, the Chief Minister himself must ensure implementation of the sustainable development goals in the Chakma and Hajong-inhabited areas if such extreme poverty is to be alleviated," he added. There are about 65,000 tribals belonging to Chakma and Hajong communities in Arunachal Pradesh who fled from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and were settled by the Central government in the then North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) in 1964 to beef up security following the 1962 Indo-China war. Bengaluru, April 26 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday slammed the Congress for saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has betrayed the people of the state on the issue of increasing the quota of reservations. "The matter is in the Supreme Court and the statement made by Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala is an attempt to prejudice the court and thereby obstruct justice. "The Constitution never contemplated reservation based on the basis of religion. The architect of the Constitution of India, B.R. Ambedkar, made this speech at the time of introduction of the 1st amendment," Bommai said. The Chief Minister's remarks came after Karnataka unit Congress president D.K. Shivakumar and party's Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala in a press conference made charges against the BJP. "Your statement as to why an undertaking was given before the court is hilarious and obviously shows your lack of maturity in understanding judicial proceedings," Bommai said, responding to the Congress' claims. He said "the Congress is always busy practicing appeasement politics and has never understood to provide social justice". "In fact, the government is ably justifying its stand by engaging senior advocates. We are hopeful of securing justice from the Supreme Court," he added. The Congress in Karnataka earlier on Wednesday said that the ruling BJP government in the state had betrayed people on the issue related to the quota of reservations. Shivakumar and Surjewala said that Lingayats and Vokkaligas would not get any extra quota of reservation as claimed by the BJP. Addressing a press conference, Shivakumar said "the great betrayal of BJP has come to light yet again". "The Bommai government has failed to submit an affidavit defending the increase in the quota of reservations. The BJP has betrayed, insulted Lingayat, Vokkaliga, SC, ST and minority communities," he said. "The government has told the court that it will re-implement the reservations of 2002. Lingayats are going to continue in the 3B category and Vokkaligas will continue under the 3A category," Shivakumar said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. According to the training plan for 2023 approved by the Azerbaijan Defense Minister, the Air Defense Units carried out combat firing at the combined-arms training range, Trend reports via the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan. The main objective of combat firing is to improve the military personnels skills in controlling anti-aircraft missile systems and further increase their combat capability. During the firing, the standards for deploying the OSA and S-125 anti-aircraft missile system at the starting position and preparing for combat usage were fulfilled. The anti-aircraft missile systems combat crews professionally accomplished tasks of detecting and destroying targets of an imaginary enemy by practical firing. Guwahati, April 26 : Pravin Togadia, the President of Antarashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP), a right-wing outfit, on Wednesday held a minority community resposible for India overtaking China as the world's most populous nation. Togadia, who is also the former International Working President of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), asserted that this population surge will mostly affect Assam in the coming years, and therefore the state should identify the Bangladeshi infiltrators through DNA profiling. Speaking to mediapersons here, Togadia blamed the minority community for the surge in India's population. Togadia claimed that the population growth of Hindus in the country is currently negative, adding that the percentage of Hindus in the overall population of India has actually decreased. "Therefore, Hindus have not contributed to the nation's tremendous demographic rise," he claimed. The controversial leader also said that the enormous increase in minority population will affect Assam badly in the next 15-20 years, as he called for the introduction of a strict population control act. "Ever since its inception, our organisation has been demanding a population control act. I also urge the Assam government to identify the Bangladesh-origin infiltrators on the basis of the 1951 voters' list and through DNA profiling," he added. New Delhi, April 26 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday said the investigating agency filing an incomplete charge sheet would scuttle the chances of default bail for the accused. A bench of Justices Krishna Murari and C.T. Ravikumar said: "We find it pertinent to mention that the right of default bail under Section 167(2) of the CrPC is not merely a statutory right, but a fundamental right that flows from Article 21 of the Constitution." It said the reason for such importance being given to a seemingly insignificant procedural formality is to ensure that no accused person is subject to unfettered and arbitrary power of the state. "The process of remand and custody, in their practical manifestations, create a huge disparity of power between the investigating authority and the accused," the bench said. "While there is no doubt in our minds that arrest and remand are extremely crucial for the smooth functioning of the investigation authority for the purpose of attaining justice, however, it is also extremely important to be cognisant of a power imbalance." The bench said it becomes essential to place certain checks and balances upon the investigation agency in order to prevent the harassment of accused persons at their hands. In its judgment on a plea by a woman, it said statutory time frame has been prescribed of 90 days and 60 days for filing of the charge sheets depending upon the nature of offences. "It is clear from the facts that during the pendency of the investigation, supplementary charge sheets were filed by the investigation agency just before the expiry of 60 days, with the purpose of scuttling the right to default bail accrued in favour of the accused," said the bench. It observed that petitioner's husband was denied default bail on filing of supplementary charge sheet by the investigating agency in a cheating case. "The question of resorting to a supplementary charge sheet u/s 173(8) of the CrPC only arises after the main charge sheet has been filed, and as such, a supplementary charge sheet, wherein it is explicitly stated that the investigation is still pending, cannot under any circumstance, be used to scuttle the right of default bail, for then, the entire purpose of default bail is defeated," said the bench. The top court said the filing of a charge sheet or a supplementary charge sheet becomes a mere formality, and a tool to ensue that the right of default bail is scuttled. "It is thus axiomatic that first investigation is to be completed, and only then can a charge sheet or a complaint be filed within the stipulated period, and failure to do so would trigger the statutory right of default bail under Section 167(2) of Cr.PC," said the bench. "With the above findings and conclusions, the interim order of bail passed in favor of the accused is made absolute, and the present writ petition is, accordingly, disposed of." The plea was filed under Article 32 of the Constitution by the woman seeking the release of her husband on default bail. New Delhi, April 26 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside a Gujarat High Court order, holding that Ayurveda practitioners working in government hospitals should be treated at par with doctors holding MBBS degrees and they are entitled to equal pay. A bench of Justices V. Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal said: "Even while recognising the importance of Ayurveda doctors and the need to promote alternative/indigenous systems of medicine, we cannot be oblivious of the fact that both categories of doctors are certainly not performing equal work to be entitled to equal pay." The bench said it is common knowledge that during out-patient days (OPD) in general hospitals in cities/towns, MBBS doctors are made to attend to hundreds of patients, which is not the case with Ayurveda doctors. "Section 176 of Cr.P.C deals with inquiry by Magistrates into the cause of death. Sub-section (5) of Section 176 uses similar words namely civil surgeon or other qualified medical man. We do not think that the AYUSH doctors are normally notified as competent to perform post-mortem," said the bench. The top court judgment came on a batch of appeals challenging a 2012 Gujarat High Court order, which held that Ayurveda practitioners are entitled to be treated at par with doctors with MBBS degrees. The bench said: "By the very nature of the science that they practise and with the advancement of science and modern medical technology, the emergency duty that allopathy doctors are capable of performing and the trauma care that they are capable of providing cannot be performed by Ayurveda doctors." "It is also not possible for Ayurved doctors to assist surgeons performing complicated surgeries, while MBBS doctors can assist. We shall not be understood to mean as though one system of medicine is superior to the other." The bench said it is not its mandate nor within its competence to assess the relative merits of these two systems of medical sciences and as a matter of fact, "we are conscious that the history of Ayurveda dates back to several centuries". "We have no doubt that every alternative system of medicine may have its pride of place in history. But today, the practitioners of indigenous systems of medicine do not perform complicated surgical operations. A study of Ayurveda does not authorise them to perform these surgeries." Bhubaneswar, April 26 : The third Education Working Group meeting, under India's G20 Presidency, kicked off here on Wednesday with a seminar on 'Building Capacities for Lifelong Learning in the context of Future of Work'. It is a continuation of the previous two working group meetings held in Chennai and Amritsar earlier, aimed at discussing and implementing innovative ideas and policies to globally transform the education sector. Over 60 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee countries and international organisations are participating in the three-day meeting, being held at the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT). Addressing the occasion, Union Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar emphasised on the value of skill education and cited the many skilling initiatives offered by the government in order to create a future-ready workforce. Sarkar said that this seminar builds on the deliberations held in the last two webinars on the evolving world of work, and the importance of foundational skills and lifelong learning. It aims to strengthen human and institutional capacity for the delivery of future skills for a future-ready workforce through upskilling, re-skilling and lifelong learning while ensuring inclusivity, he said. Guided by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Indian government is rethinking the ways deployed to develop, assess, and recognise skills, primarily through the integration of academic and vocational education, he added. The seminar included three panel discussions, with panelist participation from Brazil, Spain, the UAE, Singapore, Russia, South Africa, Mauritius, OECD, UNICEF, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Delegates also attended the G20 Future of Work Exhibition where they saw cutting-edge technology and innovative ideas that are changing the way we work and learn. The exhibition features active representation from industry, academia, government agencies, multilateral agencies, startups, and other organisations, as well as an experience zone on the future of work and huge technology exhibits. Apart from the discussions , the three-day meeting also includes a cultural extravaganza, featuring traditional Odissi performances. The delegates will get a chance to experience the rich cultural heritage of Odisha and learn more about the state's history and traditions. On the last day of the seminar, the delegates will visit the Konark temple. The temple is a symbol of the state's rich cultural heritage and is a popular tourist destination. Raipur/Bhopal, April 26 : Ten security personnel of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and a civilian driver were killed as the mini van they were travelling reportedly came under an ambush attack by Maoists using Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Wednesday. The incident occurred in the Aranpur area when the DRG team was returning to its district headquarters in Dantewada between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. DRG is a special force of the Chhattisgarh police, which mostly involves local tribals, for carrying carry out anti-Maoist operations. As per official sources, DRG teams were carrying out anti-Maoist operations in the Aranpur area for the past few days. Wednesday's attack was the biggest carried out by Maoists on the security forces in the state since 2021, when 22 security personnel were killed in an ambush along the borders of Sukam and Bijapur districts. The latest attack has taken the toll of security personnel killed by Maoists in Chhattisgarh to 119 in the last five years. As per a report presented in the Rajya Sabha by the Union Home Ministry earlier this year, 22 security personnel were killed in Chhattisgarh in 2019, 36 in 2020, 45 in 2021, and six in 2022. Chhattisgarh has a long history of Maoists killing security forces personnel. In 2017, 36 CRPF personnel were killed by the Maoists, while in the 2013 Darbha valley attack, 27 people were killed, including former Congress minister Mahendra Karma, then state Congress President Nand Kumar Patel, and senior party leader Vidyacharan Shukla, who succumbed to his injuries a few days after the attack. As per the Home Ministry's report, the incidents of violent Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) attacks in Chhattisgarh dropped by 77 per cent in 2022, as compared to 2010. But Wednesday's attack has again brought the issue of Maoist ambush to the fore in Chhattisgarh, which is scheduled to go to the polls later this year. Some officials said that the Maoists were tracking the movement of the DRG teams ever since they launched anti-Maoist operation a few days back, adding that Wednesday's attack was a "planned" one. Inspector General of Police for Bastar range, Sundaraaj P., said, "The security personnel were returning to the Dantewada headquarters in a mini van. One of the vehicles was targetted by the Maoists, which was blown up using IED." Some sources said that the attack was carried out because the Maoists came to know that the security forces have become aware of their presence in the Aranpur area. According to experts, Maoists often carry out attacks on security forces between February and June, as the visibility in the dense forest areas is relatively high during this period. The previous Maoist attack in the state took place in end-February, in which one Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) jawan was killed in a pressure IED blast. Seven security personnel and an army soldier were also killed in an ambush in the same week. The experts also raised questions over using private vehicles for carrying security personnel despite knowing that a large movement of Maoists was seen in the area. Given that Wednesday's attack came barely six months before the Assembly elections in Chchattisgarh, it sends a strong message to the state government over the law and situation in the poll-bound state. There are at least 18 Assembly constituencies that fall in the Maoist-infested areas of Bastar, Kanker, Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Rajnandgaon districts. In 2018, a Maoist attack was reported when the first phase of voting was underway. Mumbai, April 26 : Mumbai actress Chrisann Pereira, who was jailed in Sharjah (UAE) in a 'drugs plant' case, has been released, her family announced via social media late on Wednesday. Her family posted a video showing them dancing, crying with disbelief, with a relieved but weeping Chrisann on the other side, all urging her to come back as early as possible. Chrisann, 27, was trapped last month in the 'drugs plant' case by a couple of Mumbai men, who have been arrested and have confessed to their crime. The accused duo had hidden the drugs in an award trophy which was detected in Sharjah following which the local police had arrested Chrisann. She had been in jail since April 1. Her distraught family in Mumbai had told IANS on Tuesday that Chrisann is innocent and they have planned to appeal to the PM and MEA for help to secure her early release. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch, which is probing the case, has nabbed the prime accused Anthony Paul (35), a baker in Borivali, and his associate Rajesh Bubhate (34) alias Ravi, a banker. They have confessed to handing three persons the award trophies with drugs concealed in them and two others with drugs-laced cakes before they flew to Dubai, ostensibly as vendetta against the Pereira family. While two, including Chrisann, unwittingly walked into the trap, three others managed to evade the authorities in Sharjah. Paul, said to be the brain behind the revenge con, apparently nursed an old grudge against the Pereira family, especially Premila (Chrisann's mother), and even got into fisticuffs with her son Kevin. The police have found that Paul had used the same modus operandi with some other wannabe actors, assuring them of plum roles in global webseries, though one person declined to carry the trophy, which Chrisann later agreed to take with her. An upcoming actress, Chrisann has featured in films like "Sadak 2", "Batla House", a webseries "Thinkistan", several stage plays. She lives in Borivali suburbs with her family. Panaji, April 26 : The Goa Police on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court that they are withdrawing a summon issued to AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in which he was asked to appear before them on April 27 for alleged defacement of public property during the 2022 Assembly elections in the coastal state. According to AAP Goa President Amit Palekar, the police had issued the notice suo motu to Kejriwal on April 13 under Section 41 (A) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which was challenged by the Delhi Chief Minister. "The case was heard by a division bench comprising Justices Mahesh Sonak and Valmiki Menezes of the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday, during which the police submitted that they are going to withdraw the summon issued to Kejriwal," Palekar said. Claiming that the BJP is trying to crush AAP, Palekar said, "Sadly, the courts now have to deal with petty politics because of the BJP." Guwahati, April 26 : The North East Bankers' Conclave 2023 will be held in Delhi on April 28 to decide on actionable strategies to address issues at various levels, from policy planning to grass-roots level implementation, officials said on Wednesday. The Guwahati-based North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi), a public financial institution, will organise the conclave at the Constitution Club of India in the national capital with support from the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and the State Bank of India. NEDFi CMD P.V.S.L.N. Murty said that the North East Bankers' Conclave is the first of its kind leadership event specifically organised to brainstorm the challenges faced by the banking sector in the northeast and come up with actionable strategies to address the same at various level, starting from policy planning up to grass-roots level implementation. The conclave will deliberate on the specific challenges being faced by the banking sector in the northeast, which include banking outreach and inclusive service delivery in the region, credit support to MSMEs and startups in northeast, implementation of central and state schemes by the banks and credit to agri and allied sectors, among others. DoNER and Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy, his deputy B.L. Verma, Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Kishana Karad, and other senior bureaucrats will address the conclave. The panel discussions and open forum will be participated by leaders across sectors such as commercial banks, development banks, startups, policy makers, think-tank organisations, micro-lending organisations, regulatory authorities and entrepreneurs. New Delhi, April 26 : Congress student wing, NSUI's national Secretary Lokesh Chugh urged the Delhi High Court on Wednesday to permit him to submit his PhD thesis before the retirement of his supervisor on April 30, as it heard his plea challenging his debarment from the Delhi University for allegedy organising a screening of the banned BBC documentary. Appearing for Chugh, senior advocate Kapil Sibal apprised the bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav that the varsity will later "appoint a supervisor of its own choice" if interim relief was not granted. However, counsel for the university M. Rupal argued that no prejudice would be caused and an interference by court will send a "wrong message". The institution should ensure that after the retirement of the current supervisor, one of the advisors who had worked with the petitioner on the thesis would replace him and that the petitioner had fulfilled all requirements and was required to appear for the viva, the court was informed. Attorney General R. Venkataramani also represented the university and urged Justice Kaurav to defer hearing in the matter as he was appearing in a constitution bench hearing before the Supreme Court. Rupal said the petitioner's thesis and the role of his supervisor was over and that if he succeeds in his case here, it would be processed as per procedure and there was no urgency in the matter. "A wrong message will go. They are alleging urgency without showing the rules. There is no impediment," he contended. "Even if the supervisor retires, it will not come in the way. The department continues," added the lawyer. After being informed that the petitioner's thesis was "returned" by the authorities post submission on account of the debarment order, Justice Kaurav listed the matter for next hearing on April 27. The DU had told the High Court on Monday that the action of students screening the banned BBC documentary without permission, and organising protests, despite imposition of prohibitory orders, amounts to "gross indiscipline". "We acted against the students who organised the screening of the documentary based on the newspaper reports which said that the two-part series has been banned in India," the university had submitted. "Chugh was the mastermind behind the agitation and that video footage shows that he was actively involved in the screening of the documentary in the University campus," the DU counsel had added. The intention to disrupt the academic functioning of the University has tarnished the image of the University, it was contended. "The Committee after watching the videos found that the mastermind of the agitation was the petitioner. It was observed by the committee that around 20 students had gathered at 4 p.m. to showcase the BBC documentary and around 50 more students were there to watch the said documentary." The DU has prohibited Chugh, of the NSUI and a Ph.D. research scholar at the Department of Anthropology, from taking any university, college, or departmental exams. Justice Kaurav had said that once the petitioner is before the court, his rights would be protected. Chugh claims in his plea that he was not even there during the protest since he was attending a media interaction. "Pertinently, the petitioner was giving a live interview at the time when the documentary was being screened inside the Faculty of Arts (Main Campus). Thereafter, police detained a few students for screening the allegedly banned BBC documentary and subsequently charged them for disturbance of peace in the area. Notably, the petitioner was neither detained nor charged with any form of incitement or violence or disturbance of peace by the police," he stated. However, the DU served him with a show-cause notice on February 16 alleging that he had disrupted law and order at the university during the screening. On March 10, a memorandum debarring him was then issued. In his plea, Chugh claims that the university's order against him went against the principles of natural justice and that the disciplinary authorities failed to even inform him of the allegations and charges against him. Therefore, Chugh demanded that the memorandum and notice that claim he was complicit in a breach of law and order be set aside. He has asked for a stay of the memorandum in the interim. New Delhi, April 26 : The Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of Delhi Police has arrested five cyber criminals for cheating 22 Max Insurance policy holders to the tune of Rs 2.38 crore, an official said on Wednesday. The official said that the gang, including two ex-employees of Max Insurance company, was allegedly involved in fraudulent withdrawal of unclaimed money of Max Life Insurance policy holders through bank accounts opened using forged documents. The accused have been identified as Prem Parkash (37), Chandan Jain (41), Sujeet Kumar Mishra (41), Rohit Kumar Aggarwal (28), and Vikas (30). Aggarwal, a former senior executive at Max Life Insurance Co., used his access to policyholders' data to identify those with unclaimed surrendered and maturity amounts. He then shared these details with Mishra, another employee at the company, who passed them on to Jain. Jain, in turn, passed the information to Prakash, who opened bank accounts in the names of these policyholders. According to the police, the matter came to light after a case was registered under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code at the Special Cell police station on the complaint of Max Life Insurance Co., wherein it was alleged that a sum of Rs 51 lakh related to surrendered/maturity amount of two Max policyholders - Ashutosh Joshi and Abdul Hye Choudhary - had been fraudulently received by unknown persons whose requests for refund were processed through their ex-employees. It was later discovered by the company that Choudhary had expired on March 13, 2018 and no such request was made on his behalf. "During inquiry, further documents and information shared by the company were examined and it was revealed that around Rs 2.38 crore pertaining to 37 policies of 22 Max Life Insurance policyholders got refunded fraudulently," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (IFSO), Prashant P. Gautam. The police then collected relevant account-related documents from the banks which revealed that several accounts were opened in Equitas Small Finance Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bandhan Bank, Yes Bank, IDBI Bank and Jana Small Finance Bank in the names of policyholders. "Many of these accounts were opened digitally using the e-Aadhaar authentication process. It was also found that most of the money received in these accounts was transferred to accounts in the name of Rinku Sales, whose proprietor was Prem Prakash, having the address of Kabir Nagar, Rana Pratap Bagh, Delhi," said the DCP. However, the said address was not traceable. "Prem Prakash was nabbed from near Burari and on the basis of his interrogation, five more persons were also arrested subsequently," Gautam said. The officer said that Prakash lured his known persons and others, mostly poor people residing in jhuggis near Rana Pratap Bagh, and took them to the Aadhaar Centre to get their names/addresses changed to the names and addresses of the policyholders. "Vikas, who worked at the Aadhaar Centre, got these changes updated without collecting any relevant documents against Rs 1,000-1,500 per case. Many of these accounts were opened digitally using the e-Aadhaar authentication process," the officer said. Aggarwal used to fill up the NEFT mandate forms using the signature of the policy holders and sent them along with scanned copies of cheque/passbooks through his official email ID to the data entry team of the company to initiate the refund process. "The refund amount was received in the bank accounts opened in the names of policyholders from where most of it was transferred to the bank accounts of Rinku Sales. From the account of Rinku Sales, the amount was withdrawn in cash and shared by the accused persons," the officer said. The police have also recovered 39 mobile phones, 55 PAN cards, 33 Aadhaar cards, 32 voter ID cards, 46 debit cards, 73 cheque books/passbooks, six point of sale machines, and 10 rubber stamps. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed an order on the provision of one-time financial assistance to participants of World War II, widows of soldiers who died in the war or died later, and persons awarded orders and medals for selfless work in the rear, Trend reports. Under the presidential order, the participants of the World War Two will receive a one-time allowance of AZN1500, while widows of fighters who were killed in the war or died later, those awarded with medals and orders for selfless labor in the rear, employees of special units, which were fulfilling tasks for the army and naval, persons awarded with medals and orders for the defense of Leningrad, as well as participants of the Siege of Leningrad will get AZN750. Under the order, AZN 2.9 million was allocated from the Presidential Contingency Fund for this purpose. Patna, April 26 : JD-U MLA Gopal Mandal allegedly breached the security and protocol of Bihar Governor during the convocation ceremony of the Tilka Manjhi university in Bhagalpur on Wednesday. Mandal, the MLA from Gopalpur Assembly constituency in Bhagalpur, brought a chair for himself and sat along Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on the dais. The entire incident happened in front of the Vice Chancellor, students, teaching faculty, principals, and many police and administrative officials. The drama unfolded after Mandal reached the venue. When he looked at the dais, he did not find his name there, but still climbed on, brought a chair for himself and sat on the row with the Governor. Terming it a breach of security and protocol, a DSP rank officer, in charge of the security, went there and requested him step down from the dais and sit on the front row with other officials, but he refused. By this time, the Governor reached the venue and straight away went to light the lamp. Mandal also followed him and lit the lamp as well. Meanwhile, the police personnel on the dais removed Mandal's chair and when he returned and found it missing, went and brought another chair. By that time, the Governor and the others sat on the chairs reserved for them. Mandal again tried to put the chair in the same row as the Governor but the security personnel did not allow him. However, he did not give up and brought the chair behind the Governor and sat there till the end of the programme. Mandal, said to be close to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is known for his "Dabang" style of politics. He also created controversy by roaming in a semi-naked position inside the Patna-New Delhi Tejas Rajdhani Express. New Delhi, April 26 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said on Wednesday that it has arrested three persons named Izhar Hussain Jafri, Ali Abbas Jafri and Ravi Prakash Gupta in connection with an SC/ST scholarship scam case. The ED had recently attached an immovable property worth Rs 5.62 crore in the form of land and a building in Haridwar district, which belonged to Seth Bialy Prasad Jain Educational Trust, which runs the Phonics Group of Institutions in Roorkee, in connection with the case. The ED initiated the investigation under PMLA based on the FIR registered by Haridwar Police, Uttarakhand, under various sections of the IPC. During the course of investigation, it was learnt that Phonics Group of Institutions, Roorkee, had fraudulently received huge amount of scholarship in the name of SC/ST students from Social Welfare Department, Haridwar, for the period 2011-12 to 2014-2015. "The institution had made false claims to obtain scholarship under SC/ST scholarship scheme which has been embezzled, siphoned off by Phonics Group of Institutions, Roorkee, run by Seth Bimal Prasad Jain Educational Trust through its trustees, and caused huge financial loss to the public exchequer with wrongful gain to themselves," said an ED official. Investigation under PMLA revealed that this ill-gotten money was further diverted to either the bank accounts of Seth Bimal Prasad Jain Educational Trust or to other accounts of the college, utilised for the expenses of the trust and withdrawn in cash. Property worth Rs 1.45 crore in the nature of land situated in Haridwar belonging to Wali Gram Udhyog Vikas Sansthan, Roorkee, which runs Techword Wali Gram Udhyog Vikas Sansthan, Group of Institutions, Roorkee, has also been attached earlier in the SC/ST scholarship scam case. Total attachment in this case till date is Rs 7.07 crore. Further investigation in the matter is underway. People fleeing from Sudan arrive at a bus station in Aswan, Egypt, on April 25, 2023. Many people crossed into Egypt through the border crossing between Egypt and Sudan, as conflict in the latter country continues. (Photo by Radwan Abu Elmagd/Xinhua) Image Source: IANS News People fleeing from Sudan arrive at a bus station in Aswan, Egypt, on April 25, 2023. Many people crossed into Egypt through the border crossing between Egypt and Sudan, as conflict in the latter country continues. (Photo by Radwan Abu Elmagd/Xinhua) Image Source: IANS News Addis Ababa, April 27 : Thousands of people have entered Ethiopia fleeing fighting in neighbouring Sudan, an Ethiopian official said. Speaking to local media, Gizachew Muluneh, the head of the communication bureau in Ethiopia's Amhara region, said on Wednesday that in the last five days, thousands of people have entered the West Gonder zone of Amhara region fleeing fighting in Sudan. Muluneh added that the regional administration and the federal government are jointly providing emergency humanitarian aid as well as material support to the refugees who are of various nationalities. He also said scores of Ethiopians who were previously residing in Sudan have crossed back to their home country in the last few days. "The local host population is also providing food and water to the refugees which mainly consist of children, women, mothers and the elderly," Muluneh said. Brutal fighting erupted in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, on April 15 and swiftly escalated in different parts of the country, Xinhua news agency reported. The ongoing fighting is pitting the Sudanese Army against the country's paramilitary force, the Rapid Support Force (RSF). Both sides have accused each other of initiating the conflict. Deep differences have emerged between the Sudanese Army and the RSF, particularly regarding the latter's integration into the army as stipulated in a framework agreement signed between military and civilian leaders on December 5, 2022. In December 2022, Sudan's military and civilian leaders signed a political framework agreement to end the political impasse and institute a two-year transitional civilian authority, but the two sides have so far failed to transform the agreement into a final deal. Moscow, April 27 : Britain will have to bear full responsibility for its decision to supply depleted uranium shells to Ukraine, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Peskov said on Wednesday that when such weaponry was previously used by NATO in Yugoslavia, it resulted in devastating consequences, including a rise in oncological and other diseases, Xinhua news agency reported. Those who use this ammunition must understand that they will "cause irreparable harm to themselves and their citizens" and ultimately bear full responsibility for their actions, he added. The spokesman made the remarks a day after British Minister of State for the Armed Forces, James Heappey, confirmed that Britain had already sent "thousands of shells for Challenger 2 tanks, including depleted uranium munitions" to Kiev. Mogadishu, April 27 : The first group of Somali evacuees from Sudan have arrived in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. The 18 Somalis were received at the Aden Abdulle International Airport by Abdirahman Nur Dinari, acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Wednesday. The government is working to evacuate other nationals still stranded in Sudan or at borders with Ethiopia and South Sudan as soon as possible, Dinari told journalists as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. The fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which broke out on April 15, has reportedly killed hundreds of people and injured thousands of others. Tehran, April 27 : Senior Iranian cleric and member of Iran's Assembly of Experts Abbas-Ali Soleimani was assassinated in an armed attack in the country's northern province of Mazandaran, state media reported. Soleimani, 76, was shot by an assailant at a bank in the city of Babolsaron on Wednesday morning, IRNA quoted Ruhollah Salgi, the deputy for security and political affairs of Mazandaran provincial governor general, as saying. The assailant has been arrested by Iranian security forces and is being interrogated, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported on Wednesday, adding more details will soon be announced. In an interview with state-owned IRIB TV's News Network, Mazandaran's Governor General Mahmoud Hosseinipour ruled out the possibility of a terrorist attack, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the information obtained so far and the attacker's record, the attack is not an act of terror in nature, he said, adding the assailant's motive remains unknown. Previously, Soleimani also served as Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's representative in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan and the Friday prayer leader of the central city of Kashan. Madrid, April 27 : Brazilian President Lula da Silva has highlighted the importance of peace for economic growth, citing China as an example, and calling for peace in Ukraine. "China is the second biggest economy in the world and I think it will be the first in the world," he said on Wednesday, noting that the Asian giant has taken advantage of the globalisation of the past 40 years. "China hasn't had a war in many years and that shows you can take advantage of investment that is carried out for social good," Lula told the press after meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the La Moncloa Palace in Madrid. Lula said China's example shows the need to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, one block to establishing peace is that the key nations in the UN Security Council "sell weapons," and could have an economic incentive for the continuation of the conflict. The Brazilian leader said it was down to other countries, such as Egypt, South Africa and Brazil, to take part in "constructing new working methods that make us stronger". "We need to build a G20 for peace, with other nations taking part," he stressed. Lula's meeting with Sanchez comes on the second day of his visit to Spain, Xinhua news agency reported. "We are opening a new era in strategic relations between Spain and Brazil. We have a lot to contribute to the prosperity and well-being of our citizens, to bring our regions together and to construct a safer and more sustainable world," Sanchez said on social media. "I have a strong relationship with Spain, from when I was a union leader and was able to form strong relations," said Lula, stressing that Brazil had reopened to international relations after Jair Bolsonaro's term in office. "I can say that Brazil is back, because it was strange for us to be almost isolated for six years, as we didn't have relations with Europe, Africa or South America," he said, expressing his desire to end hunger by promoting sustainability, economic growth and education. Juba, April 27 : South Sudan and the World Food Program (WFP) have signed a three-year strategic plan aimed at building self-sufficiency and resilience. Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP's country director in South Sudan, said on Wednesday that the 2023/25 country strategic plan sets out a vision to address entrenched inequity and isolation by leveraging all WFP's programmes to build interconnected and peaceful communities, Xinhua news agency reported. McGroarty added that this strategic plan aims to establish the foundations for a sequenced, layered, agile and realistic longer-term approach. "Our long-term ambition is to gradually reduce the need for emergency humanitarian assistance while building resilience as population become increasingly self-reliant and resilient, and national capacities and systems are strengthened at all levels," she said during the signing ceremony in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. The 2023/25 plan will be the first of three successive WFP strategic plans to be rolled out over the next 13 years. "During this initial phase, saving lives and protecting livelihoods will remain WFP's highest priority in South Sudan," McGroarty said. Deng Dau Deng, acting minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the WFP has over the years been supporting South Sudan by complementing the government's efforts to reduce the huge food deficit. Moscow, April 27 : Russia has declared 10 diplomats working at the Norwegian embassy and military attache's office in Moscow personae non gratae, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Norwegian Ambassador Robert Kvile was summoned to the Ministry in protest over Oslo's decision to expel 15 Russian diplomats from the Russian Embassy in Norway and military attache's office, the Ministry added on Wednesday. "This hostile step further aggravated the situation in our bilateral relations, which are currently at a critically low level," it said. The Ministry added that it would take other measures in response to Oslo's hostile actions, including potential restrictions on hiring Russian staff at Norwegian diplomatic missions, Xinhua news agency reported. Norway expelled 15 Russian diplomats on April 13. The Norwegian Foreign Ministry said the embassy staff were expelled for "engaging in activities that were not compatible with their diplomatic status". United Nations, April 27 : Amid grim conditions in Sudan, the UN and partners scramble to aid both those remaining and those fleeing the fighting, a UN spokesman said. "The humanitarian situation in Sudan remains dire," said Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on Wednesday. "The WHO says that nearly one-third of health facilities are completely closed due to attacks, some having been converted to military bases." Haq added that while agencies and partners attempt to aid those in need in-country during a 72-hour cease-fire, the world organisation prepares for refugee influxes across the region, including the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates nearly 2,70,000 people could flee into South Sudan and Chad alone. "In South Sudan, our humanitarian partners are scaling up their presence in key response areas to help the most vulnerable people," and in Chad, the UNHCR is working with the government to assess the needs of arriving evacuees, the deputy spokesman said. The UNHCR appeals to all countries neighbouring Sudan to keep their borders open to people seeking safety and protection, Xinhua news agency reported. The UN Secretary-General's special representative for children and armed conflict, Virginia Gamba, and the special representative on violence against children, Najat Maalla M'jid, issued a joint statement on the conflict. They were alarmed at the reported number of civilians killed or maimed in hostilities, including children, and at attacks on hospitals and the denial of life-saving humanitarian aid to a population already in dire need of food, water and other essential supplies. The secretary-general's special representative for Sudan, Volker Perthes, said he continues regular contact with the opposing leaders of the fighting, urging them to cease hostilities and allow for humanitarian pauses. Before the temporary cease-fire began on midnight Monday, the UN and many aid partners fled the capital of Khartoum for Port Sudan on the Red Sea. Some international UN staff who could work remotely were temporarily assigned posts outside Sudan. The UN Mission in South Sudan has supported the successful evacuation of 17 humanitarian workers from UN agencies, funds, programmes and international non-governmental organisations by air from Darfur into South Sudan, and will continue to liaise with all partners to assist evacuation efforts, where necessary, Haq said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. The flight and technical staff, as well as aircraft of the Azerbaijan Air Force, have left for Turkish Konya to participate in the "Anatolian Eagle - 2023" International Exercises, Trend reports via the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan. A group of servicemen of the Azerbaijan Air Force and Su-25 attack aircrafts to be involved in the exercises starting on May 2. The international exercises to be held with the participation of representatives of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and England, will continue until May 23. [L-R]: Andreea Gleeson, CEO, TuneCore; Robb McDaniels, CEO, The Beatport Group; Leigh Morgan, Global Director, b:electronic. Photo by Lauren Nally. Through this new partnership with Beatport, TuneCore is excited to offer comprehensive distribution options for our electronic artists around the world, and give them access to a direct pipeline from their recording studio to the vibrant world of clubs, festivals and radio." TuneCore, the leading development partner for self-releasing artistsowned by Believe, one of the worlds leading digital music companieshas announced a new partnership with Beatport, the global leader in music for DJs, producers, and their fans, to enable TuneCore artists to distribute their songs to the platform. To celebrate and discuss their new partnership, TuneCore CEO, Andreea Gleeson, and Beatport CEO, Robb McDaniels will be participating in multiple events at the International Music Summit in Ibiza including a TuneCore-produced reception on Thursday, April 27th and a fireside chat at the Beatport Villa on Friday, April 28th. Andreea Gleeson, CEO, TuneCore commented, Electronic music is a top genre among TuneCore artists. Through this new partnership with Beatport, TuneCore is excited to offer comprehensive distribution options for our electronic artists around the world, and give them access to a direct pipeline from their recording studio to the vibrant world of clubs, festivals and radio, as well as the potential for additional promotional opportunities through Beatports DJ Charts and renowned editorial features. Beatport is the worlds largest electronic music platform for DJs, serving both downloads and streaming through a web store, mobile app, DJ Web App, and integrations directly into DJ software and hardware. Through the new partnership, artists utilizing any of TuneCores UNLIMITED distribution plans will be able to send their music to the Beatport platform for an add-on fee of $7.99 a month (billed annually), allowing artists to get their music in front of Beatports robust user base of electronic music fans, tastemakers, and professional DJs, as well as the platforms in-house curation team. TuneCore artists sending music to Beatport will also have access to the most comprehensive collection of genre tags among independent distributors, with the company now supporting 33 different electronic music genres and subgenres including House, Trance, UK Garage / Bassline & more.Robb McDaniels, CEO of The Beatport Group added, As the number of music creators around the world continues to accelerate, enabling TuneCores customers to easily upload their music to Beatport is an important way for us to nurture new talent in the dance music space. Were thrilled to be working closely with Andreea and her team to help empower the next generation of DJs, producers and artists. The new deal coincides with initiatives at Beatport to offer a variety of tools and support to DIY artists via its Music Services division led by Alex Branson. In celebration of TuneCores new partnership with Beatport, Believe, its development platform for self-releasing artists TuneCore, and its electronic music focused imprint b:electronic, will be kicking off a talent search to discover and promote up-and-coming electronic music artists and producers. Submissions will be open via a dedicated LabelRadar portal for artists currently distributed by TuneCore, and will be evaluated by an experienced and diverse panel of judges, consisting of producers, DJs, and industry professionals. Selected winners will receive funding to aid their growth and career development. TuneCore will begin distributing music to Beatport in early May, and the submission window for the talent competition will open at that time, with additional details to be announced on TuneCores social media channels (@tunecore). About Believe: Believe is one of the worlds leading digital music companies. Believes mission is to develop independent artists and labels in the digital world by providing them the solutions they need to grow their audience at each stage of their career and development. Believes passionate team of digital music experts around the world leverages the Groups global technology platform to advise artists and labels, distribute and promote their music. Its 1,650 employees in more than 50 countries aim to support independent artists and labels with a unique digital expertise, respect, fairness and transparency. Believe offers its various solutions through a portfolio of brands including Believe, TuneCore, Nuclear Blast, Naive, Groove Attack, AllPoints, Ishtar and Byond. Believe is listed on compartment A of the regulated market of Euronext Paris (Ticker: BLV, ISIN: FR0014003FE9). http://www.believe.com About TuneCore: TuneCore is the leading independent development partner for self-releasing artists to build audiences and careers with technology and services across distribution, publishing administration, and a range of promotional services. TuneCore Music Distribution services help artists, labels, and managers sell their music through Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, TikTok, Tencent, and more than 150 download and streaming stores worldwide, while retaining 100 percent of their sales revenue and rights for a low annual flat fee. TuneCore Music Publishing Administration assists songwriters by administering their compositions through licensing, registration, worldwide royalty collections, and placement opportunities in film, TV, commercials, video games, and more. The TuneCore Artist Services portal offers a suite of tools and services that enable artists to promote their craft, connect with fans, and get their music heard. TuneCore, part of Believe, is headquartered in Brooklyn, NY, with offices in Los Angeles, and Nashville, and operates globally through local teams based in the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, India, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Singapore across 5 continents. http://www.tunecore.com About The Beatport Group: The Beatport Group is the worldwide home of music for DJs, producers, and their fans. Founded in 2004, The Beatport Group's family of companies includes Beatport, the preeminent store for electronic music DJs, Beatsource for the open-format DJ community, Loopmasters,Loopcloud, and Plugin Boutique for music producers, ampsuite and LabelRadar for streamlining label management and demo submissions, and Beatport Media Group for brands and fans of DJ culture. The Beatport Groups portfolio of products includes an array of high-quality audio solutions to choose from, including full song downloads, exclusive content from leading labels, a streaming music service seamlessly integrated into DJ software and hardware (Streaming), and exclusive sound packs and plugins. All of the content is expertly curated on a weekly basis by a global team that helps define DJ culture. Beatport has offices in Berlin, Brighton, Denver, and Los Angeles. Follow us on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Hastings Equity Partners Clear Paths focus on helping utilities with their vegetation management challenges is a perfect fit for our Celerity platform, and helps expand Celeritys suite of services. We look forward to helping with the continued growth of Clear Path. Hastings Equity Partners (Hastings), a preferred capital partner to founders of lower middle market businesses, is pleased to announce their Fund IV portfolio company, Celerity Consulting Group, LLC (Celerity), has acquired Clear Path Utility Solutions (Clear Path). This is the first add-on investment Celerity has completed since Hastings acquired the company in May 2021. Founded by Steve Tankersley and headquartered in Auburn, CA, Clear Path is a leading provider of expert consulting services to gas and electric utilities specifically related to vegetation management and grid hardening projects. Clear Path services include consulting and project management, major event and disaster management, and work verification. Clear Path is highly complimentary to the Celerity platform that Hastings is building. The partnership between Clear Path and Celerity provides new service offerings and end-market expansion through the addition of vegetation management consulting. Utility customers can expect the new platform to provide one-stop-shop solutions within the industry. "Clear Path has built a team-oriented culture focused on solving utility customer challenges, stated Chris Yowell, Celeritys President of Utilities. We are confident that Celeritys customers will benefit from Clear Path's service offering. Grant Reckhow, Principal at Hastings, said of the investment, Clear Paths focus on helping utilities with their vegetation management challenges is a perfect fit for our Celerity platform, and helps expand Celeritys suite of services. We look forward to helping with the continued growth of Clear Path. We are thrilled to join the Celerity family, this partnership will allow us to offer our services to new clients and to continue our geographic expansion, said Steve Tankersley, Founder and CEO of Clear Path. Celerity has an outstanding team and reputation with utilities, and we look forward to driving value for our clients. The current senior leadership team will remain with Clear Path and are committed to the companys continued growth and success under the Celerity platform. Locke Lord provided legal counsel, KSM provided financial advisory services, Forvis provided tax services, and Equity Risk Solutions provided insurance services to Hastings on the acquisition. About Clear Path Utility Solutions Clear Path Utility Solutions was founded in 2015 by Stephen Tankersley, a recognized subject matter expert on Utility Vegetation Management (UVM). Clear Path provides expert consulting and professional services to the gas and electric utility sector specializing in asset and vegetation management. Clear Path has a broad range of capabilities, able to take on unique and specialized projects, recruit qualified resources, perform quality work with a commitment to safety and a history of bringing projects in on time and within budget. Some of the services Clear Path specializes in are utility vegetation management (UVM) program design & auditing, management of emergencies such as wildfires, hurricanes, & ice storms, providing onsite contract management if UVM programs, developing new integrated vegetation management programs (IVM) for utilities & municipalities, Registered Professional Forester services, environmental compliance inspections, and much more. For more information, visit http://www.clearpathutilityconsulting.com/ About Celerity Consulting Group Celerity is a leading provider of information management consulting services for gas and electric utilities, state governments, law firms, and corporations. Headquartered in San Francisco CA, Celerity specializes in helping its customers retrieve, organize, and analyze large, complex data and records for litigation, compliance, and risk management purposes. For more information, visit http://www.consultcelerity.com About Hastings Equity Partners Founded in 2004, Hastings Equity Partners is a lower middle-market private equity firm. Hastings invests first institutional capital in North American founder-led companies within the industrial and business services sectors, where it has deep operating and investing experience. As a preferred capital partner, Hastings seeks to empower businesses to reach their full potential. For almost two decades, the firm has formed long-term partnerships with entrepreneurs while utilizing a hands-on approach to enhance operations, provide strategic support, and accelerate growth. For more information, visit http://www.hastingsequity.com OpenXcell is a leading software development company with more than 13 years of experience in delivering quality and tailored software solutions. Amidst its recent efforts, OpenXcell is providing its clients the expertise and channels to integrate the AI enabled chat bot ,ChatGPT, into their existing software, applications and websites. With ChatGPT applications becoming extremely popular, there are not many expert development firms equipped with required skill sets, unlike OpenXcell. OpenXcell recognizes the need for automating existing software development by integrating them with Artificial Intelligence and is now fully equipped to deliver the same. ChatGPT is the fastest growing consumer application with almost 100 million users within two months of its launch. It is an intelligent chatbot which automates a variety of tasks and can produce articles, codes, essays and even poetry with the right prompt. Having a tool like ChatGPT, is extremely beneficial for a business as it not only reduces overhead costs but also speeds up most, if not all, internal and external processes. Businesses worldwide are looking for software developers who are skillful enough to help craft intelligent software either from their existing software or from scratch. OpenXcells consistent quality driven software delivery has encouraged businesses to collaborate with them on AI projects like ChatGPT integration. New services added by OpenXcell include ChatGPT integration, consultation, development and maintenance. These services enable companies to completely streamline and automate their processes for better performance and efficiency. Apart from these, another ground breaking service being offered by OpenXcell is integration of Dall-E and Dall- E2. Dall-E and Dall-E 2 are deep learning models developed by OpenAI that are capable of generating images from plain textual inputs. However, despite its various beneficial applications, only a few of the software development firms are equipped to handle Dall-E integration and OpenXcell is one of them. For global and local clients, OpenXcells resource support for various time zones is a favorable attribute. It facilitates the clients autonomy by allowing them to select and customize a team of developers, tailored to fit the clients working hours. Furthermore, OpenXcells impressive pool of resources allow clients to hire dedicated developers for their projects with a refined skill set, best suited for their projects. About OpenXcell Founded in 2009, OpenXcell is a leading offshore resource hiring, and software solutions development firm well known for offering the top 1% of IT talent. OpenXcell boasts of 1000+ successful software projects designed and developed for more than 700+ clients worldwide. With 3 state of the art development facilities and 45 active clientele, OpenXcell is gaining popularity and clientele, at a lightning pace. Our unparalleled talent recruiting techniques have yielded best results when it comes to fine resource selection and creation of cutting-edge, user-friendly creative solutions. Thus, we have evolved into a go to, comprehensive business and technology consultancy. OpenXcell has maintained a premium brand identity by adhering to strict deadlines and delivering high-quality deliverables. Given our customer-centric company model, we are always available and responsive to our clients. To know more about how you can hire dedicated developers and other resources to expand your team for product development, reach out to OpenXcell for complete support.Contact details: OpenXcell Technolabs Pvt. Ltd. 202-203 Baleshwar Avenue, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380054, India Phone: tel:+91-999-822-2929 Email: sales@openxcell.com Website: https://www.openxcell.com/ This acquisition leverages the two largest wealthtech providers to better serve the bank wealth management space First Rate, a leading wealthtech services provider to the wealth management industry, today announced the acquisition of certain wealth platform assets of InvestEdge, a leader in wealth management and compliance solutions to bank trusts, broker-dealers, and RIAs. This acquisition leverages the two largest wealthtech providers to better serve the bank wealth management space, said Craig Wietz, First Rates president. We have admired the InvestEdge business for more than a decade because of their complementary specialization in trading and rebalancing in addition to their compliance solutions. Bringing these mutual strengths together will create a more comprehensive, powerful, and integrated solution for our customers, expand our team of co-workers, and allow us to make a more significant social impact in the communities where we do business. After the transaction, InvestEdge will exclusively offer its regulatory compliance software suite (ComplianceEdge). InvestEdge will provide seamless ComplianceEdge integration to all First Rate customers through the new strategic partnership. "InvestEdges regulatory compliance software, ComplianceEdge, protects the reputation and operational integrity of bank trusts, broker-dealers, and RIAs. We reduce the risk and cost associated with providing investment management advice in an evolving regulatory environment, said InvestEdge President Jeff Cowley. This partnership expands our reach in regulatory compliance while enhancing First Rates substantial wealthtech platform capabilities. The combined wealth management platform as a result of this acquisition will serve more than $3T in AUM across more than 300 banks in the United States. Legacy customers of First Rate will be able to add portfolio management and the InvestEdge ComplianceEdge solutions through the integrated First Rate platform, CORE 2.0, which is currently under development. This combination of best-in-breed capabilities into a single offering enables banks to continue to differentiate themselves in a rapidly changing wealthtech landscape. For more information about First Rate, please visit http://www.FirstRate.com or email info@firstrate.com. About First Rate First Rate exists to help wealth management companies grow and thrive as stewards of their clients investments. Our innovative services and solutions help financial firms create absolute transparency, enhance efficiency, and empower advisors to create more meaningful and intelligent investment strategies for their clients. Its technology as it should be. First Rate Press Release Copyright 2023 The United States Navy Memorial will present U.S. Senator Susan Collins of Maine with the 2023 Naval Heritage Award. The Naval Heritage Award is presented to Americans who have excelled with distinction in their respective careers, distinguished themselves with their significant support of the nations Sea Services, and exemplified the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. Senator Collins has a long history of interest in the maritime security of the United States. First elected in 1996, Senator Collins has earned a national reputation as an effective legislator who works across party lines to seek consensus on our nations most important issues. Senator Collins first became a member of the Appropriations Committee in 2009. She currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the full committee as well as Ranking Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, where she exercises control over the Pentagons budget. In addition to her role on the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins also serves as a member of the Intelligence Committee and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Senator Collins has demonstrated a lifelong interest in and commitment to national defense, said retired Rear Admiral Frank Thorp, president and CEO of the US Navy Memorial. Her commitment to ensure the US Navy has the capability it needs for our nations defense has directly resulted in a significantly stronger Navy. Whether it is her focus on strategic military issues, a strong surface combatant force, the quality of life for our service members or her pursuit of quality production from the state of Maine, including the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Bath Iron Works and Pratt & Whitney, Senator Collins support of national defense is a hallmark of her career. Known for her Maine work ethic, Senator Collins has cast more than 8,500 consecutive votes and holds the longest perfect voting record in the history of the U.S. Senate. Without question, over the last quarter century there has been no greater champion of our Sea Services in Congress. A strong advocate for the construction of destroyers, Senator Collins most recently pushed for the restoration of funding for a DDG-51 that was cut from the Navys budget in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Defense Appropriations bill and added $2.19 billion to the FY 2023 defense appropriations bill for the construction of an additional, third DDG-51. Senator Collins received the Navy Leagues Congressional Sea Services Award for her tireless advocacy to grow our nations maritime forces, bipartisan commitment to a strong national defense, and support for our service members and military families. Additionally, she has received the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society for her work to support veterans, and she received the Navys highest public service award from the Secretary of the Navy for her tireless advocacy of shipbuilding programs. The U.S. Navy Memorial will present Senator Collins with the Naval Heritage Award during the Lone Sailor Awards Dinner on September 21. She will join an impressive list of men and women who have made a direct and significant contribution to the Sea Services in their lives. To learn more about the Naval Heritage Award and see past recipients, visit http://www.NavyMemorial.org. If youre interested in attending or becoming a sponsor of the 2023 dinner, contact Lisa Barker at lbarker@navymemorial.org. --- The US Navy Memorial is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to Honor, Recognize and Celebrate the men and women of the Sea Services, past, present and future; and to Inform the public about their service. The Navy Memorial is located at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004. Girls Inc. New York City celebrates outstanding students in their College Shower/Project REACH program Coupled with our comprehensive programs that help girls succeed academically and socially, we have a powerful formula for helping girls overcome challenges and thrive. Girls Inc. of New York, which provides life-transforming programs for girls and young women, will host their annual Lifting Girls Up gala event to celebrate and honor those whose outstanding efforts align with Girls Inc. NYCs mission of empowering, educating and inspiring girls and young women to be strong, smart and bold. This years honorees are Kate Spade New York and Leah C. Johnson, Executive Vice President at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The event will also celebrate 26 outstanding students who are part of Girls Inc. NYCs College Shower program for girls transitioning from high school to college. Each will be awarded scholarships and gift bags with supplies that will help them be college ready. The gala, hosted by actress & comedienne Abbi Crutchfield, with a live performance by Smashworks Dance Company, takes place at Cipriani (25 Broadway New York, NY) on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, from 6:00 pm-10:00 pm. Now in its 25th year, Girls Inc. of New York City has helped thousands of girls from under-resourced communities to better navigate gender, economic, and social barriers to be prepared for leadership and academic opportunities and become changemakers themselves. Of girls in GINYCs high-impact programs, a full 100% graduate high school and 100% are admitted to college. Proceeds from the gala, which brings together influential thought leaders from the corporate, nonprofit, and philanthropic communities, will support Girls Inc. of New York Citys mental wellness, financial literacy, STEM and college readiness and retention programs. "It is a pivotal time for girls and young women, who have faced an onslaught of challenges to their mental and physical wellbeing in recent years. The pandemic magnified an already serious mental health crisis among young people, particularly teen girls. Girls Inc. of New York City is at the forefront of supporting the citys girls and young women, providing the first of its kind digitized mental health program designed for girls, particularly girls of color. Coupled with our comprehensive programs that help girls succeed academically and socially, we have a powerful formula for helping girls overcome challenges and thrive. There is a waiting list of hundreds of schools and educators for our mental health program, which speaks to the great need for this work " Dr. Pamela Maraldo, CEO of Girls Inc. of New York City. 2023 GALA HONOREES With recent reporting from the CDC highlighting the nationwide mental health crisis facing teen girls, Girls Inc. of New York City is pleased to honor Kate Spade New York for its groundbreaking work in supporting the mental health of women and girls worldwide. In partnership with the Kate Spade New York Foundation, GINYC is bringing innovative, indispensable mental health programming to thousands of girls and young women. The award will be accepted by Taryn Bird, Director of the Kate Spade New York Foundation. For her inspiring leadership and contributions toward making the arts more accessible to diverse populations in NYC, Girls Inc. of New York City is pleased to honor Leah C. Johnson, Executive Vice President for Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Leah has been at the nexus of Lincoln Centers ongoing transformation into a place all New Yorkers can feel welcome. She holds leadership positions across several organizations and sits on numerous non-profit boards dedicated to creating and maintaining diversity and equity within the NYC arts and culture community. The event will also celebrate 26 exceptional college-bound high school seniors from GINYCs College Shower/Project REACH program, which prepares girls to navigate the process of getting into college, succeed in their studies, and graduate college. The program helps over 1,500 girls a year. These student honorees will proudly announce their college acceptances and receive scholarships and supplies. For more information about the 2023 Lifting Girls Up Gala or to purchase tickets, please visit: https://www.girlsincnyc.org/gala2023 About Girls Inc. of New York City Girls Inc. of New York City inspires girls to be strong, smart, and bold, delivering life transforming programs to girls and young women. Through education and advocacy, we prepare girls to navigate gender, economic, and social barriers to advance to a more equitable world. Girls Inc. of New York Citys positive outcomes are achieved through three core elements: people - trained staff and volunteers who build lasting, mentoring relationships; environment - physically and emotionally safe, where there is a sisterhood of support, high expectations, and mutual respect; and programming - research-based, hands-on and minds-on, age-appropriate, meeting the needs of todays girls. Join us at http://www.girlsincnyc.org, @girlsincny, http://www.facebook.com/girlsincnyc Pool Builder Lead Rocket Pool Builder Lead Rocket, a premier digital marketing agency specializing in the pool and spa industry, is honored to receive the prestigious 2023 Austin Award in the Marketing Agency category for the fifth consecutive year. This outstanding achievement grants the company entry into the Austin Business Hall of Fame. The Austin Award Program recognizes local companies that have achieved exceptional marketing success, contributed to their community, and enhanced the image of small businesses. Co-founders Geoff Frink and Joseph Christoforo established Pool Builder Lead Rocket in 2013 with a mission to provide tailored digital marketing services to small business owners in the pool and spa industry. Over the past decade, the agency has helped numerous businesses drive new leads, manage their digital web presence, and achieve significant growth. Their unwavering commitment to delivering results has earned them a stellar 5.0-star rating on Google. Pool Builder Lead Rocket attributes its success to staying at the forefront of digital marketing trends and leveraging the latest technologies. The agency is dedicated to helping clients grow by offering a wide range of services, including search engine optimization, social media marketing, website design and development, and pay-per-click advertising. The co-founders expressed their gratitude to the businesses they have partnered with over the past 10 years and extended a warm welcome to new clients they will be supporting in the next decade. They are committed to providing exceptional service, fostering long-lasting relationships, and continuing to be a leader in the digital marketing landscape. The Austin Award Program evaluates companies based on quality, not quantity, and winners are determined by analyzing information gathered internally and from third-party sources. The program aims to recognize local businesses that contribute to the U.S. economy and make Austin a great place to live, work, and play. About Pool Builder Lead Rocket Pool Builder Lead Rocket is a digital marketing agency founded in 2013 by Geoff Frink and Joseph Christoforo. The agency specializes in providing digital marketing services to small business owners in the pool and spa industry. Pool Builder Lead Rocket is dedicated to driving new leads, managing clients' digital web presence, and helping businesses grow. For more information, visit https://www.poolbuilder-marketing.com. About Austin Award Program The Austin Award Program is an annual awards program that honors the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Austin area. The program focuses on recognizing companies that have demonstrated best practices, implemented innovative programs, and generated competitive advantages and long-term value. The Austin Award Program works with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, and other business advertising and marketing groups to celebrate small business communities' contributions to the U.S. economy. To learn more, visit http://www.honorlocalcompany.com. For more information, please contact: Pool Builder Lead Rocket Joseph Christoforo (Co-Founder & New Acquisition) Geoff Frink (Co-Founder & CEO) 800 West 5th St, #608 Austin, TX 78703 Phone: (512) 560-4605 Email: info@poolbuilder-marketing.com Website: https://www.poolbuilder-marketing.com Austin Award Program Email: PublicRelations@honorlocalcompany.com URL: http://www.honorlocalcompany.com The HESA and AGB Logos HESA is bringing together a dynamic coalition of leaders from the public and private sectors to identify how we can quickly retool higher education policy in service to the critical needs of our country. Today, a coalition of national leaders hailing from higher education, government, business, the nonprofit sector, and the military announced the formation of the Council on Higher Education as a Strategic Asset (HESA). Over the next year, HESA will develop and propose recommendations for ensuring that higher education institutions can deliver the workforce and educated citizenry necessary to address the United States most critical national priorities. Technology and global interconnectivity are fundamentally uprooting workforce priorities, said Michael Crow, PhD, president of Arizona State University and a co-chair of HESA. The United States is falling behind in its vision for higher education, which is already endangering our security and competitiveness. We must act swiftly to reimagine collaborative approaches for higher education policy and funding that reflect changing economic realities. Historically, higher education has been central to national prosperity and security, especially during periods of intense industrial and technological progress. According to the National Governors Association, the United States has more than 10 million job openings, but only 5.7 million unemployed workers are actively looking for work. Many of these open positions, including in crucial areas such as health care, cybersecurity, and more, require specific skills and specialized education that higher education institutions can provide. As other nations readily embrace higher education as a strategic asset, the United States must develop new approaches at speed and scale to ensure it remains competitive. HESAs goal is to maximize the impact of higher education on global competitiveness, national security, democratic strength, and economic prosperity. Prior to the pandemic, the employment skill gap was growing. Its worse now, said Linda R. Gooden, chair of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, a member of several corporate boards of directors, and a HESA co-chair. I live in Maryland and travel a lot. This isnt a problem confined to one location or industry. This is a national issue that we need to confront. We have the power to do something about it if we can work together. Robert L. King, JD, interim president of Florida Institute of Technology and former assistant secretary for postsecondary education at the U.S. Department of Education, will serve as the third HESA co-chair. Americas strength derives from the talent of its people and the innovativeness of its leading institutions, he said. HESA is bringing together a dynamic coalition of leaders from the public and private sectors to identify how we can quickly retool higher education policy in service to the critical needs of our country. HESAs first convening will take place on June 6, 2023. The organization plans to deliver its recommendations to the president of the United States and targeted members of the administration, select members of the U.S. Congress, state governors and legislators, and higher education governing boards and chief executive officers by June 2024. HESA was inspired by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB), the premier membership organization advocating strategic board governance in higher education. To learn more about the coalition and how you can support its work, please visit HESAUS.org. About HESA The Council on Higher Education as a Strategic Asset (HESA) is a multi-sector coalition focused on ensuring Americas global competitive position by proposing new models for higher education policy, funding, and collaboration to develop the human capital required to support our national interests at speed and scale. Working with our nations leaders, HESAs goal is to maximize the impact of higher education on global competitiveness, national security, democratic strength, and economic prosperity. For more information, visit HESAUS.org. About AGB The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) is the premier membership organization that strengthens higher education governing boards and the strategic roles they serve within their organizations. Through our vast library of resources, educational events, and consulting services, and with more than 100 years of experience, we empower 40,000 AGB members from more than 2,000 institutions and foundations to navigate complex issues, implement leading practices, streamline operations, and govern with confidence. AGB is the trusted resource for board members, chief executives, and key administrators on higher education governance and leadership. Learn more at AGB.org. Dr. Albert Bourla, Chairman and CEO of Pfizer The biotech ecosystem is a major engine of innovation and growth, and an increasing percentage of research candidates are coming from the biotech sector. UCLA Technology Development Group (UCLA TDG) announced today that Albert Bourla, Chairman and CEO of Pfizer will be a keynote speaker at the Los Angeles Bioscience Ecosystem Summit 23 (LABEST, pronounced L-A Best.). Dr. Bourla joins Daren Tang, United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization Director General (UN WIPO) who will also deliver a keynote address at the event. The pandemic heightened our recognition that many of todays most disruptive global healthcare challenges are too great for any one organization to tackle alone. They require world-class collaboration to fuel game-changing innovation, said Dr. Bourla. The biotech ecosystem is a major engine of innovation and growth, and an increasing percentage of research candidates are coming from the biotech sector. At Pfizer, we want to help catalyze this ecosystem to help transform these candidates into medicines and deliver more breakthroughs for more patients more quickly. Drawing on his 30 years of experience at Pfizer, Dr. Bourla will discuss the evolution of the research ecosystem in life sciences, the importance of biotech startups and how both academia and large biopharmaceuticals companies can catalyze this ecosystem. Biotech is the lifeblood of innovation, and the greater L.A. ecosystem of world-class academic centers, research institutions and bioscience companies is nourishing exciting growth. I am proud to be part of this collaborative network and thrilled by the growing interest LABEST now commands from leaders throughout the biopharma world, said Arie Belldegrun, Roy and Carol Doumani Chair in Urologic Oncology, UCLA. For the 5th year Dr. Belldegrun will moderate one of the summits most highly anticipated panels: Meet the Leaders in the Business of Life Science. Executives on the prestigious panel include Norbert Bischofberger, President & CEO, Kronos Bio David Chang, President, CEO, and Co-Founder, Allogene Mark Cobbold, MD, PhD, VP Discovery Oncology, Head of Oncology Cell Therapy, AstraZeneca Aamir Malik, Chief Business Innovation Officer, Executive Vice President, Pfizer Dennis J. Slamon, MD, PhD, Director of Clinical/Translational Research, and Revlon/UCLA Women's Cancer Research Program, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center LABEST is the premier showcase for bioscience innovation in Southern California. With national and international presenters and attendees and a true collaboration with colleagues from across LA county, LABEST presents promising academic research, entrepreneurial faculty investigators, and local startup companies. The goal is to highlight the vibrant startup ecosystem and to facilitate partnerships between academia, the biopharma industry, entrepreneurs and investors. UCLA TDG is excited to fill the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center once again for the 2023 event, which will be held on May 25. Throughout the summit, faculty members present the latest scientific breakthroughs, which may lead to the critical therapies of tomorrow. Leading bioscience translational research programs and startups will be showcased where Southern California Institutions have significant expertise, pioneering research and resource commitments to develop innovative patient therapies. LABEST INFORMATION #LABEST2023 @UCLATDG DATE: May 25, 2023 TIME: 8:30am 7:00pm PT LABEST OFFICIAL WEBPAGE: https://tdg.ucla.edu/news-events/events/labest-2023 LINK TO 2023 PROMOTIONAL VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UbfHQhUePY REGISTRATION: https://web.cvent.com/event/f3b8fb91-0d21-4987-8840-cb9899ed0153/regProcessStep1 WHERE: UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center AGENDA: https://tdg.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/2023-04/LABEST%202023%20Agenda%20v13.pdf SCHEDULE: https://tdg.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/2023-04/LABEST%202023%20Schedule%20At-A-Glance%20v02.pdf KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Dr. Albert Bourla - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer Daren Tang - United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization Director General (UN WIPO) CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS In-person conference taking place at the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center Fireside chat with UC Regents and UCLA Chancellor 12 Interactive Showcases Los Angeles Startup Ecosystem Showcase, Co-Hosted by the Larta Institute and the Lundquist Institute LABEST SHORT TALK/PANEL DESCRIPTIONS Panel - LA Hospital Leaders Innovating For Future Success: Moderator Judy Fortin, Chief of Communications for UCLA Health. A panel discussion with Hospital CEOs from our long-standing LABEST partners in the Los Angeles area, covering challenges, accomplishments, and what the future has in store for Hospitals. Showcase - Accelerating Innovation in Oncology: Led by Edward B. Garon, MD, MS, Thoracic Medical Oncology. UCLA Technology Development Group (TDG) serves as a campus-wide gateway to UCLA innovation, research and entrepreneurship. Our mission is to: -Promote UCLA innovation, research, teaching and entrepreneurship to benefit society -Create economic value to support UCLAs scholarly and educational missions and the State of California -Lead UCLAs research community to bring innovation to market Website: http://tdg.ucla.edu Thank you to our Innovator Sponsors: Amgen Kite, A Gilead Company AHN Schools of Nursing offer 22-month registered nurse (RN) programs, with classroom learning and hands-on clinical experiences led by highly qualified faculty members. One of the many benefits of attending AHNs nursing schools is the opportunity to be hired within the network post-graduation, with a highly competitive salary when hired. Allegheny Health Networks (AHN) Schools of Nursing are seeking applicants to join the next generation of standout nurses. Applications are being accepted through June 15 for AHNs two nursing schools: West Penn Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburghs Bloomfield neighborhood, and Citizens School of Nursing in Tarentum. Both schools offer 22-month registered nurse (RN) programs, with classroom learning and hands-on clinical experiences led by highly qualified faculty members. Small class sizes and one-on-one learning opportunities provide a personalized experience for each student. The schools diploma programs are completed in half the time of a four-year collegiate program. Nursing school tuition is also significantly more affordable than a college-based bachelors program. AHNs Schools of Nursing set students up for success from the very beginning, said Amy Stoker, PhD, RN, director of the West Penn School of Nursing. Our engaged and caring instructors prioritize relationship-building with each student to ensure they feel comfortable and confident as they pursue their nursing careers. Over 90% of graduates who seek employment as entry-level registered nurses will obtain a position in a health care setting within one year of graduation. One of the many benefits of attending AHNs nursing schools is the opportunity to be hired within the network post-graduation, with a highly competitive salary when hired, said Ruth Tarantine, DNP, director of AHN Schools of Nursing and the Citizens School of Nursing. The familiarity from clinical experience makes the transition seamless for students who choose to stay in the network to pursue their nursing careers. Jacob Tirk, 21, of South Butler, is one of the 25 nurses graduating from the Citizens School of Nursing on May 3, and already has a job secured at AHNs Allegheny General Hospital (AGH), working in the Cardiothoracic Telemetry unit. He credits his instructors at the Citizens School of Nursing for his remarkable nursing school experience. Before attending the Citizens School of Nursing, I heard about how engaging and accessible the instructors were, and I found that to be true during my time there, shared Tirk. Their ongoing support was vital to my success and helped prepare me to excel throughout my education. Im looking forward to applying what I learned to my new career at AGH this spring. Daniela ONeil, 26, is originally from West Palm Beach, Florida, and pursued nursing as her second career. She moved to Pittsburgh to attend the West Penn School of Nursing after living in New York City at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shes one of the 40 nurses graduating from the West Penn School of Nursing on May 25. ONeil will remain in Pittsburgh after graduation and begin her new job as a NICU nurse at West Penn Hospital. Nursing school is challenging, but the support provided by the instructors at West Penn School of Nursing allows anyone who wants to become a nurse to succeed in their career, shared ONeil. AHN Schools of Nursing offers types of financial aid such as federal government grants, federal student loans, state grants, scholarships, and private educational loans. On-site housing is available at the West Penn School of Nursing, while the Citizens School of Nursing has free, on-site parking. AHN is one of just a handful of hospital systems to operate multiple nursing schools. Since the 1970s, as college nursing programs proliferated nationally, hospital-affiliated diploma programs began to close. But the Northeast, and Pennsylvania in particular, maintain a strong tradition of hospital-based education for nurses. To learn more about the AHN Schools of Nursing, visit https://www.ahn.org/health-care-professionals/education/nursing/schools. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Deputy Foreign Minister of Lithuania Mantas Adomenas, Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend. The topical issues on the agenda of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Lithuania and the current situation in the region were discussed at the meeting. Bayramov noted the cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic, trade, energy security and other areas, as well as the existence of an effective cooperation agenda within the EU. It was highlighted that successful projects carried out within the Eastern Partnership contribute to the development of relations between the two countries. The Azerbaijani minister, speaking about the importance of mutual visits within the development of relations between both countries, noted that political consultations are one of the important mechanisms for further expansion of relations. He also informed the Lithuanian side in detail about the current situation in the region in the post-Karabakh conflict period, reconstruction and construction work carried out by Azerbaijan in the territories liberated from Armenian occupation, and efforts aimed at promoting the peace agenda. Bayramov also pointed out noted that the steps taken to normalize relations with Armenia face the non-constructive position of this country and its constant provocations. In additton, information was also provided about the illegal activities of Armenia in connection with the Lachin-Khankendi road, and about the creation of a border checkpoint by Azerbaijan that will ensure transparency and security. In turn, Adomenas underlined that Lithuania is interested in further development of relations with Azerbaijan, and expressed confidence that peace and security will be ensured in the region, as well as the readiness of the Lithuanian side to provide support in this direction. The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. Auction Direct USA Has an Extensive Inventory of Used Vehicles for Under $20,000 in Raleigh, North Carolina Auction Direct USA, a leading automotive dealership for pre-owned vehicles in Raleigh, North Carolina, has an extensive inventory of used cars under $20,000. Buyers can take advantage of the great selection of quality pre-owned cars, trucks, SUVs, convertibles, coupes, sedans, minivans and hatchbacks, all at an affordable price. Auction Direct USA prides itself on providing customers with a stress-free car buying experience. They have a knowledgeable staff ready to help buyers navigate the car buying process with ease. The dealership offers a range of quality used vehicles, including models from popular brands such as Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Chevrolet, Chrysler, GMC, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru, Tesla, MINI, BMW, Cadillac and many more. Every vehicle at the dealership passes a rigorous inspection process, so the drivers can have peace of mind knowing they are getting a reliable car. In addition to a comprehensive inventory, Auction Direct USA makes it extremely easy to get behind the wheel of a used car. The dealership works with several lending partners to help customers find a financing solution that fits their budget. Whether buyers have good, bad or no credit, the dealership's financing specialists offer multiple financing options for various credit levels. Moreover, the dealership lets customers sell or trade their old cars at competitive prices. Customers can fill out an online form or visit the dealership to get an instant quote on their vehicle. To learn more about the car buying process and financing options at Auction Direct USA, interested parties can contact the dealerships team of experts by dialing 844-678-8048. Individuals can also visit the dealership at 7601 Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh, North Carolina, for further assistance. CGV theatres choose Christie's CineLife+ cinema projectors We are committed to working closely with CGV to help them achieve outstanding results by utilizing the audience attraction capabilities of our latest series of RGB Real|Laser and CineLife+ Series 4 projectors. Christie is pleased to announce that CGV has signed an exclusive agreement to acquire hundreds of CineLife+ Series cinema projectors featuring the most energy efficient illumination systems on the market for its multiplexes located in South Korea, China, Vietnam and Indonesia over the next three years. With this acquisition, Christie will supply CGV South Koreas largest cinema chain and the fifth largest multiplex theatre company in the world with state-of-the-art projection systems that bring advanced format capabilities to both premium large-format (PLF) venues and mainstream theatres. These include 2K and 4K RGB pure laser projectors equipped with Christie Real|Laser illumination technology, as well as Series 4 Xenon projectors fitted with advanced cinema electronics that expands the horizons of cinema projection technology for mainstream and PLF auditoriums. A spokesperson from CGV said, We are committed to utilizing leading-edge technologies to enhance the cinema experience, including energy-efficient solutions, and this is exemplified by our collaboration with Christie, our valuable partner for many years with a reputation for innovation, exceptional service, and support. We are confident that the addition of Christies CineLife+ Series projectors, which offer both exceptional visual quality and energy efficiency, will significantly improve the cinema experience across our multiplexes in South Korea and beyond. At CGV, our core strategy is to be the best place to watch a movie, and high-quality projection is a crucial component of this goal. Brian Claypool, executive vice president, Cinema, Christie, commented, We are honored that CGV has selected Christie to deliver the most exceptional cinematic experiences to their audiences. We are committed to working closely with CGV to help them achieve outstanding results by utilizing the audience attraction capabilities of our latest series of RGB Real|Laser and CineLife+ Series 4 projectors. Our goal is to create unforgettable cinematic moments for moviegoers, and were excited to continue working together with CGV towards this shared objective. CGV is one of the worlds leading exhibitors with over 4000 screens globally comprising PLF and mainstream auditoriums that cater to patrons of different ages and interests. The CineLife+ projectors will be installed at new sites, as well as replacing aging projectors at existing venues in each country. Christies CineLife+ projectors are DCI-compliant, offer a new world of color and contrast, provide industry-leading efficiency, a long operational life, and are capable of reproducing 2D and 3D content at 4K resolution and up to 120 frames per second. Together with Christie Real|Laser that offers over 50,000 hours of optimal performance for RGB pure laser projectors, as well as a streamlined UX-designed touch-panel, the CineLife+ Series is at the forefront of modern cinema. These high-performance projectors deliver more than 95 percent of Rec. 2020 spec without filtering or color correction, and superior contrast ratio. The rich, deep and intense colors and contrast create astounding visuals for audiences to enjoy, while delivering significant operational efficiencies to cinema owners such as CGV. NAPA and Marshall Dennehey law firm will provide the first free webinar in a series to help you avoid mistakes and the mismanagement of Life & Health claims. This panel of experts will provide you with the knowledge and tools you need for long-term success. -Joe Peters, VP of Business Development NAPA, the National Association of Professional Agents, has announced a new webinar series for insurance agents. Free and open to any agent interested, the first webinar in the series will discuss How to Avoid Mistakes with Mismanagement of Life & Health Claims." An elite group of professionals from NAPA and the Marshall Dennehey law firm will be available to discuss this topic, review case studies and offer Q&A time with our online webinar audience. As an industry leader in Errors & Omissions Insurance, we look forward to gathering a network of like-minded professionals to help grow our connections and optimize our businesses for long-term success. This impactful workshop series will occur on Thursday, May 25th, 2023, from 1-2 PM EDT. Save your spot by registering online today - REGISTER ONLINE Our panel of professionals will include the following: Estelle K. McGrath - Shareholder Professional Liability Department - Marshall Dennehey Jason Rogers Executive Vice President Specialty Programs - NAPA Chris Buseman Vice President Specialty Insurance Programs - NAPA Joseph Peters Vice President Business Development - NAPA Since 1989, NAPA has served insurance agents as one of the industrys largest and most trusted benefits providers. NAPA uniquely understands the new and complex liability exposures facing insurance agents today. This webinar series is offered to educate, provide case studies to review with a team of lawyers and showcase how important it is to protect yourself from new and complex liability exposures facing agents in the market today. Again, to register for this webinar, please RESERVE YOUR SPOT ### NAPA Benefits & Services NAPA provides insurance agents, agencies, RIAs, and financial planners access to benefits, and services tailored to the unique needs of professionals, including Errors & Omissions Programs, Cyber & Data Breach Insurance, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Members Discounts and more. https://www.napa-benefits.org ### Marshall Dennehey, founded in 1962, is a leading civil defense litigation law firm representing and advising insurers and their insureds, self-insured businesses, and professionals in a wide range of casualty, employment, professional liability, health care and workers' compensation matters. As an Am Law 200 firm with nearly 500 attorneys in 19 offices throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Ohio, Florida, New York and Connecticut. Marshall Dennehey is uniquely positioned to assist clients in both avoiding litigation, as well as providing them with a vigorous defense in the event of claims and suits made against them. https://www.marshalldennehey.com (Left to Right): Stephen Soel, Wilson Guerrero, Rakesh Patel, Roland Charles and Fredy Henao of Delta TechOps in front of engine donated to Vaughn College. "Delta TechOps partnership with Vaughn College plays a critical role in meeting workforce demands, with Vaughn graduates representing over one-third of TechOps employees in the tri-state area." said Delta TechOps Director of Aircraft Line Maintenance Salvatore Giaimo. Vaughn College, a partner school for Delta TechOps, received an engine donation in March to assist students studying to become aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) with their training. Through Delta TechOps TechU AMT career pathway program, Deltas partnership with Vaughn College plays a vital role in meeting the demand for certified AMTs in the metropolitan region as well as across the nation. The donated engine is a JT8D, an engine that is considered highly durable and reliable having completed more than 673 million dependable flying hours since entering service. Today, there are 2,400 engines in use around the world. Delta TechOps partnership with Vaughn College plays a critical role in meeting workforce demands, with Vaughn graduates representing over one-third of TechOps employees in the tri-state area, said Delta TechOps Director of Aircraft Line Maintenance Salvatore Giaimo. As a former College of Aeronautics and Technology student myself, I have seen firsthand how Deltas continued support of TechU at Vaughn College supports the Queens community by paving the way for greater access to high-quality jobs. We are proud to provide this engine donation which will enhance learning through hands-on experience with a modern functional engine. We value our partnership with Delta TechOps and are grateful for the support our students receive through the career pathway program, said Vaughn College President Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo. Deltas engine donation reinforces Vaughns commitment to provide students with an education that leads to futureproof careers and a lifetime of opportunity. In May 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a new rule designed to modernize the FAA Aviation Technician School Curriculum Requirements. The new rule allows institutions to provide students with curriculum that aligns with current industry standards. About Vaughn College Founded in 1932, Vaughn College is a private, nonprofit four-year college that enrolls more than 1,200 students in masters, bachelors and associate degree programs in engineering, technology, management and aviation on its main campus in New York City and online. The student-faculty ratio of 13 to 1 ensures a highly personalized learning environment. Ninety-two percent of Vaughn College graduates are placed in professional positions, 76 percent in a related field, or choose to continue their education within one year of graduation. The institution serves many first-generation college students and is recognized by the US Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. In a study conducted by The Equality of Opportunity Project, and reported in The New York Times, Vaughn was ranked number one in upward mobility nationwide and recognized as a top college for social mobility by US News. For more information on Vaughn College, please visit http://www.vaughn.edu. This years college graduates are entering a hot job market with promising news of more entry-level openings. - Bill Stoller, Express Employment International CEO Fifty-six percent of U.S. hiring managers say they plan to include recent college grads in their 2023 headcount, marking the highest level in three years as companies look for more entry-level talent. This is according to a survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals. With companies reporting intentions to hire for entry-level positions in 2023, it may explain why the interest in college graduates continues to climb, as 51% of hiring managers reported plans to hire recent grads in the first half of 2022, and now 56% report the same intentions for 2023. During the past few years, college graduates continue to be sought after by companies52% in the second half of 2021, 48% in the first half of 2021, 43% in the second half of 2020 and 38% in the first half of 2020. More than 2 in 5 hiring managers (45%) say their companies also plan to hire college students in 2023, while 38% report the same for vocational/career tech graduates. Around a quarter say their company plans to hire immigrant workers (24%), adults with a disability (23%) and high school students (22%). Entry Level, Full-Time Employees Nearly two-thirds of employers (63%) report their company is looking to hire entry-level employeesan increase from the first half of 2022 (52%), while nearly 3 in 5 (58%) plan to hire for mid-level positions. Around 3 in 10 are planning to hire individual contributors (33%) or senior-level employees (28%), and few report they will hire C-suite executives (11%) in 2023a significant decrease since the spring of 2022 (20%). Key departments for expansion include customer service (29%), general labor (27%), sales (26%) and IT/technology support (23%). More than 4 in 5 hiring managers (83%) say they will bring on full-time employees, either hourly (61%) or salaried (48%) in 2023. The desire to hire full-time employees has remained relatively steady since the second half of 2021. Interest in this group remains on par with the first half of 2022, as a similar proportion reported this in the first half of 2022 (84%). While companies navigate these challenging times, they may need to turn to more temporary hires in a pinch. Nearly three-quarters (73%) say their company is willing to hire contingent (i.e., temporary or contract) workers to meet business needsdespite a decrease since the first half of 2022 (79%). In fact, nearly 28% report their company plans to hire seasonal, temporary or contract workers. This years college graduates are entering a hot job market with promising news of more entry-level openings, said Bill Stoller, Express Employment International CEO. Its a great time for this group to gain experience and build skills that will aid them in the development of successful careers. Survey Methodology The Job Insights survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between Dec. 1 and Dec. 15, 2022, among 1,002 U.S. hiring decision-makers (defined as adults ages 18+ in the U.S. who are employed full-time or self-employed, work at companies with more than one employee, and have full/significant involvement in hiring decisions at their company). Data were weighted where necessary by company size to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 3.2 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest. *** If you would like to arrange for an interview with Bill Stoller to discuss this topic, please contact Sheena Hollander, Director of Corporate Communications and PR, at (405) 717-5966. About Bill Stoller William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment International. Founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing franchisor supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. About Express Employment Professionals At Express Employment Professionals, were in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 579,000 people globally in 2022 and more than 10 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com. Today at their annual AESC Global Conference in New York, the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) honored two award recipients. Denielle Pemberton-Heard, Esq., Global Managing Director and Chief Legal Officer of Diversified Search Group, received the AESC IDEA Award for her leadership in the areas of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA). Emily Plahanski, Stanton Chase Director and Global Practice Lead, E-Commerce and Direct-To-Consumer, received the AESC Future of the Profession award for significant accomplishments, work ethic, and impact on the profession at an early stage in her career. Denielle Pemberton-Heard, Esq. At Diversified Search Group, Denielle directs commercial transactions and manages a portfolio of Board, executive level, and Legal Counsel searches across multiple sectors. As a Diversified Search Group Executive Committee member and a trusted leader in the firms board and legal practices, Denielle plays an integral role in shaping and carrying out the firms purpose and strategy to cultivate leadership at the highest levels that more accurately reflect society. One colleague says, Denielle is curious about people and uses her seat on the Executive Committee of Diversified Search Group and in the Board room to move the needle on the war for talent so traditionally underrepresented leaders have an opportunity to both have an impact and engage in the economic opportunities these roles afford. As part of the firms leadership team, Denielle has assisted in creating more inclusive leadership in boardrooms and across the executive ranks of Fortune ranked corporations and major non-profits by putting an emphasis on making certain leaders are not only selected but retained. Prior to joining the executive search profession, Denielle spent 15 years as a Legal and Business Affairs leader at PBS (public Broadcasting Service) where she honed skills to support human capital leaders, operators, and cross- functional teams. She started her legal career with the Law Firms of Wiggin & Dana, moving to Cowan Liebowitz & Latman before her in-house career began at Discovery Communications, Inc. (DSC). She also led as Vice President of the Business Affairs function at Time Inc. (TWX) and as Group Counsel for Thales, Inc. Denielle is a thought leader on issues impacting DEI in leadership across industries and sectors, explains one of her peers. Her steadfast commitment demonstrates her belief that now, more than ever, she can showcase all leaders to improve opportunity and equity in the workforce. Additionally, Denielle: Served as a past Regional Judge for President Obamas Presidential Commission on White House Fellowships Served as a Trustee of the Toy Industry of America Foundation Was a past Board of Governors member of the Case Western Reserve School of Law Has taught and mentored rising leaders as a past member of the professional faculty of the Johns Hopkins University Carey School of Business Her outside directorships are varied and include serving as an Advisor to Pod Networks, &Pizza, and a private equity-backed cybersecurity firm. Was named to the Diversity Womans Class of 2022 Elite 100 list of Black Leaders and was this year identified as a Diversity Star at an event hosted by CAA Serves on the AESC Diversity Council and has recently been elevated to the North Americas board of the organization Is currently chairing a fundraiser honoring Pulitzer Prize winner Michael R. Jackson and Woolly Mammoths A Strange Loop Denielle is an alumna of Columbia University Graduate School of Business and also earned her JD from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, and her BA in Political Science from Tufts University. "Denielle is an exceptional leader and trusted advisor to countless clients across industries. She has been a driving force in our efforts to cultivate inclusive leadership in the boardroom, C-suite, and executive ranks, says Aileen K. Alexander, Diversified Search Group CEO. We are inspired by the AESCs commitment to delivering the future of global leadership, and we are thrilled Denielle has been recognized for her unmatched expertise and commitment to promoting Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access at all levels. Karen Greenbaum, AESC President & CEO, commented: Denielle demonstrates her commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access through her contributions to AESCs diversity priorities and passion for improving equity in the workforce. Im honored to recognize Denielle with AESCs IDEA Award. About the AESC IDEA Award The AESC IDEA Award was established in 2020 to support the goals of the AESC Diversity Pledge, signed by more than 100 CEOs of leading executive search and leadership consulting firms. The award recognizes initiatives within the executive search and leadership consulting profession that demonstrate an exemplary commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and access. These initiatives must be of sufficient significance and external impact to be recognized as excellent by the profession. Emily Plahanski Most recently, Emily has played a key role in driving Stanton Chases new international commercial strategy toward success, leading the multi-pronged and fully integrated sales, marketing and business development go-to-market refresh. Her efforts have already resulted in elevated search opportunities and improved client satisfaction. Additionally, she volunteers to mentor and is deeply involved in the development of human capital and talent management best practices within the organization worldwide. Emily even led a global team on creating new internal and external documentation and marketing materials that articulate Stanton Chases best practices. One colleague calls Emily the epitome of the future of our firm and our professionproactive, creative and always driving to do better. In addition to her efforts within her firm, Emily has proved her dedication and value to clients through her leadership, grit, creativity, and tenacity. One past colleague says that Emily is a natural people person who innately understands the psychology of people, which has allowed her to build high-trust relationships with clients. One client explains, From the very beginning, Emily impressed us with her professionalism, expertise, and dedication to finding the best possible candidates for our company. She took the time to really understand our company culture, our business goals, and the specific qualities we were looking for in these new positions. Another client who worked with Emily states, During our work together, Emily displayed amazing talent and forward-thinking leadership. She is a trailblazer in her profession and always brings innovative solutions to every situation. Emily stood out to me from the beginning because of her determination, open communication style and hard work ethic. Most importantly, she succeeded in helping us find the best-fit candidates for some hard-to-fill roles. Emily also: Serves on the board of the TEARS Foundation of Maryland Was awarded Howard Countys Finest 39 Under 39 Is an active committee member of Executive Alliance for Women in Maryland Holds two advanced certificates from AESC and Cornell Universitys ILR School Is certified as a Hogan Assessment Consultant Stanton Chase Global Chair Kristof Reynvoet says, As a leading executive search firm, Stanton Chase is dedicated to promoting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment that upholds values like gender equality and intergenerational diversity both internally and throughout our wider community. We are thrilled to announce that Emily Plahanski, one of our esteemed colleagues, has been recognized with the prestigious AESC 2023 Future of the Profession award, a testament to her exceptional contributions and unwavering dedication to our core values and culture. Prior to joining Stanton Chase, Emily was a Managing Director at SHIFT Recruiting, Director of Strategic Partnerships at SIG, an Alera Group Company, a leading national employee benefits firm. She has also worked for Roth Staffing Companies and Robert Half International. She holds a B.S. in business management and marketing from St. John Fisher Universitys Bittner School of Business, which is an accredited member of AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Reynvoet explains, Emily is not only a credit to Stanton Chase, but she has also made significant contributions to the executive search and leadership advisory profession. Her achievements have left an indelible mark on the world. She consistently demonstrates a relentless commitment to delivering exceptional results for our clients, engaging collaboratively with colleagues from all corners of the globe, and exemplifying the very best of Stanton Chase. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Emily on this well-deserved accolade. Karen Greenbaum, AESC President & CEO, commented: Emily Plahanski truly represents the future of the profession, with her expertise, energy, integrity, and creativity. It is a privilege to recognize her with AESCs Future of the Profession Award. About the AESC Future of the Profession Award Awarded since 2015, the AESC Future of the Profession Award is designed to recognize the next generation of leaders in executive search and leadership consulting. It honors innovation and forward-thinking leadership and recipients are viewed as trailblazers in the profession. Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP expands its Finance capabilities with the addition of Shareholder Sierra M. Taylor in the firms London office. Taylor joins from Paul Hastings, where she was a partner focused on finance relating primarily to real estate and funds. Taylor focuses her practice on banking and finance matters, concentrating on real estate finance and fund finance transactions. She represents major European and international banks, as well as investment funds and debt funds. Taylor advises lenders and funds in respect to facilities for funds of funds, master-feeder structures, subscription lines, NAV facilities, hybrid facilities and other borrowing base facilities. Her experience includes advising across a wide range of real estate related transactions, including straight investment loans, development facilities, hotel financing and loan-on-loan financing. Sierra is a welcome addition, bringing further depth and breadth to our growing Fund and Real Estate Finance practices which are integral components of our global brand, Greenberg Traurig Executive Chairman Richard A. Rosenbaum said. Our firm is highly active in advising fund managers on their fund-raising activities, secondaries, and their underlying investment programmes. The financing of funds during their life cycle and secondaries transactions is increasingly a more bespoke and complex area. Sierras deep experience in fund finance is a great complement to our team in London, Europe, and around the world, said Steven Cowins, Global Co-Chair of the firms Real Estate Fund Practice. Taylors work includes cross-border transactions in the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy, where Greenberg Traurig has established offices. I was attracted to Greenberg Traurigs collaborative European and global platform which offers deep experience in finance, real estate and the funds sector. Working with talented professionals across jurisdictions in related practices and being able to tap into their specific industry and country know-how will enhance the provision of seamless service to my clients, Taylor said. The addition of Taylor is part of the firms strategic expansion to provide deep coverage and a wide range of services in its real estate funds practice in London and across Europe to meet client demand. Financial Regulatory Shareholder Tim Dolan joined in January and both hires are a testament to the firms commitment to building a team that collaboratively advises on the full life cycle of investment funds, from inception though deployment and exit to final liquidation, against a backdrop of the rapidly evolving financial services landscape. About Greenberg Traurigs London Office: Greenberg Traurig, LLP in London has established itself as a multidisciplinary law firm, with more than 135 lawyers and growing. The London office provides partner-led advice to domestic and international clients on a range of matters across the legal spectrum. Lawyers at Greenberg Traurig in London advise U.K. and multinational clients operating in many different sectors, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, energy, real estate, financial services, automotive, retail and communications. 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. Leaseweb, a leading Cloud services and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provider, today announced that it has launched its Leaseweb VMware vSphere and HCI solutions in Canada. The solutions will help companies migrate their business-critical applications to a secured, and highly redundant platform, with data that resides in Canada for our customers. This is the latest in a series of Cloud offerings that Leaseweb Canada is rolling out this year to support its customers Cloud transformation and growth. Leaseweb VMware vSphere is a powerful single-tenant infrastructure that enables organizations to deploy virtualization environments of any size into their dedicated infrastructure without long-term investments. Hosted in Leasewebs Canada data centers, the solution provides customers in Canada the flexibility to build an environment suited to their needs, utilizing the virtualization benefits of greater elasticity and scalability. As more and more organizations are embracing a Cloud-first strategy, our mission is to make the transition to Cloud easier with a platform that will meet their unique business and workload-specific needs, said Roger Brulotte, CEO of Leaseweb Canada. We are pleased to expand our VMware vSphere and HCI offering in Canada to help customers quickly and securely move critical applications from on-premises or other hosted environments to a single-tenant infrastructure, which frees up their internal teams to focus on managing and growing their business. As their requirements change over time, customers can easily add and remove computing capacity and storage, as well as dedicated hardware firewalls and load balancers, without compromising performance. For more information on the solution visit Leaseweb VMware vSphere and HCI page. About Leaseweb Leaseweb is a leading Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provider serving a worldwide portfolio of 20,000 customers ranging from SMBs to Enterprises. Services include Public Cloud, Private Cloud, Dedicated Servers, Colocation, Content Delivery Network, and Cyber Security Services supported by exceptional customer service and technical support. With more than 80,000 servers, Leaseweb has provided infrastructure for mission-critical websites, Internet applications, email servers, security, and storage services since 1997. The company operates 25 data centers in locations across Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America, all of which are backed by a superior worldwide network with a total capacity of more than 10 Tbps. Leaseweb offers services through its various subsidiaries, which are Leaseweb Netherlands B.V., Leaseweb USA, Inc., Leaseweb Asia Pacific PTE. LTD, Leaseweb CDN B.V., Leaseweb Deutschland GmbH, Leaseweb Australia Ltd., Leaseweb UK Ltd, Leaseweb Japan KK, Leaseweb Hong Kong LTD, and Leaseweb Canada Inc. For more information, visit: http://www.leaseweb.com. "NeurCare aims to revolutionize patient care with smartphone technology for remote monitoring and early detection of cognitive conditions Marc Fischer, CEO and Co-Founder of Dogtown Media, is scheduled to speak at the 75th American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting about his innovative venture, NeurCare, and the remote monitoring of neurological patients. The presentation will take place on Thursday, April 27th, at 11:45 AM EST, both in-person in Boston and live online. The session is titled "Remote Monitoring of Neurological Patients." "I'm deeply grateful to the AAN for this opportunity to present NeurCare to the world's leading neurology experts. Their insights and feedback are crucial to fulfilling our mission," said Marc Fischer. The AAN Annual Meeting, which will be held from April 22-27, 2023, offers a diverse program covering a wide range of topics and specialties in neurology. It provides valuable educational and networking opportunities for attendees, including advanced practice providers, business administrators, general neurologists, medical students, neurohospitalists, non-neurologists, residents, and specialist neurologists. Fischer's presentation will focus on the NeurCare app, a mobile health solution developed by Dogtown Media in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NeurCare is designed to remotely monitor patients with neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and provide early detection of neurotoxicity due to CAR T-Cell immunotherapy treatments. The worldwide shortage of neurologists and recent COVID-related restrictions have led to fewer neurological exams, resulting in delayed diagnosis and suboptimal patient care. NeurCare aims to address this gap in care by using smartphone-embedded sensors to measure various neurological functions autonomously, right from a patient's homes. Fischer's session will discuss the development and testing of NeurCare's smartphone tests, which evaluate fine finger movements with differing contributions of specific neurological domains. The study conducted on multiple sclerosis patients has demonstrated promising results, suggesting that smartphone apps like NeurCare can one day recreate the entire neurological examination. "Presenting NeurCare at the AAN Annual Meeting is an honor, and we're excited to collaborate with the world's leading neurologists to drive innovation and enhance patient outcomes in the field of neurology," said Marc Fischer, CEO and Co-Founder of Dogtown Media. As a recognized leader in mobile app development and healthcare innovation, Dogtown Media is dedicated to improving patient outcomes and addressing critical healthcare challenges. The company has been honored with several accolades, including being named an awardee in the Improving Detection of Neurotoxicity in Immunotherapies QuickFire Challenge by Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC. As an mHealth app developer Dogtown Media has created over 250 mobile apps in industries including Healthcare App Development, IoT, and Artificial Intelligence. For more information about Marc Fischer's presentation at the 2023 AAN Annual Meeting or the NeurCare app, please visit http://www.neurcare.com By facilitating regulatory compliance and accelerating workflow automation, Genedata Expressionist 17.0 represents an important milestone on the journey of biopharma toward rapid and cost-effective development of next-generation therapies. Othmar Pfannes, Ph.D., CEO at Genedata Genedata, the leading provider of enterprise software solutions for biopharmaceutical R&D, today announced the latest release of Genedata Expressionist, its platform for streamlining and automating mass spectrometry data workflows, from early discovery to late-stage development of biopharmaceuticals. Building on a comprehensive enterprise platform, Genedata Expressionist 17.0 dramatically accelerates MS-based analytical processes and facilitates their implementation in regulated environments by introducing advanced functionalities that set new standards for automated data processing and data integrity. Developed in close collaboration with leading biopharma companies, this release offers new user-friendly commenting functionalities that simplify the systematic recording, reporting, and auditing of user interventions during data processing and result review. The platform integrates seamlessly with corporate IT infrastructures and streamlines data governance processes by creating archivable, permanent, and immutable project records that guarantee full data integrity and traceability of all data processing steps throughout the analysis. Given the ever-growing volume and complexity of MS data generated during analyses, Genedata Expressionist is continuously developed to provide novel functionalities that expedite highly automated data processing workflows in the biopharma industry. In this release, enhanced metadata management streamlines fully automated data processing of large sample batches. By automatically extracting sample-specific informationsuch as the protein sequencefrom metadata, Genedata Expressionist 17.0 enables accelerated end-to-end automation of batch data processing, with each round being specifically tailored to the sample: boosting analytical throughput while simultaneously improving result quality. This release further cements the position of Genedata Expressionist as the industry-leading enterprise platform for the end-to-end automation of MS data analysis stated Othmar Pfannes, Ph.D., CEO of Genedata. By facilitating regulatory compliance and accelerating workflow automation, Genedata Expressionist 17.0 represents an important milestone on the journey of biopharma toward rapid and cost-effective development of next-generation therapies. About Genedata Genedata transforms data into intelligence with innovative software solutions that incorporate extensive biopharma R&D domain knowledge. Multinational biopharmaceutical organizations and cutting-edge biotechs around the globe rely on Genedata to digitalize and automate data-rich and complex R&D processes. From early discovery all the way to the clinic, Genedata solutions help maximize the ROI in R&D expenditure. Founded in 1997, Genedata is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland with additional offices in Boston, London, Munich, San Francisco, Singapore, and Tokyo. http://www.genedata.com LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube ________________________________________ Contact Allison Kurz Genedata Public Relations pr@genedata.com Disclaimer The statements in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with uncertainties related to contract cancellations, developing risks, competitive factors, uncertainties pertaining to customer orders, demand for products and services, development of markets for the Company's products and services. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. All product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies. First version published at 18:00 BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Deputy Foreign Minister of Lithuania Mantas Adomenas, Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend. The topical issues on the agenda of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Lithuania and the current situation in the region were discussed at the meeting. Bayramov noted the cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic, trade, energy security and other areas, as well as the existence of an effective cooperation agenda within the EU. It was highlighted that successful projects carried out within the Eastern Partnership contribute to the development of relations between the two countries. The Azerbaijani minister, speaking about the importance of mutual visits within the development of relations between both countries, noted that political consultations are one of the important mechanisms for further expansion of relations. He also informed the Lithuanian side in detail about the current situation in the region in the post-Karabakh conflict period, reconstruction and construction work carried out by Azerbaijan in the territories liberated from Armenian occupation, and efforts aimed at promoting the peace agenda. Bayramov also pointed out noted that the steps taken to normalize relations with Armenia face the non-constructive position of this country and its constant provocations. In additton, information was also provided about the illegal activities of Armenia in connection with the Lachin-Khankendi road, and about the creation of a border checkpoint by Azerbaijan that will ensure transparency and security. In turn, Adomenas underlined that Lithuania is interested in further development of relations with Azerbaijan, and expressed confidence that peace and security will be ensured in the region, as well as the readiness of the Lithuanian side to provide support in this direction. The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. Dr. Charlie Hoffmeister mentors local health care providers at Operation Smile Guatemala The mission of the organization could not be carried out without the love, dedication, and passion provided by these volunteers. This National Volunteer Month, Operation Smile encourages individuals to consider giving back to their communities or being of service to those in need. April is National Volunteer Month, a perfect time to recognize the outstanding contributions volunteers make to nonprofits and celebrate their dedication to worthy causes. Global surgical nonprofit Operation Smile has expansive medical and student volunteer programs consisting of thousands of kind-hearted generous volunteers supporting the organizations mission to provide free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive care to individuals living in underserved communities around the world. For National Volunteer Month, Operation Smile recognizes a group of volunteers whose dedication to the cause and enthusiasm for helping others embodies the spirit of the organization. One of these stellar volunteers is neonatologist Dr. Charlie Hoffmeister from Tucson, Arizona. As a volunteer pediatrician, Dr. Hoffmeister primarily works in pre- and post-operative care. In the past year, Dr. Hoffmeister has expanded his volunteer duties by serving on the Operation Smile Champion Program in Guatemala. The Champion Program is a mentorship initiative that brings together talented Operation Smile medical volunteers and local health care providers with the goal of increasing the quality of cleft treatment and access to global health care. When asked about how he feels about his work in the Champion Program, Dr. Hoffmeister said, Its a new situation and therefore a new challenge with both caregiving and teaching activities which meets my desire to be a life-long learner. Another volunteer committed to life-long learning is speech-language pathologist Lisa Lalanne from Greenbrae, California, a town just north of San Francisco. At Operation Smile there are a multitude of ways to volunteer, from medical volunteers treating patients to student volunteers participating in service projects and hosting fundraisers. Even parents like Lisa who are sympathetic to the cause but are unable to volunteer as a student or medical provider can volunteer as a student sponsor or an adult chaperone. Lisa first got involved with Operation Smile in 2013 when she got invited to be a speaker at an Operation Smile gala in San Francisco to share her experience being a parent to a child born with a cleft condition: My son Carter had only had his cleft palate repair surgery earlier that year, so my emotions were still so raw. It was an honor to share my experience and express my gratitude to all the attendees who chose to support an organization near and dear to my heart, an organization that transforms lives just like my son's life was thanks to his palate repair." In recent years, Lisa has volunteered as an adult chaperone at the organizations International Student Leadership Conference (ISLC), an annual conference held in different locations around the world dedicated to helping students develop and strengthen skills in leadership and service. The energy of these young leaders is contagious, and their determination is inspiring, Lisa said about her experience attending the ISLC. They are changemakers. I love the speakers, I love the team building activities, I love meeting like-minded people from all over the world, wanting to make a difference in the lives of others. One such volunteer benefiting from these student programs is recent college graduate and tech consultant, Roan Back. Roan is a native of Virginia Beach, Virginia, which is also home to Operation Smiles global headquarters. Growing up near Operation Smile, Roan was heavily influenced by the good the organization was spreading both globally and locally in the Virginia Beach community. I will say, I was just interested in working with Operation Smile in the 6th or 7th grade because of its medical background, Roan recalls. I was really interested in the medical world, but it felt like a space where I could pursue that interest while being a beneficial person rather than an intrusive person in the room. Because medical environments can get very personal." Since Roan became acquainted with Operation Smile, she has attended a peace mission to Panama, two surgical programs to India and Madagascar, multiple International Student Leadership Conferences, and she was even co-president of the Operation Smile club at the University of Virginia. The experiences Roan has had with Operation Smile Student Programs have truly shaped the person she has become and her interests in medicine and service have never waned. Lisa Stephens is another Virginia Beach local who was bitten by the Operation Smile bug. She currently works as a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse at Childrens Hospital of the Kings Daughters. While she has worked in the NICU for 30 years, Lisa just recently got the opportunity to join Operation Smiles team of medical volunteers during a surgical program at the organizations facility in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Lisa absolutely loves working with children, so the opportunity to help those with limited access to health care was one she could not pass up. When asked about her takeaways from her time in San Pedro Sula, Lisa said, I see the parents as patients too. Giving their child to strangers for surgery is scary. I practiced Spanish with an app before I left and researched the Honduran culture to prepare myself to interact with patients and their families. I just wanted to give them a feeling of security. I would love to go on a surgical program every year! I plan on volunteering as long as I can! Dr. Charlie Hoffmeister, Lisa Lalanne, Roan Back, and Lisa Stephens are four volunteers representing the heart and soul of Operation Smile. The mission of the organization could not be carried out without the love, dedication, and passion provided by these volunteers. This National Volunteer Month, Operation Smile encourages individuals to consider giving back to their communities or being of service to those in need. The benefits of volunteering far outweigh any sacrifice. Happy National Volunteer Month! About Operation Smile Operation Smile is a global nonprofit specializing in expert cleft surgery and care. Over the last 40 years, we have provided medical expertise, research, and care through our dedicated staff and medical and student volunteers around the world, working alongside local governments, nonprofits, and health systems, and supported by our generous donors. Learn more at https://www.operationsmile.org/ or by following @operationsmile on social media. Prom is a huge milestone in a students high school career, yet to ensure that the teen makes it to the final high school milestone, graduation, this article I hope will be of help to not just students but also their parents. Central Florida Bonding, an Orlando, Florida, bail bonds agency, announces their newest website blog urging parents and students to remain cautious at prom. Their blog entitled Prom Safety Tips outlines several points to consider to ensure a good time is had and people stay out of jail. Hadi Khouri, the owner of Central Florida Bonding, understands that Prom is a huge milestone in not just the life of young adults but also for their parents. For this reason, he wanted to create this blog to provide tips to encourage safety during this time. Hadi shared, Prom is a huge milestone in a students high school career, yet to ensure that the teen makes it to the final high school milestone, graduation, this article I hope will be of help to not just students but also their parents. Proms have significantly evolved throughout the years since the early 1900s. Today, they are enormous extravaganzas for high school juniors and seniors. Yet, with prom, there are many risky scenarios that accompany such an event. These scenarios range from sneaking in flasks for underage drinking, deciding to drive under the influence, partaking in alcohol, or opting to have unsafe sex. This blog is a chance to educate not just the teens of the dangers but also the parents. It expounds on what they can do to help ensure that their teen avoids becoming another statistic. This blog, like many others on the website, serves to be a fantastic resource for families to utilize to ensure that they are aware of the different scenarios that come into play during prom. Central Florida Bonding encourages people to visit https://cfborlando.com/prom-safety-tips/ to read more and get educated on what can happen during prom if not careful. Central Florida Bonding offers a wide range of bond services for clients facing a multitude of charges, including theft, assault, battery, domestic violence, DUI, drug trafficking, and much more. For defendants wanting to begin the bail bond process, they should call 407-841-3646. Their bail bondsmen are available to assist with the bail bond process during the day or night, seven days a week, 365 days a year, a bail bond agent is always available. Central Florida Bonding is located at 2911 39th Street, Suite 300, in Orlando, Florida. Their office is in the Cox Plaza, minutes from the Orange County Jail/33rd Street Jail. Central Florida Bonding serves all of Central Florida, including Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Volusia, Brevard, and Lake counties. This bail bond agency is licensed to post bonds across Florida and with affiliated agencies across the United States. Central Florida Bonding can help the first time offender as well as those who have been arrested in the past. Their goal is to provide their clients with clarity and certainty regarding the procedures and what will happen to them. For more information on the bail bond process, the community is encouraged to read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Central Florida Bondings website. This FAQ section can be found at https://cfborlando.com/frequently-asked-questions/. This Orlando based bail bonds agency can provide valuable information concerning the criminal justice system and assist with any paperwork that may arise. To learn more about Central Florida Bonding, visit online at https://cfborlando.com/ or call 407-841-3646. Pinckney Community Schools joins the MITN Purchasing Group Registered vendors can access bids, related documents, addendum and award information. Pinckney Community Schools announced it has joined the MITN Purchasing Group and will be publishing and distributing upcoming bid opportunities on the system. Bidnet Directs Purchasing Group connects nearly 300 participating agencies from across Michigan. The purchasing group provides a transparent bid process through which the bid is available to all vendors at the same time. Pinckney Community Schools invites all potential vendors to register online at http://www.bidnetdirect.com/mitn/pinckneycs. Pinckney Community Schools joined the purchasing group in March 2023. Pinckney Community Schools will utilize the system to streamline their purchasing process including bid distribution, bid management, and vendor relations. The MITN Purchasing Group is a single, online location for managing sourcing information and activities and provides 291 local government agencies with the tools needed to have a transparent bid process while minimizing costs and saving time. "The MITN Purchasing Group allows us to establish and maintain a system of transparency for not only the agency but the vendors who would like to do business with us. All the information we have regarding the bid, addenda, and awards, along with Q&As is available to all with just one click of the mouse. By fostering a more transparent environment, it allows for more public participation and collaboration and holds our agency accountable for all that we do during the bid process, stated Jamie M. Cowan, Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations of Pinckney Community Schools. As a participating agency of the MITN Purchasing Group, it allows Pinckney Community Schools to expand their vendor pool and enhance vendor competition without increasing distribution costs. To be added to the existing list of vendors on the MITN Purchasing Group, any suppliers looking to do business with Pinckney Community Schools can register online: http://www.bidnetdirect.com/mitn/pinckneycs. Pinckney Community Schools encourages all interested bidders to register today. Registered vendors can access open bids, related documents, and files, additional addendum, and available award information from all participating agencies. In addition, the MITN Purchasing Group offers a value-added service to notify vendors of new bids targeted to their business, including all addenda and advance notification of expiring term contracts. With one click, Pinckney Community Schools can now see how many vendors match a specific opportunity, how many have downloaded documents, responded and more. Pinckney Community Schools also has its own, branded page on the public side of the MITN Purchasing Group in which taxpayers can view all closed bids and any awarded information. Vendors may register on the MITN Purchasing Group: http://www.bidnetdirect.com/mitn/pinckneycs. Bidnet Directs vendor support team is available to answer any questions regarding the registration process or the bid system at 800-835-4603 option 2. Other local Michigan government agencies looking to switch from a manual bid process, please contact the MITN Purchasing Group for a demonstration of the no-cost sourcing solution. About Pinckney Community Schools: Pinckney Community Schools is a school district in Pinckney, Livingston County, Michigan. The district serves 2,977 students from the communities of Hamburg Township, Putnam Township, the Village of Pinckney, and Hell. About Bidnet Direct: Bidnet Direct, powered by mdf commerce, is a sourcing solution of regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. Bidnet Direct runs regional purchasing groups, including the MITN Purchasing Group, across all 50 states that are used by over 1,600 local governments. To learn more and have your government agency gain better transparency and efficiency in purchasing, please visit https://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers Rebeca Berger "Rebeca's experience in B2B PR, marketing, and communications, as well as her excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and portfolios, make her an asset," said Red Banyan Founder and CEO Evan Nierman. Red Banyan, a premier global crisis communications agency, today announced that it has hired Rebeca Berger as Senior Account Manager to handle Philadelphia crisis communications and PR. Based in Philadelphia, Rebeca will serve a variety of PR client accounts by providing creative media strategies, conducting media outreach, and all-around account support. She has extensive experience with traditional PR, issue-based marketing, account-based marketing, and social media marketing. Rebeca previously worked at a PR firm that specialized in professional and financial services, where she developed and supported B2B integrated marketing campaigns for the firms largest client. She also has experience in crisis communications, counseling clients through some of their most difficult reputational situations. "Red Banyans collaborative team of strategic communication professionals is second to none, and I am delighted to have joined the company during such a pivotal point in its growth, where many more will soon be able to feel the value of Red Banyans global impact," Rebeca said. Rebeca is an avid learner motivated by opportunities to make a difference. She earned her bachelors degree from American University in Interdisciplinary Studies: CLEG (Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics, Government) and Journalism, with a minor in Statistics. "Rebeca's experience in B2B PR, marketing, and communications, as well as her excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and portfolios, make her an asset," said Red Banyan Founder and CEO Evan Nierman. We are thrilled to have her on board as we grow our PR firm in Philadelphia. Since its launch in late 2010, Red Banyan has continued to expand, establishing itself as one of the leading crisis PR agencies in the United States. Red Banyan provides crisis management, litigation support, media relations and other strategic communications services to a variety of national and global clients. About Red Banyan Red Banyan is a top crisis management firm focused on solving complex, highly sensitive and mission-critical communications challenges. Specializing in crisis communications, corporate public relations, government relations, and legal PR, Red Banyan provides an integrated approach to communications rooted in strategy. Learn more at https://redbanyan.com. SAFE Credit Union is honored to have brought these leaders together to forge partnerships and spark innovation." SAFE Credit Union President and CEO Faye Nabhani SAFE Credit Union hosted its first conference dedicated to supporting credit unions and the FinTech industry in April at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center. The FinTech Credit Union Connection drew on the growing synergy between credit unions and FinTechs in the Sacramento region, calling on industry and banking leaders from the Bay Area and beyond to attend and speak at the event. SAFE Credit Union President & CEO Faye Nabhani says the conference offered unparalleled opportunities for innovators in the credit union and FinTech industries to collaborate and network. SAFE Credit Union is honored to have brought these leaders together to forge partnerships and spark innovation, says Nabhani, who spoke at the event. We are committed to getting the conversation moving on how to take credit unions and FinTechs to the next level in both California and Nevada. Conference speakers also included Barry Broome, president and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council; Christina Tetreault, deputy commissioner in the Office of Financial Technology Innovation at the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI); and Larry Palochik, executive vice president of the California & Nevada Credit Union League (CCUL). Chris Boncimino, co-founder of San Francisco-based Flow Networks, accepted the inaugural Tower Bridge Award for top solution provider as voted by event attendees. Flows innovative turnkey platform, built for financial institutions, drives incremental revenue from existing customers. We wanted to show other credit unions two avenues they could take in working with FinTechs to better serve their members, says SAFE Credit Union Chief Technology Officer Mike McCarthy. Specifically, they can either invest with a FinTech to research and develop products and services tailored for their business and members or they can purchase existing products and services available from FinTechs. Either way, the credit union industry wins by being better able to serve its thousands of members in California and Nevada, McCarthy continues. About SAFE SAFE Credit Union is a not-for-profit, state-chartered credit union in Northern California with over $4.5 billion in assets and more than 245,000 members. Insured by NCUA. http://www.safecu.org. "Customer Portfolios strategic lifecycle marketing expertise will enable us to enhance our suite of data-driven marketing solutions for our customers beginning with 1st party data and strategic insights through the execution of optimized omnichannel campaigns" - Stirista CEO Ajay Gupta Building on explosive organic growth, Stirista, a data-driven marketing company, today announced its acquisition of Customer Portfolios, a Boston-based strategic lifecycle marketing provider. The acquisition will enable Stirista to enhance its customer acquisition marketing solutions by incorporating Customer Portfolios' well-established strategic lifecycle marketing insights focused on growth and retention. "We are thrilled to welcome the talented team at Customer Portfolios to the Stirista family," said Ajay Gupta, CEO of Stirista. Their expertise in strategic lifecycle marketing will enable us to enhance our suite of data-driven marketing solutions for our customers beginning with 1st party data and strategic insights through the execution of optimized omnichannel campaigns. The addition of Customer Portfolios' technology and expertise will help accelerate Stiristas strong growth trajectory. Customer Portfolios's proprietary Lifecyle Marketing platform generates comprehensive customer profiles, which enables retailers to execute automated strategic lifecycle marketing initiatives across all channels. The platform's primary focus is to encourage brand customers to move through their journey and become best customers while maximizing their future value. This data-driven approach is powered by a detailed understanding of customer segments, their future value, the next best product offer, discount, timing, and how much to invest by customer segment and marketing channel. "Joining forces with Stirista means our collective customers will experience the best of comprehensive data-driven marketing by one singular deeply experienced organization," said Augie MacCurrach, CEO and Co-Founder of Customer Portfolios. "By combining Stirista's customer acquisition capabilities with Customer Portfolios' customer retention expertise, we will create a unique value proposition for our clients that will reveal high-value customers and drive business growth for brands." Customer Portfolios has a track record of delivering exceptional results to clients across a range of industries, including financial services, hospitality and major retailers including Lindt, Boden, Johnston and Murphy, Journeys, and Frye. The acquisition of Customer Portfolios marks another milestone for Stirista, which has experienced significant growth in recent years. With a strong focus on data quality and customer acquisition marketing, the company has built a reputation for providing innovative and effective data-driven marketing solutions to clients across a range of industries. Often consumer-facing brands miss the mark in their brand promise of permission-based marketing because they operate very tactically and siloed competing against other internal departments working a different channel, said Nick Godfrey, Co-Founder and EVP Strategy, Customer Portfolios. Weve helped some of the worlds most well-known and prestigious brands solve the broken customer experience problem by looking at the complete view of their customers first. Our integration with Stirista will empower brands and their agency partners by providing the profile full package. Customer Portfolios platform and its more than 20 employees will be integrated into the Stirista brand over the next three to six months. To learn more about the combined company, visit http://www.stirista.com. ABOUT CUSTOMER PORTFOLIOS Customer Portfolios is a strategic lifecycle marketing provider that delivers exceptional insights and revenue results to clients across a range of industries. With a proprietary platform that provides a comprehensive suite of tools to manage and optimize customer engagement, Customer Portfolios helps its clients maximize the value of their customer relationships. ABOUT STIRISTA Stirista is a leader in data-driven marketing combining data, email, and digital prowess to help clients acquire and retain customers. Named one of Americas fastest growing private companies in 2022, Stirista offers clients a unique data-driven experience by utilizing precise audience data combined with access to Stirista's proprietary ESP and DSP platforms to yield the fastest time-to-market actionable insights and optimized campaigns. For more information, please visit http://www.stirista.com. # # # Starting in May, independent travelers arriving in Taiwan may also be eligible for a chance to win vouchers worth NT$5,000 (US$163) as part of a government-sponsored travel incentive. More information may be found on Taiwan Tourism Bureau's official website. The Taiwan Tourism Bureau Los Angeles Office invites three macro-influencers to experience the beauty of Taiwan in the air and on land. Anya Benton, Kaila Yu, and Hugh Harper will travel to Taiwan via Taiwan-based luxury carrier STARLUX Airlines new long-haul route from Los Angeles to Taipei. They will enjoy customized 5-day itineraries that showcase the diversity of Taiwan as a travel destination, including a renowned food culture, wanderlust-inducing landscapes, and the warmth of the Taiwanese people. From the Michelin-starred Din Tai Fung and local cooking classes to sunrise stand-up paddleboarding on Sun Moon Lakea globally recognized Sustainable Destinationand freediving, each influencers itinerary will highlight Taiwans trendy and eco-friendly destinations. They will also get a taste of Taiwans classic travel experiences, such as night markets, the skyline observatory at Taipei 101, and launching a sky lantern at Shifen. Anya Benton (@anyabenton), an American actor, model, and social media influencer, who focuses on lifestyle, travel and beauty content, will travel to Taiwan aboard the inaugural flight, and continue to experience Taiwans most modern and luxurious destinations. One such stop will be the conceptual spa, Onsen Papawaqa, famous for its integration of modernist architecture, forest bathing, and hot springs. Taiwan is one of the worlds leading destinations for wellness therapy, and the island is home to over 150 springs, including hot springs, cold springs, mud springs, and seabed hot springs. Kaila Yu (@kailayu), is a Taiwanese-American journalist and writer whose bylines include The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Conde Nast Traveler. Her itinerary will highlight outdoor recreation, including a stop at the deepest pool in Asia, a 21-meter-deep diving complex located inside Taichungs groundbreaking Divecube Hotel. Taiwan is a watersports paradise, with hundreds of destinations for surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, and kiteboarding around the island. Hugh Harper (@hungryhugh), a Los Angeles-based content creator who creates food and travel content and has worked with major brands such as McDonald's, American Express and Uber Eats, will be immersed in Taiwans vibrant food culture. He will experience the originality of the night markets and the excellence of its luxury eateriesTaiwan is home to 38 restaurants with at least one Michelin Star. In the sky, each influencer will enjoy exceptional service and comfort in STARLUX Airlines Business Class cabin. Each seat features a sliding door for increased privacy and STARLUX Airlines' unique Zero-G feature, which relieves pressure while resting. In-flight meals combine New French cuisine prepared by Michelin-starred Chef Lam Ming Kin, with Assam tea from Taiwans prestigious Sun Moon Lake tea growing region and other class-leading refreshments. Return flights from Taipei to Los Angeles will also feature courses from the famous Michelin-awarded yakiniku restaurant, Hutong (@hutong.yakiniku), including Taiwanese beef noodle soup, melt-in-your-mouth grilled meats and wagyu pineapple bun with black truffle butter. More information may be found by visiting STARLUX Airlines' official Facebook Page (facebook.com/starluxairlines) and Instagram (@starluxairlines, @starluxairlinesus). Starting in May, independent travelers arriving in Taiwan may also be eligible for a chance to win vouchers worth NT$5,000 (US$163) as part of a government-sponsored travel incentive. More information may be found on Taiwan Tourism Bureau's official website. Travelers interested in visiting Taiwan, or learning more about what the country has to offer, should tune in to the social media of each influencer during the Lets Go Taiwan campaign. Taiwan is excited to partner with STARLUX Airlines on this campaign to increase awareness of Taiwans tourism potential on the West Coast. Please visit Taiwan Tourism Bureaus Instagram or official Facebook Page for more information. *** ABOUT THE TAIWAN TOURISM BUREAU The Taiwan Tourism Bureau is the official government agency responsible for domestic and international tourism policy development and execution. There are three North American tourism offices located in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Veronica La Gentile wants to share a disgraceful cover up by two previous provincial governments granting the opportunity for the financial institution to accumulate a monetary cushion to support the separatist movement in Quebec. This cover-up also allowed them the ability to stop legal processes.It is for these reasons she now releases Quebec Corruption (published by iUniverse.) This book is a summary of a legal denunciation called Quebec corruption posted all over the medias where La Gentile explains with proof by documents of a fraud that she has been a victim of by a financial institution in Quebec. In allowing this fraud, La Gentile claims that a cover-up started from a notary and a supposed partner member of the financial institution and their employees from the legal system right up to all levels of two governments and all of this was done to protect a financial institution not to be charged of money laundering and theft. In her case, the financial institution facilitated the sale of her house to a known criminal organization. The house was seized by the RCMP (federal police) as proceeds of crime. This one transaction enabled a better opportunity to accumulate the proof that she, the original owner had been swindled. In this book, readers will see all the non-democratic ways that they took trying to stop her to get justice even when she had her proof. I wrote this book after 30 years of fighting them so all of you could realize that all these years, we were in a state government a type of dictator where peoples right were taken away, and so was their money and possessions. In this book, you will be informed of all their types of tactics that they took to cover-up their frauds so you will be more politically aware and so will our next generations, La Gentile says. When asked what she wants readers to take away from the book, La Gentile answered, I hope to inform people of illegal implications that could happen to them and to bring information to the public to bring other cases to light and provide others with the information tools to find their proof for similar cases. For more information about the book, please visit https://www.iuniverse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/845977-quebec-corruption Quebec Corruption By Veronica La Gentile Softcover | 5 x 8in | 94 pages | ISBN 9781663244499 E-Book | 94 pages | ISBN 9781663244505 Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the Author Veronica La Gentile is of Italian descent, was raised in Quebec with an education in Political Science and Law. She is a long time businesswoman who is of strong will character to undergo this injustice for 30+ years. iUniverse, an Author Solutions, LLC, self-publishing imprint, is the leading book marketing, editorial services, and supported self-publishing provider. iUniverse recognizes excellence in book publishing through the Star, Rising Star and Editors Choice designationsself-publishings only such awards program. iUniverse is headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana. For more information or to publish a book, please visit iuniverse.com or call 1-800-AUTHORS. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. In connection with the current situation in Sudan, in order to ensure the safety of Azerbaijani citizens permanently or temporarily residing in this country, the Azerbaijani government is taking appropriate measures, Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend. According to the ministry, 26 Azerbaijani citizens are currently being evacuated from Sudan through a third country with the support of Turkiye. Work will also be provided to process documents through Azerbaijan's relevant diplomatic missions for the evacuated citizens who do not have valid travel documents. In turn, the ministry, addressing the Azerbaijani citizens permanently or temporarily residing in Sudan, recommends that they refrain from traveling to areas where the armed forces are concentrated, and stay at home or in safe places. In addition, it recommends that Azerbaijani citizens refrain from traveling to this country. Azerbaijani citizens who are in Sudan are asked to contact Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Arab Republic of Egypt due to evacuations or other situations via following hotline: +201010271387. Military clashes broke out between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan on April 15, following days of tension. Over 400 people have been killed and around 3,500 others wounded in the clashes as of last Friday, according to the country's health ministry. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 27. Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the unveiling of a monument dedicated to the Nemesis terrorist operation in Yerevan, Trend reports citing Turkish media. The ministry condemned the opening of the "Nemesis Monument" in Yerevan, dedicated to the perpetrators of the murders of political and military leaders of the Ottoman Empire in the early 1920s, as well as Azerbaijani officials of that time and even some citizens of the Ottoman Empire of Armenian origin. "The unveiling of this shameful monument is a glorification of the bloody act of terrorism that led to the horrendous attacks that killed 31 of our diplomats and their families. The way this event was presented in the Armenian press also shows that there is still a distorted interpretation of history in some minds that cannot be approved. Such provocative steps, inconsistent with the spirit of the process of normalization of relations between Turkiye and Armenia, will in no way contribute to efforts to establish lasting and sustainable peace and stability in the region, on the contrary, they will negatively affect the normalization process," the ministry noted. The Baku Higher Oil School of SOCAR (BHOS) has hosted a CTF (Capture the Flag) competition with the participation of teenagers aged 12-17, organized by the Association of Cybersecurity Organizations of Azerbaijan (AKTA). The companies Interprobe and UnifyBytes acted as the technical organizers of the competition, which was held with the support of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the company Cyberpoint as part of the project Raising the level of awareness of students of general education institutions in the field of cybersecurity". The main goal of the CTF competition is the practical application of cybersecurity skills in a competitive environment. Participants in CTF competitions gain knowledge and experience in the field of cybersecurity, make new professional connections and gain experience in conducting cybersecurity research. The opening ceremony of the CTF competition was attended by representatives of a number of government agencies and private companies. Opening the ceremony with a keynote speech, Chairman of the Board of AKTA Elvin Balajanov greeted the participants and informed them about the competition, as well as about the measures that AKTA will implement in this area. Speaking at the ceremony, BHOS Rector Elmar Gasimov, Head of the Cyber Security Center Davud Rustamov, Advisor to the Chairman of the Agency for Innovation and Digital Development Shahin Aliyev, Sector Head of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Vusala Aliyeva, Director of Cyberpoint Fuad Niftaliyev, CEO of Unifybites Mahir Yuksel, Deputy Chief Technology Officer of Caspian Innovation Center LLC Rauf Mahmudlu, 5th-year student of Information Security at BHOS Huseyn Gambarov and 1st-year student of Information Security at BHOS Narmin Valieva shared their views on the relevance of the event and gave recommendations to the competition participants. As part of the competition, the participants were assigned tasks in such areas as exploiting vulnerabilities and loopholes in web applications, cryptography, reverse engineering, etc. The teenagers were performing the tasks in a team format. Three teams that showed the highest results were awarded. The teams that took first, second and third places received 2,000, 1,000 and 500 manats, respectively. Apart from that, a valuable gift was presented to the team that answered the Joker's Question. The CTF competition Kiber Ulduz is organized within the framework of the CTF National League, established by the Association of Cybersecurity Organizations of Azerbaijan (AKTA). AKTA, founded in 2022, brings together the country's companies and organizations specializing in information technology and cybersecurity. The Association supports strengthening and increasing the potential of the cybersecurity ecosystem in our country. In 2020, after the murder of George Floyd, many religion and spirituality publishers publicly stepped-up commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their workforce and in their book acquisitions and marketing. Since then, however, the impact of the Covid pandemic, plus economic upheavals that prompted layoffs, hiring freezes, and other cost controls have challenged these commitmentsaccording to PW's conversations with executives at half a dozen executives. When asked for an update on their DEI efforts, no publishers shared statistics. However, executives contacted by PW at HarperCollins Christian Publishing, InterVarsity Press, Eerdmans, Loyola, New World Library, and Paulist Press each spoke of their determination to push ahead. Several acknowledged that hiring efforts have stalled in this economic climate, but efforts to broaden acquisitions from people of color are moving forward with workarounds such as new partnerships and strategies to reach more BIPOC editors, writers, and readers. Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing and HarperCollins Focus, said, "We want to remain relevant in todays conversations, which includes being more reflective of the world in which we live." He added that despite the current economic downturn, HCCP, "continues to recruit, publish and promote diverse authors and subjects as a long-term strategy" across all their publishing teams. He highlighted 20 BIPOC authors recently published or signed for trade, fiction, and children's titles and cited a new 10-year agreement between Harper Collins and the Martin Luther King, Jr. estate granting an exclusive license to publish new and previously published material from the estate's archives. (HCCP parent company, HarperCollins, is cutting 5% of its North American workforce to reduce expenses in a move due to be completed by May 31). In advance of its annual leadership conference set for May 8, ECPA's committee on DEI efforts will discuss whether they will publicly share any findings from their recently completed DEI baseline survey of ECPA's member publishers in the U.S., which they plan to repeat in two years. Terumi Echols, president and CEO of InterVarsity Press, said she hopes the survey could become a metric for measuring progress. But, she said, "It is also a matter of time. We are doing this for the long haul. Everyone understands the necessity and the importance of this." Echols pointed out that a great deal still can be accomplished within economic constraints. IVP's plans for opening the doors to new BIPOC employees and authors and expanding marketing to African American and Spanish-language audiences won't be enough, Echols said, without simultaneously addressing how everyone works together within the company. "I really want people to understand we all have gifts and these gifts are across the spectrum. We need to open our minds to all the creativity across the spectrum. DEI is about bringing our whole selves to work, to allow creativity and imagination and opportunities to become much broader, to cultivate a sense of belonging." Since October 2020, Helen Lee, IVP director of product innovation, helped initiate three podcasts featuring BIPOC authors, Every Voice Now, The Disrupters, and Get in The Word with Truth's Table. Lee, who is also a member of the ECPA's DEI committee, observed: "It is going to take time, intentionality, and not a small amount of growing pains in this area until consistent and lasting change occurs in our publishing houses. Right now, the systems and structures in the Christian publishing industry are still largely established and maintained by majority-white leadership in most of our institutions. Even if younger and more diverse staff are willing to voice their opinions about their challenges, until the power dynamics begin to shift and more staff of color step into executive and managerial leadership, change will be slow. Time will reveal the organizations for whom pursuing diversity, equity, and inclusion is a true conviction, and those for whom it is just a passing fad." Eerdman's president and publisher Anita Eerdmans told PW, We continue to actively pursue authors that represent diversity of all kinds, and Im pleased with some of our success there, though we acknowledge that we (all) have a long way to go in that regard." At New World Library, editorial director Georgia Hughes said they have broadened their author ranks. Their fall 2022 list of 14 titles included three books by BIPOC authors and, "in the last three years the numbers of proposals we have from people of color have risen dramatically." She continues to work with Pub West and the Publishing Professionals Network, "to build diversity and understand the concerns of underrepresented groups." Even so, NWL has not added any new hires and, she said, "I dont see that we will in the foreseeable future, as we have not had any openings at the company for many years." Paulist Press is also focusing on broadening book acquisitions and marketing to Black Catholic organizations such as the Knights of St. Peter Claver, the largest African American lay association in the U.S., seeking advice and offering review copies of titles, according to president and publisher Rev. Mark-David Janus. The company does have openingscreated during the Covid pandemic when many senior staffers chose to retire but not the cash to fill them all yet, Janus said. The Catholic house is also challenged by its as location "35 miles from New York City in Northern Bergen County, which is as Caucasian as you can get," he said. Chicago-based Loyola Press president and publisher Joellyn Cicciarelli said the Catholic press has an advantage of a large and diverse pool of workers for many departments, particularly for their Spanish-language books and catechetical materials. She also notes that diversity and inclusion goes beyond race and ethnicity and Loyola publishes and produces more titles each year to serve individuals with disabilities. For example, she said, a new series, the Adaptive Finding God Spanish lesson cards for faith formation, is being developed in consultation with the National Catholic Partnership on Disability. More Lit Agent Sees 'No Shrinking Back' on DEI Jevon Bolden, an activist for agents and authors of color, praises religion publishers' DEI intentions, then prods them for progress. Purdue University researchers tallied 192 US patents on their inventions in 2022 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Exciting and dynamic inventions discovered and developed by Purdue University researchers are improving peoples lives around the world. A system that processes agricultural field images for remote phenotype measurements. A 3D printer that continuously prints structures as small as 100 nanometers. A process that produces butylene, propylene and ethylene from natural gas liquids in shale gas. These are just a few influential Purdue innovations that were patented in 2022, further cementing Purdues place as a global leader among its peers in protecting intellectual property. In 2022, Purdue Research Foundation received an impressive 192 patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), placing it fifth internationally. The top-five breakthrough comes on the heels of Purdues No. 6 ranking in both 2020 and 2021, when it received 175 and 169 patents, respectively. The newest ranking was released Wednesday (April 26). The reporting includes multiple campuses in the same system as one (e.g., the University of California system, with 10 campuses, and the University of Texas system, with eight campuses), and international universities (e.g., King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia). In terms of single American university campuses, the top 5 are Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Purdue University, Stanford University, Harvard University, and California Institute of Technology. The information was published in a report from the National Academy of Inventors. In achieving our highest annual ranking of U.S. patents so far, Purdue, along with MIT, stand out as single American campuses without medical schools that count among the most active in inventions, said Purdue President Mung Chiang. Boilermaker inventors are colleagues and students who translate their knowledge creation through a foundation for direct impact to society. Half of the equation in the recently launched Purdue Innovates is to provide the best support for them to disclose inventions, apply for and receive patents, and license and deploy these patented inventions. The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization manages the technology transfer process to vet, protect and license innovations developed by university researchers, including filing patent applications. Its technology portfolio covers innovations in subject areas including agriculture, biotechnology, chemistry and chemical analysis, computer technology, engineering, food and nutrition, green technology, micro- and nanotechnologies, and more. Brian Edelman, president of Purdue Research Foundation said, Purdue Research Foundation provides resources to support faculty, staff and student researchers across all academic disciplines and campuses who want to commercialize their inventions. These commercialization resources bring this leading-edge and most modern work to the public, where it can strengthen quality of life and economic and workforce development. Brooke Beier, senior vice president of Purdue Innovates said, We wanted to create an ecosystem that embraced all Boilermakers by supporting both Purdue-owned intellectual property and startups that have their own intellectual property but have some other connection to Purdue, such as an alum. Solidifying the university core while engaging and leveraging the Boilermaker network is key to enhancing Purdues ability to become the preeminent university in commercialization and startup success. Among the 2022 patents were: In fiscal year 2022, the Office of Technology Commercialization reported 157 deals finalized with 237 technologies signed, 379 disclosures received and 169 issued U.S. patents. In the 2022 fiscal year, the Office of Technology Commercialization: Received 379 total disclosures from Purdue innovators: 361 invention disclosures and 18 copyright disclosures. Filed 699 patent applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and international patent organizations. Received 239 U.S. and international patents. Executed 157 licenses and options. Received $6.77 million worth of gross revenue in royalty and licensing income ($4.26 million net). Helped establish 9 startup companies. Since 2001, the Office of Technology Commercialization has: Received 6,306 invention disclosures from university researchers. Applied for 9,759 patents from U.S. and international organizations. Received 2,871 patents from U.S. and international organizations. Executed 2,359 licenses for businesses to commercialize Purdue innovations. Helped create 288 startups based on Purdue innovations. From 2006-22, OTC has received more than $84 million in net revenue from licensing activity. About Purdue University Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last five years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/. About Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the universitys academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property. In fiscal year 2022, the office reported 157 deals finalized with 237 technologies signed, 379 disclosures received and 169 issued U.S. patents. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. In 2020, IPWatchdog Institute ranked Purdue third nationally in startup creation and in the top 20 for patents. The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Contact otcip@prf.org for more information. Writer/Media contact: Steve Martin, sgmartin@prf.org Despite the onslaught of illiberal populism and a new wave of toxic economic statism across countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, there seems to be a newfound optimism emerging about the regions economic future. In 2023, Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) economies are projected to grow by over 1.6 percentfar below their real potential, but up from earlier estimates. Economic growth flows from a strong market, open trade, and robust activity in the private sector, and there are countries which have embraced a resurgence of free-market alternatives in LAC countries. The post-pandemic tourism recovery and a rebound in global tradein part due to Chinas reopeningare two reasons to adopt an optimistic view about economies across the LAC region. In certain cases, the public sector has played a pivotal role in alleviating the burden of taxes and regulations, with some elected officials favoring market activity over government bureaucracy. Consider Brazil, where the Supreme Court is expected to validate the prior privatization of power company Eletrobras, despite opposition from the country's new leftist government under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Brazilian officials are also working with the World Bank to privatize Sabesp, a water and waste management company currently owned by the state of Sao Paulo. Given that Brazil is home to the most state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in South America, the country has taken positive steps in recent years. The strengthening of its private sector in the regions largest economy can only reap dividends for economic growth in the years to come. But, in Brazil and across the LAC region, significant barriers remain. While there are notable opportunities for LAC economies to seize through market-oriented reforms, obstacles such as bureaucratic largesse and poorly defined property ownership rights cannot be overlooked. Regional economic growth came out to nearly four percent in 2022 and exceeded seven percent in 2021 (which, admittedly, was a rebound year), suggesting that 2023 could bring some negative momentum. That is a cause for concern, but also a sign of the urgent need for a new wave of reforms focused on facilitating everyday trade, business, and productive investment One key challenge for the LAC region is its high level of public debt, which amounted to 60 percent of regional gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022. The outstanding obligations of LAC economies inevitably increase the cost of debt servicing (interest payments and amortization), straining already strained public resources. The higher the governments debt burden, the more limited it is investing in critical areas such as health, infrastructure and education. As the recently published Latin America Macro Vista Report suggests, assuming the regions projected economic growth, LAC economies face an increasing debt trajectory, with their overall debt-to-GDP ratio projected to reach 69 percent by 2025. Even if a more optimistic growth scenario is assumed (three percent for the following three years), the LAC region will still need to cope with rising debt, albeit more moderate in scope. Another fundamental challenge for the entire region is the need for greater progress toward trade openness. LAC countries still have some of the most closed economies among the worlds emerging economies, with high tariff rates and low trade flows. By diversifying their trade partners and opening up to the world, LAC economies can enhance their investment possibilities and achieve their long-term development goals. Again, Brazils recent experience with divesting onerous state-owned concerns can be a blueprint for its neighbors to implement as well. Whether and to what extent the LAC region taps into its trade potential will have outsized impacts on the rest of the world. U.S. trade, for instance, is inextricably linked to the success of LAC partners. American imports from LAC countries translate to almost $380 billion per year. Mexico remains Americas top trading partner (ahead of Canada and China), with U.S. exports to Mexico accounting for over $275 billiona roughly 30 percent increase between 2020 and 2021. More than 15 percent of total U.S. exports to the world went to Mexico, while imports from Mexico amount to over 13 percent of Americas global import total. This data underlies the recent enthusiasm with near-shoring and the opportunity to integrate supply chains close to home. But the large potential investment flows that could accrue from re-shoring different entrepreneurial ventures, plants, hardware, and other concerts requires a credible regime that respects long-term commitments and contracts, as well as a substantial investment in infrastructure and the development of qualified human capital. The entire region could reap a positive windfall if pro-market reforms are implemented in different policy frameworks. U.S. policymakers will be watching eagerly as their LAC counterparts continue to implement these key reforms. It is essential that governments prioritize even greater economic freedom, respect for the rule of law, and open trade, rather than a reversion to centralization. The stronger the market and investment climate in Latin America and the Caribbean, the better the economic outlook for the entire Western Hemisphere. Dr. Roberto Salinas-Leon is the Executive Director of Atlas Networks Center for Latin America. The views expressed are the authors own. Property details: Wooded, raw land. No improvements. Would be great to build your own cabin from the trees that are on it.... Price: $ 3,500 Seller State of Residence: Oklahoma Type: Homesite, Lot Property Address: Block 10, Navaho Addition Zip/Postal Code: 72529 Zoning: Residential City: cherokee village State/Province: Arkansas Location: 725**, Cherokee Village, Arkansas You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Arkansas Asuelu Pulaa / Instagram By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/26/2023 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. alum Asuelu Pulaa has responded to rumors he's dating Chantel Everett 's younger sister Winter Everett.Asuelu was spotted partying with The Family Chantel stars Winter, Chantel and their brother River Everett as well as couple Jovi Dufren and Yara Zaya at a nightclub in Atlanta, GA, on Friday, April 21.Video clips captured Asuelu and Winter sitting next to each other in a booth and looking pretty cozy while the group enjoyed bottle service. In one image Winter uploaded on Instagram, Asuelu even had his arm around Winter.But Asuelu shut down dating rumors one day later."No, I am not dating da Winter [sic]," Asuelu, 27, responded in a TikTok Live session on Saturday, April 22, according to In Touch Weekly.Asuelu also expressed his frustration by saying, "Oh my goodness gracious."Fans have been wondering for months if Asuelu and his wife Kalani Faagata -- who have two children together, Oliver and Kennedy -- are still an item considering they haven't mentioned anything, publicly, about the status of their marriage.Kalani recently dodged a question about her relationship with Asuelu while conducting a Q&A session with her followers via Instagram Stories.One person asked if she and Asuelu are "still together," adding, "Greetings from Hamburg, Germany."And Kalani replied, "The time change messed up my kids' sleeping schedule so I'm very tired and hungry right now. So I read that as, a'Greetings from Hamburger, Germany.'"In late December, Kalani and Asuelu appeared to enjoy a date night at a BBQ restaurant.The picture marked the couple's first Instagram post about each other in a year, and then they also took holiday family photos.Asuelu and Kalani's last post of each other was in January 2022, when they had celebrated Oliver's fourth birthday at Disneyland.Asuelu called Kalani his "wife" in March 2022, but Kalani first sparked breakup rumors in May 2022 when she suggested there was trouble in paradise. A fan asked if she and Asuelu were still together, and Kalani replied, "I'll explain at the end of the month," before deleting her post.Asuelu then fueled the split rumors in June 2022, allowing fans to believe he and Kalani had broken up.Asuelu posted what appeared to be a throwback TikTok video of Kalani and himself dancing together and he suggested they were no longer talking."Here she is, people keep asking where is ur wife I said idk. She don't wanna join my live, she doesn't want film TikTok with me. She's different from how she used [to be]," Asuelu claimed."She doesn't wanna go out with me, everything she needs I supply for her esp the boys... I have alot to [say] but I can't, I'm under the contract my life is under control... It's hard bcoz I wanna have my own space but she don't, she doesn't want to communicate anymore... hopefully we sell this house very soon so I can go back to work."About a week later, the Samoa native raised eyebrows with cryptic social-media posts about being "single" and trying to remain "strong and positive" during a "hard" time.Asuelu posted a TikTok video of himself dancing shirtless in a driveway and captioned the post, "Even though is hard but I try my best to stay strong and positive. Let's do this together. #behumble #beloved #growup #movedforward."Around that same time, Asuelu also posted a throwback video of himself dancing with Kalani and her sister Kolini Faagata, and he wrote the following cryptic caption: "Some people wondering why I'm not on Pillow Talk. Me cuddling my pillow."For Kalani's part, she was posting sexy photos of herself in lingerie, claiming she was "back into the swing of things."The pair had also listed their Washington, UT, home for sale that same month. It ended up selling in August 2022 for just under $500,000, according to In Touch.Kalani from Washington, UT, and Asuelu from Utulaelae, Samoa, met in Summer 2016 in Samoa when Asuelu was working at a resort that Kalani was staying at with her father.Asuelu thought she was the "most gorgeous girl on the planet," and then the couple had a surprise pregnancy and applied for the K-1 visa. Asuelu's journey moving to the United States was documented on 's sixth season.During a March 2022 episode of 90 Day Diaries, Kalani and Asuelu were shown working on their marriage after appearing on : Happily Ever After?'s sixth season and spending three years together.Kalani said although COVID-19 had been really tough on her relationship with Asuelu, Asuelu was communicating better and putting more effort into their marriage. They were preparing to move from Utah to California, where Kalani's mother Lisa had moved beforehand.Kalani said she was looking forward to having friends in California and more babysitters so she and Asuelu could have date nights, but she admitted her relationship had some serious ups and downs."I'm so sick of saying everything is good, everything is fine and we're going to end up together -- to just saying, 'Nope, we're going to get a divorce!' I feel like I'm at a breaking point," Kalani lamented to Lisa during her visit to Utah."I'm not going to keep begging him to do things. All of this is up to him, so if he ends up [in California] cool, and if he doesn't, well that's up to him at this point."Asuelu thought their marriage was "good," but Kalani argued that they weren't doing well and she felt like she was raising two children by herself.When Asuelu argued that he often tried to watch the kids alone but got turned down, Kalani countered, "How many times have my kids almost died when you're around?!"Kalani recalled Kennedy getting loose in the parking lot at a pumpkin patch, but Asuelu apparently didn't think that was a big deal.Suddenly, Asuelu said he was done with the talk, and he walked away from his wife swearing."You can't talk about problems, and this is why we fight and this is why it's not going to work," Kalani muttered.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! Kinetic Content / Reality TV World By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/26/2023 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Gina Micheletti has dished on sleeping in the same bed with Clint Webb during the Couples' Retreat and if that continued for the rest of the extreme experiment.Gina, a 35-year-old Nashville salon owner, and Clint, a 40-year-old tech consulting company owner, have had an unusual run on 's sixteenth season.The pair get along great and have become close friends, but there is no intimate connection or physicality between them. In fact, Clint and Gina -- up to the Couples' Retreat -- had been sleeping in separate beds in their Nashville apartment since the honeymoon during Week 1.During the March 19 episode of : Afterparty, Gina watched back a Season 16 clip of Clint and herself in bed together after partying with the cast at the Gatlinburg, TN, retreat."It feels like Jamaica," Clint tells Gina with his head on a pillow."This does feel like Jamaica," Gina agrees with a smile. "The bed is comfy. I'm alright with it. I didn't feel weird about that at all.""No," Clint responds. "It feels fine to me."Gina then jokes, "I hope you haven't picked up a snoring habit since Jamaica.""No, I'm still anti-snoring," Clint insists."Only time will tell!" Gina jokes.About six weeks of the process passed since Gina and Clint had first agreed to sleep in the same bed together in Jamaica."It felt pretty natural. It felt normal," Gina explained to Afterparty host Keshia Knight Pulliam of the experience."And I don't think we were ever, like, super opposed to sleeping in the same room."But Keshia countered, "Yes you were!""Well..." Gina began."Stop!" Keshia interjected.Gina attempted to explain, "I guess we just didn't really -- I don't know. I don't know."But Keshia reminded Gina about how she made it "very clear" that she didn't feel comfortable sleeping in the same room -- or bed -- with Clint once they moved into a Nashville apartment together."That's true," Gina conceded. "You're right, you're right. You're right. I'll take it; I'll take it."Gina then reiterated how sleeping next to Clint "felt normal" and they "got a good night sleep.""Everything was fine. I mean, it still didn't feel super romantic. We didn't try to spoon," Gina disclosed."I will say there was one night when we all drank a lot and Clint was really celebrating his birthday, and he fell asleep before I did. And then all of a sudden, I hear him, like, patting the bed. And he goes, 'Come here, buddy!' He was like, 'Come on, Hank.' He was calling for Hank in his sleep."Gina called the scene "really cute."Since Gina and Clint had set this precedent during the Couples' Retreat, Keshia asked her if sleeping in the same bed will continue through Decision Day -- or maybe even after."I don't know," Gina admitted. "It doesn't feel uncomfortable, but it's not something where I'm like, 'I can't wait to get in bed with my husband.' It doesn't feel like that."Neither Gina or Clint wanted to give up on their marriage too quickly."Something Clint and I discuss frequently is we don't want to get to Decision Day knowing, like, there could've been one day before Decision Day and a firework flew or we felt something," Gina said. "So we don't want to give up; we want to keep pressing forward."Up to this point in the extreme experiment, Gina and Clint hadn't even kissed yet.Gina admitted to their co-stars at the retreat how they were "stuck in the friend zone."But Gina said while there were "little annoyances here or there" with Clint, they didn't fight or find any issue that warranted wanting a divorce. Clint agreed they were headed in the right direction and were trying their best to light a fire between them."When it starts feeling forced, it makes it feel even more unattractive. For me, I didn't sign up for this journey to be married to a friend. I have lots of friends," Gina explained.Clint felt the same way, but he told Gina on the show that he could see "for sure" why the experts had matched them. He thought they were doing a good job of embracing the good parts of their relationship and having fun together, and he planned to take things day by day.Clint told the guys how he and Gina didn't have a preconceived outcome for Decision Day."We don't want to judge things too early... We're always assessing," Clint announced.Since Clint or Gina both value a sexual relationship being part of a marriage, they were hoping a fire would ignite within the next week before Decision Day.Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group or click here to view our newspage!And click here for more updates on former cast members and info on where they are now! Atkhamjon Ubaidullayev, head of the main department of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, said that the country is constantly cooperating with Russian companies, including Gazprom, Lukoil and Tatneft. Uzbekistan constantly cooperates with Russian partners in the oil and gas sector, in particular, an agreement was recently reached with Gazprom Neft on the supply of 300,000 tons of oil in 2023. This was announced on Tuesday by the head of the main department of the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan Atkhamjon Ubaidullaev. We are constantly working with our Russian partners, for example, an agreement was reached with Gazprom Neft to supply 300,000 tons of oil to the republic in 2023, Ubaidullaev said at the Innoprom. Central Asia, held in Tashkent. According to him, work is underway with other Russian companies, in particular, with Tatneft, which has three filling stations in the republic, negotiations are underway to expand its activities in the republic. Ubaidullayev also said that more than 30% of oil and gas companies in Uzbekistan were created with the participation of Russian capital. To date, the largest investor in the republic's oil and gas industry is the Lukoil company, which has already invested more than US$10 billion in two projects implemented on the basis of a production sharing agreement, Ubaidullayev said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. The number of labor contracts in Azerbaijan reached 9,493 as of 1Q2023 end, settling for 1.75 million, Azerbaijani Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population told Trend. The ministry said the mentioned figure is 0.5 percent higher, compared to the figure as of January 1, 2023. According to the ministry, the wages fund recorded an increase of 6 percent. Furthermore, over the past five years, the number of employment contracts has increased by 34 percent, while the salary fund has risen by 2.5 times. A total of 320,000 new labor contracts have been signed following Azerbaijan's labor market measures in the past four years. In addition to the above statistics, Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov said at the 'Dayag' award ceremony, held on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) in 2022 that the country's private sector inked 280,000 new deals, while while the public sector reached 40,000 contracts last year. Meanwhile, the number of employment contracts in the non-oil sector reached 827,490, increasing by 287,570 contracts during 2020-2022. The 2023 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner will take place Saturday in Washington. ADVERTISEMENT The gala is an annual fundraiser presented by the White House Correspondents' Association to finance its work. This year's event will be held at the Washington Hilton and air live on C-SPAN. Guests will include President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and first gentleman Doug Emhoff. Actor and comedian Roy Wood Jr. will be the featured entertainer at the gala. "It's an honor to be a part of a long-running tradition of celebrating those members of the media, who work so hard to uncover the truth, and hold our government accountable," Wood said in a press release in February. "It will be a great night that will go down in the history books, or not, depending on which state you live in." How to watch The White House Correspondents' Association Dinner will air live on C-SPAN at 8 p.m. EDT. 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! Participants President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will attend the event, along with Vice President Kamala Harris and First Gentleman Doug Emhoff. Roy Wood Jr. will be the featured entertainer. Wood and President Biden will give stand-up monologues, with White House Correspondents' Association president Tamara Keith to also give a speech. Other guests will reportedly include John Legend and Chrissy Teigen. Wood appeared as a contestant in Last Comic Standing Season 7 and joined The Daily Show as a correspondent in 2015. His most recent stand-up comedy special, Imperfect Messenger, is available on Paramount+. Beretta pistols have very long and storied history. For some of us, the Model 70 is where Beretta pistols begin. It embodies the classic Beretta lines, an Alta Italia blending of the 1911 and P38. Beretta stopped making the Model 70 in 1985, a year after the 92F, the soon to be M9, started production. The 92F was heavily featured in the Lethal Weapon films, and the M9 carried us through the end of the Cold War, Desert Storm, and early GWOT. However, USASOC isnt terribly nostalgic, and the Glock 19 replaced the M9 for their purposes the age of the combat striker-fired pistol had arrived. The XM-17 Modular Handgun System (MHS) competition was a U.S. Army competition for a new sidearm, with Big Army sending out Request for Proposals (RFPs) in 2015. Beretta offered an upgrade to the standard M9 but after evaluation of the RFP, it was obvious to Beretta that the Army wanted a striker-fired solution. The APX is Berettas entry for the MHS competition. First offered commercially in 2016, the Beretta APX series are polymer-framed, modular, striker-fired semi-automatic pistols. Jumping forward to May 2022, Beretta announced the APX A1, an ergonomically and functionally improved revision of the standard APX design. Polymer-bodied, sleek, and striker-fired, the APX A1 doesnt feel like the Beretta 92F of old more like the Glock 19 that replaced the M9 on special forces ODA teams. In order to be viable in a world rife with options, above all it needs to be durable, then functional, serviceable, upgradable, and finally affordable. Lets take a closer look. DURABILITY The MHS Material Reliability Test consisted of firing three pistols to an unprecedented 12,000 rounds each. For reference, the old standard was 5,000 rounds, and the M9 had an anticipated service life of a little more than double the new standard of 25,000 rounds. With the APX, Beretta would have to have minimal stoppages and pass a post-firing parts interchange test. The MHS testing also included accuracy and dispersion requirements to ensure the pistol held up to the rigors of military use. There were also extensive measurements of the other aspects of the pistols, such as a firing pin indent test and trigger pull measurements. Beretta made some changes from the original APX to the A1, which features a new flat-wire recoil spring with higher overall compression. The spring energy is managed differently during the firing cycle, offering more consistent compression and expansion phases. This reworking of the operating system allows for suppressed use without decreasing performance or reliability and is confirmed reliable to no less than 10,000 rounds. DESIGN There are only so many ways to make a reliable striker-fired pistol. The envelope for whats effective causes many designs to closely resemble each other. Differences are often nuanced and subjective. The APX A1 follows the orthodoxy of modern pistol design no gadgets, no gimmicks, but full of features. Elements of the Glock 19, the SIG Sauer 320, and even the H&K VP9 are reflected in this design. While the Beretta APX A1 is its own, its not a radical departure from industry norms. TRIGGER AND FRAME The most subjective, yet critical, element to any pistol is trigger feel. As any Glock buyer or builder already knows, the OEM trigger is usually the first thing to go. Pistol triggers are a finicky thing; theres a lot of testing and development that goes into making a polymer-framed pistol trigger a balance of feel, function, and liability lawsuits. The take-up on the APX A1 is about 4 to 5 mm. Once beyond the take-up, the wall of pressure is very vertical to reach the break point. Its obvious that youre applying pressure with minimal movement in the trigger body. The break itself hovers at 6 pounds, with about 6 to 7 mm of overtravel. The crisp reset hits at the exact point the take-up ends. Fast and smooth controlled pairs are easy; its a touch heavy for some but still really good. The grip and feel are a massive improvement over the early generation APX. The newly designed polymer frame on the A1 has more aggressive texturing than the original; contoured areas in front of the take-down pin grip your thumbs like a gas pedal. The APX A1 also offers a higher and more undercut trigger guard. Additionally, Beretta added a thicker beavertail and removed the finger grooves from the original. The grip angle itself is slightly more canted forward than the Glock 19. Its very easy to drive from target to target. The proper backstrap is especially important, as those with smaller hands had a hard time indexing on the original. This greatly reduces muzzle flip on the range. The ambidextrous slide catch is an effective rectangular shape, slightly angled away from the frame for easy manipulation without interfering with gripping the slide. The magazine release is textured and a very nice teardrop shape. It rides below the dominant thumb and is just shallow enough to not interfere with the support hand. The button travels about 3 to 4 mm, and once flush with the frame, allows the magazine to drop cleanly and smoothly. The magazines themselves are alloy bodies combined with polymer base plates very reminiscent of M9 magazines, just with a slick black coating. SLIDE AND SIGHTS The slide is optic-ready, screws and tabs keeping the cover plate in place. It also features more aggressive slide serrations, but not so much that youll cause excessive wear to the inside of your holster or poke holes through a T-shirt. There were no issues with manipulating the APX slide with wet gloves. The backward 45-degree cuts are just right for gripping the slide in front or behind the ejection port. Sights with a blacked-out rear and a white glow-in-the-dark dot front sight post are standard. The 3mm front sight sits between the rear sights with gaps of about half the width of the front sight post on either side. This is somewhat thicker than many prefer, though acquiring targets and accurate engagement are simple affairs. For OEM non-adjustable offerings, theyre solid and effective. UPGRADABLE Other than soft goods, lights, optic plates, and sights, upgrades for the APX A1 are limited. Aftermarket support is light, at least for now. The good news is there are multiple webpages of items available directly through Beretta. Some are worth noting. RECOIL SPRING The original double-wire recoil spring that used to come with APX is available and compatible with the APX A1. Despite it being the older version, it underwent and passed several military field tests and actually has a lower spring weight. Those who have a harder time racking the slide may want to look into this. SIGHTS Beretta offers an adjustable sight set with a red fiber-optic front sight post and a green fiber rear. For competition use, Beretta recommends the combination of the fiber front sight and all black rear. Note that use of the adjustable sights eliminates the ability to mount an optic. There are also taller sights to co-witness with optics and to use with silencers. Theyre simple non-adjustable, black-with-white-dots sets. It can be bothersome that many companies offer optic-ready pistols without co-witness sights, but its an unfortunate reality. MAGAZINE WELL The APX magazine well is made from billet aluminum, designed to assist with correct insertion of the magazine when speed is paramount. It also minimizes interference with clothing and gear. COMPENSATOR The Beretta compensator features side and upper vents to stabilize the pistol during firing by deflecting spent gases. Since its made for the A1, it follows the slide profile for a streamlined silhouette. Its easy to install just screw the compensator onto the barrel, ensure correct alignment, then tighten the lateral positioning screws. SERVICEABILITY Disassembly of the APX A1 is straightforward, with two options. Once the weapon is cleared, you can release the slide by pulling the trigger in the typical Austrian way. Alternately, you can use a tool. Without pulling the trigger, clear the pistol, retract the slide and hold it, then depress the striker deactivation button with a small punch or the tip of a ballpoint pen. Youll hear a click as the striker disengages. Release the slide, then push and rotate the take-down lever. Finally, remove the slide from the frame. In the usual method, clear the pistol, pull the trigger, push, and rotate the takedown lever, then remove the slide. Small parts are available on Berettas website, with springs, moving parts, and high wear items in stock. It doesnt boast the depth of aftermarket support of the Glock, but what other pistol does? Fortunately, Beretta is fully supporting the APX directly. LOOSE ROUNDS Beretta has priced these guns very favorably. The ultra-compact version, the APX A1 Carry, is made in Tennessee and retails for $399. The full-sized APX A1 shown here is made in Italy and retails for $529. Compare that to a Gen 5 Glock. More than 3,500 rounds have been put through the pistol pictured in this article with various firing schedules, including a first fast 500 rounds only stopping to reload. There were no stoppages, failures to fire, or loss of accuracy during any of this testing. While not flagrantly abusive, this regimen wasnt kind to the pistol. The original APX passed the MHS trials, and the APX A1 improves upon the original. Its a viable solution for duty and daily carry. The OEM trigger is an excellent duty trigger, and shooting the pistol is both natural and familiar to those who have carried other striker guns. Combine that with factory support and the ability to be upgraded plus the price and its hard to ignore even in a saturated market. If you get a chance to put some rounds through one, dont pass it up. The Italians have a saying Val piu la pratica della grammatica, which means experience is more important than theories. In the APX A1, Berettas extensive experience in firearms manufacturing offers a rare blend of function and value. SPECS: Beretta APX A1 Caliber: 9mm Overall Length: 7.48 inches Barrel Length: 4.25 inches Magazine Capacity: 10, 15, 17 Width: 1.3 inches Weight (unloaded): 1.81 pounds MSRP: $529 URL: www.beretta.com READ MORE Porterville, CA (93257) Today Mostly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 67F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A shower or two around the area in the evening, then partly cloudy overnight. Low around 45F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Porterville, CA (93257) Today Cloudy with occasional showers this afternoon. High near 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 44F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. The construction of schools in Azerbaijan's liberated Aghdam and Shusha is nearing completion, Azerbaijan's Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev said, Trend reports. He made the remark at the international scientific confederation organized jointly by the New Azerbaijani Party and Baku State University as part of the "Year of Heydar Aliyev". Amrullayev noted that two schools have already been opened in the liberated territories. The minister stressed that in every village, and settlement liberated from occupation, schools will be restored and the concept of schools for internally displaced persons will disappear. Following over a month of military action to liberate its territories from Armenian occupation from late Sept. to early Nov. 2020, Azerbaijan has pushed Armenia to sign the surrender document. A joint statement on the matter was made by the Azerbaijani president, Armenia's PM, and the president of Russia. Expanding investigation into allegedly wrongful claims of input tax credit by insurance companies, the tax authorities are probing a section of automobile dealers who have supposedly generated fake invoices without providing any service, which is a punishable offence under goods and services tax (GST) law. The authorities are learnt to have questioned the car dealers to explain the services they provided general insurance companies. The investigators suspect car dealers pitched for insurance schemes that give them commissions in excess of those insurance regulations permit. Fake invoices were being raised, without an underlying supply of services, and, on the basis of those, insurance firms claimed input tax credit, two officials privy to the probe said. Notably, the limit is 15-20 per cent, depending on the products prescribed by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). The IRDAI has, effectively from April 1, removed separate limits for commission and has imposed an overall ceiling on operating expenses and commissions. However, it doesnt have an impact on the ongoing cases. In the GST regime, issuing an invoice without supply means a jail term up to five years if the amount involved is Rs 5 crore or above. Along with that there is a 100 per cent penalty. And the registration of the fake invoice issuer could be also cancelled. The offence is not bailable. The tax evasion in this case is suspected to be around Rs 2,500 crore, which is much higher than the earlier estimate of Rs 1,000 crore. "As the probe progresses, we could see a nexus between insurance companies and lots of such intermediaries flouting regulations to avoid tax. "The matter is to be decided soon, a senior government official told Business Standard. The move is to widen the investigation the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) has launched against 16 insurance companies since September last year, for allegedly paying commissions as high as 60-70 per cent to intermediaries like these, and then availing themselves of input tax credit on the bills raised in the name of marketing and sales services. So far three-four show-cause notices have been served to some top insurance companies, seeking justification for claiming input tax credit. Besides, the intermediaries too have got notices from the investigators in the same matter. About 100 intermediaries, both online and offline aggregators, have been questioned so far in the case. Automobile dealers who have billed commissions in excess of those permitted could be asked by the GST authorities to justify their services to insurance companies. "Proof of marketing services needs to be given with relevant contracts and data, hence it is essential to prepare for it, said M S Mani, partner, Deloitte India. Automobile dealers who sell insurance on behalf of an insurance company or any intermediary are known as motor insurance service providers. They are appointed by the insurer or the insurance intermediary to distribute or service motor insurance policies of automotive vehicles sold through it. In general insurance, 40-50 per cent is motor insurance and a significant amount is sourced through automobile dealers. The dealers raised two bills. One was as commission within the prescribed limit and another one under infrastructure and marketing expenses, one of the two officials cited above said. Sales of passenger vehicles in India grew 26.7 per cent in 2022-23, the auto industry body data has showed. In 2022-23, sales of cars from manufacturers to dealers were 38,90,114 units as against 30,69,523 units in the previous financial year. Typically, in the first year, premiums on insurance for a passenger car vary between 4 per cent and 6 per cent of the price of the vehicle. The rising dependence on discounted crude oil has resulted in Indias trade deficit with Russia hitting the second-highest place last year, after China, reveals Department of Commerce data. From April through January 2022-23 (FY23), Indias maximum trade deficit was with China, at $71.58 billion. This was followed by Russia, where the deficit expanded sevenfold from $4.86 billion in April-January of 2021-22 (FY22) to $34.79 billion during the same period in FY23. Of the $37.27 billion imports from Russia, two-thirds of the value of goods imported from the country was of crude oil, shows data. The ever-growing trade gap is mainly on account of a consistent rise in imports from Russia, soon after its stand-off with Ukraine started in February 2022. While the Western nations have attempted to isolate Russia from global trade through economic sanctions, India continues to carefully balance its relations by not taking sides. Subsequently, India also started buying discounted crude from Russia. Conversely, exports initially nosedived in the first few months, but gradually the value of outbound shipments hit pre-conflict levels. Oddly enough, Russia was not even among Indias top 20 trade partners. In FY22, the country was Indias 25th largest trade partner. This was mainly because Russia was able to meet its demand for goods from Europe and China. However, the situation changed dramatically after the US and the European Union slapped sanctions on it. It is now the fifth-largest trading partner, mainly driven by a jump in imports. Arun Garodia, chairman, Engineering Export Promotion Council of India, says as far as engineering goods are concerned, theres above-average demand in Russia. Russian companies are approaching Indian manufacturers and suppliers to source their needs from India, instead of European or Chinese companies. "Over time, the trade deficit will come down. "For that, the government will have to issue a mandate that electronic bank realisation certificate (eBRC), required to complete export transactions, is issued by Indian banks, he says. Industry insiders observe that 50 per cent of Russias trade was with European nations. Now that Russia doesnt have access to Europe because of sanctions, it is eager to buy from India. This is Indias moment. If we make inroads now, perhaps Russia may continue to trade with us, even after Europe lifts sanctions, they say. To facilitate Indias trade with Russia and promote the growth of global trade, the Reserve Bank of India also spelt out a mechanism to settle international trade transactions in the Indian currency last year. However, not much headway has been made as Indian banks continue to fear secondary sanctions. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar raised concern about the widening trade deficit with Russia, stating India would work with the sanctions-hit nation to address market access, non-tariff barriers, payments, as well as logistics-related issues. We have crossed the bilateral trade target of $30 billion before 2025, which was the target year given to us by our leadership. "For the period April 2022-February 2023, I understand that trade is about $45 billion and the expectation is that this will continue to grow. "There is also understandable concern about the trade imbalance these new volumes have created. "We need to work together with our Russian friends on a very urgent basis on how best to address that imbalance, he said. Jaishankar had also said that a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Eurasian Economic Union comprising five member states of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia will certainly deepen the bilateral commercial relationship between India and Russia. Experts, however, point out that the progress on the FTA with EAEU will be a political call, considering the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Ajay Sahai, director-general and chief executive officer, Federation of Indian Export Organisations, says that an FTA with Eurasia will be beneficial as these nation industries dont compete with each other. It will also help India in getting raw material (crude) at reasonable prices and better market access for Indias critical exports, he adds. As of January 2022, both sides had finalised the terms of reference on the proposed trade pact, say government officials. Both sides had decided to have initial discussions to set the agenda for the trade negotiations and finalise the structure of the joint text for the trade agreement in March 2020 in Moscow. It eventually got deferred due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The average time lag between the date of occurrence of a fraud and its detection is 23 months; for large frauds (Rs 100 crore and above), it was 57 months. The Supreme Court's verdict that borrowers must be heard before an account is classified as fraud is a big relief for India Inc. Though it places the onus on banks before they proceed down this line, the spotlight is firmly on an issue that doesn't get the attention it deserves: the frauds chain, from detection to redress. The Reserve Bank of India's annual report for 2020-2021 noted that the average time lag between the date of occurrence of a fraud and its detection is 23 months; for large frauds (Rs 100 crore [Rs 1 billion] and above), it was 57 months. A two-decadal analysis by the Financial Stability Report of June 2019 (FSR: June 2019) found that frauds between FY01 and FY18 constituted 90.6 per cent of what was reported in FY19 by value. This is surprising given that banks had migrated to 'live reporting' through Fraud Monitoring Returns from April 1, 2017. But frauds continue to plague the system. In September 2019, RBI Deputy Governor M K Jain observed that 'some of the weaknesses and irregularities observed have been recurring in spite of the averments made by bank managements (about) having carried out remediation.' And 'it will not be an exaggeration to say that some of the big losses suffered by banks on account of frauds could have been avoided if a good compliance culture was ingrained in the respective banks.' In the FSR: June 2019, the RBI said as of December-end 2018, 204 borrowers who had been reported as fraudulent by one or more banks were not classified as such by others having exposure to the same borrower. One of the major areas of non-uniformity in processes pertains to identifying red-flagged accounts (RFA) based on an indicative list of early warning signals, which is not uniform across banks. In several cases, banks were unable to confirm RFA-tagged accounts as frauds or otherwise within the prescribed period of six months. And data from the Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (which warehouses data on all borrowers' credit exposures) for FY19, had it that RFA reported by banks exceeded the stipulated six-month period in 176 cases. The reasons cited included delays in either completing, or inconclusive findings of forensic audits. If this was not bad enough, the ecosystem grinds to a near halt after having sniffed a fraud, and seldom takes the next remedial steps. A classic case is that of ABG Shipyard -- the ICICI Bank-led consortium declared its Rs 14,000 crore (Rs 140 billion) exposure to the company as a fraud in 2019, which was first reported by Business Standard on January 24, 2020. Yet, it was only in February 2022 that the Central Bureau of Investigation filed its First Information Report -- when the exposure was closer to Rs 25,000 crore (Rs 250 billion) due to the compounding of interest -- making it the biggest banking fraud till date. Here again, it must be reiterated that the whole exposure is not to be seen as a fraud. Could it also be that the way fraud numbers are reported is flawed? Senior bankers point out that it would be appropriate to consider the "amount at risk" as the fraud and not the total outstanding -- the exposure on the borrower. The "amount at risk" may be arrived at by the bank assessing the amount and probability of "risk materialising". And it may be validated by an independent assessor, such as statutory, or a reputed forensic auditor. In the current RBI prescription, the fraud amount -- as it gets reported -- becomes inappropriately high. For instance, if a consortium of banks has extended, say, Rs 5,000 crore (Rs 50 billion) to a borrower, the entire amount is deemed a fraud even if it's a Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) transgression within a bank. The RBI's diktat that all banks in a consortium classify the exposure as a fraud -- even if the incidence is only restricted to a bank or two -- may even have acted as a perverse incentive: for not declaring frauds. This is because it would mean having to inform the consortium, and all banks will have to hang together due to the RBI's diktat on uniformity in fraud classification. That is, declare it as a non-performing account (even if current) and make provisions. In the case of State-run banks, which had been dependent on recapitalisation support from the Centre, it made eminent sense to push matters under the carpet. And while you have data on bank frauds, there's nothing in the books of non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). This, when two NBFCs turned out to be fraudulent entities: The Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services; and Dewan Housing Finance Corporation. This is a blind spot -- NBFCs are interconnected with other entities in the financial sector; and are as exposed to similar risks as banks. Given that stress in a company may also act as a trigger to commit fraud, it is perhaps best to look at other data points: Look at its beneficial owners, bank transfers, salary and creditor payments, and regulatory filings. At another level, in recent years, fraud detection has emerged as a lucrative business. In May 2019, over 70 firms queued up to be on the Indian Banks' Association's empanelled list of forensic auditors. This included Alvarez & Marsal, Kroll, Ernst and Young, BDO India, PwC, BMR Advisors, KPMG and Deloitte; and many home-bred firms that never or rarely make headlines. It is believed that the annual fee pool for forensics is at around Rs 1,000 crore/Rs 10 billion (it depends on how the business is sliced and diced). Soon, lawyers will join the party. 'Natural justice' to an aggrieved borrower was the casualty to a large extent because of the short interval available to them to offer relief under the RBI's Master Directions (Frauds-Classification and Reporting) by commercial banks and select Financial Institutions of July 1, 2016 (updated as on July 3). What if a borrower were to seek remedies citing the Supreme Court order? With capital quoting at a premium, the system can ill-afford vast sums getting locked in frauds and its provisioning at the expense of shareholders and depositors. The sub-committee of Financial Stability and Development Council at its meeting on September 27, 2019, chaired by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das discussed measures to strengthen the system against frauds and revisiting the framework for early warning signals. And now with the Supreme Court verdict, the banking regulator can be expected to quicken its stride on this front when it issues its revised guidelines on frauds. Unless Punjab has a chief minister who can look beyond community/vote bank politics, carries all sections of society, stop appeasing while addressing genuine concerns and break the stranglehold of the SGPC over Sikh affairs, my beloved home state is bound to die and conversions will be rampant, warns Sanjeev Nayaar. IMAGE: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at a roadshow ahead of the filing of nomination papers by Aam Aadmi Party candidate Sushil Rinku for the Jalandhar Lok Sabha by-election, April 17, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Did you know that the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party founder Kanshi Ram was a Ramdasia Sikh? He chose to pursue social revolution in Uttar Pradesh (former chief minister Mayawati was his protegee) but not in his home state of Punjab! Actually, from the time the state of Punjab was formed in 1966, it probably had only two non-Jat chief ministers -- Giani Zail Singh (from the carpenter community of Ramgariya Sikhs) and Charanjit Channi (from the Chamar community of Ramdasia Sikhs). Chamars are followers of Sant Ravidas. Despite being only about 20% of Punjab's population, against the backward classes of about 30% the Jat Sikhs assume a share of power disproportionate to their population. Most farmers are Jat Sikhs and thus a big recipient of free power that was introduced by the Akali government in 1997-1998 and central government subsidy. The powerful Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Community that controls all gurdwaras in undivided Punjab (barring Haryana) is indirectly controlled by the Akali Dal that derives substantial support from Jat Sikhs. Across parties, every chief minister has to be a Jat Sikh. One hoped the Aam Aadmi Party would take a different approach but they too succumbed and appointed a Jat chief minister. The reality is that most chief ministers are focused on the most powerful community in the state. At the outset I must state that I have nothing against the Jat Sikh community, but some things needs to be explained. In fact, I admire the 1960s generation for their contribution to the Green Revolution. This article seeks to provoke thought and not cast aspersions on any community or people. So the question is, were Jats always so powerful in Punjab? The answer is, No. The 10 Gurus were Khatris (simply, Kshatriyas). Guru Guru Nanak was a Bedi, Guru Angad a Trehan, Guru Amar Das a Bhalla and the rest were Sodhis. Jats came into prominence with Maharaja Ranjit Singh's rule. Further, Jat differences with Bhapas (Khatri-Arora Sikhs) also arise because Jats see themselves as the original followers of the Khalsa (founded by the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh, in 1699) as against the Bhapas who were later entrants into the Khalsa. What they forget is that there were nine gurus before the tenth. So how did the Jat Sikhs become such a powerful community in Punjab? Initially, the Khalsa followers were mostly Jats. Though others considered themselves Sikhs, they held back since they were not followers of the Khalsa. The birth of the Khalsa resulted in the rise of Jat power in Punjab. The Khalsa was raised to fight Mughal oppression and persecution of Hindus and Sikhs (who then were considered part of the larger Hindu community). They got more known with the advent of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's rule and victories against the Afghans. Further, the British were grateful to the Sikh princes for assistance received during the mutiny of 1857 and seeing the bravery of Sikh armies realised that they could be an effective buffer between Afghanistan and India. Thereafter, the British made caste the basis of land ownership and tacitly supported the division of Punjab into Sikh and Hindu. The British wooed the Jats so 'The area specifically chosen for the Sikhs was a tract known as nili bar, irrigated by the Chenab canal. Coloniwation officers scoured Sikh villages in the districts of Amritsar, Ludhiana and Ferozpur to pick up the best farmers. The settlers were given heritable and inalienable rights of occupancy. The vast majority of Sikh colonists were Malwa Jats with a sprinkling on non-Jat agricultural tribes.' (History of Sikhs by Khuswant Singh, Page 118). A caste divide was created in the Indian Army too. A Jat Sikh regiment and a Sikh Light Infantry for Mazhabi Sikhs were created. Another reason for rise in their power was that Jats controlled the SGPC since its inception in 1925. Plus, barring two, every chief minister of Punjab since the state was formed in 1966 has been a Jat Sikh. Thus, the Jat Sikh community became powerful by virtue of being land owners-farmers, political power and control over Sikh religious affairs. Another view by Professor Harish Puri is, 'The large scale entry of the Jats by the time of the Sixth Guru, tended to alter the caste equation in the Panth. The Jats constituted the rural elite who dominated the rural Punjab. By the 18th century the Jat constituency was preponderant among the constituent groups in the Panth (McLeod 1975: 10).' (The Scheduled Castes in the Sikh Community - A Historical Perspective by Harish K Puri. [First published in Economic & Political Weekly (June 28, 2003) and was then included in the author's edited volume on Dalits in Regional Context (2004). Jat Sikhs have disputes, for example, land between themselves, but stand united when a third party is involved as we saw during the farmers' agitation. They are both nationalists and separatists (biggest proponents of the Khalistan movement). So what is the present? The powerful Jat Sikhs have not paid adequate attention to all sections of society. Thus, a devoted Khatri Sikh laments, "SGPC's definitions of a Sikh make Sehajdharis, Patits and non-Amritdharis second class Sikhs because they are unable to be elected to the SGPC management but are duty bound by its rules and expected to contribute money and labour (sewa)." A 2016 amendment disentitled Sehajdharis (external link) from voting in the elections of the SGPC and managing committees. Most agricultural land is owned by Jat Sikhs. Dalits own only 3.5 per cent of Punjab's private farmland, according to the Agriculture Census of 2015-16 (external link). A lot is made about the rising popularity of Deras that essentially attracts followers from the poorer, backward and non-Jaat sections of society. In my Rediff.com column Why Dera Sacha Sauda draws followers, I wrote, 'The Green Revolution of the late 1960s benefited Jaats the most as they were the dominant agricultural caste. In the prosperity that followed, the backward classes and poor were left out. 'To add to their woes was the insecurities caused by the extremely violent Khalistan movement of the 1980s. Deras existed earlier too, but the external environment increased the insecurity. The need for a support system and to be part of a larger community was felt. 'It is this vacuum that deras like Sacha Sauda filled. They made the poor feel secure, cared for, loved, provided a support system and gave them dignity.' Further, the backwards, like Chamars, are not treated well. According to a Punjab-based scholar, "They are considered pariahs in all matters. While Ravidasis take pride in being Chamars (as did their guru), Sikhs continue to consider Chamars as low caste. Inter-dining, inter-marriage between the two communities is still not accepted, although the elite among them enjoys a better social status by virtue of their political or economic power." Today, when one says Deras are a threat to Sikhism, it means they are a threat to the Akali Dal-controlled SGPC. The SGPC (that was created to manage gurdwaras in Punjab) has assumed the role of spokesperson of the Sikh Panth. Thus, the SGPC expresses disapproval of Sant Ravidas or any other living guru, for example the Nirankaris. The Nirankaris believe in the formless God-Nirankar -- who can be reached through a 'God-realised soul' or 'satguru'. The cause of differences between orthodox Sikhism and Nirankaris is limited to the latter's worship of gurus other than the 10 gurus recognised by Sikhs. They also disapprove of the militant Khalsa. As a Punjabi Khatri, I believe that no current guru should compare himself with the respected 10 gurus. The Ravidassias, for example, believe in Ravidasia Dharm. It is a Panth, like there have been many in India. So let us stop assuming that SGPC represents the entire Sikh community. Unless Punjab has a chief minister who is able to look beyond community/vote bank politics, carry all sections of society, stop appeasing while addressing genuine concerns and break the stranglehold of the SGPC over Sikh affairs, my beloved home state is bound to die and conversions will be rampant. Punjab needs social reform. It is the resident Punjabis who have to take the lead, the Centre can only so that much! A better version of Mayawati needs to rise in Punjab. Sanjeev Nayyar is founder of esamskriti.com and a chartered accountant. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com The BJP at 43 is a work in progress, with total ideological continuity and much substantive change in political method and style, observes Shekhar Gupta. IMAGE: Bharatiya Janata Party Supremo Narendra D Modi at the BJP Foundation Day celebrations in New Delhi, April 6, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The BJP's 43rd birthday -- or rather, rebirth day as L K Advani preferred to call it, especially because it was founded on the Easter weekend in 1980 -- saw much written about the party around which all of India's politics dances. The more important landmark, however, is that the party's second consecutive government is entering its last year. By this time next year, a couple rounds of voting will have already taken place. As things stand today, despite all the frenetic activity on the part of the Opposition, the BJP would look to be in a near-impregnable situation. This isn't a privilege it ever had under its founders. It is still very much the party they had founded from the ashes of the Janata Party, but much has changed and evolved under Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and now J P Nadda. It's a good time to see how similar this 43 year old is to the party Mr Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee founded, and how it has changed. The first thing that hasn't changed is ideological cohesion. The founders stayed mostly true to the RSS, (let's say Sangh) ideology. While they drew in much talent from outside, as the Modi-Shah team has done under National Democratic Alliance-II, the top party leaders all came from the same ideological nursery. This includes the presidents, key general secretaries, even most (not all) of the state chiefs. This leadership is equally close to the ideas of the RSS. There are many differences too, though you could argue that these also reflect the reality of numbers as the founders never had a majority. The need to keep a diverse coalition together meant they had to put some of the essential elements of their ideology on the back burner -- the special status of Kashmir (Article 370), the Ram temple, and the Uniform Civil Code being the most prominent. Their successors won a majority and realised the first two quickly. The third is being done through salami-slicing. Triple talaq was the beginning; the minimum age of marriage and polygamy, we can be sure, are on the way. The fact that the founders recreated an ideological party subsumed and lost in the 1977 Janata Party experiment is creditable by itself. Of the five major constituents that merged to form the Janata Party -- the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the Indian National Congress (Organisation), the Socialist Party, the Bharatiya Lok Dal (led by Charan Singh) and Babu Jagjivan Ram's Congress for Democracy -- there was just one that not only survived but emerged in a new avatar. That was the BJP. All others fell by the wayside and some elements morphed into state-specific, caste-based parties (via the Janata Dal), such as the Samajwadi Party (Mulayam) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (Lalu). The Socialists were finally reduced to George Fernandes and now Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United in Bihar. The Janata Party's fate is truly summarised in that immortal 1948 duet in the voices of Mohammed Rafi and Suraiya: 'Ek dil ke tukde hazar huye, koi yahan gira, koi wahan gira (this heart broke into a thousand pieces and scattered across the land).' Only one of these parties pulled itself up and now rules us with power without comparison in our history. Not even in Indira Gandhi's heyday. And a clear ideology was a big reason the Jana Sangh was reborn unscathed as the Bharatiya Janata Party. IMAGE: Bharatiya Janata Party National President J P Nadda, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakashi Lekhi and Delhi BJP President Adesh Gupta during the BJP's Shobha Yatra in New Delhi, April 6, 2023. Photograph: Amit Sharma/ANI Photo If ideology was such an effective glue, it was also baggage as it deterred others from joining hands, much as they all detested the Congress and the Gandhi dynasty. That remained the BJP's biggest challenge. And if Messrs Modi and Shah are so successful now, they need to thank the founders, especially Vajpayee, for ridding the party of its untouchability in the Opposition space. The big move was offering support to V P Singh's government to deny the Congress under Rajiv Gandhi power, although it was by far the largest party. It isn't a political event adequately appreciated now, but the BJP's support -- even if short-lived -- to a Left-leaning combination was so sharply at odds with its own ideology that it began the dilution of that untouchability. It was also realpolitik, as the best way to weaken the Congress was to keep it away from power. How much of a challenge it was is evident from the anti-BJP coalitions the Congress later helped in power, from Chandra Shekhar (1990-1991) to H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral (1997-1998). It was very simple to justify that on the argument of keeping 'secular' forces together and 'communal' ones out. For Mr Advani and Vajpayee, to make common cause with some of the same forces subsequently was a much bigger achievement. Mamata Banerjee, Chandrababu Naidu, Naveen Patnaik, Ram Vilas Paswan, and the Abdullahs of Kashmir, among others, joined their coalition besides their natural allies such as the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Shiv Sena. That ended their political untouchability. The difference now is that the BJP has become so powerful by itself that it does not need any of these allies. Not even the Akalis and the Shiv Sena. They dumped one, broke the other. It may make some local and opportunistic arrangements with tiny caste-based parties, especially in the heartland, but it depends on none. Two exceptions are the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena. But let's watch how durable the Shinde Sena's prospects are. Maybe by the time we are writing something on the BJP's 45th birthday. If, from having to worry about being untouchable for likely allies, the BJP has risen to a place where it can't be touched by any rival, the incumbents have also made some major departures from the ideas they inherited. You could call it evolution. First of all, the party now has an almighty personality cult. Which is something it stood against in the Indira era ('Indira is India'). In the Vajpayee-Advani period, power was shared between the two and others, especially the RSS, had a say -- often in disapproval. Now the RSS fully endorses the government and celebrates all its actions. You could, of course, argue that if the government is delivering so fully on its ideological concerns, why should the RSS be complaining? IMAGE: BJP workers listen to Modi's virtual address on the occasion of the party's foundation day at the BJP state headquarters in Bhopal. Photograph: ANI Photo The next is the basic approach to politics. The founders could play hardball, but Vajpayee often said 'rajneeti sauda nahin hai' (politics isn't transactional). Their successors have perfected their own version of transactionally uncluttered politics. Vajpayee built a strong, centralised prime minister's pffice and the RSS routinely questioned it. The Modi PMO is enormously more powerful, and nobody is complaining. It helps that the party does not need to give any space to an ally. The Vajpayee government, we should note, had at least one ideological outsider (George Fernandes) in his Cabinet Committee on Security. Among the many things the founders started was a search for younger talent. In January 1984, when the party had been reduced to two seats in the Rajiv wave, I interviewed Vajpayee for a cover story on India's battered Opposition. He acknowledged that youth was one of Rajiv's strengths and that he was looking for younger leaders. He mentioned Arun Jaitley and Pramod Mahajan. The fact is, many of the younger leaders identified in the founders' era are now leading the party. These include Narendra Modi. How does the current leadership's report card compare with the founders on this human resources metric? Do we see the rise of the next generation of leaders? There are some, like Himanta Biswa Sarma, Yogi Adityanath, maybe Devendra Fadnavis -- perhaps not as wide a catchment as under the founders. The BJP at 43 is a work in progress, with total ideological continuity and much substantive change in political method and style. Whether you like it or not, of course, depends on where you are coming from. By special arrangement with The Print 'Narasimha Rao asked me why China was doing so well in attracting foreign investments and I gave my frank opinion.' 'I told him that giving thrust to exports had to be a national effort.' 'But in India, the system was very centralised in the Government of India and the state governments had no role to play.' IMAGE: Then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao with then finance minister Dr Manmohan Singh. Photograph: PTI Photo Ravi Sawhney went to Punjab as a young IAS officer in 1969 and spent the next two decades in what turned out to be an eventful, useful and memorable experience in public service. Belonging to an older and vanishing tribe of IAS officers, Mr Sawhney has written an engaging memoir Living a Life which gives a fascinating account of a rich professional experience with warm vignettes from his personal life. "India is considered as one of the countries which can bring stability and provide stimulus to world economic growth," Mr Sawhney says in the third part of his interview to Rediff.com's Archana Masih. You saw the tenures of several prime ministers as a civil servant -- Indira Gandhi, Morarji Desai, Rajiv Gandhi. How different was the working of the bureaucracy under each PM? I left the Government of India as joint secretary level so I wasn't at a senior level to have direct dealings with the prime minister. During Indira Gandhi's time, I had occasion to meet her when she came to Punjab during the elections in 1980, and subsequently when I set up the Punjab pavilion in Delhi. I found her very easy to talk to and she was an attentive listener. I had met her earlier as a student which was a very interesting anecdote that I mention in my book. IMAGE: Ravi Sawhney, second from right, with the director's medal for physical fitness, which he received from then deputy prime minister Morarji Desai, fourth from right, at the IAS Academy in 1969. All Photographs: Kind courtesy Ravi Sawhney I had occasion to meet Morarji Desai when I formulated the integrated rural development programme in Punjab and he came to launch it. I had earlier met him when he came as the deputy prime minister to the IAS academy and presented the director's medal for physical fitness to me. I met both Indira Gandhi and Morarji Desai prior to my being part of the government. Although I didn't work with Narasimha Rao, I met him when he came as prime minister to Bangkok. He asked me why China was doing so well in attracting foreign investments as compared to India and I gave my frank opinion. I told him that giving thrust to exports had to be a national effort. But in India, the system was very centralised in the Government of India and the state governments had no role to play. I indicated by example, that in Punjab, the Punjab Export Cooperation never played any role to promote exports and the State Government had no authority to approve foreign investments. Provincial governments in China had authority to approve foreign investment proposals whereas in India it was highly centralised. Mr Narasimha Rao and I had a very frank talk. I was informed that Prime Minister Rao had asked the taskforce to also examine the points I had made. He was a prime minister with an open mind and we all know that his government did launch the process of liberalisation. I knew Rajiv Gandhi personally before he entered politics. Even when he became Prime Minister he acknowledged our past association and we continued to receive new years greetings signed by him and Sonia. IMAGE: Ravi Sawhney, left, with then United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon in Bangkok in 2008. You served as an international civil servant for 20 years, how has India's standing in the world changed since? What were some of your experiences in taking India's policy goals ahead on the international stage? I worked with the UN's Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, ESCAP where India is a major player. I participated in the UN both as a government delegate, and then subsequently within the UN. Therefore, I had opportunity to see the UN from the government of India's perspective and from the UN's perspective. India followed a non-aligned foreign policy which maybe was relevant at that time. But, in the recent past, the geopolitics is different and India has pursued multi-alignment. India is part of different organisations like Quad, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, etc. India is considered as one of the countries which can bring stability and provide stimulus to world economic growth. When I created BIMSTEC [Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation], it was important that India and other countries of South Asia must reach out to Southeast Asian countries. We felt that the 21st century belonged to the Asia Pacific region which is a heterogeneous region with great diversity, unlike, Latin America. Latin American countries can talk in one voice on the UN forum, but different groups of countries in the Asia Pacific region are not always on the same page. BIMSTEC attempted to bring about some kind of linkages within the different parts of the region. It's a very diverse and large region. There is ASEAN, SAARC, ECO [Economic Cooperation Organisation] in West Asia and Pacific Forum in the South Pacific and we tried to create linkages and with particular emphasis on SAARC and ASEAN. ASEAN was reticent to develop institutional linkages with SAARC because of the internal problems within SAARC. IMAGE: Mr Sawhney with then Chinese premier Li Peng at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, 1989. At that time, India had declared a Look East policy while Thailand had a Look West policy and they wanted to set up a growth triangle with India because of its large economy and with Sri Lanka because of the Buddhist connection. I wrote to the countries of the Bay of Bengal saying that we could build linkages and got positive response from most of the countries. In fact, Malaysia was the first country to respond. I had hoped BIMSTEC would have been more representative on the ASEAN side and was disappointed that it did not have a much bigger representation from ASEAN rather than just Myanmar and Thailand. India already has bilateral trade agreements with the SAARC member countries which subsequently became members of BIMSTEC and it seems that it has almost become an alternative arrangement for South Asian countries excluding Pakistan whereas the initial objective was to develop trade and economic linkages more with the ASEAN countries. There is need to expand the BIMSTEC membership on the ASEAN side. The Aam Aadmi Party's Shelly Oberoi got another term as mayor of Delhi following her reelection on Wednesday without contest as her Bharatiya Janata Party rival Shikha Rai withdrew her nomination. IMAGE: Delhi mayor Shelly Oberoi. Photograph: @OberoiShelly/Twitter Rai told the House that she took the step because the election to the standing committee -- the apex decision-making body of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi -- has not been conducted. Incumbent Deputy Mayor Aaley Mohammad Iqbal also got another term at the post, as BJP candidate Soni Pal withdrew her nomination. Iqbal and Pal were the two rival candidates for the post of deputy mayor. The AAP claimed that BJP candidates Rai and Pal withdrew their nominations "minutes before voting, fearing defeat". The mayoral election in Delhi was supposed to be a direct contest between incumbent Oberoi and Rai. The Aam Aadmi Party is the ruling party in the MCD. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Congratulations Shelly and Aley on again becoming mayor and deputy mayor, this time unopposed. Best wishes to both. People have huge expectations from us. Work hard to meet their expectations." As soon as Oberoi became mayor, a few members of the house raised 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Kejriwal Zindabad' slogans. At a press conference after the House proceedings ended, AAP MLA and the party's in-charge of MCD Durgesh Pathak claimed that the BJP and its councillors "surrendered in front of Kejriwal's AAP". "For the first time, Modi's BJP surrendered in front of AAP. They did not even have the energy to fight mayor or deputy mayor election," he claimed, adding the BJP had "insulted" Mukesh Goyal two months ago, who today was the presiding officer in the House. The Delhi BJP, in a statement, said it decided to withdraw the nominations as "despite our best efforts, the AAP is not ready to make MCD functional by allowing the formation of standing committee and ward committees". Interacting with the media, Mayor Oberoi said, "We want to thank Arvind Kejriwal, all councillors and the people of Delhi. We will fulfil the promises made to the people of Delhi. I promise I would continue to do all the good works and we will work with honesty to address the issues related to parks, roads and schools". Deputy Mayor Iqbal and Leader of House Mukesh Goyal also were present during the press conference held at the Civic Centre -- the headquarters of the MCD. "I want to thank the Delhi chief and assure the people of Delhi that fulfilling the 10 guarantees made by him is our responsibility," Iqbal said. Senior AAP leader Goyal claimed it was the "BJP's compulsion" to withdraw nominations for the post of mayor and deputy mayor in the elections. "We are here to solve the issue of people. It is the responsibility of the BJP councillors to work for the betterment of people," he said. The municipal House proceedings were short and the next House will now take place on May 2, a senior official said. Oberoi was elected Delhi mayor for the first time on February 22 in the fourth attempt since the earlier elections were stalled amid a ruckus over voting rights being given to nominated members. She had defeated BJP's Rekha Gupta by a margin of 34 votes by polling 150 votes. Gupta got 116 of the total 266 votes polled. The post of mayor in the national capital sees five single-year terms on a rotational basis with the first year reserved for women, the second for the open category, the third for the reserved category and the remaining two again for the open category. The city gets a new mayor after the end of a financial year. The proceedings began at around 11 AM with senior AAP leader Mukesh Goyal as the pro tem presiding officer. The recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch was condemned by the House and condolences were also offered to the kin of a civic staff who had died in a road accident recently. A two-minute silence was also observed. The mayor poll proceedings soon got underway, but before that BJP's Rai made a short speech in the House. "I'm standing here as a worker of the biggest party in this country. Our party has always believed in the democratic process, which is why they nominated me for the election to the mayoral post. However, my party never wanted any position. But in the last few days, we've seen that the MCD's standing committee is not being formed without which the MCD remains incomplete," she told the House. Uncertainty still prevails over the conduct of the election of members of the Standing Committee. On February 25, the Delhi High Court stayed the re-election of six members of the standing committee of the MCD which was scheduled for February 27, saying the mayor prima facie acted beyond her powers in ordering a fresh poll. The court on April 24 permitted the city mayor to file a ''consolidated reply'' to a challenge to the re-election of six members of the MCD standing committee. Rai on Wednesday said, "We are asking for the mayoral election to take place in sync with the standing committee election. So, in view of the situation, I'm withdrawing my name from the mayoral poll". She is a councillor from the Greater Kailash-1 ward in south Delhi. "I request Shelly Oberoi that when she takes the mayor seat, she understands that MCD is incomplete without the standing committee," the BJP councillor said. The Congress in Maharashtra has a plan in place in the event of alliance with anti-Bharatiya Janata Party outfits doesn't materialise, state unit party president Nana Patole said on Wednesday amid buzz about the future of tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). IMAGE: Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole, left, with Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar. Photograph: ANI Photo He was responding to a query on the current political scene in the state and whether MVA -- comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Nationalist Congress Party, and Congress -- will remain intact in future. "We are taking efforts to take everybody who is against BJP; be it NCP or Shiv Sena (UBT), along," the Congress leader told Marathi news channel TV9. When asked about the future scenario if the alliance doesn't take shape, he said, "We (Congress) have plans ready." Speculation about the MVA unity started doing rounds after NCP chief Sharad Pawar's remarks on the unity of the tripartite alliance ahead of the 2024 elections caused a flutter. When asked to name the party among MVA constituents which will get the chance to install the next chief minister of Maharashtra, Patole said such discussion is premature at this stage. "There is no need for such discussion over this aspect as there are no elections scheduled now. But, Congress is fighting every day on issues concerning people," he added. Queried whether senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar would be acceptable as the chief minister to MVA, Patole said," It is simple. A chief minister is from that party which has the largest number of MLAs." Speaking on whether MVA will contest the 2024 elections together, Sharad Pawar on Sunday said, There is a willingness to work together. But mere desire is not always enough. Seat allotment, whether there are any other issues or not, all this hasn't been discussed yet, so how can I tell you. Political circles in Maharashtra are abuzz with speculation that Ajit Pawar may break NCP ranks to join hands with the ruling BJP though he asserted that he would remain with NCP till he lives. However, the talks refuse to die down as Ajit Pawar in an interview had said that he would "100 per cent like to be the chief minister of Maharashtra". Meanwhile, the state Congress has appointed six leaders as coordinators for the May 1 MVA rally scheduled to be held in Mumbai and said all three constituents of the MVA are unitedly highlighting the "misdeeds" of the central government. Panthic politics came easily to Parkash Singh Badal, but he was quick to abandon it when it became a problem, notes Aditi Phadnis. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi touches Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal's feet at the collector's office before filing his nomination from the Varanasi parliamentary constituency, April 26, 2019. Also in the frame: Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was then with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. Photograph: ANI Photo Parkash Singh Badal, 95, who went to jail for India's freedom and Punjab's honour, 10-term MLA and five-term chief minister of Punjab, died on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, after about a week in a Mohali hospital. He wrote an open letter last month, shaming the Aam Aadmi Party government for including his name in a murder conspiracy charge. 'During my entire life, I have been fighting against the tyranny of the governments and at the age of 95 years, I would continue to fight... such pressure tactics can never cow me down and I have full faith in the judiciary,' he said. He also said the action was 'immoral, a threat to democracy, and a nefarious conspiracy to tarnish the Constitutional position of the CM... it is the height of vendetta politics.' Although he died in a hospital, lately he had been spending most of his time at his farm, surrounded by peacocks and the fragrance of orange flowers. His last birthday saw a steady stream of callers. He had many, many, admirers although many of his friends including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, for whom he sought a Bharat Ratna in 2013, much before the Bharatiya Janata Party voiced the demand, are no more. Badal's foray into politics began as a sarpanch in his native village, Badal. He was 19 and the year was 1947. Like many politicians of his time, he had been fired with enthusiasm during the freedom struggle and saw the Congress as a liberator, entering the state assembly in 1957 as a Congressman. He was to revise that view: Badal called the Congress the Akali Dal's 'permanent enemy' after the Emergency of 1977. In politics for 75 years, he lost only two elections -- one in 1967, by 57 votes, and then in the 2022 Punjab assembly election when his beloved Lambi, which he represented for several decades, rejected him. He was a consummate politician. When the AAP gheraoed his house one hot day in May 2016 on the issue of farmer suicides and an alleged Rs 12,000 crore (Rs 120 billion) wheat scam, Badal, then CM, stepped out of his home, folded his hands and said it was lunchtime. If his guests would not eat lunch, he could not eat either: 'Why not come inside, away from the hot sun, and discuss everything peacefully over roti?' A group of AAP volunteers made it as if to go inside with him. If the police had any ideas about a lathi-charge or arrest, they abandoned them. The trucks to arrest the protesters were sent away. The barricades were taken down. But that did not stop Badal from roaring the next day that 'AAP's politics is a betrayal of the people of Punjab on river waters. They follow the politics of fraud, deception and cheap stunts.' Panthic politics came easily to him. But he was quick to abandon it when it became a problem. The historic Moga conclave of 1996 saw the partnership of the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP. The BJP wanted to defeat the Congress and do right by Punjab after 1984. But it was uncomfortable with the Panthic agenda. The Moga conclave saw Badal sideline the Panthic agenda and replace it with Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat. This suited everyone: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh which believes Sikhs are 'keshdhari Hindus'; and the moderate Sikhs. The very next year, the SAD-BJP alliance came to power and Badal became CM. Many accused Badal of equivocation after 1984 and argue that politically, he did not do enough to assuage the hurt Sikh psyche, which has led to the resurgence of Sikh radicalism today. For instance, the SAD shielded IPS officers who were accused of killing youth in fake encounters. Human rights violations and extra-judicial killings during militancy in Punjab were not issues that were addressed seriously. In Gujarat, the sentences of those who were convicted of rape were remitted. In Punjab, those convicted of sedition stayed in prison for years after their term was over. The SAD did not fight enough -- although Badal would have been heard if he had done, if only because of his age and standing. There were other issues. The SAD exited the alliance with the BJP over farm laws, knowing full well that the move would affect their political future. This has given the BJP a new constituency to conquer with leaders like Hardeep Puri representing a new phase of Sikh identity politics. Badal belonged to a different age. It was an era when free water and electricity were seen as the lever of continuing the Green Revolution. But the young men are all gone from Punjab, the only political issue remaining is, shockingly, the sacrilege of religious scriptures and the handling of the drugs economy. Badal could use the carrot and stick to play with militancy, a word here, a signal there. He has left that behind and gone to a better place. As reports of spending Rs 45 crore for the "beautification" of the Delhi chief minister's official residence in Delhi surfaced, the the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress attacked the Aam Aadmi Party founder Arvind Kejriwal. IMAGE: The AAP claimed that the residence in question was built in 1942 and Delhi government's Public Works Department, after an audit, had recommended its renovation. Photograph: @AamAadmiParty/Twitter BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra slammed the Aam Aadmi Party leader as a "maharaj" and said even kings will bow to Kejriwal for his choice of "superior" products in the residence and his "lust for luxury and comfort". He also alleged that Kejriwal offered Rs 20 crore to Rs 50 crore to media houses to not highlight the story but news channels and newspapers ignored the offer. One of the eight new curtains purchased for the residence cost over Rs 7.94 lakhs while the cheapest was Rs 3.57 lakh, Patra told reporters. Citing documents, the BJP spokesperson said marbles worth over Rs 1.15 cr were brought from Vietnam while Rs 4 cr was spent on pre-fabricated wooden walls. This is the story of a king who is "shameless", he said, in a clear counter to Kejriwal's recent attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Delhi assembly where he mocked the top BJP leader by narrating a story of a king. It is not only about the renovation of the residence but also of the Aam Aadmi Party's ideology and its leaders' mindset, he alleged. At the presser, Patra played Kejriwal's speeches during his early days in politics in which he is heard speaking against big houses and other facilities given to politicians in power. He has a house of four-five rooms and he does not need a bigger house, Kejriwal is heard saying. Patra asked the AAP leader to address a press conference and answer all questions. Senior AAP leader Raghav Chadha, while speaking to Times Now, said the residence in question was built in 1942. The Delhi government's Public Works Department (PWD), after an audit, had recommended its renovation, he said. Congress leader Ajay Maken on Tuesday alleged that Kejriwal spent Rs 45 crore of public funds on his luxurious bungalow, including on extravagant items like Dior polish, Vietnam marble, expensive curtains, and high-end carpets. Maken said Kejriwal promised not to use a car with a red light or request additional security beyond what is necessary for a common citizen and refuse a large bungalow and instead live in an ordinary house like a common man. "Despite naming his party 'Aam Aadmi Party' (common man's party) and making these pledges, Kejriwal spent a fortune on his bungalow when the people of Delhi were desperately seeking oxygen cylinders during the Covid pandemic. "Moreover, there are more than 6 lakh households in the slums of the city. This raises questions about his right to remain in his position as a public servant and on whether he has upheld the other promises mentioned in the distributed sworn affidavit, especially considering the urgent needs of the citizens," the Congress leader tweeted. FUZULI, Azerbaijan, April 26. A contractor company was entrusted with purchasing equipment for the installation of a weather station on the territory of Azerbaijan's liberated Fuzuli, Azerbaijan's Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Vugar Kerimov said, Trend reports. He made the remark at the meeting of Azerbaijan's working group on environmental issues of the Interdepartmental Center, operating under the Coordination Headquarters established for the centralized solution of issues on liberated territories. "Of the 251.1 hectares of land allocated for green spaces near the city of Fuzuli by the State Committee of Urban Planning and Architecture, soil preparation work has been completed on 60 hectares and it is planned to carry out landscaping work next season," he said. He also said that as part of the visit of the international expert group to Azerbaijan in order to assess the environmental damage caused during the occupation, the experts inspected the destroyed natural objects and infrastructure in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, including Fuzuli. Following over a month of military action to liberate its territories from Armenian occupation from late Sept. to early Nov. 2020, Azerbaijan has pushed Armenia to sign the surrender document. A joint statement on the matter was made by the Azerbaijani president, Armenia's PM, and the president of Russia. The Congress on Wednesday termed Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks that Karnataka will be afflicted with riots if the grand old party comes to power as a "brazenly intimidatory statement", and accused him of "issuing threats" during the election campaign. IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses the public meeting ahead of Karnataka assembly elections. Photograph: ANI Photo Addressing a public meeting on Tuesday in Karnataka's Belagavi district, Shah said the development of the state will be on the "reverse gear" if the Congress forms the government. "If the Congress comes to power, dynastic politics will be at an all-time high and Karnataka will be afflicted with riots," the home minister had said. Hitting back at Shah, Congress general secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said, "This is a brazenly intimidatory statement. The Union Home Minister having allegiance to an organisation banned by India's very first Home Minister is now issuing threats during an election campaign when staring at certain defeat." In another tweet, Ramesh said that it is now clear that BJP is losing Karnataka decisively. The response of the people to the campaigns of the Congress leadership has been overwhelming, he said. "This explains Amit Shah's 4-I strategy: Insult, Inflame, Incite and Intimidate. Shame on Shah! We are raising it with the ECI," Ramesh said. The Congress had slammed Shah on Tuesday as well over his reported remarks that the upcoming Karnataka polls are not just to elect MLAs but to entrust the future of the state in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Opposition party had claimed that the comments were an "insult" to 6.5 crore Kannadigas. Voting for the Karnataka Assembly polls will take place on May 10 and the counting of votes is scheduled for May 13. A search was initiated on the premises of the Delhi Public School in Mathura Road after the school administration received bomb threat via email on Wednesday morning, officials said. IMAGE: The bomb threat was received via email . Photograph: ANI The school was evacuated and the fire department was informed about the threat around 8 am. A fire tender has been rushed to the spot, they said. The search is underway and further details are awaited. The Indian School in Delhi's Sadiq Nagar had received bomb threats twice -- in April this year and in November 2022. The most recent threat was made on April 12 via an email, following which the school was evacuated as the bomb squad and other agencies inspected the premises for any explosive substance. The mail was later declared a hoax. Before his party walked out of the National Democratic Alliance over the Centre's now repealed farm laws, Akali Dal stalwart Parkash Singh Badal used to describe the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party tie-up as nau-mass da rishta -- like nail and skin. IMAGE: SAD's Parkash Singh Badal greets Narendra Modi after he was elected as the leader of NDA and BJP in New Delhi, May 25, 2019. Senior BJP leaders LK Advani (right) and Amit Shah are also seen. Photograph: ANI on Twitter Parkash Singh Badal was admitted to the Fortis Hospital in Mohali, Punjab on April 16 after he complained of uneasiness in breathing. He died on Tuesday aged 95. It was not that differences did not crop up over other issues between the two erstwhile allies, but Parkash Singh Badal always ensured that these were amicably resolved and the ties remained intact. The Shiromani Akali Dal was part of the BJP-led NDA since 1997. The SAD and BJP stitched a pre-poll alliance for the 1997 Punjab assembly polls, which later continued for over two decades. As per the arrangement agreed to by both the erstwhile allies to fight Punjab assembly polls, SAD used to contest 94 seats while BJP on the remaining 23 in the 117-member assembly. In the Lok Sabha, BJP used to contest two seats out of 13 Parliamentary constituencies. This arrangement continued till 2019. However, on September 26, 2020, the SAD snapped the over two-decade-long ties and quit the NDA over the contentious farm bills, with party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal making the announcement after holding a core committee meeting. Sukhbir Singh Badal, the son of Parkash Singh Badal, had then said the SAD was the oldest ally of the BJP, but the central government did not listen to it in honouring the sentiments of farmers. Both the parties contested the 2022 Punjab assembly polls separately and faced humiliating defeats with the BJP winning just two seats while the SAD was reduced to just three seats. Apart from farm laws, there were other issues too that put a strain on the alliance, however, Parkash Singh Badal always ensured that things were amicably resolved. When the SAD-BJP alliance was in power from 2007 to 2012, the BJP's state unit demanded the post of deputy chief minister which was turned down by the senior ally. In January 2013, the BJP, which was part of the coalition ruling in Punjab, opposed the construction of a memorial for those killed in Operation Blue Star of 1984. The memorial was built near the marbled periphery of the Golden Temple complex. A few months later in July, the e-trip system introduced by the Akali government to bring transparency in transactions by traders and check tax evasion, become a bone of contention between the allies after the BJP said apprehensions of traders, who were alleging that it was causing unnecessary harassment, should be addressed. However, as Parkash Singh Badal had a good rapport with the top leaders of the BJP, all these issues were sorted out. Badal enjoyed good relations with several BJP leaders, including former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and BJP stalwart LK Advani. He also had a good rapport with Narendra Modi, much before he became the prime minister in 2014. In September 2013, Parkash Singh Badal had called Modi, who was then his Gujarat counterpart and chairman of BJP's election campaign committee, "the greatest leader" of the country. "Gujarat is the state which gave birth to Mahatma Gandhi, which gave us Sardar Patel and now it has given 'Sardar' Modi to our nation," Badal had said. Badal was the first ally of the BJP to come out in support of Modi as the prime ministerial candidate. He said in 2013 that Modi was the most eligible person for the post of prime minister and under his leadership, a new era of unprecedented development and prosperity will usher in Punjab. Modi, in 2015, called Badal the 'Nelson Mandela of India', saying "he has spent so many years in prison and that too for political reasons." The prime minister stated this at an event to mark Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan's 113th birth anniversary. Modi had even touched Badal's feet before going to file his nomination papers from Varanasi during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said the Maharashtra government should hold a dialogue with local villagers who are opposing a refinery project in the coastal Ratnagiri district. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: @PawarSpeaks/Twitter If the issue was not resolved even after that, an alternative site should be found, he said. Pawar spoke to reporters in Mumbai after state industries minister Uday Samant met him to discuss the issue. Residents of Barsu village in Ratnagiri district's Rajapur tehsil, more than 400 km from Mumbai, are up in arms against the project and the Shiv Sena-UBT and the Congress, the NCP's allies in the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, are supporting them. Pawar said his party did not oppose development projects in Konkan, but finding out the opinion of the locals was a must. "The government needs to find out why the locals are angry... having a dialogue with them is the only solution. If the matter is not resolved through a dialogue, an alternative site should be found,'' the former Union minister said. On the state government's contention that Uddhav Thackeray, when he was chief minister, had suggested Barsu as an alternative instead of Nanar, the original site, Pawar said he was not aware of that. ''Industries minister Uday Samant who met me assured that a dialogue will take place tomorrow. Yesterday only soil testing was being done at the site,'' he further said. NCP leaders will visit the site and talk to the locals, Pawar added. Samant, who is the guardian minister of Ratnagiri district, told reporters that the women protestors detained at the project site have been released. "The government will speak to the villagers," he added. Pawar, meanwhile, told reporters that he would be visiting Punjab on Thursday for Shiromani Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal's last rites. To another question, he said he was not aware of any proposal by Uddhav Thackeray that an NCP leader should become the chief minister if the MVA wins the next assembly elections. "If Sanjay Raut is saying this, he is a journalist.....the media knows more than we do. I am not aware,'' the NCP supremo said. About the posters describing his nephew Ajit Pawar as a future CM coming up in some places, Pawar said Ajit Pawar himself had told his supporters not to do such things. Defence ministers of China, Russia and other member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation except Pakistan will travel to India to attend a key meeting of the grouping this week. IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs the meeting of heads of departments of SCO member States, in New Delhi, April 20, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif will attend the SCO defence ministers' meeting in New Delhi on Friday through virtual mode, according to an official readout. Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu are among those who are visiting India to attend the meeting. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will chair the meeting that is expected to deliberate on regional security situation including developments in Afghanistan. "Defence Ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan will participate. India has invited Belarus and Iran,currently observers in SCO, to participate in the SCO defence ministers' meeting," the defence ministry said. "Defence Minister of Pakistan would be participating virtually. The ministers will discuss matters related to regional peace and security, counter terrorism efforts within SCO and an effective multilateralism," it said in a statement. The ministry said Singh will be holding bilateral meetings with the participating defence ministers on April 27 and 28 where bilateral defence related issues and other matters of mutual interest will be discussed. It said India has ancient civilizational, cultural and spiritual ties with the SCO member countries. "India's membership of SCO in 2017, was therefore, a reaffirmation of New Delhi's keenness to deepen these historic ties.India considers SCO as an important regional group to promote multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region," it said. The ministry said India continues to bring more ideas and initiatives to strengthen cooperation among SCO countries. "Under its Chairmanship, this year, India organised two defence related activities to enhance interoperability amongst SCO member states," it said. "The first being a workshop on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and the second was a seminar of SCO countries defence think-tanks on the issue of armed forces contributing to military medicine, healthcare and pandemics," the ministry said. "India stands committed to take forward the Agenda of SCO under its chairmanship," it added. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Over the years, it has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017. Students in Kerala are likely to be taught the portions that the National Council of Educational Research and Training had deleted from its class 11 and 12 textbooks, including those pertaining to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and the ban on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo The NCERT recently had, in the name of rationalisation of the syllabus, dropped from its class 12 history textbook certain portions on Mahatma Gandhi and how his pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity "provoked Hindu extremists". It also left out the portion where the government placed a ban on the RSS after Gandhi's assassination. The revision of textbooks by obfuscating facts has triggered a row. The State Council of Education Research and Training, an autonomous body of the general education department, is considering a decision by its curriculum steering committee to include these deleted portions in the state syllabus. The committee, which met on Tuesday, has entrusted general education minister V Sivankutty with taking a final decision on the matter after consulting with the government and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Confirming the development, Sivankutty told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram that the SCERT and the curriculum committee take decisions on the academic affairs of the general education department of the state. As per an MoU entered with the NCERT, Kerala has been using their 44 textbooks, and of them, there has been a significant change in the content of subjects including history, political science, economics, and sociology at the higher-secondary level, the minister explained. "The curriculum committee unanimously decided to include all those portions omitted from these text books in the syllabus and teach the students in the state. I have been entrusted to inform the government and the CM about the decision and take a necessary decision in this regard," he said. He said a final decision would be taken after consulting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The minister said several important portions, including the assassination of Gandhiji, the ban on RSS, Mughal history, the industrial revolution, and the history of post-independent India, including five-year plans, have been excluded from the NCERT textbooks. "Gandhiji was assassinated...but in their textbook, it was mentioned that Gandhi had died...like (they are saying) he died of a heart attack," the minister said, taking a dig at the NCERT. The minister indicated that the deleted portions would be included and taught to the students during this academic year itself. A decision was also taken to inform the Centre about the development and petition Prime Minister Narendran Modi and the Union Education Ministry about the omission of the portions from the NCERT textbooks. An SCERT source here said if a final nod was received from the government, they would bring out supplementary textbooks comprising those deleted portions for class 11 and 12, and it would be taught in state schools. Chief Minister Vijayan had strongly condemned the dropping of certain chapters and portions from NCERT Class 12 textbooks and alleged that "complete saffronisation" of academic books was the objective behind the move. Among portions deleted from the textbook are: "Gandhiji's death had a magical effect on the communal situation in the country", "Gandhi's pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity provoked Hindu extremists," and "organisations like the RSS were banned for some time". Portions referring to the Gujarat riots were also dropped from the class 11 sociology textbook, months after NCERT removed the reference to the 2002 communal violence in two class 12 textbooks. The Congress has accused the Centre of "whitewashing" and "distorting" history. NCERT Chief Dinesh Saklani said the syllabus was "rationalised" in June last year itself, and there has been no trimming of the curriculum this year. The timing of the Maharashtra Bhushan Award presentation at Navi Mumbai's Kharghar, where 14 people died due to sunstroke, was such that people gathered from different parts of the state could attend the event and return home before night, cultural affairs minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said on Wednesday. The award ceremony was held on April 16 under the scorching summer sun in an open ground in Kharghar and attended by several lakh people, most of them followers of social worker Appasaheb Dharmadhikari who was conferred with Maharashtra's top civilian honour by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The event, for which people had started gathering since morning, began around 11.30 am and went on till around 1 pm. That day, the nearest weather station to the spot of the programme recorded a maximum temperature of 38 degrees Celsius. In an interview to Marathi news channel ABP Majha, Mungantiwar said no one could gauge temperature will suddenly rise so much as to cause heatstroke among attendees, comments coming amid strong criticism of the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party government over the sunstroke-linked deaths. He said arrangements were made for 3,000 taps for attendees to drink water. The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader said 20 lakh to 25 lakh followers of Dharmadhikari attended the mega event. He said adequate arrangements were made for the programme and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the site four times to review preparations. The timing for the award event was suggested by the 76-year-old social worker himself, said Mungantiwar last week. "He (Dharmadhikari) suggested that it will be difficult for people (coming for the event) to go back during the night. They will come in the night or early morning and then leave," the state cabinet minister said on Wednesday. The India meteorological department, on a request of the Maharashtra government, had forecast that the day temperature in Kharghar could reach 34 to 35 degrees Celsius on April 16, based on data from its Santacruz observatory in suburban Mumbai, IMD officials said. However, on ground the temperature rose to 38 degrees Celsius. Navi Mumbai does not have an IMD observatory. The Sena-BJP government received a lot of flak for the fatalities, with the Opposition even demanding that a case of culpable homicide be filed against the state administration. Dharmadhikari has a massive following in the state due to his tree plantation drives, blood donation and medical camps as well as de-addiction work in tribal areas conducted under the aegis of his organisation 'Shree Sadasya'. A special NIA court has issued non-bailable warrants against 23 terrorists operating from across the border after exfiltrating from their home district of Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir, a senior police officer said on Wednesday. This was the second time that the special NIA court, Jammu, has issued non-bailable warrants against the terrorists hiding in Pakistan or Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on the request of the police since March. Earlier, non-bailable warrants were issued against 13 terrorists. Thirty-six individuals from Kishtwar went to Pakistan after joining terrorism over a period of time. Subsequently, two FIRs were registered against them to bring them to book, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kishtwar, Khalil Poswal, said. He said while a special NIA court issued non-bailable warrants against 13 of them on March 1, a fresh non-bailable warrant was issued against the rest of the 23 terrorists on Tuesday. We want to arrest all of them and are approaching Interpol so that a Red Corner notice is issued. The process has already been initiated and we are sure to arrange their presence in the court of law, the officer said. He said the fresh non-bailable warrants have been issued in a case registered at police station Chatroo under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The SSP said Chief Investigation Officer, DSP Vishal Sharma approached the Special NIA Court for issuance of the warrants against the accused for their active involvement in terror activities and creating unrest in Chenab valley and other parts of Jammu and Kashmir. They (terrorists hiding in Pakistan) mobilised sleeper cells and pushed them into J-K in connivance with secessionist and separatist leaders for waging war against the Government of India with nefarious design of seceding Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India, he said. He expressed hope that Pakistan will cooperate in the arrest and deportation of the terrorists. Pakistan is duty bound to extend their cooperation in accordance with international law. We are involving the Interpol to ensure the arrest of the absconders. If Pakistan fails to cooperate, it will get exposed, the officer said. Poswal said various revenue teams have also been formed to identify the properties of the terrorists for attachment as per the law. A batch of Indian nationals evacuated from strife-torn Sudan landed in Delhi on Wednesday, heaving a sigh of relief after returning to their homeland. IMAGE: First batch of Indians evacuated from Sudan coming out of IGI Airport, New Delhi, Apriol 26, 2023. Photograph: Courtesy S Jaishankar on Twitter India has evacuated at least 534 Indian nationals from Sudan and is looking to rescue more of its citizens from the strife-torn African nation before the end of a tenuous ceasefire between the regular army and a paramilitary force. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took to Twitter to share images of the evacuees after their arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. "India welcomes back its own. Operation Kaveri brings 360 Indian nationals to the homeland as first flight reaches New Delhi," he tweeted. At the Delhi airport's Terminal 3, as people deboarded the aircraft of Saudia -- a Saudi Arabian airline -- and slowly streamed on to the arrival lounge area, smiles could be seen on the faces of many who went through tense moments over the past few days. Many waved emphatically, displaying a visible sign of relief, while others shook hands on the skybridge as they were welcomed on their return. Several were seen carrying their luggages, accompanied by children. They also obliged a few photographers with pictures upon their safe return. Among the Indian evacuees who reached Delhi airport in the Saudia Airlines flight, 19 are from Kerala, Kerala government officials said. Under its evacuation mission 'Operation Kaveri', India is taking the evacuees to the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah from where they are returning home. India has set up a transit facility in Jeddah and Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan is overseeing the evacuation mission from the Saudi Arabian city. Meanwhile, IndiGo said it has offered services for charter flights to Jeddah under the government's 'Operation Kaveri'. "We are still awaiting details from the ministry to launch these flights, nothing has been confirmed as of yet," the airline said in a statement. Two C-130J military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force brought to Jeddah 256 Indians from Port Sudan on Wednesday, a day after an Indian Navy ship rescued 278 citizens from that country. The total number of Indians evacuated so far from Sudan stands at 534, according to official data. The first batch of 278 Indians were evacuated from Port Sudan by the Indian Navy's frontline ship INS Sumedha on Tuesday. A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the notification of the Lok Sabha Secretariat restoring the membership of Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal after the Kerala high court stayed his conviction and sentence in a criminal case. IMAGE: Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal. Photograph: Courtesy Mohammed Faizal/Twitter On March 29, the top court disposed of the NCP leader's plea against his disqualification as a Member of Parliament in the wake of the Lok Sabha Secretariat's notification restoring his membership. The plea filed by advocate Ashok Pandey asked whether the conviction of an accused can be stayed by the court of appeal and if, based on it, a Lok Sabha member's disqualification can be revoked. Seeking quashing of the notification dated March 29, Pandey through his plea contended that once a member of Parliament or a state legislature loses his or her office by operation of law in articles 102 and 191 read with Section 8 (3)of the Representation of the People Act l951, the individual will continue to be disqualified till acquitted from the charges by a higher court. The plea said, "In view of the order of the high court of Kerala staying the conviction of Mohammad Faizal, the petitioner also prays to this court to kindly decide the issue as to whether the conviction of an accused can be stayed by the court of appeal and whether on the basis of stay of conviction, a person who has suffered disqualification, will become qualified to choose as or for being a member of Parliament/state legislature." He said that Faizal lost his Lok Sabha membership when he was convicted under Section 307 of IPC in a criminal case and was awarded ten years sentence and as such the Speaker was not right in restoring his membership. "That by means of this petition being filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, the petitioner is praying to this court to kindly interpret the provisions contained in articles 102 and 191 of the Constitution read with section 8 (3) of the Representation of People Act 1951. "The necessity to file this petition arose when the Speaker of Lok Sabha relying upon an order passed by the high court of Kerala, thereby staying the order of conviction, restored the lost membership of Mohammad Faizal", it said. Faizal was disqualified from Lok Sabha from January 11, the date of his conviction by a sessions court in Kavaratti, according to a notification issued on January 13 by the Lok Sabha Secretariat. Later, on January 25, the high court suspended his conviction and sentence until disposal of the appeal before it, saying that not doing so would result in fresh elections for his vacant seat which would impose an immense financial burden on the government and the public. Meanwhile, on the ay his plea was disposed of, the top court while hearing an appeal of Union Territory against the Kerala High Court order had told Faizal that there cannot be a separate norm for a lawmaker on suspension of conviction and sentence in a criminal case. It had said, "When there is a prima facie opinion based on materials before the court that it is a case of acquittal only then suspension of conviction and sentence can be done. There cannot be a separate norm for Members of Parliament and Member of Legislative Assembly for suspension of conviction and sentences." The remarks were made by the court after senior advocate AM Singhvi, appearing for Faizal, said that what weighed in the mind of the Kerala High Court while suspending his conviction and sentence is that he is an elected representative and if his conviction and sentence are not stayed, it will lead to his disqualification and subsequently, polls need to be held. The apex court had said that it has to be done in exceptional circumstances when the conviction needs to be stayed and it cannot be a norm. On February 20, the top court issued notice to Faizal on the plea of Union Territory challenging the order of the Kerala high court. Earlier, the Union territory administration said the suspension of Faizal's conviction and sentence in an attempt to murder case by the Kerala high court will have wider ramifications. It had said that the high court had erred in suspending the conviction and sentence of Faizal. On January 30, the top court agreed to hear a plea by the Lakshadweep administration challenging the January 25 order of the high court that had suspended the conviction of Faizal. First version published at 13:06 FUZULI, Azerbaijan, April 26. During the period of the Armenian occupation, 11 trees considered natural monuments were destroyed, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Vugar Karimov said in Fuzuli, Trend reports. He made the remark during the meeting of the Azerbaijani working group on environmental issues of the Interdepartmental Center, operating under the Coordination Headquarters established for the centralized solution of issues in liberated territories. Karimov noted that during the environmental monitoring conducted after the liberation of the Fuzuli district from occupation, destruction of 5,688 trees and shrubs not related to the forest fund, 2 hectares of forests, 11 relict trees (eastern sycamore), registered in 1982 as monuments of nature was revealed in 62 administrative-territorial units. Moreover, the exploitation of three of the six local mineral deposits taken on the state balance in the 1990s was also revealed. According to the results of the assessment of mineral resources in the territories liberated from occupation, the exploitation of Guruchay (sand-gravel) deposits located in the Fuzuli district, the Dovlyatkyarly and Dilaghardi limestone deposits was revealed, fresh water wells were completely destroyed, as well as all the Kahriz systems that existed in the area. "Comprehensive studies have also been conducted to assess the geoecological and radioactive conditions on the territory of Fuzuli. In order to meet the demand for construction materials for carrying out construction work in the territories liberated from Armenian occupation, it is planned to allow the exploitation of limestone deposits of Dovletyarly, sand-gravel mixture deposits of Ashaghy Guzdak, Guruchay, located on the territory of the Fuzuli district," the minister added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Wednesday that his government's action against corruption has made some people angry but he will not turn back in this fight against graft and nepotism, however big an alliance his rivals form against him. Those angry and making noise want to "destroy" the honest system his government has created in the last nine years, Modi said in his address at a Republic TV programme, but they will not succeed in their "conspiracies" because their fight is not with him but against the common people. His remarks came amid a renewed push in the opposition ranks to join hands against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress and a host of regional parties have accused his government of using probe agencies to target their leaders and also of "weakening" democratic institutions. Modi said his government's use of technology has weeded out leakage in government schemes and other expenditures to the tunes of tens of thousands of crores of rupees, stopping the source of corruption for some people. What else will they do if not abuse him, he said. Noting that his government's use of JAM (Jan Dhan bank accounts, Aadhaar and mobile phones) axed 10 crore fake beneficiaries of various welfare schemes, the prime minister accused the previous Congress government of sending money to people who did not exist and whose number was bigger than the combined population of Delhi, Punjab and Haryana. This was a source of corruption and has been stopped now, he added. There are no half measures and isolated approach in the fight against corruption now, he said, asserting that an integrated and institutionalised mechanism is in place. "However big an alliance they make, let all corrupt people, all parivarvadi come on a dais, Modi is not going to turn back from his path. I have pledged to rid the country of corruption and nepotism and this will continue. I seek your blessings," he told the audience. His government has stopped the means for some people to make money through corruption, making them angry, Modi said. His rivals would have succeeded in destroying him if their fight was only with him but they are against the common people of this country, he added. Modi also said he risked his "political capital" during the Covid-19 outbreak when he chose the path of self-reliance for manufacturing vaccines against the virus when many supported import of jabs. He took a jibe at those who lobbied for imports and wondered under whose pressure they did so. "I risked my political capital in a big way. I did it only for the country," he said, adding that he could have emptied the treasury by opting for imports but did not choose such a path. Citing the second and third order impacts of his government's welfare schemes such as direct benefit transfer (DBT), housing, Mudra, and power and water connections, he said they gave a sense of security and dignity to the poor for the first time. They were earlier seen as a burden on the country's growth but are now accelerating its progress, he said. "Poor people now believe they will get their rightful share, it is social justice in true sense," the prime minister said. Modi said the New India's story of transformation was both timeless and futuristic. It took India 60 years to become a USD 1 trillion economy and it reached 2 trillion by 2014 but it has reached USD 3.5 trillion in the nine years of his government, he said. "Mudra scheme was started to give financial support to micro and small entrepreneurs. Under this scheme, more than 40 crore loans were disbursed and of the recipients, 70 per cent were women," he said. More than 3.75 crore houses have been built for the poor while the health insurance scheme of 'Ayushman' has saved over Rs 80,000 crore of the poor, he said. His government also made bigger allocation for the rural employment guarantee scheme MGNREGA, boosted transparency and used it to create permanent assets in villages, he added. "In the last nine years, the poor, deprived, middle class, every section of society can see the obvious change in their lives. Today, we are working with a systemic approach and on a mission mode," Modi said. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut admitted on Wednesday that Uddhav Thackeray, as the chief minister of Maharashtra, had suggested an alternative site at Barsu in coastal Ratnagiri district for a refinery project, but if locals oppose it then his party will back them. IMAGE: Local women of Barsu village stage a protest against the petrochemical refinery project in the area, at Rajapur taluka in Ratnagiri district, April 25, 2023. Photograph: PTI Photo Talking to reporters, Raut hit back at Industries minister Uday Samant and said instead of flaunting the letter written by Thackeray to Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting Barsu as an alternative site, he should visit the site and talk to protesters. Samant on Tuesday alleged misunderstandings were being deliberately created about the project for political mileage and slammed the politics of double standards, an apparent jibe at Uddhav Thackeray and his MLA-son Aaditya Thackeray, who handled the environment portfolio in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government (November 2019 to June 2022). Nanar (site) was opposed by locals and then he (Thackeray) suggested that Barsu could be an alternative place. It is scrubland and that is right. But if locals oppose it, then Shiv Sena (UBT) will not back the project. This is our political stand, Raut said. As chief minister, he (Thackeray) suggested an alternative land. At that time there must have been no opposition (in Barsu). But now people are opposing this. If they (locals) are of the opinion that they will die but won't give their land, then the letter (by Thackeray to Modi) counts no value to us. Why did the big-ticket projects go out of Maharashtra, Raut asked Samant. On Tuesday, the Ratnagiri police arrested 111 people, most of them women, during a protest against the proposed petroleum refinery, an official said. More than 100 women were among the protesters who tried to block a road in Barsu and Solgaon areas of the district, around 400 km from Mumbai, by lying on the ground to stop government vehicles from entering the proposed site of the refinery. The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Tuesday also decided to launch an agitation against the proposed oil refinery at Barsu amid the protests. Local residents fear the mega project will adversely affect the fragile biodiversity of the coastal Konkan region and also hit their livelihood. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT has decided to launch an agitation against a proposed petroleum refinery at Barsu village in Maharashtra's coastal Ratnagiri district amid protests against the project by local residents. A decision to this effect was taken on Tuesday at a meeting of Shiv Sena-UBT MPs called by party president Thackeray in Mumbai. The meeting was called to take a stand on the multi-billion project and decide the future course of action. The decision was taken on a day when the Ratnagiri police arrested 111 people, most of them women, during a protest against the proposed refinery, an official said. More than 100 women were among the protesters who tried to block a road in Barsu and Solgaon areas of the district, around 400km from Mumbai, by lying on the ground to stop government vehicles from entering the proposed site of the refinery, he said. Local residents fear the mega project will adversely affect the fragile biodiversity of the coastal Konkan region and also hit their livelihood. Earlier in the day, the Shiv Sena-UBT came out in support of the local residents. The party's Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Raut, demanded an immediate end to atrocities against the protesters and asserted his party will not sit quietly on the issue and back the people. Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Raut alleged the protesters were being pressured by Industries Minister Uday Samant with the help of police. This is a government with a perverse mentality. They want a Jallianwala Bagh-like massacre. We are with people and the Shiv Sena-UBT will not sit quiet, Raut said. He said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde thinks he is a messiah of the poor, but has left on a three-day leave in a helicopter, a reference to the CM going to his hometown in Satara district. Shinde should instead take the helicopter to Barsu and meet the protesters there, said the Rajya Sabha member. Shiv Sena-UBT leader and former minister Aaditya Thackeray said, The government should stop atrocities on people and also the soil survey at the site. The former state environment minister said the government should start a dialogue with the agitating local residents. The previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government had put some conditions before giving a nod to the project which included taking the locals into confidence and explaining the details of the venture and its benefits, Thackeray said. A 19-year-old youth was arrested after he allegedly issued a 'death threat' to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from a number belonging to his girlfriend's father, police said on Tuesday. IMAGE: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addresses a rally. Photograph: ANI Photo Ameen had allegedly issued a death threat to Adityanath by calling on the police's 112 emergency number. He was arrested from Begumpurva and the mobile phone used to make the call seized, said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ankita Sharma said. Ameen hatched the conspiracy after being frustrated by the father of his girlfriend who was not happy with their relationship, she said. The police contacted the woman's father, an e-rickshaw driver, who claimed that his mobile phone had been stolen about 10 days ago, said Assistant Commissioner of Police (Babupurva) Santosh Kumar Singh. Ameen's neighbours also said during questioning that he hatched the conspiracy to trap the man as he wanted to marry his daughter, Singh added. After Ameen was taken into custody and interrogated, he confessed to his crime, Sharma said. He admitted to stealing the mobile phone of his girlfriend's father about 10 days ago and using his SIM card to make the threat call, she added. Three criminal cases have been registered against Ameen, who will be produced before the court on Wednesday, the police said. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High around 55F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 41F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. As Europe is trying to find ways to ward off the energy crisis, Azerbaijan yet again came to the aid of the countries of the region. The Memorandum of Understanding for encouraging cooperation among Bulgartransgaz (Bulgaria), Transgaz (Romania), FGSZ (Hungary), Eustream (Slovakia), and the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), which was signed yesterday in Bulgarias Sofia, is another step for strengthening energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU countries. The essence of this document, prepared within the framework of the Solidarity Ring (STRING) initiative, proposed by Bulgaria and supported by the European Commission, lies in securing stable natural gas supply to the EU and Central and South-Eastern Europe. Under this initiative, additional gas will be delivered via upgraded gas transport networks of Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia. Azerbaijan plays a particularly crucial role in the implementation of the STRING initiative. Following the MoU signing ceremony, SOCAR's new office in Sofia has been launched. Moreover, the license for SOCAR Trading to engage in natural gas trading in Europe, has also been approved already. As President Ilham Aliyev noted, addressing the signing ceremony, today, Azerbaijani gas is exported to Georgia, Turkiye, Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, and, starting this year, to Romania. Moreover, Azerbaijani gas is expected to reach Hungary and Slovakia by 2023-end, if all the necessary infrastructure is in place. If in 2021, Azerbaijans gas supplies to Europe stood at 8 bcm, in 2022, the supplies already reached 11 bcm. This year, the country targets to boost its gas exports to the region to 12 bcm. In total, the supply of Azerbaijani gas on the world market is expected to stand at 24.5 bcm in 2023. And the fact, that almost half of this volume accounts for Europe, speaks for itself. We are in the process of negotiations with Albania to build a local gas distribution system, because the Southern Gas Corridor crosses Albanias territory. As a member of the Solidarity Ring, I'm sure, Slovakia will soon become our partner in energy as well. We will increase the geography of our gas supplies from 6 to at least 10 countries. I say at least, because I think this is not the end of the story. We plan to expand furthermore our presence on the European gas market. I'd like to underline the special role of President of Bulgaria Mr. Radev in the initiative to create this solid team of partners. The Solidarity Ring, I'm sure, will play an important role in the implementation of our joint ambitious plans, President Ilham Aliyev added. A number of distinguished guests have participated in the event in Sofia, and not a single one of them has refrained from words of gratitude and support to Azerbaijan in its initiatives. President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, pointed out, addressing the event, that Azerbaijan is a strategic partner not only of Bulgaria, but also of the entire EU. I can say that today's success is largely due to reliable and long-term strategic cooperation between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan. This cooperation has developed very successfully in the last year and is now at a new level.President Aliyev has proved that Azerbaijan is a reliable trade partner. There is nothing to add to the fact that Bulgaria has been reliably supplied by Azerbaijan for more than a year, he said. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjarto, in his turn, noted that supply of Azerbaijani gas is currently the most effective solution to the energy crisis in Europe. Romanian Energy Minister Virgil-Daniel Popescu, speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony in Sofia, stressed that Azerbaijan continues to maintain its role as a key energy supplier in the region. European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson, making the remark at the ceremony, also noted that theEuropean Commission will continue to work with Azerbaijan because the country proved that it is a reliable partner. What Azerbaijan is doing right now for Europe has proved to be the most effective way to mitigate the mounting energy crisis in the region. And the number of those who agree with this fact, and those seeking cooperation with Azerbaijan, has only been growing. Having signed and adopted agreements or declarations on strategic partnership with nine EU member states, Azerbaijan has secured relations with one third of all the EU countries already. And now, thanks to the great efforts Azerbaijan has put in developing and modernizing critical gas infrastructure under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Europe can reap the rewards, and the staggering energy crisis does not seem so insoluble anymore. The farsighted energy policy of President Ilham Aliyev, which has basically kicked off back in 2020, when the Southern Gas Corridor project was launched, today, proves itself as if not the only, but the one most successful and rightest way to help Europe in these difficult times. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High around 55F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 41F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High near 55F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 41F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. Avangrid confirmed Wednesday it plans to restart construction of its planned New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line in Maine to tap hydropower in Canada after a jury verdict that the Orange-based company could proceed despite a 2021 voter referendum to block the project. It is a major win for renewable energy advocates in New England, with the lines designed to carry half as much more power than Avangrid's Park City Wind farm that will be staged out of Bridgeport. Avangrid attorneys argued successfully that it had already poured substantial funds into the project when the referendum was held, saddling Avangrid with an unfair financial burden. Speaking Wednesday morning on a conference call, Avangrid executives said the verdict could still be appealed but that they were communicating with contractors and dam operator Hydro-Quebec about a timeline to recommence construction. Maine voters had been swayed by arguments that the project would cause environmental harm by clearing trees to erect towers for the transmission lines running 150 miles through Maine wilderness, including mountain terrain and a stretch of the Kennebec River valley. Avangrid and its allies noted the company is using an existing line corridor for more than half of the route and maintained that the benefits to New England's emissions targets outweighed the downsides of removing additional trees to extend and widen the corridor and the impact of 95-foot-tall towers spoiling scenic vistas going forward. "We think it's the best project to build for New England in order to help Massachusetts, Maine and all of New England meet its clean energy future," said Catherine Stempien, CEO of Avangrid Networks, speaking Wednesday morning on a conference call. "We're excited to restart construction." A Canadian official told the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources last year that Quebec's electricity costs are 30 percent less than other G7 nations and that they have been immune to the price spikes New England has seen as natural gas markets have been disrupted during Russia's military campaign in Ukraine. Through its Avangrid Renewables subsidiary based in Oregon, Avangrid is one of the nation's largest developers of renewable power generation spanning wind and solar. The company is readying to drive the first monopile foundation this spring for Vineyard Wind off the Massachusetts coast, which will be the first utility-scale offshore wind farm in the United States. Construction of Park City Wind will follow next year to supply renewable power for Connecticut. In Connecticut, Avangrid subsidiaries include United Illuminating, Connecticut Natural Gas and Connecticut Southern Gas. The company is spearheading the New England Clean Energy Connect through its Central Maine Power transmission subsidiary. While Massachusetts homeowners and businesses will purchase electricity from the Maine transmission lines it will be sufficient for the energy needs of a million homes the project will provide another major source of renewable power in the territory of ISO New England, the nonprofit that coordinates the supply of electricity in Connecticut. Gov. Ned Lamont's administration is backing a separate project to build a hydropower transmission line between Quebec and Vermont to benefit the New England grid. Includes prior reporting by Brian Lockhart, Luther Turmelle and the Associated Press. FUZULI. Azerbaijan, April 26. A meeting of the working group on environmental issues under the Interdepartmental Center of the Coordination Headquarters, created to centrally resolve issues related to Azerbaijan's lands liberated from Armenian occupation, was held in the city of Fuzuli, Trend reports. The meeting was attended by representatives of the relevant state structures represented in the working group, and the special representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Gubadli, Jabrayil and Zangilan regions, which are part of the East Zangezur economic region, the special representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in territories liberated from occupation that are part of the Karabakh economic region (with the exception of the Shusha region), the Department of the State Reserve of the city of Shusha, the Reconstruction, Construction and Management Service in the Karabakh economic region, the Restoration, Construction and Management Service No. 1 in the East Zangezur economic region. The head of the working group, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Vugar Karimov reported on the work done, including the assessment of groundwater and surface water sources, development of a database and an electronic map of water resources, as well as other activities carried out by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan. In accordance with the soil and climatic conditions of the liberated territories, the ministry planted 121,420 tree seedlings on an area of about 160 hectares, sown 3,000 kg of seeds of oak and oriental plane tree, 11 automatic hydrological stations were set up on 10 rivers in order to assess surface waters. During the environmental monitoring carried out after the liberation of the Fuzuli region, the damage done during the occupation was revealed. In particular: 5,688 trees and shrubs that do not belong to the forest fund, 2 hectares of forests, 11 relict trees (eastern plane tree), registered in 1982 as natural monuments were destroyed, while the illegal exploitation of six local deposits of mineral raw materials was noted. Based on the results of the assessment of mineral resources, the illegal exploitation of the Guruchay sand and gravel deposit located in Fuzuli, the Dovletyarly and Dilagardy limestone deposits was revealed, and it was also revealed that wells with fresh water were completely destroyed. In order to assess the geo-ecological and radioactive conditions of the territory of the Fuzuli region, complex geological studies were carried out. It was also noted that the contracting company was entrusted with the purchase of instruments and equipment for the installation of a meteorological station in the Fuzuli region. Soil preparation work has been completed on 60 hectares of a land plot with an area of 251.1 hectares allocated by the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture for laying green spaces near the city of Fuzuli, and landscaping work is planned for the next sowing season. It was noted that within the framework of the visit of an international expert group to Azerbaijan in order to assess the environmental damage caused during the period of occupation, the experts conducted an inspection in connection with the destroyed natural objects and destroyed infrastructure in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, including Fuzuli. In order to restore the ecosystem in the liberated territories, including forests, laying new green spaces, along with measures to restore infrastructure in specially protected natural areas, projects are being implemented to reintroduce fauna species. For this purpose, on October 19-20, 2022, 33 gazelles were released into the Jabrayil region, and monitoring is currently underway in this regard. Also, during 2022, 417,500 fish were released into the Basitchay, Khakarichay, Kendelenchay and Bargushad rivers flowing through the territory of Zangilan, Gubadli and Fuzuli regions, and 440,000 fish (white carp, silver carp) were released into the Sugovushan and Khachinchay reservoirs. The Ministry provides for the continuous implementation of projects for the reintroduction and enhancement of aquatic biological resources. In addition, information was provided on de-mining activities, measures to prevent fires, work carried out in the field of creating tourism infrastructure, as well as monitoring and inspection of mineral reserves and groundwater in Fuzuli, information on the work done on the repair and restoration of the Kondelenchay reservoir. HARWINTON State police say they have charged a Stratford man with trespassing at a fire that destroyed a Wildcat Hill Road home and injured a first responder Tuesday morning. Firefighters were called to a house fire in the 100 block of Wildcat Hill Road around 8 a.m. Tuesday, Harwinton volunteer fire officials said in a Facebook post. Several pets were rescued from the home and were not harmed, officials said. One responding firefighter suffered an ankle injury and was transported by ambulance to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, officials said. State police said troopers were also called to the scene that morning. While at the scene, authorities determined 25-year-old Ronald Nelson "trespassed and interfered with troopers while they were conducting the investigation," state police said. He was arrested and charged with two counts of interfering with an officer and one count second-degree criminal trespass. Nelson was held on $10,000 bond and taken to New Haven Correctional Center. He was scheduled to appear Wednesday in state Superior Court in Torrington. The house was heavily damaged in the blaze and left uninhabitable, according to fire officials. Five displaced residents a family consisting of two adults and three children are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross, the nonprofit organization reported. "The cause of the fire has not yet been determined," state police said in the news release for Nelson's arrest. The agency said the Harwinton Fire Marshal's Office is investigating with the help of the Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit. AP ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistani police raided Wednesday a suspected hideout of hostage-takers in the country's south, triggering a firefight that killed six officers, officials said. Earlier in the day, a military operation against militants in northwestern Pakistan killed two soldiers. The raid in southern Sindh province was part of an ongoing operation against criminal gangs there and in eastern Punjab province, police said. Security forces backed by troops have arrested dozens of suspects in recent weeks. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. Actor Ajith Kumar, who is currently on a bike trip, was recently spotted at a restaurant in Nepal. A video of the actor from a restauran is going viral on social media. In the viral clip, the Thunivu actor can be seen wearing a chef's long hat and apron. Ajith Kumar was seen cooking in the kitchen of a restaurant. As he prepared a meal, the staff members encircled him and watched him cook in his chef attire. He was also seen helping a chef in the kitchen. The actor opted for a white T-shirt teamed with trousers. The Vedalam actor also posed with the restaurant staff. Check the video below: In another clip, Ajith Kumar was spotted enjoying his meal at a local eatery. He was seen sporting a blue and grey biker jacket for his Nepal trip. The video was shared on Twitter with the caption, "Recent Ajith Kumar sir video at Nepal ride" followed by several emojis. Check the video below: Thala enna alaga sapuraru Anga parunga da en thalaivana Recent Ajith Kumar sir video at Nepal ride #RIDEformutualrespect #AjithKumar #Ak62 #Thala More exclusive video only on Ajithkumar_samrajyam follow now pic.twitter.com/LiLGPIpyD7 Ajithkumar_Samrajyam (@Ak_Samrajyam) April 25, 2023 More on Ajith Kumar's bike trip Ajith Kumar has been travelling to places on his bike and recently he took a trip to Nepal. He has travelled through Leh, Ladakh, Kargil, Jammu, Manali, Srinagar, Haridwar and Rishikesh, among other places. The Valimai actor even travelled to Bangkok to complete the shoot of his film Thunivu. It was his third consecutive collaboration with producer Boney Kapoor and director H Vinoth. Ajith Kumar celebrating his anniversary with wife Shalini Ajith Kumar tied the knot with Shalini back in 2000 and this year they completed 23 years of their marriage. They have two children named Aadvik and Anoushka. The couple first met during the filming of Amarkalam and instantly fell in love. On the occasion of their anniversary, Shalini even shared a candid monochrome picture on her social media handles. Separatist rebels in Indonesias restive Papua region released a video Wednesday appearing to show the New Zealand pilot they took hostage in February saying that recent Indonesian military attacks threatened his safety. In the video sent to media by the spokesperson of the West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, known as OPM, a man in handcuffs and a black shirt is identified as Philip Mark Mehrtens of Christchurch, a pilot for Indonesian aviation company Susi Air who was abducted by the groups independence fighters. Sitting on a wooden log and flanked by two men, apparently members of the group, he said in the video recorded Monday: It's almost three months since OPM kidnapped me from Paro. As you can see, Im still alive and Im healthy and eating well. He said he has had no problems while living with his abductors, but lately he has been worried about military attacks launched by the Indonesian army following a deadly ambush by the rebels on April 15 that killed at least five Indonesian soldiers who were deployed to rescue him. Indonesia has been dropping bombs in the area over the last week, he said. Please, there is no need. Its dangerous for me and everybody here. The five Indonesian army troops were killed after rebels attacked 36 soldiers in Nduga district in Papua Highlands province. Rebel spokesperson Sebby Sambom said last week that his groups fighters killed at least 15 soldiers but offered no proof to back up the statement. Sambom said earlier the rebels carried out the attack in retaliation for Indonesias massive military operation in Papua and the killings of two rebels in a shootout with security forces last month. Adm. Yudo Margono rejected the rebel claims and said the military operations in Papua were launched with a view to keep casualties at a minimum. However, he said that authorities will increase pressure on the rebels around several separatist strongholds, including in Nduga. The rebels in February stormed a single-engine plane shortly after it landed on a small runway in Paro and abducted Mehrtens, the pilot. The plane initially was scheduled to pick up 15 construction workers from other Indonesian islands after the rebels threatened to kill them. Authorities will continue to prioritize a peaceful approach for the release of Mehrtens, Margono said. The kidnapping of the pilot was the second that independence fighters have committed since 1996, when the rebels abducted 26 members of a World Wildlife Fund research mission in Mapenduma. Two Indonesians in that group were killed by their abductors, but the remaining hostages were eventually freed within five months. The pilot kidnapping reflects the deteriorating security situation in Indonesias easternmost region of Papua, a former Dutch colony in the western part of New Guinea that is ethnically and culturally distinct from much of Indonesia. Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969, after a U.N.-sponsored ballot that was widely seen as a sham. Since then, a low-level insurgency has simmered in the region, which was divided into five provinces last year to boost development in Indonesias poorest region. Rebels attacks have spiked in recent years, as the government extended infrastructure and the controversial Trans-Papua Highway, a road being built into the heart of highland Papua that has inflamed resistance. Many indigenous Papuans believe the moves are a threat to their identity and traditional way of life, prompting attacks by separatist groups that have been followed by further Indonesian military deployments. Data collected by Amnesty International Indonesia showed at least 179 civilians, 35 Indonesian troops and nine police along with 23 independence fighters were killed in clashes between rebels and security forces between 2018 and 2022. Candlelight Party is having a hard time finding candidates because they fear being assaulted. Supporters of the Candlelight Party shout slogans from a vehicle ahead of the commune elections in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 3, 2022. Several opposition Cambodian political parties have not registered to participate in Julys general election and will wait until the last minute to take action because intimidation, threats and attacks have made it dangerous to do so, domestic civil society groups said. Seven parties, including Prime Minister Hun Sens Cambodian Peoples Party, or CCP, already have registered and submitted their candidate lists for the July 23 election to elect members to the National Assembly, which is currently dominated by the CCP. Political parties can submit candidate lists to the National Election Committee from April 24 to May 8. The main opposition Candlelight Party is having difficulty recruiting candidates because of intimidation and physical assaults against its activists. Some supporters are afraid of publicly campaigning for candidates. "Activists, especially those in Phnom Penh, were physically attacked, said Candlelight Party spokesman Kim Sour Phirith. They are being threatened emotionally. It is not good for our country that one party is discriminating against its opponent. He said the party is reviewing candidates and will try to register them with the NEC before the May 8 deadline. Other parties also are experiencing difficulties recruiting and registering candidates due to political discrimination, said Sam Kuntheamy, executive director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for free and fair Elections in Cambodia, an organization that monitors elections. Attacks on activists have tarnished Cambodias election environment, he said. I dont want to see any violence against political activists because at this stage, the parties are preparing to participate in the election, said Sam Kuntheamy. Political violence should be avoided. Recent attacks Over the weekend, four assailants on motorbikes assaulted a Candlelight Party activist as he was traveling to the capital of Phnom Penh, striking him several times with a metal baton. Another party activist said her car was intentionally rammed by an unknown assailant. Six other opposition party members have reported attacks in the past months. Hang Puthea, spokesman for the NEC, which oversees voting in the country, told Radio Free Asia that the body is reviewing the applications submitted by the seven political parties and will notify them of their status after May 8. The NEC has created an app for all parties to register their candidates to avoid duplication and to prevent fraud, he said. So far, more than 40 political parties have been officially recognized by the countrys Ministry of Interior, which regulates the formation of parties. Translated by Samean Yun for RFA Khmer. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. A total of 4.2 billion barrels of oil have been produced at the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) block of fields since the signing of the Contract of the Century, bps Vice President for the Caspian region, Communications and External Affairs Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli said, Trend reports. Aslanbayli made the remark at the international scientific conference themed "Architect of Independent Azerbaijan", dedicated to the 100th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev. According to him, within the framework of this contract, the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) raised funds in the amount of $167 billion. "Indicators of production and attracted profits are of great importance for the growth and development of the economy, social and other spheres of Azerbaijan. Today eight platforms equipped with advanced technologies are operating in the Caspian Sea, he noted. The ninth platform will be completed in June this year, added the vice president. ACGs participating interests are: bp (30.37 percent), SOCAR (25 percent), MOL (9.57 percent), INPEX (9.31 percent), Equinor (7.27 percent), ExxonMobil (6.79 percent), TPAO (5.73 percent), ITOCHU (3.65 percent), and ONGC Videsh Limited (2.31 percent). Shangguan Yunkai is taken away hooded and in handcuffs after exposing wrongdoing by hundreds of local officials. Authorities in the central Chinese province of Hubei have detained an investigative journalist known for exposing official corruption on charges of "selling counterfeit medicines." Shangguan Yunkai was taken away by local police, hooded and handcuffed, from a teahouse in Hubei's Ezhou city, and is currently under criminal detention after police found a skin cream imported from Taiwan in his possession, his son Shangguan Keke told Radio Free Asia on Wednesday. "This ointment is made in Taiwan, and is available on a number of e-commerce platforms in China, and ... isn't a medicine in the true sense it's more of a wellbeing product that is ... only for external use," Shangguan Keke said. "All he did was put up an advertisement so people could contact him [to buy it]," he said. Shangguan Keke said his father was detained following an apparent sting operation. "On April 13 and 14, people from two addresses near the Ezhou municipal police department contacted my dad and said they wanted to buy the ointment," he said. "When they had done so, my dad was arrested." Shangguan Yunkai is currently being held at a police-run detention center, where officers are refusing to allow a lawyer hired by his family to meet with him. "The reception staff at the detention center told me that there was a note on the detention center system saying that Shangguan Yunkai wasn't to be allowed to meet with any lawyers," Shangguan Keke said. "After we filed a complaint with the local state prosecutor, both our family and our lawyer received various kinds of threats," he said. He said he was contacted and warned "not to kick up a big fuss" around the case, and warned that he would be held responsible for "online words and deeds." Reporter who investigated graft 57-year-old Shangguan Yunkai, a former journalist at state-run paper the Rule of Law Daily, was detained after writing books, blog posts and social media posts taking aim at official corruption. Some of his investigations had led to investigations and the punishment of hundreds of local officials and members of criminal organizations. Undated photo of lawyer Li Qingliang. Credit: Provided by Li Qingliang Lawyer Li Qinglilang, who has been following the case, said his detention was likely a form of political retaliation for his reporting. "He's an investigative reporter, and his work has prompted the downfall of hundreds of corrupt officials," Li said. "Selling [ointment and ointment-infused] plasters is very common in China," he said. "I am guessing that his detention is due to selective and retaliatory law enforcement." "They use a formula that entails strict laws, widespread violation and selective enforcement," he said, adding that the "counterfeit medicines" charge is a way of avoiding a more political charge like "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," and defusing public reaction to Shangguan's case. The charges carry similar maximum sentences of up to three years' imprisonment. In February 2022, Shangguan wrote an article revealing that Wang Bokun, who had been promoted to deputy director of the Huanggang Municipal People's Congress, had transferred benefits to his private household during his tenure as Luotian County Communist Party Secretary, prompting Wang's dismissal. He also exposed violations of party discipline and law by Zhang Jingping, Huanggang People's Court judge and executive deputy mayor of Ezhou's Huangzhou district. Shangguan Yunkai also ran a number of WeChat groups collecting clues and evidence against officials in smaller, prefecture-level cities in the region. His detention came as official figures showed that more than 770,000 complaints of corruption were received by the Chinese Communist Party's disciplinary arm in the first quarter of 2023, with 111,000 leading to punishments for officials, including nine at the provincial and ministerial level in the space of just 21 days. Jiangsu-based current affairs commentator Zhang Jianping said anti-corruption operations, spearheaded by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, have been ongoing since supreme party leader Xi Jinping took power in 2012. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Taiwan says Beijing is trying to exert long-arm jurisdiction on the democratic island. China on Wednesday confirmed it is holding a Taiwan-based publisher under investigation for "activities that endangered state security," several days after he disappeared during a visit to Shanghai. Eight Banners Press founder Li Yanhe, known by his pen name Fucha, is currently under investigation by state security police. Radio Free Asia reported his detention last week, citing Bei Ling, a key figure in the Chinese literary scene. "[He] is suspected of engaging in activities that endangered national security," Zhu Fenlian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's cabinet, the State Council, told a regular news briefing in Beijing. "The relevant parties will protect his legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law," she said. In Taipei, the head of the government agency in charge of handling relations with China said the Chinese Communist Party is trying to exert "long-arm jurisdiction" in democratic Taiwan, which has never been ruled by Beijing. "China is trying to impose its long-arm jurisdiction here in Taiwan, which is a clear attempt at intimidation, and at the suppression of Taiwan," Mainland Affairs Council chief Chiu Tai-san told lawmakers on Wednesday, according to the island's Central News Agency. Publisher of critical works A Taiwanese publisher who published many books banned in China, Li is believed detained in Shanghai, according to Bei Ling, sparking comparisons with the cross-border detentions and kidnappings of five Hong Kong booksellers in 2015. Li had come to mainland China to visit relatives and tend to the graves of his ancestors, a reference to the grave-sweeping festival of Qing Ming on April 5. His disappearance has sparked comparisons with the cross-border detention and kidnapping of five Hong Kong publishers from the Causeway Bay Bookstore in 2015, including Lam Wing-kei, who later sought refuge in Taiwan from an ongoing crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong. Li, who is ethnically Manchu, founded the Eight Banners imprint under Taiwan's Book Republic publishing group in 2009, using it to publish non-fiction works on China's overseas infiltration and influence operations, the 1989 Tiananmen massacre, and other work critical of Beijing. Li was born in the northeastern Chinese province of Liaoning and joined the Chinese Communist Party after graduating from university, before rising to become vice president of the Shanghai Literature & Art Publishing House. He married a Taiwanese woman in 1996, and settled in Taiwan in 2009. His last Facebook post was made on March 12. Party leaders detention Chiu also hit out at the ongoing prosecution of Taiwan National Party Vice Chairman Yang Chih-yuan, who was detained in August 2022 under China's national security law as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. Yang was arrested by state security police in the southeastern city of Wenzhou and accused of having founded the pro-independence Taiwan National Party, with the aim of "promoting Taiwan to join the United Nations as a sovereign and independent country." He was placed in "residential surveillance at a designated location" from Aug. 4, 2022, in the eastern province of Zhejiang, meaning that he was held with no access to a lawyer or to family visits for six months. Lee Ming-cheh, a Taiwanese community college manager who served a five-year jail term in China for "subversion" linked to his activism in the island's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, said that while some of his activism had connections to China, Yang's activities had all been carried out in Taiwan. He said Yang's arrest and prosecution should sound a warning to any politically active Taiwanese, and not just regarding travel to China, Hong Kong or Macau. Secret police operations The warnings over Chinas long-arm law enforcement came a day after Taiwans national security chief said Beijing could be running secret police operations on the island. [They] could be surveilling Chinese nationals or their spouses in Taiwan, through connected individuals or organizations, National Security Bureau director Tsai Ming-yen told the islands Legislative Yuan. They do exist we are currently investigating, Tsai told lawmakers in comments reported by the Taiwan News. Asked if Li was lured or pressured into returning to China one of the key tasks of dozens of overseas secret police stations, according to the Spain-based rights group Safeguard Defenders Tsai declined to comment, but said Li had been detained for publishing books in Taiwan containing politically sensitive topics frowned on by Beijing. Beijing has shut down a number of the offices in the wake of a September 2022 report from the Spain-based Safeguard Defenders group listing dozens of such operations, which sparked investigations and orders to shut down from governments around the world. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. An already fraught transition process has been made harder by new restrictions on online drug sales in China. For transgender women in China, transitioning can feel like a mythical quest, a fresh obstacle arising just after one has been cleared. Treatments are expensive, difficult to obtain and can require years of fighting unwilling doctors, red tape and familial disapproval. In recent months, a difficult process has become even harder, according to Chinese trans women who spoke to RFA. In December, the Chinese government banned on onlines sale of cyproterone acetate, a widely used antiandrogen drug, and estradiol, a widely used estrogen drug. The drugs are used in hormone therapies for a range of issues like prostate cancer and menopause. Both are needed for people who were born male to transition to female. The government says the restriction was part of a process to add new safeguards to Chinas relatively free-wheeling online drug market. But the ban is creating another problem for trans Chinese women: Many cant find access to medicine through legitimate channels at all, driving them deeper into a black market where they are vulnerable to being scammed. The situation has compounded a mental health crisis already gripping the community, leading to a rise in the number of suicides, trans women, known colloquially as medicine girls, told RFA. As one of them, Mel, put it: "There's no way to survive. We can't survive. People are dying every day. Already difficult It took Mel three years from the moment she walked through the doors of the hospital to obtain a certificate of diagnosis to begin the transition process to actually acquire it at 23. Without the approval of her immediate family, she had to travel overseas to have gender-confirming surgery. Mel, like other trans activists quoted in this story, requested to be identified by a pseudonym to protect herself from abuse and potential questioning by the Chinese police. Being a transgender woman in China poses challenges in almost every aspect of life, she said from discrimination in school and work, to the hardship of the physiological transition itself. Treatments are expensive, and the process is costly in other ways. After Mel changed the gender on her ID card, the money for her social security, medical insurance and housing provident fund were removed. She needed to borrow money in order to make up for the loss. But Mels hardships are less stark than those faced by other Chinese transgender women, she said most are not even able to complete the transition process and have to rely on smuggled medications purchased online. But since December, the [new drug] policy directly blocked the way, leaving no way out, Mel said. Sales ban Some transgender activists who spoke to RFA said they believe the new restrictions, which were imposed by the National Medical Products Administration, specifically target transgender people, while others speculated that they may be related to China's efforts to reverse its population decline by encouraging childbirth. Five other drugs that were banned alongside cyproterone acetate and estradiol are either contraceptives or abortion pills. A ban on online sales of hormone therapy drugs has led to pleas for help from transgender women in China. This January tweet refers to an antiandrogen produced by Bayer. Credit: RFA screenshot from social media Chinese authorities have not explained their reasoning behind the changes in any detail, as often happens with policy shifts in the country. In the documents accompanying the ban, the NMPA stated that the listed drugs are "high-risk" and are prohibited in order to "ensure the public to take drugs safely." In 2021, Chinese media reported on a mother who discovered that her 15-year-old son was secretly purchasing and injecting hormone drugs to attempt gender transition, believing that he had been "lured by bad people" from the "medicine girl" online chat room. Local police set up a special investigation team after the mother reported her son. Regardless of the intent, the trans community has been deeply affected by the tighter controls on online sales. Trans activists told RFA they have observed an increase in suicides since the bans implementation, and pleas for help have emerged in online chat rooms and social media posts where transgender women find support. "There has been a marked increase in cases [of suicide], far more than in previous years during the same time period," said Hanlianyi, a trans activist who provides shelter and other forms of assistance to transgender women in China. Greater acceptance, but hardships remain In some ways, China has become a more accepting place for transgender people. There is a greater awareness of the issues they face, and even sympathetic stories from the countrys controlled media outlets. There is no official data from the government on the number of transgender people in China. In a 2014 article published in The Lancet medical journal, five Chinese surgeons estimated that there were approximately 400,000 transgender men and women in the country and suggested that less than 800 patients have been treated in the past 30 years. In 2018, doctors at Peking University Third Hospital opened a transgender treatment clinic, followed in 2021 by Children's Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai. But trans people say they still face widespread discrimination, as trans people do in other countries, including the United States. In China, students with gender dysphoria can be suspended for being non-gender conforming, and trans adults have a hard time finding work. Trans people say they are routinely subjected to police and online surveillance due in part to the governments suspicion of minority groups. Nearly 93% of the respondents to the National Transgender Health Survey Report, released by the advocacy group, Beijing LGBT+, in 2021, said they had attempted to obtain a diagnosis related to gender dysphoria in China reported varying degrees of difficulty. Researchers found a higher rate of suicide attempts, anxiety and depression levels, and psychological stress in the transgender community versus the general population. Among the survey respondents, 71.7% were found to be at risk of depression. The mental health issues registered in the survey have been made worse, trans women told RFA, by the online drug sale ban. Please help Trans women find support through platforms including QQ and on Twitter and Telegram, which are banned in China but still accessible with a VPN. RFA learned of the crisis sparked by the online drug sales ban through social media accounts and online pleas for help. Emergency!!! I know someone from the (transgender) community who has been off Androcur for 5 days and can't find candy, a Jan. 23 Twitter post from a transgender woman said. It's very urgent ... please help. Androcur, an antiandrogen medicine produced by Bayer, is illegal to import but is sometimes smuggled into the country. The nickname candy refers to androgen blockers and estrogen pills in general. (RFA is not disclosing the account handle as these accounts can be subject to reprisals, such as being scrutinized by police surveillance.) The ban on online sales is thought by some to have been a response to concerns transgender youths were self-medicating without a doctors supervision. But since December, when the new restriction was implemented, some trans women have used their own bodies to experiment with homemade versions of the drugs, and, as seen in this photo, published their recipes on the internet. Credit: RFA screenshot from social media People with prescriptions theoretically can still purchase their medicine in pharmacies, but trans women say they often face resistance when doing so. Some pharmacists refuse to fill prescriptions for female hormone drugs which are used in a variety of endocrine treatments if the purchasers ID card refers to them as male, sources said. Many trans people also prefer the privacy of online purchases where there is less risk of having to endure humiliating encounters with pharmacists or other customers. Dubious drug merchants With little alternative, transgender women in China are turning to questionable online sellers that claim to have smuggled drugs from overseas, despite the ban. Mika, a transgender woman who has undergone gender reassignment surgery but still relies on estrogen, said online dealers charge around 300-400 yuan ($43-57) per box for Androcur, which can last for a little over a month. But as the demand rises, more scammers are disguising themselves as drug merchants to con people out of money, only to send fake pills or nothing at all. The consequences for trans women can be deadly. One of Hanlianyis friends took her own life after paying about 1,200 yuan ($172) for drugs that were never delivered, she said. "Being cheated is often the last straw that breaks the camel's back," she said. The trans women RFA spoke with said various strategies are passed around online in response to the drug ban, including taking veterinary hormone pills that are easier to acquire or trying to purchase the raw materials and fashion a facsimile of the medicine themselves. In October Hilda, a transgender woman, started to use her own body as a lab to make a gel containing estradiol. "I have achieved self-sufficiency and can also help some people," she told RFA. Hilda said she knew about 10 other transgender women who began to make their own drugs between November and February. Extreme responses The obstacles trangender women face have led some to take action even more extreme, including self-castration, according to the women who spoke to RFA, news reports and social media posts. Felicity, a transgender activist who grew up in China but now lives overseas, said before the recent online sales ban a woman live-streamed the process in a group chat, prompting a frantic online effort to send help to stem the bleeding. Chinese media have also reported some transgender women in the country have operated on themselves or others. Trans women in China say finding estradiol, a widely used estrogen drug, is much harder since the ban. Some are turning to versions of the hormone used on animals that are easier to acquire. Credit: RFA screenshot from social media In one case, a transgender woman helped another with surgery after having successfully removed her own testicles; in another, an individual was sentenced for illegally practicing medicine without proper qualifications. "If a time comes when candy becomes completely unavailable, going abroad is not an option, and black market surgery in China is out of reach, I will provide a guide on self-castration, a Feb. 11 tweet from a transgender woman said. So, fret not, there is always a solution, right?" In an Apr. 20 tweet, the woman said she had performed the self-castration and included a photograph of her on a bloody bed with surgical instruments nearby. But she added that she had almost died during the procedure and warned transgender women not to follow suit. Activists Felicity and Hanlianyi told RFA that they fear the online sales ban will lead to more incidents of self-castration. We cant survive Previously, Mel said she has turned down interview requests from foreign journalists because she believed the Chinese government would address the problems. Now, shes begun to speak out. She and her friends recently created a webpage to raise awareness of the consequences of the online sales ban, which is now in its fifth month. It includes references to instances of transgender women being targeted by police and a running tally of people whom Mel says have taken their own lives since the start of the year. The last count, posted on the page a month ago, was 91. President Joe Biden and South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol stand as their two country's national anthems are played during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, April 26, 2023. U.S. President Joe Biden warned North Korea on Wednesday that any nuclear attack on the United States or its allies would result in an end to the isolated regime while promising closer cooperation with South Korea on deterring the nuclear threat. Look, a nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies or partisans or partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime [takes] such an action," Biden said during a press conference following a summit with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who arrived in Washington on Monday for a six-day official state visit. During their meeting, the two leaders recognized the importance of the South Korea.-U.S. Alliance, now in its 70th year, which Biden called a linchpin of security in the Indo-Pacific region, and an alliance of values based on [Seoul and Washingtons] shared universal values of freedom and democracy. Our mutual defense treaty is ironclad, and that includes our commitment to extended deterrence, and and that includes the nuclear threat and the nuclear deterrent, Biden said. Yoon and Biden also signed the Washington Declaration, which acknowledged Seoul and Washingtons close relationship and commitment to strengthen mutual defense agreements. The declaration said that Seoul had full confidence in U.S. deterrence commitments, and that Washington would make every effort to consult with South Korea on any employment of nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula. Through the declaration, the two sides also formed a new Nuclear Consultative Group, or NCG, which will strengthen extended deterrence, discuss nuclear and strategic planning, and manage the threat to the nonproliferation regime posed by North Korea. The two presidents also restated that they are open to dialogue with North Korea without preconditions in order to achieve the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula does not happen automatically, said Yoon, through an interpreter, at the press conference. Our two leaders have decided to significantly strengthen extended deterrence of our two countries against North Koreas nuclear and missile threats so that we can achieve peace through the superiority of overwhelming forces and not a false peace based on the goodwill of the other side. Enhances credibility The NCG is an important contribution to strengthening the alliance, Gary Samore, the former White House Coordinator for Arms Control and Weapons of Mass Destruction, told RFAs Korean Service. By greater consultation and simulation and exercises to deal with the North Korea nuclear threat it shows that Seoul and Washington are not ignoring the changes that are taking place and recognize they have to do something to respond to it. he said. It enhances credibility, I think the most important element of credibility is the presence of US military forces. U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol watch as members of the U.S. military parade during an official White House State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S. April 26, 2023. Credit: Reuters Because the NCG gives South Korea more input on nuclear deterrence, it is a nuclear power sharing agreement short of sharing the weapons themselves, said Patrick Cronin, Asia-Pacific security chair at the Hudson Institute. At least Seoul will have a much better window into the U.S. thinking about potential responses to aggression. Deterrence is already strong but even the Kim regime will have to be a bit more cautious about even thinking about the use of force, he said. The NCG obliges Washington to consider Seouls views in nuclear decision making on multiple levels, said Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution. It may be even more key for alliance reassurance than for deterrence of North Korea and it reinforces the idea or truth that the two allies are co-equals, he said. Trade matters Biden and Yoon also discussed trade issues during their talks, including what Biden characterized as economic influence being leveraged in coercive ways. To that end, the two sides agreed to strengthen technological cooperation. So, that is about really strengthening the competitiveness of our two countries. And it will enhance productivity and create added value high added value, said Yoon. These are the types of products that are going to be produced. U.S. President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee, visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, April 25, 2023. Credit: AFP Biden said Washington supports a prosperous South Korea. Its overwhelmingly in our interests for Korea to do well [economically], said Biden. Its very much in Americas interest that Korea do well because they are one of our most valued partners. Yoon will attend a state dinner at the White House on Wednesday, and will address a joint session of Congress on Thursday. Additional reporting by Sangmin Lee. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Illegal gold mining has increased ten-fold in Myanmars Kachin state since the military seized power in a coup more than two years ago, a new report and sources said, amid a decrease in federal oversight in the region. Illegal mining of gold, as well as jade and rare earth minerals, is rampant in Kachin state, where successive governments have failed to regulate the industry for generations. However, the number of unsanctioned operations has ballooned since the militarys Feb. 1, 2021, takeover amid conflict between junta troops and armed resistance forces in the region. The number of gold mining rigs on the Ayarwaddy River in Kachins Myitkyina township jumped to more than 1,000 in 2021 and more than 800 in 2022 from just over 70 in 2020, according to a report released Sunday by the Kachin State Accountability Resource Governance group, or K-SAG, which began monitoring the use of resources in the state prior to the coup. There werent many, but some arrests and inspections took place [mainly] in Puta-O township before the coup, K-SAGs head of research, who gave her name as Alice, told RFA Burmese. However, in the 26 months since, authorities have yet to carry out an inspection or make an arrest in connection with illegal mining in Kachin, allowing the problem to proliferate in the region, she said. Now that illegal gold mining has increased more than 10 times, the situation is very bad here, Alice said. The businesspeople who started illegal mining in 2021 as a test to the legal system under the new military regime are now digging freely and greedily. The situation got worse in 2022 and we are sympathetic to the voices of the local residents. Without measures in place to combat the problem, it will only become worse in 2023, she said. Surge in resource exploitation The report, which was published based on surveys and interviews with 330 residents from nine townships in Kachin between June and November last year, found that the exploitation of natural resources including rare earth minerals, amber, gold and timber had increased overall in the state since the coup. Areas of Hpakant [township] were already damaged [by mining] even before the military coup, but since then, all remaining areas have also been damaged, the report said. Both private and large-scale mines were operating there before the coup, but in accordance with government guidelines. These days, they operate without following any regulations or guidelines, which is the reason for the destruction. Despite the overall increase in resource exploitation in Kachin, gold mining had seen the largest increase since the takeover, K-SAG said, noting that such operations are approved and taxed by the Kachin Independence Army, the military regime, and local anti-junta paramilitary groups depending on which faction controls the territory. According to K-SAG, entrepreneurs setting up a one-acre gold mining operation can expect to pay fees of 5 million kyats (U.S.$2,380) each to the KIA and local paramilitary groups and 4 million kyats (U.S.$1,900) to the junta each season, in addition to fees for machinery. By comparison, entrepreneurs who acquire a 100-square-foot plot for mining jade in the Kachin township of Hpakant must pay 150-200 million kyats (U.S.$71,400-95,200) to the KIA and 200-300 million kyats (U.S.$95,200-142,800) to the junta, the report said. According to the Kachin State Mining Department, authorities collected more than 500 million kyats (U.S.$238,000) in taxes in 2020. However, while the number of mining operations in Kachin has skyrocketed, authorities collected only 238 million kyats (U.S.$113,300) in 2021 and 325 million kyats (U.S.$154,700) in 2022, the report noted. Loose regulations Win Ye Tun, the juntas social affairs minister and spokesman for Kachin state, confirmed to RFA that no official mining rights had been granted since the military takeover. The government has not officially permitted any mining rights for natural resources such as jade and raw earth minerals, he said. But he rejected K-SAGs claim that the junta had failed to police the industry in Kachin. Since the number of illegal mining operations has increased, the government is continuously making arrests and taking legal action [against violators], he said. Residents and environmental activists told RFA that mining companies pay bribes to both the junta and the rebel Kachin Independence Organization to look the other way as they operate illegally. Kuday village in Hpakant township, Myanmar, surrounded by gold mining operations, is seen in this undated photo. Credit: K-SAG Col. Naw Bu, the information officer for the KIOs armed wing, the Kachin Independence Army, also took issue with K-SAGs findings, telling RFA that resource mining in Kachin state is being done in accordance with regulations set by the Kachin Independence Organization political group. They prohibit mining in populated areas, on civilian farms and at historical sites, he said. The KIC [Kachin Independence Council] has laid down guidelines. Local administrations have to decide whether or not to issue mining permits in accordance with those guidelines. Chinese entrepreneurs K-SAGs report also found that the gold mining industry in Kachin state, which borders southwestern Chinas Yunnan province, has become increasingly driven by Chinese entrepreneurs since the coup. It said some 19% of gold mining in the region is now controlled by Chinese interests. A resident of Chipwi township, one of five townships in Kachin along with Shwegu, Myitkyina, Wingmaw and Tanai with the highest concentration of Chinese-led mining operations, told RFA that gold mining is virtually unchecked in the region. The mines are digging in the areas too close to the town along the May Kha River something that had never been done before, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. The number of illegal mining operations has exploded since the military coup. The resident said that entrepreneurs and experts at the gold mines in the area are Chinese nationals, adding that rare earth mining had also increased in Chipwi since the takeover. According to statistics released by Chinas Customs Department in January 2023, the value of rare earth minerals exported from Myanmar to China increased to more than U.S.$800 million in 2021 from only U.S.$387 million a year earlier, before decreasing to more than U.S.$600 million in 2022. K-SAG researcher Alice told RFA that resource exploitation in Kachin is in urgent need of regulation by whichever party is receiving money to approve it, in order to halt environmental degradation in the region. The [junta] and all other stakeholders are responsible, in my opinion, she said. People here wish to protect the environment but they are not in the position to do so and even the areas that had previously benefited from regulation are now at risk. Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. Japans defense ministry says the Shandong is near Taiwan again after sailing close to US territory. A J-15 Chinese fighter jet prepares to take off from the Shandong aircraft carrier during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan Island by the PLA Eastern Theater Command, April 9, 2023. Chinas aircraft carrier the Shandong left the Western Pacific and returned to its usual operational area, the South China Sea, the Japanese Ministry of Defense has said. Ten days before this, the Chinese carrier was operating just less than 400 miles from the U.S.s Guam island. The Japan Joint Staff said in a statement that the Shandong carrier group of seven vessels was spotted on Monday evening about 360 kilometers (224 miles) south of Yonaguni Island in Okinawa Prefecture. Yonaguni is Japans southernmost island, only 110 kilometers (68 miles) from Taiwan. The group was then sailing towards the South China Sea, the statement said, adding that at the same time, a carrier-based fighter J-15 jet and a Z-18J helicopter were seen practicing landings and take-offs. Taiwans Ministry of Defense also confirmed that the Shandong and its accompanying ships were passing through waters southeast of the island into the South China Sea. Aircraft carrier the Shandong spotted southeast of Taiwan on April 24, 2023. Credit: Taiwan Ministry of National Defense The group consists of the aircraft carrier, one Type 055 large destroyer, two Type 052D destroyers, two Type 054A frigates, and a Type 901 comprehensive replenishment ship. The Japanese defense ministry said it has been tracking the Shandongs movements since April 7 when the Chinese carrier began conducting exercises in the Western Pacific. During a period of 18 days until April 25, carrier-borne aircraft performed about 620 sorties. To compare, another Chinese aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, hosted about 320 sorties in 15 days last time it was operating in the same area. Joint Sword Over the weekend, the Chinese military also sent four H-6K/J bombers from the East China Sea through the Miyako Strait to the West Pacific to conduct joint exercise with the Shandong carrier group. Before that, the Shandong, Chinas second aircraft carrier, took part in combat patrols and the Joint Sword military drills in the waters east of Taiwan from April 7-12. The drills were held by the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wens transits in the United States and her meeting on April 5 with the U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. Tsais trip and the meeting angered Beijing which threatened resolute measures against what it called separatist efforts by the Taiwanese leader and her party. The Chinese newspaper Global Times reported that the Shandong carrier group conducted intensive drills near the U.S. island territory of Guam on April 13-16, reaching about 600 kilometers (372 miles) to 700 kilometers (434 miles) to the west of Guam. The Global Times said Guam, a militarized island, is considered by the U.S. a key node in the second island chain. China refers to the chain of main archipelagos surrounding the East Asian continental mainland, as well as Japan and Taiwan, as the first island chain; while the second island chain includes Guam and other U.S. island territories in the Marianas in the Western Pacific. The Guam-based Pacific Daily News last week quoted a U.S. Navy spokesperson as saying that the Navy is aware of and monitoring the situation, and is in continuous communication with the authorities. Lt. Cmdr. Katie Koenig from the Joint Region Marianas was quoted as saying that the military here remains keenly postured to defend United States equities and interests in this region from any adversary that may threaten national and international norms and rules-based order. The Chinese newspaper China Daily reported on Friday that the Liaoning, has also recently carried out multiple exercises in the Western Pacific. That led to the assumption that the two Chinese carriers -- Liaoning and Shandong -- were operating together in the Pacific. Edited by Mike Firn. They call for better health services and access to an asylum process. The death of a Uyghur detainee held in a refugee detention center in Thailand has intensified calls from human rights organizations for Thai authorities to provide better living conditions and health services for Uyghur inmates and to allow them to apply for asylum. Mettohti Metqurban, 40, a Uyghur refugee from Chinas Xinjiang region, died in the Bangkok facility last week due to suspected liver failure the fifth Uyghur to perish in a Thai immigration detention center since 2018, and the second one to die this year. In February, Abdul'eziz Abdulla died reportedly of pneumonia at the same refugee facility after nearly nine years in detention in Thailand. Rights organizations have demanded that the Thai government resettle the other nearly 50 Uyghur refugees held at the Suan Phlu Immigration Detention Center in Bangkok in a refugee-hospitable country while they improve conditions at the detention center. Chalida Tajaroensuk, director of the Peoples Empowerment Foundation in Thailand, a human rights organization, said the living and health conditions of Uyghur refugees in the countrys detention centers should be cause for concern because many fall ill there but are refused medical treatment. Metqurban died as soon as the hospital discharged him, though the details of his death and illness remain unknown, though authorities are aware of them, she told Radio Free Asia on Tuesday. Because local Muslim organizations demanded [that they be allowed] to send physicians to treat the sick and examine their health status, the detention center did not permit them [to do so], she said. Conditions scary and inhumane The status of Uyghur refugee issue is a delicate issue in Thailand, overseen by the nations State Security Committee, Tajaroensuk said. They treat the Uyghur issue as a top secret and high-level sensitive issue, by controlling information on detainees and deciding who can visit them, she said. Therefore, we cannot know what is happening inside the detention centers. RFA contacted the Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C, for information on Metqurbans death, but did not receive a response. People believed to be Uyghurs sit inside a temporary shelter after they were detained near the Thailand-Malaysia border in Hat Yai, southern Thailand's Songkla province, March 14, 2014. Credit: Reuters Maya Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch, called on Thai authorities to comply with international law, release detained Uyghur refugees, and create conditions so they can easily apply for political asylum. Unfortunately, they are now in crowded detention centers, she said. The conditions there are scary and inhumane. Therefore, there must be a way for them to apply for political asylum. Thailand, like many other countries in Southeast Asia, has not ratified the U.N.s refugee convention. Uyghurs, considered a special group, are managed by national security agencies, and are prevented from registering for the refugee status determination process. Pleaded for medical treatment Metqurban had been reportedly suffering from severe stomach pains and vomiting over the last few weeks, and his condition worsened with symptoms of jaundice, the World Uyghur Congress, or WUC, and the Uyghur Human Rights Project, or UHRP, said in a statement issued Wednesday. He was transferred to the hospital on April 21 and is believed to have died there, though Thai authorities have not yet publicly confirmed his death, the organizations said. Metqurban had pleaded with police at the detention center for medical treatment, but they ignored his request and gave him some sleeping pills and headache alleviation pills instead, said Elijan, a former inmate at the detention facility who now lives in Turkey and had kept in touch with Metqurban. How many more deaths will take place before Thai authorities act with humanity to release these innocent people who are merely seeking safe haven? Omer Kanat, UHRPs executive director, said in a statement. Uyghurs around the world are filled with anguish that these refugees have been left in misery for nine years and the world has not lifted a finger to rescue them. Metqurban was among the 350 Uyghurs who fled from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in 2011, fearing Chinese persecution of the mostly Muslim minority, and were arrested and detained by Thai authorities, according to WUC and UHRP. They were locked up in the refugee detention center, where Metqurban had been held since March 2014. In 2015, the authorities transferred some 170 Uyghurs, including Metqurbans wife and three children, to Turkey, while more than 100 other men and women were deported to China, drawing condemnation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the two organizations said. Human rights groups have issued previous calls for Thai authorities to take action on Uyghur refugees, with more than 50 Uyghur organizations in 2022 calling for an end to the prolonged detention of Uyghurs in Thailand. Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Matt Reed. Welcome back to the China In Eurasia briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter tracking Chinas resurgent influence from Eastern Europe to Central Asia. To subscribe, click here. Im RFE/RL correspondent Reid Standish and heres what Im following right now. Beijing, Moscow, And Leaked Documents Along with my colleagues at Systema, RFE/RL's Russian investigative unit, we obtained never before reported documents and recordings from closed-door meetings in 2017 and 2019 between Chinese and Russian officials where they share methods and tactics for monitoring dissent and controlling the Internet. Finding Perspective: China and Russias growing ties are no secret, but the documents provide a unique window into the practical level of cooperation under way between China and Russia when it comes to monitoring and restricting their respective Internets. Among some of the key findings, Russian officials are seen asking for advice and practical know-how from their Chinese counterparts on a range of topics, including disrupting circumvention tools like VPNs and Tor, cracking encrypted Internet traffic, and seeking tips from China's experience in regulating messaging platforms. LISTEN: Beijing and Moscows deepening ties are no secret, but what do recently leaked Pentagon documents tell us about where their burgeoning military partnership is headed? Dennis Wilder, former Asia adviser to U.S. President George W. Bush, joins host Reid Standish. In another instance, in July 2017, Aleksandr Zharov, who served as the head of Roskomnadzor until 2020, asks a Chinese delegation to help arrange a visit for Russian specialists to China, where they could study the operations of the Golden Shield Project -- the all-encompassing Internet censorship and surveillance system that helps make up what is colloquially known as Chinas Great Firewall. In turn, Chinese officials sought Russian expertise on regulating media and dealing with popular dissent, including monitoring protests led by opposition figure Aleksei Navalny. In another 2019 exchange, officials from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) also made requests to Roskomnadzor to block a variety of China-related links to news articles and interviews that they had deemed to be of a dangerous nature and harmful to the public interest. Why It Matters: Beijing and Moscow have been deepening their ties for the past decade and controlling the flow of information online has been a focal point of that cooperation since Chinese leader Xi Jinpings first trip to Russia as leader in 2013. The documents shed new light on a pivotal time inside Russia and point to how Russia has sought to emulate China in exerting control over its people in the social media age. For years, the Russian government has been putting in place new measures to smother freedom of speech online, but many have stumbled in practice. But in 2019, those efforts reached a zenith when a controversial sovereign Internet law went into force that allowed Moscow to tighten control over the countrys Internet by routing web traffic through state-controlled infrastructure and creating a national system of domain names. While many of Russia's measures are still a far cry from those inside China, they have continued to be more technologically advanced and restrictive, a process that has accelerated since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Expert Corner: Who Speaks For Europe? Readers asked: French President Emmanuel Macron got into hot water over his comments about Taiwan. Weve also recently seen various other -- sometimes contradictory -- comments coming from European Union and European officials. Why does this seem to happen when it comes to China? To find out more, I asked Rikard Jozwiak, RFE/RLs Europe editor: It happens because there really isnt a coherent policy toward China. It is sometimes a rival, notably when it comes to geopolitics, and sometimes a partner in areas such as climate change mitigation. And then, of course, there is economic dependence on Beijing that leads to some EU member states not wanting to be too harsh on China. EU foreign policy is made up via the lowest common denominator as all the 27 EU capitals need to green-light any move. For China, this means that you have a mishmash of interests, ideas, and fears that makes outsiders unsure about what Europes China policy really is. I also think that the EU has failed to formulate a coherent Taiwan policy and this adds to the mixed messages coming out from Europe. Macron said that Europe should not get caught up in a conflict over the island, but have he and fellow European leaders drawn up any plans on what Brussels will do if China were to attack? Its still unclear what Europes red lines would be and how it would react. Do you have a question about Chinas growing footprint in Eurasia? Send it to me at StandishR@rferl.org or reply directly to this e-mail and Ill get it answered by leading experts and policymakers. Three More Stories From Eurasia 1. The Pentagon Leaks China approved the provision of lethal aid to Russia for its war in Ukraine but wanted any shipments to remain a secret, according to leaked U.S. government documents. What You Need To Know: The recently leaked trove of classified Pentagon documents that contain assessments and reports from Americas intelligence agencies shows that Beijing had approved the incremental provision of weapons to Moscow, which it would disguise as civilian items. That comes from a February 23 top-secret intelligence summary that The Washington Post reported was gathered by U.S. agents eavesdropping on discussions by Russias secret service. The Russians said Chinas central military commission wanted the shipments to remain secret. Among other revelations, a separate file in the trove of leaked documents said Beijing would consider a significant Ukrainian strike with American or NATO weapons on Russian territory as an escalation of the conflict that would merit sending arms to Russia. The timing is notable. A public U.S.-led campaign over a potential Chinese arms transfer accelerated in late February, and shortly after that document circulated within the U.S. government NBC News reported that the U.S. information about the plan to obtain lethal aid from China was gleaned from Russian officials. Whats less clear is if the transfers are taking place or if the public pressure on China has worked. Reports based on trade data show private sales of small-scale weapons from China to Russia, and senior Ukrainian officials have said their forces are finding a growing number of components from China in Russian weapons on the battlefield. Whether Chinese covert efforts are under way or not, defense cooperation between China and Russia is set to grow. A large portion of the Chinese delegation for Xis Moscow summit in March were defense officials, and Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu was in Russia on April 16 to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. 2. Lula's 'Peace Club' Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wrapped up a state visit to China, where he sought to position himself as a peace broker in the ongoing war in Ukraine while attempting to elevate Brazil's global status and boost economic ties with Beijing. The Details: As I reported here, a key piece of Lula's outreach is courting political backing for his proposal that Brazil and other developing countries, including China, form a peace club to broker a deal to end the war in Ukraine. Analysts, however, remain skeptical about the chances of Lula's peace proposal, which is unlikely to gain support from Kyiv and its backers given China's close ties with Russia and past comments from the Brazilian leader that Ukraine should cede Crimea -- which was forcibly annexed by Moscow in 2014 -- as a means to reach a deal. Beyond the diplomacy push from Lula, the visit allowed him to shore up Brazils economic and political ties with China, as he left Beijing with a slew of new agreements. But as Carlos Solar, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told me, Lula is still hedging his bets, having already made a trip to Washington to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden and made moves to position Brazil to be a regional power in Latin America. [Lula] needs this frenzy of deals in China and talks with Xi in part to show his public that he's still an influential guy around the world, Solar said. But when you look more closely, you can see that he is putting his eggs in different baskets. 3. Frustrated By The Taliban, Interested In Afghanistan Frustrated by the Talibans reluctance to take action against an array of militants, including a strengthening Islamic State group, Afghanistan's neighbors have resolved to come up with a joint strategy to counter security threats emanating from the country. What It Means: Top diplomats from Russia, China, Iran, and Pakistan attended an April 13 conference that focused on ensuring regional security in light of the situation in Afghanistan. Russia and China are among the few countries that have kept their diplomatic missions in Kabul since the Taliban retook power, but lingering frustrations with the group as a partner have been boiling up. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it was ready to work more closely with Afghanistans neighbors and the international community, and Beijing also expressed hope that the Taliban would continue working actively to meet Afghans' interests and the international communitys expectations for an open and inclusive political structure. China has a growing interest in the countrys resources -- having secured rights for mining and oil and gas exploration -- but security concerns have kept those projects mostly on paper for the time being. Still, the cash-strapped Taliban is hoping that it can draw in more Chinese interest, recently floating progress on a potential $10 billion investment from the China Petroleum Economics and Information Research Center (CPEIC) in Afghanistans lithium deposits. Few details beyond a Taliban press release were offered, but even if something is inked, realizing the project -- and others with China -- is still a distant prospect due to the countrys tough security situation. Across The Supercontinent A New Case In Pakistan: A Chinese man has been arrested in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province after an angry mob accused him of blasphemy and tried to enter a camp near the construction site of the Dasu Dam, the biggest hydropower project in Pakistan, which involves both Chinese and Pakistani workers. Police filed a blasphemy charge against the Chinese man, RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal reported. Internal Review: Hikvisions human rights investigator admits the company's Chinese police contracts in Xinjiang explicitly target Uyghurs as a group. The Chinese surveillance giant has repeatedly denied reports that the company is complicit in human rights abuses targeting Uyghurs, but documents obtained by technology trade publication IPVM show otherwise. Brussels To Beijing: The EU lodged a protest with China after police detained veteran rights lawyer Yu Wensheng and his activist wife, Xu Yan, ahead of an April 13 meeting with its diplomats in China, Radio Free Asia reports. Macron In China: Looking to catch up on Macrons trip to China earlier this month? Listen to the last episode of Talking China In Eurasia, where guest Rikard Jozwiak explained why the French president thinks he can split China and Russia and where he fits among Europes large groups of actors looking to engage and pressure Beijing. One Thing To Watch Chinas economic growth is exceeding expectations. GDP grew 4.5 percent year on year in the first quarter. Strong growth in exports and infrastructure investment, as well as a rebound in retail consumption and property prices, are said to be driving the recovery. That momentum looks set to continue, but economists have warned that consumption and the property sector might struggle to maintain strong growth, while exports could be threatened by weaker demand in developed economies. Thats all from me for now. Dont forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have. Until next time, Reid Standish If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every other Wednesday. ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- Actions carried out by Kyrgyz and Tajik forces during a four-day conflict along the Central Asian countries contested border that left more than 100 civilians and soldiers dead in September included serious violations of the laws of war by both sides, Human Rights Watch said. The report, released on May 2, is the first by a major rights watchdog since the most lethal incident yet in a conflict that has its roots in border disagreements originating from when both countries were part of the Soviet Union. HRW said many of the actions by the countries likely amount to war crimes, in what was at the time the second large-scale conflict between the two neighbors in 18 months. Incidents highlighted in the report included attacks on civilian vehicles and ambulances, the indiscriminate use of explosives, extrajudicial killings by military forces, and arson attacks on homes and civilian infrastructure. In a series of recommendations, the group called on both governments to hold perpetrators to account for serious violations of international humanitarian law and train their armed forces personnel on the application of international humanitarian law in conflict situations. The group also said that any agreement reached in ongoing border demarcation talks should acknowledge the rights of local populations to education, adequate housing, and water in the fertile but densely populated and water-stressed region. HRWs 89-page report drew on 86 interviews, including 69 with eyewitnesses, victims, or relatives of victims; 10 days of onsite investigations in October and November 2022; a review of medical records and other documents; an analysis of satellite imagery; the verification of 12 videos showing attacks and their aftermath; and 3D modeling to analyze the impact of a laser-guided bomb attack and attacks on medical vehicles. The focus of the report was the conflicts impact on civilians rather than military personnel. HRW documented 37 civilian deaths, five of them children, and injuries to 36 others on both sides. But considering media reports and official victim lists, the full number could reach 51 civilians killed and 121 injured, HRW said, not including casualties among military personnel. WATCH: There are burned-out shops, destroyed homes, and many stories of death and destruction on both sides of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border following clashes between the two countries that have claimed around 100 lives. (Published on September 19, 2022) Well over 100,000 people were displaced in Kyrgyzstan during the conflict. Tajikistan has not released a figure for the number of people displaced in the conflict. Prior to April 2021, when dozens died in brutal clashes, conflicts tended not to spread or to result in full-scale military mobilizations along the frontier. The report does not draw a conclusion as to who started the September conflict. Speaking at the UN General Assembly just days after the conflict, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said that Tajikistan attacked Kyrgyzstan. The Tajik Foreign Ministry accused Kyrgyzstan of "an attack on the territory of Tajikistan along the entire line of the border with Kyrgyzstan." In an interview with RFE/RL ahead of the reports release, HRWs Senior Crisis and Conflict Researcher Jean-Baptiste Gallopin said that international humanitarian law applies equally to all parties of a conflict. Whether an army is attacking or defending, it has the same duty not to violate the laws of war, Gallopin said. "That means in particular the principle of distinction between military and civilian targets and the principle of proportionality in the use of force." HRW said that the third day of the conflict -- September 16 -- was particularly packed with violations. At around 5 p.m. that day, the evidence indicated that Kyrgyz forces used a Bayraktar TB-2 drone to deliver a laser-guided bomb near Tajik forces minutes after they arrived in the central square in Ovchi Kalacha, a Tajik town on the border, HRW wrote. The explosive hit at a time when local civilians were gathering next to a mosque after a funeral, killing 10 and wounding 13 others, HRW said, describing the strike as a disproportionate and apparently indiscriminate attack. WATCH: Fresh clashes erupted at the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on September 16, with both sides accusing each other of using heavy weaponry in fighting that has killed at least three people and wounded dozens over three days. (Published on September 16, 2022) On the same day, Tajik soldiers repeatedly fired on cars carrying Kyrgyz civilians fleeing the fighting, the report stated. One Kyrgyz woman interviewed said that her family crawled out of their car to avoid being killed in it if it exploded after Tajik soldiers shot at them, injuring her husband and son. The family lay still for some time, but Tajik soldiers opened fire again when they moved, she said. The report also said Kyrgyz combatants likely fired at ambulances, which enjoy special protection under humanitarian law. One attack on two "clearly marked" ambulances and a private car carrying civilians on a bridge near the Tajik village of Chorbog in Tajikistan left 10 people dead, including four children and two medical workers. HRW used 3D modeling to reconstruct the attack and judged that the fire had come from the Kyrgyz village of Dostuk, some 110 meters away. The group noted that to intentionally direct attacks against [the ambulances] when they are clearly marked is recognized as a war crime in an international armed conflict, under the statute of the International Criminal Court. HRWs report documented that Tajik forces occupied Kyrgyz villages during the conflict, leaving several virtually destroyed. On September 16, Tajik forces overran Kyrgyz forces and, accompanied by Tajik-speaking people in civilian clothes, entered Kyrgyz villages on the border. During this brief occupation, Tajik forces killed at least six civilian men, including three while they were apparently fleeing, and two in apparent extrajudicial executions, HRW said. The brief seizure saw wide-scale looting by Tajiks in plainclothes under the watch of Tajik forces, with hundreds of homes as well as kindergartens, schools, medical facilities, and administrative buildings burned in an apparent attempt to clear the area of its population, the group added. Human Rights Watch issued a separate recommendation to Tajikistan to investigate these events. Almost half of the 970-kilometer Kyrgyz-Tajik border has yet to be demarcated, and Kyrgyz President Japarov said on April 17 that progress on border demarcation had slowed, and blamed Tajikistans commitment to a map from 1924 as the reason for the lack of progress. In the past year, I said that we will finish everything by May, because the parties were agreed and work was moving quickly. Unfortunately, nothing has been completed yet, he said. Tajikistan has not commented on the progress of the talks. HRWs Gallopin said that Tajiks and Kyrgyz living at the border were weary and hungry for peace after having their lives turned upside down by conflicts in successive years. Our interviews with people on both sides of the border showed that local populations are tired of these terrifying conflicts and are really yearning for peace, Gallopin told RFE/RL. Members of Belarus's opposition in exile, including leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, gathered in central Vilnius on April 26 for an annual commemoration of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in 1986. This time, they voiced their protest against Russian plans to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus. In solidarity, they unfurled a giant flag of Ukraine -- the country where the worlds worst nuclear disaster took place and which has been fighting a Russian military invasion since February 24, 2022. Welcome back to The Farda Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that tracks the key issues in Iran and explains why they matter. To subscribe, click here. I'm RFE/RL correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari. Here's what I've been following during the past week and what I'm watching for in the days ahead. The Big Issue Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ruled out holding a referendum on key national issues, a demand made by antiestablishment protesters, activists, and opposition figures. "Where in the world is this done? Is it possible to hold a referendum for various issues of the country?" Khamenei, who has the final say on all important matters of the state, said during a meeting with students on April 18. According to Iran's constitution, a referendum can be held on "extremely important economic, political, social, and cultural matters." A vote can only be called with the approval of two-thirds of parliament. Why It Matters: Khamenei's rejection of a referendum appears to be in response to a call by former President Hassan Rohani, a relative moderate, who recently suggested that holding a popular vote on domestic, economic, and foreign policy matters could resolve the unrest in the country. Iran was gripped by months of antiestablishment protests that erupted in September, the biggest challenge to the Islamic republic in decades. Many protesters demanded greater social and political freedom and the end of clerical rule. In recent months, some opposition figures and civil society groups have called for a referendum on protesters' demands. They include opposition figure Mir Hossein Musavi and Iran's top Sunni cleric, Molavi Abdolhamid. Others have called for the drafting of a new constitution that could pave the way for a new political system. What's Next: Khamenei's dismissal of a referendum, although not surprising, has been criticized by some Iranians. Some accused the Iranian leader of double standards, saying he has previously called for a referendum to resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Others noted that the current clerical system was established after a referendum was held soon after the Islamic Revolution in 1979. In his comments, Khamenei had also questioned whether voters had the "capacity" to make informed choices on important state matters if a referendum were to be held. "If we don't have the capacity to analyze and take part in a referendum, then why do we have the capacity when it comes to noncompetitive elections?" the Islamic Association of University Teachers said in a statement. Paris-based analyst Reza Alijani told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that Khamenei has monopolized power and has "issues even with regime insiders." "He opposed a referendum, which Rohani called for based on the constitution, unlike Musavi and others who have demanded a referendum that goes beyond the constitution," Alijani said. Stories You Might Have Missed A U.S.-trained professor at the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the University of Tehran said he was fired after he came out in support of nationwide protests against the clerical establishment. Many Iranian university professors have faced expulsion for their support of the demonstrations, while others have already been pushed from their jobs. Iranian former crown prince Reza Pahlavi's recent visit to Israel, Tehran's arch foe, courted controversy. Some Iranians criticized Pahlavi for being silent on the plight of Palestinians. Others questioned why he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a time when tens of thousands of Israelis are protesting his controversial plan to overhaul the judiciary. What We're Watching Hamed Esmaeilion has announced he is leaving an alliance of exiled Iranian opposition figures and celebrities. The Alliance for Democracy and Freedom in Iran was formed in February and includes Pahlavi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, rights activist Masih Alinejad, actress Nazanin Boniadi, and Abdullah Mohtadi, the leader of a Kurdish political party. In March, the alliance issued a charter for a transition to a new, secular democratic system that would be followed by free elections. The group has called for international efforts to isolate Iran's clerical establishment. Esmailion, who was the spokesman of a Canada-based association that represented the families of the victims of a passenger flight that was shot down in Iran in 2020, said he quit because of "anti-democratic" attempts by "pressure groups" to impose their views on the alliance. Why It Matters: Esmailion's withdrawal suggests Iran's exiled opposition has been unable to end infighting and bridge their differences. Further withdrawals could lead to the collapse of the alliance. Prominent Tehran-based analyst Sadegh Zibalakam said the exiled opposition "only agrees on opposing the Islamic republic." "Outside of their opposition to the clerical establishment, they don't have much of a [policy],' he said on Twitter. That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. Until next time, Golnaz Esfandiari If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Wednesday. National Clean Air Day was not a cause for celebration this year in Tehran, where many residents were shuttered in their homes for their own safety to avoid exposure to the Iranian capital's infamous and deadly smog. In the run-up to January 19, the day Iran dedicates to promoting air quality, students were prevented from attending universities and schools in the city of nearly 9 million people, the standard procedure when air pollution levels exceed safe levels. Local officials decried the fact that there had only been two days of clean air recorded over the previous 10 months and called for more to be done to address the crisis. And amid the criticism, which targeted the authorities' use of dirty mazut fuel oil to provide heat and power during a brutal cold snap, the national government presented a draft budget that would cut expenditures for combating air pollution by half. Conflicting Approaches The government's response highlighted the conflicting approaches and decades of misguided environmental policies that have contributed to Iran's air-pollution crisis, rendering toothless strict regulations passed in 2017 with the aim of tackling the issue. As debates raged over government inaction, the Interior Ministry and Education Ministry backed the idea of lowering the air pollution index threshold that keeps students out of school. Parliament passed the new budget in February, cutting funding for implementing the country's Clean Air Act from a mere $8 million to $4 million while emphasizing economic growth. And answering calls for the Clean Air Act's strict standards to be enforced, the Tehran Prosecutor's Office pressed criminal charges against five unidentified bureaucrats who were in step with the government's pursuit of increased development and industrial production. The management-level personnel, who work for various ministries that oversee Iran's environmental protection efforts and lucrative petroleum sector, stand accused of failing to adhere to standards set in the country's Clean Air Act on vehicle emissions and gasoline quality, and for failing to limit pollution from mazut-fueled industrial plants. 'Denying People A Breath' Tehran and other major Iranian cities have long been among the world's worst when it comes to air pollution. Iran overall ranks sixth in the world in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Global Carbon Atlas, having more than doubled CO2 emissions in the past two decades. "Tehran is one of the most polluted cities in the world, and air pollution is estimated to contribute to thousands of premature deaths each year" across the country, Iran environmental expert Shirin Hakim told RFE/RL in written comments. "Air pollution has led to the closing of businesses and schools, impacting economic productivity, and has contributed to a variety of health conditions, including respiratory conditions and cancers." Iranian media and officials have decried the steadily rising levels of deadly sulfur dioxide recorded over Tehran in recent years, while experts at the air pollution research center at Tehran University have estimated that 40,000 premature deaths per year can be attributed to the smog and dust that fouls Iran's air. Lawmaker Mohammad Reza Sabaghian put it simply in comments ahead of Clean Air Day, saying: "We are denying the people a breath." Outdated cars and motorcycles burning low-quality fuels are frequently singled out as the major reasons for the air pollution that has plagued Tehran and other major cities, but they are far from the only ones. "The overexploitation of water resources and climate change are contributing to the desertification of farmland and the drying up of bodies of water, which has contributed to dust and sandstorms that also diminish air quality," said Hakim, senior fellow at the Berlin-based Center for Middle East and Global Order (CMEG) and fellow at the Atlantic Council's GeoEconomics Center. Accelerated development and industrial activity outside urban centers have also contributed to increased emissions, Hakim said, as well as the rising migration of people to cities, which adds to the use of vehicles, dirty fuels, and acid rain and other pollutants. Clean Air On Paper The Clean Air Act, introduced in 2017 under then-President Hassan Rohani, was supposed to be the road map for solving Iran's environmental problems. Among other things, the law targeted the use of mazut by greatly lowering the limits of sulfur allowed in fuel oil. It also called for the country's aging transportation network to be overhauled and required the Oil Ministry to produce higher standard and cleaner-burning "Euro 4" gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, and other petroleum products. Punishments and fines were set for industries and individuals that violated the regulations. But when natural gas shortages hit during the hard winter months this year, the Clean Air Act was cast aside. Faced with public anger over natural gas shortages that left many homes without heat and factories without power, officials gave the green light to burning more mazut to fuel thermal stations and industrial plants. The move sent plumes of noxious smoke into the air in Isfahan and other major cities, as well as in Tehran, despite official insistence that mazut was not used. Officials in Isfahan demanded details of the government's decision, according to state news agency IRNA, declaring the burning of mazut a "serious danger" to human health. United Nations special rapporteur on human rights and the environment David Boyd called on Iran to halt the practice, declaring it a human rights violation. Official Oil Ministry reports viewed by RFE/RL's Radio Farda showed that the country intensified its use of mazut in December to 38.5 million liters per day, a 22 percent increase, and 42 million liters per day in January. The report also showed that the production of mazut with a sulfur content of 3.5 percent -- up to seven times higher than the level allowed under the Clean Air Act -- rose significantly, and that only one-third of the gasoline produced in the country was of the required Euro 4 standard. In response to the outcry, Iranian officials said the air pollution problem would be alleviated in the future by the increased production of natural gas and improvements to infrastructure, which have been stymied by international sanctions that have denied Iran access to foreign technologies. Ali Salajegheh, the head of Irans Department of Environment, also remained bullish about the Clean Air Act, telling IRNA in January that the implementation of the legislation would be accelerated by the increase of "green tax" allocations separate from the state budget. Salajagheh did not provide a specific figure, only saying that 20 percent of the green taxes would be earmarked. Green taxes are those levied on activities that are deemed harmful to the environment. The environment was seen as one of the biggest challenges faced by President Ebrahim Raisi when he took office in 2021. During his campaign, Raisi presented an "environmental charter" promising sustainable development and environmentally friendly policies as key components to Iranians' right to a "healthy environment, clean climate, and pollution free life." But such promises have fallen short. Iran has increasingly turned to oil and gas production to pull it out of its extended economic crises. In addition to the increased production of mazut and other dirty fuels, Tehran has exempted some automotive manufacturers from installing air filters until international sanctions imposed over Iran's nuclear program are lifted. Raisi's presidency has been marked by protests in areas of the country hit hard by drought and the scarcity of water needed to sustain agriculture, despite the continued and contentious construction of new dam projects. Failed water governance has fueled such unrest in the past, according to Hakim, and "is contributing to desertification and the drying up of rivers and lakes that have contributed to economic and social ramifications." The government has also failed to submit a carbon-cutting plan related to the Paris Agreement on climate change since 2015. Officials have said that Iran will not ratify the accord until international sanctions are lifted, arguing that access to modern foreign technology is key to reducing emissions. Raisi stated that the goal of the governments new budget was economic growth, reducing unemployment, and lowering skyrocketing inflation. The budget, 40 percent bigger than the last, is dependent on the export of 1.4 million barrels of oil per day despite international sanctions that hamper the country's ability to trade. The cuts to expenditures on fighting air pollution "may have been driven by heightened social and economic tensions in the country," said Hakim. "The Islamic republic has routinely prioritized economic gains over social and environmental concerns." BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. President of the Azerbaijan Banks Association (ABA) Zakir Nuriyev and Secretary General of the Hungarian Banking Association Levente Kovacs signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on April 26, Trend reports with reference to the ABA. The memorandum provides for the promotion of cooperation between the parties, the organization of events, including joint educational programs, the exchange of information between member banks of both organizations, the development of correspondent relations and the implementation of other activities related to the banking and financial sector. At the same time, the issues of cooperation include the fight against fraud in the field of digital payments, cooperation in the field of cyber security in banks, the exchange of experience in optimizing tariffs for various services, the study of international experience in matters related to the implementation of relevant government programs. The Azerbaijan Banks Association was founded in 1990. The main purpose of the association is to protect the interests of member organizations, assist in meeting their needs in various types of business services and coordinate their activities. ABA members include 25 banks and 5 non-banking organizations. Roscosmos Head Yury Borisov has sent out letters to the space agency chiefs from the partner countries to inform them of Russias decision to extend the operation of the International Space Station (ISS) to 2028, the Roscosmos press office reported on Tuesday. "Today State Space Corporation Roscosmos Director General Yury Borisov has informed the heads of the space agencies from the partner countries under the project of the International Space Station that the Russian government has approved the extension of Russias participation in the project to 2028," the press office said in a statement. In particular, the letters were sent to US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Head Bill Nelson, European Space Agency (ESA) Director General Josef Aschbacher, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President Lisa Campbell and Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Keiko Nagaoka. "The ISS program is the largest and the most successful international space project and I am glad that such a unique laboratory will continue its operation and will contribute to implementing humankinds most audacious plans of space exploration," the press office quoted the Roscosmos chief as saying. Roscosmos Chief Borisov told TASS in November last year that the term of Russias participation in the ISS project would depend on the technical condition of the Russian segment, the timeframe of deploying the new Russian Orbital Station (ROS), the commencement of space flights to the national orbiter and some other factors. In late February 2023, the Roscosmos scientific-technical council held a meeting attended by the leadership of the space corporation, its subsidiaries and organizations of the Russian Academy of Sciences acting as contractors under the ISS Russian segment project. Following the results of the meeting, the scientific-technical council approved the decision on extending the service life of the orbital outposts Russian segment to 2028 and began preparing relevant documents for the government. On April 12 this year, Borisov told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the government had made a decision to extend the operation of the ISS Russian segment to 2028. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Comprehensive inspections in five banks, four non-bank credit organizations and Azerpost LLC, as well as thematic inspections in four banks, were carried out in 2022 by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, Trend reports with reference to the annual report of the CBA. According to the report, against the background of uncertainty caused by complex geopolitical processes, the banking sector continued to function stably. During the reporting period, the CBA conducted comprehensive inspections of four insurance companies, one insurance agent, and two insurance and reinsurance brokers. The capital and liquidity figures of the banking sector significantly exceeded the standards and profitability indicators. And as part of the goals of macroeconomic and financial stability, the loan portfolio increased, which contributed to economic activity. Moreover, credit risks in the banking sector, trends in the foreign exchange market and dollarisation processes were regularly monitored, as well as payment channels, which increased their relevance as a result of the influence of geopolitical processes. Moreover, the current financial condition of banks was also assessed. "As a result of the effective use of control tools, the financial stability of banks was maintained, and public trust in the banking sector increased," the report says. According to CBA's report, the liquidity and foreign exchange position of the International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA) is also monitored on an ongoing basis. "The problem of the foreign exchange short position of the International Bank of Azerbaijan OJSC, which has arisen since 2016, was solved through the sale of currency by the Central Bank in early July of 2022 and brought into compliance with the regulatory requirement," the report says. The sale of $236 million worth of foreign currency by the CBA contributed to the closure of the open currency position of the IBA. In turn, the CBA sold the currency for this amount from its reserves. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Azerbaijan improves its position in global cyber security ratings every year, Head of the Digital Media Sector of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Elmir Valizade said, Trend reports. Valizade made the remark during an event themed "Cybercrime in Azerbaijan and cyber security barometers". According to him, work is underway in our country to form a legal framework for the expanded application of new security standards. "Azerbaijan is actively applying European cyber security standards and has already achieved great success in this area," the official noted. Valizade also said that Armenia and Iran have been carrying out cyber attacks on Azerbaijan for many years. "All these attempts have been prevented and well continue to strengthen our digital space and security systems," he added. Azerbaijan has improved its rank in the National Cyber Security Index by 34 positions to 52nd. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Azercosmos OJSC (Open Joint-Stock Company) is negotiating with world-famous satellite manufacturers to launch a new Azerbaijani satellite into orbit that requires a thorough study before the process of developing and commissioning the satellite, the company told Trend. "The customers are interested in the field of satellite services, such as innovation, cost, support and others, which are constantly changing and being updated. The economic and non-economic benefits that our country may receive from a new satellite project in the future are being carefully studied. We are negotiating with world-famous manufacturers to launch a new Azerbaijani satellite into orbit. This process will continue until the most appropriate choice for our country is made," the company said. In addition, commenting on Azerbaijan's plans to buy a space satellite, Azercosmos highlighted that this information does not correspond to reality. Previously, it was said that Azersky (the remote Earth observation satellite) completed its mission one year earlier than its estimated exploitation. The exchange of information with the Azersky satellite has stopped. Although Azercosmos and the satellite manufacturer took measures to restore communication, it was not possible to establish communication with the satellite. The first Azerbaijani satellite was launched into orbit in 2013 and its service life is 17 years, while the second communication satellite was launched into orbit in 2018 and its service life is up to 22 years. Kazakhstan holds the 3rd trade and economic mission to Tehran as part of the official visit of the countrys Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov to Iran, the press service of the Kazakh PM says, Trend reports citing Kazinform. The event spearheaded by the QazTrade trade policy development center brough together the representatives of he Kazakh africulture ministry, 20 Kazakh producers of food, chemical, construction, light industry, and metallurgy goods, both countries trade chamber, Irans trade and industrial, mining, and agricultural chamber, as well as over 150 counterparts of Iran. Following the business meetings, agreements were signed to export fertilizers, oil and fat products, meat worth over $60mln. According to the trade and integration minister of Kazakhstan, Kairat Torebayev, the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Iran in 2022 stood at $528mln, up 19.8% year-on-year. High interest of Iranian companies in Kazakh producers of phosphate fertilizers, ferro-alloys, as well as food items was noted. Agreements to further promote mutually beneficial relations were reached. 'The Kerala Story' Trailer Vipul Amrutlal Shah is the producer and creative director of the film MUMBAI: The trailer of the movie 'The Kerala Story' has been released, after seeing which your soul will tremble. In the movie, the story of the girls who were thrown into the fire of terrorism by converting their religion in Kerala is presented in a very emotional manner. Vipul Amrutlal Shah is the producer and creative director of the film, which stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani, and Siddhi Idnani in lead roles. The film is based on the true stories of Hindu and Christian girls from Kerala, who were first lured into love jihad by Islamists in Kerala and later sent to Iraq and Syria to become ISIS terrorists. The film will release on May 5, 2023 in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam languages. Advertisement 'The Kerala Story' is a dramatization of the heart-wrenching stories of 32000 women from Kerala who were radicalized to join the terrorist ranks of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). It is worth mentioning here that many of these Kerala women who joined ISIS were converted to Islam from Hinduism and Christianity with the intention of sending them to the terrorist organization ISIS. The trailer starts with a scenic backdrop of Kerala and shows Shalini Unnikrishnan, the lead character played by Adah Sharma. The trailer later details Shalini's Hindu family through visuals and reveals that the officers interrogated her because she worked as an ISIS operative. "Rather than knowing when I joined ISIS, it is more important to know why and how I joined ISIS, sir," Shalini told the officers. Arvind Kejriwal I pray to God for her good health: Arvind Kejriwal NEW-DELHI: AAP Convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday met former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's ailing wife at a private hospital here. Sisodia's wife Seema Sisodia (49) is suffering from 'autoimmune disorder', 'multiple sclerosis'. She was admitted to the neurology department of Indraprastha Apollo Hospital on Tuesday. Kejriwal tweeted, "I met Seema Bhabhi (Manish ji's wife) in the hospital. She is admitted to the hospital since yesterday. She is suffering from multiple sclerosis. It is a very serious disease. I pray to God for her good health." Advertisement Notably, on February 26, Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on charges of alleged irregularities in the excise policy of the now withdrawn Delhi government. "In 2000, investigations revealed that Seema Sisodia had developed multiple sclerosis, a severe autoimmune disease," a source said on Tuesday. She has been undergoing treatment in a private hospital for the past 23 years. Seema Sisodia is currently showing symptoms, including difficulty in walking, risk of falling and losing balance, bowel and bladder problems, sources said. Meanwhile, a local court will on Wednesday pronounce a verdict on Manish Sisodia's bail application in the money laundering case in connection with the Delhi Excise scam. Operation Kaveri IAF C130J transport aircraft arrived at Port Sudan to evacuate more Indian nationals NEW-DELHI: 250 Indians have been evacuated from Sudan by two transport planes of the Indian Air Force. Earlier, 278 civilians were evacuated from the violence-hit African country by the navy ship INS Sumedha. According to the official data, the number of Indian citizens expelled from Sudan has reached around 530. India has set up a transit facility in Jeddah as part of 'Operation Kaveri', a drive to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan. Indian citizens are being brought to this city of Saudi Arabia after being expelled from Sudan. India on Tuesday evacuated its first batch of 278 nationals from violence-hit Sudan through INS Sumedha and brought necessary relief materials to the remaining Indians stranded there. Advertisement Hours later, an Indian Air Force C130J transport aircraft arrived at Port Sudan to evacuate more Indian nationals. After this, the civilians were evacuated by another C130J aircraft. According to Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, 121 civilians were evacuated by the first C130J aircraft and 135 by the second aircraft. Notably, India has set up a control room in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah to facilitate the evacuation of Indian nationals from Sudan. It is worth mentioning here that a campaign has been launched to evacuate about 3000 Indians from Sudan. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Muraleedharan has arrived in Jeddah to oversee the evacuation operation. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that another ship of the Indian Navy, INS Teg, has joined the evacuation mission from Sudan. Cough Syrup WHO issued a medical alert declaring 'Guaifenesin' cough syrup Contaminated New Delhi: Cough syrup manufactured by an Indian company in the Marshall Islands and Micronesia has been found to be contaminated, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a medical alert declaring Guaifenesin cough syrup manufactured in India as contaminated. WHO has informed that QP Pharmachem Limited Company of Punjab produces this cough syrup. On this issue, Sudhir Pathak, Managing Director of QP Pharma Chem Ltd., said that the Food and Drug Administration of Punjab suspected that someone had copied the product (cough syrup) sent to Cambodia to defame the Indian government and It has since been sold in Marshall Islands and Micronesia. Advertisement The FDA department has taken samples of the cough syrup sent to Cambodia for testing. A total of 18,336 bottles of cough syrup were sent. It is worth noting that the cough syrup on which the WHO has questioned the quality was only allowed to be sent from India to Cambodia. How did it reach the Marshall Islands and Micronesia? There is no information about this. This syrup is also available in the Indian market. Abohar Police Arrests 3 Youths with Arms & Ammunition Further Investigation in the matter is underway ABOHAR: In a major breakthrough, the Counter Intelligence Sub Unit Abohar nabbed three youths with illegal arms and cartridges from Gobindgarh T Point. The State Special Operation Cell of Fazilka has registered a case against the arrested accused and started investigation in the matter. According to information, ASI Joginder Singh along with his team was patrolling near Gobindgarh T Point on Malot Road last night when three youths on bikes were standing near the bus stand in a suspicious condition. They panicked on witnessing the police team and tried to escape. Advertisement The police nabbed the youth. Reportedly, They have been identified as Lavish son of Ravinder Pal, resident of Krishna Nagar Gali No. 4 Malot, Jitinder alias Kala Son of Mal Singh resident of village Kotha Fazilka and Kulwinder alias Kindu son of Kishan Singh resident of village Bahi Khas, Fazilka. Two country pistols of 315 bore, one pistol of 32 bore, 2 magazines and 7 live cartridges were recovered from their possession. Australia will on Thursday release Q1 figures for import and export prices, setting the pace for a light day in Asia-Pacific economic activity. Import prices are tipped to rise 0.7 percent on quarter, slowing from 1.8 percent in the previous three months. Export prices are seen lower by 2.4 percent on quarter after slipping 0.9 percent in the three months prior. Japan will see March results for its leading index, with forecasts suggesting no change at 97.7. China will provide March data for industrial profit, with analysts looking for a decline of 12.0 percent on year after slumping an annual 22.9 percent in February. Singapore will release unemployment data for the first quarter of 2023; in the previous three months, the jobless rate was 2.0 percent. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. Carrier Global Corp. (CARR) agreed to acquire Viessmann Climate Solutions, the largest segment of Viessmann Group, in a cash and stock transaction valued at 12 billion euros. The Carrier and Viessmann boards of directors have each approved the deal, which is expected to close around the end of 2023. Carrier said it looks forward to welcoming its 11,000 team members to the Carrier family and Max Viessmann, CEO of Viessmann to the Carrier Board of Directors at closing, which is expected around the end of 2023. Meanwhile, Carrier said it expects to exit its Fire & Security and Commercial Refrigeration businesses over the course of 2024. Carrier expects to use proceeds from any separation transaction to reduce leverage consistent with an investment-grade profile and to repurchase the equivalent shares issued to the Viessmann family. Carrier noted that the planned exits do not include UTEC, Fire & Security's controls for residential HVAC customers or Carrier Transicold's transport refrigeration, Profroid mechanical systems and Sensitech monitoring businesses. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News British bank Standard Chartered Plc (SCBFF.PK,STAC.L,STAN.L) reported that its first quarter profit before taxation rose to $1.81 billion from $1.49 billion in the same quarter last year. Underlying profit before taxation for the first quarter increased to $1.71 billion from $1.39 billion in the previous year. Looking ahead, the company now projects income to increase by around 10 per cent, the top end of the 8-10 per cent range at constant currency in 2023 and in the 8-10 per cent range at constant currency in 2024. The company plans to return in excess of $5 billion to shareholders by 2024. Standard Chartered's profit attributable to parent company shareholders for the first quarter grew to $1.34 billion or 39.8 cents per share from $1.18 billion or 34.1 cents per share last year. Net interest income for the first quarter rose to $2.01 billion from $1.79 billion in the prior year. Net trading income was $1.65 billion up from $1.45 billion in the previous year. For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Washington Governor Jay Inslee has signed three new bills into law, tightening the state's gun safety measures. Washington is now one of 10 states in the United States with a ban on assault weapons, and one of a few states with a waiting period and training requirement for all gun purchases. Another new law empowers consumers with the ability to sue firearm manufacturers or retailers for irresponsible conduct, something only four other states have enacted. SHB 1240 prohibits the sale, distribution and importation of assault weapons in Washington. The bill was requested by Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson, and prime sponsored by Rep. Strom Peterson. HB 1143, requested by Inslee and sponsored by Rep. Liz Berry, requires gun buyers in Washington to complete a training course. The law also establishes a mandatory 10-day waiting period for gun purchases. SB 5078, requested by Inslee and Ferguson and sponsored by Sen. Jamie Pedersen, increases industry accountability and access to justice for gun violence victims and survivors. President Joe Biden has commended the leadership of Washington Governor Jay Inslee, and legislative leaders, as well as the advocates, survivors, and elected officials who fought for years to make this a reality. "In so doing, they have made every community in the state - from Seattle to Spokane and everywhere in between - safer and more secure," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. Washington has one of the most comprehensive gun safety legislations in the country, including bans on bump stocks and high-capacity magazines, tools that amplify the destruction shooters can cause. Statistics show that Washington's work to counteract the epidemic of gun violence is working. While the number of deaths by firearm nationwide increased substantially during 2018-2021, firearm deaths in Washington remained well below national averages. Still, gun violence claims the lives of more than two people every day in Washington, more than 800 people each year. Three quarters of those deaths are suicides. There is evidence that assault weapon bans prevent gun deaths from recent U.S. history. When a federal assault weapons ban was in effect from 1994 to 2004, mass shooting fatalities were 70% less likely to occur as compared to the periods before and after. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has unveiled President Joe Biden's two foreign tour itineraries next month. Biden will attend the G7 Leaders' Summit in the Japanese city of Hiroshima from May 19 to 21. The President and G7 leaders will discuss a range of the most pressing global issues, including the G7's unwavering support for Ukraine, addressing the dual food and climate crises, securing inclusive and resilient economic growth, and continuing to lead a clean energy transition at home and for our partners around the world, Jean-Pierre said in a statement. On May 24, President Biden will attend the third Quad Leaders' Summit in Sydney, Australia. He will join Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and host-nation's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The Quad leaders will discuss how they can deepen their cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global , climate change, maritime domain awareness, and other issues that matter to the people of the Indo-Pacific, the White House said. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Activision Blizzard, Inc. (ATVI) Wednesday announced a surge in first-quarter net profit, supported by an increase in revenue, compared to the prior year. The net bookings grew 25 percent, while mobile net bookings increased double-digit year-over-year. The quarterly earnings increased to $740 million from $395 million in the prior year. Earnings per share were $0.93, up from $0.50 last year. On an adjusted basis, earnings were $1.09 per share. Commenting on the United Kingdom Competition and Markets Authority or CMA's decision to block the merger with Microsoft, Activision said the decision is disproportionate, irrational, and inconsistent with the evidence. Microsoft has announced its decision to appeal the CMA's ruling, and Activision Blizzard intends to support this appeal. Further, the companies plan to engage with other regulators reviewing the transaction to obtain any required regulatory approvals. Currently, shares of ATVI are down 11.42 percent on a volume of 38,311,311. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Members of the IEASA Director's Forum at Rhodes University Rhodes Universitys International Office recently hosted the International Education Association of South Africas (IEASA) Director Forum, the advisory body of IEASA. It was the first face-to-face event of the year of IEASAs silver jubilee. The substantive inputs to the Directors Forum included: an opening address from the Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela; an update of IEASA activities and plans from the IEASA President (2023-2024), Dr Lavern Samuels; a national review of the current medical aid offerings for international students from all medical aid companies, by SIMEKA Health Consultants; and a presentation of the immigration issues facing international students and the negative impact on the sector by IEASA President (2019-2020), Ms Orla Quinlan. Ms Quinlan is also the Director of Rhodes Universitys International Office. The Forum also hosted a constructive engagement with Mr Phindiwe Mbhele, Director of Corporate Accounts at the Department of Home Affairs; a presentation on Universities South Africas (USAf) activities in internationalisation by USAf representative Ms Janet Van Rhyn; and a presentation from IEASA President (2021-2023), Mr Wiseman Jack, on IEASAs role in positioning South Africa, as a destination for international students. The preliminary research results on the capacity of International Offices in South Africa were also shared for discussion by Ms Quinlan. Professor Nonceba Mbambo-Kekana, Director of International Affairs at the University of Limpopo, shared an initial analysis of the contemporary burning issues at the institutional, national, regional, continental and global levels affecting internationalisation in South African Universities. Professor Mbambo-Kekana also facilitated a second discussion on the proposed solutions that the IEASA Council would be requested to take forward. Dr Samuels, Director of International Education and Partnerships at the Durban University of Technology, stated: Looking forward, IEASA will host its Silver Jubilee conference from 23 to 25 August 2023 in Durban. We expect attendance by leaders in our sector and several delegations of Vice-Chancellors from other countries. It will also involve several side events. According to Ms Quinlan, IEASA is also co-hosting a Global Leadership Forum in International Higher Education with the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA). A celebratory evening for IEASA Silver Jubilee, held at Eden Gove, provided an opportunity for the Deans, Directors, Senior Academics, the Internationalisation Committee and colleagues working closely with the International Office to meet the IEASA Directors Forum, explained Ms Quinlan. We opened the invitation to all staff in the University who wished to engage with this group. The celebratory event featured the sounds of marimbas and other traditional African instruments from the International Library of African Music (ILAM). The Directors attending the Forum had visited ILAM earlier in the day. They were treated to an informative tour and were even allowed to learn a simple tune on the marimbas. During the formal IEASA meeting and the subsequent celebratory evening, Dr Samuels thanked Rhodes University for hosting the first face-to-face celebration of IEASAs silver jubilee in 2023. This was a memorable first visit to Rhodes University. I was impressed by the campus, the beautiful buildings and the excellent hospitality we experienced throughout the IEASA Directors Forum. I look forward to further future engagement, Dr Samuels said. According to Shernice Soobramoney from the North-West University, the Library facilities for the hybrid meeting were top class, and the organisation and attention to detail was perfect. I loved how easy it was to walk from the accommodation to campus and not have to organise transport, shared Mrs Tohiera Bagus, the IEASA manager, who lives in Johannesburg. Finally, Forum attendees were wholly impressed with our student body as well. The students were so friendly and helpful when we asked for directions, Mrs Jeanne Niemaan from the University of the Free State said. For more information about Rhodes Universitys engagement with IEASA over the last 25 years, see: https://www.ru.ac.za/latestnews/rhodesuniversityreflectsonitscontributiontotheinternationaleducationas.html Source: International Office Breaking the Paradox: Simple ONE A Premium Affordable electric scooter countdown to launch May 23, 2023 Simple Energy, a new player in the electric vehicle and clean energy space, has announced the launch of its highly anticipated electric two-wheeler, the Simple ONE, on May 23, 2023, in Bangalore. The manufacturer aims to offer a high-quality product with premium features and technology, while keeping the price point affordable for Indian consumers. Delivery of Simple One electric scooters are expected to start soon after launch. The phrase premium affordable EV might seem paradoxical, but in the case of the Simple ONE, it could be justified. The company intends to disrupt the market with a compelling alternative to conventional two-wheelers that run on fossil fuels. Its unique value proposition offers high-quality premium features at an affordable price point, making electric mobility accessible to a wider audience. Fastest, Safest, Longest range Simple One e-scooter The company has emphasized performance and safety in the Simple ONE. It has used superlatives such as fastest, safest, and longest to describe the product, indicating that it will be a top-performing electric scooter. Although exact numbers for speed, range, and safety features are not provided, the company has placed a high emphasis on ensuring that the Simple ONE stands out in terms of performance and safety features. The battery pack of the Simple ONE is said to meet safety standards, highlighting the companys commitment to safety. The claim of the longest range is significant as it addresses the issue of range anxiety, making it attractive to customers who prioritize performance and safety when making purchasing decisions for their electric two-wheelers. Wrong buddy. Suhas Rajkumar (@suhasrajkumar) April 26, 2023 Simple Energys Simple ONE: Bringing a New Wave of Innovation to Electric Two-Wheelers The launch of the Simple ONE is a significant step towards starting business for Simple Energy. The electric two-wheeler has been eagerly awaited by customers who have been waiting for months since booking their orders. With this launch, Simple Energy aims to cater to the growing demand for electric two-wheelers in India and meet the needs of growing electric scooter demand. It remains to be seen how the market will respond to this new offering, and whether it can carve out a niche for itself in the highly competitive Indian EV market. However, the launch of the Simple ONE is a promising step towards making electric mobility accessible and affordable to a wider audience. Simple Energys Simple ONE: The Next Big Thing in Indian Electric Two-Wheeler Market Suhas Rajkumar, Founder & CEO, of Simple Energy, said, When we set out to make the Simple ONE, our aim was to provide to our valued customers a product that matches up to the level of the global players. To that end, we have spent the last 2 years vigorously testing our product in the most demanding conditions and ensuring that the result is the best in the business. With the official confirmation on the launch of Simple ONE, we would also like to announce that we are the first OEM to comply with the Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) 156 amendment 3 that ensures greater battery safety. Simple ONE is now faster, improved on aesthetics, on battery systems and powertrains and offers unmatched safety. We have successfully addressed the issues during testing and are confident that our product will stand true to the wait. Car exports posted YoY and MoM growth in March 2023 with the Nissan Sunny commanding the most attention in global markets Car exports from India in March 2023 improved by 12.66 percent YoY to 69,026 units, up from 61,270 units shipped in March 2022. This was a volume growth of 7,756 units. It was also a MoM growth in exports from 46,486 units exported in Feb 2023. Primary reason for this surge in global demand for passenger vehicles could be on account of the Foreign Trade Policy (2015-20) which has been extended upto 31 March 2023. The Center has also extended the Interest Equalization Scheme on pre- and post-shipment rupee export credit to 31 March 2024. Nissan Sunny topped the export list in March 2023 for the second consecutive month. The Sunny sedan was also at No. 1 in Feb 2023, climbing up from a No. 4 position held in Jan 2023. Sunny exports stood at 5,451 units in March 2023, up 27.63 percent over 4,280 units sold in March 2022. This was a 1,171 unit volume difference with the Sunny commanding a 7.90 percent share on this list. Top 20 Car Exports March 2023 At No. 2 was the Maruti DZire with 4,689 units shipped in March 2023, down 28.72 percent from 6,578 units exported in March 2022. The DZire currently commands a 6.79 percent share in the export list jumping 5 places from its No. 7 spot held in Feb 2023 when exports had stood at 2,352 units relating to a significant MoM growth. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara exports were at 4,625 units in March 2023. The Grand Vitara commenced exports from Jan 2023 with the first lot of this premium SUV making its way to Latin America from Kamarajar port, Chennai. Three of Maruti Suzuki models Baleno, SPresso and Swift featured on the export list in quick succession. Baleno exports were at 4,493 units in the past month, up 408.26 percent from just 884 units shipped in March 2022. S-Presso also saw a 35.05 percent YoY growth to 4,119 units while Swift exports dipped 19.67 percent from 4,962 units exported in March 2022 to 3,986 units in the past month. Hyundai Verna exports improved by 44.22 percent to 3,291 units in March 2023 from 2,282 units exported in March 2022. Kia Seltos exports however, dipped 2.06 percent to 3,232 units while next on the list was the Honda City with a 55.42 percent YoY growth to 2,998 units. YoY exports improved for the Maruti Celerio (2,650 units), Renault Kiger (2,561 units), Kia Sonet (2,363 units) and Hyundai Aura (2,311 units). It was also the Hyundai Creta which saw improved exports to 1,902 units last month. Hyundai has added new safety features to the Creta, Venue and i20 which could related to increased exports in the months ahead. VW Virtus exports were at 1,771 units last month. The 2022 VW Virtus was launched in June last year and is the companys second product under the India 2.0 Project. Other passenger vehicles to see exports above the 1,500 unit mark were the Magnite (1,738 units), Hyryder (1,659 units), Alto (1,651 units) and Triber (1,507 units), each of which posted a YoY growth. Among the sub-1,500 unit exports were the Ertiga (1,498 units), Taigun (1,458 units), Grand i10 (1,447 units), Kwid (1,417 units), Alcazar (1,175 units) and Eeco (1,074 units). Car Exports Sub 1,000 units March 2023 Passenger vehicle exports under 1,000 units saw the Carens with 607 units exported last month, up 731.51 percent over just 73 units exported in March 2022. There was also the Venue (498 units), Ciaz (383 units), Scorpio (343 units), Hyundai i20 (276 units) and Kushaq (267 units). Jeep Compass exports dipped 10.57 percent to 220 units last month while there were 204 units of the new Citroen C3 shipped in March 2023. YoY exports dipped for the XUV300 (193 units), KUV100 (182 units), XUV700 (179 units) and Amaze (122 units) in March 2023. The list also included Meridian (108 units), Kicks (70 units), WR-V (69 units) and Ignis (53 units). In the sub-100 unit export list was also the Brezza with 52 units shipped last month relating to a 96.97 percent Yoy de-growth over 1,715 units exported in March 2022. Exports of XL6 (50 units), Maxximo (50 units), Bolero (16 units) MG Astor (12 units) and Jimny (6 units) were lower down the order on this list. TVS has registered YoY growth in domestic two wheeler sales in March 2023 while exports fell significantly TVS Motor Company registered a growth of 4.76 percent in two wheeler sales (domestic + exports) in March 2023. Total sales increased from 2,90,810 units sold in March 2022 to 3,05,371 units in March 2023. It was the TVS Jupiter that found most demand in domestic markets while it was the Star City 125 that commanded the export list. There were a total of 2,40,780 units sold in March 2023, relating to a 22.25 percent YoY growth when compared to 1,96,956 units sold in March 2022. This was a 43,824 unit volume growth. TVS Jupiter was the highest selling model in the company lineup in domestic markets. Sales surged 5.48 percent YoY to 58,874 units in March 2023 from 55,813 units sold in March 2022. This related to a volume growth of 3,061 units with the Jupiter commanding a 24.45 percent share. TVS Jupiter was also the second best-selling scooter in FY 2023 after the Honda Activa, with 7,29,546 units sold in FY 2023. TVS Sales Breakup March 2023 Jupiter No 1 At No. 2 was the TVS XL100 moped saw its sales dip 2.22 percent YoY to 36,814 units in March 2023 from 37,649 units sold in March 2022. It was followed by the TVS Apache with a 32.02 percent YoY growth to 36,226 units in the past month from 27,439 units sold in the same month a year ago. It was a 155.62 percent YoY growth for the TVS Raider of which the company sold 31,002 units in March 2023 from 12,128 units sold in March 2022. This was a difference of 18,874 units with the Raider commanding a 12.88 percent share on this list. TVS Ntorq sales also improved by 14.52 percent YoY to 27,284 units in March 2023 but the highest percentage growth was seen for the TVS iQube that increased by 754.03 percent YoY. Sales of the iQube stood at 15,364 units in March 2023 from 1,799 units sold in March 2022. This was the 5th consecutive month that the iQube Electric has registered sales above 10,000 units. TVS also posted YoY sales growth for the Sport (13,158 units) and Pep+ (8,330 units) by 14.06 percent and 38.28 percent respectively. However, thereafter, each of the models saw lower sales. Radeon sales dipped 14.39 percent to 8,186 units while Zest sales were down by 35.66 percent to 3,201 units. Star City sales fell by 66.31 percent to 1,931 units and RR310 fell by 13.68 percent to 410 units in March 2023. TVS Exports dip in March 2023 Exports fell 31.18 percent in March 2023 to 64,591 units, down from 93,854 units exported in March 2022. This was a volume de-growth of 29,263 units. It was the TVS Star City 125 that topped the export list in March 2023 with 27,136 units shipped, down 22.92 percent from 35,206 units exported in March 2022. The Star City 125 currently commands a 42.01 percent share on this list. Jupiter exports stood at 9,132 units with a 14.14 percent share. It was followed by the Ntorq with a 132.27 percent YoY growth to 5,370 units in March 2023, up from 2,312 units sold in March 2022. YoY exports dipped for the Apache (5,036 units) and Sport (3,855 units) by 51.28 percent and 23.42 percent respectively. Raider exports also fell by 52.20 percent YoY to 3,346 units in March 2023 from 7,000 units exported in March 2022. TVS Wego exports were at 1,262 units while Victor also posted a YoY growth of 133.33 percent to 1,120 units from 480 units sold in March 2022. TVS XL exports were at 678 units while RR310 exports improved by 50 percent to 90 units from 60 units shipped in March 2022. The All Tribes American Indian Charter School in Valley Center was recognized by the California Charter Schools Association for its work educating Native American students. On March 12, the schools founders and administrators, Michelle Parada and Mary Ann Donohue, received the Hart Vision Award at the 26th Annual Charter Schools Conference in Sacramento. The California Charter Schools Association bestows the annual award to recognize achievements of charter public schools, leaders, teachers and advocates in honor of Gary K. Hart, retired state senator, former California Secretary of Education and author of Californias charter public school legislation. Advertisement Native American students in California have long seen achievement gaps in public schools, and scored 36.8 points below grade level standards for English language arts, and 73 points below grade level standards for math in 2018, according to the California School Dashboard. Parada and Donohue founded All Tribes American Indian Charter School in 2001 to address problems in the Native American community including low high suicide and dropout rates, along with low academic performance and low graduation rates. Their drive and passion to provide a quality education to all students helped change how much the community valued a public education, the charter school association said in a statement about the award. The K-12 school combines academic instruction in the context of Native American culture, according to its website. It aims to help students develop positive self images about their identity, to see their culture affirmed, and engage with people who care for them at school. There are 96 students enrolled at the school, which serves students from San Diego area reservations, including the San Pasqual and Pala Bands of Mission Indians, and the Pauma, Rincon and La Jolla Bands of Luiseno Indians, as well as other students from the general area. Besides founding the charter school, Parada and Donohue provide foster care, and offer housing, financial, and emotional support to the school community, to make sure that students have the help they need to succeed in school, according to the charter school association. deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Muzaffar Husseinzoda in Tajikistans capital Dushanbe on April 26, Trend reports with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan. According to the ministry, the meeting between the two sides involved discussions on the current status and future prospects of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and the US. Specifically, the sides covered various areas such as politics, economics, science, culture, security, healthcare, and education. Earlier, on April 24, the representative of the US visited Kyrgyzstan where his meeting with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev took place. The visit of Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan was scheduled on April 22-27. During the visit, a wide range of themes, including shared interests, and strengthening regional ties to create a more connected and prosperous Central Asia are planned to be discussed. The seven galaxies highlighted in this new image from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have been confirmed to be at a distance that astronomers refer to as redshift 7.9, which correlates to 650 million years after the Big Bang. This makes them the earliest galaxies yet to be spectroscopically confirmed as part of a developing galaxy cluster. Galaxy clusters are the greatest concentrations of mass in the known Universe, which can dramatically warp the fabric of spacetime itself. This warping, called gravitational lensing, can have a magnifying effect for objects beyond the cluster, allowing astronomers to look through the cluster like a giant magnifying glass. Dr. Takahiro Morishita, an astronomer at the IPAC-California Institute of Technology, and colleagues were able to utilize this effect, looking through Pandoras Cluster (Abell 2744) to view a protocluster in the early Universe. This is a very special, unique site of accelerated galaxy evolution, and Webb gave us the unprecedented ability to measure the velocities of these seven galaxies and confidently confirm that they are bound together in a protocluster, Dr. Morishita said. The precise measurements captured by Webbs Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) were key to confirming the galaxies collective distance and the high velocities at which they are moving within a halo of dark matter more than about 1,000 km per second (2 million mph). The NIRSpec spectral data allowed the astronomers to model and map the future development of the gathering group, all the way to our time in the modern Universe. The prediction that the protocluster, named A2744-z7p9OD, will eventually resemble the Coma Cluster means that it could eventually be among the densest known galaxy collections, with thousands of members. We can see these distant galaxies like small drops of water in different rivers, and we can see that eventually they will all become part of one big, mighty river, said Dr. Benedetta Vulcani, an astronomer at Italys National Institute of Astrophysics. Exploring how large clusters like Pandora and Coma first came together has been difficult, due to the expansion of the Universe stretching light beyond visible wavelengths into the infrared, where astronomers lacked high-resolution data before Webb. Webbs infrared instruments were developed specifically to fill in these gaps at the beginning of the Universes story. The seven galaxies confirmed by Webb were first established as candidates for observation using data from Hubbles Frontier Fields program. The program dedicated Hubble time to observations using gravitational lensing, to observe very distant galaxies in detail. However, because Hubble cannot detect light beyond near-infrared, there is only so much detail it can see. Webb picked up the investigation, focusing on the galaxies scouted by Hubble and gathering detailed spectroscopic data in addition to imagery. It is amazing the science we can now dream of doing, now that we have Webb, said Dr. Tommaso Treu, an astronomer at the University of California, Los Angeles. With this small protocluster of seven galaxies, at this great distance, we had a one hundred percent spectroscopic confirmation rate, demonstrating the future potential for mapping dark matter and filling in the timeline of the Universes early development. The discovery is reported in a paper in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. _____ Takahiro Morishita et al. 2023. Early Results from GLASS-JWST. XIV. A Spectroscopically Confirmed Protocluster 650 Million Years after the Big Bang. ApJL 947, L24; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/acb99e If you own an internet-connected "smart" device, chances are it knows a lot about your home life. If you raid the pantry at 2 a.m. for a snack, your smart lights can tell. That's because they track every time they're switched on and off. Your Roomba knows the size and layout of your home and sends it to the cloud. Smart speakers eavesdrop on your every word, listening for voice commands. But the data-driven smart tech trend also extends far beyond our kitchens and living rooms. Over the past 20 years, city governments have been partnering with tech companies to collect real-time data on daily life in our cities, too. In urban areas worldwide, sidewalks, streetlights and buildings are equipped with sensors that log foot traffic, driving and parking patterns, even detect and pinpoint where gunshots may have been fired. In Singapore, for example, thousands of sensors and cameras installed across the city track everything from crowd density and traffic congestion to smoking where it's not allowed. Copenhagen uses smart air quality sensors to monitor and map pollution levels. A 2016 report from the National League of Cities estimates that 66% of American cities had already invested in some type of 'smart city' technology, from intelligent meters that collect and share data on residents' energy or water usage to sensor-laden street lights that can detect illegally parked cars. Proponents say the data collected will make cities cleaner, safer, more efficient. But many Americans worry that the benefits and harms of smart city tech may not be evenly felt across communities, says Pardis Emami-Naeini, assistant professor of computer science and director of the InSPIre Lab at Duke University. That's one of the key takeaways of a survey Emami-Naeini and colleagues presented April 25 at the ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2023) in Hamburg, Germany. Nearly 350 people from across the United States participated in the survey. In addition, the researchers conducted qualitative interviews with 21 people aged 24 to 71 from underserved neighborhoods in Seattle that have been prioritized for smart city projects over the next 10 to 15 years. The study explored public attitudes on a variety of smart city technologies currently in use, from air quality sensors to surveillance cameras. While public awareness of smart cities was limited -- most of the study respondents had never even heard of the term -- researchers found that Americans have concerns about the ethical implications of the data being collected, particularly from marginalized communities. One of the technologies participants had significant concerns about was gunshot detection, which uses software and microphones placed around a neighborhood to detect gunfire and pinpoint its location, rather than relying solely on 911 calls to police. The technology is used in more than 135 cities across the U.S., including Chicago, Sacramento, Philadelphia and Durham. Though respondents acknowledged the potential benefits to public safety, they worried that the tech could contribute to racial disparities in policing, particularly when disproportionately installed in Black and brown neighborhoods. Some said the mere existence of smart city tech such as gunshot detectors or security cameras in their neighborhood could contribute to negative perceptions of safety that deter future home buyers and businesses. Even collecting and sharing seemingly innocuous data such as air quality raised concerns for some respondents, who worried it could potentially drive up insurance rates in poorer neighborhoods exposed to higher levels of pollution. In both interviews and surveys, people with lower incomes expressed more concern about the ethical implications of smart city tech than those with higher income levels. Emami-Naeini has spent several years studying the privacy concerns raised by smart devices and appliances in the home. But when she started asking people how they felt about the risks posed by smart tech in cities, she noticed a shift. Even when people weren't concerned about the impacts of particular types of data collection on a personal level, she says they were still concerned about potential harms for the larger community. "They were concerned about how their neighborhoods would be perceived," Emami-Naeini says. "They thought that it would widen disparities that they already see in marginalized neighborhoods." Lack of attention to such concerns can hamstring smart city efforts, Emami-Naeini says. A proposed high-tech development in Toronto, for example, was cancelled after citizens and civic leaders raised concerns about what would happen with the data collected by the neighborhood's sensors and devices, and how much of the city the tech company wanted to control. In 2017, San Diego launched a $30 million project to cover half the city with smart streetlights in an attempt to improve traffic congestion, but faced backlash after it surfaced that police had been quietly using the footage to solve crimes. "It's not just a waste of resources -- it damages people's trust," Emami-Naeini says. Worldwide, spending on smart cities initiatives is expected to reach $203 billion by 2024. But amid the enthusiasm, Emami-Naeini says, a key component has been neglected: the needs and views of city residents. "There's a lack of user-centered research on this topic, especially from a privacy and ethics perspective" Emami-Naeini says. To make sure the 'smart cities' of the future are designed with residents firmly in mind, "transparency and communication are really important." Her team's findings indicate that people want to know things like where sensors are located, what kinds of data they collect and how often, how the data will be used, who has access, whether they have the ability to opt in or opt out, and who to contact if something goes wrong. The researchers hope the insights generated from their research will help inform the design of smart city initiatives and keep people front and center in all stages of a project, from brainstorming to deployment. "Communities that come together can actually change the fate of these projects," Emami-Naeini says. "I think it's really important to make sure that people's voices are being heard, proactively and not reactively." This work was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (CNS-1565252 and CNS-2114230), the University of Washington Tech Policy Lab (which receives support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Microsoft, and the Pierre and Pamela Omidyar Fund at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation), and gifts from Google and Woven Planet. The Japanese startup ispace, which aimed to be the first private company to land on the Moon, has had its hopes dashed as its lander likely crashed on the lunar surface. As per MailOnline, the Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander was supposed to land in the Atlas Crater at 12:40 pm ET. However, although the landing appeared successful on the simulator, it could not be confirmed due to a loss in communication. Takeshi Hakamada, CEO and founder of ispace, confirmed in the live stream that the company did not complete the landing on the lunar surface. The cause of the failure is not yet known but the company did highlight the "inevitable risk" of using new technology in a lunar environment. Mission Incomplete: Hakuto-R Mission 1 (M1) Loses Communication With ispace The landing attempt of ispace on the Moon marks the culmination of over a decade of work by the company. From 2013 to 2018, ispace ran Team Hakuto in the Google Lunar X Prize, a $20 million prize for the first commercial corporation to land a robotic probe on the Moon. Despite the Prize expiring in 2018 without a winner, Space.com reported that ispace continued developing its lander, which was launched in December 2022 atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on a test mission called M1. The lander, Hakuto-R, descended from an altitude of 62 miles (100 kilometers) to the surface in roughly an hour after reaching lunar orbit on March 20. The landing location was the bottom of the Atlas Crater, which is located on the moon's near side in the Mare Frigoris area. Although Hakuto-R seemed to have positioned itself well, it was unable to stick the landing. Despite this, the lander continued transmitting data during the attempt. M1 was designed primarily to test ispace's moon-landing hardware and know-how, but Hakuto-R carried several viable payloads on the mission. One of these payloads was an experimental solid-state battery built by the Japanese company Niterra. In addition, Hakuto-R was set to deploy two robots onto the lunar surface, Sora-Q, a transformable robot developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the company Tomy, and Rashid, a rover operated by the United Arab Emirates' space agency. READ ALSO: Japan Presents New Space Resource Law; Plans to Join the Return to the Moon ispace's Next Plan of Setting up Human Settlement on the Moon The Japanese space tech company has revealed that it was already planning its next lunar mission before the failure of its first one, Phys.org reported. The ispace aims to provide affordable transportation to the Moon to extend the sphere of human life into space and create a sustainable world. The company listed its shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market earlier this month. The ispace employs just 200 people and intends to lay "the groundwork for unleashing the Moon's potential and transforming it into a robust and vibrant economic system." The company hopes to support a population of 1,000 humans on the moon by 2040, with 10,000 annual visitors. Its next mission, tentatively scheduled for 2020, will include a different lunar landing and the deployment of its rover. RELATED ARTICLE: Japan Bringing Base-Ball Size Transformable Rover for Moon Mission in 2029 to Study Lunar Surface Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times. The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group is set to host its 2023 IsDB Group Annual Meetings in Jeddah from May 10 to 13 bringing together a large spectrum of stakeholders, including ministers from the 57 member countries. Held under the patronage of The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, this years event falls under the theme: "Partnerships to Fend off Crises," highlighting the importance of collaboration in addressing challenges faced by IsDB member countries. The other attendees will be senior government officials, heads of international organisations, representatives from the private sector, civil society, academia, and the media, among others. It will serve as a conducive platform for dialogue and collaboration, with the aim of identifying actionable solutions to foster inclusive and sustainable development in IsDB member countries. Private Sector Forum This year's Annual Meetings will also include the Private Sector Forum (PSF), hosted by the IsDB Group entities comprising the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD). The PSF aims to provide a unique platform for networking, establishing business relations, and exploring investment and trade opportunities offered by member countries. The four-day event will feature high-level plenary sessions, interactive panel discussions, technical sessions, and side events covering a wide range of topics, including poverty alleviation, infrastructure development, health, education, food security, climate change, and innovation. The Annual Meetings will provide a platform for member countries to showcase their development projects and initiatives, fostering partnerships for impactful outcomes. The IsDB Group will also host a dedicated exhibition space, showcasing the Group's innovative projects and initiatives, as well as the achievements and success stories of its member countries.-- TradeArabia News Service Atkhamjon Ubaidullayev, head of the main department of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, said that the country is constantly cooperating with Russian companies, including Gazprom, Lukoil and Tatneft, Trend reports citing UzDaily. Uzbekistan constantly cooperates with Russian partners in the oil and gas sector, in particular, an agreement was recently reached with Gazprom Neft on the supply of 300,000 tons of oil in 2023. This was announced on Tuesday by the head of the main department of the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan Atkhamjon Ubaidullaev. We are constantly working with our Russian partners, for example, an agreement was reached with Gazprom Neft to supply 300,000 tons of oil to the republic in 2023, Ubaidullaev said at the Innoprom. Central Asia, held in Tashkent. According to him, work is underway with other Russian companies, in particular, with Tatneft, which has three filling stations in the republic, negotiations are underway to expand its activities in the republic. Ubaidullayev also said that more than 30% of oil and gas companies in Uzbekistan were created with the participation of Russian capital. To date, the largest investor in the republic's oil and gas industry is the Lukoil company, which has already invested more than US$10 billion in two projects implemented on the basis of a production sharing agreement, Ubaidullayev said. An Iranian official announced on Tuesday that trade between Iran and Saudi Arabia had resumed as the two countries stepped up efforts to normalize ties following a China-brokered deal in March, Trend reports citing IRNA. Reza Fatemi-Amin, the Iranian minister of industry, mine and trade, made the remarks when asked to comment on the agreement reached between Tehran and Riyadh to normalize bilateral relations in March. On Sunday, Iranian Roads and Urban Development Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash announced that Iran has received a proposal from Saudi Arabia to launch three regular flights between the two countries per week, in addition to the Hajj flights, according to an interview published on the ministry website. Iran and Saudi Arabia reached a deal in March to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies and missions in the two countries within two months. In a meeting held in Beijing on April 6, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud signed a joint statement, announcing the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect. Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 in response to the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed a Shiite cleric. Romania has acquired 18 Bayraktar TB2 combat drones, Turkiyes ambassador to Bucharest announced on Wednesday, as the NATO outpost seeks to modernize its army, Trend reports citing Al Arabiya. Romania, a friend, Black Sea neighbor and NATO ally is adding Bayraktar TB2... to its inventory, Turkish diplomat Ozgur Kivanc Altan wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. A spokesperson for the Romanian defense ministry confirmed the information to AFP. Romanias government, which launched the procedure for the acquisition of 18 unmanned combat aerial vehicles in September 2022, signed a contract worth 321 million dollars with Turkiyes Baykar company. The drones are to be used by the countrys land forces. Rafe Swan/Getty Images A Walnut Creek high school student was stabbed and injured by another student Tuesday afternoon, according to police. Officers responded around 1 p.m. to Northgate High School after school officials reported that a girl was stabbed by a boy, Walnut Creek police said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Drivers on Highway 37, the narrow and chronically congested commuter route through fragile North Bay wetlands, could see grinding rush-hour trips between I-80 in Solano County and Highway 101 in Marin County cut at least in half by a project that will widen a key stretch within just a few years. But the plan includes adding a toll along the expanded part of the 21-mile-long highway to help cover the $430 million price tag a detail that prompted anger and concern this week from residents who say those who will bear the brunt are those who can least afford it. The project would expand the 7-mile, two-lane stretch of Highway 37 between Mare Island in Solano County and Sears Point in Sonoma County to four lanes, with one toll lane and one toll-free carpool lane planned in each direction. The project is in the final design and permitting phase, with construction expected to begin in 2025, officials said. The California Department of Transportation and the Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission are applying to the California Transportation Commission to operate electronic toll stations at each end of the 7-mile stretch. At a public meeting Monday in Vallejo hosted by the CTC, agency officials said the toll will help pay not only for construction, but for improvements that will address sea level rise and congestion concerns. Highway 37 is among the most vulnerable major roadways in the Bay Area, with Caltrans predicting portions of it could be completely inundated by 2050. Storms in recent years have periodically flooded the highway, forcing weeks-long closures. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle 2021 But many residents at the meeting, which was also streamed over Zoom, said the toll would be an additional financial burden for people who travel from Vallejo to Marin and Sonoma counties, where there are higher-paying jobs. The median household income in Vallejo is $78,243, according to census data, compared with $108,000 in Novato at the western terminus of the highway. According to transportation officials, of the 40,000-plus trips made daily on Highway 37, 40% are by low-income individuals and 28% are by people of color. This will create hardship on the people who commute on top of high gas prices, gas taxes and other expenses, a speaker said during the meeting. Its the responsibility of government federal, local, state to provide for our roads (and) not put it on the backs of the commuters who are already paying a lot. Officials say the project will benefit all commuters by reducing congestion and travel times, increasing access to jobs and boosting the economy in the Mare Island area. According to the CTC, the project would cut commute times dramatically: The eastbound evening commute would shrink from 100 minutes to 26 minutes, and westbound morning commute times from 60 to 30 minutes. New bus transit options would be offered from Vallejo to San Rafael, and low-income households would be offered toll discounts, planners say. They add that trail connections and improvements along the highway would benefit the public. The toll program, expected to generate $100 million to help cover the projects cost, is being managed by the Bay Area Infrastructure Financing Authority, an arm of the MTC. Tolling does help finance the infrastructure investments that were making today, said Andrew Fremier, executive director of MTC, during the meeting. It will be used to match with state and federal grants that we need to complete this particular important project. A specific toll rate has not been revealed yet, but Fremier said it would be consistent with toll bridges in the Bay Area, most of which cost $7 to cross. Officials said toll collection would not begin until the new lanes and a bus service between Vallejo and Marin County are added and the low-income toll discount program is in place. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle 2021 Public comments from the meeting Monday will be included in staff recommendations that the CTC will consider in May when it meets to discuss and vote on the toll application, said Paul Golaszewski, the agencys deputy director of legislation and finance. Drafting of the Highway 37 project got under way in 2020, and the environmental impact process has been completed, with Caltrans signing off on the impact report in February, according to John Goodwin, assistant communication director for the MTC and Bay Area Toll Authority. After design and permitting are completed, construction is expected to start in 2025 and wrap up in in 2027, documents show. The project will also replace the existing bridge over Tolay Creek near Sears Point with a much longer bridge that helps restore the San Pablo Baylands by increasing water flow into and out of the creek channel, according to agency documents. Work will also be done to stop deterioration of the area known as Strip Marsh East near Mare Island. Caltrans is looking at a much larger project as the longer-term answer to traffic congestion, rising waters and bayland restoration: an elevated four-lane causeway along the existing path of Highway 37. Such a project, which could take two decades or more and cost at least $6 billion, would also include a bicycle and pedestrian path and make provisions to eventually add SMART commuter rail services, Goodwin told The Chronicle. Tolling almost certainly would be part of any kind of funding package for this long-term transformation and almost certainly would include tolling the entire route from Novato to the I-80 interchange in Vallejo, Goodwin said. At the meeting Monday, a few people expressed support for the toll plan in the current project. As it becomes a bridge, it should be treated like other bridges, and we really want to make sure that we have a functioning highway before it goes underwater, said Cynthia Murray, CEO of North Bay Leadership Council, a group that represents employers. Agriculture and Forestry Ministry is working on projects aimed at utilizing geothermal energy resources, particularly in urban agriculture, while officials are looking into ways to boost biomass production in rural areas, Trend reports citing Daily News. The ministry favors the specialized greenhouse-organized industrial zones based on geothermal heating (TDIOSB) as the more appropriate model. This model facilitates the best use of geothermal energy and helps to undertake market-focused planned production. Officials have also chosen the locations to build those facilities in the provinces of Canakkale and Balkesir. Meanwhile, the ministry is working on a project to develop a specialized aquaculture-organized industrial zone in the Karatash district of the southern province of Adana. It will be the first and only aquaculture-organized industrial zone in Europe. The production at the Adana facility will be around 60,000 tons annually and contribute some $250 million to the countrys exports, according to officials from the ministry. Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry is teaming up with the Energy Ministry to offer alternative energy resources to rural areas that currently do not have access to natural gas. As part of those efforts, the mass production of biogas units that generate energy from cattle waste will be launched soon. The gas produced by that equipment will be offered for use in kitchens in rural areas. Turkiye has a large biogas production potential, Ali Rza Oner, a renewable energy expert, told the daily Milliyet. The electricity installed capacity based on biomass resources reached 2,172 MW as of end-June, which corresponded to 2.14 of all installed capacity, he said, noting that those resources provide power to some 4.5 million homes. The provinces of Konya and Erzurum account for 5.1 percent and 4.75 percent of total biogas energy production, respectively, Oner noted. Istanbul ranks first in terms of biogas facilities capacity, followed by the provinces of Balkesir, Ankara, Samsun and Antalya, Oner added. The Turkiye Electromechanics Industries (TEMSAN), operating under the roof of the Energy Ministry, has developed Biotem, which produces biogas from organic wastes. One Biotem unit can generate energy from three cattle in a month, which is equivalent to 12 propane cylinders used in kitchens. The prototypes of Biotem are currently being used in 10 provinces. Oakland teachers overwhelmingly voted to support a strike, union officials announced Tuesday, but they added they will hold off calling for a walkout hoping for more productive bargaining sessions even as state officials consider whether a strike would be illegal. District officials have filed for an injunction to prevent a strike, requesting the Public Employees Relations Board grant an injunction, a binding decision that would prevent the walkout. That decision is expected within the next few days. But leaders of the Oakland Education Association said that a strike is still on the table and with the states approval, teachers will walk out if the district does not come to the table with an improved attitude. We will set a strike date if Oakland doesnt come to bargain fairly, said Ismael Armendariz, interim president of the union, adding that 88% of teachers who voted, which included about 2,600 of the 3,000 members, support a strike. Those who voted yes, voted yes to force OUSD to bargain in good faith, Armendariz said. If that doesnt happen, he said, a strike could happen before the end of the school year. If the labor board gives the green light and the union sets a date, a strike would likely shutter district schools, requiring families of the 34,000 students to figure out child care as well as meals and other services provided by schools. The threatened strike is the latest in a series of struggles in the district, including declining enrollment, division over school closures and continuing fiscal issues, which have led to state and county officials questioning Oakland Unifieds ability to balance its budget in the coming years once pandemic recovery money run out. If teachers end up walking out this spring, it will be the third time in just over a year, with a wildcat strike at the end of March resulting in 400 teachers missing school for a day and a districtwide one-day strike a year ago this month over the boards decision to close schools. District officials fear frustration over lost learning could drive more families away. They also believe the strike would be illegal, given that the legally mandated bargaining process had not been fulfilled before a walkout. The two sides continue to negotiate and neither side has declared an impasse, which would trigger mediation. Oakland Unified officials said in their state filing that there is no compelling state interest that would justify a violation of students constitutional rights, especially as this strike activity is based on threadbare allegations of harm. Union officials have filed a labor complaint and have accused the district of negotiating in bad faith, allowing them to strike over unfair labor practices before going through all the steps otherwise required to strike when bargaining fails. Its possible the union could strike now and then again after impasse, fact-finding and mediation are completed without a contract. Weve taken the vote, but we really do want to avoid a strike, said Kampala Tais-Rancifer, vice president of the Oakland Education Association, adding that union representatives support the offers of mediation from state officials, which they say the district has declined. School board President Mike Hutchinson said he was unfamiliar with offers of mediation, but bringing in a mediator now would upend the legally mandated bargaining process. There is a process for bargaining and if theres no agreement, first an impasse is declared, then fact finding, then mediation, he said. We have been bargaining and were not even at impasse. The unions position, included in a rebuttal filed with the state, claims Oakland Unified representatives have been appearing at the bargaining table unprepared and incapable of discussing proposals; offering predictably unacceptable proposals with the inevitable effect of infuriating OEA and its bargaining unit members and impeding bargaining, according to the response. On Tuesday night, the district released a statement, saying: As of 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, OUSD is currently at the bargaining table in negotiations with OEA. Beyond tonight, the District will remain ready to meet with the teachers union at any time, and looks forward to continuing our efforts to reach an agreement with OEA that honors our educators and best supports our students learning. We will continue to do everything possible to avoid a work stoppage. The union has demanded an initial 23% raise as well as more student supports, full funding of the Reparations for Black Students resolution, climate-controlled classrooms for all students, and much more. That includes more counselors and social workers as well as class sizes down to 20 in K-3 classrooms and at most 30 in academic high school courses. District officials have proposed about a 22% increase to the salary schedule starting next year, with a one-time $3,000 in back pay, putting Oakland teachers above average in pay across the region. The increase would mean a starting salary of nearly $63,000 for the least experienced tenured teachers and a top end of nearly $118,000 over the 180 instructional days and six additional work days. Union officials in a negotiations update just over a week ago said the districts offer applied only to tenured teachers and not other staff, which means first- and second-year teachers, as well as those with emergency credentials, would not be included. The threatened strike has divided Oaklands public school community, with hundreds signing a petition voicing opposition, saying students cant afford to miss any more learning days. District officials noted in their state petition that during the two one-day strikes, students lost hundreds of minutes of instruction and, district-wide, hundreds of thousands of hours of instruction. At the same time, more than 2,000 have signed a petition supporting the unions demands. Parent Nat Landry, whose child is a fourth-grader at Sequoia Elementary, said he fully supports the teachers. There is no budget crisis in OUSD, he said. Teachers fight for students and their families everyday. Now its our turn to fight for them. Fields of wind turbines planned off the California coast in the decades ahead are part of an ambitious effort to draw on ocean winds as a new source of clean power for the state. None of those wind farms would be located outside the Golden Gate. But San Francisco port officials say their southern industrial waterfront is the perfect place to build them. The type of floating wind turbines needed to harness Californias blustery coastal conditions are rare most turbines are affixed to the ocean floor posing a technically challenging yet alluring opportunity for innovation and industry, according to the Port of San Francisco. Port officials are vying for state approval to establish a manufacturing hub to develop and fabricate a new kind of floating platform necessary to generate energy off Californias coast, where the steadiest wind patterns are found above deep waters. The jobs that would be created by this industry are exactly the kinds of jobs weve all been hoping for, said David Chiu, San Francisco city attorney and a former state Assembly member who has pushed the development of offshore wind power in California. Elaine Forbes, the ports executive director, said in an interview they have no estimate yet for how many jobs this industry might generate for San Francisco. But its a promising opportunity to transform the ports industrial piers near the Bayview, currently used mostly for concrete production and destruction. And it would bring manufacturing jobs to the city and maritime-related industry back to the waterfront. On Tuesday, port commissioners heard staff presentations on the merits of their endeavor, still in its early stages, to position the citys waterfront as a place where companies could become global leaders in floating turbine creation. Port staff arent proposing to become a manufacturing hub for turbine towers because those structures typically above 300 feet and expected to grow even taller in the coming decades cant be floated upright below the Golden Gate and Bay bridges. But the city is poised to be a central hub for manufacturing other components of offshore wind. Current wind fields are planned off Humboldt Bay to the north and Morro Bay in central California. The California Energy Commission is developing a strategic plan for developing these new turbines, including all aspects of its supply chain, which will be presented to the Legislature and the California Natural Resources agencies at the end of June. Andre Coleman, the ports maritime director, said they wanted to put San Francisco at the center of this nascent niche. We have the acreage, we have the water, we have the workforce, Coleman said. In 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new state law AB525, authored by Chiu that established the states first offshore wind goals to have a generating capacity of at least 10 gigawatts by 2045. Then last year, the California Energy Commission called for an even more aggressive goal of 25 gigawatts of generation capacity from offshore wind within that same time frame enough to power 25 million homes. Ocean winds quicken as the sun sets down, positioning offshore wind as a critical source of clean energy to offset the pitfalls of solar power only generated during the day, said Chiu. This is not an issue of whether the technology is feasible, its more an issue of whether California can get its act together, Chiu said. This is an opportunity to be central to the international offshore wind industry. The San Francisco Art Institute has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, a move that will force the 152-year-old institution to liquidate its assets and abandon its legendary campus on the edge of Russian Hill. The Art Institute filed for bankruptcy on April 19, according to documents reviewed by The Chronicle. It was a good run for 152 years and it is such a tragedy that it is gone, said John Marx who served as co-chair of the institutes board. The passion was there until the very end and up to the moment that we filed we were still trying to get a couple of billionaires on the East Coast to help us out but it just didnt work out. Added his co-chair Lonnie Graham, after every single possible effort we just werent able to get the support that was necessary to keep it going. It is tragic. Chapter 7 bankruptcy requires liquidation of assets in order to repay creditors. A meeting of the creditors will be held May 17. Most prominent among them is the University of San Francisco, which claims it is owed around $6 million for costs incurred in exploring a relationship between the two institutions in an attempt to save the art school. But USF ultimately decided not to go through with it in July 2022, and the Art Institute announced it would cease operations, ending a San Francisco tradition that dates to 1871. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle The other main creditors are the Art Institutes landlords, who claim theyre owed back rent. The Regents of the University of California own the building and the land at the main campus, 800 Chestnut Street, under a complicated arrangement of a will that donated the property. It claims $450,000 in unpaid rent. Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture owns the pier under the graduate school, a $14 million campus that opened in 2017 in a spectacularly ill-timed expansion in the face of dramatically declining enrollment and an increasing debt load. The Fort Mason campus closed in March 2020, with the Art Institute abandoning a 55-year master lease. It was finally evicted for nonpayment of rent last year. The space remains vacant. Fort Mason claims it is owed in excess of $750,000. SFAIs closure and pending bankruptcy is a loss for every San Franciscan who values the citys creative spirit, said Mike Buhler, President and CEO of Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture. AT&T is owed $30,000, PG&E is owed $6,900 and the annotated list goes on for 49 pages all the way to Bay Alarm, which is owed $1,305 and Dewey Pest Control, which is owed $816. Also among the creditors are every faculty member who has lost his or her job in the upheaval and is owed severance. Total liabilities listed on the bankruptcy filing total a little more than $10 million. Among assets, the Art Institute lists $9.35 in an account at Silicon Valley Bank, and $125,000 in the value of an untitled painting by noted Mission School artist Alicia McCarthy. There is also $50,000 in office equipment and art-making machinery. But the main asset is The Making of a Fresco Showing the Building of a City, a mural painted on commission by Diego Rivera in 1931. It hangs in its own namesake gallery on the main campus. That is valued in the bankruptcy declaration at $50 million, though the statement notes that it has not been appraised within the past year. The total value of assets is just under $65 million, according to the Art Institute. When it became known that the Art Institute was possibly shopping the Diego Rivera mural around, it was declared a city landmark. That means it cannot be moved without permission of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Had the Art Institute been allowed to sell the Rivera mural for $50 million, as was rumored, it would have saved the school, Marx told The Chronicle. It is the last chapter of a long running civic education arts tragedy, said Supervisor Aaron Peskin who sponsored the legislation to landmark the mural. The legacy lives everywhere. All around this city and this country is the art that this institution produced and fostered, from Annie Leibovitz to North Beachs own Dennis Hearne. But at this point it is over. The Rivera fresco will remain and Peskin is looking into ways to put it onto a public gallery. This year, the Art Institute established a Legacy Foundation and in March the 152nd anniversary of the school was honored. The foundation rented space at Crown Point Press for the SFAI archives and it is not known if those materials will be affected by the bankruptcy filing. Through a spokesperson, administrators at USF confirmed that the school was a secured creditor but declined to comment further. The UC Office of the President also did not respond to a request for comment. The Art Institute closed its main campus in 2022 after many years of failed board reorganizations, capital campaigns and fundraisers that were mounted to stave off ruin at the once proud art school where Ansel Adams, Richard Diebenkorn and Wayne Thiebaud taught. The student body, which had been as high as 700, was down to 41 students at the time of its closure. The reality is that schools this size that are tuition-based are a vanishing species, said Gordon Knox, a former president of the institute. And there is no changing evolution. Its safe to say that if it wasnt for Black female voters, President Joe Biden wouldnt be in office, let alone announcing a bid for a re-election as he did on Tuesday morning. It seems like Biden knows this as well. The three-minute video announcing his candidacy, which he posted on all of his social media accounts, includes footage of his Black Vice President Kamala Harris, civil rights leaders, and his newly appointed Black Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. When I ran for president four years ago, I said we are in a battle for the soul of America, and we still are, Biden said in the video. If Biden hopes to win this battle in a second term, hell have to re-energize Black female voters who arent enthusiastic about him as a candidate but who also recognize the heavy burden they bear as caretakers of Democracy in America. In 2024, that role might mean ensuring Biden isnt replaced by an extreme politician from the right whose policies would have a disproportionately negative effect on the countrys most oppressed populations. In 2020, a little more than 90% of Black women voted for Biden over Donald Trump, and Black women turned out at the polls in greater numbers for him than they did for Hillary Clinton four years earlier. But Black women will have to take a pragmatic view of Bidens time in office before lending him the same level of support in 2024, according to Brittni Chicuata, who serves as a board member of Emerge California, a nonprofit that works to increase diversity in elected offices. Biden hasnt been as bad of a president for Black people as pundits would have people presume, Chicuata said. One of the biggest investments he has made, particularly in Black women, has been student loan forgiveness. Whether or not Bidens plan to forgive up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt is constitutional will be decided by the Supreme Court in a little over a month. But Bidens plan is significant for Black women in a country where the group carries disproportionately more student loan debt, and due to systemic racism in the job market, has a harder time paying it off. Courtney Welch, a member of the Emeryville City Council, told me that since her 2021 election, she has developed a greater appreciation for Bidens legislative actions, particularly those around repairing and replacing aging infrastructure in the U.S., which will be beneficial to underserved communities. Patrick Semansky/Associated Press But Welch said she isnt dismissing the shortcomings of Bidens administration, and Democrats writ large, who have not been aggressive or savvy enough to stem the rights attacks on reproductive health care and Black and brown voting rights, among other things. Yes, Biden is worth supporting, and Im a Democrat who knows Democrats dont honor me the way they should as a Black woman and voter. But I also know this election is bigger than Biden, Welch said. I have children to protect, fellow Black Democrats to protect. We dont have to be in love with Biden to support him. From an optics standpoint, Biden has made a concerted effort to make Black women like Welch see him as someone who prioritizes Black womens issues. He nominated the first Black woman to the Supreme Court in Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, and his decision to have Kamala Harris as his vice president, making her the first Black woman to ever hold the position, remains significant in the eyes of many Black voters. Playing into Bidens favor is a lack of Democrat candidates who could serve as viable alternatives to him. This isnt lost on Black voters, according to a January poll by the Washington, D.C.-based HIT Strategies, a public-opinion research company, that showed a majority, or 59%, of Black voters felt Biden should run for re-election. But Biden surrounding himself with bright Black minds could also be seen as the Democratic Party just doing what it has always done, which is to mine the intellectual labor of Black women without truly showing they care about them with policies, as Monica McLemore, a professor at UCSFs School of Nursing, told me. Black women like McLemore heeded the call to lead voter mobilization efforts to keep Trump from being re-elected in 2020. Yet, McLemore said shes frustrated today with waiting for Democrats to make robust investments in the social safety nets that can improve the health outcomes for Black women in this country. Supporting Biden will come with some complicated feelings, McLemore said, especially for many Black women who are eager for a president who does more than uphold the status quo. Here we find ourselves again in a political situation where the same candidate is the only viable option to lead the federal government, McLemore said with a sigh. Its embarrassing, and its frustrating. But I guess thats just where we are. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday visited the flooded fields of the San Joaquin Valley where the long-dry Tulare Lake has stunningly re-emerged, pledging support for the rural towns taking in floodwater. The Governors Office of Emergency Services and other state agencies have been in Fresno, Kings, Kern and Tulare counties for more than a month to help with cleanup from storms that sent high water from rivers and creeks over roads, farms and even neighborhoods. Over the next few months, more flooding is expected as record snow in the nearby Sierra Nevada melts and swells waterways. Some channels have had so much water that theyve spilled into the historical bed of Tulare Lake, now home to mostly agricultural fields and a handful of small communities. Were here for the long haul, Newsom said at a press conference in unincorporated Kings County where a flooded tractor and other submerged farm equipment stood in the background. We recognize the impact this has had on real people. Still, even with all the attention on the region, at least one city is not getting what it says it needs to stay dry. Corcoran, an agricultural center on what was once the bottom of Tulare Lake in Kings County, doesnt have the money that local leaders have been pursuing to raise a nearly 15-mile levee for flood protection for its 22,500 residents and a major prison complex. Earlier this month, the local flood control district, in coordination with the city, tapped its limited reserves to begin the estimated $17 million to $21 million levee upgrade. But City Manager Greg Gatzka said Tuesday the work may have to stop if financial help doesnt come soon. Thats the reality, Gatzka said. If we cant get our funding reimbursed, we cant keep spending money on this project. The Cross Creek Flood Control District has said that floodwaters from Tulare Lake could overtake the citys levee in late spring or early summer with the snowmelt. Tulare Lake dried up decades ago when agricultural interests choked off the incoming waterways. However, the lake has been known to return in a handful of extraordinarily wet years, most recently 1997, when irrigation and flood control systems cant contain the runoff from Sierra rivers. At least 100 square miles of farm country remained underwater this week. Corcoran, the largest community threatened by the lake, has more than $6 billion of property at risk, according to estimates by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation operates two neighboring prison facilities in the city with about 8,000 total inmates. Officials with the Cross Creek Flood Control District say that June 1 is their target date for raising the L-shaped levee that partially surrounds the city by about 4 feet. Its a big job thats estimated to require 850,000 cubic yards of dirt more than 50,000 dump trucks worth. Work began on the project the first week of April. Newsom said Tuesday that the state is still evaluating where to channel aid. He said the process has been slow because the region doesnt have a coordinated flood control plan. A patchwork of agencies and landowners are working sometimes independently and against one another to stop the floodwaters. Were assessing the rules of engagement. Theyre not well established, Newsom said. Different ownership structures. Different expectations. You cant just raise one portion of the levee without considering the impact in another portion. There are unintended consequences. State officials were expected to meet with Corcoran officials late Tuesday to discuss the levee project. Kings County Supervisor Richard Valle, who represents the Corcoran area, said he was confident the community would get what it needs. For the governor to be here today lowers the anxiety level, Valle said. People know that the governor is aware. He shows that he cares about being here. And we look forward to working together to get past the challenging times that we have ahead of us. UPDATE: Man accused of attacking ex-S.F. official released from jail after commissioner skips court An attorney representing the man accused of beating former San Francisco fire commissioner Don Carmignani with a metal pipe asked a judge to release her client after accusing Carmignani of terrorizing homeless people near his Marina district residence with bear mace. The public defender representing Garret Doty, the man accused of beating Carmignani, dropped the bombshell allegation during Dotys scheduled preliminary hearing Wednesday. Doty faces a raft of charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery with serious bodily injury, for a violent altercation on April 5 that left Carmignani, 53, with a broken skull and jaw, requiring emergency surgery and 51 stitches. Local politicians were quick to condemn the attack, which inflamed anger and apprehension that the city was unraveling only for that narrative to be upended when evidence surfaced that Doty may have acted in self-defense. It was the second time in recent days that the perception of a high-profile San Francisco crime had shifted abruptly. Carmignanis bludgeoning came on the heels of the fatal stabbing of CashApp founder Bob Lee on April 3, a slaying that people rushed to blame on homelessness, mental illness and social disorder. Yet, in a twist a week later, law enforcement arrested an acquaintance of Lee who worked in tech the brother of a woman with whom Lee had spent time. On Wednesday, public defender Kleigh Hathaway cast Carmignani, and not her client, as the aggressor. He is terrorizing (homeless people) with a 10-inch can of bear spray, not pepper spray. He sprayed anything and everything, including my client, Hathaway said in court. She noted that San Francisco police turned over eight police reports dating back to November 2021, which documented several incidents of a man matching Carmignanis description spraying unhoused individuals with bear mace. Six of the incidents occurred within two blocks of Carmignanis house on Magnolia Street in the Marina district. In those reports, obtained during the discovery process, the man wielding the spray can appeared to target people who were either sitting or lying down. A doorbell security video shows a man in a surgical mask walking up to a person wrapped in a blanket on the sidewalk, then spraying the person in the face as the victim scrambles for cover. On Jan. 6, a man sprayed a man and a woman three separate times on Magnolia and Buchanan streets before spraying their dog. The assailant then kicked the man as he lay on the ground, and stole the womans wallet and cash from her hand, according to Hathaway, who cited the police reports. Security footage from the April 5 attack shows a man with a similar build and stride as the one in the other video, walking toward a pile of suitcases and other possessions on the sidewalk and pulling an object out of his pocket as he approaches another man who runs and tries to shield his head with a jacket. The two stand and face each other and then the first man pursues the second down the street. Now Playing: Video shows a man spraying unhoused people. Attorneys for a man accused of attacking Don Carmignani say the man in the video is Carmignani. Video: San Francisco Public Defenders Office A third party witness told police that she heard Carmignani threaten to stab and kill Doty if he did not leave the area, spokespeople from the public defenders office said in a statement on Wednesday. Doty responded to Mr. Carmignani in self-defense. Carmignanis attorney, Samuel Ray, said there is no evidence linking his client to the reports, and San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins acknowledged that while the reports contain allegations, the police did not arrest Carmignani in any of the incidents. Prosecutors sought to persuade San Francisco Superior Court Judge Loretta M. Giorgi to grant them another day to make their case. Assistant District Attorney Michele Brass said in court that we do not have a necessary witness in this matter. Mr. Carmignani cannot testify and has not provided an interview to the San Francisco Police Department. Brass blamed Carmignanis medical condition for causing delays in the critical interviews. On Monday afternoon, another prosecutor had emailed Carmignanis lawyer, saying the district attorney would move to dismiss the case, according to a message reviewed by The Chronicle. Now Playing: Video shows a man spraying unhoused people. Attorneys for a man accused of attacking Don Carmignani say the man in the video is Carmignani. Video: San Francisco Public Defenders Office But Hathaway fired back, saying that Carmignani had made a television appearance on KPIX in which he lamented the district attorneys decision to drop charges against his alleged attacker. That is disturbing, if he is able to make a press appearance but not a lawful court appearance, Giorgi said. Giorgi rescheduled the preliminary hearing for Thursday morning, citing a shortage of available courtrooms Wednesday. Mr. Doty, tomorrow, if no witness comes forward, I am prepared to release you from custody, Giorgi said. Late Tuesday, Carmignanis family and supporters began presenting their version of events to national media. In a statement, the family criticized District Attorney Brooke Jenkins for planning to release Doty back onto city streets with impunity, and said that Jenkins was contemplating charges against Carmignani for allegedly unleashing pepper spray which Hathaway later said was bear mace on Doty and provoking the assault on April 5. Claiming that prosecutors had not tried to interview the former fire commissioner, the family promised to disseminate videos that would show how the attack unfolded. In the footage, they said, Doty seizes a metal weapon from a trash can and takes practice swings before he and another alleged assailant confront Carmignani in front of his mothers house on Magnolia Street. Family members say Doty then battered the 53-year-old in the parking lot of a gas station and chased him down Lombard Street while striking his head with a metal rod. In their statement, family members expressed fear that the district attorney had shifted focus, and was now threatening to go after Carmignani instead of Doty, who they perceived as the real instigator and threat to the neighborhood. After sending their commentary to news outlets, Ray said he got a call from the district attorneys office saying the prosecution would move forward after all, and that he needed to appear in court the next morning. Ray said that Carmignani did not attend the hearing because he had not received a subpoena. We will continue to work with his lawyers to see if he can come in, Jenkins told reporters who gathered Wednesday afternoon in the courtyard of a Potrero Hill office park. She said her staff had pondered dismissing the case but reversed course after a more experienced attorney assessed it and made a different recommendation. Jenkins also indicated that Carmignani had not cooperated with the investigation. Mr. Carmignani has not provided an interview to the San Francisco Police Department on this case despite multiple requests for an interview, she said. We are in discussions with Mr. Carmignanis attorneys to see if he can come to court tomorrow. We are hopeful that he is available to testify in open court, as he has now given an on-camera media interview about the attack from his recollection. She warned that her office is bound by law to release Doty from jail Thursday if the hearing cannot proceed. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate One of the Bay Areas most notable Southeast Asian chefs is finally opening her new restaurant two years after announcing the project. But, as chef Nora Haron explained, most labels for the food shell serve at the new East Bay business, such as Singaporean-Indonesian, cant tell the full story. SanDai, from chef Haron and owner Amanda Toh Steckler, opens Wednesday, May 3, in Walnut Creek with a menu showcasing dishes inspired by Harons family background across Nusantara, the Southeast Asian archipelago encompassing Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and parts of Thailand and the Philippines. Its a huge melting pot, said Haron, whose family roots extend throughout Southeast Asia and as far as Kerala in Southern India. SanDai is the latest from Haron, who served Singaporean-Californian dishes at Oaklands popular DripLine Cafe before it closed in 2018. In 2019, she moved on to Cal-Italian restaurant Local Kitchen in SoMa as executive chef and partner. Steckler tapped Haron to lead the kitchen at SanDai, having worked with her during the opening of the first U.S. franchise of Singaporean casual cafe chain Killiney Kopitiam in Palo Alto in 2020. (SanDai was originally planned as an outpost of Singapores Table at 7 restaurant, but Haron and Steckler changed directions). Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle When asked what sets Nusantara cuisine apart, Haron quickly pointed to sambal: a staple chile paste from the Nusantara region. She developed nine recipes for sambal to feature the condiment across the menu. The banana leaf-wrapped grilled branzino ($32) topped with in-house pickled vegetables comes with a classic spicy-umami sambal. The grilled half chicken ($25) comes slathered in a sambal flavored with coconut and turmeric. The tiger prawn satays ($20) come with a sambal thickened with sweet soy sauce, while the beef satays ($22) are spiced with cubeb black pepper and hit with a dab of herby pistachio sambal that resembles chimichurri. Among the modern versions of traditional Nusantara dishes Haron will serve at SanDai is the salmon otak bowl ($18), a reinterpretation of a Malay fish cake called otak otak. SanDais otak bowl comes topped with caviar from Sacramento Valleys Tsar Nicoulai and an herby creme fraiche with a sprig of dill. Other imaginative dishes include the laksa raviolo, which replaces rice noodles for a single raviolo stuffed with tiger prawn swimming in a red broth. Harons beef rendang, a slow-cooked coconut milk stew with spices, is a dish that varies greatly from island to island. In the East Bay, Harons version comes topped with pickled pineapple. Malaysia has its version of (beef rendang), Singaporeans make their own version, and now Im making my own Californian version, Haron said. Four types of rice, including a fish fried rice ($8), rice flavored with ginger flower and herbs ($6) and a combination of lemongrass and pandan ($5), will be available as sides. Haron didnt want to tie a single style of rice to each entree, and these sides allow diners to share and try different rice dishes. Of course, after cooking Californian-style dishes around the Bay Area for so long, shes developed an affinity for ingredients like romanesco, mushrooms and cauliflower sourced from regional farms. However, as much as Haron pushes for sourcing local produce, there are a few items she must import. The cubeb and sarawak, two fragrant types of black pepper, a specific brand of coconut milk and fresh dragon fruit come straight from Indonesia. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle SanDais dining room is bright with white walls adorned with carvings from Bali and views into the open kitchen. A private dining area offers views onto Main Street, while the bar area features sleek countertops with fossilized seashells. Total seating capacity is 100. Harons restaurant isnt her only project coming to Walnut Creek. Kopi Bar, an adjacent coffee bar, opened Wednesday morning. The joint space will serve drip and espresso drinks with beans sourced from Indonesia roasted by Beaneka, an Indonesian roaster in Concord, and selections from Oakland roaster Mr. Espresso. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle The cafe will also showcase Harons experience as a baker. Her pastries include classic croissants and flaky snail buns dusted with coconut sugar. Harons lapis gulung, a traditional Indonesian cake made with an egg-heavy batter with nutmeg and other spices, will be one of the shops specialties, along with a cruffin, a croissant dough muffin, filled with a coconut egg cream. Kopi Bars special drinks include a coconut cappuccino made with an Indonesian coconut cream that Haron imported due to its richness, which she likens to whole milk. But the drink Haron is most excited for is the avocado coffee: a shot of espresso atop a creamy, foamy base of freeze-dried avocado blended with oat milk and sweet condensed milk. When Haron tried it on a trip to Bali, she knew she needed it at her shop, she said. Youre going to come in here and experience chef Noras interpretation of Nusantaran cuisine, said Haron, lapsing into the third person. These are my travels and my journey. SanDai. 1522 N. Main St., Walnut Creek. 3-9:30 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday. Kopi Bar: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. General Motors-backed Cruise got permission from state regulators to run its robotaxis across all of San Francisco 24 hours a day, seven days a week. City transportation leaders opposed the expansion, citing dozens of recent incidents where Cruise and Waymo vehicles disrupted traffic and Muni transit. The milestone for the company means San Francisco will serve as the nations testing ground for how autonomous vehicles operate in a city without any geofencing or time restrictions. Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt said the companys expansion in San Francisco is a pivotal moment for our business. For years, Cruise and other AV companies have been under pressure to commercialize and prove their robotaxis can turn a profit. The San Francisco-based company has been operating at a deficit and lost $561 million in the first quarter of 2023, the Verge reported. Operating robotaxis in SF has become a litmus test for business viability, Vogt said in a tweet. If it can work here, theres little doubt it can work just about everywhere. Terry Chea/Associated Press Cruise has been charging for driverless rides on about 30% of city streets during nighttime hours since last summer. The company touts its driverless cars performance in San Francisco, where they have to navigate narrow, hilly streets and busy corridors brimming with cyclists and pedestrians. Under the companys planned expansion, Cruise employees are the first people able to hail fully driverless rides across the city round-the-clock. Cruises power users, who ride for free in exchange for providing testing and feedback, will have access to robotaxi rides during daytime hours in select neighborhoods that include the Sunset, Richmond, Cole Valley and Pacific Heights. These power users can also hail Cruise robotaxis to get around most of the city at night, except for parts of downtown and some neighborhoods near Twin Peaks. Its unclear when Cruise plans to expand paid rides to daytime hours and how many of its autonomous vehicles will be on city streets during the day. A Cruise spokesperson said the company is starting small and expanding slowly as we scale our fleet. The spokesperson said months of careful testing gave Cruise confidence in its expansion. Though its driverless cars have caused disruptions across the city, none have resulted in life-threatening injuries or fatalities, according to the company. San Franciscos transportation leaders, who have no regulatory power over AV companies, have largely viewed driverless vehicles with skepticism. Theyre wary of their potential to worsen traffic congestion on city streets, like during the debut of Uber and Lyft rideshares in the 2010s. But beyond those concerns, city officials have sought to halt companies expansion in part because there have been instances where confused Cruise and Waymo vehicles have come to a complete stop in traffic. Jeffrey Tumlin, director of the Municipal Transportation Agency that oversees Muni and city streets, said city transportation leaders urge state regulators to require AV companies to submit better data that would help illustrate the scope of these incidents. City officials told regulators in January that the driverless vehicles have impeded emergency responses, ground local traffic to a halt and blocked Muni buses and trains after abrupt stops. They warned that such incidents could increase very significantly if companies can expand without restrictions. When they get confused, autonomous vehicles tend to stop wherever theyre at, Tumlin said. That includes being confused about how to deal with situations like human traffic control, construction sites, emergency sites and other things that they find unexpected and yet exist in dozens of locations in San Francisco every single day. San Francisco will no longer boycott 30 states that passed conservative laws after city officials determined that the restrictions were too costly and had little impact other than adding more bureaucracy. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to repeal a local law that prevented city employees from traveling to or doing business with companies based in states that had passed laws limiting LGBTQ rights, voting rights and abortion access. Supervisors rolled back the entire law in a 7-4 vote just one month after the board agreed to exempt construction contracts from the boycott. Mayor London Breed has already said she supports repealing or reforming the underlying law. Its not achieving the goal we want to achieve, said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who sponsored the legislation that repealed the whole boycott. It is making our government less efficient. The boycott law was originally passed by supervisors in 2016 and first applied only to states that had restricted LGBTQ rights after the Supreme Courts 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage across the country. Supervisors amended the law in subsequent years to apply also to states that placed new limits on abortion access and voting rights. A central goal of the boycott was to put pressure on other states, but a recent report by City Administrator Carmen Chus office found that only one state had been removed from the list and none ever said they changed their laws because of San Franciscos. Additionally, the report found that the law made city contracting a more cumbersome and expensive process. An earlier report from the boards Budget and Legislative Analyst found that implementing the boycott had cost the city nearly $475,000 in staffing expenses. And the city was approving a large number of exemptions to the boycott anyway: Departments granted 538 waivers for contracts worth $791 million between mid-2021 and mid-2022, the report found. The legislative analyst said the full effect of the boycott on the citys contract costs was difficult to pin down but pointed to past research that had found that a fully competitive process could produce savings up to 20%. We havent changed a single law. We have made competitive bidding less competitive, said Supervisor Matt Dorsey. I think San Franciscans would be angry if they knew the amount of hoops that have to be jumped through and the added cost to city contracting. Supervisors Shamann Walton, Connie Chan, Dean Preston and Myrna Melgar voted against repealing the boycott, in part because they thought the city should have spent more time considering how the repeal would affect local small businesses. There can be so many unintended consequences with this repeal, Walton said, adding that some states have been doubling down on their restrictions and he did not want the city to give anyone the impression that we are not still fighting against these discriminatory practices and laws. The man who perpetrated one of San Franciscos most notorious, savage crimes must stay in prison for now but the states parole system will give him his 18th chance at release in just three years, setting up his victims for yet more suffering. On April 18, 1974, Angelou Pavageau climbed through the window of a Victorian home on Kansas Street, tied up Frank Carlson and bludgeoned him to death as his wife, Annette Carlson, screamed in horror. He then raped Annette for hours, beat her, slit her wrists, set her bedroom on fire and calmly left. On Tuesday, Pavageau showed up to his 17th parole hearing, this one held virtually. His close-cropped hair turned gray, his skin wrinkled and his eyes tired, he sat next to his lawyer at a long wooden table. Wearing a baggy, light blue shirt, he told the parole board hed been rehabilitated and was sorry for what hed done. But he also made up new lies about that horrific night. It was the first time Pavageau had appeared at a hearing in roughly 20 years, opting to waive others or stipulate he wasnt suitable for parole. This time, his odds of release were better than theyd ever been because California has passed laws urging leniency for incarcerated people who committed their crimes before the age of 26 or who have served 20 years and are past the age of 50. Pavageau was just shy of 26 on that horrific night and is now 74. Annette Carlson hasnt attended any of the parole hearings, including Tuesdays. Unable to bear them, shes sent a lawyer on her behalf instead. In an interview this month, she told me she hoped the parole board would halt the endless cycle of hearings, each one turning her into a petrified shut-in for weeks or months at a time. Under Marsys Law, passed by California voters in 2008 to expand victims rights, the board could have opted to push off Pavageaus next hearing by up to 15 years, rather than its standard three, if it didnt think hed be suitable for parole by then. It gets harder and harder to be thrown back, to relive what happened, to grieve so intensely, over and over and over again, Annette told me. Im older. I would like closure before I die. She didnt get it Tuesday. Commissioner David Ndudim and Deputy Commissioner Rachel Stern ran the hearing and asked Pavageau questions. After three hours of testimony, they deliberated privately and returned to say they agreed Pavageau wasnt yet suitable for release, but that he would get another chance to prove otherwise in 2026, despite her attorneys request for a 15-year delay. The rest of the commission, which wasnt in attendance, will have 120 days to review the decision, after which it will stand. After the hearing Tuesday, Annette told me she was very relieved that Pavageau will remain behind bars, but also wished the parole board had put off the next hearing for longer. Im just so tired, I can hardly think right now, she told me, her voice shaking. I dont have the words to describe my relief, I really dont. Its going to take some time to deal with the trauma of the months leading up to the parole hearing. It was only through several twists of fate that Pavageau is still alive and eligible for parole. A jury sentenced him to death, but the California Supreme Court in 1976 ruled the states capital punishment statute was unconstitutional. Seventy Death Row inmates, including Pavageau, saw their sentences eased. At the time, California didnt allow for a sentence of life in prison without parole, though the state Legislature quickly fixed that. But Pavageaus sentence couldnt be changed at that point, and he has been up for parole 17 times since even though state psychologists in 1991 determined he is a sadistic sexual psychopath who cannot benefit from treatment. Ndudim and Stern praised Pavageau for good behavior and for participating in some treatment programs, particularly for substance abuse. But they also said he should have taken advantage of programming available to domestic abusers and sex offenders, still seemed to be in denial about his crime and had lied to a state clinician as recently as January about details of the case. For decades, he also lied about being in a romantic relationship with Frank Carlson and flying into a fit of rage when Frank broke up with him. He said Tuesday he made that story up out of frustration after victims rights groups years ago attacked his pregnant wife at an earlier parole hearing. Linda Moore, assistant district attorney for San Francisco, said that excuse was also a lie. There was no attack and inmates families cannot attend parole hearings, she said. Pavageau on Tuesday then spun yet another story, telling commissioners hed been walking down Kansas Street that night in 1974, angry that hed caught his wife with another man, and started chucking rocks at his neighbors homes to let off steam. He claimed Frank Carlson came outside to order Pavageau to stop hurling rocks, and thats when Pavageau snapped and punched him. All previous testimony and evidence showed there was no rock throwing, no outdoor altercation and no punches thrown. Instead, Pavageau scaled a trellis to enter the bedroom of Annette, who was sleeping, and tried to smother her with a pillow. She woke up and screamed for her husband, who was working downstairs. Frank ran upstairs, and Pavageau forced the couple into the kitchen at knifepoint where he mutilated Franks skull with a hammer, butcher block and jar full of coins. The hearings most moving moments came when Eric Carlson, Franks younger brother, testified about adoring his kind, supportive big brother. Eric was born on Christmas Eve, 1957. Family lore has it that Frank, who was 9 at the time, held Eric that night and told his parents that his baby brother was the best Christmas present he could ever receive. Im appearing on behalf of my brother whos not able to speak for himself, Eric said, holding a photo of Frank, framed in gold, and choking up at several points. He also held up a snapshot of Frank and Annettes wedding. At just 13, hed served as Franks best man. I told him if I did that, then he would have to be the best man at my wedding, Eric told the commissioners. I married my wife in 1986. I had no best man at my wedding. Eric said the crime not only killed his brother and traumatized his sister-in-law, but also broke their families hearts and damaged the firefighters, paramedics, police officers and medical examiners forced to see the savagery of the crime scene. Pavageau sat, stone-faced and emotionless, throughout the testimony. After the hearing, Eric said he was relieved Pavageau would remain behind bars for another three years. He said he wished the next hearing was farther off, but that hell be there whenever and wherever it occurs. Ive attended a lot of these and they are emotional and draining and bureaucratic, he told me, adding hed slept fitfully in the weeks leading up to the hearing. I think Ill sleep better tonight. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. The Aerospace and Technology Festival (TEKNOFEST) will be held from April 27 through May 1 at the Istanbul Ataturk Airport in Turkiye, Trend reports via TurkicWorld. The prize fund of the festival, which will host 41 main competitions in 102 categories, is more than 13 million liras ($670,000), and financial support in the amount of more than 30 million liras ($1.54 million) will be provided. The first Turkish unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) Bayraktar KIZILELMA will also be presented at the festival. The KIZILELMA and AKINCI UCAVs manufactured by the Turkish Baykar company landed at Ataturk Airport on April 25. TEKNOFEST is Turkiye's first and only aerospace and technology festival organized with the partnership of many organizations that play a critical part in the development of national technology in Turkiye. By hosting many activities such as technology competitions, air shows, concerts, interviews and events on various topics, the festival aims to increase the interest in technology in society and to raise awareness about Turkiye's transformation into a society that produces and develops technology. Within the scope of TEKNOFEST, technology competitions in various disciplines and categories are organized for hundreds of thousands of young people to realize their dreams. Last year, the festival was held in Baku on May 26-29. ADS ADS The machine tools used in the watch industry have improved exponentially. 3D simulations calculate maximum tolerances, enabling components to be openworked to their functional and physical limits. CNC machines shape pieces with remarkable speed and dexterity. Wire erosion cuts through metal with diabolical precision. The human hand polishes and finishes, for a few microns less. At the end of this lengthy, part-mechanical, part-manual process we have empty space. Really? Only empty space? Sweet nothings Sometimes, yes, as seen at Watches and Wonders. The most beautiful watches have never relied solely on their movements and even go to remarkable lengths to have them disappear altogether. Making its return to the fair, Hysek again presented its IO Skeleton Tourbillon. Skeletonised to the extreme, it is little more than a barely-there movement. Meanwhile, in downtown Geneva, indie brand Artime was showing its equally minimalist ART01. There is no main plate; instead, the movement is tethered to the case. A barrel, a gear train, a tourbillon, nothing more! IO Skeleton Tourbillon Hysek King sapphire Transparency isnt only a question of mind (or engineering) over matter to create skeletonised movements. As surprising as it may sound, transparency can be achieved not by removing but by adding material. Counterintuitive? No, replies Hublot, not if the material itself is transparent, like sapphire. Enter the Square Bang Sapphire. Yes, it has a case but its almost invisible. As is the bracelet. The slightly disconcerting impression is that of a calibre sitting directly on the wrist. Square Bang Sapphire Hublot Just as astonishing, Chanel has not only given its Premiere Camelia X-Ray a sapphire case; it has also skeletonised the delicate movement. What remains of this elegant, graceful calibre has been set with diamonds. Precious stones floating in space, concealing the movement below. Premiere Camelia X-Ray Chanel Look this way Alongside this radical approach that consists of having the movement or case disappear from view, some brands occupy a middle ground and openwork certain areas in order to draw attention to a specific part of the composition. Cartier is a prime example. The surface under the micro-rotor of its surprising Santos-Dumont Skeleton Micro-Rotor has been openworked between 6 and 9 oclock, thus drawing the gaze to the aircraft hovering over it. Santos Dumont Skeleton Micro-Rotor Cartier Louis Moinet takes a similar approach. As the inventor of the chronograph, it has every reason to focus attention on this eminent complication. Hence the Saint-Blaise watchmaker has removed the upper section of the dial on its recent Time To Race, between 8 and 4 oclock. The ambitious mechanism is revealed, hypnotic, with the column wheel astutely positioned at 12 as the unmistakable focal point. Look away now. Except you cant! Time To Race Louis Moinet The composition of Jaeger-LeCoultres Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 is the mirror image of Louis Moinets: the upper part of the dial is solid while the lower section has been cut away to provide a generous space for the multi-axis rotations of the stunning semi-spherical tourbillon (whose balance spring develops horizontally rather than vertically, as in a cylindrical tourbillon, hence its name). Impossible to resist. Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 Jaeger-LeCoultre The same is true of Vacheron Constantins new Traditionnelle Tourbillon: however superb the olive green sunburst dial, the eye is instinctively, irresistibly drawn to the tourbillon, in the form of a Maltese Cross, that hangs in the air at 6 oclock. The entire watch is designed with the very purpose of creating space for a gravity-defying complication that commands our attention. Bloomberg Creative/Getty Images/Bloomberg Creative A 54-year-old San Francisco mother who died in a wrong-way collision in Woodside on Saturday was identified as Eden Palmer, the San Mateo County Coroners Office said. Palmer was pronounced dead at the scene after Constellatia Martin, 24, allegedly drove the opposite way of traffic on Interstate 280's southbound lanes and collided head-on with Palmers vehicle at about 2:30 p.m., California Highway Patrol said. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg A person on an electric bicycle died after colliding with a Tesla in Fremont earlier this week, NBC Bay Area first reported. The crash took place Tuesday around 10 p.m. along Peralta Boulevard and Camden Street in the Centerville District, Fremont Police Department representatives told the outlet. Department representatives declined to tell SFGATE whether the car was on autopilot at the time of the crash. Its not the first fatal collision in the Bay Area involving a person on an electric bike. A freshman student reportedly stabbed a classmate at Northgate High School in Walnut Creek this afternoon, school district officials told SFGATE. Officers from the Walnut Creek Police Department were called to the school around 1 p.m. with a report of a student assaulting another. Both students were freshmen. The injured student then required medical attention, the department said in a social media post. The students were acquaintances, and no other students were involved, Adam Clark, Mount Diablo Unified School District Superintendent said in a statement shared with SFGATE. The incident allegedly happened at lunch time, Theresa Brandt, public information officer for the district, told SFGATE. She said students returned to class after lunch. The injured student was transported to a local hospital, while the other student is in police custody on suspicion of stabbing, officials said. Police investigating the case determined that the stabbing "was an isolated incident," and said "there is no further threat to students and staff." Walnut Creek police are on the scene, Clark said. He said counselors are on site and will be on site tomorrow. Those with information about the incident are encouraged to call the Walnut Creek Police Department at 925-943-5844. AMSTELVEEN, Netherlands (AP) AMSTELVEEN, Netherlands (AP) Core Laboratories NV (CLB) on Wednesday reported first-quarter profit of $2.4 million. On a per-share basis, the Amstelveen, Netherlands-based company said it had net income of 5 cents. Earnings, adjusted for stock option expense and non-recurring costs, came to 19 cents per share. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 17 cents per share. The energy services company posted revenue of $128.4 million in the period, also topping Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $126.3 million. For the current quarter ending in June, Core Laboratories said it expects revenue in the range of $130 million to $135 million. _____ This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CLB at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CLB NEW YORK (AP) NEW YORK (AP) Getty Realty Corp. (GTY) on Wednesday reported a key measure of profitability in its first quarter. The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The New York-based real estate investment trust said it had funds from operations of $27.2 million, or 56 cents per share, in the period. Growing enrollment and declining hospital use by COVID-19 patients helped push the health insurer Humana past first-quarter expectations. The Medicare Advantage coverage provider also hiked its 2023 forecast well beyond Wall Street forecasts Wednesday. Its shares rose in early trading. Humana said Medicare Advantage enrollment jumped 11% to more than 5.6 million people in the quarter. Medicare Advantage plans are privately run versions of the governments Medicare program for people who are age 65 and older or those who have certain disabilities. Overall, Humanas profit rose 33% to $1.24 billion in the quarter. Earnings adjusted for one-time gains and costs totaled $9.38 per share. Revenue grew more than 11% to $26.74 billion. Analysts had forecast earnings of $9.25 per share on $26.32 billion in revenue, according to Zacks Investment Research. Humana Inc. said Wednesday that it now expects adjusted earnings for 2023 to be at least $28.25 per share. Thats up from a previous forecast for at least $28 per share. Analysts forecast $28.11 per share, according to the data firm FactSet. Shares of the Louisville, Kentucky, company jumped nearly $10, or 2%, to $511.50 in premarket trading. _____ Elements of this story were generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on HUM at https://www.zacks.com/ap/HUM Texas A&M Universitys engineering graduate program was ranked in the nations top 10 in the 2024 rankings from U.S. News & World Report. | Image: Texas A&M Engineering The College of Engineering at Texas A&M University was ranked in the top 10 in the nation for its graduate engineering program, according to the 2024 rankings from U.S. News & World Report. In the latest rankings, Texas A&M was ranked 10th overall nationally and 6th among public institutions in the latest U.S. News & World Report survey, Best Graduate Engineering Schools 2024. The College of Engineerings research expenditures ranked second only to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as reported in the survey. Texas A&M Universitys world-renowned engineering departments pride themselves on pushing the boundaries of discovery through research and education as they work together to create a better future for all. Upholding its reputation for excellence in research and academics, Texas A&Ms engineering graduate program also had seven departments among the top 10 public universities in the U.S. The complete list of individual departments and their rankings are: 2nd (2nd public): Petroleum engineering 3rd (2nd): Nuclear engineering 8th (7th): Biological and agricultural engineering 10th (6th): Industrial and systems engineering 10th (7th): Aerospace engineering 14th (7th): Mechanical engineering 14th (9th): Civil engineering 20th (11th): Computer engineering 20th (12th): Materials and science engineering 23rd (13th): Electrical engineering 24th (14th): Chemical engineering 34th (17th): Biomedical engineering 41st (22nd): Computer science To learn more about the departments and degrees offered by the College of Engineering, visit the graduate programs website. SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP) SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP) Sun Communities Inc. (SUI) on Wednesday reported a key measure of profitability in its first quarter. The Southfield, Michigan-based real estate investment trust said it had funds from operations of $158 million, or $1.23 per share, in the period. SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland (AP) SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland (AP) TE Connectivity Ltd. (TEL) on Wednesday reported fiscal second-quarter profit of $433 million. The Schaffhausen, Switzerland-based company said it had net income of $1.36 per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were $1.65 per share. The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.57 per share. The electronics maker posted revenue of $4.16 billion in the period, which also beat Street forecasts. Five analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $3.9 billion. For the current quarter ending in June, TE Connectivity expects its per-share earnings to be $1.56. The company said it expects revenue in the range of $4 billion for the fiscal third quarter. _____ This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on TEL at https://www.zacks.com/ap/TEL This article was first published on NerdWallet.com. Among the hotels, airlines, cruise ships and group trip operators that offer sustainable features like solar panels, carbon offsets or electric vehicle charging stations few marketing teams shy away from making them known. At the 44-room Le Barthelemy Hotel & Spa in the French West Indies, you can partake in the boutique hotels zero-waste cooking classes. Linens come from ethically traced organic cotton, and all fertilizers, plants and soil on the property are organic. Airlines such as United Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have pledged to be 100% green by 2050 by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Southwest offers carbon offsets and bonus Rapid Rewards points as an incentive to buy them. The government of the Bahamas signed an agreement in March to allow the development of a $56 million residential and yacht resort community. Itll be solar-powered, and its swimming pools will be made from recycled shipping containers. Its the countrys first fully sustainable, zero-carbon residential and yacht resort community. And those are just a few examples of the many travel businesses capitalizing on green initiatives in their value propositions. But do travelers actually care? American travelers among the least likely to choose travel companies by sustainability policies In November 2022, market research firm YouGov surveyed more than 19,000 people worldwide (including 1,503 in the U.S.) on tourism-related topics for its 2023 Global Travel & Tourism whitepaper. YouGov asked respondents how much they agreed that it was important to choose travel companies that have a strong sustainability policy. While 48% of all respondents said they agreed, only 33% of U.S. respondents did barely edging Denmarks 32% and ranking as the second-lowest response among the 18 countries surveyed. The survey then asked respondents the following question: "How much do you agree or disagree with the statement 'I am willing to pay more for responsible, eco-friendly, and sustainable trips?' Only 29% of U.S. respondents said they agree versus 42% of overall respondents the lowest response to this question of any population in the report. (Chart courtesy of YouGov) The U.S. figures are certainly low. Other than Denmark, there's not a single country where a higher percentage of respondents said they agree with being willing to pay more for sustainable trips versus those who simply said choosing companies with strong sustainability policies was important. Among the starkest disparities is in Spain, where 52% of Spanish respondents said it was important to choose sustainable travel companies yet only 39% agreed theyd pay more for them. Caring about the environment until it costs more The Lufthansa Innovation Hub, the future travel trend research arm of Lufthansa Group (which also owns the airline of the same name), sought to understand the disparity between travelers wanting more sustainable tourism options versus their willingness to actually pay more for it. It partnered with travel booking app Hopper to conduct three experiments involving about 10,000 Hopper users, the outcomes of which were published in a February 2020 report. The first experiment randomly asked users questions such as, Would you like to see sustainable travel options when booking a flight? The majority of respondents, 78%, responded yes to that specific question. The next experiment asked Hopper users if theyd be willing to pay extra to offset the impact of their travel through tree planting or flying on more fuel-efficient aircraft. For the former, a majority 73% said yes. However, 40% of these respondents said they would only pay a maximum of $5 more for reforestation. And a third experiment sought to see if customers actually would pay more. It sent a notification to users who had booked a flight with Hopper within the previous 24 hours, asking for a donation to offset the impact of their flight. Only 1% of travelers ended up donating. Note: The 36% of users who reported a willingness to opt for more fuel-efficient aircraft in the second experiment (and even pay an average of $42 more for it) couldnt be further questioned for this final test since its not currently possible for travelers to select specific aircraft at booking. Travelers dont put their money where their mouth is, according to Lufthansas analysis of the experiment. Compensation rates of 1% really surprised us because there are many survey findings of how people eagerly want to travel more sustainably. Easy ways to travel more sustainably (that might even save you money) Paying more money isnt necessarily the only way to be a green traveler. In fact, many sustainable habits are easy or free. Shut off the hotel air conditioner or heat when you leave. Dont take food from the buffet that you wont actually eat. Other sustainable practices may actually save you money. For example, when renting a car, ditch the fancy muscle car in favor of a humble (and more fuel-efficient) sedan, or choose the economy seat over first class. An analysis by the World Bank Environment and Energy Team, Development Research Group estimates that first class fares can cause up to nine times more emissions than economy fares because of the space they require on aircraft. Even a single trip where you spend more time in one place might be better than destination-hopping, where you end up taking multiple flights to myriad places (but dont spend much time in each location). Not only will you cut the flights, but youll only face jetlag once. Especially if you can work remotely, spending a few weeks out of town (when typically your company wouldnt let you take that much time off in a row) might finally be feasible. And then theres perhaps the most sustainable way to travel of them all taking fewer trips that require a plane, period. If youre taking a road trip with multiple friends or family members, driving is a more economical option anyway. Sally French writes for NerdWallet. Email: sfrench@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @SAFmedia. The article American Travelers Care Less About Doing It Sustainably originally appeared on NerdWallet. The Bay Areas most famous cannabis brand has been accused of fraud and orchestrating millions of dollars of financial kickbacks to its executives, according to a pair of lawsuits filed earlier this year. The executives of Cookies, a pot brand founded by Bay Area rapper Berner, were accused of self-dealing and using the famous pot brand to bully others into paying them millions of dollars in personal benefits and kickbacks, according to a lawsuit filed by a group of Cookies investors in February in Los Angeles Superior Court. A second Los Angeles lawsuit filed in early January by a different group of business partners accused Cookies executives of negotiating kickbacks on the sale of millions of dollars of delta-8 THC vape pens. Berner, whose legal name is Gilbert Anthony Milam Jr., defended himself in an Instagram video posted last week, claiming that lawsuits were filed by a group of predatory investors attempting to take his company from him. Berner is currently the CEO of Cookies. These guys have made extremely false, harmful, damaging claims about myself that are completely just not true. And I really look forward to the day in court that we can prove that these claims are false, Milam said. A representative for Cookies declined to comment. What is Cookies? Cookies is the brainchild of Milam, a rapper who was raised in San Francisco and released his first hip-hop album in 2007. He brought his experiences in the citys underground cannabis scene to his music and founded his own cannabis and clothing line Cookies in the early 2010s. The brand takes its name from the Girl Scout Cookies cannabis strain, which Milam helped make into one of the worlds most recognizable varieties of pot. The Cookies name has become synonymous with Californias high potency and flavorful indoor cannabis. The company has followed its Girl Scout Cookies success with other strains containing high levels of THC, the most common intoxicant in pot, like Sherbet, Gelato and Apples and Bananas. Milams pot brand has gone on to outshine his music, with dozens of Cookies dispensaries and operations in legal cannabis markets across the country. The Cookies clothing line has opened stores across the world, from New York City to Thailand. In 2022, the hip-hop mogul was on the cover of Forbes magazine, and in a separate story, he estimated his Cookies business was worth $1 billion. Vape lawsuit In January, a company called Cookies Retail Products (CRP) sued Cookies SF, which Milam is the CEO of, for more than $38.5 million in damages. CRP alleges it signed a 2021 contract to sell Cookies-branded delta-8 THC vape pens, but the deal turned into a power struggle between the two firms that left millions of vape pens expired. CRP says in the lawsuit that Cookies SF pressured the company to buy vape pens and other supplies from vendors who had a grave conflict of interest where Cookies SF employees were getting personally compensated for the orders without CRPs knowledge. Lester Black/SFGATE CRP said the contracts repeatedly failed to deliver orders on time and delivered defective vape products with leakage issues that ultimately cost CRP $200 million in lost orders. The lawsuit also alleges that Cookies SF used CRPs inventory as a personal piggy bank of products and that the company was left with millions of dollars in unsold vape cartridges, blunts, hemp smokes, 1gram Vaporizers, Gummies, and Dab Liquids. CRP is owned by a series of shell companies with unclear ownership. Attorneys representing CRP did not respond to emailed questions for this story. The lawsuits next court hearing is scheduled for June 22 in Los Angeles. Investors lawsuit In February, a group of investors who say they own more than 10% of the Cookies brand accused Berner and other company executives of using the brand to engage in self-dealing and to strongarm and bully others into paying them millions of dollars in personal benefits and kickbacks. The lawsuit further alleges that Cookies staff used threats of physical violence against other businesses. The lawsuit, which was filed by a company owned by Ned Fussell, a cannabis entrepreneur who is also a co-founder of Sonoma Countys CannaCraft pot business, takes direct aim at Milam, accusing the rapper of accepting more than $1 million in jewelry as a financial kickback from a partner company and for using the company resources to support a lavish lifestyle. The lawsuit also accuses Cookies SF of running a series of kickback schemes where contractors with relationships to Cookies executives were given inflated contracts. Cookies uses a construction company owned by an executives brother that charged Cookies SF twice as much as other contractors would, according to the lawsuit. The suit also accuses Cookies of paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to a software company partially owned by a company executive with no discernible benefit. The investors lawsuit also accuses Milam and his colleagues of illegally selling shares in the company worth $23 million in order to dilute the power of existing investors. Earlier this month, Cookies announced the sale of its Series A round of funding, which it described as the companys largest equity raise at its highest valuation. At the time, Cookies declined to tell SFGATE how much money the company raised. The lawsuit seeks to remove Milam and other executives from the board of directors. The next hearing is scheduled for June 28 in Los Angeles. When you are 21, there arent many dates to remember in your life. Three of mine were in the past 21 months. Start with Aug. 15, 2021, with the fall of Kabul to the Taliban. It was a scary city, quiet. No one was out in the streets. Our house was in downtown Kabul, a place which was often crowded on weekdays and weekends, but not after that. I invited a couple of friends to my house to play video games and listen to music that night. When my friends got back to their home, they called to tell me that everyone in their house had fled to Canada. The U.S. evacuation had started on the same night the Taliban took over. SEE ALSO: The story of Afghan artisan families who flet the Taliban and relocated to Connecticut. We tried to get out the next day with a couple of friends. One was a pilot, a friend who had contacts at the gate to help us get in. But the U.S. military didnt know him. We tried a week later and I managed to get on an overcrowded Air Force C-17 cargo plane with some of my uncles family. You saw the pictures of the 800 people crammed on a plane? I was one of them. My parents and siblings planned to leave the next day, but the bombing at the airport made it too dangerous. I knew we were going to the U.S., but I had no idea where or how long it would take. We arrived in Kuwait at 8:30 a.m. local time; the weather was hair-dryer hot. We stayed five days for background checks with Homeland Security. Then it was a 15-hour trip to the U.S. on Aug. 31, 2021, on a commercial plane. I slept through all three meals. We arrived at 6 a.m. at Dulles International Airport. Before we arrived, we were wondering how it would be to live in America. Where should we go? How do you take a taxi? But when I landed in America, I smelled freedom! I felt like I could do anything in this country. We went to Fort Pickett, Va. (redesignated as Fort Barfoot in March) the next day for background checks, medical screening, housing and other processing. I was one of the first 100 people to arrive and among the last to leave. Fifteen thousand Afghans were processed there, and by the time I left, there were just 120. It was frustrating that people who arrived after us got out sooner than we did. At Pickett, I made new friends of Afghans, Marines and, especially, Graciela Stevens. A bus driver at the base, she bought me an iPhone 13. After months on the base good thing I could talk with family and friends all over the world on WhatsApp I finally received clearance to fly. Arriving at Bradley International Airport on Jan. 28, 2022, I was met by Eileen and Jerry Monaghan, my sponsors through the Sponsor Circles program which connects Americans and Afghans resettling in the U.S. It was our first time meeting. Although they had a culturally appropriate meal waiting for me at their home, my first meal was a McDonalds spicy chicken sandwich. After a tour of New Milford, Western Connecticut State University and Canterbury School in my first days, the first few months were boring, while Jerry and I waded through all the paperwork to get established. But then life got very busy. The people in New Milford are amazing, and now its home! I started translating and interpreting for New Milford Refugee Resettlement (NMRR) and Washington Refugee Resettlement Project (WRRP) in March 2022. They are supporting two Afghan families in New Milford (the Malikzadas and the Awrangs) and needed translation for school registry for kids, medical visits, and working with the media. With the help of WRRPs Martha Bernstein, I got a job as a service representative at Union Savings Bank in New Milford. I also deliver for DoorDash. I completed my first semester at WestConn, studying accounting. At first, it was hard for me to understand the professor, but then I recorded the class for two weeks and got better. My first two classes were mathematics and accounting. Im also thinking of taking photography classes. With two generous donations from wonderful people, I got a car. Before I got my license and car, the Monaghans drove me to work and school for almost seven months. I cant find the right word to describe my appreciation. I applied for asylum this past October, and it was approved in early April. Next we can work on getting my family out of Afghanistan. My parents and five siblings are still in Kabul. My father owns a private school; he cannot keep it because the Taliban keeps adding new rules every day. He also was a subcontractor at an American camp. Hasina, my sister, was in dental school; she recently was banned from school. Ahmad, my brother is in the 12th grade; Hadisa, my sister, was in eighth grade, and is also now banned from school; my youngest sister, Bahar, was in the sixth grade and cannot go to school next year; Mustafa, my youngest brother, is in the first grade. NMRR plans to sponsor my family. What significant dates will there be in the next year? A Green Card? Reuniting with my family? Anything is possible in this country. Alex Brandon/AP The Walt Disney Company has filed a federal lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, alleging that the governor is illegally wielding state power against the company. The lawsuit is a dramatic escalation of a feud that first began when company voiced its disagreement with a bill restricting discussion of sexuality and gender identity in schools, called the Dont Say Gay law by critics. In the lawsuit, Disney says its opposition to the legislation amounts to constitutionally protected speech, and that DeSantis subsequent moves against the company which include dissolving Disneys self-governing Reedy Creek Improvement District are unlawful. FAIRFIELD The type of supportive educational community McKinley Elementary School has is something state officials said should be modeled in all schools. After officials from the state and school district toured McKinley's various classrooms and facilities Tuesday, Connecticut State Department of Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker said she saw the school as a place where everyone is a community, students are valued and everyone is working together. The visit was aimed at a general tour of the school and looked at its early literacy program. "That's what we need in education across the entire state of Connecticut," she said. "Everyone working together for the benefit of the students." The visit comes as the state looks closer at McKinley and the Fairfield school district as a whole. The state identified McKinley as racially imbalanced in April 2007, meaning the proportion of minority students at the school is at least 25 percentage points more than the proportion for the school district. McKinleys minority population was 56.65 percent for the 2020-21 school year, which was about 30 percentage points higher than the entire districts minority population of 26.4 percent. Speaking to McKinley being designated as a racially imbalanced school, Russell-Tucker said people have to work together to find common ground to solve the issue. "Because it's challenging, doesn't necessarily mean there's not ways to try and solve (problems)," she said. In late January, Fairfield's school board approved a charge for a consultant to come up with scenarios for redistricting the town's public schools. Redistricting is a cornerstone of Fairfield's plan to address the racial imbalance, but officials have noted it will also help address capacity and facilities issues. The charge came after the State Board of Education approved the district's most recent plan to address Fairfield's racial imbalance last August. The plan relied heavily on redistricting, but also calls for looking into creating a magnet school, having district-wide training for staff, recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and examining programming consistency across the district. Redistricting is a highly controversial topic in Fairfield, and members of the community have frequently pushed against the possibility of losing access to their local neighborhood schools. Members of Fairfield's BOE have also said that they do not see McKinley having a larger population of minority students as a bad thing. Members have told the state they worry McKinley would lose its sense of community and support if redistricting has done. State Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield, who was also on the tour, said he appreciates the intent of the law requiring schools to have a proportionate racial balance, but McKinley is not a second-tier school. "McKinley is such a unique school," he said. "It is a vibrant, prideful and rich learning environment that has attracted many English as a first language learners and recent immigrants." McKinley has embraced that reputation from flags of various countries its students are from hanging in the entrance hall to various ways to say hello in different languages posted near the classrooms. Hwang said it is a significant disturbance across the community any time there are talks about redistricting. Noting his first language was Mandarin Chinese, he said he appreciates that the school is a place where diversity and multiculturalism are celebrated. "They can maintain the duality of their culture while seeking an American education," he said. "That's why McKinley is so special. Do you want to lose that, or do you want to capture that? When you redistrict, you re-dispurse the population. But you lose the unique charm of this school." On Tuesday, Russell-Tucker said she does not see it that way, and thinks Fairfield should consider building that type of community across all its schools. "I say that not because it's easy, but because, wouldn't you want that at every single school?" she said. "Not just in this community, but across the state. (Schools) where our student body is getting more and more diverse, where all our students can go into spaces where the entire learning community is working together, where they feel safe, where they feel supported and where they're educated." Concerning the possibility of McKinley or another school becoming an intra-district magnet school, Russell-Tucker said having choice is what is best for Connecticut, whether it be magnet schools, charter schools, choice programs or public schools. "From a state agency level, it is not saying what is the best choice, but communities have to work together to determine what works best in a particular community," she said. "The community here needs to decide what works best for them. I know there's a lot of work that they're doing. The State Board of Education is awaiting a plan and all of that, but it is about the community getting together to figure out what works best." A slew of Bay Area bars made the top 10 regional honorees list ahead of the prestigious Spirited Awards by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. The local nominees included 10 Bay Area bars and restaurants that fell into four different U.S. categories specific to the West Coast: best U.S. bar team, best U.S. cocktail bar, best U.S. restaurant bar, and best new U.S. cocktail bar. The list featured eight San Francisco businesses: Pacific Cocktail Haven and True Laurel (best U.S. bar team), Lolo and Bar Agricole (best U.S. restaurant bar), and Dalva and For the Record (best new U.S. cocktail bar). True Laurel was also listed in the best U.S. cocktail bar section along with Trick Dog and Wildhawk. Nicolas Torres, founder and bar director of True Laurel, said he was thrilled to be nominated in two different categories among friends. True Laurel was also nominated for best bar team for 2022 but lost the title to Katana Kitten in New York. Torres hopes things work in his favor this time around. I believe this is the third time we have been short-listed, Torres told SFGATE. This time, we hope to take it to the next round, but if not, its always a great feeling to be appreciated and recognized nationally and internationally. Eric Ochoa, a partner at Dalva, told SFGATE that he was pleased to have his bar recognized, especially after it was temporarily closed from the start of the pandemic in March 2020 through January of last year. Andrew C. and Tayler S. on Yelp We reopened Dalva with the goal of being a great neighborhood drinking establishment with good people that work behind the bar, Ochoa said. Thank you to our staff for all the work they do every day to make this bar in the Mission District shine again. For the Record in the Marina is nearing its one-year anniversary after opening last April. Barry John Walsh, who owns the retro-style bar, shared that having For the Record named in the best new U.S. bar category was a testament to bar manager Janice Bailon and the entire team. Beyond San Francisco, Oakland bar Viridian was twice nominated as the best U.S. bar team and best U.S. restaurant bar. Paper Plane in San Jose was also listed as a contender in the best U.S. bar team section. Cube I. on Yelp Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is expected to reveal international and national winners in late June. See the full list of Bay Area nominees below. For the full list of U.S. and international honorees, see the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation site. Best U.S. bar team U.S. West Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco True Laurel, San Francisco Paper Plane, San Jose Viridian Bar, Oakland Best U.S. cocktail bar U.S. West Trick Dog, San Francisco True Laurel, San Francisco Wildhawk, San Francisco Best U.S. restaurant bar U.S. West Bar Agricole, San Francisco Lolo, San Francisco Viridian, Oakland Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar U.S. West Dalva, San Francisco For the Record, San Francisco There have been so many reports about San Franciscos deserted downtown lately, I almost expected to kick tumbleweeds on my way to Heartwood, a cocktail bar from the team behind the Treasury and the Beehive that opened last week on Commercial Street. The streets are undeniably quieter now that around 150,000 workers have left the neighborhood, but inside Heartwood on the second night of service, it could have been happy hour circa 2019. Almost every table was packed with co-workers sharing bar snacks and sipping craft cocktails among exposed brick and murals that depict California poppies, trees and nods to the neighborhood's history. The bars name refers to the innermost part of the tree trunk, which produces the most resilient timber, and alludes to the neighboring Transamerica Redwood Park, still closed for renovations. It could also be taken as a reference to the core value needed to open a new bar in Americas most empty downtown amid a weak pandemic recovery, mass layoffs and warnings things could get worse. Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE But managing partner and director of operations Tristen Philippart de Foy reminds me its spring, even if its taken a long time to show up this year. Its fair to be critical. Yes, weve been in a downturn, and its been a long winter. But anyone who is spending time here can see were at the beginning of an upswing, he said. Hope for downtown San Francisco Heartwood isnt the only business to move into the neighborhood. According to Robbie Silver, executive director of nonprofit community benefit district Downtown SF Partnership (DSFP), 14 businesses in the hospitality and retail sectors have opened in the Financial District since 2021. The San Francisco Business Times reports that more are on the horizon from hospitality greats, like Wayfare Tavern and House of An. And real estate investor Michael Shvo, who bought the Transamerica Pyramid in 2020, is investing $400 million to reimagine the building and the surrounding blocks. Thats a big bet for a downtown deemed dead. Despite touring many spaces throughout the city, the Heartwood team landed on the FiDi location partly because of the promising recovery that the Treasury, just a short walk away, has seen in the past year. Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Theres been a resurgence, and were miles ahead of where we were a year ago, Philippart de Foy said. There are smaller windows in which we are busy, but those windows are promising. So are the corporate buyouts for conventions, which he said is even stronger than in 2019, and the hybrid work models that are bringing back co-worker lunches and happy hours, at least a couple of days a week. Of course, trying to make a business work with far fewer hours and customers isnt sustainable. And neither, as the area has sorely learned, is relying on workers in one industry to keep businesses afloat. Thats why DSFP, Philippart de Foy and many other business owners are collaborating on a Public Realm Action Plan, aimed at reimagining FiDi as a cultural destination. Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE A pilot of the program, which is being funded by the city and deployed by DSFP and Sitelab, an urban design studio, is set to launch just outside Heartwoods doors this summer at the intersection of Leidesdorff and Commercial streets. Bringing pedestrians back to FiDi Outside Heartwood, Philippart de Foy tours me around the block as if it's an extension of his bar. Where there are a few parked cars and a boarded-up storefront with someone camped out at the entrance, he sees potential, painting a picture of a vibrant pedestrian thoroughfare that youd find in most European cities. The projects promise murals and historical plaques here, a coffee cart there, exercise clubs to lure workers out of their offices and cultural activities to draw families and visitors. Building these hot spots of culture around downtown is going to be a critical part of recovery, Philippart de Foy said. Charles Russo/SFGATE Theres already evidence that activities like these work in the neighborhood. In December, DSFP hosted Lets Glow SF, a 10-night holiday celebration in which 51,000 visitors and residents watched light shows projected on four downtown buildings. According to Silver, the majority of attendees were families, and the project brought in $3 million to the area and its businesses. In addition to cultural activities, DSFP recently launched its first micro-grant program to provide up to $40,000 in funding to eligible restaurants in order to enhance their sidewalk and curbside dining spaces. Peter Quartaroli, owner of the 150-year-old Sams Grill and board member of DSFP, says the beautification of downtown streets is an important piece. If we can just make the curb a little bit better in front of our business, in front of our neighbors business, that will make a big difference, he said. Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Grants like DSFPs, along with Mayor London Breeds recently announced plan to modify the citys tax structure to make it easier on businesses, aren't the only indications of impending change that have some businesses bullish about downtown. Philippart de Foy said landlords are starting to work with business owners on unconventional deals to weather the slow recovery and inspire long-term tenancies, such as profit sharing in which rents are based on the success of the business. Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Mason Harrison, a representative for the Transamerica Pyramid, said theres promising leasing activity in the area among creative agencies and design firms. Silver hopes that nightlife moving into the area will also help diversify the neighborhoods economic core and notes that incubator programs could enable artists to create a more permanent footprint in the area, helping to shift the perception of what the neighborhood has to offer. The road to recovery San Franciscos pandemic recovery is slower compared with other cities, but the Bay Area is still one of the top 10 fastest-growing metro areas in the U.S., according to research by LinkedIn. And though tourism spending in the city is at about 77% of what it was in 2019, it more than doubled in 2022, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, making some hopeful that full recovery is now in view. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.) There's still a long road ahead. Heartwoods most immediate neighbors are still a boarded-up storefront and construction zones. But inside the bar, the focus on natural elements, from the exposed original wooden beams to the tiny pinecone adorning my cocktail, is more than a gimmick. Its a reminder that spring always returns. Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE A less tangible, yet perhaps even stronger, element is also fueling business owners hope for downtown. And thats the spirit of San Francisco itself. BLOOMFIELD For the first time in the contentious budget Cold War between the Bloomfield Town Council and the Board of Education, tensions extended beyond the pages of the local Bloomfield Messenger and individual members of council into the community Monday night. When the Board of Education requested an 8.8 percent budget increase and members of the Town Council made it clear they would offer much less, Board of Education Chair Don Harris began a campaign to change the minds of the council members. He wrote letters to the Bloomfield Messenger with data, he spoke at budget hearings, and he spoke at length with Hearst Connecticut Media Group. Until Monday, there had been minimum public outcry about the budget except from former council member and Bloomfield resident Kevin Gough, who also wrote to the Bloomfield Messenger about the budget and consistently spoke at public hearings. Gough and his wife Paula Jones, have been vocal opponents of the 8.8 percent increase due to tax increases and complaints about how the Board of Education spends money. Harris, in an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media Group, said he suspected a former council member "had the ear" of a few council members and was disproportionately influencing the budget process. At Monday's Town Council meeting, however, an unusually high number of public comments ensued, primarily from teachers and parents of children in Bloomfield Public Schools concerned with the council-proposed budget that would extend a 4 percent increase to the Board of Education and a 5.22 percent increase to the mill rate. Gough and Harris spoke, both prefacing their testimony by saying they did not plan to speak. "I can see firsthand what underfunded education looks like," Anthony Roy, a teacher and Bloomfield resident, said at Monday's meeting. "Underfunded education looks like not having enough materials to effectively carry out a lesson. Underfunded education looks like not having the money to fund a bus trip 5 miles away to a business innovation center. Underfunded education looks like students using non-functional and outdated technology." Gough said that he has "empathy and compassion" for speakers like Roy and the situation at the schools but that the proper venue for the discussion should have been at Board of Education meetings. That's when Harris stood up to add his name to the speaker list. "I wasn't going to speak this evening until I heard Mr. Gough's statement that this wasn't the right venue to be talking about money, and it should have been brought up at the Board of Ed," Gough said. "The council, and you should know this because you sat on the council for four years, is the one who allocates the amount of money we are going to have in the system. This is the proper venue, and I applaud the parents and administrators who came out tonight to speak your mind. Hopefully, the council is going to do the right thing." Every council member sympathized with the plight of the Board of Education, but some asserted that granting any further increases would decimate town services like public works and raise taxes even further. Councilor Joe Merritt, who has served on council for decades, called it his hardest budget season. "We got ourselves in a pickle," Merritt said. "We have to increase taxes to give the Board of Education more money." The push and pull between the Board of Education and the Town Council goes back years. Gail Jordan, president of the Bloomfield Teachers Union and a Wethersfield resident, provided a history of the town's funding of the Board of Education in her public comment Monday. The data revealed a pattern of the Board of Education receiving less than requested. Jordan explained that in 2019-20, the board asked for a 10.98 percent increase and was given 0.67 percent. In 2020-21, it asked for a 9.78 percent increase and was given 4 percent. In 2021-22 the board asked for a 3.49 percent increase and was given that amount. In 2022-23, the board requested a 7.73 percent increase and was given 4.5 percent. "My point in sharing this data is to reiterate that the Board of Education has not been fully funded for years," Jordan said. The Bloomfield school budget increase is driven overwhelmingly by the increasing cost of magnet school and out-of-district tuition for students with special needs. Harris, in an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media Group, said the Town Council's failure to fully fund the Board of Education as requested would result in cutting teachers. Even the 4 percent proposed by the council would leave the Board of Education with a significant shortfall, Harris said. This notion raised fear among some parents. Dwayne Gray, of Bloomfield, said he has been impressed with the Bloomfield Public Schools so far. He sent his first child to private school, but his younger child now attends Laurel Elementary. Gray said he holds Bloomfield to the same standards and believes the full budget request should be granted to maintain the quality of education. "I don't expect anything less from this district than what we got at" Kingswood Oxford, Gray said. Other parents are less impressed with the quality of education at Bloomfield Public Schools and believe granting any less than the full budget request could be tragic. "I have a child who attends Bloomfield High School, and she constantly tells me how frustrating it is to do well in class because they are short staffed," David Okae said. "There are a lot of substitute teachers, two, three times daily. Children are our future. We don't know who is going to give us a glass of water on our last day." The final decision about the budget will be on made on May 1. During council comment Monday, the councilors mused how to solve a years-long problem. Councilor Rickford Kirton suggested that the "majority" of residents are willing to pay extra taxes when it comes to supporting students. "When our educational system wins, every single one of us in this town as taxpayers wins," Kirton said. "Sometimes we have to make sacrifices. Sometimes we have to pay a little higher taxes. I am willing to do that." Departing Deputy Mayor Greg Davis pointed out that 950 families in town live below the poverty line, and a tax increase could be catastrophic. He also pointed out that even with a smaller increase like 4 or 6 percent to the Board of Education, town services like road repairs and snow cleanup would be cut while taxes go up. "I am willing to pay an increase to my taxes if services are going to increase," Davis said. "But if you are going to take away services and raise my taxes, I am not going to be happy. And, in fact, that is what we are looking at right now. We are taking away services." Finding a balance between the needs of town services and the Board of Education is a tall order, leaving many councilors asking why there always has to be a fight for resources and why there can't be "one Bloomfield." "The only song I can think of is 'How Did We Get Here?'" said Councilor Suzette DeBeatham Brown. "Nobody is supposed to be here. I feel like we are in a very tight situation, and honestly I don't know how we got here." Diriyah Company, in partnership with leading luxury lifestyle brand Aman Group, has announced two forthcoming destinations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Aman Wadi Safar and Janu Diriyah from Amans sister brand Janu. Located in the exceptional desert landscape near the city of Riyadh, Aman Wadi Safar will feature 78 keys, a collection of up to 34 fully-serviced Aman branded residences and expansive amenities including a vast Aman Spa and an array of dining experiences. Aman Wadi Safar will draw inspiration from its rich cultural heritage, traditional Najdi architecture and uniquely beautiful natural environment. With a resort setting weaving through the wadis and plateaus of Wadi Safar, the connection between the property and Saudis iconic landscape will be constantly reinforced. Following the successful opening of Aman New York, Denniston Architects has been appointed to bring Jean-Michel Gathys extensive experience combining Amans renowned design language with the local culture, heritage, and landscape of a destination to the project. The partnership also announced Janu Diriyah, an additional property for Amans sister-brand, Janu. Meaning Soul in Sanskrit, Janu has been created and designed in the spirit of Diriyah, to encourage connectedness, conviviality, and shared experiences to rekindle the soul. Janu Diriyah will be located within close proximity to the incredible UNESCO Heritage Site of At-Turaif. Comprising 120 hotel rooms, a Janu Wellness offering, and a multitude of dining and guest experiences, the hotel will create memorable moments which build lasting connections with Diriyah amongst its like-minded community of guests. Speaking about the two new projects, Vlad Doronin, Chairman and CEO of Aman Group, said: This announcement marks a continuation of Aman Groups commitment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. When I first visited the country, it made an immediate and lasting impression upon me owing to its rich heritage and culture, as well as exceptional landscapes. Aman Wadi Safar and Janu Diriyah will build upon Aman Groups existing pipeline of properties in Saudi Arabia and reinforce our strategic vision to offer our clients the opportunity to experience the breadth of this fascinating, previously undiscovered country with journeys that encompass city experiences, remote desert landscapes and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO, Diriyah Company, commented: We are very proud to launch Diriyahs partnership with Aman, delivering two outstanding projects in Wadi Safar and Diriyah. Diriyah, the City of Earth, will be the worlds largest cultural and heritage destination and these projects will enhance our luxury offerings to guests who come to explore our identity. Aman Group have developed these projects by harnessing our unique setting at the heart of 300 years of Saudi history, while embracing our shared future as a city and a community. We are delighted to celebrate the beginning of our journey together. TradeArabia News Service Egypt's Alkahera Company for Ferries and Maritime Transport signed on Monday a contract to build two multi-purpose MPC14K ships with South Korea's shipbuilding company Dae Sun. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Jackie Cabrera was at a childrens event when she saw a flyer that she said transformed her and her two sons lives. The flyer led Cabrera to contact Families Network of Western Connecticut, Inc., for support for herself and her children during a difficult time. She began participating in the nonprofits home visiting program, and a parent teacher began visiting her and her two children. It changed things so much for us, Cabrera said. Families Network of Western Connecticut is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, with its annual Families Networks Robert C. and Nancy Joy Memorial Luncheon on Wednesday at the Amber Room Colonnade. The event honors Dr. Jack Fong as the recipient of The Dr. Alvin Goldman Community Service Award. Caroline LaFleur is the 2023 Jeannie C. Beck Above and Beyond Award recipient. Also celebrated are families who have overcome adversity, and there will be a highlight of program accomplishments. Since 1998, 2,000 families have been served through the intensive home visiting program that Cabrera participated in, according to the nonprofit. Each year, up to 5,000 families have been served through the public awareness and outreach program. The nonprofit strives to create positive, lasting changes through public awareness activities, direct service to families and volunteer training. It also partners with community and business leaders, social service agencies, and health and education providers. Our goal is to ensure that Families Network of Western Connecticut is a resource for parents to get the support they need, said Susan Giglio, executive director. Cabrera said the organization, through parent teacher Caroline Springer, who also doubles as a clinical supervisor, offered support on many levels. Springer will stay with the family until Cabrera's youngest child, now 3, turns 5. They did so much for us, Cabrera said. They gave us gift cards and free trips to places to places where my children could become engaged with other kids. They connected us to resources in Connecticut like the library and Birth to 3 for my youngest son who is autistic. Parents as Teachers program Cabrera was involved in Families Networks Parents as Teachers program. The program provides parents a home visitor for support and to help reduce the stress of parenting. It connects parents to resources and services families need and teaches activities that encourage positive parent-child interactions, supporting the growth and development of a child. Developmental screenings are provided for the child. The programs teachers help parents set goals and prepare a child to successfully enter school at age 5. Families Network opens your eyes to so many things you didnt know were out there, Cabrera said. They always push you to go with your goals and attain your goals. They also help you get engaged in the community. Before Families Network, I really wasnt engaged or involved in the community. But they help you get involved, go to public events at the library and other places and you meet new people. Families Network parent teachers provide health care resources and help with food, nutrition and other basic needs. They provide periodic developmental, health, vision, and hearing screenings, free book and literacy programs, and connect parents with affordable childcare and preschool programs. The nonprofit also introduced Cabrera to an app called Sparkler that helps parents check in on how their child is doing against key milestones, she said. The app provides activities to spark their early learning and development and keeps track of a childs development from two months to 5 years old, according to the apps website. Creating positive, lasting changes The organization does not charge fees, but instead relies on local, state, and federal grants for financial sustainability and on the generosity of funders, including private individuals and businesses. We are committed to ensuring that families receive the support they need to get their children off to a safe and healthy start, Giglio said. The Families Network home visit program helps the most vulnerable families deal with issues in their lives. Regardless of income level, becoming a parent can be so overwhelming, Giglio said. We do what we can to alleviate all other stress factors. Giglio said the key with home visits is working with overburdened families before a crisis occurs. For Jackie Cabrera and others who take advantage of home visits, its a very personalized service tailored to the familys needs, Giglio said. It does everything possible to connect parents to resources and programs that help stabilize the family. These resources and programs help parents and children bond and help with a childs development and growth in their early years. Its helpful to have somebody with an outside perspective to make these connections. Other programs are the Fatherhood Initiative and Healthy Families, which is geared to providing support and resources for new and expectant parents. Giglio said there will be a stronger effort moving forward to get the word out about its organization so it isnt the areas best kept secret. Im surprised more parents arent aware of this organization, Cabrera said. It has made a huge impact on me and my family and its all free. If there are families out there who need help like I did, I recommend Families Network. Today I have a new job, a new apartment and my life has turned around." For more information, go to www.fnwc.org, call 203-791-8773 or reach out by email at info@fnwc.org. An unusual orca whale with a ghostly white appearance is on the move and was just sighted off the coast of California. At approximately 9:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, captain Kevin Nguyen of the Long Beach-based whale watching tour Harbor Breeze Cruises was transporting a group of children back from a school field trip on Catalina Island when he saw a whale spout send a stream of mist into the air on the horizon. They were about six miles off Point Fermin when a young orca known locally as Frosty emerged with a pod of six other whales, surprising everyone on board with its unmistakable pigmentation, Nguyen told the Daily Breeze. The news traveled fast among other whale watching tours in the area, including Newport Coastal Adventure. Within an hour, all three of its boats were out on the water, one of which was holding 20 passengers who had signed up for a last minute expedition in hopes of seeing Frosty. We had a captain and a crew member up in the wheelhouse just scanning the water with their binoculars for any sign of these whales for about an hour, Jessica Roame, education programs manager for Newport Landing and Daveys Locker Whale Watching told SFGATE. All of a sudden, the passengers just started screaming. The pod of orcas was just a quarter of a mile away. For the next two and a half hours, everyone was in awe as the whales swam around the boat and even made a few close passes underneath it, Roame said. Its a really rare occurrence to see them, and the fact that we were able to re-sight them was just amazing. @NewportCoastalAdventure & @PacificOffshore on Instagram & Facebook Alisa Schulman-Janiger of the California Killer Whale Project has been tracking Frosty since it was first spotted by Monterey Bay Whale Watch as a calf in August 2019. Shes also the researcher who gave the whale its nickname for its milky sheen. Schulman-Janiger told SFGATE she saw Frosty for the first time that September near Catalina Island, but said the whale has been spotted as far north as Alert Bay, British Columbia and as far south as Ensenada, Mexico. Orcas dont have migration patterns so its impossible to determine when or where theyll show up next, Schulman-Janiger explained, which makes this sighting all the more intriguing. Its unpredictable, she said. They go wherever they want. They could be following prey. They link up with relatives. They go to old hangouts. But we cant say where theyll go. Frosty is about four years old, and if it is a male, the whale will start developing larger dorsal fins, usually between the ages of nine and 12 years old if it lives that long. Schulman-Janiger explained Frostys unusual coloring could be the sign of a genetic disorder known as Chediak-Higashi syndrome, which causes whales to have a weakened immune system, sensitivity to sunlight, and a shortened life span. Leucism, or partial pigmentation loss, could be another possibility, Luke Rendell, a lecturer in biology at the University of St Andrews sea mammal research unit, told Newsweek. @NewportCoastalAdventure & @PacificOffshore on Instagram & Facebook Other whales that appear to have had Chediak-Higashi syndrome include Chimo, a four-year-old captive female orca that lived at the now defunct Sealand of the Pacific in British Columbia and whose pigmentation slowly changed over time just like Frostys. Another was Tl'uk, a male Biggs killer whale that was born in the Pacific Northwest about a year before Frosty and disappeared when he was just around two years old. None of these whales have been documented past the age of four, and we dont know a lot about the progression of this disorder, Schulman-Janiger said. But all of them have that same change in appearance. As far as we know, this is the only whale currently alive with this particular syndrome. When Frosty was spotted with its mother in Beaver Cove off the coast of Vancouver Island in August of 2022, experts were concerned by the unusual behavior and thought the whales might be in poor health because they lingered in the shallow water with their bellies were visibly dragging on the ocean floor. Schulman-Janiger said Frosty was seen with its mother again near San Clemente Island on April 15 in addition to the sighting earlier this week. While a more serious assessment of its condition is needed, she described the whales most recent appearance as strong but definitely lean. Or as we like to say, lean mean fighting machine, she said. Were hoping Frosty survives and thrives and every sighting is important. LOS ANGELES (AP) A Los Angeles man has been accused of falsely claiming to be a doctor and practicing medicine on thousands of people, offering treatment for serious medical conditions including cancer, prosecutors said. Stephan Gevorkian faces five felony counts of practicing medicine without a certification, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said in a statement Monday. Available records did not list an attorney who could speak on the 44-year-old's behalf. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) A Mexican national was convicted of first-degree murder Wednesday in the 2019 slaying of the mother of two state police officers in a case that drew national attention and spotlighted Albuquerques struggle with crime. Jurors also found Luis Talamantes-Romero, 35, guilty of eight other felonies in the death of Jacqueline Vigil, who authorities say was killed outside her northwest Albuquerque home in an attempted burglary. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT Whatever the future holds for Sikorsky Memorial Airport, Michelle Muoio will no longer be in charge of it. Hired to manage the city-owned, Stratford-based aviation facility in mid-2017, Muoio this week announced she is leaving "to pursue a new role with another organization." Muoio in her Monday email to airport users did not provide additional details, but said she is exiting "with mixed emotions." Mayoral aide Daniel Roach, who has been helping to negotiate a possible take-over of Sikorsky by the Connecticut Airport Authority, said she accepted "a corporate job in the airline industry." He also confirmed Muoio was not joining the CAA or one of the passenger airlines the city has been hoping that possible deal with the state will bring to Sikorsky. "We're sorry to see her go and of course wish her all the best and continued success in this business," Roach said. Muoio's exit comes during a major shift in the talks between the CAA and Mayor Joe Ganim's administration. The two sides had been discussing the former's purchase of the facility for around $10 million since at least 2021. In November of that year the authority and Gov. Ned Lamont announced the CAA wanted to either buy or lease Sikorsky. But after the results of a preliminary, state-required environmental assessment ahead of a final deal revealed costly contamination, the CAA pivoted to instead operating but not owning the airport. That shift in the negotiation became official March 15 when the CAA board voted to "suspend discussions of (an) acquisition of Sikorsky Memorial Airport and instead explore the potential of entering into a management agreement." Under either scenario the CAA was expected to retain existing Bridgeport staff. The Ganim administration and the CAA believe that having the authority in charge will help ensure the revival of regular passenger service at the airport, which for a few decades now has catered only to business, charter and private planes. Muoio had also made a return of passenger service a priority. CAA Director Kevin Dillon on Tuesday said he hoped to "reach an understanding" with Bridgeport before the end of the authority's fiscal year this coming June 30, which is also when Bridgeport's municipal fiscal year winds up. So what does that mean for replacing Muoio? In her email Monday she wrote, "The City of Bridgeport is evaluating solutions for backfilling my position. I expect that the next individual will assume this role quickly and you should not anticipate any major interruption in oversight or management of the airport." Muoio continued that she will help with the transition on an as-needed basis. "I think quite a bit of Michelle and her skill level. Disappointed to see her go, but certainly understand she has a new opportunity she's looking to pursue," Dillon said. "Some big shoes to fill. We expect the city to continue to move forward to fill that position. It's very important." He continued, "I would suspect the city will certainly confer with us as to how they're looking to go about filling the position and who they would put in that position." Roach said one possibility would be the CAA loaning someone to help out at Sikorsky in the interim. The authority temporarily did so around seven years ago when Sikorsky, before Muoio was hired, was between airport managers and the Federal Aviation Administration had concerns about issues completing long-required runway safety upgrades. Muoio in her statement Monday thanked her staff, airport tenants and users. "I feel we have made great strides together in terms of laying the foundation for optimizing this facility in the next chapter of its existence," she wrote. "Together we have completed a master plan update, an environmental assessment of upcoming projects, acquired new equipment and made many other improvements." Roach also credited Muoio with renegotiating existing or securing new leases the Ganim administration has said will eliminate Sikorsky's long-standing operating deficit. But Muoio also has been criticized by one tenant, Robert Christoph Jr., owner of Three Wing Aviation. Christoph last year publicly cried foul when Muoio and the Ganim administration pushed ahead with a new lease for another tenant, Atlantic Aviation, without putting it out to bid. Ultimately Three Wing was allowed to submit an offer, but Atlantic's was chosen anyway last June by the mayoral appointed airport board which helps run the facility. More recently questions have been raised about whether Atlantic's lease should have also been approved by Bridgeport's City Council. Christoph could not be reached for comment on Muoio's departure. Muoio has also not been popular with David Faile, who runs the Friends of Sikorsky Group, since early 2020 when it was discovered someone illegally drove on a section of a runway, damaging a $46 million piece of safety equipment there. Muoio had stated she believed the vandalism was committed by someone with airport access and subsequently required all tenants and users to park their cars outside the airport fence and walk, rather than drive, to the hangers and planes. Faile and other users at the time complained it was an over-reaction. "I wish her well in her next endeavor," Faile said Tuesday. Chevrolet's announced the winner of its first-ever "Lead Dream Chaser" contest. The winner is a Michigan Great Lakes environmentalist who will receive $100,000 and three months with the all-new 2024 Trax to help pursue her dream. Winner Meag Schwartz is a Michigan activist and environmental educator. Her passion project: protecting and cleaning up the Great Lakes. She was chosen from a panel of judges from hundreds of video submissions. Chevrolet "Lead Dream Chaser " winner Meag Schwartz speaking at a Great Lakes cleanup event. Photo: Chevrolet. Schwartz is known as the "The Great Lakes Litter Lady" and Chevy calls her a dedicated advocate for freshwater who dreams of growing her marine debris removal passion project, "Great Lakes Great Responsibility". She'll receive $100,000 and three months with the all-new 2024 Chevy Trax to go about making her dream a reality. You'll also be able to follow her journey on social media, as she highlights the natural beauty of the Great Lakes and its shorelines. "This is a dream come true," said Schwartz. "The funds and Chevy Trax will go a long way in helping us achieve our goal of protecting and enjoying the Great Lakes. Thanks to Chevrolet for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I encourage everyone to follow @greatlakeslove to see the dream unfold in real time." Chevy accepted entries over a 30-day submission period that opened on the afternoon of January 13th. "We are inspired by the many entries we received and are excited to follow Schwartz in her journey as the 'Lead Dream Chaser'," said Steve Majoros, chief marketing officer, Chevrolet. "The all-new Chevy Trax has everything you need to pursue your passion in style, so we encourage every dreamer to check it out." The all-new 2024 Chevrolet Trax arrives this spring offering more room for passengers and cargo than the outgoing model. The finalists for the Chevy Dream Chaser role were reviewed and scored by a panel of judges from Chevrolet, with creative entrepreneur and CEO of Kickstarter, Everette Taylor, serving as a guest judge. The judges scored each finalist according to five areas of the weighted criteria. The contestant with the highest total combined score from each judge was declared the winner. For more details on the judging criteria and to see a sample of the finalists, visit ChevyDreamChaser.com. Photo Credit: Chevrolet. This article originally appeared on CarProUSA STAMFORD Medical leaders and Democratic lawmakers gathered outside Stamford Hospital on Tuesday, seeking to clarify the legal status of a widely used abortion pill in Connecticut as its decades-old federal approval comes under fire by right-wing judges. The Supreme Court on Friday issued a ruling keeping mifepristone widely available, at least temporarily. The decision came less than a month after a Texas judge revoked the medication's longstanding Food and Drug Administration approval and after an FDA appeal an appeals court in Louisiana temporarily maintained mifepristone's approved status while making it harder to get. The status could still change soon, though. The high court's ruling sent the issue back to the appeals court, where its next hearing is scheduled for May 17. With the legal case in flux, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, other lawmakers and Stamford medical officials sought to clear up confusion and help Connecticut residents understand how the lawsuit affects their access to reproductive health care. Here are some of the questions they addressed. Can you still get mifepristone in Connecticut? Mifepristone remains "available without restrictions," Bysiewicz said. For now, the access includes the conditions the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit attempted to codify in its April 12 order. The ruling essentially rolled back access to the drug to 2016 rules, preventing patients from receiving pills through the mail though officials in Connecticut were quick to emphasize that the decision would have little impact here. "This also means this medication can be administered up to 10 weeks of pregnancy without any in-person visit to a clinic or to a hospital, and it can be obtained through the mail, or via pharmacy, or by a doctor's prescription," Bysiewicz said. "And so, we think it's important to get this message out there." What is mifepristone? And how is it used? The drug was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2000 under the brand name Mifeprex. Since 2016, the FDA has approved it for use until 10 weeks of pregnancy. Previously, the medication was advised through seven weeks. Mifepristone is part of a two-drug regimen that experts say most effectively induce abortion through medication. Medication abortions comprise more than half of all abortions in the United States. The pill blocks the hormone progesterone, causing the lining of the uterus to break down and stop the reproductive process. A second drug, misoprostol, is taken up to 48 hours after. The latter pill causes the uterus to contract and empty its contents. The drug isn't only used for medication abortion. According to Planned Parenthood, mifepristone is also effective for managing miscarriages and increasing health outcomes in later-term procedures when the fetus has died before birth. Is there an FDA-approved alternative for medication abortion? According to the World Health Organization, misoprostol alone, taken in certain doses, can be used to end a pregnancy. But officials note that it is less effective than the two-drug regiment with mifepristone. "We would still continue to offer that in that setting," said Siobhan Dolan, who heads OB-GYN services for Stamford Health. "Now, it's slightly less efficacious. It doesn't work quite as well ... all clinicians, we would like to be offering the medication regimen, with a combined regiment, that is the most effective." How do you pronounce the drug's name? Miff - uh - pris - tone. Is it safe to use? A 2022 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine examined the impact of mifepristone being made available without restrictions on women in Canada. According to the study, as medication abortions became more prevalent, complications to abortion "remained stable."Additionally, the rate at which women opted to get abortions declined. "As with all drugs, the FDA continues to closely monitor the post-marketing safety data on mifepristone for the medical termination of pregnancy," the agency's website said. What could the pending court case mean for medication abortion access in Connecticut? The abortion pill is the latest effort by conservative jurists rolling back abortion rights, coming less than a year after the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health. It's unlikely to be the last one, Bysiewicz said. Non-medication abortion also remains legal in Connecticut until 24 weeks of pregnancy. The May 17 appellate court hearing will not determine the permanent fate of mifepristone's FDA approval it only pertains to the temporary status of the drug as the case plays out. The Texas district court's one member, Matthew Kacsmaryk appointed in 2019 by former President Donald Trump has not yet considered the lawsuit in its entirety. His ruling earlier this month was a preliminary injunction. If he opts to overturn the FDA approval permanently, appeals could land the ruling at the Supreme Court again. "We knew that when Roe was overturned that this was just the beginning. And so, sadly, around the country, we've been seeing attacks on women's rights and access to essential health care," Bysiewicz said. "It's very disturbing because I think if the Supreme Court does overturn the FDA approval of mifepristone, it sets a very dangerous precedent. What will be next?" If the Supreme Court ultimately opts to uphold such a ruling, Stamford Health President and CEO Kathleen Silard said the health care system "will not break the law." "I think most doctors would say they don't want the liability associated with that," Silard said. "That's what's so infuriating with the Texas case is that you have this drug that has been safely used by so many people for many different medical conditions that has been potentially taken away. And that's really bad." (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Grace Shih, University of Washington (THE CONVERSATION) A flurry of court rulings in April 2023 has left the future of the abortion pill mifepristone in question. For now, a U.S. Supreme Court decision on April 21 allows the drug to remain accessiblewithout additional restrictions as the merits of the case are weighed in lower court proceedings. Depending on the outcome, the pill could face a ban or tightened restrictions on its usage, a possibility that has many health care providers concerned. The Conversation asked Grace Shih, a family physician practicing in Washington state, to explain the science behind mifepristone as well as its safety and efficacy in medication abortions. What is mifepristone, and how does it work? Mifepristone is a pill that is used in medication abortion during early pregnancy. It was initially approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000 and is approved by the FDA for medication abortion up to 10 weeks after the first day of the last menstrual period. It can be taken as one part of a two-part pill regimen for medication abortion. Mifepristone is prescribed as a 200-milligram dose taken orally, followed by an 800-microgram dose of misoprostol, which is placed in the vagina or between the teeth and cheek, where it dissolves and is absorbed, usually 24 to 48 hours later. Mifepristone acts by blocking the hormone progesterone, which is necessary for a pregnancy to develop. This stops the pregnancy growth and softens and dilates the cervix. It also prepares the uterus for contractions, increasing its sensitivity to medications such as misoprostol. Misoprostol is a synthetic prostaglandin. Prostaglandin is a hormonelike substance that has multiple effects, including the stimulation of uterine contractions, which helps expel pregnancy tissue such as the thickened uterine lining and the tissues that are the precursor to the placenta. Misoprostol is currently FDA-approved for reducing the risk of gastric ulcers in patients who are at high risk of complications from ulcers. But it is commonly used off-label for things like cervical ripening, or softening, to induce or help with labor. Mifepristone and misoprostol are also both used in the medical management of miscarriage. Medication abortion can also be done with misoprostol alone, an approach known as the misoprostol-only regimen. This regimen is safe and has been used widely by people around the world. In the misoprostol-only regimen, an 800-microgram dose is placed in the vagina or between the teeth and cheek every three hours for up to three doses. Both protocols are very effective, with the two-drug regimen up to 99.6% effective and the misoprostol-alone regimen between 84% to 96% in medication abortions. Why would a person opt for one regimen or the other? People usually dont choose the type of medication abortion they receive. Because the availability of mifepristone and misoprostol is highly variable, whichever method is available to you is medically safe. Patients should feel assured that guidelines for medication abortion support the safety and efficacy of both medication regimens. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society for Family Planning and the World Health Organization all support both types of medication abortion. How widely accessible is mifepristone? In January 2023, the FDA updated its guidelines to allow mifepristone to be dispensed through pharmacies with a prescription. The change means that the drug is available both by mail or at brick-and-mortar pharmacies, as long as that retail pharmacy has been certified. In other words, people who live in states where abortion is not banned can take their mifepristone prescription and get it the way they pick up other medications. For someone able to pick up mifepristone from a local pharmacy, the process is no different from picking up birth control pills or blood pressure medications. This allows mifepristone and its applications for abortion care and miscarriage management to be treated as typical health care. While the January 2023 FDA ruling theoretically increases the ways that a person can get mifepristone, so far it has not been widely available at retail pharmacies. Can I still get mifepristone? The short answer is yes, mifepristone is still FDA-approved. The Supreme Courts April 21, 2023, ruling means that there will be no changes to mifepristone access for now. However, for use in abortion care, mifepristone still faces restrictions depending on your states legislation. As of April 2023, 27 states have some restriction on medication abortion according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health policy organization. This includes 12 states that have a near-total ban on abortion and one state that has stopped offering abortion care because of legal uncertainty. Of the 15 states with restrictions specific to medication abortion, all of them require that medication be provided by a physician and not an advanced practitioner like a nurse practitioner. Six of the states require an in-person visit with a physician, one state requires that mifepristone be taken in the presence of a physician, and one state bans mailing medication abortion pills. Evidence-based health care As a practicing family physician, I follow the science and make medical decisions with my patients using the most up-to-date evidence. Medication abortion using mifepristone and misoprostol is exceptionally safe and highly effective, as is medication abortion using misoprostol alone. Side effects of the misoprostol-only regimen are similar to the combined regimen, though they may last longer because of the need for multiple doses of misoprostol. Some news coverage has focused on comparing the efficacy of the two regimens. But percentage points mean very little to an individuals health what matters is that people get the care they need. I will continue working, providing and advancing care that is based on science. Leading health professional organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians have all issued statements that call for removing all restrictions around mifepristone and/or support the safety of misoprostol-only medication abortion. This is an updated version of an article originally published on Jan. 11, 2023. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/mifepristone-is-under-scrutiny-in-the-courts-but-it-has-been-used-safely-and-effectively-around-the-world-for-decades-204163. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media NORTH HAVEN The owner of a North Haven-based firearms training program has withdrawn his application to sell guns out of the facility following public opposition to the plan. Peter Estrada, whose firearm academy Urban 2a runs out of 140 Washington Ave., had submitted a change of use application to the town Planning & Zoning Commission in hopes of being able to add a counter with firearms available for purchase. But the proposal sparked opposition from residents who said the location was not appropriate for a gun store. A high-profile Palestinian occupation prisoner died in Israeli custody on Tuesday after 86 days hunger strike in protest against his detention without charge, Israels prison service announced, at a time of already soaring tensions between Israel and the Palestinians. NEW LONDON Police have charged a second man in connection with an assault two weeks ago in which a woman was struck in the head with a gun. Maaseiyah Williams was charged Friday with second-degree assault, New London police said. The 50-year-old city resident appeared in state Superior Court in New London on Monday morning and was held on $150,000 bond, according to police and court records. On April 19, New London police arrested Maaseiyah Williams Jr., 27, charging him with first-degree assault, criminal possession of a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm and first-degree reckless endangerment in the incident. The Norwich resident was later released on $300,000 bond, court records indicate. The two are believed to be related, but it wasn't immediately clear from police records. New London police announced the elder Williams' arrest in a news release Monday, but did not say exactly what his alleged involvement in the incident was. Around 6:50 a.m. on April 10, New London police were called to Eastern Avenue and Adelaide Street after a man was reported to have hit a woman with a gun, police said. At the scene, "it was determined that the female victim had been struck in the head with an object (reported to be a firearm) as well as a gun shot was discharged during the incident," New London Police Capt. Matthew Galante said in a statement. The bullet didn't hit the victim, who was taken to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital with what police said were non-life-threatening injuries. Anyone with information about the assault can contact the New London Police Department at 860-447-1481, ext. 0; or submit an anonymous tip by texting NLPDTip plus the information to Tip411 (847411). The spring season for wild turkey hunting in Connecticut begins on April 26, according to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The season runs for just over 4 weeks until May 27. This season is among the three during which hunters are permitted to pursue wild turkeys, with the other two being fall archery and fall firearm seasons. In the spring, archery and firearm are combined into one season, with the same dates and bag limits (the number of turkeys a hunter can get in one season). However, in the fall, archery and firearms are separate seasons with their own bag limits and time frames. Spring turkey hunting season has a bag limit of five birds total, and people may only hunt from just before sunrise until sunset. Connecticut residents who wish to hunt turkeys require a Firearms Hunting License or have both a Small Game and Deer Archery Permit and a Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp. Non-residents must have one of the following: a three-day out-of-state Bird Hunting License, a Non-Resident Firearms Hunting License, or both a Non-Resident Small Game and Deer Archery Permit and a Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp. Landowners who ow 10 or more contiguous acres must have a Free Landowner Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp to hunt wild turkey on their property. If they also wish to hunt on other private land or state land, they must purchase the Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp as well. All permits and stamps can be purchased online from Connecticut's Outdoor Licensing System. Additionally, the list of permitted firearms and bows can be found on DEEP's website. Using bait, electronic calling devices, live decoys or animals (including dogs) to hunt turkeys is prohibited. Dogs may only be used to hunt turkeys during the fall firearms season and on private lands. Hunters may not shoot turkeys from a building or other permanent structure nor can they shoot turkeys that are roosting in trees. All hunters must immediately complete and sign a Harvest Tag for any turkeys they catch. Harvest Tags for 2023 are posted on DEEP's website, and reports can be made online or by calling the department. All reports must be made within 24 hours of acquiring a turkey or hunters will be in violation of state regulations and may be prosecuted. DEEP has also posted an interactive hunting area map that details a list of public hunting spots in the Nutmeg State. The agency stresses safety is to be of the utmost important to hunters, and offers a check list precautions as well as encourages residents to take the Advanced Hunter Education classes as offered by the Wildlife Division's Conservation Education/Fire Arms Safety Program. People who feel discriminated against at work may face a substantially higher risk of developing high blood pressure, new research shows. The study, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, defined workplace discrimination as working in unfair conditions or facing unpleasant treatment at work because of personal characteristics, such as race, sex or age. "Scientists have studied the associations among systemic racism, discrimination and health consequences," lead study author Dr. Jian Li said in a news release. Li is a professor of work and health in the Fielding School of Public Health and the School of Nursing at the University of California, Los Angeles. "However, few studies have looked specifically at the health impact of discrimination in the workplace, where adults, on average, spend more than one-third of their time." The researchers believe this is the first scientific evidence that workplace discrimination may increase the long-term risk of developing high blood pressure, Li said. According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects almost half of U.S. adults and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The findings come amid growing concerns that systemic racism and discrimination of all kinds may affect cardiovascular health. In the new study, researchers analyzed data for a national sample of 1,246 adults across a broad range of occupations and education levels. Participants were predominantly middle-aged, white and married, and numbers of women and men were roughly equal. Participants were mostly nonsmokers, drank low to moderate amounts of alcohol and engaged in moderate to high levels of physical activity. They were free of high blood pressure when the study began. Participants were asked questions about their work experiences, including whether they felt they were treated unfairly, whether they were watched or ignored more closely than others, whether job promotions were rewarded fairly and how often they were exposed to racial, ethnic or sexual slurs or jokes. All items were given equal weight, and scores were tallied using a 30-point scale. Participants were divided into three groups: those who perceived low levels of workplace discrimination (scores of up to seven points), intermediate (8-11 points) or high (12-30 points). After about eight years of follow-up, 319 participants reported developing high blood pressure. Those who at the start of the study said they experienced intermediate levels of discrimination were 22% more likely to develop high blood pressure than those who experienced low workplace discrimination. Those who said they experienced high levels of discrimination were 54% more likely to develop high blood pressure than their peers who did not. However, the study had several limitations. In addition to the fact that most participants were white, those who were not white were less likely to take part in the study's follow-up session. High blood pressure also was self-reported. "There are several implications from these findings," Li said. "First, we should increase public awareness that work is an important social determinant of health. Second, in addition to traditional risk factors, stressful experiences at work due to discrimination are an emerging risk factor for high blood pressure." The authors said stronger government and employer anti-discrimination policies are needed to better protect workers' health. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt from or reprint these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to American Heart Association News. Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the American Heart Associations Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service. HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately. By Loan-Anh Pham San Jose Spotlight Santa Clara County is still struggling to clean up its poor air quality, with communities of color among the most affected. The American Lung Association's newly released 2023 State of the Air report shows Santa Clara County scored an "F" on the report in high ozone days and particle pollution levels -- factors that contribute to an array of health concerns including asthma and respiratory infections. Experts said bad air quality and pollution disproportionately affects low-income residents and communities of color, and requires immediate attention. Gabriela Chavez-Lopez, executive director of the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, said low-income communities, especially those in East San Jose, have long been disproportionately impacted by pollution. She said low-income residents live in areas where commerce and transportation are prioritized, meaning air quality is often deprioritized. She said an example is the Reid-Hillview Airport in East San Jose. A 2021 county report revealed elevated lead levels in the blood of children living near the area. "If I live in a poor neighborhood, I'm just going to accept the conditions," Chavez-Lopez told San Jose Spotlight. "That really shouldn't be the case, that shouldn't be normalized." Drew Clark, Sustainable Silicon Valley board chair and director of air quality and mobility, said looking at air quality block-by-block across Santa Clara County helps determine where pollutants are spiking and where there are disparities in air quality. "You can't just say, 'Well, the county has bad air.' There are certain communities in the county that are very high (in pollution)," Clark told San Jose Spotlight. Clark said the nonprofit is working in East San Jose to address air quality and has a community partnership with the East Side Union High School District to raise awareness and increase advocacy. The group previously had air quality improvement projects in East Palo Alto, which upon investigation found higher levels of childhood asthma and other respiratory conditions in residents that lived in high ozone areas of town. According to the State of the Air report, more than 1.8 million county residents -- including people of color, individuals suffering from pediatric or adult asthma and seniors -- face health risks from poor air. The county clocked an average of 5.5 high ozone days throughout 2019-21, an increase from its average of 3.5 days from 2018-20. High ozone days refer to days when ozone surpasses safe levels, and the study notes a reasonable average for a two-year period is 3.2 days. The county saw an average of eight high particle pollution days in 2019-21, a drop from an average of 14.8 days in 2018-20, a small win amid an overall poor air quality rating. High particle pollution days refer to a 24-hour period where particle pollution is at unsafe levels, and the study notes a reasonable average is also 3.2 days over two years. Erin Demerritt, spokesperson for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, said high ozone levels are typically strongest from May to October, when air quality creates a thick layer of smog. In the county and surrounding areas, she said transportation is another big factor. In response, the air district introduced a program for residents to trade in smog-producing vehicles for clean air vehicles. "Traffic congestion and the number of single-occupancy vehicles on Bay Area roads really continues to impede our progress to reduce ozone and greenhouse gasses," Demerritt told San Jose Spotlight. California cities make up the majority of top 10 U.S. cities with the highest amounts of short-term particle pollution, according to the report -- with the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland area coming in sixth overall. The area came in seventh among U.S. cities most impacted by year-round particle pollution. Demerritt said climate change remains another important factor to consider when examining the results of the report. She said high particle pollution numbers in Santa Clara County were influenced by local fires in recent years, as well as wildfires throughout the surrounding region. "Wildfire smoke, it's significantly impacted us for years and it's masking years of progress to reduce fine particulate pollution here in the Bay Area," Demerritt told San Jose Spotlight. "Our progress is really backsliding with climate change causing more extreme weather that is supercharging these wildfires." Copyright 2023 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. Copyright 2023 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TALLINN, Estonia (AP) For Ruslan, an engineer in the Belarus capital of Minsk, Russia's war in neighboring Ukraine suddenly seemed closer than ever when a conscription office recently sent him a summons for military training. It's part of an effort that will see thousands of men in Belarus attend drills amid fears that the staunch Moscow ally could be drawn into the fighting. They are telling us that Belarus wont enter the war against Ukraine, but I hear Russian warplanes roar over my house heading to the Machulishchi air base outside Minsk, the 27-year-old told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. He asked not to be fully identified out of concern for his personal safety. Russian troops are already in Belarus, and I see the country gradually being turned into a military barracks," he said. "Everybody fears that they won't allow Belarusians to keep watching the war from a distance for too long. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has welcomed thousands of Russian troops to his country, allowed the Kremlin to use it to launch the invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and offered to station some of Russias tactical nuclear weapons there. But he has avoided having Belarus take part directly in the fighting for now. Analysts and political opponents say that further involvement over Ukraine could rekindle public anger against him and erode his iron-fisted grip on power that has lasted for nearly 29 years. Lukashenko, who meets regularly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has relied on the Kremlin's political and economic support to survive months of protests, mass arrests and Western sanctions following an election in 2020 that kept him in power and was widely seen at home and abroad as rigged. Russia's invasion is deeply unpopular in Belarus, which shares a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) border with Ukraine and has many citizens with family or personal ties there. The Belarusians dont see any sense in this war, said Svyatlana, a 54-year-old manager in Luninets, near the border. She asked not to be identified by her full name for her own security. A new Belarusian air defense unit was formed recently in the city, she said, and war fears have increased as troop numbers have grown. Belarusian military analyst Aliaksandr Alesin said that if the country's 45,000-member army is sent into Ukraine, there might be "mass refusals to follow orders. He said Lukashenko won't do it because he fears to stir up discontent among the military, who could turn their weapons in a different direction. While agreeing to station some of Russia's tactical nuclear weapons in his country, Lukashenko cast the move as protection against what he described as NATO's aggressive plans and Western plots against his government. They dont bomb countries with nuclear weapons, Lukashenko said recently. The construction of storage facilities for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus will be finished by July 1, Putin said. Russia already has modified Belarusian warplanes to carry nuclear weapons and given its ally Iskander short-range missiles that can be fitted with a nuclear warhead. It also has trained Belarusian crews to operate the planes and missiles armed with nuclear weapons. During the Cold War, Belarus hosted about two-thirds of Moscow's arsenal of nuclear-tipped intermediate range missiles, Alesin said, adding that dozens of Soviet-era storage sites can still be used for such weapons. Soviet nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan were moved to Russia under a U.S.-brokered deal after the USSR's collapse in 1991. Belarus was a Soviet nuclear fortress, and now Putin and Lukashenko have decided to not only restore but to strengthen it, Alesin told AP. From Belarus, Russian nuclear-tipped missiles could reach Ukraine, the entire territory of Poland, the Baltics and part of Germany, and this Belarusian nuclear balcony will rattle Western politicians nerves for a long time to come. Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who challenged Lukashenko in the 2020 election after her activist husband was jailed, told AP that hosting Russian nuclear weapons would turn the Belarusian people into hostages. The deployment of Russian nuclear weapons will make Belarus a target in case of an escalation and seriously jeopardize Belarusians lives, said Tsikhanouskaya, who fled the country after the election and has become a fierce critic-in-exile of Lukashenko. The two dictators have gone too far in their war games, and it will only lead to the toughening of Western sanctions. Those sanctions have crippled the Belarus economy, which shrank by a record 4.7% last year. Lukashenko hopes a 70% surge in trade with Russia last year will soften the impact and expects Belarus will profit from Moscows orders for electronics and other high-tech components for weapons systems. Alesin said Moscow is providing Minsk "with cheap energy and loans and opens up its vast market in exchange for the opportunity to control the Belarusian military infrastructure. Some of the 300,000 Russian reservists called up last fall by Putin as part of his partial mobilization are being trained on firing ranges in Belarus. Lukashenko has said 500 officers are helping train the Russians, who are camped next to Belarusian barracks. But this growing involvement in Belarus for the Kremlin war efforts is fomenting widespread resentment, said Belarusian political analyst Valery Karbalevich. A broad guerrilla movement has evolved in Belarus with its members blowing up railway tracks and Russian warplanes and attacking Russian and Belarusian official websites, Karbalevich said. Belarus transformation into a Russian military hub and its gradual drawing into the war has caused public discontent, forcing Lukashenko to escalate repressions. BYPOL, an organization of former military and security officers who oppose Lukashenko, claimed responsibility for a February drone attack on a Russian A-50 early warning and control aircraft at the Machulishchi air base near Minsk. Authorities said they detained a suspect alleged to be behind the attack, along with 30 others who were charged with terrorism and could face capital punishment if convicted. Raids across the country have resulted in 300 other arrests on suspicion of links to the guerrillas, according to the Viasna human rights center. BYPOL leader Aliaksandr Azarau told AP that if Belarus enters the war in Ukraine, it would provide a boost for his group, which grew out of the 2020 election protests. If small Belarus starts getting coffins from Ukraine, it will inevitably stir up protests that the authorities barely managed to stifle with mass repressions, he said. Lukashenko reasonably worries that entering the war would lead to a sharp rise of the guerrilla movement." When Putin launched the invasion, Russian troops rolled into Ukraine from Belarus in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to capture Kyiv, only 90 kilometers (about 55 miles) to the south. Parts of western Ukraine, including railway hubs of Lviv and Lutsk that are key conduits for Western weapons, also could be vulnerable to a potential incursion from Belarus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently visited border guards in the northwestern Volyn region, urging vigilance against a possible incursion from Belarus. We havent seen any preparations in Minsk, and Lukashenko so far has resisted being drawn into a war with Ukraine, but the situation may change as Belarus is getting increasingly militarized, said Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov. Lukashenko is ready to give Putin whatever he wants except the Belarusian soldiers. But we arent blind and Kyiv is seriously worried about a sharp increase in the Russian military presence in Belarus. Karbalevich, the Belarusian analyst, said that while Lukashenko probably will remain reluctant to enter the war, Moscow could dangle the threat of another incursion into Ukraine from Belarus to force Kyiv to keep a significant number of troops on the border. The poorly motivated and weak Belarusian military army wouldnt make much of a change on the battlefield, but the Kremlin needs to keep showing Kyiv and the West that the Belarusian threat remains, he said. Its more convenient for Putin to use Minsk as a military hub while maintaining the constant threat of Belarus entering the war to keep the pressure on Ukraine. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine-war OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) A San Francisco Bay Area prosecutor announced Tuesday that her office had filed perjury and bribery charges against a longtime Oakland homicide detective. Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Y. Price filed two felony counts against Phong Tran, saying that he lied under oath during a murder trial in 2016 and at a preliminary hearing in 2014. He was also charged with felony bribery and attempted bribery of a witness. Price said in a statement that her office will need to review at least 125 homicide cases in which Tran investigated. Lying and manipulating a witness are serious violations of the public trust, she said. Price was elected to office in November on a progressive platform of holding police officers to account and seeking rehabilitation for criminal suspects over incarceration. The charges drew a blistering response from the Oakland Police Officers Association, which said Tran had been cleared of wrongdoing in previous investigations by the police and former district attorney. Tran's attorney, Andrew M. Ganz, said in a separate statement that the DA treats murderers like heroes, but treats real heroes like criminals. The prosecutor's office said in the statement that Tran lied about his relationship with a key witness that resulted in two men being convicted in the 2011 murder of Charles Butler. Tran had denied under oath knowing the witness, but the prosecutor's office says he had provided the witness with cash and asked the witness to testify against the two defendants. The convictions were vacated last year. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) A company that tears down closed nuclear power plants wants to do in Michigan what has never been done in the U.S.: restore a dead one to life. Holtec Decommissioning International bought the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station last June for the stated purpose of dismantling it, weeks after previous owner Entergy shut it down. Fuel was removed from the reactor core. Federal regulators were notified of permanent cessation of power operations. But with support from Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and leaders in the Lake Michigan community where Palisades was an economic driver for 50 years, Holtec soon kicked off a campaign to bring the plant back. The 800 megawatt facility had generated roughly 5% of the state's electricity. Keeping Palisades open is critical for Michigan's competitiveness and future economic development opportunities, Whitmer said in a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, herself a former Michigan governor, requesting federal funding for the restart. Activists who long criticized Palisades as poorly maintained and dangerous don't want it resurrected. They note its years of mechanical problems, including what the Nuclear Regulatory Commission described as among the nation's worst cases of nuclear fuel container weakening. A degrading seal on a device controlling the atomic reaction led Entergy to close the plant nearly two weeks earlier than planned in May 2022. This is uncharted risk territory," said Kevin Kamps, radioactive waste specialist for a group called Beyond Nuclear, who vowed to fight this proposal at every turn after Holtec pitched it during a March 20 NRC meeting. Holtec says a primary reason for its about-face on Palisades was a $6 billion federal initiative to prolong older nuclear facilities, part of President Joe Biden's infrastructure law. Nuclear is key to his goal of an economy with net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Fission generates no carbon dioxide, the primary global warming gas, although fossil fuels can be used in mining and refining uranium ore for reactors. Its waste remains lethally radioactive for thousands of years. Nuclear reactors support energy independence by ensuring the reliable availability of clean, resilient and affordable power, the Energy Department said in March, announcing a second funding application period for aging plants. The department awarded up to $1.1 billion last fall to spare the Diablo Canyon plant in California, scheduled for decommissioning in 2024 and 2025. Palisades was turned down. But the department emphasized that recently shuttered plants would be eligible in the next round. Instead, Holtec is applying for about $1 billion in federal loans under a different program that's a better fit, spokesman Patrick O'Brien said. The company also wants $300 million from the state, said state Rep. Joey Andrews, a Democrat whose district includes the plant. Holtec Decommissioning President Kelly Trice told the NRC that government assistance was vital, along with regulatory exemptions and finding a utility to buy the power. He didn't disclose the expected Palisades restart cost. Resurrecting the plant would be a massive challenge, said Jacopo Buongiorno, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology nuclear engineering professor. In addition to hiring and training hundreds of operators and engineers, the company would have to check thousands of parts making repairs or replacements as needed and order more uranium fuel. Palisades' license now prohibits reactor operation, so Holtec would need a revision or rule exemptions for a restart. The NRC would agree only if convinced the plant "has been brought back to working order, Buongiorno said. No significant steps have been taken toward dismantling the plant, company Vice President Jean Fleming said during the March meeting. Some 380 employees departed after closure while about 220 remain, handling site and security upgrades and preparing to transfer spent fuel from a cooling pool to dry cask storage. Holtec hopes to get funding and NRC approval by October. Even then, the restart probably would take a couple of years, Trice said. Commission regulators told Holtec officials their plan appeared to cover necessary topics but were noncommittal about approval. They would have to put applications before technical staff, provide evidence to show that what they're requesting is in accordance with the law and meets our basic requirements for maintaining public health and safety, said NRC spokesperson Scott Burnell. If successful, Palisades would become the first U.S. nuclear reactor to restart after its fuel has been removed and its license revised to prohibit further operation, Burnell said. Every other U.S. reactor thats submitted documentation that says, in effect, We have permanently defueled the reactor and are done operating it, ... has moved onto decommissioning. Skeptics question Palisades' fitness and Holtec's financial strategy. The plant when it was operating had serious safety issues, said Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety with the Union of Concerned Scientists. Now it's been shut down, normal inspection and maintenance procedures have stopped; NRC oversight has stopped. Before committing to a restart, Holtec would be confident about getting the plant in good shape, spokesperson O'Brien said. It would be safe nuclear power, the most heavily regulated industry in the world. If the company abandons the plan or is rejected by the NRC, it would revert to dismantling Palisades and restoring the 432-acre (175-hectare) lakeshore site. Holtec estimated decommissioning costs at $633 million in December, when a trust fund to pay for it totaled $547 million. To close the funding gap, the project would be spread over nearly two decades, with a 10-year slowdown so investment earnings could outpace spending. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel argues the fund is inadequate and Holtec and Entergy are understating decommissioning costs. That could leave taxpayers on the hook, she said in seeking an NRC order that the companies provide an additional $200 million. The companies said the fund had a sufficient cushion and they could get more money if needed. The NRC hasn't ruled on the issue. Beyond Nuclear accuses Holtec of improperly dipping into the decommissioning fund generated through assessments on ratepayers to bankroll the proposed restart. Company president Trice told the NRC the fund was what we're using to pay the salaries right now," according to a recording provided by the anti-nuclear nonprofit. Kamps of Beyond Nuclear said the remark acknowledged the fund was being used for work unrelated to decommissioning. His group asked the NRC's inspector general to investigate. Justin Poole, an NRC project manager who led the meeting, said Trice's comment referred to payment of on-site decommissioning workers. Holtec spokesman OBrien said roughly $44 million had been withdrawn from the fund only for decommissioning activities. The parent company is covering restart costs, he said. Reasonable people can disagree about the meaning of Trice's comment, said Burnell, the NRC spokesperson. Many southwestern Michigan government and business leaders want Palisades restarted. A very reliable and steady tax base for our community, Zack Morris, head of a business development organization, told the NRC. Andrews, the legislator who supports state funding, said he previously worked in renewable energy and prefers wind and solar. Yet a reliable supplier is needed for when wind doesn't blow or sun doesn't shine, he said, and nuclear beats carbon-spewing coal and natural gas. But the potential comeback is a nightmare for those who opposed the plant and were relieved it shut down. If there's an accident at Palisades, it could make it so we can't live here any more," said Kraig Schultz, whose home is 50 miles (81 kilometers) away but close to Lake Michigan, where he swims and his son surfs. We're playing a losing game when we keep running something until it fails." ___ Follow John Flesher on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnFlesher. ___ Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. PRAGUE (AP) The Czech government on Wednesday approved a defense military treaty with the United States. The Defense Cooperation Agreement sets a legal framework for possible deployment of U.S. troops on Czech territory and their cooperation with the Czech armed forces. It should make any such moves easier at a time of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Its undoubtedly a step to boost our countrys security, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said. A date for signing the deal by the Czech and U.S. defense ministers is yet to be set. It will then need parliamentary and presidential approval. Defense Minister Jana Cernochova called the U.S. the most important ally in defense. Therefore, to boost trans-Atlantic ties is in the Czech vital interest." The U.S. has such agreements with 24 other NATO members, including Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Romania and Bulgaria that form the eastern flank of the alliance. Any particular deployment of U.S. forces will still need approval by the Czech government and parliament. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held trade talks with South Korean officials in Seoul on Wednesday, on the second leg of his four-nation trip, as the possible rival to Donald Trump seeks to build his diplomatic profile ahead of a widely anticipated presidential campaign launch. Leading a trade mission from Florida, DeSantis met with South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and expressed hopes to create more jobs by facilitating South Korean trade and investment in his state, according to Hans office. Han, Seouls No. 2 official behind President Yoon Suk Yeol, called for stronger cooperation in industries such as space and aviation, which he described as Floridas strengths. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. health officials on Wednesday approved the first pill made from healthy bacteria found in human waste to fight dangerous gut infections an easier way of performing so-called fecal transplants. The new treatment from Seres Therapeutics provides a simpler, rigorously tested version of stool-based procedures that some medical specialists have used for more than a decade to help patients. The Food and Drug Administration cleared the capsules for adults 18 and older who face risks from repeat infections with Clostridium difficile, a bacteria that can cause severe nausea, cramping and diarrhea. C. diff is particularly dangerous when it reoccurs, leading to between 15,000 and 30,000 deaths per year. It can be killed with antibiotics but they also destroy good bacteria that live in the gut, leaving it more susceptible to future infections. The new capsules are approved for patients who have already received antibiotic treatment. More than 10 years ago, some doctors began reporting success with fecal transplants using stool from a healthy donor to restore the guts healthy balance and prevent reinfections. The FDA approved the first pharmaceutical-grade version of the treatment last year from a rival drugmaker, Ferring Pharmaceuticals. But that company's product like most of the original procedures must be delivered via the rectum. Cambridge Massachusetts-based Seres will market its drug as a less invasive option. The treatment will be sold under the brand name Vowst and comes as a regimen of four daily capsules taken for three consecutive days. Both of the recent FDA approvals are the product of years of pharmaceutical industry research into the microbiome, the community of bacteria, viruses and fungi that live in the gut. Currently most fecal transplants are provided by a network of stool banks that have popped up at medical institutions and hospitals across the country. While the availability of new FDA-approved options is expected to decrease demand for donations from stool banks, some plan to stay open. OpenBiome, the largest stool bank in the U.S., said it will keep serving patients who aren't eligible for the FDA-approved products, such as children and adults with treatment-resistant cases. It has supplied more than 65,000 stool samples for C. diff patients since 2013. "OpenBiome is committed to maintaining safe access to fecal transplantation for these patients as a vital last line of defense, said Dr. Majdi Osman, the group's medical chief. OpenBiome's standard stool treatment costs less than $1,700 and is typically delivered as a frozen solution within days of ordering. Seres did not disclose the price it will charge for its capsules in a statement Wednesday evening. We want to make the commercial experience for physicians and patients as easy as possible, said Eric Shaff, the companys chief executive officer, in an interview ahead of the announcement. Ease of administration in our view is one of the aspects of the value were delivering. Seres will co-market the treatment with Swiss food giant Nestle, which will also split the profits. Seres will receive a $125 million milestone payment from Nestle in connection with the FDA approval. Overseeing the fledgling industry of U.S. stool banks has created regulatory headaches for the FDA, which doesnt traditionally police homemade products and procedures used in doctor's offices. In the early days of the trend, the FDA warned consumers about the risks of potential infections from the fecal transplants, as some people sought out questionable do it yourself methods from videos and websites. Seres executives say their manufacturing process relies on the same techniques and equipment used to purify blood products and other biologic therapies. The company starts with stool provided by a small group of donors who are screened for various health risks and conditions. Their stool is likewise tested for dozens of potential viruses, infections and parasites. The company then processes the samples to remove the waste, isolate the healthy bacteria and kill any other lingering organisms. Thousands of capsules can be made from each stool sample, making it a more efficient process than current fecal transplants, according to the company. The FDA warned in its approval announcement that the drug may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents. It is also possible for Vowst to contain food allergens, the agency noted. The FDA approved the treatment based on a 180-patient study in which nearly 88% of patients taking the capsules did not experience reinfection after 8 weeks, compared with 60% of those who received dummy pills. Common side effects included abdominal swelling, constipation and diarrhea. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Eric Shaff is the chief executive officer of Seres Therapeutics, not its chief financial officer. ___ Follow Matthew Perrone on Twitter: @AP_FDAwriter ___ 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. John Minchillo/AP WASHINGTON (AP) A Florida man has been sentenced to four years and two months in federal prison for attacking police officers during the insurrection and storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Christian Matthew Manley, 27, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in the District of Columbia, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in November to assaulting, resisting and impeding law enforcement while using a dangerous weapon. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CAIRO (AP) An attack on the prison holding deposed Sudanese strongman Omar al-Bashir has raised questions about his whereabouts, with one of the warring sides saying he is being held in a secure location and the other alleging he has been released. Al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan for three decades despite wars and sanctions, was overthrown during a popular uprising in 2019. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide and other crimes committed during the conflict in Sudan's western Darfur region in the 2000s. He and other former top officials accused of atrocities have been held in Kober prison in Khartoum for the last four years, as authorities have declined ICC requests that they be handed over. The Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which together had removed al-Bashir from power during mass protests, are now battling one another across the capital. The fighting reached the prison over the weekend, with conflicting reports about what transpired. Military officials told The Associated Press that al-Bashir, as well as Abdel-Rahim Muhammad Hussein and Ahmed Haroun who held senior security positions during the Darfur crisis had been moved to a military-run medical facility in Khartoum under tight security for their own safety. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with media. The army later accused the RSF of donning military uniforms and attacking the prison, saying they released inmates and looted the facility. The RSF, led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, denied the allegations and claimed that the military forcibly evacuated the facility as part of a plan to restore al-Bashir to power. Local media meanwhile aired a purported audio statement from Haroun in which he said that he and other former officials were left in the prison complex guarded by a small number of security forces, and were later allowed to walk free. He said they left the prison for their own safety because of the fighting and a lack of food or water. He did not mention al-Bashir or say where he and the other officials were. A lawyer for al-Bashir did not respond to phone calls or messages seeking comment. Burhan and other senior officers served under al-Bashir, and activists say the Islamist deep state that underpinned his long rule is still intact. Dagalo also once served as a loyal enforcer to al-Bashir, helping to suppress rebellions in Darfur and other provinces. Both the military and the RSF have sought to portray themselves as allies of the country's pro-democracy movement who are trying to restore its transition to civilian rule. But both have a long history of brutalizing activists and protesters, and they joined forces to remove civilian leaders from power in a coup less than two years ago. Kober prison held a number of activists detained after the coup, some of whom were charged in the death of a senior police officer during a protest. One of them, Mosab Sharif, posted a video online saying that the entire prison had been emptied after a military strike that killed some of those inside. He said armed men burst through the doors and ordered everyone out. Another activist who walked free, Ahmed al-Fatih, said he was willing to surrender at a police station but could not find any that were functioning amid the unrest, according to a statement released by his defense lawyers. Both activists said their lives were in danger at the prison as food and water ran low. Videos circulating online appear to show a long line of prisoners leaving the facility with bags of belongings slung over their shoulders. The ICC indicted Al-Bashir, Hussein and Haroun on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur. The Darfur conflict erupted when rebels from an ethnic African community launched an insurgency in 2003, complaining of oppression by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum. Al-Bashir launched a scorched-earth campaign that included air raids and attacks by notorious Janjaweed militias tribal fighters who stormed into villages on horses and camels. The campaign was marked by mass killings, rape, torture and persecution. Some 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven from their homes. Dagalo has not been implicated in the atrocities carried out in Darfur at the height of the conflict in 2003 and 2004, but his forces grew out of the Janjaweed and are accused using similar tactics. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) A federal judge in Iowa has ruled against former U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes, who filed lawsuits claiming he was defamed by articles published by Esquire magazine about his family's Iowa dairy farm. U.S. District Judge C.J. Williams ruled Tuesday in favor of reporter Ryan Lizza and Esquire publisher Hearst Magazines in a lawsuit Nunes filed, according to the Des Moines Register. Nunes served for 19 years representing California in the U.S. House before leaving Congress to run the social media platform Truth Social, which is largely owned by former President Donald Trump. Nunes filed the lawsuits in 2019 after Lizzas story on the Nunes familys dairy farm in northwest Iowa published in 2018. The article claimed the family kept their move from California to Iowa a secret and delved into questions about immigrants living illegally in Iowa who work at the state's dairy farms. In his ruling, Williams said a reasonable jury couldn't find the article's statements defamatory. It marks the second time the court has ruled against Nunes. Williams in 2020 also rejected Nunes' claims, but he appealed, and in 2021 the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals found Lizza may have committed a new defamatory act when in November 2019 he tweeted a link to the original article. Williams noted in his second ruling that evidence supported the article's reporting about the Nunes family's immigrant workers. The judge said the family didn't offer material evidence that the story's claims were false. An email sent to Nunes at his website wasn't immediately returned. Lizza now works for the news organization Politico, and an email left with Lizza at Politico wasn't immediately returned. An email left with Esquire magazine also wasn't immediately returned. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) In Louisiana, a state that routinely reports one of the highest incarceration rates per-capita in the country, the Republican-controlled legislature is making a push to increase punishments for certain crimes. From simple burglary to fentanyl-related crimes, a slew of bills that seek larger fines and longer jail time advanced in the Legislature this week. On Tuesday, lawmakers passed a bill in the Senate, 33-2, that would toughen penalties against people who produce fentanyl a powerful opioid that is driving the country's deadly overdose crisis. The bill will next be heard before a House committee. Like the rest of the country, Louisiana's fentanyl drug-related deaths have drastically increased over the years from 200 in 2017 to 1,000 in 2021, according to data from the Louisiana Department of Health. State Sen. Sharon Hewitt, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, said her bill is meant to crack down on the issue. Currently, if a person is convicted of illegal manufacturing off a controlled dangerous substance, they face five to 15 years in prison and can be fined up to $25,000. Under Hewitt's bill, in addition to heightened fees, a person convicted of the crime would would face 10 to 40 for their first offense; 30 to 40 years for their second offense; and essentially life in prison, a minimum of 99 years without parole, on their third offense. Here are other bills that would increase or create criminal penalties in Louisiana, which advanced Tuesday. FENTANYL Along with Hewitts bill, there are multiple bills that seek heightened punishments for fentanyl-related crimes. Rep. John Stefanski, who is running for Louisiana Attorney General, is proposing one of the harshest bills if a person is convicted of possessing an aggregate weight of 28 grams or more of fentanyl they would be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Enough is enough, Stefanski said about fentanyl overdoses and the illegal sale of the opioid. I think this is one area ... one thing that will help that problem. Opponents fear that the bills language does not specify that the 28 grams must solely be comprised of fentanyl, and it could instead include the weight of a carrier drug. For example, if someone is caught with 28 grams of marijuana that is laced with tiny amounts of fentanyl, that person could still receive a life sentence under the proposed law. Stefanski said he was open to tightening the language of the bill. The legislation advanced out of committee Tuesday and will be debated on the House floor. BURGLARY Rep. Debbie Villio is sponsoring a bill that would designate simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling as a crime of violence, if a person is home at the time of the incident. The emotional trauma suffered by a victim who is present in their home (during the crime) is very great. They feel a violation of their home, trust and safety... increased fears, anger and frustration, Villio said. Opponents of the bill argued that something such as stealing a bike from a shed should not be lumped in with violent crimes and if there is violence involved other charges such as aggravated burglary and armed robbery -- can be pursued instead. Villio's bill passed on the House floor 73-28, and it will advance to a Senate committee. CRIMINAL ACCESS OF ATM Rep. Tony Bacala has put forth a bill that would create the theft or criminal access of an ATM a crime this includes the intentional destroying, damaging, impairing, tampering of an ATM, with the intent to steal money or a person's financial information. If convicted, a person would face five to 10 years in prison, up to a $10,000 fine and pay restitution. The bill unanimously passed in the House, and it will advance to the Senate. LESSER CRIMINAL PUNISHMENTS Democrats have also put forth bills surrounding criminal penalties, most of which would decrease or eliminate certain punishments. On Tuesday, a Republican-controlled committee killed a bill that sought to decriminalize the possession and distribution of marijuana in the state. Last week, a bill that would have made jaywalking a secondary offense one that can still be ticketed, but not used by police to initiate a traffic stop failed on the House floor, 39-56. In addition, there is legislation this year, that has received the support of Gov. John Bel Edwards, that would abolish the state's death penalty. The fate of the bill has yet to be determined. CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) A Missouri judge on Wednesday temporarily halted enforcement of a first-of-its-kind rule that restricts access to gender-affirming health care for transgender kids and adults, just hours before it was set to take effect. The rule enstated by Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey places requirements on both minors and adults before they would be allowed to receive gender-affirming treatments, such as puberty blockers or hormones. It was set to take effect Thursday, but transgender Missourians and health care providers sued to stop it from being enforced. St. Louis County Circuit Judge Ellen Ribaudo said Wednesday that she would like more time to review the matter before deciding whether to issue a temporary restraining order. She delayed implementation of the rule until 5 p.m. Monday, saying she anticipates she will issue a ruling before then. Bailey has touted the rule as a way to shield minors from what he describes as experimental medical treatments, though puberty blockers and sex hormones have been prescribed for decades. But the lawsuit claims that Bailey sidestepped the GOP-led Legislature and acted beyond his authority in attempting to regulate gender-affirming health care under the states consumer-protection laws. Attorney Tony Rothert with the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri told Ribaudo at a court hearing Wednesday that the regulations "will cause immediate, severe and potentially irreparable harm for people who could lose access to medications that include puberty blockers and sex hormones. He and other attorneys said that transgender people who cant get gender-affirming care are at risk of suicide. Assistant Attorney General Joshua Divine argued that Baileys order does not ban gender-affirming care. The rule will require people to have experienced an intense pattern of documented gender dysphoria for three years and to have received at least 15 hourly sessions with a therapist over at least 18 months before receiving puberty blockers, hormones, surgery or other treatment. Patients also must first be screened for autism and social media addiction, and any psychiatric symptoms from mental health issues would have to be treated and resolved. Some people would be able to maintain their prescriptions while undergoing required assessments. Divine said the rule provides basic procedural guardrails. He cited studies showing that a high percentage of kids seeking to transition are dealing with mental health issues. He said that rather than transition they should undergo talk therapy. Those suing argue Bailey sidestepped the GOP-led Legislature and acted beyond his authority, We dont allow attorneys general to legislate, and we dont allow them to play doctor, Rothert said. Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said that with the delay, transgender and non-binary Missourians will still be able to receive treatment on Thursday. And while this is temporary relief, our patients always deserve the highest standard of care, without the intervention of politicians who have no grasp of medicine, she said. A spokesperson for Bailey said the office will continue fighting for all patients to have access to adequate health care. Bailey issued the restrictions following an investigation he launched in February into the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Childrens Hospital. The investigation was prompted by a former employee who alleged the center was providing children with gender-affirming care without informed consent, not enough individualized case review and wraparound mental health services. An internal review by the university found no misconduct and determined that the former employee's claims were unsubstantiated. Baileys efforts to crack down on gender-affirming health care come as Republican lawmakers across the country have proposed hundreds of laws aimed at transgender people. At least 13 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors. The Food and Drug Administration 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 mean the treatments are not experimental. Critics have raised 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. Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade said Wednesday that she sent letters to President Joe Biden and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services earlier this week, asking for an executive order to extend coverage for Missourians who seek gender-affirming care in other states. She also sent letters to the governors of Kansas and Illinois, asking that their health care systems accept Missouri patients for such care. - Ballentine reported from Jefferson City, Missouri. - The name of the judge has been corrected. North Dakota's governor vetoed a bill Wednesday that would have required librarians under threat of criminal penalty to screen sexually explicit materials from children, but signed another barring explicit materials from the children's sections of local and school libraries. The Senate voted 33-14 to override Republican Gov. Doug Burgum's veto hours later, though a similar House vote would be needed to make a veto override successful. The House had passed the bill on a 54-38 vote last week, several votes shy of a veto-proof majority. Protecting children from explicit sexual material is common sense, Burgum said in a statement explaining why he signed one of the bills into law. But he said the bill he vetoed would have created an enormous burden on hundreds of public libraries by imposing under the threat of criminal prosecution an expensive requirement that libraries review materials that have already been screened for age appropriateness. His statement said it would cost the state $300,000 initially to conduct such screening and $150,000 per year thereafter. This bill is unnecessary, vague, and will not only cause immediate hardship to our schools and libraries, but also opens the door to costly, and unnecessary litigation, library coordinator Misti Frink had said in testimony against the bill this month. Robust checks and balances are already in place for print and digital resource selections. Republican Sen. Janne Myrdal, of Edinburg, spoke on the Senate floor in urging her colleagues to override the governor's veto, saying exposure to sexually explicit material is devastating for young people's brains and lives. We deal with millions of dollars here. $150,000 is like a drop in the bucket to protect our children, Myrdal said. Language in the vetoed bill said prosecutors could charge a person with a class B misdemeanor up to 30 days in prison and $1,500 in fines for willfully displaying sexually explicit material at newsstands or any other business establishment visited by minors. It said this would not include colleges, universities, museums or art galleries but would include public libraries and public school libraries, among some other places. Opponents, including the American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota, have said the now-vetoed bill would promote government censorship and violate First Amendment rights to say, think, read and write whatever one wants without fear of government retaliation. Across the country, attempted book bans and restrictions on libraries have surged, setting a record in 2022, according to a recent report by the American Library Association. Some books have been targeted by liberals citing racist language notably Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn according to Deborah Caldwell-Stone, who directs the ALAs Office for Intellectual Freedom. But the vast majority of complaints have come from conservatives, directed at works with LGBTQIA+ or racial themes, Caldwell-Stone has said. Bills to restrict books have been proposed or passed in Arizona, Iowa, Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Florida and other states. ___ Trisha Ahmed is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Trisha Ahmed on Twitter: @TrishaAhmed15 Several Egyptian human rights groups that are set to participate in the National Dialogue, which will start on 3 May, stressed on Friday the need for legal amendments that would protect their freedom to work across the country. In a meeting with National Dialogue General Coordinator Diaa Rashwan, the human rights groups highlighted the need to secure an atmosphere that ensures the effective engagement of all parties in the dialogue, a statement by the dialogue read. They also stressed the importance of securing further freedom for the human rights groups work and passing legislation that would give these groups more room to work. Representatives of a number of rights groups attended the meeting, including from the Arab Organisation for Human Rights, the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights, the Arab Youth Council for Integrated Development and the Arab Council Supporting Fair Trials and Human Rights (ACSFT). Representatives from Al-Mahrousa for Development and Participation, El Hak Foundation for Freedom of Expression and Human Rights as well as from the LIFE Foundation for Development and Community Integration were among the attendees. The meeting also saw the participation of the Egyptian Association for the Care of Prisoners and Their Families, the National Association for the Defence of Rights and Freedoms as well as a number of human rights experts. During the meeting, the participants discussed key issues regarding human rights and public freedoms, including those related to people with disabilities, women and freedom of belief. They also presented their proposals regarding reintegration of released prisoners into society, ensuring effective participation of youth and providing free legal assistance for the needy accused. They also discussed the issues of securing more fair trial guarantees and demanded speedy issuance of service cards for people with disabilities to receive the services allocated for them under the law. The participants stressed that they hope that the dialogue sessions would be public. This is the second meeting for Rashwan with representatives of the human rights organisations as the first meeting took place last Sunday. During the last meeting, the attendees called for facilitating the registration of human rights organisations wishing to regularise their status. They also called for the extension of the official registration deadline for the NGOs wishing to operate under the umbrella of the 2019 law regulating the activities of NGOs and civil society in Egypt. The Ministry of Social Solidarity had already announced that 12 April was the final registration deadline. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called for the dialogue during the annual Egyptian Family Iftar banquet in April 2022. The dialogue is set to look into all political, economic, and social issues. In September 2022, the 19-member board of trustees completed its selection of rapporteurs and assistant rapporteurs for the dialogue's three main tracks (political, economic and social) and their 19 subcommittees. Recommendations that will be made by the subcommittees will be referred to the board to be sent to the president for a final say, according to previous remarks by Rashwan. The president asserted that all intellectuals, syndicates and political forces are welcome to participate in the dialogue. He highlighted that only one faction was to be excluded from the dialogue, a subtle reference to the Muslim Brotherhood. Search Keywords: Short link: WARSAW, Poland (AP) Polish prosecutors have opened an investigation into alleged abuse of power by opposition leader Donald Tusk when he was prime minister a decade ago, a step that critics of the ruling authorities are describing as politically motivated due to its timing ahead of elections later this year. The Warsaw prosecutor's office said Tuesday that it had opened the investigation on behalf of a Polish businessman who alleges that Tusk abused his power by investigating his business and forcing him to stop importing coal from Russia. The businessman, Marek Falenta, was convicted and sentenced to 2 1/2 years of prison for organizing the secret recording of private conversations of political and business leaders in Warsaw restaurants in 2013 and 2014. The conversations were published in Polish magazines in 2014. Soon afterwards, Tusk left Poland to take a top job in the EU, but the publication caused a scandal that contributed to the defeat in 2015 of the centrist, pro-European government led by his Civic Platform party. The current conservative ruling party was elected in its place. The District Prosecutors Office in Warsaw said in a statement Tuesday that the purpose of the proceedings was to verify the circumstances indicated in the notification of the offence." Falenta alleged that Tusk abused his powers by ordering an inspection of the company he ran that imported Russian coal to Poland. In the opinion of the notifying party, the crime was to consist of exceeding official powers in connection with interference in the affairs of a commercial law entity and forcing it to cease its activity, Aleksandra Skrzyniarz, spokeswoman for the District Prosecutors Office in Warsaw, said in a statement. She said that the office did not plan to interrogate Tusk at this stage. At that time, Poland was importing large amounts of coal from Russia, something Tusk was seeking to crack down on. After Civic Platform lost power in 2015, Poland's coal imports from Russia increased, but stopped after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. From the very beginning of the wiretapping affair in 2014, Tusk has suggested that it was written in Cyrillic script," a suggestion that Russia had a hand in trying to weaken his government because it opposed the Russian coal imports and sought strong ties with the EU. Tusk on Tuesday repeated that claim and accused PiS, the acronym of the conservative ruling party Law and Justice, of acting on behalf of a convicted criminal who served Russian interests. PiS is pursuing me for my governments fight against Russian coal imports. The prosecutors office acts at the request of Marek Falenta, an importer of this coal, convicted of illegal wiretapping. He used his tapes, in agreement with PiS, to overthrow the government. Cyrillic script, Tusk said on Twitter. The prosecutor's investigation comes ahead of elections later this year. Polls show Law and Justice ahead in the polls. Civic Platform, the centrist party that Tusk leads, is its main challenger. He returned to Polish politics after serving as the president of the European Council from 2014-19. A date has not been set for the elections, but they are likely to take place in late October, with Nov. 5 the last possible date they can be held. Ruling officials and the state media, particularly the state broadcaster TVP, repeatedly depict Tusk in a negative light, accusing him of acting against Poland's interests. Tusk on Tuesday compared himself to the character played by Harrison Ford in the 1993 film The Fugitive," a man on the run after being framed for the murder of his wife. They can try to make me The Fugitive, but we remember that this film ends well and those who pursue will be held accountable for every evil they have done, Tusk said. Government spokesman Piotr Muller said Tusk was not being singled out, and that the prosecutor's office must investigate if it was notified of actions inconsistent with the law. He also said that Tusk would be given the chance during the proceedings to prove, if he believes so, that there has been no violation of the law. The prosecutors office must take its actions in accordance with the law, regardless of whether someones name is Donald Tusk or any other name, he said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Noah Berger/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3 WASHINGTON (AP) Jurors began deliberating Wednesday to decide whether former Proud Boys extremist group leader Enrique Tarrio and four lieutenants are guilty of seditious conspiracy in one of the most serious cases the Justice Department has brought in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Deliberations got underway in Washingtons federal court more than four months after jury selection began. The far-right extremist group's members are accused of plotting to use force to keep then-President Donald Trump in the White House after he lost the 2020 election. BANGKOK (AP) A video camera that had been missing for more than 15 years after it was dropped by a Japanese journalist who was fatally shot during a street protest in Myanmar was handed over Wednesday to his sister at a ceremony in Bangkok. Kenji Nagai was recording the demonstration on Sept. 27, 2007, in downtown Yangon - part of a peaceful anti-military uprising known as the Saffron Revolution - when soldiers arrived, dispersing the crowd with gunfire. The 50-year-old journalist, who was working for Japans APF News, a small video and photo agency, was hit and mortally wounded. He was one of about 10 people killed that day. Nagais sister Noriko Ogawa received the small Sony Handycam from Aye Chan Naing, head of the Democratic Voice of Burma, a Myanmar media organization which was involved in its recovery. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, she said. This is a great surprise and joy for me, as I hadnt even had any information about the camera until now. The handover of the camera comes as Myanmar is in the grip of upheaval far worse than that of 2007. A widespread, determined armed resistance has sprung up in response to the overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyis elected government by the military in 2021. According to tallies kept by journalists in Myanmar, three of their local colleagues have been killed by the authorities since the army takeover and more than 150 detained. A handful of foreign journalists were also detained and later deported. The camera when found still had the original tape inside it. Its contents were screened at Wednesdays event. The images showed protesters and monks in the street close to Yangons ancient Sule Pagoda, singing and chanting, with police blocking their way. Trucks full of soldiers then arrived, prompting Nagai to turn the camera on himself. The army has arrived. Over there, that's the army," he says. "I think its a heavily armed army. In front of the temple, it is filled with citizens. Citizens are gathering in front of the head of the Buddha. A heavily armed army truck has arrived. The images then appear to show people scattering. The video cut off before the fatal moment. However, video recorded by the Democratic Voice of Burma caught the moment of Nagais death, as he fell down and was then apparently shot at close range by a soldier. A photo of the incident taken by Adrees Latif of the Reuters news agency won a 2008 Pulitzer Prize. Exact details of when and how Nagai's camera was found and where it was kept in the intervening years remain vague. Aye Chan Naing said only that it had gone through a series of people before getting out of Myanmar. For obvious security reasons, we cannot go deeper into how we get out. What I can tell you is we got it through a good citizen who knew what was right and what was wrong and that is how we got it, he said. Nagais sister said she hoped an analysis of the tape would disprove the Myanmar governments claim that he had not been deliberately targeted. I will definitely bring this camera and tape back to Japan and I would like to confirm that this is what my older brother really held onto until the end, investigate the details of the data and clarify what my brother wanted to tell, and the truth about the cause of his death. I hope I can reverse the Myanmar militarys claim that my brothers death was an accident, she said. An op-ed in Myanmars state-controlled press less than a month after the shooting said Nagai was to blame for his own death because he put himself in harms way. The Japanese correspondent caused his tragic end by getting among the protesters, it said. Surely, the Japanese correspondent was shot accidentally, not on purpose. He met his tragic end due to the fact that he was together with the protesters at an improper site at an improper time. The article also complained that Nagai had entered the country on a tourist visa, not a journalist visa. Journalist visas were very difficult, if not impossible, to obtain during the period of the protest. Shawn Crispin from the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, a press freedom group, said danger for journalists in Myanmar persists. Todays event is important and timely as a reminder that the Myanmar military has and continued to kill journalists with impunity, said Crispin, who took part in Wednesday's ceremony. And the killings wont stop until Kenjis murder receives full justice, from the triggerman, from any commanders that day who gave shoot-to-kill orders, to the military leaders who orchestrated that days lethal repression. JOHANNESBURG (AP) The former chief executive of South African power utility Eskom refused Wednesday to name high-ranking politicians allegedly involved in corrupt activities at the state-owned firm that are partly responsible for the countrys worsening power blackouts. Andre de Ruyter appeared virtually from an undisclosed location as a multi-party parliamentary committee questioned him about claims he made in a February television interview that politicians linked to the ruling African National Congress party were involved in corrupt dealings at Eskom. De Ruyter told lawmakers he had reported the claims to the police and the countrys intelligence services but that revealing the names and details in parliament could jeopardize ongoing investigations. At the time of his TV interview, de Ruyter was still fulfilling the three-months' notice he gave when he resigned from the company in December. However, the notice was canceled and he was asked to leave immediately. South Africa is experiencing its worst rolling power blackouts on record due to frequent breakdowns at its aging coal-fired power stations which are blamed on years of mismanagement, lack of maintenance and corruption at the state-owned power utility. De Ruyter previously claimed that Eskom lost at least 1 billion rands (about $55 million) to corruption every month. He said in his submission to the parliamentary committee Wednesday that the figure was a conservative estimate. Most committee members appeared frustrated with de Ruyters refusal to name politicians he had accused of corruption. Some lawmakers suggested he should be made to take an oath and reveal all. De Ruyter said he was trying to avoid possible legal action and that various sources who had provided him with information had expressed fears for their safety. The alleged criminal and unlawful activities that are currently under investigation are of a very sensitive and complex nature and they involve elements that are best characterized as organized crime," he explained. I would not want to be seen as defeating the ends of justice. Veronica Mente, a parliament member from the opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters, called on the committee to invoke its mechanisms to compel De Ruyter to reveal the implicated politicians and to answer all questions posed by lawmakers. In a statement released Wednesday, Eskom said it noted nothing in de Ruyters submissions that were not already being dealt with by law enforcement agencies. WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court is speaking with one voice in response to recent criticism of the justices' ethical practices: No need to fix what isn't broken. The justices' response on Tuesday struck some critics and ethics experts as tone deaf at a time of heightened attention on the justices' travel and private business transactions. That comes against the backdrop of a historic dip in public approval as measured by opinion polls. Deeply divided on some of the most contentious issues of the day including abortion, gun rights and the place of religion in public life the court's six conservatives and three liberals seem united on this particular principle: on ethics they will set their own rules and police themselves. Charles Geyh, an Indiana University law professor and legal ethics expert, said everything the justices detailed Tuesday evening about ethics was essentially outlined in Chief Justice John Roberts' annual year-end report from 2011, more than a decade ago. Theyre basically saying ... What weve been doing is just fine. Lets just re-say it for those of you at the back...That just strikes me as, you know, pretty empty, Geyh said. The most recent stories about the questionable ethics practices of justices began earlier this month. First came a ProPublica investigation that revealed that Thomas has for more than two decades accepted luxury trips nearly every year from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow without reporting them on financial disclosure forms. Thomas responded by issuing a statement saying that he was not required to disclose the trips. A week later, ProPublica revealed in a new story that Crow had purchased three properties belonging to Thomas and his family, a transaction worth more than $100,000 that Thomas never disclosed. Politico reported more recently that when Justice Neil Gorsuch sold property he co-owned shortly after becoming a justice, he disclosed the sale but omitted that the property was purchased by a person whose firm frequently has cases before the high court. And earlier this year, there were stories about the legal recruiting career of Chief Justice John Roberts' wife and whether it raised ethical concerns that she was paid large sums for placing lawyers at firms that appear before the court. The series of revelations has provoked outcry and calls for reform particularly from Democrats. On Wednesday, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Angus King, the independent from Maine, announced legislation that would require the Supreme Court to create a code of conduct and appoint an official to oversee potential conflicts and public complaints. Next week, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on Supreme Court ethics reform. The time has come for a new public conversation on ways to restore confidence in the Courts ethical standards. I invite you to join it, wrote Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., in a letter. Roberts declined in his own letter made public Tuesday evening. He wrote that testimony by previous holders of his office before Congress is "exceedingly rare, as one might expect in light or separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence. To his letter, however, Roberts attached a Statement on Ethics Principles and Practices signed by all nine justices describing the ethical rules they follow about travel, gifts and outside income. This statement aims to provide new clarity to the bar and to the public on how the Justices address certain recurring issues, and also seeks to dispel some common misconceptions, the statement read. But ethics experts and other court observers said the statement that followed and ran just over two pages was nothing new, just the rehashing of things we already knew and found insufficient, said Gabe Roth of the watchdog group Fix the Court in a statement. The statement signed by the justices essentially said that they consult a wide variety of sources to address ethical issues, decide for themselves when a conflict requires that they step away from a case and file the same annual financial disclosure reports as other judges. The justices have previously resisted calls to write a formal code of conduct. Kathleen Clark, a legal ethics professor at Washington University in St. Louis, said in her view the problem is that the justices have not been subjected to basic accountability that just about everybody else in the federal government has to comply with. What was striking to her about the statement, she said, was a failure to grapple with the fundamental problem of lack of accountability. The justices "seem to be utterly clueless about the problem they have ... They're in a bubble apparently. They don't see what a big problem they have with the lack of accountability, she said. ___ Mark Sherman contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MISSOULA, Montana (AP) In the college town of Missoula, pride flags are as common a sight as the peaks of Montanas Rattlesnake Mountains. Even a downtown crosswalk is rainbow-colored. Often described as a blue island in a vast red state, Missoula sent the first openly transgender female legislator in Montana history to the state capital. Its voters, fully aware that they are vastly outnumbered by conservatives statewide, were still shocked at what happened next. Their new representative, Zooey Zephyr, was barred last week from speaking on the floor of the Legislature by the Republican majority, which accused her of violating decorum by saying they had blood on your hands for approving a bill barring gender-affirming care for minors. On Wednesday, Republicans voted to bar Zephyr from the House floor for the remainder of the legislative session, scheduled to end next month. Zephyr was elected with 80% of the vote in November in her heavily liberal district, which runs through the oddly-aligned section of central Missoula known as the Slant Streets and stretches to the doorstep of the University of Montana, the 7,000-student school that has long fueled the towns liberal sensibility. Nestled in a narrow valley at the northwestern edge of the state, Missoula is proud of its funky, countercultural style. This week, the hot ticket was the International Wildlife Film Festival, featuring a parade in which people dressed in animal costumes marched through downtown. Zephyr's constituents were both shocked and reminded of the growing distance between them and the rest of their state. When she first ran I thought, Theyre going to do something to limit her power, said Erin Flint, 28, a native who plans to enroll in the university for a graduate degree in art education. But she didnt expect a step as dramatic as gagging the new lawmaker, or barring her from the floor. Montana has long leaned to the right, but with more of a libertarian bent than a zest for culture wars. That allowed Democrats to win the governorship regularly over the decades, and occasionally to win control of one or more houses of the Legislature. Andy Nelson grew up in a town of 750 in eastern Montana, and only felt comfortable coming out as gay as a senior at the University of Montana, when he volunteered at The Center, a LGBTQ+ community group in Missoula where he is now executive director. He remembered long discussions about whether such a group was still necessary after same-sex marriage was legalized nationally in 2015. But that all changed in 2016, with the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump. Trump handily won the state that year and in 2020. Republicans now hold both congressional seats and all statewide offices, although one of the state's two U.S. Senate seats is held by Democrat Jon Tester, a top GOP target in 2024. Last year, as Zephyr was elected in her Missoula district of about 11,000 residents, Republicans rode a surge in popular support to win a supermajority in both chambers of the Legislature. Zeke Cork, 62, one of The Centers board members, recalled the 1970s as a great time to come out in Missoula, though he acknowledged he still had to follow certain rules to be safe. A railroad dispatcher, Cork has lived all over the United States but came back to Montana in 2015. He felt safe enough to transition fully two years ago. But today, Cork said, the state's live and let live sensibility seems to be ebbing. Conservative protesters, often armed, disrupt pride events. Now, you dont know whos going to be the one who unloads on you and your community, he said. Cork has been traveling up to the Capitol in Helena to speak against the legislation affecting transgender people since it was first introduced. After Zephyr was silenced, he joined dozens of others from Missoula at the Capitol this week, where they began crying, Let her speak! after she was gagged yet again. Seven demonstrators were arrested. We would much rather be living quiet lives, out of the spotlight, living under the radar, living our best lives, Cork said. I dont want to be having this battle. But, she speaks for me, and I sent her to that house, said Cork, who lives in Zephyrs district. Were fighting for democracy right now. Legislative Republicans contend theyre the ones preserving democracy by following their chambers rules and gagging Zephyr for maligning her colleagues. We will uphold the peoples will that sent 68 Republicans to Helena, several said in a statement Monday evening, after activists including dozens from Missoula jeered them from the House gallery. In the minds of many other Montanans, it's Missoula that has changed, not them. Missoula used to be a wonderful place, said Ken Sayler, 64, who grew up in the town when its primary industry was saw mills. Those all closed, and the town began to look a lot more like the university, driving him in disgust to a remote house in the mountains, where he manufactures boat parts. If you're transgender, I don't care, Sayler said, adding he had little sympathy for Zephyr. She stepped out of bounds. Sayler was drinking a beer in a bar about 20 miles south of Missoula, where plenty of patrons jeered the idea of a transgender lawmaker. The bar sits in a small town in the district of state Sen. Theresa Manzella, the chair of a group of conservative state lawmakers called the Montana Freedom Caucus who pushed for the measure silencing Zephyr with a statement that intentionally misgendered her. Jim McConnell, a 69-year-old machinist, was dubious of the idea of someone like Zephyr serving in the statehouse. But he didnt like the idea of muzzling her. They have a right to speak, said Jim McConnell. But in Montana, they're barking up the wrong tree. Experts say intense cultural battles are out of character for Montana politics. "This is a conservative, libertarian state, as opposed to a conservative, authoritarian one, said Paul Pope, a political scientist at Montana State University in Billings, noting that a far less liberal towns zoo received an influx of support after conservative activists attacked its drag story hour recently. Even if they have some short-term success here, he added of the GOP, long term, this is going to hurt them. But for now, many in Missoula are simply stunned. "Theyve stripped 11,000 Montanans of their voice, said Ignatius Fitzgerald, a University of Montana freshman who grew up in the district. Republicans have left us without a voice and without recourse. Even some who disagreed politically with Zephyr said they didnt think the Legislature should silence her. Even if I don't agree with her policies, I feel she has the right to speak, Addie Glidewell, a 19-year-old journalism student who supports banning gender-affirming care for minors, said of Zephyr. I don't believe she should be shut down. Danny Wainwright, a 56-year-old middle school teacher in Zephyr's district, said he doesn't always back aggressive protests or bombastic political rhetoric. But he felt Zephyr's actions were appropriate. When youre the minority and Republicans have a supermajority, youve got to be heard somehow, thats your job, Wainwright said. ___ This story has been updated to correct that Zephyr is the states first openly transgender female lawmaker, not the first openly transgender lawmaker. ___ This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Sen. Tester's first name to Jon, instead of John. ___ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate UNITED NATIONS (AP) The U.N. special envoy for Haiti on Wednesday urged the immediate deployment of a specialized international force to counter escalating gang violence and develop the Caribbean nation's understaffed and ill-equipped police force. But the United States and Canada again showed no interest in leading a force and neither did any member of the U.N. Security Council. Maria Isabel Salvador, who took over the U.N. job this month, warned that delays could lead to a spillover of insecurity in the Caribbean and Latin America. She told the council that gang violence in the Western Hemispheres poorest country is expanding at an alarming rate in areas previously considered safe in and outside the capital, Port-au-Prince. She cited police and U.N. figures to illustrate the shocking increase in criminality in Haiti: Criminal incidents -- which comprise homicides, rapes, kidnappings and lynchings -- more than doubled to 1,647 in the first quarter of 2023 from 692 in the same period in 2022. Salvador stressed that without restoring a minimum level of security, it is impossible to move forward toward elections. She told reporters afterward that she was disappointed that no country has offered to lead a force since U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued an urgent appeal last October for international help at the request of Haitis Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the countrys Council of Ministers. At Wednesdays council meeting, neither the United States, which has been criticized for previous interventions in Haiti, nor Canada, which the U.S. tried to convince to head the force, showed interest in taking the lead. The international community has instead opted to impose sanctions and send military equipment and other resources. U.S. deputy ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis said the Biden administration is deeply concerned about the rise in violent gang activity and noted Haitis request for international support to address violence and insecurity. The United States continues to work with a growing number of international partners to support the urgent security needs in the country, he said, adding that the Security Council needs to do its part by imposing additional sanctions against Haitians financing and fomenting violence. Canadas U.N. Ambassador Robert Rae also cited sanctions as one important tool to break the power of armed gangs. He said Canada is convinced that its vital to take action and told the council his government has decided to increase support for training and new equipment for Haitis National Police Force this year. Neither DeLaurentis nor Rae mentioned contributing to an international stabilization force. Salvador, a former Ecuadorian government official and business executive, told the council we need to find innovative ways to define the force to support the Haitian National Police. Expanding on this idea to reporters later, the U.N. envoy said the international force, comprising police personnel, should help Haitian officers separate gangs and little by little restore security in the country. She said she would like to see countries in Latin America and the Caribbean get more involved and lead the force, noting that some have past experience. Regional crises require regional reactions and actions, she stressed. Salvador lamented that this takes time, and the Haitian people cannot wait. The spillover from the escalating violence is already having an impact in the neighboring Dominican Republic and the region including Colombia, Ecuador and Peru where Haitians fleeing the country have arrived, she said, adding that increasing gang violence will worsen the impact. In a report to the Security Council this week, the secretary-general urged the immediate deployment of an international armed force in Haiti to stem escalating gang violence and the countrys worst human rights crisis in decades, warning that insecurity in the capital has reached levels comparable to countries in armed conflict. Haitis National Police Force is facing increasing attacks with 22 officers killed by gangs this year and increasing numbers of officers abandoning their posts, absent, retiring and more recently applying to humanitarian parole programs in the United States, the U.N. chiefs report said. The programs are open to Haitians seeking safe haven due to conditions in the country. Salvador said this has cut the Haitian forces operational strength from 14,772 to about 13,200 personnel, but she said only approximately 9,000 perform police tasks, and just 3,500 are on public safety duty at any given time throughout the country. At the same time, she said, recruitment of new officers has been halted because of deteriorating security and logistical constraints. Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, Haitis gangs have grown more powerful and violent. In December, the U.N. estimated that gangs controlled 60% of Haitis capital, but most people on the streets in Port-au-Prince say that number is closer to 100%. Compounding the gang warfare is the countrys political crisis: Haiti was stripped of all democratically elected institutions when the terms of the remaining 10 senators expired in early January. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GENEVA (AP) U.N. officials said Tuesday that one side in the Sudan conflict has seized control of a national health lab in the capital of Khartoum that holds biological material, calling it an extremely dangerous development. The announcement came as officials warned that more refugees could flee Sudan despite a cease-fire between rival forces. The fighting has plunged Sudan into chaos, pushing the already heavily aid-dependent African nation to the brink of collapse. Before the clashes, the U.N. estimated that a third of Sudan's population or about 16 million people needed assistance, a figure that is likely to increase. Dr. Nima Saeed Abid, the World Health Organization's representative in Sudan, expressed concerns that one of the fighting parties he did not identify which one had seized control of the central public health laboratory in Khartoum and kicked out all of the technicians." That is extremely, extremely dangerous because we have polio isolates in the lab. We have measles isolates in the lab. We have cholera isolates in the lab, he told a U.N. briefing in Geneva by video call from Port Sudan. There is a huge biological risk associated with the occupation of the central public health lab in Khartoum by one of the fighting parties. The expulsion of technicians and power cuts in Khartoum mean it is not possible to properly manage the biological materials that are stored in the lab for medical purposes," WHO said. The lab is located in central Khartoum, close to flashpoints of the fighting that pits Sudan's military against the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group that grew out of the notorious Janjaweed militias implicated in atrocities in the Darfur conflict. Since the outbreak of fighting on April 15, at least 20,000 Sudanese have fled into Chad. Some 4,000 South Sudanese refugees who had been living in Sudan have returned to their home country, U.N. refugee agency spokeswoman Olga Sarrado said. The figures could rise, she cautioned. Sarrado did not have numbers for the five other countries neighboring Sudan, but the UNHCR has cited unspecified numbers of those fleeing Sudan arriving in Egypt. The fighting looks set to trigger further displacement both within and outside the country, she said, speaking at a U.N. briefing in Geneva. The UNHCR was scaling up its operations, she said, even as foreign governments have raced to evacuate their embassy staff and citizens from Sudan. Many Sudanese have desperately sought ways to escape the chaos, fearing late their all-out battle for power once evacuations are completed. Several previous cease-fires have failed, although intermittent lulls during the weekends major Muslim holiday allowed for dramatic evacuations of hundreds of diplomats, aid workers and other foreigners by air and land. More than 800,000 South Sudanese refugees live in Sudan, a quarter of them in the capital of Khartoum, where they are directly affected by the fighting. Overall, Sudan hosts 1.1 million refugees, according to the UNHCR. There are also more than 3 million internally displaced persons, mostly in Darfur, a region mired in decades-long conflict, it said. Along with the refugees, the U.N. migration agency said there are 300,000 registered migrants, as well as tens of thousands of unregistered migrants in the country. Marie-Helene Verney, the UNHCR's chief in South Sudan, said from its capital of Juba that the planning figure that we have for the most likely scenario is 125,000 returns of South Sudanese refugees into South Sudan, and 45,000 refugees, Sudanese fleeing the fighting. The U.N. Population Fund has said that the fighting threatens tens of thousands of pregnant women, including 24,000 women expected to give birth in the coming weeks. For 219,000 pregnant women across the country it is too dangerous to venture outside their homes to seek urgent care in hospitals and clinics amid the clashes, the agency said. Dozens of hospitals have shuttered in Khartoum and elsewhere across the country due to the fighting and dwindling medical and fuel supplies, according to the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate. If the violence does not stop, there is a danger that the health system will collapse, the U.N. agency warned Friday. The International Committee of the Red Cross welcomed the announced cease-fire as a potential lifesaver for civilians trapped in their homes in fighting-hit areas. Its clear that this ceasefire must be implemented up and down the chain of command and that it must hold for it to give a real respite to civilians suffering from the fighting, said Patrick Youssef, ICRCs regional director for Africa. He called on the international community to help find a durable political solution to end the bloodshed. Spokesman Jens Laerke of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said it has been forced to reduce our footprint because of the fighting. He pointed to acute shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel and limited communications and electricity and new reports of looting of humanitarian warehouses and aid stockpiles. The humanitarian needs in Sudan were already at record levels before this recent eruption of fighting some 15.8 million people thats about a third of the population required humanitarian assistance, he said. Some 3,000 people fled the fighting in Khartoum and took shelter at a refugee camp in the eastern province in al-Qadarif, further stretching the camps resources, Mohammed Mahdi, deputy director for programs at the International Rescue Committee, said Tuesday. The Tunaydbah refugee camp, he said, houses around 28,000 refugees, mostly Ethiopians who fled a devastating war in Ethiopias northern region of Tigray in late 2020. Other aid agencies, including the World Food Program, were forced to suspend or scale down its operations in Sudan following attacks on aid workers and humanitarian compounds and warehouses. At least five aid workers, three from the WFP, have been killed since April 15. The WFP has said its offices and warehouses in Nyala, the provincial capital of South Darfur, were attacked and looted last week. An ICRC office in Nyala was also looted, and warehouses for the Sudanese Red Crescent in Khartoum were attacked last week by armed men who took several of their vehicles and trucks, the charity said. Arshad Malik, country director with Save the Children Sudan, urged the warring sides to ensure protection for humanitarian workers to allow resumption of aid flow in Sudan. Now were seeing more children than ever going hungry. About 12% of the countrys 22 million children are going without enough food, he said. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo. BERLIN (AP) A 102-year-old man who was convicted last year on more than 3,500 counts of accessory to murder for serving as a guard at a Nazi concentration camp during World War II has died, German news agency dpa reported Wednesday. The man, whom local media have identified only as Josef S. in line with German privacy rules, was sentenced to five years in prison last June but remained free pending appeal. Egypt evacuated 635 citizens from Sudan on Tuesday, 446 via land and 189 via air, upping the total number of Egyptian evacuees to 1,539. This comes as Sudans Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, who have clashed for almost two weeks, agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire early today. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Egypt also evacuated a Sudanese citizen in critical condition via air in coordination with Sudanese authorities. The ministry added that work is underway to evacuate many Egyptian citizens and their families from an airport near Khartoum as soon as the security situation in the area improves. Egypts Embassy in Sudan, the Egyptian consulates in Khartoum and Port Sudan and the consular office in Wadi Halfa are working around the clock to implement the evacuation plan, the ministry stressed. Egypt has around 10,000 citizens in Sudan, including 5,000 students, trying to evacuate amid clashes that have killed 427 people, including an Egyptian diplomat and wounded thousands. Aside from Egyptian citizens, Egypt received many foreign nationals. Search Keywords: Short link: ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) At least 29 people were abducted by gunmen in Nigerias federal capital territory, Abuja, a local government official told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The gunmen arrived after midnight on Tuesday and rounded up residents in Yewuti village, some who had been attending a local ceremony, said Daniel Ishaku, an aide to the chairman of the Kwali local council. Luis Romero/AP SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) El Salvador opened a trial Wednesday against former President Mauricio Funes alleging that he had negotiated a truce with the countrys powerful street gangs when he was president, but the trial will proceed without Funes who lives in Nicaragua. Funes has denied negotiating with the gangs or giving their leaders any privileges. I never ordered nor authorized any negotiation, Funes wrote Tuesday on Twitter, adding that the truce was between rival gangs, not with the government. Mediators in the talks between the MS-13 and Barrio 18 gangs were not representing the government, he said. BERLIN (AP) A German court said Wednesday that a landlord sunbathing naked in the courtyard of his building wasn't a reason for his tenants to reduce their rental payments. The case involved a building in an upmarket residential district of Frankfurt, which included an office floor, rented by a human resources company. The company withheld rent because it objected, among other things, to the landlord's naked sunbathing. In response, the landlord sued. The Frankfurt state court rejected the company's reasoning, finding that the usability of the rented property was not impaired by the plaintiff sunning himself naked in the courtyard. It said in a statement that it couldn't see an inadmissible, deliberately improper effect on the property. Judges were ruling on an appeal against a lower court decision that went in the landlord's favor, and the tenant had only limited success overall. They found that the tenant had been entitled to reduce rental payments for three months only because of noisy construction work in the neighborhood. The court said that the spot where the landlord sunbathed could only be seen from the rented office by leaning far out of the window. It also said the tenant failed to prove that he took the stairs to the courtyard unclothed. On the contrary, the plaintiff stated credibly that he always wore a bathrobe which he only took off just before the sun lounger, it said. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) An Iranian court issued a $312.9 million judgment against the United States over a 2017 Islamic State-claimed attack on Tehran, authorities said Wednesday, the latest judicial action between the nations amid their decadeslong enmity. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, in reporting the decision, offered no direct evidence to support the court's allegation that American officials had any part in the June 2017 attack that killed at least 18 people and wounded 50 others. The assault saw gunmen attack Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeinis mausoleum and the country's parliament, starting an hourslong siege. However, the court ruling comes after the United Nations' highest court in March rejected Tehrans legal bid to free up some $2 billion in Iranian Central Bank assets frozen by U.S. authorities. Meanwhile, U.S. judges have issued rulings that call for billions of dollars to be paid by Iran over attacks linked to Tehran, as well as those detained by Iran and used as pawns in negotiations between the countries. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. The IRNA report described those named in the lawsuit as including the U.S. government, former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, the CIA, the American military's Central Command, the Treasury and others. It said the case before Branch 55 of the Tehran Court of Justice came from the families of three people killed in the June 2017 attack. The reasons for attributing these crimes to the United States ... is based on the central and main role of the government and officials of this country in organizing and directing terrorist groups, the IRNA report said. It cited reliable news and unidentified speeches by American officials as its evidence. During his 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump described Obama as the founder of the Islamic State group. While later calling his comments sarcasm based on Obamas decision to earlier withdraw troops from Iraq, conspiracy theorists across the Middle East, including Irans supreme leader, seized on the remarks. The Islamic State group, a Sunni extremist group born out of al-Qaida's offshoot in Iraq, declared itself a caliphate across the vast territory it held in Iraq and Syria in 2014. A U.S.-led coalition and separately Iran-allied Shiite forces ultimately dislodged the extremists, who became notorious for their gruesome killings of prisoners and attacks abroad. The June 2017 attack in Tehran marked the first time the Islamic State's extremists could penetrate tightly controlled Iran and carry out of a massive assault. The assault shocked Tehran, which largely has avoided militant attacks in the decades after the years-long tumult surrounding the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran a year later executed eight men sentenced to death over the attack. Since the revolution, a series of U.S. court cases have been filed against Iran, particularly over attacks like the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut that killed 63 people. A 1996 U.S. law allows Americans to sue nations identified by the U.S. government as sponsoring terrorism, like Iran, for damages suffered in militant acts linked back to them. Others have sued for being wrongfully imprisoned by Tehran, like Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian. The court decision announced Wednesday comes as tensions between Iran and the U.S. remain high over Tehran's nuclear program enriching uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels under reduced oversight from international inspectors. Meanwhile, Iran is still reeling after months of protests and a violent security force crackdown following the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest by the country's morality police. On Wednesday, Iran's judiciary acknowledged two reporters who broke news on Amini's death, Niloufar Hamedi and Elham Mohammadi, had been indicted on charges of collaborating with the U.S., acting against national security and creating propaganda against the system. Nearly 100 journalists have been arrested amid the demonstrations, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. ___ Associated Press writer Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) An armed guard at a bank in northern Iran calmly walked up behind a senior Shiite cleric and shot and killed the ayatollah on Wednesday, according to surveillance footage from the site, the most-senior clergyman slain during months of unrest that has shaken the Islamic Republic. The killing of Ayatollah Abbas Ali Soleimani stunned both bystanders who witnessed the shooting and the wider public. The cleric had served on the country's Assembly of Experts that selects and oversees the Islamic Republic's supreme leader. It comes after mass protests and a bloody security force crackdown on demonstrators following the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest by the country's morality police. Authorities offered no immediate motive for the attack in Babolsar in Irans Mazandaran province, just north of the capital, Tehran. Initially, state television described a man overpowering a guard and shooting the cleric. But later surveillance footage shared widely by Iranian media showed the shooter inside the bank, openly carrying a firearm and milling around briefly before he walked up to Soleimani and shot him. As the shot rings out, Soleimani's white turban falls to the floor as he goes limp. A window behind the cleric shatters. Two men, one of them wearing a green uniform, are seen, staring and apparently stunned. They later grab the man before the footage ends. The Interior Ministry announced it would launch a special investigation into the slaying. Soleimani, believed to be 77, served on the Assembly of Experts, an 88-seat panel overseeing the post of Iran's supreme leader. He also once served as the personal representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Iran's restive southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan. Shiite clergy have long held an important role in Iran, one that only grew more powerful after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Discontent has increased in recent years, however, particularly amid waves of nationwide protests over economic, political and civil rights issues in Iran. The country is struggling through the collapse of the nations currency, the rial, and uncertainty over its ties to the wider world after the collapse of Tehrans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Some have criticized the subsidies granted to clerics, though fewer than 10% of Irans 200,000 clerics have official posts in the government and many seminary students work as laborers or taxi drivers to make ends meet. In Iran's latest turmoil, protesters have also targeted clerics, with some online videos showing young protesters running up behind clerics on the street and knocking off their turbans, a sign of their status. Seminary students have been among those killed while serving in the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard's volunteer Basij force during the demonstrations, the government says. However, Soleimani is the most-senior cleric to be killed in recent years. In April 2022, an Uzbek national stabbed two clerics to death in Mashhad at the Imam Reza shrine. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. NEW DELHI (AP) Maoist insurgents detonated an explosive device Wednesday in a forested area in central India, killing 10 police officers and the driver of their vehicle, a state government minister said. T.S. Singh Deo, health minister of Chhattisgarh state, said the insurgents targeted policemen who were setting up camps in Bastar district as part of a campaign to clear the area of rebels. WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Lawyers for Peter Nygard on Wednesday asked the Manitoba Court of Appeal to reconsider a U.S. extradition order, citing concerns over the Canadian fashion mogul's health if he were to serve time in the United States. Nygards lawyers were in court to argue against three issues in the order. They are requesting that federal Justice Minister David Lametti address them. Lametti issued the order in March 2022, requiring the 81-year-old be sent to the United States once his Canadian court cases are settled. Nygard was first arrested in Winnipeg in 2020 under the Extradition Act after he was charged with nine counts in New York, including sex trafficking and racketeering charges. U.S. authorities allege he used his position in the fashion industry to lure women and girls. The disgraced fashion entrepreneur faces similar charges in Canada. In Toronto, where he is currently in custody, Nygard has been charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and forcible confinement and is scheduled to face trial in September. A complainant in Montreal came forward with allegations that led to Nygard being charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement. The trial in Quebec is expected to take place next year. Nygard waived his appearance at the Manitoba Court of Appeal hearing. He has maintained his innocence. Nygards lawyers are asking Lametti to ensure their client would not be housed at Brooklyns Metropolitan Detention Centre citing humanitarian concerns over Nygards age and health. Brian Greenspan, Nygards lawyer, told the court that conditions at the New York City facility were terrible. He argued that being at the detention center could undermine his clients health. "Those concerns can be simply addressed and easily addressed by the minister, Greenspan said. Lawyers for the justice minister told the court the Metropolitan Detention Centre submitted a report showing the facility was in good shape. Greenspan also argued the racketeering charge shouldnt be considered because Canada does not have a comparable offense. Greenspan requested assurances that Nygard will not be involuntarily or indefinitely imprisoned after serving a sentence if convicted. The panel of three judges have reserved their decision. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Francis has decided to give women the right to vote at an upcoming meeting of bishops, an historic reform that reflects his hopes to give women greater decision-making responsibilities and laypeople more say in the life of the Catholic Church. Francis approved changes to the norms governing the Synod of Bishops, a Vatican body that gathers the worlds bishops together for periodic meetings, following years of demands by women to have the right to vote. The Vatican on Wednesday published the modifications he approved, which emphasize his vision for the lay faithful taking on a greater role in church affairs that have long been left to clerics, bishops and cardinals. Catholic womens groups that have long criticized the Vatican for treating women as second-class citizens immediately praised the move as historic in the 2,000-year life of the church. This is a significant crack in the stained glass ceiling, and the result of sustained advocacy, activism and the witness of a campaign of Catholic womens groups demanding the right to vote, said Kate McElwee of the Womens Ordination Conference, which advocates for women priests. Ever since the Second Vatican Council, the 1960s meetings that modernized the church, popes have summoned the worlds bishops to Rome for a few weeks at a time to debate particular topics. At the end of the meetings, the bishops vote on specific proposals and put them to the pope, who then produces a document taking their views into account. Until now, the only people who could vote were men. But under the new changes, five religious sisters will join five priests as voting representatives for religious orders. In addition, Francis has decided to appoint 70 non-bishop members of the synod and has asked that half of them be women. They too will have a vote. The aim is also to include young people among these 70 non-bishop members, who will be proposed by regional blocs, with Francis making a final decision. Its an important change, its not a revolution, said Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, a top organizer of the synod. The next meeting, scheduled for Oct. 4-29, is focused on the very topic of making the church more reflective of, and responsive to, the laity, a process known as synodality that Francis has championed for years. The October meeting has been preceded by an unprecedented two-year canvassing of the lay Catholic faithful about their vision for the church and how it can better respond to the needs of Catholics today. So far only one women is known to be a voting member of that October meeting, Sister Nathalie Becquart, a French nun who is undersecretary in the Vaticans Synod of Bishops office. When she was appointed to the position in 2021, she called Francis brave for having pushed the envelope on women's participation. By the end of next month, seven regional blocs will propose 20 names apiece of non-bishop members to Francis, who will select 10 names apiece to bring the total to 70. Cardinal Mario Grech, who is in charge of the synod, stressed that with the changes, some 21% of the gathered representatives at the October meeting will be non-bishops, with half of that group women. Acknowledging the unease within the hierarchy of Francis' vision of inclusivity, he stressed that the synod itself would continue to have a majority of bishops calling the shots. Change is normal in life and history, Hollerich told reporters. Sometimes there are revolutions in history, but revolutions have victims. We don't want to have victims, he said, chuckling. Catholic Women's Ordination, a British-based group that says it's devoted to fighting misogyny in the church, welcomed the reform but asked for more. CWO would want transparency, and lay people elected from dioceses rather than chosen by the hierarchy, but it is a start! said the CWO's Pat Brown. Hollerich declined to say how the female members of the meeting would be called, given that members have long been known as synodal fathers. Asked if they would be known as synodal mothers, he responded that it would be up to the women to decide. Francis has upheld the Catholic Church's ban on ordaining women as priests, but has done more than any pope in recent time to give women greater say in decision-making roles in the church. He has appointed several women to high-ranking Vatican positions, though no women head any of the major Vatican offices or departments, known as dicasteries. CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Prosecutors acknowledged to a government inquiry Wednesday that new scientific and genetic evidence left reasonable doubt that an Australian mother deliberately killed her four children 20 years after she was convicted of doing so. A retired judge is hearing final submissions over whether Kathleen Folbigg, now 55, should be pardoned for murder and manslaughter convictions by a jury in 2003. The children died separately over a decade, at between 19 days and 19 months old, and their mother insisted their deaths were from natural causes. New South Wales state Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling made a written submission to the inquiry saying that was possible. Dowling wrote that on the evidence now available, it is open to the inquiry to conclude there is reasonable doubt as to Ms. Folbiggs guilt. The lawyer appointed to assist former Justice Tom Bathurst in the inquiry, Sophie Callan, said she had also concluded that on the basis of the scientific and medical evidence heard since November that Folbigg was not guilty beyond reasonable doubt of three counts of murder and one of manslaughter. On the whole of the body of evidence before this inquiry, there is a reasonable doubt as to Ms. Folbiggs guilt, Callan said. The inquiry has been adjourned until Thursday. If Bathurst finds reasonable doubt of Folbiggs guilt, he could recommend that the state governor pardon her and could report to the Court of Criminal Appeals to consider quashing her convictions. The previous New South Wales government ordered Bathursts inquiry a year ago when it rejected Folbiggs petition for a pardon. That petition said it was based on significant positive evidence of natural causes of death and signed by 90 scientists, medical practitioners and related professionals. Folbigg is serving a 30-year prison sentence which expires in 2033. She will become eligible for parole in 2028. Her first child, Caleb, was born in 1989 and died 19 days later in what a jury determined to be the lesser crime of manslaughter. Her second child, Patrick, was 8 months old when he died in 1991. Two years later, Sarah died at 10 months. In 1999, Folbiggs fourth child, Laura, died at 19 months. Evidence discovered in 2018 that both daughters carried a rare CALM2 genetic variant was one of the reasons that the inquiry was called. Callan said expert evidence in the fields of cardiology and genetics indicated that the CALM2-G114R genetic variant is a reasonably possible cause of the daughters sudden deaths. Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, was also a reasonably possible cause of Lauras death, Callan said. For Patrick, Callan said there was persuasive expert evidence that as a matter of reasonable possibility, an underlying neurogenetic disorder caused his sudden death. The scientific evidence created doubt that Folbigg killed the three children and undermined the argument made in Caleb's case that four child deaths were an improbable coincidence, Callan said. Prosecutors had told the jury at her trial that the similarities among the deaths made coincidence an unlikely explanation. Folbigg was the only one at home or awake when the young children died. She said she discovered three of the deaths during trips to the bathroom and one while checking on a childs wellbeing. Prosecutors also had told the jury that Folbiggs diaries contained admissions of guilt. Her former husband, Craig Folbigg, said in submissions to the inquiry that the implausibility that four children in one family would die of natural causes before the age of 2 was compelling grounds to continue treating the diary entries as admissions of his former wifes guilt. But Callan said psychologists and psychiatrists gave evidence that it would be unreliable to interpret the entries in this way. Folbigg had been suffering a major depressive disorder and maternal grief when she made the entries, Callan said. This casts Ms. Folbiggs expressions of guilt and responsibility for the deaths of her children in her diary entries in a very different light, Callan said. Folbigg made 545 pages of closing submissions that urged Bathurst to find reasonable doubt of guilt and a strong probability of innocence, Callan said. Ethiopia stands to lose a great deal if the Sudanese army wins its battle against the Rapid Support Forces, reports Haitham Nouri Despite the holy month of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr, two weeks of bloody clashes in Sudan have left hundreds dead and thousands injured with no prospect of a solid ceasefire. So far, the capital Khartoum has seen the most violent confrontations. Even on the days when the the drums of war sounded milder, such as on the first day of Eid, there were tensions and rumours not only in Khartoum State comprising Khartoum, Khartoum North through the Blue Nile, and Omdurman through the White Nile but also in neighbouring countries, particularly Ethiopia. The Sudanese Armed Forces, currently engaged in fighting against the rebellious Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, monitored unusual mobilisation movement by Ethiopia, the newspaper said, without revealing whether this movement was undertaken by the regular army or the Ethiopian Amhara militia, which is allied with the RSF. The newspaper mentioned no details regarding the Lesser Fashaqa conflict, nor did it report on casualties and loss of arms on either side. This attack, however, reveals the magnitude of the impact that fighting in Sudan has made on neighbouring countries, especially Ethiopia, Eritrea, Libya, Chad, South Sudan, and Central Africa. The government of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is fearful that the Sudanese army will emerge victorious against the RSF, which were founded by former president Omar Al-Bashir and are made up of Janjaweed militias implicated in war crimes and crimes against humanity in the westernmost region of Darfur. A large portion of Ethiopians believe the fall of the Muslim Brotherhood regime headed by Al-Bashir in December 2019 was a major loss for Ahmeds government. Ahmed had hoped that Al-Bashir would join him and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki in the two year war against the Tigray to eliminate the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front once and for all, said Al-Amin Magzoub, a former officer in the Sudanese army. Al-Bashir had repeatedly used the RSF in Libya, Yemen, and Chad. It was expected he would use them once more to serve Ahmeds interests, Magzoub added. The toppled president of Sudan had wanted to solidify Ahmeds rule to consolidate his own position in the face of his regional, Arab, and African conflicts concerning the Brotherhood, Libya, and other topics. However, the popular revolution of December 2019 put an end to all such plans. The army leaders that took over from Al-Bashir restored the whole of Fashaqa more than a decade after the Brotherhood handed it over to Ethiopia. It was in 2008 that Al-Bashir left the agricultural region of Fashaqa to Amhara farmers as part of his alliance with the late Ethiopian leader Meles Zenawi against South Sudan, Eritrea, Chad, Uganda, and Rwanda. Indeed, the Sudanese army grew more popular on the street after restoring Fashaqa and seeing bringing Sudanese farmers back to their land. Addis Ababa also fears greater Egypt-Sudan collaboration if the Sudanese army wins the war against the RSF. Following the fall of Al-Bashir, the Sudanese army rejoined the Bright Star military drills for the first time since the Brotherhood rose to power in Sudan in 1989 with Egyptian support and US approval, said Magzoub. Military exercises involving the Egyptian and Sudanese armies are ongoing. Since 2020 Russia has supplied the Sudanese military with a number of Sukhoi aircraft, tanks, and weapons that will contribute to tipping the scale in favour of the army in the present war, Magzoub also pointed out. Despite the agreement between Sudan and Ethiopia on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Addis Ababa is worried the Tigray war will erupt again if the army wins, in which case the military will support Tigray in its war against the central government in Ethiopia. In this case, Ahmed and Afwerki will not be able to beat Tigray or starve its people through imposing an embargo like they did all through 2022, Magzoub added. Khaled Mahmoud, an expert on African affairs, said the clashes in Sudan are a nightmare for Ethiopia. If the war persists in tandem with the Horn of Africa famine the UN has been warning about for many years, this will spell the end of Ethiopia as we know it. He added that the Tigray are not a mere minority. They have ruled Ethiopia alongside the Amhara and the people of the national church not the byproduct of Western Christian missionary. The Tigray defeated the Italians in the late 19th century and again when they supported emperor Haile Selassie (1918-1974) in the mid-1930s. They were the first group to take up arms against the communist Derg regime led by colonel Mengistu Hailemariam (1974-1991). The Tigray area is mountainous and impossible to infiltrate or occupy, which means either an ongoing war or dividing Ethiopia, Mahmoud said. On the other hand, Ethiopia is enduring several wars already. The government is fighting in the Beni-Shangul-Gomaz region, home to the GERD, on the border with Sudan, with common history, cultural, social and familial bonds between Arab tribes. If Sudan is to support the rebellion of the Arab tribes of Beni-Shangul, the GERD may end up in a Sudanese region, said Magzoub. Sudan shares long borders with the Ethiopian Oromo region. The Oromo, Ethiopias largest national group, are in revolt against Ahmeds government. Supporting them may open the doors to hell on Ethiopia, Mahmoud added. The Ethiopian prime ministers father is a Muslim Oromo and his mother is an Orthodox Amhara. Ahmed converted to Pentecostal Christianity and rose to the helm in 2018 following Oromo protests against the regime which had been in Tigray hands since 1991. After becoming prime minister, Ahmed disavowed the Oromo, according to his Oromo proponents. The Oromo make up 34 per cent of the Ethiopian population according to official statistics. Addis Ababa is situated in the Oromo region and the governments expansion of the capital at the expense of the Oromos agricultural lands was the main reason for their revolt against Ahmed. It is difficult to win over the Oromo because they comprise Muslims and Christians, rendering their affiliations complicated. Victory for the Sudanese army would mean an alliance with the South Sudan government, which claims that it has sovereignty rights in Gambella region in western Ethiopia populated mainly by the Dinka and Anuak. The Dinka is the largest ethnicity in South Sudan, and the one from which President Salva Kiir and the majority of the South Sudan army hail. The group extends through the White Nile and all its branches, including those from the west of the Ethiopian Plateau. The Sudanese armys victory will be a living nightmare for Ethiopia, because in this case Sudan and South Sudan will be able through their newfound alliance to interfere in the Ethiopian conflicts from the north in Tigray to the southernmost part of Gambella, Mahmoud said. This interference will tempt other parties to demand Ethiopian regions, such as Somalia which has been demanding the accession of the Ogaden region to its lands, he noted. This may even drive Kenya to intervene. Kenya had filed a complaint before the UN Security Council against the Gilgel Gibe III Dam which impounds the waters of the river that feeds Lake Turkana, the largest desert lake in the world. The water level in Lake Turkana has dropped by over a metre since the operation of the dam in 2016, threatening the livelihoods of herders and fishermen living in economically exhausted Kenya. Correction: We apologize for the error that was published in our article, which was based on information from Al-Sudani newspaper, regarding the alleged invasion of Sudanese territory by Ethiopian forces and the subsequent military response by the Sudanese Armed Forces. It has come to our attention that Al-Sudani newspaper made the correction after our article had already gone to print. * A version of this article appears in print in the 27 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Connecticut voters would decide whether to change the state's constitutional rules on criminal bail under a resolution approved along party lines Tuesday in a key legislative committee. Minority Republicans opposed the resolution, which likely would reach the statewide ballot in 2026 and, if approved by voters, would allow the General Assembly to pass laws on issues around the granting or denying pretrial release. State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, D-Stamford, co-chairman of the Government Administration & Elections Committee, introduced the bill to the committee and led the debate during a short, 10-minute meeting on the resolution, which originated in the Judiciary Committee. He said the proposal is about equity for low-income defendants and accountability for wealthy defendants. Blumenthal noted that currently, the state Constitution provides for an "absolute" right to bail, except for so-called capital crimes, which no longer exist in state statutes. "No matter how dangerous an individual is, no matter how great a flight risk, if they have sufficient funds, they can go free pending trial," Blumenthal said after the committee meeting, "No matter how unrisky an individual is on those points, if they lack resources they do not get pretrial release. The idea is to make the system safer. Currently, if they have sufficient resources, no matter how dangerous, they could go free." During the meeting, Blumenthal said that the resolution could set the scene for the denial of bail if a judge finds that no pretrial release condition would reasonably assure that the accused would appear in court when required; that their freedom could threaten the safety of others; or prevent the accused from obstructing or preventing the criminal-prosecution process. Conservative Republican Rob Sampson of Wolcott, who led GOP criticism of the bill, said that while he was "sympathetic" to the issue, he charged that it's another move in a more-than-decade-long, soft-on-crime Democratic campaign. He acknowledged a disparity between the wealthy and poor on the issue of bail. He noted, however, that under the resolution, if approved by statewide voters, the writing of the actual law would come back to the legislature. He likened that to his opposition to the early-voting question overwhelmingly approved by voters last November that legislators are drafting now. Sampson focused on the issue of "appropriate implementing legislation" in the resolution. "What concerns me is, looking at states like New York and New Jersey that have adopted similar policies and how the Democrat majorities in those states have used those as an opportunity to make a statement on racial justice, make a statement on equity, rather than a concern about equal application of the law or even equal civil-right protections," Sampson said. "It's all been about making a political statement. And Connecticut, I am afraid, is no stranger to political statements by the majority on the subject of crime." Sampson pointed to a variety of legislative efforts that "undermines" the criminal justice system, including risk-reduction credits, early release of violent felons and the so-called second-chance society. "Everyone knows that Connecticut has somewhat of a revolving-door criminal justice system and I worry that if we enact something that may be well-intended, it's going to be co-opted for political purposes," he said. "Crime is not down in Connecticut, You can ask any one of your constituents," said Sampson, a top Republican on the panel. "They will tell you that they are more concerned than ever about crime. Car thefts, catalytic converter thefts. People living in Connecticut right now are recognizing that our criminal justice system is not as strong as it was maybe 10 years ago." Crime data issued in December indicated that violent crime in 2021 was down 43 percent since 2012 and reported property crime - mostly burglaries - fell by 29 percent during that 10-year period. Murders and sexual assaults rose in 2021. Blumenthal, in the post-meeting phone interview, stressed that Connecticut is one of the safest states in the nation. "Crime, violent crime especially, is at historic lows," Blumenthal said. "Over the last 10 years we have sharply reduced the prison population, introduced the rehabilitation of offenders, and reduced the costs to the taxpayers of imprisoning people." The reductions have resulted in the closure of state prisons. Proponents of the legislation, which next heads to the state House of Representatives, stress that bail provisions have become outdated because of a now-obsolete section of the Constitution that says bail can be denied for capital offenses in limited circumstances. Shasta County is moving forward with an extremely expensive plan to hand count all ballots in future elections. The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to authorize the hiring of seven new county employees who will help facilitate the switch from machine counting to hand counting, in what amounts to the latest chapter in the countys election conspiracy journey. The Tuesday meeting featured a little extra drama as District 1 Supervisor Kevin Crye an ally of MyPillow CEO and 2020 presidential election conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell got served papers announcing a citizens attempt to recall him while he was seated on the dais. To understand the latest fracas, lets back up a few steps. The board, which consists of four hard-line conservatives and one moderate conservative, voted in January to terminate its contract with Dominion Voting Systems because of conspiracy theories regarding the company and the 2020 presidential election. In March, the county voted to hand count all ballots instead of choosing a different electronic system for vote counting. Lindell, who was recently ordered to pay $5 million to someone who debunked one of his election fraud conspiracy theories, is a central figure in all of this. He has argued that no electronic voting machine can be trusted, spoke with Crye earlier this year, and said he is going to cover Shasta County financially if it faces any litigation over its mass hand counting of ballots. County elections chief Cathy Darling Allen has repeatedly warned that the boards decision to move to a hand count risks violating a variety of California election laws. Both the January and March votes were 3-2, with Crye, board President Patrick Jones and District 5 Supervisor Chris Kelstrom comprising the majority. District 2 Supervisor Tim Garman, who is usually aligned with Crye, Jones and Kelstrom, has cast dissenting votes alongside District 3 Supervisor Mary Rickert, the boards lone moderate. For Tuesdays meeting, the board was asked to vote on hiring five new full-time employees in the elections office and two new employees in support services who will help the county implement the hand-counting plan. The board also heard a presentation from chief fiscal officer Erin Bertain, who presented the board with projected costs. Bertain estimated that the county would be on the hook for at least an additional $3 million in expenses through the 2024-2025 fiscal year if not well more with the county needing to hire more than 1,500 ballot counters for the 2024 presidential election. Several residents who spoke during the meetings public comment section were horrified by the estimates. I almost wanted to cry, a resident named Susan said of the presentation. My stomach is turning just thinking about this. It sounds like were running out of the building with our hair on fire, and I dont have that much hair, said a resident named Robert, who indeed did not have that much hair. A man named Steve expressed fears that the funds would be pulled from law enforcement budgets, resulting in conservatives defunding the police in order to, in his words, satisfy something you got off of a conspiratorial website. Rickert, the moderate supervisor, was also gobsmacked by what she called a reckless and irresponsible decision to abandon voting machines. This makes me angry, she said. Im really angry because this decision was based on a feeling that people dont trust a machine, and I have a hard time wrapping my head around that. As Rickert did in the March meeting, she once again introduced a resolution for the county to reenter its Dominion contract. But Garman, who has been Rickerts only board ally on this issue, did not give her the necessary second vote she needed to force another full board vote, saying he sees no point after the pairs attempt to get the board to reverse course during the March meeting failed. The main character of the meeting, however, was the Lindell-allied Crye. Early in the meeting, he was presented with papers from a citizen group registering their intent to gather signatures for his recall. Shasta Countys lurch to the far-right began with the February 2022 recall of longtime moderate Republican Supervisor Leonard Moty, who was replaced by Garman. Crye is possibly vulnerable to a recall himself, as he defeated his more moderate opponent, Erin Resner, by just 50.4% to 49.6% in the 2022 general election. Since then, he has only grown more controversial, thanks to his ties to Lindell and his role in promoting the hand-counting process. The group working to recall Crye writes on its website that the supervisor has brought nationwide ridicule and embarrassment to our county through his actions and voting in his four months in office. Possibly rattled by the recall attempt becoming very real during the meeting, Crye introduced a motion to delay a vote on the new support staff, who would be charged with hiring the hundreds of ballot counters required for a hand count. Crye proposed holding the vote during next weeks meeting so he could have more time to process Bertains presentation, which predicted astronomical costs. He was immediately met with hostility from Garman, who said Crye is obligated to immediately give the elections office the workers it says it needs for hand counting. Youve made your bed, now you have to lie in it, Garman told Crye. Acting County Executive Officer Mary Williams also said it is in the countys best interest to approve the new hires now, because the county needs to start building the infrastructure for the hand-counting plan. The elections office has expressed fears that unless substantial progress is made, it will not be able to conduct its special elections later this year. If there is a swing vote on the board when it comes to elections, its Kelstrom, who introduced a motion of his own Tuesday that would immediately authorize the elections department to make new hires and schedule a further discussion of costs for next weeks meeting. That motion was a countermotion to Cryes proposal to delay the vote on support staff, leaving Jones, the board president, confused and asking county staff for guidance on how to proceed. County staff also seemed unsure of what Kelstrom was proposing exactly and asked him whether he was proposing approval for only the five new employees for the elections department, or also for the additional two new hires in support services. Lets make it all seven, Kelstrom said. Once staff determined that Kelstroms motion superseded Cryes, it went for a roll-call vote. It passed 4-1, with only Crye in dissent, meaning the county can now go forward on hiring seven new full-time staffers. While it would be inaccurate to classify the Tuesday meeting as a turning point, as the plan to hand count ballots is still on, one could reasonably classify it as a vibe shift. Not only was Crye served recall papers, but the residents who spoke to oppose the hand-counting plan were much more aggressive in their remarks than those who were in support. Its a stupid thing going to hand counting and ignoring all the information that is out there, said Steve, the resident who also warned of defunding law enforcement. I can only say its stupid. I cant say its ignorance; you have all the information but you just throw it aside. Its stupidity. We were afraid of you in the beginning, but you have been so persistent with this crap for so long we have gone from fear to anger, said a resident named Nathan, who concluded his remarks by saying, Youre not going to win every election. Get over it. Of course, there were residents there who supported the board majoritys skepticism of voting machines. A resident named Rich delivered a rant calling for a full audit of every election that was so intense other attendees apparently started filming him, prompting him to exclaim, Take my picture, guys! A woman named Lori said she would like to stop hearing insults about the pillow guy, in reference to Lindell. The group working to recall Crye did not return an SFGATE request for comment in time for publication. Its website says it will schedule fundraising and signature-gathering events shortly. We come from a diversity of backgrounds, opinions, political affiliations, cultures, and interests, the websites mission statement reads. The common purpose that unites us all is that our elected officials follow the law, behave ethically and with common sense, and act responsibly as the stewards of OUR taxpayer dollars. Former Fox News producer Abby Grossberg who also used to work for KGO-TV in San Francisco was interviewed by MSNBC Tuesday and discussed the ouster of Tucker Carlson from Fox News earlier this week. Grossberg, who worked as a producer for Carlson as recently as last month, is the plaintiff in two lawsuits against Fox that reportedly played a key role in the network's decision to part ways with its most popular host. In those lawsuits, Grossberg alleges that the network's lawyers coerced her into giving misleading testimony in the high-profile Dominion Voting Systems defamation case. She also claims she was bullied and subjected to sexist and antisemitic comments while working for Carlson. She described the culture Carlson created for employees in her interview with NBC News senior political analyst Nicolle Wallace. "I thought it would be more professional, and I thought what he was portraying on air was just a show. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case," Grossberg said. She said that on her first day of work, she found blown up pictures of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a bathing suit plastered throughout her office and on her computer. Wallace asked Grossberg what her reaction was when she heard Carlson had been forced out at Fox. She said she couldn't believe what she heard at first. "There were a lot of mixed emotions that went through my head," she said. "There were feelings at first like, 'Yes!' and then also the reality that you don't want anything bad to happen to anybody. But at the same time, Tucker and his executive producer Justin Wells, who was also fired, really were responsible for breaking me and making my life a living hell. So there is a feeling of justice, but it's only partial." One of her attorneys told the Los Angeles Times that Carlson's ouster on Monday is "an admission of the systemic lying, bullying and conspiracy-mongering claimed by our client." The law firm representing Grossberg did not reply to a request from comment from SFGATE. Grossberg also discussed her interactions with Fox's lawyers, who she alleges in her lawsuits wanted Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo be a scapegoat for the network's Dominion coverage. Grossberg said the network's lawyers believed Fox would easily beat back the Domonion lawsuit (the network settled the case for an eye-popping $787.5 million last week) and wanted Grossberg to talk about Bartiromo during her deposition. Grossberg said she instead took the opportunity to describe her experience working for the network as a way to get its "chauvinistic" culture on the record. In her interview with Wallace, she also claimed that executives at Fox had at one point asked her to "spy" on Bartiromo. Fox is counter-suing Grossberg, who filed one suit in New York and another in Delaware. In a statement to SFGATE last month, a Fox spokesperson said her allegations in connection with the Dominion case are "baseless," and that the network's lawyers will "vigorously defend Fox against all of her claims." Grossberg was at first placed on leave but has since been fired. The New York lawsuit is slated to be heard in federal court, while the Delaware lawsuit will likely be heard in state court. A group of contracted YouTube workers based in Austin, Texas, voted to ratify a bargaining unit Wednesday afternoon, in an election historic for creating a union to bargain with a tech company and its contractor together as joint employers. The unionization vote passed 41-0. The National Labor Relations Board representative counting the ballots said 49 workers were eligible to vote. The employees work for the subcontractor Cognizant on content operations for Googles YouTube Music, resolving bugs and completing other tasks to ensure the streaming service runs smoothly. Google continues to argue that Cognizant is the workers sole employer and says the Mountain View-based tech giant should not be forced to negotiate with the workers. Held via mail-in ballot, the election creates a bargaining unit with the Alphabet Workers Union an organization affiliated with the Communications Workers of America that, until now, has represented only one office of unionized Google workers, a contracted Fiber retail shop in Missouri. Those workers opted to drop Google from their petition. A spokesperson for Google said the company has no objection to Wednesdays union vote but reiterated its stance that Cognizant is the sole employer. A Cognizant spokesperson said the company is committed to continuing our mission as a team and delivering for our client in the wake of the election. My coworkers and I have spoken, time and time again we want, and have won, a protected voice on the job to bring both Alphabet and Cognizant to the negotiating table so that we can win the fair working conditions we deserve, Maxwell Longfield, a YouTube Music contractor through Cognizant, said in an AWU statement. Google and Cognizant have until May 3 to file an objection to the election. As the unionization process moves forward in Texas, the NLRB is investigating an unfair labor practice complaint by AWU, which contends that Cognizant and Google illegally interfered with the unions formation a practice known as union busting. After workers filed a petition for unionization, Cognizant changed its return-to-office policy and moved work to other offices, the complaint says. Cognizant allegedly told workers that failure to move to and work from the Austin office would be treated as job abandonment and a voluntary termination. The return-to-office change prompted 40 workers to protest with an unfair labor practice strike such strikes prevent employers from laying off workers. AWU said in a statement that the costs of in-person work, from sudden relocation to child care, arent affordable for YouTube Music workers, who make as little as $19 an hour. Eighteen workers are still on strike, a spokesperson told SFGATE. AWUs GoFundMe for the strike has amassed over $50,000 in donations. Meanwhile, Google wants nothing to do with the new bargaining unit. Over several days of hearings in November and December, Google and Cognizant tried to convince Timothy Watson, a regional NLRB director, that Google is not a joint employer of the employees working on YouTube Music for Cognizant. But Watson, in a win for AWU, rejected Googles motion and concluded that both the tech giant and its contractor would have to bargain with the petitioned-for unit if the union were to win the election. His arguments focused on Googles control over the workers benefits, work hours, supervision and tasks. Google filed a request that the NLRB review and overturn Watsons ruling, which an NLRB panel is still considering. The firm wrote that Watson was deviating from the governing standard, ignoring precedent, and applying a faulty analysis in naming Google as a joint employer. The company asserts that it does not exercise any direct or immediate control over the essential terms and conditions of employment for Cognizant employees. The union filed a rebuttal to the NLRB to deny Googles request, writing, The volume of record evidence clearly demonstrates that Google and Cognizant co-determine material aspects of employment. The Regional Director did not err in concluding that Google is a joint employer of the MCO employeesboth as a matter of law and in deducing the facts from this record, the union added, emphasizing Watsons argument that Google has direct and immediate control over key parts of contractors work conditions. If the board agrees with its regional directors stance and the election is certified May 3, Google alongside Cognizant will be forced to the bargaining table for the first time in the tech behemoths history. Hear of anything happening at Alphabet or another tech company? Contact tech reporter Stephen Council securely at stephen.council@sfgate.com or on Signal at 628-204-5452. WFO AMARILLO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, April 25, 2023 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Amarillo TX 546 PM CDT Tue Apr 25 2023 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR WEST CENTRAL RANDALL AND EAST CENTRAL DEAF SMITH COUNTIES... At 546 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 4 miles south of Canyon, moving east at 20 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Minor damage to roofs, siding, and trees is possible. Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Locations impacted include... Canyon, Umbarger, Mescalero Park, Buffalo Lake and Dawn. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. The National Weather Service in Lubbock Texas has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northeastern Castro County in the Panhandle of Texas... Northwestern Swisher County in the Panhandle of Texas... * Until 700 PM CDT. * At 546 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles south of Buffalo Lake, or 16 miles east of Hereford, moving southeast at 15 mph. HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Tulia and Happy. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, April 25, 2023 _____ SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX 837 PM CDT Tue Apr 25 2023 ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Lee and northeastern Fayette Counties through 900 PM CDT... At 836 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Giddings, moving east at 30 mph. HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Giddings, Lake Somerville State Park & Trailway, Carmine, Winedale and Ledbetter. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. LAT...LON 3013 9691 3023 9691 3031 9668 3029 9664 3025 9669 3024 9674 3020 9674 3016 9679 3014 9677 3015 9671 3017 9669 3015 9668 3015 9665 3007 9663 3008 9665 TIME...MOT...LOC 0136Z 251DEG 31KT 3017 9681 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH The National Weather Service in Midland has issued a * Tornado Warning for... Northern Scurry County in western Texas... * Until 930 PM CDT. * At 837 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Fluvanna, or 8 miles southwest of Lake Alan Henry, moving southeast at 35 mph. HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely. * This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of northern Scurry County. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather WFO DALLAS / FT. WORTH Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, April 26, 2023 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Stephens County in north central Texas... * Until 415 AM CDT. * At 311 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles west of Hubbard Creek Reservoir, or 11 miles northeast of Albany, moving east at 25 mph. HAZARD...Two inch hail and 60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Breckenridge, Hubbard Creek Reservoir, Lake Daniel, Necessity, Crystal Falls, Caddo, Possum Kingdom State Park, Possum Kingdom Lake, Eolian, Ivan and Us-180 Near The Shackelford- Stephens County Line. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection get inside a sturdy structure and stay away from windows. Continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately. Lightning can kill. The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Southeastern Smith County in northeastern Texas... Southwestern Rusk County in northeastern Texas... Northwestern Nacogdoches County in eastern Texas... Northeastern Cherokee County in northeastern Texas... * At 311 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Jacksonville, moving east at 30 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Jacksonville, Henderson, Rusk, Troup, Mount Selman, Ponta, Sacul, Mixon, Turnertown, New Salem, Minden, Trawick, New Summerfield, Cushing, Mount Enterprise, Gallatin, Reklaw, Concord, Glenfawn and Brachfield. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CDT THIS MORNING... ...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON... * WHAT...For the Coastal Flood Advisory, minor coastal flooding expected. For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Kleberg Islands and Nueces Islands Counties. * WHEN...For the Coastal Flood Advisory, from 8 AM this morning to 5 PM CDT this afternoon. For the High Rip Current Risk, until 7 AM CDT this morning. * IMPACTS...Flooding of lots, parks, and roads with only isolated road closures expected. Rip currents can sweep even the most experienced swimmers away from shore into deeper water. These rip currents can become life-threatening to anyone entering the surf. If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property. Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. * WHAT...Dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Aransas Islands and Calhoun Islands Counties. * WHEN...Until 7 AM CDT this morning. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the most experienced swimmers away from shore into deeper water. These rip currents can become life-threatening to anyone entering the surf. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather WFO DALLAS / FT. WORTH Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, April 26, 2023 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 537 PM CDT Wed Apr 26 2023 ...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN BOSQUE COUNTY IS CANCELLED... The severe thunderstorm that prompted the warning has moved into Hill County. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled for the Lake Whitney area of Bosque County. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT. ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR NORTHWESTERN HILL COUNTY... At 535 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Whitney, or 11 miles west of Hillsboro, moving east at 25 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. This hail core will be near... Aquilla Lake around 555 PM CDT. Hillsboro around 605 PM CDT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southwestern Panola County in northeastern Texas... Southeastern Rusk County in northeastern Texas... Northeastern Nacogdoches County in eastern Texas... Western Shelby County in eastern Texas... * Until 615 PM CDT. * At 537 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 6 miles southwest of Beckville to 9 miles southeast of Pinehill to near Timpson to near Garrison to near Trawick, moving southeast at 35 mph. HAZARD...Half dollar size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected. * Locations impacted include... Carthage, Center, Tenaha, Timpson, Garrison, Gary City, Jericho, Stockman, Lawsonville, Fairplay, Arcadia, Dotson, Woods and Paxton. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather In an interview with Ahram Online on Tuesday, the spokesman for the Sudanese Armed Forces, Brigadier General Nabil Abdullah, accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of violating a new three-day ceasefire brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia less than half an hour after it came into effect on Monday. Abdullah said the Sudanese Armed Forces agreed to the ceasefire to help ease the humanitarian crisis after 10 days of war, stressing that the ceasefire hinges on the rebel militias adherence to the conditions set out in the agreement. The spokesman added that the ceasefires conditions included the cessation of all military activities, ceasing the targeting of citizens and the looting of their property, preventing troops from being stationed inside residential neighbourhoods and ending the use of citizens as human shields. However, Abdullah claims the RSF violated these terms as they continued their military activity inside and outside residential neighbourhoods. "We monitored heavy deployments of military convoys coming from areas outside the capital to bring them reinforcements; they also tried to take advantage of the ceasefire using transport vehicles to supply their forces with ammunition. "They also attacked the headquarters of several diplomatic missions in Khartoum, which submitted numerous reports confirming their assault by the rebels. The rebels have deployed their forces near the envoys headquarters," he added. The spokesperson explained to Ahram Online that the Sudanese army is ready to deal with any military repercussions that could arise from these violations, adding that the army is in complete control of the situation, adopting a well-thought-out defensive strategy that aims to contain the enemys attacks and limit their fighting capabilities by cutting off supply routes. Commenting on recent international and regional efforts for a permanent ceasefire and a cessation of military activities, the spokesperson said, "It is difficult to set a date for the end of operations; assessing it is complex because it takes place in a capital filled with people and vital facilities, whom we are keen on keeping safe." Search Keywords: Short link: WFO LUBBOCK Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, April 25, 2023 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Lubbock Texas has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northern Lynn County in northwestern Texas... * Until 715 PM CDT. * At 631 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles south of Slide, or 12 miles northwest of Tahoka, moving southeast at 25 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Wilson and New Home. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather WFO LUBBOCK Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, April 25, 2023 _____ SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Lubbock TX 727 PM CDT Tue Apr 25 2023 ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of east central Lynn and northwestern Garza Counties through 800 PM CDT... At 727 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6 miles north of Grassland, or 12 miles east of Tahoka, moving east at 25 mph. HAZARD...Nickel size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Post. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for northwestern Texas. LAT...LON 3318 10166 3329 10165 3330 10128 3309 10131 TIME...MOT...LOC 0027Z 278DEG 22KT 3323 10160 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Lee County through 815 PM CDT... At 730 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Fedor, or 7 miles southwest of Lexington, moving northeast at 40 mph. HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Lexington, Tanglewood, Fedor, Knobb Springs, Blue and Leo. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. LAT...LON 3021 9706 3022 9707 3026 9708 3036 9724 3046 9716 3056 9696 3054 9692 3049 9690 3046 9690 3046 9688 3043 9687 3043 9685 TIME...MOT...LOC 0030Z 216DEG 34KT 3034 9710 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT FOR SOUTHEASTERN SWISHER COUNTY... At 731 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 5 miles northeast of Kress, or 8 miles southeast of Tulia, moving southeast at 25 mph. HAZARD...Two inch hail and 60 mph wind gusts. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Tulia and Kress. This storm is producing large hail. SEEK SHELTER NOW inside a sturdy structure and stay away from windows. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather WFO NORMAN Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, April 26, 2023 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Central Foard County in northern Texas... Southeastern Hardeman County in northern Texas... * Until 630 AM CDT. * At 542 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 10 miles west of Crowell, moving east at 30 mph. HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Crowell, Margaret, Thalia, and Copper Breaks State Park. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern King and southeastern Cottle Counties through 600 AM CDT... At 542 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles southeast of Chalk, or 17 miles southeast of Paducah, moving northeast at 25 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Hackberry. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. LAT...LON 3372 10000 3372 10014 3393 10019 3395 10005 3384 10005 3383 10000 TIME...MOT...LOC 1042Z 233DEG 23KT 3382 10012 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, April 26, 2023 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southern Haskell County in west central Texas... Northeastern Jones County in west central Texas... * Until 145 AM CDT. * At 109 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Sagerton, moving southeast at 25 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * This severe thunderstorm will be near... Paint Creek around 135 AM CDT. Stamford and Lake Stamford Marina around 145 AM CDT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in San Angelo. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, April 26, 2023 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service San Angelo TX 119 AM CDT Wed Apr 26 2023 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 AM CDT FOR SOUTHERN HASKELL AND NORTHEASTERN JONES COUNTIES... At 118 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Paint Creek, moving southeast at 25 mph. HAZARD...Two inch hail and 60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. This severe storm will be near... Paint Creek around 135 AM CDT. Lake Stamford Marina around 140 AM CDT. Stamford around 145 AM CDT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in San Angelo. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, April 26, 2023 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service San Angelo TX 214 AM CDT Wed Apr 26 2023 ...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN JONES COUNTY IS CANCELLED... The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 AM CDT FOR SOUTHEASTERN HASKELL...NORTHWESTERN SHACKELFORD AND SOUTHWESTERN THROCKMORTON COUNTIES... At 213 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles northeast of Big Country Baptist Assembly, or 8 miles northeast of Lueders, moving southeast at 30 mph. HAZARD...Two inch hail and 60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of southeastern Haskell, northwestern Shackelford and southwestern Throckmorton Counties. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Prepare immediately for large hail and deadly cloud to ground lightning. Seek shelter inside a well-built structure. Stay away from windows. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in San Angelo. The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southeastern Smith County in northeastern Texas... Northern Cherokee County in northeastern Texas... * Until 315 AM CDT. * At 216 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Frankston, or 16 miles west of Jacksonville, moving east at 20 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Jacksonville, Bullard, Troup, Mount Selman, Ponta, Mixon, Reese, Lake Palestine, New Summerfield, Gallatin, Reklaw, Cuney, Teaselville and Concord. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, April 26, 2023 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northeastern Callahan County in west central Texas... * Until 415 PM CDT. * At 341 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over I-20 Near The Callahan-Eastland County Line, or over Putnam, moving east at 30 mph. HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of northeastern Callahan County, including the following locations... I-20 Near The Callahan-Eastland County Line. This includes Interstate 20 between Mile Markers 316 and 323. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for west central Texas. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. TX . TEXAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE ANDERSON BELL BOSQUE BROWN BURNET CALLAHAN COLEMAN COMANCHE CORYELL EASTLAND ELLIS ERATH FALLS FREESTONE HAMILTON HENDERSON HILL HOOD JOHNSON LAMPASAS LEON LIMESTONE LLANO MCLENNAN MILAM MILLS NAVARRO ROBERTSON SAN SABA SOMERVELL WILLIAMSON The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a Eastland County in north central Texas... * Until 500 PM CDT. * At 343 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Putnam, or 9 miles west of Cisco, moving east at 30 mph. * This severe thunderstorm will be near... Cisco and Lake Cisco around 400 PM CDT. Eastland around 420 PM CDT. Lake Olden around 425 PM CDT. Lake Leon around 430 PM CDT. Ranger around 435 PM CDT. This storm has a history of producing large hail. SEEK SHELTER NOW inside a sturdy structure and stay away from windows! A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, April 26, 2023 _____ SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Shreveport LA 158 AM CDT Wed Apr 26 2023 ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Little River, southwestern Sevier, southeastern McCurtain, northwestern Bowie and east central Red River Counties through 245 AM CDT... At 157 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10 miles north of Boxelder, moving northeast at 40 mph. HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Horatio, Foreman, Winthrop, Arkinda, Avery, Annona, Haworth, Bokhoma, Moon, Cerrogordo, Beaverdams, Goodlake, Harris, Shinewell, English, Tom, America and West Otis. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. LAT...LON 3350 9486 3365 9497 3401 9438 3378 9421 TIME...MOT...LOC 0657Z 238DEG 35KT 3362 9484 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 AM CDT FOR SOUTHEASTERN HASKELL...NORTHEASTERN JONES...NORTHWESTERN SHACKELFORD AND SOUTHWESTERN THROCKMORTON COUNTIES... At 158 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles south of Lake Stamford Marina, moving southeast at 25 mph. HAZARD...Two inch hail and 60 mph wind gusts. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Stamford, Lueders, Lake Stamford Marina and Big Country Baptist Assembly. Prepare immediately for large hail and deadly cloud to ground lightning. Seek shelter inside a well-built structure. Stay away from windows. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in San Angelo. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, April 26, 2023 _____ TORNADO WARNING The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a * Tornado Warning for... Southeastern Smith County in northeastern Texas... * Until 430 PM CDT. * At 403 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Tyler, moving east at 35 mph. HAZARD...Tornado. SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely. * This dangerous storm will be near... Arp around 420 PM CDT. Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include New Chapel Hill. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southwestern Eastland County in north central Texas... * At 404 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Rising Star, or 13 miles south of Cisco, moving southeast at 40 mph. HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 65 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of southwestern Eastland County, including the following locations... Nimrod, Pleasant Hill, Sabanno, Pioneer, Carbon and Okra. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT. This storm has a history of producing large hail. SEEK SHELTER NOW inside a sturdy structure and stay away from windows! _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, April 26, 2023 _____ AREAL FLOOD ADVISORY Flood Advisory National Weather Service Shreveport LA 410 PM CDT Wed Apr 26 2023 ...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Urban and small stream flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected. * WHERE...A portion of northeast Texas, including the following county, Smith. * WHEN...Until 615 PM CDT. * IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 410 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. This will cause urban and small stream flooding. - Some locations that will experience flooding include... Tyler, Whitehouse, Lindale, Bullard, Noonday, New Chapel Hill, Winona and Red Springs. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northeastern Hamilton County in central Texas... Northwestern Bosque County in central Texas... * Until 515 PM CDT. * At 410 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Iredell, or 22 miles southeast of Stephenville, moving northeast at 30 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * This severe thunderstorm will be near... Iredell around 415 PM CDT. Lake Whitney around 510 PM CDT. For your protection get inside a sturdy structure and stay away from windows. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather Sudanese and foreigners streamed out of the capital of Khartoum and other battle zones, as fighting Tuesday shook a new three-day truce brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Aid agencies raised increasing alarm over the crumbling humanitarian situation in a country reliant on outside help. A series of short ceasefires the past week have either failed outright or brought only intermittent lulls in the fighting that has raged between forces loyal to the country's two top generals since April 15. The lulls have been enough for dramatic evacuations of hundreds of foreigners by air and land, which continued Tuesday. But they have brought no relief to millions of Sudanese caught in the crossfire, struggling to find food, shelter and medical care as explosions, gunfire and looters wreck their neighborhoods. In a country where a third of the population of 46 million already needed humanitarian assistance, multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations and dozens of hospitals have been forced to shut down. The U.N. refugee agency said it was gearing up for potentially tens of thousands of people fleeing into neighboring countries. Calls for negotiations to end the crisis in Africas third-largest nation have been ignored. For many Sudanese, the departure of diplomats, aid workers and other foreigners and the closure of embassies are terrifying signs that international powers expect the mayhem to only worsen. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the power struggle between rival generals and their military forces is not only putting Sudan's future at risk, it is lighting a fuse that could detonate across borders, causing immense suffering for years, and setting development back by decades. The U.N. chief urged the Sudanese military, commanded by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the rival Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, to silence the guns immediately. ""The conflict will not, and must not, be resolved on the battlefield," Guterres told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council late Tuesday. U.N. special envoy for Sudan Volker Perthes, who moved from Khartoum to Port Sudan with most U.N. staff and many humanitarian organizations, accused both warring parties of fighting with disregard for the laws and norms of war, citing attacks on densely populated areas. With supply lines running out, he said, there is mounting fear of increased criminality, and reports of prisoners being released from detention centers across Khartoum have compounded these fears. Thousands of Sudanese have been fleeing Khartoum and its neighboring city of Omdurman. Bus stations in the capital were packed Tuesday morning with people who had spent the night there in hopes of getting on a departing bus. Drivers increased prices, sometimes tenfold, for routes to the border crossing with Egypt or the eastern Red Sea city of Port Sudan. Fuel prices have skyrocketed, to $67 a gallon from $4.20, and prices for food and water have doubled in many cases, the Norwegian Refugee Council said. Those lucky enough to reach the border crossings face additional hardships. Moaz al-Ser, a teacher, arrived at the Arqin border crossing with Egypt early Tuesday with his wife and three children after a harrowing trip from Omdurman. They were among hundreds of families who were waiting to be processed. Many had spent the night in an open area near the border. The crossing point is overwhelmed and authorities on both sides dont have the capacity to handle such a growing number of arrivals, he said. Secretary-General Guterres cited reports of armed clashes across the country, with people fleeing their homes in Blue Nile and North Kordofan states and across Western Darfur as well. Terrified people remain trapped indoors with dwindling food, water, medicine and fuel, and health services near collapse, he said. Joyce Msuya, the assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said at least 20 hospitals have been forced to close due to damage, military use or lack of resources. She also told the council there have been numerous reports of sexual and gender-based violence. The 72-hour cease-fire announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was to last until late Thursday night, extending a nominal three-day truce over the weekend. The rival forces said Tuesday they would observe the cease-fire. In separate announcements, they said Saudi Arabia played a role in the negotiations. But fighting continued, with explosions, gunfire and the roar of warplanes overhead around the capital region. They stop only when they run out of ammunition, Omdurman resident Amin Ishaq said. Al-Roumy, a medical facility in Omdurman, said it suspended its services after it was hit by a shell Tuesday. They dont respect cease-fires, said Atiya Abdalla Atiya, a senior figure in the Sudan Doctors Syndicate, a group that monitors casualties. Dr. Bushra Ibnauf Sulieman, a Sudanese-American physician who headed the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Khartoum, was stabbed to death outside his home, the Doctors' Syndicate said. He had practiced medicine for many years in the United States, where his children reside, but had returned to Sudan to train doctors. Colleagues said he had been treating those wounded in the fighting in recent days and that it was not known who killed him. The World Heath Organization, meanwhile, expressed concern that one of the warring parties had seized control of the central public health laboratory in Khartoum. That is extremely, extremely dangerous because we have polio isolates in the lab. We have measles isolates in the lab. We have cholera isolates in the lab, Dr. Nima Saeed Abid, the WHO representative in Sudan, told a U.N. briefing in Geneva by video call from Port Sudan. He did not identify which side held the facility but said they had expelled technicians and power was cut, so it was not possible to properly manage the biological materials. There is a huge biological risk. Clashes meanwhile escalated in the western Darfur region, residents said. Armed groups, wearing RSF uniforms, attacked several areas in Genena, a provincial capital, burning and looting properties and camps for displaced people. Fierce battles are raging all over the city, said a doctor in Genena, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. "All eyes are on Khartoum but the situation here is unimaginable. Women and children were fleeing homes in the city center, and the city's main hospital has not functioned for days, with unknown numbers of dead and wounded, she said. More fighters on motorcycles and horses have flowed into the city to join the battles, with dead bodies lying in the streets, according to Darfur 24, an online news outlet focusing on covering the war-wrecked region. The RSF has its roots in Darfur, where it emerged from the notorious Janjaweed militias that committed atrocities there while putting down a rebellion in the 2000s. At least 459 people, including civilians and fighters, have been killed, and over 4,000 wounded since fighting began, the U.N. health agency said, citing Sudans Health Ministry. Among them were 166 deaths and over 2,300 wounded in Khartoum, it said. Secretary-General Guterres said four U.N. staff were killed. The U.N. said they were three Sudanese working for the World Food Program and one Sudanese working for the International Organization for Migration. Those who are able have made their way to the Egyptian border, Port Sudan or relatively calmer provinces along the Nile. But the full scale of displacement has been difficult to measure. Msuya said the U.N. has received reports of tens of thousands of people arriving in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Mohammed Mahdi, of the International Rescue Committee, warned that resources were growing thin at the Tunaydbah refugee camp in eastern Sudan after 3,000 people fleeing Khartoum took refuge there, joining some 28,000 refugees from Ethiopia. At least 20,000 people have fled from Khartoum to the city of Wad Madani, 160 kilometers (100 miles) to the south, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. Some 20,000 Sudanese have fled to Chad and around 4,000 South Sudanese refugees living in Sudan have returned home, according to the U.N. refugee agency, which is gearing up for tens of thousands more to flee to neighboring countries. Search Keywords: Short link: WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, April 26, 2023 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Shelby County in eastern Texas... Northeastern San Augustine County in eastern Texas... * Until 700 PM CDT. * At 610 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Tenaha, or 7 miles northwest of Center, moving southeast at 35 mph. HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Center, San Augustine, Tenaha, Patroon, Shelbyville, Bland Lake, Neuville, Huxley, Hurstown, James, Calgary, Jericho, Stockman, Arcadia, Jordans Store and Paxton. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather Financial markets' attention in the middle of the week would continue to be trained on the US. At 1330 BST, the Department of Commerce would release durable goods orders figures covering the month of March. In parallel, Commerce would publish a preliminary estimate for the country's deficit on trade in goods. Across the Channel, at 0700 BST, consultancy GfK was to announce the results of its consumer confidence survey for Germany in May. It would be followed at 0830 BST by the Riksbank's monetary policy decision and at 1300 BST by a speech from European Central Bank vice-president Luis de Guindos. On the corporate side of things, investors would be pouring over the latest quarterly numbers out of Microsoft and Alphabet. For Microsoft, adjusted earnings per share for the fiscal third quarter were seen coming in at $2.23. At the time of its last quarterly results, the software maker and cloud computing outfit guided towards a further slowdown in growth over the next few quarters. Revenues were seen flat at between $50.5-51.5bn with the company anticipating more weakness in personal computing, but alongside more strength in Azure. Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK also pointed out that there might be more detail to be had regarding the challenges facing the Activision deal. Alphabet meanwhile was seen posting a quarterly EPS of $1.10 for the first three months of 2023. The advertising and search giant had already cautioned shareholders to expect charges of as much as $2.3bn for the quarter due to severance costs for 12,000 staff in this latest set of results. Hewson believed investors would be hoping that the glitches around Bard, its AI release, might be closer to being resolved. Wednesday 26 April INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Close Brothers Group INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30) Durable Goods Orders (US) (13:30) GFK Consumer Confidence (GER) (07:00) MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00) GMS OMV Petrom S.A. GDR (REG S) FINALS 1Spatial, Biome Technologies, Sanderson Design Group, Skillcast Group, Warpaint London ANNUAL REPORT OMV Petrom S.A. GDR (REG S) EGMS Trian Investors 1 Limited NPV AGMS Alfa Financial Software Holdings , Allianz Technology Trust, Anglo American, Breedon Group , Bunzl, Croda International, Drax Group, Elementis, Global Invacom Group Limited (DI), Global Opportunities Trust, Lancashire Holdings Limited, MD Medical Group Investments GDR (Reg S), Metro Bank, Mobius Investment Trust , Nichols, Octopus AIM VCT 2, One Media IP Group, Persimmon, RIT Capital Partners, Trian Investors 1 Limited NPV TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS Fresnillo, Glencore , Reckitt Benckiser Group, Smith & Nephew FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE BlackRock World Mining Trust, Maven Income & Growth 3 VCT Q1 Gem Diamonds Ltd. (DI) European stocks were weaker at the open on Wednesday as fears resurfaced over the stability of the banking system after poor results by US bank First Republic saw its shares slump overnight. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was down 0.48% at 0815 BST with all major markets lower after a sharp fall in the US overnight and a mixed session in Asia. Shares in First Republic almost halved overnight after the regional bank posted its latest quarterly, saying that deposits dropped 40% to $104.5bn in the first quarter. Realisation is dawning that more ominous clouds are gathering over the US economy, causing fresh nervousness for investors. Despite some better-than-expected results from the first of the big tech crowd to report, the darkening picture of consumer confidence has increased concerns about lower spending ahead, said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets, Hargreaves Lansdown. The worry mill is continuing to grind about the banking crisis, with First Republic Bank looking fragile after its shares collapsed to a record low. The regulatory cavalry is likely to be on standby to step in unless more funding can be raised from the large white knight lenders. Oil prices were also under pressure, with Brent crude hovering around $81 a barrel as investors fret about weaker global demand. In equity news, shares in Asia-focused bank Standard Chartered fell on general industry sentiment, despite posting a 21% rise in pre-tax profit, ahead of estimates. Stockholm-listed betting and gaming operator Kindred Group shares surged by more than 10% after the company said it had launched a strategic review to consider a potential merger or sale of the company. Kindreds board of directors will consider all potential alternatives that can deliver value for the companys shareholders, including a merger, sale or other possible strategic transactions. Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com Heathrow posted a first-quarter loss on Wednesday, despite seeing passenger numbers take off. The airport - Europes busiest - said revenues in the three months to 31 March were 814m, a 58% jump on the same period a year previously, while passenger numbers surged 74% to 16.9m. But it remained in the red, with adjusted losses before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of 139m, compared to 223m a year previously. Pre-tax losses narrowed to 60m from 191m, and Heathrow said it did not expect to pay any dividends in the current year. The Civil Aviation Authority caps the price Heathrow can charge airlines for using its facilities, but the airport said the current settlement was too low. The average maximum per-passenger fee is 31.57, but that will drop to 25.43 next year. Heathrow, which is appealing the settlement to the Competition and Markets Authority, noted: "There are a number of areas in which the CAA has made clear errors, which will undermine the investment needed to deliver the airport service and resilience consumers want." John Holland-Kaye, chief executive, said: "2023 has got off to a strong start. We are building our route network to connect all of Britain to the growing markets of the work; now we need the government the lure international visitors back to the UK by scrapping the tourist tax." The government scrapped tax-free shopping for tourists in 2020. Heathrow is owned by a consortium of investors including Spanish infrastructure fund Ferrovial, the Qatar Investment Authority and China Investment Corporation. Sudanese in the capital of Khartoum and the neighboring city of Omdurman reported sporadic clashes early Wednesday between the military and a rival paramilitary force but said the intensity of fighting had dwindled on the second day of a three-day truce. Many residents of the capital emerged from their homes to seek food and water, lining up at bakeries or grocery stores, witnesses said. Some inspected shops or homes that had been destroyed or looted during the fighting. Others joined the tens of thousands who have been streaming out of the city in recent days. There is a sense of calm in my area and neighborhoods, said Mahasen Ali, a tea vendor who lives in Khartoums southern neighborhood of May. But all are afraid of whats next. She said that despite the relative lull, the sound of gunfire and explosions could still be heard in the city. Clashes were centered in more limited pockets of Khartoum and Omdurman, residents said, mainly around the militarys headquarters and the Republican Palace, the seat of power. An exchange of fire rattled the upscale Kafouri neighbhorhood, where many fighters from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces are deployed. Also on Wednesday, the military said Sudans former autocratic ruler Omar al-Bashir was being held in a military-run hospital, giving its first official statement on his location since the fighting erupted. An attack on the prison where al-Bashir and many of his former officials had been held, raised questions over his whereabout and allegations he was freed. In a statement, the military said al-Bashir, former Defense Minister Abdel-Rahim Muhammad Hussein and other former officials had been moved to the military-run Aliyaa hospital before clashes broke out across the country. Al-Bashir was ousted in 2019 amid a popular uprising. Both al-Bashir and Hussien are wanted by the ICC on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes related to Darfur conflict. The relative reduction of fighting Wednesday was a rare moment of easing for the millions of Sudanese who have been caught in the crossfire ever since the forces of the countrys two top generals went to war with each other on April 15. The fighting has pushed the population to a near breaking point, with food growing more difficult to obtain, electricity cut off across much of the capital and other cities and many hospitals shut down. In a country where a third of the population of 46 million already needed humanitarian assistance, multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations. The U.N. refugee agency said it was gearing up for potentially tens of thousands of people fleeing into neighboring countries. Still, it was not clear how long the relative calm would last. A series of short cease-fires the past week have either failed outright or brought only intermittent lulls, enough for dramatic evacuations of hundreds of foreigners by air and land. The two generals, army chief Abdel Fattah Burhan and RSF commander Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, have so far ignored calls for negotiations to end the crisis and have seemed determined to crush each other. At least 459 people, including civilians and fighters, have been killed, and over 4,000 wounded since fighting began, the U.N. health agency said, citing Sudans Health Ministry. The Doctors Syndicate which which tracks civilian casualties, said at least 295 civilians were killed and 1,790 others injured. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that their power struggle is not only putting Sudans future at risk, it is lighting a fuse that could detonate across borders, causing immense suffering for years, and setting development back by decades. Guterres cited reports of armed clashes across the country, with people fleeing their homes in Blue Nile and North Kordofan states and across Western Darfur as well. Joyce Msuya, the assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the Security Council there have been numerous reports of sexual and gender-based violence. Msuya said the U.N. has received reports of tens of thousands of people arriving in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. The 72-hour cease-fire announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was to last until late Thursday night. Many fear that fighting will only escalate once evacuations of foreigners, which appeared to be in their last stages, are completed. Bus stations in the capital have been packed with people camping out, waiting for a spot on a bus. Drivers increased prices, sometimes tenfold, for routes to the border crossing with Egypt or the eastern Red Sea city of Port Sudan. Fuel prices have skyrocketed. Tens of thousands more have fled to calmer provinces near Khartoum. In the capital, Dr. Bushra Ibnauf Sulieman, a Sudanese-American physician who headed the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Khartoum, was stabbed to death outside his home, the Doctors Syndicate said. He had practiced medicine for many years in the United States, where his children reside, but had returned to Sudan to train doctors. The World Health Organization, meanwhile, expressed concern that one of the warring parties had seized control of the central public health laboratory in Khartoum, where samples of polio, measles and cholera are stored. Dr. Nima Saeed Abid, the WHO representative in Sudan warned that after staff was expelled and power cut, it was not possible to properly manage the biological materials. Search Keywords: Short link: Ctrl F by Core Integra, India's no.1 SaaS-based comprehensive Labour Law Compliance platform, today announced the opening of its new office at Suite #10, First floor, Jainco Business Centre, 1/43B, Dr. M D Ishaque Road, Kolkata 700016, which will be the company's seventh office in India as part of its expansion plans. Core Integra has a strong presence in India's western, northern and southern markets. With this announcement, the company is looking to broaden its presence in the ever-evolving Eastern market. Ctrl F is India's first SaaS-based labour law compliance (RegTech) platform with a strong presence in key metro cities like Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and New Delhi. With the set-up of the new office in Kolkata, Core Integra intends to create job opportunities for the city's talent pool in the areas of Operations, Business Development and Technology. Speaking on the development, Mahesh Krishnamoorthy Managing Director of Core Integra, commented, "Kolkata is a growing economy with a diverse mix of industries, including IT/ITES, BFSI, Manufacturing and Healthcare. The West Bengal Government has in the last couple of years introduced quite a few labour reform initiatives and is focused on ease of doing business where to enable the next level of growth, we at Core Integra are committed to supporting emerging industries by providing critical compliance assistance, resulting in increased business efficiency and growth." "Furthermore, we hope that our new office and increased workforce will enable us to provide even better services to our existing clientele and strengthen our relationships with them." He adds. Ctrl F, by Core Integra platform, offers a library of over 40,000 pages of the Indian labour laws, 1000+ Laws and Acts, 10,000+ compliances, 20000+ legal updates, and 1000+ formats including bi-lingual ones in their software. This helps businesses with a centralized compliance monitoring framework. On the CtrlF platform, Core Integra's clientele has increased by 300% in the past year we expect the momentum to continue in this financial year as well. Core Integra's Ctrl F is India's largest Compliance Solution Platform for Labour Law Acts, Rules, Minimum Wages, Execution and Communications. With a pan India presence in 1000+ locations through its own offices and partners, the company services over 500+ clients across 30+ industries over the last 15 years of existence. 350+ senior level data center and C-level digital infrastructure professionals, information technology experts, cloud technology & business leaders, key buyers, decision makers and project heads will gather on 19th May from 8:00 AM 6:00 PM at Hilton Chennai for W.Medias 2nd Edition of Chennai Cloud & Datacenter Convention 2023. The convention, to be inaugurated by Thiru. T.ManoThangaraj, Honble Minister of Information Technology & Digital Services, Government of Tamil Nadu, seeks to support the Tamil Nadu Governments commitment to provide a ready, built and well-established supply chain for data centers and enterprises to integrate scale within the state. The 1st Edition of Chennai& Datacenter Convention 2022 was a great success wherein the policy makers could directly interact with private players, consultants and enterprise leaders. As an outcome of participating in the event, people now know whom to talk to and approach in ELCOT, said Thiru. Arunraj, I.A.S. Executive Director, Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited (ELCOT). I am expecting to meet, interact and learn from the existing and potential DC and cloud players about their journey so far within the state. The convention in association with CIO Klub Chennai Chapter will feature 35+ key speakers. The key C-level leaders have been experiential learners of global data center and cloud market wherein you will get to learn the key factors driving the uptick in data center demand, the key areas of investment for hyperscale,strategies for balancing risk and sustainability, future IT delivery strategyfor enterprises, colos, and service provider industry! Chennai is one of the major cities where CapitaLand is setting up a Data Centre, we feel the convention will be a fantastic chance to network with other business experts and Enterprises, said Surajit Chatterjee, Managing Director, Data Centre, India, CapitaLand Investment. I am looking forward to this chance to share my expertise and views with industry professionals. Given that W.Media is a renowned event producer in the DC sector, I am enthusiastic about this collaboration. I am anticipating meeting you there! As Chennai is primed to become one of the key data center hubs in South Asia, the keynote address would set forth Chennais growth is projected to accelerate based on both local and incoming demand. The day long convention will give you major insights on: What colocation and data center service providers need to adapt to their central role in the process of digital transformation? Questions to be asked when procuring cloud Learn how hyperscale is recharting Indias data center direction? Key data center technologies shaping the Indian data center of the future Solutions to the requirements presented by datacenter risk, sustainability and cost A number of key enterprise, colocation, cloud, and data center service providerswill be in attendance some of which will showcase their most recent advancements at their own booths on the exhibition floor. "We, at Fuji Electric India, are excited to be a part of the Chennai Cloud & Data Centre Convention 2023 as a Gold Sponsor. This event is a perfect opportunity for us to showcase our innovative products and solutions tailored specifically to the rapidly evolving data center market, said Shivaji Waghmare - CEO, Fuji Electric India. With over 75% end-user attendees and 60% participants being C-level executives, directors, and data center owners, we believe that the platform provided by W.Media will help us connect with clients and network with the brightest minds and industry leaders. We look forward to this incredible opportunity to learn, network, and grow with key industry players." The Chennai CDC 2023 will feature discussions on the latest IT products and services delivered by leading technology providers, as also complementing these will be leading government technology leaders&experiential learners and technology infrastructure experts on stage - who will strive to unravel the technology maze and take pertinent queries from the audience. Wilson Josup, Director, Open Computing SG said, We had the opportunity to connect with DC Professionals from various sectors and it was a good platform for us to explore projects in Green DC Sustainability and Single Phase Immersion Cooling. This yeartoo we will focus on Tropical Data Center Sustainability and update the market on Single-Phase Immersion Cooling platforms. W.Medias annual convention seeks to gather the worlds cream of the crop in the data center and cloud industry across 20 locations globally. W.Media events have constantly contributed to create a community where tech enthusiasts, thought leaders and the torch bearers of the data center and cloud industry come togetherto set the direction for advancements within the industry. W.Media has been on top of being the first to gain market insights and stay ahead of the curve in rapid market changes. Jupiter, a neobanking startup, has obtained an NBFC licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which would enable it to disburse credit from its books. According to Jitendra Gupta, who founded the startup's operating company, Amica Financial Technologies Ltd. in Bengaluru, Jupiter will appoint a qualified chief executive officer to lead the NBFC. Jupiter, which had previously been scaling its lending activities through partner NBFCs, should take note of the move. Jupiter, which is funded by Sequoia and Tiger Global, plans to seek an additional Rs 100 crore in debt to finance the NBFC's credit operations in addition to capitalising the lending business with about Rs 100 crore. It plans to award short- and medium-term personal loans around Rs 600700 crore annually. The NBFC will reside under Amica Finance, a different organisation. In light of recent regulatory changes regarding digital lending, according to Gupta, the development was noteworthy. With a customer base of more than 2 million, Gupta claimed, "we will be able to operate at scale to drive business growth." The four-year-old fintech's revenue stream and loan margins will improve thanks to the NBFC licencing. In addition, it will be able to provide direct client assistance rather than only acting as a loan-service provider (LSP). Jupiter is anticipated to perform with larger ticket values of Rs 75,000 to Rs 1 lakh over longer loan terms of three to 24 months. On Jupiter's platform, the typical loan term is now around six months, and the average ticket amount is close to Rs 30,000. About 25,000 users have received credit from it. The company was recently valued at over $700 million and has so far raised over $160 million in equity capital. The deadline to apply for New York State civil service exams open in April is Wednesday. The New York State Department of Civil Service (DCS) offers open-competitive exams with opportunities to start a career with the state and are open to all qualified individuals who meet the minimum qualifications for the job. Exams assess candidates knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for performing the job. Applications have been open in April for these exams: education supervisor (general); principal sanitarian; public health sanitarian; sanitarian trainee; senior sanitarian; toll electronic systems technician; toll electronic systems technician trainee 1; traffic systems technician 1; traffic systems technician trainee 1. They will be held as in-person written exams in June. Qualified candidates can apply online until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26. Salaries for these careers range from $41,600 to $79,325. According to the state, appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester counties will receive an additional annual downstate adjustment. Visit SILive.com to see the starting salaries and job descriptions for each career. According to the state, an application must be submitted online or postmarked by the last date to apply. An application will not be accepted after the application filing deadline has passed. Application fees range from $35 to $40 for these exams this month, though fee waivers are available. To be considered for appointment, you must pass the written test. The Department of Civil Service may administer tests either online or with paper booklets and answer sheets. All positions offer generous benefits, including paid leave, health benefits and retirement plans. In addition, telecommuting options may be available to employees who meet certain criteria. To learn more about working for the State of New York, visit the Department of Civil Service website and follow the department on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. RELATED STORIES Need a side hustle? These are the top 10 most profitable part-time jobs, according to data Warning: You have the most chance of being laid off from these jobs in 2023, study says Want to work from home and make six figures? These in-demand side hustles pay $100K or more. FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A candy bar and bag of gummies that typically would cost a few dollars at a drug store allegedly were sold for $110 to an undercover officer in the vicinity of a smoke shop in Port Richmond. Stephen Larosa, 22, of the 900 block of Clove Road in Sunnyside, was able to command such a high price because the sweets were spiked with the hallucinogenic psilocybin, commonly referred to as magic mushrooms, according to authorities. Larosa and Joseph Deleo, 25, of Cedarwood Court in Mariners Harbor, were arrested after officers armed with a search warrant raided 1426 Castleton Ave. on March 21 around 1 p.m., according to the criminal complaint. Zaza & Co. is located at the address supplied by authorities. The complaint alleges that officers recovered 87 white pills of oxycodone-acetaminophen in addition to a chocolate candy bar and 13 gummies tainted with magic mushrooms. The contraband allegedly was stashed behind the counter of the store, where the suspects were standing. In February and March, the complaint alleges that Larosa sold products laced with magic mushrooms to an undercover officer. The officer exchanged $110 for a chocolate bar and a plastic-zipper bag containing gummies on one occasion; two chocolate candy cars were peddled for the same amount of money in two additional transactions, the complaint alleges. Both suspects have been charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, criminal possession of a narcotic drug and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Larosa also has been charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance. Larosa and Deleo have been released on their own recognizance and are due back in Criminal Court on May 9, according to public records. Attorney Mario Gallucci is defending both Deleo and Larosa. We need to get more uniformity on the marijuana stores, Gallucci said. As I have stated in the past, had this shop opened in Manhattan, District Attorney Bragg would be building monuments for Mr. Deleo and Mr. Larosa. In Richmond (County), it becomes the crime of the century. The lame-duck legislature needs to act or were going to have many young people saddled with criminal records. SMOKE SHOPS RAIDED ON STATEN ISLAND Authorities have been raiding smoke shops throughout Staten Island in recent months. Several suspects are being prosecuted in connection with massive drug busts at smoke shops in Great Kills and Port Richmond after authorities allege nearly 100 pounds of weed and 69 candy bars laced with a magic mushrooms were seized. District Attorney Michael E. McMahon previously announced the raids that occurred on March 28 as part of a joint effort by his office, the NYPD and other authorities to fight back against illegal smoke shops that are threatening the blossoming legal marketplace for marijuana. Authorities armed with a search warrant swarmed GK Express at 27 Brower Court steps from the Great Kills train station at about 2:35 p.m. Alwasia Yafa, 22, of Woodward Avenue in Queens, and Augusto Costanzo, 26, of the 200 block of Tennyson Drive in Great Kills, were arrested in connection with the search at that shop, according to the criminal complaint. Yafa was working behind the sales counter where there were stashes of greenish-brown, leafy marijuana and gummies containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in weed, the complaint alleges. The same illegal items also were seized from a storage room, according to police. Authorities allege they recovered chocolate bars laced with the hallucinogenic psilocybin, secreted in a storage room. The bars were labelled as mushroom Belgium chocolate and packaged for sale, police say. The complaint alleges that Yafa and Costanzo were involved in a drug deal with an undercover officer earlier in March. The undercover officer gave cash to Costanzo and Yafa handed over psilocybin to the cop, the complaint alleges. Yafa allegedly peddled magic mushrooms to an undercover officer two additional times last month. Both Yafa and Costanzo have been charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Yafa also faces additional charges of criminal possession of cannabis. Yafa and Costanzo have been released on their own recognizance and are due back in Criminal Court on May 16, according to public records. RAID AT SMOKE SHOP IN PORT RICHMOND Also on March 28, police executed a search warrant around 1:15 p.m. at the P.A.I.N. Station at 207 Port Richmond Ave. Officers arrested the following suspects: Javon Mitchell, 38, of Park Hill Avenue in Clifton; Jamal Wade, 25, of New Street in Port Richmond; Dashaun Lewis, 29, of Richmond Terrace in New Brighton; Theresa Harris-Lacewell, 54, of Bush Avenue in Mariners Harbor; Ryan Lewis, 35, of Carroll Street in Brooklyn, and Walter Harris, 37, of New Street in Port Richmond. The criminal complaint alleges that Mitchell was behind the counter when he and Ryan Lewis allegedly were caught with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a powerful type of Ecstasy, in the form of pills in multiple shapes and colors that were hidden in the pockets of their pants. Deshaun Lewis, Harris-Lacewell, Ryan Lewis and Harris were in a back stock room where illegal items were stored, including codeine pills, chocolates, liquids and gummies laced with magic mushrooms, and greenish-brown leaves of marijuana, the complaint alleges. Drug-related paraphernalia in the stock room allegedly included scales and a heat press used to seal packages typically used in the drug trade. Mitchell allegedly sold items, including cookies and candy bars tainted with magic mushrooms, to an undercover police officer in February. Wade is accused of peddling products such as tainted cereal bars and chocolate candy bars to an undercover officer in March, according to the complaint. All six suspects linked to the Port Richmond shop have been charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell. Dashaun Lewis, Harris-Lacewell, Ryan Lewis and Harris also have been charged with criminal possession of cannabis and criminal use of drug paraphernalia. OTHER STATEN ISLAND NEWS: >> Robber made off with only $8 in gas station heist on Staten Island; suspect remains at large, NYPD says >> Husband charged with murder in stabbing death of wife in Richmond >> NYPD probes stabbing where woman died, two men were injured on Staten Island >> Carjackings, threats, scams on Staten Island prompt warning about selling, buying cars on Facebook Marketplace >> NYPD identifies man, 66, who died crossing Staten Island street >> NYPD details terrifying attempted abduction on Staten Island; cops search for two males in brown van >> NYPD seeks tips in alleged assault on MTA bus on Staten Island >> Woman, 43, shot and then buried in Staten Island basement identified by NYPD >> NYPD files charges against gun suspect in Staten Island incident where officer opened fire Ambassador Osama Abdel-Khalek, the Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations, proposed three concrete measures to achieve calm and end the cycle of violence in the occupied Palestinian territories. Ambassador Abdel-Khaleks proposal came during an open debate session of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the Middle East on Tuesday. His proposed measures include 1) the implementation of the understandings reached in recent meetings between the Israeli and Arab sides in Aqaba and Sharm El-Sheikh, 2) respect for Jordan's guardianship over Jerusalem's Muslim and Christian holy sites and 3) the provision of international protection for the Palestinian people. In February, the meeting in Aqaba, Jordan, which was attended exclusively by high-ranking security officials, released a joint communique in which they reaffirmed the need to de-escalate the situation and prevent further violence and to recognise the importance of upholding the historic status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem inclusive of the Hashemite custodianship of them The communique added that Israel and the Palestinian Authority were committed to immediately working to end unilateral measures for a period of three to six months. It also included an Israeli commitment to stop discussion of any new settlement units for four months and to stop the authorisation of any new outposts for six months. In March, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority and Israeli government reaffirmed commitment to work on ending unilateral measures for a period of three to six months, a joint statement shared by Egypts Foreign Ministry said. Abdel-Khalek said the escalation of tensions in the occupied Palestinian territories over the past few weeks was a result of Israeli violations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These violations included illegal expansion of Israeli settlement activities in the occupied territories, home demolitions, raids into Palestinian cities and the killing of unarmed Palestinians including children at the hand of the occupation forces and settlers, he noted. The settlers also restricted access to both Muslim and Christian places of worship in violation of International Law, UN resolutions and the Jordanian Kingdoms guardianship, Abdel-Khalek said. Most alarmingly, Israeli forces as well as settlers have killed 98 civilians in the West Bank including children since the beginning of this year and arrested many more,' he noted. There must be accountability for the violent actions committed against Palestinians, Abdel-Khalek further asserted. The situation remains tense despite efforts by Egypt and Jordan as well as the United States over the last few months to reach an agreement that would achieve calm and end unilateral measures, Abdel-Khalek said. Continuing Israeli violations of the current status in Jerusalems holy sites and Jordanian guardianship of these sites have exacerbated tensions, he stressed. It will be fruitful in the short-term to lift the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip as well as provide support to the UNRWA, Abdel-Khalek said. In the medium-term, he added, the root causes of the conflict must be addressed along with a revival of peace negotiations between the two sides of the conflict through the re-activation of Quartet on the Middle East. In conclusion, Abdel-Khalek reaffirmed Egypts support of the rights of the Palestinian people to sovereignty and self-determination on the border of 1967 with East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. Search Keywords: Short link: STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Police are investigating an unconfirmed report that a gun was discharged near a park in West Brighton. A grassy area in the 700 block of Henderson Avenue near Broadway was roped off with caution tape on Wednesday morning after police were called to the location around 4 a.m. based on emergency radio communications. A police car was stationed at the location outside Corporal Thompson Park and across from the West Brighton Houses during the Wednesday morning rush hour. No injuries have been reported at this time, according to a spokesman for the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. A police spokesman was unable to confirm whether any ballistic evidence was recovered. More information will be posted when it becomes available. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. More details have surfaced into the fatal stabbing of a Staten Island mother last weekend. What was once a suspected suicide is now being investigated as a homicide with the womans husband viewed as the prime suspect. Heres what the Advance/SILive.com knows about the tragic incident and ongoing investigation. ViCTIM IDENTIFIED, HUSBAND WILL FACE CHARGES Police have identified the victim as 62-year-old Xiao-Qiong Jing. The womans husband, Ming Chen, 71, is facing charges of murder, assault, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon, according to police. The 62-year-old woman suffered a stab wound to her chest, according to the police spokesman. Chen suffered a stab wound to the torso and a 41-year-old man, the womans son, endured a stab wound to the leg. Police initially probed the case as a suicide, but, following an official determination from the medical examiner, changed it to a homicide investigation. Chen is believed to have attempted suicide after stabbing his wife, sources told the Advance/SILive.com. A law enforcement source told the Advance/SILive.com that Chen is still at Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, and has not yet been formally charged. Another source disclosed that the 71-year-old man allegedly made incriminating statements to police following the incident last Sunday. TIMELINE OF TRAGIC EPISODE The tragic episode began at around 10:15 p.m. Sunday with an initial call of an emotionally-disturbed person on Blythe Place near Cotter Avenue, according to police. When officers arrived at the scene, EMS was aiding Jing, who had a stab wound to her chest, according to the police spokesman. Her husband and son also had suffered stab wounds. The initial police response was hampered by a language barrier since the people involved speak Mandarin, a Chinese dialect, according to a source. Following a conversation with the injured son through a translator, police learned that Chen was the alleged aggressor, the New York Post reported. The son also told police he heard his parents arguing in the bedroom and noticed the door had been locked. After breaking into the room, he saw his mother on the floor bleeding, according to the New York Post. He then tried to wrestle the knife away from his father, it has been reported. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A second prison sentence was handed down Tuesday to a Clifton man who was convicted of separate attacks on unsuspecting women in his neighborhood. Linden Beaton, 36, was found guilty earlier this month in state Supreme Court, St. George, of second-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment in connection with a Jan. 5, 2019, incident that left a female victim with broken bones, bleeding on her brain and other injuries. Authorities said Beaton stalked and assaulted 57-year-old Beatrice Kaliku, who was on her way to an all-night prayer meeting near Sobel Court Park in Clifton. On Tuesday, Justice Mario F. Mattei sentenced the defendant to 38 years in prison for his actions. Thats in addition to a 150-year sentence Beaton already was serving. AN ETERNITY IN PRISON In July, a jury convicted Beaton in the Jan. 19, 2019 kidnapping, rape and killing of Johynita Jordan, a 69-year-old grandmother who lived in his neighborhood. Mattei, who also handed down that sentence, said at the time he felt Beaton should spend eternity in prison. Johynita Jordan's daughter, Lisa Sayer, was one of three of her children who delivered victim impact statements last year in state Supreme Court, St. George, at Beaton's sentencing in the murder case. (Steve White for the Staten Island Advance). District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said Tuesday the latest sentencing marks a just end to the incredible work of my dedicated team, led by ADAs Lisa Davis and Victoria Levin, in fully prosecuting this monsters terrible crimes. This outcome is a testament to our promise, alongside the determined men and women of the NYPD and my incredible Victim Advocates Unit, that violent crime on Staten Island will never be tolerated and will be always met with aggressive consequences in the courtroom. At the July 2022 sentencing for the Jordan murder case, defense attorney Sam Roberts argued for the minimum allowable sentence by law, pleading with the judge to rule only on the charges laid out in front of him, despite a roomful of family members emotionally craving retribution. He said that based on the conviction for second-degree murder the jury acquitted his client of first-degree murder it was the courts duty to show a modicum of restraint in the interest of rehabilitation. In this 2022 photo, Justice Mario F. Mattei listens to lawyers' opening arguments at Linden Beaton's trial in state Supreme Court, St. George. (Steve White for the Staten Island Advance) Family of Jordan delivered their own statements to the court, and to the defendant who sat about 20 feet away. We cannot imagine what our mother must have gone through the night she was taken from us, and not being able to help her, or hear her cries and screams, pains us inside, said the victims daughter, Lisa Sayers. We carry around pain we dont know what to do with. I dont even think that I have grieved the death of my mother yet. Said McMahon following Tuesdays sentencing: It is our sincerest hope that the conclusion of this saga leaves Ms. Kaliku, her daughter, and the family of Johnyita Jordan with some semblance of peace as the monster who impacted their lives so terribly was sent to prison for the rest of his days. RELATED COVERAGE: Staten Island courts >> 3 Staten Island brothers charged in separate felonies over 9-month span, court records show >> Bat-wielding road rager on Staten Island takes plea; His alleged assault case in the Bronx is ongoing >> Fatal shooting of dad of reputed Staten Island Gorilla Stone Mafia leader was gang struggle: Sources >> Pete Davidsons alleged stalker deemed unfit for trial >> Already serving 150 years for murder of Staten Island grandma, hes convicted in attack on 2nd woman >> Staten Island woman, 35, indicted on charges in Great Kills crash that killed bicyclist STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. It cant be easy being the son of a drug kingpin. Nonetheless, Eddie Janis Jr. whose father is a former Staten Island-based drug trafficker known as White Boy Eddie will once again do time for his own misdeeds, after pleading guilty to an assault charge stemming from a May 13 incident in his West Brighton community. Pete Davidson is putting the kibosh on Kim Kardashian jokes. The born-and-raised Staten Islander is set to return to Saturday Night Live as host on May 6, but he wont be discussing his famous nine-month relationship with the SKIMS founder, 42, according to multiple media reports. Davidson was on SNL for eight years he joined in 2014 at the ripe age of 20 before tapping out at the end of last season. Kardashian hosted the Oct. 10, 2021, episode; its believed the pairs romance was sparked around that time. The couple broke up in August 2022. Davidson will be a gentleman and will avoid making fun of Kardashian, one source told the New York Post. The source added Davidson will be a good sport when it comes to jokes made about his love life overall but Kardashian is off limits. Davidson was best known on SNL for his Weekend Update appearances alongside fellow Staten Islander Colin Jost, and his reoccurring character, Chad. Davidson will be joined by musical guest Lil Uzi Vert. The timing of Davidsons hosting gig makes sense: The actors new Peacock show, Bupkis, is set to premiere on May 4. The semi-autobiographical show was spotted filming across Staten Island and other parts of New York City in 2022. In October, production took over Marina Cafe in Great Kills, and in November, Davidson and a filming crew were spotted at Laceys Bridge Tavern in Elm Park. RELATIONSHIP AND BREAKUP WITH KIM K. During their time together, Davidson brought Kardashian to Staten Island several times, including to a movie at The Atrium, and dinner at Campania and Angelinas Ristorante. He also added several Kardashian-centric tattoos and even a branding including My girl is a lawyer, KIM and KNSCP, the last of which was thought to be a nod to Kardashian and her four kids, North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm. Throughout the year and up until their eventual split in late August, Davidson was targeted with vitriol spewed by the rapper formerly known as Kanye West Kardashians ex-husband and promptly defended by a slew of celebrities. In a classy move (eye roll), West seemingly celebrated the break up. For a full timeline of Davidson and Kardashians relationship, just click here. Davidson has since been linked with model Emily Ratajkowski and, most recently, actress Chase Sui Wonders. MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Pete Davidsons Los Angeles crash: Criminal charges possible, says report Pete Davidson debuts new Bupkis trailer; one guest star is a real Terrifier Miranda Lambert posts vacation photos from trip with former NYPD husband to Savannah Miranda Lambert fans go wild for former NYPD husbands shirtless workout video SNL mocks NYCs new rat czar by making joke about Staten Island Pete Davidson reduces sale price for Staten Island condo by $200K; see inside Hes very genuine, very humble: Pete Davidson meets Staten Islanders behind box-office smash Terrifier 2 How Terrifier 2, filmed on Staten Island, slashed its way to box-office millions Here are the guest stars set to appear on Pete Davidsons new Peacock show Bupkis Martha Stewart hangs out with cute couple Pete Davidson and Chase Sui Wonders over Easter weekend Pete Davidsons alleged stalker deemed unfit for trial Pete Davidson doesnt believe dating 12 people in 10 years is that crazy in new podcast interview SNL takes hit at Staten Island sewer rescue after Colin Jost gets pranked on April Fools Day Pete Davidsons new Peacock show Bupkis gets premiere date; see first look here Bebe Rexha announces release date for new album; Best Fn Night Of My Life tour set for this summer Firefighter-turned-Impractical Jokers star Brian Quinn continues to honor his roots by helping FDNY charity Impractical Jokers star Brian Quinn talks filming on Staten Island, celebrity guest hes still not over It was great: Staten Islander makes appearance in Trump skit on Saturday Night Live Country star Miranda Lambert to her former NYPD hubby Brendan McLoughlin: Ill be lovin you. Everyday. A 23-year-old Long Island woman was arrested by authorities in her community for driving although she allegedly had a staggering 65 license suspensions, according to NBC4 New York. Janelda Camille of Medford is accused of traveling at approximately 95 mph when police stopped her along Sunrise Highway around 2 a.m. Tuesday to take her into custody, the report says. When cops ran Camilles information, they discovered that she had 65 license suspensions stemming from 12 incidences, according to the outlet. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. As Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day approaches on Thursday, one Staten Islander has fond memories of the day she visited her mom, a registered nurse at Staten Island University Hospital. HERES HER STORY As a third grade student at PS 45 during the early 1990s, Rachel Smith, now a nurse practitioner, has fond memories of the day her mother, registered nurse Linda Sorrentino, brought her to work at Staten Island University Hospital for the then Take Our Daughters to Work Day. The day now known as Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, is celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday in April nationwide. At the time, Sorrentino worked as a nurse in a rehabilitation unit at the hospital. The experience in a healthcare setting especially seeing her mom care for an elderly patient impacted young Rachel to such a degree that she was moved to write a letter about it that was published in the Staten Island Advance. A copy of the article Rachel Sorrentino wrote that was published in the Staten Island Advance during the early 1990's. (Courtesy/Sorrentino family)Staten Island Advance BEDSIDE MANNER My mom works with people who are sick, helps them do things, gives them medicine and does other important things, wrote Rachel. When I grow up I might want to become a nurse. And thats exactly what she did. Rachel became a nurse, then a nurse practitioner and currently serves as the director for the Palliative Care program at Staten Island University Hospital. Rachels brother, Christopher Sorrentino, also a nurse practitioner, would follow in his moms footsteps, becoming a nurse, then nurse practitioner and now the senior director for the Emergency Department at both SIUH in Ocean Breeze and in Princes Bay. Linda Sorrentino recently retired from SIUH after 40 years, although she plans to return to work at the hospital on a per diem basis. And her devotion to patients is clearly evident by the number of patients and families whove approached her when they run into her in the community and sing her praises for the care shes provided throughout the years. Its very touching, said Linda. Thats what I miss, knowing that you did good for someone. Sorrentino, who began her healthcare career as a patient care associate at the hospital before becoming a nurse, modeled patient-centered care for her children as they grew up. My mother always went above and beyond for her patients, said Rachel. I remember when I was young, my mom had one long-term patient who had AIDS and didnt have clothes. I remember my mom bringing in bags of clothes for him from home. COVID-19 PANDEMIC During the COVID-19 pandemic all three family members went through the daily struggles of caring for infected patients together at the hospital. The fact that we were all sharing the same experience helped pull us through it better, said Christopher. It was easier to talk through the emotions and the stress that we were all experiencing. As a bedside nurse in her early-70s, Linda was an inspiration and role model to younger staff, recalled Christopher. She went in there every single day, and never complained, he said in recalling that trying time. A FAMILY VENTURE Sorrentinos dad, Dr. Howard Joos, was director of pediatrics at SIUH from 1979 to 1982. Her oldest daughter, Tracey Sheedy, works as a physician assistant in Connecticut, and Rachels 8-year-old daughter, Riley, is poised to carry on the familys medical lineage having recently expressed an interest in a career in healthcare. Take Our Daughters to Work Day was founded in 1992 by the Ms. Foundation for Women a NYC-based non-profit as a way to empower young girls by exposing them to the careers of their parents and caregivers. In 2003, boys were integrated into the event, with the name changing to Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Climate change will spur cascading risks to children in the coming decades as a warming planet stunts learning, threatens physical health and upends housing security, a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report found. The agencys 108-page peer-reviewed report, Climate Change and Childrens Health and Well-Being in the United States, analyzed a range of futures American children may have to face by the end of the century. It is the latest research to analyze how climate change will fundamentally alter everyday life and create profound, tangible impacts for people under the most severe warming scenarios. Understanding health risks to children is critical for developing effective and equitable strategies that will protect our current and future generations, said EPA Administrator Michael Regan in a release. Todays report will help further efforts being taken by the Biden Administration across the Federal government to address the climate crisis and advance environmental justice. EPA researchers assessed the effect 2 degrees Celsius and 4 degrees Celsius of warming (equivalent to 3.6 and 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit) compared to a baseline period between 1986 and 2005 on five primary factors learning, air quality, pollen, flooding and disease. The futures outlined under those two possibilities are only possible under paths where human greenhouse gas emissions are higher than current goals. Climate models predict those thresholds could be reached by the years 2056 and 2097. Climate change is expected to exacerbate existing inequities in childrens health by widening gaps in institutional, healthcare, historical and social institutions, researchers said. The report is meant to serve as a resource to President Joe Bidens administration to confront environmental justice and climate issues. Children are experiencing the impacts of climate change from negative health outcomes impacting their physical and mental health, said Childrens Environmental Health Network Executive Director Nsedu Obot Witherspoon. Education is slated to be heavily influenced by the planets warming. Temperature increases of 2 degrees and 4 degrees Celsius is associated with, on average, 4% and 7% reduction in academic achievement, respectively, relative to normal annual learning gains. Each group of graduating students, as a result, is expected to lose $6.9 billion in future income at 2 degrees of warming and $13.4 billion at 4 degrees of warming. While installing air conditioning in schools is less costly, the authors wrote, it only partially mitigates warming effects and is less likely to be in schools primarily attended by minority students. Air quality is worsened as temperature increases interacting with noxious compounds that cause lung issues. The report found that new asthma diagnoses associated with ozone and particulate matter are expected to increase by 34,500 under 2 degrees Celsius of warming and 89,600 if 4 degrees of warming is reached, representing rises of 4% and 11%, respectively. Climate change will subsequently cause more school absences and negatively affect outcomes for vulnerable students. Even more serious dangers, including premature deaths, are likely to increase among newborns. Exposures to oak, birch and grass pollen are predicted to trigger nearly 6,000 more asthma-related emergency department in children annually if temperatures tick-up by 2 degrees Celsius and escalate to nearly double that total if warming is doubled to 4 degrees Celsius. Researchers said children in minority groups and those who are uninsured are more likely to experience those issues. Fetuses exposed to wildfires increasingly worsened in severity and length by climate change face significant dangers posed by smoke and dangerous air pollutants, found the report. There is a potential, scientists said, that the country sees a dramatic increase in preterm birth as wildfire activity proliferates. Sea level rise is a growing danger for coastal cities, and both inland and ocean-based flooding is responsible nearly 100 deaths in people 19 and younger between 2017 and 2021 16% of all flood-related drownings. The report found around 185,000 children are estimated to experience complete home loss if no adaptation actions are taken alongside 50 cm (about 19 inches) of global sea level rise. That figure explodes to over 1 million if sea level rise climbs to a catastrophic 100 cm. East Coast states threatened by tick-borne diseases are projected to see an acceleration of new cases in the coming years. EPA researchers found an additional 2,600 cases of Lyme disease are likely annually if temperatures rise globally by 2 degrees Celsius, but that total multiplies nearly ten-fold to 23,400 new yearly cases under 4 degrees of warming. West Nile virus, a persistent problem in New York City, is also likely to undergo changes, magnifying the number of cases with severe outcomes and greater infection numbers. EPAs new report offers a clear, compelling overview of how climate change impacts our childrens health, said Elizabeth Bechard, senior policy analyst for Moms Clean Air Force, a nonprofit. Its findings underscore the necessity of considering childrens well-being in every climate policy and the moral urgency of taking effective action to stop climate pollution on behalf of younger and future generations. The latest research echoes scientific projections that expect climate change to provoke dangers for younger people at risk to extreme weather events, a phenomenon analyzed by the Advance/SILive.com in a six-part series, Staten Island 2100. United Nations experts said people younger than 10 years old in the year 2020 are projected to see a nearly fourfold increase in extreme events under 1.5C of global warming, and a fivefold increase under 3C warming. The new report is painful to read, but necessary, said Bechard. It offers an important roadmap for policymakers, parents, teachers, health care providers, and childcare workers by highlighting both the challenges we face and potential solutions. For all who care about childrens well-being, EPAs new report is a call to action a call we must answer for our childrens sake. Nathaniel Harvey died in South Woods prison, maintaining his innocence for the 1985 rape and murder of a young widow. A former death row inmate before New Jersey abolished the death penalty, he fought his conviction all the way to the state Supreme Court. But three years after his death in prison at age 70, New Jersey authorities announced Wednesday theyve connected Harvey to a strikingly similar crime: the sexual assault and killing of 19-year-old Donna Macho, of East Windsor, who went missing in 1984. The development may bring to a close nearly 40 years of frustration and speculation for Machos family and law enforcement, who puzzled over the case for decades after the young woman disappeared. Donna Macho, 19, of East Windsor in an undated file photo. She disappeared in 1984 and her body was found more than a decade later. All of the evidence that was viable to be tested has been tested and all leads have been exhausted, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri said Wednesday. After a comprehensive, cooperative investigation, cold case detectives were able to eliminate other potential suspects and are confident that Nathaniel Harvey is the perpetrator in the sexual assault and murder of Ms. Macho and the case is now closed. Harvey was linked to Machos death through DNA testing techniques not available in the 1980s and 90s, according to the New Jersey Attorney Generals Cold Case Network. Macho vanished Feb. 26, 1984, when her family reported the young East Windsor woman missing. Investigators turned up signs of struggle in her basement bedroom and a pool of blood on the floor. They soon found her car parked a mile from home. As the trail began to go cold, police brought in an expert footprint tracker and even a psychic medium in efforts to find her and pin down a suspect, according to accounts in The Star-Ledger at the time. Macho remained missing for 11 years until her skeletal remains were discovered wrapped in a carpet in a wooded area near a Cranbury farm in April 1995. That development recharged the effort to solve the case, but a second series of cold case investigations came up short. There were suspects, but nothing conclusive. Court records show a man who dated Macho was investigated but never charged. Harvey had briefly worked at a farm near where Machos body was found, authorities said. Machos car was found abandoned at a sewer plant within walking distance of where Harvey lived, authorities said. For most of the time authorities were looking for Machos killer, Nathaniel Harvey sat behind bars. He was convicted of raping and murdering another woman, 37-year-old Irene Schnaps, in her Plainsboro home during a burglary in 1985, a year after Machos killing. But Harvey who had admitted to robberies and burglaries that, alone, would have sent him to prison for decades insisted he was innocent of killing Schnaps. The case again made headlines when Harvey became the first death row inmate in New Jersey to turn to DNA testing to prove his innocence. Defendants seeking a new trial face a high legal bar, and Harveys challenges wended up and down through New Jerseys court system for decades, revealing flaws in how the case was handled, his former attorney said. There was no evidence to connect Harvey (to Schnaps murder) other than Harvey did a lot of bad things, said Eric Kleiner, an attorney specializing in DNA cases who worked to prove his innocence in the Schnaps case for decades. He was slated for a new trial when, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 70-year-old inmate died in November 2020. Kleiner said he was glad investigators had taken renewed interest in Machos killing, but cautioned the evidence should be carefully scrutinized given the troubled history of his conviction. Theres a lot of problems with everything having to do with Harvey, he said. State authorities say they are confident justice has been served, even if many of the major players in the tragedy are long dead. Time does not erase the quest for justice, and although this murderer was imprisoned for another killing and died in custody in 2020, it does not make this conclusion any less meaningful, said State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan in a statement. State investigators say they reopened the case in February 2022 at the request of the Mercer County prosecutor. A State Police lab reviewed fingerprints and DNA evidence, including semen taken from the scene of Machos bedroom. That reexamination matched it to Mr. Harvey, and determined that his DNA was the only DNA evidence in the room that should not have been present, authorities said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @spsullivan. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York City commuters will soon be able to purchase an OMNY card anywhere within the citys subway systems. During a Monday MTA Board committee meeting, officials announced that the agency will start installing OMNY card vending machines throughout the citys 472 subway stations in September. OMNY, the MTAs new contactless fare payment, has been rolled out in phases over the past several years and is now available systemwide on all buses and at all subway and Staten Island Railway stations. The system allows riders to use contactless cards, smartphones or other smart devices to simply tap to pay their fare, as opposed to dipping or swiping a MetroCard. Currently, OMNY cards are only available for purchase at select retail locations across the city, like chain drug stores, check-cashing sites and local delis. The vast majority of commuters will never need to purchase an OMNY card if they dont want one; they can continue paying their fare with their smart device or their own contactless card, as millions have done since the new system was rolled out. The only people who will need an OMNY card are those without a bank account who have no other means of contactless payment and exclusively use cash to fund their transit trips. Purchasing an OMNY card will cost commuters $5, plus whatever monetary value they elect to load onto the card. While the $5 surcharge for an OMNY card represents a stark increase from the $1 charge associated with purchasing a new MetroCard, commuters can use their OMNY card for nearly five times as long. OMNY cards do not expire until seven years after their purchase date, as opposed to MetroCards, which expire in 18 months. The MTA had planned to completely phase out the MetroCard by the end of 2023, but has since changed course. Were not setting a drop-dead date for pulling back on MetroCard, said MTA Chair Janno Lieber. Were not gonna pull the plug on MetroCard at any date that weve set at this time. OMNY FARE-CAPPING PROGRAM In February 2022, the MTA launched its OMNY fare-capping pilot program, which grants bus and subway riders free rides once theyve paid for 12 trips within a given week, ensuring that riders will pay no more than $33 per week to use the citys transit system. Under the program, OMNY users are charged $2.75 per ride for their first 12 trips of the week, starting every Monday. Once the rider has paid for 12 trips throughout the week, all subsequent trips are free through the following Sunday. The MTA has retained its current free transfer policy, but all two-part trips linked by a free transfer will only count as one trip toward the 12 needed to reach the free-ride requirement. The fare-capping pilot program only applies to trips on the citys local buses and subway lines, as well as the Staten Island Railway, leaving some to wonder why express bus riders, who pay a much higher fare of $6.75, have not been included. OMNY REDUCED FARE In October 2022, the MTA announced that Reduced Fare customers can now link their benefits to any mobile phone or contactless credit/debit card, making it the first major transit system to offer reduced fares on personal payment devices. The agencys Reduced Fare program offers half-priced trips ($1.35, as opposed to $2.75) to riders who are 65 or older or riders who have qualifying disabilities. The MTA has released an instructional video outlining the process for eligible riders to transition from Reduced Fare MetroCards to the new OMNY payment method. First, eligible riders must visit omny.info and create a free OMNY account. From the homepage, they navigate to the Digital Assistant and input their Reduced Fare MetroCard information. After the Reduced Fare information has been provided, users will be prompted to select the contactless credit/debit card or smart device they would like to use as their OMNY payment method and put in the associated card number. ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION NEWS Shocking video shows teens climb to top of Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge MTA nabs toll evaders with fines exceeding $1.5M in enforcement blitz at 2 NYC bridges NYC parking meters: How much does it cost to park across the city? What is a Space Act agreement, and why is the Port Authority partnering with NASA? Tickets for cell phone use while driving down nearly 90% on Staten Island in past decade, data shows NYC comptroller sets higher wages for Staten Island Ferry engineers NYC congestion pricing: Bipartisan congressional caucus formed to combat controversial program Cell phone use, speeding and more: A breakdown of Staten Islands moving violations in 2022 NYC congestion pricing pushed back to 2024, costing $250M in revenue, MTA says Speed cameras on Verrazzano? Staten Island lawmakers unanimously oppose state proposal Saudi-based Diriyah Company (formerly Diriyah Gate Development Authority) has teamed up with pioneering luxury lifestyle brand Aman Group for the development of two premier tourism destinations in the kingdom. Located in the exotic desert landscape near the city of Riyadh, Aman Wadi Safar will feature 78 hotel rooms as well as a collection of up to 34 fully-serviced Aman branded residences and expansive amenities including a vast Aman Spa and an array of dining experiences, while Janu Diriyah property being developed by Amans sister-brand Janu, will boast 120 rooms and a wellness centre. On the Aman Wadi Safar property, Diriyah said it draws inspiration from the ancient city's historic and rich cultural heritage, traditional Najdi architecture and uniquely beautiful natural environment. With a resort setting weaving through the wadis and plateaus of Wadi Safar, the connection between the property and Saudis iconic landscape will be constantly reinforced, it stated. Following the successful opening of Aman New York, Denniston Architects has been appointed to bring Jean-Michel Gathys extensive experience combining Amans renowned design language with the local culture, heritage, and landscape of a destination to the project. Janu (meaning soul in the ancient Indian language Sanskrit), has been created and designed in the spirit of Diriyah, to encourage connectedness, conviviality and shared experiences to rekindle the soul. Janu Diriyah will be located within close proximity to the Unesco heritage site of At Turaif, it stated. On the new projects, Aman Group Chairman and CEO Vlad Doronin said: "This announcement marks a continuation of its commitment to KSA. When I first visited the country, it made an immediate and lasting impression upon me owing to its rich heritage and culture, as well as exceptional landscapes." "Aman Wadi Safar and Janu Diriyah will build upon Aman Groups existing pipeline of properties in Saudi Arabia and reinforce our strategic vision to offer our clients the opportunity to experience the breadth of this fascinating, previously undiscovered country with journeys that encompass city experiences, remote desert landscapes and Unesco World Heritage Sites." he added. Diriyah Company Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo expressed delight at its partnership with Aman to deliver two outstanding projects in Wadi Safar and Diriyah. "Diriyah, the City of Earth, will be the worlds largest cultural and heritage destination and these projects will enhance our luxury offerings to guests who come to explore our identity. Aman Group have developed these projects by harnessing our unique setting at the heart of 300 years of Saudi history, while embracing our shared future as a city and a community. We are delighted to celebrate the beginning of our journey together," he added.-TradeArabia News Service The crisis in Sudan increases the urgency of holding the national dialogue in Egypt, especially with the rise of concern among Egyptians over the impact of the crisis on their country, said the dialogue's general coordinator Diaa Rashwan. "Therefore, we should all prepare the ground for this dialogue to kick off on 3 May as planned, and we should ensure it succeeds and fulfils the aspirations of the Egyptian people," added Rashwan. Rashwan also noted that the Egyptian state is expending considerable effort to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Sudan and that it spares no effort in evacuating Egyptians and receiving other nationals fleeing from the conflict in Sudan. He added that the dialogue will put all issues of major concern to the Egyptian people on the table and also set the country's national priorities in the coming stage. Rashwan's remarks came as the National Dialogue's 19-member Board of Trustees prepares to hold a meeting on Wednesday afternoon to add the final touches to the dialogue's sessions. "Today's meeting will look into the dialogue's final preparations and arrangements and review the names of figures who will attend the sessions," Rashwan told Extra News TV channel on Tuesday night. He also indicated that the national dialogue will have 19 affiliated committees that will discuss as many as 113 political, economic and social topics. "We will make sure that only those who can contribute to the debates and serve the dialogue participate in the sessions," said Rashwan, highlighting that the participants should come to the dialogue with meaningful legislative and executive proposals to be presented as final recommendations to President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. The opening of Egypt's national dialogue on 3 May comes after more than one year of preparations and arrangements by its 19-member Board of Trustees. Rashwan is expected to hold a press conference ahead of 3 May to announce the details of the dialogue sessions and to answer questions. The vast majority of political parties welcomed the opening date of the dialogue, according to the dialogue's Secretary-General Mahmoud Fawzi Liberal and leftist political parties said they want the outcomes of the dialogue to include a package of political reforms of laws regulating the exercise of political rights, political parties, elections and pre-trial detention. During a Ramadan Iftar banquet in April 2022, President El-Sisi invited almost all political parties and factions, as well as intellectuals and experts, to hold a National Dialogue to draw up a roadmap determining the country's political and economic priorities until the year 2030. Search Keywords: Short link: A school bus driver in Western New York has been fired after threatening to shoot students on the bus Thursday. WGRZ reports a cell phone video captured by a Buffalo Public Schools student on the bus shows the driver, who has not been identified, telling another student that he has a badge and a gun. Its unclear what occurred before the recording began, but the driver had a student move to the front of the bus and said he dared someone to shoot him. Theyre going to jump on me. I will shoot you. I will shoot them, the driver says in the video, which was originally shared on Facebook by a concerned parent. WIVB reports Buffalo Public Schools confirmed that the driver was fired, citing a zero tolerance for gun-related violence. The school district said it contacted First Student, which employed the driver, to immediately terminate his employment. At First Student, we take our responsibility to provide a safe environment for students on our school buses very seriously. Certainly, we understand the concern this incident has caused. We, too, are extremely disturbed by what we saw in the video. This sort of behavior will not be tolerated. The driver is no longer employed by First Student, the bus transportation company said. The district said it also contacted the Buffalo Police Department and could not comment further, citing an ongoing police investigation. The original video appears to have been removed from Facebook, but a clip can be seen at wgrz.com. CITY HALL Mayor Eric Adams unveiled his executive budget Wednesday with feared cuts to city libraries seemingly off the table, but his counterparts in the City Council see a long road ahead. Mayor Adams $106.7 billion executive budget for the upcoming fiscal year represents a $4 billion increase from the preliminary budget he announced in January, but Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Queens) and Councilman Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn), who heads the Councils Finance Committee, issued a statement saying more work was left to be done. Mayor Adams linked the budget increase to higher than-expected revenues, but said ongoing issues, particularly the migrant crisis, make for an unsure fiscal future in the five boroughs. Our fiscal year 2024 executive budget prioritizes our working peoples agenda and keeps our city working for the benefit of all New Yorkers, he said. The challenges we face are real and our continued progress is threatened by something beyond our control. The city expects a continued influx of migrants from the southern border, particularly as certain federal policies limiting entrants expire. Mayor Adams said his administration expects 70,000 migrants in the citys shelter system by July of next year costing a whopping $4.3 billion. Despite the rising costs, Mayor Adams shared some cause for optimism pointing out that employment is nearly back to levels seen before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and that tourism has also shown signs of a similar rebound. The local economy is strong overall, Mayor Adams said during his presentation of the budget at City Hall. While Mayor Adams vision for this years budget has gone up in value, a host of city agencies still needed to come up with lower estimated costs, part of an initiative that the Adams administration calls the Program to Eliminate the Gap, or PEG for short. PEGs are part of city agencies efforts to find efficiencies, make re-estimates around their expenses and revenues, and lower costs of debt service expenditures. In their joint statement, Speaker Adams and Brannan pointed out that despite the mayors budget increase, the executive budget still maintains $1.6 billion worth of PEGs and maintains the $4 billion in PEGs from last year. Our citys future and continued economic recovery hinges on how we invest in New Yorkers and the essential services they rely on to succeed, the Council members said. It is an undeniable reality that our city agencies responsible for delivering services to New Yorkers are struggling to fulfill their obligation s due to chronic understaffing and inadequate support. This only undermines our recovery and the stability of our neighborhoods as New Yorkers struggle to remain in an increasingly unaffordable city. For months, critics have harangued Adams about lower budgets for city libraries that could have led to cuts in services and even weekend closures at branches of the citys three public library systems. The city exempted libraries from their PEG requirements this year, according to the mayor, but as the Council members pointed out, lower budgets from last year remain in place impacting libraries. Comptroller Brad Lander pointed out that it will be hard to have a concrete vision of the city budget until the state releases its budget, which is almost a month late. We do need to address significant out-year budget gaps, but we dont need to close our public libraries on the weekends, as the Mayor acknowledged today, Lander said. Unfortunately, without an adopted State budget from Albany, the City is operating in the dark when it comes to the impacts of proposed assistance and potential cost shifts, and todays Executive Budget reflects that uncertainty. In the coming months, the mayors administration and the City Council will need to hash out their disagreements to reach the budget deadline in June. MORE NYC NEWS NYC minimum wage could see a bump in state budget deal NYC lifeguards to get higher pay, and eligibility for $1,000 bonus NYC Mayor Adams slams Pres. Biden, VP Harris over border crisis Staten Islands first gigabit center will be a new tech hub for immigrants NYC can offer veterans a property tax break, but City Council has yet to opt in STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. In remembrance of those who have died, here is a collection of obituaries posted on SILive.com. Viewing times and guestbooks can be found here. Patricia Maria Doherty passed peacefully on April 24, 2023. A native of Madrid Spain, Maria is one of eight children survived by her youngest sister, Pillar, in Madrid. Maria is only family member who came to America. Maria lived through the reign of Franco and was the youngest member of the Fuero de Espanoles. Her courage, strength and tenacity landed her on beaches in New Dorp, where she married James Doherty and began to build her life on Staten Island. Maria was a Spanish English interpreter for many local priests to reach out to Spanish Camp residents and share word of God. She spoke Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French, English and some Tagalog. She fed and cared for the aged Freeman who took root in Sandy Grounds on Staten Island. Read the full obit on SILive. Maureen Michelle Miller (OBrien) passed away peacefully on Friday, April 14, 2023, after a valiant battle with cancer surrounded by friends and family. Our mother never met a stranger and raised her kids and grandchildren to be as kind and generous as she was. Her love of helping others and being part of community had an impact on many people. Her memory will always be in our hearts and her legacy lives on in the lessons she taught us and the wisdom she imparted. Read the full obit on SILive. Roger W. Philippin Jr., 75, of Staten Island passed away on April 9, 2023 following a brief illness. Born on October 17, 1947, on Long Island, Roger was the fourth of nine children (and first boy) of Roger (Sr.) and Cecilia May Philippin. Drafted by the US Army at the age of 18, Roger was sent to Germany, where he was stationed for two years. Roger was also an officer with the NYPD for over 18 years, working first in Harlem at the 32nd precinct, and then at the 68th precinct in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, where he shifted into forensics work. He was named New York Citys Cop of the Year in 1982 in acknowledgement of the volume of successfully traceable fingerprints he was able to obtain. In addition to his investigative work, Roger was also well-known during his time at the NYPD for the meals he often prepared in the stations kitchen for his fellow officers. Read the full obit on SILive. YESTERDAYS OBITUARIES Lucien Lou DiForte passed peacefully surrounded by his family on April 24, 2023. Raised in South Beach, Lucien settled in Stapleton with his wife. There they spent 40 years before moving to Waretown, N.J., and later, Saylorsburg, P.A. He pridefully served the City of New York as a Fireman for 30 years, finishing his career in Engine 155. Additionally, he was a veteran of the Army National Guard. When the city faced the tragic events of 9/11, he did not hesitate to assist. He was an excellent chef and an avid runner. However, the greatest joy in his life was his family. He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, his three children, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. For the full obituary, click here. Lisa Iadarola was born on February 14, 1978 and was called home on April 23, 2023. A native Staten Islander, she attended St. Ritas and Wagner High School. She went on to nursing school, obtaining her LPN and qualifying to become an EMT. She used those skills to become a recreational therapist at Clove Lakes Nursing Home. For the full obituary, click here. San Mateo, CA (94402) Today Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 58F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Thunder possible. Low 51F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. A newly discovered marble statue of the Buddha at a temple in Berenike on the red sea shows a connection between Egypt and India during the Roman Empire. The American-Polish archaeological mission excavating the main early Roman period temple (dedicated to the Goddess Isis) in Berenike uncovered in the forecourt of the temple a marble statue of the Buddha. Mostafa Waziry, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, asserted that the newly discovered statue is striking evidence of trade between Egypt and India during the Roman Empire. He added that Egypt was at the centre of a trade route that connected the Roman Empire with many areas of the ancient world, including India. Waziri added that several Roman-era harbours on Egypt's Red Sea coast engaged in commerce, the most important being Berenike. Ships from India arrived with products such as pepper, semi-precious stones, textiles and ivory and offloaded them at Berenike, he stated. The cargo was then carried on camels that conveyed the goods across the desert to the Nile, according to Waziri. Other ships then transported the merchandise to Alexandria and from there to the rest of the Roman Empire, he said. Mariusz Gwiazda, director of the Polish side of the mission, pointed out that the 71-centimetre-high statue depicts the Buddha standing and holding part of his clothing in his left hand. He added that a halo with sunrays surrounds the Buddha's head, indicating his radiant mind, in addition to a lotus flower standing beside him. Gwiazda also described the workmanship of the statue as exquisite, adding that it is considered to be the best evidence of Buddhism thus far excavated in Egypt. The Buddha statue was made from stone probably quarried from the region just south of modern Istanbul (Turkey) and it must have been sculpted locally at Berenike and dedicated to the temple by one or more rich merchants from India, he said. Steven Sidebotham, director of the American side of the mission, said that apart from this statue, archaeologists also found an inscription in Sanskrit dating to the Roman emperor Philip the Arab (244 - 249 CE). He added that this inscription seems to belong to a different era from that of the statue of the Buddha (which dates back to a much earlier era). Furthermore, the archaeologists also found other inscriptions in the same temple, according to Sidebotham. These inscriptions, which are in Greek, date from the early first century CE to 305 CE, he stated. They also found two second-century CE coins from the central Indian Kingdom of the Satavahanas inside the temple, according to Sidebotham. Search Keywords: Short link: Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal. Please purchase an Enhanced Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! In a statement, an Adani Group representative said Vinod, aside from being a shareholder of certain entities, had no management role in the development of the Carmichael mine or its related infrastructure. Vinod didnt respond to emailed questions. Loading Costly project Years ago, in Queenslands Galilee Basin, Adani Group began its push for Australian coal. Buried in the soil are vast deposits that could power a rising India, even as the Earth overheats. The Carmichael project is one of the groups biggest undertakings. Bloomberg News reviewed hundreds of pages of filings covering different pieces of the project. Time and again, the paper trail leads back to Vinod Adani. Using a maze of entities under his purview in at least four jurisdictions, Adani Group offloaded debt and received more than $US1 billion of his money to help fund the project, the filings indicate. The depth of his involvement showcases a key point of contention between Adani Group and its critics, including Hindenburg. The short sellers January 24 report said dozens of shell companies controlled by Vinod had moved billions of dollars in and out of Adani Group companies, seemingly to embellish share prices and financial results. Piecemeal regulatory filings gave a glimpse into how the money flowed, but disclosure was scant and seemed to flout legal requirements for related-party transactions, Hindenburg said. Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge, centre, with other opposition lawmakers demanding an investigation into alleged accounting fraud and stock manipulation by the Adani Group. Credit: AP In response, Adani Group acknowledged that Vinod was part of the family shareholder group promoter group, in Indian parlance and said it made all required disclosures. It largely rejected questions about the brothers business affairs, saying theyre irrelevant given hes not a manager at the groups public companies or their closely held subsidiaries. Bloomberg News later reported he has a cabin in the Dubai office of Adani Global FZE a commodity distributor owned by one of the familys publicly traded firms and spends two or three hours daily there. When asked about this, an Adani Group representative repeated that such queries were of no relevance. To Hindenburg, Adani Groups response to questions about Vinod was a tacit admission it, at best, selectively follows disclosure laws for related-party dealings, and obfuscates the true breadth of his involvement. In a March 21 report entitled Adani Group: The Known Unknowns, S&P Global Ratings analysts said any transactions with the brother and entities where he is a beneficiary should be disclosed as related-party transactions. It added that Adani Groups ratings could be cut if investigations uncovered serious wrongdoing like previously undisclosed related-party loans or misreporting. Adani Group said it strongly rejects suggestions that the conglomerate hasnt followed regulations and accounting standards. The Carmichael project is one of Adani groups biggest undertakings. Credit: Cameron Laird We are confident that all our business dealings are fully compliant, properly disclosed, and conducted in the best interests of the shareholders of listed Adani companies, a representative said. Four legal experts who spoke to Bloomberg News say siblings such as Gautam and Vinod by definition are related parties, which warrants disclosure of all business deals. But theres room for ambiguity: several different laws govern this topic in India, and concepts such as influence and relationships are legally elastic. Layers of subsidiaries run by others may help put enough distance between close family members to sidestep the technical definition of a related party transaction, said Vikramaditya Khanna, a law professor at the University of Michigan. The law will often want some proof that the person was influential, he said. But proving influential is tricky. Big endeavour Until recently, few outside Indias elite had heard of Gautams 74-year-old brother. Hes believed to have made a fortune trading commodities and is worth at least $US1.2 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He runs a family investment office in Dubai and is said to be close with his younger brother. Over the years, hes been involved in some of Adani Groups largest undertakings, from acquisitions of cement companies to green energy. Carmichael is one of the longest-running examples. Loading It started with a couple of big deals. By 2011, Adani Enterprises, the familys flagship publicly traded company, had agreed to pay at least $US2.4 billion for mining rights in the Galilee Basin and a lease on a port in northeast Australia, on the stretch of coastline thats home to the Great Barrier Reef. Adani Group said the coal was needed to provide power to millions in India. Environmentalists said the fuel, if tapped, would endanger global climate targets. In early 2013, a key link in the Carmichael chain was established: a Singapore-registered company called Abbot Point Port Holdings. Vinod was for years its sole director and still serves on the board, filings show. SB Adani Family Trust, the entity the clan uses to control its many businesses, is Abbot Points ultimate owner. Between Abbot Point and the trust are a series of entities in the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands. Some filings describe Vinod as the beneficial owner of those. Under pressure Around that time, the Adani empire was under pressure. Carmichael was just one of many costly expansions. And at least one major international bank, Credit Suisse Group AG, had recently raised questions about high debt levels at Indian conglomerates, including Adani Group. That year, Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone, the familys publicly traded port operator that had taken control of the Australian port assets, sold them to Abbot Point. In one stroke, Adani Ports reduced its debt by $1.8 billion, documents show. The family effectively moved a large chunk of debt from a listed company into the private orbit under Vinods purview, and bolstered Adani Ports credit rating in the process, said Tim Buckley, director of Sydney-based think tank Climate Energy Finance, which analyses financial issues related to the transition from fossil fuels. An Adani Group representative said the deal was done at fair market value and appropriately disclosed. The Adani Group reassured investors after the US short-seller Hindenburg Research report in January. Credit: Bloomberg A similar manoeuvre soon followed. Another Singapore company under Vinods oversight, Carmichael Rail and Port Singapore Holdings, acquired $US116 million of Carmichael mining assets from Adani Mining, an entity owned by Adani Enterprises, filings show. After the transaction, which occurred in the fiscal year ended March 2015, Carmichael Rail and Port Singapore wrote down their value by 20 per cent. Hindenburg said it was an overt attempt to shield Adanis flagship firm from the loss. Adani said it was a usual and legitimate transaction. Financing flow The Carmichael project again turned to Vinod in 2018, this time for financing. The environmental uproar and uncertainty about the mines viability had made many lenders reluctant to directly fund it. That year, hundreds of millions of dollars started to flow from two investment companies: Kommerce Trade & Service DMCC and Adani Global Investment DMCC. Both are based in the United Arab Emirates, and both are controlled by Vinod, according to their websites. Loading The money passed through Abbot Point in Singapore and then into various parts of the Carmichael project. The loans grew to $US1.2 billion by March 2022, documents show. Adani Group said the transactions were all at arms length and appropriately disclosed. Even with voluminous records, the money is hard to track. Most has flowed into trusts, which dont report financial results, making it impossible to tell where it ended up. In other instances, recipients simply report in filings the funds came from a related party, offering no other details. And public disclosure in Mauritius, the Cayman Islands and UAE is scant. The circuitous flow also makes it difficult to determine precisely how much the Adani Group has spent on the project. Buckley pegs the total at more than $5 billion, meaning the money from Vinods companies has likely covered a significant share. Vinod stepped down as director of Carmichael Rail and Port Singapore, the company that acquired assets from the Adani Enterprises unit, on February 27. He also resigned as director of two subsidiaries, Carmichael Rail Singapore Pte. and Abbot Point Terminal Expansion Pte., filings show. He remains on the board of Abbot Point, where filings show he was paid more than $1 million of salary and benefits over a period of at least five years. The National Gallery of Australia has announced an independent review of the provenance of 28 Indigenous artworks due to be hung next month for a major exhibition of artists from the remote Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands (APY Lands). While the review is underway, the Canberra-based institution has halted all promotion of the upcoming exhibition, Ngura Pulka - Epic Country, which opens in less than six weeks. The National Gallery of Australia is investigating the authorship of work in its upcoming Ngura Pulka Epic Country exhibition. Credit: James Brickwood Leading Melbourne barrister Colin Golvan and Sydney lawyer, Shane Simpson, both experts in copyright law, will determine whether the exhibition paintings can properly be described as having been made under the creative control of the persons named as the artists. Under its terms of reference, the inquiry will consider the scope and extent of any third-party contributions and, in particular, the involvement of studio assistants and managers at the APY Art Centre Collective to create the 28 paintings in the Ngura Pulka exhibition. New York: Musician Ed Sheeran has appeared in a New York court accused of plagiarising a Marvin Gaye song, with lawyers claiming they had smoking gun proof the British pop star was aware of the similarities. At issue in the case are alleged striking similarities and overt common elements between Gayes 1973 soul classic Lets Get it On and Sheerans song Thinking Out Loud. The plaintiffs are the heirs of Ed Townsend, a musician and producer who co-wrote Gayes hit. Ed Sheeran walks into Manhattan federal court on Tuesday in New York. Credit: AP Ben Crump, a prominent civil rights lawyer representing Townsend, directed the jury in his opening statement to the video of a 2014 live gig in Zurich, in which Sheeran merges the two songs, alleging it was tantamount to a confession. When you have a confession in hand, generally one does not need to look elsewhere for the culprit, Crump says of the video of Sheeran performing. The evidence in this case is going to show that Sheeran recognised the magic of Lets Get It On and decided to capture a bit of that magic. A man accused of violent and sexual attacks on two women in Goulburn allegedly stole their clothes and phones in the late-night assaults. Police are calling for others to come forward if they believe they, too, were allegedly attacked by the man. Nathan Raymond Caldow, 41, was taken to Mascot police station and charged with eight offences. Credit: NSW Police Nathan Raymond Caldow, 41, was arrested in a hotel in Fremantle, Western Australia, after a nationwide manhunt. NSW Police had asked the community to come forward with information after two women reported they had been attacked in Goulburn. The Notorious Crime Family (aka NCF) was modelled on the strict code of a mafia family or a bikie club, but practised by a membership addicted to notoriety and led by a domineering figure who insisted on exerting uncompromising control from inside his prison cell. The NCFs business was drug trafficking, fraud and extortion and Marrogi was determined it would be run like a business. An executive commission was created to plan crimes, run operations, enforce discipline and mete out punishments to wayward members and enemies. Commission will be set up that has the final say on all matters. Non-Negotiable, Rule 4 said. Commission meets every month to discuss everything membership related and in what direction the membership is headed, after meetings all members will be updated. Members were ordered to send a percentage of their illicit profits to a secure offshore account to pay for lawyers and support the families of members in trouble with the law, according to Rule 9. Even legitimate business activities were tightly regulated. Members looking to buy a car or a house, get financing or find a builder were ordered to go to other members first. Above all this was the promise of unconditional solidarity and safety. Membership guarantees [sic] protection and full support of every member, no-matter what right or wrong, said Rule 10. The imported drugs seized by police. Marrogi went so far as to select a motto for the gang based on the Old Testament Bible passage Jeremiah 11:11 I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them. The passage became widely known in 2019 after it was referenced several times in the American horror blockbuster, Us, spurring a flurry of online articles aiming to explain its prophetic meaning. Other gang accoutrements included a custom-designed NCF logo that was tattooed on members and used to create a line of branded clothing. How many of these rules dreamt up inside a prison cell were actually implemented on the streets is impossible to tell. A former associate, who does not want to be identified for safety reasons, said the rigid and detailed constitution was born partly as a result of Marrogis boredom after spending years on 23-hour-a-day lockdown. Marrogi was no stranger to the mind-numbing effect that comes with serving huge stretches of solitary time. During a previous nine-year sentence for manslaughter, Marrogi had secretly and meticulously assembled a home-made crossbow just to keep busy. Loading Those who know Marrogi have painted a picture of an often erratic and domineering man who had a fascination with control and notoriety. NCF was Georges cell dream, and it really remains Georges cell dream, said a former friend turned enemy, speaking on the condition of anonymity. And while bikie clubs have been around for decades and the Italian mafia for more than a century, the Notorious Crime Family lasted barely three years before police dismantled it. This was not a secretive crime organisation. Gang members brazenly showboated their affiliation and wealth on social media. A brawl in a nightclub escalated into a drive-by shooting and exchange of gunfire at the home of one of the gangs top members, Jimmey Barkho. As both a cover story (and an inside joke), outsiders were told NCF actually stood for Nurturing Christian Families. It was even registered as a business name. Antonietta Mannella (left) and George Marrogis late sister, Meshilin Marrogi. Credit: Instagram It was claimed that NCF was established in honour of Marrogis deceased sister Meshilin to support Middle Eastern Christian refugees and immigrants settling in Australia through the sale of branded hoodies. The initials, NCF, were also used in the name of a logistics company allegedly used as a front business for the gangs illegal activities. Victoria Polices Echo taskforce began an active investigation of their activities within a year and the Australian Federal Police followed soon after. But the NCFs downfall actually began because Marrogi himself repeatedly broke Rule 11, albeit in a very inventive but not quite foolproof way. All communication between members, whether personal or not but especially membership related must be made through commission approved devices. E.g. Ghost phone, the directive said. Encryption devices were not an option inside prison, so Marrogi found a way to manipulate the prison phone system that allowed him to make up 20 calls a day under the noses of corrections authorities. Loading A telephone line was set up that purportedly connected to a legal firm but actually diverted to a mobile phone held by his girlfriend and partner-in-crime, Antonietta Mannella. Under prison rules, calls to lawyers cannot be intercepted or recorded. They spoke business using codes, nicknames, and Assyrian words: Shula meant drug-related work; Zuze meant cash; and kittens were active drug imports. Marrogi is also suspected of attempting to organise two murders. But the charade couldnt last once authorities realised the phone hook-ups were a deception. Beginning in 2021, Victoria Police and the AFP began dismantling the Notorious Crime Family in a series of operations that seized $55 million worth of methamphetamine and heroin and froze tens of millions of dollars worth of property, cash, cars and a yacht alleged to be the proceeds of drug crime and money-laundering. Marrogi received a 32-year sentence in 2022 for the murder of Kadir Ors and another 16 years were added after pleading guilty to drug trafficking in 2023. Its unclear how many members were in NCF at the height of its power, but nearly all known members are now in jail or facing major charges. Theyre finished, a police source said. The plant which will employ about 200 people will also produce the diesel emissions reduction additive AdBlue that was in short supply in Australia in late 2021. Perdaman said construction by a joint venture of Italian firms Saipem and Webuild that took over from the liquidated Australian firm Clough would generate an average of 2000 jobs over four years. A similar number of workers will be engaged in expanding Woodsides nearby Pluto gas export plant in a labour market already experiencing significant skill shortages. New industry clashes with ancient art The Perdaman urea plant will share the Burrup Peninsula Woodsides North West Shelf and Pluto liquefied natural gas plants, gas-fed ammonia and explosives plants owned by Norways Yara, Rio Tintos iron ore export port and more than one million ancient rock engravings dating back more than 40,000 years. The area, known as Murujuga by traditional custodians, was nominated for World Heritage listing by the federal government in February. Loading There are concerns that industrial pollution from the plant could accelerate the weathering of the thin coloured patina that covers the areas rocks and makes the art visible. The WA Environmental Protection Authority concluded there may be a threat of serious or irreversible damage to the rock art from the plants emissions such as nitrous oxides. The WA government gave environmental approval to the plant on the condition that in the future it could be ordered to cut any damaging emissions to protect the art. The project has the support of the elected Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation but is opposed by a group of traditional custodians called Save our Songlines. In August 2022, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek rejected a request to use section 9 of federal Aboriginal heritage laws to halt work on the project that will involve the relocation of some sacred artefacts. Rambal said the artefacts would be moved in the next few days Traditional Owners signed off how they want to do it: culturally safe, he said. In September Plibersek used section 10 of the laws to initiate an independent review to determine if the ancient art is threatened by industry. Save our Songlines spokeswoman Josie Alec said she was angry and hurt by the project going ahead. Loading We still have an outstanding cultural heritage assessment of industry damage to Murujuga under Section 10. How can they go and remove rocks straight away when they are supposed to be consulting with us? Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation has been contacted for comment. WA Premier Mark McGowan said he thought his government had got the balance right between heritage development and industrial development. He said the urea plant would be the last greenfield development on the Peninsula and other sites that had been earmarked for industry would be incorporated into a planned Murujuga National Park. This is a very small footprint within the totality of the Burrup, he said of the Perdaman site. Backing from government and infrastructure investors US-based Global Infrastructure Partners has invested in both projects. Privately-owned Perdaman did not disclose the terms of its deal with GIP. When Woodside sold 49 per cent of the Pluto plant expansion to GIP in 2021 it retained most of the risks from cost or schedule blowouts or adverse regulatory changes making the purchase more palatable for infrastructure investors that normally seek low-risk destinations for their money. The plant has been strongly backed by the WA Labor government and successive federal governments. The simple matter is that the state has to work with private entrepreneurs like us make it work, Rambal said. The federal governments Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility has backed Perdaman with $475 million of financing; $220 million direct to the project, $160 million to the Pilbara Ports Authority for a wharf upgrade, and $95 million for WAs Water Corporation to expand the supply of desalinated water. The WA government has committed to spend $48 million on supporting infrastructure. Additional support came from Export Finance Australia. Premier Mark McGowan said the investment underlined that the Pilbara was the engine room of Australias economy. My Government is proud to support developments like the Perdaman Urea Project that will deliver decades of economic benefits for WA, creating local jobs and diversifying the Pilbara economy, he said. WA gas market to tighten The foundation for the investment is a deal Perdaman signed with Woodside five years ago for the supply of 125 terajoules a day of gas for 20 to 25 years from the proposed Scarborough gas field. The plant will take the bulk of the 180 terajoules of gas a day expected to flow from Scarborough to the WA market under the state governments domestic gas reservation arrangements for gas export plants. Loading The final investment decision on the urea plant was expected a few months after Woodside committed to Scarborough in November 2021 but was delayed while financing was secured. Rambals success may bring forward an expected gas shortfall in WA. In December the Australian Energy Market Operator forecast the state that is Australias biggest gas exporter would have a shortage of the fuel from 2030 on the assumption the Perdaman plant did not process and Woodside would sell the gas elsewhere. The shortage is now likely to be brought forward to 2027. Leila Oulkebous' research for her doctorate from one of France's top universities was going well when the explosions started. Oulkebous had stopped work on Ethiopia because of that country's civil war and her research in Sudan was going to be more straightforward, she thought. Then Sudan exploded into violence. The chiefs of the countrys army and its rival Rapid Support Forces rose to power after a popular uprising in 2019 prompted them to remove longtime autocratic ruler Omar al-Bashir. They started fighting this month amid tensions over a new plan to re-introduce civilian rule. The bombing shook the house where Oulkebous was living in the capital, Khartoum, investigating the effects of dams on rivers that cross borders. "We were hiding all the time under the bed, she said Wednesday at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport as hundreds of people arrived in harrowing evacuations. World powers were rescuing people from Sudan on planes and warships in operations prompted by the eruption of the fighting that sent thousands of foreigners and many more Sudanese people fleeing for safety. A French frigate carrying hundreds of evacuees docked Wednesday morning in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as part of broader efforts involving several warships, in addition to airlifts. French military spokesman Col. Pierre Gaudilliere said France evacuated more than 500 civilians from 40 nations by plane over the weekend after securing the airbase north of Khartoum Saturday, using its airbase in neighbouring Djibouti for the airlift. Gaudilliere said the French military was the first to land, and organized the flow of its own and other nations' planes. You still had airstrikes as the operation was going on, crossfire in the streets, artillery fire, so it was and still is very intense fighting, Gaudilliere said. The French military had personnel on the ground to assess the situation during the operation, he said. Several nations, including Japan, thanked France for rescuing their citizens. Some other countries quickly joined evacuation efforts. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said Wednesday three nationals have been evacuated with help from Germany, and his country is now working with Turkey to help evacuate two other citizens. Greek national Christos Dedes, who was in Sudan for work, said he and his colleagues managed to leave their Khartoum hotel Tuesday via the Portuguese embassy, which sent a car to drive them to the airbase where there were Italian, French and German soldiers. We just happened to leave with the Italians, on a transport plane, he said on Greek TV channel Mega Wednesday, after he arrived in Athens. From their Khartoum hotel, he said, they could see that every day the battles were heavier. Both (sides) were using heavy weapons. He said they would hear explosions at night, and see bodies in the street. More than 1,000 people from 58 countries were to arrive Wednesday by ship to the port of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, including many on the French warship Lorraine. Saudi Arabia on Saturday organized the first evacuation convoy by land, via cars and buses bringing people to Port Sudan, where a navy ship took them to Jeddah. The French foreign affairs ministry said a flight carrying 184 French nationals and their families and about 20 other nationals returned from Djibouti and landed in Paris Wednesday morning. Among them was Oulkebous, a Moroccan PhD student at Bordeaux Montaigne University. The feeling I had since the first day of fighting was I felt really paralysed, I didnt know what to do, I didnt know how to get out, the airport was closed, we could not leave," she said, describing "the explosions, the smoke, so really, I didnt have the time to fully realise what was going on. A Royal Air Maroc plane arrived at Casablancas Mohammed V airport on Wednesday, carrying 136 Moroccan nationals evacuated from Sudan. In contrast with France and some other nations, the U.S. and Britain didnt evacuate non-diplomats at first. The British government has come under growing criticism for its failure to airlift civilians. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the governments approach, saying diplomats had been evacuated first because they were being targeted. The British government since said that 301 people have been evacuated on four UK flights from Sudan over the past 24 hours, and four more are scheduled Wednesday. Britain intends to keep running the flights for as long as possible. In addition, rapid deployment teams of UK officials are in Port Sudan assessing potential for a seaborne evacuation. The Foreign Office says UK passport-holders are eligible, and priority is given to family groups with children and/or the elderly or individuals with medical conditions. Officials have said there are as many as 4,000 British citizens in Sudan, 2,000 of whom have registered for potential evacuation. The White House said Monday the US is helping from afar as thousands of Americans left behind in Sudan seek to escape fighting in the east African nation, after the US Embassy evacuated all of its diplomatic personnel over the weekend and shut down. The Biden administration is considering several options for assisting private American citizens in getting out of Sudan. Two US officials said one option being considered would be to send US Navy vessels in, or en route to, the Red Sea to dock at Port Sudan and take Americans to Jeddah or another location. The officials said this would depend on the security situation and whether it was deemed safe for the ships to dock. A US official said the military has developed other options for getting Americans, including using an airfield that some European countries have used to fly out citizens. To date, it has not been told to do that, the official said. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss sensitive matters. Search Keywords: Short link: A Perth woman has been accused of trying to murder her husband after he suspected she was slowly poisoning him and set up a covert operation to catch her. Bozena Knapinski, 62, was arrested on April 5 after her husband of 39 years, Robert Knapinski, 62, secretly recorded her allegedly spiking his water bottles with saline medication while at their Embleton home. Robert set up the recordings in February following years of mystery illnesses which doctors were unable to diagnose. During a Perth Magistrates Court hearing on Wednesday, the police prosecutor claimed Robert had been suffering aches and pains, gastritis and hair loss for over a year before he and his wife went on an extended holiday to Poland. During the time away he noticed distinct improvements in his health, he said. If you look at past history, deterrence could fail, he said in an interview at the Japanese embassy in Canberra. Australias defence strategic review, released this week, declared China was threatening our national interests by undermining the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific and failing to be transparent about its dramatic military expansion. The government will announce on Thursday it will spend $3.8 billion over the next four years to harden infrastructure at air bases and other military facilities in northern Australia, a key recommendation of the strategic review. The most dramatic moment in Yamagamis tenure came in January when Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian claimed he was not doing his job and accused him of trying to drive a wedge between Beijing and Canberra. Yamagami, who is regularly described as a China hawk, said he had restricted his comments to policy matters of substance between Japan and China. Loading But when Im engaging in that serious business, I get a sniper shot in the form of character assassination, he said. That is totally uncalled for, not productive at all. Tokyo and Canberra have elevated their security partnership to unprecedented heights over recent years, leading to expectations Japan could become a quasi fourth member of the AUKUS security pact between the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Wednesday he would host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sydney on May 24, the first time a Quad security dialogue leaders meeting has been held in Australia. Loading Yamagami said Japans national security strategy, released in December, made it crystal clear that China was the nations greatest security challenge. Thats the first time the Japanese government has come up with that description, he said, pointing to Chinas rapid military build-up and assertive and sometimes even aggressive external stance. China regularly undermined Japanese sovereignty by sending its patrol ships and fighter jets into Japanese territorial waters and airspace, he said. Yamagami said he was saddened and even dismayed by suggestions the Japanese government had cut short his tenure because of his comments on China or calls for Australia not to introduce energy policies that harm coal and gas exports to Japan. Loading It is an ordinary reshuffle of ambassadors, he said, stating that Japanese diplomats usually served shorter terms than envoys from other nations. What I have been saying is completely in line with what is on the mind of Japanese policymakers I think the general perception of Japanese diplomats, government officials or even businesspeople might have been that they are reticent, quiet followers. In light of the recent development of the relationship between Australia and Japan, I would say many Australians need to get used to Japanese [people] speaking their mind because without honest, candid, to-the-point discussions we cannot have a really solid strategic partnership between us. Yamagami, who raised some eyebrows within Labor because of his close relationships with Coalition figures, said he was honoured to receive a farewell gift of an engraved Seiko watch from former prime ministers Scott Morrison, Tony Abbott and John Howard describing him as Japans greatest envoy. Loading Yamagami said he was appalled by the hostile reaction from some commentators to this mastheads recent Red Alert series exploring how Australia could be affected by a possible war between China and the US over Taiwan. You cannot shut up substantive discussion, he said. That is not the way to go. Asked about Australian children being taken into sole custody by Japanese parents under the nations divorce laws, Yamagami said he understood the issue from the bottom of my heart because he had not seen his son for two years after he and his wife separated. The revelation that the previous Coalition government signed contracts with private bus companies worth nearly $5 billion, which may prevent reform of the long-troubled Sydney bus system, suggests a touch of incompetence, if not bloody-mindedness, and raises serious questions about the integrity of process. Voters, commuters and taxpayers could not be blamed for thinking they have been taken for a ride as they continue to endure cancelled bus services, delays and route changes with little or no explanation. Two contracts were signed in February just weeks before the NSW parliament entered caretaker mode before the NSW state election and locked in contracts for bus services in north-west and south-west Sydney. Another tranche of eight-year contracts with private operators were signed late last year for services in Sydneys south-west, north-west, north shore and northern beaches. There is nothing technically wrong with signing such deals so close to voting day, but common sense suggests prudence in negotiating arrangements that impose the sort of impasse that now confronts the new government. It was not as though the Coalition did not know what could be coming. Delays and cancellations have plagued commuters over the past two years about 28,000 bus services were cancelled last August alone and Labor campaigned on the consequences of privatisation before the election, pledging to set up an industry taskforce to look into bus services. It followed a parliamentary committee recommending late last year that the government consider putting privately operated bus networks back into public hands. Id stopped noticing my blue tick, until it was taken from me. As the saying goes, you dont know what youve got till its gone. But I have very few fond memories of Twitter. If anything, with Elon Musk at the helm, the problematic platform has just gone from bad to worse. With Twitter dethroning celebrities, as a G-grade media personality Im no longer considered a verified, authentic person of public interest, and have instead finally been shown for the stingy person I am. I refuse to pay for a subscription that serves up trolling and polarisation. Whats the least worst choice? Credit: But while Twitter continues to find ways to tick people off, it seems the entire cybersocialsphere is under review. Facebook is falling shedding staff, profits, trust and young people. Female-skewed Instagram picked up where glossy magazines dropped off, ensuring women continue to compare and despair and spend big on crap that will never fill the gaping hole wedged open by voyeurism and filters. And while TikToks fan base continues to grow, so too does the determination of Western governments to ban the app. So whats left for someone looking for a digital village? Sure, we flirted with Mastodon for a while, but relationships rarely last when youre on the rebound. London: Just as there were signs of an uneasy truce, Prince Harrys bitter and very personal war against Britains tabloid press threatens to turn his fathers coronation into a circus and end any chance of reconciliation with his brother. The Duke of Sussexs explosive 31-page witness statement submitted to the High Court in his legal action against Rupert Murdochs UK media arm, News Group Newspapers, has lifted the lid on a so-called tit-for-tat agreement between Buckingham Palace and the press. The court papers said William, Prince of Wales and heir to the British throne, was paid a large but undisclosed sum. Credit: AP It claimed William, the Prince of Wales, received a secret payment of up to 1 million ($1.8 million), according to the London Telegraph, in connection with phone hacking. Details of the deal emerged in legal filings as NGN, which publishes The Sun and The Times in the UK, applied to strike out phone-hacking claims by Harry and actor Hugh Grant ahead of trial, arguing the lawsuits had been brought too late. Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping had a long and meaningful phone call on Wednesday (Ukraine time), their first known contact since Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago, and Beijing appointed an envoy to pursue a political settlement. The hour-long call came two months after Beijing, which has long been aligned with Russia, said it wanted to act as a mediator and a month after Xi visited Moscow. The call also coincided with indications that Ukraine is readying its forces for a spring counteroffensive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Credit: AP Zelensky was upbeat about the conversation, which offered him the chance to insert his views into what had been a bilateral dialogue between Moscow and Beijing. Russian President Vladimir Putin is eager to keep Xi close as a counterweight to the US, which has sided with Ukraine. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraines ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations, Zelensky said on Facebook. What can we expect at the trial? Expect it to get ugly. What happened to Carroll at the department store that day would change her life forever, one of her lawyers, Shawn Crowley, told the jury in an opening statement on Tuesday afternoon. Filled with fear and shame, she kept silent for decades. Eventually, though, silence became impossible, Crowley said. But when she finally spoke out in the memoir, the then-president used the most powerful platform on earth to lie about what he had done, attack Ms Carrolls integrity and insult her appearance. The Bergdorf Goodman store in New York City. Credit: AP Carroll will testify that Trump not only raped her, but also defamed her when responding to the rape allegations. Shes seeking unspecified damages and a retraction from the former president. Her lawyers are also expected to call a number of supporting witnesses, including two friends Carroll confided in after the alleged rape, and two other women who say they were sexually assaulted by Trump. One of those women, Jessica Leeds, claims that Trump tried to put his hand up her skirt on a 1979 flight; the other, Natasha Stoynoff, a former People magazine staff writer, will testify that Trump pinned her against a wall and forcibly kissed her at his Florida mansion when she went there in 2005 to interview him and his then-pregnant wife Melania Trump. The judge presiding over that case has also granted permission to offer as evidence the infamous 2016 Access Hollywood tape in which Trump brags about grabbing women by the genitals. Excerpts from a five-hour deposition taken by Trump last year will also be presented. Trump, however, is not required to be there, and Carrolls lawyers have indicated they do not intend to call him as a witness. He could decide to testify in his own defence - although it is not clear at this stage whether he will do so. However, the former president has repeatedly rejected all the allegations against him, and said of Carroll in 2019: Ive never met this person in my life. She is trying to sell a new book that should indicate her motivation It should be sold in the fiction section. Loading This line of defence began to emerge when Trumps lawyer, Joe Tacopina, made his opening statement to the jury, suggesting that Carroll schemed with friends to hurt Trump politically, sought to make a profit off him through her book, and enjoyed the celebrity status she achieved after accusing the then-president of rape. He also urged the nine-member jury who happen to be in a deeply Democratic state to put politics aside in weighing up the case. You can hate Donald Trump. Thats OK. But theres a time and a secret place for that. Its called a ballot box in an election. Its not here in a court of law, Tacopina said. Nobodys above the law, but no one is beneath it. Why is a case from the mid-1990s only making its way to court now? Until recently, the statute of limitations for civil claims by sexual assault survivors in New York was generally three years. However, in 2021, the state passed the Adult Survivors Act, which created a one-year window from November 24, 2022, to November 24, 2023 in which the statute of limitations was lifted, allowing people to make claims. Carroll filed her rape claim against Trump as soon as the new laws took effect. Trump had moved to dismiss the case, arguing that the Adult Survivors Act violated the New York Constitution, but this motion was denied by Judge Lewis Kaplan who is presiding over the matter. What are the stakes for Trump? Loading Politically, the optics arent great for a presidential candidate to be embroiled in yet another scandal in the courts. After all, it was only a few weeks ago that Trump was indicted on criminal charges for alleged hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, who claims she slept with him shortly after Melania had their son. The 76-year-old Republican is also facing other legal woes: a Department of Justice probe into the events of the January 6 Capitol attack, a Georgia-based investigation into election interference in that state and another Justice Department investigation into the handling of classified documents. U.S. Consulate, the Ministry of Education and Stichting Studiefinanciering Curacao (SSC) sign agreement to open Curacaos first-ever EducationUSA advising center U.S. Consul General Margy Bond, Minister Sithree van Heydoorn, and SSC Director Sidney Bicho Justiana signed an agreement to open Curacaos first-ever EducationUSA Advising Center hosted at the SSC building in Otrobanda. The Center joins the U.S. Department of States network of over 430 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories. EducationUSA advising centers promote U.S. higher education to students around the world by offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States. The free advising services offered to prospective international students provide resources and tools to help navigate the 5 steps to U.S. study: researching schools, identifying financial aid opportunities, completing applications, obtaining a student visa, and preparing for departure. There are more than 4,700 accredited higher education institutions in the United States, and Education USA advising centers can help students narrow their options, define their priorities, and plan their college careers. Once opened, EducationUSA Curacao will join EducationUSA Aruba in offering students in the Dutch Caribbean unparalleled access to free information and advice to help them build a prosperous future. The U.S. Consulate is deeply committed to promoting the economic prosperity and wellbeing of the people on the islands of the Dutch Caribbean. Education and access to the tools and resources necessary to take part in todays global economy is the key to change. The U.S. Consulate is honored to partner with the Ministry of Education and with SSC to open EducationUSA Curacao. PHILIPSBURG:--- According to Forbes, 94% of workers are stressed. In addition, The American Institute of Stress reports that changes in the economy and increased financial concerns translate into pressure at work. The American Institute of Stress also states, Stress due to work, if left untreated, can cause serious mental health problems for employees. Theres a financial burden, too; stress can lead to serious drops in productivity and end up costing a huge amount for both private companies and governments. Our sweet St. Martin land, the Caribbean region, and many countries around the world are no exceptions to the aforementioned. In light of these startling statistics, Roy Cotton Jr., visionary, host, and producer of the 16-year-old radio show Love & Inspiration and visionary of the local and beautifully designed Love & Inspiration wall calendar, launched I nSPIRE Wear in October 2022. I nSPIRE Wear was created to bring about more positivity, optimism, unity, and productivity in the workplace. I nSPIRE Wear is designed to inspire individuals, families, organizations, companies, and communities so we inspire the world Through this medium, an organization or company inspires their staff to optimize their work performance and more efficiently achieve the companys goals and objectives as they aspire to embody the words of their I nSPIRE Wear. Research has proven that your mindset determines either your success or failure. Tackling your work day with a positive attitude not only boosts your morale but can result in increased productivity at work and help you start your day with confidence and focus. With that being said Ms. Edna Evans, director of Belair Beach Hotel on the southern side of St. Martin understood the aforementioned research and caught the vision when Roy Cotton Jr. shared it with her in October 2022. Ms. Evans immediately recognized that this was another timely opportunity for her staff and the hotel to be part of this great global movement. Belair Beach Hotel has been part of the Love & Inspiration Global Movement as a corporate sponsor since the launch of the beautiful Love & Inspiration wall calendar in 2020 designed to spread love, kindness, peace, hope, and inspiration in our homes, workplaces, and communities. Ms. Evans with her proud and enthusiastic staff were all dressed in their black colored I nSPIRE T-shirts on April 4th 2023 ready for their group photoshoot along with Roy Cotton, jr., taken by Loic Bryan of Artistic Drive. NOTHING is Impossible. The word itself says IM POSSIBLE, by Audrey Hepburn is boldly inscribed on the front of the shirts. Roy Cotton, Jr. stated: I felt joy in my heart and was grateful to God to witness a dream come through seeing Belair Beach Hotels staff wearing their I nSPIRE Belair Beach Hotel T-shirts. It was also amazing and inspiring to see the security guard at the security booth greet me with his I nSPIRE Belair Beach Hotel T-shirts with the words written on the front; NOTHING is Impossible. The word itself says IM POSSIBLE. A few of the staff members shared how they felt wearing such powerful inspirational words on the front of their T-shirts. Some of the expressions were It feels great, I feel wonderful and It reminds me that nothing is impossible. On the same day of the photoshoot, Cotton led the first of a three-day motivational session with the staff entitled NOTHING is Impossible. The word itself says IM POSSIBLE. The participants shared their experiences on how the motivational sessions impacted them and look forward to Cotton conducting powerful sessions with them on a regular basis. A participant in Housekeeping shared Mr. Cotton was very powerful and positive. Love him. Another at Front Desk also shared Thank you, Mr. Cotton. You are inspirational. Stay true to your dreams. Another participant in Timesharing stated: You reminded me who I am. I enjoyed the time. It was also spiritual, that made the difference. In an invited comment, Cotton exclaimed: It is such a beautiful feeling to know that you have touched the lives of people. The I nSPIRE Wear cultivates a positive mindset and attitude, boosts morale and increases productivity at work amongst the staff. Partners of the InSpire global movement are also celebrated and highlighted on Cottons well-loved and internationally acclaimed radio show, Love & Inspiration. Cotton invites other business owners to join the I nSPIRE global movement to inspire themselves, their families, staff, our community, and the world, as Belair Beach Hotel has done. Cotton thanks God for entrusting him with the vision and thanks his lovely wife Dr. Nicole Erna Mae Francis-Cotton for her continuous support. He also thanks local graphic designer and Managing Director Mr. Gordon Whinfield of Color Rite, who designed the InSPIRE logo. Feel free to reach out to Roy Cotton Jr on email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on +1721-524-8731 to discover how you may join the I nSPIRE Global Movement. This is a great opportunity to inspire individuals, families, organizations, companies and communities so we inspire the world. Egypt urged an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, stressing its support for its southern neighbour, read a statement by Egypt's Permanent Representative to the UN Osama Abdel-Khalek at the Security Council's open debate session on Sudan on Tuesday. "The continuation of armed confrontations and repeated violations of successive ceasefire declarations is a cause for deep concern. This exposes the lives of Sudanese civilians and residents to danger and leads to an accelerated deterioration of difficult living conditions in Sudan," the statement added. Egypt expressed its hope the warring parties will commit to the ceasefire announced earlier in a sustainable manner, stressing it is ready to provide all forms of support to resolve the crisis. It added it wants to see calm restored peaceful dialogue held in Sudan to stop the bloodshed. The statement referred to Egypt's efforts in cooperating with several countries to complete the evacuation of Egyptian and foreign nationals residing in Sudan. "We also note in this regard the response of the Sudanese authorities and their cooperation in evacuating Egyptian and foreign nationals, despite the difficulty and danger of the security situation," the statement noted. Around 10,000 Egyptians, including 5,000 students, were in Sudan when the conflict broke out. On Tuesday, Egypt repatriated another batch of 635 nationals from Sudan -- 446 people via land transport and 189 via air transport -- bringing the total number of evacuated Egyptians to 1,539. On 20 April, Egypt participated in the ministerial meeting held by the African Union Commission on the situation in Sudan. Egypt has been conducting discussions with all international and regional stakeholders, at the level of officials of states and organisations, to discuss the means to overcome the crisis in Sudan. Search Keywords: Short link: Skeena Recognized for Exploration Success at Eskay Creek Skeena Resources Limited (TSX: SKE, NYSE: SKE) (aSkeenaa or the aCompanya https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/skeena-resources-ltd/ ) is pleased to announce that the Companya?s Exploration Team has been awarded the 2023 A.O. Dufresne Exploration Achievement Award (the aAwarda) for exploration success and resource growth at the Eskay Creek Gold-Silver Project (aEskay Creeka or the aProjecta). The Award is presented to an individual or team in recognition of exceptional achievements or distinguished contributions to mining exploration in Canada. It will be awarded to Skeena on MayA 1,A 2023 during the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (aCIMa) Awards Gala. For more information on the award and past winners, click here. Randy Reichert, Skeenaa?s President & CEO, commented aWe are honoured to receive this award and would like to thank CIM for the recognition of our exploration success at Eskay Creek. Led by Paul Geddes, our Exploration Team has had a number of significant discoveries which have ultimately increased our Resources and Reserves on the Project. We look forward to what the Team continues to uncover at Eskay Creek, starting with the exploration at Eskay Deeps this summer.a About Skeena Skeena Resources Limited is a Canadian mining exploration and development company focused on revitalizing the past-producing Eskay Creek gold-silver mine located in Tahltan Territory in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Company released a Feasibility Study for Eskay Creek in September 2022 which highlights an after-tax NPV5% of C$1.4B, 50% IRR, and a 1-year payback at US$1,700/oz Au and US$19/oz Ag. Qualified Persons In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Paul Geddes, P.Geo., Senior Vice President, Exploration & Resource Development, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has prepared, validated, and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting the exploration activities on its projects. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements Certain statements and information contained or incorporated by reference in this news release constitute aforward-looking informationa and aforward-looking statementsa within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively, aforward-looking statementsa). These statements relate to future events or our future performance. The use of words such as aanticipatesa, abelievesa, aproposesa, acontemplatesa, ageneratesa, atargetsa, ais projecteda, ais planneda, aconsidersa, aestimatesa, aexpectsa, ais expecteda, apotentiala and similar expressions, or statements that certain actions, events or results amaya, amighta, awilla, acoulda, or awoulda be taken, achieved, or occur, may identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Specific forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the results of the Feasibility Study, processing capacity of the mine, anticipated mine life, probable reserves, estimated project capital and operating costs, sustaining costs, results of test work and studies, planned environmental assessments, the future price of metals, metal concentrate, and future exploration and development. Such forward-looking statements are based on material factors and/or assumptions which include, but are not limited to, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and the assumptions set forth herein and in the Companya?s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022, its most recently filed interim MD&A, and the Companya?s Annual Information Form (aAIFa) dated March 21, 2023. Such forward-looking statements represent the Companya?s management expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances on the date the statements are made, and are necessarily based on several estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date hereof, are not guarantees of future performance. Actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein, and are subject to significant operational, business, economic, and regulatory risks and uncertainties. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties, including permitting and other government approvals; changes in economic conditions, including changes in the price of gold and other key variables; changes in mine plans and other factors, including accidents, equipment breakdown, bad weather and other project execution delays, many of which are beyond the control of the Company; environmental risks and unanticipated reclamation expenses; and other risk factors identified in the Companya?s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022, its most recently filed interim MD&A, the AIF dated March 21, 2023, the Companya?s short form base shelf prospectus dated January 31, 2023, and in the Companya?s other periodic filings with securities and regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States that are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and the Company does not undertake any obligations to update and/or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Aurania Announces Closing of Second Tranche of Private Placement Aurania Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ARU; OTCQB: AUIAF; Frankfurt: 20Q) (aAuraniaa or the aCompanya https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/aurania-resources-ltd/ ) is pleased to announce that it has closed the second tranche (the aSecond Tranchea) of its non-brokered private placement financing of up to 10,869,565 units of the Company (the \Units\) for gross proceeds of up to C$5,000,000 (the \Initial Offering\), subject to the right of the Company to increase the size of the Initial Offering by up to 25% of the size of the Initial Offering (the aUpsize Optiona, and together with the Initial Offering, the aOfferinga). The Offering was previously announced on March 13, 2023 and March 23, 2023 , the date the Company closed the first tranche of the Offering (the aFirst Tranchea) An aggregate of 1,227,963 Units were sold under the Second Tranche at a price of C$0.46 per Unit (the aIssue Pricea), for total gross proceeds of C$564,862.98. An aggregate of 9,029,108 Units have been sold under the Offering for total gross proceeds of C$4,153,389.68.A The Company also announces that it has received an extension from the TSX Venture Exchange (the aExchangea) to close the Offering until May 24, 2023 (the aExtensiona). The Company expects the closing of the third and final tranche Offering will be in advance of this date. Each Unit is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a \Common Share\) and one Common Share purchase warrant (a \Warrant\). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share (a aWarrant Sharea) at an exercise price of C$0.75 per Warrant Share at any time until the date which is thirty-six (36) months from closing date of the applicable tranche of the Offering.A In connection with the closing of the Second Tranche, the Company paid commissions to certain finders of an aggregate of $16,050.51 in cash and 34,892 finders warrants (each a, aFinder Warranta). Each Finder Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one (1) Unit at the Issue Price and is exercisable for a period of thirty-six (36) months from the closing of the Second Tranche. The Offering and the closing of the First Tranche, Second Tranche and the Extension are subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSXV and the securities regulatory authorities. All securities issued and issuable in connection with the Offering are subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issuance. The Company has used the net proceeds of the First Tranche to pay concession fees and general and administrative expenses. The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the remainder of the Offering for exploration activities at the Companya?s The Lost Cities a Cutucu Project in southeastern Ecuador and for general working capital and corporate purposes. The Companya?s proposed exploration activities, as detailed in the Companya?s press release dated April 13, 2023, are depending on raising further funding. For further details concerning the Offering, please see the Companya?s news releases dated March 13, 2023, March 23, 2023 and April 13, 2023. The securities described in this news release have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the aU.S. Securities Acta) and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, aU.S. personsa (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, nor will there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.A About Aurania Aurania is a mineral exploration company engaged in the identification, evaluation, acquisition, and exploration of mineral property interests, with a focus on precious metals and copper in South America. Its flagship asset, The Lost Cities a Cutucu Project, is located in the Jurassic Metallogenic Belt in the eastern foothills of the Andes mountain range of southeastern Ecuador. Information on Aurania and technical reports are available at www.aurania.com and www.sedar.com, as well as on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/auranialtd/, Twitter atA https://twitter.com/auranialtd, and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/aurania-resources-ltd-. For further information, please contact: Carolyn Muir VP Corporate Development & Investor Relations Aurania Resources Ltd. (416) 367-3200 carolyn.muir@aurania.com In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger & Marc Ollinger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch 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. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information as such term is defined in applicable securities laws, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management\-s current expectations and assumptions. The forward-looking information includes statements regarding the anticipated Offering, including the maximum size thereof, the expected timing to complete the Offering, the closing of a third tranche of the Offering, the ability to complete the Offering on the terms provided herein or at all, the anticipated use of the net proceeds from the Offering, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSXV of the listing of the Common Shares and the Warrant Shares (and the timing thereof), the use of proceeds for exploration activities at the Companya?s The Lost Cities a Cutucu Project, Auraniaa?s objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the corporationa?s portfolio, treasury, management team and enhanced capital markets profile, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration, timing of the commencement of operations, the Companya?s teams being on track ahead of the drill program, drilling Tatasham, the commencement of the drill program and estimates of market conditions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management\-s current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to Aurania, including the assumption that, there will be no material adverse change in metal prices, all necessary consents, licenses, permits and approvals will be obtained, including various local government licenses and the market. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking information include, among other things, a failure to obtain or delays in obtaining the required regulatory licenses, permits, approvals and consents, an inability to access financing as needed, a general economic downturn, a volatile stock price, labour strikes, political unrest, changes in the mining regulatory regime governing Aurania, a failure to comply with environmental regulations and a weakening of market and industry reliance on precious metals and copper. Aurania cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. Egypts Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that the Egyptian Diplomatic mission has been relocated in Sudans Khartoum . Due to escalating threats and security risks in the Sudanese capital as a result of the ongoing armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, the diplomatic, consular and technical offices of the Egyptian embassy were relocated on 26 April, according to the Foreign Ministrys Spokesperson Ahmed Abu- Zeid, The relocation aims to facilitate the implementation of the national plan to evacuate Egyptians in Sudan and ensure their safety in light of the circumstances, Abu-Zeid added. On Monday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced that Mohamad El-Gharawi, an assistant administrative attache at the Egyptian embassy in Khartoum, was killed while heading to the embassy headquarters to follow up on the evacuation of Egyptians in Sudan. According to the latest numbers released by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry Wednesday evening, 1,140 Egyptian citizens were evacuated on 26 April. These included the evacuation of 443 Egyptians by land and 697 by air. Egypt operated seven flights as part of the ongoing airlift operation to transport Egyptian nationals from Sudan. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the Egyptian consulates in both Wadi Halfa and Port Sudan will continue evacuation efforts of Egyptian citizens, noting that 2,679 Egyptian citizens have been evacuated from Sudan so far. Search Keywords: Short link: By Zak Vescera, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Diana Eladros job is looking after children. But she hasnt been able to see her own in more than four years while she provides child care in Vancouver. Eladro is one of more than 25,000 migrant caregivers working in Canada. Like many, she left the Philippines in search of better-paid work to support her family. Her plan, eventually, is to apply for permanent residency so she can bring her teenage sons to Vancouver. Im doing this not just only for myself but for my kids, Eladro said. Here, there is a big future. Eladro is not alone. Since 2019, nearly 38,000 workers have applied for permanent residency under a pair of federal immigration programs for child and home support workers. But so far, only 2,600 of them have succeeded. Data obtained by The Tyee show the federal government has only processed less than 17 percent of the applications to date. While the program previously required workers to have at least 24 months of in-Canada experience before they could gain permanent residency, nearly 10,000 pending applications are older than that. In total, there are more than 30,000 applications pending. And most applications that have been processed did not result in a worker getting permanent residency. Nearly 60 percent were either withdrawn or rejected, something advocates attribute to tough education and language requirements. The Liberal government originally billed those immigration programs as a clear, direct pathway to permanent residence and as an improvement on previous programs introduced by the Conservative government, which was also mired in delays. They cover workers who provide in-home care for children and or personal care and support for adults. But Cenen Bagon, an advocate for migrant caregivers since the late 1970s, says it has generally become even more difficult for the mostly female workforce to get permanent residency despite the growing need for workers to care for Canadas elderly and young. It has been more and more difficult for caregivers to apply for permanent residency because of all the different requirements that are being demanded, said Bagon of the Vancouver-based Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregivers Rights. The federal government introduced its Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots in 2019. At the time, that program allowed any workers with at least 24 months of experience in Canada to apply for permanent residency, and it allowed other caregivers to apply for a three-year open work permit to rack up that experience. The programs accept 2,750 applications each year. Government officials originally estimated processing times would be between six and 12 months But it has struggled to meet those goals. A Toronto Star investigation from 2021 found that not a single permit was issued under either program for an 18-month period stretching from 2019 to late 2020. This week, a government website estimated the average processing times for those programs at between 30 and 36 months, based on how long it took to close 80 percent of cases in the previous six months. Immigration minister Sean Fraser was not available for an interview, his staff said, because of travel. But he did recently halve work experience requirements for migrant caregivers seeking permanent residency from 24 to 12 months. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada also declined an interview request but provided a statement where they said were working to reduce the backlog through digitizing applications, hiring and training new staff, and harnessing automation technologies. But Ethel Tungohan says the backlog is not the only issue with the program, as serious as it is. Tungohan, a York University professor and the Canada Research Chair in Canadian Migration Policy, Impacts and Activism, has studied the history of migrant caregivers in the country extensively. She says many caregivers who have worked in Canada for years may still struggle with other immigration requirements, like testing for competency in English or French or educational requirements. According to the data provided by IRCC, the leading reason that applications were refused under the two programs was because workers did not meet program criteria. Tungohan says some of those requirements were tweaked under the federal Liberals but that they remain similar to the programs introduced by the Harper Conservatives years before. I think whats here is a case of policymakers trying to align competing goals and making them fit into one program, Tungohan said. On one hand, she said, politicians want to fulfill a growing demand for caregivers, particularly as Canada eyes a goal of dramatically expanding access to affordable child care. Last year, B.C. alone estimated it would need 10,000 early childhood educators to join the profession over the next decade. On the other hand, Tungohan said, existing programs still put a heavy emphasis on migrant workers being economically integrated. There seems to be a policy mishmash here that hasnt been thought of, Tungohan said. In a written, unattributed statement, IRCC said language requirements are in place so that migrant workers are not taken advantage of and have the skills to leave their employer if need be. But Bagon said thats not the only program with the requirements. Many workers, Bagon said, require recognized post-secondary education to qualify for permanent residency under programs for caregivers. But workers can only complete six months of professional training in Canada under temporary work programs, Bagon said, which means many would have to switch to a student visa to get that education. If they dont have that level when they came, it will be hard for them to even go to school when theyre working because theyre not allowed, Bagon said. The result is that some workers are unable to get permanent residency, leaving them separated from families abroad. There are so many problems because of family separation that it has created, Bagon said. Who among us would like to be separated from our kids? Milafe Buton began working in Canada five years ago. She said she was abused by a previous employer, who refused to pay the wages she was owed. She applied for compensation via the provincial Employment Standards Branch, she said and was eventually paid out after switching jobs. She says her new employer is generous but that shes struggling to meet the requirements to apply for permanent residency. She was considering applying for an international student visa, she said, to satisfy educational requirements. Eladro, who completed a four-year education program in the Philippines, says caregiving is not unskilled work and is essential. But she argued some of the educational and language requirements imposed by the federal government were unfair to her peers. Eladro has not yet worked the required 12 months in Canada to apply for permanent residency under the new rules. Ideally, she wants to apply soon so her sons, aged 14 and 15, can emigrate too. Under Canadas immigration policies, they can be considered as dependents until they are 22 years old, something that makes it easier to gain status in the country. Last month Eladro and Buton both appeared at a rally in downtown Vancouver asking the federal government to dramatically expand permanent residency to migrant workers in the country. They argue anyone good enough to work is good enough to stay. Its not just only for me but for all, Eladro said. The spiritual priorities of Pope Francis will be on display during a trip this week to Hungary, where the populist government will seek to downplay its diverging views on matters like immigration and minority rights while focusing instead on points where it aligns with the pontiff. Francis will meet with children with disabilities, refugees and those living in poverty on the three-day trip that begins Friday. He will also have an audience with Hungarys president and its nationalist prime minister, Viktor Orban. The visit will be a political boon for Orban, whose contentious stances on migration, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine stands in stark contrast with Francis views of inclusion and acceptance for the marginalized and support for Kyiv during Moscow's war. Yet the cardinal of Hungarys Roman Catholic Church, Peter Erdo, as well as other members of the Catholic community, expect the popes visit to be a celebration of Christian unity, and that differences of opinion won't play a central role. When there is a papal Mass to which bishops and priests from different countries come in large numbers, there is a feeling that the whole church is present there, Erdo said in an interview with The Associated Press. Hes making a pastoral visit to us specifically out of love and attention to the Hungarian Catholic community and the Hungarian people ... and I think this is a great joy. Speaking after an Easter Mass celebrated by Erdo in Budapest, Erzsebet Markus, a believer from the capital, said Francis spending three full days in the country was very significant for Hungarian Christians and for Hungary at large. I think that hes spending so much time here represents an appreciation for us and for the country, she said. Francis is also scheduled to visit with members of Hungarys scientific and cultural sectors. On his final day, he plans to preside over a Sunday Mass on a square in central Budapest. But the war in Ukraine will loom large as he meets with some of the 35,000 Ukrainian refugees who have remained in Hungary after 2.5 million fled across the countrys eastern borders early in the Russian invasion. His trip is bringing Francis the closest he has traveled to the conflict in Ukraine. His itinerary includes a stop at a Greek Catholic church that has provided care for refugees. The Greek Catholic Church is one of the eastern rite Catholic churches that recognizes papal authority. The stop is a nod to Kyiv, which has begged for a papal visit of solidarity ever since Russia invaded, and is watching from the side as Francis visits neighboring Hungary for the second time in as many years. Well be just a few hundred kilometers from the border with Ukraine, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told reporters. We can certainly expect words about his pain over this conflict and the search for peace. Francis has been supportive of Ukraines plight following Russias invasion likening it to a 1930s genocide of Ukrainians blamed on Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Orban, meanwhile, has been lukewarm in his support for Hungarys eastern neighbor, refusing to supply Kyiv with weapons and threatening to veto European Union sanctions against Moscow. Still, Orban has cast his view of the war as being in line with the Vaticans, saying during a speech in February that his government and the papacy were the only powers in Europe advocating for peace in Ukraine. Andras Mate-Toth, a theologian and scholar of religions at the University of Szeged in Hungary, said that while the views of the pope and the Hungarian government on refugees had seemed to be diametrically opposed in the past, there was not so much space between them on the war. On the issue of Russias war of occupation in Ukraine, there seems to be no such diametric difference because the pope urges peace and the Hungarian government urges peace, Mate-Toth said. Hungarys ambassador to the Holy See, Eduard Habsburg, acknowledged that the country remained highly dependent on Russian energy 14 months into the war, but said he believes that Orban and Francis are of like minds when it comes to the conflict. Orban and the pope, both very clearly over the last month, several times, have asked for an immediate cease-fire and peace negotiations, Habsburg said. Francis has already expressed his appreciation for the welcome Hungary has shown to Ukrainian refugees. During a 2022 meeting with Orban at the Vatican, Francis gave the prime minister a medallion of St. Martin and said he chose it specifically to honor Hungarys reception of people fleeing the war. Such appreciation wasn't necessarily on display when Francis visited Budapest in 2021 for a seven-hour visit to close out a Eucharistic Congress. Francis didnt stay on to actually visit Hungary, which some observers perceived as a snub meant to reflect his opposition to Orbans tough line on migration. In remarks delivered at his Sunday noon blessing from his studio overlooking St. Peters Square in the Vatican, Francis addressed his upcoming trip to Hungary, touching on both the war and migration as themes that would play an elevated role during his visit. It will be an opportunity to reembrace a church and a people so dear to me. It will also be a journey to the center of Europe, over which icy winds of war continue to blow, while the movements of so many people place urgent humanitarian issues on the agenda, Francis said. Let us not forget our Ukrainian brothers and sisters still afflicted by this war, the pontiff said. Yet despite the fraught backdrop of political friction and armed conflict, Francis will use his trip to make the kinds of visits with the downtrodden for which he is well known. On Saturday, he will meet with patients at the Blessed Laszlo Batthyany-Strattmann Home for the Blind, an education and comprehensive care facility for children with visual and motor disabilities. The director of the institute, Gyorgy Inotay, said the popes itinerary in Hungary is indicative of his commitment to the most vulnerable of society. He has obviously designated a program and path for himself that speaks to him feeling connected to the most desperate, the poorest and those struggling with some kind of illness and injury, and he has demonstrated this countless times over the last decade, Inotay said. Search Keywords: Short link: AI, cloud computing lift Microsoft quarterly profit San Francisco, April 25 (AFP) Apr 25, 2023 Microsoft on Tuesday said that its cloud computing and artificial intelligence offerings lifted its revenue and profit in the first three months of this year. Microsoft, which has made a huge bet on embracing AI technology from the makers of ChatGPT, reported profit of $18.3 billion on revenue of $52.9 billion. "Across the Microsoft Cloud, we are the platform of choice to help customers get the most value out of their digital spend and innovate for this next generation of AI," said Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella. Revenue in a productivity and business unit that includes Office 365 increased 11 percent to $17.5 billion when compared to the same quarter last year, Microsoft reported. Meanwhile, Microsoft's "Intelligent Cloud" sophisticated software services, which are hosted online, climbed 16 percent to $22.1 billion, earnings figures showed. The increases more than offset drops in revenue from licensing Windows software to computer makers, as sales suffer in that market. "The world's most advanced AI models are coming together with the world's most universal user interface -- natural language -- to create a new era of computing," Nadella said. Microsoft has been steadily pressing on with its AI revolution, recently announcing that it would apply the powers behind ChatGPT to its iconic Excel, Word and Outlook programs. The Redmond, Washington giant has been swiftly adopting language-based AI, showing less caution than its rivals despite early problems such as chatbots giving disturbing responses or blatantly inaccurate information. Microsoft's latest chatbot, called Copilot, puts ChatGPT-like abilities to work in offices, churning out meeting transcripts, calendar entries or PowerPoint slides almost instantaneously. The thrust of the new release is that generative AI, the term for ChatGPT-style capabilities, will function as an assistant for users of Microsoft's popular workplace software and not unilaterally take over office tasks. "You could say we've been using AI on autopilot and with this next generation of AI, we are moving from autopilot to copilot," Nadella said at a virtual release event. Microsoft is pouring billions of dollars into OpenAI, the company that is building the technology that powers ChatGPT and that released its latest version, GPT-4. That technology, which OpenAI says can be prompted by images as well as text, is already the foundation of a chatbot on Microsoft's Bing search engine that is gaining more users thanks to the embrace of AI. Other tech giants are taking a more cautious approach to generative AI, afraid of the embarrassment that comes when the technology goes off the rails. gc/bfm Google earnings top expectations as AI battle heats up San Francisco, April 25 (AFP) Apr 25, 2023 Google parent company Alphabet beat market expectations in the first quarter of 2023 with a net profit of $15 billion, the company said on Tuesday, in a sign that the search engine behemoth is regaining its footing. The tech titan has found itself under pressure due to a general slowdown in advertising spending, over-hiring during a Covid-era boom and a major challenge by Microsoft on artificial intelligence. Its quarterly revenue came in at nearly $70 billion, a billion better than expected by analysts, and in the same three-month period that the company said it would lay off 12,000 staff, or six percent of its workforce. In its results, Google announced a $2 billion charge for expected costs for the sackings. Google became a focus of worry when Microsoft-backed ChatGPT was released and quickly went viral late last year. The Windows maker has added the technology to its Bing search engine and office software. The search giant has since rushed out Bard, its own version of the language-based AI, but the release was seen as clumsy and has so far disappointed observers and company insiders, according to media reports. An arms race over AI is expected to play out for several years and could prove to be expensive for the tech giants, with companies worried that they could lose out quickly to rivals. To get itself battle ready for the AI wars ahead, Google has reorganized its AI division, putting the independently run Deep Mind subsidiary inside the company in a division called Google Brain. - 'Serious challenges' - The host of challenges sent Google CEO Sundar Pichai on a rare US media tour in recent weeks to reassure that the company remained an industry leader on everything from search to maps to AI pioneering. Despite the headwinds, Pichai received a total compensation package worth more than $225 million in 2022, according to a regulatory filing posted last week. Indicating that troubles are still not gone, Google-owned YouTube's advertising revenue dropped for the third quarter in a row, declining 2.6 percent year over year to $6.7 billion. The struggles at YouTube came in the same quarter that its longtime CEO Susan Wojcicki stepped down after nine years, replaced by longtime executive Neal Mohan. "Google exceeded both revenue and earnings expectations this quarter, but reasons for investor optimism are modest," said Insider Intelligence senior analyst Max Willens. "More importantly, Google's ad business is under threat. YouTube revenues declining again, and Search and Other revenues rising less than 2 percent reflect the reality that Google's core business is facing the most serious challenges it has encountered in quite some time." Despite the deeper-rooted problems, Alphabet's share price has recovered well from the lows seen before January's layoff announcements and on Tuesday shot up by more than 4 percent in after-hours trading to $108.4. This was still well shy of the near $150 seen in 2021, when ad revenue was pouring in. arp/caw South Korean leader starts US visit Washington, April 25 (AFP) Apr 25, 2023 South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol kicked off a six-day trip to the United States with a tour of a NASA facility Tuesday, ahead of joining President Joe Biden for a visit to the Korean War Memorial in Washington and a formal state visit at the White House. Yoon toured NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center just outside Washington along with US Vice President Kamala Harris. In remarks to reporters, both said there was particular emphasis on using satellite technology to track and respond to climate change. Yoon laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery and later Tuesday he was set to join Biden at the Korean War Memorial, depicting life-sized steel statues of US soldiers marching during the 1950-53 war against the communist north. On Wednesday, Yoon and his wife Kim Keon Hee will arrive at the White House for only the second full-fledged state visit of the Biden era, following that of France's Emmanuel Macron. This will feature lavish ceremonial events and a gala White House dinner. But beyond the pomp and circumstance, Biden and Yoon will discuss their countries' deepening partnership in an increasingly volatile Asia-Pacific, where North Korea is ramping up nuclear-capable missile production and China is saber-rattling around Taiwan. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters that Biden and Yoon have had four "engagements" since Yoon took office less than a year ago and "have developed a rapport." Washington and Seoul are also highlighting the strong cultural links, something emphasized by Netflix's announcement of a $2.5 billion investment in South Korean content. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos met with Yoon in Washington on Monday. - US defense of South Korea - A priority for Biden will be reassuring his guest over the US commitment to "extended deterrence" -- the US military nuclear and conventional umbrella for South Korea. "President Biden will reinforce and enhance our extended deterrence commitments to South Korea with respect to the threat" from North Korea, Sullivan said. Sullivan said to expect "major deliverables on extended deterrence, on cyber cooperation and climate mitigation, foreign assistance, on investment, and on strengthening our people to people ties." But the two leaders have some "uncomfortable" topics to discuss, said Katharine Moon, Professor Emerita of Political Science at Wellesley College. The South Korean president has seen his domestic approval ratings dive over his handling of a recent US intelligence leak that appeared to reveal Washington was spying on Seoul. However, he told NBC News in an interview that the spat would not have lasting impacts. "I believe that this matter is no reason to shake the ironclad trust that supports the US-South Korea alliance, because it is based on shared values like freedom," Yoon told NBC News. "When you have that trust, you don't get shaken." Yoon is meanwhile likely to come under pressure from the White House to do more to help the US support Ukraine, as Washington looks to South Korea -- the world's ninth-largest arms exporter -- to help secure ammunition and weapons for Kyiv. South Korea has sent humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, and has sold tanks and howitzers to Poland, but Seoul has a longstanding policy of not providing weapons to active conflict zones. Seoul is also mired in a diplomatic spat with China after Yoon blamed recent heightened tensions over Taiwan on "attempts to change the status quo by force." Google, Microsoft top expectations as AI rivalry heats up San Francisco, April 25 (AFP) Apr 25, 2023 Google parent company Alphabet beat market expectations in the first quarter of 2023 with a net profit of $15 billion, the company said on Tuesday, in a sign that the search engine behemoth is regaining its footing. The tech titan has found itself under pressure due to a general slowdown in advertising spending, over-hiring during a Covid-era boom and a major challenge by Microsoft on artificial intelligence. Its quarterly revenue came in at nearly $70 billion, a billion better than expected by analysts, and in the same three-month period that the company said it would lay off 12,000 staff, or six percent of its workforce. Microsoft's results for the first three months of the year also pleased investors on Tuesday, lifted by its industry-leading business cloud products. The company founded by Bill Gates reported profit of $18.3 billion on revenue of $52.9 billion as Cloud and AI more than offset drops in revenue from licensing Windows software to computer makers, as sales suffer in that market. Most market attention was on Google, which became a focus of worry when Microsoft-backed ChatGPT was released and quickly went viral late last year. The Windows maker has added the technology to its Bing search engine and office software. The search giant has since rushed out Bard, its own version of the language-based AI, but the release was seen as clumsy and has so far disappointed observers and company insiders, according to media reports. "We'll continue to incorporate generative AI advances to make search better in a thoughtful and deliberate way," Google chief Sundar Pichai said during an earnings call. "And we will test and iterate as we go because we know that billions of people trust Google to provide the right information." An arms race over AI is expected to play out for several years and could prove to be expensive for the tech giants. To get itself battle ready for the AI wars ahead, Google has reorganized its AI division, putting the independently run Deep Mind subsidiary inside the company in a division called Google Brain. - 'Serious challenges' - The threat from an AI-augmented Bing sent Pichai on a rare US media tour recently to reassure that the company remained an industry leader on everything from search to maps to AI pioneering. Despite headwinds, Pichai received a total compensation package worth more than $225 million in 2022, according to a regulatory filing posted last week. Google-owned YouTube's advertising revenue dropped for the third quarter in a row. However, there was "strong watchtime growth" at a YouTube Shorts section added to counter TikTok . During the quarter, YouTube chief Susan Wojcicki stepped down after nine years, replaced by longtime executive Neal Mohan. "Google exceeded both revenue and earnings expectations this quarter, but reasons for investor optimism are modest," said Insider Intelligence senior analyst Max Willens. "Google's core business is facing the most serious challenges it has encountered in quite some time." Despite challenges, Alphabet's share price has recovered well from lows seen before January's layoff announcements and on Tuesday shot up by more than 4 percent in after-hours trading to $108.4. This was still well shy of the near $150 seen in 2021, when ad revenue was pouring in. Microsoft has been steadily pressing on with its AI revolution, recently announcing that it would apply the powers behind ChatGPT to its iconic Excel, Word and Outlook programs. The Redmond, Washington giant has been swiftly adopting language-based AI, showing less caution than its rivals despite early problems such as chatbots giving disturbing responses or blatantly inaccurate information. "We see that when people use the new AI features, their engagement with Bing and Edge goes up," Microsoft chief Satya Nadella said during an earnings call. "We look forward to continuing this journey in what is a generational shift in the largest software category - search." arp-gc/dw EU set to put greener aviation fuel in planes Brussels, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2023 EU lawmakers and member state governments have reached agreement on boosting "green" aviation fuels at airports to cut carbon emissions, officials said Wednesday. The preliminary deal would see a minimum two percent of sustainable aviation fuel -- synthetic, biofuel, or recycled from waste gases and plastic -- mixed into currently used kerosene starting from 2025, rising gradually to 70 percent by 2050. The agreement is part of the European Union's transition to a net carbon-neutral future, and follows a sweeping reform of the bloc's carbon market that is expanded to include sea and air transport. The European Commission said the drive to increase sustainable aviation fuels would cut aircraft carbon dioxide emissions by two-thirds by 2050. "This agreement provides certainty for the SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) industry and airlines alike," the head of aviation industry group Airlines for Europe, Laurent Donceel, said. But he added that Brussels needs to support the transition to sustainable aviation fuels in the same way it backs the adoption of solar panels and wind turbines so it is "not pricing passengers out of the air". Aviation emissions in Europe were on an upward curve of around five percent per year between 2013 and 2019, dropping off after that only because of travel curbs under the coronavirus pandemic. Those curbs are now largely lifted, and aviation traffic is bouncing back. The European Parliament and the European Council, which represents member states, have to formally adopt the measure before it is published as a new EU law. UK power firm facing probe of climate claims London, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2023 British electricity generation firm Drax said Wednesday that regulator Ofgem has ordered a probe to verify its environmental claims of using sustainably sourced wood to burn at its power plants. The group confirmed a report in the Financial Times, which said Ofgem was examining BBC claims over wood procured from Canada, to assess whether Drax complied with UK biomass sustainability rules that aim to curb emissions and protect biodiversity. "Ofgem has recently informed Drax that it will commence an audit to verify the information the business provides to the regulator" regarding origin certification, a company spokesperson told AFP, stressing it was a "standard" process. The watchdog, which also confirmed the probe, added that it regularly undertook additional checks on Drax's adherence to the sustainability scheme. "Ofgem takes scheme compliance extremely seriously and where we identify or suspect that requirements are not being met we may decide to investigate further," an Ofgem spokesperson told AFP. "This is an extra layer of assurance, over and above the requirements set out in regulations." Separately on Wednesday, Drax posted news of a "strong" first-quarter performance and share buyback alongside its annual general meeting (AGM). The news sent its share price soaring more than three percent on the London stock market. Drax added Wednesday that its remaining two coal units had begun decommissioning in April. The group has long planned to switch from coal to biomass wood pellets in a bid to tackle climate change -- but this has sparked outcry from the green lobby which disputes the environmental benefit. Campaigners demonstrated outside Drax's AGM on Wednesday in anger over the group's policies. "The reason that we're here is because Drax rebrand themselves as a renewable energy company and that they're a climate solution," biologist Abi Perrin told AFP. "But this is really not the case. In fact, their activities are exacerbating the harm that's been caused to life around the world and to our carbon emissions, they're still increasing." Fellow activist Delphine Holmon insisted that Drax was wrongly claiming to be green. "The problem is that they are a model for the rest of the world to follow: 'this is a way of generating energy while still being green'," Holmon said outside the shareholders' gathering. "If they are not challenged in the false process of generating power, of taking money under false pretences... it could spread to other areas." Britain plans to scrap coal-powered electricity generation by October 2024, as part of its goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. However, the UK government prompted fury last year when it approved a new coal mine in Cumbria, northwest England, on the edge of the Lake District national park. ved-rfj/rl An attack on the prison holding deposed Sudanese former president Omar al-Bashir has raised questions about his whereabouts, with one of the warring sides saying he is being held in a secure location and the other alleging he has been released. Al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan for three decades despite wars and sanctions, was overthrown during a popular uprising in 2019. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide and other crimes committed during the conflict in Sudan's western Darfur region in the 2000s. He and other former top officials accused of atrocities have been held in Kober prison in Khartoum for the last four years, as authorities have declined ICC requests that they be handed over. The Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which together had removed al-Bashir from power during mass protests, are now battling one another across the capital. The fighting reached the prison over the weekend, with conflicting reports about what transpired. Military officials told The Associated Press that al-Bashir, as well as Abdel-Rahim Muhammad Hussein and Ahmed Haroun who held senior security positions during the Darfur crisis, had been moved to a military-run medical facility in Khartoum under tight security for their own safety. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with media. The army later accused the RSF of donning military uniforms and attacking the prison, saying they released inmates and looted the facility. The RSF, led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, denied the allegations and claimed that the military forcibly evacuated the facility as part of a plan to restore al-Bashir to power. Local media meanwhile aired a purported audio statement from Haroun in which he said that he and other former officials were left in the prison complex guarded by a small number of security forces, and were later allowed to walk free. He said they left the prison for their own safety because of the fighting and a lack of food or water. He did not mention al-Bashir or say where he and the other officials were. A lawyer for al-Bashir did not respond to phone calls or messages seeking comment. Kober prison held a number of activists, some of whom were charged in the death of a senior police officer during a protest. One of them, Mosab Sharif, posted a video online saying that the entire prison had been emptied after a military strike that killed some of those inside. He said armed men burst through the doors and ordered everyone out. Another activist who walked free, Ahmed al-Fatih, said he was willing to surrender at a police station but could not find any that were functioning amid the unrest, according to a statement released by his defense lawyers. Both activists said their lives were in danger at the prison as food and water ran low. Videos circulating online appear to show a long line of prisoners leaving the facility with bags of belongings slung over their shoulders. The ICC indicted Al-Bashir, Hussein and Haroun on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur. The Darfur conflict erupted when rebels from an ethnic African community launched an insurgency in 2003, complaining of oppression by the government in Khartoum. Al-Bashir launched a scorched-earth campaign that included air raids and attacks by notorious Janjaweed militia, tribal fighters who stormed into villages on horses and camels. The campaign was marked by mass killings, rape, torture and persecution. Some 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven from their homes. Search Keywords: Short link: Welcome To SpoilerTV We bring you a comprehensive and up to date spoiler service on all the major US TV shows and Movies. You can find specific show content by clicking the menu system at the top of the screen. We scour the Internet for spoilers as well as posting our own exclusive spoilers (Scripts, Casting Calls, Set Photos etc) as well as recaps and other fun articles and polls. We hope you enjoy your stay. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DENVER (AP) Sitting in front of a hulking red tractor, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill Tuesday making Colorado the first state to ensure farmers can fix their own tractors and combines with a right to repair law which compels manufacturers to provide the necessary manuals, tools, parts and software. Colorado, home to high desert ranches and sweeping farms on the low-and-level plains, took the lead on the issue following a nationwide outcry from farmers that manufacturers blocked them from making fixes and forced them to wait precious days for an official servicer to arrive delays that imperiled profits. While their increasingly high-tech tractors or combines sit impotent, a hailstorm could decimate a crop or a farmer could miss the ideal planting window, farmers said. Farmers have had to wait three or four weeks to get repairs done to equipment when they can do repairs themselves. Thats just unfathomable, said Bill Midcap, whose son is a fifth-generation rancher on Colorado's eastern plains. Lawmakers in at least 10 other states have introduced similar legislation, including in Florida, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas and Vermont. Colorado has taken the lead, but Democratic Rep. Brianna Titone, the bill's sponsor, and Dan Waldvogle, director of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, said it's a potential launch pad for other states and even at the federal level where discussions about similar legislation are already underway. The legislation advanced through long committee hearings, having been propelled forward mostly by Democrats even though a Republican lawmaker co-sponsored the bill. The proposal left some GOP lawmakers stuck between their farming constituents pleading for the ability to repair their equipment and the manufacturers who vehemently opposed it. Manufacturers and dealerships raised concerns that providing tools and information to farmers would allow equipment owners to illegally crank up the horsepower and bypass emissions controls putting operator safety and the environment at risk. Opponents also worried that compelling companies to share more detailed information necessary for repairs could expose proprietary information. Forcing a business to disclose trade secrets, software and jeopardize consumer safety is poor public policy," said Republican state Rep. Matt Soper, adding that it will stifle tech innovation. Manufacturer John Deere did not immediately respond to a request for comment. At the signing ceremony Tuesday afternoon, under a light drizzle of rain, Polis said: This bill will save farmers and ranchers time and money and support the free market in repair before exclaiming, first in the nation! Behind the governor and arrayed farmers and lawmakers sat a red Steiger 370 tractor owned by a farmer named Danny Wood. Wood's tractor has flown an American flag reading Farmers First, and it been one of two of his machines to break down, requiring long waits before servicers arrived to enter a few lines of computer code or make a fix Wood could have made himself. Polis and Titone climbed inside the tractor for a photo as the ceremony ended. The bills proponents acknowledged that the legislation could make it easier for operators to modify horsepower and emissions controls. But they argued that farmers are already able to tinker with their machines, and doing so would remain illegal. The law falls into the broader right to repair campaign, which has picked up steam across the country and applies to a range of products, from iPhones to hospital ventilators. Independent mechanics and car owners have access to tools and parts because of a 2014 memorandum of understanding signed by the automotive industry. Two years ago, President Joe Biden directed the Federal Trade Commission to beef up its right-to-repair enforcement. ____ Bedayn 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Florida Republicans are poised to change state law to allow GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis to run for president without having to leave office, according to legislation filed Tuesday. The proposal would exempt presidential candidates from Florida's so-called resign to run law, which prohibits elected officials from qualifying as a candidate for another office that would overlap with their current term. The legislative move was anticipated but its formal introduction marks one of the clearest signals yet that DeSantis plans to run. He is expected to announce after the state's legislative session ends in early May. Republicans, who control a supermajority in the statehouse, have largely focused on the governor's conservative priorities during the current legislative session, approving bills that will likely form much of the governor's platform when he launches his White House bid. The resign to run exemption was filed by a GOP ally of DeSantis as an amendment to a larger Republican election law package expected to reach the Senate floor this week. Republican leaders of the House and Senate have both expressed their willingness to change the law. DeSantis is currently overseas as part of an international trade mission to Japan, South Korea, Israel and the United Kingdom. The governor in recent months has also ramped up his travel to U.S. battleground states for speeches and meetings with Republicans. There is precedent for changing the Florida law to help clear a path for potential candidates for higher office. In 2007, the Republican-controlled Legislature changed the law to prevent problems for then-Gov. Charlie Crist, who was being considered as a possible running mate for Republican John McCain in 2008. Crist later became a Democrat and challenged DeSantis for reelection last year. Only a handful of states have similar resign-to-run laws. A ship carrying 1,687 civilians from more than 50 countries fleeing violence in Sudan docked in Saudi Arabia Wednesday, the foreign ministry said, the largest evacuation effort by the kingdom so far. The group that arrived in the coastal city of Jeddah from Port Sudan on Wednesday was "transported by one of the kingdom's ships, and the kingdom was keen to provide all the basic needs of foreign nationals in preparation for their departure," the ministry said. It included 13 Saudis, while the rest came from countries across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas, the ministry added. The Indonesian foreign ministry said 560 nationals had been successfully evacuated from Sudan to Saudi Arabia, though it was not clear if all of them were on the same boat that reached Jeddah on Wednesday morning. Jakarta is moving another group of more than 300 Indonesians by land from Khartoum to Port Sudan in readiness for a second round of evacuations, spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah told AFP. Sri Lanka's foreign ministry said that 13 of its nationals had arrived in Jeddah from Sudan, and another 12 were awaiting evacuation in Port Sudan. The Saudi state-affiliated Al-Ekhbariya channel broadcast footage of passengers waving the green, sword-emblazoned Saudi flag as they disembarked and Saudi security forces walking babies off the boat. At least 459 people have been killed and more than 4,000 wounded, according to Tuesday figures from UN agencies. A US-brokered three-day ceasefire between the warring generals brought some calm to the capital, but witnesses reported fresh air strikes and paramilitaries claimed to have seized a major oil refinery and power plant. Evacuees began arriving in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, with boats carrying 150 people including foreign diplomats and officials. On Monday, a C-130 Hercules military plane flew dozens of South Korean civilians to Jeddah's King Abdullah Air Base, and a boat ferried nearly 200 people from 14 countries across the Red Sea from Port Sudan. All told, 2,148 people have been evacuated to the kingdom from Sudan so far, including more than 2,000 foreigners, the ministry said. Search Keywords: Short link: Sandra Slack Glover, the appellate chief for the U.S. attorney of Connecticut and a former law clerk to Sandra Day OConnor, was nominated Tuesday by Gov. Ned Lamont as a justice of the state Supreme Court. If confirmed by legislators, Glover would succeed Maria Araujo Kahn and become Lamonts third appointee to Connecticuts highest court after Christine E. Keller and Joan K. Alexander. Kahn resigned to become a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Glover, 52, of Guilford is a 1997 graduate of the University of Chicago Law School who clerked for two powerhouse figures in American jurisprudence, first for Judge Richard Posner of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Chicago and then for OConnor, the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. Sandra Slack Glover is highly respected within Connecticuts legal community and around the country as an accomplished appellate lawyer, Lamont said in a written statement. Throughout her career, both in private practice and public service, she has demonstrated a respect for the rule of law and a commitment to ensuring that justice is served fairly. Her clerkship for OConnor during the courts October 1998 term made her a contemporary of Amy Coney Barrett, a clerk for Justice Antonin Scalia whom President Donald J. Trump nominated for the 7th Circuit in 2017 and then chose as successor to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. With every other surviving clerk from the 1998 term, including those who served justices of the courts liberal bloc, Glover signed a letter in 2017 urging the Judiciary Committee to confirm Barrett, then a professor at Notre Dame, to the appeals court. Professor Barrett is a woman of remarkable intellect and character, they wrote to the chair and ranking member of the committee. She is eminently qualified for the job. This view is unanimous every law clerk* from October Term 1998 has joined this letter. The asterisk noted one exception, a colleague who died in 2015. The nomination of Glover came as the Lamont administration was lobbied by CT Pro-People Judiciary Coalition, which says that the state and federal judiciary lack professional diversity, to look beyond the ranks of former prosecutors and corporate lawyers for nominees to the bench. The coalition is an outgrowth of the Peoples Parity Project at UConn Law, which issued a report in 2022 saying that public-interest lawyers were underrepresented on the bench. The report reviewed 136 judges and found 39% had experience as corporate attorneys and 21% had experience as prosecutors, but only 6.3% had public defense experience, and 4.9% had worked in legal aid. At the appellate level, the disparities were even more stark, with 50% of judges having corporate experience, 25% with criminal prosecution experience, 6.3% with legal aid experience, and none with public defense experience, the group wrote. Keller, who had been a legal aid lawyer and Hartford municipal lawyer early in her career, was the last justice with what the group considered experience in public-interest law. She took senior status shortly before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 in 2020. She was succeeded by Alexander, a trial and appellate judge who had been a state prosecutor. Steve Kennedy, an organizer with the Peoples Parity, said members recently met with Natalie Braswell, the governors general counsel, to urge the nomination of someone with other than prosecutorial or corporate experience. He also made a similar plea in a letter to the legislatures Judiciary Committee. The Connecticut Supreme Court is the final arbiter of what the states law actually means, wielding incredible power over the people of the state, but there are currently no justices with public defense or legal aid backgrounds, some of the legal experiences that bring attorneys closest to the people most intimately impacted by the states laws, Kennedy wrote. One of Glovers jobs after her Supreme Court clerkship was representing the U.S. Department of Justice in environmental and natural resources cases. Her father was a wildlife scientist who taught at Texas A&M. She came to Connecticut in 2002, first working at Wiggin & Dana. She joined the U.S. attorneys office in 2004, becoming its appellate chief in 2010. From 2014 to 2017, she served as chair of the Appellate Chiefs Working Group, a committee of appellate chiefs from across the country who provide practical advice on federal legislation, court decisions and U.S. Department of Justice policies. Selecting nominees for the Supreme Court is a decision that I take very seriously, Lamont said. Sandra has the qualities that meet the high standards that the residents of Connecticut deserve from their highest court. In addition to her law degree, Glover has a bachelors degree in government from the University of Virginia and a masters degree in political science in government from Duke University. She is married and the mother of two sons. Her husband is Eric Glover, the vice president global ethics and compliance at Otis Elevator and former chief of the financial fraud and public corruption unit of the U.S. attorneys office. Sudans military said Wednesday that former President Omar al-Bashir was being held in a military-run hospital, giving its first official statement on his location since violence in the capital Khartoum raised questions over his whereabouts. The military says al-Bashir, former Defense Minister Abdel-Rahim Muhammad Hussein and other former officials had been moved to the military-run Aliyaa hospital before clashes broke out across the country on April 15. An attack on the prison where al-Bashir and many of his former officials had been held, raised questions over his whereabout and allegations he was freed. Al-Bashir was ousted in 2019 amid a popular uprising. Both al-Bashir and Hussien are wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes related to Darfur conflict. Before the military official statement, military officials told The Associated Press late on Tuesday that al-Bashir, as well as Abdel-Rahim Muhammad Hussein and Ahmed Haroun who held senior security positions during the Darfur crisis , had been moved to a military-run medical facility in Khartoum under tight security for their own safety. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with media. The army later accused the RSF of donning military uniforms and attacking the prison, saying they released inmates and looted the facility. The RSF, led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, denied the allegations and claimed that the military forcibly evacuated the facility as part of a plan to restore al-Bashir to power. Local media meanwhile aired a purported audio statement from Haroun in which he said that he and other former officials were left in the prison complex guarded by a small number of security forces, and were later allowed to walk free. He said they left the prison for their own safety because of the fighting and a lack of food or water. He did not mention al-Bashir or say where he and the other officials were. Search Keywords: Short link: N aming Heathrows Terminal 5 after the King would create nice symmetry, the airports boss said, following a report that such an offer was rejected due to Charles reluctance. Chief executive John Holland-Kaye told the PA news agency that the UKs busiest airport has a long association with the royal family. Heathrow wanted to mark the coronation by renaming Terminal 5 after the King, according to The Times. But Charles was said to be reluctant to accept so Buckingham Palace called in ministers to turn down the airports offer, the newspaper reported. Terminal 2 at the west London airport has been known as the Queens Terminal since a rebuilding project was completed in 2014. Asked about the potential naming of Terminal 5, Mr Holland-Kaye said: There would be a nice symmetry I think to have our two main terminals Terminal 5 and Terminal 2 named the Kings Terminal and the Queens Terminal. But thats a matter for the Cabinet Office. He added: Weve had a long association with the royal family. Were very proud of that. I think its great that we celebrate the coronation and so we will be doing this in other ways. There will be flags, bunting and a party atmosphere at the airport over the coronation weekend, Mr Holland-Kaye said. He continued: It is a big moment for the country. Its also a fantastic catalyst for people to want to come and visit the UK. I hope well see a lot of visitors from America coming over. PA understands that Heathrows offer in relation to the naming of Terminal 5 was not rejected on environmental grounds. A Government spokesperson said applications for attributing royal titles are assessed against a strict criteria and are very rarely approved. There have been no significant approvals in the last year, the spokesperson added. One of the most recent was in 2017 when a jetty in Portsmouth was named after the Princess Royal. Buckingham Palace was approached for a comment. I m a proud Londoner. Its the city where I live, where I work, and where I most love to go walking with my dog. London is also a special place for M&S. Our first store in the capital opened in 1913, offering customers the same high quality great value products that were famous for today. M&S stores have been a permanent fixture across the citys streets ever since. Over a third of our store estate is located throughout London, our first ever Simply Food opened here, and Clapham Junction was where we developed and launched our renewal format which weve been rolling out across the country since 2019. London has always put us on a global stage. Weve been backdrops to major events and historical moments from the Platinum Jubilee to Londons annual Pride, and well be ready in two weeks time to do the same again when more than a quarter of a million people descend for the Kings Coronation. But the truth is London is falling way behind other major global cities. Stuart Machin is the CEO of M&S / M&S The economic turbulence of recent years has had a decimating impact on Londons retailers, with hundreds of empty buildings and shuttered shops. Seventeen buildings are listed for demolition across Westminster with four on Oxford Street alone. The High Street which is meant to be the jewel in Londons crown today is a national embarrassment, with a proliferation of tacky candy stores, antisocial behaviour and footfall remaining in the doldrums, 11% down on pre-pandemic levels. And the scrapping of tax-free shopping for international visitors only holds London back further. Meanwhile other cities are beginning to thrive again. It pains me to see our great city like this. For too long now it has been on life support. As a proud Londoner I want to invest in a London we can be proud of. So this week we are doing our bit and making a 12.5 million investment in our London shops, creating 200 jobs in the process. This means well more than double the new store square footage across London, through openings like our brand new 38,000 sq ft store in Croydons Purley Way, as well as extending our renewals format to more stores and customers across the capital. We believe in the long-term future of stores, and establishing a fit for the future store estate is a key part of our strategy to protect the magic of M&S and modernise the rest. We see stores as a huge competitive advantage in serving customers however, wherever and whenever they want. So were continuing to invest in the capitals bricks and mortar, and delivering some of our biggest innovations here as weve always done. Well ensure our stores are equipped to offer the full omnichannel experience customers demand today. Our approach is to be selective and targeted into the right sites where the economics add up, but our centuries-old commitment to London remains steadfast. But we dont want to stop there. Right now, we have plans for a modern, sustainable redevelopment for our Marble Arch store, which would deliver a transformative investment for the west end of Oxford Street including more than 2000 jobs. The current store is not fit for purpose due to its confusing layout, misaligned floors, poor backstage area for colleagues, and crucially the amount of energy it wastes. Instead we are aiming to establish a modern and innovative site, which will be in the top 1% of Londons most sustainable buildings, alongside significant improvements to the surrounding public areas. This will revitalise the whole area, making it better for our colleagues, customers and the community, and breathing life back into Oxford Street. Theres no national levelling-up without a healthy, thriving capital city and Oxford Street needs this lifeline. Our plans have the support of retailers and local community groups alike, and weve had approval every step of the way from local authorities. The final decision now lies with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up. For the sake of every Londoner, and the millions more watching, I hope the opportunity to restore our great citys High Streets is not rejected. Stuart Machin is the chief executive of Marks & Spencer W hen it comes to the climate impact of generative AI the dizzyingly fast tech category that generates realistic images, audio, and text, and which is led by OpenAIs breakthrough programme ChatGPT opinion is divided. Zealots proclaim such innovation to be a key weapon in our arsenal against carbon emissions. The more cynical view is centred on the vast amount of power needed to both train and run AI systems. For me, the future isnt about this or that, its about this and that. AI might well alleviate the effects of climate change in one corner while accelerating it in another. As you might imagine, this would be a good thing and a bad thing too. Competition heats up (along with the planet) The fight for AI supremacy is in full swing as big tech companies compete to come out on top in this new age of human-to-machine communication. For starters, Google and Microsoft are making huge renovations to their search engines, hoping to integrate newly-built (or purchased) AI programmes to make experiences better. But corporations that are locked in a battle for market share risk overlooking how such activities might impact the environment. Evidence from 2021 shows just how energy-intensive training an AI is. A paper produced by researchers from Google and the University of Berkeley found that bringing an earlier iteration of OpenAIs tool (GPT3) up to speed took 1.287 gigawatt hours. For a bit of perspective, a gigawatt is usually a measurement reserved for things like wind farms and nuclear energy plants. A single gigawatt can power 100 million LED lights. Worryingly, there doesnt seem to be enough transparency when it comes to emissions created by those at the cutting edge of generative AI. As these tools mature and increase in size, they will guzzle more power. Climate claims Generative AI might also roll us back from the brink. Beyond that, it might also make living with the effects of climate change easier and more possible to predict. Decision-makers in business are hopeful. Last year, a survey from Boston Consulting Group found that 87 per cent of CEOs from the public and private sector (who have clout in both AI and climate) think that AI is an essential tool in our climate change efforts. There is mounting evidence for this. Consider how AI in the broader sense (rather than the specific, language-modelling, generative sort) has created better ways to evaluate climate risks. A company called Climate.ai has built a climate resilience platform that helps alert businesses to climate-related disruptions coming down the pipe. The brand held a bumper funding round, netting $22m this month and claims its activities have averted 887k metric tonnes of CO2e from emitting out into the atmosphere. A call for regulation and policy In heavy industry like building, energy, and shipping AI can be used to find efficiencies and cut emissions. For instance, DeepSea Technologies is another player in the field using the technology to curb CO2 output. This company analyses cargo vessels and provides crew with answers to specific questions on how best to guide the ship. The company reckons that it shaves off 10 per cent of fuel during voyages. Globally, thats a lot of bunker fuel. The two biggest trends in our lifetime are ramping up. Firstly, the digitisation of our lives will see a quantum leap now that generative AI is abroad in the wild. Secondly, the race to decarbonise our civilisation is intensifying. As these shifts intersect, we need regulations and policies that ensure the AI tools we develop remove more carbon than they create. W hen we think of attacks on democracy, we think of dramatic moments like military coups, but the reality can be more boring, but just as dangerous like voter suppression. Which is happening here in the UK. The Government has changed how you can vote. If you were on the electoral register, you could turn up at your polling station. Now you must show a specific form of photo ID and if you dont have it, you go home. No paperwork, no vote. The reason cited is voter fraud. Of course we must protect electoral integrity but this is an invented problem being used to import a denial of democracy. Last year there was just one caution issued by the police. For a bit of context, Downing Street received 126 fixed penalty notices over partygate. Tories cite Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman, who was found guilty of election fraud and removed from office back in 2015. But this case actually proves the current system works it discovered fraud and punished him. His case was also more to do with postal votes than people impersonating people at the polling station. If youre genuinely worried about dodgy postal votes, these voter ID plans dont address that. But thats not what this about. And is it proportionate or fair to impose a bureaucratic new system on 70 million people across the country based on what happened in one borough in London? People also cite the fact that you need ID to pick up a parcel. Thats because people do try to steal parcels. Theyre not trying to steal votes. Despite what Donald Trump says. This new proposal which kicks in at the local elections on May 4 across parts of the country (which arent happening in London) matters because of who it will affect. Cabinet Office figures estimate that 2.1 million people could lose out. And they will tend to be from ethnic minority communities, less well off, renters who are more transient and younger people. These citizens are also more likely to vote Labour, and with a tight election on the horizon where the stakes are high, a spot of voter suppression could make a difference. Every little helps. But its not just Labour voices who are worried. Many on the Right are nervous that older Conservative voters could turn up at a polling station with an old driving licence or passport with a photo from 15 years ago and they too will lose their vote. Although older people are allowed to use their travel passes as ID, while younger people are not. Hmm, wonder why? There was always a desire in all political parties to increase voter participation in elections. This bad faith, cynical move will reduce the franchise. Democracy is about fair competition and a level playing field. This is the opposite. Ahead of the general election, we need the mother of all voter registration campaigns to start now. Rachel Weisz is terrifying in Dead Ringers For anyone tuning into Amazons Dead Ringers expecting a TV version of Radio Fours gentle, amusing satirical show, be warned. Its a glossy remake of the uber-creepy 1988 film about weird twins starring Jeremy Irons who played both characters psychopathic gynaecologists. Now Rachel Weisz has reprised the role playing equally creepy lady twins. She is mesmeric and terrifying. The dangerous duo are trying to create a birthing centre for mothers, but they also break every moral and ethical rule going encouraged by lots of rich bad people. Weisz oozes rich mom energy which I could relate to as I watched it while scoffing my dinner, dribbling lamb kebab down my egg-stained hoodie. Although it dampened even my appetite some of childbirth scenes are SO gory and stomach churning. Call The Midwife this aint. Although it did make me feel quite relieved to be child-free. Artists listen up: the Evening Standard Art Prize is back and theres 5,000 cash up for grabs for the winner. First launched back in 2017, the competition provides an invaluable opportunity for artistic talent across the country to get their work in front of an impressive judging panel and catch the eye of important industry figures. For this years competition, Evening Standard has joined forces with Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle to offer a 5,000 cash prize and a bespoke fragrance to the winner, while the 12 shortlisted submissions will be brought together in an exhibition at Cromwell Place in London. Ceremony attendees cast appreciative eyes over previous years shortlisted works / NIGEL HOWARD Introducing this years theme The theme for 2023 is A Portrait of You, and this year were asking for something a little different. Artists in the fields of sculpture, textiles, ceramics, glassware, jewellery and wood carving are invited to submit a work, or a coherent series of works, that celebrates self-expression and the individuality and personality that can be shown through their art form. Entries must be the artists own work and can be of any size but must fit easily through a standard door frame (1981cm x 762cm). Entrants will be required to submit three to five images of their work, from different angles and distances, along with 150-200 words about themselves and their submission. The competition launches on 25 April and runs for six weeks you have until 15 June 2023 to submit an entry. It is open to all artists, excluding those who have had a solo exhibition in a public institution. 2018 winner Ashton Atzzs with their winning painting Dont Stay In Ya Lane / NIGEL HOWARD Meet the Evening Standard Art Prize judges Submissions will be judged by an expert panel chaired by Nancy Durrant, Evening Standards Culture editor. She will be joined by Evening Standard Magazine editor Ben Cobb; perfume icon and brand founder Frederic Malle; artist Aowen Jin; and other soon-to-be-announced names. Judges from previous years have included writer and cultural critic Olivia Laing and acclaimed artist Chantal Joffe. Once judges have decided on a shortlist of 12, the submissions will be displayed in an exhibition at Cromwell Place, where the judges will decide upon a winner. The announcement will be made at a special event. In 2017, HelenA Pritchard received the accolade for her work created in homage to London; and at the following years event, Ashton Attzs triumphed for their joyful tribute to transgender identity. HelenA Pritchard, 2017 winner, with her abstract work Love Letter To London / NIGEL HOWARD Considering just how difficult it is to break into the art world without connections and support, the chance for up-and-coming artists to platform their work is exciting for both talent and industry figures alike. With previous entrants and winners going on to have their own solo exhibitions and brand collaborations, theres no denying just how great a springboard the Evening Standard Art Prize can be. Advertisement Feature: Get to know Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle 1 / 3 Advertisement Feature: Get to know Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle When Frederic Malle founded his eponymous brand back in 2000, he changed the landscape of the perfume industry. Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle had creative freedom at its heart from the very beginning, acting as a publishing house for the very best in perfume designers. In the same way an editor works with authors, Frederic Malle collaborates closely with talented perfumers to create original and boundary-breaking scents. Frederic Malle Inspired by memories, encounters and fantasies, Frederic Malle provides olfactory experiences that take perfume to the next level. The brand counts modern-day classics including Portrait of a Lady, Musc Ravageur and Carnal Flower among its impressive repertoire, as well as sumptuous body butters, washes and oils. Frederic Malle For Malle, fragrance is about storytelling and individuality. This unique approach results in an eclectic range of perfumes with the most diverse personalities a collection that embraces all styles and olfactory families, revisits the classics with a modern touch, and boldly strikes out into uncharted territories. To find out more, visit fredericmalle.co.uk or discover in store at Liberty London Editions de Parfum Frederic Malle To enter, visit artprize.standard.co.uk Terms & Conditions: 18+. UK residents only. Promotion closes at 23:59 on Thursday 15 June 2023. There is one prize of 5,000 in cash and a bespoke fragrance by Frederic Malle. One entry per person. The artwork must be an original piece, may not exceed 1981cm x 762cm. Submit your details, the dimensions and title of the artwork, a supporting statement of 150-200 words and 3-5 different images of the work at artprize.standard.co.uk. The winning entry will be the favourite entry selected by the judges. Shortlisted artworks will need to be delivered by 4 September 2023 and finalists must be available to attend an event in London during that week. By entering, you agree that The Evening Standard and Frederic Malle may reproduce your name, image and artwork in future marketing. Frederic Malle is solely responsible for the prize and winners should contact them with any issues over fulfilment. Usual promotion rules apply, see www.standard.co.uk/rules. For further information, please write to Customer Care, Evening Standard Limited, Alphabeta, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London, England, EC2A 1AH. Promoters: Evening Standard and Frederic Malle. S pending time examining your own image can be a confrontational, explorative, and even revelatory experience. As an artist, creating a self-portrait not only enables you to practice your craft, but the resulting work also provides an opportunity for connection with the viewer, a way to reveal or conceal exactly who you are. From Old Masters to celebrated contemporary artists and even a music legend, read on to discover some of the most exciting and inspirational self-portraits to see this summer in London. Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm Step back in time to the birth of Beatlemania at the National Portrait Gallery / Paul McCartney/National Portrait Gallery Sixty years on from its birth, Beatlemania remains an important cultural touchstone, the term itself conjuring archive monochrome footage of the mop-topped musicians and their hordes of screaming fans. A new exhibition of never-before-seen photos provides the chance to see the action from the Beatles perspective, thanks to the 2020 discovery of a lost cache of more than 250 of Paul McCartneys personal photographs of the time. Filled with up-close and personal shots of the band and the fans, photographers and journalists who followed them, the exhibition offers an inside look at an historical cultural phenomenon. National Portrait Gallery, 28 June to 1 October; npg.org.uk Alice Neel: Hot Off The Griddle The Barbican is home to the largest exhibition to date in the UK of this important American visual artist / Eva Herzog American artist Alice Neels Self Portrait is one of the most famous works of a career that spanned most of the 20th century and centred on portraits of artists, revolutionaries and others who were often pushed to the fringes of society. Whoever the subject, Neel approached her work with the same unflinching gaze: its not just the no-holds-barred nature of her work, but also the vibrant use of colour and the politics behind it that make this fascinating exhibition a revelation. Barbican, until 21 May; barbican.org.uk Image of the Artist The Artist by Anthony Green RA is part of an exhibition of self-portraits by Royal Academicians from the last 50 years / Royal Academy of Arts, London 1976 Early members of the Royal Academy of Arts, founded in 1768, quickly recognised the potential for self-portraiture to make powerful professional public statements which is remarkably prescient when you consider the power of the selfie in todays social media-driven culture. This small but sprightly collection of self-portraits by Royal Academicians from the last 50 years includes works by Gillian Wearing, Chantal Joffe and Anthony Green, and has been mounted to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Joshua Reynolds, founding president of this much-loved London art institution. Royal Academy of Arts, until 31 December; royalacademy.org.uk Gilbert & George: The Corpsing Pictures Bed of Bones is part of the iconic art duos confrontational exhibition at White Cube Masons Yard / Gilbert & George Gilbert & George are masters at putting themselves in the frame, using their art to make wide-reaching commentary on contemporary life. This latest exhibition showcases new works which include iconography of death and decay bones, decayed plant stems, stalks and leaves, and knotted ropes. The literal connotations of corpsing and the theatrical slang meaning to break character on stage are both referenced in these compositions, billed as the most profoundly personal and confrontational pictures they have ever created. Like what you see and want to know more? The duo have just opened their own dedicated space in Spitalfields, east London. The Gilbert & George Centre is open Friday to Sunday this spring with the artists 2019 series The Paradisical Pictures on display. White Cube Masons Yard, until 20 May; whitecube.com Advertisement Feature: Explore Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle 1 / 4 Advertisement Feature: Explore Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady by Dominique Ropion A timeless fragrance that blends hundreds of roses with blackcurrant and clove, and base notes including patchouli and sandalwood, 190 for 50ml. Discover more at fredericmalle.co.uk Frederic Malle Rose Tonnerre by Edouard Flechier An intoxicating blend which combines the voluptuous scent of fresh roses with the carnal depth of a truffle accord, 190 for 50ml. Discover more at fredericmalle.co.uk Frederic Malle Lipstick Rose by Ralf Schwieger Evoke vintage Hollywood glamour with a blend of sweet notes of rose, iris and raspberry on a bed of vanilla and white-musk, 148 for 50ml. Discover more at fredericmalle.co.uk Frederic Malle Rose & Cuir by Jean-Claude Ellena A modern reinterpration of rose with a blend of timut pepper, geranium bourbon and a fresh and spicy note of cassis, 165 for 50ml. Discover more at fredericmalle.co.uk Frederic Malle Rembrandt: Self-portrait at the Age of 34 Head to the National Gallery and get face to face with a masterpiece / National Gallery Historically, self-portraits were not only a way for artists to hone their skills but to showcase and promote their abilities too. Rembrandt was known to be an ambitious artist and his approximately 40 painted self-portraits are seen in the art world as a testament to his self-confidence, further corroborated by this famous work in which he is depicted with a self-assured stance and in opulent dress. Room 22 in The National Gallery, ongoing; nationalgallery.org.uk Ulay: SHe Ulays SHe is one of the works on display in Tate Moderns Performing Genders, Performing Selves room / Ulay, S'he 1973, Tate, Courtesy the artist & MB Art Agency Known professionally as Ulay, Frank Uwe Laysiepen received acclaim for his Polaroid art as well as his performance, notably much of it in collaboration with Marina Abramovic. This image is part of Renais Sense a series of early self-portraits that he used to experiment with his idea of the self as complex and permanently under construction. He said: Taking Polaroids was a performative act for me: I performed in front of the camera. These were intimate actions, carried out in the absence of a live audience, ephemeral in nature, yet arrested in time. Performing Genders, Performing Selves at Tate Modern, ongoing; tate.org.uk Vincent van Gogh Self Portrait Frameless gives iconic images a thoroughly modern twist / Frameless If you missed the recent exhibition dedicated to the self-portraits of Vincent van Gogh, or it simply served to whet your appetite for more, then this could be the experience for you. An art show like no other, Colour In Motion at Frameless is a large-scale immersive experience in which masterpieces are digitised and brought to life through animations and projections that are a visual delight at any age. Colour In Motion at Frameless, ongoing; frameless.com The Morgan Stanley Exhibition: Peter Doig Night Studio (STUDIOFILM & RACQUET CLUB) is amongst the Peter Doig works on display at The Courtauld / The Courtauld The first exhibition of a contemporary artist at The Courtauld since it reopened in November 2021 presents the work of Scottish-born artist Peter Doig. Doig is perhaps most famous for his 1987 piece Friday the 13th, inspired by the horror film of the same name. It is his more recent works that are the focus here, including his 2015 self portrait Night Studio (Studiofilm and Racquet Club), pictured, painted in his studio in Trinidad from which he has recently relocated to London. Visitors should also spend some time with The Courtaulds impressive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, many of which have inspired Doigs own work, including Vincent van Goghs Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, a powerful expression by the artist in the year before he died. The Courtauld, until 29 May; courtauld.ac.uk Discover the luxury fragrance collection of Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle online at fredericmalle.co.uk or in store at Liberty London P icasso, Titian, Raphael, Monet there are plenty of old dead white blokes you could build a blockbuster exhibition around, and visitors would flock to it in droves. The National Gallerys latest famous name is a bit different, but arguably more influential, possibly even more famous, than any of those guys, though he would no doubt mumble demurringly and scurry back into his hovel at the mention of it. And yet, Saint Francis of Assisi is almost certainly going to guarantee the museum a hit. The 13th century monk, for whom the current pope is named and who famously denounced all material possessions in favour of living in a broken down hut with a donkey, was popular from his earliest days. His teachings and ascetic way of life rapidly attracted a remarkable number of followers and only became more influential after his death at the age of 44, creating what one of the exhibitions curators, Joost Joustra, calls a hagiographical snowball that began rolling down Assisis Mount Subasio over 800 years ago and keeps on growing. He has since been embraced as an inspiration from generation to generation, across political divides and by everyone from vegans to fascists. Francis is many things both a real historical figure and a myth; theres a Francis of revolutionaries, a Francis of environmentalists, a Francis of pacifists, even a Marvel comic book Francis (his virtues appealed enormously to Benito Mussolini as well, for reasons not entirely clear, and Francis was also declared the patron saint of Fascism in 1926, which is a bit awkward). Apart from those of the New Testament, Francis is thought to be the most represented saint in the history of art (art historians estimate that as many as 20,000 images of Francis, not even counting those in illuminated manuscripts, may have been made in the century following his death alone). He didnt write much himself, but his miracles and his beliefs lend themselves gloriously to visual depictions. We want to show these different Francises, who have a visual correlative, says the National Gallerys director Gabriele Finaldi, who has co-curated the show with Joustra. They aim to explore how Saint Francis has captured the imagination of artists, how his image has evolved over centuries, and how his universal appeal has transcended time, continents, and differing religious traditions. Whats going to be in the show? Saint Francis in Meditation, 1635-9, by Francisco de Zurbaran / The National Gallery, London The exhibition brings together more than 40 works of art, spanning over seven centuries. Paintings from the National Gallerys collection by Sassetta, Botticelli, and Zurbaran will be shown alongside international loans by Caravaggio, Murillo and El Greco, and works by Stanley Spencer, Antony Gormley, Andrea Buttner, Arte Povera artist Giuseppe Penone, and a new commission from Richard Long, will sit among medieval painted panels (several predating the earliest paintings in the National), holy relics, manuscripts and a copy of Francis, Brother of the Universe, a Marvel comic book from 1980, lent to the exhibition by Joustra. Longs new commission, A Walk for Saint Francis, records a series of experiences and sights with words arranged in a simple circular pattern and will be shown alongside another of his recent works, River Avon Mud Crescent. Other highlights include the Nationals own gorgeous Saint Francis in Meditation (1635-9) by Zurbaran; the holy and holey relic of Franciss habit, from Santa Croce in Florence (one of only two that survive, barely the other is in Assisi) and one of only two surviving letters written in Franciss own hand; and El Grecos striking Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata (1590-95). Theres also Australian artist Arthur Boyds vigorous 1964-5 series of lithographs on the life of the saint; Spencers bizarre but tender Saint Francis and the Birds (1935); and a 13th or 14th century horn, lent by the Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi. It is believed this was given to Francis by the Sultan al-Kamil after the Christian brother somehow managed to engage the Muslim ruler in sufficiently interesting discussion to leave his court with his life intact (this was not a given). Apparently, sometimes Francis used it to call his followers to prayer. Who was Saint Francis? Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata, 1590-1595, by El Greco / National Gallery of Ireland Francis was born in 1181 or 1182 as Giovanni di Pietro di Bernadone, the son of Pietro, a wealthy cloth merchant, and his French wife. Francis, or Francesco (the Frenchman), was a nickname given him by his father, or possibly by his friends. As a vain and arrogant boy (according to his early biographer Thomas of Celano, who blamed the parents), he was desperate to be a knight, which was not easy for a commoner. Still, he fought in the battle of Collestrada in the war between Assisi and the neighbouring state Perugia, and was taken prisoner in 1202. The conditions in which he was held may have contributed to the long period of illness that followed his release a year later. Already somewhat disillusioned by his experiences, he headed off to join another campaign, in Puglia, in 1205, but turned back at Spoleto. During this time, a rift with his father was deepening, as Francis became more and more aware of the gap between rich and poor. He had already given away his own expensive clothes to a poorer knight during his campaigning, and started to give away household possessions to the needy, to the fury of his father. The simmering tensions between them exploded in the town square, where his father had dragged his son in a rage. As reparation for the charity the boy had been doling out, Pietro was trying to get Francis to renounce his inheritance. It worked, but at the same time backfired spectacularly in the presence of the Bishop of Assisi, Francis stripped naked and handed his clothes back to his father, renouncing his family name and his inheritance and vowing to live a life of poverty and charity. Wait, what? Naked? In the town square? Yep. Theres a great scene in the Franco Zeffirelli 1972 biopic of Francis, Brother Sun, Sister Moon, where the saint, played by an appropriately beatific-looking Graham Faulkner, walks slowly, starkers, through the arch of the city wall into the sunlight beyond. This arch was recently rediscovered during building work. Its not as big as it looks in the movie. Incidentally, Graham Faulkner retired from acting not long after playing Francis and went to work for a private bank, which probably had the saint turning in his modest grave over which an ironically large and lavish basilica was constructed starting in 1228, on the orders of Pope Gregory IX, who had declared him a saint. What were his saintly miracles then? The Wolf of Gubbio, 1877 by Luc Olivier Merson / RMN-Grand Palais (PBA, Lille) / Rene-Gabriel Ojeda Francis is said to have performed numerous miracles, mostly relating to the healing of the sick and dying, but two stand out as particularly interesting. In one legend, the people of Gubbio told him of a wolf that was terrorising the city. Francis went up to the hills to have a word with the wolf, which at first charged him, but stopped and lay down at his feet when he made the sign of the cross. He led the animal into the city, and brokered a pact between it and the townsfolk, who agreed to feed it regularly if it stopped attacking people. This miracle is depicted in Luc Olivier Mersons painting The Wolf of Gubbio (1877), coming to the exhibition from the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Lille. The really crucial one though, is the miracle of the stigmata, which would come to define him and elevate him significantly in the saintly rankings. Francis spent Lent of 1224 at the beautiful but isolated mountain shrine of La Verna in Arezzo. He was seriously ill by this time, and would die two years later. While he was there he had a vision of, a man, having six wings like a Seraph, standing over him, arms extended and feet joined, affixed to a cross. Two of his wings were raised up, two were stretched out over his head as if for flight, and two covered his whole body. Soon afterwards he noticed wounds appearing on his hands and feet, and another opening in his side. Francis had received the stigmata, the five wounds corresponding to those inflicted on Christs hands, feet and side during the Crucifixion, the supreme confirmation of saintliness that no one up until that point had received, writes Joustra, hence Franciss other name of alter Christus or another Christ. Since then a number of other holy types have become stigmatists, as theyre known, but mostly women, including Catherine of Siena. Francis, Brother of the Universe, Marvel Comics, 1980 / Disney. All rights reserved Inevitably, the image of Francis receiving the stigmata has been incredibly popular with artists, and is depicted and evoked in numerous ways in works in the exhibition, including Gormleys Untitled (For Francis), 1985, which is inspired by Giovanni Bellinis St Francis in the Desert; the El Greco; and in Brother of the Universe, where hes seen being hit by a laser-beam blast of light. Why was and is he so popular? For anyone wearied by guilt, fire and brimstone, Franciss teachings are a welcome relief and have continued to resonate through the generations. He loved music and dancing; his main tenets were the love of ones fellow man and the equal fraternity of all creatures, addressing birds and beasts as brother and sister (hes said to have preached to the birds, shown in both the Spencer painting and another work in the show by Andrea Buttner), which is probably one reason why he resonates with vegans. He advocated respect for the environment too though he didnt write much, his most famous piece of writing, the first known poem in vernacular Italian, is the Canticle of the Sun, which praises brother sun, sister moon and mother earth, along with the elements. He was a pacifist, managing to calm warring factions in the communes of medieval Italy; and he was respectful of other faiths his encounter with the Sultan of Egypt was notable for the respect the two men accorded to each other and has inspired in recent times a renewed effort at dialogue between religions, says Finaldi. The horn with rods is thought to have been a gift to Francis from Sultan al-Kamil / Photographic archive of the Sacred Convent of S. Francesco in Assisi, Italy And, crucially, he was dedicated to charity, to ministering to the poor and sick, and the rejection of material things (almost certainly one reason why, even though the exhibition contains expensive loans, it will be free to visit. The alternative would be just too ironic). In a world where wealth denoted worth (sound familiar?) his teaching was radical in the extreme, bordering on the crank. Brother Dan, a friar now based at the Basilica di San Francesco, describes Francis with the careful phrase intensely spiritual, but admits, its kind of a joke in the [Franciscan] community, if Francis came now, wed never let him in. (Its interesting to note that 200 years later, Joan of Arc would be burned at the stake for overturning the established order and claiming a direct line to God. But then she was a woman). Visionary, radical, whatever you want to call him, 800 years after his explosive town square moment, that snowball is still rolling. Saint Francis of Assisi is at the National Gallery from May 6 to July 30; nationalgallery.org.uk I n the opening episode of the fourth series of Interior Design Masters, criminal defense lawyer Temi was nearly undone by the lofty installation of a peg board in a room for a small child. Our aspiring decorators will have hoped to have a firmer grasp on the height of the average preschooler ahead of last nights task, which followed Karl Moks exit at the end of the first episode. An Oxfordshire day care is the unlikely stage for this second design challenge, which asks the contestants to work in teams to transform a classroom with distinct play, creative and calm zones. There may be shades of the Great British Bake Off in Alan Carrs rallying delivery of its nursery week, but instead of flour, eggs and sugar, each must prove their creativity in paint and plywood. I want to see designs that inspire young minds in active play and learning, but also rest and relaxation, says head judge Michelle Ogundehin, who warns that children can be very demanding clients. Buse hopes her dark brown walls will feel cocooning / BBC A handful of contestants have an immediate grasp of the potential pitfalls; you can practically hear the parents nodding along with Joannes sage observation that if youve got paint and sand, you need to be near water. Ibiza Peters first instinct is less promising: does anyone know any two- or three-year-olds? It is an assignment that threatens to separate the parents, aunts and uncles from the uninitiated, who at turns describe the brief as a nightmare (Ry) and simply not for me (Monika). Carr is clearly unconvinced by Toms tonal (read: beige) concept, but there is also welcome whimsy in the form of fake trees, floating hot air balloons and a bubble machine birdhouse. These days kids are surrounded by all these fantastic toys, but cardboard is just as good, counters Peter, as he admires his DIY pen. Did you have a Victorian childhood? asks Carr. In the back of every mind will be the big prize at the end of it all, revealed last week as a contract to design a real-life cocktail bar. With sadly no kids in sight, guest judging duties fall to interior designer Sophie Robinson, whose spirited assessments prove a smart foil to Ogundehins measured, detail-focused approach. Bounding from one room to the next, she is blown away by the creativity and resourcefulness on display but highlights the trickiness of designing shared spaces by suggesting Peters bold play zone has swallowed up Charlottes quiet corner. On the judging sofa, it is the babies team of Tom, Temi and Ry that receive top marks, while Jack and Peter are the top performers from their respective teams. Joanne is pulled up on a lack of ambition, while Buse has tried to cram too many disparate ideas into a small classroom. Sometimes when we have great ideas, the hardest thing in the world is to do slightly less, says Ogundehin. And it is Buse, admirably resolute in her decision to stick to those brown walls in the face of so much doubt, who was the second contestant to leave the series. Both judges were unconvinced by the child-friendly qualities of her tree stumps and reclaimed wood, described accurately by Ogundehin as a splinter hazard we watched it give Buse a splinter not thirty minutes earlier. The room is also, said the head judge, really rather dark. Now down to eight, the fourth series of Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr continues on BBC One at 8pm next Tuesday 21st March. Let me tell you about my favourite London local. Its a port in a storm, a glowing beacon of light on a bleak afternoon. Its been the source of many happy memories, a place where everybody knows my name. Pub, you ask? Nope, its a charity shop. Ive been a charity shopper since childhood. Where other parents were squeamish about other peoples leftovers, mine relished a Saturday afternoon treasure hunt. I inherited their enthusiasm, first relying on charity shops to make my teen pocket money and student loans stretch further; combing them for retro polyester to make me stand out as an individual in a sea of Jane Norman and Topshop. Later, I used them to offset the guilt of my fast fashion habit, then as a withdrawal drug when I eventually quit. Finally, when I was spending so many hours in my favorite local that it had become almost embarrassing not to, I started volunteering there. Five years of weekly shifts at Shop from Crisis Finsbury Park has confirmed what I knew all along: charity shops are the romantic heroes of the high street. My first novel, Preloved, is set around a fictional north London charity shop, where vignettes of items donated and sold weave through the main narrative. Any dedicated chazza fiend will tell you: the cast-offs feel good on our conscience, but its the stories that keep us coming back. Lauren Bravo wearing second hand clothing bought from charity shops in London / Courtesy of Lauren Bravo / picture by Lalla Redin Photography In the age of the TikTok haul, where IRL retail feels quaint compared to being on first-name terms with your DPD driver, charity shops are still slow, tactile, experiences. They have their own set of verbs you dont shop so much as potter, rummage, pootle around and set of expectations. When you buy secondhand, destiny is your stylist and fate your personal shopper. Knowing you might not find anything to buy today makes it all the sweeter when you do. Shopping secondhand also challenges you to dress differently. Customers gravitate towards gorgeous prints, great cuts and quality fabric, without caring so much about brands or trends. Cherry-picking from across the decades makes for a wardrobe thats more curated. Less dictated by hype. Im not saying that charity shoppers have more styleexcept maybe I am. Any dedicated chazza fiend will tell you: the cast-offs feel good on our conscience, but its the stories that keep us coming back In a world where plenty gets called a great leveller, charity shops actually are. Theyre open to everyone, places to be when you have nowhere to be whether that means killing a few minutes before your bus comes, or filling hours in a week that might otherwise feel empty. Preloveds lonely protagonist, Gwen, starts volunteering in her local shop after shes made redundant. There she meets bored retirees, burned-out lawyers, posturing artists and recovering addicts, all seeking company and respite. Inside Shop from Crisis in Finsbury Park / Courtesy of Lauren Bravo I started volunteering partly to escape my laptop screen and find some social validation that had nothing to do with retweets. Steaming jumpers and pricing paperbacks has become my own kind of #selfcare. Its nice, I discovered, to feel useful. Its also nice lets be real to get your hands on the best swag before anyone else does. What are a few dubious stains or old tissues in pockets when theres also the chance you might reach into a donations bag and pull out a Marni bodysuit (actually happened) or a Victoria Beckham sheath dress (ditto). Modern charity shops might be dealing with increasingly huge mountains of Shein and Boohoo, but theres still gold to be found. Ive seen Mulberry bags, Hermes scarves, Aquascutum trench coats, Helmut Lang tank tops and Chloe cardigans grace the racks in between last years Atmosphere. And while theres still no shortage of St Michael cardigans, many London chazzas these days skew more Ganni than granny. Head to Highgate, Marylebone High Street or Claphams Northcote Road for the ultimate crawls. Volunteering in a charity shop has become my own kind of #selfcare For the sentimental among us? The appeal of the charity shop doesnt necessarily involve luxe labels. Rather, its those glimpses into other peoples lives; the untold histories and unsolved mysteries that lurk on every shelf. Its old photos tucked inside wallets, messages embroidered into hems. A copy of Stephen Kings Misery with To Sarah, lots of love Mum and Dad xxx written fondly inside. A china eggcup shaped like BBC news presenter James Naughtie (it sold). Or the day I walked into a Mind shop and found the exact pair of shoes Id been pining after, box fresh, in my size, for 8. See? Fate! Preloved, Lauren Bravos debut novel, is out 27th April / Courtesy of Simon & Schuster UK This thrill is just as satisfying to witness it from the other side of the counter. Ive cheered when customers have had the object of their desires (do you have any Chas and Dave on vinyl?) unearthed from the stock room, and helped people meet incredibly niche outfit briefs (its a steampunk wedding in Turks and Caicos). Although for every fancy dress success story, theres the moment you tell a customer Halloween items are non-returnable only to realise theyre buying that corset for everyday use. Whoops. You dont need me to tell you charity shops do good the figures speak for themselves. According to the Charity Retail Association, they raise 363 million in funds for crucial causes, and keep around 339,000 tonnes of textile waste out of landfill. They provide affordable clothing and homewares for those who need it (despite worry that gentrification is driving up prices, the median cost of womenswear in charity shops is still 3.95), and new skills for volunteers. But beyond that, theyre community hubs. Alternative social networks. Places to lose a few inhibitions, get back in touch with your personal style and maybe even find yourself. Im not saying that charity shoppers have more soulexcept, maybe I am. Preloved by Lauren Bravo (Simon & Schuster UK) is published on 27th April, available to buy here Pick n Mix: Laurens go-to London charity shops Best for bargains: TRAID, Dalston Every TRAID in London is worth a pilgrimage, but this cavernous branch on Kingsland Road has my highest hit rate. Staff are style mavens and prices super low, but the rails can be chaotic so leave yourself plenty of time to trawl. www.traid.org.uk/shops/traid-dalston/ Best for luxe labels: Oxfam, Marylebone Gucci and Pucci and Prada, oh my! The designer rail at this branch is legendary, but the store itself has a jolly jumble sale feel that will keep you rummaging for hours. www.oxfam.org.uk/shops/oxfam-shop-marylebone-high-street/ Best for bric-a-brac: All Aboard, West Hampstead A good old-fashioned junk shop, piled high with oddities, curios and ugly-cool homewares. Please buy all the 70s ceramics so I dont have to. www.allaboardshops.com Best for hip kids: FARA Kids, Pimlico Babies grow out of clothes in a blink, so why buy new? There are branches of the brilliant FARA Kids all over London, but I favour Pimlico because FARAs vintage-only treasure trove, Retromania, is right round the corner. www.faracharity.org/shop/pimlico-kids/ Best for everything: Shop from Crisis, Finsbury Park Im biased, but it really is the best. Big, bright and well curated, with a perfect mix of high end and fast fashion, choice vintage and eclectic pieces that make it a popular haunt for art students next door. www.crisis.org.uk/get-involved/shop-from-crisis/finsbury-park Leanne Patrick, 35, rushed home from her shift two Fridays ago to dial into the latest Royal College of Nursing (RCN) meeting from her phone. The gender-based violence specialist nurse and RCN member knew this particular meeting was important. After months of industrial action over pay, the union and its boss Pat Cullen had recommended that members accept the Governments offer of a five per cent pay rise and one-off cash payment but while Unisons NHS members had voted to accept the pay offer, 54 per cent of RCN members had voted to reject it. Naturally, Patrick and many of her fellow 480,000 RCN members had questions for their leader, who insisted she would listen to their concerns. Why had Cullen encouraged them to accept a deal so much lower than they had expected? What were the next steps for members? Would leadership be behind them? Cullen a steely mental health nurse from Belfast who started as leader in April 2021 addressed each of these queries carefully on the Teams meeting, explaining that the pay issue was complex and that the RCN was just one of 14 unions campaigning on the issue, despite being the worlds biggest nursing union, with the late Queen as its patron since the 1950s. But Patrick says the most unexpected revelations of Cullens werent those about pay, but that she had been receiving intimidating threats to her home address. Most members were aware of Cullen and other RCN leaders being abused over social media, but this latest wave of harassment marked a terrifying escalation not only because this person or group had targeted Cullen at her personal address, but because there were concerns that she had enemies inside her union, as well as outside. After a succession of controversial leadership resignations in recent years, the past six months have seen members report a growing civil war within the college. There has been division between leaders and hard-left nursing groups, reports of a toxic and misogynistic culture, and an anonymous petition calling for a vote of no confidence in Cullens leadership, believed by some to have been started by members of the RCN who disagree with various leadership decisions made by Cullen. NHS strike Royal College Nursing general secretary Pat Cullen / PA So what exactly is going on at the worlds biggest and one of its most respected nursing unions? Could this reported infighting be harming nurses chances of securing a pay rise? And what is the future for Cullen, the woman brought in on more than 100,000 a year to turn the whole thing around? It really is quite extraordinary for a union that represents some of the most popular and admired members of society to have this kind of dark problem, says one London health commentator, who has been following the RCN dispute for many years. Indeed, this inner turmoil within the college is nothing new. When Cullen, 58, took over in April 2021, the 107-year-old union was suffering from a litany of leadership and culture issues and was widely seen as in desperate need of an overhaul. According to the Mail on Sunday, her predecessor, Dame Donna Kinnair, had resigned from the 197,000-a-year job after a period of ill health and was later discovered to have been suspended amid several concerns, including accusations that she held four meetings with then-health secretary Matt Hancock, without telling RCN officials, and for failing to declare earnings from other organisations. Royal College of Nursing (RCN) leader Pat Cullen (left) appearing on the BBC s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg / PA She had also faced a disciplinary investigation over claims that she had accepted hospitality from multi-millionaire businessman George Farha while on holiday in Morocco, but reportedly struck a deal with the RCN to step down from the role with a 135,000 payoff and an understanding that the situation would be kept quiet within a fortnight of the investigation being launched. The Evening Standard has approached her for comment. Three years previously, Kinnairs predecessor, Janet Davies, also controversially resigned as general secretary after an NHS pay blunder that left tens of thousands of nurses expecting a three per cent pay raise which only half of them received. The rest were left furious after being told they would actually have to wait nearly a year until their appraisal and Davies was forced to apologise and step down. Her colleague, the RCNs then-chief negotiator Josie Irwin, also resigned over the blunder and took a job at rival union Unison. At the time, the RCN said it was awaiting the full findings of a review into the past few months events and would then take an informed decision as to the long-term executive leadership of the organisation. When Cullen was brought in as interim leader in 2021, a wider culture problem had also been bubbling behind the scenes at the college. Despite representing an overwhelmingly female profession, insiders say the RCN was dominated by a clique of mostly male, grassroots members who reportedly bred a culture of misogyny and sexual harassment and, until that point, had sought to sabotage almost every attempt at reform by leadership. Dame Donna Kinnair RCN members hoped that Cullen, a proven leader described as formidable and tenacious by her supporters, would help to change this. Nursing was in her blood she is the youngest of six girls, four of whom have gone on to become nurses; shed spent the early years of her career working as a mental health nurse, including in Belfast during the Troubles; and had already served as director of the RCN in Northern Ireland. Just months into the job, Cullen commissioned leading barrister Bruce Carr KC to conduct an independent investigation into the alleged culture problem, which was published in September and found a culture of bullying, misogyny, and sexual harassment and that the union was riddled with division, dysfunction and distrust. Carr also reported that the council is seen as a misogynistic environment in which loud and abrasive male voices dominate the environment to the detriment of women. The RCNs annual five-day conference, known as congress, was singled out as a particularly grave concern in Carrs 77-page report. The evidence that I have seen suggests that there is a level of expectation amongst a significant number of [male] attendees that opportunities for sexual activity will present themselves at congress, he said of the event, which has been held in locations including Liverpool and Brighton over the years and tends to include a packed schedule of smart evening receptions and awards ceremonies. Chief executive Pat Cullen commissioned an investigation into a culture of misogyny within the RCN / PA Wire Carr described a culture where delegates went to the event with the intention of extramarital sexual activity. He said younger members, like student nurses, were at risk of alcohol- and power-related exploitation and grooming, and concluded that the male-dominated governing body was not fit for purpose, calling for significant change. Patrick, who was one of the original complainants that led to the Carr report, says this culture was an open secret when she became a member in 2016. A relative of hers had been a member before her, so she had always been aware of this culture of misogyny and sexual harassment, avoiding events like congress because of it. Congress was well-known as one big booze-up where predatory RCN council members would hit on the younger women, another industry insider told the Evening Standard this week. Cullen apologised on behalf of the union and got to work as soon as the report was published, forcing that years congress online, suspending at least five members of the council, and referring former chairman Dave Dawes to the Nursing and Midwifery Council. His employment tribunal preliminary hearing found that there had been complaints of tweets of a sexual nature, including the following, sent in July 2011 to another user: As a nurse I can detect abnormalities in breast tissue :) Covering them in ice cream and using my tongue is part of technique. Nurse Leanne Patrick believes Cullen is working on transforming the union / Leanne Patrick Dawes lodged and later lost a claim of unfair dismissal by the union, saying the 12-year-old jokes on Twitter had been used as a pretext to get rid of him. I am aware that the people who originally dug up the 12-year-old jokes on Twitter and sent them to Pat Cullen also keep sending them to lots of other people in the two years since (even though they were deleted in 2021), he said. I think this is a campaign by a small group of RCN members who wanted to remove me from office. So has Cullen managed to deliver on her promise of stamping out that toxic culture? Eighteen months on from Carrs damning report, most members believe that the RCN boss has done her best in delivering on it though cleaning up a decades-long problem doesnt happen overnight. Today, it finally feels like a professional organisation, says Patrick. [Cullen] seems to have a really good grip on where the issues are... but it takes time when its something thats so embedded to tackle every nook and cranny that its reached. But this newfound professionalism seems to have come at a price, with Cullens fight to eliminate toxic figures from the unions ruling elite sparking a fierce power battle within the college. Shortly after the five per cent pay deal was announced last month, an anonymous online petition called for an emergency general meeting (EGM) of the union on May 13, to bring a vote of no confidence in Cullen and her executive team. It also called for a vote of no confidence in the RCNs negotiating committee. Nurses have been striking throughout 2023 / PA Wire The petition gathered more than 1,000 signatures, quickly passing the threshold required for an EGM, with RCN insiders suspecting the group behind the petition to be linked to members of the RCN unhappy with Cullen some over the Carr Report, some for not being tough enough over pay. The petition was not the end of the infighting, however, with the battle between warring factions of the college taking yet another extraordinary turn. Within hours of the petition going live, the RCN accused its authors of fraudulently adding hundreds of names to it, including at least one nurse whod passed away and others who were unaware that their details had been used. A recent no confidence ballot has been discredited and invalidated after a verification process revealed a significant number of names had been added fraudulently, including that of a deceased member. This is now being further investigated, said an RCN spokesperson. Former consultant nurse Ken Spearpoint is one of those whose name was added without his permission. I am affronted with what they have done and quite angry about it, he said last week. What struck me about it was that these are professionals, or theyre meant to be, and to falsify records like that is staggering. The Royal Colleges of Nursing and Midwives have voted to accept a pay deal (Peter Byrne/PA) / PA Wire The RCN is currently seeking advice from the police and the nursing regulator over how this breach happened, and cyber-security firm Dionach has been brought in to investigate further. So what does this mean for the future of the union and can Cullen heal the divisions that seem to be widening by the week? It depends who you ask. An RCN spokesperson told the Evening Standard this week that Cullens determination to clean up the RCN remains strong, though some insiders say her failure to secure the backing of 54 per cent of RCN members over the pay offer suggests its time for her to leave. The RCN is becoming farcical, says Tom Milligan*, 35, a cardiac nurse who believes Cullens five per cent recommendation was nothing short of ridiculous and does absolutely nothing to address safe staffing levels and retention and recruitment of nurses. Others believe that the 54 per cent figure hides the true story, claiming that many relatively new members were persuaded to vote against the pay offer by a minority of disgruntled old hands looking to get their revenge on Cullen. Like any organisation, there are going to be people who are power hungry... It comes with the territory of being a national leader, says community staff nurse Josh Gilroy, 25, another RCN member and keen supporter of Cullen. Patrick believes Cullen still has the backing of most RCN members she speaks to. They voted for her and are proud of what she is doing in fighting for a pay deal while cleaning up the culture of a previously male-dominated union. Some nurses back her so much that they have actually joined the RCN from other unions such as Unison since the pay deal rejection. Community staff nurse Josh Gilroy / Josh Gilroy So can Cullen clear up the remaining issues before the next set of strikes? Id say, at national, full-time officer level, the culture has changed, says one health commentator, pointing out that the RCN council is made up of a majority of women now. So yes, things have improved... The problem is the lack of confidence that members have in the full-time leadership that stems from the historical conflicts between council and executive. Whether Cullen can successfully clean up the stains of the RCNs past and mark an end to that Carr Report era remains to be seen, but she might want to make some hasty decisions. The NHS is currently challenging the colleges upcoming two-day strike this weekend, saying its second day falls outside of the legal mandate it secured for industrial action. It is understood that the RCN has said it will forcibly resist employers attempts to block the strike starting this Sunday, and is willing to go to court over it. But with internal tensions reportedly continuing and commentators suggesting its unlikely the RCN will get the votes for a second strike mandate when this one runs out, the battle within the countrys biggest nursing union seems unlikely to reach a conclusion anytime soon. *Names have been changed to protect identities Hyundai Motor, Kia and Hyundai MOBIS together plan to invest KRW24 trillion ($18.28 billion) in the domestic electric vehicle industry by 2030, with the goal of making South Korea one of the top three players in the global EV market. Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song, said: "Our focus is to enhance the competitiveness of the entire electric vehicle ecosystem, including research and development, production, and infrastructure, and to lead the way in driving change and innovation in the new global automotive industry." In this context Kia has held a groundbreaking ceremony for its dedicated plant for the production of battery-electric purpose-built vehicles (PBV). Potential to expand Kia will invest around one trillion won (approximately $758 million) to secure 99,000 acres of land, with the company planning to start mass-production in the second half of 2025. It plans to produce 150,000 units in the first full year, with the potential to expand in line with future market conditions. The new PBV plant will be built as an eco-friendly plant that applies future innovative manufacturing technologies while minimising carbon emissions. It will also seek efficiency and intelligence with Hyundai Motor and Kias smart factory brand E-FOREST technologies such as digital manufacturing systems. One of the innovative manufacturing processes to be implemented at the new PBV plant is known as the cellular (or cell) method, which allows vehicle production based on diverse customer demands. The cell method is a process layout strategy that groups together machines or workstations that are used to produce similar products or parts. The goal of the cell method is to create a more efficient and flexible manufacturing process by reducing the distance that materials and products need to travel during production. Under the cell method, machines are arranged in a way that optimises the flow of materials and products between workstations, with the aim of minimising downtime, reducing costs and increasing productivity. Cutting-edge The PBV plants cutting-edge manufacturing system unifies the new cell method with the original mass-production conveyor system to allow flexible production with more customisation of various product types. In addition, the PBV plant will be built as a low-carbon factory by operating a dry booth, a nature-friendly construction method, during the painting process of vehicle manufacturing, and reducing carbon emissions by about 20 percent compared to existing factories by utilising natural light and streamlining the manufacturing process. Kia will also apply innovative technologies such as automation of facilities using machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), automation of painting quality inspection under the vehicle, automation of installation of parts such as glass, vehicle name, and company logo, and real-time automatic measurement quality data analysis to autonomously correct and install the vehicle body in real time. The new facility will be a human-friendly plant by pushing automation in heavy-duty work and tasks that require looking up at the ceiling, while enhancing the feeling of openness and also reducing noise levels. The facilitys ground-breaking ceremony was held at Kias Hwaseong plant, located in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, and was attended by over 200 people, including government officials, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, Kias Global President and CEO Ho Sung Song, and other employees from Hyundai Motor Group and the automotive parts industry. First battery electric PBV production set for 2025 Kia plans to show SW (project name), the first model in the companys dedicated PBV lineup, in 2025. The model will be a mid-sized PBV and will be based on the eS platform, a dedicated skateboard platform for battery electric PBVs, enabling various types of vehicle bodies to be flexibly combined. SW has been developed to respond to various business demands such as delivery, ride hailing, and business-to-business (B2B) transactions thanks to its excellent load structure and spacious indoor space that reaches the height of an adult. After launching the mid-sized SW PBV, Kia plans to expand its product lineup to large-sized PBVs that can be used for logistics, fresh food delivery, multi-seat shuttles, and mobile offices and stores as well as small-sized PBVs and mid-sized robotaxis applied with autonomous driving technology. Hyundai to be one of the worlds top 3 EV manufacturers At the groundbreaking ceremony, Hyundai Motor Group also outlined its aim to become one of the worlds top three EV manufacturers by 2030 through the combined sales of Hyundai Motor, Kia and Genesis electric models. The Group also announced that it plans to significantly expand the annual EV production in Korea to 1.51 million units and global volume to 3.64 million units by 2030. To enable such plans, Hyundai Motor and Kia, alongside with Hyundai MOBIS, plan to invest KRW24 trillion (approximately $18 billion) in the EV sector domestically. In 2030, Hyundai Motor Group will have a total lineup of 31 EV models, including models from Hyundai Motor, Kia, and luxury brand Genesis. Kia will launch EV9, its first three-row seat electric flagship SUV, this year and Hyundai Motor plans to launch the IONIQ 7 in 2024. Hyundai Motor Groups large-scale investment aims to upgrade Koreas EV ecosystem and strengthen its role as a hub for driving innovation in the global future automotive industry. It is also expected to promote a virtuous cycle of domestic EV production, R&D, infrastructure and related industries.-- TradeArabia News Service A 14-year-old was rushed to hospital with stab wounds after being attacked by a large gang in an east London park. Police, paramedics and Londons Air Ambulance were scrambled to Mayesbrook Park in Dagenham around 5pm on Tuesday, to reports a number of people were involved in a large fight. A boy, thought to be 14, was found with stab wounds. He was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to a major trauma centre in London. His family were informed. Scotland Yard has since confirmed his condition is not life-threatening. A 15-year-old boy was arrested on Wednesday, 26 April on suspicion of grievous bodily harm [GBH] and possession of an offensive weapon. He was taken to an east London police station where he remains in custody. A number of other suspects remain outstanding, said a Met Police spokesperson. Detectives investigating the stabbing are appealing for witnesses or anyone with footage to come forward. Detective Constable Natalie Anderson of the Mets East Area Command Unit said: We know that the victim was attacked by a large group of boys at the scene and I am particularly keen to hear from anyone with footage of the suspects either at the scene or leaving it. DC Anderson added: We know that for young people contacting police can be daunting, but there is the option of contacting Crimestoppers who will pass information onto us for you and they wont even ask you for your name. Anyone with information or footage should call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 5373/25APR. To remain 100% anonymous share your information via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or at Crimestoppers-uk.org. Any young people who have information about violence or knife crime, can visit www.fearless.org where they can pass on information anonymously your I.P address will not be traced. Fearless is part of the Crimestoppers charity, and is also independent of the police. A mother accused of killing her three-year-old son through religious fasting told police she had locked herself away during the Covid-19 pandemic. Olabisi Abubakar, 42, from Cardiff, is on trial charged with manslaughter and two counts of child cruelty relating to the death of Taiwo Abubakar. Cardiff Crown Court heard that police forced entry to her flat in the Cathays area on June 29 2020 after a friend raised concerns for her welfare. Abubakar, who was thin, malnourished and dehydrated, was found lying on a sofa bed next to the body of her son, Taiwo. Olabisi Abubakar said she couldn't explain what happened to her. She was asleep on the bed and that is what she remembered last. She said she believed she was being punished by God Cardiff Crown Court heard Taiwo weighed 9.8 kilos (22 pounds), with pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbetter finding his death was caused by malnutrition and dehydration. The court heard Abubakar was sectioned on June 30 2020 and has remained detained in hospital, where she is being treated for paranoid schizophrenia. Peter Donnison, prosecuting, told jurors that Abubakar was deemed fit for police interview in October 2020 and was interviewed by officers on eight occasions. In one interview, Abubakar described the effect on her of the pressures of not having help, fearing coronavirus for herself and her child, and her immigration status, the court heard. Mr Donnison said: She described them as depressing. She said she was a religious woman and prayed to God and believed he had heard her and answered prayers and kept them safe. She had been taking her child out daily but she had to stop doing that due to the coronavirus. She described herself as locking herself away due to the coronavirus and her neighbour. Abubakar had been having issues with a neighbour at the property she was living at in Cwmdare Street, Cardiff, and was an asylum seeker. The court heard she is a devout Pentecostal Christian and fasts as part of her faith. Prosecutors allege that Abubaker caused her young son to fast of both food and water along with her, due to fears over the coronavirus pandemic and personal pressures. However, in police interviews Abubakar repeatedly denied this and said children should not fast until the age of 12. Mr Donnison said: She said she would dry fast when she wanted to speak to God and hear something from God. She said her child did not fast, he did eat, and she gave him food to eat. Abubakar told police she had fallen asleep on June 26 and believed she had gone to heaven before being brought back to life when her neighbour and police officers arrived. Mr Donnison said: Olabisi Abubakar said she couldnt explain what happened to her. She was asleep on the bed and that is what she remembered last. She said she believed she was being punished by God. In a police interview, Abubakar said: I saw myself among the dead in heaven. I was saying, I dont want to die. Then I saw the angels of God and they brought me back to life. The court heard a series of facts agreed by the prosecution and defence in the trial, read by Mr Donnison. This included evidence that health visitors saw Abubakar and Taiwo before the pandemic and had no concerns, including in relation to her religion and religious practices. They were not seen by healthcare professionals during the Covid-19 lockdown. In February 2020, a police officer was called to a noise complaint by Abubakars neighbour and attended her room, which he described as clean and warm. Taiwo was seen playing loudly and appeared very energetic and healthy, Mr Donnison said. Police searched the property after Taiwos body was discovered on June 29 and found a note on food in a fridge, stating: Do not touch anything, whooping cough, virus, save yourself. Abubakar wrote a series of notes while in an ambulance and in hospital, stating she was very hungry and cant stand up as well that Taiwo was dead. In hospital, Abubakar told a police officer: I dont eat, I cant cook, because of coronavirus I cant go and buy food. Doctors found Abubakar was suffering delusions and she was sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983 on June 30 2020, with detention in hospital still ongoing for her to receive treatment. The jury has been told it is not disputed that Abubakar, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and moved to London in 2011, neglected her son but the issue is her state of mind at the time. They will have to decide whether Abubakar may have been insane, which would make her not guilty of charges against her by reason of insanity. Caroline Rees KC is expected to open the defence case for Abubakar, who denies manslaughter and two counts of child cruelty, on Thursday afternoon. The trial continues. T ourists are being warned to beware scammers using cup and ball games to con people out of money in central London. Westminster City Council says illegal street gamblers are operating in the area - and fear they will strike increasingly as more visitors pour into the capital for the Kings Coronation and the busy summer season. A recent operation carried out with the Met Police on Westminster Bridge saw two people arrested, four community protection notices issued, and a peanut trolley seized - all over illegal street trading and hygiene concerns. A Westminster City Council spokesperson said: As central London gets ready to welcomes more visitors for the summer and Coronation celebrations, City Inspectors are preparing for cases like this to grow. The long-term strategy is to deter illegal street trading and gambling across Westminster Bridge, safeguarding residents and visitors. Other hotspots where the council is warning tourists to be vigilant are Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Madame Tussauds, Regents, and Hyde Park. Westminster City Council says officials will be carrying out more checks on Westminster Bridge and in other hotspots, to ensure scammers and unlicensed traders stay away. Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Public Protection and Licensing, Cllr Aicha Less added: We are about to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors for the Kings Coronation and the summer, but these scammers threaten to spoil the publics experience. All licensed street performers and vendors in Westminster have gone through a strict process to have their licenses granted, and our teams make sure high standards are maintained. My warning to visitors is to be vigilant, street gambling or fast-food look like an easy win or convenient but are never as they seem. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. A former Metropolitan Police officer accused of using the bank details of dead people for shopping sprees has appeared in court for the first time. Muhammed Mustafa Darr, 37, acquired the credit and debit card details of deceased people when police had been called out to a sudden death, it is said. He allegedly used stolen money to acquire goods or money transfers for himself or others, Westminster magistrates court heard on Wednesday morning. Darr, who is no longer an officer with the Met Police, is also accused of abusing his role as a PC to steal a laptop and a bag from a Mercedes and look himself up on police computer systems. He also faces a charge of perverting the course of justice by allegedly interfering in a live police investigation. It is said Darr used his access as a police constable to look up the progress of a police investigation which had a link to Asif Mushtaq, and then spoke to Ali Ikram and Asif Mushtaq, advising Asif Mushtaq to conceal or destroy evidence linking him to the investigation. Darr, wearing a large black winter coat with a red lining, appeared in the dock on Wednesday morning, as his case was sent to Southwark crown court. He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address, and was released on bail by District Judge Briony Clarke, with one condition of sleeping each night at his home in Walthamstow. Darr was charged follow an investigation by the Mets Directorate of Professional Standards, under the direction of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The charges relate to alleged offending between 2018 and 2020 when the former constable was on a response unit and relate to the misuse of police computer systems including unlawfully accessing information to notify an external party, as well as the alleged theft of items from a member of the publics vehicle, said the IOPC in a statement. According to one of the charges, Darr allegedly wilfully and without reasonable excuse or justification misconducted yourself in a way which amounted to an abuse of the publics trust in the office holder by abusing his position as a constable to acquire credit/debit card details of deceased members of the public, which he then used to acquire or seek to acquire goods or money transfers for himself or others by fraud, and to sell on goods obtained fraudulently. Darr, who was based at the Mets North Area Basic Command Unit, is due to next appear at Southwark crown court on May 24. He did not formally enter any pleas. A former Metropolitan Police officer accused of using dead peoples bank card details to buy goods and sell them on has appeared in court following a corruption probe. Muhammed Mustafa Darr, 37, also allegedly stole a laptop and a bag from a Mercedes belonging to a suspect who had been arrested by his colleagues. He is further accused of using police computer systems to look up information about himself and others and advising a man to destroy evidence linking him to an investigation. Darr was charged with three counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of perverting the course of justice between December 2018 and June 2020, while he was a constable on a response unit, after an investigation into alleged corruption. He pulled a hood over his head and covered his face with a medical mask when he arrived at Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address in Walthamstow, east London. Darr, who was based at the Mets North Area Basic Command Unit, was not asked to enter pleas to any of the charges, which are indictable only, meaning they can only be tried in the Crown Court. One of the misconduct charges states he is accused of abusing his position to acquire credit/debit card details of deceased members of the public. Darr allegedly used the details to acquire or seek to acquire goods or money transfers for himself or others by fraud, and to sell on goods obtained fraudulently. Another misconduct charge alleges he used police computer systems to look up information about himself and others without any legitimate policing purpose. The third states he stole a laptop computer and a bag and its contents from a Mercedes belonging to a suspect who had been arrested by his colleagues. Darr also allegedly perverted the course of justice between March 22 2020 and June 6 2020 by using his access to look up the progress of a police investigation linked to Asif Mushtaq. The charge states Darr then spoke to Ali Ikram and Asif Mushtaq, advising Asif Mushtaq to conceal or destroy evidence linking him to the investigation. District Judge Briony Clarke granted Darr bail ahead of his next appearance at Southwark Crown Court on May 24 on the condition he resides at his home address. Darr was charged following an investigation carried out by the Mets directorate of professional standards under the direction of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). A file of evidence was then passed to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised criminal charges. T he glamour model ex-girlfriend of boxer Joe Calzaghe is facing jail after being convicted of money laundering in a 100 million operation to smuggle cash to Dubai. Jo-Emma Larvin, 44, took suitcases containing around 5m in cash through Heathrow Airport and on to flights to the United Arab Emirates in Autumn 2020. Larvin, her partner Jonathan Johnson, 55, Amy Harrison, 27, and Beatrice Auty, 26, were all part of an operation to smuggle dirty money out of UK, knowing or suspecting it was the proceeds of criminal conduct as they agreed to act as money mules. Larvin, who dated Welsh boxer Calzaghe for six years before they split in 2009, insisted during her trial that she believed the trips had been authorised by UAE embassy officials, and that the cases contained money and official documents. But she was convicted by the jury of removing criminal property from the UK. Judge Sarah Paneth released the guilty defendants on bail until their sentencing hearing. A fifth defendant, Liam Rabone, 29, from West Kensington, was acquitted by the jury of a similar charge of removing criminal property from the UK. The court heard the mastermind of the smuggling ring, Abdulla Alfalasi, 47, arranged 83 successful trips over 18 months involving cash in the region of 100m. Prosecutor Julian Christopher KC said suitcases contained up to 500,000 each, and couriers were paid 3000 for their efforts. L to R: Beatrice Auty, Jonathan Johnson and Jo Emma Larvin were found guilty at Isleworth Crown Court. / NCA Handout During the trial, Larvin was questioned over messages she exchanged with Johnson, including one admitting to being nervous about the trip, complaining about the number of suitcases she had been asked to take, and Johnson telling her to be super careful. When she cleared security, he asked all OK?, and she replied: Yes, phew. Alfalasi who is from Dubai, has been jailed for more than nine years for his involvement in the plot, while another mule, Tara Hanlon, 32, was handed a 34-month prison sentence. Larvin told the trial she was recruited by a handler named Michelle, meeting in a coffee shop and agreeing to ferry suitcases to Dubai. She took two trips, one with Johnson and another with Harrison. The NCA said Auty made two trips to Dubai herself, smuggling 3.4 million, and she helped with the arrangements for 16 other mule journeys. Harrison made three trips between July and September 2020, taking 15 suitcases containing around 6 million. The mules were part of a WhatsApp group called Sunshine and Lollipops where arrangements were made, while cash was packed with coffee and air freshener to try to avoid detection by Border Agency sniffer dogs. Larvin and Johnson, both of Ripon, North Yorks, Harrison, of Worcester Park, Surrey, and Auty, of Fulham, all denied but were convicted of removing criminal property from the UK. Rabone, of West Kensington, denied and was cleared of the same charge. In a statement, Rabones legal representatives Janes Solicitors said he is delighted with his acquittal. The case is due back in court on Thursday to set sentencing dates. Adrian Searle, Director of the National Economic Crime Centre in the NCA, said: The laundering of such vast quantities of cash around the globe enables organised criminals and corrupt elites to clean or hide their ill-gotten gains. Cash smugglers typically work on behalf of International Controller Networks, who move the finances of the international drug trade, people traffickers, fraudsters and other criminal groups, making the source of the money difficult to trace. The criminality this enables costs the UK billions every year, causes misery and ruins lives across the world. This case demonstrates the continued commitment by the NCA to crackdown on money laundering and close the vulnerabilities being exploited. A veteran NHS worker has been jailed for five months after sending a vile letter containing threats and abuse to former Home Secretary Priti Patel. Pooneeraj Canakiah, 65, marked the letter as personal in the hope that Ms Patel would open it herself, sending it in January last year when she was still in charge at the Home Office in Boris Johnsons government. He wrote: Your time is coming to an end be prepared we will get you. Threatening to tear you to pieces, Canakiah told Ms Patel: If we dont get you, we will wait and wait and wait. Be prepared, b****. Prosecutor David Burns said the letter, which was intercepted before reaching the Home Secretary, went on to make a series of lewd suggestions about sex between Ms Patel and Mr Johnson. Former prime minister Boris Johnson / PA Wire Sentencing him to five months in prison, District Judge Briony Clarke said the letter shocked her every time she read it. Its an attack on democracy, she said. You sent a letter which was disgusting and threatening in nature, it was addressed to a serving MP who at the time was Home Secretary. It was vile in nature, including threats, it was offensive and vulgar. The judge added: Members of Parliament, whoever they are, should have the right to go about their work in a safe environment. A general view of Westminster Magistrates Court, London / PA Archive Westminster magistrates court heard Canakiah was identified by his handwriting, and he pleaded guilty to sending a letter conveying an indecent or offensive message at his first court hearing in March. Prior to the offence, he worked for the NHS for 42 years, said defence lawyer Myrna Ricketts. He worked all through Covid and became very unwell during 2020. He has suffered two heart attacks and his mother died in July 2022. Canakiah blamed the offence on declining mental health, saying he suffers from depression. But the judge said she had not been shown any evidence to support his claim to have mental health struggles. Canakiah, who lives key worker accommodation in Hackney, east London, must serve half his five-month prison sentence before being released on licence. C alls were growing on Wednesday for the Government to reopen negotiations with teaching unions before tomorrows strike amid fears a stalemate could mean more walkouts in the next academic year. Thousands of teachers are set to strike tomorrow and Tuesday as the bitter dispute over pay continues and negotiations between the Government and the National Education Union have ground to a halt. The head of an influential body representing academy trusts urged the Government to return to the negotiating table. Leora Cruddas, chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts, warned the sector must be wary of a stalemate which could play out over many months, potentially into the next academic year. Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, has issued a call for talks to begin again, but no further meetings have been scheduled. Education SecretaryGillian Keegan has previously said she will not negotiate while strikes are planned. Ms Cruddas called on the Government to find a resolution and return some certainty to classrooms ahead of GCSEs, A-levels, and Sats. She added: Talking is the only way this dispute will be resolved and ensure that children get back learning. Ms Cruddas said she recognised the dispute was challenging to resolve in this fiscal environment. But we are sure that common ground can be found. The Government offered teachers a 1,000 one-off payment for the current school year and an average 4.5 per cent pay rise for staff next year. Four education unions have rejected the pay offer. Dr Bousted said it is the governments inaction and silence that has led teachers to reluctantly take two more strike days. There is a risk that further strikes could take place in the next academic year as other teaching unions are balloting their members. The NEU will also seek a new six-month strike mandate from July. A spokesperson for the Department for Education said: We have made a fair and reasonable teacher pay offer to the unions, which recognises teachers hard work and commitment. Next year, school funding will be at its highest level in history per pupil, in real terms. We know schools are facing increased costs and we are providing an extra 2 billion in each of the next two years to cover those costs. A Met Police officer has pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of children. PC Darren Hourigan, 51, appeared at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to the offence. It follows an investigation by the Mets Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse team, supported by the Directorate of Professional Standards, which led to PC Hourigans arrest in March 2020. PC Hourigan was suspended from the force prior to being charged, and misconduct proceedings will commence in due course, the Met said. Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, who is in charge of policing in South Area, said: We have made it clear that the Met will take action against any of its staff who are not fit to remain within the organisation, and we will now prepare for a misconduct hearing. We are committed to providing Londoners with a Met that they deserve; one that upholds the law on the streets of the capital and amongst its own ranks. The vast majority of the thousands of police officers and staff are striving to take this forward those who wont are not worthy to remain. PC Hourigan was charged by post on September 21 last year. He will be sentenced at the Kingston Crown Court court on July 7. H ealth leaders have warned that urgent and emergency care could be in a precarious position during next weeks nursing strike unless exemptions are brought in by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). NHS Confederation called on the union to allow vital derogations for A&E services to prevent hospital wards from becoming overwhelmed during the walkout. Tens of thousands of nurses will walk out across England for 48 hours from 8pm on April 30 after rejecting a pay offer. Previous strikes have included exemptions for cancer and emergency care. Health Secretary Steve Barclay has launched a legal challenge in a bid to obstruct the second day of the strike in a significant escalation of the bitter dispute over pay. Mr Barclay said that NHS employers had contacted him asking him to check the legality of the action because the strike mandate runs out on May 1. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: While NHS leaders understand why the RCN is intensifying its stance on industrial action, they fear the absence of any exemptions to its planned strikes will put patient care in a precarious position. This is particularly the case for patients who will need emergency and intensive care. NHS leaders are worried that this action could lead to hospital wards becoming overwhelmed during the strike days and could even put some people off from seeking the care they need. We are calling on the RCN to reinstate these vital derogations without delay. NHS Confederation said that bank holidays were already a busy time for urgent and emergency services and so the absence of nurses to fill vital shifts will almost certainly place patients at risk. An RCN spokesperson said: Nursing staff dont want to go on strike, but the NHS and Government have had two weeks to plan for this weekends strike. Employers are responsible for maintaining safe staffing levels and wed expect them to cancel non-urgent clinical work and elective procedures due to take place over the strike period. We know this is a difficult task and there are exceptional circumstances where we would call a strike off in any hospital. But we must remember employers already make difficult staffing arrangements work on most days. They added: Nurses are constantly having to make do with too little staff or not enough beds for people, this level of pressure cant go on any longer. Separately, leaders of the British Medical Association (BMA) wrote to Mr Barclay on Tuesday urging him to start talks through the conciliation service Acas. Both sides remain deadlocked amid a bitter pay dispute, with around 47,000 junior doctors taking part in two sets of strikes in the past two months. Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi, both co-chairs of the BMAs junior doctors committee, wrote: We are willing to negotiate, and no further strike action has been called, however, we must avoid attempting to negotiate via letters. Therefore, we look forward to meeting with you to begin a positive process towards resolving our dispute. Sudan's Interior Ministry accused on Wednesday the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of storming five prisons and releasing inmates from 21 to 24 April. The ministry added in a statement that the RSF stormed Kober Prison, resulting in the deaths and injuries of several prison administration employees, and released all inmates from the prison. Late on Tuesday, Ahmed Harun, a top aide of former president Omar Al-Bashir, claimed that together with other members of Al-Bashir regime he had escaped from Kober Prison. Al-Bashir had also been held in the same prison, but the army confirmed on Wednesday that the 79-year-old had already been transferred to a hospital before the fighting erupted on 15 April. "Members of Al-Bashir's regime, including Al-Bashir himself, had been moved to military-run Aliyaa Hospital due to their health conditions... and remain in the hospital under the guard of the judicial police, the army said in a statement. Harun claimed in a recorded address to the Sudanese television that he and other jailed regime members had remained in detention at Kober for nine days, even after the jail was emptied of both guards and prisoners. He added that they had taken responsibility for their protection in another location. The escape of leading figures from the ousted regime of Al-Bashir, at least one of whom is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, has raised fears the conflict may take a turn for the worse. Meanwhile, the Sudanese army confirmed that the RSF continue to violate the truce declared on 25 April by launching random artillery shelling on areas in the vicinity of the General Command building and the strategic facilities administration. Snipers have also been reported to be shooting in areas surrounding Khartoum Airport, the residential airport neighbourhood, and areas in Bahri and Omdurman, the Sudanese army said in a statement. It also accused the rebels of stationing themselves inside residential areas to use residents as human shields. The theft of a large number of food distribution vehicles is another violation of the ceasefire. This action endangers citizens' property and makes them military targets, the army added. Search Keywords: Short link: J ust Stop Oil protesters are slowly marching through Westminster and Lambeth in the third such protest this week. Protesters began the march at Parliament Square around 7.40am on Wednesday, Metropolitan Police said, before moving to Whitehall, Storeys Gate and Victoria Street. The group said around 90 people began marching from five different locations around Westminster and Lambeth, including Waterloo Bridge, Trafalgar Square and Pall Mall. Todays marches are being held in solidarity with nine Ugandan students who are facing their first day of a trial today in Kampala, Uganda, Just Stop Oil said in a statement. The students are facing trumped-up charges of common nuisance, for peacefully resisting the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). Protesters plan to visit the Ugandian Embassy in Trafalgar Square to highlight the injustice faced by these students and to express solidarity with all those taking action around the world, on the front line of the climate crisis. Getty Images Officers are on the scene engaging and managing traffic, the Met said. Our role is to maintain the safety of road users and get traffic moving as soon as possible, it added. Demonstrators blocked traffic on the northbound carriageway at Whitehall, causing delays. Supporters holding banners could be seen walking next to gridlock traffic in the southbound lane. The route follows similar marches carried out on Monday and Tuesday by hundreds of Just Stop Oil activists. The eco-group has called for a march every day from 7am and every weekend from midday in its campaign of action to stop new oil and gas licences in the UK. B lack taxis are to carry supplies of military-grade emergency bandages in a bid to save the lives of knife-crime victims. The medical kits are being given for free by the charity Rapaid to 500 London cab drivers this week with the aim of having 5,000 in circulation by the end of the year, covering about a third of the capitals taxi fleet. The bandages, which can be used without medical training, can help to stem catastrophic blood loss from stabbings before paramedics arrive on scene. Transport for London, which regulates the taxi trade, has approved the initiative. Cabs will display green windscreen stickers to indicate to emergency first responders such as off-duty medics or police officers that they are carrying the kits, each of which contains four bandages. Drivers who have agreed to carry the bandages will display green stickers in their windscreens to show they are carrying the kits / Handout The bandages are used by the UK and US military. They are designed for battlefield use on serious bleed injuries. Alex Chivers, a former special forces soldier, first thought of the idea while serving as a firearms officer with Wiltshire police. At the time, there had been a series of mass casualty terror attacks, including at Westminster bridge and Borough Market in London and the Bataclan nightclub attack in Paris. He put some bandage kits into taxis in Manchester in 2019, and has expanded the scheme to Oxford, Swindon and Exeter. He told the Standard: You can bleed to death in under five minutes if you have a serious haemorrhage. This is designed for the first five or 10 golden minutes before specialist help arrives. This is just a simple life-saving initiative. TfL think its fantastic. No-one is expecting taxi drivers to become paramedics theyre just carrying the bandages for us. Theyre not expected to jump out and deal with things. It initially started because of terrorism but knife crime has become very prevalent. We are trying not to scaremonger. We hope that they are never needed, but theyre there just in case. We had a report back from Manchester where one of the bandages saved someones life they had fallen drunk onto a bottle. The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association said that many drivers have agreed to carry the kits / Handout At least eight teenagers have been attacked with knives in London this month. Chima Osuji, 17, was stabbed to death outside his old primary school in Chingford on Easter Monday. Mr Chivers has also liaised with the London Resilience Forum, which co-ordinates the capitals response to major incidents. Travis Frain, who was injured in the 2017 Westminster bridge attack, is a patron of the charity and was helping to distribute the bandage kits. He said: I would hope that these kits are never needed, but the reality is that, if used, the bandages will save lives, not just by those affected by terrorism, but a whole range of other incidents. The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association said cabbies were often flagged down by people needing help in an emergency. It said many drivers had agreed to carry the kits. Steve McNamara, general secretary of the LTDA, said: We are delighted to be supporting this fantastic initiative with the potential to save lives. Black cabs are a staple on Londons streets and so are ideally placed to carry these bandages, with participating taxis able to be quickly flagged down in an emergency or drivers to pull over and help if they come across a serious incident or life-threatening situation. We know that cabbies often stop to assist people in distress and help keep Londoners safe when the worst happens, now they will be better equipped to do so. S ir Mark Rowley was on Wednesday accused of helping to turn the Met into a national disgrace as MPs claimed that he had turned a blind eye to past failings in his force. In an angry exchange at the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, Conservative backbencher James Daly said the Met had been a complete and utter mess for a long time and the Commissioner as a former senior officer in the force was one of those responsible. Another Conservative, Lee Anderson, his partys deputy chairman, said he found it pretty hard to believe Sir Marks assertion to the committee that he could not recall any incidents that he had witnessed during his long police career. You must have been walking round with your eyes closed, Mr Anderson said, adding that the Met Commissioner was in denial about what had gone on in the past. Sir Mark hit back by insisting that he had always stood for high standards and was currently doubling down on standards more ferociously than had been done for decades. He added that it was completely unacceptable that the Met was still employing dozens of officers with criminal convictions and that he wanted stronger powers to enable the force to dismiss such individuals which he hoped the Home Secretary was about to introduce. But he found himself under heavy fire during a hearing on policing priorities as Mr Daly accused him of contributing to the state of the Met which was recently condemned as institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic and blighted by widespread other failings in a damning report by Baroness Casey. The situation you find yourself in in this organisation is a national disgrace, Mr Daly, the MP for Bury North, told Sir Mark. Its time that politicians called out the management of organisations like yours for what it is a complete and utter mess for a long time. Senior police officers must have turned a blind eye. I cant find any statement from you back in 2018 saying its outrageous weve got these police officers who shouldnt be serving in the organisation. You seem to be typical of senior police officers at Met Police who have just gone along with this, gone along with this negligence, this incompetence, turned a blind eye. I have real concerns about that. Sir Mark said that during his previous six-year spell with the Met as an assistant commissioner he had chaired many disciplinary boards that had resulted in the dismissal of officers and insisted that since his return to the force last September he had been determinedly rooting out rogue police. We have made much progress over the last few decades but its not enough and we are doubling down on standards more ferocious than has been done for five decades, he said. We are removing people faster and tackling these issues. But the vast majority of our people are good people and a debate which turns this into pillory of the police root and branch is not something I am going to accept. Sir Mark added that he was not tolerating the continued employment of some officers, including those with criminal convictions and those accused of domestic and sexual abuse, but that he needed stronger powers to enable him to remove them. It came as new figures revealed that more than 20,000 new police officers have been hired in England and Wales meeting a Conservative manifesto pledge but Britains biggest police force missed its individual target. Out of 43 forces, the Metropolitan Police was the only one to miss its individual target, falling short by about 1,000. It was tasked with hiring 4,557 new officers but had provisionally recruited only 3,468 in the period, according to provisional Home Office figures. A ir in every London borough breaches World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on the toxic pollutant nitrogen dioxide, a new study has revealed. Analysis by City Hall reveals that at 100 per cent of the 1,823 sites measured across the capital, nitrogen dioxide levels exceed the WHOs recommended limit of 10 g/m3. Fourteen boroughs were also found to have five or more locations which breached the more stringent, legal limit of 40 g/m3. The borough with the highest percentage of places measured which breached that legal limit was Merton, with 27 per cent of sites exceeding it, followed by Brent (26 per cent) and Croydon (25 per cent) - though the number of places measured within each borough varied significantly. Just 15 sites were measured in Barnet, while 131 were measured in Newham. The single highest concentration of nitrogen dioxide was found on Harlesden High Street, in Brent, where 116.5 g/m3 was measured on average, adjusted for bias. It was followed by a site in Romford town centre, near the railway station (71.3 g/m3) and by a location at the junction of Wembley High Road with Ealing Road (64.5 g/m3). The data was collected using nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes - small, low-cost devices which enable the pollutants levels to be monitored over a wide network of locations. The tubes were placed both on roadsides and at background locations away from roads. Every borough was included in the data collection - with the exceptions of Bexley and Harrow, where the boroughs councils did not install air quality monitors, City Hall said. The data comes from 2021. In October of that year, Mayor Sadiq Khan expanded the Ultra low emission zone (Ulez) from central London to cover the area within the North and South Circular roads. The data shows a similar average concentration of nitrogen dioxide in both inner and outer London which City Hall said showed the need to take action right across the city. Mr Khan is planning to expand the Ulez to cover the whole of Greater London on August 29. The zone requires owners of older, more polluting vehicles to pay a daily charge of 12.50 to drive their cars. The Mayor said: Londons toxic air is leading to children growing up with stunted lungs and causes around 4,000 premature deaths a year with the greatest number of attributable deaths in Londons outer boroughs. He said the data is yet more shocking proof that Londons air quality has been in serious breach of the recognised global standard - and its a problem in every single part of the capital. He added: I have made tackling toxic air pollution a priority since I was first elected in 2016, and we have made huge progress since then. However, I am determined to do all I can to ensure that children now and the next generation of Londoners can grow up breathing cleaner air wherever they live in the capital. This is why I made the difficult decision to expand the Ulez London-wide - to help save lives and to give all Londoners the right to breathe cleaner air. Hirra Khan Adeogun, Head of Car Free Cities at the climate charity Possible, said the data shows just how much work there is still left to do on driving down air pollution and emissions in London. She added: The Ulez expansion will certainly help by making our streets healthier and greener but we need to go further. Dedicated cycle lanes, road user charging, and investing in public transport, these are things that will help secure our climate and secure the long-term health of Londoners. A legal challenge to the Ulez expansion will be heard in the high court later this year, after a judgment permitted a group of five councils to proceed. Four London borough councils Hillingdon, Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Surrey county council were granted permission to challenge the policy earlier this month. The five councils believe the plans are unlawful, arguing that there was a failure to follow statutory procedures and a failure to consider the potential for inclusion of non-Londoners in the new 110 million scrappage scheme. The Mayor's office said the expansion plans would continue "without delay". City Hall Conservatives said that the London-wide Ulez would have a "disastrous" impact on people's finances. Tony Devenish AM, City Hall Conservatives environment spokesperson, said: "The science is clear: Sadiq Khan's Ulez expansion would have a negligible effect on air quality, while having a devastating impact on low income families, businesses and charities. "Sadiq Khan should scrap this disastrous plan and start tackling air pollution where it is, instead of taxing people where it isn't." A 97-year-old Second World War hero has been granted his wish to be reunited with a Spitfire once again. Alec Denham, known as Ted, is one of just a handful of veterans still alive to have flown the fighter aircraft that defeated Nazi Germanys Luftwaffe in air attacks during the Battle of Britain. Mr Denham, who has dementia, is being cared for at Honey Lane care home in Waltham Abbey, Essex. Staff organised the VIP tour of Imperial War Museum, Duxford so he could hear the roar of a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine for what could be his final time. Mr Denham, who lied about his age to sign up at 17, said seeing the plane was wonderful and that he had a great day. Lisa Gammalliere, the care homes lifestyle coordinator, believes the sensory experience may bring him some relief. She said: I literally had tears rolling from my eyes, seeing him in uniform and bringing back those memories for him, its just been absolutely overwhelming. It was a wonderful experience for Ted and we got to see the happy-go-lucky, and sometimes cheeky, character that stood him in good stead throughout the war. The smile on his face lit up the airfield I feel privileged to have been part of it and to have been able to do something for a man who did so much for us all during the war. Honey Lane specialises in residential dementia care. Mrs Gammalliere added: Although Ted has dementia he seems able to step out of it when we talk about the war or look through his extensive journals he clearly loved every minute of being in service. Luckily, Teds family knows so much about his exploits we have lots to talk about. W hat is the future of London nightlife? Getting late licences in the capital is becoming increasingly difficult, putting businesses at risk, or forcing them to move to the edge of the city. Rob Star of Electric Star pubs once held warehouse parties for thousands of ravers until finding licenced spaces became too difficult, prompting him to run venues with earlier closing times. Everybody knows in London the licencing environment is always getting tougher. As areas get gentrified, people start taking over what were industrial areas, making them residential, he tells us. Industrial nightclub Printworks is one example, closing this weekend, in favour of corporate development on the site. It is worrying for nightlife because where do we go next? Is there anywhere in London where we can have a nightclub, or we can open a new all-night licenced premises? London Night Czar, Amy Lame, says: Licencing is the responsibility of borough councils, but I continue to work closely with councils to encourage them to be more business-friendly. She says the number of 24-hour licences has increased by around 100 in the last five years. Bradley Zero, DJ and co-founder of Jumbi in Peckham, is appealing for signatures to keep his bar going. Our future is under threat until we get our late licence approved, he wrote on Instagram. When you operate late at night, youre under pressure from the police, the council and its much easier to operate a venue that closes earlier, Rob Star explains. Pressures dont stop there. The future generation of clubbers want venues to prioritise safety. Emma Kay, founder of WalkSafe Pro app says, Gen Z are very vocal when places dont have safety initiatives in place. If venues dont do more it will hinder the night-time economy. Given todays challenges, the era of 20-year licences granted to the likes of Ministry of Sound and Fabric may be over, but perhaps all is not lost for custodians of Londons night scene. Star predicts temporary licences are the future. The Cause had a temporary licence in Tottenham, and now, the popular night out has a new home 60 Dock Road in Canning Town. That space is amazing. For me its one of the best clubs in London, he says. T he first evacuation flights carrying British nationals have taken off from Sudan as UK troops prepare to take over the running of the airfield. Two Royal Air Force planes have landed at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus as of 6.30am on Wednesday, with the first charter flight back to London set to depart later in the day. Families with young children were among those on the first flights that landed in Cyprus with a British man telling the BBC that his sister, who left Sudan overnight, felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Three planes were due to have left conflict-torn Khartoum for Cyprus by Wednesday morning, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledging many more would follow as he warned of a critical 24 hours. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the UK would take charge of the Wadi Saeedna airstrip near the capital from German forces, after Berlin said its final evacuation flight would leave on Tuesday night. He said 120 British troops have already been supporting the operation there. Around 260 people were expected to be flown out overnight on three flights, the first landing on Tuesday evening with around 40 people on board. British nationals have been told to make their own way to the site with some fearing they will not make it due to a petrol shortage. The UK military could be ready to use force if needed to protect the air base in the event it comes under attack during the airlift, although the troops are primarily there to help with logistics, the i paper reported. Mr Wallace told LBC Radio: The Germans are leaving tomorrow, and we will take over the facilitation at the airfield. And the reason the Germans are leaving is people have stopped coming in large numbers. He said only one nation can facilitate the airfield at a time, adding: If the Spanish or the Italians or anyone else wants to fly, well be the ones giving permissions effectively. There is some risk that some of the planes are not full, he said, as there are not thousands at the gate as in the evacuation from Afghanistan. The Government is considering other options, including a possible seaborne evacuation from Port Sudan, some 500 miles from the capital. HMS Lancaster and the RFA Cardigan Bay have been sent to the region. Announcing the completion of Germanys evacuation efforts, the countrys foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians to their own devices, in an apparent swipe at the UKs approach. She said that unlike in other countries, Germanys evacuation had included all its nationals and not just embassy staff. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck Mr Sunak defended the UKs efforts, saying it was right that diplomats were prioritised because they were being targeted. The security situation on the ground in Sudan is complicated, it is volatile and we wanted to make sure we could put in place processes that are going to work for people, that are going to be safe and effective, the Prime Minister said at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) crisis centre. He told teams working on the evacuation efforts that the next 24 hours are absolutely critical. The mission was launched during a ceasefire brokered between the warring factions. But Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned the extraction of UK nationals is inherently dangerous as we cannot be sure for how long it will hold. A UK-born student attempting to flee Sudan said she does not have enough petrol to make the dangerous one-hour drive from the outskirts of Khartoum to the airstrip. Im trying to get there. But the problem is the vehicles that we have have no gas, and the petrol stations are empty, Samar Eltayeb, 20, from Birmingham, told the PA news agency. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck. More than 2,000 British citizens have registered in Sudan with the FCDO. Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, will be prioritised for the flights. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible. Nationals have been warned all travel within Sudan is conducted at your own risk. B ritish nationals in Khartoum are facing dangerous journeys to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip in the hope of boarding an evacuation flight out of Sudan. One Sudanese-British citizen said some people are too scared to make the trip as another described complete chaos on the streets. Eight flights were expected to have left by the end of Wednesday to lift people to safety as the military races against time to rescue citizens while a fragile ceasefire holds. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told UK nationals on Tuesday that they must make their own way to the airstrip. Tarig Babikir, 42, who used to live in Coventry, is taking on a four-hour walk alone to get there. He told the PA news agency before setting off: It all goes down to your instinct, you have to figure out where the fires coming from and try to find a different route. Im going to go through national army checkpoints and paramilitary checkpoints, and most likely Im going to encounter some armed gangs as well. Im carrying no cash as you can get robbed on the streets, and Im going to hide my cell phone. Mr Babikir had been living in a district near to the airstrip but was forced to flee after heavy bombardment. His Ukrainian mother and Sudanese father both have expired UK visas, so he will have to leave them behind with other relatives. My dad is recovering from a stroke, but the best option right now is to leave and I will probably come back in a months time, he said. Mr Babikir said he would be staying with a friend in Kent after arriving back in the UK. He added: Its complete anarchy right now, complete chaos. Anyone can rob you, anyone can shoot you. Dr Ehab Al-Moubarak is currently on his way to the airfield from his parents home in Wad Madani, around 195km south of the Sudanese capital. He had originally travelled to the country from his home in Bristol to visit his mother and father during Ramadan and Eid. He told PA: The issue with security is that it is very difficult to get or evaluate information and as such every rumour needs to be considered. The rumour is that there is clashes here and theyre within the route (to the airfield). After waiting for a minibus with around 25 to 30 other British citizens, Dr Al-Moubarak said the number dwindled to just two as many decided not to take the risk on the estimated eight-hour journey. We dont know how long it will take, he said. To be honest, normally the drive would take around three hours to get there but now it could take eight hours if we get there. Its difficult to get a minibus because no one wants to drive there. The 46-year-old, who works as a scientist at the University of Bristol, has been forced to leave his mother and father behind. He said: I never thought something like this would happen. People are very shocked about the scenes here. I live in a city thats quite safe but many people in this city are working or studying in Khartoum. Every family has a family member in Khartoum where it is bad. Theres no fuel in Khartoum or Wad Madani. He added: My father is really ill and I wanted to take my mother and father to the UK. I asked the question but its not possible, the Government said no as they dont have a visa. He has diabetes and dementia and also cant move as well. He needs 24/7 assistance from my mother. He needs a lot of nursing in the house. The first plane bringing UK nationals back from Sudan landed at Stansted Airport from Larnaca, Cyprus at around 2:30pm on Wednesday. The Prime Ministers official spokesperson said 301 people have been lifted to safety on four flights so far, with the total number of RAF planes to depart Khartoum due to double on Wednesday. Palestinian Presidency Spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh warned on Wednesday that Israel is "playing with fire" following its attacks on Bab Al-Rahma prayer area, an integral part of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Israel is dragging the region into violence, escalation, and instability by insisting on the policy of collective punishment, killing, and attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque, reported Palestinian News Agency WAFA. Abu Rudeineh said that extremist settlers' storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and raising the occupation flag in its courtyards as well as the storming of the occupation police into Bab Al-Rahma chapel and damaging its electricity power grids confirm that the extremist Israeli government is looking for ways to escalate the situation. He added that Israel "is responsible for these dangerous policies seeking to destroy any regional or international effort to provide stability and prevent the deterioration of the situation. Meanwhile, extremist Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir stormed on Wednesday the Ibrahimi Mosque in the Palestinian city of Al-Khalil (Hebron) , WAFA reported. Ben Gvir's tour "comes within a series of continuous incursions of the occupation and its settlers into the 'Haram' since yesterday, Tuesday, as the settlers performed Talmudic dances inside it," to celebrate their so-called Israeli Independence Day, WAFA said. The Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs in the Palestinian Authority Hatem Al-Bakri denounced Ben Gvir's "break-in" into the Ibrahimi Mosque, considering it a "flagrant violation of the holy places and places of worship." Al-Bakri said, "the occupation forces, by exchanging roles with the settlers, allowed them to raise the Israeli flag and candlesticks and launch firecrackers and fireworks on the roof of the Ibrahimi Mosque and in its outer squares." He added that this "falls within the framework of imposing complete Israeli domination over the Ibrahimi Mosque and its surroundings with the aim of turning it into a Jewish synagogue." Search Keywords: Short link: A British-Sudanese father of three has said he told his children it was like a hide-and-seek game when his home was caught in the middle of a gunfight in Sudan. Munzir Salman was at home in Khartoum with his three children when Sudanese armed forces soldiers were ambushed by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) officers outside his block of flats. The 37-year-old, who has dual citizenship, spoke to the PA news agency while he and his children waited to fly to the UK via Larnaca, Cyprus. He said: What happened was some army soldiers were coming through and they were ambushed by the RSF. They then ran behind my house, and they were shooting at each other, I was in the middle. It was horrendous and, unfortunately, its not the first time Ive had gunshots around me. Im a single father of three kids so I had to stay calm for them. I had to tell them it was like a game and told them it was like a hide-and-seek game. I explained the danger before trying to make it like Tom and Jerry where the people outside were Tom and we were Jerry It was an experience they had never been through before, it was very scary but I tried to make it a game for them. I explained the danger before trying to make it like Tom and Jerry where the people outside were Tom and we were Jerry. Mr Salman lived in Sudan until he turned 10 years old before moving to Toxteth in Liverpool, where he lived for 16 years. He then moved to Dubai before moving back to Sudan in 2013 where he had his three children, Siddig, 11, Shaden, eight, and Yasmin, six, with his wife, who died during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. British nationals have faced dangerous journeys to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip in the hopes of being able to board an evacuation flight out of the country. Eight flights were expected to have left by the end of Wednesday to lift people to safety as the military races against time to rescue citizens while a fragile ceasefire holds. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told UK nationals on Tuesday that they must make their own way to the airstrip. Mr Salman, a builder, said: It was hard to explain to them that its a dangerous journey. The first part was that the RSF were trying to spot us as we travelled through neighbourhoods. They spotted us four times but because they saw I had children they let us go. In a normal situation, the journey would have been 20 miles but because of what is going on we travelled 60 miles to get here. T he first flight of evacuees from Sudan is on its way back to Britain as the military races against time to lift people to safety during a fragile ceasefire. RAF flights from near the capital, Khartoum, were continuing throughout Wednesday after hundreds of UK nationals were taken to safety in Cyprus. A chartered jet flying a first group back to London Stansted left Larnaca in the morning, with officials working to rescue more than 2,000 citizens who have registered in Sudan. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said 200 to 300 people have left from the Wadi Saeedna airstrip so far. But with potentially thousands more British nationals in Sudan who have not notified the Foreign Office of their presence, the race is on to lift them to safety. A 72-hour ceasefire brokered by the warring rival generals has largely held since it began in the early hours of Monday. It is understood that if fighting resumes the evacuation operation will not necessarily end, but it will present a greater risk to the safety of evacuees, troops and officials. HMS Lancaster is progressing towards Port Sudan, the Red Sea dock some 500 miles from Khartoum that could possibly be used in a seaborne operation. But with UK nationals being told to make their own way to evacuation sites, that trip would be made particularly challenging by fuel shortages and the traffic of people fleeing. Ms Braverman defended the extensive operation from criticism that Britons are not receiving escorts on their journeys and that allies have removed their citizens quicker. The Government had to cope with a larger cohort of British nationals in Sudan compared to many other countries, she said. In an apparent swipe at the UKs approach, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians to their own devices as it completed its evacuation. She said that unlike in other countries, Germanys evacuation had included all its nationals and not just embassy staff, whom the UK airlifted to safety on Sunday. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had argued it was right that diplomats were prioritised because they were being targeted. A UK-born student attempting to flee Sudan said she does not have enough petrol to make the dangerous one-hour drive from the outskirts of Khartoum to the airstrip. Im trying to get there. But the problem is the vehicles that we have have no gas, and the petrol stations are empty, Samar Eltayeb, 20, from Birmingham, told the PA news agency. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck. The Ministry of Defence said three flights have so far landed in Cyprus since the evacuation began. British forces are expected to take over command of the operation in Wadi Saeedna from German troops on Wednesday, but the security of the site is being maintained by the Sudanese armed forces. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said 120 British troops have already been supporting the operation at the airfield north of Khartoum. The military is ready to use force if needed if the site comes under attack, although the troops are primarily there to help with logistics and providing air traffic control. Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, are being prioritised for the flights. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible. Nationals have been warned all travel within Sudan is conducted at your own risk. T he British evacuation mission from Sudan has lifted 301 people to safety over four flights as the military races against time to rescue citizens while a fragile ceasefire holds. Another four RAF flights were expected to depart the Wadi Saeedna airstrip near the capital Khartoum on Wednesday afternoon, as the first flight of UK nationals arrived back in Britain. Military chiefs have told Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at least 500 people a day can be airlifted and they can continue for as long as we need to even if the 72-hour pause in fighting agreed between rival generals breaks. But British citizens in Sudan have described having to make a chaotic and dangerous journey to the airstrip they have been told to make without a military escort. Downing Street said the airlifts have been full or close to full, with no significant issues being faced by the evacuees. More than 2,000 British nationals have registered in Sudan under evacuation plans, but thousands more could be in the country. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said the operation in Khartoum is running smoothly, while there is currently no issue with capacity. He told journalists that 301 people have been lifted to safety on four flights, with the total number of RAF planes to depart Khartoum due to double on Wednesday. The official said the majority of the people on the planes were British nationals but that some will be citizens of allied countries. He had not been informed of large-scale problems of non-British passport holders turning up and being told they are not eligible. Despite nationals being told to make their own way to the airstrip, he said we are not seeing those who are making that travel having significant issues. However, Sudanese-British citizen Tarig Babikir, 42, who used to live in Coventry, told of the challenge of making it to Wadi Saeedna amid gunfire. Its complete anarchy right now, complete chaos. Anyone can rob you, anyone can shoot you, he told the PA news agency. Downing Street hopes to carry on with flights throughout the week and does not believe there will be a need to leave the airport imminently. The ceasefire has largely held since it began in the early hours of Monday. Brigadier Dan Reeve, chief of joint force operations, said at least 500 people can be lifted from the airstrip every day and that the evacuation window is not conditional on that ceasefire holding. I can see no reason at the moment why we cant continue to do that for as long as the Prime Minister wants us to, he told journalists. The first flight of British nationals arrived back in London Stansted on Wednesday afternoon, having left Larnaca in Cyprus, where they were initially evacuated. Mr Sunak was asked by the SNPs Westminster leader Stephen Flynn whether he would deport child refugees who arrive in the UK without authorisation under plans to stop the boats. The Prime Minister told the Commons of the countrys proud record of supporting asylum seekers, but did not commit to a new safe and legal route for those fleeing Sudan. HMS Lancaster is progressing towards Port Sudan, the Red Sea dock some 500 miles from Khartoum that could possibly be used in a seaborne operation. But with UK nationals being told to make their own way to evacuation sites, that trip would be made particularly challenging by fuel shortages and the traffic of people fleeing. In an apparent swipe at the UKs approach, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians to their own devices as it completed its evacuation. She said that unlike in other countries, Germanys evacuation had included all its nationals and not just embassy staff, whom the UK airlifted to safety on Sunday. The Prime Minister has argued it was right that diplomats were prioritised because they were being targeted. A UK-born student attempting to flee Sudan said she does not have enough petrol to make the dangerous one-hour drive from the outskirts of Khartoum to the airstrip. Samar Eltayeb, 20, from Birmingham, told the PA news agency: Im trying to get there. But the problem is the vehicles that we have have no gas, and the petrol stations are empty. Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck. British forces are expected to take over command of the operation in Wadi Saeedna from German troops on Wednesday. Some 160 British service personnel have been sent to the airfield, but the security of the site is being maintained by the Sudanese armed forces. The military is ready to use force if needed if the site comes under attack, although the troops are primarily there to help with logistics and providing air traffic control. Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, are being prioritised for the flights. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible. Nationals have been warned all travel within Sudan is conducted at your own risk. R ishi Sunak was urged to scrap his beloved non-dom status, as he faced accusations at PMQs of being out of touch with the public. Sir Keir Starmer branded the Prime Minister Mr 24 tax rises and claimed he did not understand the publics struggle with the cost of living, after he described Labours attack on the special tax status as this non-dom thing. But Mr Sunak hit out at the Labour leaders special pensions tax arrangement from his time as the director of public prosecutions, claiming it was literally one law for him and a tax rise for everybody else. Mr Sunaks wife Akshata Murty previously benefited from non-dom tax status, which means an individual only has to pay tax on money earned in the UK, but not on foreign income. At Prime Ministers Questions Sir Keir said: This is Mr 24 tax rises. Ive never heard anything so out of touch as the answer that he has just given, and its not just his refusal to take any responsibility for the damage theyve done, the crashed economy, the hit to living standards, its also he refuses to take the action thats needed. He could stop the handouts hes giving to oil and gas giants. He could scrap his beloved non-dom status. He could put that money back in the hands of working people and get the NHS back on its feet, thats what a Labour government would do, why doesnt he? Mr Sunak replied: The record is clear, look at it right now. Record numbers of people in work. Inequality now lower, the number of people in poverty lower. Those in low pay, the lowest numbers on record. He talks about this non-dom thing, I think hes already spent the money that he claims hed raise on five different things because its the same old Labour Party. Theyre always running out of other peoples money. Sir Keir responded: He calls it this non-dom thing, lets be honest about what his refusal to scrap the non-dom status means. It means that at every possible opportunity he has voted to put taxes up on working people while at the same time taking every possible opportunity to protect a tax avoidance scheme that helped his own finances. The Prime Minister responded by highlighting Sir Keirs pension arrangements as a former chief prosecutor, telling MPs: The rank hypocrisy of it, as we saw last week when it comes to his own special pensions scheme. I said it last week, but I will say it again, it is literally one law for him and a tax rise for everybody else. Sir Keir replied: Heres the difference, I would scrap his pension giveaway whether it affected me or not. He refuses to scrap the non-dom status that benefits him and his family. Echoing the Prime Ministers words, he added: I can see why he is attracted to this non-dom thing. The Labour leader continued to claim Rishi Sunak was out of touch, adding: So out of touch that he looks at a petrol pump and a debit card like theyve just arrived from Mars. He went on: Is it any wonder that he smiles his way through the cost-of-living crisis while putting other peoples taxes up? Is it any wonder he doesnt have a clue how food prices are hammering families across country? And is it any wonder that under him people are paying more and more and getting less and less? The Prime Minister responded by laying out Labours recent record in Parliament, telling MPs: Lets just look at whats happened just in this week, where the Labour Party have put themselves. On Monday in the House of Lords they decided to side with extremist protesters, just yesterday they sided with polluters, and tonight we will see them siding with the people smugglers. T he UK has reportedly been accused of delaying Germanys efforts to evacuate its citizens from Sudan at the weekend. The BBC reported that it was told by senior German political sources that Britains mission to extract its embassy staff led to a temporary blockade of the airfield near the capital Khartoum from which subsequent evacuation flights have taken off. The sources alleged that British forces landed without the permission of the Sudanese army, angering them that they barred access to the site. However, a defence source dismissed the claim as complete nonsense. German rescuers lost at least half a day as negotiations to use the airstrip took place, according to the broadcaster. The British were forced to pay the Sudanese army before leaving, one source told the BBC. Germany and other European nations were hoping to use the Wadi Saeedna airfield to fly their citizens to safety. The Ministry of Defence denied that Britain was responsible for any delay. A spokesperson for the department said: It is not accurate to suggest that Britains efforts to evacuate embassy staff from Sudan last weekend slowed down Germanys plans. Operating in such complex circumstances will always come with challenges, but we have worked extremely closely with our French, US and particularly German partners who have facilitated access to the airfield throughout this week, and of course we remain grateful to the Sudanese Armed Forces. A defence source said: It is complete nonsense to claim that we landed in Sudan without permission from the Sudanese army. We had permission. In an apparent swipe at the UKs initial handling of the crisis, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians to their own devices as it completed its evacuation. Announcing the completion of Germanys evacuation efforts on Tuesday, she said that unlike in other countries, it had included all German nationals and their partners and not just diplomatic personnel. The UK started its mission to evacuate when a ceasefire was brokered between the warring factions. S uella Braverman has rebuffed claims that she and her plan to send migrants to Rwanda are cruel as she risked a new row by accusing people arriving on small boats of having heightened levels of criminality and values at odds with our country. The Home Secretary said she was determined to deliver her plan to stop anyone arriving illegally in Britain from claiming asylum and to create an added deterrence by flying those arriving unlawfully to the African country. The policy has been condemned by refugee charities and produced a warning from the Governments Equality and Human Rights Commission that it could expose vulnerable migrants to serious harm. But Ms Braverman said her Illegal Migration Bill, which is passing through Parliament, was needed to tackle an unacceptable flow of migrants across the Channel and that she was undeterred by being labelled Cruella by critics or rebukes about her language. She said: I think people coming here illegally do possess values that are at odds with our country, we have seen heightened levels of criminality related to the people who have come on boats, related to drug dealing, exploitation, prostitution... I refute the suggestion that our measures are unlawful or indeed cruel and inhumane. The Home Secretary said she was not really interested in personal attacks and was here to do a very serious job. Ms Braverman said a vessel and other sites on land had been identified by her department to house small boat migrants ruled inadmissible for asylum pending their removal from the UK. She refused to say how many migrants she expects to be removed to Rwanda, however, if the court battles over its legality conclude successfully for the Government. M igrants crossing the English Channel on small boats have values at odds with British norms and are linked to heightened levels of criminality, Suella Braverman said. The Home Secretary made the comments as her legislation aimed at deterring migrants from risking the journey from France faced its final Commons hurdles. I think that the people coming here illegally do possess values which are at odds with our country, the Home Secretary said. We are seeing heightened levels of criminality when related to the people whove come on boats, related to drug dealing, exploitation, prostitution. There are real challenges which go beyond the migration issue of people coming here illegally. We need to ensure that we bring an end to the boat crossings. The Illegal Migration Bill will change the law so that those who arrive in the UK illegally will be detained and then promptly removed, either to their home country or a safe third country such as Rwanda. Critics of the Bill have dismissed the proposed legislation as unworkable, while right-wing Tory MPs believe the Bill does not go far enough. Other Tories want greater protections for minors and victims of human trafficking. Ministers have already given in to some demands to avoid potential revolts, with a series of Government amendments expected to be voted on in the Commons. The Government has also been unable to say whether the legislation complies with the European Convention on Human Rights. We are concerned that the Bill would risk breaching international obligations. Marcial Boo, chief executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, told BBC Radio 4s Today Programme he was concerned that the Bill is in breach of international obligations. He said: We are concerned that the Bill would risk breaching international obligations. What we are advising MPs in passing the legislation is just that they bear in mind our international human rights obligations and that they consider those matters when debating the legislation today. What we have said to MPs is that we are concerned that there are risks, particularly to victims of trafficking and children, and we want to make sure that human rights are applied universally because they are for everyone. Although the legislation is almost certain to pass in the Commons, it will face a stiff test in the Lords. Ms Braverman told Talk TV it was legislation that the British people overwhelmingly want and I urge my colleagues in the House of Lords to get behind these measures, they are absolutely vital for us to stop the boats, theyre vital to stop people making this treacherous journey in the first place. Labour condemned Ms Bravermans comments about migrants values. Its pretty clear when you see politicians reaching for that sort of invective that its a sign that the policies that they are promoting have failed, the spokesman said. M ore than 20,000 new police officers have been hired in England and Wales meeting a Conservative manifesto pledge but Britains biggest police force missed its individual target. According to provisional Home Office figures, a total of 20,951 extra recruits joined police forces in the past three years, in the wake of a Conservative election manifesto commitment to have 20,000 additional officers in post by March 2023. Out of 43 forces, the Metropolitan Police was the only one to miss its individual target, falling short by about 1,000. Seven police forces reported provisional figures that are at least 20% over their recruitment target. Opponents previously claimed the Government was lagging behind its promise to replace thousands of jobs cut during austerity measures. The figures suggest the target was reached only after recruitment was ramped up in the weeks just before the deadline. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told MPs of his disappointment at missing the target, indicating the forces current poor reputation was hampering recruitment. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailed the figures, saying the Government had delivered on its promise while Home Secretary Suella Braverman described it as a historic moment for our country. But Labours shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper accused the Conservatives of taking the country for fools. The Police Federation, which represents more than 130,000 rank-and-file officers, said that 23,000 police staff jobs had also been cut during austerity and the impression of a healthily staffed service was misleading. Both Ms Cooper and the Federation said that per head of population there are fewer police officers now than there were in 2010. But Ms Braverman denied policing was the failure of austerity, instead telling reporters the recruitment figures were a success. The total number of new officers provisionally stood at 18,544 at the end of February, nearly 1,500 short of the target. The sharp jump in headcount in the weeks leading up to the March 31 deadline represented the largest month-on-month increase since the recruitment programme began, the Home Office said. The majority of the increase over the latest quarter was seen in the month of March, it added. Concerns have been raised about the quality of vetting procedures and the risk of rogue officers infiltrating the ranks amid the recruitment campaign. Former chief inspector of constabulary, Sir Thomas Winsor, previously warned the sheer magnitude and speed of the programme inevitably carries risks, adding that there is a heightened danger that people unsuited to policing may get through and be recruited. Ms Braverman played down concerns the additional recruitment could see candidates who were not up to scratch joining forces, insisting there were extensive vetting procedures in place. Gavin Stephens, chairman of the National Police Chiefs Council, said fewer than two in 10 candidates make it through rigorous selection procedures and said the drive was four years of very detailed and concerted hard work and effort. The Home Office expected to spend 3.6 billion on the recruitment campaign by March, with a total cost of 18.5 billion over the next 10 years, according to Whitehalls spending watchdog. In June, the National Audit Office (NAO) warned the surge in additional officers joining police forces would exacerbate pressure on a criminal justice system which is already under strain in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. It also said hiring police community support officers (PCSOs), special constables or police staff to fill the roles could lead to vacancies elsewhere in the service. F or the upcoming coronation of King Charles III, a life-size bust of the monarch has been created using more than 17 litres (3.7 gallons) of melted chocolate. About 2,875 Celebrations chocolates were used to make the sculpture, which weighs more than 23 kg (51 lbs). The figure was embellished with miniature versions of Snickers, Mars, Twix, Milky Way, Galaxy, and Bounty bars, among others. It took four weeks to create, and it has Charles wearing the attire that he is anticipated to wear on May 6. The chocolate bust was commissioned by UK chocolate company Celebrations, which is debuting a limited-edition Coronation tub to honour the historic occasion. Emily Owen, senior brand manager for Celebrations, said: What better way to celebrate this moment in British history than immortalising HM King Charles III using the nations ultimate sharing treat. The team studied hours of footage of the King to capture his true likeness and the resemblance is uncanny. Celebrations is all about bringing people together and we are thrilled to be sharing this occasion with so many chocolate lovers up and down the country. Who made the chocolate bust of King Charles? The bust was created by chocolatiers and model makers for Slough-based confectionery firm Mars Wrigleys, with chocolatier Jennifer Lindsey-Clarke (pictured) and her team using about 2,875 melted Celebrations chocolates. The uniform Charles is expected to wear at the coronation is depicted on the sculpture, including chocolate-adorned epaulettes containing Twix, Milky Way, Galaxy, and Bounty Celebrations. For the collar, Maltesers Teasers were used, while Snickers were included in the medals on the busts chest. Where will the chocolate bust be located? The bust is set to go on display at Mars Wrigleys headquarters in Slough. It was designed to show a profile view of King Charles III as close as possible to the image which will soon grace stamps, coins, and bank notes. A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called on the international community to work with the greatest sense of urgency for a lasting settlement of the Palestinian question. The situation in the occupied Palestinian territory has become nerve-wracking for the whole world during the holy month of Ramadan over the past few years. This year, violence in the West Bank intensified with frequent tensions in East Jerusalem and Gaza. The international community cannot become accustomed to this and cannot let it go unchecked. Instead, more must be invested in promoting a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question with the greatest sense of urgency, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. There is a need to oppose violence and incitement and seek common security, he told the Security Council in an open debate on the Middle East. Over the past month, Israeli security forces have many times raided al-Aqsa Mosque, beating and removing Muslims, shattering the peace and tranquility of Ramadan and triggering new tensions. China condemns all acts of violence against civilians and calls on all parties to exercise calm and restraint and put an end to radical and provocative rhetoric and actions, he said. "Palestine and Israel are neighbors that cannot be moved away from each other. The security of one party cannot be based on the insecurity of the other," said Zhang. "In order to fundamentally break the cycle of violence and establish lasting peace, equal attention must be given to the legitimate security concerns of both sides, who must be encouraged to achieve common security through dialogue and negotiation." Settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal. China urges Israel to comply with Security Council Resolution 2334 and effectively cease all settlement activities. It also needs to be pointed out that unilateral measures to change the status quo of Jerusalem are null and void. China calls for respect for the historic status quo of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem, and for Jordan's custodianship over them, he said. People's livelihood must be guaranteed and Palestinian economic development must be promoted, said Zhang. The prolonged occupation and frequent instability have severely constrained the viability of the Palestinian economy and led to the worsening situation for Palestinians. Israel should relax and lift unreasonable restrictions on the movement of people and goods, as well as on land use in the occupied territory, create conditions for the development of Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and lift the blockade of Gaza Strip as soon as possible, he said. The international community should also provide assistance to Palestine through multiple channels to help Palestine alleviate its financial crisis and ensure the provision of public services, he said. Zhang stressed the need to adhere to the two-state solution and to promote the resumption of peace talks. The recent detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran set an example for defusing differences through dialogue. On other Middle East issues, positive developments of dialogue and reconciliation are also in the making, said Zhang. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang recently had separate phone calls with the Palestinian and Israeli foreign ministers. He encouraged Israel and Palestine to show political courage and take steps toward resuming peace talks on the basis of the two-state solution, said Zhang. China expects the international community to increase coordination, take substantive steps and make unremitting efforts to promote the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli talks and implement the two-state solution, he said. Search Keywords: Short link: H undreds of teachers and civil servants are striking in what trade unions have described as the biggest industrial action in Northern Ireland in more than a decade. Most schools in the region are closed on Wednesday as a result of the action. Nipsa (Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance), the largest union in Northern Ireland, has been joined by members of PCS, GMB, Unite and teachers unions at picket lines. The unions say the scale of action means people across Northern Ireland will be directly impacted. The pay award to our members of 552 is insulting and derisory and adds to the wage cut of more than 20% in 10 years All five teaching unions in Northern Ireland are involved, with the National Association of Head Teachers striking for the first time in its history in relation to pay. A pay award amounting to 552 a year for some civil servants was offered by the Government at the start of the month, but talks with health unions around the same time did result in an offer. Nipsa says the strike is taking place against a backdrop of a sharp decline in the real value of public service pay, the Northern Ireland public service budget crisis and an overwhelming cost-of-living crunch hitting working class communities. Rallies are planned at the Millennium Forum in Londonderry and at Belfast City Hall. Nipsa general secretary Carmel Gates said the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, was imposing sanctions on public services to try to force Northern Ireland political parties to return to the assembly. The action has been forced in large measure by the governments decision to implement sanctions in Northern Ireland, she said. The sanctions imposed by the Secretary of State and Westminster are designed to force Northern Ireland political parties to return to Stormont. In effect, these sanctions only hurt ordinary people and will cause permanent damage to public services. The pay award to our members of 552 is insulting and derisory and adds to the wage cut of more than 20% in 10 years. More than 60% of civil servants now earn below the NI median wage. It is time for the trade union movement to say enough is enough. We will build a mighty campaign for pay justice and for an end to cuts in public services. I call on every working-class community to join us in this struggle. A teenage girl has been found dead near a prestigious boarding school in Buckinghamshire with annual fees that top 44,000. Her body was found just before midnight on Friday April 21 near Wycombe Abbey School, Thames Valley Police have confirmed. Thames Valley Police was called to the Wycombe Abbey School at around 11.40pm on Friday after a 16-year-old girl was sadly found to have died, the force said in a statement. Her death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner. The body was discovered in a wooded area near the playing fields, the Mirror is reporting. Wycombe Abbey School declined to comment. Wycombe Abbey is an independent girls boarding and day school that has ranked as one of the top all-girls schools in academic results. Boarding fees can cost parents up to 44,100 per year. It is reported that Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks eldest daughter attends the school. Notable alumni of the school include Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss who was Deputy Coroner of the Queens Household, actress Sally Phillips and CNN chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward. The school was founded in 1896 by Dame Frances Dove, who was previously headmistress of St Leonards School in Scotland. In 2019 student Iris Goldsmith, aged 15, died in a quad biking accident in Somerset during the school holidays. During her funeral service, the Chaplain of Wycombe Abbey spoke of Iriss academic brilliance, of her kindness, her spiritual depth. It was reported that in the same year, violinist prodigy and Wycombe Abbey student Ekaterina Tsukanova was found dead in her fathers property. P lans to legislate for minimum levels of service during rail strikes could have unintended consequences of provoking further conflict, MPs have been told. The Transport Select Committee questioned rail industry and union leaders about the legislation currently going through Parliament. Jamie Burles, managing director of Abellio Greater Anglia, said the overriding objective of the industry is to avoid strikes and have good industrial relations. He stressed the importance of having absolute clarity in the planned law about the requirements on employers and workers. If we do not have that, one of the unintended consequences would be further conflict or stress between the relationship. Tom Joyner, managing director of Cross Country Trains, told the MPs he has not been lobbying the Government to bring forward legislation on minimum levels of service. The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill is set to be debated in the House of Lords on Wednesday. TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: Its time for the Government to ditch this Bill for good and protect the right to strike. No-one should be sacked for trying to win a better deal at work. This draconian legislation would mean that when workers democratically vote to strike, they could be forced to work and sacked if they dont comply. Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, told the committee he believes the law would be a disaster. Critical workers such as signallers and train drivers would be conscripted to work even if they voted legally to strike, he said. It will be a complete pigs ear. It is unsafe, it will not work and will not serve passengers. Mr Lynch said the law would spark novel forms of industrial action as well as wildcat walkouts. He said the Government often points to legislation in European countries, but highlighted recent strikes in France, Italy and Sweden. Mr Lynch said the Government does not understand how the railways operate and is making it up in terms of the legislation. He warned that industrial relations would be poisoned by the new law, with the prospect of large numbers of workers being sacked, leading to huge consequences for the rail industry. Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers union Aslef warned that the law would spark more strikes and other forms of industrial action. He told MPs that unions have not been involved in industry workshops to discuss the planned legislation. In all my 38 years in this industry I cannot see how this can be done safely. There will be more action, and it will worsen industrial relations, he said. The union leaders said laying down a minimum level of service would raise expectations among passengers about how many trains would run during a strike. Mr Lynch said that would lead to anger when the inevitable chaos means there will not be a minimum level of service. P rince Charles became the first child in British history to witness their mothers coronation as sovereign when he attended Queen Elizabeth IIs 1953 ceremony at the age of just four. The heir to the throne watched the proceedings seated between his widowed grandmother, the Queen Mother, and his aunt, Princess Margaret, looking down on the spectacle from the royal box. He frequently tugged at the Queen Mothers glove with excitement but was also pictured looking bored at times, resting his head on his hand during the three-hour deeply religious proceedings. At one point, the prince disappeared from view, with the Queen Mother and Margaret turning round to attend to him. Charles, now King, would later tell his biographer Jonathan Dimbleby he had vague recollections of glorious music and coronets being doffed in unison, but his overriding memory of the coronation was how the Palace barber cut his hair too short and plastered it down with the most appalling gunge. He remember pulling at the Queen Mothers sleeve but could not recall what had piqued his curiosity. There had been much speculation about whether the prince would be at the service and, in the end, the Queen decided he should but only as a spectator because of his age. In 1937, both Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret attended the coronation of their father George VI and Queen Elizabeth, but never before had a royal youngster watched their mother be crowned a Queen Regnant a Queen who reigns in her own right. Charless sister Princess Anne, who was only two, stayed at home because she was considered too young but she later joined the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony. The day before the coronation, Charles was spotted using binoculars at a window in the Palace as he watched the historic preparations unfold. The now monarch in a tribute paid to his mother on her 80th birthday recalled how on the eve of the big event the Queen had practised wearing her heavy crown as she said goodnight to him and his sister during their bathtime. He also told how the crowds camped out on The Mall kept him awake calling for their sovereign. I have vivid memories of the coronation; of my mother coming to say goodnight to my sister and me while wearing the crown so that she could get used to its weight on her head before the coronation ceremony; of thousands of people gathered in The Mall outside Buckingham Palace chanting We want the Queen and keeping me awake at night, he said. During the service, the television cameras turned to the little future king soon after St Edwards Crown was placed on the Queens head. Commentator Richard Dimbleby remarked: The Duke of Cornwall sees his mother crowned. Charles was standing close to and speaking to his grandmother, resting his arms on the edge of the royal box as he turned his head, taking in the proceedings. He had automatically become the Duke of Cornwall on the Queens accession but was not yet the Prince of Wales. The prince afterwards went to the front of the Palace with his parents and Anne, the Queen Mother and the coronation maids and pages, to greet the crowds and watch a flypast. He pointed at the aircraft as the planes roared through the skies. Charless appearance on the balcony that day as the well-wishers cheered in celebration of the newly crowned Queen had a lasting impact on him with the realisation of his unique position. This exposure to the force of public emotion formed an elemental part of the process by which he came to appreciate how very different he was from other children, Dimbleby wrote. Seventy years later, that once young prince is preparing for his own coronation after acceding to the throne and beginning his reign as King Charles III. B ritish consumers throw away almost 80 million usable items of food every week, research has shown on Stop Food Waste Day Wednesday, April 26. Data compiled by the team behind the Too Good To Go app found that every week, this total includes 18 million meat and dairy items, 22 million bread and pasta items, 30.9 million fruit and vegetables, and 8.7 million sweets, crisps, and chocolate. The total worked out as enough to feed the population of Thailand. Sophie Trueman, country director of Too Good To Go UK and Ireland, said: We know that everyone is feeling the pinch of the cost-of-living crisis and the price of everyday essentials has continued to soar. We are on a mission to fight food waste, something which is not only great for our planet, but can also help consumers cut costs ultimately making their money go further. Our belief is that you dont need to sacrifice buying your favourite foods in order to be sustainable and save money you can, instead, adapt your habits, so you make the most out of everything you buy. How to avoid food waste 1. Plan ahead Plan your meals for the week in advance so you know exactly what you need to buy. Write a shopping list and then stick to it when youre in the supermarket try not to be sucked in by impulse buying. 2. Make use of the whole ingredient Embrace the chance to explore new ways of working with ingredients. Why not have a go at making a broccoli pesto using the broccoli stalks that youd usually throw away, or keeping the peel on your potatoes when youre mashing them? 3. Dont discount fruit and veg based on how it looks Dont judge food by its appearance! Oddly shaped or bruised fruits and vegetables are often thrown away because they dont look perfect but, in reality, they taste exactly the same. 4. Take care of how you store food Storing your food properly is one of the keys to extending its lifespan. For instance, onions can make root vegetables go bad quickly so its best to keep them stored apart from things like potatoes or carrots. 5. The difference between the use by and best before dates Theres a big difference between best before and use-by dates. Often food is still safe to eat after the best before date, whereas its the use-by date that indicates when its no longer safe to eat. Before throwing out food thats past its best before date, make sure you use your senses to look, smell, and taste whether its actually gone off. What is Stop Food Waste Day 2023? The campaign is held every year on April 26 and was started in 2017 by Compass Group USA. It seeks to educate people on the realities and devastation caused by food waste, as well as encouraging solutions to tackle it. A statement from organisers read: Our mission at Stop Food Waste Day is to ignite change regarding the global food waste issue. We do this by drawing attention to the problem, at the same time educating through engaging with society at all levels and sharing practical, creative, and impactful ways we can all change our behaviour to minimise food waste. J ailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has said he faces imprisonment beyond 2050 on terrorism charges. Mr Navalny, the most famous critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin, is currently serving combined sentences of 11.5 years for fraud and contempt of court on charges he says were trumped up to silence him. Speaking via video link from his penal colony, Mr Navalny said that investigators had opened a terrorism case against him that could see him sentenced to an additional 30 years in jail. They have made absurd accusations, according to which I face 30 years in prison, he said in a statement published by his supporters. Mr Navalny claimed the terrorism charges related to a separate criminal case opened against him in October accusing him of creating an extremist group, inciting hatred against state officials and calling for unauthorised protests. Russian authorities have not yet confirmed the terrorism charges. Mr Navalny, 46, said the charges implied he had been conducting terror attacks while sitting in prison. The former lawyer has been in prison since returning to Russia in January 2021 following his recovery from a nerve agent attack in Siberia. He initially received a 2.5 year prison sentence for a parole violation, but was subsequently sentenced to a nine-year term for fraud and contempt of court. He is currently serving time at a maximum-security prison 250 kilometres east of Moscow. Mr Navalnys latest court appearance was part of a hearing to discuss preparations for Navalnys trial on the extremism charges. His legal team has asked for more time to study the 196 case files. Mr Putin has intensified a crackdown on freedom of speech and protest since launching a brutal invasion of Ukraine last year. Under laws brought in by the Kremlin in the aftermath of the invasion, it is effectively illegal to publicly criticise Russias military action in Ukraine. Earlier this month, a Russian court convicted a top opposition figure, Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., of treason for publicly denouncing Moscows war in Ukraine. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Separately on Wednesday, Russian investigators said that 11 people had been put on an "international wanted list" in a case linked to Navalny, state-owned news agency TASS reported. C anadian socialite Jasmine Hartin has pleaded guilty to the accidental shooting of a Belize police officer, saying she wants his family to have peace. The former daughter-in-law of Lord Ashcroft will avoid jail after accepting a manslaughter by negligence charge after the death of Superintendent Henry Jemmott, 42, who was found dying from a gunshot wound to the head on a dock in San Pedro on May 27 2021. According to the Mail Online, Hartin trembled and was in tears as she entered the last minute guilty plea in front of the slain officers sisters and daughter. Judge Ricardo Sandcroft was handed a file of evidence from the case by prosecutors which would have been revealed if the trial went ahead. Outside court, Hartin said: I just want Henrys family to have peace now and I want this whole thing to be behind all of us so we can heal. The Canadian mother-of-two is reported to have told detectives she was giving Mr Jemmott a shoulder massage when she handed him his service pistol and it accidentally went off, shooting him on the back of the head. She has described the death of Supt Jemmott as a very tragic accident. Belize police said Ms Hartin and Supt Jemmott were friends. From what we have been made to understand, they were drinking. From investigation, they were alone on the pier and yes, they were both fully clothed, Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams said to reporters. In an interview with Piers Morgan, the socialite was asked: You dont dispute that you fired the gun that killed Henry Jemmott? Ms Hartin replied: No, it was a very tragic accident. It was a loud bang. Then my ears were ringing I was in shock. Henry fell back on top of me. At that point I realised one of us was hurt. I could see blood and feel the blood. So then, I tried to wiggle out from under him, and thats when he started slipping into the water and I tried to catch him. She is due to return to the same court on May 31 for a sentencing hearing after the judge determines the amount of the expected fine. Aerial photographs of the jetty where the pair were said to have been shows what appears to be a pool of blood. Hartin is the estranged partner of Andrew Ashcroft, the son of billionaire Tory donor Lord Ashcroft. Mr Ashcroft operates several luxury tourist properties in Belize. B ritish and German fighter jets have intercepted three Russian military aircraft flying without transponder signals in international airspace over the Baltic Sea, defence sources said on Wednesday. The UK Typhoon and German planes were deployed to identify the two Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft and one Ilyushin Il-20 aircraft. Germany's Luftwaffe air force posted several images of the Russian aircraft mid-flight. The Russian planes are believed to have been carrying out a reconnaissance mission. Russian military aircraft regularly fly from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad and back, meaning that such encounters are fairly routine in the region. Germany handed over responsibility for Natos Baltic air policing mission to Britain earlier this month. Nato allies pitch in to protect the air space there because Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia do not have their own fighter jets. In March, RAF and German fighter jets intercepted a Russian plane near Estonian airspace in the first joint operation of its type. Two UK Typhoons were scrambled, alongside the German air force, to intercept an Il-78 Midas refuelling plane flying between St Petersburg and Kaliningrad. The Russian aircraft had failed to communicate with air traffic control in Estonia. The Anglo-German interception was the first time such an operation has been carried out together by the two countries. The airborne interventions come as the West is pitted against Vladimir Putins regime following its invasion of Ukraine. A trial has opened in a civil claim brought against Donald Trump over an alleged rape nearly 30 years ago. Former advice columnist E Jean Carroll has accused Mr Trump of attacking her in the luxury department Bergdorf Goodman store around 1996, which the former US president denies. She alleges that she went with Mr Trump, 76, to the store's lingerie department where he manoeuvred her into a dressing room and raped her. Ms Carroll will testify that what happened in the stores fitting room went on to change her life forever, said her lawyer Shawn Crowley. Filled with fear and shame, she kept silent for decades. Eventually, though, silence became impossible," he said. The writer first publicly aired her claim in a 2019 memoir, which caused the then-president to use the most powerful platform on Earth to lie about what he had done, attack Ms. Carroll's integrity and insult her appearance, said her lawyer. Trump, who wasn't in court but who could testify, has accused Ms Carroll of fabricating the rape claim to sell her book. Defence attorney Joe Tacopina told jurors Tuesday that her story was wildly implausible and short of evidence. It all comes down to: Do you believe the unbelievable?" he asked in his opening statement. The case could cause difficulty for Mr Trump as he seeks to win the US presidency in 2024. His 2016 bid was also dogged by accounts of sexual misconduct, which he denied. As the suit is a civil case, Mr Trump is not in danger of going to jail even if he loses. His accuser is seeking unspecified monetary damages and a retraction of statements that she alleges were defamatory. Among them is his comment that, Shes not my type, which her lawyers say was tantamount to calling her too unattractive to assault. The trial comes a month after Mr Trump pleaded not guilty in an unrelated criminal case surrounding payments made to bury accounts of alleged extramarital sex. It made him the first-ever former US president to face criminal charges. G oogle Earth has updated its satellite imagery over the besieged city of Mariupol, laying bare the devastation wrought by Russias invasion. The search engine giant appears to have partially updated its satellite imagery of the city to 2022, showing scores of the citys buildings reduced to rubble in the aftermath of Russian shelling. Previous satellite images for Ukraine on Google Maps had mostly dated to 2021, before Vladimir Putins invasion. Among the clearly visible sites of destruction include the rubble of the Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theatre, which was destroyed in March last year as civilians sheltered inside. It shows swathes of flattened homes, destroyed shopping centres and other public buildings. The destroyed Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theatre in Mariupol / Google Maps Mariupol has witnessed some of the heaviest fighting of the war since Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia carried out a three-month siege of the city, and in May last year all Ukrainian troops who had been attempting to defend the city surrendered at Azovstal Iron and Steel Works. The city is now occupied by Russian forces. Ukraine has not mounted a major operation to liberate occupied territories since it retook the city of Kherson and part of the surrounding province last November. Kyiv continues to press its Western allies for more long-range weapons, tanks and jets before it attempts a counter-offensive in the coming weeks or months. Last week, the United States said it would soon start training Ukrainian troops to use its Abrams tank. The Abrams tanks will arrive in Germany in the coming weeks for Ukrainian troops to begin training, US defence secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky also pressed Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg on weapons deliveries at a meeting in Kyiv last week. I have asked (him) to help us overcome our partners reticence to supply some weapons, namely long-range weapons, modern aviation, artillery and armoured vehicles, he said. Mr Stoltenberg on Friday said Mr Zelensky had been invited to attend the next Nato summit in July and emphasised the need to support Ukrainian battlefield logistics. Maybe it sounds a bit more boring, but ... this is now a battle of attrition, and a battle of attrition becomes a war of logistics," he said. T he first flight carrying British nationals evacuated from Sudan landed at Stansted Airport on Wednesday afternoon as thousands more face a desperate scramble to escape war-torn Sudan amid reports of sniper fire on some roads. Six UK flights have evacuated 536 people from Sudan, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed on Wednesday night. The first flight landed at Stansted about 2.30pm. But Britons and dual nationals on the ground described making perilous trips to safety on their own. Many have struggled to travel to the airfield north of Khartoum where evacuation flights are taking place before a 72-hour ceasefire ends. Problems navigating trips to escape points have been compounded by petrol shortages. It comes as criticism of the Governments slow response to the crisis grew. First flight carrying Britons evacuated from Sudan 1 / 10 First flight carrying Britons evacuated from Sudan PA PA PA PA PA PA PA Sky News Home Secretary Suella Braverman said between 200 and 300 British nationals had already been taken out of the country in three rescue missions. But Chair of the Defence Select Committee Tobias Ellwood said he had heard from one of his constituents who had to make her own perilous journey to Port Sudan. He told the Standard: The MoD has made a formidable effort... but a fundamental question will be asked about why that airbridge [out of Sudan] was switched off once the diplomats and families had been removed and why it took so much time to switch it back on. There will be questions about whether we learned from Afghanistan. UK nationals evacuated from Sudan board a bus at the Joint Rescue Coordination Center at Larnaca Airport / Getty Images The senior Tory MP called for the UK embassy to be moved to Port Sudan on the Red Sea in a show of support. We must show Sudan, the many British expats and dual passport holders there, that as a member of the United Nations Security Council we will not just leave them, he said. We cannot let this turn into another Libya or Somalia. Samar Eltayeb, a UK-born student attempting to flee, said she did not have enough petrol to make the one-hour drive from the outskirts of Khartoum to the airstrip. The 20-year-old, from Birmingham, said petrol stations were empty: Therell be constant flights within the next few days, but if I cant find gas to get there, then Im stuck. British charity worker Yasmin Sholgami said her grandparents are stranded in Khartoum without food and water. Despite the apparent ceasefire between the army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the couple have reported gunfire and shelling. Each time relatives have tried to reach them theyve been shot at by snipers, Ms Sholgami told the BBC British citizen Wathig Ali said he had been trying to flee Khartoum with his pregnant wife and their six-year-old son. He told the BBC: I know I am taking a risk going on the journey. Our worst fear is the bombing and the checkpoints on the way to the airport. Passengers believed to be British nationals, disembark from a plane, following evacuation from Sudan at Stansted Airport / REUTERS Our house is surrounded by RSF soldiers. Some of them are nice, but some are extremely hostile. British military and diplomatic chiefs are understood to be planning at least three more flights out of the country today as the first evacuees were expected to arrive in London. More than 2,000 British citizens have registered in Sudan with the Foreign Office. British warship, HMS Lancaster, was also set to arrive off the coast of Sudan with RFA Cardigan Bay. Port Sudan could be used for evacuations if the 72-hour ceasefire between warring factions in Sudan collapses and prevents evacuation flights. It could also later be used to bring in supplies to tackle a feared humanitarian crisis. Ms Braverman said: We are now commencing an extensive operation, working with over 1,000 personnel from the RAF and the armed forces. Announcing the completion of Germanys evacuation efforts, the countrys foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians to their own devices, in an apparent swipe at the UKs approach. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was right that diplomats were prioritised because they were being targeted. British forces are expected to take over control of running Wadi Saeedna airstrip from German troops. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said 120 British troops have already been supporting the operation there. C hinese leader Xi Jinping has vowed to send an envoy to Ukraine to discuss a potential political settlement to its war with Russia. His pledge on Wednesday came during his first telephone call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky since Russias invaded Ukraine last year - and followed months of pressure from Kyiv for such talks. President Zelensky described the one-hour call as long and meaningful, and said they had discussed ways of possible cooperation to reach a fair and sustainable peace for Ukraine. Xi said that Beijing will send an envoy - a former Chinese ambassador to Russia - to Ukraine to discuss a possible "political settlement" to the war. The Chinese president told Ukrainian President Zelensky in the call that the Chinese envoy would visit Ukraine and "other countries" to discuss a possible political settlement, according to a government statement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky / PA Wire It made no mention of Russia or last year's invasion of Ukraine and did not indicate whether the Chinese envoy might visit Moscow. Beijing has previously avoided involvement in conflicts between other countries but appears to be trying to assert itself as a global diplomatic force - after arranging talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March that led them to restore diplomatic relations after a seven-year break. The phone call between Xi and President Zelensky was long anticipated after Beijing said it wanted to serve as a mediator in the war between Russia and Ukraine. China is the only major government that has friendly relations with Moscow as well as economic leverage as the biggest buyer of Russian oil and gas after the United States and its allies cut off most purchases. Zelensky earlier said he welcomed a Chinese offer to mediate. Mediating between Ukraine and Russia would increase Chinas presence in Eastern Europe, where Beijing has tried to build ties with other governments. That has prompted complaints by some European officials that China is trying to gain leverage over the European Union. China is the closest thing President Vladimir Putin's isolated government has to a major ally. Xi and Putin issued a joint statement ahead of the February 2022 invasion that said their governments had a "no limits friendship." Beijing has tried to appear neutral but has repeated Russian justifications for the invasion. Xi received a warm welcome from Putin during a visit to Moscow in March. The Chinese defense minister visited Russia this month. China was Ukraine's biggest trading partner before the invasion, though on a smaller scale than Chinese-Russian trade. In 2021, Ukraine announced plans for Chinese companies to build trade-related infrastructure. Zelensky's government was more ambivalent toward Beijing after it was clear Xi wouldn't try to stop Putin's war, but the two sides have remained amicable. "Before the full-scale Russian invasion, China was Ukraine's number one trading partner,an official Ukrainian readout of Wednesdays call reported. I believe that our conversation today will give a powerful impetus to the return, preservation and development of this dynamic at all levels. Foreign Minister Qin Gang promised this month China wouldn't provide arms to either side, a pledge that benefits Ukraine, which has received tanks, rockets and other armaments from the United States and European governments. R ussian forces have largely abandoned efforts to seize more territory in Ukraine and switched to defensive positions ahead of Kyivs counter-offensive, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence said. Kyrylo Budanov said Russian president Vladimir Putins forces were mainly concentrating offensive operations on trying to capture Bakhmut, where fighting has been raging for months, and the nearby towns of nearby Avdiivka and Marinka in the eastern Donbas region, saying they want to wipe the settlements off the face of the earth. Major General Budanov, the head of the Ukrainian Defence Ministrys Main Intelligence Directorate, said that Moscow had completely switched everywhere to positional defence elsewhere in the country. He did not reveal details of the long-awaited Ukrainian counteroffensive, but said in the interview with the RBC-Ukraine website that it would be a landmark battle in Ukraines modern history and would result in the recapture of significant amounts of occupied territory. Ukrainian troops have set up positions on the east bank of the Dnipro River in the Russian occupied Kherson region, war experts at the US-based Institute for the Study of War have said in what is seen as a precursor to the assault. The Ukrainian military will rely on the latest supplies of Western battle tanks and other weapons and fresh troops that were trained in the West. Ukraines president Volodymr Zelensky yesterday met with the countrys top military brass to discuss the battlefield situation as well as prospects for new weapons supplies and the preparation of troops. We have to accelerate the pace of weapons supply because every day of delay is the lives of our soldiers, Mr Zelensky said on Facebook. Ukraine is also rapidly increasing its production of drones as demand grows on the frontline. The government has relaxed import laws and scrapped taxes for drone parts and equipment. The expansion is being funded by a successful fundraising campaign called the Army of Drones. More than $108m (87m) has been raised with the help of celebrity supporters including Star Wars actor Mark Hamill. On Monday 100 Ukrainian-made kamikaze drones designed to be crashed into enemy targets were sent to Bakhmut in the latest shipment. Mr Zelensky yesterday condemned a Russian strike on a museum in Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region, which killed two women and injured 10. He said: The terrorist country is doing everything to destroy us completely. Our history, our culture, our people. Killing Ukrainians with absolutely barbaric methods. T he Duke of Sussex put forward a number of suspicious articles in The Sun in a witness statement made as part of his claim against the newspapers publisher News Group Newspapers (NGN) over allegations of hacking. He said in the statement: Given that NGN still to this day denies that unlawful activity ever took place at The Sun, I just wanted to highlight several articles published in The Sun that I feel particularly strongly about and which demonstrate the kind of unlawful activities which I have only discovered through being able to pursue my own claim. He said these included 17 allegedly suspicious articles concerning his mother Diana, Princess of Wales and claimed private pager messages between her and art dealer Oliver Hoare were accessed by The Sun, as well as references to trips and holidays she would be going on with him and William. He said the articles also included information about the care arrangements for her children following her separation and divorce from the now-King. I find this disgusting, immoral and a complete abuse of power and of journalistic privilege, he said in the statement. There is zero public interest justification. I find it horrific that my brother and I, as children, were put under constant 24-hour surveillance just so The Sun could sell more newspapers for profit. It also proves that my mum wasnt paranoid after all, she was quite right. This sort of unlawful activity including phone tapping/hacking made her distrust her protection officers as she thought they were leaking private information about her, which I believe is one of the reasons she insisted on not having any protection after the divorce as I am told by the institution. If shed had police protection with her in August 1997, shed probably still be alive today. People who abuse their power like this need to face the consequences of their actions, otherwise it says that we can all behave like this. Harry said articles about himself and former girlfriend Chelsy Davy had allegedly come from unlawful activity, including calls made to her phone in 2004. He said: Seeing all this evidence only now is infuriating. To know we were being tracked, bugged and hacked while trying to have a private relationship, just so NGN could print a story and sell a newspaper, is mind-blowing. Methods that should, at best, be reserved for proper investigative journalism that looks into public interest stories were being used on normal, innocent people, and for what? Those responsible should be locked up in my view as there is zero justification and it is, frankly, criminal. Any claim or suggestion senior staff werent aware of what their employees/journalists were doing is obviously a lie. Harrys statement concluded: When I think about the fact that senior executives at NGN not only knew about and condoned phone hacking as a practice at both the News Of The World and The Sun, but also actively sought to cover it up by the deliberate concealment and destruction of evidence on an industrial scale, my immediate thoughts are that this makes them criminals, not journalists, and the Fourth Estate is too important and rightly powerful to have criminals masquerading as journalists running the show. They have lied under oath, perjured themselves in the process and have proven theyre above the law. Everyone seems to be scared of them, especially politicians. These criminal practices go right to the very top, and without accountability, change and justice, what does that signal to the public who are mostly unaware of the scale and damage caused due to the never ending cycle of out of court settlements in this litigation? If my claim was to be struck out, NGN would be getting away with it again. Theyre proven liars and destroyers of evidence. That would be bad enough if it was anyone, but this was done by our most influential and powerful journalists who run the most popular newspapers and websites. If things had changed post-Leveson (Inquiry) then perhaps Id feel differently, but they havent. In fact, its only gotten worse, just in a different and more obvious way through bigotry and racism that affects far more people. This isnt just about phone hacking, this about accountability of power. Power that informs but is being used to brainwash people. They have created a stalemate society, where they can enrage the public over the most mundane and petty things, to distract from the critical issues for our country and communities. In short, the people and the newspaper organisations who hack peoples voicemails, including even those of victims of crimes and families of those who lost their lives serving their country in Iraq and Afghanistan, have never been brought to justice, and are now more emboldened because of it. They believe they can do anything they want and get away with it, while making huge sums of money from it. If theyre supposedly policing society, then who is policing them? Furthermore, my claim shouldnt be struck out as this is the first time Ive been able to bring it on account of the secret agreement in place between the institution and senior executives at NGN, and seeing as though Ive started it, I should be allowed to finish it especially as my brothers claim was so easily and quietly settled with NGN in 2020. As a final thought, I do not believe it can possibly be just or fair to allow NGN, whose senior executives authorised the concealment and destruction of evidence on an industrial scale, to succeed on a strike out application on the basis of a claim being out of time when the vast majority of the evidence supporting the claim has only just come to light, or to allow it to renege on a valid agreement so it can avoid having to face the biggest claim against it (with the most blatant and damning evidence of unlawful behaviour) in court and in front of the worlds media, with the huge reputational damage that that will no doubt cause. It is time for real journalism to report on the actions and decisions of our tabloid press. It is quite clear that NGN and its boss will go to any lengths to try and protect its top executives from meeting justice, in the same way that happened to some of the relatively junior employees at the News Of The World, and it should not be allowed to succeed. Harry, 38, is suing the publisher over alleged unlawful information gathering at The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World, claiming that his private information was unlawfully accessed from as early as 1994 to as late as 2016. While NGN has settled numerous hacking claims in relation to the News Of The World, the publisher denies illegal activity at The Sun. On Tuesday, lawyers for the publisher began a bid to have Harrys claim thrown out along with a similar claim by actor Hugh Grant on the basis they have been brought too late. The hearing, before Mr Justice Fancourt, is due to continue on Wednesday and Thursday. S chools across Liverpool and its surrounding areas have been provided with funding to celebrate Eurovision. EuroGrant funding of up to 2,000 has been given to 27 schools to host events that celebrate the song contest, the citys relationship with Ukraine, and its European heritage. Schools from across Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Halton, St Helens and Knowsley to apply for grants were invited by Spirit of 2012, Liverpool City Councils Culture Liverpool team, to apply for the grants. Among the successful schools is Our Lady of Compassion Catholic Primary School in Formby. Each class will represent a country taking part in this years contest, and will be responsible for making local cuisine from their country which will be shared at a European street food market. The school will also perform We all live in a blue and yellow submarine, in a tribute to Ukraine. Pupils at St Charles Catholic Primary School in Liverpool will create music videos. Rachel Farrell, a teacher from Our Lady of Compassion Catholic Primary School, said they were delighted to receive the funding. We are delighted to have received EuroGrant funding to realise our ideas, she said. We want children to understand the significance of such a weird and wonderful event being held in our city and appreciate that this truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The opportunity to celebrate a contest that is based on individuality and celebrating diversity will be incredible for our pupils. Claire McColgan CBE, director of Culture Liverpool, said that schools across the region have creativity in abundance. If theres one thing we know the schools across Liverpool City Region have in abundance, its creativity and we werent disappointed with their applications for EuroGrant, she said. The successful projects provide an opportunity for children to learn about different cultures though music, fashion, food, dance, drama, visual art, filmmaking and much more. Young people from nurseries to secondary schools will not only have a chance to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration which will see their hometown host the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine, but theyll also pick up some new skills along the way. T he Duke of Sussexs case against a tabloid publisher over allegations of unlawful information gathering were laid bare before the High Court on the first day of a critical hearing in his legal action. Harry, 38, is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN) over alleged unlawful information gathering at two of its titles, The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World claiming that his private information was unlawfully accessed. NGN is bringing a bid to have Harrys case thrown out, along with a similar claim by actor Hugh Grant, at a three-day hearing in London which started on Tuesday, arguing they have been brought too late. But, responding to the publishers strike out application, Harrys lawyers said it is an attempt to go behind a secret agreement between the royal family as an institution and NGN, which the duke was informed of in 2012. In a 31-page witness statement prepared by the duke for the hearing, which began just 11 days before his fathers coronation, Harry made a series of allegations, including that: The Prince of Wales settled a claim with NGN over hacking claims in 2020. He could not bring his own claim sooner than 2019 because of the secret agreement between the royal institution and senior NGN executives. The late Queen supported Harrys bid for an apology from NGN proprietor Rupert Murdoch, but his efforts were blocked by Charles staff. He was subjected to high levels of intrusion and harassment by NGN, which affected every area of his life. His mother Diana would probably still be alive today had she agreed to have police protection after her divorce from the now-King, but unlawful activity including phone tapping/hacking made her distrust her protection officers as she thought they were leaking private information about her. NGN has previously settled a number of claims since the phone hacking scandal broke in relation to The News Of The World, which closed in 2011, but has consistently denied that any unlawful information gathering took place at The Sun. The publishers lawyers argued on Tuesday that Harry was at the epicentre of the scandal since as long ago as 2006 and therefore aware he could have brought a claim sooner, and said his evidence that he was prevented from doing so by a secret agreement is without merit in fact or law. In documents before the court, David Sherborne, representing Harry, said the late Queen was involved in discussions and authorisation of the agreement, which was that members of the royal family would not pursue claims against NGN until after the conclusion of the litigation over hacking. Mr Sherborne said in written arguments that the agreement meant that the claimant could not bring a claim against NGN for phone hacking at that time. The barrister said William has recently settled his claim against NGN behind the scenes. Kensington Palace declined to comment on behalf of the Prince of Wales. In part of a witness statement prepared for Tuesdays hearing, the Duke of Sussex said: My brother and I were also told by either the institutions solicitor or someone else from the institution that there was no possibility of either of us bringing a claim against NGN for phone hacking at that time. The rationale behind this was that a secret agreement had been reached between the institution and senior executives at NGN whereby members of the royal family would bring phone hacking claims only at the conclusion of the Mobile Telephone Voicemail Interception Litigation and at that stage the claims would be admitted or settled with an apology. The reason for this was to avoid the situation where a member of the royal family would have to sit in the witness box and recount the specific details of the private and highly sensitive voicemails that had been intercepted by Clive Goodman. The institution was incredibly nervous about this and wanted to avoid at all costs the sort of reputational damage that it had suffered in 1993 when The Sun and another tabloid had unlawfully obtained and published details of an intimate telephone conversation that took place between my father and stepmother in 1989, while he was still married to my mother. This agreement, including the promises from NGN for delayed resolution was, obviously, a major factor as to why no claim was brought by me at that time. Anthony Hudson KC, for NGN, said the publishers position is that there was no such secret agreement. He added that, while communications show discussions took place between the Palace and NGN in 2017-2018 about resolving outstanding issues relating to allegations of (voicemail interception), they do not provide any support for a suggestion that there was an agreement by which NGN would forgo its right to bring a limitation defence in response to any claims by members of the royal family. Mr Hudson told the court that Harry and Mr Grant have been front and centre of claims against the publisher over hacking and therefore could not possibly have failed to realise they had a potential damages claim much sooner. The hearing is expected to last three days and the judge will determine whether their claims will progress to a trial, which is due to be heard in January next year. The claim is one of a number of legal actions currently being brought by the duke, who appeared in person at the High Court last month for a preliminary hearing against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of The Mail and Mail On Sunday. He is also expected to give evidence at a trial over allegations of unlawful information against tabloid publisher Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), due to begin next month, with Harry due to appear in court in June. L en Goodmans family have paid tribute to the warm, witty and wonderful Strictly Come Dancing judge. The professional dancer-turned-TV judge died aged 78 in a hospice in Kent on Saturday following a secret battle with bone cancer with his family at his side. In a tribute posted to his son Jamess dance academys Facebook page, the family said: How we wish he was still here with us but we are so proud of what he achieved, the happiness he brought us all and the legacy he has left. He was known to millions as the first Head Judge on Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with The Stars but to many of us, who knew him personally, he was just Lucky Len with the boyish grin. We know he has had an impact on many of you over the years as a friend, teacher, mentor and judge and so we have created this site for you to share your stories and memories of his life. Len had four charities that were close to his heart that he had supported over the years and we hope that you would also consider making a donation, no matter how small, in his memory. Len Goodman - In pictures 1 / 20 Len Goodman - In pictures BBC/Ray Burmiston BBC/Silver River/Fred Fabre Handout PA PA Archive BBC PA BBC/Jay Brooks/Matt Burlem PA Archive/PA Images PA PA BBC BBC Associated Newspapers The four charities the family included were Kent-based Hospice in the Weald, where its believed Goodman passed away, along with Age UK and childrens charities Demelza and Variety. Goodman had James, 42, with his former partner Lesley, who he had met in a pub in Dartford, Kent. The pair set up a dance school together but split in 1993 and she has since moved to Turkey. The fund in his memory stood at 886 at the time of writing, but is expected to rise as donations pour in from fans and friends. Goodmans death was confirmed on Monday in a statement by his agent, Jackie Gill, which read: It is with great sadness to announce that Len Goodman has passed away peacefully, aged 78. A much-loved husband, father, and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends, and all who knew him. T he UK Governments monopolies watchdog has blocked Microsoft's $69 billion (56.6 billion) takeover of Call of Duty and World of Warcraft publisher Activision Blizzard over concerns it would give the tech behemoth too much dominance over the emerging cloud gaming space. Microsoft intended to buy Activision in the hopes of adding Activisions games, like Call of Duty and Crash Bandicoot, to its Xbox Game Pass platform with the aim of boosting subscriber numbers. But a Competition and Markets Authoritys (CMA) review found that the merger could stifle competition in the cloud gaming market. The CMA opened an investigation into the mega-deal last year, but hopes of the takeover being permitted appeared stronger after the government body dropped its concerns about the console gaming sector, which had been the largest part of the inquiry. However, it still had concerns regarding cloud gaming, where games are streamed online from remote servers. The watchdog said Microsofts solution to these concerns had significant shortcomings and would require regulatory oversight by CMA. The CMA is of the view that the merger could result in higher prices, fewer choices and less innovation for UK gamers who play in the cloud. By owning Activision, Microsoft would effectively own too much of the industry which would unfairly limit its competitors, the regulator concluded. It noted that microsoft already controls 60-70 per cent of the cloud gaming market. There were also concerns that future Activision games would need to be exclusive to Xbox and PC, meaning PlayStation users would miss out. Microsoft addressed the CMAs concerns and proposed solutions regarding which games would be offered to which platforms. The tech giant signed cloud gaming deals with Boosteroid, Ubitus, and Nvidia to bring Xbox PC games to these services. It also signed a similar deal with Nintendo in December. The decade-long deals would have brought major Activision franchises like Call of Duty and Overwatch to the platforms, pending the deals approval by regulator. However, the CMA says the proposal contained a number of significant shortcomings. It said that preventing the sale would effectively allow market forces to continue to operate and shape the development of cloud gaming without regulatory intervention. Martin Coleman, chair of the independent panel of experts conducting this investigation, said in a statement: Microsoft already enjoys a powerful position and head start over other competitors in cloud gaming and this deal would strengthen that advantage giving it the ability to undermine new and innovative competitors. He added: Cloud gaming needs a free, competitive market to drive innovation and choice. That is best achieved by allowing the current competitive dynamics in cloud gaming to continue to do their job. But Microsoft says it intends to appeal the governments decision. Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President said in a statement: We remain fully committed to this acquisition and will appeal. The CMAs decision rejects a pragmatic path to address competition concerns and discourages technology innovation and investment in the United Kingdom. We have already signed contracts to make Activision Blizzards popular games available on 150 million more devices, and we remain committed to reinforcing these agreements through regulatory remedies. He added: Were especially disappointed that after lengthy deliberations, this decision appears to reflect a flawed understanding of this market and the way the relevant cloud technology actually works. An Activision Blizzard spokesperson said the publisher will work with Microsoft on the appeal, and called the CMA decision a disservice to UK citizens. The CMAs report contradicts the ambitions of the UK to become an attractive country to build technology businesses, the spokesperson said. We will work aggressively with Microsoft to reverse this on appeal. The reports conclusions are a disservice to UK citizens, who face increasingly dire economic prospects. We will reassess our growth plans for the UK. Global innovators large and small will take note that - despite all its rhetoric - the UK is clearly closed for business. Regulators in Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Chile, Serbia, Japan, and South Africa have all approved the deal. Critically, the CMAs decision arrives before pending rulings from EU and US regulators, and could influence their positions on the deal. Loading.... Theres a new twist in the tale of how Francis Crick and James Watson discovered the structure of DNA. It was commonly thought that Rosalind Franklins X-ray diffraction image, known as Photo 51, was illicitly shown to Watson, revealing to him that DNA has a double helix. Professor Matthew Cobb from the University of Manchester explains the evidence he has unearthed which suggests this was not the case. Scientists from Cardiff University on how theyre using AI and underwater microphones to detect tsunamis. Dr Usama Kadri, associate professor and co-author of the study, tells Tech & Science Daily that the AI model is just one part of operational software that they have developed that can assist with tsunami detection within less than one minute globally. The first private moon landing appears to have failed. Japans ispace Inc lost signal from its lander after it completed its final orbit. And the rest Astronomers solve the mystery around quasars, 45% of people with concussion show brain injury symptoms six months later and why you might be struggling to sing along to your favourite song. Plus, the parrots making Facebook friends over video calls. Listen above, and find us on your Spotify Daily Drive or wherever you stream your podcasts. Sudanese families were massing Wednesday at a border crossing with Egypt and at a main port, desperately trying to escape their country's violence and sometimes waiting for days with little food or shelter, witnesses said. In the capital, Khartoum, the intensity of fighting eased on the second day of a three-day truce. Taking advantage of relative calm, many residents in Khartoum and the neighboring city of Omdurman emerged from their homes to seek food and water, lining up at bakeries or grocery stores, after days of being trapped inside by the fighting between the army and a rival paramilitary group. Some inspected shops or homes that had been destroyed or looted. There is a sense of calm in my area and neighborhoods, said Mahasen Ali, a tea vendor who lives in Khartoums southern neighborhood of May. But all are afraid of whats next. Still, gunfire and explosions could be heard in the city, though residents said clashes were in more limited pockets, mainly around the militarys headquarters and the Republican Palace in central Khartoum and around bases in Omdurman across the Nile River. With the future of any truce uncertain, many took the opportunity to join the tens of thousands who have streamed out of the capital in recent days, trying to get out of the crossfire between the forces of Sudan's two top generals. The generals' war for power since April 15 has pushed the population to a near breaking point. Food has grown more difficult to obtain, electricity is cut off across much of the capital and other cities, and many hospitals have shut down. Multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations, a heavy blow in a country where a third of the population of 46 million relies on humanitarian assistance. Many Sudanese fear the army and its rival Rapid Support Forces will escalate their battle once the international evacuations of foreigners that began Sunday is completed. The British government, whose airlift is one of the last still ongoing, said it has evacuated around 300 people on flights out and plans four more Wednesday, promising to keep going as long as possible. Large numbers of people have meanwhile been making the exhausting 15-hour drive across the desert to access points out of the country to the city of Port Sudan on the eastern Red Sea coast and to the Arqin crossing into Egypt at the northern border. Crowds of Sudanese and foreigners also waited in Port Sudan, trying to register for a ferry to Saudi Arabia. Dallia Abdelmoniem, a Sudanese political commentator, said she and her family arrived Monday and have been trying every day to get a spot. Priority was given to foreign nationals, she told The Associated Press. Saudi Arabia said Wednesday it evacuated 1,674 people from 56 countries, as well as 13 of its own citizens, from Sudan. At the Arqin crossing, families have been spending their nights outside in the desert, waiting to be let in to Egypt. Buses were lining up at the crossing. Its a mess long lines of elderly people, patients, women and children waiting in miserable conditions," said Moaz al-Ser, a Sudanese teacher who arrived along with his wife and three children at the border a day earlier. Tens of thousands of Khartoum residents have also fled to neighboring provinces or even into already existing displacement and refugee camps within Sudan that house victims of past conflicts. Egypt said Wednesday it has relocated its embassy in Sudan amid increasing security threats in Khartoum. An Egyptian administrator at the embassy was killed in Khartoum earlier this week. At least 512 people, including civilians and combatants, have been killed since the fighting erupted on Apr. 15, with another 4,200 wounded, the Sudanese Health Ministry said. The Doctors Syndicate, which tracks civilian casualties, said at least 295 civilians have been killed and 1,790 wounded. The 72-hour cease-fire announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was to last until late Thursday. Many fear that fighting will only escalate once evacuations of foreigners, which appeared to be in their last stages, are completed. But a senior British military officer said the U.K. evacuation operation could continue regardless of the cease-fire. Brig. Dan Reeve said conditions at the Wadi Saeedna airfield near Khartoum are calm and that the Sudanese armed forces have good control of the surrounding area. Britains High Commissioner in Cyprus, Irfin Siddiq, said U.K. authorities have directly contacted 1,000 British nationals in Sudan to tell them to make their way to the airport. Cyprus' Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said five flights from Sudan arrived Wednesday, with a total of 391 British nationals aboard. A series of short cease-fires over the past week have either failed outright or brought only intermittent lulls that allowed evacuations of hundreds of foreigners by air and land. The two rival generals, army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan and RSF commander Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, have so far ignored calls for negotiations to end the crisis and appear to be seeking total victory. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that their power struggle is not only putting Sudans future at risk, it is lighting a fuse that could detonate across borders, causing immense suffering for years, and setting development back by decades. Guterres cited reports of armed clashes across the country, with people fleeing their homes in Blue Nile and North Kordofan states and across Western Darfur as well. Joyce Msuya, the assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the Security Council there have been numerous reports of sexual and gender-based violence. Msuya said the U.N. has received reports of tens of thousands of people arriving in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. In a separate development, Dr. Mike Ryan, emergencies chief at the World Health Organization, appeared to walk back concerns expressed a day earlier by the WHO representative in Sudan over fighters taking over a laboratory where pathogens are stored, including polio, measles and cholera. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Ryan said the main risk of exposure was to the fighters themselves. The major risk to the health and welfare of the people of Sudan remains a conflict and we need to keep the focus on that. Burhan and Dagalo rose to power after a popular uprising in 2019 prompted the generals to remove Sudans longtime autocratic ruler Omar al-Bashir. Sudanese since have been trying to bring a transition to democratic rule, but in 2021 Burhan and Dagalo joined forces in a coup that purged a transitional government. They fell out this month amid tensions over a new rough plan to re-introduce civilian rule. Both the military and the RSF have a long history of brutalizing activists and protesters as well as other rights abuses. Also on Wednesday, the military said al-Bashir was being held in a military-run hospital, giving its first official statement on his location since the fighting erupted. An attack on the prison where al-Bashir and many of his former officials had been held raised questions over his whereabouts. In a statement, the military said al-Bashir, former Defense Minister Abdel-Rahim Muhammad Hussein and other former officials had been moved to the military-run Aliyaa hospital before clashes broke out across the country. Both al-Bashir and Hussein are wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes related to the Darfur conflict. Search Keywords: Short link: A rchaeologists have used satellite images to make a spectacular find of Roman military camps in the Arabian desert. University of Oxford researchers identified three new Roman fortified camps in the typical playing card shape across northern Arabia. The discovery may be evidence of potential surprise attacks during a previously undiscovered Roman military campaign linked to the Roman takeover of the Nabataean Kingdom in 106 AD, a civilisation centred on the city of Petra, located in Jordan. Dr Michael Fradley, who led the research and first identified the very well preserved camps on Google Earth, suggests there is little doubt about the date of the camps. Roman forts and fortresses show how Rome held a province, but temporary camps reveal how they acquired it in the first place He said: We are almost certain they were built by the Roman army, given the typical playing card shape of the enclosures with opposing entrances along each side. The only notable difference between them is that the westernmost camp is significantly larger than the two camps to the east. Oxfords Dr Mike Bishop, an expert on the Roman military, said: These camps are a spectacular new find and an important new insight into Roman campaigning in Arabia. Roman forts and fortresses show how Rome held a province, but temporary camps reveal how they acquired it in the first place. The researchers suggest the camps would have been built by the army as temporary defended stations when they were marching on campaign. Dr Fradley added: The level of preservation of the camps is really remarkable, particularly as they may have only been used for a matter of days or weeks. It is amazing that we can see this moment in time played out at a landscape scale They went along a peripheral caravan route linking Bayir and Dumat al-Jandal. This suggests a strategy to bypass the more used route down the Wadi Sirhan, adding an element of surprise to the attack. It is amazing that we can see this moment in time played out at a landscape scale. Professor Andrew Wilson, a co-author on the paper, said: These marching camps if we are correct in dating them to the early second century suggest the Roman annexation of the Nabataean Kingdom following the death of the last king, Rabbel II Soter in AD 106, was not an entirely straightforward affair, and that Rome moved quickly to secure the kingdom. Because the distance between each camp is 37km to 44km, the researchers speculate it was too far to be crossed by infantry in a day. Therefore they suggest the camps were instead built by a cavalry unit who could travel over such barren terrain in a single day, possibly on camels. On the basis of the distance between the camps there is also a suggestion that another camp may have been located further west at the later Umayyad fort and well station at Bayir. The study sets out that the newly discovered camps run in a straight line towards Dumat al-Jandal in what is now Saudi Arabia, but which was then a settlement in the east of the Nabataean kingdom. Why does the western camp have twice the capacity of the other two? Did the force split, and if so, where did the other half go? According to the researchers, the findings suggest Rome had to force its takeover, whereas the surviving Roman history argues the transfer of power was a peaceful event at the end of the reign of the last Nabataean king. Archaeologists still need to confirm the date of the camps through investigation on the ground, but there are other questions that need to be answered. Prof Wilson said: Why does the western camp have twice the capacity of the other two? Did the force split, and if so, where did the other half go? Was it half wiped out in a battle, or did they remain in the western camp to resupply the other camps with water? The paper is published in the journal Antiquity. S targazers can enjoy two lunar eclipses in 2023 and the next one is just around the corner. A penumbral lunar eclipse will occur on May 5 and while it is the least dramatic of the three types of eclipse it is still a date for the diary. The faint outer part of Earth's shadow is cast across the lunar surface, space.com says about the event. This type of eclipse is not as dramatic as the other two and can be difficult to see. This is all you need to know about penumbral lunar eclipses. How common are penumbral lunar eclipses? There are three types of lunar eclipse. Total, partial and penumbral. Nasas data shows there have been nine penumbral variations in the past 10 years, compared with seven total eclipses and three partials. The last penumbral eclipse was in November 2020. How can I watch a lunar eclipse? According to space.com, the display should be visible in south and east Europe, much of Asia, Australia, Africa, the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans and Antarctica. British astrologists can view the eclipse on a web broadcast on space.com The next total eclipse will be in April 2025 and there is set to be a partial eclipse later this year. Should you be in a position to watch the event for yourself, you simply go out, look up and enjoy, space.com says. You don't need a telescope or any other special equipment. But it might not be worth the effort. To be honest, penumbral lunar eclipses are not that exciting if youre just looking at the Moon, Bob Berman wrote on almanac.com. The full moon really doesnt change its appearance during a penumbral eclipse as it does during a total eclipse of the Moon. This is a very subtle kind of eclipse, which may appear like a darker-than-usual Moon. Sometimes theres a very slight grey shading on one part of the Moon, but almost nobody notices it. S napchats My AI chatbot is freaking people out. Some users are accusing the bot of secretly tracking their location, while others are desperately trying to delete it. Irate Snapchatters are voicing their disdain by leaving one-star reviews for the Snapchat app on the iOS App Store. Google searches for delete Snapchat also spiked by 488 per cent on the heels of the chatbots launch, according to a study by cyber-security consultants CloudTech24. The backlash represents a blow for Snap, which is putting its faith in AI and augmented reality to boost engagement . This follows its failed experiments in hardware , original shows and games . Snapchat AI is creepy, said YouTuber Faze Rug in a tweet thats been viewed more than 500,000 times. It told me my location and when I went to go enable ghost mode, I already had that on. Snap made the My AI chatbot available to everyone earlier this month after testing it out on paying subscribers in late February. The bot is a customised version of OpenAIs ChatGPT that can provide answers on a vast range of topics in a conversational manner. Snap is positioning My AI as another one of your pals who you can message for movie recommendations, add to group chats, and have a laugh with. Users can access the bot from atop their chat tab where they normally message their friends. However, not everyone is thrilled by its lingering presence. Other Snapchat users have echoed Faze Rugs paranoia. There are numerous tweets in which people accuse the chatbot of lying about tracking their location. In screenshots shared by Twitter user @ChrisMinecraft_, the bot initially says it can recommend restaurants based on your IP location. It later backtracks and denies that it has access to such information. Snapchats new AI knows your current location at all times with location services off, tweeted another user. Some frustrated users are trying to disable the bot or delete Snapchat altogether. The criticism recalls the pushback Snapchat received over its divisive redesign in 2018 from celebrities and regular users alike. This months top two posts on the Snapchat subreddit on Reddit, home to more than 330,000 members, are of users asking how to remove the bot from the app. So the Ai Chatbot has just appeared on my friends list and I dont want it on my feed. What do I do? reads one of the Reddit posts by an irritated user. They should really get rid of it, or at least make you able to block/unpin it. Im deleting the app because its so annoying, notes another popular post on the Snapchat subreddit. Does Snapchats chatbot know your location? Location tracking on Snapchat is turned off by default. This means Snap cant pinpoint your whereabouts without your permission. You can give it access to this info by disabling Ghost Mode via the in-app settings. According to its privacy policy, Snap determines your precise location by using methods that include GPS, wireless networks, mobile towers, Wi-Fi access points, and other sensors in devices including smartphones, such as gyroscopes, accelerometers, and compasses. It uses this info to power features such as Snap Maps. This is a virtual map that allows you to see where your contacts are and view public Snaps from people nearby and vice versa. As for its chatbot, the AI uses your Snap Maps location to provide you with nearby place recommendations. For example, if you ask My AI: What are good Italian restaurants near me?, it can return suggestions that are a short distance away. In a newly published blog post, Snap explains that its bot may still have access to your location for a little time even if you disable the setting. If Snapchatters stop sharing their location with Snapchat, it may take a little time for this to take effect in My AI, the company notes. Snapchat shares only city-level location and generalised distances between you and places, with the large language model (LLM) used for My AI. In a nutshell, an LLM is a powerful algorithm trained on data from the web that can recognise, summarise, translate, predict, and generate text and other content, including images in some cases. My AI is part of Snapchat so, if a user has granted location permissions in the app, My AI may be able to provide location-based responses, a Snapchat representative told the Evening Standard. My AI is an experimental chatbot that learns over time and can occasionally produce incorrect answers. If Snapchatters experience inaccurate responses, we encourage them to report it using our in-app tool. Snap says its chatbot received two million chat messages a day during its trial run / Snap How to delete AI on Snapchat If youre not a fan of Snapchats new AI bot, youre out of luck. The only official way to get rid of it is to pay 3.99 for a monthly subscription to Snaps premium service, Snapchat+. You will then be able to remove My AI from the chat feed. To do so, tap and hold on the chatbot, select chat settings, and choose clear from my chat feed. How to get My AI on Snapchat On the other hand, if youre eager to try the chatbot, you should have access to it on iPhone and Android as long as your app is up-to-date. If for some reason you cant see the bot on your chat feed, you can check to see if your Snapchat app needs updating via the app store on your phone. Snaps My AI chatbots controversies explained This isnt the first time the chatbot has come under fire. Only weeks after its launch, Snap was forced to implement new safeguards after the AI was caught dishing out advice about weed and sex to the apps youthful user base. The concerns are emblematic of the wider fears around the unchecked growth of AI. Italy recently banned ChatGPT partly because it lacks a method of verifying the age of minors, the countrys data regulator said. Meanwhile, both Google and Microsoft have revealed that their chatbots are prone to spewing misinformation a phenomenon known as hallucination. Snap has also admitted as much: As with all AI-powered chatbots, My AI is prone to hallucination and can be tricked into saying just about anything, the company said in late February. Please be aware of its many deficiencies and sorry in advance! Despite these shortcomings, Snap insists that the bot is appropriate for younger users. It claims that the vast majority of the chatbots responses adhere to its community guidelines. Ultimately, Snaps goal is to learn more about its users in order to point them to augmented-reality features and other content that will keep them engaged. Eventually, it will also use this data to show you ads during your conversations with the bot. Snap is currently exploring ways to generate revenue from My AI, starting with sponsored links, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel revealed on the companys recent earnings call. Ahead of the backlash, Snap was touting the bots initial success. During the trial phase, the chatbot received two million chat messages per day from Snapchat users on topics including movies, sports, pets, and more, the company recently revealed. But clearly, Snapchats AI pal isnt to everyones liking. The US had no role in the Taliban's killing of the mastermind of the Islamic State suicide bomb attack at Kabul airport during the US pullout in 2021, the White House said Wednesday. US officials reported the killing late Tuesday, saying the plotter was from Islamic State-Khorasan, the Afghan arm of the jihadist group. Officials said he was killed in a "Taliban operation," without giving his name, the date of the operation or other details. The IS bomber detonated a device among packed crowds at the airport's perimeter as they tried to flee Afghanistan on August 26, 2021. The blast killed some 170 Afghans and 13 US troops who were securing the airport for the traumatic exit. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday US officials were confident of the mastermind's identity and death, but would not explain how they knew or provide details. "We didn't have anything to do with this," Kirby told reporters, denying that Washington had supplied any information or other assistance, directly or indirectly, to the Taliban to undertake the operation. "There's no question that having this guy no longer able to plot and plan and conduct attacks is a good thing," he added. Taliban officials have not commented on the operation. The United States has had scant direct communication with the Taliban since they seized power in Kabul in 2021 and has no diplomatic presence on the ground in Afghanistan. Kirby said the information on the killing demonstrated the effectiveness of the US "over-the-horizon" strategy to pursue Islamic State and Al-Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan since the US departure. "We really have worked hard since the withdrawal from Afghanistan to sharpen over-the-horizon capabilities," he said. On July 31, 2022, US forces fired a rocket from outside the country that killed Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in an apartment in Kabul. The over-the-horizon approach means not only striking from outside the country, but "being able to see things, to know things, to monitor things," Kirby said. "We have proven, I think, that though more difficult in some places, if you don't have boots on the ground, it's not impossible," he said. "You don't need to remain in a particular field of battle to be able to go after the terrorists," he said. Search Keywords: Short link: Presidents Joe Biden and Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday will sign an agreement that includes plans to have U.S. nuclear-armed submarines dock in South Korea for the first time in more than 40 years, a conspicuous show of support to Seoul amid growing concern about nuclear threats by North Korea, according to senior Biden administration officials. The planned dock visits are a key element of what's being dubbed the Washington Declaration, aimed at deterring North Korea from carrying out an attack on its neighbor. It is being unveiled as Biden is hosting Yoon for a state visit during a moment of heightened anxiety for both leaders over an increased pace of ballistic missile tests by North Korea over the last several months. The three senior Biden administration officials, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity ahead of the official announcement, said that Biden and Yoon aides have been working on details of the plan for months and agreed that occasional and very clear demonstrations of the strength of U.S. extended deterrence capabilities needed to be an essential aspect of the agreement. The agreement also calls for the U.S. and South Korean militaries to strengthen joint training and better integrate South Korean military assets into the joint strategic deterrence effort. As part of the declaration, South Korea will reaffirm its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, an agreement signed by several major nuclear and non-nuclear powers that pledged their cooperation to stem the spread of nuclear technology, the officials said. As a candidate for the presidency last year, Yoon said he would call for the increased deployment of U.S. bombers, aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines to South Korea as he looked to offer a firmer response to the North's threats than his predecessor Moon Jae-in. In the midst of the Cold War in the late 1970s, U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines made frequent port visits to South Korea, sometimes two to three visits per month, according to the Federation of American Scientists. It was a period when the U.S. had hundreds of nuclear warheads located in South Korea. But in 1991, the United States withdrew all of its nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula, and the following year Seoul and Pyongyang signed a joint declaration pledging that neither would test, manufacture, produce, receive, possess, store, deploy or use nuclear weapons. But as the North has repeatedly violated the joint declaration over the years, there's been increased support in South Korea for the United States to return nuclear weapons to the country. One Biden administration official cautioned it is crystal clear that there are no plans by the administration for "returning tactical or any other kind of nuclear weapon to the Korean Peninsula. Instead, administration officials said they envision that the visit of ballistic missile submarines will be followed by the U.S. military more regularly deploying assets such as bombers or aircraft carriers to South Korea. North Koreas increasing nuclear threats, along with concerns about Chinas military and economic assertiveness in the region, has pushed the Biden administration to expand its Asian alliance. To that end, Biden has thrown plenty of attention at Yoon as well as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Next week, Biden will host Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for Oval Office talks. In the past year, North Korea has been steadily expanding its nuclear arsenal, while China and Russia repeatedly block U.S.-led efforts to toughen sanctions on the North over its barrage of banned missile tests. The stepped-up testing by North Korea includes the flight-testing of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time earlier this month. The recent test is seen as a possible breakthrough in the Norths efforts to acquire a more powerful, harder-to-detect weapon targeting the continental United States. Besides nuclear deterrence, Biden and Yoon, and their aides, also are expected to discuss Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. The Biden administration has praised South Korea for sending some $230 million in humanitarian aid to Kyiv, but Biden would welcome Seoul taking an even bigger role in helping the Ukrainians repel Russia. Yoon's visit comes just weeks after the leaks of scores of highly classified documents that have complicated relations with allies, including South Korea. The papers viewed by The Associated Press indicate that South Koreas National Security Council grappled with the U.S. in early March over an American request to provide artillery ammunition to Ukraine. The documents, which cited a signals intelligence report, said then-NSC Director Kim Sung-han suggested the possibility of selling the 330,000 rounds of 155 mm munitions to Poland, since getting the ammunition to Ukraine quickly was the United States ultimate goal. One Biden administration official said that Biden planned to talk to Yoon about what it means for all like-minded allies to continue to support Ukraine and ask the South Korean leader "what the future of their support might look like. Besides their talks on Wednesday, Biden and Yoon are scheduled to host a joint news conference. In the evening, Biden and first lady Jill Biden will honor Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, for a state dinner at the White House. Search Keywords: Short link: After more than 25 years of providing an invaluable service to people in need of affordable medical equipment, Gary and Jill Taylor are stepping back from operating the not-for-profit operation they founded in Niagara Falls. For the Needy Not the Greedy is a volunteer-run store helping to fill the gap for families, caregivers and community organizations by providing refurbished medical equipment and supplies at an affordable price, on loan or sometimes free. The husband and wife started running the business out of their backyard before moving to a room in a building on Dorchester Road. Operations shifted to Queen Street, then Valley Way before settling into an 87-square-metre warehouse on Kinsmen Court. Gary, a below-the-knee amputee with a history of heart issues, and Jill have also served as fundraisers and volunteers for numerous community organizations, serving both people living with disabilities and others. For the Needy Not the Greedy receives no government grants or loans and is completely volunteer run, with a team of 14, in addition to the Taylors. A quick look around the large store and one will see a plethora of wheelchairs, medical beds, lifting and walking devices, and bathroom items. We had $35 in our pocket when we started this. Its out of our heart. Nobody should have to struggle, said Jill. We saw too many people walking around who were sick, no help. We had to start it because people needed it, added Gary. They said the goal was to assist people in need who fell between the cracks of government-supported programs. Jill said all in-store equipment is donated by care facilities and individuals. Gary said, for example, a tilt chair that would otherwise cost thousands of dollars is sold for $100. One (person) just came in and he needed one for his mother and he showed me the quote and it was $5,000, said Jill. Gary said they didnt end up charging the person because their mother was 87 years old. Anybody (that age) is free, and (equipment for) children is free. If you havent got any money, its free, he said. They said people visit the store from across Ontario, with Gary adding the first regular customer was a woman from Wawa looking for equipment for her young child. Jill said earlier this year, the store filled four, tanker-sized trucks with equipment to be sent to Ukraine. We dismantled the chairs, and we shrink-wrapped them. The beds were taken apart, she said, adding the charity made similar donations to people caught in Hurricane Katrina in the southern United States in 2005. But the time has come, said Gary, 76, and Jill, 75, to step back from day-to-day operations, although they said theyll still be around to help when needed. A retirement party was held for the couple on April 18. The business has been handed over to Valerie Dalton to operate. Dalton has been volunteering at the store for about a year and a half. Jill said Dalton was working at a company in Toronto when her mom and dad got sick, and she came home to care for them. She came in here to bring in equipment, she got looking around (and asked), Do you need help? I said, We always need help, said Jill. Dalton said shes excited about her new role, adding Gary and Jill have taught me very well. My previous background is in retail sales and to come to an organization that is not interested in profit, theyre interested in helping people, I think we make an enormous difference in the community, she said. You see it with the customers we get, you see it with how many donations we get. All the stuff that is on our floor would be in a landfill if it wasnt for Gary and Jill starting this business. Dalton said donations often come from people who have a loved one who has died, or they no longer need the medical equipment. Theyll usually bring it here because they know its going to go to someone else in the community. She said while the Taylors are stepping back from the operations, the remainder of the team look forward to stepping forward, adding the volunteers have the same philosophy as the founders. Weve all had parents or loved ones that have been ill and had to go through the system. We want to help. We want to give back. During last weeks city council meeting, Mayor Jim Diodati thanked the Taylors for their countless hours of service and for leaving a positive legacy in the community, wishing them well in retirement. They are unbelievable, he said. They thought they were actually going to be able to retire. I dont think theyre going to. I think theyre still going to be hanging around, but their philosophy is better to wear out than to rust out. People who want to donate to For the Needy Not the Greedy can visit the store at 6934 Kinsmen Ct. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. or call 289-296-8079 or email fortheneedynotthegreedy@cogeco.net to make arrangements for pick up. SHARE: Sewage overflows Re: Discharge dumps 30 million litres of sewage into Lake Erie, April 3 Why anyone on Niagara Region council should express any genuine concern about the ongoing pollution the municipality continues to dump into Niagaras environment and then into Lake Erie and Lake Ontario is surprising. Reports are submitted monthly to the province, from Niagara and other regions and municipalities, recording many such discharges each year. Primarily they come from stormwater drains that cannot manage the runoff, and not necessarily just major rain events. Both untreated sewer and stormwater drains overflow into each other with the resultant contamination having nowhere to go but into the environment, both land and water. While that December blizzard may have been an unexpected cause, such sewer spillages have been happening for years and on a regular and reported basis. Some years ago this newspaper quoted a Niagara politician as saying Sewage isnt sexy. Politicians today still ignore spending our tax dollars on fixing inadequate infrastructure because making some election promises just doesnt get votes. Its as simple as that, with so many better things to waste our ever increasing taxes on that just might gain a couple of votes. Andrew Watts Wainfleet Foster angels This is a wonderful article about our unsung heroes who take children in need of a safe and loving environment into their homes. Trish Mummery is an angel of mercy as are others like her with such a generous and loving spirit. I do not imagine this is an easy effort but I applaud all of you who foster the children and mould the generations of our future. Nancy Reimer St. Catharines Regional performance Re: Pipeline problem costing Niagara taxpayers big bucks, April 17 Niagara Region has a horrendous performance record in regards to its capital projects, with large cost overruns and legal costs. The Regions recent budget was a reflection of that. The ongoing problems with Niagaras sewage pipelines were there already with the completion of Niagara-on-the-Lakes newly constructed wastewater plant in 2018. This government had four years to fix this problem, but did nothing. Chair Jim Bradley and the Region should have taken the initiative to have the sewage pipe repaired instead of allowing this very costly $25,000 a week problem continue. What will happen when the new Niagara Falls wastewater plant comes on line? That will become an even larger and more expensive problem. Taxpayers could get better by replacing the top tier of senior bureaucrats including the chief administrative officer and the chair. Taxpayers want accountability and transparency and to be respected for their hard earned tax dollars. Rob Janssen Lincoln Letters welcome We welcome letters from our readers. Send them to letters@niagaradailies.com or mail to PO Box 5031 Stn Main, St. Catharines, Ont., L2R 7T4. Letters should be 250 words or less, and may be edited for length and clarity. Please include your name, address and phone number for verification purposes. SHARE: The Egyptian government announced that talks are underway with local and Indian investors launching projects to manufacture pharmaceutical raw materials with $80 million investments. In a statement on Wednesday, Minister of Public Enterprises Sector Mahmoud Esmat said that the state-owned Drug Holding Company (Holdipharma) would provide 17 feddan and buildings for the project while Egyptian and Indian investors would contribute capital investment and technology. The project aims to cover domestic need and produce a surplus for export, Essmat explained. It comes as part of the states efforts to encourage partnerships with local and foreign pharmaceutical companies to improve quality of products and localise technology in two strategic sectors; antibiotics and treatments of chronic diseases, the minister added. The government is also planning more partnerships with private investors in projects for the production of pharmaceutical preparations, biologicals and insulin pens, he revealed. Meanwhile, Egypt has set goals to expand its drugs production in order to meet local demand and become a pharmaceutical hub in the region. Egyptian sales of pharmaceutical reached EGP 170 billion in 2022. Egyptian pharmaceuticals exports are expected to increase by five percent every year in the next three years, According to the Information and Decision Support Centre (IDSC). India is the world's third largest producer of pharmaceuticals. The Indian pharmaceutical industry is currently valued at $49 billion and is expected to reach $130 billion by 2030. India is seeking pharmaceutical partnerships in markets like Egypt to produce raw materials and APIs at more competitive prices. Indian pharmaceuticals could be looking to wean itself from relying heavily on importing 68 percent of key active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) from China due to higher costs of production there. Search Keywords: Short link: The House of Commons Health Committee is mulling a national registry for breast implants, years after the Star published an investigative series into the health harms of some of the products. In a meeting Monday, the committee announced theyve launched a study into the feasibility and scope of a Canada-wide breast implant registry. First proposed in February of last year by Luc Theriault, an MP for the Bloc Quebecois and vice-chair of the health committee, the change would make it mandatory for doctors who implant, remove or replace breast implants to log certain data in a registry. Citing health impacts linked to breast implants, including risks of cancer, Theriault said at the time: Since theres no registry, the women who are dealing with the problems or who are unaware of any potential problems cant verify what was implanted in them. On Monday, David Boudreau, the head of Health Canadas medical devices directorate, gave an overview of what this update could look like, saying a registry could support patient safety notifications, also referred to as track and trace, or have a research purpose, or both. Boudreau added that while registries are often used to support research, it is not a common mechanism to monitor the safety of medical devices. Canadas currently only medical device registry monitors joint replacements for medical research, Boudreau continued a new registry could introduce patient privacy and data sharing concerns. As the details are still fuzzy, Boudreau doesnt have a price point for the project though he anticipates it may be quite expensive. Health Canada has banned some textured breast implants in recent years after a joint investigation by the Toronto Star, CBC News and Radio-Canada revealed numerous safety concerns surrounding the products, linking them to cancer development and other serious health issues. The 2018 investigations found thousands of Canadians were killed or injured by medical implants since 2008 and that surgeons provided little warning of the procedures risks. Meanwhile, manufacturers have avoided reporting health incidents linked to the devices while Canadas reporting system makes it difficult for individuals to speak out. Last year, Theriault noted the health issues linked to breast implants often occur decades down the line. He reiterated the point during Mondays meeting. Without a registry, how can we ensure that eight, 10, 15, 25 years later, we can make the connection between the problems the cancer, the lymphomas with the implantation that happened 15 years earlier? SHARE: MONTREAL - A major operation Wednesday linked to the drive-by shooting death of a teenager last month resulted in eight arrests and netted police a wealth of evidence, a senior Montreal police officer said. Cmdr. Jean-Sebastien Caron, head of the Montreal police major-crimes unit, said the goal was not to arrest a murder suspect but to gather evidence necessary for the probe. Police said they conducted nine seizures connected with the March 19 death of Khaled Mouloudj, 18, in the east-end Montreal borough of Anjou. He was gunned down on a sidewalk at about 10 p.m. by a suspect or suspects believed to have fired from a vehicle. Caron told reporters at an east-end police station that a conflict between two criminal gangs was at the centre of the fatal attack, and the police focus on Wednesday was the group that was allegedly behind the attack. Some 175 officers from several forces participated in the raids, including officers with the Montreal, Longueuil and provincial police forces. The eight people arrested, aged between 18 and 20 years old, were being questioned by police. Caron said they could face breach of conditions charges. Police also uncovered equipment used to steal vehicles, he said, so other charges could be pending. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: WINNIPEG - Lawyers for a former Canadian fashion mogul asked the Manitoba Court of Appeal to reconsider a United States extradition order, citing concerns over Peter Nygards health if he were to serve time south of the border. They were in a Winnipeg courtroom Wednesday to argue against three issues in the order, and are requesting federal Justice Minister David Lametti address them. Lametti issued the order in March 2022, requiring the 81-year-old be sent to the United States once his Canadian court cases are settled. Nygard was first arrested in Winnipeg in 2020 under the Extradition Act after he was charged with nine counts in New York, including sex trafficking and racketeering charges. U.S. authorities allege he used his position in the fashion industry to lure women and girls. The disgraced fashion entrepreneur faces similar charges in Canada. In Toronto, where he is currently in custody, Nygard has been charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and forcible confinement, and is scheduled to face trial in September. A complainant in Montreal came forward with allegations that led to Nygard being charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement. The trial in Quebec is expected to take place next year. Nygard waived his appearance at the Manitoba Court of Appeal hearing. He has maintained his innocence. Lawyers for the founder of the defunct global womens clothing company, Nygard International, are asking for Lametti to ensure their client would not be housed at Brooklyns Metropolitan Detention Centre due to humanitarian concerns over Nygards age and health. Brian Greenspan, Nygards lawyer, told the Manitoba Court of Appeal that conditions at the facility were terrible. He argued that being at the detention centre could undermine his clients health. Those concerns can be simply addressed and easily addressed by the minister, Greenspan said. Lawyers for the justice minister told the court the Metropolitan Detention Centre submitted a report showing the facility was in good shape. Greenspan also argued the racketeering charge shouldnt be considered because Canada does not have a comparable offence. It does not matter if the surrender offences have different elements than the Canadian offences, Scott Farlinger, the justice ministers lawyer, told the court. Greenspan is also requesting assurances that Nygard will not be involuntarily or indefinitely imprisoned after serving a sentence if convicted. The panel of three judges have reserved their decision. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: TALLINN, Estonia (AP) For Ruslan, an engineer in the Belarus capital of Minsk, Russias war in neighboring Ukraine suddenly seemed closer than ever when a conscription office recently sent him a summons for military training. Its part of an effort that will see thousands of men in Belarus attend drills amid fears that the staunch Moscow ally could be drawn into the fighting. They are telling us that Belarus wont enter the war against Ukraine, but I hear Russian warplanes roar over my house heading to the Machulishchi air base outside Minsk, the 27-year-old told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. He asked not to be fully identified out of concern for his personal safety. Russian troops are already in Belarus, and I see the country gradually being turned into a military barracks, he said. Everybody fears that they wont allow Belarusians to keep watching the war from a distance for too long. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has welcomed thousands of Russian troops to his country, allowed the Kremlin to use it to launch the invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and offered to station some of Russias tactical nuclear weapons there. But he has avoided having Belarus take part directly in the fighting for now. Analysts and political opponents say that further involvement over Ukraine could rekindle public anger against him and erode his iron-fisted grip on power that has lasted for nearly 29 years. Lukashenko, who meets regularly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has relied on the Kremlins political and economic support to survive months of protests, mass arrests and Western sanctions following an election in 2020 that kept him in power and was widely seen at home and abroad as rigged. Russias invasion is deeply unpopular in Belarus, which shares a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) border with Ukraine and has many citizens with family or personal ties there. The Belarusians dont see any sense in this war, said Svyatlana, a 54-year-old manager in Luninets, near the border. She asked not to be identified by her full name for her own security. A new Belarusian air defense unit was formed recently in the city, she said, and war fears have increased as troop numbers have grown. Belarusian military analyst Aliaksandr Alesin said that if the countrys 45,000-member army is sent into Ukraine, there might be mass refusals to follow orders. He said Lukashenko wont do it because he fears to stir up discontent among the military, who could turn their weapons in a different direction. While agreeing to station some of Russias tactical nuclear weapons in his country, Lukashenko cast the move as protection against what he described as NATOs aggressive plans and Western plots against his government. They dont bomb countries with nuclear weapons, Lukashenko said recently. The construction of storage facilities for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus will be finished by July 1, Putin said. Russia already has modified Belarusian warplanes to carry nuclear weapons and given its ally Iskander short-range missiles that can be fitted with a nuclear warhead. It also has trained Belarusian crews to operate the planes and missiles armed with nuclear weapons. During the Cold War, Belarus hosted about two-thirds of Moscows arsenal of nuclear-tipped intermediate range missiles, Alesin said, adding that dozens of Soviet-era storage sites can still be used for such weapons. Soviet nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan were moved to Russia under a U.S.-brokered deal after the USSRs collapse in 1991. Belarus was a Soviet nuclear fortress, and now Putin and Lukashenko have decided to not only restore but to strengthen it, Alesin told AP. From Belarus, Russian nuclear-tipped missiles could reach Ukraine, the entire territory of Poland, the Baltics and part of Germany, and this Belarusian nuclear balcony will rattle Western politicians nerves for a long time to come. Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who challenged Lukashenko in the 2020 election after her activist husband was jailed, told AP that hosting Russian nuclear weapons would turn the Belarusian people into hostages. The deployment of Russian nuclear weapons will make Belarus a target in case of an escalation and seriously jeopardize Belarusians lives, said Tsikhanouskaya, who fled the country after the election and has become a fierce critic-in-exile of Lukashenko. The two dictators have gone too far in their war games, and it will only lead to the toughening of Western sanctions. Those sanctions have crippled the Belarus economy, which shrank by a record 4.7% last year. Lukashenko hopes a 70% surge in trade with Russia last year will soften the impact and expects Belarus will profit from Moscows orders for electronics and other high-tech components for weapons systems. Alesin said Moscow is providing Minsk with cheap energy and loans and opens up its vast market in exchange for the opportunity to control the Belarusian military infrastructure. Some of the 300,000 Russian reservists called up last fall by Putin as part of his partial mobilization are being trained on firing ranges in Belarus. Lukashenko has said 500 officers are helping train the Russians, who are camped next to Belarusian barracks. But this growing involvement in Belarus for the Kremlin war efforts is fomenting widespread resentment, said Belarusian political analyst Valery Karbalevich. A broad guerrilla movement has evolved in Belarus with its members blowing up railway tracks and Russian warplanes and attacking Russian and Belarusian official websites, Karbalevich said. Belarus transformation into a Russian military hub and its gradual drawing into the war has caused public discontent, forcing Lukashenko to escalate repressions. BYPOL, an organization of former military and security officers who oppose Lukashenko, claimed responsibility for a February drone attack on a Russian A-50 early warning and control aircraft at the Machulishchi air base near Minsk. Authorities said they detained a suspect alleged to be behind the attack, along with 30 others who were charged with terrorism and could face capital punishment if convicted. Raids across the country have resulted in 300 other arrests on suspicion of links to the guerrillas, according to the Viasna human rights center. BYPOL leader Aliaksandr Azarau told AP that if Belarus enters the war in Ukraine, it would provide a boost for his group, which grew out of the 2020 election protests. If small Belarus starts getting coffins from Ukraine, it will inevitably stir up protests that the authorities barely managed to stifle with mass repressions, he said. Lukashenko reasonably worries that entering the war would lead to a sharp rise of the guerrilla movement. When Putin launched the invasion, Russian troops rolled into Ukraine from Belarus in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to capture Kyiv, only 90 kilometers (about 55 miles) to the south. Parts of western Ukraine, including railway hubs of Lviv and Lutsk that are key conduits for Western weapons, also could be vulnerable to a potential incursion from Belarus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently visited border guards in the northwestern Volyn region, urging vigilance against a possible incursion from Belarus. We havent seen any preparations in Minsk, and Lukashenko so far has resisted being drawn into a war with Ukraine, but the situation may change as Belarus is getting increasingly militarized, said Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov. Lukashenko is ready to give Putin whatever he wants except the Belarusian soldiers. But we arent blind and Kyiv is seriously worried about a sharp increase in the Russian military presence in Belarus. Karbalevich, the Belarusian analyst, said that while Lukashenko probably will remain reluctant to enter the war, Moscow could dangle the threat of another incursion into Ukraine from Belarus to force Kyiv to keep a significant number of troops on the border. The poorly motivated and weak Belarusian military army wouldnt make much of a change on the battlefield, but the Kremlin needs to keep showing Kyiv and the West that the Belarusian threat remains, he said. Its more convenient for Putin to use Minsk as a military hub while maintaining the constant threat of Belarus entering the war to keep the pressure on Ukraine. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine-war SHARE: PARIS (AP) Leila Oulkebous research for her doctorate from one of Frances top universities was going well when the explosions started. Oulkebous had decided to focus her field work on Sudan when the country exploded into violence. The chiefs of the countrys army and its rival Rapid Support Forces rose to power after a popular uprising in 2019 prompted them to remove longtime autocratic ruler Omar al-Bashir. They started fighting this month amid tensions over a new plan to re-introduce civilian rule. The bombing shook the house where Oulkebous was living in the capital, Khartoum, investigating the effects of dams on rivers that cross borders. We were hiding all the time under the bed, she said Wednesday at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport as hundreds of people arrived in harrowing evacuations. World powers were rescuing people from Sudan on planes and warships in operations prompted by the eruption of the fighting that sent thousands of foreigners and many more Sudanese people fleeing for safety. A French frigate carrying hundreds of evacuees docked Wednesday morning in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as part of broader efforts involving several warships, in addition to airlifts. French military spokesman Col. Pierre Gaudilliere said France evacuated more than 500 civilians from 40 nations by plane over the weekend after securing the airbase north of Khartoum Saturday, using its airbase in neighbouring Djibouti for the airlift. Gaudilliere said the French military was the first to land, and organized the flow of its own and other nations planes. You still had airstrikes as the operation was going on, crossfire in the streets, artillery fire, so it was and still is very intense fighting, Gaudilliere said. The French military had personnel on the ground to assess the situation during the operation, he said. Several nations, including Japan, thanked France for rescuing their citizens. Some other countries quickly joined evacuation efforts. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said Wednesday three nationals have been evacuated with help from Germany, and his country is now working with Turkey to help evacuate two other citizens. Greek national Christos Dedes, who was in Sudan for work, said he and his colleagues managed to leave their Khartoum hotel Tuesday via the Portuguese embassy, which sent a car to drive them to the airbase where there were Italian, French and German soldiers. We just happened to leave with the Italians, on a transport plane, he said on Greek TV channel Mega Wednesday, after he arrived in Athens. From their Khartoum hotel, he said, they could see that every day the battles were heavier. Both (sides) were using heavy weapons. He said they would hear explosions at night, and see bodies in the street. More than 1,000 people from 58 countries were to arrive Wednesday by ship to the port of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, including many on the French warship Lorraine. Saudi Arabia on Saturday organized the first evacuation convoy by land, via cars and buses bringing people to Port Sudan, where a navy ship took them to Jeddah. The French foreign affairs ministry said a flight carrying 184 French nationals and their families and about 20 other nationals returned from Djibouti and landed in Paris Wednesday morning. Among them was Oulkebous, a Moroccan PhD student at Bordeaux Montaigne University. The feeling I had since the first day of fighting was I felt really paralysed, I didnt know what to do, I didnt know how to get out, the airport was closed, we could not leave, she said, describing the explosions, the smoke, so really, I didnt have the time to fully realise what was going on. A Royal Air Maroc plane arrived at Casablancas Mohammed V airport on Wednesday, carrying 136 Moroccan nationals evacuated from Sudan. In contrast with France and some other nations, the U.S. and Britain didnt evacuate non-diplomats at first. The British government has come under growing criticism for its failure to airlift civilians. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the governments approach, saying diplomats had been evacuated first because they were being targeted. The British government since said that 301 people have been evacuated on four U.K. flights from Sudan over the past 24 hours, and four more are scheduled Wednesday. Britain intends to keep running the flights for as long as possible. In addition, rapid deployment teams of U.K. officials are in Port Sudan assessing potential for a seaborne evacuation. The Foreign Office says U.K. passport-holders are eligible, and priority is given to family groups with children and/or the elderly or individuals with medical conditions. Officials have said there are as many as 4,000 British citizens in Sudan, 2,000 of whom have registered for potential evacuation. The White House said Monday the U.S. is helping from afar as thousands of Americans left behind in Sudan seek to escape fighting in the east African nation, after the U.S. Embassy evacuated all of its diplomatic personnel over the weekend and shut down. The Biden administration is considering several options for assisting private American citizens in getting out of Sudan. Two U.S. officials said one option being considered would be to send U.S. Navy vessels in, or en route to, the Red Sea to dock at Port Sudan and take Americans to Jeddah or another location. The officials said this would depend on the security situation and whether it was deemed safe for the ships to dock. A U.S. official said the military has developed other options for getting Americans, including using an airfield that some European countries have used to fly out citizens. To date, it has not been told to do that, the official said. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss sensitive matters. ____ Karel Janicek in Prague, Jill Lawless in London, Elena Becatoros in Athens, Tarik El-Barakah in Rabat, Matt Lee and Tara Copp in Washington contributed to the story. ___ This story was first published on April 26, 2023. It was updated on April 27, 2023 to make clear that Oulkebous decision to focus her research on Sudan was not related to the civil war in Ethiopia. Read more about: SHARE: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office asked a judge to issue an order prohibiting former U.S. President Donald Trump from publicly discussing information prosecutors turn over to his lawyers before hes tried on business fraud charges. The risk that this defendant will use the covered materials inappropriately is substantial, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Catherine McCaw wrote. Defendant has a long history of discussing his legal matters publicly including by targeting witnesses, jurors, investigators, prosecutors, and judges with harassing, embarrassing, and threatening statements on social media and in other public forums and he has already done so in this case. Trump was indicted in Manhattan after a grand jury determined there was enough evidence to proceed with a case against him for paying hush money to a porn star during his 2016 campaign. He pleaded not guilty. In a deviation from a standard request for a protective order to limit the disclosure of information exchanged between parties ahead of trials, Braggs office went to great lengths in describing Trumps history in legal matters, stressing the special need for such an order in this case. In Tuesdays filing, the prosecutor noted that in Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election, as well as two separate impeachment trials in Congress, Trump criticized and ridiculed witnesses and officials involved in those matters. On social media, Trump described former FBI director James Comey as an untruthful slime ball. In the first impeachment trial, involving an attempt by Trump to pressure Ukrainian officials to open an investigation into Joe Biden, Trump disparaged Marie Yovanovitch, the US Ambassador to Ukraine whom he fired, and criticized Alexander Vindman, an official who expressed alarm over Trumps phone call with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump has already begun attacking potential witnesses in this case, including Michael Cohen, his former fixer, who paid $130,000 in hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election to guarantee that she wouldnt disclose an alleged sexual liaison she had with Trump years earlier. After his indictment, Trump sued Cohen. Prosecutors also cited the example of Ruby Freeman and her daughter, volunteer poll workers in Georgia, who were falsely accused by Trump on social media of double-counting ballots in heavily democratic Fulton County. The harassment unleashed on the women resulted in Freeman, on the advice of the FBI, having to vacate her home for approximately two months. At Trumps arraignment on April 4, prosecutor Christopher Conroy raised the topic before Judge Juan Merchan, saying Braggs office would ask for a protective order for discovery materials only, but was considering whether stricter conditions were warranted. In Tuesdays filing, McCaw said Trumps lawyers said they wouldnt agree to a protective order, so prosecutors were asking the judge to impose it. The prosecutors also expressed concern over allegations that Trump took classified materials from the White House and brought them to Mar-a-Lago, his home in Florida. As part of the protective order, theyre asking that Trump be allowed access to discovery materials only in the presence of his attorneys. The case is The People of the State of New York v. Trump, 71543-23, Supreme Court, State of New York, County of New York. Read more about: SHARE: PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) For most of her life in New Mexico, Christina Wood felt like she had to hide her identity as a transgender woman. So six years ago she moved to Oregon, where she had readier access to the gender-affirming health care she needed to live as her authentic self. Once there, Wood, 49, was able to receive certain surgeries that helped her transition, but electrolysis, or permanent hair removal, wasnt fully covered under the states Medicaid plan for low-income residents. Paying out-of-pocket ate up nearly half her monthly income, but it was critical for Woods mental health. Having this facial hair or this body hair, it doesnt make me feel feminine. I still look in the mirror and I see that masculine person, she said. Its stressful. It causes anxiety and PTSD when youre having to live in this body that you dont feel like you should be in. That is likely about to change. Oregon lawmakers are expected to pass a bill that would further expand insurance coverage for gender-affirming care to include things like facial hair removal and Adams apple reduction surgery, procedures currently considered cosmetic by insurers but seen as critical to the mental health of transitioning women. The wide-ranging bill is part of a wave of legislation this year in Democratic-led states intended to carve out safe havens amid a conservative movement that seeks to ban or limit gender-affirming care elsewhere, eliminate some rights and protections for transgender people and even bar discussion of their existence in settings such as classrooms. More than a half-dozen states, from New Jersey to Vermont to Colorado, have passed or are considering bills or executive orders around transgender health care, civil rights and other legal protections. In Michigan, for example, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last month signed a bill outlawing discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation for the first time in her state. Trans people are just being used as a political punching bag, said Rose Saxe, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Unions LGBT and HIV Project. Denying this health care doesnt make them not trans. It just makes their lives much harder. Gender-affirming care includes a wide range of social and medical interventions, such as hormone treatments, counseling, puberty blockers and surgery. Oregons bill would bar insurers and the states Medicaid plan from defining procedures like electrolysis as cosmetic when they are prescribed as medically necessary for treating gender dysphoria. It also would shield providers and patients from lawsuits originating in states where such procedures are restricted. Were actually very committed to accessibility of coverage. Because you can say something is legal, but if its not truly affordable or accessible, that is not a full promise, said Democratic state Rep. Andrea Valderrama, the bills chief sponsor. Access to procedures such as electrolysis is also necessary as a matter of public safety, said Blair Stenvick, communications manager for the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Basic Rights Oregon. Facial hair can be a trigger for harassment, Stenvick said, and being able to present as a woman helps folks to not get targeted and identified as a trans person and then attacked. The bill has sparked fervent debate, with hundreds of people submitting written testimony both for and against it and an emotionally charged public hearing at the Capitol in Salem last month that went on for several hours. The Democratic-controlled House is expected to vote on the bill Monday over Republican opposition before it heads to the Senate, which is also dominated by Democrats. Oregons measure mirrors a nationwide trend in Democratic-led states. Shield protections similar to what is being proposed in Oregon have been enacted this year in Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey and New Mexico, and other bills are awaiting the signatures of Govs. Jay Inslee in Washington and Tim Walz in Minnesota. California, Massachusetts and Connecticut passed their own measures last year. They largely bar authorities from complying with subpoenas, arrest warrants or extradition requests from states that have banned gender-affirming treatments. Meanwhile a measure passed last month by lawmakers in Maryland would expand the list of procedures covered by Medicaid, and Democratic Gov. Wes Moore has said he plans to sign it. And lawmakers in Nevadas Democratic-held Legislature are also pushing to expand gender-affirming health care and develop policies regarding the treatment of transgender prisoners, among other things. The series of bills face an uncertain fate under Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, who has shied away from the anti-transgender rhetoric and policy proposals that fellow GOP officeholders and candidates across the country have embraced. Lawmakers have just over a month to vote on them before the legislative session ends in June. But regardless of their outcome, an open debate over transgender health care protections in the important swing state promises to further heighten national attention on the issue. They know that this is not a political stunt, state Sen. Melanie Scheible, the bills sponsor and member of Nevadas newly formed LGBTQ+ Caucus, said of the governors office. Im not trying to give them a bill to veto just so I can complain about it later. Some opponents of gender-affirming health care say theyre concerned that young people may undergo certain physical transition procedures that are irreversible or transition socially in settings such as schools without their parents knowledge. Advocates for gender-affirming health procedures counter that they can be, literally, a matter of life or death. Kevin Wang, medical director for the LGBTQI+ Program at Swedish Health Services in Seattle, said such care alleviates the depression, anxiety and self-harm seen in patients with gender dysphoria. Studies show that transgender people, particularly youth, consider and attempt suicide at higher rates than the general population. These are not aesthetic procedures, Wang said. Accessing these services can be absolutely life-saving because were preventing future harm. Some legal experts, however, warn that laws that protect gender-affirming care but lack strong enforcement mechanisms or funding to investigate violations may not result in meaningful change. For example, Oregon already bars insurance companies from discrimination on the basis of gender identity. And the state agency overseeing health insurance rules already requires companies to cover procedures deemed medically necessary by a doctor to treat gender dysphoria and bars them from defining them as cosmetic. But insurers have rarely faced major consequences for violations, said Ezra Young, a civil rights attorney and visiting assistant professor of law at Cornell Law School. Wheres the task force thats going to enforce the law? Young said. Where are the lawyers that are going to do this? Where is the funding to educate insurance adjusters that they cant do this? If youre leaving it to relatively poor transgender people to litigate a case in court thats not a meaningful remedy. Christina Wood, the transplant to Oregon, said she was lucky to have had the resources and ability to move to a state where she could more easily complete her transition, compared with other states that have fewer protections. Its scary to live in this world right now. But ... Im not going to back down, and Im going to advocate for people in my situation, Wood said. I never had a voice when I was younger. Christopher never had a voice. Christina has a voice. And so thats what I plan to do. ___ Associated Press writers Gabe Stern in Carson City, Nevada, Joey Cappellitti in Lansing, Michigan, and Brian Witte in Baltimore contributed to this report. ___ Rush and Stern are corps members 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. SHARE: HELENA, Mont. (AP) Montana Republicans barred transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr from the House floor on Wednesday, wielding decorum rules after she rebuked colleagues supporting a ban on gender-affirming care for children and protested their efforts to silence her. The punishment marks the first time in nearly half a century that Montana lawmakers have sought such disciplinary action against one of their own. It caps a weeklong standoff between Zephyr and House Republican leaders and formalizes their decision to silence her for saying that those voting in favor of the ban would have blood on their hands. Zephyr will still be able to vote and participate in committees, but not discuss proposals and amendments under consideration in the full House. The legislative session is set to end in early May. The fight over Zephyrs remarks has brought the nationwide debate over protests role in democracy to Montana, where lawmakers punished her for voicing dissent, an increasingly prevalent move in statehouses. Supporting Zephyrs attempts to regain her voice, protesters interrupted proceedings earlier this week by chanting Let her Speak in a boisterous rally that came after they protested outside the Capitol and unfurled a banner that read Democracy Dies Here. After days of rebuffing Zephyrs request to speak, Republican leaders finally granted her the floor to give a statement before they ultimately voted to discipline her Wednesday. She said her initial blood on your hands remark and subsequent decision to thrust a microphone into the air toward protesters in the House gallery were an effort to stand up for the LGBTQ+ community and her constituents in Missoula. House Speaker Matt Regiers decision to turn off her microphone, she said, was an attempt to drive a nail in the coffin of democracy. If you use decorum to silence people who hold you accountable, then all youre doing is using decorum as a tool of oppression, Zephyr told her colleagues. House Republicans who supported barring Zephyr from the floor have accused her of placing lawmakers and staff at risk of harm for disrupting House proceedings and inciting protests in the chamber on Monday. But lawmakers were on the floor Monday when protesters were in the gallery, and there have been no reports of damage to the building. Freedom in this body involves obedience to all the rules of this body, including the rules of decorum, House Majority Leader Sue Vinton said. Authorities arrested seven people in the confrontation, who Zephyr said were defending democracy. Her opponents said ensuring government can conduct business on behalf of the people without interruption was a critical precedent to set. This is an assault on our representative democracy, spirited debate, and the free expression of ideas cannot flourish in an atmosphere of turmoil and incivility, Republican David Bedey said on the House floor. The episode comes weeks after two Black lawmakers, Tennessee state Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, were expelled for participating in a protest in favor of gun control after another school shooting. Similarly, Zephyrs punishment has ignited a firestorm of debate about governance and who has a voice in an elected body during this politically polarizing time. Post-expulsion, the fate of the two Tennessee lawmakers were sent to their county commissions, which swiftly voted to reinstate them. Zephyr told The Associated Press after the vote that Republican leaders were likely aware that a similar sequence of events could be triggered, had they expelled her. My community and the Democratic Party in Missoula would send me back here in a heartbeat because I represent them and I represent their values by standing up for democracy, she said. In Missoula, the county Democratic Party Chair Andy Nelson said Zephyrs constituents and supporters were disheartened to see her disciplined. What it comes down to is the silencing of not just Rep. Zephyr, but the 11,000 people she serves, he said after the decision. The punishment comes two days after protesters later packed into the gallery at the Statehouse and brought House proceedings to a halt chanting Let her speak as Zephyr lifted her microphone toward them. Seven subsequent arrests galvanized both her supporters and those saying Zephyrs actions constitute an unacceptable attack on civil discourse. The far-right Montana Freedom Caucus, which had pushed for Zephyr to be censured, said in a statement that her actions in support of the protesters were nothing more than an ego trip. The caucus again on Wednesday deliberately misgendered Zephyr by using incorrect pronouns when referring to her. There needs to be some consequences for what he has been doing, said Rep. Joe Read, a member of the caucus who frequently and inconsistently used incorrect pronouns for Zephyr. He claimed Zephyr gave a signal to her supporters just before Mondays session was disrupted. He declined to say what that was other than a strange movement. When she gave the signal for protesters to go into action, I would say thats when decorum was incredibly broken, Read added. Zephyr told the AP that she felt the moment was calling on her to stand up for democracy. Every time that one of these votes came; every time the speaker refused to allow me to speak; when the protesters came and demanded, my thought was twofold, she said. Pride in those who stood up to defend democracy and a hope that in some small way, I could rise to that moment individually and do the work they sent me to do. ___ Metz reported from Salt Lake and Brown reported from Billings, Montana. SHARE: OTTAWA - The Liberal government is seeking to increase francophone immigration in what it says is a way to grow the French language in Canada and protect the countrys cultural identity. The new policy was laid out in a five-year action plan for official languages the government released Wednesday. The plan comes as the Liberals update to the Official Languages Act is debated in the House of Commons. If we address the decline in French, we really have to make sure ... that we recruit francophone immigrants, Official Languages Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor said Wednesday. We recognize that theres a labour force shortage when it comes to bilingual workers. The plan says Canada aims to recruit French-speaking people from Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas and settle them in francophone minority communities in Canada. That doesnt include Quebec, which has control over its own immigration program. The government is also looking to attract francophone teachers so that communities have good access to French-language education, including French immersion programs, early childhood programs and post-secondary learning. Ive heard parents tell me that they get up at midnight because they want to be the first in line to enrol their kids in French immersion, Petitpas Taylor said. So there is a thirst that people want to make sure that their children can speak both official languages. Earlier this year, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada reached a target to ensure that at least 4.4 per cent of immigrants settling outside of Quebec are French speakers. The government has yet to set a new target, but Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said its important for francophone minority communities to experience the benefits of immigration. They dont care simply about more people speaking French. They care about the ability ... to raise their families in the language of their choice, Fraser said Wednesday. That includes giving people the option to go to the grocery store, put their kids in daycare centers and access education all in French. This is about protecting the cultural identity of Canada and making sure that francophones see themselves in the cultural identity of this country not just today, but for generations to come, he said. The proportion of francophones in the population outside Quebec fell from 6.1 per cent in 1971 to 3.5 per cent in 2021, according to Statistics Canada data from the 2021 census. The share of the population that says French was the first official language they learned at home has fallen, too from 27.5 per cent in 1971 to 22 per cent in 2021, data show. Those numbers are fueling a shared sense of concern among Canadas francophones and francophiles, both in minority settings and in Quebec, the government said in its action plan. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he recognizes the governments plan is ambitious but said on Wednesday that it recognizes the important economic, social and cultural value of official languages while also focusing on results. Other initiatives under the plan include expanding internships for youth in language minority communities that are facing labour shortages, providing access to justice in both languages, increasing bilingual health workers and supporting the creation and dissemination of scientific information in French. The plan also lays out money for provinces and territories to increase their educational offerings, as well as money for arts and culture, including for English-speaking minority communities in Quebec. This new action plan will ensure continued growth of English and French across our country, Trudeau said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: The Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) will participate in three events associated with the upcoming Cannes Film Festival, which will take place from May 16 to May 27. On May 21, CIFF will present and endorse director Talal Selhami's upcoming film The Shelter as part of the Cannes Film Market's Fantastic 7 initiative. On May 24, CIFF will support a workshop called Prioritizing Wellbeing at Work: Sparking the Conversation amongst Festivals, in cooperation with WorkPlace Options and Sane Cinema, as part of the Festivals Hub activities. On the same day, CIFF will also support Festivals Mixer, a networking event for prestigious festival representatives, filmmakers, producers, and distributors, in association with the Festivals Hub. CIFF President Hussein Fahmy and CIFF Director Amir Ramses will attend the Cannes Film Market from May 16 to May 24 to represent the festival. The Cairo International Film Festival is one of the oldest and most prestigious festivals in the Arab world and Africa and is the only festival in the Arab and African region registered as category A by the International Federation of Producers in Paris. The festivals upcoming edition will run between 15 and 24 November 2023. Search Keywords: Short link: OTTAWA - International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan told his fellow MPs Wednesday he did not know a Canadian senator was handing out unauthorized travel documents to hundreds of Afghans during the rise of the Taliban in 2021 because he wasnt checking his email at the time. Sen. Marilou McPhedran told the House immigration committee last week that Sajjans then-chief of staff, George Young, had given her a template for a visa facilitation letter that people could use to clear checkpoints on their way to the airport to escape the country. She shared that template with several trusted advocates, including the chief human rights officer with FIFA and a former Canadian Olympian. McPhedran said she doesnt know how many letters were handed out, but believes it was about 640. Sajjan was defence minister at the time and McPhedran said she copied him and several other ministers on many emails about her activities. Sajjan told the committee he was so busy at the time he didnt have time to check his inbox. During the time of the evacuation, I really didnt have the time to be able to check my emails, Sajjan told reporters after his committee appearance. Sajjan told the committee he was consumed 24/7 by continuous security updates about the situation in Afghanistan throughout August 2021 as Canadian Forces aided in the evacuation of Afghans. Even when the federal election campaign period started on Aug. 15, 2021, Sajjan said he was entirely focused on the situation in Afghanistan until the final Canadian evacuation flight left the capital city of Kabul. He said he was aware of authentic visa facilitation letters issued by Global Affairs Canada, but didnt authorize anyone else to use them. In a statement, the Immigration Department said it issued several authentic letters directly to Afghan nationals who were eligible to come to Canada to help them clear checkpoints, but didnt allow third parties to issue them on the governments behalf. The situation was referred to the RCMP, which determined it cannot pursue a viable investigation. Meanwhile the governments refusal to honour the documents to allow Afghans entry to Canada is now the subject of a court case. Conservative MP Michelle Remple Garner compared the ministers explanation to the excuse that the dog ate my homework. The response I didnt check my email was preposterous, she said after the meeting, highlighting what appears to her as a lack of oversight and fairness in the process. McPhedran tabled her emails with the committee but they have not yet been shared with members. In a written statement sent to The Canadian Press on Wednesday, she thanked Sajjan for his commitment to getting Afghans, including women and girls at high risk, out of the country. She also thanked him for his appreciation of his then-chief of staff George Young for working diligently to try to save lives. Young never told Sajjan that McPhedran was handing visa facilitation letters out, Sajjan said, but he wouldnt comment further on whether Youngs alleged actions were appropriate or not. He said he directed his staff to forward all people who were concerned about getting individuals out of Afghanistan to the appropriate interdepartmental team, but also described the frenzied atmosphere at the time. NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan said at the end of the day, the minister is responsible for the actions of his chief of staff. I am dismayed with the ministers comments and a little bit in shock at the level of, frankly, incompetence, if thats how he operated, Kwan said. Conservative members of the committee filed a notice of motion to call Young to testify. This testimony is going to be critical in terms of understanding exactly what happened, if there was authorization, why he undertook this and if he actually did it to begin with, Remple Garner said after the meeting. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2023. 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The General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPR) informs that on Tuesday 76,966 people entered Romania through the border crossing points, of whom 7,871 were Ukrainian citizens, told Agerpres. According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday, about 161,300 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with about 45,700 means of transport, have gone through border control formalities, both on the entry and on the exit ways, at border points throughout the country. As of February 10, 2022 (pre-conflict period), 4,069,908 Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania. In the areas of jurisdiction, crossing points and the "green border," the police found 60 illegal acts (29 offences and 31 contraventions) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens, and the amount of fines imposed amounted to 24,900 lei. Goods worth approximately 283,940 lei were seized for confiscation. On Tuesday, 18 foreign citizens were not allowed to enter the country because they did not meet the conditions provided by the law and 13 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave the country for various legal reasons. Romania registers a spectacular evolution with very good data on the communications market, given that it has approximately 21.37 million active SIM cards for mobile Internet, 23.22 million for mobile telephony, and in terms of mobile internet by phone - 19.85 million, the president of the National Authority for Administration and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM), Vlad Stoica, said on Wednesday. He also pointed out that currently 3% of SIM cards and mobile internet traffic are on 5G, all operators investing in equipment and this technology for several years, even if the spectrum was auctioned last fall. "You know very well that all operators have invested and started to install equipment, especially in cities, for several years, even if the spectrum was put up for auction last fall and the law appeared two years ago, and the Communications Code last year, but being innovative and eager for business, they installed 5G compatible equipment. You will have the complete study, now there are preliminary figures", added Stoica. The ANCOM president conveyed that two months ago a memorandum entered the Government in which ANCOM was a kind of integrator on the Digital Act, respectively on the regulation of data transfer, which will have to be done in the near future. "Until the end of 2024, the member countries of the European Union must create a legal framework for the regulation of data transfer. From my point of view, it will be a complex discussion with many authorities, with the business environment as a whole, not only operators and with civil society, because it is a totally new field, including for the European Union, and we all have to learn, and we cannot learn if we think we know everything. We only learn through dialogue and collaboration and through transparency. We have to put our books on the table and try to answer all the questions as best we can. I want the state to be able to adapt in real time and ensure a predictable environment and ensure the best possible protection for all citizens ", concluded the president of ANCOM, Vlad Stoica. AGERPRES The visiting Austrian federal minister of the Interior, Gerhard Karner, in Bucharest said on Wednesday that Romania has made very good progress in the fight against illegal migration, but there is still a long way to an effective protection of the external borders of the European Union. "I have great understanding for the grievance of the minister and for the expectations of the Romanian people regarding the next stage of accession to the Schengen Area, but at the moment you have to think that even Austrian citizens have the same dilemma when they are subject to checks with Germany. We have made very good progress, we are on the right path, but we have to tell you that there is still a long way to go," said the Austrian minister.AGERPRES Defence Minister Tilvar to co-chair meeting of Defence ministers in B9 Format, in Warsaw. National Defence Minister Angel Tilvar will co-chair on Wednesday, alongside his counterpart from Poland Mariusz Blaszczak, a new meeting of the Defence ministers in the Bucharest 9 Format (B9), which takes place in Warsaw, Poland, told Agerpres. According to a press release of the National Defence Ministry (MApN), the activity represents an opportunity to harmonize the standpoints of the B9 states on the Eastern Flank of the Alliance, in view of promoting and reflecting the shared security interests on the allied agenda, including in view of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, which takes place this summer. Moreover, also tackled will be aspects regarding the current security challenges generated by the latest developments of the war in Ukraine and the implications at regional and Euro-Atlantic level, as well as the necessity to continue the support for the most vulnerable partners in the region, subjected to some hybrid threats from Russia, namely the Republic of Moldova, Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fondul Proprietatea asks CNAB to urgently complete auction for commercial spaces in Henri Coanda Airport. Fondul Proprietatea (FP) requests the Bucharest Airports National Company (CNAB) to urgently finalize the tender for the concession of commercial spaces in Henri Coada Otopeni International Airport (AIHCB), which is already 10 months late, informs FP on Wednesday, told Agerpres. "Fondul Proprietatea is deeply concerned about the fact that the Bucharest Airports National Company neglected to organize the tender for the concession of commercial spaces in the Henri Coanda Otopeni International Airport (AIHCB), despite the commitment made to the Competition Council to complete the tender and designate the winners until July 31, 2022. CNAB did not take the necessary measures and delayed the organization of the auction by almost 10 months. This led to the extension of the contracts with the existing companies that manage the commercial spaces for a period of 6 months, until June 30 2023," FP said in a statement. According to the source, the extension was carried out despite the opposition of Fondul Proprietatea, expressed by a negative vote in the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders on December 5, 2022, there being a major risk that these contracts, which are financially disadvantageous for CNAB, to be extended again, if the auction is not completed by the date on which they are to expire. The representatives of the FP maintain that the commercial spaces in Bucharest Airport represent an important source of income for CNAB, and the delay in organizing the auction has a negative impact on the company, as it deprives it of potentially higher revenues. Moreover, airport passengers cannot enjoy a better use of these spaces, through increased diversity and improved retail and catering services. "Fondul Proprietatea is deeply disappointed by the lack of implementation of corporate governance and the faulty management within CNAB, highlighted by the way in which the company handled this auction. We are concerned about the lack of interest shown by CNAB in the transparent and competitive capitalization of commercial spaces, this being a very important issue for all interested parties, including passengers and company shareholders. We request CNAB to take all the necessary steps to complete the auction in a transparent manner," said Johan Meyer, CEO of Franklin Templeton Bucharest and Portfolio Manager of Fondul Proprietatea. IntMin Bode: Minister Kraner's visit thaws bilateral relations between Romania and Austria. The minister of Internal Affairs, Lucian Bode, declared on Wednesday that at the meeting with the federal minister of the Interior of the Austrian government, Gerhard Kraner, the subject of unlocking the process of Romania's accession to the Schengen Area will be discussed, stressing that the visit of the Austrian counterpart "unfreezes" the bilateral relations between Romania and Austria, relations that cooled at the end of last year, told Agerpres. "Today's visit is a natural continuation of the activities carried out by the structures of the ministries of Internal Affairs from Romania and Austria, structures that met at a technical level during this year. Today's visit is, if you like, a pragmatic approach to the topics of interest for our countries. I would like to say one more thing. Seeing the media's approach to this visit, I would confirm that this visit unfreezes the bilateral relations between Romania and Austria at the level of the MAI, relations that cooled at the end of last year. Today's agenda, in addition to the topics of interest for our countries' bilateral cooperation, is obviously including the topic of unlocking the accession process of Romania to the Schengen Area. At the end of this day, the actions we will carry out I hope will contribute to the achievement of this country's goal, of Romania's accession to the Schengen Area," said Bode, in the presence of Gerhard Kraner. 32 Israeli deputies sent an appal to the Cabinet of Israels Minister of foreign Affairs with the call to provide As wide an international support as possible to the national aspirations of the peoples of South Azerbaijan. Western researchers stimate that the number of ethnic Azerbaijanis in Iran ranges from 12 to 20 million people. The majority live compactly in 3 north western provinces of Iran belonging to the historical region of Southern Azerbaijan. Its cultural and historical center is Tabriz. Since the beginning of the century this city has been the epicenter of major revolts against central authorities in Tehran 3 times. The last time in 1979 came to be a prelude to the fall of the Shahs regime. At the end of 2022 south Azerbaijanis, especially residents of Tabriz, were one of the driving forces behind anti-government demonstrations throughout the country. Since February an activation of an underground movement for independence of Iran has been seen. The detachment of Tabriz as the capital of South Azerbaijan is perceived in Tehran as a catalyst for the fall of the regime. Is this scenario feasible? It all depends on the support, which the movement for independence will receive from abroad, the Israeli website i24News noted in March. In their address to the minister 32 deputies point out that ensuring a broad international support to the movement for independence of Southern Azerbaijan will be a devastating blow to the ayatollah regime, and there is no doubt: if a sovereign state South Azerbaijan is created, Israel will get another ally in the region along with the Azerbaijan Republic. Their support will be an adequate response in foreign policy activism to the subversive activity of the ayatollah regime against us. The same thing is true for Ukraine which is being attacked by Iranian drones on a weekly basis, while according to publications of Western media and statements by the head of NSDC, Danilov, Iranian military advisers are deployed in occupied Crimea. Therefore, the strengthening of the movement for independence of South Azerbaijan fully meets the interests of Ukraine: if the ayatollah regime is preoccupied with its own survival it wont be bothered about participating in Russian aggression. Moreover, in case Southern Azerbaijanis supported by Israel do manage to achieve independence, we can also expect that the newly formed state will pursue a friendly policy to Ukraine just like its northern and kindred neighbor, the Republic of Azerbaijan. It could even be expected that sovereign Azerbaijan with its capital Tabriz will become Ukraines ally in the Middle East, if Ukrainians minimally give moral support to the movement for independence. Thats why it is gratifying that in March flash-mbs and marches took place in several de-occupied villages of the Kharkiv region in support of the campaign of south-Azerbaijani activists. Despite the repressive efforts of the regime, a new protest movement is underway. It is managed by a new telegram channel (AZfront), and 8 different organizations of Azerbaijani national minorities have already joined the action the statement to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israeli parliamentarians reads. Subscribers of AZfront have been carrying out demonstrations all over Tabriz since the beginning of February: they have been putting up leaflets and hanging posters in administrative buildings as well as holding flash-mobs. Their goal is to inflame the moods of the local residents towards supporting the ideas of independence and showing the spirations of South Azerbaijanis to the whole world. Despite the attempts by the agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps to detain the distributors of flyers and banners, not one of them has even been noticed yet the Israeli news prtl Walla noted in February. Patrols are trying to tear off all the leaflets put up during the night, however within 24 hours they appear in other places, Rdi Liberty reported at the time. On 23 March the European analytical resource EUreporter reported that the activists of AZfront managed to coordinate with eight other south Azerbaijani organizations and hold a joint protest. It is an unprecedented event since till that time personal and ideological contradictions had impeded taking joint action. The second wave of leaflets not only bore the flag but also the symbols of all major organizations the German website Globusdeutschland reprted. On top of that, having almost 200.000 subscribers AZfront is clear and explicit on being pro-Ukrainian, anti-Iranian and anti-Russian. In December this Telegram channel raised $40.000 which were used for purchasing and shipping 15 large scale generators. They arrived in the city before the New Year. At the same time AZfront posted vid with Azerbaijani children with wishes and sentiments, supporting the people of Ukraine. We express our sincere gratitude to people of Azerbaijan and AZfront for personal involvement and sincere help, - Vladislav Kanevski, the Ukrainian ambassador in Baku wrote on his facebook page on 22 December. Vladimir Usov, the first deputy chairman of regional state administration of Kharkiv, posting the video from AZfront with the address of Azerbaijani children with support for Ukraine. Since the beginning of the year this Telegram channel regularly posts video and photo reports about raising money for humanitarian aid for Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. Judging by these publications it is clear that Igog Schitikov, an activist of the volunteer movement famous in Kharkiv, is the partner of AZfront. Mainly 2 analytical materials are of particular interest against this background. One of them was published in November under the heading Eurasia on the threshold of a new era: Ukraine is becoming a superpower. It stated that after the liberation of Kherson and the coming liberation of Crimea Kiev will get a unique opportunity to intercept Moscows 250-year-old domination in Eurasia. The second material appeared in December: it featured a detailed statement of arguments for establishing a close collaboration between Ukraine with Israel and Azerbaijan against the common Iranian threat. Thus, apparently, as early as two months before the AZfront movement for independence of Southern Azerbaijan was launched, forces behind the influential media source had been sending signals to Kiev about the prospects of a potential collaboration. This should be at least taken into consideration, especially now that AZfront has been demonstrating real possibilities and influence in Iran, Israel and in Western media. Igor CHALENKO, political scientist (Ukraina) The number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) operating in the UAE at the end of 2022 totalled 557,000, in line with the countrys ambitious plan to drive this number to 1 million by the end of 2030. Against this backdrop, Tally Solutions, a leading business management software provider, is all set to host MSME Honours, an annual event to recognise micro, small and medium (MSME) enterprises in the region. The initiative aims to identify and celebrate MSME Heroes that exemplify excellence and have made significant contributions to their communities and industries. MSMEs account for 90pc business The United Nations General Assembly designated June 27 as Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises to raise awareness of the tremendous contributions of these enterprises. MSMEs account for 90% of businesses, 60 to 70% of employment and 50% of GDP worldwide. As the backbone of societies, they contribute to local and national economies and to sustaining livelihoods, in particular among women, youth, and groups in countries that are developing. At Tally, we are committed to supporting and recognising the efforts of MSMEs globally. We understand the importance of MSMEs in driving economic growth and are proud to celebrate the achievements of these MSME Heroes in the region. We are excited to host the third edition of the MSME Honours and encourage people to participate in this initiative, said Vikas Panchal, General Manager Middle East, Tally Solutions. This year, Tally's MSME Honours will be recognising outstanding MSMEs across categories globally, including Middle East, India, Africa, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Indonesia. The initiative takes into account the diversity of businesses and aims to recognise them at a hyper-local level. The honours will be awarded to entrepreneurs, creators, small and new business owners, or independent business leaders. Outstanding businesses Tally's MSME Honours awards outstanding businesses across four categories. The categories are Wonder Woman, E-preneur Icon, Tech Transformer and Business Maestro. Wonder Woman recognises women entrepreneurs who have redefined businesses E-preneur Icon acknowledges rising solopreneurs based in UAE who creatively deliver to clients Tech Transformer awards businesses that are agile with modern technology adoption yielding better results Business Maestro hails stalwarts who have withstood the test of time and continue to grow The stability, effectiveness, and reliability of the UAE's government, combined with its business-friendly operating environment and transparent taxation framework, have made it a desirable destination for businesses worldwide to expand their global footprint. The country's relaxed visa laws and regulations have also played a significant role in attracting businesses. Furthermore, the UAE's vision for innovation-led growth, along with its supportive programmes and subsidies, make it an attractive destination for businesses of all sizes. As we celebrate MSME Day, we are proud to be operating in this country and acknowledge the efforts put in by businesses in the region, added Panchal.-- TradeArabia News Service The country's emergency anti-virus headquarters dispatched "talented epidemiological, virology and test experts to the area" and is taking steps to "trace all persons... connected with the suspect cases, and persons going to and from the relevant area and keep them under strict medical observation," KCNA said. KCNA said health authorities were giving extra attention to the cases because none of the four patients had a history of coronavirus infections. Authorities immediately locked down the areas where the fever cases emerged and plan to maintain tight restrictions and quarantines until health workers determine the cause of the illness. The state-run [North] Korean Central News Agency said health workers were conducting genetic tests on the samples taken from four people in Ryanggang province who exhibited fevers to confirm whether they were caused by the "malignant epidemic." The North often uses that term, along with "malignant virus," to describe COVID-19 and coronavirus. North Korea on Thursday said it found four new fever cases in its border region with China that may have been caused by coronavirus infections, two weeks after leader Kim Jong-un declared a widely disputed victory over COVID-19. North Korea said there have been no confirmed COVID-19 cases in any part of the country since Aug. 10 when Kim declared victory over the virus, just three months after the country acknowledged an outbreak. Even as he ordered preventive measures eased, Kim called for vigilance and the maintaining of tight border controls to prevent the virus from reentering the country. Ryanggang province is one of the border areas where North Korean officials for years struggled to clamp down smuggling activities with China. An official from South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said Seoul isn't ruling out the possibility that the virus could reemerge in the North. "North Korea may additionally report on the situation, including whether the fevers were confirmed as COVID-19, and we would need to wait for that before making judgments," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity during a background briefing. While Kim claimed that the country's success against the virus would be recognized as a global health miracle, experts believe the North has manipulated disclosures on its outbreak to help him maintain absolute control. The victory statement signals Kim's aim to move to other priorities, including a possible nuclear test, experts say. After admitting to an omicron outbreak of the virus in May, North Korea reported about 4.8 million "fever cases" across its mostly unvaccinated population of 26 million but only identified a fraction of them as COVID-19. It claimed just 74 people have died, which experts see as an abnormally small number considering the country's lack of public health tools. Kim's declaration of victory over COVID-19 during a national meeting in Pyongyang was followed by a combative speech from his powerful sister, who said Kim had suffered a fever himself while steering the anti-virus campaign and laid dubious blame against South Korea while vowing deadly retaliation. North Korea claims that its initial infections were caused by anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets and other items carried across the border by balloons launched by South Korean activists, a claim the South has described as "ridiculous" and unscientific. Outside experts believe it's more likely that the virus spread when the North briefly reopened its border with China to freight traffic in January and surged further following a military parade and other large-scale events in its capital, Pyongyang, in April. There are concerns that the threats by Kim's sister portend a provocation, possibly a nuclear or missile test or even border skirmishes. Some experts say the North may try to stir up tensions as South Korea and the United States hold their biggest combined military training in years to counter the growing North Korean nuclear threat. The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, which involves aircraft, tanks and warships, continues in South Korea through Sept. 1. Diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang to defuse the nuclear standoff has stalled since 2019 over disagreements in exchanging crippling U.S.-led sanctions against the North for the North's denuclearization steps. Kelemen Hunor: Pensions should be calculated based on contribution, they cannot be higher than salary. Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) Chairman Kelemen Hunor, Deputy Prime Minister in the Ciuca Cabinet, told AGERPRES, in an interview, that regarding service pensions, also called special pensions in the media, his opinion is that pensions should be calculated based on contribution, because no one can have a pension higher than the salary, told Agerpres. "We have made at least two huge mistakes with service pensions. First, 10 years ago, almost everyone, and that's why I say "almost everyone," because I didn't really engage in this contest of demagogy and populism, said that "we come to power and cancel the special service pensions in I don't know how long," but in a short time. And of course they created an expectation among the population, plus they showed an injustice, indeed, that must be solved, but not by demagogy. The second mistake was that we were not able, although there was such a proposal, at least on our part, from 2020, 2021, 2022, to have an extremely honest dialogue in which we said that those who are in public service and have bans, as this is about bans, incompatibilities, during the period they are in the public service, beyond their contribution - contribution must remain the basis - they receive one, two, three points when they retire or not, depending on the period and depending on the bans, as happens in all the civilised world. And you can have two conclusions. You can say "I don't care, you chose this public service, I'm not giving you any extra points based on contributions, you'll have a big enough pension anyway." This is one of the possible conclusions. The second conclusion could be "yes, you were in public service and you had bans, incompatibilities, depending on 'which' they give you two, three, four points more." We gave up this honest and principled debate and instead wanted to hit either parliamentarians, magistrates, military, diplomats or mayors and in fact we never succeeded. Now the expectation among the population is as follows: 80% of the people want to abolish service pensions. They don't want the correction anymore. After 10 years of demagoguery they want the cancellation. What we have committed ourselves to in the Commission, in the PNRR, is a readjustment. And here, of course, there is a discussion of the contribution rate or the salary or income - 45%, 65%, 85% - whatever it is. The magistrates don't want to hear less than 85% and the Commission proposes 45% uniform for everyone. I say the like this: the contribution is the basis, you can't have your pension higher than your salary. In 2019, in 2020, we had a legislative initiative that did not stand up to the scrutiny of the Constitutional Court, in which we said that no pension can be higher than the president's income - here, of course, it must be set gross, net, it does not matter - and no pension in the public area, because you, if you were a banker and you contributed and you reached I don't know what pension, of course, it is possible. But from the private area there is no question of putting bans on the one hand, on the other hand there is the taxation on the part that is higher. At the moment there is nothing Romania can do: either it loses money from the PNRR and is left with the anger of the people, which is the worst option, or it does not lose the money and solves the problem that 10 years in a row everyone promised to solve. But no matter which direction we go, the principles must be established and these will be the principles: contributivity, no pension will be higher, if it happens, then taxation should be in place," said Kelemen Hunor. LabMin Budai to attend gov't question time at Senate. Labour Minister Marius Budai is participating today in a Government Question Time part of a Senate plenary sitting, having been summoned by the Save Romania Union (USR) floor group, according to the Senate, told Agerpres. USR Senator Sebastian Cernic said on April 18 that Budai has to provide clarifications over keeping special state pensions in place. National leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu, said that he hopes "with all his heart" that the milestone in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) regarding special pensions will be met in due time. He added that the governing coalition is still discussing a ban on drawing a state wage and state pension at the same time, and additional income taxation. Labour Minister Budai is no longer coming to gov't's question time today. The Minister of Labour, Marius Budai, who had announced that he would be coming, on Wednesday, at 11.30 am, to the Senate plenary session, to participate in the gov't's question time programme, after he was invited by the USR (Save Romania Union) party in the Senate, canceled his participation to go to today's government's meeting instead, taking place at the Victoria Palace, told Agerpres. Budai requested a rescheduling for the week of May 8-12, because between May 3 and 5 he will be in Stockholm, at the EPSCO meeting on employment and social affairs. The government on Wednesday approved the memorandum regarding Romania's accession to the OECD Convention on combating corruption of foreign public officials in international economic operations, announced the spokesman of the government, Dan Carbunaru. "By accepting this offer that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development addressed to our country the other days, Romania takes an additional step towards one of the most powerful economic organizations worldwide, which brings together member states that together ensure 90 pct of investments abroad on a global level," Carbunaru said. According to a statement from the government, "Romania pledges that it will accede to the Anti-Bribery Convention as soon as possible, that it actively participates in all the activities of the Anti-Bribery Working Group, that it will pay the financial contribution for the support of this Group, that it declares adherence to the legal instruments of the OECD", such as the recommendations of the OECD Council for the continuation of the fight against corruption of foreign public officials in the framework of international economic operations, for fiscal measures in order to further fight their corruption, regarding corruption and export credits with official support, for agencies involved in development cooperation from the perspective of corruption risk management. "The self-assessment carried out by the authorities showed that Romania is aligned with these recommendations, only some additional actions will be taken for full alignment," the quoted source states. The government emphasizes that obtaining the status of an associated member state and joining the OECD anti-bribery convention will generate "a favorable long-term macroeconomic impact, by strengthening Romania's position in relation to the main international financial evaluation or rating institutions, with positive repercussions in accessing external credits, direct benefits in attracting foreign investments, obtaining image advantages and increasing Romania's credibility in the relationship with important partners in the OECD, with the states in the region and, in general, in international relations and strengthening Romania's role as a promoter of anti-corruption policies and practices".AGERPRES The government approved, in Wednesday's meeting, a memorandum of understanding between the Health Ministry, the Internal Affairs Ministry, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the National Defence Ministry, on the one hand, and the Belgian Ministry of Defense, on the other hand, regarding the admission and treatment of Romanian patients with serious burns in the Queen Astrid Military Hospital of Brussels. The gov't spokesman, Dan Carbunaru, explained that this piece of legislation creates a framework to allow the collaboration of the two parties in connection with the admission and treatment in the Queen Astrid Military Hospital in Brussels of Romanian patients with serious burns. Dan Carbunaru added that in Romania there are only 24 beds where medium and severe burns can be treated, far below the large number of patients with severe burns that need to be treated and for whom transfer to a performing centre within 24 or 48 hours is vital.AGERPRES Two more Romanian nationals leave Sudan. Two more Romanian nationals left Sudan on Monday on a Swedish evacuation flight to Djibouti, told Agerpres. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE), the Romanian diplomatic and consular missions involved issued travel documents for the Romanian nationals in question, who no longer had valid documents, and organised, in co-operation with Sweden, the procedures for the evacuation of the Romanian nationals from Sudan to Djibouti. MAE also reports about a Romanian national who travelled on his own from Sudan to Egypt and requested consular assistance from the Romanian Embassy in Cairo, which kept in contact with the person in question and facilitated his access to Egypt. Efforts to identify modes of transport from Djibouti to the final destination for Romanian nationals and their families members continued, including with other EU member states that will take over evacuated EU citizens currently in Djibouti. As a result of the actions of the Romanian embassies in Athens and Addis Ababa, eight Romanian nationals and a Sudanese national -- a family member, who had previously been evacuated from Sudan to Djibouti with support from France and Sweden, respectively -- left Djibouti on Tuesday on a Greek military flight to Athens. MAE is said to provide the necessary support for subsequent repatriation to Romania by purchasing travel tickets from Athens to Romania and completing all transit formalities. MAE says that the Romanian embassies in Addis Ababa and Cairo are monitoring the situation of 14 other Romanian nationals and two family members, both Sudanese citizens, and are helping them leave Sudan by road and enter Egypt. The Romanian diplomatic missions in Addis Ababa and Cairo has kept in touch with the mentioned Romanian nationals for the issuance of the necessary travel documents, facilitating access to Egypt and repatriation to Romania. According to data with the Romanian Embassy in Addis Ababa, there are currently 11 Romanian nationals and four family members -- Sudanese and Egyptian nationals -- in Sudan having requested support for evacuation. An inter-departmental task force is continuing its activity around the clock, monitoring the developments in Sudan and keeping in touch with the Romanian nationals still in Sudan as well as with the other EU member states and partners in order to evacuate the Romanian nationals and their family members having voiced their desire to be evacuated. MAE adds that considering the deterioration of the security situation since April 17, the travel alert for Sudan has been raised to level 8 out of 9 (exercise special attention), recommending all Romanian nationals still in Sudan to leave immediately. MAE has also requested all Romanian national in Sudan to urgently contact the Romanian Embassy in Addis Ababa and communicate their coordinates, if they have not already done so, so that they can be contacted if need be. Romanian nationals can request consular assistance by calling the Embassy of Romania in Addis Ababa +251 116 622 675, with the calls being redirected to the Contact and Support Centre for Romanian Citizens Abroad (CCSCRS) and answered by call centre operators 24/7. They can also call the emergency phone number of the diplomatic mission +251 935 350 059. UDMR's Kelemen: We have to help the Ukrainians, but not at the cost of destroying Romanian agriculture. In an interview with AGERPRES, national leader of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) Kelemen Hunor, a deputy prime minister in the Ciuca Cabinet, says that the Austrian interior minister's visit scheduled for today -- with the most likely topic related to the Schengen area -- will not bring any clear decision, it will be a general message, "a message we had before when we want to enter the Schengen area and that message usually reads like this: 'you are on the right track, continue.' That's a not enough if you ask me," he added. Referring to the scandal of the transit of Ukrainian agricultural produce to third countries, Kelemen says that Romania, as usual, did not seek to make unilateral decisions related to the European Commission's decision to exempt from customs duties produce from Ukraine. He adds that "had it depended only on me, then I would have halted it, at least temporarily." "We have to help the Ukrainians, because they are being attacked by Russia, but our help must be extremely well thought out and not at the cost, not with the result of destroying the Romanian agriculture. The compensations must be exactly what losses have been, because the spring agricultural campaign has started, the producers need a lot of products, fertilisers and so on; beyond the actual works, they need money. And, if they are left with wheat, maze, sunflower in storage facilities, they cannot sell their produce, and then they have no money." According to Kelemen, even if we manage to ensure the transit of Ukrainian grain, sealed, without staying in Romania, it will reach other European countries, where we cannot monitor them, and their grains, transformed into finished products, will also return to us, on the market. And, from what he says, "Ukrainians are using about 200 herbicides banned in the European Union (...) it's a very serious problem here, we're not talking about trade, we're talking about consumer health. And that's why I think that, in the future, on the one hand we have to make a huge effort by controlling everything that enters Romania, on the other hand we have to try to help the Ukrainians, but not by destroying the Romanian agriculture. We have to get real compensations, which near between a few hundred million and a billion if my numbers are correct, for everything that Romania means - sunflowers, maze, wheat and of course we have to protect our consumers. We could ensure -- and that was actually the idea -- a green way for produce to third countries, but, if we crossed Romania's borders, we still don't know what will happen to the produce. The European Commission recognised that Ukraine, with the European Union's offering, made a profit of over EUR 50 billion in 2022 from wheat only," added Kelemen. When asked about the idea about holding some of the 2024 elections simultaneously, Kelemen said "Holding elections simultaneously at this moment is almost impossible to achieve. (...) So, from a constitutional, legal point of view, for the time being, I don't see the possibility of holding the local and general elections simultaneously. I'm not talking about political expediency, because it's a very subjective matter. Some say it would be very, very good and wouldn't confuse us at all, others say it's not appropriate from a political point of view, but I'm only speaking constitutionally: legally it's not possible.' Ukraine, Romania considering opening three new border crossing points. Ukraine and Romania are considering opening, in the near future, three new border crossing points between them, Vice-President of the Chernivtsi Regional Council Mykola Guitor told AGERPRES on Wednesday. According to him, the new border crossing points will be Sepit - Izvoarele Sucevei, Ruska - Ulma and Fantana Alba - Climauti, told Agerpres. "The opening of the border crossing points falls within the competence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government, the State Customs Service. At this moment, intense discussions are held at the level of the ministries, at the level of the leaders of the two countries. They have declared ready to be opened the crossing points Sepit - Izvoarele Sucevei, where infrastructure works are already taking place on both sides; Ruska - Ulma, which is also a priority, and Fantana Alba - Climauti. These three border crossing points are a priority and work is being done for their opening, but at the same time, we understand that that is a long-term process, because, if we are talking about the crossing point at Sepit, there is only a field there. There is a lot of work. At Ruska, things are a little different, they're more advanced, and at Fantana Alba things have to be started from scratch," said Guitor. Two other border crossing points between Romania and Ukraine were opened after the outbreak of the war. In February 2023, the Dyakivtsi - Racovat border crossing point was inaugurated, and in November 2022, the Krasnoylsk - Vicovu de Sus became operational. by Austin Bay April 25, 2023 A lesson in so-called forever war is deep background for this weeks celebration of the seven decade-long U.S.-South Korea bilateral alliance. As U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol meet in Washington their nations have cause to celebrate. Ranking economies by GDP, the U.S. (population 330 million) is number 1 and South Korea (52 million) is number 12 (possibly 10). But behind the photo-ops aides are discussing North Koreas nuclear threats and communist Chinas regional and global threats. Difficult fact: the Korean War remains unfinished business. When media claim Afghanistan was Americas longest war, they ignore the frozen war on the Korean peninsula and the American troops still there, pulling guard duty. The July 27, 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement established a ceasefire. 70 years later there is no peace treaty. Around 2.6 million human beings died during the wars most intense combat (June 1950-July 1953). One million South Korean civilians died (estimated). North Korea lost a million soldiers and civilians. The U.S. military lost 37,000 killed in action. In November 1950, the Chinese Communist Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) invaded North Korea and attacked American units. By July 1953 the PLA had suffered an estimated 600,000 dead. So heres a fact relevant to 2023 and the Biden-Yoon meeting: At its height the Korean War was a war between the U.S. and communist China. The PLA withdrew after the armistice. The U.S., however, didnt cut and run The war didnt end. North Korea, backed by communist China and Russia, waged gray zone war -- terror, firefights, and infiltration In the 1990s Pyongyang added threats of nuclear war. Weve a relic Cold War stand-off. Behind North Korea is an imperialist and expansionist communist China. The U.S. still stands with South Korea. Celebration aside, is the U.S.-South Korea alliance secure? Media report Biden wants to emphasize Americas commitment to deterring North Korean nuclear attack. Thats good, but belated and, to my mind, another example of Biden attempting to avoid responsibility for making the world a more dangerous place than it was in January 2021. The Biden Administrations Afghanistan withdrawal disaster damaged Americas reputation for reliability, strength and leadership in crisis. Globally deterrence took a hit. In February I wrote a column discussing the possibility of South Korea and Japan acquiring nukes. They have the technology. When Russia invaded Crimea in 2014 it violated an agreement guaranteeing Ukraine's territorial integrity, the Budapest Memorandum of 1994. In 1994 Ukraine had the world's third largest nuclear arsenal. Ukraine traded its nuclear weapons for mutual security guarantees. In January of this year, after North Korean drones penetrated South Korean territory, President Yoon Suk-yeol said South Korea may deploy tactical nuclear weapons "or possess its own nuclear capabilities" if North Korean threats intensify. I am certain the Afghanistan debacle told Russias Vladimir Putin that Bidens weak, feckless leadership meant he could launch an all-out invasion of Ukraine and suffer no serious consequences. Remember, Biden urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to flee. Thats a fact. Zelenskyy didnt cut and run. Ukrainians fought and are still fighting. Deterrence in eastern Europe definitely failed on Bidens watch. South Korea needs U.S. support. The U.S. needs allies and South Korea is a first class ally with a world class economy, superb military forces and rock stars (K-pop rules Asia). South Korea is also a nation in arms. Its citizens are prepared to fight. Invaders will face organized, well-trained and supplied popular resistance forces. (I rate Finland, Israel and now Ukraine as other proven nations-in-arms.) South Korea offers a lot to a larger coalition or alliance. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is an unofficial coalition of Japan, Australia, America and India. All four regard China as a disruptive actor (Japans phrase) in the Indo-Pacific. In March 2020, South Korea attended the first Quad Plus meeting, as did diplomats from New Zealand and Vietnam. Very promising, but no matter the diplomatic arrangement, South Koreas first defense priority is eliminating North Koreas nukes. North Korea said Friday it had confirmed that cases of unknown fever reported near its border with China were patients with the flu, state media reported. On Thursday the country said that it had locked down the area and mobilized medical teams after four fever cases were reported from Ryanggang Province, but that it was not COVID-19, over which the country declared victory this month. "It was revealed that all of the fever patients in the Ryanggang Province were patients with the flu," the official [North] Korean Central News Agency reported on Friday, saying experts conducted clinical symptoms observation, epidemiological relationship investigation and nucleic acid tests. North Korea has never confirmed how many people caught COVID-19, apparently lacking the means to conduct widespread testing. Instead, it reported daily numbers of patients with fever, which totaled some 4.77 million, and said there have not been any new such cases since July 29. Is the Streaming Media Ecosystem Meeting the Demands of the Moment? What do streaming and OTT viewers really want these days? Amanda Lotz, Author, Consultant, and Professor, Queensland University, and author of The Television Will Be Revolutionised, discusses this topic with Evan Shapiro, CEO, ESHAP, in this clip from Streaming Media Connect 2023. Shapiro begins by mentioning Lotzs extensive experience researching the television industry. Now, after over a decade of research and writing about this industry, you zoom out and you look at those consumer inputsand then you hear the two different models from NBCUniversal and from Chicken Soup for the Soul Media, and you look across all the model remodeling that's happening right now, he says. I'm interested in what you think of the shape of the ecosystem and whether or not the media ecosystem is actually meeting the demand of the moment, or perhaps the consumer and the providers are kind of passing each other as ships in the night. Lotz notes that whether you're Netflix, Amazon, HBO, Peacock, Disney, or Paramount, your viewers will always be a shifting target, and finding that target will always require a mix of strategies and agile adaptations. I'm most concerned that video is about to redo all of the mistakes of print of the first decade of the century, she says. The massive amount of fragmentation in audiences and ad products, and the extent to which that then makes it impossible for these companies to afford to produce content. I meanso much of the answer is It depends, right? The value proposition of Chicken Soup for the Soul versus different parts of what NBCUniversal is doing depends on different viewers wanting different things, having different price point stresses. And what makes it even harder is that those move around. Certain kinds of content, maybe you'll take the ads, other kinds of content you want to have a very specific environment. Lotz notes that in her first edition of The Television Will Be Revolutionised, published in 2007, The word then was addressable is coming next year for TV, she says. And I'm a little afraid that that was before social, and we've missed that moment for advertisers The addressable moment or the moment where we fix what consumers dislike about advertising? Shapiro asks. The addressable moment, Lotz says. That targeting would be the answer. Yeah, they wanted some targeting, but now we're in a universe where there's nothing but targeting, and there's no mass. And I just don't see the numbers lining up to be able to support content production. So when you refer to what happened to print in the early part of this century, first of all, we mean this century, the 21st, Shapiro says. But secondly, you mean the uncoupling of it all, the unbundling of it all into the ecosphere where everybody could get it everywhere, and everybody had to chase the numbers. So you see that moment [as having] passed, meaning the moment where we could contain all of the revenue that the ecosystem produced in the combination of subscription and advertising. We've let it all leak out, and it's going to be very hard to re-contain it in a way that has a meaningful bottom line for the people who publish. Is that what you're trying to say? Right, Lotz says. That when and it's far more complicated than this but that critique that gets thrown at the newspapers [that] they shouldn't have put it all out for free, and I think with the pivot to video That's what a lot of people are doing now, Shapiro says. Learn more about streaming video audience engagement and research at Streaming Media East 2023. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Well Over 70 Craft Brewery Operators Purchased by Major Operators Since 1988 Which is an Average of At Least 2 Acquisitions Each Year WATERTOWN, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / 1812 BREWING COMPANY, INC. (OTC PINK:KEGS) (the "Company" or "KEGS") is pleased to announce that the Company's Thousand Islands India Pale Ale won the bronze medal at the 2023 New York International Beer Competition. The Thousand Islands India Pale Ale (or "IPA") is now available in 4-packs of 16 ounce cans as well as kegs, which were introduced to the market last year. According to Drizly, IPA sales accounted for 9% of total beer sales in the United States in 2022. The competition, where the Company also earned the "2023 New York Amber Ale Brewery of the Year" award for its War of 1812 Amber Ale, was open to all commercially produced beer, cider and mead from around the world. Thousand Islands IPA was entered in the "American IPA" category. Thousand Islands IPA is a 6.8% ABV "West Coast"-style IPA. West Coast IPAs are traditionally known for bolder hop aroma, higher bitterness, and citrus and piney notes and flavors. They're typically brewed with higher amounts of hops in the boil kettle, which leads to high bitterness, and a mid-palate hop flavor. Hops are still added to the beer after fermentation to provide more aroma and bitterness, but the proportions are more equal between the two. "To have earned this award from the New York International Beer Competition for this brand-new product is very encouraging," stated Chairman and CEO Tom Scozzafava. "This medal is validation that will help us market and open sales channels for our products throughout the United States. We hope that it will soon be available at retailers near you, including TapRm.com alongside our Gold Medal-winning War of 1812 Amber Ale." 1812 Brewing Company recently announced that it has partnered with TapRm.com, a direct-to-consumer e-commerce and logistics company for distribution of War of 1812 Amber Ale that covers most areas of 45 states plus Washington DC. Customers can now order the 1812 Amber Ale directly for shipment to your home or restaurant at: https://1812-brewing.taprm.com/all-products About the New York International Beer Competition : The 2023 New York International Beer Competition had 700+ entries from over 15 countries competing in nearly 30 categories. The competition had the top beer buyers and trade professionals judging the products by their category and price point. This contest is the only international beer competition using the authorized categories of the United States Brewer Association (USABM) and where all the judges are real trade buyers who are judging the beer by category and actual price. These judges are buyers from the top New York Area liquor stores, restaurants, hotels and more. About 1812 Brewing Company ("KEGS or the "Company") : KEGS is an operator of and investor in companies in the craft beer industry. The Company seeks to build a nation-wide network of craft breweries to develop and foster respective brand growth at the local, regional, and national level. KEGS looks to build a network wherein certain economies of scale can be shared across it such as production, distribution footprint expansion, inter-member contract brewing, new product development, sharing of best brewery practices and scale logistics and transportation. The network is to be built through investment by 1812 Brewing Company while maintaining the members' respective local and regional uniqueness, brand autonomy and direct involvement with its consumers. The Company seeks to be an "incubator" of growth for its holdings in the industry. The Company's current holding, 1812 Brewing Co., produces award-winning beers such as War of 1812 Amber Ale ("1812 Amber Ale"), 1812 Light, Hazy Oasis Pale Ale, Thousand Islands IPA, Malicious Intent XX IPA, Route 11 Lager, Railroad Red Ale, Helles Bells Pilsner, St. Stephens Stout, Third Rail Porter, Featherhammer Maibock. For more updates follow us on our Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin. https://www.kegsnetwork.com/ https://www.facebook.com/kegsnetwork/ https://www.instagram.com/kegsnetwork/ https://twitter.com/kegsnetwork https://www.1812ale.com/ https://www.facebook.com/1812brewingcompany/ https://www.instagram.com/1812brewingcompany/ https://twitter.com/1812Brewing https://www.linkedin.com/company/1812brewingcompany/ Contact Name: Tom Scozzafava Contact Phone Number: 315-788-1812 Contact Email Address: [email protected] Safe Harbor: This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 27E of the Securities Act of 1934. Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Actual performance and results may differ materially from that projected or suggested herein due to certain risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, ability to obtain financing and regulatory and shareholder approval for anticipated actions. SOURCE: 1812 Brewing Company Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: Handcrafted Beverage Chain Joins Leading Foodservice Cloud Platform for Supply Chain Intelligence Network CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / ArrowStream, Inc. ("ArrowStream"), the leading foodservice cloud platform for supply chain intelligence, welcomes Aroma Joe's, one of the nation's leading handcrafted beverage chains, to its network of over 275 chain operators across 105,000 restaurant locations, 1,300 distribution locations and 10,000 manufacturers. Headquartered in South Portland, Maine, Aroma Joe's is a major disruptor in the quick-service coffee space. The chain's proprietary coffee blends are craft roasted and Rainforest Alliance Certified, which means they are sustainably grown and ethically sourced. And the chain's signature AJ's RUSH Energy drinks have resonated with a new generation seeking their daily energy in new and unique beverages. With over 100 locations, Aroma Joe's is looking to ArrowStream to put a supply chain visibility solution in place that allows the company to scale and maintain its aggressive growth objectives moving forward. "As we are beverage-led with a large majority of our business through drive-thru, our disposable cups are critical," said Julie Visser, Chief Procurement Officer at Aroma Joe's. "Through ArrowStream, we'll have access to daily and accurate data on our product spend, inventory levels, and deliveries, allowing us to always have a real-time pulse of our supply chain. ArrowStream will improve our inventory risk identification, allowing us to proactively take action and not worry about running out of the products or ingredients necessary to serve our customers." Behind the scenes, ArrowStream's proprietary technology and data management team are transforming raw distributor and manufacturer data into clean, actionable data. A key part of the solution includes a multi-tier product categorization design which enables next-level category management and analytics. With complete visibility and actionable insights, risks are mitigated, costs are reduced, and supply chain operations become more efficient. "Aroma Joe's is committed to always improving and modernizing their supply chain through technology and we're proud to be the strategic partner they chose," said Marc Larson, VP of Sales at ArrowStream. "With guided analytics and auto-refreshed dashboards, Aroma Joe's can focus their attention on business opportunities and supply chain threats instead of wrangling data. We're excited to partner with Aroma Joe's during such an important time of their business's growth." Aroma Joe's is the latest business to partner with ArrowStream, joining a growing list of customers including Sweetgreen, Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, and Mellow Mushroom, among others. ArrowStream's solutions are developed specifically for the foodservice industry to help its operator customers evolve their supply chain team's capabilities with a digital supply chain that enables them to manage food costs and ensure end-to-end visibility. Learn more on how ArrowStream can help your business and request a consultation with one of our supply chain experts today. About ArrowStream ArrowStream is the leading foodservice cloud platform for supply chain intelligence. ArrowStream provides unparalleled levels of transparency, control, and actionable insight to mitigate risks, streamline operations, protect the brand, and optimize profitability. Contact Information: Joe Ferrell Sr. Director, Marketing [email protected] SOURCE: ArrowStream, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Asia Green Biotechnology Corp. ("Asia Green" or the "Company") (CSE:ASIA), announces that Dr. Daryl Hudson has resigned as a director of the Company. In addition, the Board of Directors of Asia Green has provided an update on the current activities of the Company, which include various developments in SE Asia, where its international efforts are centred, and in Canada, where the Company continues to partner with Pathway Rx Inc. ("Pathway) to pursue clinical trials activities in the development of a migraine treatment utilizing cannabis and hemp extracts controlled by Pathway. SE Asia: The Company is developing varieties of hemp with superior growth and production characteristics in the various environments found in its licensed territories. With the data and associated knowledge gained from these activities, the Company intends to leverage the technology to develop a portfolio of strategic hemp investments to take advantage of both the changing social climate relative to hemp use and the historic acceptance of the use of these products and their derivatives in certain of the jurisdictions granted under the License Agreements with InPlanta Biotechnologies Inc. ("InPlanta"), Swysh Inc. ("Swysh") and Pathway. In that vein, the Company continues to work with local partners to create direct programs aimed at facilitating testing and further research in relation to the isolation of new varieties that will thrive in the light and general climactic conditions prevalent in sub-tropical environments often encountered in the licensed regions. Over the course of this program, AGB has at various times established formal and informal relationships with government bodies, academic and research-oriented institutions, and private entities in efforts to exchange information and skills, access a broader base of intellectual property, and institute detailed testing procedures to achieve those goals. Current activities in SE Asia and Thailand in particular, where liberalization of cannabis/hemp laws are occurring on an accelerated basis, suggest to AGB management that the future of industrial hemp production is very positive in the region, with demand for a flexible, out-of-doors variety remaining very high. This has become the central focus of the research activities in Thailand, with management expanding its capacity to address the potential for new variety development by exploring breeding programs with other entities in SE Asia and elsewhere. With a view to the successful isolation of such varieties, and with the direct participation of InPlanta, the Company has recently delivered a new shipment of InPlanta's Bountiful variety to Thailand, where potential adaptation of Bountiful to local conditions will be explored by through cross-fertilization with local and other sub-tropical strains of industrial hemp. Migraine Study: Through its partner Pathway, the Company continues to work with Health Canada and other service providers to assemble the final elements otherwise required to this undertake this study. The study is a significant part of a wider program to have the exclusive hemp and related cannabinoidal varieties that the Company has access to by virtue of its exclusive licensing agreements with Pathway and Swysh, and possibly other versions of the strains, studied for their efficacy in humans and eventually approved and applied as new drugs and over-the-counter health products. The particular focus of this study and further studies which may be derived from it is on the ability of an element of a proprietary hemp strain to treat and minimize symptoms in those suffering from migraine headaches. In addition to the suffering of individuals, migraine also has an impact on society which can be measured in both direct costs (medical care etc.) and indirect costs (missed work and disability at work). Dr. Igor Kovalchuk, a director of Asia Green, is also the chief executive, a director and a shareholder of Pathway, InPlanta and Swysh. In commenting on these developments, Dr. Kovalchuk stated: "While the delays in commencing these human trials continue to be frustrating, we confident that the final directive and permission to proceed will be obtained soon and that the trials will commence. Obtaining permission to proceed with these unique clinical trials was an extremely material step, and we look forward to expanding our understanding of the important potential of these unique products to provide significant benefits to human health both in Canada and around the world." David Pinkman, CEO of Asia Green, added: "Asia Green is in possession of a relative treasure trove of valuable hemp-focussed intellectual property and data for its exclusive use in Asia. We believe we are on course to establishing a strong team of cohorts to aid us in using that data to complete a breeding program that will help us isolate a variety of hemp capable of meeting all of the requirements of the subtropics. While we continue this work, we remain excited and pleased to be a core partner in an important undertaking such as the conduct of these migraine clinical trials in Canada." About Asia Green: Asia Green is an early stage international bio-technology company focused on the development, evaluation, testing, application and, ultimately, supply to the market of proprietary organic hybridization technology and certain products derived from that technology. The core approach of the business is centred on the planting, growth and harvesting of new and valuable strains of hemp and related crops in commercial quantities under the terms of license agreements with InPlanta Biotechnology Inc., Swysh Inc. and Pathway Rx Inc. For further information, contact: David Pinkman Chief Executive Officer (403) 863-6034 Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Asia Green Biotechnology Corp. View source version on accesswire.com: VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Aton Resources Inc. (TSXV:AAN) ("Aton" or the "Company") is pleased to update investors on the final assay results from the recent diamond drilling programme at Hamama, located in the Company's 100% owned Abu Marawat Concession ("Abu Marawat" or the "Concession"), in the Eastern Desert of Egypt (Figure 1). Highlights: A total of 545.8 metres was drilled from 15 shallow holes at the Crocs Nose Zone ("CNZ") at Hamama West, completing the short Hamama 2023 diamond drilling programme. The programme was designed to test for potential near-surface oxide gold-silver mineralisation that had been previously intersected in a limited number of holes; Results from the programme included the following mineralised intersections: 1.57 g/t Au, 230.6 g/t Ag, and 4.28 g/t Au equivalent ("AuEq"), over an interval of 20.78m from 12.66m downhole depth (HAD-054); 1.84 g/t Au, 62.20 g/t Ag, and 2.57 g/t AuEq, over an interval of 24.55m from 6.45m downhole depth (HAD-052); 1.37 g/t Au, 52.81 g/t Ag, and 1.99 g/t AuEq, over an interval of 34.80m from 2.00m downhole depth (HAD-042); 1.63 g/t Au, 7.01 g/t Ag, and 1.71 g/t AuEq, over an interval of 16.30m from surface (HAD-049), and; 1.23 g/t Au, 41.01 g/t Ag, and 1.72 g/t AuEq, over an interval of 18.90m from 0.80m downhole depth (HAD-045); Preparations are well underway for the upcoming RC exploration drilling programme, with drilling expected to commence within the first fortnight of May at West Garida. "These final results from the Crocs Nose exceeded expectations, and we are very pleased with them" said Tonno Vahk, Interim CEO. "The Crocs Nose Zone represents a structural offset of the main mineralised zone at Hamama West and was not included in the 2017 mineral resource estimate. The grades intersected in this programme are notably higher than the overall grade of the Hamama West oxide resource, and this zone should be a nice sweetener to the planned starter open pit mining operation at Hamama. We are also pleased to have now signed the RC drilling contract with Geodrill and look forward to starting the drilling at West Garida in May. We believe there is good potential to rapidly add significant near-surface ounces from the high-grade quartz veins we drilled at West Garida last summer to the overall resource base at Hamama." 2023 Hamama diamond drilling programme Diamond drilling re-commenced at Hamama in mid-January 2023, and was completed on March 11, 2023, with a total of 1,612.7 metres drilled. The mineralisation at Hamama is hosted in a stratiform silica-carbonate horizon ("SCMH") that outcrops over an approximately 3.2km strike length, and is variable in thickness. At Hamama West the SCMH is greater than 60m in thickness in places, and is typically iron oxide-rich and gossanous at surface and throughout the oxide zone. Figure 1: Geology plan of the Abu Marawat Concession showing the location of the Hamama project Figure 2: Location of the Crocs Nose Zone at Hamama West Discussion of results 15 shallow holes (HAD-041 to HAD-055) were drilled at the CNZ for a total of 545.8m (see Table 1 and Figure 3), completing the short 2023 Hamama diamond drilling programme. Final assay results are now available from these last holes. The collar coordinates of these holes are provided in Table 1 below: Hole ID Collar co-ordinates 1 Dip 2 Grid azimuth 2 EOH depth (m) Comments X Y Z HAD-041 533891.2 2913649.4 515.4 -30.6 153.9 36.1 CNZ (north side, under NS) HAD-042 533886.5 2913648.5 515.4 -33.1 204.1 42.0 CNZ (north side, under NS) HAD-043 533827.8 2913611.6 508.9 -0.7 51.6 98.6 CNZ (west side, under NS) HAD-044 533828.3 2913609.2 508.6 -10.2 120.1 46.0 CNZ (west side, under NS) HAD-045 533795.1 2913603.4 506.9 -65.3 178.6 30.0 CNZ (west side) HAD-046 533808.9 2913611.1 506.5 -44.9 181.3 31.4 CNZ (west side) HAD-047 533809.0 2913602.6 507.2 -43.6 182.4 26.1 CNZ (west side) HAD-048 533823.1 2913614.7 507.3 -44.2 177.6 29.4 CNZ (west side) HAD-049 533824.7 2913603.4 507.6 -43.9 178.7 22.3 CNZ (west side) HAD-050 533795.6 2913611.5 506.2 -69.3 182.1 36.1 CNZ (west side) HAD-051 533789.3 2913612.1 505.7 -69.4 179.8 19.6 CNZ (west side) HAD-052 533808.5 2913612.8 506.5 -69.8 187.1 36.9 CNZ (west side) HAD-053 533809.0 2913615.2 506.4 -74.4 8.4 41.3 CNZ (west side) HAD-054 533884.3 2913658.5 515.0 -44.6 181.5 35.1 CNZ (north side, under NS) HAD-055 533903.7 2913662.1 514.0 -44.6 182.3 14.9 CNZ (north side) Notes: Collar co-ordinates surveyed by Leica TCRA1203+ R1000 Robotic total station Collar surveys of drill holes undertaken at c. 5-6m depth, using Reflex EZ-Trac survey tool All co-ordinates are UTM (WGS84) Zone 36R NS: Nubian Sandstone (outlier) Table 1: Collar details of diamond drill holes HAD-041 to HAD-055 The mineralisation at the CNZ appears to be located in a faulted offset of the main mineralised zone at Hamama West (Figures 2 and 3). The SCMH appears to have been sinistrally offset approximately 150m to the south along a shallow west-dipping fault, which terminates the outcropping mineralisation to the west. At the CNZ this fault represents the underlying footwall of the mineralised block, while at Hamama West the mineralisation continues along strike to the west beneath this structure, and has recently returned intersections including 1.57 g/t Au, 29.99 g/t Ag and 1.92 AuEq over a 47m interval, from 26m depth (hole HAP-192, see news release dated October 20, 2022). The CNZ mineralisation was not included in the maiden Hamama West mineral resource estimate (see news release dated January 24, 2017). SCMH-hosted mineralisation at the CNZ outcrops at surface on both the northern and western flanks of the Cretaceous Nubian Sandstone ("NS") outlier, which unconformably overlies the Neoproterozoic rocks hosting the mineralisation at Hamama (Figure 3). Surface trenching of the unconformity has clearly shown that the mineralisation continues under and immediately beneath the NS outlier. Previous diamond drilling at the CNZ has returned intersections including 2.46 g/t Au, 157.3 g/t Ag, and 4.73 g/t AuEq, over a 19m interval from 12m depth (hole AHA-046, see news release dated June 9, 2015, and Figure 3), 2.05 g/t Au, 168.9 g/t Ag and 4.48 g/t AuEq, over a 12m interval from 27m depth (hole AHA-045, see also news release dated June 9, 2015), and 1.65 g/t Au, 82.7 g/t Ag and 1.92 g/t AuEq over a 28m interval, from 7m depth (hole HAD-007, see news release dated May 18, 2017). Previous surface trenching at the CNZ also returned intersections of mineralisation outcropping at surface including 3.47 g/t Au, 118.2 g/t Ag, and 5.35 g/t AuEq over a 26m width (trench AHA-T-113, see news release dated July 9, 2014). Figure 3: Crocs Nose Zone area - geology and drill hole collar plan The recent drilling has confirmed the presence of outcropping gold-silver mineralisation at the CNZ, with all holes intersecting mineralisation, as expected. Details of all mineralised intersections are provided in Table 2, and selected intersections are shown below: HAD-054: 1.57 g/t Au, 230.6 g/t Ag, and 4.28 g/t AuEq, over a 20.78m interval, from 12.66m depth HAD-052: 1.84 g/t Au, 62.2 g/t Ag, and 2.57 g/t AuEq, over a 24.55m interval, from 6.45m depth HAD-042: 1.37 g/t Au, 52.81 g/t Ag, and 1.99 g/t AuEq, over a 34.80m interval, from 2.00m depth HAD-049: 1.63 g/t Au, 7.01 g/t Ag, and 1.71 g/t AuEq, over a 16.30m interval, from surface HAD-045: 1.23 g/t Au, 41.01 g/t Ag, and 1.72 g/t AuEq, over an 18.90m interval, from 0.80m depth Mineralisation at the CNZ is apparently associated with the SCMH, but is quite variable in nature. The mineralisation is hosted in a variety of rock types from hard, dense haematite gossan, to kaolinitic apparently altered felsic rocks and typically pink to yellowish jarositic clays. In places it is very rubbly and heavily fractured, resulting in significant core loss from several holes. Poor core recovery was typically associated with zones of higher grade mineralisation. Where core loss has been recorded, these zones of core loss were allocated zero grade, so it is likely that the reported intersection grades actually underestimate the true grade of the mineralised intervals. The mineralisation is typically base metal poor, but in places carries significantly elevated Pb values, and to a lesser extent Zn and Cu. Silver grades vary from being very low (eg. hole HAD-049) to very high, in the order of hundreds of ppm. Zones of high grade silver are frequently associated with the jarositic clays, and are spatially discrete within the overall SCMH unit. Hole ID Intersection (m) 1 Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AuEq (g/t) 2 Cu (%) Pb (%) Zn (%) Comments 3 From To Interval HAD-041 2.00 15.80 13.80 1.50 72.70 2.36 0.01 0.02 0.01 HAD-042 2.00 36.80 34.80 1.37 52.81 1.99 0.01 0.03 0.04 HAD-043 31.50 54.30 22.80 0.89 4.67 0.95 0.01 0.02 0.02 includes 0.3m of core loss and 70.35 85.95 15.60 0.52 54.49 1.16 0.01 0.01 0.02 HAD-044 6.80 23.85 17.05 0.52 13.08 0.67 0.02 0.03 0.03 and 28.95 31.15 2.20 1.78 28.95 2.12 0.01 0.01 0.05 HAD-045 0.80 19.70 18.90 1.23 41.01 1.72 0.01 0.31 0.04 includes 1.3m of core loss HAD-046 12.60 23.70 11.10 0.47 37.25 0.91 0.01 0.37 0.02 includes 7.2m of core loss HAD-047 0.00 6.40 6.40 1.00 67.67 1.80 0.01 0.04 0.03 HAD-048 0.00 17.35 17.35 0.75 54.98 1.39 0.06 0.45 0.02 includes 2.2m of core loss HAD-049 0.00 16.30 16.30 1.63 7.01 1.71 0.01 0.04 0.04 includes 3.2m of core loss HAD-050 1.45 11.45 10.00 0.28 6.27 0.35 0.18 0.03 2.48 HAD-051 - - - - - - - - - Not assayed 4 HAD-052 6.45 31.00 24.55 1.84 62.20 2.57 0.03 0.50 0.11 includes 5.7m of core loss HAD-053 13.52 18.70 5.18 0.61 21.35 0.87 0.44 2.61 2.16 HAD-054 12.66 33.44 20.78 1.57 230.6 4.28 0.01 0.02 0.01 includes 2.9m of core loss HAD-055 0.00 5.81 5.81 1.88 18.22 2.09 0.01 0.02 0.03 Notes: Intersections calculated at a nominal cut-off grade of 0.3 g/t AuEq in runs of continuous mineralisation Gold equivalent, AuEq, is calculated at a ratio of 85:1 Au:Ag (ie. 1 g/t Au = 85 g/t Ag) Zones of poor (or no) recovery through voids and cavities were not sampled, and allocated zero grade Hole HAD-051 intersected SCMH-hosted mineralisation but was not assayed, as it was collared in the wrong position Table 2: Mineralised intersections from the Crocs Nose Zone (Hamama West) As at the main zone of Hamama West, the SCMH dips to the north in an overturned sequence, with its immediate stratigraphic footwall (ie. the structural or mining hangingwall to the mineralisation) consisting of totally oxidised, kaolin-rich, brecciated and heavily altered apparently felsic rocks. The mineralisation appears to be cut off at depth by the west-dipping strike-slip fault which has displaced it from the main zone at Hamama West. There appears to be a north-south trending fault which displaces the mineralisation at the CNZ, although this is not clear, as its interpreted location lies beneath the NS outlier. The CNZ mineralisation appears to be pinching out to the west. Sample processing and analytical procedures Drill core was logged by Aton geologists, and marked up for cutting and sampling at the Hamama core farm. Samples were typically selected over nominal 1m intervals, but as determined by the logged lithologies. The core was half-cut by Aton staff at the onsite Hamama sample preparation facility. The split half-core samples were collected and bagged up in cloth bags, weighed and crushed to -4mm onsite, and split to a nominal c. 250-500g sample size. The coarse crushed reject samples are retained onsite at the Hamama sample prep facility. QAQC samples are inserted at a rate of approximately 1 certified reference material (or "standard" sample) every 30 samples, 1 blank sample every 15 samples, and 1 duplicate split sample every 15 samples. The c. 250-500g dried, crushed and split samples were shipped to ALS Minerals sample preparation laboratory at Marsa Alam, Egypt where they were pulverised to a size fraction of better than 85% passing 75 microns. From this pulverised material a further sub-sample was split off with a nominal c. 50g size, which was shipped on to ALS Minerals at Rosia Montana, Romania for analysis. Samples were analysed for gold by fire assay with an atomic absorption spectroscopy ("AAS") finish (analytical code Au-AA23), and for silver, copper, lead and zinc using an aqua regia digest followed by an AAS finish (analytical code AA45). Any high grade gold samples (>10 g/t Au) were re-analysed using analytical code Au-GRA21 (also fire assay, but with a gravimetric finish). Any high grade Ag and base metal samples (Ag >100 g/t, and Cu, Pb and Zn >10,000ppm or >1%) were re-analysed using the ore grade technique AA46 (also an aqua regia digest followed by an AAS finish). About Aton Resources Inc. Aton Resources Inc. (TSXV:AAN) is focused on its 100% owned Abu Marawat Concession ("Abu Marawat"), located in Egypt's Arabian-Nubian Shield, approximately 200 km north of Centamin's world-class Sukari gold mine. Aton has identified numerous gold and base metal exploration targets at Abu Marawat, including the Hamama deposit in the west, the Abu Marawat deposit in the northeast, and the advanced Rodruin exploration prospect in the south of the Concession. Two historic British gold mines are also located on the Concession at Sir Bakis and Semna. Aton has identified several distinct geological trends within Abu Marawat, which display potential for the development of a variety of styles of precious and base metal mineralisation. Abu Marawat is 447.7 km2 in size and is located in an area of excellent infrastructure; a four-lane highway, a 220kV power line, and a water pipeline are in close proximity, as are the international airports at Hurghada and Luxor. Qualified person The technical information contained in this News Release was prepared by Javier Ordua BSc (hons), MSc, MCSM, DIC, MAIG, SEG(M), Exploration Manager of Aton Resources Inc. Mr. Orduna is a qualified person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. For further information regarding Aton Resources Inc., please visit us at www.atonresources.com or contact: TONNO VAHK Interim CEO Tel: +1 604 318 0390 Email: [email protected] Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions; by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. 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. SOURCE: Aton Resources, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: Bonanza Grade Silver intersection of 3,477 gpt Ag (111.96 oz/t) over 1.52 m , within a zone of 733.9 gpt Ag (23.63 oz/t) over 7.6 m , is the highest silver grade encountered to-date by Aztec at the Tombstone Project TC23-01 (243m TD), the first 2023 hole drilled near the center of the Contention pit, confirmed gold and silver mineralization in historic workings and below the depths of the 2021 drilling, past the water table , and near the eighth level workings Core drilling program continues with results pending from gold and silver targets at the center and southern end of Contention Pit Currently drilling targets at south end of Contention pit and other targets VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Aztec Minerals Corp. (TSX-V:AZT)(OTCQB: AZZTF) announces it has received the results from the first drill hole of its ongoing 2023 core drilling program at the Tombstone project in the historic Tombstone silver mining district in southeastern Arizona. Aztec holds a 75% interest in the Tombstone Property Joint Venture, which includes most of the original patented mining claims in the district as well as some recently acquired properties. The first hole is part of a 10 hole program that is being drilled in a fan-grid pattern over the length of the Contention open pit. Bonanza grade silver was encountered in oxidized, altered silty limestones and Qfp dike at 126.5 m - 128 m with 3,477 gpt silver and 0.115 gpt gold (3485.1 gpt AgEq) over 1.52 m, within a zone of 7.65 m with 733.92 gpt silver and 0.524 gpt gold (770.6 gpt AgEq) from 125 - 132.6 m. Hole TC23-01 also returned a broad intersection of 0.58 grams per tonne (gpt) gold and 72.19 gpt silver (1.63 gpt gold equivalent (AuEq) using an 80:1 silver:gold ratio) over 125.0 meters. Higher grade gold intervals were also intersected in the drill hole with 22.4 gpt gold and 48.7 gpt silver (23.01 gpt AuEq) in oxidized, altered Qfp dike over 1.52 m at 61m - 62.5 m. View drill section here: Link to section view hole TC23-01 Drill hole TC23-01 tested mineralization to depth initially found in TR21-08 prior to its collapse in 2021. It was designed to go through the old mine workings and to reach, at a minimum, the water table just below the sixth level and the principal district host limestones at depth. The drilling has expanded the extent of mineralization to depth and demonstrates the potential for the volume of oxidized Au-Ag mineralization to grow as it remains open. Aztec Mineral CEO Simon Dyakowski stated "Initial results from our first core drilling program at the Tombstone Project have successfully intersected Bonanza silver grades, +100 oz silver, near the water table. This result represents the highest grade of silver encountered in Aztec's drilling at Tombstone to-date, and the broader zone of oxide gold-silver mineralization continues to expand the open-pit heap leach potential of the project. We await the receipt of assays from additional drill holes as our 2023 core drilling program continues at the Contention pit target of the project." Drill hole TC23-01 intersected extensive gold and silver mineralization, see table below, extending the mineralized zone at depth west and below the Contention open pit. The drill hole also intersected old mine stope workings (15.9 m in total), likely dating back to the late 1800's and high-grade zones as well, indicating that the highest-grade bonanza mineralization in the area drilled was only partially mined out. Drill Hole From m To m Interval m* Au gpt Ag gpt Au Eq gpt (1) Comments TC23-01 53.3 178.3 125.0 0.577 72.188 1.631 Incl. stopes of 15.9 m** Including: 61.0 62.5 1.52 22.4 48.7 23.009 125 132.6 7.65 0.524 733.92 9.698 Incl: 126.5 128.0 1.52 0.115 3477.0 43.578 AuEq is calculated using a 80:1 silver:gold ratio * All interval widths are not true widths and intercept true widths are not yet estimated. ** The reported interval was sampled from 53.3 - 75.9 m followed by first void interval 75.9 - 86m, then sampled interval from 86 - 88.1m, then the second void interval from 88.1 - 93.9m, and then sampled to 178.3m for the full 125.0 meter length. The voids were treated as zero grade. Table 2: Completed Drillhole Details (WGS84, Zone 12R) Drill Hole Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth TC23-01 588803.878 350963.555 1414 m 0 -90 242.99 m Aztec has now completed the first five holes of the planned ten drill hole program. The drill program has been decreased to total, at minimum, 1,000 meters of core drilling at the Tombstone Property. The company has reported assays for the first hole. Samples and their collection are controlled by an industry standard conforming QAQC program including insertions of certified standards, blanks and sample duplicates. The samples are being regularly shipped to and received by the Bureau Veritas Minerals laboratory in Hermosillo, Mexico for geochemical analysis. Core samples are sawn and are continuously collected over 5 foot (1.52m) sample intervals from all drill holes. The samples were analyzed for gold with a 30-gram sample size using the fire assay method FA430 followed by multi-element MA300, including silver. Over limits, when present, are analyzed by MA370 or FA530. All holes contain certified blanks, standards, and duplicates as part of the quality control program. Tombstone 2023 Core Drill Program Plan Map The drilling program was designed with data obtained from surveys and modelling completed over 2022, following the conclusion of Aztec's previous RC drilling program in late 2021. Aztec has recently completed an ortho-topographic drone survey to construct detailed maps, surveyed all drill hole collars from 2020-21, sampled for Terraspec alteration analysis half of the North Contention pit, completed Terraspec analysis on all the 2020-21 RC chips, and advanced the construction of a wire-frame 3-D Leapfrog model of the historic, extensive, underground mine workings, with drilling, mineralization, geology, alteration, geophysics, and multi-element geochemistry. To date the review of exploration data has defined the following target types for exploration at Tombstone: Shallow, bulk tonnage, "heap leachable"-type mineralization typical of Tombstone, composed of mesothermal Au-Ag oxides associated with the enrichment of sediment hosted mineralization on favorable horizons and structures, and with crosscutting, mineralized Qfp dikes and sills, mesothermal veins and hydrothermal breccias. This is the target type of Aztec's exploration focus since 2019. mineralization typical of Tombstone, composed of mesothermal Au-Ag oxides associated with the enrichment of sediment hosted mineralization on favorable horizons and structures, and with crosscutting, mineralized Qfp dikes and sills, mesothermal veins and hydrothermal breccias. This is the target type of Aztec's exploration focus since 2019. Sub-water table (below ~200m depth) extensions of the typical Tombstone Au-Ag mineralization, composed mostly of secondary enrichment minerals and focused by the same horizon and structure types as the extensively mined shallow deposits above. extensions of the typical Tombstone Au-Ag mineralization, composed mostly of secondary enrichment minerals and focused by the same horizon and structure types as the extensively mined shallow deposits above. Deeper, high grade, "Taylor"- style carbonate replacement silver-lead-zinc-copper-gold deposits (CRD) in the extensive carbonate section (~ 2 kms estimated thickness) below the Bisbee formation. silver-lead-zinc-copper-gold deposits (CRD) in the extensive carbonate section (~ 2 kms estimated thickness) below the Bisbee formation. The potential for a mineralized porphyry-type deposit as a source of the Tombstone mineralization. Data obtained from the core drill holes is expected to supplement the previous, shallow RC drilling by providing extensive knowledge of geological relationships and testing at the depth of the water table and below the Contention system across its width and along its length. Notably, Aztec's previous drilling terminated above the water table where typically the enrichment of Ag occurs, and that the main host horizons of the Tombstone district are found at this depth in the Contention target. Upon the completion of diamond drilling, Aztec plans additional work including: Examining multi-element results for correlative, spatial, and geologic relationships. Terraspec analysis of the drill core. Detailed mapping of the Contention Open Pit, accompanied with Terraspec. Update the drilling data into the Leapfrog model, and update known district drilling, geology (lithology, structural, alteration, mineralogy, mineralization age-dating), geophysics, geochemistry, and UG workings to identify mineralization trends to help target the shallow and deep-CRD drilling. Examine the possibility of using seismic geophysics for identifying the overthrusts, faults and folding in the carbonates at depth. Potential 43-101 compliant resource estimation Tombstone Project Overview The main target of the 2023 core drill program is to continue testing the shallow, bulk tonnage, heap leachable, mesothermal gold-silver oxide mineralization adjacent and below the previously mined Contention pit by infill and step-out drilling. Future drilling is expected to focus on strike and dip extensions of the shallow oxide mineralization, and move deeper to test for larger, deeper "Taylor-type" CRD targets along and adjacent to the Contention structure. The Tombstone project is located 100 kilometers (km) southeast of Tucson, Arizona and covers much of the historic Tombstone silver district. Tombstone is renowned for its high grade, oxidized, silver-gold-lead-zinc-copper mesothermal and CRD mineralization hosted in veins, mantos, pipes and disseminated orebodies that were mined in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Host rocks to the mineralization were primarily the clastic sediments of the Cretaceous Bisbee Formation. Below 200 meters (m) in depth, the Bisbee is underlain by the same Paleozoic limestone formations that host the Taylor zinc-lead-silver deposit located 60 km southwest of Tombstone. Taylor was discovered by Arizona Mining in 2015 and they accepted a takeover bid from South32 Limited in 2018. Although the historic silver mines at Tombstone were generally small, Aztec believes they could be related to much larger mesothermal and CRD orebodies below the old mines. Since 2017, Aztec has completed geological mapping, geochemical sampling and geophysical surveying to identify the most prospective areas for Au-Ag mineralization around and below the Contention open pit, and CRD zinc-lead-copper-silver-gold mineralization below the entire district. The 2021 drill holes were collared along the western rim and inside of the north and central parts of the Contention Pit and intersected mineralization over a north-south length of 600 meters by over 150 m of east-west width and to maximum depths of 175 m. The 2020 drilling had an area of mineralization of 850 m long by an average of 75 m wide and to maximum depths of 200 m deep. The combined 2020 and 2021 drilled area now spans 900 m long by over 230 m wide and to maximum depths of 200 m, with Au-Ag mineralization still open in all directions and at depth. The low sulfidation epithermal gold-silver mineralization observed to date is impressive, marked by hydrothermal breccias, quartz veining and silicification associated with quartz-feldspar porphyry dikes and moderate to strong potassic, argillic and advanced argillic alteration and hornfels within the host Bisbee sandstones and siltstones. Areas of intense hematite, goethite and manganese wad are extensive, associated with quartz-calcite veins and localized skarn alteration in limestones. Cerargyrite (silver chloride) is observed in fractures, often with fine-grained visible gold. Most Au-Ag mineralized zones intersected in the 2020 and 2021 drill programs are proximal to the historic underground mine workings. Tombstone 2020-21 Drilling Highlights: TR21-22: 2.44 gpt Au and 66.56 gpt Ag (3.39 gpt AuEq) over 65.5m TR21-10: 1.39 gpt Au and 56.40 gpt Ag (2.20 gpt AuEq) over 96.0m TR21-03: 5.71 gpt Au and 40.54 gpt Ag (6.28 gpt AuEq) over 32.0m TR21-13: 1.80 gpt Au and 36.90 gpt Ag (2.33 gpt AuEq) over 70.1m TR21-17: 1.73 gpt Au and 56.20 gpt Ag (2.53 gpt AuEq) over 64.0m TR21-08: 2.09 gpt Au and 47.1 gpt Ag (2.76 gpt AuEq) over 39.6m TR21-18: 0.76 gpt Au and 20.61 gpt Ag (1.05 gpt AuEq) over 64.0m TR20-02: 0.94 gpt Au and 42.1 gpt Ag ( 1.60 gpt AuEq) over 77.7m TR20-03: 0.77 gpt Au and 25.2 gpt Ag (1.07 gpt AuEq) over 97.5m Gold equivalents are calculated using a 80:1 silver:gold ratio in 2020 and 2023 and a 70:1 silver:gold ratio in 2021.Reported lengths are apparent widths, not true widths. The Contention Au-Ag mineralization zones are generally west dipping at around 60-80 degrees, associated with the quartz-feldspar porphyry dikes. However, these dikes also extend as sills in shallow angles out from the Contention fault along fold noses in the Bisbee clastic sediments so the full range of mineralization dips vary from 20 to 80 degrees. True widths for the apparent mineralization intersection widths of the five holes approximately range from 50 to 100% of the apparent widths, with the norm for the mineralized true widths being 60 to 90% of the apparent widths. Tombstone Project Highlights Well located property on patented (32) and unpatented (42) claims (434.4 hectares/1,073.4 acres), covers much of the historic Tombstone silver mining district, great infrastructure, local town, road access, full services, water, power on patented (32) and unpatented (42) claims (434.4 hectares/1,073.4 acres), covers much of the historic Tombstone silver mining district, great infrastructure, local town, road access, full services, water, power Historic silver district produced 32 million oz silver from 1878-1939, in high grade, oxidized, silver-gold-lead-zinc-copper vein and CRD deposits, and small open pit heap leach production in late 1980's produced 32 million oz silver from 1878-1939, in high grade, oxidized, silver-gold-lead-zinc-copper vein and CRD deposits, and small open pit heap leach production in late 1980's Drilling by Aztec in 2020-21 has demonstrated that the Contention Pit target has significant Au-Ag mineralization which is open in all directions has demonstrated that the Contention Pit target has significant Au-Ag mineralization which is open in all directions Multiple other prospective target s in Cretaceous and Paleozoic rocks related to major NW and NNE trending structures hosting porphyritic intrusions crosscutting a possible caldera ring structure s in Cretaceous and Paleozoic rocks related to major NW and NNE trending structures hosting porphyritic intrusions crosscutting a possible caldera ring structure A very important target is a potential bulk-tonnage carbonate replacement deposit in Paleozoic limestones similar to the Taylor discovery (100+ million tonnes of 10% Zinc Equivalent) located 60 km southwest of Tombstone (mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization hosted on the Company's property) whose presence is suggested by historic deep drilling intercepts for CRD mineralization returned multiple intersections grading up to 32 gpt silver, 0.61% copper, 6.5% lead and 2.6% zinc over 7.2m core length is a potential bulk-tonnage carbonate replacement deposit in Paleozoic limestones similar to the Taylor discovery (100+ million tonnes of 10% Zinc Equivalent) located 60 km southwest of Tombstone (mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization hosted on the Company's property) whose presence is suggested by historic deep drilling intercepts for CRD mineralization returned multiple intersections grading up to 32 gpt silver, 0.61% copper, 6.5% lead and 2.6% zinc over 7.2m core length Distinct magnetic and AMT anomalies confirm multiple target areas, Contention pit hosts dikes along strongest district structure, excellent potential for CRD deposits with similar geology to the "Taylor" deposit confirm multiple target areas, Contention pit hosts dikes along strongest district structure, excellent potential for CRD deposits with similar geology to the "Taylor" deposit Aztec high-grade surface rock samples from the Contention Pit, grade up to 3,178 gpt silver and 23.5 gpt gold, epithermal stockwork mineralization open along strike. Out of 94 samples collected from within the pit, silver ranges between from the Contention Pit, grade up to 3,178 gpt silver and 23.5 gpt gold, epithermal stockwork mineralization open along strike. Out of 94 samples collected from within the pit, silver ranges between Historic shallow mining at Contention pit for heap leachable Au-Ag mineralization, historic drilling by USMX around the pit returned multiple intersections including 1.61 gpt Au, 91.2 gpt Ag over 44.2m (see the Company's news release dated September 18, 2018 "Aztec Minerals Acquires Late 1980's-Early 1990's Drilling and Trenching Data for the Tombstone Project, Arizona" for further disclosure on USMX drilling) Allen David Heyl, B.Sc., CPG., VP Exploration, is the Qualified Person overseeing the Tombstone exploration program. Mr. Heyl reviewed and approved the technical disclosures in this news release "Simon Dyakowski" Simon Dyakowski, Chief Executive Officer Aztec Minerals Corp. About Aztec Minerals - Aztec is a mineral exploration company focused on two emerging discoveries in North America. The Cervantes project is an emerging porphyry gold-copper discovery in Sonora, Mexico. The Tombstone project is an emerging gold-silver discovery with high grade CRD silver-lead-zinc potential in southern Arizona. Aztec's shares trade on the TSX-V stock exchange (symbol AZT) and on the OTCQB (symbol AZZTF). Contact Information - For more information, please contact: Simon Dyakowski, President & CEO, Director Tel: (604) 619-7469 Fax: (604) 685-9744 Email: [email protected] Website: www.aztecminerals.com Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects" or "it is expected", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE: Aztec Minerals Corp. View source version on accesswire.com: TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / CO2 GRO Inc. (TSXV:GROW)(OTCQB: BLONF)(FRA:4O21), a leader in innovative CO2 Delivery Solutions" for the global protected agricultural sector, is pleased to announce the release of its 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report. This reflects its ongoing commitment to sustainability, transparency, and responsible corporate practices. The 2023 report is available on the company's website at https://co2gro.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-ESG-Report-CO2-GRO_April-12-2023-compressed.pdf . The 2023 ESG Report showcases significant achievements and improvements over the previous year, highlighting CO2 GRO Inc.'s dedication to increase protected agriculture yields through CO 2 enrichment while addressing climate change and ensuring the well-being of its employees and communities. Key highlights of the 2023 ESG Report include: A commitment to reducing CO2 GRO's and our customers' greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through continuous optimization of its proprietary CO2 Delivery Solutions" technology and the implementation of energy-efficient practices in its operations. A commitment to diversity and inclusion within the company and the implementation of policies promoting equal opportunities for all employees. Stronger engagement with local communities through partnerships with educational institutions and support for agriculture-focused programs aimed at empowering farmers and driving sustainable growth. Enhanced governance practices, including the adoption of a formal Code of Conduct and Ethics, implementation of a comprehensive risk management framework. John Archibald, CEO of CO2 GRO Inc., said, "We are proud to release our second annual 2023 ESG Report, which demonstrates our unwavering commitment to creating a more sustainable and socially responsible future for all our stakeholders. As a company focused on the huge global protected agricultural sector, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to address global food and environmental challenges, support the well-being of our employees, and contribute positively to our communities." He continued, "The achievements outlined in our 2023 report reflect the hard work and dedication of our team, and we will continue to strive for greater progress as we work towards our long-term ESG goals." CO2 GRO Inc. invites shareholders, customers, governments and the public to review the 2023 ESG Report and provide feedback as part of its commitment to transparency, continuous improvement, and stakeholder engagement. About CO2 GRO Inc. CO2 GRO Inc. is an innovative precision ag tech company focused on delivering CO2 Delivery Solutions" to the global protected agricultural sector. Its patented technology helps growers increase crop yields and profits by enhancing plant growth, resilience, quality and water-use efficiency through aqueous CO 2 misting. CO2 GRO Inc. is committed to fostering sustainable agriculture practices and reducing the industry's environmental footprint, while supporting the well-being of its employees and local communities. For more information, please visit www.co2gro.ca . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements which constitute "forwardlooking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities. Forward looking information is often identified by the words "may," "would," "could," "should," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect" or similar expressions and include information regarding: statements regarding the future direction of the Company; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business and financial objectives; plans for expansion and the ability of the Company to obtain, develop and foster its business relationships; and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Investors are cautioned that forward looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect the Company's management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning the business of the Company's future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates that management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Such assumptions include but are not limited to: general business and economic conditions; the Company's ability to successfully execute its plans and intentions; the availability of financing on reasonable terms; the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled staff; market competition; the products and technology offered by the Company's competitors; and that good relationships with business partners will be maintained. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forwardlooking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forwardlooking information are the following: changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; in particular, in the ability of the Company to raise debt and equity capital in the amounts and at the costs that it expects; adverse changes in applicable laws or adverse changes in the application or enforcement of current laws; the biotechnology industry and the greenhouse growers market are highly competitive, and technical advances in the industry will impact the success of the Company, and other risks described in the Company's filings that are available at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forwardlooking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forwardlooking information except as otherwise required by applicable law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For more information, please visit www.co2gro.ca or contact: Soumik Roy 416.475.3806 [email protected] SOURCE: CO2 Gro Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Mattie, one of Habitat for Humanity's homeowners, had been living comfortably for 10 years in her Habitat for Humanity home she helped to build in Rochester, New York. She worked full time, but a chronic autoimmune disease that requires her to be on oxygen caused her to move more slowly. In 2020, her health began to decline, causing her start working part time. The combination of increased medical costs, no longer being physically able to work full time and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic made it harder to keep up with critical needs and to make ends meet, including her mortgage. But after speaking with Habitat staff, she learned about the Homeowner Assistance Fund. Through Habitat's Cost of Home campaign , Habitat for Humanity, our communities and partners across the U.S. successfully advocated - sending emails, making phones calls and hosting meetings with congressional representatives and leveraging the media - for the $9.96 billion fund to support homeowners at risk of default, foreclosure and displacement because of the COVID-19 pandemic to be included in the American Rescue Plan. Mattie applied, was approved and was able to receive assistance. After successfully making mortgage payments for more than a decade, it was a huge relief for her to remain in her beloved home and neighborhood where her roots run deep. Mattie once again has the security and stability to focus on managing her health and to continue helping others in her community. Since Habitat's Cost of Home campaign launched in 2019, Whirlpool Corporation has collaborated in the work to access more stable, affordable homes for people like Mattie - helping to secure more than 200 policy wins across the U.S. Through the five-year Cost of Home campaign, Habitat for Humanity is mobilizing local Habitat organizations, partners, volunteers and community members across the country to find the solutions and help create the policies that will allow 10 million individuals to meet their most basic needs. Below is a roundup of the policy wins experienced through the Cost of Home campaign to date by Habitat for Humanity affiliates in areas where Whirlpool Corp. is located: Fiscal Year 2021 Supply and preservation of affordable homes In Ohio, Preble Habitat advocated locally for their commissioners to allocate $50,000 of the local Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funding for a housing program to assist homeowners with mortgage and utility payments. Once this allocation was made, the affiliate's executive director chaired the allocation plan's working committee. This funding will assist approximately 50 individuals. Under the leadership of Habitat Michigan, a sign-on letter was organized, which influenced Governor Whitmer to include $100 million in the budget for the state American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Governor said those funds will assist 6,000 Michigan residents with their housing needs. Good News Habitat, in Richmond, Indiana, worked in conjunction with the local economic development committee to attract housing developers and the local Wayne County Foundation to promote affordable housing. Their goal was to lobby the city to make affordable housing more accommodating, rather than restricting, in their economic revitalization efforts. They partnered with neighborhood associations through the Neighborhood Involvement and Community Engagement (NICE) Program and received funds to help build 15 homes. Communities of Opportunity Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati partnered with the Lower Price Hill neighborhood to provide affordable homeownership opportunities for parents of students at the school at the center of the community. This is a significant commitment for the affiliate because the rehabs are costly and take a long time. In October 2020, the affiliate joined three other non-profits to advocate for $1 million in project funding from the City of Cincinnati to support a project planned by one of the organizations to rehab 46 apartment units in Lower Price Hill. Unfortunately, the City of Cincinnati denied the funding request, putting the first major rehabilitation of multi-family units in the neighborhood in jeopardy. Habitat Greater Cincinnati joined the advocacy effort and testified at a Cincinnati Council committee hearing to advocate for the funding, encouraging the city to reconsider investing in the project. Subsequently, the City Administration found the funds and committed $1 million to the project to enable the rehab of 46 apartment units to move forward. This effort resulted in improved housing conditions for an estimated 96 individuals. Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, successfully advocated for the At-Home in Pittsfield program, which is an exterior renovation loan program that enables eligible homeowners to renovate the outside of their homes through a combination of funding from local lenders and the City of Pittsfield. Central Berkshire Habitat played a leading role in advocating for the program, and the affiliate will also be a partner in its implementation. The city will receive $500,000 from this Cost of Home policy win. Central Berkshire Habitat also successfully petitioned Governor Baker for COVID relief funding for non-profits and small businesses. This advocacy resulted in $78,500,000 for non-profit organizations and small businesses that experienced economic hardship due to the pandemic. Access to credit In 2020, Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Michigan advocated against House Bill 5097, which would allow payday lenders to give out small loans for up to $2,500. The monthly fees on the loan would be 11% of the principal of the loan, with an annual percentage rate of 132%, meaning a borrower could end up paying more than $7,000 on a $2,500 two-year loan. In addition, HB 5097 established no term limits on the length of the loans, resulting in borrowers getting into a perpetual debt trap. Habitat for Humanity of Michigan and affiliates across the state collaborated with several other housing organizations and met with 35 legislators, urging them to vote against HB 5097. Ultimately, HB 5097 died before getting a vote in the Michigan Senate committee. Fiscal Year 2022 Supply and preservation of affordable homes Since May 2021, Habitat Michigan has advocated for budget items in Senate Bill 565 relating to critical home repairs, missing middle housing, and development of a Housing and Community Development Fund. In March 2022, the legislation was signed by Governor Whitmer. This effort was a collaboration between Habitat Michigan, the state's network of affiliates, and partner organizations like Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM), Michigan Community Capital and the Michigan State Land Bank. Habitat Michigan was touted as influential on these budget items thanks to the network's increased education of Legislators. Habitat Ohio successfully lobbied the Ohio Department of Development to increase its Ohio Housing Trust Fund grant allocation from $90,000 to $500,000 over a two-year period. The pilot project in 2020 was successful despite the pandemic. The increase in funding will enable Habitat Ohio to now serve 50 families statewide. In partnership with the Marion Housing Coalition, Buckeye Ridge Habitat for Humanity advocated for The Marion County Land Bank to focus on neighborhood revitalization, rehabilitation standards, threshold requirements for purchase of Land Bank properties, and developing capacity for affordable housing. The County Land Bank voted to adopt these 10 recommendations from the Housing Coalition. Access to credit In Indiana, Habitat affiliates advocated against Indian SB 352, a harmful policy that would target low-income families and high-cost subprime lending. They reached out to legislators and mobilized the influence of the board. Because of their coalition efforts, the bill was stopped and did not come to a vote, protecting low-income families in the state from high-cost lending. As Habitat continues to scale our collective impact through policy solutions at the local, state and federal levels all across the U.S., we are grateful for Whirlpool Corporation's support and look forward to together, helping more people have access to an affordable home. View original content here View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Whirlpool Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Whirlpool Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/whirlpool-corporation Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Whirlpool Corporation View source version on accesswire.com: TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / As the world races to update its cybersecurity systems and secure its data, Sekur Private Data Ltd. (OTCQX:SWISF)(CSE:SKUR)(FRA:GDT0) is looking to lead the way with its turnkey data privacy and security solutions. The cybersecurity market has blown up in the past couple of years, largely driven by concerns about the increasing frequency of damaging cyber attacks. The market is forecast to increase from $182.3 billion in 2022 to $571.1 billion in 2030 , growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4% during the forecast period. As more precious data moves online, the need for protection against digital hacks has increased. Technology is moving towards greater integration, with the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and Cloud all depending on user data being safe and protected. Attempts by bad actors to seize the ever-growing amount of information online have also increased - There were over 4,000 data breaches due to hacking in 2022, events which lead to more than 22 billion records getting leaked. It is anticipated that the costs associated with cyberattack damage will reach $10.5 trillion by 2025, representing a 300% increase since 2015. Sekur Private Data is positioning itself as a leader in the cybersecurity and data privacy markets, and its mission is to provide the next generation of data security and privacy to protect users from cyber hackers. Sekur is a US-listed cybersecurity and internet privacy company with a suite of data protection solutions dedicated to providing premier online privacy and security. Turn-Key Data Privacy Solutions Its comprehensive set of privacy solutions includes encrypted emails and messages, secure communication systems, cloud-based storage capabilities and document recovery and management. Sekur Private Data offers these security solutions to everyone from private individuals to corporations and government agencies across the globe. Now the company has expanded its offerings to include its own virtual private network (VPN) system . SekurVPN is a first-in-class commercially-available VPN that isn't powered by Big Tech. This is an exciting move forward for securing private data, as it means there are no third-party bundles involved with the VPN. This removes the risk of a user's data being either leaked or sold to a third party. VPNs are a frequently chosen option when it comes to protecting online activity like emailing, performing e-banking tasks, or e-shopping, as they encrypt data and conceal the user's IP address. 33% of all internet users currently have a VPN, and two-thirds of users say they use VPN to protect their online activity The company also recently added two-factor authentification to its systems for an added layer of security. Now this introduction of SekurVPN indicates the company is continuing to offer cutting-edge online security and privacy for those seeking ultimate peace of mind about their data. "Our prime directive is to provide private and secure communications for everyone, and, as we are not connected to any Big Tech platform, we offer a truly independent, private, and secure means of communications without any data mining, through our proprietary technology and our secure servers based in Switzerland," said Alain Ghiai, CEO of Sekur Private Data . "We look forward to continuing to offer true data privacy to all individuals and their businesses and protect their intellectual property, and their privacy, from data miners and malicious hackers." Learn more about how Sekur Private Data is leading the way in cybersecurity . Featured photo by Privecstasy on Unsplash Contact: Corporate Department [email protected] SOURCE: Sekur Private Data Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com: NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Ericsson Originally published by Ericsson By Caroline Berns Head of Diversity & Inclusion and Talent Acquisition, MMEA Gender equality Bloomberg just released its latest edition of the Gender-Equality Index, covering 484 companies in 45 countries and across 54 industries. The index tracks the performance of public companies that disclose their efforts to support gender equality - and for the first time also covered other areas, including LGBTQ+, race, and ethnicity, in the framework. Racial profiling Last year, 9-year-old Bobbi Wilson was busy working on an insect project in her neighbourhood, when a neighbour called the police on her. Yale University now officially honoured the young scientist for her efforts to eradicate invasive lanternflies. Read more here. Bias "Correct the internet" just launched a new campaign to raise awareness about gender bias in internet searches, and increase the visibility of women in sports. Watch the video! LGBTQ+ "Bold Love" is the latest advert from Doritos Mexico as part of the #PrideAllYear platform, which aims to give visibility to the LGBTQ+ community beyond Pride month. Watch the video! View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Ericsson on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Ericsson Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/ericsson Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Ericsson View source version on accesswire.com: Donald Trump goes to trial on Tuesday, where the writer E. Jean Carroll is accusing the former U.S. president in a civil lawsuit of raping her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Jury selection is expected to begin in Manhattan federal court, where the former Elle magazine advice columnist is also accusing Trump of defamation. Trump, 76, has denied raping Carroll, 79, He called her claim a "hoax" and "complete Scam" in a October 2022 post on his Truth Social platform. He has said she made up the encounter to promote her memoir and declared that she was "not my type!" Trump is not required to attend the trial. His lawyers have said he may not appear, citing the likelihood of security concerns and traffic delays. Carroll's lawyers have said they do not plan to call Trump as a witness. If Trump testified, he would likely face an aggressive cross-examination. Trump has repeatedly attacked Carroll and in personal terms since she first publicly accused him of rape in 2019. He has claimed she is mentally ill. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who oversees the case, is keeping jurors anonymous from the public, including the lawyers, to shield them from potential harassment by Trump supporters. The trial could last one to two weeks. Trump, the Republican front-runner for the 2024 presidential election, faces a slew of lawsuits and investigations. These include Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's criminal charges over hush money payments to a porn star. Trump pleaded not guilty to those charges on April 4 at a New York state courthouse, a three-minute walk from Tuesday's trial. The former president also faces civil fraud charges by New York Attorney General Letitia James into his namesake company. Trump also faces criminal probes into interference in Georgia's 2020 presidential race and into classified government documents recovered at his Mar-a-Lago residence, plus inquiries into his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. In all of these cases, Trump has denied wrongdoing. 11-MW battery will operate alongside existing solar facility Both are located inside the site boundary of Camp Lejeune on leased land CHARLOTTE, NC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Duke Energy is expanding its battery storage capabilities in North Carolina and has begun commercial operation of the state's largest battery system, an 11-MW project in Onslow County. The battery system will frequently be operated in conjunction with an adjacent 13-MW solar facility located on a leased site within Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, which has been generating carbon-free energy since 2015. The two sites can also be operated independently. "Battery storage is an important resource for our transition to cleaner energy," said Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy's North Carolina state president. "Pairing the energy storage system with our existing solar facility at Camp Lejeune helps strengthen the reliability of our energy grid and makes better use of our existing solar generation." Together, the projects enable the most efficient and reliable use of renewable resources. Both projects are connected to a Duke Energy substation and will be used to serve all Duke Energy Progress customers. Future work could enable the solar and battery systems to improve the resiliency of MCB Camp Lejeune against outages. "Through an enhanced use lease (EUL) and strategic partnership with Duke Energy Progress, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune has been able to make an important investment in the pursuit of energy security inside the fence-line," said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Ross Campbell, director, Public Works at MCB Camp Lejeune. "Integration of the solar plant with a battery energy storage system, unthinkable a decade ago, presents the installation with a number of opportunities to achieve energy resilience objectives. These systems are part of the ongoing collaboration with the Department of Defense and its utility providers to ensure energy security at federal facilities." The battery's chemistry is lithium iron phosphate with the system rated at 11-MW/11-MWh, and its physical footprint is about 1 acre. Duke Energy partnered with Black & Veatch construction entity OCI, which acted as the prime contractor for engineering, procurement and construction. In recent years, Duke Energy has been expanding battery storage in North Carolina. In the city of Asheville, a 9-MW lithium-ion battery system is operating next to a Duke Energy substation in the Shiloh community. In Madison County in the town of Hot Springs, the company has a 4-MW lithium-ion battery system that is part of a microgrid in the town. Battery storage is essential to speed the clean energy transition in the United States. It helps maximize the positive impact intermittent generation sources like wind and solar have on the energy grid. The company plans to continue investing in battery technology over the next few years. Duke Energy expects to have more than 1,600 MW of battery storage in service by 2029. Currently, the company's regulated utilities have about 90 MW of battery energy storage projects in operation in three states. Duke Energy Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people. Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear. Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2023 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "World's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Contact: Randy Wheeless 24-Hour: 800.559.3853 Twitter: @DE_RandyW View original content here View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Duke Energy on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Duke Energy Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/duke-energy Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Duke Energy View source version on accesswire.com: NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / International Paper Company Promoting Literacy International Paper is a proud sponsor of Rally to Read 100, a six-month initiative launched in September 2021 to inspire children across the U.S. to read 100 books over the school term. Organized by nonprofit Reading is Fundamental, which champions children's literacy, the inaugural event engaged more than 64,000 children who pledged to read a total of 272,000 books. Tackling Hunger Through our long-standing partnership with Feeding America, we contributed more than $890,000 to food banks in each of our more than 200 U.S. communities. The contributions helped support millions of people through the distribution of over 7.9 million meals they need to thrive every day and in times of disaster. We also continued to support the Global FoodBanking Network (GFN). In the final year of our 4-year, $1 million commitment, our contribution helped GFN support 175 food banks across Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Poland, Spain Italy and Guatemala distributing 1.5 million kilograms of food to people in need. Addressing Period Poverty We doubled our feminine care kit packing program to address Period Poverty, with more than 14 facilities packing kits to donate in their communities. We put in place plans to continue to expand this program in 2022 in conjunction with International Women's Day and Menstrual Hygiene Day. Offering Disaster Relief In 2021, locally and internationally, our teams helped build resilient communities: Our team in our Europe, Middle East and Africa Region provided 10,000 in disaster relief funding following July's devastating flash floods in Germany and Belgium, as well as 12,000 Euros in disaster relief funding after the devastating volcano eruption in La Palma/Canary Islands, Spain. Through the IP Foundation, the Savannah, Georgia, Mill donated $15,000 and partnered with local agencies and businesses to prepare 1,500 buckets of emergency supplies ahead of hurricane season In Orange, Texas, our team donated pallets of water and personal care items to assist local communities impacted by Hurricane Ida More than $200,000 was donated in response to disasters to Feeding America, American Red Cross, United Way Worldwide and Team Rubicon for disasters including winter storms across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, and tornadoes in the U.S. Midwest Trees play an immeasurable role in the health of our ecosystems. They produce oxygen, improve air quality, store carbon, stabilize soil and offer wildlife a home. In addition, as a walk in the park will attest, they also make humans feel better. Yet, today, trees face more threats than ever. The Morton Arboretum is a tree champion. Over the last century, the Chicago-area arboretum has built a 1,700-acre living collection of nearly 5,000 different kinds of plants that offer a forest of opportunities for people to understand the vital role trees play in our ecosystems. Its STEM Pathways Program opens the door for young people to appreciate, learn about and protect trees, perhaps through a lifetime career. The Arboretum STEM Pathways Program serves a broad constituency, from pre-school through high school and college students to parents, educators, and conservation and horticultural professionals. Engaging its audience through day programs, summer camps, classroom resource bins, college-level botany courses, teacher training and more, its aim is to increase plant knowledge and improve science literacy through hands-on planting and caring for trees, working in natural areas and, for students, exploring STEM as a future career path. For example, its Youth Volunteer Program engages young people in experiences to support the Arboretum's summer family program while also providing citizen science education, opportunities to explore STEM careers with Arboretum tree science staff and community service hours. Over a five-year period, 211 youth volunteers, most volunteering multiple years, contributed more than 15,000 hours (about 3,000 hours each year). International Paper's contributions to the Morton Arboretum STEM program include: Supporting 165,000 engagements with children and youth focused on creating lifelong connections to trees and nature Expanding staff capacity to build and deliver new experiences for Arboretum visitors Helping to shape the next generation of STEM professionals. Donating more than $240,000 since 2014 About International Paper International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global supplier of renewable fiber-based products. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods, and enable worldwide commerce, and pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal care products that promote health and wellness. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 38,000 colleagues globally. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2021 were $19.4 billion. See how we're building a better future for people, the planet, and our company at internationalpaper.com/Vision-2030. Read more View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from International Paper Company on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: International Paper Company Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/international-paper-company Email: [email protected] SOURCE: International Paper Company View source version on accesswire.com: Reporting enhanced by advanced climate data & analytics, enabled by machine learning & AI NEW YORK, NY and CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / KPMG LLP and Context Labs today announced an alliance to help companies better measure, quantify, and reduce their environmental footprints using distributed ledger technology and advanced climate data and analytics, enabled with machine learning and AI. The alliance will provide strategic support to companies working to reduce environmental impact, analyze their efforts to decarbonize, and provide transparent and traceable data, as investors, regulators, and other stakeholders increasingly demand ESG disclosures. "Accessing accurate and complete emissions data is key for effectively measuring a company's carbon footprint," said KPMG U.S. ESG Leader Rob Fisher. "The type of data, analysis and insights provided by KPMG and Context Labs through this alliance will help companies accelerate their decarbonization efforts with specific actions they can take to reduce their environmental footprints." The alliance combines Context Labs' advanced technology, which has been proven in the marketplace, with KPMG's leading reputation in providing environmental monitoring, analytics and reporting for customers across market sectors. The collaboration between Context Labs and KPMG U.S. is already demonstrating results with Williams, an energy company handling 30% of the natural gas in the United States. "In 2022, KPMG U.S. made an initial investment in Context Labs. Since then, we have worked together to help companies improve the sophistication and rigor of their emissions reporting," said Dan Harple, Founder and CEO of Context Labs. "I am excited to announce the establishment of this alliance with KPMG U.S, which will enable Context Labs' technology to further bolster the integrity, veracity, and commercial value of our customers' data, leveraging KPMG's best-in-class capabilities to help enhance transparency around environmental reporting and disclosure." Williams is leveraging Context Labs' Decarbonization-as-a-ServiceTM platform to track and measure emissions across the full energy value chain, executing the energy industry's first end-to-end methane intensity certification, supported by KPMG. The platform provides transparent data and insights on the carbon intensity and climate performance attributes for energy sector customers. "Williams' NextGen Gas platform is the industry's first comprehensive, full value-chain certified natural gas program, supported by KPMG U.S. and Context Labs," said Chad Zamarin, Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategic Development at Williams. "We've established a platform to bring low-carbon intensity products to our customers to provide greater trust, transparency and transactability. This initiative exemplifies the collaboration and innovation needed to demonstrate that Williams is committed to credible and transparent solutions to prove the quality of low-carbon intensity natural gas." About KPMG LLP KPMG LLP is the U.S. firm of the KPMG global organization of independent professional services firms providing audit, tax, and advisory services. The KPMG global organization operates in 143 countries and territories and has more than 265,000 people working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients. KPMG is widely recognized for being a great place to work and build a career. Our people share a sense of purpose in the work we do, and a strong commitment to community service, inclusion and diversity and eradicating childhood illiteracy. Learn more at www.kpmg.com/us. About Context Labs Context Labs is dedicated to sourcing, organizing, and contextualizing the world's ESG information. The company enables data to become trusted, shared, and utilized as Asset Grade Data, providing insights and solutions to inform markets. Context Labs mission is to provide the world's trusted data fabric platform, delivering Asset Grade Data to customers using the Immutably" Enterprise Data Fabric platform, deploying machine learning, Artificial Intelligence, and cryptographic blockchain technologies, for context-driven insights. Building on the Immutably" Enterprise Data Fabric platform, the company has deployed customer service layers (1) Decarbonization-as-a-Service" (DaaS"), tailored to accelerate the Global Energy Transition, and its (2) CLEAR Path" platform to enable customers to optimize value creation with the highest quality carbon credits. The company was formed out of MIT research and is comprised of a leadership team that has been instrumental in the at-scale growth of the Internet, in prior companies. The company has offices in Amsterdam, Cambridge, MA, and Houston, TX. Learn more at www.contextlabs.com. About Williams As the world demands reliable, low-cost, low-carbon energy, Williams will be there with the best transport, storage and delivery solutions to reliably fuel the clean energy economy. Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Williams is an industry-leading, investment grade C-Corp with operations across the natural gas value chain including gathering, processing, interstate transportation, storage, wholesale marketing and trading of natural gas and natural gas liquids. With major positions in top U.S. supply basins, Williams connects the best supplies with the growing demand for clean energy. Williams owns and operates more than 32,000 miles of pipelines system wide - including Transco, the nation's largest volume and fastest growing pipeline - and handles approximately one third of the natural gas in the United States that is used every day for clean-power generation, heating and industrial use. Learn how the company is leveraging its nationwide footprint to incorporate clean hydrogen, NextGen Gas and other innovations at www.williams.com. Contact Information Context Labs Press Team [email protected] 617-902-0932 SOURCE: Context Labs View source version on accesswire.com: The beer draws inspiration from the exhilaration of travel, and the hotel's vibrant atmosphere enhances the experience. TOKYO, JAPAN / ACCESSWIRE / April 25, 2023 / LIVELY HOTELS, a leading hospitality company created by popular Japan real-estate developer Global Agents, just announced the launch of its newest original IPA beer, Highly Lively. The beer is a tribute to the lively and dynamic atmosphere of LIVELY HOTELS' properties, which are known for their exceptional hospitality, vibrant ambiance, and high energy. Highly Lively, the first original IPA beer from LIVELY HOTELS The beer draws inspiration from the exhilaration of travel, and the hotel's vibrant atmosphere enhances the experience. Highly Lively is a full-bodied and well-balanced IPA that showcases a beautiful blend of hops and malts. It has a bright, citrusy aroma that delights the senses and a smooth, crisp finish that makes it the perfect beer to enjoy on any occasion. The beer has an ABV of 6.5%, making it perfect for those who appreciate a full-bodied IPA with a little extra kick. "We are thrilled to introduce Highly Lively, our latest original IPA beer, to our guests and beer enthusiasts alike," said Takeshi Yamasaki, CEO of Global Agents. "We wanted to create a beer that not only tastes great but also reflects the energy and atmosphere of our hotels. We are confident that Highly Lively will become a fan favorite among our guests and beer enthusiasts." The creation of Highly Lively is a testament to LIVELY HOTELS' commitment to delivering outstanding service and amenities that cater to the needs of today's modern traveler. The company has always believed in offering guests a memorable experience that is unique to each of its properties. Highly Lively is an extension of this philosophy and a reflection of the vibrant atmosphere that can be found at LIVELY HOTELS' properties. The brewing of this new beer was done in collaboration with SETOUCHI, a local craft brewery from the Kanagawa prefecture, particularly known for its exceptional quality. The brewery's experienced brewmasters worked closely with Lively Hotels' team to create a beer that captures the essence of Lively Hotels' properties. The result is Highly Lively, a beer that is full of flavor and character. It has been meticulously crafted using only the finest ingredients, including carefully selected hops and malts. The beer's flavor profile is complex and balanced, with a smooth finish that lingers on the palate. Highly Lively IPA will be available starting April 29 at all LIVELY HOTELS properties. Guests can enjoy the beer in the dynamic atmosphere of the hotels or take a taste of the lively energy with them wherever they go. Global Agents, the parent company of LIVELY HOTELS, was founded in 2005 and has enjoyed great success in the Japanese rental market with Social Apartment, their brand of co-living spaces. The company has since expanded exponentially, launching six different brands of lifestyle hotels across Japan. In 2020, they consolidated all of their brands under the name LIVELY HOTELS. With a current portfolio of 11 hotels and over 50 co-living apartments, Global Agents has become a prominent player in Japan's hospitality industry. The company puts a focus on exceptional hospitality and memorable experiences and has established a reputation for delivering outstanding service and amenities that cater to the needs of today's modern travelers. Contact Information Zacharie Coskun International Marketing Manager [email protected] +81-3-6433-5792 SOURCE: Global Agents Co. Ltd View source version on accesswire.com: As part of our Earth Day celebration, Regions is highlighting ways that our associates, customers and community partners are making life better by helping to protect our environment. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Big things can come in small packages. For Regions, the latest example is the bank's new branch in Franklin, Tennessee, where modern banking and customer service meet environmental stewardship. Opened April 3 in the 600-acre Berry Farms community of Boyle Investment Co., near Nashville, the branch is the first to feature Regions' new design which will be used for all future branch construction. "We're looking at our designs constantly and always asking how we can create an even better experience that represents shared value for everyone," said Stephen Griffin, director of retail distribution planning. "That's what drove our new hybrid' Nexus design concept," he said. "This new branch maximizes the space to give customers a great place to bank and for associates to serve them. It's good for the environment while costing more than $500,000 less to build than our original Nexus design - also important with rising construction costs coming out of the pandemic." "Our new Nexus hybrid design is a win for everyone," he added. And it all comes in a 1,904-square foot package. That's 34% smaller than the first Nexus branches Regions began building in 2018. Eco-friendly Features By strategically using clear insulated Low-E glass that protects against heat gain, LED lighting, automated controls and heat-absorbing shades, the Franklin branch leverages energy efficiency to keep the space warm in the winter and cool in the summer. "We're maximizing the lighting coming through windows by light harvesting, and powering up the LED lighting as that goes away," said John Earley, Regions' senior construction manager for retail projects. "We've also reduced the size and number of the displays we use for digital signage while still maximizing our brand. "At the end of the day, energy consumption is a key way to reduce cost and environmental impact," he said. "As we've evolved the Nexus design to this third generation, we've kept our focus on the environment." Other eco-friendly features of the new branch include drought-resistant shrubs and other plants, a drip irrigation system, low-flow toilets, and furniture and carpet with recycled content as well as low VOCs (volatile organic compounds) for cleaner air and emissions. A Modern, Stylish Look Along with the environmental benefits, Berry Farms Branch Manager Lance Hayes appreciates the design tweaks that have enhanced service - like angling the pods where bankers sit so everyone has a clear line of sight to the door and can see, greet and serve customers, minimizing any possible delays. The branch manager's office was also relocated in the Nexus design update to open up more space for customers who continue to enjoy Wi-Fi, charging stations and the privacy of the pods as well as from the partitions and privacy glass. "From the furniture size and placement to the bathrooms and break rooms, the design makes the space feel bigger than it is," Hayes said. "You can tell the working space has been amplified while everything else - the mechanical/electrical/maintenance space - has been minimized. "We love the modern, stylish look and the way this branch and design fits in perfectly with the rest of Berry Farms and what we've always been about as a company: making life better for each other, our customers, shareholders and communities." About Regions Financial Corporation Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE: RF), with $155 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates more than 1,250 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Regions Bank on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Regions Bank Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/regions-bank Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Regions Bank View source version on accesswire.com: VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with Aton Resources and White Gold Corp. discussing their latest news. The Power Play by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives. Aton Signs 10,000m RC Drilling Contract with Geodrill Aton Resources Inc. is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract with Geodrill, to undertake a 10,000m programme of reverse circulation percussion drilling at the Company's 100% owned Abu Marawat Concession, in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. For the full interview with Javier Ordua and to learn about Aton Resources Inc, click here. White Gold Corp. Significantly Increases Inferred Resources by 41% at its Flagship White Gold Project and Reports 1,152,900 Gold Ounces in Indicated Resources and 942,400 Gold Ounces in Inferred Resources, Yukon, Canada White Gold Corp. is pleased to announce an updated Mineral Resource Estimate for its flagship White Gold project located approximately 95 km south of Dawson City in west-central Yukon, Canada. The White Gold project now comprises 16 million tonnes averaging 2.23 g/t Au for 1,152,900 ounces of gold in the Indicated Resource category and 19 million tonnes averaging 1.54 g/t Au for 942,400 ounces of gold in the Inferred Resource category. Exploration programs supporting the MRE have been backed by partners Agnico Eagle Mines Limited and Kinross Gold Corporation. For the full interview with David D'Onofrio and to learn about White Gold Corp., click here. Interviews for The Power Play by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Power Play or to explore our other interviews visita The Power Play by The Market Herald. About The Market Herald The Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our team of Canadian markets reporters, editors and technologists covers the entire listed company universe in Canada. We cover over 3,985 businesses, their people, their investors, and their customers. We write the stories that move the Canadian capital markets. DISCLAIMER: Report Card Canada Media Ltd. ("Report Card") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market Herald Limited, an Australian company ("Market Herald"). Report Card is not an advisory service, and does not offer, buy, sell, or provide any other rating, analysis or opinion on the securities we discuss. We are retained and compensated by the companies that we provide information on to assist them with making information available to the public. 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CONTACT: The Market Herald [email protected] themarketherald.ca SOURCE:aThe Market Herald View source version on accesswire.com: NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / As more industries seek digital transformation - adopting conveniences such as cloud-based connectivity, frictionless operations, and more - their vulnerability to potential threats increases. When it comes to protecting sensitive information, is your company well-equipped to prevent email phishing scams, cybersecurity threats, and other attacks by bad actors? While sharing and collaborating on information assets is essential to streamline workflow within an organization, it's imperative to ensure that any shared information is only accessible by people who need to see it and that it is managed correctly. An information governance policy assures that not only is your company's most confidential data protected, but also that of every department and individual employee. What factors must be considered when defining an organization's information governance (IG) policy? There are three main considerations that go into a strong IG policy approach: 1. WHAT needs to be protected? Information that needs to be protected can be placed in one of two categories: Personally identifiable information (PII) Company confidential information (CCI) Both sets must be protected, but for different reasons. PII: It is a company's responsibility to protect the personal data of their employees and customers. There are now laws, such as Europe's General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) that require such PII protections, safeguarding individual's interests and privacy. CCI: It is a company's responsibility to protect its own sensitive data. There are myriad reasons that a company's private information stay in-house, the most important being to keep that data away from competitors or those looking to hurt the company. CII protections work to guard company interests. 2. WHO can access the protected data? Locking away data certainly secures it, but the data serves very little purpose if need-to-know users cannot properly access it. This is where group access lists and Digital Rights Management (DRM) come in handy. Ensuring only true stakeholders have access minimizes the chances that private company information ends up in the wrong hands. 3. HOW can the protected data be accessed? Policy creators must consider the following questions: Can the users only review the information, or can they also alter the information? Can they download the information locally? Administering user roles can help with this - certain users can read, other users can modify, and so on. Implementing a sustainable information governance policy Once an IG policy has been defined, it's up to those implementing it to choose workflow solutions that meet the requirements of the policy. Weighing the usability of these solutions against how closely they adhere to the IG policy can be a bit of a give and take. The more secure a solution is, the more complicated it might be to administer or the more difficult it might be to use productively. One area where solutions can offer both information security and solution usability is document viewing. Both CCI and PII are often found in Microsoft Office documents. Think about a financial spreadsheet, an applicant resume, and a product design document. These three documents are from three different areas - finance, human resources, and product development - but all contain CCI and/or PII. Selecting solutions that allow for secure storage of these kinds of documents, while limiting the access to these documents only to those who need to see them, certainly supports any well-defined IG policy. And if these solutions also provide a consistent way to view and work within these documents, that's also a usability win. On the other hand, solutions that store documents, but don't provide a way to view them, not only impact productivity, but may encourage violating the IG policy. For instance, consider a Microsoft Word document containing patent submission information saved securely within a product lifecycle management solution in the cloud. This information is safe - access to the document within the solution is limited. But what happens when someone with access wants to see the information? They click on the file within the solution and instead of opening a viewer, a copy of the file is downloaded locally to their personal computer so they can open it. If this process is repeated by everyone who needs to access this document, that is a tremendous waste of time. But worse yet, there are now dozens of copies of this document and the information contained therein on different systems. Is the information still secure? What if someone prints the document? Or sends it to personal email or personal cloud storage? Now that there are dozens of digital duplicates, the chances of this information leaking are now a lot higher. This can be avoided with a single solution that not only stores data, but also manages access among users. Considering solutions that support information governance The fact is that every day, Microsoft Office files are shared by millions across all vertical industries and markets - and these files frequently contain sensitive data. Setting an IG policy that moves these kinds of documents to limited distribution within workflow tools is a start. But from there, organizations must consider how users are allowed to access the documents to further limit the number of copies of these files. These documents must also be viewable within the solution to prevent users downloading them or attempting to access them by any other means. Workflow solution providers can feel confident their products meet customer expectations around protecting CCI and PPI by implementing an inline viewer like Qualcomm DirectOffice Document Conversion Software , which ensures that documents are quickly converted and accurately displayed right within the solution. Check out Qualcomm DirectOffice to see for yourself how it works View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Qualcomm on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Qualcomm Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/qualcomm Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Qualcomm View source version on accesswire.com: Former global business development leader at Airbnb, Kilroy will usher in the next phase of OURAs business partnerships and enterprise offerings SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- OURA, the company behind the smart ring that delivers personalized health data, insights, and daily guidance, today announced the addition of its first-ever Chief Commercial Officer, Dorothy Kilroy. Kilroy will lead the companys Business Development, Partnerships, and Sales and Operations, which are responsible for the revenue OURA derives from partnerships, new partner channels, and B2B sales. As a first priority, she will focus on the companys partnership efforts and execute deals that impact OURAs business, expanding market presence, brand awareness, scientific credibility, and sales. Kilroy joins following nearly eight years at Airbnb, where she led the Host Community to 4M+ hosts globally, creating $180B earned by Hosts over her time with the company, leading the Superhost program, and building its gift card program. OURA is at an inflection point in its growth trajectory where the opportunity to grow and expand in new directions is not only available, its imperative, said Dorothy Kilroy, Chief Commercial Officer, OURA. Im excited to bring my perspective in scaling partnerships and processes to enable OURA to evolve to the next level by adding new channels and partners. I have been a long-time fan and member and am absolutely thrilled to be a part of OURAs mission. Kilroys appointment comes at a time of significant growth and momentum for OURA following several marquee partnerships: Best Buy, the brands first US-based, large-scale retail partnership, Oura Ring styles are available in 850+ stores across the country, as well as on BestBuy.com; Gucci, for which the first run sold out so quickly that it was brought back by popular demand for holiday 2022; Strava, the most requested partnership by OURA members; and Natural Cycles, an integration with the first FDA-cleared birth control app that has so far tracked 200K+ cycles and 6 million temperature logs. Building on the success of these partnerships, Kilroys vision hinges on creating an ecosystem of partners, doubling down on specific areas of focus, including womens and reproductive health, metabolic health, and longevity, that will enable new use cases for the Oura Ring and the OURA App. We take great pride in the strength and expertise of our leadership team and Dorothy encompasses everything we were looking for: impressive business development experience, familiarity with scaling growth companies, and a shared commitment to our human-first values, said Tom Hale, Chief Executive Officer for OURA. Weve seen strong inbound interest from potential partners and are thrilled to welcome a seasoned leader to create and manage our partnership ecosystem. Dorothy will be a key driver of the next stage of OURAs growth. Also under Kilroys purview is the continued expansion of OURA For Business, a suite of enterprise solutions launched last year. To date, OURA For Business has worked with more than 200 customers in business, healthcare, academic and clinical research, and military, including Thrive Global, US Air Force, US Navy, US Army, NASA, Red Bull Racing, NASCAR, USA Surfing, Noom, OWN IT (a MaxOne brand), University of Vermont, Clemson University, and the UFC to deliver useful and accurate insights that connect the health of each individual to organizational outcomes. About OURA OURA is the company behind Oura Ring the smart ring that delivers personalized health data, insights, and daily guidance. With sleep as its foundation, Oura Membership fosters healthy habits to make wellness and recovery a mindful, daily practice. Validated against medical gold standards and driven by continuous monitoring of individual biometrics, the lightweight and comfortable Oura Ring is one of the most accurate wearables available. For organizations, Oura For Business connects individual well-being with collective outcomes by making performance measurable, actionable, and attainable. Founded in Finland with offices in Oulu, Helsinki, San Francisco, and San Diego, OURA has raised more than $350 million and is valued at $2.55 billion. For more information, please visit http://ouraring.com/. The Oura Ring is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, monitor, or prevent medical conditions/illnesses. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005657/en/ Alexis McDowel, OURA [email protected] Alison Deasy, OURA [email protected] Source: OURA PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: ACTICOR BIOTECH (Paris: ALACT) (FR0014005OJ5 - ALACT), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular emergencies, in particular stroke, announces today the availability of its Universal Registration Document for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, as well as the preparatory documents for its Combined General Meeting on May 12, 2023. Availability of the 2022 Universal Registration Document The Universal Registration Document 2022, filed with the French stock-market authority (Autorite des Marches Financiers) on April 26, 2023 under visa number R. 23-020, is available free of charge to the public under the conditions provided for by the regulations in force and can be consulted on the Company's website (Investors / Regulated Information / Financial Information / 2023), as well as on the AMF website (www.amf-france.org). This Universal Registration Document includes in particular the annual financial report, the management report, the corporate governance report, the information relating to the fees paid to the statutory auditors and the reports of the Statutory Auditors. Availability of the documents relating to the General Meeting The combined general meeting of the Company will be held on Friday May 12, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. at the Acticor Biotech headquarters located at the Wojo Building, 82 avenue du Maine, 75014 Paris, room on the 7th floor The notice of meeting as notice of convocation, including the agenda and the draft resolutions as well as the conditions and modalities of participation and voting at the meeting, has been posted on the website of the Bulletin des Annonces legales Obligatoires "BALO" (www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr/balo) on April 5, 2023, bulletin number 41. The notice of meeting is published on the website in legal announcements Actu-Juridique (http://www.actu-juridique.fr) on April 24, 2023. If shareholders are unable to attend the meeting in person, shareholders may exercise their voting rights remotely, before the meeting: either by sending a proxy to the Company or by voting by mail, by using the voting form available on https://fr.acticor-biotech.com/ in accordance with the procedures indicated in the prior notice published in the BALO on April 5, 2023. The preparatory documents relating to this general meeting are available on request from the Company, or can be consulted on the company's website in the Investors section. In accordance with applicable legal and regulatory provisions: Any registered shareholder may, up to and including the fifth day before the General Meeting, request the Company to send him the documents provided for in Articles L. 225-115 and R. 225-83 of the French Commercial Code. In the event of an express request, the documents may be sent by electronic means. For holders of bearer shares, the exercise of this right is subject to the provision by their authorized intermediary of a certificate of account registration; Any shareholder may consult the documents referred to in Articles L. 225-115 and R. 225-83 of the French Commercial Code at the company's registered office. About ACTICOR BIOTECH Acticor Biotech is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, a spin-off from INSERM (the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research), which is aiming to develop an innovative treatment for cardiovascular emergencies, including ischemic stroke. In May 2022, Acticor Biotech presented positive results from its Phase 1b/2a study, ACTIMIS, at the ESOC, confirming the safety profile and showing a reduction in mortality and intracerebral hemorrhage in the glenzocimab-treated group in patients with stroke. The efficacy of glenzocimab is now being evaluated in an international Phase 2/3 study, ACTISAVE, which will include 1,000 patients. In July 2022, Acticor Biotech was granted "PRIME" status by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for glenzocimab in the treatment of stroke. This designation will allow the company to strengthen its interactions and obtain early dialogues with regulatory authorities. Acticor Biotech is supported by a panel of European and international investors (Karista, Go Capital, Newton Biocapital, CMS Medical Venture Investment (HK) Limited, A&B (HK) Limited, Mirae Asset Capital, Anaxago, Mediolanum farmaceutici and the Armesa foundation). Acticor Biotech is listed on Euronext Growth Paris since November 2021 (ISIN: FR0014005OJ5 ALACT). For more information, visit: www.acticor-biotech.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005841/en/ ACTICOR BIOTECH Gilles AVENARD, MD General Manager and founder [email protected] T. : +33 (0)6 76 23 38 13 Sophie BINAY, PhD Chief Operating Officer and Scientific Director [email protected] T. : +33 (0)6 76 23 38 13 NewCap Mathilde BOHIN / Quentin MASSE Investor Relations [email protected] T. : +33 (0)1 44 71 94 95 NewCap Arthur ROUILLE Media Relations [email protected] T. : +33 (0)1 44 71 00 15 Source: ACTICOR BIOTECH SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AGC Biologics, a leading global Biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), announced it has received the Bioprocessing Excellence in Japan award at the Asia-Pacific Bioprocessing Excellence Awards ceremony for the work and achievements at the AGC Biologics Chiba, Japan site. The Asia-Pacific Bioprocessing Excellence Awards (ABEA), hosted by IMAPAC, gives recognition to exceptional Asian bioprocessing companies for their achievements over the past year. AGC Biologics was honored alongside other industry leaders at the 10th Annual Biologics Manufacturing Asia Conference on March 15. AGC Biologics is a CDMO in Japan with microbial and mammalian capabilities backed by a global resource and supply chain network. The multipurpose, highly efficient Chiba facility's core structure and gravity-based design enable it to provide flexibility and produce high-quality work. The AGC Biologics site has scientific teams with extensive industry experience, established large-scale commercial microbial capabilities, and growing single-use mammalian systems with a high manufacturing success rate. The site also benefits from its deep collaboration with its sister locations in Europe and the U.S., which helps it provide everything AGC Biologics can offer at this central location in the Asia-Pacific region. AGC Biologics is honored to receive this award showcasing our growing biologics capabilities at our site in Chiba, Japan, and the great work our team members perform every day, said Jun Takami, General Manager, AGC Biologics Chiba Facility. Our scientists are experts in tailoring our services to meet our customers' needs. We pride ourselves on developing and supplying multi-language documentation, GMP manufacturing that adheres to our customers timelines, and striving to achieve the highest level of global customer satisfaction in everything we do. The Chiba site has a very successful microbial project track record, from process development for various expression systems (E. coli, yeast, etc.) to commercial production. AGC Biologics Chiba has established rapid and robust processes using their platform development method to ensure reliable transfer, verification, and optimization of the customers process for mammalian products. The sites mammalian-based systems can accommodate virtually any molecule type, including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), coagulation factors, fusion proteins, and more. To learn more about AGC Biologics Chiba site and all its capabilities, visit https://www.agcbio.com/facilities/chiba. About AGC Biologics AGC Biologics is a leading global biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with a strong commitment to delivering the highest standard of service as we work side-by-side with our clients and partners, every step of the way. We provide world-class development and manufacture of mammalian and microbial-based therapeutic proteins, plasmid DNA (pDNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), viral vectors, and genetically engineered cells. Our global network spans the U.S., Europe, and Asia, with cGMP-compliant facilities in Seattle, Washington; Boulder and Longmont, Colorado; Copenhagen, Denmark; Heidelberg, Germany; Milan, Italy; and Chiba, Japan and we currently employ more than 2,500 team members worldwide. Our commitment to continuous innovation fosters the technical creativity to solve our clients most complex challenges, including specialization in fast-track projects and rare diseases. AGC Biologics is the partner of choice. To learn more, visit www.agcbio.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230425005836/en/ Nick McDonald [email protected] +1 425-419-3555 Source: AGC Biologics President Yoon Suk-yeol and his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden are poised to announce fresh steps to protect South Korea against a North Korean attack after their meeting Wednesday, officials said Tuesday. That is expected to mean a more active role for South Korea's planning and executing any use of U.S. nuclear weapons. President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee walk with their U.S. counterparts Joe and Jill Biden at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington on Tuesday. /Yonhap Presidential spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye told reporters, "We expect more advanced extended deterrence," while John Kirby at the White House National Security Council told reporters, "I think you can absolutely expect that the notion of extended deterrence and how we can continue to improve and strengthen our ability to contribute to this, to the mutual security commitments in the alliance... will certainly be front and center" of the summit. "What we are going to talk about over the next couple of days is how strong this alliance is, how committed the United States is to our security commitments on the peninsula and to the Korean people. And we're going to talk about ways we can broaden and deepen that relationship," Kirby said. That is also likely to include more intelligence sharing, despite recent revelations that the U.S. eavesdropped on the South Korean presidential office, which Seoul has been anxious to play down. President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee and their U.S. counterparts Joe and Jill Biden pay tribute at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington on Tuesday. /Yonhap Yoon and Biden and their wives visited the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington on Tuesday, the first time that the two countries' leaders have paid tribute there together since Presidents Kim Young-sam and Bill Clinton opened it in 1995. They then looked around the newly built Wall of Remembrance, which opened to the public in July last year and features the names of more than 36,000 Americans and over 7,100 Korean auxiliary staff who died in the Korean War. The visit marks the 70th anniversary of the bilateral alliance. President Yoon Suk-yeol talks with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland on Tuesday. /Yonhap Yoon also visited the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center accompanied by Vice President Kamala Harris, where they discussed cooperation on space exploration. But the first day of Yoon's state visit on Monday was devoted to business. Yoon met with the heads of six U.S. companies that promised to invest US$1.9 billion in South Korea, plus the CEO of Netflix, who pledged to pump in another $2.5 billion. Built on OpenAIs GPT-4 and other large language models, AirOps allows users to deploy AI in the workplace at scale MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AirOps, a company that helps businesses deploy powerful, easy-to-use, AI-powered apps, announced it has raised $7 million in seed funding led by Wing VC with participation from Founder Collective, XFund, Village Global, Apollo Projects, and Lachy Groom. The funding will go toward building out its product suite, supporting new hires, and growing its customer base. With AirOps, businesses and teams of all sizes can deploy powerful, task-specific AI tools at scale within their existing systems and workflows. AirOps Apps can be installed and configured in minutes, and allow non-technical business users to automate processes, extract insights from data, generate personalized content, and perform natural language processing techniques such as text classification and sentiment analysis. Tools like ChatGPT have caught peoples attention, but most people are still struggling to figure out how to use AI to help solve their hardest problems at work, said Matt Hammel, co-founder and COO of AirOps. AirOps makes it easy for anyone to find and customize AI apps that are tailored to the problems theyre trying to solve and the unique context of their business. AirOps leverages multiple AI models, including GPT-3, GPT-4, and Claude, to help users optimize the mix of performance, speed, and cost they need, without needing to keep up with the latest AI breakthroughs. Users can deploy AirOps wherever they get their work done, adding task-specific AI capabilities throughout their workflow via Chrome extension, Web apps, Google Sheets, data warehouses, or anywhere else via API. Companies across many industries including Gather Vacations (Real Estate), Bambee (HR Software), Daisie (E-Learning), and multiple Financial Services companies are already using AirOps to automate complex tasks, streamline workflows, and generate new content at scale. AirOps is helping businesses go beyond the limits of ChatGPT, said Zach DeWitt, Partner at Wing VC. Widespread adoption of ChatGPT has created a tremendous opportunity for builders like the AirOps team to create AI-powered applications that have the power to revolutionize and automate workplace operations. We look forward to supporting the team as they bring the power of AI to the workplace. AirOps launched in private beta in late 2022. The company was founded by Alex Halliday, Berna Gonzalez, and Matt Hammel, who have a background in building products for companies like MasterClass, Bungalow and more. To learn more about AirOps, please visit airops.com. About AirOps AirOps offers a collection of powerful and easy-to-use AI-powered Apps anyone can customize and use within their existing workflows. Founded by Alex Halliday, Berna Gonzalez, and Matt Hammel, AirOps helps users go beyond ChatGPT to use AI at scale by automating processes, extracting insights from data, creating high-quality content and more. AirOps is based in Miami and has raised $7M in seed funding from investors including Wing VC, Founder Collective, XFund, Village Global, Apollo Projects, and Lachy Groom. For more information, visit airops.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005850/en/ Moxie Communications Group [email protected] Source: AirOps Merchants launch digital wallets through Ansas innovative white-label closed-loop payments platform. SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ansa today announces a first-of-its-kind digital wallet infrastructure platform for merchants, alongside its first round of funding of $5.4 million. The round was led by Christina Melas-Kyriazi at Bain Capital Ventures with participation from Nimi Katragadda at Box Group, Nichole Wischoff at Wischoff Ventures, Cambrian Ventures, The Fintech Fund, and Susa Ventures. Female investors and angels contributed over 75 percent of the funding round. Credit and debit cards account for 57 percent of consumer payments in the US, but the true costs to merchants remain hidden to the average consumer. Card fees, particularly for micropayments, can represent well over 12.5 percent of the transaction. Ansa co-founders Sophia Goldberg and JT Cho witnessed the challenges faced by merchants firsthand while working for Adyen and Affirm, respectively. High payments costs are felt by merchants across categories: from coffee, quick serve, and transportation to vertical platforms, marketplaces, and creator platforms wanting to support micro-transactions. This is especially true for those who have more unique needs, what Ansa calls HULT merchants: habitual use, low transaction value. These merchants have to patch together vendors, invest in a cross-team complex engineering project, and spend large sums on compliance to get a closed-loop program live today. With Ansa, a merchant can create a wallet within weeks rather than quarters with their flexible, API-first wallet-as-a-service platform. The economics of payments have stayed surprisingly the same for the last 70 years when compared to how commerce has changed. Ansa is built around the co-founders shared ethos that payments should be a tool, not a hurdle. Merchants often build hacks for payments to work for their use cases, rather than payments empowering their businesses. Your most loyal customers shouldnt cost you the most, Goldberg said. We want to help merchants strengthen their relationship with their most loyal customers, while still optimizing unit economics. Sophia spent over four years in Adyens Product and Account Management teams and wrote the best-selling book The Field Guide to Global Payments. JT was previously an engineer at Google, Affirm, and Impira. Over the last few years, digital wallets have become an increasingly popular payment method. Weve seen this adoption in other countries such as China through AliPay and WeChat Pay, and expect this trend to continue globally. In the US, Starbucks has been a leader in closed-loop mobile payments with its wallet. Overall payments in the US lag behind the world. Were on a mission to help merchants embed payments in a way that fits their use cases best, Goldberg said. Ansa is currently piloting with customers in the coffee and quick serve industries although their platform can support many verticals. With Ansas innovative solution, merchants can quickly and compliantly launch smooth, digitally native customer balances to increase revenue and decrease cost of payments. Customers who keep a merchant balance tend to visit more often and have higher transaction sizes, and significant cost savings can be funneled into loyalty programs or marketing to further strengthen that customer relationship. We believe Ansa can do to closed-loop wallets what Marqeta has done for card-issuing, accelerating adoption by lowering the bar and cost to implement. Today its too costly and burdensome for most merchants to offer payment systems that give them control and flexibility while lowering cost. Ansa wants to change that, said Christina Melas-Kyriazi, partner at Bain Capital Ventures. I met Sophia and JT independently and recommended they become co-founders because they are both deep in payments and uniquely well-suited to solving this problem. Ansa has started partnering with forward-thinking merchants to improve their unit economics and increase revenue per customer. Learn more by visiting ansa.dev. About Ansa: Ansa is a first-of-its-kind fintech solution to help enterprises build embedded wallets to decrease payment costs, increase revenue, and drive customer loyalty. Ansas digital wallet solution is customizable for any business and reduces the card transaction fees that especially cripple small payments. Based in San Francisco, Ansa was founded in 2022 by Sophia Goldberg and JT Cho. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005019/en/ [email protected] Source: Ansa Leading Orange County Marcom Firm Adds B2B and B2C Clients to Agency Roster IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Beyond Fifteen Communications, Inc. (Beyond Fifteen), an Orange County-based full-service public relations, digital marketing, social media and influencer marketing agency, has added seven new clients to its agency roster in Q1 spanning healthcare, energy, aviation, technology, security and education. Beyond Fifteen will provide a variety of traditional and digital marketing services, including earned media relations, paid and organic social media marketing, search engine optimization (SEO) and digital advertising to help each reach its unique business goals. This year is off to an exciting start and we are thrilled to add new retainer clients to our growing roster across a range of industries, stated Beyond Fifteen co-founder, Lauren Ellermeyer. Our team brings extensive experience that enables it to dive in swiftly for clients to achieve meaningful results. With customized strategies tailored to each businesss needs, we are confident that our partnership will help each of these new clients reach well beyond their fifteen minutes of fame. New clients include: Aviation Capital Group, founded in 1989, is one of the worlds premier full-service aircraft asset managers with approximately 470 owned, managed and committed aircraft as of December 31, 2022, leased to roughly 95 airlines in approximately 45 countries. Cerium Networks is a recognized innovator and leading provider of unified communications and collaboration, contact center and customer experience management, network infrastructure and security solutions. Intera Oncology Inc. is the manufacturer of the only FDA-approved pump for Hepatic Artery Infusion (HAI) therapy. It is dedicated to helping patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma live longer and better lives. Inc. is the manufacturer of the only FDA-approved pump for Hepatic Artery Infusion (HAI) therapy. It is dedicated to helping patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma live longer and better lives. Marshall B. Ketchum University is an independent, private, non-profit, accredited educational institution located in Fullerton, California proudly preparing the healthcare leaders of the future through immersive and rigorous academic programs that teach, train and graduate tomorrows optometry, nursing and physician assistant experts. Surveillance Systems Incorporated is a comprehensive surveillance system solutions partner that serves clients in the casino, retail, healthcare, government, education and commercial/industrial markets. WeVideo is a cloud-based video editing platform designed to transform learning through easy-to-use and accessible tools. Two thirds of the top 100 school districts in the U.S. as well as higher educational institutions and corporate customers rely on WeVideo to support improved learning outcomes. The online platform is used by thousands in over 50 countries around the world. Beyond Fifteen also added a leading global provider of testing, inspection and certification services to its growing roster. The agency will leverage a mix of earned, owned and paid solutions across these new accounts. Its full-service offerings deliver an omni-channel approach that provides a surround-sound experience for client audiences using multiple unique touchpoints. These contribute to a complete content marketing strategy where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Key benefits include: Amplified and reinforced messaging across multiple platforms. Improved brand awareness and visibility. Increased operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Smoother and more streamlined customer experience. Maximized reach and value. Nurturing throughout the buyer journey. To learn more about Beyond Fifteen, visit www.beyondfifteen.com. ABOUT BEYOND FIFTEEN COMMUNICATIONS: Beyond Fifteen Communications, Inc., an Orange County, Calif.-based marcom firm launched in 2009, is a progressive, full-service public relations, digital marketing, social media and influencer marketing agency dedicated to providing powerful, goal-driven communications solutions that exceed client expectations and deliver far more than 15 minutes of fame. Beyond Fifteen combines the talent, capability and reach of a mega-agency with the personal service and dedication of a boutique firm. It is laser-focused on achieving measurable results for every client it serves. Follow Beyond Fifteen on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. For more information, visit www.beyondfifteen.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005852/en/ Leslie Licano, Beyond Fifteen Communications, Inc. [email protected] | 949-733-8679 x 101 Source: Beyond Fifteen Communications, Inc. CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bicara Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing dual-action biologics to elicit a potent and durable immune response, today announced that it will present dose expansion data from the ongoing Phase 1/1b clinical trial of its lead investigational candidate, BCA101, in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent, metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. BCA101 is a first in class dual-action bifunctional antibody designed to inhibit EGFR and disable TGF- directly at the tumor site. These data will be presented in an oral presentation at the upcoming 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting being held from June 2-6, 2023 in Chicago, IL. Details of the oral presentations are as follows: Title: Dose expansion results of the bifunctional EGFR/TGF- inhibitor BCA101 with pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent, metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Presenter: Glenn J. Hanna, M.D. Abstract Number: 6005 Session Type/Title: Oral Abstract Session Head and Neck Cancer Date/Time: June 5, 2023 from 8:00-11:00 a.m. CT Location: McCormick Place Convention Center This presentation described here will be made available on the Bicara website following the conference. About Bicara Therapeutics Bicara Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class biologics engineered to bring together the precision of targeted therapy and the power of tumor modulators. The companys bifunctional antibodies are designed to deliver an immunomodulatory payload directly to the tumor microenvironment to ramp up immune cell activity, potentially offering long-lasting efficacy. Bicaras lead asset, BCA101, a first-in-class EGFR / TGF--trap bifunctional antibody, is currently enrolling patients in a Phase 1/1b study. Bicaras experienced team brings deep expertise across immunology, oncology, clinical development, business development and operational strategy. More information is available at www.bicara.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005625/en/ Investors Sarah McCabe Stern Investor Relations, Inc. [email protected] 212-362-1200 Media Chris Railey Ten Bridge Communications [email protected] 617-834-0936 Source: Bicara Therapeutics If approved, CAMZYOS would be the first cardiac myosin inhibitor in Europe that specifically targets the source of obstructive HCM Recommendation based on positive Phase 3 EXPLORER-HCM and VALOR-HCM trials demonstrating benefit in patients receiving CAMZYOS versus placebo PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended approval of CAMZYOS (mavacamten) for the treatment of symptomatic (New York Heart Association, NYHA, class II-III) obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in adult patients. The European Commission (EC), which has the authority to approve medicines for the European Union (EU), will now review the CHMP opinion. Obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be a debilitating and life-changing heart disease, reducing physical functioning and overall well-being, and often runs in families. For patients in the EU, there is yet to be an approved therapy that targets the underlying cause of this disease, despite its global prevalence and debilitating symptoms, said Roland Chen, M.D., Senior Vice President, Cardiovascular Development at Bristol Myers Squibb. We are encouraged by the CHMPs positive recommendation, which puts us one step closer to offering patients in the EU a first-in-class treatment for obstructive HCM, and reinforces our commitment to delivering transformative cardiovascular therapies to patients worldwide. The positive opinion is based upon efficacy and safety results from two Phase 3 trials, EXPLORER-HCM and VALOR-HCM. Results from the Phase 3 EXPLORER-HCM trial, which evaluated CAMZYOS in patients with symptomatic obstructive HCM versus placebo, met all primary and secondary endpoints with statistical significance. EXPLORER-HCM showed CAMZYOS demonstrated a clear treatment effect, with clinically meaningful improvements in exercise capacity and symptoms, and functional status, as well as clinically meaningful improvement in left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Results from the Phase 3 VALOR-HCM study evaluated CAMZYOS in patients with symptomatic obstructive HCM who met the 2011 ACC/AHA or 2014 ESC guideline criteria for septal reduction therapy (SRT) and who were referred for an invasive procedure. VALOR-HCM met statistical significance across all primary and secondary endpoints showing a valuable improvement across key cardiac measures which resulted in a clinically meaningful reduction in need or eligibility for SRT among CAMZYOS-treated patients versus placebo. On April 28, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved CAMZYOS for the treatment of adults with symptomatic NYHA class II-III obstructive HCM to improve functional capacity and symptoms. Please see important safety information, including Boxed WARNING, from the U.S. prescribing information below. Bristol Myers Squibb thanks the patients and investigators involved in both clinical trials. About EXPLORER-HCM The EXPLORER-HCM Phase 3 trial (NCT03470545) was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial that enrolled a total of 251 adult patients with symptomatic (NYHA class II or III), obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. All participants had measurable left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 55% and at least one peak LVOT gradient 50 mmHg (at rest or with provocation at diagnosis); in addition, Valsalva LVOT gradient 30 mmHg at baseline was required at screening. Ninety-two percent of patients were on background therapies of a beta blocker or calcium channel blocker. The primary endpoint was a composite functional endpoint, assessed at 30 weeks, and was defined as the proportion of patients who achieved either improvement of mixed venous oxygen tension (pVO2) by 1.5 mL/kg/min plus improvement in NYHA class by at least 1 or improvement of pVO2 by 3.0 mL/kg/min plus no worsening in NYHA class. Key secondary endpoints include impact on exercise gradient LVOT, pVO2, NYHA Class and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Symptom Questionnaire (HCMSQ) at Week 30. About VALOR-HCM VALOR-HCM (NCT04349072) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter Phase 3 study of patients with symptomatic, obstructive HCM (NYHA class III-IV) who meet guideline criteria for septal reduction therapy (SRT) and have been referred for an invasive procedure. The study enrolled 112 patients in the U.S., randomized on a 1:1 basis to receive mavacamten or placebo. Ninety-five percent of patients were on background therapies of a beta blocker, calcium channel blocker, disopyramide or a combination. The primary endpoint is a composite of the number of patients who decide to proceed with SRT prior to or at Week 16 and the number of patients who remain SRT-guideline eligible (LVOT gradient of 50 mmHg and NYHA Class III-IV or Class II with exertional symptoms of syncope or near syncope) at Week 16. Key secondary endpoints include impact on exercise gradient LVOT, NYHA Class and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) and biomarkers at Week 16. The results of the VALOR-HCM study were submitted to the FDA for an expanded indication to reduce the need for septal reduction therapy (SRT). The FDA accepted the supplemental new drug application (sNDA) and assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of June 16, 2023. About CAMZYOS (mavacamten) CAMZYOS (mavacamten) is the first and only cardiac myosin inhibitor approved in the U.S., indicated for the treatment of adults with symptomatic New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-III obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) to improve functional capacity and symptoms. It has also received regulatory approvals in Australia, Canada, Brazil and Switzerland. CAMZYOS is an allosteric and reversible inhibitor selective for cardiac myosin. CAMZYOS modulates the number of myosin heads that can enter on actin (power-generating) states, thus reducing the probability of force-producing (systolic) and residual (diastolic) cross-bridge formation. Excess myosin actin cross-bridge formation and dysregulation of the super-relaxed state are mechanistic hallmarks of HCM. CAMZYOS shifts the overall myosin population towards an energy-sparing, recruitable, super-relaxed state. In HCM patients, myosin inhibition with CAMZYOS reduces dynamic LVOT obstruction and improves cardiac filling pressures. About CAMZYOS REMS Program CAMZYOS is only available in the U.S. through a restricted program called the CAMZYOS REMS Program because of the risk of heart failure due to systolic dysfunction. Further information is available at www.CAMZYOSREMS.com or by telephone at 1-833-628-7367. U.S. INDICATION CAMZYOS (mavacamten) is indicated for the treatment of adults with symptomatic New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-III obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) to improve functional capacity and symptoms. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION WARNING: RISK OF HEART FAILURE CAMZYOS reduces left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and can cause heart failure due to systolic dysfunction. Echocardiogram assessments of LVEF are required prior to and during treatment with CAMZYOS. Initiation of CAMZYOS in patients with LVEF Concomitant use of CAMZYOS with certain cytochrome P450 inhibitors or discontinuation of certain cytochrome P450 inducers may increase the risk of heart failure due to systolic dysfunction; therefore, the use of CAMZYOS is contraindicated with the following: Moderate to strong CYP2C19 inhibitors or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors Moderate to strong CYP2C19 inducers or moderate to strong CYP3A4 inducers Because of the risk of heart failure due to systolic dysfunction, CAMZYOS is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the CAMZYOS REMS PROGRAM. CONTRAINDICATIONS CAMZYOS is contraindicated with concomitant use of: Moderate to strong CYP2C19 inhibitors or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors Moderate to strong CYP2C19 inducers or moderate to strong CYP3A4 inducers WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Heart Failure CAMZYOS reduces systolic contraction and can cause heart failure or totally block ventricular function. Patients who experience a serious intercurrent illness (e.g., serious infection) or arrhythmia (e.g., atrial fibrillation or other uncontrolled tachyarrhythmia) are at greater risk of developing systolic dysfunction and heart failure. Assess the patients clinical status and LVEF prior to and regularly during treatment and adjust the CAMZYOS dose accordingly. New or worsening arrhythmia, dyspnea, chest pain, fatigue, palpitations, leg edema, or elevations in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) may be signs and symptoms of heart failure and should also prompt an evaluation of cardiac function. Asymptomatic LVEF reduction, intercurrent illnesses, and arrhythmias require additional dosing considerations. Initiation of CAMZYOS in patients with LVEF CYP 450 Drug Interactions Leading to Heart Failure or Loss of Effectiveness CAMZYOS is primarily metabolized by CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 enzymes. Concomitant use of CAMZYOS and drugs that interact with these enzymes may lead to life-threatening drug interactions such as heart failure or loss of effectiveness. Advise patients of the potential for drug interactions, including with over the counter medications (such as omeprazole, esomeprazole, or cimetidine). Advise patients to inform their healthcare provider of all concomitant products prior to and during CAMZYOS treatment. CAMZYOS Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Program CAMZYOS is only available through a restricted program in the U.S. called the CAMZYOS REMS Program because of the risk of heart failure due to systolic dysfunction. Notable requirements of the CAMZYOS REMS Program include the following: Prescribers must be certified by enrolling in the REMS Program. Patients must enroll in the REMS Program and comply with ongoing monitoring requirements. Pharmacies must be certified by enrolling in the REMS Program and must only dispense to patients who are authorized to receive CAMZYOS. Wholesalers and distributors must only distribute to certified pharmacies. Further information is available at www.CAMZYOSREMS.com or by telephone at 1-833-628-7367. Embryo-Fetal Toxicity CAMZYOS may cause fetal toxicity when administered to a pregnant female, based on animal studies. Confirm absence of pregnancy in females of reproductive potential prior to treatment and advise patients to use effective contraception during treatment with CAMZYOS and for 4 months after the last dose. CAMZYOS may reduce the effectiveness of combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs). Advise patients using CHCs to use an alternative contraceptive method that is not affected by CYP 450 enzyme induction or to add nonhormonal contraception. Advise females of reproductive potential about the potential risk to the fetus with maternal exposure to CAMZYOS during pregnancy. ADVERSE REACTIONS In the EXPLORER-HCM trial, adverse reactions occurring in >5% of patients and more commonly in the CAMZYOS group than in the placebo group were dizziness (27% vs 18%) and syncope (6% vs 2%). Effects on Systolic Function In the EXPLORER-HCM trial, mean (SD) resting LVEF was 74% (6) at baseline in both treatment groups. Mean (SD) absolute change from baseline in LVEF was -4% (8) in the CAMZYOS group and 0% (7) in the placebo group over the 30-week treatment period. At Week 38, following an 8-week interruption of trial drug, mean LVEF was similar to baseline for both treatment groups. In the EXPLORER-HCM trial, 7 (6%) patients in the CAMZYOS group and 2 (2%) patients in the placebo group experienced reversible reductions in LVEF DRUG INTERACTIONS Potential for Other Drugs to Affect Plasma Concentrations of CAMZYOS CAMZYOS is primarily metabolized by CYP2C19 and to a lesser extent by CYP3A4 and CYP2C9. Inducers and inhibitors of CYP2C19 and moderate to strong inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4 may affect the exposures of CAMZYOS. Impact of Other Drugs on CAMZYOS: Moderate to Strong CYP2C19 Inhibitors or Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors: Concomitant use increases CAMZYOS exposure, which may increase the risk of heart failure due to systolic dysfunction. Concomitant use is contraindicated. Moderate to Strong CYP2C19 Inducers or Moderate to Strong CYP3A4 Inducers: Concomitant use decreases CAMZYOS exposure, which may reduce CAMZYOS efficacy. The risk of heart failure due to systolic dysfunction may increase with discontinuation of these inducers as the levels of induced enzyme normalizes. Concomitant use is contraindicated. Weak CYP2C19 Inhibitors or Moderate CYP3A4 Inhibitors: Concomitant use with a weak CYP2C19 inhibitor or a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor increases CAMZYOS exposure, which may increase the risk of adverse drug reactions. Initiate CAMZYOS at the recommended starting dose of 5 mg orally once daily in patients who are on stable therapy with a weak CYP2C19 inhibitor or a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor. Reduce dose of CAMZYOS by one level (i.e., 15 to 10 mg, 10 to 5 mg, or 5 to 2.5 mg) in patients who are on CAMZYOS treatment and intend to initiate a weak CYP2C19 inhibitor or a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor. Schedule clinical and echocardiographic assessment 4 weeks after inhibitor initiation, and do not up-titrate CAMZYOS until 12 weeks after inhibitor initiation. Avoid initiation of concomitant weak CYP2C19 and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors in patients who are on stable treatment with 2.5 mg of CAMZYOS because a lower dose is not available. Potential for CAMZYOS to Affect Plasma Concentrations of Other Drugs CAMZYOS is an inducer of CYP3A4, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19. Concomitant use with CYP3A4, CYP2C19, or CYP2C9 substrates may reduce plasma concentration of these drugs. Closely monitor when CAMZYOS is used in combination with CYP3A4, CYP2C19, or CYP2C9 substrates where decreases in the plasma concentration of these drugs may reduce their activity. Hormonal Contraceptives: Progestin and ethinyl estradiol are CYP3A4 substrates. Concomitant use of CAMZYOS may decrease exposures of ethinyl estradiol and progestin, which may lead to contraceptive failure or an increase in breakthrough bleeding. Advise patients to use a contraceptive method that is not affected by CYP 450 enzyme induction (e.g., intrauterine system) or add nonhormonal contraception (such as condoms) during concomitant use and for 4 months after the last dose of CAMZYOS. Drugs That Reduce Cardiac Contractility Expect additive negative inotropic effects of CAMZYOS and other drugs that reduce cardiac contractility. Avoid concomitant use of CAMZYOS with disopyramide in combination with verapamil or diltiazem. If concomitant therapy with a negative inotrope is initiated, or if the dose of a negative inotrope is increased, monitor LVEF closely until stable doses and clinical response have been achieved. SPECIFIC POPULATIONS Pregnancy CAMZYOS may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant female. Advise pregnant females about the potential risk to the fetus with maternal exposure to CAMZYOS during pregnancy. There is a pregnancy safety study for CAMZYOS. If CAMZYOS is administered during pregnancy, or if a patient becomes pregnant while receiving CAMZYOS or within 4 months after the last dose of CAMZYOS, healthcare providers should report CAMZYOS exposure by contacting Bristol Myers Squibb at 1-800-721-5072 or www.bms.com. Lactation The presence of CAMZYOS in human or animal milk, the drugs effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production are unknown. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mothers clinical need for CAMZYOS and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from CAMZYOS or from the underlying maternal condition. Females and Males of Reproductive Potential Confirm absence of pregnancy in females of reproductive potential prior to initiation of CAMZYOS. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with CAMZYOS and for 4 months after the last dose. Use of CAMZYOS may reduce the effectiveness of CHCs. Advise patients using CHCs to use an alternative contraceptive method or add nonhormonal contraception. Please see US Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING and Medication Guide. About Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. All statements that are not statements of historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including internal or external factors that could delay, divert or change any of them in the next several years, that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, that the CHMP opinion is not binding on the EC, that CAMZYOS (mavacamten) may not receive regulatory approval for the indication described in this release in the currently anticipated timeline or at all, that any marketing approvals, if granted, may have significant limitations on their use, and, if approved, that such product candidate for such indication described in this release will be commercially successful. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect Bristol Myers Squibbs business and market, particularly those identified in the cautionary statement and risk factors discussion in Bristol Myers Squibbs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document and except as otherwise required by applicable law, Bristol Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise. corporatefinancial-news View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230425006144/en/ Bristol Myers Squibb Media Inquiries: [email protected] Investors: [email protected] Source: Bristol Myers Squibb CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Coeur Mining, Inc. (Coeur or the Company) (NYSE: CDE) today published its 2022 ESG Report (the Report), highlighting the Companys efforts to advance its environmental, social and governance practices and its responsible mining operations. The Report details Coeurs public targets, best-in-class corporate governance practices and positive environmental and social impacts aligned with generating long-term value for stockholders. Report Highlights: Health and safety Coeur continued to enhance its focus on total worker health and safety in 2022, leading the Company to achieve an 18% decrease in the three-year trailing average in total reportable injury frequency rate (TRIFR). 2022 had the lowest combined employee and contractor TRIFR in Company history since data tracking began. Environmental stewardship The Company took further action to improve its climate resilience and reporting, including conducting site-specific scenario analyses, energy and emissions diagnostics, and including estimated scope 3 emissions for the first time, leading to being on track to achieve Coeurs goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions net intensity by 35% by the end of 2024. In 2022, the Company recognized an 8.5% reduction in GHG emissions compared to the base year. Coeur also reintroduced the public disclosure of SASB aligned water metrics: water withdrawn, water consumed, water intensity, and water discharged as well as outlining strategies and processes for managing water at both water-stressed and water-abundant sites. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Coeur continues to differentiate itself on inclusion within and outside of the mining industry, advancing diversity in meaningful ways during 2022 and achieving the goal to add at least one new female director to its Board of Directors by the 2023 Annual Stockholders Meeting. Communities In 2022, the Company adopted a formal Indigenous Peoples Policy to formalize Coeurs commitment to establishing long-term mutually beneficial relationships with local Indigenous communities. The Indigenous Peoples Policy outlines the Companys approach to engaging and partnering with Indigenous Peoples across all phases of the mine life cycle including exploration, operation and closure. Our commitment to advancing ESG principles and remaining a leader in safe and responsible mining holds true to our pledge to Pursue a Higher Standard as demonstrated throughout our 2022 ESG Report. As the world continues to move more towards clean renewable energy, we take pride in being a trusted supplier of precious and critical minerals for the future, said Mitchell J. Krebs, President and Chief Executive Officer. The health, safety and well-being of our employees, the communities in which we operate and the planet, continues to be a top priority at Coeur, including our Board of Directors who provides pivotal insight and guidance on every aspect of our business including ESG-related matters. We will continue striving to evolve and enhance all aspects of ESG in our business as we work towards maximizing long-term stakeholder value and advance our efforts towards becoming Americas premier, growing provider of precious and critical metals. The Company has further aligned its disclosures with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework as well as continuing to incorporate elements of the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB) reporting framework for the Metals and Mining Industry, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) into the Report. In addition, Coeur is following the development of the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework and plans to incorporate elements of the beta framework into its external disclosures. A copy of the Report and a separate document containing ESG data can be found on the Responsibility section of the Companys website: https://www.coeur.com/responsibility/responsibility-overview/. About Coeur Coeur Mining, Inc. is a U.S.-based, well-diversified, growing precious metals producer with four wholly-owned operations: the Palmarejo gold-silver complex in Mexico, the Rochester silver-gold mine in Nevada, the Kensington gold mine in Alaska and the Wharf gold mine in South Dakota. In addition, the Company wholly-owns the Silvertip silver-zinc-lead exploration project in British Columbia. Cautionary Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation in the United States and Canada, including statements regarding the Companys ESG goals, efforts, achievements and strategies. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Coeurs actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risk that anticipated ESG goals are not attained, the risks and hazards inherent in the mining business (including risks inherent in developing large-scale mining projects, environmental hazards, industrial accidents, weather or geologically-related conditions), changes in the market prices of gold, silver, zinc and lead and a sustained lower price or higher treatment and refining charge environment, the uncertainties inherent in Coeurs production, exploratory and developmental activities, including risks relating to permitting and regulatory delays, changes in mining laws, ground conditions and, grade and recovery variability, any future labor disputes or work stoppages (involving the Company and its subsidiaries or third parties), the uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral reserves, changes that could result from Coeurs future acquisition of new mining properties or businesses, the loss of access or insolvency of any third-party refiner or smelter to which Coeur markets its production, the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including impacts to the availability of our workforce, continued access to financing sources, government orders that may require temporary suspension of operations at one or more of our sites and effects on our suppliers or the refiners and smelters to whom the Company markets its production and on the communities where we operate, the effects of environmental and other governmental regulations and government shut-downs, the risks inherent in the ownership or operation of or investment in mining properties or businesses in foreign countries, Coeurs ability to raise additional financing necessary to conduct its business, make payments or refinance its debt, as well as other uncertainties and risk factors set out in filings made from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Canadian securities regulators, including, without limitation, Coeurs most recent report on Form 10-K. Actual results, developments and timetables could vary significantly from the estimates presented. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Coeur disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, Coeur undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of Coeur, its financial or operating results or its securities. This does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005778/en/ Coeur Mining, Inc. 200 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2100 Chicago, Illinois 60606 www.coeur.com Investor Contact Jeff Wilhoit, Director, Investor Relations 312-489-5800 Media Contact Donna Sabido, Manager, Corporate Communications 847-962-7630 Source: Coeur Mining COLUMBUS, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Global power leader Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement with Tata Motors Limited (TML), to manufacture a range of low- to zero-emissions technology products in India over the next few years. The definitive agreement was signed by Jennifer Rumsey, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cummins Inc., and Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, at Cummins Inc. headquarters in Columbus, Indiana, USA. Senior officials and dignitaries from Cummins, the companys India leadership team and Tata Motors were present during the signing of the agreement. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005151/en/ Cummins & Tata Signing Event (Photo: Business Wire) Tata Motors and Cummins have a 30-year strong partnership through their joint venture Tata Cummins Private limited (TCPL) in India, established in 1993. The signing of this definitive agreement further strengthens their relationship and is a step forward from the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two organizations in November 2022 to collaborate on the design and development of low- and zero-emissions propulsion technology solutions for commercial vehicles in India. As a part of this agreement, Cummins and TML have set up a new business entity called TCPL Green Energy Solutions Private Limited (GES), a wholly owned subsidiary under the existing joint venture with a focus on the development and manufacturing of sustainable technology products that will include hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines, fuel delivery systems, and battery electric powertrains and fuel cell electric systems through the AcceleraTM by Cummins brand. The low- to zero-emissions technologies developed by TCPL GES will be integrated into both on-highway and off-highway applications for domestic and international markets. This agreement will play a pivotal role in developing sustainable powertrain solutions that will help in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, and supporting India's net-zero ambitions. After signing the agreement, Jennifer Rumsey, Cummins President, and Chief Executive Officer said, Progress requires partnership, and I am delighted that we are embarking on this decarbonization journey with our trusted partner of 30 years Tata Motors. Together, we will advance low- and zero-emissions technologies in a way that is best for our customers, communities, and the planet. By doing so, we are also unlocking new opportunities to innovate for our employees all over the world and those who share our passion for powering a more prosperous world. Speaking on the occasion, Girish Wagh, Executive Director of Tata Motors said, Tata Motors is leading the global megatrend of green, smart, and safe mobility in India. Our goal is to achieve net zero emissions by 2045 in the commercial vehicles segment. We are collaborating with partners who believe in this vision and are delighted to further strengthen our three-decade long association with Cummins Inc. Together, we will develop and indigenise smart and green powertrain technologies to create India specific sustainable mobility solutions. Our commitment and proactive actions towards zero-emission technologies will enable customers to progressively and seamlessly transition to cleaner and commercially viable mobility solutions, in the coming years, thus shaping the future of mobility in India. Expressing his delight on India being one of the first markets to receive Cummins Hydrogen engines, Ashwath Ram, Managing Director, Cummins Group in India shared his views, "I am thrilled about the collaboration between Cummins and Tata Motors, which will provide a significant boost to India's Green Hydrogen Mission, electrification and net zero goals. Our shared vision of a cleaner and greener India is backed by a promising combination of global technological expertise, deep understanding of the Indian market, and robust product development and manufacturing capabilities. As we move forward in our partnership, we will continue to explore new technologies and invest in research and development to commercialize them in the coming years. Our focus is on developing innovative and sustainable solutions that cater to the evolving needs of the Indian Commercial vehicle market, and we are confident that this collaboration will enable us to achieve this goal. About Cummins Inc. Cummins Inc., a global power technology leader, is a corporation of complementary business segments that design, manufacture, distribute and service a broad portfolio of power solutions. The companys products range from internal combustion, electric and hybrid integrated power solutions to components including filtration, aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, controls systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, electric power generation systems, microgrid controls, batteries, electrolyzers and fuel cell products. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana (U.S.), since its founding in 1919, Cummins employs approximately 73,600 people committed to powering a more prosperous world through three global corporate responsibility priorities critical to healthy communities: education, environment, and equality of opportunity. Cummins serves its customers online, through a network of company-owned and independent distributor locations, and through thousands of dealer locations worldwide and earned about $2.2 billion on sales of $28.1 billion in 2022. See how Cummins is powering a world thats always on by accessing news releases and more information at https://www.cummins.com/always-on. About Cummins Group in India Cummins in India, a power leader, is a group of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute, and service engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, air handling, filtration, emission solutions, and electrical power generation systems. Its technology and pioneering initiatives are bringing innovative solutions and dependable services at the best possible value to users across the country. Its high-performance outlook is based on customer focus, integrity, and capability of its people. Part of the $24 billion Cummins Inc. USA, Cummins in India is a Group of eight legal entities across 200 locations in the country with a combined turnover of 24,000 crores in 2022 and employing over 10,000 individuals. About Tata Motors Part of the USD 128 billion Tata group, Tata Motors Limited (NYSE: TTM; BSE: 500570 and 570001; NSE: TATAMOTORS and TATAMTRDVR), a USD 37 billion organization, is a leading global automobile manufacturer of cars, utility vehicles, pick-ups, trucks and buses, offering an extensive range of integrated, smart and e-mobility solutions. With Connecting Aspirations at the core of its brand promise, Tata Motors is Indias market leader in commercial vehicles and amongst the top three in the passenger vehicles market. Tata Motors strives to bring new products that fire the imagination of GenNext customers, fuelled by state-of-the-art design and R&D centres located in India, UK, US, Italy, and South Korea. With a focus on engineering and tech enabled automotive solutions catering to the future of mobility, the companys innovation efforts are focused to develop pioneering technologies that are sustainable as well as suited to evolving aspirations of the market and the customers. The company is pioneering Indias Electric Vehicle (EV) transition and driving the shift towards sustainable mobility solutions by preparing a tailor-made product strategy, leveraging the synergy between the Group companies, and playing an active role liasoning with the Government in developing the policy framework. With operations in India, the UK, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa and Indonesia, Tata Motors vehicles are marketed in Africa, Middle East, South & Southeast Asia, Australia, South America, Russia, and other CIS countries. As of March 31, 2022, Tata Motors operations include 86 consolidated subsidiaries, two joint operations, four joint ventures and 10 equity-accounted associates, including their subsidiaries, in respect of which the company exercises significant influence. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005151/en/ Jon Mills, Director- External Communications (317) 658-4540 [email protected] Source: Cummins Inc. Taylor Frank to serve as the luxury retailers president effective May 1; Richard D. Eiseman, Jr. to continue as CEO DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Eiseman Jewels NorthPark Center announces Taylor Frank as president of the family-owned luxury retailer, which will celebrate 60 years this fall. Frank has served as Eiseman Jewels managing director since 2018, but will assume his new role as president effective May 1. Richard D. Eiseman, Jr, whose parents co-founded the company in 1963, will continue in his role as CEO and remain active in the business, but with a broadened focus on innovating the companys future, client relations and philanthropic giving. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005157/en/ Taylor Frank announced as president of Eiseman Jewels NorthPark Center, Dallas. (Photo: Business Wire) The Eiseman family is excited and proud to announce Taylor Frank as the companys new president. He has not only been an important member of the Eiseman team of experts, but has also been an innovative and effective leader throughout his five-year tenure as managing director, remarked Eiseman, Jr. Among Taylors many successes, he helped lead our team throughout the pandemic, putting new processes and protocols in place to ensure we continued to serve our customers, as well as launching the companys concierge program enabling us to deliver an even higher level of service to our clients. And perhaps most importantly, he has also upheld the core pillars upon which Eiseman Jewels was founded by my parents expert service, quality, value and philanthropy. I cannot imagine anyone more qualified to lead the business as we plan for its future. In Franks role as president, he will oversee the day-to-day operations, as well as ensure the integrity of the Eiseman Jewels culture. Franks senior leadership team includes executive vice president Andre Vorster, vice president Urek Reznik, vice president Maureen Thomas and vice president Michael Johnson. This appointment distinguishes Frank as only the fourth president of Eiseman Jewels in its 60 years and the second individual outside of the Eiseman family. I am extremely honored to serve as president of Eiseman Jewels. I know it is a position within our organization few have held, and comes with a great deal of responsibility as we focus on the future of the business, said Frank. My dedication is to Richard Eiseman, his wonderful family and their continued legacy, along with the valued patrons who have supported our firm for nearly 60 years, the important partnerships with the brands and designers who are proud to be represented by our firm, and last, but certainly not least, our exceptionally talented team members who represent the very best our firm and industry have to offer. Born in California and raised in his early years in California and Colorado, Frank landed in Dallas, Texas, in 2000. A graduate of Episcopal School of Dallas in 2007, he attended Brigham Young University where he received his undergraduate degree in Recreation Management and Leadership at the Marriott School of Business. He returned to Dallas to earn is MBA in general business at Southern Methodist Universitys Cox School of Business. Franks career in jewelry began in college when he took a job at a local jewelry store to be able to afford an engagement ring for his girlfriend, Amberly. Little did he know this first job would be entree to the jewelry industry and launch his 12-year career in luxury jewelry and timepieces, first at Tiffany & Co. followed by Eiseman Jewels. He and Amberly have been married for 12 years and have five children. When reflecting on his career, Frank cites three keys to his success: his leadership skills; his warmth and expertise in guiding clients to an unparalleled experience; and his business expertise utilizing his organizational skills to achieve efficiencies within the organization he leads. Frank sees serving as president of Eiseman Jewels as the pinnacle role of his career and looks forward to further development and growth under Eiseman, Jr.s continued tutelage. His contributions to the organization have helped advance the business in the ever-evolving luxury retail landscape, and he plans to continue these efforts as president. I look forward to the continued partnership with Richard Eiseman, as I know there is more to learn while transitioning into this prestigious position. I also recognize that with my role as president comes an immense amount of trust given to me by the Eiseman family and our 30 Eiseman colleagues, remarked Frank. I hope to live up to the legacy of my three remarkable predecessors in founder Richard D. 'Dick' Eiseman, Sr., Gerald Goldwyn and Richard Eiseman, Jr. They inspire me in how I will fulfill my duties as president, and I am committed to continuing the legacy of Eiseman Jewels. With the new Eiseman Jewels president Taylor Frank now in place, along with a strong senior management team, Eiseman, Jr. looks forward to whats in store both professionally and personally. The future of Eiseman Jewels is very bright! Along with having our succession plan confirmed, we also have exciting news we are working on for this fall and in 2024, which we look forward to sharing with our longtime clients and the Dallas community very soon, said Eiseman, Jr. To view the announcement online, visit the Eiseman Jewels website. About Eiseman Jewels Highly regarded as the Southwests premier jeweler with gracious and expert service, Eiseman is purveyor to a coveted designer collection featuring renowned designers Temple St. Clair, JB Star, Roberto Coin, and exclusively available at Eiseman in Dallas Vhernier, Messika, Lika Behar, Fope, Goshwara, Piranesi, Sutra, Single Stone and Extensible by Roberto Demeglio, as well as a growing Estate Jewelry Collection. Eiseman offers an extensive selection of bridal diamond jewelry including designs from Precision Set, Single Stone Bridal and Furrer Jacot, as well as an extensive collection of GIA-certified diamonds of impressive quality and size. Eiseman Jewels also boasts an impressive watch collection with manufactures Rolex, Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Ulysse Nardin, Breitling, IWC Schaffhausen, Louis Moinet, LEpee 1839 clock creations, and TUDOR in addition to Eiseman Exceptional certified pre-owned timepieces. Eiseman has also expanded its winder and safe collection featuring Underwood and Buben & Zorweg. As the original family-owned tenant of NorthPark Center, Eiseman Jewels anchors the most important retail location in the Center and in the southwest. Located adjacent to Neiman Marcus, customers can contact Eiseman Jewels at (214) 369-6100 during stores hours of Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. until 5 p.m., closed Sunday or by appointment in your home, office or jet. Eiseman Jewels was recently named Best Arm Candy in Modern Luxury Dallas magazines Best of the City 2022, and has been recognized by Town & Country magazine as Best Independent Jeweler and by National Jeweler magazine as the finest independent jewelry store in the United States. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005157/en/ Kristi Bare 214.697.9829 Source: Eiseman Jewels Divert, Inc. removes carbon from the food value chain by converting wasted food into renewable energy Forbright Banks financing will help build a new facility in Turlock, CA CHEVY CHASE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Forbright Bank, a nationwide full-service bank that is helping accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy announced that it has closed on a debt financing deal to build a new wasted food to renewable energy facility in Turlock, CA. The facility, owned by Divert, Inc., will process 100,000 tons of food waste per year and turn it into renewable energy. Wasted food is a top contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Human produced waste in landfills creates methane a gas that is 25 times more potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Diverts new facility will leverage its successful process to turn wasted food into renewable energy. The facility, funded in part by Forbright, will produce enough renewable energy to power roughly 3,000 homes each year. This financing is yet another example of Forbrights important role in helping the country transition to cleaner energy sources, said Don Cole, CEO of Forbright Bank. Using our capital to support companies like Divert and its renewable natural gas facility is critical along the path toward decarbonization. Forbright Bank is committed to financing sustainable businesses and clean energy projects that are building a low carbon economy. Last year, the Bank facilitated more than 5,000 residential solar and energy efficiency projects. Forbright, Inc.s Green Bond resulted in an estimated 12,000 metric tons of carbon equivalent emissions avoided annually. The Bank has pledged to maintain carbon neutrality in its operational footprint and was the seventh U.S. bank to become a signatory to the U.N. Principles for Responsible Banking. Forbright is aligned with Diverts mission to solve the wasted food crisis through the continued expansion of our facilities across North America, said Ryan Begin, CEO and co-founder, Divert. We are pleased to have the support of capital partners like Forbright to be able to scale Diverts proven solutions in California and drive meaningful change for a zero waste future." Once fully operational in 2024, the new Divert facility will offset up to 23,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year - the equivalent to taking nearly 5,000 gas-powered cars off the road a year. About Divert, Inc.: Divert is an impact technology company on a mission to Protect the Value of Food. Founded in 2007, the company creates advanced technologies and sustainable infrastructure to eliminate wasted food, driving social and environmental impact. Divert provides an end-to-end solution that prevents waste by maximizing the freshness of food, recovers edible food to serve communities in need, and converts wasted food into renewable energy. The company works with five Fortune 100 companies and nearly 5,400 retail stores across the U.S., helping food retailers to reach their sustainability goals. More information about Divert can be found at www.divertinc.com About Forbright Bank: Forbright Bank (www.forbrightbank.com), Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, is a full-service bank taking action to decarbonize the economy. Headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, Forbright is committed to accelerating the transition to a sustainable, clean energy economy by financing the companies, investors, and innovators driving that change. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005793/en/ Ben Wakana, Forbright Bank (301) 299-8810 [email protected] Caroline Legg, Divert, Inc. (203) 313-4228 [email protected] Source: Forbright Bank AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Keller Williams (KW), the worlds largest real estate franchise by agent count, was recognized on Forbes list of Americas Best Employers for Diversity 2023. KW ranked No. 171 out of 500 companies. We celebrate our differences, said Gary Keller, executive chairman, KW. And, we strive to be the empowering community where everyone belongs and anyone can thrive. Forbes partnered with market research company Statista to compile their annual list of America's Best Employers for Diversity. To determine the rankings, Statista surveyed more than 45,000 Americans working for businesses with at least 1,000 employees. Participants were asked to anonymously rate their organizations based on criteria such as age, gender, ethnicity, disability, and LGBTQ+ equality, as well as general diversity. It's more important than ever to meet the changing needs of our increasingly diverse consumers, said Julia Lashay Israel, head of inclusion and belonging, KW. By prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion best practices within our agents businesses, were empowering and serving our communities best. In 2020, KW added Equity: Opportunities for all to its core belief system, resulting from a unanimous vote of its International Agent Leadership Council. In 2021, KW launched two agent-focused DEI courses. The Color of Real Estate" offers an in-depth overview of Fair Housing Act policy as well as historic practices that have added to the homeownership gap in the U.S. "Unconscious Bias in Real Estate" raises awareness of the brain's unconscious production of bias and its impact on housing. To date, more than 17,000 agents have taken the combined offerings. In 2022, KW unveiled Agent of Distinction, a diversity certification for agents and leaders. To date, more than 700 agents have achieved the certification. Created by agents for agents, KWs affinity groups also seek to link people with similar backgrounds, experiences, and interests to provide a place for social inclusion, belonging, and business growth. Current groups include the KW Rainbow Network, KW Coalition of Hispanics for Progressive Action, Hispanic Leaders of Real Estate, KW Pan-Asian Network, KW Black Real Estate Network, Lady Leaders of Real Estate, KW Signs, KW Alliance of Persians for Purposeful Action, KW Arabic, KW Special Needs, and KW Simcha. To view the full rankings, go to https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-employers-diversity/. About Keller Williams Austin, Texas-based Keller Williams, the worlds largest real estate franchise by agent count, has more than 1,100 offices and 189,000 agents. The franchise is also No. 1 in units and sales volume in the United States. Since 1983, the company has cultivated an agent-centric, technology-driven and education-based culture that rewards agents as stakeholders. For more information, visit headquarters.kw.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426006015/en/ Darryl G. Frost Director of Public Relations and Media Relations [email protected] / 254-466-3627 Source: Keller Williams The annual Jeonju International Film Festival is set to kick off this week. The festival, which mostly features independent and experimental films, opens with the screening of "Tori and Lokita" in the historic city of Jeonju, North Jeolla Province on Thursday. Directed by Belgian brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, the heart-wrenching drama tells a story of two African immigrants in a Belgian city. The Belgian filmmaking duo will visit Korea for the first time to meet fans during the festival. The festival, now in its 24th year, will wrap up with Korean film "Where Would You Like to Go?" on May 6, after showcasing some 247 films from 42 countries during its 10-day run. More information can be found at www.jeonjufest.kr. BlackRocks Larry Fink tops the ranking in Peregrine Communications inaugural CEO report analyzing the personal brands of CEOs at the worlds 150 largest asset management firms across five key metrics, including personal brand awareness, share of voice, media sentiment and social media presence. Report shows ~10% CEO turnover in the last 12 months with 14 asset management CEOs leaving their posts. Alternative investment management CEOs dominate in terms of Brand Awareness making up more than 65% of the 20 most searched for names. Asset management CEOs receive more scrutiny than CEOs in many other industries with leaders like Larry Fink and Citadels Ken Griffin receiving Google search interest orders of magnitude higher than peers at Exxon, McDonalds, or Starbucks. NEW YORK & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Peregrine Communications, a strategic communications firm for asset managers, has released its inaugural CEO Report looking at the personal brands and communication strategies of leaders at the worlds largest 100 asset management firms and 50 leading alternative investment (alts) managers. The report analyzes CEOs across a range of criteria, including personal brand awareness, share of voice, sentiment of media coverage and social media presence. The report found that the top five CEOs based on a composite score are: Larry Fink, BlackRock Nicolas Moreau, HSBC Global Asset Management Robert R. Smith, Vista Equity Partners Mary Callahan Erdoes, J.P. Morgan Asset Management Luke Sarsfield, Goldman Sachs Asset Management (International) While many CEOs in financial services shy away from the limelight, there is demonstrable interest from earned media and investor audiences. Media interest in CEOs was high in the last 12 months, with leadership changes at New York Life Investment Management (15th among CEOs ranked in the report), Bridgewater, and Carlyle capturing notable attention. The almost 10% CEO turnover fueled some of this media interest. Many asset management CEOs received more attention than CEOs at household names in other sectors, such as Starbucks, Exxon, and McDonalds. It is noteworthy that many CEOs in the top 10, especially among alts firms, are founders with decades of tenure, highlighting that legacy and track record are significant drivers of investor and media interest. The past few years have been incredibly difficult for senior leaders in all industries, but especially asset management firms C-suites, says Max Hilton, Co-Chief Executive Officer at Peregrine Communications. With a challenging macro environment, fast-changing regulations, high CEO turnover, and the conflicting demands of stakeholders, particularly notable in the case of ESG, a cohesive personal brand that helps to tell a wider authentic corporate story is invaluable. As the market witnesses a secular shift from business as usual communication, it is important for leaders to drive communications through a strategic, data-driven, and multi-channel lens. ### About Peregrine Communications Peregrine advises asset managers on their brands, positioning, and strategic communications. We have two decades of experience supporting global asset management firms, both long-only and alternatives managers, shape and tell their stories. Our industry focus is underpinned by a data-led approach to strategy and deep domain expertise. This is coupled with innovative storytelling and a proven ability to bring fresh, creative solutions to marketing and communications challenges. https://www.peregrinecommunications.com/ceo-report View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005596/en/ Thomas Conroy Peregrine Communications [email protected] +1 (917) 970-8667 Sophie Svestad Peregrine Communications [email protected] +44 (0) 20 3040 0867 Source: Peregrine Communications Ulrik Nehammer takes on expanded role of chairman, international; Cathy Mauzaize promoted to president, EMEA; Fabio Spoletini joins ServiceNow as vice president, EMEA South AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW), the leading digital workflow company that makes the world work better for everyone, today announced expanded leadership roles and promotions in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). This comes as part of the companys continued commitment to investment, innovation, and ambitious growth in the region. The leadership appointments include: EMEA President Ulrik Nehammer is promoted to chairman, international. In this strategic advisory role, Nehammer will bring his expertise to global customer accounts and strategic planning. is promoted to chairman, international. In this strategic advisory role, Nehammer will bring his expertise to global customer accounts and strategic planning. Current Vice President EMEA South, Cathy Mauzaize is promoted to president, EMEA. In her role, Mauzaize will drive the growth strategy in EMEA to support ServiceNow in becoming the defining enterprise software company of the 21st century. is promoted to president, EMEA. In her role, Mauzaize will drive the growth strategy in EMEA to support ServiceNow in becoming the defining enterprise software company of the 21st century. Fabio Spoletini has joined ServiceNow as vice president, EMEA South, leading business development across the extensive and diverse area of Southern Europe, Middle East, and Africa. EMEA is driving tremendous growth and Cathy is an exceptional leader who I know will propel the region's continued success, said Paul Smith, chief commercial officer, ServiceNow. It is a testament to our culture and talent that we can draw from such an incredible bench of executives when new opportunities arise. Cathys, Ulriks, and Fabios appointments position ServiceNow with the best international expertise and leadership for our employees, customers, and partners. Since joining ServiceNow as EMEA president in 2022, Nehammers strong leadership and deep customer relationships have built a tremendous foundation for ServiceNows growth in the region. As co-executive sponsor of the Women at ServiceNow belonging group, he has been an ally for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Complemented with his past global experience at Salesforce and Coca-Cola, his new role will bring his strategic insight to customers across all markets. To support customers on their path to profit and growth, a deep understanding of their challenges and needs is essential, says Nehammer. I am looking forward to bringing my C-Suite experience and customer perspective to the global team and accelerate our international growth. Mauzaize joined ServiceNow in 2021 as vice president, EMEA South. Since joining, she has brought her 30-plus years of technology experience to key customer accounts in the region, such as Carrefour, Lavazza, and Sasol, and has been a champion for gender equality and diversity initiatives. Mauzaize previously held senior leadership roles across companies including Microsoft, SAP, Dell, PwC, and Hewlett Packard. Since joining ServiceNow, I have seen first-hand the power of our platform to drive digital and business transformation for our customers. Combined with our industry-leading teams, the opportunity in EMEA is immense, said Mauzaize. The needs and considerations of our customers, teams, and partners are truly unique. Im honoured to build on the strong foundation thats in place to accelerate this diverse regions trajectory. Spoletini brings more than 25 years experience in enterprise software and digital transformation to ServiceNowmost recently from Oracle. His record of successful international team leadership is driven by passion for the business, strategic partnerships, and customer-first strategies. Ive watched ServiceNow from afar for several years and have admired the vision of the company in making the world work better, says Spoletini. Faced with a broad range of customer, macro-economic, and technology challenges, businesses are looking to ServiceNow as the solution to accelerate their digitalization. Im excited help our customers reach their potential with ServiceNow. About ServiceNow ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) makes the world work better for everyone. Our cloudbased platform and solutions help digitize and unify organizations so that they can find smarter, faster, better ways to make work flow. So employees and customers can be more connected, more innovative, and more agile. And we can all create the future we imagine. The world works with ServiceNow. For more information, visit: www.servicenow.com. 2023 ServiceNow, Inc. All rights reserved. ServiceNow, the ServiceNow logo, Now, and other ServiceNow marks are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of ServiceNow, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other company names, product names, and logos may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005132/en/ Erica Faltous, Senior Director, EMEA Communications [email protected] Source: ServiceNow A new collection of American Red Cross co-branded edition Sleepypod products will help pets travel safer. PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sleepypod, a company known for reinventing pet products through innovative design, today announces a new line of American Red Cross co-branded edition Sleepypod products. The products are the result of a brand licensing partnership formed to co-brand Sleepypods pet products. Through this collaboration, pet owners can use American Red Cross edition Sleepypod products at home and on the go, including in an emergency or disaster. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005001/en/ American Red Cross co-branded edition Sleepypod products will help pets travel safer. (Photo credit: Brandise Danesewich for Sleepypod) Pets depend on us for their safety in an emergency, said Michael Leung, Sleepypod co-founder and lead product designer. Advance planning gives you and your pets the best chance to stay together and safe when disaster strikes. The new American Red Cross co-branded edition Sleepypod products are purposefully designed for use at home and while traveling. Leung continues, A disaster can happen at any time, so regularly using these American Red Cross co-branded edition Sleepypod pet products in everyday places before an emergency will help mitigate pet fear in stressful situations while enabling safer travel. If its not safe for you to be in your home, its not safe for your pets either, said Stephen Glockenmeier, vice president of Brand Licensing for American Red Cross Training Services. Be sure to make an evacuation plan that includes your pets. Starting today, the new edition of the Sleepypod product line launches with co-branded versions of Sleepypod carriers, car safety harness designs, and a go bag. See the current line of products at https://sleepypod.com/american-red-cross. Additional co-branded products will be released soon. The products will be available for purchase at retailers throughout the U.S. Download images of the new American Red Cross co-branded edition Sleepypod products at https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/albums/72177720307216426. About Sleepypod Sleepypod transformed pet product design with the introduction of its multiple award-winning, innovative Sleepypod mobile pet bed in 2006. Visually bold and intuitive, the Sleepypod, made from durable, high-quality materials, set a new standard for pet products to include safety testing. Today, Sleepypod products continue to set the high bar for pet product safety and design. Every product is designed with thoughtful features for efficient living and then safety tested. From the BPA-free silicone in Sleepypods Yummy Travel Bowls to the crash-testing of the Sleepypod carrier and car harness lines at U.S., Canadian, and E.U. child safety seat standards, Sleepypod devotes careful and caring attention to each detail in every product. Sleepypod.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005001/en/ Media Contact Jane Skuta at [email protected] Source: Sleepypod BAAR, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Stallergenes Greer, a biopharmaceutical company specialising in the research, diagnosis and treatment of respiratory allergies, is pleased to announce its strategic direction for the Stallergenes Greer Foundation. The Stallergenes Greer Foundation, under the aegis of the Fondation de France, aims to build healthier futures for all by focusing on three key areas: Advancing scientific research to boost innovation and precision medicine; Supporting academic initiatives to further develop future generations of allergy healthcare professionals; Engaging in climate action and environmental protection to advance the prevention and treatment of allergies. The comprehensive approach adopted by the Stallergenes Greer Foundation aims to serve the One Health Initiative that has been formally endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in particular, and which calls for the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally to attain optimal health for people, animals and our environment. The strategic direction of the Stallergenes Greer Foundation reflects our unwavering engagement to advance precision medicine and science in the field of allergy for the benefit of society and will contribute to breakthrough collaborations to address complex challenges in allergy and environmental health. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of our Scientific Board whose experience and vision are strong assets for the foundation, stated Michele Antonelli, CEO of Stallergenes Greer and Chairman of the Stallergenes Greer Foundation. The Stallergenes Greer Foundation will support innovative research projects, encompassing fundamental, applied, environmental and societal research, as well as education. In 2023, the foundation will allocate up to 150,000 for outstanding work led either by a young scientist or a mid-career scientist to advance precision medicine in the field of allergy, or outstanding work in the environmental field to advance the prevention and treatment of allergies. The Stallergenes Greer Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees, which itself brings together a Managing Board and a Scientific Board: The Managing Board is comprised of Stallergenes Greer senior executives: - Michele Antonelli, CEO, - Amer Jaber, EVP Operations Europe, - Dominique Pezziardi, General Manager France, Belgium and Luxembourg - Global Head of Pricing and Market Access, - Catherine Kress, Head of Communications and Corporate responsibility. The Scientific Board is comprised of renowned scientific and medical experts: - Pascal Demoly, Professor of Pulmonology and Head of Department at the University Hospital, Montpellier (France), - Alessandro Fiocchi, MD, Director of Allergy at Bambino Gesu Childrens Hospital, Rome, Vatican City (Italy), - Carla Irani, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Allergology - Immunological Asthma at Hotel Dieu de France University Medical Center, Beirut (Lebanon), - Kari Nadeau, MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Environmental Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (Boston, MA, U.S.A.). ABOUT STALLERGENES GREER INTERNATIONAL AG Headquartered in Baar (Switzerland), Stallergenes Greer International AG is a global healthcare company specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies through the research, development and commercialisation of allergen immunotherapy products and services. Stallergenes Greer International AG is the parent company of Greer Laboratories, Inc. (whose registered office is in the United States) and Stallergenes SAS (whose registered office is in France). For more information, visit www.stallergenesgreer.com. ABOUT FONDATION DE FRANCE Created in 1969, Fondation de France is a private organisation recognised of public interest, whose mission is to support all forms of generosity in order to translate them into effective actions of general interest. With the 945 foundations it hosts, it supports more than 10,000 promising and innovative initiatives each year, in France and abroad. Independent and private, it operates thanks to the generosity of donors. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005514/en/ Stallergenes Greer Communications Catherine Kress Tel: +33 (0)1 55 50 26 05 Email: [email protected] Source: Stallergenes Greer The 207-unit Urbana Court Apartments marks the social impact investment firms entry into the Minneapolis market to address the affordability crisis while generating strong returns for investors LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Turner Impact Capital, one of the nations largest real estate investment firms dedicated to social impact, has expanded its efforts to address the countrys urgent housing affordability crisis with the acquisition of its first multifamily housing community in the Minneapolis metropolitan area. Acquisition of the 207-unit Urbana Court Apartments in Brooklyn Park, Minn., closed today as one of the final investments of Turner Multifamily Impact Fund II. The purchase enables Turner Impact to bring its innovative market-driven housing solution for low- and moderate-income families to a fast-growing Minneapolis community with convenient access to job opportunities, healthcare, and schools. The Turner Multifamily Impact Funds have acquired, preserved, and enriched approximately $2 billion of critically-needed housing for working individuals and families located in densely populated, ethnically diverse metropolitan areas throughout the U.S. These investments represent nearly 13,000 units of workforce housing nationwide, serving residents earning up to 80% of area median income while generating strong risk-adjusted financial returns for its institutional investors. Residents include community-serving professionals such as teachers, police officers, healthcare workers and others who often earn too much to qualify for subsidized housing but struggle to afford higher-cost housing located near job centers. As rents rise and recession concerns mount, we must ensure that working families have access to stable, affordable, and high-quality housing in major metropolitan areas, Turner Impact CEO Bobby Turner said. We continue to expand our housing initiatives, and Urbana Court presents an opportunity to bring our successful model to one of the most dynamic markets in the Midwest. Urbana Court is a newly built apartment complex with a large community center, 24-hour fitness center, pool, pickleball courts, playground, and underground heated parking. The units feature a wide range of appliances and full-size washers and dryers, and as part of Turner Impacts sustainability initiatives, the Fund has identified ways to reduce energy and water use. Minneapolis has the largest metropolitan economy in the region after Chicago, where Turner Impact also has significant housing investments. Brooklyn Park is located just north of the city, near the largest health-technology cluster in the country, known as medical alley, and major employers such as Medtronic, Target, and Amazon, as well as easy access to jobs in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. Turner Impacts holistic approach to workforce housing also entails enriching residents quality of life with demand-driven essential on-site services in education, health, safety, and other areas that help build a sense of community. These include after-school tutoring programs, exercise and nutrition classes, community watch programs, and more. We are excited to expand our impact to greater Minneapolis and are actively pursuing additional investments in the market, said Gee Kim, President of Turner Impacts Multifamily Housing Initiatives. We welcome and look forward to opportunities to contribute in a meaningful way to the housing solution in this key part of the country. Housing initiatives are a core component of Turner Impact Capitals holistic approach to social impact investing. Since 2016, Turner Impact has raised more than $650 million in equity for its first two housing funds Turner Multifamily Impact Funds I and II and has recently launched a third fund, Turner Multifamily Impact Fund III. The new Fund is the firms largest to date, targeting between $750 million and $1 billion in total commitments. The Fund has already received strong interest from both U.S. and international investors and will build on the work of its predecessor funds to preserve and enrich workforce housing through the acquisition of existing affordable rental housing at scale. Turner Multifamily Impact Fund III will also pursue the development of new affordable housing through public-private partnerships, as well as opportunistic investments in and recapitalization of workforce housing projects resulting from market dislocations. Turner Impact has recently accelerated its expansion by hiring Gary Rodney, a national housing leader, as Managing Director for Housing Initiatives. Rodney joined Turner Impact from Tishman Speyer, where he launched the firms first affordable housing platform, and earlier served as Chairman of CREA, a national syndicator of low-income housing tax credits, as well as President of the New York City Housing Development Corporation. About Turner Impact Capital Turner Impact Capital is the nation's largest private equity real estate firm exclusively dedicated to social impact. Based in Santa Monica, California, the firm focuses on creating sustainable solutions for many of today's most daunting societal problems by developing and investing in community-enriching infrastructure in densely populated, underserved communities. The firm seeks to generate superior risk-adjusted financial returns by investing in markets with large supply/demand mismatches of core community infrastructure (i.e., workforce housing, public schools, and community-serving healthcare facilities) and a lack of institutional capital. Turner Impact Capital seeks profits with a purpose. Learn more at www.turnerimpact.com or @turnerimpact on Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426006023/en/ Randy James (310) 974-6684 | [email protected] Source: Turner Impact Capital LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tutor Perini Corporation (NYSE: TPC) (the Company), a leading civil, building and specialty construction company, announced today that it will host a conference call at 2:00 PM Pacific Time on Thursday, May 4, 2023, to discuss the Company's first quarter 2023 results. Speakers on the call from Tutor Perini will be Ronald Tutor, Chairman and CEO, and Gary Smalley, Executive Vice President and CFO. The Company plans to issue its earnings announcement the same day after the market close. To participate in the conference call, please dial 877-407-8293 five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled time. International callers should dial 1-201-689-8349. The conference call will be webcast live over the Internet and can be accessed by all interested parties on Tutor Perini's website at www.tutorperini.com. To listen to the webcast, please visit Tutor Perini's website at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of the call to register and to download and install any necessary software. For those unable to participate during the live call, the webcast will be available for replay shortly after the call on Tutor Perini's website. About Tutor Perini Corporation Tutor Perini Corporation is a leading civil, building and specialty construction company offering diversified general contracting and design-build services to private clients and public agencies throughout the world. We have provided construction services since 1894 and have established a strong reputation within our markets by executing large, complex projects on time and within budget while adhering to strict quality control measures. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005170/en/ Tutor Perini Corporation Jorge Casado, 818-362-8391 Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications www.tutorperini.com Source: Tutor Perini Corporation LA ROCHELLE, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- 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 that its Universal Registration Document was filed to the French Financial Markets Regulator (AMF) April 26, 2023. This document is made available to the public free of charge under the conditions provided for by current regulations and can be consulted and downloaded on the Valbiotis website (www.valbiotis.com/en/regulatory-information/). The Universal Registration Document is also available on the AMF website (www.amf-france.org). 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 April 26, 2023, 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/20230426005616/en/ Corporate communication / Valbiotis Carole ROCHER Communication and Public Affairs Director + 33 6 77 82 56 88 Marc DELAUNAY Communication Manager [email protected] Financial communication / Seitosei Actifin Stephane RUIZ Associate Director +33 1 56 88 11 14 [email protected] Source: Valbiotis Fully integrated free-flow expertise and delivery capacity VINCI Highways strengthens its leadership in free-flow traffic systems Synergies ahead with VINCI Concessions airports, highways, and railways NANTERRE, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- VINCI Highways, a world leader in highway concessions, introduces new mobility brand ViaPlus. Specialized in free-flow traffic systems, ViaPlus serves the end-to-end needs of transportation agencies by bringing the full range of back-office technologies for high-volume transactions, customer operations and data analytics. The new company, fully owned by VINCI Highways, is the merged product of TollPlus and Cofiroute USA. ViaPlus teams will take charge of VINCI Highways existing free-flow contracts in the USA, Europe, and India, and will be the source for future development in the segment. VINCI Highways is a subsidiary of VINCI Concessions, whose international network of airports, highways, and railways will be able to integrate ViaPlus services for different mobility modes. Free-flow solutions have proven benefits for infrastructure efficiency and environmental performance versus conventional systems. As traffic moves at more consistent speeds without the need to stop and pay, reduced congestion can lower CO emissions by up to 60% on a given toll section of a free-flow highway as compared to a traditional gated toll plaza1. Belen Marcos, executive vice-president of VINCI Concessions and President of VINCI Highways, declared: Under the leadership of transportation agencies, VINCI Highways has been a world pioneer of free-flow services. We are notably the first operator to have developed a fully automated highway in the USA - the 91 Express Lanes in California. As people increasingly expect digital solutions from the transportation modes they choose, we are bringing new capacity to the market with ViaPlus. We will keep operating our existing contracts at best level and grow our presence in the USA and across the international networks of VINCI Highways and VINCI Concessions. Richard Arce, CEO of ViaPlus, declared: The benefits we bring to customers are already recognized in the free-flow industry. For instance, our commercial back office for the North Texas Tollway Authority in Dallas, USA, processes more than three million free-flow transactions daily. In Europe, we operate the back office and services for Europes first interoperable free-flow highway in Dublin. We look forward to new growth as needs for seamless mobility continue to rapidly develop. About ViaPlus ViaPlus is a global mobility company in the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) market, specializing in revenue and services management solutions for the transportation industry. Our customer operations, data analytics, and full-featured single-account back office technology facilitate the high-volume transactions required for seamless multimodal mobility. As a VINCI Highways subsidiary, we are committed to technical innovation and to promoting a positive mobility experience for all. About VINCI Highways VINCI Highways, a VINCI Concessions subsidiary, is a leader in road concessions, operation and mobility services. We design, finance, build and operate motorways, bridges, tunnels, urban roads and mobility services on a network of 4,000 km in 15 countries. VINCI Highways leverages its expertise to deliver the highest performance and safety standards and treat drivers to a positive experience. More information: https://www.vinci-concessions.com/en/vinci-highways @VINCIConcess https://www.linkedin.com/company/vinci-highways/ About VINCI Concessions VINCI Concessions is an international player in transport infrastructure. We leverage our integrated model to design, finance, build, operate and maintain more than 90 airports, motorways and rail projects in 23 countries, through our subsidiaries VINCI Airports, VINCI Highways and VINCI Railways. We are committed to shared growth with regions, and are actively making mobility ever more sustainable, efficient and innovative. More information: https://www.vinci-concessions.com/en/ @VINCIConcess https://www.linkedin.com/company/vinci-concessions/ 1 Study conducted by the Carbon Trust for VINCI Concessions, 2021 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005162/en/ VINCI Highways + 33 6 34 78 09 36 ViaPlus Nicole Busse +1.469.986.8437 Source: ViaPlus KENNESAW, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Yamaha Marine celebrates 2023 International Marine Technician week by highlighting a host of career development training opportunities available for current and aspiring marine technicians. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005231/en/ Aspiring marine technician Rhett Fraser traveled from Zimbabwe to the U.S. to begin training programs at Yamaha's headquarters in Kennesaw, Ga., and to apprentice with Anderson Marine in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo: Business Wire) Yamaha reinforces the companys commitment to building a solid marine technician workforce through Yamaha Marine University training and dealer recognition initiatives. We understand that exceptional service leads to unforgettable experiences on the water for our customers, said Joe Maniscalco, General Manager, Service, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. Were grateful for the dedicated Yamaha marine technicians who consistently deliver top quality customer service, and we will continue to build our offerings to ensure our dealer network has access to thoroughly trained Yamaha marine technicians. Yamaha Marine University, established in 2006, encompasses all dealer and technician education under one training umbrella. The goal of YMU is to provide Yamaha dealers with the best training curriculum in the industry, in order to increase customer satisfaction and efficiency. Over the years, YMU grew to include classroom training, online modules, in-dealership training, sales training, service management training, regional seminars, trade school partnerships, regular publications and communication portals. All YMU programs focus on the programs motto, Education. Empowerment. Collaboration, which underscores the purpose of YMU. Yamaha Marine Technical School Partnership Program The Yamaha Marine Technical School Partnership program (TSP), developed in 2015, now has 120 participants nationwide. Yamahas TSP program aims to develop a stronger marine technician workforce through a certified curriculum, Yamaha systems access and product donations used in the classroom for hands-on training. The facilitation and growth of Yamaha Marines technical school relationships led to the development of Yamaha-sponsored curricula available to technical schools for use in the classroom. The first curriculum, titled Introduction to Outboard Systems, (ITOS) provides foundational outboard knowledge and a Yamaha certification for students who wish to start a career as a marine industry technician. ITOS is a pre-requisite for Yamahas new Maintenance Certification Program (MCP), which is based on the 20, 100, 300, 500 and 1,000 maintenance procedures for Yamaha Outboards. MCP students leave the Yamaha Technical School Partner with certified maintenance competencies that prepare them to be immediately successful in Yamaha dealership service departments. Yamaha dealerships can take them on as apprentices or full-time technicians to help them continue to develop their skills. SkillsUSA Yamaha is actively involved with SkillsUSA, a national nonprofit partnership of education and industry founded in 1965 to strengthen the skilled workforce in the marketplace. In 2022, Yamaha supported the National SkillsUSA Competition in Atlanta, Ga., June 20-24, through the organization and facilitation of the Marine Service Technology competition segment. The event is one of the most important in the country encouraging high school and continuing education students to strive for excellence in trade skills such as technical expertise. SkillsUSA events provide great opportunities for recruiting while allowing Yamaha and Yamaha dealers to build a deeper connection with the future technicians and facilitate their career paths. In 2018, 2019 and 2022, five of the six overall winners were affiliated with Yamaha Technical School Partners. Yamaha Dealership Recognition Programs Yamaha currently offers dealership recognition programs that allow qualified Yamaha marine dealers to promote service expertise to their customers. These programs include Service PRO, Factory Trained, Master Technician and Yamalube Exclusive Service Center. Working with their service teams to achieve these designations, Yamaha dealers have the opportunity to grow and develop marine technicians, increase staff professionalism, enhance service department efficiencies and improve success in the service department. For more information on specific Yamaha Marine University initiatives or to register for training programs, please contact email: [email protected] or call 1-800-854-4876, option 3. Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit, based in Kennesaw, Ga., markets and sells marine outboard motors ranging in size from 2.5 to 450 horsepower. It also markets and sells fiberglass, jet-drive sport boats ranging from 19 to 27 feet, and personal watercraft. The unit includes manufacturing divisions of Yamaha Marine Systems Co., Inc., including Kracor of Milwaukee (rotational molding), Bennett Marine of Deerfield Beach, Fla. (trim tabs), and Yamaha Marine Precision Propellers of Indianapolis (stainless steel propellers). Yamaha Marine Group is a division of Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., based in Cypress, Calif. This document contains many of Yamaha's valuable trademarks. It may also contain trademarks belonging to other companies. Any references to other companies or their products are for identification purposes only and are not intended to be an endorsement. REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear. 2023 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005231/en/ Nicholas Genesi Public Relations Manager Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit Mobile: (470) 898-7278 [email protected] Contact: Neal Wheaton Wilder+Wheaton for Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit Mobile: (404) 317-0698 [email protected] Source: Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) today announced that it has signed agreements with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to extend operations of the once-through cooling (OTC) units at its Huntington Beach and Alamitos facilities through 2026. The extension will help meet the state's grid reliability needs while supporting its decarbonization goals, and is subject to the State Water Resources Control Board extending the OTC compliance dates, anticipated in the second half of 2023. "Our Southland legacy units continue to demonstrate that they are ready and able to support the reliability of California's electric grid," said Andres Gluski , AES President and Chief Executive Officer. "At AES, we are committed to supporting the energy needs of local communities with flexible and innovative solutions." Taiwan and the U.S. have signed two deals worth close to $420 million for maintaining fighter aircraft operated by the self-governing island that China considers its own territory. Based on the agreement, around $323 million will be allocated for a parts contract that runs through March 2028, according to a local news report. The smaller deal, which runs through June 2027, covers nonstandard parts and aviation materials. The deals were signed on Sunday. Taiwan has relied on the U.S. for air defense capability to secure its airspace and prepare for a possible Chinese invasion. China has been ramping up military pressure in recent years to try to force the island to accept integration with mainland China. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on April 21 that Taiwan's return to China is an integral part of the international order after World War II: "Once China's land is recovered, it will never be lost again anyone who plays with fire on the Taiwan issue will set himself on fire." The Washington Post on April 15 quoted confidential documents leaked from the Pentagon that Taiwan is unlikely to thwart Chinese military air superiority in a cross-strait conflict as its airfields and radar positions are all within the range of Beijing's land-based missiles. According to the documents, just over half of Taiwan's aircraft are fully mission capable and Taiwanese officials doubt the ability of their air defenses to "accurately detect missile launches." The documents also said Taiwan feared it could take days to move the planes to shelters, leaving them vulnerable to Chinese missiles. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense on April 16 said that the documents' content did not conform to the facts. Phillip Saunders, director of the Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs and distinguished research fellow at the National Defense University, told VOA Mandarin on April 20 at an event hosted by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, that air defense is going to be a huge problem for Taiwan as its airfields and radar are all within range of China's land-based missiles. Saunders said, "I think the general assessment is Taiwan's Air Force is going to be out of the fight pretty quickly because the airfields are going to be gone, and if the Air Force hits the sky, they're within range of Chinese surface-to-air missiles based on the mainland." Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced that Giovanni Caforio, MD, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, has decided to retire as Chief Executive Officer, effective November 1, 2023. Christopher Boerner, PhD, EVP, Chief Commercialization Officer, has been named EVP, Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately, and will succeed Caforio as CEO on November 1, 2023. The Board also intends to appoint Boerner as a member of the Board after the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Adam Lenkowsky, SVP, Head of Major Markets, will succeed Boerner as EVP, Chief Commercialization Officer, effective immediately. After November 1, 2023, Caforio will continue to serve as Executive Chairman for a transition period to be determined by the Board. Theodore R. Samuels will continue to serve as Lead Independent Director. Caforio said, Chris is an exceptional leader, and the Board and I believe he is the right person to guide Bristol Myers Squibb through its next chapter. Chriss expertise has been integral to our commercial success during his tenure at BMS. His strategic focus and passion for science, coupled with his commitment to patients make him uniquely suited for the role. I am confident the team will capitalize on our significant growth opportunities under Chriss leadership. Samuels said, I want to thank Giovanni for his tremendous contributions to Bristol Myers Squibb. Under his leadership over the past eight years, Bristol Myers Squibb has nearly tripled its revenue; successfully completed our transformative combination with Celgene; overseen highly strategic acquisitions and partnerships; and launched 12 new medicines, including five first-in-class assets in five different disease areas. He has fostered a high-performance culture and highly engaged workforce and has been a strong advocate and champion for diversity and inclusion to drive innovation. His work has helped to solidify the foundation from which we will continue to build for the future. Samuels added, Together with Giovanni, our Board of Directors has been engaged in thoughtful, ongoing succession planning and talent development discussions, and todays announcement enables a smooth transition of the CEO role. Chris is an outstanding executive with profound knowledge of our company and proven ability to execute our strategy across all geographies. His expertise and leadership have been integral in the evolution of our portfolio over the past several years, notably building our leading presence in immuno-oncology, growing our CV business and launching multiple new medicines. He has helped build a deep bench of commercial talent as well as industry-leading market access capabilities. These efforts have been vital to helping us ensure patient access to critical medicines. We are confident that Chris, working together with Adam in his new role as Chief Commercialization Officer, and the rest of the leadership team, will continue the Bristol Myers Squibb legacy of bringing transformational medicines to patients. Caforio continued, As a physician, I am passionate about new medicines that can transform how serious diseases are treated it is why my 23 years at Bristol Myers Squibb have been the most fulfilling of my professional career. Supported by the best people in the industry, Bristol Myers Squibb has built a rich history of innovation and pioneering new treatments and is well positioned for the future. As I shift my focus to spending more time with my family in Europe, Id like to express my deepest gratitude to our talented and dedicated team for their unwavering commitment to patients. Commenting on his appointment, Boerner said, I am honored to serve as Bristol Myers Squibbs next CEO. Bristol Myers Squibb is a special company, having pioneered many of the first generation of medicines that benefit patients across many disease areas. Today, we are poised to bring the next wave of innovative medicines to market, and my confidence in our future is stronger than ever. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Giovanni as we deliver for patients, shareholders and our other stakeholders. About Christopher Boerner, PhD Christopher Boerner has served as EVP, Chief Commercialization Officer since August 2018, where he has led the worldwide Commercial and Medical organizations and been responsible for driving growth across the companys key franchises. Boerner previously served as head of international markets at Bristol Myers Squibb, accountable for international commercial activities. Prior to that, he served as head of U.S. commercial markets, responsible for U.S. sales and marketing, government affairs and market access. He joined the company in February 2015. From 2010 to 2015, Boerner served in leadership roles of increasing responsibility at Seattle Genetics, Inc. From 2002 to 2010, he served in marketing leadership roles at Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, focused on strategy, development and commercialization across multiple oncology products and immunology. Earlier in his career, Boerner worked for McKinsey & Company, serving global pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients. Boerner received his PhD and MA in business administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, and holds a BA in economics and history from Washington University in St. Louis. About Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005974/en/ Media: [email protected] Investors: [email protected] Source: Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced expansion of its global cell therapy manufacturing network to enable in-house viral vector production through a U.S.-based manufacturing facility and its operations in Libertyville, Illinois, following the companys execution of an agreement with Novartis. The facility and its operations have capabilities to produce viral vector for both of Bristol Myers Squibbs CAR T cell therapies. This development advances the companys long-term ambitions in cell therapy. The addition of an in-house facility for viral vector production that complements our external partnerships affords us the ability to manufacture current and next-generation vector technology, and increase future capacity, said Karin Shanahan, executive vice president, Global Product Development & Supply, Bristol Myers Squibb. Bringing the Libertyville site operations and employees onboard to join our expanding global cell therapy manufacturing network enhances the depth and breadth of our existing capabilities. Manufacturing cell therapies is both operationally and technically complex because they are created uniquely for each individual patient, using a patients own T cells as the starting material. Viral vectors are a key component of engineering T cells for infusion back to the patient. Because cell therapies are rapidly transforming the way we treat different types of cancers, the demand for viral vector is increasing significantly. A dual-sourcing vector strategy supports reliable delivery of Bristol Myers Squibb CAR T cell therapies to keep pace with growing demand and ensure that more eligible patients can access these treatments. Bringing viral vector production in-house helps us further build our leadership position in cell therapy with potential for more patients to get treated by one of our transformational cell therapies," said Lynelle Hoch, senior vice president, Global Cell Therapy Franchise Lead, Bristol Myers Squibb. The strong demand for our differentiated and transformational cell therapies underscores their value to patients, and we are committed to pursuing opportunities to bring these treatments to patients in need. The company is committed to identifying opportunities to increase reliable supply of its transformational cell therapies. The facility in Libertyville, Illinois, adds to the companys robust global network of three state-of-the-art cell therapy manufacturing facilities in Bothell, Washington; Warren, New Jersey; and Summit, New Jersey, with two additional manufacturing sites in development in Devens, Massachusetts, and Leiden, Netherlands. The new U.S. facility is planned to transition to Bristol Myers Squibb over the course of 2023, subject to the fulfillment of applicable closing conditions. About Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products and the transaction. All statements that are not statements of historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including internal or external factors that could delay, divert or change any of them in the next several years, that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, any delay or inability of Bristol Myers Squibb to realize the expected benefits of the transaction. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect Bristol Myers Squibbs business and market, particularly those identified in the cautionary statement and risk factors discussion in Bristol Myers Squibbs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document and except as otherwise required by applicable law, Bristol Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise. Related Content: Understanding the CAR T Cell Therapy Treatment Experience corporatefinancial-news View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230425006156/en/ Media: [email protected] Investors: [email protected] Source: Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended approval of CAMZYOS (mavacamten) for the treatment of symptomatic (New York Heart Association, NYHA, class II-III) obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in adult patients. The European Commission (EC), which has the authority to approve medicines for the European Union (EU), will now review the CHMP opinion. Obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be a debilitating and life-changing heart disease, reducing physical functioning and overall well-being, and often runs in families. For patients in the EU, there is yet to be an approved therapy that targets the underlying cause of this disease, despite its global prevalence and debilitating symptoms, said Roland Chen, M.D., Senior Vice President, Cardiovascular Development at Bristol Myers Squibb. We are encouraged by the CHMPs positive recommendation, which puts us one step closer to offering patients in the EU a first-in-class treatment for obstructive HCM, and reinforces our commitment to delivering transformative cardiovascular therapies to patients worldwide. The positive opinion is based upon efficacy and safety results from two Phase 3 trials, EXPLORER-HCM and VALOR-HCM. Results from the Phase 3 EXPLORER-HCM trial, which evaluated CAMZYOS in patients with symptomatic obstructive HCM versus placebo, met all primary and secondary endpoints with statistical significance. EXPLORER-HCM showed CAMZYOS demonstrated a clear treatment effect, with clinically meaningful improvements in exercise capacity and symptoms, and functional status, as well as clinically meaningful improvement in left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Results from the Phase 3 VALOR-HCM study evaluated CAMZYOS in patients with symptomatic obstructive HCM who met the 2011 ACC/AHA or 2014 ESC guideline criteria for septal reduction therapy (SRT) and who were referred for an invasive procedure. VALOR-HCM met statistical significance across all primary and secondary endpoints showing a valuable improvement across key cardiac measures which resulted in a clinically meaningful reduction in need or eligibility for SRT among CAMZYOS-treated patients versus placebo. On April 28, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved CAMZYOS for the treatment of adults with symptomatic NYHA class II-III obstructive HCM to improve functional capacity and symptoms. Please see important safety information, including Boxed WARNING, from the U.S. prescribing information below. Bristol Myers Squibb thanks the patients and investigators involved in both clinical trials. About EXPLORER-HCM The EXPLORER-HCM Phase 3 trial (NCT03470545) was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial that enrolled a total of 251 adult patients with symptomatic (NYHA class II or III), obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. All participants had measurable left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 55% and at least one peak LVOT gradient 50 mmHg (at rest or with provocation at diagnosis); in addition, Valsalva LVOT gradient 30 mmHg at baseline was required at screening. Ninety-two percent of patients were on background therapies of a beta blocker or calcium channel blocker. The primary endpoint was a composite functional endpoint, assessed at 30 weeks, and was defined as the proportion of patients who achieved either improvement of mixed venous oxygen tension (pVO2) by 1.5 mL/kg/min plus improvement in NYHA class by at least 1 or improvement of pVO2 by 3.0 mL/kg/min plus no worsening in NYHA class. Key secondary endpoints include impact on exercise gradient LVOT, pVO2, NYHA Class and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Symptom Questionnaire (HCMSQ) at Week 30. About VALOR-HCM VALOR-HCM (NCT04349072) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter Phase 3 study of patients with symptomatic, obstructive HCM (NYHA class III-IV) who meet guideline criteria for septal reduction therapy (SRT) and have been referred for an invasive procedure. The study enrolled 112 patients in the U.S., randomized on a 1:1 basis to receive mavacamten or placebo. Ninety-five percent of patients were on background therapies of a beta blocker, calcium channel blocker, disopyramide or a combination. The primary endpoint is a composite of the number of patients who decide to proceed with SRT prior to or at Week 16 and the number of patients who remain SRT-guideline eligible (LVOT gradient of 50 mmHg and NYHA Class III-IV or Class II with exertional symptoms of syncope or near syncope) at Week 16. Key secondary endpoints include impact on exercise gradient LVOT, NYHA Class and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) and biomarkers at Week 16. The results of the VALOR-HCM study were submitted to the FDA for an expanded indication to reduce the need for septal reduction therapy (SRT). The FDA accepted the supplemental new drug application (sNDA) and assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of June 16, 2023. About CAMZYOS (mavacamten) CAMZYOS (mavacamten) is the first and only cardiac myosin inhibitor approved in the U.S., indicated for the treatment of adults with symptomatic New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-III obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) to improve functional capacity and symptoms. It has also received regulatory approvals in Australia, Canada, Brazil and Switzerland. CAMZYOS is an allosteric and reversible inhibitor selective for cardiac myosin. CAMZYOS modulates the number of myosin heads that can enter on actin (power-generating) states, thus reducing the probability of force-producing (systolic) and residual (diastolic) cross-bridge formation. Excess myosin actin cross-bridge formation and dysregulation of the super-relaxed state are mechanistic hallmarks of HCM. CAMZYOS shifts the overall myosin population towards an energy-sparing, recruitable, super-relaxed state. In HCM patients, myosin inhibition with CAMZYOS reduces dynamic LVOT obstruction and improves cardiac filling pressures. About CAMZYOS REMS Program CAMZYOS is only available in the U.S. through a restricted program called the CAMZYOS REMS Program because of the risk of heart failure due to systolic dysfunction. Further information is available at www.CAMZYOSREMS.com or by telephone at 1-833-628-7367. Embraer (NYSE: ERJ; B3: EMBR3) delivered a total of 15 jets in the first quarter of 2023, of which seven were commercial aircraft and eight were executive jets (six light and two large). This total volume represents 7% growth compared to the same period of the previous year. As of March 31 , the firm order backlog totaled USD 17.4 billion . Deliveries by Segment 1Q23 Commercial Aviation 7 E175 2 E195-E2 5 Executive Aviation 8 Phenom 100 2 Phenom 300 4 Light Jets 6 Praetor 600 2 Midsize Jets 2 TOTAL 15 This first quarter was marked by the confirmation that for the 11th consecutive year, Embraer's Phenom 300 series remains the best-selling light jet in the world, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Embraer delivered 59 Phenom 300 series light jets in 2022 to achieve this milestone, and to date, the series has accrued more than 700 deliveries. The Phenom 300MED, a unique Medevac solution, received Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) this quarter as well. In the Services & Support segment, Embraer announced the signing of a services contract with the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to support the country's A-29 Super Tucano fleet. The deal will support more than 200 A-29 components. The company also revealed three new customers for the use of Beacon, the maintenance coordination digital platform that connects resources and professionals for a faster return-to-service. Air New Zealand and Embraer signed a collaboration agreement for next-generation sustainable aircraft programs, expanding the membership of Embraer's Energy Advisory Group. Embraer Defense & Security held an exhibition of its portfolio of products and innovative solutions in the European, Asian and Middle East markets, prior to the recent announcements made at LAAD, the main defense and security fair in Latin America . Backlog - Commercial Aviation ( March 31, 2023 ) Aircraft Type Firm Orders Deliveries Firm Order Backlog E170 191 191 - E175 815 730 85 E190 568 568 - E195 172 172 - E190-E2 25 18 7 E195-E2 245 56 189 Total 2,016 1,735 281 Note: Deliveries and firm order backlog include orders for the Defense segment placed by State-run airlines (Satena and TAME). About Embraer A global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil , Embraer (NYSE: ERJ; B3: EMBR3) has businesses in Commercial and Executive aviation, Defense & Security, and Agricultural Aviation. The company designs, develops, manufactures, and markets aircraft and systems, providing Services & Support to customers after sales. Since it was founded in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than 8,000 aircraft. On average, about every 10 seconds an aircraft manufactured by Embraer takes off somewhere in the world, transporting over 145 million passengers a year. Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC) said Wednesday that the Japanese automaker had struck a strategic collaboration agreement with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) (2330.TW) as part of efforts to secure a stable supply of semiconductors. Honda will build direct relationships with chip producers for the long-term stable supply of chips, Chief Executive Toshihiro Mibe said at a news conference where he gave an update about the automaker's business strategy. "Honda will work closely together with Tier 1 suppliers and semiconductor makers and move forward with drastic steps," Mibe said, adding it had reached a basic agreement on strategic collaboration with TSMC. "In the past, there were probably almost no direct discussions between automakers, including Honda, and semiconductor manufacturers," he said. The company expects to start seeing an impact from the tie-up with TSMC from the 2025 financial year, Chief Operating Officer Shinji Aoyama said. TSMC said in an emailed statement it was committed to serving as its customers "trusted long-term technology and capacity supplier to unleash their innovations". "TSMC continues to work closely with major worldwide automobile IC companies to support their success," it added, without elaborating. Honda also said it planned to release a mid- to large-size electric vehicle (EV) model in the United States in 2025 built with the company's new "electric and electronic" architecture platform. Shares of HMC are down 0.66% in pre-market trading on Wednesday. By Michael Elkins | [email protected] Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) announced Wednesday that the Chrysler parent company is offering voluntary exit packages to 33,500 U.S. employees as it looks to streamline operations. The automaker did not say how many total jobs it is looking to eliminate. However, the offer covers 31,000 U.S. hourly workers and about 2,500 salaried workers. The company is also offering voluntary buyouts to some employees in Canada. Stellantis Chief Operating Officer Mark Stewart told employees in an email seen by Reuters that a review of its operations "has made it clear that we must become more efficient." United Auto Workers (UAW) union President Shawn Fain criticized the effort, saying "Stellantis push to cut thousands of jobs while raking in billions in profits is disgusting. This is a slap in the face to our members, their families, their communities, and the American people who saved this company 15 years ago." On Tuesday, a local UAW unit said Stellantis wanted to cut approximately 3,500 hourly U.S. jobs in the voluntary offer. In his email, Stewart said Stellantis needed to continue identifying efficiencies to make its operations more competitive, both inside and outside the company. "The competition is fierce, and the cost of electrification cannot be passed on to the customer. Make no mistake, we intend to win in the marketplace," he wrote. In February, Stellantis indefinitely halted operations at an assembly plant in Illinois, affecting about 1,350 workers resulting in indefinite layoffs. Shares of STLA are up 0.81% in afternoon trading on Wednesday. By Michael Elkins | [email protected] According to a United Auto Workers union letter made public Tuesday, Chrysler and Dodge parent company Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) wants to cut approximately 3,500 hourly U.S. jobs and is offering voluntary exit packages. According to the letter, The automaker is looking to reduce its hourly workforce offering incentive packages that include $50,000 payments for workers hired before 2007. However, A person briefed on the matter said the figure might be lower than the figure cited in the UAW letter. In late February, Stellantis indefinitely halted operations at an assembly plant in Illinois, citing rising costs of electric vehicle production. The action impacted about 1,350 workers at the Belvidere, Illinois, plant that built the Jeep Cherokee SUV and resulted in indefinite layoffs. The automaker has warned it may not resume operations as it considers other options. Last week, UAW President Shawn Fain said Stellantis' decision to idle the Illinois plant was "a flat-out violation" of the union's contract with the UAW and is unacceptable. The UAW will enter talks with automakers before labor contracts expire in September. Shares of STLA are up 0.25% in pre-market trading on Wednesday. By Michael Elkins | [email protected] Corza Medical announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with a subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceuticals Company (NYSE: TAK) (Takeda) to acquire the TachoSil manufacturing operations in Linz, Austria. Corza Medical had previously acquired the commercial product rights for TachoSil, a best-in-class surgical patch trusted by medical professionals worldwide, in January 2021. Corza Medical shares Takedas commitment to patient care and has the experience and resources to continue investing in TachoSil for the benefit of patients. The acquisition of the TachoSil manufacturing operations will benefit customers and employees, as TachoSils experienced manufacturing teams and extensive production knowledge will be complemented by Corza Medicals surgical focus, global commercial expertise, entrepreneurial culture, and infrastructure to scale for significant growth. In the last two years, weve significantly expanded the number of surgeons using TachoSil worldwide. With this acquisition of the TachoSil production facility in Linz, weve now assembled a critical piece of our growing Biosurgery business to tightly integrate customer demand with production fulfillment to provide an exceptional service experience, said Gregory T. Lucier, Corza Medical Executive Chairman. Corza Medicals exclusive ownership of TachoSil manufacturing will deliver exceptional value to customers by seamlessly combining manufacturing and quality with Corza Medicals commercial excellence engine; it will also accelerate enhanced service levels and support by directly controlling manufacturing priorities. We look forward to welcoming the Takeda TachoSil operations team to Corza Medical to support our investment in expanding manufacturing capacity, testing systems, and R&D facilities to develop new Biosurgery offerings, said Tom Testa, Corza Medical Chief Executive Officer. This acquisition in Linz highlights our commitment to further our presence in Europe and to better serve our customers with an integrated team. Corza Medical is a portfolio company of GTCR, a leading private equity firm, which helped create and build the business alongside Gregory T. Lucier. In January 2021, GTCR and Lucier simultaneously acquired and merged Surgical Specialties Corporation and the TachoSil carve-out from Takeda Pharmaceutical. Corza further expanded its surgical platform into the ophthalmic surgery sector with the add-on acquisitions of Katena Products and Barron Precision Instruments. The transaction, which is subject to the satisfaction of certain anti-trust and FDI customary regulatory approvals, is expected to close by the first quarter of 2024. About Corza Medical Corza Medical is a leading global manufacturer of innovative surgical technologies. With a global team of over 2,500 employees supporting clinicians, distributors, and medical device companies worldwide, Corza provides healthcare professionals a platform of surgical technologies with industry-leading brands, including Quill barbed sutures, Sharpoint Plus and Look surgical sutures, Katena reusable and Blink single-use ophthalmic instruments, Sharpoint ophthalmic, and the TachoSil fibrin sealant patch. For more information, please visit www.corza.com. About GTCR Founded in 1980, GTCR is a leading private equity firm that pioneered The Leaders Strategy finding and partnering with management leaders in core domains to identify, acquire and build market-leading companies through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. GTCR is focused on investing in transformative growth in companies in the Business & Consumer Services, Financial Services & Technology, Healthcare and Technology, Media & Telecommunications sectors. Since its inception, GTCR has invested more than $24 billion in over 270 companies, and the firm currently manages $24 billion in equity capital. GTCR is based in Chicago with offices in New York and West Palm Beach. For more information, please visit www.gtcr.com. Follow us on LinkedIn. Media Contact[email protected] Source: Corza Medical Inc. By Valerie Insinna and Abhijith Ganapavaram (Reuters) - Boeing Co said on Wednesday that it planned to ramp up production of its 737 MAX jets to 38 per month by year-end and keep its annual cash-flow goal, offering some relief to investors after a new manufacturing snafu threatened to derail deliveries. Boeing shares rose 2.5% in early afternoon trade after the company reaffirmed its plans to generate $3 billion to $5 billion in free cash flow this year, as well as deliver 400 to 450 737 MAXs and 70 to 80 787 Dreamliners. Despite Boeing's confidence that it can achieve its targets, 737 deliveries will slow down in the second quarter, as about 75 percent of the 225 MAXs in the company's inventory have been found to have improperly installed brackets -- which connect the vertical tail with the fuselage made by Spirit AeroSystems, Chief Financial Officer Brian West said during an earnings call. Deliveries will increase to about 40 MAXs a month during the back half of the year, he said. "We bounded the issue, we booked the non material financial impact in the quarter," West said. "We understand the rework steps required and we started repairs on several airplanes." Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun called the production flaw a "gnarly defect" that is "impossible" to visibly assess once the brackets are installed and can only be identified by someone witnessing the installation process firsthand. West said it only takes days to fix 737s that are not far into production cycle, but that rework becomes more extensive once the vertical fin is attached to the fuselage. Calhoun said that work could be measured in "weeks". Calhoun said Spirit will begin shipping "clean" 737 fuselages "imminently." Reuters reported earlier this month that Boeing's schedule called for suppliers to produce 38 737 MAXs a month from June. That is seven jets more than its current production rate. West said the timing of the production hike would be dictated by the availability of fuselages. Production of the widebody 787 Dreamliner has stabilized at three, Boeing also announced Wednesday, adding that it would increase to five per month by year-end. "Boeing doesn't really have much choice but to stay the course on its planned production ramp, even if the latest 737 MAX issues will hold up deliveries, add to working capital, and leave the company with a lot to do in the second half," Vertical Research Partners analyst Robert Stallard said in a note to investors. GRAPHIC: Robust start to the year https://www.reuters.com/graphics/BOEING-RESULTS/mypmoxjzqpr/chart_eikon.jpg Boeing's first-quarter cash burn slowed to $786 million from $3.57 billion a year earlier on higher jet deliveries. Planemakers usually receive a major portion of cash when they hand over aircraft. The company reported an adjusted loss per share of $1.27, wider than analyst expectations of a loss of $1.07 per share, per Refinitiv data. Revenue of $17.92 billion beat analyst expectations of $17.57 billion. GRAPHIC: Boeing's losses narrow, but slightly https://www.reuters.com/graphics/BOEING-RESULTS/klvygbmxnvg/chart_eikon.jpg Margins at its defense unit were negative as it recorded a $245 million pre-tax charge on the KC-46 tanker program, putting total pre-tax losses on the program at about $7 billion. (Reporting by Abhijith Ganapavaram in Bengaluru and Valerie Insinna in Washington; Editing by Nick Zieminski, Anil D'Silva, Elaine Hardcastle) FILE PHOTO: A Norfolk Southern train rests near the University of North Carolina's energy generation plant, after delivering coal to the facility, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S. August 11, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Drake (Reuters) -U.S. railroad operator Norfolk Southern Corp took a $387 million charge in the first quarter due to the Ohio freight train derailment and said it expects economic headwinds to weigh on its volume and revenue during the April-June period. Shares of Norfolk, which operates in 22 states and the District of Columbia, slipped 1.1% in afternoon trade on Wednesday. Norfolk has come under heavy fire after one of its freight trains carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio in early February, spewing toxins into the air and water. The U.S. Justice Department sued Norfolk last month, seeking to ensure that the railroad operator pays the full cost of cleanup and any long-term impacts of the derailment. "(The charges) do not reflect any amounts potentially recoverable under the company's insurance policies," the company said on Wednesday, after reporting adjusted quarterly profit above analysts' estimates on the back of robust pricing and demand for freight. The company joined peer Union Pacific in issuing a cautious volume outlook as consumers faced with a slowing economy and sticky inflation tighten their discretionary spending. "Within our Intermodal markets, volume in 2023 will be largely dependent on economic conditions, particularly the health of the American consumer" Norfolk's marketing head, Claude Elkins, said on a post earnings call with analysts. "Looking at the back half of '23, clearly, the economic conditions remain uncertain." Norfolk posted an adjusted profit of $3.32 per share for the first quarter, compared with analysts' average estimate of $3.12 per share, according to Refinitiv data. Revenue rose 7.4% to $3.13 billion, edging past analysts' estimates of $3.11 billion. (Reporting by Amna Karimi and Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu) In the late 18th century, Dutch anthropologist Petrus Camper used what he considered a scientific method of cranial comparisons and facial measurements to study the differences between monkey skulls and the craniums of Black, Asian and European people. He measured the angle of a line drawn between the upper lip and the forehead, and a horizontal line across the face. He noted the different angles of the various heads and established the ideal type of beauty exalted by the ancient Greeks and documented by archaeologist and art historian, Johann Joachim Winckelmann. Naturally, the ideal type belonged to a white person, conclusively proving the superior race. It was also important for this ideal type to remain unsullied and not mix with other races. Racism was now supported by scientific research. Historian George L. Mosses book, Towards the Final Solution, traces the history of racism from its modern origins to the Holocaust. First published in 1978 and recently reissued, the compilation of essays by Mosse includes an introduction by historian Christopher Browning, author of a classic book on the Einsatzgruppen paramilitary death squads of Nazi Germany. In his introduction, Browning writes: Racism substituted myth for reality; and the world that it created, with its stereotypes, virtues, and vices, was a fairytale world, which dangled a utopia before the eyes of those who longed for a way out of the confusion of modernity and the rush of time. The problem, of course, was that this myth led to an unfathomable bloodbath. Mosse sought to reconstruct the cultural background behind that catastrophe. The story of racism is not about an aberration of European thought or scattered moments of madness, but an integral part of the European experience, writes Browning. George Mosse was born in Berlin (1918) and died at 81 in Madison, Wisconsin, in the United States. One of the greatest 20th century historians, Mosse was a homosexual from a wealthy and influential German Jewish family. This double marginalization shaped the course and interests of his whole life. His family fled Germany in 1933 when the Nazis took power and Mosse was sent to study at the University of Cambridge in England. In the 1960s, he emigrated to the U.S. and began teaching at the University of Wisconsin, a notably progressive university. He connected with the student movement of the 1960s, became interested in Nazi culture and ideology, and wrote one of his first significant essays on the intellectual origins of the Third Reich. Mosse sought to shed light on the ideas that permeated and set the course of a dark era in human history. In The Nationalization of the Masses, he showed how certain ideals spread throughout German society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as Wincklemanns fascination with the Greek world and its customs, gymnasiums, choirs, hiking clubs and more. These rituals and collective memories developed into an exalted German nationalism. Hitler found that much of his work had already been done, and he only had to escalate the differences between insiders and outsiders to delirious heights. People like the Jews, who dont belong to our tribe, should be exterminated. Although Mosse abhorred nationalism, he paradoxically drifted in that direction and ultimately became an avowed Zionist. Outward appearances represent inner grace, Mosse observed as he studied the intellectual foundations of racism. It was only a matter of finding a very simple characteristic that would clearly separate people. By the 1850s, racist thought lumped Jews together with Black and yellow people as inferior beings, and the shape of the nose assumed an important distinguishing role. In Toward the Final Solution, Mosse identifies 18th-century Europe as the cradle of racism. He reveals how both the Enlightenment, with its eagerness to classify various peoples and its exaltation of Greek beauty, and Pietistic Lutheranism, with its emphasis on living a holy Christian life, planted the seeds of what would eventually become a scavenger ideology. Then, German philosopher Johann von Herder came along in the 18th century talking about the Volksgeist the spirit of the people or the national character. Herder argued that history was not shaped by humans, but followed a divine plan. Darwin championed theories of natural selection and survival of the fittest. Neither one was racist, but their ideas contributed to a narrative that exalted the power and grace of a chosen people over the burdensome masses. Mosse describes the new debate that arose about which European peoples had a greater love of freedom. Its surprising to read in Mosses book about how racism not only spread throughout nationalist ideologies but also infected Christian and socialist views. Mosse notes that Alphonse Toussenel, Charles Fourier and Pierre Joseph Proudhon were all socialists who considered the Jewish race predatory, competitive, and without morality, and was therefore to be excluded from participation in a genuinely national and socialist community. Racism mixed with strong doses of nationalism and anti-Semitism turned into the lethal poison that later enabled the Nazis to exterminate six million Jews. World War One set the stage. From then on, Mosse notes, political participation was defined by a political liturgy in mass movements or in the streets, seeking security through national myths and symbols that left little or no room for those who were different. Jews were inextricably linked with the excesses of the capitalist financial system and later associated with the counterrevolutionary Bolsheviks after the Russian Revolution. When Hitler became chancellor on January 30, 1933, racism became the official policy of the German government and everyone knows about the horror that followed. One of Mosses main themes was to show was how racism enabled people to exalt themselves over supposedly inferior beings, so when the time came, all the architects of the Final Solution looked in the mirror of middle-class respectability and liked what they saw. They could not see the orgy of blood, obscured by the shining brilliance of the Aryan race. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Patent provides exclusive use through 2040 of tafenoquine for treatment of COVID-19 and other lung infections. Tafenoquine is the active molecule in 60Ps FDA-approved drug for malaria prevention, ARAKODA . for treatment of COVID-19 and other lung infections. is the active molecule in 60Ps FDA-approved drug for malaria prevention, ARAKODA . Data from a Phase II study completed last year suggest a positive therapeutic signal in mild-moderate COVID-19 disease using the ARAKODA regimen of tafenoquine . . Later this year the Company will launch a Phase IIB study enrolling COVID-19 patients in 30 U.S. outpatient clinics. 60P expects Phase IIB study will demonstrate ARAKODA regimen of tafenoquine accelerates time to sustained clinical recovery from COVID-19 symptoms. WASHINGTON, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals (60P), specialists in developing and marketing medicines for infectious diseases, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a patent covering the use of tafenoquine as a treatment for COVID-19 disease. Tafenoquine is the active molecule in the Companys FDA-approved regimen for malaria prevention, ARAKODA. 60P now owns the exclusive rights for the use of tafenoquine for treatment of viral lung infections including COVID-19 in the U.S. through 2040. ARAKODA, an oral tablet containing 100 mg of a tafenoquine base, is indicated for the prophylaxis of malaria in patients aged 18 years and older for up to 6 months of continuous dosing in the U.S. ARAKODA is not currently FDA-approved for the treatment of symptoms caused by the COVID-19 virus. 60P plans to conduct a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase IIB trial to study the efficacy of the ARAKODA regimen of tafenoquine in COVID-19 patients with mild-moderate symptoms and low risk of disease progression. The primary endpoint of the Phase IIB study will be time to sustained clinical recovery from COVID-19 symptoms. The study will enroll patients in 30 out-patient clinics across the U.S. The Company is also planning a larger study that will commence in 2024. Data from a Phase II study published in New Microbes and New Infections, Vol. 47, April May 2022, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal, suggested a positive therapeutic signal in mild-moderate COVID-19 disease using the ARAKODA regimen of tafenoquine; the time to clinical recovery from COVID-19 symptoms was accelerated by about 2 2.5 days in the tafenoquine arm. Public health interest in combating COVID-19 remains high. Currently marketed FDA-approved oral COVID-19 therapeutics are not appropriate for use by at least 25 percent of the U.S. population who do not have risk factors for progression to severe disease or by travelers who may wish to protect themselves from COVID-19 for extended periods an unaddressed multi-billion-dollar market opportunity. 60P is optimistic that the ARAKODA regimen of tafenoquine will play an important role in public health efforts to address gaps in the standard of care for COVID-19. About the ARAKODA Regimen of Tafenoquine for COVID-19 Clinical trial data suggesting the ARAKODA regimen of tafenoquine exhibits a positive therapeutic signal in mild-moderate COVID-19 disease were published last year in New Microbes and New Infections, Vol. 47, April May 2022, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal. The drug increased the proportion of clinically recovered patients by between 9 percent (intent to treat population) and 14 percent (per protocol population); the drug decreased the proportion of clinically unrecovered patients by between 27 percent (intent to treat population) and 47 percent (per protocol population) but was underpowered to show statistical significance for the primary endpoint due to early termination of the study at n=86 patients. Results also showed that time to clinical recovery from COVID-19 symptoms was accelerated by about 2 2.5 days in the tafenoquine arm of the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase II study. About ARAKODA (tafenoquine) Tafenoquine was discovered by Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the current study was funded by the United States Army Medical & Materiel Development Activity. Tafenoquine was approved for malaria prophylaxis in 2018 in the United States as ARAKODA and in Australia as KODATEF. Both were commercially launched in 2019 and are currently distributed through pharmaceutical wholesaler networks in each respective country. They are available at retail pharmacies as a prescription-only malaria prevention drug. It has been shown that tafenoquine inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in monkey kidney and human epithelial cells, and pharmacokinetic simulations suggest lung levels at the FDA-approved dose for malaria prevention may exceed the EC90 of the drug. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the long terminal half-life of tafenoquine, which is approximately 16 days, may offer potential advantages in less-frequent dosing for prophylaxis for malaria. ARAKODA is not suitable for everyone and patients and prescribers should review the Important Safety Information below. ARAKODA (tafenoquine) Important Safety Information ARAKODA is an antimalarial indicated for the prophylaxis of malaria in patients aged 18 years of age and older. Important Safety Information Contraindications ARAKODA should not be administered to: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency or unknown G6PD status Breastfeeding by a lactating woman when the infant is found to be G6PD deficient or if G6PD status is unknown Patients with a history of psychotic disorders or current psychotic symptoms Known hypersensitivity reactions to tafenoquine, other 8-aminoquinolines, or any component of ARAKODA Warnings and Precautions Warnings and Precautions Hemolytic Anemia: G6PD testing must be performed before prescribing ARAKODA due to the risk of hemolytic anemia. Monitor patients for signs or symptoms of hemolysis. G6PD testing must be performed before prescribing due to the risk of hemolytic anemia. Monitor patients for signs or symptoms of hemolysis. G6PD Deficiency in Pregnancy or Lactation: ARAKODA may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman with a G6PD-deficient fetus. ARAKODA is not recommended during pregnancy. A G6PD-deficient infant may be at risk for hemolytic anemia from exposure to ARAKODA through breast milk. Check infants G6PD status before breastfeeding begins. may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman with a G6PD-deficient fetus. is not recommended during pregnancy. A G6PD-deficient infant may be at risk for hemolytic anemia from exposure to ARAKODA through breast milk. Check infants G6PD status before breastfeeding begins. Methemoglobinemia: Asymptomatic elevations in blood methemoglobin have been observed. Initiate appropriate therapy if signs or symptoms of methemoglobinemia occur. Asymptomatic elevations in blood methemoglobin have been observed. Initiate appropriate therapy if signs or symptoms of methemoglobinemia occur. Psychiatric Effects: Serious psychotic adverse reactions have been observed in patients with a history of psychosis or schizophrenia, at doses different from the approved dose. If psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, or grossly disorganized thinking or behavior) occur, consider discontinuation of ARAKODA therapy and evaluation by a mental health professional as soon as possible. Serious psychotic adverse reactions have been observed in patients with a history of psychosis or schizophrenia, at doses different from the approved dose. If psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, or grossly disorganized thinking or behavior) occur, consider discontinuation of therapy and evaluation by a mental health professional as soon as possible. Hypersensitivity Reactions: Serious hypersensitivity reactions have been observed with administration of ARAKODA . If hypersensitivity reactions occur, institute appropriate therapy. Serious hypersensitivity reactions have been observed with administration of . If hypersensitivity reactions occur, institute appropriate therapy. Delayed Adverse Reactions: Due to the long half-life of ARAKODA, (approximately 17 days), psychiatric effects, hemolytic anemia, methemoglobinemia, and hypersensitivity reactions may be delayed in onset and/or duration. Adverse Reactions The most common adverse reactions (incidence 1 percent) were: headache, dizziness, back pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), motion sickness, insomnia, depression, abnormal dreams, and anxiety. Drug Interactions Avoid co-administration with drugs that are substrates of organic cation transporter-2 (OCT2) or multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE) transporters. Use in Specific Populations Lactation: Advise women not to breastfeed a G6PD-deficient infant or infant with unknown G6PD status during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of ARAKODA. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals at 1-888-834-0225 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. ARAKODA full prescribing information is here. About 60 Degree Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc., founded in 2010, focuses on discovering, developing and distributing new medicines for the treatment and prevention of tropical diseases, including malaria and dengue. 60Ps mission is supported through in-kind funding from the United States Department of Defense. The Company also collaborates with prominent research organizations in the U.S., Australia and Singapore. In addition, 60P has been funded by Knight Therapeutics Inc., a Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company that obtained FDA approval for Impavido, a product for leishmaniasis, a tropical disease, and monetized a PRV. 60P is headquartered in Washington D.C., with a majority-owned subsidiary in Australia. Learn more at www.60degreespharma.com. Forward-Looking Statements The statements contained herein may include prospects, statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. The statements expressed herein are those of 60P and do not necessarily represent those of the United States Department of Defense or the Department of the United States Army. Forward-looking terminology, such as may, will, should, expect, anticipate, project, estimate, intend, continue or believe or the negatives thereof, or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, may discuss our plans, strategies, prospects and expectations concerning our business, operating results, financial condition and other similar matters. However, we are not able to predict accurately or control these matters. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date on which we make it. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Media Contact:Sheila A. BurkeMethod Health Communications[email protected]484-667-6330 Source: Sixty Degrees Pharmaceuticals Basel/Allschwil, Switzerland, April 26, 2023 Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd (SIX: BSLN), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to meeting the needs of patients with severe bacterial or fungal infections, reported that shareholders approved all proposals of the board of directors at todays annual general meeting (AGM) for the financial year 2022. At the AGM, the shareholders approved the annual report, the financial statements and the consolidated financial statements for the financial year 2022. They also endorsed carrying forward the accumulated deficit and approved the discharge of the members of the board of directors and the management committee. Mr. Domenico Scala was re-elected as chairman and Mr. Leonard Kruimer, Dr. Martin Nicklasson, Dr. Nicole Onetto and Dr. Thomas Werner were re-elected as members of the board of directors. Dr. Carole Sable was elected as new member of the board. In addition, Dr. Nicklasson, Dr. Onetto and Dr. Werner were re-elected to the compensation committee. The term of all board members lasts until the AGM 2024. Domenico Scala, chairman of the board, said: On behalf of the board of directors, I am pleased to welcome Dr. Carole Sable as the newest member of our board. Dr. Sable brings with her over 30 years of experience in the field of infectious diseases, as both a physician and in senior positions in the pharmaceutical industry. We are confident that her extensive expertise in anti-infectives research and development will prove to be of great value in our aim of becoming a leading global anti-infectives company. The shareholders also approved the proposed maximum aggregate amount of compensation for the board of directors for the period from the AGM 2023 to the AGM 2024, and the maximum aggregate amount of compensation for the management committee for the financial year 2024. In a non-binding advisory vote, the shareholders endorsed the compensation report for the financial year 2022. The shareholders also approved the proposed amendments to the articles of association, which were necessary, firstly, to meet the requirements of the revision of the Swiss corporate law and in addition, to reflect the move of the company to Allschwil, and the commitment of Basilea to the sustainability of its activities. The shareholders approved the proposed amendment of the articles of association to introduce a capital band, including conditional capital based on the capital band. Finally, the shareholders re-elected Dr. Caroline Cron as independent proxy until the end of the next AGM and re-elected PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd, Basel, as auditors for the financial year 2023. At the AGM, 33.1% of the share capital, equivalent to 55.6% of the shares entitled to vote, was represented. In total, 68.5% of the share capital is currently registered in Basileas share register. About Basilea Basilea is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Switzerland. We are committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative drugs to meet the needs of patients with severe bacterial or fungal infections. We have successfully launched two hospital brands, Cresemba for the treatment of invasive fungal infections and Zevtera for the treatment of bacterial infections. In addition, we have preclinical anti-infective assets in our portfolio. Basilea is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Please visit basilea.com. Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information, please contact: Peer Nils Schroder, PhD Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd, Allschwil Hegenheimermattweg 167b 4123 Allschwil Switzerland Phone +41 61 606 1102 E-mail [email protected] [email protected] This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com. Press Release (PDF) Short-term contract extension for Espoir Ivoirien BW Offshore Limited has signed a short-term extension for the lease and operation of the FPSO Espoir Ivoirien in order to discuss a potential purchase of the FPSO by the client. The firm period has been extended until 1 June 2023. The FPSO is operating on the Espoir field offshore the Ivory Coast. For further information, please contact: Stale Andreassen, CFO, +47 91 71 86 55 Anders S. Platou, Head of Corporate Finance & Strategy, +47 99 50 47 40 [email protected] or www.bwoffshore.com About BW Offshore: BW Offshore engineers innovative floating production solutions. The Company has a fleet of 8 FPSOs with potential and ambition to grow. By leveraging four decades of offshore operations and project execution, the Company creates tailored offshore energy solutions for evolving markets world-wide. BW Offshore has around 2,000 employees and is publicly listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. SAN JOSE, Calif., April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the utilitys efforts to enhance the quality of life in its Los Angeles County communities, the Los Angeles Business Journal honored California Water Service (Cal Water) with the Outstanding Social Responsibility Award at its 2023 Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards. The awards program recognizes the nonprofit communitys work along with the individuals and businesses that support them. Cal Waters East Los Angeles and Rancho Dominguez Districts serve a population of about 530,000 in Los Angeles County. The utility donates much-needed funds to local community organizations that help those in need, such as at-risk youth, veterans, the unhoused, and those who are food insecure; it also supports causes that promote youth development, sustainability, economic growth, and more. Cal Water has also established its own focused initiatives and gives back through its Firefighter Grant Program, College Scholarship Program, and H2O Challenge water education program. Additionally, Cal Water encourages its employees to volunteer their time to local organizations and matches employees charitable contributions. Beyond our dedication to providing safe, clean, reliable, and affordable water service to our communities and being a responsible steward of the environment, we strive to make our communities a better place through our corporate citizenship efforts and community partnerships, said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Cal Water President and Chief Executive Officer. We are honored to be recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal and congratulate the other finalists in our category for their critically important work in the community, namely AltaMed, Armanino, Farmers & Merchants Bank, and Verizon. About California Water ServiceCalifornia Water Service provides high-quality, reliable water utility services to about 2 million people statewide through 496,400 service connections. What sets Cal Water apart is its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its customers and communities. Guided daily by their promise to provide quality, service, and value, the utilitys employees lead the way in working to protect the planet, care for people, and operate with the utmost integrity. Integral to Cal Waters strategy is investing responsibly in infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and community well-being. The utility has been named one of Americas Most Responsible Companies and Americas Most Trustworthy Companies by Newsweek and a Great Place to Work. More information is available at www.calwater.com. Contact: Yvonne Kingman, 310-257-1434 Source: California Water Service Group BETHESDA, Md., April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Castellum, Inc. (NYSE-American: CTM), a cybersecurity and electronic warfare services company focused on the federal government, announces that EF Hutton has initiated research coverage of Castellum with a Buy rating. We are excited to have research coverage initiated by EF Hutton, said Mark Fuller, President and CEO of Castellum. EF Hutton assisted us with our uplisting last October and now has provided an independent review of our business in a format which investors may find useful. We hope to attract research coverage from other analysts as our business grows and investor awareness of Castellum increases. Our focus remains on continuing to grow our business aggressively via both organic growth and acquisition to exceed the forecasted numbers which EF Hutton included in their report. We have one pending non-binding letter of intent which we continue to work to complete and are also in discussions with several other companies about potential transactions. Organically, we have several meaningful growth opportunities which we are tracking and working to convert to revenue this year. Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or the future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and in the Companys 10-K and other SEC filings disclosed at www.sec.gov. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Specifically, the referenced non-binding letter of intent to acquire a company may not close as it is subject to the execution of definitive agreements. Contact: Skyline Corporate Communications Group, LLC Lisa Gray, Senior Account Manager One Rockefeller Plaza, 11th Floor New York, NY 10020 Office: 646.893.5835 x1 Email: [email protected]; [email protected] An image accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3d50dfb9-2647-4724-beff-c63cb739a353 Castellum, Inc. Announces Initiation of Buy Rating by EF Hutton https://castellumus.com/. EF Hutton has initiated research coverage of Castellum with a Buy rating - https://efhuttongroup.com/ Source: Castellum, Inc. RUSTON, La., April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Century Next Financial Corporation (the Company) (OTCQX: CTUY), the holding company of Century Next Bank, with $696 million in assets, today announced financial results for the 1st quarter ended March 31, 2023. Financial Performance For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company had net income after tax of $1.06 million compared to net income of $1.09 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, a decrease of $34,000 or 3.1%. Earnings per share (EPS) for the three months ended March 31, 2023 were $0.59 per basic and diluted share compared to $0.62 per basic and diluted share reported for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Balance Sheet Overall, total assets increased by $52.7 million or 8.2% to $696 million at March 31, 2023 compared to $643.3 million at December 31, 2022. Total cash and cash equivalents increased from $42.4 million at December 31, 2022 to $66.5 million at March 31, 2023 for an increase of $24.1 million or 56.9%. Investment securities, primarily available for sale, increased by $2.9 million to $29 million at March 31, 2023 from $26.1 million at December 31, 2022. The growth in cash and cash equivalents and available for sale investment securities provided added strength to the Companys liquidity position during the first quarter ending March 31, 2023. Loans, net of deferred fees and costs and the allowance for credit losses, including loans held for sale, increased $25.5 million or 4.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022. Total net loans at March 31, 2023 were $563.4 million compared to $537.9 million at December 31, 2022. Of total net loans outstanding for each period, loans secured by commercial real estate increase $13.4 million followed by $7.2 million in commercial non-real estate loans, $2.1 million in land loans, $1.9 million in residential 1-4 family real estate loans, and $1.5 million in multi-family real estate loans, and $1.5 million in all other real estate loans for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The increases were offset by a combined decrease of $2 million in residential 1-4 family - held for sale, consumer loans, and other agricultural loans for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Deposit growth was strong for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 as total deposits increased by $50.9 million or 9.1% to $611.3 million at March 31, 2023 compared to $560.4 million at December 31, 2022. Noninterest-bearing checking increased $71.0 million and money market accounts increased $467,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The increases were offset by a decrease of $11.1 million in time deposits, $6.8 million in savings accounts, and $2.6 million in interest-bearing checking for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Total long-term borrowings remained the same at $8.5 million at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. Income Statement Net interest income was $5.51 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to $5.20 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. This was an increase of $315,000, or 6.1%. The average rate on earning assets increased to 5.20% at March 31, 2023 compared to 4.38% at March 31, 2022. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased to 2.36% at March 31, 2023 compared to 0.55% at March 31, 2022. The increase in yield on earning assets and cost of interest-bearing liabilities were both the result of continuing increases in rates as the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve Board continued aggressively raising rates. The net interest margin was 3.45% for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to 3.95% for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The Company implemented the Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) methodology for determining the adequacy of the Allowance for Credit Losses (ACL) as required by Accounting Standard Codification (ASC) 326 for the three months ended March 31, 2023. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, a provision for credit losses of $138,000 was expensed using the CECL methodology compared to $126,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 under the previous accounting guidance. Total non-interest income amounted to $781,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to $918,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022, a decrease of $137,000 or 14.9%. Gain on sale of foreclosed assets and other income increased by $13,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. Income from mortgage activity including loan servicing release fees and the net gain on the sale of loans from the sale of held-for-sale mortgage loans decreased by $106,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022. Service charges on deposit accounts also decreased by $44,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022. Total non-interest expense increased by $268,000 or 5.9% to $4.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to $4.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The largest component contributing to the total increase was an increase in salaries and employee benefits of $159,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022. All other expenses combined increased $109,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022. The Companys efficiency ratio, a measure of expense as a percent of total income, increased to 76.95% for the year three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to 74.81% for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Other Financial Information Nonperforming assets, including loans past due 90 days or more, nonaccrual loans, and other foreclosed assets, decreased from $1.64 million at December 31, 2022 to $1.44 million at March 31, 2023, a decrease of $199,000. Total non-performing assets were 0.21% and 0.25% of totals assets as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Allowance for credit losses under CECL was $5.96 million or 1.05% of total loans at March 31, 2023 compared to the allowance for loan losses under previous guidance of $5.81 million or 1.07% of total loans at December 31, 2022. Net recoveries for the three months ended March 31, 2023 were $15,000, compared $57,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The ratio of net recoveries to average loans outstanding was 0.003% at March 31, 2023 compared to the ratio of net recoveries to average loans outstanding was 0.013% for the same period of 2022. Dividend Declaration The Board of Directors has approved a cash dividend of $0.32 per share payable on June 8, 2023 to shareholders of record as of May 25, 2023. Company Information Century Next Financial Corporation is the holding company for Century Next Bank (the Bank) which conducts business from its main office in Ruston, Louisiana. The Company was formed in 2010 and is subject to the regulatory oversight of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary and is an insured federally-chartered covered savings association subject to the regulatory oversight of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Bank was established in 1905 and is headquartered in Ruston, Louisiana. The Bank is a full-service bank with four locations in Louisiana including two banking offices in Ruston, one banking office in Monroe, one banking office in West Monroe, and three locations in Arkansas including two banking offices in Crossett and one banking office in Hamburg. The Bank emphasizes professional and personal banking service directed primarily to small and medium-sized businesses, professionals, and individuals. The Bank provides a full range of banking services including its primary business of real estate lending to residential and commercial customers. Statements contained in this news release which are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words like believe, expect, anticipate, estimate, and intend or future or conditional verbs such as will, would, should, could, or may. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. Century Next Financial Corporation and SubsidiaryCondensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data) March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 66,545 $ 42,410 Investment securities 31,038 28,121 Loans, net 563,449 537,932 Other assets 34,945 34,855 TOTAL ASSETS $ 695,977 $ 643,318 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Deposits $ 611,294 $ 560,383 Short-term borrowings 6,000 6,000 Long-term borrowings 8,454 8,454 Other liabilities 4,242 3,977 Total Liabilities 629,990 578,814 Stockholders' equity 65,987 64,504 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 695,977 $ 643,318 Book Value per share $ 36.27 $ 35.50 Century Next Financial Corporation and SubsidiaryConsolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended March 31 2023 2022 Interest Income $ 8,312 $ 5,760 Interest Expense 2,801 564 Net Interest Income 5,511 5,196 Provision for Credit Losses 138 126 Net Interest Income after Provision for Expected Losses 5,373 5,070 Noninterest Income 781 918 Noninterest Expense 4,842 4,574 Income Before Taxes 1,312 1,414 Provision For Income Taxes 254 322 NET INCOME $ 1,058 $ 1,092 EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic $ 0.59 $ 0.62 Diluted $ 0.59 $ 0.62 Century Next Financial Corporation Contact Information: William D. Hogan, President & Chief Executive Officer or Mark A. Taylor, CPA CGMA, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer(318) 255-3733 Company Website: www.cnext.bank Source: Century Next Bank RICHLAND, Wash., April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Christensen Inc., a leading distributor of fuels, lubricants, and propane in the western US, is proud to announce a tax exemption initiative for Washington's agriculture customers, alleviating Cap-and-Invest fees on propane and fuel purchases. This distinctive offering exemplifies Christensen's dedication to fostering the growth of the agriculture industry while balancing environmental concerns. Implemented in early 2023, the Climate Commitment Act targets greenhouse gas emissions reduction in Washington State. The act includes a Cap-and-Invest program, mandating suppliers to purchase allowances for their carbon emissions on fuel and propane, with the costs passed on to consumers. Christensen's strong reputation with suppliers has led to the company being chosen as one of the select few distributors in the state offering Cap-and-Invest exemptions to all eligible agriculture customers purchasing propane or fuel for both transport and tank wagon loads. This exemption aims to alleviate financial pressures on farmers, enabling them to operate efficiently and sustainably. "Propane and fuel are indispensable to the agriculture industry, powering vital equipment and supplying heat for diverse applications such as crop drying and greenhouse heating," stated Glenn Thomas, Vice President of Supply and Logistics. "We take pride in supporting Washington's agriculture community and offering this exemption as a testament to our dedication to exceptional customer service and transparent pricing." Christensen stands firmly behind the agriculture industry, recognizing its crucial role in our everyday lives. The sector is the nation's economic backbone, providing food, fiber, and essential products. The unwavering commitment of farmers and ranchers ensures the availability of countless items we rely on daily. For more information on the Cap-and-Invest program and details on how AG customers can qualify for this exemption, please visit our blog. We are committed to helping our customers navigate the complexities of the program and take advantage of the benefits available to them. ABOUT CHRISTENSEN, INC. Established in 1935, Christensen is a family-owned and operated distributor of fuels, lubricants, and propane. Headquartered in Richland, Washington, the company proudly serves customers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Arizona while offering comprehensive nationwide fleet card services. Discover more at Christensen Newsroom and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.Contact: [email protected]. Source: Christensen, Inc COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Core Molding Technologies, Inc. (NYSE American: CMT) (Core Molding, Core or the Company), a leading engineered materials company specializing in molded structural products, principally in building products, utilities, transportation and powersports industries across North America, today announces that it will release its first quarter fiscal 2023 results on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, before the market opens. In conjunction with the release, the Company has scheduled a conference call, which will be broadcast live over the internet the same day at 10:00am Eastern. By Phone: Dial 1-844-881-0134 at least 10 minutes before the call and ask to join the Core Molding Technologies call. A replay will be available through May 16th by dialing 1-877-344-7529 and using the conference ID: 9682264#. By Webcast: Connect to the webcast via the Events and Presentations page of Core Moldings Investor Relations website at www.coremt.com/investor-relations/events-presentations/. Please log in at least 10 minutes in advance to register and download any necessary software. A replay will be available shortly after the call. About Core Molding Technologies, Inc. Core Molding Technologies is a leading engineered materials company specializing in molded structural products, principally in building products, utilities, transportation and powersports industries across North America. The Company operates in one operating segment as a molder of thermoplastic and thermoset structural products. The Companys operating segment consists of one reporting unit, Core Molding Technologies. The Company offers customers a wide range of manufacturing processes to fit various program volume and investment requirements. These processes include compression molding of sheet molding compound (SMC), resin transfer molding (RTM), liquid molding of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD), spray-up and hand-lay-up, direct long-fiber thermoplastics (D-LFT) and structural foam and structural web injection molding (SIM). Core Molding Technologies serves a wide variety of markets, including the medium and heavy-duty truck, marine, automotive, agriculture, construction, and other commercial products. The demand for Core Molding Technologies products is affected by economic conditions in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Core Molding Technologies operations my change proportionately more than revenues from operations. Company Contact:Core Molding Technologies, Inc.John ZimmerExecutive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer614-870-5604 Investor Relations Contact:Three Part Advisors, LLCSandy Martin or Steven Hooser214-616-2207 Source: Core Molding Technologies, Inc. KENT, Wash., April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Custom Cones USA, the cannabis industry experts in pre-rolls and cannabis packaging solutions, today announced that they have retained Oak Public Relations, a leading communications agency, as agency of record for all communications efforts. Custom Cones USA and Oak PR will work together to expand the presence of Custom Cones USA at conferences and trade shows, as well as publicize the companys blog content, while introducing the Custom Cones USA leadership as industry experts to targeted media. Oak PR is the first agency that Custom Cones USA have selected to work with as the company looks to expand its offerings and industry presence in 2023 and beyond. Custom Cones USA, renowned as B2B wholesale specialists with expertise across the pre-roll world and the widest array of products of their competitors, are in the midst of an exciting period of growth for the company. With pre-rolls taking a larger piece of the cannabis industry than ever before, and more states opening up medical and/or adult-use cannabis sales programs, Custom Cones USA is positioned to impact the overall cannabis marketplace like few other businesses can. The company offers a consultative approach to their partners and the best customer service in the pre-roll industry. Hiring Oak PR as our agency of record is a natural next step in expanding the reach of our companys message and growing our team, said Harrison Bard, co-founder of Custom Cones USA. The Custom Cones USA and Oak PR teams align in our passion and dedication working helping the industry grow, making Oak PR the perfect partner for this next step. The ambition of the Custom Cones USA team to be the most compliant and comprehensive pre-roll supply company in the cannabis industry absolutely drives our own excitement in working with Harrison and the team," said Drew Tybus, founder and CEO of Oak PR. We look forward to telling their story in a meaningful and disruptive ways that get people talking. Oak PR is expanding into the cannabis pre-roll supplies, equipment and packaging sector of the industry with this partnership, bringing the perspective of the Custom Cones USA team into the industry. Custom Cones USA tests every product for heavy metals, pesticides, and microbials. The company donates 10% of profits from its Cones for a Cause line to its charity of the same name benefiting LGBTQ+ breast cancer research foundations, and USA Veterans cones, and encourages all partners to do the same. About Custom Cones USAFounded in 2017 by Harrison Bard and Fredrik Rading, Custom Cones USA is a leading pre-roll resource in the cannabis industry. The team has a wealth of knowledge about all aspects of pre-roll manufacturing and the entire pre-roll sector of the cannabis space. From custom-branded pre-rolled cones and wholesale bulk cones, to completely customized pre-roll packaging projects and pre-roll machines, they offer expertise and solutions to companies big and small in all sectors of the pre-roll space. Custom Cones USA wants to help their customers operate with relative ease and ensure both the companies and their customers to have the highest quality smoking experience. Media ContactOak PR Cate McLoughlin[email protected] Source: Custom Cones USA Boston, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Duck Creek Technologies, the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance, announces today that it has been selected by Silicon Valley telematics startup, Novo Insurance, as its technology platform of choice for policy, billing, insights, and data hub solutions. Duck Creek OnDemand enables Novo Insurance to bring its auto insurance products to market more quickly using its low-code and configurable open architecture platform. Novo Insurance is a subsidiary of the parent company Telenav, a leading provider of connected car and location-based software and services. Its software runs on tens of millions of vehicles from some of the worlds largest automotive manufacturers. Novo is currently looking to launch in multiple states in 2023 offering daily route recommendations by looking at real-time road intelligence, live data updates, and historical safety scores by leveraging powerful analytics based on Novos extensive Location Based Services capabilities. Novo is quickly bringing auto insurance innovations to US consumers using their rich location-based technology, said Jess Keeney, Chief Product and Technology Officer Duck, Creek Technologies. As a start-up operation, Novo Insurance recognized that Duck Creeks modern cloud solutions are market-leading and trusted. With simplified low-code configuration, they saw that we will get them where they want to be across their US and global markets quickly and efficiently. Duck Creek is known for their excellence in their SaaS-based core systems and provide the highest level of quality and performance, said Sal Dhanani, COO and Co-founder of Telenav. By partnering with them, we are able to launch new products quickly, reach new customers, and provide differentiated consumer experiences." About Telenav Telenav is a leading provider of connected car and location-based software and services, focused on transforming life on the go for people with safe, convenient, and delightful in-vehicle digital experiences. Our software and services run on tens of millions of vehicles from some of the worlds largest automotive manufacturers. To learn more about how Telenav is enabling automotive companies deliver unique user experiences in their vehicles visit www.telenav.com. Copyright 2021 Telenav, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Telenav and the Telenav logo are registered trademarks of Telenav, Inc. Unless otherwise noted, all other trademarks, service marks, and logos used in this press release are the trademarks, service marks or logos of their respective owners. About Duck Creek Technologies Duck Creek Technologies is the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of the property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance industry. We are the platform upon which modern insurance systems are built, enabling the industry to capitalize on the power of the cloud to run agile, intelligent, and evergreen operations. Authenticity, purpose, and transparency are core to Duck Creek, and we believe insurance should be there for individuals and businesses when, where, and how they need it most. Our market-leading solutions are available on a standalone basis or as a full suite, and all are available via Duck Creek OnDemand. Visit www.duckcreek.com to learn more. Follow Duck Creek on our social channels for the latest information LinkedIn and Twitter. Carley Bunch Duck Creek Technologies +1-201-962-6091 [email protected] Source: Duck Creek Technologies On Saturday, January 14, 2017, a notification rattled the silenced cell phones of students crowding the library at Londons Goldsmiths University. Everyone was sharing the tweet that the @Repeaterbooks account had just posted: In memory of Mark Fisher (1968-2017). An inspiration and a friend. Our thoughts are with his family. Repeater Books was Fishers publisher and the one that had just released The Weird and the Eerie, the latest essay by the professor at Goldsmiths Visual Culture department. Fisher was 48 years old. We sat in silence, trying to get on with our work between brief, dismayed outbursts of disbelief. After a few minutes, we stopped. Someone said, What am I doing? Whats the point now? That night, our worst fears were confirmed. On Friday, January 13, Mark Fisher had taken his own life. What his disciple (and former student) wrote about the impact of the thinkers death in the first pages of Egress: On Mourning, Melancholy and Mark Fisher (Repeater Books, 2020) would come to encapsulate the state of suspension in which a good part of Fishers followers were left after his death. Not only his students mourned the loss of their teacher. Six years after he ended his life, why does Fisher remain one of the thinkers whom the youth of the radical left cling to the most? What did this son of a cleaner and an engineer from Leicester do that meant the internet would keep sharing poetic still lifes with his books, memes of his quotes (and publishing essays such as The Memeing of Mark Fisher by Mike Watson)? Why does his pedagogical tact garner twice as many millions of TikTok views in comparison to the clips advocating the theses of Byung-Chul Han, his antithesis in the pop philosophical reading of the present? Fisher was not only the teacher for whom his students painted a mural that still survives at Goldsmiths. From the early 2000s, he was also one of the most politically committed and respected cultural critics on the internet through his K-punk blog. He argued that capitalism is anything but an inevitable natural order: the casualization of labor, the intensification of consumer culture, the expansion of social control mechanisms and the increase in mental illness are not honest mistakes of the system, but the attempt to block any collective capacity for change. His way of converging pop culture criticism with his political and philosophical positions, without any kind of snobbery, has a lot to do with the interests and consumption of the new generations, say Ezequiel Fanego and Diego Esteras, his editors at Caja Negra. The Argentine publishing house has translated part of Fishers work into Spanish and brought him even closer to those twenty-somethings whose ideas he challenges so much. Curiously, a thinker in his fifties, coming out of the Ballardian and punk cybernetic counterculture, with a musical taste in keeping with his age Joy Division, Grace Jones or The Jam, passing through the technominimal of Ricardo Villalobos or the dubstep of Burial , has been the one who has best connected with the disaffection of the children of the 2008 recession. A bond forged by dealing openly with his mental health problems and opting for a writing style that was, as he himself put it, popular essay writing without being populist, intellectual without being academic. Without cynicism or condescension, without differentiating between high and low culture. For Fisher, a Kanye West album or a mainstream film like The Hunger Games can be just as relevant, and even more symptomatic of the present, as a supposedly more elevated piece of art, his Spanish-language editors say. Fanego and Esteras say that the Spanish version of Capitalist Realism: Is there no alternative? (2009), in which Fisher argues for a way out of capitalist acceleration without succumbing to nostalgic withdrawal, has become the best-selling title in their collection 8,000 copies sold in Spain. Every year it sells more and more. Its one of the few books of ours for which thats happened. No to the nostalgic left In a context as anti-intellectualist as the one in which we are currently, where there is a disturbing complicity between the economic powers of the elites and a common sense like banality that seeks to be modeled by them, Fishers message is more than timely, says philosopher German Cano. The professor at the Complutense University in Madrid, Spain, also seeks to transform the unease he perceives in his students and has just published Mark Fisher: los espectros del tardocapitalismo [Mark Fisher: the specters of late capitalism] (Gedisa). The text is a revision of the theory that grabbed the spirit of its time by the scruff of the neck and argued that the neoliberalism of the late seventies blocked the possibility of the future, leaving us resigned to being unable to build freeing alternatives. Or why, as Fredric Jameson and Slavoj Zizek have summarized in relation to that text, it seems that it is easier for us to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism. Fisher was clear: either the left would support the desires created by modernity or it would cease to be the left, says Cano. And he vindicates the alliances between culture and the working class that Fisher promulgated before that more hegemonic discourse on the right and unfortunately, the left that upholds the idea that simple people are destined to matters of the stomach and necessity, while the elites are destined to sophistication and luxury. The pessimistic paradox Through what he labeled in Capitalist Realism as depressive hedonia, Fisher described a generation caught in a work-life loop in endless pursuit of melancholic pleasure from a sense of having no future. If Fishers thesis continues to resonate, its because his observations have gotten worse, explains his disciple Matt Colquhoun. In a recent talk about Fisher with students in Ireland, he was able to attest to this decline among post-adolescents. They are now addicted to TikTok, possibly diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (or another ailment that ignores their material conditions) and they struggle to concentrate in order to read the books that challenge them. They are aware that things are worse. And they hate it, adds the editor of Postcapitalist Desire: Mark Fisher. The Final Lectures. Colquhoun celebrates the fact that it is more popular than ever, but laments the paradox that Fisher is now being approached in the same way he himself condemned his own students approach to philosophy. In his texts, he lamented that the youth wanted to consume Nietzsche like a hamburger when the difficulty of philosophy is precisely the point of it all, he clarifies. After his suicide, Fisher has had an undeniable influence on the new generation of thinkers who have grown up with the internet; those who no longer distinguish between their experience on and offline. Argentine writer and author of the essay The End of Love, Tamara Tenenbaum confesses to being a follower and often quotes the British writers work. It has the cultural criticism that interests me, the one I want to learn: the one that thinks about culture seriously, with genuine curiosity. There is something very carnal, very sweaty, in his writing. For him, thinking about culture and alienation was a matter of life and death, not something minor. For me, his death has to do with that, she says. Another writer who has been influenced by Fisher is the philosopher Eudald Espluga, author of No seas tu mismo [Dont be yourself] (Paidos, 2021), the essay in which he dissects the millennial generation, and who was inspired by Fisher to develop part of his theory on the glittered cage. This is an update of the iron cage theory developed by Max Weber and the golden cage later theorized by Michela Marzano. Fisher made me write texts that are more protean, more tactical and, above all, less punctilious and academic, says the writer who admires the British authors ability to create concepts and expressions that synthesize very complex ideas, such as reflexive impotence or magical voluntarism. In Canos view, Fishers posturing can be dangerous if mourning his loss is romanticized. We cant equate that to the experience of continuing to have him as a living theoretician. He was basically a 21st-century Spinozist. He linked thought with corporeality; that is why his suicide is so traumatic. To keep Fishers voice heard, you have to avoid making him a fetish. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition CALGARY, Alberta, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eguana Technologies Inc. (Eguana or the Company) (TSX.V: EGT) (OTCQB: EGTYF) will post its financial results for its fifth quarter and fiscal 2022 financial results after close of market on April 28, 2023. Eguana management will host a conference call on Monday May 1st, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. eastern time (EDT) to discuss the results, provide a business update, and hold a live question and answer period. Registration in advance is required. CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS Date: May 1, 2023 Time: 5:00 PM EDT Telephone Access:Canada/USA Toll Free: 1-800-319-4610International Toll: +1-604-638-5340 To ensure the conference begins in a timely manner please dial in 10 minutes prior to the start time. Webcast: https://services.choruscall.ca/links/eguanatechnology2022q4.html About Eguana Technologies Inc.Based in Calgary, Alberta Canada, Eguana Technologies (EGT: TSX.V) (OTCQB: EGTYF) designs and manufactures high performance residential and commercial energy storage systems. The Company also markets and sells a suite of micro inverter products which are integrated with its energy storage platform providing consumers with full solar + storage system architecture for residential and commercial applications. Eguana has two decades of experience delivering grid edge power electronics for fuel cell, photovoltaic and battery applications, and delivers proven, durable, high quality solutions from its high capacity manufacturing facilities in Europe and North America and Australia. With thousands of its proprietary energy storage inverters deployed in the European and North American markets, Eguana is one of the leading suppliers of power controls for solar self-consumption, grid services and demand charge applications at the grid edge. To learn more, visit www.EguanaTech.com or follow us on Twitter @EguanaTech Company Inquiries Justin Holland CEO, Eguana Technologies Inc. +1.416.728.7635 [email protected] Forward Looking StatementsCertain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, the "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, and is subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the Company's control. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, information with respect to: the Debentures and the Conversion and the expected effects thereof; TSXV approval of the Debt Settlement and the Outstanding Debentures. Agreements and issuance of the Accrued Interest Shares to the Electing Holders. The words "may", "could", "should", "would", "suspect", "outlook", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect, intend", "plan", "target" and similar words and expressions are used to identify forward-looking information. The results or events anticipated or predicted in such forward-looking information may differ materially from actual results or events. Material factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from such forward- looking information include, among others: the value of the total Debentures outstanding on the Conversion Date; the number of Common Shares issued by the Company as a result of the Conversion; the amount of interest payments that would have been payable if the outstanding Debentures were held until maturity; the TSXV may not approve the Debt Settlement Agreements and issuance of the Accrued Interest Shares to the Electing Holders; the Company may not force the conversion of the Outstanding Debentures into Common Shares and the uncertainty surrounding the spread of COVID-19 and the impact it will have on the Companys operations and economic activity in general, and the risks and uncertainties discussed in our most recent annual and quarterly reports filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available on the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, which risks and uncertainties are incorporated herein by reference. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect, in particular, new information or future events. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward looking information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed a certain progression, which may not be realized. It has also assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Source: Eguana Technologies Inc. MINNEAPOLIS, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fresh Vine Wine Inc. (NYSE American: VINE) today reported, as required by Section 711(a) of the NYSE American Company Guide (the Company Guide), the grant of equity inducement awards to Roger Cockroft, who was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective April 25, 2023. The awards were offered as an inducement material to Mr. Cockroft's hiring. Mr. Cockroft's hiring was previously announced on April 25, 2023. The awards included a 463,917 share restricted stock grant with transfer and forfeiture restrictions that are scheduled to lapse in four installments as nearly equal in amount as possible on the three, six, nine and twelve month anniversaries of the grant date, subject to continued employment, and a stock option to purchase one million shares of the Companys common stock at a per share exercise price of $1.00. Subject to continued employment, the stock option will vest with respect to 250,000 shares on the one-year anniversary of the grant date and, thereafter, will vest in 36 monthly installments as nearly equal in amount as possible. In addition, the Company granted Mr. Cockroft restricted stock units (RSUs) with a target payout amount equal to $154,726. The amount of the RSU award actually payable will be determined based on the satisfaction of 2023 performance objectives. The performance objectives have not yet been determined. The RSUs, if and to the extent earned, will be settled in shares of the Companys common stock valued at the most recent closing price on the payment date (subject to Mr. Cockrofts right to forfeit shares to satisfy tax withholding obligations). The awards, which were granted pursuant to Mr. Cockrofts employment agreement with the Company and were approved by the Companys compensation committee, were granted outside of the Fresh Vine Wine 2021 Equity Incentive Plan in reliance on the employment inducement exemption under Section 711(a) of the Company Guide, which requires public announcement of inducement awards. About Fresh Vine Wine, Inc. Fresh Vine Wine, Inc. (NYSE American: VINE) is a premier producer of lower carb, lower calorie premium wines in the United States. Fresh Vine Wine's brand vision is to lead the emerging natural and accessible premium wine category, as health trends continue to accelerate in the US marketplace. Fresh Vine Wine positions its core brand lineup as an affordable luxury, retailing between $14.99-$24.99 per bottle. Fresh Vine Wine's varietals currently include its Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, Sparkling Rose, and a limited Reserve Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. All varietals are produced and bottled in Napa, California. Note on Forward-looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition of our business. Forward-looking statements include our expectations, whether stated or implied, regarding our planned rights offering, financing plans and other future events. This press release includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "expect," "plan," "could," "may," "will," "believe," "estimate," "forecast," "goal," "project," and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements address various matters including statements regarding the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. Each forward-looking statement contained in this press release is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statement. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, among others, our ability to conduct the rights offering on the terms or within the timeframes expected, or at all; to achieve positive cash flow from our operations on our anticipated timeframes or at all; the impact of inclusion of the Companys wines in grocery retailers on the Companys operating results; the Company's ability to hire additional personnel and to manage the growth of its business; the Company's reliance on its brand name, reputation and product quality; the Company's ability to adequately address increased demands that may be placed on its management, operational and production capabilities; the effectiveness of the Company's advertising and promotional activities and investments; the Company's reliance on celebrities to endorse its wines and market its brand; general competitive conditions; fluctuations in consumer demand for wine; overall decline in the health of the economy and consumer discretionary spending; the occurrence of adverse weather events, natural disasters, public health emergencies, or other unforeseen circumstances that may cause delays to or interruptions in the Company's operations; risks associated with disruptions in the Company's supply chain for grapes and raw and processed materials; the impact of COVID-19 and its variants on the Company's customers, suppliers, business operations and financial results; disrupted or delayed service by the distributors the Company relies on for the distribution of its wines; the Company's ability to successfully execute its growth strategy; the Company's success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, its officers, key employees or directors; the Company's ability to protect its trademarks and other intellectual property rights; the Company's ability to comply with laws and regulations affecting its business, including those relating to the manufacture, sale and distribution of wine; claims, demands and lawsuits to which the Company are or may be subject and the risk that its insurance or indemnities coverage may not be sufficient; the Company's ability to operate, update or implement its IT systems; the Company's ability to successfully pursue strategic acquisitions and integrate acquired businesses; the Company's potential ability to obtain additional financing when and if needed; the Company's founders' significant influence over the Company; and the risks identified in the Company's other filings with the SEC. The Company cautions investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. You are encouraged to read the Company's filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this document, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of these statements. The Company's business is subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including those referenced above. Investors, potential investors, and others should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties. Press contact [email protected]IR contact [email protected] Source: Fresh Vine Wine FSIS ISSUES PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT FOR READY-TO-EAT MEAT SOUP PRODUCTS DUE TO POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION WASHINGTON, April 25, 2023 The U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that ready-to-eat meat soup products may have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions, which may result in the product spoiling prematurely. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers are aware that these products should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase. The following products are subject to the public health alert [view labels]: 48-oz. packages containing two 24-oz. cups of Ivars PUGET SOUND CLAM CHOWDER WITH BACON with Use By dates 4/26/2023, 4/27/2023, 5/3/2023, 5/4/2023, 5/5/2023, 5/11/2023, 5/23/2023, 5/30/2023, 6/2/2023, 6/6/2023, 6/7/2023, 7/5/2023, 7/20/2023, 8/1/2023, 8/10/2023, and 8/17/2023. 48-oz. packages containing two 24-oz. cups of Ivars Loaded Baked Potato Soup with Use By dates 5/9/2023, 5/19/2023, 6/16/2023, and 7/18/2023. 48-oz. packages containing two 24-oz. cups of Ivars Rustic Zuppa Toscana Italian Sausage and Vegetable Soup with Use By dates 4/30/2023, 5/2/2023, 5/14/2023, 5/15/2023, 5/21/2023, 5/22/2023, and 5/30/2023. 20-oz. cup of Ivars PUGET SOUND Clam Chowder WITH BACON with Use By dates 4/26/2023, 5/5/2023, 6/6/2023, 7/20/2023, and 8/10/2023. 20-oz. cup of PIKE PLACE FISH MARKET WORLD FAMOUS CLAM CHOWDER WITH BACON with Use By dates 5/4/2023, 7/5/2023, and 8/1/2023. The products bear establishment number EST. 20173 inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide and exported to Mexico. The problem was discovered when the establishment notified FSIS that they had received multiple consumer complaints regarding bloated soup packages. Upon further review, the establishment found that some product spoiled prematurely. The establishments lab testing of the prematurely spoiled products found high levels of spoilage bacteria in the products. There have been no confirmed reports of illness due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider. Consumption of food contaminated with spoilage organisms can cause illness in immunocompromised individuals. FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Media with questions regarding the public health alert can contact Bob Donegan, President, Ivars Soup Company, at [email protected] . Consumers with questions regarding the public health alert can contact Robert Green, Director of Technical Services, Ivars Soup Company, at [email protected] . Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to [email protected] . For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/. FSIS ISSUES PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT FOR READY-TO-EAT MEAT SOUP PRODUCTS DUE TO POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION WASHINGTON, April 25, 2023 The U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that ready-to-eat meat soup products may have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions, which may result in the product spoiling prematurely. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers are aware that these products should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase. The following products are subject to the public health alert [view labels]: 48-oz. packages containing two 24-oz. cups of Ivars PUGET SOUND CLAM CHOWDER WITH BACON with Use By dates 4/26/2023, 4/27/2023, 5/3/2023, 5/4/2023, 5/5/2023, 5/11/2023, 5/23/2023, 5/30/2023, 6/2/2023, 6/6/2023, 6/7/2023, 7/5/2023, 7/20/2023, 8/1/2023, 8/10/2023, and 8/17/2023. 48-oz. packages containing two 24-oz. cups of Ivars Loaded Baked Potato Soup with Use By dates 5/9/2023, 5/19/2023, 6/16/2023, and 7/18/2023. 48-oz. packages containing two 24-oz. cups of Ivars Rustic Zuppa Toscana Italian Sausage and Vegetable Soup with Use By dates 4/30/2023, 5/2/2023, 5/14/2023, 5/15/2023, 5/21/2023, 5/22/2023, and 5/30/2023. 20-oz. cup of Ivars PUGET SOUND Clam Chowder WITH BACON with Use By dates 4/26/2023, 5/5/2023, 6/6/2023, 7/20/2023, and 8/10/2023. 20-oz. cup of PIKE PLACE FISH MARKET WORLD FAMOUS CLAM CHOWDER WITH BACON with Use By dates 5/4/2023, 7/5/2023, and 8/1/2023. The products bear establishment number EST. 20173 inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide and exported to Mexico. The problem was discovered when the establishment notified FSIS that they had received multiple consumer complaints regarding bloated soup packages. Upon further review, the establishment found that some product spoiled prematurely. The establishments lab testing of the prematurely spoiled products found high levels of spoilage bacteria in the products. There have been no confirmed reports of illness due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider. Consumption of food contaminated with spoilage organisms can cause illness in immunocompromised individuals. FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Media with questions regarding the public health alert can contact Bob Donegan, President, Ivars Soup Company, at [email protected] . Consumers with questions regarding the public health alert can contact Robert Green, Director of Technical Services, Ivars Soup Company, at [email protected] . Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to [email protected] . For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/. TORONTO, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Golden Tag Resources Ltd. (Golden Tag or the "Company") (TSX.V: GOG) (OTCQB: GTAGF) is pleased to announce the Company is participating in the upcoming 121 Mining Investment Conference in London, United Kingdom. Greg McKenzie, President & CEO of Golden Tag will be presenting about the Companies recent and future planned activities. The 121 Mining Investment Conference hosts over 135 companies joined by over 500 sophisticated investors for pre-arranged targeted 1-2-1 meetings. This years event is being held on May 9-10, 2023 in London, United Kingdom. About 121 Investment 121 Mining Investment events gather senior investors from institutional funds, private equity groups, family offices and sector analysts to meet with carefully selected mining company management teams in the world's leading financial hubs. Featuring cash-generating producers, near-production development companies, project generators and exciting exploration projects, 121 Mining Investment events offer investors the perfect forum to seek out their next big mining investment opportunity. 121 Mining Investment events are held annually in Hong Kong, London, Cape Town, New York and Singapore and focus on two-days of 1-on-1 meetings tailored to match the right level of mining projects with the right investment capital. Alongside the 1-2-1 meetings, delegates are able to enjoy a two-day agenda of investor-led panel discussions providing market insights, analysis and each participating mining company presenting their latest updates. About Golden Tag Resources Golden Tag Resources Ltd. is a Toronto based mineral resource exploration company. The Company holds a 100% interest, subject to a 2% NSR, in the San Diego Project, in Durango, Mexico. The San Diego property is among the largest undeveloped silver assets in Mexico and is located within the prolific Velardena Mining District. Velardena hosts several mines having produced silver, zinc, lead and gold for over 100 years. For more information regarding the San Diego property please visit our website at www.goldentag.ca. For additional information, please contact: Greg McKenzie, President & CEOPh: 416-504-2020Email: [email protected]www.goldentag.ca Cautionary Statement: Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of the phrase forward-looking information in the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations. Forward-looking statements are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding presentations and investor relation activities. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: the ability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company or its service providers; disruptions in information systems upon which its service providers relies in connection with the delivery of its services to the Company; and those risks set out in the Companys public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Source: Golden Tag Resources Ltd. Toronto, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- One of Torontos favourite events, OCAD Universitys annual graduate exhibition the citys largest free art and design exhibition returns from May 3 to 7 at the 100 McCaul St. campus. Work by more than 800 emerging artists, designers and digital media makers from across the globe will be on display. Presented by sponsors Hullmark and BentallGreenOak, GradEx 108 opens on Wednesday, May 3 at 6 p.m. with an opening reception and celebration of this years student medal winners in Butterfield Park (under the table top of the iconic Rosalie Sharp Centre for Design). GradEx 108 is the best place to see the next generation of Canadas creative talent. Visitors will see everything from paintings, illustrations, product and furniture designs, fashion, photography, mobile apps, animations and architectural designs, says President Ana Serrano. Whether youre looking to recruit new talent, add to your art collection or just spend a day immersed in creativity, GradEx has something for everyone. Exhibitors include: Industrial Design student and musician Allysha Vigneux who has designed and constructed a one-of-a-kind, playable electric guitar crafted from resin, which features intricately embedded flowers that are suspended within its transparent body. crafted from resin, which features intricately embedded flowers that are suspended within its transparent body. Volunteer firefighter and Illustration student Ella Verner who has created 10 mixed media works to celebrate trailblazing women first responders , including a work featuring Ukrainian Army Combat Medics. , including a work featuring Ukrainian Army Combat Medics. Drawing and Painting student Ethan Platt who has created a striking series of larger-than-life paintings. He blends digital and oil painting to create portraits that look like liquid metal about to jump off the canvas. Environmental Design and international student Dana Dai who has designed a new park in Scarborough that reconnects the existing ravine trail network along Taylor Massey Creek to create a vibrant green space for pedestrians and cyclists. in Scarborough that reconnects the existing ravine trail network along Taylor Massey Creek to create a vibrant green space for pedestrians and cyclists. Photography student Declan Aplin, nicknamed Ninjabakerr, who is a bread baker by night, working in his parents bakery, which helps to fund his photo adventures. His stealth photography captures haunting, unseen Toronto street scenes and rooftop vistas. Industrial Design student Joseph Zhuang created Demystifying Credit, an app-based onboarding experience that helps young adults understand how credit works. The program sets them up for financial success, starting with their first credit card. This years event features works from graduating students in every undergraduate program, sales of student work, an alumni lounge and a special exhibition of medal winning student work in the Great Hall at 100 McCaul St. A supplemental online exhibition will also launch on May 3. GRADEX 108 OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON: Wednesday, May 3: 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, May 4 and Friday, May 5: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. -30- Karen McCarthy OCAD University 437-779-0597 [email protected] Natalie Pavlenko OCAD University 416-977-6000 ext. 475 [email protected] Source: OCAD University GUILFORD, Conn., April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Invea Therapeutics (Invea), a biotechnology company developing an artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) powered pipeline of potentially transformational medicines for highly debilitating immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), today announced the acceptance of two abstracts for oral presentations at the upcoming Digestive Disease Week (DDW) Annual Meeting. DDW is the worlds premier meeting for physicians, researchers, and industry in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy, and gastrointestinal surgery, which will take place in Chicago, IL, on May 6-9, 2023. Dr. Salvatore Alesci, MD, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Invea Therapeutics, will present on the application of AI and ML to the discovery of INVA8001, a highly selective and potent mast cell chymase inhibitor, and candidate therapeutic for immune-mediated inflammatory disorders driven by dysregulation of the gut-brain-liver axis (GBLA). Dr. Jessie Bernard, Ph.D., a member of the team headed by Dr. Heather Francis, Ph.D., Professor, Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Department of Medicine, at the Indiana University School of Medicine, will present preclinical data supporting the potential benefits of Inveas INVA8001 for the treatment of liver diseases. Mast cells are a key component of the innate immune system and are present in mucosal and epithelial tissues throughout the body, including the GI tract, liver, and skin. Chymase, a mast cell activation mediator, plays a crucial role in various pathophysiological processes, including epithelial barrier damage, inflammatory response, and fibrosis. As such, INVA8001 has the potential to counteract chronic inflammation, its associated symptoms and complications in a variety of GI and extra-GI disorders. With demonstrated preclinical and human safety, INVA8001 is poised to enter the clinic for human proof of concept studies in the first half of 2024, said Salvatore Alesci, MD, Ph.D., the Chief Scientific Officer at Invea Therapeutics. Sameer Sharma, M.Pharm., Ph.D., Vice President, and Head of Translational Research at Invea Therapeutics, added, Our AI and ML processes have demonstrated greater scalability and de-risking of the target and drug discovery process for IMIDs as is seen with our pipeline of candidates. We have developed a robust ecosystem that leverages AI and ML technology to bridge the translational gap from basic research to association with clinical endpoints to prioritization of clinic-ready programs with what we believe are de-risked profiles and a higher probability of success. We have tested INVA8001 in various preclinical models for mast cell-driven disorders and are excited to see the next stages of development for this program. 1. Presentation Title:The Novel and Specific Chymase Inhibitor, INVA8001, Ameliorates the Phenotypes of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) in Mdr2-/- Mice by downregulation of Biliary Senescence Session Details:Presenter: Jessica Bernard, Ph.D.Session Type: Topic ForumSession Title: AASLD Liver Fibrogenesis: It is all about the scarSession Date & Time: May 6, 2023, from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM CDT (UTC 5)Presentation Time: 8:30 AM to 8:45 AM CDT (UTC 5) 2. Presentation Title:Using An Artificial Intelligence (AI) And Machine Learning (ML) Platform to Identify Mast Cell Focused Therapeutic Targets and Associated Gut- Liver-Brain Axis Indications Session Details:Presenter: Salvatore Alesci, MD, Ph.D.Session Type: Research ForumSession Title: AGA Technologic Advances in GI DiseasesSession Date & Time: May 8, 2023, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM CDT (UTC 5)Presentation Time: 4:18 PM to 4:36 PM CDT (UTC 5) About DDW:Digestive Disease Week (DDW) is the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers, and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy, and gastrointestinal surgery. Jointly sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT), DDW takes place May 21 24 in San Diego, California and virtually. The meeting showcases more than 3,100 abstracts and hundreds of lectures on the latest advances in GI research, medicine, and technology. More information can be found at www.ddw.org. About Invea TherapeuticsInvea Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to develop potentially transformational therapeutics for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) that severely impact patients. Our primary goal is to identify novel targets and drugs by decoding the mechanisms and pathways that drive the initiation and progression of inflammation for patients with debilitating IMIDs. Our approach expedites and de-risks the discovery and development of innovative therapies, optimizes capital efficiency, and increases the likelihood of clinical and regulatory success. We have generated a pipeline of candidate medicines that have the potential to transform the long-term treatment of patients who have limited therapeutic options or have resistance or no response to current therapeutic options. INVA8001, a potential novel oral, highly selective, and potent inhibitor of human chymase, a mast cell mediator, is being developed for the treatment of various chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disorders of the skin and gastrointestinal (GI) system, and INVA8003, a potential first-in-class, novel small molecule inhibitor of pan-inflammasome activation pathways targeting ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD), an adaptor protein that plays a pivotal role in inflammasome assembly and activation, has potential applications across several inflammatory disorders. For more information, please visit: www.inveatx.com | LinkedIn: @inveatx| Twitter: https://twitter.com/Inveatx. ContactInvea Therapeutics, Inc.Anita Ganjoo, Ph.D.Corporate Communications[email protected] Source: Invea Therapeutics The Project is the First Interdisciplinary Building of this Scale in the Midwest Focused on Computational, Statistics, and Information Sciences. Seattle, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LMN Architects is pleased to unveil the design of the new School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS) building at the University of WisconsinMadison. The building, designed in collaboration with Kahler Slater, will be a hub for collaboration and a lighthouse for pioneering interdisciplinary research on the campus. UWMadison has commissioned LMN Architects and Kahler Slater to design a 342,990 SFT interdisciplinary academic building to establish a new tech corridor on campus and in the state of Wisconsin. The project will enable learning and discovery at the intersection of technology and humanity. By co-locating computing and data-related disciplines, the new CDIS building will be a destination for industry partnerships, foster community outreach, and expand programmatic and research relationships on campus and beyond. There is no place on campus or in modern society where computing is not relevant says Tom Erickson, CDIS founding director. The information age has already transformed the way we live, but we are only at the beginning with even more dramatic changes ahead. A facility dedicated to fostering learning, collaboration and innovation in high tech will propel our campus, the state of Wisconsin, and the world forward. The project commemorates the state of Wisconsin by weaving the states natural and cultural history into the expression of the building. Madisons dynamic seasonal conditions are captured in the color palette, which utilizes natural tones to evoke the landscape while simultaneously identifying varying spaces throughout the building. The exterior facade features precast panels of high-performance concrete whose texture emulates drumlins close-up, while resembling regional woven textiles from afar. The seven levels of the light-filled and wood-accented central atrium is the heart of the buildingproviding a warm and welcoming space for academic collaboration and camaraderie. Madisons outdoor landscape is brought into the buildings design with its landscaped terraces, located on the third and seventh floors, along with a living wall and planters filled with greenery placed throughout. The CDIS Building will be a new kind of campus building that will be a home to a new kind of School at the University of WisconsinMadison says Susan Lowance, Principal, LMN Architects. From the beginning, the planning and design process was thought of as a crucial first step toward integrating the departments that comprise CDIS as they considered how they might engage differently in research, education, and outreach in the future. Planning for the building required everyone to step outside conventional thinking to imagine innovative functional, operational, and organizational models in order to realize the ambitious CDIS mission to address large societal questions in the digital age. The result will be transformative for the University, the City of Madison, and for the State of Wisconsin. The architecture has been organized to enable three key ecosystems to flourish togethera Research Ecosystem, a Learning Ecosystem, and a Student Ecosystem. Thematic hubs and research spaces foster cross-disciplinary collaboration while giving users the flexibility to arrange the spaces as the universitys needs change. The building also adds hundreds of Active Learning classroom seats and features a program that facilitates student wellness, improving inclusivity, and access on campus. Student, faculty, and staff wellbeing is supported by the buildings multipurpose wellness room, nursing parents rooms, and plentiful informal social spaces. The design is intended to facilitate intellectual collisionsacross departments and campus, between faculty and students, and across the institutional boundarythat underlie the CDIS mission. We are proud to be a part of the team that is helping to establish Wisconsin as the countrys next tech-hub. UW-Madison has a strong vision for the future and this project will help them continue to realize the Wisconsin Idea of attracting and retaining talent in the state. The future CDIS Building will support hands-on learning and foster innovation which will have a tremendous impact on the region, Jeff Piette, Vice President, Kahler Slater. Designed to be the most sustainable structure on campus, the CDIS building is a preeminent example of design that is forward-looking, flexible, and inclusive. The project will promote innovation and inspire a new generation of interdisciplinary research and digital pioneers in Wisconsin and beyond. The university celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony on April 25, 2023, and the project is expected to be completed in 2025. LMN Architects has designed over 150 projects on 51 campuses in the United States, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle; the Voxman Music Building at the University of Iowa in Iowa City; the Edward J. Minskoff Pavilion at Michigan State University in East Lansing; and the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business in Clemson. About LMN Architects Since its founding in 1979, LMN Architects has dedicated its practice to the health and vitality of communities of all scales. Internationally recognized for the planning and design of environments that elevate the social experience. The firm works across a diversity of project typologies, including higher education facilities, science and technology, civic and cultural projects, conference and convention centers, urban mixed-use and transportation. LMN has successfully completed more than 700 projects across North America, such as the Voxman Music Building at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio, Texas; Vancouver Convention Centre West in Vancouver, Canada; Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences Middle School in Seattle, Washington; Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington; Sound Transit University of Washington Station in Seattle, Washington; and the recently completed expansion and renovation of the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Based in Seattle, Washington, the firm employs 150 talented professionals practicing architecture, interior design, and urban design. The quality of the work has been recognized with nearly 300 national and international design awards, including the prestigious 2016 National Architecture Firm Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). For more information on the work of LMN Architects, please visit lmnarchitects.com About Kahler Slater Kahler Slater designs to enrich life and achieve powerful results. Through architecture, interior design, strategic advisory, and environmental branding, Kahler Slater solves their clients' most pressing challenges, advances strategic goals, and accelerates progress. They offer expertise in civic and cultural, healthcare, higher education, workplace, residential, hospitality, and sports, recreation, and wellness sectors. Kahler Slater operates offices in Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Richmond, and Singapore. For more information on the work of Kahler Slater, please visit kahlerslater.com Attachments VICTORIA, British Columbia, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CLC President Bea Bruske will be speaking at CUPE BCs Day of Mourning ceremony on Friday, April 28th. This year, Canadas unions are marking this years Day of Mourning by encouraging and empowering workers to know their rights at work, use the health and safety tools at their disposal and defend our health and safety wins in the workplace. We know that not every employer will prioritize our workplace health and safety. Some have proven that they arent above putting profits over workers safety. We want workers to feel empowered and supported to know their health and safety rights in the workplace; use the tools at their disposal; and defend their hard-fought health and safety wins, said Bruske. One workplace death is one too many and Canadas unions will always stand up to defend workers health and safety. What: Day of Mourning ceremony Where: BC Legislature, 501 Belleville Street, Victoria When: Friday, April 28 at 11:30 a.m. PT Who: Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress To arrange an interview on or before the Day of Mourning, please contact: CLC Media Relations[email protected]613-526-7426 Source: Canadian Labour Congress New York, NY/ Arlington, VA, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) were born out of the Civil Rights Movement to ensure that nonprofits and businesses particularly those in communities of color and communities with lower incomes have equitable access to loans. However, much work still needs to be done. A new report examines ways that CDFIs, and other financial institutions, can further change their business practices to embed racial equity in their lending and investment practices. The Catalyzing Finance for Racial Equity Report is the result of a partnership between Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) and Capital Impact Partners, two mission-driven CDFIs. The recommendations are derived from interviews with 15 organizations in five states, including CDFI peers and community organizations. Those in-depth conversations covered subjects such as their experiences with community development and lending, as well as how CDFI practices and services could be improved to better support community health. Advancing racial equity requires that we listen to communities of color and constantly interrogate and improve our practices and policies, said Aisha Benson, CEO of NFF. By sharing our experiences of whats working and what isnt among peer CDFIs, we can speed progress toward shared equity goals. The report features five key building blocks, as well as crucial details and insightful examples of how other CDFIs have put these ideas into practice. These include: Building trust with communities Client-service mindset that centers the needs of community-based borrowers Technical assistance tailored to projects and practitioners Flexible capital solutions to solve problems of community-responsive organizations Appropriately priced capital Community-based nonprofits and small businesses are engines of the economy employing workers and purchasing and providing needed goods and services. Racial inequities in lending have a negative ripple effect and are well documented across many scenarios. For example, entrepreneurs of color are more likely to be denied loans Black borrowers are turned down 38 percent of the time, followed by their Latino (33%), Asian (24%), and white (20%) counterparts. And even when they are approved for loans, they usually don't get the full amount they sought. That has led many Black entrepreneurs not to apply for loans at all. Systemic racism still pervades financial systems in the United States. The Catalyzing Finance for Racial Equity Report is an important and enlightening resource that our organization will use as we continue making our own practices more open and equitable, said Ellis Carr, president and CEO of Capital Impact Partners. Capital Impact Partners is one of the Momentus Capital branded family of organizations, which also includes CDC Small Business Finance and Ventures Lending Technologies, among other organizations. Im hopeful that CDFIs and other financial institutions throughout the United States will use the recommendations from the report. We must work together at a field-wide level to collectively address racist lending practices so that we can fully achieve our goal: equal access for everyone, no matter who you are, where you live, or how much money you have. The report provides insights from participating CDFIs and suggests questions to challenge and guide lenders as they explore new ways to address inequities in lending and join broader movements for racial equality. Some of these questions include: What support can we provide to staff so they can better assess potential clients needs? Are we designing and delivering technical assistance in flexible, connected, and entrepreneurial ways? Are we seeking non-traditional sources of our own capital that gives us greater ability to flex to customized client needs? With support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and research partnership from the Racial Equity Assets Lab (The REAL), this project explored the experiences both good and bad that nonprofits had while working with CDFIs. It also examined the successful steps that some local and national CDFIs have taken to address inequity within their own lending practices. Learning from Other Organizations That Are Working to Address Inequity Several organizations interviewed for this report spoke of the importance of building relationships, being present in many ways, and listening and learning about what prospective clients want and need. This effort will often be led by staff who do not have explicit lending responsibilities, or is done in partnership with lending staff as part of initiatives that are oriented around community needs rather than exclusively focused on loan production. For example, Invest Detroit created the Strategic Neighborhood Fund, an initiative with the City of Detroit, that focuses investment in ten different neighborhoods across Detroit through four pillars of investment: 1) patient loan capital for commercial corridor development projects, 2) catalytic park investment in local parks, 3) streetscape improvements along the historic commercial corridors, and 4) housing stabilization through strategic grants. And some CDFIs described how they have taken a flexible approach to capital in order to meet the needs of community-centered borrowers. For instance, ProsperUs Detroit has responded to the needs of early-stage Black-owned small businesses by designing an uncollateralized small business product, while Nusenda Co-op Capital in New Mexico empowers its 18 partners to design their own loan structures, recognizing both the diversity of effective approaches and the necessity that they be community-rooted. For more information, visit nff.org. About Nonprofit Finance Fund Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) is a nonprofit lender, consultant, and advocate. For more than 40 years, weve worked to strengthen nonprofit organizations and improve the way money flows to social good. We believe that alongside others we must build a more equitable and just social sector, and are committed to helping community-centered organizations led by and serving people of color access the money and resources they need to realize their communities aspirations. As a community development financial institution (CDFI), NFF manages a portfolio of over $393 million. Since 1980, we have provided over $1.1 billion in financing and access to additional capital in support of over $3.5 billion in projects for thousands of organizations nationwide. To learn more, visit https://nff.org. About Capital Impact Partners Capital Impact is transforming how capital and investments flow into communities to provide people access to the capital and opportunities they deserve. A nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), we work to champion key issues of equity and social and economic justice by deploying mission-driven financing, capacity-building programs, and impact investing opportunities. Capital Impact is now part of the Momentus Capital branded family of organizations, including CDC Small Business Finance and Ventures Lending Technologies. Collectively, we offer a continuum of financial, knowledge, and social capital to help local leaders build inclusive and equitable communities and create generational wealth. This includes a comprehensive package of loan products, impact investment opportunities, training and business advising programs, and technology services that advance locally-led solutions. Learn more at capitalimpact.org and momentuscap.org. Tricia McKenna Nonprofit Finance Fund 617-553-8020 [email protected] David Greisman Capital Impact Partners [email protected] Source: Nonprofit Finance Fund The government of Colombian President Gustavo Petro has changed its foreign policy with respect to the situation in neighboring Venezuela. The organization of an international summit involving around 20 countries in Bogota resulted in more words than actions as well as a diplomatic crisis, with the unexpected arrival of Juan Guaido, the leader of the Venezuela opposition, who, at one point, was recognized as the legitimate president of his country by more than 50 world leaders. Unlike under the previous right-wing administration of Ivan Duque, Guaido was not welcome in Bogota. The Colombian governments new diplomatic strategy is attempting to lay the groundwork for Venezuelas 2024 general elections a position that is diametrically opposed to the sanctions against Maduro that were proposed by Petros predecessor. Four years ago, the opposition leader was greeted as a hero at the Colombian-Venezuelan border. Three presidents received him including former Colombian President Duque, who governed from 2018 until 2022 and he attended the Venezuela Aid Live concert benefit, to raise funds to finance humanitarian aid. Today, the situation is very different: after a visit that was cut short, Colombian authorities forced Guaido to board an overnight commercial flight bound for Miami. Allegedly, he had entered Colombia in an irregular manner. Guaido has long grown accustomed to making surprise appearances. In February of 2019, he showed up at the mega-concert in Cucuta, Colombia, which was organized by Latin American politicians and artists during the failed attempt to get humanitarian aid to the Venezuelan people. At that point in time, Guaido was recognized as the interim president of Venezuela by nearly 60 countries; he was able to cross the border in open defiance of prohibitions imposed by the Maduro regime. After more than a 30-hour-long journey by road, he was received on stage by President Duque of Colombia, President Sebastian Pinera of Chile and President Mario Abdo of Paraguay. The following day, the promised humanitarian aid was stranded on the bridge between Colombia and Venezuela, repelled by weapons and tear gas deployed by Venezuelan soldiers. Following that incident, Maduro decided to break relations with Colombia, over what he considered to be a foreign invasion. Meanwhile, Guaido carried on to Bogota to attend a meeting of the Lima Group, an alliance made up of Canada and 13 Latin American countries created in 2017 to find a solution to Venezuelas political, humanitarian and refugee crises. The meeting took place in Colombias foreign ministry the same place where this past Tuesdays summit took place. However, as opposed to four years ago, Guaido was no longer welcome. Duques administration attempted to impose a diplomatic siege to isolate the Chavista government in Caracas. One of the first steps Duque took was to withdraw his country from UNASUR the Union of South American Nations, set up by Hugo Chavez as the regional alliance was, in his words, complicit in the Venezuelan dictatorship. Duques administration also denounced Maduro before the International Criminal Court and pushed for the creation of the Lima Group. The former president offered unconditional support to Guaido, who, as president of the shuttered National Assembly of Venezuela, was then recognized as interim president of the country. These steps elevated tensions between Colombia and Venezuela, which share a 1400-mile-long border. The years of the Duque administration saw irreconcilable differences between Bogota and Caracas, with Colombia receiving millions of Venezuelan refugees. Some point to the hardline strategy as having deepened the Venezuelan crisis. When Duque who at one point warned that Maduros days [were] numbered finished his term, Colombia-Venezuela relations were totally broken, with no open channels of communications. However, Gustavo Petro who began his mandate in August of 2022 has used his first eight months in power to push for a policy that he calls total peace. His administration has proposed dialogue with various armed groups, including the ELN the last armed insurgency in Colombia and the dissident elements of the dissolved FARC. Petros efforts also include resolving the tensions with Venezuela. Quickly after being sworn in, Petro re-established relations with Caracas, which hosted the first round of talks between the Colombian government and the ELN. Petro has met with Maduro on at least six occasions so far, proposing that Venezuela return to the Inter-American Human Rights System. His diplomatic offensive is meant to convince Maduro who succeeded Hugo Chavez in 2013 to sit down with the Venezuela opposition again to find a negotiated exit to the political and humanitarian crisis. The recent summit that was convened in Bogota was meant to jumpstart stalled negotiations on Venezuela. However, it has been viewed with deep suspicion by Latin American leaders who once supported Guaido. A group of ex-presidents from the Liberty and Democracy Group including former Colombian president Duque noted that this summit could validate the Venezuelan dictatorships interests. The group of former presidents who associate the government in Caracas with drug trafficking networks also criticized the exclusion of [Venezuelan presidential candidate] Maria Corina Machado and the expulsion of Juan Guaido from Colombian soil, deeming this to be evidence of bias in favor of the [Venezuelan] dictatorship. Some of the signatories included former Argentine president Mauricio Macri and former Chilean president Sebastian Pinera. The latest pink wave that swept across Latin America in the past couple of years brought progressive governments to power in Colombia, Chile, Argentina and other countries, displacing presidents that used to make up the Lima Group. Meanwhile, in the United States, Donald Trump who was a strong supporter of Guaido was replaced by Joe Biden, who recently hosted Petro at the White House. While awaiting more concrete results regarding the Venezuelan crisis, the Colombian governments new position appears to be in line with changing times. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NINE MILE METALS LTD. (CSE: NINE, OTCQB: VMSXF, FSE: KQ9) (the Company or Nine Mile) announces that it has made payments under its option to Purchase 100% of California Lake and Canoe Landing Lake East mineral projects, dated April 25, 2022 (the Option.) The Option and payments were previously announced on April 26, 2022. The Company has issued 333,334 common shares (Common Shares) at a deemed price of $0.2025 per share and paid $20,000 to the vendors, in accordance with the Option. About Nine Mile Metals Ltd.: Nine Mile Metals Ltd. is a Canadian public mineral exploration company focused on Critical Minerals Exploration (CME) VMS (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag and Au) exploration in the world-famous Bathurst Mining Camp, New Brunswick, Canada. The Companys primary business objective is to explore its four VMS Projects: Nine Mile Brook VMS; California Lake VMS; Canoe Landing Lake (EastWest) VMS and the new Wedge VMS Projects. The Company is focused on Critical Minerals Exploration (CME), positioning for the boom in EV and green technologies requiring Copper, Silver, Lead and Zinc with a hedge with Gold. Social Media ON BEHALF OF NINE MILE METALS LTD. Patrick J Cruickshank, MBACEO and Director T: +1.506-804-6117E: [email protected] Forward-Looking Information: This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of Nine Mile. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of Nine Mile. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as will, may, would, expect, intend, plan, seek, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, potential, continue, likely, could and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Although Nine Mile believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because Nine Mile can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release. Source: Nine Mile Metals Ltd. Perrysburg, OH, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The World Intellectual Property Organization marks April 26, 2023, as World Intellectual Property Day O-I Glass, as a leader in the global packaging market, has a portfolio of more than 3,600 active patents O-I celebrates its women inventors embodying the spirit of innovation that drives the Company O-I Glass, Inc. (O-I Glass or O-I) joins the World Intellectual Property Organization in recognizing the vital role of innovators worldwide that create economic and social benefits through their ideas. April 26 marks World Intellectual Property Day with this years theme being Women and IP: Accelerating innovation and creativity. O-I applauds the innovative spirit of its female inventors and all creators company wide. In 1903, the Owens Bottle Machine Company was founded around Michael Owens patent for a bottle making machine, which is recognized for mechanically producing bottles at a rate of 240 per minute. This innovation set the foundation for becoming todays O-I Glass, employing more than 24,000 employees and operating at 69 plants in 19 countries. Innovation is at the heart of O-Is portfolio of more than 3,600 active patents that are transforming the packaging industry. Last year, 19 O-I employees were granted U.S. patents that advance the production, design, and overall sustainability of glass packaging. Among those granted patents were Jessica Bryant, Manufacturing Intelligence & Controls Squad Lead Research and Development (R&D), and Sutapa Bhaduri, Technology Strategist and Global Sustainability Lead, while three other female O-I employees filed U.S. patent applications last year. Innovation is in our DNA at O-I, and we are harnessing the power of our innovators and creators to transform glass packaging and to shape a more sustainable world, said Ludovic Valette, Vice President, Chief Technology Officer for O-I. These innovators drive new technology such as our proprietary MAGMA glass-making approach which is set to revolutionize glass production. O-Is MAGMA technology is designed for flexible, modular glass production. Facilities built for MAGMA will feature a smaller melter and enable advanced technologies. O-I recently broke ground for a state-of-the-art greenfield glass plant in Bowling Green, KY that will be purpose-built around MAGMA technology. Our people and their ideas drive the companys leadership in innovation, transformation and sustainability, said Randy Burns, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer for O-I. With 24,000 passionate glassmakers around the world, each of us is a driving force in achieving our vision of becoming the most sustainable producer of brand-building rigid packaging, and that spirit of innovation and creativity will continue to transform O-I and glass packaging into the future. About O-I At O-I Glass, Inc. (NYSE: OI), we love glass and were proud to be one of the leading producers of glass bottles and jars around the globe. Glass is not only beautiful, its also pure, healthy and completely recyclable, making it the most sustainable rigid packaging material. Headquartered in Perrysburg, Ohio (USA), O-I is the preferred partner for many of the worlds leading food and beverage brands. We innovate in line with customers needs to create iconic packaging that builds brands around the world. Led by our diverse team of approximately 24,000 people across 69 plants in 19 countries, O-I achieved revenues of $6.9 billion in 2022. Learn more about us: o-i.com / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn CONTACT: JIM WOODS Public Relations Lead [email protected] 724.732.5748 Source: Owens-Illinois General Inc. Omaha, Nebraska, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After 105 years of creating one-of-a-kind experiences for people, Omaha Steaks has mastered offering premium proteins and gourmet foods to share with family and friends. Now, theyre taking their burgers to the next level with the launch of the PureGround Burgers, a new selection of gourmet burgers made entirely from single cuts of premium aged steak. An authentic gourmet experience, these PureGround Burgers are super-juicy with a texture that delivers a luxurious bite. They are available in five delicious styles including bold brisket, lean New York strip, extra tender and juicy filet mignon, rich and buttery flavor Delmonico ribeye and sirloin burgers that deliver a perfect beefy steak flavor. Buns everywhere deserve the mouthwatering artistry of these new patties. So, to commemorate the launch, Omaha Steaks partnered with another master Butcher award-winning tattoo artist Steve Butcher to mark the moment, well, permanently. In a recent Harris Poll conducted by Omaha Steaks, 30% of people (42% of Millennials) said they would get a tattoo for a lifetime supply of burgers*, and Omaha Steaks wants to make that happen for one lucky burger lover. Steve Butcher created The Full Bun Tat: a hyperreal tattoo that brings the PureGround craftsmanship to life on your backside. Through May 1, fans can visit OmahaSteaks.com/Tattoo to volunteer to get the Full Bun Tat in exchange for a lifetime supply of the PureGround Burgers (Lifetime supply is limited up to 25 years and is subject to certain conditionssee Official Rules at OmahaSteaks.com/Tattoo for all the details.). One person will be randomly selected to fly to Southern California to receive this epic symbol of delicious devotion from Butcher himself. "We've been trusted for more than a century to deliver unique experiences for our customers, and we always believe we can do more," said Omaha Steaks CEO Todd Simon. "After five years in the making, it felt right to make an offer just as bold and one-of-a-kind as our burgers. The Full Bun Tat helps celebrate the artistry of these next-level burgers in a fun and engaging way." While only one fan will score The Full Bun Tat and a lifetime burger supply, fans across the U.S. can visit www.OmahaSteaks.com to try the new PureGround Burgers. Follow @OmahaSteaks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.*Survey conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of Omaha Steaks from April 1-6, 2023, among 2,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. Source: Omaha Steaks TORONTO, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Picton Mahoney Asset Management (Picton Mahoney), the manager of the Picton Mahoney Fortified Income Alternative Fund (the Fund) (TSX: PFIA), announced that effective today, the risk rating of the Fund has decreased to Low from Low-to-Medium. There are no changes to the investment objectives, strategies or management of the Fund associated with the new risk rating. The risk rating change is based on the risk classification methodology mandated by the Canadian Securities Administrators to determine the risk level of mutual funds. Picton Mahoney reviews the risk rating for each of the funds it manages at least on an annual basis, as well as when a fund undergoes a material change. These changes are the result of an annual review and are not the result of any changes to the investment objectives, strategies or management of the funds. To learn more about Picton Mahoneys full suite of funds, visit www.pictonmahoney.com. About Picton MahoneyPicton Mahoney Asset Management specializes in differentiated investment solutions and rules-based volatility management. Picton Mahoney helps its clients fortify their portfolios based on experience honed over the years through different market cycles and investing environments. Founded in 2004 and 100% employee owned, Picton Mahoney is a portfolio management boutique entrusted with over CAD $9.2 billion (as at March 31, 2023) in assets under management. Pioneers of Authentic Hedge investment principles and practices in Canada, the firm offers a full suite of investment solutions, including mutual and alternative funds, to institutional and retail investors across the country. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees, performance fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Alternative mutual funds can only be purchased through a registered dealer and are available only in those jurisdictions where they may be lawfully offered for sale. For further information: Phil Clark, Head of Marketing, Picton Mahoney Asset ManagementTel: (416) 955-4462Email: [email protected]Website: www.pictonmahoney.com Source: Picton Mahoney Asset Management Soitec and SAWNICS announce Process Design Kit (PDK) to accelerate high-performance RF filter design for 5G smartphones. Sawnics PDK enables customers to design state-of-the-art filters on Soitec Connect POI (Piezo on Insulator) substrates for volume manufacturing in SAWNICS foundry, improving time to market Bernin (France) and Pyeongtaek-si, (South Korea), April 26, 2023 Soitec (Euronext Paris), a global leader in innovative semiconductor materials, and SAWNICS, which offers a best-in-class foundry service for Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filters, today announced the availability of a Process Design Kit (PDK) based on Soitecs Connect Piezo-on-Insulator (POI) substrates. The SAWNICS PDK provides a reliable reference guide validated on Soitec Connect POI products, to support the design and manufacturing of advanced radio frequency (RF) filters. It will greatly simplify and accelerate the development and production of filters on Connect POI products by reducing the number of design iterations while meeting increasingly stringent 5G requirements. Produced with Soitecs proprietary Smart CutTM technology, Connect POI substrates are ideally suited to the manufacturing of new-generation filters. Compared with technologies based on conventional materials, Connect POI products offer built-in temperature compensation, facilitate the integration of multiple filters on a single die and help to reduce power consumption. SAWNICS is a leading filter foundry with a track record of rapid and smooth production ramp. Combining its SAW manufacturing expertise and process flexibility with Soitec Connect POI products will create new opportunities for development and production of state-of-the-art 5G smartphone filters. Connect POI product is a unique enabler for high-performance RF filters for 5G smartphones. We are very pleased that fabless companies will get easier access to powerful RF filter technology thanks to the SAWNICS PDK and Soitec Connect POI, said Thomas Piliszczuk, Soitecs Executive Vice-President Global Business. Were confident that Connect POI products based on our robust and proven Smart CutTM technology will become a standard choice for 5G RF filters. Soitecs Connect POI substrates were chosen for their unique value for RF filters, said Jason Chung, Vice-President of SAWNICS Foundry business unit. We are excited to work with Soitecs substrates, which multiply filter performance when compared with filters built using bulk piezoelectric wafers. The volume production ramp on Connect POI products is expected to start in the second half of 2023. # # # About Soitec Soitec (Euronext, Tech 40 Paris) is a world leader in designing and manufacturing innovative semiconductor materials. The company uses its unique technologies and semiconductor expertise to serve the electronics markets. With more than 3,500 patents worldwide, Soitecs strategy is based on disruptive innovation to answer its customers needs for high performance, energy efficiency and cost competitiveness. Soitec has manufacturing facilities, R&D centers and offices in Europe, the U.S. and Asia. Fully committed to sustainable development, Soitec adopted in 2021 its corporate purpose to reflect its engagements: We are the innovative soil from which smart and energy efficient electronics grow into amazing and sustainable life experiences. Soitec, SmartSiC and Smart Cut are registered trademarks of Soitec. For more information, please visit www.soitec.com and contact: Media Relations Investor Relations Caroline Sasia Steve Babureck [email protected] [email protected] About SAWNICS About SAWNICS, Inc. (www.sawnics.com) is a South Korea based more than 20 years experienced global RF filter foundry solution company that is manufacturing normal SAW and TF- SAW through the state-of- the art of both 4-inch and 6-inch FAB facilities. Attachment Rockford, IL, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SupplyCore, a supply chain integrator and federal defense contractor, has been re-awarded a 5-year contract for the Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) Tailored Logistics Support (TLS) Prime Vendor program for the U.S. military and federal agencies. This contract, re-awarded by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, supports facilities located in South Korea for a 2-year base period plus options to extend the contract. With vast experience in Government & Defense contracting and a deep knowledge of customers needs, SupplyCore is a leading supply chain program manager and MRO Prime Vendor. For 35 years, the company has helped the Department of Defense remain mission-ready both domestically and abroad, including in the Pacific Region. Through this contract, which went live on April 16, SupplyCore provides facility MRO supplies and related incidental services to customers serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Items supported under this contract include: heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) supplies; plumbing supplies; electrical products; tools; chemical, lubricating, and rubber products; construction supplies; pre-fabricated structures; perimeter security items; communication devices; appliances; janitorial and sanitation products; and various other commercial supplies required by warfighters to accomplish their mission as it relates to facilities maintenance or sustainment. SupplyCore is proud to support our troops in sustaining readiness, said Peter Provenzano, President & CEO. Our company continues to accelerate our growth by deepening our expertise in our existing business segments while diversifying our solution offerings through new programs. As the incumbent MRO Prime Vendor in South Korea, we are grateful for the opportunity to continue to extend our support to customers in that region. Under DLAs MRO TLS program, customers can easily order competitively priced commercial, off-the-shelf, part-numbered items within the scope of the contract. As an MRO Prime Vendor, SupplyCore provides customers with a robust cloud-based procurement and ordering platform, automated vendor RFQs for products and logistics, dynamic inventory management, total asset visibility, 24-hour customer service, and order tracking from placement to delivery. This MRO contract award is firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity with a maximum value of $375 million. SupplyCore is a long-standing MRO Prime Vendor with DLA. In 2021, DLA named SupplyCore as a Prime Vendor to two additional TLS contracts: Special Operational Equipment TLS and Metals TLS. For more information about SupplyCores solutions, visit www.supplycore.com. About SupplyCore Inc. Since 1987, SupplyCore has supported the U.S. military, civilian agencies and allied governments with a wide variety of facility and infrastructure supplies, repair parts, special use equipment, end items, and heavy equipment necessary to support sustainment and maintain readiness. Through its market segments of Base Operations Supply, Tailored Logistics Support (TLS), and Weapon Systems Support, SupplyCore maintains fast, reliable, and cost-effective supply chains to meet program requirements and support customers worldwide. SupplyCore has been awarded several Prime Vendor contracts from the Defense Logistics Agency, including Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO); Heavy Equipment Procurement Program (HEPP), Metals TLS, and Special Operational Equipment TLS. In addition, SupplyCore is a source of supply for several General Services Administration (GSA) contracts. For more information about SupplyCore and its 35-year history of supporting the warfighter, visit www.supplycore.com. Nellie Miller SupplyCore Inc. 815-972-4726 [email protected] Source: SupplyCore Inc. Press Release Transfer of Nicoxs shares to Euronext Growth Paris effective on April 28, 2023 April 26, 2023 release at 9:00 am CETSophia Antipolis, France Nicox SA (Euronext Paris: FR0013018124, COX), an international ophthalmology company, today announced that the transfer of the listing of the securities issued by the Company from the Euronext Paris regulated market (compartment C) to the Euronext Growth Paris multilateral trading facility (the Transfer), will be effective as from the trading session of April 28, 2023. The application for the Transfer was approved by the Euronext Listing Board on April 24, 2023. As of April 28, 2023, the new mnemonic code of Nicoxs shares will be ALCOX. The ISIN code remains unchanged: FR0013018124. This operation aims to allow the Company to have its securities admitted to trading on a market more commensurate with its size and market capitalization. Indeed, the Transfer to Euronext Growth enables the Company to reduce its obligations and constraints and, as a result, reduce the costs associated with its listing, while maintaining the shares tradability on a financial market. The Company will continue to provide accurate, precise and truthful information, by disclosing any privileged information concerning the Company to the public, in accordance with the European Regulation on Market Abuse (MAR). The provisions of the MAR Regulation will also remain fully applicable to the Company, with respect to the disclosure of transfers of securities by directors. The Information Document relating to the Transfer is available on the Company's website www.nicox.com, in the Investors section. The Company is assisted by Bryan, Garnier & Co. as Listing Sponsor in connection with the Transfer. Definitive timetable for the transfer of listing market Date Operation April 26, 2023 Publication of a Euronext notice announcing the delisting of Nicoxs shares from Euronext ParisPublication of a Euronext notice announcing the listing of Nicoxs shares to Euronext Growth ParisDissemination of a press release by the Company and online publication of the Information Document on the Company's and Euronexts website April 28, 2023 before market opening Delisting of the Company's shares from the Euronext Paris regulated market and admission of the Company's shares to the multilateral trading facility Euronext Growth Paris About Nicox Nicox SA is an international ophthalmology company developing innovative solutions to help maintain vision and improve ocular health. Nicoxs lead program in clinical development is NCX 470, a novel nitric oxide-donating bimatoprost, for lowering intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The company is also conducting research on NCX 1728, a nitric oxide-donating phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, in retinal conditions. NCX 4251, a novel, patented, ophthalmic suspension of fluticasone propionate nanocrystals for topical ocular application for dry eye disease, is being developed by Ocumension Therapeutics in China under an exclusive license agreement and is available for partnering elsewhere. Nicox generates revenue from 2 out-licensed products; VYZULTA in glaucoma, and ZERVIATE in allergic conjunctivitis, licensed in multiple geographies, including to Eyevance Pharmaceuticals, LLC (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), in the U.S. and Ocumension Therapeutics in the Chinese and in the majority of Southeast Asian markets. Nicox, headquartered in Sophia Antipolis, France, is listed on Euronext Paris (Compartiment C: Mid Caps;Ticker symbol: COX) and is part of the CAC Healthcare index. For more information on Nicox, its products or pipeline, please visit: www.nicox.com. Analyst coverage Bryan, Garnier & Co Eric Yoo Paris, FranceEdison Investment Research Pooya Hemami London, UKH.C. Wainwright & Co Yi Chen New York, U.S.Kepler Cheuvreux Arsene Guekam Paris, France The views expressed by analysts in their coverage of Nicox are those of the author and do not reflect the views of Nicox. Additionally, the information contained in their reports may not be correct or current. Nicox disavows any obligation to correct or to update the information contained in analyst reports. NicoxGavin SpencerExecutive Vice President, Chief Business Officer& Head of Corporate Development T +33 (0)4 97 24 53 00[email protected] Forward-Looking Statements The information contained in this document may be modified without prior notice. This information includes forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. These statements are based on current expectations or beliefs of the management of Nicox S.A. and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Nicox S.A. and its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents, do not undertake, nor do they have any obligation, to provide updates or to revise any forward-looking statements. Risks factors which are likely to have a material effect on Nicoxs business are presented in the 3rd chapter of the Document denregistrement universel, rapport financier annuel et rapport de gestion 2021 filed with the French Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) on April 29, 2022, in its first amendment filed with the AMF on May 19, 2022, in the 2nd chapter of its second amendment filed with the AMF on November 22, 2022 and in the 2nd chapter of the Securities note filed with the AMF on November 22, 2022 which are available on Nicoxs website (www.nicox.com) Nicox S.A.Drakkar 2Bat D, 2405 route des Dolines06560 Valbonne, FranceT +33 (0)4 97 24 53 00F +33 (0)4 97 24 53 99 Attachment Source: NICOX HAMPTON, N.H., April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unitil Corporation (Unitil or the Company) (NYSE: UTL) (unitil.com) today announced that its Board of Directors has approved several corporate organizational changes, all of which are effective as of May 1, 2023. Thomas P. Meissner, Jr., currently the Companys Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President, will remain as the Companys Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and Robert B. Hevert, currently the Companys Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, will assume the newly created position of President and Chief Administrative Officer. Daniel J. Hurstak, currently the Companys Chief Accounting Officer and Controller, will assume Mr. Heverts former position as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Todd R. Diggins, currently the Companys Director of Finance, will assume Mr. Hurstaks former position as Chief Accounting Officer and Controller. Mr. Hevert, Mr. Hurstak and Mr. Diggins will each step down from their current roles in conjunction with these changes on May 1, 2023. The organizational changes are part of the Companys continuing leadership development and succession plan to ensure long-term business continuity and prepare the Company for the future. The success of our Company will require adaptability, sound strategies, talented people and strong leadership as we navigate the clean energy transition, said Thomas P. Meissner, Jr., Unitils Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Im pleased that we have a qualified team of executives with the character, leadership and experience to guide our Company forward and execute on our long-term strategies. About Unitil CorporationUnitil Corporation provides energy for life by safely and reliably delivering natural gas and electricity in New England. We are committed to the communities we serve and to developing people, business practices, and technologies that lead to the delivery of dependable, more efficient energy. Unitil Corporation is a public utility holding company with operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Together, our operating utilities serve approximately 108,100 electric customers and 87,500 natural gas customers. For more information about our people, technologies, and community involvement please visit unitil.com. For more information please contact: Todd Diggins Investor RelationsPhone: 603-773-6504Email: [email protected] Alec OMeara Media RelationsPhone: 603-773-6404Email: [email protected] Source: Unitil Corporation NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN TORONTO, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Web3 Ventures Inc. (the Company or W3V) is pleased to announce the launch of a non-brokered private placement (the Financing) in conjunction with the formation of its advisory board and its first member, co-founder and CEO of Insomnia Labs, Billy Huang. Advisory Board David Nikzad, W3V CEO, commented, We are excited to have Mr. Huang join Web3 Ventures' newly formed advisory board. His breadth of experience in leading campaigns for some of the biggest and most widely recognized brands and companies will assist our team in identifying new portfolio companies while helping us develop our unique portfolio of investments optimizing shareholder value as we head to our public listing. In addition, we will continue to surround our veteran team with the brightest minds to identify the best mix of portfolio assets and companies to invest in as the web 3.0 disruption continues as we add to our deployment capabilities with our current raise. Billy Huang commented, I am excited for the opportunity to assist David and his veteran team of investors in paving the way for the new Web 3.0 landscape. I look forward to being part of W3Vs continued mission to provide its shareholders access to a diverse basket of investments, transparency, liquidity and further community building as the space evolves. Insomnia Labs provides a range of services from Web 3.0 advisory, design of digital creative campaigns and various minting, blockchain, and metaverse applications for building community for major companies such as LOreal, Coca-Cola, Under Armour and WPP. Financing The Company also announces that it intends to complete the Financing as a private placement offering of up to 10,000,000 units (the Units, and each a Unit) issued from treasury, wherein each Unit shall consist of (a) 1 Subordinate Voting Share (SVS) and (b) 1 SVS purchase warrant (SVS Warrant), each SVS Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one SVS at a price of C$0.20 per SVS for a period of 24 months from the date of issue. The maximum amount to be raised in the Financing is an aggregate of C$1,000,000. The Company retains the right to vary the size of the Financing. The Financing is anticipated to close on or about June 30, 2023. The Units will be offered by way of the accredited investor exemption under National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions in all the provinces of Canada. The SVS, SVS Warrants and securities underlying the SVS Warrants will be subject to a four-month hold period commencing on the date that the Units are issued. In connection with the closing of the Financing, the Company expects to pay finders fee commissions to certain eligible finders in the form of (a) a cash commission of 8% of the gross proceeds raised under the Financing from investors introduced to the Company by the finder, and (b) the issuance of non-transferrable warrants to purchase 8% of the SVS issued under the Financing to investors introduced to the Company by the finder (the Broker Warrants). The Broker Warrants will be exercisable at a price of C$0.20 per SVS and will expire two years from the date that they are issued. The Company will use the proceeds of the Financing for general working capital purposes, completion of listing of its SVS on the Canadian Securities Exchange, and deployment into new and existing Web 3.0 related applications and companies. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons (as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. Clarification of News Release on March 21, 2023 The Company would like to clarify incorrect disclosure in its press release dated March 21, 2023 wherein it indicated that, in connection with a previously announced private placement transaction, the Company paid a finders fee commission of C$10,500 and warrants to purchase 105,000 SVS at a price of C$0.15 per SVS to an arms length party. No such cash commissions or warrants were paid to any parties in connection with the private placement offering of the Company that closed on March 21, 2023. About Web3 Ventures Inc.: Web3 Ventures Inc. is a diversified investment company focused on identifying, incubating, accelerating, and developing world-class projects and applications for the decentralized web. Focused on supporting founders and entrepreneurs, W3Vs core investment pillars are blockchain-based transparency, secured identity, verified communications, and gamification, focusing on early-stage, small, & medium enterprises in the burgeoning Web 3.0 sector. For more information, please contact: Web3 Ventures Inc. Telephone: 1-866-395-6989Email: [email protected] Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as may, should, anticipate, expect, potential, believe, intend or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements include statements relating to: the Companys ability to complete the Financing and/or utilize the use of proceeds on the terms and within the timelines anticipated or at all; the anticipated timing of the closing of the Financing; and the anticipated use of proceeds from the Financing; the receipt of required approvals within the timelines anticipated or at all; the listing of the Companys subordinate voting shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange; the Companys business objectives and milestones and the anticipated timing of, and costs in connection with, the execution or achievement of such objectives and milestones; the Companys future growth prospects; the development of the Companys business and future activities following the date hereof; expectations relating to market size and anticipated growth in the jurisdictions within which the Company may from time to time operate or contemplate future operations; expectations with respect to economic, business, regulatory and/or competitive factors related to the Company or the security industry generally; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Companys current and future operations; the market for the Companys current and proposed product offerings, as well as the Companys ability to capture market share; the Companys strategic investments and capital expenditures, and related benefits; the distribution methods expected to be used by the Company to deliver its product offerings; the competitive landscape within which the Company operates and the Companys market share or reach; the performance of the Companys business and the operations and activities of the Company; and the Companys ability to obtain, maintain, and renew or extend, applicable authorizations, including the timing and impact of the receipt thereof. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Companys expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. Source: Web3 Ventures West Hollywood, CA, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA APRIL 26, 2023 In just five years since adult-use cannabis became legal in California, West Hollywood, also known as Emerald Village, has been progressive in embracing the flower and creating unique experiences for consumers and connoisseurs rising as the epicenter and innovation destination for cannabis culture in Southern California. While more mature markets experienced declines in cannabis sales in 2022, West Hollywood bucked the trend, seeing a year-over-year growth in local cannabis taxes. According to recent reports, cannabis tax revenues declined in Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and California, the four oldest legal adult-use markets, between 7.7% to 21.3% last year. However, the City of West Hollywood, with just 1.9 square miles in the heart of Los Angeles, saw a revenue growth of 26.7% in 2022 compared to 2021. On a per capita basis, West Hollywood sold $704 per resident in adult use cannabis, whereas the per capita sales in the City of Los Angeles were $250. Comparatively, West Hollywood collected 182% more per resident from cannabis taxes than the City of Los Angelesnearly threefold. Were thrilled to see the continued growth of the cannabis industry in West Hollywood, said Scott Schmidt Executive Director of Emerald Village West Hollywood cannabis tourism association. West Hollywood understands that tourists at local hotels, residents in dense apartments and cannabis connoisseurs need places to consume cannabis safely and responsibly. Our city is committed to creating safe and welcoming environments for cannabis enthusiasts and industry professionals alike and the revenue trends show that our approach to embracing cannabis culture is working. West Hollywoods success can be attributed to its openness and acceptance of the cannabis industry. The citys merit-based process for assigning cannabis licenses opened doors for the best businesses owners with experience in the cannabis industry combined with local business leaders like legacy retailer Alternative Herbal Health Services to pioneer the new wave of cannabis culture in Southern California. With an array of dispensaries, cafes, and consumption lounges, the city has become a haven for cannabis enthusiasts and entrepreneurs. The past year saw the opening of The Artist Tree and theWOODS (owned by Woody Harrelson and Bill Maher) consumption lounges in West Hollywoodthe only ones in Los Angeles Countywith more lounges on the way before the end of the year. The Artist Tree provides a platform to local visual and performing artists in its gallery-like dispensary and lounge. Dispensaries like CALMA (owned by Jay-Zs the Parent Company) focuses on female-forward brands and products defying national stereotypes of the cannabis industry as an all-boys club, while LAPCG color-codes products by their terpene profiles, making it easier for customers to understand what effects the cannabis will have on them. MedMen West Hollywood dedicates shelf space to social equity brands owned by women, LGBTQ+ and People of Color, while theWOODS dispensary highlights small farm, sun-grown, organic products and its lounge provides a sanctuary in the heart of the city unlike any other. West Hollywoods cannabis businesses, old and new, have moved beyond the days of dispensaries with dark windows and metal bars creating revolutionary open-facing retail experiences like Zen Healing Collective which celebrates 20 years of operation this year. West Hollywoods forward-thinking policies have paved the way for cannabis innovation and progress, making it a model for others looking to ensure safe and legal access to cannabis for their residents. As West Hollywood continues to grow as a cannabis destination, it is poised to become a driving force for the industrys future and could serve as an inspiration to other markets across the nation. For information on West Hollywoods cannabis destinations and to stay up to date on the latest developments in the Emerald Village, visit emeraldvillageweho.com and follow @emeraldvillageweho on Instagram. ### About Emerald Village West HollywoodFounded in 2021, Emerald Village West Hollywood is a representative organization for cannabis businesses exclusively in the City of West Hollywood. Declared as the Emerald Village and the worlds cannabis capital, Emerald Village West Hollywood is governed by a Board of Directors to promote tourism, understanding of legal cannabis regulations, consumer safety and advocacy for cannabis decriminalization and social justice. Current members include CALMA (owned by Jay-Zs The Parent Company), Alternative Health & Herbal Services (AHHS), LA Patients and Caregivers Group (LAPCG), MedMen, Zen Healing Collective, The Artist Tree, OG Cannabis Cafe, AEON Botanika, Pleasure Med, Greenwolf and The Woods (owned by Woody Harrelson and Bill Maher). For more information about the Emerald Village West Hollywood and Emerald Village, visit emeraldvillageweho.com and follow @emeraldvillageweho on Instagram. Lawrence Carroll Emerald Village West Hollywood [email protected] Source: Emerald Village West Hollywood In January 1968, seven months after Israel tripled the territory under its control by winning the Six-Day War, the U.S. president at the time, Lyndon B. Johnson, received the countrys prime minister, Levi Eshkol, and asked him: What kind of Israel do you want? Eshkol mentioned several determining factors until he ended up admitting: The government has decided not to decide [...]. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you what kind of Israel I want! Barely 20 years old, the Jewish State was unsure what it would be when it grew up, still filled with giddiness over the capture of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Sinai peninsula and the Golan Heights. Israel turns 75 on Wednesday, but the nation would still find it difficult to answer Johnsons question as it grapples with one of the greatest political and social crises in its history. The Jewish population is deeply divided as a result of the judicial reform proposed by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, and the elephant in the room (the military occupation of Palestine) is almost absent from the public debate, as if the latest escalation of violence were part of the natural state of affairs. The date of the celebration changes every year. It coincides with the day in the Hebrew calendar when David Ben Gurion, founding father of the country, read the Declaration of Independence in Tel Aviv, which was on May 14, 1948, according to the Gregorian calendar. Both the celebration, which began on Tuesday at sunset, and the one that always precedes it in memory of the fallen soldiers and the victims of terrorism are considered by the Jewish majority as dates of unity, first in mourning and then in joy. This year, however, these events have been marked by a climate of polarization triggered by a reform that seeks to annul the powers of the judiciary in favor of the executive, and which has been met with 16 consecutive weeks of massive street demonstrations. Some ministers and lawmakers from the ruling coalition have canceled their participation in Memorial Day at the request of Yad Labanim, an organization created to honor Israeli war victims and support their families. The controversial Minister of National Security, the far-right Itamar Ben-Gvir, did participate in the event, where there were altercations. Some families honored their deceased first thing in the morning to avoid the politicians, while others organized alternative events. Altercation at the military cemetery of the Israeli city of Beer Sheva during a ceremony attended by the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, on Tuesday. Maya Alleruzzo (AP) Opposition leader Yair Lapid did not attend the main Independence Day ceremony on Tuesday night in Jerusalem. The official in charge of organizing it, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, had told the people in charge of the television broadcast that, in the event of protests, they should focus on the public or show footage of the dress rehearsal, which is always recorded in case there are technical problems during the live coverage, according to local media reports. Israel turns 75 in an atmosphere of pessimism. According to a survey by the public television channel Kan, 48% of Israelis believe that things will get worse in the coming years, while only 20% believe that they will get better. Another poll by Channel 12 places pessimism about the national future at 51%. Tamar Hermann, a professor of political science at the Open University of Israel and Senior Research Fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, believes that the crisis over the proposal of judicial reform is the worst in Israels history because it has exposed many underlying differences going back decades. All the divisions have come out: between the center and the periphery, between the secular and the religious, between Ashkenazi and Mizrahi, she said in a telephone interview. The more secular and Ashkenazi population (Jews originating from central and eastern Europe) is more closely associated with privilege and the so-called First Israel, the one that built the country. The more traditional and Mizrahi population (from the Middle East and North Africa) tend to feel more represented by Likud, Netanyahus party, which has governed for much of the last four decades and now has formed the most right-wing coalition in the countrys history with ultra-nationalist and ultra-Orthodox politicians. The reforms detractors belong mainly to the first group and fear that Israel will end up becoming a dictatorship, while its supporters feel they are treated as second-class citizens whose vote is being annulled by the powers that be. Meanwhile, Palestinians with Israeli citizenship, a fifth of the population and structurally discriminated against, have remained mostly on the sidelines of the brawl. Warnings Newspaper records show that doomsday warnings are nothing new in Israel. And figures prove that the country is experiencing quite an enviable old age. According to data released on Monday by the Central Statistics Office, the population of Israel is close to 10 million (including those who live in the country, in settlements and abroad), thanks to the high birth rates of some population groups and to waves of migration, almost half of which were due to the fall of the Soviet Union. It also has a thriving economy, based on exports such as weapons, cybersecurity and diamonds. The credit rating agency Moodys downgraded its economic outlook from positive to stable last week due to the deterioration of governance, but maintained its A1 (medium-high) rating for its strong economic growth. Life expectancy (82 years) is among the highest in the world and infant mortality (3 per 1,000) among the lowest, according to data released last week by the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies, based in Jerusalem. Its inhabitants have just climbed to fourth position in the World Happiness Index, only behind Finland, Denmark and Iceland. Added to this, at the political level, is the low diplomatic price that Israel pays for the military occupation of Palestine and for the construction since 1968 of dozens of settlements in occupied territory, where some 500,000 settlers already live. Not only does it retain its traditional support from the United States (despite the differences between Netanyahu and Joe Biden) and cooperation agreements with the EU, but its position within the Arab world has also improved. In 2020, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco recognized Israel, breaking the Arab rule that the normalization of relations would first require progress in peace with the Palestinians. For the Palestinians, it isnt; but for the average Israeli, the status quo is quite beneficial, notes Hermann. Israel has the most powerful army in the region and, according to the consensus among experts, it also has nuclear weapons. But the country lives in a kind of permanent existential angst, motivated in part by the collective trauma of the Holocaust, in which the Nazis and their allies exterminated six million Jews. In 2016 Tamir Pardo, the outgoing head of the Mossad, the secret services abroad, admitted that the country no longer faces existential threats, yet 62% of Israeli Jews do see it in Iran whose leaders advocate the disappearance of Israel and 58% support bombing its nuclear facilities, even without the go-ahead from Washington, to prevent Iran from developing atomic weapons, according to a 2021 poll. Two minutes of silence at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem on Memorial Day this Tuesday. MENAHEM KAHANA (AFP) It is what Israelis call hamatsav (the situation), amid a growing trend towards the right and religion in the last two decades, which has led to the virtual disappearance of the word peace from the political dictionary. A full 62% of Jewish Israelis consider themselves to be on the right (rising to 70% for those between the ages of 18 and 24); meanwhile, 82 of the 120 lawmakers in the Knesset are somewhere between the center-right and the radical right. Around 40% of Israeli Jews agree with the statement of their finance minister, the ultranationalist Bezalel Smotrich, that theres no such thing as the Palestinian people, according to a poll conducted last month. The founder of Zionism, Theodor Herzl, imagined the future Jewish state as a bulwark against Asia and as the vanguard of culture against barbarianism. A century later, Prime Minister Ehud Barak popularized the idea of Israel as a modern and prosperous villa in the middle of the jungle of the Middle East. The latest Gallup poll shows, for the first time, greater support for Palestinians than for Israelis among Democratic voters in the United States, after decades of military occupation and with demographics that portend a more nationalist, religious and illiberal future. The Israeli commentator Carolina Landsmann recently asked herself in the daily Haaretz if her country is blowing out 75 candles in the middle of a health dip or at the genesis of a deeper deterioration in the international arena. And one of the countrys cultural icons, the author and songwriter Yehonatan Geffen, who passed away last week, lamented in 2008 in an interview with Haaretz: Israel has aged terribly fast. I am the same age as the country, and I look better, dont I? Let Hutch Help and Jorns & Associates have recently partnered to offer Bellevue, Washington SMB employers a way to determine their eligibility and apply for ERC rebates. Qualifying applicants will not need to repay their refunds and are not restricted in how they use them. Englewood, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - April 25, 2023) - Let Hutch Help, in partnership with Jorns & Associates, has introduced a streamlined, end-to-end application process for employers in Bellevue, Washington who would like to claim pandemic relief refunds. These rebates will cover qualified wages and benefits paid to employees during the pandemic. More details are available at http://go.lethutchhelp.com/erc Bellevue Washington ERC Tax Refund Service for SMBs Announced By Let Hutch Help To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/163428_22b7e28a74c5ca2b_001full.jpg Jorns & Associates Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) services help clients determine their eligibility and guide qualifying applicants through the claim process, with the goal of maximizing the applicant's claim. Clients can take advantage of program-specific expertise from a team of dedicated ERC specialists - expertise that a regular CPA or payroll processor may not have. The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) was enacted by the US government in March 2020 to help small businesses recover from the pandemic's impacts. Using Jorns & Associates new service, business owners, who experienced decreased revenue or an impact on business operations during the pandemic, can find out if they qualify and how much they can claim through the program. The consultation program helps clients claim the maximum available refund amount; they can claim up to $26,000 per employee in funds, with unrestricted use and no need to repay. There are no upfront costs for using the assessment and application service, and business owners who do not qualify will not be charged. About Let Hutch Help and Jorns & Associates: Let Hutch Help has been in business since 2021, and they have recently partnered with Jorns & Associatess, to help small business owners in Bellevue, Washington make the most of the program. Jorns & Associates offers the following services to their ERC clients: - Full long-term Audit protection and E&O insurance included: If the SMB gets audited, they supply all criteria and assist in responding to the IRS with long-term support, not just short-term. - Maximum Funding: They evaluate the SMB claim in every way possible to ensure maximum credit is received. On average, they qualify Bellevue, Washington small businesses for 6 or 7 of the available 7 quarters (equaling $20k or more per employee). - Quality Results done Quickly: Jorns & Associates specialize in evaluating the claim in every way possible to ensure the business qualifies for maximum quarters and maximum credit. - Zero Financial Risk: If no savings or refunds are identified and realized, no fees will be owed whatsoever. - Professional Support: A personal specialist and direct point of contact is assigned to assist throughout the whole process from start to finish. More information about the ERC program, the maximum allowable rebates, and the fast application service can be found at http://go.lethutchhelp.com/ercchatwithus Contact Info: Name: Ryan Hutchison Email: [email protected] Organization: Let Hutch Help LLC Address: 3531 S Logan St D334, Englewood, Colorado 80113, United States Website: https://www.lethutchhelp.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163428 Las Vegas Nevada and Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM) (OTCQB: BMMJ) (the "Company" or "BaM") an operations-driven multistate cannabis company, is pleased to announce entry into the Illinois market with the opening of the Body and Mind dispensary in Markham, Illinois. The Body and Mind dispensary is a full-service cannabis dispensary and brings our battle-tested skills and experience from the California, Nevada, Ohio, Michigan and Arkansas markets to help patients and customers with a wide range of brands and cannabis offerings including edibles, flowers, vaping products, concentrates, capsules, tinctures, topicals and accessories. The new location offers convenient on-line ordering for pickup. "We are excited to open the Markham dispensary and believe that Illinois continues to be an underserved market for cannabis patients and customers," said Michael Mills, CEO of Body and Mind. "We believe our approachable and efficient store design, curated product offerings, and knowledgeable staff will be welcomed in the Illinois market. The second Body and Mind dispensary in Illinois is moving through the development stage and the Company is advancing our Illinois and New Jersey opportunities as quickly as possible." "I would like to further acknowledge and thank our license application team on the culmination of their efforts in applying for Illinois licenses which started in 2019. We consider license applications to be one of our core Company competencies which work in parallel to our operating dispensaries, cultivation and processing business units. We believe that winning licenses through successful applications remains one of the highest return on investment activities in cannabis. We have demonstrated success with winning license applications and look forward to using this parallel path to create potential additional shareholder value while ensuring we are focused on operational excellence in Illinois and New Jersey." The Company has options to acquire the Body and Mind-branded dispensary in Markham, Illinois along with the other Illinois Body and Mind-branded dispensary pursuant to a convertible credit facility between DEP and each of NMG IL 1, LLC and NMG IL 4, LLC and membership interest purchase agreements between DEP and the members of NMG IL 1, LLC and NMG IL 4, LLC. The dispensaries are managed by the Company. Additionally, and as authorized by the Company's compensation committee and board of directors, the Company has issued an aggregate of 9,773,000 stock options (the "Options") in accordance with the Company's 2023 Stock and Incentive Plan. The Options are exercisable at a price of CAD$0.065 per share for a five (5) year term expiring April 25, 2028. The Options were granted to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company. 5,723,000 of the Options vested immediately and 4,050,000 of the Options vest as to 25% on each date that is 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and 24 months from the date of grant. In accordance with the Policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Options and any common shares issued upon exercise will be subject to a four-month resale restriction from the date of grant. About Body and Mind Inc. BaM is an operations-focused cannabis company with active retail operations in Ohio, Arkansas, and California, pending retail operations in Illinois and New Jersey, and craft cultivation and/or processing operations in Nevada, Ohio and Arkansas. We work daily to increase our market share through delighting customers while also continuing to hone our operational efficiencies to drive profits. We are primarily guided by the metric of return on investment. Currently, we believe the most significant return on investment projects in front of us are successful retail cannabis store launches in Illinois and New Jersey, which augment our existing retail footprint. We also believe that our team's core operational skillsets will create significant future shareholder value as the cannabis industry matures. Please visit www.bodyandmind.com for more information. Instagram: @bodyandmindBaM Twitter: @bodyandmindBaM For further information, please contact: Company Contact: Michael Mills President and CEO Tel: 800-361-6312 [email protected] Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Safe Harbor Statement Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation of activities, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be 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 contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163791 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - DelphX Capital Markets Inc. (TSXV: DELX) (OTCQB: DPXCF) ("DelphX"), a leader in the development of new classes of structured products for the fixed income market, announces that the Company has today entered into a business consultant agreement with Cardiff Associates ("Cardiff"), a US-based organization that specializes in financial services development. Cardiff will provide comprehensive advisory services to support the implementation of the DelphX business strategy, specifically relating to proprietary products addressing rating changes, and corporate downgrade and upgrade structures. As a reminder, DelphX recently introduced a novel Credit Rating Security (CRS) product, which represents an industry-first solution that gives bond holders and traders the ability to position against potential rating changes on existing bonds. Under the terms of the agreement, Cardiff will receive 1MM options with a two-year maturity and an exercise price of $0.15 per common share; along with the right to gain additional compensation by achieving the following major milestones: The first commercial transaction by a new customer on the DelphX platform; Establishment of a DelphX network, platform, or other structure capable of providing consistent liquidity for DelphX products and/or services, as defined by gaining four (4) or more market makers on fifty (50) or more underlying names; Establishment of a stable, scalable issuance mechanism for DelphX products and/or services (e.g., reducing corporate issuance and settlement process from T+3 to T+2, T+1, and/or inter-day); The first commercial sale of a DelphX index product/service; The first commercial sale of a DelphX asset management wrapper product encompassing a DelphX index product or service. "Individually these are all major milestones for us, but collectively they are a company-maker because they would represent the establishment of a new market to support one of the world's largest asset class," explained DelphX CEO Patrick Wood. "Teaming with Cardiff gives us access to advisors with decades of experience in the global financial markets, both operationally and at the board level of some of the industry's leading international investment banks. Most importantly, we will be teaming with true fintech, banking and structured product experts who are actively shaping the standards and infrastructure that form the backbone of today's global financial systems. We expect this to be a transformative relationship and appreciate this vote of confidence from an organization that is at the forefront and who can lead us to rapid deployment and adoption." About DelphX Capital Markets Inc. DelphX is a technology and financial services company focused on developing and distributing the next generation of structured products. Through its special purpose vehicle Quantem LLC, the Company enables fixed income dealers to offer new private placement securities that optimally transfer and diffuse credit risk, while allowing the enhancement of yield. The new DelphX securities will enable dealers and their qualified institutional investors (QIBs) accounts to competitively structure, sell and make markets in: Collateralized put options (CPOs) that provide secured default protection or rating downgrade protection for underlying corporate, municipal and sovereign securities; Collateralized reference notes (CRNs) that enable credit investors to take on the default or rating downgrade exposure of an underlying security in exchange for enhanced yield. All CPOs and CRNs are fully collateralized and held in custody by BNY Mellon. CPOs and CRNs are proprietary products created and owned by DelphX Capital Markets. For more information about DelphX, please visit https://delphx.com/. Mark Forney, Corporate Development DelphX Capital Markets Inc. [email protected] (718) 509-2160 Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" including, without limitation, statements regarding the launch of the DelphX platform. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause actual results or events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, regulatory uncertainties, and the demand for our products. The forward-looking statements in this news release are based on factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the state of the capital markets, the ability of DelphX to successfully manage the risks inherent in pursuing business opportunities in the financial services industry, and the ability of DelphX to obtain qualified staff, equipment and services in a timely and cost-efficient manner to develop its business. Any forward-looking statement reflects information available to DelphX as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable laws, DelphX undertakes no intent or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163821 Bucharest, Romania--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - Major global multi-asset trading platform Digital Financial Exchange (DIFX), which allows users to trade Gold, Currencies, CFDs, and Cryptocurrencies has officially listedFloki on April 26, 2023. Digital Financial Exchange (DIFX) Officially Lists $FLOKI FLOKI is an immensely popular cryptocurrency, that is currently in the midst of various expansions in the Web3 world through its Metaverse, NFTs, and gaming projects. As part of its continued efforts to grow, the token has been officially listed on DIFX at 12:00 PM UTC on 26th April 2023, as a USDT pair to further increase its global community. Furthermore in a joint Twitter AMA conducted by DIFX & FLOKI, representatives from both organizations stated their mutual plans on benefiting and developing the digital asset industry with the various new innovations and features to be released in 2023. Introducing FLOKI FLOKI is the native and utility token of the Floki ecosystem which was created in September 2021 by top crypto influencers and developers. The decentralized meme token is a functional multi-utility token designed to be employed as the medium of exchange between participants in the Floki ecosystem conveniently and securely without any centralized intermediaries or third parties. It is also used to incentivize users to expend resources to participate in activities or provide services for the benefit of the entire Floki ecosystem. Based on a community-powered ecosystem, the FLOKI token powers the four major pillars that include, the Valhalla NFT Metaverse Game, FlokiFi DeFi ecosystem, Floki University Crypto Education platform, and the FlokiPlaces NFT & Merchandise Marketplace. About $FLOKI Built as an ERC20 & BEP20 token, $FLOKI is a CertiK audited token with a total supply of $10,000,000,000,000 tokens. The token is an integral and indispensable part of the Floki Ecosystem, as it serves as the key incentive for users to expand resources to participate in activities or provide services for the benefit of the entire ecosystem. Website: https://floki.com/ Telegram: https://t.me/FlokiInuToken Twitter:https://twitter.com/RealFlokiInu To trade $FLOKI on DIFX head on over to: https://difx.com/en/trade/FLOKI_USDT About Digital Financial Exchange Digital Financial Exchange (DIFX) is a leading centralized multi-asset trading platform launched in 2021 with a mission to bridge traditional and digital markets. It allows users to trade between multiple asset classes that include Indices, Forex, Crypto, CFDs, Metals, Commodities, and more. Along with multiple asset classes to invest in, DIFX comes with a secure crypto wallet because of its partnership with Fireblocks, one of the leading crypto custodians in the world. To begin a journey with endless possibilities, download the app now from the iOS or Google Play Store, or visit the Company at https://difx.com/en. PR Contact: ZEX PR WIRE [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163831 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - Live Energy Minerals Corp. (CSE: LIVE) (OTC Pink: GTREF) ("Live Energy" or the "Company") is pleased to announce preliminary sampling results with lithium (Li) concentrations up to 1907 ppm Li at its McDermitt Lithium East Project (the "McDermitt Project"). This promising project spans 6508 acres in Nevada's McDermitt Caldera, strategically situated in the same basin as the Thacker Pass lithium deposit (see Figure 1), which is being developed by Lithium Americas Corp. Adrian Smith, CEO of Live Energy Minerals Corp, states, "The high-grade lithium results at the McDermitt Project not only confirm the potential for substantial lithium mineralization in the area, but also emphasize the McDermitt Caldera as a highly favorable region for lithium exploration and development, due to its geological setting and proximity to the Thacker Pass deposit." Live Energy's preliminary sampling program involved near surface claystone (rock) and soil samples from surface and historical shallow trenches in the project area. Results demonstrated lithium levels ranging from 30 ppm to an impressive 1907 ppm Lithium, with the highest values found in the shallow trenches where intracaldera lake sediments have been exposed. The McDermitt Project is located within the McDermitt Caldera and shares similar geology with the neighboring Thacker Pass deposit. The Thacker Pass deposit is hosted in a lacustrine sequence of ash-fall tuffs and volcaniclastic rocks formed within the McDermitt Caldera basin lake post eruption. With a measured and indicated resource estimate of approximately 16.1 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent, Lithium Americas Corp. is now progressing with the development of the deposit to produce an anticipated 80,000 tonnes per annum of battery-quality lithium carbonate. In close proximity to the Thacker Pass deposit, Live Energy's McDermitt Project spans across a remarkable 6508 acres. Following the success of preliminary sampling, the Company is planning to continue its exploration efforts with a more aggressive and comprehensive exploration program, aimed at defining and expanding lithium mineralization at the project. Figure 1: McDermitt Lithium East Project location map relative to Thacker Pass deposit location. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8689/163787_8c249696f4af9a8e_001full.jpg For further information, visit the company website www.liveenergyminerals.com or contact: Adrian Smith, CEO Live Energy Minerals Corp. Email: [email protected] Phone: 604-687-2038 Follow Us: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/liveenergyminerals Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/live-energy-minerals-corp/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/LiVE_Minerals Disclosure Adrian Smith, P.Geo., is a Qualified Person ("QP") as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for the McDermitt Project. The QP is a member in good standing of the Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (EGBC) and is a registered Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.). Mr. Smith has reviewed and approved the technical information disclosed above. Preliminary sampling comprised three samples and averaged 656 ppm lithium. The samples were collected in 8.5" x 12' polyethylene bags and sent to MS Analytical in Langley, BC. Due to the preliminary nature of geochemical rock sampling, certified reference material ("standards") or blank materials ("blanks") were not inserted into the sample sequences in the field, although internal samples were inserted into the sample sequence at MS Analytical. MS Analytical's QAQC procedures consisted of introducing a variety of standards and blanks and completing normal run pulp and preparation duplicates. Rock samples were crushed to 70% passing 2mm, then a representative split was taken and pulverized to 85% passing 75micron. Multi-Element analysis was performed using by ICP-230 multi-acid digestion, 34 element analysis with an ICP-ES finish. Forward-Looking Statements Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions, and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company's future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, except in accordance with the applicable laws. For further information, please contact us at [email protected]. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163787 Delay in Filing Annual Financial Statements Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 25, 2023) - Marble Financial Inc. (CSE: MRBL) (OTC Pink: MRBLF) (FSE: 2V0) ("Marble" or the "Company"), an AI-driven financial technology company, is pleased to announce the following addition to its advisory team and accounting dept. Ryan Hartigan -Advisor: Ryan is an experienced technology professional with considerable expertise in sales and marketing in the automotive industry. The company is looking forward to Ryan's contributions in multiple areas; especially, in growth opportunities with Accumulate.ai. Jozef De Ruysscher - Advisor: Jozef brings significant industry experience in automotive finance as well as helping consumers rehabilitate their credit and debt situations. The company looks forward to utilizing Jozef's unique set of skills and experience in strategic growth areas related to Accumulate.ai and Marble's CreditMeds solution. Bennet Liu - Controller: Bennett Liu has eight years of professional experience, during which he served as both controller and CFO with various TSXV and CSE listed companies. His skill set involves financial reporting, audit functions, and cash management, with particular focus in the technology and mining sectors. He acquired his CPA designation in 2021 and is currently pursuing his CFA charter, having cleared both Level I and II exams with success. The Company also announces that it expects to be delayed in the filing of its annual audited financial statements, associated MD&A and officer certifications (the "Annual Filings") for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, which are due on May 1, 2023. The Company expects this delay will further result in insufficient time to allow for the preparation and filing of its quarterly financial statements, associated MD&A and officer certifications for the succeeding interim period ended March 31 2023 (the "Interim Filings"), which will be due on May 30, 2023. The Company has applied for a management cease trade order pursuant to National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders. The delay in the Annual Filings (and the directly resulting delay in the Interim Filings) is due to the implementation of new audit procedures requiring additional audit reviews and verifications. As a result, the Company's auditors require additional time to complete the audit process. The Company is not aware of any disagreements or issues in the audit process itself, and therefore expects the audit process to be completed and the Annual Filings to be filed as early as 15 days (on or before May 15, 2023) and not more than 60 days (on or before June 29, 2023) of the noted deadline. Likewise, the Company expects the Interim Filings to be prepared and filed within 5 business days of the filing of the Annual Filings. The Company intends to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines set forth in sections 9 and 10 of National Policy 12-203: Management Cease Trade Orders so long as it remains in default of the Annual Filings, and so long as it anticipates or is in default of the Interim Filings. The Company further advises that it is not subject to any insolvency proceedings, and that there is no other material information concerning the affairs of the Company at this time that has not been generally disclosed. Marble also announces the granted an aggregate of 700,000 stock options and one million performance restricted share units (each, an "PRSU") to employees and advisors, pursuant to the Company's stock option and long-term performance incentive plan (the "LTIP"). Each PRSU represents the right to receive, once vested, one common share in the capital of the Company. The stock options expire in five years from the date of grant, vest in equal one-quarter amounts starting on the date of grant, and in each of the first year, second year and third year anniversaries from the date of grant and are exercisable at $0.08 per share. The PRSUs expire in one year from the date of the grant and vest based on specific performance-based criteria with AccumulateAi. Each PRSU vested entitles the holder to receive one common share of the Company, up to 125,000 PRSU's can be earned and vest per financial quarter. The grant of the stock options and PRSUs are subject to approval from the CSE. About Marble Financial Inc. (CSE: MRBL) (OTC Pink: MRBLF) (FSE: 2V0): Marble is a leading provider of software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions that empower businesses to acquire and use real -time financial data to better transact with consumers. Along with enabling smarter marketing ROI for partners seeking increased conversion rates to those consumers that require further monitoring, predictive financial recommendations, and guidance to rehabilitate them to transact in the future. Utilizing Marble's proprietary and proven artificial intelligence data-driven technology platforms, Inverite, Accumulate.ai and MyMarble, businesses and consumers are empowered in real-time, access to a 360 financial profile that includes credit and banking data. Marble leverages machine learning, artificial intelligence, predictive financial recommendations, risk scores and open-banking strategies to put the power of financial data into the hands of businesses and consumers, promoting more robust relationships and higher intent toward future engagements. For further information about Marble Financial, please visit: mymarble.ca. Mike Marrandino, Executive Chairman T:(855) 661-2390 ext. 104 Email: [email protected] Cautions: Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services providers have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information ("FLSI") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. FLSI may include expectations, anticipations, beliefs, opinions, plans, intentions, estimates, forecasts, projections, guidance or other similar statements and information that are not historical facts. FLSI is subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, and is based on assumptions, the occurrence or inaccuracy of which, as the case may be, could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied in FLSI. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance or value on FLSI. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any FLSI in this news release are reasonable at the present time, it can give no assurance that such FLSI will prove to be correct. Any FLSI in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Any FLSI in this press release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to publicly update or revise any FLSI, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163715 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - Mistango River Resources Inc. (CSE: MIS) ("Mistango" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for aggregate gross proceeds of $700,000. Proceeds will be used for an upcoming drill program on Mistango's 100% Goldie Project in Shebandowan and adjacent to Delta Resources Delta-1 Project. About Mistango's Goldie Project Goldie is located within the Shebandowan Greenstone Belt and covers a 17km strike on the Shebandowan Structural Zone, which also hosts Goldshore Resources Inc.'s low-grade high-tonnage Moss Lake gold deposit, 50 km to the west. Goldie is also adjacent to Delta Resources Delta-1 Project, which reported multiple holes of visible gold, including an intersection of 11.9 metres of 14.8 g/t gold within a broader interval of 31.0 metres of 5.92 g/t gold. The Offering consists of any combination of (i) units of the Company (the "Units") at $0.045 per unit and (ii) flow-through units of the Company (each "FT" Unit") at a price of $0.06 per FT Unit. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Common Share in the capital of the Company (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.10 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months from the closing of the Offering. Each FT Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (a "FT Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant ("FT Warrant"). Each FT Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Common Share (a "FT Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.10 per FT Warrant Share for a period of 24 months from the closing of the Offering. The company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of Units towards its exploration and development work on the Goldie Project in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and for general working capital purposes. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of FT Units towards its exploration work on the Goldie Project in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The Common Shares and Warrants underlying the Units and the FT Common Shares and FT Warrants underlying the FT Units to be issued under the Offering will have a hold period of four months and one-day closing of the Offering. The Company reserves the right to increase the size the Offering. In connection with the Offering, the Company may pay a finder's fee the aggregate gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Units and FT Units. The issuance of the Units and FT Units, and payment of the Finder's Fee is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the CSE. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, unless an exemption from such registration is available. To learn more about Mistango, the Ore Group, and all things mining, please go to our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@theoregroup. Mistango is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the symbol MIS. To Speak to the Company directly, please contact: Stephen Stewart, Chairman Phone: 416.644.1567 Email: [email protected] www.mistango.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Mistango assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to Mistango. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings by Mistango with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available under Mistango profile at www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163816 NICE Rapid prides the business in offering world-class services in injection moulding and rapid tooling specialist. New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - NICE Rapid, a one-stop-shop for everything from part production, mould creation, and design assistance, announces the latest low volume manufacturing service as a low-risk method of ironing out manufacturing during the initial prototyping phase. By using processes suited to small batches, prototype and production units can have similar components and materials. The creation of products in low volume enables early performance testing and preliminary verification and validation exercises, reducing the surprises that can show up in first article builds. NICE Rapid Launches Low Volume Manufacturing With A Range Of Moulding Materials To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/163809_385f2e7a04dd38d2_001full.jpg The Company believes that manufacturing today is all about customization; creating demands of high-mix, low-volume production. Understanding the market, NICE Rapid offers businesses low-volume manufacturing and quality insurance as a cost-effective, customized service. The low volume manufacturing service at NICE Rapid provides more flexible design iterations through the creation of low volume manufacturing, allowing for more efficient verification of design, engineering and manufacturability. Thus, it also results in short turnaround times and low costs. This is because the tooling is cost-effective for low volume manufacturers to handle orders quickly and flexibly, with no minimum order quantities. Low volume trial runs bridge the gap between prototype and production, timely identifying and resolving any issues before moving to mass production. Moreover, NICE Rapid brings the low volume production to the market with the highest degree of precision and accuracy of parts with specialised machining techniques and latest equipment. The company is committed to providing high-quality custom parts that strictly meet customers' design requirements and specifications via vast low-volume manufacturing services, including Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) machining, rapid tooling, plastic injection moulding, and pressure die casting. The plastic parts created at NICE Rapid are used in almost every industry and sector. For more information, please visit: https://www.nicerapid.com/ About NICE Rapid NICE Rapid is an expert in the field when it comes to selecting reliable and cost-effective injection moulding, silicone moulding, and rapid tooling specialists. NICE Rapid can handle all the custom manufacturing needs with a fully experienced engineering team offering first-rate customer service and quality. The company takes product quality seriously and ensures all of them are ISO certified to ensure the best for the customers. Contact Info: Name: Steven Zhang Email: [email protected] Organization: Nice Rapid Tooling Manufacturing Limited Address: No. 26, Haotou Ave, Torch Development Zone, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, 528451, China Phone: +86 760 8996 7810 Website: https://www.nicerapid.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163809 London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - On March 13th, Dr. Jo R.S., the founder of Rainmaker Quantum Group, announced during the quarterly meeting the Rainmaker Future Expansion plan. As Rainmaker Quantum Group continues to grow and expand its reach, the company is also actively planning for the future. One of the key areas of focus for the company is the development and application of new technologies to enhance its investment strategies. Rainmaker Quantum Group is developing enhanced investment strategies. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9701/163689_8e6df0bf44808bc9_001full.jpg Rainmaker Quantum Group is actively researching the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in investment decision-making. The company recognizes the immense potential of AI and ML in improving investment outcomes and is investing significant resources into developing sophisticated algorithms that can analyze large amounts of data and make investment decisions based on patterns and trends that are difficult for humans to identify. Rainmaker Quantum Group aims to leverage AI and ML to enhance the accuracy of its investment decisions. The company envisions that Divine Quantum 5.0 and better AI and ML trading solutions will be the future of its investment strategies. Another area of focus for Rainmaker Quantum Group is the expansion of its global presence. The company is actively exploring opportunities to expand into new markets and regions, including Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. By expanding its reach, Rainmaker Quantum Group aims to tap into new sources of investment opportunities and generate more value for its clients. The company believes that a global presence will also help it better understand and respond to the needs and preferences of clients in different regions. Rainmaker Quantum Group also recognizes the importance of compliance and confidentiality in the financial industry. The company understands that it must comply with all applicable regulations and laws to protect its clients and maintain their trust. Additionally, the company is committed to safeguarding sensitive and confidential information, especially regarding its institutional clients. As a result, it is often a challenge for Rainmaker Quantum Group to disclose business information with a significant level of confidentiality while maintaining pure transparency with its retail clients. Rainmaker Quantum Group is a fintech company that has undergone significant evolution since its inception. The company's focus on divine quantum evolution, divine quantum preservation, and divine quantum expansion has allowed it to establish a strong reputation in the industry and build a loyal client base. As it continues to innovate and expand, Rainmaker Quantum Group aims to stay at the forefront of technological advancements and provide the best possible investment solutions to its clients. Divine Quantum's Evolution From 1.0 to 4.0 Divine Quantum was first introduced in 2007 as Divine Quantum Strategy. The strategy used quantitative analysis and machine learning to predict market movements and adjust portfolios accordingly. In 2012, Rainmaker Quantum Group introduced Divine Quantum 2.0, which incorporated more complex machine-learning algorithms to improve the accuracy of its predictions. In 2020, Rainmaker Quantum Group launched Divine Quantum 3.0, which introduced a new feature that allowed the strategy to adjust portfolios based on the level of risk. Divine Quantum 3.0 was a significant improvement over its predecessors. 6 core algorithms of Divine Quantum To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9701/163689_8e6df0bf44808bc9_002full.jpg In 2023, Rainmaker Quantum Group upgraded the latest trading strategy Divine Quantum 4.0. This new version is the most advanced iteration of the strategy to date. Divine Quantum 4.0 uses advanced machine learning algorithms that can learn from past performance to improve future predictions. The strategy also incorporates a risk management system that can adjust portfolios to minimize risk. Capital Protection for Interest-Bearing Individuals With Divine Quantum Preservation Fund The Divine Quantum Preservation Fund is an innovative product offered by Rainmaker Quantum Group to provide an extra layer of protection to investors' capital. This fund is specifically designed to safeguard investor capital from unforeseen circumstances that may arise while investing in Rainmaker Quantum's investment products. Quantum Preservation Fund world's first protection system To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9701/163689_8e6df0bf44808bc9_003full.jpg In essence, the Divine Quantum Preservation Fund acts as an insurance policy that protects investor capital from market volatility and other unexpected events that may cause significant losses. By utilizing the same machine-learning algorithms as Divine Quantum, the fund can adjust the portfolio in real-time, effectively minimizing risk while preserving capital. The fund is managed by a team of seasoned investment professionals who employ a disciplined investment approach to identify high-quality fixed-income opportunities. The team conducts extensive research to identify strategies with strong fundamentals and favorable risk/reward profiles. Investors who are seeking a low-risk investment option will find the Rainmaker Quantum's Fund to be an attractive choice. With its focus on capital preservation, the fund provides a high level of security and peace of mind, allowing investors to confidently entrust their capital to Rainmaker Quantum Group. Source: Rainmaker Quantum Group Name:Mr Edward Davison Media Contact: [email protected] Link: https://www.rainmakerquantum.com/media To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163689 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. (TSXV: SCZ) ("Santacruz" or "the Company") produced 5,644,383 silver equivalent ounces from its Bolivar, Porco, and Caballo Blanco Group of Mines and the San Lucas Ore Sourcing and Trading company ("the Bolivian Operations") and the Zimapan Mine in Mexico ("the Mexican Operations") in the first quarter of 2023. Production results from Bolivar and Porco are reported at a 100%, while the Company has a 45% net profit interest in these mines. The Caballo Blanco Group of Mines consists of the Tres Amigos, Reserva and Colquechaquita mines. Consolidated First Quarter 2023 Production Highlights: Silver equivalent production of 5,644,383 ounces; Silver produced 1,769,519 ounces; Zinc produced 22,463 tonnes; Lead produced 3,044 tonnes; Copper produced 415 tonnes. Carlos Silva, Santacruz's CEO stated, "We started the year with solid production from all of our assets and are committed to improving operational efficiencies at all our mines, the San Lucas trading company and supporting areas. We are also working closely with JDS Engineering & Mining to complete NI 43-101 compliant Resource and Reserve Estimates for all our producing mines in Mexico and Bolivia, which will provide us with additional life of mine planning information. These reports are expected to be released during the third quarter of this year." Production Details Table Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Y/Y Change Q4 2022 Q/Q Change Material Processed (tonnes milled) 482,498 227,570 112% 482,626 (0)% Silver equivalent production (oz) 5,644,383 1,613,720 250% 5,744,128 (2)% Silver production (oz) 1,769,519 469,829 177% 1,793,936 (1)% Lead production (tonnes) 3,044 1,343 127% 2,900 5% Zinc production (tonnes) 22,463 6,158 265% 23,111 (3)% Copper production (tonnes) 415 208 100% 386 8% Average Head Grade (g/t Ag Eqv.) 421 291 45% 445 (5)% Development (metres) 11,295 3,572 216% 10,653 6% *Note: On March 18, 2022 the Company closed the acquisition of all Bolivian assets from Glencore and the results of the Bolivian Operations are included in the consolidated results of the Company from that date. Silver equivalent ounces, which are provided to assist the reader, are based on the following commodity price assumptions Ag $21.86/oz, Pb $0.91/lb, Zn $1.52/lb and Cu $3.67/lb First Quarter 2023 Mine by Mine Production Table Mine Tonnes Milled Head Grade Total Develop- ment Ounces Produced Tonnes Produced AgEq Oz Produced (1) g/t % Ag Zn Pb Cu Meters Ag Zn Pb Cu Zimapan 200,970 70 2.20 0.63 0.38 3,786 320,942 3,407 957 415 1,084,600 Bolivar 74,353 250 6.40 0.65 n/a 2,310 555,914 4,313 353 n/a 1,249,153 Porco 49,909 122 6.89 0.58 n/a 2,596 162,015 3,245 217 n/a 679,144 Caballo Blanco* 85,817 187 7.01 1.50 n/a 2,604 475,026 5,650 1,043 n/a 1,436,322 San Lucas 71,448 125 8.90 0.94 n/a 0 255,623 5,848 473 n/a 1,195,164 5,644,383 The Company has a 45% Net Profit Interest in Bolivar and Porco mines. Production results of Bolivar and Porco mines are reported at 100%. *The Caballo Blanco Mines consist of the Tres Amigos, Reserva and Colquechaquita Mines. Silver equivalent ounces, which are provided to assist the reader, are based on the following commodity price assumptions Ag $21.86/oz, Zn $1.52/lb, Pb $0.91/lb, and Cu $3.67/lb Bolivian Operations General Overview Production at the Bolivian operations has been steady over the past two quarters, with production flexibility at each operation contributing to consistent output. The San Lucas ore sourcing and trading business continues to perform well and provides feed for each of the process plants at Bolivar, Porco, and the Don Diego plant, which processed Caballo Blanco feed. This third-party feed source allows each plant to operate efficiently and provides additional ore for blending, as necessary. Bolivar Mine First quarter 2023 production included material from the newly developed Rosario section, which help offset delays in mining the Central section. These delays were caused by the extension of services for pumping and ventilation as this section descends. Rosario stopes were larger and contained higher grade silver than expected, which offset lower grade toll feeds from San Lucas Ore sourcing and trading business. Zinc and lead production were lower than expected, but silver production was great than anticipated. Porco Mine Production was down slightly, and metal grades were lower than expected because of operational challenges. Equipment downtime in the trackless Hundumiento zone and stope sequencing had an impact on timing of higher-grade ore feed, which also affected metal recoveries. This was partially offset by toll feed tonnage from the San Lucas ore sourcing and trading business being greater and higher grade than anticipated, which resulted in total metal production for the quarter being higher than anticipated. Caballo Blanco Group of Mines Production and total development metres was as expected for this group of mines (Colquechaquita, Tres Amigos and Reserva mines). At the Don Diego milling facility, the toll feed from San Lucas ore sourcing and trading business was lower grade than anticipated, but in the first quarter of 2023, this was offset by mined grades. Zimapan Mine (Mexico) Two separate mines (Monte and Carrizal mines) are linked by a trackless haulage drift leading to the process plant. Production from the complex is stable at current tonnage and grade with improvements to the metal output largely driven by metallurgical performance. Issues in the first quarter of 2023 with process water shortages resulting from a regional drought provided opportunities for planned plant maintenance but have also impacted total tonnes processed. The flexible mine plan allows production from different zones based on metal values and blending requirements. During the first quarter of 2023 the Zimapan complex experienced a considerable increase in copper recoveries. Corporate Update The Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Sabina Srubiski as Manager of Investor Relations. Sabina is an investor relations professional that has spent almost 15 years in the mining industry. Her career has covered the spectrum of mining companies, from exploration, through development and into production. Prior to Santacruz she worked with a mid-tier gold producer and before that she was with a developer that brought a Tier 1 gold asset into production. Sabina will be based in the Company's Vancouver Office. Qualified Person Wayne Corso, Chief Operating Officer of the Company is a qualified person under NI 43-101, and has approved the scientific and technical information related to operational matters contained in this news release. About Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. The Company is engaged in the operation, acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Latin America, with a primary focus on silver and zinc, but also including lead and copper. The Company currently has six producing projects, the Zimapan, Bolivar, Porco, Tres Amigos, Reserva and Colquechaquita Mines and holds two exploration properties in its mineral property portfolio, the La Pechuga Property and the Santa Gorgonia Prospect, and one development project, the Soracaya Project in addition to the San Lucas ore sourcing and trading business. 'signed' Arturo Prstamo Elizondo, Executive Chairman For further information please contact: Arturo Prestamo Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. Email: [email protected] Telephone: (528) 183 785707 Sabina Srubisk Manager, Investor Relations Email: [email protected] Telephone: (604) 351 7909 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward looking information Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements relating to production at the Zimapan Mine, the Bolivian Operations and the Company's plans relating to such properties. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions. In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events, that the Company will receive all required regulatory approvals and that future metal prices and the demand and market outlook for metals will remain stable or improve. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to: the risk that any of the assumptions referred to above prove not to be valid or reliable; market conditions and volatility and global economic conditions, including increased volatility and potentially negative capital raising conditions resulting from the continued, or escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic and risks relating to the extent and duration of such pandemic and its impact on global markets; controls or regulations and political or economic developments in Mexico and Bolivia; risk of delay and/or cessation in planned work or changes in the Company's financial condition and development plans; risks associated with the Company's plan to undertake certain post-closing reorganization steps in respect of the target entities; the uncertainty of the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits and the risk of unexpected variations in mineral resources, grade and/or recovery rates; risks related to gold, silver, base metal and other commodity price fluctuations; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licences and permits and the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; risks relating to environmental regulation and liability; the possibility that results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to mineral exploration and development activities and to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information or statements, other than as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163788 Sabic, a global diversified chemicals company, has been awarded five of the prestigious Edison Awards 2023 for its innovative solutions for the third year in a row. Edison Awards honours the worlds most innovative new products, services and business leaders, and this is the second year in a row that Sabic received at least five Edison awards. Sabic won 3 gold and 2 bronze awards across three separate areas for its new products and solutions. These areas include Food and Agriculture, Material Science and Sustainability. These awards reflect Sabics commitment to pushing the limits of science, technology and innovation and defining the future of chemistry that allows Sabic and its customers to address some of the worlds biggest challenges. New technology Sabic is proud to be recognised for the third consecutive year by Edison Awards, demonstrating our continued leadership in new technology and innovation advancements. These are key elements of our continued business growth on our journey to be the preferred world leader in chemicals and provide innovative solutions for the future that create a more sustainable world, said Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, CEO at Sabic. The diversity in the award categories reflect Sabics wide range of innovative solutions. Notably, for its sustainability contribution, the Edison Awards recognised Sabics collaboration in the innovative development of a frozen food packaging solution that uses recycled ocean bound plastic. Recognised as a gold award winner within the Green Remediation category, the solution uses Sabics Trucircle certified circular polyethylene from feedstock sourced from post-consumer plastic waste recovered from oceans feeding areas and rivers. Circular product The solution was designed in collaboration with manufacturer of flexible film products, Polivouga and the brand owner Nueva Pescanova Group, who specialise in products like frozen seafood, making it a truly circular product. In the Food and Agriculture Advancements category, Sabic was recognised as a gold award winner for its Blue Urea solution, a sustainable, low-carbon nitrogen fertiliser. Sabic Agri-Nutrients produced the product using ammonia that has a zero-carbon footprint and recently achieved the worlds first independent certification for blue ammonia production. The third-party certification was made by TUV Rheinland, a leading independent testing, inspection and certification agency. To be certified as blue, a significant part of the CO2 associated with the manufacturing process needs to be captured and utilised in downstream applications. Crop yield Also, in the food and agriculture area, the Edison Awards bestowed a bronze award to Sabics Next Generation Fertiliser that increases crop yield while reducing the need for large amounts of fertiliser. The unique multi-nutrient foliar fertiliser was developed with crop yield-building and protecting components in a single formula to provide nutrition and stress protection to plants. Sabic studies on the formulation have shown an improvement of up to 17% in yield with up to 25% reduction in fertiliser use. Finally, in the final Material Science category, the Edison Awards recognised Sabic for their innovative heat-resistant resins that can be used in electric vehicles and on cutting-edge circuit boards. Sabics Norly resin received the bronze award in the Enhanced Performance subgroup. The resin can be used as an insulation film on EV batteries and charging systems to increase safety. Additionally, the Extem resin, which received the gold award, offers manufacturers the capability to mount optical connectors onto printed circuit boards, simplifying assembly processes and enabling mass production of circuit boards needed for technology products. The Edison Awards are named after Thomas Alva Edison, whose inventions, product development methods, and innovative achievements helped change the world. Established in 1987, the Edison Awards are dedicated to recognising, honouring and fostering innovations and innovators, and the annual competition honors excellence in new product and service development, marketing, design and innovation.-- TradeArabia News Service Carmen Aristegui may be one of Mexicos most popular, respected and feared journalists these days. Sharp and tough while shes working, she is charming in person. Founder and director of the award-winning Aristegui Noticias website, shes also the anchor of the Aristegui news program on CNN en Espanol, and has almost eight million followers on Twitter. On April 26, she was in the capital of Spain to be presented with the Diario Madrid Award at the Association of European Journalists meeting. Aristegui intends to donate the 12,000 ($13,300) cash prize to the Nicaraguan media persecuted by Daniel Ortegas regime. She was also named a World Press Freedom Hero this week by the International Press Institute (IPI). Its tremendous. Im sure Ill become insufferable, she joked. Question. Journalism in Mexico is very high-risk its the country at peace with more journalist deaths, even more than in Ukraine. Answer. That is the most serious issue here the murder of journalists. Articulo 19 [an organization that works in Mexico to monitor attacks on freedom of expression] reported the murders of 12 journalists in 2022 and over 100 in recent years. Its a disgrace that unfortunately persists because it goes hand in hand with the impunity of a country without a justice system willing to punish those responsible. Few of the perpetrators have been prosecuted, which is almost an invitation to murder for those who feel threatened by journalism. Q. Mexicos president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, sometimes singles out journalists by name in his morning news briefings even you, who expressed some goodwill for his candidacy. What happened? A. I have never supported anyone politically. Instead of cozying up to politicians, I always try to remain open and impartial. I think I showed that in significant ways over the past few years with Lopez Obrador. He has been Mexicos leading opposition figure for decades, and finally became president after three attempts. But he made a political decision to polarize, divide, and attack the reputations of journalists and critical voices. Does he like my work? Clearly not. Does he like my criticism of how he is running the country? Certainly not. The president seems to want an acquiescent press that supports his policies, instead of one that does journalism. Those who disagree with him become adversaries. Anyone who refuses to cheer him on becomes an enemy, someone to be vilified. Q. Do you feel threatened? Another journalist and frequent target of the president Ciro Gomez Leyva was attacked last December in downtown Mexico City. A. While some doubt remains, the federal government doesnt seem to be behind the attack on Ciro Gomez Leyva. It looks like some criminals revenge for something Gomez published. I dont think many journalists are worried about violent attacks by the federal government, but there is more concern about municipal and state governments. Q. Singling out journalists by name can encourage violence against them... A. Yes, thats an issue. Verbal violence can incite other types of violence. Q. You have been critical of every president and party: Felipe Calderon (PAN party), Enrique Pena Nieto (PRI party), and now Lopez Obrador (Morena party). Is that still the essential function of journalism in a world of social media likes? A. I cannot imagine uncritical journalism criticism is inherent to the activity. Otherwise, it would just be another [documentation] task. It is very important for a democracy to have eyes watching those in power and pointing out whats not working. Q. Is freedom of expression at risk in Mexico? A. Everything we have gained seems to be eroding. Q. Is the crisis in journalism connected to the crisis in democracy? A. There is a war against critical journalism you only have to look at Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro, Nayib Bukele, Nicolas Maduro and Daniel Ortega. These political leaders have calculated the political advantage of having enemies in a polarized system, and chief among them is a critical press. Q. What do you think of Lopez Obradors recent vow to shut down Notimex, the official Mexican news agency? Is that the reason for the morning news briefings? A. Pathetic. If they planned right off the bat to close it down, they would have done it formally. Instead, they let an agonizingly slow death unfold that culminated in this pathetic statement. First, it [Notimex] should be regarded as a state information agency, not a government mouthpiece. To say that this is the reason for the morning news briefings shows that the government doesnt want a state agency providing a useful information service for democracy. Q. Is artificial intelligence (AI) the beginning of the end of journalism? A. It certainly makes us laugh but also tremble in fear. Weve never seen a technology that can create narratives on its own like this. What we once thought of as a human monopoly is no longer. Its a substantive change of unknown dimensions, but we have to take it seriously. Use of these nascent tools is running wild and will soon become massive. How will publishing, film, advertising, television and storytelling be taken over by AI? We must take it very seriously. I dont know how far it will go, but its certainly a tipping point for civilization. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - West Vault Mining Inc. (TSXV: WVM) (OTCQX: WVMDF) ("West Vault" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Kaiser Research Online ("KRO") has initiated coverage on West Vault. KRO's analysis report on West Vault is available on their website. Please note that West Vault does not remunerate KRO in any form. Any opinions or forecasts regarding the Company made by KRO are theirs alone and they neither represent the opinions or forecasts of West Vault or its management, nor imply that the Company analyzes or approves such information, conclusions, or recommendations. In June 2023, John Kaiser, together with other invited analysts and journalists, plans to visit the Hasbrouck Gold Project, Nevada. Sandy McVey, West Vault's CEO comments, "The current gold market appears to be generating greater interest in economically-robust gold projects. I am proud of our team's work in advancing the Hasbrouck Gold Project to construction-readiness. It takes many years of patient work to achieve a permitted, shovel-ready project in the best jurisdiction, and we now hope to benefit from being in the right place at the right time." Investors have shown renewed interest in the Hasbrouck Gold Project since the Company published an economically-robust NI 43-101 Pre-Feasibility Study update in January 2023: 2023 Pre-Feasibility Study Highlights (2016 PFS at $1,275 gold in brackets) Project Status Permitted, construction-ready NPV(5%) (after-tax, $1,790 gold) US$206 million (US$120 million) IRR (after-tax, $1,790 gold) 51% (43%) Initial Capital US$66 million (US$47 million) Pay-back 2.9 years (3.1 years) Recoverable Gold & Silver 561 koz gold (577 koz); 1,918 koz silver (1,163 koz) All-in Sustaining Cost US$877 per gold ounce net of by-product credits (US$709) Geology well-understood, +600 boreholes, all-oxide Mining low 1.1:1 strip ratio, minimal pre-strip, above water table Metallurgy 13 test programs, 75% average heap-leach gold recovery Infrastructure Water and water-rights obtained, nearby grid power, adjacent highway access The Hasbrouck Gold Project has a number of significant gold intercepts outside but proximal to the current Mineral Resource, on-strike and below the proposed open pits, indicating areas for potential resource expansion. Additional Resource expansion potential also exists on several geologist-defined drill targets within the Hasbrouck Gold Project mineral property holdings. The Hasbrouck Gold Project demonstrates a high sensitivity to the price of gold, as shown in the following sensitivity table from the 2023 Technical Report (as defined below): Table 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3137/163707_wvtbl.jpg. About West Vault Mining Inc. West Vault is committed to maximizing shareholder value through its low-risk gold-in-ground strategy, which involves acquiring, advancing, holding, and selling high-quality development gold projects in the best jurisdictions. Authors and Qualified Persons Statement The Company has filed a technical report on SEDAR entitled "Technical Report for the Hasbrouck Gold-Silver Project Updated Preliminary Feasibility Study, Esmeralda County, Nevada, USA" effective January 11, 2023 (the "2023 Technical Report"), which was authored by RESPEC and was prepared in conformance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Technical work, analysis, and findings were completed by Thomas L. Dyer, P.E., and Jeff Bickel, C.P.G. both of RESPEC, Reno, with contributions by Mark Jorgensen, SME, of JE&TS (metallurgy), Ryan Baker, P.E., of NewFields (civil and heap leach) and Carl Defilippi, SME, of KCA (process design). Each person is a "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the information in this news release relevant to the portion of the 2023 Technical Report for which they are responsible. Each Qualified Person noted above has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content in this news release relating to the 2023 Technical Report. Sample Preparation, Analyses, and Security It is RESPEC's opinion that the sampling, assaying, and security procedures used at Three Hills and Hasbrouck deposits follow industry standard procedures, and are adequate for the estimation of the current Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve and for use in preparing the 2023 Technical Report. Data Verification RESPEC completed audits of the database, performed a site visit, reviewed quality assurance and quality control data and confirmed historic assays. After performing their review, they consider the assay data to be adequate for the estimation of the current Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve and for use in preparing the 2023 Technical Report. About RESPEC Formerly Mine Development Associates, (MDA), RESPEC is a global leader in diverse technologies and draws from a wide array of expertise, products, and services to deliver world-class solutions for business, mining, energy, water, natural resources, urban development, infrastructure, and enterprise services. Qualified Person Sandy McVey P.Eng., Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer for the Company, as a non-independent Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information disclosed in this news release. On behalf of the Board of West Vault Mining Inc. Sandy McVey, P.Eng., MSc, PMP CEO & COO For further information please see the Company's website at www.westvaultmining.com or contact us by email at [email protected]. Investor enquiries: Sandy McVey 778 388 2464 / [email protected] Compliance with NI 43-101 and Cautionary Statement on Mineral Resources and Reserves The information in this news release has been summarized from the 2023 Technical Report. RESPEC has reviewed and verified the data disclosed in the Technical Report to be in conformity with generally accepted CIM "Estimation of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves Best Practices" guidelines as of the date of the 2023 Technical Report as required by NI 43-101. For readers to fully understand the information in this news release, they should read the 2023 Technical Report which is available on www.sedar.com or at www.westvaultmining.com in its entirety, including all qualifications, assumptions, and exclusions that relate to the information set out in this news release that qualify the technical information contained in the 2023 Technical Report. The 2023 Technical Report is intended to be read as a whole, and sections should not be read or relied upon when taken out of the context of the full 2023 Technical Report. The technical information in this news release is subject to the assumptions, qualifications, and exclusions contained in the 2023 Technical Report. Non-IFRS Reporting Measures "All-in Sustaining Costs" are not Performance Measures reported in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). These performance measures are included because these statistics are key performance measures that management uses to monitor performance. Management uses these statistics to assess how the Project ranks against its peer projects and to assess the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the contemplated mining operations. These performance measures do not have a meaning within IFRS and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar data presented by other mining companies. These performance measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance in accordance with IFRS. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information This press release may contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "will", "exploration potential", "economically robust", "high-quality development project", "high sensitivity to gold price", "progressively de-risking", "permitted, fully-construction-ready status", "construction-readiness", "shovel-ready project", "low-risk", "gold-in-ground", "well-understood", "minimal pre-strip", and similar expressions, and those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements regarding the projected cost and economic performance of the Project based on the 2023 Technical Report, the Company's ability to obtain any additional permits required to commence and complete construction and perform operations, the Company's ability to obtain required funding on reasonable terms, and the potential identification, execution, and realization of accretive opportunities. Although West Vault believes that such information as set out in this press release is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations and estimates will prove correct. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from forward-looking information as a result of various factors. The reader is referred to the Company's public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects which may be accessed through the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Note to US Investors This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. The terms "Mineral Resource", "Indicated Mineral Resource" and "Inferred Mineral Resource" are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101. However, these terms are not defined terms under SEC S-K 1300 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. In addition, the terms "Mineral Reserve", "Probable Mineral Reserve" and "Proven Mineral Reserve" are also defined in NI43-101 and not S-K 1300. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an "Indicated Mineral Resource" or "Inferred Mineral Resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category or converted into Mineral Reserves in accordance with S-K 1300. "Inferred Mineral Resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Under Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a Mineral Resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "Reserves" by SEC S-K 1300 standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, information contained in this News Release contains descriptions of the Company's mineral deposits that may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163707 Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - NexusMentis, a unique startup in the pre-seed phase, has developed an AI-based decision support recommendation system for doctors using its Smart Pharmacy and Diagnostics Tool. The startup's aim is to provide data-backed decisions in healthcare, reduce the time it takes for patients to reach optimal treatment through AI, and provide long-term analytics to mental health practitioners. NexusMentis has successfully reached the proof-of-concept stage of its proprietary algorithm and now has a fully operational platform that can be integrated and aims to enhance patients' treatment and well-being. The company's AI algorithm assists physicians in making the decisions for patients by considering drug interactions, pre-existing conditions, patient response to treatment and well-being, and creating a way for doctors to connect to patients should the patient's well-being decline through system alerts and notifications. Anca McCormack, Founder of NexusMentis, said, "Our aim is to bring the infinite capabilities of AI into mental health so that everyone has a chance to have better days, achieve personalized treatment through their own treatment data, and contribute to enhanced communities' well-being, no matter where in the world. NexusMentis understands the journey and aims to connect minds globally." The launch of the Smart Pharmacy and Diagnostics Tool aims to help patients, mental health practitioners, insurance companies, clinics, and hospitals. NexusMentis is looking to raise investment that would help it to enhance its algorithm functionalities to reach its full potential. NexusMentis was created as the result of a personal story and journey by its founder. The next stage in the company's plan is to start assisting hospitals and clinics in UAE get a better insight on treatments for patients, as well as expanding to a global market, as the problems the company is trying to solve are ubiquitous. Anca McCormack, the founder of NexusMentis, brings over 20 years of experience in the IT and AI fields to personal passion for well-being and AI. Anca McCormack firmly believes that each individual can contribute to a better and healthier community, and it is this inner drive that led to creating NexusMentis. Anca's expertise has been integral in the development of the Smart Pharmacy and Diagnostics Tool, which aims to revolutionize the healthcare industry by providing data-backed decisions and long-term analytics to mental health practitioners. Anca is excited about the potential of AI in the mental health field and is dedicated to connecting minds globally to enhance community well-being. For more information, please visit https://www.nexusmentis.com/. NexusMentis logo To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9578/163690_b94bfd5f94ae49fb_001full.jpg. Media Contact: Anca McCormack, Founder NexusMentis Email: [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163690 SAINT-LUC, Quebec (PRWEB) April 26, 2023 Veronica La Gentile wants to share a disgraceful cover up by two previous provincial governments granting the opportunity for the financial institution to accumulate a monetary cushion to support the separatist movement in Quebec. This cover-up also allowed them the ability to stop legal processes.It is for these reasons she now releases "Quebec Corruption" (published by iUniverse.) This book is a summary of a legal denunciation called "Quebec corruption" posted all over the medias where La Gentile explains with proof by documents of a fraud that she has been a victim of by a financial institution in Quebec. In allowing this fraud, La Gentile claims that a cover-up started from a notary and a supposed partner member of the financial institution and their employees from the legal system right up to all levels of two governments and all of this was done to protect a financial institution not to be charged of money laundering and theft. In her case, the financial institution facilitated the sale of her house to a known criminal organization. The house was seized by the RCMP (federal police) as proceeds of crime. This one transaction enabled a better opportunity to accumulate the proof that she, the original owner had been swindled. In this book, readers will see all the non-democratic ways that they took trying to stop her to get justice even when she had her proof. "I wrote this book after 30 years of fighting them so all of you could realize that all these years, we were in a state government a type of dictator where people's right were taken away, and so was their money and possessions. In this book, you will be informed of all their types of tactics that they took to cover-up their frauds so you will be more politically aware and so will our next generations," La Gentile says. When asked what she wants readers to take away from the book, La Gentile answered, "I hope to inform people of illegal implications that could happen to them and to bring information to the public to bring other cases to light and provide others with the information tools to find their proof for similar cases." For more information about the book, please visit https://www.iuniverse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/845977-quebec-corruption "Quebec Corruption" By Veronica La Gentile Softcover | 5 x 8in | 94 pages | ISBN 9781663244499 E-Book | 94 pages | ISBN 9781663244505 Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the Author Veronica La Gentile is of Italian descent, was raised in Quebec with an education in Political Science and Law. She is a long time businesswoman who is of strong will character to undergo this injustice for 30+ years. iUniverse, an Author Solutions, LLC, self-publishing imprint, is the leading book marketing, editorial services, and supported self-publishing provider. iUniverse recognizes excellence in book publishing through the Star, Rising Star and Editor's Choice designations--self-publishing's only such awards program. iUniverse is headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana. For more information or to publish a book, please visit iuniverse.com or call 1-800-AUTHORS. Read the full story at https://www.prweb.com/releases/veronica_la_gentile_announces_the_release_of_quebec_corruption/prweb19255354.htm ATLANTA , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aaron's Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions, will webcast its 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday May 3, 2023 from Atlanta, Georgia , as described in its proxy statement, dated March 23, 2023 , furnished to Aaron's shareholders. Investors and other interested parties may access the webcast on the Investor Relations page of the Company's website at investor.aarons.com. The webcast will allow parties to listen to the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, but will not provide the opportunity to participate. About The Aaron's Company, Inc Headquartered in Atlanta, The Aaron's Company, Inc. is a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions of appliances, electronics, furniture, and other home goods across its brands, Aaron's, BrandsMart U.S.A , BrandsMart Leasing, and Woodhaven. Aaron's offers a direct-to-consumer lease-to-own solution through its approximately 1,260 company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada , as well as its e-commerce platform. BrandsMart U.S.A. is one of the leading appliance and consumer electronics retailers in the southeast United States and one of the largest appliance retailers in the country with ten retail stores in Florida and Georgia . BrandsMart Leasing offers lease-to-own solutions to customers of BrandsMart U.S.A. Woodhaven is the Company's furniture manufacturing division. For more information, visit investor.aarons.com, aarons.com, and brandsmartusa.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aarons-to-webcast-2023-annual-meeting-of-shareholders-301807580.html SOURCE The Aaron's Company, Inc. GREENWICH, Conn. , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AdminaHealth, the leading provider of employee benefits billing solutions for the healthcare, insurance, and voluntary benefits marketplace, is pleased to announce the promotion of Grace Brueckner to the position of Vice President of Sales. [Brueckner] has been instrumental in helping AdminaHealth provide exceptional service and innovative solutions. Brueckner has been an integral part of AdminaHealth since joining the company as a Technical Sales Executive in 2021. In this role, she was critical in driving business growth in new and existing accounts, providing technical expertise and consultative support to clients, and ensuring customer satisfaction. With over 20 years of combined experience in the insurance and technology industries, Brueckner has a deep understanding of the complexities and challenges that brokers, carriers, employers, and third-party administrators face when it comes to managing their benefits programs. Her technical expertise, combined with her ability to build strong relationships with clients, has been instrumental in helping AdminaHealth provide exceptional service and innovative solutions. As Vice President of Sales, Brueckner will continue to partner with clients, in the mid-market and enterprise level, to understand their needs and provide customized digital solutions to meet their unique premium billing requirements. "We are thrilled to promote Grace to the position of Vice President of Sales," said Robert A. Bull , CEO and Founding Member of AdminaHealth. "Grace is a key member of our team and has played an instrumental role in our ongoing success. Her technical expertise, passion for digital transformation, industry knowledge, and leadership skills make her the ideal executive to help AdminaHealth continue to experience exponential growth." "I am honored and excited to take on the increased responsibilities at AdminaHealth," said Brueckner. "I'm fully committed to helping all of our partners; brokers, enrollment firms, and carriers navigate the complex world of benefits premium billing, and I look forward to working with our team to deliver superior digital solutions and the best service to our clients." About AdminaHealth AdminaHealth is the leading provider of patented billing and payment solutions for the insurance industry. The company's innovative platform simplifies the administration of benefits and streamlines payment processes for brokers, carriers, employers, and third-party administrators. Founded in 2014, AdminaHealth is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut , and serves clients throughout the United States . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/adminahealth-promotes-grace-brueckner-to-vice-president-of-sales-301808730.html SOURCE AdminaHealth SANTA MONICA, Calif. , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Angeles Investments, a multi-asset investment management firm with approximately $6 billion in discretionary assets and $32 billion in consulting assets, has been recognized by Coalition Greenwich as a recipient of a Greenwich Quality Leader Award for 2022, marking the firm's sixth consecutive year achieving this accolade. Coalition Greenwich, a global division of CRISIL that provides strategic benchmarking, analytics and insights to the financial services industry, seeks to identify firms that distinguish themselves from competitors by delivering superior levels of client service to help institutions achieve their investment goals and objectives. Research study results identified Angeles as a leader across several key categories supporting client investment needs, including communication of philosophy and beliefs; offering innovative ideas; credibility with investment committees; satisfaction with managers recommended; timeliness in providing written info and reports; responsiveness to requests, and more. "For over twenty years, Angeles has focused on delivering the best client service and driving the best possible investment outcomes to help our clients further their missions and impact on the world," said Howard Perlow , Co-Founder of Angeles. "We are incredibly proud to be recognized for our excellence across these important aspects of managing institutional capital. The intellect, diligence, and commitment of our Investment Officers, Chief Investment Officer, and investment teams are second to none in the business. I am grateful for the trust and partnership from our clients, some of the best institutions in the world." Coalition Greenwich's 51st annual U.S. Institutional Investors research included voluntary responses from 727 individuals from 590 of the largest tax-exempt funds in the United States , including corporate, public, union and endowment and foundation funds, with either pension or investment pool assets greater than $150 million .1 About Angeles Angeles Investments is an investment management firm that serves as the Outsourced Chief Investment Office (OCIO) for institutions and nonprofits, including higher education, independent schools, and corporations, and advises distinguished investors through its wealth management platform. As fiduciaries, we are dedicated to creating the best outcomes for our clients through asset allocation and high conviction investments across alternative and traditional asset classes delivered through a full-service investment office. Angeles was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA with offices in New York City , Chicago , and Houston . https://www.angelesinvestments.com/ Media Contact Prosek Partners for Angeles Investments [email protected] 1 The study included 14 Angeles' client respondents. Angeles does not pay to have its clients participate in the study. The results may not be representative of any one client's experience because the results represent an average of all of the experiences of responding clients only. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/angeles-investments-named-a-greenwich-quality-leader-for-sixth-consecutive-year-301808332.html SOURCE Angeles Investments GREEN BAY, Wis. , April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) announced today that Management will meet with investors during the following events in the second quarter of 2023: RBC Capital Markets 2023 US Banks Fixed Income Investor Symposium in Boston, MA on May 3, 2023 , and virtually on May 4, 2023 2023 US Banks Fixed Income Investor Symposium in on , and virtually on Stephens Inc. Chicago Bank Trip in Chicago, IL on May 11, 2023 Chicago Bank Trip in on Wells Fargo Financial Services Investor Conference in Chicago, IL on May 16 17, 2023 Second quarter investor materials will be made available prior to the events and can be accessed via Associated Banc-Corp's website at http://investor.associatedbank.com. ABOUT ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) has total assets of $41 billion and is the largest bank holding company based in Wisconsin . Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin , Associated is a leading Midwest banking franchise, offering a full range of financial products and services from more than 200 banking locations serving more than 100 communities throughout Wisconsin , Illinois and Minnesota . The Company also operates loan production offices in Indiana , Michigan , Missouri , New York, Ohio and Texas . Associated Bank, N.A. is an Equal Housing Lender, Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. More information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at www.associatedbank.com . FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Statements made in this document which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This includes any statements regarding management's plans, objectives, or goals for future operations, products or services, and forecasts of its revenues, earnings, or other measures of performance. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "estimate," "should," "will," "intend," "target," "outlook," "project," "guidance," or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current management expectations and, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements include those identified in the Company's most recent Form 10-K and subsequent SEC filings. Such factors are incorporated herein by reference. Investor Contact: Ben McCarville Vice President | Director of Investor Relations 920-491-7059 | [email protected] Media Contact: Jennifer Kaminski Vice President | Public Relations Senior Manager 920-491-7576 | [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/associated-banc-corp-to-attend-three-second-quarter-investor-events-301807484.html SOURCE Associated Banc-Corp The Atelier platform applies cloud technology to global CPG manufacturing, supercharging beauty brands with instant and unfettered access to the world's best manufacturers LOS ANGELES , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Atelier , a pioneering manufacturing solution for beauty products, announces today the official unveiling of its world-first platform - the engine powering cult beauty brands and their best-selling products. After partnering with us, we're seeing these brands do big deals with amazing retailers. It is the first CPG manufacturing platform to use digital twins and the same database technology as Facebook and Amazon: semantically enriched graph databases that virtually connect global manufacturers into a single network. Manufacturer's capabilities become composable blocks of data, allowing brands to view the entire market offering and develop novel products from multiple suppliers through a single interface. Atelier calls this composable manufacturing. It expedites brands' product development and manufacturing timelines by 4x while maximizing their creative output to compete in a $500bn+ industry with an estimated annual growth of 3.80% (CAGR 2023-2027). Using one platform, brands acquire the capabilities of vetted packaging manufacturers, sustainable material suppliers, formulation chemists, and over 35,000 ingredients to develop bespoke products, without having to source, establish, and manage their own supply chain. Developed products are delivered to brands' distribution centers, ready to sell at scale. "Atelier's novel approach to manufacturing data isn't just an incredible creative and commercial unlock for brands it also offers brands the ability to make products in line with their ethics and values," said Nick Benson , Founder. "Some of the creative output we're seeing from brands that we help create continues to blow my mind. After partnering with us, we're seeing these brands do big deals with amazing retailers. Early brands getting into Ulta and Credo, Farfetch and Mecca . It's super exciting to be able to help brands and founders achieve their goals." Atelier is now live in the United States , which contributes to 34% of the global cosmetics market. The platform can be accessed by beauty brands starting today. To learn more about Atelier, visit https://atelier.co/. To watch the platform demo, click here . About Atelier Atelier was founded in 2018 by Nick Benson to address the enormous challenges brands face when developing and manufacturing beauty products. It is headquartered in Sydney, Australia with an office in L.A and a global manufacturing network. In addition to supercharging brands' manufacturing capabilities, Nick Benson and Co-Founder Nick Hudson are committed to providing greater oversight and transparency for global supply chains to improve sustainability and reduce exploitation. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atelier-unveils-all-in-one-platform-to-make-bespoke-beauty-products-in-minutes-disrupting-manufacturing-industry-301804211.html SOURCE Atelier HARAHAN, La. , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Auto Link , a leading fintech and marketing company serving over 175 financial institutions, announced results for Q1 2023 today. In the first quarter of 2023, Auto Link signed seven new credit unions to its auto search and marketing solution. The credit unions are: InTouch Credit Union based in Plano, TX with $1.04b in assets based in with in assets City County Employees based in Clearwater, FL with $38m in assets with in assets Commonwealth Credit Union based in Bourbonnais, IL with $118m in assets based in with in assets TLCU Financial based in Mishawaka, IN with $53m in assets with in assets Midwest Family Federal Credit Union based in Portage, IN with $40m in assets based in with in assets Vermont Federal Credit Union based in South Burlington, VT with $947m in assets based in with in assets TEXAR based in Texarkana, TX with $467m in assets Auto Link provides credit unions of all sizes with a white labeled vehicle marketplace to help compete with big banks, finance companies and dealers with the digital shift in car buying. It has never been more important for lenders to connect with borrowers earlier in the car buying process, and Auto Link's two patents help create a powerful solution to provide a needed benefit to borrowers. "We are excited for our members to be able to search for their next vehicle on our website, apply online, and get quotes on warranties and GAP coverage, all from one website, with the benefit of not being tracked via internet cookies or ad trackers. It will give our members a one-stop safe website experience," said Todd Meier , VP of Lending at CommonWealth Credit Union. Learn more about Auto Link's solution at https://www.bookmoreautoloans.com. About Auto Link Auto Link offers a best-in-class solution for financial institutions of all sizes looking to have a more successful and profitable auto-lending program, including those that do indirect auto financing. Auto Link provides a complete auto lending solution from web interface, marketing library, social media portal, training tools and analytics to a built-in loyalty feature. Each member that finances a vehicle at an Auto Link client, automatically receives a myEZ Car Care loyalty membership filled with discounts at over 10,000 locations nationwide and an Electronic Glove Box desktop and mobile app. For more information on Auto Link , visit www.bookmoreautoloans.com. Contact Chris Miller | 804-387-3026 | [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/auto-link-announces-q1-2023-results-301807082.html ALPHARETTA, Ga. , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Avanos Medical, Inc. (NYSE: AVNS) will webcast its conference call discussing financial results and business highlights for the first quarter 2023 on Wednesday, May 3 at 9 a.m., ET . The company will issue a news release detailing its results before the market opens that same day. The conference call will be hosted by Joe Woody , chief executive officer, and Michael Greiner , senior vice president, chief financial officer, and chief transformation officer. To join the live conference call, dial 877-240-5772 in the United States . A simultaneous webcast of the call and a related presentation will be accessible via the Investors section of the Avanos Medical website, https://avanos.investorroom.com/. A replay of the conference call will be available May 3 at noon ET by dialing 877-344-7529 in the United States and entering passcode 9722195. It will be available for one week. A replay of the webcast also will be accessible in the Investors section of the website, approximately one hour following the completion of the conference call. About Avanos Medical Avanos Medical (NYSE: AVNS) is a medical technology company focused on delivering clinically superior medical device solutions that will help patients get back to the things that matter. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia , Avanos is committed to addressing some of today's most important healthcare needs, including providing a vital lifeline for nutrition to patients from hospital to home, and reducing the use of opioids while helping patients move from surgery to recovery. Avanos develops, manufactures, and markets its recognized brands globally and holds leading market positions in multiple product categories. For more information, visit www.avanos.com and follow Avanos Medical on Twitter (@AvanosMedical), LinkedIn and Facebook. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/avanos-medical-inc-to-webcast-conference-call-discussing-first-quarter-2023-financial-results-301808328.html SOURCE Avanos Medical, Inc. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping had a long and meaningful phone conversation Wednesday, their first known contact since Russias invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago. The phone call, which official said lasted nearly an hour, is a significant development in efforts to resolve the conflict. It comes two months after Beijing, which has long been aligned with Russia, said it wanted to act as a peace mediator in the war against Ukraine and after Xi visited Moscow last month. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraines ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations, Zelensky said in a Facebook post without elaborating. Ukraines presidential office said more details of what was said would be published later in the day. In China, the phone call was reported by state media. China Central Television said Beijing intends to send an envoy to Kyiv to discuss a political settlement for the war. Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commended Chinas approach but was scathing about Ukraines stance. Referring to the call, she praised Beijings readiness to strive to establish a (peace) negotiations process, while slamming what she called Kyivs rejection of any sound initiatives aimed at a settlement. Talks between the two leaders had been anticipated for weeks, after China produced a 12-point proposal to end the fighting. The phone call was for China another step toward deeper involvement in resolving the conflict. Despite that overture, Zelensky said in an interview with The Associated Press in late March that he hadnt spoken with Xi since the war began and extended an invitation for him to visit Ukraine. The peace proposal came on the heels of Chinas announcement that it was keen to act as mediator in the war that has reenergized Western alliances that are regarded by Beijing and Moscow as rivals. With the step, Xis government reinforced Chinas claim to being neutral in the war, despite blocking efforts at the United Nations to condemn the Kremlins invasion. While Zelensky has moved his country closer to NATO and has successfully pleaded with alliance member nations to send sophisticated modern weapons to help defeat Russia, Beijing has accused the West of provoking the conflict and fanning the flames by providing Ukraine with defensive arms. When, in February, China called for a cease-fire and peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Zelensky cautiously welcomed Beijings involvement. But he said success would depend on actions, not words. Russian President Vladimir Putin warmly welcomed Xi to the Kremlin, in what was seen as a powerful message to Western leaders that their efforts to isolate Moscow over the fighting in Ukraine have fallen short. Meanwhile, Zelensky on Wednesday used the 37th anniversary of the worlds worst nuclear disaster to repeat his warnings about the potential threat of a new atomic catastrophe in Ukraine amid his countrys war with Russia. Zelensky drew a parallel between the Chernobyl nuclear disaster on April 26, 1986, to Moscows brief seizure of the plant and its radiation-contaminated exclusion zone following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Last year, the occupier not only seized the (Chernobyl) nuclear power plant, but also endangered the entire world again, Zelensky said in a Telegram post in English. Russian forces were stationed at the Chernobyl plant between February and March last year, before it was recaptured by Ukrainian troops. Zelensky said Kyiv has since then reestablished prewar security measures and scientific activities within the zone. But he cautioned that future moves from Moscow could endanger global nuclear safety. Ukraine and the world have paid a high price for the liquidation of the consequences of the (Chernobyl) disaster, he said. Zelenskys office published photos of him laying flowers at two Kyiv memorials to Chernobyl victims and observing a minutes silence. More than 150 members of the Ukrainian National Guard captured during Russias occupation of the Chernobyl exclusion zone remain in Russian custody, Ukraines environment minister said. Russian forces have also been stationed at Ukraines Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europes largest and one of the 10 biggest in the world, since capturing the site early in the war. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused the Kremlins forces of using the plant as a base for firing on neighboring Ukrainian-held territory. On Tuesday, Ukrainian officials reported that heavy Russian artillery fire hit cities on the western bank of the Dnieper River just across from the plant. Ukraines atomic energy provider Energoatom earlier this month accused Moscow of turning the plant into a military base, mining the perimeter. The plant has six reactors, all of which have been shut down over the past year. We must do everything to give no chance to the terrorist state to use nuclear power facilities to blackmail Ukraine and the entire world, Zelensky said in his Telegram post. The head of the U.N.s atomic energy agency, Rafael Grossi, has warned that the risks of nearby fighting amount to playing with fire, as a stray shell could trigger a catastrophe. The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, which Grossi leads, has been trying for months to obtain an agreement between Ukraine and Russia on securing the plant, whose reactors and other equipment still require an external electricity supply to operate safety systems. Zaporizhzhia, along with Donetsk, Kherson and Luhansk, is one of the four provinces that Russia illegally annexed last September. Amid the ongoing war of attrition and a broad battlefield stalemate, those eastern areas of Ukraine have had little respite from Russian bombardment. The head of the southeastern Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, Yurii Malashko, said on Wednesday that overnight the Russians struck 19 civilian areas with 53 artillery attacks, six rocket attacks, seven drone attacks and one airstrike. At least two civilians were killed and 13 others were wounded in Ukraine on Tuesday and overnight, the Ukrainian presidential office said. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition MARLBOROUGH, Mass. , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) generated net sales of $3.389 billion during the first quarter of 2023, growing 12.0 percent on a reported basis, 14.9 percent on an operational1 basis and 14.0 percent on an organic2 basis, all compared to the prior year period. The company reported GAAP net income attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders of $300 million or $0.21 per share (EPS), compared to $97 million or $0.07 per share a year ago, and achieved adjusted3 EPS of $0.47 for the period, compared to $0.39 a year ago. "I'm pleased with our excellent results this quarter, which highlight our team's strong performance across each business and region," said Mike Mahoney , chairman and chief executive officer, Boston Scientific. "With a robust pipeline in 2023 and beyond, I'm optimistic about our ability to continue to deliver differentiated financial performance and the opportunity to reach more patients with life-changing therapies." First quarter financial results and recent developments: Reported net sales of $3.389 billion , representing an increase of 12.0 percent on a reported basis, compared to the company's guidance range of 3 to 5 percent; 14.9 percent on an operational basis; and 14.0 percent on an organic basis, compared to the company's guidance range of 6 to 8 percent, all compared to the prior year period. , representing an increase of 12.0 percent on a reported basis, compared to the company's guidance range of 3 to 5 percent; 14.9 percent on an operational basis; and 14.0 percent on an organic basis, compared to the company's guidance range of 6 to 8 percent, all compared to the prior year period. Reported GAAP net income attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders of $0.21 per share, compared to the company's guidance range of $0.23 to $0.26 per share, and achieved adjusted EPS of $0.47 per share, compared to the guidance range of $0.42 to $0.44 per share. common stockholders of per share, compared to the company's guidance range of to per share, and achieved adjusted EPS of per share, compared to the guidance range of to per share. Achieved the following net sales growth in each reportable segment, compared to the prior year period: MedSurg: 11.0 percent reported, 13.4 percent operational and organic Cardiovascular: 12.7 percent reported, 15.9 percent operational and 14.4 percent organic Achieved the following net sales growth in each region, compared to the prior year period: U.S. : 12.7 percent reported and operational : 12.7 percent reported and operational EMEA ( Europe , Middle East and Africa ): 14.2 percent reported and 20.0 percent operational , and ): 14.2 percent reported and 20.0 percent operational APAC ( Asia-Pacific ): 5.9 percent reported and 15.4 percent operational ): 5.9 percent reported and 15.4 percent operational LACA ( Latin America and Canada ): 17.4 percent reported and 20.0 percent operational and ): 17.4 percent reported and 20.0 percent operational Emerging Markets 4 : 20.2 percent reported and 26.3 percent operational : 20.2 percent reported and 26.3 percent operational Received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance and launched in the U.S. and Japan the LithoVue Elite Single-Use Digital Flexible Ureteroscope System , the first ureteroscope system with a built-in sensor that enables urologists to monitor intrarenal pressure in real time during ureteroscopy procedures. (FDA) clearance and launched in the and the , the first ureteroscope system with a built-in sensor that enables urologists to monitor intrarenal pressure in real time during ureteroscopy procedures. Received Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), Health Canada and CE Mark approval for the POLARx FIT Cryoablation Balloon Catheter , an expandable balloon catheter capable of enabling 28 and 31mm sizes, which promotes procedural efficiency and adaptability to varying patient anatomies during the treatment of atrial fibrillation. and (PMDA), and CE Mark approval for the , an expandable balloon catheter capable of enabling 28 and 31mm sizes, which promotes procedural efficiency and adaptability to varying patient anatomies during the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Announced real-world outcomes from the SURPASS one-year analysis of more than 66,000 patients with the WATCHMAN FLX Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device during a late-breaking session at the Cardiovascular Research Technologies (CRT) 2023 meeting, with data demonstrating a low 1.2% rate of ischemic stroke and 0.11% rate of systemic embolism at one year. Also exceeded 300,000 patients worldwide who have been treated with the WATCHMAN technology. during a late-breaking session at the Cardiovascular Research Technologies (CRT) 2023 meeting, with data demonstrating a low 1.2% rate of ischemic stroke and 0.11% rate of systemic embolism at one year. Also exceeded 300,000 patients worldwide who have been treated with the WATCHMAN technology. Completed enrollment in the ACURATE IDE trial, a prospective, multicenter, randomized study in the U.S. and Canada evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the ACURATE neo2 Aortic Valve System for the treatment of patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis across all surgical risk levels who are indicated for transcatheter aortic valve replacement. and evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the for the treatment of patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis across all surgical risk levels who are indicated for transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Commenced enrollment of the global ADVANTAGE AF clinical trial, which will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the FARAPULSE Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System for the treatment of drug-resistant, symptomatic, persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Also, presented as late-breaking science at the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) annual meeting were real-world outcomes from the independent MANIFEST-PF registry, which demonstrated the real-world safety, efficacy and efficiency of the FARAPULSE PFA System. Despite a variety of workflows, procedure times remained at approximately one hour, and there was only one case of phrenic palsy and no reports of esophageal complications or pulmonary vein stenosis. One-year freedom from recurrence was 82% in patients with paroxysmal, or intermittent, AF and 72% in patients with persistent AF. for the treatment of drug-resistant, symptomatic, persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Also, presented as late-breaking science at the (EHRA) annual meeting were real-world outcomes from the independent MANIFEST-PF registry, which demonstrated the real-world safety, efficacy and efficiency of the FARAPULSE PFA System. Despite a variety of workflows, procedure times remained at approximately one hour, and there was only one case of phrenic palsy and no reports of esophageal complications or pulmonary vein stenosis. One-year freedom from recurrence was 82% in patients with paroxysmal, or intermittent, AF and 72% in patients with persistent AF. Closed the acquisition of Apollo Endosurgery, Inc., expanding the Boston Scientific endoluminal surgery portfolio and enabling entry into the endobariatric market. endoluminal surgery portfolio and enabling entry into the endobariatric market. Completed the acquisition of a majority stake investment in Acotec, a Chinese medical technology company that offers innovative solutions designed for several types of interventional procedures . This investment is expected to create strategic value for both companies through a variety of opportunities, including collaboration in research and development, manufacturing and commercial strategies. This investment is expected to create strategic value for both companies through a variety of opportunities, including collaboration in research and development, manufacturing and commercial strategies. Released the 2022 Performance Report, measuring progress on the ways in which the company is transforming care, investing in employees, protecting the environment and creating value responsibly. 1. Operational net sales growth excludes the impact of foreign currency fluctuations. 2. Organic net sales growth excludes the impact of foreign currency fluctuations and net sales attributable to acquisitions and divestitures for which there are less than a full period of comparable net sales. 3. Adjusted EPS excludes the impacts of certain charges (credits) which may include amortization expense, goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges, acquisition/divestiture-related net charges (credits), investment portfolio gains and losses, restructuring and restructuring-related net charges (credits), certain litigation-related net charges (credits), EU MDR implementation costs, debt extinguishment charges, deferred tax expenses (benefits) and discrete tax items. 4.Periodically, we assess our list of Emerging Markets countries, and effective January 1, 2023 , modified our list to include all countries except the United States , Western and Central Europe , Japan , Australia , New Zealand and Canada . We have revised prior year amounts to conform to the current year's presentation. Net sales for the first quarter by business and region: Increase/(Decrease) Three Months Ended March 31 , Reported Basis Impact of Foreign Currency Fluctuations Operational Basis Impact of Recent Acquisitions / Divestitures Organic Basis (in millions) 2023 2022 Endoscopy $ 577 $ 531 8.6 % 2.9 % 11.5 % % 11.5 % Urology 469 413 13.5 % 2.1 % 15.6 % % 15.6 % Neuromodulation 234 209 11.9 % 1.8 % 13.7 % % 13.7 % MedSurg 1,280 1,153 11.0 % 2.4 % 13.4 % % 13.4 % Cardiology 1,606 1,407 14.1 % 3.1 % 17.3 % (1.9) % 15.4 % Peripheral Interventions 503 465 8.2 % 3.4 % 11.5 % % 11.5 % Cardiovascular 2,110 1,873 12.7 % 3.2 % 15.9 % (1.4) % 14.4 % Net Sales $ 3,389 $ 3,026 12.0 % 2.9 % 14.9 % (0.9) % 14.0 % Increase/(Decrease) Three Months Ended March 31 , Reported Basis Impact of Foreign Currency Fluctuations Operational Basis (in millions) 2023 2022 U.S. $ 2,003 $ 1,778 12.7 % % 12.7 % EMEA 712 624 14.2 % 5.8 % 20.0 % APAC 548 517 5.9 % 9.5 % 15.4 % LACA 126 107 17.4 % 2.6 % 20.0 % Net Sales $ 3,389 $ 3,026 12.0 % 2.9 % 14.9 % Emerging Markets4 $ 529 $ 440 20.2 % 6.0 % 26.3 % Amounts may not add due to rounding. Growth rates are based on actual, non-rounded amounts and may not recalculate precisely. Growth rates that exclude the impact of foreign currency fluctuations and/or the impact of acquisitions / divestitures are not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Guidance for Full Year and Second Quarter 2023 The company now estimates net sales growth for the full year 2023, versus the prior year period, to be approximately 8.5 to 10.5 percent on a reported basis, and approximately 8 to 10 percent on an organic basis. Full year organic net sales guidance excludes the impact of foreign currency fluctuations and net sales attributable to acquisitions and divestitures for which there are less than a full period of comparable net sales. The company now estimates EPS on a GAAP basis in a range of $0.93 to $1.02 and estimates adjusted EPS, excluding certain charges (credits), of $1.90 to $1.96 . The company estimates net sales growth for the second quarter of 2023, versus the prior year period, to be in a range of approximately 6.5 to 8.5 percent on a reported basis, and approximately 7 to 9 percent on an organic basis. Second quarter organic net sales guidance excludes the impact of foreign currency fluctuations and net sales attributable to acquisitions and divestitures for which there are less than a full period of comparable net sales. The company estimates EPS on a GAAP basis in a range of $0.23 to $0.27 and adjusted EPS, excluding certain charges (credits), of $0.48 to $0.50 . Conference Call Information Boston Scientific management will be discussing these results with analysts on a conference call today at 8:00 a.m. ET . The company will webcast the call to interested parties through its website: www.bostonscientific.com . Please see the website for details on how to access the webcast. The webcast will be available for approximately one year on the Boston Scientific website. About Boston Scientific Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 40 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. For more information, visit www.bostonscientific.com and connect on Twitter and Facebook . Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "anticipate," "expect," "project," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "may," "intend" and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our expected net sales; reported, operational and organic revenue growth rates; reported and adjusted EPS for the second quarter and full year 2023; our financial performance; acquisitions; clinical trials; our business plans and product performance, and new and anticipated product approvals and launches. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include, among other things: the impact of foreign currency fluctuations; future U.S. and global economic, political, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions; manufacturing, distribution and supply chain disruptions and cost increases; disruptions caused by cybersecurity events; disruptions caused by extreme weather or other climate change-related events; disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and financial results; labor shortages and increases in labor costs; new product introductions; expected procedural volumes; the closing and integration of acquisitions; demographic trends; intellectual property; litigation; financial market conditions; the execution and effect of our business strategy, including our cost-savings and growth initiatives; and future business decisions made by us and our competitors. New risks and uncertainties may arise from time to time and are difficult to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A - Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file hereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions, or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Note: Amounts reported in millions within this press release are computed based on the amounts in thousands. As a result, the sum of the components reported in millions may not equal the total amount reported in millions due to rounding. Certain columns and rows within tables may not add due to the use of rounded numbers. Percentages presented are calculated from the underlying numbers in dollars. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information A reconciliation of the company's non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP measures, and an explanation of the company's use of these non-GAAP financial measures, is included in the exhibits attached to this press release. CONTACT: Media: Kate Haranis Investors: Lauren Tengler 508-683-6585 (office) 508-683-4479 (office) Media Relations Investor Relations Boston Scientific Corporation Boston Scientific Corporation [email protected] [email protected] BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31 , in millions, except per share data 2023 2022 Net sales $ 3,389 $ 3,026 Cost of products sold 1,040 955 Gross profit 2,349 2,071 Operating expenses: Selling, general and administrative expenses 1,215 1,060 Research and development expenses 337 319 Royalty expense 11 12 Amortization expense 203 198 Contingent consideration net expense (benefit) 12 12 Restructuring net charges (credits) 20 4 1,797 1,605 Operating income (loss) 552 466 Other income (expense): Interest expense (65) (279) Other, net (43) (31) Income (loss) before income taxes 444 156 Income tax expense (benefit) 131 45 Net income (loss) 314 110 Preferred stock dividends (14) (14) Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests Net income (loss) attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders $ 300 $ 97 Net income (loss) per common share - basic $ 0.21 $ 0.07 Net income (loss) per common share - diluted $ 0.21 $ 0.07 Weighted-average shares outstanding Basic 1,435.8 1,427.8 Diluted 1,446.0 1,438.4 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION NON-GAAP NET INCOME AND NET INCOME PER SHARE RECONCILIATIONS (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 (in millions, except per share data) Gross Profit Operating Expenses Operating Income (Loss) Other Income (Expense) Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes Net Income (Loss) Preferred Stock Dividends Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Boston Scientific Common Stockholders Impact per Share (1) Reported $ 2,349 $ 1,797 $ 552 $ (108) $ 444 $ 314 $ (14) $ 300 $ 0.21 Non-GAAP adjustments: Amortization expense (203) 203 203 175 175 0.12 Acquisition / divestiture-related net charges (credits) 11 (39) 50 9 59 66 66 0.05 Restructuring and restructuring-related net charges (credits) 17 (27) 44 44 37 37 0.03 Investment portfolio net losses (gains) 21 21 16 16 0.01 EU MDR implementation costs 11 (5) 16 16 14 14 0.01 Deferred tax expenses (benefits) 41 41 0.03 Discrete tax items 25 25 0.02 Adjusted $ 2,388 $ 1,523 $ 865 $ (78) $ 787 $ 687 $ (14) $ 673 $ 0.47 Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 (in millions, except per share data) Gross Profit Operating Expenses Operating Income (Loss) Other Income (Expense) Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes Net Income (Loss) Preferred Stock Dividends Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Boston Scientific Common Stockholders Impact per Share (1) Reported $ 2,071 $ 1,605 $ 466 $ (310) $ 156 $ 110 $ (14) $ 97 $ 0.07 Non-GAAP adjustments: Amortization expense (198) 198 198 170 170 0.12 Acquisition / divestiture-related net charges (credits) 27 (45) 72 72 72 72 0.05 Restructuring and restructuring-related net charges (credits) 18 (11) 29 29 25 25 0.02 Investment portfolio net losses (gains) 7 7 5 5 0.00 EU MDR implementation costs 10 (6) 16 16 14 14 0.01 Debt extinguishment charges 194 194 149 149 0.10 Deferred tax expenses (benefits) 30 30 0.02 Discrete tax items 0 0 0.00 Adjusted $ 2,127 $ 1,346 $ 781 $ (110) $ 671 $ 575 $ (14) $ 562 $ 0.39 (1) For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the effect of assuming the conversion of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (MCPS) into shares of common stock was anti-dilutive, and therefore excluded from the calculation of EPS. Accordingly, GAAP net income and adjusted net income were reduced by cumulative Preferred stock dividends, as presented in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations, for purposes of calculating net income available to common stockholders. An explanation of the company's use of these non-GAAP financial measures is provided at the end of this document. BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION Q2 and FY 2023 GUIDANCE RECONCILIATIONS (Unaudited) Net Sales Q2 2023 Estimate Full Year 2023 Estimate (Low) (High) (Low) (High) Reported growth 6.5 % 8.5 % 8.5 % 10.5 % Impact of foreign currency fluctuations 1.0 % 1.0 % 0.5 % 0.5 % Operational growth 7.5 % 9.5 % 9.0 % 11.0 % Impact of acquisitions / divestitures (0.5) % (0.5) % (1.0) % (1.0) % Organic growth 7.0 % 9.0 % 8.0 % 10.0 % Earnings per Share Q2 2023 Estimate Full Year 2023 Estimate (Low) (High) (Low) (High) GAAP results $ 0.23 $ 0.27 $ 0.93 $ 1.02 Amortization expense 0.13 0.13 0.49 0.49 Acquisition / divestiture-related net charges (credits) 0.05 0.04 0.15 0.14 Restructuring and restructuring- related net charges (credits) 0.04 0.03 0.14 0.13 Other adjustments 0.04 0.04 0.20 0.19 Adjusted results $ 0.48 $ 0.50 $ 1.90 $ 1.96 Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement our unaudited consolidated financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, we disclose certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders and adjusted net income (loss) per share (EPS) that exclude certain charges (credits); operational net sales, which exclude the impact of foreign currency fluctuations; and organic net sales, which exclude the impact of foreign currency fluctuations as well as the impact of acquisitions and divestitures with less than a full period of comparable net sales. These non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and should not be considered in isolation from or as a replacement for the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Further, other companies may calculate these non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do, which may limit the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes. To calculate adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders and adjusted net income (loss) per share we exclude certain charges (credits) from GAAP net income and GAAP net income attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders, which include amortization expense, goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges, acquisition/divestiture-related net charges (credits), investment portfolio gains and losses, restructuring and restructuring-related net charges (credits), certain litigation-related net charges (credits), EU MDR implementation costs, debt extinguishment charges, deferred tax expenses (benefits) and discrete tax items. Amounts are presented after-tax using the company's effective tax rate, unless the amount is a significant unusual or infrequently occurring item in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740-270-30, "General Methodology and Use of Estimated Annual Effective Tax Rate." Please refer to Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our most recent Annual Report filed on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that we file thereafter for an explanation of each of these adjustments and the reasons for excluding each item. The GAAP financial measures most directly comparable to adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders and adjusted net income (loss) per share are GAAP net income (loss), GAAP net income (loss) attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders and GAAP net income (loss) per common share - diluted, respectively. To calculate operational net sales growth rates, which exclude the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, we convert actual net sales from local currency to U.S. dollars using constant foreign currency exchange rates in the current and prior periods. To calculate organic net sales growth rates, we also remove the impact of acquisitions and divestitures with less than a full period of comparable net sales. The GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to operational net sales and organic net sales is net sales on a GAAP basis. Reconciliations of each of these non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP financial measure are included in the accompanying schedules. Management uses these supplemental non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate performance period over period, to analyze the underlying trends in our business, to assess our performance relative to our competitors and to establish operational goals and forecasts that are used in allocating resources. In addition, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to further its understanding of the performance of our operating segments. The adjustments excluded from our non-GAAP financial measures are consistent with those excluded from our operating segments' measures of net sales and profit or loss. These adjustments are excluded from the segment measures reported to our chief operating decision maker that are used to make operating decisions and assess performance. We believe that presenting adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders, adjusted net income (loss) per share, operational net sales growth rates and organic net sales growth rates, in addition to the corresponding GAAP financial measures, provides investors greater transparency to the information used by management for its operational decision-making and allows investors to see our results "through the eyes" of management. We further believe that providing this information assists our investors in understanding our operating performance and the methodology used by management to evaluate and measure such performance. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boston-scientific-announces-results-for-first-quarter-2023-301807626.html SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation TUSTIN, Calif. , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The legal team at Carrazco Law is hosting its first annual Toy Drive and meals in celebration of Dia De Los Ninos . Their target is to provide enough food and toys for 400+ children to the local Latin community of Orange County California . The event will also have a family photoshoot wall, balloons, music, and a mobile Covid-19 vaccine clinic, all onsite. With collaboration from fellow sponsor Serve the People 501 (c)3, a nonprofit organization located in Santa Ana, CA , they are confident in reaching this goal and are dedicated to serving the community. "Bringing Smiles to the children of our community" Angel Carrazco Event information: Address : Carrazco Law APC; 18301 Irvine Blvd. Tustin CA 92780 : Carrazco Law APC; 18301 Irvine Blvd. Tustin CA 92780 Date : April 28th : Time : 2PM until supplies last : 2PM until supplies last Delivery Method: The toys and food will be brought to the cars. The toys and food will be brought to the cars. Requirements: Show up on the day of the event through the entrance on Irvine Blvd. The entire Carrazco Law team will support as volunteers and look forward to the participation of Serve the People and The Consulate of Mexico . Carrazco Law will set up a drive through in their parking lot in which families can come and pick up toys, as well as stay for free food and music. The volunteering legal team is committed to the well-being of Latin families. About Carrazco Law: Attorney Angel Carrazco Jr. Establish Carrazco Law in 2004 and is the President and one of the Founders of Serve the People: a non-profit organization that began in 2008 distributing food bags for families and the homeless. The organization has since expanded its resources and now offers a legal clinic where everyone is eligible for services, regardless of ability to pay. He is also the Consulting Attorney for the Mexican Consulate in Santa Ana and San Bernardino, where he offers free legal advice. He is an expert in cases involving Workers' Compensation, Personal Injury, and Civil Rights. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carrazco-law-annual-free-community-toy-and-food-drive-for-the-children-301807215.html SOURCE Carrazco Law, A. P. C. California Law Unlawful and Unconstitutional LOS ANGELES , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the United Spinal Association ("United Spinal"), Not Dead Yet ("NDY"), Institute for Patients' Rights ("IPR"), Communities Actively Living Independent & Free ("CALIF"), and individual plaintiffs, Lonnie VanHook and Ingrid Tischer , filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, asking that California's End of Life Option Act (EOLOA) be declared unlawful and unconstitutional. The current state law, passed in 2021, permits a physician to prescribe lethal drugs to suicidal patients and removed or weakened many of the supposed "safeguards" in the original law. Death by suicide can now be fast-tracked in 48 hours and doctors who have professional, moral, or ethical objections to writing a lethal prescription for a patient now must participate in the EOLOA process. EOLOA, by design, is unregulated by any California public entity, leaving patients and their loved ones at grave risk of harm and without recourse. "The State of California needs to be stopped from running a deadly and discriminatory system that steers people with disabilities towards death by suicide under the guise of mercy and dignity in dying and away from the necessary mental health care and disability accommodations they deserve and are entitled to under the law," said Michael Bien co-founding partner of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP. Van Swearingen , Kara Janssen , and Michael Nunez from the firm join Mr. Bien in representing the plaintiffs as well as co-counsel Haben Girma . "The laws violate federal anti-discrimination laws and the Constitution. A public health system that fails to provide equal access to minimally adequate mental health care, hospice, palliative care, and independent living should not be empowered with a license to kill as a cheap alternative." The lawsuit states that the defendants, including the Governor of California and other state officials, and agencies, operate systems that, under the current law, treat people with life-threatening disabilities differently than less and non-disabled people when it comes to expressions of suicidality and supplying appropriate mental health and medical care. Information in the filed lawsuit includes: Publicly reported data from over 2,000 patients in the U.S. who used Physician-Assisted Suicide show that they sought help in killing themselves from their doctors primarily out of disability-related fears of losing their autonomy, dignity, abilities to engage in activities they used to enjoy, control of bodily functions, and becoming a burden on caregivers. who used Physician-Assisted Suicide show that they sought help in killing themselves from their doctors primarily out of disability-related fears of losing their autonomy, dignity, abilities to engage in activities they used to enjoy, control of bodily functions, and becoming a burden on caregivers. Every person who qualifies for lethal drugs under EOLOA is a person with disabilities under federal law. Physician-Assisted Suicide makes it easier for heirs, family members, and untrustworthy caregivers to pressure a person with life-threatening disability to end their life, with no questions asked and without consequence. Assisted suicide has been used to cut costs everywhere it is legalized. In states where the practice has become legal, there have been several documented instances when financially motivated insurers denied people access to life saving or life extending treatment, such as chemotherapy, while offering to provide a lethal prescription instead. People of color, especially those who are economically marginalized, are more likely to be steered towards suicide by their providers, who may view their lives as less worthy of preservation due to the combined forces of racism and ableism. Research has documented Black, Asian, and Hispanic persons regularly experience "barriers to palliative/hospice care utilization." A 2016 JAMA Internal Medicine study found that hospice patients were less likely to be visited by staff in their last two days of life if they were Black. Even more alarming, California nursing facilities with higher numbers of Black and Latino residents have "had higher rates of death." Stopping California's assisted suicide law is both a disability rights and health equity issue. Plaintiff Ingrid Tischer of Berkeley, California is disabled, having muscular dystrophy, a degenerative neuromuscular condition, that's led to quadriplegia. She uses a wheelchair and BiPap machine, and says, "Biased attitudes and disability discrimination are not new to me but assisted suicide policies undermine my trust in the system when I'm at my most fragile. My own doctor recently challenged my quality of life while I was hospitalized with pneumonia and newly diagnosed with depression and denied me some rehab services based on a faulty diagnosis. For a brief time, I bought into the idea assisted suicide was my best option. Fortunately, my spouse steered me away from assisted suicide toward mental health care and physical recovery. But I'm scared now in a way I never have been because legalized assisted suicide is destroying my already-shaky faith in healthcare systems." "Due to the many barriers to access I face as a black quad, I have been in some dark places so dark that I had planned to die by assisted suicide," says plaintiff Lonnie VanHook , U.S. Navy veteran from Oakland, California , who suffered a spinal cord injury and is paralyzed from the neck down. "Thankfully, my personal relationship with a physician saved my life, but this law makes me feel like my life, as a disabled person, is seen as not worth living by so many in society, even though I have lived independently for decades. And that is a pressure for sure." Vincenzo Piscopo , President and CEO of the United Spinal Association, says, "Many of our members are vulnerable to suicide and victimized by Physician-Assisted Suicide statutes, especially while they are adjusting to living with paralysis. They need long-term services and support to live a meaningful life and assistance in mourning the loss of their former abilities. Instead, they may be provided with lethal medications. With the proper peer support and mental health care, most of us come to see that there is life after our injury. Assisted suicide laws make it far too easy for a system stacked against us to provide a cheap, easy way out." Currently, California is one of nine states and the District of Columbia that have legalized Physician-Assisted Suicide where a patient's perceived physical health, i.e., disability status, is the sole legal determinant of whether their doctor must help them live or may help them die. The lawsuit asks the Court to declare that the California law violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and is unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses. The lawsuit asks that the Defendants be preliminarily and permanently enjoined from enforcing the California law. For more information, please find filing here: https://endassistedsuicide.org/complaint About United Spinal Association Formed in 1946 by paralyzed veterans, United Spinal is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization dedicated to empowering people with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), including veterans, to live successful and fulfilling lives. Membership is free and open to all individuals with SCI/D, with over 60,000 members across 49 chapters, close to 200 support groups and more than 100 rehabilitation facilities and hospital partners nationwide. Known for its revolutionary advocacy efforts, United Spinal played a significant role in writing the Americans with Disabilities Act, provided important contributions to the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act, and was instrumental in attaining sidewalk curb ramps and accessible public transportation in New York City , which created the standard accessibility model used in many United States cities. For more information visit: https://unitedspinal.org/ About Communities Actively Living Independent & Free Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF) is an independent living center, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides advocacy programs and services for people with disabilities primarily residing within the 50 zip codes of Los Angeles County covering south and central Los Angeles and neighboring communities. For more information visit: https://calif-ilc.org/ About Not Dead Yet Not Dead Yet is a national, grassroots disability rights group that opposes legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia as deadly forms of discrimination against old, ill, and disabled people. Not Dead Yet helps organize and articulate opposition to these practices based on secular social justice arguments. Not Dead Yet demands the equal protection of the law for the targets of so called "mercy killing" whose lives are seen as worth-less. For more information visit: https://notdeadyet.org/ About Institute for Patients' Rights The Institute for Patients' Rights, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) that conducts research, educates the public, and works to expand and implement tools of empowerment for older adults, people with disabilities, marginalized persons, and their families to combat policies and medical practices that devalue some people's lives, putting them at greater risk of deadly harm . For more information visit: https://instituteforpatientsrights.org Suicidal thoughts or actions (even in very young children, older adults, and people with life-threatening illness/disability) are a sign of extreme distress and should not be ignored. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call or text the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Learn more about ways you can help someone who might be at risk for self-harm. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/disability-organizations-and-individuals-partner-to-fight-the-deadly-and-discriminatory-public-policy-of-physician-assisted-suicide-301807599.html SOURCE RBGG OAKLAND, Calif. , April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EdSource is one of 31 nonprofit organizations who have received a grant from James B. McClatchy Foundation to ensure a strong media network in California's Central Valley . The James B. McClatchy Foundation announced in their press release that they plan to "support a multicultural democracy centering multilingual learner students and families, build community-powered local journalism and advance the next generation of inclusive leaders" through these grant awards. EdSource has steadily been expanding its work in the Central Valley over the past two years. Based in the region are a journalism resident, a reporter focused on equity issues, as well as a new K-12 editor. In addition, EdSource is a member of the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, which brings together media in the Central Valley . EdSource's local reporters provide accountability in education coverage that has been under-resourced as a result of shrinking newsrooms across the country. According to Pew Research Center, newsroom employment fell 57% between 2008 and 2020. "There is an urgent need to address the loss of local journalism in the Central Valley ," EdSource CEO Anne Vasquez said. "Education coverage is often one of the first areas to be cut in newsrooms that downsize. EdSource has grown its statewide footprint in recent years and is committed to bringing our stellar education journalism to more readers in a region that is changing the makeup of California ." Through this grant from the McClatchy Foundation, EdSource will be able to expand its work in the Central Valley while continuing to examine education data and policy particular to the region. ABOUT EDSOURCE As a nonprofit, independent news organization, EdSource knows that an informed, involved public is necessary to strengthen schools to improve opportunities now and in the future. Since 1977, EdSource has delivered education analysis and continues to report on the most pressing education issues in California and the nation. FOLLOW EDSOURCE EdSource.org EdSource.org/subscribe twitter.com/EdSource facebook.com/EdSource MEDIA CONTACT [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/edsource-expands-work-in-californias-central-valley-301807607.html SOURCE EdSource Three university student teams will travel to the Global Internship Conference (GIC) in Berlin, Germany to present their best ideas addressing economic inclusion for people forced to flee their homes. SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) Sunday announced the university student teams who will advance to the final round of the 2023 GIC UNHCR Student Challenge that will be held at the Global Internship Conference in Berlin on June 21-23, 2023 . For this inaugural GIC UNHCR Student Challenge, CIEE, in collaboration with co-sponsors UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and Newlab, invited 36 student teams representing 42 universities and 11 countries to present their best ideas to address economic inclusion for forcibly displaced populations. Challenge partners District C and Microsoft provided additional support. While in Berlin , the finalists will continue to workshop their proposal with guidance from a team mentor then present their idea in the 2023 GIC UNHCR Student Challenge finals. The team awarded the Grand Prize will be announced on June 23 . Each member of the winning team will earn a summer 2024 global internship facilitated by CIEE, and an opportunity for their idea to be entered in the MUN Refugee Challenge. The three student teams awarded a trip to Berlin to compete in-person in the 2023 GIC UNHCR Student Challenge finals are: Synergy Davaasuren Surenragchaa (Captain), University of Toronto Scarborough ; Simon Alexander and Yesui Nyamchuluum, both from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities . Davaasuren Surenragchaa (Captain), ; and Yesui Nyamchuluum, both from the The Wolves of Childs Way Justin Kit Hang Tang (Captain); Hoi Ling Wong ; Muktahal Singh Birring; and Armelle Davasse, all from the University of Southern California . (Captain); ; Muktahal Singh Birring; and Armelle Davasse, all from the . Team Synergy Favour Ogunwole (Captain), Jose Ortega , Luke Larson , and Caitlin Sturm , all from Winona State University . The student teams selected as finalists fully embraced the spirit of the challenge and each presented an idea that has significant potential to address this critical challenge. Students' ideas were evaluated by judges from across the globe representing organizations advocating for refugees, including the Institute for International Education (IIE), Kepler, the President's Alliance for Immigration and Higher Education, rewirED, and UNHCR's Tertiary Refugee Student Network (TRSN). "We are so proud of all the students who dedicated their time and talents to developing solutions that help refugees," said Linda Liu , VP of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships at CIEE. "We were pleased to partner with UNHCR, NewLab, District C, and Microsoft to deliver this unique opportunity for university student teams from all over the world to gain critical employability skills while tackling one of the most critical issues in our world today." "Many refugees continue to face legal and practical restrictions that hinder their access to decent employment opportunities. Student leaders are in a unique position to use their creativity and insights to mobilise their networks and design solutions for refugees' economic inclusion and access to decent work. We are delighted about partnering with CIEE and the active engagement of students," said Alia Al-Khatar-Williams , Deputy Director, Division of Resilience and Solutions, UNHCR. About the GIC UNHCR Student Challenge The GIC UNHCR Student Challenge aims to deliver a mini experience that mirrors what students might encounter while participating in a global internship. The 2023 challenge, co-sponsored by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and Newlab, builds upon the Model United Nations (MUN) Refugee Challenge, an initiative launched by UNHCR to encourage students worldwide to shape solutions for people forced to flee their homes. Through this experience, students received training and mentorship to build critical skills for addressing this challenge and preparing for future careers. About the Global Internship Conference (GIC) GIC is the premier forum dedicated to advancing the integration of work and global learning. The 11th Annual Global Internship Conference will be held this year in Berlin and centered on the theme "Global Experiential Learning in a Borderless World." The conference will feature diverse voices in discussion of the critical role of work-based experiential learning in preparing young people for a global workplace in the wake of the pandemic. Learn more at globalinternshipconference.com. About CIEE CIEE builds bridges between different people, different countries, and different cultures. For 75 years, we have helped young people participate in high-quality international exchange and study abroad programs that bring the world together. We change lives, our alumni change the world. Learn more at ciee.org. Press contact: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/finalists-selected-for-ciees-inaugural-gic-unhcr-student-challenge-in-berlin-301808633.html SOURCE Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) CHANGSHA, China , April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EviDenS de Beaute, a French luxury skin care brand, hosted a grand brand ceremony in Changsha, China , on April 18 , showcasing its brand image and achievements in the Chinese market. The ceremony, supported by its partner S'Young International, aimed to showcase the brand's commitment in developing anti-aging products for sensitive skin and its ambitious expansion in China . Changsha is one of the representative new Tier 1 cities in China , representing a high urban population share of new Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities (500 million), while Tier 1 cities like Beijing and Shanghai account only for 5% of the 1.4 billion population. Changsha , which has also been recognized as one of the new internet-famous cities in China , came as an ideal location for EviDenS de Beaute's grand brand ceremony, as it represents a new consumer demographic with distinct characteristics and various beauty demands, especially Gen Z. At the same time, EviDenS de Beaute is able to link more consumer groups with anti-aging skincare needs in China . The ceremony, which gathered over 300 guests, began with the performance of a romantic and beautiful love story depicting the original love story journey from acquaintances to couple in France and Japan , where the brand originated 15 years ago. Founder Charles-Edouard Barthes then gave a keynote speech, sharing the brand's mission, development history and the team's commitment to high-quality products. EviDenS de Beaute came as a gift of love inspired by the ultra-sensitive skin of the founder's Japanese wife. Barthes traveled throughout Japan to seek out exceptional biologists and successfully created gentle and efficient formulas for sensitive skin. He then founded EviDenS de Beaute with a touch of French art de vivre. Also at the ceremony, Prof. Masaaki Ishibashi , the brand's biotechnology scientist, gave a speech that emphasized the brand's efforts in delivery quality products. EviDenS de Beaute, with over 1.98 million consumers globally, also presented product showcases "Evidens de Beaute SAHO" and "She's EviDenS" to feature consumers' feedback. Meanwhile, Jessie Giraud , CEO of EviDenS de Beaute, presented on stage the "Evidens de Beaute Global Plan" for the next three years, pledging to continue partnering with S'Young International to achieve new heights in the Chinese market. Specifically, for the Chinese market, the brand's focus is primarily on high-end female consumers. Estimates show that the Chinese market for sensitive skin is worth US$8 billion and is gradually increasing. With that in mind, EviDenS de Beaute has invested heavily in brand assets and communication to increase their luxury profile, with a differentiated positioning as an anti-aging skincare brand specially formulated for sensitive skin. In a bid to better promote its products, EviDenS de Beaute has centered its marketing strategy around the precise understanding of its target audience's mindset and demands. The brand targets urban elites who value quality of life and taste, and have unique aesthetic preferences. With such approach, the brand has focused on the precise promotion of certain products, enabling the brand to exceed its sales targets in China . Notably, EviDenS de Beaute maintained a 600% growth rate in 2022 on Douyin (Chinese Tiktok), the most popular short video and live-streaming platform. Its high-end mask has been ranked No. 1 in sales volume among high-spending customers. The brand's customer repurchase rate comes in over 40%, well above the industry average. In addition, EviDenS de Beaute has adopted an all-rounded marketing strategy to boost its high-end market penetration. For its online campaign, the brand has strengthened its endorsement through its presence on major e-commerce platforms and has deployed strong social media marketing to establish a more dynamic brand image. EviDenS de Beaute has also invited Chinese influencers, such as Teacher Xu and Li Jiaqi, to evaluate the brand's products and services. For its offline promotion, EviDenS de Beaute has built up its presence through high-end offline channels such as Rosewood, SKP SELECT, WANGFUJING, Joyce Beauty and niche channels like Little B. To enhance consumer experience, EviDenS de Beaute has launched a variety of membership services, including one-on-one skin care consulting, VIP spas and customized afternoon tea, for its over 1 million high-end members. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/french-skincare-giant-evidens-de-beaute-hosts-grand-brand-ceremony-in-changsha-to-celebrate-china-performance-301807745.html SOURCE S'Young International MEXICO CITY , April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Comercial Chedraui, S.A.B. de C.V. reports its 2023 first quarter results. All figures in this report are shown in nominal terms and reported in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Quarter Highlights: + 12.2% SSS in Mexico vs ANTAD's + 9.0% increase + 7.9% SSS increase in the US +14.0% consolidated EBITDA increase EBITDA margin increases: +58 bps Consolidated margin, +30 bps Retail Mexico; +73 bps Retail US Consolidated Net Income +46.3% in the quarter Net debt to EBITDA leverage ratio: 0.18x CONSOLIDATED RESULTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER 2023 The following chart summarizes the Income Statement in million pesos for the first quarter of 2023. The margin for each figure represents its ratio to net sales and the comparison to the same period in 2022. MXN in millions Q1'22 % NS Q1'23 % NS Var % Net Sales 60,728 100.0 % 64,427 100.0 % 6.1 % Gross Profit 13,654 22.5 % 14,897 23.1 % 9.1 % Operating Income 2,850 4.7 % 3,500 5.4 % 22.8 % EBITDA 4,748 7.8 % 5,412 8.4 % 14.0 % Net Income 1,095 1.8 % 1,602 2.5 % 46.3 % Antonio Chedraui , Grupo Comercial Chedraui's CEO, remarked: "In this first quarter of 2023, we have continued with good results in both countries. In Mexico , as we have done in the last two years, we grew at a faster pace than the market in almost all of the regions in which we operate. In the United States , our focus on value has allowed us to increase customer traffic in stores year over year, resulting in sales growth in all banners. With these results, we reaffirm our commitment to continue creating value for Chedraui, its customers and its shareholders." To access the full document, please click here. Conference Call information Date Wednesday, April 26th 2023 11:00 am (EST) 09:00 am ( Mexico City ) Contacto Contacto Estados Unidos (toll-free): +1 877 407 3982 Contacto Mexico: 01 800 522 0034 Contacto Internacional: +1 201 493 6780 https://callme.viavid.com/viavid/?callme=true&passcode=13731734&h=true&info=company&r=true&B=6 Webcast Grupo Comercial Chedraui SAB de CV Q1'23 Conference Call - 1610055 Contact Information: Humberto Tafolla Nunez Jesus Arturo Velazquez Diaz Deputy General Manager Ticker symbol (BMV): IR and Financial information Deputy Director Tel. + 52 (228) 8-42-11-10 CHDRAUIB Tel. + 52 (228) 8-42-11-17 [email protected] [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/grupo-comercial-chedraui-sab-de-cv-first-quarter-2023-results-301807610.html SOURCE Grupo Comercial Chedraui, S.A.B. de C.V. MEXICO CITY , April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo IDESA, S.A. de C.V. (the "Company") announced today the expiration and results of the exchange offer and consent solicitation (the "Offer and Solicitation") for its 9.375% Senior Notes due 2026 (the "Existing Secured Notes") on the terms previously announced in the offering and solicitation memorandum dated March 28, 2023 (as supplemented from time to time, the "Offering Memorandum"). The Offer and Solicitation expired at 5:00 pm , New York City time, on April 25, 2023 (the "Expiration Date"). The Existing Secured Notes tendered in the Offer and Solicitation will be exchanged for 6.500% Senior Notes due 2028 (the "New Secured Notes"). Settlement is expected to occur on April 28, 2023 (the "Settlement Date"), subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer and Solicitation. The Company also announced today that on April 21, 2023 , it capitalized US$310 million (equivalent to MXP$5,615,805,000.00) of its outstanding debt with its main financial lender. Based on information provided by the Exchange and Information Agent, as of the Expiration Date, approximately US$287 million of the Existing Secured Notes (or approximately 92.2% of the outstanding principal amount thereof) has been validly tendered in the Offer and Solicitation with (i) approximately US$117 million in aggregate principal amount of Existing Secured Notes electing Early A Consideration, (ii) approximately US$170 million in aggregate principal amount of Existing Secured Notes electing Early B Consideration, and (iii) the remainder of the Existing Secured Notes receiving the Base Exchange Consideration. On the Settlement Date, Eligible Holders that elected Early A Consideration will receive approximately 86% and 14% of the Early A Consideration in cash and New Secured Notes, respectively. Additionally, the Minimum Tender Condition was satisfied as of the Early Tender Date. The New Secured Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or any state securities laws. Therefore, unless so registered, the New Secured Notes may not be offered or sold except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Company has applied to list the New Secured Notes on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and for trading on the Euro MTF Market. The CUSIP numbers for the New Secured Notes are 40053L AC9 (144A) and P4954W AC4 (Regulation S). The Offer and Solicitation are only made, and copies of the offering documents will only be made available, to a holder of the Existing Secured Notes who has certified its status as (1) both a "Qualified Purchaser" for purposes of Section 3(c)(7) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act or (2) a person who is not a " U.S. person" as defined in Rule 902(k) under the Securities Act who is not a "Disqualified Non- U.S. Holder" (each, an "Eligible Holder"). The Offer and Solicitation are subject to certain conditions, as described in the Offering Memorandum. Concurrent with the expiration of the Offer and Solicitation, the Company has, in its discretion and subject to applicable law, waived the proposed amendment to the indenture for the Existing Secured Notes (the "2026 Indenture") in the Offering Memorandum which stated that Section 12.6 of the 2026 Indenture will be amended to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales . The 2026 Indenture, the Existing Secured Notes, and the Subsidiary Guarantees (as defined in the 2026 Indenture) will continue to be governed by and construed in accordance with the Law of the State of New York . In addition, the Company has removed paragraph (b) from the "Limitations Regarding the Braskem Idesa Shareholder Loans at Grupo Idesa Level" in the Description of Notes as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, due to the fact that the capital structure of the Company has changed since 2020, and, further, that the collateral supporting the New Secured Notes has already been enhanced by (i) a first-priority lien on all shares of Etileno XXI; (ii) a conditional first-priority lien on any receivables (net of any taxes and retentions) payable to the Company and Etileno XXI under the Braskem Idesa shareholder loans; and (iii) a first-priority lien on all of the Company's right to collect payment from available funds in respect of the Braskem Idesa shareholder loans. The Company has also removed certain additional requirements in connection with the delivery of notices under Section 12.1 of the 2026 Indenture. The Company does not believe any of these changes are material, and expects settlement to occur on April 28, 2023 as previously disclosed. To access the Offering Memorandum, please visit: https://gbsc-usa.com/eligibility/idesa This press release is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. The Offer and Solicitation ARE being made solely by the OFFERING MEMORANDUM THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE EXCHANGE AND INFORMATION AGENT and only to such persons and in such jurisdictions as is permitted under applicable law. ANY PUBLIC OFFERING OF SECURITIES TO BE MADE IN THE UNITED STATES WILL BE MADE BY MEANS OF A PROSPECTUS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY OR THE SELLING SECURITY HOLDER THAT WILL CONTAIN DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The New Secured Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act. The Offer and Solicitation are made in the United States only to U.S. Persons that are qualified purchasers for purposes of Section 3(c)(7) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") who are also "qualified institutional buyers" within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to a person who is not a " U.S. person" as defined in Rule 902(k) under the Securities Act who is not a "Disqualified Non- U.S. Holder." The New Secured Notes are also being offered outside the United States in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Company, as issuer of the New Secured Notes, has not been registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act. THE OFFER AND SOLICITATION IS NOT BEING MADE IN MEXICO . THE NEW SECURED NOTES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED WITH THE MEXICAN NATIONAL SECURITIES REGISTRY (REGISTRO NACIONAL DE VALORES) MAINTAINED BY THE COMISION NACIONAL BANCARIA Y DE VALORES (NATIONAL BANKING AND SECURITIES COMMISSION OF MEXICO , OR THE "CNBV") AND, THEREFORE, THE NEW SECURED NOTES MAY NOT BE PUBLICLY OFFERED OR SOLD NOR BE THE SUBJECT OF BROKERAGE ACTIVITIES IN MEXICO , ABSENT AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION UNDER THE MEXICAN SECURITIES MARKET LAW (LEY DEL MERCADO DE VALORES ). AS REQUIRED UNDER THE MEXICAN SECURITIES MARKET LAW, THE COMPANY WILL NOTIFY CNBV OF THE OFFERING OF THE NEW SECURED NOTES OUTSIDE OF MEXICO . SUCH NOTICE WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE CNBV TO COMPLY WITH A LEGAL REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY, AND THE DELIVERY OF SUCH NOTICE TO, AND THE RECEIPT OF SUCH NOTICE BY, THE CNBV, DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR IMPLY ANY CERTIFICATION AS TO THE INVESTMENT QUALITY OF THE NEW SECURED NOTES, THE COMPANY'S SOLVENCY, LIQUIDITY OR CREDIT QUALITY OR THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION SET FORTH HEREIN. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE OFFERING MEMORANDUM HAVE NOT BEEN FILED WITH THE CNBV, AND THE CNBV HAS NOT REVIEWED OR AUTHORIZED THE CONTENT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OR THE OFFERING MEMORANDUM. Exchange and Information Agent Global Bondholder Services Corporation 65 Broadway Suite 404 New York, New York 10006 212-430-3774 (Banks and Brokers) 855-654-2015 (toll free) [email protected] Attn: Corporate Actions View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/grupo-idesa-sa-de-cv-announces-expiration-of-exchange-offer-301807623.html SOURCE Grupo IDESA, S.A. de C.V. America's #1 gummi brand will launch "Good News Goldbears," a happy news show, on its social media platforms to bring more smiles to our newsfeeds this Thursday ROSEMONT, Ill. , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HARIBO , America's #1 gummi brand and inventor of the gummi bear, will post a first-of-its-kind social media video broadcast, "Good News Goldbears" on National Gummi Bear Day this Thursday, April 27 . To celebrate the year's sweetest holiday and to infuse more childlike happiness into its followers' days, HARIBO will dedicate its Facebook and Instagram channels to serving only good news videos, compiled from fan-generated content, influencer collaborations and brand-produced news skits. According to a study from Pew Research, most American adults now get their news from social media, and it's easy to feel like much of that news is negative. However, Psychology Today recently cited a study that uncovered "greater shared levels of good news about the world can insulate [people] from the effects" of bad news. So, HARIBO wants to celebrate good news and bring smiles to more people on National Gummi Bear Day. "Childlike happiness is at the heart of everything we do at HARIBO, and National Gummi Bear Day is the perfect time to celebrate that with our consumers. This means remembering to smile about something silly, feeling carefree and getting excited about the little things like a gummi treat," said Seth Klugherz , VP of Marketing, HARIBO of America Inc. "This year, we want to inspire childlike happiness through encouraging people to share good news that's making them smile. We've all been inundated with bad news from around the world on our social feeds, so now it's time to highlight the good and share the happy!" Beginning at 9 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. CT , the famous Goldbears will join anchors and on-the-ground reporters will be sharing good news all day long. Fans will be able to call into the 24-hour hotline leading up to National Gummi Bear Day to leave a message of any good news and it may be added to the video broadcast in real-time. Fans can call 1-844-GOOD-NWS or 1-844-4663-697 to share their good news and potentially see it shared on the one-day-only "Good News Goldbears" broadcast. "Good News Goldbears" isn't the only good news breaking on National Gummi Bear Day. For the second-annual gummi holiday, HARIBO and Vans have some good news to share! Following the launch of the collaboration in early April, an exclusive Vans Customs print will launch on April 27 in celebration of National Gummi Bear Day! The new print will feature HARIBO's iconic Goldbear throughout, making it a true collector's piece. For more information, please visit vans.com. And, if that's not sweet enough, HARIBO will also soon be launching a brand new Goldbears pack mix that will be berry exciting for summer be sure to keep an eye out for an upcoming announcement. Fans have long expressed their passion for HARIBO Goldbears' flavors and colors, making innovation a key growth factor for the brand. In fact, the green HARIBO Goldbear has recently gone viral! Gummi fans all over the country have been happily surprised to learn that the green Goldbear is not lime or apple-flavored, but strawberry! All of this goes to show just how many people love the Happy World of HARIBO. For more information about HARIBO of America and National Gummi Bear Day, follow on Facebook and Instagram . ABOUT HARIBO HARIBO is the world's leading manufacturer of gummi products, most famous for our classic Goldbears. Globally, the business employs nearly 7,000 Associates and operates 16 production sites in 10 countries. A family-owned business with a century-long heritage, our founder, Hans Riegel , built HARIBO on a foundation of quality and delivering moments of childlike happiness through our products. Established in 1920, HARIBO is the acronym that comprises our founder's name and the city in which the company was born ( Bonn, Germany ): HAns RIegel BOnn . We pride ourselves on making playful gummies that are meant to be shared so our inner-child can always experience joy through sweet treats. HARIBO global headquarters is in Grafschaft, Germany and its U.S. headquarters operates out of Rosemont, Ill. For more information, visit www.haribo.com . Contact: Lauren Triffler Head of Corporate Communications [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/haribo-to-sweeten-news-cycle-with-all-day-good-news-content-and-collaborations-on-national-gummi-bear-day-april-27-301808651.html SOURCE HARIBO It was one of the most important news stories of the 20th century, but no newspaper, radio or television reporters covered the discovery of the structure of DNA 70 years ago, on April 25. But the main characters didnt need reporters to sell their story. We have discovered the secret of life, declared Englishman Francis Crick as he burst into a Cambridge (UK) bar and hugged James Watson, his American scientific partner. Two months after this unconventional scoop, Watson and Crick made the formal announcement in Nature. With little fanfare, the prestigious scientific journal published their article describing how they solved a puzzle that had baffled biologists for decades: how do children inherit genes from their parents? In 1953, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was already well known to scientists. Several experiments with bacteria in the 1940s had shown that genes are made of DNA, but even the scientists involved in these discoveries didnt think it was the molecule of life. It seemed too simple, too mundane. Some scholars even regarded DNA as a stupid molecule consisting simply of a long chain of endlessly repeating tetrads of the same four nucleotides (A, C, G and T). Most expected to discover that genes were also made of proteins, which are much more complex molecules. But a few researchers thought that the secret of DNA might lie in its structure. The idea of twisted spirals (helices) of DNA strands floated around scientific circles, but it was Watson and Crick who figured it all out. Watson and Cricks short paper published in Nature (April 1953) presenting the double helix structure completely changed how DNA was viewed. It was no longer a mundane molecule because that structure allowed an infinite variety in the sequence of A, C, G and T units within a very long chain. In fact, it is two complementary chains that are mirror images of each other. The double helix was not only astonishing in its beauty and simplicity but also because that DNA structure revealed a lot about its function: it could enclose and protect very long messages and also had a mechanism for self-replication. The molecule, once known as the stupid one, was the perfect vehicle for genetic information. A month before the paper was published in Nature, Francis Crick wrote his 12-year-old son a tender and emotional letter about the discovery. Now we believe that the DNA is a code. That is, the order of the bases (the letters) makes one gene different from another gene (just as one page of print is different from another). You can now see how Nature makes copies of the genes. Because if the two chains unwind into two separate chains, and if each chain then makes another chain come together on it, then because A always goes with T, and G with C, we shall have two copies where we had one before. In his letter, Crick wrote boldly about the discovery of the double helix, a forcefulness that was largely absent in their paper. A visionary idea: genetic information A bigger scientific bombshell was dropped in a more extensive paper published in Nature six weeks later. The precise sequence of the bases is the code that stores genetic information, wrote Watson and Crick. This one sentence sums up the genius and visionary nature of this scientific partnership, writes Matthew Cobb in his book, Lifes Greatest Secret. Genetic information no one had used those two words together before. It was a concept that Watson and Crick had just invented. The words sounded strange but also familiar, because they aligned so neatly with other ideas floating around the scientific community, which immediately accepted the discovery. While scientists buzzed with excitement about the answer to biologys big question, the public completely missed the news. England was celebrating major events that year, like the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the first ascent to the summit of Mt. Everest. Only one British newspaper, the News Chronicle, published a brief article titled Nearer the Secret of Life in May 1953, quoting Watson and Cricks boss at Cambridge University, Sir Lawrence Bragg. They have found the structure of the chemical which transmits from one generation to another inherited characteristics like the color of the eyes, the shape of the nose and even intelligence Discovering how these chemical cards are shuffled and paired will keep the scientists busy for the next 50 years. The discovery of the double helix launched a scientific revolution that culminated in 2003 with the complete sequencing of the human genome. Both milestones are now commemorated around the world on April 25, and today marks their 70th and 20th anniversaries, respectively. The United States has designated April 25 as National DNA Day. Seeing invisible molecules Watson and Crick remained virtually unknown because of scientific egos and the controversial method they used to develop the double helix model. The first newspaper report didnt even mention their names and only said the discovery had been made by two teams of young scientists using X-rays in Cambridge and London. The London team comprised Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin, who conducted all the experiments. DNA strands are so thin that they were impossible to see under the microscopes available in the 1950s, and only modern electron microscopes can view them. To identify their structure, Wilkins and Franklin used X-ray photographs called X-ray diffraction patterns to determine the shapes of the molecules. Wilkins and Franklin were leading experts in X-ray diffraction, and their laboratory at Kings College London provided crucial images and data for Watson and Crick to deduce the DNA double helix and its structure. The two teams collaborated for almost two years, and in 1951 it was Rosalind Franklin who disproved Watson and Cricks first attempt at creating a DNA model the triple helix. Franklin showed how the model was chemically impossible and produced upside down strands, contrary to the results of their experiments. After that failure, Sir Lawrence Bragg ordered Watson and Crick to stop working on DNA, but changed his mind a year later when he learned that Linus Pauling, his American arch-rival, was about to announce his solution to the problem. Bragg encouraged Watson and Crick to resume their research and win that scientific prize for the University of Cambridges Cavendish Laboratory. Meanwhile, the London teams working relationship was falling apart and Rosalind Franklin asked to be transferred. Watson and Crick worked at a frantic pace, making multiple DNA mockups with pieces of cardboard and metal. After fitting the pieces together, they made mathematical calculations to see if the positions were viable. Now working separately, Wilkins and Franklin continued to provide the X-ray diffraction data that helped Watson and Crick solve the puzzle. Replica of the original model created by Francis Crick and James Watson to deduce the double helix structure of DNA. SSPL via Getty Images Foul play in the final sprint Controversy arose because Watson and Crick never directly asked their colleagues for the data, never said what it was used for, and didnt inform them of their progress on the double helix until it was finished. They informally obtained the preliminary, unpublished data from their bosses and didnt share the limelight with Wilkins and Franklin, except for a brief mention at the end of their paper. Not illegal, but certainly not proper scientific etiquette. Watson was reluctant to be interviewed in 1953 because he believed more research was needed to confirm the double helix and feared being publicly accused of stealing data, wrote his biographer Victor K. McElheny in Watson and DNA. But neither Maurice Wilkins nor Rosalind Franklin ever made that accusation. Watson and Crick continued to expand their theory and provided much more credit to Wilkins and Franklin in a paper published in 1954. We are most heavily indebted in this respect to the Kings College Group, and we wish to point out that without this data, the formulation of our structure would have been most unlikely, if not impossible. They also acknowledged that the details of their X-ray photographs were not known to them, and that the formulation of the structure was largely the result of extensive model building. The double helix is an iconic scientific achievement analogous to the Mona Lisa of biology. The race to understand genetic inheritance began in 1869 when DNA was discovered and the following 70 years produced many important discoveries. But a crucial piece of the puzzle was missing. Two years of hard collaboration changed the history of science, despite the squabbles, interruptions and subterfuge. The precise experiments conducted by Wilkins and Franklin, combined with the theoretical acumen of Watson and Crick, helped the four scientists understand and apply the contributions of earlier researchers. 1869 Discovery of nuclein (DNA): Friedrich Miescher finds a substance rich in phosphorus and nitrogen in the nucleus of cells. Its function is unknown, and he calls it nuclein. 1876 Sexual reproduction under the microscope. Oscar Hertwig sees how the sperm penetrates the ovum and how their nuclei fuse. He later suggests that nuclein is the substance responsible for the inheritance of biological traits. 1880s Chromosomes and cell division. Wilhelm von Waldeyer-Hartz first uses the term chromosomes for the colored bodies that appear in the nucleus during cell division, previously described by Walther Flemming. 1902 Chromosomal theory of inheritance. Theodor Boveri and Walter Sutton explain the mechanisms of the laws of genetics, discovered in 1865 by an Austrian monk named Gregor Mendel, who experimented with pea plants. 1909-1929 The chemical composition of DNA. Phoebus Levene studies the composition of the nuclein discovered by Miescher and names it deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). 1915 Genes are in chromosomes. Thomas Hunt Morgan experiments with fruit flies and shows that genes are in specific places on chromosomes, confirming the Boveri-Sutton theory. 1944 DNA is the carrier of genes. An experiment by Avery, MacLeod and McCarty confirms that DNA is the substance that causes a genetic alteration in bacteria. 1950 Bases are paired. Erwin Chargaff discovers that DNA always contains the same proportion of adenine (A) to thymine (T), and cytosine (C) to guanine (G). Their composition varies from one species to another. 1952 Photo 51: the best X-ray of DNA. Raymond Gosling and Rosalind Franklin produce a very sharp X-ray diffraction image of DNA. It conclusively proves that the molecule has helices. 1953 The double helix. James Watson and Francis Crick develop their model of the structure of DNA. X-ray data from Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins confirms its accuracy. 1957 The principle of molecular biology. Francis Crick continues to expand the theory of genetic information and develops its central principle: information is transmitted from DNA to RNA, and from RNA to proteins. 1960s The genetic code. Marshall Nirenberg and Severo Ochoa, among others, decipher the mechanisms by which the DNA code is transcribed to make proteins. The double helix theory is definitively confirmed. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Names David Morrissey as Vice President of Brand Strategy OAKLAND, Calif. , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- H/L today announces a rebrand, an expansion of its unique Insights 360 and Data Analytics + Engineering practices, and appoints David Morrissey as vice president of brand strategy. Aligning the brand with its core values, services, and philosophy and decades of success with leading companies including McDonalds, Toyota and other newcomers, the agency is widely known for its creative prowess and robust media department. On the heels of achieving record revenues over the past two years, H/L unveils a new visual identity, a simplified brand name (from "H&L Partners" to "H/L"), more contemporary brand values, and an updated positioning under Make Momentum. This is in line with the company's credo and philosophy to Make Momentum. for clients' businesses, empower the diverse and driven team of H/Lers, and invigorate the communities where H/L operates. "We take great pride in our ability to grow client relationships that span decades' worth of positive impact," said Trey Curtola , Chairman of H/L. CEO Andrea Alfano adds, "The sum of our partsour people, creativity, localized media capabilities, analytics and insights offerings, and the work we do to give back in our communities, adds up to something much biggerwe Make Momentum." The unique Insights 360 practice studies industry trends, consumer behaviors, and evolving product preferences to help H/L's clients predict what's next and grow their businesses more sustainably. Combined with H/L's distinctive Data Analytics + Engineering platform, the offerings help clients expand consumer usage and loyalty, drive impactful media behaviors, all while maximizing profitability. The Data Analytics + Engineering practice further blends data from consumer insights, media, creative performance, and sales metrics to show a holistic and customized view into clients' customers, marketing campaigns, and business KPIs. This automation enables much quicker data analysis, and supports live web-based dashboards and direct data integrations with clients' data science teams. "It's like working with family, there is an incredibly high level of trust that has been established over the years. H/L understands every aspect of the franchise business and the fact that profitability is the holy grail," says Angel Veliz , president, South Florida Co-op Business Unit, McDonald's. "They keep our business objectives top of mind and they go to great lengths to understand how the consumer feels about our brand and how we need to evolve." "Our relationship with H/L goes back to the 1980s, which says it all," explains Dave Johnston , president, Northern California Toyota Dealers Advertising Association. "The foundation is solid with a top-notch team, strong creative, great analytics and an uncanny ability to localize in-market so the message resonates within the community, H/L is second to none." The appointment of David Morrissey is timed perfectly with the H/L brand relaunch. Morrissey will oversee the Insights 360 practice, expand the agency's brand strategy offering, and partner with VP, Executive Creative Director, Dallas Baker , to further amplify H/L's award-winning creative product. Morrissey brings nearly 20 years of marketing and branding expertise to the H/L team. Prior to joining H/L he held senior-level positions with MRM//McCann, Ogilvy & Mather, Leo Burnett , and San Francisco creative boutique, Camp + King. About H/L Since 1985, H/L has been fiercely independent and making Momentum. The company's strengths include local and national media activations, creative development, insights and analytics, full-scale digital and video production, multicultural marketing, and PR. H/L is headquartered in Oakland, California , with people in 20 states, and offices in Atlanta , Miami , Phoenix , and St. Louis . What unites H/Lers across the country is a common driveto pioneer new ways to push clients' businesses forward and serve its communities. Learn more at www.HL.Agency . CONTACT: Nicole Conley Tanis Communications [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hl-agency-rebrands-and-expands-insights-360-and-analytics-platforms-301807840.html SOURCE H/L COSTA MESA, Calif. , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nekter Juice Bar, America's leading authentically fresh and healthy juice bar experience, and Too Faced, the serious makeup brand that knows how to have fun, have partnered to create a limited-edition smoothie that will be available at participating Nekter locations across the country during the month of May. The Nekter x Too Faced Smoothie is a pink and refreshing tropical, fruity blend of Nekter's signature ingredients: pitaya, strawberries, pineapple, dates, hemp hearts, agave, and Nekter's housemade cashew nut milk. The ingredients combine to create a delicious treat that helps guests feel good from the inside out with antioxidants, essential minerals, vitamins, and enzymes. "With this collaboration, Nekter Juice Bar and Too Faced hope to encourage a fun and energetic start to your day," said Alexis Schulze , co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer, Nekter Juice Bar. "As a brand that empowers women to express themselves, Too Faced is just the ideal partner to collaborate with on a new smoothie that helps our guests face each day with fresh, wholesome and nutrient-rich ingredients." Founded in 1998, Too Faced is one of the world's leading cosmetics brand, known for its cruelty-free, best-selling and cult-status products like Better Than Sex Mascara, Lip Injection Lip Gloss, and most recently, Born This Way Healthy Glow Skin Tint. "We are thrilled to partner with Nekter on this pink and delicious smoothie that is the perfect addition to your daily morning routine," said Tara Simon , Global Brand President, Too Faced. "We know customers will love its taste and the way it makes you feel, the same way we hope our cosmetics make them feel: empowered, confident and ready to start their day!" The smoothie will be available in 16-ounce, 24-ounce and 32-ounce sizes. About Nekter Juice Bar Now with 330 locations open or in development, Nekter Juice Bar is an industry leader in the truly healthy juice bar category with one of the top Average Store Sales in the industry at $1,032,632 Top Quartile Average Sales, per the brand's 2022 Franchise Disclosure Document. Recent industry recognition includes being named multiple times to the Entrepreneur Top Food Franchises list and earning a spot on the Inc. 5000 Honor Roll, reserved only for companies named to the Inc. 500 at least five times. Since opening its first location in 2010, Nekter has received tremendous recognition from multiple leading business and restaurant industry authorities such as Franchise Times, Nation's Restaurant News, Newsweek, QSR Magazine, Restaurant Business, and more. Recently, Nation's Restaurant News ranked Nekter in the top 250 restaurant brands in the country. For more information, please visit Nekterjuicebar.com, or follow @Nekterjuicebar on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook as well as @Nekterjuicebarofficial on TikTok. About Too Faced Too Faced is a serious makeup brand that knows how to have fun. We believe makeup is power, giving people the freedom to express themselves and the confidence to take over the world. With an exuberant approach to everything we do, we use the finest cutting-edge ingredients to create innovative, cruelty-free cosmetics that people love to wear. Create your own looks, find what you love and OWN YOUR PRETTY. For more information, please visit www.toofaced.com, or visit us on Instagram @toofaced and TikTok @toofaced. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nekter-juice-bar-and-too-faced-team-up-on-a-limited-edition-smoothie-301807459.html SOURCE Nekter Juice Bar The 88 companies have combined to create 61,858 direct jobs worldwide MIAMI , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States is now home to 88 privately held, Israeli-founded companies that have reached or surpassed a $1 billion valuation, according to the United States Israel Business Alliance. Each of these unicorns has at least one Israeli founder and its global or regional headquarters in the United States . The total number of Israeli-founded unicorns marks a 10% jump from last May. Israeli-founded unicorn headquarters are now based in 11 states. "The rising number of Israeli-founded unicorns in the United States is a testament to the strategic value that this market continues to offer Israeli entrepreneurs," USIBA president Aaron Kaplowitz said. "In recent years, there's been better product-market fit between Israeli technological solutions and American enterprise challenges." The 88 Israeli-founded unicorns are the most ever to operate concurrently in the United States , up from 80 last May. The 11 states with Israeli-founded unicorn headquarters also a record are: California (35), New York (30), Massachusetts (10), Illinois (3), New Jersey (3), Florida (2), Georgia (1), Minnesota (1), Oregon (1), Texas (1), and Washington (1). "States are competing harder than ever for Israeli know-how," Kaplowitz said. "Governors are well-aware that attracting Israeli tech companies can strengthen their respective state's reputation as a tech hub, boost the local innovation ecosystem, and position their communities for economic growth." According to recent trends, Israeli founders are discovering more U.S. markets. In 2022, Israeli-founded unicorns headquartered in nine states. This year, Georgia and Minnesota joined the fray. Landa, a 3D printing innovator, has its U.S. headquarters in Atlanta . NextSilicon, a semiconductor processing company, relocated from Texas to Minneapolis . Based on research and analysis, USIBA estimates that these 88 unicorns have combined to create 61,858 direct jobs worldwide. The average number of direct jobs created worldwide by each company is 703. Armis, a cybersecurity unicorn based in San Francisco , is the largest employer, with some 5,000 direct jobs created. The estimated total valuation for all 88 unicorns amounts to $233.7 billion. That puts the average value for these Israeli-founded unicorns at $2.66 billion, down from a $2.79 billion average last May. Rapyd, located in California, remains at the top of the list with a $15 billion valuation, followed by Deel ( $12 billion ), Gusto ( $10 billion ), Wiz ( $10 billion ), and Navan ( $9.2 billion ). The Israeli-founded unicorn cohort in the U.S. has not been immune to the global economic downturn. Investments have slowed dramatically and many of the companies have announced layoffs in recent months. Liquidity Group, headquartered in Manhattan , is the only Israeli-founded unicorn in the U.S. to cross the billion-dollar threshold so far in 2023. By way of comparison, 14 current Israeli-founded unicorns achieved their billion-dollar or greater valuation in 2020; 38 reached the milestone in 2021; and 21 did so in 2022. Israeli-Founded Unicorns Based in the United States Company State Valuation Jobs Created Solution AppsFlyer CA $2,000,000,000 1,640 Mobile marketing analytics Aqua Security MA $1,000,000,000 632 Cloud native security Armis CA $3,500,000,000 5,000 Agentless device security At-Bay CA $1,350,000,000 287 Cyber insurance Augury NY $1,000,000,000 402 Machine health diagnostics Axonius NY $2,600,000,000 700 Cybersecurity asset management BigID NY $1,200,000,000 551 Data privacy & protection BigPanda CA $1,200,000,000 345 IT software solution Bringg IL $1,000,000,000 310 Delivery logistics Capitolis NY $1,600,000,000 143 Tech for global capital markets Cato Networks CA $2,500,000,000 696 SaaS platform Cheq NY $1,000,000,000 292 Go-to-market security Claroty NY $1,950,000,000 480 Industrial cybersecurity Cloudinary CA $2,000,000,000 484 Media experience platform Cybereason MA $400,000,000 1,250 Cyber detection & response Deel CA $12,000,000,000 2,464 Payroll and compliance Dremio CA $2,000,000,000 371 Big data curation DriveNets NJ $2,500,000,000 371 Telecommunications service provider Earnix MA $1,100,000,000 341 Critical systems for banks & insurers eToro NJ $3,500,000,000 2,357 Social trading and multi-asset brokerage Exabeam CA $2,400,000,000 724 Security automation Fabric NY $1,000,000,000 485 Micro-fulfillment tech Fireblocks NY $8,000,000,000 570 Digital assets platform Firebolt CA $1,400,000,000 154 Data warehousing Flow FL $1,000,000,000 62 Residential real estate Formlabs MA $2,000,000,000 861 3D printing & manufacturing Forter NY $3,000,000,000 627 Fraud detection for retailers Fundbox CA $1,100,000,000 275 Cash flow optimization Gong CA $7,250,000,000 1,458 Revenue intelligence Gusto CA $10,000,000,000 2,424 Payroll, benefits, and HR Hailo CA $1,100,000,000 217 AI chipmaker Hibob NY $2,450,000,000 738 HR tech HoneyBook CA $2,500,000,000 200 Workflow platform Houzz CA $4,000,000,000 1,664 Home design and decorating Immunai NY $1,000,000,000 139 Hi-Res profiling of immune system Infinidat MA $1,600,000,000 485 Data storage Insightec FL $1,600,000,000 419 Focused ultrasound equipment Island TX $1,300,000,000 182 Secure browser for enterprise K Health NY $1,500,000,000 397 Telemedicine Landa GA $1,800,000,000 433 Digital printing & nanotech Lightricks IL $1,800,000,000 564 Video & Image editing apps Liquidity Group NY $1,400,000,000 111 Late-stage financing Lusha MA $1,500,000,000 319 B2B sales & marketing Melio NY $4,000,000,000 606 Accounts payable tool Minute Media NY $1,000,000,000 372 Digital platform and content Monte Carlo CA $1,600,000,000 199 Data monitoring Navan CA $9,200,000,000 3,000 Corporate travel management NEXT Insurance CA $4,000,000,000 800 Insurance for small businesses NextSilicon MN $1,500,000,000 203 Semiconductor processing Noname Security CA $1,000,000,000 386 API security Oosto NY $1,000,000,000 157 Facial recognition OpenWeb NY $1,500,000,000 330 Online community engagement Optibus NY $1,300,000,000 381 Mass transit operations platform Orca Security OR $1,800,000,000 462 Cybersecurity for cloud OrCam NY $1,000,000,000 294 Device for visually impaired OwnBackup NJ $3,350,000,000 850 Data management & analytics Papaya Global NY $3,700,000,000 767 Workforce management Pentera MA $1,000,000,000 262 Cyber penetration tests Perimeter 81 NY $1,000,000,000 250 Network security Placer.ai CA $1,000,000,000 598 Foot traffic analytics RapidAPI CA $1,000,000,000 115 API marketplace Rapyd CA $15,000,000,000 850 Payments platform Redis Labs CA $2,000,000,000 891 Database management Salt Security CA $1,500,000,000 204 API security Sisense NY $1,000,000,000 732 Business analytics Snyk MA $7,400,000,000 1,065 Platform for securing code SpotOn CA $3,600,000,000 2,526 Restaurant & retail payment StoreDot CA $1,500,000,000 128 Advanced batteries Sunbit CA $1,100,000,000 480 Buy now, pay later Tanium WA $9,000,000,000 1,953 Endpoint management & protection Tipalti CA $8,300,000,000 1,024 Accounts payable Transmit Security MA $2,700,000,000 379 Passwordless authentication TravelPerk MA $1,300,000,000 1,151 Business travel platform Trax CA $2,250,000,000 824 Retail analytics Tripledot Studios CA $1,400,000,000 400 Mobile games studio Unit NY $1,200,000,000 159 Financial services platform Vast Data NY $3,700,000,000 500 Storage software Vayyar Imaging IL $1,000,000,000 330 4D imaging radar sensors Veev CA $1,000,000,000 255 Home-building tech Veho NY $1,500,000,000 547 Last mile delivery Verbit NY $2,000,000,000 1,000 Transcription & caption platform Vesttoo NY $1,000,000,000 135 Insurance risk transfer platform Via NY $3,500,000,000 1,200 On-demand transit & software Visby Medical CA $1,100,000,000 249 PCR-based diagnostics Viz.ai CA $1,200,000,000 403 AI disease detection & care Wiliot CA $1,000,000,000 165 IoT Platform Wiz NY $10,000,000,000 833 Cybersecurity for cloud Yotpo NY $1,400,000,000 819 E-commerce marketing Cybereason, a Boston -based cyber detection and response company, recently took in a $100 million investment from SoftBank, based on an estimated $400 million valuation down from a $2.8 billion valuation it notched in 2021. In July, New Jersey -based cryptocurrency lender Celsius Network filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid the industry's extreme volatility. According to USIBA research, in accordance with lower valuations that have spread across the global tech economy, roughly 55 percent of the U.S. -based Israeli-founded unicorns could raise at a $1 billion or greater valuation today. "The days of unicorn valuations derived from overly generous revenue multiples are behind us," Kaplowitz said. "Amid recession concerns, investors are returning to pre-pandemic standards, considering annual recurring revenue numbers more carefully, and investing in companies that have proven they can execute." According to Kaplowitz, while the global economic uncertainty does shed light on the dearth of newly minted Israeli-founded unicorns in 2023, it also helps explain why there are so many total unicorns at one time. "Late-stage companies are no longer rushing to claim stock tickers," Kaplowitz said. "They would rather optimize efficiencies and go public when the market environment is more favorable." Indeed, from USIBA's inaugural national unicorn report, published last May, only two Israeli-founded unicorns with U.S. headquarters Selina and Pagaya have gone public. Since last April, the U.S. has added 15 Israeli-founded unicorns. Each of these companies either reached the billion-dollar valuation milestone or had already achieved unicorn status abroad and established a U.S. headquarters. The companies' valuations and direct jobs creation figures mentioned in this report are estimates based on data resources, publicly available information, and conversations with executives and industry analysts. The estimates do not necessarily reflect the most current values. About the United States Israel Business Alliance The mission of the United States Israel Business Alliance is to strengthen the economic relationship between individual states and Israel. Learn more about the impact Israeli-founded companies are having on local communities at www.usisrael.co. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-report-88-israeli-founded-unicorns-now-have-us-headquarters-301808161.html NEW YORK , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NYSARC Columbia County Chapter ("COARC") confirmed today that they experienced a data incident in July 2022 and will issue notices to affected individuals and relevant state and federal agencies about the incident. On July 19, 2022 , COARC detected irregular activity on their systems that was consistent with a typical ransomware attack. Out of an abundance of caution, COARC immediately began to remediate the situation including disconnecting systems, engaging data security and privacy professionals, contacting law enforcement, and simultaneously beginning an investigation. The investigation determined that for a brief period of time in July, an unauthorized actor obtained access to a limited number of COARC systems, seemingly for the sole purpose of encrypting certain data with ransomware. While COARC is unaware of any misuse of personal information, out of an abundance of caution, we notified the potentially affected individuals by mail. COARC determined that the following types of information may have been impacted: name, address, social security number, financial account, credit card information, medical information, student information, driver's license, and passport number. Note that this describes general categories of information identified as present within the affected systems during the incident and it includes categories that are not relevant to each individual. Upon becoming aware of the incident, COARC immediately implemented measures to further improve the security of their systems and practices. COARC worked with a leading privacy and security firm to aid in their investigation and response and is reporting this incident to relevant government agencies. COARC also implemented additional security protocols designed to protect their network, email environment, and systems. While unaware of any misuse, COARC encourages individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud, to review account statements and explanation of benefits forms, and to monitor free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Under U.S. law, individuals are entitled to one (1) free credit report annually from each of the three (3) major credit reporting bureaus. Additional information and resources are outlined below. Equifax Experian TransUnion https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/ https://www.transunion.com/credit-help 1-888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 1-833-395-6938 Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016 Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094 Moreover, information regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, security freezes, and the steps an individual can take to protect personal information may be obtained by contacting the consumer reporting agencies, the Federal Trade Commission, or the appropriate state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission can be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW , Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Individuals can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by calling 1-877-438-4338. Individuals should file a police report if they are a victim of identity theft or fraud. To file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, an individual will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. CONTACT: Daniel Greene , [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nysarc-columbia-county-chapter-provides-notice-of-security-incident-301808887.html SOURCE NYSARC Columbia County Chapter Conference attendees will have the opportunity to hear how cannabis regulators are tackling the black & gray cannabis markets and their impact on legal cannabis-related businesses and the financial institutions that bank them. WASHINGTON , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- "PBC Announces State Cannabis Regulator Keynote Panel at PBC 2023" Cannabis Regulators from some of the largest state-legal cannabis markets will be engaging in a lively keynote panel discussion during PBC 2023 Conference. PBC Conference announces Keynote featuring Cannabis Regulators from California , New York , Illinois , Oklahoma , and Massachusetts for 2023 event. This unique Keynote Panel will be moderated by PBC Co-Founder, Peter Joukov , and will feature: Nicole Elliott , Director, Department of Cannabis Control , California , Director, , Tremaine Wright , Chair, New York State Cannabis Control Board , Chair, Paul A. Isaac , Deputy Secretary, Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation , Deputy Secretary, Adria Berry , Executive Director, Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority , Executive Director, Ava Callender Concepcion , Commissioner, Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Attendees will have the opportunity to hear how these regulators are tackling the black & gray cannabis markets and their impact on legal cannabis-related businesses and the financial institutions that bank them. PBC's annual conference is known for bringing government and industry leaders together. Previous government participation includes IRS Commissioners, Senators, Congresswomen, State Cannabis Regulators, Banking Regulators, and other federal and state regulators and legislators. Now in its fourth season, PBC 2023 will once again draw a crowd of 600+ executives and influential thought leaders to Washington D.C. for 2 days of networking and discussing the challenges of payments, banking, and compliance in the cannabis industry. PBC Conference CEO, Joshua Radbod adds, "One of the key differentiators that our community members bring up about PBC is the number of regulators and legislators that we have attending and participating in our PBC Conference. PBC was built on the premise that industry and government need to work together to move the cannabis industry forward, and we are proud to be a part of the industry's journey." Register now for PBC 2023, being held September 21-22, 2023 , in Washington D.C. ( REGISTER ) Attendees can hear the latest from Regulators and Legislators during Keynote Speeches. After participating in engaging panel sessions, attendees can browse leading solutions in the exhibit area and end each day networking with clients, partners, and peers during PBC-hosted happy hours. About: PBC Conference was founded in 2018 as an executive-level annual conference for cannabis payments, banking, and compliance and has since expanded to offer additional industry resources (PBC Industry Landscape, Cannabis Banking Directory , Compliance Directory , Payments Directory, Cannabis Banking Ecosystem Report ). More information at www.pbcconference.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pbc-conference-announces-keynote-featuring-cannabis-regulators-from-california-new-york-illinois-oklahoma-and-massachusetts-for-2023-event-301808506.html SOURCE PBC Conference Law Offices of Frank L. Branson: Officer Lina Mino was shot in the eye, sustained brain damage during training exercise in Tarrant County DALLAS , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A Sansom Park , Texas , police officer who was shot in the eye and suffered brain damage during an active shooter drill in November 2022 has filed a lawsuit against the company that conducted the exercise and its owner. In her lawsuit, Officer Lina Mino says Texas Police Trainers, LLC, of Killeen was negligent in that it allowed someone to bring a firearm with live rounds into the training. The filing also names the company's owner and CEO, Janice M. Washington , as a defendant. The shooting happened at David K. Sellars Elementary School in Forest Hill , where officers from area police departments had gathered to learn and ready themselves for active-shooter scenarios. Officer Mino was taking part in the training when another law enforcement officer fired his weapon, striking her. As a result, Officer Mino lost her left eye and suffered a brain injury. "If there is any place where this shooting absolutely should not have happened, it's in the middle of a training drill run by a company that is supposed to be qualified to teach police officers," says attorney Frank Branson of Dallas' The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson, who represents Officer Mino. "If anyone should know how to be safe around firearms, it's them. To think that they allowed a set of circumstances that led to Officer Mino being shot is just astounding." Texas Police Trainers touts itself as a "one-stop shop" that helps "ensure (members of) our law enforcement community are highly trained." According to the company's website, it continues to offer a variety of law enforcement training courses, including basic and advanced instructor courses, crisis intervention training and crime scene investigation. The case is Lina Mino vs. Texas Police Trainers, LLC and Janice Washington , Cause No.017-341841-23 in Tarrant County, Texas . About The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson represents clients in cases involving complex product liability, catastrophic injury, truck accidents, commercial air crashes, electrical and gas explosions, and truck and auto catastrophic injury. To learn more about the firm, visit http://www.flbranson.com. Media Contact : Barry Pound 800-559-4534 [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/police-officer-shot-in-active-shooter-training-accident-files-lawsuit-301808485.html SOURCE Law Offices of Frank L. Branson NEW YORK , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pure Storage (NYSE: PSTG), the IT pioneer that delivers the world's most advanced data storage technology and services, today announced the opening of its new East Coast sales headquarters in New York City to further leverage the area's diverse workforce and cross-industry innovation, and ultimately fuel continued customer growth. Throughout the last year, Pure Storage saw increased customer adoption across key markets, contributing to its latest milestone of reaching over 11,000 customers globally. The new sales headquarters located in New York City will serve as the foundation to further support this growth and reach new customer demands as Pure continues to expand its portfolio of industry-leading enterprise data storage products and solutions. Located at One Penn Plaza in Manhattan , the office provides expanded collaboration space for Pure Storage employees, customers, and partners. In honor of this expanded presence in New York City , the Pure Good Foundation, a philanthropic initiative run by Pure Storage employees, has donated to Rewriting the Code , an organization dedicated to supporting and empowering college, graduate, and early career women in tech. Pure Storage is eager to leverage its expanded presence in New York City with a continued focus on giving back to the community. "We're excited for the opening of Pure Storage's new East Coast sales headquarters in Manhattan . Pure Storage has been a fixture here for years, and they continue to demonstrate their commitment to this city by creating a thriving environment to bring people together and reimagining the future of work. Companies like Pure Storage are playing a pivotal role in driving the innovation economy in New York ." - Mark Levine , Manhattan Borough President "We're excited for the opening of the new Pure Storage office in New York City . Pure continues to demonstrate its customer-first culture and commitment to innovation with the opening of this new office by creating a thriving environment for customer collaboration. We can't wait to make our way to the new space to meet with our Pure counterparts." - Brian Quinones , Manager of IT, Pzena Investment Management "At Pure Storage, we're committed to maintaining a strong focus on innovation to truly provide valuable outcomes to our global customer base. The opening of our new East Coast sales headquarters in New York City is a natural progression to not only keep pace with rapidly growing customer demands, but to continue delivering on our vision of modernizing how customers work with data through our industry-leading portfolio." - Andy Martin , Vice President & General Manager, Americas Sales, Pure Storage About Pure Storage Pure Storage (NYSE: PSTG) uncomplicates data storage, forever. Pure delivers a cloud experience that empowers every organization to get the most from their data while reducing the complexity and expense of managing the infrastructure behind it. Pure's commitment to providing true storage as-a-service gives customers the agility to meet changing data needs at speed and scale, whether they are deploying traditional workloads, modern applications, containers, or more. Pure believes it can make a significant impact in reducing data center emissions worldwide through its environmental sustainability efforts, including designing products and solutions that enable customers to reduce their carbon and energy footprint. And with the highest Net Promoter Score in the industry, Pure's ever-expanding list of customers are among the happiest in the world. For more information, visit www.purestorage.com . Analyst Recognition: Leader in the 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Primary Storage Leader in the 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Distributed File Systems & Object Storage Connect with Pure Blog LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Pure Storage and the Pure Storage P Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pure Storage Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. The Pure Storage Inc. Trademark List can be found at www.purestorage.com/legal/productenduserinfo.html. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pure-storage-accelerates-growth-with-new-east-coast-sales-headquarters-in-new-york-city-301808604.html SOURCE Pure Storage Windy City Favorite to Bring Its World-famous 5-Flavor Cone to More Chicago Areas CHICAGO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Original Rainbow Cone , a Chicago tradition for over 95 years is excited to announce its 2023 seasonal location openings and new additions to existing Buona locations. Currently, Buona and Rainbow Cone have six dual concept locations: five locations scattered across Illinois in Darien , Skokie , Harwood Heights , Lakemoor and Mount Prospect and one location in Valparaiso, IN. , the first, out of market dual brand concept which opened earlier this month. Starting May 4 , Buona's Bolingbrook location will open a permanent Rainbow Cone kiosk and its Flossmoor location will welcome a Rainbow Cone truck stationed on site for the 2023 season. "Bringing together the timeless flavors of Buona's Italian beef and Rainbow Cone's iconic ice cream is a match made in Chicago foodie heaven." said Joe Buonavolanto Ill , third generation Buona family member and VP of Franchise Operations at the company. "The fusion of these two beloved classics in one location has been a delectable success, serving up a taste of Chicago's culinary heritage in every bite." In addition to Rainbow Cone's dual concept locations with Buona are the company's seasonal and stand-alone locations. North Siders can get a taste of The Original Rainbow Cone at its trucks stationed at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium and Lincoln Park Zoo as well as its Navy Pier stand. As a beloved South Side brand, The Original Rainbow Cone can also be enjoyed by Chicago White Sox fans at Guaranteed Rate Field. Coming in late May 2023 , South Siders can also get a taste of Rainbow Cone at its new Orland Park location which will join its original Beverly, and Lombard locations as the company's third standalone brick and mortar store. Rainbow Cone's roaming trucks can be found at various locations around the city and suburbs this summer at https://rainbowcone.com/truck-finder/ . To book an Ice Cream Truck for your private event and festivals visit: https://www.rainbowcone.com/catering/ ; for more information about Rainbow Cone , visit https://rainbowcone.com. About The Original Rainbow Cone : The Original Rainbow Cone serves ice cream featuring extraordinary flavors and textures, including the world-famous 5-flavor " Rainbow Cone ," stacked with the same five colorful slices of orange sherbet, pistachio, Palmer House, strawberry and chocolate. After opening in 1926, the " Rainbow Cone '' received its fame and quickly became the most unique ice cream cone anyone has ever seen. As Rainbow Cone works to expand their locations and showcase our new adventures, like ice cream trucks, they are excited to share their love for Rainbow Cone's signature sliced cone with even more communities. The Original Rainbow Cone is also available for nationwide shipping via Goldbelly., locals count on The Original Rainbow Cone as a Chicago staple and a sweet treat. For more information, https://rainbowcone.com or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rainbow-cone-announces-new-locations-and-2023-seasonal-openings-301808845.html Maintenance and safety data transmitted wirelessly from aircraft improves the predictability of operations ANNAPOLIS, Md. , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Technologies' (NYSE: RTX) Collins Aerospace business is partnering with American Airlines to bring the latest in aircraft data management technology to improve the airline's safety, reliability and analytics. American is installing the Collins InteliSight Aircraft Interface Device (AID) on more than 500 aircraft, including its entire Boeing 737NG fleet and the majority of its Airbus A320s, with plans to install the device on its Boeing 777 fleet. "Key to running a dependable airline is having a reliable and healthy fleet. And at American, data drives the operational decisions we make. Having the right intel in the hands of our Technical Operations team quickly means we can provide the predictable and solid operation our customers are counting on," said Stacy Morrissey , American's vice president of Technical Operations Engineering and Quality. "With Collins InteliSight AID and GlobalConnectSM ground platform, American can provide our team members the tools they need to create a more reliable travel experience for our customers." The Collins Aerospace InteliSight AID captures, records, stores, encrypts, and securely sends aircraft data to Collins' robust and secure ground platform, GlobalConnect. Providing an automatic offload of the data after each flight ensures the information is immediately available to the airline for safety analysis and implementing improvements. American's Technical Operations team will save precious time no longer having to manually retrieve aircraft information. Benefitting from near real-time access gives American added power to keep its fleet running safely and on time. "Collins worked closely with American to implement a data-driven solution to save time and increase the operational efficiency of its fleet," said Jennifer Schopfer , president of Connected Aviation Solutions at Collins Aerospace. "The InteliSight data, passed via GlobalConnect, will give American the information it needs to ensure even more predictable, reliable travel for the multitude of flights it manages every day." Once the thousands of data parameters generated by the aircraft reach the ground, they are distributed to multiple endpoints: Safety can conduct a safety review, engineers can review for reliability and use the information to help troubleshoot upcoming maintenance points, and an analytics team can use the data in predictive models to make the fleet more efficient and environmentally sustainable. American installed the InteliSight AID on more than 200 aircraft in six months, capturing, securing, and offloading data from more than 100,000 flights. American has seen its data capture rate increase from 85% to more than 99%. American is currently performing the installation of the Collins AID at seven American Airlines locations. About Collins Aerospace Collins Aerospace is part of Raytheon Technologies, the largest aerospace and defense company in the world. Our global team of 73,000 employees dreams, designs and delivers smarter, more connected solutions for passenger safety and comfort, mission success, space exploration, and operational efficiency and sustainability. We make the most powerful concepts in aerospace a reality. For more information, visit CollinsAerospace.com. About Raytheon Technologies Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) is the world's largest aerospace and defense company. Our global team of 180,000 employees pushes the limits of known science and redefines how we connect and protect our world. We are advancing aviation, building smarter defense systems and creating innovations to take us deeper into space. The company, with 2022 sales of $67 billion , is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia . Media Contact James Brindle +1 317.778.5769 [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/raytheon-technologies-helping-power-data-driven-decision-making-at-american-airlines-301808760.html SOURCE Raytheon Technologies YANTAI, China , April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RemeGen Co., Ltd. ("RemeGen" or "the Company") (9995.HK, SHA: 688331), a commercial-stage biotechnology company, is celebrating World Intellectual Property Day 2023 which falls on April 26 , the theme of which mirrors the critical importance RemeGen places on intellectual property rights (IPR) for its accelerated innovation and creativity. Fang Jianmin , CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of RemeGen, commented, "Every day, and especially on World Intellectual Property Day, RemeGen is hyper aware of the critical role that IP plays in driving innovation and growth in the biotech space. Due to the highly challenging nature of the biopharmaceutical industry, high quality management is critical which means it is absolutely vital that RemeGen has the highest technical barriers in place through the protection of our research and development intellectual property. Our cutting-edge R+D has been awarded numerous patents and trademarks, which is testament to our continuous efforts to advance the field and we hope that by protecting our valuable intellectual assets, we can simultaneously foster a culture of creativity and ingenuity for all within the company." The huge importance RemeGen attaches to research and development is clearly evident in its R+D investment which increased by over 38% in the last year with a total of 19 new invention patents added and 105 obtained. From a product perspective, RemeGen's Telitacicept (RC18), a proprietary novel fusion protein to treat autoimmune diseases, saw a total of 11 authorized patents in more than 20 countries or regions with more than 24 patents in the application stages as of the same date. Meanwhile, the Company's antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) and dual-antibody (Hibody) platforms saw 28 new patent applications added by December 31, 2022 , rounding off a highly successful year of patents for RemeGen's products and platforms. RemeGen has set up a special intellectual property department, formed a comprehensive intellectual property protection system in terms of patent and trade secret management, and initiated a number of important intellectual property management systems including a Patent Management System and Business Secret Management System. The Company continues to carry out multi-theme, global multi-regional patent configurations for its various important research and development achievements and has constructed a globally competitive patent moat for pipeline products and technology platforms. RemeGen will continue to strengthen the protection of its intellectual property rights, and steadfastly promote the patent application and patent protection of R+D projects in major global markets based on the strong belief that robust intellectual property protection not only benefits RemeGen's development but also promotes the progress of the broader global scientific community. About RemeGen Co. Ltd. Founded in 2008, RemeGen (9995.HK, SHA: 688331) is a leading biopharmaceutical company in China committed to providing solutions to the unmet clinical needs of patients suffering from life-threatening illnesses. RemeGen has research laboratories and offices throughout China and the United States. The company is committed to discovering, developing, and commercializing innovative and differentiated biologic drugs of significant clinical value in the key therapeutic areas of autoimmune, oncology, and ophthalmic diseases. For more details, please visit: www.remegen.cn View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/remegen-celebrates-world-intellectual-property-day-2023-301806458.html SOURCE RemeGen Co., Ltd As SpaceX quality systems engineer said after the historic launch of Elon Musks Starship: Everything after clearing the tower was icing on the cake. The rest of the objectives in the companys first test flight of the 120-meter rocket were secondary. SpaceXs biggest fear was that the vehicle would collapse on its launch ramp. It had happened before: in July 1969, at the height of the space race, the USSR launched its second N-1, the rocket developed to carry a Russian cosmonaut to the Moon. Just 10 seconds after liftoff, nearly all 30 first-stage engines were shut down and the vehicle plunged back onto its launch pad. The explosion completely destroyed the N-1, and it took a year and a half to rebuild it. Fortunately for SpaceX, Starship cleared the tower, prompting cheers and applause from company personnel following a livestream of the launch. But subsequent analysis has shown that the infrastructure suffered serious damage. Under the stool that serves as a seat for the rocket, the exhaust of the engines blasted a crater that exposed the foundations. The impact of the 33 Raptor 2 engine flares on the ground beneath the platform has had a devastating effect. The concrete used cracked up and large chunks flew in all directions, causing a monumental bombardment hundreds of meters away. Some hit the methane and oxygen tanks installed a short distance from the tower, denting them but apparently not causing any serious damage. Images obtained by a remote camera show a hailstorm of fragments, some of which hit a car parked nearby. SpaceX platform destruction raises concerns Given the scale of the destruction, many observers have wondered why a flame deflector was not installed under the launch pad. At NASAs Kennedy Space Center, for example, ramps 39A and B from which the Saturn V and the Space Shuttle program, and last November the Space Launch System (SLS) that will carry astronauts back to the Moon, lifted off contain a Flame Trench-Deflector System, which consists of a massive inverted V-shaped structure that is installed directly under the rocket exhausts. At liftoff, the flares hit the walls of the deflector and are redirected by two horizontal side ditches so that they do not blast the ground beneath the launch pad. Most launch pads also have a water flooding system, not only to combat the heat of the exhaust, but also to dampen the effects of noise. The millions of bubbles of liquid absorb some of the sonic energy and protect the rocket itself from impact. The intensity of the thunderous roar is more than the air around it can withstand: it is no longer mere noise, but produces a brutal pressure wave that bounces off the ground and threatens to damage the very engines that produce it. A civilian walks through the rubble caused by the SpaceX 'Starship' launch in Boca Chica. PATRICK T. FALLON (AFP) SpaceXs launch platform in Boca Chica, Texas, lacked a deflector and only deployed a sprinkler system directed towards the rocket nozzles. Apparently, SpaceX believed that the concrete slab, which is made of Fondag, a heavy-duty concrete that is resistant to high temperatures, could withstand at least one launch. Musk tweeted the day after the launch: 3 months ago, we started building a massive water-cooled, steel plate to go under the launch mount. Wasnt ready in time & we wrongly thought, based on static fire data, that Fondag would make it through 1 launch. It was an error that may have unforeseen consequences, although the SpaceX owner said the platform would be ready for another launch within one to two months. However, it is doubtful that the Federal Administration will authorize the launching of another Starship until the problem is completely solved. And that implies considerable modifications to the structures at Boca Chica. Meanwhile, NASA will be adjusting the brand-new launch tower erected at the Kennedy Center, almost next to pad 39A, the historic ramp from which Apollo missions to the Moon lifted off. SpaceX leases it from the agency and regularly launches its Falcon rockets from there. Delays to NASA Artemis missions likely NASA officials have warned SpaceX that a Starship explosion at Launch Complex 39A at a stroke cut off the agencys only means of launching U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station. It would be pretty devastating for 39A, Kathy Lueders, associate administrator of NASAs Space Operations Mission Directorate, said about the agencys discussions with SpaceX. Other than a flame deflector, is there another solution for SpaceX? When the Saturn V launch facilities were built half a century ago, a determining factor was precisely the size of the flame deflector, which stood at 12 meters high. This conditioned the height of the platform as well as the width of the gas evacuation channels. This was all constructed above ground as Cape Canaveral, located next to a beach, was not suitable for deep excavations. SpaceX workers fix damage at the Boca Chica base caused by the launch of 'Starship.' STEVE NESIUS (REUTERS) The problem facing SpaceX is that the Boca Chica launch tower and pedestal have been built in very similar conditions, right next to the beach. There is barely room for a deflector, and it will be very problematic to dig flame trenches. The addition of a water flooding system, although feasible, will take time. And the same is true of the facilities being built at the Kennedy Center. Unless Musk pulls some revolutionary idea out of his hat, it seems that the only solution is a metal deflector shield under the rocket. However, some experts have already noted that a steel plate of such dimensions, subjected to the tremendous heat of the rockets exhaust for 10 to 15 seconds, will undergo such sudden expansion that it will fracture, handing SpaceX engineers a serious problem. For now, delays in SpaceXs Starship development will have an immediate impact on NASAs plans. A variant of this vehicle has been selected to carry astronauts to the surface of the Moon in 2025 as part of NASAs Artemis program. If there were already doubts about the feasibility of that date, the result of this first test flight now makes it almost impossible. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition STOCKHOLM , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Annual General Meeting of ASSA ABLOY AB was held on Wednesday 26 April 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden . Adoption of income statements and balance sheets and discharge from liability The Annual General Meeting adopted the parent company's and the Group's income statements and balance sheets for the financial year 2022. The members of the Board of Directors and the CEO were discharged from liability for the financial year 2022. Dividend The Annual General Meeting approved the dividend of SEK 4.80 per share proposed by the Board of Directors, to be paid out in two equal installments, the first with the record date Friday 28 April 2023 and the second with the record date Monday 13 November 2023 . The first installment is estimated to be paid on Thursday 4 May 2023 and the second installment on Thursday 16 November 2023 . Election of the Board of Directors and auditor The Annual General Meeting re-elected Carl Douglas , Erik Ekudden, Johan Hjertonsson, Sofia Schorling Hogberg , Lena Olving , Joakim Weidemanis and Susanne Pahlen Aklundh as members of the Board of Directors, and elected Victoria Van Camp as new member of the Board of Directors. Johan Hjertonsson was elected as new Chairman of the Board of Directors and Carl Douglas was re-elected as Vice Chairman. The Annual General Meeting re-elected the audit firm Ernst & Young AB as auditor for the time period until the end of the Annual General Meeting 2024. Remuneration to the Board of Directors and the auditor The remuneration to the Board of Directors will totally amount to SEK 9,455,000 (excluding remuneration for committee work). Auditor fees shall be paid according to contract. Nomination Committee The Annual General Meeting resolved, in accordance with the Nomination Committee's previously published proposal, to adopt instructions for appointment of Nomination Committee and the Nomination Committee's assignment. Resolution on approval of remuneration report The Annual General Meeting resolved, in accordance with the Board of Directors' previously published proposal, to approve the Board's remuneration report. Resolution regarding authorization to repurchase and transfer Series B shares in the company The Annual General Meeting resolved, in accordance with the Board of Directors' previously published proposal, to authorize the Board of Directors to, on one or more occasions, repurchase Series B shares in the company for the period up until the Annual General Meeting 2024. The repurchase shall maximum comprise so many Series B shares that the company's holding does not at any time exceed 10 per cent of the total number of shares in the company. Resolution regarding long-term incentive program The Annual General Meeting resolved, in accordance with the Board of Directors' previously published proposal, to implement a long-term incentive program for senior executives and key employees within the ASSA ABLOY Group ("LTI 2023"). Minutes from the Meeting including complete resolutions will be available on the company's website assaabloy.com/general-meeting. For more information, please contact: Nico Delvaux , President and CEO, tel. no: +46 8 506 485 82 Erik Pieder, CFO and Executive Vice President, tel. no: +46 8 506 485 72 Bjorn Tibell, Head of Investor Relations, tel. no: +46 70 275 67 68 About ASSA ABLOY The ASSA ABLOY Group is the global leader in access solutions. The Group operates worldwide with 52,000 employees and sales of SEK 121 billion . The Group has leading positions in areas such as efficient door openings, trusted identities and entrance automation. ASSA ABLOY's innovations enable safe, secure and convenient access to physical and digital places. Every day, we help billions of people experience a more open world. The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/7333/3758736/2014000.pdf Press release (PDF) View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/resolutions-at-assa-abloy-abs-annual-general-meeting-26-april-2023-301808490.html SOURCE ASSA ABLOY MINNEAPOLIS , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to recent flooding at the original event site, Susan G. Komen, the world's leading breast cancer organization, announces a new location for the 2023 Race for the Cure, Viking Lakes . The Minnesota Race for the Cure is Susan G. Komen's annual fundraising event honoring breast cancer survivors in a fun-filled day for the whole family. The event will raise critical funds that support breast cancer patients, research, and patient navigation services to better serve those impacted by the disease. Participants can expect to enjoy an energizing warm up with moves from the Apple Valley Jazzercise and Hope Village , a gathering space to celebrate and honor those living with breast cancer and breast cancer survivors. Midday host of KOOL 108FM, Lee Valsvik will serve as emcee of the 2023 Race for the Cure. The opening ceremony will also feature this year's Race for the Cure Start and Finish Line sponsor Minneapolis Radiation Oncology's (MRO) Dr. Stephanie Childs as honorary speaker. Sponsors for the event include Allina Health, Dick's House of Sports, Freestyle Production, Inc, KOOL108, Northland Ford Dealers, myTalk, Faribault Foods, and Quantum Fiber. Hennepin Healthcare, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Boker's, Inc., Sage Screening Program, and Healthy Kids Running Series are community partners that will be on site. Additionally, walk and run participants will include breast cancer survivors, metastatic breast cancer thrivers, and supporters of Susan G. Komen and those impacted by breast cancer. What: Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure When: Sunday, May 14, 2023 , Hope Village opens: 8:30 AM , Opening Ceremony: 9:30 AM Where: New Location Viking Lakes 2600 Vikings Circle , Eagan, MN 55121 Details: Register at: komen.org/minnesotarace Please contact Cristobal Martinez at [email protected] for more information on the event. Interviews with event attendees, Komen staff, and honorees can be granted upon request. About Susan G. Komen Susan G. Komen is the world's leading nonprofit breast cancer organization, working to save lives and end breast cancer forever. Komen has an unmatched, comprehensive 360-degree approach to fighting this disease across all fronts and supporting millions of people in the U.S. and in countries worldwide. We advocate for patients, drive research breakthroughs, improve access to high-quality care, offer direct patient support and empower people with trustworthy information. Founded by Nancy G. Brinker , who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen , that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy's life, Komen remains committed to supporting those affected by breast cancer today, while tirelessly searching for tomorrow's cures. Visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN. Connect with us on social at www.komen.org/contact-us/follow-us/. CONTACT: Cristobal Martinez Susan G. Komen (972) 701-2135 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/susan-g-komen-2023-race-for-the-cure-moves-to-viking-lakes-301808800.html BEIJING , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn: Editor's Note: During his visit to the Chinese mainland between March 27 and April 7 , many students accompanied former Kuomintang chairman Ma Ying-jeou . Let's hear what they have to say about what they experienced during the trip. Ho Chia-lin : Chinese culture shapes my life The author is a second-year postgraduate student majoring in commercial law at the College of Law of Taiwan University. I used to feel a familiarity for and yet also a strangeness toward the Chinese mainland. It felt familiar because, in Taiwan , we also celebrate the Lunar New Year , eat Chinese food and learn about the 5,000-year history of the Chinese civilization. It was simultaneously a strange place to me as I had only set foot on the mainland's soil once before this visit. That was in 2002, when my elders took me to visit relatives in our hometown on the mainland. When Mr Ma Ying-jeou , former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, visited the mainland, I was lucky to be included in the delegation to personally see, experience and learn about the mainland further. The first stop on our 12-day trip was the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the final resting place of Sun Yat-sen , the forerunner of China's democratic revolution, on Zijin Mountain in Nanjing , Jiangsu province. Walking on the stone steps leading to the mausoleum, I felt as if I were traveling back to that turbulent time. "The world is for the public" is one of the core beliefs of Mr Sun Yat-sen's philosophy. Originating from ancient Chinese classic Liji (The Book of Rites), it remains relevant even today. Then we went to Wuhan in Central China's Hubei province, a city rich in cultural and historical legacy including the Wuchang Uprising, which ended the millennia-long absolute monarchy in the country. The unique local customs and human touch remain unchanged after being hit hard by the once-in-a-century pandemic. Located in Hunan University in the neighboring Hunan province, the thousand-year-old Yuelu Academy naturally prompts admiration from students. In Southwest China's Chongqing , I visited the cemetery of General Zhang Zizhong , who was killed during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), saw related relics, and laid a flower to pay tribute on Tomb-Sweeping Day, as well as taking photos with the Taiwan Restoration Monument. The previous generations defended the peace and integrity of the nation regardless of their personal safety. I was deeply moved again. Shanghai , where we landed to start the 12-day exchange, was also where we concluded the trip. Jin Li , president of Fudan University, shared with us how the university takes its name from a famous line in A Commentary on The Classic of History: "Brilliant are the sunshine and moonlight, again the morning radiance returns at dawn", indicating relentless efforts for self-reliance and diligence. I think it works for life as well. I was most impressed with the people we encountered during the trip. I was touched by the attentive care of Taiwan affairs offices at all levels, the sincere communication with students and teachers from the mainland, and the warm welcome from local residents. The consideration and thoughtfulness of the Taiwan office staff were shown in small details again and again, from the itinerary booklets printed in traditional Chinese characters, the use of the most convenient way of transportation such as shuttle buses, and the specially prepared Chongqing hotpot with our preferred level of spiciness. Along the way, we communicated with young friends from Wuhan University, Hunan University and Fudan University. When discussing daily life, we talked about whether it is difficult to become a civil servant and the differences between the life of graduates and undergraduates, as well as comparisons between only children and children with siblings. Academically, we discussed sustainable development and exchanged opinions on the research I am currently conducting on carbon trading and green finance. Resonance seems to be planted in our mind, with no need to seek from the outside. Upon our departure from Chongqing , the tour guide shared a text from elementary school textbooks in Chongqing , titled " Taiwan , the treasure island". He is drawn by the spectacular scenery of Ali Mountain and wants to look out over Taipei from Taipei 101's observation deck. However, due to cross-Strait tension and policy reasons, he was not able to visit Taiwan . After face-to-face communication during these days, I feel from the bottom of my heart that there is mutual trust and appreciation out of sincerity between the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait . During an exchange activity at Hunan University, a student from Xinjiang wanted to learn about the influence of Chinese culture on young people in Taiwan . I remembered my first winter vacation assignment in elementary school was to recite educator Zhu Bolu's Maxims for Managing the Home. We eat mooncakes during the Mid- Autumn Festival , burn incense and worship Buddha on the first and fifteenth days of every lunar month, and read "The Legendary Swordsman" by martial arts novelist Jin Yong after growing up. Chinese culture is embedded in my feelings and emotions, and shapes the way I interact with others. Of the 8 billion people on Earth, almost one in every four is Chinese, and we share the same language and cultural and spiritual systems, so "de-sinicization" is impossible and meaningless. As inheritors of Chinese culture, what we should really think about is how to promote China's continuous progress with the efforts of all Chinese people, so that Chinese culture can be interpreted positively and be admired and desired by the whole world. Let's meet next year when the magnolia blooms again, striving for peace and national rejuvenation in mind. The author is a second-year postgraduate student majoring in commercial law at the College of Law of Taiwan University. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily. Translated by Liu Ming Yung Po -kang: History should be remembered correctly The author is a fourth-year postgraduate student at Chengchi University's College of International Affairs. If I could use one word to describe my trip to the Chinese mainland, I would say it was "amazing". This was the first time I had been to the mainland. The closest place to it I had been before was Hong Kong . I'd heard that the mainland developed rapidly, which later proved true during my visit and even went beyond my expectations. One thing that stood out to me was the appropriate spacing between new buildings here, ensuring adequate sunlight and ventilation for each household, which is often overlooked in newly constructed buildings in Taiwan . Another thing that impressed me was the concept of "civilization" is vigorously promoted in all aspects of life on the mainland. I first saw this promotion at dining tables, with slogans advocating using serving chopsticks and spoons and not wasting food. There were also other signs on the streets such as encouraging travelers to exhibit civilized behavior and drivers to be courteous. Even public restrooms posted signs reminding people to avoid bad behavior. During exchanges with mainland students at the meetings, their confident speeches touched me. But I didn't expect to find they were no different from my classmates in Taiwan : We all use smartphones and social media, look for delicious food on campus and engage in campus life in much the same way. Without exception, the students of our visiting delegation all cherished this opportunity for face-to-face communication. We hope to maintain contact with each other in the future to lay a good foundation for mutual understanding between the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait . The difference between what I learned during this trip about the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and what I had learned in Taiwan before was that the latter was mostly theoretical. Almost all the battles in the war took place on the mainland. Through this trip, I was able to visit the sites and museums of the war and experience the historical environment firsthand, which helped deepen my understanding of history. I hope other young people in Taiwan can also come to the mainland to visit those sites and honor the martyrs. I was born in 1996, and I didn't learn much history until sixth grade. The content in the schoolbooks was minimal. I studied liberal arts in high school, so I read quite a bit of history compared to other students. The six history textbooks in high school included two on Chinese history. When covering the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, key events were included, such as the September 18th Incident in 1931, the Lugou Bridge Incident, the Battle of Shanghai and the Battle at Sihang Warehouse in 1937, and the Nanjing Massacre, which took place between December 1937 and January 1938 . It was also mentioned in the textbooks that General Zhang Xueliang forced Chiang Kai-shek (after failing to persuade him) to join hands with the Communist Party of China to resist the Japanese invaders. However, in the textbooks, the end of the war was attributed to the two atomic bombs dropped by the United States . My history teacher then added the front in the Chinese mainland trapped the Japanese army and cost them a significant amount of troops and materials, laying the foundation for final victory. The Democratic Progressive Party authorities attempt to dilute and remove all Chinese elements from Taiwan in an effort to highlight the differences between Taiwan and the mainland. However, this approach is seen as unnecessary and a waste of administrative resources to most in Taiwan . Due to the bitter sacrifices during the war against Japanese invasion, this part of history cannot be completely erased from Taiwan's curriculum. Nevertheless, it is increasingly understated and replaced with an emphasis on the contemporary history of Taiwan , along with its friendly relationship with Japan . In recent years, the DPP has argued only the people on the mainland participated and suffered in the war, while Taiwan , under the "rule" of Japan at that time, was not a victim. This is a narrative that is disrespectful to historical facts. During the early stages of Japanese colonial rule, there were a series of activities against the occupation which gradually evolved into unarmed political resistance during the middle and later stages. I agree we should not use historical events to foster hatred toward a nation or country. Still, the historical facts need to be recognized and remembered accurately. The author is a fourth-year postgraduate student at Chengchi University's College of International Affairs. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily. Translated by Chen Ziyan Chou Yung -chin: No distance between students across the Strait The author is a junior at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences of Hsinchu-based Tsing Hua University in Taiwan . The Ma Ying-jeou Foundation had previously held three sessions of Da Jeou Academy, all of which took participating students to visit historical sites in Taiwan . This time, the session offered me a rare opportunity to visit the mainland and explore the history of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945). This was my second visit to the mainland. My first time was in late autumn of 2018 on a secondary school exchange program. This visit was a completely different and novel experience. What most surprised me was the high-speed train, which was very comfortable, fast and smooth. While riding the high-speed train from Nanjing to Wuhan , I fell into the deepest slumber I've ever had on any moving vehicle. I've had the experience of interacting with secondary school students in Shandong during my 2018 visit. I fully felt that no distance existed between students across the Taiwan Strait at that time. In the exchange activities with three mainland universities during this visit, the passion, closeness, and naturalness of interaction between students across the Strait showed no difference from 2018, despite the rising cross-Strait tensions and confrontation in recent years. This was the most moving and memorable. I now still stay in touch with some of the mainland students who I met during this visit, including a postgraduate student from Hunan University. He will go to Taiwan for an exchange program in September, and I've arranged to take him on a tour of Taiwan and to visit Hsinchu-based Tsing Hua University, where I am studying. I am really looking forward to his visit. Memorial sites about the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression were a highlight of the visit. I'm interested in the war and have studied it. However, my understanding is limited to a military perspective and I know very little about ordinary people's stories. On the second day of this trip, we visited the House of John Rabe, a German businessman who was dubbed the Oskar Schindler of China for saving hundreds of thousands of civilians during the 1937 Nanjing Massacre. It provided me with new information and I was impressed. I haven't read any history books used on the mainland, but as far as the historical sites and monuments we visited, they are well preserved and have ample historical materials. Such abundant resources will certainly be a great help to students who wish to learn history. Though the war of resistance is taught in Taiwan secondary schools, and the senior secondary school curriculum includes some deep content, it hasn't taken up many pages. More focus is placed on the outbreak, the end of the war and post-war international environment changes. Under the influence of the "de-sinicization" policy promoted by the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan , the entire Chinese history section has been reduced, while content about the history of Southeast Asia , South Korea and Japan have been increased. It's not a bad thing to have an extensive understanding of the history of different nations and peoples, but it's a pity to remove part of Chinese history. For future exchanges with the mainland, I've always wanted to visit Beijing . At the beginning of the year I applied for a cross-Strait summer exchange program through my university and the list of successful applicants was published the other day. I have been assigned to conduct short-term research at Peking University. I may visit the capital city during the summer vacation at the earliest. I am very excited and look forward to seeing this magnificent and splendid city with a history of several thousand of years. The author is a junior at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences of Hsinchu-based Tsing Hua University in Taiwan . The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily. Translated by Liu Ming View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/taiwan-students-share-impressions-of-mainland-301808043.html SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn NEW YORK , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Talos , the premier provider of institutional digital asset trading technology, today announced an integration with Coinbase Prime, a comprehensive institutional platform for secure custody, advanced trading, and prime services, to expand access to the digital asset ecosystem for both firms' clients. As a result of the integration, Talos clients now have direct connectivity to Coinbase Prime for spot crypto liquidity and custody services. Conversely, Coinbase Prime clients can now access the full suite of Talos's industry-leading, end-to-end trading and connectivity solutions. "We're thrilled to partner with Coinbase Institutional to provide institutional investors with a digital asset offering that is on par with, or surpasses, the quality, reliability, and trustworthiness of other asset classes," said Anton Katz , Co-Founder & CEO of Talos. "Our goal is to offer a platform that is familiar and user-friendly for institutional investors who have decided to participate in this emerging asset class." Talos's institutional-grade platform powers the full trade lifecycle including liquidity aggregation, trading, analytics, settlement and more via a single point of access. The company's client base spans the entire digital asset ecosystem, from buy-side institutions to financial service providers, and includes broker-dealers, prime brokers, hedge funds, banks, OTC desks, custodians, exchanges, and lenders. "At Talos, we share Coinbase Institutional's vision of advancing the industry and accelerating institutional adoption of digital assets," continued Katz. "The integration of Coinbase Prime's exceptional prime services with Talos's cutting-edge trade and connectivity solutions will bring significant benefits to both firms' clients. We are excited to be at the forefront of the digital asset industry's continued evolution." The Talos integration provides Coinbase Prime clients access to the most advanced trading platform with direct connections to the entire digital assets ecosystem. As the leading institutional prime broker platform for crypto assets, Coinbase Prime provides advanced multi-venue agency trade execution for over 200 assets, custody for more than 360 assets, prime financing, staking and staking infrastructure, and reporting. Commenting on the integration, Steve Capozza , Director of Institutional Sales at Coinbase said, "Talos and Coinbase Institutional have a shared vision to enable institutions to participate and transact safely and securely across the digital asset ecosystem. Over the last several years, Talos has emerged as a critical provider of the technological underpinnings for this asset class. We are excited to work with an industry leader of their caliber and look forward to furthering Coinbase's goal of providing greater access and transparency to crypto through this integration." The integration is live and available to current Talos and Coinbase Prime clients. To learn more, visit https://talos.com/solutions/ About Talos Talos powers digital asset trading strategies globally. Engineered by a team with unmatched experience in building institutional trading systems, the Talos platform is trusted by the largest and most sophisticated market participants and their end clients for its performance, reliability, and security. Its growing network of services trading platform, data and analytics, and portfolio and settlement tools, all offered directly or through service providers on a white-label basis enable clients of all types to transact end-to-end more efficiently and without concern for unnecessary intermediary risk. Talos has offices in New York , London , Sweden , Cyprus , and Singapore . For additional information visit www.talos.com . About Coinbase Prime Coinbase Prime is a fully integrated platform built specifically for institutions to support the entire transaction lifecycle including advanced multi-venue agency trade execution for 200 assets, custody for more than 300 assets, prime financing, staking and staking infrastructure, data and analytics, and reporting. Institutions can access Coinbase Prime directly via a user interface or as an integrated platform via APIs to offer crypto-related products, custodial solutions, or brokerage for their institutional, private wealth, and retail clients. To learn more about Coinbase Institutional's solutions, including more information about Coinbase Prime, click here . Media Inquiries For Talos: [email protected] For Coinbase: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/talos-and-coinbase-institutional-establish-integration-to-expand-clients-access-to-digital-assets-liquidity-and-the-crypto-ecosystem-301807934.html SOURCE Talos Sales above guidance driven by strong year-over-year growth in Transportation and Industrial segments SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TE Connectivity Ltd. (NYSE: TEL) today reported results for the fiscal second quarter ended March 31, 2023 . TEL) reported results for the fiscal second quarter ended March 31, 2023." alt="TE Connectivity Ltd. (NYSE: TEL) reported results for the fiscal second quarter ended March 31, 2023." /> Second Quarter Highlights Net sales were $4.16 billion , up 4% on a reported basis and 8% organically year over year. , up 4% on a reported basis and 8% organically year over year. Organic growth of 12% in the Transportation Solutions segment and 15% in the Industrial Solutions segment was partially offset by an expected decline of 20% in the Communications Solutions segment Currency exchange negatively impacted sales by $155 million . . GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations were $1.34 , and adjusted EPS exceeded guidance at $1.65 . , and adjusted EPS exceeded guidance at . GAAP and adjusted EPS impacted by $0.17 of currency and tax headwinds year over year of currency and tax headwinds year over year Order levels were up sequentially to $4 billion . . Strong cash flow from operating activities of approximately $635 million and free cash flow of approximately $445 million , with approximately $375 million returned to shareholders and free cash flow of approximately , with approximately returned to shareholders Company named one of Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies for sixth consecutive year "We delivered sales and earnings ahead of expectations and generated very strong cash flow during the quarter in what remains a dynamic macro environment. This performance was due to the ongoing strong execution of our global teams and the strategic positioning of our portfolio," said TE Connectivity CEO Terrence Curtin . "In our Transportation and Industrial segments, we drove organic growth across all businesses and continue to see solid demand patterns in those segments. In particular, our Automotive business continues to outperform a flat auto market due to our leading global position in electric vehicles as our customers seek out our technology to enable an increasingly electrified world. In our Industrial segment, our Medical business delivered record quarterly sales and we are continuing to capitalize on growth momentum in renewable energy applications. While our Communications segment was impacted by weaker end markets and supply chain corrections as expected, our teams are securing design wins in data center and artificial intelligence applications that will drive future growth as those markets recover. "We continue to expect margin expansion at the company level in the second half of the year, driven by further margin improvement in our Transportation segment, as we continue to take actions to navigate market dynamics. We remain confident that we are well positioned for long-term growth and profitability." Third Quarter FY23 Outlook For the third quarter of fiscal 2023, the company expects net sales of approximately $4.0 billion . GAAP EPS from continuing operations are expected to be approximately $1.56 , with adjusted EPS of approximately $1.65 . Information about TE Connectivity's use of non-GAAP financial measures is provided below. For reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures, see the attached tables. Conference Call and Webcast The company will hold a conference call today beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET . The dial-in information is provided here: At TE Connectivity's website: investors.te.com website: investors.te.com By telephone: For both "listen-only" participants and those participants who wish to take part in the question-and-answer portion of the call, the dial-in number in the United States is (888) 330-3417 and for international callers, the dial-in number is (646) 960-0804. is (888) 330-3417 and for international callers, the dial-in number is (646) 960-0804. A replay of the conference call will be available on TE Connectivity's investor website at investors.te.com at 11:30 a.m. ET on April 26, 2023 . About TE Connectivity TE Connectivity Ltd. (NYSE: TEL) is a global industrial technology leader creating a safer, sustainable, productive, and connected future. Our broad range of connectivity and sensor solutions, proven in the harshest environments, enable advancements in transportation, industrial applications, medical technology, energy, data communications, and the home. With more than 85,000 employees, including over 8,000 engineers, working alongside customers in approximately 140 countries, TE ensures that EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS. Learn more at www.te.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, WeChat and Twitter. Non-GAAP Financial Measures We present non-GAAP performance and liquidity measures as we believe it is appropriate for investors to consider adjusted financial measures in addition to results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("GAAP"). These non-GAAP financial measures provide supplemental information and should not be considered replacements for results in accordance with GAAP. Management uses non-GAAP financial measures internally for planning and forecasting purposes and in its decision-making processes related to the operations of our company. We believe these measures provide meaningful information to us and investors because they enhance the understanding of our operating performance, ability to generate cash, and the trends of our business. Additionally, we believe that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures that management uses in evaluating our operations. The primary limitation of these measures is that they exclude the financial impact of items that would otherwise either increase or decrease our reported results. This limitation is best addressed by using these non-GAAP financial measures in combination with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in order to better understand the amounts, character, and impact of any increase or decrease in reported amounts. These non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures reported by other companies. The following provides additional information regarding our non-GAAP financial measures: Organic Net Sales Growth (Decline) represents net sales growth (decline) (the most comparable GAAP financial measure) excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, and acquisitions and divestitures that occurred in the preceding twelve months, if any. Organic Net Sales Growth (Decline) is a useful measure of our performance because it excludes items that are not completely under management's control, such as the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, and items that do not reflect the underlying growth of the company, such as acquisition and divestiture activity. This measure is a significant component in our incentive compensation plans. Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin represent operating income and operating margin, respectively, (the most comparable GAAP financial measures) before special items including restructuring and other charges, acquisition-related charges, impairment of goodwill, and other income or charges, if any. We utilize these adjusted measures in combination with operating income and operating margin to assess segment level operating performance and to provide insight to management in evaluating segment operating plan execution and market conditions. Adjusted Operating Income is a significant component in our incentive compensation plans. Adjusted Other Income (Expense), Net represents net other income (expense) (the most comparable GAAP financial measure) before special items including tax sharing income related to adjustments to prior period tax returns and other items, if any. Adjusted Income Tax (Expense) Benefit and Adjusted Effective Tax Rate represent income tax (expense) benefit and effective tax rate, respectively, (the most comparable GAAP financial measures) after adjusting for the tax effect of special items including restructuring and other charges, acquisition-related charges, impairment of goodwill, other income or charges, and certain significant tax items, if any. Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations represents income from continuing operations (the most comparable GAAP financial measure) before special items including restructuring and other charges, acquisition-related charges, impairment of goodwill, tax sharing income related to adjustments to prior period tax returns and other tax items, other income or charges, and certain significant tax items, if any, and, if applicable, the related tax effects. Adjusted Earnings Per Share represents diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (the most comparable GAAP financial measure) before special items including restructuring and other charges, acquisition-related charges, impairment of goodwill, tax sharing income related to adjustments to prior period tax returns and other tax items, other income or charges, and certain significant tax items, if any, and, if applicable, the related tax effects. This measure is a significant component in our incentive compensation plans. Free Cash Flow (FCF) is a useful measure of our ability to generate cash. The difference between net cash provided by operating activities (the most comparable GAAP financial measure) and Free Cash Flow consists mainly of significant cash outflows and inflows that we believe are useful to identify. We believe Free Cash Flow provides useful information to investors as it provides insight into the primary cash flow metric used by management to monitor and evaluate cash flows generated from our operations. Free Cash Flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities excluding voluntary pension contributions and the cash impact of special items, if any, minus net capital expenditures. Voluntary pension contributions are excluded from the GAAP financial measure because this activity is driven by economic financing decisions rather than operating activity. Certain special items, including net payments related to pre-separation tax matters and cash paid (collected) pursuant to collateral requirements related to cross-currency swap contracts, are also excluded by management in evaluating Free Cash Flow. Net capital expenditures consist of capital expenditures less proceeds from the sale of property, plant, and equipment. These items are subtracted because they represent long-term commitments. In the calculation of Free Cash Flow, we subtract certain cash items that are ultimately within management's and the Board of Directors' discretion to direct and may imply that there is less or more cash available for our programs than the most comparable GAAP financial measure indicates. It should not be inferred that the entire Free Cash Flow amount is available for future discretionary expenditures, as our definition of Free Cash Flow does not consider certain non-discretionary expenditures, such as debt payments. In addition, we may have other discretionary expenditures, such as discretionary dividends, share repurchases, and business acquisitions, that are not considered in the calculation of Free Cash Flow. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainty and changes in circumstances, which may cause actual results, performance, financial condition or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, financial condition or achievements. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature are forward-looking and the words "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "plan," and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have no intention and are under no obligation to update or alter (and expressly disclaim any such intention or obligation to do so) our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. The forward-looking statements in this release include statements addressing our future financial condition and operating results, and the impact on our operations resulting from the coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19"). Examples of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the extent, severity and duration of COVID-19 negatively affecting our business operations; business, economic, competitive and regulatory risks, such as conditions affecting demand for products in the automotive and other industries we serve; competition and pricing pressure; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices; natural disasters and political, economic and military instability in countries in which we operate, including continuing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine resulting from Russia's invasion of Ukraine or escalating tensions in surrounding countries; developments in the credit markets; future goodwill impairment; compliance with current and future environmental and other laws and regulations; and the possible effects on us of changes in tax laws, tax treaties and other legislation, including the effects of Swiss tax reform. In addition, the extent to which COVID-19 will impact our business and our financial results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. Such developments may include the geographic spread of the virus, the severity of the virus, the duration of the outbreak, the impact on our suppliers' and customers' supply chains, the actions that may be taken by various governmental authorities in response to the outbreak in jurisdictions in which we operate, and the possible impact on the global economy and local economies in which we operate. More detailed information about these and other factors is set forth in TE Connectivity Ltd.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Sept 30, 2022 , as well as in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other reports filed by us with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) For the Quarters Ended For the Six Months Ended March 31 , March 25 , March 31 , March 25 , 2023 2022 2023 2022 (in millions, except per share data) Net sales $ 4,160 $ 4,007 $ 8,001 $ 7,825 Cost of sales 2,876 2,670 5,530 5,258 Gross margin 1,284 1,337 2,471 2,567 Selling, general, and administrative expenses 435 416 827 779 Research, development, and engineering expenses 185 185 358 360 Acquisition and integration costs 8 10 17 18 Restructuring and other charges, net 119 21 230 33 Operating income 537 705 1,039 1,377 Interest income 12 4 21 6 Interest expense (20) (18) (41) (30) Other income (expense), net (4) 5 (9) 20 Income from continuing operations before income taxes 525 696 1,010 1,373 Income tax expense (100) (136) (187) (246) Income from continuing operations 425 560 823 1,127 Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes 8 7 (1) Net income $ 433 $ 560 $ 830 $ 1,126 Basic earnings per share: Income from continuing operations $ 1.34 $ 1.72 $ 2.60 $ 3.46 Income (loss) from discontinued operations 0.03 0.02 Net income 1.37 1.72 2.62 3.45 Diluted earnings per share: Income from continuing operations $ 1.34 $ 1.71 $ 2.58 $ 3.44 Income (loss) from discontinued operations 0.03 0.02 Net income 1.36 1.71 2.60 3.43 Weighted-average number of shares outstanding: Basic 316 325 317 326 Diluted 318 327 319 328 TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) March 31 , September 30 , 2023 2022 (in millions, except share data) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 905 $ 1,088 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $46 and $45 , respectively 3,048 2,865 Inventories 2,811 2,676 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 675 639 Total current assets 7,439 7,268 Property, plant, and equipment, net 3,818 3,567 Goodwill 5,527 5,258 Intangible assets, net 1,286 1,288 Deferred income taxes 2,634 2,498 Other assets 786 903 Total assets $ 21,490 $ 20,782 Liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and shareholders' equity Current liabilities: Short-term debt $ 286 $ 914 Accounts payable 1,678 1,593 Accrued and other current liabilities 2,429 2,125 Total current liabilities 4,393 4,632 Long-term debt 3,916 3,292 Long-term pension and postretirement liabilities 731 695 Deferred income taxes 216 244 Income taxes 326 304 Other liabilities 782 718 Total liabilities 10,364 9,885 Commitments and contingencies Redeemable noncontrolling interests 106 95 Shareholders' equity: Common shares, CHF 0.57 par value, 322,470,281 shares authorized and issued, and 330,830,781 shares authorized and issued, respectively 142 146 Accumulated earnings 11,824 12,832 Treasury shares, at cost, 7,053,036 and 12,749,540 shares, respectively (933) (1,681) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (13) (495) Total shareholders' equity 11,020 10,802 Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and shareholders' equity $ 21,490 $ 20,782 TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) For the Quarters Ended For the Six Months Ended March 31 , March 25 , March 31 , March 25 , 2023 2022 2023 2022 (in millions) Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 433 $ 560 $ 830 $ 1,126 (Income) loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (8) (7) 1 Income from continuing operations 425 560 823 1,127 Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 207 194 394 392 Deferred income taxes (35) 38 (70) 42 Non-cash lease cost 36 33 70 64 Provision for losses on accounts receivable and inventories 18 35 69 68 Share-based compensation expense 31 28 63 60 Impairment of held for sale businesses 61 67 Other 25 13 68 4 Changes in assets and liabilities, net of the effects of acquisitions and divestitures: Accounts receivable, net (170) (205) (224) (57) Inventories 51 (147) (273) (411) Prepaid expenses and other current assets 61 (16) (25) 36 Accounts payable (45) 104 15 Accrued and other current liabilities (44) (20) (83) (305) Income taxes 10 (7) 35 27 Other 3 (93) 197 (117) Net cash provided by operating activities 634 413 1,215 945 Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures (189) (179) (372) (351) Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment 1 9 2 63 Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired 1 (2) (108) (102) Proceeds from divestiture of businesses, net of cash retained by businesses sold 51 51 16 Other (3) (12) 23 (9) Net cash used in investing activities (139) (184) (404) (383) Cash flows from financing activities: Net increase (decrease) in commercial paper 54 (479) (85) Proceeds from issuance of debt 499 588 499 588 Repayment of debt (587) (3) (591) (558) Proceeds from exercise of share options 9 8 20 30 Repurchase of common shares (179) (404) (466) (708) Payment of common share dividends to shareholders (177) (163) (355) (326) Other (4) (7) (28) (38) Net cash used in financing activities (385) (460) (1,006) (1,012) Effect of currency translation on cash 2 (2) 12 (4) Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 112 (233) (183) (454) Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period 793 982 1,088 1,203 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ 905 $ 749 $ 905 $ 749 Supplemental cash flow information: Interest paid on debt, net $ 27 $ 17 $ 39 $ 29 Income taxes paid, net of refunds 125 106 223 177 TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. RECONCILIATION OF FREE CASH FLOW (UNAUDITED) For the Quarters Ended For the Six Months Ended March 31 , March 25 , March 31 , March 25 , 2023 2022 2023 2022 (in millions) Net cash provided by operating activities $ 634 $ 413 $ 1,215 $ 945 Excluding: Cash collected pursuant to collateral requirements related to cross-currency swap contracts (1) (42) Capital expenditures, net (188) (170) (370) (288) Free cash flow (1) $ 446 $ 242 $ 845 $ 615 (1) Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. See description of non-GAAP financial measures. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. CONSOLIDATED SEGMENT DATA (UNAUDITED) For the Quarters Ended For the Six Months Ended March 31 , March 25 , March 31 , March 25 , 2023 2022 2023 2022 ($ in millions) Net Sales Net Sales Net Sales Net Sales Transportation Solutions $ 2,483 $ 2,314 $ 4,742 $ 4,472 Industrial Solutions 1,191 1,068 2,251 2,120 Communications Solutions 486 625 1,008 1,233 Total $ 4,160 $ 4,007 $ 8,001 $ 7,825 Operating Operating Operating Operating Operating Operating Operating Operating Income Margin Income Margin Income Margin Income Margin Transportation Solutions $ 333 13.4 % $ 409 17.7 % $ 615 13.0 % $ 804 18.0 % Industrial Solutions 134 11.3 145 13.6 290 12.9 265 12.5 Communications Solutions 70 14.4 151 24.2 134 13.3 308 25.0 Total $ 537 12.9 % $ 705 17.6 % $ 1,039 13.0 % $ 1,377 17.6 % Adjusted Adjusted Adjusted Adjusted Adjusted Adjusted Adjusted Adjusted Operating Operating Operating Operating Operating Operating Operating Operating Income (1) Margin (1) Income (1) Margin (1) Income (1) Margin (1) Income (1) Margin (1) Transportation Solutions $ 411 16.6 % $ 422 18.2 % $ 769 16.2 % $ 814 18.2 % Industrial Solutions 174 14.6 161 15.1 349 15.5 315 14.9 Communications Solutions 79 16.3 153 24.5 168 16.7 319 25.9 Total $ 664 16.0 % $ 736 18.4 % $ 1,286 16.1 % $ 1,448 18.5 % (1) Adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin are non-GAAP financial measures. See description of non-GAAP financial measures. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. RECONCILIATION OF NET SALES GROWTH (DECLINE) (UNAUDITED) Change in Net Sales for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2023 versus Net Sales for the Quarter Ended March 25, 2022 Net Sales Organic Net Sales Acquisitions/ Growth (Decline) Growth (Decline) (1) Translation (2) (Divestiture) ($ in millions) Transportation Solutions (3): Automotive $ 142 8.6 % $ 226 13.6 % $ (84) $ Commercial transportation 11 2.8 26 6.5 (15) Sensors 16 6.0 23 8.8 (7) Total 169 7.3 275 11.9 (106) Industrial Solutions (3): Industrial equipment (4) (0.9) 15 3.2 (19) Aerospace, defense, and marine 37 14.2 48 18.6 (5) (6) Energy 49 26.6 51 27.7 (7) 5 Medical 41 25.9 42 26.3 (1) Total 123 11.5 156 14.6 (32) (1) Communications Solutions (3): Data and devices (104) (26.5) (97) (24.9) (11) 4 Appliances (35) (15.0) (29) (12.4) (6) Total (139) (22.2) (126) (20.2) (17) 4 Total $ 153 3.8 % $ 305 7.6 % $ (155) $ 3 Change in Net Sales for the Six Months Ended March 31, 2023 versus Net Sales for the Six Months Ended March 25, 2022 Net Sales Organic Net Sales Acquisitions/ Growth (Decline) Growth (Decline) (1) Translation (2) (Divestiture) ($ in millions) Transportation Solutions (3): Automotive $ 271 8.5 % $ 508 16.0 % $ (237) $ Commercial transportation (6) (0.8) 33 4.4 (39) Sensors 5 0.9 30 5.6 (25) Total 270 6.0 571 12.8 (301) Industrial Solutions (3): Industrial equipment (25) (2.7) 29 3.2 (54) Aerospace, defense, and marine 59 11.7 83 16.3 (18) (6) Energy 50 13.4 66 17.6 (21) 5 Medical 47 14.5 49 15.2 (2) Total 131 6.2 227 10.7 (95) (1) Communications Solutions (3): Data and devices (131) (17.5) (120) (15.9) (24) 13 Appliances (94) (19.4) (74) (15.3) (20) Total (225) (18.2) (194) (15.7) (44) 13 Total $ 176 2.2 % $ 604 7.7 % $ (440) $ 12 (1) Organic net sales growth (decline) is a non-GAAP financial measure. See description of non-GAAP financial measures. (2) Represents the change in net sales resulting from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. (3) Industry end market information is presented consistently with our internal management reporting and may be periodically revised as management deems necessary. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2023 (UNAUDITED) Adjustments Acquisition- Restructuring Related and Other Adjusted U.S. GAAP Charges (1) Charges, Net (1) (Non-GAAP) (2) ($ in millions, except per share data) Operating income: Transportation Solutions $ 333 $ $ 78 $ 411 Industrial Solutions 134 7 33 174 Communications Solutions 70 1 8 79 Total $ 537 $ 8 $ 119 $ 664 Operating margin 12.9 % 16.0 % Other expense, net $ (4) $ $ $ (4) Income tax expense $ (100) $ (1) $ (26) $ (127) Effective tax rate 19.0 % 19.5 % Income from continuing operations $ 425 $ 7 $ 93 $ 525 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations $ 1.34 $ 0.02 $ 0.29 $ 1.65 (1) The tax effect of each non-GAAP adjustment is calculated based on the jurisdictions in which the expense (income) is incurred and the tax laws in effect for each such jurisdiction. (2) See description of non-GAAP financial measures. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES For the Quarter Ended March 25, 2022 (UNAUDITED) Adjustments Acquisition- Restructuring Related and Other Adjusted U.S. GAAP Charges (1) Charges, Net (1) Tax Items (2) (Non-GAAP) (3) ($ in millions, except per share data) Operating income: Transportation Solutions $ 409 $ 4 $ 9 $ $ 422 Industrial Solutions 145 6 10 161 Communications Solutions 151 2 153 Total $ 705 $ 10 $ 21 $ $ 736 Operating margin 17.6 % 18.4 % Other income, net $ 5 $ $ $ $ 5 Income tax expense $ (136) $ (2) $ (5) $ 8 $ (135) Effective tax rate 19.5 % 18.6 % Income from continuing operations $ 560 $ 8 $ 16 $ 8 $ 592 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations $ 1.71 $ 0.02 $ 0.05 $ 0.02 $ 1.81 (1) The tax effect of each non-GAAP adjustment is calculated based on the jurisdictions in which the expense (income) is incurred and the tax laws in effect for each such jurisdiction. (2) Includes $27 million of income tax expense related to the write-down of certain deferred tax assets to the lower corporate tax rate enacted in the canton of Schaffhausen on December 27, 2021 and a $19 million income tax benefit related to the tax impacts of an intercompany transaction. (3) See description of non-GAAP financial measures. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES For the Six Months Ended March 31, 2023 (UNAUDITED) Adjustments Acquisition- Restructuring Related and Other Adjusted U.S. GAAP Charges (1) Charges, Net (1) (Non-GAAP) (2) ($ in millions, except per share data) Operating income: Transportation Solutions $ 615 $ 2 $ 152 $ 769 Industrial Solutions 290 13 46 349 Communications Solutions 134 2 32 168 Total $ 1,039 $ 17 $ 230 $ 1,286 Operating margin 13.0 % 16.1 % Other expense, net $ (9) $ $ $ (9) Income tax expense $ (187) $ (3) $ (55) $ (245) Effective tax rate 18.5 % 19.5 % Income from continuing operations $ 823 $ 14 $ 175 $ 1,012 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations $ 2.58 $ 0.04 $ 0.55 $ 3.17 (1) The tax effect of each non-GAAP adjustment is calculated based on the jurisdictions in which the expense (income) is incurred and the tax laws in effect for each such jurisdiction. (2) See description of non-GAAP financial measures. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES For the Six Months Ended March 25, 2022 (UNAUDITED) Adjustments Acquisition- Restructuring Related and Other Adjusted U.S. GAAP Charges (1) Charges, Net (1)(2) Tax Items (3) (Non-GAAP) (4) ($ in millions, except per share data) Operating income: Transportation Solutions $ 804 $ 7 $ 3 $ $ 814 Industrial Solutions 265 18 32 315 Communications Solutions 308 1 10 319 Total $ 1,377 $ 26 $ 45 $ $ 1,448 Operating margin 17.6 % 18.5 % Other income, net $ 20 $ $ $ (11) $ 9 Income tax expense $ (246) $ (5) $ (12) $ 3 $ (260) Effective tax rate 17.9 % 18.1 % Income from continuing operations $ 1,127 $ 21 $ 33 $ (8) $ 1,173 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations $ 3.44 $ 0.06 $ 0.10 $ (0.02) $ 3.58 (1) The tax effect of each non-GAAP adjustment is calculated based on the jurisdictions in which the expense (income) is incurred and the tax laws in effect for each such jurisdiction. (2) Includes $33 million recorded in net restructuring and other charges and $12 million recorded in cost of sales. (3) Includes a $36 million income tax benefit related to the tax impacts of an intercompany transaction, $27 million of income tax expense related to the write-down of certain deferred tax assets to the lower tax rate enacted in the canton of Schaffhausen , and $12 million of income tax expense related to an income tax audit of an acquired entity, as well as the related impact of $11 million to other income pursuant to the indemnification terms of the purchase agreement. (4) See description of non-GAAP financial measures. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES For the Quarter Ended June 24, 2022 (UNAUDITED) Adjustments Acquisition- Restructuring Related and Other Adjusted U.S. GAAP Charges (1) Charges, Net (1)(2) Tax Items (3) (Non-GAAP) (4) ($ in millions, except per share data) Operating income: Transportation Solutions $ 383 $ 5 $ 9 $ $ 397 Industrial Solutions 165 6 15 186 Communications Solutions 171 1 6 178 Total $ 719 $ 12 $ 30 $ $ 761 Operating margin 17.5 % 18.6 % Other income, net $ 4 $ $ $ $ 4 Income tax expense $ (116) $ (3) $ (6) $ (21) $ (146) Effective tax rate 16.4 % 19.5 % Income from continuing operations $ 592 $ 9 $ 24 $ (21) $ 604 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations $ 1.83 $ 0.03 $ 0.07 $ (0.06) $ 1.86 (1) The tax effect of each non-GAAP adjustment is calculated based on the jurisdictions in which the expense (income) is incurred and the tax laws in effect for each such jurisdiction. (2) Includes $26 million recorded in net restructuring and other charges and $4 million recorded in cost of sales. (3) Includes a $21 million income tax benefit related to the tax impacts of an intercompany transaction. (4) See description of non-GAAP financial measures. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES For the Year Ended September 30, 2022 (UNAUDITED) Adjustments Acquisition- Restructuring Related and Other Adjusted U.S. GAAP Charges (1) Charges, Net (1)(2) Tax Items (3) (Non-GAAP) (4) ($ in millions, except per share data) Operating income: Transportation Solutions $ 1,534 $ 16 $ 68 $ $ 1,618 Industrial Solutions 607 32 66 705 Communications Solutions 615 5 23 643 Total $ 2,756 $ 53 $ 157 $ $ 2,966 Operating margin 16.9 % 18.2 % Other income, net $ 28 $ $ $ (11) $ 17 Income tax expense $ (306) $ (11) $ (34) $ (200) $ (551) Effective tax rate 11.2 % 18.8 % Income from continuing operations $ 2,427 $ 42 $ 123 $ (211) $ 2,381 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations $ 7.47 $ 0.13 $ 0.38 $ (0.65) $ 7.33 (1) The tax effect of each non-GAAP adjustment is calculated based on the jurisdictions in which the expense (income) is incurred and the tax laws in effect for each such jurisdiction. (2) Includes $141 million recorded in net restructuring and other charges and $16 million recorded in cost of sales. (3) Includes a $124 million income tax benefit related to the tax impacts of certain intercompany transactions, a $64 million income tax benefit related primarily to a lapse of a statute of limitation, and a $51 million income tax benefit related to the release of a valuation allowance associated primarily with improved current and expected future operating profit and taxable income. Also includes $27 million of income tax expense related to the write-down of certain deferred tax assets to the lower corporate tax rate enacted in the canton of Schaffhausen and $12 million of income tax expense related to an income tax audit of an acquired entity, as well as the related impact of $11 million to other income pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement. (4) See description of non-GAAP financial measures. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. RECONCILIATION OF FORWARD-LOOKING NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO FORWARD-LOOKING GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES As of April 26, 2023 (UNAUDITED) Outlook for Quarter Ending June 30 , 2023 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations $ 1.56 Restructuring and other charges, net 0.07 Acquisition-related charges 0.02 Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (1) $ 1.65 Net sales growth (decline) (2.4) % Translation 0.4 Organic net sales growth (decline) (1) (2.0) % (1) See description of non-GAAP financial measures. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/te-connectivity-announces-second-quarter-results-for-fiscal-year-2023-301807184.html SOURCE TE Connectivity Ltd. Introduction of 1-click sessions: simplifying the connection process similar to joining an online meeting New web client includes all features bridging the gap between desktop and browser Redesigned user journeys with streamlined interactions and a modern and intuitive user interface A new level of misuse-prevention and security: mandatory account creation and increased transparency on incoming connections Remote monitoring and management capabilities are integrated into TeamViewer Remote client to add value for IT professionals TAMPA BAY, Fla. , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TeamViewer today launched the next generation of its iconic remote access and support solution, used by hundreds of millions of people across the globe. With the newly named TeamViewer Remote, the tech stack, usability and overall look and feel have been extensively reworked and modernized, while retaining TeamViewer's popular and proven remote connectivity functionalities. One of the main improvements is a new, more intuitive and modern interface. Customers deserve the most up to date UI and streamlined interactions, whether for professional or personal use. As a result, TeamViewer Remote has redesigned the entire user experience. A new web client bridges the gap between desktop and browser interactions and connections have been simplified so a session can be created in one click, as easy as joining any online meeting. In addition, transparency has been increased to support users in making the right decision to accept only legitimate connections. For business customers, remote monitoring and management (RMM) has been added natively to give more functionality. RMM in TeamViewer Remote includes device monitoring, asset management, software deployment and patch management making the management of devices across a company seamless and efficient. Dr. Hendrik Witt , Chief Product Officer at TeamViewer: "TeamViewer's best-known product became the global de facto standard for remote access and support, and we are committed to strengthening our lead in this space with the best quality solutions on the market. To continue to serve our subscribers, mostly SMBs from all industries, and hundreds of millions of non-commercial users we have reimagined the product with the user journey in mind. Time poor individuals want to be able to support customers, colleagues and friends and family with one click, they want a modern interface that guides them through a connection, and most importantly they want to ensure connections are secure. TeamViewer Remote delivers all this via a browser in addition to a downloadable desktop app." The underlying software architecture underwent a major renewal and key components have been redesigned in line with TeamViewer's platform approach, with the goal of offering a single access to the entire TeamViewer product portfolio in the future. Functionalities and add-ons that required a separate login, such as the Remote Management package, are now integrated and accessible through the same interface as TeamViewer Remote. TeamViewer will continue to enhance the new solution with more features in the future. TeamViewer Remote is available for download as of today for all new customers. All existing users of the remote access and support solution can choose to upgrade their existing installation to TeamViewer Remote for free, or log into the web client with their existing TeamViewer credentials. For more detailed information regarding the different features please find the explanatory two-pager attached. About TeamViewer TeamViewer is a leading global technology company that provides a connectivity platform to remotely access, control, manage, monitor, and repair devices of any kind from laptops and mobile phones to industrial machines and robots. Although TeamViewer is free of charge for private use, it has more than 625,000 subscribers and enables companies of all sizes and from all industries to digitize their business-critical processes through seamless connectivity. Against the backdrop of global megatrends like device proliferation, automation and new work, TeamViewer proactively shapes digital transformation and continuously innovates in the fields of Augmented Reality, Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence. Since the company's foundation in 2005, TeamViewer's software has been installed on more than 2.5 billion devices around the world. The company is headquartered in Goppingen, Germany , and employs more than 1,400 people globally. In 2022, TeamViewer achieved a revenue of around EUR 566 million . TeamViewer SE (TMV) is listed at Frankfurt Stock Exchange and belongs to the MDAX. Further information can be found at www.teamviewer.com. Press Contact Michael Kornspan Phone: 727-910-7340 E-Mail: [email protected] Important Notice Certain statements in this communication may constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions that are believed to be reasonable at the time they are made, and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties described in TeamViewer's disclosures. You should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events, and TeamViewer's actual results may differ materially and adversely from any forward-looking statements discussed in these statements due to several factors, including without limitation, risks from macroeconomic developments, external fraud, lack of innovation capabilities, inadequate data security and changes in competition levels. TeamViewer undertakes no obligation, and does not expect to publicly update, or publicly revise, any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/teamviewer-launches-next-generation-remote-access-and-support-solution-with-1-click-sessions-web-client-and-increased-security-301807632.html SOURCE TeamViewer HENDERSON, Nev. , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VolitionRx Limited (NYSE AMERICAN: VNRX) ("Volition"), a multi-national epigenetics company is hosting a Capital Markets Day in a hybrid format (in-person and live-webcast) on Thursday, May 11, 2023 , at 2 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Volition's executive team will be joined by Key Opinion Leaders: Dr. Andy Retter (Intensive Care Consultant) and Veterinary Oncologists, Professor Heather Wilson-Robles and Dr. Sue Ettinger , aka Dr. Sue Cancer Vet. Event: VolitionRx Limited Capital Markets Day Date: Thursday, May 11, 2023 Time: 2:00 p.m. Eastern time In-person Venue: Hamilton Suite , New York Stock Exchange, 11 Wall Street , New York To attend in person, contact [email protected] To attend virtually please register HERE Presentations will cover: Corporate Strategy Mr. Cameron Reynolds Nu . Q NETs Q NETs The role of Nu . Q NETs in Sepsis Dr. Andy Retter Nu Q NETs Retter Volition's Commercial Strategy Mr. Remi Rabeuf Nu . Q Vet Q Volition Veterinary's Commercial Strategy Dr. Tom Butera Butera Clinical Evidence Professor Heather Wilson-Robles Wilson-Robles Case studies of Nu . Q Vet Dr. Sue Ettinger , aka, Dr. Sue Cancer Vet A question-and-answer session with management will follow the prepared remarks and formal presentation. To attend the event in-person please contact [email protected] To access the virtual event, register by clicking HERE. The event will be webcast and the presentations will be posted to Volition's website. A replay will also be made available. For additional information or questions please contact Investor Relations at [email protected] Volition is developing simple, easy-to-use, cost-effective blood tests to help diagnose and monitor a range of life-altering diseases including cancer in both humans and animals. For more information about Volition's Nu.Q technology go to: www.volition.com About Volition Volition is a multi-national epigenetics company powered by Nu.Q, its proprietary nucleosome quantification platform. Through its subsidiaries, Volition is developing simple, easy to use, cost effective blood tests to help diagnose and monitor a range of life-altering diseases including some cancers and diseases associated with NETosis such as sepsis and COVID-19. Early diagnosis and monitoring have the potential to not only prolong the life of patients but also improve their quality of life. The tests are based on the science of Nucleosomics, which is the practice of identifying and measuring nucleosomes in the bloodstream or other bodily fluid - an indication that disease is present. Volition's research and development activities are centered in Belgium , with an innovation laboratory and office in the U.S. and additional offices in London and Singapore . The contents found at Volition's website address are not incorporated by reference into this document and should not be considered part of this document. The website address is included in this document as an inactive textual reference only. Media Enquiries: Louise Batchelor / Debra Daglish , Volition, [email protected], +44 (0)7557 774620 Investor Enquiries: Scott Powell , Volition, [email protected], +1 (646) 650 1351 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/volitionrx-limited-to-host-capital-markets-day-at-the-nyse-on-thursday-may-11-301808110.html SOURCE VolitionRx Limited FILE PHOTO: The logo of U.S. company Microsoft is pictured during preparations for the annual industry trade fair Hannover Messe in Hanover, Germany April 16, 2023. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo By Nivedita Balu and Aditya Soni (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp shares surged about 7% on Wednesday and lifted tech stocks after the company's robust earnings eased fears of a slowdown in cloud computing and boosted confidence that artificial intelligence will become a major growth driver. The Redmond, Washington-based tech giant is set to add about $160 billion to its market value and replace Saudi Aramco as the world's second-most valuable company, if current gains hold. Its $2.2 trillion valuation trails Apple Inc's by about $300 billion. At least 18 analysts raised their price targets on the stock, with Piper Sandler's Brent Braceli saying "AI-All Star" Microsoft's results floored investors with better-than-expected growth across several units ranging from cloud computing to Office productivity software. Microsoft's results bode well for an industry that has laid off tens of thousands of workers recently as demand fades in the face of a sagging economy. Shares of Big Tech peers Amazon.com Inc, Meta Platforms Inc and Alphabet Inc rose between 1% and 3%. GRAPHIC: Microsoft AI https://www.reuters.com/graphics/MICROSOFT-AI/klvygbbnzvg/Pasted%20image%201682517328864.png Alphabet, the parent company of Google, had also reported better-than-expected quarterly results, but its search engine grew just 2% compared with the 10% increase for Microsoft's Bing - which is benefiting from the integration of the tech behind ChatGPT. "Investors didn't really like the Alphabet call as much as the Microsoft call... Microsoft was very aggressive talking about AI and Google was very conservative," said Dennis Dick, a market structure analyst at Triple D Trading. The Windows maker's earnings call on Wednesday underscored the growing importance of AI, with CEO Satya Nadella mentioning it 50 times in a 60-minute event. GRAPHIC: Alphabet and Microsoft talk up AI https://www.reuters.com/graphics/USA-STOCKS/AI/lgvdkajbepo/chart.png Nadella said the company had more than 2,500 Azure-OpenAI service customers ranging from Coursera and Mercedes-Benz to Snap Inc and that AI was integrated into a wide array of products. "Given the significant head start OpenAI has over other generative AI engines and Microsoft has over its hyperscaler (large-scale data center) competitors, we believe that Azure may gain share as generative AI continues to proliferate into many more corners of software and the economy," D A Davidson analyst Gil Luria said. (Reporting by Nivedita Balu and Aditya Soni in Bengaluru, Additional reporting by Ankika Biswas; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu) A plane carrying British nationals evacuated from Sudan, arrives at the Larnaca International Airport, in Larnaca, Cyprus, April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou By Michele Kambas LARNACA, Cyprus (Reuters) -Britain on Wednesday ramped up an airlift of its citizens from war-torn Sudan to Cyprus before a 72-hour ceasefire was due to expire, and about 400 people were evacuated so far, officials said. A 72-hour ceasefire between Sudan's warring factions was set to expire late on Thursday though efforts were under way to extend it. Britain started the airlift late on Tuesday. Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said 391 people had flown to Larnaca airport in Cyprus from Sudan by mid-afternoon on Wednesday. In London, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said eight repatriation flights would leave Sudan by the end of Wednesday. Evacuees were being flown on to Britain from Cyprus. "This is just the beginning of an operation," British High Commissioner to Cyprus Irfan Siddiq told reporters, adding the UK government had 2,500 Britons registered in Sudan. Britain previously estimated that around 4,000 Britons were stuck in Sudan. Siddiq, a former British ambassador to Khartoum, said authorities were encouraging people in Sudan to make their way to the Khartoum airport to board evacuation flights while the ceasefire appeared to be holding. "The situation on the ground in Khartoum is extremely volatile. We simply don't have the means to escort people to the airport," he said. Cyprus, the closest EU member state to the Middle East, has played a pivotal role in evacuations from crisis-hit areas in the past. Tens of thousands of people were evacuated through the island from Lebanon in 2006, during an upsurge of violence with Israel. (Reporting By Michele Kambas; Editing by Peter Graff, Nick Macfie, Alexandra Hudson and Cynthia Osterman) Supporters of Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah wave Hezbollah flags as they listen to him via a screen during a rally on the 7th anniversary of the end of Hezbollah's 2006 war with Israel, in Aita al-Shaab village in southern Lebanon, Au By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -A dual Lebanese-Belgian citizen accused by the United States of financing Lebanon's Hezbollah has been extradited from Romania and faced sanctions evasion and money laundering charges on Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court, prosecutors said. Mohammad Bazzi, who Washington says has provided millions of dollars to Hezbollah, was arrested in February on charges of covertly selling real estate he owned in Michigan and transferring the funds abroad, violating U.S. sanctions laws. Bazzi was extradited on Tuesday, and pleaded not guilty in a Wednesday court hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Brooklyn. He was ordered detained pending trial. The U.S. Treasury Department placed Bazzi, 58, on its sanctions list in 2018 over his alleged ties to Hezbollah, which Washington considers a terrorist organization. Lawyers for Bazzi did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Prosecutors in Brooklyn last week charged another alleged Hezbollah financier, Nazem Ahmad, with evading U.S. sanctions by exporting hundreds of millions of dollars of diamonds and art. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Mark Porter) Magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll arrives for the first day of her civil trial against former President Donald Trump at a Manhattan Federal Court on April 25, 2023 in New York City. A jury of six men and three women was chosen Tuesday to hear a former advice columnists lawsuit accusing former President Donald Trump of raping her in the 1990s. Opening statements were expected later in the day. The federal civil trial stands to tests Trumps Teflon Don reputation for shaking off serious legal problems and to reprise accounts of the type of sexual misconduct that rocked his 2016 presidential campaign as he seeks office again. He denies E. Jean Carrolls claim and all the others, saying they were falsehoods spun up to damage him. The jurors were selected after questioning about not only their background but their news-watching habits and more. They were asked whether they had made political donations, supported any of a roster of right- and left-wing groups, used Trumps social media platform, read Carrolls former Elle magazine column and even if theyd seen Trumps former reality show The Apprentice and whether any of these and other matters would make it difficult for them to be fair. Jurors names will be kept secret and theyll be escorted to and from the courthouse to avoid any harassment or invasions of privacy, U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said. The trial is in a federal civil court, meaning that no matter the outcome, Trump isnt in danger of going to jail. He isnt required to be in court, either, and his lawyers have indicated he most likely wont testify. The trial comes a month after he pleaded not guilty in an unrelated criminal case surrounding payments made to bury accounts of alleged extramarital sex. Carroll is expected to testify about a chance encounter with Trump in late 1995 or early 1996 that she says turned violent. The trial will also include Carrolls defamation claim against Trump over disparaging remarks he made about her in response to the rape allegations. Shes seeking unspecified damages and a retraction. She says that after she ran into the future president at Manhattans Bergdorf Goodman, he invited her to shop with him for a womans lingerie gift before they teased one another to try on a garment. Carroll says they ended up alone together in a store dressing room, where Trump pushed her against a wall and raped before she fought him off and fled. Since Carroll first made her accusations in a 2019 memoir, Trump has vehemently denied that a rape ever occurred or that he even knew Carroll. Trump has labeled Carroll a nut job and mentally sick. He claimed she fabricated the rape claim to boost sales of her book. Shes not my type, he has said repeatedly, although during sworn questioning in October, he also misidentified her in a photograph as his ex-wife Marla Maples. Carroll didnt stop to speak with reporters as she arrived at the courthouse Tuesday morning. Jurors are also expected to hear from two other women who say they were sexually assaulted by Trump. Jessica Leeds is set to testify that Trump tried to put his hand up her skirt on a 1979 flight on which the two were assigned neighboring seats. Natasha Stoynoff, a former People magazine staff writer, will testify that Trump pinned her against a wall and forcibly kissed her at his Florida mansion when she went there in 2005 to interview Trump and his then-pregnant wife Melania Trump. Jurors will also see the infamous 2005 Access Hollywood video in which Trump is heard making misogynistic remarks about women, including an assertion that celebrities can grab, even sexually, women without asking. Carrolls allegations normally would be too old to bring to court. But in November, New York state enacted a law allowing for suits over decades-old sexual abuse claims. Kaplan, who will preside over the trial, rejected a request by Trumps lawyers that jurors be told that the ex-president wanted to spare the city the disruption his presence might cause. Trump could still decide to attend the trial and testify. If he does not, the jury might be shown excerpts from his deposition, which was recorded on video. On Monday, Kaplan instructed lawyers on both sides not to say anything in front of prospective jurors Tuesday about who is paying legal fees. Earlier this month, the judge let Trumps lawyers question Carroll for an extra hour after it was revealed that her lawyers had received funding from American Future Republic, an organization funded by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. In earlier questioning, Carroll said the lawyers were relying solely on contingency fees. The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll, Leeds and Stoynoff have done. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition FILE PHOTO: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at the 2023 NHGOP Amos Tuck Dinner in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., April 14, 2023. REUTERS/Brian Snyder By James Oliphant and Alexandra Ulmer (Reuters) -In his face-off with Walt Disney Co, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has frequently adopted the pose of a swaggering gunfighter out of the Wild West. Theres a new sheriff in town, DeSantis boasts to conservative audiences nationwide as he prepares to launch his 2024 presidential bid. The flex brings him cheers from the friendly crowds. But as his clash with Disney escalates, so does the political risk for DeSantis and his nascent campaign. The news on Wednesday that Disney had filed a federal lawsuit against DeSantis brought him a fresh round of criticism, particularly from fellow Republicans who contend that DeSantis approach is at odds with the pro-business policies the party typically favors. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who is also seeking the 2024 Republican nomination, needled DeSantis, saying to Disney in a tweet my home state will happily accept your 70,000+ jobs if you want to leave Florida. South Carolina, she said, is not woke, but were not sanctimonious about it either. The lawsuit was the latest development in a battle sparked last year by Disneys criticism of a Florida law that banned classroom instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity for young students, dubbed by opponents as the "don't say gay" bill. That led to the states attempt to strip the theme park of its independent governing powers. The complaint accuses DeSantis of illegally using the state government to punish a company for exercising its free-speech rights. Speaking in Jerusalem on Thursday as part of a week-long international trade mission, DeSantis decried the lawsuit. "I don't think the suit has merit, I think it's political," DeSantis told reporters at a news conference. FRESH CONCERNS DeSantis is expected to announce his presidential run next month. And while his hardline stance against Disney has roused part of the conservative base, it has also prompted fresh questions about whether he can muster enough widespread support across the party to defeat former President Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican primary. Trump has capitalized on the Disney drama, recently declaring on social media that the company was getting the better of DeSantis and suggesting that Disney could end up damaging Floridas economy by reducing its footprint there. While DeSantis has tried to portray himself as a trustworthy, pro-growth steward of Floridas economy, his stance on Disney has left some deep-pocketed Republican donors befuddled. Billionaire Ken Griffin of Citadel Securities last year remarked that DeSantis actions amounted to retaliation against corporate America. The war with Disney made some sense for a time in the context of Governor DeSantis presidential aspirations. Now its coming across as petty and personal, said Carlos Curbelo, a former Republican U.S. representative from Miami. What seemed like a political win for the governor is starting to become a liability. Robert Bigelow, a hotel magnate who recently handed $20 million to a super PAC supporting DeSantis, said he was standing by the governor. On balance, the governor is a fair man and he is a lawyer, so I assume Disney and the governor are prepared for a strong fight, Bigelow told Reuters on Wednesday. In a national Reuters/Ipsos poll taken this week, 44% of Republicans said they had a more favorable view of DeSantis because of the fight with Disney. But 73% - including 82% of Democrats and 63% of Republicans - said they were less likely to support a political candidate who backs laws designed to punish a company for its political or cultural stances. Mac Stipanovich, a retired Republican lobbyist in Florida and a frequent critic of DeSantis, said the governor had taken the conflict too far and could pay a political price. He has gotten all he is going to get out of this gambit with the right-wing zealots, Stipanovich said. From here on out, he will just appear more petty, vindictive and foolish to everyone else. (Reporting by James Oliphant in Washington and Alexandra Ulmer in Chicago; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Matthew Lewis) Chinese Yuan and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration taken March 10, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -Argentina will start to pay for Chinese imports in yuan rather than dollars, the government announced Wednesday, a measure that aims to relieve the country's dwindling dollar reserves. In April, it aims to pay around $1 billion of Chinese imports in yuan instead of dollars and thereafter around $790 million of monthly imports will be paid in yuan, a government statement said. The decision aims to ease the outflow of dollars, Argentina's Economy minister Sergio Massa said during an event following a meeting with the Chinese ambassador, Zou Xiaoli, as well as with companies from various sectors. The decision comes as the South American nation battles critical levels in its dollar reserves amid a sharp drop in agricultural exports caused by a historic drought, as well as political uncertainty ahead of elections this year. In November last year, Argentina expanded a currency swap with China by $5 billion , seeking to strengthen Argentina's international reserves. The agreement will allow Argentina "to work on the possibility" of advancing the rate of imports, Massa added, with yuan-denominated import orders being authorized in 90 days rather than the standard 180 days. (Reporting by Walter Bianchi; Editing by Sarah Morland and Isabel Woodford and David Gregorio) FILE PHOTO: United States Air Force Senior Airman Brian Kolfage Jr., a triple amputee who lost both his legs and an arm while serving his second deployment in Iraq in 2004, attends the Veterans Day parade on 5th Avenue in New York, U.S., November 11, 2014 By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -A decorated U.S. Air Force veteran who was an associate of Donald Trump's former adviser Steve Bannon was sentenced on Wednesday to 4-1/4 years in prison after admitting helping defraud donors to a campaign to build the wall along the U.S.-Mexican border pursued by the former president. Brian Kolfage, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in Manhattan after pleading guilty last year to misappropriating funds for the "We Build the Wall" campaign, an effort that solicited public donations and, according to prosecutors, raised about $25 million. Torres also sentenced Andrew Badolato, 58, another former Bannon associate, to three years in prison following his guilty plea. "The infamous 'We Build the Wall' scam will no doubt have a chilling effect on civic participation in the political realm," the judge said. "The fraudsters behind 'We Build the Wall' injured the body politic." Kolfage, who lost his legs and right hand in a rocket attack in Iraq, led the fundraising push alongside Bannon, who was also criminally charged in the case but received a presidential pardon from Trump during the final hours of his term. Prosecutors said Kolfage took more than $350,000 and spent it on boat payments, jewelry and cosmetic surgery. He also pleaded guilty to tax charges. "I made a promise not to personally benefit, not anyone else, and I broke that promise," Kolfage said in court before the sentence was handed down, at times wiping his nose and sniffling. "I have been humiliated by my poor decisions." Kolfage ignored questions from journalists as he exited the courthouse in downtown Manhattan after the hearing. Torres also ordered Kolfage to forfeit $17.9 million and pay $2.9 million in restitution. Cesar de Castro, a lawyer for Kolfage, had proposed home detention, citing his client's medical needs. Badolato's lawyer Kelly Kramer sought three years of probation for his client, saying he was less culpable and cooperated with prosecutors. Another defendant, Timothy Shea, 52, was convicted at trial in October. His sentencing is scheduled for June 13. Despite being pardoned, Bannon still faces New York state money laundering and conspiracy charges over the wall under an indictment from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Bannon, 69, has pleaded not guilty. Trump's pardon covered federal crimes but not state crimes. Construction of a border wall was a key element of Trump's hardline immigration policies during his presidency, supported by his fellow Republicans but opposed by Democrats and immigrant advocacy groups. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Wil Dunham and David Gregorio) FILE PHOTO: Boxes of mifepristone, the first pill given in a medical abortion, are prepared for patients at Women's Reproductive Clinic of New Mexico in Santa Teresa, U.S., January 13, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein By Brendan Pierson (Reuters) -President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday urged a U.S. appeals court to overrule a conservative Texas-based judge's order that would essentially ban the abortion pill mifepristone by suspending the drug's federal regulatory approval in a legal challenge by abortion opponents. The U.S. Justice Department, in a filing to the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, called the April 7 order by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk "abrupt and profoundly disruptive." It added that mifepristone's safety is "amply supported by a record developed over decades of safe and effective use" around the world. The 5th Circuit is preparing to hear May 17 arguments on the matter after the U.S. Supreme Court last week put on hold Kacsmaryk's order. The high court's action preserved broad access to mifepristone while the litigation proceeds. The Justice Department said Kacsmaryk's order was unprecedented in overturning a drug approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration based on a disagreement with the agency's determination that the drug is safe. The FDA, the U.S. agency that signs off on the safety of food products, drugs and medical devices, approved mifepristone in 2000. "The district court's order would thwart FDA's scientific judgment and profoundly harm women who rely on mifepristone as an alternative to more burdensome and invasive surgical abortions," the Justice Department wrote. The department said the plaintiffs - anti-abortion groups led by the recently formed Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and four anti-abortion doctors who sued the FDA in November - had no basis to challenge the approval because they were not harmed by it and brought their lawsuit much too late. Biden's administration is defending the drug in the face of mounting abortion bans and restrictions enacted by Republican-led states since the Supreme Court in June 2022 overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that had legalized the procedure nationwide. Major drug companies have come out against Kacsmaryk's order, saying it would put the whole pharmaceutical industry at risk by calling into question every FDA approval and would discourage new drug development. Danco Laboratories, which manufactures the brand-name version of the drug, was due to make a separate filing with the 5th Circuit. Mifepristone is taken with another drug called misoprostol to perform medication abortion, which accounts for more than half of all U.S. abortions. The challengers contend that the FDA failed to fully evaluate the pill's safety and then removed critical safeguards on what they call a dangerous drug. Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. They are due to file a response by May 8. A panel of three 5th Circuit judges is scheduled to hear arguments on whether to uphold Kacsmaryk's order. The 5th Circuit has a conservative reputation, with 12 of its 16 active judges appointed by Republican presidents. The panel's decision will be subject to appeal to the full 5th Circuit and then potentially to the Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority. By filing their lawsuit in Amarillo, the plaintiffs ensured the case would go before Kacsmaryk, a former Christian legal activist appointed to the bench by former President Donald Trump. Kacsmaryk had a long track record of opposing abortion before the U.S. Senate confirmed him in 2019 to a life-tenured position as a federal judge. Shortly after Kacsmaryk's order, another federal judge in Spokane, Washington issued an order barring the FDA from imposing any new restrictions on the distribution of mifepristone in 17 states. That order remains in effect and would conflict with any future order banning or restricting the drug. (Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Will Dunham and Alexia Garamfalvi) FILE PHOTO: The Bosch logo is seen in Reutlingen, Germany, June 16, 2017. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle By Joseph White and Stephen Nellis DETROIT (Reuters) - Germany's Bosch Group has agreed to buy key assets of California chip manufacturer TSI Semiconductors and invest $1.5 billion to expand U.S. production of silicon carbide chips for electric vehicles. Bosch and TSI did not disclose a purchase price. Bosch said it plans to invest $1.5 billion to retool TSI's chip production facilities in Roseville, California to start producing silicon carbide chips by 2026. The investment "will be heavily dependent on federal funding opportunities" through the CHIPS act as well as state subsidies, Bosch said in a statement. Bosch said the TSI facility would become the "third pillar" of in-house semiconductor production, along with two sites in Germany. Like other automotive manufacturers, Bosch was hit hard over the past two years by disruptions to semiconductor production in Asia, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Those shortages have eased but not gone away. Bosch's automaker customers have continued to push for more secure, diversified sources of chips. The silicon carbide chips Bosch said it will manufacture at the TSI Roseville site are increasingly in demand by electric vehicle manufacturers. The silicon carbide chemistry enables greater driving range and faster recharging, Bosch said. Demand for silicon carbide semiconductors is growing by 30% annually, Bosch said. That demand has led to a surge in investment in the chips. U.S-based Wolfspeed Inc is building new plants to make silicon carbide chips in New York State and in Germany. Onsemi Corp is also investing heavily in silicon carbide and has signed a strategic agreement with Volkswagen AG to supply chips to the automaker. The TSI site currently is a foundry for application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs used in various industries, Bosch said. Bosch plans to acquire the buildings, machines and infrastructure of TSI as well as well as its commercial semiconductor business. After re-tooling the factory, Bosch said it plans to start producing silicon carbide chips on 200-milimeter wafers - the discs of silicon that chips are produced upon - in 2026 in 10,000 feet of clean room space. (This story has been refiled to correct the spelling of TSI Semiconductors in paragraph 10) (Reporting By Joe White, Editing by Nick Zieminski) FILE PHOTO: Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures during a ministerial meeting to celebrate the first 100 days of his government at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, April 10, 2023. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino/File Photo By Belen Carreno MADRID (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday called again for a "peace group" to broker an agreement between Russia and Ukraine, saying anything could be discussed once the nations sat down to talk peace. "There are a lot of things to be discussed - Crimea, other territories, NATO," Lula said during a trip to Spain when asked about Crimea. He said it was not up to him to say who owned Crimea. "That is a discussion between Russia and Ukraine." Lula spoke at a news conference alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, a firm advocate of the European view that Ukraine is defending itself against Russian aggression. Sanchez welcomed Lula's explanation of his peace initiative, according to a joint statement, but told him Spain supported the 10-point peace plan of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that calls for Russian withdrawal from all invaded territory, including Crimea. "I want to thank Lula for his involvement and interest in promoting a group of mediating countries to promote peace," Sanchez told the news conference, adding they differed over "nuances" on the kind of peace sought. Sanchez said a "just and lasting peace" would come only after the complete withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory. Lula has pitched himself as a peace broker to end the war, which began when Russia invaded its neighbour in February 2022. His proposal, based on Brazil's tradition of non-intervention and neutrality, calls for a group of nations not involved in the war to engage both Russia and Ukraine in talks. But he angered many in the West this month when he called for the United States and its European allies to stop supplying arms to Ukraine saying they were "prolonging" the war, prompting a White House spokesperson to accuse him of "parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda". But after the backlash, the Brazilian leader modified his language and during his visit to Portugal and Spain has repeatedly condemned Russia's violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity. "I understand the European view of this war. It is unacceptable that one country invades another, but it is a war in which I do not see anyone talking about peace," he said in a speech at a business conference in Madrid on Tuesday. (Reporting by Belen Carreno and David Latona in Madrid, Lisandra Paraguassu and Gabriel Araujo in Brasilia; Editing by Tomasz Janowski) FILE PHOTO: A sign stands outside a Bristol Myers Squibb facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., May 20, 2021. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo (Reuters) -Bristol Myers Squibb Co said on Wednesday CEO Giovanni Caforio will step down in November and be succeeded by Chief Commercialization Officer Christopher Boerner. Boerner, who has been CCO since 2018, was named chief operating officer until he takes the top job. He joined the company in 2015 and previously served in leadership roles at Seattle Genetics Inc and Roche's Genentech. Boerner said he is aligned with Caforio on the direction for the company. "We have a very strong foundation as a company and Giovanni and I are going to continue to work together to deliver on that value," Boerner said in an interview. Caforio, who has been CEO since 2015, will remain as executive chairman of the company's board. "It's really the right time for me to step back and spend time with my family, who are in Europe. That's really the main driver of the decision" to retire, Caforio, 58, said in an interview. Under Caforio's tenure, Bristol Myers bought Celgene for $74 billion in 2019, boosting its revenue as sales of its top-selling cancer drug Opdivo slowed due to stiff competition from Merck & Co Inc's Keytruda. Bristol Myers also named Adam Lenkowsky as chief commercialization officer, replacing Boerner. Bristol Myers is due to report first-quarter financial results on Thursday. Its shares rose 0.39% to $68.29 in after-hours trading. (Reporting by Michael Erman, Aditya Samal and Caroline Humer; Editing by Arun Koyyur, Stephen Coates and Richard Chang) By Anna Magdalena Lubowicka (Reuters) - Caught up in a conflict that flared during what was meant to be a brief trip to Khartoum, British-Sudanese author Rozan Ahmed spent days calling the UK embassy for advice until she finally took matters into her own hands and boarded a bus for Egypt. The scenes she filmed on her phone as she left give an insight into the violence sweeping through the Sudanese capital since a power struggle between the army and the RSF paramilitary group escalated into all out conflict on April 15. The clashes have killed at least 512 people. "I contacted the British embassy. I would say all day, every day for a week to see when we would be able to be evacuated," she told Reuters from Aswan. "No solid plan was given to us a week later, which is when I decided to take matters into my own hands because I ran out of water," she said, describing cowering at home with dwindling provisions as gunfire, shelling and air strikes raged outside. Britain, with an estimated 4,000 nationals in Sudan, began airlift evacuations on Tuesday to Cyprus. It has been criticised for lagging other European countries in flying out citizens. Ahmed said she and others mobilised to plan their escape, after hearing some people were heading north by bus to Egypt. "We hired a bus. There were about 50 of us," she said. Moving through the war zone was the most frightening part. "On a number of occasions we drove past tanks and heavily armed humans. That just terrified us because we had heard reports of buses being stopped and robbed and people being shot... That left me truly shaken. But we didn't have a choice." Although feeling absolutely petrified, externally she was remarkably composed and calm, Ahmed said. "I suppose you know what they say - God takes the wheel." Her journey from Khartoum to the Egyptian border took 12 hours but then it took another day and a half to enter Egypt because of the queues. She plans on leaving Egypt after taking a few days to recover from her ordeal. "My heart is still in Sudan. I can't stop thinking about the people that are stuck there, who don't have the means to get out. I really hope and pray that evacuations are now in order. That there is support, that there is assistance." (This story has been corrected to change the location of interview to Aswan, not Cairo, in paragraph 4) (Writing by Alexandra Hudson; Editing by Alex Richardson) Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends the opening ceremony of the Lanting Forum in Shanghai, China, April 21, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song BEIJING (Reuters) - China will continue to firmly support Central Asian countries in safeguarding their independence and territorial integrity, its foreign ministry said, after a senior Chinese envoy in Europe raised an uproar by questioning the sovereignty of those states. "China will, as always, firmly support Central Asian countries in safeguarding (their) national sovereignty, independence, security and territorial integrity," the ministry quoted Foreign Minister Qin Gang as saying on Wednesday. Qin spoke as he met counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in the northwestern Chinese city of Xian, a ministry statement said. "China firmly supports Central Asian countries in choosing their own development paths in light of their national conditions," Qin said, adding that it opposes any external interference in their internal affairs. Beijing's ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, raised a diplomatic outcry in Europe when, in a French TV interview on April 21, he questioned the sovereignty of Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia last year, and five other ex-Soviet republics. Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia were also part of the Russian-dominated Soviet Union before it broke up in 1991. The Chinese foreign ministry distanced itself from Lu's remarks on Monday, and Beijing's embassy in Paris issued a statement saying Lu's comments "were not a political declaration but an expression of his personal views". Both statements appeared to be an effort to alleviate tension with the EU while the U.S. also cited concerns about growing closeness between Beijing and Moscow. Qin on Wednesday also pledged to strengthen communications and collaboration with the five Central Asian republics under the frameworks of the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, according to his ministry. (Reporting by Ryan Woo and Ethan Wang; editing by Mark Heinrich) FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a joint news briefing with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki after an overview of polish made Rosomak armoured personnel carriers in Warsaw, Poland April 5, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential P By Dan Peleschuk and Ethan Wang KYIV/BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke to Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, fulfilling a longstanding goal of Kyiv which had publicly sought such talks for months. Zelenskiy, describing the hour-long phone call as "long and meaningful", signalled the importance of the chance to open closer relations with Russia's most powerful friend, naming a former cabinet minister as Ukraine's new ambassador to Beijing. Xi told Zelenskiy that China would send special representatives to Ukraine and hold talks with all parties seeking peace, Chinese state media reported. Zelenskiy said in an evening video address that there was "an opportunity to use China's political power to reinforce the principles and rules that peace should be built upon." "Ukraine and China, like the absolute majority of the world, are equally interested in the strength of the sovereignty of nations and territorial integrity," he said. Zelenskiy also said Xi had expressed "words of support" for the extension of a deal to export Ukrainian grain from its Black Sea ports. Moscow has said the pact will not be renewed beyond May 18 unless the West removes obstacles to Russian grain and fertiliser exports. Xi, the most powerful leader to have refrained from denouncing Russia's invasion, visited Moscow last month. Since February, he has promoted a 12-point peace plan, greeted sceptically by the West but cautiously welcomed by Kyiv as a sign of Chinese interest in ending the war. China will focus on promoting peace talks, and make efforts for a ceasefire as soon as possible, Xi told Zelenskiy, according to the Chinese state media reports. "As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, we will neither sit idly by, nor pour oil on fire, still less seek to profit from it," Xi said. The White House welcomed the call but said it was too soon to tell whether it would lead to a peace deal. French President Emmanuel Macron's office said he had pushed Xi to hold the call with Zelenskiy during a visit to Beijing this month. NO PEACE TALKS IN SIGHT The 14-month war is at a juncture, with Ukraine preparing to launch a counteroffensive following a Russian winter offensive that made only incremental advances despite bloody fighting. There are no peace talks in sight, with Kyiv demanding Russia withdraw its troops and Moscow insisting Ukraine must recognise its claims to have annexed seized territory. "There can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises," Zelenskiy said in a Twitter post on Wednesday. "The territorial integrity of Ukraine must be restored within the 1991 borders." Ukrainian officials have long urged Beijing to use its influence in Russia to help end the war. Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a "no limits" partnership agreement weeks before Putin ordered the invasion. Since then, China has denounced sanctions against Moscow but has held back from openly supporting the invasion. China has also become Russia's biggest economic partner, buying up oil that can no longer be sold in Europe. Following Wednesday's call, Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: "We note the readiness of the Chinese side to make efforts to establish a negotiation process." Washington has said in recent months it was worried about China providing weapons or ammunition to Russia, although Beijing denies any such plans. China says it is positioned to help mediate because it has not taken sides. "What China has done to help resolve the Ukraine crisis has been above board," said Yu Jun, deputy head of the foreign ministry's Eurasian department. Western countries say China's peace proposal is too vague, offers no concrete path out of the war, and could be used by Putin to promote a truce that would leave his forces in control of occupied territory while they regroup. (Additional reporting by Steve Holland, Susan Heavey and David Brunnstrom in Washington, Michel Rose in Paris, David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Ron Popeski in Winnipeg; Writing by Peter Graff; Editing by Alex Richardson and Rosalba O'Brien) Behind Resolute, the huge desk that presides over the Oval Office in the White House, is a bronze bust. The sculpture is perched on another desk and surrounded by photographs of President Joe Bidens family. Among these images, his head tilted slightly to the right, is the likeness of Cesar Chavez, the trade unionist who led a national strike in the 1960s and became one of the countrys best-known Latino activists. Chavezs influential legacy will now form a crucial part of the Bidens bid to remain in office after the Democratic candidate named Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the granddaughter of the labor leader, as his campaign manager for the 2024 presidential elections. Biden formally announced Tuesday that he will seek reelection next year, instantly making Chavez Rodriguez, 45, one of the most powerful women in Washington. The strategist had been serving as director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs since January 2021 a position that allowed her to serve as a bridge between state, local and tribal administrations and the U.S. government. In June 2022, she was appointed a senior advisor to the president. Following Bidens announcement, Chavez Rodriguez becomes the second Hispanic woman to coordinate a presidential campaign since Patti Solis Doyle, the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, ran Hillary Clintons failed 2007 bid when the former First Lady finished third in the Democratic Party primaries. Chavez Rodriguez is a well-known figure in Washington. She was part of Barack Obamas team during his presidency, although she maintained a low profile during her early years in the White House. In October 2012, when the then-president traveled to California to inaugurate a national monument in memory of her father, Chavez Rodriguez remained in the background and refused to pose with her family despite the insistence of some officials. No, Im staff today, she replied at the event in Keene, Kern County, where Cesar Chavez lived and worked for the last 25 years of his life. In the end, she was convinced by Dolores Huerta, another influential figure in Hispanic activism, and Obamas senior advisor, Valerie Jarrett, to edge into a photo. Chavez Rodriguez, who has never run a campaign, made her way into politics by knocking on doors. During Obamas 2008 presidential campaign, she traveled to Colorado as a volunteer to organize communities in a state where the future president beat Republican nominee John McCain by almost 9% of the vote. The Democratic activist, who read Latin American studies at the University of California, Berkeley, joined the Obama administration shortly afterward, in 2009, as deputy press secretary to then-Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. In 2011, she was named deputy director of public engagement and she later acted as a special assistant to Obama. By the end of the Obama administration, Chavez Rodriguez had become one of the main interlocutors with the Latino population. It was not an easy task, requiring her to maintain contact with a key support base despite serving in an administration that had deported three million people. The Obama administration eventually proposed immigration reform that included a temporary moratorium on deportations of undocumented immigrants, although it met with Republican resistance in Congress. The bust of Cesar Chavez in the Oval Office. Evan Vucci (AP) Biden, Harris and Chavez Rodriguez My grandfather taught me that the job of a community organizer was to help ordinary people do extraordinary things, Chavez Rodriguez said in 2014 at a White House event honoring the man she calls simply Tata Cesar. One of my favorite quotes of his is: Once social change starts, theres no turning back. You cant take away education from someone who has learned to read. You cant humiliate someone who feels pride. You cant oppress people who are no longer afraid. Bidens presidential campaign manager was born in Delano, California, a community that appears in the history books for being the epicenter of a strike staged by 1,000 farm workers, mostly of Filipino origin, who stopped picking grapes in 1965 to demand better working conditions. Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta were among the leaders of the United Farm Workers (UFW) union at the time. Julie Chavez Rodriguez is the daughter of Linda Chavez Rodriguez and Arturo Rodriguez, who later succeeded the iconic labor leader as head of the UFW. Activism and the struggle for social equality imbued Chavez Rodriguezs life from an early age she was arrested aged nine after attending a protest. She was a very mature girl, she knew how to talk to older folks and kids her age, her uncle Paul Chavez, who presides over the Cesar Chavez Foundation, an NGO founded in 1993 and where the strategist worked for nine years before joining the Obama campaign, told the Associated Press. Observers in Washington have also highlighted Chavez Rodriguezs experience with Vice President Kamala Harris. After her first stint in the White House, Chavez Rodriguez returned to her native California in 2017 and was hired by then-Senator Harris for her 2020 presidential campaign. Harris later dropped out of contention to join Bidens ticket, which took Chavez Rodriguez on board as senior advisor overseeing Latino outreach. Now, Chavez Rodriguez has been tasked with guiding Biden and Harris to a second term in the White House. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition By Dina Kartit (Reuters) -ASM International sees more business coming from China this year compared with previous years, the Dutch semiconductor equipment maker said on Wednesday. When asked by analysts about how much growth the company would see in its domestic China business in the current year, Chief Financial Officer Paul Verhagen said: "I think you know we will see probably more business coming in from China compared to, you know, previous years." Another Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML Holding said last week that it expects sales to mainland China to pick up for the remainder of 2023 following a dip in the first quarter. The Dutch government is planning new restrictions on exports of semiconductor technology to protect national security, joining the U.S. effort to curb chip exports to China. ASML said last week China sales would increase as Chinese chipmakers buy older tools that do not fall under U.S.-led restrictions that the Dutch government said it would adopt. ASMI said it has "very little play" for such older products or "mature nodes", for which ASML sees Chinese demand remaining strong despite the restrictions. "There is very limited exposure for us," Verhagen said. "So you know some of our peers would be benefiting from that, but it's very much less for us." ASMI reported on Tuesday a drop in first-quarter orders totalling 647.4 million euros ($710.20 million), while revenue beat estimates at 710 million euros. ($1 = 0.9116 euros) (Reporting by Dina Kartit. Editing by Jane Merriman) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla and social media platform Twitter, discussed artificial intelligence issues and electric vehicles with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday. "We talked about the future," Musk told reporters after exiting the meeting that lasted about an hour. "We talked about AI and the economy." Schumer told reporters he had a very good meeting with Musk. "We talked about Buffalo (New York) - Tesla has a large plant in Buffalo. And we talked about AI," according to CNN and Politico. Earlier this month, Schumer, a Democrat, said 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 said 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." In March, Musk and a group of artificial intelligence experts and industry executives called for a six-month pause in developing systems more powerful than OpenAI's newly launched GPT-4, in an open letter citing potential risks to society. "Powerful AI systems should be developed only once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable," said the letter issued by the Future of Life Institute. There is a growing push in Washington for AI regulations. Senate Intelligence Committee chair Mark Warner, a Democrat, sent major AI CEOs a letter Wednesday asking them to take steps to address concerns. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, a Democrat, told reporters Wednesday the Biden administration is working "as aggressively as possible to figure out our approach" to AI. "The challenge is you don't want to stifle innovation in a brand new area with massive potential," Raimondo said. "The risks related to misinformation and deep fakes etcetera are massive." In January, Musk met two top White House officials in Washington to discuss how Tesla and the administration of President Joe Biden could work together to advance electric vehicle production. He also visited with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, in a meeting earlier this year. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Cynthia Osterman, Stephen Coates and Chris Reese) BUCHAREST (Reuters) - The European Commission will ban Ukrainian grain and oilseeds exports to Romania until June 5, Romanian Agriculture Minister Petre Daea said on Wednesday. Romania has stopped short of enforcing a ban, whereas Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovakia took unilateral steps to protect local markets from a flow of Ukrainian farm products. With access to its own Black Sea ports blocked and later limited by Russia's invasion, Ukraine, one of the worlds leading grain exporters has had to find alternative shipping routes through neighbouring states. Millions of tons of grains and oilseeds, cheaper than those produced in the European Union and exempt from customs tax, ended up in Central and Eastern Europe, with local farmers complaining demand and prices of local products were distorted. Earlier this month, the European Commission said it would take emergency "preventive measures" for wheat, maize, sunflower seeds and rapeseed, compensating local farmers and only allowing grain to enter the five countries from Ukraine if they were set for export to other EU members or the rest of the world. Daea said the Commission's measures were conditioned by states' withdrawing their unilateral bans. If an agreement won't be reached, Daea said the Commission will move to ban exports specifically to Romania. "Negotiations with the states are still ongoing," Daea told reporters after meetings in Brussels and Luxembourg. "Romania will be protected through a European Commission decision, and ... will receive compensation for farmers." The European Union's agriculture chief expressed optimism on Tuesday that countries neighbouring Ukraine will shortly accept a deal to allow Ukrainian grain to enter their countries for export elsewhere. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Bernadette Baum) French Foreign and European Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna speaks to the media, at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy, near Paris, France, April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq By Clotaire Achi and Elizabeth Pineau PARIS (Reuters) - Some 245 evacuees from Sudan, including 195 French nationals, landed in Paris on Wednesday, expressing relief at escaping the heavy fighting and chaos. Sudan erupted in warfare on April 15, derailing a transition to civilian rule, since when the paramilitaries have embedded themselves in residential districts and the army has sought to target them from the air. The fighting has turned residential areas into battlefields. Air strikes and artillery have killed more than 500 people, wounded more than 4,000, destroyed hospitals and limited food distribution in a nation where a third of the 46 million people rely on food aid. "The past few weeks, we felt a rise in inter-community tensions with looting, carjacks, shootings between communities," humanitarian worker Charline Petitejean told Reuters at the Paris headquarters of her NGO Solidarites International. The 27-year-old had been working for three months in Sudan but arrived back in Paris Wednesday morning. "When the decision was made to evacuate, there were so many things that needed to be done that there was no time for fear", she said, adding that now she was in France she was worried for her Sudanese colleagues who stayed and "for the Sudanese people as the humanitarian context worsens". She said she would like to return to Dafur as soon as possible. Several countries have evacuated nationals by air, while some have gone via Port Sudan on the Red Sea, about 800 km (500 miles) by road from Khartoum. "I felt completely paralysed," said 28-year-old PhD student Leila Oulkebous, another evacuee. Oulkebous was out doing thesis interviews when fighting broke out nearby. "I didn't know how to get out...," she said. "I'm very, very relieved. (...) I will continue to have nightmares about it." Franck Haaser, cooperation councillor at the French Embassy in Sudan, was relieved that there were no deaths among those evacuated. "We lived through a week of chaos ... it was very difficult," he said. "The shooting was all across the city. We didn't directly see the shooting, but with the intensity of the fighting, there were stray bullets everywhere, broken windows in all buildings, it was chaos. Chaos." (Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau, Ardee Napolitano, Clotaire Achi, writing by Juliette Jabkhiro, Ingrid Melander, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Editing by Nick Macfie and Alex Richardson) FILE PHOTO: Michael Luttig, advisor to former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and a former U.S. federal judge, testifies during the third of eight planned public hearings of the U.S. House Select Committee to investigate the January 6 Attack on the United By Jacqueline Thomsen (Reuters) - Former U.S. appeals court judge and prominent conservative J. Michael Luttig on Wednesday said he believes U.S. Supreme Court justices should "be bound by higher standards of conduct" than lower-ranked federal judges, adding to calls for tighter high court ethics rules. "Its the titular head of the judicial branch of government and I believe that the expectations for Supreme Court justices are rightly higher than for any other public official in the land," Luttig said in an interview with Reuters. Luttig clerked for former Chief Justice Warren Burger at the Supreme Court before serving on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for 15 years. He testified last year before the congressional select committee investigating the siege on the U.S. Capitol by former President Donald Trump's supporters on Jan. 6, 2021. Speaking at the Catholic University of America in Washington on Wednesday, Luttig declined to comment when asked by Reuters about reporting by ProPublica that examined U.S. Justice Clarence Thomas' relationship with wealthy Republican donor Harlan Crow, including real estate purchases and luxury travel paid for by Crow. The reports have raised questions over potential conflicts of interest for the justices and the court. Unlike other federal court judges, U.S. Supreme Court justices are not bound by a code of conduct. U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin has scheduled a hearing on the topic for next week. U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Tuesday declined Durbin's invitation to testify at the hearing. "Supreme Court ethics reform must happen whether the Court participates in the process or not," Durbin said in a statement responding to Roberts' letter. "It is time for Congress to accept its responsibility to establish an enforceable code of ethics for the Supreme Court, the only agency of our government without it." (Reporting by Jacqueline Thomsen; Editing by David Bario and Stephen Coates) FILE PHOTO: Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard logo in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration (Reuters) - Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard has been blocked by Britain over concerns it would hinder competition in cloud gaming, dealing an unexpected blow to the biggest-ever deal in gaming. Here is a list of some mergers that recently faced strong antitrust scrutiny around the world: DEALS UNDER SCRUTINY DEAL DEAL VALUE CONTEXT Broadcom - $61 billion The European Commission has VMware informed Broadcom of its objection that the deal could restrict global competition for the supply of certain adapters by limiting access for competitors' hardware to VMware's software. Intercontinent $13.1 The U.S. FTC said it would seek al Exchange - billion to stop the deal as it may lead Black Knight to higher fees, less innovation and fewer choices in the financing process for home purchases. Amazon.com - $1.7 Britain's competition regulator iRobot billion launched a "Phase 1" probe into Amazon.com's planned acquisition of iRobot. The deal is also being reviewed by the U.S. FTC. Kroger - $25 billion Kroger has asked a U.S. judge to Albertsons dismiss as "speculative" a Companies consumer antitrust lawsuit alleging the merger would lessen grocer competition and drive up prices. JetBlue-Spirit $3.8 California and three other states billion joined the U.S. Justice Department lawsuit aimed at preventing JetBlue Airways from buying rival discount carrier Spirit Airlines. Illumina - $7.1 FTC ordered Illumina to divest Grail billion cancer diagnostic test maker Grail, finding that its ownership would stifle competition in the U.S. market for cancer tests. DEALS BLOCKED OR ABANDONED DEAL DEAL VALUE CONTEXT Microsoft - $69 Britain's antitrust regulator Activision billion said Microsoft's commitment to Blizzard offer access to Activision's multi-billion dollar "Call of Duty" franchise to leading cloud-gaming platforms would not effectively remedy its concerns. Voyager Digital - $1.3 Binance.US called off its deal Binance.US billion to buy assets of bankrupt crypto lender Voyager Digital, citing a "hostile and uncertain regulatory climate." Nvidia Corp - Arm More than SoftBank Group Corp shelved its $80 blockbuster sale of Arm Ltd to billion the U.S. chipmaker. The FTC argued that competition in the nascent markets for chips in self-driving cars and a new category of networking chips could be hurt. Penguin Random $2.2 Penguin owner Bertelsmann House - Simon & billion scrapped the merger in Schuster November. The Biden administration said the deal should be stopped because it would lead to less competition for blockbuster books and lower advances for authors who earn $250,000 or more. DEALS THAT WENT THROUGH DEAL DEAL VALUE CONTEXT Rogers C$20 The final nod from Minister of Communication - billion Innovation, Science and Shaw Industry Francois-Philippe Communication Champagne capped two years of antitrust uncertainty. Meta Platforms - Unknown The FTC, which lost a fight in Within court to block the acquisition, said in a filing that it has decided to formally end its effort. UnitedHealth About $8 The deal's completion follows Group - Change billion a U.S. judge denying the Healthcare Justice department's bid to stop it. The DoJ had said access to the target's claims would give UnitedHealth a view into rivals' health plans. (Reporting by Utkarsh Shetti and Roshia Sabu in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath) FILE PHOTO: Grammy award-winning Fugees rapper Prakazrel (Pras) Michel, who is facing criminal charges in an alleged illegal lobbying campaign, arrives for opening arguments in his trial at U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., March 30, 2023. REUTERS/ By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A jury on Wednesday convicted Grammy Award-winning rapper Prakazrel "Pras" Michel of The Fugees hip hop group on criminal charges that he conspired with a Malaysian financier to orchestrate a series of foreign lobbying campaigns aimed at influencing the U.S. government under two presidents. His conviction in federal court in Washington followed a trial that was filled with political intrigue and featured high-profile witnesses including Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Michel endured a blistering cross-examination by prosecutors while testifying in his own defense. Michel was charged with 10 counts of crimes including conspiracy, acting as an agent of a foreign government, witness tampering and falsifying campaign finance records. Prosecutors accused him of plotting with Malaysian businessman Jho Low to attempt to influence the administrations of Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Low, who also faces separate federal charges in New York that he embezzled $4.5 billion from Malaysia's 1MDB sovereign wealth fund, remains at large. Michel's lawyer David Kenner told reporters outside the courthouse he was "extremely disappointed" by the verdict, but remains hopeful the charges could be dismissed by the judge. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly set deadlines for both parties to file briefs on a number of post-trial motions, including a request for a judgment of acquittal, that extend into July. "I remain enormously confident that this case is not over, and that we will ultimately prevail," he added. The Fugees won two Grammy Awards for their best-selling 1996 album "The Score." But by 2012, according to prosecutors, Michel was in desperate need of cash and found a solution through Low, who was known to throw elaborate parties and pay celebrities big sums of money. Prosecutors said Michel agreed to funnel about $2 million from Low into Obama's 2012 re-election campaign in exchange for receiving millions of dollars. Because federal election law prohibits foreigners from donating to U.S. campaigns, prosecutors said Michel masked the source of the funds. Michel was also accused of seeking to convince the Trump-era Justice Department to drop civil and criminal investigations into Low over the 1MDB scandal and trying to lobby the U.S. government on behalf of China to send Chinese billionaire and dissident Guo Wengui back to China. On the witness stand, Michel said the $20 million Low paid him over the course of nine months in 2012 was to help Low secure a photo with Obama. Michel acknowledged that he used some of the money to pay for three of his friends to attend two political fundraisers for Obama's 2012 campaign, but denied doing so at Low's direction. "Once he gave me the money, it was my discretion how I spent the money because it's my money," Michel told the jury, describing the payment as "free money." On whether he failed to register as a foreign agent, Michel told jurors that his attorney George Higgenbotham never told him it was required by law. Michel also said he passed along information to the FBI about China's desire to have Guo extradited amid concerns by China that Guo was "allegedly a criminal rapist," saying he "thought it was something the FBI should know." Higgenbotham, who has since pleaded guilty for his role in the scheme, told jurors that he met with the Chinese ambassador in Washington at Michel's insistence to assure the Chinese that the Trump administration was working toward extraditing Guo. Guo, who was never extradited, has since been indicted on unrelated fraud charges in New York. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Will Dunham and Stephen Coates) FILE PHOTO: Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon speaks during the Goldman Sachs Investor Day at Goldman Sachs Headquarters in New York City, U.S., February 28, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid By Tatiana Bautzer DALLAS (Reuters) -A Goldman Sachs Group Inc shareholder criticized its Chairman and CEO David Solomon on Wednesday at the bank's annual meeting and proposed its board appoint an independent chairman. The proposal, along with eight others put forward by shareholders, failed after receiving the support of 16% of stock holders who voted. All of Goldman's management proposals, including the appointment of its directors and executive compensation, were approved at its annual shareholder meeting, which was held in person in Dallas. "The Goldman Sachs processes look anything but robust -- to many of us outside observers and shareholders, they look pretty weak," Paul Chesser, a director at the National Legal and Policy Center, said at the bank's annual meeting. He cited gender lawsuits, junior banker burnout, and reports about Solomon's use of the company's private jets as reasons the Wall Street powerhouse should appoint an independent chair. Shareholder calls for reports on lobbying, climate transition and pay equity got the support of 30% or more voters, according to preliminary tallies. The bank had urged shareholders to reject investors' call for the appointment of an independent chairman, saying in its proxy that its directors "take very seriously" their obligations to act in the best interests of the firm and its shareholders. (Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer in Dallas, additional reporting by Saeed Azhar in New York; Editing by Lananh Nguyen and Nick Zieminski) FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award Gala in New York City, U.S., December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo By Sam Tobin and Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - Prince Harry is not criticising his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth, or Britain's royal family over a "secret agreement" with Rupert Murdoch's UK newspaper arm, his lawyer told London's High Court on Wednesday. Harry, the younger son of King Charles, is suing Murdoch's News Group Newspapers (NGN) for multiple unlawful acts allegedly committed on behalf of its tabloids, the Sun and the now-defunct News of the World, from the mid-1990s until 2016. NGN, which has settled more than a thousand phone-hacking cases over the past decade, is trying this week to strike out Harry's claim and a similar case brought by British actor Hugh Grant, arguing they should have taken action sooner. However, Harry says that he did not bring a lawsuit earlier because an agreement was struck between Buckingham Palace and senior figures at NGN to avoid embarrassment. In a witness statement which was made public on Tuesday, Harry said his attempts to progress the case, with the backing of the queen, were stonewalled by NGN and royal aides. His lawyer David Sherborne told the court on Wednesday that Harry did not bring his lawsuit previously because of the agreement with NGN, which denies its existence. Sherborne said Harry was "told more" about phone hacking in 2012, when Harry says in his witness statement that he was told his voicemails had been intercepted, "but that was essentially dealt with by his family ... and their solicitor". "This is no criticism of the queen or his family," Sherborne said. "That is how it was done and he accepts it. As he explains, he had to." Sherborne added that Harry was "kept out of the loop" about phone hacking and that he did not believe NGN "would have been stupid enough to go after his messages". Harry said in his witness statement that royal staff were in communication with Rebekah Brooks - now chief executive of Murdoch's British arm News UK - and News Corp Chief Executive Robert Thomson about his lawsuit. Sherborne said that, if the case goes to trial, "there will need to be evidence" from Brooks and Thomson about the secret agreement. Harry has said NGN settled his brother William's phone-hacking claim "for a huge sum of money in 2020... without any of the public being told, and seemingly with some favourable deal in return for him going 'quietly' so to speak". Buckingham Palace have not commented and William's office said it could not comment on ongoing legal proceedings. NGN has disputed the existence of a "secret agreement" but declined to comment on whether it made a settlement with William. The case is one of four Harry is currently pursuing against British publishers, following claims in his Netflix documentary and memoir 'Spare' accusing tabloids of widespread unlawful activity and his family of colluding with them. The preliminary hearing is expected to conclude on Thursday, with a trial due in January if the judge allows it to go ahead. Harry, who now lives in California with his family, was not in court, but watched proceedings by video link, Sherborne said. Grant was also watching the proceedings remotely due to "unavoidable filming commitments", Sherborne said, but planned to attend in person on Thursday. (Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Jonathan Oatis) FILE PHOTO: The logo of Hermes is seen on a store in Paris, France, April 24, 2020. REUTERS/Charles Platiau By Blake Brittain (Reuters) - French luxury fashion house Hermes International SCA has settled a lawsuit brought by Skechers USA Inc that claimed Hermes sneakers infringed Skechers' patent rights, according to a Wednesday filing in Manhattan federal court. The filing said the two sides signed a confidential settlement agreement on Monday. Representatives for the companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment and additional details. Manhattan Beach, California-based Skechers sued Hermes last year, alleging its Eclair and Envol sneakers infringe two Skechers design patents covering the undulating "Massage Fit" soles in its "Go Walk" walking shoes. Skechers said the soles of Hermes' shoes were "substantially the same" as its soles and requested an unspecified amount of money damages. Hermes did not respond to the allegations in court. Skechers has also sued Fila, Reebok, Steve Madden and other shoemakers in the past for infringing "Go Walk" design patents, in cases that later settled. (Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington) Kamala Harris in the Oval Office. Kamala Harris protesting with her husband, Doug Emhoff. Kamala Harris taking a selfie with a supporter. Kamala Harris walking with Joe Biden down the arched hallway leading to the West Wing, before embracing his wife, Jill Biden. The vice president is a recurring presence in the three-minute video announcing President Bidens 2024 reelection bid. Harris was Bidens running mate in 2020, and as the first woman, first African-American and first person of South Asian heritage to run for the vice presidency, she was instrumental to his victory over Donald Trump. Harris will be Bidens running mate again in the 2024 election, but its unclear whether this time, she will have as much of an impact. Or if she will have any positive effect at all. The prevailing idea in Washington is that after two years and three months in office, she has failed to find her footing. Perhaps for that reason, Harris ended Tuesday which began with the announcement of her second run for the vice presidency on friendly territory: Howard University in Washington. The historic educational center, known as The Mecca, is considered a temple of African-American teaching excellence in the United States. Its also Harris alma mater. On Tuesday, Harris spoke at Howard University at an event in defense of womens reproductive freedom, organized by various associations, including Planned Parenthood. She used the opportunity to speak in front of a young, Black audience to launch her first rally of the campaign, attacking extremist so-called leaders in the Republican Party for trying to limit the right to abortion, which is in the hands of the states after the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade. The true sign of a leader, the measure of a leader, is not based on who you beat down and belittle, said Harris. It is based and measured on who you lift up. In the United States, the incumbent president traditionally runs for reelection, and does so on the same ticket. But in Bidens case, a second White House run was less certain given the concerns about his age: if he wins the 2024 election, he will be 82 when he is sworn in as president. During the 2020 campaign, Biden who is now calling on voters to let him finish the job called himself a bridge with a mission: to restore normalcy in the United States after four years of Trump and pave the way for future Democratic leaders. And in the months that followed the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol one of the lowest moments of U.S. democracy Harris, 58, seemed like the most logical choice to pass the baton on to. But not many think that way today. With an approval rating of just 40%, according to FiveThirtyEight, Harris has fallen victim to both the hype surrounding her leap into national politics and the challenges of the vice presidency, one of the most difficult positions in U.S. politics. A vice presidents duties can seem purely superficial to those outside the inner halls of the White House, that is, unless they take over because the president resigns (Gerald Ford), is assassinated (Lyndon Johnson) or gives them a much-awaited moment of power (from Bush Sr. to Biden, the second in command sometimes gets the opportunity to occupy the Oval Office). Its not a new idea: its as old as Benjamin Franklin, who joked that a vice president should be addressed as Your Superfluous Excellency. International relations Given the limitations of the office, Harris has done little in the past two years but show that she is loyal to Biden. But if the president had decided not to run for reelection, all eyes would have turned to her. But in private conversations, both analysts and members of the Democratic Party expressed doubts about whether she would make a good candidate, citing two main reasons. Firstly, there were concerns that a Black and South Asian woman would have difficulty winning over the key voters in the deep south, given todays highly polarized society. And secondly, there were concerns about her performance as vice president. Given what is at stake, wrote Thomas L. Friedman, a columnist for The New York Times, on Tuesday in reference to the risk of another Trump presidency, Biden needs to make the case to his party and, more important, to independents and moderate Republicans why Harris is the best choice to succeed him, should he not be able to complete his term. He cannot ignore this issue, because that question will be on the minds of many voters come election time. Friedman also cited three possible reasons for Harriss low approval rating: it may be that she has been forced to deal with unsolvable issues, that she is continually looked down on, or that she is the victim of a mix of sexism and racism. This impossible set of issues includes international relations and social problems such as minority voting rights, police brutality and gun control. But it is foreign policy that has caused Harris the most headaches. Her first international trip as vice president a visit to Guatemala and Mexico was also her first major gaffe. In a message addressed to would-be migrants, who dream of leaving misery and hardship behind for a new life in the U.S., Harris said: Do not come. Do not come. The United States will continue to enforce our laws and secure our borders. Harris also faced another hurdle when she said in a TV interview that the border was secure, prompting Texas Governor Greg Abbott to start sending buses full of migrants to her residence in Washington. Harris has had better luck on social issues, especially the right to abortion. At Tuesdays event at Howard University, Mini Timmaraju, the president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, expressed her support for the vice presidents efforts. Reproductive freedom is under attack, and we cant back down from this fight, said Timmaraju. Today, Vice President Harris affirmed again that the Biden-Harris administration will always defend our fundamental freedoms. Speaking at Howard University, Harris linked the attacks on reproductive freedom to the suppression of minority voters, book bans and persecution of LGBTQ+ rights. All this, she said, was part of the Republican Partys national agenda. She claimed this agenda went beyond Florida and North Dakota, where Republican governors have introduced a six-week limit on abortion, which amounts to a total ban. The vice president remembered how she had entered Howard University as a college freshman, and said she could not have imagined that decades later she would be back there to defend rights that were previously unquestioned. In the audience, students Kayla Finley and Taniyah Smith said they were willing to give four more years. Im not going to say she hasnt let me down, Finley admitted, But I think he deserves another chance. They will be the voters who decide whether or not she gets one. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition By Joseph Campbell and Sunil Kataria VARANASI, India (Reuters) - Murali Mohan Sastry is waiting peacefully for death on the banks of the Ganges River in India's northern city of Varanasi, revered by millions of Hindus. More than a decade ago, the 82-year-old former college teacher and his wife left behind comfortable lives in the southern city of Hyderabad. Now he hopes that by dying in Varanasi, he can break the tenuous cycle of death and rebirth, an article of faith for many Hindus, in order to attain salvation. "We invite death," Sastry said soon after chanting his dawn prayers while dipping fully clothed into the waters of the river three times. "And he's our guest, actually. So we are proud that we are going to die here." The couple, who live in one of the spartan community homes across the sacred city meant for those seeking to live out their twilight years there, were inspired by the example of his mother, who had lived in the same place. Although Western-style retirement homes are growing popular, Sastry has no interest in worldly comforts, preferring to spend his final days immersed in study and prayer. "Our Indian philosophy is, those who seek worldly comforts can never go to God, can never reach God," said the white-haired Sastry, his shoulders draped in a yellow shawl with scriptural phrases picked out in saffron. "As far as possible, shun all these things. Dont go for them. Go only for God." More than a million people live in the ancient city famed for its temples and bathing spots beside Hinduism's holiest river to which the devout flock from all over the country for rituals marking events from birth to death. "Now I don't feel like living in this world anymore," said Ram Pyari, another resident of the home, as she prepared a meal for her husband, who is mostly confined to bed in what he is certain are his final days. "One has to face so much suffering that one gets fed up. So you feel that if you attain salvation then you won't have to suffer anymore," added Ram Pyari, who is in her 80s. The manager of the home, Mumukshu Bhavan, which dates from the 1920s, says it has reached full capacity, with more than 80 residents, although demand for places remains high. "More and more old people want to come and stay in Varanasi," said the official, Manish Kumar Pandey. "But we can only accommodate a limited number." Still, the devout unable to breathe their last in the holy city can take solace from the Hindu belief that they will come a step closer to salvation if their remains are cremated there. (This story has refiled to insert the dropped word 'they' in paragraph 15) (Reporting by Joseph Campbell and Sunil Kataria; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran's Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of Iranian-German dual national Jamshid Sharmahd on charges of "corruption on earth", a judiciary spokesperson said on Wednesday. The Islamic Republic's hardline judiciary handed down the death penalty against Sharmahd in February after convicting him of heading a pro-monarchist group accused of a deadly 2008 bombing and planning other attacks in the country. "The sentence has been confirmed by the Supreme Court. After the lower court is notified, actions will subsequently be taken to implement the Supreme Court's decision," the spokesperson, Masoud Setayeshi, was quoted by judiciary media outlet Mizan as telling a weekly press conference in Tehran. A spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry said Berlin was shocked by reports that the death sentence had been upheld and was working to confirm this. "If this were true, the situation would indeed be very serious," the spokesperson said, reiterating that Germany found the death sentence for Sharmahd completely unacceptable. Tensions have been mounting between Iran and Western powers over issues ranging from Tehran's disputed nuclear programme to its violent crackdown on months of protests following the death in police custody of a young woman last September. Sharmahd, who also has U.S. residency, was arrested in 2020 and the intelligence ministry at the time described him as "the ringleader of the terrorist Tondar group, who directed armed and terrorist acts in Iran from America". Based in Los Angeles, the little-known Kingdom Assembly of Iran, or Tondar, says it seeks to restore the Iranian monarchy that was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It runs pro-Iranian opposition radio and television stations abroad. In February, Germany declared two employees of the Iranian embassy personae non gratae and ordered them to leave the country in response to the death sentence. (Reporting by Dubai Newsroom and Rachel More in Berlin; editing by Andrew Heavens and Mark Heinrich) Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal listen as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks on screen during a reconstruction meeting for war-battered Ukraine, in Rome, Italy, April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Cas By Angelo Amante and Giuseppe Fonte ROME (Reuters) - Italy on Wednesday said it aimed to play a major role in the reconstruction of Ukraine and urged European Union bodies to back the rebuilding of a country battered by over a year of war with Russia. Italy struck the supportive tone at a bilateral summit with Ukraine in Rome convened to discuss reconstruction initiatives, saying private and public capital should contribute along with international institutions and multilateral banks. "We want to play a leading role not only politically, but also by involving businesses," Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said speaking alongside Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. Meloni, who took office last October at the helm of a rightist coalition, encouraged Italian companies to contribute to Ukrainian reconstruction, calling it a "far-sighted" investment. The World Bank, United Nations, European Commission and Ukraine recently estimated it would cost $411 billion to rebuild, a big jump from an earlier estimate of $349 billion. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy would help Kyiv join the EU and insisted Russia should share the burden of the reconstruction. "Any resolution of the conflict will have to ensure that Russia pays for the damage it has caused," he said. In a recent visit to the United States, Ukraine's Shmyhal said it was critically important to begin reconstruction this year and Kyiv had identified a priority funding gap of $14 billion needed for 2023. Rome's Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti called on EU institutions to pour their own resources into efforts to help Kyiv and said the European Investment Bank (EIB) would be key. He added Italy would contribute with a guarantee worth 100 million euros ($110.34 million) to the newly created EIB guarantee fund named 'EU for Ukraine'. Meloni has stuck closely to the pro-Ukraine policy of her predecessor Mario Draghi, despite scepticism from some of her own coalition partners. Opinion polls in Italy have consistently shown lukewarm support for Ukraine. One recent IPSOS survey said just 30% of Italians backed sending weapons or air defence systems to Kyiv against 52% in France and 48% in Germany. ($1 = 0.9063 euros) (Reporting by Angelo Amante and Giuseppe Fonte, Editing by William Maclean) By Sachin Ravikumar LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the Jehovah's Witnesses religious organisation was not liable for a 1990 rape committed by a church elder in Wales, in a judgment that reverses two previous decisions by lower courts. In a unanimous judgment, the Supreme Court reasoned that Mark Sewell, who was convicted of raping the woman in 2014, did not commit the crime while carrying out activities as an elder on behalf of the Jehovah's Witnesses. Judges reassessed whether the Jehovah's Witnesses could be held vicariously liable a concept where an organisation can be held indirectly responsible for the actions of an employee or member for Sewell's crime following an appeal by the Jehovah's Witnesses. A trial judge in 2020 held the Jehovah's Witnesses congregation in Barry, Wales vicariously liable for the rape, in a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal. The trial judge had said Sewell's position as church elder had been an important part of the reason why the woman became his friend, and that she may not have remained friends with Sewell if not for his position as elder. Sewell was also convicted in 2014 of seven counts of indecently assaulting two other individuals, and had been expelled as a Jehovah's Witness for unrelated conduct by the time of his conviction. "Mark Sewell was not exercising control over (the woman) because of his position as an elder," judge Andrew Burrows said in the Supreme Court's judgment. "The driving force behind their being together in the room at the time of the rape was their close personal friendship not Mark Sewell's role as an elder." The Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian denomination founded in the United States in about 1870 and have more than a 100,000 congregations worldwide with 8.7 million members. (Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar, Editing by William Maclean) FILE PHOTO: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a news conference of Russian President Vladimir Putin after a meeting of the State Council on youth policy in Moscow, Russia, December 22, 2022. Sputnik/Valeriy Sharifulin/Pool via REUTERS MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Wednesday Moscow's move to take temporary control of the assets of Finnish energy group Fortum and its former German subsidiary Uniper was in retaliation for what it called the illegal seizure of Russian assets abroad. President Vladimir Putin late on Tuesday signed a decree establishing temporary control of the Russian assets of the two European state-owned energy firms. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the decree did not concern ownership, just the power to manage the assets. He said the measure could be expanded to other assets if necessary. "The decree adopted is a response to the aggressive actions of unfriendly countries," Peskov said. "This initiative mirrors the attitude of Western governments towards foreign assets of Russian companies." Putin's decree "does not deal with property issues and does not deprive the owners of their assets because the external management is temporary and only means that the original owner no longer has the right to make management decisions," he said. Peskov added, without elaborating, that there were "a number of other nuances". The list of enterprises taken under external control "can of course be expanded", Peskov said. "The main purpose of the decree is to form a compensation fund for the possible application of reciprocal measures in response to the illegal expropriation of Russian assets abroad," he said. (Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Alexander Marrow and Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Gareth Jones) FILE PHOTO: A computer keyboard lit by a displayed cyber code is seen in this illustration picture taken on March 1, 2017. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Illustration/File Photo By Sara Merken (Reuters) - With more and more lawyers at major law firms using fast-advancing generative artificial intelligence tools, legal AI startup Harvey said Wednesday that it raised $21 million in fresh investor cash. Sequoia Capital, which is leading the Series A fundraising round, said more than 15,000 law firms are on a waiting list to start using Harvey. OpenAI Startup Fund, Conviction, SV Angel and Elad Gil also participated in the funding round, Harvey said. Harvey, founded in 2022 and built on OpenAI's large language model GPT-4, raised $5 million in a round led by the OpenAI Startup Fund last year. The company says it builds custom large language models for law firms. Technology companies and investors have rushed to embrace large language model-based generative AI since Microsoft-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT debuted in November. The models are trained on large, customizable data sets to produce text or other outputs that can closely mimic human creativity and analysis. Researchers used GPT-4 to pass the bar exam last month. Global law firm Allen & Overy said in February that 3,500 lawyers and staff would use Harvey to automate some document drafting and research. In March, accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers said it would give 4,000 legal professionals access to the platform. Harvey co-founder Gabriel Pereyra and representatives for Sequoia did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday. Several other major firms have signed deals to adopt new AI products just in the past few months a remarkable pace for a profession that was slow to abandon the fax machine. "This is an arms race, and you don't want to be the last law firm with these tools," Daniel Tobey, chair of DLA Piper's AI practice, said of AI products. "It's very easy to become a dinosaur these days." DLA Piper is one of several large firms that has said it will use a new AI tool from legal research company Casetext, one of a growing number of established legal technology companies that have rushed to roll out generative AI-powered tools. Casetext in March released its AI legal assistant product, CoCounsel, which uses GPT-4 to speed up tasks like legal research, contract analysis and document review. Law firms Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, which has about 1,150 lawyers, and Fisher Phillips, with more than 500 lawyers, are also using CoCounsel. Some firms are developing capabilities in-house. Holland & Knight is creating an AI tool that it hopes will help lawyers review and modify credit agreements, partner Josias Dewey said. Baker McKenzie has been baking large language models into existing services on a client-by-client "pilot" basis, according to Danielle Benecke, head of the firm's machine learning practice. Even law firms that are early adopters of AI are quick to say that testing and guardrails are needed to protect confidential client data and avoid errors, however, and others are still evaluating how and whether to use the technology. "We're being cautious and thoughtful, but with the recognition that we expect it to be a big deal, and that we will use it," said David Cunningham, chief innovation officer at Reed Smith. (Additional reporting by Karen Sloan) KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) - The first case of mpox in Pakistan has been confirmed by the National Institute of Health in the capital Islamabad. A traveler who recently arrived in Pakistan tested positive and has been isolated at a hospital in the capital, along with other individuals who are being tested, a health ministry press release said. There is no evidence of localized transmission of the viral disease in Pakistan, the NIH added. Mpox - which spreads via close contact and tends to cause flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions - was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization in July 2022. The organisation maintained its alert in November. On Nov. 28 the WHO named the disease mpox to replace the older term monkeypox, citing concerns of stigma and racism associated with the name. In Pakistan, the NIH, provincial health departments, border health services and district health authorities have been advised to ensure surveillance through laboratory diagnostics, contact tracing, rapid identification of suspected cases, and to provide care and isolate cases to prevent transmission. Since May 2022, 22 samples were tested from inspected cases from different parts of the country. (Writing by Ariba Shahid in Karachi, Editing by William Maclean) FILE PHOTO: Paraguayan presidential candidate Santiago Pena from ruling Colorado Party, waves a flag during his campaign rally, in Asuncion, Paraguay April 18, 2023. REUTERS/Cesar Olmedo/File Photo By Lucinda Elliott and Daniela Desantis ASUNCION (Reuters) - Paraguay's conservative ruling party presidential candidate Santiago Pena will need all the composure he has from a journey as a teenage father to the International Monetary Fund as he faces down an opposition challenge at the ballot box on Sunday. The 44-year-old former finance minister is trying to navigate a political maelstrom, with corruption allegations engulfing his party, internal divisions, and rising pressure from farmers over his plans to maintain ties with Taiwan. But Pena, who has powerful party backing, is able to keep a cool head amid the tumult, his supporters say. "I think what characterizes him is that he has infinite tranquility," said Lea Gimenez, who served as Pena's deputy when he was finance minister and was later finance minister herself. "Even during this election campaign, which has been so long because we have been in the process for almost a year and a half, I have not seen him once lose his temper. I don't know where he gets that strength, that temperance." Pena will face a cluster of candidates in a single-round vote. Opinion polls suggest either Pena or center-left opposition leader Efrain Alegre could triumph and most analysts predict a close race. "Santi," as he is often known, has pledged business-friendly policies that focus on job creation, keeping taxes low and attracting foreign investment. "I want Paraguay to have a much greater international role, to be a much more important player on the international stage," Pena told Reuters in an interview in January. Throughout the campaign the Colorado Party candidate has vowed to extend Paraguay's decades-long diplomatic relations with Taiwan, despite pressures to open up to China and its huge consumer demand for soybeans and beef. Those who know Pena described him to Reuters as "clean cut," "decent" and with "good ideas." Others cite a contemporary mindset and steady hand. Critics say he is a member of the out-of-touch elite who lacks political experience and is acting as a puppet of party leader and close ally Horacio Cartes. "He is not a politician who wants a revolution, he wants evolution," said a businessman with investments in Paraguay who knows Pena personally, asking not to be named. 'LIFE EXPERIENCE' Pena's political career took off when protests in 2016 forced then-President Cartes to abandon plans to seek an extra term by amending the constitution and to hand-pick Pena as his intended successor. Members of the Colorado Party, however, were unconvinced that Pena's slick city appearance and time in Washington would go down well with voters and he lost out to current president Mario Abdo Benitez in the 2018 primary election contest. This time around Pena is the party's man. He is backed once more by Cartes, who some see as the power behind the throne, but who is facing U.S. sanctions over corruption allegations that have hurt his reputation. Pena married his childhood sweetheart and became a father for the first time at 17. He studied economics in Paraguay and later attended New York's Columbia University. "He matured very quickly, being a young father... he became an adult very quickly," a former colleague told Reuters. "Santi has a lot of life experience and is a natural negotiator." He worked as an economist at the central bank in Asuncion and then with the IMF in Washington, before returning to Paraguay on the central bank board. He became finance minister in 2015. "Many believe that I'm a young man... but I've been in the public sector for years," he said in an interview with regional media. "I could be doing my career abroad, but I decided to come back because I love my country and I want to work for it." (Reporting by Lucinda Elliott and Daniela Desantis; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Rosalba O'Brien) FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the government via video link at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia April 19, 2023. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Kremlin via REUTERS (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed the Lachin Corridor in a phone call, the Kremlin said on Wednesday. Azerbaijan on Sunday established a checkpoint on the corridor, the only land route between Armenia and Armenian-populated settlements in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. (Reporting by Reuters) Four more years! Four more years! Joe Biden managed to get the audience of a union conference in Washington to its feet on Tuesday. It was the presidents first public act since announcing his decision to run for reelection. Biden is running again for the White House, but this time, he will not have to compete against rivals from the Democratic Party, who have closed ranks around him partly due to the lack of alternatives. A year ago, many Democratic leaders raised the idea of finding an alternative to Biden for the 2024 elections. Not only because of his age Biden will be almost 82 years old by the time of the vote but also because his approval ratings were plummeting, and polls were predicting the Democrats would be wiped out in the midterms. However, after Biden successfully managed the midterm election campaign, handing Democrats the best results registered by the party in power in the last 20 years, plans to find a replacement evaporated. After the November midterm election, Biden turned 80 and hinted that he was willing to run for reelection. And in his State of the Union address in February, he began laying the ground for an official announcement although at that point, the question was not if he would run for reelection, but when he would announce the decision. Bidens official announcement has been a while in coming, but the president had been clearing the way, making it clear that he intended to run for reelection. An incumbent president has a great advantage in the primaries and recent history has shown that challenges do not end well. Possible alternatives to Biden such as California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer made it clear that they would not compete against the president. On Tuesday, following Bidens announcement, the three were quick to rally behind him. Pritzker opened the union event in Washington, and also showed his support for Biden on Twitter. From beating back a deadly pandemic, to defending our very democracy, Joe Biden has been the pragmatic and thoughtful leader needed to help our nation heal from some of our most difficult days. Im proud to support him for re-election and Im ready for the fight ahead, he wrote. Newsom, meanwhile, has begun fundraising for the Biden campaign. Our democracy is under attack. Our freedom is being stripped away. Its time to step upand theres no one better to lead that fight than President Biden. Looking forward to another 4 years of his leadership. Lets show up big today. Every dollar counts, he posted in a message on Twitter. And Whitmer has been no less enthusiastic about Bidens reelection bid. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have spent their first term fighting for our freedom, democracy, and more rights not less. But around the country, dangerous extremists are trying to take us backward. We cannot be complacent. Its time to finish the job, she tweeted, using the finish the job slogan from Bidens campaign launch video. Other leading Democratic figures have also posted supportive messages, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Hakeem Jeffries. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, 81, one of the partys leftist figures and Bidens rival in the 2020 primaries, announced that he would forgo another presidential bid of his own and instead do everything I can to see the president is reelected. In statements to AP, he said that the Democrats should close ranks with Biden to prevent a Donald Trump or some other right-wing demagogue from taking over the White House. For much of the year, Sanders had left open the possibility of running again. Now, hes not just ruling out another White House bid, he is actively discouraging other high-profile Democrats from doing so. A generational bridge It was Biden himself who helped build the idea that he could be a one-term president. During the 2020 campaign, he presented himself as a transitional leader. Look, I view myself as a bridge, not as anything else, Biden said in March 2020. Theres an entire generation of leaders you saw stand behind me. They are the future of this country, he added, while campaigning in Michigan alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Back in 2020, Harris was considered a possible alternative to Biden. But now her approval ratings are even lower than the presidents. If she were to take that step, Biden would first have to withdraw from the race. According to polls, more than two-thirds of U.S. voters dont want Biden to run again as a candidate, but for the Democrats, no one else is a viable alternative. The fact that Biden may face off again against his Republican rival, Donald Trump, also swayed his decision to run for reelection. After Biden announced his 2024 reelection bid, Trump charged against him in typical fashion, repeating his false allegations that the 2020 election was rigged. Unlike in 2020, Biden has a clear path forward to winning the Democratic presidential primaries. At the moment, only minor rivals have announced their candidacy. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced his intention to run, but his main asset is the surname of his father, New York senator, U.S. attorney general and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968, and his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated five years earlier. Marianne Williamson is another contender, but her bid is equally unlikely to dent Bidens course. Furthermore, the Democratic Party has redrawn the primary calendar to suit Biden. South Carolina, the first state Biden won in 2020 following his defeats in Iowa and New Hampshire, will get the ball rolling on February 3, 2024. Nevada and New Hampshire will follow on February 6, Georgia on February 13, and Michigan on February 27. The Democratic Convention, where Bidens presidential nomination is expected to be confirmed, will take place between August 19-22, 2024, in Chicago. Biden has shown that he is able to defeat Trump. He won the 2020 presidential election, defended against the red wave at the 2022 midterms, and is now taking on Trump from the White House, while the Republican is dragged through the courts. On Tuesday, Biden began his reelection campaign by appealing to the workers, an electorate that Trump has traditionally tried to win over. I make no apologies for being labeled the most pro-union president in American history. Im proud of it, he told the audience at the North Americas Building Trades Unions (NABTU) legislative conference. Wall Street didnt build America. The middle class built America, and unions built the middle class! he said to the hundreds of spectators, who stood up to cheer the presidential candidate. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition OSLO (Reuters) - Russia has decided to expel 10 diplomats from Norway's Moscow embassy, demanding that they leave the country shortly, the Norwegian foreign ministry said on Wednesday. The decision follows Norway's announcement on April 13 that it had expelled 15 Russian embassy officials that the Norwegian government said were intelligence officers operating under the cover of diplomatic positions. "Our ambassador ... has today been informed by the Russian foreign ministry that 10 of our diplomats in Moscow have been declared unwanted," the Norwegian foreign ministry said in a statement. "Russian authorities say that this is in reaction to Norway's decision," the Norwegian ministry added. (Reporting by Nora Buli, editing by Terje Solsvik) FILE PHOTO: Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin leaves a cemetery before the funeral of Russian military blogger Maxim Fomin widely known by the name of Vladlen Tatarsky, who was recently killed in a bomb attack in a St Petersburg (Reuters) - The head of Russia's private Wagner militia, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said Ukraine was preparing for an "inevitable" counter-offensive and was sending well-prepared units to the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut, for many months the focal point of fighting. In a combative audio message posted on his Telegram channel, Prigozhin also renewed his criticism of Russia's security establishment, saying there was a "betrayal" going on inside Russia, as he lambasted the defence ministry for not sending much-needed shipments of ammunition to his fighters. "Today, well-trained enemy units are already being thrown into Bakhmut... A counteroffensive by the Ukrainians is inevitable," Prigozhin said, adding that he expected that campaign to start sometime after May 2 when the weather has improved and the ground has hardened. Prigozhin - who has for months fought openly with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu over the conduct of the war - said his troops were suffering five times as many casualties due to a lack of support from Moscow. He also questioned why Russian forces had not launched offensives against the nearby cities of Sloviansk or Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine to relieve the pressure on Bakhmut. But he said his forces would do whatever it takes to halt any Ukrainian attempt to retake the city. "We will advance at any cost, just to grind down the Ukrainian army and disrupt their offensive," Prigozhin said. Russia has said capturing Bakhmut will allow it to mount further offensives in eastern Ukraine. Despite downplaying its strategic significance for Moscow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesnkiy has repeatedly refused to withdraw his forces. The capture of the city - which Prigozhin said on April 11 was more than 80% controlled by his Wagner forces - would be Russia's first major victory in the conflict since a series of major withdrawals from the northeastern Kharkiv region and southern Kherson region last autumn. (Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Jake Cordell; Editing by Gareth Jones) FILE PHOTO: People attend a Stellantis presentation at the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 5, 2023. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File Photo By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Chrysler parent Stellantis NV said Wednesday it is offering voluntary exit packages to 33,500 U.S. employees as it looks to streamline operations. The offers cover 31,000 U.S. hourly workers and about 2,500 salaried workers. Stellantis did not say how many total jobs it is looking to eliminate. It is also offering some employees in Canada voluntary buyouts. Stellantis Chief Operating Officer Mark Stewart told employees in an email seen by Reuters that a review of its operations "has made it clear that we must become more efficient." United Auto Workers (UAW) union President Shawn Fain criticized the effort. "Stellantis push to cut thousands of jobs while raking in billions in profits is disgusting," Fain said. "This is a slap in the face to our members, their families, their communities, and the American people who saved this company 15 years ago." Stellantis said the voluntary separation packages are being offered to salaried U.S. employees who have 15 or more years of service and work in certain organizations. On Tuesday, a local UAW unit said Stellantis wants to cut approximately 3,500 hourly U.S. jobs in the voluntary offer. In his email, Stewart said Stellantis needed to continue identifying efficiencies to make its operations more competitive, both inside and outside the company. "The competition is fierce, and the cost of electrification cannot be passed on to the customer. Make no mistake, we intend to win in the marketplace," he wrote. In February, Stellantis indefinitely halted operations at an assembly plant in Illinois, citing rising costs of EV production. The action affected about 1,350 workers at the Belvidere plant that built the Jeep Cherokee SUV and resulted in indefinite layoffs. Earlier this month, General Motors Co said about 5,000 salaried workers accepted buyouts to leave the automaker after it cut a few hundred jobs in February. Ford Motor Co recently announced significant job cuts in Spain, Germany and other parts of Europe and in August said it would cut a total of 3,000 salaried and contract jobs, mostly in North America and India. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Kirsten Donovan and Jonathan Oatis) Damaged buildings are seen following clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in South Khartoum locality, Sudan April 25, 2023. REUTERS/ Stringer By Khalid Abdelaziz and Nadine Awadalla KHARTOUM (Reuters) -Sudan's army and a paramilitary force battled on Khartoum's outskirts on Wednesday, undermining a truce in their 11-day conflict, but the army expressed willingness to extend the ceasefire. The army late on Wednesday said its leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, gave initial approval to a plan to extend the truce for another 72 hours and send an army envoy to the South Sudan capital, Juba, for talks. The Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) previously agreed to a three-day ceasefire that was due to expire late on Thursday. There was no immediate response from the RSF to the proposal from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional bloc. The military said the presidents of South Sudan, Kenya and Djibouti worked on a proposal that includes extending the truce and talks between the two forces. "Burhan thanked the IGAD and expressed an initial approval to that," the army statement said. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat discussed working together to create a sustainable end to the fighting, the State Department said in a statement on Wednesday. Some of Wednesday's heaviest battles were in Omdurman, a city adjoining Khartoum where the army was fighting RSF reinforcements from other regions of Sudan, a Reuters reporter said. Heavy gunfire and airstrikes could be heard into the evening. In Khartoum, which together with two bordering cities is one of Africa's largest urban areas, gangs marauded and there was widespread looting. Since fighting erupted on April 15, air strikes and artillery have killed at least 512 people, wounded nearly 4,200, destroyed hospitals and limited food distribution in the vast nation where a third of the 46 million people were already reliant on humanitarian aid. MALNOURISHED CHILDREN The World Health Organization said only 16% of health facilities were functioning in Khartoum and predicted "many more deaths" due to disease and shortages of food, water and medical services including immunization. An estimated 50,000 acutely malnourished children have had treatment disrupted due to the conflict, and those hospitals still functioning are facing shortages of medical supplies, power and water, according to a U.N. update on Wednesday. Deadly clashes broke out in Geneina in West Darfur on Tuesday and Wednesday resulting in looting and civilian deaths and raising concerns about an escalation of ethnic tensions, the update said. The crisis has sent growing numbers of refugees across Sudan's borders, with the U.N. refugee agency estimating 270,000 people could flee into South Sudan and Chad alone. Foreigners evacuated from Khartoum have described bodies littering streets, buildings on fire, residential areas turned into battlefields and youths roaming with large knives. The White House said a second American had died in Sudan. "It was horrible," said Thanassis Pagoulatos, the 80-year-old Greek owner of the Acropole Hotel in Khartoum, after arriving in Athens to the embrace of emotional relatives. "It has been more than 10 days without any electricity, without water, and five days nearly without food," he added, describing shooting and bombing. "Really, the people are suffering, the Sudanese people." FORMER DICTATOR LEAVES PRISON Beyond the humanitarian crisis, civilian groups fear the violence will enable the military to tighten its grip and revive the sway of an ousted autocrat's loyalists. The army said Omar al-Bashir, the 79-year-old former dictator toppled in 2019, had been transferred from Khartoum's Kober prison to a military hospital, along with at least five of his former officials, before hostilities started. Over the weekend, thousands of inmates were freed outright from prison, including a former minister in Bashir's government who, like him, is wanted on war crimes charges by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Bashir's three-decade reign came to an end with a popular uprising four years ago. He has been in prison, with spells in hospital, on Sudanese charges related to the 1989 coup that brought him to power. "This war, which is ignited by the ousted regime, will lead the country to collapse," said Sudan's Forces of Freedom and Change (FCC), a political grouping leading an internationally backed plan to transfer to civilian rule. The plan was derailed by the eruption of fighting between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The two sides and the FCC missed an April deadline to launch the transition to democracy, largely over disputes about merging the security forces. Civilian groups have blamed groups loyal to Bashir of seeking to use conflict to find a way back to power. The RSF, whose leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo rose to power under Bashir but later dumped him, has strongly opposed the Islamists who backed the former army autocrat. Sudan's army took over in a coup two years after the toppling of Bashir. The whereabouts of Bashir came into question after a former minister in his government, Ali Haroun, announced he had left Kober prison with other former officials. The ICC in The Hague has accused Bashir of genocide, and Haroun of organising militias to attack civilians in Darfur in 2003 and 2004. It declined to comment on the situation. (Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz in Khartoum and Nadine Awadalla in Dubai; Additional reporting by Anthony Deutsch in Amsterdam, Hannah Ellison in Athens, Clotaire Achi in Paris, Giulia Paravicini in Nairobi, Michelle Nichols in New York, Denis Elamu in Juba and Tala Ramadan in Dubai; Writing by Frank Jack Daniel, Michael Georgy, Andrew Cawthorne and Cynthia Osterman; Editing by Alex Richardson, Alison Williams and Diane Craft) FILE PHOTO: Solider miniatures are seen in front of displayed Chinese and Taiwanese flags in this illustration taken, April 11, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration By Ben Blanchard and Roger Tung TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan's annual military drills this year take into account China's recent war games and focus on breaking a blockade, the defence ministry said on Wednesday, as a senior security official said Taiwan now had a "Five Eyes" intelligence link. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has ramped up military pressure in the past three years to try to assert its sovereignty claim. China practised precision strikes and blockades in drills around the island this month staged after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles. Taiwan's defence ministry said the "Han Kuang" exercises would be split into two parts - tabletop drills from May 15 to 19, and forces mobilised from July 24 to 28 in live-fire exercises. The focus will be on combat forces "preservation" and "maritime interception", it said. That will include using civilian airports and dispersing air assets, as well as disguising forces on the ground, the ministry added. The naval element will integrate sea, air and land forces to attack enemy forces and amphibious assault ships, and to protect sea lanes and counter blockade efforts, it said. "Of course our drills are based on the threat of the communists invading Taiwan and its recent military exercises around Taiwan," the ministry's combat planning chief, General Lin Wen-huang, told a news conference. Beijing has never renounced using force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims and has vowed to defend its freedom and democracy. In view of the rising threat level from China, Taiwan has sought closer security co-operation with the United States and its allies. Taking lawmaker questions in parliament on Wednesday, Tsai Ming-yen, the director-general of Taiwan's National Security Bureau said it had upgraded its computers to exchange real-time intelligence with the "Five Eyes" alliance of the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand. "We can connect with the 'Five Eyes' alliance through a confidential system," he said, without giving details. 'STRONG NAVY' Last week China's navy put out a slickly produced video to celebrate its 74th anniversary, showing the Shandong aircraft carrier and new amphibious assault ships simulating an attack and landing somewhere in "Western Pacific waters", suggesting it was planning a Taiwan contingency. "It takes a strong navy to safeguard the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday, when asked what message the video sent. "The Democratic Progressive Party authorities and Taiwan independence separatist forces are trying to collude with external forces, but there's no chance of splitting the country," she said, referring to Taiwan's ruling party. Taiwan is trying to boost its defensive capabilities by investing in new equipment such as long-range missiles and drones and by extending compulsory military service to one year. Although Taiwan's military is generally well-trained and well-equipped with mostly U.S.-made hardware, China has huge numerical superiority and is adding advanced equipment such as stealth fighters. Taiwan's domestic security chief Tsai told reporters China was using new "cognitive warfare" methods, such as artificial intelligence applications, to try to sway public opinion and spread fake news ahead of January's presidential elections. "We need to continue paying attention to what they are up to during the election process," he said. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Roger Tung; Editing by Gerry Doyle and Clarence Fernandez) FILE PHOTO: A Norfolk Southern train rests near the University of North Carolina's energy generation plant, after delivering coal to the facility, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S. August 11, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Drake WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on Wednesday said a Republican budget cut proposal would shut down 375 federally-staffed and contract-run air traffic control towers around the country and result in 7,500 fewer rail safety inspection days. Overall, it said the Republican plan, which would sharply reduce budget spending in exchange for a short-term increase in the debt ceiling, would reduce funding for U.S. transit and highway infrastructure projects by nearly $5.2 billion. The White House has said President Joe Biden would veto the legislation, and has called on Congress to raise the debt limit without conditions. President Biden and his administration have pushed back hard against the proposal from Republican House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy, which would implement $4.5 trillion in spending cuts with a $1.5 trillion increase in the $31.4 trillion U.S. debt limit. "House Republicans proposal would slash funding for programs the American people depend on in their everyday lives, including funding thats vital for ensuring transportation safety and improving our countrys infrastructure," DOT said in a factsheet. It said it estimated that cutting critical programs by 22% would lead to nearly 7,500 fewer rail safety inspection days and over 30,000 fewer miles of track inspected annually, at a time when lawmakers are calling for more inspections in the wake of the Norfolk Southern derailment disaster. It said the plan would also shut down services at some 375 of about 550 air traffic control towers, potentially increasing security wait times at Transportation Security Administration check points by over two hours. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Chris Reese and Aurora Ellis) A high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) is fired during a live fire exercise in the annual joint military exercises between U.S. and Philippine troops called "Balikatan" or shoulder-to-shoulder, held in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines By Karen Lema SAN ANTONIO, Philippines (Reuters) - U.S. and Philippine armed forces unleashed a volley of missiles on a mock enemy warship in the South China Sea on Wednesday, in a show of military power and a strengthening alliance at a time of rising regional tension. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr watched from a four-storey tower as a high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) fired rockets at a decommissioned navy corvette in the waters just a few miles off its western province of Zambales. It was the first time the annual U.S.-Philippines "Balikatan" exercises featured live fire drills at sea, at a location just a few hours by boat from one of the world's most contested maritime features, the Scarborough Shoal, which China has occupied for more than a decade. Military from both countries have said the exercises across the Philippines, which include sites facing Taiwan, were not targeted at any country. This year's war games end on Friday and with 17,000 troops are the biggest edition yet, in a sign of rekindled ties between the defence treaty partners after a period of strain under the previous, anti-U.S. president, Rodrigo Duterte. "The alliance is alive," said Colonel Michael Logico, a Philippine spokesperson for Balikatan. Marcos, who was joined by his defence and armed forces chiefs, boarded and inspected a HIMARS cab displayed at the San Antonio naval base before observing the exercise through binoculars and on a TV screen. He smiled the moment the first missile was fired, leaving a trail of smoke in the sky, part of a coordinated coastal, inland artillery bombardment and airstrike that obliterated the mock enemy target. "The president came away with a deeper appreciation for joint and combined operations," spokesperson Logico added. Marcos is due to meet U.S. counterpart Joe Biden in Washington next week and plans to discuss a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty that he feels must evolve in the face of "heating up tensions". China has criticised the military exercises, which come against the backdrop of what the Philippines calls "aggressive" Chinese actions in the South China Sea. Beijing has said the U.S.-Philippines alliance must not interfere in sea disputes or harm China's territorial sovereignty and security interests. The Philippines and United States say their activities are for defence purposes only. "There's nothing provocative about training to defend from a nation's sovereign territory," Major General Joseph Ryan, commanding general of the U.S Army's 25th Infantry Division, told reporters. "It is every sovereign nation's right to defend their space." (Additional reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Martin Petty) FILE PHOTO: Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni speaks during a Reuters interview at his farm in Kisozi settlement of Gomba district, in the Central Region of Uganda, January 16, 2022. Picture taken January 16, 2022. REUTERS/Abubaker Lubowa KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has asked lawmakers to make clear in a proposed anti-homosexuality law that it is not criminal to merely identify as gay, as part of an attempt to tone down a bill that has drawn international condemnation. Last month, lawmakers in the east African country overwhelmingly passed the proposed legislation, potentially one of the world's harshest anti-LGBTQ laws, and sent it to the president for approval. The planned law, or bill, criminalises a broad range of homosexual activity, including promoting or abetting the lifestyle and imposes stiff penalties including death for so called aggravated homosexuality. The law has stoked widespread criticism from human rights defenders, Western governments and corporations. Thomas Tayebwa, parliament's deputy speaker, read to lawmakers a letter Museveni had written to the parliament's speaker on Tuesday in which he outlined his reasons for returning the bill and what changes he wanted. In the letter Museveni said it needed to be clear and distinguish between someone who professes a homosexual lifestyle and someone who actually commits homosexuals acts. "The proposed law should be clear so that what is thought to be criminalised is not the state of one having a deviant proclivity but rather the actions of one acting on that deviancy," Museveni wrote in the letter. "The bill should be reviewed and include a provision that clearly states ... a person who is believed or alleged or suspected of being a homosexual who has not committed a sexual act with another person of the same sex does not commit an offence." He also asked lawmakers to remove provisions that impose a duty on citizens to report acts of homosexuality because it would create "constitutional challenges" and also be a source of conflict in society. He asked lawmakers to include a provision to facilitate rehabilitation of homosexuals who voluntarily renounce the practice. The country's deputy attorney general has also advised that a mandatory death penalty also be removed from the law. Tayebwa referred the bill back to parliament's legal affairs committee which will process and report on it and return it to the full House for fresh debate and passage. Once it is passed again by the full House it will be returned to the president for approval. (Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by George Obulutsa, Alexandra Hudson) FILE PHOTO: Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard's games characters in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration By Paul Sandle LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will block Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard over concerns it would hinder competition in cloud gaming, dealing an unexpected blow to the biggest-ever deal in gaming. The country's antitrust regulator said on Wednesday that Microsoft's commitment to offer access to Activision's multi-billion dollar "Call of Duty" franchise to leading cloud gaming platforms would not effectively remedy its concerns. Microsoft's president Brad Smith said in a statement the company remained fully committed to the acquisition and would appeal the decision, while Activision said it would "work aggressively" with Microsoft to reverse it. Activision's CEO Bobby Kotick told staff it was not "the news we wanted - but it is far from the final word on this deal". "We will reassess our growth plans for the UK," the company said in a separate statement. "Global innovators large and small will take note that - despite all its rhetoric - the UK is clearly closed for business." Shares in Activision, which also makes "Candy Crush", "Overwatch" and "World of Warcraft", fell nearly 12% to $76.65, moving further from Microsoft's offer price of $95 per share. The video-game publisher was set to erase nearly $8 billion in market valuation, if the losses hold. The gaming company also reported quarterly results on Wednesday, a day earlier than scheduled, beating quarterly bookings estimates although that seemed to do little to allay investor concerns about Britain's move. Shares in Microsoft rose to their highest in more than a year, a day after the maker of Office software beat Street estimates for quarterly revenue and profit. The company announced its Activision bid in January 2022 to boost its firepower in a video gaming market led by Tencent and Sony. "We expect that Microsoft will continue to fight this," Evercore ISI analyst Kirk Materne said in a note. If Microsoft throws in the towel, it would free up more than $60 billion in cash flow to either return to investors or make investments in AI-related offerings, he noted. The Activision deal is the biggest involving technology companies the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has blocked, the latest sign the UK watchdog is ready to take on Big Tech after blocking in 2021 Facebook-owner Meta's acquisition of Giphy. Europe will decide on the Activision deal by May 22. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is also seeking to block it. CLOUD CONCERNS The surprise ruling comes after the CMA last month dropped its concerns about the impact of the deal on the console market led by Sony's market-leading PlayStation. That left cloud streaming services as the remaining hurdle, which Microsoft sought to overcome by signing licensing deals with the owners of streaming platforms including Valve Corp, Nvidia and Boosteroid. It had already offered Sony - a vocal opponent of the deal - a 10-year "Call of Duty" licence, in line with an agreement to bring the multi-billion dollar franchise to Nintendo's Switch. The CMA said the cloud gaming market was forecast to be worth 11 billion pounds ($13.7 billion) globally by 2026. "Cloud gaming is growing fast with the potential to change gaming...freeing people from the need to rely on expensive consoles and gaming PCs and giving them more choice over how and where they play games," said CMA panel chair Martin Coleman. "This means that it is vital that we protect competition in this emerging and exciting market." Microsoft offers Xbox Game Pass, a subscription service for users of its Xbox console, and PC Game Pass for PC users. The CMA said Microsoft had an estimated 60%-70% of global cloud gaming services as well as competitive advantages including owning Xbox, PC operating system Windows and cloud provider Azure. ($1 = 0.8019 pounds) (Reporting by Paul Sandle; Additional reporting by Sayantani Ghosh; Editing by Kate Holton, Kirsten Donovan, Josephine Mason) Universal Music Group logo is seen displayed in this illustration taken, May 3, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration (Reuters) -Universal Music Group, the label representing Drake and Taylor Swift, on Wednesday posted a slump in first-quarter core profit due to compensation expenses, and reiterated concerns over AI-made music. Core profit, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), slumped 43.4% in constant currency to 261 million euros ($288.04 million), due to non-cash, share-based compensation expenses, part of an equity compensation plan announced last year. Excluding these expenses, adjusted EBITDA was 522 million euros, up 13.0% on the same basis, and beating a consensus cited by Credit Suisse which had expected 513 million euros. UMG's CEO, Lucian Grainge, has come under shareholder pressure over an "excessive" $100 million pay deal, The Financial Times reported on Wednesday. Grainge has overseen a strong period for UMG over the past decade, marked by growth in streaming revenues which the label collects from partnerships with the likes of Spotify and Apple Music. Labels now face challenges like slowing global revenue growth in recorded music, particularly in established markets like the U.S, while the emergence of AI-generated music adds to their concerns, as many laws do not currently deem the replication of artists' voices as strictly illegal. UMG earlier this month was successful in its bid for streaming partners to remove the song "Heart On My Sleeve," which uses AI-made voices that sound like Drake and The Weeknd. "Unlike its predecessors, much of the latest generative AI is trained on copyright material which clearly violates artists' and labels' rights and will put platforms completely at odds with the partnerships with us and our artists," the group's chief digital officer, Michael Nash, said in a call. The group posted higher first-quarter sales, helped by subscription and streaming revenue, which grew 7.1% at constant currency from a year ago to 1.33 billion euros. But Redburn analyst Agnieszka Pustula told Reuters in an e-mail that this was below expectations of 8.2% growth, despite price increases from partners like Spotify. Top sellers included King & Prince, Morgan Wallen and Taylor Swift, the group said. ($1 = 0.9061 euros) (Reporting by Olivier Sorgho; Editing by Jane Merriman, Josie Kao and Leslie Adler) KYODO NEWS - Apr 26, 2023 - 12:07 | All, World, Japan Japan will aim to attract 100 trillion yen ($750 billion) worth of foreign direct investment by 2030, and more foreign talent and remote workers known as "digital nomads," as part of its drive to boost economic growth and global competitiveness, the government said Wednesday. The numerical target, included in a new action plan, is roughly double the 46.6 trillion yen of foreign investment at the end of 2022. The government previously set an 80 trillion yen target for 2030. The plan comes as the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine have underscored the need to streamline and strengthen supply chains for critical components, and ensure national security. Japan wants to boost its standing as a production and research hub, capitalizing on a weak yen that would serve as an incentive for foreign investment. Under the plan, Japan will use funds and other resources to attract investment in strategic areas such as semiconductors, digitalization, green technology and health care. It will seek to develop necessary human resources via tripartite cooperation among the government, firms and academia. The project to build a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. chip-making plant in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, is a recent example of the public and private sectors joining hands, with the government deciding to extend financial assistance. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who wants to achieve a virtuous cycle of growth and redistribution, sees digital and green transformation as key areas of investment. "The action plan is one that will make Japan more open to the world," he said last week. Japan has lagged behind other countries in attracting investment and talent from overseas. In 2022, Japan's outward investment totaled 270 trillion yen, more than five times the figure for inward investment. With labor shortages already acute and the working population projected to shrink further, Japan, known for its strict immigration policy, has gradually opened its doors to foreign workers. As the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a fresh look at work styles, the government will consider ways to enlist digital nomads who travel while working remotely for companies, including those located overseas. Currently Japan does not issue a visa specifically for such remote workers, while dozens of nations like Iceland and Portugal offer them. The action plan also envisages allowing entrepreneurs who want to start a business in Japan to remain longer under a "startup" visa that currently allows for a maximum stay of up to one year. For professionals seeking to obtain visas for highly skilled professionals, Japan made requirements simpler, such as earning 20 million yen or more and having a master's degree or higher, this month. A record 3 million foreign nationals were living in Japan at the end of 2022, according to the government. Japan has a population of about 125 million. FILE PHOTO: U.S. Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia and Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, holds a hearing about worldwide threats, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, U.S., April 14, 2021. Saul Loeb/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday urged CEOs of several artificial intelligence (AI) companies to prioritize security measures, combat bias, and responsibly roll out new technologies. Democratic Senator Mark Warner raised concerns about potential risks posed by AI technology. "Beyond industry commitments, however, it is also clear that some level of regulation is necessary in this field," said Warner, who sent letters to the CEOs of OpenAI, Scale AI, Meta Platforms, Alphabet's Google, Apple, Stability AI, Midjourney, Anthropic, Percipient.ai, and Microsoft Corp. "With the increasing use of AI across large swaths of our economy, and the possibility for large language models to be steadily integrated into a range of existing systems, from healthcare to finance sectors, I see an urgent need to underscore the importance of putting security at the forefront of your work," Warner said. Earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he had launched an effort to establish AI rules and 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 public's 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. Microsoft is a big investor in OpenAI, which created ChatGPT. The software company and Google have been pouring billions of dollars into AI to gain an edge amid heightened competition in Silicon Valley. (Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Franklin Paul, Elaine Hardcastle) FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Supreme Court building is seen in Washington, U.S., April 6, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo By Andrew Chung and John Kruzel WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Supreme Court justices on Wednesday appeared sympathetic toward a 94-year-old woman in her battle with a Minnesota county government that sold her condominium to cover her unpaid taxes and kept the proceeds beyond the sum she owed in a case testing constitutional checks on excessive fines and property seizure. The justices heard arguments in an appeal by Geraldine Tyler of a lower court's ruling that threw out her proposed class action lawsuit accusing Hennepin County, which contains Minnesota's most-populous city Minneapolis, of violating her rights under the U.S. Constitution. It was the last scheduled argument for the current Supreme Court term, which began in October. The dispute concerns Minnesota's tax regime under which the state takes "absolute title" of a property if an owner fails to pay property taxes for five years. Under the regime, counties may keep any tax-delinquent property for a public purpose or sell it to other government entities or private buyers. After covering expenses, any remaining proceeds are given to the local school district, city and county. None is refunded to the former owner. Tyler accused the county of violating the Constitution's Fifth Amendment bar on the uncompensated taking of private property by a government for public use and Eighth Amendment protection against excessive fines. She had owed the county $15,000, including roughly $2,300 in property taxes, as well as penalties, interests and costs. Some justices pressed an attorney representing the county, Neal Katyal, after he agreed that the government could not seize the entirety of a $100,000 bank account to satisfy a $10,000 tax debt. "To say that there's a greater degree of protection for money as opposed to property, I think has it exactly backwards," conservative Chief Justice John Roberts said. In 2010, Tyler moved out of her one-bedroom condominium in Minneapolis and into an apartment building for elderly people. She then stopped paying taxes on the condo. The county said she refused other options to recoup the equity in her condo, including selling it, refinancing her mortgage or signing up for a 10-year tax payment plan. The county foreclosed on her home and in 2016 sold it at auction for $40,000, which Tyler's lawyers at the Pacific Legal Foundation conservative legal group called a "$25,000 windfall for the public" at her expense. Tax-forfeiture laws like Minnesota's are "especially pernicious for owners who have non-blameworthy reasons, including cognitive decline, physical or mental illness, or simple poverty," her lawyers said in legal papers. Tyler's attorneys said in a court filing that 13 other states have similar policies that let government or private investors benefit when collecting delinquent property taxes. The St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year upheld a judge's dismissal of the case. President Joe Biden's administration backed Tyler's claim that the county engaged in an unconstitutional taking. Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor questioned the administration's contention that a forfeited home's value should be based on the amount it was worth when title transferred from the owner to the state. "The state's being forced into being the agent for the seller, and it's going to have to take all the risk and all the responsibility for whatever happens to that property until it's sold," Sotomayor said. "Why would any state want to do that and why are you forcing states into that?" A ruling is due by the end of June. (Reporting by Andrew Chung and John Kruzel; Editing by Will Dunham) Smoke rises from the tarmac of Khartoum International Airport as a fire burns, in Khartoum, Sudan April 17, 2023 in this screen grab obtained from a social media video. Abdullah Abdel Moneim/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MAND WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A second American has died in Sudan, the White House said on Wednesday, and U.S. authorities are helping a small number of citizens seeking to leave the country during a ceasefire that has curbed fighting. While sporadic violence continues, the ceasefire announced by the United States on Monday appears to be holding, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said. "So we want to take advantage of that ceasefire to make sure that Americans know if they want to make the move ... we're gonna see what we can do to get them the information they need to link up with these ground routes," he said on CNN. "It is still dangerous. I want to stress that. It is still dangerous, but the ceasefire seems to be holding or at least contributing to a reduction in violence." The Biden administration was continuing to work with both the Sudanese army and the paramilitary force opposing it to extend the ceasefire to allow more humanitarian assistance, Kirby told reporters in a briefing earlier Wednesday. The White House's comments came as fighting between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) flared on the outskirts of the capital of Khartoum despite the truce aimed at quelling the 11-day conflict. Levels of violence appear to have decreased significantly, Kirby said. "The levels are down, but we want to see the levels at zero," he said. President Joe Biden has directed U.S. officials to help as many Americans as possible, and they were "actively facilitating the departure of a relatively small number of Americans" who wanted to leave. U.S. officials have put that number in the dozens. Some U.S. citizens had arrived at Port Sudan to evacuate, and the United States was continuing to support other limited evacuation efforts via ground routes, he added. USAID has deployed teams in the region and was prepared to help provide humanitarian assistance in the event the ceasefire was extended, Kirby told reporters. (Reporting By Steve Holland, Susan Heavey, Doina Chiacu; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Alex Richardson) FILE PHOTO-U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 6, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Wednesday welcomed a phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelenskiy but said it was too soon to tell whether it would lead to a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. "That's a good thing," White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said about the call. "Now, whether that's going to lead to some sort of meaningful peace movement, or plan, or proposal, I just don't think we know that right now." Xi spoke by telephone on Wednesday with Zelenskiy for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. The call came after months of pressure from Kyiv for such talks. Xi told Zelenskiy that China would send special representatives to Ukraine and hold talks with all parties seeking peace, Chinese state media reported. "We have long said we want this war to end," Kirby said. "It could end immediately if Putin would leave. That doesn't appear to be in the offing. "If there's going to be a negotiated peace, it's got to be when President Zelenskiy is ready for it," Kirby said, adding that the United States would welcome "any effort to arrive at a just peace as long as that peace could be ... sustainable, and could be credible." Kirby said the United States did not have advanced knowledge of the call, and would not necessarily expect to. "These are two sovereign leaders and we're glad to see that they did talk," Kirby said. (Reporting By Steve Holland, Susan Heavey and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Mark Porter) FILE PHOTO: Kenya police officers patrol near the home of a suspected follower of a Christian cult named as Good News International Church, whose members believed they would go to heaven if they starved themselves to death, in Shakahola forest of Kilifi c By Duncan Miriri MALINDI, Kenya (Reuters) - The leader of a Kenyan cult told his followers the world would end on April 15 and instructed them to starve themselves to be the first to go to heaven, a relative of cult members and hospital staff told Reuters on Wednesday. Eighty-nine followers of the Good News International Church, which was based in the Shakahola forest in eastern Kenya, are known to have died. Authorities have recovered 81 bodies from shallow graves since Friday, while eight cult members were found alive but later died. The deaths amount to one of the worst cult-related tragedies in recent history and the toll is expected to rise further, with the Kenyan Red Cross saying more than 300 people have been reported as missing. Cult leader Paul Mackenzie has been in police custody since April 14, held alongside 14 other cult members. Kenyan media have reported that he is refusing food and water. "He told them to starve themselves ahead of the worlds end on April 15, saying he would be that last one and that he would lock the doors," said Stephen Mwiti, whose wife and six children joined the cult and are feared dead. Mwiti said he had heard this from a former cult member who had been expelled for drinking water during the mass fast. Hospital staff in the coastal town of Malindi, where corpses and survivors are being taken, said they had heard the same account from survivors. "He (Mackenzie) had an elaborate plan of killing children, youths and then adults, telling them he would be the last one to starve himself to death," said one of the hospital staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Mwiti said he had raised the alarm with police, but felt that he had been ignored. A spokeswoman for the police said she would respond to a request for comment later. Reuters has not been able to reach any lawyer or representative who could speak on Mackenzie's behalf regarding the accusations against him. 'MY HEART IS ACHING' Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome told media on Monday that Mackenzie had been arrested and arraigned in court on March 23, then released on bail for a surety of 10,000 shillings ($75). He accelerated his starvation plan after he was freed, according to the accounts heard by Reuters. At the morgue at Malindi hospital, dozens of people were seeking news of relatives they feared were among the dead. "My heart is aching so much," said Mwachai Jombo, 48, a resident of Malindi as he searched for his missing wife, son and two daughters who had joined the cult three years ago. The Red Cross has donated a refrigerated container on a truck to help preserve some of the corpses as the morgue is now too full. Two emaciated women were found alive early on Wednesday and were being evacuated to Malindi's hospital, according to Red Cross staff in Malindi. That brought the total number of known survivors to 36. Reuters reporters were granted access to a ward where four women survivors were being treated. All four were weak and emaciated, and they avoided eye contact with other people. They all had very short hair - in line with the cult's rules for women, according to relatives. One of them, Shamim Salim, 26, was being spoon-fed soup by a well-wisher. She said she had bought three acres of land in the Shakahola forest, where she lived with her husband and three children. They were still in the forest, she said. She declined to speak about the church's teachings or her experiences. (This story has been refiled to clarify that Mackenzie is not known to have a representative to speak for him in paragraph 10) (Writing by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Alison Williams) UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 6-K REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the month of April 2023 Commission File Number: 001-31528 IAMGOLD Corporation (Translation of registrant's name into English) 401 Bay Street Suite 3200, PO Box 153 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 2Y4 Tel: (416) 360-4710 (Address of principal executive offices) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F. [ ] Form 20-F [ x ] Form 40-F Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ____ Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders. Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ____ Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrants home country), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrants securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrants security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR. Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes [ ] No [ x ] If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________ SUBMITTED HEREWITH Exhibits SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. IAMGOLD CORPORATION (Registrant) Date: April 26, 2023 By: /s/ Tim Bradburn Tim Bradburn Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS EXHIBIT 99.1 EXHIBIT 99.1 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 6-K REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO SECTION 13A-16 OR 15D-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the month of April 2023 Commission File Number: 001-41072 Iris Energy Limited (Translation of registrants name into English) Level 12, 44 Market Street Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia +61 2 7906 8301 (Address of principal executive office) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F Form 40-F Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): EXPLANATORY NOTE On April 26, 2023, Iris Energy Limited (the Company) released a press release providing an update on the installation of its 5.5 EH/s of operating capacity. A copy of the Companys press release is furnished hereto as Exhibit 99.1. EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Description 99.1 Press Release of Iris Energy Limited, dated April 26, 2023 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Iris Energy Limited Date: April 26, 2023 By: /s/ Daniel Roberts Daniel Roberts Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director As previously reported, on April 24, 2023, in connection with the special meeting in lieu of Annual Meeting of stockholders (the Special Meeting) to be held on May 2, 2023, Juniper II Corp., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and Juniper II Management, LLC (the Sponsor) entered into non-redemption agreements (each a Non-Redemption Agreement) with 7 unaffiliated third parties (each, an Initial Holder) pursuant to which the Initial Holders agreed to either not request redemption in connection with the Extension Proposal (as defined in the Proxy Statement (as defined below)) or to reverse any previously submitted redemption demand with respect to an aggregate of 2,240,900 shares of the Companys Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the Class A Common Stock). In connection therewith, immediately prior to, and substantially concurrently with, the closing of an initial business combination, the Sponsor agreed to forfeit 672,270 shares of the Companys Class B common stock, par value $0.001 (Class B Common Stock), held by the Sponsor (the Initial Forfeited Shares), and in consideration of the Initial Holders agreements, the Company agreed to issue to the Initial Holders a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the Initial Forfeited Shares. On April 25, 2023, an Initial Holder amended and restated its Non-Redemption Agreement to increase its non-redemption shares from 40,900 to 400,000, with a corresponding increase in the related Forfeited Shares to 120,000. On April 25, 2023, the Company entered into additional Non-Redemption Agreements with 4 unaffiliated third parties (each an Additional Holder). The Additional Holders agreed to either not request redemption in connection with the Extension Proposal or to reverse any previously submitted redemption demand with respect to an aggregate of 1,600,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. In connection therewith, immediately prior to, and substantially concurrently with, the closing of an initial business combination, the Sponsor (or its designees) will surrender and forfeit to the Company for no consideration an aggregate of 480,000 shares of the Companys Class B Common Stock held by the Sponsor (the Additional Forfeited Shares and, together with the Initial Forfeited Shares, the Forfeited Shares), and in consideration of the Additional Holders agreements, the Company shall issue to the Additional Holders a number of Class A Common Stock equal to the Additional Forfeited Shares. Following the entry into the Non-Redemption Agreements on April 25, 2023, an aggregate of 4,200,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and 1,260,000 Forfeited Shares are subject to Non-Redemption Agreements. The foregoing summary of the Non-Redemption Agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Non-Redemption Agreement. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This communication includes statements that are forward-looking and as such are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements and factors that may cause such differences include, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Companys expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on the Companys behalf are qualified in their entirety by this Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements section. Participants in the Solicitation The Company, the Sponsor and the Companys directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Companys stockholders in respect of the Special Meeting. Important information regarding the Companys directors and executive officers is available in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 11, 2023, for the Special Meeting (the Proxy Statement). Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests are contained in the Proxy Statement. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13D (Amendment No. 2) Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 NOBLE ROMANS, INC. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock (Title of Class of Securities) 655107100 (CUSIP Number) BT Brands, Inc. Gary Copperud 405 Main Avenue West, Suite 2D, West Fargo, North Dakota 58078 (307) 223-1663 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) March 31, 2023 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement) If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), Rule 13d-1(f) or Rule 13d-1(g), check the following box. Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7(b) for other parties to whom copies are to be sent. *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). CUSIP No.: 655107100 (1) Names of reporting persons: Gary Copperud (2) Check the appropriate box if a member of a group: (a) (b) (3) SEC use only. (4) Source of funds: PF (5) Check if disclosure of legal proceedings is required pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e): (6) Citizenship or place of organization: United States Number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person with: (7) Sole Voting Power: 379,176+ (8) Shared Voting Power: (9) Sole Dispositive Power: 176,031 (10) Shared Dispositive Power: (11) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 379,176 (12) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions): (13) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11): 1.71* (14) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) IN + Includes 203,145 shares of Common Stock owned by Sally Copperud, Mr. Copperuds wife, over which Mr. Copperud exercises voting power by virtue of a proxy granted by Mrs. Copperud to Mr. Copperud dated April 21, 2023. * Based on 22,215,512 shares of common stock outstanding as March 15, 2023, as disclosed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on April 13, 2023 (the Form 10-K). 2 CUSIP No.: 655107100 (1) Names of reporting persons: BT Brands, Inc. (2) Check the appropriate box if a member of a group: (a) (b) (3) SEC use only. (4) Source of funds: WC (5) Check if disclosure of legal proceedings is required pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e): (6) Citizenship or place of organization: Wyoming Number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person with: (7) Sole Voting Power: 1,421,647 (8) Shared Voting Power: 0 (9) Sole Dispositive Power: 1,421,647 (10) Shared Dispositive Power: (11) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 1,421,647 (12) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions): (13) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11): 6.39%* (14) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) CO * Based on 22,215,512 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 15, 2023, as disclosed in the Form 10-K. 3 This Amendment No. 2 (Amendment No. 2) to Schedule 13D (this Schedule 13D) is filed by BT Brands, Inc. (BT Brands) and Gary Copperud (the Reporting Persons) and relates to the beneficial ownership of certain shares of common stock, no par value per share (the Common Stock), of Noble Romans, Inc., an Indiana corporation (Noble Romans or the Issuer). Amendment No. 2 amends the initial statement on Schedule 13D filed by the Reporting Person on November 28, 2022, as amended on February 24, 2023 (as amended prior to the date hereof, the Original Filing, and as amended by this Amendment No. 2, the Amendment No. 2). Except as specifically provided herein, this Amendment No. 2 does not modify any of the information previously reported in the Original Filing. Capitalized terms used but not defined have the meaning given them in the Original Filing. Item 4. Purpose of Transaction Item 4 of the Original Filing is hereby amended to delete the text of Item 4 in its entirety and replace it with the following: The purpose of this Amendment No. 2 is to report that since the date on which Amendment No. 1 was filed, as of April 24, 2023, BTB had acquired a net additional 170,494 shares of Common Stock, equal to approximately 0.77% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, since the date of the Original Filing. A further purpose for filing this Amendment is to provide an update on the Reporting Persons' activities concerning the Issuer. On March 5, 2023, BT Brands submitted a demand to inspect certain books and records of the Issuer in accordance with Indiana law, encompassing (1) resolutions adopted by the Issuers board of directors (Board) with respect to its class of Common Stock, including resolutions by which the Board authorized the issuance of any shares of Common Stock, resolutions authorizing the issuance or award of all options, warrants, or other rights to acquire Common Stock, and a copy of each option, warrant or other written instrument granting the holder the right to acquire shares of Common Stock; (2) minutes of all shareholders meetings, and records of all action taken by shareholders without a meeting, for the past three years; and (3) all written communications to shareholders generally within the past three years. On April 17, 2023, BT Brands delivered a letter to the Issuer (the Nomination Letter) nominating Gary Copperud for election to the Board at the Issuers 2023 annual meeting of stockholders (the Annual Meeting). to serve as the Class 3 Director on the Board and advising the Issuer that it intends to solicit proxies or written consents for the election of the Nominee (the Solicitation), or any other person(s) nominated by BT Brands, to the Board at the Annual Meeting. In connection with the nomination, BT Brands and Gary Copperud entered into Nomination Agreement (the Nomination Agreement), a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Amendment No. 2 and incorporated herein by reference, pursuant to which BT Brands agreed to indemnify Mr. Copperud against claims arising from his service on the Board, if so elected, and to reimburse him for all expenses incurred. Mr. Copperud has granted BT Brands a power of attorney to execute certain SEC filings in connection with the Solicitation. A form of the Power of Attorney is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated herein by reference. The Reporting Persons may engage in discussions with management, the Board, other shareholders of the Issuer and other relevant parties, including representatives of any of the foregoing, concerning the Reporting Persons investment in the Common Stock and the Issuer, including, without limitation, matters concerning the Issuers business, operations, board appointments, governance, performance, management, capitalization, debt, liquidity and strategic plans. The Reporting Persons may exchange information with any persons pursuant to appropriate confidentiality or similar agreements or otherwise, work together with any persons pursuant to joint agreements or otherwise, propose changes in the Issuer's business, operations, board appointments, governance, management, capitalization, debt, liquidity and strategic plans, or propose or engage in one or more other actions set forth herein. The Reporting Persons may also propose or take one or more of the actions described in subsections (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D, not otherwise described in this Amendment No. 2, including the solicitation of proxies, and may discuss such actions with the Issuer and Issuer's management and the Board, other stockholders of the Issuer and other interested parties. The Reporting Persons intend to review their investment in the Issuer on a continuing basis. Depending on various factors, including, without limitation, the outcome of any discussions referenced above, the Issuer's financial position and strategic direction, actions taken by management or the Board, price levels of the Common Stock, other investment opportunities available to the Reporting Persons, conditions in the securities market and general economic and industry conditions, the Reporting Persons may in the future take such actions with respect to their investment in the Issuer as they deem appropriate, including, without limitation, purchasing additional shares of Common Stock or selling some or all of their shares of Common Stock, and/or otherwise changing their intention with respect to any and all matters referred to in Item 4 of Schedule 13D. The Reporting Persons may, at any time and from time to time, review or reconsider their position and/or change their purpose and/or formulate plans or additional proposals with respect to their investment in the Common Stock. Except as otherwise described herein, the Reporting Persons have not entered into any agreement with any third party to act together for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of the Common Stock reported herein. 4 Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer. (a) The aggregate percentage of shares reported owned by each person named herein is based upon 22,215,512 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 15, 2023, as disclosed in the Form 10-K. As of the close of business on the date hereof, BTB individually beneficially owned 1,421.647 shares of Common Stock, constituting approximately 6.39% of all of the outstanding Shares. As of the close of business on the date hereof, Mr. Copperud individually beneficially owned 379,176 shares of Common Stock, which includes 203,145 shares of Common Stock owned by Sally Copperud, Mr. Copperuds wife, over which Mr. Copperud exercises voting power by virtue of a proxy granted by Mrs. Copperud to Mr. Copperud dated April 22, 2023, constituting approximately 1.71% of all outstanding Shares. Mr. Copperud owns 948,540 shares of common stock of BTB (including securities exercisable for or convertible shares into shares of BTB common stock within 60 days of the date hereof), representing approximately 14.83% of the outstanding shares of common stock of that company. The Reporting Persons, in the aggregate, beneficially own 1,437,454 shares of Common Stock, constituting approximately 8.11% of the outstanding Shares. (b) BTB has sole power to vote or direct the vote of and the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of the 1,421,647 shares of Common Stock held by BTB. Mr. Copperud has sole power to vote or direct the vote of and the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of the 176,031 shares of Common Stock held by him and has the power to vote the 203,145 shares of Sally Copperud pursuant to a proxy granted by Mrs. Copperud to Mr. Copperud dated April 22, 2023. Date Number of Shares Purchased Price Per share Aggregate Purchase Price 02/24/23 13,971 0.31 4,338 02/24/2023 13,500 0.33 4,462 02/24/2023 100 0.32 32 03/31/2023 132,923 0.29 38,395 04/14/23 7,500 0.28 2,107 04/17/23 200 0.28 63 04/18/23 466 0.28 137.43 04/21/23 444 0.28 131.27 (d) No Person other than the Reporting Persons have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of distributions or dividends from, or the proceeds from the transfer of, the reported securities. (e) Not Applicable. Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer. Other than as described in Item 5 hereof and listed in Item 7 below, the Reporting Persons have not entered into any contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships with respect to securities of the Issuer. Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits. 5 SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: April 25, 2023 BT BRANDS, INC. By: /s/ Gary Copperud Name: Gary Copperud Title: Chief Executive Officer GARY COPPERUD /s/ Gary Copperud 6 ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS NOMINATION AGREEMENT POWER OF ATTORNEY Edwards Air Force Base in California is set to become the first U.S. military base to have electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft on site for airmen to put to the test. Two of the aircraft, sometimes called electronic air taxis, are expected to arrive at the base early next year, with up to seven more delivered in subsequent months, manufacturer Joby Aviation announced Tuesday. The Air Force in recent years has been supporting the development of electric aircraft, which it describes as more environmentally friendly, quieter and cheaper to maintain than fuel-burning planes and helicopters. The Joby Aviation aircraft is powered by six electric motors, can carry a pilot and four passengers, and is said to have a range of up to 150 miles. The delivery is part of a $55 million contract extension between the company and the Air Force that brings their total agreement to over $130 million, the company said in a statement. AFWERX, an Air Force program that supports technological innovation, awarded Joby the contract. Its also working with several other companies to accelerate fielding of the most promising eVTOL technologies. The Army, Navy and Marine Corps also are looking into the technology. Manufacturers of electronic aircraft envision a wide range of military uses, including reconnaissance, transportation, logistics and medical evacuations. Theyre also being developed for commercial use. Tuesdays announcement came just days after four pilots became the first airmen to remotely fly an eVTOL aircraft through a transition. Thats when the propellers of an aircraft moving vertically tilt forward and allow it to move horizontally. Once the aircraft arrive at Edwards Air Force Base, airmen will train to fly them remotely and from inside the aircraft, Megan Lamb, a spokeswoman for Joby Aviation said by email. In March 2022, two Air Force pilots in New York state become the first airmen to fly inside an electric aircraft through the AFWERX Agility Prime program. That aircraft was made by Vermont-based Beta Technologies. Edwards Air Force Base is the Air Forces second-largest base and has been the site of scores of aviation milestones. Its where Capt. Chuck Yeager and the Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier on Oct. 14, 1947. Its also where the X-15 became the first winged aircraft to fly Mach 4, 5 and 6. We ae honored to continue the tradition of accelerating emerging aviation technology as we become the first base to exercise electric air taxis, Lt. Col. Adam Brooks, director of the Air Forces Emerging Technologies Combined Test Force, said in the statement. KYODO NEWS - Apr 26, 2023 - 12:00 | World, All Australia said Wednesday it will host a Quad group meeting with the leaders of India, Japan and the United States in Sydney on May 24. The Quad meeting will take place after the three-day Group of Seven industrialized nations summit from May 19 in Hiroshima, western Japan. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to visit Hiroshima for the summit, while the White House has announced that U.S. President Joe Biden will also attend. Albanese told reporters that the Quad leaders will discuss global economic conditions, growing strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, the ongoing impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and other issues. Albanese and Biden will discuss with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi how to deepen cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, maritime domain awareness and a range of other issues, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. "The Quad is committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is respectful of sovereignty and ensures security and growth for all," Albanese said in a statement. "I look forward to discussing with Quad Leaders how we -- alongside important regional institutions, such as ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Indian Ocean Rim Association and our regional partners -- can shape the Indo-Pacific region we all want to live in." ASEAN refers to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The group first held a virtual summit in March 2021. It will be the third in-person meeting of the Quad leaders and the first hosted by Australia. The Quad countries have ramped up engagement with each other in recent years, moving to the leaders' level under the Biden administration as the United States looks to rally allies and like-minded countries to counter China's growing clout in the region. (Tribune News Service) On a crisp Tuesday afternoon, four of the most advanced fighter jets in the world emerged like speeding, roaring, dark seeds from banks of silvery white clouds above Truax Field on Madison's North Side. Minutes later, Lt. Col. Mike Koob of the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing emerged from the cockpit of one of the sleek, gray F-35s that had rolled to a stop before hundreds of upbeat invited guests and unfurled a state flag and a small banner honoring Maj. "Hawk" Jones, a Madison-based airman who was killed in a crash in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in 2020. After years of planning, controversy and robust efforts to both attract and keep the aircraft out of Madison, the first of 20 F-35s to be stationed at Truax had arrived at their new home. Three of the four will be staying in Madison permanently assigned to the 115th Fighter Wing and one will be returning to another base. "We really appreciate the support of the host city," Koob said as guests lined up to have photos taken with the plane. "It really means a lot to come here and have this outpouring of support." The rest of the F-35s are expected to start a permanent assignment at the airfield over the next year. "We find ourselves now in an age where national borders are no longer recognized, and the international order as we know it is being tested," said Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp, the adjutant general for Wisconsin. "As we engage in this new era of great power competition, the ability of this fighter wing to deliver reliable F-35 combat airpower is vital to the national defense of our nation. "To the airmen of the 115th Fighter Wing: You have been entrusted with the most advanced and lethal weapons system the Air Force has ever fielded in its arsenal," he said. "In your hands now is the F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. A magnificent aircraft." The jet, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is described as the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world. But the fighter also has faced criticism over costs and technical difficulties. The roughly 2,500 F-35s the Pentagon plans to acquire are estimated to cost $1.27 trillion to operate and maintain over the next 66 years, according to the Government Accountability Office. Truax has been home to the Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing since 1948 and was most recently home to a group of F-16 jets that were among the oldest in operation. In 2020, the Air Force chose Madison and Montgomery, Ala. as the two latest Air National Guard locations that will fly the new jets. In October, the 115th Fighter Wing moved the older generation F-16 fighter jets from Truax in preparation for the arrival of the F-35s. To accommodate the new jets, Truax is undergoing a roughly $120 million renovation. The 115th has a long history of successfully converting from one aircraft to another, but the current conversion is thought to be as significant, if not more significant, than moving from propeller driven aircraft to jets in the early 1950s, akin to moving from a flip phone to a smartphone, military officials have said. "The F-16 was developed in the late 1970's," Capt. Leslie Westmont said. "The F-35A represents a quantum leap in combat aviation technology, with its very low observable air frame, electronic warfare, sensor integration and weapons capabilities." "Imagine the technological differences between an aircraft built in the 1980s versus something rolling off the factory line today," Koob said. Col. Bart Van Roo, the 115th Fighter Wing commander, said the F-35's arrival is one of the most exciting days in the fighter wing's history. "Our focus turns today to ensuring that our wing and these new aircraft are ready to respond at a moment's notice to whatever is asked of us," Van Roo said. "We ask all of you, for your collaboration and partnership to maximize these capabilities as we take on this new mission. Madison and the 115th was chosen for our history of producing the world's most capable airmen. Our pilots, maintainers and support personnel have never been more needed." Despite the festivities on base, "No F-35" signs still dot much of the East and North sides, and there is ongoing uncertainty over what their impact will be on residents who live near Truax and the Dane County Regional Airport. Those opposed to the jets being stationed at Truax say noise and the possibility for other pollution will particularly affect low-income residents and people of color. An Air Force environmental impact found that the presence of the F-35s will increase takeoffs from Truax by 27% and expose more than 1,000 homes to average daily noise of 65 decibels or more a level deemed "incompatible" with residential use, though not uninhabitable. The Safe Skies Clean Water Coalition, which has fought the basing of the planes in Madison, has tried to enlist the support of Democratic leaders in the state, including in a full-page ad in the Wisconsin State Journal addressed to Gov. Tony Evers last month in which it called the move "child abuse." "Unlike the F-35s, which the Air Force admits are four times louder than the former F-16's, the governor has been quieter than a church mouse on this issue," Safe Skies organizer Tom Boswell said at a protest outside the base the next day. "By the time he speaks up and addresses the concerns of his constituents on this issue, it may be too late to protect our infants and school children from the egregious damage the F-35s are likely to cause." The concerns were not lost at Tuesday's observance. Knapp noted that in early March, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D- Madison, announced that the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs is receiving a $798,000 grant from the Department of Defense to conduct community outreach and noise mitigation planning to prepare for the jets' arrival at Truax Field. The grant will fund community outreach initiatives including town halls and multilingual education initiatives and prepare a feasibility study to assess noise mitigation options for affected neighborhoods and develop best strategies for mitigation. Historically, Truax air operations have been conducted between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, Westmont said. "This will continue with F-35 operations," she said. Also, given the increased use of simulation for training in the F-35A and concentration of flight operations at Volk Field Air National Guard Base and the Hardwood Air-to-Ground Weapons Range near Camp Douglas, Truax Field will likely experience fewer flight operations annually with the F-35A, she said. "To those that are less than excited about the arrival of the F-35 today, know that we will continue to be responsible and honest members of the community the community where we work, live, worship, and raise our families as faithful Wisconsinites," said Brigadier Gen. David May, deputy adjutant general for air. (c)2023 The Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wis.) Visit at www.wisconsinstatejournal.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany All Army barracks and family housing units in Europe will be checked for mold as part of the services effort to eliminate substandard living conditions worldwide. Unit leadership will physically inspect all barracks rooms, focusing on mold and assessing any other health, safety or functionality issues that required immediate correction, Capt. Aaron Smith, a spokesman for U.S. Army Europe and Africa, said Friday in a statement. A USAREUR-AF spokeswoman confirmed Monday that family housing at Army bases in Europe also will be inspected. The Army in Europe will have a lot of ground to cover when inspections begin. The review will include 10,000 Army family housing units, 15,000 barracks spaces and about 7,500 other buildings, Smith said Monday. Unit leaders will work with garrison commanders, housing officials and facility managers to determine inspection times, he said. Soldiers and families will then be notified, Smith added. A Pentagon order requires Army commanders to inspect all quarters and offices of active-duty soldiers by Nov. 18 to check for unhealthy, unsafe, substandard living conditions, USA Today reported earlier this month. The directive comes on the heels of the relocation of more than 1,000 soldiers at Fort Bragg, N.C., due to mold-infested barracks this fall. Base leaders at Fort Bragg announced in August that about a dozen buildings no longer met standards for heating, ventilation and air conditioning because of mold growth in rooms. Mold problems also have been reported at Fort Stewart in Georgia and Fort Meade in Maryland. The inspections in Europe will look at structural conditions of walls, ceilings and doors, Smith said. Electrical and plumbing systems also will be assessed, as will environmental issues such as temperature, insects, mold and mildew. Tenants will be able to share their concerns during interviews and Army leaders will use the findings to prioritize spending on improvements, he said. In Europe, mold-related issues do not comprise a significant percentage of the concerns that our residents bring to our attention, Smith said. On-base housing in Europe, however, tends to be older than units provided by Army installations stateside. And soldiers and their families tend to be less satisfied with base housing in Europe, as results from the annual Army housing survey released this year showed. Out of 20 Army domestic and overseas installations with housing managed by the government, the bottom four in overall satisfaction were in Germany. The lowest, Ansbach and Stuttgart, were rated as poor, signifying substandard performance and strong displeasure with the property and/or level of service. Army leaders in Europe at the time said hundreds of millions of dollars in housing improvements and new units are slated for Europe bases over the next six years. Reviews of Army Reserve and National Guard buildings are expected to be included in a separate inspection order, USA Today reported. SAN ANTONIO, Philippines The Philippines president was on hand Wednesday as one of the U.S. Armys best-known weapons missed its target a decommissioned warship floating miles away in the South China Sea during a live-fire exercise. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. observed from a tower as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, fired six times at the Philippine navy corvette, invisible over the horizon, and a narrator over a public address system described the action down range. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson sat beside Marcos. The two HIMARS launchers designed to strike targets on land missed each time, but a barrage of ordnance from U.S. and Philippine artillery and aircraft eventually sank the vessel. Shore-based fire against a ship is exceptionally hard, Lt. Col. Nick Mannweiler, a spokesman for Marine Corps Forces Pacific, said during the drill at Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui. The training was part of Balikatan, an annual joint exercise involving more than 17,000 U.S. and Filipino troops that wraps up Friday. Balikatan, the largest ever in terms of troop numbers, demonstrates further evidence of a decided shift by Marcos toward the Philippines longtime ally the United States. His predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, employed a friendlier approach toward regional rival China, which nonetheless continued to assert control over maritime territory the Philippines claims in the South China Sea. The HIMARS failure to hit a vessel at sea wasnt a big deal, according to Mannweiler. The training tested troops ability to sense a ship and pass targeting information to weapons operated by the U.S. and Philippines, he said. The training sets the condition for more fruitful work like this in future, Mannweiler said. Once the HIMARS was fired, artillerymen from the 25th Infantry Division and their Philippine counterparts pounded the boat with 105 mm and 155 mm rounds fired from howitzers. Those rounds were on target, said U.S. Army Maj. Jeff Tolbert, a spokesman for the 25th Infantry Division. Finally, U.S. and Philippine aircraft took turns attacking the target boat with guns and bombs. An Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone soared overhead, feeding images of the target to commanders calling in the attacks. A Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter delivered the final blow, and the vessel sank around 2:50 p.m., Tolbert said. The HIMARS launchers belong to 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., said battalion commander Lt. Col. Tim Lynch. Marcos inspected one of the launchers before the live-fire exercise. That launcher, dubbed Wild Bill, is part of Outlaw Platoon, said Alpha Battery commander Capt. Cody Dobiyanski, who showed Marcos around. The U.S. provided HIMARS batteries, designed to strike targets on land, to Ukraine last year. Its been credited with evening the odds for the Ukrainians, who are battling Russian invaders. In combat, U.S. forces would likely use a torpedo or Harpoon missiles against a warship, Mannweiler said. Philippine army Col. Mike Logico, director of the Joint Command Training Center, told reporters that Marcos understands the challenges of a large-scale bilateral exercise. What we demonstrated was the capabilities of the HIMARS and probably also its limitations, he said. (Tribune News Service) Community concerns over the Marine Corps Ewa Beach Puuloa Range Training Facility escalated Tuesday when the state House passed a nonbinding resolution urging the relocation of the firing range due to noise, safety and possible lead exposure to nearby homes, the shoreline and sea. A similar resolution is being considered by the state Senate. The Marines began using the firing range in the early 1900s. But complaints have increased as Ewa Beach has evolved from an agricultural community to suburbs full of families, and now there are plans for the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to develop 600 homes near the firing range. It's the Marines' only 1,000-yard "known distance firing range" for sniper training in Hawaii and the only location where all 7,000 Hawaii-based Marines can undergo annual rifle qualifications out to 500 yards, said Marine Lt. Mark McDonough, spokesperson for Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Theres been a lot of criticism of the sniper training, McDonough told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser following passage of the House resolution. But the most important training is the annual rifle qualification that everyone all 7,000 active-duty Marines have to do at PRTF (Puuloa Range Training Facility). We need both. We cant have one or the other. State Rep. Rose Martinez (D, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point) introduced the House resolution and said she hopes it leads to discussions with the Marines over moving the firing range somewhere else. Her constituents have suggested several alternative locations, all of them outside of Martinez's district, she said. But McDonough said discussions already have begun, including invitations to city, state and congressional members and their representatives that included a tour of the firing range on April 17 in response to community concerns and questions. "Marine Corps Base Hawaii is completely supportive to help with the comfort of our neighbors in the community," McDonough said. The call to relocate the Puuloa Range Training Facility comes amid growing concerns about the militarys presence in Hawaii following outrage over a series of leaks into Oahus drinking water supply from the Navys Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility. Then in January an estimated 700 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from the U.S. Space Force Maui Space Surveillance Complex at the summit of Haleakala. Legislators have been pushing state officials to take hard-line positions on upcoming negotiations with the military on leases of state land to continue military operations in Hawaii. Asked about the timing of the House resolution urging relocation of the Marines' firing range, Mike Plowman a member of the Ewa Neighborhood Board said, "You strike while the iron's hot." Plowman is also a member of the Surfrider Foundation of Oahu Beach Protection Committee who supports relocating the firing range. Multiple people who supported the House and Senate resolutions emphasized that "we are not anti-military," as Martinez put it. Martinez said she introduced the House resolution in response to "public outcry" that begins with loudspeaker orders that blare across the firing range beginning at 6 a.m., followed by live fire that lasts until 7 p.m. Ewa Neighborhood Board member Alexander Gaos called living next to the firing range "essentially a fireworks show." Along with environmental concerns over lead exposure, Martinez said that Ewa Beach residents overall have concerns of "family health, safety and quality of life." In response to complaints over constant loudspeaker orders such as "cease fire, cease fire" the Marines are looking at first-of-its kind technology for smaller, more individualized speakers on individual firing lanes. McDonough said environmental assessments have not found any evidence that lead bullets have left the firing range. The Marine Corps already has relocated its most precarious short-range firing range (known as Foxtrot) 40 meters inland to reduce the threat of shoreline erosion. Its sister ranges Charlie, Delta and Echo do not have the same erosion risks, McDonough said. There is no room to relocate the Bravo 600-yard firing range or the Alpha 1, 000-yard firing range, but there also is no current erosion threat, McDonough said. In a March statement announcing the relocation of the Foxtrot firing range, Marine Maj. Jeffry P. Hart said, "We have a responsibility to protect the natural resources we are entrusted to manage. As stewards of this land, we must preserve and protect resources while maintaining the operational effectiveness of PRTF to keep Marines, Joint Force members and law enforcement officers trained and ready. These upcoming plans are a great step in the right direction for (Marine Corps Base Hawaii)." He said the Marines are working with the state Department of Health to sample and analyze potential lead around the firing range perimeter. In a statement, Col. Speros C. Koumparakis, commanding officer of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, said in the March announcement, "It is my intent for MCBH to pursue these changes at PRTF to ensure the longevity of the training facility and the health and safety of the surrounding environment and community." (c)2023 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit at www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Tribune News Service) The Navy said Monday that it's committing $6 million to modernize the power grid supplying Kalaeloa and will work in partnership with Hawaiian Electric. Meredith Berger, assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations and environment, announced the funding as part of a visit to Hawaii to review Navy sustainability and environmental projects. Craig Nakamoto, executive director of the Hawaii Community Development Authority, said in a statement that "we are grateful to share the common goal of community building with the Navy, and are thankful for the work of our Congressional Delegation, State and County Lawmakers, (assistant) Secretary Berger, the Navy, community members and everyone else involved, because this will ensure the Kalaeloa community has the reliable energy to thrive." Berger's stop in Hawaii is part of a series of visits around the country between Earth Day and Arbor Day highlighting her agenda focusing on what she calls the "three C's": communities, critical infrastructure and climate action. But in Hawaii the Navy's relationship with all three is being heavily scrutinized since November 2021 after fuel from its underground Red Hill facility spilled into the Navy's Oahu water system, which serves 93,000 people. The military is now trying to remove by summer 2024 the 104 million gallons of fuel in the underground tanks which sit just 100 feet above a critical aquifer that most of Honolulu relies on for drinking water. The crisis has deeply strained relations between island residents and the Navy. In 2015, Hawaii, which has some of the most expensive energy bills in the country, became the first state to pledge to work toward powering the state with 100% renewable energy by 2045. Despite a host of renewable-energy projects, Hawaii is also still among the most petroleum-dependent states, depending heavily on oil and coal brought in by sea to power its electrical grid one it shares with the Navy. The Navy has for years worked with Hawaiian Electric on solar panel developments and other renewable-energy projects to bolster the grid. These investments largely continued even under the administration of former President Donald Trump, a coal and oil proponent who expressed vocal disdain for renewable-energy projects and heavily slashed Pentagon programs aimed at tracking climate change and developing renewable energy. "Hawaii has this incredible renewable-energy portfolio standard that sets the mark," Berger told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. "It lines up with what I am trying to do, what we are trying to do, at the Department of the Navy. Finding renewable, reliable, redundant energy is good whether you're inside or outside the fence line. This is an island. This is a community. This is a place where everybody is working off of the same dependencies when it comes to electricity and water and other basic baseline requirements. And so as we think about how to enhance that, it is an inside-outside the fence line (effort). It is community enhancement as we head towards that resiliency." But Berger's emphasis on renewable energy and climate issues has harsh critics on both the right and left who see it as political posturing. Some congressional Republicans have lambasted the Biden administration's interest in military green and renewable-energy projects as an activist project that distracts from national security. But Berger argues that climate change and dependence on fossil fuels are themselves global security issues that affect both military readiness and operations. "As we think about what it means to operate, and this is especially true for the Navy and Marine Corps, as we see the increased impacts of more extreme weather too much water, too little water, the temperature extremes that come with this it creates conflict globally," she said. "The first responders when it comes to these conflicts are Navy and Marine Corps. Being that first response means that there is a broader mission set that they have to respond to, and these impacts make it harder for them to be able to respond." She noted that the military, and the Navy and Marine Corps in particular, are often called upon to respond to natural disasters like tropical storms. However, military operations themselves require burning huge amounts of fuel. "We are one of the biggest users, and by association, contributors to greenhouse gases," Berger said. "So as we go, and we are emitting these greenhouse gases, we see the temperature change. So we are actually contributing to the increased mission set that we are responding to. So there is a cycle here." The Navy is conducting constant operations across the Pacific. Among its focuses are "freedom of navigation operations" in the South China Sea, a critical waterway through which one-third of all international trade travels. China claims nearly the entire sea as its own sovereign territory against the objections of many of its neighbors, fueling territorial and navigation disputes that have led to increasing militarization of the sea. Berger argued that in addition to addressing the climate crisis, embracing renewable energy would be a game-changer for Navy and Marine forces, freeing them from burdensome supply chains and messy fuels. She said with those tools "it means that we are quieter, it means we are on station longer, it means that there is a reduction in that logistics tail which is, historically, one of the things that causes the greatest disadvantage to any fighting force." But for the time being the military remains dependent on fuel, and in Hawaii, Red Hill has become an inescapable symbol of that dependence. While visiting Hawaii, Berger met with state Department of Health officials to discuss ongoing preparation for defueling operations. On Monday the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General also released a report analyzing the sequence of events that led to the Red Hill water crisis and whether the EPA's oversight effectively addressed the potential for contamination at the Red Hill site. The report asserted that the EPA largely did its job and could have done little in its role to stop the crisis, but the IG also criticized both the agency and the Navy for their approaches to releasing information. The report charged that "the lack of clearly communicated data may cause the public to be unaware of or confused about existing and potential groundwater contamination at the Red Hill facility." The report also found that several stakeholders and agencies including the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Hawaii Commission on Water Resources Management and U.S. Geological Survey refused to join onto a recent consent order between the Navy and EPA because it required a nondisclosure agreement. The report also noted that "some stakeholders expressed concerns about difficulties in working with the Navy, including delays in communication, which could result in delays to informing the public. Stakeholders attributed some of the difficulties to turnover in senior Navy officials and the associated loss of institutional knowledge." (c)2023 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit at www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. For a subset of Disney superfans, preparing for a day at the theme parks means asking, "what would Snow White wear?" Or maybe Donald Duck. Or Tiana from "The Princess and the Frog." Or the iconic Haunted Mansion ride. Or even a theme park garbage can. Welcome to the creative, color-blocking, accessory-rich world of Disneybounding, a practice that allows Disney adults to channel their favorite characters, experiences or objects without running afoul of the company's no-costume rules for grown-ups. Outfits are inspired by characters but use everyday clothes. Disney parks don't allow costumes or masks for anyone 14 or older, except at certain special events. Because the company has its own costumed characters that interact with guests, it doesn't want those likenesses to be misrepresented. "It's a fun way to, as an adult, have a similar interaction to what a kid would have when they're in their costumes," said Leslie Kay, who coined the DisneyBound term, runs sites devoted to the practice and wrote a book on the topic that was published by Disney in 2020. Kay, who is in her early 30s, started blogging in 2011 in anticipation of her first Walt Disney World visit as an adult; the name came about because she was bound for Disney. She started pondering what the character Rapunzel star of the 2010 animated film "Tangled" would wear to the mall, pulled together outfits from fashion websites and posted them on the blog. That simple beginning has grown into a web presence that now has more than half a million followers on social media, Kay says. On TikTok, the #disneybound hashtag has nearly 770 million views; 1.8 million posts on Instagram use the tag. A challenge that inspires participants to come up with new themed bounds every day takes place each March. Though adults can't go in full costume to parks, Disney sells its own merchandise that can be used for bounding. In response to a question about the trend, a company representative said in a statement embracing the endeavor. "We are incredibly humbled by the deep connection our fans have with Disney stories, and are blown away by the creativity they show in the love for our brand," the statement said. Unlike cosplay, the intricate and true-to-character dress-up seen at events like Comic-Con, Disneybounding is generally more subtle. It can be as simple as choosing shorts and a top in the colors a character is known for, though many bounders says accessorizing with jewelry, Mickey Mouse ears or backpacks is key. A Snow White outfit might include a denim shirt, yellow shorts and apple-shaped purse, while Princess Tiana might wear a green romper with frog jewelry. A trash can? Well, that's open to creative interpretation. "Every time I see a trash can Disneybound, you just know that the person has the best personality," said Kay, who has her own marketing company. Stephanie Williams-Turkowski, a lecturer at Texas Tech University whose dissertation included a study of Disneybounding, said she found that princess characters were popular as well as the "fab five" of Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Daisy. With the opening of Star Wars-themed areas, she said characters from those movies were also big. "I found that when you recognize somebody and their efforts that they put toward bounding whether it was on the simplest side of the scale or the most extravagant it was not only validation to them, but it was also like a nod to a secret club," Williams-Turkowski said. "Alice in Wonderland" and "Peter Pan" are also perennial favorites, Kay said. "Millennials I find really like the 'Never grow up' themes of Alice and Peter," she said in an email. Participants, who may wear their outfits in regular life or exclusively on theme park visits, say they love the creative outlet and the community they've found in Disneybounding. "There's very few things that I'm super confident about, and Disneybounding is one of them," said Uriel Diaz, 36, of San Antonio, who has been bounding for five or six years. "I don't know if it's because I'm extra or what." Diaz, who helps run a family retail business, has more than 233,000 followers on TikTok as @the_huntysaurus, often using a wall of themed Loungefly backpacks as a backdrop. Without Disneybounding, Diaz said, they probably would not have discovered that they are nonbinary. Visiting Disneyland earlier this year with their husband, Diaz wore a dress when bounding as Daisy Duck. It was, Diaz said, a "big deal" because they didn't know what people would say. "I literally felt like a princess that day, and it was a really, really strange but amazing and magical experience," they said. Rachel Gagne, a calligrapher in her 30s who started bounding in 2018 after moving to Southern California from New York, said characters in the parks are often excited to see people paying homage to them with their outfits. On a visit to Disneyland with a total of 13 family members last year, each one dressed up as a different Marvel character. She said the Thor and Loki characters at the park took note, gathered the family around and "put on a whole show" telling the story of the first Avengers movie using different members of the group. "It was one of the most magical moments I've ever had at Disneyland," Gagne said. As a New Yorker, she said her closet was full of black clothes; her first Disneybound was as Darth Vader. But more recently, she's been inspired by characters who represent her background with a Chinese mother and Puerto Rican father: Meilin from "Turning Red" and Miles Morales from "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." "I tend to do them over and over again," she said. "I love feeling connected to my culture." Tiara Henderson, a 36-year-old stay-at-home mom in Houston, says she has found a community among fellow Disneybounders after once feeling like she was "the weird quirky Black girl who likes Disney." As a plus-size bounder, she has drawn inspiration and gotten tips from others, and was recently featured in a fan magazine for her look as Scar from "The Lion King." "If you love Disney and Disneybounding and you feel like you're not going to fit in, you probably just haven't looked," she said. "I've never felt more included probably in my life as I have the last three years." Many bounders including Henderson, Gagne and Diaz have social media followings and consider themselves Disney content creators. Lilly and Paul Davis, who are on TikTok as Dear and Darling, have nearly 121,000 followers and say they get stopped and recognized regularly in the parks. The Salt Lake City couple have been bounding for just a year, but have already created some viral videos for better or worse. Turns out not everyone appreciates a video titled "40 Year Old Princess Squad Has Arrived," which has been played more than 860,000 times. "They're brutal," Paul Davis, 38, a chiropractor, said of some of the comments. Said his wife, 42: "We're in such a beautiful day and age where people are being seen and heard. Not Disney adults. We are the exception to the rule." Still, the couple who both grew up loving Disney and went to the parks more than a dozen times in the first couple years after they met said they don't offend easily. They create videos with rapid outfit changes and seek comments on which look is the best for a given character and occasion. When they go to Disneyland about every other month, they will sometimes do two outfits in one day to create videos, and bring "comfies" at night, Lilly Davis said. They've also done family bounds inspired by Star Wars and Peter Pan with their six kids, ages 8 to 18. "Disneyland was already like one of our favorite places in the world," Paul Davis said. "I think it's a little bit of a cherry on top." CAIRO A rubber boat carrying dozens of Europe-bound migrants sank off the coast of Libya and at least 55 people drowned, including women and children, the U.N. migration agency said Wednesday. It was the latest tragedy in this part of the Mediterranean Sea, a key route for migrants. The International Organization for Migration said the disaster took place on Tuesday. The boat was carrying at least 60 migrants and had set off from the coastal town of Garabouli, east of Libya's capital, Tripoli. The agency said five migrants survived the shipwreck and were brought back to shore by the Libyan coast guard. It was not immediately clear what happened to the vessel. Safa Msehli, an IOM spokesperson, said the boat capsized a short while after leaving Garabouli. She said the Libyan coast guard has so far retrieved the bodies of nine men and a child. The five survivors include four men three Pakistanis and one Egyptian and a Syrian child, Msehli told The Associated Press. The was the latest tragedy in the central Mediterranean Sea, a key route for migrants. The IOM said at least 537 people have drowned or gone missing in migrant disasters in the Mediterranean off Libya so far this year, while over 4,300 have been intercepted and returned to shore. Earlier this month, the IOM's Missing Migrants Project said that the first quarter of this year was the deadliest in the Central Mediterranean since 2017, with at least 441 documented deaths. That number, however, is likely "an undercount of the true number of lives lost," the agency said, adding that it was still investigating several other unreported shipwrecks where the fate of more than 300 people onboard remain unclear. In 2022, at least 529 migrants were reported dead and 848 people were missing off Libya, while over 24,680 were intercepted and returned to the chaos-hit North African country, according to the IOM. Libya has in recent years emerged as the dominant transit point for migrants from Africa and the Middle East trying to make it to Europe. The oil-rich country plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime autocrat Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. Human traffickers in recent years have benefited from the chaos in Libya, smuggling in migrants across the country's lengthy borders with six nations. The migrants are crowded into ill-equipped vessels, including rubber boats, and set off on risky sea voyages. Those who are intercepted and returned to Libya are held in government-run detention centers rife with abuses, including forced labor, beatings, rapes and torture practices that amount to crimes against humanity, according to U.N.-commissioned investigators. The abuse often accompanies efforts to extort money from families of those held, before the migrants are allowed to leave Libya on traffickers' boats. GENEVA U.N. officials said Tuesday that one side in the Sudan conflict has seized control of a national health lab in the capital of Khartoum that holds biological material, calling it an "extremely dangerous" development. The announcement came as officials warned that more refugees could flee Sudan despite a cease-fire between rival forces. The fighting has plunged Sudan into chaos, pushing the already heavily aid-dependent African nation to the brink of collapse. Before the clashes, the U.N. estimated that a third of Sudan's population or about 16 million people needed assistance, a figure that is likely to increase. Dr. Nima Saeed Abid, the World Health Organization's representative in Sudan, expressed concerns that "one of the fighting parties" he did not identify which one had seized control of the central public health laboratory in Khartoum and "kicked out all of the technicians." "That is extremely, extremely dangerous because we have polio isolates in the lab. We have measles isolates in the lab. We have cholera isolates in the lab," he told a U.N. briefing in Geneva by video call from Port Sudan. "There is a huge biological risk associated with the occupation of the central public health lab in Khartoum by one of the fighting parties." The expulsion of technicians and power cuts in Khartoum mean "it is not possible to properly manage the biological materials that are stored in the lab for medical purposes," WHO said. The lab is located in central Khartoum, close to flashpoints of the fighting that pits Sudan's military against the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group that grew out of the notorious Janjaweed militias implicated in atrocities in the Darfur conflict. Since the outbreak of fighting on April 15, at least 20,000 Sudanese have fled into Chad. Some 4,000 South Sudanese refugees who had been living in Sudan have returned to their home country, U.N. refugee agency spokeswoman Olga Sarrado said. The figures could rise, she cautioned. Sarrado did not have numbers for the five other countries neighboring Sudan, but the UNHCR has cited unspecified numbers of those fleeing Sudan arriving in Egypt. "The fighting looks set to trigger further displacement both within and outside the country," she said, speaking at a U.N. briefing in Geneva. The UNHCR was scaling up its operations, she said, even as foreign governments have raced to evacuate their embassy staff and citizens from Sudan. Many Sudanese have desperately sought ways to escape the chaos, fearing late their all-out battle for power once evacuations are completed. Several previous cease-fires have failed, although intermittent lulls during the weekend's major Muslim holiday allowed for dramatic evacuations of hundreds of diplomats, aid workers and other foreigners by air and land. More than 800,000 South Sudanese refugees live in Sudan, a quarter of them in the capital of Khartoum, where they are directly affected by the fighting. Overall, Sudan hosts 1.1 million refugees, according to the UNHCR. There are also more than 3 million internally displaced persons, mostly in Darfur, a region mired in decades-long conflict, it said. Along with the refugees, the U.N. migration agency said there are 300,000 registered migrants, as well as tens of thousands of unregistered migrants in the country. Marie-Helene Verney, the UNHCR's chief in South Sudan, said from its capital of Juba that "the planning figure that we have for the most likely scenario is 125,000 returns of South Sudanese refugees into South Sudan, and 45,000 refugees," Sudanese fleeing the fighting. The U.N. Population Fund has said that the fighting threatens tens of thousands of pregnant women, including 24,000 women expected to give birth in the coming weeks. For 219,000 pregnant women across the country it is too dangerous to venture outside their homes to seek urgent care in hospitals and clinics amid the clashes, the agency said. Dozens of hospitals have shuttered in Khartoum and elsewhere across the country due to the fighting and dwindling medical and fuel supplies, according to the Sudanese Doctors' Syndicate. "If the violence does not stop, there is a danger that the health system will collapse," the U.N. agency warned Friday. The International Committee of the Red Cross welcomed the announced cease-fire as a "potential lifesaver for civilians" trapped in their homes in fighting-hit areas. "It's clear that this ceasefire must be implemented up and down the chain of command and that it must hold for it to give a real respite to civilians suffering from the fighting," said Patrick Youssef, ICRC's regional director for Africa. He called on the international community to help find a "durable political solution to end the bloodshed." Spokesman Jens Laerke of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said it has been forced to "reduce our footprint" because of the fighting. He pointed to "acute shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel and limited communications and electricity" and new reports of looting of humanitarian warehouses and aid stockpiles. "The humanitarian needs in Sudan were already at record levels before this recent eruption of fighting some 15.8 million people that's about a third of the population required humanitarian assistance," he said. Some 3,000 people fled the fighting in Khartoum and took shelter at a refugee camp in the eastern province in al-Qadarif, further stretching the camp's resources, Mohammed Mahdi, deputy director for programs at the International Rescue Committee, said Tuesday. The Tunaydbah refugee camp, he said, houses around 28,000 refugees, mostly Ethiopians who fled a devastating war in Ethiopia's northern region of Tigray in late 2020. Other aid agencies, including the World Food Program, were forced to suspend or scale down its operations in Sudan following attacks on aid workers and humanitarian compounds and warehouses. At least five aid workers, three from the WFP, have been killed since April 15. The WFP has said its offices and warehouses in Nyala, the provincial capital of South Darfur, were attacked and looted last week. An ICRC office in Nyala was also looted, and warehouses for the Sudanese Red Crescent in Khartoum were attacked last week by armed men who took several of their vehicles and trucks, the charity said. Arshad Malik, country director with Save the Children Sudan, urged the warring sides to ensure protection for humanitarian workers to allow resumption of aid flow in Sudan. "Now we're seeing more children than ever going hungry. About 12% of the country's 22 million children are going without enough food," he said. Magdy reported from Cairo. MEXICO CITY Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Tuesday said he is not seeking political asylum in the United States and has not ruled out the possibility of running in a presidential primary in his homeland planned for October. Guaido spoke to The Associated Press by phone from Miami, where he arrived on a commercial flight that departed Colombia's capital Monday night, hours after he crossed the border between that country and Venezuela with the intent of meeting with diplomats and other participants of an international conference focused on Venezuela's political crisis. "I will have work meetings and obviously also time to assess the security situation among other things," he said. "I am not requesting political asylum at this time." His remarks came after Colombian authorities said he was subject to an administrative process for having crossed the border without getting his passport stamped upon entry. Colombian President Gustavo Petro insisted Guaido was not deported and traveled to the United States with permission from that country. Guaido told the AP the U.S. government intervened when he was threatened with deportation after he crossed the border and intended to take a flight from Cucuta, a Colombian city near the border, to Bogota. "Basically, there was a threat that this could be grounds for deportation," he said. "That was via telephone (with) diplomatic officials... It was thanks to the mediation of the United States that in my case I feel that I was not deported." He said a U.S. government official handed him the ticket to Miami after Colombian immigration agents escorted him to the airport in Bogota. His wife and two daughters remain in Venezuela, for which he is deeply worried. He said he is exploring "all options" regarding their future. Guaido became one of the most recognizable figures of Venezuela's opposition after the re-election of President Nicolas Maduro in 2018 was deemed a sham by several countries. Guaido, in his position as head of Venezuela's National Assembly, declared himself interim president in 2019 with the backing of dozens of nations, including the U.S., and ran a parallel government. But his popularity has waned since then and opposition lawmakers voted in January to strip him of that role and instead appoint a committee to run that government. Guaido has recently been campaigning ahead of a planned October primary in which the opposition intends to choose a single candidate to face off against Maduro in a presidential election next year. On Tuesday, he said the primary "continues to be a very important objective in the short term." "At this moment, I have this situation of persecution, and to rule out anything at this moment would simply be to accept the conditions of a dictatorship," he said in reference to his participation in the primary. "On the contrary, we are fighting for conditions for all." Guaido had recently denounced an increase in threats against him in Venezuela. Until Monday, Guaido had not left his country since 2020. Maduro's government has filed almost three dozen cases against Guaido since he declared himself interim president. The alleged crimes range from usurpation of functions, corruption, money laundering and public incitement to disobey the law, to conspiracy with foreign governments and terrorism. Tuesday's international conference organized by Petro was meant to jumpstart official dialogue between Maduro's government and his adversaries. The formal negotiations between both sides guided by Norwegian diplomats and hosted by Mexico stalled at the end of last year. Colombia's Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva on Monday said Guaido was not invited to the conference, which was attended by representatives of the U.S. as well as Latin American and European countries. Guaido had said he planned sideline meetings with delegates. Petro and Maduro have said they would seek an end to economic sanctions that the U.S. imposed on Venezuela. At the of the five-hour conference, which was not attended by representatives of Maduro or his adversaries, Leyva read a brief statement in which he said participants agreed it is necessary for Venezuela's government and opposition parties to set an electoral calendar that ensures free and fair conditions for all involved. Levya also said participants found consensus around lifting sanctions if there is progress in negotiations. Venezuela's complex social, political and economic crisis has driven more than 7 million to migrate, mostly to Latin American and Caribbean countries. The largest share more than 2 million live in Colombia, which under the administration of Petro's predecessor, Ivan Duque, offered many of them a variety of benefits, including 10-year permits. Duque was one of Maduro's strongest critics and had no diplomatic relations with Venezuela's government. But Petro, Colombia's first leftist president, reestablished diplomatic and commercial relations with Venezuela after he was sworn in in August and has met with Maduro four times in person. Migrants and people who live near the border go from one country to the other every day without getting their passports stamped both through official crossing bridges and illegal dirt roads and face no consequences. Guaido, who has continuously criticized Petro's policies toward Maduro, said Monday's threat of deportation was purely a political move against him. "A Venezuelan crossing the border looking for food, food, shelter, protection from a dictatorship is not a novelty at all," he said. "So I believe that this undoubtedly establishes a position on the part of President Petro and his government... If the president wants to be the interlocutor of the dictator, then that will be his role." South Florida is home to a large Venezuelan community that began to arrive mainly after Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chavez, rose to power in 1999. From there, Guaido said, he will keep "fighting to make our vote count." Spanish infrastructure major Acciona has signed an agreement with rsted, a global renewable energy company and leader in offshore wind, to jointly develop solutions to address the challenge of manufacturing large-scale foundations for offshore wind farms across the globe. Acciona said the deal, which was inked through its infrastructure division, also includes the development of foundation models that will offer easily adaptable solutions for offshore wind turbines of different sizes and depths. As per the deal, rsted and Acciona will evaluate mass-producing cost-competitive construction solutions based on floating concrete platforms and also explore the use of materials such as bio-cement and bio-concrete. The alliance combines rsted's 30-year experience in the development of offshore wind energy projects with the Acciona Infrastructure division's expertise in large-scale construction projects as well as strong knowledge of concrete structures and offshore works. "This alliance will help us accelerate the development of our business as a supplier of offshore platforms for the wind power industry," remarked Huberto Moreno, CEO of Accionas Construction division. "The expertise that rsted brings to the table, as well as Acciona's knowledge as a group, in infrastructure and renewable energy, will be key to the success of this agreement," he stated. Acciona has specialized maritime machinery and equipment; the company has three floating docks, including the Kugira, the largest in Europe, he added. Acciona said with this agreement, both companies will contribute to the creation of a strong European supply chain to support the continent's portfolio of floating wind energy projects. The European Union has set a target of reaching 60GW of installed offshore wind power by 2030 and 300GW by 2050, with this type of wind farms acquiring a relevant role in the provision of clean energy in the process of the economys decarbonization. Rasmus Errboe, Executive VP and CEO (Europe) at rsted, said: "The goal of our partnership with Acciona is to take floating wind from the innovation to the industrialisation stage." "Advancing floating wind technology and bringing it to market is a key strategic aim for rsted, and supply chain partnerships are the way to do just that," he added.-TradeArabia News Service KYODO NEWS - Apr 26, 2023 - 21:33 | All, World, Japan The European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights said Japan's gender gap is similar to what it used to be like in Europe decades ago, but that the continent and the East Asian nation can learn from each other and advance women's empowerment. Nicolas Schmit also said in a recent interview with Kyodo News he was satisfied with the Group of Seven labor ministers' statement from their meeting, held over the past weekend in Japan, for mentioning the importance of issues such as equal pay and labor equality between men and women. Japan consistently ranks low in gender surveys by international organizations like the World Bank, trailing behind other G-7 nations. Schmit was in Japan to attend the two-day meeting through Sunday in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, along with his counterparts from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. "We wanted clear, solid and strong statements, which I think more or less we got on equal pay and on better integration of women in the labor markets," he said. The commissioner said there was no real resistance to the statement from Japan, the meeting's chair, which he attributed to "a strong awareness on the Japanese side that something has to be done." Schmit said that if one looks back at Europe 20 or 30 years ago, it was "not so far from the Japanese situation in many countries" concerning gender issues like childcare and labor participation. Europe has worked toward, but has not yet achieved, perfect gender equality among its diverse countries, he said, something that will require continuous effort. "It is an issue where we can cooperate, learn from each other and make progress together," he said. He said achieving the goal will be difficult, and will involve various changes, including cultural shifts, structural reforms, investments in childcare and better working hours for men and women. Japan ranked 104th among 190 countries and territories in the World Bank's March report on economic opportunities for women. It also placed 116th among 146 countries in the gender gap rankings compiled by the World Economic Forum in July, sitting at the bottom of the East Asia and Pacific group. Related coverage: Half of unmarried people under 30 in Japan do not want kids: survey Japan remains 2nd worst in int'l ranking for women in workforce Japan drops to 104th in gender disparity rank in World Bank survey HONG KONG Singapore on Wednesday executed a man accused of coordinating a cannabis delivery, despite pleas for clemency from his family and protests from activists that he was convicted on weak evidence. Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, was sentenced to death in 2018 for abetting the trafficking of 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cannabis. Under Singapore laws, trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis may result in the death penalty. Activist Kirsten Han of the Transformative Justice Collective, which advocates for the abolition of the death penalty in Singapore, said in a tweet that Tangaraju was hanged Wednesday morning and that his family had been given the death certificate. Although Tangaraju was not caught with the cannabis, prosecutors said phone numbers traced him as the person responsible for coordinating the delivery of the drugs. Tangaraju had maintained that he was not the one communicating with the others connected to the case. Relatives and activists had sent letters to Singapores President Halimah Yacob to plead for clemency. In a video posted by the Transformative Justice Collective, Tangaraju's niece and nephew appealed to the public to raise concerns to the government over Tangarajus impending execution. An application filed by Tangaraju on Monday for a stay of execution was dismissed without a hearing Tuesday. Critics say Singapores death penalty has mostly snared low-level mules and done little to stop drug traffickers and organized syndicates. But Singapores government says that all those executed have been accorded full due process under the law and that the death penalty is necessary to protect its citizens. British billionaire Richard Branson, who is outspoken against the death penalty, had also called for a halt of the execution in a blog post, saying that Singapore may be about to kill an innocent man. Singapore authorities criticized Bransons allegations, stating that he had shown disrespect for the Singaporean judicial system as evidence had shown that Tangaraju was guilty. At a United Nations Human Rights briefing Tuesday, spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani called on the Singapore government to adopt a formal moratorium on executions for drug-related offenses. Imposing the death penalty for drug offences is incompatible with international norms and standards, said Shamdasani, who added that increasing evidence shows the death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent. Singapore authorities say there is a deterrent effect in the city-state, where traffickers carry amounts to not exceed the threshold that would result in a death penalty. The island-state's harsh stance on the death penalty for drugs is in contrast with its neighbors. In Thailand, cannabis has essentially been legalized, and Malaysia has ended the mandatory death penalty for serious crimes. TALLINN, Estonia For Ruslan, an engineer in the Belarus capital of Minsk, Russia's war in neighboring Ukraine suddenly seemed closer than ever when a conscription office recently sent him a summons for military training. It's part of an effort that will see thousands of men in Belarus attend drills amid fears that the staunch Moscow ally could be drawn into the fighting. "They are telling us that Belarus won't enter the war against Ukraine, but I hear Russian warplanes roar over my house heading to the Machulishchi air base outside Minsk," the 27-year-old told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. He asked not to be fully identified out of concern for his personal safety. "Russian troops are already in Belarus, and I see the country gradually being turned into a military barracks," he said. "Everybody fears that they won't allow Belarusians to keep watching the war from a distance for too long." Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has welcomed thousands of Russian troops to his country, allowed the Kremlin to use it to launch the invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and offered to station some of Russia's tactical nuclear weapons there. But he has avoided having Belarus take part directly in the fighting for now. Analysts and political opponents say that further involvement over Ukraine could rekindle public anger against him and erode his iron-fisted grip on power that has lasted for nearly 29 years. Lukashenko, who meets regularly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has relied on the Kremlin's political and economic support to survive months of protests, mass arrests and Western sanctions following an election in 2020 that kept him in power and was widely seen at home and abroad as rigged. Russia's invasion is deeply unpopular in Belarus, which shares a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) border with Ukraine and has many citizens with family or personal ties there. "The Belarusians don't see any sense in this war," said Svyatlana, a 54-year-old manager in Luninets, near the border. She asked not to be identified by her full name for her own security. A new Belarusian air defense unit was formed recently in the city, she said, and "war fears have increased" as troop numbers have grown. Belarusian military analyst Aliaksandr Alesin said that if the country's 45,000-member army is sent into Ukraine, there might be "mass refusals to follow orders." He said Lukashenko won't do it "because he fears to stir up discontent among the military, who could turn their weapons in a different direction." While agreeing to station some of Russia's tactical nuclear weapons in his country, Lukashenko cast the move as protection against what he described as NATO's aggressive plans and Western plots against his government. "They don't bomb countries with nuclear weapons," Lukashenko said recently. The construction of storage facilities for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus will be finished by July 1, Putin said. Russia already has modified Belarusian warplanes to carry nuclear weapons and given its ally Iskander short-range missiles that can be fitted with a nuclear warhead. It also has trained Belarusian crews to operate the planes and missiles armed with nuclear weapons. During the Cold War, Belarus hosted about two-thirds of Moscow's arsenal of nuclear-tipped intermediate range missiles, Alesin said, adding that dozens of Soviet-era storage sites can still be used for such weapons. Soviet nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan were moved to Russia under a U.S.-brokered deal after the USSR's collapse in 1991. "Belarus was a Soviet nuclear fortress, and now Putin and Lukashenko have decided to not only restore but to strengthen it," Alesin told AP. "From Belarus, Russian nuclear-tipped missiles could reach Ukraine, the entire territory of Poland, the Baltics and part of Germany, and this 'Belarusian nuclear balcony' will rattle Western politicians' nerves for a long time to come." Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who challenged Lukashenko in the 2020 election after her activist husband was jailed, told AP that hosting Russian nuclear weapons would turn the Belarusian people into hostages. "The deployment of Russian nuclear weapons will make Belarus a target in case of an escalation and seriously jeopardize Belarusians' lives," said Tsikhanouskaya, who fled the country after the election and has become a fierce critic-in-exile of Lukashenko. "The two dictators have gone too far in their war games, and it will only lead to the toughening of Western sanctions." Those sanctions have crippled the Belarus economy, which shrank by a record 4.7% last year. Lukashenko hopes a 70% surge in trade with Russia last year will soften the impact and expects Belarus will profit from Moscow's orders for electronics and other high-tech components for weapons systems. Alesin said Moscow is providing Minsk "with cheap energy and loans and opens up its vast market in exchange for the opportunity to control the Belarusian military infrastructure." Some of the 300,000 Russian reservists called up last fall by Putin as part of his partial mobilization are being trained on firing ranges in Belarus. Lukashenko has said 500 officers are helping train the Russians, who are camped next to Belarusian barracks. But this growing involvement in Belarus for the Kremlin war efforts is fomenting widespread resentment, said Belarusian political analyst Valery Karbalevich. "A broad guerrilla movement has evolved in Belarus with its members blowing up railway tracks and Russian warplanes and attacking Russian and Belarusian official websites," Karbalevich said. "Belarus' transformation into a Russian military hub and its gradual drawing into the war has caused public discontent, forcing Lukashenko to escalate repressions." BYPOL, an organization of former military and security officers who oppose Lukashenko, claimed responsibility for a February drone attack on a Russian A-50 early warning and control aircraft at the Machulishchi air base near Minsk. Authorities said they detained a suspect alleged to be behind the attack, along with 30 others who were charged with terrorism and could face capital punishment if convicted. Raids across the country have resulted in 300 other arrests on suspicion of links to the guerrillas, according to the Viasna human rights center. BYPOL leader Aliaksandr Azarau told AP that if Belarus enters the war in Ukraine, it would provide a boost for his group, which grew out of the 2020 election protests. "If small Belarus starts getting coffins from Ukraine, it will inevitably stir up protests that the authorities barely managed to stifle with mass repressions," he said. "Lukashenko reasonably worries that entering the war would lead to a sharp rise of the guerrilla movement." When Putin launched the invasion, Russian troops rolled into Ukraine from Belarus in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to capture Kyiv, about 55 miles to the south. Parts of western Ukraine, including railway hubs of Lviv and Lutsk that are key conduits for Western weapons, also could be vulnerable to a potential incursion from Belarus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently visited border guards in the northwestern Volyn region, urging vigilance against a possible incursion from Belarus. "We haven't seen any preparations in Minsk, and Lukashenko so far has resisted being drawn into a war with Ukraine, but the situation may change as Belarus is getting increasingly militarized," said Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov. "Lukashenko is ready to give Putin whatever he wants except the Belarusian soldiers. But we aren't blind and Kyiv is seriously worried about a sharp increase in the Russian military presence in Belarus." Karbalevich, the Belarusian analyst, said that while Lukashenko probably will remain reluctant to enter the war, Moscow could dangle the threat of another incursion into Ukraine from Belarus to force Kyiv to keep a significant number of troops on the border. "The poorly motivated and weak Belarusian military army wouldn't make much of a change on the battlefield, but the Kremlin needs to keep showing Kyiv and the West that the Belarusian threat remains," he said. "It's more convenient for Putin to use Minsk as a military hub while maintaining the constant threat of Belarus entering the war to keep the pressure on Ukraine." Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine MADRID Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with Spain's prime minister Wednesday for talks aimed at making progress on an intercontinental trade deal, but his differences with the European Union on the war in Ukraine remained evident. The 27-member EU completed negotiations in 2019 on a wide-ranging trade deal with Mercosur, a South American bloc that includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. But ratification stalled during the presidency of Lula's predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, due to concerns over environmental standards and price protections for European farmers. Lula and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez held a news conference after signing bilateral agreements Wednesday. The warmth between the two left-wing leaders was evident, but their divergent views on Ukraine left a note of tension in the room. "There is no doubt that we condemn Russia's violation of Ukraine's rights with the invasion, but it is of no use to say who is right or wrong. The war must be stopped," Lula said. He drew a comparison between Russia's actions in Ukraine and wars waged by other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, invoking the United States' invasion of Iraq in 2003 without a United Nations mandate. Earlier this month, Lula irked Western leaders when he said that both Ukraine and Russia had decided to go to war and that U.S. military aid was fueling the conflict. In Spain, Lula reiterated his call for a "G-20 of peace," which he envisions as a group of nominally neutral nations that would try to mediate an end to the Ukraine conflict. The U.N. Security Council's permanent members "are the ones who sell the most weapons in the world," the Brazilian president said, suggesting that countries like Brazil, Egypt or South Africa were better positioned to mediate. Earlier in his visit, Lula said that peace must be restored in Ukraine because of the war's knock-on effects on global food and fertilizer prices. He later reassured his Madrid audience of Brazil's commitment to international cooperation, reeling off a list of world leaders he had met with since he began his third non-consecutive term at the beginning of the year, and stating his intention to meet many more. "Brazil is back," he said. Sanchez trod a fine line on Ukraine, thanking Lula for his peace proposal but telling the Brazilian leader that "in this war, there is an aggressor and a victim, and the aggressor is Putin." The Spanish prime minister added: "If we want a fair and long-lasting peace, it is fundamental that the voice ... of Ukraine and its president be heard." Separately, Brazil and Spain are pushing to get the fine print of the Mercosur deal ready for scrutiny by member nations at a joint July 17-18 summit of the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). Spain takes over the EU's rotating presidency in July, and Brazil will simultaneously assume the equivalent role in Mercosur. Sanchez described the CELAC meeting as an "excellent opportunity" to push the treaty forward, while Lula added: "we need to get it done." The Mercosur-EU agreement would integrate a market of around 800 million people that represents about one-forth of the world's gross domestic product and more than $100 billion in bilateral trade of goods and services. The deal would cut customs duties and ease access for agricultural exporters to the EU market, and for European manufacturers to Mercosur countries. Mario Sergio Lima, a senior political analyst for Brazil at Medley Global Advisors, said Lula's Ukraine comments were "not helping" the deal's progress. "I don't think that this is what will determine the relationship with Europe, but it is something that rather complicates the conversations," he told The Associated Press. "It's reversible, but Brazil should try to distance itself as much as possible from the Russia issue." Following meetings with Spanish business leaders on Wednesday, Lula also made sure to promote his longstanding links with the country's trade unions, and tweeted a photo with a delegation from the main UGT union. He was hosted by Spain's King Felipe VI for a lunch at the royal palace and was due to return to Brazil on Wednesday afternoon. Martins reported from Sao Paulo KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping had a "long and meaningful" phone call Wednesday, their first known contact since Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago, and Beijing appointed an envoy to pursue a "political settlement." The hour-long call came two months after Beijing, which has long been aligned with Russia, said it wanted to act as a mediator and a month after Xi visited Moscow. The call also coincided with indications that Ukraine is readying its forces for a spring counteroffensive. Zelenskyy was upbeat about the conversation, which offered him the chance to insert his views into what had been a bilateral dialogue between Moscow and Beijing. Russian President Vladimir Putin is eager to keep Xi close as a counterweight to the United States, which has sided with Ukraine. "I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations," Zelenskyy said on Facebook. An official readout on his website called the conversation "productive" and said it leads the way toward "possible interaction with the aim of establishing a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine." Zelenskyy emphasized the need to regain all Ukrainian lands and stated, "There can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises." In an indirect reference to U.S. reports that China had considered supplying weapons to Russia for its war, Zelenskyy's office said he asked countries to refrain from doing so because "any support -- even partial -- is converted by Russia into the continuation of its aggression, into its further rejection of peace." China has said it won't supply weapons to either side in the conflict. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing's "core stance is to facilitate talks for peace," announcing that an envoy a former ambassador to Russia would visit Ukraine to seek a "political settlement." The ministry's statement struck a positive tone, giving a nod to Kyiv's insistence that its territory cannot be broken up by Russia's annexations and making clear that Beijing values its longstanding ties with Ukraine. "Mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is the political foundation of China-Ukraine relations," the statement said. "China's readiness to develop relations with Ukraine is consistent and clear-cut. No matter how the international situation evolves, China will work with Ukraine to advance mutually beneficial cooperation." Analysts expressed skepticism about the prospects for peace. The call balances China's dialogue with Russia by showing it is "recognizing Ukraine's leadership and indicating Ukraine is an important entity," said political science professor Kimberly Marten of Barnard College at Columbia University in New York. But, she added in an interview with The Associated Press, unless undisclosed details reveal otherwise, "it's a non-starter. It's pro-Russian. I would not guess that this holds a lot of significance for ending the war." She noted the Chinese statement didn't call for Russia to leave occupied areas or brand Russia as an aggressor, and refers to the situation as "a crisis, rather than a war." Elizabeth Wishnick, of the U.S.-based think tank CNA and Columbia University's Weatherhead East Asian Institute, noted in an email to AP that the Chinese statement about the call contains "no mention of a Russian troop withdrawal, which, to my mind, makes this a less than serious initiative and unlikely to contribute in any major way to ending the war, which will likely be decided on the battlefield." In Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commended China's approach, praising Beijing's "readiness to strive to establish a (peace) negotiations process," while slamming Kyiv's "rejection of any sound initiatives aimed at a settlement." The White House described it as a positive development, allowing Xi to hear Ukraine's view of the "illegal, unprovoked invasion." "We think that's a good thing," White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. Talks between the two leaders had been anticipated for weeks, after China produced a 12-point proposal to end the fighting, although it did not contain details. Russia and Ukraine are far apart in their terms for peace. The Kremlin wants Kyiv to acknowledge Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia, which most nations have denounced as illegal. Ukraine has rejected the demands and ruled out any talks with Russia until its troops pull back from all occupied territories. Zelenskyy said in an interview with the AP last month that he hadn't spoken with Xi since the war began and invited him to visit Ukraine. China has announced it was keen to act as mediator in the war that has reenergized NATO. Xi's position reinforces China's claim that it's neutral in the war, despite blocking U.N. efforts to condemn the Kremlin's invasion. While Zelenskyy has moved his country closer to NATO and persuaded alliance members to send Ukraine sophisticated weapons to help defeat Russia, Beijing has echoed the Kremlin line in accusing the West of provoking the conflict and "fanning the flames" by arming Kyiv. When China called in February for a cease-fire and peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Zelenskyy cautiously welcomed Beijing's involvement but said success would depend on actions, not words. Putin warmly welcomed Xi to the Kremlin, in what was seen as a powerful message to Western leaders that their efforts to isolate Moscow over the fighting in Ukraine have fallen short. Also on Wednesday, Zelenskyy used the 37th anniversary of the world's worst nuclear disaster at Chernobyl to repeat his warnings about the threat of a new atomic catastrophe during his country's war with Russia. Zelenskyy drew a parallel between the Chernobyl accident on April 26, 1986, to Moscow's brief seizure of that plant and its radiation-contaminated exclusion zone following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "Last year, the occupier not only seized the (Chernobyl) nuclear power plant, but also endangered the entire world again," Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post in English. In other developments Wednesday: Ukrainian and Russian officials announced the latest prisoner exchange, saying 44 Ukrainian and 40 Russian POWs were released this week. The head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said on Telegram that the Ukrainians included soldiers, sailors, border and national guards, and two civilians. The head of the southeastern Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, Yurii Malashko, said Russia struck 19 civilian areas with 53 artillery attacks, six rocket attacks, seven drone attacks and one airstrike overnight. At least two civilians were killed and 13 others were wounded in Ukraine since Tuesday, the presidential office said. An Italian journalist in Ukraine, Corrado Zunino, was injured and his interpreter Bogdan Bitik killed in the southern city of Kherson. Zunino, a correspondent for La Repubblica daily, told the newspaper he suspected Russian snipers hit him after passing through Ukrainian-manned checkpoints. McDonald reported from Beijing. Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, and Andrew Katell in New York contributed. ROME Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday urged European allies to accelerate Ukraine's European Union membership bid, as Rome hosted a bilateral conference on the war-torn country's reconstruction attended by hundreds of Italian and Ukrainian businesses. "The future of Ukraine must include an always wider capacity of integrating with the European dynamics and institutions," Meloni said, in joint statements with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on the sidelines of the conference. "The smartest way to thank Ukrainians for what they are doing is to accelerate their chance of being part of the European institutions. We need to acknowledge Kyiv's enormous efforts to reform its system and bring it closer to targets required by the EU Commission," Meloni added, urging a quick start of negotiations needed to grant Ukraine full EU membership. Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the conference attracted over a thousand companies, including hundreds from Ukraine. He stressed that the Italian initiative was part of a wider process, as both Germany and France already held their own bilateral conferences with Ukrainian firms in October and December, respectively, while G7 countries launched a Donor Coordination Platform in February. "I know that the representatives of many Italian companies are listening to me and I'd like to speak to them not just as the representatives of businesses, but also as parents," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a live video address to the Rome conference. "Even if hundreds of our villages have been burned down by Russian missile attacks, we are ready to bring them back to life," he said. "We want to reconstruct them with modern standards, so that our people can live like millions of others, in security ... And we invite your companies to build this future for all." A World Bank report has estimated it will cost Ukraine 411 billion dollars over the next 10 years to recover and rebuild from the war launched by Russia. The report predicts Kyiv will require 14 billion dollars for critical and priority reconstruction, as well as recovery investments in 2023 alone. "Ukraine will win this war and our victory will be restoring our territorial integrity. We won't stop until we reach this goal," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, who was also in Rome, told the conference. "We are making a miracle by doing trade and moving ahead with reforms, so please don't consider the war an obstacle on your business way to Ukraine," Kuleba added, stressing that reconstruction has already started even though the war is still raging. The conference took place as an Italian journalist in Ukraine, Corrado Zunino, was injured and his interpreter Bogdan Bitik killed in the southern city of Kherson. Zunino, a correspondent for La Repubblica daily, told the newspaper he suspected he had been hit Wednesday by Russian snipers after having passed through three Ukrainian-manned checkpoints in an area where there wasn't any active fighting. Tajani, the Italian foreign minister, tweeted that Zunino had been hit by a drone and was injured in the shoulder. MOSCOW Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Wednesday that he was facing new extremism and terrorism charges that could keep him behind bars for life, as authorities set the stage for a new trial against the Kremlin's leading critic. Navalny said by video link from prison during the hearing that the extremism charges which he rejected as "absurd" could land him in prison for 30 years. He noted that an investigator had told him he also would face a separate military court trial on terrorism charges that could potentially carry a life sentence, adding on a sardonic note that the charges imply that "I'm conducting terror attacks while sitting in prison." His top ally Ivan Zhdanov said investigators were trying to link the terrorism charges against Navalny to a bombing that killed a well-known Russian military blogger earlier this month. Navalny, 46, who exposed official corruption and organized massive anti-Kremlin protests, was arrested in January 2021 upon returning to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve-agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin. He initially received a 2-year prison sentence for a parole violation. Last year, he was sentenced to a nine-year term for fraud and contempt of court. He is currently serving time at a maximum-security prison 250 kilometers (150 miles) east of Moscow. The new charges against Navalny relate to the activities of his anti-corruption foundation and statements by his top associates. His ally Leonid Volkov said the accusations retroactively criminalize all the activities of Navalny's foundation since its creation in 2011 and carry a potential punishment of up to 35 years in prison. Navalny's associate, Zhdanov, said Wednesday that investigators were revising the charges to link them to a bombing that killed Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky at a St. Petersburg cafe earlier this month. The authorities described Darya Trepova, a 26-year-old St. Petersburg resident who was seen on video presenting Tatarsky with a statuette moments before the blast, as an active supporter of Navalny. They also accused Zhdanov and Volkov of making repeated calls for subversive activities in Russia. An investigator told the court Wednesday that 11 other suspects facing extremism charges alongside Navalny have remained at large and have been put on an international wanted list. The new charges come as Russian authorities conduct an intensifying crackdown on dissent amid the fighting in Ukraine, which Navalny has harshly criticized. Wednesday's hearing at Moscow's Basmanny District Court was held to discuss preparations for Navalny's trial on the extremism charges. Navalny asked for more time to study the 196 case files. The judge closed the session minutes after it opened, ruling that it should be held behind closed doors, because the case involved sensitive information. "It's an attempt to unlawfully restrict my ability to study the materials of the case and prevent anyone from knowing about it," Navalny said before public access to the hearing ended. The hearing ended with the judge giving Navalny 10 days to study his criminal case. No date for the trial has been set yet. Navalny, who is President Vladimir Putin's most prominent foe, has rejected the charges as a political vendetta and an attempt by Russian authorities to keep him out of politics for as long as possible. His associates and supporters have become increasingly worried about his failing health. Earlier this month, they said Navalny had fallen ill with acute stomach pains and suspected that he was being slowly poisoned. Navalny looked gaunt when he appeared via video link from prison, but he smiled and laughed as he warmly greeted journalists who were watching his appearance in court. While imprisoned, Navalny has spent months in a tiny one-person cell, also called a "punishment cell," for purported disciplinary violations such as an alleged failure to properly button his prison robe, properly introduce himself to a guard or to wash his face at a specified time. His supporters have accused prison authorities of failing to provide him with proper medical assistance, using blindingly bright light in his cell and placing him next to a mentally unstable person. Navalny said Tuesday that he had completed a 15-day stay in the punishment cell and was immediately ordered to spend another 15 days there. The Russian authorities have ramped up their crackdown on dissent after Putin sent troops into Ukraine under new legislation that has effectively criminalized any public criticism of Moscow's military action and independent reporting on the conflict. Earlier this month, a Russian court convicted a top opposition figure, Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., of treason for publicly denouncing Moscow's war in Ukraine. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Another prominent opposition figure, Ilya Yashin, was sentenced to 8 years in prison last year on charges of spreading false information about the military. On Wednesday, a court in Yekaterinburg opened a trial of the city's former mayor, Yevgeny Roizman, on charges of discrediting the military that he rejected. Roizman, a sharp critic of the Kremlin, is one of the most visible and charismatic opposition figures in Russia who enjoyed broad popularity as mayor of Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city of 1.5 million people in the Ural Mountains. Last month, Roizman, 60, was ordered to spend 14 days in custody on separate charges of reposting material containing a reference to Navalny's organization. As part of a relentless clampdown, a Russian court last month convicted a father over social media posts critical of the war and sentenced him to two years in prison. His 13-year-old daughter, who drew an antiwar sketch at school, was sent to an orphanage. On March 29, Russia's security service also arrested Evan Gershkovich, an American reporter for The Wall Street Journal, on espionage charges that he, his employer and the U.S. government have rejected. Gershkovich is the first U.S. correspondent since the Cold War to be detained in Russia on spying charges, and his arrest rattled journalists in the country and drew outrage in the West. Three Russian military planes were intercepted by allied aircraft over the Baltic Sea, Germanys air force said Wednesday. Two Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets and an Ilyushin Il-2 on Tuesday were flying without their transponders on, the German military said. NATO allies have long taken issue with Moscow over its militarys failure to file flight plans or use transponders. Not following those procedures can pose a safety hazard because they make jets operating in international airspace invisible to civilian radar. Aufklarungsflieger abgefangen. und #Eurofighter wurden alarmiert, um 3 Militarmaschinen zu identifizieren. Die zwei SU-27 Flanker und eine IL-20 aus flogen erneut ohne Transpondersignal im int. Luftraum uber der Ostsee. #SecuringTheSkies #VAPB @NATO @GermanyNATO pic.twitter.com/sOY4CPkrbe Team Luftwaffe (@Team_Luftwaffe) April 26, 2023 The German air force said Eurofighter jets from both Germany and the United Kingdom were involved in the intercept, which was carried out without incident. Such encounters are not uncommon over the Baltic and Black seas, where NATO aircraft routinely police the skies for potential intrusions by the Russians. Still, encounters on occasion can become tense. In March, a Russian fighter jet collided with a U.S. drone over the Black Sea, causing the unmanned aircraft to crash into international waters. At the time, U.S. European Command said the incident followed a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots in international airspace. Stars and Stripes reporter Alexander Riedel contributed to this report. WASHINGTON The Pentagon and the European Union on Wednesday announced a transatlantic agreement to strengthen defense cooperation and share more information with each other moves that both say are important now that war has returned to the Continent. "The signature of the administrative arrangement with [the European Defence Agency] is evidence of the strengthening U.S.-European Union relationship, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, noting it will further contribute to transatlantic and global security. One of the benefits of expanding dialogue and the flow of information is it could identify areas where resources could be pooled and wasteful defense spending can be limited, according to the agreement. It specifies that there will be more cooperation in certain areas such as defense supply chains, troop mobility and the security impacts of climate change. The [agreement] will enable a substantial defense dialogue on all topics within EDA's remit, and invitations for [Pentagon leaders] to attend relevant meetings of EDA's steering board and for EDA to attend meetings convened by the U.S. DOD, as appropriate, the Defense Department and EDA said in a joint statement. Wednesdays agreement also allows the U.S. to participate in certain EU defense meetings and consult on certain issues, such as military mobility, officials said. The nine-page document applies to all 24 EU members plus third-party partners Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and Ukraine. The pact is mainly the result of a pledge two years ago by both sides to come up with an agreement for a closer and mutually beneficial cooperation. Since then, tens of thousands of people have died during Russias war in Ukraine, which makes Wednesdays agreement even more important, they said. Russia's aggression against Ukraine underlines the importance of strong U.S.-European ties in NATO and with the European Union, Austin said. Deepening dialogue and cooperation will only strengthen this key strategic partnership moving forward." At a time when war has returned to Europe, we need to open every avenue for cooperation with our closest partners, Borrell said. [This] provides another pillar to strengthen transatlantic cooperation. The agreement, however, explicitly states the U.S. and EU are not allowed to cooperate on the research and development of defense technologies. However, the scope of the agreement could progressively develop in the future. COPENHAGEN, Denmark Ten Norwegian diplomats in Moscow were ordered to leave Russia Wednesday, in what Oslo said was "an act of revenge" for its move this month to expel 15 Russian diplomatic staff for alleged spying. Norway's ambassador to Moscow was informed that "10 of our diplomats at the embassy in Moscow have been declared undesirable in Russia," Norwegian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Ragnhild H. Simenstad said in an email. They must leave Russia "within a short time." The Russian Foreign Ministry said the ambassador had been summoned to protest Oslo's decision to expel 15 Russian diplomats. The ministry added that it will take other measures in response to "unfriendly actions by Oslo," including restrictions on hiring Russian personnel for the Norwegian diplomatic missions. "We regard the Russian decision as an act of revenge," Simenstad said, adding that Norway's diplomats in Russia carry out ordinary diplomatic work. On April 13, Norway said the Russians it was expelling were suspected of spying. "Norway's decision to declare 15 people at the Russian embassy undesirable in Norway is based on the fact that they have carried out intelligence activities under the guise of being diplomats," Simenstad said. On Tuesday, neighboring Sweden informed Russia that five employees of the Russian Embassy in Stockholm were asked to leave the country because they were suspected of spying. The Swedish foreign minister, Tobias Billstrom, said their activities were "incompatible" with their diplomatic status. The public broadcasting companies of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden have recently been reporting in a joint investigation that Russia was suspected of spying on the Nordic countries, and named intelligence officers allegedly working at the Russian embassies in Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo. The broadcasters also reported that Russians allegedly spied in the waters of the Baltic Sea and North Sea using civilian fishing trawlers, cargo ships and yachts. KYIV, Ukraine The Azov brigade, hailed by Ukrainians for its tenacity during Russias siege of Mariupol, is scrambling to rebuild from heavy combat losses as it seeks to play a muscular role in Ukraines next major assault. The high-profile unit is hoping to recruit 6,500 new fighters who will provide restored combat heft even as its leaders push for the return of more than 1,000 brigade troops who remain in Russia as prisoners of war. We are ready to liberate territory, Maj. Bohdan Tavr Krotevych, who is the brigades interim commander and is leading the rebuilding effort after his release from Russian captivity in the fall, said in an interview. The Ukrainian government has designated Azov, which recently absorbed other elements of the countrys National Guard, as one of six offensive brigades that will help spearhead Ukraines attempt to recapture Russian-occupied areas. After months of largely static front lines, the spring fighting season will be crucial as Ukraine aims to prove that it can hold out against Russia and is still worthy of support from outside backers who have poured billions of dollars worth of weaponry into the fight. Brigade leaders are also seeking to move past the controversy surrounding Azovs far-right roots, which has resulted in the unit being barred from receiving Western weapons, potentially curtailing its abilities. The newest recruits are drawn to Azov not for the ultranationalist ideology of its origins but for its proven combat skill, brigade leaders say. It is a name that, thanks to the defense of Mariupol, became known to the world, a 28-year-old master sergeant, who goes by the call sign Maslo, said at a recent training session outside Kyiv. It was known in a certain negative way, Maslo added. Now it is in a positive way because what we do works ... The recruits coming to us understand that. Azov rose to prominence after Russian President Vladimir Putins illegal seizure of Crimea in 2014, as Ukraines ill-equipped military struggled to fight back against Russian-backed separatists in the eastern Donbas region. Azov, then a volunteer formation, had a key role in defending the strategic city of Mariupol. The unit was incorporated into Ukraines National Guard later that year. After Russias February 2022 invasion, hundreds of Azov fighters held out for weeks beneath Mariupols Azovstal steel plant, along with stranded civilians. They persisted without adequate food and medicine amid a massive Russian bombing campaign, which elevated Azov and other Mariupol defenders to what Ukraines military command called heroes of our time. In May, hundreds of wounded troops were evacuated. A few days later, military commanders ordered the remaining Azovstal troops to surrender, ending the siege. Krotevych, who was among some 900 captured Azov fighters, spent the initial days as a prisoner of war at Olenivka, a filtration center in Russian-controlled Donetsk region, where several months later dozens of Azov fighters were killed in an attack Russia and Ukraine blamed on each other. Krotevych spent the next four months in solitary confinement near Moscow, until he was released in September as part of a major prisoner swap brokered by Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Under that deal, 215 Ukrainians, including more than 100 Azov fighters, and a group of foreign nationals were released in exchange for Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Kremlin Ukrainian opposition politician, as well as Russian fighters. Two weeks after his return to Ukraine, Krotevych returned to the unit. While most of the released POWS returned to the unit, over 1,000 Azov personnel, including fighters absorbed from another brigade, remain imprisoned in Russia. They represent about a fifth of the roughly 6,000 Ukrainians now being held there as POWs, Krotevych said. Unit leaders have unsuccessfully advocated more exchanges. I came to the conclusion that the fastest way to release our prisoners is to take more Russian soldiers prisoner, and to end this war with our victory, Krotevych said. In Kyiv, a massive banner hanging on Khreshchatyk Street in the citys center that reads Free Azovstal defenders is a testament to the feelings of many Ukrainians. Yet the units conduct against Russia has not entirely eclipsed the controversy around its ultranationalist history and links to figures who have espoused xenophobic and racist views. Azov leaders have denied allegations of fascism and racism. Still, Azov has long featured in messaging by Putin and other Russian leaders about their goal of de-Nazifying the country. In 2022, Russias top court officially designated Azov a terrorist group. Krotevych said the unit has no political ambitions and conducts investigations into any cases of far-right extremism it identifies. As a military unit, we share the position of the state and the government, he said. Krotevych said that Russia had labeled all of those who have taken up arms to defend Ukraine as dangerous nationalists. Michael Colborne, who wrote a book about the Azov movement and leads Bellingcats work on the global far right, said the units focus appears to have shifted over time from ideology to military effectiveness. He said that any remaining far-right elements within Azov probably would continue to be diluted as the unit grows and that the issue had become less important as Ukraine confronts an existential threat. In Ukraine, the term nationalist or patriot describes a heck of a lot of people right now, Colborne said. Earlier this year, Meta, the parent company for Facebook, removed Azov from a list of dangerous individuals and organizations, citing a distinction between the military group and the political movement. Despite Azovs apparent evolution, it receives virtually no weaponry from Western nations including the United States. Recent U.S. laws prohibit the provision of arms, training or other assistance to the Azov Battalion. The measures come as lawmakers in both parties call for proper oversight of the huge amount of aid going to Ukraine. A State Department spokesperson, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the department, said the recent prohibitions had no practical effect because the Azov Battalion which the department described as a nonstate militia group has not existed in more than five years. Azov now is a different unit, the spokesperson said. However, he added: Ukraine has agreed not to direct U.S. support to any identified units of concern such as Azov. Sarah Harrison, a former Pentagon lawyer now at the International Crisis Group, said the State Department was being too cute by half in drawing a distinction between Azovs paramilitary past and its current status. But Harrison also said that lawmakers should have been more precise given that they clearly did not intend to single out a unit that no longer exists. One 21-year-old Azov recruit from the western city of Ternopil, who under brigade rules was not permitted to give his name, said he had waited months for a chance to join the brigade. The recruit, speaking at the training session, described the controversy over Azovs roots as an overblown story. Probably the most motivated people come here, he said. I can be sure that my comrade-in-arms, he will be able to cover me, protect me. And I will do the same. Maslo, who was also captured by Russia last year and spent a month in the hospital recovering from injuries he suffered, said Azovs resourcefulness could help compensate for its lack of advanced weaponry. Azov, he said, will invent something out of nothing. Unit leaders say recruitment is going well but declined to disclose precise numbers. Fully achieving those goals may be difficult more than a year into the fight, after Ukraines military has taken heavy losses. The majority would assume that the war will end quickly or somebody else will win it for us. This didnt happen, Krotevych said. So, were trying to explain to the civilian population of the country that we need them to help us liberate territories. Asked about the coming offensive, Krotevych cited the First Russian-Chechen War, when Chechen forces adopted a strategy of capturing small Russian towns to use as leverage to recover Russian-held areas. He suggested Ukraine may do the same. He said that Azov would draw on the ordeals of 2022 in future fighting. Our Azovstal experience tells us that there are no situations with no way out, he said. KYODO NEWS - Apr 26, 2023 - 10:26 | All, World British American Tobacco has agreed to pay more than $629 million in fines to the United States for violating its sanctions on North Korea, a record high in connection with the measures, the Justice Department said Tuesday. The agreement was reached after a subsidiary of the major tobacco company admitted to selling products for years to North Korea by circumventing the sanctions, imposed due to Pyongyang's nuclear program. British American Tobacco said in a statement that illegal business transactions involving North Korea took place between 2007 and 2017. The department said the company spun off its sales of tobacco products to North Korea to a third-party firm in 2007 as required by the sanctions and even said in a press release at the time that it had ended such business. But it actually continued to engage in such business through the firm under the control of its subsidiary in Singapore, the department said, adding that about $418 million was paid by North Korea in connection with the sales. "This is the single largest North Korean sanctions penalty in the history of the Department of Justice and the latest warning to companies everywhere about the costs and consequences of violating U.S. sanctions," Matthew Olsen, assistant attorney general for national security at the department, said at a press conference. North Korea has faced a series of sanctions from the United States and other countries over its development of long-range missiles and nuclear weapons. "Allowing funds to illegally flow into the coffers of (North Korea) is an unconscionable act," Olsen said. Jack Bowles, the tobacco company's chief executive, said in the statement, "We deeply regret the misconduct arising from historical business activities that led to these settlements, and acknowledge that we fell short of the highest standards rightly expected of us." In a related development, the U.S. department said separately that a North Korean banker and two Chinese facilitators were indicted over the sale of tobacco to North Korea from 2009 to 2019. The department said that in the course of buying leaf tobacco for North Korean state-owned cigarette makers, they used front companies and false documents to cause U.S. financial entities to process at least 310 illicit transactions, worth roughly $74 million. It said the transactions helped the manufacturers, one of which was owned by the North Korean military, to possibly secure around $700 million in revenue. The U.S. State Department offered rewards for information leading to the arrest of the North Korean banker, Sim Hyon Sop, and the two others from the northeastern Chinese province of Liaoning, Han Linlin and Qin Gouming. (Tribune News Service) Washington became the 10th state to prohibit sales of AR-15s and dozens of other semi-automatic rifles Tuesday, as Gov. Jay Inslee signed the ban into law, effective immediately. The state Capitol was closed to the public Tuesday morning for the signing ceremony out of security concerns, though only a handful of protesters gathered outside. "These weapons of war, assault weapons, have no reason other than mass murder," Inslee said at the ceremony in the ornate State Reception Room, flanked by lawmakers and people who'd lost loved ones to gun violence. "Their only purpose is to kill humans as rapidly as possible in large numbers." The gun ban signed by Inslee, which stacks atop a bundle of gun restrictions adopted over the past several years in Washington, is aimed at high-powered rifles that have been used to carry out the worst mass shootings across the U.S. Inslee on Tuesday also signed into law two other major gun measures, including a 10-day waiting period for firearm purchases and a bill that would hold gunmakers liable for negligent sales. Supporters of the ban and other restrictions in Washington said they will help prevent some mass shootings, or at least lower the death tolls, while also reducing other instances of gun violence and suicide. Opponents called the ban an unconstitutional infringement of the rights of law-abiding gun owners and immediately filed a lawsuit seeking to have it struck down. The federal lawsuit, filed by the Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation and other opponents, contends the law signed by Inslee "has criminalized one of the most common and important means by which its citizens can exercise their fundamental right to self-defense." The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction barring enforcement of the ban. The national Firearm Industry Trade Association also condemned Inslee for signing the law banning what it called "Modern Sporting Rifles" and vowed to sue to overturn it. " Governor Inslee and Washington's Attorney General Bob Ferguson put politics ahead of their duty to defend the Constitution and protect the rights of their citizens," Lawrence Keane, the trade group's senior vice president and general counsel, said in a statement. The measure signed by Inslee, House Bill 1240, bans the sale, transfer, distribution, manufacture and importation of 62 gun models the law defines as "assault weapons," including AR-15s, AK-47s and similar rifles. It also bans guns with specified features, including semi-automatic rifles shorter than 30 inches, those that have detachable magazines or fixed magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds, and those with detachable magazines that are also equipped with features such as flash suppressors, folding stocks or shrouded barrels. Also banned are conversion kits and parts that would allow such features to be added to guns. The ban, which makes violations a gross misdemeanor, applies only to new sales, not to firearms people already own. The law also exempts people who inherit guns that are subject to the ban. It also allows sales by licensed firearm dealers to law enforcement agencies and the military. The bill included an emergency clause making it take effect immediately upon Inslee's signature, which came just before 11 a.m. Ferguson and state Rep. Strom Peterson, D- Edmonds, noted 2023 was the seventh year in a row they'd sponsored legislation seeking to ban AR-15s and similar weapons. For many years, the proposal languished in the Legislature, with significant opposition even among Democrats. "To be honest there were times when I thought maybe it's just not going to happen," Ferguson said. They first introduced legislation after a 2016 shooting in Mukilteo, in which a 19-year-old man fatally shot three former high school classmates with an AR-15-style rifle he'd purchased about a week earlier. Allen Ivanov, the shooter, read a manual on how to operate the rifle in his car before storming a house party on July 30, 2016, and murdering his ex-girlfriend, Anna Bui, and two young men, Jake Long and Jordan Ebner. A third young man, Will Kramer, was badly wounded but survived. Kramer's father, Paul Kramer, attended Tuesday's bill signing. In pleading guilty and receiving a life prison sentence in 2017, Ivanov in part blamed "the ease of acquiring a gun" and said "Satan was in control" that night. Inslee on Tuesday also signed House Bill 1143, imposing a 10-day waiting period on purchases of all guns, and requiring proof that buyers have completed gun-safety training, such as an online video course. And the governor signed Senate Bill 5078, which allows the state attorney general or private citizens to sue gun manufacturers and dealers under public nuisance laws if they negligently allow their guns to be sold to minors or straw purchasers, meaning those who buy a gun for someone else who might not be allowed to. After signing that measure, Inslee thanked sponsors state Sen. Jamie Pederson, D- Seattle, and David Hackney, D- Tukwila. He also gave a pen to first lady Trudi Inslee, who had testified to the Legislature in support of the gun measure. "OK, party safely tonight," Inslee said at the end of the ceremony. The new gun laws add to an accumulation of restrictions passed over the past several years in a campaign that began in earnest after the massacre of 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012. The Bushmaster rifle model used by the shooter is on the list of guns that can no longer be legally sold in Washington. Since then, Washington lawmakers and voters have approved enhanced background checks for gun purchases and extreme-risk protection orders allowing guns to be temporarily taken from people who pose significant risk of harm to themselves or others. The state also has banned gun magazines holding more than 10 rounds and prohibited open carry of guns at the state Capitol and public demonstrations. State Rep. Liz Berry, D- Seattle, who sponsored the waiting-period bill, said the new gun safety laws will save lives. "It's not going to happen next year. It might not happen in three years, it's going to be over time," she said in an interview, calling the 10-day waiting period critical to stopping suicides and crimes of passion. At the signing ceremony, Berry credited high school students and other youths who have marched and protested to demand action on gun violence. "We see you. We hear you. And today we are doing something about it," said Berry. All three of the latest gun restriction bills passed the Legislature on largely party-line votes, with Republicans opposing them and most Democrats voting in support. Washington joins nine other states, including California, Illinois and New York, as well as the District of Columbia, that have imposed bans on AR-15s and similar guns, according to the Giffords Law Center. Opponents of the ban here have confidently predicted it will be overturned in light of a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision last year. The so-called Bruen decision struck down a New York law requiring people to demonstrate a specific need to carry guns outside their homes. The conservative majority's ruling upended the test courts had long used for evaluating gun restrictions, finding that judges should no longer weigh decisions on public safety concerns, instead considering whether the laws are consistent with the Second Amendment and "with this Nation's tradition of firearm regulation." The lawsuit filed Tuesday challenging the ban on AR-15s cited the Bruen ruling, arguing Washington cannot ban the commonly owned firearm models. "Arms that are in common use as the firearms Washington has banned unquestionably are are neither unusual nor dangerous. Therefore, they cannot be banned, and the Washington laws challenged herein must be declared unconstitutional," wrote attorney Joel Ard, in the 21-page lawsuit complaint. Ferguson on Tuesday said he is confident Washington's law will withstand legal scrutiny, boasting of his office's undefeated record on such cases. "This is not the first ban on the sale of assault weapons that's been adopted in the United States. And over and over and over again those pieces of legislation have been upheld in courts all across the country," he said. Staff reporter Claire Withycombe contributed to this report. ___ (c)2023 The Seattle Times Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who has moved toward entering the presidential race, said in an interview Tuesday it is "in everybody's interest to try to get to a place where we can have a cease-fire" in Ukraine a message out of step with the Biden administration, which has called negotiations with Russia untenable and says cease-fires would allow the country to rest and rearm. Representatives for DeSantis did not immediately clarify what conditions he would consider acceptable for a cease-fire. But the comments deepened a contrast with many Democratic and Republican leaders who have focused on supporting Ukraine's fighting rather than pushing for talks or an agreement while Russia occupies significant territory. They potentially put him into closer alignment with former president Donald Trump, a 2024 rival who has suggested Ukraine and Russia should negotiate. "You don't want to end up in like a [Battle of] Verdun situation, where you just have mass casualties, mass expense and end up with a stalemate," DeSantis said, referring to the longest battle of World War I. "It's in everybody's interest to try to get to a place where we can have a cease-fire," DeSantis said in an interview with Nikkei Asia. The Washington Post was not immediately able to review a fuller context of his remarks; Nikkei did not publish the full transcript or complete video of the interview. DeSantis made the remarks in Japan during an international trade mission this week that has cast a spotlight on his foreign policy approach ahead of a 2024 presidential run. His stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine in particular has come under scrutiny this year as he has shifted his posture. He drew rebukes from some in the GOP and angered some donors earlier this year when he referred to the war in Ukraine as a "territorial dispute," not crucial to U.S. interests. DeSantis soon clarified that phrasing, which came in response to a Fox News questionnaire, claiming in a later interview with conservative commentator Piers Morgan his words were "mischaracterized." He also called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "war criminal." But he continued to voice skepticism of U.S. involvement in Ukraine, telling another interviewer he cares "more about securing our own border in the United States than I do about the Russia-Ukraine border." In the interview with Nikkei Asia, he also said Europe should play a larger role in a war on their continent, echoing Trump's insistence that U.S. allies invest more in their defense. "If the Indo-Pacific is where most of the threats to us are, and that's going to be our focus, then the Europeans are going have to do more," DeSantis said. Biden administration officials have signaled full support for Ukraine's fighting to retake its territory and called negotiations unworkable under Moscow's current position. They note Putin's demands that Ukraine cede its lost territory to engage in serious talks. "The best way to hasten prospects for real diplomacy is to keep tilting the battlefield in Ukraine's favor," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said recently. He has also pushed back on other countries calling publicly for negotiations to end the conflict, such as China, and told United Nations Security Council members not to be "fooled by calls for a temporary or unconditional cease-fire" because Russia will use it to "consolidate control." Many European leaders have taken a similar position. In a letter published Tuesday in Foreign Affairs, the prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia said "we must continue supporting Ukraine until Russian forces withdraw from its territory entirely." The letter argued that ending the war with Russian control of Crimea and areas of eastern Ukraine would represent " an open invitation to all authoritarian lunatics" who invade their neighbors. "A cease-fire that lasts is desirable," Robert Lieber, an author and professor emeritus of government and international affairs at Georgetown University, said in an interview Tuesday. "But it has to be under better conditions, and the Russians show no interest in it." However, some have argued the U.S. should push harder diplomatically for Russia to end the war, and Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, suggested last year that negotiations at a point of weakness for Russia could be fruitful. "When there's an opportunity to negotiate, when peace can be achieved, seize it," Milley said. Administration officials said later that this did not signal any change in policy. Walking back his "territorial dispute" phrasing in a March interview with Morgan, DeSantis said he was talking about the eastern Donbas region a key target for Russia where the fighting now centers and Crimea, a peninsula that Russia annexed in 2014. "There's a lot of ethnic Russians there. So, that's some difficult fighting, and that's what I was referring to," DeSantis said, "and so it wasn't that I thought Russia had a right to that, and so if I should have made that more clear, I could have done it." DeSantis's stance on Ukraine breaks with some prominent Republicans but also reflects a growing GOP criticism of the U.S.'s approach to Ukraine. Nearly a year after Russia's invasion began, a Washington Post-ABC News poll found, 50 percent of Republicans say the U.S. is doing "too much" to support Ukraine, compared to 18 percent last April. Trump, the polling leader for the GOP nomination in 2024, has often suggested he could quickly end the war in Ukraine without providing details, saying at one point that "it doesn't make sense that Russia and Ukraine aren't sitting down and working out some kind of an agreement." He has also suggested he could have prevented the war and potentially "negotiated" with Russia and "made a deal to take over something you know, there are certain areas that are Russian-speaking areas." The Washington Post's John Hudson contributed to this report. (Tribune News Service) Patient Zero, an American official stationed at the U.S. embassy in Cuba, was in his Havana apartment one night in December 2016 when he heard a strange sound and felt what he described as a head-crushing pressure and a massive ear pain. The sound stopped after he moved to another residence, but the symptoms remained, he told the Miami Herald: I would wake up with nosebleeds that wouldnt stop. A doctor the CIA sent to investigate had a similar incident himself in his Capri Hotel room just hours after arriving on the islands capital in April 2017. I woke up with severe pain in my right ear. I had a deafening, resounding headache and nausea. I sat on the bed and realized I was awake. I had this extreme feeling of pressure. I thought, This cant be happening; its crazy, he told the Herald. That morning, the physician was so disoriented he said he didnt know whether to pull or push to open a door and couldnt concentrate enough to count money to exchange currency. Around the same time, in early 2017, two Canadian diplomats posted in Cuba had similar symptoms, suddenly feeling extremely nauseous and disoriented, with headaches and ear pain, the two told the Herald. The children of some Canadian diplomats also had nosebleeds, nausea, loss of memory and concentration and vision problems for no apparent reason. In December 2017, a high-ranking CIA official, Marc Polymeropoulos, at the time deputy chief for operations in Europe and Eurasia, woke up in a hotel room in Moscow with a terrible case of migraine and vertigo, he told the Herald. All of these people have been diagnosed with brain injuries or inner-ear problems that doctors who treated them believe are part of a new disorder known for the place it all started: Havana Syndrome. They went through years of tests and rehabilitation therapies and are still suffering from debilitating effects. But after so many years, they still struggle to be believed. The Miami Herald spoke to three former CIA officials and two Canadian diplomats affected by the strange incidents who said they are convinced they were targeted while serving their countries abroad. And all said that a recent U.S. intelligence report blaming their ailments on preexisting medical conditions or environmental factors is an attempt to whitewash the Havana Syndrome affair, likely due to political considerations. Most of those who spoke to the Herald requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation, concerns for their security or because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the cases. A betrayal, Polymeropoulos said of the U.S. intelligence assessment published in March. An attempt at public influence and disinformation, said another of the victims. Hugely disappointing that they would take that stand and cast doubt all over again, one of the Canadian diplomats said. It really hurts our credibility. The Havana Syndrome affair marked a breaking point in U.S. relations with Cuba. Most embassy staff was evacuated in 2017 and all visa processing halted in Havana for several years. Now the victims claim the U.S. government wants to move on and put a bow on it and close the book in hopes that no one would question it, Patient Zero said. This is a massive analytic intelligence failure or a cover-up; only time will tell, he said. Patient Zero got his nickname for being the first U.S. official to bring up the incidents. He said he retired from the CIA after seven years of service because the injuries he suffered in Havana left him blind in one eye and incapacitated for work. He suspects he might have been targeted with a directed energy weapon or device, a possibility that the March intelligence assessment rules out. The report has been harmful to those of us injured, he said. Its just another knife in the back. People dont realize that by doing this, they greenlit all of our adversaries abroad to keep doing this to us. The Canadian cases were not included in the March assessment, the Canadian diplomats said, even though they were a crucial part of what happened in Havana. We were there, one of the Canadian diplomats said. We know that something happened. The people the Herald interviewed also point to the failure of the U.S. and Canadian governments to immediately respond to the incidents and provide timely medical treatment to all affected. The three former CIA officials said the U.S. government has taken one position in public while discreetly paying compensation to the victims under the Havana Act, a 2021 law that authorizes payments to agency personnel who incur brain injuries from hostilities while on assignment. The compensation rules require that a doctor certify the person has a qualifying injury to the brain and that they do not have evidence or otherwise believe that the symptoms can be attributed to a preexisting condition. The CIA wants to have it both ways, Polymeropoulos said. They paid out settlement money to us, acknowledging that we suffered a brain injury in the line of duty that was not a preexisting condition. But then they also say at the same time, nothing happened to us. Asked for comment, the CIA pointed to a statement by agency Director William Burns after the release of the March intelligence assessment stressing that these findings do not call into question the experiences and real health issues that U.S. Government personnel and their family members including CIAs own officers have reported while serving our country. Burns said he and other leaders at the CIA, one of the agencies involved in the production of the March assessment, stand firmly behind the work conducted and the findings. We applied the Agencys very best operational, analytic and technical tradecraft to what is one of the largest and most intensive investigations in the Agencys history, he said. The worst type of science The Intelligence Community Assessment published in March, written by analysts from seven unnamed U.S. intelligence agencies, concludes there is no credible evidence that a foreign adversary has a weapon or collection device that is causing Havana Syndrome. U.S. government officials said the assessment is the most comprehensive analysis of the mysterious incidents in Cuba and other countries including Russia, China and Austria. Because the intelligence agencies could find no evidence of a foreign power targeting American officials, the symptoms reported by U.S. personnel were probably the result of factors that did not involve a foreign adversary, such as preexisting conditions, conventional illnesses, and environmental factors, National Intelligence Director Avril D. Haines said in a statement. The CIA doctor who became ill in Havana said the statement is an example of circular reasoning. Because they could not find a weapon or adversary, and they dont think any directed energy or microwave weapon would work (without providing a basis for that assessment), they dismissed the legitimacy of the medical problems, he said. He called the report a gross summary designed to influence public opinion. It is not a scientific report. A declassified summary of the assessment shows that the agencies that contributed to it sometimes disagreed with each other, with some stating they had low confidence in particular findings because of gaps in the evidence, and one even abstaining from backing up some of the reports conclusions. But a lack of evidence does not mean something didnt happen, Polymeropoulos said. In countries like Cuba, Russia and China we dont have this all kind of encompassing knowledge, he said. We dont have great coverage in terms of human intelligence and signals intelligence... How can you explain anything that happens inside Cuba when we dont know anything that happens inside Cuba? Patient Zero agrees, noting the Cuban government controls every square inch of the environment down there, which makes it very difficult to collect the appropriate intelligence. When Polymeropoulos asked the CIA if it had solved his case, the answer was no, he said, adding that he cant understand the sense of finality in the March assessment. It really is a betrayal, he said. And its a betrayal from colleagues. Its upsetting because I dont understand why they cant just say we dont know what happened. Critics of the assessment say it has a major flaw: It looked at 1,500 cases, a figure dramatically higher than the original reports because the Biden administration asked government employees to report any suspicious symptoms. By casting such a wide net, critics say, and without a clear explanation of the criteria and methodology, the report minimized the findings related to a core cluster of cases, mainly from Havana, that do follow similar patterns and that the CIA acknowledged were difficult to explain in an interim finding in early 2022. This is a very dangerous report that represents the worst type of science possible, a scientist familiar with the Havana Syndrome cases told the Herald. He asked not to be named because he was not authorized to discuss the the subject. They were very indiscriminate in who they included as a possible victim. When you include individuals who may or may not have been affected, you dont get an accurate view of those who were truly affected. The scientist pointed out that the data was sometimes collected years after the person was affected. The report sounds authoritative, which is unwise because the science is very suspect, if not totally wrong, the scientist said. And in some ways, it disenfranchises or discounts the truly affected individuals who are truly suffering. I think it was done entirely with political motivation. The March intelligence assessment relies heavily on a 2021 report written by JASON, a group of elite scientists that advises the U.S. government, to cast doubt on the original clinical findings by two independent teams of medical experts at the University of Miami and the University of Pennsylvania. Those teams were asked by the CIA and the U.S. State Department to test and treat American diplomats, CIA officials and family members stationed in Havana. The Miami team found that some victims had a unique pattern of balance and cognitive dysfunctions linked to abnormalities in the inner ear. The Pennsylvania team concluded that about two dozen Americans suffered from mild traumatic brain injury, similar to a concussion, even though none had suffered a blow to the head. In a later study in 2019, the UPenn doctors found the group had specific changes in their brains. Both teams strongly opposed theories that the injuries were psychosomatic, as an earlier FBI report and the Cuban government had suggested. Two other teams of experts one from the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine that published its findings in 2020, as well as a panel convened by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the CIA in 2021 to investigate potential causes also agreed with the early medical findings that the symptoms associated with Havana Syndrome pointed towards a new medical disorder. But the authors of the March intelligence assessment paraphrased language from the JASON report to claim that while the initial studies concluded that the health incidents represented a novel medical syndrome or consistent pattern of injuries similar to traumatic brain injury, a combination of medical and academic critiques pointed to methodological limitations in that work. Yet examples of those critiques are scant in the Jason report, which was commissioned by the State Department. The intelligence assessment also says JASONs review of medical data does not convey a consistent set of physical injuries, including neurological injuries such as traumatic brain injury. The JASON report, however, included several caveats, among them that the group did not have access to the patients MRI studies and other medical records, and that an alternative explanation for not having found strong evidence of traumatic brain injury in the medical data of 65 people the group reviewed was that the pool of individuals might have been too broad. However, 20 to 30 cases defy a straightforward explanation at present, the JASON report concluded. It is unclear why the intelligence agencies gave more weight to one study than others. The assessments full version is classified. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not comment for this article. A failure in leadership After an initial diagnosis of brain injury by a UM team led by Dr. Michel Hoffer, a professor of Otolaryngology and Neurological Surgery and concussion expert, in February 2017, Patient Zero spent several months trying to convince his superiors he needed further evaluation and medical care. He did not return to Havana and his health deteriorated. At some point, he said he even wrestled with suicidal thoughts. It was not until he told his superiors he would not go back to work that he was allowed to see doctors at UPenn in September 2017. He received a similar brain-injury diagnosis there. But at that point, the doctors informed his superiors that the delay in treatment and the fact that I was forced to stay in work, and was fighting and stressing, all that stuff actually led to the severity and permanence of my injuries, he said. Patient Zero said that while he was away from his post in Havana, the U.S. government sent replacements without warning them about what had happened. And then they would come out injured as well but not knowing why, he said. The CIA closed its station in Havana in September 2017, according to a declassified internal review obtained by the National Security Archive. The document mentions that several temporary duty officers were injured in Havana, including two who experienced medical injury from an incident at a Havana hotel in August 2017. Several years later, Patient Zero says he is still adjusting to living with a brain injury which is now his reality. Its a challenge; its day by day, he said. You exist with Post-It notes and things on your phone to remember things, which is difficult for someone like me. I used to have a photographic memory. Now, its a challenge to remember things. Despite his position higher up in the CIA, Polymeropoulos said he also encountered similar reluctance when he asked for medical care. After his return from a 10-day trip to Moscow to meet Russian intelligence officials, he went to visit the doctors immediately at CIA headquarters. And I said, Something happened to me in Moscow. He asked them to send him to UM or UPenn for evaluation, but he said they refused. It was not until after he retired in 2019 and spoke to the media about his case that he was referred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, a Washington, D.C., government facility where he was diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury, according to a document he shared with the Herald. I was in really bad shape and begging for health care. They were saying no, he said. What a horrible leadership failure. What a kind of moral injury for me. I was a very successful operations officer, one of the most decorated in terms of intelligence medals and awards from my generation. The Canadians who spoke with the Herald reported a similarly harrowing experience. The diplomats said they believed they were targeted in Cuba but that Canadian embassy officials in Havana asked them to keep quiet and not alert others about what was happening. The Canadian government did not evacuate family members and non-essential personnel until April 2018, after UPenn doctors told two Canadian families that they had the same brain injury pattern as the Americans. That was months after the U.S. State Department had pulled out non-essential personnel in Havana in September 2017. A study of 16 adult Canadians who reported health incidents in Havana found changes in areas of their brains that were similar to those found in the Americans affected. The study was requested by Global Affairs Canada, the agency that oversees diplomatic relations. The diplomats said the Canadian government did not coordinate medical treatment, particularly for the affected children, and that getting reimbursed for medical treatment took months, if not years. Recently, they said they had been cut off from workers compensation too. We were railroaded, thrown under the bus, one of the Canadian diplomats said. Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Marilyne Guevremont said the agency takes the health, safety and security of Canadians both at home and abroad very seriously. Canadian diplomatic staff and their families have Global Affairs Canadas unwavering support. She said Global Affairs Canada provided support to employees posted to Cuba and their dependents, including aiding medical assessment and treatment and reimbursing them for medical expenses. One of the Canadians affected said that even when their government stopped officially acknowledging new cases, Canadian officials going to Cuba continued to get sick. Global Affairs said that 15 Canadians had been diagnosed with acquired brain injury, although Canadian media have reported at least 23 cases of people affected in Havana. In 2019, a group of Canadian diplomats and their families sued the government for $21 million, claiming it withheld information and failed to protect them. The government is fighting the complaints but has agreed to mediation, one of the diplomats said. Most sources interviewed for this story said they couldnt say why the U.S. and Canadian governments were slow in responding to the threat. Still, they mentioned geopolitical interests and staffing concerns as possible reasons. The incidents have been a major roadblock in U.S. relations with Cuba and contributed to thousands of Cubans using irregular means to get to the U.S. after the embassy stopped issuing immigration visas. The Biden administration started staffing the embassy again in late 2021. Canada, on the other hand, which has a friendlier relationship with the Cuban government, has carefully avoided publicly calling the incidents attacks. The CIA doctor who was affected in the Havana Capri Hotel incident said he believes that some of the participating intelligence agencies behind the March assessment had an interest in diluting the results, as they were involved in the premature decisions to ignore the medical complaints. The impact of the relentless impugning of the Havana groups integrity and motivation has had serious impacts on their well-being, he added, noting the group had passed extensive medical and psychological tests. If anything, he said, it is the reports cherry-picking of facts and cases to formulate their opinions that really falls apart. 2023 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com . A former federal employee who shared child pornography on public Wi-Fi at the Veterans Affairs hospital in western Massachusetts where he worked pleaded guilty in federal court this week. Kevin A. Divoll, 51, entered the plea Monday on charges of distribution and possession of child pornography, according to a statement that day from the Massachusetts U.S. Attorneys Office. He faces up to 20 years in prison for each of the two charges. Divoll worked at the VA medical center in Leeds, Mass. He was arrested Aug. 4, 2022, after investigators said they caught him distributing child pornography through peer-to-peer communications. Police searched Divolls home and said they found a laptop, an external hard drive and a cellphone containing images of sexual abuse of children, some of whom were toddlers, a federal court statement at the time of his arrest said. Investigators said they found hundreds of pictures and video files containing child pornography, The Recorder, a newspaper in Greenfield, Mass., reported shortly after his arrest. Divolls distribution of the images over public Wi-Fi took place from May through July of 2022, prosecutors said in a statement Monday. The governments statements did not include Divolls role at the VA. A LinkedIn account with his name and matching his description said that Divoll was a licensed practical nurse with about 25 years of experience. He is scheduled for sentencing on July 19. BRADENTON, Fla. (Tribune News Service) Two national nonprofits dedicated to providing housing for homeless veterans are partnering on plans to build a new community in Bradenton. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which has opened similar affordable housing developments in Arizona and California, sent a letter of intent to Manatee County officials in September. The offer comes after local leaders committed $15 million to renovate the former jail to create housing for veterans. According to Stephen Peck, Tunnel to Towers president and CEO, the nonprofit aims to build 122 units south of Cortez Road where the countys Utilities Department is based. The housing would be a combination of 38 "comfort" tiny homes that are 500 square feet as well as an 84-unit apartment complex. "This is a great opportunity and a great location," said Commissioner George Kruse. "This expresses to everybody here that we stand behind our word that we care about our veterans, we care about our homeless veterans." The Manatee Board of County Commissioners previously voted to spend $15 million to begin revamping the inside of the former jail that is connected to the Manatee County Judicial Center in downtown Bradenton, but that plan has been abandoned. Last week, commissioners voted to demolish the old jail instead, pointing to the high costs associated with converting the building into housing and a support center for veterans. Board members say they hope Tunnel to Towers' proposed village will fill that void. Housing for veterans in Bradenton Tunnel to Towers is working with U.S. VETS, another large nonprofit that provides support to veterans, to offer wraparound services on the property. The organizations say addiction resources, therapists, employment programs and other support systems will be available. The complex will also have 24/7 on-site security. "We all suffer an indignity when our women and men are sleeping on the same streets that he or she was once asked to defend. Our job is to make sure that never happens again," said Darryl Vincent, chief operating officer of U.S. VETS. "Whatever their need is, we triage them through that." In a presentation to the board, Gavin Naples, vice president of Tunnel to Towers, said the organization has conducted research that shows there are about 200 homeless veterans in and around Manatee County. "We want to maximize the utilization of the site and provide housing for as many individuals as we can," said Naples. The planned community in Bradenton would offer permanent housing to local veterans. Naples said the organization would prioritize Manatee County-based veterans and select "a mix" of veterans in different age groups and other demographics. Support for homeless veterans When it opens, the facility will be able to provide fully furnished units for 122 veterans. Children and significant others will not be able to live there, Naples said. Rent payments will work on a sliding scale to keep it affordable for veterans working to get back on their feet. "The veteran is expected to pay 30% of their income, whether that's $20 a month or $700 a month," said Naples, noting that the foundation will provide housing for people without an income while also helping them apply for housing vouchers. According to Vincent, U.S. VETS maintains a 97% percent retention rate for veterans who take advantage of the permanent housing program. Board members said they were impressed by the presentation, but several commissioners said they had concerns about the proposed complex. Officials debated the facility for over an hour before voting unanimously in support of moving forward. Commissioner Jason Bearden, a Marine Corps veteran, was the most vocal. He pointed to testimonials from friends who had turned to U.S. VETS for help in the past. "I could see how this program would be good, but I don't see it as a fix to a specific issue," Bearden said. "Our homelessness could increase because of this." Commissioner Amanda Ballard also asked about how the organizations will handle situations where a veteran has to be removed from the facility. Naples explained that U.S. VETS does not send veterans back into homelessness. In cases where a resident has to be relocated, the organization will connect the veteran with family, pay for housing elsewhere or seek another solution, he said. "We're not going to kick someone out of the program and have them on the street. We will find a place for them based on their needs," Naples said. Help during 'hard times' Acting County Administrator Lee Washington, who is also a Marine Corps veteran, weighed in on the conversation as well. "The county made a commitment to do something for our homeless veterans here in Manatee County. To think that this would be any different than any other affordable housing project that we've approved in Manatee County would be incorrect," said Washington, who highlighted the importance of the on-site support services. "We're not a bunch of drunks with mental health issues running around Manatee County or the nation. Some of us have just run into hard times." Speaking during public comment, two local residents urged commissioners to support the proposal. "This should have been approved an hour ago," said Glen Gibellina, an outspoken advocate for veteran housing initiatives. "I can't believe we're having this conversation." "They've earned our respect and a place to get their lives back on track. As a community, the only answer is yes," Stacy Jesse added. In the end, commissioners voted to have staff continue negotiating a deal with Tunnel to Towers and U.S. VETS. County staff plan to visit one of the existing veteran housing communities in the coming weeks. Bearden also said he hopes to visit one of the sites to speak with fellow service members. "I think I might feel a little bit better if I could get permission to go out to Riverside and check out the facility," said Bearden, referring to an existing community in California. "I'd like to physically see it and ask questions with the people to see if they're truly getting services." Tunnel to Towers and U.S. VETS said they hope to open the veteran housing community by the end of 2024. (c)2023 The Bradenton Herald (Bradenton, Fla.) Visit at www.bradenton.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Tribune News Service) Honor Flight Dayton has announced it will be conducting its first trip of the year to Washington, D.C., Saturday to take veterans to see their national memorials. In a release, the organization said it will use an American Airlines charter flight to transport 81 World War II, Korea and Vietnam veterans, along with 68 guardians and Honor Flight Dayton staff. The flight is expected to leave early Saturday morning. While in Washington, the veterans will visit the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the USMC War Memorial, the FDR Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and other sites. The veterans will return to the Dayton International Airport at around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, to be greeted by the Wright Patterson Air Force Band of Flight, the Miami Valley Young Marines, Centerville Community Band, active members of the U.S. Armed Forces, members of other organizations and families, friends and Honor Flight alumni, the release said. Members of the public are encouraged to join in welcoming the veterans home, with Honor Flight recommending they arrive at around 7 p.m. (c)2023 Springfield News-Sun, Ohio Visit at www.springfieldnewssun.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. WASHINGTON After 73 years of uncertainty, the remains of an Army soldier born in Georgia and killed in action during the Korean War have been identified through DNA testing. Born in Buena Vista, Cpl. Luther Story was just 19 years old when he was killed during what the military describes as a daylight attack in 1950. In the citation for his posthumous Medal of Honor, the U.S. Army writes that Story continued to provide cover for his comrades even after he was wounded. When last seen he was firing every weapon available and fighting off another hostile assault, the citation states. Storys father was presented with his Medal of Honor at the Pentagon in 1951. His only known living relative today is a niece who lives in Americus. The military tried for months to locate or identify Storys remains in Korea or determine whether he had been taken as a prisoner of war, but nothing was ever confirmed. In 1956, he was declared unrecoverable. The identification comes as the result of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency inspection of the remains of 652 Korean War veterans who had been interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. That initiative began two years ago. Testing of remains that had been identified as Unknown X-260 Tanggok matched Storys DNA. The development was announced Wednesday as part of South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeols official state visit to the White House, which will include a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden and a state dinner. The visit coincides with the anniversary of the two nations security alliance forged in 1953 at the conclusion of the war. On this 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice and the U.S.-ROK alliance, our two countries take this joint statement as an opportunity to reaffirm our respect and gratitude for the courageous acts of our service members in defense of our freedom, values and democracy, the joint announcement stated. Biden and Yoon are scheduled to appear for a joint news conference at the White House Wednesday afternoon. Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer Jeremy Redmon contributed to this report. 2023 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Wednesday that a parliamentary committee would discuss the terms of talks between the ruling alliance and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) regarding holding elections across the country on the same day. He said the door for negotiations should not be closed. "We can decide what the format of the talks will be. The parliamentary committee can create room for this." He made the comments in a meeting with leaders of the 13 parties known as the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) that form the coalition government. The meeting comes a day before a hearing of the Supreme Court on petitions requesting single-day elections to the national and provincial assemblies. In the previous hearing, the apex court had directed the government and opposition parties to reach a consensus on the date for holding elections. In his address today, the premier said the parliament had dealt with challenges in the past and taken constitutional and legal steps regarding the Supreme Court. The situation was still challenging, he continued. Referring to the verdict of a three-member Supreme Court bench that ordered polls to the Punjab Assembly on May 14, he said the parliament did not accept the bench. "The parliament did not accept that bench's decision. The unanimous decision was that we accept the four-three verdict," PM Shehbaz said, referring to the controversies regarding the bench's members. However, the apex court wanted to continue hearing the elections case with the three-member bench, which has asked for details regarding election funds tomorrow, he noted. "The parliament has dealt with Supreme Court verdicts in the past. It would prefer that the matter [of holding talks with the opposition on elections] also be brought to the house. "The parliament would want its decisions to be respected." The coalition partners had reached a consensus on same-day elections, he shared. "The decision has to be taken by the parliament, not you or me," he told the allies. 'SC does not have arbitration powers' Prime Minister Shehbaz said the Supreme Court did "not have the power to act as an arbitrator" between the government and the PTI. "The Supreme Court's job is not to act as a panchayat but to announce verdicts in accordance with the law and the Constitution." The National Assembly's term would come to an end on August 13, he said, adding that general elections could then be held in October or November. Referring to former prime minister Imran Khan's claims, PM Shehbaz said the country was already facing problems before the PTI Chairman created more by saying he was ousted from power through a conspiracy by the United States. "Our foreign relations were greatly damaged. The PTI instructed its provincial finance ministers to reject an agreement with the IMF (International Monetary Fund). All kinds of tactics were used to create anarchy. Even the armed forces were not spared." Relations with the Fund have improved but are not satisfactory, he said. Meeting among allies Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and other leaders attended the meeting held earlier today. Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan and federal ministers also attended the meeting. As per sources, the meeting was briefed by the legal team on the election fund case and the negotiations with PTI. Earlier today, The News had reported that there are chances of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supermo Nawaz Sharif who is currently in Saudi Arabia attending the meeting virtually. During the last meeting of the coalition partners, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari suggested dialogue with the PTI but the PDM chief Fazl outright rejected the proposal. PMLN sources claim that the party leadership has asked Ayaz Sadiq to contact PTIs Asad Qaiser and both have agreed to meet today. However, PTI chief Imran Khan has clearly stated that the mandate for negotiations rests with Shah Mahmood Qureshi. On April 20, the top court adjourned the hearing of the petition till April 27 after the key ruling parties PPP and PML-N had assured the Supreme Court they would sit with the PTI on April 26 and try to find a solution on the election date. A three-member bench of the top court headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar has sought a progress report on the talks by April 27. 'Disagreement among ruling allies A dispute emerged among the ruling parties over holding talks with the PTI on April 18, sources said after Jamaat-e-Islami's (JI) bid to bring both sides to the negotiation table. The PDM coalition partners met in Islamabad after PM Shehbaz convened a meeting on the country's political situation and the JI's negotiation efforts. During the meeting, a disagreement took place among the parties in the coalition government over holding talks with the opposition party as some believed that PTI Chairman Imran Khan could not be trusted, while others insisted that political forces should not shut channels for negotiations. PPP Chairman Bilawal had stressed holding dialogue with the opposition, with Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Balochistan National Party, Balochistan Awami Party, Chaudhry Salik, and Mohsin Dawar backing him, sources said. Bilawal said closing the door for talks is against his party's principles and "undemocratic". But representatives of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and the Jamhoori Wattan Party (JWP) rejected Bilawal's opinion and said that it isn't in the coalition's interests to hold talks with the deposed prime minister who was ousted from the office via a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly in April last year. Later, the PPP supremo also held a separate meeting with the JUI-F chief to convince him. Following the SC directives, both Bilawal and Fazl rejected the order, terming the dialogue between political parties as directed by the court talks at gunpoint. Foreign Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday accused the Supreme Court of "insulting" the Parliament by not adhering to the Constitution. "The Supreme Court wants to impose a minority decision by turning it into a majority one. We will not accept it under any circumstances," he said during his address in the National Assembly. He said that the role of the top court is not to bring about changes in the Constitution, and that the judges must show respect towards the members of Parliament and the prime minister, just as they are respected. He said that a letter is not enough as the Parliament was insulted and its privileges were violated. Therefore, he suggested that the matter be taken up by the privilege committee. Bilawal reposed confidence in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and emphasised the entire parliament's support for the Constitution. He also noted the potential danger to Pakistan, its people, and the federation in the ongoing political fight. The foreign minister said that they would have accepted the decision if the court had given orders to hold elections in Punjab and K-P only but the verdict indicated "something is fishy". Bilawal criticised the court's orders to "disobey" the Parliament, highlighting that the House supported the "majority decision of four judges". He asserted that the judiciary's orders to "ignore" the Parliament were unacceptable, refusing to acknowledge it. He questioned how anyone could contemplate breaking the Constitution and issuing such an order. The PPP chairman stated that all major political parties in the country have reached a consensus on holding elections on a single day nationwide. He also called upon the judiciary to stay within its limits and allow the parliament to function without interference. Bilawal called on the heads of all institutions to take note of the situation and strive to be remembered in history in good words through dialogue. He asserted that political dialogue must be conducted within the parliament, rather than in courtrooms, stating that if political parties engage in a dialogue, it will not only preserve democracy and the federation, but also uphold the institutions' honour and dignity. Bilawal emphasised that the PPP firmly adheres to the Constitution and cannot overlook the Parliament. He also stated that the Parliament is the guardian of the national treasury and the maker of laws, and that it is the Parliament's prerogative to determine how and where the national wealth will be spent. He further added that they are obligated to follow the directives of the Parliament, not any other institution. KYODO NEWS - Apr 26, 2023 - 19:14 | All, Japan Japanese lawmakers on Wednesday stepped up efforts to address the negative effects of hay fever, an allergy caused by pollen from cedar and cypress trees estimated to affect more than 40 percent of the country's population. Over 70 cross-party Japanese lawmakers set up a group urging the government to take measures toward mitigating the negative impact of pollen allergy that triggers symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing and itchy eyes during the spring season. At the outset of their first meeting, Shunichi Yamaguchi, who was chosen as the leader of the bipartisan group, said, "We will work to ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy the spring season without suffering from pollen allergies." Yamaguchi, a veteran lower house member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, told reporters that the cross-party lawmakers will lobby the government to incorporate the outcome of their discussions into its annual economic policy blueprint, which will be compiled around June. The establishment of the group came since the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently began debating what could be done to combat hay fever at a ministerial meeting. Referring to hay fever as a "major societal concern," Kishida has instructed ministers responsible for forestry, health and other areas to map out a comprehensive outline for steps toward tackling pollen allergies more effectively over the next 10 years by June. Expected countermeasures include cutting down more cedar trees to use them as timber, utilizing artificial intelligence and supercomputers to improve the accuracy of pollen forecasts, as well as promoting therapies that could help to alleviate allergy symptoms. A large amount of cedar trees were planted during a period of rapid economic growth after World War II for environmental protection purposes. The move, however, has led to many people suffering from pollen allergies decades later. Although a new species which emits less pollen was introduced, they did not significantly replace their pollen-heavy cousins due to a shortage of demand for domestic timber, leading to an excess of pollen in the atmosphere during springtime in many parts of the country. Although there is a lack of official data, a survey conducted by a group of otolaryngologists showed 42.5 percent of people experienced hay fever in Japan in 2019, up from 29.8 percent in 2008 and 19.6 percent in 1998. Two Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred in gun battle with terrorists in Khyber district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the militarys media wing said. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said A firefight broke out between Pakistani security forces and terrorists in the general area of Tirah, Khyber District on April 25 as a result of which two army personnel embraced martyrdom. According to ISPR the exchange resulted in killing two terrorists and injuring four others. Additionally, weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists. However, the intense exchange of fire also led to the tragic loss of two brave soldiers. According to militarys media wing Sepoy Waqas Ali Shah, 26, and resident of Charsadda, and Sepoy Basit Ali, 24, and resident of Peshawar, both fought courageously before making the ultimate sacrifice for their country, embracing shahadat. Following the firefight, security forces carried out a sanitization process in the area to ensure that any other terrorists present are eliminated. Sullivan, IN (47882) Today A mix of clouds and sun. High 61F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 39F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Lena Clerc pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the woman at the Academy Nightclub, Abbey Street. Lena Clerc pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the woman. Photo: Collins Courts Collins Courts A French student bit and injured a nightclub doorwoman in a rage of anger when she was refused entry, a court has heard. Lena Clerc (22) was being stopped at the door of a Dublin club when she held on to the security guards arm and bit it. The case against her was adjourned at Dublin District Court for a victim impact statement. Clerc pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the woman at the Academy Nightclub, Abbey Street, on January 21 this year. Garda Sergeant Michelle Lynch said the assault was reported to gardai on January 22. The accused had been refused entry to the club when she became aggressive and attempted to run past the victim, a member of security staff. She was attempting to gain entry and the victim stopped her. In a rage of anger, the accused held on to the injured partys arm, biting it and causing the skin to break, the sergeant said. There was no medical report available to the court as the victim had sought medical assistance but then declined to go to hospital. There was CCTV evidence but this had not been disclosed yet, she added. The DPP directed that the case could be dealt with at district court level, subject to the judge considering the issue of jurisdiction. Judge Bryan Smyth said he was accepting jurisdiction, allowing the case to remain in the district court, after hearing the outline of the evidence. Defence solicitor Paddy McGarry said the accused was pleading guilty, was studying in Ireland and wished to finalise the case as she was due to return to France soon. Judge Smyth said the injured party would have to be asked if she wished to make a victim impact statement. He adjourned the case to later this week for this, as well as mitigation before finalisation. The accused was remanded on continuing bail. The medical community in Ballinasloe are becoming increasingly worried for their safety and are very concerned about the incidents of late The healthcare community have raised concerns about their safety after a doctors car was broken into after finishing her shift in a Galway hospital over the weekend. The doctor had just finished her long shift at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, Co Galway shortly after 10pm on Saturday night when she returned to her car to find that her window had been smashed. Dr Ali Raza Ansari, a paediatric doctor at the hospital and vice president of medical support group Train Us For Ireland, said that his co-workers were left spooked by the incident. Shes one of the doctors in A&E here and she was going home after completing her shift. When she reached the car park, she saw that the window on the drivers side of her car was broken, he told sundayworld.com. She tried to insert her key into the ignition and the whole thing was lost. Thankfully there wasnt anything valuable in the car... I think shes still in shock. We have a doctors WhatsApp group and people started posting in it. I was working on the ward that night and when I got out, I checked my car to see if it was safe. Everybody was afraid. Gardai confirmed that damage was caused to a vehicle in the area and said detectives were looking into the incident, although no arrests have been made to date. Its the third incident in which a Ballinasloe-based doctor has been targeted over a period of six days. Pensioner Thomas Walsh was arrested by gardai last week after footage emerged on social media showing a circular saw being used to cut through the front door of a property rented by Portiuncula Hospital surgeon Dr Muhammed Raheel Bethel, his wife and two young daughters. And later in the week, A&E Registrar Dr Othman Farahat was the victim of a burglary after his home in St Michaels Place, Ballinasloe was broken into as his wife and two young children were inside. Dr Farahat had been celebrating Eid with some friends at home shortly after midnight on Thursday night/Friday morning when a man with a knife entered and stole some of his belongings. He was at home watching a movie upstairs with his friends and a man with a knife entered. His wife started shouting so he went downstairs, and they were terrified, Dr Ansari told us. He grabbed valuables, whatever he found, and then he ran out. He took bags containing all his documents, his passport, his medical degrees and certificates but they got it back later. It was quite stressful for his wife. The babies were upstairs and she got a fright. The incident was reported to local gardai, who arrested a man in his 30s a short time later. He was later charged and appeared before a sitting of Castlerea District Court on Friday, 21 April. Dr Ansari said that the medical community in Ballinasloe are becoming increasingly worried for their safety and are very concerned about the incidents of late. He said that its unusual that all three incidents involved doctors, although noted that the victims didnt belong to one specific nationality. Whats going on in this town? Im not sure if all of these things are related or why people are specifically targeting doctors, but the situation is getting worse and worse. Doctors families are afraid; their kids are afraid. Theyre afraid of whats going on. People are afraid of staying in the town because they think its an unsafe environment. Maybe people have heard that doctors are rich and they have a lot of money so theyre easy to target. I think thats the reason people are attacking doctors. There is a sense of fear and insecurity in this town. Someone has to take action and take this seriously. Were thankful that the gardai are doing something and listening to us. The people of Ireland have always stood with the doctors too, he added. Dr Ansari said that the hospital board have contacted the victims, while a spokesperson for the Saolta Hospital Group, which represents Portiuncula Hospital, said the incidents were a matter for the gardai. Gardai intercepted a vehicle and conducted a search of a residential address in Clondalkin shortly before 2pm One man has been arrested after Gardai seized heroin worth 280,000 and 4,000 in cash in the Clondalkin area of West Dublin. The Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau supported by the Special Crime Task Force intercepted a vehicle and conducted a search of a residential address in Clondalkin shortly before 2pm on Wednesday. Heroin and cashed seized 2 Kilogrammes of Diamorphine (Heroin) with a street value of 280,000, and 4,000 in cash was recovered during the search. One male (40s) was arrested in relation to drug trafficking and is currently detained, pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996, at a Garda Station in South Dublin. Investigations are ongoing. Male officers then had to return Kardashian to her cell where she is kept isolated from other female inmates Female prison officers were threatened with being raped after a confrontation with transgender inmate Barbie Kardashian at Limerick Prison this week. The 21-year-old, who was jailed last month for threatening to torture, rape and murder her mother, made the threats after being asked to clean up where she had taken a shower. Male officers then had to intervene at the prisons E Wing for female prisoners to return Kardashian to her cell where she is kept isolated from other female inmates, according to sources. She is now the subject of a P19, the prisons system disciplinary procedure which could see her lose privileges as punishment, it was added. Last month Kardashian received a sentence of five and a half years with the final 12 months suspended at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. Kardashian was sentenced on March 16 this year by Judge Tom ODonnell at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court after a jury found her guilty of seven threats against her mother at her trial last May. Gardai told the court that they continue to have grave concerns about Ms Kardashians motivation to carry out the threats. Detective Garda Niall Fitzgerald, Roxboro Road Garda Station, Limerick, gave evidence that Gardai believe Ms Kardashian continues to pose a significant threat to those she has made threats towards, as well as to the wider public. The court heard she was born a male named Gabrielle Alejandro Gentile and that she later changed her name by deed poll to Barbie Kardashian. In 2020, Ms Kardashian was granted a gender recognition certificate by the Department of Social Protection, in recognition of her identifying as female. The court heard Ms Kardashian is currently on a waiting list to be assessed for appropriate medical treatment in relation to her gender. She previously threatened to kill or cause serious harm to her mother as well another woman. She told a number of people how she planned to immobilise her mother by running at her with a knife and stabbing her, before slowly torturing her to death in her home, Limerick Circuit Court heard. Kardashian, who is diagnosed with a narcissistic personality disorder outlined her plans to kill her mother during a meeting on September 16, 2020. The meeting had been arranged to discuss a life plan for her, ahead of her proposed release into the community, after she had turned 18. Gardai were told how Kardashian had said: "If I got into [my mother's] house I would run towards her and put the knife into her body; I would want to prolong my mum's suffering for as long as possible. I would stab her, but not in her heart or neck, I'd want to put her through lots of torture, fear and humiliation." Following her trial last May, a jury found Ms Kardashian guilty of seven threats against her mother. She was found not guilty of four additional charges of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to woman. Ms Kardashian thanked the judge before being led away to begin serving her sentence. Last month Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said violent biological males should not be put into womens prisons if they are found to have broken the law. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (Brian Lawless/PA) Brian Lawless Mr Varadkar said the law may need to be changed to ensure female prisoners are protected when he was asked for his views following Kardashians conviction. I know that a similar situation arose in Scotland and it was necessary there to change the law to make sure that women were protected. When asked if he believes biological males should be put into womens prisons he said: No, I dont quite frankly. If a situation that arose in Scotland has now arisen in Ireland, well, then were going to have to deal with it in a similar way, he said. The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) had previously announced transgender offenders would be sent to jails matching the gender they were assigned at birth. The case of double rapist Isla Bryson forced the SPS to reconsider previously inclusive policies when Bryson was sent to a womens prison in a controversy that caused a political storm. Tangaraju Suppiah was hanged today and his family was given the death certificate, according to a human rights activist A man has been executed in Singapore for allegedly transporting dried leaves from one location to another. Tangaraju Suppiah (46), was convicted of "abetting by engaging in a conspiracy to traffic" over a delivery of 1kg (35oz) of cannabis from Malaysia to Singapore in 2013. Tangaraju was hanged today and his family was given the death certificate, according to a tweet by a human rights activist. Supporters say Suppiah was convicted of trafficking the leaves on weak evidence whilst authorities say he had received due process. "I know that my brother has not done anything wrong. I urge the court to look at his case from the beginning," Tangaraju's sister, Leela Suppiah, had told reporters at a news conference over the weekend. The case follows a high-profile execution last year of an intellectually impaired man over a similar drugs charge. Supporters vigil Singapore has some of the world's toughest anti-drug laws, which it says are necessary to protect society. In recent days Suppiahs family members and activists delivered letters to Singapore's president Halimah Yacob in a last-minute plea for clemency, while British billionaire Sir Richard Branson had called for a halt of the execution and a review of the case. Though Suppiah was not caught during the delivery, prosecutors said he was responsible for coordinating it, and traced two phone numbers used by a deliveryman back to him. Tangaraju claimed he was not the person communicating with others connected to the case. He said he had lost one of the phones and denied owning the second one. Singapore law mandates the death penalty for drug trafficking and has lesser penalties for couriers. In Tangaraju's last appeal, the judge agreed with the prosecution that Tangaraju was responsible for coordinating the delivery, which made him ineligible for a more lenient sentence. Activists had raised concerns that Tangaraju was not given adequate access to an interpreter and had to argue his last appeal on his own since his family was unable to secure a lawyer. Tangaraju's sister Leela Suppiah marched with activists on Sunday. Leela and supporters Sir Richard, who previously criticised the 2022 execution of intellectually impaired Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, said Tangaraju's case was "shocking on multiple levels". In a blog post, he said Singapore was about to kill an innocent man" on the back of "more than dubious circumstances". "The death penalty is already a dark stain on the country's reputation. An execution following such an unsafe conviction would only make things worse," he said. Rebutting his allegations, Singapore's Home Affairs Ministry said his claims were untrue and accused him of "disrespect for Singapore's judges and our criminal justice system". It said the death penalty was "an essential component" in a multi-pronged approach that has been "effective in keeping Singapore safe and secure". Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Tangaraju's family members said they were able to meet him from behind a glass partition at Changi Prison after his notice of execution was released last week. "He puts up a brave front for my mother because he does not want her to break down," his niece Subhashini Ilango said. "He has mentally prepared for this day to come. He does feel there's a great injustice and he'll be executed for something he did not do." His family said they would continue to press for reforms in Singapore's legal system. "If such an injustice happens to my brother, I wouldn't want it to happen to anybody else so I will continue to fight," said his sister Leela. KYODO NEWS - Apr 26, 2023 - 19:20 | All, Japan Japan's population is expected to fall to 87 million by 2070, shrinking 30 percent from 2020, a government estimate showed Wednesday, highlighting the country's need to overhaul its social security systems and restructure its urban communities. Foreign residents, including students and workers residing in Japan for more than three months, are set to comprise 10.8 percent of the population at 9.39 million in 2070, expanding from 2.2 percent in 2020. The National Institute of Population and Security Research said those aged 65 or above in Japan are projected to hit 33.67 million in 2070 after peaking at 39.53 million in 2043. In 2070, they will comprise 38.7 percent of the population, resulting in ballooning social security costs. The health ministry's research body provides 50-year demographic forecasts approximately every five years based on public data such as censuses. The government will use the latest data to calculate the country's future pension payouts. The population, numbering 126.15 million as of 2020, is expected to fall under the 100 million threshold in 2056, it said. The projected fertility rate, or the expected number of children born per woman during her child-bearing years, was at 1.36 for 2070, slightly up from 1.33 in 2020 but remaining well below the threshold of 2.07 for maintaining the population. The number of births, which slipped below 800,000 in 2022, is likely to decline further to under 700,000 in 2043 and below 500,000 in 2070, the institute said. People aged 15 to 64, the working-age population that supports the country's social security systems by paying premiums, are forecast to decline sharply to 45.35 million in 2070 from 75.09 million in 2020. Those aged 14 and under are estimated to decrease to 7.97 million in 2070 from 15.03 million in 2020. The population's average age is projected to be 47.6 in 2020, rising to 54.0 in 2070. Men's average life expectancy is expected to reach 85.89 in 2070 from 81.58 in 2020, while that of women is likely to climb to 91.94 from 87.72. However, according to Masashi Kawai, director of a research center on population decline prevention, the latest data "overstates the rise in the foreign population and does not take into account pandemic-caused falls in the younger generation's desire to marry or have children." Stressing the need for a "strategic shrinking" of society as commercial and government services become untenable, he called for establishing compact cities of around 100,000 people offering centralized services. Japan has slid down the global population rankings, going from the seventh most populous nation in 1990 to 11th by 2022. It is projected to drop to 17th by 2050, falling behind countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines. South Korea is also grappling with a plummeting birth rate. Its 2022 population of around 51.8 million is expected to shrink to 45.8 million by 2050. United Nations data from the end of July 2022 showed China was the world's most populous nation, followed by India and the United States. But India is expected to surpass its neighbor by the end of April and to remain at the top into 2050. Related coverage: Japan mulls expanding scope of skilled worker visa with no stay limit Japan's population falls under 125 mil., 12th year of decline FOCUS: Calls grow for drastic steps to address Japan's sliding birthrate "To me, it's really confusing why they'd be outside our house - considering we're the ones that are fighting on housing, we're the ones opposing the Government's failed housing policies. Deputy Murphy was at home at the time with his partner and baby The partner of People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, whose Dublin home was targeted by protestors on Monday night, has described the incident as scary and upsetting. Jess Spear who was at home with Mr Murphy and her new baby Juniper said that coming into a cul-de-sac in a quiet neighbourhood was a very odd way to protest. Deputy Murphy posted a photograph on Twitter showing a handful of people on the footpath outside his home carrying placards, with some reading: Concerned Communities say NO. The TD wrote: Far right protesting outside our home right now. "We were literally preparing to give our newborn baby a bath. Similar protests have previously been held outside the residences of Leo Varadkar, Simon Harris and former CMO Dr Tony Holohan. But Ms Spear told Lunchtime Live this is not the way people should protest. Protestors outside the house on Monday "I noticed outside there was a group of men with placards and a tricolour and all of that," she said. "I thought, 'Oh crap, we've got protesters outside the house'. I really don't understand why they'd be outside our house". Ms Spear described the situation as scary. "It's obviously kind of an upsetting thing to have protestors outside your house, and a little bit scary," she said. "You don't really know what they're doing there". She also said she was confused about what the group was protesting against. "One of the signs, I think, said 'Irish lives matter' and then there was another one that maybe mentioned refugees," she said. "To me, it's really confusing why they'd be outside Paul Murphy's house - our house - considering we're the ones that are fighting on housing, we're the ones opposing the Government's failed housing policies. "We didn't go out and talk to them, so I don't really know what they're doing there". Ms Spear said the protestors, who were there for over an hour, were just kind of standing there, and it looked like they were taking pictures from across the road," she said. "They were there for about an hour and a half - I think there were maybe about a dozen. "I think it's very, very odd to be coming to a cul-de-sac in a quiet neighbourhood to protest one of the only TDs calling out Government corruption and housing policy. "Particularly when you look at what they look like they're protesting about - I don't know why they're not at the Dail. "People have the right to peacefully protest - [but] I would not in any way be encouraging people, I wouldn't be promoting it, I wouldn't be organising any type of protest outside people's homes. "I just don't think that's the best place to make your point," she added. The incident generated heated debate online with George Hook comparing the protest to the infamous incident in 2015 when Mr Murphy was arrested for falsely imprisoning then Tanaiste Joan Burton at a water charges rally in Jobstown. The former broadcaster and TV pundit wrote on Twitter: Must be really tough. Imagine how Joan Burton felt? to which Murphy simply replied: Classy. Hooks tweet refers to how Joan Burton was trapped in her car in 2014 with her adviser amid chaotic scenes when protestors banged on the car and shouted abuse. The TD was arrested the following year with six other men for falsely imprisoning the then Tanaiste at the heated water charges protest in Jobstown. Hook, clearly no fan of the Dublin TD tweeted at the time: I hear Paul Murphy TD was arrested re the Joan Burton demo, while still in his pyjamas this morning. My heart weeps for him. Last year Murphy, said he had no regrets about how the 2014 Jobstown anti-water charges protests played out, claiming Socialist Party members played a "productive role" on the day. Mr Murphy told the Irish Examiner's 'Let Me Tell You' podcast that, despite the fallout and subsequent court case, he does not regret how the day played out. He said: "I think me and other members of the Socialist Party played a productive role on the day of the protest, that's the truth." He later said it was bizarre to compare himself being attacked by right-wing protestors to how Joan Burton was treated at the water charge march in 2014. Last September, Mr Murphy said he was assaulted leaving Leinster House as he was exiting the building to join a protest against defective apartments. People later compared the two incidents online, but Mr Murphy said this is a bizarre thing to do, as one was a community protest and the protest where he was attacked was fuelled by members of the far-right. "I think it is utterly bizarre that you are attempting to suggest that there is an equivalence between a community protest against water charges eight years ago and the far right who are physically attacking me, he told Newstalks The Pat Kenny Show. I have always opposed any abuse, I have never participated in any of that. The jury found that I engaged in peaceful civil disobedience, sitting down on a road, that that is not the same as far-right abuse. "Its not about what happened to me, Im absolutely grand but there are people being attacked by these people. The People Before Profit TD said didnt think anyone would draw an equivalence between the two protests. No I didnt think anyone would go there at all, I assume most people don't draw an equivalence between a community protest, he said. "Theres no allegation of assault against me, and me being arrested for false imprisonment for a sit-down protest which I was subsequently cleared after a jury trial, I don't think people would draw that. "People understand the danger that the far right represents. I think most people can differentiate between a community protest and the right people have to protest, which there was a trial and everyone was cleared of criminal charges. We need stronger assurances from the Government that the Irish Naval Service will have no role in training the Libyan Coastguard. The government is seeking the support of Dail Eireann this week in approving the participation of the Irish Naval Service in an EU mission for seven weeks this summer. The EU Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI was launched in 2020 with the primary mission to enforce the UN arms embargo to Libya during the second Libyan Civil War. Operation IRINI is a European Union military operation under the umbrella of the Common Security and Defense Policy. The operation is expected to use aerial, maritime and satellite assets. The Irish Naval Service has a proud tradition of taking part in previous EU humanitarian missions. If Ireland is to participate in Operation Irini, the preservation of life should be clearly outlined as being a priority, said TD Gary Gannon. Numerous TDs have raised concerns about the nature of this mission that would see an Irish vessel intercepting weapons off the African coast. The government has brought forward the motion to send LE William Butler Yeats to assist in operation Irini. While many Dail members are in favour of the missions aim, a common issue for opposition TDs surrounds the possibility of Irish ships training members of the Libyan coastguard. Libyan Coast Guard That group is made up of former militias that has benefitted from European funding despite accusations of human rights abuses from the UN. We know that there is an ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean, with desperate refugees attempting to reach the EU on flimsy and unsafe vessels. Tragically, thousands of men, women and children have died trying to make these perilous journeys, Mr Gannon said. For that reason, I have added an amendment to the Governments motion to clearly state that saving the lives of those in distress at sea is a central part of this mission. Second Libyan Civil War ended in 2020 In addition, we need stronger assurances from the Government that the Irish Naval Service will have no role in training the Libyan Coastguard - which is another element of this mission due to concerns over their links to militia and appalling track record of human rights abuses, Mr Gannon added. Speaking in defence of the planned operation, Minister of State Peter Burke said: It is important to stress that the core task and secondary tasks of the mission are all covered by an EU mandate. The naval service will gain valuable experience and benefit in terms of enhancing capability and interoperability with international naval forces. Micheal Martins original statement with regards to operation IRINI specifically mentioned assisting in the development of the capacity and training of the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy. Gary Gannon concluded: I am urging TDs from all parties and groupings to support my amendment when the motion is voted on this evening. In one comment he wrote, Its a (sic) for sure a CULT, under a post by another Twitter user that said: Non-Binary Woman identifies as a Hawk. Irelands Eurovision entry Wild Youth have cut all ties with their choreographer over recent social media comments. The band were selected as Irelands Eurovision entry following a live contest on The Late Late Showearlier this year. Shortly afterwards, it was announced that creative director and choreographer Ian Banham would work with the band ahead of the competition which takes place next month. Dublin band Wild Youth are selected to represent Ireland at Eurovision However, Mr Banham has come in for criticism regarding activity on his Twitter account recently. In one comment he wrote, Its a (sic) for sure a CULT, under a post by another Twitter user that said: Non-Binary Woman identifies as a Hawk. In another instance, Mr Banham replied: Thats because hes not a woman, under a video of a transgender woman. Ian Banham. Photo: @ianbanham Instagram Meanwhile, replying to an account called End Wokeness that shared a story, with the headline Woman jailed after stabbing and tying up victim BBC News, which was posted on the BBC News Twitter account, Mr Banham wrote: Exactly! Its a man! This clown world is ridiculous. Some of the comments on Mr Banhams account have been deleted. Earlier today his account was public, but it has now been made private. In a statement published on Twitter on Monday afternoon, Wild Youth said it is a band that stands for unity and kindness. Our song represents our beliefs as a band. We have cut all ties with Ian Banham and will not have him on or near our team or Eurovision journey. We are so sorry for anyone offended by his comments. The band are set to headline the Cork LGBT+ Pride Festival in July. Wild Youth - We Are One - Eurovision 2023 Mr Banhman has previously worked on hit programmes including Dancing On Ice, Strictly Come Dancing and RTEs Dancing With The Stars. He is also the creator/choreographer of The Blonde Bombshell, a stage production based on the life of Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe, which has scheduled shows in counties Cork, Dublin and Limerick next month. Independent.ie contacted Mr Banhams management company, 3Rings Management, but the company declined to comment. In a statement issued this evening, RTE said Mr Banham is no longer a member of Ireland's Eurovision 2023 team, the broadcaster said it won't be making any further comment. In February Wild Youth narrowly won the Irish song contest and will now represent the country at the Eurovision on May 9. The four-piece band from Dublin have a string of top hits in here and have toured with names including Niall Horan, Lewis Capaldi and Westlife. Their Eurovision entry, We Are One, was written with Grammy-nominated songwriter Jorgen Elofsson. The band - made up of Conor ODonohoe, Ed Porter, Callum McAdam, and David Whelan - will perform in Liverpool this May at the 67th Eurovision Song Contest in front of an audience of 160 million people around the world. Wild Youth Speaking to Jennifer Zamparelli on 2FM, they said they working hard as the performance approaches. ODonohoe said Irish Eurovision fans can expect a stadium show in an arena. Whelan said the decision to go for the Eurovision was very communal, while McAdam said he and his fiance had to postpone their wedding as the dates clashed. "When we first booked it, it was on the exact date of the Eurovision, he said. "I said to Katie, We have good news and bad news. Were going for the Eurosong Its on the wedding date, he added. "And she just goes, You better win it. According to reports, the former flames split up after realising it wasnt forever. Another Love Island couple have called it quits after three years together. Paige Turley (25) and Finley Tapp (23), who the first series of Winter Love Island back in 2020, have reportedly ended their relationship and moved out of their shared Manchester apartment. According to reports, the former flames split up after realising it wasnt forever with Paige returning to Scotland and Finn going off to do some travelling. Paige and Finn had a really good run, but they are still super young and decided it wasnt forever in the end, a source told The Sun. Paige is spending some time back in Scotland while she works out what she wants to do next. Some eagle-eyed fans had guessed that there may have been trouble in paradise after analysing the couples social media pages. Followers noticed that Paige and Finn had not been seen together in weeks and were heading on separate trips. The couple also raised eyebrows after deleting a number of photos of each other from their Instagram accounts. Paige and Finn last posted a snap together back in January, as the pair posed for a Winter Love Island themed shoot with a Heat Magazine to promote the new series. But Paige has failed to post any photos of her boyfriend since then, with Finn last sharing a clip of her cooking in their home back in November. The pair have mostly kept things sweet online however, as Paige made sure to like Finns most recent Instagram post, which showed him posing in front of the Hollywood sign yesterday. Finn returned the favour by liking Paiges most recent carousel of snaps from a day out to Ayr Racecourse. And Finn still has two photos with Paige pinned to the top of his Instagram profile one of the pair on holiday together and another of them arriving at the airport after winning Love Island. It comes after Tom Clare, who appeared on this years Winter Love Island, confirmed his split from Samie Elishi just weeks after the finale. The couple left the villa after finishing in third place, but unfortunately their relationship didnt last in the outside world. In an Instagram statement on Wednesday, Tom wrote: Didnt think Id be writing this but me (sic) and Samie have gone our separate ways We are still on good terms and I have nothing but love and respect for her. Im gutted its come to an end but I truly wish Samie the best, he added. The Bay of Plenty community is celebrating the life of a known sailor, Alan Glover. A life member of the Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club, Alan sadly passed away on April 17, 2023. He was known as a level headed, stalwart of the club who first joined in 1966, and used his extensive sailing knowledge to adapt to any situation. His son, Steve Glover, says he could do anything, fix anything, build anything and solve any problem, even if he hadnt seen it before. Last time the yacht club roof needed painting they couldnt find anyone who was prepared to do it. Dad, 82 at the time, and his old sailing mate Greame, who was 78, both got up and painted it by themselves. When they were asked if they used safety gear they would reply yep, we used our bloody common sense. One of dads favourite things to do was fixing things for his friends without them knowing. Hed look for things that were broken, like fences or gates, and sneak round while they were at work and fix it for them. He never told them it was him. Alan is remembered as a stalwart of the Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club, first joining in 1966. Photo: Supplied. John Miller has been sailing with Alan since 1994. John says he and Alan would sail well together, ending up on the podium most of the time they competed. In the 30 years I knew Alan, I think he only missed about one of the Auckland to Tauranga races. Every now and again at midnight Alan would tell a story about his sailing journeys on the side of the boat. He describes Alan as a true pioneer in the world of sailing. Alan never was flustered, he was confident on the water and always remained very calm. He instilled so much confidence in the people sailing with him. One time there was about seven of us on a boat, two of which hadnt been off shore before. We encountered a bit of a storm on our second night, which was quite rough with about 7m seas and 50 knot winds. Alan was able to keep the teams morale up through this, doing what needed to be done, along with making coffees and food. The rest of us realised it wasnt as bad as we thought it was and we got through it. He really learned how to be at one with the sea. I believe he had the same steel in him as the pioneers that built this country. Alan Glover has always been a fan of the outdoors. Photo: Supplied. Gary Smith also sailed with Alan from time to time, and has known him for about 50 years after growing up with his son Steve. Gary says Alan had a relaxed attitude on the water, and is a great seaman. Hes definitely one of those old school sea dogs. A very good, patient sailor. Alan has been a stalwart volunteer for the Tauranga club. He was also part of the team who helped build the Sulphur Point club building. Hes been an awesome long term supporter. The really amazing thing is at 89 he was sailing his own boat, as recently as the week before he died. Its truly something for us to all aspire to. Id love to be able to reach his age, let alone be able to still go sailing. On an overcast morning during Aotearoas first lockdown Bella Andrew passed her message in a bottle to her father Philip. He might have a better chance of hurling it further into the outgoing tide at Pencarrow at the mouth of Te Whanganui a Tara than her, she thought. As it landed with a distant splash they both wondered about its impending journey. I thought it might travel all round the world, maybe even to my sister in Germany. I worried a shark might swallow it or that it might just wash up on the rocks at Pencarrow where we threw it into the sea, says Bella, who says she had been precisely 8 at the time. It didnt reach Europe but instead washed up 467 nautical miles (864.8km) north at Papamoa Beach near Tauranga just shy of three years later. Rydn Low, right, and his father-in-law Don McNeilly at Papamoa Beach with Bella Andrews message in a bottle. Photo: Supplied/Stuff. Two weeks ago on a Friday, Rydn Low was walking along the beach at Papamoa when he saw something washing around in the shallows. Picking up the barnacle-covered glass bottle he fished out Bellas letter. Hello, my name is Isabella Andrew. Thank you for finding my message in a bottle Bella, now 11 , wrote about Covid, her school, her family and pets; this week we got two Burmese kittens! she informed her then nameless recipient. She and her two brothers had been bored rigid when Covid forced them into lockdown at their Lowry Bay home in Eastbourne. Philip Andrew and his daughter Bella, 11, tossed a message in a bottle sealed with preserve wax in the sea at Eastbourne three years ago. It was found in Papamoa a few weeks ago. Photo: Juan Zarma-Perini/Stuff. We were bored out of our minds. We walked every day, we flew kites and then my Dad suggested putting a message in a bottle and sending it out to sea. What journey the bottle had taken over the past three years was a mystery. The currents would suggest it might have gone up the west coast of the North Island and down to Papamoa, but who knows, says Andrew. Low, 19, says hed found some strange things washed up on the beach during his daily walks most recently a whole lot of kiwifruit, probably washed down from the orchards of Matakana Island in Cyclone Gabrielle but never a message in a bottle. It blew my mind. I was out with my father-in-law and my two dogs, and we saw it washing around in the shallows. For it to have been floating around for three years and still be intact is just amazing. Philip Andrew and his daughter Bella at the beach in Pencarrow, Eastbourne where they launched Bella's message in a bottle in May 2020. Photo: Juan Zarma-Perini/Stuff. Low couldnt wait to get in touch with Bella by snail mail so like any generation Z-er worth their salt he did some detective work matching up the names of her siblings she mentioned in the letter with her last name and found one of her older sisters in Queenstown who relayed the message to Bella and her father. In a lightning strikes twice scenario, Andrew was just a year older than his daughter when he and his older brother sent a message in a bottle down the Turanganui River in Gisborne in 1967. It was found a year later on Seatoun beach by a man looking for flotsam and jetsam a week after the Wahine disaster. In another twist, Bella and her mother had visited Papamoa just a few weeks ago for the first time. Bella, then aged 8 , wrote about Covid, her school, her family and pets. Photo: Supplied/Stuff. Bella cant wait for Lows father-in-law to deliver the bottle back to them when he visits Wellington. The bottle and sea smudged letter will have pride of place in her room. Maybe be a show and tell at school could be on the cards. After such serendipity shes thinking of having another crack at getting a message to her sister in Europe, via bottle. - Bess Mason/Stuff. KYODO NEWS - Apr 26, 2023 - 20:08 | All, World, Japan A Japanese space startup said its lander likely crashed on the Moon's surface following a touchdown attempt on Wednesday, dashing its hopes of becoming the world's first private company to successfully land spacecraft on the lunar surface. Tokyo-based Ispace Inc. said it lost contact with the spacecraft, launched aboard a rocket developed by U.S. firm SpaceX in December, shortly before it attempted to land on the Moon in the early hours of Wednesday. With data suggesting the remaining fuel in the spacecraft was running out and that its descent speed rapidly increased shortly afterward, "there is a high probability that the lander eventually made a hard landing on the Moon's surface," it said in a statement. The lander was unable to calculate the correct altitude, perceiving it as zero while still above the surface. It is believed to have run out of fuel when it failed to utilize its engine at the right time and gone into a freefall, according to the startup's Chief Technology Officer Ryo Ujiie. The landing, if it had been successful, would also have marked Japan's first-ever lunar landing. The country's space agency failed to put the ultra-small space probe Omotenashi on the Moon last year. Although a successful lunar landing was not achieved this time, "We believe that we have fully accomplished the significance of this mission, having acquired a great deal of data and experience by being able to execute the landing phase," Takeshi Hakamada, founder and CEO of Ispace, said in the statement. Hakamada told a press conference later in the day that the mission was a "big step forward" for its future space exploration. The company is planning on sending a second lander carrying its own rover and customer payloads to the Moon in 2024. "It's difficult to recreate (the Moon's low gravitational pull) on Earth, and it's therefore tricky to prepare" for a lunar landing beforehand, said Yasunori Matogawa, emeritus professor at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. "Other conditions that make landing on the Moon tricky include the presence or lack of an atmosphere, as well as temperature fluctuations," he added. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the government will continue to support space programs by startups, posting on Twitter, "We will continue to support Japanese startups' never-ending challenge in space." The company launched the lander as part of the first stage of its Hakuto-R exploration program, hoping to use the technology for lunar surface data collection and cargo transportation services to the Moon. The spacecraft was carrying seven payloads, including a rover from the United Arab Emirates and a small transformable robot chiefly developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and toy company Tomy Co. An Ispace official told the press conference it is difficult at the moment to confirm the status of the payloads. It decelerated in steps from a velocity of some 6,000 km per hour, approaching the Atlas crater in the northeastern quadrant of the Moon, according to the company. The lander took off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida in December. In order to carry less fuel, it took a longer, energy-efficient route to reach the Moon, and at one point in January was almost 1.4 million km away from Earth. Japanese startup Dymon Co. has also expressed its intention to send its own small rover Yaoki to the Moon by the second half of the year aboard an American lunar lander. If successful, it will likely become the first Japanese private company to reach the lunar surface. Related coverage: Japan startup lander may reach Moon on Apr. 26 in world 1st Japan startup aiming to be world's 1st to reach Moon launches lander European Commission slams Junta's controversial irrigation plan for Donana Officials said the regional government's proposal, in its current form, could damage the delicate wetlands in Andalucia Hector Barbotta Seville Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram A controversial regional government proposal to authorise using water for farming on more land alongside delicate national park wetlands in Donana has been rejected by EU officials. The affected land by Parque Nacional Donana, in Seville and Huelva provinces, was excluded from a special plan nearly ten years ago to control the amount of water that could be used on farmland around the protected area. At a recent debate in the Andalusian parliament in Seville, 70 votes were in favour of the bill proposed by the PP and Vox, while 37 votes were against it. But this week at a meeting in Brussels European Commissioner for the Environment Virginijus Sinkevicius expressed his doubts about the plan to Andalusian Minister for Sustainability Ramon Fernandez-Pacheco. Ampliar Virginijius Sinkevicius and Ramon Fernandez-Pacheco in Brussels. SUR Sinkevicius said the Commission was deeply concerned that if the law was approved in its current form, could degrade the protected wetland of Donana. He also criticised the Spanish Government's insufficient action to comply with the ruling of the European Court of Justice, which obliged it to protect the land. Sinkevicius said intensive agriculture and nearby tourist resorts had contributed to the drying up and reduction of reservoirs in Donana. He said the draft law created a favourable legal framework for the water to be used even more, putting more pressure on already overexploited groundwater aquifers. The proposed legislation seeks to provide a solution for irrigators after they were left out of the 2014 Strawberry Plan, which gave legal status to irrigation in the Donana area and guaranteed their right of access to water for irrigation. The area has developed a strong reputation for its rich cultivation of red fruits. The national park is currently in a very serious situation due to the drought, and proposed water supply projects for farming have never got off the ground. The Junta regional government says the change will make no difference to Donana water levels, but the national government disagrees. Estimates of the land affected range from 600 to 1,700 hectares. Nerja goes orange as more Dutch businesses open Last year Dutch couple Twan and Jose returned to the Costa del Sol, bringing with them the essence of design from the Netherlands to the coast; this week their displays show the colour of Koningsdag (King's Day) celebrated on 27 April Alekk M. Saanders Nerja Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram It's that time of the year again when the people of the Netherlands celebrate their 'Orange Day', one of the holidays the country is best known for. Koningsdag (King's Day) does not just involve covering everything in orange in honour of the royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau, or eating, drinking and merrymaking. In Holland 27 April is that one day of the year that the public can set up shop on the streets without a trading licence but in spaces on pavements marked with chalk or tape. 27 April is that one day per year in Holland that the public can set up shop on the streets without a trading licence Since last spring, the Costa del Sol has a space where Dutch accessories and furniture are sold all year round. As well as new pieces, some of the items are old, though creatively upcycled or repurposed. The shop, owned by Dutch couple, Twan van Enckevort, 50, and Jose van Bennekom, 57, is always marked by something orange and more features in that traditional colour are to be added this Thursday - at the same time Queen's and King's Day, as Jose and Twan call the holiday. The couple were quick to explain this confusion. Ten years ago, King Willem-Alexander's mother Beatrix abdicated, thereby interrupting the successive line of female monarchs since the national holiday began in the late 1880s. It means that Koninginnedag (Queen's Day) was switched to today's Koningsdag (King's Day). Double emigration From a soft sofa in their cosy shop, Twan and Jose told SUR in English the story of how their journey to this comfort in Nerja was quite long and took two attempts. King's Day display, a design guide-book and funny vases. A.M.S. We emigrated to Spain in 2005 and started our life in Andalucia, quite far from the coast. Mollina is the premier wine and olive oil producing town in Malaga province. However, it was chosen because of the Spanish courses we had attended in Holland. "There we made friends with a woman who had bought a house in the town close to Antequera. It was easier for us to move somewhere where we had friends or acquaintances. Later, we settled in Colmenar in the Axarquia, closer to Jose's new job in real estate. When, in 2009, I found a job in La Carihuela in Torremolinos (which has a significant Dutch community), we decided to move to Alhaurin de la Torre," Twan explained. "It was easier for us to move somewhere where we had friends or acquaintances" Twan and Jose Nerja appeared in the path of Twan and Jose thanks to the hotel business. The couple rented a small hotel in Nerja and ran the first B&B in the town. It was a success though due to a misunderstanding with the local owner and a family matter, Twan and Jose moved back to the Netherlands in 2014. "Back in Holland we realised that Nerja was our true home and decided to emigrate a second time" Jose van Bennekom In the city of Venray I was involved in the design business. So I have learned more about new influences in the design world. I managed to establish contacts with Dutch designers and brands. At the beginning of last year we felt that we really missed the Costa del Sol. Being in Holland we realised that Nerja was our true home. We were getting itchy feet again so much that we made the decision to emigrate a second time, Jose said. Dutch design on the Costa The Dutch couple opened a home decoration shop at the end of one of the streets in Nerja most popular with tourists and diners. The name for the boutique was chosen with a special meaning. 'LEF' means 'courage' in Dutch. Twan and Jose think it is the right word to describe their decision to emigrate, twice. Suddenly we realised that the Costa del Sol has stores presenting Swedish, Danish, Irish and German, among others, designs. But few know about Dutch design, despite its contribution into the design world. Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven is the largest design event in Northern Europe and presents work and concepts from more than 2,600 designers. So, 'why not to open a home furnishing store in our new home, Nerja?' we asked ourselves, Twan and Jose said. Asked, answered and done. The LEF deco collection represents a diverse range of Dutch designers and brands - furniture, homeware and accessories. Even if not to buy, many local and foreign residents as well as tourists drop in this colourful shop just to plunge into the pleasant atmosphere with the smell of wood, and even learn more about the creative Holland. Apparently, the real success of Dutch design dates back to 1653 when Royal Delft was founded and started creating high-quality blue and white ceramics Apparently, the real success of Dutch design dates back to 1653 when Royal Delft was founded and started creating high-quality blue and white ceramics. In the 17th and 18th centuries the manufacture of Delftware was a major industry, exporting its production all over Europe. Some ceramics inspired by Delft blue can be found in the shop, including tiles, typical of Andalusian interiors as well. A street display, birds are typical for Dutch design, a cutting board for tapas. A.M.S. The modern character of Dutch design is permeated with simplicity, creativity and a sense of humour that help in creating the spirit of contemporary design in any living space. In the Nerja shop, the clocks are simple, the lamps are creative and the vases are really funny. Some of the displayed cutting boards are very popular with local restaurateurs who adjust Dutch design for 'the king of local specialities' - tapas. Incidentally, there is a bar opposite us owned by a Dutch person. Moreover, a supermarket selling Dutch food is a stone's throw from us. It looks as though we have already formed here a sort of 'orange triangle'. "It means that Nerja is getting a little bit more Dutch, or rather 'orange' in the place known for its 'Blue Summer', Twan and Jose stressed, in reference to the eighties TV series Verano Azul that made the town famous. Pizza chain to remove ceiling decorations from Costa del Sol restaurant after two people die in Madrid blaze Burro Canaglia has eateries across Spain, and its Inferno Carnivora star dish will no longer be flambeed while safety reviews continue The interior of the restaurant located in the centre of Fuengirola. Juan Soto Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram A fire at a pizza restaurant in Madrid that killed two people has raised questions about the Italian franchises safety measures in its eateries across Spain. Works are already underway to prevent future fires at other Burro Canaglia restaurants, including at one of their eateries in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol. Related article Investigations continue after flambeed pizza sparks fire in Madrid restaurant that left two people dead Alvaro Soto / Mateo Balin Two people died at the restaurant in the central Salamanca district in Madrid on Friday night, 21 April, after a worker used a blowtorch to flambe a pizza near the entrance door, but it ignited artificial plants hanging by the wall. Within seconds the restaurant at 16, Plaza de Manuel Becerra, was up in flames as the fire spread across the ceiling. The artificial decorations are a feature of the chain, but they are now being taken down as a safety measure. Ampliar The Inferno Carnivora pizza is now served without flambeing, which was done as a "show" for diners. JST The restaurant also no longer flambeed its signature spicy pizza, which did not add to the flavour, but was done as a show for diners. No liquor was used for it, just a flammable liquid. A 43-year-old customer and a 35-year-old employee died in the fire. Twelve others were injured, six of them seriously, including one in a critical condition due to burns and smoke inhalation. In a statement uploaded to the Burro Canaglias social media on Saturday, they said they were "deeply upset" by the two deaths and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. Some European airports at risk of collapse ahead of record summer flight boom in Spain, air travel sector warns The ALA, Asociacion de Lineas Aereas, has forecast there will be 219 million seats available this peak season, some 3% more than the 213 million occupied during the same period in 2019, which was a record year Edurne Martinez Madrid Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram The leading air travel sector association in Spain is warning of collapse in some European airports ahead of what is expected to be a record summer for flights to and from Spanish destinations. The Asociacion de Lineas Aereas (ALA), has forecast there will be 219 million seats available for this summer in Spain, some 3% more than the 213 million occupied during the same period in 2019, which was a record year. ALA members accounts for 85% of air traffic in Spain, including the 10 airlines with the most traffic. Specifically, it is made up of 60 airlines, national and international, of all business types. Buckle under the pressure But the organisation is warning that tourism boom could come with operational issues as some European airports could buckle under the pressure, which was what happened last summer. As a result the association asked for government help to ensure that the strikes in France - which mainly affect air traffic control - do not cause major problems in Spain. It follows a Eurocontrol report which calculated that Spain would be the country most affected by these strikes, with more a potential for more than 400 delayed flights and 63% more cancellations than usual. Reduce the number of flights Amsterdam's Schiphol airport has already warned that it will need to reduce the number of flights this summer because it did not have the operational capacity, as was the case in the United Kingdom last year. Spain has been a model of good management after the pandemic, but this situation could have a lot of indirect repercussions for us," ALA president Javier Gandara said. Andalucia, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands were leading the growth in seat scheduling for this summer in Spain, according to summer forecasts, while Madrid and Barcelona still remain below pre-pandemic levels. ALA data shows that Andalucia would be the destination where flights would grow the most (8.2%) compared to 2019, with 25.6 million seats scheduled. State aid expenditure keep increasing in the EU. The amount of state aid disbursed are also very uneven between different Member States. As the European Commission publishes its yearly state aid scoreboard, there is cause for concern regarding the integrity and functioning of the Single Market. As one of our five priorities for the Swedish presidency, Swedish Business has highlighted the need to strengthen and deepen the internal market. A basic prerequisite for a well-functioning internal market is that companies can compete on equal terms. In our report A competitiveness compass for the EU we highlight that further erosion to EU state aid rules will have a negative impact on competitiveness and productivity. Young and productive companies may have to leave the market in favour of less productive ones receiving government support. Source: European Commission (2023) State aid Scoreboard 2022 The Commission report shows the amount of state aid that ultimately was paid out from EU Member States to specific companies during 2021. The amount of government support increased significantly in 2020 due to the pandemic. Also in 2021, Member States paid out a large amount of aid to rescue companies hit by the crisis. The fact that the total amount of State Aid remains at record levels is not surprising. The aid amounts amount in total to around 335 billion Euro, or 2,3 percent of EU GDP. The Commissions report on State Aid expenditure gives cause for concern when comparing different Member States. As the Commission states, there is a significant spending dispersion across Member States. Those spending the most spend around 3.4-4.6 percent of their national GDP (Malta, Hungary and Germany), while the Member State spending the least, spends around 0.9-1.4 percent of GDP (Ireland, followed by Luxembourg, Sweden, Belgium, Portugal and Denmark). This shows the importance of returning to a stricter state aid regime, says Goran Gren, Head of Business Policy and Law Division at the Confederation. The statistics clearly show that the fears we have had about how competition in the internal market risks being distorted were justified. This is harmful to the Single Market and can hit individual companies when their close competitors receive large state subsidies. The Commission have also stated the risk of opening up the State Aid rules further, recently as the Temporary Crisis Framework was revised into a Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. The figures mentioned in those cases are also valid and concerning. They however refer to granted aid, which differ from how much aid is paid out in the end. Now that we have the figures for 2021, we can conclude that there are real differences between how the countries support companies. And considering that the rules have been opened up since 2021, there is a risk that the differences have increased even more since then, Goran Gren concludes. KYODO NEWS - Apr 26, 2023 - 22:37 | World, All China's parliament adopted Wednesday a bill to revise its counterespionage law, broadening the scope of what constitutes spying activities, according to Chinese media, in a move that could increase restrictions for expatriates and foreign companies in the Communist-ruled country. Currently, the law targets the guarding of state secrets, but the amendment will make it possible for Chinese authorities to crack down on stealing and disseminating "documents, data, materials and items related to national security and interests," the media reported. The legislation, endorsed at the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, newly covers cyberattacks on state organizations and key infrastructure by "spying entities and their agents" as part of Beijing's efforts to bolster cybersecurity. The move has raised fears among foreigners in China as the definition of national security remains unclear, allowing authorities to implement the law arbitrarily. In China, it is customary for allegations concerning national security not to be released and trials are closed to the public. Even after rulings are finalized, the details usually are not announced. The maximum punishment under the national security law is death. In March, a senior employee of Japanese drugmaker Astellas Pharma Inc. was detained by China on suspicion of engaging in spying activities, but it remains unknown how he allegedly violated the law. The Japanese government has called for his immediate release. Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said Tuesday that Tokyo "closely monitors with great interest" any changes to China's counterespionage law. Since the counterespionage law came into force in China in 2014, 17 Japanese citizens have been detained for their alleged involvement in spying activities. Five of them are still being held, according to the Japanese government. Related coverage: China quizzed senior editor over Japan visit for academic exchanges Japan consular officials meet detained national in China: source Japan demands release of national detained in China for espionage Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. KYODO NEWS - Apr 26, 2023 - 21:21 | All, Japan, World, G7 Group of Seven leaders are set to lay flowers at the cenotaph for victims of the 1945 U.S. atomic bomb, located in the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, on the first day of their summit in May, diplomatic sources said Wednesday. After Prime Minister Fumio Kishida greets the G-7 leaders at the park, they will visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and write messages for peace before laying flowers, the sources said, amid fears Russia may use nuclear weapons against Ukraine in their war. It will be the first time that the G-7 leaders have visited the museum and laid flowers at the park together, according to the sources, with Kishida eager to pitch his vision of a world free of nuclear weapons at the summit in his home constituency of Hiroshima. In addition to a joint communique, the Japanese government is arranging the release, following the three-day summit from May 19, of a separate document centering on the commitment of the G-7 to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, the sources said. In 2016, then U.S. President Barack Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima in western Japan, on the occasion of the previous G-7 summit in Japan. Related coverage: 67% of A-bomb survivors doubt G-7 will pave way for nuclear abolition G-7 digital chiefs to call for more research, governance of AI FOCUS: Global South key for G-7 to counter Russia, China, despite challenges Locke, N.Y. - A house fire in the town of Locke led to the death of two people Monday morning, troopers said. Around 9:11 a.m., firefighters responded to a home at 166 Canaan Heights Road for a fully engulfed structure fire, according to a news release Wednesday from New York State Police. On scene, officials pronounced two people dead, troopers said. Their names have not been released. The Locke Fire Department, Groton, Freeville, McLean, Lansing, Ithaca Airport, Moravia, Genoa and Fleming fire departments responded to the scene. A Freeville Fire Department Facebook post said units were on scene for four and half hours. The cause of the fire is still being investigated. A house fire in the town of Locke led to the death of two people, troopers said. April 24, 2023. (Provided Photo from Lansing Fire Department) Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com Syracuse, N.Y. - The annual gun buyback event held by the state Attorney Generals Office will return on Saturday in Syracuse. The buyback will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Lucys Food Pantry at 425 Gifford St. The OGA is partnering with the Syracuse Police Department and the city to host the event, according to a news release from the AGs office. The OGA accepts working and non-working, unloaded firearms in exchange for money on site. The event is an amnesty program, meaning no questions will be asked about the guns or the person turning them in. There is also no limit to how many guns a person can turn in, but the firearms must be unloaded and placed in a bag or a box at the drop-off site. The OAG will provide the following amount for firearms turned in on site: Assault rifle or ghost gun - $500 Handgun - $150 ($500 will be given for the first handgun turned in per person) Rifle or shotgun - $75 Non-working, replica, antique, homemade, or 3D printed gun - $25 Money will be provided in the form of prepaid gift cards when a gun is received and secured by law enforcement officers. In 2022, approximately 234 guns were collected during a buyback, Syracuse police spokesperson Lt. Matthew Malinowski told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. The majority of the firearms turned in were handguns, totaling around 131, Malinowski said. The overwhelming majority of the guns turned in were operable, he said. This community event is part of Attorney General Letitia James statewide initiative to combat gun violence. More than 4,000 guns have been removed from New York communities since 2019. Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com Albion, N.Y. - Two people from Albion in Oswego County are facing animal cruelty charges for failing to provide care and sustenance to over two dozen cats, troopers said. On March 17, officers responded to a home at 5 Chinook Lane in the town of Albion after a woman reported she was concerned for the cats living in the home, said Trooper Jack Keller, a state police spokesman. The woman asked officers to check on the cats after she noticed her neighbors, Jennifer M. Covich, 39, and Paul J. Bialobreski, 44, had not been home for awhile, Keller said. She was worried the cats were not being taken care of properly, he said. Three cats were discovered dead in the home and 29 were rescued, troopers said. The Oswego County SPCA, Oswego County Humane Society, the Fulton Veterinary Clinic and other volunteers assisted troopers with removing cats from the residence. Covich and Bialobreski were charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty, misdemeanors. They are scheduled to appear in Oswego County CAP court on May 10. Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com Utica fans of the TV series Severance may notice familiar scenery in the upcoming season of the show, directed by Ben Stiller. The actor and filmmaker was spotted last week in the Upstate New York city at the local train station causing locals to post photos and Ben Stiller sightings of him on social media. Film Utica confirmed Stiller was in town shooting the second season of the sci-fi thriller which premiered on Apple TV+ last year. A lot of you have asked and we can tell! We had Ben Stiller in town to film at Union Station for his Apple TV+ show Severance and it was pretty cool. His crew was great to work and we cant wait to see our beautiful train station in a future episode! the recently minted film commission posted to Facebook. The Emmy Award winning show stars Adam Scott as Mark an employee for biotechnology corporation, Lumon Industries, which uses a mindwipe medical procedure called severance to separate the consciousness of their employees between their lives at work and outside of it. The series follows the journey Mark and his coworkers embark on to discover the truth about their jobs. There could be more Upstate NY sightings of Stiller and the Severance cast. According to the Rome Sentinel, Film Utica said the production team plans to utilize some of the citys historic buildings next month. Stiller, known for his acting roles in comedic films like Zoolander, Dodgeball, and Tropic Thunder, is no stranger to Upstate New York after spending time in the North Country while directing the 2018 Showtime miniseries Escape from Dannemora depicting the real-life prison escape of convicted killers Richard Matt and David Sweat from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, N.Y. READ MORE Ben Stiller taking beautiful pictures of North Country while filming (photos) Go behind the scenes with Ben Stiller, Escape at Dannemora in Upstate NY (photos) Joyce Mitchell calls Ben Stiller a SOB liar over Dannemora TV show TEHRAN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- An Iranian civil court in Tehran has ruled that the United States must pay 312.95 million U.S. dollars in compensation to the families of victims of two terrorist attacks that occurred in Iran's parliament and Imam Khomeini Shrine in Tehran in June 2017. According to the Mizan news agency of Iran's judiciary, the ruling was issued on Wednesday after lawsuits were filed by families of those who lost their lives or were permanently injured in the attacks. The court found that the U.S. government, certain entities, and officials were responsible for supporting and assisting the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, which carried out the attacks. The compensation includes 9.95 million U.S. dollars for material damages, 104 million U.S. dollars for moral damages, and 199 million U.S. dollars in punitive damages. The court found that the "suspects" were accountable for the terrorist attacks in Tehran because there was proof that the U.S. government and officials played a significant role in organizing and guiding terrorist groups, including the IS. This evidence included reliable news and information published by U.S. media, as well as books and speeches by U.S. officials that showed the Central Intelligence Agency's role in creating these terrorist groups, such as the IS, according to the Mizan news agency. At least 13 people were killed and 43 others injured in the twin attacks in Tehran on June 7, 2017, for which the IS claimed responsibility. Six gunmen were involved in the attacks and all of them were killed in the operations. 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. Female giant panda Ya Ya left the Memphis Zoo on Wednesday for a flight returning to China, ending a 20-year stay in the U.S. Mid-South. Produced by Xinhua Global Service TusharK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Pune Posts: 5,162 Thanked: 45,554 Times TechArt delivers India's first 992 GTstreet R TechArt's latest GTstreet R is based on the 992-generation Porsche 911 Turbo S. It is powered by a 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-6 with modified turbochargers and a remapped ECU. The result is 789 BHP and 950 Nm. The engine is paired with an 8-speed PDK and an all-wheel drive system. TechArt claims the 992 GTstreet R can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 2.5 seconds and has a top speed in excess of 350 km/h. The first of the latest-gen GTstreet Rs to be delivered in India is finished in a shade of green called Python Green. The car is fitted with a custom body kit made from forged carbon. It also gets a forged carbon bonnet, louvres on the front fenders and unique wheels. Besides the sporty body kit and performance upgrades, TechArt has also made changes to the chassis. The GTstreet R features wider front and rear tracks and a new sports suspension with variable ride height. Other modifications include an active rear spoiler, a custom exhaust and sports steering. Source: Link to Team-BHP News Specialist Porsche tuner TechArt has delivered its first 992 GTstreet R in India.TechArt's latest GTstreet R is based on the 992-generation Porsche 911 Turbo S. It is powered by a 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-6 with modified turbochargers and a remapped ECU. The result is 789 BHP and 950 Nm. The engine is paired with an 8-speed PDK and an all-wheel drive system.TechArt claims the 992 GTstreet R can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 2.5 seconds and has a top speed in excess of 350 km/h.The first of the latest-gen GTstreet Rs to be delivered in India is finished in a shade of green called Python Green. The car is fitted with a custom body kit made from forged carbon. It also gets a forged carbon bonnet, louvres on the front fenders and unique wheels.Besides the sporty body kit and performance upgrades, TechArt has also made changes to the chassis. The GTstreet R features wider front and rear tracks and a new sports suspension with variable ride height. Other modifications include an active rear spoiler, a custom exhaust and sports steering.Source: @techartbengaluru Last edited by TusharK : 25th April 2023 at 18:12 . For years the security industry has stressed the importance of strong passwords. Some recent research from Home Security Heroes starkly shows the value of that advice. Using artificial intelligence, the crew at the home security information and reviews website cracked passwords in the four- to seven-character range either instantly or in a matter of minutes even when the passwords contained a mix of numbers, upper and lower case letters, and symbols. After feeding more than 15.6 million passwords into an AI-powered password cracker called PassGAN, the researchers concluded that it is possible to crack 51% of common passwords in a minute. However, the AI software faltered against longer passwords. A numbers-only password of 18 characters would take at least 10 months to crack, and a password that length with numbers, upper and lower case letters, and symbols would take six quintillion years to break. On the Home Security Heroes website, the researchers explained that PassGAN uses a generative adversarial network (GAN) to autonomously learn the distribution of real passwords from actual password leaks and produce realistic passwords that hackers can exploit. The AI algorithms are constantly A/B tested against each other millions of times to stimulate learning, enabling it to seemingly possess the sum of human knowledge with microchips more than 100,000 times faster than the human brain, explained Domingo Guerra, executive vice president of trust for Incode Technologies, an international identity verification and biometric authentication company. Compared to traditional, brute force algorithms with limited capability, AI predicts the most probable next figure based on everything its learned, he told TechNewsWorld. Rather than seeking knowledge externally, it leans into the patterns it has built during its training to exhibit queried behavior quickly. Skeptical of AI Based on what has been publicly disclosed, AI uses techniques similar to rainbow table attacks rather than simply brute forcing a password, observed Dustin Childs, head of threat awareness at Trend Micros Zero Day Initiative. Hackers use rainbow tables to translate hashed passwords into plaintext. The rainbow table allows the AI to do simple search and compare operations on a hashed password rather than a slower, brute-force attack, he told TechNewsWorld. Rainbow table attacks have been acknowledged for years and have been shown to crack even 14-character passwords in under five minutes, he added. Older hashing algorithms such as MD5 and SHA-1 are also more susceptible to these forms of attacks. Most password cracking is done by first finding a hashed password and then making comparisons against that, explained Robert Hughes, chief information security officer at RSA, a cybersecurity company in Bedford, Mass. In theory, he continued, an AI could learn more information about a subject and use it to do this in an intelligent way, but that is not proven in practice. Security teams have been contending with brute force and rainbow tables for years now, he said. In fact, the PassGAN AI model does not perform significantly faster than others that threat actors leverage. Limitations of AI Roger Grimes, a defense evangelist at KnowBe4, a security awareness training provider in Clearwater, Fla., is also not convinced AI can crack passwords any quicker than traditional methods. Possibly it can, and certainly it will be able to in the future, he told TechNewsWorld, But no one has shown me a definitive test of any of todays AI systems breaking passwords faster than non-AI, traditional password guessing and cracking methods. As more and more people use password managers, which create truly random passwords, AI will have zero advantage over any traditional password cracking when the involved passwords are truly random, as they should already be, he added. Security experts point out some limitations to using AI to crack passwords. Computing power can be a challenge, for example. Longer and more complex passwords take significant time to crack even by AI, Childs said. Its also not clear how AI would fare against the salting mechanisms used in some hashing algorithms, he noted. Theres also a big difference between generating massive numbers of password guesses and being able to input those guesses in a real-world scenario, added John Gunn, CEO of Token, a maker of a biometric-based wearable authentication ring in Rochester, N.Y. Most apps and systems have a low number of wrong entries before they lock the hacker out, and AI does not change that, he told TechNewsWorld. Long Goodbye to Passwords Of course, no one would have to worry about AI cracking passwords if there were no passwords to crack. That, despite annual predictions about the end of passwords, doesnt seem possible, at least in the near term. Over time, we are likely to streamline the annoyance of password management by removing the clunky manual process of memorizing and entering long strands of numerals and letters to gain access, observed Darren Guccione, CEO of Keeper Security, a password management and online storage company in Chicago. But given the billions of existing devices and systems that already depend on password security, passwords will still be with us for the foreseeable future, he told TechNewsWorld. We can only provide stronger protections to support their safe use. Grimes added that theres been a movement to get rid of passwords since the late 1980s. There are thousands of articles predicting the death of the password, and yet decades later, its still a struggle, he said. If you put all the non-password authentication solutions together, they wouldnt work on 2% of the worlds sites and services, he continued. Thats a problem, and that is preventing widespread adoption. On a good note, more people use some form of non-password authentication to log on to one or more sites and services today. The percentage is higher than ever, he noted. But as long as the total percentage of sites and services stays below 2%, the tipping point for mass non-password authentication adoption is going to be tough, he said. Its a frustratingly tough real-world chicken and egg problem. Hughes acknowledged that legacy systems, as well as trust from users and administrators, have slowed the movement away from passwords. However, he added: Eventually, password use will be minimized, and they will be mostly used in places where they are appropriate or where systems could not be updated to support other methods, but it will still take years to move off of passwords for most people and companies. TechSpot is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust What just happened? In what could either be something very cute and helpful or yet another inevitable step toward a Black Mirror-style dystopia, someone has integrated ChatGPT into Boston Dynamics' Spot the robot dog, enabling the machine to speak to users. The melding of generative AI and the robotic quadruped was the work of Santiago, an engineer who, according to his Twitter bio, builds machine learning systems. He tweeted a video showing how and why ChatGPT was integrated into Spot. By using Google text-to-speech, users can ask Spot about past and future missions, to which it can reply in real-time. Santiago writes that ChatGPT interprets the question, parses the files, and formulates an answer. The process requires specific terms to be added to Spot's dictionary so it returns the right information. We integrated ChatGPT with our robots. We had a ton of fun building this! Read on for the details: pic.twitter.com/DRC2AOF0eU Santiago (@svpino) April 25, 2023 The video shows Spot replying to questions about its battery level and the number of inspections in its next mission. It also gives a breakdown of its last task. Santiago said the reason behind the integration was that the robots run automated missions every day, each one using miles-long hard-to-understand configuration files that only technical people can understand. Additionally, the robots capture a lot of data at the end of each mission, and there's no easy way to query all of it on demand. That's where ChatGPT comes in, simplifying the whole process. Spot is also able to nod or shake its head to signify an answer to a yes or no question, which is definitely closer to the cute side than the dystopian one. Integrating ChatGPT into robots is always going to make some people nervous the mental image of a future Spot explaining why it must kill all humans is a haunting one but its current implementation is simply to help those who work with the machine. Perhaps the New York Police department, which recently welcomed the return of the Spot-based Digidog, might be interested in such a combination: RoboSpot? In other recent ChatGPT news, research shows that creator OpenAI is burning through as much as $694,444 every day just to keep the chatbot running. TechSpot is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust What just happened? Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard could be in jeopardy after the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) blocked the takeover over concerns it could alter the could gaming industry, leading to reduced innovation and less choice for gamers. Following a months-long investigation into Microsoft's attempt to make the largest video game acquisition in history, the CMA today said, "The final decision to prevent the deal comes after Microsoft's proposed solution failed to effectively address the concerns in the cloud gaming sector," which were outlined in the watchdog's provisional findings in February. The CMA first opened a probe into the Microsoft deal in July last year. The agency moved the investigation to the more extensive phase 2 in November. It spoke out against the proposed purchase in February, coming to the provisional conclusion that the acquisition could harm UK gamers. We've prevented @Microsoft from purchasing @Activision over concerns the deal would damage competition in the #CloudGaming market, leading to less innovation and choice for UK #gamers. aAAiAhttps://t.co/SdXt1rYAkZ pic.twitter.com/prWcDI7Evt Competition & Markets Authority (@CMAgovUK) April 26, 2023 But the CMA appeared to change its stance in March. It stated that a "significant amount of new evidence" had been received in response to the previous month's report that resulted in it updating the provisional findings. The new decision was that the transaction would not result in a substantial lessening of competition in relation to console gaming in the UK. But it seems the sticking point for the CMA is the cloud gaming market, of which Microsoft already has a 60% to 70% share. "The deal would reinforce Microsoft's advantage in the market by giving it control over important gaming content such as Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft," wrote the CMA. "The evidence available to the CMA indicates that, absent the merger, Activision would start providing games via cloud platforms in the foreseeable future." The CMA said Microsoft put forward a number of proposals to address the agency's concerns, but they contained several shortcomings, including not sufficiently covering different cloud gaming service business models; not being sufficiently open to providers who might wish to offer versions of games on PC operating systems other than Windows; and standardizing the terms and conditions on which games are available, "as opposed to them being determined by the dynamism and creativity of competition in the market, as would be expected in the absence of the merger." Microsoft and Activision have blasted the CMA's decision and said they intend to appeal. "The CMA's report contradicts the ambitions of the UK to become an attractive country to build technology businesses," a spokesperson for Activision said (via the BBC). "We will work aggressively with Microsoft to reverse this on appeal," they added. Microsoft's vice chairman and president, Brad Smith, said the company remained committed to the acquisition. "The CMA's decision rejects a pragmatic path to address competition concerns and discourages technology innovation and investment in the United Kingdom," he said. "This decision appears to reflect a flawed understanding of this market and the way the relevant cloud technology actually works." While Microsoft and Activision will no doubt vigorously appeal the ruling, their biggest concern could be that the EU and the FTC will follow suit. If the deal falls through, it'll be interesting to see how Nvidia's 10-year deal with Microsoft to bring Xbox and Activision titles to Game Pass is affected. Tiangong Space Station's new technology is being tested by China. Andy Vermaut shares:China completes thermoelectric conversion test in its space lab module: Provided by Xinhua BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- China's space lab module Mengtian has successfully completed its Stirling thermoelectric https://t.co/cRUql9pGta Thank you. pic.twitter.com/AAl2IVOYx1 Andy Vermaut (@AndyVermaut) April 19, 2023 This is the latest heat-to-electrical power converter called "thermoelectric converter." Based on its name, it can convert heat energy into electrical power. It was developed by the Lanzhou Institute of Physics at the China Academy of Space Technology. Shenzou 15 astronauts installed the heat-to-electrical power converter in a specialized equipment cabinet in the Mengtian lab module. Tiangong Space Station's Heat-to-Electrical Power Converter Now Tested! According to Space.Com's latest report, a test involving the advanced Stirling power converter was already conducted. Also Read: ESA Seeks Help From AI to Discover Exoplanets; Here's What to Know About Ariel Data Challenge 2023 During this test, the device performed in a stable manner; producing better-than-expected performance indicators. CGTN reported that the thermoelectric converter's conversion effectiveness reached an international level under the same isothermal ratio. The Stirling thermoelectrical converter is expected to be a beneficial tech for the Chinese space station. This device is light and produces low noise and small vibrations. Experts stated that the since it can efficiently convert heat energy to electricity, the power converter can help Tiangong become less reliant on solar panels (solar energy). But this doesn't mean that the Chinese space station will completely rely on thermal energy alone. Next Tiangong Cargo Mission Being Prepared Aside from testing the new thermoelectrical power converter, China is also preparing for the Tiangong Space Station cargo mission. This space activity is expected to happen around the first half of May. Recently, components of a Long March 7 have already arrived at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center. Once the rocket is completely ready for its upcoming launch, it will carry the Tianzho 6 cargo spacecraft to the Chinese space station. The Tianzhou 6 is expected to carry propellant and other supplies for astronauts of the Shenzou 17 and 16 missions. If you want to learn more about this upcoming Tiangong Space Station launch, you can click this link. Aside from China, other space agencies are also busy with their out-of-this-world missions. Recently, the SpaceX Starship completed its text launch. However, it exploded during the activity. We also reported about the new space station concept of Airbus called LOOP. For more news updates about space, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: [UPDATE] Dead NASA Satellite to Crash Into Earth! Should You Be Worried? Here are RHESSI's Re-Entry Details 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In a win for Colorado's general public, its Right-to-repair law was already signed and approved by its governor, and this will give them access to parts and manuals to carry out the fix for themselves. More states are joining in approving the right-to-repair law in their respective regions, with its leaders looking to adhere to what the Biden administration envisions for the country. DIY repairs are frowned upon by tech companies who still want customers to send their devices to authorized repair centers to get the best possible service and fix. Colorado Governor Signs Right-to-Repair Law for State Governor Jared Polis of Colorado signed a groundbreaking bill into law known as Colorado's Right-to-Repair law. This law aims to provide the state's constituents access to parts, manuals, software, and firmware for different needs, including their technology, down to mechanical, electrical, and other miscellaneous parts. This move is a significant step forward in empowering individuals to have greater control over repairing and maintaining their essential equipment. According to Tech Crunch, Colorado has significantly highlighted the importance of the Right-to-repair for "agricultural equipment" to gain access to parts and other needs. Read Also: Apple's Self-Service Repair Program Lauded by Third-Party Service Providers Colorado Right-to-Repair: Wide Coverage One of the key aspects of the new law is that it covers a wide range of equipment, including agricultural machinery, which is crucial to the farming industry in Colorado. With it, farmers will now be able to access the necessary parts, manuals, and software to repair their equipment promptly, reducing downtime and saving money. Colorado's Right-to-Repair law will also provide wheelchair users with the opportunity to have more control over the repair and maintenance of their equipment, allowing them to maintain their mobility and independence. In addition to agricultural equipment and wheelchairs, tractors are also covered under Colorado's Right-to-Repair law. Right-to-Repair Law in the US The Biden administration has made it clear that it is pushing for the right-to-repair law among the many states of the country to pass, one that would give consumers a chance to have control over their tech. By allowing individuals to repair their equipment or choose their repair providers, the law breaks down barriers that restrict access to repair information and parts. On the other hand, this was also backed by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which previously claimed that it is "Pro" right-to-repair and would aid President Biden in his aspirations for the country. Colorado's Right-to-Repair law is a landmark legislation that empowers all consumers and farmers by providing them with access to parts, manuals, software, and firmware for agricultural equipment, wheelchairs, and tractors. This law promotes competition, consumer choice, and sustainability, allowing individuals to have greater control over repairing and maintaining their essential equipment. With this law in place, consumers and farmers in Colorado now have more options and flexibility when it comes to repairing and maintaining their equipment, leading to more efficient operations and reduced costs. Related Article: New York Right to Repair Already Signed by Governor, But There's A Catch 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. China's electric car industry is rapidly expanding, and companies are fighting to remain competitive. With the Shanghai Auto Show kicking off last week, electric car startups and tech companies alike made major announcements about their driver-assist technology, sparking the interest of Chinese consumers. Huawei Offers Driver Assistance System: Huawei ADS 2.0 McKinsey estimates that assisted and fully autonomous driving systems in passenger cars could bring in a staggering $300 billion to $400 billion in global revenue by 2035. Companies were quick to take advantage of this promising market. According to the story by CNBC, Huawei announced its upgraded driver assistance system, called "Huawei ADS 2.0," which costs 36,000 yuan ($5,218) on a one-time basis or 7,200 yuan annually and is initially available for the Aito M5. Xpeng Beating Tesla in Driver-Assist Technology Roll-Out in China Additionally, Li Auto is offering driver-assist technology to customers in 100 cities in China as of the end of this year - free of charge. Xpeng, meanwhile, has already rolled out its driver-assist technology to some of its customers in Shanghai, earlier reported in an article by SCMP, boasting that it requires the driver to keep their hands on the wheel. At the same time, the vehicle can take itself from destination to destination in the city, including stopping at traffic lights. However, Tesla, the leader in driver-assist technology, does not offer its "Full Self Driving" feature for Chinese cities. The Race to Create Driver-Assist and Driverless Features for Chinese Cars Maxwell Zhou, CEO of autonomous driving software startup DeepRoute.ai, noted that companies have only until next year to offer driver-assist tech. Otherwise, they risk being completely out of the competition. As more and more companies scramble to include driver-assist and driverless features into their products, it remains to be seen just how powerful these features will be and whether Chinese consumers will want to buy the cars. The Complexity of Autonomous Driving Regulations in China Current regulation also limits how much companies can allow technology to control driving, contributing to the situation's complexity. Tesla, whose Autopilot feature offers similar but more advanced capabilities, has only released their driver-assist tech on Chinese highways. A Chinese autonomous driving software startup called DeepRoute.ai commented that if competitors don't offer driver-assist tech by the end of the year, they will be unable to compete in the market. Read Also: GM and Hyundai are Saddling Up With South Korean Companies for New EV Battery Plants The Battle for Autonomous Driving Leadership in the Chinese EV Market It's clear that the race to become the top driver-assist tech developer in the Chinese electric vehicle market is on, and the future of driver-assist and autonomous driving technology looks bright. As regulations open up and allow for more autonomy, these companies can develop even more dynamic, efficient, and safe tech for both the local and global markets. As the battle for the best builds, we can only wait for the next decisions and announcements from the major companies in play. Related Article: Tesla Price Cuts Didn't Save Market Share in California! Competitors Have Opposite Experience 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NASA has chosen 12 companies to develop new technologies and capabilities that are essential to its Moon to Mars mission. Under the Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity (ACO) for 2022, NASA has selected 16 proposals from these companies. The proposals include the testing of a new lunar rover tire design, the development of a robotically assembled power system, and the creation of an electrically actuated device to join in-space propellant transfer lines, among others. Space Act Agreements NASA has decided to make its exclusive facilities and technical know-how available through unfunded Space Act Agreements, which will enable the agency to offer direct support to the advancement of promising technologies without any money exchange. It is anticipated that this partnership will be advantageous not only for the agency's objectives but also for the aerospace industry as a whole. "By sharing our knowledge and facilities with US companies, NASA helps mature capabilities that promise to benefit our objectives and the entire aerospace industry," said Jim Reuter, the associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) at NASA headquarters. These awards allow us to work with both small and large companies to advance some of the most crucial technologies for future exploration." The 16 proposals are grouped by company, and each proposal will be led by a diverse array of businesses, including small and large companies. The proposals will develop a broad range of technologies. Read Also: [UPDATE] Dead NASA Satellite to Crash Into Earth! Should You Be Worried? Here are RHESSI's Re-Entry Details NASA's Partners Some of the selected proposals include the following: NASA has partnered with Venturi Astrolab to showcase a robust lunar rover tire that can withstand extremely cold temperatures. This collaboration with NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland and Johnson Space Center in Houston could enable mission planners to explore more lunar regions with rovers and allow for longer travels. In a separate project, Psionic will work with NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, to expand the use of Navigation Doppler Lidar, a tried-and-tested landing technology, to measure wind. The collaboration aims to modify the technology for various new applications, including real-time air traffic management using a satellite constellation and providing enhanced data to assess the climates of Earth and Mars. Lockheed Martin will develop in-space manufacturing technologies for thermoplastic composites, which is a cost-effective material that requires less energy to produce in space compared to metal. The company plans to test the technique in simulated space environments with the collaboration of several NASA centers. STMD has backed over 75 ACO projects, including the newly awarded ones, since the first ACO in 2015. The duration of each agreement will be negotiated, but it is expected to last between 12 and 24 months. The agency is estimated to provide resources worth approximately $14.5 million to support the agreements. Other companies that have been chosen by NASA include Blue Origin, The Boeing Company, Maxar, Phase Four, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and many more. Related Article: Asteroid Didymos' Spinning Activity Confuses NASA; New Study Shows Rock Completes Rotations in Just 2 Hours! 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Spotify is now working with its partner companies to address the legitimate concerns of AI-generated songs. This detail was shared by the streaming giant's CEO, Daniel Ek, during the company's first-quarter earnings call on Tuesday, Apr. 25. During the meeting, Ek said that the industry's concerns about AI-created songs are legitimate. Among the concerns he highlighted are names used by AI, the similarities of AI-generated songs to the original versions, and who owns the right to publish those AI-generated songs. Spotify's Efforts Against AI-Generated Songs According to Business Insider's latest report, Daniel Ek announced that Spotify is already working with its partners to protect creators against AI-generated music. Also Read: Spotify Bids Goodbye to 'Heart' Button in favor of the 'Plus' to Add Songs to Playlists and Library The streaming platform's CEO explained that they are establishing a position where they can protect their creators while allowing innovations to happen in Spotify. He shared these details after the Universal Music Group, the largest record company, asked Apple and Spotify to ban AI companies from taking advantage of melodies and lyrics from its material under copyright. UMG also stated that artificial intelligence firms should not be allowed to train their AI generative models on Universal's catalog. Spotify CEO Says AI Could Also Be Beneficial Via TechCrunch's report, Spotify's CEO said that the AI progress in the music industry could be both cool and scary. For example, Ek provided an update regarding their new AI DJ feature, which provides personalized music selections. This AI enhancement allows users to have a better music streaming experience. "First off, let's acknowledge that this is an incredibly fast-moving and developing space," said Daniel. "I don't think in my history with technology I've ever seen anything moving as fast as the development of AI currently is at the moment," he added. In other news, the new TikTok generative AI avatars were revealed. We also reported Tinder's AI integration for the photo verification feature was introduced. For more news updates about AIs and their impact on other industries, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: 'Heart on My Sleeve' Drake x The Weeknd Song Trends on TikTok, But Was Made by Deepfake AI 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with a delegation of Sri Lankan political parties Tuesday. The delegation was led by Hon. D.V. Chanaka, chairman of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Youth Wing and State Minister of Power and Energy. The two sides exchanged views on political party exchanges between China and Sri Lanka, deepening the exchange of experience in governance and promoting the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties. Tesla's Powerwall pilot project in Germany succeeds, thanks to the automaker's partnership with Transnet BW; one of the largest electric companies in the country. For those who are not familiar with the Powerwall, it is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that can be integrated at home. It can store electricity for self-consumption and backup power. The Tesla Powerwall joins the rising energy assets (home battery packs, solar panels, etc.). This at-home battery pack is also becoming one of the most popular home energy solutions. Tesla's Powerwall Pilot Project in Germany Succeeds! According to Electrek's latest report, Tesla began working with Transnet BW back in 2022. Also Read: Elon Musk: Tesla Powerwall, Solar to Answer California Blackout Issues? Power Grid Issues Persist Their plan is to band Powerwall units together to make a virtual power plant. Now, the giant EV maker confirmed that this pilot project was successful. "As part of a pilot project with TransnetBW in Germany - the first in continental Europe - Powerwall owners successfully contributed renewable energy to help support key sections of the grid," said Tesla. Recently, Transnet BW said that if the Powerwall pilot project succeeds, it will help Tesla expand the program. Since the Powerwall pilot project is a success, this means that there's a high chance the German electric company would further assist Tesla's Powerwall distribution. As of press time, Germany is still making efforts to adapt its electric grid so that it can have stable power supplies. Tesla's Powerwalls could greatly help the country achieve this. Other Tesla Powerwall Efforts Germany is not the only country that Tesla is helping using its advanced Powerwall technology. Teslarati reported that the automaker is also assisting Australia. Tesla's way to assist Australia is by lowering the prices of its Powerwall units. On Apr. 11, Tesla announced that its Powercall in Australia dropped to $12,900. This is a huge price adjustment since the original cost of the at-home battery pack is $14,599. You can click here to see more details about the Tesla Powerwall price drops in Australia. Here are other stories we recently wrote about Tesla: Tesla conducted a Cybertruck mega wiper test, which involved a wind tunnel! We also reported about Elon Musk's latest promise; claiming that Tesla's full autonomy would happen before 2023 ends. For more news updates about Tesla and its other business activities, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Tesla Deploys Solar Roofs, Powerwalls in Austin: First Solar Community in the World? 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Alphabet Inc.'s Google and Microsoft Corp. both reported good profitability in the first quarter of 2023, with their search and cloud computing businesses contributing significantly to their revenues, Bloomberg reports. During their earnings conferences, however, both firms underlined their increasing emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI), which is emerging as the next big thing in the tech sector. AI Remains Microsoft's Edge; Google Keeps Search Lead Google and Microsoft have been vying for the future of search, with Google historically dominating the online search market. According to available data, Google remains the clear market leader in the search engine market by a wide margin. On the other hand, Microsoft has been incorporating OpenAI's technology into its Bing search engine, putting pressure on Google to redesign its core search business to allow for richer conversations enabled by generative AI. Microsoft even claims it can add $2 billion in revenue for every percentage point increase in search share. Different Views on Emerging AI Technology Bloomberg notes that Google and Microsoft expressed opposing opinions on the potential for AI to disrupt the search sector during their respective earnings calls. Google emphasized its long tenure as the world's leading search engine and depicted AI as just another shift in its ever-changing business. Read Also: EU DSA List to Require 19 Online Platforms to Report Algorithmic Risks! Facebook, Twitter Included Google CEO Sundar Pichai expressed optimism that users will continue to appreciate online advertising even if their searches yield a summary generated by a large language model. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, on the other hand, said that his company is a serious competitor to Google and that something far more dramatic is in the works. He claimed that Bing's app installations have quadrupled since the launch of AI-powered Bing in February and that Bing has gained market share in the US throughout the quarter. Back in March, Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's VP for Modern Life, Search, and Devices, shared that Bing has recorded over 100 million daily active users a month after the launch of its chatbot AI. In any case, investors appeared to prefer Microsoft's argument, as the company's shares rose 7.1% in early New York trading, while Alphabet lost 0.8%. Alphabet Earnings Call Overview CNBC tells us that the company reported earnings of $1.17 per share, beating expectations of $1.07 per share, and revenue of $69.79 billion, exceeding the expected $68.9 billion. This break in a string of four straight quarters in which the company missed consensus estimates boosted Alphabet's stock by over 4% in extended trading. In addition to its impressive financial results, Alphabet's board authorized a $70 billion share buyback. Microsoft Earnings Call Overview Microsoft reported revenue of $52.9 billion, a 7% increase from the corresponding period last year, with operating income of $22.4 billion, a 10% increase. Net income also increased by 9% to $18.3 billion. Diluted earnings per share rose by 10% to $2.45. The company's cloud business, including Azure and other cloud services, stood out, with revenue up 22% year-over-year. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Microsoft to Curb Antitrust Concerns by Removing Teams from Office Bundle 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Google Authenticator isn't end-to-end encrypted, new tests show. This means that this security tool is not spared from security risks, and it might expose your personal information to outside attacks. Google Authenticator App Is Not End-to-End Encrypted According to a report by Gizmodo, software firm Mysk conducted tests where security researchers and developers experimented if the two-factor authenticator was safe enough for the users. "We tested the feature as soon as Google released it. We realized that the app didn't prompt or offer an option to use a passphrase to protect the secrets," the company posted on Twitter. Google has just updated its 2FA Authenticator app and added a much-needed feature: the ability to sync secrets across devices. TL;DR: Don't turn it on. The new update allows users to sign in with their Google Account and sync 2FA secrets across their iOS and Android devices. pic.twitter.com/a8hhelupZR Mysk (@mysk_co) April 26, 2023 The experts also added that the traffic in the app is not end-to-end encrypted. Mysk shared the screenshots, which show that Google most likely knows your confidential information if they are stored on the servers. To solve the issue, you can unlink your Google account to the Google Authenticator if you have doubts about it not being end-to-end encrypted. Mysk also said that although the 2FA method is deemed to be useful when using different devices, the user is exposing his/her privacy when using it. Because of this, the company is not recommending that users sync their accounts to the app anymore. Related Article: Google Authenticator to Sync to Your Google Account in Case Your Device Gets Stolen The Danger Behind Google Authenticator Mashable reported this week that Google Authenticator codes can now be stored in the cloud, which gives users more options to store them in a different place as long as the Google Account is linked. The search engine giant said that this update solved the long-time flaw on the one-time codes that have been bugging the users. Of course, the feature is optional, and you have all the means to store it locally if you wish. While syncing the 2FA secrets is very handy, the Mysk researchers found that they would leak once the Google Servers are compromised. What's worse, the threat actor could know the other information connected to your account, including the account name and its associated app. It's very risky, especially for a content creator or an activist who usually has many Twitter accounts with no exact identity. As per Tommy Mysk, you shouldn't be worried about the hackers alone since Google staff can gain access to your data without permission. Tommy adds that it's not a good thing to miss the encryption on an authenticator tool. This also means that Google will have more control over the targeted ads it wants to show to a particular audience. Mysk expects that Google will treat 2FA secrets the same way as passwords. In short, everything associated with sensitive data should be treated with extreme confidentiality and caution. If you want to know more about Google Authenticator, you can click this link to see its app requirements, how to set it up, and more. Read Also: Proton Launches New Beta Password Manager With 'More Complete Encryption Model' 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 101 Ways: Partnering for Progress: The Significance of Public-Private Collaboration in Driving Digital Transformation #techUKDigitalPS Collaboration is vital for public sector digital transformation. Chris Wilson, Client Partner at 101 Ways shares the benefits and success stories as part of the Digital Transformation in the Public Sector Week. #techUKDigitalPS Digital transformation is an increasingly important goal according to the UK's Public Sector Digital Strategy, with governments worldwide investing heavily in technologies and innovations that can improve their ability to meet the needs of their citizens. Effective digital transformation in the public sector requires collaboration between Government and Industry. Collaboration can take many forms, from partnerships with private sector companies to sharing data and expertise. Benefits of Collaboration Collaboration between Government and Industry is key to successful digital transformation, as it enables access to expertise, improves efficiency and creates better outcomes for citizens. Industry partners can bring valuable expertise and resources to the table, helping governments to accelerate the design and implementation of digital solutions that meet their needs. SMEs, in particular, are known for their innovative spirit and agile approach to problem-solving, making them ideal partners for public sector organisations looking to deliver transformative public services. Collaboration can help governments to streamline their operations and reduce costs, while also improving the quality of their services. For example, by working with private sector partners, governments can tap into cutting-edge technologies and solutions that might otherwise be out of reach. By working together, Government and Industry can develop digital solutions that are tailored to the needs of citizens, improving their satisfaction and trust in government services. This is particularly important given the increasing expectations of citizens when using digital services. Examples of Successful Collaboration There are many examples of successful collaboration on digital transformation between Government and Industry. Here are just a few: The Digital Skills Partnership is a government initiative aimed at boosting digital skills across the UK. It brings together employers, training providers, and other organisations to identify skills gaps and create new training opportunities for workers. The partnership aims to improve digital skills across a range of industries and professions, and it has already delivered training to thousands of people through a variety of initiatives. The Estonian Government's e-Residency program allows anyone in the world to become a digital resident of Estonia, giving them access to a range of government services and the ability to set up and run a business in Estonia. The program has been a success, with over 80,000 e-Residents from over 170 countries. This has opened up new opportunities for SMEs to work with the Estonian Government and access new markets. The US Government's Challenge.gov platform allows government agencies to create challenges and competitions to solve problems and drive innovation. The platform has been used to develop a range of solutions, from new ways to predict earthquakes to tools to help people with disabilities access public transportation. Many of the winning solutions have been developed by SMEs and startups. Best Practices for Collaboration Effective collaboration between Government and Industry requires a structured approach that takes into account the needs and goals of both parties. Collaboration should be based on a clear understanding of what each party hopes to achieve. This can include specific goals, such as cost reduction or improved citizen satisfaction. Each party should have a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities within the collaboration. This can help to ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals and can help to prevent misunderstandings and conflicts. Trust is essential for effective collaboration, particularly when it comes to sensitive areas such as data sharing. Both parties should work to establish trust through open and transparent communication and by following best practices for data privacy and security. Conclusion: Digital transformation is essential for the public sector to keep up with the changing needs and expectations of citizens. By embracing emerging technologies and working together, Government and Industry can create a digital government that is more efficient, effective and citizen-centric. Let's work together to accelerate digital transformation in the public sector. Whether you're a government organisation or an industry expert, let's collaborate and create lasting value in public services. Contact us to learn more and join the conversation. This article was written by Chris Wilson, Client Partner at 101 Ways. Chris Wilson is a Client Partner at 101 Ways, he is on a mission to help the public sector to accelerate delivery and continuously improve digital services that are citizen-centric. His role as Client Partner is to bring leadership, technology and delivery expertise together. He's spent 23 years delivering IT, and Digital professional services into the UK Public Sector engaging with Government Departments including Home Office, Defra, NHS Digital, Cabinet Office and FCDO. Learn more about this author. Learn more about 101 Ways here, or visit their LinkedIn. To read more from #techUKDigitalPS Week, check out our landing page here. You can also follow the campaign on techUK's Twitter and LinkedIn - #techUKDigitalPS. The latest version of the Microsoft Edge browser is leaking the URLs of every website that the user is visiting the Bing API servers, raising data privacy concerns for the users, according to a report by The Verge. The reason behind this is the follow creators feature that was added by Microsoft Edge in January 2022. Apparently, this feature is designed to help users to keep up with their favorite content creators on YouTube whenever a new video is posted. However, the malfunction is causing the feature to send every URL or domain that the user visits to Bing API endpoints. The bug was first noticed by a Reddit user known as hackermchackface last week. It appears that the newest version of Microsoft Edge browser sends a request to bingapis.com with the full URLs of virtually every website that a user visits to Bing API servers bingapis.com/api/v7/followweb/isfollowable, even ones that are not related to content creators. The Redditor hackermchackface wrote: What is causing Edge to leak all visited URLs following latest update? API is: bingapis.com/api/v7/followweb/isfollowable ? GET request includes full url of every page navigate to. Searching for References to this url give very few results, no documentation on this feature at all. Json response shows type as FollowableStatus which yields zero Google results, which is rare. Surely I cant be the first to discover this?! While Reddit users were unable to find out why Microsoft Edge is sending URLs to its Bing API servers, Microsoft MVP and Stardock engineer Rafael Rivera provided the following statement to The Verge: Microsoft Edge now has a creator follow feature that is enabled by default, it appears the intent was to notify Bing when youre on certain pages, such as YouTube, The Verge, and Reddit. But it doesnt appear to be working correctly, instead sending nearly every domain you visit to Bing Microsoft is investigating the problem and working on a solution. Caitlin Roulston, Director of Communications at Microsoft confirmed that the company is aware of such reports and it would take appropriate action to address any issues. While Microsoft has not offered a solution on how to stop it from happening, it is strongly recommended to turn off the follow creators feature in Microsoft Edge to prevent any potential privacy violations. You can disable the follow creators feature by following the below steps: Open the Edge menu (Alt + F) and select Settings. On the left, click on Privacy, Search and Services In the right pane, scroll to Services Then, toggle off the switch beside Show suggestions to follow creators in Microsoft Edge option. Keep watching this space for more updates, as this is a developing story! Qatar Airways will resume flights to Birmingham, England on July 6, operating daily throughout the summer season, in time for the British Grand Prix taking place on July 9 at the legendary Silverstone circuit. The flight will be operated with the Boeing 787-8 with 254 seats: 22 Business Class and 232 Economy Class seats. Birmingham, one of the UKs most significant industrial and commercial cities, is known for its number of well-preserved, unusual historical attractions. The city is also the national centre of the silversmith profession making the Jewellery Quarter, which produces 40 per cent of the UKs Jewellery, a truly spectacular area to experience. Birmingham is also home to the Bullring, one of the largest shopping centres in Europe, making it one of the top three shopping destinations in the UK. The city is also home the largest event space in the UK, the National Exhibition Centre, attracting thousands of visitors throughout the year. The City of Birmingham is centrally located with 90 per cent of the UK being reachable within four hours, and is conveniently located only one hour away from the Silverstone circuit, where fans can take advantage of the new Qatar Airways route to join in the racing festivities. With its affiliation to F1, Birmingham is home to some of the world's most recognised motorsport racing teams; making the resumption of Qatar Airways daily services to the 'Motorsport Valley' arrive in a timely manner. Qatar Airways Holidays is also offering one-of-a-kind travel packages which include flights, hotels, premium seats at the race, gourmet hospitality, Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk and an exclusive event with appearances by an F1 legend or driver. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker, said: As the Global Partner and Official Airline of Formula 1, Qatar Airways, is excited to provide fans with unique travel packages under the Ultimate F1 Experience to enjoy exclusive on-track activities at the British Grand Prix. The Worlds Best Airline continues to be committed to its English market and strives to offer passengers with the best travel options available. On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, QR33 will depart Hamad International Airport at 08:05, arriving in Birmingham at 13:15. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, QR 35 will depart Hamad International Airport at 02:20, arriving in Birmingham at 07:30. On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, QR34 will depart Birmingham at 14:45, arriving in Doha at 23:40. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, QR36 will depart Birmingham at 09:00, arriving in Doha at 17:55. TradeArabia News Service Aerial photo taken on March 1, 2022 shows a cloud computing base in Zhongwei City, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China Mobile has invested nearly 90 billion yuan (about 13.07 billion U.S. dollars) in cloud infrastructure construction in the past three years to provide cloud computing services, the company said on Tuesday. In 2022, the company's revenue from cloud computing services hit 50.3 billion yuan, up 108.1 percent year on year, said Yang Jie, chairman of China Mobile, at the 2023 China Mobile Cloud Conference held in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Last year, China Mobile's digital transformation generated gross revenue of 207.6 billion yuan, with a year-on-year increase of more than 30 percent and becoming the main engine of revenue growth, said Yang. China Mobile, one of the country's leading telecommunication operators, raked in 937.3 billion yuan in operating revenues in 2022, up 10.5 percent year on year. By the end of 2022, the company had 975 million mobile subscribers, with its 5G subscribers totaling 614 million. Murder of Rose in the Vosges: hundreds of people gathered to pay tribute to the girl The 'cobra effect', or why the obsession with rankings and metrics generates corruption The week of God Tweeter: Elon Musk's B account and the fourth daughter of the Emeritus Jordi Cruz cooks for Springsteen, the Spielbergs and Michelle Obama before the second concert of the 'Boss' in Barcelona The founder of Twitter criticizes Musk's management: "it was a mistake to sell him the social network" Tricks so that they do not bother you on WhatsApp without having to block or give explanations This is how nine great chefs imagine the future of the sector This is how Apple is becoming, little by little, a bank Police at home ... 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Masahide Onoue made his first stage appearance as a kabuki actor at the age of 10 "The surname does everything": Ivan Emelianenko makes his debut in MMA with a fight against the former Russian judo champion Shesterkin's vain efforts, the failure of Panarin and Tarasenko: the Rangers lost to New Jersey and flew out of the Stanley Cup Women's World Cup: FIFA refuses to sell off the competition and threatens not to broadcast it Why are so many people hooked on snooker? "It doesn't make sense" The Judo Federation of Ukraine boycotted the World Cup because of the admission of Russians in neutral status May Day cultural tourism activities are abundant, consumption continues to heat up, and people's enthusiasm for travel is high Compared with other new energy vehicles, what are the unique advantages of hydrogen energy vehicles? 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She claims compensation for giving birth in a portal after being discharged from the Basurto hospital Ayuso warns of the "danger" of questioning "the capital" of Madrid in the acts of Dos de Mayo: "No Nation would do it" Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba said that he was lying down and getting up with thoughts about the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine The Civil Guard investigates the violent death of the owner of Bodega Guillermo, in La Rioja RIA Novosti: traces of struggle found in the car of the animators who disappeared in the Kuban Pension reform: after a major mobilization on 1 May, what are the consequences? An explosion occurred in the Liaocheng chemical plant area in Shandong Province, and the Ministry of Emergency Management issued an accident warning "Discrimination of pure water": the Polish airline refused to put tennis player Dyachenko on the flight because of the passport of the Russian Federation He was famous for his sweet recitation and funny attitudes. The death of the young Egyptian reader Abdullah Kamel Ex-Colonel of the US Armed Forces MacGregor warned Zelensky about the consequences of refusing dialogue Tricks so that they do not bother you on WhatsApp without having to block or give explanations "Up to 200 tons of ammunition of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed": the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported a strike on a train at a railway station near Kramatorsk The 'cobra effect', or why the obsession with rankings and metrics generates corruption Tom Hanks gives it his all at Springsteen's second concert in Barcelona Chad: two Chadian rebel groups reported in the far north of the Central African Republic "A historic step".. The US state of "New Jersey" celebrates Islamic heritage in January of each year was complained by netizens that "inconsistent with the official announcement" Hohhot rectified the scarecrow exhibition and carried out a follow-up investigation Communities 2019 - Privacy The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. UNITED NATIONS, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called on the international community to work with the greatest sense of urgency for a lasting settlement of the Palestinian question. The situation in the occupied Palestinian territory has become nerve-wracking for the whole world during the holy month of Ramadan over the past few years. This year, violence in the West Bank intensified with frequent tensions in East Jerusalem and Gaza. The international community cannot become accustomed to this and cannot let it go unchecked. Instead, more must be invested in promoting a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question with the greatest sense of urgency, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. There is a need to oppose violence and incitement and seek common security, he told the Security Council in an open debate on the Middle East. Over the past month, Israeli security forces have many times raided al-Aqsa Mosque, beating and removing Muslims, shattering the peace and tranquility of Ramadan and triggering new tensions. China condemns all acts of violence against civilians and calls on all parties to exercise calm and restraint and put an end to radical and provocative rhetoric and actions, he said. "Palestine and Israel are neighbors that cannot be moved away from each other. The security of one party cannot be based on the insecurity of the other," said Zhang. "In order to fundamentally break the cycle of violence and establish lasting peace, equal attention must be given to the legitimate security concerns of both sides, who must be encouraged to achieve common security through dialogue and negotiation." Settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal. China urges Israel to comply with Security Council Resolution 2334 and effectively cease all settlement activities. It also needs to be pointed out that unilateral measures to change the status quo of Jerusalem are null and void. China calls for respect for the historic status quo of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem, and for Jordan's custodianship over them, he said. People's livelihood must be guaranteed and Palestinian economic development must be promoted, said Zhang. The prolonged occupation and frequent instability have severely constrained the viability of the Palestinian economy and led to the worsening situation for Palestinians. Israel should relax and lift unreasonable restrictions on the movement of people and goods, as well as on land use in the occupied territory, create conditions for the development of Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and lift the blockade of Gaza Strip as soon as possible, he said. The international community should also provide assistance to Palestine through multiple channels to help Palestine alleviate its financial crisis and ensure the provision of public services, he said. Zhang stressed the need to adhere to the two-state solution and to promote the resumption of peace talks. The recent detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran set an example for defusing differences through dialogue. On other Middle East issues, positive developments of dialogue and reconciliation are also in the making, said Zhang. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang recently had separate phone calls with the Palestinian and Israeli foreign ministers. He encouraged Israel and Palestine to show political courage and take steps toward resuming peace talks on the basis of the two-state solution, said Zhang. China expects the international community to increase coordination, take substantive steps and make unremitting efforts to promote the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli talks and implement the two-state solution, he said. Rescued illegal migrants are seen in Garrabulli, Libya, on April 25, 2023. The Libyan Coast Guard on Tuesday rescued 61 illegal migrants and recovered 11 bodies off the coast of Garrabulli, some 55 km east of the capital Tripoli. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) TRIPOLI, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan Coast Guard on Tuesday rescued 61 illegal migrants and recovered 11 bodies off the coast of Garrabulli, some 55 km east of the capital Tripoli. "We recovered 11 bodies, including a child. The total number of illegal migrants rescued today is 61 of different African, Asian and Arab nationalities," Esa al-Zarrug, a Coast Guard officer, told Xinhua. Because of the insecurity and chaos in the country since the fall of late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, many migrants, mostly Africans, choose to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores from Libya. A total of 4,335 illegal migrants have been rescued or intercepted by the Libyan authorities so far this year. Meanwhile, 310 illegal migrants have died and 227 others have gone missing on the central Mediterranean route off the Libyan coast, according to the International Organization for Migration. Rescued illegal migrants are seen after disembarking from boats in Garrabulli, Libya, on April 25, 2023. The Libyan Coast Guard on Tuesday rescued 61 illegal migrants and recovered 11 bodies off the coast of Garrabulli, some 55 km east of the capital Tripoli. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) Dead bodies of illegal migrants are seen in Garrabulli, Libya, on April 25, 2023. The Libyan Coast Guard on Tuesday rescued 61 illegal migrants and recovered 11 bodies off the coast of Garrabulli, some 55 km east of the capital Tripoli. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) Rescued illegal migrants arrive in Garrabulli, Libya, on April 25, 2023. The Libyan Coast Guard on Tuesday rescued 61 illegal migrants and recovered 11 bodies off the coast of Garrabulli, some 55 km east of the capital Tripoli. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Louis Gurvich speaks during the Louisiana GOP Unity Rally at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner on Oct. 5, 2019. The state party asked Louisiana lawmakers on Saturday, April 15, 2022, to forbid the study of racism at colleges and universities, arguing that classes examining "inglorious aspects" of United States history are too divisive. Wilson Asset Management chairman Geoff Wilson says the governments bid to raise $10 million by modifying legislation around franking credits will cripple the growth of small companies and push larger companies offshore, therefore denting the budget. Wilson is one of several stakeholders who have made submissions to the Senate standing committee on economics after the Labor government said last year it was looking to implement an integrity measure first proposed by Scott Morrison in 2016. Wilson Asset Management chair Geoff Wilson says the proposed amendments to franking credit legislation will leave a hole in the budget. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer The governments amendment would prevent franking credits being paid to shareholders if the dividends were funded partially or entirely by an equity capital raising. While it may seem like a minor change, Wilson said the government was showing total ignorance of the consequences. 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 Before turning to documentary filmmaking, Meg Smaker worked as a firefighter in California and elsewhere. Midway through our conversation, it emerges that she has special training in dealing with fires involving hazardous materials (when you go on a call and the smoke is green, she notes, its not a good sign). From her early 20s Smaker also travelled widely, including in some of the most dangerous regions on the planet. In the wake of the September 11 attacks, in which many of her fellow firefighters were killed, she set out alone for Afghanistan to see what she could learn first-hand about why the attacks happened. A year or two later she visited Panama, where she was kidnapped near the Colombian border by a paramilitary group and held captive for almost a fortnight. All this experience with high-pressure situations undoubtedly stood her in good stead in making The UnRedacted, her first feature-length documentary and in the aftermath, when the film proved more inflammatory than she could have anticipated. The origins of The UnRedacted (originally titled Jihad Rehab) lie in the years Smaker spent living and working in Yemen, a period that crucially reshaped her worldview. When 9/11 happened, I had seen my country as the victim, she says. Then when I moved to Yemen and I saw what my country was doing in the region, the droning in Yemen and the disappearing of people there, I saw my country as a perpetrator. (Today, she says she has a foot in both camps.) It was around that time that she first heard of the Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef Centre for Counselling and Care, a facility in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh which serves as a halfway house for suspected jihadists. Advertisement As she depicts in The UnRedacted, the men held at the centre, including those handed over by the US, attend lectures on psychology, participate in counselling sessions and art therapy, and are generally prepared for re-entry into society (under strict conditions, including the threat that a sponsor, typically a family member, will be imprisoned if things dont go well). Made over several years, The UnRedacted is a close-up portrait of a group of mainly Yemeni men undergoing this treatment. Defensive at first, they slowly open up, revealing their insecurities and their hopes for when they graduate from the centre. Saudi Arabias Centre for Counselling and Care sets out to rehabilitate suspected jihadis. Credit:The UnRedacted How did Smaker go about winning the trust of her subjects, who had no immediate reason to be well-disposed towards Americans? By her account, her gender was one major factor. If youre a big white dude and you walk into the room, these men have just been tortured for 15 years by people who look like you, she tells me. You walk in and youre a threat. Im a six foot tall albino Godzilla that speaks Arabic. I walk in and Im more of a curiosity than a threat. In turn, Smaker developed a close bond with her subjects. The film doesnt gloss over how they were treated in Guantanamo, nor is it uncritical of the current regime in Saudi Arabia, even if it could never have been made without the Saudi authorities on board. Advertisement Im a six foot tall albino Godzilla that speaks Arabic. Im more of a curiosity than a threat. Meg Smaker Nor is it taken for granted that any of the men profiled ever truly qualified as terrorists. We know that none were ever formally charged, let alone convicted and theres room to wonder if anything they say on camera can be taken at face value, whether it suggests innocence or guilt. The United States government has almost limitless resources, and the United States had these men for a decade and a half, Smaker says. And in that time they were unable to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt what these men did and didnt do. Still, shes not personally in much doubt that they had some involvement with jihadist groups, at least to the degree of attending training sessions. Theres been a lot of films about people in Guantanamo who were completely innocent just wrong place, wrong time, she says. Thats a story thats already been told, and I wasnt really interested in that. The subjects of Meg Smakers documentary opened up about their hopes for the future. Credit:The UnRedacted Having embarked on the film with the goal of combating stereotypes, Smaker was taken aback by the furore sparked by its selection for the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, beginning well before it premiered. A group of Muslim and Arab filmmakers contacted the festival with their concerns, acknowledging theyd yet to see it for themselves but citing the grim human rights record of the Saudi government. Separately, questions were raised within the festival organisation about whether Smaker had done enough to ensure the safety of her interviewees. None of this ultimately stopped the premiere from going ahead (online, like the rest of the festival that year). But the film was now under a cloud that continued to spread. Advertisement Two senior staff at Sundance resigned, planned screenings at other festivals were cancelled, and Abigail Disney, one of the executive producers, publicly expressed her regret at backing a project that painted Muslim people as terrorists or former terrorists or potential terrorists. Since then its not all been bad news: The UnRedacted has received sympathetic coverage in mainstream outlets including The New York Times, while a GoFundMe campaign aimed at helping Smaker distribute the film has gone viral. Still, the flames of controversy havent entirely died out and as Smaker prepares to introduce a series of screenings in Australia, shes ready to hose down a few misconceptions. A return to normal life can seem elusive for the subjects in Meg Smakers film. Credit:The UnRedacted She can see why Muslims especially might have had qualms about the project when they first heard of it. There was this judgment of, oh, this person made this film and they are not Muslim, not Arab. So this is probably going to be like all the other films made about this subject matter, which is going to be harmful to our community. Which I understand. But shes not convinced that her leading critics (none of whom, she says, are Saudi or Yemeni) are equipped to judge the precautions she took. They dont know anything about the socio-economic make-up of Saudi Arabia, and how that shifted, and what it is now, she says. To be honest, its like someone ... watching a NASA spaceship take off who has zero experience in rocket science saying like, oh, today theres three clouds in the sky, so this is really unsafe. In this context, Smaker doesnt necessarily consider herself an outsider (its not her word, she stresses). At the same time, she resists the very notion that you should only be able to tell a story of a group that you are a part of. Advertisement A 41-year-old Catholic school teacher in Perths north-east has appeared in court to face allegations he indecently recorded four female students in his class. The teacher, who this masthead has chosen not to name to protect the alleged victims, appeared in Midland Magistrates Court on Wednesday over the incidents, said to have occurred between March 1 and 21 in Ellenbrook. The teacher leaving court on Wednesday. Credit: Nine News Perth He has been charged by detectives from the Child Abuse Squad with four counts of indecently recording a child over 16 under his authority. His case was remanded for a month, to allow him to seek legal advice and no further information about the allegations was revealed. Outside court, he told Nine News Perth he was innocent. When demanding communication and cooperation from China and almost simultaneously interfering in China's internal affairs and hurting China's interests, Washington should have little difficulty in understanding why China categorically says: "You can't have it both ways." by Xinhua writer Dong Yue BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- For a period of time, Washington has been sending mixed messages to China: seeking cooperation and communication while containing China in the name of "competition." Those paradoxical statements and actions reflect an increasingly clear tendency in Washington's China policy: to compartmentalize its relationship with Beijing into different categories, where it can apply an approach of containment, competition or cooperation according to America's needs. Decision-makers in Washington could be thinking that each of these different tracks can work perfectly well without rocking each other, and that China should just accept the arrangement as a matter of course. Seriously, this is purely deceitful thinking. It is like stretching out one hand for a handshake and saying "let's work together," and then slapping the person in the face with the other and expecting the slapped to just smile. The United States was once treated in a similar manner during the Cold War. Back in the 1970s, its European allies wanted U.S. assurances on security but were "less cooperative" with Washington on the economic and diplomatic fronts. Frustrated, then-U.S. President Richard Nixon said that "they can't have it both ways -- they can't keep our forces up and confront us everywhere else." Therefore, when demanding communication and cooperation from China and almost simultaneously interfering in China's internal affairs and hurting China's interests, Washington should have little difficulty in understanding why China categorically says: "You can't have it both ways." Such a patchwork of containment and engagement in America's China strategy is not new. Almost every U.S. administration since Bill Clinton adopted such a two-pronged China strategy until recent years when the argument of "the failure of engagement" seems to have gained an upper hand. This photo taken on March 29, 2023 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) In its design, the United States wants in the post-Cold War era to manage China's development, and turn the country into its junior partner -- a huge market for U.S. products, services and capital, a source of affordable resources for U.S. industries, and most importantly, a minion who could deliver on America's priorities. China can grow but must grow on the track set by the United States, and certainly not to the extent that the U.S. supremacy might be challenged. To put it simply, the Chinese should just keep their feet on the ground and manufacture T-shirts and socks for American consumers, instead of trying to move up the "smile curve." This is in no way an equal relationship, which is reminiscent of Washington's overbearingness in international relations. In its eyes, China's rapid rise was made possible by America, and Beijing should be grateful. This murky motive explains why Washington has always talked about "approaching China from a position of strength," and why some U.S. politicians have voiced their frustration or even anger when they see a prosperous and ever-developing China still firmly striding on its own path without being transformed according to Washington's design. However, in a highly integrated world, a complete U.S. decoupling from China is as impossible as it is disastrous. Washington knows that quite well. That explains why U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai recently denied that their country was seeking to decouple the U.S. economy from that of China. Moreover, global challenges like climate change need global solutions. But as Washington insists on hammering China in areas like high tech under the guise of "national security" and making provocations on China's red line, it is ruining the conditions for both sides to work on some of those urgent planetary crises. Still, to confuse the world's public opinion, Washington is peddling the so-called "democracy vs autocracy" narrative, and portraying China as a "revisionist power," while claiming that it is safeguarding a "rules-based world order" and protecting "human rights." Such a sanctimonious approach to handling the relationship between the world's top two economies is highly irresponsible and reckless. In the immediate days following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia and the United States enjoyed a honeymoon period. The Charter for American-Russian Partnership and Friendship signed by the two sides in 1992 said "the well-being, prosperity, and security of a democratic Russian Federation and the United States of America are vitally interrelated." However, things changed when Washington failed to provide Kremlin with the promised economic aid and NATO expanded despite Washington's promise that the bloc would move "not one inch eastward." This was unacceptable to Russia, and the ensuing deterioration of Moscow-Washington ties was only natural. Deep down, America had never intended to treat Russia with respect even though Western-style democratic elections took place in the country. Ideology is just an instrument to intervene. Protesters gather during the anti-war demonstration in Washington, D.C., the United States, March 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) For Beijing, Washington's condescending diplomacy is unacceptable. If Washington truly wants a workable relationship with China, it should treat China as an equal partner and show due respect. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is being urged to dump a divisive Labor policy that slashed incomes for thousands of single mothers, with leading feminist Anne Summers joining a push to reverse the move in full in the May 9 federal budget. Summers, a top adviser to former Labor prime ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, warned it would be mean-spirited to make a small adjustment to the income support when evidence showed the policy from 2012 had hurt women who needed help. Anne Summers says this budget is Labors first opportunity to undo a mistake. Credit: Jacky Ghossein The comments escalate a last-ditch campaign to restore income support for single mothers until their youngest child turns 16, a decision that would cost about $1.1 billion over three years and would go further than a government plan revealed by this masthead yesterday to lift the cut-off age from eight to 12. The move comes as four Labor backbenchers break ranks on social security policy by joining hundreds of advocates, including former Labor cabinet ministers Jenny Macklin and Brian Howe, who are calling for an increase in the JobSeeker rate that could cost $24 billion over four years. Much as Anthony Albanese might want Peter Dutton to stay as opposition leader, he is not inclined to throw him a lifeline in the May 9 budget by breaking his promise and cancelling or changing the circa $300 billion stage three tax cuts, due for delivery on July 1 next year. Any tweaks to stage three will be in next years budget as part of a wider reform and redistribution package that Albanese would take to voters at the election, and possibly snooker Dutton. Assuming Dutton is still there. There is little Labor can do to save Peter Dutton from himself. Credit: Dionne Gain Judging him to be Labors best asset next to Albanese himself, who is ever mindful that voters have had a gutful of conflict and broken promises one cabinet minister confessed to urging Albanese to go easy on Dutton. Dont kill him, he begged. Unfortunately, there is little Labor can do to save Dutton from himself. Feta, parmesan, prosescco: these are household names for all sorts of Australian products. But if Europe has its way, that will soon change. The federal government is in the final round of major negotiations for a free-trade deal with the European Union which has been years in the making. Australian prosecco producer Otto Dal Zotto, and parmesan maker Mauro Montalto. Already trade between the two is worth nearly $100 billion, but both sides are hoping to improve access for products ranging from beef and sugar to financial services. But geographic indicator protections are a major sticking point in the deal, and any concession to Europes demands that would block the right to have Australian feta, parmesan and prosecco will create losers. The outspoken and prolific TikToker Rose Jackson NSWs new youth and homelessness minister seemingly forgot Labor was finally in government when she went off script and told a conference that the state should get on board with pill testing at music festivals. Her view was not surprising as a factional warrior of the left, Jackson has long held that position, along with legalising cannabis. NSW minister Rose Jackson has publicly declared her support for pill testing at music festivals. Credit: Martin Ollman Not only is it Jacksons view (and that of other cabinet members, including Transport Minister Jo Haylen), it was also the recommendation of the previous governments major $11 million inquiry into the drug ice. That inquiry took the Coalition close to three years in which to respond, only for it to reject key recommendations, as the cabinet tore itself apart over what to do with findings it clearly hoped would not have been included, most notably decriminalisation. Premier Chris Minns was quick to shoot down Jacksons comments, and reminded her that his ministers should not be freelancing. Instead, the government will await the findings of its own drug summit, which is modelled on the same idea former Labor premier Bob Carr pursued after his 1999 win. That summit was sparked by Sydneys heroin epidemic, which saw an unprecedented number of overdoses and streets littered with discarded needles. However, Minns, unlike Carr, already has the findings from a wide-ranging 14-month drug inquiry, which delivered more than 100 recommendations, based on expert advice and 250 submissions. Another drug summit is not needed and wasteful. It only serves to buy Minns and his cabinet more time before being forced to make tough calls. My new colleagues are all wet fish. Ignoring this, I shower with one every morning. Sometimes two. We accidentally meet here after 8am yoga. Then again before sunset cocktails at 5.30pm. In fact, it doesnt matter what time I slip into the luminescent ensuite of my overwater bungalow, Im never truly alone. Edgy US brand The Standard offers Stowaway packages for WFA (Work From Anywhere) guests. Despite having travelled to the Maldives solo, my bathroom is begging for company. A giant disco ball hangs ironically over a gleaming white tub that could easily fit four. In front of the shower, through the baguette-cut glass floor window separating me and the turquoise lagoon beneath, a large, omnipresent tropical fish hovers as if waiting for the party to start. Working from paradise is a hoot. This dazzling overwater villa is my office for the next four days. Located on a speck of white-sand thats tightly knitted with palms and surrounded by liquid topaz lagoons, The Standard Huruvahli Maldives in the Raa Atoll, is not a bad place to tap away on your Macbook. Now, as we continued to climb higher, I pointed down at a narrow cut through the trees far below. "Is that the border?" I called out over the engine noise. Rene gave a great booming laugh. At six foot six and somewhat over three hundred pounds, he seemed to derive great pleasure from the irony of his nickname, Ti , which is French Canadian for "Junior" or "little" -- Little Rene! "No problem," Ti Rene said between joking conversations in French with strippers young enough to be his daughters. "Just don't write where you found me, to Ti Rene's late name." I'd met Ti Rene late the night before in a Quebec roadhouse with a wide open topless bar attached, where I'd stopped for a beer. The bartender had recommended him to me as an "outlaw" Quebecois bush pilot, a notorious smuggler, who might take me up for a bird's-eye view of the border the next morning. 9:00 A.M. I am looking down into the tannin-stained depths of a stream in Seney, the starting point for young Nick Adams in my all-time favorite fishing story, Ernest Hemingway's "Big Two-Hearted River." Seney was a train trestle over a trout stream when Nick visited it in the story. The entire town, including all thirteen of its saloons, had burned to the ground around the turn of the century, been rebuilt, and promptly burned to flinders again. Today it's still scarcely more than a whistle stop, just one store and a few houses, and the stream still looks to be a likely spot for the big speckled beauties that Nick admired off the trestle. I'm tempted, again, to fish but decide not to. There'll be plenty of time for fishing in Montana. 9:30 A.M. The back of a loggers' boot hill just outside Seney, a hodgepodge of wooden markers tilting crazily above sunken graves overrun with myrtle and ground pine and inscribed with the following legends: CHAS DEWEY AGE 33 DIED FIGHTEN. UNKNOWN. DIED IN A BAD FIGHT. NO NAME. KILLED ON THE RIVER. 10:00 A.M. North of town a few miles I stop again and walk a short distance off the road into the woods. Suddenly I could be standing next to Nick Adams, looking out over the dark islands of pines in the sandy barrens at a faraway, sparkling river, and the distant blue ridge just south of Lake Superior, exactly as Hemingway described them. But I resist the temptation, a few minutes later, to strike off onto a side road to visit the actual Big Two-Hearted, knowing that the only place I'll ever truly find Nick's river is on the pages of Hemingway's eternally lovely story. 10:30 A.M. PRIMITIVE ROAD FOR 50 MILES. The sign intrigues me. Just how primitive is a primitive road? Do you need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to attempt it? I pull over to reconnoiter. Beyond the tantalizing sign, the road snakes between Lake Superior and a dune as high as a Vermont hay barn. In spots sand has drifted hubcap-deep over the road. This is as close to the Upper Peninsula's original wilderness as I'll ever get, I think, and pull out onto the narrow track to see what this primitive road is all about. 11:45 A.M. High atop a sand cliff at the west end of the Grand Sable Banks, in the Superior National Forest, I come upon the site of what, in its day, must have been as original a logging enterprise as any in the North Country. On this spot a century ago, white pine logs hurtled down a five-hundred-foot wooden chute resembling a ski jump from the clifftop to the lake below, to be rafted east to the big sawmills in Grand Marais, Whitefish Point, and Paradise. The half-ton pine logs sped lakeward so fast that their friction ignited flash fires on the smooth wooden surface of the chute; men stationed at intervals on the face of the cliff doused the fires with buckets of sand. Yes, I know all too well what havoc those redshirted wood cutters wreaked upon the U.P. forests, and I find myself rejoicing that at least theoretically such devastation can never again spoil this or any other national forest. But even so, the thundering log chute is a stirring sight to conjure up in this wild, empty, and once again, after nearly two centuries of rapine, unspoiled place on Michigan's North Coast. 5:30 P.M. Marquette, Michigan. The waterfront is unaccustomedly quiet this afternoon because of a Mesabi miners' strike. No freight-car hoppers line the Burlington Northern's looming ore docks, which gleam darkly in the watery sunshine, thrusting out into the harbor like truncated railway trestles going nowhere. Yet even with the port shut down, Marquette has the rugged look of a working harbor. With its hulking docks and hilly, narrow streets that all seem to run down to the lake, it's a promising place to continue my search for Upper Peninsula lore. 6:00 P.M. Outside Marquette's red sandstone courthouse, the site of a famous libel trial in I913. The flamboyant Theodore Roosevelt had brought a libel suit against an Upper Peninsula newspaper, and in the grand old tradition of San Juan Hill, the last of our two-fisted presidents won his case. For compensation, the Marquette jury that found in his favor awarded him exactly six cents: "the price of a good newspaper." Some decades later a sensational murder trial in the same courthouse inspired a brilliant young Marquette district attorney named John Voelker to write, under the pen name Robert Traver, a story set in the wilds of the U.P. and involving an alleged rape, a shooting, and some of the most exciting courtroom scenes in an American suspense thriller. Overnight it became a runaway bestseller and the basis for an enormously popular film of the same name, Anatomy of a Murder. 6:30 P.M. And here to my delight I discover the signatures of Anatomy's stars -- Jimmy Stewart, George C. Scott, Lee Remick -- inscribed in the sidewalk outside Marquette's Nordic Theater, where the film premiered. Yet as I stand on the main street of Voelker's rough-hewn port, gazing at the famous names outside the theater, I have the sensation that something's askew. I look up and down the sidewalk, mainly empty at the weekday supper hour; look back at the signatures; and then it hits me. The cement blocks in front of the Nordic look much more recent than the rest of the sidewalk. In fact, they look far too new to be authentic. It takes an hour of inquiries, but finally the editor of The U. P. Action Shopper News illuminates me. Back in 1959 a number of Marquette's most influential townspeople deemed the movie Anatomy of a Murder risque because of its focus on the Remick character's panties, which were trotted out and used as sensational evidence in the courtroom scenes. Soon after the sidewalk blocks with the offending signatures were cast, Marquette's scandalized town fathers came together and decreed that they must never see the light of day, at least within a country mile of the city's prim and proper main street (overlooking, I'm told, a whole row of waterfront taverns and whorehouses). Fortunately, a forward-looking local farmer rescued the inscribed slabs from the demolition ball and stashed them away in his barn, where they languished in ignominy until 1986, when they were rediscovered, brought out into the light, and installed in front of the Nordic. And so it came to pass that for twenty-seven years the delicate sensibilities of this wide-open shipping town were preserved from the Babylonian influence of Jimmy Stewart's name on Main Street, small-town Victorianism having prevailed over small-town boosterism. Thus enlightened, I move on west along the route of the voyageurs, deep into iron-ore country, laughing to think how tickled John Voelker must have been by this splendid instance of the blue-nosed hypocrisy he poked fun at throughout his distinguished literary and legal careers in the harsh and beautiful Upper Peninsula. Copyright 1997 by Howard Frank Mosher. All rights reserved. Politician-In-Charge Planning To Push Americans To EV's No Matter What SEE ALSO: The Auto Channel Electric Vehicle News and Opinion Archive SEE ALSO: No Nothing US Energy Secretary As Dumb As The Rest - No Hope For America... Woe Is Us. SEE ALSO: No Climate Benefit From Electric Vehicles Until All Of Us Are Dead - But Instant Benefit Can Come From Using Green Renewable American Flex-Fuel Now! SEE ALSO: Electric Vehicles: Automakers Moving Ahead Without Customers SEE ALSO: Electric Vehicles Solution or Diversion? SEE ALSO: Covid Bio Weapon Supports China EV Domination Helped By US Politicians And Their Snotty "Know Nothing" Staff- Updated Deloitte research expects that by 2030 China will hold 49% of the global EV market, Europe will account for 27%, and the US will hold 14%. By Alex Kreetzer Auto Futures We have already seen what a no nothing Trump reign looks like for the domestic auto industry, following his election in 2016, which saw his own take on restoring the countrys automotive presence, in part by threatening automakers not to build factories anywhere other than the US and creating friction among some of the largest vehicle manufacturers in the world. Now officially sworn in, Auto Futures looks at what a Biden Presidency means for the country and its turbulent automotive industry. A key focus for the 46th U.S. President is, of course, a drastic change in the countrys environmental policy, explicitly labelling climate change as an existential threat. Ultimately, he wants to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, after Trumps decision to withdraw from the agreement, and cut greenhouse gases up to 28% by 2025, based on 2005 levels. In addition to this, he is proposing a $1.7 trillion federal investment over the next 10 years in green technologies research, to help the US reach net zero emissions by 2050. This investment will of course affect the automotive industry, which is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. Many within the industry hope that a Biden Presidency will be enough to help the U.S. catch up with other regions around the world and help achieve the overall 2030 goals through clean energy and transport. Supporting the EV Revolution Bidens plan includes a much more stringent fuel economy standard; something that was initially put in place by former President Barack Obama in 2012 before being removed during the Trump campaign. The initial rule was that automakers had to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 3.5% annually from 2017 to 2021 and 5% per year from 2022 to 2025. However, Trump lowered reductions to 1.5% year-over-year to 2026. In addition, he also removed Californias waiver to set the states own stricter zero-emissions standards which caused problems between automakers operating in the US. Despite Trumps actions saving some companies over $1 billion in annual compliance costs, it created a toxic environment for automakers within the country. With a Biden Presidency, the automotive industry within the US looks to be shifting its focus back to the environmental goals on the world stage, with EVs spearheading this change. In fact, even Trump showed some support for EVs in recent debates. With a promise that $400 billion will be invested into clean energy, including battery technology and general R&D, EVs should see a sharp increase due to getting more efficient, cheaper and, most importantly, more accessible due to governmental support. With infrastructure playing a colossal role in EV adoption rates, Biden will help states build approximately half a million new charging stations by the end of 2030, an astonishing improvement over the countrys current offering of under 90,000 charging stations. Getting Americans in EVs Biden hopes that through this approach, the US can catch up with regions such as Europe, which is far ahead currently with much better support and EV offerings. To put this into context, Europe currently has over 200,000 charging stations, eclipsing the current number in the US. Quite simply, the US needs to follow suit, introducing new incentives that will get consumers in EVs and catch up with other continents for both future environmental and business benefits. Biden will introduce new tax credits, creating more attractively priced EVs through a new $7,500 subsidy for the first 200,000 vehicles sold by a manufacturer. Similar to countries like the UK and France, this will help support electrification during the transitional phrase, bridging the gap until we see the mass roll-out of EVs in the US. Another difference to Europe is that the US needs more EV offerings, from both traditional automakers and new startups ready to shake up the market. Tesla has done a lot for EVs on the world stage, but more companies need to be assisted to create an exciting market for consumers. That is not to say that there is a lack of exciting new automotive brands in the US; you have the likes of Rivian, Lucid Motors, Karma Automotive, Nikola, among others. The problem is that they were not being supported by policy changes, which has stagnated the adoption of these EVs. This should all change with a Biden Presidency, with trade shares looking healthy again for these startups and highly-attractive benefits for battery makers such as LG Chem and Panasonic which dominate the global EV market. Many analysts believe that lithium and battery stocks hold the potential for impressive gains for investors once these policies are officially announced. One thing is for certain, a Biden Presidency is favourable for all involved in the modern automotive industry. Experts predict that US EV sales will surpass four million by 2030, with hundreds of new models and billions in R&D investment. Deloitte expects that by 2030 China will hold 49% of the global EV market, Europe will account for 27%, and the US will hold 14%. Despite still someway behind at this point, it shows that the region is going in the left direction. Looking beyond 2030, the Biden campaign could prove to be the key springboard to future transport opportunities for businesses and consumers within the US. There is a lot to do, but its a start. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, reads out a congratulatory letter sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the commemorative event marking the 50th anniversary of cooperation between China and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and delivers a speech at the event in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Wednesday stressed China's efforts on intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and the improvements made in the field. Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when delivering a speech at the commemorative event marking the 50th anniversary of cooperation between China and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Beijing on Wednesday. He read out a congratulatory letter sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the commemorative event, saying it embodies the great importance attached to the work on intellectual property. In the first decade of the new era, China has placed IPR protection work in a more prominent position. The country has introduced a series of major policies, actions and plans, and has implemented a strict IPR protection system. China has made historic achievements in the intellectual property sector, and blazed a path of intellectual property development with Chinese characteristics, Ding noted. China's intellectual property work has developed rapidly, strongly boosting the construction of an innovative country and providing important support for high-quality development, he added. The vice premier stressed that China will comprehensively strengthen the IPR protection work in an all-round way, speed up the building of an intellectual property powerhouse, stimulate vitality in innovation, forge a new development pattern, and strive to achieve high-quality development. He noted that China will further strengthen the building of IPR institutions, accelerate the improvement of the intellectual property legal system, improve the mechanism for the distribution of intellectual property rights and interests, and improve patent and trademark review policies, so as to boost the roles they play in stimulating innovation. Ding also said that China will strictly protect IPR in accordance with the law, improve the administrative and judicial protection systems, strengthen the whole-chain protection of IPR, and create a level playing field in the market. Efforts will also be made to promote IPR transfer and transformation, encourage IPR creation and application, and support the innovative development of the real economy, said Ding. In addition, China will continue to optimize IPR public services and improve the accessibility and universal benefits of these services, he said. He noted that China is willing to establish closer cooperative relations with the WIPO to jointly advance IPR cooperation and make new contributions to the prosperity and progress of mankind. He put forward three suggestions in this regard. The first is working together to improve global IPR governance, firmly uphold the multilateral IPR system with the WIPO at its core, and make the global IPR governance system fairer and more equitable. The second is working together to promote the efficient creation and application of IPR, adhere to the principles of openness, inclusiveness, balance and universal benefits, and advance international exchanges and cooperation on IPR, so as to bring more benefits to mankind. The third is working together to promote international cooperation on IPR protection, severely crack down on various IPR infringements in accordance with the law, advance equal IPR protection, and carry out technological exchanges and cooperation on the basis of market-oriented and law-based principles. WIPO Director General Daren Tang attended the event and delivered a speech. Hyundai Donates $150,000 to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) Injury Prevention Program in Support of Child Passenger and Pedestrian Safety Hyundai and CHLA to Organize Community Car Seat Check Events and LA Street Smarts Event LOS ANGELES, April 25, 2023 Hyundai Motor America announced the continuation of its partnership with Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), donating $150,000 to the Injury Prevention Program in support of child passenger and pedestrian safety. Hyundais donation will allow CHLA to host more car seat check events and another LA Street Smarts Event teaching pedestrian safety to elementary school-aged children. The donation is part of Hyundais corporate social responsibility initiative, Hyundai Hope, which seeks to improve the well-being of society through supporting the health and safety of the community. (left to right) Helen Arbogast, PhD, MPH, injury prevention program manager, Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Dr. Cathy Shin, trauma medical director, CHLA, Brian Latouf, global chief safety officer, Hyundai Motor Company, Raelynn Blackwell, senior manager, corporate social responsibility, Hyundai Motor America, Allison Fell, trauma program manager, CHLA in Los Angeles, Calif. on April 24, 2023. (Photo/Hyundai) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that nearly half of car seats and booster seats are installed incorrectly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the use of child safety seats reduces the risk of fatality to infants by 71 percent, toddlers by 54 percent, and children ages 4-8 by 45 percent. Meanwhile, NHTSAs National Center for Statistics and Analysis found that almost 300 pedestrian deaths occurred in California in 2018. To prevent these types of tragedies, community education programs and awareness building is vital. Consumer education and community partnerships play a key role in helping us keep our passengers and other road users safe, which is our top priority at Hyundai, said Brian Latouf, global chief safety officer, Hyundai Motor Company. We are looking forward to growing our partnership with CHLA whose nationally recognized Injury Prevention Program saves lives and shares our commitment to promoting a culture of safety in our communities. With the donation, CHLAs Injury Prevention Program will collaborate with community partners using evidenced-based strategies and innovative technologies to keep kids safe. The program will focus on mitigating two of the top leading causes of injury and death in children motor vehicle crashes and pedestrian injuries. Together with Hyundai, CHLA will continue to host car seat check events where certified child passenger safety technicians will inspect car seats for correct fit, installation, date of expiration, and/or recalls. Families will also receive new car seats if needed. Additionally, CHLA and Hyundai will host more LA Street Smarts events in both Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The program includes a mobile, life-size set with active traffic signals and interactive components that will teach children proper pedestrian safety techniques, including helping them understand the hazards associated with walking near streets. We are grateful for this gift to support the Injury Prevention Program at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, said Helen Arbogast, PhD, MPH, Manager, Injury Prevention and Trauma Program at CHLA. This gift will allow us to reach more children and families with critical, lifesaving child passenger and pedestrian safety information and support the hospital's mission of creating hope and building healthier futures. Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is at the forefront of pediatric medicine, offering acclaimed care to children from across the world, the country, and the greater Southern California region. Founded in 1901, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is the largest provider of care for children in Los Angeles County, the No. 1 pediatric hospital in California and the Pacific region, and is consistently ranked in the top 10 in the nation on U.S. News & World Reports Honor Roll of Best Childrens Hospitals. Clinical expertise spans the pediatric care continuum for newborns to young adults, from everyday preventive medicine to the most medically complex cases. Inclusive, compassionate, child- and family-friendly clinical care is led by physicians who are faculty members of the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Physicians translate the new discoveries, treatments and cures proven through the work of scientists in The Saban Research Institute of Childrens Hospital Los Angelesamong the top 10 childrens hospitals for National Institutes of Health fundingto bring answers to families faster. The hospital also is home to one of the largest training programs for pediatricians in the United States. To learn more, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter, and visit our blog at CHLA.org/blog. Hyundai Hope Hyundai Hope is a corporate social responsibility initiative from Hyundai Motor North America, committed to the principal of Progress for Humanity and the goal of improving the wellbeing of society. Hyundai Hope dedicates time and supplies resources to nonprofit organizations that support the health and safety of individuals and foster positive growth in communities. For more information, visit www.HyundaiHope.com. Hyundai Motor America Hyundai Motor America focuses on ?Progress for Humanity and smart mobility solutions. Hyundai offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles. Our 830 dealers sold more than 724,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2022, and nearly half were built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Hyundai Motor Group and SK On to Establish EV Battery Cell Production Joint Venture in US SEE WHY: Tax Benefits For Made In USA Electrified Vehicles Board of directors at Hyundai Motor, Kia and Hyundai Mobis approve battery cell joint venture with SK On Total investment amount to be USD 5 billion with Hyundai Motor Group and SK On each taking a 50 percent stake The EV battery cell plant to be constructed in Bartow County, Georgia, U.S., with the aim of producing battery cells, starting in the second half of 2025 The new plant to annually produce 35 GWh of EV battery cells, enough to produce 300,000 all-electric vehicles The joint venture to help accelerate the Groups electrification efforts by providing a stable supply of batteries for EV production in the U.S. SEOUL, April 25, 2023 Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) today announced its plans to set up an electric vehicle (EV) battery cell production joint venture in the US with partner SK On. The Group affiliates Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation and Hyundai Mobis each approved the plan at their respective board meetings today. In November 2022, the Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SK On to secure EV battery supply for North America. The total investment amount for the joint venture is expected to be approximately USD 5 billion, with the Group and SK On each holding a 50 percent stake. Through the joint venture, both parties plan to establish an EV battery cell plant in Bartow County, Georgia, close to the Groups U.S. production facilities, including Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Kia Georgia and Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America. The new plant is expected to start manufacturing battery cells in the second half of 2025 with an annual production capacity of 35 GWh, which is sufficient to support the production of 300,000 EVs. Hyundai Mobis will assemble battery packs using cells from the plant, then supply them to the Groups U.S. manufacturing facilities for production of Hyundai, Kia and Genesis EV models. The joint venture further accelerates the Groups electrification efforts and bolsters its position as an EV leader in the U.S. market with a stable battery supply to support the production of highly competitive EV models. SK On has been a strategic partner for the Group and both have been working together on the production of globally renowned EV models, such as Hyundai IONIQ 5, Kia EV6 and Genesis GV60. - End - General Motors and Samsung SDI Plan to Expand U.S. Battery Cell Manufacturing SEE WHY: Tax Benefits For Made In USA Electrified Vehicles DETROIT and SEOUL General Motors Co. and Samsung SDI announced today they plan to invest more than $3 billion to build a new battery cell manufacturing plant in the United States that is targeted to begin operations in 2026. GMs supply chain strategy for EVs is focused on scalability, resiliency, sustainability and cost-competitiveness. Our new relationship with Samsung SDI will help us achieve all these objectives, said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra. The cells we will build together will help us scale our EV capacity in North America well beyond 1 million units annually. It is a great pleasure to take the very first step to create a long-term industry-leading partnership with GM in the U.S. EV market, remarked Samsung SDI President and CEO Yoon-ho Choi. We will do our best to provide the products featuring the highest levels of safety and quality produced with our unrivalled technologies to help GM strengthen its leadership in the EV market. The plant will have more than 30 GWh of capacity and will bring GMs total U.S. battery cell capacity to about 160 GWh when it is at full production. The companies plan to jointly operate the facility, and it is projected to have production lines to build nickel-rich prismatic and cylindrical cells. According to Doug Parks, GM executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain, the new joint venture with Samsung SDI will leverage the capital and technology of both companies to create new competitive advantages for GM. We will continue to scale production and optimize the chemistry of our pouch cells for performance, range and cost using new approaches pioneered at GMs Wallace Battery Center and by our technology partners, he said. The introduction of new cell form factors will allow us to expand into even more segments more quickly and integrate cells directly into battery packs to reduce weight, complexity and costs. With multiple strong cell partners, we can scale our EV business faster than we could going it alone. The Ultium Platform was strategically designed to accept multiple cell form factors and chemistries. For example, in China, the Cadillac LYRIQ is powered by prismatic cells applied to the same battery packs used in the U.S. GM and Samsung SDI are not announcing the location of the plant or employment projections at this time, however, the number of new jobs in construction and operations are expected to number in the thousands. As customer demand for EVs rises, GM will continue to scale its supply chain and operations, including cell production and vehicle assembly. General Motors is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which powers everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at https://www.gm.com. Samsung SDI, headquartered in the Republic of Korea, is a world-leading battery and electronic material manufacturer redefining the worlds of electric vehicles, energy storage systems and IT devices. The company drives transformation and innovation to emerge as a ?Creative Energy and Materials Solution Leader across the fields of e-mobility, energy solutions, as well as semiconductors and displays. The company commits to sourcing 100% renewable electricity across its entire global operations by 2050. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (R) meets with Brazilian President Lula da Silva at the La Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, April 26, 2023. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua) MADRID, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Lula da Silva on Wednesday highlighted the importance of peace for economic growth, citing China as an example, and calling for peace in Ukraine. "China is the second biggest economy in the world and I think it will be the first in the world," he said, noting that the Asian giant has taken advantage of the globalization of the past 40 years. "China hasn't had a war in many years and that shows you can take advantage of investment that is carried out for social good," Lula told the press after meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the La Moncloa Palace in Madrid. Lula said China's example shows the need to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, one block to establishing peace is that the key nations in the United Nations Security Council "sell weapons," and could have an economic incentive for the continuation of the conflict. The Brazilian leader said it was down to other countries, such as Egypt, South Africa and Brazil, to take part in "constructing new working methods that make us stronger." "We need to build a G20 for peace, with other nations taking part," he underlined. Lula's meeting with Sanchez comes on the second day of his visit to Spain. "We are opening a new era in strategic relations between Spain and Brazil. We have a lot to contribute to the prosperity and wellbeing of our citizens, to bring our regions together and to construct a safer and more sustainable world," Sanchez said on social media. "I have a strong relationship with Spain, from when I was a union leader and was able to form strong relations," said Lula, stressing that Brazil had reopened to international relations after Jair Bolsonaro's term in office. "I can say that Brazil is back, because it was strange for us to be almost isolated for six years, as we didn't have relations with Europe, Africa or South America," he explained, expressing his desire to end hunger by promoting sustainability, economic growth and education. Brazilian President Lula da Silva (L) speaks at a press conference after meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the La Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, April 26, 2023. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua) Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (R) meets with Brazilian President Lula da Silva at the La Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, April 26, 2023. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua) BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit of 2023 will take place in Beijing on May 24, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) said on Wednesday. The summit aims to serve as a high-level dialogue platform for business communities from different countries to jointly address global issues, nurture new growth points of international economic cooperation and promote the reform of the global economic governance system, said Wang Linjie, spokesperson of the CCPIT. A number of foreign leaders, heads of international organizations and economic institutions, executives from multinationals and overseas scholars will attend the summit, said Wang. The summit will have parallel forums focusing on Chinese modernization, green development and digital economy, she said. BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way out for the Ukraine crisis, and no one wins a nuclear war. He made the remarks while talking to his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, over phone. The two sides exchanged views on China-Ukraine relations and the Ukraine crisis. China will send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to visit Ukraine and other countries to conduct in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the crisis, he said. Xi pointed out that bilateral relations have gone through 31 years of development and reached the level of strategic partnership, which has boosted the respective development and revitalization of the two countries. Xi said he appreciated President Zelensky's repeated expression of emphasis on the development of China-Ukraine ties and cooperation with China, and thanked Ukraine for providing considerable assistance for the evacuation of Chinese citizens last year. Mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Xi, is the political foundation of the bilateral ties. He called on both sides to focus on the future, keep on viewing and making plans for bilateral relations from a long-term perspective, and extend the tradition of mutual respect and treating each other with sincerity, so as to propel the development of the China-Ukraine strategic partnership. China's willingness to develop its relations with Ukraine is consistent and clear, Xi said, adding that no matter how the international situation changes, China is willing to work with the country to push forward mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. Xi pointed out that the Ukraine crisis is evolving in complex ways with major impacts on the international landscape. On the Ukraine crisis, China always stands on the side of peace, and its core stance is to facilitate talks for peace, he said. Xi noted his proposals of four points about what must be done, four things the international community must do together and three observations, saying that on this basis, China released its Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis. China did not create the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to the crisis, Xi said, adding that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, China would not sit idly by, nor would it add oil to the fire, still less exploit the situation for self gains. Everything China does is aboveboard, said the Chinese president. On the nuclear issue, all relevant parties must stay calm and exercise restraint, truly act in the interests of their own future and that of humanity, and jointly manage the crisis, he said, adding that with rational thinking and voices now on the rise, it is important to seize the opportunity and build up favorable conditions for the political settlement of the crisis. It is hoped that all parties would seriously reflect on the Ukraine crisis and jointly explore ways to bring lasting peace and security to Europe through dialogue, Xi said. China will continue to facilitate talks for peace and make its efforts for early ceasefire and restoration of peace, he added. China has sent multiple batches of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and will keep providing help to the best of its ability, Xi said. For his part, Zelensky congratulated President Xi on his re-election, commended China for its remarkable achievements, and expressed confidence that under the leadership of President Xi, China will successfully address various challenges and continue to move forward. China upholds the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in international affairs and has significant influence on the international stage, Zelensky said, adding that the Ukrainian side is committed to the one-China policy, and hopes to advance all-round cooperation with China, open up a new chapter in Ukraine-China relations, and jointly safeguard world peace and stability. Zelensky shared his views on the current state of the Ukraine crisis, thanked China for providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, and welcomed China's important role in restoring peace and seeking diplomatic solution to the crisis. BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China is poised to see a boom in travel demand during the upcoming May Day holiday, as the world's second-largest economy regains vitality following a shift in COVID-19 response. Domestic travel bookings for the five-day holiday that starts on April 29 this year have seen a surge of over 700 percent from the same holiday last year, the latest data from online travel agency Trip.com Group showed. The agency also noted an explosive growth in the demand for tours abroad. "China's tourism market has embarked on a track of recovery this year. We will see a persistent 'travel frenzy' during the May Day holiday," said Li Huiqin, a tourism expert with the China University of Geosciences. Data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism showed that the country saw nearly 1.22 billion domestic tourist trips in the first quarter of 2023, up 46.5 percent year on year. Domestic tourism revenue increased 69.5 percent from the same period last year. "The pent-up travel demand will be greatly unleashed in the post-pandemic era," Li said, forecasting that the tourism market will fare better than in the same period of 2019. The latest data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China showed that flight bookings for the upcoming May Day holiday have already exceeded 6 million, generally equivalent to the level registered during the same holiday in 2019. The administration expected the total number of air passenger trips nationwide to hit 9 million during the holiday. Local tourism authorities are also tailoring region-specific measures to further drive up the burgeoning travel demand. A common approach is to make full use of local cultural resources. A case in point is Beijing, where traditional art forms and intangible cultural heritage are valuable assets of tourism. A total of 1,170 art shows have been scheduled at 147 venues across the metropolis during the holiday. Eyeing the new trend, market observers expect 2023 to be a year when culture merges deeper with tourism, and they forecast that the country's tourism sector will record a remarkable rebound. A recent report issued by the China Tourism Academy said that the number of domestic tourist trips will reach about 4.55 billion, a surge of 73 percent year on year. The total number of inbound and outbound tourist trips will surpass 90 million, doubling from a year ago. UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland (R, Front) speaks at a Security Council open debate at the UN headquarters in New York, on April 25, 2023. Wennesland said on Tuesday that the current trajectory in the region is neither sustainable nor inevitable. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland said on Tuesday that the current trajectory in the region is neither sustainable nor inevitable. The holy month of Ramadan, which overlapped with Christian Easter and Jewish Passover, witnessed shocking incidents of violence at the Holy Sites in Jerusalem and tensions across the occupied Palestinian territory and in Israel, with a brief escalation spilling over into the region although the holy period was mostly calm, he told the UN Security Council in a briefing. "While a wider-scale escalation was averted, with each de-escalation the stakes get higher and the tools at our disposal become fewer. The current trajectory is neither sustainable nor inevitable," he said. The parties, the region and the international community need to address the underlying political, security, economic and institutional challenges driving the conflict. There must be an end to the unilateral measures, provocations and incitement that enable violence and prevent progress toward resolving this conflict and ending the occupation, he said. Wennesland expressed deep concern over the violence and inflammatory actions in the past weeks, particularly the violent confrontations inside al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. He also condemned the indiscriminate launching of rockets toward Israeli population centers. "I reiterate that acts of terror and targeting of civilians are abhorrent and must be condemned and rejected by all. All perpetrators of violence must be held accountable and swiftly brought to justice. Security forces must exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when strictly unavoidable to protect life. I am appalled that children continue to be the victims of violence. Children must never be the targets of violence, used or put in harm's way," he said. He reiterated that all settlements are illegal under international law and are a substantial obstacle to peace. Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned property remain a serious concern, he said, calling on Israeli authorities to end the displacement and eviction of Palestinians and to approve additional plans that would enable Palestinians to build legally and address their development needs. Amidst the deteriorating situation on the ground, the Palestinian Authority continues to face significant fiscal and institutional challenges. At the same time, the UN agencies, funds and programs that provide support to the Palestinian people are facing significant funding shortfalls, notably the World Food Programme and the UN agency for Palestine refugees, impacting basic service delivery, said Wennesland. Efforts are needed by the parties and the international community to strengthen Palestinian institutions, improve governance and shore up the fiscal health of the Palestinian Authority. These steps must be part of a broader political effort that addresses the underlying drivers of the conflict, provides the space and access needed for the Palestinian economy to grow and encourages the parties to update their economic and administrative relationship, he said. Addressing these immediate challenges can also provide much-needed momentum toward re-establishing a political horizon toward achieving a two-state solution, said Wennesland. "I urge Israelis, Palestinians, regional states and the broader international community to show leadership, re-engage and work collectively in the pursuit of peace with the aim of ending the occupation and resolving the conflict in line with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and previous agreements, in pursuit of the vision of two states -- Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, viable and sovereign Palestine -- living side-by-side in peace and security within secure and recognized borders on the basis of the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states," he said. Wizz Air, a fast-growing and environmentally sustainable airline, has invested 5 million ($6.22 million) in biofuel company Firefly, marking the airlines first equity investment in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) research and development. The partnership with Firefly will allow the airline to supply SAF to its UK operations from 2028, up to 525,000 tonnes over 15 years. The agreement has the potential to save 1.5 million tonnes of CO2-eq. Firefly specialises in a process, which converts sewage sludge, a low-value waste product available in large quantities, into SAF. More than 57 million tonnes of sewage sludge are produced in the UK each year, with the potential to produce 250,000 tonnes of SAF. Fireflys SAF, which will be independently certified against the leading sustainability standard RSB, is projected to deliver a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil jet fuel on a life cycle basis. Firefly aims to have its first commercial plant operating within the next 5 years. The agreement with Firefly and investment in new SAF technology represents the latest milestone in Wizz Airs broader sustainability strategy, including its ambitious fleet renewal plan and already efficient low-cost operations with the latest technology aircraft and high seat density and load factors. This will further strengthen Wizz Airs position as an industry leader in sustainability and drive its commitment to reducing its carbon emissions per passenger/km by 25% by 2030. In 2022, Wizz Air achieved its lowest-ever annual carbon intensity which amounted to 55.2 grams per passenger/km, representing a 15% reduction year-on-year. To achieve this, the airline has invested heavily in its fleet by adding new and replacing older aircraft with the Airbus A321neo aircraft. The Airbus A321neo aircraft incorporates the latest technology, offering significant environmental benefits and can currently fly with up to 50% SAF blend. The share of the new neo technology Airbus A320 family aircraft has already surpassed 50% of Wizz Airs fleet. In addition to its ambitious fleet renewal programme, Wizz Air is constantly working on fuel efficiency initiatives and improving its data analytics. Michael Berlouis, Head of Strategic Projects at Wizz Air, said: In addition to fleet renewal and operational efficiency, SAF is crucial for reducing carbon emissions from aviation. However, feedstock availability remains the key challenge for the industry. Our investment in Firefly and its sewage sludge SAF technology is a major step forward for Wizz Air in securing its long-term ability to provide low-cost fares to its customers in an ever more environmentally sustainable way. From 2028, we are aiming to procure 525,000 tonnes of SAF from Firefly over a period of 15 years. This has the potential to reduce our emissions by 100,000 tonnes CO2-eq per year, which is equal to the emissions of over 12,000 return Wizz Air flights between London and Budapest. James Hygate, CEO of Firefly Green Fuels, said: We are thrilled to be establishing a partnership with Wizz Air. The investment will accelerate the commercialisation of our game-changing Firefly process, with the binding offtake agreement saving a staggering 1.5m tonnes of carbon emissions. Firefly will facilitate a step change towards the future of air travel. The feedstock, sewage sludge, is available in vast quantities globally and with Firefly we can put it to a truly beneficial use, reducing the use of fossil fuels in the hardest to decarbonise areas. - TradeArabia News Service MOSCOW, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Defense ministers of Russia, Iran, Syria and Turkiye held quadripartite talks in Moscow on Tuesday to explore measures aimed at strengthening security in Syria and normalizing Syrian-Turkish relations. The participants paid special attention to the issues of countering all manifestations of terrorist threats and the fight against all extremist groups in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. Following the talks, the parties reaffirmed their desire to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria as well as the need to intensify efforts for the speedy return of Syrian refugees to their homeland, the statement read. The heads of defense departments considered the dialogue held in the four-party format as constructive and agreed to continue it in a bid to further stabilize the situation in Syria and the region as a whole, the ministry said. BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way out for the Ukraine crisis, and no one wins a nuclear war. He made the remarks while talking to his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, over phone. The two sides exchanged views on China-Ukraine relations and the Ukraine crisis. China will send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to visit Ukraine and other countries to conduct in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the crisis, he said. Xi pointed out that bilateral relations have gone through 31 years of development and reached the level of strategic partnership, which has boosted the respective development and revitalization of the two countries. Xi said he appreciated President Zelensky's repeated expression of emphasis on the development of China-Ukraine ties and cooperation with China, and thanked Ukraine for providing considerable assistance for the evacuation of Chinese citizens last year. Mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Xi, is the political foundation of the bilateral ties. He called on both sides to focus on the future, keep on viewing and making plans for bilateral relations from a long-term perspective, and extend the tradition of mutual respect and treating each other with sincerity, so as to propel the development of the China-Ukraine strategic partnership. China's willingness to develop its relations with Ukraine is consistent and clear, Xi said, adding that no matter how the international situation changes, China is willing to work with the country to push forward mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. Ultra-premium Vodka Desi Daru officially launches Desi Daru, an ultra-premium vodka brand that celebrates the best of both India and Britain, is set for its official launch. Owned by British-born Indians Mohit and Aneet Singh, Desi Daru uses ingredients from both the jungles of Maharashtra and the English countryside. The brands Alphonso Mango-flavoured vodka was judged the best UK Flavoured Vodka at the World Drinks Awards, moving on to compete for the title of Worlds Best Flavoured Vodka against other country winners. Desi Daru is said to have ambition expansion plans for the remainder of 2023. There has already been appearances in some of the UKs top bars and restaurants, from Mayfairs Michelin-starred Benares to Fitzrovias Pahli Hill, as well as the Coburg Bar and the acclaimed Connaught Hotel. Mohit Singh commented on the launch: "As British-born Indians, my co-founder Aneet and I wanted to create a vodka that celebrated the best of both worlds. We wanted to create something truly special that would showcase the highest quality ingredients from India's Ratnagiri to the lush English countryside. The journey has been a labour of love, and we are thrilled to finally share Desi Daru with the world. The purity of the water and the indulgent quality of the Alphonso mangoes we use, distilled rather than infused, creates a full and smooth flavour. We believe Desi Daru is a reflection of us, and we are proud to share our heritage with the world through this unique spirit. Desi Daru is available to buy from Amazon at 35.00 for a 70cl bottle. 26 April 2023 - Bradley Weir Share this story 10 Years After Bangladeshs Rana Plaza Disaster, Advocates Say Theres Still Work to Be Done FILE - In this Friday, June 14, 2013 file photo, Bangladeshi Maksuda holds a picture of her son Mehedi who was a garment worker and is missing following the collapse of the Rana Plaza building as she poses next to the rubble in Savar, near Dhaka, Bangladesh. A delegation of the U.S. Trade Representatives office is on a five-day visit to Bangladesh ending Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, to see the improvement of safety standards at factory sites and changes to legal documents allowing for wider workers rights, key conditions for regaining the Generalized System of Preferences facility under which the United States allows imports of more than 5,000 goods from 122 of the worlds poorest countries with low or zero-tariff benefits. The trade benefit was withdrawn after the collapse of Rana Plaza, a building complex housing five garment factories outside the capital, Dhaka in 2013. The garment industry is crucial to Bangladeshs economy as it employs about 4 million workers, mostly rural women, and many other sectors including banks are heavily dependent on it. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer, File) Ten years after the worst industrial accident in the garment industrys history, labor leaders say much has been done to improve conditions. But much more remains to be done. We are not dying [by the] hundreds like 2013, said Kalpona Akter, an activist and labor organizer from Bangladesh. We still have a long way to go. On April 24, 2013, garment workers in the Rana Plaza building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, noticed cracks in the buildings walls. Under pressure to fill orders for hundreds of clothing retailers, supervisors said there was no reason to worry and to get to work. More than 1,130 garment workers were killed when Rana Plaza collapsed later that day. Another 2,500 were injured. After the tragedy, some workers said they only reported for work because they were told they wouldnt be paid otherwise. Others reported being threatened with physical violence. Some said they were beaten. It was a turning point in an industry with a questionable safety record. Outrage over the disaster fueled riots and brought international attention to the safety issues plaguing garment workers in Bangladesh. This provided workers the confidence to begin speaking out and organizing. Akter, who worked as a child laborer in the ready-made garment factories, said workers had been complaining about problems at Rana Plaza for at least two years. For the first time, workers received a voice to say no. We were no longer just equipment in the factory; we are people, Akter said. Agreements Protect Workers The disaster led to reforms and an agreement that called for regular inspections and reports on workplace safety and required remediation of shortcomings. The Bangladesh Accord established a safety committee, safety training, and a mechanism for workers to complain. It also protected workers right to refuse unsafe work. Retailers and garment merchants from the United States primarily led the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety. It set and enforced safety standards for the ready-made garment industry. Alliance members committed to doing business with companies that met those standards. Companies that didnt were blacklisted. Michael Bride, senior vice president for Corporate Responsibility and Global Affairs at the PVH Corp, the parent company of Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and other well-known clothing brands, said the agreements were mainly signed because companies realized it was in their best interests to improve things. Fashion Is More Regulated He pointed out that in the past, most corporations focused solely on getting the best deal. They werent held responsible for their suppliers working conditions. But as consumers become more aware of labor conditions in other countries, corporations become more mindful of the impression they are making with their customers. Fashion is becoming a regulated industry, Bride said. Up to 1,600 factories were inspected under the agreements. More than 90 percent of faults had been corrected, with 428 factories reporting 100 percent corrected and 178 factories being blacklisted. By 2019, both agreements had expired. Responsibility for enforcing their standards was passed to the Ready Made Sustainability Council. This group of business, government, and labor leaders was set up in June 2020. US Must Take Clear, Bold Action Kelly Fay Rodriguez, the U.S. State Departments special representative for International Labor Affairs, said government officials have been hostile to union organizers and others who stand for workers rights. She said the council couldnt be left to do its work without oversight. Unless we take clear and bold action to show the world the value of workers, the underlying conditions that allowed the Rana Plaza collapse will continue, she said. Rodriguez said that its essential that the United States continue to support the freedom of association for workers. Many politicians have a financial stake in the factories, so they work to keep unions out of their shops. She said that in response to worker protests for higher wages in 2019, many union leaders were blacklisted. This sent a clear message about what happens when workers raise their voices, Rodriguez said. Radical Change Necessary After Rana Plaza, the garment workers union, IndustriALL, and retail workers union, UniGlobal Union, joined more than 190 clothing brands and retailers and four witnesses as signatories on the accord. Businesses from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Global NGOs and Trade Unions, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States are all signatories to the agreements. Although the agreements brought about positive changes, Scott Nova, executive director of the Workers Rights Consortium, said one thing is clear: The fundamental lesson of Rana Plaza is that global corporations will not regulate themselves. He acknowledged that the movement has spread with similar agreements reported in other countries, such as Pakistan, India, Honduras, and Mexico. But Nova pointed out that workers still face hostile governments financed by factory owners in those countries and elsewhere. According to Nova, there is a gap between the changes needed and the agencies that can and should enforce them. Nova said that the gap could only be filled by strong regulation. If we do that, well see the kind of radical change thats necessary, he said. BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) has ruled that the claim for state compensation totaling over 120 million yuan (about 17.34 million U.S. dollars) by a former electrical appliances tycoon "had no legal basis" and "did not comply with existing stipulations of laws and judicial interpretations." The decision was served on Gu Chujun, former chairman of refrigerator maker Guangdong Kelon Electrical Holdings, on Wednesday. It was made by the compensation commission of the SPC and affirmed the original decision made by Guangdong Higher People's Court on Gu's state compensation claim. In 2009, Gu was sentenced to 10 years in prison for falsely reporting registered capital, falsifying and withholding information, and embezzlement according to a final court ruling by Guangdong Higher People's Court. Gu was released in 2012 and appealed to the SPC afterward. In 2019, the SPC revoked the original convictions and sentences on Gu for falsely reporting registered capital and falsifying and withholding information. It also revoked the original sentence on Gu for embezzlement and changed the sentence to five years of imprisonment. Gu then applied to Guangdong Higher People's Court for state compensation. The court decided that as Gu was imprisoned for 771 days longer than the prison term stated in the SPC's ruling, he should be paid a personal freedom compensation of over 287,000 yuan and a consolation compensation for psychological injuries of 143,000 yuan. A fine of 80,000 yuan should also be returned to Gu and its interest should be paid. Not satisfied with the decision, Gu applied to the compensation commission of the SPC, claiming a personal freedom compensation of 70 million yuan, a consolation compensation for psychological injuries of 50 million yuan, and "compensation for corresponding property loss," based on "facts including his income losses." The compensation commission considered that China's law of state compensation states the standard of personal freedom compensation, which does not differ according to claimants' occupations and incomes. The amounts of both personal freedom compensation and consolation compensation in the decision made by Guangdong Higher People's Court are in accordance with the law, it said. A coalition of 15 attorneys general is urging a federal appeals court to affirm states authority to remove local prosecutors who, motivated by leftist ideology, refuse to enforce laws. Prosecutors have no right to exercise a veto over an entire law, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a news release. But some are acting as though they doand they are breaking our system of government. The political preferences of a single prosecutor cannot be allowed to override a lawfully enacted statute. Yost and 14 of his peers align with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a lawsuit that an ex-prosecutor filed after DeSantis ousted him from office in 2022. Andrew Warren, who served as the states attorney in Hillsborough County, had promised no prosecutions of abortionists for alleged violations of Florida law. Warren appealed a lower courts ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta. The Yost-led coalition filed a brief, asking the appeals court to reject Warrens contention that DeSantis violated his free speech rights by ousting him. Government employees do not have a First Amendment right not to enforce the law, Yosts news release said. Elbert P. Tuttle U.S. Courthouse, home of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, on Nov. 20, 2007. (Eoghanacht via Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain) Another Attempted Ouster The action comes while Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a supporter of Yosts brief, is attempting to oust St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner. In February, Bailey declared that Gardner had forfeited her right to continue holding her elected office. He accused her of mismanaging her office, resulting in thousands of criminal cases being dismissed and victims rights being trampled. The Democrat prosecutor alleges that Bailey, a Republican, is targeting her for political reasons. A trial is expected in September unless a judge dismisses the Gardner case. George Soros answers questions after delivering a speech on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on May 24, 2022. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) Unlike Warren, Gardners lawyers say she has committed no willful acts of refusing to prosecute cases. However, Bailey accuses her of lax enforcement. And Gardner has benefited from the help of billionaire George Soros, according to The Missouri Times. For several years, Soros has given financial support to dozens of U.S. prosecutors who embrace his reform agenda. Top Republicans blame Soros-backed prosecutors for crime waves in many of the nations largest, Democrat-run cities. Our system is rife with injustices that make us all less safe, Soros says in a 2022 essay. He urges preventing crime with strategies that workdeploying mental-health professionals in crisis situations, investing in youth job programs, and creating opportunities for education behind bars. Discretion Versus Abdication In the DeSantis-Warren case brief, Bailey and his peers assert that they can properly remove from office prosecutors who make non-prosecution pledges. These pledges violate the traditional separation of powers between government branches, the brief says. As every schoolchild learns, the legislative branch, not the executive, makes law. The brief acknowledges that prosecutors have considerable discretion over whether to proceed with charges on a case-by-case basis. But they do not have the power to effectively repeal laws by categorically suspending enforcement, the attorneys general say. Attorney General Dave Yost in Columbus, Ohio, on Nov. 6, 2018. (Justin Merriman/Getty Images) Thats been a trend in recent years, the brief says; prosecutors have abandoned prosecutorial discretion in favor of prosecutorial abdication. In his news release, Yost argues that ideologically based prosecutions can foster the targeting of prosecutors political enemies while their allies go scot-free. A world in which each prosecutor is free to ignore the law in favor of his or her own individual sense of what the law ought to be, Yost said, is a world where what will get you arrested depends on whos in officea government of individual prejudices, not a government of laws. In addition to Bailey and Yost, the other attorneys general who signed on to Yosts brief are from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia. 27 Federal Inmates Have Applied for Assisted Suicide Since 2016 Legalization, Say Feds Patches are seen on the arm and shoulder of a corrections officer in the segregation unit at the Fraser Valley Institution for Women during a media tour, in Abbotsford, B.C., on October 26, 2017. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck) A total of 27 federal inmates in prisons across Canada have applied for medical assistance in dying (MAID) since it was first legalized by the Liberal government in 2016, says the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC). Of those 27 offenders, nine have been authorized to receive MAID, says the CSC, which is the federal government agency responsible for the incarceration and rehabilitation of convicted criminal offenders sentenced to at least two years in prison. The CSC said that the statistics are current as of March 31, 2023. When asked how many of the offenders received MAID within a penitentiary, the CSC said it could not provide further details due to privacy reasons. The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) reported on April 20 that the first three offenders to receive MAID in Canada had it administered within their prison health-care unit rather than at a hospital or care home. APTNs report said the MAiD recipients died while in handcuffs and under prison-guard supervision while in the presence of family members. Ivan Zinger, Correctional Investigator of Canada, told APTN that MAID should never be administered within a penitentiary. Zinger reportedly called it highly problematic, unethical, and immoral, adding that he believes Canada would be the only jurisdiction in the world who would do that. An official from the Office of the Correctional Investigator told The Epoch Times on background that federally sentenced prisoners receiving MAID is an area of ongoing concern from a public accountability and oversight perspective. The official added that much of the offices concern is due to the fact that CSC is not legally required to notify the federal correctional investigator when an inmate receives MAID. MAID Laws Current federal laws on MAID eligibility dictate that the individual must be at least 18 years old and be suffering from a grievous and irremediable medical condition, which is defined as a physical, serious, incurable illness, disease, or disability that is in an advanced state of irreversible decline. The medical condition must also be causing the individual intolerable physical or mental pain that cant be relieved under conditions they deem to be unacceptable. As of March 17, 2024, individuals whose only underlying medical condition is mental illness will also be eligible for MAID. Individuals must also voluntarily request MAID and not be under external pressure while doing so. Official guidelines say inmates must give informed consent before a MAID request is approved. However, MAID may be provided to an eligible individual whose natural death is reasonably foreseeable and who has lost the capacity to consent before MAID is provided, on the basis of a prior written agreement the individual entered into with the practitioner, says the guidelines from the CSC. CSC also told The Epoch Times that once an inmate requests MAID, they are first referred to support services, which it described as mental health professionals, Chaplains, Elders, etc. The process related to the provision of MAID is comprehensive and contains numerous safeguards to ensure that federally incarcerated individuals are afforded the same rights as all other Canadians, CSC said. Afghan Gang Jailed in France for Smuggling Illegal Immigrants to UK in Small Boats An inflatable craft carrying illegal immigrants crosses the shipping lane in the English Channel off the coast of Dover, England, on Aug. 4, 2022. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) The ringleaders of an Afghan organised crime group have been convicted and jailed in France for smuggling illegal immigrants through the English Channel to the UK in small boats. A total of nine men, all Afghan nationals, were convicted of immigration and organised crime offences on April 21 following a trial in Paris, according to Britains National Crime Agency (NCA). The gangs ringleadersRozi Khan Sarwari, age unknown, Zaman Zahid, 31, Arman Kuba, age unknown, and Mohammed Fazel Ahmadi, 39were jailed for a total of 21 years and fined a total of 105,000 euros (93,000). They will be banned indefinitely from French territory after serving the sentences. Five other gang membersRokai Ahmadi, 21, Nesar Ahmad, 28, Shir-Ahmad Husseinkhel, 27, Fahim Ahmadi, 31, and Zahid Azizi, 28were handed a combination of smaller jail terms, suspended sentences, and lower level fines. All nine were each convicted of aiding the illegal residence of a foreigner in France as part of an organised crime group and criminal conspiracy under French law. The gang was dismantled after a multi-agency operationinvolving the NCA and French law enforcementwhich launched an investigation into the network in November 2020. Detainees inside the Manston short-term holding centre for illegal immigrants wave to members of the media outside, near Ramsgate, Kent, southeast England, on Nov. 3, 2022. (Daniel Leal /AFP via Getty Images) Anglo-French Cooperation According to the NCA, the gangbased in the Paris areawould buy second-hand boats and lifejackets online before travelling to the northern French coast to bury equipment in sand dunes near Wimereux, in the Pas-de-Calais region. Each inflatable boat could carry between 10 and 15 illegal immigrantsusually Vietnamese or Afghan nationalswho would be charged between 1,500 and 4,000 euro (1,327 and 3,540) each to get to the UK. The NCA believes the group made between 79,000 and 212,000 euro (69,910 and 187,611) from the venture. They were linked to at least four small boat events aimed at smuggling illegal immigrants to the UK. French police pass a deflated dinghy on the beach in Wimereux near Calais, France, on Nov. 18, 2021. (Gareth Fuller/PA) French police made arrests in the Yvelines region, west of Paris, in March 2021, ending the groups activities. Sarwari was jailed for six years and fined 30,000 euro (26,500) while Zahid, Kuba, and Mohammed Fazel Ahmadi were each jailed for five years and fined 25,000 euro (22,120). Rokai Ahmadi, Ahmad, and Azizi were each given a one-year suspended jail sentence. Azizi was additionally fined 1,500 euro (1,327). Husseinkhel was sentenced to eight months suspended imprisonment and fined 1,000 euro (884). Fahim Ahmadi was jailed for one year, handed an additional four-year suspended prison sentence, and fined 15,000 euro (13,274). Top Priority NCA deputy director Oliver Higgins said: Tackling organised immigration crime is top priority for the NCA, and we now have more than 90 active investigations into people smuggling or trafficking. Much of the criminality involved in these small boat crossings lies outside the UK, so we have built up our intelligence-sharing effort with law enforcement partners in France, Belgium, and beyond. This includes having NCA officers based in those countries, sharing intelligence and working side by side on joint investigations. And, as this case demonstrates, this is bringing operational results in the form of arrests and prosecutions. We are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle these networks, who are putting lives at risk. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak departs 10 Downing Street to attend Prime Ministers Questions at the Houses of Parliament, in London, on April 26, 2023. (Stefan Rousseau/PA Media) According to Home Office figures, 45,755 illegal immigrants arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel in 2022. Out of the 43,794 who had their nationality recorded, 28 percent were Albanian nationals and 20 percent were Afghan. More than 5,500 illegals have already arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel this year. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made stopping the boats one of his five priorities and has said he is determined to deliver on his promise. The government is trying to get its Illegal Migration Billaimed at clamping down on illegal small boat crossingsthrough Parliament. Ahead of the final voting on the bill in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: We are seeing heightened levels of criminality when related to the people whove come on boats, related to drug dealing, exploitation, prostitution. There are real challenges which go beyond the migration issue of people coming here illegally. We need to ensure that we bring an end to the boat crossings. The bill aims to ban anyone who arrives in the UK illegally from claiming asylum. If it becomes law, illegal entrants will be swiftly removed from the UK to their home country or a safe third country like Rwanda and will be banned from reentry. The bill would also enable powers to be granted to detain immigrants for 28 days without recourse for bail or judicial review, and then indefinitely for as long as there is a reasonable prospect of removal. PA Media contributed to this report. ANALYSIS: Trudeau Says Marijuana Legalization Kept Drug From Kids; Stats Show Otherwise Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at an event in Winnipeg on April 12, 2023. (The Canadian Press/John Woods) News Analysis Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on April 20a celebratory day ritualized by cannabis users known as 4/20that he has successfully kept cannabis out of kids hands by legalizing the drug. The main studies on youth cannabis use, however, are not very conclusive, says Chantal Vallerand, executive director of Drug Free Kids Canada. For example, the governments Canadian Cannabis Survey shows an uptick in youth usage since legalization in October 2018, while its Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey shows usage rates staying stable. The conclusions of other studies varybut none of the studies cited in the governments engagement paper currently being used in a legislative review of the Cannabis Act show a marked decline in childrens use. In 2018, our government legalized and regulated cannabisto keep it out of the hands of kids and to take profits away from criminals. Promise made, promise kept, Trudeau tweeted on April 20. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, says the Trudeau government did not fulfill either promise. In 2018, our government legalized and regulated cannabis to keep it out of the hands of kids and to take profits away from criminals. Promise made, promise kept. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 20, 2023 Sabet also listed off other concerns around legalization, including increased cannabis-related hospitalizations, more accidental ingestions by small children, impacts on brain development in adults up to around age 25 for whom the substance is now legal, and the increased potency of cannabis products. Cannabis-related hospitalizations rose 14 percent from October 2020 to June 2021, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). CIHI connects this with a rise in substance abuse caused by the pandemic. Vallerand also noted that it is difficult to untangle the impacts of legalization on cannabis use from the impacts of the pandemic. Hospitalization of children under age 10 for cannabis poisoning more than doubled after legalization, according to a study by Dr. Daniel Myran at the University of Ottawa Department of Family Medicine that looked at data between 2015 and 2021. Illicit Market Referring to Trudeaus comment about taking profits away from criminals, Sabet said that the underground market and gangs are bigger than ever in Canada. The illicit market continues to thrive, he told The Epoch Times, as demand for marijuana has skyrocketed. Government studies have consistently shown an uptick in cannabis use among Canadians as a whole, particularly older adults, since legalization. The governments engagement paper says this rise follows the upward trend that existed prior to legalization. The illicit market still gets a large portion of sales as it remains competitive with the legal market in terms of price and quality. A variety of cannabis edibles are displayed at the Ontario Cannabis Store in Toronto on Jan. 3, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Tijana Martin) Ontarios government-run cannabis distributor, the Ontario Cannabis Store, in February announced plans to drop prices this September to compete with the illicit market, which still accounted for 43 percent of cannabis sales in the province as of March 2022. Illicit sales Canada-wide accounted for 42 percent of all sales in 2019, a year after legalization, according to the latest data from Public Safety Canada. In 2019, the portion of legal sales had increased by about 30 percentage points since legalization, from 22 percent to 52 percent. It is hard, however, for the government to gather information on illicit sales with precision, as is noted in a study co-authored by Syed Mahamad at the University of Waterloo. Reporting illegal purchases to a government crowdsourcing website used for such surveys can skew findings, the study said. The impact on illicit sales and the impact on children are both factors an ongoing legislative review of the Cannabis Act is supposed to examine. The law included a mandate that the government review the legislation after three years. The review was launched a year late, in September 2022. Health Canada received more than 2,000 responses to an online survey that is now closed, spokesperson Mark Johnson told The Epoch Times via email. The results of that survey will be published in the coming months, he said, and an expert panel will use the survey as well as other community and stakeholder outreach to help inform its assessment of the act. Like Tobacco Sabet said that, whether legal or illegal, the monetary interest in promoting drug-use is concerning. These major industries are taking the playbook right out of big tobacco. That also worries me, he said. Vallerand said she has also often heard the comparison to big tobacco from social workers, psychiatrists, and pediatricians. It took a long time to understand how children and society at large understand the risks of tobacco use, and to understand the impacts of how it is promoted. Cannabis has been among us for a long time, but now the fact that its legalized, theres less stigma attached to it, Vallerand said. And thats whats dangerous, because all of a sudden it has become a little bit more normalized. So people could be all of a sudden thinking that its not as dangerous because its legal. Drug Free Kids Canada provides parents with free counselling and advises them on how to talk with children of all ages about the risks of cannabis use. Vallerand said studies have shown that even though parents may feel their children arent listening, children actually trust the information on drugs that comes from their parents more than information from other sources. Youth psychiatrist Dafna Kahana told The Epoch Times via email that the potency of cannabis has increased, which in turn increases the risks of using the drug. The perceived risk of cannabis has decreased, she said. And the potency of cannabis has increased, increasing the risks for cannabis-related harms. Kahana coauthored a study published September last year looking at the impacts of cannabis legalization on youth. She cited in the study government data showing use had increased among Canadians aged 1224 from 10.7 percent in 2017 to 16.3 percent in 2018 after legalization. It also showed an increase in the proportion of Canadians aged 1619 who endorsed cannabis use since legalization, rising from 36 percent in 2018 to 44 percent in 2019 and 2021. Her study noted that the trend of a decrease in adolescents cannabis use seen pre-legalization may have reversed. However, Kahana told The Epoch Times that the findings in her review were mixed. The evidence is still very limited, she said. The Canadian Press contributed to this report. Appeals Court Panel Rejects Federal Bump Stock Ban A federal appeals court has rejected an interpretation of law offered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that bump stock devices should be considered machinegun parts and should, therefore, be banned. Bump stocks are devices that replace the standard stock of a semiautomatic rifle, resting against the users shoulder and incorporating the grip behind the trigger. When the rifle is fired, recoil presses the rifle back, resetting the trigger mechanism. But with forward pressure on the barrel, the bump stock allows the barreland triggerto then bump forward, pressing against the trigger finger. This allows the user to fire multiple shots from the semiautomatic rifle in rapid succession. The ATF initially determined that bump stocks were not a firearm component subject to regulation, but in 2017after a shooter used multiple rifles configured with bump stocks to fire into a crowd of concertgoers in Las Vegas, killing 58 and injuring hundreds in around 10 minutesthe ATF began reconsidering whether such devices could be regulated through their administrative rulemaking. In 2018, the federal agency decided that the devices should be considered machinegun parts as defined in the National Firearms Act (NFA). The ATFs 2018 ruling on bump stocks set off several lawsuits, which challenged the agencys authority to issue such an interpretation of the law. On Tuesday, a three-judge panel on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision (pdf) on one such legal challenge, unanimously ruling that the ATF lacks the authority to ban bump stocks through their own interpretation of the existing federal law. What Is A Machinegun? The NFA defines a machinegun as any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. The plaintiff in the case, Scott Hardin, argued that the ATF ruling against bump stocks was invalid because bump stocks do not actually allow automatic fire, but rather enable the user of a semiautomatic rifle to fire it at a faster rate. Because the relevant statutory scheme does not clearly and unambiguously prohibit bump stocks, we are bound to construe the statute in Hardins favor, judges Ronald Gilman, David McKeague and John Bush assessed in their majority opinion. Bush, a Trump appointee, offered a concurring opinion, stating that at a minimum, as the majority opinion holds, the National Firearms Act of 1934 admits of an interpretation that excludes a bump stock from the definition of a part of a machinegun under that statute. The judges wrote that if bump stocks are to be banned, it must now be done through an act of Congress rather than an interpretation of the law by an executive branch agency. An Act of Congress could clear up the ambiguities, but so far Congress has failed to act. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (the ATF) has been on both sides of this issue, with its current regulation (the Rule) banning bump stocks as a machinegun part, the appeals court ruled. In this situation, the rule of lenity that is applicable to criminal offenses requires us to rule in favor of Hardin. Courts Split on Bump Stocks This latest ruling from the Sixth Circuit Court comes after a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an en banc decisionfrom all of its judgeswith the majority ruling against the ATFs interpretation of the law on bump stocks. While the Fifth and Sixth Circuit Courts have sided against the ATF, the Tenth Circuit Court and the D.C. Circuit have ruled in the ATFs favor, supporting their bump stock ban. The Tenth Circuit Court majority determined that a bump stock is self-acting under conditions fixed for it because the shooters positioning of the trigger finger on the extension ledge and application of forward pressure on the front of the gun provide the conditions necessary for the bump stock to repeatedly perform its purpose: to eliminate the need for the shooter to manually capture the recoil energy to fire additional rounds. The courts majority also said the ATF rule sets forth a reasonable interpretation of the statutes ambiguous definition of machinegun.' The bump stocks issue could eventually go before the U.S. Supreme Court. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice asked the Supreme Court (pdf) to take up the issue. From NTD News Australian Government Considers Extending Gas Price Controls Until 2025 Blue and red gas flames on a kitchen gas stove are pictured in Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 16, 2022. (Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images) The Australian government is considering extending the current gas price capthat restricts wholesale pricesto 2025. On April 26, the Labor government announced the final round of consultation on a code of conduct for the sector, which aims to lower gas prices for local consumers. In December 2022, the federal government enacted a temporary price cap to tackle soaring domestic energy prices. Under the measure, wholesale gas prices set by east coast gas companies were temporarily limited to a maximum of $12 per gigajoule. The price cap is due to expire by the end of 2023. However, if the government goes ahead with the draft regulation, it will be prolonged by another two years. Energy experts have raised concerns that the price cap will hurt domestic energy supplies as gas companies stop taking new contracts due to uncertainty in the market. Exemptions on Offer for Some Gas Producers Apart from the extension of the gas price cap, the proposed code of conduct would introduce two exemptions for gas companies. Specifically, small gas producers who only supply the domestic market will not be subject to a cap. In addition, producers who divert gas supply to the domestic market at reasonable prices could be granted exemptions if the government is satisfied with the supply levels being offered. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the code of conduct would prevent high gas costs from returning after the price cap expires. This is all about cutting the link between very volatile international gas prices and the prices Australian industries and households pay for Australian gas, he told ABC Radio. It means Australian industries and households get access to Australian gas thats under Australian soil and Australian waters at a reasonable price. He also said the governments current measures were working. Chris Bowen, Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy, speaks at the Sydney Energy Forum in Sydney, Australia, on July 12, 2022. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images) The Australian Energy Regulator was very clear with us. That price rises we would have been seeing now would have had a five in front of it, a 50 percent or so price rise, absent of intervention, he said. We intervened. There will still be price rises, but nowhere near as big as it would have been. Meanwhile, Credit Suisse energy analyst Saul Kavonic criticised the code of conduct, saying it was poorly designed and depended on the whim of the government. Its amateur hour policy-making, focused on making things up as they go and trying to pressure the industry to be quiet about it, rather than actually delving into policy and market design, he said, reported The Australian newspaper. Depending on ministerial discretion, the policy could amount to being anything from a hard price cap for most of the market, through to a complete backdown from any meaningful price regulation. All to be decided case-by-case with no guidelines. Basically, it is the government will make it up as it goes policy. The government has called on the public to provide feedback on the draft code of conduct, and the consultation will end on May 12. The Epoch Times has reached out to the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association for comment but has yet to receive a reply in time for publication. Government to Reapt $16 Billion Tax Windfall from Gas Firms The proposed extension of the price cap comes as the government expects to collect over $16 billion (US$10.57 billion) in tax revenue from gas companies this financial year, up from $6.46 billion in 2021-2022. Within the projected amount, 8.8 billion will come from corporate income tax, while royalties, excise, and licence fees will contribute another $5 billion. The Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT) will add $1.85 billion, and the remaining $625 million will come from other types of tax. The government has hinted at an increase to the PRRT, following concerns from Treasurer Jim Chalmers, who said the tax was not generating enough revenue. Despite the growth in revenue and profits, reflected through the tax figures, the gas industry warned that the governments intervention had brought more challenges to the sector. We have had a considerable number of interventions and reforms across the gas market in recent months. That is making it challenging for what are really capital intensive, substantial investments that are required to bring on new gas supply, said Samantha McCulloch, the chief executive of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association. Henry Jom contributed to this article. Block on Defense Promotions Over Pentagons Travel for Abortion Policy Gains Support Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) speaks during a Senate Budget Committee hearing in the Hart Senate Office building in Washington on Feb. 17, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) on Tuesday blocked 184 military promotions requested by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) due to his objections to the Pentagons new abortion policy. The Republican senator from Alabama has for months put a hold on all civilian nominations and military promotions of general and flag officers until the Department of Defense (DOD) rescinds its policy to facilitate taxpayer-funded abortions. Tuberville argues the policy, announced last October in a memo, has diverted the DODs attention and turned it into an abortion travel agency. On Monday, Warren took the issue to the Senate floor, arguing that Tubervilles blockage on Senate confirmations for nearly all military leadership is dangerous and reckless at a time of heightened military tension around the world and in Eastern Europe. One senator is personally standing in the way of promotions for 184 of our top-level military leaders. One senator is holding up pay raises for men and women in uniform, Warren said on the floor. One senator is blocking key senior military leaders from taking their posts. One senator is jeopardizing Americas national security. Warren requested unanimous consent for the Senate to immediately consider the confirmation of Shoshana Chatfield to serve as a vice admiral and to represent America to the NATO military committee. At this critical juncture of Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine, we need her leadership in NATO now more than ever, Warren said. Standing up to reject Warrens request, Tuberville said the Pentagons policy is a violation of federal law and explained that his blockage is about a tyrannical executive branch walking all over the United States Senate and doing our jobs and not about abortion. I warned Secretary [Lloyd] Austin that if he did this and changed this, I would put a hold on his highest-level nominees. Secretary Austin went through with the policy anyway in February of this year, so I am keeping my word, he said. 21 GOP Congressmen Support Tuberville Tuberville received support from 21 GOP members of Congress, who signed a letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and GOP Conference Chair John Barrasso. In the letter, the 21 GOP members of Congress said that the DODs new policy represents a significant shift that violates the spirit of the law and congressional intent that U.S. taxpayers should not fund elective abortion. This policy was implemented unilaterally by Secretary Austin without Congress holding a single hearing or taking a vote, the letter said. The lawmakers further claimed that the Biden administration is trying to force abortion politics into every avenue of American life, including the military. The DODs memorandum entitled, Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health Care, has turned DOD into an abortion travel agency, directing the focus of our armed forces away from readiness and emerging threats and toward the presidents progressive social agenda, the letter states. The lawmakers said the DOD policy undermines Article 1 Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution and called it immoral. That section of the Constitution states: All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. In their letter, the lawmakers urged all Republicans to fight against this policy and stated that the GOP has always stood for a strong military, responsible use of taxpayer dollars, and unwavering defense of the unborn. Memo The DOD announced its abortion policy on Oct. 20, 2022, amid a period of heightened discontent and emotion on the divisive issue after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade and declared that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee the right to an abortion. The memo was created at the direction of the defense secretary, Austin. The policy grants up to 21 days of paid leave for military members looking to either personally obtain an abortion or accompany a spouse or other dependent for the procedure. It also covers travel and transportation costs for those who cannot access such services locally. Austin said in the memo that the Supreme Courts decision meant that service members had to travel greater distances, take more time off work, and pay more out-of-pocket expenses to get an abortion. He said this created extraordinary hardship for service members. He insisted the ruling interfered with the militarys ability to retain, recruit, and maintain the readiness of a qualified force. But Tuberville rejected Austins implication, arguing that the DOD has averaged less than 20 abortions per year for many, many years. Averaged only 20, he said. So, does thispotentially restricting less than 20 procedures a yearsound like a threat to our military readiness? It does not. This isnt about readiness, its about politics, the senator added, noting that American taxpayers would ultimately be the ones footing the bill. Tuberville has not wavered from his position even as some Republicans joined with Democrats to voice disapproval of his blockage on confirmations. The White House on Tuesday said Tubervilles political showmanship could have a serious impact on our military readiness, on our military forces and our national security. Brazilian Authorities Response to Jan. 8 Riots Still Raise Questions Supporters of Brazilian former President Jair Bolsonaro clash with the police during a demonstration outside the Planalto Palace in Brasilia on Jan. 8, 2023. (Evaristo Sa/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary After more than three months, questions continue to emerge over the assault on government buildings in Brazils capital city on Jan. 8. Army general Goncalves Dias is the head of Brazils Institutional Security Bureau (GSI), which advises the president on defence and security matters and handles presidential security. However, Dias resigned after a CNN television network broadcast leaked CCTV images in which he displayed an attitude of passive collaboration with the invaders who vandalised the presidential palace. The images displayed by CNN Brazil are compelling and appear to show that the alleged attacks, which the Brazilian government has labelled a coup, were carried out with the complicity of government agents in the service of the Lula administration. J.R. Guzzo, who was for 15 years the editor-in-chief of Veja, Brazils leading current affairs magazine, commented that the whole ordeal seemed very strange from the beginning. Attempted military coup? It could not be because the Armed Forces were in favor of Lula and against the protestersthe proof is that they lied to them and joined the police to put in jail those who were in front of the barracks in Brasilia. Its the very opposite: the recorded footage shows an army general, and supreme head of the governments security services, passively staying among the invaders while his subordinates offered them courtesies and bottles of water. Security forces confront supporters of Brazilian former President Jair Bolsonaro entering Planalto Presidential Palace in Brasilia on Jan. 8, 2023. (Ton Molina/AFP via Getty Images) Everything became clearer when Dias was fired from office on the very day CNN released those videos. If he didnt do anything wrong, why then was he fired? And if he is not responsible for anything, what was he then doing inside the presidential palace during that attack? At the very least, there is enough evidence to say that the Brazilian authorities did nothing to prevent those invasions, despite knowing in advance that they would happen. Missing Investigations, Questionable Arrests Of course, the crimes committed on Jan. 8 did not interest the Brazilian opposition. They served only for Lula to play the victims card, which is why he spent the last three months fighting to prevent the opening of a joint parliamentary committee (CPMI) to investigate what happened that day. Once a CPMI is started, it becomes endowed with full powers of investigation. The final result may be forwarded by Congress to the public prosecution, which is free, in this case, to decide whether or not to initiate civil or criminal action against the parties involved. As one might expect, the government claims that its president did not know anything. But if Lula didnt know, why fight to prevent this CPMI from being created? He has negotiated positions, made threats, and even used the President of the Senate to violate deadlines and legal duties, all in a desperate attempt to bury the commission. Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during the inauguration ceremony of the new Banco do Brasil President Tarciana Medeiros in Brasilia, Brazil, on Jan. 16, 2023. (Adriano Machado/Reuters) Further, the Brazilian Supreme Court has also played an equally devastating role. Justice Alexandre Moraes has arrested 1,400 people for these invasions in Brasilia, keeping 200 of them incarcerated to this day. He began a trial of the accused for lots of 100 or 200 people at a time. Many of those citizens arrested did exactly what that army general was caught in the cameras doingentering the presidential palace with Brazils flag on their backs. The lawyers of those who are arrested by Justice Moraes have been barred from defending their clients. Some of these arrested individuals were not even present at the scene of the crime but have been arrested and forced to wear ankle bracelets. They have already servedeven before being triedmore than half of the maximum sentence for the offence of which they are accused. As the editorial board of Revista Oeste points out, There is nothing murkier in Brazils judicial history than the Supreme Courts investigation into the facts of Jan. 8in fact, a depressing spectacle of revenge, violation of the law, denial of rights, and the logic of dictatorship justices. There is no investigation at all As in a Soviet court case, those whom the Supreme Court and the government want to convict will be convicted. What Really Happened? What we are seeing, with greater evidence, is that there was some form of an attack on democracy by the ruling classes in Brazil. Raul Jungmann, who served as Brazils defence and public security minister from 2016 to 2018, explains that it is impossible to storm these heavily secured government buildings in Brasilia without a purposeful security breach. Jungmann, who was for a time the leader of Brazils Popular Socialist Party, went so as far as to say that without the collaboration of internal security, nobody would have crossed the main door. Supporters of Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro demonstrate against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva outside Brazils National Congress in Brasilia, Brazil, on Jan. 8, 2023. (Adriano Machado/Reuters) The Lula administration and its partners in the judiciary are inflicting a heavy blow on Brazils democratic institutions. In an attempt to evade any responsibility, Lula is refusing to allow a parliamentary committee to investigate what happened on Jan. 8. Arguably, Lula knows very well that he does not run any kind of risk with the Supreme Court. The powerful judicial oligarchs will never judge anything he does or will do, whatever the crime. Whoever does not want to investigate the facts is the one who has something to hide. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. British Military Evacuates 301 From War-Torn Sudan British nationals being evacuated by UK military personnel from Khartoum, Sudan, on April 25, 2023. (PO Phot Arron Hoare/Ministry of Defence via PA Media) Britains Royal Air Force (RAF) has airlifted 301 people out of Sudan over four flights, Downing Street has announced. Another RAF flight was preparing to depart the Wadi Saeedna airstrip near the capital of Khartoum on Wednesday afternoon, with a further three flights expected later in the day. Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks official spokesman told reporters: Currently we have evacuated 301 people. There is another flight loading right now. The response from Khartoum is running smoothly. Four flights have departed already, another is loading now. Were calling everyone forward and we have no issue with capacity, and people are being processed smoothly. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak departs 10 Downing Street to attend Prime Ministers Questions at the Houses of Parliament, in London, on April 26, 2023. (Stefan Rousseau/PA Media) About 2,000 UK citizens in Sudan have registered with the British Embassy for evacuation, but the true number of British nationals in the war-torn country could be higher. Eight evacuation flights will have left Sudan for Cyprus by the end of the day, the spokesman said. The majority of the people on the planes are British nationals but some are citizens of allied countries, he said. At around 2:30 p.m. UK time, the first plane bringing British evacuees home landed at Stansted Airport. There were children on the flight, a Foreign Office spokesperson said. Fragile Ceasefire At least 459 people have been killed in a bloody conflict between the Sudanese army and a powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces, which broke out on April 15. The UK government said on Sunday that the British military had evacuated UK diplomats and their families from Sudan. Smoke is seen in Khartoum, Sudan, April 22, 2023. (The Canadian Press/AP, Marwan Ali) But ministers came under mounting pressure to evacuate British nationals trapped in the war zone following reports that Britains European allies had already airlifted hundreds of their citizens out of the country. Western governments have been trying to evacuate their citizens from the war-torn country during a 72-hour ceasefire agreed by the warring parties. According to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the trucewhich started at 10 p.m. GMT on Mondayhad been agreed between the warring parties after 48 hours of negotiations. Only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance are being told they are eligible for evacuation. Families with children or elderly relatives, or individuals with medical conditions, are prioritised for the flights. Britons would need to make their own way to the airbase without an escort. A British Royal Air Force C-130 Hercules military transport that was carrying evacuees from Sudan is pictured on the tarmac at Larnaca International Airport, in Cyprus, on April 26, 2023. (Christina Assi/AFP via Getty Images) Downing Street said on Wednesday that British nationals have not encountered major problems on their way to the airbase. The prime ministers official spokesman said, From the information we are getting from those who are making their way, we are not seeing those who are making that travel having significant issues. He also said the evacuation operation at the airbase is proceeding well and has not been disrupted. Were not seeing any evidence as it stands that we will have to leave the airport imminently. We are still processing people through in an orderly and manageable way, he said. There have not been large-scale problems of non-British passport holders turning up and being told they are not eligible, according to the spokesman. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden will chair another emergency Cobra meeting on Sudan on Wednesday afternoon, Downing Street said. Brave British Personnel Some 120 British service personnel have been sent to the airbase where the operation is being carried out, but the security of the site is being maintained by the Sudanese armed forces. The military is ready to use force if needed if the site comes under attack, although the troops are primarily there to help with logistics and providing air traffic control. The Foreign Office said other exit routes are being considered, with two British military shipsRFA Cardigan Bay and HMS Lancasterbeing lined up for possible evacuations. HMS Lancaster is currently progressing towards Port Sudan, the Red Sea dock some 500 miles from Khartoum that could possibly be used in a seaborne operation. At the start of Prime Ministers Questions in the House of Commons, both Sunak and opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to the British evacuation effort The prime minister told MPs: The UK will continue to work to end the bloodshed in Sudan and support a democratic government. We have begun a large-scale evacuation of British nationals and I pay tribute to all those carrying out this complex operation. Labour leader Starmer also commended the brave British personnel involved, adding the government must do everything in its power to urgently free Britons trapped there. PA Media contributed to this report. California Bill to Ban Body Shaming May Advance in State Senate A California bill that would ban body shaming in state schools may advance after a hearing April 26 by the Assemblys Education Committee. Assembly Bill 10which defines body shaming as the action or practice of mocking or stigmatizing a person by making critical comments or observations about the shape, size, or appearance of the persons bodywould require school districts to develop and adopt policies addressing such by the 202526 school year. It was the first piece of legislation introduced by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) after he was sworn into office Dec. 6. While districts must have policies about how to address bullying, they are not currently required to have resources to address body shaming, which is not always characterized by bullying, Lowenthal said in an analysis of the bill. Lowenthal said the bill, if passed, would educate teachers and faculty about body shaming, so they are equipped to address this issue with students and parents. Body shaming can lead to negative impacts on a childs mental healthwhich can cause them to withdraw from friends, activities, and participating in school, Lowenthal said. The California Teachers Association which supports the bill agreed, writing in a statement that it believes self-esteem is a major factor in the educational success of all students and staff. The increasing mental, emotional, and environmental pressures upon the students and staff in California often result in increased drug and alcohol abuse, violence, dropout rate, pregnancy and suicide among students, the association stated. Body shaming adversely impacts students self-esteem. Research shows that students with low self-esteem are less likely to take academic risks, which adversely impacts their educational growth. Adolescents who are clinically identified as obese have a 40 percent higher relative risk of depression because such adolescents are often socially stigmatized by their peers, leading to bullying and rejection, according to a 2018 report published by the International Journal of Environment Research and Public Health. Additionally, another 2010 report published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that body dissatisfaction early in life can lead to eating disorders and psychological distress later in life. Lowenthal said that as a father of daughters, he understood the difficulties young people face when it comes to body image. Im a girl dad and I see how hard it is to be a young person today, he wrote on Twitter Dec. 6. Thats why for my first bill, I introduced [Assembly Bill 10] to help end body shaming and promote positive body image. People visit the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in Shanghai, east China, April 25, 2023. The exhibition, also known as Auto Shanghai 2023, is the first A-class international auto show held in China since the country adjusted its COVID-19 response. With 13 indoor exhibition halls, it boasts an exhibition area of more than 360,000 square meters. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang) The Hycan ATELIER concept car is on display during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in Shanghai, east China, April 25, 2023. The exhibition, also known as Auto Shanghai 2023, is the first A-class international auto show held in China since the country adjusted its COVID-19 response. With 13 indoor exhibition halls, it boasts an exhibition area of more than 360,000 square meters. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang) People look at an AITO M5 on display during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in Shanghai, east China, April 25, 2023. The exhibition, also known as Auto Shanghai 2023, is the first A-class international auto show held in China since the country adjusted its COVID-19 response. With 13 indoor exhibition halls, it boasts an exhibition area of more than 360,000 square meters. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang) People look at a Nio ES6 on display during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in Shanghai, east China, April 25, 2023. The exhibition, also known as Auto Shanghai 2023, is the first A-class international auto show held in China since the country adjusted its COVID-19 response. With 13 indoor exhibition halls, it boasts an exhibition area of more than 360,000 square meters. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang) A Yangwang U8 SUV is on display during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in Shanghai, east China, April 25, 2023. The exhibition, also known as Auto Shanghai 2023, is the first A-class international auto show held in China since the country adjusted its COVID-19 response. With 13 indoor exhibition halls, it boasts an exhibition area of more than 360,000 square meters. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang) People visit the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in Shanghai, east China, April 25, 2023. The exhibition, also known as Auto Shanghai 2023, is the first A-class international auto show held in China since the country adjusted its COVID-19 response. With 13 indoor exhibition halls, it boasts an exhibition area of more than 360,000 square meters. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang) People look at a BMW concept car on display during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in Shanghai, east China, April 25, 2023. The exhibition, also known as Auto Shanghai 2023, is the first A-class international auto show held in China since the country adjusted its COVID-19 response. With 13 indoor exhibition halls, it boasts an exhibition area of more than 360,000 square meters. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang) People look at a Lamborghini Revuelto supercar during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in Shanghai, east China, April 25, 2023. The exhibition, also known as Auto Shanghai 2023, is the first A-class international auto show held in China since the country adjusted its COVID-19 response. With 13 indoor exhibition halls, it boasts an exhibition area of more than 360,000 square meters. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang) A Hongqi E001 electric car is on display during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in Shanghai, east China, April 25, 2023. The exhibition, also known as Auto Shanghai 2023, is the first A-class international auto show held in China since the country adjusted its COVID-19 response. With 13 indoor exhibition halls, it boasts an exhibition area of more than 360,000 square meters. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang) People visit the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in Shanghai, east China, April 25, 2023. The exhibition, also known as Auto Shanghai 2023, is the first A-class international auto show held in China since the country adjusted its COVID-19 response. With 13 indoor exhibition halls, it boasts an exhibition area of more than 360,000 square meters. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang) People visit the exhibition area of Ora, a brand under Chinese automaker Great Wall Motors (GWM), during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in Shanghai, east China, April 25, 2023. The exhibition, also known as Auto Shanghai 2023, is the first A-class international auto show held in China since the country adjusted its COVID-19 response. With 13 indoor exhibition halls, it boasts an exhibition area of more than 360,000 square meters. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang) People look at a Neta GT Speedster on display during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in Shanghai, east China, April 25, 2023. The exhibition, also known as Auto Shanghai 2023, is the first A-class international auto show held in China since the country adjusted its COVID-19 response. With 13 indoor exhibition halls, it boasts an exhibition area of more than 360,000 square meters. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang) Californias Proposal to Make Housing a Fundamental Human Right Moves Forward A proposed constitutional amendment to make housing a fundamental human right in California is moving forward in the Legislature. Democratic leadership referred Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) 10introduced by Assemblyman Matt Haney (D-San Francisco)to the Assemblys Housing and Community Development Committee, where it is expected to receive its first public hearing. No date had been set for the hearing as of May 1. Housing is indeed a human right, Haney wrote on Twitter April 25. Without access to housing, everything else suffers: health, safety, educational attainment, access to food and water, addiction, and jobs. According to a coalition of housing activist organizations, if the constitutional amendment is passed by the Legislature and voters, it would establish a government obligation to: respect the right to housing by not interfering with the right protect the right to housing by shielding it from third-party threats fulfill the right to housing by enacting policies and providing state funds to ensure that all Californians have secure housing The coalitionincluding the ACLU California Action, Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), Action National Homelessness Law Center, and the Western Center on Law and Povertyrecently issued a report called Recognizing the Right to Housing (pdf). Housing units in Huntington Beach, Calif., on March 17, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The groups say enshrining a fundamental right to housing in the California Constitution is a necessary step to address the growing housing crisis. Under international law, upon which the proposed amendment is structured, housing must be adequate, according to the report. This means ensuring the housing is permanent, affordable, safe, healthy, and accessible to grocery stores, jobs, and schools. It needs to also respect and take into account the expression of cultural identity, the groups said in the report. Guaranteeing every person the right to housing provides an important government obligation and legal tool to ensure that Californians have access to affordable and adequate housing, the Western Center on Law and Poverty said in a statement. More than half of the nations homeless live in California, while the states population is only 12 percent of the nations, according to the report. Skyrocketing housing costs, lack of affordable housing, and stagnating wages are largely to blame, the report stated. In 2020, the Oakland-based housing activist group Moms 4 Housing published a poll (pdf) showing 66 percent of state residents supported a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing the human right to housing, which is cited in the report. A man walks by housing units in Huntington Beach, Calif., on March 17, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Advocates and Critics Families and affordable housing advocates gathered at the state Capitol April 24 to show support for ACA 10 and another housing initiative, Senate Bill 567, by Sen. Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), which would put restrictions on residential rent increases and prohibit landlords from evicting tenants without a specific legal justification. ACCE representative Alicia Baltazar, a disabled single mother from Wilmington, attended the rally and said she supports ACA 10. She and her young son were homeless and living in a shelter before qualifying for Section 8 housing, a federal voucher program that helps low-income families pay for housing. Every day, I live in constant fear of losing Section 8 and of renter discrimination because people dont want to rent to people who dont have jobs, Baltazar said. People dont want to rent to people who have children. People dont want to rent to people who are our color, who are undocumented, and things like that. However, not everyone is sold on the idea of creating a right to housing. The change could cost developers and local governments more money to build future housing projects, former Costa Mesa Mayor Jim Righeimer told The Epoch Times in March. A construction worker builds housing in Huntington Beach, Calif., on March 17, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Elected officials feel that if they vote for something, therefore it is, Righeimer said. Theres no such thing as affordable housing. All there is is subsidized housing. Its really just a matter of whos going to subsidize it. The 2-by-4s and concrete still cost money. A similar amendment was proposed in 2019 by then-Assemblyman Rob Bonta, now the states attorney general, but failed to pass. Canadian Armed Forces Planes Ready to Airlift When Conditions Permit: Minister About 200 Canadian Armed Forces members and two Hercules aircraft are in the Sudan region, the defence minister says, ready to help evacuate people from the country when conditions permit. Anita Anand told reporters on her way into the House of Commons that for this to happen, there will need to be space to land at the airport in Khartoum and a way to ensure Canadians are able to get there safely. She says the aircraft arrived recently, though she would not specify when, and she did not say whether Canadian military personnel and equipment are actually in Sudan. About 150 Canadians and permanent residents have been able to leave the country in the last two days with the help of allies, including Germany, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said earlier today. Sudan has been in a state of crisis since violence broke out last week between the East African countrys army and a paramilitary force. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier this week that a Canadian C-17 military plane was in the region to do airlifts, but so far Canada has relied on other countries to find space on their planes or boats. Joly said roughly 1,800 Canadian citizens or permanent residents have registered their presence in Sudan and 700 of them have asked for help to get out of the country. She said Canada is also considering a request from Sudanese diaspora groups for relatives to be able to come to Canada on a temporary basis until the violence abates. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said Wednesday the government called in some staffers who were on strike with the Public Service Alliance of Canada, declaring them essential workers in order to help process immigration paperwork for people in Sudan. Fraser noted Canada is already fast-tracking applications Sudanese citizens had filed for visitor visas before the violence started, and is waving some fees such as for Canadians with expired passports. We see whats going on and are trying to adopt policies that reflect the gravity of the situation on the ground, he told reporters. Weve actually had some staff return from the public service strike who are deemed essential to help those whose lives may be at risk, which is essential. Joly noted that Canada is including dual nationals and permanent residents of Canada in its plans to help, as well as their spouses and dependants. In times of crisis, Canadas always there to help, and thats why well be there, she said. Anand would not say whether Canada will send special forces soldiers into Sudan, as other countries have done. Were working very closely with our allies to ensure that we have a secure and targeted approach to get Canadians out, Anand said in response to questions from reporters earlier on Wednesday. She also did not say when Canada would start flying out people on its own planes. We have personnel and capabilities in the region, including two ships in the waters just off the coast, Anand said, referring to the Red Sea. Well continue to do whatever possible, together with our allies and with our own capabilities, to ensure the safety and security of all Canadians. Catholic School Board Trustees Leave Meeting After Gallery Erupts Over Trustee Tweets High school students head to school buses after school in this file photo. (Geoff Robins/AFP via Getty Images) A video posted on social media shows Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) trustees walking out of a board meeting when asked questions about controversial tweets made on social media by a trustee. At an April 24 evening meeting, a journalist from Rebel News, complete with a camera crew, stood and began reading social media posts written by trustee Wendy Ashby, who has since deleted her Twitter account and the posts in question. The first tweet in question, dated Oct. 16, 2022, read: The most dangerous creature on the planet is the white Christian male. Theyre a threat to anyone that is not them. The post included the hashtags: #truth #facts #misogyn #whitentitlement #racism #homophobia. In a separate tweet, Ashbys Twitter stated: Hush money. Buying silence about being underpaid. White women make obedient soldiers for the christofascist patriarchy. Trustee Tracy Weiler, who chaired the meeting, interrupted the journalists questions. Such behaviour and outbursts will not be tolerated, she said, and threatened to have people thrown out of the meeting. The gallery of attendees, some with signs objecting to the tweets, became loud, clapping, standing, and yelling shame at the departing trustees. Parent Group Reaction A screenshot of one of Ashbys tweets was shared in an April 6 news release by parent advocacy group Parents as First Educators (PAFE). The posts did not sit well with some parents who have children in the Catholic school system, the group said. It subsequently created a petition, calling for Ashbys resignation, which had received over 2,900 signatures as of press time. A separate, similar petition on the Campaign Life Coalition platform regarding Ashby had almost 2,500 signatures by April 25. PAFE said the tweets were inflammatory and caught the eye of several concerned community members. Ashbys tweets all had hashtags such as transgenderism, truth, white entitlement, racism, trans rights are human rights, etc. She appears to consider herself a social justice warrior, fighting for justice and acceptance for all! But where is the representation for the white Christian males she so blatantly discriminates against? said PAFE. The group said the trustee has shown prejudice based on race and religion and is unfit to represent her white, Christian constituents as a trustee, and she should resign. Ashby and the trustees of WCDSB, including the board chair, did not respond by press time to questions from The Epoch Times. Platform Ashbys election campaign focused on LGBTQ advocacy, anti-racism, and indigenous advocacy. I proudly and loudly advocate for BLM [Black Lives Matter], anti-racism, truth and reconciliation in education, LGBTQ2IA+, [and] mental health, she told a local publication last year. As someone who identifies as Metis and settler, and whose family is diverse, a great deal of my education is based in understanding and furthering diversity equity and inclusion, she told another local publication, The Record. Ashby completed a preelection questionnaire for an LGBT publication and stated she had several degrees in social policy, social work, and social Justice. She said if elected, she would [w]ork on education, inclusion and addressing heteronormativity. Education and visibility is key. Board Response By press time, the official video of the board meeting had not been posted to the WCDSB YouTube channel. One parent, Mike Bogias, who has a son in a Cambridge Catholic school, told local newspaper Cambridge Today on April 25: It was a bit unsettling to see that kind of rhetoric from a board member representing Christian values and inclusiveness. What I saw was a pattern of conduct online that this individual holds deeply prejudice views that include race, sex and religion. Bogias said he had written to the school board on April 3, and again on April 10, and received no reply. Weiler told the newspaper that the board is working through the process of what to do next. She said the board has a code of conduct and they would follow the process. Earlier, on April 17, Weiler told The Catholic Register, The board of trustees are aware of the concerns that were raised by some community members regarding a recent social media post. In speaking with trustee Ashby, she understands that the posted message was inappropriate, and she has immediately shut down her Twitter account and has apologized for the message from her Twitter account. Weiler said Ashby apologized to her fellow board members. However, neither Ashby nor WCDSB has issued a formal public apology to the school community at large, according to The Catholic Register. We are working through our own internal process, said Weiler. That will determine any next steps. Tara MacIsaac contributed to this report. CDC Officials Make False Statements About Possible COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta, in a file image. (Tami Chappell via Reuters) Officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have made multiple false statements this month regarding possible COVID-19 vaccine side effects, continuing a trend of mis- and disinformation from the public health agency. Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, a top CDC official, recently repeated the lie that the agency has never detected a safety signal for ischemic stroke for the old COVID-19 vaccines. No safety signals were detected for ischemic stroke for primary series or monovalent boosters for Pfizer or Moderna vaccines in U.S. and global monitoring, Shimabukuro told the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a CDC advisory panel, on April 19. CDC researchers identified ischemic stroke as a safety signal for the original Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, according to files obtained by The Epoch Times. More recently obtained documents show that the CDC detected the signal as early as May 6, 2022. The CDC acknowledged in official documents that any adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination that meet certain criteria constitute a safety signal. Shimabukuro, who also made the false claim during a meeting in February, hasnt responded to requests by The Epoch Times for comment. A CDC spokesperson previously doubled down on the claim, saying Shimabukuro was correct. Ischemic stroke happens when the brain fails to get enough blood, according to the Mayo Clinic. It causes brain cells to die within minutes and often leads to death. Another unnamed CDC official falsely told NBC that the agency hasnt found data suggesting a link between COVID-19 vaccines and tinnitus, or ringing in the ears. The CDC identified tinnitus as a safety signal in its analysis of possible signals in data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), according to the files obtained by The Epoch Times. Bert Kelly, a CDC spokesman, told The Epoch Times in an email: To date, we have no data to support tinnitus and its link to COVID-19 infection or vaccination. After becoming aware of reports made to the adverse event system of tinnitus after COVID-19 vaccination, the CDC analyzed data from a different surveillance system called the Vaccine Safety Datalink. CDC researchers didnt identify any clustering of tinnitus diagnoses in the datalink system in the 70 days after COVID-19 vaccination, according to Kelly. He didnt make the data available. Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder and president of the National Vaccine Information Center, noted that there have been more than 24,000 reports of tinnitus submitted to VAERS after COVID-19 vaccination. There is mounting evidence in the medical literature that tinnitus involves inflammation in the brain, Fisher said, pointing to several studies. CDC officials should be taking the tinnitus signal seriously and actively pursuing every available avenue of research to find out what is going on rather than doing everything they can to quickly dismiss the reported risk for developing chronic ringing in the ears after COVID shots. Tinnitus is listed as a potential side effect of Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine, and regulators in some countries list the condition as a potential adverse event following AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine. Moderna and Pfizer havent been formally linked with tinnitus, although some research has found a statistically significant increase in tinnitus following COVID-19 vaccination, which researchers said [suggests] an association between the COVID-19 vaccines and tinnitus. One sufferer recently told The Epoch Times that she has a dull ringing in her ears that started an hour after receiving a dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Another said she suffered hearing loss after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Another Official Gives False Information The CDC stated that it would analyze VAERS data through a data mining technique called Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR). The agency later falsely stated that the mining wasnt in the agencys purview before changing its tune and saying it had actually started running PRRs in February 2021. Dr. John Su, head of the CDCs VAERS team, provided the new dates in a statement to The Epoch Times. Su has since acknowledged that the date was incorrect. The CDC now says it actually didnt start the PRRs until March 2022 and stopped before the year ended. Newly obtained emails show that Su was told by a colleague that the CDC wasnt running PRRs between February 2021 and September 2021 but still gave the false information. We were not running any PRRs during this time, Paige Marquez, a CDC employee, told Su and others in a June 2, 2022, email. A month later, Su conveyed the false information to a CDC spokesperson, who relayed it to The Epoch Times. Weve been performing PRRs since [February] 2021 and continue to do [so] to date, he claimed. Su didnt respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. He also gave the false information in August 2022 to a colleague, Jeremy Goodman, before Marquez stepped in, the newly obtained messages show. I stand corrected: we did not conduct PRR analysis during the specified period, Su wrote in one email. The CDC has stated that none of its workers intentionally gave false information about PRRs. China Invasion of Taiwan Might See Military Response From US and Allies: Former State Department Official A China invasion of Taiwan might spark military response from not only the United States but also its allies, according to former U.S. State Department official Morse Tan. In an exclusive interview with Reuters this week, South Korea president Yoon Suk Yeol said increased tensions around Taiwan were due to attempts to change the status quo by force, and that he opposed such a change. The Taiwan issue is not simply an issue between China and Taiwan but, like the issue of North Korea, it is a global issue, Yoon said. Tan, a former State Department ambassador, agreed with Yoons remarks, stressing that in the event of a Chinese invasion, the United States might come to the defense of Taiwan, and that the so-called QuadJapan, Australia, India, and Americamight also take some kind of action together. I think the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) support and tacit approval of the Russian invasion into Ukraine has woken up the European Union to some extent. And so there could be involvement by the EU, involvement by the U.S. ally Great Britain, Tan told China in Focus on NTD, the sister outlet of The Epoch Times. Ambassador Morse Tan outside the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, on Feb. 19, 2022. (Jenny Jing/The Epoch Times) On the other hand, he said that the CCP is propping up North Korea in order to be coordinated with its ally as it attacks South Korea while the Chinese military is attacking Taiwan. And thus, he contended, This is not solely an internal matter for China, especially if they are contemplating aggression militarily against Taiwan. And so this has broader, farther reaching implications. Referring to Yoons comment, Tan said that it signals to the CCP that South Korea cares about whether or not the CCP military will be making a move in trying to conquer Taiwan by force, which is something that the PLA [Peoples Liberation Army] and the CCP should think twice about before engaging in such a measure, which would result in catastrophic losses and destruction. In the worst-case scenario, it could lead to nuclear war, a World War 3, he said. The official deemed it a serious risk as, he said, you have a major uptick in Chinas arsenal. You have North Koreas recent test of solid fuel, a solid fuel ICBM, which was a step that they had not taken before. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has explicitly threatened to use nuclear weapons. The CCP through the PLA has not indicated that they are willing to be constrained in terms of not using nuclear weapons. North Korea has threatened to use nuclear weapons repeatedly. This is a frequent threat that North Korea makes in various forms, and their abilities in this realm are increasing. And so these are very serious threats and concerns that should be taken very, very seriously, he added. Step Up Missile Defense He singled out the report on South Koreas previous president, Moon Jae-in, who under the pressure of the CCP refused to further deploy the U.S. anti-ballistic missle defense system THAAD. China viewed that as a way to deter Chinese missile and rocket attacks, and thus objected to that and imposed formal sanctions on South Korea, and that kept the previous administration from installing the remaining batteries that were scheduled to be installed, he noted. Given the major arsenal that China has along these lines, missile defense is a major concern, Tan opined. And I think missile defense should be stepped up not only in South Korea but also in Japan, also in Australia, also in Guam, also in various places that the PLA may potentially target with rockets and missiles if they were to engage in an aggressive war in seeking to seize Taiwan, he said. Solidify in Many Aspects As Yoon is now in the United States for the U.S.-South Korea summit, Tan expected that the two countries would solidify their relationships in many spheres. So strengthening in every aspect, whether its economically, whether its militarily, whether its cooperation across a broad range of areas, is something that would be very important and beneficial to South Korea, as well as to the United States, and something that North Korea should not be allowed to weaken or much less to destroy, he said. I believe President Yoon has a good understanding of this. And I expect that there will be an openness and a willingness and a desire to strengthen that relationship and the alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States of America in a broad range of issues and across multiple different sectors. And I think it has greater implications not only for the region but also for the world, Tan said. Chinese Journalist Charged With Espionage After Meeting Japan Diplomat, Family Says A guard in a courtyard inside the No. 1 Detention Center in Beijing on Oct. 25, 2012. (Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images) Chinese authorities have reportedly indicted a veteran journalist for espionage over a year after detaining him for meeting with a Japanese diplomat in Beijing. Dong Yuyu, 61, was arrested in February 2022 while having lunch with a Japanese diplomat at a restaurant in a Beijing hotel. The diplomat was also detained for questioning but was later released. Dong has since remained in custody, and his family has kept his detention a secret, hoping the charges will be reduced or dismissed. But they learned last month that Dong would be tried for espionage. [The familys hope] was that investigators could understand that his foreign ties were not suspicious but a normal part of his job and a normal interaction between peoples in most parts of the world, his family said in a statement, according to The Washington Post. The exact date of his trial remains unclear. Dong may face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of espionage in China. Dong is the latest in a series of liberal Chinese voices accused by Beijing of being linked to so-called foreign interference. As a non-Communist Party member, Dong was one of the most pro-reform voices at the state-run Guangming Dailywhere he worked since 1987and wrote articles in favor of an independent legal system, his family said. Dong was awarded a Nieman fellowship at Harvard University in 20062007 and became a visiting fellow at Keio University in Japan in 2010. Four years later, he served as a visiting professor at Hokkaido University in Japan. No Evidence to Justify Dongs Trial The leaders of the U.S.-based National Press Club (NPC) issued a statement on April 24 calling for Dongs release, saying that no evidence has been presented that justifies sending his case to trial. They said that Dong had not been allowed to see his family since his arrest and had only met his counsel once. People tried for espionage in China are almost always convicted, with the typical sentence being 10 years, they stated, urging the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to drop the charges against Dong. The NPC leaders said that Dong has helped the world have a better understanding of China and has brought back with him from Japan and the U.S. an understanding of life in those countries through his work. He is a journalist with a great track record, and these actions against him do not encourage positive perceptions of China, they added. Iris Hsu, China representative for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), said prosecuting Dong is absurd as journalists should be allowed to report on Chinas domestic and foreign affairs. Speaking to foreign diplomats is crucial to journalists covering international news. Going as far as trying Dong for espionage is absurd and cruel, Hsu said in a statement. Japan Demands Apology Over Diplomats Arrest At a press conference on April 25, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said he was aware of the reports about Dongs arrest but refused to comment due to the nature of the matter. Japans foreign ministry last year lodged a strong protest with Beijing over the detention of the Japanese diplomat and demanded an apology. The diplomat, whose identity has not been disclosed, was seized while carrying out his legitimate duties, according to the ministry. The ministry emphasized that the detention violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which guarantees the immunity of diplomats from the civil and criminal jurisdiction of the host nation. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying accused the Japanese diplomat of engaging in activities that were inconsistent with his capacity in China. She noted that diplomats have a duty to abide by the laws and regulations of the host nation under the convention. However, Hua refused a request to specify the so-called inappropriate activities she was referring to. Frank Yue and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Christian Family to Appeal Judgment Over 4-Year-Old at School Pride Parade Case A court has dismissed a Christian familys claim against their sons former school that alleged the school attempted to force him into participating in an LGBT-themed Pride Parade. Devout Christian parents Izzy and Shane Montague challenged Heavers Farm Primary School in south London over the LGBT education of their 4-year-old son, which allegedly included mandatory participation in a school-run Pride Parade to celebrate Pride Month in 2018. The parents, supported by the Christian Legal Centre, have vowed to appeal. They said that they were informed about the LGBT-themed Pride celebration only days in advance when they received a rainbow-coloured invitation to attend the event. Pride Flag In preparation for the parade, the Montagues alleged that children were taught the popular anthems We Are Family and True Colours, which they had to sing around the school. They also claimed that the children were required to create rainbow-themed art that featured several Pride flags, and that a number of members of staff were photographed at the event wearing LGBT campaigning-themed T-shirts, with one teacher wrapping himself in a Pride flag. The Epoch Times has not been able to independently verify these claims. After complaints were raised, relations between Izzy Montague and the school deteriorated, with the parents taking the school to court, saying that it had breached their human rights because of their Christian beliefs. General view of the LGBT flag outside a bookshop during UK Pride Month 2021 in London on June 1, 2021. (Edward Smith/Getty Images) However, on Tuesday at Central London County Court, Judge Christopher Lethem rejected the parents claim (pdf) and ruled that there was little in the parade that was inconsistent with their beliefs. Lethem said that the parents argued that the parade and teaching in general amount to weaponising education to undermine parental teaching and foster the schools view. In the cold light of day I cannot ascertain the divergence between the teaching and the Christian views, he added. In< short there was no moral reeducation and there was no case for exemption, said Lethem. At one point a meeting was arranged with the parents and headmistress Susan Papas. Papass daughter also attended, wearing a T-shirt with the slogan Why Be Racist, Sexist, Homophobic, Transphobic, when you could just be quiet, which the parents took exception to. The judge said this was wholly inappropriate but said that there is no direct evidence that the matters complained of were motivated by the claimants Christian belief. Christian Beliefs Throughout this ordeal, it has felt like I and my Christian beliefs that have been on trial, said Izzy Montague in a statement. I am deeply insulted by the courts assertion that there is nothing inconsistent between my Christian beliefs and my four-year-old being forced to march in a Pride event surrounded by rainbow pride flags and teachers wearing LGBT-affirming campaigning shirts, she added. Todays judgment is remarkable for all of the wrong reasons, Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, told The Epoch Times in an email. While the government has recognised the pitfalls of leaving the content of LGBT and sex education to the discretion of schools, and called for a review, this court has gone the other way she added. In March, the British government said that it will review how relationships and sex education are being taught in schools. Williams said that despite finding that the school put too much emphasis on LGBT issues and normalised them for primary school aged children, it ruled that the Pride event was actually about tolerance and diversity, and not LGBT. The Montagues will appeal, and rightfully so, she said. What this entire case stands for is that there are some schools in this country where biblical beliefs and Christians are not welcomed. Todays judgment has given a green light to ideological headteachers who wish to mould young minds into LGBT advocates, and abuse any parents who dissent, she added. There are absolutely no circumstances where it is acceptable to force a four-year-old Christian child to march in an LGBT themed Pride parade against his parents wishes. As a nation with such an esteemed history of liberty and Christian values, we are better than that, said Williams. A spokeswoman for Heavers Farm Primary School told The Epoch Times by email: As a school we have a duty, as stated by the Department for Education, to promote fundamental British values as part of the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of our pupils. This includes teaching our pupils the important values of tolerance, inclusivity, and equality in an age-appropriate way, so that everyone in our community feels safe, included, and comfortable to be themselves. Following a series of matters relating to a child and their family in 2018, linked to curriculum-compliant teaching, we have engaged over several years with the process of a civil claim. Now that this weeks judgement has been delivered, we will be continuing to focus all our efforts on delivering a high-quality education to our pupils. Cold War With China Betrayal of National Interest: UK Foreign Secretary Cleverly criticised for "foreign policy naivety" Foreign Secretary James Cleverly delivers a speech during the Easter Banquet at Mansion House in London on April 25, 2023. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said in a major policy speech on Tuesday that it would be a mistake to declare a new Cold War with China. It comes six weeks after the UK published its updated foreign and defence policy strategy, labelling China an epoch-defining challenge. But China-focused policy and human rights campaigners said its wishful thinking to expect a communist regime to cooperate on global issues, and that the speech revealed the UKs foreign policy naivety. Speaking at the Lord Mayors Easter Banquet on Tuesday, Cleverly said its impossible, impractical andunwise to sum up China in one word, whether its threat, partner, or adversary. He acknowledged that the Chinese regime represents a ruthless authoritarian tradition utterly at odds with our own and described the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) mass detention of the Uyghur people as a 21st century version of the gulag archipelago. But he argued not engaging with the country would be shirking the duty to shape the international order for future generations and a sign of weakness. Cleverly said he rejects any notion of inevitability or fatalism about Chinas future and its relationship with the United States and the wider West, saying, We have agency, we have choices, and so do our Chinese counterparts. Noting that China has the biggest repository of health data the biggest source of active ingredients for the worlds pharmaceuticals and the biggest source of carbon emissions, the foreign secretary said China has to be involved in significant global problem such as climate change, pandemic prevention, economic instability, and nuclear proliferation. It would be clear and easyand perhaps even satisfyingfor me to declare some kind of new Cold War and say that our goal is to isolate China, but it would be wrong because it would be a betrayal of our national interest and a willful misunderstanding of the modern world. Security personnel keep watch outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology during the visit by the World Health Organization team tasked with investigating the origins of COVID-19, in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on Feb. 3, 2021. (Thomas Peter/Reuters) Cleverly said a democracy like the UK will always be torn between its national interest in dealing with China and its abhorrence of Beijings abuses, and therefore the UK must engage with China where necessary and be unflinchingly realistic about its authoritarianism. Its broadly in line with Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks speech at the Lord Mayors banquet in November last year, in which he announced the ending of the so-called Golden Era of of SinoBritish relationship while dismissing what he said was the simplistic Cold War rhetoric. The foreign secretary said the UK will use a three-pillared China policy approach, including strengthening national security, and cooperating with global allies including Indo-Pacific countries, but also direct engagement with China and the ruling communist regime. He said the government would continue to support British companies that do business with China while avoiding dependencies in critical supply chains. He also said the UK has an interest in continuing to benefit from Chinese investment but dont want the long arm of the Chinese Communist Party reaching towards the central nervous system of our country. He said the UK government is doubling funding to boost the government China capabilities and determined to reach an agreement with Beijing to build a new British Embassy in Beijing. To enhance the UKs national security, Cleverly vowed not to be silent about Beijings attempt at political interference, technology theft, or industrial sabotage; safeguard academic freedom and research; prioritise national security in areas such as building a 5G network, and keep criticising the CCP for its human rights violations. Globally, Cleverly said the UK will increase security and commercial ties with partners in the Indo-Pacific and across the world, including through its upcoming accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). A Chinese military jet flies over Pingtan Island, one of mainland Chinas closest points to Taiwan, in Fujian Province on Aug. 5, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) The UK on March 31 became the first European country to sign an agreement to join the CPTPP. If the agreement is ratified, its estimated to boost the UKs GDP by 0.08 percent over the long term. China and Taiwan have also applied to join the trade pact. If CCP Invades Taiwan Cleverly warned that an invasion of Taiwan would destroy the global economy. He called on Beijing to be open about the intention behind its ongoing biggest military build-up in peacetime history including new warships and new bases in the South China Sea and beyond, to reduce the risk of tragic miscalculation. And if we are left to draw our own conclusions, prudence dictates that we must assume the worst, he said. According to the Economist, Taiwan supplies more than 60 percent of the worlds semiconductors and almost all (over 90 percent) of the most advanced chips. Cleverly said half of the worlds container ships also pass through the Taiwan strait every year, making the area a crucial link in global supply chains. Citing Nikkei Asias estimate that $2.6 trillion worth of the worlds trade would evaporate if the United States, the EU and Japan sanction China in the case of an invasion of Taiwan as they did Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, Cleverly said, No country could shield itself from the repercussions. Distance would offer no protection from this catastrophic blow to the global economyand least Chinas most of all, he said. I shudder to contemplate the human and financial ruin that would follow, he added, warning against unilateral action to change the status quo. Foreign Policy Naivety In an article published in Politics Home, Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, called Cleverlys focus on the Cold War rhetoric straw man stuff, saying no MPs have been calling on the government to declare a new Cold War and isolate China. He said its not a Cold War the foreign secretary should worry about, but a hot war in Taiwan and the absence of British government strategy about it. De Pulford called Cleverlys comments naive as Chinese leader Xi Jinping has never kept a climate promise, and uses the climate issue as a diplomatic bargaining chip against naive governments and following the Chinese regimes behaviour during the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its forced exclusion of Taiwan from pandemic discussions. Sharing the article on Twitter, Benedict Rogers, cofounder of Hong Kong Watch and the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, and author of The China Nexus, said while he likes Cleverly as a person and respects Sunak, he simply cannot help but strongly and passionately agree with de Pulford when it comes to China policy. In a statement email to The Epoch Times, Mark Sabah, UK and EU Director at the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, also said the speech reveals the UKs foreign policy naivety. It is wishful thinking to believe that a nation that systematically breaks its international promises will decide to keep them simply because James Cleverly wants them to do so, he said. It seems as if James Cleverly is willing to give China a pass so long as Britains trade and investment can flourish, which sets a horrific precedent for other European nations who are currently in disarray regarding how to approach China, he added. East Palestine Families Living in Limbo Months After Fire Kyan Cepin, who now resides in a motel after being displaced by the East Palestine train derailment walks his dog Opal in North Lima, Ohio, on April 3, 2023. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo) EAST PALESTINE, OhioJeff Drummond spends days and nights alone in a tiny room with fake wood paneling, two small beds and a microwave atop a mini refrigerator that serves as a nightstandhis pickup truck parked just outside the door at the roadside motel where hes taken refuge since early February. Shelby Walker bounces from hotel to hotel with her five children and four grandchildren while crews tear up railroad tracks and scoop out contaminated soil near their four-bedroom home. Almost 3 months after a fiery Norfolk Southern train derailment blackened the skies, sent residents fleeing and thrust East Palestine into a national debate over rail safety, residents say they are still living in limbo. Theyre unsure how or whether to move on from the accident and worry what will happen to them and the village where they have deep family roots, friendships and affordable homes. I have no idea how long we can continue to do this, says Walker, while washing clothes at a laundromat. Walker, 48, also works at a small hotel where many workers are staying, so is constantly reminded of the accident. She remembers the scorched rail tanker at her property line and a backyard flooded with water from the burn site. Sometimes I just break down, she says. About half of East Palestines nearly 5,000 residents evacuated when, days after the Feb. 3 derailment, officials decided to burn toxic vinyl chloride from five tanker cars to prevent a catastrophic explosion. Most have returned, though many complain about illnesses and worry about soil, water and air quality. Some are staying away until theyre sure its safe. Others, like Drummond, are not allowed back in their homes because of the ongoing cleanup. The retired truck driver and Gulf War veteran misses mowing the lawn, puttering around his yard and chatting with regulars at the tavern next door. I have nothing here, says Drummond, sitting on an orange plastic chair outside the Davis Motel in North Lima, Ohio. So its trying to find something to keep yourself busy, to keep from going crazy. Fearing the Unknown Norfolk Southern Railroad is paying for lodging for some families but wont say how many still are out of their homes while the railroad excavates tens of thousands of tons of contaminated soil, a process the Environmental Protection Agency expects to take another 23 months. The railroad also must remove toxic chemicals from two creeks, which could take longer. I pledge that we wont be finished until we make it right, Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw told an Ohio rail safety committee last week. The railroad also handed out $1,000 inconvenience checks to residents within the ZIP code that includes East Palestine and surrounding areas, but most did not qualify for further assistance and went home. The EPAs Mark Durno says continual air monitoring at the derailment site and in the community and soil tests in parks, on agricultural land and at other potentially affected areas have not yet detected concerning levels of any contaminants. Nothing jumped off page for us yet, Durno says, adding that testing would continue just to be sure. The railroad says testing shows drinking water is safe, though its establishing a fund for long-term drinking water protection. Its also establishing funds for health care and to help sellers if their property value falls because of the accident. But its the unknown that worry people. Jessica Conard, a 37-year-old speech therapist, wonders whether her boysages 3, 8 and 9will ever be able to fish in the pond separating their property from the railroad tracks. Or play at the park where the chemicals are being removed from a stream. Can they remain in the town where generations upon generations of family have lived? You want them to be able to have those memories, says Conard, who returned to East Palestine six years ago to raise her family where the sound of trains was the backdrop to her own childhood. I just kind of feel like those memories are tainted because when you hear a train now it kind of makes you cringe. Children run past a mural in East Palestine, Ohio, on March 7, 2023. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo) Deep Roots This is the kind of place where everyone seems connected to everyone else, residents say. Parents dont worry about their kids because they know other parents are looking out for them. Summer Magness chokes up recalling how the community held benefit dinners after her eldest daughter, Samantha, suffered multiple cardiac arrests playing softball four years ago, resulting in a brain injury that left her paralyzed and unable to speak. Samantha, now 16, gets all As, attends homecoming and still has her circle of friends. We couldnt have made it without them, Magness says. Eighty-one-year-old Norma Carr raised four children in the cedar-sided 1930s duplex she moved into 57 years ago and where three generations lived together before the derailment. She knew everyone in her neighborhood, walked to church and always felt safe among friends. For now, shes staying in a condominium 10 miles (16 kilometers) away that the railroad rented the family for six months because Carr, who has Parkinsons, fared poorly during a month in a cramped hotel room. I miss being able to look out the window and not see a stranger, says Carr, choking back tears. Most of Conards relatives work in factories and, like many here, live paycheck to paycheck, putting aside money to buy and fix up homes, she says. I mean, this is what we strive for. Its the American dream. She and her husband sold their first East Palestine home last year to move into their forever home a couple miles away, on a road named for one of her ancestors. Then all of a sudden, overnight (the dream is) gone. Stay or Go? Small businesses like Sprinklz on Top and The Corner Store line the main drag, North Market Street, along with chains like McDonalds and Pizza Hut. The Chamber of Commerce, library and post office are there, too. Statues of bulldogs, the high school mascot, are placed throughout town. There also are signs reflecting the hardship the village has been through: Yall OK? says one. Others say Get ready for the greatest comeback in American history. But many wonder if they should stay or go. For Summer Magness, it would be difficult to leave the community where her family has lived for generations. She doubts her home could sell for what it would cost to buy elsewhere. Still, she would move if she could, because the feeling of security has been upended and the safety of my children is my only concern. To stay, Carrs daughter Kristina Ferguson, 49, says she would want independent testing and a thorough cleaning of their home. But she isnt sure if the family will ever feel safe there again. Ferguson also worries whether living there could affect her mothers Parkinsons. Theres no home in the world that is worth losing one family member over, she says. I know as long as were together we will have a home in our heart. By Tammy Webber Former Harvard Professor Sentenced, Fined for Lying About China Ties FILE PHOTO: Charles Lieber leaves federal court after he and two Chinese nationals were charged with lying about their alleged links to the Chinese government, in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Katherine Taylor BOSTONA prominent former Harvard University scientist who was convicted of concealing his ties to Chinas state-run talent recruitment program was sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay more than $83,000 in restitution and fines. Charles Lieber, who formerly chaired Harvards department of chemistry and chemical biology, was found guilty in December 2021 of six felony counts, including making false statements, two counts of filing false tax returns, and two counts of failing to file reports for a foreign bank account in China. He was sentenced to two days in jail, which he had served after his arrest, along with a $50,000 fine and $33,600 in restitution to the IRS, which Lieber paid before sentencing. He will also spend two years of supervised release, with the first six months in home confinement. Liebers attorney, Marc Mukasey, had asked the judge to spare his client prison time, citing the 64-year-olds decade-long battle with blood cancer. He has lived in constant pain, Mukasey told the court, adding that Lieber developed foot infections following the two days in prison because of his immunocompromised condition. In prison, he will be a sitting duck for disease. Charles Lieber (C) in front of the Joint WUTHarvard Joint Nano Key Laboratory, in Wuhan, China, in 2012. (Department of Justice) U.S. prosecutors had argued for a weighty punishment that would have included three months of prison terms, one year of supervised release, and a $150,000 fine, on top of $33,600 restitution fees to the IRS over the tax fraud that Lieber committed. The governments lawyer, Jason Casey, said that the recommended sentence was significantly below the guideline, given the seriousness of the crimes, and Lieber, who is in remission, could also get appropriate treatment in federal prison. What Lieber did marked a profound disregard of the law for a long time, Casey said at the hearing. Walking out of the Boston court, Mukasey said they were satisfied with the judges decision. Were happy with the way it turned out, justice was done, he told reporters. Charles Lieber attends an award ceremony in the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in Jerusalem on May 13, 2012. (Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images) Pattern of Deceit Liebers case is among the highest profile from the Justice Departments now-scrapped China Initiative, which the Trump administration started in 2018 to curb economic espionage efforts from China. The Harvard professor, also a nanoscientist, had for years engaged in Chinas Thousand Talents program that the regime in Beijing uses to lure global talents to promote the countrys scientific and economic development, even as he was receiving millions of federal funding to work on sensitive U.S. research. He had quietly retired from Harvard in February, two years after being placed on administrative leave after facing charges in 2020. Casey said Lieber has retired with nearly full pension benefits entitled to his position. His 2012 contract with the Wuhan University of Technology, a public university in central China under the direct administration of the Ministry of Education, promised a monthly salary of up to $50,000. Liebers obligations included performing joint research, publishing papers for the school, and hosting the Wuhan universitys students in his Harvard lab. Without consulting Harvard, Lieber also agreed to establish the Joint WUTHarvard Joint Nano Key Laboratory at the Chinese school and serve as a co-director. Between November 2012 and 2015, Lieber made multiple trips to the Chinese school, each time receiving up to $20,000 in cash in $100 bills in brown packages, according to court documents. A bank account under his name would also receive an equal amount of money during each visit. Charles Lieber (L) and his lawyer, Marc Mukasey, exit the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in Boston on April 26, 2023. (Learner Liu/The Epoch Times) While participation in such a program isnt itself illegal, Casey said Lieber had abused the trust of his school and federal authorities. He deliberately chose to lie over and over again, he said. He described Lieber as someone willing to lie and deceive to protect what mattered to him mostand that was his career. The scheme had occurred over a period of several years, and as someone with extraordinary intellect and extraordinary education, Lieber was fully capable of understanding the wrongfulness of the deeds, Casey added. Lieber admitted to prosecutors that wanting to win a Nobel Prize had been a chief motivation for his participation in the Chinese program, a court document said. Lieber, wearing a mask throughout the hearing, told the judge he wanted to express his sincere apologies and remorse for my actions, includinghe said in tearsfor dragging my mother into this situation in the last month of her life. He said his focus on advancing his career had caused him to overlook certain issues and make mistakes. These are mistakes that Ive made. And I regret them and promise not to make it again. UNITED NATIONS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Despite a cease-fire, shortages of essentials are becoming acute in Sudan, sending prices soaring while evacuees head for the borders, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday. Authorities reported that a 72-hour cessation of hostilities went into effect midnight Monday and appeared to be mostly holding Tuesday. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it received reports that civilians continue to flee Khartoum, Northern, Blue Nile, North Kordofan, North Darfur, West Darfur and South Darfur states. People are also crossing borders to surrounding countries. "After 10 days of fighting, shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel are becoming extremely acute, especially in Khartoum and surrounding areas," the office said. "The price of essential items -- as well as transport -- are skyrocketing." OCHA said that in Wad Madani, Aj Jazirah state, bordering Khartoum, prices of essential goods increased 40 percent to 100 percent. Access to health care, including sexual and reproductive health care, is also critically impacted. The World Health Organization has confirmed 14 attacks on health care facilities since the start of the fighting. "We and our partners continue to deliver whenever and wherever feasible," OCHA said. The UN Population Fund continues to support partners to provide life-saving health care, distribute supplies for safe births, and manage obstetric emergencies through a network of midwives. "We also want again to emphasize the heroic efforts of the Sudanese people themselves," the office said. "Civil society networks are responding to the most urgent needs in their communities, including mobilizing medical assistance, distributing food and water, and assisting civilians." Fighting broke out in the capital city of Khartoum on April 15 between two factions of the Sudanese military and quickly spread to different areas in the country. Data from the Sudanese Health Ministry said more than 400 people have been killed and more than 4,000 others wounded. EXCLUSIVE: Canadian Military 2021 Memo Stated COVID Vaccine Mandate Would Not Be Informed Consent Canadas top soldier received a memo from his advisory body in August 2021 telling him that imposing a vaccination mandate under threat of discipline would not constitute informed consent. Medical ethical restrictions prevent CAF [Canadian Armed Forces] Health Services personnel from administering vaccines without the informed consent of the recipients. Coercion of CAF members to accept vaccination under threat of military discipline would not constitute informed consent, the memo reads. Dated Aug. 12, 2021, the memo was sent to Chief of the Defence Staff Wayne Eyre, who was acting in the position at the time, and who later implemented a vaccine mandate for CAF members in October 2021. It was prepared by C.L. Cloutier, a special adviser to the Strategic Joint Staff (SJS) Director Plans North America, serving under Major General Trevor Cadieu, who was then-director of staff at SJS. The role of SJS is to provide military analysis and advice to the chief of the defence staff (CDS), allowing the CDS to lead the CAF strategically. Current epidemiological modelling suggest that there lacks strong evidence to require vaccination of the remaining percentage of unvaccinated CAF members, said the memo, noting the already high uptake of over 90 percent. Establishing a POV [proof of vaccination] requirement for the CAF would not only be punitive in nature, but would also be counter to the successful efforts made to date to encourage maximum voluntary uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. The memo also stated: The DND [Department of National Defence]/CAF approach toward encouraging voluntary vaccination and communications products should be shared with federal partners as a best practice to achieve increased voluntary uptake of COVID-19 vaccination. The memo was released as part of a legal brief ahead of testimony by Valour Laws Catherine Christensen at the National Citizens Inquiry (NCI) in Red Deer, Alberta. Christensen, who testified before the NCI on April 26, represents 360 soldiers who were affected by the CAF vaccine mandate. The NCI is currently hearing from Canadians and experts to investigate governments COVID-19 policies. An update to the CAF vaccine mandate in October 2022 made it less restrictive, with new recruits not required to be vaccinated, but the mandate was kept in place for certain roles and positions. Prior to the change in policy, DND told The Epoch Times that over 400 soldiers had left the forces or were dismissed because of the mandate, while over a thousand more were under different stages of administrative processes that could lead to dismissal. Christensen believes the number impacted is much larger and in the several thousands. Eyre Initially Did Not Support Mandate Another memo signed by Eyre in March 2021 shows that he did not support a vaccine mandate for CAF service members at that time. The same SJS adviser Cloutier presented options to Eyre with regard to vaccination policy, where the recommended option, which Eyre approved, was not to impose a mandate. The memo said that the efficacy and long-term safety data were not yet available for each of the four vaccines authorized for use in Canada. As such, the memo said that there was no supporting evidence to suggest all CAF members needed to be vaccinated and that implying it was required for compliance with the forces occupational requirement at this time would be incorrect based on the limited available data on the authorized COVID-19 vaccines. The memo notes that health-care providers have a professional legal and ethical responsibility to ensure informed consent is followed prior to any medical intervention, including vaccination. Informed consent means that the patient must voluntarily affirm their consent, must have had the ability to consent, and that said consent was fully informed, the memo reads. It should be noted that informed consent is an ongoing process, where an individual can elect to revoke their consent at any point. The memo recommended that there be no formal requirement for the vaccination of CAF members except in circumstances where a member is to be deployed to a foreign country with vaccination as a prerequisite for entry, or to a region or area within Canada that has imposed vaccination as a requirement In all circumstances, the CAF COVID-19 immunization campaign needs to be guided by the best scientific and medical evidence justified by a clear rationale administered in accordance with the best medical practices. The Epoch Times reached out to DND for comment but didnt hear back by publication time. EXCLUSIVE: Public Health Knew Vaccinated Could Carry Same Viral Loads as Unvaccinated Before Mandates Imposed Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam is seen via videoconference as Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos looks on during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic and the Omicron variant, in Ottawa on Jan. 7, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang) A briefing document from federal health authorities setting out the rationale for imposing vaccine mandates in the fall of 2021 raised ethical concerns and acknowledged that the vaccinated may transmit COVID-19 as much as the unvaccinated, but it nevertheless encouraged mandatory injections. There is some emerging evidence documenting that COVID-19 cases (Delta variant) in fully vaccinated individuals may have similar viral loads than unvaccinated cases, says the briefing by Health Canada (HC) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). The document did not raise questions about the usefulness of mandating vaccination given the COVID-19 shots do not stop transmission, with HC/PHAC instead making a case for the use of masks. This raises the question about their ability to transmit to others and the need to layer additional measures such as masking. The science on the capacity of vaccinated individuals to transmit will continue to evolve, says the document. The science did evolve, with the Omicron variant appearing a few months later and infecting a large number of people regardless of their vaccination status. The briefing document, titled Phased Approach to Federal COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, was released through an access to information request. Its stated purpose was to outline the rationale for imposing mandates on broad swathes of society using a proposed phased approach. At the time, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had stated his intention to mandate vaccination on sectors under his authority and campaigned on the issue for the federal election of September 2021. The document was produced in the context of the increased transmissibility of the Delta variant, which HC/PHAC understood to mean that much higher vaccination coverage target is needed to prevent wider outbreaks, sustain reopening, and prevent a fourth wave from presenting a risk to our health care system. The briefing provided the objectives of the policy that would later be imposed in October 2021 on federal employees and contractors, employees in federally regulated sectors such as transportation and banking, and users of certain federally regulated services such as those wishing to board flights. Some of those objectives in hindsight turned out to be assumptions and had lasting consequences. The cover page of a briefing document prepared by Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, dated August 2021. (Screenshot The Epoch Times) The key public health objectives were listed as the federal government fulfilling its duty to protect employee health and safety, protecting Canadians who receive services from the federal government, and increasing vaccination rates in support of efforts to reach the levels required to safety sustain reopening in the face of more transmissible and virulent variants of concern. Epidemiologists would have known that the virus would mutate, making vaccination increasingly less protective. This became evident with Omicron, and the government recognized it at the time internally. A PHAC document from February 2022 released in the context of court proceedings challenging the travel vaccine mandate said that for Omicron, vaccine effectiveness against infection, symptomatic disease, and transmission with two doses was initially ~<50 to 60%, but waned over time to near zero after six months. Among other vaccine mandate objectives of HC/PHAC there was the desire to establish a social norm and send an important signal to vaccine complacent or hesitant Canadians. The document calls vaccine complacency and hesitancy a significant and complex problem in Canada. Other goals included providing leadership to the private sector and supporting the return of public servants to government offices. The private sector did follow, as mandated by the government, with some companies keeping their mandates long after Ottawa stopped renewing its policy in June 2022. Courier company Purolator announced in mid-April this year that it was dropping its mandate. As for the return of public servants to offices, this never fully materialized and federal employees are currently on strike with one of their demands being making remote work permanent. Ethical Considerations The HC/PHAC presentation also has a section about ethical considerations for imposing vaccination. It asks whether its a necessity to achieve an important public health goal. Evidence that vaccination is necessary to ensure the health and safety of the workplace and Canadian population, and also that other, less intrusive measures, are insufficient, says the briefing. The sentence appears to be incomplete, but seems to suggest there is insufficient evidence to say vaccination is necessary. The Epoch Times contacted Health Canada to obtain clarification but didnt immediately hear back. The department was also asked to provide context surrounding the briefing. Around the ethical issue of safety, the briefing says that the COVID-19 vaccines approved by Health Canada are safe for the population for who, the vaccine is required. Four products were authorized at the time: the mRNA-based Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and the adenovirus-based vaccines from AstraZeneca (AZ) and Johnson & Johnson. Federal health authorities in March 2021 recommended against giving the AZ shot to those under 55 because of blood clot issues. On the ethical issue of accessibility, HC/PHAC determined that access was equitable since it can be provided for free to those for whom it is to be mandated. Whereas HC/PHAC pondered ethical considerations in their vaccine mandate recommendation in the briefing document, the official who wrote the policy for the travel mandate told the federal court she didnt. Jennifer Little, director general of the COVID Recovery Team at Transport Canada, who was a government witness in support of the mandate during court proceedings last year, said during cross-examination that she had not considered ethics in writing the policy. Im not aware of any particular study or specific conversation to that effect, Little said on June 9, 2022. The travel mandate prevented millions of Canadians from taking commercial flights and trains over half a year. Other testimony during the legal proceedings indicated that the government knew the risk of in-flight transmission was low and had limited data on the impact of vaccination on air travel in terms of stopping the spread. Last June, the federal government didnt renew its interim orders implementing mandates across sectors. Trudeau revisited this policy during a discussion with students at the University of Ottawa on April 24. While not forcing anyone to get vaccinated, I chose to make sure that all the incentives and all the protections were there to encourage Canadians to get vaccinated, he said. And thats exactly what they did, we got vaccinated to a higher level than just about any other of our peer countries, and thats why we had a less deadly pandemic than most other countries. The John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center places Canada 73rd worst out of 193 countries for COVID deaths per 100,000 population, but the World Health Organization cautions about making comparisons due to different reporting and testing standards among countries. EXCLUSIVE: Whistleblower Alleges Federal Government Acts as Middleman for Cartel Child Trafficking Young unaccompanied migrants, that range in age from 3 to 9, sit inside a play pen at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility, the main detention center for unaccompanied children in the Rio Grande Valley, in Donna, Texas, on March 30, 2021. (Dario Lopez-Mills/Pool via Reuters) The U.S. government is taking an active role as middleman for international child trafficking, according to explosive allegations from a whistleblower. The whistleblower, a federal employee named Tara Rodas who has worked in various government sectors, told The Epoch Times in an interview that she had direct experience with trafficked children while working at a processing facility in Pomona, California. While there, she learned that the program had become a front for a massive human smuggling ring driven by Mexican drug cartels. The United States currently operates a network of processing facilities for migrant children along the southern border. Many children who enter the United States illegally come on the dime of drug cartels, who in turn sell the children into sex slavery or child labor. At the processing facilities, Rodas explained, case managers would work to reunite illegal children with family members inside the United States. But in reality, Rodas said, many sponsors, people already inside the country willing to take and care for the children, had no relationship to them at all. Rodas has spent the past 20 years working for various government agencies, including the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE). She is set to testify about her allegations at a hearing before the House of Representatives on April 26. In 2021, President Joe Biden sent out an urgent call to federal employees, telling them that Spanish speakers were needed at the border to help process the influx of illegal immigrant children. In 2021, 120,000 illegal migrant children were processed by the federal government, a massive increase over previous years. The purported goal of the reunification program was to ensure the childrens safety by helping transport them to sponsors. Rodas, the wife of a Spanish-speaking immigrant from El Salvador, said, When I learned they needed Spanish speakers to help and that it was going to be working with the children, I volunteered. I volunteered to help the Biden administration place these children with sponsors here in the United States. Asked why she agreed to answer Bidens call, Rodas said it was for the children. I wanted to help the children get reunited with their families, she said. And as a Spanish speaker, not all federal employees speak Spanish and they had an urgent need. It was a humanitarian crisis. And thats what I wanted to do. I wanted to help. After volunteering for the detail, Rodas was brought to the Pomona-Fairplex emergency intake site, a site overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the processing of illegal immigrant children. Rodas reported that, early in the assignment, things were calm: the numbers of illegal immigrant children coming to the facility were relatively low, a few hundred max, and vetting requirements for U.S. sponsors were much more stringent. But as the influx of illegal aliens into the United States picked up, so too did the influx of migrant children into the Pomona site and other processing facilities. I thought all I was going to be doing was essentially coloring, talking with, and maybe teaching the children, Rodas said. But over time, Rodas, aided by her experience as a government watchdog, said she began to pick up on serious ethical concerns in how migrant children were being shuffled out of the facility to questionable sponsors. Eventually, Rodas said she came to the realization that, in prioritizing speed over safety for the children, HHS may have been ultimately enabling and facilitating a massive cartel human smuggling operation. U.S. Government Absolutely Crucial to Cartel Human Smuggling In her interview, Rodas explained that the U.S. federal government has become a crucial middleman for cartels in their human smuggling operations. Asked how it took on this role, Rodas explained, The easiest way to describe it would be beginning with something people are familiar with, which is drug trafficking. When it comes to drug trafficking, cartels have to track and protect the product from the point of origin in Central America up until the end user in the United States. Cartels regularly lose huge amounts of narcotics on the border due to customs and inspections. And even when they get the drugs over the border, a lot can go wrong before the product reaches the end user. Not so with smuggled children, Rodas said. So now when we think of child trafficking, what happens is the trafficker leaves [Central America] with the child. They only have to guard the product to the U.S. border, she said. So then they hand their asset to the U.S. government, who guards their product. They dont have to worry about losing any product as they cross the border because the U.S. is taking their product and protecting it. Later, she emphasized again that Once theyre over the border, they hand the child to the government. So we then take the product so we are securing their investment. We then ship their product to the end user. This is something that I just find so very hard to even to accept. Asked whether this process has become a crucial aspect of cartel smuggling operations, Rodas replied Absolutely. I absolutely believe they see us as part of their business model, she said. We saved them a ton of money. We keep them from losing what they considerI mean, to me, its horrificbut that they consider products or assets. We guard their products and their assets and we deliver them directly. It saves them a lot of money, and we are the middleman because we accept their product from the smuggler at the border. We then turn around and deliver the product to the trafficker on this side. But when she flew out to Pomona, California, Rodas had no idea that this was happening, in part due to the government failing to warn its agents about that prospect. One Sponsor Hosted 6+ Children Rodas suspicions were first aroused while handling the case of two migrant children. In her investigation into the matter, Rodas learned that a sponsor had hosted at least six other children. In part, the confusion was due to the nature of case managers at the facility: they were independent contractor volunteers, with little in the way of training in vetting or security, she said. When we talk about vetting sponsors, these are these case managers. Theyre just regular people, she said. They are not experts in fraud. They are not law enforcement. Its not like theres investigators on the site. These are just regular caseworkers. And in the beginning, Rodas reported, the case managers didnt even have proper supervisors: It was just like a free-for-all. The case, involving a brother and sister, was difficult due to conflicting stories from the home country and the sponsor, and Rodas was brought in to assist. In that case, Rodas said, It was clear there wasnt a real relationship between the children and the sponsor. The sponsor gave conflicting accounts about where the children would be living, leading Rodas to grow suspicious. But at the time, she emphasized, she had no idea that the program she was a part of had enabled trafficking in the pastnor did her colleagues, independent contractor volunteers with minimal experience in security and vetting. The thing thats important to understand is I had no idea one child had ever been trafficked through this program, Rodas said. So HHS knew but I did not know and neither did many of the other people there on the site. After four days of digging, Rodas and her colleagues learned that the same sponsor had hosted at least six other addresses, suggesting that, as suspected, she had no relationship to the children. After investigating further, Rodas made a chilling discovery: with the assistance of the U.S. government, five sponsors alone had taken in 18 children. Immediately after learning about the problem, Rodas in June 2021 submitted a report alleging that the sponsor in question was suspicious. I laid out all the information in a logical manner, Rodas said, adding, I do work in the [inspector general] community after all. When she first presented the case, Rodas was optimistic that it would be resolved. But over time, she realized that HHS knew about the problemand had no intention of addressing it. Speed Over Safety Rodas said that as the influx of illegal migrant children grew heavier, the federal government began to prioritize speed over the safety of children. She reported that HHS, in overseeing the facilities, pushed case managers to have the children processed out of the facility within 1014 days of arrival. This quest for speed came at the cost of childrens well-being, Rodas said. It makes me so emotional thinking about it, she said, reporting that she cried when she first learned of the situation. I knew that they knew [about the trafficking allegations] and they didnt have people on the site who knew anything about child trafficking, Rodas said. And theyre asking us to move kids in 10, 14 days when they know theres bad actors who are getting kids. After 20 years as a public servant driven by the desire to help people, Rodas was devastated when she began to piece together the story of what was happening to migrant children. I mean, Ive dedicated my entire life to serve the federal government. And now Im wondering, Am I on the wrong side? I went through the stages of grief multiple times. Rodas referenced a leaked conference call with Xavier Becerra where Becerra suggested this process was by design: processing children and getting them out of the facilities, Becerra said, needs to be like an assembly line, emphasizing quick results and turnover. But it wasnt only HHS that prioritized processing speed over safety: many of the security failures, Rodas indicated, would not have been possible without a series of directives from the White House. They issued a field guidance that removed even needing to ask who else was in the household, and no more background checks were required on household members, Rodas explained. So in the past, if you, for example, were sponsoring a child, you would need to give the names of every adult over the age of 18. And a background check would need to be done on those adults living in that house. [Biden] did away with all of that. So it was speed over safety. They couldnt possibly do all of those things and meet their speed goals. It would not be possible. Thus, Rodas said, the decision was made to emphasize quick processing over vetting sponsors. 90 Percent of Sponsors Not Legally in US There were other difficulties as well: according to Rodas, more than 90 percent of childrens sponsors were in the country illegally, meaning that they had no easily accessible criminal background sheet. And neither the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, or HHS assisted case managers in vetting sponsors. Rather, case managers relied on unverifiable documents submitted by sponsors to verify their and the childrens identities. Rodas reported that to confirm these identities, sponsors would send in relevant documents via WhatsApp, a communication platform that is popular outside of the United States. Theyre taking a photograph of things and sending it in, so that the case manager has no way to know if this documentation is real, Rodas said. In one case, this resulted in a sponsor in his 20s receiving a 16-year-old girl he claimed was his sister; but that wasnt true, Rodas discovered. DHS and FBI should have absolutely had presence, Rodas said. They should have been the ones doing the background checks and background checks are done on so few of the sponsors. Thats whats astounding. She explained that only the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies would be able to access the high-level information needed to assess an illegal aliens criminal background. Theyre not citizens of the United States. So you wouldnt see [their criminal record] on any regular background check, Rodas explained. To say that they are vetting the sponsors could not possibly be true because we have no access to their criminal history in another country. Unless youre high level, right? And thats how we found out that some of these are very high level actors [who] should not be even in the United States. They should be in prison in their home countries, but should definitely not be getting children. By the end of her time at the Pomona facility, the numbers had risen from a few hundred children a day to as many as 2,000 a day. Overall, Rodas reported that Pomona processed 8,314 children in a six-month span, meaning that upwards of 8,000 children may have been sent to sponsors with no legal presence in the United States. There Is Nothing Humanitarian About This Many Democrats have claimed since President Donald Trump left office that supporting illegal immigration was compassionate or humanitarian. Nothing could be further from the truth, Rodas said: There is nothing humanitarian about this. We are creating a victim population. These children are being exploited. extorted, abused, neglected, Rodas said, again emphasizing, There is nothing humanitarian about this. Every month, Rodas reported, more than 250 children call the HHS hotline to report abuse, neglect, or trafficking. How is it humanitarian to have a 13-year-old child with chemical burns working the night shift in a slaughterhouse? Rodas asked. I have never in my life witnessed anything that I would consider to be as horrific as what were seeing right now. These children are in slave labor. Theyre not just working here. In another case, a teenager died after a 50-foot fall while working on a roof. In still another case, a 16-year-old reported that her sponsor, a woman claiming to be the girls aunt, was pimping her out inside her home. We Dont Get Sued by Traffickers After her initial grief over the revelations, Rodas decided that something had to be done. So, despite the risks of blowing the whistle, Rodas did it. Later, the same sponsor who had already taken in several children, and who first made Rodas suspicious, came up again to take in another child. Now aware of the problem, Rodas went to her supervisor, who also acted as a legal adviser for the facility. She reported going to the supervisor and saying, Hey, I just heard that were sending another child to a sponsor whos already under investigation. Ive always been told that we should do a sanity check. Do we really want to end up on the front page of the Washington Post? This is an area we already have under investigation. Her supervisors response astonished Rodas: Her response to me was, Tara, we only get sued if we keep kids in care too long. We dont get sued by traffickers. She must have seen the look on my face. Because I was like, just stunned. And she leans in and she says, Are we clear? We dont get sued by traffickers.' After this stupefying response, Rodas began working with others in the facility who shared her concerns. The few case managers addressing the issue became known as the Trafficking Team. They called us Richards Angels because one of the federal field specialists on the site was Richard. And so he called me CSI, Rodas said. The name is derived from Charlies Angels, a film series about female private investigators. They called us Richards Angels because we were the ones who were combating all this fraud and trying to rescue the kids. We got kids put in long-term care so they didnt end up going to these evil sponsors. But we knew that there was no way that we were going to be able to fight all the schemesthere were just too many being processed. Punished for Whistleblowing Rodas said that after she made a whistleblower complaint to the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, she faced some backlash from HHS. [HHS] found out that I reached out to the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General. And once they learned that, they took me off the case within 10 days. And then, a week after that, they walked me off the site. She believes she was escorted off-site in full view of her colleagues as an example of what happens to whistleblowers. Rodas was welcomed back with open arms by her inspector general colleagues. Im just fortunate that I still had an agency to go back to who saw that my allegations were so severe, and that it involved the safety of children that, you know, they supported me, Rodas said. But nevertheless, she said the experience has given me a new appreciation for the courage of whistleblowers. Asked about the solution to these problems, Rodas made several recommendations. First, she called on HHS to cease and desist from sending out migrant children until their sponsors are properly vetted. That is the root of the problem, its that theyre giving children to bad actors, she argued. So that would be the first thing to stop. Halt. Keep the children in care. In her opinion, she said HHS must submit to oversight and accountability over the Unaccompanied Children (UC) program. HHS has lost control of the UC program, she said. Finally, Rodas called on Biden to rescind his earlier orders making it easier for sponsors to get access to children without proper vetting. In December 2022, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) in a letter to Becerra, accused HHS of knowingly transferring migrant children to criminals and sex traffickers on the basis of allegations by Rodas and others. Despite originating in the office of a U.S. senator, Becerras agency has apparently ignored the letter. Rodas will testify about these allegations before the House Judiciary Committee on April 26. The Epoch Times has reached out to the HHS for comment. Dr. Anthony Fauci has insisted that he is not to blame for millions of Americans having to go into lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, but acknowledged that something went wrong with the governments response to the pandemic. Fauci made the comments in an interview with The New York Times Magazine on April 25 when questioned about the federal governments heavy-handed approach to various health policies implemented throughout the pandemic, and whether were guided by public health concerns or economic, political, and social realities. I certainly think things could have been done differentlyand betteron both sides, Fauci said. I mean, anybody who thinks that what we or anybody else did was perfect is not looking at reality. Nothing was done perfectly. But what I can say is that, at least to my perceptionthe emphasis strictly on the science and public healththat is what public-health people should do. Im not an economist. Fauci, who headed the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases until late 2022, went on to state that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is not an economic organization and the surgeon general is not an economist and so officials looked at ways to respond to the pandemic from a purely public-health standpoint. It was for other people to make broader assessmentspeople whose positions include but arent exclusively about public health. Those people have to make the decisions about the balance between the potential negative consequences of something versus the benefits of something, Fauci continued. White House chief medical adviser on COVID-19 Dr. Anthony Fauci listens as U.S. President Joe Biden (out of frame) speaks about the 50 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine shot administered in the United States, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington on Feb. 25, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) It Wasnt Fauci According to official CDC statistics, more than 1.1 million Americans have died from COVID-19-related conditions. Throughout the pandemic, the Biden administration has consistently touted vaccinations as helping to lower transmission rates while providing better protection against the virus and rolled out various vaccine mandates. The mandates proved to be polarizing, to say the least, and many Americans who opted not to get vaccinated ultimately lost their jobs. The CDC later acknowledged that strong protection was granted by natural immunity after COVID-19 infection after the health agency conducted a study analyzing COVID-19 cases in California and New York in 2021 from May 30 through November of the same year. That study found that individuals who had not been vaccinated for COVID-19 but were infected previously with the illness were much less likely to test positive for the virus again and also less likely to need hospitalization compared to vaccinated people who had not been infected with COVID-19. Yet while Fauci, who has since retired from government, admitted that its response to COVID-19 could have been better, he insisted that he himself was not to blame for the economic shutdown during the height of the pandemic that left millions stuck at home. But when people say, Fauci shut down the economyit wasnt Fauci. The CDC was the organization that made those recommendations. I happened to be perceived as the personification of the recommendations. But show me a school that I shut down and show me a factory that I shut down. Never. I never did. I gave a public-health recommendation that echoed the CDCs recommendation, and people made a decision based on that. But I never criticized the people who had to make the decisions one way or the other, he said. Children wear a mask and wait for President Joe Biden to visit their pre-kindergarten class at East End Elementary School to highlight the early childhood education proposal in his Build Back Better infrastructure agenda in North Plainfield, N.J., on Oct. 25, 2021. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) When It Comes to Masking, I Dont Know Elsewhere, Fauci touched upon the subject of masking, which has divided both the public and health experts. Initially, Fauci told Americans that it was not necessary to wear a face covering before backtracking and supporting their widespread use in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19. Fauci admitted to The New York Times Magazine that he and other government officials were not fully appreciative of the fact that they were dealing with a highly transmissible virus that was spreading in an unprecedented way. And so it fooled us in the beginning and confused us about the need for masks and the need for ventilation and the need for inhibition of social interaction, he said. I think anything that instigated or intensified the culture wars just made things worse. And I have to be honest with you when it comes to masking, I dont know, he continued. To be clear: Im not someone who doesnt think masks work. I think the science and the data show that they do work, but that they arent perfect and that at the population level the effect can be somewhat small. Faucis comments come shortly after President Joe Biden signed a bill ending the COVID-19 national emergency after three years, although various legal battles regarding masking continue to play out in courts. FBI Issues Warning to Americans Thinking of Traveling to Caribbean Country Tourists walk on the shore of the Raymond les bains beach in Jacmel, Haiti, on June 28, 2013. (Dieu Nalio Chery/AP Photo) The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a warning to American citizens not to go to Haiti amid a surge of violence and kidnapping. While we understand that there are strong ties between Haiti and South Florida, before traveling there one should consider the trauma and financial costs of being kidnapped not only to themselves but to their family and friends as well, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Liz Santamaria told the Miami Herald this week. Last month, two U.S. citizens were kidnapped in Haiti when they visited the country to see relatives and attend a local festival. Jean Dickens Toussaint and his wife, Abigail Toussaint, were released earlier in April after spending a month in captivity. The U.S. State Department currently advises Americans not to go to Haiti due to crime, civil unrest, and kidnappings. The highest-level Do Not Travel warning is in effect for the country. Kidnapping is widespread, and victims regularly include U.S. citizens, the agency warns. Kidnappers may use sophisticated planning or take advantage of unplanned opportunities, and even convoys have been attacked. Kidnapping cases often involve ransom negotiations and U.S. citizen victims have been physically harmed during kidnappings. Victims families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members. If an American citizen decides to go to Haiti for any reason, the agency included a large number of recommended actions that a traveler should take. That includes avoiding demonstrations or crowds, traveling in groups, and not driving through roadblocks. A woman walks past a barricade amid gang violence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 3, 2023. (Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters) Arrange airport transfers and hotels in advance, or have your host meet you upon arrival, it also says. Do not provide personal information to unauthorized individuals (i.e. people without official uniforms or credentials) located in the immigration, customs, or other areas inside or near any airports. If you are being followed as you leave the airport, drive to the nearest police station immediately. Travel by vehicle to minimize walking in public. The Epoch Times has contacted the FBIs national press office for comment. Out-of-Control Violence This week, reports and videos showed alleged gang members being beaten and burned alive by groups of so-called vigilantes in Port-au-Prince, the capital city. An Associated Press reporter said he saw 13 bodies burning in the streets of the capital this week. AP photos, too, showed what appeared to be bodies smoldering under burning tires while a crowd of people watched. Police officers pulled over a bus and confiscated weapons before the suspects were unfortunately lynched by members of the population, said the Haiti National Police in a statement, according to reports. Its unclear how the mob of people captured the suspects and why the police did not intervene. I applaud the considerable and meritorious efforts of the National Police to restore order and peace in our cities and neighborhoods, Prime Minster Ariel Henry wrote in French on Monday night, without mentioning the vigilante executions or unconfirmed reports and videos of cannibalism. There is still a lot to do. Bystanders look at the bodies of alleged gang members that were set on fire by a mob after they were stopped by police while traveling in a vehicle in the Canape Vert area of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on April 24, 2023. (Odelyn Joseph/AP Photo) It was 3 a.m. The gangs invaded us. There was shooting, shooting. This neighborhood is a peaceful area, all the people in the surrounding area are peaceful citizens, a local resident told the AFP news agency. If the gangs come to invade us, we will defend ourselves, we have our own weapons, we have our machetes, we will take their weapons, we will not run away, another 15-year-old Haitian local told AFP. Another, 37-year-old Jeff Ezequiel, told The Associated Press that we are planning to fight and keep our neighborhood clean of these savages. The population is tired and frustrated. Since the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise in mid-2021, violence and lawlessness in Haiticonsidered the poorest country in the Western Hemispherehas spiraled out of control. Criminal gangs, including an organization reportedly led by former police officer Jimmy Barbecue Cherizier, have taken over vast swaths of Haiti, including Port-au-Prince. Gang expansion into areas previously considered safe has been alarming, said the United Nations Security Council in a report released on Tuesday. Reported killings from January to March 31 have risen by more than 20 percent compared with the last quarter of 2022, and 637 kidnappings have been reported so far this year, an increase of 63 percent compared with the last three months of 2022, the report stated. Meanwhile, Haitis National Police has been decimated in recent years. The country only has 1.2 officers per 1,000 inhabitants of more than 11 million people, while the police remain under resourced and face overwhelming odds in their struggle to keep gangs from tightening their grip on the country, the U.N. report stated. This week, amid the violence, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the immediate deployment of an international armed force to Haiti and said that violence in Port-au-Prince has reached levels comparable to countries in armed conflict, AFP reported. The Associated Press contributed to this report. FBI May Have Been Unaware of Chinas Secret Police Stations: House Select Committee FBI Director Christopher Wray speaks during a press conference to announce an international ransomware enforcement action at the Justice Department in Washington on Jan. 26, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) The congressional committee tasked with overseeing the threat posed by Chinas communist regime is demanding answers from the FBI, saying the bureau may have been unaware of secret Chinese police stations on U.S. soil until public reporting broke the story. The House Select Committee on Strategic Competition with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sent a letter to the FBI on April 26 requesting that FBI Director Christopher Wray account for the bureaus alleged failure to meaningfully inform the committee with details of its investigative practices on the matter. We expressed our concern that the FBI was not aware of the presence of [Chinese] law enforcement officials in the United States and acted only after a think tank reported on open-source information, the letter reads, referencing previous correspondence between the committee and the FBI. The committee sent the letter soon after the April 17 arrest of two alleged agents of the CCP who are charged with establishing an overseas police station in New York from which they carried out a systematic campaign of repression against Chinese dissidents. The select committees letter states that when the FBI provided a classified briefing on the matter in March, it failed to provide any substantive insight into the issue or its methods for countering it. We are disappointed that the briefing failed to provide a response to any of our questions listed in our initial letter and that it did not inform Select Committee Members about the FBIs efforts to address the very significant threat of transnational repression by the CCP, the letter reads. We were disappointed that the FBI provided only vague informationvirtually all of which could be found in public reporting. FBI May Not Have Known The two people arrestedLu Jianwang and Chen Jinpingallegedly conspired to work as agents of the CCP and took orders from the regime to track down and silence Chinese dissidents living in the United States, according to prosecutors. The police station they established in New York is believed to be one of more than 100 such stations operated by the CCPs agents throughout the world, according to Safeguard Defenders, a Spain-based nonprofit. Despite this massive presence, however, the FBI didnt conduct a raid of the station until October 2022, one month after the existence of the facility was made public by Safeguard Defenders. The select committee is therefore demanding from Wray a straightforward answer as to whether the FBI ever had knowledge of the facility or merely acted in reaction to public investigations. The threat of [Chinese communist] transnational repression schemes that target U.S. citizensprimarily Chinese Americansundermines the foundational American principles of freedom and liberty, the letter reads. United States law enforcement agencies must hold these perpetrators to account and better protect the U.S. from future threats. FBI officials didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. Feds Enter New Deal With Gun Group in Step Toward Firearms Buyback Program: Mendicino Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says a new agreement the government has entered into with an association that represents Canadas hunting and sport-shooting industry is a significant milestone in Ottawas move to implement a buyback program for restricted guns. Mendicino told reporters in Ottawa on April 26 that the new agreement with the Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association (CSAAA) will help the federal government with identifying the number and location of banned guns currently being held by firearms businesses across the country in order to streamline the process of buying them back. The Liberal government banned around 1,500 firearms models deemed to be assault-style in May 2020 through an Order in Council, and cabinet outlawed the buying, selling, and transferring of new handguns in Canada in November 2022 through an order made under the Firearms Act. Both orders would be enshrined in law if the governments pending Bill C-21 passes. The CSAAA said in a statement posted to Twitter on April 26 that it is representing the interests of licensed businesses through its involvement with the buyback program and said it aims to help negotiate fair compensation and a simple process for businesses struggling through this challenging regulatory environment. It added that it will be participating in the buyback only as it applies to firearms businesses and not individuals. Despite its involvement, the association also said it remains skeptical as to the viability of this industry buyback program due to positive changes in provincial legislation, the absence of Federal budgetary allocation, and the lack of a concrete process of implementation. Ottawas Firearms Buyback Program is one of several options the Liberal government gives owners of legally acquired guns that fall under the ban in order to yield possession of their firearms. They can deliver the guns to police for destruction, legally export them, or sell them back to the government. In his update on April 26, Mendicino said the CSAAA has already identified approximately 11,000 assault-style firearms including, parts and components, within the existing inventory of firearms vendors across the country. These are the first assault-style firearms bought back under the program and show that we are moving forward with this landmark federal initiative, he said. The CSAAA said shortly after the announcement that it has not yet collected or provided any data to Public Safety Canada concerning the number of banned firearms held by vendors across the country. The association said in a Twitter post on April 26 it is not aware of where the 11,000-gun figure referenced by Mendicino came from. The CSAAA will only be collecting data on inventory levels and values of that inventory from dealers/distributors that wish to provide this information, the association said. If a dealer/distributor is not sure how to determine the value of their inventory we will assist with that as well. Buyback Program Mendicino also said in the announcement that Ottawa expects the buyback programs first phasewhich will focus on Canadas firearms industryto begin later this year, while the second phase focused on buying back guns from individual firearms owners will launch after that. Mendicino also said the program would be implemented in close coordination with law enforcement. Several provinces have already said they will not cooperate with Ottawas plan to confiscate firearms within their area of jurisdiction. The governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and the Yukon have voiced their opposition to the federal buyback program. The provincial governments in a joint statement also called on Ottawa to halt its plans to use scarce RCMP and municipal police resources to confiscate more than 100,000 legally acquired firearms from Canadians. Reporters asked Mendicino on April 26 how the federal government plans on implementing the national buyback program amid heavy provincial opposition, particularly in Alberta. Mendicino said some provinces, such as Quebec and British Columbia, support the program and added that Ottawa is working very closely with the other provinces and territories opposed to it. All levels of government have a responsibility to acknowledge that weve got to tackle gun crime together, he said. Were going to work with Alberta, he added. Were going to work with all partners from provinces and territories to do this work. Noe Chartier and Isaac Teo contributed to this report. Foreign Interference in Ridings: Former Tory Campaign Manager Provides Partys List Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole, then-Chief of Staff Tausha Michaud and then-Campaign Manager Fred DeLorey wait to cross a road as they walk to National Caucus Wednesday September 9, 2020 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) The former national campaign manager for the Conservative Party during the 2021 election has named every riding where the party believes there was outside interference. Fred DeLorey provided the information during his testimony before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) on April 25. DeLorey said there were rumblings about foreign interference during the contest, but they were anecdotal at best. However, after the campaign was concluded, we noticed some results that felt off, and thats when internal rumblings of foreign interference became much louder, he said. DeLorey said based on that information he tasked field operations teams to report to him on the matter. This resulted in a memo, which he read during his introductory remarks before the committee. There was a strong case to be made that there was a degree of influence exerted by an outside actor in the Chinese community during the 44th general election, says the memo. The memo adds that there is a belief that this influence negatively impacted Conservatives in a number of ridings. In B.C., those ridings are Metro Vancouver, Richmond Centre, Steveston-Richmond East, CoquitlamPort Coquitlam, and FleetwoodPort Kells. In the Greater Toronto Area, the ridings are Markham-Stouffville, MarkhamUnionville, Richmond Hill, Willowdale, Don Valley North, ScarboroughAgincourt, AuroraOak RidgesRichmond Hill, NewmarketAurora, and to a certain extent Mississauga Centre. The memo read by DeLorey spoke of Conservative Party content on the Chinese app WeChat being targeted or suppressed. He says party representatives provided the information to the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force. The representatives were informed that there were legislative gaps, and there was nothing that could be done, said DeLorey. Former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu says he lost his riding of Steveston-Richmond East in the 2021 election due to disinformation spread about him in Chinese-language media. Its not just WeChat, its not just social media, its multi-dimensional. Its on the airwaves that the [Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission] is supposed to be regulating, its on printed media, its also on websites, he told the Commons ethics committee on March 31. Former Conservative leader Erin OToole has previously said that some ridings were lost in 2021 due to Chinese interference. While a guest on the podcast of Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith in June 2022, he talked of losing eight or nine seats. The information provided by DeLorey to the committee speaks of 13 to 14 ridings. Despite bringing this information to the committee, DeLorey said in a column published in the Toronto Star on March 5 that he doesnt believe this impacted the outcome of the election. I can confirm, without a shadow of a doubt, that the outcome of the election, which resulted in the Liberals forming government, was not influenced by any external meddling, he wrote. DeLorey said he still stands by that claim when asked about it by Liberal MP Ryan Turnbull at the PROC committee meeting. There does seem to be a concern that there may have been possible foreign interference, but if you looked at the seat difference between us and the Liberals, if you change every seat that could be up in the air, Liberals are still the government, he said. Former Governor Asa Hutchinson Kicks Off Presidential Campaign in Arkansas Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson formally launched his 2024 presidential campaign April 26, positioning himself as a consistent conservative fighting for the future of the United States and the soul of the Republican Party. Today, I am announcing that I am a candidate for president of the United States, Hutchinson told supporters in his hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas. In this campaign for president, I stand alone in terms of my experience, my record, and leadership. On April 2, Hutchinson declared his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in an ABC News interview, stating that he felt he had the leadership experience to get the country back on track. In addition to his two terms as governor, he also served as a U.S. congressman and held leadership positions at the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Homeland Security in the George W. Bush administration. This campaign is about courage, Hutchinson said. It is about making the tough decisions to rebuild our economy, to give peace a chance through Americas strength, and to renew the American spirit of freedom, opportunity, and the rule of law. And weve got our work cut out for us. A Change in Direction Hutchinsons formal announcement came on the heels of that of President Joe Biden, who announced his reelection campaign April 25. Charging that the Biden administration had turned its back on the American people, Hutchinson stressed that the nations leadership needed to abandon excessive spending habits and return to the practice of fiscal responsibility. And a secure southern border, unrestrained energy production, and stronger opposition to China and other adversaries, he added, would be welcome improvements. When the Biden administration conducted its disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, we left our friends abandoned and our allies confused, he said. America looked weak, and that weakness was seen as an opportunity for Russia to invade Ukraine, and then for China to threaten and be aggressive toward Taiwan. Let me assure you, as president, I will bring out the best of America. We will stand with our allies, and we will stand with our friends. Hutchinson also criticized the current administrations lack of action on rampant crime, vowing to uphold the rule of law. However, one matter the Republican seemed to agree with Biden on was the Russia-Ukraine war. Dismissing the concerns of those who would prefer that the United States stay out of foreign military conflicts, he argued that the best way to avoid a long war in Ukraine was to help Ukraine win today. Criticism of Trump One presidential candidate who has been outspoken about his non-interventionist views is former President Donald Trump. Although Hutchinson did not mention Trump by name April 26, he has not shied away from criticizing the 45th president in the media. In announcing his candidacy earlier this month, Hutchinson called upon Trump to drop out of the race, describing the recently unsealed falsification of business records charges against the former president as a distraction. Im convinced that people want leaders that appeal to the best of America and not simply appeal to our worst instincts, he added. Reiterating his belief that the country is ready to move on from past political candidates, Hutchinson said: I am confident that America is ready to seek new frontiers and that we are ready to channel the restless ways of our democracy into more freedom and more prosperity for those who follow after us. I am running for president of the United States because I know that the best of America is ahead of us. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Fox News Ratings Take a Hit After Tucker Carlson Exit After Tucker Carlsons sudden exit from Fox News, the network suffered a loss in ratings on Monday night. The networks 8 p.m. hour had a noticeably smaller audience on Monday night, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The debut of a replacement program, Fox News Tonight that was hosted by Brian Kilmeade, pulled in 2.6 million viewers, or about 20 percent below the average for Tucker Carlson Tonight over the past two months or so. Kilmeade is the first of what Fox News said is many rotating hosts who will be featured on the program until a replacement is named. Normally, Kilmeade hosts Foxs morning program. As you probably have heard, Fox News and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways, he told viewers on Monday night, adding: I wish Tucker the best. Im great friends with Tucker and always will be. But right now, its time for Fox News Tonight, so lets get started. MSNBC saw 1.51 million viewers during the same time slot, while CNN saw 728,000 viewers, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Newsmax saw an increase in viewership for its 8 p.m. ET timeslot program, Eric Bolling the Balance, which netted 531,000 viewers. For years, Carlsons show has dominated cable news and, in recent months, was bested only by another Fox News program, The Five, which recently saw an uptick in viewership. Analysts said that Carlsons exit will have a sizeable impact on Fox Newsnot just ratings. Its a huge deal, said Matthew Tuttle, the head of Tuttle Capital Management, an investment firm that is betting against Fox Corporation shares, according to Reuters. The 8 pm slot is important and they will lose viewers in that spot. He then issued a warning to Fox: They need to find another Carlson, that is going to be the problem. They need to pull a rabbit out of the hat. A company spokesperson told Reuters that Fox News has been number one for 22 years and that Mondays show was not only top across the board, but grew from the last show hosted by Carlson, pointing to Nielsen data that showed it pulled in about 2.6 million viewers. Meanwhile, Fox has not issued a comment on Carlsons departure other than a statement thanking him for his contributions over the years, while announcing his final show was last Friday. As for Carlson, he issued a brief comment to a Daily Mail reporter near his Florida home and said that retirement is going great so far, without elaborating. We have some news from within our Fox family, Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner said on the air Monday. Fox News media and Tucker Carlson have mutually agreed to part ways. Fox News has survived a range of high-profile exits in the past decade or so. In 2017, former top-rated host Bill OReilly was forced out of the company amid allegations of misconduct, while former host Glenn Beck departed several years before that, and the channel lost star Megyn Kelly to NBC in 2017 after she expressed displeasure with managerial decisions at the network. Reacting to Carlsons exit, Kelly said on her conservative-leaning podcast Monday that it was a serious mistake to let Carlson go. Of note, Carlson was the highest-rated cable news program in the key 25-to-54 age demographic on Fox News and averaged 3.4 million viewers overall in March, according to Nielsen data cited by Reuters. I dont know what drove Fox News to make this decision. And it was clearly Fox Newss decision because theyre not letting him say goodbye, Kelly said Monday. Thats my supposition. Thats not inside knowledge talk about misjudging your audience yet again. At the same time, conservatives and Republican voters have become increasingly critical of the channel since its coverage of the 2020 election between former President Donald Trump and then-Democratic candidate Joe Biden. This week, a range of conservative influencers and some Republican politicians wrote on social media that they wont be watching Fox News, moving forward. For a while, Fox News has been moving to become establishment media, and Tucker Carlsons removal is a big milestone in that effort, Christopher Ruddy, the CEO of Newsmax, said on Monday. Carlsons departure, he claimed, will cause more viewers to flock to Newsmax over Fox News. The Epoch Times has contacted Fox News for comment. BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A symposium will be held on Friday in Beijing to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Wang-Koo Talks, a historic meeting that marked a major step forward for cross-Strait relations, a Chinese mainland spokesperson said Wednesday. In April 1993, Wang Daohan, then head of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), and Koo Chen-fu, then chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation, held a productive meeting in Singapore, establishing institutionalized mechanisms for contact and consultation between the two sides. The Wang-Koo Talks were the first high-level meeting held between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan in the name of the authorized non-governmental organizations since 1949, said Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. Friday's symposium will be hosted by the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office, in collaboration with the ARATS, she said at a press conference. The Wang-Koo Talks set a precedent for high-level contact, dialogue and equal-footed consultation across the Taiwan Strait, highlighted the importance of the 1992 Consensus as the foundation for cross-Strait consultation, and demonstrated that the Chinese people on both sides have the ability and wisdom to properly handle their own affairs, Zhu said. Calling for efforts to draw from the historical experience of the Wang-Koo Talks, Zhu stressed the importance of upholding the political foundation of the 1992 Consensus, following the right direction of peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and protecting the interests and well-being of people on both sides, in an effort to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Fox Takes a Huge Hit Following Tucker Carlsons Departure Fox Corporations stock plunged by more than 5 percent on Monday after Fox News host Tucker Carlsons surprise exit was announced, initially wiping out nearly $1 billion from its market value. Combining its Class A and B shares, the company saw $900 million wiped off its market value and by late afternoon trading, its Class B shares were down 3.3 percent, which is equivalent to a loss of about $650 million of shareholder value. Shares of the company have recovered somewhat but are currently trading at $29.72, down 0.64 percent, while its market cap is now $16.69 billion, down from $17.29 billion prior to the announcement, a difference of around $600 million. Carlson had been Fox Networks most popular individual host and his program, Tucker Carlson Tonight, was among the most popular across all of cable television, often bringing in more than 3 million viewers per episode. In March, his show beat off a string of competitors including CNN and MSNBC to draw the highest audience on cable television, averaging 3.251 million viewers per show, according to Nielsen data. The drop in stock price came after Fox News on April 24 confirmed that it had parted ways with the popular primetime host in a short statement offering little explanation as to why. No Word From Carlson, Fox FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways. We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor, a news release from the news channel stated. The company went on to note that Carlsons last program was aired on April 21 and that an interim show helmed by rotating FOX News personalities will begin immediately until a new host is named. Prior to the surprise announcement, Carlson had signed off his show on Friday saying he would be back Monday, leaving many to speculate that he was not aware of the planned departure. Neither Carlson nor Fox has publicly addressed his departure since it was announced. Meanwhile, many avid Fox viewers have taken to social media to declare that they have canceled their subscriptions to the channel amid a widespread boycott. Lawmakers weighed in on the surprise decision, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), writing on Twitter, Cable news is about to be taught a powerful lesson after Fox News caved to the woke mob and fired Tucker Carlson. Americans no longer blindly watch the news like they did decades ago, they only watch the ones who have courage to tell the truth. Americans are about to quit watching, she added. Fox Stock, Viewings Will Take Time to Recover Elsewhere, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) wrote on Twitter: I cannot overstate the importance that @TuckerCarlson had on public policy choices we made in the government. Millions of Americans, myself included, tuned in every night to hear him share unapologetic conservative values. We will continue to follow him wherever he goes next! Investors and analysts also believe Carlsons shock exit from the company will likely impact short-term ratings but could prompt more mainstream advertisers who previously snubbed the network to find it more attractive. Its a huge deal, said Matthew Tuttle, head of Tuttle Capital Management, an investment firm that is betting against Fox shares. The 8 p.m. slot is important and they will lose viewers in that spot. They need to find another Carlson, that is going to be the problem. They need to pull a rabbit out of the hat. Elsewhere, KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst Brandon Nispel said that Fox News is in rebuilding mode and it will likely see viewings take a hit while its stock takes some time to recover from the initial loss. We wonder what Fox is going to tell advertisers. Its likely that advertisers who were seeking that audience may have limited other options for conservative news viewership without skewing too conservative, he said. However, Nispel acknowledged that Foxs market valuation drop seems fairly high. Reuters contributed to this report. GM to End Chevy Bolt EV Production by End of This Year The Chevrolet Bolt EV is pictured at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, Calif., on Nov. 16, 2016. (Mike Blake/Reuters) General Motors said on April 25 it will end production of Chevrolet Bolt models at the plant in Orion Township, Michigan, later this year as it shifts zero-emission production to trucks and SUVs built on a new battery platform. We have progressed so far that its now time to plan to end the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EU production, which will happen at the very end of the year, GM CEO Mary Barra told investors. The Bolt, which starts at $26,500 and qualifies for a $7,500 federal tax credit, is currently GMs top-selling electric vehicle (EV) and accounts for more than 90 percent of all GM EV sales in the country. In 2022, the auto giant sold 38,120 Bolt EVs, up from 24,828 in 2011. In the first quarter of 2023, GM sold 19,700 Bolt EVs. The company plans to produce more than 70,000 vehicles this year, aiming to sell more than 400,000 EVs in North America from early 2022 through mid-2024. GM expects to increase capacity to 1 million units annually in North America in 2025. As the Bolt is phased out, the company is rolling out an electric Chevy Equinox EV that will start around $30,000 later this year, and its working on a lower-cost EV with Honda. Workers assemble Chevy Bolt EV cars at the General Motors assembly plant in Orion Township, Michigan, on Nov. 4, 2016. (Joe White/Reuters) The plant that produced Bolt vehicles will be converted to make electric pickup trucks starting in 2024. Through an investment of around $4 billion, the site will be prepared to produce Chevrolet Silverado EV and electric GMC Sierra using the next-generation Ultium EV platform. GM said its Detroit-Hamtramck and Orion plants will be able to build more than 600,000 electric trucks a year by late 2024. Barra said employment will nearly triple when the Orion plant reopens in 2024 and reaches full production. The automaker expects its battery plant in Warren, Ohio, to reach full capacity by year-end, according to Barra. First introduced in 2016, the Chevy Bolt was intended to be the automakers first stab at a mass-market purely battery-electric vehicle with 200-plus miles of range and an affordable price tag. The company released a refreshed model and a slightly larger EUV version in early 2021. The Bolt is one of the reasons why GM is a top market leader in the EV market, GM CEO Mary Barra said on Tuesday. In August 2021, GM announced a $2-billion recall campaign it expanded to cover all of the 140,000 Bolt vehicles it had produced over battery fire risks. The recall prompted GM to halt Bolt production and sales for over six months. GM battery partner LG Electronics Inc. agreed to reimburse the automaker for $1.9 billion in costs connected to the Bolt recall, the Korean company said in 2021. Though the Michigan automaker relies heavily on sales from gas- and diesel-powered trucks and SUVs, the company announced two years ago that it was setting a goal of producing only EVs by 2035. Reuters contributed to this report. Gov Gen Mary Simon Arrives in Yellowknife Ahead of German Presidents Visit Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane, left, and Governor General Mary Simon, right, share a laugh as Simon's husband, Whit Fraser, signs the guest book at the Northwest Territories legislative assembly in Yellowknife, April 25, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Emily Blake) Gov. Gen. Mary Simon arrived in Yellowknife today to begin an official visit to the Northwest Territories, a day ahead of a visit from Germanys president. Simon and her husband Whit Fraser were greeted by Margaret Thom, commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and they discussed youth and education in the territory. They also met with Premier Caroline Cochrane and signed the guest book at the territorys legislative assembly. The governor general is expected to deliver remarks at an official reception this evening. On Wednesday, Simon is scheduled to welcome President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Joint Task Force North headquarters and take part in a briefing with senior officials. They will then head to the hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk to meet with Indigenous leaders and community members and learn about the impacts of climate change on the region. Government Watchdog Sounds Alarm on Biden Admins Cyber Strategy: Lacks Milestones, Performance Measures, Resources Comptroller General Gene Dodaro of the Government Accountability Office testifies during a hearing before the Coronavirus Crisis Subcommittee of House Oversight and Reform Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 26, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) The Biden administrations cyber strategy lacks milestones, performance measures, resources needed to carry out goals and objectives, and fully defined roles and responsibilities, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). In a report released by the House Oversight Committee ahead of an April 26 hearing with Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, the GAO poked holes in the White Houses National Cybersecurity Strategy, which was released on March 2. While the GAO acknowledged that the strategy provides a good foundation for addressing the nations cyber risks and challenges, it does not address all of the desirable characteristics of national strategies. The GAO went on to say that while the cybersecurity strategy states there would be cooperation between the Office of the National Cyber Director, which is part of the Executive Office of the President, and federal agencies to develop an implementation plan to articulate the lines of effort needed to execute this strategy, the overall progress in strengthening cybersecurity will remain limited. The GAO made recommendations for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to carry out its mission. GAO stated that CISA has to complete its organizational transformation to ensure that sufficient resources are properly allocated to the agencys cybersecurity services; improve interagency coordination to better assist tribal, state, local, and territorial government organizations in preventing and responding to ransomware attacks; and establish timelines for its efforts to provide guidance that would help agencies tasked with protecting critical infrastructure implement their statutory responsibilities. Additional actions required in addressing cybersecurity at the federal level include establishing and effectively implementing a government-wide cyber workforce plan and fully developing agency cyber risk management and privacy programs, according to the GAO. Until our recommendations are implemented and actions are taken to address long-standing challenges in this area, the federal governments information systems and the nations critical infrastructure will be increasingly susceptible to the multitude of cyber-related threats that exist. The Epoch Times has reached out to the White House, the National Security Council, and CISA for comment. The GAO released its annual High Risk List on April 26, addressing which government programs are highly inefficient and need to be significantly improved. The 37 areas contained on this list represent programs within the federal government where there is a high risk for fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement, said House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) during the hearing. The list measures progress and deficiencies so that Congress can take action to conduct meaningful oversight and make those programs more efficient. A new study involving more than 10,000 young children has found a connection between ear, nose, and throat (ENT) issues in early childhood and autism in later life. While the causes of autism are likely a combination of genetic and environmental factors, early identification and treatment of ENT conditions could have long-term benefits on childrens quality of life and potentially provide more insight into the origin of autism, the scientists said. For their study, scientists at the University of Bristol and Aston University in the United Kingdom analyzed data from more than 10,000 children enrolled in a multi-generational medical research project, where the participants were closely monitored throughout the first four years of their life. The childrens mothers completed three questionnaires when their children became 18, 30, and 42 months old, which were designed to record the frequency of signs and symptoms related to ENT or any hearing problems. When their children reached ages 3, 6, and 9, the mothers completed another three questionnaires designed to detect behavioral traits characteristic of autism. Overall, scientists identified 177 children with a probable diagnosis of autism, including 139 boys and 38 girls. They also found that certain ENT symptomsnotably breathing through the mouth, snoring, ear pulling or poking, ears going red, deterioration of hearing during a cold, ear discharge, and rarely listeningwere more commonly associated with high levels of autistic traits in aspects like speech coherence, social and communication issues, repetitive and abnormal behaviors, and sociability. The results also showed that children with pus or sticky discharge from their ears were more than three times as likely to have traits associated with autism, specifically poor speech coherence. Those with deteriorated hearing during a cold were more than twice as likely to do so. However, the scientists noted that these ENT symptoms are common in childhood, and only a small portion of children who had them were eventually diagnosed with autism. These ENT signs and symptoms are very common in childhood, and most children who experience them do not go on to be diagnosed with autism, the studys authors said in a press release. For example, of the group of around 1,700 children who snored at age 30 months, most (1,660) werent diagnosed with autism later on. With that said, they concluded that the associations they found may be important because (1) these ear and respiratory signs may be early markers of increased risk of autism, (2) they may inform the origins of autism, or (3) they may highlight co-occurring conditions that if treated may lead to a better quality of life for children with autism. It is not possible to determine whether these ENT conditions have a causal role in the development of autistic traits or are related to an unmeasured factor, they added. One possibility, for example, could be the consequence of the increased prevalence of minor physical anomalies in individuals with autism, including anatomical differences in the structure and/or positioning of the ear, with such differences in ear morphology increasing the risk of ENT conditions. The study was published on April 24 online in the open-access journal BMJ Open. There is no evidence that shielding benefited vulnerable people as a COVID-19 pandemic response, according to a new study. A new study of health data has examined the policy of shielding those deemed clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) to the virus, with the studys main author claiming the UK government policy was sort of made up at the time and implemented. Shielding involves minimising the interaction between CEV persons and others. Top oncologist Angus Dalgleish, who has called for the COVID-19 vaccine programme to be halted, told The Epoch Times that he was not surprised by the results of the study, and that governments caused more harm than good. Great Barrington Declaration author and Stanford Medical School epidemiologist Jay Bhattacharya echoed the same sentiment to The Epoch Times. A research team from Swansea University examined data from the year after the policy was introduced in March 2020, and concluded that a lack of clear impact on infection rates raises questions about the success of shielding. The team compared the 117,000 people shielding in Wales with the rest of the population, some 3 million in total, who were not. Shielding Shielding was introduced at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, with health authorities claiming that it was one of the few interventions available to support those who were considered to be most at risk of serious illness from the virus. The government guidance on shielding for Wales and England ended in 2021. The study also found that the COVID-19 rate was higher among those shielding at 5.9 percent, compared to 5.7 percent for those not who did not implement the measure. It said that shielded people and their families made great efforts to isolate and protect themselves from COVID-19 infection and subsequent harms, including death. However, such isolation and restrictions on going out may have affected the mental and physical health of people included in this public health policy intervention, without evidence so far of substantive protective effects. The researchers concluded that a lack of clear impact on infection rates raises questions about the success of shielding and indicates that further research is required to fully evaluate this national policy intervention. Shielding was an untested public health policy that was introduced in the United Kingdom early in the pandemic, in contrast to other countries where there was more focus on closing borders, lockdown, test and trace systems, the authors added. The shielding policy was based on assumptions rather than evidence of effectiveness, they said. A man is seen wearing a face mask during the CCP virus pandemic in Sheffield, England, on Oct. 22, 2020. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Professor Helen Snooks of Swansea University Medical School, who led the research, said: Our study found no evidence of reduced COVID-19 infections one year after shielding was introduced. This raises questions about the benefits of shielding for vulnerable people as a policy. Talking to the BBC about the research, Snooks said that for a particular person, it may have been the best thing to do. What we evaluated was the policy of writing to people and recommending very strongly that they stay at home. It wasnt underpinned at that time by any evidence. It was sort of made up at the time and implemented. Locked Themselves Away Angus Dalgleish, professor of oncology at St. Georges Hospital Medical School London, is renowned for his groundbreaking work on HIV/AIDS. Dalgleish told The Epoch Times by email that the studys findings were not surprising. Everything the government did had no scientific basis, including lockdowns, shielding, masks and, I would add to that, the vaccine programme, which has clearly caused more harm than good, he said. They should have done what I and others advised: top-up vitamin D3 levels and treat early symptoms as you would any other airborne infectionaspirin, mouthwash, intranasal interferon, and becotide, he said. Now we hear that mask-wearing has caused increased pneumonia, long COVID symptoms, and cognitive decline, said Dalgleish. Professor Jay Bhattacharya, who authored the Great Barrington Declaration, told The Epoch Times by email that the study demonstrates that the steps that Wales took to shield vulnerable people did not protect them from contracting COVID-19. The policy, as described in the study paper, involved sending high risk individuals a letter advising them to stay at home and self-isolate. It is not surprising that such a policy, which apparently provided no other guidance or support for these populations, failed to protect them, he said. Bhattacharya said that the Great Barrington Declaration, which was coauthored by epidemiologists Sunetra Gupta and Martin Kulldorff, provided concrete suggestions for better protecting vulnerable individuals during times of high community spread, including sabbatical time for vulnerable workers, better protection of care homes, free delivery of foods, etc. It should be noted also that the lockdowns in 2020 and into 2021 that Wales implemented also tragically failed to protect vulnerable people, he added. Dr. Tony Hinton, an NHS consultant in ear, nose, and throat surgery who has openly questioned COVID-19 narratives in the British medical community, also told The Epoch Times by email that he was not surprised by the study. Hinton has been vocal about the harms of lockdowns on children, and has repeatedly stated that children must not be given the COVID-19 jab. Some people basically locked themselves away for two years, and there was no science to support the policy. A much better approach would have been to give all elderly and vulnerable people vitamin D supplements of 4,000 units a day, he wrote. This could have been sent out free of charge and would have cost a few million pounds, Hinton stated, noting that the total budget for the entire NHS Test and Trace program in its first two years was 37 billion. 37 billion was wasted on test and trace for no benefit, he said. The Welsh government did not respond to The Epoch Times request for comment. A Welsh government spokesperson told the BBC: The introduction of shielding was one of a number of public health interventions made to keep Wales safe that followed medical and scientific advice. We will continue to review evidence as we learn from the protective interventions and mitigations applied during the COVID-19 response. The Epoch Times also contacted the British government regarding Dalgleishs comments. House Republicans Allege ATF Overstepped Authority With Pistol Brace Rules Justin Barrett, owner of Barrett Outdoors in Durant, Okla., displays an AK pistol with a stabilizing brace. On the counter next to him is a similar brace for an AR15 pistol. (Michael Clements/The Epoch Times) Congressional Republicans grilled the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) during an April 26 hearing of the House Judiciary Committee. Director Steven Dettelbach was called to answer questions about the ATF rule on stabilizing pistol braces and its so-called zero tolerance policy for federal firearms licensed dealers (FFLs). Dettelbach has steadfastly claimed that ATF is enforcing the National Firearms Act as it was written and passed by Congress. He stated that the ATF is motivated by one goal. Everything we do begins and ends with public safety, Dettelbach said. We must do that while respecting our citizens constitutional rights, and we can. The rule and policy cited by the committee have been serious points of contention between Second Amendment Advocates and ATF over the past couple of years. Steven Dettelbach testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation hearing to be the next director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 25, 2022. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Democrats accused Republicans of ignoring the problem of gun violence, saying that stabilizing braces had been used in recent mass shootings. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) said, if the Republicans have their way, local law enforcement agencies would lose a valuable resource. My friends on the other side of the aisle want to abolish the ATF, she said. Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) denied that he wants to shut down the ATF. Buck said he wants the agency to get back to enforcing the law and to let the Legislative Branch write the law. According to Buck, legislators are directed by their constituents, [and] the ATF should be directed by the law. When we pass a law, we have a consensus in this country. When you pass a rule, you dont, Buck told Dettelbach. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) delivers remarks during a House Select Committee hearing on the Jan. 6 Capitol breach in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, on Oct. 13, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said Republicans are pursuing policies to protect the firearms industry to the detriment of society. Im sure they dont actually want more cops and kids to die, but its the effect of their actions, of their inactions, Schiff said. Republicans countered that the ATF had issued conflicting rules leaving Americans unsure of whether they are in compliance with the law from one day to the next. Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) cited conflicting letters ATF issued concerning pistol braces. He said ATFs flip-flopping will make many law-abiding citizens into felons. You told them not once, but twice, that it was OK. Im just asking, does it bother you now that youre making a change that will impact millions of Americans? Jordan asked. Dettelbach said the braces changed over time. He said the first pistol brace presented to ATF is different from subsequent iterations and it was necessary to address the individual products as they were presented. Stabilizing Braces Invented in 2012 The stabilizing pistol brace was introduced in 2012 to assist shooters with disabilities and others who may need help shooting large-format pistols. The brace attaches to the rear of the pistol and the shooters forearm. In 2014, the ATF received requests from law enforcement and firearms dealers about the possible reclassification of pistols equipped with stabilizers as short-barreled rifles (SBR). SBRs are illegal under the National Firearms Act (NFA). The ATF issued a series of open letters stating that the braces did not change pistols into SBR. However, the most recent rule said that changes in the braces design and information disseminated on how to use them make clear that the items turn pistols into prohibited SBRs. Individuals who own pistols equipped with braces have until May 31 to register their weapon, remove the brace or install a longer barrel on the gun. IN-DEPTH: Battle for the HeartlandHow US Farmland is Quietly Falling Into Chinese Hands Chinese ownership of US agricultural lands saw 5000% increase in one decade Dust rises from a combine during barley harvest in Reardan, Washington, on Sept. 26, 2016. In one decade, Chinese ownership of U.S. agricultural lands increased by over 5000 percent. (Getty Images) The valleys give way to the prairies and the prairies give way to the badlands where fields of golden cinquefoils surrender to the might of towering plateaus of striated bedrock. The rugged openness of South Dakota presents the quintessential image of the American countryside, a pure distillation of the natural environment that captured the pioneers hope for a better future all those years ago. But how long this countryside remains American is now an open question in these parts. Thats because Chinese-owned entities, some linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), have been purchasing land here in South Dakota and elsewhere in the country at a breathtaking pace for more than a decade. Some of the land they gobble up is for farming, other acreage is allotted for energy use, and still more parcels are forebodingly adjacent to sensitive U.S. military sites. Indeed, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates (pdf) that Chinese holdings of U.S. agricultural lands reached more than 352,000 acres in 2020, up more than 5,300 percent from the less than 14,000 acres owned in 2010. To stem the growing incursion, state governments from across the nation are working desperately to craft legislation that would end the trend once and for all. Too often however, those efforts are met with stolid resistance from entrenched business interests and, as was the case in South Dakota, are ultimately abandoned to placate private interests. A Permanent Spy Balloon Adam Savit heads the China Policy division of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), a conservative think tank tasked with the mission of advancing policies that put American citizens rights and well-being before other considerations. He believes that the continued acceptance of CCP-backed acquisitions of U.S. land are an affront to American laws and norms, as well as a violation of equitable international practice. To allow the regime to continue investing in U.S. land and resources, while U.S. companies are barred from doing the same in China, he says, runs counter to the value of reciprocity that so much international trust is necessarily built on. If we dont have access to a resource, opportunity, or institution in the CCP, they should not have access to that in our country, Savit tells The Epoch Times. To that end, Savit authored the institutes latest issue brief (pdf), which tracks state responses to the growing threat posed by CCP land grabs in the United States. Numerous states are now seeking to bar the CCP or other, similarly aggressive entities, from purchasing U.S. land. Much of this effort is no doubt a reaction to the alleged national security threat posed by allowing CCP-linked companies to purchase land in close proximity to U.S. military bases, as previously occurred in North Dakota, as well as efforts to buy huge swaths of land and energy infrastructure, as previously happened in Texas. This land [near military bases] is a permanent version of that [spy balloon], Savit says of the CCPs efforts. They can station whatever they wish wherever they wish. To that end, Savit underscored the necessity of state legislation to help curb the increasing Chinese investments in an area otherwise devoid of meaningful legal protections. In most states, theres no legal barrier to [these purchases] right now and no process to vet or evaluate the side effects of that, Savit says. Seeing the struggles of its neighbor to the north, for example, South Dakota sought to insulate itself against similar incursions, with lawmakers crafting a law that would have granted the governor the ability to oversee foreign investments into state land. Despite initial support from state lawmakers, however, the bill was roundly defeated after all the states major agricultural associations and unions lobbied against it for fear of giving too much power to the states executive branch as well as concern that the effort could ignite racial animosity toward Chinese Americans and immigrants. States Seek to Repel CCP Influence South Dakota is not alone. The AFPI report highlights legal struggles underway in 23 states from Arizona to Virginia, totaling 53 separate bills. In more than a dozen other states, Savit says, some laws already exist that could feasibly be used to prevent the Chinese acquisition of U.S. lands but are never enforced. The legislation springing up across the country is as varied as the states giving rise to it, and includes efforts to ban investments from CCP-linked entities in Iowa, a law to ban land purchases from revanchist nations like North Korea and Iran in Georgia, as well as a blanket ban on all foreign land buys in Texas, which was recently diluted to apply only to state-linked entities. Savit believes theres no foolproof way to prevent the CCP regime from getting its hands on American lands but commends the varied efforts of the states to address the issue in their own ways. There is no perfect way because each state has its different concerns, Savit says. Each state has its different existing laws. Each state has different agricultural sectors. These are all experiments. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Its a dynamic challenge. US Failing to Track Foreign Investments The problem of determining who is a legitimate investor and who is a CCP proxy is a particularly daunting task for state governments, however. Particularly at a time when record numbers of Chinese are fleeing the country amid increasingly harsh repression efforts by the CCP. For Savit and the AFPI, the issue is simple: Those with the resources to make the purchases likely have some connection to the CCPs regime. An investor from China is going to have some sort of connection, Savit says. Our assumption is that anyone with that capital or able to invest in that way has some sort of direct or indirect connection to the CCP or theyre being leveraged in some way. Theres one critical issue with that assumption, however. Namely, that the United States has little to no understanding of who is actually buying the land. Enter Lars Schonander, a policy technologist at the Lincoln Network think tank. Schonander has spent considerable time in recent years tracking what he calls malign foreign investment in the United States. That is, investments made by hostile nations in the U.S. with the ultimate goal of exploiting or otherwise undermining the nations interests. The relevant data needed to track such investments, he tells The Epoch Times, is private but not classified and can be stunningly frustrating to get a hold of. Simply put, the federal government is not collecting in-depth data about foreign land purchases in the country. This plays out strangely specifically when one wants to look at detailed data [of foreign investments], Schonander says. What Ive discovered is the annual reports have high-level data on how much investors from a given country invest in a year but, you can only know what specific foreign corporations and entities are investing in by going to the private database, which makes it next to impossible if there is a specific project youre concerned about. At present, the only federal law that tracks such investments is the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act, which requires foreign entities to report transactions of farmland to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Schonander cautions, however, that the USDA is authorized only to acquire data on land purchases up to three orders of ownership. This means that a series of U.S. shell corporations could be ultimately owned by a foreign entity and the agency would never know. This issue is magnified, he says, by the huge lag times between an investment being made and it being recorded. Theres quite a bit of a lag between people maybe knowing of a certain investment and it actually being in the database, Schonander says. The data is only updated at the end of a year. So, right now, we only have as of the end of last year, the 2021 data. At the end of this year, well have the 2022 data. Because of this, Schonander notes, even members of Congress will be working with data that is, at best, a year old. This is not to say that the government has always been aloof to the need for more granular data on foreign investments. Schonander notes, for example, that the U.S. Energy Information Administration used to require details each year about foreign investments into U.S. energy infrastructure, but that the single form used to collect that information had been discontinued following the federal governments budget sequestration in 2011. It was quite valuable information because in the more recent reports they had acquisitions and investor data which, nowadays, youd probably have to either manually collect yourself or pay a data broker for, Schonander says. Now we have no idea publicly. With that in mind, Schonander says hat collecting more useful data could be as simple as restarting the program to measure such investments using the tools previously set up for the same purpose. They have the form and they still have the personnel to set it up, he says. They just havent sent out the forms in over 10 years. A spokesperson for the Energy Information Administration told The Epoch Times that the agency has no plans to reinstate the program. The Epoch Times has also reached out to the USDA for comment. IN-DEPTH: China Is Subverting the UN; How Can the US Respond? Chinese leader Xi Jinping virtually addresses the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 21, 2021. (Spencer Platt/AFP via Getty Images) Chinas manipulation of United Nations (U.N.) institutions, platforms, and practices for its foreign policy objectives in recent years has increasingly come into the spotlight. Experts have also been concerned that until the United States redraws its policy goals at the U.N. and asserts its leadership, China will increasingly violate, modify, and control it in its pursuit of global hegemony. Its very interesting that China seems to have gamed the system in its favor, Harsh Pant, head of the Strategic Studies Programme at the Observer Research Foundation, told The Epoch Times. And the way it has projected itself, that despite being the biggest disrupter to the multilateral order, it has emerged, for the large part of the world that looks, like its a supporter of multilateralism. Since the end of the Second World War, the U.N. has been at the center of global multilateralism with its rules, principles, and institutions. And while the geopolitical order has constantly transformed, global multilateral institutions, including the U.N., have become the focal points as nations maneuver for power. Atlantic Council experts Michael Schuman and David O. Shullman are of the opinion that the United States and its allies pursued a 40-year strategy based on the assumption that cooperation and engagement would encourage the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to become a responsible stakeholder in a rules-based international system. On the contrary, Beijing has grown more assertive in its efforts to subvert those rules and norms that it feels constrict and constrain Chinas global ambitions, the experts said in a report last year. They said that Beijing has also been able to organize for itself support from other illiberal governments at the United Nations to forward its ideological-based interests and global policies, like the CCPs Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and its ideas on human rights and state sovereignty to contest core principles of political freedoms on the world stage. Brandon J. Weichert, a U.S.-based geopolitical analyst and author of the book Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, told The Epoch Times that the Chinese are encircling the United States in a reverse containment strategy from the Cold War. China is playing the part of the Americans, and the United States, sadly, seems to be playing the role of the Soviet Union. The Chinese silent takeover of internationalist organizations is just one more way that Beijing executes its encirclement and containment policy of the United States successfully, Weichert said. Plus, so many members of the United Nations are anti-American its really a wonder that Washington hasnt totally lost the U.N. by now. Weichert suggested that the United States should foremost focus on empowering the American people and protecting them from what he termed the malign Chinese influence at home, while building direct ties with nations abroad who share interests and values with the United States. He thinks the U.S. administration shouldnt waste money and time on the U.N. He warned, It is in the sterile halls of the U.N. and other internationalist bodies that the first battles in this non-kinetic war between the [United States] and China for the future of the world will be waged. US Must Take Lead Since the United States continues to be the largest donor to the United Nations, and because it and its allies are the primary targets for the CCP at global multilateral forums like the United Nations, experts believe that it becomes imperative that the United States take the lead in countering the growing CCP influence at the international body. Building and strengthening alliances with shared values and goals is an important aspect of cultivating U.S. leadership on multilateral forums, according to Joe Chalil, a healthcare executive and the author of the book Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: Envisioning a Better World by Transforming the Future of Healthcare. The United States can work with its allies and partners to present a united front against Chinas efforts to subvert the principles of the United Nations. This can include diplomatic efforts, economic sanctions, and other forms of pressure, he said. Schuman and Shullman said like-minded allies and partners could effectively uphold liberal values against socialist Chinas continued pressure. Pant believes that the United States should work to counter the anti-U.S. narrative that China is increasingly projecting at the U.N. for exerting influence over the wider developing world. So perhaps showcasing what the [United States] actually does in concert to its like-minded partners on a range of issues from development to security, to capacity building; whereas China, [you can showcase] how it tramples on every single norm that has actually been there for the benefit of the developing world, Pant said. Weichert believes that the United States should refocus on reclaiming the loyalty and respect of the smaller nations of the U.N. Over the last 20 years, Beijing has fixated like a laser on providing incentives to woo small-to-medium-sized (usually non-aligned) states to their cause so that when an issue pops up in the U.N. or another international organization, that goodwill generated from increased support and bilateral ties with those smaller/medium states translates to an amenable outcome in these international organizations, he said. Beijing refers to this as small fish controlling a big pond.' Pant said it would be rightly done if the United States started to focus more on economic and developmental issues, which according to him, are a first-order priority for a large part of the developing world, including smaller nations. Theres a sense that the [United States] is not investing as much time and effort as it should, and I think that impression needs to change because the [United States] has been in this business for much longer than China. It continues to invest more than China, but I think the returns are becoming less, Pant added. Weichert described this as the best way to counter Beijings influence at the international organizational level. Right now, the [United States] is barely hanging on because it is being increasingly outnumbered by pro-Beijing smaller-/medium-sized states, he said. Pant said that while the United States should adequately communicate to the developing world and smaller nations, including nascent democracies, about how its working to address their needs, it, in some ways, also informs them about how China is challenging the security norms and the security architecture around the world, and how in the long run will impede the development priorities of the developing world. So I think ultimately its a battle of narratives, and the [United States] will have to do better in shaping that narrative, he said. Promoting Democracy and Human Rights For strengthening and reinforcing its leadership at the U.N., the United States must continue to promote democracy and human rights on various multilateral forums, which could also mean identifying how China is working to antagonize it at the same forums, the experts said. They added this is because these activities translate beyond the multilateral forums and manifest into the national politics of developing nations. The United States can support and promote democracy and human rights worldwide, including in countries where China is trying to gain influence. This can include providing aid and support to civil society organizations, promoting free and fair elections, and advocating for the rule of law, Chalil said. Sulochana R. Mohan, the deputy editor of Sri Lankan national newspaper Ceylon Today, told The Epoch Times that Sri Lanka provides recent examples of how the CCP sabotages the U.N.s influence in policing the world, which is their mandate, she said. It is well known that the U.N. struggles with two veto powers, China and Russia, who have obstructed any investigations into war crimes or alleged violations of human rights in the nations that have favored them, she said. China and Russia were among the U.N. Human Rights Council members who opposed formal Security Council involvement in investigating Sri Lankas alleged war crimes during the final stage of their war, according to Mohan. Despite the U.N.s assertion that there was tangible evidence of war crimes allegations in Sri Lanka, Beijing and Moscow continue to protect the Sri Lankan regimes involved in human rights violations to secure their reciprocation of the favor in global multilateral forums, she said. China stated that the UNHRC should not interfere in Sri Lankas domestic affairs and that human rights violations should be investigated using homegrown methods rather than international hybrid courts. Still, Sri Lanka cannot hold an international hybrid court, as requested by the affected Tamil community, but the U.N. has been unable to press the matter, demonstrating how the U.N. has become weaker,' lamented Mohan. This is one of the reasons why Sri Lankas successive governments have stood by China and continued to strengthen their bilateral ties with Beijing while the Western powers continued to watch and worry, she said. Sri Lanka accepted [Chinas] Belt and Road Initiative and offered a key location to construct a Chinese Port on a 100-year lease and went ahead giving many (sic) more land to them. She believes that the United States should work to gain trust among the grassroots communities in East Asia, South East Asia, and South Asia, where China has set up massive influence operations against the West by projecting itself as a developmental power indispensable for the region. Chinas strength is that they make direct human-to-human contact with the locals faster than the West. Because of these distinct differences, China outperforms the rest, she said, adding that in Sri Lanka, for example, when COVID-19 affected the fishermen community in the Northern Province, Chinese Envoy Qi Zhenhong and his embassy staff visited Jaffna. Qi and his staff gave the fishermen dry rations and spoke to them through a translator and also visited the ancient Hindu temple of Nallur, which belongs to the local community. It is customary for devotees to enter the temple bare-chested and wearing only a vetti (lungi). The Chinese Ambassador and his staff followed suit. They participated in Hindu rituals bare-chested to appease the northern Tamils, who are opposed to the Chinese doing business in the north because they were preventing the UNHRC from holding an international investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity, primarily against the Tamils of the north and east, Mohan said. China makes every effort to reach out to the same affected community and it continues to do so. This is a classic example of how China deals with its BRI friends, the local editor said. The United States should work out specific strategies at the grassroots where it faces opposition, win trust while respecting the local culture and traditions, and facilitate democracy and human rights, Mohan said. IN-DEPTH: Future of American Farms Uncertain as Aging Farmers Retire Without Successors Sixty-two percent of America's farmers will reach retirement age by 2027 A farmer and his son at a farm in Lebanon, Ore., on April 13, 2022. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images) Its no secret that the United States hardworking farmers are looking to hang up their hats. However, the price of land has left many producers struggling to find successors willing or able to follow in their footsteps. Research shows that 62 percent of U.S. farmers were older than 55 as of 2017. That means more than half of U.S. farms will begin undergoing ownership transitions as that group reaches retirement age by 2027. This is happening against a backdrop of states racing to pass new legislation to restrict foreign purchase of U.S. agricultural land. At the same time, wealthy private investors are grabbing as much as they can. Its an alarming situation for many, prompting the question: Who will own the future of U.S. farms? Its getting harder and harder because investors have more money to buy the land versus the farmers, Tony Peirick told The Epoch Times. Peirick runs the T&R Dairy Farm in Watertown, Wisconsin. Its one of those classic American Midwest towns that looks like it was lifted out of a Norman Rockwell painting, surrounded by rolling pasture and cropland. Peirick has seen many changes in the industry over the years; he recalled that he used to carry fresh cows milk in buckets as a boy. Years ago in our township, I bet we had 15 to 20 dairy farms. Times have changed; there are only three dairy farms now milking cows, he said. Peirick said he enjoys the hands-on experience of running a dairy farm and that having a love of farming is essentialparticularly in dairyto be successful due to the jobs demanding nature. Now our sons are taking it over and theyre doing the milking. It really takes commitment with dairy because you are there 24/7, every day of the week, he said. Steep Price Tag Peirick is one of the lucky ones. The 67-year-old dairy farmers sons are willing to take the reins of the family business, which Peirick plans to gift to them. Gifting his sons the land is crucial. Due to the ballooning price of U.S. farmland, its the only way they can afford to take the business. Back in the 80s, land was only a thousand dollars an acre and investors werent looking at it. Land is more valuable now, up to 10 to 20 thousand dollars an acre just for farmland, Peirick said. Farmer Tony Peirick shows a no-till planter at Tiger Farms in Neosho, Wis., on March 26, 2021. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) Agricultural land in the United States hit record highs last year, topping a nearly three-decade steady rise in prices that began in 1987. In October 2022, cropland in southeastern Nebraska sold for more than $27,000 per acre. The average price per acre soared past $5,000 last year, an almost 20 percent spike since 2021. When coupled with inflated operating costs and supplies, Peirick said producers have a rough road ahead. Next-generation farmers will face challenges like land availability and just the cost of material things, he said. Family-run businesses such as Peiricks account for 98 percent of all U.S. farms, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). But with the price of farm ownership so high, many aspiring producers are left with little option except to lease the land. And even that is becoming a rich mans pursuit. Land rental prices are set to increase for the second year in a row. Research from the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers showed that rent increased across the board in all land categories between 2021 and 2022, by $60 to $70 per acre. The organization predicts that rent prices will increase by about $20 per acre again this year. Although $20 doesnt seem like much, many farms are hundreds or thousands of acres. Peiricks farm is a 1,100-acre spread; a $20 rent hike on a farm that size would cost $22,000. Farming is a capital-intense business with high cost to access new farmland and the equipment needed to farm. This is [the] No. 1 deterrent Ive witnessed from young or aspiring farmers from getting into farmland, Mike Downey told The Epoch Times. Downey is the co-owner of Next Generation Ag Advocates, an Iowa-based service that helps retiring farmers connect with a new generation of producers. With so many farmers getting ready to retire, Downey said he has seen an increase in veteran producers willing to help out new farmers with a gradual ownership transition. This process can take years but offers peace of mind to the United States retiring producers by helping keep small farms in the hands of people instead of corporations. Troubling Numbers Eighty percent of rented farmland is owned by non-operator landlords, according to the USDA. That means 30 percent of all U.S. agricultural land is owned by companies or people who arent farmers. Its a trend Downey has seen in Iowa, where he said that about one-third of all land is owned by people who arent operators or have no farm experience. I believe we, as an [agriculture] industry, need to do a better job educating new owners about the responsibilities that come with land ownership, he said. When it comes to non-operators owning farmland, the writing has been on the wall for years. When Bill Gates became the largest private owner of U.S. agricultural land in 2018, the world sat up and took notice. Headlines of the Microsoft co-founders acquisitionsmore than a quarter million acrestriggered alarm over how wealthy private investment could affect the United States food supply chain. Bill Gates speaks onstage at the TIME100 Summit 2022 on June 7, 2022, in New York City. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for TIME) But America had already been losing crop and pasture land to nonfarming interests for years. One 2020 analysis showed that the United States lost 11 million acres of farmland over the past 20 years. Compounding this is the number of foreign investors making purchases in the agricultural sector. In 2022, foreign interests controlled 37.6 million acres of pasture, timber, and farmland. Thats roughly the size of Iowa. For Downey, the shift toward nonproducer land ownership and big private investment is a more significant concern than aging producers. Im more concerned about what motives foreign buyers or larger institutional groups have for buying farmland, as it related to future food production, he said. Peirick said he shared this sentiment. Because at the end of the day, whoever holds the land holds all the cards. The main thing is the land because investors are looking at it and trying to buy it, then will rent it back to farmers, he said. Words of Wisdom Even optimistic estimates of the number of aging farmers who have identified successors are bleak. These figures range from 30 percent on the low end to less than 70 percent in the best-case scenario. Its part of what drives Downey and his team to help connect the new generation of producers during this critical changing of the guard. Our first priority is to make sure we are identifying all parties goals, so we are matching up like-minded individuals and philosophies for farming, he said. For Peirick, it all comes back to having a passion for working with the land. Because farming is a high-cost and challenging industry. It is labor-intensive, and its hard to find people to do the hand labor, he said. When asked whether he had any words of wisdom to impart to future farmers, Peirick didnt mince words: The next generation of farmers needs to be passionate the net income will be getting tight, so you have to enjoy what youre doing because youre not going to make a lot of income. HANGZHOU, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Yiwu, the world's leading small commodities market in east China's Zhejiang Province, saw both its imports and exports rise in the first quarter of this year. The city's total import and export value was 118.44 billion yuan (17.1 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three months of this year, a yearly rise of 11.4 percent, according to Yiwu Customs. Exports increased 11 percent to 107.09 billion yuan during the period, and imports grew 15.6 percent to 11.35 billion yuan, the customs office said. The average number of daily visits by foreign merchants have climbed 30.3 percent year on year, with local businesspeople saying the return of enthusiastic foreign buyers has contributed to the city's export boom. Cross-border e-commerce, the value of which jumped 111 percent on customs-monitored platforms in the first quarter, has also emerged as a key channel for local merchants to ink overseas deals. IN-DEPTH: Losing Your Home Over a Missed $588 Property Tax BillIn 12 States Government Can Seize Your Home and Keep All Proceeds Tawanda Hall lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in equity in her house over some $22,000 in overdue taxes. (Courtesy of Pacific Legal Foundation) It was a dream come trueor rather about to come truewhen the Halls bought their forever home. It had everything they needed and more: five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a family room, a dining room, a roomy garage, good schools, and a good neighborhood. Sure, a fixer-upper, but they felt up to it. Prentiss Hall, a home improvement contractor, made it his life project, and everybody lent a handhis wife, Tawanda, and six children, cousins, and friends. We were really excited, Tawanda told The Epoch Times. They negotiated the price down to $67,000a bargain, perhaps, but the home demanded a daunting amount of tender love and care. The house had been sitting there for a while. I guess it had mold in it, and it needed new windows and doors and electric, Tawanda said. The city made us get all kinds of permits to get the house up to code. So we went in there and just started working. It took about a year before they were able to move into the home in the quiet Detroit suburb of Southfield, Michigan. And it was several years before they felt comfortable with it, she said. The result was worth it. It was a dream home. It was big enough for our family to be there, we had plenty of rooms, big enough to have our holiday dinners, and everyone can come and be comfortable, she said. For a Detroit girl, it was nice to have a peaceful place to live, away from all the noise and hustle. We just hoped and planned to stay and grow and raise grandchildren and, you know, she paused. But, her voice trailed into a sigh. Shattered Dreams Several years in, the Halls got into financial trouble. Tawandas handicapped brother and her sick mother moved in with them even as all their money still went into improving the house. We just had a lot of things happening at once, she said. Before I knew it, I was behind on all my taxes. Property tax on the 3,700-square-foot home ran over $5,000. In a few years, the debt ballooned to over $22,000, including interest and fees. In February 2018, Oakland County foreclosed on the home. The next month, the county put the Halls on a payment plan of $650 a month intended to allow them to get the house back. They prepaid a few months in advance and were told that they dont need to worry about timely payments as long as they caught up on the payments by February 2019, according to court documents reviewed by The Epoch Times (pdf, pdf). In June 2018, however, the county suddenly transferred the property to the city of Southfield, which had a preferential right to buy foreclosed properties for the price of the debt. The Halls were informed they had to move out. Four months later, the city gave the property to a private company, Southfield Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, for $1. In early 2020, the house was put on the market and then sold for more than $300,000. To the Halls shock, they learned they were not entitled to a single penny of that payout. I feel like someone stole from me and my family, Tawanda said. Less than a month later, Prentiss Hall passed away. Loss of the house put him under enormous stress, and his health deteriorated, she said. Widespread Problem Thousands of Americans have been put in a similar positionlosing their homes and other properties over tax debts that only represented a small fraction of the property value. In most of the country, such a practice is illegal. Local authorities are allowed to foreclose on properties over unpaid taxes, but they are required to sell them and return the owners everything above what they owe. There are 12 states plus the District of Columbia that allow governments to keep the whole property and all sales proceeds: Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Alabama, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, and Oregon. Another nine states have various loopholes, mostly allowing the government to keep such properties for public use (like in Alaska, California, Idaho, Nevada, Ohio, and Rhode Island). Montana allows the government to keep all proceeds from the sale of commercial properties, not residential ones. Texas allows governments to sell properties at a discount in some circumstances. Wisconsin allows governments to keep the properties, but if they sell them, excess proceeds go back to the original owners, according to Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), a nonprofit that has been tracking and litigating the issue. Between 2014 and 2021, this practice has cost homeowners over $860 million in home valueequityspread over some 6,200 homes. But those are only the cases PLF was able to document by looking at the more populous counties in the 12 states and only at homes for which there was enough information available. For thousands more, there wasnt enough information. And there are untold more the PLF hasnt looked at yet. Most of the lost equity was wasted by selling the houses at a deep discount. About $30 million actually ended up in government coffers, while another about $280 million was pocketed by private investors that buy property tax debt from governments and then foreclose on the homes and sell them, based on data from nearly 4,700 property sales. Legal Battle For PLF lawyer David Deerson, the issue boils down to theft. Its true that the government can take your property with few limits, but one of the limits is, whatever it takes, it has to pay you for it, he told The Epoch Times. Governments have been defending the practice on legalistic grounds, in his view. Its commonly understood that property rights are not created by the Constitution. Theyre protected by the Constitution, but theyre created by other sources of law, such as state law. Thus, governments have argued property owners dont own the value of a property in excess of a debt unless the specific state law says so. There cant be a property right in equity because if you look at the way the statutes are written, they dont provide you with a chance to get your equity back, Deerson explained the argument. PLF and a lineup of legal and advocacy groups across the political spectrum disagree. In every single other context you can possibly imagine, equity is treated as a property right, he said. In a divorce, equity in a home is treated as part of the wealth being divided. In a private foreclosure, the bank cannot take a penny beyond what its owed. Of course, they have to pay you back the surplus equity. Why? Because you have a property right to it, Deerson said. Equity isnt treated as a property right only if its the government itself trying to take it. In 2020, PLF secured a ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court that outlawed the practice of governments keeping extra proceeds from tax foreclosures in the state. That should have resolved Tawandas case, but the government has continued to litigate the issue in federal courts. In October, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, which covers Michigan, ruled the practice unconstitutional, but the state government appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, leaving the case pending. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court announced it would pick up a similar case in Minnesota, where a 94-year-old grandmother lost her condo over some $15,000 in unpaid taxes and fees. The local government sold the condo for $40,000, again keeping every penny. PLF is in the process of arguing the case before the Supreme Court, with the first hearing scheduled for April 26. The case, Tyler v. Hennepin County, could decide the fate of Tawanda Hall and thousands of others. Im hoping that they can change the law because its unfair to a lot of families who put their lives into their homes, Tawanda said. Wrong Argument While the issue may seem clear-cut, courts have been split on it for decades. In Nebraska, for example, the states Supreme Court has affirmed the practice. So did, last year, the federal appeals court for the Eight Circuit, which covers several states that allow the practiceNebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota. It was the split between the Sixth and Eight Circuits, both stemming from PLF cases, that likely prompted the Supreme Court to pick up the issue, according to Deerson. He didnt think the Nebraska Supreme Court was malicious in its ruling. We just think the court got it wrong, he said. The court indicated that basically because this process has been in place for a long time that it must be constitutional, he said. That is not a principle of law that we agree with. Governments have also argued that the threat of losing the whole property serves as a deterrent against tax delinquency. In that sense, the lost equity could be seen as a form of penalty. That still wouldnt pass constitutional muster, according to Deerson. Yes, the government can charge fines, but they have to be proportional to whatever the offense committed was. And failing to pay your taxesits not a crime; its a civil infraction, he said. If a government were to try to confiscate a house as a form of a tax delinquency fine, then it certainly looks like an excessive fine which is prohibited by the Eight Amendment of the Constitution, he said. Falling on Hard Times Usually, theres no criminal intent in tax delinquency, Deerson noted. Its usually a result of simply not being able to afford it or not understanding the process. Kevin Fair, for example, quit his job at a locksmith service to care for his wife, suffering from multiple sclerosis. I didnt want to leave her by herself, and I couldnt afford to hire somebody to come over and watch her, so I quit my job to stay home with her, and we used what little money we had in savings to pay the medical bills and etc., he told The Epoch Times. In 2014, he missed the $588 property tax bill on their small house in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The tax lien was bought by a private investor, Continental Resources, which then started to pay his tax bills and pile up 14 percent interest on top of them. By 2018, the debt snowballed to more than $5,000. Fair was informed that he either pays the sum in a few months or the company would possession of his house which, according to PLF, was worth about $60,000. That wasnt feasible for Fair, whose wife passed away and who now lives off a $900 monthly in Social Security. His monthly bills alone can run up to $600, leaving precious little to live on. This month right now, I dont have any money. Period. I am broke, he said. I eat a lot of lunchmeat and stuff like that because thats the only thing I can afford. And if they kick me out of the house Ill be wandering around on streets. PLF was able to negotiate for Fair, now 66, to be able to stay in the house while the Supreme Court case is pending. Fair said he would be willing to move if he could keep the extra cash after the house is sold. Alternatively, he hopes he could work out a deal with the company that now owns his homepaying it rent, for example. It just doesnt seem right for them to be able to do this, he said. Hard to Challenge In some jurisdictions, tax foreclosure laws have gone virtually unchallenged. People whove failed to pay their property taxes for reasons you can imagine are often some of the people who are least capable of fighting back against government abuse, Deerson said. I mean, people arent intentionally neglecting to pay their property taxes. Theyre not gleefully ignoring the law. Theyre often elderly, theyre impoverished, theyre ill, or theyre dealing with an illness in their family. And for the same reasons that theyre struggling to keep up with their property taxes, theyll also struggle to find adequate representation to understand what their rights are and what they can do to push back. In Massachusetts, for instance, PLF represented several clients in situations similar to Fairs, with a private company buying their debt and then foreclosing on their homes. In all such cases, the company agreed to settle the case before the courts got a chance to consider the laws constitutionality, according to PLFs attorney Josh Polk. Were talking about a huge cash cow here. Investors are able to purchase a tax lien for a couple thousand dollars and then go on and sell the property for hundreds of thousands of dollars, taking a massive windfall at the expense of taxpayers, he told The Epoch Times. And so its unsurprising that theyre eager to settle rather than take this up to the Massachusetts Supreme Court. A few years ago, the states highest court seemed to signal that it wanted to hear the issue but had not been presented an opportunity, Polk said. And so we were anxious to give it the opportunity. The case of Alan DiPietro could just do the trick. In 2014, DiPietro bought five lots totaling 34 acres. I wanted to bring my alpacas over, he told The Epoch Times. Hes been raising the South American animals since 2008 for their fine fleece, and the property gave him hope to finally bring the business to some semblance of profitability. Instead, the town of Bolton, Massachusetts, buried him under a pile of red tape, including a lawsuit over his supposed disturbance of a wetland on his property. Before long, he was behind on his taxes. What started with missed payment of $6,116 in 2017 expanded to about $60,000 in just four years. He tried to sell one of the lots to pay off the debt, but the town wouldnt issue him the permits necessary to make the lot suitable for sale. The town reasoned he couldnt get the permits because he was behind on taxes. I said, Well, Im trying to sell this to pay the taxes. If you give me the permits, Ill sell the property, the one lot, and Ill pay the taxes, he said. Well, they didnt like that idea. He tried other ways: Cut some timber on the land and sell itthe government blocked it; grow hemp on the landthe government blocked it, he said. They just used it as a leverage against me. They knew that they didnt have to deal with me. In the end, the local government foreclosed on the property and proceeded to evict DiPietro. Weve been fighting it in the state court, he said. The case has been on hold pending the resolution of the PLFs Supreme Court case. Take the Money and Run If the case goes his way, DiPietro would still lose the land. But since its worth some $370,000 in PLFs estimate, hed at least have money to start anew. I dont have much choice at this point. Id rather have something than nothing, he said. Obviously, Id rather stay here and continue what I was doing, but the way the town has been, you know, I might be happy just to take the money and run. Hed run far, too. Id probably move south. I think Id be done with Massachusetts, he said. The atmosphere in the state has gotten too controlling, he suggested. Ive lived here my whole life, and unfortunately, the people around here theyve got some crazy ideas about what they can and cant tell their neighbors to do. Its not really a live-and-let-live situation anymore. There are some people who think that they get to dictate every part of your life, he said. I get 34 acres. Im farming it. Im not harming anyone. I dont need them making up issues to come over and harass me about. Its just not how I want to live anymore. Like many others, he had no idea that in Massachusetts, the government gets to keep foreclosed properties wholesale. Its just legal theft. I mean, its bad enough you have to pay the property tax on something you already own, but then theyre going to take everything? I was just amazed, he said. And unfortunately, Ive been left with zero options. If I could have sold, I probably would have moved out of here several years ago already, you know? Its a funny thing. Its like they want me out, but they give me no options to leave. Correction: A previous version of this article misspelled Tawanda Halls name. The Epoch Times regrets the error. Judge Mulls Evidence for 3 of 6 in Alabama Birthday Shooting DADEVILLE, Ala.An Alabama investigator on Tuesday described a bloody, chaotic crime scene littered with 89 bullet casings and other evidence after a shooting killed four young people and wounded dozens at a Sweet Sixteen birthday party. Authorities have charged six people with reckless murder. The lead investigator in the case testified at a court hearing that could determine if the three adults accused in last weeks shooting will be held without bond. The three juvenile defendants will have separate hearings. The judge did not immediately issue a ruling. Multiple shell casings. Blood everywhere, Special Agent Jess Thornton said. The crime scene was like nothing hed encountered in 18 years with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, he said. Shell casings from four types of handguns were recovered at the dance studio just off the town square in Dadeville, about an hours drive northeast of Montgomery, Thornton said. Evidence indicates at least one of the handguns had been altered for rapid fire, he said. Witnesses said it sounded like a machine gun. Investigators have not discussed a motive or what they believe led to the shooting. Thornton said the six defendants are relatives or friends. They were not invited to the party but had travelled from Auburn and Tuskegee to attend it. Thornton said five of the six defendants admitting being at the party and firing guns. The sixth suspect did not admit being there, but the co-defendants said he was there and fired a gun, Thornton said. The investigator said at least five of the six met after the party at a parking lot in a nearby city. The three adult defendants are Wilson LaMar Hill Jr., 20, of Auburn; Johnny Letron Brown, 20, of Tuskegee; and Willie George Brown Jr., 19, also of Auburn. Willie George Brown, Jr. (Alabama Law Enforcement Agency via AP) Johnny Letron Brown. (Alabama Law Enforcement Agency via AP) However, a defense lawyer suggested that one of the slain partygoers had fired first. George Bulls, a lawyer for Willie Brown, asked the state investigator if there were at least some statements about one of the deceased individuals, Corbin Holston, being the one who started the shooting. Thornton replied that was true. Thornton testified that Holston, 23, of Dadeville, was found with a 40-caliber gun sitting on his chest. Thornton said the position of the gun, which had been fired, struck him as odd. Almost like it was placed there, Thornton said. Thornton said there were about 50 to 60 people crammed inside the party venue, which measured about 38 feet by 26 feet, when the gunfire erupted. Earlier in the evening there was a loud noise when a speaker fell over and at least one person lifted their shirt to indicate they had a gun, Thornton said. That led to an announcement telling people with guns to leave. The shooting happened shortly after, he said. He did not say if the person who lifted their shirt was one of the defendants. Two Dadeville High School seniors, Phil Dowdell, 18, and Shaunkivia Nicole KeKe Smith, 17, were killed. Also killed were Marsiah Emmanuel Siah Collins, 19, and Holston, 23. By Kim Chandler Las Vegas-to-California Bullet Train Gets Bipartisan Backing This undated illustration provided by Brightline West shows an illustration of the Brightline West High Speed Rail project train from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Brightline West via AP) LAS VEGASA bipartisan congressional group from Nevada and California asked the Biden administration April 24 to fast-track federal funds for a private company to build a high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area. All six of Nevadas elected federal lawmakers and four House members from California sent the letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. They said theyre on board with a proposal from Brightline West to spend more than $10 billion to lay tracks along the Interstate 15 corridor. Traffic jams on the interstate often stretch for 15 miles near the Nevada-California line as motorists head home after weekend or holiday travel to Las Vegas. The Mojave Desert is largely open space, and the electric-powered trains could potentially cut the four-hour trip in half, carrying passengers at speeds of nearly 200 mph. This project is a major priority because it will make southern Nevada more accessible to millions of visitors each year, said U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, the Nevada Democrat leading the group. She said it will boost our economy and create more good-paying jobs. Union labor will be used during construction, the company and the Southern Nevada Building Trades Union have announced in recent weeks. The site, foreground of a proposed station for a high-speed rail line to Las Vegas, is seen with Interstate 15 on the outskirts of Victorville, Calif., on Jan. 25, 2012. (Reed Saxon/AP Photo) Brightline West is seeking $3.75 billion in federal funding from the Biden administration-backed federal infrastructure law. The project could be the blueprint for how we can connect major city pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive, said Mike Reininger, CEO of Florida-based Brightline Holdings LLC, the only privately owned and operated intercity passenger railroad in the United States. The lawmakers letter pointed to company projections of 35,000 construction jobs, 1,000 permanent jobs, and reduced planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. A draft environmental assessment of the Nevada-California project was made public last October 2022 and the Federal Railroad Administration is expected to finalize permits in July. The company said about 70 percent of the funding will be private, using a combination of debt and equity. Amtrak passenger service to Las Vegas ended in 1997 with the demise of a train called the Desert Wind. The concept of building a bullet train through the Mojave Desert dates back to at least 2005 under various names. It has seen starts and stops over the years and became sidetracked during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Florida, Brightline Wests sister company began sharing the Florida East Coast freight line between Miami and West Palm Beach in 2014 and is building an extension to Orlando. High-speed trains running through urban areas have drawn criticism for numerous crashes with vehicles at rail crossings. Investigators found deaths were not the railroads fault, determining that many were suicides or drivers or pedestrians trying to beat the trains. Other places where high-speed trains have been proposed include the 240 miles from Dallas to Houston in Texas, and a 500-mile system linking Los Angeles and San Francisco. A Brightline train is shown at a station in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Jan. 11, 2018. (Wilfredo Lee/AP Photo) The California line depends on funding and other unknowns. A 2023 report by the California High-Speed Rail Authority says environmental clearance has been obtained for 422 miles and construction is underway for 119 miles in Californias Central Valley. Cost estimates have swelled to more than $100 billionfar greater than the $33 billion that voters approved in 2008. In Texas, a study published last month by Reason Foundation, a libertarian think tank, concluded the states fast rail project is stalled by climbing costs, lack of legislative support, and opposition from farmers, ranchers, and other landowners who objected to having their land bisected by a train traveling at 200 miles per hour over 30 times each day. It noted the Texas Legislature passed a law prohibiting spending any funds on the project. Brightline West trains would connect Las Vegas, Victorville, California, and Rancho Cucamongaa city in San Bernardino County with a passenger station on a suburban Los Angeles light rail line. U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat, and Nevadas four House members including Republican Mark Amodei signed the letter with Rosen seeking federal-state partnership funding through the Federal Railroad Administrations Intercity Rail Grant Program. California Democratic House members Nanette Barragan and Jimmy Gomez from the Los Angeles area and John Garamendi of the East Bay area signed on, along with Republican Jay Obernolte, who represents the Victorville and San Bernardino County area. This bipartisan delegation from Nevada and California are pleased to support the federal resources necessary to develop essential transportation access between this highly trafficked corridor, the lawmakers said. By Ken Ritter Leaving California: Residents Say Out-of-Touch Politicians Have Ruined Their State Commentary In the EpochTV original Leaving California: The Untold Story, Siyamak Khorrami takes viewers on a harrowing journey from what was once considered a place of opportunity to what is now, for many, a place of hardship. Khorrami, host of California Insider and editor of The Epoch Times Southern California edition, was born and raised in Iran and lived in Mexico City and China before moving to California. He said California was like paradise when he moved there, citing its cleanliness, beautiful weather, and economic opportunities. At that time, it was a place to achieve the American dream, raise a family, and succeed. But, according to the film, this is no longer the reality. The Rise in Crime The documentary shows how crime has significantly lowered the quality of life for many California residents. For Californians in big cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland, its now unsafe to even walk to your car in good neighborhoods. Khorrami has interviewed over 300 people in the last two years, learning about Californias various problems. He says small businesses are fed up with brazen crime plaguing their communities and destroying their livelihoods. Business owners regularly have to deal with stolen merchandise and property damage. They just want free money, and they have zero respect for other peoples property. They know they arent going to get in trouble, said Derek Drake, a small business owner. According to Drake and others, most business owners dont even report crimes anymore because there are few consequences for theft or property crime. Khorrami spoke with Vern Pierson, El Dorado County District Attorney, who noted that when crime directly impacts politicians, they change their tune. This was the case with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who claimed California was safe until she had a personal connection with a burglary. She then reversed her stance. Pierson said, When it affects you personally, then your perspective changes, and unfortunately, we have legislators [who] seem so disconnected from whats actually happening in this state. He claims that criminals come first in the California legislature over law-abiding citizens. Its as if California legislators dont understand the criminal justice system, he said, yet they feel free to change it in detrimental ways. Californias criminal justice system has been called a revolving door. Criminals get out too soon on bail, ready to continue committing more crimes. The criminal justice system in the state of California is broken, said Pierson. Drakes family owned laundromats in the Bay area for decades. He left the state last year, fed up with repeated thefts, break-ins, and vandalism. In the documentary, Drake recounted how his home was robbed and his truck stolen. He followed the stolen truck in his car, and ended up being T-boned by the truck and pushed sideways up a hill. When the truck eventually stopped, both men got out of the vehicles. They engaged in a physical altercation, which ended with the police arresting the burglar, who was released two days later. Pierson explained that criminals who commit serious crimes arent held accountable. Instead, they are released to continue endangering society. Although politicians like Gov. Gavin Newsom claim that crime is lower now in California, residents say otherwise, with 40 percent of San Francisco residents saying they would like to leave the city within the next few years. Its gotten to the place where you cant live your life the way you want to live your life here anymore, said Drake. According to the United States Census Bureau, California saw a mass exodus of over 800,000 people between April 1, 2020, and July 1, 2022. More people are leaving California than moving in. However, crime is only one of the problems. Criminal justice data shows a correlation between underperforming schools, high dropout rates, and the surge in criminal activity. According to former state Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero, a Democrat, almost 70 percent of California inmates in the prison system do not have a high school diploma. Romero told Khorrami that low-income minority students are trapped in failing schools. That goes hand in hand with Californias crime rates, she said. A Failing Education System The EpochTV film cites data indicating that California students score among the lowest in the nation, despite having the most expensive school system. Romero showed data from 2015 to 2022 tracing how performance rates have decreased. Less than 2 in 10 African American students are meeting basic mathematics standards. Rates for Latinos and Caucasians are higher; still, the documentary reveals that less than half of Caucasians are meeting basic standards. Romero said she has been working to improve these numbers since 1998, but the issue remains, even though nearly half of the state budget goes into public education. Former California Sen. Jim Neilson told Khorrami, Funding is not the issue. Its what were doing with that money and whos controlling it. The California Teachers Association has over 300,000 members, each paying about $1,000 annually. The teachers union is the number one source of power and money in California, said Romero. Khorrami said it spent nearly $212 million dollars between Jan. 1, 2000, and Dec. 31, 2009, to influence voters and public officials: more than the spending by pharmaceutical, oil, and tobacco industries combined. The film shows the money web connecting the teachers union, school boards, superintendents, and public officials, outlining the unions monopoly over education. Educators say the system is designed to benefit adults instead of students. They basically tell us its all about money, and the children dont matter, said Orange County Board of Education president Mari Barke. Romero said they know the problems, but many dont dare take on the special interests and create change. Excessive Taxes and Regulations The documentary shows how the mass exodus of residents from California leads to less income, less tax revenue, less spending, and a less vibrant economy. Businesses and residents are leaving due to high regulations, taxes, and lower quality of life. Business owners say California is not employer-friendly. The documentary cites California laws that penalize businesses, making it unaffordable to stay open. People are tired of being treated like criminals by punitive government measures toward companies and taxpayers. Even though were working hard, even though were doing our best, well never be able to achieve the life our parents achieved or our grandparents achieved, said one California resident as she looked at the cost of housing. The documentary addresses the housing crisis, the challenges facing the real estate and construction industry, unattainable environmental regulations, and the unaffordable prices of essential services like water, electricity, and health care. Residents say these problems are created by bureaucracies and politicians who live out-of-touch lives, rather than by the citizens who are oppressed by bad policies and excessive regulations. A grandmother who cares for her grandson and works three jobs told Khorrami how she struggles to make ends meet. She explained through tears that she wishes she could tell politicians to live a day in her shoes and know what its like to only be able to afford oatmeal. Her story represents 3.3 million California households with no financial cushion for unforeseen expenses, Khorrami noted. Khorrami spoke with historian Victor Davis Hanson, who commented that people who set policies in California are never subject to the consequences of their own ideology. They enjoy a lavish lifestyle, he said, while low-income residents have to go to Walmart during the heat of the day just to experience free air conditioning. Residents complain that politicians pass environmental regulations to try to ban the use of gas stoves, lawnmowers, gas vehicles, and more, but think nothing of flying their own private jets. The EpochTV film theorizes that many politicians dont actually want solutions. They profit from problems, using and exploiting issues to get reelected. Likewise, many non-profits provide cushy careers, with CEOs and directors making lucrative salaries but not improving anything. In fact, the documentary argues, if the problem was solved, those at the top couldnt exploit and profit from it. Where did the money go? residents ask. The film also addresses Californias drug, mental health, and homeless crises. Khorrami says that to ordinary people, politics is about problems like these that affect their daily lives. He believes that state leaders are elitist and disconnected, attempting to solve problems that Californians dont have, and causing more problems for the citizens they are supposed to represent. Watch Leaving California: The Untold Story on EpochTV here. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. SCOTUS Sympathetic to 94-Year-Old Grandmother in Home Equity Theft Dispute A 94-year-old Minnesota homeowners lawyer told a seemingly sympathetic Supreme Court on April 26 that local governments should not be allowed to take the full value of a home as payment for much smaller property tax debtsa practice critics call home equity theft. The case comes after the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), which is representing dispossessed homeowner Geraldine Tyler, released a report months ago saying that 12 states and the District of Columbia allow local governments and private investors to seize dramatically more than what is owed from homeowners who fall behind on property tax payments. PLF is a national not-for-profit public interest law firm that challenges government abuses. Minnesota law allows counties to retain windfalls at the expense of property owners, and from 2014 to 2020, about 1,200 Minnesota residents lost their homes, along with the equity they held, for debts that averaged 8 percent of the homes value, said the PLF. Tyler owned a modest one-bedroom condominium in Hennepin County, but after she was harassed and frightened near her home, she moved to a new apartment in a safer neighborhood. The rent on her new apartment stretched her resources and she fell into arrears on her condos property tax bills, accumulating about $2,300 in taxes owed, along with $12,700 in penalties, interest, and costs. The county seized Tylers condo, valued at $93,000, and sold it for just $40,000. Instead of keeping the $15,000 it was owed, the county retained the full $40,000, amounting to a windfall of $25,000, according to the PLF. Tyler sued, but her lawsuit was rejected by the courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, which found that the legal forfeiture of the property extinguished the owners property interest. Tylers lawyer, Christina Martin, a senior PLF attorney, told the justices during oral arguments on April 26: When the government takes property to satisfy a debt and takes more than what is owed, it has a constitutional duty to return or pay for the excess. By seizing assets beyond what it was owed, the county took private property without providing just compensation, Martin said. The county could have stayed within the bounds of the U.S. Constitution if it had simply taken the property, sold it, satisfied the debt out of the proceeds, and refunded the remainder to Tyler, which is the traditional common law rule still followed in most states and still followed in Minnesota in nearly every other debt collection circumstance. But instead, the county took everything, the attorney said. According to Supreme Court precedents and hundreds of years of common law, the seizure of Tylers home equity without just compensation amounts to a fine punishing her for failing to timely pay her property taxes and is subject to scrutiny under the Constitutions Excessive Fines Clause because it goes well beyond compensating the government for any loss, Martin said. This Court has repeatedly held that an economic sanction that serves in part to punish is a fine within the meaning of the Eighth Amendment, she added. U.S. Department of Justice attorney Erica Ross said taxes themselves are not takings in the constitutional sense. The Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment states that private property may not be taken for public use without the payment of just compensation. When a taxpayer fails to pay her full tax debt, the government may seize and sell property to recoup the money it is owed. But that power does not encompass the power to extinguish an owners full rights in property that is worth more than the tax debt, Ross said. When the government obtains absolute title to such property without any mechanism for the owner to recover excess value, it engages in a potentially compensable taking. History and precedent strongly support that rule, she said. In the decade after the founding, the federal government and nine states all limited the government to recovering the value of a tax debt, Ross added. The lawyer for the county, Neal Katyal, said Tylers arguments, if made policy, would inconvenience governments by forcing them to act as real estate agents and fiduciaries, and even forcing them to pay claims immediately at forfeiture, well before a property is sold. Tylers arguments have generated a dangerous reality distortion field, Katyal said. The attorney faulted Tyler for leaving her condo. Why in the world would it be that Tyler walked away from her home, he said, adding she did so because there was no equity in the home. After Katyal argued Tyler lacked legal standing to proceed with the case, Justice Clarence Thomas said Tyler was saying at bottom the county took her property, made a profit on it with the surplus equity, and it belongs to her. Justice Elena Kagan also pushed back against Katyal, wondering aloud if there were limits to the governments ability to take property without refunding the surplus to the owner who was behind on taxes. Could a government seize a $5 million house for a $5,000 tax debt and keep the leftover money, she asked. Along the same lines, Justice Neil Gorsuch asked: a $5 property tax, a million dollar property good to go? Justice Brett Kavanaugh criticized Katyals arguments saying, why would we read the Constitution to disfavor real property, though? That seems very counterintuitive. In her rebuttal, Martin said it was the countys view that there are no limits to its powers. She offered other examples of so-called home equity theft. Under the countys theory, you can have exactly what happened in Michigan when a county took an entire home that was worth at least $25,000, at least thats what it fetched at an auction, over an $8.41 tax delinquency. And you can have the situation in Nebraska, where an elderly widow in a nursing home lost her million-dollar farm over a relatively small debt, the lawyer said. But the Constitution imposes limits, Martin said. The oral argument in Tyler v. Hennepin County, Minnesota, court file 22-166, was the final scheduled oral argument for the Supreme Courts current term. The new term begins in October. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the case by June or July. Los Angeles Councilwoman Blames Toyota, Instead of Thieves, for Catalytic Converter Thefts Nithya Raman speaks onstage during Celebration Of Life For Beloved Mountain Lion, P-22 at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Feb. 4, 2023. (JC Olivera/Getty Images for the National Wildlife Federation) A Los Angeles elected official blamed Toyota for the increase in catalytic converter thefts in the area during a recent town hall meeting. After the Los Angeles City Council made it illegal to own a detached catalytic converter without verification of legal possession in an 84 vote on April 11 to deter thieves, Los Angeles Councilwoman Nithya Ramanone of the opposing votessaid during a town hall that Toyota is largely responsible for the thefts of converters from Priuses, which are the most common vehicles targeted by thieves in the area. One of the things that infuriate me is we have a company, Toyota, who makes the Prius, which essentially has a device on their cars that is super easy to remove, Raman said. Its basically the value of a Macbook. Raman continued by saying the catalytic converters are put in a place that is incredibly easy to access in your car, and the costs are given to us to bear instead of them [Toyota] having to manufacture a car that actually is not so easy to be stolen [from]. In response to Ramans comments, a spokesperson for Toyota told The Epoch Times in a statement that minimizing such theft requires close collaboration between the broader automotive industry and local and state authorities to devise solutions aimed at eliminating the market for these stolen parts. Deputy Jaime Moran from the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department engraves the catalytic converter of a vehicle with a traceable number, in City of Industry, Calif., on July 14, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) According to Councilman John Leewho introduced the now approved catalytic converter motionin 2022, Los Angeles experienced a 728 percent surge in the theft of catalytic converter componentswith nearly 8,000 reported stolenmarking a significant rise over the last few years. And a study by State Farm, published in October, found that California has the highest incidence of such thefts in the country, with 30 percent occurring in the Golden State. Lawmakers in California have recently passed legislation to tackle the issue. The recently passed Assembly Bill 1740, which took effect on Jan. 1, builds upon existing legislation by requiring core recyclers to maintain detailed records when purchasing valuable partsparticularly catalytic convertersincluding information such as identification numbers, payment amounts, and quantities bought. Additionally, Senate Bill 1087passed last Septembermandates that recyclers can only purchase catalytic converters from specific authorized sellers, such as auto repair dealers. Other states are also taking measures to combat catalytic converter theft. For instance, Oregon enacted a similar law in January, mandating the documentation of sales or disposal transactions involving catalytic converters as well. Across the United States, such thefts have increased by 325 percent from 2019 to 2020, according to data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Los Angeles Vigil Commemorates 24th Anniversary of Falun Gong Practitioners Peaceful Appeal in Beijing Falun Gong adherents hold a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate to mark 24 years of persecution by the Chinese Communist Party in Los Angeles on April 23, 2023. (Emma Hsu/The Epoch Times) Over 200 Falun Gong practitioners gathered in front of the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles for a candlelight vigil Sunday evening, commemorating the peaceful appeal of over 10,000 practitioners to Beijing for their legal rights to continue the spiritual practice in China in 1999. The event on April 23 also calls for an end to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) 24 years of persecution of Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa. Wearing yellow shirts printed with Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearancethe core principles of the spiritual practiceattendees sat in rows, quietly holding candles and portraits of those who lost their lives in the persecution. Others held banners that read Reject CCP, China: Stop Murdering for Organs, and Stop Persecution of Falun Gong in China. Falun Gong adherents hold a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate to mark 24 years of persecution by the Chinese Communist Party in Los Angeles on April 23, 2023. (Emma Hsu/The Epoch Times) Today we stand here just like 24 years ago, telling people the truth [of the persecution] and the beauty of Falun Dafa with the same calmness, peacefulness, and kindness, said Youfu Li, president of the U.S. Southwest Falun Dafa Association. The calmness, peacefulness, and kindness that those 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners displayed are truly remarkable in todays chaotic society. Its a rare scene, he added. Former CCP Chairman Jiang Zemin, who died last November, launched a nationwide persecution against Falun Gong in July 1999, which is still ongoing in todays China. The April appeal earlier that year was to stop the harassment of practitioners already started at the time in various regions of China. Li also praised the courage of Falun Gong practitioners in China, who stand at the forefront against the CCPs oppression. Tens of millions of [Falun Gong] practitioners have wakened up countless people, allowing them to see the evilness of the Chinese Communist Party, thereby setting a foundation for universal values [to thrive in society], he said. Xiaohua Yana attends a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate to mark 24 years of persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party in Los Angeles on April 23, 2023. (Emma Hsu/The Epoch Times) Xiaohua Yan, at the time a doctoral student at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, recalled her experience at the appeal 24 years ago. The line outside of the central government building was so long that one could not see the end of it, she said, and many police officers were guarding the site. But the entire rally was enveloped in a harmonious atmosphere, and even the police on site were moved by the peacefulness and rationality of the Falun Gong practitioners, she said. Some police even started chatting with us. Yingnian Wu, a professor at the University of CaliforniaLos Angeles and a practitioner, said that the appeal was to stop the suppression of the spiritual practice and was never political. The annual rallies in Los Angeles were the same, he said. We have come here every year for 24 years already and have always done it in a peaceful and non-violent way, he said. Michael Ye, host of the vigil and a professor of public policy at the University of Southern California, attends a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate to mark 24 years of persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party in Los Angeles on April 23, 2023. (Emma Hsu/The Epoch Times) Michael Ye, host of the vigil and a professor of public policy at the University of Southern California, said that the appeal took place because of the absence of freedom of belief and religion under the communist regime. We truly hope that all the Chinese people and all the counties and governments around the world can see through the lies of the CCP and resist this brutal persecution that lasted 24 years too long, Ye said. Rui Tang, a practitioner who came to the United States four years ago, said her father, who still lives in China, was sentenced this February to four and a half years in prison because of practicing Falun Gong. Another practitioner that got arrested at the same time was sentenced to eight years with about $15,000 in fines. We firmly protest the illegal arrest, sentencing, and persecution of my father, and we demand the release of him and all the fellow Falun Gong practitioners that were illegally detained, she said. Among those who attended the event in support of Falun Gong is Jianbin Huang, vice president of the Chinese Democratic Party Los Angeles Division. The Falun Gong that I came to know truly teaches people to gain a healthier body and raise moral standards, Huang said. There are many top intellectuals that are well-educated and have strong mental facultieslike university professors, doctors, and elites from all walks of lifethat practice Falun Dafa. They all benefit from the practice. Signs are seen at a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate to mark 24 years of persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party in Los Angeles on April 23, 2023. (Emma Hsu/The Epoch Times) Huang said the CCP controls the media and uses it as a tool to spread its propaganda and fake news against Falun Gong out of fear [of its popularity]. The CCP itself is a cult that abuses its power to slander good people. , he added. This is an act of crime and political persecution that severely violates human rights. When the persecution first began, around 70 to 100 million people were practicing in China, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center. According to incomplete statistics by Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website reporting on the persecution of Falun Gong in China, over 116 practitioners have been put in prison this March alone, and among them, 25 people were killed during the process. In 2022, over 7,000 practitioners were arrested or harassed. Since 1999, at least 4,900 practitioners have been persecuted to death. Emma Hsu contributed to this report. Major Flood Warnings Issued for Mississippi River Cities A screenshot taken on April 26, 2023, shows "major" river flooding (in purple) along the Mississippi River. (National Weather Service via The Epoch Times) A number of cities along the Mississippi River across the Midwest are facing major flooding events as of Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Services river monitoring service. According to the NWSs river flood monitoring website, approximately 20 gauges along the Mississippi River are seeing major flooding or moderate flooding as of Wednesday morning, namely in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Major flooding was occurring along the Mississippi in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area; Dubuque, Iowa; New Boston, Illinois; La Crosse, Wisconsin; and other areas, the service shows. Officials told NBC News that Davenport, Iowa, a city of around 100,000, installed barriers to prevent flooding. Some areas near the riverfront were closed due to high water on Tuesday, officials said. We have floods every year its whether its going to be a major flood, Mayor Mike Matson told reporters on Tuesday as video footage and photos uploaded online shows the river rushing across multiple states. Aerial photos posted by the Crawford County Emergency Management in Wisconsin show a significant portion of St. Feriole Island is currently underwater due to Mississippi flooding. Local meteorologist Jeff Makowski told Wisconsin Public Radio that the river is forecast to reach just over 16 feet in La Crosse, or the third-highest level in recorded history. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation on Monday for a number of counties, allowing the state to free up resources to deal with Mississippi flooding. That includes Allamakee, Clayton, Clinton, Des Moines, Dubuque, Jackson, Lee, Louisa, Muscatine, and Scott counties, Reynolds said. On Tuesday, the Iowa Department of Transportation said there were road closures near the river, while some roads next to the waterway are expected to flood later this week. The states Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management urged residents to keep an eye out for updates and should prepare to evacuate if needed. Iowans who live along the Mississippi River are urged to prepare for possible flooding by having a plan to evacuate if necessary, packing an emergency kit with supplies for several days, staying informed about flood forecasts for their communities, and following information and guidance issued by local officials, a notice from Reynolds office stated. North of Iowa, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation confirmed Tuesday that multiple highways were closed in northwest and southwest Wisconsin due to river flooding. Local media reports noted that some areas along the Mississippi River could see the highest water levels in 20 years. A reason for the excess flooding is due to recent winter storms that produced heavy snow across the Midwest, officials said. When ice melts in the spring, that resulting water flows into the areas waterways, which then ultimately heads to the Mississippi River. If it remains wetter, and we have more rainfall and thunderstorms, that could cause the river stages to stay elevated for a longer period of time than say if we get into a more prolonged dry spell which would allow the river levels to come down from these crests more steadily going through the next month or so, Makowski, the meteorologist, told Wisconsin Public Radio. Manhattan DA Seeks to Prevent Trump From Publicizing Evidence in Criminal Case Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks during a press conference following the arraignment of former U.S. President Donald Trump in New York City on April 4, 2023. (Kena Betancur/Getty Images) NEW YORKFormer President Donald Trump should be forbidden from sharing evidence produced during his criminal case with the media or the public, prosecutors said in a filing this week. Prosecutors with the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on April 24 asked New York Justice Juan Merchan to enter a protective order that would limit what materials Trump can view and where he can view them. The order would also make clear that the discovery materials can not be disseminated to reporters or posted on social media platforms. Defendant has a constitutional right to speak publicly about this case, and the people do not seek to infringe upon that right. That said, neither defendant nor defense counsel have a First Amendment right to speak publicly regarding materials they receive through discovery, Assistant District Attorney Catherine McCaw said in the 30-page filing. Trump was indicted by a grand jury, acting on charges presented by Bragg, on April 4. Prosecutors have said they expect to start handing discovery materials to defense lawyers after the order is entered. The parties have been unable to agree on all aspects of an order. Prosecutors said Merchan should enter an order that requires any materials and information provided to meet discovery obligations be used solely for preparing a defense in the case, noting that Trump has since sued former lawyer Michael Cohen and could try using some of the materials in that litigation. The order would bar any person who receives the materials from copying, disseminating, or disclosing them to any third party, with an exception for workers employed by defense lawyers, including prohibiting people from posting the materials on social media sites like Trumps Truth Social and Elon Musks Twitter. It would also prevent Trump from viewing some materials outside the presence of his counsel, a necessity given how sensitive some of the materials are and given how Trump is under federal investigation for allegedly mishandling classified records, prosecutors said. Prosecutors expect to produce substantial discovery, including minutes from the grand jury, materials obtained in response to grand jury subpoenas, and forensic images of two cellphones obtained from a witness. The forensic images could not be viewed by Trump at all without permission from prosecutors if Merchan agrees to enter the order as proposed. Thats due to much of the content that was imaged, such as vacation photographs, having no relation to the case, prosecutors asserted. If permission is granted, Trump would be able to look at the relevant materials in a room with his lawyers. Trump should also be advised on the record about the terms of an order once one is entered, McCaw said. Prosecutors have said they could charge Trump if he violates a future order. Should the defendant fail to abide by these terms, it could have the effect of being in contempt of court, McCaw said during Trumps arraignment. The order would not prejudice the defense because they would still have access to all of the discovery, prosecutors said. Trumps lawyers said in that hearing that they were working to negotiate details of a protective order and that disagreements included where Trump would be able to view the sensitive materials. I know the D.A. said the review by the defendant would have to be in the attorneys office. That will not happen, Joseph Tacopina, one of the lawyers said. I thought it was in the attorneys presence. We would most likely meet at the office of President Trump. Merchan said at the time that he would not weigh in since negotiations were ongoing. If you reach an impasse and you need my help in resolving anything, let me know and Ill try to help out, he said. Trumps lawyers told outlets this week that they plan on lodging a response to the new filing next week. Michael Zwaagstra: Let the People Closest to the Ground Decide Education Policy Commentary All students deserve a quality education, regardless of where they live. However, it would be a mistake to assume this only happens when all students attend the same type of school. School choice is a strength, not a weakness, in our country. Much of this flexibility stems from the Constitution, which explicitly gives the provinces jurisdiction over education. The federal government has no say over school board governance, teacher certification standards, or curriculum requirements. Moreover, Ottawa doesnt provide any funding to the provinces for K-12 education, resulting in minimum influence and interference by Ottawa. Each province is free to chart its own course. This explains why theres significant variation from province to province. For example, as noted in a new study published by the Fraser Institute, independent schools are far more popular in British Columbia than in Newfoundland and Labrador. Nearly 98 percent of students in N.L. attend public (government) schools compared to only 86 percent in B.C., which in turn has the highest percentage of independent school enrollment (13.2 percent) followed by Quebec (11.7 percent). Its important to note that Quebec and B.C. (along with Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta) provide partial funding to independent schools, which makes it easier for parents to choose this option. However, its also important to acknowledge that when provinces fund independent schools, they do so based on enrolment. Thus, its more accurate to say that money follows the student, since independent schools only receive funds if parents choose to send their children there. Clearly, independent schools meet an important need for many families and should remain available as an option. Interestingly, Ontario does not provide funding for independent schools yet has a higher percentage (6.9 percent) of independent school enrolment than Alberta (4.3 percent) and Saskatchewan (2.8 percent), which partially fund independent schools. Why? Maybe because Ontario has fewer regulations for establishing independent schools than any other province, which suggests that excessive regulation can discourage the vitality of independent schools as much as a lack of funding. Alberta stands out as the province with the most school choice. Not only does it have both public and separate (Roman Catholic) school systems along with independent schools, its also the only province that allows charter schools. Despite popular misperception, charter schools are not independent schools but rather autonomous, not-for-profit schools within the public system. Charter schools have proven to be quite successful. Some charter schools, such as Foundations for the Future Charter Academy in Calgary, provide a traditional back-to-basics approach, while others, such as Boyle Street Education Centre in Edmonton, focus on alternative programs targeting at-risk youth. The provinces recent decision to lift the cap on charter schools means the number of these schoolsand the number of students enrolled in themwill continue to grow. Of course, not all students are enrolled in school. Parents in every province are legally entitled to educate their children at home, and a small but growing percentage are choosing to do just that. Three provincesB.C., Alberta, and Saskatchewaneven offer limited funding towards the cost of home schooling. Alberta has the highest percentage of families (1.9 percent) who choose home school. Clearly, theres a lot of diversity in Canadas educational landscape. No doubt some politicians would like to nationalize education, or at least require provinces to follow national educational standards. While this might be appealing to some, it would not be good for students or their parents. Weve learned over the years that cookie-cutter approaches to education rarely work. It makes sense to let the people closest to the ground be the ones to decide on education policy. At a bare minimum, this means respecting the constitutional rights of provinces in this area. However, we can go further and say that provinces should prevent government bureaucrats from centralizing education. Ideally, choices should be made at the local level, with parents having significant control over the type of education their children receive. School choice is a strength in Canada. When it comes to choosing what works best for children, parents should have as many options as possible. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Close your eyes and picture a traditional village. What do you see? Picturesque landscapes, underdeveloped infrastructure or old-fashioned buildings? Today's #GLOBALink will turn this conventional perception on its head as we journey to "Future Villages" in Zhejiang Province. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Minnesota, Alabama State Representatives Expected to Vote on New Gun Control Laws Pedestrians pass an anti-gun sign in New York city on October 13, 2022. (Photo by Ed JONES / AFP) (Photo by ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images) State legislatures from the North and the South are considering gun control legislation this week. The Minnesota House of Representatives is expected to pass HF 2890, an Omnibus Bill that includes universal background checks and Minnesotas version of the extreme risk protection order, or red flag law. On the other side of the country, the Alabama legislature is considering a set of bills that make it a misdemeanor for a gun owner to fail to tell a police officer if the owner is armed. There are also bills to redefine what a trigger activator is and to make it illegal for a person with a concealed carry license to carry a firearm on school property. None of the bills sponsors returned calls seeking comment. The Minnesota law would do more than expand the background checks, according to Brian Strawser, chairman of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus. The law would implement records retention requirements for private sellers similar to those for federal firearms license holders. A researcher simulates a check done for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, at the FBIs criminal justice center in Bridgeport, W.Va., on Nov. 18, 2014. (AP Photo/Matt Stroud) Strawser said the state already requires a permit to purchase a pistol or any so-called military-style assault weapon. The law would also require each party in a private sale to perform a background check on the other and keep a record of that check for 20 years. The law also authorizes law enforcement to request the record at any time. If you dont have it, thats a crime, Strawser told The Epoch Times. Strawser said a gun dealer could do the background check. A state-issued purchase permit can be used as proof of a background check. The bill would also establish a red flag. Strawser said the law is similar to those in other states. A persons firearms could be confiscated if a reporting party can convince a judge that the person is a danger to himself or others. Law enforcement investigating a shooting at Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio in Dadeville, Ala., on April 16, 2023. (Jake Crandall/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP) We have the same due process concerns as the other states, Strawser said. According to Strawser, Democrats hold a solid majority in the Minnesota House. However, they only have a one-vote majority in the State Senate. I think that, ultimately, it will pass the House. We need to keep the pressure on the Senate, Strawser said. The real battle is in the Senate. Kind of a Waste of Time Hundreds of miles to the south, the Alabama legislature is also considering gun laws. While the National Rifle Association (NRA) is calling on Alabama gun owners to oppose the new laws, the NRAs man in Alabama doesnt think the laws, if passed, will have much impact. Thats kind of a waste of time, in my opinion, James Moses, president of the Alabama State Rifle and Pistol Association, told The Epoch Times. Moses was talking about HB234, a bill to redefine what constitutes a trigger activator; HB28, which removes an exemption allowing concealed weapons permit holders to carry firearms on school property; and HB12, a bill making it a misdemeanor to fail to tell a police officer you are armed. The NRAs website calls on Alabama gun owners to actively oppose the bills. Please contact your state representative and demand they stop moving House Bills 12, 28, and 234, the statement on the website reads. According to the NRA, HB12 violates the Fourth and Fifth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution by making a lawful citizens failure to inform law enforcement, upon request, if they are carrying a firearm a Class A misdemeanor. The statement says that HB28 expands gun-free zones by removing an exemption allowing holders of concealed weapons to carry firearms on school property. At the same time, the law places an increased burden on the law-abiding by requiring minors to have written permission from a parent or guardian to transport any firearm, not just pistols, as currently required by law. Bill Exceeds Federal Rules HB234 exceeds the requirements of federal law by banning certain modifications of semi-automatic firearms, the statement reads. It also requires individuals to inspect all guns before buying them to ensure they have not been modified. It authorizes law enforcement to seize and hold firearms for up to 48 hours to determine if they are illegally modified. Any violation of this provision is automatically considered to have been committed willfully, according to the statement. Moses said he had not read the bills, but based on the reporters description, he didnt think they would make much difference. He said he has no problem with answering a police officers questions and that there is nothing a trigger-activating device can do that can be done manually. As for restricting the right to carry on school property, Moses said that is no more logical than designating an area a gun-free zone. The guys you would worry about having a gun on school property are going to have them anyway, Moses said. Missouri AG, Whistleblowers Lawyers Dispute Transgender Youth Clinics Internal Review A Missouri transgender clinic says an internal review found that staff treated gender-confused youths ethically and didnt cause harm, calling a whistleblowers allegations unsubstantiated. But the whistleblowers lawyers and the Missouri attorney general dispute that conclusion, saying they remain concerned about practices at the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Childrens Hospital. The transgender centers assertions dont line up with what weve uncovered so far in our investigation, Attorney General Andrew Bailey wrote on Twitter. We will leave no stone unturned. Further, the internal review committee never bothered to interview Jamie Reed, the ex-employee whose allegations led to state and federal investigations of the centers operations, Reeds lawyers said in an April 25 email to The Epoch Times. Those reactions followed the universitys release of a four-page report last week. The report summarizes the universitys conclusions after an eight-week internal review of the centers operations. Physicians and staff followed accepted standards of care for young transgender-identifying patients, the report asserts. The report says that appropriate mental health assessment and/or intervention was, and is, required for all medical treatment provided to patients younger than 18. But some changes are being made. Among them: The center will now secure parents consent in writingnot just verballybefore prescribing gender-transitioning medications to minors. Facts, Figures Disputed Since June 2018, 1,165 patients sought care at the center, the report says. Fewer than half of the patients received cross-sex hormones; 67 patients were prescribed puberty blockers. The remaining 567 patients received neither type of prescription, the report said. But Reeds lawyers, with the Child & Parental Rights Campaign, said they had reason to doubt the accuracy of those figures. During a 28-month span, Reed recorded data on 1,315 patients, 150 more patients than the university self-reported during a 55-month period, her lawyers said. The universitys number of patients should far exceed Reeds because the University is reporting 27 additional months of data, Reeds lawyers said. And, according to Reeds data, 912 patients were seen by a hormone-prescribing physician; 613 patients, or 67 percent, were given prescriptions, her lawyers say. Chloe Cole, an 18-year-old woman who regrets surgically removing her breasts, holds testosterone medication used for transgender patients in Northern California on Aug. 26, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) In a sworn statement written for Baileys office in February, Reed said she saw staff provide gender-affirming prescriptions without complete informed parental consent. Reed also alleged that this was done without an appropriate or accurate assessment of the needs of the child, and she saw shocking injuries from the medication the Center prescribed. However, the universitys report found no patients who had adverse physical reactions caused by medications prescribed by Center providers. No Referrals For Surgeries In her sworn statement, Reed alleged that the centers physicians publicly denied referring minors for gender-altering surgeries. They claimed these referrals were only for educational purposes,' to inform patients about their later options, Reed wrote. But these referrals were, in fact, referrals. The centers report said its medical providers have not referred patients under 18 for gender-affirming surgery since late 2018, when the Center adopted a policy prohibiting these referrals. Upon request, some families were provided with the names of surgeons (including Washington University physicians) who provided such surgeries, the report said. Only six gender-affirming surgeries were performed by Washington University physicians since 2018, the report said. All of those were breast removals for females transitioning to males. All six of the procedures were done after referrals from other medical providers or patient-initiated self-referrals, not a result of direct Center provider referrals, the report said. Prisha Mosley had both of her breasts removed when she believed she was transgender; she was hoping to receive reconstructive surgery. (Courtesy of Independent Womens Forum) Standard of Care Criticized The universitys report says the center follows guidelines from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and that other major U.S. health organizations concur with WPATHs standards of care. But Reeds lawyers said that rather than basing recommendations on sound proven evidence, WPATH is an an advocacy organization that relies heavily on the notion that transgender health care includes the pursuit of cosmetic goals on demand. WPATHs website says the organization promotes evidence-based health care. However, WPATH has come under fire for its deeply flawed standards of care, according to BeyondWPATH.org. Its online petition has been signed by more than 2,100 mental health professionals, public health scientists, and others. Investigations Continue Reed went public with a first-person account of the centers practices in February; she is believed to be the nations first whistleblower who worked at a pediatric gender clinic. Her allegations prompted Bailey and U.S. Rep. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) to investigate. The university said it was continuing to cooperate with both investigations. Hawleys probe was triggered, in part, by Reeds allegations of possible improper billing to federal health programs. Neither Bailey nor Hawley has released a specific update about their investigations. The university said its report was produced after top officials worked with St. Louis Childrens Hospital to review the centers procedures, interview staff, and examine medical records. But Reeds lawyers called the report little more than a self-serving finding. What ultimately will matter most are the conclusions and findings that will come from Baileys office and other officials investigations, Reeds lawyers said. Missouri House Fails to Pass Bill Reinstating Presidential Primary A man waves an American flag as he walks outside the Missouri State Capitol building in Jefferson City, Mo., on Jan. 20, 2021. (Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images) A bill that would have reinstated Missouris presidential primary failed to pass in the state House of Representatives on April 26. State Rep. Rudy Veit, a Republican, told The Epoch Times that his bill was written to restore the presidential primary that was eliminated last year. I strongly believe that people should have the right to vote, Veit said. Most people will not participate in a caucus and a presidential primary will get much broader support. Despite both Republicans and Democrats in favor of returning to the presidential primary, Veit said there were last-minute challenges among lawmakers. Im trying to do what I can to get a vote to reconsider so we can have a bill that everybody can agree on, Veit said. If Veit can recruit 30 supporters, he can call for another vote. The bill got 65 votes in support. Fifty-six representatives from both parties voted in opposition. Thirty-one Democrats voted present, and 10 others didnt vote, the Columbia Missourian reported. The House gave initial approval on April 17. Since then, House members debated details such as rules about how close election signs and literature should be kept from polling places. Primaries Favored Over Caucuses The chairmen for Missouris Republican and Democrat partiesNick Myers and Russ Carnahan, respectivelyspoke in favor of the bill, according to the Columbia Missourian. I think the primaries are popular and, frankly, caucuses exclude a lot of people from being able to participate, Carnahan said after the vote, adding that if officials want more trust and engagement in the electoral process, presidential primaries are the path forward to establishing that trust. State Rep. Peter Merideth, a Democrat, said there were problems with the amendments such as the date of the proposed primary being changed from March to April. The bill was amended to establish that the primary would take place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April. The amendment was proposed by Rep. Michael ODonnell, a Republican, with the stated intent to save money and increase participation in the April municipal elections. However, Rep. Peggy McGaugh, a Republican, argued that holding both elections at the same time would raise concerns because a voter would have to request a party ballot to vote in nonpartisan municipal elections, though ODonnell said the same candidates would be on every ballot and that nonpartisan elections would continue to be nonpartisan. Frequent Changes According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the state has frequently changed how it selects presidential candidates. Missouri used caucuses in 1992 and 1996 but has used presidential primaries since 2000. Lawmakers approved a plan in 1986 to hold a presidential primary in 1988 to promote then-U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt, a Democrat, who was running for president. In 1998, lawmakers passed a bill to hold the presidential primary every four years, which was signed into law by former Gov. Mel Carnahan, a Democrat. In 2020, President Joe Biden won 60 percent of the vote in the Missouri Democrat presidential primary, while former President Donald Trump won 97 percent of the Republican primary, carrying the state in the general election. In 2022, the Missouri Legislature passed an election reform bill that, in addition to prohibiting the use of electronic voting machines after 2024 and requiring voter ID, replaced the presidential primary with the caucus, according to the News Tribune. Veit said at the time he supported the election bill but opposed the removal of the presidential primary. I think theres a grave mistake to telling Missourians that we dont care what their opinion is on a presidential primary, Veit told the News Tribune. We want the peoples input on who our presidential candidates are. This is not a country where we tell you, Heres who you can vote for.' The big sister was "absolutely smitten" seeing the baby girl for the first time. A mom who worried that her second babys Down syndrome diagnosis would shatter her older childs chances at bonding with her sister was quickly proved wrong when the baby was born. It was the moms preconceptions about Down syndrome that were shattered, and her girls share a love like no other. Nikki Geib, 34, is a content creator and stay-at-home mom living in Madison, Wisconsin. She is married to Morgan Geib, 35, the business owner of a small manufacturing company, and the couple shares daughters Georgi, 4, and Millie, 2. Nikki and Morgan were thrilled when Nikki conceived their second child, but after opting for genetic testing, they received an unexpected shock. Nikki with her daughters, Millie and Georgi. (Courtesy of Nikki Geib) Baby Millie was born at the end of November 2020; she had a multi-cystic kidney and a possible heart defect. (Courtesy of Nikki Geib) A Wave of Emotions [G]enetic testing seemed so standard and routine. In hindsight we should have asked more questions about it because we learned it can come with a lot of uncertainty, Nikki told The Epoch Times. A week later, I received an email that my results were in from the test, and I opened them up to read, Positive for Trisomy 21.' Nikki had no idea what this meant until she turned to the internet. Trisomy 21, meaning three copies of the 21st chromosome, indicated possible Down syndrome. I about fell to the floor in a wave of emotions I have never felt before: confusion, fear, anger, she said. When I got hold of my doctor, we learned the test meant that the baby had a 68 percent chance of having Down syndrome, but [they] also reminded me there was a 32 percent chance it didnt, which was a poor way of sharing the newswe held on to that 32 percent hope. I didnt know much about Down syndrome and didnt know anyone personally who had it, but I knew it was bad. I thought our lives were going to be over. All of our dreams: travel, retirement, a normal family. Everything. I thought our life would now be dedicated to taking care of this child, who would struggle for their whole life. I only wish I knew then what I know now. Morgan and Nikki with their two daughters. (Courtesy of Nikki Geib) Nikki with her mom and daughters. (Courtesy of Nikki Geib) Nikkis mom went into Mama Bear mode, reminding her daughter that the baby would be loved no matter what. Morgan was supportive but took a lot of time to himself to digest his complex emotions. The first thing that popped into my head was how this baby would affect Georgi, Nikki said. I thought she would miss out on having a normal relationship with a sibling, that she wouldnt have someone to play with growing up, that her sibling wouldnt be her best friend, that classmates would be harder on her, that later in life her sibling would be a burden. Beautiful and Perfect The couple moved forward with the pregnancy, praying that their baby would be among the 32 percent. They denied further testing, wanting to avoid the risks of amniocentesis. Nikki struggled until her due date as in the midst of the 2020 pandemic neither her husband nor family were allowed to accompany her to her many doctors appointments. Hers was considered a high-risk pregnancy, as the baby had a multi-cystic kidney and possible heart defect, and an issue with Nikkis placenta meant the baby was growing at a slow rate. It was a scary time, knowing that at any of those ultrasounds they may have needed to make the call that the baby was better off on the outside than in my tummy, Nikki said. I ended up making it to 37 weeks, where it was decided I should be induced because of my high blood pressure. Baby Millie was born at the end of November 2020 weighing 4 pounds 15 ounces. Nurses held her in the air for proud Nikki to see before she was whisked away to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She was beautiful and perfect, and I immediately knew she had Down syndrome; she didnt look like her sister as a newborn, Nikki said. I will never forget looking over at my husband and I knew he knew too. I could see the disappointment in his eyes, as we both were holding onto that 32 percent chance of hope, but he smiled at me and I knew we were going to move forward, loving her with all of our hearts and taking each day at a time. One night in the NICU for low blood sugar turned into 22 nights for Millie, who was having trouble feeding because of low muscle tone, a characteristic of Down syndrome. It was days before her parents saw Millie open her eyes. Nikki grew exhausted, driving an hour to and from the hospital every day and pumping breast milk to feed her baby. I had a very hard time bonding with her and because of COVID restrictions, we werent allowed to sleep there. After about two weeks of not seeing much improvement, we had our first experience of advocating for her, and asked to have her transferred to a Level 1 NICU at the Childrens Hospital. Nikki said. In a quiet, private room Nikki felt able to bond with Millie, and the baby girl was ready to go home with an NG feeding tube a week later. It was time to meet big sister Georgi, who was a toddler at the time. Smitten Sisters I was so nervous how Georgi was going to react, Nikki said. She was absolutely smitten. I will never forget the smile she had on her face seeing her sister for the first time. She never once asked about the tube over the next four weeks Millie had it in, except for once, when she thought maybe Millie needed a tissue! Georgi fell into her role as a big sister with gusto. She lavished Millie with kisses and attention, showing protective instincts from the get-go, and even wanting to help her mom with feeding. Nikki was so bowled over, she began sharing sweet interactions between her two girls on an Instagram page, @makingmilliestones. Georgi with her baby sister, Millie. (Courtesy of Nikki Geib) Every milestone, or Milliestone as we call them, is so special to us, Nikki said. Every physical achievement, every word, everything she overcomes is so exciting and rewarding! Maybe its because she needs to work a little harder but once they are achieved, I realize all of the patience is worth it. As for Millie and Georgis special bond, it has only grown stronger. Today, Nikkis Instagram page is filled with heartwarming moments, smiles, and sisterly hugs. Nikki and Morgans preconceptions about Down syndrome have been turned on their heads. Sure, we might have some difficult times ahead (as everyone does when raising children), but I am already seeing Georgi become filled with compassion, patience, LOVE, and acceptance, Nikki wrote in a December 2022 post. Id like to think that shed be this way without Millie, but part of me believes she is the way she is because of Millie. And I am so grateful for that. At 2 years old, Millie has a transitional AV canal heart defect that may require surgery in the future. Her multi-cystic kidney was dissolved by her body, but her remaining kidney is compensating well. Nikki, who encourages both her kids to be curious and ask questions, hopes others will learn from their story. There are a lot of misconceptions. Most of them are ones that I thought, too! she told The Epoch Times. But I have learned that people with Down syndrome are smart, work hard, they can have jobs, live independently, even get married. If people and the society around them didnt place so many barriers around them, but rather believed in their abilities and gave them opportunities, people with Down syndrome can go so far. Having a child with Down syndrome might be unexpected, it might come as a shock, but it is not a bad thing, she said. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter More Canadians Ask for Help to Get out of Sudan: Joly Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly speaks with reporters as she heads to a meeting of cabinet on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, April 25, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld) About 50 additional Canadians were evacuated out of Sudan in the last day, but even more have added their names to a list seeking help to flee, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said Wednesday. That means about 150 Canadians and permanent residents have now been helped to get out of the country after violence broke out last week between the East-African countrys army and paramilitary force. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier this week Canada had a C-17 military plane in the region to help airlift Canadians out but so far has relied on other countries to find space on their planes or boats. Joly says roughly 1,800 Canadian citizens or permanent residents have now registered their presence in Sudan and 700 of those have asked to be helped out of the country. On Tuesday Joly told Parliament 1,700 people had registered and 550 had asked for help. She says Canada is also considering a request from Sudanese diaspora groups for relatives to be able to come to Canada on a temporary basis until the violence abates. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said Wednesday the government called in some workers who were on strike with the Public Service Alliance of Canada, declaring them essential workers in order to help process immigration paperwork for people in Sudan. In times of crisis, Canadas always there to help, and thats why well be there, Joly told reporters on Parliament Hill. She noted that Canada is including dual nationals and permanent residents of Canada, as well as foreigners who are their spouses and dependants such as children and grandchildren. Fraser noted Canada is already fast-tracking applications Sudanese citizens had filed for visitor visas before the violence started, and is waving some fees such as for Canadians with expired passports. We see whats going on and are trying to adopt policies that reflect the gravity of the situation on the ground, he told reporters. Weve actually had some staff return from the public service strike who are deemed essential to help those whose lives may be at risk, which is essential. Defence Minister Anita Anand would not say whether Canada will send special-forces soldiers into Sudan, as other countries have done. Were working very closely with our allies to ensure that we have a secure and targeted approach to get Canadians out, Anand said in response to questions from reporters. She also did not say when Canada would start flying out people on its own planes. We have personnel and capabilities in the region, including two ships in the waters just off the coast, Anand said, referring to the Red Sea. Well continue to do whatever possible, together with our allies and with our own capabilities, to ensure the safety and security of all Canadians. More Flight Delays, Cancellations Possible as FAA Strains to Meet Demand: Agency Head WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 15: Acting Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Billy Nolen speaks during a hearing with the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Capitol Hill on February 15, 2023 in Washington, DC. The committee met to hear testimony from Nolen on the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system failure on January 11th which grounded flights in the United States for 90 minutes and caused nearly 10,000 flights to be canceled or delayed. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is straining to meet increased demand for air travel while its air-traffic control towers are already understaffed. And without rapid funding for more personnel and other improvements, the flying public will likely face more flight delays and cancellations, Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen warned lawmakers during an April 26 hearing in Washington. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), ranking member of the subcommittee whose oversight includes the FAA, says constituents, increasingly concerned about the reliability of flights, have made comments such as: I dont feel like Im buying a ticket. I feel like Im buying a chance. Quigley said, It shouldnt be that way. Hes especially concerned that cancellations and delays have already been rising, and now air travel is projected to increase by 10 percent. Aviation safety, workforce readiness, and airport infrastructure must be state-of-the-art to meet that demand, Quigley said during the hearing. Hes a member of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, under the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations. Congressional Delay Likely But Nolen cautioned that wont happen if Congress delays enacting the FAAs spending authorization. Holding up a chart, he said, At the FAA, we manage thousands of systems. A funding delay would require immediate cuts in all of these critical systems, Nolen said, including shutting down about 275 air-traffic control towers, leaving two-thirds of the National Air System without those services. The FAA also would need to impose a hiring freeze, employee furloughs, and halt computer modernization. An outdated FAA computer system came to light when it failed on Jan. 11, causing the grounding of all U.S. flights for several hours. Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) said he was pessimistic about this committees ability to get responsible legislation pushed through both chambers of Congress and signed into law by an Oct. 1 deadline. We need to do our work, and we need to do it in a timely fashion, Womack said. U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), speaks during a congressional subcommittee hearing in Washington on April 26, 2023. (Janice Hisle/The Epoch Times via screenshot of live video) Other Stressors None of this bodes well at a time when the U.S. Department of Transportation asked airlines to cut 10 percent of their summer flight schedules for the New York corridor. There, air-traffic control towers are suffering from staffing as low as 54 percent; the national average staffing level is 81 percent, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said in a recent statement. Further complicating matters, Nolen has announced that hell be leaving the agency soon. Nolen has served as acting administrator for a year and is waiting for President Joe Biden to name a second nominee. Bidens first choice, Denver Airport Administrator Phil Washington, stepped aside in March after facing criticism for his lack of direct experience with aviation. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), chair of the subcommittee, thanked Nolen for his leadership and said, By all accounts, your steady hand and safety expertise [have] served our nation well during this critical period. He and Nolen both said the United States boasts the worlds most complex and safest air travel system. But, Nolen said, Simply put, safety is not free. Ten recent close calls, near-collisions of aircraft so far this year, remind us that safety requires continuous, predictable, and robust funding, he told the committee. Lawmakers hear testimony from Billy Nolen, acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, in Washington on April 26, 2023. (Janice Hisle/The Epoch Times via screenshot of live video.) Nearly $20 Billion Sought In written testimony, Nolen recommended that Congress approve the Biden administrations request for nearly $20 billion to operate and enhance our airspace system during fiscal year 2024. When combined with $5 billion in advanced annual appropriations under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the FAAs total funding request is $24.8 billion, Nolen said. With a requested $117 million, the agency would be able to hire 1,800 new air-traffic control trainees, 300 more trainees than the previous fiscal year. This will also help ease a training backlog caused when the agencys Air Traffic Control Training Academy was shut down in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nolen said. Funding to hire and train air traffic controllers is only part of the equation. They need modern equipment and fully maintained facilities to perform their duty, he wrote. That equipment includes the Notice to Air Missions system, which failed in January. The budget requests $19.6 million to retire our aging databases and applications and move to a more reliable, modern system, Nolen wrote. We cannot modernize for tomorrow if we dont keep pace for today, he told the subcommittee. Nolen pointed out that civil aviation contributes about $1.8 trillion annually to the national economy, provides 10.9 million jobs, and constitutes 5.2 percent of the gross domestic product. The FAA contributes to the success of this industry, he said, while always upholding our commitment to maintain the safest, most efficient airspace in the world. NASA Chief Sees Russians and Americans Together on Space Station Through 2030 NASA Administrator Bill Nelson speaks prior to the launch of an Atlas V rocket carrying Boeing's CST-100 Starliner capsule to the International Space Station in a do-over test flight at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on July 29, 2021. (Joe Skipper/Reuters) OTTAWANASA Administrator Bill Nelson on Tuesday said in Ottawa that he expected Russians and Americans to work together on the International Space Station (ISS) until it is decommissioned. American-Russian space cooperation was put in doubt after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Yuri Borisov, the director-general of Russias space agency Roscosmos, surprised NASA by announcing in July 2022 that Moscow intended to withdraw from the space station partnership after 2024. A day later NASA said Roscosmos wanted to continue the partnership. Nelson, who was in Ottawa to help showcase the Artemis II space mission including a Canadian astronaut, underscored the history of U.S. and Soviet collaboration in space during the Cold War, and said he expects it to continue amid the war in Ukraine. The collaboration aboard the ISS continues in a very professional manner between astronauts and cosmonauts without a hitch. And I expect that to continue all the way through the end of the decade, when they we will then de-orbit the space station. NASA has estimated it will begin de-orbiting the ISS in January 2031. Launched in 1998, the ISS has been continuously occupied since November 2000 under a U.S.Russian-led partnership that also includes Canada, Japan, and 11 European countries. The space station was born in part from a foreign policy initiative to improve American-Russian relations following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Cold War hostility that spurred the original U.S.Soviet space race. The ISS arrangement, which has endured numerous strains over the years, has stood as one of the last links of civil cooperation as Ukraines war sent relations between Washington and Moscow to a new post-Cold War low. Nebraska Governor Signs Bill to Enact Constitutional Carry Law Law-abiding citizens can now carry firearms without a permit An instructor shows a holster at a gun concealed carry permit class put on by "USA Firearms Training" in Provo, Utah, on Dec. 19, 2015. (George Frey/Getty Images) Nebraskas Republican Gov. Jim Pillen signed a constitutional carry bill into law on April 25 that will allow law-abiding citizens to carry a firearm, either openly or concealed, without a permit. The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Tom Brewer, applies to any individual 21 years or older who can legally own a firearm. Signing this bill upholds the promise I made to voters to protect our constitutional rights and promote commonsense, conservative values, Pillen said in a statement. I appreciate the hard work of those senators who supported the legislation, and particularly that of Sen. Brewer who led this charge and carried it through to the end. Nebraska is the 27th state to enact a constitutional carry law. The law will go into effect 90 days after the end of the legislative session. The bill was approved on April 19 in the state Legislature, which has a single chamber, in a 3314 vote. Thirty-two Republicans voted in support of the bill, with one Democrat from Omaha joining them. Nebraskans should not have to pay the government a fee or ask permission for constitutional rights, Brewer said in the announcement from the governors office. This bill finally delivers on the promises in Nebraska and United States constitutions. I am proud to help Nebraska join twenty-six of our sister states in removing this obstacle to the right to keep and bear arms, Pillen said. Passing The Bill Police departments in the cities of Omaha and Lincoln, the biggest in the state, played a key role in getting the legislation to the governors desk. In past years, both police departments had opposed constitutional carry, but this time, they decided to stay neutral on the issue, neither opposing nor supporting the bill, KMTV 3 News Now reported. City leaders of Omaha and Nebraska opposed the bill as it takes away a municipalitys right to determine its own gun regulations. In the Legislature, five senators from Lincoln and eight senators from Omaha voted against the bill. Omaha is the county seat of Douglas County, where many individuals were not able to get a concealed carry permit due to stricter local laws. LB 77 will now allow such people to carry a concealed weapon. In a recent interview with The Epoch Times, Brewer said getting LB 77 passed was a seven-year labor of love. He pointed out that seven of his eight years in office were spent fighting for the right to constitutional carry. In Nebraska, senators are restricted to two terms of four years each. Brewer is currently in his second term. Restrictive Gun Laws Nebraskas decision to protect gun rights comes as some states are seeking to restrict such rights. In Minnesota, the state House of Representatives is considering a bill to enact a red flag law under which a persons firearms could be confiscated if the reporting party is able to convince a judge that the person is a danger to themselves or others. In Alabama, the state Legislature is weighing HB12, a bill that will make it a misdemeanor for a gun owner to fail to tell a police officer if they are armed. The National Rifle Association (NRA) has pointed out that HB12 violates the Fourth and Fifth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The state is also considering HB28, which seeks to remove an exemption that allows concealed carry weapon permit owners to carry firearms on school properties. John Lott, an economist and researcher, recently presented a seminar at the NRAs Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Indianapolis suggesting that arming teachers at schools is the way forward to deal with school shootings. From a shooters perspective, not knowing which of the teachers in a school carries firearms would make the place a challenging target, he said. Lott pointed out that 20 states already allow teachers to be armed. You have literally thousands of schools across the country with armed teachers, he said. Michael Clements contributed to this report. The mastermind behind the 2021 Kabul airport bombing is dead. The Taliban killed the ISIS terrorist in a battle early this month. Reactions from across the nation to President Joe Bidens big announcement: Find out how Americans feel about a second term, and their main concern. And we get an analysis on Bidens campaign strategy. Washington state has banned semi-automatic rifles. A package of new gun control measures was passed on April 25. Topics in this episode include: 1. Taliban Kill Mastermind of Kabul Bombing 2. Americans React to Bidens 2024 Bid 3. Biden Campaign Strategy Analysis 4. Asa Hutchinson Launching 2024 Campaign 5. Florida Bill Puts Pressure on Illegal Immigrants 6. Washington State Bans Semi-Automatic Rifles 7. FDA Makes New Statement on Vaccines 8. Colorado Becomes Gender-Surgery Sanctuary 9. Chinese Nationals Smuggled Into US 10. British American Tobacco to Pay Over $600 Million 11. High Probability Japanese Lander Crashed on Moon 12. Dogs Ok to Dine Outdoors: FDA The jurist who established the Clear and Present Danger test Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. served on the U.S. Supreme Court when several laws were passed that restricted freedom of speech; this was a time when people spoke against the government and its choice to go to war. For years, the Supreme Court did not defend peoples right to free speech. Then Holmes came up with a test that would shape how the First Amendment would protect people from facing criminal charges when they violated laws regarding what could be said and printed. Holmes himself voted several times that certain things people said were not protected under the First Amendment. His views changed with the clear and present danger test in his opinion written on the Schenk v. United States case in 1919. After that, he began using the test to voice his opinions on who should be protected by the First Amendment. He eventually earned the nickname The Great Dissenter for several famous dissenting opinions he wrote against the majority of Supreme Court votes. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. about 1872, aged 31. (Public Domain) Even though the Supreme Court didnt implement the clear and present danger test for several years after Holmes established it, later, in the 1940s the test was used to decide a dozen cases. The test also served as the basis for other tests that would be implemented later. Holmes never supported socialism or communism, but some of his dissenting opinions supported people who had these beliefs. Holmes thought that the First Amendment was vital for the country: If there is any principle of the Constitution that more imperatively calls for attachment than any other it is the principle of free thought, not free thought for those who agree with us but freedom for the thought that we hate, Holmes stated in his dissenting opinion in United States v. Schwimmer in 1929. His test eventually led the way for people speaking against the government being protected under the First Amendment. Many to this day still wonder what exactly free speech is, and Holmes was one of the first to bring this question to light. Civil War Captain, Lawyer, and Judge Holmes Jr. was born on March 8, 1841 in Boston, Massachusetts to the famous doctor and writer Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. who was well revered as a physician and also the co-founder of the Atlantic Monthly. Holmes went to a private school before attending Harvard College and graduating in 1861. Holmes Jr. served in the 20th Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. as a Union soldier, September 1861. (Authenticated News/Getty Images) Just before his graduation, the Civil War broke out, and after his commencement he joined the war efforts on the Union side in the 20th Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers. Holmes served in the Union Army for three years; he was seriously wounded in a handful of battles including Balls Bluff in 1861, Antietam in 1862, and Chancellorsville in 1863. Holmes left the army in 1865 and said, I trust I did my duty as a soldier respectably, but I was not born for it and did nothing remarkable in that way, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. That fall, Holmes entered Harvard Law School and graduated in 1866. He passed the bar and practiced law. Holmes spent the next ten years writing and developing lectures on the structure and the history of law. These lectures would be published in 1881 and coined The Common Law. In 1882, Holmes was given the position of Weld Professor of Law at the Harvard Law School. And then in December that same year, Holmes was appointed as a judge in the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. The Supreme Court In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt gave Holmes the nod to join the U.S. Supreme Court, a position that he held until he was 90 years old. To this day, he is the oldest person to serve on the countrys highest court. During his first several years on the bench, Holmes was not an advocate for the First Amendment. In fact, in 1907, Holmes decided in the Patterson v. Colorado case that there were no First Amendment infringements when the state charged a newspaper editor with contempt; the editor had printed cartoons and articles that presented the Colorado Supreme Court Judges in a derogatory manner. Holmes believed that the First Amendment only limited the federal government, not local actions. And then, in 1915, after overseeing the Fox v. Washington majority opinion case called The Nude and the Prudes, Holmes rejected the defendants defense that his First Amendment rights had been violated when he was charged with a misdemeanor for printing an article that praised nudity. Clear and Present Danger After serving on the Supreme Court for over a decade, Holmes would eventually have a change of heart and became a First Amendment advocate, taking on the role as civil rights activist. In 1919, the Supreme Court saw the case of Schenk v. United States. Socialist Charles Schenk was charged with violating the Espionage Act of 1917. He had launched a massive effort to discourage men from fighting in World War I by telling them to not respond to their draft notices. The Supreme Court upheld Schenks conviction when they agreed that the First Amendment should not protect someone from interfering with the governments ability to raise troops during war time. However, in the courts opinion written by Holmes, he introduced the clear and present danger test. The test would go on to become a tool that the court would use to help it determine what types of speech were protected by the First Amendment and which were not. Members of the US Supreme Court in 1904. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes (1841-1935) is standing on the far left. (MPI/Getty Images) Holmes used an example to explain the only time where the freedom of speech did not apply when he wrote, The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic. Then that same year, the First Amendment came up again during Abrams v. United States. Holmes dissented from the majority when they upheld the convictions under the Espionage Act of 1917. Five Russian immigrants were said to be anarchists and socialists. In his dissenting opinion, Holmes said that the principle of free speech should be the same whether the country was at war or peace. Holmes reiterated his belief, according to the First Amendment Encyclopedia, that the only time the government could put restraints on speech was when the speech created a present danger of immediate evil or an intent to bring it about. For the rest of his tenure, Holmes continued to advocate the use of the clear and present danger test. In 1925, the Supreme Court upheld the conviction of the defendant who was distributing socialist material in Gitlow v. New York. Holmes dissented, saying that the words at issue posed no clear or present danger of inciting violent action. Other First Amendment Tests Since Holmes came up with the clear and present danger test, as the Cornell Law School explains, it has been used in several cases involving criminal prosecution for people opposing war, laws penalizing the advocacy of the overthrow of the government, attacks on courts or judges, and picketing. However, the Cornell Law School also gives examples of cases where the rule has not been implied including those involving antitrust laws, libel cases, laws regulating the conduct of labor union affairs, and demonstrations in inappropriate places like in front of a courthouse. In the 1950s, the test led to the preferred position doctrine that gave precedence to the First Amendment whenever it came into conflict with other rights. The court then began to use the strict scrutiny test that closely examines cases in which fundamental rights and those of protected classes according to race, religion, and ethnicity are at issue. Overall, Holmess beliefs that the First Amendment was vital to a successful democratic society would shape the way the Supreme Court decided cases well beyond his death in 1935. People visit the Solar & Future Energy Show Africa 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 25, 2023. South Africa's Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa on Tuesday implored the private sector to help the government build industrial capacity and generate energy to address power shortages facing the country. South African government is removing constraints that impede businesses to promote investment in energy generation, Ramokgopa said while addressing the Solar & Future Energy Show Africa 2023, which began Tuesday and will end Wednesday in Johannesburg. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua) JOHANNESBURG, April 25 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa on Tuesday implored the private sector to help the government build industrial capacity and generate energy to address power shortages facing the country. South African government is removing constraints that impede businesses to promote investment in energy generation, Ramokgopa said while addressing the Solar & Future Energy Show Africa 2023, which began Tuesday and will end Wednesday in Johannesburg. "There are possibilities for you to make money and contribute to the overall growth of South Africa. It is you who will help us resolve these challenges," said Ramokgopa. South Africa is in the process of strengthening the grid, he noted, calling for the private sector to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the transition from reliance on fossil fuels to clean energy. People visit the Solar & Future Energy Show Africa 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 25, 2023. South Africa's Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa on Tuesday implored the private sector to help the government build industrial capacity and generate energy to address power shortages facing the country. South African government is removing constraints that impede businesses to promote investment in energy generation, Ramokgopa said while addressing the Solar & Future Energy Show Africa 2023, which began Tuesday and will end Wednesday in Johannesburg. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua) People visit the Solar & Future Energy Show Africa 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 25, 2023. South Africa's Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa on Tuesday implored the private sector to help the government build industrial capacity and generate energy to address power shortages facing the country. South African government is removing constraints that impede businesses to promote investment in energy generation, Ramokgopa said while addressing the Solar & Future Energy Show Africa 2023, which began Tuesday and will end Wednesday in Johannesburg. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua) People visit the Solar & Future Energy Show Africa 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 25, 2023. South Africa's Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa on Tuesday implored the private sector to help the government build industrial capacity and generate energy to address power shortages facing the country. South African government is removing constraints that impede businesses to promote investment in energy generation, Ramokgopa said while addressing the Solar & Future Energy Show Africa 2023, which began Tuesday and will end Wednesday in Johannesburg. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua) On Bail Chairman of the Hong Kong Journalist Association Returns From Oxford for Trial Chairman of the Hong Kong Journalist Association, Ronson Chan Ron-sing, announced on Facebook that he would arrive in Hong Kong on April 23 from his trip to Oxford University in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, Chan received his lawyers instruction that his trial set for April 25 would resume on May 16, instead. The Magistrates Court and prosecutors received copies of his flight tickets, which confirmed Chan would return to Hong Kong. Chan expressed that he missed everything from the people and the love and righteousness of old Hong Kong. When he stepped out of the arrival hall, he said he was delighted to be back in Hong Kong and could see everyones faces without the masks on. He also thanked Oxford University. On his flight en route to Hong Kong, Chan mentioned he watched two recent films about the journalism industry. Even from the movies, he could feel the challenge and anticipation journalists had to face of being arrested, sent to jail, or legal persecution Chan had Hong Kong on his mind during his entire stay in the United Kingdom and kept a close eye on it. I am thankful that the hurdles of news and media outlets have not been getting worse than when I left. Chan mentioned, It is purposeful to continue the operation of the journalists association. However, many Hong Kong journalistic professionals have either quit the industry or left Hong Kong for good. As of April 25, the number of members at the Hong Kong Journalist Association has declined to about 200. The chairman would consider whether the association should persist if journalism continued deteriorating in the city. Ronson Chan Ron-sing was all cheers when he saw his colleagues and media friends at the Hong Kong International Airport. (Zheng Zhaodong/The Epoch Times) Chan shared his view during his visit to the United Kingdom. I can finally understand. Hongkongers living in foreign countries can face different difficulties daily. He urged Hongkongers to cheer for each other, wherever they are. Hongkongers, lets keep moving. On Sept. 29, 2022, the Hong Kong Journalist Association chairperson was about to fly to the United Kingdom for the Reuters Institute Fellowship. But before he could leave, Chan was arrested at MacPherson Stadium, where he conducted an interview. On Sept. 19, 2022, the former Stand News reporter also was notified that the police had formally pressed charges against Chan with obstruction of police work, and the West Kowloon Magistrates Court processed the case on Sept. 22. After the prosecution and defenses arguments, the magistrate granted Chan bail on a list of conditions, including a HK$20,000 bond. Other conditions include Chan must report a residential address and inform police upon his arrival in the UK of his address and contact number. Chan was also asked to notify the Hong Kong police within 48 hours should he change his address. Additionally, Chans trial will resume once he returns from the UK after completing his program at Oxford University. Before his return to Hong Kong, Chan expressed on social media that his lawyer had informed him he no longer had to go to the court on April 25; the trial would resume on May 16. Despite the polices suspicion and concern about whether Chan would run away, Chan emphasized many times that he would return to Hong Kong and had nothing to hide or conceal from the police or the court. Ronson Chan Ron-sing, president of the Hong Kong Journalist Association, has been observing Hong Kongs situation closely even though he was in the United Kingdom. (Zheng Zhaodong/The Epoch Times) Previous report for reference: Chairman of Hong Kong Journalists Association Travels to UK While on Bail Opposition Leaders Criticize Trudeau for Trip to New York During Federal Workers Strike Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to reporters ahead of a caucus meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 19, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby) As the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) strike moves into its eighth day, opposition leaders are criticizing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for leaving the country to attend a summit in New York while negotiations between PSAC and Ottawa remain unresolved. If this prime minister was serious about respecting these workers, he wouldnt be jetting off to New York, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said during question period on April 26. Workers arent buying it, were not buying it, and if the prime minister was serious about this he could show some leadership and certainly not allow the minister that put us in this mess to continue to do this work, Singh added, referring to Treasury Board President Mona Fortier who is leading negotiations with PSAC. Trudeau will travel to New York today for the Global Citizen NOW summit taking place on April 27 and 28. A statement from the Prime Ministers Office said the summit focuses on advancing collective efforts in addressing some of the most pressing global challenges and building a better and more equal world for everyone. While at the summit, the statement said Trudeau will champion womens rights, co-chair a Sustainable Development Goals Advocates group alongside the prime minister of Barbados, and address the Council on Foreign Relations to emphasize the importance of the Canada-United States bilateral relationship and the strong shared interest in building clean economies. PSAC represents the 155,000 public service workers who have been striking across Canada since April 19 after the federal government and the union failed to reach a deal before the deadline. PSAC has escalated its protests in recent days, blocking the Prime Ministers Office and Treasury Board headquarters, CFB Kingston, and ports in Montreal, British Columbia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Union Wants PM More Involved On April 26, PSAC President Chris Aylward called on Trudeau to become more involved in order to help settle the dispute. Singh said that if the prime minister believed the PSAC strike was serious and required the full attention of the government, then he shouldnt be leaving the country. Trudeau responded that it was a little odd that Im having to explain to a member of the NDP how collective bargaining works. The prime minister said the government is continuing to negotiate with PSAC, including by putting forth an offer that aligns exactly with the recommendations of a third-party expert on the issue. That is the basis for a good deal moving forward that both respects our public servants and is fair for taxpayers. Thats what were going to continue to work on, he said. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said during question period that it was out of touch to be travelling when the largest federal strike in Canadian history is ongoing, housing costs have nearly doubled and crime is ravaging through our streets. During his comments, Poilievre began singing the song New York, New York in jest and was reminded by Speaker of the House Anthony Rota that singing is not allowed in the chamber. I cant sing very well, but I pay for my hotel rooms. Will he pay for his hotel costs when he goes to New York? Poilievre asked. Trudeau responded that over the last few years, his government has been travelling around the world, singing the praises, quite literally of Canadian workers. Fourteen years ago, a woman from Ohio texted a Bible verse to the wrong number. However, instead of ignoring the message, the man on the other end responded and now theyre a happy family of eight. I think 100 percent of the relationship was orchestrated by God, Brenda Rivera Stearns, 36, told The Epoch Times. Brenda Rivera Stearns with her husband, Isaiah. (Courtesy of Brenda Rivera Stearns) Brenda who was born and raised in Mexico moved to the United States with her mother and three sisters when she was 12 years old. After living in Minnesota for ten years, she moved to Georgia and lived there for a year. During this time she would make the 700-mile journey to Ohio to visit her mother and younger sister. It was on one of those trips that Brenda met her sisters friend and saved the contact to her phone list. On a fateful day in 2009, Brenda, who was working in a photography studio, wanted to send an encouraging message to all her contacts including to the new contact she had added but was interrupted by a call and decided to save the message as a draft. I didnt get a chance to send it in the morning, Brenda said. I got busy at work and forgot all about the text. Later, I got home and I remembered, Im like, Oh, I was gonna send that text. Im gonna go ahead and do it now. To her surprise within 20 minutes of sending the message, Brenda received a reply from the new number saying: Amen to that, who is this? Puzzled by the question, Brenda replied that she was Roxys sister and they had met on her visit to Ohio. However, the stranger on the other end said that they hadnt ever met her and went on to introduce himself as Isaiah Stearns. He added: By the looks of your text, I can tell that you love God. Thats awesome. But that wasnt all. Now, from Isaiahs perspective, this is what gives me goosebumps, because that same day, he was getting ready to have a new phone plan with Verizon, the phone company, Brenda said. But after following the instructions to set up a phone network, Isaiah, now 41, was told by Verizon that there was an error, thus he was presented with a new number that no one in his family had. But 20 minutes into setting up the number, he received a text from Brenda. I think its interesting that if I had sent that text in the morning, he would have never received it, Brenda said. And the person that helped him at Verizon, if they hadnt had an accident with the first number, I think he would have never received it either. The following day, Isaiah decided to give Brenda a call. However, she ignored it thinking that it was weird as she had already apologized for sending him an accidental text, but secretly hoped that he would leave her voice mail, and thats what Isaiah did. I remember in the voicemail, he said something like, Hey, I just wanted to let you know that the text was very encouraging to me. And at this point, he didnt know if I was a girl or a boy, Brenda said. Brenda decided to give him a call back since she found his voice very comforting. During their first conversation, they shared their backgrounds, Facebook profiles, and more. She also learned that Isaiah was from Ohio and suggested that they should catch up if she ever visited. However, the conversation didnt end there. They continued to text and call each other. I think because we were so far away from each other our phone conversations were very meaningful, Brenda said. We quickly discovered that we had a lot of things in common, and I felt like maybe I was falling in love with him. But also, I was very hesitant because I never met him. A month after the accidental text, Brenda shared her feelings with her mom, who suggested she could go spy, on him. Instead, Brenda set up a lunch date for Isaiah, her mom, and her younger sister in Ohio, while she was in Georgia. During the whole meeting, Brenda was really nervous. But all her worries were put to rest after her mom called her and without any hesitation gave him an 11/10 and told Brenda, Youre going to marry this guy. Assured by her mom, Brenda followed her heart, and they both quickly fell in love. Brendas mom suggested she invite Isaiah to spend Christmas with them in Minnesota, where her older sister lived. However, the photography studio that Brenda worked at couldnt give her the vacation time she asked for. So, Brenda, who had made a promise to spend every Christmas with her mom and sisters, decided to quit her job that day and move to Ohio. Back in Ohio, she stayed with her mom with a plan to figure out what she wanted to do with her life. While there, she met Isaiah, who lived in Dayton about an hour from her moms house. It was Dec. 1 and it was the first time theyd met in person. I remember for our first date, we went on a walk at the Newport Levy, Brenda said. [It] was very peaceful, I just remember feeling very at home with him. Brenda and Isaiahs first date. (Courtesy of Brenda Rivera Stearns) They also committed to making their relationship official. For the next three months, their relationship blossomed, and on Valentines Day of 2010, Isaiah took it one step further by proposing to Brenda. Four months later, on June 27, 2010, the couple tied the knot at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Centreville, surrounded by close friends and family. I think its interesting because that was the month that my lease was originally going to end if I hadnt quit my job, Brenda said. Now looking back, I feel like everything happened really fast. But I remember at the moment it just felt right. It didnt feel rushed. The couple got engaged on Feb. 14, 2010. (Courtesy of Brenda Rivera Stearns) Brenda with her husband on their wedding day, June 27, 2010. (Courtesy of Brenda Rivera Stearns) Reflecting, Brenda said that although Isaiah was completely the opposite of what shed envisioned in a partner, she liked him for his core values, beliefs, and who he was on the inside. However, Brenda was exactly the person Isaiah was looking for. From the beginning of their relationship, both she and Isaiah, who works for the government, knew they wanted to have kids and have welcomed six children: Victoria, 12, Veronica 10, Samuel, 9, Vanessa, 7, Benjamin, 4, and Ezra, 1. Brenda with her family. (Courtesy of Brenda Rivera Stearns) Although life is very chaotic and busy as a big family, Brenda said she is grateful that she and her husband work as a team. Despite working full-time, Isaiah helps with household chores. Brenda, who has been homeschooling her children for the last six years, has taught them that theyre an integral part of the family and that without them they cant function. The faith-based family starts and ends their day with a prayer and says they feel like God is in 100 percent of their life. Sharing the secret to a successful marriage, Brenda said: Selflessness, I think that word will really describe it not looking into it was best for you necessarily, but whats best for all of you, putting others first. She also credits her relationship with open communication, trust, and love. Reflecting on her own meet-cute, Brenda believes that, you dont have to try really hard to look for love, love will just find you. Love is all around us. Watch the video: (Courtesy of Brenda Rivera Stearns) Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter Plugging Capability Gaps Essential to Australian Defence: Strategic Review An Australian soldier from 7 Brigade operates a machine gun through the turret of a truck as part of exercise Talisman Sabre in Rockhampton, Australia, on July 9, 2015. (Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images) Increasing recruitment, securing trade routes, and boosting energy supply are among the biggest issues in the Australian Defence Force, according to a major review. The final report of a strategic defence review, which was released by the Albanese government on April 24, warned that Australias geographical isolation is no longer a significant strategic advantage that can provide defence enough time to prepare for an incoming attack in the missile age. The review suggested that Australia needs to plug its workforce and capability gaps to discourage foes. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the government was seeking to reshape the armed forces to prepare Australia for any conflicts over the next three decades. We are trying to re-imagine an army which is more mobile and can project, and thats in the context of a set of very challenging circumstances which we see in the world today, he said on Tuesday. Its in that context that we are thinking about a defence force which is more able to project than we have in the past. He also reiterated that Australia is facing the most complex set of strategic circumstances since the end of World War II. Its urgent. Its definitely urgent, he told 3AW Mornings Radio. There is a sense of urgency about the circumstances that were facing and its important, therefore, that we take a new direction. I want to make clear we have a wonderful defence force and the posture that weve had has served us well over a very long period of time. Responding to Beijings accusation that Australia was hyping up the threat narrative, he said that it is not what were seeking to do. As we spoke about Australias posture going forward and the mission of the Australian Defence Force in the future, at the heart of it is providing or making our contribution, along with our partners, to the collective security of our region, of the Indo-Pacific, he said. And thats really where Australia is coming from. What we want to do as a nation is to provide and to make our contribution to the collective security of our region, understanding that thats really where the defence of Australia lies. Charles Darwin University defence expert Victor Abramowicz said universities and TAFE are crucial for upskilling, adding that the government needs to significantly increase education and training that is focused on national security. Abramowicz said years of funding cuts had decreased the ability of tertiary institutions to attract students and researchers, driving them to place more emphasis on signing foreign students to remain sustainable. Ultimately, national security touches on almost everything including food fuel, educational, and trade security, he said. The review gives a whole-of-nation blueprint, but we are going to need whole-of-nation funding changes to make it real. AAP contributed to this report. Probe Into Former Secretary of State Katie Hobbs Shutdown of Online Nomination System Ongoing: Attorney General Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs delivers her State of the State address at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix on Jan. 9, 2023. (Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo) Arizona Attorney Generals Office (AGO) has confirmed that it is still investigating whether or not Katie Hobbs violated the law while serving as Arizona Secretary of State. The investigation stems from Hobbs decision in March last year to suspend an online portal called E-Qual for individuals running for legislative and congressional seats, allowing them to gather signatures on the nominating petitions that qualify them for such seats. In an emailed statement to the Arizona Daily Independent, a spokesperson for the AGO said due to the ongoing probe, records relating to the matter are being withheld from the public. Regarding the public records request you submitted on 11/30/22 & 2/15/23, this is an active investigation and therefore we are unable to release any records pursuant to the best interest of the State, the statement read. The Arizona Attorney Generals Office did not respond to multiple requests from The Epoch Times for comments. In March 2022, Hobbs said she was taking down the E-Qual online system more than two weeks before the nominating period was set to end so that it could be reprogrammed to account for the new districts that were drawn by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission for the 2022 elections. Brnovich Condemns Shutdown However, then-Attorney General Mark Brnovich condemned the early shutdown as illegal, stating that the then-Secretary would face civil and criminal liability if she did so. In a letter to Hobbs, his office asked the Secretary to swiftly fix the system and stated that she would violate Arizona law if she temporarily took E-Qual offline, warning her that doing so would be either a class 6 felony or class 3 misdemeanor. Arizona law states that the Secretary must provide a system for qualified electors to sign a nomination petition and to sign and submit a citizens clean elections five dollar contribution qualification form for a candidate by way of a secure internet portal. The system shall allow only those qualified electors who are eligible to sign a petition for a particular candidate to sign the petition and only those qualified electors who are eligible to give a qualifying contribution to that candidate to do so and shall provide a method for the qualified electors identity to be properly verified, it adds. That pertains only to candidates for statewide and legislative offices, according to the law. Hobbs aide Murphy Hebert fired back in a statement to local media at the time, stating, The fact that the system may need to be offline for a period of time for updates to the system or, here, due to redistricting requirements beyond the control of our office, doesnt amount to a violation of the statute. Legal Dispute Ongoing Hobbss office later filed a motion (pdf) in Maricopa County Superior Court, arguing that in order to be eligible to sign a legislative or congressional candidates nomination petition, a voter must reside in the particular district where the candidate seeks to run and that to do so, the E-Qual portal needed to be updated. The AGs position is baseless, Hobbs lawyers wrote in the motion, arguing that the then-Secretary did not violate state law and that Brnovich was threatening her with legal action just for doing her job. The Court should enjoin Defendants and their agents from initiating civil or criminal actions against the Secretary for doing so. The Court should also award the Secretary her attorneys fees and costs for having to bring this action, her lawyers wrote. Democrat Kris Mayes won the Arizona Attorney General race last year, replacing Brnovich. Hobbs was sworn in as governor on Jan. 2. While it is unclear why there is a delay in concluding the probe into Hobbs actions as Secretary of State, Mayes office did confirm to the Arizona Daily Independent that it would provide any public records on the ongoing investigation as they become available to the public. Proposed Change to Floridas Resign-to-Run Law May Pave Way for DeSantis 2024 Bid Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) waves to journalists as his wife Casey (L) looks one after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the latter's official residence in Tokyo on April 24, 2023. (Photo by Kimimasa MAYAMA / POOL / AFP) (Photo by KIMIMASA MAYAMA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Florida state Sen. Travis Hutson has introduced a proposal to amend the states resign-to-run law, which would allow Gov. Ron DeSantis to announce his candidacy for the presidency without resigning as governor. The proposed amendment is part of Senate Bill 7050 (pdf), a larger piece of legislation related to state elections. It would change the existing provision in Florida Statute that requires any public official seeking federal office to resign from their current state position if the terms run concurrently with each other. The amendment would exclude candidates running for president or vice president from Floridas resign-to-run law, and is intended to clarify existing law. The amendment reads, in part, Any person seeking the office of President or Vice President of the United States is not subject to the requirements of chapter 99, Florida Statutes, which govern candidate qualifying, specifically those which require the submission of certain documents, full and public disclosures of financial interests, petition signatures, or the payment of filing fees. DeSantis is widely expected to run for president despite the lack of an official announcement. As a potential presidential candidate and the current governor of Florida, the existing law mandates that DeSantis submit a written resignation, but the specific date for this is uncertain. The governor has been on a recent book tour in early primary states, made speaking appearances around the country, and is currently on an international trade mission to Japan, South Korea, Israel, and the UK. The proposed amendment would allow DeSantis to run for president without resigning his top position in Florida, but he would have to give up the last two years of his governorship, as he is term-limited and cannot seek a third term. DeSantis became Floridas governor in 2019. In January, he began his second four-year term. If he resigns, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez will ascend to the governorship. On Tuesday, DeSantis told Asia Nikkei that he wouldnt be making any announcements until the end of the legislative session in May. So, just stay tuned, he said. The Bill The proposal, which will be considered by the state Legislature on Wednesday, is a comprehensive piece of legislation that seeks to make changes to state election laws. Besides the resign-to-run amendment, the bill proposes to strengthen signature matching training requirements, clarify the responsibilities of the Office of Election Crimes and Security and statewide prosecutor, and introduce changes to voter registration requirements, procedures, and deadlines. The bill also updates the processes for voter registration list maintenance activities and enhances the information that other governmental entities must provide for that purpose. It also creates a new candidate disclosure requirement for outstanding fines and fees and specifies how candidates with the same surname running for the same office in a general election may be distinguished on the ballot. The states resign-to-run law has been changed more than once to help a Florida governor. In 2007, Florida lawmakers repealed the law to help then-Gov. Charlie Crist, who was being considered as a running mate for Sen. John McCain in 2008. Then, in 2018, the law was reactivated by former Sen. Rick Scott, who was governor of Florida from 2011 to 2019. Shadow Campaign In recent polls, the undeclared DeSantis has trailed behind former President Donald Trump, who declared his candidacy in November 2022. In March, the political action committee Make America Great Again Inc., which is aligned with Trump, accused DeSantis of skirting Floridas resign-to-run law by running an illegal shadow campaign for president. Taylor Budowich, head of the PAC, wrote a 15-page letter to the Florida Commission on Ethics detailing the allegations against DeSantis, including fundraising and expenditure concerns. A spokeswoman for DeSantis previously told The Epoch Times the ethics complaint was frivolous and politically motivated. Adding this to the list of frivolous and politically motivated attacks. Its inappropriate to use state ethics complaints for partisan purposes, said Taryn Fenske, communications director for DeSantis, in a text to The Epoch Times. Five more Republicans have officially declared their candidacy for the GOP nomination, including Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina; Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and writer; Perry Johnson, a Michigan-based businessman; Steve Laffey, a former mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island; and Larry Elder, a conservative radio personality. Prosecutors Now Doubt Imprisoned Mother Killed Her Children Kathleen Folbigg holds one of her diaries while appearing via video link screened at the New South Whales Coroners Court in Sydney on April 29, 2019. (Peter Rae/AAP Image via AP) CANBERRA, AustraliaProsecutors acknowledged to a government inquiry Wednesday that new scientific and genetic evidence left reasonable doubt that an Australian mother deliberately killed her four children 20 years after she was convicted of doing so. A retired judge is hearing final submissions over whether Kathleen Folbigg, now 55, should be pardoned for murder and manslaughter convictions by a jury in 2003. The children died separately over a decade, at between 19 days and 19 months old, and their mother insisted their deaths were from natural causes. New South Wales state Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling made a written submission to the inquiry saying that was possible. Dowling wrote that on the evidence now available, it is open to the inquiry to conclude there is reasonable doubt as to Ms. Folbiggs guilt. The lawyer appointed to assist former Justice Tom Bathurst in the inquiry, Sophie Callan, said she had also concluded that on the basis of the scientific and medical evidence heard since November that Folbigg was not guilty beyond reasonable doubt of three counts of murder and one of manslaughter. On the whole of the body of evidence before this inquiry, there is a reasonable doubt as to Ms. Folbiggs guilt, Callan said. The inquiry has been adjourned until Thursday. If Bathurst finds reasonable doubt of Folbiggs guilt, he could recommend that the state governor pardon her and could report to the Court of Criminal Appeals to consider quashing her convictions. The previous New South Wales government ordered Bathursts inquiry a year ago when it rejected Folbiggs petition for a pardon. That petition said it was based on significant positive evidence of natural causes of death and signed by 90 scientists, medical practitioners and related professionals. Folbigg is serving a 30-year prison sentence which expires in 2033. She will become eligible for parole in 2028. Her first child, Caleb, was born in 1989 and died 19 days later in what a jury determined to be the lesser crime of manslaughter. Her second child, Patrick, was 8 months old when he died in 1991. Two years later, Sarah died at 10 months. In 1999, Folbiggs fourth child, Laura, died at 19 months. Evidence discovered in 2018 that both daughters carried a rare CALM2 genetic variant was one of the reasons that the inquiry was called. Callan said expert evidence in the fields of cardiology and genetics indicated that the CALM2-G114R genetic variant is a reasonably possible cause of the daughters sudden deaths. Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, was also a reasonably possible cause of Lauras death, Callan said. For Patrick, Callan said there was persuasive expert evidence that as a matter of reasonable possibility, an underlying neurogenetic disorder caused his sudden death. The scientific evidence created doubt that Folbigg killed the three children and undermined the argument made in Calebs case that four child deaths were an improbable coincidence, Callan said. Prosecutors had told the jury at her trial that the similarities among the deaths made coincidence an unlikely explanation. Folbigg was the only one at home or awake when the young children died. She said she discovered three of the deaths during trips to the bathroom and one while checking on a childs wellbeing. Prosecutors also had told the jury that Folbiggs diaries contained admissions of guilt. Her former husband, Craig Folbigg, said in submissions to the inquiry that the implausibility that four children in one family would die of natural causes before the age of 2 was compelling grounds to continue treating the diary entries as admissions of his former wifes guilt. But Callan said psychologists and psychiatrists gave evidence that it would be unreliable to interpret the entries in this way. Folbigg had been suffering a major depressive disorder and maternal grief when she made the entries, Callan said. This casts Ms. Folbiggs expressions of guilt and responsibility for the deaths of her children in her diary entries in a very different light, Callan said. Folbigg made 545 pages of closing submissions that urged Bathurst to find reasonable doubt of guilt and a strong probability of innocence, Callan said. By Rod McGuirk Rep. Comer Threatens to Subpoena State Department Over John Kerrys Role Under Biden Oversight Committee chairman raises questions on Kerry's negotiations with China U.S. climate envoy John Kerry (L) gestures as he speaks next to China's special climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua, during a session at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos on May 24, 2022. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) has requested that Secretary of State Antony Blinken shed more light on John Kerrys role as a special envoy for climate or face a possible subpoena. Envoy Kerry is engaging in activities that skirt congressional authority, threaten foreign policy under the guise of climate advocacy, and could undermine our economic health, Comer wrote in an April 25 letter to Blinken. Yet, Envoy Kerry and his office are refusing to be transparent about their activities, spending, and staffing with the Committeeand the American people. Kerry, the Democrats 2004 presidential nominee, also participates in National Security Council meetings. The letter gives Blinken a deadline of May 9 to provide details on the Special Presidential Envoy for Climates office, including past and present budgets, current and previous employees, and foreign and domestic travel. Oversight staff told The Epoch Times on April 26 that they hadnt heard back regarding the letter. As a general matter, we do not comment on communication with Congress. We can confirm we have received the letter and will respond accordingly, a State Department spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an April 26 message. The State Department is committed to working with Congressional committees with jurisdiction over U.S. foreign policy to accommodate their need for information to help them conduct oversight for their legitimate legislative purposes, the spokesperson added. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, delivers remarks during a hearing in Washington on Feb. 1, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Latest in a Series of Requests Comer first sought information from Kerry regarding his role as early as June 2021 in a letter he co-authored with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who is now chair of the House Judiciary Committee. It appears that in your role, you have some ability to set foreign policy and to bind the United States to international agreements, despite not being confirmed with advice and consent of the Senate, Comer and Jordan stated in that letter. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, attends the committees Victims of Violent Crime in Manhattan field hearing at Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York City on April 17, 2023. (Chung I Ho/The Epoch Times) Under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, the president may appoint officers of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate. The June 2021 letter questioned Kerrys apparent ability to cut climate-related deals with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It cited an April 2021 joint statement from Kerry and his Chinese counterpart. It is of paramount importance that we conduct oversight over your position as the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and how the position will impact the interests of the United States, especially where the role appears to intersect with the U.S. response to a hostile foreign regime such as the Chinese Communist Party, Comer and Jordan wrote. In a February letter to Kerry, Comer said his June 2021 letter and an October 2022 follow-up letter had gone unanswered. The February 2023 letter raised questions about Kerrys apparent willingness to excuse the CCPs human rights violations in the name of climate diplomacy. Oversight staff told The Epoch Times that the White House responded to that letter by directing them to the State Department, stating that the department employs Kerry. The Executive Office of the President didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. Reports of COVID Reinfections Flood Chinese Social Media Chinese authorities deny that another outbreak is happening A security worker in a protective suit keeps watch as medical workers attend to patients at the fever department of Tongji Hospital, a major facility for COVID-19 patients, in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on Jan. 1, 2023. (Reuters) A large number of Chinese citizens have posted on social media platforms in recent days disclosing their reinfection with COVID-19. However, the Chinese regimes mouthpiece media outlet quickly published an article to deny that China is experiencing another wave of COVID-19. Many people across the country claimed that they had been reinfected with COVID-19 and posted their positive antigens test results on social media. On April 20, positive again became the most searched term online in China. A man buys fever medicine at a pharmacy amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China, on Dec. 19, 2022. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Wei Min (pseudonym), a Nanjing resident, told The Epoch Times on April 23 that he began to develop symptoms on April 21. He bought a COVID-19 antigen reagent kit to test at home, and the result was positive. In fact, the virus is everywhere, he said. Wei said he traveled to a different region in China on April 21 and that he may have been infected there. This is the second time he has been infected with COVID-19. It has been more than five months since the peak of the COVID-19 mass infection occurred in mainland China at the end of last year. The reinfection cases have drawn increasing public attention. Chinas top virologist suggested that people prepare for another wave of outbreaks. Zhang Wenhong, Chinas director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases and director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Huashan Hospital, which is affiliated with Fudan University, said at the Infection and Immunity Summit on April 20 that as the virus mutates, COVID-19 reinfections will occur after six months. If the mutation of the new virus effectively breaks through the immune barrier formed by the human body in response to the previous wave of viruses, there will be a peak of infections in the next wave of the outbreak. He called for stockpiling small-molecule antivirals for COVID-19 and recommended that vulnerable groups be vaccinated again after six months. XBB.1.16 Arcturus The public in China is concerned about new strains of the virus spreading in the country, such as XBB.1.16. XBB.1.16 is a recombinant strain of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and is commonly known as Arcturus. It has already caused fatalities. Thailand reported a death from XBB.1.16 earlier this month. A technician processing samples in a lab at Chinese biotech company Coyote before testing it in the Flash 20, a machine developed as a fast test for COVID-19 in Beijing, on Sept. 27, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images) According to the data released by Chinas Center for Disease Control and Prevention on April 22, from April 14 to April 20, 275 patients were infected with newly discovered key mutant strains, including 42 infections by XBB.1.16, and 12 local key mutant strains were newly detected. On April 15, the Chinese CDC reported the countrys first 15 cases of XBB.1.16 infections, which means that it increased by 27 cases within a week. The numbers might not reflect the true scale of the infections, as the Chinese Communist Party has concealed the truth of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country since the beginning of the pandemic, and its difficult for the outside world to obtain accurate data. According to Chinese media, the director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Run Run Shaw Hospital, affiliated with Zhejiang University School of Medicine, said that since the mutant strain XBB has been detected in the country, patients who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 may be reinfected with the mutated strain. Li Tong, chief physician of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Beijing Youan Hospital, said XBB.1.16 is more contagious but that the pathogenicity hasnt changed significantly. The Chinese regimes English media outlet Global Times quickly published an article on April 23 denying that China is experiencing another wave of COVID-19 outbreaks. It downplayed the possible scale of the next wave, citing Chinese virologists saying that reinfection cases are rare and that the scale of the next wave wont be huge. Xiao Lusheng and Hong Ning contributed to this report. Retired California Teachers Asked to Pay Back Miscalculated Benefits U.S. one dollar banknotes are seen in front of displayed stock graph, on Feb. 8, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters) Thousands of retired teachers in California are getting hit with significant bills from the states teacher retirement agency due to a miscalculation of benefits. Now, those teachers are left to repay large sums to the California State Teacher Retirement System, the second-largest pension fund in the nation, according to the systems website. While some mistakes have happened due to reporting errors by retiring employees or the school district where they were employed, some are miscalculations by the system. The amount an individual teacher must pay back varies from case to case, and its currently unknown how many teachers have been affected. However, the Mercury News reported that there were 10,000 retired teachers who had their benefits reduced between 2016 and 2022 and must now pay back some funds. Prior to retirement, teachers who enroll pay a percentage of their paycheck into the systems retirement account. Each employees benefits package is then calculated according to the number of years worked, employee age, and compensation. However, a spokesperson for the system told The Epoch Times that the overall number of retired teachers impacted is relatively low. While the number of retirees impacted by an employer error resulting in an overpayment is very low in comparison to our total membership, we are dedicated to continuing our work to avoid and reduce any errors from occurring, the spokesperson said in an email. While the system represents nearly 1 million California educators, in 2022, 86 employer errors were made resulting in employee benefit adjustments, according to a March 2023 system audit report. Additionally, the spokesperson said, a new law implemented in January blocks the system from requiring teachers to repay for errors they didnt make. [California State Teacher Retirement System] retirees impacted by the implementation of [Assembly Bill] 1667 will no longer be responsible for overpayments due to employer or system errors, the spokesperson said. The important change in the law will continue to allow members to take comfort knowing that their retirement earnings are secure. Under the new law, employers or the system must pay back amounts if they were the party that made the errorbut this only applies to errors made after Jan. 1, 2023. However, if the error was submitted by the employee, then they are responsible for repaying the amount required. The California Retired Teachers Association declined to comment. A guard of honor takes part in a ceremony marking Italy's Liberation Day in Rome, Italy, on April 25, 2023. As Italy celebrated the 78th anniversary of the country's liberation from fascism on Tuesday, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for more unity among Italians. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua) ROME, April 25 (Xinhua) -- As Italy celebrated the 78th anniversary of the country's liberation from fascism on Tuesday, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for more unity among Italians. Along with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Meloni participated in a traditional ceremony at the Altar of the Fatherland at Piazza Venezia in Rome. Mattarella said that the country's liberation from fascism in 1945 was a "crisis in the country that required a decisive moment, a new idea of community following the failure of a previous one." He added the moment gave birth to "a new Italy" that continues to this day. In an open letter published Tuesday in Corriere della Sera, Italy's most widely circulated newspaper, Meloni called for a "renewed national accord" that would reinforce Italy's role as an "essential stronghold of democracy" on the global stage. Tuesday also saw a march of more than 100,000 people in Milan, mostly labor groups and independent and opposition political figures. Liberation Day in Italy marks the day the German forces and the Italian fascist party led by Benito Mussolini were ousted from power, just days before the end of World War II in Europe. Italian President Sergio Mattarella (1st R) shakes hands with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during a ceremony marking Italy's Liberation Day in Rome, Italy, on April 25, 2023. As Italy celebrated the 78th anniversary of the country's liberation from fascism on Tuesday, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for more unity among Italians. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua) Italian President Sergio Mattarella (C) attends a ceremony marking Italy's Liberation Day in Rome, Italy, on April 25, 2023. As Italy celebrated the 78th anniversary of the country's liberation from fascism on Tuesday, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for more unity among Italians. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua) Sanction Chinese Cloud Firms Posing National Security Risk: GOP Senators 3D printed clouds and figurines are seen in front of the Alibaba Cloud service logo in this illustration taken on Feb. 8, 2022. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters) A group of nine Republican senators wrote a letter to Biden officials, raising security concerns about Chinese cloud firms like Huawei Cloud and Alibaba Cloud and asking for strict measures against them to protect U.S. interests and assets. The April 25 letter (pdf), led by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), expressed deep concern about Chinese cloud computing companies. Open-source information shows that Huawei Cloud and PRC-based cloud computing services not only pose a threat to U.S. national security and economic security but also are increasingly engaging with foreign entitiesin some cases sanctioned foreign entitiesthat are directly challenging the national security and economic security interests of the United States and our allies and partners, the letter said, using the acronym for the Peoples Republic of China. Huawei was added to the U.S. Commerce Departments Entity List trade blacklist in May 2019. Huawei Cloud joined the list in August 2020 as the department found reasonable cause to believe that the company was or will become involved in activities that harm American interests. The letter cited a December 2021 report by The Wall Street Journal, which revealed that Huawei Cloud used its technologies to aid the Chinese communist regime to identify individuals by voice, monitor political dissidents, manage ideological reeducation and labor schedules for prisoners, and help retailers use facial recognition to track shoppers. That same month, Huawei launched its Sky Computing Constellation in partnership with Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute, also known as Spacety China, and the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT). In January this year, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Spacety China and its subsidiary in Luxembourg for offering satellite imagery of certain Ukrainian locations to a Russian entity, the letter noted. Meanwhile, BUPT is home to two defense labs that conduct research on cyberattacks for the Chinese military, it said. BUPT was added to the Entity List in December 2020 for providing aid to the Chinese military regarding advanced weapons. In light of this, we, therefore, urge you to impose sanctions on Huawei Cloud under existing authorities for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of recently-sanctioned Spacety, the letter said. Alibaba Cloud Ties With Chinese Military Another Chinese firm cited in the letter in detail is Alibaba Cloud. The letter called the company opening two cloud data centers in Santa Clara, California, in 2015 gravely concerning. These data center[s] reportedly provide a variety of cloud computing services that initially focused on PRC companies based in the U.S. and have gradually expanded services and products to international clients, the letter said. Alibaba Cloud provides services to the Chinese military, security, and intelligence, the senators pointed out. In 2017, the company signed a military-civil fusion (MCF) cloud cooperation agreement with a state-owned company. In 2018, the vice president of Alibaba Cloud spoke at an event hosted by the Peoples Liberation Armys Academy of Military Sciences (AMS), where experts discussed ways to transition the benefits and technologies of e-commerce to national defense. The letter asked Washington to add Alibaba Cloud to the Entity List and deny license applications from U.S. companies seeking to export to the Chinese firm. U.S. companies should not be aiding Alibaba Cloud with exported U.S. technology, it said. The senators also want Alibaba Cloud to be added to the Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List (NS-CMIC List) of Chines firms involved in the military-industrial complex. We ask that you further investigate and act against Chinas other cloud service providersincluding those not mentioned in this letter, such as Baidu Cloud and Tencent Cloudand their direct or indirect operations in the United States that negatively impact our national security and foreign policy interests. The letter was addressed to Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. In August 2020, the Trump administration issued a warning against Chinese cloud service providers, including Alibaba. Scientist Says Chinas Mars Rover Could Remain Dormant A Long March-5 rocketcarrying an orbiter, lander, and rover as part of the Tianwen-1 mission to Marslifts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Center in southern China's Hainan Province on July 23, 2020. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) Chinas first interplanetary rover, Zhurong, will likely stay dormant on Mars, a Chinese scientist said on state media CCTV on April 25. Zhang Rongqiao, the chief scientist of Chinas Mars mission, said that Zhurong has not moved due to a lack of solar power caused by a pile-up of sand and dust since it went into hibernation in May 2022. The Zhurong rover was expected to reactivate last December when Mars went into spring equinox. The Dormant Rover In May 2022, the Chinese rover entered a planned hibernation state to get through the low solar radiation levels of winter in Mars Utopia Planitia region, where the spacecraft landed. Boulder-size blocks of water ice around the rim of an impact crater on Mars, as viewed by the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE camera) aboard NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, in this image made available by NASA on Oct. 27, 2022. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona via AP) According to images of the rover taken last year on March 11 and Sept. 8 and on Feb. 7 this year, the rover has not changed its position since September 2022, according to a Feb. 21 report by the HiRISE Operations Center. The images were captured by a camera on NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. On Tuesday, Zhang, the chief engineer of the Tianwen-1 mission, explained on CCTV that dust and sand accumulation could have caused the rover to enter a dormant mode. A 20 percent dust coverage will lead to the power generation issue of the rover, 30 percent would require the strongest lighting conditions to reawaken [the rover], while 40 percent means the rover is over, never waking up, he said. The 240-kilogram Zhurong rover touched down on the southern Utopia Planitia on May 14, 2021. Tianwen-1 was one of three missions that arrived on Mars in February 2021, along with the U.S. Perseverance rover and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Hope orbiter. NASAs nuclear-powered Perseverance landed on the red planet on Feb. 18, 2021. The mission has been active ever since, seeking signs of ancient life and collecting samples of rock and soil for possible future research. The UAEs Hope landed on Mars on Feb. 9, 2021. In February this year, the spacecraft moved to a new orbit around Mars to study one of the planets tiny moons, Deimos. Zhang Ting contributed to this report. Scottish Government Pushes Ahead With Plans for No-Jury Trials for Rape Defendants Justice Secretary Angela Constance is sworn in as (left to right) Net Zero and Just Transition Secretary Mairi McAllan, Wellbeing, Economy, Fair Work, and Energy Secretary Neil Gray, and Education and Skill Secretary Jenny Gilruth watch during a ceremony at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 31, 2023. (Andrew Milligan-Pool/Getty Images) The Scottish government has published new legislation which, if passed, would scrap Scotlands not proven verdictwhich dates back to the 17th centuryand would also allow for no-jury trials in some rape cases. The Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill would also reduce the number of jurors in Scottish trials from 15 to 12, bringing it in line with courts in England and Wales. But, in a departure from the system in England and Wales, it would allow for guilty verdicts to be delivered if just eight out of the 12 jurors agreed. In England and Wales the minimum number for a majority verdict is 10. Rape Crisis Scotland say not proven makes up 44 percent of rape and attempted rape acquittals, compared with 20 percent for all crimes and offences. In September when the idea of scrapping not proven was mooted, the Law Society of Scotland said it was deeply concerned and Thomas Ross, KC, a defence advocate in Glasgow, told The Epoch Times the evidence used to justify the decision did not stack up. Speaking on the BBCs Good Morning Scotland programme on Wednesday, Ross said jurors should be trusted in Scotland and he added, I work with prosecutors every day, I dont hear them saying that theyre concerned about the conviction rate. On the same programme the Chief Executive of Rape Crisis Scotland, Sandy Brindley, welcomed the scrapping of the not proven verdict and said she had no doubt that guilty men are walking free. Brindley said the changes were a really positive development. The Scottish government said a new specialist sexual offences court would be created and ministers would have the power to carry out a pilot of rape trials without juries and with the verdict being given by a single judge. In a statement the Scottish government said the legislation includes a provision to allow for the enabling a pilot of single judge trials for cases of rape and attempted rape to take place to gather evidence on their effectiveness. Scotlands Justice Secretary Angela Constance said the new legislation would put victims and witnesses at the heart of the justice system. She said, It is testament to the efforts of many campaigners who have worked to ensure that the processes of justice better serve victims, witnesses, and vulnerable parties. Landmark Legislation Constance said: This landmark legislation is among the most significant since devolution and will ensure fairness is cemented into the bedrock of Scotlands modern-day justice system. She said the reforms had been designed following consultation with rape survivors, victims, and their families, and would make Scottish courts more sensitive and less traumatic. Constance said: This government has been clear we must take action to improve the experience of those who suffer sexual abuse. The majority are women, who must be supported to have trust and confidence that the processes of justice will serve their needs, allow them to give their best evidence and support them in their recovery. Last year, then-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon committed her government to abolishing the option of not proven for a jury. This will be a change of truly historic significance in Scotland, and one firmly intended to improve access to justice for victims of crime, Sturgeon said at the time. Sturgeon resigned in February, and has since been replaced by Humza Yousaf, who was elected as the new SNP leader last month. The verdict of not proven is unique to Scots law. It Doesnt Make Sense The standard of proof is slightly different to not guilty but, speaking in September, Ross told The Epoch Times: It doesnt make sense. There is no reason to think that every not proven verdict we have had in Scotland would not have been a not guilty verdict. So it would have made no difference. The bill will also see the creation of a new post of independent commissioner for victims and witnesses. Juries have been a mainstay of the British legal systemin Scotland as well as Englandfor centuries and it is not clear if a rape defendant would have the right to challenge the removal of a jury in their case at the UK Supreme Court. The only time a trial in England was allowed to go ahead without a jury was in March 2010 when John Twomey and three other men were convicted of a 1.75 million robbery at Heathrow Airport. The trial, at the Old Bailey, was the first to be held without a jury for 350 years and followed a number of incidents of jury-tampering. Rejecting the appeal of Twomey and the others, Lord Judge said, This remains the only case in this jurisdiction where trial on indictment by judge alone has taken place to nullify the risk of jury tampering or jury nobbling. He added, If criminals choose to subvert or attempt to subvert the process of trial by jury, they have no justified complaint if they are deprived of it. PA Media contributed to this report. Seagate to Pay $300 Million Penalty for Shipping Huawei 7 Million Hard Drives A person stands by a sign of Huawei during World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on Sep. 1, 2022. (Aly Song/Reuters) Seagate Technology Holdings PLC has agreed to pay a $300 million penalty in a settlement with U.S. authorities for shipping over $1.1 billion worth of hard disk drives to Chinas Huawei in violation of U.S. export control laws, the Department of Commerce said. Seagate sold the drives to Huawei between August 2020 and September 2021 despite an August 2020 rule that restricted sales of certain foreign items made with U.S. technology to the company. Huawei was placed on the Entity List, a U.S. trade blacklist, in 2019 to reduce the sale of U.S. goods to the company amid national security and foreign policy concerns. The penalty represents the latest in a string of actions by Washington to keep sophisticated technology from China that may support its military, enable human rights abuses, or otherwise threaten U.S. security. Seagate shipped 7.4 million drives to Huawei for about a year after the 2020 rule took effect and became Huaweis sole supplier of hard drives, the Commerce Department said on April 19. The other two primary suppliers of hard drives ceased shipments to Huawei after the new rule took effect in 2020, the department said. Though they were not identified, Western Digital Corp. and Toshiba Corp. were the other two, the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee said in a 2021 report on Seagate. The companies did not respond to requests for comment. Even after its competitors had stopped selling to them Seagate continued sending hard disk drives to Huawei, Matthew Axelrod, assistant secretary for export enforcement at the Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security said in a statement. Todays action is the consequence. Axelrod said the administrative penalty was the largest in the history of the agency not tied to a criminal case. Seagates position was that its foreign-made drives were not subject to U.S. export control regulations, essentially because they were not the direct product of U.S. equipment. While we believed we complied with all relevant export control laws at the time we made the hard disk drive sales at issue, we determined that settling this matter was the best course of action, Seagate CEO Dave Mosley said in a statement. In an order issued on Wednesday, the government said Seagate wrongly interpreted the foreign product rule to require evaluation of only the last stage of its manufacturing process rather than the entire process. Seagate made drives in China, Northern Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States, the order said, and used equipment, including testing equipment, subject to the rule. In August, the U.S. Department of Commerce sent the company a proposed charging letter, warning the company that it may have violated export control laws. The letter kicked off some eight months of negotiations. Reuters broke news of the charging letter in October. Seagates $300 million penalty is due in installments of $15 million per quarter over five years, with the first payment due in October. It also agreed to three audits of its compliance program, and is subject to a five-year suspended order denying its export privileges. Second American Dead in Sudan Despite Ceasefire, White House Confirms National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby answers questions at a press briefing with reporters at the White House in Washington on April 20, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times) White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Wednesday that a second American citizen has died in Sudan amid an ongoing violent conflict between the army and a paramilitary group. Kirby, speaking to reporters via video call, did not provide further details on the circumstances of the unidentified Americans death, but he did confirm that the U.S. national died on Tuesday. We extend our deepest condolences to the family, Kirby said, Fox News reported. We continue to make clear at the highest levels of our government the leadership of both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces that they are responsible for ensuring the protection of civilians and noncombatants, including people from third countries and humanitarian staff that are working to save lives. Kirby also noted that the fighting appears to have subsided significantly and the Biden administration was continuing to work with both sides of the conflict to strengthen the ceasefire in order to allow more humanitarian assistance. Although there are some reports of violence and sporadic shelling and firing, were glad to see that the levels of violence generally appear to have gone significantly down, Kirby said. We urge both military factions to fully uphold the ceasefire and to further extend it. Weve said this many, many times that the violence is simply unconscionable and it must stop, he added. Weve got to do whats right for the Sudanese people. They want a return to peace and security in Khartoum and around the country, and they want to see a transition to civilian authority. And we need to keep working at that. Last week, a State Department spokesperson confirmed the death of the first American citizen in Sudan in a statement to media outlets. The White Houses comments come after a 72-hour cease-fire between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) was announced on Monday following intense negotiations over the past 48 hours, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement earlier this week. Despite the truce, a witness reportedly heard sporadic gunfire and explosions in the city of Omdurman, though locals said fighting was limited to the SAF headquarters in Khartoum and around bases in Omdurman. The latest ceasefire is the fourth effort to stop the fighting since the Sudan conflict started on April 15. Several short-lived ceasefires had been agreed upon between the two warring groups over the past week, but they have all failed to hold. Evacuation The Biden administration, meanwhile, has come under fire from some Americans back home over the presidents evacuation response, with one critic comparing it to Operation Eagle Clawa U.S. military operation ordered by President Jimmy Carter to attempt the rescue of 52 embassy staff held captive in Iran. Joe Kent, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, said in a tweet that he believes its a disgrace for President Joe Biden to leave Americans behind. Kent said that more than four decades ago, the U.S. government refused to leave Americans behind in Iran [and] took great risks [and] suffered a tragic loss trying to rescue our people, referring to Operation Eagle Claw. Today, Biden tells 16,000 Americans trapped in Sudan they are on their own, he added. Leaders dont abandon their people. Biden is a disgrace. Last week, Biden ordered the U.S. military to evacuate government personnel from Khartoum, which totaled fewer than 100 people. However, reports emerged that the State Department indicated that due to the violence, the government might not help to evacuate the remaining dual-nationals in the country. In a statement earlier this week, Blinken said only some dozens of Americans have expressed an interest in leaving. He added that the U.S. government does not know the specific number of Americans who remain in Sudan and only knows of those who have registered for help or expressed an interest to leave. Americans are not required to register with the embassy, with the government, either when they go, when they reside, or when they leave. So we dont have a good fix on the number of Americans who are there at any given time, including now, Blinken said. Actively Helping Americans Kirby said on Wednesday that Biden has asked for every conceivable option to help as many Americans as possible, and that it was actively facilitating the departure of a relatively small number of Americans who wished to leave. Some Americans had arrived at Port Sudan to evacuate and were being supported, and the United States was continuing to support other limited evacuation efforts, he added. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has deployed teams in the region and is prepared to help provide humanitarian assistance, but any ceasefire would have to remain in place and be extended, Kirby said. The World Health Organization (WHO), meanwhile, said more than 450 people have been killed in the fighting and at least 4,000 wounded. The conflict has also destroyed hospitals, limited food distribution, and cut power supplies in a nation already reliant on aid for an estimated third of its populationor about 16 million people, according to U.N. figures. In addition, Dr. Nima Saeed Abid, the WHOs representative in Sudan, told a United Nations briefing in Geneva via video link from Port Sudan on Tuesday that the central public health laboratory in Khartoumwhich stores disease pathogens for polio, among othershas been seized by armed forces and technicians are unable to secure the hazardous materials after being removed from the building. That is extremely, extremely dangerous because we have polio isolates in the lab. We have measles isolates in the lab. We have cholera isolates in the lab, Abid said. There is a huge biological risk associated with the occupation of the central public health lab in Khartoum by one of the fighting parties. Reuters contributed to this report. From NTD News Sen. Paul Says Agencies Refusing to Provide Information on US Funding of Risky Research in China Chinese military delegates leave the closing session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at The Great Hall of People on Oct. 22, 2022, in Beijing. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) continued his quest for information on whether the United States helped fund gain-of-function research in China when he questioned Government Accounting Office (GAO) Comptroller General Gene Dodaro. Paul said he has information that U.S. universities and government agencies have sent money to fund Chinese military research. Were actually funding military research. I think theres a question of whether its being done appropriately, honestly, and, frankly, legally, Paul told Dodaro during an April 20 hearing before the Senate Homeland Security Governmental Affairs Committee. Im equally concerned about this issue, Dodaro responded. Pauls office did not return calls and emails seeking more details on his allegations. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) at a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Jan. 11, 2022. (Greg Nash-Pool/Getty Images) The hearing discussed the 2023 High-Risk List of agencies and programs that need reform. As part of the information on spending, the GAO released the report Information on U.S. Finding to Entities Located in China. The information indicates that much of the money sent to China cannot be accounted for. According to an email from a GAO spokesman, more information on funding to entities in China is forthcoming. We have some work still underway on funding to Chinese entities and its not due to be completed and issued for another month or two, Chuck Young, managing director for public affairs for the GAO, wrote in an email to The Epoch Times. It may be covered in the new report, but its not complete yet, so I cant say specifically. The universities and government agencies mentioned by Paul did not return emails or telephone calls from The Epoch Times seeking comment. According to the report, $48 million was provided to Chinese entities between fiscal years 20172019. Of this, $22.8 million was assistance awards, and about $25.2 million in contracts. To explain the difference, the GAO reported that the Department of Health and Human Services obligated funding through assistance awards to study infectious diseases. The Department of State paid for goods and services through contracts to accomplish its mission in the country. Funding was also provided through subawards from U.S. award recipients to Chinese organizations. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro of the Government Accountability Office testifies during a hearing before the Coronavirus Crisis Subcommittee of House Oversight and Reform Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 26, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) However, the full extent of these subawards is unknown because of limitations in the completeness and accuracy of subaward data reported in government systems, The GAO report reads. GAO is currently examining the state of federal government-wide subaward data as part of a separate review. But the amounts spent and the reporting requirements were only part of the issue brought up by Paul. The senator from Kentucky has been pushing for information about money sent to the Chinese military and ascertaining whether any U.S. money was sent to the Wuhan lab for gain-of-function research. He has hit a brick wall each time. Pauls quest has resulted in several high-profile battles with Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases. We dont seem to care that we may well have funded this, Paul said. Paul said that he received information from whistleblowers and the GAO indicating that at least six American Universities have sent grant money to the Chinese Academy of Military Medical Research. But, when he tries to get more information on what that money was used for, the agencies will give us nothing. He told Dodaro that Congress had declassified the information, which means it should be provided to any member of the public who asks for it. But, so far, the only documents he has been given are from whistleblowers or in response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Weve been asking for declassified information for two years, and we get squat, Paul said. Government is so out-of-control that we cant get information. The Epoch Times has reached out to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious for comment. Sentencing Arguments Begin for Calgary Youth Convicted in Police Hit-and-Run Death Firefighters salute as the hearse and honour guard pass by at the regimental funeral service for Sgt. Andrew Harnett in Calgary on Jan. 9, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh) A prosecutor is calling on a judge to impose an adult sentence for a young offender found guilty of manslaughter in the hit-and-run death of a Calgary police officer. Sgt. Andrew Harnett died in hospital on Dec. 31, 2020, after being dragged by a fleeing SUV and falling into the path of an oncoming car. The driver, who cannot be identified because he was 17 at the time, testified during his first-degree murder trial that he was frightened when Harnett and another officer approached the vehicle during a traffic stop and he saw Harnett put his hand on his gun. The drivers defence lawyer had argued his client was guilty of manslaughter, not murder, and the judge agreed when she announced her verdict last year. Crown prosecutor Mike Ewenson said the young man, who is now 20, was days away from his 18th birthday when the officer was killed. If this offence had occurred just 11 days later, this discussion with all due respect wouldnt be happening, he told Court of Kings Bench Justice Anna Loparco on Wednesday. He may have already been planning his 18th birthday party, thats how close we are to law considering him to be an adult. In her verdict, Loparco said she couldnt find that the accused had the intent to commit the crime. Ewenson said one key fact remains. His moral blameworthiness is through the roof. The prosecutor said that although the driver did not have the intent for murder, his actions lead to the death of a police officer. It is one of the most serious crimes that a person can commit in Canadian law, he said. For Sgt. Harnett, this is not just someone who is a brother, a son, a partner and an expectant father at the time he was killed. This was taking the life of someone who quite literally took an oath to protect each and every member of the community here in Calgary. The court is scheduled to hear five victim impact statements Thursday, including two from Harnetts brothers. The passenger in the vehicle, Amir Abdulrahman, earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to five years. Software Engineers Face Layoffs as Tech Industry Begins Cutbacks Software engineers Adrian Eufracio, right, and Digant Jagtap work together at Zeeto, an internet marketing company, in San Diego, Calif., on May 28, 2019. (Sam Hodgson/The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS) Software engineers face increasing prospects of being laid off as the tech industry begins downsizing due to economic uncertainties. Tech work was once considered a safe bet regarding job security, with many people encouraged to learn to code over the past two decades. Vox reported on April 21 that a trickle of layoffs in the tech industry last year is becoming a wave in 2023. Tech companies saw rapid growth during the pandemic when people were stuck at home and their services were in demand. Demand has fallen since then, and the economy has taken a beating. Recent bank failures have pushed lenders to encourage tech companies to make do with less. The increasing use of AI bots may become a contributing factor in tech companies, as it allows coders to become more productive or by allowing them to be replaced due to lesser need for workers. Software Engineers Hit Software engineers are disproportionally facing the largest numbers of layoffs this year relative to other professions in the United States, according to data provided to Vox from Revelio Labs, a business data firm. Revelio Labs data said that software engineers represented nearly 20 percent of job cuts this year, despite making up 14 percent of employees. Revelio Labs released an earlier report in the fall of 2022 when major tech firms began the first round of layoffs. Recruiters, HR specialists Recruiters and HR specialists were overrepresented in these earlier layoffs, Reyhan Ayas, the senior economist who led the Revelio Labs study, told Business Insider. If we look at 2023 layoffs, its software engineers who have overtaken recruiters in layoffs, Ayas said. Revelios latest data said that nearly 5 percent of laid-off tech employees this year so far were still recruiters, the position with the most losses after software engineers. The data firm also worked on a separate report with Business Insiders Aki Ito last September, which found that recruiters were overrepresented in layoffs by nearly 8 percent compared to other positions. Job cutbacks in the software engineer sector now outweigh other former positions by nearly 4 percent. The wave of layoffs has spread from the tech industry to the finance and media sectors as well. Lyft announced last week that it would cut more than 30 percent of its 1,200-person workforce, while BuzzFeed said it was terminating 15 percent of its staff and would end its BuzzFeed News division. Cutting Corners in Silicon Valley In the first quarter of 2023, nearly 20 percent of 170,000 tech company layoffs were software engineers, according to data from layoffs.fyi and Parachute List, echoing figures from Revelio Labs. Major tech companies, like Meta, are now firing workers in key technical roles like data scientists and software engineers, which were positions that would rarely face cutbacks. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies virtually before the House of Representatives Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law in Washington on July 29, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/Pool via Reuters) Until very recently, Meta was offering generous salaries to fill the highly desired technical positions, but now the firm is terminating them in what CEO MarkMeta calls, the year of efficiency. Leaner is better, Zuckerberg wrote in a 2,200-word memo in March, in announcing the social media companys second round of 10,000 layoffs in only four months. Meanwhile, Amazon announced in the same month that it was laying off an additional 9,000 employees on top of the 18,000 people dismissed in January. The mass layoffs in the tech sector contrast with previous ones and signal a change in where to prioritize cutting back. Earlier layoffs were focused on future hiring, said Ayas, which was done to hire additional specialists like tech engineers, but now the focus is on improving business efficiency standards and boosting product revenue. Recently laid-off tech workers may now find it harder to find new jobs with the same benefits and pay levels. Former software engineers from Facebook might have to follow the industrys average pay rates, which is at $90,000, far below what some of the larger firms have offered previously, in addition to bonuses and stock options. Meanwhile, Elon Musk has let go of over 80 percent of Twitter employees. He told BBC this month that he only had left 1,500 Twitter employees of the around 8,000 staff numbered when he bought the platform last October. Tech workers are still highly in demand, but their bargaining power and ability to ask for extra perks and salaries have been weakened. South Korean President Yoon Comments on Taiwan Ahead of State Visit to the US Experts break down reasons why South Korea is abandoning Beijing and turning to Washington (L-R) South Korean first lady Kim Keon-hee, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden wave during an arrival ceremony at the White House in Washington, on April 26, 2023. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol took a firm stance on the issue of the Taiwan Strait on the eve of his state visit to the United States. Experts say this signifies that South Korea has officially abandoned its policy of strategic ambiguity between Washington and Beijing. In an interview with Reuters on April 19, Yoon said that tensions in the Taiwan Strait occurred because of [Beijings] attempts to change the status quo by force, and [South Korea] together with the international community absolutely oppose such a change. The Taiwan issue is not simply an issue between China and Taiwan but, like the issue of North Korea, it is a global issue, he added. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has claimed the democratically governed Taiwan as a Chinese province despite the fact that Taiwan is a de-facto independent country with its own military, democratically-elected government, and constitution. The CCP has exerted diplomatic and military pressure to get Taipei to accept its sovereignty and vowed to conquer the self-governing island by force if necessary. With China being South Koreas largest trade partner, Yoon has treaded cautiously on topics relating to U.S.-China relations. But he appears to have taken a firm position over tensions in the Taiwan Strait, which certainly displeases Beijing. Beijings Irritated Response Following Yoons remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin responded at a press conference on April 20 that the Taiwan issue is purely an internal affair of the Chinese and that it is no one elses business to comment on it. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin takes a question during a daily Foreign Ministry briefing in Beijing on July 24, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images) A South Korean foreign ministry spokesperson said Wangs comment was appalling. I have to point out that this comment is a serious diplomatic indiscretion that raises questions about Chinas national character, the Korean spokesperson said. According to The Chosun Ilbo, South Korean public opinion found it extraordinary for the South Korean Foreign Ministry to use such a term as national character to describe Chinese authorities. On the same day, the South Korean Foreign Ministry summoned Xing Haiming, the Chinese Ambassador to South Korea, to protest against the CCPs comments on Yoons Taiwan-related remarks. The following day, on April 21, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang threatened the international community by saying, Those who play with fire on the question of Taiwan will burn themselves. Qin made the remarks at the end of a keynote speech at a forum hosted by his ministry. During the speech, he repeatedly praised Chinese leader Xi Jinpings Global Security Initiative while espousing Chinas contribution to the global economy and the interests of developing nations, according to The Independent. A South Korean foreign ministry official responded to Qins remarks on Taiwan the same day. He said, The South Korean government will always adhere to the position of promoting cooperation between Korea and China based on the spirit of mutual respect, mutual benefit, and adherence to national character and etiquette. I hope the Chinese side will also respond by being careful with their words and actions. Expert: South Korea Has Clearly Picked a Side In the interview with Reuters, Yoon also said that South Korea might extend its support for Ukraine beyond humanitarian and economic aid if it comes under a large-scale civilian attack, signaling a possible shift in his stance against arming Ukraine for the first time. Since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war, South Korea has not directly provided arms to Ukraine, citing a long-standing policy of not supplying weapons to countries actively engaged in conflict, according to The Economic Times. Following the interview, the Kremlin said that Yoons statement implies intervention in the war, according to Yonhap News Agency, to which Seoul responded that its future actions would depend on the actions of the Russian side. Kim Taewoo, former head of Seouls Korea Institute for National Unification and a former senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, told The Epoch Times on April 21 that the North Korean nuclear issue is now gravely serious, and it has become urgent for South Korea to strengthen its security alliance with the United States and Japan. For the South to implement a nuclear balance with the North, it would require the United States to invest its nuclear arsenals on the Korean Peninsula. To achieve this key diplomatic outcome, the South Korean government has made strong statements against Beijing and Moscow, Kim said. He said that South Korea is abandoning its policy of strategic ambiguity and turning to the United States because it has no other choice. North Korea has long been threatening South Korea with its nuclear weapons, but the CCP and Russia continue to protect North Koreas nuclear interests by exercising their veto powers on sanctions against North Korea in the United Nations Security Council. South Korea cant survive if it does not turn to the United States, Kim said. He added that South Korea would also be in grave danger if Beijing attacked Taiwan because many Western nations, including the United States and Japan, would all go to support Taiwan, and the Korean Peninsula would be left with no protection. A general view shows a United Nations security council meeting on non-proliferation and the DPRK, or North Korea, at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on March 20, 2023. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images) Expert: Beijing Is Upset About Something Else Lee Ji-Yong, a professor of international studies at South Koreas Keimyung University, told The Epoch Times on April 21 that he believed Beijings non-diplomatic, very abrasive, and rogue-like comment about President Yoons remarks on Taiwan was intended as a threat ahead of his state visit to the United States. On the surface, it appears to be about Taiwan, but if you look deeper, Yoons visit to Washington is actually about North Koreas nuclear weapons. He wants to ask for a level of protection from the United States that exceeds the level of protection from NATO. If successful, it would break the strategic nuclear threat that the CCP has backhandedly assembled in East AsiaNorth Koreas nuclear weaponsto contain the U.S. and its allies. And this move that South Korea is making has infuriated Beijing. To commemorate the 70th anniversary of U.S.South Korean diplomatic ties, Yoon will visit Washington from April 24 to 29 at the invitation of U.S. President Joe Biden. Yoons trip is the first state visit to the United States by a South Korean leader in 12 years. President Biden welcomed Yoon to the White House on April 26, where both leaders are expected to sign a declaration to counter the growing nuclear threat from North Korea. A senior administration official briefed reporters on April 25 that Washington will be taking significant steps to strengthen the U.S. commitment to extended deterrence on the Korean Peninsula. Both leaders will sign an agreement called the Washington Declaration to counter the growing threat from North Korea, a response to its increased missile test launches into international waters. U.S. President Joe Biden (R) and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol walk on the colonnade as they make their way to a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, on April 26, 2023. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) IN-DEPTH: Lawmakers, Officials Demand Access to Nashville Shooters Manifesto 'Lets know everything there is to know about Audrey Hale,' state Rep. Jeremy Faison said In this image from video, Audrey Hale points a gun inside The Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn., on March 27, 2023. (Nashville Police Department via The Epoch Times) The chairman of the Tennessee House Republican Caucus, Rep. Jeremy Faison, joins a growing list of officials calling for the writings and manifesto of school shooter Audrey Hale to be released. Hale killed six people, three of which were 9-year-old children, at a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 27. Tennesseans are calling for us to do something, Faison told The Epoch Times. The reason they are calling for us to do something is because of Audrey Hale. So, lets know everything there is to know about Audrey Hale. Faison said the release of the manifesto is necessary so lawmakers can examine it before they can enact any legislation in an upcoming special legislative session called by Republican Gov. Bill Lee. The special session is focused on public safety. Release the Manifesto Before Debating Legislation Faison is calling on the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) and the FBI to immediately release the documents so that lawmakers can examine them and take any appropriate steps. I have no clue if theres something in there or not, Faison said. Im not alleging that theres something nefarious in there or something we can learn from, but if the governor wants us to do a special session, and its on heels of Audrey Hale killing six ChristiansI think the manifesto should be brought forth. Tennessee Republican Representative Jeremy Faison. (Tennessee General Assembly) Faison said only then will legislators know if there was a law already on the books that let Hale slide through, if there was something a doctor treating her or something her parents and law enforcement knew or didnt know. What if theres already laws in place that wouldve stopped her from doing what she didand we didnt get to see the manifesto, he added. Faison said another reason he wants the writings to be released is to know if the shooting was a hate crime against Christians, and if so, why the FBI isnt calling it that. I want to know, from her perspective, why she didnt go to other places, he said. That should be impactful to us. Analyzing the Manifesto for Legislative Purposes First of all, Tennessee isnt going to get rid of AR15s and were not going to pass a red flag law, he added. I think when we move forward, if this manifesto is going to be shownregardless of what we doits only by the grace of God that a crazy person like her is going to be stopped. So I feel like we cant move forward with anything unless we see what her thoughts were. Faison said if there are things in the manifesto that stick out as something that could have been stopped by legislation, the lawmakers can decide if there is something they can fix, and he would be happy to do so. I would carry the bill, Faison added. When we reveal who she is, the deepest of her thoughts and how crazy or evil she wasand we are able to identify something that we can do thats constitutional, and still have due process, Im all for that. Lee previously called on the state Legislature to pass an extreme risk protection order (ERPO) law. However, no such legislation was taken up before both chambers wrapped up their regular yearly session on April 21. Lee contended any Tennessee law would need to ensure due process and involve law enforcement before an ERPO law could be used to remove weapons from those deemed a danger to themselves or others. For this reason, Lee argued that his request didnt amount to a call for a red flag law as some have said, because of the importance of Second Amendment rights to many Tennesseans. A specific date and agenda for the legislative session has yet to be announced by Lee. Where Is the Manifesto? Faison said he agrees that the fact that Hale identified as transgender is part of the reason the manifesto has not been released. MNPD Chief John Drake said in the days following the shooting that Hale identified as a man. If she was a white male that also cared about skinhead issues, for instance, you can be sure the next day there would have been the release of said manifesto, so it could gin up as much hate against the person as possible, he said. And I would agree. I think its smart to let people know how evil a skinhead or a racist is. I want the world to know and I would applaud them for releasing the manifesto to show how horrible a bigot is. America needs to know what were dealing with. He added that in his gut he feels the manifesto is being protected by the FBI because Hale was transgender, and that the Department of Justice is trying to dampen narratives. The flag atop the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville flew at half-staff on March 29, 2023, two days after six people were killed at The Covenant School in a shooting. (Chase Smith/The Epoch Times) If you look at all the mass shooters in the past decade, theyre typically in the left camp, Faison said. Part of me thinks it is the DOJ trying to protect thatbecause there is a real narrative thats out thereand the more that comes out of this, the more that narrative grows. I dont think that they want that to grow. He added he had a suspicion that current laws could have picked Hale up already, but there could possibly have been a lack in obeying the current law. One of my apprehensions to passing any gun legislation that would restrict guns from good, law-abiding citizens is criminals dont obey the laws in the first place, he added. How many laws could we pass for them to obey the law? Were just going to end up disarming law-abiding citizens. He added the investigations findings all needed to be open to the public, including an unredacted manifesto. Faison did state he understood the need for some redactions, such as if there was a list of names. Sheriff Calls for Release Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall called for the release of the manifesto immediately this week in an interview with a local television station in Nashville. Hall told News Channel 5 on April 24 he wants the manifesto to be released ASAP. I think it would help, Hall told the outlet. I dont see any reason for it to be private any longer in my opinion. Hall is the top local law enforcement official thus far to call for the release of the manifesto. I believe the public interest to know that would help ease some of the rumors, Hall added. Ease the blame game thats going on. You have to weigh that with the benefits of keeping that out of the publics eye. Hall could not be reached for further comment. MNPD, a separate agency, is working on the investigation alongside the FBI. The latest statement to The Epoch Times from MNPD on the release of Hales writings stated, The investigation into the murders at Covenant remains open. Among the work being done is the review of a significant amount of written material by our detectives in consultation with the FBIs [Behavioral Analysis Unit]. MEMPHIS, the United States, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Female giant panda Ya Ya left the Memphis Zoo here on Wednesday morning for a flight returning to China. Ya Ya's departure came after 20 years of stay at the zoo in Memphis, Tennessee. As arranged by the Chinese and U.S. sides, she will board a plane to Shanghai. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts Refuses to Testify Before Congress The U.S. Supreme Courts chief justice has declined to testify to Congress on ethics issues. Chief Justice John Roberts informed Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) of the refusal on April 25. Durbin, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, had urged Roberts to answer questions under oath at an upcoming public hearing. The hearing will go over how justices are falling short of the ethical standards expected of other federal judges, Durbin said. He added that testifying could help strengthen faith in our public institutions. Roberts said in reply that he was declining the request. Testimony before Congress by the Supreme Courts chief justice is exceedingly rare, as one might expect in light of separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence, Roberts wrote in the letter, obtained by The Epoch Times. According to the Supreme Courts library, just two chief justices in history have testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, in 1921 and 1935. Those hearings went over routine matters such as adding seats in federal courts, Roberts said. Another chief justice testified before U.S. House of Representatives panels regarding a bill that would create a commemorative coin and how to improve the federal civil service system. Durbin is among the Democrats who want to impose a code of conduct on the nations top court, pointing to concerns about justices relationships with major political donors. He has expressed concern with reporting that Justice Clarence Thomas accepted free vacations from a Republican donor; Thomas has denied wrongdoing. Durbin said that a hearing in May would still happen without Roberts. I am surprised that the chief justices recounting of existing legal standards of ethics suggests current law is adequate and ignores the obvious, Durbin said in a statement. It is time for Congress to accept its responsibility to establish an enforceable code of ethics for the Supreme Court, the only agency of our government without it. Accompanying Roberts letter was a statement from all justices saying they make financial disclosures in line with the Judicial Conference Regulations. They said that due to increasing security concerns, they have to take into account guidance from law enforcement when making certain disclosures. Graham, the ranking member of the panel, had said he would be surprised if Roberts agreed to testify. And I would support his decision not to come, Graham told The Epoch Times via email. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) was among those criticizing Roberts, writing in a statement: The marble pillars of the supreme court and platitudes about its independence no longer provide refuge. He must face the nation. Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), meanwhile, announced this week that he is seeking information from Harlan Crow, the Republican donor, on gifts made to Thomas. The secrecy surrounding your dealings with Justice Thomas is simply unacceptable, Wyden wrote to Crow. The American public deserves a full accounting of the full extent of your largesse towards Justice Thomas, including whether these gifts complied with all relevant federal tax and ethics laws. Supreme Court Sides With Landowners Whose Land Was Sought for Pipeline The Supreme Court revived a lawsuit filed by Virginia property owners challenging the seizure of their land to make way for a natural gas pipeline. The courts decision, which came on April 24 in an unsigned order with no recorded dissents, is the latest development in a long-running legal battle between Mountain Valley Pipeline and six landowners in Franklin, Montgomery, and Roanoke counties. Under the federal Natural Gas Act, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) can delegate its authority to private companies to seize land for energy projects. It delegated authority to Mountain Valley. The landowners dispute the condemnation of their land for the pipeline, arguing that Congress improperly delegated its authority to FERC. The pipeline stretches from northern West Virginia to Southwest Virginia before connecting with another line in North Carolina. The company purchased easements from property owners willing to agree to them but used eminent domain against those who didnt. In the new decision in Bohon v. FERC, court file 22-256, the Supreme Court simultaneously granted the landowners request seeking review while skipping over the oral argument phase in which the merits of the case would have been considered. Some lawyers call this process GVR, which stands for grant, vacate, and remand. The Supreme Court remanded the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for further consideration in light of Axon Enterprise Inc. v. FTC, a unanimous decision the Supreme Court handed down on April 14. In the Axon case, the Supreme Court took steps to rein in the so-called administrative state and reaffirm the separation of powers doctrine that prevents any specific branch of the government from exercising the core functions of another. The idea behind the doctrine is to discourage the concentration of power and ensure checks and balances. The litigants challenging federal agencies in Axon argued that they should be able to contest the way the tribunals are constituted in federal courts without first having to launch a lengthy, expensive challenge within the administrative system. A federal district court judge in Washington found in 2020 that he didnt have jurisdiction to hear the Bohon case because a law required the parties to ask for a rehearing before the FERC. The landowners told the Supreme Court that it was unfair that the law compelled them to advance their separation of powers argument in front of FERC, the same agency whose authority they were disputing, and apparently the Supreme Court agreed. The landowners were represented at the Supreme Court by Sydney Phillips, deputy chief litigation counsel at the Freedom Foundation of Olympia, Washington. Ruling Welcomed Their local attorney, Mia Yugo of Yugo Collins in Roanoke, welcomed the new court ruling. Landowners are extremely grateful the Supreme Court granted their petition and look forward to the opportunity to finally get a decision on the merits of their non-delegation arguments, Yugo said in a statement forwarded to The Epoch Times. The Non-Delegation Doctrine is a critical legal doctrine for the preservation of freedom in this country; it is a staple of the separation of powers. This was an uphill battle, and today marks a huge win for landowners. Our clients have fought for many years to get their day in court on the merits of their constitutional claim. We couldnt be happier with the Courts decision. Anthony Caso, counsel for the Constitutional Counsel Group, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief, also praised the ruling. This was the correct decision, Caso said. Forcing a party to present constitutional claims about the agencys authority to the agency doesnt make any sense. The Constitution creates a judicial branch for a reason. Mountain Valley spokeswoman Natalie Cox said in a statement that the courts ruling was procedural and will lead to additional briefing at the D.C. Circuit Court. However, as this remains pending litigation, we are unable to provide additional details at this time, Cox said. The Epoch Times reached out to the U.S. Department of Justice, which represented FERC in the proceeding, but didnt receive a reply by press time. Taiwan Says Tracking Chinese Carrier Off Its Southeast Coast A jet fighter takes off from China's Shandong aircraft carrier, south of Okinawa prefecture, Japan, on April 10, 2023. (Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan/Handout via Reuters) TAIPEITaiwans defense ministry said on Monday that a Chinese carrier group led by the Shandong was about 120 nautical miles off the southeast of the islands coast, the same ship that took part in Chinas war games around the island earlier this month. Taiwan previously reported that the Shandong, commissioned in 2019, had sailed into waters in the Western Pacific through the Bashi Channel that separates the island from the Philippines ahead of a meeting between President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles. After Tsai returned to Taiwan, the Chinese regime staged several days of exercises around the island, with the Shandong and its fighter jets participating in the Pacific Ocean. In a brief statement, Taiwans Defence Ministry said the carrier group was still in the Pacific for training and was 120 nautical miles southeast of Cape Eluanbi, on the islands southern tip, and would pass through those waters. Taiwans armed forces were closely tracking the ships and appropriately responding, the ministry said. During the drills earlier this month, the Chinese regime showed extensive images of the Shandong and its fighter jets being launched from the carrier. In March of last year, the Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait, just hours before the Chinese and U.S. presidents were due to talk. The Chinese regime views democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory and has been ramping up military pressure in recent years to try to force the island to accept Chinese sovereignty. Taiwans government says only the islands people can decide their future. Texas Bill Proposes $25,000 for School Employees Authorized to Act as Armed Guards FILE - Reggie Daniels pays his respects a memorial at Robb Elementary School on June 9, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. Nearly 400 law enforcement officials rushed to the mass shooting that left 21 people dead at the elementary school but systemic failures created a chaotic scene that lasted more than an hour before the gunman was finally confronted and killed, according to a report from investigators released Sunday, July 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) A new Texas bill proposes a stipend of up to $25,000 for public school employees, who are authorized to act as armed guards on school grounds. The proposed legislation follows a recent trend of training armed school staff after recent mass shootings at educational facilities across the country. Texas lawmakers advanced House Bill 13 on April 25, which will provide funding for training, preparedness, and funding for school safety and emergencies. The act passed with bipartisan support and will now head to the Texas Senate, where it faces a vote. It has almost been a month before the one-year anniversary of the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, which led to the deaths of nineteen students and two teachers. Lawmakers have until May 29 to pass the gun safety measures before adjourning without a set return date. The bill, if passed, would allow employees of public and charter schools in the state to apply for the School Guardian Training stipend. Applicants will be required to take courses in first aid, firearms training, and rigorous mental health training before they are allowed to act as part-time campus security in addition to their regular duties. Texas to Expand Training Program for Armed Teachers Texas already allows teachers who have undergone proper firearms training to carry guns under a voluntary program. A voluntary school marshal program was created after the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in 2012, which allowed districts to appoint peace officers to protect the classroom in case of a school shooter threat. Applicants must complete various requirements, including 80 hours of firearms training and pass a psychological exam, but the program has drawn few takers. The marshal program had only certified just 33 school employees across Texas in its first four years across 9,000 campuses. There were still only fewer than 400 applicants by the summer of 2022, in the immediate wake of the Uvalde massacre. Legislators in Texas to Pass More Bills to Improve School Safety Other new school safety measures being pushed in Texas would require at least one armed person, such as a law enforcement officer or a trained staff member, on all campuses. A separate bill, which will place silent panic buttons in every classroom, is now headed to Gov. Greg Abbott to sign. Republican state Rep. Ken King, who authored the bill, told the Associated Press that it was proposed in light of the tragedies that have occurred in Texas schools over the past years. HB 13 allows districts to create a safety plan that works best for their local community while ensuring a minimum standard for all, he said in a tweet. He also said that his bill emphasized training school employees to identify students with mental health problems before an issue arises. What I want to pay them for is hopefully getting the training needed to spot the children before we have a problem, said King. However, Democrat state Rep. James Talarico, a former middle school teacher, voted against the new proposal after fearing that it would create an incentive for teachers struggling financially to carry weapons. Even teachers who dont want to carry guns may feel like they are financially pressured to do so just so they can provide for their families, Talarico said. Other States Propose Bills to Support Armed School Personnel Other bills which fund the arming of school teachers and other staff have been passed, or are being proposed in other states, as lawmakers nationwide call for improved safety. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) proposed an $80 million federal program in the U.S. Senate to arm officers in schools nationwide. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said he intends to expand similar school safety measures following the shooting at Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville. A 28-year-old transgender individual shot and killed six people in a targeted attack on Christians before law enforcement shot and killed the attacker. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The weapons and barons marked, That from the western Lusitana beach, By seas never sailed before. Most Portuguese people know these opening lines of The Lusiads (Os Lusiadas), a Portuguese epic poem by Luis Vaz de Camoes first published in 1572. Written three years after the poets return from India, it narrates Vasco da Gamas journey to India and celebrates the achievements of the Portuguese nation. It is viewed as Portugals national epic poem, in the same way that Homers Iliad or Odyssey is for the ancient Greeks and Virgils Aeneid for the ancient Romans. The Lusiads is one of the most important works of Portuguese literature and remains a national treasure to this day. A portrait of Luis Vaz de Camoes, circa 1577, by Fernao Gomes. (Public Domain) A Portuguese Epic Narrative During the 16th century, the world opened to exploration. At the height of the Renaissance, explorers set off to discover new horizons. Portugal was a country of navigators, and one of its greatest explorers was Vasco da Gama, who became the first European to reach India via the Atlantic Ocean, discovering a new sea route. The Lusiads is the story of his journey, intertwined with classical mythology, fantastic elements, and episodes of Portuguese history. Camoess poem immortalized the achievements of Portuguese explorers as well as the countrys glorious history. He chose the fitting title Lusiads; it is derived from Luso, a mythical entity that supposedly founded Lusitania, also known as the Iberian Peninsula. Inspired by classical literature, Camoes chose the epic form, traditionally used to celebrate the achievements of heroes. He wrote in the Homeric style, showcasing his talent as a poet. The epic poem is structured in 10 cantos (songs), with different numbers of stanzas, featuring decasyllables (10-syllable verses) and octosyllables (eight-syllable verses). Four main themes emerge: da Gamas voyage, the history of Portugal, the poets reflections, and elements of classical mythology. Camoes reading The Lusiads to King Sebastian, in a lithograph from 1893, by Antonio Ramalho. (Public Domain) The epic begins with the poets explanation of the purpose of his work: to sing the deeds of Portuguese heroes in exalted ways. The first verse, The weapons and barons marked, is inspired by Virgils Aeneid, and allusions to the classical world continue: Cease from the wise Greek and the Trojan The great sailings they made; Shut up from Alexandro and Trajan The fame of the victories they had; That I sing the illustrious Lusitano chest, Whom Neptune and Mars obeyed: Cease all that the ancient Muse sings, What other higher value arises. The poet alludes to Homer and Virgil as the wise Greek and the Trojan and refers to ancient history. He also references classical mythology with Neptune, Mars, and the Muse. By alluding to the classical world and following the codes of epic poetry, Camoes aims to place the Portuguese among the ancient heroes, proving they are worthy of remembrance. King Sebastian of Portugal, who represented hope for the Portuguese nation. Sebastian, King of Portugal, circa 1565, attributed to Cristovao de Morais. (Public Domain) References to the classical world and literature continue with the invocation. Here the poet asks the tagides, mythical entities from the Portuguese river Tagus, for inspiration, in the same way that a classical poet would ask inspiration from the Muses. In the dedicatory, Camoes dedicates his work to King Sebastian of Portugal, who represented hope for the Portuguese nation in spreading the Catholic faith and the Portuguese empire to unknown territories. As such, Camoes infuses Portuguese elements with the classical tradition, truly making it a Portuguese epic. A Celebration of Portuguese History The narration starts in stanza 19, in medias res (middle of the action), with the Portuguese already at sea. The story is interrupted by the council of the gods on Mount Olympus, where Roman god Jupiter meets with other gods to decide if the Portuguese will reach India. Jupiter is on the side of the Portuguese and decides in their favor. The mythological reference reinforces the special character of the nation and places the expedition under divine guidance, another reference to the Aeneid. Cantos II and III recount the story of Vasco da Gamas journey, helped by Venus and Jupiter. The fleet lands at Melinde, a town on the coast of Kenya, and after invoking Calliope, who is the Muse of epic poetry, da Gama narrates the history of Portugal. He tells the story of Lusus and Viriathus, legendary figures of the Lusitanian people, and enumerates the deeds of the kings of the first dynasty, from Dom Afonso Henriques to Dom Fernando. Next is the episode of Galician noblewoman Ines de Castro, one of the most famous in the narrative and in Portuguese history. It is classified as a lyric episode, a sad and worthy case of memory. The story continues with the recounting of the perils that the sailors face at sea, and the fury of a monsterthe giant Adamastora mythical representation personifying the dangers of the sea and the unknown. After da Gamas narrative, the story continues with the Portuguese armada sailing to the Indian city of Calicut. Neptune tries to sink the small, maneuverable ships known as caravels, but Venus helps the Portuguese ships. With Calicut in sight, the poet ponders why great achievement should lead to fame and fortune. Model of a Portuguese caravel, found in the Musee national de la Marine, France. (PHGCOM/CC BY-SA 3.0) The explorers are well received in port. The people from Calicut admire the ships paintings, which depict significant figures and events from Portuguese history. However, Bacchus convinces the locals that the Portuguese are a threat. Fortunately, the armada escapes, and Venus rewards them with an island filled with Nereids, or sea nymphs. In the final canto, Venus shows da Gama a perfect and magical spherethe Machine of the World. It is filled with countless prophecies about the future of the world. Camoes exalts the Portuguese who built and extended their empire and who deserve a place among immortal beings. By raising them to the status of mythological gods, the poet immortalized the deeds of Portuguese explorers and their glorious history. Not only does The Lusiads celebrate the great discoveries of early Portuguese explorers, but it also celebrates the enduring spirit of a nation. Research Raises Legal Concerns About Operations of Confucius Institutes in UK China's then-Vice President Xi Jinping (now Chinese leader) unveils a plaque at the opening of Australia's first Chinese Medicine Confucius Institute at the RMIT University in Melbourne on June 20, 2010. (William West/AFP/Getty Images) The legality of Confucius Institutes in the UK was brought into question as research showed CI teachers were hired in a highly discriminatory way and are required to undermine free speech. The research, published on Tuesday by UK-China Transparency, a newly founded charity focusing on Sino-British ties, also said British Universities and the Home Office have been systematically enabling the practice by breaching their legal obligations. Sam Dunning, director of UK-China Transparency, who co-authored the summary of the documents, said universities must choose between keeping the institutes open and fulfilling their legal obligations. The Confucius Institutes (CIs), are purportedly teaching centres that aim to promote Chinese language and culture. While the British co-directors and administrative staff of the CIs are recruited by hosting British universities, the Chinese co-directors and teachers are hired by the Chinese partner entity, often a Chinese university. British universities are hosting 30 CIs, the highest number in the world. But according to a previous report, also authored by Dunning, most of the CIs in the UK were engaged in activities beyond their remit of language and culture, including cooperating with UK organisations that work with the United Front Work Department, a [Chinese Communist Party (CCP)] agency the interference activities of which were recently highlighted by MI5. Discriminatory Hiring Process The new report said that after examining application forms and hiring notices posted in China that were available online, the authors found CI staff are hired in a highly discriminatory way that is illegal under UK law. One of the forms, filled by all applicants, asked candidates to provide information on their political characteristics, ethnicity, and family members. It also required the applicants to promise they or their spouses wont have children while working abroad, and their current employer in China had to evaluate their political attitude. The report said a number of the universities excluded applicants from minority religious groups persecuted in China while some others discriminated against candidates outside of a certain age range. In one of the examples given, a recruitment notice for a Chinese co-director stated that the successful candidate must be under 58, abide by Chinese law while abroad, and agree to proactively resist any speech or behaviour that brings harm to friendly collaboration between China and the foreign country and to maintain close communication with the Chinese Embassy or Consulates in the foreign country. Another hiring notice, also for a co-director, stated that a government order dictated that the university should prioritise the ideological-political qualities of candidates, strictly control the selection of candidates in political terms, only recommend candidates who are loyal to the ancestor-land, who possess political firmness, and who are between 35 and 55 years old. The notice also said applicants must be members of the CCP and that the recruitment process would be led by the CCP Committee of the university, according to the report. Legal Status Unclear The researchers also filed Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to hosting universities asking them whether Chinese law applies to Chinese CI staff and about their legal status. The responses indicated that the universities were not aware that Chinese staff had pledged to abide by Chinese law in the UK and had not sought legal advice on the legal employment status of the staff. In an email to The Epoch Times, Dunning said the research has shown that Confucius Institute staff are being recruited on the basis of their ability to conduct transnational repression in the UK and obliged to enforce Party discipline on campus. Dunning said British universities have legal obligations to protect academic freedom and free speech, and to prevent harassment, and must choose to either fulfill their legal obligations and respect their own values, or to keep their Confucius Institutes open. If universities will not fulfill their legal responsibilities, then it is up to regulators such as the Office for Students to intervene, he said. Unlawful Dedicated Visa Route The report also called into question a Home Office visa route that it said was dedicated to the China-UK Mandarin Teachers Scheme. In response to an FOI request, the Home Office told UK-China Transparency that UK employment and equality law applies to employment under the scheme. But none of the British universities considered themselves the employer of the Chinese teachers who use this visa scheme, making their legal rights unclear. The report disputed the legality of the visa scheme, saying while its requirement stated sponsors for a job must ensure the role is over and above any normal staffing requirement and does not fill a vacancy, the role of a Chinese co-director is fundamental to a Confucius Institute. Those who fulfil the role are therefore likely to be filling a vacancy, calling into question the legality of Home Offices authorisation of the visa scheme, the report said. The Home Office didnt respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times. During his leadership campaign last year, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed to close all 30 CIs, saying almost all UK government spending on Mandarin language teaching at school was channelled through CIs thereby promoting Chinese soft power. However, the government so far hasnt published any plan to close the institutes. In a written answer to Labour Peer Lord Leongs question last month, parliamentary under-secretary for the Department for Education (DfE) Baroness Barran said education providers have a responsibility to ensure their partnerships with countries overseas are managed appropriately and ensuring the right due diligence is in place, and encouraged any providers with concerns to contact the government. She also told Leong that the DfE was not monitoring the level of funding spent on Mandarin teaching in schools through Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms at the time. US Charges North Korean Banker Over Crypto Laundering Conspiracies DOJ says the stolen funds were used to buy goods for North Korea's regime The Department of Justice in Washington on Jan. 14, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) The United States has indicted a North Korean banker for his alleged role in cryptocurrency laundering conspiracies designed to buy goods and generate revenue for the North Korean regime. Sim Hyon Sop, a representative of the North Korean Foreign Trade Bank (FTB), was accused of conspiring with over-the-counter crypto traders to launder funds stolen from virtual currency exchange hacks. The laundered funds were then transferred in U.S. dollars for purchasing goods through Hong Kong-based front companies on behalf of North Korea, the Department of Justice said in a statement on April 24. Sim, 39, was also charged with conspiring with North Korean IT workers who obtained illegal employment at U.S. blockchain development companies to generate revenue for North Korea, according to the DOJ. The IT workers allegedly used fake identities to secure remote jobs at U.S.-based companies and requested payment in cryptocurrenciesin stablecoins like USD Tether and USD Coinand sent their earnings back to North Korea with Sims assistance. The DOJ stated that North Koreans apply for jobs in remote IT work without revealing their nationality. They bypass security and due diligence checks using false identification and other obfuscation strategies, such as virtual private networks, to hide their real location. The charges announced today respond to innovative attempts by North Korean operatives to evade sanctions by exploiting the technological features of virtual assets to facilitate payments and profits, and targeting virtual currency companies for theft, said Kenneth A. Polite, assistant attorney general in the DOJs Criminal Division. Wu Huihui, a Chinese national and alleged co-conspirator in the money laundering scheme, was also charged with running an unlicensed money-transmitting business. The DOJ stated that Wu conducted over 1,500 trades for American customers without a license. Todays indictments reveal North Koreas continued use of various means to circumvent U.S. sanctions, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Matthew M. Graves, said in a statement. We can and will follow the money, be it through cryptocurrency or the traditional banking system, to bring appropriate charges against those who would help to fund this corrupt regime, Graves added. US Sanctions 3 Individuals Linked to Lazarus In a separate statement, the U.S. Treasury Department said it sanctioned Sim, Wu, and Cheng Hung Man, a Hong Kong-based trader, for allegedly providing support to North Korean hacking group Lazarus. Lazarus is led by North Koreas primary intelligence agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau. The group was responsible for the theft of $620 million in Ethereum from the online game Axie Infinity last year. The DPRKs use of illicit facilitation networks to access the international financial system and generate revenue using virtual currency for the regimes unlawful weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs directly threatens international security, said Brian E. Nelson, under secretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, referring to North Koreas official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. A test launch of a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-18 at an undisclosed location in this still image of a photo used in a video released by North Koreas Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 14, 2023. (KCNA via Reuters TV) According to the Treasury, North Korea has been generating funds for its illicit ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction programs through virtual currency thefts and fraud schemes since 2017, having stolen an estimated $1.7 billion worth of virtual currency last year. North Korea conducted a series of missile launches this year, including one involving a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-18, all of which are banned under U.N. Security Council resolutions on North Koreas missile program. The United States has persisted in engaging in direct talks with North Korea without preconditions in favor of a diplomatic solution, but North Korea has rebuffed these efforts. US Open to Negotiated Peace for Ukraine Following Xi-Zelenskyy Talk: White House Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gives a speech during his visit to Warsaw, Poland, on April 5, 2023. Czarek Sokolowski/AP Photo) The United States may be open to a negotiated peace between Ukraine and Russia following a phone call between Ukraines president and Chinas communist leadership about the ongoing invasion and the possibility of peace in Eastern Europe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accepted a call on April 26 with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping. The conversation was the first between the two leaders since Russia began its attempted conquest of Ukraine last year, which the CCP has largely helped to further through increased economic, diplomatic, and military support. Zelenskyy described the call as long and meaningful, and said that a Ukrainian ambassador to communist China would help to improve bilateral ties between the two nations. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraines ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations, Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter. US Supports China-Ukraine Talks The White House said that it supports increased communications between Ukraine and China and hoped that the effort would help the Chinese side to better understand the devastation that has been wrought by Russias war of aggression. We welcome the news that there was a phone call between Zelenskyy and Xi, said National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby during a press call on April 26. We think thats a good thing. The White House has been encouraging China-Ukraine talks since March when the CCP first released a so-called peace plan, for which Ukraine had not been consulted and which falsely claimed NATO was responsible for the war. Since then, the CCP has attempted to further position itself as a mediator in the conflict. However, this weeks phone call was the first time CCP leadership held a substantive dialogue with any Ukrainian officials. Notably, the CCP has been pushing for a negotiated settlement to the conflict, which the United States has balked at given Zelenskyys demand that any peace be predicated on the return of all occupied Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which Russia has occupied since its first invasion in 2014. Washingtons resistance to such a plan may be shifting, however, at least so long as such a plan is approved by Ukrainian authorities. We want to see the war end, Kirby said. If it cant end by Putin pulling his troops out, then it should end by negotiated settlement. If theres going to be a negotiated peace, its got to be when President Zelenskyy is ready for it. To that end, Kirby said that any proposed peace plan would need to provide for a just, sustainable, and credible peace and not simply allow Russia to regroup and rearm for a third invasion of Ukraine. Above all, he said, Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. Whether [this call is] going to lead to some sort of meaningful peace movement we just dont know that right now, Kirby said. To the degree that [Zelenskyy and Xi] were able to do that in this call thats a good thing. US Regulators Say They Already Have Power to Crack Down on AI Misuse, Warn Firms to Comply With Laws An AI robot titled "Alter 3: Offloaded Agency," is pictured during a photocall to promote the exhibition entitled "AI: More than Human," at the Barbican Centre in London on May 15, 2019. (Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images) A number of federal government agencies said on April 25 that they have the power to prevent unlawful bias in algorithms and technologies marketed as artificial intelligence (AI). In a joint statement, four federal agenciesThe Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)noted that artificial intelligence is fast becoming mainstream in society. The agencies pointed to AI use by both private and public entities to make critical decisions that impact individuals rights and opportunities, including fair and equal access to a job, housing, credit opportunities, and other goods and services. However, they stressed that while such tools provide technological advancement, their use also has the potential to perpetuate unlawful bias, automate unlawful discrimination, and produce other harmful outcomes. The four agencies then pointed to a number of steps they have already taken to protect American consumers from some of the negative aspects of increasingly more advanced AI, such as abusive use of the technology, repeat offenders use of AI technology, the utilization of algorithmic marketing and advertising and Black box algorithms, in which the internal workings are not clear to most people, including, in some cases, the developers themselves. They went on to warn that companies that are already utilizing AI technology must do so in compliance with laws and regulations currently in place. A keyboard is seen reflected on a computer screen displaying the website of ChatGPT, an AI chatbot from OpenAI, in this illustration picture taken on Feb. 8, 2023. (Florence Lo/Reuters) AI Tools Can Turbocharge Fraud, Discrimination We already see how AI tools can turbocharge fraud and automate discrimination, and we wont hesitate to use the full scope of our legal authorities to protect Americans from these threats, said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. Technological advances can deliver critical innovationbut claims of innovation must not be cover for lawbreaking. There is no AI exemption to the laws on the books, and the FTC will vigorously enforce the law to combat unfair or deceptive practices or unfair methods of competition. The agencies said they are also looking into other ways to prioritize digital redliningin which technology is used to further marginalize or discriminate against specific groupsincluding bias in algorithms and technologies marketed as AI. As part of that effort, the CFPB is working with federal partners to protect homebuyers and homeowners from algorithmic bias in home valuations and appraisals, the agency said. As social media platforms, banks, landlords, employers, and other businesses that choose to rely on artificial intelligence, algorithms, and other data tools to automate decision-making and to conduct business, we stand ready to hold accountable those entities that fail to address the discriminatory outcomes that too often result, said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment and the Justice Department will continue to work with our government partners to investigate, challenge, and combat discrimination based on automated systems, Clarke added. FTC chair Khan also noted that the agency will take action against companies that illegally seek to block new entrants to AI markets, CNBC reports. A handful of powerful firms today control the necessary raw materials, not only the vast stores of data but also the cloud services and computing power, that startups and other businesses rely on to develop and deploy AI products, Khan said. And this control could create the opportunity for firms to engage in unfair methods of competition. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas participates in an interview with Michael Isikoff from Yahoo News in Washington on June 14, 2021. (DHS/U.S. government) DHS Forming AI Task Force The joint statement comes as the Biden administration and other lawmakers are considering new AI regulations amid an explosion in the use of such technology, most notably OpenAIs ChatGPT, which can generate human-like conversations and texts. Goldman Sachs economists warned earlier this month that AI could render two-thirds of occupations across America partially automated, exposing the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs to automation. Other industry experts, including Elon Musk, who founded OpenAI with Sam Altman in 2015 but has since distanced himself from the company, have warned that such technology could pose disastrous risks to society and humanity. Despite those concerns, earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it intends to form a task force that will explore the use of AI to advance critical homeland security missions including enhancing the integrity of Americas supply chains, securing critical infrastructure, and countering the flow of fentanyl into the United States. The task force will also explore implementing AI systems to help protect against Chinas malign economic influence and advance safety, security, and economic prosperity in the Arctic and Indo-Pacific regions, according to DHS Security Alejandro Mayorkas. The profound evolution in the homeland security threat environment, changing at a pace faster than ever before, has required our Department of Homeland Security to evolve along with it, Mayorkas said in a statement on April 21. We must never allow ourselves to be susceptible to failures of imagination We must instead look to the future and imagine the otherwise unimaginable, to ensure that whatever threats we face, our Department our country will be positioned to meet the moment, he added. Washington State Bans AR-15s, Semiautomatic Rifles A man shoots an AR-15-style rifle at a shooting range during the Rod of Iron Freedom Festival in Greeley, Pa., on Oct. 12, 2019. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed multiple gun control bills into law, including prohibiting the sale of semiautomatic rifles on Tuesday. Today, Washington state is putting the gun industry in its place and improving the health, safety, and lives of our residents. I want to thank the many legislators and advocates who have worked for years to deliver some of these policies to the governors desk, Inslee said in a statement. These are three victories, not one, and it is clear why we need to take this action, Inslee added before signing the bills into law. These weapons of war of assault weapons have no reason other than mass murder. Their only purpose is to kill humans as rapidly as possible in large numbers. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee in Seattle, Wash., on March 11, 2020. (John Moore/Getty Images) The bill (pdf) bans the popular AR-15 rifle, among other semiautomatic rifles, and prohibits the manufacture, importation, distribution, and sale of assault-style weapons in Washington, with an exception for sales made to armed forces and law enforcement. Gun shop owners will have 90 days to sell their inventory from todays date. The legislature finds and declares that gun violence is a threat to the public health and safety of Washingtonians, the bill states. Assault weapons are civilian versions of weapons created for the military and are designed to kill humans quickly and efficiently. The White House praised Inslee for his semiautomatic rifle ban in a statement after the bills were signed. President Biden commends the leadership of Washington Governor Jay Inslee, and legislative leaders, as well as the advocates, survivors, and elected officials who fought for years to make today a reality, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. In so doing, they have made every community in the statefrom Seattle to Spokane and everywhere in betweensafer and more secure. Inslee also signed two other gun-related bills into law Tuesday. SB 5078 (pdf) will allow people whose family members are killed to sue if a manufacturer or seller is irresponsible in how they handle, store or sell those weapons. While HB 1143 (pdf) will require gun buyers to show theyve taken firearm safety training before purchasing a firearm, along with a 10-day waiting period for all gun purchases. Washingtons newest gun control laws come as Americans are split on how to stop the rising mass shootings across the nation, with a reported 173 mass shootings so far this year, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive. Washington becomes the tenth state to enforce strict restrictions on semiautomatic rifles, joining California and New York, among others, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. California Gov. Gavin Newsom implemented additional gun control safety measures after multiple mass shootings in the Golden State earlier this year. Only in America do we see the kind of carnage and chaos of gun violence that destroys our communities and our sense of safety and belonging, Newsom said in a statement. America is number 1 in gun ownership and we far surpass every developed nation on Earth in gun deathsits not complicated. In California, weve passed common sense gun safety laws, and they work: We have a 37% lower gun death rate than the national average. Were doubling down on gun safety and strengthening our public carry law to protect it from radical Republican attacks. The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) filed a complaint (pdf) in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, accusing lawmakers of violating the Second Amendment with an outright ban on semiautomatic rifles not long after Inslee signed his bills into law. The state has put politics ahead of constitutional rights, and is penalizing law-abiding citizens while this legislation does nothing to arrest and prosecute criminals who misuse firearms in defiance of all existing gun control laws, SAF founder Alan M. Gottlieb said in a press release. It is absurd. Washingtons Senate Republicans said in a Twitter post last week that banning certain weapons is not the solution to gun violence. We must deal with those who are using guns and other weapons to commit violent acts. The seats of the Israeli delegation are seen empty after Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan and other members of the delegation walked out of the Security Council chamber in protest during a Security Council debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, at the UN headquarters in New York, on April 25, 2023. Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, on Tuesday walked out of a Security Council meeting in protest. (Evan Schneider/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, on Tuesday walked out of a Security Council meeting in protest. Erdan said he was outraged by the council's refusal to re-schedule Tuesday's debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, as Tuesday is Yom HaZikaron, or Memorial Day, for Israeli fallen soldiers. Israel made numerous requests to re-schedule the debate, but the Security Council refused to budge, he said. "The decision to nonetheless hold this debate on today -- of all days -- only further proves what Israelis already know and feel about this biased organization." Erdan said he could not participate in Tuesday's debate, which he called an "absurd farce," on Israel's Memorial Day. He read out a list of names, which he said were those of fallen Israeli soldiers in the past year, and lit what appeared to be an electric candle in their memory. "This debate disgraces the fallen and Israel will not take part in it," he said. With those words, he walked out of the Security Council chamber, together with three Israeli officials. Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan (Front) stands up from his seat to walk out of the Security Council chamber in protest during a Security Council debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, at the UN headquarters in New York, on April 25, 2023. Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, on Tuesday walked out of a Security Council meeting in protest. (Evan Schneider/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) Washington States Semiautomatic Weapon Ban Faces Multiple Legal Challenges A demonstrator utilizes his right to openly carry a rifle during a pro-gun rally in Olympia, Wash., on Jan. 19, 2013. (David Ryder/Getty Images) A law prohibiting the future sale of so-called assault weapons in Washington has drawn multiple lawsuits since the moment Democrat Gov. Jay Inslee inked his approval for the ban on Tuesday. The new law, which passed the Evergreen States Democrat-led legislature on largely party-line votes before it was approved by Inslee, bans the sale, manufacture, and importation of some 60 popular gun models by name, including the AK-47 in all forms, and the AR-15, M16, or M4 in all forms. Going well beyond that list, the ban also applies to any semiautomatic rifle, pistol, or shotgun that has one or more of such common features as a pistol grip, forward grip, thumbhole stock, folding or telescoping stock, flash hider, sound suppressor, muzzle brake, recoil compensator, or threaded barrel. It also bans the future sale of unassembled kits or a combination of parts from which an assault weapon can be assembled. The final version included some exemptions for sales to law enforcement and the military. It still allows, at least for now, possession of such firearms by people who already have them. However, those weapons cannot be legally transferred unless as family heirlooms. The law is being challenged in court in at least two separate cases, including one brought by Bellevue, Washington-based Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and Sacramento, California-based Firearms Policy Coalition. The state of Washington has criminalized one of the most common and important means by which its citizens can exercise their fundamental right to self-defense, the pro-Second Amendment rights groups argued in their complaint (pdf), filed the same day Inslee signed the law. Central among the common uses of semiautomatic firearms banned in Washington is self-defense, they added, noting that the banned features are meant to make the weapons safer and easier to use. By contrast, one use that is not common for so-called assault weapons is crime. The SAF is already fighting two legal battles in its home state: one against the ban on so-called high-capacity magazines, and the other challenges the ban on sales of semiautomatic rifles to anyone under the age of 21. The state has put politics ahead of constitutional rights and is penalizing law-abiding citizens while this legislation does nothing to arrest and prosecute criminals who misuse firearms in defiance of all existing gun control laws, Alan Gottlieb, SAFs founder and executive vice president, told The Epoch Times. It is absurd. The National Rifle Association (NRA) has also taken legal action, similarly arguing that most Americans keep semiautomatic weapons for a good reason. Instead of arresting, prosecuting and punishing criminals, Gov. Inslee is focusing on restricting the rights of law-abiding Americans who use these rifles for a variety of lawful purposes, Aoibheann Cline, the head of NRAs legal arm in Washington state, said in a statement. In a complaint filed on Tuesday, the NRA argued that the Washington law defines assault weapon in such an extremely broad way that it applies to all of the most popular models possessed by millions of Americans for lawful purposes. The Supreme Court has made clear that when a court confronts a flat ban on a type of arm, the only question is whether the arm at issue is typically possessed by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes,' the complaint read, pointing to a 2008 Supreme Court decision. If the answer is yes, then the ban is unconstitutional because a state cannot prohibit ordinary law-abiding Americans from possessing what the Constitution explicitly entitles them to keep.' The state-wide ban went into effect when signed by Inslee, who was elected to a third term in 2020 running on a platform against white nationalist gun violence. The ban also came shortly after Inslee signed into law a bill abolishing the death penalty, which he claimed to be racially biased. I initiated a moratorium against the death penalty in Washington state in 2014, and our rationale for that decision was affirmed by our [state] Supreme Court decision in 2018 when they invalidated the death penalty statute, Inslee said on April 20 at a signing ceremony. They made clear, and we know this to be true, that the penalty has been applied unequally and in a racially insensitive manner. Why Are so Many Young Americans Dying? Commentary As a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows young Americans are dying at an alarming rate. The researchers, all medical doctors, found that, between 2020 and 2022, the mortality rate for Americans aged between 1 and 19 shot up by almost 20 percent. As the study emphasizes, COVID-19 cant be blamed for the sharp spike. It simply poured fuel on an already existing fire. Likely contributors, according to the paper, include ease of access to firearms and a mental health crisis among children and adolescents that appears to be getting much worse. Another reason cited involves the increased use of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin. Overdose death rates for individuals between the ages of 10 and 19, note the authors, began increasing shortly before the pandemic began. The paper paints an incredibly dark picture of adolescence in America. In recent years, injury mortality at ages 10 to 19 has risen by 22.6 percent. Much of this surge can be attributed to an increase in homicides and overdoses. Worryingly, transport-related deaths for 10 to 19-year-olds, which had decreased for decades due to improved vehicle safety measures and greater use of occupant restraints, have also increased. One of the authors of the study, Dr. Frederick P. Rivara, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington, told me that he and his colleagues find the increase in all-cause mortality particularly disturbing, with the continued rise in homicides and suicides being of particular concern. The rise in motor vehicle deaths, said Rivara, is probably related to cell phone use and distracted driving. I asked him why so many young Americans are dying. It is not totally clear, he said, but, he added, One of the big changes over the last decade is the pervasive use and influence of social media on kids. There is also the continued increase in gun sales, which means more guns are available in homes. I asked Rivara if he and his colleagues considered sleep deprivation to be a major contributor to the crisis. I dont know if anyone has looked at that association, he responded. I have. Sleepwalking Into the Abyss A staggering 35 percent of Americans are now sleep deprived, meaning they get 7 hours or less of quality rest each night. For the uninitiated, being sleep deprived is not the same as feeling tired. The latter means you are in need of a rest; the former involves complete fatigue and exhaustion, both mentally and physically. In the United States, sleep deprivation has been on the rise for the best part of 30 years. The internet has played a huge role in affecting both the quantity and quality of our sleep. This is especially true for teens, many of whom are victims of a sleep deprivation epidemic, according to Lisa L. Lewis, the author of The Sleep-Deprived Teen: Why Our Teenagers Are So Tired, and How Parents and Schools Can Help Them Thrive, Lack of sleep in teens is directly associated with emotional dysregulation and poorer impulse control, as well as riskier decision-making. Moreover, depressive symptoms are more common in young people who are sleep deprived. Poor sleep quality is also strongly associated with increased suicidal ideation. Over the past decade, teen suicides have jumped by a staggering 29 percent. The link between road fatalities and sleep deprivation is also particularly strong. Youre no doubt familiar with the scourge of drunk and drugged driving, but drowsy driving is also a real public health issue. Research clearly shows that drivers who get between 6 and 7 hours of sleep are at 1.3 times greater risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident; those who get between 5 and 6 hours, meanwhile, are almost twice as likely to be injured than those who get between 7 and 8 hours. The average American gets considerably less than seven hours of sleep per night. Worryingly, teenagers, with their rapidly developing minds and bodies, require anywhere between 8 and 10 hours per night. Last year, Laurent Begue, a psychologist at the Universite Grenoble Alpes in France, and his colleagues published a compelling paper clearly demonstrating the many ways in which sleep deprivation ruins a persons life. The researchers discussed the effects of poor sleep quality on anger issues among adolescents. Sleep deprivation, they noted, could be related to hostility and aggression because it induces more negative interpretations of other peoples behavior than is really the case. In other words, when were sleep deprived, the ability to perceive and process information in a rational manner becomes compromised. This compromise clouds judgment and can result in ill-advised responses. People who lack enough sleep are more likely to catastrophize and falsely assign blame to innocent individuals. The researchers also stressed the fact that sleep deprivation dramatically weakens impulse control. This in turn impacts cognitive, response-control processes and complex decision-making performance. Lack of impulse control is strongly correlated with increased drug use, internet addiction, interpersonal violence, reckless driving, and suicidal tendencies. As is clear to see, when asking why so many young Americans are dying, we cant have an honest discussion without acknowledging the significant role sleep deprivation plays in this ever-worsening crisis. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Woman Killed, Daughter Injured in Crash Near Los Angeles Elementary School LOS ANGELESA woman in her 30s was killed and a roughly 6-year-old girl believed to be her daughter was critically injured April 25 when they were struck by a possibly impaired driver while walking near Hancock Park Elementary School in the mid-Wilshire area. The crash was reported at about 8 a.m. near Fairfax and Colgate avenues, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Police said the woman and girl were walking in a crosswalk in the 6200 block of West Colgate Avenue and they were struck by the southbound pickup, which then continued south and crashed into an apartment building. The adult female was sadly found to be deceased on scene, according to a Los Angeles Fire Department statement. The young girl was transported in critical condition. The motorist, a man about 30, was taken to a hospital in moderate condition, the fire department reported. He was detained at the hospital pending further investigation. The cause of the crash was under investigation, but Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore told the city Police Commission Tuesday morning there are early signs that the man was impaired. That is a contributing factor to this horrific collision that resulted in the loss of this mother, and the critical injuries to this young child, Moore said. Police said speed was also believed to have contributed to the crash. Investigators said they were interviewing witnesses and searching for any possible video that may have captured the crash. Police said the young girl who was struck is a first-grade student at Hancock Park Elementary. Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent Alberto Carvalho issued a statement lamenting the fatal crash. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who was involved in or witnessed the horrific traffic accident near Hancock Park Elementary School this morning, he said. We send our sincerest condolences to the entire school community and have mental health counselors available on-site for students and employees. LAUSD Board of Education member Nick Melvoin added in a statement, Our hearts are broken over the death of a Hancock Park Elementary parent in a brazen traffic accident this morningand our prayers are with her daughter who remains in the hospital. We are sending support to the school and will continue to ensure mental health and counseling services are available to anyone in need. Los Angeles City Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, who represents the area where the crash occurred, wrote on her Twitter page there are no words to convey how horrifying this act of traffic violence is. Like tens of thousands of other parents in Los Angeles, I also walked my child to school today, she said. It can be a terrifying experience, knowing that distracted drivers are traveling far above speed limits just feet from where our children walk. Yaroslavsky said she will be supporting a motion before the councils Transportation Committee this week calling for the installation of speed bumps around every elementary school in the city. We need to address street safety in Los Angeles as the crisis that it is, she wrote. That starts with ensuring that Hancock Park Elementary has a crossing guard at the intersection where the accident occurred. Police reminded motorists that if they become involved in a collision, they should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene to identify themselves. After escaping from the prison that is North Korea, Yeonmi Park settled in America. She found that those most blessed in the land of the free were most scarred by hatred, fear, and collective guilt. Is her adopted land becoming like her birthplace? Not if William Shipley can help it. He defends American prisoners of conscience who have already paid a steep price in the fight for freedom. *Follow Over The Target on social media! Twitter | Truth Social | Gettr | Facebook In this special two-part episode of Over the Target, Lee Smith speaks with author eonmi Park and lawyer William Shipley about the freedom Americans must fight for. Adi Shankaracharya informed about significance of divine power Staff Reporter Adi Shankaracharya played a key role in social bonding of spiritual beauty and bringing solidarity in the world. Adi Jagadguru Shankaracharya informed the world about significance of divine power in existence of life on earth. He also gave message of Sadhna for life and termed death as Moksha in Sanatan Dharma. Sanatan Dharma is being acclaimed throughout the world, said Swami Akhileshwarahand Guri while addressing a symposium organized on the occasion of Adi Jagatguru Shankaracharya Jayanti, on Tuesday. The symposium was organised under the auspices of Jan Abhiyan Parishad at Samrasta Seva Sangathan at Shri Jankiraman College auditorium. Swami Akhileshwaranand Giri detailed about the life of Adi Shankaracharya who reached Omkareshwar in search for his Guru and created Ma Narmadashtak. He inculcated Vedas in the age of 8 years and delivered religious discourses at the age of 16 and spent rest 16 years of life for Tapasya in Himalaya. In his short span life of 32-years, Adi Shankaracharya introduced life science around the world. Besides this, Dr Sandhya Jain Shruti, expressed her views on Adi Shankaracharya and informed about the ancient science of India which was more advanced than present scenario. Samrasta Seva Sangathan, President, Sandeep Jain informed about the significance of symposium and informed that social integrity awareness exists in the country since ancient times but some persons distributed the society in prevailing circumstances. Now, the country is inclined towards its peak sovereignty and there is a need of develop social integrity. Shri Jankiraman College, Principal, Abhijat Krishna Tripathi presided over while Secretary, Ujjawal Pachori convened the programme. Keralaganam song rendered for opening PM Modis event THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AN OVER eight-decade-old Malayalam patriotic song, which had been declared as the cultural song of Kerala by the State Government, was sung as the opening song during the programme attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Tuesday. This is perhaps for the first time that Keralaganam, penned by freedom fighter-poet Bodheswaran in 1938, was rendered as the opening song in a major event, attended by a VVIP, despite the State Government directive in this regard last year. A group of singers recited the insightful poem in their mellifluous voice marking the beginning of the function at the Central Stadium, where the PM launched several major projects, including the launch of Vande Bharat express train. The 25-line poem beginning with Jaya Jaya Komala Kerala Dharani was declared as the cultural song of Kerala in 2014 but was usually never sung at any cultural events. Norwegians willing to join hands with Vid entrepreneurs Business Bureau Consul General of Norway in Mumbai Arne Jan Flolo on Tuesday said that investors in his country are looking forward to join hands with entrepreneurs of the region. During his visit to the Vidarbha Industries Association (VIA), he said there are possible opportunities in sectors like renewable energy, waste water management and other areas. Arne Jan Flolo was expressing his views in an interaction meeting with the industrialists and VIA members held at Civil Lines. He said that innovation, technology advancement, waste management and renewable energy are the strengths of Norway. It is important to note that it was his second visit to Nagpur. He took feedback from entrepreneurs who are working in different sectors to understand the potential available in the city. During the discussions, he stressed that the waste management and renewable energy sectors were shortlisted for potential collaborations. Tone Helena, Deputy Consul General of Norway, Mumbai, highlighted the emerging technologies and hydrogen manufacturing potential in India. We are also focusing more on this region on the problem of agri-waste, which is being burnt in the open which can be converted into biogas, she added. Rahul Maheshwari, Advisor of Business Promotion of Norwegian Consulate General, Mumbai invited industrialists from Nagpur for B2B, C2C meetings. Girdhari Mantri, Chairman of VIA CSR Forum, spoke on the new Government laws and acts formulated for circular economy and waste management. Earlier, Pratik Tapadia, Joint Secretary VIA, made an opening remark. Gaurav Sarda, Vice President VIA, in his welcome address introduced the representatives from various sectors and highlighted the opportunities for possible collaborations with Norway industries. Vaibhav Agrawal welcomed Arne Jan Flolo; CA Nitin Agrawal welcomed Tone Helena and Paramveer Sancheti welcomed Rahul Maheshwari with floral bouquets. Dushyant Pathak proposed a formal vote of thanks. Prominently present were Saket Suri, Director of All India Renewable Energy Association, Paramveer Sancheti from SMS Group, Kaushal Mohta, Truform; Sushil Bansal from Novasys Greenergy, Utkarsh Khopkar from Sunenviro, Kanchan Ignle from ECOsystems Technologies, Dr Suresh Pandilwar, Co-Chairman of VIA HRD Forum, Krunal Itankar, Techforce Services, etc. Session was attended by representatives from industries. SON OF INDIA THE immense popularity of journalist-author-activist Mr. Tarek Fatah in India was obviously because of his lifelong mission of showing Pakistan the mirror and asking it to correct its terribly twisted narrative of history and help create harmony in the South Asian neighbourhood. In his passing away at 73 in Canada following a long battle with cancer, thus, marks a moment of sadness that a voice of sanity is gone, and that the rational narrative of correct history has one votary less. For, Mr. Tarek Fatah was a one-man institution that earned a fantastic fan-following across the world because of his courageous stand against the current idea of Pakistan. There may not be many personalities internationally at that height to keep telling that India has been a land of equal opportunity to everybody beyond religion, caste, creed and that carving out of Pakistan is not a practical and good idea. Mr. Tarek Fatah was one of such persons who did not mince words while telling the truth to Pakistan in no uncertain terms. For that display of consistent courage, he suffered in Pakistan decades ago, and felt compelled to move out -- finally to Canada that became his base thereafter. He never went back to Pakistan, no matter the requests to that effect from many of his admirers. Mr. Tarek Fatah called himself a son of India, and kept underlining the importance of being originally an Indian, no matter his birth in Karachi in Pakistan in 1949. He was a Punjabi and a proud one at that, he said of himself. And his biggest grief was that Pakistan rejected its Indian history and linked itself to the history of Middle-Eastern cultures. He also rued the fact that Pakistan made every effort to erase the fact that before its formation, it was a part of India that has an ancient civilisation and a distinctive cultural identity. This mad effort would one day be the very reason for Pakistans destruction, Mr. Fatah often said, joining the few intellectuals with Pakistani background to issue the warning. That Pakistan had no time and inclination to listen to such voices of sanity proved to be its own undoing. No matter the sound rejection by Pakistan, Mr. Tarek Fatah -- and also some others -- did not stop speaking up truth. This explains the tweet his daughter Natasha posted following his death: Lion of Punjab. Son of Hindustan. Lover of Canada. Speaker of truth.Fighter for justice. Voice of the downtrodden, underdogs and the oppressed ... It was obvious -- and quite in tune with Pakistans nature -- that the country he finally quit never respected him. In India, however, he was a peoples darling, often appearing on media shows with a rare candour and stated his view-point without mincing words. Many Muslims asked him pointed questions, raised issues with his stand and often derided him. But Mr. Tarek Fatah never worried about all that. He was certainly a follower and believer of Islam, but did not appreciate the manner in which many Muslims conducted their lives completely out of tune with the positive reality of India. No matter the acrimony on television debates, Mr. Tarek Fatah always remained an unabashed upholder of truth of India. Professionally, he was a journalist-turned author, and wrote books that carried the stamp of his beliefs -- candid and straight-forward. That earned him a truly international fan-following as an intellectual of rare merit. Mr. Tarek Fatahs study of history was of a very high order and he always presented a point of view that made even his detractors sit up and take notice. With his demise, a genuine intellectual whose range of thinking went beyond ideology has been lost to time. A year of crucial importance BY D.C. PATHAK INDIA presently is in the midst of efforts by the Narendra Modi Government to reach a new high in building international relations, maintain domestic peace in the face of a planned attempt of hostile forces within and abroad to push the country towards a serious communal divide and establish once again - in the run-up to the next general election - the image and strength of India as the worlds largest democracy. Indias Presidency of G20, the challenge posed by the rise of minority politics at home and the concerted campaign of opposition parties including the regional entities against the ruling dispensation, all cumulatively add to the need for effective and firm governance in the country in the pre-election year. Prime Minister Modis foreign policy initiatives have enhanced Indias image abroad and have also delivered on trade and economic relations, but the regime seems to be facing an increasing challenge in the area of internal security and stability because of divisive and disruptive politics at home and the organised attempts of anti-India forces within and outside of the country to build a narrative that India was moving towards an authoritarian, majoritarian and non-secular rule. Since the Modi Governments development agenda is in full swing and its schemes for the less privileged have also made an impact, the Opposition was taking to finding fault with the democratic content of the present dispensation at the Centre and alleging misuse of coercive instruments of the state by the regime to selectively run down the leaders of other parties. India however, is used to the wisdom of the crowd asserting itself in all critical situations and there is little doubt that in a national poll, people would make a sound judgement on the integrity of the Modi Government, its political will in safeguarding national security and the sincerity of its efforts to develop the country economically. India has made its G20 Presidency an event with a difference- its motto Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or World is one family setting the note for a global mission that India wished to pursue on this forum. On the initiative of Prime Minister Modi various international conferences in the run-up to the G20 Summit in September are being held at different locations across India to give the visitors a feel of the vastness, cultural richness and development, of this country and to spread the awareness among the people here, of the big strides India was taking to make its presence felt international. Three distinct features of G20 attract attention - the rise of India as a major power in the world with considerable influence on issues of global peace and development, the continuity of the policy of bilateral relations extended to a multilateral format that guaranteed mutually beneficial outcomes for both security and economic advancement and the designing of G20 events in a manner that would promote domestic growth. India is already the leading power in South Asia and the G20 presidency has provided it with an opportunity of gaining the leadership of the South by propounding the cause of the less developed countries across the entire range of issues from economic support to an equal say in environment protection. Nine of the twenty G20 members and as many as seven of the nine invitees represent the South and India has done well to have deliberations on the specific matters of concern affecting them. G20 meetings being held in Arunachal Pradesh and Kashmir convey among other things, Indias assertive answer to China and Pakistan who had been raising a dispute about these territories. The domestic scene in India has for some time been subjected to communal divide, regional centrifugalism and politics of allegations about the style of functioning of the Modi Government. During the Modi regime forces in the Opposition have constantly accused the former of promoting majoritarianism for pushing the country towards Hindu rule and tried to build a narrative- in many cases in conjunction with anti-India lobbies abroad - that the minorities were feeling unprotected under the present Government. The failure of an individual State Government on the law and order front in any case of targeted public violence against individuals was unfairly blamed totally on the Centre - in disregard of the fact that the State was autonomous in handling crime and order in the Constitutional scheme of things. The threat to the internal security and stability of India is aggravated by the propaganda offensive of Pakistan alleging that the Muslim minority here was unsafe under the Modi rule and the attempt of that country to raise this question at the Organisation of Islamic Conference(OIC) on the plea that Muslims of India were part of Ummah to which the entire Muslim world particularly Pakistan stood committed. Pakistan, supported by China, has voiced its opposition to the abrogation of Art 370 by the Indian Parliament, at the United Nations and implicitly projected Kashmir as a Muslim issue. India has taken appropriate measures on diplomatic, political and domestic fronts to counter the narrative floated by the adversaries. In recent years, the communal divide has been exploited by anti-India forces within and outside of the country to foster faith-based militancy to foment terrorism in India and enlarge the ambit of cross-border terrorism in Kashmir as well by injecting a religion-linked motivation. The pro-Pak lobbies in India and abroad have continued to abstain from naming Pakistan for cross-border terrorism in Kashmir and have in fact joined hands in fomenting Muslim separatism by alleging that the Modi Government was deviating from the democratic path, by voicing opposition to the current policy of no talks with Pakistan and by even deprecating the advocacy of nationalism by the present regime. Ever since the Sino-Pak axis has become aggressive against India, external threats to Indias internal security had multiplied- the two hostile neighbours were using their potential to fish in the troubled waters of India. The pre-election year is crucial both for testing the rise of India as a global power and evaluating the Modi Governments success in governance at home. The presidency of G20 and the dynamic framework in which its international conferences had been planned would certainly equip India with unprecedented potential as a world power, make it the fastest growing economy, a tourist destination of repute and an attractive market for investment and would also reaffirm its democratic foundations. Pakistan and China, the two hostile neighbours, would engage in putting down Indias image as a self-supportive, secular and peace-loving democracy. However, the reform-oriented, growth driven and welfare-minded rule of Prime Minister Modi is moving ahead along a nationalist path, undeterred by the distracting narratives built by anti-India forces within the country and outside. Ajit Pawar calls for sensitive handling of protests against Ratnagiri refinery project MUMBAI, AJIT Pawar, Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, on Tuesday demanded that the protests by locals against a refinery project in Ratnagiri district be handled with sensitivity and that the State Government stop the survey work till there is a solution through peaceful means. Doubts should be cleared with the help of experts if the resistance is due to environmental concerns, he said. In a statement, Pawar said suppressing the voice of journalists reporting on protests against the refinery project at Barsu in the district must be stopped. His statement comes amid protests by locals in the coastal district against the soil survey work for the multi-billion dollar refinery project. Everyone has the right to protest in a democracy. The protesters are being arrested. The Government should respect the sentiments of the locals and deal with the issue showing sensitivity, he said in the statement. Pawar said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis should find a solution through dialogue. Till that time, the survey (for the refinery project) should be stopped, Pawar added. Speaking to the reporters in Baramati, he also said, The reasons behind the Opposition (to the project) should be considered. If the opposition is due to environmental concerns, doubts should be cleared with the help of experts, he said. The senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader said when the Enron power project was proposed, a lot of people were opposed to it. The project moved ahead after there was less resistance to it later. Asked about NCPs stand in the refinery matter, Pawar said his party is pro-development but at the same time, the project should not adversely impact the environment. He added that if doubts or issues are raised over compensation, that aspect should also be considered. Ratnagiri district will also house the worlds largest nuclear power park in Jaitapur. This project is also being opposed by the locals. Ex-Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal passes away CHANDIGARH, FIVE-TIME former Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, known for his winsome humility and strong rural roots, died on Tuesday. He was 95. Badal, who had not been keeping well for sometime, was admitted to Mohalis Fortis Hospital over a week ago after he complained of uneasiness in breathing. Badal passed away at around 8 pm, hospital Director Abhijeet Singh told PTI over the phone. The hospital issued a medical bulletin shortly afterwards in which it said, Despite appropriate medical management S Parkash Singh Badal succumbed to his illness. Fortis Hospital Mohali deeply condoles the death of S Parkash Singh Badal. During his long political career, Badal served the State as Chief Minister for five times -- 1970-71, 1977-80, 1997-2002, 2007-12 and 2012-17. At 94, Badal last year became the countrys oldest candidate to fight a State election when he entered the electoral battle for the 13th time but could not save his pocket borough of Lambi in Muktsar district, only second defeat in a political career spanning more than seven decades. During the 2022 State polls, the SAD patriarch had said he wanted to serve people till his last breath. Hospitalisation remains low despite COVID surge in city Staff Reporter The hospitalisation rate due to COVID-19 remains low in the State capital despite a recent spurt in cases. Of the 120 active COVID-19 cases in Bhopal, only one patient with co-morbidities was hospitalised, the chief medical health officer (CMHO) Dr Prabhakar Tiwari said. Dr Tiwari further said that hospitalisation remains low despite the rise in active cases. It has been observed that patients who are hospitalised are already in compromised with another co-morbid condition. Admission due to COVID-19 is insignificant. However, COVID-19 appropriate behaviour is advised for all. People with chronic bronchitis, cystic lung disease or those who are immuno compromised, continue to be at risk. The status of COVID-19 patients, who are hospitalised, is said to be stable. So far, Bhopal has reported one COVID-19 death this year. The patient, in her early 80s, was already hospitalised and undergoing treatment for cancer, when she was tested positive for the infection. On Monday, 13 new cases were diagnosed in Bhopal. As many as 15 people recovered from the infection. There are 364 active cases in Madhya Pradesh, 120 of them are in Bhopal. Health officials when contacted, did not comment on vaccine availability. The State has run out of COVID-19 vaccines for over a month. Private hospitals are not inclined to offer paid vaccination for COVID-19. Health Department is marking world immunisation week, which began on Monday. It is focused on inoculation of vaccine for preventable diseases. Around 75% of eligible children in the state are estimated to be not vaccinated against COVID-19. IMDs orange alert in Vidarbha for Apr 26 Staff Reporter Nagpur once again witnessed rains with hail in many parts. The hailstones reportedly caused damage to some vehicles, which made it risky and difficult for commuters. Dark clouds around 4 pm was immediately followed by rain with thunderstorm. Hailstones were witnessed in Manewada, Nandanvan, Narendra Nagar, Dighori and a few other areas during thundershowers. Due to thunderstorm, uprooting of trees was reported in some parts of the city and power supply also got disrupted in some areas. Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued an orange alert on April 25, predicting the possibility of light and moderate rains along with gales, lightning and hail at some places. There is a chance of rain again between April 26 and 28 and yellow alert has been announced for the city. On Tuesday, the weather department issued a fresh orange alert for entire Vidarbha on April 26. The warning stated, Thunderstorm with lightning and gusty winds (speed 40-50 kmph) likely to occur at isolated places over Akola, Buldana, Gadchiroli, Washim, Amravati, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gondia, Nagpur, Wardha, and Yavatmal. It also mentioned that hail was likely at isolated places over Akola, Amravati, Buldhana, Gadchiroli, Washim, and Yavatmal districts of Vidarbha on April 26. On April 20, Nagpur witnessed heavy rains with gusty winds and hail that uprooted many trees in all over the city. Due to the rains, one person was also killed due to collapse of a compound wall in Byramji Town area. Keeping the previous rains in mind, the civic body issued toll free number of its Fire and Emergency Services to avoid any incident during rains and thunderstorm. PANAMA CITY, INDIA is exploring the possibility of opening a logistics hub for Indian companies in Panama, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, asserting that the countrys trade with Latin America is growing and nearing USD 50 billion. The Minister arrived in Panama on Monday from Guyana. He called on President Nito Cortizo and conveyed the personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to him. His strong resonance with PM Modis Panch Prann reflects the strength of our Global South bonds and shared outlook for the world. Valued his guidance for advancing our bilateral and multilateral partnership, Jaishankar tweeted. Cortizo said, during their meeting, they talked about the will to make an alliance with the Indian pharmaceutical industry to achieve quality, effective and cheaper medicines for Panamanians. We address the commercial exchange between Panama and India and the advantages that our country offers for the establishment of more companies; also about the opportunities for cooperation, and our interest in developing a centre of technological excellence and innovation, he tweeted. Jaishankar also met his counterpart Janaina Tewaney Mencomo and discussed ways to strengthen the bilateral relationship. This photo taken on April 19, 2023 shows the excavated parts of the Church of St. Polyeuctus in the Sarachane Archaeological Park in Istanbul, Turkiye. Located in Istanbul's historic quarter, the remains of a Byzantine church sit in a lot where residents dumped their trash and homeless people slept until recently. But now, a new archaeology park is being built with the goal of reinvigorating the Church of St. Polyeuctus, which had vanished beneath urban sprawl nearly a millennium ago.(Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua) ISTANBUL, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Located in Istanbul's historic quarter, the remains of a Byzantine church sit in a lot where residents dumped their trash and homeless people slept until recently. But now, a new archaeology park is being built with the goal of reinvigorating the Church of St. Polyeuctus, which had vanished beneath urban sprawl nearly a millennium ago. "It had become a dump," Merve Gedik, project director at Istanbul Municipality's Cultural Heritage Department, told Xinhua, referring to the condition of the church in the Sarachane neighborhood of the Fatih district. "We kept cleaning it, but it kept reverting to a dump because the people were not aware of what it was." The remains of the church were initially discovered during the construction of an underpass in the 1960s. From 1964 to 1968, an international team of archaeologists excavated the site. Then, the city forgot about it. In June last year, the municipality began excavating the site once again, and this time with a plan to give it a new life. "We used to think we can preserve a place by fencing it off, denying people's entry," says Gedik, "but it is not like that until people start using a place and they start protecting it. When they enter it, they understand what it is, and when they visit it, it becomes a part of their everyday life." And thus, the Sarachane Archaeological Park was born. "Our goal here is to show that urban archaeology, and even the excavation itself, can be visited," she added, "and to cultivate in both visitors and residents a sense of the city's archaeology, a sense of the city's richness, and to create new points of interest in the city." Many ancient landmarks often disappeared as the urban landscape grew. The history of St. Polyeuctus is an excellent example of a once-grand building that was lost to time. Constructed between 524-527 A.D. to house the skull of early Christian martyr Saint Polyeuctus, its reign as the largest church in Istanbul was short-lived, overtaken by the reconstruction of the Hagia Sophia in 537 A.D. The church remained important until the late 11th century when it was ultimately abandoned, its many treasures stripped and used in other structures around the city. The final nail on the coffin came in 1204 with the Latin conquest of the town, when its last remaining artifacts were pillaged and taken to Venice and Barcelona. "The worst thing that can happen to a building is it being abandoned," says Gedik, "As it disappears from daily life, the decay advances, and the destruction continues. That's why we haven't been able to uncover all sections (of the church), unfortunately. Just being able to unearth the outer walls enough to reveal the basilica's structural plan is fortunate as it is." One recent discovery at the site was the remains of a cloister in early April, which formerly housed mosaics and mounted gemstones. "We know the church used to be very ornate," she pointed out, "A Sassanid (Persian) decorative style was popular at the time." The final preparations for the archaeology park are underway. The excavation house has been revamped into a place where people can enjoy beverages while perusing archaeological documents, books, and other resources. A laboratory space where conservation work will take place is almost ready, and soon signs directing people will go up. While people can make an appointment for a tour of the church now, the park is expected to be fully open to the public in June. And St. Polyeuctus will soon be able to rejoin its old city. This photo taken on April 19, 2023 shows the remains found at the excavation site of the Church of St. Polyeuctus in the Sarachane Archaeological Park in Istanbul, Turkiye. Located in Istanbul's historic quarter, the remains of a Byzantine church sit in a lot where residents dumped their trash and homeless people slept until recently. But now, a new archaeology park is being built with the goal of reinvigorating the Church of St. Polyeuctus, which had vanished beneath urban sprawl nearly a millennium ago.(Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua) This photo taken on April 19, 2023 shows the remains of the Church of St. Polyeuctus in the Sarachane Archaeological Park in Istanbul, Turkiye. Located in Istanbul's historic quarter, the remains of a Byzantine church sit in a lot where residents dumped their trash and homeless people slept until recently. But now, a new archaeology park is being built with the goal of reinvigorating the Church of St. Polyeuctus, which had vanished beneath urban sprawl nearly a millennium ago. (Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua) This photo taken on April 19, 2023 shows the remains of the Church of St. Polyeuctus in the Sarachane Archaeological Park in Istanbul, Turkiye. Located in Istanbul's historic quarter, the remains of a Byzantine church sit in a lot where residents dumped their trash and homeless people slept until recently. But now, a new archaeology park is being built with the goal of reinvigorating the Church of St. Polyeuctus, which had vanished beneath urban sprawl nearly a millennium ago.(Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua) This photo taken on April 19, 2023 shows the remains of the Church of St. Polyeuctus against the backdrop of the urban landscape of the Sarachane neighborhood in Istanbul, Turkiye. Located in Istanbul's historic quarter, the remains of a Byzantine church sit in a lot where residents dumped their trash and homeless people slept until recently. But now, a new archaeology park is being built with the goal of reinvigorating the Church of St. Polyeuctus, which had vanished beneath urban sprawl nearly a millennium ago.(Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua) This photo taken on April 19, 2023 shows the remains of the Church of St. Polyeuctus in the Sarachane Archaeological Park in Istanbul, Turkiye. Located in Istanbul's historic quarter, the remains of a Byzantine church sit in a lot where residents dumped their trash and homeless people slept until recently. But now, a new archaeology park is being built with the goal of reinvigorating the Church of St. Polyeuctus, which had vanished beneath urban sprawl nearly a millennium ago.(Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua) Workers work at an excavation site of the Church of St. Polyeuctus in the Sarachane Archaeological Park, Istanbul, Turkiye, April 19, 2023. Located in Istanbul's historic quarter, the remains of a Byzantine church sit in a lot where residents dumped their trash and homeless people slept until recently. But now, a new archaeology park is being built with the goal of reinvigorating the Church of St. Polyeuctus, which had vanished beneath urban sprawl nearly a millennium ago.(Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua) JMC leaving no stone unturned to develop city, help needy, destitute Staff Reporter Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (JMC) is doing a number of innovations under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan 2023 and changing picture of the city. Senior officials and employees of JMC have been toiling hard to add to the beauty of the city through attractive paintings under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner, Swapnil Wankhade. Likewise, the civic body is also carrying out a number of works on the theme of 3 R i.e. Re-use, Re-deduce and Re-cycle. It has developed wall of joy, bag bank, utensil ban, food bank, book bank, best from waste. Innovative works are proving beneficial for needy. Under 3-R theme, JMC is setting a record of keeping the city clean and beautiful by using all the useless things and objects. Information about the same, Health Officer Bhupendra Singh and Executive Engineer Shailendra Mishra said as per the instructions of Municipal Commissioner Swapnil Wankhade, JMC is leaving no stone unturned to develop and beautify the city on the theme of 3 R. On-going works have started bearing fruits as the beauty of the city has started improving. Kedarnath shrine opens for devotees KEDARNATH : THE portals of Kedarnath shrine opened after a winter break on Tuesday morning, with thousands of pilgrims braving subzero temperatures in the snowcovered town to offer prayers at the Himalayan temple. Temple chief priest Rawal Bhima Shankar Ling openedthe gates of the temple amid rituals and chanting of shlokas. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who offered prayers at the temple, said, The firstpuja was done on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi under whose leadership a grand Kedarpuri has been built. Due to bad weather, the journey to Kedarnath is a little difficult and challenging at present but it will become smooth in a few days as the weather improves, he toldreportershere. However, the Chief Minister advised pilgrims en route to the temple to proceed only after updating themselves about the weather so that they do not face any problem. The State Government is working consistently to improve the facilities in Kedarnath and make the pilgrimagesaferandeasierfordevotees. It will soon be linked with a ropeway whose foundation stone was laid by the Prime Minister last year, he said. BJP MLA from Kedarnath, ShailaraniRawatandBadrinathKedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) chairman Ajendra Ajay accompaniedthe ChiefMinister to the shrine. The pilgrims were showeredwithflowerpetalsfrom a helicopter on the occasion. Thousandsofpilgrimsoffered prayers at thetempleas itsdoors were opened after the winter break, the BKTC chairman said. Kedarnath town and its surroundings are covered under a blanket of snow following intermittent snowfall in the area. Luxury branded garments sale at Chitnavis Centre Business Bureau An international export chain of luxury branded readymade garments has organised its sale at Chitnavis Centre, Civil Lines, near Hislop College, Nagpur to sell the high quality branded readymade garments at unbelievably low prices. The entire stock is offered with upto 90 per cent discount for this wedding season. From inception the sale is getting overwhelming response from the Nagpurians. The company is selling all the stock at the cost of stitching for the people to buy these luxury brands at affordable costs. The sale is displaying new collections for festive and wedding season in readymades for the entire family. The sale is offering more than 40,000 pieces of readymade garments to choose from leading brands. The range of mens wear is from Rs 150 to Rs 1, 395, ladies wear range Rs 100 to Rs 995, kids wear from Rs 150 to Rs 795 only. The collection in the sale is truly mesmerising. Branded jeans, blazers, shorts, ladies kurties, western wear for entire family is the major attraction of the sale. The wide range of branded shirts, trousers, jeans and kurties are attracting huge number of customers. The readymade garments for mens, ladies and kids carry the latest styles and fashion wears with a value for money buying experience. Eye catching collection of mens and kids are being sold with the lowest ever price tags and proving to be major attraction on shelves of the sale. The sale is open from 10 am to 10 pm. Free entry and parking is available at the venue. MPs political temperature rises due to Karnataka Assembly polls By Bhavana Aparajita Shukla Making scathing attack on Congress over supporting PFI like outfit, BJP State chief V D Sharma, who is on campaign in Karnataka, accuses Congress leaders for raising voices in favour of terrorism and hails Prime Minister Narendra Modis effective stance to deal with the problem of radical outfits in the country. He said that Congress leader D K Shivkumars statement that they (Congress) will be bringing the Popular Front of India (PFI) back shows their pro-terrorism mindset. It clearly indicates their stance towards organisations like PFI which has been banned. He further alleged that it directly or indirectly supports terrorism. Supporting reservation on a religious basis highlights their act of vote bank politics. Sharma is in Karnataka to campaign for elections. Earlier in the day, addressing a public meeting he launched a series of attacks on Congress on the issue of terrorism, saying the Congress, which raised questions on the surgical strike, considers terrorism as its vote bank. Sharma asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has been acting toward eliminating the menace of terrorism. He addressed a press conference in Malleshwaram. He said that Now there is no place for terrorism in the country, it has become possible only due to PM Modis leadership. Shrinking Congress base in the country is the result of their leaders' well-wisher attitude for terrorist organisations. Whether it is Rahul Gandhi or Congress leader D K Shivkumar, they never miss a chance to support either terrorism directly or to extremist supporters. Sharma has also visited Shri Adi Shankaracharya temple on the occasion of Shankaracharya birth anniversary. Concept of double engine has gained momentum during the BJPs regime. He did not forget to take on Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Digvijay Singh who is known for his verbal attacks against RSS. Citing home state Madhya Pradeshs reference, Sharma has said Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) network has been uprooted from the soil of Madhya Pradesh and PFI is on radar, action against this banned organisation is at its peak and it is on verge of culmination from the State. Notably, in Karnataka, matters of terrorism are on the foray, as Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumars statement on the Mangaluru cooker blast had stoked the debate on terrorism during the Assembly session. MPSLSA organises special health camp at Central Jail Staff Reporter Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (MPSLSA) on Tuesday organised a special health check-up camp at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Central Jail. Justice Vivek Agarwal, Chairman, High Court Legal Services Committee, inaugurated the camp under the guidance of Justice Ravi Malimath, Chief Justice, Madhya Pradesh High Court and Justice Sheel Nagu, Administrative Judge and Executive Chairman MPSLSA. Other Central Jails, including Bhopal, Satna, Rewa, Narmadapuram, Sagar and Narsinghpur, which come under the jurisdiction of Madhya Pradesh High Court Principal Bench Jabalpur participated in the inauguration programme through video conferencing. During the camp, medical experts from Medical College and Hospital and District Hospital examined the Jail inmates. Besides, legal aid and advice were provided to about 66 prisoners in Central Jail Jabalpur. A team of 22 doctors conducted health check up of total 453 prisoners includes 384 men, 69 women and 4 others including Children. As many as 37 prisoners were suffering from HIV, 3 from cancer and 10 Tuberculosis. During the camp, the guests expressed that the skill development training program which is to be conducted in the Central Jail Jabalpur for the prisoners will be helpful in getting them employment according to their skills after their release from jail. Later, Justice Vivek Agarwal inspected the Jail premises. He visited the kitchen and tested the quality of food prepared for the prisoners. Later, a legal aid camp was also organized in the Central Jail, in which the prisoners were provided with necessary legal aid and advice. For keeping the prisoners informed about the status of their cases duties of panel advocates was also made. Those also present on the occasion Member Secretary MPSLSA Rajeev Karmahe, Principal District Judge Alok Awasthi, Mohit Dewan, Manoj Kumar Singh, CMHO Ratnesh Kuraria, Deputy Jail Superintendent Madan Kamlesh, Dr. Lakshman Shah and others. PM flags off Vande Bharat Express, Kochi Water Metro in Kerala THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flagged off Keralas first Vande Bharat Express and dedicated to the nation various developmental projects, including the Kochi Water Metro, and said as States develop, the country will develop faster. The PM laid foundation stone and dedicated projects worth more than Rs 3,200 crores at the Central Stadium here. He said the Central Government lays emphasis on cooperative federalism and believes that if the States develop, it will help in the development of the country. The Central Government lays emphasis on cooperative federalism. It believes that development of the States is the key to the development of the nation. So if Kerala develops, only then will India develop faster, Modi said. On a two-day visit of the southern State starting on Monday, the PM earlier today flagged off the States maiden Vande Bharat Express service, which will connect the State capital with Kasaragod, Keralas northernmost district. Addressing a massive crowd at the stadium, Modi -- dressed in a traditional Kerala attire of kasavu mundu, shawl and kurta -- said Keralites were literate, hardworking, capable, intellectual and aware about the economic situations in the countries across the world. Despite global headwinds, India has been globally seen as the Vibrant Spot of Development, Modi said. The PM added there were several reasons behind the worlds belief in India and these were a decisive Government at the Centre, unparalleled investments in the infrastructure development by it, investments for reaping demographic dividend, skilling of youth and the Central Governments commitment to Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business. He said one of the reasons for the growing stature of the country was the outreach efforts of the Central Government and it has benefited the Keralites living abroad. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw echoed similar views when said at the event that prior to 2014 the southern state got only Rs 370 crore for railway development, whereas this year the allocation stood at Rs 2,033 crore. Both the PM and Vaishnaw highlighted the work being carried out to enhance the speed of trains, like Vande Bharat Express, on the tracks in the State. Modi further said that not just physical connectivity but digital connectivity too was a priority for the country. Projects like Digital Science Park in Thiruvananthapuram will give a fillip to Digital India, he said and highlighted the global appreciation for Indias digital system. The PM said investments made towards connectivity not only expand the scope of services but also reduce the distance between various cultures without discriminating between caste and creed or the rich and poor. The spring season for wild turkey hunting in Connecticut begins on April 26, according to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The season runs for just over 4 weeks until May 27. This season is among the three during which hunters are permitted to pursue wild turkeys, with the other two being fall archery and fall firearm seasons. In the spring, archery and firearm are combined into one season, with the same dates and bag limits (the number of turkeys a hunter can get in one season). However, in the fall, archery and firearms are separate seasons with their own bag limits and time frames. Spring turkey hunting season has a bag limit of five birds total, and people may only hunt from just before sunrise until sunset. Connecticut residents who wish to hunt turkeys require a Firearms Hunting License or have both a Small Game and Deer Archery Permit and a Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp. Non-residents must have one of the following: a three-day out-of-state Bird Hunting License, a Non-Resident Firearms Hunting License, or both a Non-Resident Small Game and Deer Archery Permit and a Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp. Landowners who ow 10 or more contiguous acres must have a Free Landowner Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp to hunt wild turkey on their property. If they also wish to hunt on other private land or state land, they must purchase the Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp as well. All permits and stamps can be purchased online from Connecticut's Outdoor Licensing System. Education Images/Education Images/Universal Image Additionally, the list of permitted firearms and bows can be found on DEEP's website. Using bait, electronic calling devices, live decoys or animals (including dogs) to hunt turkeys is prohibited. Dogs may only be used to hunt turkeys during the fall firearms season and on private lands. Hunters may not shoot turkeys from a building or other permanent structure nor can they shoot turkeys that are roosting in trees. All hunters must immediately complete and sign a Harvest Tag for any turkeys they catch. Harvest Tags for 2023 are posted on DEEP's website, and reports can be made online or by calling the department. All reports must be made within 24 hours of acquiring a turkey or hunters will be in violation of state regulations and may be prosecuted. DEEP has also posted an interactive hunting area map that details a list of public hunting spots in the Nutmeg State. The agency stresses safety is to be of the utmost important to hunters, and offers a check list precautions as well as encourages residents to take the Advanced Hunter Education classes as offered by the Wildlife Division's Conservation Education/Fire Arms Safety Program. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PHOENIX (AP) A rural Arizona county where leaders have embraced voting machine conspiracies on Tuesday hired an elections director who has promoted the false claims that voter fraud cost former President Donald Trump reelection in 2020. The two Republicans on the three-member Cochise County Board of Supervisors voted to hire Bob Bartelsmeyer, who shared memes on his personal Facebook page supporting Trump's claims of fraud and promoting the lie that Dominion voting machines manipulated the outcome. Fox News last week agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems nearly $800 million to settle a defamation case, after the network repeatedly aired the bogus voting machine claims after the 2020 election. The hiring of Bartelsmeyer is the latest controversial decision by the conservative majority in the southeastern Arizona county of 125,000 people, which voted for Trump over Joe Biden in 2020 by nearly 20 percentage points. The two Republicans on the board, Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd, tried to have the ballots hand-counted in last year's midterm election, which a judge said was illegal. They then refused to certify the election results, forcing a judge to step in again. Bartelsmeyer, who was previously the elections director in a smaller Arizona county, replaces Lisa Marra, a respected elections director before she recently resigned from the nonpartisan position after five years. Marra had refused to conduct the hand count because it was illegal. After Marra quit, the Republicans on the board voted to give her duties to Recorder David Stevens, an elected Republican, prompting a lawsuit from the attorney general. Stevens said Bartelsmeyer was the only person among three applicants with experience running elections. Arizona, a presidential swing state where 11 electoral votes and a U.S. Senate seat could be decided by a fraction of a percentage point, has been at the center of election conspiracies since 2020. Trump and his allies focused many of their efforts to overturn his loss on Arizona. A partisan ballot review on behalf of legislative Republicans the next year confirmed Bidens victory but raised other baseless claims of irregularities. Meanwhile, Republican Kari Lake is continuing to fight her loss in last years race for governor in the court system. Bartelsmeyer has served for the past year as the elections director and deputy clerk in La Paz County on Arizona's western border. The job is preceded by an unexplained 12-year gap on his resume. Before that, his resume shows he bounced between elections jobs in Arizona, New Mexico and Florida, and was the elected clerk in Lawrence County, Missouri, for 23 years. He posted prolifically on his Facebook page about conspiracies in the months after Trump's loss, sharing memes and writeups of his lawyers' longshot legal claims. Some were marked as misleading by Facebook. Please join me by posting: Trump legally won by a landslide, said one post he shared on Dec. 20, 2020. We must demand election integrity and transparency in the 2020 election for America to survive as a democracy and for the America we know and love!! Bartelsmeyer wrote on Dec. 6, 2020. He said he was not working in elections at the time. As a private citizen between 2016 and 2021, I am at the liberty to express my opinion, he told the board. Biden's win has been affirmed in multiple reviews, recounts and audits in the battleground states where Trump contested his loss, and the fraud claims made by Trump and his allies have been rejected by members of his own administration, his former attorney general and through dozens of court cases, including those overseen by judges he appointed. There has been no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Bartelsmeyer defended his qualifications, citing three decades of experience working in elections and saying he wants transparency and integrity. He said he supports using machines to count votes but wants confirmation that they're accurate. I'm not against machines, Bartelsmeyer said. I am for machines. I think they are 99.9% accurate. But I do want a hand count to compare to the machine count to make sure that all is correct. Ann English, the boards lone Democrat, said she didnt know about plans to hire Bartelsmeyer until the decision showed up on the meeting agenda. She asked Stevens if he thought the Facebook posts were concerning and whether it was a red flag that Bartelsmeyers application requested that several of his prior employers not be contacted. Meanwhile, spurred by the county's recent elections moves, critics from Crosby's district are collecting signatures in hopes of forcing a recall vote against him. The county's plans to hire Bartelsmeyer and his online posts were first reported by Votebeat. A half dozen Cochise County residents urged the board not to hire Bartelsmeyer. Vote no on hiring this election denying nut job, Jeff Sturges of Sierra Vista, the county's largest city, urged the board before Bartelsmeyer was approved. When someone violates the rules, they should know what to expect. That goes for those who break the law, as well as for those who are assigned to uphold it. But three years into Connecticuts police accountability law, the lines remain blurry. The law has been under fire in some quarters ever since it was first suggested in 2020. Three years is enough time for its detractors to accept its not going away. These same critics, and police themselves, should lead the call for more clarity on how the law functions. An accused officer should expect the same level playing field as any suspect who faces judgment in a courtroom. Some police chiefs say it is still evolving, that it is an infancy stage. They need to help it mature more quickly than it has. State Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, who helped craft the law, has taken the right approach. The goal cant be to target officers and get rid of them, but to have a fair process in place on the occasions when accusations arise. Police are human. Misjudgments will always happen. There must be reliable procedures to address them. A cop who faces decommission has the right to know if their career in law enforcement is over. The public also deserves to understand if it is possible for a decommissioned officer to eventually land at another department. Prior to the law, which arose in the wake of George Floyds death at the hand of police, it was not uncommon for an officer to be released from one department, only to later patrol the streets in another town. Norwalk has been the poster child for the process, as four officers have been decertified in the last three years. A range of accusations led to the officers losing their badges, from drinking alcohol on the job, ignoring calls, forgery or using the job to pick up women. Thanks to social media, the court of public opinion will matter as well, as they remain forever branded by the incidents. Meanwhile, no Connecticut State Police have been decertified since 2019, even though 19 have been arrested. That could change soon, with three troopers now under review. Former Connecticut State Police Sgt. John McDonald has already pleaded guilty in a DUI crash that injured two. He resigned in the face of two internal affairs probes in claims he misused the agencies time management system. Its never been easy to be a cop. The whiplash demands of the job have always required mettle. But the public pays the salaries, and deserves transparency. The process should be clear, which it wasnt when terminated officers were able to get their jobs back through a labor board procedure. Nor should any indiscretion result in an officer immediately being stripped of the badge. What constitutes a violation of the publics trust is going to be better defined as we move forward, said Cheshire Police Chief Neil Dryfe, who is a member of the Post Officer Standards and Training Council, which certifies and decertifies officers. The council neednt look to the future to shape definitions of public trust. The history of law enforcement is deep in each of our towns. And the public knows when trust has been broken. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Japanese companys spacecraft apparently crashed while attempting to land on the moon Wednesday, losing contact moments before touchdown and sending flight controllers scrambling to figure out what happened. More than six hours after communication ceased, the Tokyo company ispace finally confirmed what everyone had suspected, saying there was a high probability that the lander had slammed into the moon. It was a disappointing setback for ispace, which after a 4 1/2-month mission had been on the verge of doing what only three countries have done: successfully land a spacecraft on the moon. Takeshi Hakamada, founder and CEO of ispace, held out hope even after contact was lost as the lander descended the final 33 feet (10 meters). Flight controllers peered at their screens in Tokyo as minutes went by with only silence from the moon. A grim-faced team surrounded Hakamada as he announced that the landing likely failed. Official word finally came in a statement: It has been determined that there is a high probability that the lander eventually made a hard landing on the moons surface." If all had gone well, ispace would have been the first private business to pull off a lunar landing. Hakamada vowed to try again, saying a second moonshot is already in the works for next year. Only three governments have successfully touched down on the moon: Russia, the United States and China. An Israeli nonprofit tried to land on the moon in 2019, but its spacecraft was destroyed on impact. If space is hard, landing is harder, tweeted Laurie Leshin, director of NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory. I know from personal experience how awful this feels. Leshin worked on NASAs Mars Polar lander that crashed on the red planet in 1999. The 7-foot (2.3-meter) Japanese lander carried a mini lunar rover for the United Arab Emirates and a toylike robot from Japan designed to roll around in the moon dust for about 10 days. That was also the expected length of the full mission. Named Hakuto, Japanese for white rabbit, the spacecraft had targeted the Atlas crater in the northeastern section of the moons near side, more than 50 miles (87 kilometers) across and just over 1 mile (2 kilometers) deep. It took a roundabout route to the moon following its December liftoff, beaming back photos of Earth along the way. The lander entered lunar orbit on March 21. Flight controllers ascertained that the lander was upright as it used its thrusters to slow during Wednesdays final approach. Engineers monitoring the fuel gauge noticed that as the tank approached empty, the lander picked up speed as it descended and communication was then lost, according to ispace. Its possible the lander miscalculated its altitude and ran out of fuel before reaching the surface, company officials said at a news conference later in the day. Founded in 2010, ispace hopes to start turning a profit as a one-way taxi service to the moon for other businesses and organizations. The company has already raised $300 million to cover the first three missions, according to Hakamada. We will keep going, never quit lunar quest, he said. For this test flight, the two main experiments were government-sponsored: the UAEs 22-pound (10-kilogram) rover Rashid, named after Dubais royal family, and the Japanese Space Agencys orange-sized sphere designed to transform into a wheeled robot on the moon. The UAE already in orbit around Earth with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station and in orbit around Mars was seeking to extend its presence to the moon. The moon is suddenly hot again, with numerous countries and private companies clamoring to get on the lunar bandwagon. China has successfully landed three spacecraft on the moon since 2013, and U.S., China, India and South Korea have satellites currently circling the moon. NASAs first test flight in its new moonshot program, Artemis, made it to the moon and back late last year, paving the way for four astronauts to follow by the end of next year and two others to actually land on the moon a year after that. Pittsburghs Astrobotic Technology and Houstons Intuitive Machines have lunar landers waiting in the wings, poised to launch later this year at NASAs behest. Hakuto and the Israeli spacecraft named Beresheet were finalists in the Google Lunar X Prize competition requiring a successful landing on the moon by 2018. The $20 million grand prize went unclaimed. ___ 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. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C) speaks at a briefing to UN member states on the special edition of his SDG Progress Report, at the UN headquarters in New York on April 25, 2023. Guterres on Tuesday sounded the alarm on the lack of progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday sounded the alarm on the lack of progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). "Halfway to the deadline for the 2030 Agenda, we are leaving more than half the world behind," Guterres told UN member states in a briefing on the special edition of his SDG Progress Report. "Progress on 50 percent is weak and insufficient. Worst of all, we have stalled or gone into reverse on more than 30 percent of the SDGs." The COVID-19 pandemic and the triple crisis of climate, biodiversity and pollution are having a devastating impact, amplified by the Ukraine crisis, he said. Guterres pointed out that the number of people living in extreme poverty today is higher than it was four years ago, adding that on current trends, only 30 percent of all countries will achieve SDG 1 (no poverty) by 2030. He said that hunger has also increased and is back at the levels in 2005, while gender equality is some 300 years away. At the same time, inequalities are at a record high and are growing, he said. Humanity's war on nature is accelerating as emissions continue to rise and concentrations of carbon dioxide are at their highest level in 2 million years, he said. The extinction risk has increased by 3 percent since 2015 and now more than one species in five is threatened with extinction, Guterres noted. The SDG Progress Report includes five important recommendations. First, it calls on all UN member states to recommit to action to achieve the SDGs at national and international levels between now and 2030, by strengthening the social contract and re-orienting their economies toward low-carbon, resilient pathways aligned with the Paris Agreement. Second, it urges governments to set and deliver on ambitious national benchmarks to reduce poverty and inequality by 2027 and by 2030. Third, it calls for a commitment from all countries to end the war on nature. Fourth, it calls on governments to strengthen national institutions and accountability. Fifth, it calls for greater multilateral support for the UN development system and decisive action at the 2024 Summit of the Future. "The road ahead is steep. Today's report shows us just how steep. But it is one we can and must travel -- together -- for the people we serve," said Guterres. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C) attends a briefing to UN member states on the special edition of his SDG Progress Report, at the UN headquarters in New York on April 25, 2023. Guterres on Tuesday sounded the alarm on the lack of progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Oaxaca Margarita Bar Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Kevin Rader Show More Show Less 3 of 3 EDWARDSVILLE I dont know about you, but I will always think of Pee-Wee Herman dancing on the table in Pee-Wees Big Adventure when I hear the word tequila. I really hope Im not alone in that thought so if you have no idea what Im talking about, stop reading now, YouTube it, then come back! Im sure lots of folks have fuzzy memories of dancing on tables when tequilas involved, actually. The wonderfully floral and naturally sweet alcohol that comes from the blue agave plant in Mexico has gained quite the reputation as being a crazy party shot. However, there is a beautiful art to crafting wonderful cocktails (most famously: the margarita) using this infamous liquid. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate EDWARDSVILLE A fourth person was charged Tuesday in a gun-running case out of Granite City. Granite City police recovered approximately 25 guns of various types in connection with the case. The investigation is ongoing, according to Maj. Nick Novacich of the Granite City Police Department, and additional charges relating to burglary are expected to come out of St. Clair County. An informant reached out to our drug unit and let them know this had possibly happened, he said Monday. They were selling and trading them on the streets. Our detectives started working it and did a fantastic job, he said. He noted that gunrunning is an unusual charge. Ive been doing this 23 years and Ive never seen it, Novacich said. In the latest charge, Mittferd E. Dotson, 53, of the 2400 block of Illinois Avenue, Granite City, was charged April 25 with unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, on Nov. 22 Dotson was found to be in possession of an OF Mossberg Model 351 KA rifle. It was noted that he has a prior conviction for unlawful possession of methamphetamine manufacturing chemicals out of Madison County in 2005, making him ineligible to possess firearms. Bail was set at $60,000. Previously, Joseph W. Wallace Jr., 33, of the 1200 block of Meridian, and George H. Narup III, 27, of the 2400 block of Illinois Avenue, both in Granite City, were each charged with gunrunning, enhanced Class X felonies. Dylon J. Edwards, 28, of the 2000 block of 12th Street in Granite City, was charged with gunrunning, a Class 1 felony. According to court documents, on Nov. 22 Edwards delivered between three and 11 firearms to Narup, who as a convicted felon is ineligible to possess weapons. Between May 1-July 1, 2022, Wallace transferred 11 or more firearms to Narup. And on Nov. 22 Narup transferred between 11-20 firearms to a fourth person, who has also been convicted of a felony. There is no record of that person being charged. Bail was set at $150,000 each for Narup and Wallace, and $100,000 for Edwards. In total, I cant say how many guns are out there, but weve recovered approximately 25, Novacich said, adding police are trying to determine if any are unaccounted for. He noted they had been working with ATF on the case, but declined to go into specifics. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Two years ago, when troops were hurriedly hustled out of Afghanistan, many Afghan interpreters and their families were left behind even though they were promised American citizenship, jobs and safety in the United States. Guy Ritchies The Covenant is based on facts. Although it is not the true story of a specific soldier and his interpreter it is what happened to so many interpreters and their families. The Taliban considered anyone who helped the Americans as traitors and wiped them and their families out once we left. Guy Ritchie's The Covenant follows U.S. Army Sgt. John Kinley (Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal) trying to save Ahmed (Dar Salim). When Kinley learns that Ahmed, his wife and his newborn baby were not given safe passage to America as promised, Kinley feels he must repay his debt by returning to the war zone to retrieve them before the Taliban hunts them down. After an ambush, Ahmed goes to phenomenal lengths to save Kinley's life. Gyllenhaal and Salim were good and the two men carried the film. Emily Beecham has a small role as John Kinleys wife. Guy Ritchies The Covenant was directed by Guy Ritchie and was written by Ivan Atkinson, Marn Davies and Guy Ritchie. Although I found the plot interesting, the story lacked good dialog. They should have brought in a dialog writer to give the story a depth and richness the idea deserved. The film lacked intensity. The cinematography is beautiful. I thought Afghanistan was lovely until I found out that the whole movie was all shot in Spain. Ive been to Spain and it is gorgeous but now I wonder what Afghanistan is like. I have always thought of it as brown and dirty looking. The story dragged for me. I got so tired of watching Ahmed push a wounded Kinley uphill for miles and miles. I got the idea it wasnt easy pushing a grown man in a wooden cart on a rocky, rutted road in a couple of seconds but the scene went on for about 15 minutes. I was so tired I could have taken a nap! Luckily the film is only an hour and 23 minutes which is very short for a movie; most movies are about two hours (although there were times when this film seemed like it was three hours long). Guy Ritchie's The Covenant '' is currently playing in Edwardsville. I give it 2 stars. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LOS ANGELES (AP) The mother of a 10-year-old boy and her boyfriend were each sentenced Tuesday to life in prison for torturing and murdering the child, who was beaten, brutalized and starved in Southern California. Heather Barron, 33, and Kareem Leiva, 37, were convicted of first-degree murder involving torture last month in a nonjury trial. They also were found guilty of abusing two other children in their Lancaster home. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Sam Ohta sentenced them both to life without the possibility of parole, the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office said in a news release. The sentencing followed emotional statements from the boys relatives and friends, ABC7 reported. The judge called Anthony Avalos a helpless child dependent on his mother for his basic needs. "Instead Anthony was tortured and killed, Ohta said. Neither Barron nor Leiva spoke during Tuesday's hearing, according to the TV station. Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies went to Anthony's home in response to a 911 call from Barron on June 20, 2018. They were told that he had been injured in a fall. Anthony died in a hospital the next day. Doctors said he was severely malnourished and dehydrated. Prosecutors alleged that the boy was intentionally killed by torture. They said that for years he was routinely beaten and whipped with a belt along with the other children, repeatedly dropped on his head, smashed into the floor or furniture, burned with cigarettes and denied water and food at times or force-fed. Prosecutors said Leiva sprayed hot sauce in the childrens faces; forced them to fight one another, with the loser being punished by him; and made the youngsters kneel for lengthy periods on concrete floors, nails or uncooked rice or squat until they fell over. Barrons defense attorney argued that she was herself abused by Leiva and couldnt stop him from hurting the children. Last year, Los Angeles County agreed to pay $32 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the boys father and three siblings over his death. A home counseling contractor also was sued and previously reached a $3 million deal with the boys family. The lawsuit alleged that the county Department of Children and Family Services disregarded 13 reports of abuse allegations involving Anthony from relatives, teachers, counselors and even law enforcement. The agency never tried to remove the boy from the home. In the wake of the settlement, the department said it had taken significant steps to mitigate the risk of harm to children and was committed to continuing reform. Edwardsville Police Department Blotter for April 15-23, 2023 Rex A. Whitehead, 52, of Edwardsville, was charged with leaving the scene of property damage. Bond was set at $4,000. According to Edwardsville Police Department Chief Michael Fillback, on April 14, an Edwardsville police officer stopped Whitehead for operating a vehicle with an expired registration plate. During the stop it was determined that Whitehead had an active warrant for a previous traffic crash EPD investigated. That accident occurred on February 9, 2020, in the 300 block of Springer near Schwarz Street. During that incident in 2020, Whitehead allegedly was driving his gray Ford F-250 southbound on Springer and struck two parked vehicles. Whitehead reportedly fled the scene at that time and on March 8, 2023, officers identified Whitehead and his vehicle as involved in the incident based on damage to the truck observed by the officers, which matched that of the accident. No injuries were reported in that traffic crash. Whitehead was arrested on the warrant and taken into custody without incident. Other arrests by Edwardsville police include: On April 23, Melaunie S. Wright, 21, of Edwardsville, was charged with disorderly conduct on Campus Edge Drive. Bond was set at $1,200. Disorderly conduct is listed as a Class 3 felony and is punishable by a prison sentence of five to 10 years and a fine of $75 to $25,000. On April 20, Dylan S. Osborn (no age given) of Collinsville was charged with having a failure to appear in court warrant and was arrested without incident at the Glen Carbon Sams Club on Illini Drive. Bond was set at $3,000, plus a $75 failure to appear in court fee. Osborn was initially stopped by an Edwardsville police officer for an expired registration plate on a black Jeep Cherokee. According to Fillback, while identifying Osborn it was determined that he had an active failure to appear warrant from Glen Carbon PD for a previous DUI charge. On April 19: Kelly J. Matlock Kuhn, 52, of Edwardsville, was charged with driving while their license was suspended and has a pending charge of possession of a controlled substance. No bond was posted but Matlock Kuhn has a notice to appear in court. Illinois is one of 18 states that makes possession of drugs a felony in all cases. Possession of a controlled substance is a Class 4 felony and is punishable by a prison sentence of one to three years. Mark R. Baldwin, 36, of Edwardsville, was arrested on a warrant for a possession of a controlled substance charge. No bond was posted. Dakota J. Nelson, 21, of Granite City, was charged with driving while their license was suspended and had a failure to appear in court warrant out at the time of their arrest. Bond was set at $925 and Nelson has a notice to appear in court. Rahul S. Kotla, 25, of Edwardsville, was charged with driving under the influence on Devon Court. According to Fillback, Kotla bonded out by posting his Illinois drivers license and $100. Under Illinois law, the drivers license can act as a form of bond on a driving under the influence charge, or Kotla would have had to post $300. On April 18, Joshua O. Jordan, 24, of Hillside, was charged with driving under the influence on South State Route 157. Bond was set at $3,000. On April 16, Tamyra A.L. Amia, 20, of St. Louis, was charged with driving while their license was suspended. No bond was posted by Amia, who has a notice to appear in court. These individuals have only been charged and remain innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. All charges may not be reported. EDWARDSVILLE President Thomas Jefferson or least the closest approximation possible in 2023 is coming to Edwardsville. Thomas Jefferson The Man and the Legacy, starring Kurt Smith from Colonial Williamsburg, will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at the Wildey Theatre. Doors open at 6 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis for the event, which will be free of charge through a partnership between Friends of the Wildey Theatre, the Lewis and Clark Society of America and the Madison County Historical Society. Smith will also be appearing as President Jefferson for a childrens dialogue on Friday, May 12, at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site in Hartford and will return to the site on Saturday, May 13, for presentations at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. I must give credit to Michael Kaufman and Michael Bortko, who are board members from the Lewis and Clark Society of America, for initiating this program, said Rich Walker, president of Friends of the Wildey. The (119th) anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Expedition is coming up on May 14 with the Departure Celebration on May 13, and they wanted to do something (in Edwardsville) as well as at the historic site. They approached me and asked if Friends of the Wildey would want to co-present an appearance by Kurt Smith as Thomas Jefferson, and I loved the idea. 'Art won' This will be the first time at the Lewis and Clark Historic Site for Smith, who replaced Bill Barker as the Thomas Jefferson portrayer at Colonial Williamsburg, a historic district and living history museum in Williamsburg, Va. It all started at our board of directors meeting last November, said Kaufman, president of the Lewis and Clark Society of America. Mike Bortko mentioned that he had been talking to Bill Barker, who is the current Jefferson re-enactor at Monticello (Jeffersons home and plantation in Virginia). Bill had been to the site in 2003 for its opening and they started talking about what it would take to bring Bill back to the site this year, but Bill had an engagement that he couldnt break. We asked if there were any Jefferson re-enactors he would recommend, and Kurt Smith, who is the current Jefferson re-enactor at Colonial Williamsburg, was one of them. Smith is a historian and actor in Colonial Williamsburg. He has portrayed Jefferson, who was the third president of the U.S. from 1801 to 1809, for more than nine years. I knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life when I was in high school and that was to teach biology, Smith said. I went to college to get my first degree as a biology major, but I found theater in the middle of that degree. It took root in my head and there was this battle for a couple of years between science and art before art won. Smith then left the University of Arkansas and went to get his first degree in theater at the University of Montana. He followed that with a masters degree in theater from the University of Iowa and then taught theater in college for three years. He spent the next seven years in New York City working as an actor before hearing from a graduate school acquaintance who was working at Colonial Williamsburg as the artistic director. He sent me an email about the opening for a Thomas Jefferson interpreter and I thought it sounded interesting, so I applied for it, Smith said. Becoming Jefferson Smith ordered a book about Jefferson to prepare for the audition, which consisted of five parts over two hours, with the last part being a 20-minute question-and-answer session. He realized he still didnt know enough about the man and his history, so he pushed the audition back and ordered two more books about Jefferson. I finally drove from New York City to Williamsburg, Virginia, for the audition and I got the job, Smith said. Bill Barker, who had been the Jefferson interpreter at Williamsburg, is now in quasi-retirement and is doing the same thing at Monticello. Bill is my mentor and hes the one who taught me the craft. My first six months there were spent in research, and I wasnt in costume, but now Ive been portraying Thomas for nine years. The list of people that Smith has portrayed Jefferson for includes U.S. Supreme Court justices, state Supreme Court justices, state governors, presidential candidates, U.S. Congress members and U.S. cabinet members. The material doesnt change because the primary source is the primary source, but the packaging of it changes, Smith said. For the kids, the content wont change but the presentation will inevitably be different. Presenting for kids is one of my favorite parts of this job because their eyes light up when they realize they can ask anything about Mr. Jefferson. I expect that well get some fantastic questions from kids because they dont have a filter. There is less of a social weight upon them to ask the right thing. As part of an annual Education Day event, local school districts are bringing fourth-graders to the historic site on May 12, with 500 students expected this year. Weve had as many as 800, but it fell back a lot during the pandemic, Kaufman said. We get a lot of the same schools back every day and its something they really look forward to. 'Window of history' For the May 11 program at the Wildey, Walker is looking forward to the interaction between Smith and members of the audience. Thomas Jefferson has a storied past and Kurt doesnt shy away from it, Walker said. Jefferson owned slaves, but he was very outspoken against slavery, and how do you reconcile that? "Kurt gives a very interesting, thought-provoking presentation. After his program at the Wildey, Smith will take questions from the audience. Those questions can go anywhere, so that adds another layer to the presentation, Walker said. More information can be found on the calendar page of http://www.wildeytheatre.com/ or by contacting WildeyFriends@gmail.com. Kaufman, meanwhile, is equally excited about Smiths portrayals of Jefferson at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site on May 13. The Lewis and Clark Society of America is currently based out of the historic site, but its history dates to 1957 and it was instrumental in getting the site established in Hartford. Were leaving it pretty much up to Kurt as to what he wants to present, but we want him to give (Jeffersons) view of westward expansion and exploration for one of those programs, Kaufman said. We want to tie it into the window of history that we focus on at the historic site. Were hoping that Kurts visit will also build some interest in the historic site. They were getting twice as many visitors 20 years ago when it opened as they are now. The pandemic was part of it, but its also a narrow window of history that they do and when it falls out of the news, who is going to think about Lewis and Clark? A complex man For Smith and his presentations, there is never any shortage of background material about Jefferson. We have 50,000 of his letters and thats pretty much a quote for any question that I get it, Smith said. Those 50,000 letters are my Bible and my script, and Ill present Jefferson in some ways that I think people will be surprised. He was deeply involved in political service for 40 years and had his hand in everything from domestic policy to foreign policy to wars to pirates to agriculture. He helped to double the size of the country and was involved with changing the legal landscape in the United States and in Virginia and out west with the Northwest Ordinances. Well also get into conversations about Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. My job is not to make you a Jeffersonian and you may walk in as a Hamiltonian and leave as one. I do think you will likely leave with your wheels turning more than when you walked in. My goal is to present Thomas Jefferson as a blessed, hopeful, passionate man in a gray tone, not black or white. For more information about Smiths appearances at the historic site, located at 1 Lewis and Clark Trail in Hartford, visit Lewis and Clark State Historic Site on Facebook, call 618-251-5811, go to https://campdubois.com/ or email clark@campdubois.com. EDWARDSVILLE A Troy woman listed as homeless was charged Monday with failing to register as a sex offender by the Madison County States Attorneys Office. Rachelle Dailey, 43, was charged April 24 with failure to register as a sex offender, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Troy Police Department. According to court documents, on April 23 Dailey allegedly failed to register with the Troy Police Department within three days of establishing a residence. The Illinois State Police sex offender database states Dailey, who also goes by seven other names, had a last recorded address in St. Jacob. She is listed as a sexual predator and has convictions for aggravated criminal sexual abuse out of Tennessee. The victim was 13 at the time of the offense, while she was 26. In a separate case, a Worden man was charged with battering a Madison County sheriffs deputy. Christopher N. Wilson Jr., 19, of Worden, was charged with aggravated battery of a peace officer, a Class 2 felony, and possession of a fraudulent drivers license or permit, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. According to court documents, on April 22 Wilson allegedly kicked a sheriffs deputy and had a fraudulent Illinois drivers license. Bail was set at $50,000. Other felony charges filed April 24 include: Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Reuters London, United Kingdom Wed, April 26, 2023 11:55 6 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc56fd74 2 Regulations Chile,lithium,supply-chain,tesla,EV,Gabriel-Boric,nationalization Free Chile's move to nationalise its lithium industry adds fresh supply chain uncertainty for global carmakers facing a shortage of electric vehicle (EV) battery materials and could provide fresh urgency to find new sources of the metal. Chilean President Gabriel Boric announced plans last Thursday to create a new state-owned company to control its lithium industry. The country has the world's largest reserves of the metal and accounts for 30 percent of global output. While there are startups working on sodium ion batteries that could eventually provide a cheaper alternative for EVs, for many years to come the auto industry will be entirely dependent on lithium for its batteries. Leading industry executives have warned of a supply chain crunch around the middle of the decade as the world's top automakers plan to spend nearly $1.2 trillion through 2030 to develop and produce millions of electric vehicles. "Automakers may be more trepidatious around committing to lithium supply deals from Chile until it's clear what nationalisation will look like," said Caspar Rawles, chief data officer at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. "Most automakers will have been looking for a diversified portfolio of regional supply before this anyway, but perhaps this makes other regions more appealing." David Brocas, founder of mineral supply chain advisory firm Voltaire Minerals, said that battery metals are becoming as strategically important to countries as oil, and carmakers will need a special "diversified sourcing strategy" in response. Major carmakers have already been looking for new lithium supplies in the United States, Europe and Africa. General Motors, for instance, invested in Lithium Americas Corp in January and will help it to develop Nevada's Thacker Pass lithium mining project. This push for fresh options is expected to accelerate. "We're implementing a commodity roadmap that includes regional diversification," a Volkswagen spokeswoman said in an email. "So we're looking at a lot of regions." Mercedes-Benz MBGn.DE Chief Technology Officer Markus Schaefer told reporters on Monday that the carmaker is "still open to direct purchasing from Chile - but there are alternatives, such as Australia and Canada." Shares in lithium miners in Australia, the largest producer making up around half of global supply, rose after Chile's announcement. Chile's move to nationalise its lithium industry follows a trend of countries seeking tighter control over key resources. Mexico has nationalised its lithium industry, while Zimbabwe, Myanmar and Indonesia have all announced restrictions affecting various commodities. Santiago's announcement "will place an even higher focus on secure supplies of UK and European lithium for carmakers who are desperate to secure raw materials for EVs," Jeremy Wrathall, CEO of Cornish Lithium, wrote in an email. "No lithium = no batteries = no EVs." Lithium is not the first supply chain crisis facing the car industry, which found itself short of semiconductors during the COVID-19 pandemic and is unlikely to be the last. Rob Anstey, CEO at GDI, which is developing silicon anodes for batteries, said this should be a wake-up call for an auto industry dependent on China for graphite for battery electrodes. "If Chile nationalises lithium, Australia can increase supply and America and Europe will increase supply," Anstey said. "But if China starts to restrict exports of graphite, the entire battery global supply chain screeches to a halt." Several startups are developing EV batteries with silicon-based electrodes that hold more energy, have greater range and charge more quickly, but at present 70 percent of all graphite comes from China. Chile's move may provide an advantage for other countries hopeful of developing their own lithium supplies. Lithium exploration company Aterian sees opportunities for mining in a number of African countries, including Morocco and Rwanda. "These countries will attract the energy transition investment which would have previously gone to Chile," said Executive Chairman Charles Bray. BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to enjoy rich human resources and pick up its pace to improve the quality of the labor force to drive the country's high-quality economic development, according to analysts. A large population remains China's basic national condition and the demographic dividend will continue to underpin the economic growth for a long time to come, said Wang Qinchi, a researcher at the China Population and Development Research Center. The rich supply of human resources has provided an abundant labor force and rapid accumulation of capital for the nation's economic development, helping the country to become an ultra-large consumer market and an economic heavyweight in the global arena. China now has a nearly 900 million working-age population, exceeding the total amount of working-age population of all developed countries in the world. The country also boasts the world's largest talent pool with the most complete categories. Despite a declining fertility rate and a deepening aging population in recent years, experts have dismissed concerns over the diminishing demographic dividend in the country. A population of 1.4 billion means a tremendous market, which remains a prominent strength of China, said Wang. Chinese authority has stressed that when assessing demographic dividends, it is quality rather than quantity that is more important. More than 240 million people have received higher education in China. The gross enrollment rate of China's higher education hit 57.8 percent in 2021, according to the Ministry of Education. Efforts to nurture talent for technological innovation have helped China sit atop the world in terms of the number of valid invention patents and the number of scientific articles that are included in the Scientific Citation Index. The profound changes in labor force resulted from China's continuous efforts to raise the education level of its population. China views education, science and technology, and human resources as important foundational and strategic pillars for building a modern socialist country in all respects. Up to 2022, China's fiscal spending on education remained above 4 percent of its GDP for 10 consecutive years, laying a solid foundation for a higher-quality labor force. A professional in sci-tech innovation can make a much greater contribution to social and economic development, said Sun Rui, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Personnel Science, adding that talent has become a key factor in the competition for national strength. Nurturing outstanding creative talent will help upgrade demographic dividend into talent dividend, providing long-lasting impetus for high-quality development, Sun said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Aditya Hadi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, April 26, 2023 The government has been slammed by businesses for its last-minute decision to extend a ban on freight transportation to include the working days of this week. In a bid to ease traffic congestion as millions return to Jakarta following the Idul Fitri holiday, the government had earlier restricted the use of trucks and other heavy vehicles from April 24 to April 25 and from April 29 to May 1, which is when it expected most of the holiday travel to occur. However, the Transportation Ministry and National Police released a new regulation on Tuesday to also apply the restriction to the days between those two expected peak travel waves. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Radhiyya Indra (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, April 26, 2023 11:47 6 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b0554ed26 1 Science & Tech Jakarta-Post,photos,restoration,archive Free Looking back over 40 years of The Jakarta Post, each photograph captures the emotions behind the countrys events and experiences. On a long desk in an office library, hundreds of old photograph albums have been piled up until no space was left. There are tens of thousands of frames here, photographer Rony Zakaria explained. More than a library, it is the archives for complete editions of The Jakarta Post, including the photographic prints that accompanied the articles within. Rony has been tasked with the gargantuan challenge to choose a dozen or so photographs among the many scattered on the desk for the national newspapers 40th anniversary. We are in the process of choosing among the analog photos from 1983 to 2004, a span of well over 20 years, he said on March 31. After 40 years of publishing, the Post has seen and covered many of Indonesias momentous events, from the fall of president Soeharto to the start of the reformasi (reform) era, and through the COVID-19 global pandemic and its local impacts. Beyond the articles that reported these events, their accompanying photographs offer a vivid look at the situations the country has experienced through the years. Getting the perfect shot From these thousands of frames, well choose about 5,000 to 8,000, which will be [cut down to] 700 through a process of elimination, all the way to just 20 negatives and 20 digital prints, Rony explained. The 40 total selections marks how long the Post has been running, as well as the rapid technological advances that replaced photographic negatives from the late 1980s with digital images in the current millennium. But choosing only 20 photos from each period is a herculean task, especially considering the number of iconic pictures the papers photographers have taken. During the New Order era, photos of demonstrations were hard to take and [publish] because under Soehartos leadership, there were rarely any protests or demonstrations, P.J. Leo, a former head of the Posts photography division, said on April 16. That all changed when the public finally reached the limit and released their pent-up anger that resulted in the deadly 1998 riots and the Semanggi shootings. Leo was there, risking his life to capture images of the historic events. Digital restoration: Rony Zakaria points to the shadows, hues and tones of negatives taken in the 1990s by photojournalists of The Jakarta Post in a contact sheet reproduced using the color inversion filter on his smartphone. (JP/Radhiyya Indra) (JP/Radhiyya Indra) Us photographers had to position ourselves between the students and the police officers. But when the police and military saw us there, of course were still going to get hit, Leo recalled, laughing. A lot of my friends had their cameras snatched [by the police] and shattered to pieces. Thats what often happened in those [incidents], he said. Leo joined the newspaper in 1991, starting out as a proofreader and then working in pagination, and eventually became a photojournalist in 1993 after studying photography on his own. He retired from the Post in December 2021. That Semanggi demonstration was really a monumental piece of history, it really tore down Soehartos iron fist, he said. Meanwhile, another of the Posts former photographers, R. Berto Wedhatama, was on the spot to take photos of natural disasters, from the 2005 Nias-Simeulue earthquake to the deadly 2010 Mount Merapi eruption. The most memorable moment for me was the tsunami in Aceh in 2004. Leo was there on the second day, but I got there five days after the disaster, Berto recounted on April 20. Berto, who was familiar with scenes of tragedy, had expected blood in the streets when he arrived in Meulaboh, but nothing could have prepared him for the sight that met him there. The city was awash with dead bodies with absolutely no blood at all. It felt so devastating, he said. Berto started interning at the Post in 1999 and eventually fell in love with journalism. He was promoted to photojournalist in 2001. Although he frequently covered regional conflicts and natural disasters, Berto admitted that none was ever easy. When Jakarta was flooded time and again, I often waded through the water to get a picture. I once fell into a ditch by the street as a result, Berto laughed. Occasionally, the people in disaster areas were much too nice to be photographed. Ive met people affected by those disasters [who] smiled when we visited them, which was surreal, because as photographers we had to take moments of them crying or grieving, right? So we didnt know what to do, said Berto. Thats Indonesia, the people are very friendly and smile wholeheartedly, he chuckled. Hindsight Selecting photographs to be exhibited is not merely a show of the photographers skills and talents. It is also a chance to look at how Indonesia has changed through a retrospective lens. In the paper, we see current affairs and what is happening in the country. But when we look back after 40 years, all that is recorded history, Rony said. The Posts journalists and photojournalists did not just contribute their articles and photographs merely as a daily record, he continued. We want to show that they did their job as chroniclers of history. Thats their life. While scanning through the pile of thousands of images, Rony said he gained a different perspective on Indonesias modern history, even on the most ordinary events. Jakarta, it turns out, has been flooding since forever, he laughed. From images of the National Games (PON) that were held across the country to the closeness certain politicians used to share before the relationship turned sour, Rony said he realized that the nation took a lot of things for granted. Even in my generation, some millennials have almost forgotten the 1998 tragedy. And what about the younger generations who didnt experience it, then? he said. So this also serves as a reminder for them that democracy was gained through a bloody struggle. But we cant just present that opinion. They have to think [for themselves] from these pictures, these proofs of history, so they can make informed decisions. The photographers, on the other hand, never imagined that their pictures would be worth another look decades down the line. They were just doing their jobs on that particular day. Actually, we never felt any sense of awe on the field, its just another photo for us, Berto said, laughing. Only when we returned to the office and the photos got printed did we realize, Damn, this is a part of history here. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Front Row (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, April 26, 2023 15:29 6 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc57762c 4 Front Row Indomie,food-stalls,Homecoming Free This year, the instant noodles division of PT Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur (ICPBP) celebrated Idul Fitri with a mass homecoming for around 10,800 Indomie food stall (Warmindo) entrepreneurs. Preparing 191 buses to accommodate their travel, the mass homecoming left from 36 departure points spread throughout Greater Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta and Malang. From April 15-19, the manpower minister joined the celebration at the Bekasi Masjid Islamic Center courtyard departure point to send off the entrepreneurs on their journey home to see their families and celebrate Idul Fitri. Additionally, departures from Bekasi Masjid Islamic Center were joined by the director general of industrial relations development and social security at the Manpower Ministry, Warmindo entrepreneurs and the director of PT Indofood Sukses Makmur, Suzi Indrian, alongside employees of Indofood Group. During the event Suzi stated Every year nearing Idul Fitri, we hold our homecoming activity along with Warmindo entrepreneurs, an annual celebration since 1994. This mass homecoming is our form of appreciation toward our partners who have been working hard to provide the best service to customers that enjoy a serving of Indomie in a Warmindo. During the pandemic, homecoming activities had to be stopped, but this year we are once again inviting all our partners to celebrate together. With the theme of The Most Anticipated Homecoming, Live Togetherness Again, we hope that this activity will be a joyful moment for our Warmindo partners and their families. We hope that Indomie and Warmindo can build determination in development so that we can achieve success together. We wish that with this celebration Warmindo entrepreneurs will be more inspired to do their best for their customers and promote innovation and creativity. This aligns with ICBPs core values, which is to always innovate in a variety of products, like offering Indomie in a range of flavor variants. One of the homewardbound travelers, Obar, a Sobar Warmindo owner who has been a partner for over 22 years with a variety of unique creations like his Indomie tek-tek, said After a few years not participating in the homecoming, I am very grateful and happy that I can once again celebrate Idul Fitri this year alongside other Warmindo entrepreneurs. Hopefully this program can continue and I want to extend my gratitude to Indomie for always paying attention and providing support to us Warmindo entrepreneurs. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Karanganyar, Central Java Wed, April 26, 2023 14:42 6 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc571648 1 Archipelago Ganjar-Pranowo,2024-elections,presidential-election,PDI-P Free Some 30 Christian leaders from across the archipelago showed their support for Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, following his nomination for the 2024 presidential race by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). The clergy, who included those from North Sumatra, Riau Islands, Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, North Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara and Papua, attended an open house hosted by Ganjar at his hometown in Tawangmangu in Karanganyar regency, Central Java, on Monday. We come from all over Indonesia. We wish you and your family a happy Idul Fitri, Pastor Japarlin Marbun of Jakarta told Ganjar in the event. We are relieved you are officially a presidential candidate; we have [placed our] hopes in you. Pastor Francky Londa of Manado, North Sulawesi, lauds Ganjar as a leader who consistently upholds tolerance and religious moderation. Such leaders are demanded [by the public], Francky said. The clergy were among more than 6,000 guests attending the event. Voters are highly likely to be casting their ballots in a three-horse presidential race come 2024, following Ganjars nomination. Party leaders had earlier floated the idea of building a major alliance of parties supporting President Joko Jokowi Widodo as a unified front to take on former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, who is backed by NasDem Party and opposition parties, with the hope next years election could conclude in a single round. With Ganjar on the PDI-Ps ticket, chances are high the presidential race will need a second round, given that none of the potential contender, Ganjar, Anies or Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, are likely to garner the more than 50 percent of the vote that is legally required to win. (dre) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan Wed, April 26, 2023 13:12 6 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b055515cf 1 Archipelago earthquake,west-sumatra,Mentawai-Islands,disaster-mitigation,natural-disaster Free Residents in Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra had returned home by Tuesday afternoon after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake earlier in the day. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency reported that the earthquake hit at 3 a.m. on Tuesday, with the epicenter located 177 kilometers northwest of Mentawai Islands at a depth of 23 km, triggering a tsunami warning. South Nias Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) official Epaproditus Dachi said local residents evacuated themselves following the warning, which was also spread through WhatsApp messages. They have now returned home, Dachi told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday afternoon. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBN) reported there were power outages in some parts of the Mentawai Islands that were closest to the epicenter. Several aftershocks were recorded and a tide gauge at Tana Bala island recorded an 11-centimeter rise in water levels after the main quake. The quake was also felt in North Sumatra, with one house reported collapsing in Angkola Muaratais district in South Tapanuli. Indonesia experiences frequent earthquakes because it straddles the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone where different plates of the earth's crust meet Padang and West Sumatra province were struck by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake in 2009 that killed more than 1,100 people, injured many more and caused widespread destruction. (dre) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) 600000 Wed, April 26, 2023 13:13 6 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b0555193a 1 Archipelago Idul-Fitri,mudik,traffic,traffic-accident,traffic-management,Central-Java,West-Java Free This years mudik (exodus) has seen fewer traffic accidents, Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy reported on Monday. The minister said that the number of people involved in traffic accidents during the mudik period this year was recorded at 2,117, down from last years number of 3,573. The number of traffic accident deaths also decreased from 583 last year to 164 this year. The Lebaran traffic flow management this year is better. This is thanks to hard work from all related parties, especially the National Police, [state toll-road operator] Jasa Marga and regional administrations, Muhadjir said on Monday in Semarang, Central Java, as he officially launched the one-way traffic management for the return flow. To help alleviate traffic, authorities are hoping to stagger the return to Jakarta by enacting an odd-even policy and a one-way traffic policy on the trans-Java toll road from Kalikangkung in Central Java to Cikampek in West Java from Monday to Friday, as well as from April 29 until May 1, the weekend following Idul Fitri. As the seven-day Idul Fitri holiday period came to an end on Tuesday, millions had begun the return trip from their hometowns, while others took the chance to flock to tourist destinations in and around Jakarta. According to Jasa Marga, some 222,000 cars heading back into Greater Jakarta crowded several toll roads across Java on Monday. Close to 60 percent of these cars, or around 131,000 vehicles, passed through the Kalihurip and Cikampek toll gates, the main entryways for motorists returning to Jakarta from areas east of the capital. The Kalikanjung toll gate also saw a 60 percent increase in the volume of traffic from Monday to Tuesday, with 49,000 cars from the province and neighboring East Java making their way back to Jakarta. The Transportation Ministry had estimated that the Idul Fitri return flow would peak on either Monday or Tuesday. To prevent excessive congestion, President Joko Jokowi Widodo has asked nonessential employees, both in the public and private sectors, to extend their holidays until after Wednesday, which is expected to be the day most businesses resume their operations. (dre) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, April 26, 2023 Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday held a series of meetings with former senior Indonesian Military (TNI) generals, including former defense minister Wiranto and former head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) AM Hendropriyono. On Tuesday afternoon, Prabowo held a meeting with Wiranto at the latter's private residence in South Jakarta. Emerging from the private meeting, Wiranto gave his endorsement of Prabowo's plan to run in the 2024 presidential election, saying that he was a well-qualified candidate for the job. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Or let Google manage your subscription Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fikri Harish (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, April 26, 2023 Despite remaining firmly in the lead, a survey from pollster Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) released on Tuesday showed that support for the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) was showing a gradual decline among more critical voters. Owning a [smartphone] is indicative of their critical nature, as they typically have more access to social and political information over voters who dont, SMRC political researcher Deni Irvani said on Tuesday when explaining the pollster criteria over what constitutes a critical voter. According to Deni, these critical voters, which represent around 80 percent of all national voters, are not as easily influenced and are even capable of influencing other voters. The telephone survey polled 831 respondents of voting age nationwide with a 3.5 percent margin of error and was conducted between April 18 and 19. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, April 26, 2023 06:55 6 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc56af7e 1 Editorial anniversary,The-Jakarta-Post,Indonesia,democracy,authoritarianism,editorial,corruption Free Late last week, as millions of Indonesians traveled to their hometowns in the annual Idul Fitri mudik (exodus), this newspaper celebrated its 40th anniversary. That is certainly a big number, for a media institution or otherwise. In a human life, 40 is an age of full-fledged maturity, when one starts thinking about the legacy he or she will leave to the future. For a media company, especially in Indonesia, reaching 40 is an even more notable milestone, considering the highly concentrated and cutthroat nature of this countrys media landscape. And if we take into account the disruptions brought on by the internet and social media over the past decade, our persistence and perseverance has indeed been no small feat. But we wont spend too much time patting ourselves on the back. As we mark our 40th year, the election season is in full swing, with politicians and parties jockeying for position ahead of the 2024 presidential and legislative contest. So after taking a moment to cut the cake, blow out the candles and pop the champagne, well be back doing what we, over the past four decades, have striven to excel at: shining light on the tribulations and triumphs of Indonesian democracy. The Jakarta Post has existed longer under democracy than under authoritarianism, and in the past 25 years, this newspaper has not just reported on the countrys transition to democracy but has also helped in the fight to preserve and advance the major democratic gains we have made in the past quarter century. On some major issues, we have stated our position clearly, from calling for the full return of the Indonesian Military (TNI) to the barracks to urging President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo not to entertain the idea of serving another term after his tenure ends in 2024. After all, in 2014, we made the decision, rare in this countrys media history, to publish an editorial endorsing Jokowi for president. This gives us even greater reason to hold him to account. It seems, thankfully, that the biggest danger of this election cycle has passed. The idea of extending Jokowis time in office appears to have faded and the ruling elites have acquiesced with a rather disconcerting need for convincing to maintaining our electoral democracy. But we must not rest on our laurels. There are too many other signs that things are not right with our political system. From the passage of sweeping legislation with scant public consultation to crackdowns on free speech both online and off, we can certainly sense that our democracy is backsliding. The trend may have started around 2017, when Indonesia fell 20 places in the Economist Groups annual democracy index, slipping from a flawed democracy closer to the authoritarian end of scale. And then theres the problem of corruption. Last year, Indonesia fell 14 spots on Transparency Internationals Corruption Perception Index to rank 110th, the worst placement since 2014. You only need to look at what is happening at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) today to gauge the sorry state of our countrys fight against graft. So it is clear that in 2024, Indonesian democracy will face a critical test. On the purely journalistic side, the Post will continue to report unflinchingly on the most consequential events, ideas and controversies of the time. But if the papers own history is any guide, we will also be at the forefront of calls for an ever stronger, more accountable and more equitable democracy. Consider that our mission. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Endy Bayuni (The Jakarta Post) Prague Thu, April 27 2023 The Czech Republics Museum of Communism prompts the question whether Indonesia could similarly acknowledge its historys less-glorious moments Among the dozens of exciting places to visit in Pragues Old Town, the Museum of Communism looks somewhat out of place. Not only for its theme, but its modern structure, which stands in contrast with the large churches and bridges around the same area. Those old structures, built during the medieval ages, remind visitors of the Christian empire's heyday of the past. The idea of a communist museum raises questions about whether one would want to allocate one or two hours of their stay in Prague to view exhibits of such a realistically sordid kind. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login by Xinhua writer Dong Yue BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- For a period of time, Washington has been sending mixed messages to China: seeking cooperation and communication while containing China in the name of "competition." Those paradoxical statements and actions reflect an increasingly clear tendency in Washington's China policy: to compartmentalize its relationship with Beijing into different categories, where it can apply an approach of containment, competition or cooperation according to America's needs. Decision-makers in Washington could be thinking that each of these different tracks can work perfectly well without rocking each other, and that China should just accept the arrangement as a matter of course. Seriously, this is purely deceitful thinking. It is like stretching out one hand for a handshake and saying "let's work together," and then slapping the person in the face with the other and expecting the slapped to just smile. The United States was once treated in a similar manner during the Cold War. Back in the 1970s, its European allies wanted U.S. assurances on security but were "less cooperative" with Washington on the economic and diplomatic fronts. Frustrated, then-U.S. President Richard Nixon said that "they can't have it both ways -- they can't keep our forces up and confront us everywhere else." Therefore, when demanding communication and cooperation from China and almost simultaneously interfering in China's internal affairs and hurting China's interests, Washington should have little difficulty in understanding why China categorically says: "You can't have it both ways." Such a patchwork of containment and engagement in America's China strategy is not new. Almost every U.S. administration since Bill Clinton adopted such a two-pronged China strategy until recent years when the argument of "the failure of engagement" seems to have gained an upper hand. In its design, the United States wants in the post-Cold War era to manage China's development, and turn the country into its junior partner -- a huge market for U.S. products, services and capital, a source of affordable resources for U.S. industries, and most importantly, a minion who could deliver on America's priorities. China can grow but must grow on the track set by the United States, and certainly not to the extent that the U.S. supremacy might be challenged. To put it simply, the Chinese should just keep their feet on the ground and manufacture T-shirts and socks for American consumers, instead of trying to move up the "smile curve." This is in no way an equal relationship, which is reminiscent of Washington's overbearingness in international relations. In its eyes, China's rapid rise was made possible by America, and Beijing should be grateful. This murky motive explains why Washington has always talked about "approaching China from a position of strength," and why some U.S. politicians have voiced their frustration or even anger when they see a prosperous and ever-developing China still firmly striding on its own path without being transformed according to Washington's design. However, in a highly integrated world, a complete U.S. decoupling from China is as impossible as it is disastrous. Washington knows that quite well. That explains why U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai recently denied that their country was seeking to decouple the U.S. economy from that of China. Moreover, global challenges like climate change need global solutions. But as Washington insists on hammering China in areas like high tech under the guise of "national security" and making provocations on China's red line, it is ruining the conditions for both sides to work on some of those urgent planetary crises. Still, to confuse the world's public opinion, Washington is peddling the so-called "democracy vs autocracy" narrative, and portraying China as a "revisionist power," while claiming that it is safeguarding a "rules-based world order" and protecting "human rights." Such a sanctimonious approach to handling the relationship between the world's top two economies is highly irresponsible and reckless. In the immediate days following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia and the United States enjoyed a honeymoon period. The Charter for American-Russian Partnership and Friendship signed by the two sides in 1992 said "the well-being, prosperity, and security of a democratic Russian Federation and the United States of America are vitally interrelated." However, things changed when Washington failed to provide Kremlin with the promised economic aid and NATO expanded despite Washington's promise that the bloc would move "not one inch eastward." This was unacceptable to Russia, and the ensuing deterioration of Moscow-Washington ties was only natural. Deep down, America had never intended to treat Russia with respect even though Western-style democratic elections took place in the country. Ideology is just an instrument to intervene. For Beijing, Washington's condescending diplomacy is unacceptable. If Washington truly wants a workable relationship with China, it should treat China as an equal partner and show due respect. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Devjyot Ghoshal (Reuters) (The Jakarta Post) Bangkok Thu, April 27 2023 Government and think-tank representatives from Myanmar and its neighbors, including India and China, had held talks in New Delhi on Tuesday as part of a secretive effort to deescalate a bloody crisis in the army-run Southeast Asian nation, two sources said. Myanmar was plunged into conflict and economic chaos in 2021 after its powerful military overthrew the elected civilian government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering an armed resistance it has sought to violently crush. The talks this week were the second in a Track 1.5" dialogue that started in Thailand last month and came as frustration grows within the ASEAN bloc at the military's failure to implement a peace plan it agreed to in April 2021. The sources, who asked not to be named and declined to identify the representatives because the process was confidential, said Myanmar, India, China, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos were present at Tuesday's meeting, as was Indonesia, the current ASEAN chair. One of the sources said participants had been interested in bringing into the process Myanmar's shadow National Unity Government (NUG), an organization affiliated with the resistance and declared "terrorists" by the junta. "They are wanting to talk to NUG at some point of time officially, because the NUG and the Myanmar army haven't spoken officially at all," said the source, who was briefed on the meeting. "These are the hopes that the participants have." India and Thailand's foreign ministries, the Chinese embassy in New Delhi and the NUG did not immediately respond to queries from Reuters, while a spokesperson for Myanmar's junta could not be reached. A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry said he had not been aware of the meeting. The meeting had been hosted by an Indian think-tank and had included discussion on all sides on reducing violence, creating space for dialogue and the delivery of humanitarian aid, the second source said, adding the next meeting would be in Laos. "The neighboring countries' perspective needs to be taken into account," said the source. "For them, the foremost priority is the de-escalation of the violence." The junta has been shunned by Western countries but has stepped up engagement with Russia and recently hosted visitors from Thailand, including its military chief and the foreign minister. Retired diplomat Ban Ki-moon, who made multiple trips to Myanmar as United Nations chief, met the junta leader and its reformist former president on Monday and called for an immediate end to violence. ASEAN's peace plan, known as the five-point consensus, is the only official diplomatic process in play for Myanmar and includes halting hostilities and starting dialogue between all parties. ASEAN has barred the junta from attending until they implement the plan, which has infuriated the generals. "This effort will not supplant ASEAN," the second source said of the ongoing talks. "This will only complement." to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yvette Tanamal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 27 2023 Indonesia has safely evacuated or accounted for the 937 of its citizens known to have been in Khartoum at the start of Sudans ongoing armed conflict, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, noting that no Indonesian fatalities had been recorded. The first group of evacuees, consisting of 557 people, arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, by sea on Wednesday morning. They are to be repatriated to Indonesia in batches. In the second round of evacuation, which took place on the same day, a team led by the Indonesian embassy safely moved 328 citizens, mostly university students, from Khartoum to a safe zone in Port Sudan by road. Jakarta said the evacuees would wait in Port Sudan until they could be transported to Jeddah either by sea or on military aircraft. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agence France-Presse (The Jakarta Post) Singapore Thu, April 27 2023 Singapore hanged a prisoner on Wednesday after he was convicted of conspiracy to smuggle one kilogram of cannabis, despite rights groups decrying "many flaws" in the case. Tangaraju Suppiah was hanged in defiance of a plea by the United Nations Human Rights Office for Singapore to "urgently reconsider" and calls by British tycoon Richard Branson to halt it. The Asian financial hub has some of the world's toughest antinarcotics laws and insists the death penalty remains an effective deterrent against trafficking. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Andrew MacAskill (Reuters) (The Jakarta Post) London Thu, April 27 2023 British foreign minister James Cleverly urged China to be more open about what he called the biggest military build-up in peacetime history and said secrecy around its plans could lead to a "tragic miscalculation". Relations between the United Kingdom and China are the worst in decades after London restricted Chinese investment over national security concerns and expressed concern at Beijing's increasing military and economic assertiveness. In a speech at Mansion House in London's historic financial district on Tuesday, Cleverly said the UK should engage "robustly and constructively" with China despite what he called "revulsion" over the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Cecil Morella (Agence France-Presse) (The Jakarta Post) San Antonio, Philippines Thu, April 27 2023 United States and Philippine troops fired a salvo of rockets at a warship representing an enemy vessel in the disputed South China Sea on Wednesday, in the final exercise of the allies' largest-ever military drills. It was the first time the countries had conducted a joint live-fire exercise in the hotly contested waters, which China claims almost entirely. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, who has sought stronger defense ties with the US, sat in an observation tower with US and Philippine officials watching the event north of Manila. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yvette Tanamal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, April 26, 2023 Indonesia has safely evacuated or accounted for the 937 of its citizens known to have been in Khartoum at the start of Sudans ongoing armed conflict, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, noting that no Indonesian fatalities had been recorded. The first group of evacuees, consisting of 557 people, arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, by sea on Wednesday morning. They are to be repatriated to Indonesia in batches. In the second round of evacuation, which took place on the same day, a team led by the Indonesian embassy safely moved 328 citizens, mostly university students, from Khartoum to a safe zone in Port Sudan by road. Jakarta said the evacuees would wait in Port Sudan until they could be transported to Jeddah either by sea or on military aircraft. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Aew Capital Management L P lowered its stake in Realty Income Co. (NYSE:O Get Rating) by 14.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 417,740 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 70,590 shares during the period. Realty Income accounts for approximately 1.0% of Aew Capital Management L Ps holdings, making the stock its 28th biggest holding. Aew Capital Management L P owned 0.07% of Realty Income worth $26,497,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Panagora Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Realty Income by 33.7% during the 1st quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 25,505 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,767,000 after buying an additional 6,433 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its holdings in shares of Realty Income by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 18,695 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,296,000 after buying an additional 345 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC bought a new stake in shares of Realty Income during the 1st quarter valued at $592,000. Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Realty Income by 8.2% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 115,733 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $8,020,000 after buying an additional 8,803 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Realty Income by 5.6% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 31,334 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,171,000 after buying an additional 1,671 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.56% of the companys stock. Get Realty Income alerts: Realty Income Price Performance Shares of O traded down $0.72 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $61.32. 1,196,915 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,587,491. The company has a market cap of $40.50 billion, a PE ratio of 43.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.80. Realty Income Co. has a 52-week low of $55.50 and a 52-week high of $75.11. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $62.92 and a two-hundred day moving average of $63.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 1.85 and a current ratio of 1.85. Realty Income Announces Dividend Realty Income ( NYSE:O Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The real estate investment trust reported $0.36 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.98 by ($0.62). The firm had revenue of $888.65 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $840.57 million. Realty Income had a net margin of 26.00% and a return on equity of 3.14%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 29.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.94 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Realty Income Co. will post 4.1 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently announced a apr 23 dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 1st will be paid a $0.255 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 28th. This represents a yield of 4.9%. Realty Incomes dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 215.49%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have recently commented on O. Mizuho dropped their target price on shares of Realty Income from $69.00 to $66.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Raymond James lowered Realty Income from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Monday, January 9th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on Realty Income from $72.25 to $71.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 23rd. StockNews.com started coverage on Realty Income in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on Realty Income from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $71.60. Realty Income Company Profile (Get Rating) Realty Income Corp. is a real estate company, which engages in generating dependable monthly cash dividends from a consistent and predictable level of cash flow from operations. The company was founded by William E. Clark, Jr. and Evelyn Joan Clark in 1969 and is headquartered in San Diego, CA. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding O? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Realty Income Co. (NYSE:O Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Realty Income Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Realty Income and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American Water Works (NYSE:AWK Get Rating) was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday. A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on AWK. Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of American Water Works from $134.00 to $140.00 in a report on Monday. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $180.00 price objective on shares of American Water Works in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. Finally, TheStreet cut shares of American Water Works from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, American Water Works currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $156.00. Get American Water Works alerts: American Water Works Trading Up 0.6 % Shares of NYSE:AWK traded up $0.91 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $152.42. 825,166 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,140,662. American Water Works has a 1-year low of $122.77 and a 1-year high of $162.59. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $144.47 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $147.24. The company has a current ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. The firm has a market cap of $29.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.80, a PEG ratio of 3.92 and a beta of 0.57. Institutional Inflows and Outflows American Water Works ( NYSE:AWK Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 16th. The utilities provider reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.75 by $0.06. American Water Works had a net margin of 21.62% and a return on equity of 10.76%. The company had revenue of $931.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $923.74 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.85 EPS. American Water Workss revenue was down 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that American Water Works will post 4.77 earnings per share for the current year. A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of AWK. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in American Water Works by 5.1% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 623,854 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $103,268,000 after buying an additional 30,316 shares in the last quarter. Aviva PLC lifted its stake in American Water Works by 33.1% in the first quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 78,509 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $12,996,000 after buying an additional 19,512 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of American Water Works by 53.1% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,079 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $344,000 after purchasing an additional 721 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of American Water Works by 2.0% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,960,717 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,635,157,000 after purchasing an additional 434,737 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. lifted its position in shares of American Water Works by 21.9% in the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 2,186 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $362,000 after purchasing an additional 392 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 83.06% of the companys stock. About American Water Works (Get Rating) American Water Works Co, Inc engages in the provision of complementary water and wastewater services. It operates through the following segments: Regulated Businesses, Market-Based Businesses, and Other. The Regulated Businesses segment offers water and wastewater services to customers. The Market-Based Businesses segment includes the military services group, which enters into long-term contracts with the U.S. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for American Water Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Water Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PG&E Co. (NYSE:PCG Get Rating) has been assigned an average rating of Hold from the eleven ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $18.17. PCG has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $20.00 price target on shares of PG&E in a report on Friday, March 10th. Credit Suisse Group boosted their target price on shares of PG&E from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a neutral rating and issued a $17.00 price target on shares of PG&E in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. UBS Group downgraded PG&E from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $17.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, January 3rd. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH began coverage on PG&E in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. They issued a buy rating and a $20.50 price target on the stock. Get PG&E alerts: Insider Activity In related news, CEO Patricia K. Poppe sold 66,700 shares of PG&E stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.87, for a total value of $1,058,529.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,269,325 shares of the companys stock, valued at $20,144,187.75. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.10% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On PG&E PG&E Stock Performance A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PCG. FirstPurpose Wealth LLC increased its holdings in shares of PG&E by 30.6% during the third quarter. FirstPurpose Wealth LLC now owns 15,817 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $198,000 after acquiring an additional 3,707 shares in the last quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund purchased a new stake in PG&E in the 3rd quarter valued at $585,000. Gabelli Funds LLC lifted its stake in PG&E by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 873,500 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $10,919,000 after acquiring an additional 23,000 shares in the last quarter. Samlyn Capital LLC purchased a new position in PG&E during the 3rd quarter worth $57,532,000. Finally, Toronto Dominion Bank raised its holdings in shares of PG&E by 102.1% in the third quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 671,893 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $8,396,000 after purchasing an additional 339,506 shares during the last quarter. 83.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. PG&E stock opened at $17.27 on Friday. PG&E has a 12 month low of $9.64 and a 12 month high of $17.27. The company has a market cap of $42.59 billion, a PE ratio of 20.56, a P/E/G ratio of 5.53 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.07, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.76. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $16.16 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $15.67. PG&E (NYSE:PCG Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The utilities provider reported $0.26 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.28 by ($0.02). PG&E had a return on equity of 10.55% and a net margin of 8.37%. The business had revenue of $5.37 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.70 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.28 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that PG&E will post 1.22 earnings per share for the current year. PG&E Company Profile (Get Rating) PG&E Corp. is a holding company, which engages in generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity and natural gas to customers. It specializes in energy, utility, power, gas, electricity, solar and sustainability. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Oakland, CA. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for PG&E Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PG&E and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arkansas Financial Group Inc. lessened its holdings in iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF (BATS:IAGG Get Rating) by 15.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 178,356 shares of the companys stock after selling 32,682 shares during the quarter. iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF makes up approximately 1.9% of Arkansas Financial Group Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 13th biggest holding. Arkansas Financial Group Inc.s holdings in iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $8,481,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Jackson Creek Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF by 3.4% in the third quarter. Jackson Creek Investment Advisors LLC now owns 11,702 shares of the companys stock valued at $565,000 after purchasing an additional 385 shares during the last quarter. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management increased its stake in shares of iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management now owns 8,262 shares of the companys stock valued at $399,000 after acquiring an additional 407 shares during the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its position in shares of iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 10,592 shares of the companys stock valued at $552,000 after acquiring an additional 466 shares during the period. Appleton Partners Inc. MA boosted its stake in iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Appleton Partners Inc. MA now owns 101,603 shares of the companys stock worth $4,831,000 after acquiring an additional 568 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF by 68.3% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 2,255 shares of the companys stock worth $117,000 after acquiring an additional 915 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF alerts: iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF Stock Up 0.7 % BATS:IAGG traded up $0.34 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $49.04. The stock had a trading volume of 229,232 shares. The businesss 50 day moving average is $48.60 and its 200-day moving average is $48.69. iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF has a one year low of $51.13 and a one year high of $53.61. iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF Profile The iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF (IAGG) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks an index composed of global non-U.S. dollar denominated investment grade bonds, hedged against currency fluctuations for USD investors. IAGG was launched on Nov 10, 2015 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on Wednesday adopted a law to protect the fragile ecosystem of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as "the roof of the world." The law, passed at a standing committee session of the National People's Congress, the top legislature, will take effect on Sept. 1. The law on ecological conservation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is a new addition to China's laws for special regions, following the enactment of the Yangtze River Protection Law, the Yellow River Protection Law, and the Black Soil Protection Law. However, the significance of the new law goes far beyond the plateau region. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with an area of around 2.58 million square kilometers, spans six provincial-level regions in western China. It is the source of several major rivers of Asia, such as the Yangtze, Yellow, and Mekong rivers, which combine to nourish around 3 billion people. "Despite having one of the best ecological environments in the world, the natural ecosystem of the plateau is inherently fragile and sensitive," said Shui Yanping, deputy director of the Department of Ecology and Environment of Tibet Autonomous Region. "Once damaged, it is difficult to repair." The plateau faces multiple ecological challenges, including retreating glaciers, melting permafrost, and the impact of global warming, Shui said. Lawmakers said formulating the law will help strengthen the top-level design of the ecological protection system for the plateau. The law outlines the overall layout of the plateau ecology security, stipulates protection and restoration measures, risk prevention and control, and safeguards and supervision. The draft law entered its second reading late last year with enhanced provisions on preserving biodiversity. It underscored the protection of snow-capped mountains, glaciers and frozen soil upon beginning the third reading. KEEP HUMAN ACTIVITIES WITHIN LIMIT Protection is the cornerstone of the new law, which stresses the principle of respecting, complying with and protecting Nature. As a lawmaker participating in the legislation once said, "We have no quick fix to prevent ecological changes such as the melting of glaciers from taking place on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. What we can do, however, is to keep human activities within the ecological limit. This is the best way to protect it." The law prohibits production and construction activities that may cause soil erosion in areas that already suffer severe soil erosion or have fragile ecology. It bans sand mining and mining activities that do not meet conservation requirements in nature reserves for river sources and imposes strict rules against the construction of new small hydropower stations on the plateau. The law also contains provisions for travelers. It prescribes penalties for those who litter on the plateau, stipulating that individuals with serious circumstances shall be fined between 500 yuan (about 72 U.S. dollars) and 10,000 yuan. "As the May Day holiday approaches, the number of tourists visiting Mount Qomolangma is increasing, as is the amount of litter left by tourists. I believe the law will raise public awareness of protecting the environment and curb such behaviors," said Lhapa Tsering with Qomolangma National Nature Reserve Administration. Bank of Hawaii (NYSE:BOH Get Rating) announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday. The bank reported $1.14 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.23 by ($0.09), MarketWatch Earnings reports. The company had revenue of $229.07 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $177.67 million. Bank of Hawaii had a net margin of 26.90% and a return on equity of 19.01%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.32 EPS. Bank of Hawaii Trading Down 3.7 % BOH stock opened at $47.77 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $58.95 and a 200-day moving average of $71.02. The company has a market cap of $1.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.72, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. Bank of Hawaii has a twelve month low of $34.71 and a twelve month high of $85.45. Get Bank of Hawaii alerts: Bank of Hawaii Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 14th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be given a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.86%. Bank of Hawaiis payout ratio is currently 51.09%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Insider Activity at Bank of Hawaii A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Bank of Hawaii in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price objective on Bank of Hawaii from $83.00 to $60.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Compass Point lowered Bank of Hawaii from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $71.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, January 24th. DA Davidson reduced their price objective on Bank of Hawaii from $76.00 to $55.00 in a research note on Monday, March 20th. Finally, TheStreet downgraded Bank of Hawaii from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and three have assigned a hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Bank of Hawaii has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $66.25. In related news, CEO Peter S. Ho sold 7,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.40, for a total value of $534,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 226,681 shares in the company, valued at $17,318,428.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 2.11% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bank of Hawaii A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BOH. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in Bank of Hawaii by 5.8% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 70,245 shares of the banks stock valued at $5,895,000 after purchasing an additional 3,843 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Bank of Hawaii by 15.3% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 15,739 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,322,000 after acquiring an additional 2,093 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Bank of Hawaii by 43.8% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 14,531 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,219,000 after acquiring an additional 4,423 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC grew its stake in Bank of Hawaii by 6.1% in the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 8,757 shares of the banks stock valued at $735,000 after acquiring an additional 501 shares during the period. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Bank of Hawaii by 32.7% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 26,023 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,184,000 after acquiring an additional 6,407 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 74.29% of the companys stock. Bank of Hawaii Company Profile (Get Rating) Bank of Hawaii Corp. is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking, Commercial Banking, and Treasury and Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers financial products and services, including loan, deposit and insurance products, private banking and international client banking services, trust services, investment management, and institutional investment advisory services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Hawaii Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Hawaii and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. boohoo group plc (LON:BOO Get Rating) has received a consensus recommendation of Hold from the twelve analysts that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 53.88 ($0.67). Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Credit Suisse Group restated a neutral rating and set a GBX 45 ($0.56) price objective on shares of boohoo group in a research note on Friday, January 20th. Numis Securities reiterated a hold rating and set a GBX 35 ($0.44) target price on shares of boohoo group in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Berenberg Bank reiterated a hold rating and set a GBX 45 ($0.56) target price on shares of boohoo group in a research note on Monday, January 23rd. Shore Capital reiterated a hold rating on shares of boohoo group in a research note on Monday, February 20th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded boohoo group to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 20th. Get boohoo group alerts: boohoo group Price Performance Shares of BOO opened at GBX 50.60 ($0.63) on Friday. boohoo group has a 12-month low of GBX 30 ($0.37) and a 12-month high of GBX 92.28 ($1.15). The businesss fifty day moving average is GBX 53.07 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 46.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 1.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 91.31. The stock has a market cap of 642.62 million, a P/E ratio of -1,686.67 and a beta of 1.83. boohoo group Company Profile boohoo group plc, through its subsidiaries, operates as an online clothing retailer in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the United States, and internationally. The company designs, sources, markets, and sells clothing, shoes, accessories, and beauty products for 16-to-45-year age customers. It provides its products under the boohoo, boohooMAN, PrettyLittleThing, Nasty Gal, MissPap, Karen Millen, Coast, Oasis, Warehouse, Dorothy Perkins, Wallis, Burton, and Debenhams brands. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for boohoo group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for boohoo group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Boston Properties (NYSE:BXP Get Rating) updated its second quarter earnings guidance on Tuesday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $1.79-1.81 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $1.80. Boston Properties also updated its FY23 guidance to $7.14-7.20 EPS. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have recently commented on BXP. Barclays lowered shares of Boston Properties from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $57.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, March 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered shares of Boston Properties from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their target price for the stock from $91.00 to $74.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 4th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Boston Properties from $82.00 to $86.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 6th. Mizuho decreased their target price on Boston Properties from $95.00 to $85.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 4th. Finally, Evercore ISI lowered their target price on Boston Properties from $79.00 to $66.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 27th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Boston Properties has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $73.72. Get Boston Properties alerts: Boston Properties Price Performance NYSE BXP traded up $0.82 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $51.12. 659,406 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,714,999. Boston Properties has a 1-year low of $46.18 and a 1-year high of $124.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73, a quick ratio of 4.19 and a current ratio of 4.19. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $57.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $66.06. The company has a market cap of $8.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.31 and a beta of 1.07. Boston Properties Dividend Announcement Boston Properties ( NYSE:BXP Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.50 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.70 by ($1.20). Boston Properties had a net margin of 27.31% and a return on equity of 10.31%. The firm had revenue of $803.20 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $778.80 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.82 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Boston Properties will post 7.17 EPS for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 31st will be paid a $0.98 dividend. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. Boston Propertiess dividend payout ratio is presently 72.59%. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, Director Matthew J. Lustig purchased 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 15th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $52.92 per share, for a total transaction of $529,200.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 10,000 shares in the company, valued at $529,200. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 1.09% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Boston Properties Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Boston Properties by 17.1% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 2,714 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $350,000 after buying an additional 396 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Boston Properties during the 1st quarter worth approximately $214,000. Private Advisor Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Boston Properties in the first quarter valued at approximately $403,000. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS lifted its position in shares of Boston Properties by 6.6% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 19,020 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,450,000 after purchasing an additional 1,178 shares in the last quarter. Finally, APG Asset Management N.V. boosted its holdings in Boston Properties by 38.8% during the first quarter. APG Asset Management N.V. now owns 11,448 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,325,000 after purchasing an additional 3,200 shares during the last quarter. 88.62% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Boston Properties Company Profile (Get Rating) Boston Properties, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust. It develops, acquires, manages and owns a portfolio of Class A properties. The firm operates through the following geographical locations: Boston, New York, San Francisco and Washington. The company was founded by Mortimer Benjamin Zuckerman and Edward H. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Boston Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boston Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brembo S.p.A. (OTCMKTS:BRBOF Get Rating)s stock price was down 2.4% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $14.96 and last traded at $14.96. Approximately 100 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 88% from the average daily volume of 825 shares. The stock had previously closed at $15.33. Brembo Price Performance The stock has a fifty day moving average of $14.44 and a 200-day moving average of $12.46. About Brembo (Get Rating) Brembo SpA engages in the manufacture and provision of braking system solutions for automotive vehicles. It operates through the Discs and After Market business segments. The Discs segment comprises the systems and motorbikes. The After Market segment refers to the performance of the group. The company was founded by Emilio Bombassei and Italo Breda on January 11, 1961 and is headquartered in Curno, Italy. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Brembo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brembo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of China Green Agriculture (NYSE:CGA Get Rating) in a research report released on Saturday morning. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the basic materials companys stock. China Green Agriculture Trading Down 0.5 % Shares of China Green Agriculture stock opened at $3.81 on Friday. China Green Agriculture has a fifty-two week low of $3.66 and a fifty-two week high of $9.24. The company has a quick ratio of 1.98, a current ratio of 2.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. The company has a fifty day moving average of $4.10 and a 200 day moving average of $4.60. Get China Green Agriculture alerts: China Green Agriculture (NYSE:CGA Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The basic materials company reported ($0.27) EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $24.54 million during the quarter. China Green Agriculture had a negative return on equity of 36.71% and a negative net margin of 37.35%. Institutional Trading of China Green Agriculture China Green Agriculture Company Profile An institutional investor recently bought a new position in China Green Agriculture stock. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP acquired a new position in China Green Agriculture, Inc. ( NYSE:CGA Get Rating ) during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 11,368 shares of the basic materials companys stock, valued at approximately $115,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned 0.13% of China Green Agriculture at the end of the most recent reporting period. Institutional investors own 0.14% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) China Green Agriculture, Inc engages in the research, development, production, and sale of various types of fertilizers and agricultural products. It operates through the following segments: Jinong, Gufeng, and Yuxing. The Jinong segment includes fertilizer products, with focus on humic acid-based compound fertilizer. See Also Receive News & Ratings for China Green Agriculture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Green Agriculture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chubb (NYSE:CB Get Rating) announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The financial services provider reported $4.41 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.37 by $0.04, Briefing.com reports. Chubb had a net margin of 12.35% and a return on equity of 12.51%. The firm had revenue of $9.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.39 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.82 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Chubb Stock Performance Shares of CB stock opened at $201.18 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $83.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.07, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.64. The companys 50 day moving average is $199.72 and its 200 day moving average is $208.92. The company has a quick ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 0.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. Chubb has a 52-week low of $173.78 and a 52-week high of $231.37. Get Chubb alerts: Chubb Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 10th. Investors of record on Friday, March 17th were issued a dividend of $0.83 per share. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.65%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 16th. Chubbs payout ratio is 26.52%. Analyst Ratings Changes Insider Activity at Chubb A number of research analysts recently commented on CB shares. Citigroup raised shares of Chubb from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $229.00 price target for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on shares of Chubb in a report on Thursday, January 19th. They issued a market perform rating and a $225.00 price target for the company. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Chubb from $255.00 to $256.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Chubb in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on shares of Chubb from $259.00 to $242.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $243.23. In related news, COO John W. Keogh sold 23,871 shares of Chubb stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.18, for a total transaction of $5,064,948.78. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 272,062 shares of the companys stock, valued at $57,726,115.16. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other Chubb news, Director Theodore Shasta sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.73, for a total value of $189,730.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 14,488 shares in the company, valued at $2,748,808.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, COO John W. Keogh sold 23,871 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.18, for a total transaction of $5,064,948.78. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 272,062 shares of the companys stock, valued at $57,726,115.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.39% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chubb Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Chubb in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Chubb during the fourth quarter worth $47,000. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. acquired a new stake in shares of Chubb during the third quarter worth $52,000. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Chubb by 44.4% during the fourth quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 511 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $113,000 after buying an additional 157 shares during the period. Finally, Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC lifted its stake in shares of Chubb by 10.1% during the first quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 555 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $119,000 after buying an additional 51 shares during the period. 87.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Chubb (Get Rating) Chubb Ltd. operates as a holding company, which engages in the provision of commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and accident and health (A&H), reinsurance, and life insurance. It operates through the following segments: North America Commercial Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance, North America Personal P&C Insurance, North America Agricultural Insurance, Overseas General Insurance, Global Reinsurance, and Life Insurance. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Chubb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chubb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (NYSE:CCEP Get Rating) had its target price increased by research analysts at Credit Suisse Group to 65.00 ($72.22) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, The Fly reports. A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on CCEP. UBS Group raised their price objective on Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from $68.00 to $71.00 in a report on Wednesday. Argus raised their price objective on Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from $60.00 to $62.00 in a report on Thursday, March 16th. Barclays raised their price objective on Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from $67.00 to $73.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, April 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from $63.00 to $66.00 in a report on Thursday, January 5th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $66.38. Get Coca-Cola Europacific Partners alerts: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Stock Up 1.2 % CCEP stock traded up $0.73 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $64.01. The stock had a trading volume of 1,105,286 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,113,970. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $57.46 and its 200 day simple moving average is $54.23. The company has a current ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners has a 52-week low of $41.80 and a 52-week high of $64.12. Institutional Trading of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners About Coca-Cola Europacific Partners A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 5.0% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 14,447,992 shares of the companys stock worth $702,316,000 after purchasing an additional 685,745 shares during the last quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd increased its position in shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 9.9% during the 4th quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd now owns 5,094,317 shares of the companys stock worth $281,818,000 after purchasing an additional 460,302 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its position in shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 8.2% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,412,529 shares of the companys stock worth $188,062,000 after purchasing an additional 333,403 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 20.0% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 3,865,724 shares of the companys stock valued at $187,912,000 after acquiring an additional 643,635 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nordea Investment Management AB grew its position in Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 16.2% in the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 3,428,149 shares of the companys stock valued at $188,720,000 after acquiring an additional 476,956 shares in the last quarter. 28.63% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. (Get Rating) Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc engages in the distribution and sale of non-alcoholic ready to drink beverages. It operates through the following geographical segments: Iberia, Germany, Great Britain, France, Belgium/Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland. The company was founded on August 4, 2015 and is headquartered in Uxbridge, the United Kingdom. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Companhia Paranaense de Energia COPEL (NYSE:ELP Get Rating)s stock price crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $6.95 and traded as high as $7.53. Companhia Paranaense de Energia COPEL shares last traded at $7.47, with a volume of 190,886 shares traded. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia COPEL in a report on Wednesday. They set a buy rating on the stock. Get Companhia Paranaense de Energia - COPEL alerts: Companhia Paranaense de Energia COPEL Trading Down 0.4 % The firm has a market cap of $4.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.50 and a beta of 0.73. The businesss 50-day moving average is $6.77 and its two-hundred day moving average is $6.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 1.28. Institutional Inflows and Outflows About Companhia Paranaense de Energia COPEL A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Fox Run Management L.L.C. grew its position in Companhia Paranaense de Energia COPEL by 10.8% in the third quarter. Fox Run Management L.L.C. now owns 16,146 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $96,000 after purchasing an additional 1,568 shares in the last quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia COPEL by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 51,758 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $307,000 after acquiring an additional 1,814 shares during the period. Mariner LLC grew its position in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia COPEL by 14.5% in the 4th quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 16,591 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $119,000 after acquiring an additional 2,104 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its position in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia COPEL by 16.2% in the 1st quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 15,865 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $124,000 after acquiring an additional 2,206 shares during the period. Finally, Claro Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia COPEL by 12.6% in the 4th quarter. Claro Advisors LLC now owns 20,138 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $145,000 after acquiring an additional 2,259 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 4.50% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Companhia Paranaense de Energia engages in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. It operates through the following segments: Power Generation and Transmission (GET), Power Distribution (DIS), Telecommunications (TEL), GAS, Power Sale (COM), and Holding Company (HOL). The GET segment include production of electricity from hydraulic, wind, and thermal projects (GER) and also provides services of transmission and transformation of electric power. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Companhia Paranaense de Energia - COPEL Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Companhia Paranaense de Energia - COPEL and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jushi (OTCMKTS:JUSHF Get Rating) and Cresco Labs (OTCMKTS:CRLBF Get Rating) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability, risk, earnings and dividends. Profitability This table compares Jushi and Cresco Labs net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Jushi alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Jushi N/A N/A N/A Cresco Labs -25.16% -8.08% -3.44% Earnings & Valuation This table compares Jushi and Cresco Labs gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Jushi $284.28 million 0.29 -$202.32 million N/A N/A Cresco Labs $842.68 million 0.47 -$212.05 million ($0.71) -2.08 Analyst Ratings Jushi has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Cresco Labs. This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Jushi and Cresco Labs, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Jushi 0 4 2 0 2.33 Cresco Labs 0 5 4 0 2.44 Jushi currently has a consensus target price of $2.55, suggesting a potential upside of 504.84%. Cresco Labs has a consensus target price of $6.82, suggesting a potential upside of 360.91%. Given Jushis higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe Jushi is more favorable than Cresco Labs. Insider & Institutional Ownership 0.2% of Cresco Labs shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. About Jushi (Get Rating) Jushi Holdings Inc., a vertically integrated cannabis company, engages in the cultivation, processing, retail, and distribution of medical and adult-use products. It focuses on building a portfolio of cannabis assets in various jurisdictions in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, California, Nevada, and Massachusetts. The company also offers hemp-based CBD products, including cannabidiol supplements, tinctures, capsules, softgels, and topicals under The Bank, The Lab, Nira+ Medicinals, Seche, Tasteology, and Nira brands. As of August 25, 2022, it operated 35 BEYOND/HELLO retail locations. The company was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. About Cresco Labs (Get Rating) Cresco Labs Inc., together with its subsidiaries, cultivates, manufactures, and sells retail and medical cannabis products in the United States. It provides cannabis in flowers, vape pens, live resins, disposable pens, and extracts under the Cresco brand; vape carts, vape pens, flower, popcorn, shake, pre-rolls, shorties, and concentrates under the High Supply brand; vapes and gummies under the Good News brand; vapes and edibles under the Wonder Wellness Co. brand; and tinctures, capsules, salves, and sublingual oils under the Remedi brand, as well as cannabis products under the Reserve brand. The company also offers cannabis flowers under the FloraCal brand; and chocolate and toffee confections, fruit-forward gummies, hard sweets, and taffy under the Mindy's Edibles brand, as well as licenses the Kiva brand, which produces cannabis infused edibles, including chocolate confections, gummies, mints, and tarts. In addition, the company offers cannabis-infused edibles under the Sunnyside brand. As of December 6, 2022, it owned and operated 55 dispensaries. The company was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Receive News & Ratings for Jushi Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Jushi and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE:CAG Get Rating) Zacks Research dropped their Q4 2024 earnings per share estimates for shares of Conagra Brands in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, April 19th. Zacks Research analyst V. Bagree now forecasts that the company will earn $0.64 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.65. The consensus estimate for Conagra Brands current full-year earnings is $2.76 per share. Get Conagra Brands alerts: Conagra Brands (NYSE:CAG Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 5th. The company reported $0.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.64 by $0.12. The business had revenue of $3.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.08 billion. Conagra Brands had a return on equity of 15.34% and a net margin of 6.59%. The businesss revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.58 EPS. Conagra Brands Trading Up 1.1 % Several other brokerages have also recently weighed in on CAG. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on Conagra Brands from $40.00 to $42.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, December 29th. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price target on Conagra Brands from $36.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, March 31st. UBS Group lifted their price target on Conagra Brands from $43.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on Conagra Brands from $40.00 to $42.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Conagra Brands from $48.00 to $46.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $41.00. Shares of NYSE:CAG opened at $38.14 on Monday. Conagra Brands has a 52-week low of $31.01 and a 52-week high of $41.30. The stock has a market cap of $18.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.84, a PEG ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $36.72 and a 200-day moving average price of $36.94. Institutional Trading of Conagra Brands A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its position in Conagra Brands by 10.5% during the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 6,488 shares of the companys stock worth $244,000 after acquiring an additional 618 shares during the period. Peterson Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in Conagra Brands by 181.3% during the 1st quarter. Peterson Financial Group Inc. now owns 23,277 shares of the companys stock worth $874,000 after acquiring an additional 15,003 shares during the period. First Bank & Trust lifted its position in Conagra Brands by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. First Bank & Trust now owns 43,595 shares of the companys stock worth $1,637,000 after acquiring an additional 2,108 shares during the period. Meritage Portfolio Management acquired a new stake in Conagra Brands during the 1st quarter worth approximately $3,045,000. Finally, D.A. Davidson & CO. lifted its position in Conagra Brands by 7.3% during the 1st quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 155,830 shares of the companys stock worth $5,853,000 after acquiring an additional 10,582 shares during the period. 81.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Insider Transactions at Conagra Brands In related news, EVP Charisse Brock sold 7,036 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.04, for a total value of $260,613.44. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 94,802 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,511,466.08. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Charisse Brock sold 7,036 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.04, for a total value of $260,613.44. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 94,802 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,511,466.08. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, COO Thomas M. Mcgough sold 45,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.66, for a total value of $1,739,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 104,859 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,053,848.94. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.98% of the companys stock. Conagra Brands Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 28th will be given a dividend of $0.33 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 27th. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.46%. Conagra Brandss dividend payout ratio is currently 79.04%. About Conagra Brands (Get Rating) Conagra Brands, Inc engages in the manufacture and sale of processed and packaged foods. It operates through the following segments: Grocery and Snacks, Refrigerated and Frozen, International, and Foodservice. The Grocery and Snacks segment includes branded, shelf stable food products sold in various retail channels in the United States. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Conagra Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Conagra Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UNITED NATIONS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China's permanent representative to the United Nations on Tuesday called on the warring parties in Sudan to promptly end hostilities. The recent eruption of armed conflict in Sudan has led to massive civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction. It pains China, a good friend and partner of Sudan, to see the country's relapse into turmoil, said Zhang Jun. China calls on both parties to the conflict to put the interests of the country and people first, end hostilities promptly and avoid further escalating the situation, he told a Security Council meeting on Sudan. China hopes that the humanitarian truce will hold, civilians will be effectively protected, the safety of foreign institutions, personnel, and diplomatic missions in the country will be ensured, and security and logistics support will be provided for humanitarian aid and personnel evacuation and relocation, said Zhang. "Sudan is an important country in the Horn of Africa. If the current conflict drags on and escalates, there will undoubtedly be a higher spillover risk. This is not in the interests of Sudan and will harm regional peace and security," he warned. At present, the priority is to facilitate the immediate cessation of hostilities, urge both parties to the conflict to solve differences and divergences through dialogue, and bring the political process and social economic development as well as social order back to the right track, he said. The cause of the current turmoil in Sudan deserves serious reflection. The international community should respect Sudan's sovereignty and ownership and support Sudan in exploring institutional arrangements in line with its national conditions. Imposing a solution from the outside or arbitrarily setting up a timetable is likely to be counterproductive, he said. China firmly supports Sudan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and hopes that Sudan will see the end of the conflict at an early date and return to the right track of peace, stability, and national development, said Zhang. Cumberland Partners Ltd decreased its position in shares of Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO Get Rating) (TSE:BMO) by 19.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 198,131 shares of the banks stock after selling 48,643 shares during the quarter. Bank of Montreal accounts for about 1.9% of Cumberland Partners Ltds holdings, making the stock its 20th biggest position. Cumberland Partners Ltds holdings in Bank of Montreal were worth $17,952,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Bank of Montreal by 292.0% during the 4th quarter. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC now owns 980 shares of the banks stock worth $89,000 after purchasing an additional 730 shares during the last quarter. Forsta AP Fonden raised its position in shares of Bank of Montreal by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Forsta AP Fonden now owns 162,900 shares of the banks stock worth $14,747,000 after purchasing an additional 6,100 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of Bank of Montreal by 5.5% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 843,729 shares of the banks stock worth $73,944,000 after purchasing an additional 44,277 shares during the last quarter. WoodTrust Financial Corp raised its position in shares of Bank of Montreal by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. WoodTrust Financial Corp now owns 27,145 shares of the banks stock worth $2,459,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Bank of Montreal by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 13,927 shares of the banks stock worth $1,221,000 after purchasing an additional 233 shares during the last quarter. 42.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Bank of Montreal alerts: Bank of Montreal Trading Up 0.9 % BMO stock traded up $0.76 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $89.28. 324,173 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 554,200. The firm has a market capitalization of $63.67 billion, a PE ratio of 7.22, a P/E/G ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.98. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $91.20 and its 200-day moving average price is $93.51. Bank of Montreal has a 52-week low of $81.57 and a 52-week high of $110.67. Bank of Montreal Increases Dividend Bank of Montreal ( NYSE:BMO Get Rating ) (TSE:BMO) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 28th. The bank reported $2.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.33 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $4.80 billion during the quarter. Bank of Montreal had a return on equity of 13.65% and a net margin of 22.13%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Bank of Montreal will post 9.81 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 28th will be given a $1.075 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 27th. This represents a $4.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.82%. This is a positive change from Bank of Montreals previous quarterly dividend of $1.05. Bank of Montreals dividend payout ratio is presently 34.34%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages recently issued reports on BMO. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on Bank of Montreal from C$151.00 to C$147.50 in a research report on Thursday, January 19th. StockNews.com started coverage on Bank of Montreal in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Bank of Montreal has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $152.70. Bank of Montreal Profile (Get Rating) Bank of Montreal engages in the provision of banking and financial services to individuals and institutions. It operates through the following segments: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking (Canadian P&C) and United States Personal and Commercial Banking (U.S. P&C). The Canadian P&C segment refers to retail banking and financial operations in Canada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Montreal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Montreal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cumberland Partners Ltd reduced its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC Get Rating) by 0.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 146,765 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,130 shares during the period. Marsh & McLennan Companies makes up approximately 2.6% of Cumberland Partners Ltds portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest position. Cumberland Partners Ltds holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $24,287,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of MMC. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.5% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 43,528,811 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,498,416,000 after purchasing an additional 227,036 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.7% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 41,313,574 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,167,702,000 after purchasing an additional 693,039 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 2.6% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,398,796 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $408,804,000 after purchasing an additional 61,820 shares during the period. Jensen Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 8.8% during the third quarter. Jensen Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,217,285 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $331,018,000 after purchasing an additional 179,485 shares during the period. Finally, Bahl & Gaynor Inc. increased its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 10.9% during the third quarter. Bahl & Gaynor Inc. now owns 2,212,335 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $330,280,000 after purchasing an additional 218,187 shares during the period. 87.30% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Marsh & McLennan Companies alerts: Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock traded down $1.82 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $175.98. 683,423 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,682,951. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $143.33 and a 1 year high of $180.59. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. The business has a 50-day moving average of $165.42 and a 200-day moving average of $166.37. The stock has a market capitalization of $87.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.82, a P/E/G ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.93. Marsh & McLennan Companies Dividend Announcement Marsh & McLennan Companies ( NYSE:MMC Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The financial services provider reported $2.53 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.47 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $5.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.86 billion. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 33.33% and a net margin of 15.24%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.30 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 7.61 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 5th will be given a $0.59 dividend. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.34%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 4th. Marsh & McLennan Companiess payout ratio is 36.93%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In MMC has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $180.00 to $183.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $197.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $184.00 to $180.00 in a research report on Monday, April 10th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $190.00 to $192.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $180.77. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, Director Oscar Fanjul sold 2,900 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $173.70, for a total value of $503,730.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 75,447 shares in the company, valued at $13,105,143.90. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, CEO Dean Michael Klisura sold 3,140 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $165.22, for a total value of $518,790.80. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 20,935 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,458,880.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Oscar Fanjul sold 2,900 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $173.70, for a total value of $503,730.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 75,447 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,105,143.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. About Marsh & McLennan Companies (Get Rating) Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc is a professional services firm, which engages in offering clients advice and solutions in risk, strategy, and people. It operates through the Risk and Insurance Services, and Consulting segments. The Risk and Insurance Services segment is involved in risk management activities, as well as insurance and reinsurance broking and services. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MMC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Marsh & McLennan Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Marsh & McLennan Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC Get Rating) will release its earnings data after the market closes on Thursday, April 27th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.70 per share for the quarter. Encompass Health has set its FY22 guidance at $2.87 to $3.16 EPS and its FY 2023 guidance at $2.87-$3.16 EPS.Investors that are interested in registering for the companys conference call can do so using this link. Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 7th. The company reported $0.88 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.85 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $1.14 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.12 billion. Encompass Health had a net margin of 5.54% and a return on equity of 16.15%. On average, analysts expect Encompass Health to post $3 EPS for the current fiscal year and $4 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Encompass Health alerts: Encompass Health Price Performance Encompass Health stock opened at $63.34 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50. Encompass Health has a 52-week low of $44.33 and a 52-week high of $69.77. The company has a market cap of $6.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.46, a PEG ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.05. The firms fifty day moving average is $57.65 and its 200 day moving average is $57.28. Encompass Health Dividend Announcement Insider Activity The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 3rd were given a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.95%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 31st. Encompass Healths dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.22%. In other Encompass Health news, CFO Douglas E. Coltharp sold 17,895 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.78, for a total transaction of $1,087,658.10. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 53,097 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,227,235.66. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 2.70% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Encompass Health Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Encompass Health in the 1st quarter valued at about $318,000. Centiva Capital LP bought a new position in shares of Encompass Health during the 4th quarter worth about $311,000. Pathstone Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in Encompass Health in the 3rd quarter valued at about $283,000. Captrust Financial Advisors purchased a new stake in shares of Encompass Health during the 4th quarter worth approximately $278,000. Finally, Meridian Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Encompass Health in the 4th quarter worth approximately $276,000. Institutional investors own 96.14% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets EHC has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Credit Suisse Group boosted their price objective on shares of Encompass Health from $62.00 to $73.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 9th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Encompass Health in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Encompass Health from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Encompass Health from $57.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Encompass Health from $68.00 to $73.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $69.40. Encompass Health Company Profile (Get Rating) Encompass Health Corp. engages in the provision of post-acute healthcare services. It operates through the Inpatient Rehabilitation and Home Health and Hospice segments. The Inpatient Rehabilitation segment operates inpatient rehabilitation hospitals that provide rehabilitative treatment and care to patients who are recovering from stroke and other neurological disorders, cardiac and pulmonary conditions, brain and spinal cord injuries, complex orthopedic conditions and amputations. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Encompass Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Encompass Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ero Copper (TSE:ERO Get Rating) had its target price raised by stock analysts at Raymond James from C$25.00 to C$28.00 in a research note issued on Wednesday, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Raymond James price target suggests a potential upside of 6.38% from the stocks previous close. A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on ERO. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Ero Copper from C$22.00 to C$25.00 in a research note on Friday, April 21st. National Bankshares increased their target price on shares of Ero Copper from C$24.50 to C$25.50 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Scotiabank increased their target price on shares of Ero Copper from C$30.00 to C$32.00 in a report on Thursday, April 6th. CIBC increased their target price on shares of Ero Copper from C$20.00 to C$23.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. Finally, National Bank Financial increased their target price on shares of Ero Copper from C$24.50 to C$25.50 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Ero Copper currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$25.90. Get Ero Copper alerts: Ero Copper Price Performance Shares of ERO traded up C$0.43 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting C$26.32. 95,264 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 278,045. Ero Copper has a one year low of C$10.54 and a one year high of C$27.56. The company has a current ratio of 3.04, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 79.13. The business has a 50-day moving average of C$23.47 and a 200 day moving average of C$20.06. The stock has a market capitalization of C$2.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.35, a PEG ratio of -0.72 and a beta of 2.12. About Ero Copper Ero Copper ( TSE:ERO Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 7th. The company reported C$0.33 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$0.41 by C($0.08). Ero Copper had a net margin of 23.88% and a return on equity of 21.98%. The company had revenue of C$158.45 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$167.50 million. As a group, equities analysts expect that Ero Copper will post 1.8944282 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. (Get Rating) Ero Copper Corp., a base metals mining company, engages in the exploration, development, and production of mining projects in Brazil. It engages in the production and sale of copper concentrate from the MCSA Mining Complex located within the CuraAA Valley, northeastern Bahia state, as well as gold and silver byproducts. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Ero Copper Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ero Copper and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Horizon Co. (NYSE:FHN Get Rating) declared a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, April 25th, RTT News reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 16th will be paid a dividend of 0.15 per share by the financial services provider on Monday, July 3rd. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.37%. First Horizon has raised its dividend payment by an average of 2.3% per year over the last three years. First Horizon has a dividend payout ratio of 30.9% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect First Horizon to earn $1.80 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.60 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 33.3%. Get First Horizon alerts: First Horizon Trading Up 1.2 % FHN stock traded up $0.21 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $17.80. The company had a trading volume of 539,100 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,182,204. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $19.41 and a 200 day moving average of $22.67. First Horizon has a 12 month low of $13.40 and a 12 month high of $24.92. The company has a market capitalization of $9.57 billion, a PE ratio of 10.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.93. Insider Activity at First Horizon First Horizon ( NYSE:FHN Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.46 by ($0.01). First Horizon had a return on equity of 13.53% and a net margin of 24.76%. The business had revenue of $863.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $871.36 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.38 EPS. First Horizons revenue for the quarter was up 22.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that First Horizon will post 1.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In related news, CEO D Bryan Jordan sold 93,157 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.80, for a total transaction of $2,310,293.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,396,259 shares of the companys stock, valued at $34,627,223.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, CEO D Bryan Jordan sold 93,157 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.80, for a total value of $2,310,293.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,396,259 shares in the company, valued at approximately $34,627,223.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Terry Lawson Akins sold 4,694 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.67, for a total value of $115,800.98. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 145,691 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,594,196.97. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.55% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Horizon A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FHN. Norges Bank purchased a new position in First Horizon in the 4th quarter worth $133,345,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its position in First Horizon by 62.6% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 4,302,681 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $101,070,000 after purchasing an additional 1,657,018 shares during the period. Davide Leone & Partners Investment Co Ltd. acquired a new stake in First Horizon during the 4th quarter worth about $34,744,000. State Street Corp grew its position in First Horizon by 7.5% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 18,554,395 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $427,545,000 after purchasing an additional 1,302,014 shares during the period. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc grew its position in First Horizon by 103.1% during the 4th quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 2,243,102 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $54,956,000 after purchasing an additional 1,138,622 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.41% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and issued a $25.00 price target on shares of First Horizon in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of First Horizon from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $25.00 price target for the company in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of First Horizon in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company. First Horizon Company Profile (Get Rating) First Horizon Corp. (Tennessee) operates as a financial holding company, which engages in the provision of checking accounts, savings products, mortgage banking, lending, and financing to individuals and businesses. It operates the business through three segments: Regional Banking, Specialty Banking, and Corporate. Read More Receive News & Ratings for First Horizon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Horizon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Heritage Investors Management Corp decreased its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Get Rating) by 1.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 108,018 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,512 shares during the quarter. Heritage Investors Management Corps holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $10,933,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Mark Sheptoff Financial Planning LLC bought a new position in Philip Morris International in the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Red Tortoise LLC bought a new position in Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Winch Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in Philip Morris International by 200.0% in the 4th quarter. Winch Advisory Services LLC now owns 294 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 196 shares during the period. My Personal CFO LLC bought a new position in Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Asset Dedication LLC bought a new position in Philip Morris International in the 3rd quarter worth $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.85% of the companys stock. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Insider Transactions at Philip Morris International In related news, insider Werner Barth sold 8,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.35, for a total transaction of $786,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 87,321 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,588,020.35. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other Philip Morris International news, insider Stacey Kennedy sold 20,308 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.30, for a total value of $2,036,892.40. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 22,418 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,248,525.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Werner Barth sold 8,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.35, for a total transaction of $786,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 87,321 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,588,020.35. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 117,064 shares of company stock worth $11,738,763. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Philip Morris International Stock Up 0.2 % NYSE:PM traded up $0.18 on Wednesday, reaching $98.87. The stock had a trading volume of 790,223 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,480,457. The company has a market capitalization of $153.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.68. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 1-year low of $82.85 and a 1-year high of $109.81. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $97.87 and a 200-day moving average price of $97.75. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The company reported $1.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.34 by $0.04. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 10.80% and a negative return on equity of 128.55%. The company had revenue of $8.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.03 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.56 earnings per share. Philip Morris Internationals quarterly revenue was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Philip Morris International Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 11th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 23rd were given a dividend of $1.27 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 22nd. This represents a $5.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.14%. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is 90.88%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have recently issued reports on PM shares. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Philip Morris International from $109.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Societe Generale started coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Monday, January 23rd. They set a sell rating and a $90.00 price objective on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $109.00 to $116.00 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $114.00 price objective on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $110.60. Philip Morris International Profile (Get Rating) Philip Morris International, Inc is a holding company engaged in the manufacturing and sale of cigarettes, tobacco, and nicotine-containing products. Its products include cigarettes and reduced-risk products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: European Union, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, South and Southeast Asia, East Asia and Australia, and Americas. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arkansas Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV Get Rating) by 3.1% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 46,409 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,393 shares during the quarter. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF makes up approximately 3.9% of Arkansas Financial Group Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 7th largest holding. Arkansas Financial Group Inc.s holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF were worth $17,831,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 16.3% in the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 33,947,472 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,175,261,000 after purchasing an additional 4,746,312 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 16.2% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 8,832,996 shares of the companys stock worth $3,167,954,000 after acquiring an additional 1,229,595 shares during the period. First Command Advisory Services Inc. boosted its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 49.0% during the 4th quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc. now owns 7,813,912 shares of the companys stock worth $3,004,012,000 after acquiring an additional 2,568,971 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE grew its position in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 5,339,573 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,915,075,000 after acquiring an additional 142,535 shares during the period. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 10.9% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,435,129 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,382,536,000 after purchasing an additional 338,628 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares Core S&P 500 ETF alerts: iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Price Performance NYSEARCA IVV traded up $1.17 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $409.00. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,587,795 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,199,771. The firm has a market capitalization of $307.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.43 and a beta of 1.00. The companys 50-day moving average is $404.29 and its two-hundred day moving average is $396.49. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has a 1-year low of $349.53 and a 1-year high of $434.03. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Company Profile iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors 500 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IVV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares MSCI Spain ETF (NYSEARCA:EWP Get Rating) shares saw an uptick in trading volume on Wednesday . 569,167 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 67% from the previous sessions volume of 340,528 shares.The stock last traded at $28.68 and had previously closed at $28.32. iShares MSCI Spain ETF Price Performance The firm has a market capitalization of $596.31 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.77 and a beta of 0.89. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $27.63 and a two-hundred day moving average of $25.38. Get iShares MSCI Spain ETF alerts: Institutional Trading of iShares MSCI Spain ETF A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in iShares MSCI Spain ETF by 344.0% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,534,186 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $30,408,000 after acquiring an additional 1,188,687 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Spain ETF by 55.2% during the 4th quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 1,061,082 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $25,657,000 after purchasing an additional 377,609 shares in the last quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Spain ETF by 6.9% during the 4th quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp now owns 413,663 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $10,002,000 after purchasing an additional 26,526 shares in the last quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Spain ETF by 6.7% during the 4th quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC now owns 413,112 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $9,989,000 after purchasing an additional 26,080 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CX Institutional boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Spain ETF by 35.3% during the 4th quarter. CX Institutional now owns 340,353 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $8,230,000 after purchasing an additional 88,885 shares in the last quarter. iShares MSCI Spain ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI Spain Capped ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the Spanish market, as measured by the MSCI Spain Index (the Index). Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Spain ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Spain ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kentucky Retirement Systems grew its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) by 0.4% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 167,877 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after buying an additional 734 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $12,079,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.6% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 199,886,585 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $14,209,937,000 after buying an additional 3,058,491 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 174,002,852 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $12,369,862,000 after acquiring an additional 3,357,590 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 14,659,982 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,042,264,000 after acquiring an additional 155,845 shares in the last quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System boosted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 11,442,639 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $813,457,000 after purchasing an additional 59,791 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 11,005,473 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $803,730,000 after purchasing an additional 197,000 shares in the last quarter. 75.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets BMY has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com began coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Monday, March 6th. They set a hold rating and a $62.00 price objective on the stock. Atlantic Securities upped their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $70.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Bristol-Myers Squibb has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $80.00. Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance NYSE:BMY traded down $2.14 on Wednesday, reaching $68.10. 2,282,998 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,751,454. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $69.14 and a 200-day simple moving average of $72.75. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 52 week low of $65.28 and a 52 week high of $81.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market cap of $143.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.81, a P/E/G ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.45. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.82 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $11.41 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.20 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 13.71% and a return on equity of 51.60%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs revenue for the quarter was down 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.83 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.08 earnings per share for the current year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 10th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 6th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.35%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is currently 77.29%. Insider Buying and Selling at Bristol-Myers Squibb In other news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total value of $835,258.27. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,043 shares in the company, valued at $1,721,081.67. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total value of $17,916,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 236,104 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,625,163.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total value of $835,258.27. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 23,043 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,721,081.67. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile (Get Rating) Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Prologis, Inc. (NYSE:PLD Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm bought 2,980 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock, valued at approximately $336,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of PLD. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its stake in shares of Prologis by 27.6% in the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 13,071,004 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,328,016,000 after acquiring an additional 2,823,799 shares in the last quarter. PGGM Investments bought a new position in shares of Prologis in the 3rd quarter worth about $183,115,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its stake in shares of Prologis by 49.0% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 5,138,858 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $522,109,000 after acquiring an additional 1,691,045 shares in the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can bought a new position in shares of Prologis in the 3rd quarter worth about $134,276,000. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. increased its stake in shares of Prologis by 27.0% in the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 4,994,135 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $562,989,000 after acquiring an additional 1,060,745 shares in the last quarter. 75.84% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Prologis alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have weighed in on PLD shares. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Prologis from $157.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of Prologis from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. Mizuho started coverage on shares of Prologis in a research note on Monday, March 20th. They set a buy rating and a $140.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Prologis from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Raymond James raised their price objective on shares of Prologis from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $143.90. Prologis Stock Down 0.5 % PLD opened at $120.00 on Wednesday. Prologis, Inc. has a 52 week low of $98.03 and a 52 week high of $173.97. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 0.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $121.90 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $118.02. The company has a market capitalization of $110.81 billion, a PE ratio of 36.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 0.99. Prologis (NYSE:PLD Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 18th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.50 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.21 by ($0.71). Prologis had a net margin of 41.06% and a return on equity of 5.53%. The firm had revenue of $1.77 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.65 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.09 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 64.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Prologis, Inc. will post 5.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Prologis Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 17th were given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 16th. This is an increase from Prologiss previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.90%. Prologiss dividend payout ratio is 105.14%. Prologis Company Profile (Get Rating) Prologis, Inc engages in providing logistics solutions and services. It operates through the Real Estate and Strategic Capital segments. The Real Estate segment includes rental operations and development. The Strategic Capital segment represents the management of co-investment ventures and other unconsolidated entities. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PLD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Prologis, Inc. (NYSE:PLD Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Prologis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Prologis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SHANGHAI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- It only took about two months for a new energy tech firm based in Shanghai to get an invention patent, demonstrating the impressive speed and efficiency of China's intellectual property (IP) sector, particularly in regard to patent examination and approval processes. "We filed for a patent on Feb. 28. Thanks to the quick preliminary examination, our application was approved in a short period, and we have already obtained the certificate," said Mai Jianming, an official at Shanghai H-RISE New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. In general, the process of applying for a patent can be both time-consuming and complicated. However, since the establishment of the Shanghai Intellectual Property Protection Center in November 2022, the process has become much more efficient and streamlined. The newly established IP protection center aims to provide one-stop IP services for strategic emerging industries such as new materials, energy conservation and environmental protection in Shanghai. "The quick preliminary examining mode has greatly improved the efficiency, fault tolerance rate and certainty of an enterprise's intellectual property layout. Our company has submitted more than 100 applications for patents, and we highly appreciate the efficient services provided by the IP protection center. We hope to have our applications proceed on the fast track," Mai added. The quicker patent application process does not mean a laxity of quality control, said Xu Zhuoqun, director of the Shanghai Intellectual Property Protection Center. "Supporting high-quality patent applications to enter the fast track of assessment carried out by the China National Intellectual Property Administration is an important function of the center. We attach great importance to both quality and efficiency," Xu added. "IP protection plays a crucial role in driving the development of market and innovation. It is also an essential part of building a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized first-class business environment," said Rui Wenbiao, director of Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration. In March, the megacity launched an online IP protection service platform. Enterprises and individuals can now get 74 different IP-related services online, providing them with solutions to their IP issues. Furthermore, dedicated service windows for dealing with IP rights issues have been set up at government service centers in the 16 districts of Shanghai, making the services easily accessible to the general public. Shanghai will continue to strengthen IP protection efforts, providing innovative entrepreneurs with greater convenience and infinite potential for high-quality development, Rui said. Shanghai's IP protection efforts serve as a prime example of the entire country's unremitting efforts in this field. Statistics from the China National Intellectual Property Administration showed that China granted 798,000 invention patents in 2022, with 9.4 high-value invention patents for every 10,000 people. Last year, the country handled 44,000 cases of illegal acts in the fields of patent and trademark, and 58,000 administrative adjudication cases concerning patent infringement disputes. It also dealt with 71,000 applications for assistance in safeguarding rights. Wescott Financial Advisory Group LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin Co. (NYSE:LMT Get Rating) by 7.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,119 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 175 shares during the quarter. Wescott Financial Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $1,031,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of LMT. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Lockheed Martin by 1.3% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 22,885,865 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $8,840,580,000 after buying an additional 289,110 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in Lockheed Martin by 5.3% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,256,069 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $2,320,030,000 after buying an additional 264,665 shares during the last quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System lifted its position in Lockheed Martin by 2.3% in the third quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 1,148,736 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $443,745,000 after buying an additional 25,283 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 1.1% during the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 988,725 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $381,934,000 after purchasing an additional 10,587 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP lifted its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 59.2% during the third quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 698,200 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $269,708,000 after purchasing an additional 259,700 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.18% of the companys stock. Get Lockheed Martin alerts: Lockheed Martin Price Performance Shares of NYSE:LMT traded down $15.53 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $460.05. 898,794 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,417,303. The stock has a market cap of $116.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.74, a PEG ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a current ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61. Lockheed Martin Co. has a twelve month low of $373.67 and a twelve month high of $508.10. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $480.09 and a 200-day moving average price of $472.02. Lockheed Martin Dividend Announcement Lockheed Martin ( NYSE:LMT Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 18th. The aerospace company reported $6.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.08 by $0.35. The business had revenue of $15.13 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.01 billion. Lockheed Martin had a return on equity of 67.75% and a net margin of 8.60%. The businesss revenue was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $6.44 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Lockheed Martin Co. will post 26.8 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 1st were issued a $3.00 dividend. This represents a $12.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.61%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 28th. Lockheed Martins dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 54.84%. Insider Buying and Selling at Lockheed Martin In other Lockheed Martin news, EVP Timothy S. Cahill sold 2,534 shares of Lockheed Martin stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The stock was 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 link. In related news, EVP Timothy S. Cahill sold 2,534 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The shares were 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 directly owns 10,460 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,014,942.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Stephanie C. Hill sold 2,391 shares of Lockheed Martin stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $490.84, for a total transaction of $1,173,598.44. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 12,604 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,186,547.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.17% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes LMT has been the topic of several analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Lockheed Martin from $480.00 to $500.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Robert W. Baird lowered shares of Lockheed Martin from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $513.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Susquehanna increased their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $510.00 to $512.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 25th. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $546.00 to $579.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $542.00 to $532.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $494.79. 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. Louisiana-Pacific Co. (NYSE:LPX Get Rating)s stock price was down 4.3% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $57.16 and last traded at $57.39. Approximately 439,113 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 46% from the average daily volume of 807,748 shares. The stock had previously closed at $59.98. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts have issued reports on LPX shares. StockNews.com downgraded Louisiana-Pacific from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Monday. DA Davidson cut Louisiana-Pacific from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price target for the company from $69.00 to $63.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 12th. Truist Financial dropped their price target on Louisiana-Pacific from $49.00 to $47.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Finally, TD Securities dropped their price target on Louisiana-Pacific from $72.00 to $65.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Louisiana-Pacific presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $59.20. Get Louisiana-Pacific alerts: Louisiana-Pacific Price Performance The company has a current ratio of 2.54, a quick ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $57.59 and a 200 day moving average price of $60.04. The stock has a market cap of $4.18 billion, a PE ratio of 4.52 and a beta of 1.64. Louisiana-Pacific Increases Dividend Louisiana-Pacific ( NYSE:LPX Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 21st. The building manufacturing company reported $0.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.58 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $705.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $695.37 million. Louisiana-Pacific had a return on equity of 64.50% and a net margin of 26.99%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 15.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.24 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Louisiana-Pacific Co. will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th were issued a dividend of $0.24 per share. This is a boost from Louisiana-Pacifics previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.65%. Louisiana-Pacifics dividend payout ratio is 7.23%. Institutional Trading of Louisiana-Pacific A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LPX. Berkshire Hathaway Inc lifted its holdings in Louisiana-Pacific by 21.5% during the 4th quarter. Berkshire Hathaway Inc now owns 7,044,909 shares of the building manufacturing companys stock worth $417,059,000 after purchasing an additional 1,249,003 shares in the last quarter. Anomaly Capital Management LP increased its stake in Louisiana-Pacific by 427.3% in the 4th quarter. Anomaly Capital Management LP now owns 911,101 shares of the building manufacturing companys stock worth $53,937,000 after acquiring an additional 738,319 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP increased its stake in Louisiana-Pacific by 24.7% in the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 3,311,921 shares of the building manufacturing companys stock worth $205,737,000 after acquiring an additional 655,132 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Louisiana-Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $37,576,000. Finally, Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. increased its stake in Louisiana-Pacific by 71.3% in the 3rd quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 1,227,429 shares of the building manufacturing companys stock worth $62,832,000 after acquiring an additional 510,809 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.23% of the companys stock. Louisiana-Pacific Company Profile (Get Rating) Louisiana-Pacific Corp. engages in the provision of building solutions. It operates through the following segments: Siding, Oriented Strand Board (OSB), South America, and Other. The Siding segment offers engineered wood siding under the brands of LP, SmartSide, Trim and Siding LP, SmartSide, ExpertFinish, Trim and Siding, LP BuilderSeries, Lap Siding, and Outdoor Building Solutions. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Louisiana-Pacific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Louisiana-Pacific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC lessened its position in Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C Get Rating) by 2.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 64,944 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,660 shares during the quarter. Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLCs holdings in Citigroup were worth $2,937,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Citigroup in the third quarter worth $25,000. Arlington Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Citigroup in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. EWG Elevate Inc. bought a new position in shares of Citigroup during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Annapolis Financial Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Citigroup by 59.0% during the 3rd quarter. Annapolis Financial Services LLC now owns 935 shares of the companys stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 347 shares during the period. Finally, Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Citigroup by 82.0% during the 1st quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 961 shares of the companys stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 433 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.90% of the companys stock. Get Citigroup alerts: Insider Transactions at Citigroup In related news, insider Zdenek Turek sold 12,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.87, for a total value of $598,440.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 155,979 shares in the company, valued at $7,778,672.73. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, insider Zdenek Turek sold 12,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.87, for a total value of $598,440.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 155,979 shares in the company, valued at $7,778,672.73. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Titilope Cole sold 11,903 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.10, for a total transaction of $608,243.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 65,764 shares in the company, valued at $3,360,540.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 39,353 shares of company stock worth $2,001,830. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock. Citigroup Price Performance Shares of C stock traded down $0.98 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $46.92. 4,152,635 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 19,297,191. Citigroup Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $40.01 and a fifty-two week high of $54.56. The stocks fifty day moving average is $48.05 and its two-hundred day moving average is $47.47. The company has a market cap of $91.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.68, a P/E/G ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.48, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.94. Citigroup (NYSE:C Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Friday, April 14th. The company reported $2.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.66 by $0.53. Citigroup had a net margin of 12.96% and a return on equity of 7.84%. The company had revenue of $21.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.07 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.02 earnings per share. Citigroups quarterly revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Citigroup Inc. will post 5.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Citigroup Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 26th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 1st will be given a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 28th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.35%. Citigroups payout ratio is 28.45%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In C has been the topic of several research reports. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $47.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $52.00 to $46.00 in a report on Friday, January 6th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Citigroup from $56.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on shares of Citigroup from $55.00 to $51.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $54.74. About Citigroup (Get Rating) Citigroup, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial products and services. It operates through the following segments: Global Consumer Banking, Institutional Clients Group, and Corporate and Other. The Global Consumer Banking segment provides traditional banking services to retail customers through retail banking, including commercial banking, and Citi-branded cards and Citi retail services. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding C? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Citigroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Citigroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (BATS:NUSC Get Rating) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $35.42 and last traded at $35.34, with a volume of 66371 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $35.35. Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF Stock Performance The stocks 50-day moving average price is $35.68 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $35.65. The stock has a market capitalization of $934.04 million, a PE ratio of 20.51 and a beta of 1.13. Get Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF alerts: Institutional Trading of Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Royal Bank of Canada grew its position in Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF by 17.5% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 799,339 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,845,000 after purchasing an additional 119,025 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning lifted its holdings in shares of Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF by 86.2% during the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 209,565 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,719,000 after buying an additional 96,996 shares during the period. SageView Advisory Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $3,090,000. Sowell Financial Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF by 134.2% during the 4th quarter. Sowell Financial Services LLC now owns 139,055 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,753,000 after buying an additional 79,684 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in shares of Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF by 8.3% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 840,866 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,741,000 after buying an additional 64,488 shares during the period. Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF Company Profile The Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI TIAA ESG USA Small Cap index. The fund tracks a multi-factor-weighted index of small-cap companies listed on US exchanges. Holdings are screened for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. NUSC was launched on Dec 13, 2016 and is managed by Nuveen. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nicollet Investment Management Inc. reduced its holdings in shares of Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL Get Rating) by 3.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 41,183 shares of the enterprise software providers stock after selling 1,525 shares during the period. Oracle makes up 1.9% of Nicollet Investment Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 17th largest position. Nicollet Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Oracle were worth $3,366,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in Oracle during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Oracle during the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Oracle during the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Oracle by 135.4% during the 4th quarter. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 485 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 279 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cowa LLC purchased a new stake in Oracle during the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. 40.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Oracle alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have recently commented on ORCL. Berenberg Bank upped their target price on Oracle from $72.00 to $82.50 in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on Oracle from $75.00 to $84.00 in a research note on Friday, March 10th. DA Davidson began coverage on Oracle in a research note on Tuesday, January 17th. They issued a neutral rating and a $85.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $93.00 target price on Oracle and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Finally, Mizuho reiterated a buy rating and set a $116.00 price target on shares of Oracle in a research report on Monday, March 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Oracle has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $95.46. Insider Buying and Selling Oracle Price Performance In other Oracle news, CEO Safra Catz sold 1,837,101 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.86, for a total value of $172,430,299.86. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,118,592 shares in the company, valued at $104,991,045.12. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . In related news, CEO Safra Catz sold 1,837,101 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.86, for a total transaction of $172,430,299.86. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,118,592 shares in the company, valued at $104,991,045.12. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . Also, Director Jeffrey Berg sold 45,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.65, for a total transaction of $4,214,250.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 207,409 shares of the companys stock, valued at $19,423,852.85. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold a total of 1,890,181 shares of company stock worth $177,370,295 over the last quarter. 43.70% of the stock is owned by company insiders. NYSE:ORCL opened at $93.65 on Wednesday. Oracle Co. has a 1-year low of $60.78 and a 1-year high of $96.74. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $90.11 and a two-hundred day moving average of $84.06. The stock has a market cap of $252.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.04, a PEG ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.00. Oracle (NYSE:ORCL Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 9th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.22 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.20 by $0.02. Oracle had a net margin of 17.46% and a negative return on equity of 262.40%. The business had revenue of $12.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.42 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.94 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 17.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that Oracle Co. will post 4.01 earnings per share for the current year. Oracle Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 24th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 11th were paid a dividend of $0.40 per share. This is a positive change from Oracles previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. The ex-dividend date was Monday, April 10th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.71%. Oracles dividend payout ratio is 52.81%. About Oracle (Get Rating) Oracle Corp. engages in the provision of products and services that address all aspects of corporate information technology environments. It operates through the following business segments: Cloud and License, Hardware, and Services. The Cloud and License segment markets, sells, and delivers applications, platform, and infrastructure technologies. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ORCL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Oracle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oracle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW Get Rating) Equities research analysts at Zacks Research cut their Q4 2023 earnings per share estimates for shares of Corning in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, April 21st. Zacks Research analyst S. Bose now anticipates that the electronics maker will post earnings of $0.56 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $0.57. The consensus estimate for Cornings current full-year earnings is $2.00 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Cornings Q1 2024 earnings at $0.55 EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at $0.60 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $0.61 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $2.37 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $0.67 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $2.59 EPS. Get Corning alerts: Corning (NYSE:GLW Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The electronics maker reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $3.37 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.35 billion. Corning had a return on equity of 14.82% and a net margin of 9.27%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.54 earnings per share. Corning Price Performance A number of other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com began coverage on Corning in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Corning from $40.00 to $42.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Corning from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $35.00 to $38.00 in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Credit Suisse Group dropped their target price on Corning from $41.00 to $40.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, Susquehanna boosted their target price on Corning from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Corning currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $38.33. GLW stock opened at $32.89 on Monday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $34.19 and a 200 day moving average price of $33.79. The stock has a market cap of $27.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.36, a PEG ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 1.07. Corning has a fifty-two week low of $28.98 and a fifty-two week high of $37.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. Institutional Trading of Corning Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Cibc World Market Inc. raised its holdings in Corning by 22.1% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 65,555 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $2,420,000 after acquiring an additional 11,884 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new position in Corning in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $588,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Corning by 15.5% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 7,922 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $293,000 after acquiring an additional 1,062 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Corning by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 92,746,889 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $3,423,287,000 after acquiring an additional 671,480 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in Corning by 24.4% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 714,932 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $26,388,000 after acquiring an additional 140,098 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.79% of the companys stock. Insider Activity In related news, VP John Z. Zhang sold 4,655 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.00, for a total transaction of $167,580.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 5,744 shares of the companys stock, valued at $206,784. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, insider Li Fang sold 19,909 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.17, for a total transaction of $700,199.53. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP John Z. Zhang sold 4,655 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.00, for a total value of $167,580.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 5,744 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $206,784. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock. Corning Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 28th were given a dividend of $0.28 per share. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 27th. This is a positive change from Cornings previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. Cornings payout ratio is 72.73%. Corning Company Profile (Get Rating) Corning, Inc engages in the provision of glass for notebook computers, flat panel desktop monitors, display televisions, and other information display applications, carrier network and enterprise network products for the telecommunications industry, ceramic substrates for gasoline and diesel engines in automotive and heavy-duty vehicle markets, laboratory products for the scientific community and polymer products for biotechnology applications, optical materials for the semiconductor industry and the scientific community, and polycrystalline silicon products and other technologies. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Corning Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Corning and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:TYOYY Get Rating) fell 1.8% on Monday . The company traded as low as $122.82 and last traded at $122.91. 1,327 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 105% from the average session volume of 648 shares. The stock had previously closed at $125.15. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Mizuho raised shares of Taiyo Yuden from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Get Taiyo Yuden alerts: Taiyo Yuden Stock Down 0.1 % The firms 50 day moving average is $126.24 and its two-hundred day moving average is $123.64. About Taiyo Yuden Taiyo Yuden Co, Ltd. engages in manufacture and sale of electronic components. Its products include ceramic capacitors, inductors, noise suppression components, multilayer ceramic devices, chip antennas, and wireless modules. The company was founded by Hikohachi Sato on March 23, 1950 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Taiyo Yuden Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taiyo Yuden and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Teck Resources (NYSE:TECK Get Rating) (TSE:TECK) in a research note issued to investors on Sunday. The firm issued a hold rating on the basic materials companys stock. Several other research firms have also recently commented on TECK. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on Teck Resources from $42.00 to $46.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Teck Resources from $44.00 to $42.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Bank of America reduced their price objective on Teck Resources from C$65.00 to C$62.00 in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. TD Securities raised their price objective on Teck Resources from C$71.00 to C$80.00 in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Citigroup raised their price objective on Teck Resources from C$45.00 to C$55.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 11th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Teck Resources presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $58.81. Get Teck Resources alerts: Teck Resources Trading Down 4.6 % Shares of NYSE TECK opened at $43.20 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $21.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.06. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $40.59 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $38.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.41. Teck Resources has a 52-week low of $24.72 and a 52-week high of $49.34. Teck Resources Increases Dividend Teck Resources ( NYSE:TECK Get Rating ) (TSE:TECK) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The basic materials company reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.96 by ($0.17). Teck Resources had a net margin of 18.05% and a return on equity of 18.76%. The company had revenue of $2.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.58 billion. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Teck Resources will post 4.8 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 15th were issued a $0.094 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 14th. This represents a $0.38 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.87%. This is a boost from Teck Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.09. Teck Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 7.74%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mendota Financial Group LLC bought a new position in Teck Resources during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Money Concepts Capital Corp bought a new stake in shares of Teck Resources in the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Achmea Investment Management B.V. bought a new stake in shares of Teck Resources in the 1st quarter worth $37,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Teck Resources by 1,423.8% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 960 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 897 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hollencrest Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of Teck Resources in the 4th quarter worth $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 56.15% of the companys stock. Teck Resources Company Profile (Get Rating) Teck Resources Limited is a resource company, which engages in the exploration, acquisition, development, production, and sale of natural resources, Its products include steelmaking coal, copper, zinc, industrial products and fertilizers, and other metals. Its project operations are located in Canada, Peru, Chile, and US. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Teck Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Teck Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Trilogy Metals Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:TMQ Get Rating) major shareholder Strategic Opportuniti Electrum acquired 2,181,818 shares of Trilogy Metals stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 25th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $0.55 per share, for a total transaction of $1,199,999.90. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 31,604,741 shares in the company, valued at $17,382,607.55. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Large shareholders that own 10% or more of a companys stock are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC. Trilogy Metals Trading Up 3.0 % Shares of NYSEAMERICAN TMQ traded up $0.02 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $0.59. The company had a trading volume of 59,417 shares, compared to its average volume of 250,081. Trilogy Metals Inc. has a 12 month low of $0.50 and a 12 month high of $1.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $87.57 million, a PE ratio of -3.46 and a beta of 1.38. Get Trilogy Metals alerts: Trilogy Metals (NYSEAMERICAN:TMQ Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 14th. The mining company reported ($0.04) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.01) by ($0.03). As a group, analysts forecast that Trilogy Metals Inc. will post -0.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Institutional Investors Weigh In On Trilogy Metals A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. National Bank Financial reduced their price objective on Trilogy Metals from C$1.15 to C$1.00 in a research report on Monday, January 9th. Raymond James reduced their price objective on Trilogy Metals from C$2.25 to C$1.75 in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Trilogy Metals by 56.1% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 466,675 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $257,000 after purchasing an additional 167,693 shares during the period. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Trilogy Metals in the 4th quarter valued at about $55,000. Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new position in shares of Trilogy Metals in the 1st quarter valued at about $36,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Trilogy Metals in the 1st quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Trilogy Metals in the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. Institutional investors own 19.18% of the companys stock. About Trilogy Metals (Get Rating) Trilogy Metals, Inc engages in the development and exploration of mineral properties. The firm holds interests in the Upper Kobuk mineral projects that include the Arctic, a copper-zinc-lead-gold-silver and Bornite, a carbonate-hosted copper projects, which is located in the Ambler mining district in Northwest Alaska. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Trilogy Metals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Trilogy Metals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Washington Trust Bank cut its holdings in shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY Get Rating) by 4.4% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 1,041 shares of the companys stock after selling 48 shares during the quarter. Washington Trust Banks holdings in Hershey were worth $241,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in HSY. Blair William & Co. IL grew its holdings in Hershey by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 30,767 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,665,000 after buying an additional 916 shares in the last quarter. Dakota Wealth Management bought a new stake in Hershey in the 1st quarter worth approximately $238,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in Hershey by 28.8% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,566 shares of the companys stock valued at $339,000 after purchasing an additional 350 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Hershey by 1.6% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 14,057,990 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,045,383,000 after purchasing an additional 216,715 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. lifted its position in Hershey by 10.8% in the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 32,183 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,972,000 after purchasing an additional 3,129 shares during the last quarter. 54.17% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Hershey alerts: Insider Transactions at Hershey In other news, insider Rohit Grover sold 2,925 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $262.12, for a total transaction of $766,701.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 21,995 shares in the company, valued at $5,765,329.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, SVP Jason Reiman sold 150 shares of Hershey stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.83, for a total value of $35,224.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 12,717 shares in the company, valued at $2,986,333.11. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Rohit Grover sold 2,925 shares of Hershey stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $262.12, for a total value of $766,701.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 21,995 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,765,329.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 54,265 shares of company stock worth $13,371,072 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.22% of the companys stock. Hershey Trading Up 0.8 % Shares of NYSE:HSY opened at $262.98 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.44. The businesss 50-day moving average is $248.14 and its 200 day moving average is $236.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $53.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.04, a P/E/G ratio of 3.63 and a beta of 0.31. The Hershey Company has a 1 year low of $201.42 and a 1 year high of $264.04. Hershey (NYSE:HSY Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The company reported $2.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.77 by $0.25. Hershey had a return on equity of 57.76% and a net margin of 15.79%. The company had revenue of $2.65 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.58 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.69 earnings per share. Hersheys revenue for the quarter was up 14.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that The Hershey Company will post 9.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Hershey Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 17th were paid a dividend of $1.036 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 16th. This represents a $4.14 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.58%. Hersheys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 52.01%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have recently issued reports on HSY. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Hershey from $251.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, March 23rd. Mizuho upped their price target on Hershey from $222.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Hershey from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and upped their price target for the stock from $230.00 to $255.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Credit Suisse Group upped their price target on Hershey from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Hershey from $255.00 to $277.00 in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Hershey has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $249.94. Hershey Company Profile (Get Rating) The Hershey Co engages in the manufacture and marketing of chocolate, sweets, mints and confectionery products. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: North America and International and Other. The North America is responsible for the traditional chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery market position of the company, as well as its grocery and snacks market positions, in the United States and Canada. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HSY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Hershey Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hershey and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TEHRAN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Senior Iranian cleric and member of Iran's Assembly of Experts Abbas-Ali Soleimani was assassinated on Wednesday in an armed attack in the country's northern province of Mazandaran, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported. Soleimani, 76, was shot by an assailant at a bank in the city of Babolsaron Wednesday morning, IRNA quoted Ruhollah Salgi, the deputy for security and political affairs of Mazandaran provincial governor general, as saying. The assailant has been arrested by Iranian security forces and is being interrogated, IRNA reported, adding more details will soon be announced. In an interview with state-owned IRIB TV's News Network, Mazandaran's Governor General Mahmoud Hosseinipour ruled out the possibility of a terrorist attack. According to the information obtained so far and the attacker's record, the attack is not an act of terror in nature, he said, adding the assailant's motive remains unknown. Previously, Soleimani also served as Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's representative in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan and the Friday prayer leader of the central city of Kashan. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, April 26th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 5th will be paid a dividend of 0.30 per share by the financial services provider on Thursday, June 1st. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.04%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 4th. Wells Fargo & Company has decreased its dividend by an average of 17.0% annually over the last three years and has raised its dividend every year for the last 2 years. Wells Fargo & Company has a dividend payout ratio of 24.4% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Wells Fargo & Company to earn $4.78 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.20 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 25.1%. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance Shares of WFC traded down $1.09 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $39.46. 26,158,748 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 23,438,527. Wells Fargo & Company has a fifty-two week low of $35.25 and a fifty-two week high of $48.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $149.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.51, a P/E/G ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.12. The businesss 50 day moving average is $41.35 and its two-hundred day moving average is $43.48. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, April 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.15 by $0.08. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 15.93% and a return on equity of 10.07%. The business had revenue of $20.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.06 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.88 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 16.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.76 earnings per share for the current year. Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Odeon Capital Group cut shares of Wells Fargo & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, March 13th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $60.00 to $50.00 in a report on Friday, January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $45.00 to $42.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 24th. Citigroup cut their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $52.00 to $50.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $47.00 to $46.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 17th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Wells Fargo & Company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $49.45. Insider Activity In other news, EVP Kleber Santos sold 34,698 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.27, for a total value of $1,605,476.46. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 19,590 shares in the company, valued at $906,429.30. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.07% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Wells Fargo & Company A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of WFC. Defender Capital LLC. acquired a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company during the first quarter worth approximately $246,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter valued at $124,000. Dakota Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter valued at $222,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. boosted its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 273,936 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $13,274,000 after purchasing an additional 770 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. boosted its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 24.5% in the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 9,630 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $467,000 after purchasing an additional 1,895 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.24% of the companys stock. About Wells Fargo & Company (Get Rating) Wells Fargo & Co is a diversified, community-based financial services company. It is engaged in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage products and services, and consumer and commercial finance. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A staff member loads a cargo container of China Railway Express to a train in Malaszewicze, Poland, Oct. 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhou Nan) "As you know, Poland and China have strategic partnership. So this is very important for B2B (business-to-business) relations, between Polish entrepreneurs and Chinese entrepreneurs ... The Chinese market, Chinese economy is growing up rapidly," said Tomasz Szypula. WARSAW, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China's robust economic recovery will bring about enormous potential for China-Poland business cooperation, chief of PTAK Warsaw Expo, the largest fair and convention center in Central and Eastern Europe, has said. Present at the 18th China Expo Forum for International Cooperation (CEFCO 2023) held in Shaoxing in east China's Zhejiang Province this week, Tomasz Szypula, president of board of the expo and also president of the National Federation of Entrepreneur, said before departure that he feels very excited about this trip, and that the most important thing is to "refresh contacts with friends, colleagues, and partners." "This is the opportunity to restart our relations with the Chinese entrepreneurs, business partners and agents cooperating with us, and bring the exhibitors which are interested in (business) expansion in the European Union back to Poland," he told Xinhua in an interview. The expo center he manages covers an area of 500,000 square meters and consists of six halls. "The PTAK Warsaw Expo can be a perfect platform for promoting and for exhibiting the new products, new technology, new knowledge and new thinking," he said. "Before the (COVID-19) pandemic, we were organizing about 40 events in a year, and almost each was very rich in Chinese exhibitors. Right now, in 2023, we are organizing more than 50 events. We expect and wish the Chinese exhibitors will be back (to the European Union) and very successful," he said. On China's first quarter economic data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on the day of the interview, Szypula was impressed by the 4.5 percent growth, which beats previous forecasts by many institutions. This photo taken on March 2, 2023 shows wind power blades to be exported at Yantai Port in Yantai, east China's Shandong Province. (Photo by Tang Ke/Xinhua) Noting China's fast-growing economy, Szypula said, "Everybody knows China is a leader of developing economy, and for Poland, the best partners are the strongest partners." "As you know, Poland and China have strategic partnership. So this is very important for B2B (business-to-business) relations, between Polish entrepreneurs and Chinese entrepreneurs ... The Chinese market, Chinese economy is growing up rapidly. The same is in our country," he said. Szypula said that China's optimization of COVID-19 prevention and control measures is crucial for the resumption of business activities, as "the heart of the business is the meetings with the people." As a senior expert in the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) industry, Szypula is no stranger to all China's four major exhibitions that help strengthen trade and promote services -- the China International Import Expo held each year in Shanghai, the China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) in Guangzhou, the China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing, and the China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou. This photo taken on Nov. 2, 2022 shows the west entrance of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) "These places are the greatest, the biggest venues on the world which provide very fruitful trade fair events," he said. "In my opinion, these are one of the most important places for the promotion of Chinese economy, Chinese business and Chinese culture." Chude Jideonwo, the founder of Joy, Inc. and host of #WithChude, has been invited to speak at the 2023 Oxford Africa Conference, where he will be joined by other notable speakers such as Sir Mo Ibrahim, Vice President of Liberia Dr Jewel Howard-Taylor, and Abdul Samad Rabiu. He will be discussing "Leveraging Africa's soft power." The Oxford Africa Conference is widely regarded as an influential platform and one of the largest Africa-focused conferences in Europe for the last ten years. It seeks to unravel the prosperity paradox and build a new framework for deriving prosperity from Africas multi-sectoral challenges. Previous conferences have featured distinguished speakers such as Dr. Donald Kaberuka (7th President of the African Development Bank), Amina Mohammed (current Deputy Secretary-General of the UN), and His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo (President of the Republic of Ghana). The conference is organized by The Oxford University Africa Society (AfriSoc), a platform that enables students interested in Africa to engage critically on core issues impacting their collective lives. The theme of the conference is "Africa's Prosperity: A New Approach?" and it will take place from Friday, May 12th, to Saturday, May 13th, 2023. For more information, visit: www.oxforduniversityafricasociety.com/conference-speakers Isreal DMW, an aide of Davido, recently addressed accusations of writing a homophobic post about popular Instagram influencer Enioluwa Adeoluwa. On April 25th, Isreal DMW allegedly made homophobic comments about Enioluwa on his WhatsApp stories, implying that he was gay. This was brought to the public's attention by Instagram blogger Tosin Silverdam. Enioluwa had earlier shared a video of himself crying after experiencing delays on his way to Botswana for the Forbes Under 30 Summit. In the video, he expressed regret at not asking Davido to take him along in his private jet, as they were both attending the same event. Isreal DMW advised Enioluwa to stay away from Davido, and also made derogatory remarks about gay people and their supporters. However, Isreal DMW later denied writing the homophobic post, claiming that it was fabricated by impersonators using a fake account. He made this clarification on his official Instagram page's insta-stories section. Isreal DMW wrote; The write up was never from me. It is purely a manufactured fake account from impersonators thanks everyone. He added; Never from me at all. I have no such account. Thanks to everyone. Una dey mad. No be me and una. Terrorism and militancy are important issues in the history of current international relations. Earlier terrorist activities were limited to certain regions of the world. But since the beginning of the 21st century, there has been a wide spread of terrorism and militant activities. Using science and technology, terrorist and militant organizations have spread their webs around the world. Today, terrorism have taken a transnational and intercontinental form. The Institute for Economics and Peace, an Australian-based organization that studies terrorism, published a report on April 10, 2023. According to the report, Bangladesh is the most successful South Asian country in countering terrorism. The country ranks much better than Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and even the United States and the United Kingdom in the Global Terrorism Index. The index is prepared by analyzing a country's annual number of terrorist incidents, hostages, and casualties. According to their index, Afghanistan is the number-one country for terrorism. Pakistan's position is 6, India's position is 13, the United States' position is 30, the United Kingdom's position is 42, and Bangladesh's position is 43. According to the data from the Institute for Economics and Peace, Bangladesh was ranked 40th in 2022, 43rd in 2023, and 22nd in 2016. In other words, since 2016, Bangladesh has continuously improved its position in the fight against terrorism. However, other South Asian countries, including the United States, were always far behind Bangladesh. Thats why the report is very positive for Bangladesh. In Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina's government came to power in 2009, it took various steps and made plans to suppress militancy. Passes the Anti-Terrorism Act. Amendments were made to the relevant laws. During the coalition government in 20092013, a series of attacks on bloggers, writers, publishers, Hindu-Christian-Buddhist priests, university teachers, human rights activists, followers of dissident Islamic ideologies, law enforcement officers, and foreigners undermined the anti-militancy activities in the country and challenged Sheikh Hasina's government. No doubt, the militant attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka on July 1, 2016, which left 29 peoplemostly foreignersdead, also dealt a big blow to the image of Bangladesh. Many international agencies decided to shut their offices in Bangladesh, and a large number of foreigners left the country following the attack, posing a great challenge to the government in maintaining foreign relations and keeping the pace of development activities. The government, however, handled the issue so effectively that Bangladesh has become a role model for other countries in combating terrorism and militancy. As different steps helped Bangladesh to regain the confidence of the international community in the government, the international agencies revised their decision of closing their offices in Dhaka while the foreigners who had left Dhaka came back. At present, a large number of foreigners are working in the country and traveling to different parts of the country with great confidence. Bangladesh's law enforcement agencies are now sharing their experiences and tactics for combating terrorism with various countries. A good number of countries have sent their anti-militant officers to Bangladesh to gain the practical knowledge and training that Bangladeshi law enforcers displayed during their various anti-militant operations across the country. Bangladesh has benefited from Sheikh Hasina's government's zero-tolerance policy against militancy. So far, 8 militant organizations, namely JMB, Shahadat-e-al-Hikma, JMJB, Hizbut Tahrir, Huji-B, ABT, Ansar Al Islam, and Allahr Dal, have been banned by the Bangladesh government. Sheikh Hasina's tough stance made it possible to dismantle the militant network in Bangladesh. Due to the principles of the state, belief in non-communal ideals, and the strong, efficient, and visionary leadership of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh today sets an example in the international arena in combating terrorism and militancy. The success in suppressing the terrorists has brightened the image of the country at the international level. The members of parliament of Germany's Hesse province have praised Sheikh Hasina's government for fighting terrorism and militancy. At a meeting organized by the World Anti-Terrorism Organization, speakers said that Sheikh Hasina's government's zero-tolerance policy in countering terrorism can be an exemplary example for world peace. Again, the United Nations has advised some countries affected by terrorist attacks to follow Bangladesh. Security forces, especially the elite force RAB, are playing a leading role in fighting militancy and terrorism in the country. Apart from this, prevention of drug trade and trafficking, prevention of human-women-child trafficking, daring operation of RAB in various clubs to stop illegal casinos or gambling, operation against adulterated food and drugs, and above all, the contribution of RAB in prevention and elimination of corruption and irregularities is undeniable. RAB's role in suppressing piracy in the Sundarbans and coastal areas must also be acknowledged. In that situation, the sanctions imposed by the United States on some members of this force are completely unintended and unacceptable. The government formed the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) as a specialized unit only to combat militants and terrorism. The Anti-Terrorism Unit of Police, Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime of DMP, Cyber Crime, Investigation Center, and Lawful Interception Unit of Police Headquarters are working directly to suppress militancy. RAB, police, NTMC, and the cyber team are all working together to eliminate all forms of extremism and terrorism. These forces are also alert to prevent the activities of militants on social media and online. This effort is quite effective. The people of Bangladesh are religious but not fanatical. If they were bigots, they would not have freed the country from Pakistan in 1971. Bangladesh is a peaceful country with a diverse population of different religions, castes, and ethnic groups. The constitution of the country guarantees the right of every citizen to follow his own religious rules and regulations in a free and independent environment. Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Chakma, Marma, and Santal people of all races and religions have been living together in harmony in this country. While it is true that terrorism and militancy in Bangladesh could not be fully eradicated, but it has been possible to control them strictly. The present government's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism and militancy, the concerted efforts of law enforcement agencies, and the awareness and responsibility of the people meant that the radical extremist militant groups could not consolidate their position in Bangladesh. Combating terrorism is the highest priority of the government. Similarly, the anti-militancy mentality of the people makes it easier for the law enforcement agencies to suppress militancy. There is no other precedent in the world for the unity of political organizations, civil societies, teacher-student societies, parents, intellectuals, businessmen, various professional organizations, and people from all walks of life to build mass resistance against militancy and radical sectarianism, along with the concerted efforts of the law and order forces. Sustainable democracy and development require sustainable peace, andsustainable peace requires sustainable security. Behind all the democratic, political, and socio-economic development of Bangladesh is the country's overall security system. Bangladesh is now one of the great wonders of the world because Hasina government has managed to build a safe Bangladesh by suppressing terrorism and militants. According to the World Economic League Table, Bangladesh will be the 25th largest economy in the world in 2035. In order to continue this progress in the economy, it is necessary to build a country free from terrorism and militants. So, national unity should be built against terrorism and militancy, and each should work against terrorism and militancy from their respective positions. Kamal Uddin Mazumder is a Researcher and Strategic affairs analyst and writes from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has expressed heartfelt sadness over the death of a popular veteran Nigerian journalist, and author, Peter Enahoro. The Nigerian Voice recalls that the veteran columnist passed away on Monday in London, the United Kingdom, at the age of 88, after battling an undisclosed ailment. In a series of tweets via his verified Twitter handle on Tuesday, Obi described Enahoro as a great advocate and crusader for democracy and good governance, who consistently decried military anti-politics in Nigeria. The former Anambra State Governor said Enahoros role in using journalism in advancing Nigerias independence struggle is well-recorded and regarded across the world. Obi asserted that Enahoros famous book, How to be a Nigerian placed the country in the historic and literary limelight, stressing that he will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him. He wrote: I join the Enahoro Family of Uromi, and numerous Nigerians in mourning the death of iconic journalist, Mr. Peter Enahoro, popularly known by his pen name, Peter Pan, who died on 24th of April, 2023 at the age of 88 in London. His role in using journalism -his profession of choice -in advancing Nigerias independence struggle is well recorded and regarded. His famous book, How to Be a Nigerian placed our country in the historic and literary limelight. He was a great advocate and crusader for democracy and good governance, who consistently decried military anti-politics in Nigeria. He will be sorely missed. While praying for the repose of his soul, I also pray for his family to have the fortitude to bear this huge loss. President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Accra, Ghana, said Nigeria is looking forward to the proposed joint Africa Naval Exercise of the Gulf of Guinea Commission that will be held in Lagos on May 15, 2023. He also identified regular meetings among the countries that make up the Gulf of Guinea Commission as a critical route towards achieving peace and security in the region. According to a statement signed by the Presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari gave the assurance when he spoke for the last time as Nigerias President at the 3rd Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Gulf of Guinea Commission taking place in the Ghanaian capital. The President encouraged member countries to enact laws against piracy and other criminal acts as Nigeria has done. As a demonstration of Nigerias strong commitment towards the repositioning of the Gulf of Guinea Commission into a more vibrant organisation that will effectively deliver on its mandate, the 5th Ordinary Summit of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Gulf of Guinea Commission was hosted on October 13, 2022 in Abuja, where the Assembly adopted policy decisions towards revitalising the Commission. Nigeria considers the effective and optimal function of the GGC as strategic to the global security interests in the Gulf region. These commitments include addressing issues of piracy, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, protection of marine resources as well as irregular migration to the region, he said. He noted that in June 2019, Nigerias National Assembly passed the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act 2019, which aims to prevent and suppress Piracy, Armed Robbery and any other unlawful acts against any ship lawfully operating in the Gulf Region. Nigeria continues to deploy significant resources towards tackling Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. In June 2021, the Government of Nigeria unveiled $190 million worth of boats, vehicles and aircraft to spear-head the countrys fight against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea through the Deep Blue Project, he said. President Buhari thanked President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, the chairperson of the Assembly, for the invitation, as well as Ambassador Florence Ukonga, the Nigerian outgoing Executive Secretary of the Gulf of Guinea Commission and her team for their dedication and selflessness in the discharge of their functions. While commending Ukonga for successfully weathering the daunting financial challenges without compromising the integrity of the organisation, he urged member countries to promptly honour their financial commitments and responsibilities. He lauded the team for elevating the status of the Gulf of Guinea Commission to such a level that enables it to partner with the African Union to implement some of its sub-regional programmes on maritime security, safety and sustainable developmental issues with profound impact on Central and West Africa. We very much look forward to May 15, 2023, when the proposed joint Africa Naval Exercise of the Commission would take place in Lagos, he said. In his welcome address, President Nana Akufo- Addo reminded delegates of the challenges the commission faced, enjoining Member States to promptly discharge their financial obligations to enable it fulfil her statutory responsibilities. Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria, Wednesday, 26th April 2023: The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has noted with deepest dismay the heightening and intensifying political banditry and brigandage in Imo State-ahead of the States Nov 11, 2023 Governorship Election. It shocks and saddens our heart that the State is dangerously or gravely going through political gangsterism, killings, abductions, disappearances, house burnings and other property violence, etc. We are also deeply concerned regarding the intensification of military and police terror in the State; to the extent that over half of the States 27 Local Government Areas and most of their autonomous communities are under military and police siege and terror.We are deeply alarmed that conventional security forces deployed to the State have fully transformed into terror squads and become more criminals than those they were deploy to lawfully checkmate. The security forces have not only become a nightmare to Imo residents, but also it is very difficult to differentiate them from men and women of underworld or non state actor felons. The worst of it all is the culpable role of the State Government including aiding, abetting and using State public or taxpayers funds to ground the State and degrade, suppress and oppress its citizenry. The sum-total of the above is found to be politically motivated and ill-conceived anddangerously aimed at retaining gubernatorial seat at all costsin the Nov 11, 2023 States Governorship Poll. The Beginning Of The Imo Disastrous Journey To The State Of Nature And Predatory State The State was one of the most peaceful and lesser crime-infested and politically progressive States in the East untilthe 1996 Otokoto Ritual/419 Saga when an eleven-year-old Ikechukwu Okonkwo; a groundnut seller, was on 19thSept 1996 used for ritual and murdered by Chief Vincent Duru and his gang. The saga also debased the States ethical culture and threw up a culture of egregiouscorruption and immorality till date which marked the beginning of political darkness in the State includingproducing persons of questionable character in themajority of the States elective and appointive public offices. The State politically deteriorated further and became a killing field following the Imo Governorshiproguery of 2019-leading to Nigerias Supreme Courtcanonization of the present Governor in Jan 2020. Since then, Imo State had been turned upside down; forcing it to become a killing field and South-East capital of political banditry and corruption. Time For Democratic Forces To Rescue Imo Democratic forces must congregate and aggregate to rescue Imo State from another four tortuous and bloody years in the hands of the gubernatorial incumbent. The democratic forcesin Imo and their outside allies including uncompromised CSO and Media leaders or activists must be worried and concernedby ongoing sponsored political defections and organized killings, maiming, abductions, disappearances and property violence. The leaderships of leading parties like APGA, PDP and Labor must live above board, shun transactional/money politics and join hands to rescue Imo State. Political defections in Nigeria have rubbished and messed up the countrys leading political actors and ruined their characters and integrity. In Nigerian context and in democratic elections, political defection has no bearing and value. This is more so when most of those defecting in Imo are those that lost their legislative seats in the recently conducted polls. It is therefore time to join hands to rescue Imo State. The three political parties above mentioned must ensure that their candidates are not planted moles and persons with minus character. Those already chosen must be worked on and democratically transformed tounderstand that it is not business as usual. Such candidates must also be seen to be capable of being popularly and credibly voted for and they must understand that the effects of theObidient ballot tsunami have clearly shown that the era of snatching gubernatorial seat through the window or backdooris gone for good and forever especially in South-East Nigeria. Presidential Poll Court Processes Must Not Be Stopped By Sponsored Political Party Crises Circumstantially speaking, the ruling APC and the camp of its INEC-declared President-elect are found to beremotely behind the sponsored crises in the Labor Party-with intent to destabilize the party and truncate the pending 2023 Presidential Election Petitions at the Court of Appeal. This is evidenced by the body language of the Labor Party group under APC clandestine sponsorship which has hurriedly and hastily addressed a media orwritten to the PEPT, urging it to dismiss the pending casefiled by the Party and its flag-bearer against thedeclaration of Mr. Ahmed Tinubu as president-elect; a clear circumstantial evidence of where the sponsorship is coming from. The above moves are also a clear invitation to anarchy and must not be left unmasked and unchecked. In a civilized and well-conducted Society, the above moves would have been ignored, but Intersociety is deeply concerned because Nigeria has become a country where anything goes and anything can happen especiallyunder the current APC controlled political dispensation. This is more so when before our very eyes, the Supreme Court awarded victory to a fourth place finisher in a Governorship Poll as Governor of Imo State. This was after a controversial Catholic Priest was presidentially contracted to make an immoral pronouncement: I see hope coming to Imo State. Therefore, if a fourth place finisher could be made a Governor by Nigerias SupremeCourt by usurping the functions of INEC and awarding figures that never existed, then is it not correct to say that the APC clandestinely sponsored LPs factional leaderships call on PEPT to throw away the Party and its flag-bearers presidential petition may judicially get through if allowed or not unmasked?. The remote macabre dance of APC in the Labor Partys leadershipcrisis was similar to that that took place in the then APGA over the Anambra Governorship Poll petition in 2004/2005 when internal wrangling through offering of bribes worth millions of naira was planted by PDP with intent to scuttle the then pending Governorship petition-leading to the bought-over party leadership withdrawingits involvement and participation in the Petition and Courts proceedings and express endorsement of Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige to continue as interloper Gov. The interloper Government of Ngige was later in August 2005 and March 2006 ousted by Justice Nabaruma led Tribunal and Justice Mohammed led Court of Appeal, Enugu Division. Signed For: International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) Emeka Umeagbalasi, Criminologist/Researcher Board Chair @Intersociety Obianuju Joy Igboeli Esquire Head, Civil Liberties and Rule of Law Program @ Intersociety Chidinma Udegbunam Esquire Head, Campaign and Publicity Department @ Intersociety Ositadinma Agu Head, Intl Contacts and Mobilization @ Intersociety Contacts: Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: +23481740900 52 Email: [email protected] Website: https://intersociety-ng.org The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) disclosed to have disbursed over N631 billion to over 313,000 micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) as of December 2022. Speaking in Abuja, at the yearly general meeting of the bank, the Managing Director, Dr. Tony Okpanachi, explained that of the total beneficiaries of DBN funds in five years, 67 per cent were women while 27 per cent were young people with well more than 250,000 jobs already created. According to him, the DBN developed a new partnership with Google Nigeria, a learning management platform and other organisations through which MSMEs can enroll in entrepreneurship courses for necessary upskilling. On its performance during the year, he noted that the Bank achieved earnings of N47.6 billion and profit before tax of N29.5 billion. Its cost-to-income ratio was 15.9 per cent. While the average tenor of MSME loans in the banks books used to be 18 months, it has increased to 36 months due to the impact of the long-term facility. By the end of 2022, utilisation of the long-term product was N150 billion. In addition, the bank is now able to extend its impact to start-ups by leveraging the finance-to-finance product. The 2022 financial year ended with N5 billion already channelled through the product, he stated. HEFEI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China will develop a satellite constellation named Queqiao, or Magpie Bridge, to provide communications, navigation and remote-sensing services for deep space exploration, according to a senior Chinese space expert. Speaking at the First International Deep Space Exploration Conference held in Hefei, the capital of east China's Anhui Province, Wu Yanhua, chief designer of the major project on deep space exploration, said that China plans to build the satellite constellation in three phases. A pilot of the constellation will be built around 2030 to support the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration program and the construction of the International Lunar Research Station. And a basic constellation will be built around 2040 to realize regional navigation and provide services for manned lunar exploration and deep space exploration for planets such as Mars and Venus, Wu said. The satellite constellation is expected to be built into an expanded model around 2050 to provide services for exploring Mars, Venus, giant planets, as well as the edge of the solar system, Wu added. As a part of the constellation, Queqiao-2, or Magpie Bridge-2, a relay satellite for communications between the far side of the moon and Earth, is planned to be launched in 2024, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The satellite will serve as a relay platform for the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration program, providing communications services for Chang'e-4, Chang'e-6, Chang'e-7, and Chang'e-8 missions. According to Yu Dengyun, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the future Magpie Bridge constellation will be a space infrastructure and public service platform built and operated in deep space. It will feature the capability of efficient communications, navigation, in-orbit computing, and information storage, etc. During the conference, China's Deep Space Exploration Laboratory launched a global call for proposals for the design of the Magpie Bridge constellation in a bid to gather new ideas and solutions for the future satellite constellation. The International Deep Space Exploration Conference, hosted by the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, is one of the major activities held to celebrate the Space Day of China, which falls on April 24. The two-day event invited more than 500 guests from 14 countries and regions. Bangkok, April 26, 2023More than 15 years after Japanese photojournalist Kenji Nagai was shot and killed on the streets of Yangon, Myanmar, while filming the 2007 Saffron Revolution political protests, the camera he held at the time of his death has finally been returned to his family. At a press conference Wednesday, April 26, at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, Democratic Voice of Burma editor-in-chief and CPJ International Press Freedom Award winner Aye Chan Naing handed the camera to Nagais sister Noriko Ogawa, who has long sought its return from Myanmar authorities and traveled from Japan for the event. DVB gained access to the camera from an undisclosed source in Yangon and spirited it across the Myanmar-Thailand border after the February 2021 military coup and subsequent clampdown on the press, according to Aye Chan Naing. Nagais last footage contained in the camera was shown at the press conference. CPJ Senior Southeast Asia Representative Shawn W. Crispin was invited by DVB and Nagais family to speak at the event, where he addressed Nagais still-unresolved killing and more broadly the continued killing of journalists with impunity in Myanmar. Read Crispins remarks below: Were here today to honor the memory of fallen Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai, a courageous reporter who tragically lost his life in pursuit of the news. The return to his family of the camera he was using to report when he was shot and murdered in the streets of Yangon while covering political protests is long overdueover 15 years overdue. DVB should be commended for its dogged journalistic pursuit of the camera and the exceptional risks it has taken to return it to Kenjis family. But ultimately, todays event is an important and timely reminder that Myanmars military has and continues to kill journalists with impunity, and that the killings wont stop until Kenjis murder receives full justicefrom the foot soldier who pulled the trigger to any commanders who gave shoot-to-kill orders to the military leaders who orchestrated the lethal repression. The grotesque military mindset behind these killings is that with time they will be forgotten and thus forever unresolved. But may the recovery of Kenjis camera and the moving personal footage it contains revive the call for justice and remind the world of the brutality and lies that have long characterized Myanmars military rule. Then as now, killing with impunity is deeply engrained in the Myanmar militarys DNA and until the soldiers and their commanders responsible for Kenjis murder are brought to account in court, if not locally than internationally, then the lethal silencing of journalists will endure. Myanmar authorities have long sought to whitewash the circumstances of Kenjis killing, claiming he was shot by an unknown shooter from a long distance and not by a soldier at point-blank rangeas various media reports, including DVBs on-the-spot footage of the fateful event, show was the case. The Myanmar soldier who pulled the trigger has not been identified nor held to account for his crime against a working journalist, a killing that aimed to black out news reporting of the militarys lethal repression of anti-military street protestors involved in the then so-called Saffron Revolution. The Japanese government, meanwhile, has after initial pursuit cynically allowed the case to go cold and forgotten over the years, and has implicitly helped to cover up the circumstances of Kenjis murder by not publicly revealing the results of its own internal autopsy which reports indicate contradicts Myanmars official account. An Asahi Shimbun report quoting a recently retired Japanese government pathologist, who was silenced while in government service but outspoken since, indicate Kenji was killed from a bullet at point-blank range and not by long-distance sniper fire, giving the lie to Myanmars official version of events. Tokyo has shamefully prioritized maintaining good diplomatic relations and strong commercial ties with Myanmars generals over pursuing justice for Kenjis murder. Thats an important subtext to todays event that hopefully the Japanese government will seek to reverse, particularly as the current military rulers continue to harass and target independent Japanese reporters. While the return of the camera and the last shot footage it contains will hopefully bring a measure of closure to Kenjis long-suffering family, who again have futilely sought the cameras return from Myanmar authorities for over 15 yearsit does nothing in respect to achieving justice for his death. The military regime responsible for Kenjis murder has been reincarnated in the junta government that is now terrorizing, shuttering, and literally killing Myanmars independent journalists and media outlets. CPJs research shows at least four local journalists have been killed with impunity since coup-maker generals seized power from an elected government in February 2021. Myanmar ranked eighth on CPJs 2022 Impunity Index, a ranking of countries worldwide where the killers of journalists go free. It marked the first time Myanmar appeared on our index, underscoring the severity of Myanmars post-coup press freedom crisis. CPJ reporting shows several other reporters have been tortured while in military custody. And dozens are now languishing behind bars on trumped-up and bogus anti-state charges, including a handful of intrepid DVB reporters. Make no mistake, Myanmars generals will continue to harass, jail, and kill media members as long as they feel they can get it away with it. But may they be reminded today that the world hasnt forgotten about Kenjis murder at the militarys hands, nor will it give the regime a pass for the crimes its committing now, every day, against the independent journalists who literally risk life and limb to report the news. The world is watching and CPJ will continue to call for justice until Myanmars journalist-killing soldiers are put where they belong, behind bars in the same prisons they now use to jail and silence the free press. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in todays event. Northumberland County council is backing a call to action for the provincial government to address homelessness. County council recently passed a resolution to support an advocacy effort of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). The call asks the provincial government to acknowledge that homelessness in Ontario is a social, economic, and health crisis; to commit to ending homelessness in Ontario; and to work with AMO and a broad range of community, health, Indigenous and economic partners to develop, resource, and implement an action plan to achieve this goal. The AMO resolution further states that municipalities and district social administration boards are doing their part, but do not have the resources, capacity, or tools to independently address this complex challenge. Ontario's homelessness crisis is apparent and in every part of the province, including big cities and small towns, and in rural and northern communities, AMO stated, in a news release. Increasing the supply of housing and tackling the homelessness crisis in Ontario, brought on by decades of provincial social and economic policies, are the top priorities for municipalities across Ontario, AMO said in presenting its 2023 prebudget submission to the governments standing committee on finance and economic affairs. AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario's 444 municipal governments. AMO said it supports strong and effective municipal government in Ontario and promotes the value of municipal government as a vital and essential component of Ontario and Canada's political system. Closer to home, people can learn more on Northumberland Countys efforts around housing and homelessness, including progress on the six strategies identified in the county's 10-year housing and homelessness plan, by reading the 2021 Housing and Homelessness Annual Report, which is available on Northumberlands website. SHARE: Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes is encouraging everyone to "take a hike" in support of vital grief and bereavement programs. We are over the moon excited to be back in-person for this years Hike for Hospice. We have not had an in-person hike in three years and were ready to knock this one out of the park, said Hospice Services manager Sharon Yeo of the fundraiser taking place Sunday, May 7. Participants will Hike the Trans Canada Trail starting at Fleming Colleges Auks Lodge at the Frost Campus in Lindsay. Everyone will have the option of doing either a one or five kilometre route, or both if theyre so inclined. Hike for Hospice is a unique national fundraising event across Canada that brings together organizations working in hospice palliative care to raise funds and awareness in their community. All funds raised during the event will go to support Hospice Services programs. Last year, Hospice Services received 429 new referrals to hospice services with programs delivered by 79 active volunteers donating more than 4,000 hours of support to others. Hike for Hospice is so important because, although we do receive government funding for some hospice programs, our grief and bereavement programs are not funded provincially, noted Yeo, adding these programs provide crucial, often individualized, assistance to clients regardless of where they are in their grief process. Grief is natural and necessary, but that doesnt mean its not challenging When we do grief well, we may discover it is not all pain; it embraces joy and love of remembrance too. Yeo points out the Hike serves a similar purpose. It can be a pretty somber event, but its also a special time for many people who share great memories, and even a few laughs, while theyre out walking, said Yeo. And everyone will be walking with someone in their heart. This years goal is $25,000. To register as a team or individual visit www.hikeforhospice.ca. Pledges can also be collected as a team or individual. In addition to the Hike, there will be a T-shirt decorating station, face painting, and a moment of remembrance and reflection led by supportive care counsellor Brian Farmer. Participants will also receive a seedling from Pine Needle Farms. Event day packages for registrants will be available at the Hospice Services office at 2 Kent St. W., May 3 to 5, and at the event. For more information contact Samantha Jones at the Community Care Foundation at 705-324-7323 ext 164. SHARE: Peterborough County OPP is inviting people interested in careers in policing to learn more. May 15 to 21, 2023 is Police Week, and this year the OPP is celebrating police-community partnerships, read a media release from Wednesday, April 26. In more than 320 communities across the province, members of the OPP work collaboratively with the public and official partners to prevent crime and uphold the law. On May 17, at the Peterborough Lions Community Centre from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the OPP is hosting an event where potential recruits can interact with members of our team and learn more about what a career in policing has to offer. If you are looking for a rewarding career, why not consider becoming a police officer? The OPP hires hundreds of police officers per year for one of three recruit class intakes. No previous experience in law or security is required, added the OPPs release. Anyone interested in a career with the OPP can also visit its website. SHARE: (Based on a true story.) Rachel and her husband, Fred (the Worlds Worst Tourist) were sightseeing around Sydney, Australia. They had lunch at an outdoor waterfront cafe. As usual with waterfronts, seagulls and other birds were in attendance, looking for table scraps. A large sign warned diners not to feed the birds, or risk a fine. The cafe featured gourmet burgers: thick patties crowned with multiple toppings, sandwiched between a fresh-baked bun. Fred ordered a Fosters beer, cementing his foreigner status in the eyes of the locals. When their burgers arrived, Fred insisted on taking pictures of Rachel as she struggled to eat her massive meaty meal, which stretched her mouth to its limit. A large white-and-black bird started circling lower and lower over their table. I dont like the look of that bird, said Rachel between bites. Its larger than a seagull, with a long curved black beak. It looks aggressive. Its an ugly-looking dinosaur bird.* Youd better eat your burger before it steals it. Fred snorted, but stopped taking pictures. He picked up his enormous carnivore delicacy with both hands and brought it to his mouth. The circling bird swooped down right at Freds face! Fred squealed and flung up a hand to deflect the wings from hitting him. His other hand could not keep hold of his burger. The thick patty slid out from the bun, hit the table, bounced, and landed on the ground. Fred was left holding the bun. My burger! squawked Fred. With a squawk of its own, the big bold bird pounced on the patty. It gave Fred a smug, triumphant look, then began eating it. Other diners at nearby tables, all Aussies, cracked up with laughter. Eat faster next time, ya drongo (fool)! one local shouted. Youll be facin a fine now, for feedin the birds! crowed another. Fred sat glowering. Then he opened the bun he was holding and lunged at the big bird. Youre eating my lunch, you mangy buzzard, so now Ill eat you! Chaos ensued. The bird left its prize, evaded Freds bun-filled hands, and flew at his face and head. Freds long spindly arms pinwheeled frantically, fending off his attacker. A chorus of protests erupted from onlookers, telling Fred to leave the poor bird alone. Fred learned several choice Aussie swear words. Meanwhile, seagulls happily descended on the abandoned patty and began fighting over it. Rachel quietly finished her lunch and left. (*The dinosaur bird was an Australian White Ibis, notorious for scavenging, even snatching sandwiches from picnickers.) Bruce Gravels books are available at Handmade Heaven in Lansdowne Mall, Chapters and CraftWorks. Website: www.brucegravel.ca SHARE: Mayor Jeff Leal eulogized his longtime friend and councillor Glenn Pagett at a funeral at Calvary Pentecostal Church on Wednesday, calling him a dear friend, a tremendous athlete and a local politician who served 32 years on council with honour and distinction. He was fundamentally a kind man who truly cared about each person he spoke to, Leal said. Mr. Pagett listened well to constituents, leading him to help develop accessible transit, Leal said, as well as policies to build more affordable housing. Mr. Pagetts son-in-law Dave Solmes of Vancouver put it this way: Glenn loved Peterborough and Peterborough loved him right back. Mr. Pagett died Friday at age 87. He was born in Peterborough in 1935, grew up in the citys south end and attended King Edward and Prince of Wales elementary schools before high school at PCVS. From age 14 he was an athlete, excelling in softball. He quit high school at 17 to follow in his fathers and grandfathers footsteps to work at the General Electric plant; he worked there 44 years as an electrical wireman. He married Velma (nicknamed Dolly) in 1956. In 1969 was elected alderman, and remained in the role until 1997. After a term off council, he was re-elected and served from 2001 to 2003 (as a city councillor the title had changed). Mayor Leal and Mr. Pagett were both councillors in Otonabee Ward for 17 years, while Leal was a councillor. Mr. Pagett was further eulogized by grandchildren Wednesday: Jay Pagett, as well as Lucas, Lindsey and Lauren Solmes. Jay Pagett said that whenever he visited his grandparents in Peterborough as a kid, Mr. Pagett seemed like local royalty. And he made me feel like the prince of Peterborough, Jay Pagett said. I though he knew everybody. His son Joel Pagett, a pastor in a church in Los Angeles, said this familiarity his father had with just about everybody in town had a downside. Like the time young Joel Pagett was pulled over by police for running a stop sign; the officer let him off the hook without a ticket, but then phoned his dad to report the driving error. I could get away with nothing, Joel Pagett said. My dad was not perfect he was who he was But he finished his race. Glenn Pagett was predeceased by his wife Velma (in 2021) and son Roger. He is survived by daughter Julie Solmes (Dave), son Joel (Hilda), five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. joelle.kovach@peterboroughdaily.com SHARE: The Norwood Lions Club is one of the few remaining services clubs in the village and they are doing a great job at picking up any slack with a host of projects and fundraisers on the go. For the last several months the club has been hosting a popular monthly breakfast. However this month on April 22 they raised the bar by bringing back their Italian dinner, last held on the May long weekend in 2019 before COVID-19. Club members transformed the Asphodel-Norwood Town Hall into Luigis Italian Trattoria hosting two sold-out sittings with a menu featuring pastas, meatballs and other Italian delicacies. Earth Day events were also on the schedule for club members, with several taking part in events happening at the community centre. The clubs annual rain barrel program was also rather appropriately highlighted. Barrels come in a variety of styles and colours and cost between $60 and $110 they can still be preordered up to May 6 by visiting www.rainbarrel.ca/norwood or by calling Lion Barry Walsh at 705-639-1212. The barrels are scheduled to arrive at the Norwood Fair grounds on May 13 for pickup. The club also has a yearly tradition of road and ditch cleanups every spring and a few members could be found searching the ditches along County Road 40 on Sunday morning remove any buildup of refuse; although with their various other commitments they didnt get as far as they would have liked so another cleanup day may be added to their schedule. The club has also made a substantial financial commitment of $50,000 to the Norwood Hospice Project; they will be hosting a Mega Yard Sale on May 6 to help top up this commitment. This sale will differ slightly from their previous yard sales as it will be held 2 km north of the village at 544 County Road 40. Club member Lion Dean Fisher and his family have graciously donated 40 plus years of accumulated treasures as well as many new items to be sold off by the club to help meet their target. Items will include sofas, bedroom and household furniture, chairs, televisions, fridges and freezers, tools, clothing, stereo equipment, artwork and much more. The sale begins at 8:01 a.m. and finishes when everything is gone. The Lions will also have their trusty barbecues running to help fortify the hungry haggler. Celebrating 50 years at St. Paul Norwoods St. Paul Catholic Separate School will hold their 50th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday. The school will actually turn 51 in September and their golden celebrations were originally scheduled for last year, however they were delayed due to the pandemic. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the facility and view several displays that will be set up to for visitors to learn about the schools history in the village. Festivities to commemorate their milestone anniversary will run from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the school, 55 Oak St. and will conclude with a special mass held at St. Paul Church across the road at 5 p.m. The celebrations are open to everyone who would like to help Norwoods St. Pauls celebrate five decades of educating the communitys children. Coronation Tea The Norwood Historical Committee will be commemorating the historical crowning of King Charles III with a Coronation Tea on May 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Norwood Town Hall. The Tea will feature the actual Coronation on the town halls big screen, plus several displays of monarchy related items and a light English Tea luncheon of sandwiches, desserts and of course tea to be served at noon. Tickets are $10 in advance only and are selling quickly; please call Brenda Bullock at 705-837-2064 or drop in to the Norwood office of Reg Ward Insurance to reserve yours. Hospice Hike The Norwood Hospice Committees Hike for Hospice campaign is underway this year. They are asking for all ages of walkers to take part and gather sponsorship pledges for a walk around town on May 6. To sign up and for pledge sheets call Jan at 705-639-1726 Butter Tarts are back St. Georges Anglican Church, 38 Bridge St., next door in Hastings will once again host their popular Butter Tart Fundraiser. The tarts, made by the Kawartha Butter Tart Factory come in four flavours: plain, raisin, pecan and one with Skor bits and chocolate. Simply preorder your tarts (in multiples of six for $6.25) by calling 705-740-5820 or 705-696-1700 and then pick them up drive through style at the church between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on May 11. (Just in time to for a tasty Mothers Day treat.) Enjoy a little sweet indulgence while supporting a local church and a local business at the same time. Also for those wondering the tarts do freeze well too. norwoodnews@nexicom.net SHARE: Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, talks closely with households that have shaken off poverty, village cadres and other villagers in a village under Mengla County of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 26, 2023. Li made an inspection tour in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and southwest China's Yunnan Province from Monday to Wednesday. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) KUNMING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for efforts to strengthen the intrinsic development drive of regions along the border and enhance the success of poverty alleviation to achieve prosperity. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and southwest China's Yunnan Province from Monday to Wednesday. In Chongzuo City of Guangxi, Li inquired about the rise of income for local farmers and examined processing and breeding projects at Daling Village. He emphasized that industries should be developed based on local resources and with stronger technological support, so that more farmers can find work or start businesses near their homes. During his visit to industrial parks and an oversight center for goods of trade, Li urged work to improve amenities and facilities in the industrial parks and expedite the development of manufacturing, processing, trade and logistics. In a village under Mengla County of Yunnan, Li talked closely with households that had shaken off poverty, village cadres and other villagers. He underscored the development of village tourism and specialty industries featuring local agricultural brands to promote rural revitalization and boost the farmers' income. Li inspected the Mohan-Boten Economic Cooperation Zone where he encouraged efforts to foster industrial clusters and attain win-win results in cooperation amid further opening-up of border regions. During the inspection tour, Li also presided over a symposium and was briefed on industrial development and international cooperation of border regions in Yunnan Province. He urged promoting effective connection between efforts on consolidating achievements of poverty alleviation and advancing rural revitalization, tapping into the potential of increasing income, and strengthening vocational education and skills training. The key to revitalizing border areas and increasing people's income is to strengthen intrinsic development impetus, Li noted. Efforts should be made to enhance policy coordination and bring in quality projects to build a new highland for the opening-up of border regions, the premier said. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits an industrial park in Pingxiang, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, April 25, 2023. Li made an inspection tour in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and southwest China's Yunnan Province from Monday to Wednesday. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) It is very disappointing that Peterborough will not be stocking an anti-overdose drug in city-owned facilities a life-saving opportunity that has been adopted in many Ontario municipalities for years. But history, and human nature, give reason to believe naloxone will be available in the Peterborough Public Library, the city bus terminal and other public spaces where overdoses are most common in the coming years. That doesnt change the immediate disappointment level. Peterborough could have followed the lead of cities like Kingston which installed overdose kits in public buildings six years ago. Instead, city council on Monday voted overwhelmingly against adopting that growing public health trend. Coun. Alex Bierks failed motion to make naloxone available was an attempt at concession. Bierk originally wanted to provide naloxone kits to staff and pay to train those who volunteered in how to administer the nasal spray. Several conflicting statements were made during public debate at two separate council meetings. We will look at some of those, but first, the case for a change of heart in the future. During discussion, overdose prevention kits were compared to AED (automated external defibrillators) devices that Peterborough, and most North American cities, provides in public buildings. An AED allows almost anyone to follow simple directions and deliver a shock to someone is in cardiac arrest prior to the arrival of an ambulance crew. Twenty-five years ago, providing AEDs was controversial and cities were cautious about approving them. Today they are widespread. Change happened because the devices are so effective and cardiac deaths are relatively common. Sudden arrest is fatal in 95 per cent of cases if not treated quickly. Defibrillation within five minutes reduces the expected death rate to 25 per cent. A 2022 study in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology says 0.03 per cent to 0.10 per cent of the general population are hit by sudden cardiac arrest annually. In Peterborough that translates to somewhere between 26 and 85 cases, and nearly the same number of deaths without treatment. Last year in Peterborough, 59 people died of opioid overdoses. The numbers are worse for the first quarter of this year 23 in three months, potentially 92 for the full year. Evidence shows quick administration of naloxone reverses an overdose 95 per cent of the time. In a comparison between AED use and naloxone, the anti-overdose medication would save as many or more lives every year. So, the humanitarian evidence for providing naloxone is clear. What needs to be overcome is he stigma around giving medication to someone who has overdosed, and some general misconceptions. At the most basic level, there was confusion at city council about what was being proposed. Bierk did not want to direct that all city staff be trained, only those who volunteered. A staff report that recommended sticking with current policy of directing employees who see someone overdosing to call 911 referred to the danger of someone coming out of an overdose being violent. Dr. Thomas Piggott, the local medical health officer, called the aggression argument a myth and largely refuted concerns about allergic reactions. The staff report also refers to having to negotiate a training policy into union contracts and the potential for impact on business operation as a result, perhaps based on feedback from its unions. These are early days in the discussion. Over time, more fact-based information will emerge. Knowledge and empathy will shift public opinion and Peterborough likely will supply overdose prevention kits, as it does AEDs. It should have happened Monday night, but later is better than never. SHARE: TORONTO - Electric vehicle drivers can expect more charging options ahead as the Canada Infrastructure Bank is loaning $220 million to Flo Services Inc. to expand its network. The Infrastructure Bank says the loan will allow Quebec City-based Flo to install more than 2,000 charging ports, nearly doubling the number of universal public fast charging ports available in Canada. The loan is the first from the Infrastructure Banks $500 million fund designed specifically to increase EV charging and hydrogen refuelling options. Flo will own and operate the network that will mostly use its own dual-port, 320 kilowatt chargers designed to bring most EV batteries to an 80 per cent charge in 15 minutes. The chargers are expected to be installed within four years at about 400 sites across Canada. Investments in charging networks come as the government is also mandating that at least 60 per cent of vehicle sales be electric by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2035. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2023. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version had the incorrect city of where Flo is based. SHARE: BERLIN (AP) A court in Germany has rejected a married couples request to legally change their Russian-sounding surname due to negative repercussions they said they had experienced since the start of the war in Ukraine. The couple had sought to force officials in the southwest German state of Rhineland Palatinate to authorize the change, claiming that they and their daughter had suffered in their daily lives because of their last name. The regional administrative court in Koblenz did not provide the couples surname in line with German privacy rules. The court said Tuesday that judges dismissed the Germany-born couples request on the grounds that the reasons they gave for the change were insufficient. The fact that a family name is of foreign origin or doesnt sound German is in itself generally not an important reason for a name change, the court said in a statement. It said the negative treatment the couple claimed to have experienced since the start of Russias invasion of Ukraine wasnt serious enough to warrant the name change, noting that the familys economic situation hadnt been affected. The couple can appeal the ruling. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Read more about: SHARE: LONDON (AP) A sweeping British bill that will dramatically curb migrants ability to seek asylum in the U.K. is due to be approved by lawmakers on Wednesday, despite critics allegations that it breaks international law. The government says the Illegal Migration Bill will deter tens of thousands of people from trying to reach the country in small boats across the English Channel each year. Although opposition lawmakers claim they have not had enough time to scrutinize it, it is likely to easily clear the House of Commons, where the governing Conservatives have a large majority. This government has sought to railroad this deplorable, disgusting bill through the House of Commons, said Stephen Flynn of the opposition Scottish National Party. The bill is likely to face strong opposition in Parliaments upper chamber, the House of Lords, though the unelected Lords dont have powers to block it completely. The legislation bars asylum claims by anyone who reaches the U.K. by unauthorized means, and compels the government to detain and then deport them to their home country or a safe third country. They would be banned from ever reentering the U.K. Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said the bill is designed to send the message that if you enter the United Kingdom illegally, you will not be able to build a life here. Critics say the plan is unethical and unworkable. They say people fleeing war and persecution cant be sent home, and a U.K. plan to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda is mired in legal challenges, so migrants are set to languish in U.K. detention with no way out. The United Nations refugee agency has said the bill is a clear breach of the international Refugee Convention. The British government has conceded there is a strong chance it breaches the U.K.s international refugee and human rights obligations, but is determined to fight legal challenges. Britain receives fewer asylum-seekers than European nations such as Italy, Germany or France. But thousands of migrants from around the world travel to northern France each year in hope of reaching the U.K. across the Channel. More than 45,000 people arrived in Britain in dinghies and other small boats in 2022, up from 8,500 in 2020. The U.K. government says many of those making the journey are economic migrants rather than refugees. Britains interior minister, Home Secretary Suella Braverman, alleged Wednesday that people arriving in small boats possess values which are at odds with our country and are associated with heightened levels of criminality. Refugee groups say most of the channel arrivals are fleeing war, persecution or famine in countries including Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, and risk the cross-channel journey because there are few safe, legal ways to reach the U.K. A majority of those whose claims have been processed were granted asylum in Britain. The government says the U.K. has taken in almost half a million asylum seekers since 2015, and has promised to establish more legal paths to asylum, adding to those set up for people from Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Ukraine. In a bid to win support from Conservatives who are uneasy about the bill, Jenrick pledged those new routes would be in place by the end of 2024 at the latest. ___ Follow APs coverage of global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration SHARE: China envoy lauds Belt and Road push BANGKOK: Chinese ambassador Han Zhiqiang expressed confidence on Monday (Apr 24) that Chinas Belt and Road Initiative would promote mutual growth and bring benefits to Thailand and China. Chinese By Bangkok Post Wednesday 26 April 2023, 09:30AM Chinas ambassador to Thailand Han Zhiqiang gives his keynote address at a forum on Monday (Apr 24) titled Contemporary China with the World: An exchange of a new generation between Thailand and China at Chandrakasem Rajabhat University. Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb Delivering a keynote speech at a seminar on Contemporary China with the World: An exchange of a new generation between Thailand and China, the ambassador said the Belt and Road Initiative, which was intended to promote joint development, played a role in guiding and advancing bilateral relations and created a new open and inclusive system for development. The seminar was held at Chandrakasem Rajabhat University. It was organised by the One Belt One Road research centre, Chandrakasem Rajabhat University, the Thai-Chinese Culture Council, and the Thai-Chinese Strategic Research Centre, among others, reports the Bangkok Post. The ambassador discussed how Thailands 20-year strategic plan and Thailand 4.0 policy with a focus on the Bio-Circular-Green Economic Model (BCG) was in accordance with Chinas Belt and Road Initiative and how both countries had comprehensive development policies. He said the Chinese-Thai rail development project, the second phase of which is scheduled to begin in 2024 before completion in 2028, is a symbol of cooperation in connectivity and infrastructure development. Once completed, it would inject vitality into economic development and help lower the cost of transporting goods between Thailand, Laos and China. Promoting bilateral trade is s also essential to making the Belt and Road Initiative beneficial to the people of both countries, according to the Chinese ambassador. China invested in 158 projects in 2022, making it the largest foreign investor in Thailand, while the Rayong Thai-Chinese industrial estate attracted more than 180 Chinses firms and created more than 45,000 jobs. People-to-people connection has also laid strong foundations for cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative, said the ambassador as he discussed the two countries cooperation in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Father, son face charges for road rage attack PHUKET: A father and son are under investigation by Phuket City Police for attempted murder after a road rage incident escalated on Sakdidet Rd on Sunday (Apr 23). violencecrimetransportpolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Wednesday 26 April 2023, 09:50AM The attack happened in front of an Isan restaurant, at 5:30pm. Police explained that Suriya Kaewsopha, 30, was driving his white pickup truck, registered in Khon Kaen, with his wife Wanwisa Phonrob and 2-year-old son in the front passenger seat when the attack happened. Mr Suriya was rushing his son to hospital as he had a high fever. When he stopped at a red light, a man later identified as Moi Pinta approached his pickup and tapped on the drivers side window. Mr Moi accused Mr Suriya of cutting him off in traffic. Mr Suriya, more concerned with his sons condition, ignored him and drove off. Mr Moi and his son Narong Pinta, 30, followed him as they weaved through traffic. At the next traffic lights, Mr Moi took an iron bar, estimated to be about 70cm long, and smashed the windscreen and the drivers side window. Mr Moi then pulled Mr Suriya out of the pickup. Mr Suriya pulled out his mobile phone to record the incident, but Mr Moi grabbed the phone and threw it away. The son, Narong, then arrived and started hitting Mr Suriya, who started to flee down the road, with Narong chasing after him and repeatedly hitting him with the iron bar. Mr Suriya protected himself with one arm. Onlookers tried to intervene to stop the attack. One of the onlookers had his car struck by Mr Narong for his efforts. Staff at the Isan restaurant called Mr Suriya for him, his wife and child to take refuge and hide in the restaurant. Mr Suriya said that witnesses had reported that Mr Narong was seen at one time walking around carrying two knives. When police arrived, Mr Narong and his father fled. After the attack, Mr Suriya took his son to hospital as a priority, then later returned to explain the incident to police. Doctors at Dibuk Hospital confirmed that Mr Suriyas arm had suffered bruising in the attack, but was not broken. Mr Narong and his father Mr Moi later both presented themselves to police and confessed to the attack. Mr Suriya said he was asking police to prosecute to the full extent of the law. He told reporters that he would not negotiate or compromise with the men. Patong massage shop dispute ends with car ramming parked motorbikes PHUKET: Police have arrested a 25-year-old man for driving his car into motorbikes parked alongside Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd in Patong on Monday night (Apr 24), injuring several people in the process. patongpolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Wednesday 26 April 2023, 12:39PM The incident was recorded on video and shared on social media, inciting many excited claims of the man ramming into a crowd and that the incident was the result of a brawl. The driver, who police named only as Panudet (family name withheld) is now in custody, Patong Police said. The incident happened at about 8pm on Monday night. According to police, about 6pm on Monday night Panudet received a call from Thanapong Toey Hongsanit, a staffer at a luxury massage shop co-owned by Chatchanan Patty Charoenjai, with whom Panudet had an ongoing spat. Panudet had previously reported to police that Chatchanan had slapped Panudet across the face, once. The reason for the dispute that resulted in the slapping was not explained. Apparently police wanted both parties to meet with investigators to negotiate a settlement to the dispute. Officers had tried to contact Chatchanan, but with no success that was until Mr Thanapong called Panuduet to tell him that Chatchanan had rushed back from another province to settle the dispute. Panudet drove to the massage shop which police did not name to call Chatchanan to come to Patong Police Station. Apparently Chatchanan refused the invitation, instead saying he would wait for the police summons. That was when Panudet returned to Patong Police Station to retrieve his red Mazda 2, which police were happy to point out was registered in Chon Buri. Panudet then drove his car back to the massage shop, but when he arrived he apparently saw Chatchanan with six to seven other men, who allegedly started yelling at him. The group apparently approached the car, with Panudet apparently now frightened for his safety. Panudet said that was when he panicked, and and accidentally had the car in the wrong gear when he tried to drive off, but instead rammed into motorbikes parked in front of the massage shop. Of note, the video of the incident did not seem to support Panudets version of events. Some people were injured in the incident, with rescue workers arriving at the scene to transport some people to hospital. Police, not one of which have been named in the reports, said they were waiting on medical reports confirming the injuries sustained. According to officers, police cannot press charges without a written document confirming that someone was injured. Police were happy to report that Panudet had presented himself as the driver of the car. Apparently that was much better than them having to hunt him down. Police were also adamant that they will expedite and follow up on the results of the physical examination and follow up the accused to be prosecuted according to the law. On Demand We have a new story every day on the front page of thephuketnews.com. Also like us on our Facebook page (facebook.com/thephuketnews) and be the first to watch all the new stories. Finally you can watch any segment, any time by going to thephuketnews.com/tv where all the stories are listed for you to enjoy. All our programs can be enjoyed in High Definition when watching on the internet. In-Room VDO MOGADISHU, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The first group of Somali evacuees from Sudan landed in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, on Wednesday. The 18 Somalis were received at the Aden Abdulle International Airport by Abdirahman Nur Dinari, acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The government is working to evacuate other nationals still stranded in Sudan or at borders with Ethiopia and South Sudan as soon as possible, Dinari told journalists. The fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which broke out on April 15, has reportedly killed hundreds of people and injured thousands of others. GrandBridge Energy employees have been on the picket line since April 23, and it looks like there is currently no end in sight. Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 636, representing 69 GrandBridge employees metering, field services and the system control room voted 71 per cent on April 19 to reject the companys latest contract offering. The employees walked out at 12:01 a.m. A statement from GrandBridge Energy to the Times said, Talks have not resumed yet. GrandBridge Energy is committed to the negotiation process and is prepared to return to the negotiation table. The statement mirrored the sentiments of Brian Manninger, business manager for the union, who said the previous contract offers didnt satisfy the membership. We are prepared to go back to the table at any time, she said. GrandBridge Energy and IBEW negotiations began in late 2022 to create a new collective agreement after Brantford Power and Energy+ merged to become GrandBridge on May 2, 2022. The collective agreement for members of IBEW Local 636 expired on March 31. With files from the Record SHARE: This column will be updated weekly with open work positions, workshops and other opportunities in Cambridge, Ontario and the Waterloo region. WHOS HIRING Most of the roles below were found through the website findyourjob.ca/map/. For more information on this and other employment services that can be leveraged for job hunting in Cambridge and the Waterloo region, please read this article. SUSO SKATE CO. GUEST EXPERIENCE ($18 per hour, seasonal summer job, shift work) The Summer Solstice Skate Co. (SUSO Skate Co.) is the leading owner and operator of disrupting roller skate experiences, with a mission to transform spaces into experiential community destinations, reads the companys website. SUSO is actively looking for guest experience roles that focus on customer service, but if you have a knack for social media, this job will be a great way to gain experience in content generation. First aid certification is a must, but they can provide training. Interested in other roles aside from Guest Experience? Want to teach or DJ? Fill out their Come work with us! form for potential opportunities. Additional information and where to apply: https://www.susoskateco.com/careers TRUE INK TATTOO STUDIO TATTOO ARTIST ($50 $150 per hour, full-time, part-time, on-site) Kitchener-based True Ink Tattoo Studio is looking for full-time experienced tattoo artists to join the team at (their) busy Kitchener studio, reads their job post on Indeed.com. The business is also offering part-time work opportunities, including spot rental and guest spotting. A portfolio is required to apply. Additional information and where to apply: ca.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=cecf29d5375dcf36 BIOINFORMATICS SOLUTIONS TWO ROLES (undisclosed salaries, full-time, on-site) Located in Waterloo and founded in 2000, Bioinformatics Solutions Inc., (BSI) provides proteomics software solutions and mass spectrometry services for the health sciences, with a focus on antibodies. They are current looking for an account manager (sales role) with at least a bachelor of science degree in the field of life sciences (biology, chemistry, biochemistry, bioinformatics or a related field), and an application scientist with a PhD in biochemistry, biology, biophysics, or a related field. According to the job post, the selected application scientist will manage research projects in biomedicine and immunopeptidomics (an exciting field in immunology that is unearthing predictable areas to target for treatment of cancer and other diseases, according to a published scientific review in 2020). Additional information and where to apply: bioinfor.com/careers/ THE CO-OPERATORS MANAGER, BRAND PROGRAMS (undisclosed salary, full-time, hybrid work model) Deadline to apply: May 12. The Co-operators is a leading Canadian financial services co-operative offering financial solutions and different types of insurance, according to their job post and website, respectively. The Co-operators Guelph branch is looking for a brand manager to oversee the evolution and cohesion of their brand internally and externally, according to the same post. Interested candidates should have a minimum of five years of experience in brand management, and a post-secondary degree in marketing, business, or a related field. Additional information and where to apply: localwork.ca/job/7531432/maintenance-supervisor/ Have feedback on how to make the column better, or would like to let us know of an open job role, email us at newsroom@cambridgetimes.com with the subject line: WHOS HIRING. SHARE: The Humane Society of Kitchener-Waterloo & Stratford-Perth (HSKWSP) is strongly encouraging adoption with dozens of animals available between both centres. According to a media release, animal services officers have recently responded to reports of dogs running loose in and around Mitchell, in Perth County. We suspect all eight dogs are from the same household as many have similar features and are roughly the same age. All dogs came in with dirty coats, some had matted fur, one was suffering from an ear infection, another needed a dental cleaning, and all suffered from varying levels of being underweight, said Amber Gaynor, Stratford-Perth animal centre manager. Three dogs have now been adopted. Four dogs Dream, Hope, Maddie and Glory are currently available for adoption, and the remaining dog (Faith) is still under medical care. With 50 dogs, 71 cats and 40 small animals available between both centres (Kitchener and Stratford), the HSKWSP is strongly encouraging community members to consider adopting. Details about the dogs available for adoption can be found at kwsphumane.ca. HSKWSP is also urgently looking for large-breed dog fosters. Interested parties must live in Perth County or Wilmot Township and can complete an application form online. We are urging people not to abandon their pets, said Calla James, the humane societys director of community engagement. We exist to support people and their furry family members in times of crisis and always encourage people to call us to discuss how we might be able to support them, whether through our pet pantry program, low-cost spay neuter services, training opportunities or surrender services. SHARE: WATERLOO REGION Leadership Waterloo Region, a non-profit organization that has provided leadership training to local people for 23 years, is shutting down. Its been a couple of months of sleepless nights, said board chair Jackie Lauer in an interview Tuesday. The pandemic severely disrupted the organizations ability to raise money through events and from grants and donations, she said. Fundraising makes up more than two-thirds of the organizations $300,000 annual operating budget; the remainder comes from fees paid by participants. The organization recently received a grant of $40,000 from the Region of Waterloo, and raised another $4,859 from a GoFundMe campaign earlier this year. This cash infusion will let the organization continue until the end of June, when its final crop of students will graduate. Its allowing us to close out with dignity, Lauer said. Among the 515 graduates of Leadership Waterloo Region over the years are Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe, Coalition of Muslim Women leader Fauzia Mazhar, former Waterloo Regional Police chief Bryan Larkin, and Kitchener regional councillors Colleen James and Michael Harris. The organizations intensive year-long course emphasized skills like emotional intelligence, understanding how systems work, psychological safety and inclusion, and more. Special solutions lab days would focus on a particular issue like homelessness or the justice system, and offer many points of view on the problem, including from those with lived experience. The course cost was $4,900, but bursaries were available so that people of all ages, incomes and backgrounds could take part. After the pandemic struck in 2020, the organization shifted to online training, which worked well, Lauer said. However, the organization had relied heavily on in-person fundraising events, which couldnt be sustained when gatherings were prohibited during the pandemic. And as the pandemic revealed social problems such as homelessness, many donors and granting agencies focused on making their funds available to address those kinds of immediate problems. This disadvantaged Leadership Waterloo Region, which focuses instead on investing in expertise and skills that pay dividends later. We sort of fell through the cracks, said chief executive officer Diane Wiles. The organization did not have a reserve fund to provide a financial cushion, either. That meant it couldnt take time to recover or regroup. Its important for the public to know that community leaders are not just born knowing how to lead, Wiles said. They have to be trained and mentored. She said she is grateful that so many of the programs graduates are serving in the community where they continue to affect decisions, make positive change and help others. Thats why the legacy of Leadership Waterloo Region will live on, she said. Luisa DAmato is a Waterloo Region-based staff columnist for The Record. Reach her via email: ldamato@therecord.com SHARE: ADDIS ABABA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China should be used as a role model for malaria elimination by African countries to eradicate the disease from the continent, an Ethiopian health expert has suggested. China's anti-malaria campaign can be implemented in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia successfully, taking into account the similarity in topography, varying altitude, and the diverse population between the two countries, said Eyob Beyene, assistant professor of medicine at Addis Ababa University. "China can serve as a role model to eliminate malaria in Ethiopia and other parts of Africa. China can also help us to eliminate the disease by adapting best practices," Beyene told Xinhua in a recent interview. Beyene said China's assistance to Ethiopia in fighting malaria has expanded through time since the Chinese government dispatched its first medical team to assist the East African nation more than 40 years ago. According to the health expert, China's cooperation with Ethiopia to combat the disease includes sending Chinese medical teams, conducting personnel training and building of Malaria Prevention and Treatment Center in the city of Adama, some 100 km southeast of Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. "There is a long-standing relationship between China and Ethiopia in malaria elimination with the Chinese medical professionals having been working in Ethiopia for more than 40 years. Currently, there is an upsurge in malaria infections in Ethiopia and hence the collaboration should further be strengthened. Hopefully, China will help eliminate malaria from Ethiopia," he said. Appreciating the Chinese government for building Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, Beyene explained the significance of the China-assisted Malaria Prevention and Treatment Center to Ethiopia's journey to eliminate malaria. "The center will help to study the mosquitoes, the drugs for malaria and also the different medications and chemicals which are useful for malaria control. So this center is a big asset to study malaria," Beyene said. Speaking to journalists Monday ahead of the World Malaria Day which fell on Tuesday for the 16th time, Ethiopian State Minister of Health Dereje Duguma said Ethiopia has seen an increasing number of new cases of malaria infections over the past two years. More than 2.3 million new infections of malaria were reported in the country during the past year, the state minister said. He attributed the increase to climate change, drought and the two-year conflict which caused the malfunctioning of several health centers in the northern part of the country. "Finding himself surprisingly at home in Southern Italy, he discovers his new friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends' protector by taking on the mafia." CAIRO, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Egypt evacuated on Tuesday 635 more citizens from Sudan, which has been ravaged by an armed conflict since April 15. In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that 446 more Egyptian nationals were evacuated via land and 189 others by air in coordination with the Sudanese authorities. An injured Sudanese citizen in critical condition was also airlifted to Egypt, the ministry said. The number of Egyptians evacuated from Sudan has reached 1,539 since the start of the evacuation, according to the statement. The ministry said the Egyptian diplomatic missions in Khartoum, Port Sudan and Wadi Halfa will continue to coordinate with the Egyptian nationals in Sudan to secure their evacuation. Egypt previously announced that the number of Egyptian citizens in Sudan exceeds 10,000, adding that it requires a tight, safe and orderly planned process to ensure their safe evacuation. Deadly clashes broke out between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces on April 15 in the capital city of Khartoum and other places. More than 400 civilians have been killed, while about 4,000 others injured in Sudan so far, according to data from the Sudanese Health Ministry. The warring parties have agreed to a three-day ceasefire starting midnight on Monday, as many countries are racing to evacuate their diplomats and citizens from Sudan. There were 174 incidents of hate reported to Hamilton police last year, a significant increase that is both reflective of increased awareness and reporting, but also of a growing trend of hate and polarization in the city and beyond. A report going to the Hamilton police services board Thursday details the incidents including 26 hate crimes which represent a 61 per cent increase over 2021. The Black, Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities were among the most frequently targeted. Part of the increase is due to awareness around hate incidents and crimes, said Det. Fabiano Mendes of the hate crime unit. Police have made a concerted effort to reach out to community groups to encourage reporting. Were getting a clearer picture of what is happening in the city, he said. But police are also aware of geopolitical events and how they might influence local behaviour. Mendes noted an increase in alt-right ideology in the city and across Canada. I wish it came as a surprise, said Lyndon George, executive director of the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre. However, the jump in reported incidents follows a disturbing trend. The undercurrent of this trend can be seen online where there has been a noticeable uptick in racism and hate. George said it is important to have honest conversations about what is driving this increase, including the influence of white supremacy, far-right extremism, and disinformation. He said it is important for organizations, such as police, to call this out. The report going to the board notes that most of the incidents reported to police were random and believed to be committed by individuals and not by organized groups. But George said just because someone acted alone does not mean they acted in isolation. More needs to be done to understand what motivates perpetrators. Part of the work done at HARRC is listening to people who have experienced hate. Often they just want someone to talk to. Some dont want to report to police because of mistrust, but others have reported and said they felt like little was done, he said. George said he can see an effort by police, the board and chief to co-ordinate outreach in communities. Those communities also need to be involved in ongoing conversations about what can be done to address hate, he said. It is important not to lose sight of the fact that behind these numbers are people, he added. Mendes said police know hate incidents and statistics about them being on the rise can be alarming, but it is important to track such incidents so they can follow trends. This can lead to anything from education, to working with community groups, to increased enforcement in certain areas. Racist incidents topped the police-reported list at 91 total, including 11 hate crimes. The most targeted was the Black community with 65 incidents. Incidents targeting people because of their religion was the second-highest category at 49, of which 42 targeted the Jewish community. The number of incidents targeting both the Black and Jewish communities near doubled from 2021. There were also 23 incidents targeting people for their sexual orientation or gender identity. Police and community organizations know the true number is likely much higher due to under-reporting. Gustavo Rymberg, CEO of the Hamilton Jewish Federation, said it is important to look at the overall numbers and not just focus on particular targeted groups. What we should (look at) with this kind of report is not to get involved in the competition of who is suffering the most, but see the big picture, he said. Rymberg noted that the numbers in the report are from 2022, and he thinks things are only getting worse. Community groups need to come together to push for big changes in Canada, he said. For instance, a noted white supremacist should not be allowed to run for political office. Something in the system is not working, Rymberg said. Who is fixing that? How police respond depends on the particulars of the case. Of the 26 hate crime cases, police arrested someone in six, but in another six the victim declined to press charges. Two cases were handled by diversion (such as community service or education) and one case saw charges outside of Hamilton. There is often confusion in the community about what constitutes a hate crime or incident because there is no charge for hate crime in the Criminal Code, except for propaganda offences such as inciting genocide. Mendes said Hamilton police categorize cases as hate crimes when they have evidence that the crime was motivated solely, or in part, by prejudice. Hate incidents tracked by police include things like a neighbour dispute where someone says something racist or hateful, but there was no criminal offence. Or it can include a criminal offence where there isnt enough evidence to prove in court it was motivated by hate. Hate investigations can be complex, he said. For instance, investigators have to balance a persons right to free speech under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms versus the Criminal Code. But police want to hear about all incidents, said Mendes. Even if it is not considered a hate crime or charges are not possible, either Mendes or victim services will follow up to support the victim. Police use a hate crime dashboard to better track cases, and officers have been trained to better recognize incidents with hate overtones. Now any incident flagged is sent to Mendes and other officers for review. Hate crimes do not necessarily happen every day, he said. But incidents with hate overtones are more common and they can have a significant impact on victims, their families and community. Police are working to establish a hate crime review team to assess cases. Mendes said police have already met with some groups for community consultations. There is also a hate crime symposium planned for May. Combating hate in Hamilton takes a concentrated effort from everyone, Mendes said. We need to work collaboratively and address the root causes of hate in our community. Nicole OReilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator. noreilly@thespec.com SHARE: Two Air Ornge ambulances touched down in quick succession at West Haldimand General Hospital in Hagersville on Wednesday to pick up a pair of workers who had been injured at Stelcos Nanticoke steelworks. The Ministry of Labour confirmed an incident at the Stelco Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke that saw two workers burned while working with unspecified materials, the ministry said. The workers were taken by paramedics to the local hospital and then airlifted to a different hospital to receive continued care. The injured workers are employed by John Kenyon Limited, a Hamilton-based company that services new and maintenance metal wall cladding and metal roofing projects in the industrial, commercial and institutional construction markets, according to the company website. When reached by The Spectator, a company spokesperson declined to comment. The labour ministry has assigned an inspector to the case and the investigation is ongoing. J.P. Antonacci s reporting on Haldimand and Norfolk is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. jpantonacci@thespec.com SHARE: CALGARY - Cenovus Energy Inc. lowered its production guidance for the year Wednesday after releasing first-quarter financial results that missed Wall Streets expectations. However, outgoing CEO Alex Pourbaix who will step down from the role later in the day following the companys annual meeting suggested the remainder of 2023 looks more promising. As the year progresses, we expect improved production and a fully operating downstream business, Pourbaix said in a news release. The increase in our base dividend underscores our confidence in the long-term success of the company. Cenovus reported a first-quarter profit of $636 million, down from $1.6 billion in the same quarter last year. The profit works out to 32 cents per diluted share, down from 79 cents per diluted share a year earlier. At the same time, the company said it will now pay a base quarterly dividend of 14 cents per share, up from 10.5 cents. The increased payment to shareholders came as Cenovus reported a profit of 32 cents per diluted share, down from 79 cents per diluted share a year earlier. Revenue for the quarter totalled $12.3 billion, down from $16.2 billion in the first three months of 2022. Cenovus acknowledged Wednesday that its U.S. manufacturing division did not perform to expectations in the first quarter. The company was affected by higher costs associated with the continued commissioning of its Superior Refinery in Wisconsin, which Cenovus acquired as part of its acquisition of Husky Energy in 2021 and is working to re-open. The refinery has been closed since an explosion and fire five years ago. In addition, Cenovus said it incurred higher costs related to assuming full ownership of the Toledo Refinery following the close of Cenovuss acquisition from BP, and it also suffered several unplanned outages and severe weather events that affected its U.S. manufacturing division. We are actively taking steps to improve performance and expect meaningfully better results through this year and beyond as we start demonstrating the full operating and financial capabilities of our integrated business, said chief operating officer Jon McKenzie in a news release. McKenzie is slated to assume the CEO role, replacing Pourbaix, later Wednesday. Cenovus says upstream production in the first quarter was 779,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, compared with 798,600 a year earlier, while downstream throughput was 457,900 barrels per day compared with 501,800 in the same quarter last year. In its guidance for the year, the company says it now expects upstream production for 2023 to be between 790,000 and 810,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, down from its December prediction for between 800,000 and 840,000. The company also lowered its guidance for downstream throughput to between 580,000 and 610,000 barrels per day compared with earlier expectations for between 610,000 and 660,000, due to a reduction at its U.S. operations. In a note to clients, Scotiabank analyst Jason Bouvier called Cenovus first-quarter results a modest negative, pointing out the companys cash flow per share missed the Wall Street consensus by five per cent. However, RBC Capital Markets analyst Greg Pardy suggested the weaker quarter was a one-off and not an indication of deeper problems with the company. From where we sit, Cenovus Energys mixed first-quarter results are not indicative of the companys execution capability which should surface in the second half of this year, Pardy said in a note. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2023. Companies in this story: (TSX:CVE) Read more about: SHARE: While the music world reels from the advent of artificial intelligence-powered voice-mimicking programs, at least one artist is embracing the technology with open arms. Canadian pop star Grimes said anyone is free to use her voice in the creation of AI-generated music without penalty, even promising to pay out royalties to creators of successful songs. Ill split 50 per cent (of) royalties on any successful AI generated song that uses my voice. Same deal as I would with any artist I collab with, the musician posted to Twitter recently. Feel free to use my voice without penalty. I have no label and no legal bindings. In followup tweets, Grimes said her team was working on a program to simulate her voice, but will also upload voice samples with which people can train their own AI. She plans to make the program available for anyone to use, though the exact details arent clear. We expect a certain amount of chaos. grimes (sic) is an art project, not a music project, the musician responded to the possibility of her voice being used to create offensive content. The point is to poke holes in the simulation and see what happens even if its a bad outcome for us. The musician promised shed only do copyright takedowns of AI songs in response to really toxic lyrics, such as songs that are viral and anti-abortion or (something) like that. Thats the only rule (I) dont wanna be responsible for a Nazi anthem unless its somehow in jest a la producers (sic) I guess, she said, seemingly referencing the satirical film The Producers, which features an intentionally bad musical praising Adolf Hitler. On Tuesday, AI music-production program Uberduck announced a $10,000 contest for people to create songs using Grimess voice. Participants would use the companys AI voice generator to produce entries; the winner takes home $7,000. This is madness but very sick, Grimes tweeted in response to the contest. Not all in the music industry are embracing AI like Grimes. Last week, record industry giant Universal Music Group successfully pulled down the viral song Heart on My Sleeve, created using the AI-generated vocals of Drake and the Weeknd. Although the song is still circulating on social media, it has been dropped by major streaming platforms. AI-generated songs made with popular artists voices have blown up on social media in recent weeks; examples include a plethora of fake covers done in Kanye Wests voice to a cover of Beyonces Cuff It by an AI version of Rihanna. In a statement, Universal said AI songs are: both a breach of our agreements and a violation of copyright law. Grimes appears to disagree: I think its cool to be fused (with) a machine and I like the idea of open sourcing all art and killing copyright, she tweeted. Read more about: SHARE: Denver is known for being quintessentially laid-back, but dont mistake the chillness for sleepiness. The Mile High Citys unexpected quirks will keep you on your toes, from the 40-foot-high whimsical blue bear sculpture downtown (now a city emblem) to the surprisingly huge street art scene. The capitals Old Western charm lives on through classic landmarks like Larimer Square and the Colorado State Capitol building, while the recently revitalized Union Station and the transformed industrial district, River North, are adding a breath of fresh air to Denver, as I discovered on my latest visit. Here are five ways to get to the heart of this golden city. For the It district: RiNo As its name suggests, RiNo (short for River North Art District) has evolved into the citys arts and culture hub, making Denver one of the biggest street art cities in the U.S. Walls, street corners, sidewalks and fences are layered in paint old and new, politically charged and not, trippy and minimalistic. Theres so much here, in plain sight and hidden, youll want a guided walkaround with Denver Graffiti Tour to get behind the meaning of the artistry. In between the murals are plenty of places to sip and dine, including the Denver Central Market and taco shops like Federales Denver. For addictive pita with a view: Safta Take yourself off the main drag in RiNo and head to the rooftop restaurant Safta, for the Middle Eastern food and the Denver skyline views. Influenced by Israel, Bulgaria, Yemen, Syria, Morocco, Turkey, Palestine and Greece, the dishes range from family-style meat entrees to veggie-friendly curries. But the real gratification here is the freshly baked pita, which is complimentary and addictive. The warm bread makes for a great vessel to dip into the lamb ragu hummus, crispy eggplant, shakshuka and other deliciousness so you wont feel guilty about ordering a second round. This cult-favourite NYC-based bar has brought its East Village effervescence to Denver. Here, the location gives a spacious living-room vibe to the lobby of the Ramble Hotel. Sink into blue velvet sofas or leather armchairs and booths, or settle in at the mirrored bar, all under a moody chandelier glow. The sippers are boozy, bright and timeless. Try the River Ranch Highball (tequila, manzanilla sherry, poblano chilies, passion fruit and seltzer) or the Moments in Gold (Jamaican rum, Douglas fir brandy, lemon and black raspberry). The only problem is how quickly that Mile High City altitude will hit. This micro-district in LoDo (Lower Downtown) is a 1920s dairy processing block turned collection of stores and restaurants, with a string-light alley, murals and other artwork. Visit Free Market, a collective that collaborates with artists, for one-of-a-kind finds. Or check out the sustainable leather goods at Parker Clay, a store that supports women-made products. Keep an eye out for pop-up shops, too, as the area is constantly changing. Also enticing is Milk Market, a food hall featuring local-only spots, where you can treat yourself to tacos, wood-fired pizza and ice cream. For a Denver classic: Union Station Built in 1881, Union Station has been a Denver focal point since the gold rush days. Today, its more than just the easiest way to get to and from the airport. Reopened in 2014 after a revitalization, its also the meeting spot in LoDo, complete with an Instagram-worthy entrance hall and exterior, multiple restaurants, bars and shops, and even a hotel, the Crawford. Grab a coffee and a hefty breakfast sandwich at Pigtrain Coffee & Co., then peruse the titles at Tattered Cover Book Store. Slide up to the Terminal Bar in the main hall for a cocktail pre-dinner, or opt for the Cooper Lounge on the upper level for fancier drinks and downtown views. Jennifer Weatherhead Harrington travelled as a guest of Visit Denver, which did not review or approve this article. SHARE: HALIFAX - Advance voters in an upcoming Nova Scotia byelection will be the first in Canada to use electronic ballots, provincial election officials say. Elections Nova Scotia said Wednesday that voters in the provincial riding of Preston will be able to cast early in-person ballots using an electronic system in the byelection, which is yet to be called by the Progressive Conservative government. Assistant chief electoral officer Lindsay Rodenkirchen said the secure system developed by her agency will allow voters to choose a candidate on an electronic tablet in the polling station rather than marking a paper ballot. The Preston byelection will be the first use of e-balloting in Canada, Rodenkirchen said. We are confident in the integrity of this innovative voting method. She said the systems security features were designed in consultation with security experts, and added that threat risk assessments were also carried out on the system. The tablet will verify the voters choice before producing a paper receipt to be placed in a ballot box. Rodenkirchen said the vote will be registered electronically and the paper receipt will only be used in the event of a recount conducted by hand. While it (e-balloting) does use the internet to securely transmit digital votes to our secure servers, it cannot be used for unsupervised (internet) voting, she said. We have created an infrastructure for an isolated system, so that it isnt visible through public means. The system is meant to allow officials to count advance votes within minutes, instead of hours, on election day, Rodenkirchen said. As an example, she said hand counting of the early vote in the 2017 provincial election continued until 2:30 a.m. We knew that digitizing the votes was going to be the best way to ensure results were produced in a more timely manner, she said. The Nova Scotia government made amendments to the provinces Elections Act in 2021 to permit the use of e-ballots and internet voting, initially by members of the Canadian Armed Forces stationed outside the province. Elections Nova Scotia said it is planning to use internet voting in the 2025 provincial general election, but only for military members stationed outside the province. The e-ballot system used in the Preston byelection wont be ready for provincewide deployment in 2025. We will eventually be rolling out technology on election day, its just not going to be for the next general election, Rodenkirchen said. Piloting our e-ballot system and using it in our byelections is one way to see whats possible for the future. The Preston riding became vacant April 1 following the resignation of Liberal member Angela Simmonds, and a byelection must be called within six months of the vacancy. Simmonds was elected in the August 2021 general election and last year lost to Zach Churchill when she ran for the leadership of the Opposition Liberals. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: Fortunatus Mhambe, director of export promotion with the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade), speaks at a one-day China-Tanzania Economic and Trade Conference at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, April 25, 2023. Tanzanian trade authorities on Tuesday hosted a trade and economic delegation from Nanshan District of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, hoping Chinese investors to make use of the business opportunities in the East African nation as the country moved toward industrialization. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua) DAR ES SALAAM, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian trade authorities on Tuesday hosted a trade and economic delegation from Nanshan District of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, hoping Chinese investors to make use of the business opportunities in the East African nation as the country moved toward industrialization. While addressing a one-day China-Tanzania Economic and Trade Conference that discussed bilateral business opportunities held at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Dar es Salaam, the economic hub of Tanzania, John Mnali, the director of investment promotion with the Tanzania Investment Center, said the Chinese companies were welcome to do business in oil and gas, mining, tourism, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and information and communication technologies. Aristedes Mbwasi, the director of Investment in the Ministry of Investment, Industries and Trade, stressed that the Chinese expertise and technical know-how will help Tanzania move to another level of economic development. Fortunatus Mhambe, the director of export promotion with the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade), said he was optimistic that the conference stood to solidify economic cooperation between China and Tanzania. Mhambe invited the Chinese companies to participate in the 47th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) slated for July 2023, saying the DIFT was the largest trade promotion platform in East and Central Africa. Chu Kun, the economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania, said China's current investment in Tanzania covers manufacturing, construction, telecommunications, agriculture, mining, transportation, services, and tourism. "Especially in the cement and ceramic factories invested by Chinese enterprises in Tanzania, they have filled the market gap, with high-quality products at affordable prices, resulting in good market feedback," said Chu. He said Chinese enterprises have also extensively participated in the construction of infrastructure projects in Tanzania, including highways, railways, ports, and power. Nanshan has become an economic zone, a technology stronghold, and an innovation hub in Shenzhen, China's reform pioneer, with an economic volume of about 117.3 billion U.S. dollars and a total number of market entities exceeding 400,000, according to Huang Xiangyue, mayor of Nanshan District People's Government. This photo taken on April 25, 2023 shows a one-day China-Tanzania Economic and Trade Conference at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tanzanian trade authorities on Tuesday hosted a trade and economic delegation from Nanshan District of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, hoping Chinese investors to make use of the business opportunities in the East African nation as the country moved toward industrialization. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua) People attend a one-day China-Tanzania Economic and Trade Conference at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, April 25, 2023. Tanzanian trade authorities on Tuesday hosted a trade and economic delegation from Nanshan District of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, hoping Chinese investors to make use of the business opportunities in the East African nation as the country moved toward industrialization. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua) Chu Kun, economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania, speaks at a one-day China-Tanzania Economic and Trade Conference at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, April 25, 2023. Tanzanian trade authorities on Tuesday hosted a trade and economic delegation from Nanshan District of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, hoping Chinese investors to make use of the business opportunities in the East African nation as the country moved toward industrialization. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua) Toronto Public Health issued six conditional passes to restaurants, cafes, bakeries, bars and grocery stores on April 24. Ding Tai Fung Shanghai Dim Sum at 175 Commander Boulevard received a conditional pass with one major infraction: Operate food premise -rinse water temperature thermometer not easily readable Field Fresh Supermarket at 5661 Steeles Avenue East received a conditional pass with three major infractions: Display potentially hazardous foods at internal temperature between 4 C and 60 C Use food equipment not of sound and tight construction Use multi-service articles not of readily cleanable material Juniors Pizzeria at 2243 Dundas Street West received a conditional pass with one major infraction: Fail to maintain handwashing stations (liquid soap and paper towels) Kupfert and Kim at 100 King Street West received a conditional pass with two major infractions: Fail to provide handwashing stations with adequate supplies (hot and cold water) Fail to provide hot and cold running water in utensil washing area Swiss Chalet at 3150 Dufferin Street received a conditional pass with five major infractions: Fail to ensure equipment surface cleaned as necessary Fail to protect against breeding of pests Fail to protect against harbouring of pests Fail to equip sanitary facility with single service towels or dryer Mechanical equipment not maintained to provide sufficient chemical solution rinse Tamasha at 1835 Yonge Street received a conditional pass with four major infractions: Fail to protect food from contamination or adulteration Fail to provide adequate number of handwashing stations Store ice in unsanitary manner Mechanical equipment not maintained to provide sufficient chemical solution rinse A conditional pass is issued when at least one infraction presents a significant health risk, and a closure is ordered when at least one infraction presents an immediate health hazard. Both outcomes trigger an additional inspection within 48 hours. Failure to comply with Torontos DineSafe program can result in fines, court summons and other enforcement action. Miss a DineSafe roundup? Find out which restaurants recently made the list About this story This story was automatically generated using open data from the City of Toronto. The Toronto Star has no role in collecting, reviewing or analyzing this data, and makes no representations or endorsements about any food premises, or the products or services offered by a food premise. Readers should review any municipal disclaimers located at the citys open data portal. SHARE: A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with an assault at Old Mill Station in January. Police said at the time that a 16-year-old boy entered Old Mill Station on January 25. The 16-year-old boy and another teenager, also 16, became involved in a conversation. The first teen was allegedly stabbed multiple times by the teen suspect. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect fled the scene, according to police. In a release published Tuesday, police said they had arrested and charged a 16-year-old boy with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, carrying a concealed weapon and possessing a weapon for dangerous purposes. The arrested suspect is set to appear in court on April 26. Due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the suspect cannot be identified. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2200, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com. TG Thea Gribilas is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: tgribilas@thestar.ca SHARE: A woman on trial for deliberately running over and killing Toronto lawyer Scott Rosen in a Midtown parking garage told a jury Tuesday that his loss was also my loss as she continued to deny having anything to do with his death on Dec. 18, 2020. Im the one who suffered the most in all of this, Anh Chiem, 64, told a hushed courtroom shortly before she finished testifying. No matter what I say, nobody believes me. Over two days of cross-examination, Crown attorney Bev Richards challenged Chiem over her explanation as to why, three days before his death, she parked outside his law office in the same U-Haul pickup truck used to kill him. Chiem insists she did not rent that same vehicle on Dec. 18, although she was in the Mount Pleasant and Eglinton Avenue East area on foot the afternoon he was killed. Was it a coincidence that the U-Haul you rented on the 15th, 16th, and 17th was the same one used to run over Rosen, Richards asked. Im not sure if that car is a coincidence, she said, speaking through a Vietnamese interpreter. Central to the Crowns theory is that civil litigation was Chiems motive for wanting the 52-year-old lawyer dead. Rosen was representing her former son-in-law, who was suing Chiem and her mother in a property dispute. Rosen, on behalf of his client, was also opposing her attempt to declare bankruptcy a move prosecutors say she had hoped would end the lawsuit that had already cost her tens of thousands of dollars. At one stage, Richards summed up Chiems testimony as to why she sat parked for hours and hours in the days leading up to the killing. Youre willing to pay $500 to rent a truck, that wasnt a car, to go grocery shopping and Christmas shopping but instead you parked across the street from Mr. Scott Rosens office, and you ate peanuts and apples and read newspapers and called a friend. Chiem responded that perhaps she did some of those things over three days while sitting near his law office. Among her reasons for being in the area: she was looking for a place to live and returned to park in the same place because she wanted to find a man who had taken her photo as she sat in the truck. Why there? Why would you park in front of Scott Rosens law office? Richards asked. I dont think about parking in his place, she said through the interpreter. Richards suggested to Chiem her plan began to take shape on Dec. 7, 2020, after you found out you had no chance of a negotiated settlement with the majority of debt holders, including a company represented by Rosen. Twice, Chiem said she had no reason to kill Rosen. Before finishing her cross-examination Tuesday, Richards gave a sympathetic glance toward Rosens spouse and relatives seated in the body of the court. She then played a series of black and white surveillance videos capturing the white U-Haul truck in the parking garage immediately before and after impact. Thats you taking a practice run, Richards said to Chiem. No, its not like that, Chiem responded, lowering her glasses to dab her eyes. Richards then played the video showing the truck slamming into Rosen. Chiem turned her head to watch on the monitor positioned next to her in the witness box, before turning back to lock her gaze on the prosecutor. That was you driving, wasnt it, Richards asked. Ive said to you many times it wasnt me, it wasnt me. Richards finished by playing a video clip of the U-Haul truck driving down Bathurst Street with a dislodged front bumper making a deafening racket. That prompted another denial. Nobody could drive such a car, said Chiem, contradicting a Crown witness who earlier testified he saw her driving the hobbled vehicle shortly after Rosen was killed. The trial is expected to wrap up in the next few days. SHARE: The theft of $20 million in gold and other high-end items from Pearson International Airport was likely a well-planned professional job and if authorities dont get the gold back quickly, its likely gone forever. Thats the opinion of a criminology professor and a former professional criminal who did prison time for his role in Canadas biggest securities heist. Obviously, there were people on both ends, Melvin Mingo said in a telephone interview from Quebec. Mingo got a nine-year prison term for robbery and forcible confinement for his role in what is considered the largest holdup in Canadian history a $68.5 million bond and securities heist at the Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. headquarters in downtown Montreal in 1984. Mingo said the Pearson Airport heist could have been done by a small team, and would have definitely required a broker who knew details of the shipment passing through the airport somebody who knows whats going on at the airport. Criminology professor Anna Sergi from the University of Essex in England agreed the heist was likely an inside job, and gold a particularly appealing target. The value is obviously the reason, the black market for gold is still quite lucrative, Sergi said. So far, investigators have released few specific details about the heist, with Peel police calling it a rare theft from an airport holding facility soon after the cargo was unloaded from an arriving flight. Police have revealed no specifics on how the valuables were stolen, nor any details of potential suspects. A source familiar with the case told the Star the gold and valuables had arrived on an international Air Canada flight and were being handled by the airlines cargo operations in a warehouse located outside the airports security zone. The cargo was being held in a leased space that is controlled, managed and staffed by the airline, the source said. In a statement, the Brinks Company separately said it had been co-ordinating the shipment, adding: If assets are lost at any point during transfer, we reimburse our customers in accordance with our contract terms. The company said it continues to work with police on the investigation. Asked about the heist on Friday, Air Canada said it had no information to provide, referring the Star to Peel Police investigators. Both police and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority have said the theft did not involve access to secure areas of the airport and stressed there are no concerns for passenger safety. Both Mingo and Sergi emphasized that time is of the essence if authorities want to recover the stolen goods. Notably, some $5.75 million of the loot taken in the 1984 securities theft has never been recovered. Mingo, who said he has retired from criminal life, described how he used to pay off brokers to help him with heists. I gave them 10 per cent for the score, he said. Somebody gave somebody a nice score. Then they got their 10 per cent. He said a small group of trusted criminals could have been pulled together to pull off the airport heist. Speaking generally, he said he would have assembled a small team of people to identify the cargo, seize it and move it on. Youve got to have a minimum of four people, Mingo said. And gold is heavy. Its got to be carried. The advantage of gold is its easy to make it untraceable gold can quickly be melted down and that there are plenty of places that can handle that. I knew a person who worked in a smelting company who was a thief, he said. You have to trust in people. As of Tuesday afternoon, gold was trading at more than $2,000 (US) an ounce close to the all-time high set in the early months of the pandemic. Sergi echoed the opinion that the heist was most likely a one-time operation. It is better to come together for a one-off to confuse investigators in case any of them is identified, he said in an email. The opportunity seen by someone on the inside to do this has probably materialized a network of offending, he said. As for the chances the gold gets returned to its rightful owner, he said recovery is still plausible depending on the traceability of the items, but usually if it doesnt get tracked soon it probably never will as it will most likely travel out of the country, by ship or other means. Meanwhile, Phil Boyle, associate professor of sociology and legal studies at the University of Waterloo, told The Canadian Press the crime presents a larger concern about how the theft could occur at Canadas largest and busiest airport. I dont see this being a lapse of airport security per se, he said. But certainly it is a lapse of information control and how somebody working either directly for the airport or customs or for the shipping company had to have provided some information to tip people off to the opportunity that was there. Const. Sarah Patten, spokesperson for Peel Regional Police, said on Tuesday that investigators had nothing new to share. It remains an active investigation, she said. With files from The Canadian Press Jason Miller is a Toronto-based reporter for the Star covering crime and justice in the Peel Region. Reach him on email: jasonmiller@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @millermotionpic SHARE: Police were called and security escorted angry parents from a Catholic school board meeting Tuesday night after a heated dispute over raising the Pride flag. Tempers flared within the public gallery as York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) trustees listened to two opposing deputations, for and against LGBTQ initiatives, including raising the Pride flag at YCDSB schools, offices and facilities in June for Pride month. In a statement shared with the Star, the YCDSB said several members of the public gallery became disruptive at the end of the first delegation. When these individuals would not come to order, they were asked to leave the Board Room, the statement reads. Many members of the public then remained in the atrium of the Board Office, where the situation required the police to attend to ensure the safety of all members of the public. The YCDSB believes that 2SLGTBQ+ students are loved by God and are valued members of our school communities, the statement continues. There has not yet been a decision on whether to fly the Pride flag at the YCDSB. York Regional Police confirmed they were called to a meeting in Aurora at 9 p.m. on Tuesday night after a report of a disturbance. Police were called to keep the peace. Upon arrival, officers found the situation was calm and the crowd gradually dispersed, Sgt. Clint Whitney told the Star via email, adding that no arrests were made and there were no reports of injuries, property damage or criminal activity. Paolo De Buono, a parent of a former YCDSB student and a Catholic teacher with another board, was meant to make a deputation but had his pulled by the board, he told the Star. Looking back, Im shaking today, he said. As an advocate for LGBTQ inclusion in Catholic schools, De Buono is used to hate. Ive rarely seen it that bad. This is a school board that has a serious problem. De Buono said many of the public gallery members that were asked to leave the boardroom remained in the buildings lobby: Even though the doors were closed, we could still hear them. And some of the things they said were so clearly intended to make students feel they are not welcome in their schools because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Several students in the boardroom began crying in response to the angry shouts, De Buono continued. He went out to confront the crowd, in hopes of redirecting their attention. Im used to a lot of negative attention these last few years for trying to make Catholic schools more inclusive, he said, so Id rather they focus on me than our students. He was eventually escorted back to the board room after admins perceived the situation to be too dangerous, De Buono added. Police arrived soon after. PFLAG York Region, a prominent charitable organization advocating and providing support for the LGBTQ community, issued a statement on Twitter condemning the intimidation and bullying at the meeting. The organization also spoke out against the YCDSB for allowing the first deputation, arguing against LGBTQ initiatives within the board. The students who courageously spoke about the pride flag were exposed to hate formally before their presentation from a YCDSB-approved deputation and afterwards informally from adults who take pride in intimidating queer kids, the statement read in part. Their missteps put our community in harms way. Tristan Coolman, president of PFLAG Canada York Region, issued a separate public letter to the board on Wednesday morning, saying the meeting, which he attended, was deeply disturbing on a number of levels. He described the initial presentation by a YCDSB, speaking against LGBTQ initiatives, as discriminatory and bigoted. Coolman added that the subsequent presenters, speaking in favour of raising the Pride flag at the board, faced obscenities and intimidation. This incident, along with the treatment of the students, parents and allies in attendance today has proven this Board lacks the decision quality and expertise to create a truly inclusive, equitable, and safe public space for these meetings, Coolman wrote in the letter. He said if the YCDSB does not take meaningful action to do better PFLAG will officially designate the board as unsafe for the LGBTQ2IA+ community of York Region beginning June 1. With files by Lisa Queen of The Aurora Banner SHARE: A successful GTA business owner hired a hitman to execute his 38-year-old wife and mother of their two children inside the familys Scarborough home after abusing her and carrying on an affair with her younger cousin, a jury has heard. It is the Crowns theory that this case involves a tragic story of betrayal and premeditated murder, prosecutor Ben Snow said earlier this week at the opening of the trial of four defendants accused in the murder of Theepa Seevaratnam three years ago. Her husband, Vijendran Balasubramaniam, 45, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Also entering pleas of not guilty to first-degree murder are Steadley Kerr, the alleged shooter and Gary Samuel, who prosecutors say drove the getaway car. Kerr is also charged with the attempted murder of Theepas mother, Leelavathi Seevaratnam, who lived at the home and was also shot but survived. Ashley Owen, Kerrs ex and mother of his child, has also pleaded not guilty to being an accessory after the murder. On Wednesday, jurors heard Leelavathi Seevaratnam, 74, describe how on March 13, 2020, around 9:40 a.m. she was preparing to mop the familys four-bedroom house at 36 Murray Ave. in Agincourt when the doorbell rang. She opened the front door and saw a man holding a small brown box asking for a signature. Hearing voices, Theepa, 38, came downstairs from her bedroom where she had been resting after working an overnight shift. Her two children were in school and Theepas aunt was in the basement but came upstairs in time to witness the man push his way into the home and open fire. He shot Theepa first and afterwards he shot me, the diminutive Leelavathi Seevaratnam told a jury through a Tamil interpreter. Theepa slumped to the ground where she died beside her injured mother, who received gunshot wounds to her left side. Crown attorney Sylvana Capogreco asked Seevaratnam about the state of her daughters marriage to Balasubramaniam. It was, initially, a love marriage, she replied in Tamil. But, over time, the couple began sleeping in separate rooms and arguing, and Theepa would tearfully tell her that Balasubramaniam was striking her behind closed doors. Other family members are expected to testify about the unhappy state of Theepas mariage ... and abuse she suffered, Snow said during his opening statement Tuesday. As well, he told the jury they should expect to hear about indications of a long-distance affair (he) had been engaging in with Theepas younger cousin. Balasubramaniam owned real estate properties and had previously owned and still worked at a convenience store near Markham Road and Eglinton Avenue East. Cellphone evidence will play a crucial role in this case, Snow continued. It will include Balasubramaniams romantic text messages and sexual images exchanged with Theepas cousin, which intensified in the month leading up to her death, as well as evidence that surveillance cameras set up in their home had stopped recording. Jurors should also expect to hear how Balasubramaniam began communicating with phone numbers associated with Mr. Kerr and Ms. Owen for the first time. A police officer will also testify that when Balasubramaniam showed up at the home after the shooting, he appeared to have a wad of cash hanging out of his pocket and told police that the cameras in his home werent working, Snow said. Jurors will also see video surveillance footage tracking the route taken by the suspect car after the shooting, implicating the three other accused, he said. The footage captures the vehicle in the nearby plaza where Balasubramaniams convenience store was located. Police obtained the licence plate and identified a black Chevrolet Cruze hatchback rented to Samuel the morning of the shooting, Snow told the court. There will also be evidence linked to search warrants, arrests and statements supporting the prosecutions theory, he added. At the time of the shooting, Kerr was unemployed and living in a basement apartment. Samuel was a friend who owned a landscape company and sometimes hired Kerr to assist with jobs. The trial in front of Justice Andras Schreck is expected to last several weeks. SHARE: Homes in the area of Torontos Bloor West Village have been evacuated after construction crews struck a nearby gas line, Toronto police say. As of approximately 9:10 a.m. on Wednesday, Enbridge crews were on scene near Raymond Avenue and Jane Street to assist with the leak. No injuries have been reported so far. Police are asking residents to be cautious around the area. This is a developing story. Ana Pereira is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @anabpereiraa SHARE: Toronto police have released results of Project Stallion, an ongoing auto theft investigation on Wednesday that saw more than 550 stolen cars recovered by investigators. Message for the criminals: Were coming after you, said Supt. Ron Taverner. Chief Myron Demkiw said 314 charges have been laid against 119 people, though police continue to investigate stolen vehicles and persons who may be involved. Young offenders are among those charged, including people from out of province, police said. More than 550 vehicles were recovered as of April 11, with a combined value of more than $27.4 million. Around 10 recovered cars were on display as police made the announcement at the Jane Street Garage where they held their press conference. All of the vehicles were stolen, but police clarified that not all were part of the Project Stallion investigation. The ongoing operation was launched in November with cooperation between 22 and 23 Divisions, and in collaboration with the Organized Crime Investigative Support Team, in an effort to reduce the number of stolen vehicles and parts, police said. According to police, vehicle thefts in Toronto have increased substantially over the past few years the same as in the GTA with Honda CR-Vs and Ford F-150 trucks being among the most stolen models. Thieves are using highly sophisticated methods to steal vehicles, and are using those vehicles to carry out other crimes or to ship them overseas, where they are resold for well above their value, police said in a statement. However, no cars were recovered outside of the country, with almost all of them recovered in Toronto or the GTA. How can you prevent vehicle theft? Police say there are many ways to prevent auto theft, including warning, immobilizing and tracking devices, along with the basics of removing fobs from vehicles and placing them in safe farady pouches or boxes, locking doors, closing windows, and parking indoors. Installing motion-sensor lights outside your home may also help, along with high-quality surveillance cameras. Ana Pereira is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @anabpereiraa SHARE: A Toronto police officer was injured after a suspected impaired driver was involved in a crash that damaged three police vehicles. Police say it happened in the area of Martin Grove Road and Rexdale Boulevard in Etobicoke at around 9:25 a.m. on Wednesday. The driver has been arrested. Paramedics have taken the driver and an officer to hospital, both with non-life-threatening conditions. There are road closures in the area as the investigation unfolds. This is a developing story. Ana Pereira is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @anabpereiraa SHARE: North Dakotas governor vetoed a bill Wednesday that would have required librarians under threat of criminal penalty to screen sexually explicit materials from children, but signed another barring explicit materials from the childrens sections of local and school libraries. The Senate voted 33-14 to override Republican Gov. Doug Burgums veto hours later, though a similar House vote would be needed to make a veto override successful. The House had passed the bill on a 54-38 vote last week, several votes shy of a veto-proof majority. Protecting children from explicit sexual material is common sense, Burgum said in a statement explaining why he signed one of the bills into law. But he said the bill he vetoed would have created an enormous burden on hundreds of public libraries by imposing under the threat of criminal prosecution an expensive requirement that libraries review materials that have already been screened for age appropriateness. His statement said it would cost the state $300,000 initially to conduct such screening and $150,000 per year thereafter. This bill is unnecessary, vague, and will not only cause immediate hardship to our schools and libraries, but also opens the door to costly, and unnecessary litigation, library coordinator Misti Frink had said in testimony against the bill this month. Robust checks and balances are already in place for print and digital resource selections. Republican Sen. Janne Myrdal, of Edinburg, spoke on the Senate floor in urging her colleagues to override the governors veto, saying exposure to sexually explicit material is devastating for young peoples brains and lives. We deal with millions of dollars here. $150,000 is like a drop in the bucket to protect our children, Myrdal said. Language in the vetoed bill said prosecutors could charge a person with a class B misdemeanor up to 30 days in prison and $1,500 in fines for willfully displaying sexually explicit material at newsstands or any other business establishment visited by minors. It said this would not include colleges, universities, museums or art galleries but would include public libraries and public school libraries, among some other places. Opponents, including the American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota, have said the now-vetoed bill would promote government censorship and violate First Amendment rights to say, think, read and write whatever one wants without fear of government retaliation. Across the country, attempted book bans and restrictions on libraries have surged, setting a record in 2022, according to a recent report by the American Library Association. Some books have been targeted by liberals citing racist language notably Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn according to Deborah Caldwell-Stone, who directs the ALAs Office for Intellectual Freedom. But the vast majority of complaints have come from conservatives, directed at works with LGBTQIA+ or racial themes, Caldwell-Stone has said. Bills to restrict books have been proposed or passed in Arizona, Iowa, Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Florida and other states. ___ Trisha Ahmed is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Trisha Ahmed on Twitter: @TrishaAhmed15 SHARE: MANILA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Philippine fishermen groups and their sympathizers on Wednesday protested the live-fire sea drills involving the sinking of a decommissioned navy ship off the Zambales province, northwest of Manila. The protesters carried placards that read "U.S. Imperialist No. 1 Terrorist," "No to EDCA!," "No to U.S. Military Bases!," and "No to joint U.S.-Philippine Military Exercises," and called on the Philippine government to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States. The protesters held separate rallies at the shoreline and the sea aboard boats. They urged the Filipinos to "resist U.S. wars of aggressions," adding that military exercises are dangerous and dislocate the livelihood of the people, especially the fishermen. The first-ever Combined Joint Littoral Live Fire Exercise involves approximately 1,400 Philippine and U.S. marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen and Coast Guardsmen. The drills include detecting, identifying, targeting, and engaging a target ship using a variety of ground and air-based weapons systems. The drills are part of the largest-scale joint military exercise in decades between the Philippines and United States, which is being held in several areas in the Philippines from April 11 to 28. MEXICO CITY (AP) Authorities in the Mexican resort of Cancun said Tuesday they are trying to identify eight bodies found dumped in the Caribbean resort. Speaking to families of missing people, Oscar Montes de Oca, the head prosecutor of the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo pledged to carry out more searches and identifications. The bodies were found in searches over the weekend in which police looked in wooded lots and even sinkhole ponds known as cenotes. More than 112,000 people are listed as missing in Mexico, and searches for clandestine grave sites have become common throughout the country. What is unusual is that they are now being carried out in Cancun, the crown jewel of Mexicos tourism industry. The clandestine body dumping grounds are often used by drug cartels to dispose of bodies of their victims. Several cartels are fighting for control of the Caribbean coast and its lucrative retail drug trade. Montes de Oca said five of the bodies were found at a building site that had apparently been abandoned. The bodies had been dumped there between one week and two months ago; three have been identified as people reported missing previously. At another site in a wooded area on the outskirts of Cancun, authorities found three sets of skeletal remains. They have not yet been identified. The bodies were found in a poor neighborhood about 10 miles (15 kilometers) from Cancuns beach and hotel zone, but relatively closer to the resorts airport. Similar searches were also carried out in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, a town south of Tulum. Volunteer searchers, including the relatives of missing people, and specially trained dogs also participated with investigators in the searches. Feuding drug gangs have caused violence in Cancun and the resort-studded Caribbean coast south of it. Earlier this month, four men in Cancun were killed in a dispute related to drug gang rivalries. The dead men were found in the citys hotel zone near the beach. A U.S. tourist was shot in the leg in the nearby town of Puerto Morelos in March. The U.S. State Department issued a travel alert that month warning travelers to exercise increased caution, especially after dark, at resorts like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. In 2022, two Canadians were killed in Playa del Carmen, apparently because of debts between international drug and weapons trafficking gangs. In 2021, in Tulum, two tourists one a California travel blogger born in India and the other German were killed when they apparently were caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between rival drug dealers. Read more about: SHARE: MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexicos governmental human rights commission on Wednesday called on ten of the countrys 32 states to get rid of old laws that ban marriage between people with chronic, incurable, hereditary or contagious diseases, saying that could discriminate against the HIV-positive or people living with AIDS. The National Human Rights Commissions recommendation was directed to the leaders of the states legislatures. The states must either comply with the call or explain why they refuse. Such laws were once a common response to poorly understood diseases or perceived as a way to prevent birth defects. They have slowly disappeared, but ten outlying states still have them. Those states are Chiapas, Guerrero, Quintana Roo and Oaxaca in the south, Queretaro, Puebla and Guanajuato in the central region and Durango, Sinaloa and Nuevo Leon in the north. The commission said Mexicos Supreme Court has already ruled that any risk of infection that might result from marrying someone with an infectious disease is solely to be judged by the person getting married. Read more about: SHARE: BERLIN (AP) Germanys foreign minister called Wednesday on Iran to reverse a death sentence handed down to Jamshid Sharmahd, an Iranian-German dual citizen and opposition figure accused of masterminding deadly attacks. German officials said they were not allowed to attend the hearing at which the sentence against Sharmahd was upheld. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called the verdict completely unacceptable. At no point did Jamshid Sharmahd have even the beginnings of a fair trial, she wrote on Twitter. We call on Iran to immediately reverse this arbitrary verdict. Germanys ambassador to Iran has broken off a duty trip and is on his way back to Tehran to intervene on Sharmahds behalf, Baerbock added. Earlier this year Germany and Iran expelled each others' diplomats over the case. Sharmahd had been residing in Glendora, California, prior to his detention. Iran accuses the 67-year-old of leading the armed wing of a group committed to restoring the Western-backed monarchy that ruled Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Sharmahds family says he was only a spokesman for the opposition group and deny he was involved in any attacks. They say he was abducted from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, in 2020 and spirited into Iran. Read more about: SHARE: COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Ten Norwegian diplomats in Moscow were ordered to leave Russia Wednesday, in what Oslo said was an act of revenge for its move this month to expel 15 Russian diplomatic staff for alleged spying. Norways ambassador to Moscow was informed that 10 of our diplomats at the embassy in Moscow have been declared undesirable in Russia, Norwegian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Ragnhild H. Simenstad said in an email. They must leave Russia within a short time. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the ambassador had been summoned to protest Oslos decision to expel 15 Russian diplomats. The ministry added that it will take other measures in response to unfriendly actions by Oslo, including restrictions on hiring Russian personnel for the Norwegian diplomatic missions. We regard the Russian decision as an act of revenge, Simenstad said, adding that Norways diplomats in Russia carry out ordinary diplomatic work. On April 13, Norway said the Russians it was expelling were suspected of spying. Norways decision to declare 15 people at the Russian embassy undesirable in Norway is based on the fact that they have carried out intelligence activities under the guise of being diplomats, Simenstad said. On Tuesday, neighboring Sweden informed Russia that five employees of the Russian Embassy in Stockholm were asked to leave the country because they were suspected of spying. The Swedish foreign minister, Tobias Billstrom, said their activities were incompatible with their diplomatic status. The public broadcasting companies of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden have recently been reporting in a joint investigation that Russia was suspected of spying on the Nordic countries, and named intelligence officers allegedly working at the Russian embassies in Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo. The broadcasters also reported that Russians allegedly spied in the waters of the Baltic Sea and North Sea using civilian fishing trawlers, cargo ships and yachts. SHARE: GENEVA (AP) Switzerlands executive body agreed Wednesday to help pay for a national memorial to honor the six million Jews and other victims of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution, in what the leading Swiss Jewish group is calling the countrys first official monument of its kind. The Federal Council, the seven-member executive branch, approved 2.5 million Swiss francs (about $2.8 million) for the memorial that will be erected at an unspecified central location in the capital, Bern, at a time when the number of Holocaust survivors has dwindled and antisemitism has risen again. The Federal Council considers it of great importance to keep alive the memory of the consequences of National Socialism, namely the Holocaust and the fate of the six million Jews and all other victims of the National Socialist regime, a government statement said. Switzerland and its capital, through the move, were creating a strong symbol against genocide, antisemitism and racism, and for democracy, the rule of law, freedom and basic individual rights, it said. The statement did not mention whether the memorial would make any direct reference to any Swiss role in the persecution of people during the Nazi regime in Germany. The Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities, an umbrella group, said Switzerland has about 60 small, private sites remembering the Holocaust and other crimes of the Nazis. There is, however, no official or national memorial for the numerous Swiss victims of persecution, for the thousands of refugees repelled at the borders or deported, but also for the many courageous helpers in this country, it said, noting that the memorial would be created to honor them all. The group says recent studies have shown that a sizeable number of Swiss citizens were victims of the Nazi regime, persecuted because they were, for example, Jews, socialists, Sinti or Roma. Both Sinti and Roma are peoples who live predominantly in eastern Europe. It noted that thousands of people flocked toward Swiss borders during World War II seeking protection, only to be repelled and, in many cases, sent back to certain death. Switzerland has long grappled with its ties to Nazi Germany not least through a call for national introspection on the issue from its first Jewish and woman president, Ruth Dreifuss, in 1999. The country was neutral during WWII, but a government-appointed panel in 1997 found Switzerland had taken part in over three-fourths of worldwide gold transactions by Nazi Germanys Reichsbank both as buyer and intermediary. SHARE: LONDON (AP) The U.K. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the Jehovahs Witnesses organization isnt liable for an elder who raped a member of his congregation more than three decades ago. The decision overturned rulings by lower courts that awarded 62,000 pounds ($77,500) for the emotional harm suffered by a Welsh woman who was raped in 1990. Elder Mark Sewell was sentenced to 14 years in prison for raping the woman in his home after the two had been out proselytizing. The Supreme Court ruled that the concept of vicarious liability often used to hold an employer responsible for the reckless actions of an employee didnt extend to the Witnesses in the case, because it didnt pass a two-stage test. While the court said the elder could be considered an employee of the religious organization, the rape at his home wasnt within the scope of his duties for the congregation. The primary reason that the rape took place was not because Mark Sewell was abusing his position as an elder, but because he was abusing his position as a close friend of (the victim), Justice Andrew Burrows wrote. Four other justices on the Supreme Court agreed unanimously with Burrows in favor of the Watch Tower and Bible Tract Society of Pennsylvania, the New York-based charitable arm of the Witnesses religious activities, and the Barry Congregation of Jehovahs Witnesses. Attorney Thomas Beale, who represented the victim, said the ruling was devastating for our client, who has shown great bravery and determination. While it was loss for his client, Beale said the ruling could be helpful for others because it clarified that an organization could be held responsible for acts by volunteers, which has been the subject of disagreement in the courts. SHARE: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) An Iranian court issued a $312.9 million judgment against the United States over a 2017 Islamic State-claimed attack on Tehran, authorities said Wednesday, the latest judicial action between the nations amid their decadeslong enmity. Irans state-run IRNA news agency, in reporting the decision, offered no direct evidence to support the courts allegation that American officials had any part in the June 2017 attack that killed at least 18 people and wounded 50 others. The assault saw gunmen attack Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeinis mausoleum and the country's parliament, starting an hourslong siege. However, the court ruling comes after the United Nations' highest court in March rejected Tehrans legal bid to free up some $2 billion in Iranian Central Bank assets frozen by U.S. authorities. Meanwhile, U.S. judges have issued rulings that call for billions of dollars to be paid by Iran over attacks linked to Tehran, as well as those detained by Iran and used as pawns in negotiations between the countries. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. The IRNA report described those named in the lawsuit as including the U.S. government, former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, the CIA, the American militarys Central Command, the Treasury and others. It said the case before Branch 55 of the Tehran Court of Justice came from the families of three people killed in the June 2017 attack. The reasons for attributing these crimes to the United States ... is based on the central and main role of the government and officials of this country in organizing and directing terrorist groups, the IRNA report said. It cited reliable news and unidentified speeches by American officials as its evidence. During his 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump described Obama as the founder of the Islamic State group. While later calling his comments sarcasm based on Obamas decision to earlier withdraw troops from Iraq, conspiracy theorists across the Middle East, including Irans supreme leader, seized on the remarks. The Islamic State group, a Sunni extremist group born out of al-Qaidas offshoot in Iraq, declared itself a caliphate across the vast territory it held in Iraq and Syria in 2014. A U.S.-led coalition and separately Iran-allied Shiite forces ultimately dislodged the extremists, who became notorious for their gruesome killings of prisoners and attacks abroad. The June 2017 attack in Tehran marked the first time the Islamic States extremists could penetrate tightly controlled Iran and carry out of a massive assault. The assault shocked Tehran, which largely has avoided militant attacks in the decades after the years-long tumult surrounding the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran a year later executed eight men sentenced to death over the attack. Since the revolution, a series of U.S. court cases have been filed against Iran, particularly over attacks like the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut that killed 63 people. A 1996 U.S. law allows Americans to sue nations identified by the U.S. government as sponsoring terrorism, like Iran, for damages suffered in militant acts linked back to them. Others have sued for being wrongfully imprisoned by Tehran, like Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian. The court decision announced Wednesday comes as tensions between Iran and the U.S. remain high over Tehran's nuclear program enriching uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels under reduced oversight from international inspectors. Meanwhile, Iran is still reeling after months of protests and a violent security force crackdown following the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest by the country's morality police. On Wednesday, Irans judiciary acknowledged two reporters who broke news on Aminis death, Niloufar Hamedi and Elham Mohammadi, had been indicted on charges of collaborating with the U.S., acting against national security and creating propaganda against the system. Nearly 100 journalists have been arrested amid the demonstrations, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. ___ Associated Press writer Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. SHARE: Im a Jew, at least according to my Bar Mitzvah certificate. But I loath religion and all that it stands for. My disdain for religion was born from the years I spent in Jewish day school. My feeble, child mind was flooded with fantasies of creationism and twisted bible ethics. I was being brainwashed. And yes, I hold a grudge. If anyone ought to support the war Quebec legislators have waged on religion, its me. To some extent, I am in favour of it. I see value in legislation like Bill 21, despite how controversial it is. I can see how it might, for example, help legislators view the crimes committed against Indigenous Peoples by the Church with sober (secular) eyes. But the province took a good idea, the separation of church and state, and weaponized it. Chapter 2 of Bill 21, for example, forces a Jewish cop, lawyer, or teacher to choose between his yarmulke and his job. And for what? Its still the same guy beneath the yarmulke, isnt it? Assaulting his dignity and his faith will do little to change his views or those of his students or clients. Neither would the education ministers proposed ban on prayer in public schools. If Quebec wants to preserve and cultivate a secular society something every province should aspire to its approach needs to be overhauled. A happy, secular society happens when people are uplifted, through education, not oppressed by legislation. Religious symbols are not the problem. Harmful, dogmatic ideas about the nature of the universe, are. I attended Jewish day school until Grade 5. There, I was offered a set of ideas about the nature of the universe that have no footing in science or reality. I was made to pray each morning, to a god I wasnt yet sure I believed in. I was taught that the solution to our problems, even a problem as big and man-made as climate change, was something called the Messiah an angel who would return from the heavens and bring peace on earth. From Grade 6 on, my parents sent me to public school. There, I was encouraged to question my beliefs, even by teachers who wore religious garments in class now, an offence in Quebec under Bill 21. I read atheist lit, furiously, side by side with religious texts. I was given a chance to make up my own mind. I concluded that religion is neither rational nor moral. All the while, I had classmates who respectfully prayed when they wanted to. Ask yourself which of these experiences is more harmful. Then, realize that despite the fuss Quebec legislators are making over prayer in public schools, the province is home to a thriving private, religious education industry. In fact, all over the country, faith-based primary education is on offer. In some jurisdictions its even government sponsored. In fact, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, serving about 30 per cent of the citys elementary students, is the largest publicly funded catholic school board in the world. When you teach children that they are Jewish or Christian or Muslim, it sticks. Thats not because religion is ethical or logical. Its because kids will believe whatever you tell them. Its easy to convince a child that god, or the tooth fairy, is real. This is not education, its brainwash, and it has no place in the classroom. Thats where the provinces should step in. They should outlaw faith-based primary education. Courses on religion should be offered in high school or university, once kids are old enough to grasp ideas like creationism vs. evolution. Such a policy would have saved me so much grief. But at the same time, why not let people wear whatever they want, and pray wherever they please? That is not incompatible with a happy, secular province. To practice your faith, according to Canadas Charter of Rights and Freedoms, is your god-given right. Religious symbols dont infringe on civic life. They dont corrupt our politics. They are just, usually, pieces of fabric or cloth. So, a teacher who wears a yarmulke is perfectly capable of teaching evolutionary biology, even if their religious text disagrees with it. Children can, simultaneously, receive a secular education and be granted a safe space to pray at school. These subtle contradictions dont threaten democracy, they uplift it. They encourage students to ask questions and investigate their own beliefs. To make up their own minds. Jonah Prousky is a management consultant and freelance writer based in Toronto. Read more about: SHARE: According to Statistics Canada, Canadas population grew by 1,050,110 people in 2022. International migration accounted for 95.9 per cent of this growth. Some have questioned whether Canadas immigration policy is at odds with its efforts to address the housing crisis. Paul Kershaw of UBC has pointed out that newcomers, through no fault of their own, will amplify demand for housing and drive up home prices. CIBC CEO Victor Dodig recently expressed concern that increasing immigration levels without first increasing housing supply risks triggering Canadas largest social crisis over the next decade. Others argue that it is too simplistic, even xenophobic, to ask whether high levels of international migration could be intensifying our housing crisis. They argue that the blame for the housing crisis lies with government, which has failed for decades to build sufficient housing to accommodate predictable population growth, and that individual migrants are no more responsible for our housing crisis than they are responsible for overcrowding on public transit. While this argument has superficial appeal, it suffers from three fallacies. First, it conflates immigrants individuals who, by definition, have just moved to Canada, and therefore cant possibly be responsible for our long-standing housing crisis (indeed, theyre probably victims of it) with immigration policy, which is set by government and is a proper subject of political debate. Individual immigrants are clearly blameless, but it is legitimate to ask whether our government could be exacerbating the housing crisis through its immigration policy. Second, it confuses the ultimate cause of our housing crisis with its proximate causes. A multi-decade failure by government to build enough housing for our growing population may be the ultimate cause of the crisis. But that doesnt mean that high levels of international migration to Canada in 2022 were not a proximate cause of the market conditions that tenants experienced last year, including low vacancy rates and an 18 per cent annual increase in average rent for a vacant unit. Third, it implies that by asking whether our immigration policy is intensifying the housing crisis, we are effectively blaming immigrant families for the crisis. This is an in terrorem argument that uses fear fear of making immigrants feel unwelcome, or fear of being labelled xenophobic to discourage us from honestly examining the effects of our immigration policy and openly debating whether the benefits are worth the costs. Canadas population grew by over a million people last year, in the midst of a housing crisis that sees more than 235,000 Canadians experience homelessness annually. It is reasonable to ask whether maintaining such high levels of international migration will lead to mass evictions, displacement, and homelessness for tenants; and, if so, how many tenants we are willing to sacrifice to achieve the benefits of population growth. Refusing to ask and answer these questions does a disservice to ourselves and to the migrants who will someday call Canada home. Jacqueline Porter lives in Toronto, where she practices law. SHARE: ISLAMABAD, April 25 (Xinhua) -- A total of 293 people have been killed and 521 others injured in 436 terrorist attacks in Pakistan since January this year, the Pakistani military's media wing ISPR said on Tuesday. In the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, 192 people were killed and 330 injured in 219 incidents, whereas the southwestern Balochistan province saw 80 fatalities and 170 injured people in 206 incidents, said Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry at a press briefing. A total of 21 people were killed and 21 others injured in 11 incidents in the eastern Punjab province and the southern Sindh province, he told reporters in Rawalpindi, Islamabad's neighboring city hosting Pakistan Army's headquarters. He added that this year, the security forces conducted 8,269 major and minor intelligence-based operations in which 1,535 terrorists were either killed or arrested. An average of over 70 operations are being conducted by police, security forces, and other law enforcement agencies on a daily basis across the country, the official said. "Due to untiring efforts of the public and army, there is no no-go area in Pakistan. However, in some areas, several groups of terrorists are active which are being eliminated on a daily basis. During these operations huge cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered from terrorists and their handlers," he said. The killed in the operations included 137 army personnel while the injured included 117, he said, adding that "the war against terrorism will continue till elimination of the last terrorist." Talking about the internally displaced people, following operations in tribal areas, he said that 95 percent of them returned home after the restoration of peace. The ISPR chief also said that security of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is of prime importance for the army, and the police and soldiers are making all-out efforts to ensure the security of CPEC projects. Few prime ministers have put as much emphasis on the Arctic as Stephen Harper. Harper held the first federal cabinet meeting north of 60, launched the building of Canadas only High Arctic Research Station, invested in polar science, committed to constructing a new class of Arctic patrol ships and built a northern deep-water port. The Trudeau government followed up with its Canada's Arctic and Northern Policy Framework in 2019 setting out principles to guide our approach in the Far North. The Arctic is complex, a unique place where Indigenous Peoples have lived for thousands of years, where the environment is fragile, and where the security threats are escalating. With 162,000 kilometres of Arctic coastline and over 25 per cent of the global Arctic land mass, Canadas North could become a new front line in the geopolitical tensions between China and the United States, and between Russia and NATO countries. With global warming, the Northwest Passage is becoming ice free for longer each year. China has declared itself a near-Arctic state and envisages a Polar Silk Road linking Europe and Asia through the melting Canadian Arctic. The maritime distance between East Asia and Europe through the northern route would be only 13,600 kilometres compared to 24,000 using the Panama Canal. China now has two large conventional ice breakers. Last fall, the Canadian Armed Forces found Chinese monitoring buoys in the Arctic. Russia has modern nuclear-powered ice breakers and a clear strategic interest in the Arctic. Even India has acquired an ice breaker. And, paradoxically, our close ally the United States vigorously disputes Canadas claim to some of our northern waters, calling into question whether any state controls Arctic navigation. New technologies have rendered NORADs North Early Warning System obsolete it has difficulty detecting Chinese surveillance balloons let alone Russian hypersonic missiles. Modernizing it will cost billions and take years. And the Arctic Council the long-standing mechanism for collaborative work by the eight Arctic nations has been pushed to the sidelines. In this dynamic of increasing threats to our sovereignty and security in the Arctic, the gap between government promises and the execution and delivery of these commitments is becoming a chasm. Several cases in point: the construction of a small naval refuelling base at Nanisivik was promised in 2007 and is now due to open only in 2024. Critical surveillance capability for the Arctic drones and satellites was promised by the Trudeau government in 2017 but is still on the procurement drawing board. Our sole Polar icebreaker will not be delivered until 2030 at the earliest. Boots on the ground in the Arctic are largely provided by the underequipped and underappreciated Canadian Rangers as the regular forces are bogged down by shortages of personnel and equipment. Canada is building eight Arctic and offshore patrol ships, with three already delivered to the Navy, but we still lack the heavy icebreaker capacity of the Russians, Chinese, and Americans. Recently, the prime minister promised U.S. President Joe Biden to spend $7.3 billion on northern forward operating bases for our new F-35 fighters, but no money was provided in Budget 2023. And, according to leaked Pentagon papers reported by the Washington Post, the U.S. military is very skeptical of Canadas defence capabilities in the Arctic, and elsewhere. Canada is blessed to have the Arctic as an integral part of our geography, our history, our society, our national spirit. But with this comes responsibility for its peoples, its environment, its safety, and its sovereignty. Some other countries view the Canadian Arctic very differently and that is the geopolitical risk we have to face up to. We can only protect our national interests in the Arctic if we have the presence there for surveillance and the capacity to deter and defend. If we want to preserve Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic, its time to walk the talk. Kevin Lynch was Clerk of the Privy Council. Jim Mitchell is an adjunct professor, Carleton University, and was assistant secretary to the cabinet. Paul Deegan was a public affairs executive at BMO and CN. Read more about: SHARE: Be careful what you wish for. And what youre willing to die for. A new novel about Sri Lankas civil war will make you think about those fateful life and death choices. Ive just finished Brotherless Night, by V.V. Ganeshananthan, a work of fiction based on a true-to-life storyline. It recounts the history of a country losing its sanity and sliding into brutality. Reading this book, I relived the years I covered the conflict, which pitted Hindu Tamils against Sinhalese Buddhists in a cauldron of nationalist madness. The fighting claimed more than 100,000 lives and scarred a nation of two peoples numbering 22 million souls. I kept going back, year after year, mindful that Toronto had become home to the worlds biggest diaspora of Sri Lankan Tamils. Which is why the historical backdrop will be familiar to many Canadians of Tamil descent, who ended up here after they (or their families) escaped the front lines though this is a universal and timeless tale that resonates no less amid the recurring saga of ethnic and hegemonic struggle in Eastern Europe today. The book took me back to the beginnings of the civil war, decades before I first made it to this seemingly idyllic island off the southeast coast of India. As a visiting foreign correspondent, Id learned the outlines of Sri Lankas tortured history, but the book retells that story through the eyes of a Tamil teenager living through the discrimination and depredation of the 1980s that endured for decades. The narrator is Sashi, who at 16 is studying hard to become a doctor in the northern Tamil town of Jaffna. Her four brothers also apply themselves to books at a time when learning is cherished. Their studies will soon be interrupted as the conflict disrupts their lives. Sashi learns to live without her siblings hence the title, Brotherless Night. As Tamil men lose their spines, Sashi and the Tamil women of Jaffna show true backbone. They come to resist both the Sinhalese military and the Tamil militants who lose their minds. The subtext of the book is that learning opens minds and opens doors. When peoples lives are lost, when their learning is lost, when generations are lost, the future of a people is lost. One of Sashis brothers works in the magnificent Jaffna library by day. One night this touchstone of Tamil learning is torched, burned to the ground amid the scorched earth tactics of the security forces. The Sinhalese policemen burned our library last, Sashi narrates. They had torched the elegant palace of white rooms the rare book section with the beautifully lettered palm leaf manuscripts Ninety thousand volumes gone, some of them original and single copies. On my own trips to Jaffna, I had seen the blackened walls of that library, pockmarked by bullets, and wondered about the missing books. The pages of this novel filled in the blanks for me. Its sickening descriptions of mass violence Sinhalese mobs raiding Tamil homes, incinerating people in their cars reminded me of another powerful emigre novel, Funny Boy, written in 1994 by Sri Lankan-Canadian author Shyam Selvadurai. In her own way, Ganeshananthan, an American of Sri Lankan descent, describes the reality of Tamil rivalry contrasting the ferocity of Jaffnas internecine strife with the brutality of the islands inter-ethnic fighting. We read about the war within the war, as the feared LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, better known as the Tamil Tigers) ruthlessly eliminate all competitors, systematically emerging as the unchallenged voice of resistance. Accused collaborators and alleged traitors to the Tamil cause are assassinated by the Tigers innocent neighbours, beloved teachers their corpses strung out from lampposts to compel compliance. Sashis brothers must choose: join the Tigers or risk their wrath; pursue their education or push for revolution; stay and fight or flee to the West. And then there is Sashis choice: go along with the Tigers abuses for the sake of solidarity, or resist the revolutions excesses for the sake of humanity. They wanted an independent state for Sri Lankan Tamils, or so they said, she muses. In fact, it was not so welcoming, although I was then too young to see it It made no room for Tamils who refused to fall into line By the mid-1980s, the Tigers had destroyed almost all the others just eaten them alive. She discovers that the revolution eats its children or more precisely, other peoples children: The book describes Tamil Tigers removing their own wounded cadres from a hospital before using it as a base to attack the army, knowing they will draw enemy fire and cause countless casualties. Sashi must reconcile this duplicity with her vow as a medical student to do no harm. The book has its own denouement, but it raises the question of whether Sri Lankas tragic history might have ended differently. The only certainty is both Sinhalese and Tamils were cursed by abysmal leadership. The military won the civil war in 2009 but the government lost the battle of building a nation. Today, as a consequence of illiberal leadership, Sri Lanka is on the cusp of becoming a failed state militarily secure but economically imperilled. I always found Sri Lankas fate so journalistically compelling because it seemed like a microcosm of the old Canada beset by language tensions, separatist impulses and regional alienation. In later years, Canada chose the path of peaceful coexistence co-operative federalism, official bilingualism and multiculturalism; Sri Lanka took the road of political confrontation centralized control, linguistic repression and ethnic discrimination. The rest is history. Brotherless Night fills in the rest of the story. A footnote: In her acknowledgments, Ganeshananthan pays tribute to the work of a fearless Sri Lankan journalist, Namini Wijedasa, whose coverage of the civil war informs the novel. That reference struck a chord, for Wijedasa was my nearly constant companion on every trip I made to that country over the course of seven years a real life character in a non-fiction world. Read more about: SHARE: State of World Population Report 2023, published by UN Population Fund (UNFPA), postulates that very soon, in 2023 itself, we will achieve the dubious distinction of being the most populous nation on earth. According to the Report, the rising population was a sign that people were living longer, healthier lives and enjoying more rights and greater choices than ever before. The Report stated: many headlines warned of a world teetering into overpopulation, or that whole countries and regions were ageing into obsolescence Over and over, we see birth rates identified as a problem ~ and a solution ~ with little acknowledgement of the agency of the people doing the birthing. The Report suggested that advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and ensuring womens ability to control their own fertility must be at the heart of population and development related programmes. UNFPA India Representative, Andrea Wojnar, termed Indias 140 crore people as 140 crore opportunities. Such bland platitudes are poor consolation for us, reeling as we are under serious ill-effects of an unmanageably increasing population ~ poverty, unemployment and pollution, to name a few. Yet, after the disastrous electoral consequences of Sanjay Gandhis infamous population control experiments of the Emergency era, politicians rarely talk about population issues, let alone take measures to control our burgeoning population. Therefore, not surprisingly, there has been no official reaction to the UNFPA Report ~ not even the Governments mandatory debunking of reports published by Western agencies. In what could be taken as the Governments thinking, Amitabh Kant, former CEO of Niti Aayog, and currently a G-20 Sherpa, has listed out the opportunities that our rising population will open up for us. According to Mr. Kant, India will become a powerhouse of human capital and the largest producer of human resources in the world. He has suggested that we should invest in the overall well-being of our youth in areas like health, nutrition, education, skill development and financial inclusion, which appears a tall order, given the abysmal expenditure of the Government on healthcare and education. Mr Kant has further averred that our Total Fertility Rate is now 2.0 ~ below the replacement level of 2.1, which is hard to digest because Indias population is projected to grow for the next forty years, reaching a peak of 166.8 crores in the mid 2060s. This also brings up an interesting question: What is the optimum level of population? Much before the Christian Era, Plato, observing the growing population of Athens, concluded that the ideal city should have no more than 5,040 citizens, which is the population of a large condominium in Mumbai. Plato said: What is left now is like the skeleton of a body wasted by disease; the rich soil has been carried off and only the bare framework of the district is left. Not surprisingly, Plato believed in strict population control, and also in moderating consumption ~ both pressing concerns even in the twenty-first century. In what could be a tale of contemporary times, Platos epic The Republic tells the story of two mythical city-states: one believes in moderation while the other believes in consumerism. Unable to sustain its large population, the second city-state casts avaricious eyes on its neighbouring territories, plunging the country into war. Read US and China for the second city-state, and the analogy is complete. The question Plato raised is the essence of the population debate of today: Is human population the issue, or is it the resources it consumes? Many thinkers ~ ancient and medieval ~ raised similar concerns, but it fell on Thomas Malthus, an 18th century English clergyman, to explain the relation between population and resources mathematically. Malthus wrote: Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ratio. Subsistence increases only in an arithmetical ratio. A slight acquaintance with numbers will show the immensity of the first power in comparison of the second (An Essay on the Principle of Population, 1798). Pessimistic Malthusian predictions have not come true so far, because continuous technological progress has made sufficient resources available for our ever-growing population. Sadly, we seem to be fast approaching the tipping point; consumerism fuelled by technological progress has led to a plunder of natural resources, a degraded environment, high GHG emissions, and massive pollution ~ all leading to climate change. Moreover, unequal distribution of resources ensures that even today, millions in the Horn of Africa are starving and many in Asia and Africa live in want, while people in Europe and US, live lives of extravagance. In fact, Western interest in curtailing population growth in less developed countries has racist undertones, what with Europe and North America being more densely populated than many poor countries whose population they seek to limit. No wonder, to escape the charge of bias, world bodies decry the use of family planning as a tool for population control. Rather, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development expressly acknowledges that sexual and reproductive health and gender equality are essential for unlocking a more prosperous and sustainable future. In the absence of proper planning, Indias demographic dividend has turned into a bane. We will have one hundred crore people in the working age group (15 64) by 2030, but with an employment rate (percentage of persons employed in the working age population) of less than 37 per cent, we may see an increase in the number of unemployed, in coming years. The comparison with China, which claims to have 90 crore skilled workers, is inescapable. One can readily infer that while China has put its population to work, our population hangs like an albatross around our neck. According to National Family Health Survey 2019-21 (NFHS5), safe motherhood eludes a significant proportion of Indian women; 38 per cent got married before 18 years of age, and in 27 per cent of births, spacing between two child births was less than 2 years. A friend who runs an NGO that provides milk to poor pregnant and lactating women at Aanganwadis was surprised to find girls as young as 2o on their second or third pregnancies. Most of these women were malnourished also. It appears that the National Population Policy 2000 which brought about a holistic and target-free approach, has taken the urgency out of the Governments efforts for population control. At present, the role of the Government in family planning is limited to making contraceptive facilities available at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Sub Centres (SCs), in rural areas, and at Urban Family Welfare Centres and Postpartum Centres, in urban areas. Volunteers called Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) distribute contraceptives and pregnancy testing kits to beneficiaries at their doorsteps. On paper, this may appear sufficient, but looking at the way PHCs are run, one can well imagine the services that would really be available there. As regards, ASHA workers, they are unqualified and minimally trained health workers, who are paid a pittance as an incentive for certain tasks they perform. Statistics about children compiled in the National Family Health Survey 2019-21 are equally alarming. Eighteen per cent children had a low birth weight (less than 2.5 kg), 36 per cent of children under five years were stunted (too short for their age), a sign of chronic undernutrition. Nineteen per cent of children under five years were wasted (too thin for their height), a sign of acute undernutrition, while 32 per cent of children under age five years were underweight. Female empowerment by education and gender parity will help in population management but people would hardly follow the two-child norm if the female population is not healthy, and if couples are not assured of having two healthy children, who have a fair chance of reaching adulthood. To achieve this, the Government has to provide good healthcare to all, by ensuring that every district has an adequate number of PHCs and CHCs which are properly manned, and have an adequate stock of medicines. This would be possible only if we increase expenditure on healthcare (which currently stands at 1.28 per cent of our GDP), upgrade our primary health infrastructure and provide nutritional supplementation to poor children. Once a proper health and nutrition infrastructure is in place, a Family Planning Mission can be launched on the lines of Swachh Bharat Mission. By providing incentives and better public healthcare, the Government would be able to persuade people to have only two children, which would spare us the ill effects of the ticking population bomb, which is sure to explode ~ should we continue on our wayward trajectory (The writer is a retired Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-Tax) Singapores robust defence of its drug laws that prescribe punishments deemed harsh in other jurisdictions is in focus once again as the republic prepares to hang a man convicted of abetting an attempt to smuggle cannabis. The 46-year-old Tangaraju Suppiah, a Malaysian of Indian descent, was sentenced to death in 2018 after being found guilty of owning a cell phone used to coordinate an attempt to smuggle cannabis into the country. He has exhausted the appeals process, and is now ready for the gallows, say authorities. The decision has sparked criticism by human rights activists within the country and overseas. They claim that persons accused of drug-related offences are denied due process and struggle to obtain adequate counsel, a charge that Singapores government denies, while maintaining that the severe laws are widely supported by the citizenry and have served as an effective deterrent. It cannot be denied that Singapore, which ordinarily would have been a target of drug syndicates because of its affluence, has largely managed to control the use and sale of narcotics. It is also not in question that being a port city, it offered routes for the trade to flourish. Singapores Misuse of Drugs Act classifies drugs, and prescribes the threshold limits of possession for each class of drug that would constitute an offence of trafficking. Trafficking attracts severe punishment, ranging from 15 strokes of the cane to the death punishment, and physical possession is not mandatory to establish the charge. While these laws may be deemed harsh, they have been on the statute book for five decades. Singapore argues that there is high awareness of its severe laws, especially in countries where drug syndicates operate and that it is also well known the probability of being caught is high because of strict enforcement. It is argued that because of these reasons syndicates are loath to target the island republic with large shipments of drugs. These facts are known to Singapores citizens and the strict anti-drugs policy has repeatedly been endorsed by them, the government argues. Singapore, despite being a tiny nation, has always been vigorous about defending its laws. Nearly three decades ago, an American teenager was caned for vandalism, despite an international outcry and an appeal for clemency by President Bill Clinton. Despite being a staunch American ally, the republic refused to budge, arguing that laws had to be applied uniformly in order to be effective. The protests at the punishments handed out to drug offenders have drawn the attention of people around the world including British entrepreneur Richard Branson, who in a blog last year criticized the government for hanging a drug offender he described as intellectually challenged, and said this breached international commitments. In a robust defence of its actions, the government invited Mr Branson for an all-expenses-paid trip to Singapore to participate in a televised debate with the countrys Home Minister. The entrepreneur backed off. Ramakrishna Mission Samaj Sevak Sishan Mandir will start a unique initiative to provide free 10-month training to unemployed rural youths in a bid to make them selfreliant. Those who receive training will be given residential accommodation. The training programme will start from 15 May and youths coming from economically-challenged farmers families will be given priority. The RKM has collaborated with NABARD and Punjab National Bank to provide the training. Training will be given in horticulture and nursery management, mushroom farming, beekeeping, food processing and preservation like jam, jelly, custard etc. They will be provided training on how to examine the quality of the soil, fish farming, primary health care and poultry management. They will be given training on coloured fish culture and looking after imported birds. They will also be taught about repairing machines that are used in agriculture. In addition to this, the trainees will get courses on value education, capacity building, social work, basic computer and soft skill development. At the end of the programme the trainees will get a certificate which will help to get a loan from the banks. The trainees should be Madhyamik-qualified and their age should be between 18 to 35 years. Swami Shibkaranandaji, principal of Samaj Sevak Sikshan Mandir said the aspirants will be given training in horticulture and nursery management for six months and in the remaining four months they will be trained up in animal husbandry MOSCOW, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Britain will have to bear full responsibility for its decision to supply depleted uranium shells to Ukraine, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday. Peskov pointed out that when such weaponry was previously used by NATO in Yugoslavia, it resulted in devastating consequences, including a rise in oncological and other diseases. Those who use this ammunition must understand that they will "cause irreparable harm to themselves and their citizens" and ultimately bear full responsibility for their actions, he added. The spokesman made the remarks one day after British Minister of State for the Armed Forces James Heappey confirmed that Britain had already sent "thousands of shells for Challenger 2 tanks, including depleted uranium munitions" to Kiev. Small traders in the city are heaving a sigh of relief after the Kolkata Municipal Corporation announced a breather from paying only the trade licence fee for shops or stalls measuring less than 500 square feet. The KMC had recently decided to increase the trade licence fee that included charges like water supply, solid waste management and so on. The increase in the trade licence fee, however, drew flak from traders from various parts of the city. The BJP councillors in the civic body also protested against the hike and submitted a letter to the municipal commissioner yesterday demanding withdrawal of the charges. A high-level meeting including the mayor, MMiCs and other senior officials of the KMC was held yesterday at the civic body headquarters. The KMC, after the meeting, decided to withdraw the waiver for traders having shops or stalls measuring up to 500 square feet. The relaxation, however, is not applicable for restaurants or stalls selling food that, according to KMC sources, need more water supply and solid waste management. The decision is being hailed by the traders that fall under the category. It is a relief for us in the prevailing times when the business is already suffering, said a trader having a shop of about 120 square feet in New Market. Apart from a few seasonal sales, the business is to see the figures of pre-Covid times. Amid such situations, paying additional amounts could have brought more burdens on us, added the shop owner selling readymade garments. Another shop owner in Gariahat, said, The festive sale was poor this time because of heat wave conditions. We are somehow managing to run the shop and our family with income which is not so good. The news of hike in trade licence had brought apprehensions but now the withdrawal of it has come as oxygen to us. Demanding CBI inquiry into the death of a minor girl, a rampaging mob of protesters torched the barracks and offices at the Kaliyaganj Police Station in North Dinajpur district this afternoon. Furniture and documents in some rooms in the police station were completely damaged, along with some cars and motorcycles. While the post-mortem report of the girl showed that she had died after consuming poison, the protesters have been saying that the girl was killed by the youth with whom she had a love affair. The protesters today hurled stones at the police, while the men in uniform had to resort to baton-charge. At least 45 persons, including 32 police personnel, were injured in the clash, sources said. The injured policemen are undergoing treatment in the Raiganj Government Medical College & Hospital. Police later said they have detained some protesters. The police had recovered the body of the class-XII school girl from a pond at Gangoa village in Kaliyaganj on Friday. As the villagers protested the death, they later also protested the way the police had dragged the body of the girl away from the mob. Protesting the incident and slamming the post-mortem report, BJP activists gheraoed the office of the Superintendent of Police of the Raiganj Police District this afternoon. At the same time, hundreds of protesting people, most of them belonging to the tribal and Rajbanshi communities, also marched to the police station, demanding CBI enquiry. They latter were supposed to hand over a memorandum at the police station. Police, however, stopped the marchers near police station, even as the irate mob broke the barriers and tried to enter the police station. When police chased them, they started hurling stones at the police. In response, police had to resort to lathicharge. The agitators then broke the boundary wall and entered the police station and torched some rooms there. After being informed, fire engines reached the spot and doused the flames, a source said. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad has, meanwhile called for a 12-hour student strike in North Dinajpur district on Wednesday, demanding CBI enquiry into the death of the girl. The Left Front Committee of North Dinajpur also met the Superintendent of Police this afternoon and demanded judicial investigations.The Convenor of the North Dinajpur Left Front Committee, Anowarul Hoque, said, We feel that both the CID and the CBI are acting for the TMC and BJP, respectively. As such, we demand judicial investigations. The Superintendent of Police of the Raiganj Police District, Sana Akhtar, said, Some policemen were injured in stone pelting. We have started investigations to nab the persons who attacked the police station. Tom Holland-starer short film Last Call will be screened at Tribeca Film Festival, reported Variety. The short film, directed by Toms younger brother Harry Holland, also features Lindsay Duncan. The film tells the story of Kate, a desperate mother who is trying to reconnect with her son. Navigating an obvious void, Kate will finally have the chance to ask the questions that have haunted her past, and will decide her future, reads the logline. The film is in part an exploration of mental health and Harry Holland did extensive research, consulting with charities and individuals, as part of the project. It was co-written by Will South and produced by Marie-Elena Dyche. I wanted to make a movie to prompt a conversation on our mental frailties, which are ever more exposed by this modern world, said Harry Holland. Harry has previously directed the short film In The Middle of the Night as well as music videos and mini-documentaries. Tribeca film festival is set to be held from June 7-18. The World Intellectual Property Day is observed every year on April 26 with an aim to raise awareness about how patents, copyrights, trademarks and designs impact daily life and to celebrate innovation and creativity. In the year 2000, member states of WIPO agreed to observe day on 26th April to commemorate the establishment of the WIPO Convention in 1970. The World Intellectual Property Day is WIPOs largest intellectual property (IP) public outreach campaign. The day is an opportunity to promote intellectual property rights and to educate the public about the role of these rights in promoting innovation and creativity. The intellectual property rights lie in the fact that they encourage creativity and innovation. By providing legal protection for original works, the intellectual property rights encourage individuals to invest and share their ideas with the world. Intellectual property primarily refers to intangible assets generated by the mind, including inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, names, and images used in commerce. The theme for the World Intellectual Property Day 2023 is Accelerating Innovation and Creativity: Women and IP. Hence, the primary objective of this years theme is to inspire women creators and entrepreneurs to have a can-do attitude towards innovation and creativity. As half of the population globally being female (49.58 per cent), they play a significant role in shaping the world through their creativity, hard work, and resourcefulness. To promote the World Intellectual Property Day every year, WIPO works together with several agencies of government, non-government organisations, community groups and individuals to organise events and activities. In India, it is celebrated by many Institutes like Narayanamma Institute of Technology & Science, Alliance Center for Intellectual Property Rights (ACIPR), Alliance School of Law, Alliance University, Bengaluru and many other companies, colleges and government agencies. On the occasion, some events are lined up to celebrate or create awareness about intellectual property among people. These are: Seminar: Women And IP Accelerating Innovation and Creativity The role of women in IP is occasionally discussed, not frequently studied. Over the past few years, increasingly researchers, IP offices and governments are beginning to ask interesting questions about the representation and participation of women in the creative business. This year, the role of women in IP has taken the centre stage with the World Intellectual Property Organization deciding to theme its annual World IP Day around Powering Change: Women in Innovation and Creativity. World IP Day IPR is a tool for protecting the nations innovation, creative work, and economic development. Women play a major role in any the countrys development while worldwide only 7-12 per cent of innovations by women are patented. This is the theme of Women and IP: Can Do spirit of women entrepreneurs worldwide is commemorated and celebrated by the IPR Chair of the Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai National workshop on Artificial Intelligences impact on Intellectual Property Alliance Centre for Intellectual Property Rights (ACIPR) under the aegis of Alliance School of Law, Alliance University, Bengaluru is organising the event on April, 26 in commemoration of the World Intellectual Property Day, 2023. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become ubiquitous in our daily lives, and its impact can be felt across a broad spectrum of fields. With the swift development of AI, it becomes paramount to understand its interplay with the present legal framework. The Intellectual Property (IP) framework is one of the most suitable regimes to deal with the regulation of AI, which is indispensable in the current scenario. This Workshop has been designed to offer an insight into AIs impact on IP. IP Walk and Talk IP Walk and Talk is an initiative of SVKMs Pravin Gandhi College of Law to commemorate the World IP Day. At the event, creative expressions by the students by way of posters will be exhibited and explained to the visitors. This event aims at creating awareness, peer learning, and also learning through interactions of the experts who will be exhibiting. Hundreds of Delhi BJP leaders and workers, including its general secretary Kuljeet Singh Chahal, held a protest against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the National Capital on Wednesday against alleged renovation of his official residence at a cost of Rs 45 crore. The protestors held a dharna outside the chief ministers residence amidst heavy police force deployed to prevent any untoward incident. Hitting out at Kejriwal for his ostentation at a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, This is not just a story of a maharaj and his palace renovation but it is also a story of renovation of maharajs mindset. I will not take anything from I will loot everything, I will not leave anything This is the story of the transformation in that maharaj. He further said, Ironically, the people who came hanging on to auto for the oath-taking ceremony, who denied owning a car, owning the possessions are now doing what the whole country can see! Curtains worth Rs 8 lakh each beautify their palace now. Partys Delhi secretary Chahal, while addressing media persons, alleged that splashing of Rs 45 crore on renovation of CMs house during Covid phase shows how insensitive Arvind Kejriwal is. People of Delhi are pained to see that CM Kejriwal spent public money on his sheesh mahal at a time when people were dying due to lack of oxygen, medicines & hospital beds, he said. Chahal further said, The figure of around Rs 45 crore expenditure on Kejriwals SHEESH MAHAL is not complete, it may run into Rs 75 crore as already we know that an additional Rs 11 crore have been spent on construction of a swimming pool in the CM House. BJP leader Harish Khurana said that they were protesting against Kejriwal for allegedly spending crores of rupees on the renovation of his official residence in the National Capital. It is questionable that a person who claims to be Kattar Imaandar spends 45 crores rupees on the renovation of the official residence. He spent Rs 11 crore on his wardrobe, obviously, questions will be raised, he said. Meanwhile, former Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken confirmed the allegation against Kejriwal, saying the Rs 45-crore renovation included procurement of extravagant items like Dior polished Vietnam marble, expensive curtains, and high-end carpets. Kejriwal allegedly spent Rs 45 crore of public funds on his luxurious bungalow, including extravagant items like Dior polish Vietnam marble, expensive curtains, and high-end carpets. However, before his election, he distributed printed copies of a sworn affidavit in his New Delhi Legislative Assembly Constituency, dated June 7th, 2013, in which he made 7 promises, tweeted Ajay Maken. Recalling the first three pledges made by the Delhi CM, Maken said despite the pledges, Kejriwal spent a fortune on his bungalow. 1) Not to use a car with a red light. 2) Not to request additional security beyond what is necessary for a common citizen. 3) To refuse a large bungalow and instead live in an ordinary house like the average person. Despite naming his party Aam Aadmi Party (Common Mans Party) and making these pledges, Mr Kejriwal spent a fortune on his bungalow when the people of Delhi were desperately seeking oxygen cylinders during the COVID pandemic, he tweeted. Moreover, there are more than 6 lakh households living in slums in the city. This raises questions about his right to remain in his position as a public servant and whether he has upheld the other promises mentioned in the distributed sworn affidavit, especially considering the urgent needs of the citizens, Ajay Makens tweet read. The recently-excavated hilltop Buddhist monastery in Bihars Lakhisarai district, in eastern India, has caught the attention of the Buddhist scholars and archeologists across the world. A recently-concluded two-day conference on shared Buddhist Heritage, as part of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, has received appreciation by one and all. The screening of the seven-minute video clip of this excavated hilltop site of the Buddhist monastery at the conference has caught the attention of the participating world Buddhist scholars and monks. Lakhisarai district town barely 125 km east of Patna, the capital of Bihar, is situated at the confluence of three important rivers Ganga, Haruhar and Kiul and three ancient cultural zones Anga, Magadh and Mithila. Lalpahari is a small hillock on the western bank of river kiul in the present day Lakhisarai district. The main architect of this Buddhist site is a Bihari archeologist Prof Anil Kumar, who is currently head of the department of ancient Indian History, culture and archaeology at Vishwa Bharati University, Shantiniketan in West Bengal. Prof Kumar was also invited to participate in the recently-concluded Global Buddhist Conference in New Delhi. Talking to The Statesman, Kumar said: The uniqueness of this discovery is that it is the first hilltop monastic site excavated in Eastern India. He further said, The architectural features like well-preserved inter-connected cells, remnants of wooden door frames and finally the evidence of application of red, green, yellow, white and black colours on lime plastered floor makes the architecture of the monastery, the first of its kind on the map of Eastern Indian Buddhist establishments. Two burnt clay sealings recovered from the site record the names Sriman Dhamma Vihara and Aarya bhikshu Sanghasya. This may be translated as (this is the seal) of the council of monks of the monastery. The language of the record is Sanskrit of about 8th/9th century CE, he pointed out. This discovery is of paramount significance in the understanding of the history of monastic Buddha in early Medieval Magadh and historically identified as Krmila region in Lakhisarai district. It clearly proves that the monastery atop the hill called Lalpahari in Jayanagar village was a Vihara of monastic evidence, Prof Kumar told The Statesman. Way back in the 19th century, the antiquarian remains of Lakhisarai region had drawn the attention of British administrators like Buchanan, Cunningham, Beglar and Waddell. They conducted a preliminary survey of the area and identified stupas and temples in this region. Early this year, a US scholar, Jinan Kim of Harvard University, while doing her project on ancient colours, visited this site to do research on a coloured platform on the floor which was found here during excavation. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had inaugurated the excavation work at this site in November 2017. The excavation was jointly conducted by the Bihar government and the Vishwa Bharati University, Shantiniketan. A newly-built huge museum building has come up near this state protected site. It is yet to be functional. A 22-year-old girl was shot dead in broad daylight by unidentified assailants in the Dhar town of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday morning. According to the police, the deceased was identified as Pooja Chauhan, a resident of Brahamakundi locality in Dhar town. She was killed in the Basant Vihar colony of the city at around 11 AM. Sources said the girl was on her way to the court to appear for a hearing of a case when she was shot dead. It was also reported that the girl was murdered while she was walking towards a shop where she used to work. The police said multiple shots were fired and bullet casings and a live pistol cartridge were also recovered from the spot. The body of the deceased was sent for postmortem. Some relatives of the girl told police that they suspected the role of a boy who was allegedly harassing the girl for the past two years. The relatives also claimed that the girl had lodged a police complaint against the man saying that he could kill her. City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Devendra Singh Dhurve said a case has been registered and police are investigating the matter to ascertain if a single person or more committed the crime. The officer said the assailant(s) would be nabbed soon. Calling upon the people to take pride in the achievements of the nation, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday declared that India will be at the top of the world when it celebrates the centenary year of independence in 2047. He was inaugurating the day-long Mann Ki [email protected] conclave organised by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry to celebrate the 100th edition of the monthly radio address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Noting that Mann Ki Baat reached every nook and corner of the country and was unparalleled in reach and popularity, he also hailed the programme for giving recognition and brand value to the local art and artisans, and for generating a market space for them. The vice-president observed that Mann Ki Baat gave a huge impetus to flagship initiatives of the government such as Swachh Bharat and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and turned them into mass movements. He added that the PMs addresses on the show were a beacon of positivity to the nation during the Covid pandemic. Calling the 100th episode of the programme (scheduled to be aired on 30 April) a historic milestone, Dhankhar lauded it for serving as an effective platform to popularise and bring to the mainstream the culture and festivals of the Northeast and other states. Mann Ki Baat, as a matter of fact, is a reflection of our sense of our civilisational ethos, he observed. Emphasising that one must always keep nation first, he said that Indias growth story was also underscored by Nari Shakti exemplified in the election of a tribal woman as the President of India. He also noted various welfare initiatives such as the Direct Benefit Transfer, PM Ujjwala Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi and others were indicative of the paradigm change in the socio-economic situation in the country. During the event, Dhankar released a coffee table book My Dear Fellow Citizens which gives glimpses of over 100 inspiring stories, mentioned by PM Modi in the radio programme. He also released a book Collective Spirit, Concrete Action, authored by Shashi Shekhar Vempati, former CEO, Prasar Bharati, which describes the impact of the programme Mann Ki Baat on the nation. I & B Minister Anurag Singh Thakur and eminent personalities such as Kiran Bedi, Aamir Khan, Raveena Tandon, Ricky Kej, and Nikhat Zareen were among those present at the function. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday called for public participation in the campaigns for conservation of water. Addressing the inaugural session of a two-day Water Conclave under Amrit Jal Kranti, organised by the Haryana Water Resources Authority at Panchkula today, the CM said in todays time, there is a need to pay attention to water conservation for availability, demand and supply of water, rainwater harvesting along with proper use of water. For water conservation, public participation is to be ensured in the campaign to save water, as it cannot be successful without their participation, he said. Addressing the gathering, Khattar said at present 85 blocks of the state are in the dark zone. He said Haryana does not have any natural source of water and only rainwater and naturally flowing water from the mountains is the main source. Besides, the state receives an average rainfall of five inches i.e. 150 mm. In addition, water is supplied from the Yamuna River along with water of Satluj Ravi Beas through Bhakra Dam. We are not getting 3.5 MAF water due to SYL. Presently the water availability in Haryana is 20 MAF while the demand is 34 MAF. The challenge for us is to bridge this 14 MAF gap, he added. He said that to meet the gap of water demand and availability, rain water harvesting systems would have to be set up. Apart from this, the capacities of reservoirs, ponds and lakes will have to be increased and ground water recharging will also have to be done. In todays time, the soil layer has become solid with the use of pesticides, due to which there is a big problem in groundwater recharge. For this, there is a need to pay attention to the techniques of land reform, the CM said. Khattar said there is a need to work for water conservation as well as its management and to meet the demand of water in the present times, there is a need to adopt the concept of 3-R i.e, reduce, recycle and reuse. Citing the example of Singapore, the CM said treated water is being used for drinking purposes there, while we are currently using treated water only for irrigation and other purposes. We also need to study new technologies and move forward in this direction. Not only this, along with regulating the demand and use of water, its infrastructure has to be strengthened; only then will we be able to save water, he added. Union Cooperative Minister Amit Shah said here on Wednesday that nano-liquid DAP will reduce the input cost of the farmers and reduce the damage to the fertile land. Speaking at the launch of IFFCOs Nano Liquid DAP under the Ministry of Cooperatives, Amit Shah stated that the nano-liquid DAP products will make India self-reliant in the fertiliser sector. He called the launch of the IFFCO Nano Liquid DAP an important step towards this end. Cooperative societies are doing new research by coming out of their fixed structure. IFFCO is a source of inspiration for other cooperatives by developing Nano liquid DAP products. The company has made this product according to the needs of the farmers of India, which will promote natural farming. The land will be chemical-free due to liquid DAP and liquid urea. The cooperatives minister said a total of 384 lakh metric tonnes of fertilizers have been produced in this country. Out of this, 132 lakh metric tonnes were produced by cooperatives. Out of these 132 lakh metric tonnes, IFFCO produced 90 lakh metric tonnes of fertilizers. Amit Shah said to increase the number of earthworms by using Nano Liquid DAP Liquid Nano Urea and conserve your land. He said that three urea plants have been set up in the same year. He said IFFCO Nano liquid DAP is new research. Farmers should use it. IFFCO Nano DAP Liquid Fertilizer is the new gift to the farmers of India, its half-liter bottle will meet the requirement of a 45 kg fertilizer bag. This is a huge achievement for the fertilizer sector in the country. The basic mantra of cooperation is everyones participation in profit and IFFCO has proved this mantra. IFFCO has kept the spirit of cooperation alive. Amit Shah said that IFFCOs success story is in front of the whole world. IFFCO has made its mark in research. IFFCO will get 20 percent royalty wherever Liquid DAP Nano Fertilizer is used in the world. It may be noted that IFFCO is setting up a Nano DAP plant at Kalol Unit, Gujarat with a production capacity of 2 lakh bottles of 500 ml per day. KIEV, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine has received 6 billion euros (about 6.6 billion U.S. dollars) in direct budget support from the European Union (EU) so far this year, the Ukrainian government press service reported. Ukraine received the third tranche of the EU's large-scale macro-financial assistance (MFA) worth 1.5 billion euros (about 1.65 billion dollars) on Tuesday, which will be directed to cover urgent budget needs. Ukraine received the first tranche of 3 billion euros (about 3.30 billion dollars) in January, and the second tranche of 1.5 billion euros (about 1.65 billion dollars) in March. While commenting on the aid, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said the EU's support would help the Ukrainian government to implement the country's budget "on time and in full." Under the MFA, the EU plans to provide Ukraine with a total of 18 billion euros (about 19.8 billion dollars) of concessional financing in 2023. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister, Mukesh Agnihotri have expressed their deepest condolences on the demise of veteran leader and former chief minister of Punjab Prakash Singh Badal. Badal passed away late Tuesday evening at Fortis in Mohali, after a prolonged illness. The chief minister, in his condolence message, stated that the country has lost a great patriarch and a colossal leader who had made a mark in the history of Indian politics over seven decades. He said that Prakash Singh Badal was a remarkable statesman, who was known for his ideals of uniting the Nation and building bridges despite the period of turmoil in Punjab. Starting his political career as a sarpanch at the age of 20, Badal played a major role in Punjabs Green Revolution and was a true benefactor of the farmers. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri while expressing grief said that Prakash Singh Badal was a prolific figure in Punjab political arena. He was an articulate leader who made lasting contributions for the unity of the country. Badal lived above all odds to promote fraternity since the time of partition and maintained the true spirit of Punjabiyat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and a host of other leaders condoled the demise of former Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday. Badal died late on Tuesday evening. He was 95. Condoling his death, Prime Minister Modi tweeted: Extremely saddened by the passing away of Shri Parkash Singh Badal Ji. He was a colossal figure of Indian politics, and a remarkable statesman who contributed greatly to our nation. He worked tirelessly for the progress of Punjab and anchored the state through critical times. The Prime Minister added that Badals passing away was a personal loss for him. I have interacted closely with him for many decades and learnt so much from him. I recall our numerous conversations, in which his wisdom was always clearly seen. Condolences to his family and countless admirers, he said further. Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted: The passing away of veteran leader, Shri Parkash Singh Badal Sahab is deeply saddening. His career spanning several decades was dedicated to the welfare of the poor. His demise is an irreparable loss to Indian politics. My heartfelt condolences are with his family and followers. Shah added that he was fortunate to meet Parkash Singh Badal on several occasions. His unparalleled political experience was very helpful in public life and always a delight to listen to. The memories of those meetings will always remain with me, he said. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said: Parkash Singh Badal ji was a veteran of Indian politics. Although we differed in our ideologies, he earned immense respect among the people of Punjab for his simplicity and loyalty to his cadre, as he served multiple terms as chief minister. Our deepest condolences to his family. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed sadness at Badals death. Describing him as a tall leader of Punjab, Gandhi expressed his condolences to his son Sukhbir Badal and his family. Australia will host the Quad Leaders Summit in Sydney on 24 May, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday. It will be the first time Australia will host the summit that will see the participation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and US President Joe Biden along with the Australian leader. It will be the third in-person summit of the four-nation grouping which China argues is aimed at countering its growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. The (Australian) Prime Minister looks forward to welcoming his Quad counterparts to Australia for the summit. These visits build on the meetings the Prime Minister has already had with Prime Minister Modi, Prime Minister Kishida and President Biden, a press release from the Australian leaders office said. The Quad is a diplomatic partnership of four countries committed to promoting stability, resilience and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. Australia, India, Japan and the US share a vision for a region that is governed by accepted rules and norms, where everyone can cooperate, trade and thrive. In Sydney, the Quad leaders are expected to discuss how the grouping can work alongside partners and regional groupings, foremost ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum, to strengthen cooperation and shape the region. According to the Australian prime minister, Quad partners are deeply invested in the success of the Indo-Pacific. Leveraging our collective strengths helps Australia advance its interests and more effectively respond to the regions needs. We are always better off when we act together with our close friends and partners. He said, The Quad is committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is respectful of sovereignty and ensures security and growth for all. I look forward to discussing with Quad Leaders how we alongside important regional institutions, such as ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Indian Ocean Rim Association and our regional partners can shape the Indo-Pacific region we all want to live in. Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined political leaders cutting across party lines and scores of people in paying homage to the five-time Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) office in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Modi reached Chandigarh this afternoon and went to the SAD office here to pay his last respects to Badal (95) who passed away on Tuesday after being hospitalised in Mohali a week back. Punjab Governor Punjab Banwarilal Purohit and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar accompanied the PM to the SAD office where political leaders across the party lines and people started queuing up early this morning to pay their last respects to the Akali Dal patriarch. The mortal remains of the SAD leader were being taken to his village Badal in Lambi tehsil of Muktsar district where the cremation will be held on 27 April. The Punjab government declared a holiday on Thursday in honour of Badal. All government offices, departments, boards, corporations and educational institutions in the state will remain shut on Thursday, an official order said. The former CM was admitted to Fortis Hospital in Mohali a week ago after he complained of uneasiness while breathing.Despite appropriate medical management S Parkash Singh Badal succumbed to his illness. Fortis Hospital Mohali deeply condoles the death of S Parkash Singh Badal, a statement from the hospital said on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday led the tributes to the Punjab leader, calling him a colossal figure of Indian politics, and a remarkable statesman. Parkash Singh Badals passing away is a personal loss for me. I have interacted closely with him for many decades and learnt so much from him, PM Modi said in a tweet expressing his condolences. Extremely saddened by the passing away of Shri Parkash Singh Badal Ji. He was a colossal figure of Indian politics, and a remarkable statesman who contributed greatly to our nation. He worked tirelessly for the progress of Punjab and anchored the state through critical times, tweeted PM Modi, along with a picture of himself with the veteran leader. Badal climbed his way up the political ladder after serving as a village sarpanch and then contesting Assembly elections for the first time in 1957 when he was 30-year-old, as a Congressman. Badal was the youngest chief minister to ever hold office in Punjab at the age of 43. In a career spanning over seven decades, he lost only two elections one in 1967, and the latest in the 2022 Punjab Assembly election when he lost to the Aam Aadmi Party candidate. He courted arrest during Operation Bluestar in June 1984 when the Army had entered the Golden Temple complex at Amritsar to flush out militants. Badals party, SAD, broke ties with Bharatiya Janata Party in the wake of farmers protest in 2020. He also returned his Padma Vibhushan award, the second highest civilian honour of the country, as a sign of protest against the governments treatment of protesting farmers. Badal was born in Punjabs Abul Khurana close to the Rajasthan border and studied at Lahores Forman Christian College. The Uttar Pradesh government has suspended Akhlaq Ahmed, the brother-in-law of slain gangster Atiq Ahmed. A serving government doctor in Meerut, Akhlaq has been accused of giving shelter to Atiqs aide Guddu Muslim who is wanted by the Prayagraj police in connection with the killing of lawyer Umesh Pal and his two police guards on February 24. An FIR was lodged against Akhlaq wherein he has been accused of sheltering Guddu Muslim who remains elusive. Police had secured CCTV footage from Akhlaqs house which purportedly shows Guddu Muslim visiting their house after the Prayagraj murders. Akhlaq was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force some three weeks ago. At the time of his arrest, he was serving as consultant at the Bhavanpur community health centre of Meerut. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who also holds the health and medical education portfolios, said: Akhlaq was engaged in unethical activities, which was in gross violation of the Government Service Conduct Rules. Such behaviour by any doctor or employee of the health or medical education departments cannot be tolerated. The relevant orders were issued by principal secretary, health and family welfare, Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma. He acted upon a letter written by the director general, health, who apprised him about the entire course of events around Ahmads arrest. Citing the DGs letter dated April 12, an official spokesperson said that a resident of Meeruts Chashmewali Gali, Akhlaq was arrested under the Explosive Substances Act by the Nauchandi police station. Adding that Akhlaq was sent to Naini jail of Prayagraj thereafter, the DG recommended his suspension which was approved by the principal secretary who also took some time to conduct another level of probe and seek relevant permissions. Referring to the order, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said: The doctor in question tarnished the image of the state government besides earning a bad name for his department. He invited trouble by not living up to the behaviour expected from a government employee. Pathak also advised other doctors in the state services to take lessons from the case and concentrate on public service and stay away from any kind of illegal activity. Uttarakhand Transport and Social Welfare Minister Chandan Ram Das passed away on Wednesday after a sudden cardiac arrest, said the states officials. He died at Bageshewar District Hospital where he was admitted after he complained of chest pain, said Bageshewars chief medical officer DP Joshi. Expressing shock, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Sing Dhami said his demise is an irreparable loss in the field of public service and politics. Shocked by the news of the sudden demise of my senior colleague in the cabinet Shri Chandan Ram Das ji. His death is an irreparable loss in the field of public service and politics. May God grant the pious soul a place at his holy feet and strength to his family and supporters to bear this immense suffering. Om Shanti, the chief minister tweeted. He was brought to the district hospital this afternoon. The hospital authorities said his condition was such that he could not have been shifted to another hospital using an air ambulance. They added that despite all efforts made to save his life, he died of cardiac arrest. Chandan Ram represented the Bageshwar constituency in the Uttarakhand assembly for four consecutive terms since 2007. Upon his demise, the State government declared three-day official mourning till April 28 and On Wednesday all government offices and Public sector banks are closed. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed grief over the deaths of 10 soldiers who were killed in the IED blast by Naxalites in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh. Taking to Twitter, the chief minister wrote: A humble tribute to the brave sons of Mother India who were martyred in the line of duty in Chhattisgarh. My thoughts are with the bereaved family. During this difficult time, we stand with all the families. May God grant the departed souls a place at his holy feet and strength to the family members to bear this sorrow. During a search operation in Dantewada, 10 District Reserve Guard personnel were killed in an IED blast carried out by Naxalites. A local citizen also died in this attack. There is tremendous anger against the Naxalites across the country after the attack. Leaks in gas pipelines in parts of Dhaka left a strong odour, creating panic among city residents, an official said on Tuesday. Rafi Al Faruk, a duty officer of the fire service and civil defence headquarters, told Xinhua news agency that they received numerous complaints of gas leaks from a number of areas of the Bangladeshi capital late Monday night. According to the officer, leaks in pipelines mostly in eastern part of Dhaka were responsible for the smell. No casualty has been reported so far, said the officer, adding that there was no danger to the public. Weve already reported this matter to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd. which is responsible for gas distribution in Dhaka, the officer said. According to a statement from the ministry of power, energy and mineral resources, Titas has advised residents not to panic about the spread of the odour. There was a shutdown of gas supply in industrial factories during Eid, and the smell is coming out due to increase in gas pressure in transmission and distribution lines, which gave rise to an overflow. Senior Titas official Arif Hossain said the problem will be resolved gradually as they have taken prompt measures. Sanchi, a world heritage site located in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh near Bhopal is all set to become the first solar city of India in May. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviewed the ongoing works in the Sanchi town to transform it into a solar city. He said the use of solar energy is being continuously promoted in MP and many solar power projects are operational across the state. At a review meeting in Bhopal yesterday, the chief minister was informed that the completion of various works to transform Sanchi into a solar city was almost complete and by next month Sanchi, a world heritage site of Buddhist Stupas, would be known as the countrys first solar city. The CM said this would be a special accomplishment and achievement of Madhya Pradesh. He asserted that the solar city Sanchi would give MP a new identity in the field of renewable energy. Chouhan said Madhya Pradesh has made great progress in the energy sector. He said the state has become self-sufficient in power generation and supply, and the achievements of Madhya Pradesh in the renewable energy sector have attracted the attention of the country. During the high-level meeting, the CM also reviewed the activities of other departments. He gave instructions to open new Anganwadi centers to complete the work of applications by eligible women under Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana. Chouhan directed the minister and officials of the health department to upgrade government hospitals, conduct regular meetings of health committees, and ensure continuous review to reduce the maternal and newborn mortality rate. The CM instructed to review activities related to the operation of Gram Sabhas and supply of essential materials to tendupatta collectors under PESA rule in tribal-dominated areas in the state. Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6) Today Occasional rain. High 56F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 46F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. SOFIA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Azerbaijan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to encourage cooperation on gas transmission. The document was signed under the recently-proposed initiative "Solidarity Ring", which aims for the transmission of additional quantities of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Central and Southeast Europe. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, attended the signing ceremony. Radev said that the memorandum would reaffirm the successful partnership between the five countries, and lead to an increase in the connectivity and capacity of the gas transmission network of the countries in the region. Meanwhile, Aliyev said that the memorandum would allow Azerbaijan to export more gas to more European countries. Later on Tuesday, Radev and Aliyev inaugurated the office of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) in Bulgaria. According to the website of the President of Azerbaijan, the Memorandum of Understanding sets out directions for cooperation between SOCAR and four distribution system operators for the supply of additional gas from Azerbaijan to Europe. The additional gas will be supplied through the upgraded transmission network systems of Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia, called the "Solidarity ring". This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SPRINGFIELD State Rep. Amy Elik, R-Alton, wants an audit of Illinois health benefits program for undocumented immigrants and a moratorium on expanding it. House Bill 1570 would add undocumented immigrants ages 19-41 to the program. The bill has not been debated and no stand-alone vote has been taken on this benefit expansion. Last week a report by Health Care and Family Services stated such a growth in undocumented immigrant participation will require nearly a billion dollars in general revenue funds to support the program in fiscal year 2024. The report estimated that, for 2024, there will be an additional 108,400 undocumented immigrants seeking care. At a Capitol press conference in Springfield Wednesday, Elik was joined by Assistant Republican Leader C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, and Deputy Republican Leaders Norine Hammond, R-Macomb, and Ryan Spain, R-Peoria in discussing the cost and enrollment expansions of Illinois health benefits program for undocumented immigrants. Elik, deputy budgeteer for the House Republican Caucus, and Hammond, chief budgeteer, detailed the 346% growth expected in the cost to provide health benefits to undocumented immigrants in Illinois under the proposed bill. These costs incurred keep climbing and are not eligible for matching funds by the federal government," Elik said. "The majority party approved this spending without considering the fiscal impact to our general revenue fund. This puts services for our most vulnerable citizens and many other critical programs at risk in future state budgets. Spain, who said the Medicaid program in Illinois is the state's biggest area of spending, has filed House Resolution 220 requesting an audit of the program and a pause in new enrollees. This billion dollar hole, which is just the beginning, requires the General Assembly to exercise fiscal responsibility in both the short-term and long-term to ensure state budget sustainability, he said. The Republican House members said the proposeed expansion is happening at the same time Illinois is expected to lose $760 million in federal funding through the end of the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Program provided to states during the pandemic. They said several state programs are remain underfunded and could benefit from the money that would go to providing medical services to more undocumented immigrants. During the 2020 pandemic-shortened House session, Democrats slipped health benefits for undocumented immigrant seniors into the FY21 Budget Implementation (BIMP) bill," said Davidsmeyer. "This new benefit was included in the BIMP at the last minute, without a committee hearing, public input, or debate. We had virtually no time to review the massive BIMP and budget bills that were passed at the end of that special session. In 2021, Democrats again slipped expanded health benefits for undocumented immigrants for ages 55-64 into the FY22 BIMP bill," he said. "This was again included at the last minute, with no committee hearing and almost no time to debate the bill. Last year, Democrats blew up an agreed Medicaid Omnibus bill by yet again adding a last-minute expansion of health benefits for undocumented immigrants for ages 42-54 at the end of session," Davidsmeyer said. "Zero transparency, zero accountability, zero public input. ALTON Starting in May, the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau will offer Black history tours in Alton. The new "Freedom to Equality" are planned through November and will be led by Jared Hennings, an instructor at Lewis & Clark Community College in Godfrey. The Alton region has an impressive Underground Railroad history, coupled with a powerful and inspiring quest for African-American equality over the years, said Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau noted. We believe in honoring that history and preserving its place in our storytelling efforts," he said. "These new tours bring that part of the regions history to life and people are able to see for themselves the places and people who left their mark on Alton. Two tours a day are planned for May 13, June 17, July 15, Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Oct. 21 and Nov. 18. All tours will take place on Saturdays, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., using a 20-passenger shuttle. The tours will highlight Black history in Alton, beginning with the famed Underground Railroad and including the fight for civil liberties and cultural contributions that shaped not only Alton but the United States. Stops will include Rocky Fork Church where the history of this large-scale Underground Railroad station outside of Alton is uncovered. The community is now part of a registry of verified Underground Railroad locations. The shuttle will also stop at the Alton Cemetery, the final resting place of many notable abolitionists and African-American leaders in the community. It is also home to the iconic Elijah P. Lovejoy monument, the tallest monument in Illinois, that honors the abolitionist, minister and newspaper publisher. The tour will also focus on notable Black Alton residents, such as Charles Newton, the first Black graduate of Alton High School in 1873; Scott Bibb, a former slave who battled for public school integration in Alton; Josephine Beckwith, who fought to secure equality for African-American youths and adults; and jazz great Miles Davis who was born in Alton. Hennings will bring the historical figures to life with re-enactments, stories and song. The tour also will include the Union Baptist Church, one of the oldest Black churches in Illinois, that was organized by free Blacks in 1836. The church hosted a statewide convention in 1856 that led to the downfall of the Black Code. The Riverbend is part of the National Park Services Network to Freedom passport program. A passport stamp honors Underground Railroad sites in Alton and Godfrey. Passport holders can have their passports stamped at the Alton Visitor Center or the Hayner Genealogy & Local History Library in downtown Alton. The tours will start at the Alton Visitor Center at 200 Piasa St. Tickets are $32.50 per person and must be purchased in advance online at https://www.riversandroutes.com/things-to-do/buy-tickets/ . For more information on the tours, contact the Great Rivers & Routes tourism Bureau at 618-465-6676 or visit www.RiversandRoutes.com . SPRINGFIELD Industry advocates and unions supporting caregivers for people with developmental disabilities want lawmakers to more than double a funding hike proposed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in February. The Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities is requesting a $4 hourly increase to the wage rate for direct service professionals in community-based settings that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Direct service professionals, or DSPs, are the individuals who provide daily personal care such as assisting individuals with eating, grooming and dressing. The requested increase is $2.50 beyond an increase proposed by Pritzker earlier this year. The $4 rate increase is also backed by AFSCME Council 31, the union representing about 4,000 workers at community facilities as well as about 4,000 employees at state-run centers. Supporters say the increase is needed to fill staffing shortages and offer more competitive wages. The current $17 wage rate is just $4 more than the states $13 minimum wage, although some DSPs make more than that and some make less. Look at the cost of food, gas rent, mortgage insurance, said Veronica Lea, a DSP of 30 years at Trinity Services in Joliet. People working in fast food make more than we do. And that's, again, a shameOur pay is so low that people leave. They love their job but just can't afford it. While IARF and AFSCME are backing different proposals in terms of how providers could spend the money, each of them would bring the base wage rate to $21 by January 2024. Community not prepared The rate increase is one of dozens requested by various providers in the states Medicaid program. But it is also one that is directly pertinent to a federal consent decree governing the states provision of services for developmentally disabled individuals. That court filing, known as the Ligas consent decree, is the byproduct of a lawsuit filed in response to a 1999 U.S. Supreme Court decision that ruled individuals with developmental disabilities have a right to placement in the community if they desire it. Advocates for the rate increase note the state has failed to comply with the consent decree since 2017 and long waitlists for community placements persist. According to an Illinois Department of Human Services database, about 14,900 people were on a waitlist to receive state care as of the end of March, including 5,848 adults who are seeking services and currently eligible for community placement. Josh Evans, IARF president and CEO, said if the state is to ensure community placements are available, it must provide adequate financial support for providers to be able to hire and retain staff. The community at large is not prepared to serve residents with higher level of needs, which are typically in the state centers right now, Evans said in an interview. And the reason we're not able to do that right now is because we're not equipped with the staff that we need in the community to serve higher-need individuals whether it's more complex medical conditions, whether it's higher behavioral health support needs we're not there. IARF said its member facilities have a 25 percent DSP vacancy rate and a 23 percent vacancy rate for supervisors and case managers. Additionally, 28 percent of providers are unable to accept new individuals, 14 percent have closed or consolidated group home placements, and 72 percent have delayed service expansions due to staffing shortages. Evans and union members said staffing shortages have been exacerbated since the COVID-19 pandemic. Mechelle Patton, a Carbondale-based DSP, said the pandemic meant long hours and risk of disease due to inadequate personal protective equipment. Some staffers died due to on-the-job exposure, she said. Cheryl Kakuska said she was one of several DSPs who participated in live-ins at their facilities during the pandemic, staying there for 24 hours a day, seven days a week as a safety precaution. She said she was asked to live in an uninsulated garage in the middle of winter. I started three and a half years ago, (the wage) was $12.18 an hour, she said at a news conference. Now we're up to $17.89. But let's be honest, it's just not enough. IARF and AFSCME are calling on the state to fully fund one recommendation of a 2020 study commissioned by the IDHS Division of Developmental Disabilities and conducted by the consulting firm Guidehouse in response to the Ligas consent decree. ARF and AFSCME are advocating for full implementation of a Guidehouse recommendation that wage rates for DSPs be funded at 150 percent of the minimum wage. That would accelerate a six-year window outlined by IDHS to comply with the Guidehouse recommended rates. The $21 rate would be 150 percent of the $14 minimum wage upon its effective date. The increase would take effect halfway through the upcoming fiscal year to give the state time to approve the proposal with the federal government. AFSCME and IARF, however, are backing two different proposals. AFSCME is supporting two measures Senate Bill 1600 and House Bill 3398 that require all $4 of the increase be directly passed through to workers. You must ensure that providers are required to pass through the funds for our wages rather than spend that money in other ways, according to Christine Rivera, an AFSCME member and DSP at Ray Graham Association. Evans said the bills IARF is backing House Bill 3569 and Senate Bill 2026 would require that $2 be directly passed through to DSP wages, while the other $2 could be used more flexibly, such as for recruitment and retention efforts. Its an agreement that Evans said was reached between providers, the state and labor in a previous fiscal year. He said their proposals provide more flexibility to employers to pay higher wages to more experienced DSPs, as the base wage rate is an average, rather than a minimum number. Never going to catch back up The total half-year cost of the increase would be approximately $151 million, according to IARFs estimate. About half of that cost would be shared by the federal government, and the annual cost would be roughly double that amount once it is implemented for an entire fiscal year. We need to fund this rate study proposal this year, Evans said in an interview, noting that the state is in the midst of a period of strong revenue growth that forecasters have noted could soon be slowing down. Because if not, we're never going to catch back up to private industries that can afford to pay higher wages, he said. That means we're always going to be behind, we're always going to be coming to the General Assembly saying, with our hat in our hand, we need you to do this. We've got to eventually get ahead of the curve here, and if it's not going to be in Fiscal Year 24, I don't know when it's going to be. In a Senate committee Wednesday morning, Illinois Department of Revenue Director David Harris urged caution for the Fiscal Year 2024 budgeting process, noting that there will be no April surprise of tax season revenue spikes to boost the states fiscal outlook. Several members of the Senate Republican caucus are backing the IARF proposal. They tied the ongoing fight for funding by human service providers to a major expected spending increase for providing state-funded health care to noncitizens, a program that has greatly exceeded initial cost estimates after its implementation three years ago. That expansion of care to individuals aged 42 and older who would be eligible for Medicaid if not for their citizenship status is expected to cost the state $990 million in the upcoming fiscal year and it is not federally matched. Senate Republicans calculated that disability services had been underfunded by about $500 million cumulatively over three years when compared to the Guidehouse study. Its a disgrace that the administration has ignored and abandoned our developmentally disabled community, that has been underfunded by more than a half a billion dollars, state Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said in a statement. Crafting public policy is about setting priorities and the governor has made it clear that he is prioritizing nearly a billion dollars in Medicaid expansion for undocumented adults over our developmentally disabled community. In a statement, a Pritzker spokesperson said the administration increased funding for services provided to developmentally disabled individuals by $108.9 million in Fiscal Year 2022, $179.6 million in the current year, and has proposed a $161.3 million increase in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2024. If the governors proposed budget passes the General Assembly this spring with these investments intact, that would mean a $449.8 million investment in the Division of Developmental Disabilities, Pritzker spokesperson Alex Gough said in a statement. Individuals with mental illness, intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve to be treated with dignity and ought to receive the highest quality of care. Both IARF and AFSCME credited the Pritzker administration for increasing funding to developmental disability services in recent years, including a $2.50 increase to the wage rate for DSPs. But they noted the minimum wage rose $2 hourly over that span, making the effective increase 50 cents. The statewide minimum wage is also set to increase by $1 next year, lessening the impact of the administrations proposed $1.50 increase for DSPs. The administrations budget proposal also included another $14 million to add 700 new placements at community facilities and $19.3 million to increase staffing by 330 positions at state-run facilities. LONDON, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Republicans in the U.S. state of Idaho have been criticized for "glorifying political violence" after the party hosted Kyle Rittenhouse, the American who shot and killed two people at an anti-racism protest and injured another, as a celebrity guest at a fundraiser, The Guardian has reported. The 20-year-old was the guest of honor at a Bonneville county Republican party event, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on April 15, where an AR-15 style rifle signed by Rittenhouse was auctioned off as part of a fundraiser and people could buy tickets to "Trigger time": a Rittenhouse-hosted shooting event at a gun range, it said on Monday. The event, amid a prolonged spate of mass shootings - many conducted with AR-15s - suggests a further embrace by Republicans of the most extreme elements of the gun lobby in the United States, despite polls showing a majority of Americans, across party affiliation, supporting some gun control laws, it said. The embrace and lauding of someone like Rittenhouse is dangerous, The Guardian quoted Stephen Piggott as saying. Piggott is a researcher at Western States Center. "Elected officials and media personalities should really be denouncing political violence, not embracing it," Piggott said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BEIJING (AP) A veteran Chinese journalist who worked at a ruling Communist Party-affiliated newspaper and was a Harvard University fellow faces espionage charges after being detained while meeting with a Japanese diplomat in a restaurant, his family said Monday. Dong Yuyu, deputy head of the editorial department at Guangming Daily, regularly met with foreign journalists and diplomats to help understand global trends. But Chinese authorities regarded his contacts with foreign diplomats as evidence of spying, according to a family statement. Dong is the latest in a series of liberal Chinese voices to be accused by the government of being linked to what it terms foreign interference. As a non-Communist Party member, he was one of the most pro-reform voices at Guangming Daily and wrote articles in favor of an independent legal system, his family said. He was awarded a Nieman fellowship at Harvard University in 2006-07 and became a visiting fellow at Keio University in Japan in 2010. Four years later, he served as a visiting professor at Hokkaido University in Japan. But his writings caused him problems in China. In 2017, an investigation by party authorities found that some of his articles were anti-socialist and Dong was threatened with demotion, his family said. He was detained in February 2022 while eating lunch with a Japanese diplomat at a restaurant in a Beijing hotel where he often met with foreign friends, the statement said. The diplomat was also detained, triggering a strong protest from Japan's Foreign Ministry. The diplomat was released after several hours, but Dong has remained in detention. His family was told in March that Dong will be tried, but the date is still unclear, the statement said. In China, espionage can be penalized with a jail term of more than 10 years. On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said she did not know the specifics of Dong's case when she was asked about it. The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for further comment. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to comment when he was asked about the case, citing the sensitivity of the issue. Dong's case has drawn international attention, with the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., issuing a statement Monday calling for his release. More than 60 people, including prominent foreign journalists and academics, also signed a petition urging the Chinese government to reconsider the charges against Dong, saying meetings with foreign diplomats and journalists should not be regarded as evidence of espionage. Who would want to come to China to meet Chinese journalists, academics or diplomats if these meetings could be used as evidence that the Chinese side is committing espionage? they wrote in the petition. Separately, a group of writers and scholars issued a statement Saturday calling for the release of Taiwan-based publisher Li Yanhe, who was reportedly detained in Shanghai. They said his lawyer and family members have not been allowed to see him. Radio Free Asia reported last week that Li was detained during a trip to visit relatives in China. On Wednesday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said Li is under investigation by national security authorities for being suspected of engaging in activities that endanger national security. She said his legitimate rights will be protected in accordance with the law. In 2022, Australian journalist Cheng Lei was tried in China on national security charges but has not yet learned of the verdict, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in March. Cheng was born in China and was a journalist for CGTN, the English-language channel of China Central Television. She was detained in August 2019 and accused by China of sharing state secrets. ___ Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report. BERLIN (AP) A van carrying 29 people from Syria pushed a patrol car off the road as officers tried to stop the vehicle near Germany's border with Poland, police said Wednesday. No one was hurt. Off-duty officers noticed the van weaving through traffic and nearly causing an accident near Goerlitz on Tuesday evening, federal police said in a statement. The Hungarian-registered Citroen Jumper's back door was open at one point, and the officers noticed that there appeared to be people inside. LONDON, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Britain has evacuated 301 people from conflict-ridden Sudan in four flights, a spokesperson of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday. The spokesperson told reporters that four more flights, arranged by the British government, will have left Sudan by the end of Wednesday. Violent clashes erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on April 15 in the Sudanese capital Khartoum and other places. The two sides agreed on a 72-hour ceasefire on Tuesday. More than 400 people have been killed and over 3,000 injured since the unrest began, according to the World Health Organization. Britain began a large-scale evacuation of its citizens from Sudan on Tuesday, following similar efforts made by other nations. The British government had estimated that around 4,000 British passport holders were stranded in the northeastern African country. WASHINGTON, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The individual believed by the United States to be the mastermind behind the attack at Kabul's international airport on U.S. troops withdrawing from Afghanistan in August 2021 was killed by the Taliban, U.S. media reported Tuesday, citing administration officials. According to multiple media reports, the United States identified the suspect as a leader within extremist group Islamic State's Afghan branch known as ISIS-K, but didn't name the individual and refused to reveal how this person was killed, for fear that doing so would jeopardize U.S. intelligence-gathering capability in the region. The individual was "the mastermind of the horrific attack" on Aug. 26, 2021 that killed 13 U.S. service members as well as more than 100 Afghan civilians. John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council, was quoted by CNN as saying, referring to it as one of a "series of high-profile leadership losses" that ISIS-K has suffered this year. The United States was not involved in the Taliban's operation, nor was it notified by the Taliban about the death, the reports said. Confirmation of the person's death and identity was based on the United States' own intelligence gathering. The administration reportedly began calling relatives of the U.S. troops killed in the suicide bombing to inform them of the suspect's death, but its refusal to disclose further details left one relative frustrated. "They couldn't give me his name; they couldn't tell me the details of the operation," Darin Hoover, the father of Taylor Hoover of the U.S. Marine Corps, was quoted by The New York Times as saying. Dissatisfied about the inadequate information he got from the government, Hoover said the call left him feeling "frustrated, again." That the suspect was not killed in a U.S. operation is proof of the limits of the United States' ability to carry out such operations in Afghanistan following the chaotic pullout of its troops in 2021, which is still a topic of fierce debate domestically. The death of the suspect "doesn't absolve the administration or the State Department or the Pentagon from taking responsibility or accountability for what happened, Hoover was quoted by CNN as saying. They haven't stepped up and said we messed this up and it won't happen again." "And I personally think it can happen again," he added. The biggest blunder by the United States following the Kabul airport attack happened just three days later. Fearing that another attack targeting U.S. forces was imminent, U.S. officials launched a drone strike on Aug. 29, 2021, hitting a white Toyota the officials believed at the time was loaded with explosives. It later became clear that what were inside the car turned out to be water containers, and that those killed by the U.S. Hellfire missile were not terrorists, but 10 innocent Afghan civilians, including seven children. In a shocking incident, ten police police personnel and a driver have been killed in a blast by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada. According to reports, they were killed when their vehicle was blown up by an improvised explosive device (IED). The District Reserve Guard personnel were returning from an anti-Maoist operation. Responding to the news, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said is very saddening. My condolences to the bereaved families. This fight is in its last stage. Naxals won't be spared." The incident took place under Aranpur police station limits. The attack site is around 450 km from state capital Raipur. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Baghel on the attack. Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred Jawans, Shah tweeted. Amid unfavourable pre-poll survey predictions, the BJP in Karnataka is leaving no stone unturned to ensure a victory in the Assembly elections. BJP senior leaders Nirmala Sitharaman and Rajnath Singh are in Karnataka on Wednesday to spearhead the party campaign. Besides the duo, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adithyanath will also address rallies in the state on Wednesday. As per the tour programme, Finance Minister Sitharaman will fly from Bengaluru to Kalaburagi on Wednesday by a special flight. She will address a press meeting at 10 am and another one at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hall. Sitharaman will also hold a women's conclave at Aland in Kalaburagi district. She will also take part in a door-to-door campaign in Kalaburagi city. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will reach Belagavi by a special aircraft from Delhi and then fly in a helicopter to Kagwad to campaign for the party candidate Srimant Patil, the current Karnataka Minister for Handloom and Textile. He also has public meetings scheduled at Kagwad, Belagavi and Jamkhandi. Yogi will reach Mysuru airport by a special aircraft before proceeding to Mandya, where he will hold a road show followed by a public meeting. From Mandya, he will fly to Hubballi and Basavana Bagewadi in North Karnataka. He also has a public address at Indi in Vijayapura. Meanwhile, the pre-poll surveys have come as a damper for the ruling BJP, reportedly fighting an anti-incumbency wave in the state. The pre-poll surveys conducted by regional media houses are predicting an edge for the Congress, indicating the possibility of a hung verdict in the May 10 Assembly election. Most pre-poll surveys predict nearly 100 seats for D K Shivakumar-led Congress party though it will fall short of touching the halfway mark. Except in one survey, the BJP's tally will be around 80-95 seats. The JD (S) is likely to come third but could end up being a significant player in case of a hung assembly. However, Union Home Minister and senior leader Amit Shah has snubbed the pre-poll surveys, stating that the BJP that is going to emerge victorious after the polls. "The pre-poll surveys are always in favour of Congress. They claim that Congress will win and also state that there is going to be intense competition. But after the results are declared, BJP will emerge as the winner," said Shah, who was in the state on Tuesday. Ten personnel of the District Reserve Guards (DRG) of the Chhattisgarh Police killed in a Maoist ambush in Dantewada on Wednesday, were reportedly involved in an encounter with the ultras, too, sources said. They had gone on an anti-naxal campaign on the tip-off of presence of a Maoist commander carrying Rs 7 lakh reward, sources added. The DRG team had gone out for the campaign on Tuesday night and was returning to district headquarters in the morning when the blast was triggered. The Maoists reportedly used a powerful 50-kg improvised explosive device to target the vehicle carrying the jawans. The vehicle, a mini goods van, was private and rented and did not have any ballistic safety guards, sources said. The IED blast ripped off the vehicle and threw it far off. The civilian driver of he vehicle has also lost his lives in the attack. Visuals of a massive crater, about five-feet deep, in the middle of the road, ripped-off vehicle pieces lying at a distance and damaged/uprooted trees came out from the spot on Aranpur-Sameli road under Aranpur police station area in Dantewada, about 450 kms from state capital Raipur. Also, the arms of the slain personnel were recovered from the spot, indicating that the Maoists involved had immediately left the area after triggering the blast, without stopping to take away the arms, as they do in many cases. Earlier there were reports that the team was out to rescue some security personnel trapped due to heavy rainfall that hit Dantewada on Tuesday night. The Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Bastar, Sundarraj P. released a statement saying that the attack on the vehicle of the DRG personnel occurred while they were returning from an anti-Maoist campaign. The IG said that there were inputs of presence of Maoists belonging to the Darbha divisional committee of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). The deputy inspector general (DIG) of police, Dantewada initiated the campaign; the vehicle carrying DRG personnel was attacked by Maoists with IED between Aranpur and Sameli while returning from the campaign. He added that additional forces and rescue teams reached the spot as did senior officials and a search was on. The bodies of the martyred soldiers were being evacuated, he said. According to an officially released list, the deceased DRG personnel included head constables Joga Sodhi, Munna Ram Kadhti and Santosh Tamo, recruit constables Dulgo Mandavi, Lakhmu Markam, Joga Kawasi and Harirram Mandavi, secret soldiers Raju Ram Kartam, Jairam Podiyam and Jagdish Kawasi and driver (civilian) Dhani Ram Yadav. Condolences and condemnation poured in from across the country with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi tweeting on the incident. Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families, PM Modi tweeted. The news of the martyrdom of 10 DRG jawans and a driver in the cowardly Naxalite attack in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada is sad. I express my deepest condolences to their bereaved families in this difficult time. My salute and tribute to all the brave martyrs, Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who earlier said that the last phase fight was on and Maoists will not be spared at any cost, cancelled his Karnataka poll campaign tour in view of the tragic incident. Baghel was slated to leave for Karnataka on Wednesday evening. BJP leader Brijmohan Agrawal, a former home minister, attacked the Congress government in the state alleging that it was adopting a soft attitude towards the Maoists leading to such incidents. He said that the Congress government was wiping off Maoists just on papers and failed to take strong steps to finish off the insurgency and violence. The Dantewada incident is one of the biggest after the April 3, 2021 incident in Tarrem of Bijapur district, where 22 CRPF, DRG and CoBRA personnel were killed and over 30 were injured after a huge posse of Maoists attacked them, reportedly in presence of senior leaders. The Maoists had also abducted one CoBRA jawan Rakeshwar Singh Manhas and looted arms of the slain personnel, though he was later released following mediation by prominent citizens. Incident part of TCOC The Wednesday attack by Maoist seems to be a part of their ongoing tactical counter offensive campaign (TCOC) in Bastar division. This campaign is mostly carried out during the first half of the year before the start of the rainy season (June) and Maoists attempt to engineer big attacks during this campaign. There have been incidents of setting fire to equipment involved in road and other constructions and on April 18, a convoy of Congress MLA Vikram Mandavi was attacked in Bijapur on the Bijapur-Gangalur road. The convoy was fired upon by the Maoists, but fortunately there was no loss of life. Following this incident, the spokesperson of Maoists Western Bastar Divisional Committee, Mohan had said that the attack had not targeted politicians, but was carried out under the belief that it was a police convoy. The spokesperson said that the attack was part of the TCOC being carried out in the region since January this year. Tokyo: During his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday, potential US presidential candidate Ron DeSantis praised bilateral ties and the concept of a "strong Japan." The Florida governor is seeking to bolster his reputation in foreign policy ahead of an expected later this year official announcement that he will seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. The trip is a part of a four-country trade mission. At the beginning of their meeting at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, DeSantis told Kishida, "We really appreciate what a great ally Japan has been to the US for many, many decades." Also Read: The new president of Bangladesh is sworn in before elections In response to a rising China and North Korea's increased missile launches, Japan last year unveiled a five-year, $315 billion military expansion, a move that DeSantis applauded. We heartily commend your efforts to strengthen your defences. We recognise that this is a difficult neighbourhood, but we firmly believe that both Japan and America are better off with a strong Japan. On Monday night, DeSantis met with Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and expressed his desire for Japan and Florida to strengthen their economic ties. Also Read: Italy advocates for funding for reforms while the EU discusses the unrest in Tunisia Before a working dinner with Hayashi, DeSantis stated, "We believe Florida's market is a great opportunity for additional investment from Japanese companies," adding that he hoped to see more Japanese investment in Florida specifically. You are the top foreign direct investment in America, which is something we appreciate, but you are only ranked number six in Florida, so I think we can increase that, he said. After leaving Japan, DeSantis will travel to South Korea, Israel, and the United Kingdom. The US Republican Party won't formally select its 2020 presidential nominee until its national convention in August of that year. Also Read: Following PTSD from a mission against a terror cell, an MI6 agent killed his own child in the UK The first presidential debate, however, won't be held for a little over three months, and already, several Republicans have started their campaigns. Over the next few weeks, more are anticipated to join. Some Republicans say it might be later than DeSantis thinks for DeSantis, who has operated for much of the year with a quiet confidence that he could enter the race on his terms. A Gujarat High Court judge on Wednesday recused herself from hearing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's appeal challenging the order of the Surat sessions court that declined to stay his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark. Gandhi's lawyer P S Champaneri mentioned the case before the court of Justice Gita Gopi, seeking an urgent hearing. But after a brief hearing, the court said, "Not before me." The development comes a day after Gandhi filed the appeal in the high court. Champaneri said the court earlier granted him permission to circulate the matter for Wednesday, but when it came up for hearing, it recused itself from hearing the case. Now, a note will be sent to the Acting Chief Justice to place the matter before any other court, he said. The case was requested to be taken up in the court of Justice Gita Gopi because her court deals with the subject of criminal revision, Champaneri added. A metropolitan magistrate's court in Surat on March 23 sentenced the former Congress president to two years in jail after convicting him under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500 (dealing with criminal defamation) in the 2019 case filed by Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Purnesh Modi. Following the verdict, Gandhi, elected to the Lok Sabha from Wayanad in Kerala in 2019, was disqualified as a Member of Parliament (MP) under provisions of the Representation of the People Act. Gandhi challenged the order in a sessions court in Surat along with an application to stay his conviction. While granting him bail, the court on April 20 rejected the Congress leader's application for a stay on his conviction. BJP MLA and former cabinet minister Purnesh Modi had filed a criminal defamation case against Gandhi over his - 'How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?' - remark made during an election rally at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019. A stay order could pave the way for Gandhi's reinstatement as Member of Parliament. Gandhi is currently on bail in the case. In Kerala's higher secondary education, the NCERT curriculum is predominantly followed for the majority of subjects. Nonetheless, the core group of the state curriculum steering committee recently decided to incorporate in the humanities stream the portions that the NCERT had announced to remove from their syllabus. This committee, headed by state education minister V. Sivankutty, approved the State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) to create handbooks to supplement the modified NCERT syllabus in higher secondary classes. The NCERTs proclaimed reason for its syllabus rationalisation exercise is to reduce the content load on students. It also cited the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasises reducing the content load and providing opportunities for experiential learning with creative mindset. The NCERT listed five reasons for omitting a chapter: Overlapping with similar content included in other subject areas in the same class; Similar content in the lower or higher class; difficulty level; content, which can be self-learned or undergo peer-learning; and content, which is irrelevant in the present context. Incidentally, NCERT removed the Class XI chapters on poverty and infrastructure under Indian Economic Development; the chapters 'The Industrial Revolution', 'The Central Islamic Lands and 'Confrontation of Cultures' under Themes in World History; and chapters on Peace and Development under Political Theory. More controversial omissions were seen in the Class XII syllabus. Under the Indian History, the chapter 'Kings and Chronicles; the Mughal Courts (C. Sixteen-Seventeenth Centuries)' which had a detailed account of the Mughal era was removed. Under Contemporary World Politics, chapters on the Cold War era and US Hegemony in World Politics were removed. And under Politics in India Since Independence, chapters Era of One-party Dominance, Politics of Planned Development, The Crisis of Democratic Order and Recent Developments in Indian Politics were removed. The chapter 'The Crisis of Democratic Order' contained the portion Controversies regarding Emergency whereas the Recent Developments in Indian Politics contained the Gujarat Riots. Under the syllabus rationalisation, chapters on Colonial Cities and Partition were also removed. The assassination of M.K. Gandhi is also on the omitted list of portions. Like many other opposition parties, the CPI(M)the ruling party in Keralaalso sees the NCERT's move as an effort to saffronise the curriculum. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier expressed his view that the omissions in NCERT textbooks are with a political intention, and that this action is objectionable. "Historical facts cannot be rejected by cutting out what is inconvenient to them from textbooks. It is clear that the aim of such measures is to complete the saffronization of the textbooks," he posted on Facebook. Now the steering committee took this decision in line with this pronounced stance of the ruling party. But the idea is to provide these additional handbooks only in the case of humanities subjects. A lot of portions in maths, science and commerce streams were also removed by the NCERT during its rationalisation process. However, the Kerala government's focus is only on the humanities subjects. A member of the core group of the curriculum steering committee told THE WEEK that the idea is not simply to reprint the portions that were there in the NCERT textbooks. Our idea is to reframe and present those portions that were omitted from the NCERT syllabus, he said. Currently, NCERT textbooks are not followed in language subjects and also certain subjects in the commerce stream at the higher secondary level in Kerala. The state education department is now in the process of updating all the SCERT textbooks, for all classes, in the state. This updating is happening after a gap of nearly 13 years. In May, the work on new textbooks for high school classes will commence. A panel has been already formed for this update. The creation of a handbook of NCERT-omitted portions for the higher secondary section will take place along with this process. It has been learned that the BJP-inclined teachers organisation, NTU, has raised concerns about including these omitted portions, but the steering committee, dominated by leftist intellectuals and left-leaning teachers associations, is moving forward with the plan. One concern that came to the fore for discussion at the April 25 meeting was whether these "additional portions" would increase the content load on students. The steering committees major discussion was on how this was to be implemented, and which all portions to be retained. For creating these new handbooks, a new expert committee will be formed. This committee will decide which portions to be retained and which are to be added or omitted in the handbooks. It is yet to be seen whether these handbooks created by the CPI(M)-led government will retain portions of The Cold War Era and US Hegemony, too, while trying to prevent the saffronisation of textbooks. A flight carrying 360 Indian nationals evacuated from strife-torn Sudan landed in Delhi on Wednesday night. Under its rescue mission 'Operation Kaveri', India has so far evacuated at least 534 of its citizens from the African nation and is looking to rescue more before the end of a tenuous ceasefire between the regular army and a paramilitary force. India welcomes back its own. Operation Kaveri brings 360 Indian nationals to the homeland as the first flight reaches New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar tweeted. India welcomes back its own. #OperationKaveri brings 360 Indian Nationals to the homeland as first flight reaches New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/v9pBLmBQ8X Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 26, 2023 Earlier, two C-130J military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force brought to Jeddah 256 Indians from Port Sudan on Wednesday, a day after an Indian Navy ship rescued 278 citizens from that country. Under 'Operation Kaveri', India is taking the evacuees to the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah from where they are returning home. India has set up a transit facility at Jeddah and Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan is overseeing the evacuation mission from the Saudi Arabian city. "Happy to see off 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport in a flight bound for New Delhi They will be reaching the motherland soon, reuniting with their families Under #OperationKaveri the Government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan & bring them home safely," Muraleedharan tweeted in the evening. Sudan is witnessing violent clashes between the army and paramilitary forces. Even though there is a 72-hour ceasefire, there have been allegations of violence. Since its formation in 1920, the Akali Dal has been representing Sikh interests and political aspirations, and for the last 70 years, Parkash Singh Badal has been its most recognisable face. His passing away left a leadership void in the state which is already facing a political vacuum as veteran leaders have faded from the scene. Parkash Singh Badals Shrimoni Akali Dal was the oldest ally of the BJP when the saffron party launched the National Democratic Alliance, giving it a much-needed national character. The alliance between Akali Dal and BJP, particularly in Punjab, had been hailed to be in the national interest as it meant that the party presenting Sikh interests aligned with the one with a Hindu identity. This was important as the border state was emerging from the trauma of decades-long terrorism, and the alliance between such political outfits provided the much-needed healing touch. The shift in the partys stance began since its Moga conference in 1996 when it shifted focus from being a mere panthic party. Badal, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani had grown close due to their anti-Congress stance and held joint protests during the Emergency. The alliance worked in favour of both parties as it meant that for the first time, a non-Congress CM completed a full five-year term in Punjab. Badal, who had been chief minister twicefrom 1970 to 1971 and from 1977 to 1980proved to be third time lucky when he aligned with the BJP and completed a full term after being elected in 1997. Again, he completed two consecutive terms from 2007 to 2017. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi filed his nomination from Varanasi, and BJP chief Amit Shah from Ahmedabad in 2019, Badal accompanied them. The relations between the alliance partners soured after the farmers' protests as Akali Dal bore the brunt of the peasantry which was its core support base. Both the parties, Akali Dal and BJP, need each other to recover their lost ground. Known for his earthy humour and humility, Badal had admirers in all parties, and he could rise above political rivalries to maintain camaraderie with leaders of different shades. A seasoned politician, he was secular, liberal and open-minded. His ability to listen and connect with ordinary workers made his party acceptable across the state. He led the party as the president from 1995 to 2008, after that, there had been a slide in the partys fortunes. As Akali Dal (Badal) represented the moderate ideology, and Parkash Singh helmed the party, it could assimilate and act as a cushion to the radical panthic ideology. As Badals influence waned with advanced age, and his son Sukhbir Badal struggled to keep their supporters together, the party's hold in the state reduced. The emergence of Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, and the victory of a vocal votary of Khalistan, Simranjit Singh Mann, who had been rejected electorally for decades, from Sangrur Lok Sabha in 2022 bypoll showed the vacuum in the moderate political space in the state. The party faced an existential crisis when it was relegated to a third position in 2017 assembly elections, and finished behind debutant Aam Admi Party. In 2022, Akali Dal could win only three seats. Badal was forced to contest the last assembly elections at the age of 94a record in itselfbut lost. This was his second loss since 1967. In 1970, when he was appointed the chief minister at the age of 43, he held the record to be the youngest person to the CM. Now, the Akali Dal faces a crisis of credibility, with its dwindling core constituencies. The demographics are changing in the state. The Sikh youth are migrating abroad, and most attendants at Akali Dal rallies are mostly old hardcore supporters. As Akali Dal is changing its political engagement to get a larger pool of voters, it will miss the towering presence of Parkash Singh Badal. Punjab, being a border state dominated by Sikhs, needs a regional party that has national interests in mind the way Akali Dal under Badal had done during the tumultuous decades since the state was divided on the basis of language. The debacle in two consecutive assembly elections 2017 and 2022 forced Akali Dal to pitch it as the sole regional-secular party for the Punjabis as it also aligned with BSP. A worry is that a similar poor show in 1972 by Akalis when it could gather only 24 seats had forced it to take a hard line. The Anandpur Sahib resolution of 1973 was brought in to talk about Sikh aspirations and greater power. It talked about Khalsa rule which later got interpreted as the demand for a separate state of Khalistan. The fading Akali Dal could mean more space for radical elements in the state. The state needed Badal more than ever. The court can neither rewrite nor alter provisions and the very fundamental architecture of a law as conceived at the time of its framing even by reading something into it, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The Centre's submission came when the court was hearing pleas seeking legal sanction for same-sex marriage. It asserted that the legislature alone can deal with the issues raised in the pleas. In his written submissions, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said the impact of the socio-legal recognition of same-sex relationships as "marriage" on the society as a whole has to be kept in mind before any decision is taken in the matter. "The matter cannot be just viewed as an individualistic constitutional pursuit, and the larger interests of human society and Indian society need to be appreciated in this regard," he said. Mehta said it is only the legislature which can, in its wisdom after gathering all details, taking several factors into consideration and as per the emerging legislative policy, conceive of a comprehensive piece of legislation for all LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit, asexual, and ally) persons. A five-judge Constitution bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices S K Kaul, S R Bhat, Hima Kohli and P S Narasimha continued hearing arguments in the matter for the fifth day on Wednesday. Mehta said in his written submissions that the matter represents a profound anthropological and social question concerning prayers made by the petitioners seeking creation of a new socio-legal status and institution of "marriage" for the class of persons for which no such legal status exists under the statutory mechanism in place. He said the heart of the Special Marriage Act, 1954, is to provide a legislative framework for inter-faith marriages but doubtlessly between heterosexual couples. "The court will have to examine the entire architecture of the Act rather than to examine few words like 'husband', 'wife', etc. The prayer to declare the said Act unconstitutional merely because it recognizes only heterosexual marriages, therefore, must fail," he said. "The court can neither rewrite the provisions nor can alter the very fundamental architecture of an Act as conceived by the legislature at the time of framing of the Act even by reading something which was consciously omitted at the time of enactment, Mehta said. In his written submissions, he said the socio-legal recognition to "same-sex relationships" in particular and all shades of LGBTQIA+ in general has a very nascent history which started in 2001 in the Netherlands. The solicitor general said this movement for socio-legal recognition to same-sex relationships need to put into perspective that it has roughly been 20 years since this experiment began in a particular part of the world in contradistinction to the unbroken line of continuity of opposite-sex marriage in human civilisation since time immemorial. "The tall claims of 'scientific evidence', especially with regard to the impact of socio-legal recognition to non-heterosexual relationships as 'marriage', considering the nascent history of the same, require far more evidence, material and time before any sweeping claims can be made or accepted, he said. Mehta said the protection and preservation of fundamental rights of LGBTQIA+ community is not in dispute and in fact, this is fully protected by Parliament itself by making the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. "The question really is whether to confer socio-legal status of 'marriage' or any other name to such a relationship. This is essentially is a question based upon the legislative policy, he said. "The court can adjudicate an enactment and protect fundamental rights but will not have the jurisdiction to create a new socio-legal institution between two or more human beings clearly not contemplated by any legislation, Mehta said. The solicitor general also said in his written submissions that any exercise of either reading down the provisions of the Special Marriage Act, 1954 and/or reading into some words in various provisions of the law or any other Act not intended to be used by the legislature will have an unintended effect on the rights of heterosexual couples under the legislation. "The judicial process of interpreting any legislation, even for the purpose of making such legislation constitution compliant, cannot result into a situation where the same enactment applies to one class of citizens differently and to another class of citizens differently. Such internal classification can be made only by the competent legislature and not by the process of judicial interpretation," he said. Mehta said in the countries where same-sex marriages are recognised are so recognised by law by their respective legislatures and such legislations have, simultaneously, amended other incidental provisions in various other Acts. "Such an exercise can be conducted only by the legislature," he said, adding the focus of the apex court has been invited by the petitioners broadly to two classes only -- gays and lesbians. "The term LGBTQIA+ refers to much more than these two categories of individuals. It will be impermissible for the court to rewrite the Special Marriage Act, 1954 keeping only these two categories in mind, he said, adding that as per the information available in public domain, there are total 72 categories of genders falling within LGBTQIA+ community. During his arguments, which would continue on Thursday, the solicitor general said the moment any right which was pre-existing without recognition of law is recognised, it is also regulated and there is no absolute right to marry even today between heterosexual couples. He said a male has to be 21-year-old and a female has to be 18 years, meaning thereby the law prescribes when to marry. "The autonomy goes," he said, adding, "Bigamy is prohibited. So law prescribes how many times you can marry simultaneously, till your wife or husband is alive. There are prohibitions regarding degrees of prohibited relationships meaning thereby law regulates whom not to marry." Referring to the privacy part, Mehta argued even the codified law among heterosexuals protects the privacy of a man and a woman inside the bedroom but there are certain provisions where there is an intrusion to privacy rights also. Giving an example where impotence is one of the grounds for divorce, he said it is a very personal and private thing for a couple but if it is a case of divorce, one will have to come out and prove it. "So your privacy is breached, he said. Mehta referred to four fundamental principles on which the court's exercise would be constrained and said the court will not change the character of a law which has to be examined from its entire architecture and also the history which preceded enactment of the Special Marriage Act. Scientists have discovered quasars - the brightest, most powerful objects in the Universe - to be ignited by collision of galaxies. Quasars can shine as brightly as a trillion stars packed into a volume the size of our Solar System. The scientists at the Universities of Sheffield and Hertfordshire, UK, say they have unlocked the mystery surrounding the trigger behind such powerful activity, first observed 60 years ago. They have published their findings in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. The galactic collisions were discovered when researchers, using deep imaging observations from the Isaac Newton Telescope in La Palma (Spain), observed the presence of distorted structures in the outer regions of the galaxies home to quasars. They said this is the first time that a sample of quasars of this size has been imaged with this level of sensitivity. By comparing observations of 48 quasars and their host galaxies with images of over 100 non-quasar galaxies, researchers concluded that galaxies hosting quasars are approximately three times as likely to be interacting or colliding with other galaxies. Most galaxies have supermassive black holes at their centres. They also contain substantial amounts of gas but most of the time this gas is orbiting at large distances from the galaxy centres, out of reach of the black holes. Collisions between galaxies drive the gas towards the black hole at the galaxy centre; just before the gas is consumed by the black hole, it releases extraordinary amounts of energy in the form of radiation, resulting in the characteristic quasar brilliance. The ignition of a quasar can have dramatic consequences for entire galaxies. It can drive the rest of the gas out of the galaxy, which prevents it from forming new stars for billions of years into the future. "Quasars are one of the most extreme phenomena in the Universe, and what we see is likely to represent the future of our own Milky Way galaxy when it collides with the Andromeda galaxy in about five billion years. "It's exciting to observe these events and finally understand why they occur - but thankfully Earth won't be anywhere near one of these apocalyptic episodes for quite some time," said Clive Tadhunter, professor at the University of Sheffield's Department of Physics and Astronomy. India is unlikely to look at Russia as a "secure" friend, given Moscow's closer ties with Beijing in the wake of the raging war in Ukraine, a top Indian-American Congressman has said. Congressman Ro Khanna told a group of reporters over a luncheon interaction on Tuesday that the goal of Indian Americans in the US Congress should be to strengthen the relationship. "I don't think that given the closer ties between Russia and China, India would look to Russia as a secure friend to hedge against the invasion, potentially, of its border in Asia, and that they (Indians) know the United States would be a more trusted partner for that objective, he said. It is in India's interest to align more firmly with the US in terms of the "best hedge" against China, he said, adding that it has been a significant factor in Indian foreign policy. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has been clear that that doesn't mean they will march lockstep with our interests in the United States, but they want to align at this moment because they see that it's strategically important, Khanna said. Unlike its Quad partner countries, India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it abstained from the votes at the UN platforms on the Russian aggression. India has been pressing for an immediate cessation of violence in Ukraine and seeking a resolution of the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue. Khanna, who in his capacity as Co-Chair of the Congressional India Caucus, is hosting the first-of-its-kind US-India Summit at the Capitol. The summit, among others, would be addressed by former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, along with India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu and virtually by US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti. Deputy Secretary of State Rich Verma, and House Minority Leader Congressman Hakeem Jeffries would also attend the summit. Eminent members from the Indian American community are also participating in the conference, including community leader Ajay Bhutoria who would speak on the H-1B issue. Responding to a question, Khanna said the idea that Indian Americans in the United States can reshape Indian society is naive. But we can affirm our own values and speak clearly about our own values. So that's a model which we hope others will see as persuasive. "So the goal of Indian Americans in Congress should be to strengthen the relationship while continuing to speak to basic values and standing up for those values and speaking out where we think those values aren't being upheld, he said. Three batches of Indians were evacuated from the strife-torn Sudan on Tuesday and early hours of Wednesday as the 72-hour ceasefire between the warring factions of armed forces in Sudan appeared to be holding. While the first batch of 278 Indians arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on board the naval ship INS Sumedha, the second and third batch of 121 and 135 people, respectively, were evacuated onboard IAF C-130J heavy-lift transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force. Separately, the Indian Navy's second ship, INS Teg, arrived in Port Sudan to bring back more Indians under 'Operation Kaveri'. "INS Teg joins #OperationKaveri. Arrives at Port Sudan with additional officials and essential relief supplies for stranded Indians. Will boost ongoing evacuation efforts by Embassy Camp Office at Port Sudan," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. There are reportedly over 3,000 Indians in Sudan. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has reached Jeddah to oversee the evacuation mission. The Minister tweeted: "Third batch comprising 135 Indians from Port Sudan arrived in Jeddah by IAF C-130J aircraft. Onward journey to India for all who arrived in Jeddah will commence shortly." Muraleedharan added that the necessary infrastructure is in place in both Port Sudan and Jeddah. "Necessary infrastructure is in place in both Port Sudan and Jeddah. Team is in full readiness on the ground," he added. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan receiving Indians who were evacuated from Sudan, iin Jeddah | Twitter He also inspected the transit facility for the Indians in Jeddah, sharing pictures of rooms with mattresses, provisions, fresh meals, toilets and medical facilities. India has also set up a control room in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah to facilitate the evacuation of Indians from Sudan. It is not clear when the evacuated people will be brought to India. Meanwhile, India also rushed in essential relief supplies for its remaining stranded citizens on board the naval ship INS Sumedha. There is an acute shortage of food and water in the country as the fighting continues. The launch of Operation Kaveri comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a high-level meeting last week wherein he issued directions for the preparation of contingency plans to evacuate Indians from Sudan. MEA S Jaishankar too arranged for the rescue after speaking to his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. Hours after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that the governing African National Congress (ANC) was considering pulling out of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the President's office has retracted the claims. Ramaphosa said on Tuesday that his "ANC has taken the decision that it is prudent that South Africa should pull out of the ICC largely because of the manner in which the ICC has been seen to be dealing with these types of problems." The President was referring to the arrest warrant issued by the ICC against Russian President Vladimir Putin in March for his role in the Russian abduction of Ukrainian children. Putin has been invited to a summit in South Africa of the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in August though Moscow is yet to uncertain whether he would attend. However, Ramaphosa's office quickly backpedalled on the controversial statement. "The presidency wishes to clarify that South Africa remains a signatory (to the ICC)." The statement added that the "clarification follows an error in a comment made during a media briefing held by the governing African National Congress." The ANC too issued a clarification regarding the withdrawal. A statement by party's secretary-general Fikile Mbalula read: "In outlining this broad context of discussion, an unintended impression may have been created that a categorical decision for an immediate withdrawal had been taken. This is not so," the ANC statement said. The contradictory stance has sown confusion over South Africa's stance regarding its withdrawal from the ICC. Earlier too, Putin's arrest had sown a confusion in South Africa with the state acknowledging that the arrest warrant had complicated matters for the country. "All heads of state would be expected to attend the summit. But now we have a spanner in the works in the form of this ICC warrant," Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya had said. South Africa shares a warm relations with Russia and Putin and the country had held joint naval drills with Russia and China early February, coinciding with the one year anniversary of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. However, experts say that even if South Africa pulls out of ICC, it would have little effect as the process would take many months even if it is approved at home. Since the BRICS meeting is in August, if Putin visits, the country would be theoretically be required to arrest Putin. The first evacuation flight carrying British nationals from Sudan has landed in Cyprus. The first passenger plane contained about 40 civilians. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the next 24 hours are "absolutely critical" for the evacuation of UK nationals. More flights, ferrying a total of 260 people, are expected to arrive on Wednesday. The RSF (Rapid Support Forces) and the military are currently observing a 72-hour truce, which began on April 25. Families with children, the elderly and people with medical conditions are being prioritised as the military attempts to get hundreds out of the war-torn country. Trapped UK nationals have been told to make their own way to an airport near Khartoum, without an escort, the BBC reported. The British development minister Andrew Mitchell told the Guardian on April 24, the government was exploring every single possible way of getting them out. But he warned: I simply cannot give any assurances and (it) wouldnt be responsible to do so. UN special envoy Volker Perthes said the US-brokered ceasefire seems to be partially holding. He also told the UN Security Council, that there's no sign the parties involved are willing to negotiate. About 4,000 UK nationals are said to be in Sudan and 2,000 of them have requested help. Sudanese relatives of British nationals were denied temporary visas, the Independent reported. The UK ministry had come under pressure to evacuate its citizens, especially since the government helped its diplomats flee about two days before they evacuated the British nationals. Famous Ukrainian cat Stepan married his French girlfriend photos 26 April, 02:08 PM Cat Stepan got married (Photo:loveyoustepan/Instagram) Kharkivs well-known Ukrainian cat blogger, Stepan, has married his girlfriend, Stepans owner Hanna wrote on Instagram on April 25. She posted joint photos of Stepan and his bride, Stefania. Hanna also posted a real marriage certificate issued by Kharkivs Happy City public utility. Stepans wife is French, according to their marriage certificate. Quite the cradle robber, the marriage certificate lists a 14-year age difference, with Stepans date of birth in 2009 and Stefanias as just last year. Video of day I made a wedding proposal to my beloved Stefania at the Happy City public utility, the cat blogger said. By the way, anyone, including me, can arrange a marriage in 24 hours and organize a full-fledged wedding at any location in Kharkiv and Kyiv. Dont hold back your emotions, make a proposal, love each other, life is one!, he wrote. Stefania, I love you! A star on social networks, Stepan was forced to evacuate from Ukraine in March 2022. He and his owner, Hanna, lived in France for some time. In September, Stepan was awarded the 2022 World Influencers and Bloggers Award in Cannes, before returning home to Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) Fly91, which plans to operate a regional carrier, has received the no objection certificate from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), according to officials. The venture Just Udo Aviation Pvt Ltd, which will operate flights under the brand 'Fly91', is promoted by former Kingfisher Airline's senior executive Manoj Chacko and former Fairfax India head Harsha Raghavan, among others. Chacko told PTI that the regional airline will be headquartered in Goa and will operate a fleet of ATR 72-600 aircraft. A senior official said the ministry has given the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the proposed airline. With the receipt of NOC, the airline will soon start the process for applying for Air Operator's Permit with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Chacko, one of the promoters, said. The venture, which has an initial capital of Rs 200 crore, plans to start operations in the December quarter this year with two or three ATR 72-600 aircraft, Chacko said. According to him, the airline plans to have six planes by the end of the first year of operations and 12 by the end of the second year of flying. The airline, which will mainly fly between Tier II and III cities, aims to connect around 11 cities in the first year of operations, Chacko said. New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday launched IFFCO's nano (liquid) DAP fertiliser for commercial sale at Rs 600 per 500 ml bottle, less than half of the current price of conventional DAP, to help India cut its import dependence. One 50 kg bag of conventional DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) is currently being sold to farmers at Rs 1,350. A bottle (500 ml) of nano liquid DAP, the world's first, will be equivalent to one bag (50kg) of conventional DAP. On the occasion, Shah urged the farmers to use nano (liquid) DAP fertiliser as it will increase farm productivity without impacting the soil health. He said the usage of nano-liquid DAP will help India become self-reliant in fertiliser production. The government provides subsidies on conventional DAP, but it will not give any subsidy on nano DAP. New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) Britain's Minister for Investment Lord Dominic Johnson on Wednesday arrived in Bengaluru to explore ways to strengthen the UK-India partnership in areas of trade, technology and life sciences. Lord Johnson is visiting Bengaluru and Pune to meet investors and leading Indian businesses, including Infosys and Zensar, to drum up investor interest in the UK, the British high commission in India said. "It is fantastic to be in India again visiting the vibrant cities of Pune and Bengaluru to find out how our strong cultural and economic ties mean investors and business leaders continue to choose the UK," the minister said. "From life sciences to AI (artificial intelligence), now is the time to invest in the UK as we are determined to be the undisputed number one investment destination in Europe," he said. The readout by the British high commission said India remains a priority market for the UK and the minister's visit will help build momentum for the ongoing negotiations between the two countries for a trade agreement. India and the UK are holding negotiations for an ambitious free trade agreement. The high commission also said that Lord Johnson will also use his visit to promote the Global Investment Summit 2023, which will bring together over 200 CEOs of multinational companies and investment corporations this Autumn. The UK's second Global Investment Summit is taking place in October. "The inaugural summit in 2021 secured nearly 10 billion pounds of new foreign investment on the day, with this year's event showcasing emerging UK success stories in life sciences, deep tech, nuclear fusion and small modular reactors (SMRs), and manufacturing," the high commission said. New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) Delhi Police have arrested five people, including two former employees of a leading insurance firm, for allegedly cheating 22 policy holders and withdrawing Rs 2.38 crore that remained with the insurer unclaimed either as surrendered amount or after maturity, officials said on Wednesday. A senior police official said one of the accused, Rohit Kumar Aggarwal (28), who worked with Max Life Insurance as a senior executive, had access to the company data. Aggarwal used to identify the policy holders whose surrendered and maturity amount remained unclaimed with the company for an unusually long time. He would give the details of the target policy holders to Sujeet Kumar Mishra (41), who too was an employee of the insurance firm. Mishra would pass on the information to Chandan Jain (41), who would give the details to Prem Parkash (37) to open new bank accounts in the name of these policy holders. Vikas (30), the fifth accused, worked at an Aadhaar Centre and he helped the gang in updating Aadhaar details in the new bank accounts. Officials said the case has exposed the vulnerability of the process of updating personal details at Aadhaar centres for misuse. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations) Prashant Gautam said Prakash would lure poor people, mostly those from slum clusters near Rana Pratap Bagh, and take them to an Aadhaar centre to get their names and addresses changed to the names and addresses of the policy holders. "Vikas, who worked at the Aadhaar centre at SBI, Gujranwala Town, got these changes updated without taking any relevant documents after taking Rs 1,000-1,500 per case. Thereafter, these people applied for PAN cards and voter cards on the basis of the updated Aadhaar. After getting PAN and voter cards, their bank accounts were opened. Many of these accounts were opened digitally using e-Aadhaar authentication process," Gautam said. He said Prakash would give cheque or passbooks of the bank accounts displaying the names of the policy holders to Jain, who passed on these documents to Aggarwal through Mishra. Aggarwal, who at the time was an employee of the insurance firm, would process the documentation and send them from his official email Id to the data entry team to initiate the refund process. The refund was received in the new bank accounts opened by Prakash and his associates, the DCP said. Most of the amount was then transferred to the bank accounts opened in the name of Rinku Sales, whose proprietor was Prakash, having the address of Kabir Nagar, Rana Pratap Bagh, Delhi. From these bank accounts, the accused would withdraw the amount, the official said. "The bank accounts of Rinku Sales were operated by Jain from whose possession, the SIM card linked with the account number, debit cards and cheque books have been recovered," Gautam said. Police said they exposed the whole operation by the five men after receiving a complaint by Max Life Insurance Corporation, which alleged nearly Rs 51 lakh related to surrendered and maturity amount of two of its policy holders had been fraudulently received by unknown persons. The company later found that one of its policy holders had died on March 13, 2018, and no request for withdrawal of money was made on his behalf. After examining the documents and information shared by the company and it was revealed that nearly Rs 2.38 crore from 37 policies of 22 policy holders was refunded fraudulently, police said. Gautam said the accused opened accounts in several banks in the name of policy holders. Many of these accounts were opened digitally using the e-Aadhaar authentication process, the official added. The DCP said they first arrested Prem Prakash. Police first tried to locate the address of Rinku Sales but could not find it at the given Kabir Nagar address. "Then, the team conducted comprehensive analysis and finally managed to identify the address of Prem Prakash at Chandan Vihar, Sant Nagar, Burari from where he was apprehended," Gautam said. Subsequently, the remaining accused were arrested, he added. New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) Delhi Police said on Wednesday they have arrested four persons allegedly involved in online shopping fraud to the tune of Rs 8 lakh using an e-commerce platform. Police said the matter came to light after a Shahdara trader registered a complaint with them. The trader had placed an order for a photocopy machine on INDIAMART portal and a person, who introduced himself as Anshul Aggarwal, a sales manager of a firm named Balaji Enterprises, reached out to him assuring he can deliver the machine, police said. Aggarwal asked the trader to transfer an amount of Rs 3.21 lakh to his bank account to get the machine but after the payment he stopped taking phone calls from the trader, they said. The accused neither delivered the purchased item nor returned the money, a senior police officer said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Rohit Meena said they analysed the call detail records of the suspect and used other technical surveillance methods to identify him. "On the basis of technical surveillance, a person identified as Puneet Chandok (41) was arrested on April 11 from Rohini. Two swipe machines, 15 debit cards, five mobile phones and nine SIM cards were recovered from him," he said. Later, his accomplices Chander Shekhar (30), Vipin Kumar (30) and Vishnu Sharma (24) were arrested. With their arrest, online shopping fraud cases involving Rs 8 lakh have been unearthed, police said. During interrogation, Chandok revealed his gang members would advertise products on the INDIAMART website and its mobile application. When a customer would contact on the given number, the gang members would trap them and ask them to transfer money to purchase the item to their bank accounts, DCP Meena said. The accused would withdraw the amount from the bank accounts through ATMs, he said. Chandok managed the bank accounts and arranged the SIM cards, he added. Jaipur, Apr 26 (PTI) Rajasthan has witnessed a significant 10.04 per cent year-on-year growth in its exports till February 2023, according to REPC. The state's textiles, agro-food products, gems and jewellery and engineering goods have been the major contributors to this growth, Chairman of Rajasthan Export Promotion Council (REPC) and RAJSICO Rajiv Arora said. Arora said that more than 31 lakh people in the state are employed in export units and allied services. He also highlighted the efforts made by the state government under the initiative 'Mission Niryatak Bano' to provide necessary process and documentation training to over 9,000 entrepreneurs, artisans and handicraftsmen from different districts to make them exporters. As a result, the exports from Rajasthan have increased from Rs 46,476 crore in 2017-18 to over Rs 70,000 crore as of February 2023. New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) Women in the Hindi film industry, both in front of and behind the camera, have broken the "glass ceiling" and have entered every male bastion, actor Raveena Tandon said on Wednesday during a panel of the 'National Conclave on Mann Ki Baat @100'. Tandon, the star of the 1990 and early 2000s Hindi cinema, said the film industry should learn from sister mediums TV and OTT (over-the-top) platforms, who are the leaders in paying women better and producing shows with female protagonists, respectively, she said. "We also talk about pay disparity but in the TV industry today, women are paid much higher than their male counterparts, which is a great thing because of the kind of work they do and I think in our TV industry, women rule. In OTT platforms too, the protagonists are mostly women, women issues are discussed. "In the film industry, we are going there slowly but surely because it has been a male dominated industry since the beginning but there is definitely a change. Our women have broken the glass ceiling, we have entered every male bastion...," the 48-year-old actor said, addressing the 'Nari Shakti' session here. Tandon said issues such as representation and pay disparity still plague the industry but with women in high places, change is on the way. "... In the world today, there is a change because all the top positions, be it director of photography, our choreographers, our directors, producers, platform heads and channel heads are women. "So the opportunities that we should be getting, we are getting that. A woman being at the helm of producing something, she understands those issues, she understands the sensitivity, she has the sensibilities so we get more opportunities," the Padma Shri recipient said. Tandon, known for films such as "Morphia", "Daman", "Maatr" and web series "Aranyak", said in the '90s Hindi cinema actors would "struggle" to break their perceived image. "There is a lot of change in the film industry that was not there in the 90s. You would get stereotyped for playing a certain character," she said. The actor, who won the National Film Award for playing a woman subjected to marital rape in the 2001 film "Daman", said her filmography is a reflection of the social causes she supports. Tandon said issues such as domestic violence and marital rape were brushed under the carpet and she struggled a lot while bringing out a story like "Daman", directed by Kalpana Lajmi. "I did not get any acceptance and faced a lot of struggle at that time but the film won the National Film Award and rightfully so because it was a film that was ahead of its time. And 23 years later, we are still discussing it (marital rape) even today." The actor also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prasar Bharti on the 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat', the monthly radio programme, which is scheduled to be broadcast on April 30. Terming 'Mann Ki Baat' a "genius idea" to communicate with Indians via radio, Tandon said the PM's initiative puts spotlight on the unsung heroes of the country whose efforts often go unreported in the mainstream media. "The lower strata of our society that is home to so many heroes... So many people have made a difference at the local level according to the resources they had access to... It highlights the efforts of those people about whom we often don't read in newspapers. "But sir (Modi) brings these heroes to the forefront and inspires the country through this mass outreach... the way his one-to-one interaction has been with the people, it feels like he is narrating your story. It has been so successful that through this medium he has touched the hearts of everyone in the country," she added. 'National Conclave on Mann Ki Baat @100', the one-day event, was on Wednesday inaugurated by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar here with Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur as the guest of honour. Lahore, Apr 26 (PTI) A husband allegedly burnt his estranged wife alive in a case of so-called "honour killing" while another woman came under acid attack after being raped in Punjab province of Pakistan, police said on Wednesday. In the first incident, suspect Tariq allegedly burnt his 40-year-old wife Shazia for what he called "disgracing the family's honour" in Cheechawatni district, some 209 kms from Lahore, on Tuesday, police said. Police official Ejaz Aslam said that Shazia had left Tariq a year ago after developing differences over domestic issues and started living with her parents' house. Aslam said Tariq suspected that Shazia had relations with a man of his locality and on Tuesday he visited his in-laws and doused Shazia with petrol and set her ablaze and fled. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. She has left behind two daughters and four sons. Police registered a case against Tariq and arrested him. In a separate incident, two men threw acid on a married woman after raping her in Okara district, some 130kms from Lahore, on Tuesday. Police officer Jahanzeb Wattoo said that main suspect Rizwan wanted to develop relations with Shahida Bibi, 30, but she refused. On Tuesday, Rizwan along with his accomplice abducted her at gun point on her way to home and raped her at a deserted place. The suspects later threw acid on her face. The woman was taken to hospital where her condition is stated to be out of danger. Police have registered a case against the suspects. Hundreds of women are killed every year in different parts of Pakistan in the name of honour. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has reported an average of 650 honour killings annually over the past decade. But since most go unreported, the real number is likely to be much higher. Karachi, Apr 26 (PTI) At least six policemen were killed by heavily armed dacoits on Wednesday as they were trying to rescue a hostage in the jungle area in Pakistan's Sindh province, authorities said. The incident took place in the Jageer area of the Jacobabad district. The police personnel who were killed were from the Usta Muhammad police station located in Balochistans Jaffarabad. Senior police officials confirmed that six policemen were killed and two others were injured in the attack by heavily armed dacoits in Jageer. They were part of a rescue team formed to recover a hostage. The dacoits were demanding a hefty sum to release him, Jacobabad Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Sumair Noor Channa said. Channa said that the operation is still continuing as the hostage, Furqan Soomro, has not been released yet. Soomro is the son of a rice mill owner in Usta Muhammad Khan town in Jaffarabad near the Sindh and Balochistan border. He was kidnapped at gunpoint a day ago from Jaffarabad. Naseerabad Division Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Munir Ahmed Sheikh said that the joint operation will continue till the hostage is released. Sheikh further said that the gangs of Mittu Shah and Jakhrani were involved in the kidnapping, adding that the Sindh government had already placed a bounty of Rs 3 million on their heads, the Dawn newspaper reported. The operation has been expanded with the cooperation of Sindh police and more personnel was on standby if needed, he said. Earlier this month, a station house officer was killed while five others, including a deputy superintendent of police, were injured after the dacoits attacked a large police contingent in Sindhs Kandhkot district to free hostages. For years now, gangs of notorious dacoits have ruled the jungle and riverine areas of upper Sindh and they frequently kidnap rich people for ransom and also commit dacoities on the highways. In March, the provincial cabinet of Sindh decided to launch a joint operation aimed at cleaning up dacoits in the katcha areas of three provinces Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan. The move was prompted by the frequent incidents of kidnapping for ransom and gangs of dacoits operating from the riverine areas of Sindh, attacking police. London, Apr 26 (PTI) UKs Minister for Investment Lord Jo Johnson on Wednesday embarked on a visit to India to strengthen the bilateral investment partnership across technology and life sciences sectors and build momentum behind ongoing trade talks. After arriving in Bengaluru, Johnson is set to visit Pune to meet investors and leading Indian businesses, including Infosys and Zensar, to drum up investor interest in the UK, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said. The visit coincides with Round 9 of negotiations this week between officials working on the UK-India free trade agreement (FTA). "It is fantastic to be in India again visiting the vibrant cities of Pune and Bengaluru to find out how our strong cultural and economic ties mean investors and business leaders continue to choose the UK, said Johnson. He visited Mumbai and New Delhi in October last year when he met with investors and businesses including Apollo Hospitals, Prodapt and Wockhardt. From life sciences to AI [artificial intelligence], now is the time to invest in the UK as we are determined to be the undisputed number one investment destination in Europe, he said. On the eve of the ministerial visit, the DBT described India as a priority market for the UK with Johnson's visit seen as helping to build momentum behind the ongoing FTA negotiations between the two countries. Johnson, a House of Lords peer and the younger brother of former British prime minister Boris Johnson, will also use his visit to promote the Global Investment Summit 2023, which will bring together over 200 CEOs of multinational companies and investment corporations in the UK later this year. According to the British government, the inaugural Summit in 2021 secured nearly 10 billion pounds of new foreign investment on the day, with this years event set to showcase emerging UK success stories in life sciences, deep tech, nuclear fusion and small modular reactors (SMRs), and manufacturing. The DBT said the UK-India investment partnership is thriving, with over 28 billion pounds invested in each others economies supporting over half a million jobs. According to official UK government statistics, total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and India was 34 billion pounds in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2022, an increase of 51.7 per cent or 11.6 billion pounds from the four quarters to the end of Q3 2021. India was the UKs 12th largest trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2022, accounting for 2.1 per cent of total UK trade. One in three Russian diplomats in Scandinavia actually works for intelligence 26 April, 01:41 PM Embassy of Russia in Finland (Photo:www.facebook.com/RussianEmbassyinFinland) One in three Russian diplomats in Scandinavia are, in fact, working in intelligence, says an investigation by Finlands Yle released on April 26. While working for the embassy on paper, the employees actually work for Russias Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) or the Federal Security Service (FSB). The Russian Embassy in Helsinki declined to comment on the findings. Swedish public broadcaster SVT identified 21 Russian spies, with at least 13 working at Russias embassy in Stockholm until at least until April 2022. Video of day Sweden expelled five Russian diplomats on April 25, saying their actions had contradicted their diplomatic status. Dmitry Otorochkin is one of the Russian intelligence officers identified by Yle, who worked at the mission in Helsinki from 2014 to 2018, the Yle article says. After Finland, he joined the Russian Embassy in Copenhagen. Denmark deported Otorochkin in the spring of 2022. According to journalists, the spies are not associated with a clearly defined diplomatic mission, which gives freedom to conduct intelligence activities. The embassys top diplomats are rarely intelligence officers, reads the report. Yle found three profiles for Otorochkin on the Russian social network VKontakte, each with different names. Some of his photos were removed from his profiles in April. The journalists could not reach Otorochkin by phone. One third of the Russian embassy diplomats are actually secret service employees, said law enforcement. The state agencies do not disclose how many employees of the Russian embassy obtained exit papers last year. However, Finlands Ministry of Transport and Communications was able to verify that (at least) two intelligence officers who worked for the GRU left Finland last spring. One of them is 60-year-old Vladimir Komarov who worked as a mission adviser in Helsinki until April 2022, the investigation says. In Russian databases, his address is marked as the GRUs headquarters in Moscow. Another expelled GRU intelligence officer is 37-year-old Dmitry Dvinyaninov who worked as a mission assistant. He had previously worked at the Russian Space Research Institute. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Washington, Apr 26 (PTI) A bill seeking to explicitly ban caste discrimination in California has been unanimously passed by the states Senate Judiciary Committee, amidst strong opposition from Indian-American business and temple organisations. The California Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday unanimously voted 'Yes' to move the anti-caste discrimination bill forward to the Senate. This is for the first time that a US State legislature would consider legislation on caste. If passed, the bill could make America's most populous state also the country's first to make caste bias illegal by adding it as a protected category in the states anti-discrimination laws. "Today, I proudly stand in solidarity with my caste-oppressed community members, caste equity movement organisers, and allies to say that caste-oppressed Californians are now one step closer to attaining the protections they deserve and are entitled to, said Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Equality Labs and author of 'The Trauma of Caste'. Earlier at a news conference, she said the bill was a result of 15 years of hard-won organising in the state by caste-oppressed people. "The need for this bill is urgent. We have then some of the highest rates of discrimination of any Asian American community in the state. That is why we are here to stand in our truth to organise for our freedom," she had said. Equality Labs, the brain behind the anti-caste discrimination resolution in Seattle, has been spearheading a nationwide campaign. Seattle became the first US city to outlaw caste discrimination in February. California, a western US state located along the Pacific Coast with nearly 39.2 million residents, is the most populous US state and the third-largest by area. Caste discrimination is unlawful and unjustthis bill will heal us all from the horrors of caste, Pooja Ren from 'Hindus for Caste Equity' said after the bill cleared its first big legislative hurdle. Amar Shergill, Democratic Chair of Progressive Caucus, said California has made it clear that it will not tolerate discrimination or violence of any kind. State Senator Aisha Wahab, the first Muslim and Afghan American elected to the state legislature, introduced the bill last month. The move came exactly one month after Seattle became the first US city to outlaw caste discrimination after its local council passed a resolution moved by an Indian-American politician and economist. The resolution, moved by Kshama Sawant, an upper-caste Hindu, was approved by the Seattle City Council by six to one vote. Major Indian businesses and temples issued a joint statement opposing the proposed California Caste Bill SB 403. Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the largest hotel owners association in the US with 20,000 members, Asian American Store Owners Association (AASOA), representing over 8,300 store owners throughout the nation condemned it. Hindu Mandir Executives Conference (HMEC), an umbrella organisation of Hindu temples in North America, the Hindu Business Network (HBN), and the Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective (HinduPACT) also criticised the bill. Kalpesh Joshi, a Board Member of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, said AAHOA is strongly against the bill. We believe that it will disproportionately impact Indian hotel and motel owners, he said. Vipul Patel, president of Asian American Shop Owners Association (AASOA), said the bill is based on the fabricated narrative of caste discrimination in America. This bill is misguided and will promote prejudice against all Indian-American small business owners including shop owners who form the backbone of California's economy in these challenging economic times. "We fear that this bill, if passed, will encourage frivolous lawsuits against small businesses, causing many of them to go out of business, he said. Tejal Shah, convenor of the Hindu Mandir Executives Conference (HMEC), said the organisations and individuals behind the bill have made their disdain for Hindu customs and traditions very clear. "Common Hindu greeting 'Namaskar' ('I bow to the divinity within you'), traditional Hindu practices such as classical dance, music, and sacred festivals such as Diwali and Holi have been vilified. Passage of SB 403 will legitimise this assault on the freedom of religions and make Hindu temples more vulnerable to physical attacks, Shah said. Led by the Coalition of Hindus of North America, over 100 other organisations said the bill is biased against minority groups and targets South Asians, along with other people of colour such as those from other regions. We fear the bill will encourage religious profiling and stereotyping of a minority. We believe it advances baseless hateful narratives against these communities by legalising a presumption of guilt and turns a long-standing bedrock principle of American justice on its head. "If passed, the bill violates the civil rights of South Asians and other people of colour and denies them equal protection and due process, it said. Many Indian Americans fear that codifying caste in public policy will further fuel instances of Hinduphobia in the US. Over the last three years, ten Hindu temples and five statues, including those of Mahatma Gandhi and Maratha emperor Shivaji, have been vandalised across the US as an intimidation tactic against the Hindu community. Indian Americans are the second-largest immigrant group in the US. According to data from the 2018 American Community Survey (ACS), which is conducted by the US Census Bureau, there are 4.2 million people of Indian origin residing in the United States. India banned caste discrimination in 1948 and enshrined that policy in the Constitution in 1950. Singapore, Apr 26 (PTI) Singapore on Wednesday executed a 46-year-old Indian-origin drug trafficker, a day after his 11th-hour appeal was rejected by a court here. Tangaraju Suppiah was convicted in October 2018 by a High Court judge of a capital charge of abetting an accomplice by conspiring to traffic cannabis. This was by delivering about 1kg of cannabis to himself, an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The Singaporean was detained in 2014 for drug consumption and failure to report for a drug test. A statement by the Singapore Prison Service on Wednesday said that Tangaraju "had his capital sentence carried out today at Changi Prison Complex", Channel News Asia reported. A court in Singapore dismissed an application by Tangaraju on Tuesday to have his case reviewed and for his execution to be stayed, according to the report. In a 15-page judgment, Justice Chong explained that Tangaraju had failed to show a legitimate basis for the court to review his case. Tangaraju's case had drawn support from British billionaire Richard Branson and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ravina Shamdasani, on Tuesday, urged the Singapore government to "urgently reconsider this (Tangaraju's) execution and to take steps to fully respect the most fundamental of human rights - the right to life." Branson had claimed in a blog post that Tangaraju's conviction did not meet standards and that "Singapore may be about to kill an innocent man". Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Tuesday that Branson's views regarding a Singaporean on death row showed "disrespect" for the country's judges and criminal justice system. Tangaraju was sentenced to death after failing to fulfil any of the criteria that would free him from death row. He later appealed against his conviction and sentence but it was dismissed in August 2019, with the court agreeing that Tangaraju had conspired to traffic in cannabis and that he had used a phone to communicate with his accomplice, Mogan Valo. Tangaraju filed a criminal motion in November 2022 for permission to apply to review the concluded appeal. The court dismissed this as well in February 2023. In his last bid, Tangaraju, who was self-represented, argued that the prosecution had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he and Mogan had an agreement to traffic the specific quantity of 1017.9g of cannabis. However, Justice Chong said it was never Tangaraju's case at trial that the agreement with Mogan was to traffic an amount below the threshold amount for capital punishment or any lesser quantity. "It thus appears that the applicant is essentially seeking to advance an entirely new argument," the report quoted Justice Chong as saying. The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said on Saturday that Tangaraju's petition to President Halimah Yacob for clemency was unsuccessful. The CNB said that capital punishment is used only for "the most serious crimes", such as the trafficking of significant quantities of drugs that cause very serious harm, not just to individual drug abusers but also to their families and society at large. "Capital punishment is part of Singapores comprehensive harm prevention strategy which targets both drug demand and supply," the bureau said. Washington, Apr 26 (PTI) India is unlikely to look at Russia as a "secure" friend, given Moscow's closer ties with Beijing in the wake of the raging war in Ukraine, a top Indian-American Congressman has said. Congressman Ro Khanna told a group of reporters over a luncheon interaction on Tuesday that the goal of Indian Americans in the US Congress should be to strengthen the relationship. "I dont think that given the closer ties between Russia and China, India would look to Russia as a secure friend to hedge against the invasion, potentially, of its border in Asia, and that they (Indians) know the United States would be a more trusted partner for that objective, he said. It is in India's interest to align more firmly with the US in terms of the "best hedge" against China, he said, adding that it has been a significant factor in Indian foreign policy. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has been clear that that doesn't mean they will march lockstep with our interests in the United States, but they want to align at this moment because they see that it's strategically important, Khanna said. Unlike its Quad partner countries, India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it abstained from the votes at the UN platforms on the Russian aggression. India has been pressing for an immediate cessation of violence in Ukraine and seeking a resolution of the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue. Khanna, who in his capacity as Co-Chair of the Congressional India Caucus, is hosting the first-of-its-kind US-India Summit at the Capitol. The summit, among others, would be addressed by former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, along with Indias Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu and virtually by US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti. Deputy Secretary of State Rich Verma, and House Minority Leader Congressman Hakeem Jeffries would also attend the summit. Eminent members from the Indian American community are also participating in the conference, including community leader Ajay Bhutoria who would speak on the H-1B issue. Responding to a question, Khanna said the idea that Indian Americans in the United States can reshape Indian society is naive. But we can affirm our own values and speak clearly about our own values. So that's a model which we hope others will see as persuasive. "So the goal of Indian Americans in Congress should be to strengthen the relationship while continuing to speak to basic values and standing up for those values and speaking out where we think those values aren't being upheld, he said. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI) London, Apr 26 (PTI) An Indian national with addresses in the UK and Belgium who was arrested in London by Scotland Yard on a US extradition warrant as part of a UK-US coordinated action targeting terrorism financing has been denied bail by a court here. Madurai-born Sundar Nagarajan, 65, appeared via video link at Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday and his lawyer said he denied the charges of fraud and money laundering against him. District Judge Briony Clarke was also told that Nagarajan was of a Hindu background and did not support Islamist terrorism. The judge refused the bail and remanded Nagarajan in custody to appear via video link at the same court on May 23. Nagarajan, also known as Nagarajan Sundar Poongulam Kasiviswanathan Naga and Sundar Poongulam K Nagarajan Nagarajan, was arrested by the Metropolitan Polices National Extradition Unit from an address at Hayes in west London on April 18. The court heard that armed police officers stormed his home to arrest him and seize his belongings. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), on behalf of the US authorities, told the court that Nagarajan is the accountant linked to the finances of the designated Hizballah terrorist organisation and is wanted by the US authorities for fraud and money laundering offences. His arrest followed action by the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command to arrest a 50-year-old man in Wales on suspicion of funding terrorism. The ongoing investigation and arrest by the NTFIU [National Terrorist Financing Investigation Unit] relates to suspected terrorist financing and money laundering, which is believed to be connected to wealthy art collector and diamond dealer, Nazem Ahmad, the Met Police said. Ahmad is suspected of being a funding source for Hizballah, a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK and the US. Sanctions against Ahmad were also announced last week by the UK government alongside the US government sanctions against Ahmad and a number of his suspected associates, including Nagarajan. The action in the case coincided with the US Attorneys Office in the Eastern District of New York unsealing a nine-count indictment. It is alleged that Ahmad was involved in real estate development, the international trade of diamonds, and the international acquisition and sale of artwork, and operated these enterprises through a complex web of business entities. Ahmad, a Lebanese resident and dual Belgian-Lebanese citizen, was sanctioned by the US for being a financier for Hizballah. Nagarajan is named among his associates who used numerous corporate entities and individuals to disguise Ahmads control and beneficial interest in the companies and in financial transactions. Also, he is named for facilitating the acquisition of multiple pieces of valuable artwork and diamond-grading services for millions of dollars worth of diamonds from US persons, according to the US authorities. London, Apr 26 (PTI) A British court has denied bail to an Indian national, who was arrested here by Scotland Yard on suspicion of funding Lebanon's Hezbollah, despite his arguments that he was of a Hindu background and did not support Islamist terrorism. Madurai-born Sundar Nagarajan, 65, appeared via video link at Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday and his lawyer said he denied the charges of fraud and money laundering against him. District Judge Briony Clarke was also told that Nagarajan was of a Hindu background and did not support Islamist terrorism. The judge refused the bail and remanded Nagarajan in custody to appear via video link at the same court on May 23. Nagarajan, also known as Nagarajan Sundar Poongulam Kasiviswanathan Naga and Sundar Poongulam K Nagarajan Nagarajan, was arrested by the Metropolitan Polices National Extradition Unit from an address at Hayes in west London on April 18. The court heard that armed police officers stormed his home to arrest him and seize his belongings. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), on behalf of the US authorities, told the court that Nagarajan is the accountant linked to the finances of the designated Hezballah terrorist organisation and is wanted by the US authorities for fraud and money laundering offences. His arrest followed action by the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command to arrest a 50-year-old man in Wales on suspicion of funding terrorism. "The ongoing investigation and arrest by the NTFIU [National Terrorist Financing Investigation Unit] relates to suspected terrorist financing and money laundering, which is believed to be connected to wealthy art collector and diamond dealer, Nazem Ahmad, the Met Police said. Ahmad is suspected of being a funding source for Hezballah, a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK and the US. Sanctions against Ahmad were also announced last week by the UK government alongside the US government sanctions against Ahmad and a number of his suspected associates, including Nagarajan. The action in the case coincided with the US Attorneys Office in the Eastern District of New York unsealing a nine-count indictment. It is alleged that Ahmad was involved in real estate development, the international trade of diamonds, and the international acquisition and sale of artwork, and operated these enterprises through a complex web of business entities. Ahmad, a Lebanese resident and dual Belgian-Lebanese citizen, was sanctioned by the US for being a financier for Hezballah. Nagarajan is named among his associates who used numerous corporate entities and individuals to disguise Ahmads control and beneficial interest in the companies and in financial transactions. Also, he is named for facilitating the acquisition of multiple pieces of valuable artwork and diamond-grading services for millions of dollars worth of diamonds from US persons, according to the US authorities. London, Apr 26 (PTI) A major independent review commissioned by the British government into engagement with faith groups on Wednesday warned against the "subversive, aggressive and sectarian actions of some pro-Khalistan activists and called for action to ensure such groups are not unwittingly allowed access to the UK's Parliament. 'Does Government 'do God'?: An independent review into how government engages with faith by Independent Faith Engagement Adviser Colin Bloom is dubbed one of the most comprehensive public consultations of its kind, involving over 21,000 peoples responses. In a section entitled Sikh Extremism the review goes into detail of how members of the British Sikh community expressed their growing concern over a small but extremely vocal group "hijacking" the Sikh faith to push a subversive pro-Khalistan narrative. "There is a small, extremely vocal and aggressive minority of British Sikhs who can be described as pro-Khalistan extremists, promoting an ethno-nationalist agenda," notes the review. "Some of these extremists have been known to support and incite violence and intimidation in their ambition to establish an independent state called Khalistan, the physical borders of which are largely shared with specific parts of the Punjab state in India. Interestingly, this territorial claim does not include the part of the Punjab located in Pakistan. It is not entirely clear if the motivation for these extremists is faith-based or not," it notes. The review - which comes weeks after an attack by pro-Khalistan separatists at the Indian High Commission here - pointed to fears that proscribed terrorist groups were able to use aliases to continue their subversive agenda, referencing Babbar Khalsa International banned in 2001 under the UKs Terrorism Act and also the International Sikh Youth Federation banned in multiple countries but de-proscribed in the UK in 2006. The review specifically called on the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Sikhs, which is chaired by Britain's first female Sikh MP Preet Kaur Gill and has the first turbaned Sikh MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi as its vice-chair both from the Labour Party, to ensure such organisations are not able to exert influence in parliamentary affairs. The British Sikhs APPG, an informal cross-party group of MPs, has the stated aim to support and promote the interests of Sikhs in the UK, work with British Sikhs to celebrate Sikh culture in the UK, and ensure full equality for all British Sikhs. The Bloom Review warns: "It is difficult to prove given the complex structures and multiple aliases of various groups, but conversations with academics and political figures have given this reviewer grounds to suspect that there is at least overlap of membership between some Sikh groups operating in the UK and proscribed (or previously proscribed) groups. "In particular, this report recommends that the MPs who are in the All-Party Parliamentary Group for British Sikhs consider the findings of this report. The parliamentary authorities must do what they can to ensure that the parliamentary estate is not unwittingly hosting organisations and individuals who have been linked to bullying and harassment at best, and subversive behaviours at worst, which are antithetic to the parliamentary estates own values of truth, justice, peace, tolerance and democracy." In its recommendations, it stresses that the government should identify where extremist activity exists within the British Sikh community and ensure that unacceptable and extremist behaviours are not "inadvertently legitimised" by government or parliamentary engagement. Besides warnings around Sikh extremism, the 159-page report covers other forms of religious extremism including a brief warning that some British Hindus have expressed frustration with Hindu nationalist involvement in UK politics, which can create division within Indian communities in the UK. "While many faith communities are likely to be interested in regional and geopolitical disputes outside of the UK, government should be attentive to the possibility of nationalist movements exploiting religious rhetoric to incite prejudicial views that may destabilise British society, it recommends. On Islamist extremism, it calls on the British government for better faith literacy and to redouble its efforts to reinforce the distinctions between extremist Islamism and Islam and between Islamist extremists and Muslims. The report also calls for appropriate registration and regulation of madrassas, which are currently not required to be registered as so-called faith-based out-of-school settings. The governments Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will now consider the review findings and issue a response. "Our government's understanding of the role of faith in society must remain both current and alive to its evolutionary changes. It must also not shy away from some of the challenges that exist in small pockets within faith communities, from forced and coercive marriages to faith-based extremism, financial exploitation, and child safeguarding. These must not be consigned to the too difficult box, said Bloom. Following his review of government engagement with faith in a broad range of public institutions from the Civil Service and the Armed Forces, to schools and prisons he has called for a new programme of faith literacy training for all public sector staff, ensuring public servants understand those they are helping, and to increase partnership opportunities with faith groups who are playing a valuable role in the social fabric of society. London, Apr 26 (PTI) Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh arrived here on Wednesday for a five-day trip to the UK to enhance the scale of bilateral collaboration in the field of scientific research and development and will kick-start the visit by signing a memorandum of understanding with his British counterpart. The programmes covered by the new MoU, to be agreed at a ministerial-level Science and Innovation Council meeting, will include the establishment of a new UK-India Net Zero Innovation Virtual Centre focusing on industrial decarbonisation and launching the first ever UK-India scientific deep sea voyage. "The visit seeks to enhance scale of bilateral collaboration in diverse fields ranging from scientific R&D, Startups, Industry and Academia," Dr Singh tweeted. Following his meeting with UK Science Minister George Freeman within the UK Parliament complex in London, he is scheduled to sign the joint MoU on research between the two countries which the UK government said would enable quicker and deeper collaboration on science between the two science powerhouses that will drive economic growth, create skilled jobs and improve lives in the UK, India, and worldwide. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said the agreement will "remove red tape" standing in the way of major collaborations, while unleashing a raft of new joint research schemes aiming to deliver progress on some of the biggest issues facing the world, from climate change and pandemic preparedness through to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. "India is rapidly building on its phenomenal software and innovation sectors to become a global powerhouse in science and technology. With our extensive trading and cultural links, shared democratic values and interest in urgent global issues from green technology and agri-tech to biosecurity and pandemic preparedness, we have very strong platforms for deepening research collaboration, said Freeman. "Today's agreement is part of our program of deepening UK collaboration with other global science superpowers on ground-breaking innovation and research, to help tackle shared global challenges. This partnership will grow the sectors, companies and jobs of tomorrow for the benefit of both our countries and the globe, he added. Besides, his ministry announced that India will be named a partner for the UK's International Science Partnerships Fund, carrying forward the UK-India science partnership built through the Newton-Bhabha fund. The renewed partnership will kick off with two new joint UK-India research programmes: GBP 5 million UK funding, matched by India, for research into Farmed Animal Diseases and Health and GBP 3.3 million UK funding, matched by India, towards a technology and skills partnership programme that will enable UK and Indian researcher to develop skills, technologies and knowledge in areas such as AI, machine learning and bio-imaging. Other bilateral agreements to be struck at the Science and Innovation Council meeting on Wednesday include: Several UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Indian Department for Science and Technology (DST) joint research calls, including programmes on sustainability and solid earth hazards; an intention to launch a partnership for decarbonising Indias pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industries; a programme of UK-India university partnerships, including one between Aston University and CSIR Dehradun on sustainable biofuels; and the fourth annual meeting of the RS/INSA Yusuf Hamied programme, a scheme designed to promote relationships and knowledge exchanges between UK and Indian researchers. The UK government said the collaborative activities carried out under the MoU will be supported by joint funding agreed by both sides, with finances for each programme determined on a case-by-case basis. Mumbai, Apr 26 (PTI) A 42-year-old share broker strangled his 11-year-old daughter with a rope before using it to hang himself at his central Mumbai home, an official said on Wednesday. Police are yet to establish the reason behind the murder-suicide, but they have recovered a note purportedly written by the stockbroker, Bhupesh Pawar, blaming his wife. Pawar first killed his daughter Arya with a rope at his home in Ganesh Galli, Lalbaug, on Tuesday afternoon. He then hanged himself using the same rope, the official said. Pawars wife out for some work at the time. She discovered the motionless bodies of her husband and daughter after returning home around 4 pm, he said. Pawar had an office in the Parel area, the official said. The bodies of the father and daughter were handed over to the family after post-mortem, he added. Panaji, Apr 26 (PTI) The Goa police on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court that they are withdrawing the summons issued to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in which he was asked to appear before them on April 27 in a case related to the illegal sticking of posters on public properties during the 2022 Assembly elections campaign. The police had issued the notice suo motu to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener on April 13 under section 41 (A) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). But Kejriwal challenged the summons issued to him by the Pernem police, asking him to appear before the investigating officer on April 27 in connection with the case. The case was heard by a division bench comprising Justices Mahesh Sonak and Valmiki Menezes of the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday, during which the police submitted that they are going to withdraw the summons issued to Kejriwal. Talking to PTI, advocate Subodh Kantak, who represented Kejriwal, said the petition was disposed of by the bench after the police submitted that they are going to withdraw the summons. The police notice to Kejriwal read, "During the investigation of a case about defacement of property, it is revealed that there are reasonable grounds to question you to ascertain facts and circumstances from you in relation to the present investigation." The Kejriwal-led AAP won two seats in the 2022 polls in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state. Boeing (BA) released a mixed Q1 earnings report, beating on top-line revenue but missing on profit. The company also said it would be boosting output of its 737 Max planes despite a recent production issue. For the quarter, Boeing reported revenue of $17.92 billion, up 28% compared to a year ago and topping estimates of $17.43 billion, as the planemaker said demand for its planes pushed higher. Boeings adjusted EPS loss for the quarter of $1.27 was wider than Street estimates of $0.97. "We delivered a solid first quarter and are focused on driving stability for our customers," Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said in a statement. "We are progressing through recent supply chain disruptions but remain confident in the goals we set for this year, as well as for the longer term. Demand is strong across our key markets and we are growing investments to advance our development programs and innovate strategic capabilities for our customers and for our future." The company reaffirmed its prior guidance of $4.5 billion-$6.5 billion of operating cash flow and $3.0-$5.0 billion of free cash flow (non-GAAP) for the year. Boeing also reaffirmed its prior guidance for the 737 Max this year, seeing 400-450 deliveries this year, and said it will boost production the 737 to 38 planes a month. This comes after the plane maker suffered a setback with its 737 Max production in mid-April, warning that a problem with several brackets in the fuselage would affect deliveries. We will work diligently through rework of affected airplanes in production and storage to ensure each meets our standards of prior delivery, Calhoun said in a memo to employees today. This effort will impact the timing of deliveries over the next several months. FILE - The Boeing 787 Dreamliner after its landing at Le Bourget airport, east of Paris, upon its presentation for the first time at the 49th Paris Air Show at the airport, June 21, 2011. Boeing reported Tuesday, April 11, 2023, that deliveries of new jetliners jumped in March, helped by the return of the long-range 787 Dreamliner, as the U.S. aircraft maker edged out European rival Airbus in both deliveries and new orders. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File) Calhoun had previously said the issue would delay production by only weeks. Boeing's current backlog of 737 planes stands at 4,219 planes, per Boeings website. Boeing also said today the 787 Dreamliner program is producing three planes per month with plans to ramp production to five per month in late 2023, and to 10 per month in the 2025/2026 timeframe. Boeings 787 Dreamliner faced a delivery delay of its own back in February, as the company had to halt deliveries due to an issue with a fuselage component. The issue was resolved in early March after the plane maker addressed concerns raised by the FAA about Dreamliners forward pressure bulkhead. Story continues Speaking of the Dreamliner, in March, Boeing landed a huge deal with Saudi Arabia, as first reported by Yahoo Finances Brian Sozzi. Boeing secured an order for up to 121 787s from two Saudi Arabian airlines state-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines and new national player Riyadh Air. A total of 78 planes are considered firm orders, while 43 are options to purchase more. Of the 121 orders, 72 are from Riyadh Air. Based on the list price for the 787 of about $338 million, the deal could be worth up to an estimated $40 billion. "It is significant," Calhoun said to Yahoo Finance about the deal. Boeing previously announced Q1 deliveries earlier this month rose to 130 up from 95 a year ago, with 113 737 Maxes, 11 787s, four 777s, and one 767 and 747. Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter and on Instagram. For the latest earnings reports and analysis, earnings whispers and expectations, and company earnings news, click here Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Mumbai, Apr 26 (PTI) Following are the top stories from the Western Region at 1700 HRS. BOM20 CG-NAXAL-LD BLAST * Ten policemen killed in IED blast in Chhattisgarh Dantewada: Ten policemen were killed when their vehicle was blown up by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, officials said. * BOM10 GJ-LD PM MODI * India has courage to do something new, says PM Modi Somnath: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India has the courage to do something new, even in the most difficult circumstances, as it faces forces that threaten to break it and hurdles on the way to its target for 2047. * BOM9 MH-REFINERY-SHARAD PAWAR * Govt must talk to locals opposing refinery, says Pawar Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said the Maharashtra government should hold a dialogue with local villagers who are opposing a refinery project in the coastal Ratnagiri district. * BOM8 MH-REFINERY-RAUT * Uddhav suggested to Centre new site for refinery, admits Raut Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut admitted on Wednesday that Uddhav Thackeray, as the chief minister of Maharashtra, had suggested an alternative site at Barsu in coastal Ratnagiri district for a refinery project, but if locals oppose it then his party will back them. * BOM11 GA-SCO-FOOD SECURITY * SCO to play key role in combating food, energy security challenges: India Panaji: India on Wednesday said that with the world facing challenges of a "looming economic recession", a closer cooperation amongst the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members will play a pivotal role in combating challenges such as food and energy security. * BOM19 GA-SCOIBC-KAZAKHSTAN * Interbank Consortium to boost economic cooperation among SCO members: Kazakhstan Panaji: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Interbank Consortium (SCO IBC) is an important instrument in improving economic cooperation between the member countries, Kazakhstan said on Wednesday after taking over the rotational presidency of the SCO IBC for 2023-24. * BOM18 MH-CM-FILES * Maha CM clears 65 files in a day amid 'leave' claim by Sena (UBT) Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has cleared 65 files via video conferencing in a day and dismissed claims by the rival Shiv Sena faction that he was "on leave". * BOM13 MH-ALLIANCE-CONGRESS * Congress has plan ready in Maha: Patole on future of anti-BJP alliance Nagpur: The Congress in Maharashtra has a plan in place in the event of alliance with anti-BJP parties doesn't materialise, state unit party president Nana Patole said on Wednesday amid buzz about the future of tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). * BOM12 GA-GAMES * PM Modi to inaugurate National Games in Goa in October: CM Panaji: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the National Games in Goa in October 2023, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said here on Wednesday. * BOM2 MP-BODIES-SISTERS-WELL * MP: Bodies of three sisters found in well, mother missing Dhar (MP): The bodies of three sisters, aged between 2 and 6 years, were found in a well in Madhya Pradeshs Dhar district, while their mother is missing, police said on Wednesday. * Indore, Apr 26 (PTI) A 19-year-old man, accused of kidnapping and raping a minor girl, was stripped and paraded with a garland of shoes by a group of people in Madhya Pradesh's Indore city, a police official said on Wednesday. A video of the two-day-old incident that took place in the Bhuri Tekri area of the city has surfaced on social media. Talking to PTI, Jagdish Prasad Jamre, in-charge of the Kanadiya police station, confirmed the authenticity of the video. He said the young man was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly kidnapping and raping the 13-year-old girl. A medical examination confirmed sexual assault on the victim, said Jamre. Before the accused was arrested, a group of people known to the girl stripped and paraded him after putting a garland of shoes around his neck. The police official said a separate case has been registered against people seen stripping the accused and assaulting him in the video. Mumbai, Apr 26 (PTI) Responding to a plea by a transgender person, the Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to instruct all educational institutions in the state to allow retrospective changes of name and gender in their records. A division bench of Justices Gautam Patel and Neela Gokhale, in its order of April 25, said the questions of identity and gender perception do not happen at a "biologically definable point". The petitioner, an alumnus of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), identifies as a transgender and sought to change their name and gender in the education records of the institute. In 2013, the petitioner received an MA in Development Studies from the TISS with their original feminine name. In 2015, the petitioner adopted another name, self-identifying as transgender and applied to the TISS for a new certificate reflecting the changes in name and gender. When there was no response from the institute, the petitioner approached the HC. The high court said that earlier orders passed by the Supreme Court "direct us towards greater inclusiveness and acceptance of individuality and individual traits." "These are not to be compromised because of some bureaucratic requirements," the division bench said. "This is a case of denial of a human being's self-identity and self-identification. That cannot be done and cannot be permitted. Nor can an institute be permitted to force upon the petitioner a name, identity or gender that the petitioner has chosen to reject in preference to some other," it added. On the TISS's stand that the petitioner first produce earlier educational records with the new name and gender, the HC said this was not just obstructive but also a denial of the petitioner's fundamental rights. "Questions of identity, self-identification and gender perception do not happen at a biologically definable point in time. These are matters of self-realisation without predictable time frames," HC said. The court added that no person who desires to make such changes should be put through the additional trauma of having to get reissued every single document from birth onwards. The bench directed TISS to change the petitioner's name and gender in the educational records and issue new certificates accordingly. It also directed the institute to make changes in its website to include a form for such changes. "It is for the state government to also issue necessary instructions to all similar educational institutions across Maharashtra," HC said. Aurangabad Apr 26 (PTI) A professor from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University in Maharashtras Aurangabad city has been booked for allegedly raping a student for over a year and harassing her parents, an official said on Wednesday. The professors wife has also been named in the first information report (FIR) for supporting the professor in the alleged crime and telling the complainant that they wanted a son from her, the official said. The FIR was registered at Begumpura police station on Tuesday night under Indian Penal Code sections 376 (rape), 109 (abetment), 114 (abettor present when offence is committed) and 504 (intentional insult). The official said that the professor of drama who took online classes between 2019 and 2021 came in contact with the complainant when she was preparing for her dissertation. He won her confidence and allegedly persuaded her to live at his home in Aurangabad with his family. During her stay in Aurangabad, the professor allegedly raped her on multiple occasions between February 2022 and February 2023, the official said. When the complainant informed the professors wife about the alleged sexual assaults, the latter told her that they wanted a son from her, said the official citing the FIR. The complainant went back to her home in Buldhana district after she took ill, but the professor allegedly kept harassing her on the phone, the official said. When the woman stopped taking the accused professors calls, he started calling her father, said the official. The woman then told her father about the alleged sexual assaults and they approached the universitys Vishakha committee, which looks into complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace, said the official. When the professor was summoned, he tried to threaten the parents of the complainant by reaching their home, the official said. The University administration recently gave a letter to the complainant saying she could approach the police. She then filed a complaint against the professor following which he was booked, the official added. Malda (WB), Apr 26 (PTI) A gun-wielding man barged into a packed classrom of a high school in West Bengals Malda district on Wednesday, but was overpowered by police and arrested, officials said. He was also carrying two bottles of a liquid along with the gun, they said. Panic gripped the students of Muchia Anchal Chandra Mohan High School at Old Malda in the district, as the unidentified man brandished the gun and started yelling, a senior police officer said. "The man managed to enter the school and barge into the room where Class-8 students were seated. He was holding a gun and shouting at the students, threatening to kill them and the class teacher," the officer told PTI. He was quickly overpowered by police personnel and arrested, he said. Classes were immediately suspended following the incident, police said. Agartala, Apr 26 (PTI) Himangshu Mohan Chowdhury, who was awarded prestigious the Padma Shri for his services during the Bangladesh Liberation war as a civil service officer, passed away due to age-related ailments at a private hospital here. He is credited with overseeing the housing and feeding of lakhs of refugees from the neighburing country, who fled to the tiny northeastern state in the aftermath of the brutal crackdown by the Pakistan army from March 1971. Chowdhury, 83, breathed his last on Tuesday. He is survived by two daughters, relatives and large numbers of well wishers. His wife died four years ago. Chief Minister Manik Saha condoled the passing away of the first Padma Shri awardee from the northeast. Born in a doctor's family in Feni district (now in Bangladesh), Chowdhury's family had migrated to Tripura in 1930. He completed his college days in MBB College in Agartala and then went to Kolkata for higher studies. After returning from Kolkata, he joined government service as an official. When the Liberation war broke out in Bangladesh, he was the SDO of Sonamura subdivision of Tripura's Sepahijala district. Since Sonamura is a bordering subdivision, lakhs of Bangladeshis took shelter there to save their lives from the Pakistan army, and it was Chowdhury who single-handedly oversaw provision of shelter, food and logistics to 2.5 lakh Bangladeshi people, Sneshangshu Mohan Chowdhury, his younger brother, told PTI. Sneshangshu said his elder brother worked tirelessly through the months leading up to liberation of Bangladesh and eventual reptriation of refugees, leaving no stone unturned to the needs of the crisis-affected migrants. During the war, Bangladesh prime minister in exile Tajuddin Ahmad's family took shelter in Chowdhury's official residence at Sonamura. Ahmad's daughter Semin Hussain Rimi, who is now an MP in Bangladesh, visited him in December 2021 to thank him for providing safe shelter to her family during the bloody liberation war, he recalled. In 1971, the Centre awarded him the Padma Shri, while in 2013, the Bangladesh government recognised his contribution in the liberation war by conferring the 'Friend of Bangladesh' medal to Chowdhury, Sneshangshu said. Kolkata, Apr 26 (PTI) A gun-wielding man barging into a packed classroom of a high school in West Bengal's Malda district pointed to a deep-rooted social malaise where an individual believes he can settle scores with society by an act which endangers children, an educationist said on Wednesday. Teachers' organisations, however, raised security concern on school premises over the incident. "We had never heard about such incidents happening in Bengal in the past and only read about these things taking place in schools in America. That the person concerned chose such a path to address his grievances is a sad commentary of the social situation," educationist Pabitra Sarkar said. The gun-wielding man, who entered the classroom during school hours, was overpowered by police and arrested, officials said. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was holding an administrative meeting in Kolkata at that time, came out to compliment the police for averting what is being seen as a potential school hostage crisis. Academician Nrisinga Prasad Bhaduri said it was a "freak" incident and does not reflect the trend in society. "Such incidents do not usually happen. It was the handiwork of a person who is under serious mental stress. Investigations are on and the accused has been arrested. We are relieved that all students, teachers and others in that school are safe," Bhaduri said. Bengal Primary Teachers' Association General Secretary Ananda Handa demanded adequate security measures at schools. "It sent shivers down my spine. How did an outsider enter the school building with firearms unnoticed? There are no Group C and D staffers in many primary and upper primary schools in districts. "Many such institutions have only two or three teachers and they take all responsibilities. The Malda incident shows the glaring loopholes in security for children and staffers in schools," Handa told PTI. Paschim Bango Sikshak Samity spokesperson Naba Kumar Karmakar said there should be proper security for children and teachers during school hours. "Every school should have a basic infrastructure, including boundary walls, well-demarcated entry and exit gates," he added. Kolkata, Apr 26 (PTI) The special CBI court here on Wednesday asked the ADG prisons to initiate action against the superintendent of Alipore jail, whom the court found guilty of allowing former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee to wear finger rings in judicial custody violating rules. Refusing to accept an unconditional apology by the superintendent of the Alipore correctional home, the special CBI court judge said that it has been established that he wilfully committed a breach of a provision of the West Bengal Jail Code and connived entry into the jail of prohibited article. "His inaction to perform his duty as per the West Bengal Jail Code is condemned by this court," judge Suvendu Saha said in his order. The judge directed that a copy of the order be sent to ADG and IG, correctional services, West Bengal, for initiating necessary action against the superintendent of Alipore jail Debashis Chakraborty. Judge Saha said that since West Bengal Service Act, 1992, provides that no prosecution will lie against an officer or other employee of a correctional home without prior approval of the inspector general (IG) of the correctional home and correctional services, the copy of his order was being sent to the 'ADG and IG' "for initiating necessary action" against Chakraborty. The judge had on April 19 directed the superintendent of Alipore jail to appear before his court on Wednesday to explain how the accused was allowed to wear finger rings in judicial custody. During Chatterjee's production before the court through the virtual mode in connection with the Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s case against him, ED's lawyer Phiroze Edulji had pointed to the two silver finger rings worn by the former minister and submitted that it is not permissible for any prisoner to possess any jewellery under the West Bengal Jail Code. Chatterjee was arrested by the ED in connection with the school recruitment scam on July 23, 2022. The special CBI court had on April 19 extended the judicial remand of Chatterjee and his alleged close associate Arpita Mukherjee, who is lodged in Presidency women's correctional home, till June 19. Kolkata, Apr 26 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday said that she will hold a sit-in at Bolpur in case authorities of the Visva Bharati University ty to "bulldoze" Nobel laureate Amartya Sen's ancestral house 'Pratichi' in the campus area on the charge that he was illegally occupying more land than was leased out to him. The University in an eviction order, has asked Sen to vacate by May 6 or within 15 days of the publication of the last order, 0.13 aces (5,550 square feet) of the 1.38 acres of the leased land which the authorities claim the famed economist occupies in an "unauthorised manner". Banerjee told mediapersons here, Amartya Sen is being attacked every day. I have seen their (VB's) audacity. I will be the first person to go there (Bolpur) if they (try to) bulldoze his house. I will hold a sit-in there. "I want to see who is more powerful bulldozer or humanity, she said. Banerjee had handed over to Sen on January 30 documents of the state land and revenue department stating that the entire 1.38 acre of land belonged to the Sens through a mutation done in 2006. The university authorities have challenged the documents. Its notice said, "Amartya Kumar Sen and all concerned persons are liable to be evicted from the said premises, if need be, by use of such force as may be necessary." "It is decided that 13 decimals of land having the dimension of 50 ft x 111 ft in the north-west corner of the scheduled premises is to be recovered from him," it said. "Thus he (Sen) can lawfully occupy 1.25 acres of land only, as lessee (for the residual period of lease) in the scheduled premises," the notice issued by Joint Registrar Asish Mahato said. The notice has been criticised by other political parties too including the Congress, which accused the Narendra Modi government of "targeting" Sen for being a stern critic of the Hindutva forces. Founded in 1921 by Rabindranath Tagore, Visva Bharati was a college till it was made a central university by an act of Parliament in 1951. It is Bengal's only central university and the prime minister is its chancellor. New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) The Naxal ambush on Wednesday has highlighted what is seen as the last major challenge - foiling Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) attacks in the forested tri-junction of the Bastar region in south Chhattisgarh - faced by security forces to completely stamp out LWE violence in the state. Security officials cite the lack of foolproof technology to detect IEDs and the increasing desperation of Naxals who are avoiding direct combat with forces for such incidents. A total of 11 persons, including ten district reserve guard (DRG) personnel, were killed after suspected Naxals blew up their vehicle using IEDs in the Aranpur area of Dantewada district. The Union government has maintained that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) has almost been wiped out in Jharkhand and Bihar due to sustained operations by security forces, noting that Naxal violence incidents have come down by 77 per cent in just over a decade. However, security officials say the menace of stealthily placed IEDs, especially in the border areas of south Chhattisgarh, "continues to pose a challenge" to them. "A general alert was issued to the security agencies stating that the Naxal-sponsored TCOC period is on and hence they should be alert while conducting operational and administrative tasks. "Unfortunately, the Naxals were successful in trapping the DRG vehicle in Dantewada. The exact reasons behind this incident are being investigated," a senior security officer in Delhi told PTI. The TCOC is an armed operation undertaken by the Maoists in March-June to strengthen their cadres and launch major attacks on security forces as forests are devoid of green cover, thereby increasing visibility and line of sight to ambush. The geographical tri-junction of Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Odisha located right at the southern tip of Sukma district in the south Bastar region is an area that witnesses the maximum number of such incidents including the deadly 2010 Maoist ambush in Dantewada district where 75 CRPF and one Chhattisgarh police personnel were killed. These areas are controlled by the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee of the Maoists and led by the 'elusive' Hidma, stated to be the commander of the PLGA battalion no. 1 which is accused by police agencies of planning and executing hundreds of ambushes against the forces over the last two decades. The forces are trying to "capture, dominate and hold" these areas by constructing remote bases and roads. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has set up as many as 15 forward operating bases in Chhattisgarh over the last three years and some more are in the offing, a security officer based in Bastar said. These bases are being created so that small units of commandos based here can effectively hit the Naxals in their core areas and secure these locations for government agencies to launch development works, the officer said. The remote locations, dense forests and weak mobile phone connectivity are other major hurdles for the forces and government agencies that are operating in these areas. "However, continued efforts are on and we hope to achieve good results including ruling out the possibility of deadly attacks and ambushes on police patrol parties," the second officer quoted above said. The IEDs continue to be a cause of big trouble because of two factors, a CRPF officer said. The first is that as Maoists have run out of sophisticated guns, rifles and ammunition. They choose to not fight a one-on-one battle but launch surprise attacks, the officer said. They are not always successful as the forces have learnt their lessons of not taking the 'beaten track' now, but whenever they are successful, a number of security personnel are either killed or maimed, the officer said. "The second issue is that we still do not have foolproof technology to detect the IEDs. They are placed under blacktop roads, or hidden beneath culverts or bridges and are triggered by a person sitting far away as soon as a security vehicle or patrol is detected," he said. Many IEDs explode even when the troops are on foot and their trigger mechanism gets activated just due to the pressure of the feet. These incidents have injured more than 100 personnel over the last two years, the officer said. "The south Bastar region and its bordering areas and the IEDs are the last Maoist bastions to be breached. The forces are working towards this goal," he said. The Union government had told Parliament in December 2022 that incidents of Naxal violence have reduced by 77 per cent from the high of 2,213 in 2010 to 509 in 2021. The resultant deaths (civilians and security forces) reduced by 85 per cent from the high of 1,005 in 2010 to 147 in 2021, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai had said in a written reply to Lok Sabha, adding that the declining trend continued in 2022. The minister also said the geographical spread of the violence has also significantly reduced and only 191 police stations of 46 districts reported LWE-related violence in 2021 as compared to a high of 465 police stations of 96 districts in 2010. The decline in the geographical spread is also reflected in the reduced number of districts covered under security related expenditure scheme and the number of these districts reduced from 126 to 90 in April, 2018 and further to 70 in July 2021, data provided by him had said. The number of districts contributing approximately 90 per cent of the LWE violence, categorised as most LWE-affected districts, also came down to 30 from 35 in 2018 and further to 25 in 2021, he said. Fortune Business Insights The global military antenna market covered major segments By Frequency (High Frequency, Ultra-High Frequency, Super High Frequency, and Extremely High Frequency), By Type (Dipole Antenna, Aperture Antenna, Traveling Wave Antenna, Loop Antenna, and Array Antenna), By Platform (Airborne, Marine, and Ground), By Application (Communication, Surveillance, SATCOM, Electronic Warfare, and Telemetry), and Regional. Pune, India, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global military antenna market size was valued at USD 3.32 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow from USD 3.67 billion in 2022 to USD 6.61 billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.76% during the forecast period. Military antennas are specialized electronic devices used for communication, navigation, and radar purposes in military applications. These antennas are designed to withstand harsh environments, including extreme temperatures, high winds, and electromagnetic interference. Military antennas are used in a variety of applications, including ground-based, naval, and airborne communications systems, providing reliable and secure communication between military units. Get a Free Sample Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/military-antenna-market-101824 List of Key Players Profiled in the Military Antenna Market Report: Antcom Corporation (U.S.) Cobham Advance Electronic Solutions (U.K.) Comrod Communication AS (Norway) Eylex Pty Ltd. (Australia) Hascall-Denke (U.S.) L3Harris Technologies Ltd. (U.S.) Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.) MTI Wireless Edge Ltd. (Israel) Raytheon Technologies Corporation (U.S.) Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG (Germany) Terma A/S (Denmark) Report Scope & Segmentation: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2022-2029 Forecast CAGR 8.76 % 2029 Value Projection USD 6.61 Billion Market Size in 2022 USD 3.67 Billion Historical Data 2018-2020 No. of Pages 178 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Frequency Analysis By Type Analysis By Platform Analysis By Application Analysis Regions Covered North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East and Africa Military Antenna Market Growth Drivers Increase in Demand for Satellite Communication Equipment Due to Growing Space Exploration Programs will Aid Growth Significant Demand to Replace Conventional Equipment with Technologically Advanced Military Equipment Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/military-antenna-market-101824 Story continues Segments: Ground Military Antennas Dominates Market Due to Rising Border Security Issues By frequency, the market is divided into high frequency, ultra-high frequency, super high frequency, and extremely high frequency. Based on type, the market is segmented into dipole antenna, aperture antenna, traveling wave antenna, loop antenna, and array antenna. On the basis of application, the market is segregated into communication, surveillance, SATCOM, electronic warfare, and telemetry. According to platform, the market is trifurcated into airborne, marine, and ground. Geographically, the market share is categorized into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the rest of the world. Russia-Ukraine War Impact: The current Russia-Ukraine war crisis altered the dynamics of the European defense industry in 2022. Approximately 25 nations planned to support the Ukraine war crisis. These countries provide support in terms of weaponry support, finance, special military operations, and others. The European and NATO countries provide ammunition, ground surveillance radars, firefinder weapons, and other systems into western Ukraine via Poland. Thus, rise in demand for military antenna has been observed in recent times. These factors are expected to surge the product demand for the satellite communication and defense sector. Get a Quote Now: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/get-a-quote/military-antenna-market-101824 Report Coverage: The report provides complete information about recent developments and trends in the industry. Also, drivers and restraints affect market development and global expansion. Furthermore, the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war crisis and COVID-19 pandemic is highlighted in this report. A list of prominent players in the market is given, along with the companies' recent launches and business growth strategies. Furthermore, regional market insights are provided with statistical data and factual information about the market. Drivers & Restraints: Rising Technological Advancements to Bolster Market Growth The market is projected to grow significantly during the forecast period due to rising demand for replacing conventional equipment with technically advanced equipment. Also, there are government initiatives to modernize military programs and develop border security by strengthening satellite communication activities. Thus, satellite communication equipment demand is surging due to increasing space exploration programs. These factors are anticipated to ensure the global military antenna market growth in the coming years. However, high costs associated with the R&D of military antenna is likely to hinder the market growth. Regional Insights: North America Holds Prominent Market Share Due to Dominant Defense Industry North America holds the highest global military antenna market share during the forecast period due to military dominance in the U.S. Also, rising investment in the defense sector is expected to drive the regional market. The regional market stood at USD 1.25 billion in 2021. Europe is expected to hold the second-highest global market share due to the adoption of technological advancements in the industry. Also, European countries support Ukraine, which aids in increased product demand in the defense sector. Competitive Landscape: Long-Term Contracts Allow Key Players to Propel Growth The key market players focus on forming strategic alliances, partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions to expand their business in segmented regions. Also, implementing innovative product development strategies allow companies to enhance their product portfolio and attract global customers. Ask for Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/ask-for-customization/military-antenna-market-101824 Detailed Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Key Industry Developments Key Contracts & Agreements, Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships Latest technological Advancements Porters Five Forces Analysis Supply Chain Analysis Quantitative Insights - Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic and Russia Ukraine War Analysis on Global Military Antenna Market Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Military Antenna Market Key Development in the industry in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic Impact of Russia Ukraine War Analysis on Global Military Antenna Market Global Military Antenna Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2018-2029 Key Findings / Definitions Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Frequency High Frequency Ultra-High Frequency Super High Frequency Extremely High Frequency TOC Continued...! Speak to Our Expert: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/military-antenna-market-101824 Key Industry Development: November 2021: L3Harris Technologies, Inc. received a USD 125 million multi-year contract to produce space electronic warfare and adverse communication systems that safeguard the U.S. military operations and warfighters. Read Related Insights: Electronic Warfare Market to Hit USD 37.60 Billion by 2029 | At a CAGR of 5.56% Military Radar Market to Rise USD 22.06 Billion by 2028; Demand for Advanced Radar Technologies to Aid Growth | Fortune Business Insights CBRNE Defense Market to Reach USD 24.25 Billion by 2028; International Agreements and Favorable Regulations to Favor Market Growth | Fortune Business Insights About Us: Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Address: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 9th Floor, Icon Tower, Baner, Mahalunge Road, Baner, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) The Naxal ambush on Wednesday has highlighted what is seen as the last major challenge for security forces in Chhattisgarh - foiling Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks in the forested tri-junction in Bastar region. Security officials cite the lack of foolproof technology to detect IEDs and the increasing desperation of Naxals, who are avoiding direct combat with the forces involved in operations to completely stamp out LWE violence in the state, for such incidents. The latest attack was the biggest strike by the Naxals on the security forces in the state in the last two years. Ten district reserve guard (DRG) personnel and a driver were killed when the extremists blew up their vehicle in the Aranpur area of Dantewada district. The explosion created a nearly 10-ft deep crater, splitting the road and completely destroying the vehicle. The geographical tri-junction of Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Odisha located right at the southern tip of Sukma district in the south Bastar region is an area that witnesses the maximum number of such incidents including the deadly 2010 Maoist ambush in Dantewada where 75 CRPF and one Chhattisgarh police personnel were killed. The Union government has maintained that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) has almost been wiped out in Jharkhand and Bihar due to sustained operations by security forces, noting that Naxal violence incidents have come down by 77 per cent in just over a decade. However, security officials say the menace of stealthily placed IEDs, especially in the border areas of south Chhattisgarh, "continues to pose a challenge" to them. "A general alert was issued to the security agencies stating that the Naxal-sponsored TCOC period is on and hence they should be alert while conducting operational and administrative tasks. "Unfortunately, the Naxals were successful in trapping the DRG vehicle in Dantewada. The exact reasons behind this incident are being investigated," a senior security officer in Delhi told PTI. The TCOC is an armed operation undertaken by the Maoists in March-June to strengthen their cadres and launch major attacks on security forces as forests are devoid of green cover, thereby increasing visibility and line of sight to ambush. These areas are controlled by the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee of the Maoists and led by the 'elusive' Hidma, stated to be the commander of the PLGA battalion no. 1 which is accused by police agencies of planning and executing hundreds of ambushes against the forces over the last two decades. The forces are trying to "capture, dominate and hold" these areas by constructing remote bases and roads. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has set up as many as 15 forward operating bases in Chhattisgarh over the last three years and some more are in the offing, a security officer based in Bastar said. These bases are being created so that small units of commandos based here can effectively hit the Naxals in their core areas and secure these locations for government agencies to launch development works, the officer said. The remote locations, dense forests and weak mobile phone connectivity are other major hurdles for the forces and government agencies that are operating in these areas. "However, continued efforts are on and we hope to achieve good results including ruling out the possibility of deadly attacks and ambushes on police patrol parties," the second officer quoted above said. The IEDs continue to be a cause of big trouble because of two factors, a CRPF officer said. The first is that as Maoists have run out of sophisticated guns, rifles and ammunition. They choose to not fight a one-on-one battle but launch surprise attacks, the officer said. They are not always successful as the forces have learnt their lessons of not taking the 'beaten track' now, but whenever they are successful, a number of security personnel are either killed or maimed, the officer said. "The second issue is that we still do not have foolproof technology to detect the IEDs. They are placed under blacktop roads, or hidden beneath culverts or bridges and are triggered by a person sitting far away as soon as a security vehicle or patrol is detected," he said. Many IEDs explode even when the troops are on foot and their trigger mechanism gets activated just due to the pressure of the feet. These incidents have injured more than 100 personnel over the last two years, the officer said. "The south Bastar region and its bordering areas and the IEDs are the last Maoist bastions to be breached. The forces are working towards this goal," he said. The Union government had told Parliament in December 2022 that incidents of Naxal violence have reduced by 77 per cent from the high of 2,213 in 2010 to 509 in 2021. The resultant deaths (civilians and security forces) reduced by 85 per cent from the high of 1,005 in 2010 to 147 in 2021, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai had said in a written reply to Lok Sabha, adding that the declining trend continued in 2022. The minister also said the geographical spread of the violence has also significantly reduced and only 191 police stations of 46 districts reported LWE-related violence in 2021 as compared to a high of 465 police stations of 96 districts in 2010. The decline in the geographical spread is also reflected in the reduced number of districts covered under security related expenditure scheme and the number of these districts reduced from 126 to 90 in April, 2018 and further to 70 in July 2021, data provided by him had said. The number of districts contributing approximately 90 per cent of the LWE violence, categorised as most LWE-affected districts, also came down to 30 from 35 in 2018 and further to 25 in 2021, he said. New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday arrested TMC leader Anubrata Mondal's daughter Sukanya Mondal on money laundering charges linked to an alleged cattle smuggling case, officials said. Anubrata Mondal was earlier arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as well as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the alleged cattle smuggling case. A primary school teacher in West Bengal's Birbhum district, Sukanya Mondal has been interrogated by the ED a few times in the past as well. Anubrata Mondal, the Birbhum district president of the TMC, was arrested by the CBI last August for his alleged involvement in cattle smuggling and was also named in the charge sheet filed by the agency in the case. Jammu, Apr 26 (PTI) A special NIA court has issued non-bailable warrants against 23 terrorists operating from across the border after exfiltrating from their home district of Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir, a senior police officer said on Wednesday. This was the second time that the special NIA Court, Jammu has issued non-bailable warrants against the terrorists hiding in Pakistan or Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on the request of the police since March. Earlier, non-bailable warrants were issued against 13 terrorists. Thirty-six individuals from Kishtwar went to Pakistan after joining terrorism over a period of time. Subsequently, two FIRs were registered against them to bring them to book, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kishtwar, Khalil Poswal said. He said while a special NIA court issued non-bailable warrants against 13 of them on March 1, a fresh non-bailable warrant was issued against the rest of the 23 terrorists on Tuesday. We want to arrest all of them and are approaching Interpol so that a Red Corner notice is issued. The process has already been initiated and we are sure to arrange their presence in the court of law, the officer said. He said the fresh non-bailable warrants have been issued in a case registered at police station Chatroo under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The SSP said Chief Investigation Officer, DSP Vishal Sharma approached the Special NIA Court for issuance of the warrants against the accused for their active involvement in terror activities and creating unrest in Chenab valley and other parts of Jammu and Kashmir. They (terrorists hiding in Pakistan) mobilised sleeper cells and pushed them into J-K in connivance with secessionist and separatist leaders for waging war against the Government of India with nefarious design of seceding Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India, he said. He expressed hope that Pakistan will cooperate in the arrest and deportation of the terrorists. Pakistan is duty bound to extend their cooperation in accordance with international law. We are involving the Interpol to ensure the arrest of the absconders. If Pakistan fails to cooperate, it will get exposed, the officer said. Poswal said various revenue teams have also been formed to identify the properties of the terrorists for attachment as per the law. New Delhi, April 26 (PTI) A group of Delhi BJP leaders, including its general secretary Kuljeet Chahal, who were protesting outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Wednesday were forcibly removed by the police and staff there. In a video, Chahal along with other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and a TV reporter could be seen being pushed away outside Kejriwal's official residence on Flagstaff Road in the Civil Lines area. Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana shared the video on Twitter and alleged that the person "misbehaving" with a reporter was the chief minister's "private" security person. No immediate reaction was available from the Delhi government or the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the incident. The BJP leaders had gone to visit the CM at his residence amid his party's claim that around Rs 45 crore were spent on revamping projects during 2020-22. New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) Several states have opened help desks and announced assistance like free travel and lodging for Indians evacuated from strife-torn Sudan once they arrive in the country. The Kerala government said it would make necessary arrangements to bring Malayalees evacuated from Sudan by the Centre to the state . A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided that Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department would assist evacuees at various airports, according to the chief minister's office. Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday opened a help desk at the resident commissioner office in Delhi for people from the state trapped in Sudan, a senior official said in Lucknow. "Those coming from Sudan can contact Neeraj Singh, assistant review officer on 8920808414 or Ashish Kumar, protocol assistant on 9313434088 or Whatsapp them about their problems," an order issued by Additional Resident Commissioner, New Delhi, Saumya Srivastava said. The Rajasthan government has decided to bear the transportation expense of all migrants from the state after they land in Delhi. The government will also arrange for boarding and lodging for the returnees, officials said Chief Resident Commissioner, Bikaner House, Shubra Singh urged all those affected from Rajasthan to furnish details to state authorities. Dhiraj Srivastava who is the Commissioner of Rajasthan Foundation - a government organisation that works to strengthen relationships between the state and non-Rajasthani residents - said the state government has decided to assist the returnees. "It will make sure that all the returnees from Sudan reach their families in Rajasthan free of cost from Delhi irrespective of whether they are they are travelling by flight, bus or any other form of transport, Srivastava said in a statement. The Madhya Pradesh government has started a helpline to assist people from the state as well as other parts of the country who are stranded in strife-torn Sudan. Those stranded in Sudan and are keen to come back to MP or other states can contact the helpline 91-755-2555582 and share their details, the official said. The state government will coordinate with the Centre to facilitate their evacuation, he said. The government has appointed the states home secretary Gaurav Rajput as the nodal officer for the purpose. Besides, relatives of Madhya Pradesh residents stuck in Sudan can also contact the CM Helpline 181 to register details about their near and dear ones for getting assistance, the official said. According to the official, the information can also be registered on the CM Helpline Portal http://www.cmhelpline.mp.gov.in. Under its evacuation mission 'Operation Kaveri ' launched on Monday, India has set up a transit facility at Jeddah and all the Indians have been taken to the Saudi Arabian city after their evacuation from Sudan. Two military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) evacuated over 250 Indians from Sudan after a naval ship rescued another 278 citizens from the strife-torn country. The total number of Indians evacuated so far from Sudan stands at around 530, according to official data. The first batch of 278 Indians was evacuated by Indian Navy's frontline ship INS Sumedha on Tuesday. Hours later, the first C130J heavy-lift transport aircraft of the IAF landed at Port Sudan to bring back more Indians. It was followed by evacuation by another C130J. India has set up a control room in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah to facilitate the evacuation of Indians from Sudan. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has reached Jeddah to oversee the evacuation mission. Sudan has been witnessing deadly fighting between the country's army and a paramilitary group for the last 12 days that has reportedly left around 400 people dead. India stepped up its efforts to evacuate the Indians from Sudan as a 72-hour truce was agreed to between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) following intense negotiations. Apart from the Sudanese authorities, the MEA and the Indian embassy in Sudan have been in regular touch with the UN, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and the US among others. At a high-level meeting on Friday last, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued directions for the preparation of contingency plans to evacuate Indians from Sudan. New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) Two people have been arrested for allegedly stabbing and robbing a 43-year-old television journalist while he was on a walk in east Delhis Sanjay lake, police said on Wednesday. The accused have been identified as Roshan Bharti and Shivam Kumar, both aged 22 years, they said, adding that efforts are on to nab their accomplice identified as Ambar Pandey. Among the accused, Bharti was found to be previously involved in a case of robbery in Mandawali, police said. The victim Dhan Sumod, who is the Delhi chief of bureau of Media One channel, was robbed of his mobile phone, wallet and his office identity card on April 22. According to police, the journalist, a resident of Mayur Vihar, was moving towards a park inside Sanjay Jheel when three men approached him. One of them stood in front of him asking for a match box. In the meantime, the remaining two also came near him, grabbed him and forced him to hand over his wallet and mobile phone to them. "When Sumod resisted, the individual who was holding the journo from his back, stabbed him with a knife and robbed him of his belongings, including the mobile phone and wallet, and fled from the spot. The victim sustained multiple injuries and was rushed to a hospital," a senior police officer said. Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Singh Yadav said CCTV footages related to the incident are being collected and analysed. Jaipur, Apr 26 (PTI) The bodies of two minor girls who had been missing for two days were found in the Narmada canal in the Sanchore area of Rajasthan's Jalore district, police said on Wednesday. The two girls had been missing since Monday night. On Tuesday, a kidnapping case was registered against four named accused on behalf of the girls' relatives under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the SC/ST Act. On the basis of the FIR, the four named accused are being interrogated in custody, Circle Officer (Sanchore) Roop Singh said on Wednesday. The post-mortem was done by a medical board but the girls' family members refused to accept the bodies and demanded Rs 50 lakh each in compensation and government jobs for their kin, Singh said. The girls' relatives and local residents are sitting on a dharna outside the Sub-Divisional Officer's office to press for their demands. The administration is holding talks with the girls' family members to end the stalemate, the police officer added. The girls' family members have alleged that they were killed and thrown into the canal. Singh said the actual cause of death would be revealed after the post-mortem report is received. Jaipur, Apr 26 (PTI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said the BJP and the RSS have the "dangerous intention" of bringing one-party rule to the country, and cited Russia and China as examples. Addressing farmers at a Kisan Sabha in Bikaner's Jasrasar, he said BJP leaders keep talking about a "Congress-free" India. "What is the meaning of BJP leaders talking about Congress-free India. What it means -- a one-party rule. It is very dangerous intention of the RSS as well of the BJP. If the country does not understand this in time the coming generations will suffer and elections will be held like in Russia and China," he said. Under the one-party rule, elections will be fake and only one party will come to power again and again, he said. It will also mean an end to the practice of politicians going to the poorest of the poor, to the Dalits, farmers and elders to seek their votes to become MLAs, MPs and Sarpanches, the Congress leader said. China is a one-party system. Russia is not, but one party now dominates its parliament. Gehlot said the agenda of the central government is taking a "dangerous turn" and the country needs to understand that. The meeting was also addressed by AICC in-charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, PCC president Govind Singh Dotasra, former leader of opposition Rameshwar Dudi and others. Gehlot said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should break his silence over the issues related to the Adani group being raised by the Congress party. He said PM Modi should also clarify his relationship with industrialist Gautam Adani. Earlier, Gehlot inspected a 'Mahangai Rahat Shivir' being run by his government and interacted with the beneficiaries of various schemes of the state government. Chandigarh, Apr 26 (PTI) The Punjab Police on Wednesday said it has arrested Nitin Nahar, a suspected member of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang. Two suspected associates of Nahar were also nabbed and three weapons and nine live cartridges recovered by the anti-gangster task force and the police in Amritsar. "In a major breakthrough, #AGTF and CIA @cpamritsar have arrested Nitin Nahar, an absconding criminal of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, along with his two associates and seized three weapons with nine live cartridges," Director-General of Police Gaurav Yadav said in a tweet. "With the arrest of these criminals, three planned murders and a number of extortion attempts have been averted. Further investigation is in progress," he added. New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) Chhattisgarh on Wednesday became the first state to move the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) alleging that central investigating agencies are being misused to "intimidate", "harass" and "disturb" normal functioning of non-BJP state government. The Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government filed the original suit challenging the law under Article 131 of the Constitution which empowers a state to move the Supreme Court directly in matters of dispute with the Centre or any other state. Chhattisgarh has thus become the first state to challenge the money laundering act and its provisions. Earlier, private individuals and parties have challenged the law on various grounds but the validity of law was upheld by a three-judge bench of the apex court last year. The suit said several complaints are being received by the state government on behalf of its officials as well as the residents of the state that the ED is "torturing, abusing, and manhandling" them in the garb of conducting a probe. It said because of this "blatant and excessive misuse" of powers, Chhattisgarh is being forced to approach the court. "It is imperative to state that this is not the first occasion wherein the ED has resorted to an illegal modus operandi. On multiple occasions, the approach has been employed concerning various states that hold a political stance opposite to the one in power at the Centre. Such conduct amounts to a severe misappropriation and arbitrary use of power, which goes against the constitutional mandate. Investigative agencies are expected to be entirely independent and uninfluenced," it said. A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha was told by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and advocate Sumeer Sodhi, appearing for Chhattisgarh government, that the issue is of constitutional importance and requires an urgent hearing. The bench said that the matter will be taken up for hearing on May 4. The suit filed through Sodhi said the "present case is a perfect example of how the central investigation agencies are being misused by those in power in order to intimidate, harass and disturb the normal functioning of an opposition government in the state of Chhattisgarh". It said that the state is seeking interference of this court under its original jurisdiction bestowed by virtue of Article 131 of the Constitution, in light of a dispute that has arisen between the state and defendants -- Union of India, state of Karnataka and Directorate of Enforcement (ED), involving questions of law and facts which affect the legal and constitutional rights of the state. Giving the details of a particular case, which prompted it to approach the top court, the Chhattisgarh government said a FIR was registered at Kadugodi police station in Bengaluru against a person named Suryakant Tiwari for offenses punishable under various sections of IPC including assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty and destruction of evidence. "The complainant in the FIR is Income Tax Department and the allegation pertains to alleged illegal collection on levy of coal as well as attempts to influence public servants through corrupt and illegal means in the state of Chhattisgarh," the suit said. It said that the ED on the basis of the predicate offense, registered an ECIR dated September 29, 2022 and started conducting its investigation. "The said investigation has resulted in indiscriminate surveys and raids at various departments and offices of the state government, and arrests of state officials," the Chhattisgarh government said. Referring to the provisions of the PMLA, it said that a criminal investigation process must adhere to the principles of openness, transparency, and established legal procedures. It said that certain amendments have been carried out to the provisions of the PMLA by way of finance acts of 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019 and these amendments to the PMLA through the route of the finance acts are liable to be struck down being colourable uses of legislative power, violative of Article 110(1) of the Constitution. In order to justify the effort of selecting individual stocks, it's worth striving to beat the returns from a market index fund. But every investor is virtually certain to have both over-performing and under-performing stocks. So we wouldn't blame long term abrdn Property Income Trust Limited (LON:API) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 42% over a half decade. We also note that the stock has performed poorly over the last year, with the share price down 35%. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 18% in the last 90 days. We note that the company has reported results fairly recently; and the market is hardly delighted. You can check out the latest numbers in our company report. So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. View our latest analysis for abrdn Property Income Trust To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. In the last half decade abrdn Property Income Trust saw its share price fall as its EPS declined below zero. The recent extraordinary items contributed to this situation. Since the company has fallen to a loss making position, it's hard to compare the change in EPS with the share price change. However, we can say we'd expect to see a falling share price in this scenario. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for abrdn Property Income Trust the TSR over the last 5 years was -24%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective Investors in abrdn Property Income Trust had a tough year, with a total loss of 31% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 4.7%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 4% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for abrdn Property Income Trust that you should be aware of before investing here. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Kochi, Apr 26 (PTI) Kerala government's ambitious Kochi Water Metro service, a first in the country and launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a day ago, commenced its commercial operations on Wednesday. The flagship project of the Left front government, set up at a cost of Rs 1,136.83 crore in the port city, will connect 10 islands using 78 electric boats and 38 terminals. Currently, 15 electric air-conditioned catamaran boats have started ferrying city residents across eight water routes. There are 15 proposed water routes. A group of differently-abled children enjoyed the inaugural trip of the water metro on the launch day. The vessels and the terminals which are constructed in a disabled-friendly manner. "The boats will start operating from High Court Water Metro Terminal and Vypin Water Metro Terminal from 7 AM. The ticket rate for this route is Rs 20. During peak hours, there will be boat service every 15 minutes in the High court- Vypin route. The boat services will continue till 8 PM," the Kerala Water Metro Limited (KWML) said in a statement. It said the countrys first Water Metro service will provide safe, affordable and pocket friendly travel for people in and around Kochi and also the tourists from across the world. The eco-friendly vessels can ferry up to 100 people each across the proposed 76-km-long routes at a speed of eight to ten knots. The boat had also won Gussies International Electric Boat awards, 2022. Metro officials said the vessels are fitted with the most advanced and safest battery technology which is capable of supercharging in 15 to 20 minutes. The vessels are also equipped with life-saving equipment including lifejackets and technology to prevent overcrowding. Apart from having an automatic boat location tracking system and a night navigation equipment, the panoramic windows of the vessels provide a visual treat of the scenic backwaters of Kochi. The solar-powered electric vessels with zero emissions have recyclable aluminum alloy hull bodies and the engines produce near to zero sound and vibration while running. The Kochi Water Metro service is fully funded by the Kerala government and KfW, a German funding agency. The terminals are built with state-of-the-art facilities and the jetties have floating pontoons with automatic docking system technology. The Water Metro is expected to ferry 34,000 passengers everyday. The integrated ticketing system allows passengers seamless travel on water metro and metro rail using the Kochi One card. For the future, KMRL plans to make the smart card usable for travel on feeder buses and auto-rickshaws. Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 26 (PTI) The opposition Congress on Wednesday alleged lack of transparency and corruption in the implementation of the AI camera project of the Kerala government and urged it to make public the information about the entire initiative, claiming the scheme was "shrouded in mystery". In a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly V D Satheesan claimed there was no information available in the public domain about the project contract, the agreement between the Transport department and KELTRON and the tendering process carried out by the company. Satheesan, in the letter, alleged that the cameras were purchased at prices higher than the market rates and there was no transparency in selection of the companies, by KELTRON, for installing the cameras as part of the Safe Kerala project. He further said that while the Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KELTRON) was commissioned by the Transport Department to implement the AI camera project, the service agreement in this regard was not publicly available. He alleged that KELTRON acted contrary to the terms of the service agreement, as it procured the camera materials and assembled them at high cost and also added huge amounts to the contract for warranty and maintenance, despite there being several AI cameras in the market which came with free warranty and maintenance. Mystery also surrounds the tendering process carried out by KELTRON to select the contract companies as it is not known who had participated and which firm was finally selected, Satheesan claimed. Furthermore, while KELTRON and the Transport department entered into an agreement to implement the AI camera project at a cost of Rs 232 crore, the company subcontracted the work to a Bengaluru-based firm -- SRIT -- for Rs 151 crore, the LoP claimed. He also claimed that SRIT, thereafter, formed a consortium with two other Kerala-based companies to implement the project which indicated that the Bengaluru-based firm had no technical knowledge about the work it was contracted to do. "It needs to be investigated on what basis a company with no technical knowledge was awarded the contract. All this points to corruption," he alleged. He further claimed, in his letter, that responsibility for the project was given to KELTRON disregarding the objections of the Finance department. Since Vijayan inaugurated the 'Safe Kerala' project, envisaged to reduce road accidents and traffic violations in the state last week, the opposition Congress has been vocal about its opposition to the initiative and alleged irregularities and corruption in connection with the same. Gonda (UP), Apr 26 (PTI) A youth was hacked to death in Bachhaipur village in the Dhanepur area here, police said on Wednesday. The incident took place on Tuesday evening when Saddam (22) had gone to a field to attend nature's call, Additional SP, Shivraj said. When he didn't return home his family members started to look for him and found his body lying in the field, he said. The body has been sent for postmortem examination. Police have detained some persons in this regard and a detailed probe is on. CHAIA ELWELL, Chariho, Girls Lacrosse, Junior; Elwell, a junior, scored the 100th goal of her career in a loss to North Kingstown. Elwell also had seven goals in a win against Smithfield. CAM ELENTENY, Stonington, Boys Lacrosse, Senior; Elenteny scored seven goals and had six assists in a pair of Stonington wins. Stonington is unbeaten this season with a 7-0 record. ZACH MINER, Westerly, Baseball, Sophomore; Miner pitched out of two jams to help the Bulldogs get past Narragansett. Miner allowed one run after entering the game with the bases loaded and no outs in the fourth inning. In the seventh, he ended the game with a strikeout with two runners on base. ADDIE STANLEY, Wheeler, Softball, Sophomore; Stanley homered, doubled and drove in a pair of runs in a Wheeler win against Tourtellotte. Stanley was 3 for 3 for the Lions. Vote View Results President Joe Biden has faced criticism from social media users after he repeated the line Theres no such thing as someone elses child during a White House event on Monday. The President spoke at the National and State Teacher of the Year Celebration and praised the award recipient, Oklahoma high school teacher Rebekah Peterson. Biden quoted Peterson, agreeing with her statement that there is no such thing as someone elses child. During his speech, Biden said, Rebecca put a teachers creed into words when she said, There is no such thing as someone elses child. No such thing as someone elses child. Our nations children are all our children. The President added, As I often say, you teachers hold the kite strings to lift our national ambitions aloft. You really do. Imagine. Imagine. Just imagine if we didnt have great teachers in this country. What difficulty. You are determining our future. Following the event, social media users expressed shock at the Presidents comment, with some showing concern that a political leader had stated that children belong to the nation. Stephen Miller, a contributing editor at The Spectator, tweeted, Please run on that one. Our nations children are all ou[r] children and thats why your daughter goes by Ralph now and ze/zer/xtey pronouns. Sorry.' (AP) The day he was fired, Tucker Carlson was nearly invisible on the Fox News prime-time lineup that he used to dominate. Were not talking about him, former colleague Sean Hannity said in one of the two very brief mentions of Carlsons name on Fox News on Monday night. In contrast, his ouster was the lead story on ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts. Carlson was abruptly bounced from his popular prime-time show earlier in the day without any explanation from Fox. It was less than one week after Fox had agreed to pay $787 million to settle a lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems over the networks dissemination of bogus election conspiracy theories, and it came as more legal threats loom. Brian Kilmeade took over Carlsons hour, telling viewers that Carlson and Fox had agreed to part ways, as you may have heard. He swiftly moved on to other stories. Hannity led his hour-long broadcast with a story on Hunter Biden, the presidents son, and interviewed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin. Carlsons name came up when Hannity did a segment on the other big media story of the day, CNNs firing of anchor Don Lemon. He brought on Kellyanne Conway, former aide to President Donald Trump, to criticize Lemon as a studio audience cheered. Were not talking about Tucker, Hannity said, unprompted. I dont have any details on it. He had a massive audience and he had a huge following. This guy (Lemon) had nobody. Foxs other prime-time host, Laura Ingraham, didnt mention Carlson. Instead, she criticized Democrats in her lead story, Whatever Happened to Hope and Change? She also did a segment on a contest in Belgium where people pretended to screech like seagulls. Carlson, Hannity and Ingraham appeared close in November 2020. Thats when they engaged in a three-way text conversation bashing their own networks news division following the presidential election, according to documents revealed earlier this year as part of Dominions lawsuit. Fox has said that rotating guest hosts will occupy Carlsons old time slot until a full-time replacement is named. (AP) In the latest Morning Consult Poll, it was found that former President Donald Trump is not only viewed as more electable than Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis by Republican primary voters, but he also enjoys a 37-point lead his largest ever in the primary race. The poll found Trump with support from 58% of Republican primary voters, whereas DeSantis got just 21% support. Other candidates were left in the proverbial dust, with Mike Pence receiving 7% support, Nikki Haley, Liz Cheney, and Vivek Ramaswamy getting 3%, and five candidates garnering support from just 1% Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Senator Tim Scott, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. The Morning Consult poll found that Trumps strength even extends to the general election. Among the 11 possible GOP candidates, Trump received the strongest support in a matchup with Joe Biden, and he hold a 29% lead over DeSantis over voters perceived electability. By a large margin, potential Republican primary voters say that its Trump who has the best chance of defeating President Joe Biden in the general election, Morning Consult Poll analyst Cameron Easley wrote. The demographic makeup of the potential GOP primary electorate is revealing on this front. Confidence in Trumps electability is more pronounced among the voters who were chiefly responsible for his success in 2016: white voters without a college degree, who constitute the bulk of the GOP electorate in our sampling. A majority of them (60%) say Trump has the best chance of defeating Biden in 2024, compared with just 40% of college-educated whites in the potential primary electorate. DeSantis, meanwhile, is seen as the most electable candidate by 22% of whites without a college degree and by 36% of college-educated whites. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The $787.5 million settlement between Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems spared executives and on-air talent from taking the stand in a defamation lawsuit that centered on Fox airing false claims of a stolen election in the weeks after former President Donald Trumps 2020 loss. The lawsuit still revealed plenty of what Fox personalities had been saying about the bogus election claims, including Tucker Carlson, the networks top-rated host who was let go Monday. His unexplained departure has turned a spotlight on what he said in depositions, emails and text messages among the thousands of pages Dominion released in the leadup to jury selection in the case. Carlsons messages lambasted the news division and management, revealed how he felt about Donald Trump and demonstrated his skepticism of the election lies so much so that Fox attorneys and company founder Rupert Murdoch held him up as part of their defense of the company. The judge who oversaw the case ruled that it was CRYSTAL clear none of the election claims related to Dominion was true. THOSE SPREADING ELECTION LIES Sidney Powell is lying, Carlson told a Fox News producer in a Nov. 16, 2020, exchange before using expletives to describe Powell, an attorney representing Trump. You keep telling our viewers that millions of votes were changed by the software. I hope you will prove that very soon, Carlson wrote to Powell a day later. Youve convinced them that Trump will win. If you dont have conclusive evidence of fraud at that scale, its a cruel and reckless thing to keep saying. There was no indication that Powell replied. Fox attorneys noted that Carlson repeatedly questioned Powells claims in his broadcasts: When we kept pressing, she got angry and told us to stop contacting her, Carlson told viewers on Nov. 19, 2020. Carlson told his audience that he had taken Powell seriously, but that she had never provided any evidence or demonstrated that the software Dominion used siphoned votes from Trump to Biden. Carlson continued to trash Powell and Trumps legal team in a Nov. 23, 2020, text exchange with fellow Fox host Laura Ingraham and also bemoaned what he considered the presidents passivity in the face of the two Georgia runoffs. After saying it was pretty disgusting that more attorneys hadnt pushed back on the claims of Trumps attorneys who were trying to overturn the election results, Carlson wrote: And now Trump, I learned this morning, is sitting back and letting them lose the senate. He doesnt care. I care. Ive got four kids and plan to live here. FOXS 2020 ELECTION COVERAGE Fox viewers were outraged when the network called Arizona for Joe Biden on election night, a race call that was accurate. Fox executives and hosts began to worry about ratings as many of those viewers fled to other conservative outlets. We worked really hard to build what we have. Those (expletive) are destroying our credibility. It enrages me, Carlson said in a Nov. 6, 2020, exchange with an unidentified person. On Nov. 8, after Biden was declared the winner, Carlson texted a couple of other employees: Do the executives understand how much trust and credibility weve lost with our audience? Were playing with fire, for real. Later in the chain, as others bring up Newsmax as an emerging competitor, Carlson said, With Trump behind it, an alternative like Newsmax could be devastating to us. In text messages to a producer on Nov 13, 2020, Carlson braced for a Trump press conference: Hes only good at destroying, Carlson said of the then-president. He later added, in regard to the fraud allegations being made by Trump and his allies, Hes playing with fire. TRUMP In a text exchange with an unknown person on Jan. 4, 2021, Carlson expressed anger toward Trump. He said that we are very, very close to being able to ignore Trump most nights and that I truly cant wait. Carlson said he had no doubt there was fraud in the 2020 election, but said Trump and his lawyers had so discredited their case and media figures like himself that its infuriating. Absolutely enrages me. Addressing Trumps four years as president, Carlson said: Were all pretending weve got a lot to show for it, because admitting what a disaster its been is too tough to digest. But come on. There really isnt an upside to Trump. In texts early on the morning of Jan. 7, 2021, a day after the violent assault on the U.S. Capitol, Carlson and his longtime producer, Alex Pfeiffer, bemoaned how the rioters had believed Trumps election lies. They take the president literally, Pfeiffer said. He is to blame for everything that happened today. The problem is a little deeper than that Id say, Carlson replied. Obviously the problems are deep but at the core of it is Trump saying it was stolen, Pfeiffer wrote. Not the core, Carlson wrote. Awful but a symptom. Later, Carlson writes of Trump: Hes a demonic force, a destroyer. But hes not going to destroy us. Ive been thinking about this every day for four years. FOX NEWS DEPARTMENT Some of the most heated vitriol was reserved for colleagues in the news division and included conversations with fellow on-air personalities Laura Ingraham and Sean Hannity. On Nov. 13, the week after the 2020 election, Ingraham, Carlson and Hannity got into a text message exchange in which they lambasted the news division. It began with Ingraham pointing out a tweet by correspondent Bryan Llenas, saying he had seen no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Pennsylvania. Carlson replied that Llenas had contacted him to apologize, then added when has he ever reported on anything. Ingraham then names another colleague who indicated there was no fraud, with Hannity responding: Guys Ive been telling them for 4 years. News depart that breaks no news ever. In a subsequent Twitter message seconds later, Hannity says, They hate hate hate all three of us. Ingraham responds she doesnt want to be liked by them and Carlson chimes in, Theyre pathetic. The conversation continues with Hannity bemoaning the damage that has been done to the brand: In one week and one debate they destroyed a brand that took 25 years to build and the damage is incalculable. Another text conversation by the trio three days later had Ingraham telling her colleagues that her anger at the news channel was pronounced, followed by an lol. In response, Carlson attacked two Fox anchors: It should be. We devote our lives to building an audience and they let Chris Wallace and Leland (expletive) Vittert wreck it. Too much. Wallace and Vittert have since left the network. The three hosts then started musing about a path forward after Ingraham says they have enormous power, and that they should think about how, together, they can force a change. Carlsons response: For sure. The first thing we need to do exactly what we want to do. Thats the key. Leland Vittert seems to have the authority to do whatever he wants. We should too. (AP) Florida Republicans are poised to change state law to allow GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis to run for president without having to leave office, according to legislation filed Tuesday. The proposal would exempt presidential candidates from Floridas so-called resign to run law, which prohibits elected officials from qualifying as a candidate for another office that would overlap with their current term. The legislative move was anticipated but its formal introduction marks one of the clearest signals yet that DeSantis plans to run. He is expected to announce after the states legislative session ends in early May. Republicans, who control a supermajority in the statehouse, have largely focused on the governors conservative priorities during the current legislative session, approving bills that will likely form much of the governors platform when he launches his White House bid. The resign to run exemption was filed by a GOP ally of DeSantis as an amendment to a larger Republican election law package expected to reach the Senate floor this week. Republican leaders of the House and Senate have both expressed their willingness to change the law. DeSantis is currently overseas as part of an international trade mission to Japan, South Korea, Israel and the United Kingdom. The governor in recent months has also ramped up his travel to U.S. battleground states for speeches and meetings with Republicans. There is precedent for changing the Florida law to help clear a path for potential candidates for higher office. In 2007, the Republican-controlled Legislature changed the law to prevent problems for then-Gov. Charlie Crist, who was being considered as a possible running mate for Republican John McCain in 2008. Crist later became a Democrat and challenged DeSantis for reelection last year. Only a handful of states have similar resign-to-run laws. (AP) RALEIGH, NC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / ACCESSWIRE , a newswire service standout that provides regional, national and global news to thousands of clients worldwide is proud to announce its gold-level sponsorship of this year's Public Relations Society of America's Employee Communications Connect23 Conference. ACCESSWIRE, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, Press release picture The conference, which welcomes communications professionals from around the country, will take place from Monday, May 1st through Wednesday, May 3rd at the World Center Marriott in Orlando, FL. The theme of this year's event is Blurred Lines: Embracing the New Demands of "Mixternal" Communications. As a gold-level sponsor and exhibitor at the event and an industry leader in press release distribution services, the ACCESSWIRE team will share its expertise and experience in helping companies, public and private, amplify their messaging above the noise of a crowded marketplace to connect with the media and their target audiences. "Communications professionals know all too well how confusing and difficult it can be to develop and execute a plan that turns their stories into earned media mentions. This is our sweet spot and we're thrilled to connect with attendees and talk about how we can help them unlock their potential to maximize their message and build brand awareness," said Jennifer Hammers, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Issuer Direct. "We continue to strengthen our relationship with PRSA and are proud to be an exhibitor and gold-level sponsor of this year's event." ACCESSWIRE , an Issuer Direct company, is one of the top newswires in the industry and offers global distribution, predictable flat-fee pricing, and top-tier customer service that's been recognized by numerous G2 badges including, "Easiest To Do Business With," "Best Relationship," "Most Implementable" and more. All in attendance are encouraged to visit the ACCESSWIRE table to enter its raffle. If you'd like to set up a private meeting with our team during the Employee Communications Connect23 Conference, click here Story continues ### About ACCESSWIRE/Issuer Direct Corporation Issuer Direct is a leading communications company, providing solutions for both Public Relations and Investor Relations Professionals for over 16 years. Our comprehensive solutions are used by thousands of customers from emerging startups to multi-billion-dollar global brands, ensuring their most important moments are reaching the right audiences, via our industry-leading newswire, IR website solutions, events technology, and compliance solutions. For more information, please visit www.issuerdirect.com . Issuer Direct Corporation Media Contacts: Brian R. Balbirnie +1 919-481-4000 brian.balbirnie@issuerdirect.com Jennifer Hammers +1 919-481-4000 jennifer.hammers@issuerdirect.com SOURCE: ACCESSWIRE View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/751369/ACCESSWIRE-Continues-Strong-Partnership-with-PRSA-as-Gold-Level-Sponsor-at-this-Years-Employee-Communications-Connect23-Conference A senior Shiite cleric in Iran was shot and killed Wednesday in an attack in a northern province along the Caspian Sea, authorities said. An attacker shot to death Ayatollah Abbas Ali Soleimani in Babolsar in Irans Mazandaran province, state television reported. Police later arrested the attacker, state TV said. Confusion persisted hours after the attack. Soleimani had been at a bank in the city when another man seized a guards firearm and began shooting over a personal dispute with an employee, striking and killing the cleric, state TV initially said. State TV later said it was the guard himself who opened fire. The discrepant accounts could not be immediately reconciled. The Interior Ministry announced it would launch a special investigation into the clerics slaying. Soleimani, 78, served on the Assembly of Experts, an 88-seat panel that oversees and appoints Irans supreme leader. He also once was the personal representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Irans restive Sistan and Baluchestan province. (AP) The man who was seriously wounded in the ramming attack in Jerusalem on Monday is still in serious and unstable condition on Tuesday. Shaare Tzedek Hospital issued a statement on Tuesday saying that the 80-year-old victim is sedated and ventilated in the ICU. The hospital added that the 30-year-old woman who was moderately wounded in the attack is in moderate and stable condition. The family of the elderly man has asked the public for tefillos as his life is at great risk. Please daven for a refuah sheleimah for Dovid ben Sultana btoch shaar cholei Yisrael. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Israels foreign minister on Monday called on Jordan to take action to bring to justice a Jordanian lawmaker who was arrested in Israel for allegedly trying to smuggle hundreds of guns into the West Bank. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said Israel was still investigating the incident, in which the legislator, Imad Al-Adwan, is accused of attempting to bring in weapons and gold illegally. Cohen called it an irresponsible, criminal act that cannot go unpunished This is a very serious incident, Cohen told Israeli news outlet Ynet. The basic demand is that he is brought to justice and that he pay a price. In a statement, the lawmakers brother, Amer Al-Adwan, said he was counting on Jordanian authorities to bring Imad home. Jordan and its neighbor Israel have had tense relations over recent years, despite a nearly 30-year-old peace treaty, and the lawmakers arrest threatened to further strain the ties. Al-Adwan was arrested on Saturday at a crossing between Israel and Jordan that Israel controls. It is unclear where he is currently being held. It was also not known if talks are underway between the two countries to address the incident. (AP) A Yom HaZikaron ceremony for fallen Chareidi soldiers took place on Monday evening in the Heichal Shlomo hall in Jerusalem. There were over 1,200 participants at the event, which was sponsored by Netzach Yehudah, including Netzach Yehudah soldiers, bereaved family members, Rabbanim, IDF officers, and MKs. The participants included, among many others, HaRishon LTzion HaRav Shlomo Amar, HaGaon HaRav Dovid Yosef, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi (Likud), Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu (Otzma Yehudit) and Minister in the Education Ministry Chaim Biton (Shas). At the ceremony, HaGaon HaRav Dovid Yosef spoke with great emotion about the moment his mother, Margalit, ah, heard that her brother Avigdor, hyd, had died on the battlefield. From then on, Yom HaZikaron was a very difficult and painful day for the family, HaRav Yosef said. Abba would leave his learning and go visit Saba. Saba would cry for many hours for his beloved son who wasnt zocheh to establish a family. : " . , , . : @tzvaim_pro : @tovito770 Vj: @YMoryosef pic.twitter.com/jCw5wnQxW1 (@israelnabul) April 25, 2023 (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning about the high risk of biological hazard after a central public laboratory with samples of measles and polio was seized by one of the sides fighting in the conflict in Sudan. The situation has been described as extremely, extremely dangerous. Dr. Nima Saeed Abid, the WHO Representative in Sudan, spoke to reporters in Geneva, Switzerland via video link, raising concerns about the occupation of the central public health lab. There is a huge biological risk associated with the occupation of the central public health lab by one of the fighting parties, Abid said. This development is a serious setback for the public health system in Sudan, where measles and polio are still major concerns. With the loss of these samples, there could be a setback in the efforts to combat the diseases in the country. It is unclear which of the fighting parties is responsible for seizing the laboratory. The WHO is currently working with the Sudanese government to ensure that the public health system is not disrupted any further. It has called on all parties involved in the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and protect health facilities and workers. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A defense attorney argued Tuesday at the close of a landmark trial over the Jan. 6 riot that the Justice Department is making Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio a scapegoat for Donald Trump after the former presidents supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Tarrio and four lieutenants are charged with seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors say was a plot to attack the Capitol to stop the transfer of presidential power from Trump to President Joe Biden after the 2020 election. In his closing argument, defense lawyer Nayib Hassan noted Tarrio wasnt in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, having been banned from the capital after being arrested on allegations that he defaced a Black Lives Matter banner. Trump, Hassan argued, was the one to blame for extorting a crowd outside the White House to fight like hell. It was Donald Trumps words. It was his motivation. It was his anger that caused what occurred on January 6th in your beautiful and amazing city, Hassan told jurors in Washington federal court. It was not Enrique Tarrio. They want to use Enrique Tarrio as a scapegoat for Donald J. Trump and those in power. Seditious conspiracy, a rarely used charge that can be difficult to prove, carries a possible prison term of up to 20 years. Tarrio is one of the top targets of the Justice Departments investigation of the riot, which temporarily halted the certification of Bidens election win. From the outset of the trial, Tarrios lawyers have accused prosecutors of using him as a scapegoat because charging Trump or his powerful allies would be too difficult. But his attorneys closing arguments were the most full-throated expression of that defense strategy since the trial started more than three months ago. Trump has denied inciting any violence on Jan. 6 and has argued that he was permitted by the First Amendment to challenge his loss to Biden. The former president is facing several civil lawsuits over the riot and a special counsel named by Attorney General Merrick Garland is also overseeing investigations into efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the election. A prosecutor told jurors on Monday during the first day of closing arguments that the Proud Boys were ready for all-out war and viewed themselves as foot soldiers fighting for Trump as the Republican spread lies that Democrats stole the election from him. These defendants saw themselves as Donald Trumps army, fighting to keep their preferred leader in power no matter what the law or the courts had to say about it, said the prosecutor, Conor Mulroe. Jurors could begin deliberating as soon as Tuesday after hearing closing arguments and a rebuttal from prosecutors. Tarrio, a Miami resident, is on trial with Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzola. Nordean, of Auburn, Washington, was a Proud Boys chapter president. Biggs, of Ormond Beach, Florida, was a self-described Proud Boys organizer. Rehl was president of a Proud Boys chapter in Philadelphia. Pezzola was a Proud Boys member from Rochester, New York. Attorneys for Nordean and Rehl gave their closing arguments on Monday. Tarrio is accused of orchestrating an attack from afar even though he wasnt in Washington that day. Police arrested him two days before the riot on charges that he burned a churchs Black Lives Matter banner during an earlier march in the city. A judge ordered Tarrio to leave Washington after his arrest. Defense attorneys have argued that there is no evidence of a conspiracy or a plan for the Proud Boys to attack the Capitol. Tarrio had no plan, no objective and no understanding of an objective, his attorney said. Pezzola testified that he never spoke to any of his co-defendants before they sat in the same courtroom after their arrests. Defense attorney Steven Metcalf said Pezzola never knew of any plan for Jan. 6 or joined in any conspiracy with the Proud Boys leaders. Its not possible. Its fairy dust. It doesnt exist, Metcalf said. Mulroe, the prosecutor, told jurors that a conspiracy can be an unspoken and implicit mutual understanding, reached with a wink and a nod. The foundation of the governments case, which started with jury selection in December, is a trove of messages that Proud Boys leaders and members privately exchanged in encrypted chats and publicly posted on social media before, during and after the deadly Jan. 6 attack. Another prosecutor, Nadia Moore, said the Proud Boys did more than just talk about their goal of keeping Trump in office. They marched to the Capitol and helped stop the certification of the Electoral College vote, she told jurors. These men arent here because of what they said. Theyre here because of what they did, Moore said Tuesday. Norm Pattis, one of Biggs attorneys, described the Capitol riot as an aberration and told jurors that their verdict means so much more than January 6th itself because it will speak to the future. Show the world with this verdict that the rule of law is alive and well in the United States, Pattis said. The Justice Department has already secured seditious conspiracy convictions against the founder and members of another far-right extremist group, the Oath Keepers. But this is the first major trial involving leaders of the far-right Proud Boys, a neo-fascist group of self-described Western chauvinists that remains a force in mainstream Republican circles. (AP) Agudath Israel of Missouri was invited by the State Treasurers office to bring a small group of representatives from Agudath Israel of Missouris partner schools to join the first annual MOScholars Day at the Capitol. Agudath Israel played a crucial role in the passing of MOScholars, the first private school choice program in Missouri. Agudath Israel of Missouri was one of the six educational assistance organizations (EAOs) certified by the State of Missouri. An EAO is a nonprofit organization that manages scholarship accounts for eligible Missouri children as part of the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program. The EAO may accept contributions from individuals and businesses who then receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit. Eligible students who apply for scholarships can then receive up to $6,375 to attend a private school of their choice. In the first year of the program, community members donated more than one million dollars to Agudath Israels EAO (Education Assistance Organization). Agudath Israels EAO awarded the second most scholarships in the state of Missouri. Agudath Israels delegation met with Representative Phil Christafonelli (R District 105), the house sponsor of the ESA bill, and expressed their gratitude for all he has done on behalf of Missouri families. On the Senate floor, Senator Andrew Koenig (R District 15), senate sponsor of the ESA bill, acknowledged Agudath Israels presence and mentioned the students who joined the MOSCholars Day by name. At a press conference, Treasurer Vivek Malek spoke about his passion for MOScholars, and shared how school choice opportunities made it possible for him to come from India as a student and eventually become State Treasurer. The group also met with Representative Joe Adams (D District 086), whose district includes three of Agudahs partner schools, and with Representative Adam Schwadron (R District 106), a supporter of school choice expansion. Agudath Israel of Missouri thanks the Treasurers office, present and past, for their assistance rolling out the MOScholars Program, and continuing to ensure its smooth operation, and the Botuck and Jackoby families for joining the Agudah on MOScholars Day. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping had a long and meaningful phone conversation Wednesday, their first known contact since Russias invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago. The phone call, which official said lasted nearly an hour, is a significant development in efforts to resolve the conflict. It comes two months after Beijing, which has long been aligned with Russia, said it wanted to act as a peace mediator in the war against Ukraine and after Xi visited Moscow last month. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraines ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations, Zelenskyy said in a Facebook post without elaborating. Ukraines presidential office said more details of what was said would be published later in the day. In China, the phone call was reported by state media. China Central Television said Beijing intends to send an envoy to Kyiv to discuss a political settlement for the war. Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commended Chinas approach but was scathing about Ukraines stance. Referring to the call, she praised Beijings readiness to strive to establish a (peace) negotiations process, while slamming what she called Kyivs rejection of any sound initiatives aimed at a settlement. Talks between the two leaders had been anticipated for weeks, after China produced a 12-point proposal to end the fighting. The phone call was for China another step toward deeper involvement in resolving the conflict. Despite that overture, Zelensky said in an interview with The Associated Press in late March that he hadnt spoken with Xi since the war began and extended an invitation for him to visit Ukraine. The peace proposal came on the heels of Chinas announcement that it was keen to act as mediator in the war that has reenergized Western alliances that are regarded by Beijing and Moscow as rivals. With the step, Xis government reinforced Chinas claim to being neutral in the war, despite blocking efforts at the United Nations to condemn the Kremlins invasion. While Zelenskyy has moved his country closer to NATO and has successfully pleaded with alliance member nations to send sophisticated modern weapons to help defeat Russia, Beijing has accused the West of provoking the conflict and fanning the flames by providing Ukraine with defensive arms. When, in February, China called for a cease-fire and peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Zelenskyy cautiously welcomed Beijings involvement. But he said success would depend on actions, not words. Russian President Vladimir Putin warmly welcomed Xi to the Kremlin, in what was seen as a powerful message to Western leaders that their efforts to isolate Moscow over the fighting in Ukraine have fallen short. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy on Wednesday used the 37th anniversary of the worlds worst nuclear disaster to repeat his warnings about the potential threat of a new atomic catastrophe in Ukraine amid his countrys war with Russia. Zelenskyy drew a parallel between the Chernobyl nuclear disaster on April 26, 1986, to Moscows brief seizure of the plant and its radiation-contaminated exclusion zone following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Last year, the occupier not only seized the (Chernobyl) nuclear power plant, but also endangered the entire world again, Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post in English. Russian forces were stationed at the Chernobyl plant between February and March last year, before it was recaptured by Ukrainian troops. Zelenskyy said Kyiv has since then reestablished prewar security measures and scientific activities within the zone. But he cautioned that future moves from Moscow could endanger global nuclear safety. Ukraine and the world have paid a high price for the liquidation of the consequences of the (Chernobyl) disaster, he said. Zelenskyys office published photos of him laying flowers at two Kyiv memorials to Chernobyl victims and observing a minutes silence. More than 150 members of the Ukrainian National Guard captured during Russias occupation of the Chernobyl exclusion zone remain in Russian custody, Ukraines environment minister said. Russian forces have also been stationed at Ukraines Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europes largest and one of the 10 biggest in the world, since capturing the site early in the war. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused the Kremlins forces of using the plant as a base for firing on neighboring Ukrainian-held territory. On Tuesday, Ukrainian officials reported that heavy Russian artillery fire hit cities on the western bank of the Dnieper River just across from the plant. Ukraines atomic energy provider Energoatom earlier this month accused Moscow of turning the plant into a military base, mining the perimeter. The plant has six reactors, all of which have been shut down over the past year. We must do everything to give no chance to the terrorist state to use nuclear power facilities to blackmail Ukraine and the entire world, Zelenskyy said in his Telegram post. The head of the U.N.s atomic energy agency, Rafael Grossi, has warned that the risks of nearby fighting amount to playing with fire, as a stray shell could trigger a catastrophe. The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, which Grossi leads, has been trying for months to obtain an agreement between Ukraine and Russia on securing the plant, whose reactors and other equipment still require an external electricity supply to operate safety systems. Zaporizhzhia, along with Donetsk, Kherson and Luhansk, is one of the four provinces that Russia illegally annexed last September. Amid the ongoing war of attrition and a broad battlefield stalemate, those eastern areas of Ukraine have had little respite from Russian bombardment. The head of the southeastern Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, Yurii Malashko, said on Wednesday that overnight the Russians struck 19 civilian areas with 53 artillery attacks, six rocket attacks, seven drone attacks and one airstrike. At least two civilians were killed and 13 others were wounded in Ukraine on Tuesday and overnight, the Ukrainian presidential office said. (AP) House Republicans made post-midnight changes to their sweeping debt ceiling package to win over holdouts, as Speaker Kevin McCarthy pushed ahead Wednesday with plans to launch debate and round up support from his slim majority for a vote this week. Facing a revolt from Midwestern Republicans over doing away with biofuel tax credits that were just passed into law last year by President Joe Biden, GOP House members relented and allowed the tax credits to stay on the books. Republicans also agreed to more quickly launch the bolstered work requirements for recipients of government aid, starting in 2024 as proposed by another holdout, Freedom Caucus Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who has led previous challenges to McCarthy. The changes were approved at a 2 a.m. session of the House Rules Committee despite earlier repeated insistence by McCarthy and his leadership team that there would be no changes. House Republicans were to meet privately early Wednesday to discuss next steps. The floor debate is expected to launch at noon Wednesday, a final vote on the sprawling package likely pushes to Thursday. Republicans hold a five-seat majority and face several absences this week, leaving McCarthy with almost no votes to spare. This week, we will pass the bill on this floor, McCarthy told reporters late Tuesday. The top Democrat on the panel, Rep. Jim McGovern, derided the midnight seance that produced the final package, particularly cruelly imposing stricter work requirements on recipients of food stamps and other government aid. Taking food away from people is a rotten thing to do, said McGovern of Massachusetts in the early hours of Wednesday morning. While the 320-page package has almost no chance of becoming law, McCarthy is using it as a strategy to shake up the debate. Biden has so far refused to engage with House Republicans on what the White House calls hostage taking over the debt ceiling, and threatened to veto the package, which couples a debt ceiling increase with restrictions on federal spending. McCarthy hopes passage will kickstart talks with Democrats. But McCarthy acknowledged after closed-door meetings late Tuesday that not all House Republicans were fully on board with the proposal. He insisted that passing this bill would be merely a starting point for negotiations with Biden and Democrats, and not the final product. Theres a number of members that will vote for it going forward and say there are some concerns they have, he said. But he said they will also say they are ready to vote anyway: They want to make sure the negotiation goes forward. Its a first big test for the president and the Republican speaker, coming at a time of increased political anxiety about the need to raise the federal debt limit, now at $31 trillion, to keep paying the countrys already accrued debts. The Treasury Department is taking extraordinary measures to pay the bills, but funding is expected to run out this summer. Economists and experts warn that even the threat of a federal debt default would send shockwaves through the economy. In exchange for raising the debt limit by $1.5 trillion into 2024, the bill would rollback federal spending to fiscal 2022 levels and cap future spending increases at 1% a year for the next decade. The package would also impose tougher work requirements on recipients of food stamps and government aid, halt Bidens plans to forgive up to $20,000 in student loans and end the landmark renewable energy tax breaks Biden signed into law last year. It would tack on a sweeping Republican bill to boost oil, gas and coal production. A nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analysis released Tuesday showed the Republican plan would reduce federal deficits by $4.8 trillion over the decade if the proposed changes were enacted into law. (AP) Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2023) - ACME Lithium Inc. (CSE: ACME) (OTCQX: ACLHF) (the "Company," or "ACME") is pleased to announce the completion of its 2023 winter drill program at its 100% owned Shatford Lake and Birse Lake lithium projects in southeastern Manitoba, Canada. ACME's Shatford-Birse claim area are contiguous to the south of Sinomine's world-class Tanco Mine, a Lithium, Cesium and Tantalum producer (LCTs) since 1969. Eight holes were completed totalling 3280m of diamond drilling Pegmatites were encountered in 6 of 8 holes 235 samples have been cut for assay and delivered to SGS Laboratories in Burnaby, BC Assay results are pending and will be released once received A Sci-Aps Z-901 LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) analyzer with lithium calibration was employed in the field program and returned values of geochemical level precision. Two drill holes intersected significantly elevated lithium analyses within gabbro, albitic pegmatites and wall rock. On the ACME claim area, the volcanic-sedimentary Bird River Greenstone belt hosts coeval, subvolcanic intrusive rocks, including the Birse Lake granodiorite. The entire area is overprinted by late brittle fracturing and faulting that host gabbro intrusions and the highly evolved, LCT-type Bernic Lake pegmatite group (including the Tanco pegmatite and the Shatford Lake groups). Extensive magnetite iron formation strata seldom outcrop but are now mapped accurately by the Company's airborne full tensor magnetic gradient (FTMG) survey (see March 7, 2023, news release). The drilling program demonstrated: Magnetic signatures mapped both stratigraphy and structure related to the LCT pegmatite targets Drilling has confirmed in three locations that lineaments mainly orientated at N45E that are parallel to the lineament associated with the Tanco pegmatite are a control on pegmatite emplacement Zones of structural extension and dilation are prime targets for possible pegmatite intrusion Multiple potassic and albitic pegmatites have been drill intersected occurring within an approximately 500m wide deformation zone in quartzites bounded by thin iron formation horizons and extending from the east end of Shatford Lake for 5 km Previously unknown relatively fine-grained intrusive rocks possibly indicating buried source plutons for pegmatites have been encountered in three areas associated with pegmatites and in one area with anomalous lithium values and indicate the occurrence of unexposed potential source plutons for lithium-bearing pegmatites Story continues In the northwest portion of the claim block, a single drill hole intersected intervals of feldspar porphyry adjacent to a 60m wide area with a high lithium geochemical background. This area is intersected by multiple late, apparently barren pegmatite dykes and may indicate an unexplored source pluton with potential for lithium-bearing pegmatites. Winter drilling was confined to previously Ministry approved drill sites and was limited by the availability of water under winter conditions. Ongoing geological and geophysical interpretation indicates untested structural settings, magnetic lows that may be due to pegmatite, and magnetic highs associated with gabbroic bodies. Dane Bridge, P. Geol. is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. About ACME Lithium Inc. Led by an experienced team, ACME Lithium is a mineral exploration Company focused on acquiring, exploring, and developing battery metal projects in partnership with leading technology and commodity companies. ACME has acquired or is under option to acquire a 100-per-cent interest in projects located in Clayton Valley and Fish Lake Valley, Esmeralda County Nevada, at Shatford, Birse, and Cat-Euclid Lakes in southeastern Manitoba, and at Bailey Lake in northern Saskatchewan. On behalf of the Board of Directors Steve Hanson Chief Executive Officer, President and Director Telephone: (604) 564-9045 info@acmelithium.com For Investor Inquiries: Anthony Simone Simone Capital Telephone: (416) 881-5154 asimone@simonecapital.ca Neither the CSE nor its regulations service providers accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Forward-Looking Statement This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur and in this news release include but are not limited to the attributes of, timing for and expected benefits to be derived from exploration, drilling or development at ACME's project properties. Information inferred from the interpretation of drilling, sampling and other technical results may also be deemed to be forward-looking statements, as it constitutes a prediction of what might be found to be present when and if a project is actually developed. ACME's project location adjacent to or nearby lithium projects does not guarantee exploration success or that mineral resources or reserves will be defined on ACME's properties. Exploration, development, and activities conducted by regional companies provide assistance and additional data for exploration work being completed by ACME. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to fluctuations in metal prices; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the planned work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from weather, logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Company's properties; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work program; the risk of environmental contamination or damage resulting from the Company's operations and other risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/163753 Governments and regulators work hard to close down banking crises as they happen, with dramatic weekend rescues and by opening special lending windows allowing immovable assets to be turned into cash. This is combined with reassuring comments about the turbulence being calmed in the hope that depositors will stop fleeing weak institutions. Current tumult may not be 2007-08 all over again, but it is easy to be complacent and think the fixes for Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in the US and Credit Suisse in Europe means that the worst is over. Detail from San Franciscos First Republic is hardly encouraging. The run on the bank was sort of halted in March, when a posse corralled by JP Morgan Chase injected $30billion (24billion) of deposits. It may not be 2007-08 all over again but it is easy to be complacent and think the fixes for Silicon Valley Bank in the US and Credit Suisse in Europe means the worst is over Beneath the surface, the bank was drowning and only previously undisclosed heavy short-term borrowings from the Federal Reserve, the Federal Home Loan Bank and JP Morgan, peaking at $138.1billion (119billion) on March 15 stopped it from tipping into the Pacific. It is still being propped up with $104billion (83billion) of emergency loans, which effectively places it among the living dead, as The Wall Street Journal describes it. Small wonder the shares have tumbled by a further 49 per cent, valuing the bank at $1.5billion (1.2billion). First Republic claims that it has sufficient cash resources to pay off those uninsured depositors who have not cut and run. But it is being kept afloat by expensive short-term funding and will need to sell off securities and packages of loans at a steep discount to survive generating large and possibly unsustainable losses. Equally disconcerting are latest updates from Zurich. UBS is not only having to liquidate Credit Suisses loan book but still has its own legacy problems dating back to the great financial crisis. Income plunged by 52 per cent in the first quarter and the bank is making provisions of $655million (532million) relating to litigation costs for sliced and diced sub-prime mortgages. When it opens up the tin at Credit Suisse, with its Greensill, Archegos and past exposures dating back to the financial crisis, who knows what it will uncover. After Stephen Hester moved into NatWest in 2008, in the tsunami of the financial crisis, he uncovered a torrent of worthless assets. The full scale of the disaster to hit US regional banks and weaker European lenders is not fully known. What we do understand, from remarks by Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey, is that social media and one-touch technology mean that deposits move to safer homes in the blink of an eye. Results from First Republic and UBS are hardly reassuring. Arm wrestle The London Stock Exchange (LSE) and City regulator the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have taken a pasting for the loss of Arm Holdings listing to New York. It sparked fears of further exits across the Atlantic. That is not how it is seen in the Square Mile. The LSE blames government. Amid the frequent leadership changes in Downing Street (including a non-stop revolving door at the Treasury, with four Chancellors over the last eight months), the LSE and FCA say the ball was dropped. It was easy for Softbank boss Masayoshi Son to waltz around UK politicians, with demands for a London listing, because of confused and mixed messaging. The LSE was willing to make existing rules work and the impressive FCA boss Nikhil Rathi is the author of a sweeping agenda for reform, with the aim of restoring Londons status as a great place to list shares. The real tragedy was the speed with which Theresa May and Philip Hammond allowed Arm to be sold in the first place. At the very least, they should have included a stipulation that if the Cambridge-based enterprise were restored to the public markets, London would be first choice. Howdy, yall! Fascinating to see that ABF-owned Primark is daring to tread where British Isles retailers have been serial failures. It is recognising that Texas, from where I have just returned, is one of the fastest growing states in the union. Oracle and Tesla are among the big tech outfits making the journey to state capital Austin. Primark has at least five Texas stores in its sights and, as in Florida, believes that the demography works for its customers. Bienvenida. NatWest will begin the search for a chairman after Howard Davies announced he would be stepping down from the role. The 72-year-old has served eight years on the banking groups board. It is appropriate to initiate the search for my successor, Davies said at the banks annual general meeting. Stepping down: NatWest chairman Howard Davies said he is to quit the role after serving eight years on the board He said he expects the search process and handover to occur before July 2024 when he reaches his nine-year tenure the maximum the UK Corporate Governance Code recommends that anyone should serve as a board member. The Manchester-born economist became chairman of NatWest Group in 2015, when it was called the Royal Bank of Scotland Group before a name change in 2020. During his tenure, he oversaw a return to profitability. But his time at NatWest hasnt been all rosy. In 2021, it was the first bank to be fined for money laundering failings and had to pay 265million for improperly monitoring 365million of deposits into the account of a Bradford jeweller. Vodafones largest shareholder has upped its stake in the group. Emirati mobile network operator e& also held talks about the telecom giants non-executive board, piling yet more pressure on the underperforming business. Previously known as Etisalat, e& increased its holding in the FTSE 100 group to 14.6 per cent from just over 14 per cent previously, according to a filing in the US. Emirati mobile network operator e& also held talks about the telecom giants non-executive board, piling yet more pressure on the underperforming business The move gives e& control of around 3.9bn Vodafone shares worth nearly 3.6billion. Vodafone shares rose 1.5 per cent, or 1.37p, to 91.05p. The investor, which is controlled by the government of the United Arab Emirates, has been slowly expanding its stake in Vodafone after initially snapping up a 9.8 per cent holding in May last year. Alongside its purchase of more shares, e& also said it had begun preliminary discussions earlier this month about the composition of the groups non-executive directors. Vodafone declined to comment. The talks are the first indication that the major investor is unhappy with the current direction of Vodafones business, which over the last six months has been buffeted by a weak performance in its core German market as well as the exit of chief executive Nick Read at the end of 2022. While chief financial officer Margherita Della Valle has been brought in as interim boss to steady the ship, the process to appoint a successor has dragged on for nearly four months. The turmoil at the top, as well as its sluggish business performance, has ratcheted up pressure on Vodafone, with other players in the industry circling the firm. In February, US telecoms giant Liberty Global snapped up a 5 per cent stake in the company, citing interesting catalysts for value creation. French tycoon Xavier Niel, the founder of internet and mobile operator Iliad, also announced in September that he had bought a 2.5 per cent stake through his vehicle Atlas Investissement. The London Stock Exchange Group has taken aim at the Government after the failure to woo Arm back to the UK. According to a source at the exchange, the effort was undermined because of government upheaval in 2022. This resulted in Masayoshi Son, boss of Japanese conglomerate Softbank, which owns the British tech group, announcing in March they would list it in New York. The London Stock Exchange played a key role in the negotiations and the listing would have been a much-needed victory for the bourse. But the source said the deal was undone by the UK having three different Prime Ministers in the space of two months at the back end of last year, a critical period when New York and London were both vying to secure Arm. In the spotlight: London Stock Exchange chief exec Julia Hoggett faces questions from MPs today about why Arm shunned the UK market It is understood Softbank and advisors around the deal became frustrated with Londons bid once the government run by Boris Johnson (pictured below) collapsed in July. There followed a period of political stagnation over the summer and then chaos as the Liz Truss government imploded within a matter of weeks. By the time Rishi Sunak took office in October, it was too late and the bid could not be put back on track. The source said: The upheaval cost the bid. Look at the timeline. Softbank and the bankers got fed up. It became shambolic. The goodwill between the parties had gone. Softbank made the announcement in March but minds were made up last year. The comments come as London Stock Exchange chief executive Julia Hoggett faces questions from MPs today about why Arm shunned the UK market and what can be done to boost Britains competitiveness. Under Johnson, the Government lobbied hard for Arm to come home with London in contention for a joint listing alongside New York. The bid was being co-ordinated by Lord Grimstone, the UKs investment minister, and digital minister Chris Philp who were both part of Johnsons team. They played leading roles in talks with the Japanese tech investor and had done most of the heavy lifting, including flying regularly to Japan to meet Softbank executives. Grimstone had been tasked with working on an unusual joint listing so that Arm could list equally in London and New York, something that had never been done before. Grimstone told Son that he would talk to US and UK regulators to try to get the unique deal over the line. But Grimstone and Philp had to resign in last July when Johnson was ousted. Son had publicly stated that New York was his favoured destination but admitted in June he had received a strong love call from London and was open to a UK listing. A second source who worked on the deal told the Mail: It was a unique situation and wed told Masa [Son] that we could make this work. There was a real chance we could have got it over the line. But the world doesnt wait for any government and by the time Rishi made a call to Masa, the world had moved on. It was a missed opportunity. The source added that, under Truss, the framework was undone and the bid to get Arm to list in Britain became chaotic with nobody taking responsibility for the float. He added that while Sunaks team was more competent, Softbank had already gone too far down the line with officials from New York. Arms failure to list on the London Stock Exchange was a hammer blow for the exchange and the Government. It is one of only a handful of British tech success stories and was FTSE 100 darling before it was sold to the Japanese giant in 2016. Under Softbank, however, the company struggled and last year sales fell due to a plunge in licensing revenue. Arm will list in the US later this year to much fanfare, in what is likely to be one of the biggest floats in 2023. The decision also put further pressure on the London Stock Exchange after a string of FTSE-listed companies said they will follow Arm across the Atlantic. They include building materials giant CRH, gambling company Flutter and education publishers Pearson. Lord Grimstone added: London used to be the listing capital of the world it is important we regain it. Google owner Alphabet and Microsoft both fared better than expected last night, in a change of fortunes for the embattled tech sector. Alphabet pulled in revenues of 56.2billion in the three months to March edging just above the 56billion analysts had expected. Profits slid to 12.1billion, compared to 13.25billion a year earlier but beat analyst estimates of 11.1billion. 182m payday: Google owner Alphabet, led by Sundar Pichai (pictured with his wife Anjali) pulled in revenues of 56.2bin in the three months to March Alphabet said its board of directors had given the green light for 56.4billion in share repurchases which could result in the same pace of buybacks as last year. Google has felt the strain of slowing advertising spending, driven by global economic uncertainty, in recent years. But Alphabet chief executive Sundar Pichai, who recently landed a 182million pay package, said in a statement: We see huge opportunities ahead, continuing our long track record of innovation. Microsoft also said late yesterday that its revenues were up 7 per cent year-on-year to 42.6billion in the three months to March, beating analysts expectations of 41billion. Profits also increased by 9 per cent to 14.8billion, above the 13.3billion estimated. The company has previously suffered the wrath of businesses pulling back on spending, especially across cloud services and software licences. But yesterday it pointed to growth in cloud computing sales. And Satya Nadella, Microsoft chairman and chief executive, said a new era of computing was on the way and that his firm was the platform of choice for customers interested in artificial intelligence (AI). Shares in the two tech giants which released results after the US stock market closed on Tuesday were up in after-hours trading. Although both companies have doubled down on AI investment in recent months, they have also been on a mission to drive down costs. Alphabet announced it would be laying off 12,000 employees worldwide, while Microsoft has let go around 10,000. The CBI's future looked bleak last night after a leading City figure warned that its days were numbered. Baroness Morrissey, a long-serving financier, believes the business lobby group's apologies following a string of sexual harassment and rape allegations have been 'too little, too late'. The organisation had already lost credibility in the business community, said the peer. Influential: Baroness Morrissey believes the business lobby group's apologies following a string of sexual harassment and rape allegations have been 'too little, too late' 'Losing trust is so quick and easy to do, and regaining it is so difficult,' she said. 'Their [the CBI's] job is to represent business but they don't have the ear of government and they don't have the confidence of business.' Asked if she thought the CBI was finished, she said: 'I do I'm afraid.' The scandals engulfing the lobbying outfit include the abrupt firing of its director-general Tony Danker after allegations of inappropriate behaviour while allegations of rape and sexual assault have been made against other members of the organisation. Danker, 51, has claimed he has been made a 'fall guy' for the wider crisis. The emergence of a second rape allegation from a female employee last week sparked a mass exodus of large firms, including insurance giant Aviva, retailer John Lewis and telecoms group BT. The Government and the Labour Party have also cut ties. And yesterday, the City of London Corporation, the body that governs the Square Mile, said it was suspending its CBI membership. A spokesman said it condemned the 'culture of abuse at the CBI'. But Morrissey, 57, criticised Danker's replacement Rain Newton-Smith, a former CBI chief economist who took over earlier this month. 'I'm sure she's wonderful in lots of respects but it doesn't quite cut the mustard if you're trying to show that you are embracing a new approach to all of this,' Morrissey told the BBC. Martha Lane Fox, a businesswoman and president of the British Chambers of Commerce, a business network with around 53 branches across the UK, said the group could step in to fill the gap left by the CBI's implosion. 'The BCC is an extremely vibrant and very long-term network,' she said. 'We have 100,000 businesses internationally and 53 chambers. A different structure built up locally with national representation.' Martha Lane Fox, president of the British Chambers of Commerce, said the group could step in to fill the gap left by the CBI's implosion The comments followed reports that the BCC had experienced a jump in inquiries, particularly from large businesses amid the scandal engulfing the CBI as firms searched for new representation ahead of next year's general election. But Paul Drechsler, who served as president of the CBI from 2015 to 2018, hit back against claims the organisation was defunct, saying its status was unique in Britain's business community. He said: 'In a crisis like this, the board and the management need to declare whether they want to fight or flight.' Drechsler told Times Radio that the group had 'without question the best economic team in terms of industrial economics in the UK.' He added: 'It is the organisation that represents the UK, in the international settings for the G7 and G20. Whatever happens, the UK needs all of that.' The CBI, founded in 1965, effectively mothballed itself last week after dozens of major firms ended or suspended their ties with the group. The flood has since slowed to a trickle as more businesses and groups sever their links. Sensodyne maker Haleon suspended its ties with the CBI despite only being a member for six months, while the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the trade body for the UK's car industry, has suspended its engagement with the CBI following the 'serious and disturbing allegations. Traveller numbers jumped 74% to 16.9m in the first three months of 2023 Heathrow is challenging new customer pricing rules, which bosses blame for the airport slipping to an adjusted loss of 139million at the start of the year. The British Airways hub recorded a 74 per cent annual surge in passenger numbers to 16.9 million in first three months of 2023, reflecting a bounce back in travel from Covid-19 restrictions suffered last year. The rebound helped Heathrow retain its position as Europe's busiest airport, as revenues bounced 57.8 per cent to 814million over the period. But Heathrow Airport was forced to cut passenger charges last month, following a long-awaited decision by the aviation regulator - these charges are paid by airlines to use the airport. The rebound in travel helped Heathrow retain its position as Europe's busiest airport The Civil Aviation Authority capped Heathrow's average charge per passenger lower than previous expectations after a better-than-expected recovery in demand for flights and trips abroad. At the time a spokesman from Heathrow slammed the decision, claiming it 'makes no sense and will do nothing for consumers'. How do the charges work? The fees are charged directly to airlines, and the change will benefit the likes of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic by making the airport cheaper for them. The fees are typically passed onto customers via airline tickets. Under the new terms, the charge will fall from 31.57 for 2023 and last year, to 25.43 over the next three years. Passengers had been expected to face an average charge of 28.39 in nominal charges over the five-year period to 2026. The CAA said it has now reduced this average by 90p to 27.49 for the period. Heathrow had sought to increase charges to a range between 32 and 43 over the four year period. Heathrow told investors Wednesday it is challenging the CAA's decision, as well as other new regulatory developments, which the Competition and Markets Authority will make a final decision on 'between August and October'. The airport also took aim at the Government, joining calls for an end to the so-called 'tourist tax'. Burberry chairman Gerry Murphy brought the spat to the fore earlier this week, attacking Rishi Sunak's decision when Chancellor to remove VAT refunds on foreign visitors' shopping. The Prime Minister left the door open to a U-turn on the tax, saying he was ready to look at data showing 'what's happening on the ground'. Heathrow said on Wednesday: 'We urge Ministers to make the UK more competitive for overseas visitors versus the EU by removing the 'tourist tax' of VAT on shopping which will drive more spend in shops, restaurants and attractions across Britain.' Chief executive John Holland-Kaye added: '2023 has got off to a strong start, and I'm proud of the way colleagues are working together to deliver great passenger service every day. 'We are building our route network to connect all of Britain to the growing markets of the world - now we need the government to lure international visitors back to the UK by scrapping the 'tourist tax'.' Reckitt Benckiser has named Kris Licht as its next chief executive, succeeding interim boss Nicandro Durante by the end of the year after a transition period. Licht, who has served as president of Reckitt's health business and as chief customer officer since July 2020, will be appointed to the board as an executive director from 1 June. A trading update today also revealed Reckitt increased prices by 12.4 per cent in the last few months, while sales volumes slipped by 4.5 per cent. Incoming new boss: Kris Licht has been named as the incoming new boss of Reckitt Reckitt shares fell today and were down 3.45 per cent or 224.00p to 6,276.00p this afternoon. 'Having played a pivotal role in both the transformation strategy and the significant turnaround of our Health GBU over the last three years, Kris is the right leader to take Reckitt on the next stage of its exciting journey,' Durante, a former BAT chief executive, said. He added: 'It was a very well-informed choice and the board had the luxury of time because I was here...that's why the process took eight months.' Durante will stay with Reckitt until December 'to ensure a smooth transition'. Neil Denman, a fund manager at Reckitt investor Sarasin & Partners, said: 'I very much like the continuity of an internal appointment. You're not getting an external CEO saying they're going to come in and change things.' The group, which makes Durex condoms and Lysol cleaning products, reported like-for-like net revenue growth of 7.9 per cent in the first quarter, beating analyst forecasts of a 3.6 per cent rise in consensus forecast provided by the company. 'A good set of results after what has been quite a choppy time for the company,' Denman said, referring to the chief executive's looming departure. Reckitt, which also makes Nurofen tablets, cold remedy Lemsip and Dettol hygiene products, expects like-for-like net revenue growth of 3 to 5 per cent for the year after beating sales expectations for several quarters in a row, helped by price rises. Prices: Reckitt has increased prices by 12.4% between January and March, it said The consumer goods industry has increased prices to make up for about two years of rising raw materials prices, and supply chain and energy costs, which began with the pandemic and was exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In some cases, manufacturers' price increases have prompted shoppers to shift away from big brands towards retailers' cheaper own-label products. Investors have also voiced concerns about the impact on sales volumes and margins if prices continue to rise. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: 'The FTSE 100 revolving door keeps spinning, this time with Kris Licht announced as the new chief executive of Reckitt. Interestingly this is an internal promotion, meaning there should be a continuation of the existing culture in the business. 'Reckitt has made plenty of mistakes in the past, including being too greedy with pricing, being slow with product innovation and overpaying for baby formula maker Mead Johnson in 2017. 'Licht was instrumental in helping to put the health business back on track and his task will now involve making the whole group more efficient and to drive up profit margins. 'At the moment Reckitt has been passing on extra costs to the customer via higher prices but volumes have been declining, illustrating how many people have been trading down from popular brands to supermarket own-label items which are more affordable. 'If economic conditions continue to be tough around the world, there is a risk to Reckitt this trend remains intact.' Shares of FinecoBank Banca Fineco S.p.A. (OTCMKTS:FCBBF Get Rating) have been given an average recommendation of Hold by the seven brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $16.95. FCBBF has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. UBS Group lowered FinecoBank Banca Fineco from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Barclays downgraded FinecoBank Banca Fineco from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on FinecoBank Banca Fineco in a research note on Monday, February 6th. They issued an underperform rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley began coverage on FinecoBank Banca Fineco in a research note on Monday, March 27th. They issued an overweight rating on the stock. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded FinecoBank Banca Fineco from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 22nd. Get FinecoBank Banca Fineco alerts: FinecoBank Banca Fineco Price Performance Shares of FCBBF stock opened at $17.70 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $17.70 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $14.87. FinecoBank Banca Fineco has a 12-month low of $11.61 and a 12-month high of $17.70. FinecoBank Banca Fineco Company Profile FinecoBank SpA engages in the provision of banking, trading, and investing solutions. It offers multicurrency accounts, payment cards, mortgages and loans, and financial consulting services. The company was founded by Emilio Gnutti in 1979 and is headquartered in Reggio Emilia, Italy. See Also Receive News & Ratings for FinecoBank Banca Fineco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FinecoBank Banca Fineco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Activision Activision Blizzard shares sank Wednesday after the UK blocked its pending buyout by Microsoft. A UK regulator said the $69 billion deal would cause "harm" to competition in cloud gaming in the country. Microsoft said it will appeal the regulator's decision. Activision Blizzard sharply dropped Wednesday after the "Call of Duty" publisher's pending buyout by Microsoft was rejected by a UK regulator on the grounds it would hurt competition in cloud gaming. Activision shares fell about 10% at the open to $79.30. The stock dropped below $80 a share for the first time in a month after the $69 billion merger deal was blocked. "We remain fully committed to this acquisition and will appeal," Microsoft said about the decision by the UK Competition and Markets Authority related to the deal it struck in January 2022. "Cloud gaming needs a free, competitive market to drive innovation and choice. That is best achieved by allowing the current competitive dynamics in cloud gaming to continue to do their job," the CMA said in a statement outlining Microsoft's "strong position" in cloud gaming services. It said the merger would cause "harm" to competition in cloud gaming in the UK. Ahead of the UK decision, the stock had been up 13% in 2023. Microsoft was preparing to close its Activision deal despite the US Federal Trade Commission's move to block it because of antitrust concerns, the New York Post reported Tuesday. The company was feeling confident it was set to secure UK approval, the report said, citing unnamed sources. The CMA said the deal would reinforce Microsoft's advantage in the market by giving it control over "important gaming content" including "Call of Duty," "Overwatch," and "World of Warcraft". The regulator said Microsoft accounts for up to 70% of global cloud gaming services stemming from its ownership of videogame system Xbox, Windows PC operating system and cloud computing infrastructure in Azure and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Story continues "The evidence available to the CMA indicates that, absent the merger, Activision would start providing games via cloud platforms in the foreseeable future," it said. Microsoft said it had signed contracts to make Activision Blizzard's games available on 150 million more gaming devices and it would reinforce the commitments through regulatory remedies. "[This] decision appears to reflect a flawed understanding of this market and the way the relevant cloud technology actually works," Brad Smith, Microsoft's president, said in a statement. Microsoft shares surged early Wednesday after the ChatGPT investor revealed AI boosted its cloud sales. Quarterly results released late Tuesday beat Wall Street's expectations. Shares of the tech giant were up almost 7%, to $293.80 shortly after the opening bell. Read the original article on Business Insider Shares of Dycom Industries, Inc. (NYSE:DY Get Rating) have been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the seven research firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $125.80. Several analysts recently commented on the stock. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Dycom Industries from $124.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Craig Hallum boosted their price target on shares of Dycom Industries from $110.00 to $124.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Dycom Industries in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Dycom Industries from $88.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Get Dycom Industries alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Dycom Industries In other news, VP Ryan F. Urness sold 3,300 shares of Dycom Industries stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.90, for a total value of $313,170.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 26,242 shares in the company, valued at $2,490,365.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CFO H Andrew Deferrari sold 10,282 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.11, for a total value of $967,639.02. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 148,425 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,968,276.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Ryan F. Urness sold 3,300 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.90, for a total transaction of $313,170.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 26,242 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,490,365.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 4.32% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Dycom Industries Stock Performance Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC increased its position in Dycom Industries by 8.0% during the 1st quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 9,400 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $880,000 after purchasing an additional 700 shares during the period. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System bought a new position in Dycom Industries during the 1st quarter valued at $1,115,000. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System lifted its stake in Dycom Industries by 74.7% during the 1st quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 13,800 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,292,000 after acquiring an additional 5,900 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its stake in Dycom Industries by 55.1% during the 1st quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 116,631 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $10,922,000 after acquiring an additional 41,443 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State of Alaska Department of Revenue lifted its stake in Dycom Industries by 393.7% during the 1st quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 20,250 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,896,000 after acquiring an additional 16,148 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.82% of the companys stock. Shares of DY stock opened at $89.10 on Friday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $92.26 and its 200-day simple moving average is $95.80. Dycom Industries has a 52 week low of $76.21 and a 52 week high of $122.13. The company has a current ratio of 3.18, a quick ratio of 2.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93. The company has a market cap of $2.62 billion, a PE ratio of 18.80 and a beta of 1.30. Dycom Industries (NYSE:DY Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The construction company reported $0.83 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.17 by $0.66. Dycom Industries had a net margin of 3.73% and a return on equity of 16.43%. The company had revenue of $917.50 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $815.89 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.02 EPS. The companys revenue was up 20.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Dycom Industries will post 4.97 EPS for the current year. Dycom Industries Company Profile (Get Rating) Dycom Industries, Inc provides contracting services throughout the United States. Its services include engineering, construction, maintenance and installation services to telecommunications providers, underground facility locating services to various utilities, including other construction and maintenance services to electric and gas utilities, and others. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Dycom Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dycom Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM Get Rating) (TSE:AEM) Stock analysts at Raymond James upped their Q1 2023 earnings estimates for shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a research report issued on Wednesday, April 19th. Raymond James analyst F. Hamed now anticipates that the mining company will earn $0.52 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $0.42. Raymond James currently has a Outperform rating and a $67.00 target price on the stock. The consensus estimate for Agnico Eagle Mines current full-year earnings is $1.96 per share. Raymond James also issued estimates for Agnico Eagle Mines Q2 2023 earnings at $0.42 EPS and FY2023 earnings at $1.66 EPS. Get Agnico Eagle Mines alerts: Several other research firms have also issued reports on AEM. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. TheStreet raised shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Wednesday, January 25th. National Bank Financial cut their price objective on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from C$89.00 to C$88.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from $62.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Scotiabank started coverage on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a report on Monday, April 3rd. They set an outperform rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $70.63. Agnico Eagle Mines Trading Up 0.3 % Agnico Eagle Mines stock opened at $56.32 on Monday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $51.02 and a 200 day moving average of $50.38. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.55, a P/E/G ratio of 28.78 and a beta of 0.80. Agnico Eagle Mines has a 12-month low of $36.69 and a 12-month high of $60.79. The company has a current ratio of 2.30, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM Get Rating) (TSE:AEM) last released its earnings results on Friday, February 17th. The mining company reported $0.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.39 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $1.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.42 billion. Agnico Eagle Mines had a net margin of 11.67% and a return on equity of 6.18%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 45.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.46 EPS. Institutional Trading of Agnico Eagle Mines A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of AEM. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in Agnico Eagle Mines by 86.4% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 540,450 shares of the mining companys stock worth $33,097,000 after buying an additional 250,445 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE lifted its position in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 108.6% during the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 4,420 shares of the mining companys stock worth $270,000 after purchasing an additional 2,301 shares during the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp lifted its position in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 37.6% during the first quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 2,795 shares of the mining companys stock worth $171,000 after purchasing an additional 764 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. bought a new stake in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines during the first quarter worth $678,000. Finally, BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 44.0% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 364,215 shares of the mining companys stock worth $22,304,000 after purchasing an additional 111,208 shares during the last quarter. 58.11% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Agnico Eagle Mines Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 1st were given a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 28th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.84%. Agnico Eagle Miness dividend payout ratio is presently 106.67%. About Agnico Eagle Mines (Get Rating) Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. engages in the exploration and production of gold. It operates through the following segments: Northern Business, Southern Business, and Exploration. The Northern Business segment comprises of LaRonde mine, LaRonde Zone 5 mine, Lapa mine, Goldex mine, Meadowbank mine including the Amaruq deposit, Canadian Malartic joint operation, Meliadine project and Kittila mine. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Agnico Eagle Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Agnico Eagle Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Thunder Mountain Gold (OTCMKTS:THMG Get Rating) is one of 102 publicly-traded companies in the Metal mining industry, but how does it contrast to its rivals? We will compare Thunder Mountain Gold to related companies based on the strength of its institutional ownership, earnings, dividends, risk, valuation, profitability and analyst recommendations. Insider & Institutional Ownership 0.0% of Thunder Mountain Gold shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 21.7% of shares of all Metal mining companies are owned by institutional investors. 29.5% of Thunder Mountain Gold shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 11.8% of shares of all Metal mining companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Get Thunder Mountain Gold alerts: 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 rivals have a beta of 1.33, meaning that their average stock price is 33% more volatile than the S&P 500. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Thunder Mountain Gold -415.33% -185.48% -59.67% Thunder Mountain Gold Competitors -412.55% -2.77% -3.30% Analyst Ratings This table compares Thunder Mountain Gold and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. This is a summary of recent recommendations for Thunder Mountain Gold and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Thunder Mountain Gold 0 0 0 0 N/A Thunder Mountain Gold Competitors 918 2150 2764 94 2.34 As a group, Metal mining companies have a potential upside of 33.67%. Given Thunder Mountain Golds rivals higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Thunder Mountain Gold has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Thunder Mountain Gold and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Thunder Mountain Gold $300,000.00 -$1.25 million -4.50 Thunder Mountain Gold Competitors $8.23 billion $2.21 billion -3.79 Thunder Mountain Golds rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Thunder Mountain Gold. Thunder Mountain Gold 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 Thunder Mountain Gold rivals beat Thunder Mountain Gold on 9 of the 10 factors compared. Thunder Mountain Gold Company Profile (Get Rating) Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. operates as a mineral exploration company, which engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of premier precious and base metal properties. Its projects include South Mountain located southwest of Boise, Idaho and Trout Creek located in Nevada. The company was founded on November 9, 1935 and is headquartered in Boise, ID. 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. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:NBY Get Rating) in a research note released on Tuesday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Price Performance NBY stock opened at $1.32 on Tuesday. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals has a fifty-two week low of $1.24 and a fifty-two week high of $12.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.69 million, a P/E ratio of -0.14 and a beta of 2.73. Get NovaBay Pharmaceuticals alerts: About NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (Get Rating) Recommended Stories NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc engages in the development and sales of scientifically-created and clinically-proven eyecare and skincare. Its products include Avenova, NeutroPhase, CelleRx, and DERMAdoctor. The company was founded on January 19, 2000 and is headquartered in Emeryville, CA. Receive News & Ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB Get Rating) Director Alan B. Colberg acquired 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $34.14 per share, with a total value of $341,400.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 10,050 shares in the company, valued at $343,107. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. U.S. Bancorp Trading Down 3.1 % Shares of NYSE:USB opened at $31.77 on Wednesday. U.S. Bancorp has a 12-month low of $31.30 and a 12-month high of $53.37. The company has a market capitalization of $48.66 billion, a PE ratio of 8.45, a PEG ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 0.93. The business has a 50 day moving average of $39.40 and a two-hundred day moving average of $42.75. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. Get U.S. Bancorp alerts: U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The financial services provider reported $1.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.13 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $7.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.14 billion. U.S. Bancorp had a net margin of 19.21% and a return on equity of 16.70%. The companys revenue was up 28.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.99 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that U.S. Bancorp will post 4.67 EPS for the current year. U.S. Bancorp Dividend Announcement Institutional Inflows and Outflows The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 31st were paid a dividend of $0.48 per share. This represents a $1.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.04%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 30th. U.S. Bancorps payout ratio is 51.06%. Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Everhart Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 18.8% during the 1st quarter. Everhart Financial Group Inc. now owns 7,498 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $270,000 after buying an additional 1,188 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 10.6% during the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 16,988 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $612,000 after buying an additional 1,635 shares during the period. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp during the first quarter worth approximately $2,776,000. Monarch Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 18.2% during the first quarter. Monarch Capital Management Inc. now owns 117,590 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,273,000 after purchasing an additional 18,139 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ascent Wealth Partners LLC increased its position in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 50.3% during the first quarter. Ascent Wealth Partners LLC now owns 28,603 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $995,000 after purchasing an additional 9,572 shares in the last quarter. 71.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms recently weighed in on USB. Oppenheimer raised their target price on shares of U.S. Bancorp from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of U.S. Bancorp from $52.50 to $45.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 10th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on U.S. Bancorp from $55.00 to $49.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Robert W. Baird upgraded U.S. Bancorp from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $52.00 price target for the company in a research report on Monday, March 20th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on U.S. Bancorp from $41.00 to $37.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $50.35. 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. Read More 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. AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN Get Rating) has been assigned an average rating of Buy from the thirteen research firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is 115.83 ($144.67). Several research firms have recently commented on AZN. UBS Group set a 119 ($148.62) target price on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Friday, March 10th. Shore Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Berenberg Bank set a 124 ($154.86) target price on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Thursday, March 16th. Barclays reissued an overweight rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group set a 108 ($134.88) target price on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Get AstraZeneca alerts: AstraZeneca Price Performance AZN stock opened at 120.88 ($150.97) on Friday. AstraZeneca has a one year low of GBX 9,399 ($117.38) and a one year high of 123.92 ($154.76). The companys fifty day moving average price is 113.01 and its 200-day moving average price is 110.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 84.02, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 0.86. The company has a market capitalization of 187.36 billion, a PE ratio of 7,231.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.17. AstraZeneca Increases Dividend AstraZeneca Company Profile The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 27th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 23rd were paid a dividend of GBX 162.80 ($2.03) per share. This is an increase from AstraZenecas previous dividend of $76.40. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 23rd. This represents a yield of 1.51%. AstraZenecas dividend payout ratio is presently 14,058.82%. (Get Rating) AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of prescription medicines. Its marketed products include Calquence, Enhertu, Faslodex, Imfinzi, Iressa, Koselugo, Lumoxiti, Lynparza, Orpathys, Tagrisso, and Zoladex for oncology; Brilinta/Brilique, Bydureon/Byetta, BCise, Byetta, Crestor, Evrenzo, Farxiga/Forxiga, Komboglyze/Kombiglyze XR, Lokelma, Onglyza, Qtern, and Xigduo/Xigduo XR for cardiovascular, renal, and metabolism diseases; Bevespi Aerosphere, Breztri Aerosphere, Daliresp/Daxas, Duaklir Genuair, Fasenra, Pulmicort, Saphnelo, Symbicort, and Tudorza/Eklira/Bretaris for respiratory and immunology; and Andexxa/Ondexxya, Kanuma, Soliris, Strensiq, and Ultomiris for rare diseases. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for AstraZeneca Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AstraZeneca and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eldorado Gold (NYSE:EGO Get Rating) (TSE:ELD) will be issuing its quarterly earnings data after the market closes on Thursday, April 27th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.04 per share for the quarter. Parties that wish to register for the companys conference call can do so using this link. Eldorado Gold (NYSE:EGO Get Rating) (TSE:ELD) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The basic materials company reported $0.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.05 by $0.09. Eldorado Gold had a positive return on equity of 0.39% and a negative net margin of 39.92%. The business had revenue of $246.20 million during the quarter. On average, analysts expect Eldorado Gold to post $0 EPS for the current fiscal year and $1 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Eldorado Gold alerts: Eldorado Gold Stock Down 0.8 % Shares of EGO opened at $10.67 on Wednesday. Eldorado Gold has a 52-week low of $5.06 and a 52-week high of $11.58. The company has a market capitalization of $1.97 billion, a PE ratio of -5.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.24. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $9.97 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $8.59. The company has a quick ratio of 2.06, a current ratio of 3.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. Analyst Ratings Changes Hedge Funds Weigh In On Eldorado Gold EGO has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Eldorado Gold in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. TD Securities cut their price objective on Eldorado Gold from $11.00 to $10.50 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Bank of America started coverage on Eldorado Gold in a research report on Friday, March 10th. They set an underperform rating and a $8.90 price objective for the company. National Bank Financial raised their price objective on Eldorado Gold from C$16.50 to C$17.50 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus downgraded Eldorado Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $12.78. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of EGO. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Eldorado Gold by 113.6% during the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 4,167,313 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $26,629,000 after acquiring an additional 2,216,406 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its stake in shares of Eldorado Gold by 1,043.9% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,779,308 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $19,945,000 after buying an additional 1,623,765 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its stake in shares of Eldorado Gold by 292.6% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 1,347,425 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $15,113,000 after buying an additional 1,004,239 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of Eldorado Gold by 56.2% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,483,186 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $27,837,000 after buying an additional 893,744 shares during the period. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its stake in shares of Eldorado Gold by 80.5% in the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,158,440 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $9,672,000 after buying an additional 516,716 shares during the period. 57.64% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Eldorado Gold Company Profile (Get Rating) Eldorado Gold Corp. engages in the mining, development, and exploration of gold. It operates through the following segment: Turkey, Canada, and Greece. The company was founded by Richard J. Barclay, Marco Antonio Romero, and Gary D. Nordin on April 2, 1992 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Eldorado Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eldorado Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Scottish American Investment Company P.L.C. (LON:SAIN Get Rating) shares hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as GBX 541 ($6.76) and last traded at GBX 538.83 ($6.73), with a volume of 24327 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 541 ($6.76). Scottish American Investment Stock Performance The firm has a market cap of 944.28 million, a PE ratio of -1,454.05 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 510.37 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 504.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.19, a current ratio of 2.85 and a quick ratio of 3.87. Get Scottish American Investment alerts: Scottish American Investment Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 2nd were paid a GBX 3.67 ($0.05) dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 2nd. This represents a yield of 0.73%. This is a positive change from Scottish American Investments previous dividend of $3.50. Scottish American Investments dividend payout ratio is currently -3,783.78%. Insiders Place Their Bets About Scottish American Investment In other news, insider Nicholas Macpherson GCB bought 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 10th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 504 ($6.29) per share, with a total value of 25,200 ($31,472.46). In other news, insider Nicholas Macpherson GCB bought 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 10th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 504 ($6.29) per share, with a total value of 25,200 ($31,472.46). Also, insider Dame Mariot Leslie acquired 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 489 ($6.11) per share, with a total value of 9,780 ($12,214.31). Insiders bought a total of 17,000 shares of company stock valued at $8,428,000 over the last quarter. 6.03% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. (Get Rating) The Scottish American Investment Company P.L.C. is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Baillie Gifford & Co Ltd. The fund is co-managed by Baillie Gifford & Co and OLIM Property Limited. It invests in public equity markets across the globe. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Scottish American Investment Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Scottish American Investment and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Utilities (TSE:CU Get Rating) is scheduled to issue its quarterly earnings data before the market opens on Thursday, April 27th. Canadian Utilities (TSE:CU Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported C$0.66 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$0.70 by C($0.04). Canadian Utilities had a return on equity of 9.20% and a net margin of 15.61%. The business had revenue of C$1.11 billion during the quarter. Get Canadian Utilities alerts: Canadian Utilities Price Performance TSE:CU opened at C$39.67 on Wednesday. Canadian Utilities has a 52 week low of C$33.24 and a 52 week high of C$41.94. The stocks fifty day moving average is C$36.97 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$36.58. The company has a market capitalization of C$7.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.26, a P/E/G ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a quick ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 135.78. Canadian Utilities Announces Dividend Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, May 4th will be given a dividend of $0.449 per share. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.53%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 3rd. Canadian Utilitiess payout ratio is 86.89%. A number of research firms have recently issued reports on CU. CSFB boosted their price target on shares of Canadian Utilities from C$38.50 to C$40.50 in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. CIBC lifted their price objective on Canadian Utilities from C$37.00 to C$39.00 in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Veritas Investment Research raised Canadian Utilities from a sell rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Scotiabank set a C$41.00 target price on Canadian Utilities and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 9th. Finally, National Bankshares increased their price target on shares of Canadian Utilities from C$34.00 to C$37.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of C$39.93. Canadian Utilities Company Profile (Get Rating) Canadian Utilities Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the electricity, natural gas, and retail energy businesses in the United States, Australia, and internationally. It operates through Utilities, Energy Infrastructure, and Corporate & Other segments. The Utilities segment provides regulated electricity transmission and distribution services in northern and central east Alberta, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories; and integrated natural gas transmission and distribution services in Alberta, the Lloydminster area of Saskatchewan, and Western Australia. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Utilities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Utilities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mesirow Institutional Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:JNPR Get Rating) by 30.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 78,215 shares of the network equipment providers stock after acquiring an additional 18,225 shares during the period. Mesirow Institutional Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Juniper Networks were worth $2,500,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in Juniper Networks by 93.4% in the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,219,772 shares of the network equipment providers stock valued at $57,980,000 after purchasing an additional 1,072,075 shares during the period. Balyasny Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Juniper Networks by 1,842.3% in the third quarter. Balyasny Asset Management LLC now owns 884,453 shares of the network equipment providers stock worth $23,102,000 after acquiring an additional 935,217 shares during the last quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky acquired a new stake in shares of Juniper Networks in the third quarter worth approximately $17,509,000. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of Juniper Networks by 6.0% in the third quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 11,427,573 shares of the network equipment providers stock worth $298,488,000 after acquiring an additional 649,160 shares during the last quarter. Finally, LMR Partners LLP boosted its stake in shares of Juniper Networks by 144.2% in the third quarter. LMR Partners LLP now owns 1,000,034 shares of the network equipment providers stock worth $26,121,000 after acquiring an additional 590,453 shares during the last quarter. 89.22% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Juniper Networks alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on JNPR. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $39.00 price target on shares of Juniper Networks in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. KeyCorp lifted their price objective on Juniper Networks from $36.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 18th. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on Juniper Networks from $31.00 to $32.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Juniper Networks in a research report on Monday, March 6th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on Juniper Networks from $34.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $34.87. Insider Buying and Selling at Juniper Networks Juniper Networks Trading Down 0.9 % In other Juniper Networks news, Director James A. Dolce, Jr. sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.88, for a total transaction of $772,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 42,206 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,303,321.28. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . In other Juniper Networks news, Director James A. Dolce, Jr. sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.88, for a total transaction of $772,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 42,206 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,303,321.28. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Also, CEO Rami Rahim sold 6,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.59, for a total value of $191,187.50. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 776,235 shares of the companys stock, valued at $23,745,028.65. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 61,878 shares of company stock valued at $1,920,541 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock. NYSE:JNPR opened at $30.98 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $32.13 and a 200-day simple moving average of $31.37. The stock has a market cap of $9.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.51, a P/E/G ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.95. Juniper Networks, Inc. has a 1 year low of $25.18 and a 1 year high of $34.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.44 and a current ratio of 1.74. Juniper Networks (NYSE:JNPR Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The network equipment provider reported $0.65 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.65. Juniper Networks had a return on equity of 10.91% and a net margin of 8.88%. The business had revenue of $1.45 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.48 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.41 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Juniper Networks, Inc. will post 1.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Juniper Networks Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 22nd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 1st were paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 28th. This is an increase from Juniper Networkss previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.84%. Juniper Networkss dividend payout ratio is currently 61.11%. About Juniper Networks (Get Rating) Juniper Networks, Inc engages in the business of designing, developing, and selling products and services for high-performance networks to enable customers to build networks for their businesses while achieving agility and improved operating efficiency through automation. The firm also offers routing, switching, Wi-Fi, network security, artificial intelligence-enabled enterprise networking operations, and software-defined networking technologies. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JNPR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:JNPR Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Juniper Networks Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Juniper Networks and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in AEW UK REIT implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price 50% of the business is held by the top 23 shareholders Using data from company's past performance alongside ownership research, one can better assess the future performance of a company If you want to know who really controls AEW UK REIT plc (LON:AEWU), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 64% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of AEW UK REIT, beginning with the chart below. View our latest analysis for AEW UK REIT What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About AEW UK REIT? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. We can see that AEW UK REIT does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at AEW UK REIT's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. AEW UK REIT is not owned by hedge funds. A J Bell Holdings Limited, Asset Management Arm is currently the largest shareholder, with 5.9% of shares outstanding. With 5.1% and 5.0% of the shares outstanding respectively, Close Asset Management Limited and Momentum Global Investment Management Limited are the second and third largest shareholders. Story continues After doing some more digging, we found that the top 23 have the combined ownership of 50% in the company, suggesting that no single shareholder has significant control over the company. Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. While there is some analyst coverage, the company is probably not widely covered. So it could gain more attention, down the track. Insider Ownership Of AEW UK REIT The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our information suggests that AEW UK REIT plc insiders own under 1% of the company. It appears that the board holds about UK729k worth of stock. This compares to a market capitalization of UK155m. Many investors in smaller companies prefer to see the board more heavily invested. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 33% stake in AEW UK REIT. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for AEW UK REIT you should know about. If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here North American Construction Group Ltd. (TSE:NOA Get Rating) (NYSE:NOA) Investment analysts at Raymond James lowered their Q2 2023 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of North American Construction Group in a research report issued on Monday, April 24th. Raymond James analyst B. Fast now anticipates that the company will earn $0.39 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $0.50. Raymond James has a Outperform rating and a $26.00 price target on the stock. The consensus estimate for North American Construction Groups current full-year earnings is $2.34 per share. Raymond James also issued estimates for North American Construction Groups Q3 2023 earnings at $0.55 EPS and Q4 2023 earnings at $0.57 EPS. Get North American Construction Group alerts: Several other research firms also recently weighed in on NOA. National Bankshares boosted their price target on North American Construction Group from C$24.00 to C$27.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Canaccord Genuity Group upped their target price on North American Construction Group from C$22.00 to C$26.00 in a research report on Friday, February 17th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of North American Construction Group from C$25.00 to C$30.00 in a report on Tuesday. CIBC lifted their price objective on shares of North American Construction Group from C$20.00 to C$23.50 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Finally, TD Securities lowered shares of North American Construction Group from a buy rating to a hold rating and increased their price objective for the stock from C$25.00 to C$26.00 in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$27.44. North American Construction Group Price Performance TSE NOA opened at C$25.49 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of C$709.39 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.02, a PEG ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 142.32, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The stocks fifty day moving average price is C$23.03 and its 200 day moving average price is C$19.66. North American Construction Group has a 1 year low of C$12.65 and a 1 year high of C$25.57. North American Construction Group (TSE:NOA Get Rating) (NYSE:NOA) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 15th. The company reported C$1.10 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$0.73 by C$0.37. The firm had revenue of C$233.42 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$204.70 million. North American Construction Group had a net margin of 8.75% and a return on equity of 23.06%. Insider Activity In related news, Director Martin Robert Ferron sold 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$23.10, for a total transaction of C$924,000.00. Insiders own 9.05% of the companys stock. North American Construction Group Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 7th were paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. This is a boost from North American Construction Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 2nd. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.57%. North American Construction Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 18.87%. North American Construction Group Company Profile (Get Rating) North American Construction Group Ltd. provides equipment maintenance, and mining and heavy construction services in Canada, the United States, and Australia. The company's Heavy Construction & Mining division offers constructability reviews, budgetary cost estimates, design-build construction, project management, contract mining, pre-stripping/pit pioneering, overburden removal and stockpile, muskeg removal and stockpile, site preparation, air strip construction, site dewatering/perimeter ditching, tailings and process pipelines, haulage and access road construction, tailings dam construction and densification, mechanically stabilized earth walls, dyke construction, and reclamation services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for North American Construction Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for North American Construction Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Klingman & Associates LLC cut its stake in shares of Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX Get Rating) by 4.5% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 3,567 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 169 shares during the quarter. Klingman & Associates LLCs holdings in Chevron were worth $640,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Chevron by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 14,697,160 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,393,138,000 after purchasing an additional 189,762 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in Chevron by 7.6% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 12,052,751 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,731,739,000 after buying an additional 847,841 shares during the period. Nuveen Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Chevron by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 9,953,548 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,430,026,000 after buying an additional 155,955 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in Chevron by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 7,762,782 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,115,281,000 after purchasing an additional 309,277 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Chevron by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 6,813,017 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,222,868,000 after purchasing an additional 20,559 shares in the last quarter. 69.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Chevron alerts: Chevron Trading Down 1.5 % Shares of CVX stock opened at $168.99 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.47. Chevron Co. has a 52-week low of $132.54 and a 52-week high of $189.68. The company has a market capitalization of $320.18 billion, a PE ratio of 9.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.84 and a beta of 1.16. The businesss fifty day moving average is $163.70 and its 200 day moving average is $171.61. Chevron ( NYSE:CVX Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 27th. The oil and gas company reported $4.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.16 by ($0.07). Chevron had a return on equity of 23.52% and a net margin of 14.40%. The business had revenue of $56.47 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $53.97 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.56 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 17.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Chevron Co. will post 14.39 EPS for the current fiscal year. Chevron announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback program on Wednesday, January 25th that authorizes the company to repurchase $75.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the oil and gas company to repurchase up to 21.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically a sign that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued. Insider Activity at Chevron In related news, VP Rhonda J. Morris sold 19,666 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.00, for a total value of $3,343,220.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 3,967 shares of the companys stock, valued at $674,390. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.32% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades CVX has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Cowen decreased their price objective on Chevron from $185.00 to $170.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 24th. Bank of America lowered Chevron from a buy rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $190.00 to $191.00 in a report on Friday, January 6th. UBS Group started coverage on Chevron in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. They set a buy rating and a $212.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Chevron from $195.00 to $192.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 27th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on Chevron in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Chevron has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $193.50. About Chevron (Get Rating) Chevron Corp. engages in the provision of administrative, financial management, and technology support for energy and chemical operations. It operates through the Upstream and Downstream segments. The Upstream segment consists of the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas, the liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas, the transporting of crude oil by major international oil export pipelines, the processing, transporting, storage, and marketing of natural gas, and a gas-to-liquids plant. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CVX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Chevron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chevron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN Get Rating) announced a semi-annual dividend on Friday, March 3rd, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Friday, April 28th will be paid a dividend of 0.0631 per share by the bank on Friday, May 5th. This represents a dividend yield of 2%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 27th. This is an increase from Banco Santanders previous semi-annual dividend of $0.06. Banco Santander has a payout ratio of 18.8% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Banco Santander to earn $0.66 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.13 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 19.7%. Get Banco Santander alerts: Banco Santander Price Performance Shares of Banco Santander stock opened at $3.57 on Wednesday. Banco Santander has a twelve month low of $2.26 and a twelve month high of $4.09. The company has a quick ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 0.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.40. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $3.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $3.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $58.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.16 and a beta of 1.08. Analysts Set New Price Targets Banco Santander ( NYSE:SAN Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 2nd. The bank reported $0.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.13 by $0.01. Banco Santander had a net margin of 18.47% and a return on equity of 9.77%. The business had revenue of $14.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.43 billion. Analysts forecast that Banco Santander will post 0.6 EPS for the current year. Several analysts have weighed in on SAN shares. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Banco Santander from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 22nd. StockNews.com cut shares of Banco Santander from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, March 31st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $3.76. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Banco Santander Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in SAN. Raymond James & Associates increased its position in Banco Santander by 236.4% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 223,407 shares of the banks stock worth $755,000 after purchasing an additional 157,003 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its position in Banco Santander by 4.7% during the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 210,073 shares of the banks stock worth $711,000 after purchasing an additional 9,342 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its position in Banco Santander by 26.8% during the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 240,518 shares of the banks stock worth $814,000 after purchasing an additional 50,817 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its position in Banco Santander by 163.6% during the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 129,832 shares of the banks stock worth $439,000 after purchasing an additional 80,573 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Citigroup Inc. increased its position in Banco Santander by 60.4% during the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 714,160 shares of the banks stock worth $2,415,000 after purchasing an additional 269,055 shares in the last quarter. 1.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Banco Santander Company Profile (Get Rating) Banco Santander SA is a banking services company, which engages in the provision of banking services to individuals, companies, and institutions. It operates through the following segments: Europe, North America, South America, and Digital Consumer Bank. The Europe segment comprises business activities carried out in the region. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Banco Santander Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Santander and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Parallel Advisors LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM Get Rating) by 0.9% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 9,871 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 87 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLCs holdings in Waste Management were worth $1,549,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Waste Management by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 36,984,227 shares of the business services providers stock worth $5,925,244,000 after buying an additional 1,016,798 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in Waste Management by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 30,982,963 shares of the business services providers stock worth $4,963,780,000 after buying an additional 154,917 shares during the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec lifted its position in Waste Management by 21.5% during the 3rd quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 2,605,293 shares of the business services providers stock worth $417,394,000 after acquiring an additional 461,425 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in Waste Management by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,887,477 shares of the business services providers stock worth $299,165,000 after acquiring an additional 49,711 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in Waste Management by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,849,470 shares of the business services providers stock worth $296,333,000 after acquiring an additional 9,298 shares during the period. 78.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Waste Management alerts: Waste Management Stock Performance NYSE WM opened at $165.57 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $67.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.72, a PEG ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.73. Waste Management, Inc. has a twelve month low of $138.89 and a twelve month high of $175.98. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $156.63 and a 200 day moving average of $157.72. Waste Management Increases Dividend Waste Management ( NYSE:WM Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The business services provider reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.39 by ($0.09). The business had revenue of $4.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.97 billion. Waste Management had a return on equity of 32.91% and a net margin of 11.36%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.26 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Waste Management, Inc. will post 6 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were paid a dividend of $0.70 per share. This is a positive change from Waste Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.69%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. Waste Managements payout ratio is 51.95%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth WM has been the subject of a number of research reports. UBS Group cut Waste Management from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $190.00 to $165.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 10th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Waste Management from $158.00 to $167.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Truist Financial initiated coverage on Waste Management in a research report on Monday, April 17th. They set a buy rating and a $190.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Waste Management from $179.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Waste Management in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $174.67. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, EVP John J. Morris sold 15,204 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.03, for a total value of $2,357,076.12. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 95,461 shares in the company, valued at $14,799,318.83. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.11, for a total value of $120,888.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,210 shares of the companys stock, valued at $787,283.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP John J. Morris sold 15,204 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.03, for a total value of $2,357,076.12. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 95,461 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,799,318.83. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 30,743 shares of company stock worth $4,762,320. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock. About Waste Management (Get Rating) Waste Management, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of waste management environmental services. It operates through the following segments: East Tier, West Tier, and Other. The East Tier segment consists of Eastern U.S., the Great Lakes Region, and Canada. The West Tier segment includes the upper Midwest region and British Columbia, Canada. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Waste Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Waste Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Greenwich Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) by 6.4% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 3,675 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 221 shares during the quarter. Greenwich Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $264,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in BMY. Dakota Wealth Management purchased a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the first quarter worth about $332,000. Covestor Ltd grew its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 111.5% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,052 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $150,000 after acquiring an additional 1,082 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 53.2% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 165,336 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $12,075,000 after acquiring an additional 57,444 shares in the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC purchased a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the first quarter worth about $1,997,000. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 25.1% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 338,563 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $24,725,000 after acquiring an additional 68,018 shares in the last quarter. 75.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insider Activity In other news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total transaction of $835,258.27. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,043 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,721,081.67. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total value of $17,916,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 236,104 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,625,163.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total transaction of $835,258.27. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,043 shares in the company, valued at $1,721,081.67. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance Shares of BMY stock opened at $70.24 on Wednesday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $69.14 and its 200-day simple moving average is $72.75. The company has a market cap of $147.74 billion, a PE ratio of 23.81, a PEG ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 12-month low of $65.28 and a 12-month high of $81.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $11.41 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.20 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.60% and a net margin of 13.71%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.83 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 77.29%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts have issued reports on BMY shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $70.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. StockNews.com started coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. They set an overweight rating and a $95.00 target price for the company. Finally, Atlantic Securities boosted their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Bristol-Myers Squibb currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $80.00. About Bristol-Myers Squibb (Get Rating) Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AlphaMark Advisors LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Get Rating) by 23.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 98 shares of the credit services providers stock after selling 30 shares during the period. AlphaMark Advisors LLCs holdings in Mastercard were worth $34,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 0.7% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 77,259,535 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $21,967,977,000 after purchasing an additional 568,155 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 0.4% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 33,865,057 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $9,629,190,000 after purchasing an additional 138,753 shares during the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC raised its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 1.6% during the third quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 7,874,093 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $2,238,920,000 after purchasing an additional 121,731 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 1.7% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,337,588 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $1,550,168,000 after purchasing an additional 71,113 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board increased its holdings in Mastercard by 3.8% in the third quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 3,540,192 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $1,006,618,000 after buying an additional 128,200 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.51% of the companys stock. Get Mastercard alerts: Insider Activity In other news, insider Hai Ling sold 8,220 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.31, for a total value of $2,928,868.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 26,496 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,440,789.76. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, insider Hai Ling sold 8,220 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.31, for a total transaction of $2,928,868.20. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 26,496 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,440,789.76. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Edward Grunde Mclaughlin sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $375.99, for a total transaction of $7,519,800.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 21,579 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,113,488.21. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 649,189 shares of company stock worth $240,317,705. Corporate insiders own 0.29% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Mastercard Price Performance A number of research analysts have weighed in on MA shares. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $437.00 to $438.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, January 27th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $427.00 to $414.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 27th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $400.00 to $450.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 20th. StockNews.com raised shares of Mastercard from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Finally, Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $406.00 to $450.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, January 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and twenty have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $414.44. Shares of MA opened at $368.53 on Wednesday. Mastercard Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $276.87 and a fifty-two week high of $390.00. The firms 50 day moving average price is $360.00 and its 200 day moving average price is $350.70. The company has a market cap of $351.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.06, a PEG ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16. Mastercard (NYSE:MA Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 26th. The credit services provider reported $2.65 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.56 by $0.09. Mastercard had a net margin of 44.65% and a return on equity of 158.38%. The company had revenue of $5.82 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.79 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.35 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 12.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Mastercard Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 7th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.62%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 5th. Mastercards payout ratio is 22.31%. Mastercard Company Profile (Get Rating) Mastercard, Inc is a technology company, which engages in the payments industry that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments, and business. It offers payment solutions for the development and implementation of credit, debit, prepaid, commercial, and payment programs. The company was founded in November 1966 and is headquartered in Purchase, NY. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC cut its holdings in shares of iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU Get Rating) by 13.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 9,631 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 1,451 shares during the period. Strengthening Families & Communities LLCs holdings in iShares Gold Trust were worth $333,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of IAU. Natixis Advisors L.P. lifted its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 2.7% during the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 18,628 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $686,000 after purchasing an additional 486 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares Gold Trust by 17.0% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,061,470 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $112,754,000 after acquiring an additional 445,160 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares Gold Trust by 43.2% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 93,543 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $3,445,000 after acquiring an additional 28,233 shares during the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH bought a new position in iShares Gold Trust in the first quarter worth about $3,469,000. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares Gold Trust by 10.0% in the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 15,156 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $558,000 after acquiring an additional 1,380 shares during the last quarter. 62.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get iShares Gold Trust alerts: iShares Gold Trust Price Performance Shares of NYSEARCA IAU opened at $37.89 on Wednesday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $36.56 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $34.86. iShares Gold Trust has a 52-week low of $30.69 and a 52-week high of $38.84. iShares Gold Trust Profile iShares Gold Trust (the Trust) is to own gold transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (Shares). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist of gold held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust. See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares Gold Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Gold Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd trimmed its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Get Rating) by 67.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,028 shares of the companys stock after selling 6,238 shares during the quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltds holdings in Altria Group were worth $138,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of MO. Edmp Inc. increased its holdings in Altria Group by 4,424.6% in the 4th quarter. Edmp Inc. now owns 4,074,178 shares of the companys stock worth $89,131,000 after buying an additional 3,984,132 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its position in Altria Group by 191.5% in the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 3,535,662 shares of the companys stock worth $142,770,000 after purchasing an additional 2,322,738 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in Altria Group by 6.4% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 36,302,349 shares of the companys stock worth $1,896,798,000 after purchasing an additional 2,178,596 shares during the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association boosted its position in Altria Group by 227.3% in the third quarter. United Services Automobile Association now owns 3,031,991 shares of the companys stock worth $37,536,000 after purchasing an additional 2,105,711 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC boosted its position in Altria Group by 178.8% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 2,502,436 shares of the companys stock worth $101,046,000 after purchasing an additional 1,604,742 shares during the last quarter. 58.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Altria Group alerts: Altria Group Trading Up 0.7 % NYSE MO opened at $46.99 on Wednesday. The stocks 50 day moving average is $45.93 and its 200 day moving average is $45.73. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $40.35 and a 12 month high of $57.03. The stock has a market cap of $83.93 billion, a PE ratio of 14.73, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.59. Altria Group Dividend Announcement Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The company reported $1.18 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.18. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 284.29% and a net margin of 22.97%. The company had revenue of $5.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.15 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.09 EPS. The firms revenue was down 18.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.06 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 24th will be paid a $0.94 dividend. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.00%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 23rd. Altria Groups payout ratio is 117.87%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have issued reports on MO. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Altria Group from $43.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, January 23rd. Citigroup lowered their price objective on Altria Group from $49.50 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 17th. StockNews.com started coverage on Altria Group in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus started coverage on Altria Group in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $52.00 price objective on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $45.50. Altria Group Profile (Get Rating) Altria Group, Inc operates as a holding company, which engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States. It operates through the following segments: Smokeable Products, Oral tobacco products, and Wine. The Smokeable Products segment consists of cigarettes manufactured and sold by PM USA and machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco manufactured and sold by Middleton. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lowered its position in shares of Jabil Inc. (NYSE:JBL Get Rating) by 2.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 694,026 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 17,927 shares during the period. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.52% of Jabil worth $47,333,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in JBL. Rockland Trust Co. purchased a new stake in shares of Jabil during the third quarter valued at $232,000. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can grew its position in Jabil by 7.8% in the 3rd quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 99,896 shares of the technology companys stock worth $5,762,000 after purchasing an additional 7,211 shares during the period. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale raised its stake in Jabil by 214.9% during the 4th quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 97,340 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $6,628,000 after buying an additional 66,428 shares during the last quarter. Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Jabil by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC now owns 5,741 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $383,000 after buying an additional 139 shares during the period. Finally, Prelude Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Jabil by 32.5% in the third quarter. Prelude Capital Management LLC now owns 43,792 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,527,000 after acquiring an additional 10,741 shares during the period. 88.45% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Jabil alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms recently issued reports on JBL. Raymond James raised their price objective on shares of Jabil from $84.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on shares of Jabil from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, March 17th. Credit Suisse Group lifted their target price on Jabil from $90.00 to $110.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 21st. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Jabil in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Jabil currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $92.20. Insiders Place Their Bets Jabil Trading Down 4.5 % In other news, SVP Francis Mckay sold 1,197 shares of Jabil stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.91, for a total value of $99,243.27. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 51,084 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,235,374.44. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . In other Jabil news, EVP Robert L. Katz sold 4,970 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.00, for a total transaction of $382,690.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 95,322 shares in the company, valued at $7,339,794. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Also, SVP Francis Mckay sold 1,197 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.91, for a total transaction of $99,243.27. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 51,084 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,235,374.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold a total of 23,747 shares of company stock worth $1,897,981 in the last 90 days. 2.75% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Shares of JBL stock opened at $75.74 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $82.98 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $74.82. Jabil Inc. has a 52-week low of $48.80 and a 52-week high of $89.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.05 billion, a PE ratio of 10.98, a PEG ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 1.04. Jabil (NYSE:JBL Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, March 16th. The technology company reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.73 by $0.03. Jabil had a return on equity of 39.80% and a net margin of 2.74%. The company had revenue of $8.13 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.09 billion. On average, analysts predict that Jabil Inc. will post 7.79 EPS for the current fiscal year. Jabil Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 2nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 15th will be issued a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 12th. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.42%. Jabils dividend payout ratio is currently 4.64%. About Jabil (Get Rating) Jabil, Inc engages in the provision of electronic manufacturing services and solutions. It offers electronics design, production, product management, and repair services to companies in the automotive and transportation, capital equipment, consumer lifestyles and wearable technologies, computing and storage, defense and aerospace, digital home, healthcare, industrial and energy, mobility, networking and telecommunications, packaging, point of sale, and printing industries. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Jabil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Jabil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ellevest Inc. cut its stake in shares of Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN Get Rating) by 34.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,088 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 564 shares during the period. Ellevest Inc.s holdings in Global Payments were worth $108,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Penserra Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Global Payments by 6.4% during the 1st quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 1,389 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $190,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the period. Financial Advantage Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Global Payments by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Financial Advantage Inc. now owns 25,554 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $2,761,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its holdings in shares of Global Payments by 25.7% during the 4th quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 465 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 95 shares in the last quarter. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Global Payments by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,637 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $392,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors lifted its holdings in shares of Global Payments by 4.7% during the 3rd quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors now owns 2,291 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $247,000 after acquiring an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. 87.58% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Global Payments alerts: Insider Activity at Global Payments In other Global Payments news, CAO David M. Sheffield sold 1,562 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.08, for a total transaction of $176,630.96. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 28,032 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,169,858.56. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 1.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Global Payments Stock Performance Several equities analysts recently weighed in on GPN shares. Oppenheimer reduced their target price on shares of Global Payments from $123.00 to $122.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Barclays initiated coverage on shares of Global Payments in a report on Thursday, March 30th. They set an overweight rating on the stock. KeyCorp boosted their price objective on shares of Global Payments from $115.00 to $125.00 in a report on Monday. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Global Payments from $135.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. Finally, Wolfe Research cut their price objective on shares of Global Payments from $150.00 to $145.00 in a report on Thursday, January 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Global Payments currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $148.92. Shares of NYSE GPN opened at $105.72 on Wednesday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $106.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $106.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $27.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 240.28, a PEG ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. Global Payments Inc. has a 52-week low of $92.27 and a 52-week high of $143.91. Global Payments (NYSE:GPN Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 10th. The business services provider reported $2.42 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.34 by $0.08. Global Payments had a return on equity of 10.30% and a net margin of 1.24%. The business had revenue of $2.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.02 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.03 EPS. Global Paymentss revenue for the quarter was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Global Payments Inc. will post 9.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Global Payments Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 17th were given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 16th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.95%. Global Paymentss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 227.28%. About Global Payments (Get Rating) Global Payments, Inc engages in the provision of payment technology and software solutions. It operates through the following segments: Merchant Solutions, Issuer Solutions and Business & Consumer Solutions. The Merchant Solutions segment provides payments technology and software solutions to customers globally. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GPN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Global Payments Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Global Payments and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. eHealth Exchange Alabama Medicaid Recipients To Benefit from Better Coordinated Care and Improved Health Data Exchange VIENNA, Va., April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To provide Alabama Medicaid recipients more coordinated care, including for some of Alabamas most vulnerable residents, Alabama One Health Record (ALOHR) plans to participate in eHealth Exchanges planned Qualified Health Information Network (QHIN) if the network achieves QHIN designation. eHealth Exchange is a candidate QHIN under the Office of the National Coordinator for Health ITs (ONCs) Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) whose application has been accepted to continue to the testing and project plan phase as part of the process of seeking Designated QHIN status. This affiliation will enable ALOHR to share medical information through eHealth Exchanges QHIN, if designated, and represents one of the first Medicaid-focused organizations intending to participate in TEFCA. Were proud ALOHR has selected eHealth Exchange as its anticipated QHIN to serve Alabama Medicaid recipients with more comprehensive healthcare, said Jay Nakashima, executive director of eHealth Exchange. Our data-sharing network promotes the seamless sharing of clinical and claims data to support coordinated care efforts across the healthcare landscape, enabling patient-centered care. eHealth Exchange is one of six Candidate QHIN organizations under TEFCA announced in February. The eHealth Exchange network is in a testing and project plan phase, which is the next step as part of the process of seeking designation as a QHIN under TEFCA. Eligibility requirements under TEFCA include an approximate 12-month go-live timeline from the QHIN application approval, which was publicly announced Feb. 13, 2023, for eHealth Exchange. Were excited to join eHealth Exchanges QHIN, if designated, to support vulnerable Alabama residents, said Gary D. Parker, Alabama Medicaid chief data officer & director of ALOHR. We will be able to tap into a much broader network of healthcare providers across Alabama and the entire country to access the information needed to improve patient care, support effective healthcare, reduce duplication of treatments, and help to avoid costly mistakes. Every healthcare provider in Alabama regardless of whether its a small rural doctors office or a large hospital system in our largest city needs to have easy access to important health information to deliver the best possible care. Story continues eHealth Exchange ranks as one of the nations oldest and largest health information networks, and its health data network has 14 years of experience supporting large-scale health information exchange across a network of diverse participants. eHealth Exchange features inclusive and participatory governance and a data storage model that allows participants to retain full autonomy and control over how they handle critical issues related to patient matching, cybersecurity, legal compliance, and audit logging. This level of control is particularly important for federal agencies, as well as state and regional health information exchanges (HIEs), that operate under varying regulatory requirements. Learn more about eHealth Exchanges plan to become a QHIN at http://www.BeMyQHIN.org. About Alabama One Health Record Alabama One Health Record, Alabamas Health Information Exchange (HIE), lets doctors, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other healthcare providers share medical information electronically so that they can provide their patients with the best of care. Electronic medical information is protected by state-of-the-art security measures in compliance with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This allows recipients and providers to view electronic medical information within a safe and secure environment. About eHealth Exchange eHealth Exchange, a 501(c)3 non-profit, is among the oldest and largest health information networks in America and is most well-known as the principal way the federal government shares data between agencies and with the private sector. eHealth Exchange, a network of networks, is the only network connecting healthcare providers to five federal agencies, 61 regional or state HIEs, 75 percent of all U.S. hospitals, and 85% of dialysis clinics running on more than 30 electronic health record (EHR) platforms. National interoperability is facilitated by one common trust agreement and a single set of APIs. Five federal agencies (Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Indian Health Service (IHS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Social Security Administration) participate in the network to share patient information with private-sector healthcare partners as well as other agencies. eHealth Exchange supports the secure exchange of more than 14 billion patient record transactions annually. eHealth Exchange is one of six Candidate QHIN organizations announced on Feb. 13, 2023, under the Office of the National Coordinator for Health ITs (ONCs) Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA). www.ehealthexchange.org/@ehealthexchange Contact: Jane Bryant Spire Communications jbryant@spirecomm.com 571.235.4822 Parsec Financial Management Inc. lowered its stake in NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE Get Rating) by 13.4% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 35,219 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 5,442 shares during the period. Parsec Financial Management Inc.s holdings in NextEra Energy were worth $2,944,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. United Bank grew its holdings in NextEra Energy by 9.8% in the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 9,966 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $844,000 after acquiring an additional 891 shares during the last quarter. LSV Asset Management raised its position in NextEra Energy by 9.2% during the 1st quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 32,180 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,726,000 after purchasing an additional 2,700 shares during the last quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. lifted its holdings in NextEra Energy by 11.2% in the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 15,731 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,333,000 after buying an additional 1,587 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in shares of NextEra Energy by 59.1% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 878 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $74,000 after buying an additional 326 shares during the period. Finally, Ergoteles LLC bought a new position in shares of NextEra Energy during the first quarter valued at approximately $793,000. Institutional investors own 76.17% of the companys stock. Get NextEra Energy alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other NextEra Energy news, Director Amy B. Lane acquired 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The shares were bought at an average price of $74.86 per share, with a total value of $74,860.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 41,277 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,089,996.22. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other NextEra Energy news, CFO Terrell Kirk Crews II acquired 2,672 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $74.87 per share, with a total value of $200,052.64. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief financial officer now directly owns 33,170 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,483,437.90. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Amy B. Lane purchased 1,000 shares of NextEra Energy stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 6th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $74.86 per share, with a total value of $74,860.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 41,277 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,089,996.22. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders bought a total of 18,872 shares of company stock valued at $1,417,721 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.18% of the companys stock. NextEra Energy Stock Down 1.5 % NYSE NEE opened at $77.82 on Wednesday. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a 12 month low of $67.22 and a 12 month high of $91.35. The company has a current ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14. The stock has a market cap of $157.46 billion, a PE ratio of 37.23, a P/E/G ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.47. The stocks 50 day moving average is $75.79 and its 200 day moving average is $78.89. NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The utilities provider reported $0.84 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.80 by $0.04. NextEra Energy had a return on equity of 12.51% and a net margin of 19.79%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.74 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.11 EPS for the current fiscal year. NextEra Energy Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 28th were given a $0.4675 dividend. This is a positive change from NextEra Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. This represents a $1.87 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.40%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 27th. NextEra Energys dividend payout ratio is 89.47%. Analyst Ratings Changes NEE has been the subject of several research reports. Credit Suisse Group decreased their price objective on shares of NextEra Energy from $89.00 to $85.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 26th. Guggenheim cut their price objective on NextEra Energy from $96.00 to $92.00 in a research report on Monday. Bank of America lowered NextEra Energy from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $94.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on NextEra Energy from $94.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Erste Group Bank upgraded shares of NextEra Energy from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $92.50. About NextEra Energy (Get Rating) NextEra Energy, Inc engages in the provision of renewable energy. It operates through the following segments: FPL and NEER. The FPL segment involves the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electric energy in Florida. The NEER segment produces electricity from clean and renewable sources, including wind and solar. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NEE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for NextEra Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NextEra Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD Get Rating) by 479.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 149,814 shares of the aerospace companys stock after acquiring an additional 123,955 shares during the period. Los Angeles Capital Management LLCs holdings in General Dynamics were worth $37,170,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in GD. Edmp Inc. increased its position in General Dynamics by 21,600.0% in the 4th quarter. Edmp Inc. now owns 2,642,620 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $10,651,000 after acquiring an additional 2,630,442 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its position in General Dynamics by 33.6% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 6,074,113 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,288,745,000 after purchasing an additional 1,529,207 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in General Dynamics by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,906,138 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $4,647,825,000 after purchasing an additional 952,906 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in General Dynamics by 44.3% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,073,407 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $258,885,000 after purchasing an additional 329,299 shares during the period. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new position in General Dynamics during the 1st quarter worth approximately $59,754,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.83% of the companys stock. Get General Dynamics alerts: General Dynamics Price Performance GD stock opened at $222.74 on Wednesday. General Dynamics Co. has a 1 year low of $207.42 and a 1 year high of $256.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.37. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $227.26 and its 200 day moving average price is $237.14. The firm has a market cap of $61.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.26, a PEG ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.84. General Dynamics Increases Dividend General Dynamics ( NYSE:GD Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The aerospace company reported $3.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.53 by $0.05. General Dynamics had a return on equity of 18.93% and a net margin of 8.60%. The firm had revenue of $10.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.66 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $3.39 EPS. General Dynamicss revenue was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that General Dynamics Co. will post 12.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be issued a $1.32 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. This is an increase from General Dynamicss previous quarterly dividend of $1.26. This represents a $5.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.37%. General Dynamicss payout ratio is 43.28%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on General Dynamics from $243.00 to $248.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Cowen boosted their price target on General Dynamics from $260.00 to $285.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on General Dynamics from $260.00 to $245.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Credit Suisse Group decreased their price target on General Dynamics from $240.00 to $222.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered General Dynamics from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, March 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, General Dynamics has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $267.15. Insider Buying and Selling at General Dynamics In other General Dynamics news, VP Mark Lagrand Burns sold 27,600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $226.93, for a total value of $6,263,268.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 56,909 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,914,359.37. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. General Dynamics Profile (Get Rating) General Dynamics Corp. is a global aerospace and defense company, which engages in design, engineering, and manufacturing to deliver state-of-the-art solutions. It operates through the following business segments: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies. The Aerospace segment designs, manufactures, and sells business jets. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for General Dynamics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Dynamics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Our newest global partner now flies between Los Angeles and Taipei with connections to 16 destinations across Asia; Mileage Plan members can earn miles on all STARLUX flights SEATTLE, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With more of us looking to travel internationally this year, Alaska Airlines is celebrating our newest global airline partner: STARLUX Airlines, a Taipei-based premium carrier, which today launched its inaugural transpacific service between Taipei and Los Angeles. Alaska is STARLUX's first airline partner. Alaska Airlines' newest global partner is STARLUX Airlines. Our Mileage Plan members can now earn miles on all STARLUX flights, and soon they'll be able to redeem miles on STARLUX. When redemptions become available this summer on STARLUX flights between Los Angeles and Taipei, they will start at 20,000 miles for economy, 40,000 for premium economy and 60,000 for business class for a limited time From Southern California, STARLUX opens a new international gateway through its main hub in Taipei for connections to 16 destinations across Asia, including Bangkok, Thailand; Hanoi, Vietnam; Penang, Malaysia; Manila, Philippines; Singapore; Macau and Sapporo, Japan. Los Angeles (LAX) is one of Alaska's hubs along the West Coast allowing for convenient connectivity to STARLUX flights for our guests. "STARLUX is a premier global airline offering world-class service and amenities. We're proud to be their first airline partner," said Nat Pieper, senior vice president of fleet, finance and alliances at Alaska Airlines. "Our guests will love flying on STARLUX, connecting the West Coast, Taipei and many more incredible places in Asia. We're thrilled to offer our loyal Mileage Plan members another exciting way to see the world." "STARLUX Airlines has marked a successful three-year operation of our Asian routes, revolutionizing the aviation industry with our exceptional service and innovative cabin design that have been highly commended by passengers. In a new milestone, we launched our inaugural flight to Los Angeles today, offering convenient and comfortable long-haul premier services to passengers traveling to the city of angels," said Glenn Chai, CEO of STARLUX Airlines. Story continues Chai added: "Alaska Airlines, the fifth largest airline in the United States with a wide network covering over 100 cities across the country, is partnering with STARLUX Airlines to deliver more exquisite and convenient flights for travelers journeying between North America and Asia. The partnership will enable seamless connections for STARLUX Airlines customers traveling to destinations across the U.S., making it easier and more convenient to navigate the country's extensive domestic air network. With this partnership, we are committed to ensuring that travelers enjoy a hassle-free journey and arrive at their final destinations feeling relaxed and refreshed." STARLUX operates the transpacific route with its new-generation Airbus A350-900 aircraft configured in a four-class layout: First, business, premium economy and economy. Travelers in first and business classes enjoy a private space with a sliding door and seats with full-flat and Zero G mode for full relaxation. The extra-legroom premium economy section features a 40-inch Recaro seat with a leg rest and footrest bar. Economy class seats are equipped with leather headrests and a wide seat pitch. Inflight service on STARLUX includes Taiwanese signature dishes and amenities prepared for passengers in all classes. STARLUX will be offering first and business guests a selection of the best top chef's creations and local Taiwanese delicacies. The popular STARLUX signature dish yakiniku donburi is served on board. And to bring greater individuality to their air travel experience, all passengers can pre-order meals online so they can enjoy the meal they want. Alaska is a member of the oneworld global alliance. With oneworld and our additional airline partners, our guests can earn and redeem miles all over the world through our highly acclaimed Mileage Plan program. Elite status on Alaska automatically matches tier status in oneworld so members can enjoy all the benefits that come with it right away. About Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. We strive to be the most caring airline with award-winning customer service and an industry-leading loyalty program. As a member of the oneworld alliance, and with our additional global partners, our guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 25 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at news.alaskaair.com and follow @alaskaairnews for news and stories. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group. About STARLUX Airlines Launched in 2020, STARLUX is a luxury airline based in Taipei serving 16 Asian destinations: Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Okinawa, Sapporo, Sendai, Macau, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hanoi, Manila, and Cebu. STARLUX now serves passengers traveling between Asia and North America with an easy transfer in Taipei. STARLUX is dedicated to providing exquisite services and the utmost comfort for each passenger to enjoy an unforgettable journey. The STARLUX fleet consists of three types of new-generation Airbus aircraft that are extremely efficient A321neo, A330neo and A350 to provide the finest and most eco-friendly journeys. For more information about STARLUX and to book a flight, visit https://www.starlux-airlines.com/en-US. STARLUX's seating in business class. STARLUX is based in Taipei. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alaska-airlines-launches-partnership-with-starlux-airlines-301807742.html SOURCE Alaska Airlines Program delivers drug-specific resources to patients at critical moments in their treatment journey. ORLANDO, Fla., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy, one of the largest specialty and home delivery pharmacies in the country, is taking another step in developing innovative solutions with its recent launch of RightGuide, a custom digital engagement program that allows pharmaceutical manufacturers to seamlessly deliver educational support to patients living with rare diseases or chronic conditions. (PRNewsfoto/AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy) "RightGuide helps minimize potential treatment barriers, from training patients to self-administer injections to addressing financial concerns to mitigating medication side effects. It's a great solution for breaking down complex details to help patients better digest the information," says Tracey James, RPh, chief operating officer, at AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy. "With RightGuide, we can deliver the right support directly into the hands of patients at the right time." AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy created RightGuide to help patients and their caregivers as they navigate the unknowns and complexities of a new therapy. Understanding barriers may be encountered at various stages throughout treatment, RightGuide offers three distinct campaigns, including: RightConnect Onboarding and access RightStart Therapy initiation and acclimation RightTrack Ongoing engagement throughout the duration of therapy "Our patient satisfaction surveys indicate patients prefer to engage digitally. RightGuide allows us to deliver relevant information to patients exactly when they need it in their treatment journey," says James. "Patients are more likely to retain this information because it is timely, and presented in an understandable, useful format that's easier for patients to follow." James says pharmaceutical partners are excited to receive co-branded, customized content and drug- or condition-specific resources to help facilitate adherence and retention. Pharmaceutical partners also receive campaign-specific reporting to showcase engagement metrics, including how many patients are accessing information and tools. Story continues "Personalization drives engagement and engaged patients have stronger outcomes," says James. "RightGuide is another way we're collaborating with our partners to provide intentional, meaningful engagement while optimizing the patient experience and better positioning them for success on therapy." About AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy (AllianceRxWP.com) provides hope and care for better tomorrows to patients with rare diseases and chronic conditions by delivering medications from its specialty and home delivery pharmacies. Our advanced analytical capabilities, pharmacy expertise and technology solutions enable providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and health plans to deliver optimal health outcomes. Through personalized care and clinical programs, along with access to the leading number of limited distribution drugs, patients can get back to what matters most. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, the company holds several national pharmacy accreditations and has team members across the United States. Media Contact Adrienne Foley, APR External communications manager adrienne.foley1@alliancerxwp.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alliancerx-walgreens-pharmacy-launches-rightguide-to-help-minimize-treatment-barriers-301808478.html SOURCE AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy Among the hotels, airlines, cruise ships and group trip operators that offer sustainable features like solar panels, carbon offsets or electric vehicle charging stations few marketing teams shy away from making them known. At the 44-room Le Barthelemy Hotel & Spa in the French West Indies, you can partake in the boutique hotels zero-waste cooking classes. Linens come from ethically traced organic cotton, and all fertilizers, plants and soil on the property are organic. Airlines such as United Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have pledged to be 100% green by 2050 by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Southwest offers carbon offsets and bonus Rapid Rewards points as an incentive to buy them. The government of the Bahamas signed an agreement in March to allow the development of a $56 million residential and yacht resort community. Itll be solar-powered, and its swimming pools will be made from recycled shipping containers. Its the countrys first fully sustainable, zero-carbon residential and yacht resort community. And those are just a few examples of the many travel businesses capitalizing on green initiatives in their value propositions. But do travelers actually care? American travelers among the least likely to choose travel companies by sustainability policies In November 2022, market research firm YouGov surveyed more than 19,000 people worldwide (including 1,503 in the U.S.) on tourism-related topics for its 2023 Global Travel & Tourism whitepaper. YouGov asked respondents how much they agreed that it was important to choose travel companies that have a strong sustainability policy. While 48% of all respondents said they agreed, only 33% of U.S. respondents did barely edging Denmarks 32% and ranking as the second-lowest response among the 18 countries surveyed. The survey then asked respondents the following question: "How much do you agree or disagree with the statement 'I am willing to pay more for responsible, eco-friendly, and sustainable trips?' Story continues Only 29% of U.S. respondents said they agree versus 42% of overall respondents the lowest response to this question of any population in the report. (Chart courtesy of YouGov) The U.S. figures are certainly low. Other than Denmark, there's not a single country where a higher percentage of respondents said they agree with being willing to pay more for sustainable trips versus those who simply said choosing companies with strong sustainability policies was important. Among the starkest disparities is in Spain, where 52% of Spanish respondents said it was important to choose sustainable travel companies yet only 39% agreed theyd pay more for them. Caring about the environment until it costs more The Lufthansa Innovation Hub, the future travel trend research arm of Lufthansa Group (which also owns the airline of the same name), sought to understand the disparity between travelers wanting more sustainable tourism options versus their willingness to actually pay more for it. It partnered with travel booking app Hopper to conduct three experiments involving about 10,000 Hopper users, the outcomes of which were published in a February 2020 report. The first experiment randomly asked users questions such as, Would you like to see sustainable travel options when booking a flight? The majority of respondents, 78%, responded yes to that specific question. The next experiment asked Hopper users if theyd be willing to pay extra to offset the impact of their travel through tree planting or flying on more fuel-efficient aircraft. For the former, a majority 73% said yes. However, 40% of these respondents said they would only pay a maximum of $5 more for reforestation. And a third experiment sought to see if customers actually would pay more. It sent a notification to users who had booked a flight with Hopper within the previous 24 hours, asking for a donation to offset the impact of their flight. Only 1% of travelers ended up donating. Note: The 36% of users who reported a willingness to opt for more fuel-efficient aircraft in the second experiment (and even pay an average of $42 more for it) couldnt be further questioned for this final test since its not currently possible for travelers to select specific aircraft at booking. Travelers dont put their money where their mouth is, according to Lufthansas analysis of the experiment. Compensation rates of 1% really surprised us because there are many survey findings of how people eagerly want to travel more sustainably. Easy ways to travel more sustainably (that might even save you money) Paying more money isnt necessarily the only way to be a green traveler. In fact, many sustainable habits are easy or free. Shut off the hotel air conditioner or heat when you leave. Dont take food from the buffet that you wont actually eat. Other sustainable practices may actually save you money. For example, when renting a car, ditch the fancy muscle car in favor of a humble (and more fuel-efficient) sedan, or choose the economy seat over first class. An analysis by the World Bank Environment and Energy Team, Development Research Group estimates that first class fares can cause up to nine times more emissions than economy fares because of the space they require on aircraft. Even a single trip where you spend more time in one place might be better than destination-hopping, where you end up taking multiple flights to myriad places (but dont spend much time in each location). Not only will you cut the flights, but youll only face jetlag once. Especially if you can work remotely, spending a few weeks out of town (when typically your company wouldnt let you take that much time off in a row) might finally be feasible. And then theres perhaps the most sustainable way to travel of them all taking fewer trips that require a plane, period. If youre taking a road trip with multiple friends or family members, driving is a more economical option anyway. More From NerdWallet Sally French writes for NerdWallet. Email: sfrench@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @SAFmedia. The article American Travelers Care Less About Doing It Sustainably originally appeared on NerdWallet. At least 14 people were killed in a strong earthquake that shook a coastal region of Ecuador and northern Peru on Saturday, causing structural damage to multiple homes, schools and medical centers. The quake, which the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) measured at magnitude 6.8, struck at a depth of 66.4 km (41.3 miles) about 10 km (6.2 miles) from the city of Balao in the province of Guayas. The earthquake did not appear likely to generate a tsunami, authorities said. We remain in the territory verifying the damage caused by the earthquake this morning. I want to confirm that I am with you and express my solidarity and commitment to the victims, Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso said in a tweet. The presidencys communication agency said the quake left 14 people dead, and more than 380 people were injured, largely in the El Oro province. The agency said at least 44 homes were destroyed, while 90 more were damaged. Around 50 educational buildings and more than 30 health centers were also affected, while multiple roadways were blocked by landslides caused by the earthquake. The Santa Rosa airport suffered minor damage, but remained in operation. Ecuadors Secretariat of Risk Management said in an earlier statement that one death in Azuay province occurred when a wall collapsed on to a vehicle. In other provinces, structural damage included a collapsed wharf and a fallen wall in a supermarket. State-run oil company Petroecuador had evacuated and suspended activities in multiple facilities out of precaution, but had not reported damage, the agency said. We all ran out into the streets we were very scared, Ernesto Alvarado, a resident of Isla Puna near the epicenter, told Reuters, adding that some homes had collapsed. The initial quake was followed by two weaker aftershocks in the following hour, according to the Geophysics Institute of Ecuador. Peruvian authorities said the quake was felt in the countrys northern region, but there were no immediate reports of harm to people or structures. SOURCE: REUTERS Sudans toppled leader Omar al-Bashir was moved from Kober prison to a military hospital in the Sudanese capital before heavy fighting broke out there on April 15, two sources at the hospital said. The whereabouts of Bashir came into question after a former minister in his government, Ali Haroun, announced on Tuesday he had left the prison with other ex officials. Both Bashir and Haroun are wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged atrocities in Darfur. Fighting flared anew in Sudan late on Tuesday despite a ceasefire declaration by the warring factions, as a U.N. envoy said the truce was partially holding even though there was no sign that the two sides were ready for serious talks. The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire beginning on Tuesday after negotiations mediated by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. But gunfire and explosions could be heard after nightfall in Omdurman, one of Khartoums sister cities on the Nile River where the army used drones to target RSF positions, a Reuters reporter said. The army also used drones to try to drive fighters back from a fuel refinery in Bahri, the third city at the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile. U.N. special envoy on Sudan Volker Perthes told the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday that the ceasefire seems to be holding in some parts so far. But he said that neither party showed readiness to seriously negotiate, suggesting that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible. This is a miscalculation, Perthes said, adding that Khartoums airport was operational but the tarmac damaged. Since Sudan erupted in warfare between the army and the RSF on April 15, derailing a transition to civilian democracy, the paramilitaries have embedded themselves in residential districts and the army has sought to target them from the air. The fighting has turned residential areas into battlefields. Air strikes and artillery have killed at least 459 people, wounded over 4,000, destroyed hospitals and limited food distribution in a nation where a third of its 46 million people rely on food aid. A projectile hit Al-Roumi medical centre in Omdurman on Tuesday and exploded inside the facility, injuring 13 people, a hospital official said. PRISONERS RELEASED In a further sign of deteriorating security, former Sudanese Minister Ahmed Haroun, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, said he and other officials were allowed to leave Kober prison. Following reports of a prison break in recent days, Haroun said that conditions at Kober had deteriorated badly. A protester imprisoned there said in a taped statement posted online on Sunday that prisoners had been let go after a week with no water or food. Haroun and the other released officials served under ex-President Omar al-Bashir who came to power in a 1989 military coup and was ousted in a popular uprising in 2019. The ICC in the Hague has accused Haroun of organising militias to attack civilians in a genocide in Darfur in 2003 and 2004. The whereabouts of Bashir were not immediately clear. Separately, the World Health Organization (WHO) said one of the warring parties took control of a national health facility in Khartoum and expressed concern about potential biological hazards from measles and cholera pathogens for vaccinations stored there. An exodus of embassies and aid workers from Africas third-largest country has raised fears that civilians who remain will be in greater danger if the shaky three-day truce deal, which expires on Thursday, does not hold. U.S. President Joe Bidens national security team is continuing to talk to Sudans rival military leaders to end fighting and provide humanitarian aid, a White House spokesperson said on Tuesday. The fighting has paralysed hospitals and other essential services, and left many people stranded in their homes with dwindling supplies of food and water. With bodies scattered in the streets, international aid group Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) said it had been unable to get fresh supplies or personnel into Sudan. The U.N. humanitarian office (OCHA) said shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel were becoming extremely acute, prices were surging and it had cut back operations for safety reasons. The U.N. refugee agency forecast that hundreds of thousands of people might flee into neighbouring countries. WHY IS THE WORLD ABANDONING US? As foreign governments evacuated their nationals, those with nowhere to go said they felt forsaken. Why is the world abandoning us at a time of war? said Sumaya Yassin, 27, accusing foreign powers of being selfish. Since the fighting erupted, tens of thousands have left for neighbouring Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan. With civilians leaving Khartoum in cars and buses, the streets of one of Africas biggest metropolitan areas were largely emptied of ordinary daily life. Those still in the city huddled at home while fighters roamed outside. There is nothing left in stores, no water, no food. People have started to go out armed, with axes, with sticks, French journalist Augustine Passilly said by phone as she tried to cross the border into Egypt. SOURCE: REUTERS DELMAR After closing its Colonie Center store earlier this year, Vendor Square, a locally owned gift shop, has officially opened its new location in the heart of downtown Delmar. The store unveiled its new location in Main Square at 318 Delaware Ave. on March 1. Owner Matthew Banks says the smaller space better reflects the store's style. Another reason we wanted to move here was for that small-town feel and thats really what were getting here, Banks added. Weve had so many local friendly people coming in and checking out the store and everyone has been so welcoming. The communitys support has gone above and beyond expectations, said Banks, adding that while the downsize was meant to make business easier, he now has more vendors interested in partnering with the shop than ever before. After two years spent at one of the region's largest shop malls, the business owner said he hopes to stay in the Bethlehem community much longer. The shop includes the products of more than 30 different local vendors, from honey, spices and barbecue sauce to jewelry, art and decor. Most vendors come in weekly to swap out items and restock their booths, Banks said. A variety of classes will also take place at the store; the first of which will be a basic cookie decorating class hosted by Cheryls Creative Cookies on May 23. Those interested can pre-register online for the event, which has limited space. Banks says he encourages community members to check out the store which supports local businesses by giving people who like to make art and crafts a space where they can sell their products without having to run their own stores. Vendor Square is open Tuesday through Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. KINGSTON A large brick building once home to a cigar company in Kingstons formerly industrial midtown district will soon take on the new purpose of boosting the citys thriving arts and cultural scene. The former Van Slyke & Horton factory at 25 Dederick St. will be transformed into the new headquarters for the Center for Photography at Woodstock. But first, the 40,000-square-foot commercial building must undergo a $2 million facelift. To support the project, Empire State Development announced Tuesday that it has awarded the city of Kingston with a $1.5 million Restore NY grant to rehabilitate the building, as well as a $350,000 capital grant recommended by the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council. Transforming a one-time cigar factory into the Center for Photographys new home showcases how our strategic regional investments work to re-envision communities around New York state, Empire State Development CEO Hope Knight said in a statement. This historic building is now taking the long view, with a focus on art and education that will draw Kingston visitors and residents both now and for years to come. The Center for Photography will breathe new life into the vacant four-story building, which dates to 1907, by converting it into a photography museum, gallery and community educational center. Located close to Kingston City Hall and the recently redesigned Broadway-Grand Street intersection, the building is intended to support an economically distressed area targeted for revitalization in Kingstons 2022 Arts & Culture Master Plan. The expansion will retain 60 jobs and create an additional seven, a press release states. The first phase of renovations will include remodeling the basement and bottom two floors of the building into the museum and educational center. The top floors will be renovated thereafter and will be utilized for commercial activity related to the local creative economy, according to CPW Executive Director Brian Wallis. The center hopes to move staff in by fall 2023. Wallis expressed gratitude to the state for supporting the project and recognizing the power the arts have in driving downtown revitalization and economic development. We look forward to transforming this architecturally striking, historic building into a cultural hub that helps to build a sense of community in the Midtown Arts District and assures that Kingston is a great destination to live, work and visit in the Hudson Valley, he said. Founded in 1977, the Center for Photography at Woodstock calls itself one of the nations leading venues for the presentation, instruction and critical discussion of photography in contemporary culture. The art institution was in Woodstock for 45 years before moving to a gallery space on Broadway in Kingston in 2021. Last year, CPW sold its Woodstock building for nearly $1 million. It purchased the former cigar factory in February, a move that signified its goal of creating a model for a community-based, artist-oriented photography and visual arts organization that also aligns with Kingstons values. CPWs purchase and adaptive reuse of this long underutilized building fits perfectly within our economic development goals of continuing to support a vibrant arts and cultural hub here in the heart of Kingston, Mayor Steve Noble said in a statement. We look forward to the work planned for this building and seeing a new community development opportunity flourish. ALBANY Central Hudson Gas and Electric, the public utility under intense fire for the botched rollout of a new billing system, must end its practice of reading electric meters every other month, according to an audit of the utility ordered by state regulators. The practice led to some of the major problems experienced with the new billing system, auditors wrote, which the utility switched over to in September 2021 and led to customers filing 4,462 complaints with the state Department of Public Service, including 1,100 in the first 48 hours the departments portal was opened. Customers complained about missing and late bills, receiving other customers bills, inaccurate and inflated bill amounts, large automatic withdrawals from checking accounts, not receiving bills for many months, receiving confusing bills and receiving multiple bills in one month. The state Public Service Commission completed a report on the debacle in December that stated company mismanagement was to blame for the rollout, which was riddled with errors, some of which management was aware of before the launch. The audit, which began in early 2022, was meant to comprehensively study the management and operations of the utility. Most of the resulting report deals with issues unrelated to the new billing system, such as the companys financial management and plans for future projects. But the audit repeatedly recommends the utility stop estimated billing, wherein electric meters are read every two months, with estimates filling in the intervening pay periods. Central Hudson has been using estimated billing since 2016, according to the audit, though during the rollout, estimates were sometimes used for many months in a row due to issues collecting data and other problems. If, when Central Hudson actually read the meter, the customer had been using more energy than the estimates, the additional energy was billed at the current electricity rate, which was often different than when the electricity was actually used. Energy prices, which Central Hudson does not have control over, were fluctuating wildly in 2022, when many of the adjustments were made, starting the year at $11.21 per thousand cubic feet and more than doubling to $28.22 by that September. The audit includes a real-world example where a customer read their own meter after receiving only estimated bills for several months. The additional energy the customer used was billed at the contemporaneous rate, which was much higher than in previous months, leading to a bill of $2,625. The bill was eventually canceled and reissued at the rates that existed when the energy was used, and the cost fell to $450, suggesting the customer was overbilled by nearly 600 percent. The audit also found evidence that estimates tended to lowball the amount of energy used, at least for customers that had been with Central Hudson for less than 12 months. The audit also found a related issue when customers did not receive bills for many months. When the customer was eventually billed, it was often at the current electric rate instead of the rate when the electricity was used, which could lead to much higher costs. Because of this and other issues, the number of bills that needed to be canceled and reissued rose from 4,500 a month before the rollout to more than 45,000 a month, or more than 14 percent of all bills. In its response to Decembers report by the Public Service Commission, Central Hudson stated it would move away from estimated billing. Company spokesman Joe Jenkins said the utility submitted its plan to transition to monthly meter reads to the Public Service Commission in January and was working with them on an implementation timeline. In some instances, such as an employee being unable to access the meter or a major storm, customers will still receive an estimate, according to Jenkins. Once regulators approve the process, Central Hudson plans to begin the process of bringing on additional resources, according to Jenkins, though it was not yet known if they would be contractors or direct employees. Central Hudsons meter-reading team currently consists of 10 employees three of which are supervisors with the majority of reads undertaken by a contractor, which uses 31 full-time employees, according to the audit. The utility has about 309,000 electric customers spread over eight counties in the Hudson Valley. A bill sponsored by state Sen. Michelle Hinchey, whose district overlaps heavily with Central Hudsons service area, would ban estimated billing. It passed the Senate unanimously in March and now sits in the Assembly. Central Hudson is also facing a class-action lawsuit over the billing system, and its CEO, Charles Freni, left the company in February after U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan called for his resignation. The company defended itself against the damning report by the Public Service Commission by claiming none of its customers had been financially harmed by the billing practices, since the utility would correct all accounts within two years. SARATOGA SPRINGS With concerns that the party scene on Caroline Street is growing more violent, the City Council is considering outlawing carrying a firearm while impaired by drugs or alcohol. The ordinance, which will be discussed on Tuesday at a City Council meeting, is in response to a Nov. 20 incident when a bar dispute between an off-duty Vermont sheriffs deputy and three men from Utica spilled out into the street and erupted in gunfire. City police responded by shooting the sheriff deputy who allegedly pointed his weapon at them after shooting one of the Utica men. The incident took place after a night of drinking on Caroline Street, the hub of the citys night life. If approved, violating the ordinance would be a violation, or akin to a ticket to appear in City Court. In the aftermath of Nov. 20, I did some research, Commissioner of Public Safety James Montagnino said. I discovered there are 20 states that have this as a state law, an armed while intoxicated statute. In New York, there were two attempts of passing something like this, but it died once in the Senate and once in the Assembly. ... The goal is to act as a deterrent. Cars are a deadly weapon, thats why you dont drive drunk. And firearms are deadly weapons, and you should leave your revolver secured somewhere else if going out to the bars. The standard for proving intoxication would be the same as officers do with state Vehicle and Traffic Law. Many of the bars on Caroline Street security-wand patrons including Gaffneys, which was a condition of its reopening agreement with the state Liquor Authority. Night Owl says it wands patrons on Saturdays and the Soundbar said it has been wanding guests since 2015. Brian Miller, a spokesman for the Soundbar, said wanding is a very simple way to be proactive. Miller also said that he didnt think wanding patrons would be a burden on, nor disputed by, bar owners. They should pass the ordinance, but they should know that people with bad intent are still going to do what they want, Miller said. But I feel very confident all of the establishments in Saratoga would agree with that ordinance. Mayor Ron Kim also said he will likely support the measure. Vito Caselnova, the Vermont sheriffs deputy, is facing attempted murder, assault, menacing and reckless endangerment for reportedly shooting at Utica barber Alexander Colon before allegedly leveling a gun at Saratoga Springs police who arrived to investigate the gunfire. Caselnova is also facing a charge of possessing a firearm in a sensitive location, a 2022 state law in which carrying firearms are not allowed in specific places such as colleges, hospitals, churches, subways and places where alcohol is served. Montagnino said that while the state law covers carrying a gun into the bars, the ordinance would cover the entire city. He said it would also cover everyone who is intoxicated including law enforcement officers like Caselnova. If someone is wanded and found to be armed and buzzed, there is an issue. Montagnino said a public hearing on the proposed ordinance will be set, likely for May 16. In recent years, fights on Caroline Street have grown and have included stabbings. The City Council has asked Saratoga County for permission to close its bars at 2 a.m. However, the county has not agreed as it would force all bars throughout the county to close early. Note: This story was updated to indicate the city wanted to close bars at 2 a.m. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBANY Former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, facing the possibility of paying millions of the dollars to the state, is suing New Yorks new ethics commission and alleging that it is so independent from the current governor it is unconstitutional. Cuomos actions come ahead of him scheduled to be the subject of a proceeding before the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government on June 12. He is facing ongoing scrutiny from the states ethics commission over his $5 million book deal recounting his administrations early response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He is asking for the court to declare the ethics commission to be an unconstitutional body and, therefore, for any enforcement taken against him by it to be invalid. Explaining why the lawsuit is necessary, Cuomos attorneys said the commission intends to garnish millions of dollars to cover the entirety of the book deal. This is no empty threat, Cuomos attorneys asserted in their petition, which was filed Tuesday in state Supreme Court in Albany. The petition argues that the manner in which the commission was set up last year violates the separation of powers under the state and U.S. constitutions. Cuomos attorneys cite James Madisons writings in the Federalist Papers to underscore their point that it is grotesque and a misshapen constitutional monstrosity designed to bypass the separation of powers. In extraordinary and unprecedented ways, the act flouts these long-established and sacrosanct principles of the constitutional structure that are designed to protect the liberty interests of New Yorkers, the lawsuit filed by Cuomos attorneys reads. The commission may instead need to be created by a constitutional amendment to have the authority it claims, the lawsuit asserts. It cites the Commission on Judicial Conduct, which can punish judges for misconduct and was established through an amendment voters approved nearly half-a-century ago. Good governments groups previously called for a constitutional amendment to create the new ethics commission. A bill to give voters the opportunity to establish a new commission did not make it out of committee, despite some Democratic lawmakers conceding a constitutional amendment was the necessary to have a truly independent commission. The former governor has every right to challenge the law, Blair Horner, executive director of the New York Public Interest Research Group, said on Wednesday. But what New York deserve is a more independent ethics commission, not one thats under the thumb of the governor. Attempts by the prior ethics commission, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, failed to invalidate the book deal despite numerous legal proceedings. The ethics commission has asserted that the book was produced by members of Cuomos staff who were working on government time and that it violated the terms that allowed Cuomo to author the book. Cuomo has maintained the book was produced properly. The lawsuit speaks for itself, but theres clearly been politics behind all of this, Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi said in a statement. Cuomo resigned in August 2021 following the issuance of an attorney generals report outlining allegations of workplace misconduct and as he faced an impending impeachment trial on multiple issues. Cuomo has denied that he sexually harassed or inappropriately touched anyone. Multiple prosecutors declined to pursue criminal charges against Cuomo. They said the women who accused him of improper behavior, including touching and groping, were credible but under New York law the allegations did not rise to sustainable criminal offenses and in some instances there were evidentiary problems, including inconsistent witness statements. Azzopardi could not explain the timing of the filing of the lawsuit. It was filed on the day the commission held a regular meeting which included adopting a regulation to authorize subpoena power for the executive director. Gov. Kathy Hochuls office declined to comment on the litigation. The latest analyst coverage could presage a bad day for BenevolentAI S.A. (AMS:BAI), with the analysts making across-the-board cuts to their statutory estimates that might leave shareholders a little shell-shocked. Both revenue and earnings per share (EPS) estimates were cut sharply as the analysts factored in the latest outlook for the business, concluding that they were too optimistic previously. Following the downgrade, the most recent consensus for BenevolentAI from its four analysts is for revenues of UK25m in 2023 which, if met, would be a major 136% increase on its sales over the past 12 months. Losses are predicted to fall substantially, shrinking 66% to UK0.48. However, before this estimates update, the consensus had been expecting revenues of UK40m and UK0.32 per share in losses. Ergo, there's been a clear change in sentiment, with the analysts administering a notable cut to this year's revenue estimates, while at the same time increasing their loss per share forecasts. See our latest analysis for BenevolentAI The consensus price target fell 6.5% to UK4.24, with the analysts clearly concerned about the company following the weaker revenue and earnings outlook. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. The most optimistic BenevolentAI analyst has a price target of UK8.23 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at UK1.99. With such a wide range in price targets, the analysts are almost certainly betting on widely diverse outcomes for the underlying business. With this in mind, we wouldn't rely too heavily on the consensus price target, as it is just an average and analysts clearly have some deeply divergent views on the business. These estimates are interesting, but it can be useful to paint some more broad strokes when seeing how forecasts compare, both to the BenevolentAI's past performance and to peers in the same industry. The analysts are definitely expecting BenevolentAI's growth to accelerate, with the forecast 136% annualised growth to the end of 2023 ranking favourably alongside historical growth of 21% per annum over the past three years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in a similar industry are forecast to grow their revenue at 5.9% per year. Factoring in the forecast acceleration in revenue, it's pretty clear that BenevolentAI is expected to grow much faster than its industry. Story continues The Bottom Line The most important thing to note from this downgrade is that the consensus increased its forecast losses this year, suggesting all may not be well at BenevolentAI. Unfortunately, analysts also downgraded their revenue estimates, although our data indicates revenues are expected to perform better than the wider market. Given the scope of the downgrades, it would not be a surprise to see the market become more wary of the business. After a downgrade like this, it's pretty clear that previous forecasts were too optimistic. What's more, we've spotted several possible issues with BenevolentAI's business, like dilutive stock issuance over the past year. For more information, you can click here to discover this and the 2 other concerns we've identified. Of course, seeing company management invest large sums of money in a stock can be just as useful as knowing whether analysts are downgrading their estimates. So you may also wish to search this free list of stocks that insiders are buying. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WESTPORT Two years after recreational cannabis sales were banned in Westport, Bluepoint Wellness is attempting to secure a text amendment to become a hybrid retailer. But after a pre-application presentation at Monday's Planning and Zoning meeting, officials say it's unlikely. "I always listen to every application with an open mind," said Planning and Zoning Commission Chair Danielle Dobin, "but with regard to recreational cannabis being sold in Westport, I do not believe that this commission a majority of us will vote or be open to being persuaded to vote to be, essentially, the only liquor store in a dry county, so to speak." Owner Nick Tamborrino said he was last in front of the commission in June 2018, where they approved the facility at 1460 Post Road East. In December 2018, they were awarded a medical dispensary license through the state, opening the following December. Tamborrino said Bluepoint Wellness works in partnership with Green Thumb Industries, which has "the experience and track record to successfully transition into a hybrid retailer." "We are a well-known, trusted and existing business with almost a four-year track record of success," Tamborrino said. Tamborrino said there has not been any negative effect to town activities or traffic since Bluepoint Wellness opened in 2019. With Connecticut beginning adult-use, recreational sales in January, the state allowed medical facilities the opportunity to transition to hybrid, including Bluepoint Wellness. Tamborrino said transitioning would allow them to expand their business and compete with other adult-use dispensaries. "Each day, we have to turn away local residents visiting Bluepoint asking if we sell recreational products," he said. Anne Marie Zsamba, an attorney for Bluepoint Wellness, said Green Thumb has successfully transitioned stores within six states to adult use or a hybrid model over the past several years. The medical market still dominates in the state, Tamborrino said, but adding recreational use to their facility would about double the amount of people who come in each day, which is currently about 175. There are currently 12 recreational dispensaries in Connecticut, with five more expected to open this year. Tamborrino added it has been "quite uneventful" in the towns with recreational dispensaries, meaning there has not been an effect to traffic or long lines. In the surrounding towns, Stamford has two retailers, Norwalk has approved up to three, Bridgeport has two that were approved and Stratford has approved one. "Bluepoint would not be the only facility selling adult use in Fairfield County," he said. The outside of the building wouldn't change under the transition, Tamborrino said. The only change in the inside would increase the size of the vault, decreasing the size of one office. Tamborrino said becoming hybrid would increase jobs, economic activity and tax revenue. Zsamba said the cannabis tax revenue can be used for street improvements and local developments; educational programs; parole and probation services regarding, mental health programs, youth services and civic engagement. Multiple commission members said they would want to hear from the public with their opinions about a recreational dispensary. Dobin said the town's top priorities wouldn't really fall under these categories, such as a new school. She added it's also difficult to predict what traffic will be like. Commission member Neil Cohn said he is not in favor of a text amendment because he does not see the need for it, as Westport is close enough to other areas that have recreational dispensaries, and people can apply for a medical card for a fee, if need be. The Minister for Health has said a proposal for a national elective hospital in Dublin was not progressed as it was on a private site that would have cost a lot of a lot of money. Government has committed to establishing standalone national elective hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin. The rationale for elective hospitals is that they cater for high-volume, relatively low-acuity cases. The elective hospitals will be focused on providing day-case, GI endoscopy, minor operations, outpatient treatment and outpatient diagnostics services. In December, Government progressed planning of the development of hospitals in Cork and Galway but there was no announcement of a site for Dublin. Speaking at the Oireachtas joint committee on health, Social Democrat TD Roisin Shortall said there seemed to be backtracking on the proposal. Ms Shortall said: Certainly there has been an inordinate delay in progressing that proposal. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said there has been no divergence from the Slaintecare recommendations nor change of policy. I fully share your frustrations. It takes years longer than it should to build new hospitals in this country, he said. Mr Donnelly said the department is moving through the public spending code on the matter quickly but added the code was not fit for purpose. Asked by Ms Shortall why there had been no progress on a site for Dublin, Mr Donnelly said review had recommended a site but there was additional work required. We didnt agree that the Dublin site was the right one to go for. The proposal for Dublin was a was a private site that could have taken a long time to get and would have cost a lot of a lot of money. And the view within the department is one I share that I think has been expressed by members of the committee is that we should build on our own land wherever we have it. Mr Donnelly said a proposal for another site in Dublin would be on his desk very shortly. The minister was at the committee to discuss challenges in hospitals including emergency departments, bed shortages and overcrowding. Mr Donnelly told the committee he had visited hospitals and emergency departments where conditions are not acceptable. Ive seen the distress overcrowding causes for patients, their families and our frontline staff, he said. Sinn Fein health spokesman David Cullinane said the number of people on hospital trolleys and on waiting lists were going in the wrong direction. Mr Donnelly said progress is under way. The Minister said there had been an 11% reduction in patients waiting longer than the maximum waiting list target of between 10 and 12 weeks. In March, we launched the 2023 waiting list action plan as the next stage of our multi annual approach. The government allocated 363 million euro to remove 1.66 million patients from the waiting lists, this is projected to result in a reduction of 10% to the number of people on waiting lists. In the last month alone, weve seen a 5% reduction in the number of people waiting over the 10 to 12-week targets. Fine Gael senator Martin Conway raised the issue of the number of people on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick, which he described as not acceptable. Mr Donnelly agreed and said there will be a very substantial increase in bed capacity and services. Theyve asked for more capacity, theyre getting more capacity, Mr Donnelly said. Trinity College Dublin has decided to remove the name of a slave owner from its largest library. First opened in 1967, the Berkeley Library was named after philosopher George Berkeley in 1978. The institution said Berkeley, a former librarian at the university, published some of his most important philosophical works while at Trinity in the 1700s. He bought slaves, named Philip, Anthony, Edward, and Agnes Berkeley, to work on his Rhode Island estate in 1730-31 and sought to advance ideology in support of slavery, the university added in a statement. The universitys board made the decision following several months of research and public consultation overseen by the Trinity Legacies Review Working Group. It decided the continued use of Berkeleys name is inconsistent with the universitys core values of human dignity, freedom, inclusivity and equality. The denaming does not deny Berkeleys importance as a writer, philosopher, and towering intellectual figure. His philosophical work will still be taught at Trinity and remains of significant contemporary relevance. A separate process will determine what the new name for the library should be. The university will adopt a retain-and-explain approach to a stained-glass window commemorating Berkeley. Trinity Provost Dr Linda Doyle said the landscape of the university is not static. Each generation of students and staff deserves a chance to influence decisions. In this case, it was our students who called on us to address the issue. She added: George Berkeleys enormous contribution to philosophical thought is not in question. However, it is also clear that he was both an owner of enslaved people and a theorist of slavery and racial discrimination, which is in clear conflict with Trinitys core values. Librarian and college archivist Helen Shenton said another name change is an opportunity to be creative and imaginative. Trinity will continue to hold George Berkeleys philosophical works in the library collections and continue to teach and to research his works, she said. Portraits depicting Berkeley will be assessed in the future by a new overall university policy on artwork, while the academic Gold Medals memorialising Berkeley will be reviewed by the relevant academic department. April 26, 2023 Many companies strive to start their work quickly because time is money. It is essential for companies that provide new and unusual services and know that competitors work on the same technology. Today we want to give some tips on getting a cryptocurrency license in Poland as soon as possible. We also want to tell you more about this jurisdiction and the benefits of obtaining a work permit in this jurisdiction. 1. Try to find out in advance the rules of regulation of the crypto industry in this jurisdiction If you decide to get a work permit in Poland, you need to know the rules of crypto regulation in detail in advance. You need to get advice from specialized lawyers and independently study the legislative acts that regulate the crypto industry. The better you break down all matters, the less likely unpleasant surprises will appear. 2. Think over the activities of your company in advance to the smallest detail The better you think ahead of your organization's performance, the more successful it will be, and the easier for you to explain to regulators that your organization can be successful. When compiling a business plan, you should seek the help of lawyers and business analysts who will help you highlight weaknesses and advice on correcting mistakes. This process takes a long time, but it is worth the time you can spend on it. According to statistics, only 1% of all startups in the world are successful and have existed for more than 5 years, and this is because their creators did not think through all aspects of their company's work to the smallest detail in the early stages. 3. Pay more attention to staff selection The main requirement that this jurisdiction puts forward is that your team members have no criminal record and a high level of reputation. So, all members of your team should not have had problems with the law in the past. They must also have a specialized education and at least 1 year of work experience in a relevant position. It is a guarantee that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their duties well. Particular attention should be paid to the choice of an AML specialist. Their duties will include ensuring that company employees and customers cannot use your company for money laundering and fraud. Responsibilities will also include reporting to regulators. When choosing this specialist, it is necessary to consider both professional and personal qualities. This person must be honest, incorruptible, and have great willpower. 4. When building a company, consider the requirements of government regulators Quite often, the owners build their company on their own, and when it comes time to get a license, you have to make many changes, which takes a lot of time. Suppose you want to get a work permit as soon as possible. In that case, you need to build the management of your organization in advance, considering all the requirements of government regulators. 5. Seek help from specialized lawyers If you want all the papers to be in order, you need to seek the help of specialized lawyers. Gofaizen Sherle specialists have been helping crypto companies with licensing issues for many years and know well how to arrange paperwork so that government agencies do not have any questions. They will tell you how to get a work permit immediately. What is the process of obtaining a license? In Poland, there are established licensing rules and prescribed steps that you must go through to obtain a work permit. They include: Registration of a company takes approximately 5 working days; Obtaining PESEL government agencies have 30 days to assign you a unique tax number, but this is usually faster; Applying to have your organization listed on the registry government agencies have 2 weeks to review your application. As you can see, if all documents are in order, the licensing process takes up to 2 months on average. But, if the regulators have questions at any of these stages, they may ask for additional documents or changes in your organization's activities. It will result in you spending time making changes and collecting other documents, and regulators will have an additional 2 weeks to consider changes. So, the process of obtaining a license can take several months. To avoid this, you need to enlist the help of professional lawyers responsible for collecting and completing documents. If you wish, you can buy an existing company, saving you a few days. You can change the name and use a different control system in the future. [April 25, 2023] Revolutionizing Visual Communication: Introducing Vonage's No-Code Meetings API TMCnet News In the era of digital transformation, video has become an indispensable part of customer engagement strategies across various industries. As businesses rapidly try to adapt to a changing landscape, they are in search of seamless, intuitive video conferencing solutions to enhance user experiences and facilitate effective collaboration. This is particularly true for sectors like healthcare, where visual communication plays a crucial role in supporting new healthcare delivery models. To that end, Vonage (News - Alert) has recently launched its Meetings API, a no-code, embeddable video conferencing solution tailored to address these evolving demands. The platform enables businesses to effortlessly integrate customizable video conferencing capabilities into their existing applications, streamlining internal collaboration and enhancing the customer journey, while reducing time to market. A key to Vonage Meetings API is its user-friendly, no-code design that caters to the non-developer community, aka citizen developers. Ron Maayan, SVP Product for Vonage, emphasizes that the platform empowers these individuals to create sophisticated experiences with a native look and feel, despite not having developer skillsets. This ease of implementation offers an improvement over many alternatives, which often require complex and lengthy processes for implementation. Michael Brandenburg, Senior Industry Analyst at Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert), highlights the platform's ability to 'put the power to create solutions that drive customer engagement directly into the hands of enterprise businesses.' By bridging the gap between SaaS (News - Alert) and APIs, Meetings API's seamless integration with existing business applications ensure a smooth, native user experience. Importantly, end users don't need to download yet another app or toggle between browser screens, simplifying the entire process and making it more user-friendly. One example of a Vonage Meetings API use case is in the healthcare sector. Specifically, Tuotempo by Docplanner, a cloud-based CRM platform for healthcare organizations, used the platform to expand its telehealth capabilities. Gianfranco D'Aurelio, VP of Product for Tuotempo by Docplanner, explained that Meetings API allowed the company to quickly create multi-participant sessions capable of bringing an entire care team together - all supported in the patient's chosen language, a critical feature given a patient base that spans Europe. This level of customization and ease of integration is particularly valuable for healthcare providers seeking to optimize the patient experience while delivering remote care. 'For several years, we have been employing video to optimize our patient life cycle experience platform,' said D'Aurelio. 'To build on that success and provide even greater patient experiences, we looked for a way to easily and simply enhance our video offering to include additional features. This has been the perfect fit for our business, giving us the tools to easily integrate these capabilities right into our existing platform, without the need for onsite developer expertise or support.' The Meetings API comes with an array of features, including a complete end-to-end user experience and user interface, simple room and user management, and global dial-in capabilities. Users can engage through screen sharing, whiteboarding, active speaker detection, chat, reactions, and recording, amd a host of moderation tools ensure a smooth and controlled experience for all. Meetings API is fully functional within mobile and desktop browsers, leveraging Vonage's decade of WebRTC experience, ensuring accessibility across device types and manufacturers. Security and compliance measures, such as private meeting access, lock meeting, join before host, waiting room, and background blurring, provide a secure environment for users. Of course, the solution is also HIPAA compliant, a must for healthcare organizations. Client optimization ensures optimal performance and user experience for web, native, or PSTN users. Customization and localization options, including customizable logo and user interface with multiple themes, full RGB color palette, and a growing library of languages, allow businesses to tailor the platform to their specific needs and target audiences. Leveraging the combined power of the Vonage Meetings application, used by over 4 million people across desktop and mobile apps, and the Vonage Video API, which is utilized by thousands of organizations to build custom experience solutions, Meetings API supports customers across many industries. With a 99.99% uptime SLA and global sales, support, and services, Vonage Meetings API is poised to redefine video conferencing and visual communication. As businesses continue to invest in digital transformation projects, platforms like Meetings API will play a crucial role in fostering customer engagement, streamlining workflows, and enhancing overall user experiences. By empowering citizen developers and making sophisticated video conferencing capabilities accessible to a wider audience, Vonage is actively helping increase adoption of visual communication tools. The combination of Vonage Meetings application's popularity and Vonage Video API's adaptability gives Meetings API a solid foundation for success. The Tuotempo by Docplanner use case is just one example of the platform's potential to deliver modern communications capabilities to a wide range of users. As more organizations in various sectors adopt the platform, its impact on other industries can have similar, positive impacts. In a world where remote work and digital interactions are becoming the norm, Vonage is making it easy for businesses to deliver more connected, efficient, and engaging experiences. Edited by TMCnet en espanol [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 25, 2023] AppViewX Market and Product Leadership Highlighted with Most 2023 Global InfoSec Awards For High-Growth Machine Identity Management Sector AppViewX Wins Most Innovative Certificate Lifecycle Management Solution Award, Hot Company in Identity & Access Management Award and Editor's Choice in the PKI-as-a-Service Category Award NEW YORK, April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AppViewX , the leader in automated machine identity management and application infrastructure security, has received three Global InfoSec Awards during RSAC 2023 , making it the most awarded machine identity management product company among those recognized. In the 11th annual awards presented by Cyber Defense Magazine (CDM), AppViewX proudly took home: Most Innovative Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM) Solution. AppViewX CERT+ is a ready-to-consume, scalable and efficient CLM solution to effectively automate and manage machine and application identities as an integral part of your cybersecurity strategy. is a ready-to-consume, scalable and efficient CLM solution to effectively automate and manage machine and application identities as an integral part of your cybersecurity strategy. Editor's Choice in the PKI-as-a-Service (PKIaaS) Category Awards. AppviewX PKI+ quickly enables organizations to migrate on-prem private CAS to a highly scalable, secure and compliant enterprise grade PKIaaS offering for all private trust security use cases. quickly enables organizations to migrate on-prem private CAS to a highly scalable, secure and compliant enterprise grade PKIaaS offering for all private trust security use cases. Hot Company in Identity & Access Management. The AppViewX product suite is an application-centric identity and access management (IAM) platform that enables self-service workflow automation and orchestration to ensure continuous application access and availability, identity-first security and compliance control. In a world where applications have become essential, AppViewX helps organizations reduce risk, ensure compliance, and increase visibility through machine identity protection and application infrastructure protection. While other tools only automate tasks, AppViewX unites enterprise development, helps IT and InfoSec teams eliminate manual processes and errors with contextual awareness, reduces service tickets from days to minutes and streamlines secure application delivery, security and compliance to facilitate digital transformation in a single platform. "Receiving these awards is great validation and a testament to AppViewX's innovation, thought leadership and customer obsession to secure applications against modern-day threats, unplanned outages and identity compromises," said Gregory Webb, CEO of AppViewX. "Having championed visibility and policy-based goverance of the complete machine identity landscape, it is critical and increasingly foundational now more than ever for enterprise identity-first security. This is evidenced by Google's recent 90-day TLS Certificate Validity proposal, which will further improve security and risk reduction as well as pressure enterprises to automate certificate lifecycle management." "AppViewX embodies three major features we judges look for to become winners: understanding tomorrow's threats, today; providing a cost-effective solution; and innovating in unexpected ways that can help mitigate cyber risk and get one step ahead of the next breach," said Gary S. Miliefsky, publisher of Cyber Defense Magazine. To see the entire list of Global InfoSec Award winners, go to www.cyberdefenseawards.com . Interested in a demo of AppViewX solutions? Come by the company booth (#5402) at the RSA Conference in the Moscone North Expo Hall. About AppViewX AppViewX is trusted by the world's leading global organizations to reduce risk, ensure compliance, and increase visibility through machine identity management and application infrastructure security and orchestration. With speed and agility, our Automation Platform facilitates digital transformation through streamlined workflows to prevent outages, reduce security incidents and protect both your reputation and your bottom line. The AppViewX Platform is a modular software application that enables the automation and orchestration of network infrastructure using an intuitive, context-aware, visual workflow. It quickly and easily translates business requirements into automation workflows that improve agility, enforce compliance, eliminate errors, and reduce cost. AppViewX automates NetOps, SecOps, and DevOps for Fortune 1000 companies, including six of the top ten global commercial banks, five of the top ten global media companies, and five of the top ten managed healthcare providers. AppViewX is headquartered in New York with additional offices in the U.K., Australia and three development centers of excellence in India. For more information, visit https://www.appviewx.com . About CDM InfoSec Awards This is Cyber Defense Magazine's tenth year of honoring InfoSec innovators from around the Globe. Our submission requirements are for any startup, early stage, later stage, or public companies in the INFORMATION SECURITY (INFOSEC) space who believe they have a unique and compelling value proposition for their product or service. Learn more at www.cyberdefenseawards.com About the Judging The judges are CISSP, FMDHS, CEH, certified security professionals who voted based on their independent review of the company submitted materials on the website of each submission including but not limited to data sheets, white papers, product literature and other market variables. CDM has a flexible philosophy to find more innovative players with new and unique technologies, than the one with the most customers or money in the bank. CDM is always asking "What's Next?" and looking for best of breed, next generation InfoSec solutions. About Cyber Defense Magazine Cyber Defense Magazine is the premier source of cyber security news and information for InfoSec professions in business and government. We are managed and published by and for ethical, honest, passionate information security professionals. Our mission is to share cutting-edge knowledge, real-world stories and awards on the best ideas, products, and services in the information technology industry. We deliver electronic magazines every month online for free, and special editions exclusively for the RSA Conferences. CDM is a proud member of the Cyber Defense Media Group. Learn more about us at https://www.cyberdefensemagazine.com and visit https://www.cyberdefensetv.com and https://www.cyberdefenseradio.com to see and hear some of the most informative interviews of many of these winning company executives. Join a webinar at https://www.cyberdefensewebinars.com and realize that infosec knowledge is power. AppViewX Media Contact: [email protected] CDM Media Inquiries Contact: Irene Noser, Marketing Executive Email: [email protected] Toll Free (USA): 1-833-844-9468 International: 1-646-586-9545 Website: www.cyberdefensemagazine.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/appviewx-market-and-product-leadership-highlighted-with-most-2023-global-infosec-awards-for-high-growth-machine-identity-management-sector-301807579.html SOURCE AppViewX [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 25, 2023] Global Sustainable Biopolymers Markets Report 2023: Revenue Data for 2021, Estimates for 2022, Forecasts for 2023, and CAGR Projections through 2027 DUBLIN, April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 Euroe, due to the growing importance of bioeconomics 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. 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. Report Includes 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 The scope for biodegradable polymers: Based on chemistry, the market is segmented into: Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT). Polybutylene succinate (PBS). Polylactic acid (PLA). Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Starch blends. Cellulose films. Based on application, the market is segmented into: Flexible packaging. Rigid packaging. Agriculture. Consumer goods. Coatings and adhesives. Fibers. Electronics and electricals. Building and construction. Automotive and transport. Others. The scope for bio-based polymers: Based on chemistry, the market is segmented into: Polylactic acid (PLA). Starch blend. Bio-polyethylene (bio-PE). Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Bio-polyamides. Bio-polyvinyl chloride (bio-PVC). Bio-polytrimethylene terephthalate (bio-PTT). Cellulosic. Bio-polypropylene (bio-PP). Others. Based on application, the market is segmented into: Flexible packaging. Rigid packaging. Consumer goods. Fibers. Electronics and electricals. Building and construction. Automotive and transport. Others. 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. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5lsio7 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-sustainable-biopolymers-markets-report-2023-revenue-data-for-2021-estimates-for-2022-forecasts-for-2023-and-cagr-projections-through-2027-301807213.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 25, 2023] InfiRay Debuts at Electric Power Tech Korea 2023 YANTAI, China, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IRay Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as "InfiRay" below), a leading brand in the thermal imaging industry, has shown itself with a high profile at Electric Power Tech Korea 2023 in Seoul. InfiRay presented its innovative technologies and highlighted thermal imaging products in hall C booth G201&203 at COEX 3F, Seoul, Korea. The application and development of electric power have promoted the progress of modern civilization, and the operation and maintenance of electric power systems are extremely important. This time, InfiRay made a stunning appearance with its industrial thermal imaging products, providing systematic solutions for electric power and related industries. In this exhibition, in addition to the C/M/P/T Series Handheld Thermal ameras popular with users and AT Series Online Electric Focus and Fixed Focus Thermal Cameras, the newly released S1280 Flagship High-Definition Thermal Camera will also be unveiled here, which won the 2023 German Red Dot Design Award. At this exhibition, as InfiRay's first 12801080 high-definition thermal camera, S1280 is equipped with an Android platform, with fast response and rich functions. In addition, the AT30 Card-size Thermal Camera with 384288 resolution will also appear at the exhibition site. AT30 can provide a clearer monitoring picture for the project while monitoring the temperature in the electrical cabinet safely. In addition to the traditional thermal cameras, InfiRay also brought a new thermal camera for gas detection. As a rare uncooled gas detection thermal camera on the market, how many surprises can the G600 bring us? Please pay attention to InfiRay website https://www.infiray.com/. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/infiray-debuts-at-electric-power-tech-korea-2023-301801495.html SOURCE IRay Technology Co., Ltd [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 25, 2023] Allen & Gledhill Upgrades Employee Experience with A&G Mobile App, Powered by OutSystems The law firm has earned accolades as one of the best places to work in Singapore, a testament to its investments in enhancing the work experience for its employees. SINGAPORE, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allen & Gledhill (A&G), a leading law firm in Singapore, has partnered with OutSystems, a global leader in high-performance application development, to champion modernisation within the workplace by upgrading their mobile application for employees. As part of A&G's digital strategy, in-house developers have worked together with OutSystems to roll out the A&G App, which augments employee services within the firm by digitalising legacy processes and speeding up administrative tasks, resulting in improved operational efficiency and a conducive work environment. With over 120 years of experience in the legal field, A&G's success is in part driven by keeping modernisation at the forefront to best serve its clients. Following the shift towards remote and hybrid work, A&G recognised the opportunity to digitalise its organisational processes and be well-equipped to deliver first-rate legal services for clients in the current age. Prior to partnering with OutSystems, A&G's employee e-services were hosted on on-premise servers, which limited its use via the company's intranet, preventing it from being truly mobile and accessible for staff. The new application developed on the OutSystems high-performance low-code platform allows the firm's 800 employees in Singapore access to a wide range of corporate services, office management functions and company updates in real-time via their mobile devices and web browsers. The application streamlines workflows and processes while heightening employee engagement, enabling A&G's teams to have more time to focus on providing better value for clients. "Driving innovation and improved operational efficiency is essential across industries to remain competitive, especially in this hybrid working era. In the service market, highly regulated industries such as the legal industry still rely on manual processes to achieve its outcomes. Through this partnership, A&G is taking bold steps to drive modernisation. We are committed to bolsteringemployee engagement and strengthening capabilities towards developing extensive digital infrastructure at A&G," said Mark Weaser, Vice President of Asia Pacific at OutSystems. Leveraging the OutSystems high-performance low-code technology, A&G was able to efficiently deploy both web-based and mobile applications on the cloud that had a sophisticated look and feel. OutSystems infrastructure and educational resources also helped remove overheads for A&G's lean development team by offering easy-to-understand licensing models, offering application hosting and reducing development learning curves. "As a legal firm, we believe not just in the importance of remaining digitally adept, but in utilising technology to ultimately elevate the overall client experience at Allen & Gledhill. We are therefore committed to a well-rounded digital transformation strategy that spans internal system infrastructure, employee workflows and client touchpoints. With new cloud-based technologies and digital workflows enhancing productivity for our staff, we hope that this will help us continue delivering the best quality legal services for all our existing and future clients." said Darren Chan, Head of IS at Allen & Gledhill. A&G developed the mobile application within six months, equipped with features such as Covid-19 declaration forms, a company events calendar and staff directories. Since the application was introduced in September 2022, A&G has continued to refine the platform, which now consolidates features such as employee e-Namecards, internal Electric Vehicle bookings and the upcoming Meeting Room reservation system. Adopting a high-performance low-code development platform enabled A&G to develop applications in an agile manner, without any additional infrastructure overheads. As the law firm moves forward, the IT team has in place a roadmap to redevelop its legacy workflows as well as new digital workflows to replace manual processes. About OutSystems OutSystems was founded in 2001 with the mission to give every organization the power to innovate through software. The OutSystems high-performance low-code platform gives technology leaders and developers the tools to rapidly build and deploy their own business-critical applications. The company's network spans more than 600,000 community members, 400+ partners, and active customers in 87 countries across 22 industries. OutSystems is "The #1 Low Code Platform" and a recognized leader by analysts, IT executives, business leaders, and developers around the world. Some of the most well-known brands use OutSystems to turn their big ideas into software that moves their business, people, and the world forward. Learn more at outsystems.com. About Allen & Gledhill Allen & Gledhill is an award-winning full-service South-east Asian law firm which provides legal services to a wide range of premier clients, including local and multinational corporations and financial institutions. Established in 1902, the Firm is consistently ranked as one of the market leaders in Singapore and South-east Asia, having been involved in numerous challenging, complex and significant deals, many of which are the first of its kind. The Firm's reputation for high-quality advice is regularly affirmed by the strong rankings in leading publications, and by the various awards and accolades it has received from independent commentators and clients. The Firm is consistently ranked band one in the highest number of practice areas, and has the highest number of lawyers recognised as leading individuals. Over the years, the Firm has also been named 'Regional Law Firm of the Year' and 'SE Asia Law Firm of the Year' by many prominent legal publishers. With a growing network of associate firms and offices, Allen & Gledhill is well-placed to advise clients on their business interests in Singapore and beyond, in particular, on matters involving South-east Asia and the Asian region. With its offices in Singapore, Myanmar and Vietnam, as well as its associate firm in Malaysia (Rahmat Lim & Partners), and working in association with Soemadipradja & Taher in Indonesia, Allen & Gledhill has over 650 lawyers in its network across the region, making it one of the largest law firms in South-east Asia. For more information on Allen & Gledhill, please visit www.allenandgledhill.com . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/allen--gledhill-upgrades-employee-experience-with-ag-mobile-app-powered-by-outsystems-301806914.html SOURCE OutSystems [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The original crypto bad boy Arthur Hayes still has a bone to pick with what he calls the broken banking system. Hayes, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX, said he sees crypto as an important asset for consumers to own as a hedge against risk from the traditional banking system. I dont care if youre capitalist or a communist. Everybody put on a lot of debt. Weve passed the point where that debt is becoming useful, Hayes said during an interview for a recent episode of the gm from Decrypt podcast. And therefore everyone is going to take an 'L' unless they get some crypto or some goldsome hard asset thats outside of the traditional banking system. Normies Dont 'Actually Care About Decentralization': Arthur Hayes Hayes founded BitMEX in 2014 and reaped his rewards for being so early to the industry. But in 2021, the Department of Justice charged him with violating the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act for failing to comply with anti-money laundering programs at BitMEX. He pleaded guilty and after serving two years probation and six months of home detention, he has relocated to Singapore. In that time, Hayes has continued writing long-form essays about cryptocurrency and blockchain adoption. He says his motivations are to educate people about how crypto works and why its valuable as an alternative to traditional financial institutions. According to Hayes, its become too politically damaging to let institutions fail in the traditional banking system. Instead, he said, politicians and regulators have tried to keep things going by piling on an increasing amount of debt. He referenced the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, where consumers rushed to withdraw their funds and triggered a massive bank run. Ultimately, California state banking regulators had to place SVB into receivership and the Federal Reserve had to implement emergency lending. Recent banking collapses have also increased interest in alternative assets, such as Bitcoin, according to Hayes. He said people feared that they could not get full access to their assets, a large concern especially for institutions with large volumes of capital, and it made people consider cryptocurrency as an alternative. As financial institutions have suffered large losses this year, cryptocurrencies have conversely seen increased volume and inflows. If we want crypto to be another financial system, people need to really understand what we're trying to replace, or improve upon, he said. The unfortunate fact is, a lot of people don't receive any sort of education about how money works, how the banking system works, how asset markets really function. [April 25, 2023] FIDELITY NATIONAL SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. - FIS NEW ORLEANS, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds 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 Companys 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. Get Help Fidelity National investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-fis/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit Fidelity 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 ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 25, 2023] NORFOLK SOUTHERN SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Norfolk Southern Corporation - NSC NEW ORLEANS, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until May 15, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC), if they purchased the Companys shares between October 28, 2020 and March 3, 2023, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. Get Help Norfolk Southern investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-nsc/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit Norfolk Southern and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. The alleged false and misleading tatements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that the Companys Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) strategy designed to increase revenues and decrease operating costs through fewer personnel, longer trains, and less spending on safety training, technology, and equipment would be likely to result in the Company suffering increased train derailments and a materially increased risk of future derailments, and as a result of the above, the Companys statements regarding the safety of its operations were materially false and/or misleading. The truth began to emerge on February 3, 2023, when a Norfolk Southern freight train, including 11 tank cars carrying hazardous materials, derailed in East Palestine, Ohio and subsequently ignited requiring the immediate evacuation of those within a one-two mile area. Then, on March 4, 2023, another Norfolk Southern freight train derailed near Springfield, Ohio. On this news, shares of Norfolk Southern fell on March 6 and March 7, 2023, closing at $215.18 per share, down $13.21 from a closing price of $228.39 on March 3, 2023. The case is Bucks County Employees Retirement System v. Norfolk Southern Corporation, et al., No. 23-cv-00982. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 25, 2023] STANLEY BLACK & DECKER SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. - SWK NEW ORLEANS, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until May 23, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (NYSE: SWK), if they purchased the Companys shares between October 28, 2021 and July 28, 2022, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. Get Help Stanley investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-swk/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit Stanley and certai of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On July 28, 2022, the Company released its Q2 2022 results disclosing that significantly slower demand in late May and Junedrove the majority of the challenges we faced this quarter including that net income for the quarter had plummeted from $459.5M in the year-earlier quarter to $87.6M, and that it was cutting its 2022 earnings per share guidance by nearly half. On this news, shares of Stanley plummeted over 16%, from a closing price of $117.45 per share the evening prior, to a closing price of $98.58 per share on July 28, 2022 on heavy trading volume. The case is Rammohan v. Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., et al., No. 23-cv-00369. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 25, 2023] DUTCH BROS SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Dutch Bros Inc. - BROS NEW ORLEANS, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds 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 Companys 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. Get Help Dutch Bros investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-bros/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit 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 ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 25, 2023] CREDIT SUISSE SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $1,000,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits Against Credit Suisse Group AG - CS NEW ORLEANS, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds 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 Companys securities between February 18, 2021 and March 20, 2023, inclusive (the Class Period). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Get Help Credit Suisse investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-cs-5/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuits Credit 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 disclosed that, conrary 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 on February 9, 2023. Then, on March 15, 2023, news media sources revealed that the Companys biggest backer, Saudi National Bank, would not buy any more of the Companys shares due to regulatory grounds. On this news, shares of Credit Suisse fell 13.94% to close at $2.16 per ADS. Finally, on March 20, 2023, the Company announced a merger agreement with UBS, stating that it represents the best available outcomewe are forced to reach a solution today that provides a durable outcome. On this news, shares of Credit Suisse fell 52.99% to close at $0.9450 per ADS on March 20. The first-filed case is Calhoun v. Credit Suisse Group AG, et al., 23-cv-01297. A subsequently-filed case, Turner v. Credit Suisse Group AG, et al., 23-cv-01476, expanded the class period. A third case filed, Linhares v. Credit Suisse Group AG, et al., 23-cv-02246, further expanded the class period. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 25, 2023] TARGET SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Target Corporation - TGT NEW ORLEANS, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until May 30, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT), if they purchased the Companys shares between August 18, 2021 and May 17, 2022, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. Get Help Target investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-tgt-1/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit Target and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material informatio during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On May 18, 2022, the Company announced its Q1 2022 financial results, disclosing among other things, a decrease in operating income to $1.3 billion from $2.4 billion in the prior year, a 40% drop in adjusted earnings, and a decrease in gross margin of nearly 4.3%, with approximately 3% of that due to the combined impact of impairments, markdowns, and other actions taken to rightsize our inventory position in categories that were too heavy, as well as a decrease in full-year 2022 operating margin guidance to a range centered around 6% from a margin rate of 8% or higher. On this news, shares of Target plummeted nearly 25% or $53.67 per share, or from a closing price of $215.28 per share on May 17, 2022, to a closing price of $161.61 per share on May 18, 2022. The case is Perez v. Target Corporation, et al., No. 23-cv-00769. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 25, 2023] Apple MixC Shenzhen opens Friday, April 28, in China Apple today previewed Apple MixC Shenzhen, the second store in this vibrant city. The new store will serve as an accessible and inclusive space for Apple team members to bring the best of Apple together for the local community. "We are very excited to open a beautiful new Apple Store in Shenzhen and deepen our connection with the local community," said Deirdre O'Brien, Apple's senior vice president of Retail. "At Apple, we're constantly innovating to deliver the best possible experience for our customers, and our incredible team members in Shenzhen can't wait to welcome them when doors open on Friday." The new store features a Padang Light stone floor and a timber veneer-clad wall - sustainably and locally sourced within China - that maximizes visibility within the store. Visitors can explore the latest Apple products and accessories, get shopping help from Apple Specialists, choose monthly financing options, and receive personal technical advice and Genius support. Apple MixC Shenzhen also has an Apple Pickup station, which blends together the best of online and in-store shopping experiences for customers in China. The dedicated area makes it easier for customers to order online and collect their devices in-store at a convenient time. Apple MixC Shenzhen will be an exciting space for customers to learn, create, ad be inspired. Today at Apple programming will take place in a roundtable setting for a more personalized experience, allowing customers to go further with their passions and the products they love. Programming will feature a powerful curation of Apple-led sessions across photography, videography, art and design, music, and coding. Apple MixC Shenzhen is the 55th Apple Store location in the region, and the fourth store in the Guangdong province of China, adding to a long-standing commitment to local communities. Since Apple Holiday Plaza Shenzhen opened in 2012 - the first Apple Store in Shenzhen - Apple has welcomed 22 million visitors in Shenzhen. The new store has over 150 highly trained retail team members who collectively speak 10 languages, including Chinese, Cantonese, English, Japanese, Korean, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, and sign language. The store team will welcome its first customers on Friday, April 28, at 10 a.m. local time. Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. Apple's five software platforms - iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS - provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, and iCloud. Apple's more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it. NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple Newsroom (www.apple.com/newsroom), or email Apple's Media Helpline at [email protected]. 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Genius, Today at Apple, and Apple Store are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230425006146/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 25, 2023] Standyou has launched the AI-Enabled Self Admission and Scholarship Assistance Program to Study Abroad JAIPUR, India , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Standyou, India's leading EdTech startup operating in the higher education domain, has launched the AI-Enabled Admission and Scholarship Assistance Program, which helps students get fully funded scholarship-based admissions. The program assists students in studying in the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, UAE, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Singapore, and South Korea. The objective of the program is to help students build profiles that are eligible for fully funded scholarship-based admissions for higher education. In this competitive market, one needs to stay ahead with all the information and efforts. The Standyou Scholarship Assistance Program is designed for students who want to get ahead of their peers and be ahead of their time. The program helps students make their profiles eligible for scholarship-based admission to the world's top universities and positions them for successful scholarship applications. The program provides students with a personalized admission and scholarship report drafted by Standyou's scholarship experts, based on over 150 data points from the student's profile. The platform uses AI and the experience of education experts to develop personalized reports for each student. Students are also connected with Standyou's scholarship experts for report analysis through 1:1 live video sessions. Since 2015, Standyou has helped more than 15,000 students from over 15 countries in obtaining scholarships for higher education worth more than $100 million. The program puts students on the fast track to success by connecting them with the best-fit course programs, scholarships and grants based on their profiles. It is receiving tremendous responses from countries such as India, China, Nepal, and other Asian countries. More than 1,200 students have registered for the program within three months of its launch. The statement given by the CEO of the company, Mr Priyank Shrivastava, says that there are scholarships an grants worth more than $20 billion offered globally every year by governments, universities, corporations, and NGOs. Additionally, more than 3 million students enrol in foreign institutions globally. The Standyou Admission and Scholarship Assistance Program can help these students to obtain an affordable and quality education. The program guarantees scholarship-based admission if the students fulfil all the requirements mentioned in their personalized admission and scholarship report. The Students can enrol in the Program to get Scholarships to study in UK, Scholarships to study in USA, Scholarships to study in Germany and Scholarships to study in Canada. The Standyou Admission and Scholarship Assistance Program is the first of its kind, providing students with a personalized admission and scholarship report based on their profile, and offering 1:1 video counselling to help students succeed. The program recommends the best universities, course programs, and fully-funded scholarships based on the student's profile. The personalized admission and scholarship report covers the complete process from start to end such as application deadlines, required documents for university applications, admission application form filling process, scholarship provider details, scholarship deadlines, academic grade requirements, test requirements, test preparation strategies, personalized SOP points that need to be covered, best-recommended LORs, essays, getting publications, CVs, visa requirements, interview preparations, and other required documents, along with all the sample documents and formats. Standyou encourages students to fill out university and scholarship applications independently on their own, in order to protect them from fraudulent consultancy services. The startup also encourages students to use their personal email addresses, mobile numbers, and Skype IDs to directly communicate with universities and scholarship providers. Standyou assures students to provide assistance within 24 hours in the event of any questions or concerns related to admissions, scholarships, visas, documentation, or any other issues related to the admission process. With the flexibility, convenience, and 24x7 support that Standyou provides, students can take control of their study abroad applications, scholarship processes, and visa processes to thrive in today's ever-changing world. One of the primary benefits of Standyou's 1-to-1 live sessions is the flexibility they provide. Students can schedule sessions at a time that suits them, and they can choose the time and duration of sessions based on their individual needs. This allows students to tailor their profiles around their busy schedules and focus on areas where they need the most help Standyou verified and trusted partners help the students in every step and provide end-to-end support during their study abroad journey. When it comes to English Language (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE) Training Services, Entrance/Eligibility Exam (SAT, GMAT, GRE) Preparation Services, Education Loan & Finance Services, Visa, Flight & Insurance Services, Accommodation Services, Airport Pickup and Travel Services and Post Landing Services in Italy (Bank Account, Sim, Visa Conversion & Documentation) the Standyou service partners are there to assist the student. www.standyou.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2061375/Standyou_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/standyou-has-launched-the-ai-enabled-self-admission-and-scholarship-assistance-program-to-study-abroad-301805785.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] NRIHelpLine Raises 2 crores seed funding, round led by Nijhawan Group, Ananta Raghuvanshi joins the team NEW DELHI, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NRIHelpLine.com, a startup focused on providing solutions for the Non-Resident Indian community, has successfully raised its seed funding round. The funding was led by A Subba Rao of Dabur International, Arjun Nijhawan of Travel Boutique Online, Rahul Narvekar of India Network, Navneet Singh of NRI Legal Services, and Bharat Bhushan Bhatia of Hines Group. With this funding, NRIHelpLine.com intends to become a one-stop solution for the 100 million Non-Resident Indians worldwide, helping them manage their assets and comply with their responsibilities in India. Rahul Narvekar, India Network, shared his thoughts on the investment and the founder of NRIHelpLine.com, Prasana Rao. He revealed that during their first meeting at the Vibrant Forum in Chandigarh, he wasimpressed by Prasana's persistence despite facing universal resistance. This sheer persistence and determination led him to commit to the investment in NRIHelpLine.com Arjun Nijhawan of Nijhawan Group,who has been an angel investor in Marquee startups like Inshorts and DineOut, expressed his confidence in the project, citing the team's strength, vision, and conviction as reasons for his investment. He also wished the founders the best of luck. Ananta Raghuvanshi, who has three decades of experience in the realty industry with DLF and EMAAR MGF, joined the NRIHelpLine.com team because she understands the pain and problems that NRIs face in their routine interactions with vendors and service providers in India. She believes that the platform will change the way NRIs manage their affairs, back home, in India and is dedicated to making it a grand success. NRIHelpLine.com is targeting the 100 million NRI diaspora with $ 100 Billion in remittances and aims to become a one stop shop for NRIs to buy, sell and manage their assets by providing a comprehensive technology solution for NRIs. Starting with Gurgaon the startup is planning to on-board real estate inventory in 6 major Indian states and 29 cities for primary real estate sales in the first phase and then of course also in secondary sales of real estate. Contact: Mr. Prasana Rao Founder - CEO Email: [email protected]com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2062545/NRIhelpline.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/nrihelpline-raises-2-crores-seed-funding-round-led-by-nijhawan-group-ananta-raghuvanshi-joins-the-team-301807818.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] QAD to Showcase its Digital Supply Chain Solutions at InNOWvate 2023 QAD Inc., a leading provider of next-generation manufacturing and supply chain solutions in the cloud, announced its participation as a sponsor in the upcoming InNOWvate Supply Chain Event on 11 May 2023 at the Movie Theatre Pathe in Ede, The Netherlands. The event will gather supply chain professionals worldwide to exchange best practices, success techniques and industry lessons learned. As a sponsor, QAD will showcase its Digital Supply Chain Planning, Supplier Relationship Management, and Global Trade and Transportation solutions. Those who visit QAD's exhibition booth will have the opportunity to network with experts and gain insights into how QAD's Adaptive Supply Chain solutions can benefit their organizations. In addition, Ludovic Lezenven, a QAD Business Consultant, will be presenting an insightful session titled, "Why Antifragile Supply Chains Love Disruption" at the Planning stage from 3:05 to 3:25 pm. This presentation will explore the concept of antifragility and its application in supply chain management, highlighting the differences between robustness, resilience, and antifragility and how organizations can turn disruption into a competitive advantage. Lezenven commented, "In today's rapidl changing business landscape, it's more important than ever for companies to understand how to build an antifragile supply chain. By embracing multiple scenarios and testing approaches, organizations can not only survive but thrive in times of uncertainty and change." Event Details What: InNOWvate Supply Chain Event When: May 11, 2023 Where: Movie Theatre Pathe. Ede, The Netherlands. Registration: To register to attend the InNOWvate Supply Chain Event, click here. See the conference agenda here. About QAD - Enabling Adaptive Enterprises QAD Inc. is a leading provider of next-generation manufacturing and supply chain solutions in the cloud. To succeed in a turbulent world, facing disruptions in supply and fluctuations in demand, manufacturers and supply chains must rapidly respond to change and seamlessly optimize agility, efficiency, and resilience for effective customer service. QAD delivers Adaptive Applications to enable these Adaptive Enterprises. Founded in Santa Barbara, California, QAD has customers in 84 countries around the world. Thousands of companies have deployed QAD enterprise solutions including enterprise resource planning (ERP), digital commerce (DC), supplier relationship management (SRM), digital supply chain planning (DSCP), global trade and transportation execution (GTTE) and enterprise quality management system (EQMS). To learn more, visit www.qad.com or call +1 805-566-6100. Find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. "QAD" is a registered trademark of QAD. All other products or company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230425005002/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Ceremony for the Literary Awards Will be Held on April 29th, 2023 SAN ANTONIO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Author Rudy Ruiz is the 2023 winner of the Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Book of Fiction from the Texas Institute of Letters for his novel, Valley of Shadows. Author Rudy Ruiz Valley of Shadows is Ruiz's second novel and was published in September 2022 by Blackstone Publishing. The novel is set on the US-Mexico border in the late 1800s and follows Solitario Cisneros, a Mexican sheriff of the town Olvido. When a shift in the course of the Rio Grande River places the town on the US side of the border, Solitario is ousted as sheriff. What ensues is a neo-Western tale that explores isolation, injustice, and redemption. Ruiz said about the award, "It is an honor to be recognized by the Texas Institute of Letters, whose membership consists of some of the state's most respected writers. Texas is a place with a past whose complexity is only rivaled by that of its present. Valley of Shadows explores the dark corners of that history, aiming to reclaim the narrative of Mexican-Americans and Indigenous people while also imagining the good that can come from greater cross-cultural empathy and collaboration. My hope is that this award helps introduce the novel to more readers, so they too can envision how the tragic truths of our past can illuminate our path to a better future." In addition to this recognition from the Texas Institute of Letters, Valley of Shadows was longlisted for the Reading the West Book Award and was placed on the following reading lists: CrimeReads Pick of Best Horror Fiction Books of 2022 A Publishers Weekly Pick of SF, Fantasy & Horror Fiction for Fall A BuzzFeed Books Pick of Best Fall Books Furthermore, the novel has received critical acclaim. Publishers Weekly said, "Ruiz offers an engrossing blend of historical fiction, ghost story, and mysteryHe employs elements of magic realism to haunting effect, and the depictions of human cruelty and injustice are unflinching." CrimeReads said, "Ruiz's latest is a chilling meditation on life and death in the 1870s borderlands between the US and Mexico, a neo-Western that brings a fatalistic noir sensibility to a story with deep spiritual and literary roots." Story continues Valley of Shadows has also received recognition for the relevance of the story to current social injustice issues, including racially motivated police brutality, immigration and border policy, and climate refugees, with the Southern Review of Books saying the novel "is a supernatural genre fusion that sheds light on real issues." Ruiz will receive the award on April 29th, 2023 at the Texas Institute of Letters' annual banquet. Valley of Shadows is available for order on Amazon and at bookstores nationwide. About Rudy Ruiz Rudy Ruiz grew up in Brownsville, Texas. He attended Harvard University, where he received a Bachelor's in Government and a Master's in Public Policy. While there, he also studied literature and creative writing and he received a Ford Foundation grant to support his writing. His first fiction book was a collection of short stories titled Seven for the Revolution. His second fiction book, a novel titled The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez, was published in 2020. His first novel won two Gold Medals at the 2021 International Latino Book Awards and was named in the Top 10 Best First Novels of 2020 by the American Library Association's Booklist. In addition to being an author, Ruiz is a contributor to CNN and other major media outlets, and is the CEO and co-founder of Interlex, an advocacy marketing agency that focuses on social issues. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/author-rudy-ruiz-wins-jesse-h-jones-award-for-best-book-of-fiction-for-novel-valley-of-shadows-301807918.html SOURCE Rudy Ruiz [April 26, 2023] Pie Systems Offers Free Internet Service to "PIE VAT" App Users Visiting Japan, Using 5G eSIM - Free Internet Service Available by Downloading Tax-Free Shopping App "PIE VAT" - TOKYO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pie Systems Japan Co., Ltd., a leading travel tech company which provides the VAT refund solution "PIE VAT" and a subsidiary of Pie Systems Inc., has started providing 5G eSIM for free to PIE VAT app users visiting Japan (*). Users can access the service by downloading tax-free shopping app PIE VAT. About PIE VAT PIE VAT is a digital platform delivering delightful tourism, starting with digitizing tax-free shopping for merchants and tourists. Merchants can set up PIE VAT on their PCs or tablets without hardware integration. Tourists can easily claim their VAT refunds when traveling abroad with the PIE VAT app. PIE VAT can reduce the operational burden for merchants and improve shopping experience for tourists. Image: eSIM set up within PIE VAT https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107424/202304245162/_prw_PI1fl_tjf5hUty.jpeg?_ga=2.107634114.1577705710.1682297246-1851103714.1593650756 About free 5G eSIM via PIE VAT - Users can easily and quickly set u the eSIM via PIE VAT. The eSIM allows them to access the internet and complete VAT refund procedures using the free internet service. (Users are not required to go through complicated procedures such as purchasing a SIM card or replacing their SIM card.) - Users can enjoy a high-speed, stress-free communications environment with the eSIM that supports 5G. - Users can use 1GB of data free for a maximum of 30 days. (If they exceed 1GB of data usage, they can continue to stay connected with the eSIM by making in-app purchases.) Hiroaki Mizuno, Chief Executive Officer of Pie Systems Japan, commented: "Stable internet connections are indispensable for tourists to enjoy their stays in their destinations. With the eSIM free internet service provided by Pie Systems, users can set up eSIM easily and quickly and access the internet via PIE VAT. We provide users with a high-speed and stress-free communications environment through the eSIM that supports 5G. Users can easily claim their VAT refunds with the PIE VAT app at PIE VAT partner stores and shopping malls. "PIE VAT is a travel platform to connect travelers with retailers/merchants. The app serves as a bridge between them to eliminate various inconveniences during trips. We will continue launching new services to support travelers' wonderful trips." (*) This free internet service via 5G eSIM is available for PIE VAT app users visiting Japan. PIE VAT users visiting European countries can access fee-based internet service by making in-app purchases. https://pages.pievat.com/esim PIE VAT can be downloaded from: https://link.piesystems.io/jp-esim For details about Pie Systems, visit https://www.pievat.com/ View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/pie-systems-offers-free-internet-service-to-pie-vat-app-users-visiting-japan-using-5g-esim-301807688.html SOURCE Pie Systems Japan Co., Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Purple Quarter Identifies Ex-Amazon Techie for G.O.A.T Brand Labs' Head of Engineering, Product & Data BANGALORE, India , April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time) Brand Labs, a tech-driven aggregator of D2C brands, announced the appointment of Saumitra Kumar as the Head of Engineering, Product and Data in partnership with the bespoke CTO search firm, Purple Quarter. Founded in 2021 by Rishi Vasudev and Rameswar Misra, G.O.A.T Brand Labs acquires and scales differentiated and exciting digitally-native brands in the lifestyle space (fashion, home, nutrition, beauty and personal care), helping them reach the next level of growth. This is possible because of GOAT's inbuilt capabilities in operations, warehousing, finance, brand building, etc along with an exceptional leadership team. With Saumitra joining the team, GOAT is looking to further boost its capabilities on the Tech front to scale these Digital-First brands, both in India and Globally. Co-founder & CEO, Rishi Vasudev, G.O.A.T Brand Labs commented on the appointment, "With 20 brands in our portfolo, I am confident that Saumitra's appointment will prove invaluable as we continue to build more tech capabilities for our brands. He will be leading tech, product and data. A huge note of thanks to the Purple Quarter team for being instrumental in closing this leadership mandate and all the support in the process." Purple Quarter comprehended the requirement and created a unique plan to fill the leadership gap by identifying the best fit. Leveraging the Behavioral Metrics Model (BMM), an IP of Purple Quarter, Saumitra Kumar was found to be the right leader for the position; a hardcode techie who has led both engineering and product has a proven track record and has also been an entrepreneur in health tech. Saumitra can easily integrate into the organization's culture. In his prior stints, he has been associated with companies such as Amazon, Verizon and Sears Holding Corporations among others. "I am thrilled to be a part of a versatile team at G.O.A.T; thanks to Purple Quarter for facilitating this exciting opportunity and the continued end-to-end support. In my new role, I will be working with the team to create a suite of tech products that can help our brands grow exponentially. I will also be driving product-led growth and data science initiatives to scale the brands," shared Saumitra Kumar. Purple Quarter's unparalleled tech network, extensive talent pool, and comprehensive end-to-end search process have been instrumental in securing multiple key tech heads for the likes of BigBasket, Licious, PharmEasy, Upstox, Urban Company, Shiprocket, ACKO, Healthians, Open, Rupeek and more. About Purple Quarter Purple Quarter is a Bespoke CTO Search firm with a global presence. In over five years, it has mapped out over 10,000+ tech leaders across the globe. With a singular approach, Purple Quarter offers detailed insight into the Tech Leadership hiring space for startups and corporates. The diverse clientele of companies such as Walmart, Swiggy, RBIH, Razorpay, Browserstack, Inmobi, ACKO, PharmEasy, Urban Company, hike, Clari, and many more, reflect Purple Quarter's unmatched position. For leadership requirements, visit www.purplequarter.com or connect [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1599524/Purple_Quarter_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/purple-quarter-identifies-ex-amazon-techie-for-goat-brand-labs-head-of-engineering-product--data-301807867.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] ARCHITECT PAU MILLET LOPEZ INVITED TO SPEAK AT OPEN STUDIO - SAGRADA FAMILIA, BARCELONA HOSTED BY NMIMS BSSA MUMBAI, India, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NMIMS Balwant Sheth School of Architecture (BSSA) was delighted to host the OPEN STUDIO - SAGRADA FAMILA, BARCELONA program on 20th April 2023, featuring renowned architect Pau Millet Lopez. The event was a productive opportunity for architecture enthusiasts at BSSA to learn about the history and design of the Sagrada Familia, for which Pau Millet Lopez played a crucial role in coordinating the technical office. Attendees engaged in a Q&A session with the architect, gaining valuable insights into team management, leadership, professional practice, structural engineering, and sustainability. Sagrada Familia is a world-renowned large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Spain designed by the Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi. Its construction began in 1882 but was delayed due to funding and other issues. The project is ongoing and is expected to be completed in the early 2030s with several architects and builders working to realize Gaudi's original vision for thechurch. Pau Millet Lopez's experience and involvement in the construction of the church in the 2000s transformed him, creating a belief in the creative potential of all individuals and fostering a collaborative environment. Pau Millet Lopez also highlighted the importance of collaboration and involving all stakeholders in the design process, including engineers, workers, and those with a good imagination, to achieve successful outcomes. The event received enthusiastic participation from students and faculty members and provided an excellent platform for students to learn from a distinguished scholar and practitioner in the field of architecture. NMIMS BSSA remains committed to offering its students opportunities to learn from professionals, explore the latest technologies and concepts, and enhance their knowledge of the dynamic field of architecture and design. The school is enthusiastic about organising more events and programs in the coming days and is eager to witness their impact on the future of architecture and design. About BSSA: Balwant Sheth School of Architecture focuses on various modes of architectural education, research, and practice, emphasising the ever-changing ethos, behavioural sciences, tools, and techniques, and assimilates all in contemporary design expression. The school offers holistic exposure and understanding through Art, History, Technology, Architectural Design, and Construction process. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/architect-pau-millet-lopez-invited-to-speak-at-open-studio---sagrada-familia-barcelona-hosted-by-nmims-bssa-301807889.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] FBS Launches New Pro Account for High-Volume Trading KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FBS, a licensed international broker, announces the launch of a Pro account, a trading account with a range of advantageous trading conditions, making it an ideal solution for professional traders. The account for high-volume and algo trading Having over 14 years of experience in the financial markets, FBS claims to understand the demands of professional traders. The new Pro account was designed specifically for high-volume trading, as it provides professional traders with some of the bst possible trading conditions: Lower spreads. With spreads starting from 0.3 pips, FBS clients can save on trading fees, particularly on large orders, providing a chance for more cost-effective trading. Unlimited open positions and pending orders. The possibility of high-volume trading provides traders with more flexibility and freedom to implement preferred trading strategies. Lower margin requirements. The Pro account offers a 30% margin call and 10% stop out, giving traders greater control over their positions and risks. More powerful VPS. The Pro account with a Virtual Private Server that features 4GB RAM/2 CPU/60GB SSD promises to ensure smooth and interrupted trading. The account to full market exploration The Pro account provides ample trading opportunities for professional traders as it is available in the FBS Personal Area, as well as on the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 trading platforms. To start trading on the Pro account, traders need to make a minimum deposit of $1 000. Once the account is set up for trading, users get access to a diverse range of CFD-based trading instruments, including 36 Forex pairs, 8 metals, 3 energies, 11 indices, 127 stocks, and 5 crypto pairs. Trading conditions and tailored features make the Pro account suitable for algorithmic trading and fully automated strategies. About FBS The FBS CFD trading platform was founded in 2009 by investors from Western Europe interested in trading research and technical analysis. Today, the FBS brand is present in over 150 countries worldwide, and FBS provides more than 27,000,000 CFD traders with access to global markets through transparent and trusted applications. The brand unites several companies, offering their clients opportunities to trade Margin FX and CFDs. These companies include FBS Markets Inc. (licensed by IFSC), Tradestone Ltd. (licensed by CySEC), Intelligent Financial Markets Pty Ltd. (licensed by ASIC). View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/fbs-launches-new-pro-account-for-high-volume-trading-301807951.html SOURCE FBS Trading [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Bishop Fox Announces UK Expansion at RSA Conference Amidst Growing Global Momentum SAN FRANCISCO and LONDON, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RSA CONFERENCE Bishop Fox, the leading authority in offensive security, today announced significant, continuing company momentum with its expansion into the UK market. Having recently been awarded CREST accreditation in the UK and USA for Penetration Testing services, the company will look to help customers proactively enhance their security posture, with an initial focus on organizations in Northern Europe. Bishop Foxs expansion into the UK comes on the heels of recognition for the companys leadership in Attack Surface Management and continuous penetration testing by analyst firm GigaOm, and news that the organization has already achieved nine award wins in the opening months of 2023. This includes two additional Global InfoSec Awards from Cyber Defense Magazine, announced this week at the RSA Conference, recognizing the company and its penetration testing services. It carries over the strong momentum of 2022, that saw 40% year-over-year company growth, all capped by a $129 million Series B round. Organizations face increasing pressure to secure rapidly expanding attack surfaces against faster and more sophisticated threat actors, said Michelle Abraham, IDC Research Director, Security and Trust. However, security teams are often overwhelmed by a flood of alerts and regulatory requirements. Bishop Fox's attack surface management approach provides a proactive, continuous defense to maintain a good security posture. Its Cosmos platform combines automation and human expertise to validate findings and determine business impact, thereby reducing the burden on internal security teams. RSA Showcase and EMEA Debut The companys strength and expertise areon full display this week in San Francisco at the annual RSA Conference. In addition to hosting multiple events, Bishop Fox experts will build on the success of its day-long virtual DEF CON Livestream, with The Art & Science of Cyber Leadership Livestream. The virtual event, happening today, features high profile CISOs, industry authorities, cyber-focused investors, and security founders. It will activate conversations on topics that are top of mind for todays security leaders, and explore cybersecurity leadership through multiple, diverse lenses. Bishop Fox experts are also set to attend Europes largest cybersecurity gathering, Infosecurity Europe, with the organizations Red Team Practice Director and former CISO, Trevin Edgeworth, participating in multiple events across the week. He will be presenting an Infosecurity Strategy Talk on June 22nd with Illumio CTO PJ Kirner on Why Third-Party Validation of Security Products Matters. In Europe, regulations like DORA (the Digital Operational Resilience Act) are set to significantly alter the cybersecurity landscape for organizations across financial services, and those with whom they partner. Bishop Fox is perfectly positioned to provide both the people and the technology to ensure compliance and drive greater protection against threat actors, with its market-leading Cosmos platform and highly experienced red teams and penetration testers. The Bishop Fox team specialize in identifying and closing vulnerabilities in products, applications, networks, and cloud environments, before the bad guys find them, and ensure comprehensive protection from everything from human error to ransomware. Bishop Fox has worked with some of the worlds largest global companies since day one, giving us international presence and perspective, said Vinnie Liu, Bishop Fox CEO and co-founder. The achievement of CREST accreditation will enable us to further scale our impact to new organizations in the UK by offering the same high quality offensive security solutions that have made us trusted partners to more than 25% of the Fortune 100, eight of the top 10 tech companies, and all of the top global media companies. Bishop Fox already works with a number of leading UK and European organizations across Technology, Retail, Media, and Financial Services. Its award-winning Cosmos platform was launched in 2020 with the aim of proactively defending dynamic external attack surfaces. Executing more than 110 billion operations per year and identifying exploitable exposures on a customers perimeter on average every 2.5 days, Cosmos can save security teams more than 5,000 hours per year in vulnerability triage, eliminate 93% of resource requirements, and reduce the time to remediate critical vulnerabilities by 82%. To find out more about Bishop Fox and offensive security, visit our website . About Bishop Fox Bishop Fox is the leading expert in offensive security, providing solutions ranging from continuous penetration testing, red teaming, and attack surface management to product, cloud, and application security assessments. Weve worked with more than 25% of the Fortune 100, half of the Fortune 10, eight of the top 10 global technology companies, and all of the top global media companies to improve their security. Our Cosmos platform has been recognized as a Leader and Fast Mover in the GigaOm Radar for Attack Surface Management, named Best Emerging Technology in the SC Media Awards, and recently won six additional awards for innovation. We are committed to client success and honored that our services are consistently ranked as world class in customer experience surveys. Weve been actively contributing to and supporting the security community for almost two decades and have published more than 16 open-source tools and 50 security advisories in the last five years. Learn more at bishopfox.com or follow us on Twitter. Contact: Kevin Kosh Senior Director of Communications [email protected]ishopfox.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Comvest Credit Partners Provides $185 Million Senior Credit Facility to Firebirds Wood Fired Grill Comvest Credit Partners ("Comvest"), a leading provider of flexible direct financing solutions to middle-market companies, is pleased to announce that it is acting as Administrative Agent on a $185 million senior secured credit facility (the "Financing") for Firebirds Wood Fired Grill ("Firebirds", or the "Company"), a Charlotte-based restaurant chain operator. The Financing will support the acquisition of the Company by private equity firm Garnett Station Partners and fund ongoing business growth. Founded in 2000, Firebirds is a leading polished-casual dining chain with 56 locations across 20 states nationwide. Inspired by the tradition of live fire cooking in the West, Firebirds features steaks, seafood and cocktails in an upscale fire-centric lodge-like setting. Firebirds was named the 2022 Diners' Choice Winner awarded by OpenTable. "Firebirds is an established, high-performing and fast-growing brand in the casual dining sector," said Dan Lee, a Partner at Comvest. "As a committed and active credit investor in leading niche restaurant concepts, Comvest was pleased to deliver a sizable financing solution in support of Firebird's continued expansion." "We look forward to working again with Garnett Station Partners, an experienced, restaurant-focused private equity sponsor with a demonstrated record in the restaurant space," said Nick McClelland, a Managing Director at Comvest. "Firebirds is one of several successful restaurant transactions that Garnett Station Partners has closed with Comvest in the past few years," said Howard Norowitz, Partner at Garnett Station Partners. "Our partnership with Comvest stems from their deep sector knowledge and their ability to deliver responsive direct financing solutions under tight timelines and with the certainty of closure." About Firebirds Wood Fired Grll Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, a polished casual American restaurant, is an energetic twist on the traditional grill featuring a boldly flavored menu in a stylish, fire-centric atmosphere. For more information, please visit: www.firebirdsinternational.com. About Garnett Station Partners Garnett Station Partners is a principal investment firm founded in 2013 by Matt Perelman and Alex Sloane that manages ~$2 billion of assets. Garnett Station partners with experienced and entrepreneurial management teams and strategic investors to build value for its portfolio of growth platforms. For more information, please visit www.garnettstation.com. About Comvest Credit Partners Comvest Credit Partners, the direct lending platform of Comvest Partners, focuses on providing flexible financing solutions to middle-market companies. Comvest Credit Partners provides senior secured, unitranche, and second lien capital to sponsored and non-sponsored companies in support of growth, acquisitions, buyouts, refinancings, and recapitalizations. Credit facilities typically range from $25 million to $250 million-plus for companies with revenues greater than $20 million. For more information, please visit www.comvest.com/direct-lending. About Comvest Partners Comvest Partners is an operationally focused private investment firm that has provided equity and debt capital to well-positioned middle-market companies throughout North America since 2000. Through its private equity, direct lending and special opportunities investment platforms, Comvest offers tailored investment solutions across the capital structure, deep industry and operating expertise, a collaborative approach, and significant transaction experience as an active investor. Today, Comvest manages more than $8.9 billion in assets, and has invested over $9.9 billion since inception. Based in West Palm Beach, Comvest also maintains offices in Chicago and New York. For more information, please visit www.comvest.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230425006090/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Aaron's to Webcast 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders ATLANTA, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aaron's Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions, will webcast its 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday May 3, 2023 from Atlanta, Georgia, as described in its proxy statement, dated March 23, 2023, furnished to Aaron's shareholders. Investors and other interested parties may access the webcast on the Investor Relations page of he Company's website at investor.aarons.com. The webcast will allow parties to listen to the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, but will not provide the opportunity to participate. About The Aaron's Company, Inc Headquartered in?Atlanta, The Aaron's Company, Inc. is a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions of appliances, electronics, furniture, and other home goods across its brands, Aaron's, BrandsMart U.S.A, BrandsMart Leasing, and Woodhaven. Aaron's offers a direct-to-consumer lease-to-own solution through its approximately 1,260 company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform. BrandsMart U.S.A. is one of the leading appliance and consumer electronics retailers in the southeast United States and one of the largest appliance retailers in the country with ten retail stores in Florida and Georgia. BrandsMart Leasing offers lease-to-own solutions to customers of BrandsMart U.S.A. Woodhaven is the Company's furniture manufacturing division. For more information, visit investor.aarons.com, aarons.com, and brandsmartusa.com.? View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aarons-to-webcast-2023-annual-meeting-of-shareholders-301807580.html SOURCE The Aaron's Company, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] New Bain & Company-backed venture aims to help companies better trace data, achieve sustainability goals On average, sustainability teams spend 70% of their time collecting data, time that could instead be used to drive environmental impact BOSTON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sustainability teams spend an average of 70% of their time collecting data, time that could instead be used to drive real environmental impact. These findings are according to ESG Flo, a new venture and artificial intelligence-enabled data management solution backed by Bain & Company, that aims to help industrial and manufacturing companies better achieve their sustainability goals. ESG Flo's capabilities allow for data that is more transparent, traceable and complete. "ESG Flo was born out of the desire to do our part in helping solve the complex climate problems in our world," said Patrick Obeid, founder and CEO of ESG Flo. "Our vision is clear: to provide companies with the necessary data backbone to achieve their ESG targets and make more effective cost, risk and compliance decisions. By optimizing data ingestion in an auditable platform, our pipelining solution automates and streamlines environmental data processes. Now business leaders can focus on what really matters, cutting carbon Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions." ESG Flo is the first venture to launch out of Bain & Company's "Founder's Studio," an organization that falls under Bain's "Engine 2" bsiness and aims to build Bain's next generation of innovative software and data businesses based on the firm's unique expertise. Obeid realized the need for a tool like ESG Flo after having worked on a series of environmental projects as a Bain employee. "We believe in the power of our people," said Ron Kermisch, head of Founder's Studio and partner at Bain. "Our founders and their teams are selected from the top 1% of business talent in the world. We provide them with the support necessary to succeed by giving them access to Bain's global client and alumni network paving the way for innovation. ESG Flo is an exciting inaugural example of this strategy in action." Data that is more traceable, transparent and complete Research from ESG Flo shows that not only do sustainability teams across industries lose valuable time, but they often lack audit readiness. ESG Flo equips companies with the structure necessary to achieve both data efficiency and accuracy while also harnessing the power of AI. Technical capabilities include: Data visualization and dashboards for insightful goal setting, initiative tracking and benchmarking Data gap flagging, anomaly detection, error proofing and data immutability Dedicated auditor functionalities that provide access to facilitate feedback between auditors and data managers, and address the growing need for reasonable assurance ESG Flo is one of several sustainability-related solutions offered through Bain & Company. Bain collaborates with best-of-breed players in the complex and dynamic sustainability environment as a way to address its clients' needs and to deliver world class results. Bain has joined forces with these companies to support clients' carbon transition goals with state-of-the-art digital platforms across carbon accounting, climate physical risks, carbon credit ratings and ESG ratings. Media contacts To arrange an interview or for any questions, please contact: Katie Ware (New York) Email: [email protected] About Bain & Company Bain & Company is a global consultancy that helps the world's most ambitious change makers define the future. Across 65 cities in 40 countries, we work alongside our clients as one team with a shared ambition to achieve extraordinary results, outperform the competition, and redefine industries. We complement our tailored, integrated expertise with a vibrant ecosystem of digital innovators to deliver better, faster, and more enduring outcomes. Our 10-year commitment to invest more than $1 billion in pro bono services brings our talent, expertise, and insight to organizations tackling today's urgent challenges in education, racial equity, social justice, economic development, and the environment. We earned a platinum rating from EcoVadis, the leading platform for environmental, social, and ethical performance ratings for global supply chains, putting us in the top 1% of all companies. Since our founding in 1973, we have measured our success by the success of our clients, and we proudly maintain the highest level of client advocacy in the industry. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-bain--company-backed-venture-aims-to-help-companies-better-trace-data-achieve-sustainability-goals-301808199.html SOURCE Bain & Company [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] AITX's Subsidiary, Robotic Assistance Devices, Proclaims RIO a Runaway Success RIOs Performance Exceeds Expectations Detroit, Michigan, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc., (the Company) (OTCPK:AITX), a global leader in AI-driven security and productivity solutions along with its wholly owned subsidiary, Robotic Assistance Devices, Inc. (RAD), today provided an update of the initial deployment successes of RIO (ROSA Independent Observation). RADs RIO was announced at a security industry trade show in September of 2022. Subsequently, the Company announced, RIO Mini, and now the Company is preparing production for its RIO v2 iteration. The Company announced that 25 RIO units have been ordered for immediate deployment, of which 10 RIO units have been ordered by GXO. In February of 2023, GXO was identified as RADs largest client. Nine units are in the process of deployment, five are fully deployed and the balance are in the final stages of production and will be deployed upon completion. When we announced RIO, I anticipated great results, said Steve Reinharz, CEO of AITX and RAD. The product had a solid launch; several clients and dealers were very eager to get their hands on RIO. Although weve had to battle through various supply chain issues, these are starting to clear up. I am very pleased with the results from the first round of deployments and most importantly Im thrilled with end user positive response and acceptance. RIO offers the marketplace two important benefits. The first is the performance of ROSA devices. Covered thoroughly at ROSA 3.x Responsive Observation Security Agent | Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD) (radsecurity.com), ROSA is award-winning and RADs best-selling device. The second critical differentiator is value pricing. RIOs pricing competes favorably against the leading solar tower manufacturers. The combination of greater performance at attractive pricing gives RIO a serious edge on our competition," stated Mark Folmer, CPP, FSyI, President of RAD. The sales pipeline for RIO is highlighted by two expansion orders totaling 125 additional units. We are working to finalize these orders in the next 2 months in addition to all the regular RIO sales activities. Since early last year, we have worked hard in expanding the usability and viability of where a ROSA can be deployed, added Reinharz. With RIO, we now can power ROSA via solar, with ROSA-P, we tap into existing light pole power. We really can place a ROSA just about anywhere. The Company expects to mak additional announcements regarding RIOs, other RAD security solutions and further sales updates. ROSA is a multiple award-winning , compact, self-contained, portable, security and communication solution that can be installed and activated in about 15 minutes. Like other RAD solutions, it only requires power as it includes all necessary communications hardware. ROSAs AI-driven security analytics include human, firearm, vehicle detection, license plate recognition, responsive digital signage and audio messaging, and complete integration with RADs software suite notification and autonomous response library. Two-way communication is optimized for cellular, including live video from ROSAs dual high-resolution, full-color, always-on cameras. RAD has published three Case Studies detailing how ROSA has helped eliminate instances of theft, trespassing and loitering at car rental locations and construction sites across the country. AITX, through its subsidiary, Robotic Assistance Devices, Inc. (RAD), is redefining the $25 billion (US) security and guarding services industry through its broad lineup of innovative, AI-driven Solutions-as-a-Service business model. RAD solutions are specifically designed to provide cost savings to businesses of between 35%-80% when compared to the industrys existing and costly manned security guarding and monitoring model. RAD delivers this tremendous cost savings via a suite of stationary and mobile robotic solutions that complement, and at times, directly replace the need for human personnel in environments better suited for machines. All RAD technologies, AI-based analytics and software platforms are developed in-house. RAD has a prospective sales pipeline of over 35 Fortune 500 companies and numerous other client opportunities. RAD expects to continue to attract new business as it converts its existing sales opportunities into deployed clients generating a recurring revenue stream. Each Fortune 500 client has the potential of making numerous reorders over time. CAUTIONARY DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS The information contained in this publication does not constitute an offer to sell or solicit an offer to buy securities of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc. (the "Company"). This publication contains forward-looking statements, which are not guarantees of future performance and may involve subjective judgment and analysis. The information provided herein is believed to be accurate and reliable, however the Company makes no representations or warranties, expressed or implied, as to its accuracy or completeness. The Company has no obligation to provide the recipient with additional updated information. No information in this publication should be interpreted as any indication whatsoever of the Company's future revenues, results of operations, or stock price. About Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions (AITX) AITX is an innovator in the delivery of artificial intelligence-based solutions that empower organizations to gain new insight, solve complex challenges and fuel new business ideas. Through its next-generation robotic product offerings, AITXs RAD, RAD-M and RAD-G companies help organizations streamline operations, increase ROI, and strengthen business. AITX technology improves the simplicity and economics of patrolling and guard services and allows experienced personnel to focus on more strategic tasks. Customers augment the capabilities of existing staff and gain higher levels of situational awareness, all at drastically reduced cost. AITX solutions are well suited for use in multiple industries such as enterprises, government, transportation, critical infrastructure, education, and healthcare. To learn more, visit www.aitx.ai, www.stevereinharz.com, www.rad s ecu r ity.com , www.radgroup.ai, and www.radlightmyway.com, or follow Steve Reinharz on Twitter @Ste v eReinharz . ### Steve Reinharz 949-636-7060 @SteveRein h arz [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Innoviti Facilitates Third Round of Employee Share and ESOPs Resale; Kickstarting the New Financial Year with a Bang Highlights The share sale carried at a 17% premium to the ESOP buyback against the November 2021 sale to the ESOP buyback against the sale More than 25% of employees with vested shares availed the opportunity to create additional wealth as a pay-out for their hard work with vested shares availed the opportunity to create additional wealth as a pay-out for their hard work In the second tranche completed in this financial year, employees got a return between 7x to 37x based on the price at which they had exercised their ESOPs into shares. based on the price at which they had exercised their ESOPs into shares. ESOP remains a popular choice to assure employees additional wealth and secure their financial future. BENGALURU, India, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Innoviti Technologies (formerly Innoviti Payment Solutions), India's largest collaborative commerce platform, enables employees to sell their ESOPs and shares to secondary buyers for the third time. The pay-out as the second tranche within the financial year, marks the start of the new financial year to boost team confidence. The organization was also certified as a Great Place to Work for the second time in a row in February 2023, with a phenomenal overall score of 85 points. The ESOP scheme is open to all full-time Innoviti employees, across all grades, with options being awarded based on performance and loyalty. The share sale was facilitated to Innoviti employees who had expressed an interest in selling their shares. Navneeth Sulakhe, Senior Vice President, and Head HR, at Innoviti, said, "Innoviti as a frontrunner in India's enterprise retail sector is recognized as the most valued technology partner by the country's top businesses. This is a testament to our ivestment in continuously innovating our core platform. The performance-driven culture at Innoviti is geared towards especially rewarding the effort, creativity and potential to develop cutting-edge solutions that inspire new limits. To express our appreciation and empower our employees to live a more fulfilling life, we launched an ESOP and share buyback program at the start of this financial year. Through this initiative, our teams are motivated to work harder for themselves while contributing to the organization's progress." The company's core brand values of urgency, curiosity, self-management, quality and risk-taking have earned high respect from clients across the board, enabling it to record impressive statistics like 90% weekly transactions across stores, which is 65% above the industry average, a $1.2m GTV per software usage that is double the industry average, and a -25% churn rate. This is fuelling Innoviti to be on a high-growth transformation path. The company is set to double its revenue and is focused on creating better top-line and bottom-line incomes. Innoviti holds leadership in providing technology-led solutions and platforms for enabling businesses to profit while processing payments digitally by leveraging the public digital infrastructure and technologies. Its smart growth tools help innovate futuristic collaborative platforms with features like cost-sharing and co-marketing collaborations that create better business efficiencies and accessibility for smaller businesses. Businesses grow up to 3x revenue at 1/3 cost using Innoviti growth and efficiency tools positioning it as market leader with annualised GTV of $10B For media queries write to Debashree Basu, [email protected] About Innoviti Technologies Pvt. Ltd. | https://innoviti.com/ Innoviti Technologies (formerly, Innoviti Payment Solutions) is India's largest provider of collaborative commerce solutions to Enterprise merchants with a 76% market share of all purchases being paid for digitally in this segment. Innoviti vision is to help people make better purchase decisions by providing better purchase options. The company processes over 10B$ of purchases from over 2000+ cities with a volume throughput per installation that is 2X of the country's average. Bessemer Venture Partners, USA, FMO, Netherlands, Panthera Growth Partners, Singapore, Alumni Ventures, USA, Catamaran Ventures, and Patni Advisors are investors in the company. The company has 7 patents awarded with 21 more filed. Innoviti is the winner of Mastercard's Innovation Wizards Award, Reliance's Most Promising Growth Consumer Finance Award and Deloitte Fastest Growing Companies in Asia award in 2020. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2006634/Innoviti_GPTW_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/innoviti-facilitates-third-round-of-employee-share-and-esops-resale-kickstarting-the-new-financial-year-with-a-bang-301808228.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, April 26, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Axionlog, a leading supply chain management company in the food sector, has partnered with RELEX Solutions, provider of unified supply chain and retail planning solutions, to improve the accuracy and efficiency of their demand forecasting and replenishment processes. Axionlog operates in 16 territories across the Americas with over 60 clients, including the main fast-food chains in the region. Axionlog will implement RELEX's solution across their 30 distribution centers to ensure availability of the freshest possible products and increase efficiency of orders and on-time delivery to all their clients. The system will allow them to optimize inventory, as well as reduce waste and other associated costs. Before working with RELEX, Axionlog managed their planning processes manually, which required numerous resources. To increase the efficiency of their processes, they realized they needed a unified and scalable system that could provide accurate and timely forecasting and optimize the efficiency and utilization of all their resources. RELEX's partner Wysupp will implement the solution. "As a company that provides comprehensive solutions in the food sector supply chain, it is extremely important that we can continue improving and ensure the availability and freshness of products," said Gonzalo Sanchez de Bustamante, Procurement Manager at Axionlog. "We evaluated several providers and chose RELEX because they are the most advanced solution offering accurate forecasting. When evaluating solutions, it was clear that RELEX is very innovative and highly configurable to the needs of our business." "We are excited to add Axionlog to the RELEX family. The ability to respond even to the smallest changes in demand is vital for efficient inventory management, especially for perishable products," commented Carlos Victoria, Senior Sales VP at RELEX. "We look forward to working closely with Axionlog to further improve product availability and service for their customers." Story continues About RELEX Solutions RELEX Solutions helps retailers and consumer brands drive profitable growth across all sales and distribution channels by maximizing customer satisfaction and minimizing operative costs. Our market-leading, unified supply chain, and retail planning platform helps retailers and consumer goods companies align and optimize demand, merchandise, supply chain, and operations planning across the end-to-end value chain. We drive record-high product availability, increased sales, improved sustainability, and the best return on investment in inventory, space, workforce, and capacity. Leading brands like Grupo DIA, Grupo Vinoteca, Titan Panama, GNC Mexico, Leroy Merlin, Autozone, Giant Tiger and MediaMarkt trust RELEX to optimize their supply chain and retail planning. Go to relexsolutions.com for more. About Axionlog: We are a leading supply chain management services company. We specialize in integral management of food sector supply chains. Therefore, we ensure to supply your products in a timely and adequate manner, with the appropriate quality so that you can focus on your core business. For this, we have a team of professionals who, through their experience and with cutting-edge technology at their disposal, plan, implement and control the logistics process to make it effective and safe. We already have over 60 clients from different segments in 16 territories across the Americas who choose us every day because we know how to provide high standards of service, quality, and food safety. Go to https://www.axionlog.com/en/home/ for more. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005048/en/ Contacts Jose Flores Marketing Manager LATAM RELEX Solutions jose.flores@relexsolutions.com [April 26, 2023] Texas AI Company, N/VISNIUM AI, Says They Have Constructed a Virtual Time Machine MCKINNEY, Texas, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- N/VISNIUM AI, a cutting-edge AI company, has announced that it has constructed a virtual time machine that is revolutionizing the way businesses approach the future. By combining the power of artificial intelligence, quantum computers, and super-data technologies, N/VISNIUM AI has succeeded in bringing back intelligence from the future, offering unprecedented insights and strategic advantages to its clients. "We are excited to introduce our revolutionary 'Looking Glass' technology," said Milton Arch, spokesperson for N/VISNIUM AI. "Our system allows us to peer into the future with great clarity, using every data point we can possibly collect. Next, we collate the massive amounts of data and drill it down to a digestible summary. We then use quantum computers to formulate extrapolations and hand the information back to our AI for further analysis. The reults are as close to time travel as is currently possible." N/VISNIUM AI's technology offers insights into a wide range of areas, including AI integration, AI-based business plans, future trends, patentable scientific advancements, and the viability of potential acquisitions. With the ability to stay one step ahead of the competition becoming increasingly important, N/VISNIUM AI's technology has become a vital tool for businesses looking to gain a competitive advantage. ABOUT N/VISNIUM AI N/VISNIUM AI is a leading-edge AI company that combines the power of artificial intelligence, quantum computers, and super-data scanning technologies. With their advanced system, N/VISNIUM AI can look into the future with great clarity, providing insights into a wide range of areas such as new AI-based technologies, AI applications, and more. With their proprietary technology, N/VISNIUM AI is poised to revolutionize the way businesses approach the future. The company motto, "as far as the mind can see," speaks to our commitment to exploring the limits of what's possible. For information, go to https://www.nvisnium.ai/ For more information contact: Milton Arch [email protected] 972-299-0492 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/texas-ai-company-nvisnium-ai-says-they-have-constructed-a-virtual-time-machine-301807891.html SOURCE N/VISNIUM AI [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Carvana Partners With Racing Legend Jimmie Johnson to Bring One Lucky Fan to the 600-Mile Race in Charlotte, NC Carvana, an industry pioneer for buying and selling used cars online, announced a new sweepstakes today in partnership with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, offering the VIP treatment to meet racing legend Jimmie Johnson this Memorial Day Weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina. Carvana and Johnson have teamed up to give one lucky Carvana Racing fan and a guest the experience of a lifetime at this summer's big racing event. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005334/en/ Enter to Win A VIP Experience with Carvana Racing and Jimmie Johnson this Memorial Day Weekend (Graphic: Business Wire) Beginning April 26, and running through May 8, 2023, Carvana Racing fans can enter for a chance to win a grand prize package for two that includes: Two (2) round-trip flights to Charlotte, North Carolina Two (2) VIP Passes valid May 27-28 for the race in Charlotte, North Carolina Lodging for two (2) $500 food and beverage credit An exclusive meet and greet with racing legend Jimmie Johnson Staying true to their #NoFinishLines mentality, Carvana is proud to support Johnson as he return to his roots, intent on bringing the brand's forward-thinking fan engagement into the world of stock car racing, just as it has done over the last two INDYCAR seasons. "We couldn't be more excited to help curate this one-of-a-kind fan experience at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB's home track," said Ryan Keeton, Carvana Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer. "We're proud to champion his passion and dedication to the sport, and we're looking forward to watching the iconic No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet turn up the heat this summer in Charlotte." Last year, Carvana Racing gave fans behind-the-scenes access to Johnson's preparation for his sophomore INDYCAR season, in an eight-episode docuseries called Reinventing the Wheel, helmed by Emmy-nominated director Dan Bradley. Now, as Johnson prepares for one of racing's most anticipated summer events, a lucky fan will once again get the inside track with the 2023 Carvana Racing Sweepstakes. Follow Carvana Racing on social media or enter here to win. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. The Carvana Racing Sweepstakes 2023 begins 04/26/2023 and ends 05/08/2023. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C. who are 18 years of age or older as of date of entry. Subject to full Official Rules, available at Bit.ly/carvanaracingsweeps Sponsor: Carvana, LLC, 300 E Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe, AZ 85281. About Carvana is an industry pioneer for buying and selling used vehicles online. As the fastest growing used automotive retailer in U.S. history, its proven, customer-first ecommerce model has positively impacted millions of people's lives through more convenient, accessible and transparent experiences. Carvana.com allows someone to purchase a vehicle from the comfort of their home, completing the entire process online, benefiting from a 7-day money back guarantee, home delivery, nationwide inventory selection and more. Customers also have the option to sell or trade-in their vehicle across all Carvana locations, including its patented Car Vending Machines, in more than 300 U.S. markets. Carvana brings a continued focus on people-first values, industry-leading customer care, technology and innovation, and is the No. 2 automotive brand in the U.S., only behind Ford, on the Forbes 2022 Most Customer-Centric Companies List. Carvana is one of the four fastest companies to make the Fortune 500 and for more information, please visit www.carvana.com and follow us @Carvana. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005334/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Hydrogen Infrastructure Leader GenH2 to Exhibit Ground-Breaking LS20 Mobile Liquid Hydrogen System as Silver Sponsor at Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo GenH2 President and CEO Greg Gosnell to Also Join Industry Experts on Hydrogen Workshop Panel TITUSVILLE, Fla., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GenH2, a leader in hydrogen infrastructure solutions, announced today that the company will be exhibiting its ground-breaking LS20 Mobile Liquid Hydrogen System, an end-to-end liquefication and storage system, at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo (Booth #6774) May 1-4, 2023 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. GenH2 is a Silver Sponsor of the event, where original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and commercial transportation technology providers showcase the latest products and solutions designed to decarbonize transport and pave the way to a cleaner future. GenH2's President and CEO, Greg Gosnell, will also be speaking on a hydrogen workshop panel on May 1. GenH2's recently launched LS20 Mbile Liquid Hydrogen System is an innovative, mobile liquefaction unit that offers a space-optimized, fully integrated liquid hydrogen solution to be used in a range of applications, from transportation to energy backup to accelerating the use of liquid hydrogen through pilot projects and testing. The LS20 can also be utilized as a lab setting for testing material, insulation, thermodynamic properties, and use cases for their applications. Attendees of the show are welcome to visit the GenH2 booth to get an up close look at the unit. Greg Gosnell, President and CEO of GenH2, will join a panel of industry experts, who will address The Hydrogen Supply Chain: Production, Distribution, Storage as part of the ACT Hydrogen Workshop on May 1 from 1:15pm - 2:30pm. Neil Navin, Chief Clean Fuels Officer for the Southern California Gas Company, will serve as moderator for the session, which will feature the following panelists: Gosnell; Kimberly Okafor, General Manager of Zero Emission Solutions, Trillium A Love's Company; William A. Zobel, Director, Alternative Fuel Strategy and Sales, Pilot Company; and Stacey Grauer, Director of Business Development, Clean Hydrogen, Linde Inc. The session will cover the following: The current landscape for hydrogen production, distribution, storage and fueling to support commercial fleet operations, and how this is expected to evolve in the next one, three, and five years What is "green hydrogen" and how will it be made affordable? How federal incentives and policies will develop regional hydrogen economies Future public-access infrastructure and corridor build-out strategies and plans to support scaled vehicle deployments How to meet the fueling needs of a growing fleet of light, medium- and heavy-duty fuel cell vehicles "We are looking forward to the ACT expo this year as we bring new hydrogen infrastructure solutions to market," said Gosnell. "We are especially excited to have the opportunity to showcase the usability of the LS20, which offers the capability of producing small amounts of liquid hydrogen in order to provide access to more hydrogen researchers and hydrogen industry players. We welcome all attendees to come and see it firsthand." Last month, GenH2 and Chart Industries ("Chart"), a leading global engineering design and manufacturer of highly engineered equipment servicing multiple applications in the clean energy and industrial gas markets, announced a strategic partnership to jointly market and distribute small-scale hydrogen liquefaction technologies globally. Included in the agreement are collaboration on global sales and marketing opportunities, equipment manufacturing and supply, and the deployment of GenH2's 1,000 kg/day hydrogen liquefier. About GenH2 GenH2 is a technology leader in hydrogen infrastructure systems for advanced clean energy. GenH2 solutions will allow for safe liquefaction, storage, and distribution of liquid hydrogen. The company will focus on mass-producing light-scale equipment to speed infrastructure buildout and make hydrogen accessible for everyday use around the globe. The Titusville, Florida-headquartered technology team includes former NASA researchers and developers who possess decades of experience researching, engineering, and building hydrogen solutions. Learn more about GenH2 at www.DiscoverHydrogen.com Contact: Melissa Perlman 561-310-9921 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hydrogen-infrastructure-leader-genh2-to-exhibit-ground-breaking-ls20-mobile-liquid-hydrogen-system-as-silver-sponsor-at-advanced-clean-transportation-act-expo-301808232.html SOURCE GenH2 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Industrial Control and Factory Automation Market Will Reach USD 286.8 Billion by 2030, Says P&S Intelligence NEW YORK, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The industrial control and factory automation market is projected to be worth USD 286.8 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 8.60%, according to P&S Intelligence. Industrial automation needs a range of control systems, including data acquisition tools and robots, for governing several processes and equipment in diverse industries. Furthermore, such products play a vital role in reducing manufacturing expenses and refining the standard of items, thereby resulting in better incomes. Get the sample pages of this report: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/industrial-control-and-factory-automation-market/report-sample The growth of the market can essentially be credited to digitalization, which has enhanced the industrial sector significantly and compelled businesspersons to follow this pathway. Automation eases supervision by leveraging computers, robots, and other control arrangements. Moreover, it aids industrial establishments in decreasing prices, advancing productivity, improving communication, and optimizing supervising systems. Governments' Steps to Encourage Industrial Automation To guarantee rapid economic growth, governments in nearly all nations are helping industries. The growth of the manufacturing industry in today's world relies upon enhanced automation and communication technologies. For example, the Government of Singapore is joining forces with the Food Innovation Resource Centre and Singapore Food Manufacturing Association to introduce progressive automation solutions, including PLC, DCS, SCADA, and robots, in the food and beverage sector. Acceptance of IoT and AI in Industrial Production IoT is a method where several devices, including wearables, home appliances, and manufacturing equipment, are linked o the web, sharing information with each other and a control system. Such linked smart devices allow for automation across numerous industries. Sensor Sales Generate Significant Revenue In 2022, the sensors component category held a considerable revenue share, of more than 24%. This can be credited to the fact that sensors play an important role in smart engineering by gathering information and offering essential data support. Browse detailed report on Industrial Control and Factory Automation Market Growth, Development and Demand Forecast to 2030 Furthermore, the significant growth in the acceptance of the internet of things and other Industry 4.0 technologies is boosting the utilization of sensors. Smart sensors, which gather operational data from the surroundings and numerous pieces of infrastructure, are quickly being advanced, thereby fueling the smart revolution of industrial internet terminals. APAC Has Accepted Factory Automation Most Extensively The increasing demand for enhanced solutions in order to handle industrial plants in China and India is credited for APAC's leadership in the industry. In 2022, the region held a revenue share of more than 39%, and it is projected to be in the top spot in the future as well. The robust development rate is also credited to the existence of major and emerging market players in the region. Browse More Reports Published by P&S Operational Technology Market Size, Growth, Development and Demand Forecast to 2030 Robotic Process Automation Market Size, Growth, Development and Demand Forecast to 2030 Packaging Automation Market Size, Growth, Development and Demand Forecast to 2030 Building Automation System Market Size, Growth, Development and Demand Forecast to 2030 About P&S Intelligence P&S Intelligence provides market research and consulting services to a vast array of industries across the world. As an enterprising research and consulting company, P&S believes in providing thorough insights on the ever-changing market scenario, to empower companies to make informed decisions and base their business strategies with astuteness. P&S keeps the interest of its clients at heart, which is why the insights we provide are both honest and accurate. Our long list of satisfied clients includes entry-level firms as well as multi-million-dollar businesses and government agencies. Contact: Prajneesh Kumar P&S Intelligence Phone: +1-347-960-6455 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.psmarketresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1224988/P_and_S_Intelligence_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/industrial-control-and-factory-automation-market-will-reach-usd-286-8-billion-by-2030--says-ps-intelligence-301807846.html [April 26, 2023] Cherre Announces Application Partnership With Enertiv Cherre, the leading real estate data integration and insights platform, today announced a new partnership with Enertiv, an operational intelligence platform focused on rapidly decarbonizing the built world. The partnership will allow mutual customers to seamlessly integrate their granular operational data, translating workflow and equipment-level energy data into performance scores for each property and across a portfolio. Real estate operators and owners face increasing pressure to both deliver auditable carbon emission data and to put forth credible transition plans to achieve their stated targets. However, the challenging realities of operating real estate today - such as fragmented data collection and technologies and an uncertain macroeconomic outlook - make this a difficult task. The partnership between Cherre and Entertiv aims to address this by empowering asset managers to embed decarbonization and ESG data into their operational processes and data governance, powering data-driven insights about their buildings and portfolios. "As the industry moves into a new phase of ESG - ESG 2.0 - we are shifting from goal-setting to real-world execution," said Connell McGill, Co-Founder and EO of Enertiv. "Partnering with Cherre is a natural fit as we work to empower property owners and operators to meet ESG goals in the context of overall asset and portfolio performance. The need to decarbonize is here and the industry is looking to move quickly. This partnership allows our customers to do exactly that." Cherre, which recently joined OSCRE's Environmental Data Standards Project, is deeply committed to ESG data management and standardization. By partnering with Enertiv, Cherre is further helping move the industry forward with contextualized ESG data and data governance. "Consistent ESG reporting is becoming a critical component of financial success, even though the industry is still working toward globally agreed-upon requirements and standards," said Kevin Shtofman, Head of Innovation at Cherre. "Our mutual customers can seamlessly integrate their building data into their overall asset and portfolio reporting and remain proactive, adaptive, and responsive to changes in ESG data governance trends." About Cherre Cherre is the leader in real estate data and insight. It connects decision makers to accurate property and market information, and helps them make faster, smarter decisions. By providing a unique "single source of truth," Cherre empowers customers to evaluate opportunities and trends faster and more accurately, while saving millions of dollars in manual data collection and analytics costs. Cherre launched in 2016 and is headquartered in New York City. About Enertiv Enertiv is an operational intelligence platform for commercial real estate, and the only software to combine on-site workflow automation with real-time monitoring and data-driven insights. The asset-agnostic technology has been deployed by portfolios including AvalonBay, Mapletree, Prologis, Related, Starwood and WinnCompanies to increase NOI through expense controls, decarbonize operations, and deliver unprecedented transparency to executives and asset managers. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230425005977/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Alphabet CEO Highlights Behavox-Google Partnership, Recognizes PaLM AI Adoption in Q1 2023 Earnings Call Behavox, today, announced the expansion of its partnership with Google by integrating PaLM, Google's state-of-the-art Large Language Model, into its Compliance offering, and by making Behavox available through Google's Marketplace. Alphabet CEO, Sundar Pichai, remarked on the Alphabet Q1 2023 Earnings Call, "Our PaLM Generative AI Models and Vertex AI Platform are helping Behavox to identify insider threats." Behavox clients have access to Behavox LLM, developed using a diverse range of AI models, including BERT, RoBERTa and, most recently, PaLM. The adoption of PaLM isthe product of joint development between Behavox and Google's Data Science, Subject Matter Expertise, and Engineering teams. "Partnering with Google underscores our commitment to the delivery of AI solutions that meet the stringent requirements of the Financial Services industry," said Erkin Adylov, Chief Executive Officer at Behavox. "Behavox will continue to add more domain-adapted and fine-tuned models that pass regulatory standards and requirements in delivering effective and explainable AI models to our customers" Behavox models such as PaLM are built to become experts in regulatory compliance through a meticulous fine-tuning process. The data used for training is available for external audit by regulators, customers, and monitors, while all Behavox models have successfully passed multiple regulatory inspections and model validation. Additionally, Behavox is announcing today that its AI-driven Compliance solutions are now available on Google Cloud Marketplace. This listing capitalizes on Behavox's partnership with Google Cloud, as well as, the growing adoption of Behavox SaaS by leading global financial institutions. Fahreen Kurji, Chief Customer Intelligence Officer at Behavox, stated, "Launching on GCP Marketplace allows us to considerably simplify and streamline the purchasing process for our customers, especially the ones who already have a deep relationship with Google Cloud with a firm-wide allocated spend." To learn more about Behavox LLM and the incorporation of Google's PaLM AI model, speak with the Behavox team here. About Behavox Ltd. Behavox, the leading provider of AI-driven compliance solutions. As a market leader in the application of Artificial Intelligence to monitor text and voice communications, Behavox's software protects companies and their employees from bad actors engaged in illegal and malicious activities. Compliance, surveillance, legal and SOC teams rely on Behavox software to reduce false positives and increase detection rate across a broad range of risks. There are many solutions to protect companies from outside risks; Behavox protects companies from inside risks. Founded in 2014, Behavox is headquartered in Montreal and has offices in New York City, London, Seattle, Singapore, and Tokyo. More information about the company is available at www.behavox.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005383/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] With Fraud on the Rise and Mobile Phone Numbers Now Acting as Individuals' Digital Identities, a Perfect Storm Is Brewing in the UK iconectiv: What: According to a recently published white paper from Omnisperience, 'UK Digital Fraud: There's a gap in the UK digital infrastructure and it's letting fraud in,' as the UK continues to chart its path toward a modern digital economy, there are two major forces to be reckoned with - escalating fraud to the tune of 137 billion and an archaic telecoms system in desperate need of a revamp. Peter Ford, iconectiv's Executive Vice President of Information Solutions, joined the paper's author, Omnisperience's Chief Analyst Teresa Cottam, in the latest Trending Tech Podcast, hosted by Jeremy Cowan. The group discussed this pressing issue as well as the latest tech headlines and trends impacting the telecom space, including: The current fraud landscape in the UK, and some of the attack vectors criminals are using to commit cyber-enabled crime, which now accounts for 80% of all fraud in the region. The various reasons why mobile devices - specifically mobile phone numbers are a gateway to hijacking someone's identity - and what the telecoms industry needs to do to address the situation. What a recent fraud report from the UK's House of Lords means for the industry. Why it's time for the UK to overhaul its current number portability process, which enables consumers and businesses to change service providers but keep their same phone number. Plus, other trending topics. Jeremy Cowan - Host, Trending Tech Podcast Teresa Cottam - Chief Analyst, Omnisperience Omnisperience Peter Ford - Executive Vice President, Information Solutions Business, iconectiv Where: To listen to the podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/40jZJu0 About iconectiv Your business and your customers need to access and exchange information simply, seamlessly and securely. iconectiv's extensive experience in information services and its unmatched numbering intelligence helps you do just that. In fact, more than 2 billion people count on our platforms each day to keep their networks, devices and applications connected. Our cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions span network and operations management, numbering, trusted communications and fraud prevention. For more information, visit www.iconectiv.com. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005060/en/ [April 26, 2023] CoinFlip's New Crypto Platform 'Olliv' Aims to Make Cryptocurrency a Simple Part of Everyday Life Award-Winning Company, CoinFlip, Introduces Accessible and Safe Solutions for 'Olliv Us' to Participate in the Digital Economy CHICAGO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CoinFlip, a leading fintech company powered by cryptocurrency, announces today a new chapter of growth and product evolution with the launch of 'Olliv,' a safe, inclusive, self-custody-powered crypto platform delivering financial services in the digital economy accessible to everyone. Olliv is breaking down the exclusivity barrier of cryptocurrency and offering a space that welcomes the next generation of investors to the digital economy while serving as an onramp for the future of blockchain utility and tokenized assets. The Olliv platform provides a frictionless way for consumers to buy, sell, send, receive, and swap assets securely stored on a self-custodial wallet, removing the uncertainty of unknown third-party custodians. Leveraging CoinFlip's existing network of crypto ATMs and award-winning customer service, Olliv serves to bridge the gap between physical and digital investing, expanding accessibility to this emerging technology. Olliv recognizes the future of crypto isn't about who's already in it, it's about onboarding new users and propelling mass adoption. Education, simplicity, and ease of use are at the core of Olliv's ethos, as the platform looks to offer guidance and insights that make it easier to achieve financial freedom. Packaged in user-friendly software, Olliv enables 'Olliv Us' to participate in the digital economy in a way that makes customers feel safe, supported, and in control. "With the launch of Olliv, our goal is to demystify cryptocurrency and create an inviting community for everyone. We aim to welcome customers with open arms into this next step toward financial revolution, regardless of their financial knowledge or background," said Ben Weiss, CEO and co-founder of CoinFlip. "We're always ooking for ways to invest in our customers that will contribute to the future of DeFi. We are confident our self-custodial model, a key value of CoinFlip's business since inception, will pave the path for a significant and much-needed shift in the industry. We look forward to continued growth and innovation in the coming year as we get one step closer to on-ramping the next generation of crypto investors." Amongst its suite of services, Olliv features an intuitive interface for secure transactions and state-of-the-art encryption. Olliv also offers CoinFlip's award-winning 24/7 live customer service and provides educational resources via user-friendly content. The platform's commitment to transparency ensures users have visibility to all applicable fees, which are amongst the lowest in the industry, while trusted payment integrations enable secure and seamless payments. "We envision a future where everyone can participate in the digital economy and utilize their holdings to make everyday purchases and gain access to previously hard-to-buy assets such as precious metals, real estate, and energy, without the need for frustrating third-party intermediaries," said Rory Herriman, Chief Technology, Digital, and Strategy Officer of CoinFlip. "Our vision for Olliv is to innovate and break down barriers around safety, security, and sovereignty, to empower people to invest and give them individual ownership of their assets thanks to the accessibility cryptocurrency provides." Olliv is creating a unique space for people to join the crypto ecosystem at a pivotal point where technology and use cases for digital currency are rapidly evolving. The company will continue to grow its offerings and add additional features to support a user throughout their financial lifecycle. With a commitment to providing services that disrupt the traditional finance system, Olliv is poised to become a leader in the fintech space, providing essential services for all users, regardless of level of experience. Amid challenging market conditions, CoinFlip remained a trusted resource for customers showcasing dedication to industry compliance and transparency. In doing so, the company demonstrated impressive growth, nearly doubling its headcount and expanding its ATM presence to Puerto Rico, Canada, and Australia. The company's 2022 revenue exceeded $100 million and its team is projected to grow by 23% by the end of 2023. CoinFlip's exceptional growth has been recognized by Crain's Chicago Business, which named it the No. 1 fastest-growing company in Chicago for two consecutive years and by Inc. 5000, where it has ranked within the top 100 in 2021 and 2022. With the launch of Olliv, CoinFlip solidifies its position as a leader in the financial revolution fueled by cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Starting today, Olliv is offered in the United States and Puerto Rico, except for Alaska, Iowa, New York, Oregon, Nevada, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Vermont with intentions to expand in accordance with local regulation. To learn more about Olliv and to sign up, please visit Olliv.com. About Olliv by CoinFlip Olliv is a next-generation financial services platform powered by cryptocurrency that offers consumers a safe, inclusive, and supportive on-ramp to financial freedom. The omnichannel offering includes the Olliv digital platform and the CoinFlip network of cryptocurrency ATMs. With more than 4,000 machines in 49 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Australia, Olliv leverages CoinFlip's network of cryptocurrency kiosks to bridge the gap between physical and digital currency and introduce crypto to the masses. Olliv was founded as CoinFlip in 2015 and is headquartered in Chicago. To learn more, visit Olliv.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coinflips-new-crypto-platform-olliv-aims-to-make-cryptocurrency-a-simple-part-of-everyday-life-301808340.html SOURCE CoinFlip [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] INVESTIGATION REMINDER: The Schall Law Firm Announces it is Investigating Claims Against Danaher Corporation and Encourages Investors with Losses to Contact the Firm The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Danaher Corporation ("Danaher" or "the Company") (NYSE: DHR) for violations of the securities laws. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. If you are a shareholderwho suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected]. The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005377/en/ [April 26, 2023] Cedar Point Federal Credit Union Selects Q2 to Deliver a Modernized Digital Banking Experience to Increase Member Engagement Q2 Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: QTWO), a leading provider of digital transformation solutions for banking and lending, announced today that Cedar Point Federal Credit Union has selected Q2's best-in-class digital banking platform to enhance the digital banking user experience while delivering new innovation to significantly increase member engagement. Based in Lexington Park, Maryland, Cedar Point is a $750 million financial institution serving more than 46,000 members in St. Mary's, Calvert and Charles counties since 1945. "Cedar Point's mission is centered on creating meaningful experiences for our members, and the digital sphere is a vital part of the daily user experience," said Cedar Point CEO Charles Roach. "We are confident that our partnership with Q2 will help us accelerate our ability to innovate and deliver modern digital banking experiences to meet our members' expectations." "Many of our members had suggested improvements to our previous digital banking interface, and we listened," said Cedar Point CIO BJ Sievers. "The previous system had user limitations and didn't allow us to quickly reach our members with the right information at the right time. Q2 resolves that while enabling us to provide a more tailored member experience. We are also excited to leverage Q2's fintech partner ecosystem to expand our innovation capabilities." In addition to the Q2 digital banking platform, Cedar Point will leverage several Q2 solutions, including Q2 Innovation Studio, Marketplace, Q2 Gro, Q2 CardSwap, ClickSWITCH and Q2 Discover, among others. Q2 will also enable Cedar Point to provide its members with access to new, innovative financial wellness tools and solutions to improve the member experience and increase relationship touchpoints through its digital channels, such as Q2 Goals, SavvyMoney and Glia. Dallas Wells, Q2's SVP of Product Management, said, "Q2 is pleased to partner with Cedar Point Federal Credit Union as they accelerate their digital innovation. At Q2, we take pride in empowering our customers to transform their businesses to create more engaging and meaningful relationships with their account holders." Learn More Read about Q2's consumer digital banking platform here. About Q2 Holdings, Inc. Q2 is a leading provider of digital banking and lending solutions to banks, credit unions, alternative finance, and fintech companies in the U.S. and internationally. Q2 enables its financial institutions and fintech companies to provide comprehensive, secure, data-driven digital client engagement solutions - from consumers to small businesses and corporate clients. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Q2 has offices throughout the world and is publicly traded on the NYSE under the stock symbol QTWO. To learn more, please visit Q2.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter to stay up-to-date. About Cedar Point Federal Credit Union Cedar Point Federal Credit Union was founded in 1945 to serve Southern Maryland's military members. Since 2009, Cedar Point has been a community-based financial institution serving people who live, work, worship, go to school and do business in St. Mary's, Calvert, and Charles counties in Maryland. Our mission is to enrich lives by providing competitive rates of interest, cultivating exceptional financial partnerships, and creating meaningful experiences. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005634/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] EL SEGUNDO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / The Beachbody Company, Inc. (NYSE:BODY) (the "Company" or "Beachbody"), a leading subscription health and wellness company, today announced that Marc Suidan, Chief Financial Officer, will host investor meetings and present at the Planet MicroCap Showcase Investor Conference in Las Vegas today at 3:30 PM Pacific Time. The presentation at the Planet MicroCap Showcase Investor Conference will be available live and for replay on the Investor Relations page on Beachbody's website at https://investors.thebeachbodycompany.com. About BODi and The Beachbody Company, Inc. Headquartered in Southern California, BODi is a leading digital fitness, nutrition, and mindset subscription company with over two decades of creating innovative content and nutritional supplements designed to support and enrich strong Health Esteem. The Beachbody Company, Inc. is the parent company of BODi. For more information, please visit TheBeachbodyCompany.com. CONTACTS: Investor Relations ICR, Inc. BeachbodyIR@icrinc.com SOURCE: Planet MicroCap LLC View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/751162/The-Beachbody-Company-Inc-to-Present-at-the-Planet-MicroCap-Showcase-Investor-Conference-in-Las-Vegas-Today-at-330-PM-Pacific-Time [April 26, 2023] Healing Innovations Partners with Cheshire Home to Bring Revolutionary Rise&Walk Technology to New Jersey NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Healing Innovations, Inc., a leading provider of advanced neurorehabilitation technology, is excited to announce its partnership with Cheshire Home, located in Florham Park, New Jersey. This collaboration marks the first time the state-of-the-art Rise&Walk technology will be available to patients in New Jersey. Cheshire Home, a leading provider for short-term rehabilitation in the New Jersey area, has long been dedicated to providing the highest quality care to its residents for over 40 years. The introduction of the Rise&Walk technology will further elevate the facility's offerings, giving residents access to the latest advancements in neurorehabilitation. The device, which combines upper and lower extremity ambulation, robotic-assisted gait training, seated activities, and an ADL zone, aligns with the latest research to promote neuroplasticity. Lauren Rosario, the Director of Rehabilitation and Occupational Therapist (OT), and Bethany Greenfield, Lead Physcal Therapist and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) will be spearheading the integration of the Rise&Walk technology at Cheshire Home. Their expertise, combined with the cutting-edge capabilities of the Rise&Walk, will provide their residents with a unique and effective rehabilitation experience. Luke Benda, CEO of Healing Innovations, said, "We are thrilled to partner with Cheshire Home and bring the groundbreaking Rise&Walk technology to New Jersey. This collaboration will not only enhance the care provided at Cheshire Home but also empower their residents to make significant strides in their recovery." For more information on the Rise&Walk technology and how it is transforming the field of neurorehabilitation, visit www.healinginnovations.com. To learn more about Cheshire Home and the exceptional services they provide, visit www.cheshirehome.org. About Healing Innovations, Inc. Healing Innovations, Inc. is a Nashville-based medical technology company specializing in the development of innovative neurorehabilitation solutions. The company's flagship product, the Rise&Walk technology, is designed to improve user outcomes and help individuals regain their mobility and independence. With a focus on research and development, Healing Innovations is dedicated to revolutionizing the field of neurorehabilitation and transforming the lives of the neuro population worldwide. About Cheshire Home Cheshire Home is a leading rehabilitation center located in Florham Park, NJ, committed to providing the highest quality care for individuals with spinal cord injuries and other neurological impairments. With a team of dedicated professionals, Cheshire Home offers a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet the unique needs of each resident. By providing personalized care and support, Cheshire Home empowers individuals to achieve their goals and reach their maximum level of independence. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/healing-innovations-partners-with-cheshire-home-to-bring-revolutionary-risewalk-technology-to-new-jersey-301808250.html SOURCE Healing Innovations [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, a Leading Securities Fraud Law Firm, Announces the Filing of a Securities Class Action on Behalf of Teleperformance SE (TLPFY) Investors Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM"), a leading national shareholder rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Teleperformance SE ("Teleperformance" or the "Company") (OTC: TLPFY) American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") between July 29, 2020 and November 9, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Teleperformance investors have until June 20, 2023 to file a lead plaintiff motion. If you suffered a loss on your Teleperformance investments or would like to inquire about potentially pursuing claims to recover your loss under the federal securities laws, you can submit your contact information at www.glancylaw.com/cases/Teleperformance-SE/. You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at [email protected] to learn more about your rights. On August 4, 2022, Forbes published an article alleging that Teleperformance had subjected its workers to poor working conditions, using real, graphic images and videos of child sexual abuse to train its TikTok content moderators, while "conversations with former employees reveal[ed] the extent to which moderators were both under-trained and overworked." On this news, Teleperformance's stock price fell $7.75, or 4.6%, to close at $160.94 per ADR on August 5, 2022, thereby injuring investors. Then, on November 9, 2022, Time reported that "Colombia's Ministry of Labor has launched an investigation into TikTok subcontractor Teleperformance, relating to alleged union-busting, traumatic working conditions and low pay." On this news, Teleperformance's stock price fell $24.55, or 18.6%, to close at $107.77 per ADR on November 10, 2022. Then, on March22, 2023, four months after the Company "unanimously" decided to exit the "highly egregious" content moderation business, Teleperformance announced that it would be reentering the field. Market analysts observed that the move was an indication of the Company's overall business and growth prospects. One HSBC Global Research analyst report stated that the "U-turn on content moderation raises concerns about communication, governance and broad fundamentals." On this news, Teleperformance's stock price fell $6.87, or 5.7%, over three days to close at $112.82 per ADR on March 24, 2023, thereby injuring investors further. The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Teleperformance's growth in Core Services had been achieved, in part, by requiring its content moderators to engage in inappropriate, traumatic, abusive, and potentially criminal activities; (2) that certain Teleperformance social content moderators had been trained with materials which included illicit images of child sexual exploitation; (3) that contraband images had been included in Teleperformance Daily Required Reading reports for its content moderation staff; (4) that Teleperformance had failed to safeguard child sexual abuse material and had potentially violated strict rules governing the handling of such materials, including rules relating to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; (5) that Teleperformance had failed to provide adequate training or emotional and psychological support to content moderators exposed to egregious materials, including those exposed to extreme graphic violence and sexual images; (6) that Teleperformance had imposed unreasonable time and performance targets that compounded the occupational trauma suffered by its content moderators; (7) that Teleperformance had failed to implement or maintain the working conditions represented to investors, including by subjecting the Company's content moderation workers to widespread occupational trauma without psychological support, and with paltry pay, punitive salary deductions, extensive surveillance, and aggressive union-busting tactics; (8) that, as a result, Teleperformance was subject to a material, undisclosed risk of legal, regulatory, business, and reputational harm if the truth regarding the Company's content moderation services, treatment of its content moderation workers, and handling of contraband materials was ever publicly revealed; and (9) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. If you purchased or otherwise acquired Teleperformance ADRs during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than June 20, 2023 to ask the Court to appoint you as lead plaintiff. To be a member of the Class you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the Class. If you wish to learn more about this action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Charles Linehan, Esquire, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles California 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005367/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Loomis Sayles Growth Equity Strategies Team Reopens Growth Fund to Investors Loomis, Sayles & Company, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, today announced the reopening of its Loomis Sayles Growth Fund (LSGRX) to all investors, effective immediately. Prior to this announcement the Fund remained open only for retirement plans (defined contribution and defined benefit plans), new clients of registered investment advisers and registered representatives trading through intermediaries where the Fund is already available, and existing investors for capital additions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005648/en/ The Loomis Sayles Growth Fund earned a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Gold (as of 9 January 2023). (Graphic: Business Wire) The Loomis Sayles Growth Fund is among a suite of growth equity products managed by Aziz V. Hamzaogullari, CIO and founder of the firm's Growth Equity Strategies (GES) Team, all of which employ the exact same philosophy and process. The longest-dated strategies, including the Large Cap Growth strategy which is employed by the Fund, will cross their 17-year anniversaries this June. Collectively, the Growth Equity Strategies Team manages $59.5 billion in assets under management. The $10 billion fund was closed to most new investors in November 2016 in order to ensure the team's ability to efficiently manage future cash flow growth in the best interests of our investors. Cash flow has subsequently subsided and market conditions have changed since the fund's closing. "Our ongoing evaluation of capacity constraints, flow trends and overall market conditions, among other factors led us to the conclusion that the Growth Fund has ample alpha-generating capability," said Hamzaogullari. Loomis Sayles and the GES team remain committed to thoughtfully and proactively managing capacity as needed to ensure portfolio management flexibility. Loomis Sayles Growth Fund Since Aziz Hamzaogullari assumed management of the Loomis Sayles Growth Fund on June 1, 2010, it has generated an annualized net return of 14.83% as of March 31, 2023, ranking ahead of 90% of Morningstar large cap growth funds (82 out of 960). Under Hamzaogullari's management, the fund has generated 0.43% of alpha, ahead of 94% of Morningstar large cap growth funds (52 out of 960). A differentiated investment philosophy - supported by a proprietary seven-step research framework - underpins the GES team's long-term, private equity approach. The team seeks to invest in those few high-quality businesses with sustainable competitive advantages and profitable growth only when they trade at a discount to the GES estimate of intrinsic value. Learn more about the Loomis Sayles Growth Equity Strategies team and the Loomis Sayles Growth Fund, which earned a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Gold (as of 9 January 2023). LOOMIS SAYLES GROWTH FUND (Y CLASS) PERFORMANCE (%) AS OF MARCH 31, 2023 Q1 2023 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years Growth Fund (Y Class) 21.44 -4.71 15.75 11.90 14.11 Russell 1000 Growth Index 14.37 -10.90 18.58 13.66 14.59 Cumulative Total Return Average Annual Total Return Period 1Q 2023 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years Net Return 21.44 -4.71 15.75 11.90 14.11 Benchmark Return 14.37 -10.90 18.58 13.66 14.59 Excess Return 7.07 6.19 -2.83 -1.76 -0.48 Peer Group Percentile 3rd 5th 45th 26th 13th Rank/Count 19 out of 1,272 44 out of 1,255 446 out of 1,177 258 out of 1,130 115 out of 1,038 Morningstar Large Cap Growth Funds Data sources: Natixis Distribution, LLC and Russell. Total returns reflect Fund fees and expenses and assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions. Returns include the expenses of the Fund's Class Y shares and assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions. Performance data reflects certain fee waivers and reimbursements. Without such waivers, performance would be lower. Y shares are only available to certain institutional investors with a minimum initial investment of $100,000. Performance for multi-year periods is annualized. Indices are unmanaged and do not incur fees. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Total return and value will vary and you may have a gain or loss when shares are sold. Current performance may be lower or higher than quoted. For most recent month-end performance, visit www.loomissayles.com. Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.("Loomis Sayles") is an independent advisory firm registered under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940. For additional information on this and other Loomis Sayles strategies, please visit our website at www.loomissayles.com. ABOUT LOOMIS SAYLES Since 1926, Loomis, Sayles & Company has helped fulfill the investment needs of institutional and mutual fund clients worldwide. The firm's performance-driven investors integrate deep proprietary research and risk analysis to make informed, judicious decisions. Teams of portfolio managers, strategists, research analysts and traders collaborate to assess market sectors and identify investment opportunities wherever they may lie, within traditional asset classes or among a range of alternative investments. Loomis Sayles has the resources, foresight and the flexibility to look far and wide for value in broad and narrow markets in its commitment to deliver attractive, risk-adjusted returns for clients. This rich tradition has earned Loomis Sayles the trust and respect of clients worldwide, for whom it manages $302.1 billion* in assets (as of 31 March 2023). *Includes the assets of both Loomis, Sayles & Co., LP, and Loomis Sayles Trust Company, LLC. ($35.7 billion for the Loomis Sayles Trust Company). Loomis Sayles Trust Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. ABOUT NATIXIS INVESTMENT MANAGERS Natixis Investment Managers' multi-affiliate approach connects clients to the independent thinking and focused expertise of more than 15 active managers. Ranked among the world's largest asset managers1 with more than $1 trillion assets under management2 (1 trillion), Natixis Investment Managers delivers a diverse range of solutions across asset classes, styles, and vehicles, including innovative environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies and products dedicated to advancing sustainable finance. The firm partners with clients in order to understand their unique needs and provide insights and investment solutions tailored to their long-term goals. Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Investment Managers is part of the Global Financial Services division of Groupe BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France through the Banque Populaire and Caisse d'Epargne retail networks. Natixis Investment Managers' affiliated investment management firms include AEW; DNCA Investments;3 Dorval Asset Management; Flexstone Partners; Gateway Investment Advisers; Harris Associates; Investors Mutual Limited; Loomis, Sayles & Company; Mirova; MV Credit; Naxicap Partners; Ossiam; Ostrum Asset Management; Seventure Partners; Thematics Asset Management; Vauban Infrastructure Partners; Vaughan Nelson Investment Management; and WCM Investment Management. Additionally, investment solutions are offered through Natixis Investment Managers Solutions and Natixis Advisors, LLC. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit Natixis Investment Managers' website at im.natixis.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/natixis-investment-managers. Natixis Investment Managers' distribution and service groups include Natixis Distribution, LLC, a limited purpose broker-dealer and the distributor of various U.S. registered investment companies for which advisory services are provided by affiliated firms of Natixis Investment Managers, Natixis Investment Managers S.A. (Luxembourg), Natixis Investment Managers International (France), and their affiliated distribution and service entities in Europe and Asia. 1 Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2022 ranked Natixis Investment Managers as the 18th largest asset manager in the world based on assets under management as of December 31, 2021. 2 Assets under management ("AUM") of affiliated entities measured as of December 31, 2022 are $1,151.3 billion (1,078.8 billion). AUM includes AlphaSimplex Group, LLC ($8.2 billion / 7.7 billion), which was acquired by Virtus Investment Partners, Inc., effective April 1, 2023. AUM, as reported, may include notional assets, assets serviced, gross assets, assets of minority-owned affiliated entities and other types of non-regulatory AUM managed or serviced by firms affiliated with Natixis Investment Managers. 3 A brand of DNCA Finance. About Risk: Equity securities are volatile and can decline significantly in response to broad market and economic conditions. Foreign and emerging market securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit, currency and information risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than U.S. securities, due to varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity. These risks are magnified in emerging markets. Investments in small and mid-size companies can be more volatile than those of larger companies. Growth stocks may be more sensitive to market conditions than other equities as their prices strongly reflect future expectations. Currency exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies may cause the value of the fund's investments to decline. Before investing, consider the fund's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Please visit www.loomissayles.com or call 800-225-5478 for a prospectus and a summary prospectus, if available, containing this and other information. Read it carefully. Natixis Distribution, LLC (fund distributor, member FINRA|SIPC) and Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. are affiliated. The Morningstar Analyst Rating is not a credit or risk rating. It is a subjective evaluation performed by the mutual fund analysts of Morningstar, Inc. Morningstar evaluates funds based on five key pillars, which are process, performance, people, parent, and price. Morningstar's analysts use this five pillar evaluation to identify funds they believe are more likely to outperform over the long term on a risk-adjusted basis. Analysts consider quantitative and qualitative factors in their research, but the assessment and weighting of each of the five pillars is driven by the analyst's overall assessment and overseen by Morningstar's Analyst Rating Committee. The approach serves not as a formula but as a framework to ensure consistency across Morningstar's global coverage universe. The Analyst Rating scale ranges from Gold to Negative, with Gold being the highest rating and Negative being the lowest rating. A fund with "Gold" rating distinguishes itself across the five pillars and has garnered the analysts' highest level of conviction. A fund with a "Silver" rating has notable advantages across several, but perhaps not all, of the five pillars-strengths that give the analysts a high level of conviction. A "Bronze"-rated fund has advantages that outweigh the disadvantages across the five pillars, with sufficient level of analyst conviction to warrant a positive rating. A fund with a "Neutral" rating isn't seriously flawed across the five pillars, nor does it distinguish itself very positively. A "Negative" rated fund is flawed in at least one if not more pillars and is considered an inferior offering to its peers. For more detailed information about Morningstar's Analyst Rating, including this methodology, please go to http://corporate.morningstar.com/us/documents/Methodology/Documents/AnalystRatingsFundsMethodology.pdf. The Morningstar Analyst Rating should not be used as the sole basis in evaluating a mutual fund. Morningstar Analyst Ratings are based on Morningstar's current expectations about future events; therefore, in no way does Morningstar represent ratings as a guarantee nor should they be viewed by an investor as such. Morningstar Analyst Ratings involve unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause Morningstar's expectations not to occur or to differ significantly from what we expected. 2023 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete, or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. MALR030909 5645367.2.1 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005648/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Bimini Capital Management to Announce First Quarter 2023 Results Bimini Capital Management, Inc. (OTCQB:BMNM) ("Bimini" or the "Company"), today announced that it will release results for the first quarter of 2023 following the close of trading on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Earnings Conference Call Details An earnings conference call and live audio webcast will be hosted Friday, May 12, 2023, at 10:00 AM ET at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/542707495. Participants can receive dial-in information via email by following the link: https://ww.netroadshow.com/events/login?show=82d70b69&confId=50171 A live audio webcast of the conference call can be accessed via the investor relations section of the Company's website at https://ir.biminicapital.com. About Bimini Capital Management, Inc. Bimini Capital Management, Inc. is an asset manager that invests primarily in residential mortgage-related securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae). Through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Bimini Advisors Holdings, LLC ("Bimini Advisors"), we serve as the external manager of Orchid Island Capital, Inc. ("Orchid"). Orchid is a publicly-traded real estate investment trust (NYSE: ORC). Orchid is managed to earn returns on the spread between the yield on its assets and its costs, including the interest expense on the funds it borrows. As Orchid's external manager, Bimini Advisors receives management fees and expense reimbursements for managing Orchid's investment portfolio and day-to-day operations. Pursuant to the terms of the management agreement, Bimini Advisors provides Orchid with its management team, including its officers, along with appropriate support personnel. Bimini Advisors is at all times subject to the supervision and oversight of Orchid's board of directors and has only such functions and authority as are delegated to it. We also manage the portfolio of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Royal Palm Capital, LLC ("Royal Palm"). Royal Palm is managed with an investment strategy similar to that of Orchid. Bimini Capital Management, Inc. and its subsidiaries are headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005693/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Berkshire Releases Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Report Highlights Berkshire's Transformational Efforts to Build More Equitable and Sustainable Communities BOSTON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB), the parent company of Berkshire Bank, a leading socially responsible community bank with financial centers in New England and New York, announced the release of its 2022 Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Report, Purpose & Performance that Matters. The report highlights the totality of the Company's environmental, social and governance activities, its performance as well as its progress on its $5 billion BEST Community Comeback program. "We believe where you bank matters and since our founding in 1846, Berkshire has been at the forefront of empowering our communities' financial potential," stated Gary R. Levante, SVP, Corporate Responsibility at Berkshire Bank. "The collective actions of the Company and all our employees are helping build more just and sustainable communities, creating jobs along our main streets, putting more people in homes, and supporting a green and equitable economy." Berkshire CEO Nitin Mhatre added, "Our purpose will continue to help power Berkshire on our path toward becoming a high-performing, leading socially responsible community bank in New England and beyond. All of Berkshire's collective ESG efforts are positively contributing to our commercial performance, creating capacity to invest more in our business, customers, employees, communities, and shareholders." Since its first deposit of $25 more than 175 years ago, Berkshire has provided support, guidance, and financial solutions to help its customers and communities navigate successfully through all economic environments. Berkshire collaborates with local government, nonprofit, private sector, and individual stakeholders to harness its financial resources, expertise and operations to help unlock the potential of communities across its footprint. Berkshire's accomplishments over the last year, which are highlighted in the report, include: Berkshire April 21, 2023 Berkshire Berkshire's full ESG report is available online at berkshirebank.com/esg2022. ABOUT BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP Headquartered in Boston, Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE:BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire Bank. Founded in 1846, the Bank's vision is to be a high-performing leading socially responsible community bank. It empowers the financial potential of its stakeholders by making banking available where, when, and how it's needed through an uncompromising focus on exceptional customer service, digital banking, and positive community impact. Providing a wide range of financial solutions through its consumer banking, commercial banking and wealth management divisions, the Bank has approximately $12.3 billion in assets and a community-based footprint of 100 financial centers in Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Named one of America's Most Trusted Companies by Newsweek and America's Best Midsize Employers by Forbes, Berkshire is also listed in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality. To learn more, follow us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and LinkedIn . Investor Contact Kevin Conn Investor Relations 617.641.9206 [email protected] Media Contact: Alicia Jacobs Corporate Communications 413.242.6540 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/berkshire-releases-environmental-social--governance-esg-report-301808418.html SOURCE Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. [April 26, 2023] Alongside SLSA 1.0 Stable Release & EO 14028 Requirements, ActiveState Deploys Signed Attestations and SBOMs for Complete Provenance ActiveState enables organizations to achieve Level 3 SLSA compliance through a hardened build service and automatically generated Provenance VANCOUVER, BC, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, ActiveState announced the availability of the security industry's most complete provenance solution for open source languages. ActiveState already provides secure open source dependencies for organizations that need to comply with software supply chain security requirements, such as those laid out in President Biden's Executive Order 14028 (EO 14028). Those security-conscious organizations will now also benefit from ActiveState's software attestations, Software Bill Of Materials (SBOMs) and hardened build service features that also deliver the highest level of Supply chain Levels for Software Artifacts (SLSA) Level 3 compliance out of the box. ActiveState released these capabilities to support Developers, DevSecOps and Application Security teams as pressure continues to mount around the implementation of supply chain security and proactive protection of public and private code repositories. ActiveState provides the security industry's most complete provenance solution for open source languages like Python. Click to tweet: The ActiveState Platform provides SLSA Level 3 capabilities so security-conscious organizations using open source packages can comply with software supply chain requirements like EO 14028 https://www.activestate.com/get-slsa #secureyoursoftwaresupplychain #slsa #3SC #opensource The SLSA 1.0 framework's three Build Levels provide security implementation teams with vendor-agnostic guidelines on how to securely import third-party code and create secure builds in order to realize supply chain security. Key to this process is the introduction of Provenance Attestations, which provide organizations with the ability to gauge the risk of the third-party packages, libraries and code they import. Provenance must allow for component-level auditing back to source, which organizations can then use to prevent vulnerable or insecure packages from infiltrating critical infrastructure. "One universal truth in software development; you can't optimize what you can't measure," said Scott Robertson, CTO of ActiveState. "This is why SLSA is exciting, since it provides the data in a machine-readable form that we need to validate the chain of custody from the code authors to the binaries we deploy in production systems. By independently verifying who built the packages we import and how they were built, we can now reason about the provenance of what we deploy in our most sensitive operating environments. This is a foundational step for all of us with a vested interest in secure supply chains and building code securely; Engineers, DevOps teams, Compliance and AppSec and the C-Suite. We, as a development community, have learned that there are consequences to trusting code without verifying its origins and contributors, which is what we built the ActiveState Platform to do." "We have prioritized the capabilities that regulated industries need in order to quickly and easily go from zero observability to proactive security," said Loreli Cadapan, who was recently promoted to Chief Product Officer at ActiveState. "We will continue to build out our package ecosystem and compliance-oriented features to support developers that want to use open source freely and security teams that want to let their devs code fearlessly." ActiveState has made automatically generated, machine-readable provenance simple and accessible via the ActiveState Platform. Interested participants can join a free Early Access Program for our Software Attestations available until May 15, 2023. ActiveState customers also benefit from a catalog of hundreds of thousands of trusted and verified packages for Python, Perl, Ruby and Tcl, including versions of these languages that are no longer supported by the community, like Python 2.7. Learn more about how to secure your software supply chain for your entire development organization and get up to date with security best practices at https://www.activestate.com/get-slsa/ . ActiveState is the de-facto standard for millions of developers around the world who have been using our commercially-backed, secure open source solutions for over 20 years. Automatically build secure open source language runtime environments (such as Python, Perl, Ruby and more) from source code for Windows, Linux or Macall without requiring language or operating system expertise. Visit www.activestate.com to learn more about how to secure your software supply chain. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alongside-slsa-1-0-stable-release--eo-14028-requirements-activestate-deploys-signed-attestations-and-sboms-for-complete-provenance-301808014.html SOURCE ActiveState [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Windsor Early Years Professionals Ratify Deal as Further Cracks in Ontario's Early Childhood Workforce Emerge CUPE 543.4 members - 103 early years professionals with ABC Day Nursery of Windsor - have ratified a new three-year agreement. The ratification vote took place on April 13, with members voting 71 per cent in favour of the deal. While this deal ensures families will have uninterrupted quality child care provided by highly trained staff, it played out amidst widening cracks in the province's early childhood workforce. At the heart of this round of contract negotiations were challenges around recruiting and retaining a qualified and talented workforce at ABC Day Nursery's five locations. Early childhood educators (ECEs) have been leaving the workplace for better wages and working conditions in local school boards while the average ECE lasts just three years in the sector. "These challenges are not unique to this employer. This was one of many difficult rounds of negotiations in this sector and it stes from the Ford government's blind insistence that they can build a province-wide child care system on the backs of workers," explained Fred Hahn, CUPE Ontario President. "We're seeing underpaid and burnt-out workers leave job, mass shortages of trained early childhood educators, and centres shutter because of workforce challenges. Clearly their plan is not working." The funding agreement between the Federal and Provincial government that is underpinning the push towards $10-a-day care called for the Ministry of Education to release a "comprehensive recruitment and retention plan" by the fall of 2022. That plan has yet to be released. The Ministry did, however, hold consultations with owners and operators of both not-for-profit and for-profit child care centres. "We've seen the documents, that's part of the tragedy here. This government gathered people together to ask what challenges they face and the answer was nearly unanimous: attracting and recruiting staff," said Christina Gilligan, Associate Coordinator with CUPE. Solutions include a salary scale equal to what early childhood educators earn in the school board system, a wage grid that incentivizes workers to stay in the sector, real career progression, and improved working conditions. "This government ignored the feedback, turned a blind eye to workers, and has done nothing to address the crisis now unfolding." lf/cope491 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005751/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Decentralized exchange Vertex Protocol launches high speed spot and derivatives trading venue on Arbitrum SINGAPORE, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vertex Protocol (Vertex), a decentralized exchange for digital asset spot and derivatives trading, announced earlier today that it has launched to the public, enabling market participants of all types and sizes to trade on an Arbitrum-based DEX. Vertex's unique offering brings together multiple market structures into one. The combination of a performant off-chain orderbook layered on top of an on-chain automated market maker (AMM) on a decentralized, self-custodial exchange delivers the benefits of a centralized exchange (CEX) without the drawbacks. All users can take advantage of Vertex's integrated money market, borrowing and lending wBTC and ETH with spot margin that enables efficient capital deployment across cross-margined accounts. "When setting out to build Vertex, we put together a team of traders and other financial industry veterans to create a robust, best-in-class venue," said Vertex Protocol co-founder Darius Tabatabai. "Vertex is the realization of more than a year's worth of market research and development work, and we couldn't be more excited to bring it to life at such an important time in the growth cycle of the digital asset industry." An evolving marketplace This launch comes as CEXs face increasing scrutiny from users that have become wary of centralized custody, and not long after research found that non-custodial wallet users grew significantly last year, and are expected to continue growing through the rest of the decade to reach nearly $50 billion in total assets by 2030. As users increasingly use decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, a market expected to grow more than 40 percent each year through the end of the decade to reach more than $230 billion in revenue by 2030, Vertex hopes to play an increasingly important role in the financial system of the future. "Individuals and businesses are increasingly looking at DeFi as an alternative to the flawed centralized exchange model," Tabatabai added. " We believe Vertex offers a viable alternative with similar liquidity and speed, along with better capital efficiencies than incumbent options currently available." Setting a new bar Arbitrum, a Layer 2 solution for the Ethereum network, is currently the fastest growing blockchain in Total Value Locked (TVL). This launch comes at a time when adoption has hit an all-time high, with Arbitrum recently surpassing Ethereum in terms of daily transaction volumes . "Vertex has quickly established itself as a leader in the DeFi landscape," said AJ Warner, chief strategy officer at Offchain Labs. "Bringing the exchange onto Arbitrum allows Vertex access to our world-class technology and will hopefully see the exchange scale in size very quickly. We're excited for our community to explore their platform and look forward to supporting Vertex as they scale." Building Vertex on Arbitrum and using an off-chain sequencer for the order book has enabled the venue to achieve between 10,000 - 15,000 transactions per second at an order matching latency of 10-30 milliseconds, a speed that rivals leading centralized venues and surpasses any currently available DEX. Vertex counts Jane Street, Dexterity Capital, Hudson River Trading, GSR, Collab+Currency, JST Capital, Big Brain and Lunatic Capital among its early backers, and is primed to fast become a leader in the DeFi category through the rest of this year and beyond. About Vertex Protocol Vertex Protocol was established by a team of traders and engineers with a track record of business building in both TradFi and DeFi markets. They saw the latent market need for users to interact with DeFi in a more flexible way and decided to leverage the growing ecosystem on the Arbirtrum blockchain to bring a trading protocol to market. Today, they are excited to be at the forefront of smart contract and market innovation for Arbitrum and to help partner with some of the most exciting names in crypto to build a DeFi protocol that works for all users. To learn more about Vertex Protocol, please visit www.vertexprotocol.com and/or go to the following: Discord community: https://discord.gg/xRdut3NyG3 Twitter: https://twitter.com/vertex_protocol Public docs: https://vertex-protocol.gitbook.io/vertex-protocol/getting-started/vertex-overview Media contact Ryan Gorman Principal, Gorman Strategies [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/decentralized-exchange-vertex-protocol-launches-high-speed-spot-and-derivatives-trading-venue-on-arbitrum-301808533.html SOURCE Vertex Protocol [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Troutman Pepper Continues to Grow Market-Leading Financial Services Team with Addition of Joseph Reilly in DC Reilly is 3rd Partner to Join the National Practice This Year WASHINGTON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Joseph "Joe" Reilly, an experienced attorney who advises financial services companies in a wide variety of regulatory, enforcement, and compliance matters, has joined Troutman Pepper's nationally recognized Consumer Financial Services Practice Group as a partner. He most recently practiced at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. Based in Washington, D.C., Reilly has over two decades of experience representing financial institutions from fintech start-ups and neobanks to lenders and mortgage servicers in a wide variety of regulatory, enforcement, and litigation matters. He has extensive experience in enforcement actions, informal investigations, and examinations by the CFPB, OCC, Federal Reserve, FDIC, SEC, numerous state agencies, and the mortgage government-sponsored enterprises such as Fannie Mae. Reilly's compliance counseling covers the entire panoply of consumer and business lending laws and rules under TILA/Reg. Z, ECOA/Reg. B, RESPA/Reg. X, UDAAP, EFTA/Reg. E, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, debt-collection laws, GLBA privacy provisions, and state licensing regimes, among others. For banks and bank-affiliated clients, he also advises on bank powers, federal preemption, interstate expansion, and a range of Bank Holding Company Act matters, including rules on inter-affiliate transactions, tying, and director qualifications. "We are delighted to welcome Joe a highly sought-after financial services and bank regulatory compliance ttorney to Troutman Pepper," said John West, chair of the firm's Business Litigation department. "His expertise, including particular knowledge of mortgage compliance issues, will greatly benefit our mortgage, fintech, and payments company clients across the firm." "Joe is a well-known financial services authority both in D.C. and nationally who not only brings mortgage regulatory expertise but state licensing capabilities to the firm," said Henry Liu, managing partner of Troutman Pepper's Washington, D.C. office. Reilly is the third partner to join the firm's highly regarded Consumer Financial Services team in the last two months. Partners Jessamyn Vedro and Andrew Mann joined in March and April, respectively. Last year, Troutman Pepper attracted an industry-leading, seven-partner team to the practice. The team helps clients resolve litigation, provides regulatory guidance, and assists with investigations and actions initiated by federal and state government agencies. "Troutman Pepper has a market-leading financial service team that is known for its dedication to client service," Reilly said. "I look forward to partnering with my colleagues across the firm to better serve our clients' needs." Reilly earned his JD from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he served on the Virginia Law Review, and his bachelor's degree from Stanford University. After law school, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Dennis Jacobs, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He is a member of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers. About Troutman Pepper Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm's litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients' most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/troutman-pepper-continues-to-grow-market-leading-financial-services-team-with-addition-of-joseph-reilly-in-dc-301808562.html SOURCE Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Foundry VP of Product Strategy Zoe Koulouris Named 2023 Tech Woman of the Year Award Finalist Award recognizes women in STEM for their contributions to Rochester's tech community. ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Foundry Digital LLC ("Foundry"), a digital asset mining and staking company focused on empowering a decentralized infrastructure, announced that TechRochester Association selected Foundry's VP of Product Strategy, Zoe Koulouris, as a Tech Woman of the Year Award finalist. The award recognizes contributions to the technology profession, the support of other women in the field, and stewardship in the community. Providing strategic direction to Foundry's product teams, Koulouris' insights and leadership help shape the roles and career paths of product managers and reinforce the success of Foundry's product portfolio. Foundry's portfolio includes a suite of mining services designed to see institutions through every phase of the mining cycle and best-in-class staking infrastructure with support for leading protocols. Before joining Foundry, Koulouris co-founded women-owned Web3 software development and consulting company Upstate Interactive. Driven by her passion for inspiring women in technology, she also co-founded Women in Coding to provide coding workshops and resources in the Syracuse community and is an active member of Meta Gamma Delta a DAO supporting women-led projects. Koulouris holds a B.S. in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises from Syracuse University and completed web development coursework at the New York Code + Design Academy and StartFast Code. Koulouris said, "I am honored to be nominated among so many talented women. Through representation, I hope to inspire and open the door for other women looking to have fulfilling careers in tech and have support to navigate the field's challenges." Previous Emerging Tech Woman of the Year nominee Rachael Simmonds stated, "I was happy to nominate Zoe for Tech Women of the Year. She's an extraordinary example of what tech careers can grow into. As a woman of color just beginning my career as a software engineer, I hope to follow in her footsteps to provide more representation in the tech industry and encourage others to pursue careers in this field." About Foundry Digital LLC A subsidiary of DCG, Foundry Digital LLC was created to meet the institutional demand for better capital access, efficiency, and transparency in the digital asset mining and staking industry. Headquartered in Rochester, NY, Foundry uses its institutional expertise, capital, industry relationships, and market intelligence to empower participants within the crypto ecosystem by providing the tools they need to build tomorrow's decentralized infrastructure. For more information, please visit foundrydigital.com. please visit foundrydigital.com. About Tech Rochester TechRochester is an organization comprised of professionals and companies that are working together to strengthen the Greater Rochester Area's technology community. We accomplish this through the development and sponsorship of relevant events and stimulating programs focused on skill building and the cultivation of individual and business relationships. For more information, visit www.techrochester.org. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/foundry-vp-of-product-strategy-zoe-koulouris-named-2023-tech-woman-of-the-year-award-finalist-301808594.html SOURCE Foundry Digital LLC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Biden Open to Debt-Limit Meeting With McCarthy If Default Is Ruled Out (Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden said hed be glad to sit down with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to discuss raising the US debt ceiling if McCarthy took default off the table. Most Read from Bloomberg Im happy to meet with McCarthy, but not on whether or not the debt limit gets extended, Biden said Wednesday during a press conference with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the White House. Thats not negotiable. Biden and McCarthy are locked in a standoff over raising the US borrowing cap, fueling concerns about the possibility of a first-ever US default later this year. The speaker is pressing fellow Republicans to get behind a bill that raises the ceiling while slashing government spending a link that Democrats have rejected. McCarthy, who is aiming for a floor vote on his proposal as soon as Wednesday, tweaked his bill overnight, bowing to the demands of a small number of Republican lawmakers, and agreed to restore a few tax breaks for biofuels and investments. That move came just hours after McCarthy declared to reporters he was not entertaining any changes to the measure, which would raise the US debt limit by $1.5 trillion. McCarthy told reporters Wednesday hes now confident the bill would pass later in the day. The White House has been cagey about whether Biden will agree to a meeting with McCarthy since the Republican speaker unveiled his proposal. Biden has said he wouldnt meet with McCarthy before he released a budget, but the White House has since signaled that he is holding out for Republicans to agree to an unconditional debt-ceiling increase. The president on Wednesday pointed out that Republicans like to quote former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump and that both men supported raising the debt ceiling. Story continues I noticed they quote Reagan all the time and they quote Trump. Both of which said, Im paraphrasing, it would be an absolute crime to not extend the debt limit, Biden said. The Treasury is due to soon release a new estimate of when they think the department thinks it will be on the precipice of breaching the debt ceiling and defaulting on federal payments. Analysts expect that date to be roughly around late July, but have warned that sluggish tax-return revenues could advance the deadline to early June. --With assistance from Justin Sink and Akayla Gardner. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. [April 26, 2023] Government of Canada announces protection measures for Southern Resident killer whales OTTAWA, ON, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Southern Resident killer whales are icons of Canada's Pacific coast, and culturally significant to Indigenous Peoples and coastal communities in British Columbia. The Government of Canada continues to take strong action to protect and restore their population. For the fifth consecutive year, Canada is implementing measures to protect these whales. Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Joyce Murray, and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, announced measures to protect Southern Resident killer whales on the west coast. The 2023 measures include: Two mandatory Speed Restricted Zones near Swiftsure Bank, in which all vessels will be restricted to a maximum speed of 10 knots, effective June 1 to November 30, 2023 . This measure was first co-developed with Pacheedaht First Nation and incorporates the latest scientific advice about habitat use. . This measure was first co-developed with Pacheedaht First Nation and incorporates the latest scientific advice about habitat use. The requirement for vessels to stay at least 400 m away from all killer whales in Southern British Columbia coastal waters between Campbell River and Ucluelet , including Barkley and Howe Sound. This is now in effect until May 31, 2024 . If killer whales approach any vessel, boaters should put their engine in neutral and wait for the animals to pass. away from all killer whales in coastal waters between and , including Barkley and Howe Sound. This is now in effect until . If killer whales approach any vessel, boaters should put their engine in neutral and wait for the animals to pass. An agreement with local whale watching and ecotourism industry partners to abstain from offering or promoting tours viewing Southern Resident killer whales. Two interim sanctuary zones off Pender Island and Saturna Island from June 1 to November 30, 2023 . No vessel traffic will be permitted in these areas during this period, subject to certain exceptions for emergency situations and Indigenous vessels. and from . No vessel traffic will be permitted in these areas during this period, subject to certain exceptions for emergency situations and Indigenous vessels. For the 2023 season, Transport Canada is reinstating the avoidance distance requirements. Fishery closures for commercial and recreational salmon fisheries for the Southern Gulf Islands , the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Mouth of the Fraser River areas in 2023. The closures will be expanded around Swiftsure Bank this year to support further protection for the whales. These actions will help protect the whales' access to salmon and minimize disturbance in their key foraging areas. Adjustments to the fishing closures are based on the best available information regarding whale presence, their foraging areas and impacts of vessel disturbance. , the Strait of and the Mouth of the Fraser River areas in 2023. The closures will be expanded around Swiftsure Bank this year to support further protection for the whales. These actions will help protect the whales' access to salmon and minimize disturbance in their key foraging areas. Adjustments to the fishing closures are based on the best available information regarding whale presence, their foraging areas and impacts of vessel disturbance. New for 2023, the Southern Gulf Islands closure protocol for commercial and recreational salmon fisheries will be in effect from the first confirmed presence of Southern Resident killer whales in the area and extend to November 30, 2023 . This effort recognizes that Southern Resident killer whales are being reported in the Salish Sea in greater numbers later into the fall. closure protocol for commercial and recreational salmon fisheries will be in effect from the first confirmed presence of Southern Resident killer whales in the area and extend to . This effort recognizes that Southern Resident killer whales are being reported in the Salish Sea in greater numbers later into the fall. Continuing to help reduce contaminants in the environment affecting whales and their prey. Long-term actions focus on enhancing regulatory controls, monitoring and research, sharing information and data, and expanding outreach and education. Recent progress includes updates to the online Pollutants Affecting Whales and their Prey Inventory Tool, proposed amendments to the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012 and development of environmental quality guidelines. and development of environmental quality guidelines. The Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program will coordinate voluntary underwater noise reduction initiatives encouraging ship operators to slow down or stay distanced while traveling through key areas of Southern Resident killer whale critical habitat in Haro Strait , Boundary Pass, Swiftsure Bank, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca . In 2022, these initiatives reduced underwater sound intensity by approximately 50% in key foraging areas for Southern Resident killer whales. , Boundary Pass, Swiftsure Bank, and the Strait of . In 2022, these initiatives reduced underwater sound intensity by approximately 50% in key foraging areas for Southern Resident killer whales. The Government of Canada has been conducting further analysis on advancing protections for killer whales in British Columbia in the context of feedback received and in relation to the Marine Mammal Regulations. In the coming year, DFO will be launching a consultation process to consider adjustments to approach distances for killer whales on the Pacific coast under the Marine Mammal Regulations of the Fisheries Act. Any potential changes to the Marine Mammal Regulations will be based on partner and stakeholder feedback to date, as part of the consultation process to come as well as scientific advice. The effective protection and recovery of the Southern Resident killer whale requires long-term, collective commitment from the Government of Canada and other partners. The federal government will continue to work with partners, stakeholders, and marine and tourism industry to further our efforts to help protect Southern Resident killer whales and help their poplation recover. Quotes "It is imperative that we continue our efforts to ensure a quieter, safer environment for this iconic, vulnerable species. That's why, for the fifth straight year, we are putting in place protective measures to help protect Southern Resident killer whales. Our Government continues to take concrete action to help protect our vulnerable and endangered marine mammal species." The Honourable Omar Alghabra Minister of Transport "The oceans are home to amazing wildlife, like Southern Resident killer whales, which are not only a symbol of the Pacific coast of Canada but also have cultural significance for coastal communities and Indigenous Peoples. The measures we are implementing in 2023 demonstrate Canada's commitment to protect these remarkable marine mammals and preserve their cultural and ecological significance." The Honourable Joyce Murray Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard "We continue our work to identify and evaluate sources of contaminants in the environment affecting whales directly or through their prey. The recent updates to our Pollutants Affecting Whales and their Prey Inventory Tool will help us model impacts of additional mitigation measures and controls. These are necessary in our long-term and sustained effort to protect the iconic and culturally significant Southern Resident killer whale." The Honourable Steven Guilbeault Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada Quick Facts The ECHO Program is a world-leading, first-of-its-kind program led by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to better understand and reduce the cumulative effects of commercial shipping on at-risk whales, with a particular focus on reducing underwater noise from ships one of the key threats to at-risk whales identified by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Since 2014, the program has brought together advisors from across the marine transportation industry, government, Indigenous communities, and environmental groups to develop and implement measures to protect at-risk whales. In 2019, the Government of Canada signed a five-year Species at Risk Act Conservation Agreement with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and industry partners, which formalizes the role of the ECHO Program and partners in developing and implementing voluntary threat reduction measures to support the endangered Southern Resident killer whales. signed a five-year with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and industry partners, which formalizes the role of the ECHO Program and partners in developing and implementing voluntary threat reduction measures to support the endangered Southern Resident killer whales. Canada's Oceans Protection Plan, Whales Initiative, and an additional federal investment of $61.5 million are supporting the survival and recovery of Southern Resident killer whales, North Atlantic right whales, and St. Lawrence Estuary belugas by implementing protection measures, increasing research, and monitoring activities and taking action to address key threats. Related Products Associated Links Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news or stay connected through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities. SOURCE Transport Canada [April 26, 2023] Rising Star Mentorship Program Returns to Bring Tech Careers into Focus for Black Canadian Youth Athlete Tech Group announced today the return of its acclaimed technology mentorship program for Black Canadian youth, Rising Star. The expanded Rising Star program is designed to empower Black students across Canada to learn the technological skills that can help them prepare for diverse careers in the tech sector including data science, cloud computing and video game design. In its inaugural year, Rising Star graduated all 25 of its students with each of them becoming more confident in tech situations. After completion, more than 80% of students are now interested in internship opportunities in technology, and 89% of the graduating class stated Rising Star had met their expectations. In addition, select students were hired by RBC via a paid internship. Students gained access to engaging events, such as TFC and Toronto Raptors games, each graduate received $500 in scholarship funds, and $2,000 in scholarship funds were awarded to presentation winners. Another highlight from the Rising Star program was one group project evolved into a startup that was accepted into the DMZ bootcamp program. "We need to have more Black youth engaged and excited about Canada's bustling technology sector," said Randy Osei, Founder and CEO, Athlete Tech Group. "Black Canadians continue to be grossly underrepresented in the tech industry. Rising Star is helping to open doors and create a sustainable bridge between Black Canadians and 'Silicon Valley of the North' as we look to break barriers to employment and drive social participation." Rising Star 2023 Twenty-five students from across Canada will be selected for thesix-month mentorship program with an opportunity to win up to $25,000 in academic scholarships to a Canadian post-secondary institution. As part of the Rising Star program, students will explore different aspects of the technology sector using the Training Ground mobile app and through virtual workshops focused on key skills including ideation, market research, data science, UI/UX, code programming and digital marketing. Students will apply what they've learned in tailored group projects addressing community based issues such as mental health, financial education and diversity. The group projects will be presented at the end of the program to a panel of business leaders. Rising Star is run in partnership by the Athlete Tech Group, BlackMINT and RBC Future Launch. Selected students will have direct access to an all-star network of industry mentors. "For far too long, Black kids have been pushed away from pursuing careers in the tech sector. Technology can improve Black futures and the Rising Star program will give Black kids access to opportunities that may have previously seemed beyond their reach," said Bernie Uche, Co-founder, BlackMINT. "We're grateful for the support of Athlete Tech Group and RBC Future Launch as we embark on this exciting endeavor." The Rising Star program follows Athlete Tech Group's sold-out Tech Summit Black where attendees experienced four panel discussions, three workshops, and networking opportunities to learn from prominent business leaders and athlete entrepreneurs. Students can apply now for the Rising Star program until May 10, 2023, at www.athletetechgroup.com/rising-star Athlete Tech Group Athlete Tech Group is a Black owned and minority-led business. ATG utilizes education, media and events to build well-rounded athletes. A bi-product of this success is creating wealth for reinvestment back into local communities, skills programs, and even new career opportunities for athletes themselves. About BlackMINT BlackMINT is a Canadian non-profit organization focused on getting more Black youth involved in the technology sector. Our mission is to mentor Black youth, provide them with practical skills, career advice, and the help that they need to become confident, career-focused and aspire to be leaders in technology. About RBC Future Launch RBC Future Launch is RBC's commitment to empowering Canadian youth for the jobs of tomorrow. RBC is dedicating $500 million to help young people access meaningful employment through practical work experience, skills development, networking and access to mental well-being supports and services View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005821/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] IP Pathways Launches New Location in Columbus, OH and Celebrates Acquisition of Sophisticated Systems Inc IP Pathways, a leading provider of innovative technology solutions for businesses, is proud to announce the launch of its new location in Columbus, OH. This comes after the company's acquisition of Sophisticated Systems Inc (SSI), a respected technology solutions provider in the area, earlier this year. To celebrate this exciting milestone, IP Pathways is hosting an evening of celebration on May 10th at North Bank Park Pavilion. The event will honor Dwight Smith, CEO of SSI, for his 30+ years of accomplishments and community efforts within Columbs, including his charity work. Attendees will also hear from Zach Evans, Market Director of IP Pathways, and Joe Shields, CEO of IP Pathways, on the future outlook and continuing investment in Columbus, OH. "We are thrilled to introduce IP Pathways to the Columbus community and to celebrate the acquisition of Sophisticated Systems Inc," said Joe Shields, CEO of IP Pathways. "Our goal is to provide innovative solutions that help businesses thrive, and we are excited to bring our expertise to the Columbus area." The event will provide attendees with the opportunity to network with industry professionals, meet the IP Pathways team, and learn more about the innovative solutions the company offers. Guests can expect an evening filled with great food, drinks, and engaging conversations. "We are excited to welcome IP Pathways to the Columbus community," said Dwight Smith, CEO of SSI. "I am honored to be recognized for my contributions to the community and look forward to continuing my work with my wife in the area. We are confident that IP Pathways will continue to provide exceptional service to our clients and the Columbus community." Please RSVP here for this event and bring any guests you wish to join. We look forward to celebrating this exciting moment with you. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005921/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Syxsense Partners with EVOTEK to Offer Innovative Endpoint Security and Management Solutions TMCnet News Syxsense, a provider of Unified Security and Endpoint Management (USEM) solutions, has announced its partnership with EVOTEK, a premier enabler of secure digital business. In the partnership, EVOTEK will offer all Syxsense solutions, including zero trust and mobile device management (MDM) modules, and elevate Syxsense's value while assisting customers on their journey to leverage innovative unified security and endpoint management solutions. Syxsense offers a portfolio of solutions that includes Syxsense Manage, Syxsense Secure and Syxsense Enterprise. The company has been in the endpoint security business for many years and has built a reputation for providing innovative solutions that are easy to use, scalable and effective. With its focus on security, Syxsense is trusted among many organizations in the private and public sectors. On the other hand, EVOTEK is a premier enabler of secure digital business, providing customers with solutions that enable them to securely transform their businesses. The company provides customers with solutions that are tailored to their specific needs. EVOTEK has a team of experts who work closely with customers to help them navigate the changing technology landscape and find the solutions that are right for their business. Syxsense and EVOTEK are partnering to help customers streamline endpoint management and security through the power of the Syxsense portfolio of solutions. The partnership will allow EVOTEK to offer all Syxsense solutions to its customers. Syxsense will provide EVOTEK with training, sales support, deal registration programs and marketing development funds. "Our team is heavily focused on expanding our channel program and finding solution partners that share the same passion for helping customers overcome some of today's most complex IT management and security challenges," said Jose Rangel, vice president of global channels at Syxsense. "Over the last two quarters we've seen significant channel success and partnering with EVOTEK will help us continue that trend By offering a unified solution for endpoint security and management, the partnership will reduce silos and facilitate better cross-team alignment, enabling organizations to secure and manage all endpoints more effectively. As Cesar Enciso, CEO and founder of EVOTEK commented, "This will help organizations optimize costs, reduce resource burdens, and most importantly, be more secure." Edited by Greg Tavarez [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] X-Bow Systems Announces Selection for $60 million STRATFI Award Funding will expand production of solid rocket motors ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- X-Bow Systems Inc (X-Bow) announced today that the innovation engine for the Department of the Air Force, AFWERX, has selected the company for a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) award. The award secures up to $60 million between government funding, private investment, and matching Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funds. The funding will extend X-Bow's previous and existing work with the U.S. Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) at Edwards Air Force Base. The work will focus on rapidly produced, low-cost solid rocket motors (SRMs) using X-Bow's proprietary advanced manufacturing technology and culminate in a flight test series. "We are thrilled to be selected and funded for this STRATFI award. We further see the award as a strong signal from our U.S. Government partners for the need of X-Bow's solid rocket technology and SRM production capabilities in both the DoD and commercial industry," says X-Bow Systems' Chief Revenue Officer, Maureen Gannon. X-Bow is a new, non-traditional, small business producer and supplir of SRMs, suborbital and orbital launch services and defense technologies. It further leads the market with patent-pending innovations of Additively Manufactured Solid Propellants (AMSP) for solid rocket motors. Recent reports have noted a consolidation in the solid rocket motor industry from six to just two domestic manufacturers. This has created significant cost and lead time increases, along with an inability to deliver SRMs in the quantities needed to support industry plans and national defense needs. X-Bow's market entry and STRATFI selection is well timed to fill this domestic manufacturing and national security need. ABOUT X-BOW SYSTEMS X-Bow Systems is disrupting the aerospace industry with innovative and cost-effective additively manufactured energetics for the solid rocket motor and launch vehicle market. X-Bow is also designing and building a suite of modular solid rocket motors and small launch vehicles for both orbital and suborbital launch services. X-Bow is led by CEO Jason Hundley, Chairman Mark Kaufman, CTO Max Vozoff, CRO Maureen Gannon, General Counsel John Leary and a growing team of seasoned industry veterans and new space entrepreneurs. Headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, X-Bow has additional presence in California, Alabama, Colorado, Texas, and Washington, DC. X-Bow is actively recruiting talented and determined individuals to join its team. For more information visit www.xbowsystems.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/x-bow-systems-announces-selection-for-60-million-stratfi-award-301808692.html SOURCE X-Bow Systems [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] New Poll Finds Strong Support for Radiation Therapy in War Against Cancer Majority of Americans See Cancer as Top Government Priority, Study Finds 78% of Americans and nearly all adults who have been diagnosed with cancer (93%) say radiation therapy is safe and effective at treating cancer WASHINGTON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, AdvaMed, the MedTech Association, released the findings of a new national poll on radiation therapy and cancer treatment revealing broad support for greater federal investment in the proven cancer treatment of radiation therapy, to bring down costs and expand access for patients. "The medtech industry is at the forefront of innovation in cancer treatment, developing the next generation of technology that is improving health outcomes for patients. As we look to the future, expanding access to these devices and tests is paramount," said Scott Whitaker, AdvaMed President and CEO. "This poll makes it clear that there is broad, bipartisan support among voters for the government to make greater investments in radiation therapy that will encourage innovation, bring down costs, and ensure all patients even in rural communities have better access to this life-saving treatment. In addition to President Biden's Cancer Moonshot initiative, there are opportunities for CMS to ensure radiation therapy and other essential cancer treatment options are avaiable to patients. The medtech industry stands ready to work with the Administration and Congress to make this a reality for the patients we serve." "As a cancer treatment option, radiation therapy has become increasingly personalized, precise, and effective. As our industry continues to innovate and advance radiotherapy technology, we are constantly identifying new opportunities to expand access to high-quality cancer care for patients and impact millions of lives each year," said Chris Toth, CEO of Varian, a Siemens Healthineers Company, and Chair of AdvaMed's Radiation Therapy Sector. "AdvaMed looks forward to continuing to work with industry peers and collaborators, care providers, and lawmakers to close the gap in cancer care and remove barriers to access for patients." The poll, conducted last month by Morning Consult, surveyed 2,200 adults with a margin of error of 2%. Key findings include: Four-in-five Americans (78%) and nearly all adults who have been diagnosed with cancer (93%) say radiation therapy is safe and effective at treating cancer; More than half of respondents note that the distance to the nearest RT facility, coupled with family and work responsibilities, are top barriers to accessing RT treatments; Three-in-four (75%) Americans say it should be a priority for the government to invest in proven cancer treatments; More than half of adults (51%) say investment in cancer treatments should be a top priority ; ; Support for greater federal investment is high across political party affiliation, with strong support coming from Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike. AdvaMed, the largest trade association representing medical technology companies, including all major radiation therapy manufacturers, has encouraged the Biden Administration to work with the industry as part of the Cancer Moonshot. AdvaMed also supports the efforts of stakeholders, including the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the Association of Freestanding Radiation Oncology Centers (AFROC) to stabilize Physician Fee Schedule payments and make CMS' PFS methodology more transparent. Greater stability is critical to ensure this life-saving care is available and patients can be treated near their homes, especially for RT and other high-supply specialties that require substantial investment in resource intensive equipment and highly trained non-physician personnel, such as physicists, dosimetrists, and radiation technologists. CONTACT Cody Uhing 202-434-7233 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-poll-finds-strong-support-for-radiation-therapy-in-war-against-cancer-301808699.html SOURCE AdvaMed [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] D2L Releases Inaugural Environmental, Social, Governance Report Report highlights D2L's commitment and approach to social impact and sustainability TORONTO, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - D2L Inc. (TSX: DTOL) ("D2L" or the "Company"), a global learning technology company, has released its inaugural environmental, social, governance (ESG) Report, highlighting the company's approach to social impact and sustainability, and its commitment to building products that help transform the way the world learns. D2L was founded with a mission to transform the way the world learns by making learning more accessible, engaging, and inspiring. This mission extends to D2L's approach to sustainability. By sharing its inaugural ESG Report, D2L is taking the first step in formalizing its sustainability journey to include continued data collection, collaboration with supply chain actors and increasing transparency of its activities through globally standardized reporting measures. D2L will continue to demonstrate responsible corporate citizenship by driving positive social impact, practicing environmental stewardship, and acting with integrity by maintaining strong governance practices throughout its activities. "The events of the past few years have also shown us that now, more than ever, the role of education and upskilling is the foundation for human progress, especially as we face a future impacted by digital disruption, climate change, and continued global social unrest," says John Baker, CEO of D2L. "Technology-enabled learning has a critical role to play in supporting progress towards the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. D2L is committed to continuing our work in sustainability to support not only users benefitting from our platforms, but our clients and partners as a responsible supply chain actor, as well." Four ESG pillars provide a framework for D2L to make a positive impact in a rapidly changing world. They are: Transforming the way the world learns: Building technology that makes an impact. Together with customers, D2L is increasing access to quality education and delivering learning experiences that help meet th needs of learners regardless of age, ability, or location. Building technology that makes an impact. Together with customers, D2L is increasing access to quality education and delivering learning experiences that help meet th needs of learners regardless of age, ability, or location. Operating with integrity: Maintaining world-class data and security practices that protect and respect its customers' and users' information and maintain industry-leading service reliability. Maintaining world-class data and security practices that protect and respect its customers' and users' information and maintain industry-leading service reliability. Empowering its people: Providing exceptional employee benefits, care, and personalized professional development as D2L creates a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Providing exceptional employee benefits, care, and personalized professional development as D2L creates a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Protecting the environment: Measuring, addressing, and taking accountability for its environmental impact beginning with analyzing available data to calculate carbon emissions resulting from its operations and identifying areas for improvement going forward. Forward-Looking Information Statements included herein contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "outlook", "target", "forecasts", "projection", "potential", "prospects", "strategy", "intends", "anticipates", "seek", "believes", "opportunity", "guidance", "aim", "goal" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain future conditions, actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might", "will", "can", or negative versions thereof, "be taken", "occur", "continue" or "be achieved", and other similar expressions. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts, but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances based certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate, including those referenced herein or in the Company's management discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the year ended January 31, 2023, or in the Company's most recently filed Annual Information Form. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking information were reasonable when made, they are inherently uncertain and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and may prove to be incorrect. The Company cautions investors that forward-looking information is not a guarantee of the future and that actual results may differ materially. Whether actual results, performance or achievements will conform to the Company's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to the risks identified herein or at "Summary of Factors Affecting Our Performance" of the Company's MD&A for the year ended January 31, 2023, or in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's most recently filed Annual Information Form. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results might vary materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Any forward-looking information herein speaks only as of the date of such statement, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of those statements to reflect future events or developments, except as required by applicable securities laws. About D2L Inc. (TSX: DTOL) D2L is transforming the way the world learnshelping learners of all ages achieve more than they dreamed possible. Working closely with clients all over the world, D2L is supporting millions of people learning online and in person. Our growing global workforce is dedicated to making the best learning products to leave the world better than they found it. Learn more about D2L for K-12, higher education and businesses at www.D2L.com. SOURCE D2L Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Raytheon Technologies helping power data-driven decision-making at American Airlines Maintenance and safety data transmitted wirelessly from aircraft improves the predictability of operations ANNAPOLIS, Md., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Technologies' (NYSE: RTX) Collins Aerospace business is partnering with American Airlines to bring the latest in aircraft data management technology to improve the airline's safety, reliability and analytics. American is installing the Collins InteliSight Aircraft Interface Device (AID) on more than 500 aircraft, including its entire Boeing 737NG fleet and the majority of its Airbus A320s, with plans to install the device on its Boeing 777 fleet. "Key to running a dependable airline is having a reliable and healthy fleet. And at American, data drives the operational decisions we make. Having the right intel in the hands of our Technical Operations team quickly means we can provide the predictable and solid operation our customers are counting on," said Stacy Morrissey, American's vice president of Technical Operations Engineering and Quality. "With Collins InteliSight AID and GlobalConnectSM ground platform, American can provide our team members the tools they need to create a more reliable travel experience for our customers." The Collins Aerospace InteliSight AID captures, records, stores, encrypts, and securely sends aircraft data to Collins' robust and secure ground platform, GlobalConnect. Providing an automatic offload of the data after each flight ensures the information is immediately available to the airline for safety analysis and implementing improvements American's Technical Operations team will save precious time no longer having to manually retrieve aircraft information. Benefitting from near real-time access gives American added power to keep its fleet running safely and on time. "Collins worked closely with American to implement a data-driven solution to save time and increase the operational efficiency of its fleet," said Jennifer Schopfer, president of Connected Aviation Solutions at Collins Aerospace. "The InteliSight data, passed via GlobalConnect, will give American the information it needs to ensure even more predictable, reliable travel for the multitude of flights it manages every day." Once the thousands of data parameters generated by the aircraft reach the ground, they are distributed to multiple endpoints: Safety can conduct a safety review, engineers can review for reliability and use the information to help troubleshoot upcoming maintenance points, and an analytics team can use the data in predictive models to make the fleet more efficient and environmentally sustainable. American installed the InteliSight AID on more than 200 aircraft in six months, capturing, securing, and offloading data from more than 100,000 flights. American has seen its data capture rate increase from 85% to more than 99%. American is currently performing the installation of the Collins AID at seven American Airlines locations. About Collins Aerospace Collins Aerospace is part of Raytheon Technologies, the largest aerospace and defense company in the world. Our global team of 73,000 employees dreams, designs and delivers smarter, more connected solutions for passenger safety and comfort, mission success, space exploration, and operational efficiency and sustainability. We make the most powerful concepts in aerospace a reality. For more information, visit CollinsAerospace.com. About Raytheon Technologies Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) is the world's largest aerospace and defense company. Our global team of 180,000 employees pushes the limits of known science and redefines how we connect and protect our world. We are advancing aviation, building smarter defense systems and creating innovations to take us deeper into space. The company, with 2022 sales of $67 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Media Contact James Brindle +1 317.778.5769 [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/raytheon-technologies-helping-power-data-driven-decision-making-at-american-airlines-301808760.html SOURCE Raytheon Technologies [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] TriNet Announces First Quarter 2023 Results 6% Growth in Professional Service Revenues to $205 million 2% Growth in Total Revenues to $1.2 billion Net Income per Diluted Share of $2.17 and Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share of $2.49 DUBLIN, Calif., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TriNet Group, Inc. (NYSE: TNET), a leading provider of comprehensive and flexible human capital management (HCM) solutions for small and medium-size businesses (SMBs), today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. The first quarter highlights below include non-GAAP financial measures which are reconciled later in this release. First quarter highlights include: Professional service revenues increased 6% to $205 million compared to the same period last year. compared to the same period last year. Total revenues increased 2% to $1.2 billion compared to the same period last year. compared to the same period last year. Net income was $131 million , or $2.17 per diluted share, compared to net income of $146 million , or $2.21 per diluted share, in the same period last year. , or per diluted share, compared to net income of , or per diluted share, in the same period last year. Adjusted Net Income was $150 million , or $2.49 per diluted share, compared to Adjusted Net Income of $168 million , or $2.55 per diluted share, in the same period last year. , or per diluted share, compared to Adjusted Net Income of , or per diluted share, in the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA was $223 million , representing an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 17.9%, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $242 million , representing an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 19.9% in the same period last year. , representing an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 17.9%, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of , representing an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 19.9% in the same period last year. Average Worksite Employees (WSEs) decreased 5% as compared to the same period last year, to approximately 327,000. Average HRIS Users decreased 9% as compared to the same period last year, to approximately 231,000. "I am particularly pleased with our first quarter financial results which exceeded guidance and occurred during what proved to be a tumultuous first quarter economic environment," said Burton M. Goldfield, TriNet's President and CEO. "With our singular focus on putting our customers at the center of everything we do, we grew new sales and kept more of our customers longer. We controlled our costs while we launched our new brand identity which highlights the unique value we offer SMBs. We remained disciplined in our financial management and delivered strong earnings for our shareholders." Mr. Goldfield continued, "We often speak of how we use scale in service of our customers. The regional bank crisis in the first quarter was an extreme example of just that. Ultimately, none of our impacted customers missed a payroll. In business, you can count on the unexpected happening, and for our customers, they can count on TriNet to support them through challenging times." Second Quarter and Full-Year 2023 Guidance In addition to announcing our first quarter 2023 results, we provide our second quarter and full-year 2023 guidance. Non-GAAP financial measures are reconciled later in this release. Percentages reflect the increase or (decrease) from the prior year quarter and prior year end. Q2 2023 Full Year 2023 Low High Low High Total Revenues % 1 % 1 % 2 % Professional Service Revenues (3) % % 1 % 3 % Insurance Cost Ratio 88.5 % 87.0 % 88.5 % 87.0 % Diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock $ 0.72 $ 0.96 $ 3.96 $ 4.90 Adjusted Net Income per share - diluted $ 1.15 $ 1.40 $ 5.40 $ 6.35 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q We anticipate filing our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q ("Form 10-Q") for the three months ended March 31, 2023 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and making it available at http://www.trinet.com today, April 26, 2023. This press release should be read in conjunction with the Form 10-Q and the related Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in the Form 10-Q. Earnings Conference Call and Audio Webcast TriNet will host a conference call at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET) today to discuss its first quarter results for 2023 and provide second quarter and full-year financial guidance for 2023. TriNet encourages participants to pre-register for the conference call. Callers who pre-register will be given a unique PIN to gain immediate access to the call and bypass the live operator. To pre-register, go to: https://dpregister.com/sreg/10177150/f8d4d8ed98. For those who would like to join the call but have not pre-registered, they can do so by dialing +1 (412) 317-5426 and requesting the "TriNet Conference Call." The live webcast of the conference call can be accessed on the Investor Relations section of TriNet's website at https://investor.trinet.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on this website for approximately one year. A telephonic replay will be available for one week following the conference call at +1 (412) 317-0088 conference ID: 6197218. About TriNet TriNet provides small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) with full-service industry-specific HR solutions, providing both professional employer organization (PEO) and human resources information system (HRIS) services. TriNet offers access to human capital expertise, benefits, risk mitigation, compliance, payroll, and R&D tax credit services, all enabled by industry-leading technology. TriNet's suite of products also includes services and software-based solutions to help streamline workflows by connecting HR, benefits, employee engagement, payroll and time & attendance. Rooted in more than 30 years of supporting entrepreneurs and adapting to the ever-changing modern workplace, TriNet empowers SMBs to focus on what matters mostgrowing their business and enabling their people For more information, please visit TriNet.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to TriNet's financial results as determined in accordance with GAAP are included at the end of this press release following the accompanying financial data. For a description of these non-GAAP financial measures, including the reasons management uses each measure, please see the section titled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures." Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains, and statements made during the above referenced conference call will contain, statements that are not historical in nature, are predictive in nature, or that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or otherwise contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among other things, TriNet's expectations and assumptions regarding: TriNet's financial guidance for the second quarter and full-year 2023 and the underlying assumptions; TriNet's future financial performance and long-term growth; the value to customers and stockholders of TriNet's product offerings; the extent, length and growth impact of current economic uncertainty; the impact of our client support during any future banking crisis ; our ability to continue to grow new client sales and client tenure; and the ability of our solutions to meet all client needs throughout their business cycle. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as, but not limited to, "ability," "anticipate," "believe," "can," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "guidance," "impact," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "seek," "should," "strategy," "target," "value," "will," "would" and similar expressions or variations intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance but are based on management's expectations as of the date hereof and assumptions that are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from our current expectations and any past or future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements include: our ability to manage unexpected changes in workers' compensation and health insurance claims and costs by worksite employees; our ability to mitigate the unique business risks we face as a co-employer; the effects of volatility in the financial and economic environment on the businesses that make up our client base; loss of clients for reasons beyond our control; and the short-term contracts we typically use with our clients; the impact of regional or industry-specific economic and health factors on our operations; the impact of failures or limitations in the business systems and service centers we rely upon; the impact of recovery credits on our business and client loyalty and retention; changes in our insurance coverage or our relationships with key insurance carriers; our ability to improve our services and technology to satisfy client and regulatory expectations; our ability to effectively integrate businesses we have acquired or may acquire in the future; our ability to effectively manage and improve our operational effectiveness and resiliency; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; the effects of increased competition and our ability to compete effectively; the impact on our business of cyber-attacks, breaches, disclosures and other data-related incidents; our ability to protect against and remediate cyber-attacks, breaches, disclosures and other data-related incidents, whether intentional or inadvertent and whether attributable to us or our service providers; our ability to comply with constantly evolving data privacy and security laws; our ability to manage changes in, uncertainty regarding, or adverse application of the complex laws and regulations that govern our business; changing laws and regulations governing health insurance and employee benefits; our ability to be recognized as an employer of worksite employees and for our benefits plans to satisfy all requirements under federal and state regulations; changes in the laws and regulations that govern what it means to be an employer, employee or independent contractor; the impact of new and changing laws regarding remote work; our ability to comply with the licensing requirements that govern our HCM solutions; the outcome of existing and future legal and tax proceedings; fluctuation in our results of operations and stock price due to factors outside of our control; our ability to comply with the restrictions of our credit facility and meet our debt obligations; and the impact of concentrated ownership in our stock by Atairos and other large stockholders. Any of these factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from our anticipated results. Further information on risks that could affect TriNet's results is included in our filings with the SEC, including under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and elsewhere in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are available on our investor relations website at http://investor.trinet.com and on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Copies of these filings are also available by contacting TriNet Corporation's Investor Relations Department at (510) 875-7201. Except as required by law, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements in this press release, and any forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. In addition, we do not assume any obligation, and do not intend, to update any of our forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Contacts: Investors: Media: Alex Bauer Renee Brotherton / Josh Gross TriNet TriNet [email protected] [email protected] (510) 875-7201 [email protected] (408) 646-5103 Key Financial and Operating Metrics We regularly review certain key financial and operating metrics to evaluate growth trends, measure our performance and make strategic decisions. These key financial and operating metrics may change over time. Our key financial and operating metrics for the periods presented were as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions, except per share and Operating Metrics data) 2023 2022 % Change Income Statement Data: Total revenues $ 1,246 $ 1,218 2 % Operating income 169 204 (17) Net income 131 146 (10) Diluted net income per share of common stock 2.17 2.21 (2) Non-GAAP measures (1): Adjusted EBITDA 223 242 (8) Adjusted Net income 150 168 (11) Operating Metrics: Insurance Cost Ratio 82 % 80 % 2 % Average WSEs 327,107 343,245 (5) Total WSEs at period end 328,299 348,349 (6) Average HRIS Users (2) 231,347 253,766 (9) (1) Refer to Non-GAAP measures definitions and reconciliations from GAAP measures under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures". (2) For the three months ended March 31, 2022, reflects HRIS Users from February 15, 2022, the date on which we acquired Zenefits, to the end of the period. (in millions) March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 % Change Balance Sheet Data: Cash and cash equivalents $ 707 $ 354 100 % Working capital 394 338 17 % Total assets 3,736 3,443 9 Debt 791 496 59 Total stockholders' equity 825 775 6 Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions) 2023 2022 % Change Cash Flow Data: Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ (77) $ 214 (136) % Net cash used in investing activities (23) (213) (89) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 200 (353) (157) Non-GAAP measure (1): Corporate Operating Cash Flows 169 193 (12) (1) Refer to Non-GAAP measures definitions and reconciliations from GAAP measures under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures". TRINET GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions except per share data) 2023 2022 Professional service revenues $ 205 $ 194 Insurance service revenues 1,041 1,024 Total revenues 1,246 1,218 Insurance costs 852 823 Cost of providing services 78 70 Sales and marketing 69 45 General and administrative 43 47 Systems development and programming 17 16 Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets 18 13 Total costs and operating expenses 1,077 1,014 Operating income 169 204 Other income (expense): Interest expense, bank fees and other (7) (5) Interest income 18 1 Income before provision for income taxes 180 200 Income taxes 49 54 Net income $ 131 $ 146 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes 3 (8) Comprehensive income $ 134 $ 138 Net income per share: Basic $ 2.18 $ 2.23 Diluted $ 2.17 $ 2.21 Weighted average shares: Basic 60 65 Diluted 60 66 TRINET GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) March 31, December 31, (in millions, except share and per share data) 2023 2022 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 707 $ 354 Investments 89 76 Restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments 1,016 1,263 Accounts receivable, net 15 19 Unbilled revenue, net 371 375 Prepaid expenses, net 85 71 Other payroll assets 302 122 Other current assets 44 46 Total current assets 2,629 2,326 Restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments, noncurrent 155 153 Investments, noncurrent 142 151 Property and equipment, net 31 24 Operating lease right-of-use asset 29 31 Goodwill 462 462 Software and other intangible assets, net 155 163 Other assets 133 133 Total assets $ 3,736 $ 3,443 Liabilities and stockholders' equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable and other current liabilities $ 130 $ 98 Revolving credit agreement borrowings 295 Client deposits and other client liabilities 131 106 Accrued wages 416 437 Accrued health insurance costs, net 169 174 Accrued workers' compensation costs, net 54 54 Payroll tax liabilities and other payroll withholdings 1,007 1,087 Operating lease liabilities 16 15 Insurance premiums and other payables 17 17 Total current liabilities 2,235 1,988 Long-term debt, noncurrent 496 496 Accrued workers' compensation costs, noncurrent, net 127 128 Deferred taxes 9 8 Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent 36 41 Other non-current liabilities 8 7 Total liabilities 2,911 2,668 Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock Common stock and additional paid-in capital 910 899 Retained earnings (Accumulated deficit) (83) (119) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (2) (5) Total stockholders' equity 825 775 Total liabilities & stockholders' equity $ 3,736 $ 3,443 TRINET GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions) 2023 2022 Operating activities Net income $ 131 $ 146 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 30 21 Amortization of ROU asset, lease modification, impairment, and abandonment 2 3 Stock based compensation 11 12 Deferred income taxes 2 Provision for doubtful accounts 1 Other 2 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable, net 3 8 Unbilled revenue, net 5 7 Other assets and prepaid expenses, net (24) 5 Other payroll assets (180) (16) Accounts payable and other liabilities 30 10 Client deposits and other client liabilities 25 28 Accrued wages (21) 188 Accrued health insurance costs, net (5) (8) Accrued workers' compensation costs, net (1) 1 Payroll taxes payable and other payroll withholdings (80) (191) Operating lease liabilities (4) (4) Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (77) 214 Investing activities Purchases of marketable securities (82) (91) Proceeds from sale and maturity of marketable securities 76 72 Acquisitions of property and equipment (17) (11) Acquisition of subsidiary, net of cash acquired (183) Net cash used in investing activities (23) (213) Financing activities Repurchase of common stock (91) (350) Revolver drawdown 495 Revolver repayment (200) Awards effectively repurchased for required employee withholding taxes (4) (3) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 200 (353) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents, unrestricted and restricted 100 (352) Cash and cash equivalents, unrestricted and restricted: Beginning of period 1,537 1,738 End of period $ 1,637 $ 1,386 Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information Interest paid $ 11 $ 9 Income taxes (refund) paid, net $ 4 $ (12) Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities Payable for purchase of property and equipment $ 5 $ 4 Non-GAAP Financial Measures In addition to the selected financial measures presented in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), we monitor other non-GAAP financial measures that we use to manage our business, to make planning decisions, to allocate resources and to use as performance measures in our executive compensation plan. These key financial measures provide an additional view of our operational performance over the long term and provide information that we use to maintain and grow our business. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is used to enhance the understanding of certain aspects of our financial performance. It is not meant to be considered in isolation from, superior to, or as a substitute for the directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP Measure Definition How We Use The Measure Adjusted EBITDA Net income, excluding the effects of: - income tax provision, - interest expense, bank fees and other, - depreciation, - amortization of intangible assets, - stock based compensation expense, - amortization of cloud computing arrangements, and - transaction and integration costs. Provides period-to-period comparisons on a consistent basis and an understanding as to how our management evaluates the effectiveness of our business strategies by excluding certain non-recurring costs, which include transaction and integration costs, as well as certain non-cash charges such as depreciation and amortization, and stock-based compensation and certain impairment charges recognized based on the estimated fair values. We believe these charges are either not directly resulting from our core operations or not indicative of our ongoing operations. Enhances comparisons to prior periods and, accordingly, facilitates the development of future projections and earnings growth prospects. Provides a measure, among others, used in the determination of incentive compensation for management. We also sometimes refer to Adjusted EBITDA margin, which is the ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to total revenues. Adjusted Net Income Net income, excluding the effects of: - effective income tax rate (1), - stock based compensation, - amortization of intangible assets, net, - non-cash interest expense, - transaction and integration costs, and - the income tax effect (at our effective tax rate (1) of these pre-tax adjustments. Provides information to our stockholders and board of directors to understand how our management evaluates our business, to monitor and evaluate our operating results, and analyze profitability of our ongoing operations and trends on a consistent basis by excluding certain non-cash charges. Corporate Operating Cash Flows Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, excluding the effects of: - Assets associated with WSEs (accounts receivable, unbilled revenue, prepaid expenses and other current assets) and - Liabilities associated with WSEs (client deposits and other client liabilities, accrued wages, payroll tax liabilities and other payroll withholdings, accrued health benefit costs, accrued workers' compensation costs, insurance premiums and other payables, and other current liabilities). Provides information that our stockholders and management can use to evaluate our cash flows from operations independent of the current assets and liabilities associated with our WSEs. Enhances comparisons to prior periods and, accordingly, used as a liquidity measure to manage liquidity between corporate and WSE related activities, and to help determine and plan our cash flow and capital strategies. (1) Non-GAAP effective tax rate is 25.6% and 25.5%for the first quarter of 2023 and 2022 respectively, which excludes the income tax impact from stock-based compensation, changes in uncertain tax positions, and nonrecurring benefits or expenses from federal legislative changes. Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures The table below presents a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA: Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions) 2023 2022 Net income $ 131 $ 146 Provision for income taxes 49 54 Stock based compensation 11 12 Interest expense, bank fees and other (1) 7 6 Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets 18 14 Amortization of cloud computing arrangements 2 Transaction and integration costs 5 10 Adjusted EBITDA $ 223 $ 242 Adjusted EBITDA Margin 17.9 % 19.9 % The table below presents a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per share - diluted: Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions, except per share data) 2023 2022 Net income $ 131 $ 146 Effective income tax rate adjustment 3 4 Stock based compensation 11 12 Amortization of intangible assets (1) 6 3 Transaction and integration costs 5 10 Income tax impact of pre-tax adjustments (6) (7) Adjusted Net Income $ 150 $ 168 GAAP weighted average shares of common stock - diluted 60 66 Adjusted Net Income per share - diluted $ 2.49 $ 2.55 The table below presents a reconciliation of net cash provided by (used in) operating activities to Corporate Operating Cash flows: Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions) 2023 2022 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ (77) $ 214 Less: Change in WSE related other current assets (178) (9) Less: Change in WSE related liabilities (68) 30 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities - WSE $ (246) $ 21 Net cash provided by operating activities - Corporate $ 169 $ 193 Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures for the second quarter and full-year 2023 guidance. Low and high percentages represent increases (decreases) from the same periods in the previous year. The table below presents a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per share - diluted: Q2 2022 Q2 2023 Guidance FY 2022 Year 2023 Guidance (in millions, except per share data) Actual Low High Actual Low High Net income $ 85 (49) % (32) % $ 355 (34) % (18) % Effective income tax rate adjustment (28) (3) 5 697 678 Stock based compensation 18 12 12 62 11 11 Amortization of intangible assets 5 16 16 18 10 10 Non-cash interest expense 1 (23) (23) 1 (14) (14) Transaction and integration costs 7 24 24 37 (46) (46) Income tax impact of pre-tax adjustments (8) 16 16 (30) (7) (7) Adjusted Net Income $ 108 (36) % (22) % $ 448 (24) % (10) % GAAP weighted average shares of common stock - diluted 63 64 Adjusted Net Income per share - diluted $ 1.72 $ 1.15 $ 1.40 $ 7.07 $ 5.40 $ 6.35 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trinet-announces-first-quarter-2023-results-301808791.html SOURCE TriNet Group, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 26, 2023] Coeur Publishes 2022 ESG Report Coeur Mining, Inc. ("Coeur" or the "Company") (NYSE: CDE) today published its 2022 ESG Report (the "Report"), highlighting the Company's efforts to advance its environmental, social and governance practices and its responsible mining operations. The Report details Coeur's public targets, best-in-class corporate governance practices and positive environmental and social impacts aligned with generating long-term value for stockholders. Report Highlights: Health and safety - Coeur continued to enhance its focus on total worker health and safety in 2022, leading the Company to achieve an 18% decrease in the three-year trailing average in total reportable injury frequency rate (TRIFR). 2022 had the lowest combined employee and contractor TRIFR in Company history since data tracking began. Environmental stewardship - The Company took further action to improve its climate resilience and reporting, including conducting site-specific scenario analyses, energy and emissions diagnostics, and including estimated scope 3 emissions for the first time, leading to being on track to achieve Coeur's goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions net intensity by 35% by the end of 2024. In 2022, the Company recognized an 8.5% reduction in GHG emissions compared to the base year. Coeur also reintroduced the public disclosure of SASB aligned water metrics: water withdrawn, water consumed, water intensity, and water discharged as well as outlining strategies and processes for managing water at both water-stressed and water-abundant sites. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - Coeur continues to differentiate itself on inclusion within and outside of the mining industry, advancing diversity in meaningful ways during 2022 and achieving the goal to add at least one new female director to its Board of Directors by the 2023 Annual Stockholders' Meeting. Communities - In 2022, the Company adopted a formal Indigenous Peoples Policy to formalize Coeur's commitment to establishing long-term mutually beneficial relationships with local Indigenous communities. The Indigenous Peoples Policy outlines the Company's approach to engaging and partnering with Indigenous Peoples across all phases of the mine life cycle including exploration, operation and closure. "Our commitment to advancing ESG principles and remaining a leader in safe and responsible mining holds true to our pledge to Pursue a Higher Standard as demonstrated throughout our 2022 ESG Report. As the world continues to move more towards clean renewable energy, we take pride in being a trusted supplier of precious and critical minerals for the future," said Mitchell J. Krebs, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The health, safety and well-being of or employees, the communities in which we operate and the planet, continues to be a top priority at Coeur, including our Board of Directors who provides pivotal insight and guidance on every aspect of our business including ESG-related matters. We will continue striving to evolve and enhance all aspects of ESG in our business as we work towards maximizing long-term stakeholder value and advance our efforts towards becoming America's premier, growing provider of precious and critical metals." The Company has further aligned its disclosures with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework as well as continuing to incorporate elements of the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB) reporting framework for the Metals and Mining Industry, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) into the Report. In addition, Coeur is following the development of the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework and plans to incorporate elements of the beta framework into its external disclosures. A copy of the Report and a separate document containing ESG data can be found on the Responsibility section of the Company's website: https://www.coeur.com/responsibility/responsibility-overview/. About Coeur Coeur Mining, Inc. is a U.S.-based, well-diversified, growing precious metals producer with four wholly-owned operations: the Palmarejo gold-silver complex in Mexico, the Rochester silver-gold mine in Nevada, the Kensington gold mine in Alaska and the Wharf gold mine in South Dakota. In addition, the Company wholly-owns the Silvertip silver-zinc-lead exploration project in British Columbia. Cautionary Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation in the United States and Canada, including statements regarding the Company's ESG goals, efforts, achievements and strategies. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Coeur's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risk that anticipated ESG goals are not attained, the risks and hazards inherent in the mining business (including risks inherent in developing large-scale mining projects, environmental hazards, industrial accidents, weather or geologically-related conditions), changes in the market prices of gold, silver, zinc and lead and a sustained lower price or higher treatment and refining charge environment, the uncertainties inherent in Coeur's production, exploratory and developmental activities, including risks relating to permitting and regulatory delays, changes in mining laws, ground conditions and, grade and recovery variability, any future labor disputes or work stoppages (involving the Company and its subsidiaries or third parties), the uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral reserves, changes that could result from Coeur's future acquisition of new mining properties or businesses, the loss of access or insolvency of any third-party refiner or smelter to which Coeur markets its production, the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including impacts to the availability of our workforce, continued access to financing sources, government orders that may require temporary suspension of operations at one or more of our sites and effects on our suppliers or the refiners and smelters to whom the Company markets its production and on the communities where we operate, the effects of environmental and other governmental regulations and government shut-downs, the risks inherent in the ownership or operation of or investment in mining properties or businesses in foreign countries, Coeur's ability to raise additional financing necessary to conduct its business, make payments or refinance its debt, as well as other uncertainties and risk factors set out in filings made from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Canadian securities regulators, including, without limitation, Coeur's most recent report on Form 10-K. Actual results, developments and timetables could vary significantly from the estimates presented. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Coeur disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, Coeur undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of Coeur, its financial or operating results or its securities. This does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005778/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Legal pressure on Binance, the worlds largest crypto exchange, has underscored the potentially chilling effect of a U.S. crackdown on crypto, legal experts have told Decrypt. The company is facing scrutiny from multiple agencies, including a suit filed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) against both Binance and its founder Changpeng CZ Zhao last month. Per a report from the New York Times, Zhao has hired white-collar defense lawyers from law firm Latham & Watkins to represent him personally amid the gathering legal storm. Court documents filed on Monday show that lawyers at top firms have been brought in to represent both the company and Zhao himself in the case. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice is investigating Binances conduct in a probe led by its money laundering squad, Reuters reported. At the same time, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is looking into the companys business practices, the New York Times reported. Binance US Walks Away From Voyager Deal, Cites Regulatory Uncertainty This week, Binances U.S. arm called off its acquisition of bankrupt Voyager Digitals assets, a deal that had met with opposition from several regulators including the SEC, though it had been approved by a judge. Commentators including Ava Labs president John Wu put the backtrack down to regulatory uncertainty in the U.S. The U.S. in terms of creating certainty is just falling behind everyone else, Wu said in an appearance on CNBC. The U.S. is going to continue to lose companies, development. Decrypt has contacted Binance PR representatives for comment. A complex landscape Binances troubles come at a tense time for relations between the industry and regulators in the U.S., highlighted by Coinbases legal action against the SEC this week to try and force the agency to respond to demands for clearer rules. But William Kraus, partner at FisherBroyles LLP, warned against seeing Binances difficulties as a direct response to the current climate. Story continues While it might seem as if Binance is being targeted because of recent political pressure to regulate digital assets, it is important to remember most investigations are conducted confidentially for years before the public learns of them, he told Decrypt. As seen in the CFTC complaint, the investigations frequently revolve around alleged past conduct or relate to issues that have since been remedied by the business. However, he added that the CFTC case and the reported investigations signal to crypto businesses looking to operate in the States that they will need to navigate a complex and frequently changing legal and regulatory landscape. Sam Tyfield, a corporate M&A lawyer at British firm Shoosmiths, told Decrypt that recent events indicate that there could be a potential chilling effect on the market from the strict approach of American authorities. The U.S. approach seemsto someone who is not actively involved in the cases at handto be erring on the side of treating crypto assets as securities, for want of an alternative classification, which would bring them within a traditional and well-established regulatory purview, he said. This would have an immediate and chilling effect on the US market. He added that the developments are not just significant for the U.S. but for the rest of the world as well, noting that while regulators in the EU and Asia may seem more flexible currently, they are only one broker or trading platform blow-up which hits their constituents hard away from imposing a regime as harsh as that of the U.S. [April 26, 2023] FLO, Governor Whitmer Announce NEW EV Charger Production at Auburn Hills Facility FLO UltraTM Charger Designed to Provide the Ultimate Fast Charging Experience AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - FLO, a leading North American electric vehicle (EV) charging company and a smart charging solutions provider, along with Governor Gretchen Whitmer, announced the all-new FLO Ultra DC fast charger will be produced at its Auburn Hills facility. With a simple but revolutionary design, the FLO Ultra charger was created for driver convenience and is brilliantly simple to use for EV drivers looking to charge and return to the road. "As EV demand grows, EV drivers will be looking for fast charging that is safe, accessible and reliable. Today, we are thrilled to announce that the FLO Ultra charger will be produced right here in Michigan to provide the ultimate EV charging experience," said Chris Thorson, FLO Chief Marketing Officer "Thanks to Governor Whitmer's support, today we are one step closer to making the dream of driving an EV a reality for more Michiganders." Available starting in 2024, the FLO Ultra charging stations can charge most EVs to 80% in 15 minutes* and are built to meet both NEVI and Buy America Act requirements. Duing the announcement, Whitmer joined FLO officials for a tour of its facility to highlight the importance of Michigan manufacturing and the continued transition to EVs across the state. "Electric vehicles are transforming the U.S. auto industry from top to bottom and Michigan is uniquely positioned for this once-in-a-century opportunity," said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. "By embracing an all-electric future, FLO will help grow our economy, build and invest in our workforce, and ensure Michigan remains at the center of the U.S. auto industry. We congratulate FLO on the start of production at its Auburn Hills facility and can't wait to see its EV chargersassembled by Michigandersdeployed here and across the country." FLO's Level 2 CoRe+TM and CoRe+ MAX TM chargers are currently being assembled at the facility as preparations for the production of FLO Ultra chargers are underway. The chargers produced in Auburn Hills will contribute to the 250,000 chargers FLO plans to bring to the U.S. market by 2028. In that time span, FLO expects the facility to create and support 730 jobs. * Dependent on the vehicle About FLO FLO is a leading North American electric vehicle (EV) charging network operator and a smart charging solutions provider. We fight climate change by accelerating EV adoption through a vertically integrated business model and by delivering EV drivers the best charging experience from curbside to countryside. Every month, we enable more than 1 million charging events thanks to over 90,000 fast and level 2 EV charging stations deployed at public, private and residential locations. FLO operates its network across North America and our high-quality charging stations are assembled with care in Michigan and Quebec. To learn more about what "EV charging done right" means to us, visit flo.com. FLO is a registered trademark of Services FLO Inc. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/flo-governor-whitmer-announce-new-ev-charger-production-at-auburn-hills-facility-301808927.html SOURCE FLO [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Reactionary rhetoric against the LGBT community might satisfy some extreme right-wingers but the reality is that times have changed in the U.S. and gay marriage is now the law of the land. Also . . . More successful GOP leaders are moving away from the hard (on) line strategy whilst some red state Republicans risk losing the future as demographics aren't in their favor. One example out of many . . . A censure of a gay Missouri Republican lawmaker failed to get enough votes to pass at a meeting of the Jackson County Republican Party on Monday. However, the county party voted 44-14 to pass a separate resolution stating that marriage was only valid between a man and a woman. It states that any member of the party could be censured for trying to define marriage as anything else. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . A response to rampant fear circulating amongst politicos this week . . . Clay Chastain Mayoral press release: Unlike Mayor Lucas, I don't think Northlanders are racist. Unlike Council Candidate Kelley, I am not afraid to campaign anywhere in Kansas City. Yes I know, many voters don't like the fact I split my time between 2- places because I have an older daughter who lives in KC, and a younger daughter who lives with me in Virginia. But is that worse than having a Mayor who stokes racial tension, is pushing reparations and has presided over record-setting homicides,? I want to be Mayor to show the people what I can do... Engineer a Better Kansas City for Everyone. I have campaigned across the streets of Kansas City (talking to everyone) @... (1) The Eastside (Sun Fresh @ Linwood & Prospect) (2) The Northland (KCI & Vivion Rd.) (3) The Westside (Guadalupe Comm. Center) (4) Midtown (Price Chopper & Whole Foods) (5) Downtown (City Hall), et al. Mayor Lucas has been campaigning on National TV (MSNBC & Face the Nation) telling the world KC's Northland is a racist Community and too many guns is the primary reason for the exploding violence across America-like in Kansas City where he is Mayor. Come the General Election...Shop & Compare. ############### Developing . . . Tensions are high across part lines as Kansas politicos will test loyalties and endurance in the upcoming days . . . Here's a preview . . . (Guv) Kelly vetoed 15 bills touching on a range of social and fiscal politics and one has already been overridden as well as about 15 line-item vetoes in the budget. The governor has also signed 80 bills and allowed one more to become law without her signature. Whether the Legislature overrides or sustains the vetoes will depend on absent Republican legislators showing up, if the handful of Republicans opposing some of the bills flip-flop and if Reps. Marvin Robinson, D-Kansas City, and Ford Carr, D-Wichita, side with the GOP. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Kansas Republicans want to override governor's record 15 vetoes. Here's what must happen. Gov. Laura Kelly has broken her own record for most vetoes in a session as the Republican supermajorities in the Legislature gear up for override attempts during this week's veto session. Kelly vetoed 15 bills touching on a range of social and fiscal politics - and one has already been overridden - as well as about 15 line-item vetoes in the budget. Top veto overrides to watch in Kansas TOPEKA (KSNT)- Kansas lawmakers will return to the statehouse Wednesday to take up a long list of vetoes handed down from Governor Laura Kelly. Kansas lawmakers are heading into three back-to-back days of veto session starting Wednesday, expecting to wrap up on Friday. Rounding out the top veto overrides to watch this week is Kansas [...] 'Middle of the Road' Gov. Kelly vetoes bills that protect women and children If there was ever any doubt about Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly being "middle of the road" as she claimed in campaign ads, she put that to rest last week when she vetoed four bills designed to protect women and children. House Bill 2138 requires school districts to provide separate accommodations on overnight school trips for biological boys and biological girls. Developing . . . Things are getting rougher on the South Side as court dox and police info provide a scary glimpse at a terrifying situation in what was formerly a "mostly peaceful" working-class community. Here are the basics as local murder numbers continue to trend upward . . . SUSPECTS knocked on the door of the home and requested to enter. After entering the home, they pointed weapons at Terrance Blewett, and another man inside the home, demanding money. Blewett allegedly gave the couple an unknown amount of money, but when asked where his home safe was located, he refused to tell them and was shot. SUSPECTS then left the home, and an initial investigation indicates Blewett fired at the pair and injured one of the suspects critically, documents say. The cause of death was not immediately announced because the medical examiner's office requested to complete the full autopsy before making a ruling due to underlying medical conditions. After the autopsy, the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Man dies from injuries after robbery leads to shooting at south Kansas City home KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The victim in a shooting last month in a south Kansas City, Missouri, home died from injuries, according to the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department. On the afternoon of March 2, police responded to a shooting in the 5800 block of East 100th Street. KCPD investigates after robbery leads to fatal shooting in south KC KANSAS CITY, Mo. -Police are investigating a homicide after a robbery led to a fatal shooting in south Kansas City. Around 1 p.m. on March 2, police were called to a home in the 5800 block of E. 100th St. for a shooting. Once on scene, officers discovered a victim with gunshot wounds inside a nearby vehicle. Developing . . . If the point here is that we want to keep more people safe . . . Which is the only argument worth suffering . . . THEN HOW, PRAY TELL, WILL DISARMING LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS IN THE URBAN CORE HELP STOP DEADLY MISSOURI VIOLENCE?!? Here's "the science" that hopes to explain . . . "In what it calls a crisis, the Violence Policy Centers new study says Black Missourians are killed at more than twice the national rate for the Black community. Ninety-four percent are killed by guns." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . In Athens, Hurley will meet with both the Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and is scheduled to depart Australia on April 30 Australia's Governor General David Hurley will soon be visiting Greece for the first time in over 25 years that an Australian state leader is visiting the country, the Australian Ambassador to Athens Arthur Spyrou tweeted on Wednesday, ANA reports. En route to King Charles' coronation ceremony (May 6), Hurley and his spouse are visiting "to celebrate the historic links and close friendship between our nations! Their excellencies will also visit Lemnos to commemorate the Australian & New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) connection to the island," Spyrou noted. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Chris Phutully Rob Ferguson has been a reporter covering provincial politics in the Queen's Park Bureau of the Toronto Star since 2004 and is in his third term as president of the Ontario Legislative Press Gallery. Andrew Palamarchuk is a reporter with Metroland Media Toronto and toronto.com. He has been covering the crime beat since 2002 and has a passion for giving a voice to those affected by tragedy and looking at societal issues that may have contributed to it. A digital copy of the original Bitcoin whitepaper that had been hidden on Macintosh computers for more than five years is not part of an upcoming operating system update from Apple, AppleInsider reported Tuesday. The late discovery of the PDF document went viral three weeks ago, and it represented only the latest in a long line of easter eggs that Apple (or its employees, more likely) have planted over the last several decades. It seems to have gone unnoticed by Apple's millions of users until 2020, when designer Joshua Dickens posted about it to Twitter. Someone who read his post started a thread in Apple's support forums in April 2021. Here's a mystery: why do I have an Image Capture device called Virtual Scanner II on my Mac? It shows a preview of a painted sign that for some reason closely resembles a photo by @thomashawk on 'clustershot'? But not exactly -- the scanned version looks more weathered. pic.twitter.com/jPb5kx3NyS Josh D (@schwa23) November 28, 2020 It didn't garner much more attention, however, until noted technologist Andy Baio wrote about it last month. "Of all the documents in the world, why was the Bitcoin whitepaper chosen? Is there a secret Bitcoin maxi working at Apple?" Baio asked. "Maybe it was just a convenient, lightweight multipage PDF for testing purposes, never meant to be seen by end users." The discovery even prompted Craig Wright, who has long claimed to be Bitcoin's pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto, to suggest that Apple was violating his copyright. Wright had previously got a court order to force the website Bitcoin.org to remove a copy of the paper in 2021, but the website refused to comply. According to participants in Apple's Beta Software Program, upcoming version 13.4 of MacOS Ventura do not contain the file, nor the other elements with which it was initially bundleda test driver for a virtual scanner to allow developers to work with the operating system's image capture module. The files were never intended to be discovered by average users, located in hidden system files. Story continues Alongside the Bitcoin whitepaper PDF was a photo of a sign at Treasure Island in San Francisco. Baio later said that a source inside Apple told him that the presence of the paper was filed as a developer work ticket last year and was assigned to the same person who initially placed the whitepaper in the system. At the time, however, the ticket hadn't been acted upon. "Theyve indicated it will likely be removed in future versions," Baio said. This Eglinton LRT stop is being ripped up before it has even opened. Heres why The problem will take a month of construction to fix and is the latest in a long series of delays surrounding the provinces light rail transit project. Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. There will always be a need for physical infrastructure and those who are trained to build and maintain it, writes Huong Nguyen With its uncountable canals, its bridges and its medieval architecture, "Venise des Alpes" is the perfect nickname. Located at the foot of the French Alps, on the Lake Annecy, it holds many unmissable attractive traits for tourists, such as Saint-Francois de Sales church, built in 1614. The latter marked the citys history because the union between the Duke of Orleanss daughter and the Duke of Savoy took place there. Just like Saint-Maurice church, the point of visiting that religious edifice rests upon the discovery of the preserved graves of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal and Saint Francis de Sales.To please as many people as possible, heading to the North of the city offers the privilege to have an extra trip to Geneva which is at the doors of Switzerland. Otherwise, Annecys old town has unexpected surprises in store for visitors, especially when walking through its market. That place is great for buying a bit of everything on Tuesdays and Fridays. It is possible, as well, to visit it on Sundays in the morning from 7 a.m to 1 p.m. As for film lovers, they will have the privilege to be present at The Annecy International Animation Film Festival taking place every June. For the occasion, they wont fail to watch some short films screenings.Staying in Annecy also means to enjoy an unforgettable show with your beloved ones during the fete du lac (the lake party). Concerning the means of transport there, tourists can go to the railway station and take a small train. And biking lovers, they can enjoy their favorite activity on a cycle path.So as to enjoy an unobstructed view on towns and villages, it is possible to go to Parc Gabriel Faure on the hill. It is an unmissable stop before going to Vieugy. There, you can see a Neogothic church testifying of what once was the villages independence, regarding Seynod. Before going around the lake, try first to visit the castle overhanging the town: it is the promise of a brand new infatuation, with its rarely-seen regional and modern art collections. SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd. The Global Bunker Fuel market size is expected to reach USD 200.14 billion by 2030 and exhibit a CAGR of 2.51% in the forecast period (20222030), according to Skyquest latest research report. The fuel market refers to the fuel used by ships and boats and is driven by various factors, such as global seaborne trade that has been increasing steadily over the past decade. Westford USA, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stringent Regulations and Blockchain Adoption is Aiding in the Market Growth The increasing stringency of environmental regulations from various governments is also promoting the use of bunker fuel . The shipping industry across the globe is one of the primary emitters of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, and as a result, there is a growing pressure to reduce emissions from ships and boats. In addition, the regulations have also resulted in the drastic change that mandates the use of low Sulphur fuels, which increasingly promotes the LNG and biofuels. Along the way with tightening environmental regulation, there is an increasing use of digital technology, such as blockchain to enhance transparency and traceability in the supply chain of the fuel market. The International Marine Time Organization has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships by at least 50% by 2050 as compared with emission levels in 2008. IMO implements the Sulphur cap and the development of energy-efficient guidelines for ships to achieve this goal. Browse in-depth TOC on " High Power Charging System Market " Pages - 242 Tables - 122 Figures - 77 Container Ships Type Globally Dominated the market demand Container ships dominated the global market owing to the growth of international trade and increasing demand for goods transported by container ships. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has stated in its report that global container port throughput is projected to reach 951.8 million TEUs by 2023. In addition, the growing economy and investment in the Asia Pacific region in containers have also driven the demand for fuel. Story continues Get a sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/bunker-fuel-market IOMs Stringent Regulations helped LSFO to lead the Market In terms of the type of fuel, the Low Sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) segment is the leading segment due to stringent regulations. In 2020, the International Marine Time organization came with a mandate to use fuels with Sulphur content less than 0.5%, for ships operating outside the designated emission control areas. Dysregulation led to the drastic shift of demand for bunker fuel towards LSFO from HFO. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/bunker-fuel-market Asia Pacific to lead the market due to Government norms Region-wise, Asia-Pacific is one of the largest growing markets due to the presence of major seaports in the region, such as Singapore and Shanghai Vichare, major hubs for International Maritime trade. Emerging economies like China, India and Indonesia are also driving the market in the region due to the growing demand of bunker fuel. Moreover, several government initiatives in the region, such as Greenport Programme from Singapore, Marine Time and Port Authority and green development guidance from the Chinese government have led to the growth of bunker fuel in the region. Middle East and Africa are one of the second leading markets owing to the Increasing demand for energy in the region that is leading to the development of new ports and shipping routes. Several government initiatives are also driving the market, such as Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify economy and promote sustainable development. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/bunker-fuel-market Bunker Fuel Market Report Suggests: The global market size is projected to grow by 200.14 billion by 2030 owing to global seaborne trade and stringent regulations In terms of fuel type, the low Sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) segment dominates due to Stringent regulations from IMO. In terms of type, the container ships segment is projected to gain more popularity due to the growth of global trade and increasing demand for goods transported Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific are leading markets and will continue to exhibit dominance in the global market mainly due to the shift from traditional gas to the alternative fuel segment Bunker Fuel Market Segmentation: The global Bunker Fuel market report is segmented based on type, application, and region. By fuel grade Marine Gas Oil (MGO) Intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO) LNG/LPG Others By seller type Major Oil Companies Independent Fuel Suppliers Small Bunker Companies Others By End-user Container Vessels Tankers Bulk & General Cargo Vessels Others By Region North America U.S Canada Europe Germany France UK Spain RoE Asia-Pacific China India Japan South Korea Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Brazil RoLA Middle-East and Africa South Africa GCC Countries Rest of MEA Bunker Fuel Market Major Company Profiles: ExxonMobil BP Shell Chevron Corporation Total SE Petrobras Gazprom Neft Valero Energy Corporation Sinopec Repsol S.A. Phillips 66 ENOC Puma Energy Vitol Group Trafigura Group Bomin Group Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc. Chemoil Energy Limited World Fuel Services Corporation Lukoil Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global Electric Vehicle Charging Station Market Global Medical Education Market Global Secure Logistics Market Global Gas Engines Market Global Decorative Lighting Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Half-year results for the six months ended 31 January 2023 Up to $402 million AstraZeneca deal for NRF2 Activator programme; Third global out-licensing deal executed Future strategic focus to deliver high value small molecules to treat immuno-inflammatory diseases Launched PatientSeek, a Precision Medicine platform for optimised patient selection based on its Taxonomy3 genetic analysis technology MANCHESTER, UK / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / C4X Discovery Holdings plc (AIM: C4XD), a pioneering Drug Discovery company, today announces its half-year results for the six months ended 31 January 2023. Dr Clive Dix, CEO of C4X Discovery, said: "C4XD has continued to make significant strides across our portfolio during the period, culminating in our third global out-licensing deal, this time with AstraZeneca for our NRF2 Activator programme worth up to $402 million. This external validation of our ability to generate high-quality small molecule discovery programmes builds on previous deals with globally recognised partners Sanofi and Indivior and brings our total potential deal value to $1.2 billion1. "I'm excited that following a review of our expertise and previous successes, our strategy is now focused on treatments for immuno-inflammatory diseases. With our proven expertise in drug discovery and our rigorous approach to programme development, we believe that a more focused approach on immuno-inflammatory diseases will allow us to harness our skillset and take the development of our programmes further, providing greater value for shareholders." Operational Highlights (including post-period events) Indivior'sPhase 1 multiple ascending dose clinical trial of C4XD'soral Orexin-1 receptor antagonist,C4X_3256 (INDV-2000), for substance use disorder is ongoing. Sanofi is progressing C4XD's IL-17A inhibitor programme for inflammatory diseases towards the next milestone C4XD signed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with AstraZeneca in November 2022, worth up to $402 million, for its NRF2 Activator programme. 47 integrin inhibitor programme for inflammatory bowel disease delivered compounds showing improved activity at a lower dose compared to example competitor clinical compounds in a pharmacodynamic model after oral dosing. MALT-1 inhibitor programme for cancer examined a lead compound in a mouse xenograft study that showed equivalent efficacy at equivalent dose to the Johnson & Johnson clinical compound JnJ-67856633 (in Phase 1) and the project is moving forward to identification of candidate shortlist molecules. C4XD internal portfolio expanded in inflammatory diseases and new programmes identified to progress into Lead Optimisation and beyond. C4XD launched PatientSeek, a Precision Medicine platform for optimised patient selection based on its Taxonomy3 genetic analysis technology, following key results from a collaboration with Australia's Garvan Institute of Medical Research ("Garvan Institute"). Dr Nick Ray has been appointed as Chief Scientific Officer. Financial Highlights Revenue was 1.7 million (January 2022: 0.1 million) Total loss after tax of 3.9 million or 1.55 pence per share (January 2022: 4.5m or 1.98 pence per share) R&D expenses was 5.2 million (January 2022: 3.9m), reflecting focused investment in key Drug Discovery programmes Net assets of 13.6 million (January 2022: 15.2m) Net cash as at 31 January 2023: 9.6 million (31 January 2022: 11.7m) Analyst webcast and conference call today Dr Clive Dix, Chief Executive Officer, and members of the management team will host a webcast for analysts at 9:30am BST today. The webcast can be accessed online at: Story continues https://www.lsegissuerservices.com/spark/C4xDiscoveryHolding/events/d062ff53-5db5-4b93-a428-089daeee0030 A copy of the final results presentation will be released later this morning on the Company website at www.c4xdiscovery.com. 1. Total deal value calculation based on exchange rates at the time of each deal. - Ends - Contacts C4X Discovery Holdings Mo Noonan, Communications +44 (0)787 6444977 Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (NOMAD and Broker) Freddy Crossley, Emma Earl (Corporate Finance) +44 (0)20 7886 2500 Rupert Dearden (Corporate Broking) C4X Discovery Media - Consilium Strategic Communications Mary-Jane Elliott, Chris Gardner, Matthew Neal +44 (0)203 709 5700 Notes to Editors: About C4X Discovery C4X Discovery ("C4XD") is a pioneering Drug Discovery company, combining scientific expertise with cutting-edge Drug Discovery technologies to efficiently deliver worldleading medicines. We have a highly valuable and differentiated approach to Drug Discovery through our enhanced candidate molecule design and patient stratification capabilities, generating small molecule drug candidates across multiple disease areas focused on immuno-inflammation. Our commercially attractive portfolio ranges from early-stage target opportunities to late-stage Drug Discovery programmes and we have three commercially partnered programmes with one candidate in clinical development. For more information visit us at www.c4xdiscovery.com or follow us on twitter @C4XDiscovery. Corporate Overview We have continued to make strong progress across the entire portfolio, both during the period and into the beginning of 2023. Our most significant news was announced in November with the out-licensing of our NRF2 Activator programme to AstraZeneca for up to $402 million, including $2 million upfront, and up to $16 million in potential pre-clinical milestone payments, plus the potential for tiered single-digit royalties. Our portfolio of partnered programmes continues to advance. Indivior's Phase I multiple-ascending dose clinical trial of C4XD's Orexin 1 Antagonist candidate C4X_3256/INDV-2000 is underway and, following the first milestone received from Sanofi, our IL-17A Inhibitor programme is advancing through pre-clinical studies towards the next milestone. We look forward to hearing how these programmes progress throughout the year. Following a review of our expertise and previous successes, C4XD is evolving its strategy to become a company focused on treatments for immuno-inflammatory diseases. With the majority of our portfolio already focused on immuno-inflammatory diseases, a proven drug discovery expertise and an expert team of scientists who understand this disease area, we believe that with this approach we can harness our skillset and take the development of our programmes further, providing greater value for shareholders. Our internal portfolio will now focus on the discovery and development of novel small molecule medicines with Best-in-Class and First-in-Class potential to treat patients across a range of immuno-inflammatory diseases. Our lead internal programme, focused on oral small molecule inhibitors of 47, has the potential to expand patient access to 47 inhibitor therapy for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease ("IBD"). This programme is making significant headway through late-stage discovery and progressing towards pre-clinical studies. We have further immuno-inflammatory programmes in early discovery and we anticipate moving the two most promising of these into Lead Optimisation within the next 18 months. In line with our new focus on immuno-inflammatory diseases, the decision has been taken to streamline our portfolio and prioritise resources, and we therefore plan to out-license our pre-clinical MALT-1 inhibitor programme for oncology. In January 2023, we were delighted to appoint Nick Ray as our Chief Scientific Officer. Nick has been with C4XD for seven years, most recently as SVP Drug Discovery and also leading the medicinal chemistry, structural analysis and computational chemistry/cheminformatics teams. He has played a key role in the growth of C4XD and his in-depth scientific expertise has enabled C4XD to develop a growing portfolio of high-quality small molecule programmes. Nick's leadership will be invaluable as we look to take these programmes further into development. In February 2023, following a successful research collaboration with Garvan Institute, we announced the launch of C4XD's new platform for patient stratification, PatientSeek (powered by Taxonomy3) - see study details in the Portfolio Review. The results of the study demonstrate PatientSeek's ability to optimise patient selection and its potential to match the most effective treatments with groups of patients who are most likely to benefit thereby ensuring the right drug is given to the right patient, based on their genetics. C4XD has already identified subgroups in a number of immuno-inflammatory diseases using PatientSeek and we will be exploring their application in bringing precision medicine approaches to these patient populations. The Company has a sufficient cash position and manageable fixed cost base. Cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and deposits were 9.6 million at 31 January 2023 (31 January 2022: 11.7 million). R&D investment of 5.2 million in the six months ending 31 January 2023 (January 2022: 3.9 million), reflecting focused investment in key Drug Discovery programmes. Administrative Expenses remained steady at 1.6 million for the six months ended January 2023 (January 2022: 1.6 million). Portfolio Review Addictive disorders (Orexin-1 Antagonist) - out-licensed to Indivior Phase 1 multiple ascending dose study ongoing Under C4XD's milestone and royalties agreement with Indivior worth up to US$284 million for C4XD's oral Orexin-1 receptor antagonist C4X_3256 (INDV-2000) for the treatment of substance use disorders, Indivior has completed the Single Ascending Dose (SAD) Phase 1 study with no events of clinical concern. The Multiple ascending dose (MAD) study is progressing with Last Subject Last Visit (LSLV) scheduled for July 2023, and with other clinical, non-clinical and chemical/formulation development activities proceeding to plan. Opioid addiction is an increasing burden on the healthcare system, particularly in the US but is a growing global issue. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), more than 107,937 people are predicted to have died from drug overdose, up 56% in the 12-month period ending August 2022, with 73,369 of these deaths attributed to synthetic opioids, up 115%1. Inflammation (IL-17A Inhibitor) - out-licensed to Sanofi Sanofi-led programme making significant progress Under the exclusive worldwide licensing agreement worth up to 414 million, Sanofi continues to make strong pre-clinical progress towards the second milestone; C4XD received the first milestone payment of 3 million in July 2022. The small molecules in C4XD's oral IL-17A inhibitor programme can selectively block IL-17 activity whilst maintaining molecular size of the molecule in the traditional "drug-like" range. A novel, potent oral series of IL-17A inhibitors that significantly reduce IL-17 induced inflammation in vivo is being optimised. Sanofi has development and commercial rights to the programme and is continuing to work with C4XD in the next discovery phase, utilising our Conformetrix technology, interpretation and application to compound design as the programme progresses towards the clinic. Inflammation (NRF2 Activator) - out-licensed to AstraZeneca Programme continues to move forward under AstraZeneca's ownership C4XD signed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with AstraZeneca in November 2022, worth up to $402 million, for its NRF2 Activator programme. AstraZeneca will develop and commercialise an oral therapy for the treatment of inflammatory and respiratory diseases with a lead focus on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Under the terms of the agreement, C4XD will receive pre-clinical milestone payments worth up to $16 million including $2 million upfront, ahead of the first clinical trial. In addition, C4XD will receive a further potential $385.8 million in clinical development and commercial milestones and tiered mid-single digit royalties upon commercialisation. Inflammation is a key driver in many pathological conditions. NRF2 plays a pivotal role in controlling the expression of antioxidant genes that ultimately exert anti-inflammatory functions. Targeting the NRF2 pathway to reduce inflammatory damage offers the potential for a new approach to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases. Interest in this therapeutic approach covers multiple therapeutic areas including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atopic dermatitis, IBD, pulmonary arterial hypertension and sickle cell disease. Inflammation (47 Integrin Inhibitor) Programme transitioned into Lead Optimisation C4XD's oral 47 integrin inhibitor programme has identified multiple series of novel, potent and selective 47 integrin inhibitors for the treatment of IBD. Effective antibody therapy against this target is already approved, removing the clinical target risk, but an effective oral therapy remains highly sought after. During 2021, Morphic Therapeutic's Phase 1 clinical study demonstrated high target occupancy in blood at developable doses but with a twice daily profile. C4XD's programme is targeting a much desired once-a-day profile. Oral bioavailability has been demonstrated and there is particular focus on improving PK properties to achieve a good oral half-life. C4XD has compounds that match or exceed both whole blood potency and selectivity values when compared to examples from current clinical patent estates, with correspondingly improved activity at a lower dose when profiled in a T-cell gut-homing pharmacodynamic model. Haematological Cancer (MALT1 Inhibitor) Moving towards identification of pre-clinical candidate shortlist MALT1 is one of the key regulators of B-cell receptor (BCR) and T-cell receptor (TCR) signalling. Mutations that lead to constitutive activation of MALT1 are associated with aggressive forms of non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma and inhibition of MALT1 has potential therapeutic applicability as a mono therapy for MALT1-driven cancers such as activated B-cell diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (ABC-DLBCL) and in combination with BTK and Bcl inhibitors across multiple haematological indications, as well as broader potential in solid tumours and inflammation. Our Conformetrix technology has yielded multiple structurally distinct series, two of which have progressed into Lead Optimisation. Profiling of a Lead compound in a mouse xenograft study has shown equivalent efficacy at equivalent dose to the Johnson & Johnson clinical compound JnJ-67856633 (in Phase 1) and the programme is moving forward to identification of candidate shortlist molecules. C4XD has initiated partnering discussions for this programme. Expansion of Pipeline As we look to scale our portfolio, early-phase programmes targeting a number of targets across a range of immuno-inflammatory diseases are being resourced to identify those with the highest potential to warrant increased spend and prosecution to and through Lead Optimisation and eventually into the clinic. These programmes target clear unmet medical need, combined with significant commercial potential and a unique opportunity to produce valuable chemical equity through interpretation of conformational insight via C4XD's Conformetrix technology. Additionally, we are using our PatientSeek platform (vide infra) to inform our target selection choices, based on identification of patient stratification opportunities and improved trial design. Details of each programme will be provided once they have matured to Lead Optimisation stage. PatientSeek C4XD has launched a precision medicine platform, PatientSeek, based on its Taxonomy3 technology, following insights from a successful research collaboration with Garvan Institute of Medical Research. In the collaboration, C4XD provided Garvan Institute with the genetic signatures for its PatientSeek sub-groups in Parkinson's disease. Garvan researchers then applied this as part of a retrospective analysis of a failed Phase 3 Parkinson's clinical trial that had not reached its primary endpoint, to assess if a genetic subgroup of participants showed a benefit from the therapeutic. Very encouragingly, PatientSeek identified a subgroup that responded to the trial drug. These results provide the first validation of PatientSeek's ability to identify patient subgroups to optimise patient selection, which in turn could lead to enhanced probability of targeted success in clinical trials. The results from this study will be submitted for publication in a peer reviewed journal. Whilst this study was focused on Parkinson's disease, the PatientSeek platform is disease agnostic and can be applied to any complex genetic disease and we will look to expand and explore the immuno-inflammatory diseases subgroups for application in our own portfolio. Outlook C4XD has continued to make huge strides across our portfolio during the period, including our third global out-licensing deal, this time with AstraZeneca for our NRF2 Activator programme worth up to $402 million. This brings our deal value to a total of $1.2 billion with large pharmaceutical companies, further validating our reputation for generating high-quality small molecules. Following a review of our expertise and previous successes, C4XD is evolving its strategy to become a company focused on treatments for immuno-inflammatory diseases. With our proven expertise in drug discovery and our rigorous approach to programme development, we believe that a more focused approach on immuno-inflammatory diseases will allow us to harness our skillset and take the development of our programmes further, providing greater value for shareholders. 1. https://www.indivior.com/resources/dam/id/1147/Annual%20Report%20and%20Accounts%202022.pdf 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4530463/ 3. Plaque Psoriasis: Global Drug Forecast and Market Analysis to 2027, GlobalData, December 2018 Interim consolidated statement of comprehensive income For the six months ended 31 January 2023 Six months Six months Year to to to 31 January 2023 31 January 2022 31 July 2022 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) 000 000 000 Notes Revenue 3 1,676 66 2,699 Cost of sales (22) (59) (130) Gross profit 1,654 7 2,569 Research and development expenses (5,194) (3,942) (9,426) Administrative expenses (1,638) (1,595) (3,665) Operating loss (5,178) (5,530) (10,522) Finance income 15 - - Finance costs (12) (7) (12) Loss before taxation (5,175) (5,537) (10,534) Taxation 4 1,296 1,020 2,374 Loss for the period and total comprehensive loss for the period (3,879) (4,517) (8,160) Loss per share: Basic loss for the period 5 (1.55)p (1.98)p (3.57)p Diluted loss for the period 5 (1.55)p (1.98)p (3.57)p Interim consolidated statement of changes in equity For the six months ended 31 January 2023 Issued equity Share Warrant Share based payment Merger Capital contribution Revenue capital premium reserve reserve reserve reserve reserve Total 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 At 01 August 2021 4,302 53,043 979 1,191 920 195 (41,344) 19,286 Loss for the six months to 31 January 2022 - - - - - - (4,517) (4,517) Issue of share capital - - - - - - - - Expenses of options - - - - - - - - Exercise of warrants 11 297 (11) - - - 11 308 Share-based payments - - - 114 - - - 114 At 31 January 2022 4,313 53,340 968 1,305 920 195 (45,850) 15,191 Loss for the six months to 31 July 2022 - - - - - - (3,643) (3,643) Issue of share capital - - - - - - - - Exercise of options 3 15 - - - - - 18 Exercise of warrants - - - - - - - - Share-based payments - - - 238 - - - 238 At 31 July 2022 4,316 53,355 968 1,543 920 195 (49,493) 11,804 Loss for the six months to 31 January 2023 - - - - - - (3,879) (3,879) Issue of share capital 228 5,467 - - - - - 5,695 Expenses of placing - (287) - - - - - (287) Exercise of options 1 5 - - - - - 6 Exercise of warrants - - - - - - - - Share-based payments - - - 214 - - - 214 At 31 January 2023 4,545 58,540 968 1,757 920 195 (53,372) 13,553 Interim consolidated statement of financial position As at 31 January 2023 31 January 2023 31 January 2022 31 July 2022 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) Notes 000 000 000 Assets Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 43 30 47 Intangible assets 59 67 61 Goodwill 1,192 1,192 1,192 Right-of-use assets 563 266 707 1,857 1,555 2,007 Current assets Trade and other receivables 567 571 3,069 Income tax asset 3,661 3,073 4,427 Cash and cash equivalents 9,642 11,679 5,079 13,870 15,323 12,575 Total assets 15,727 16,878 14,582 Liabilities Current liabilities Trade and other payables (1,587) (1,390) (2,049) Lease liabilities (329) (171) (305) (1,916) (1,561) (2,354) Non-current liabilities Trade and other payables - - - Lease liabilities (258) (126) (424) (258) (126) (424) Total liabilities (2,174) (1,687) (2,778) Net assets 13,553 15,191 11,804 Capital and reserves Issued equity capital 6 4,545 4,314 4,316 Share premium 6 58,540 53,339 53,355 Share-based payment reserve 1,757 1,305 1,543 Warrant reserve 968 968 968 Merger reserve 920 920 920 Capital contribution reserve 195 195 195 Revenue reserve (53,372) (45,850) (49,493) Total equity 13,553 15,191 11,804 Approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 25 April 2023 Brad Hoy Chief Financial Officer 25 April 2023 Interim consolidated cash flow statement For the six months ended 31 January 2023 Six months Six months Year to to to 31 January 31 January 31 July 2023 2022 2022 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) 000 000 000 Loss after tax and interest (3,879) (4,517) (8,160) Adjustments for: Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 12 12 23 Depreciation of right-of-use assets 143 111 212 Amortisation of intangible assets 3 3 8 Share-based payments 214 114 352 Finance income (15) - - Finance costs 12 7 12 Taxation (1,296) (1,020) (2,374) Changes in working capital: Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables 2,502 3 (2,496) (Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables (462) (321) 338 Cash outflow from operating activities (2,766) (5,608) (12,085) Research and development tax credit received 2,063 - - Net cash outflow from operating activities (703) (5,608) (12,085) Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of property, plant and equipment (8) (10) (36) Finance income 15 - - Net cash outflow from investing activities 7 (10) (36) Cash flows from financing activities: Payment of lease liabilities (155) (114) (229) Proceeds from the issue of ordinary share capital 5,701 308 326 Expenses of placing (287) - - Net cash inflow from financing activities 5,259 194 97 Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 4,563 (5,424) (12,024) Cash and cash equivalents at the start of the period 5,079 17,103 17,103 Cash, cash equivalents and deposits at the end of the period 9,642 11,679 5,079 Notes to the interim financial report For the six months ended 31 January 2023 1. Corporate information The principal activity of the C4X Discovery Holdings plc is research and development, a review of which is included in the Chairman's and CEO's Statement. C4XD is incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom and its registered number is 09134041. The address of the registered office is Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD. The interim financial information was approved for issue on 25 April 2023. 2. Accounting policies Basis of preparation The accounting policies adopted in this interim financial report are consistent with those followed in the preparation of the Group's annual report and accounts for the year to 31 July 2022. The interim financial information for the six months ended 31 January 2023 and 31 January 2022 is unaudited and does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in the Companies Act 2006. This interim financial report includes audited comparatives for the year to 31 July 2022. The 2022 annual report and accounts received an unqualified audit opinion and have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. These interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS34 Interim Financial Reporting. They do not include all the information required for a complete set of IFRS financial statements. However, selected explanatory notes are included to explain events and transactions that are significant to an understanding of the changes in the Group's financial position and performance since the last annual consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended 31 July 2022. Basis of consolidation This interim financial report consolidates the financial statements of C4X Discovery Holdings plc and the entities it controls (its subsidiaries). 3. Revenue Six months to Six months to Year to 31 January 31 January 31 July 2023 2022 2022 000 000 000 Revenue recognised at a point in time - Right-to-use licence revenue - Milestone revenue 1,652 - - - - 2,555 Revenue recognised over time - Research services revenue - Consultancy services 24 - 66 - 144 - Total Revenue 1,676 66 2,699 Revenue in the current period has been generated from contracts with two customers. In the current period a new contract was signed with a new customer which has been determined to have three performance obligations - the transfer of intellectual property which has been recognised as right-to-use licence revenue at a single point in time; the provision of consultancy and technical support which will be recognised over time in line with the level of consultancy provided; and the facility of on-going research which will be reimbursed on a pass-through cost basis. The revenue attributed to the delivery of research services was generated from one customer and is recognised over time. The progress is measured based on costs incurred to date as compared with the total projected costs for both the current and prior periods. Revenue In the prior periods was generated from a contract with a single customer. In the prior period, the milestone revenue was determined to have one performance obligation and was recognised at a point in time. The revenue attributed to the delivery of research services was recognised on the same basis as in the current period. 4. Taxation Six months to Six months to Year to 31 January 31 January 31 July 2023 2022 2022 000 000 000 UK corporation tax losses in the period - - - Research and development income tax credit receivable (1,296) (1,020) (2,365) Adjustment in respect of prior periods - - (9) (1,296) (1,020) (2,374) 5. Loss per share 31 January 31 January 31 July 2023 2022 2022 000 000 000 Loss for the financial period attributable to equity shareholders (3,879) (4,517) (8,160) Weighted average number of shares: No. No. No. Ordinary shares in issue 250,048,502 228,177,371 228,675,845 Number of exercisable share options and warrants 305,197 22,005,021 12,231,972 Ordinary shares in issue for purposes of diluted EPS 250,353,700 250,182,392 240,907,817 Basic and diluted loss per share (pence) (1.55)p (1.98)p (3.57)p The number of exercisable share options and warrants above are those deemed to be potentially dilutive in nature as their exercise price is less than the average share price for the period. As the group made a loss in the current and comparative period the effects of these potential ordinary shares are not dilutive. 6. Issued share capital and share premium Deferred shares Ordinary shares Share capital Deferred shares Warrant reserve Share premium Total Number Number 000 000 000 000 000 Ordinary and deferred shares as at 31 January 2022 2,025,000 228,912,697 2,289 2,025 968 53,339 58,621 Issue of share capital on exercise of options - 319,275 3 - - 15 18 Ordinary and deferred shares as at 31 July 2022 2,025,000 229,231,972 2,292 2,025 968 53,354 58,639 Issue of share capital on placing - 22,781,200 228 - - 5,467 5,695 Issue of share capital on exercise of options - 106,425 1 - - 5 6 Expenses of placing - - - - - (287) (287) Ordinary and deferred shares as at 31 January 2023 2,025,000 252,119,597 2,521 2,025 968 58,539 64,053 7. Interim financial report A copy of this interim condensed financial report is available on C4XD's website at www.c4xdiscovery.com. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: C4X Discovery Holdings PLC View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/751276/C4X-Discovery-Holdings-PLC-Announces-Half-Year-Results Kenmare Resources Kenmare Resources plc (Kenmare or the Company or the Group) 26 April 2023 Capital Markets Day Kenmare Resources plc (LSE:KMR, ISE:KMR), one of the leading global producers of titanium minerals and zircon, which operates the Moma Titanium Minerals Mine (the "Mine" or "Moma") in northern Mozambique, is today hosting a Capital Markets Day. Statement from Michael Carvill, Managing Director: Over 70% of Momas mineral resources are located at the Nataka ore zone and we are excited to be outlining our plans for this world-class asset. Wet Concentrator Plant (WCP) A will commence its move to Nataka in 2025, and also undergo a fundamental upgrade of existing equipment. Mining capacity has been specified at 110% of requirements in the hardest parts of the ore zone, delivered through the replacement of both existing dredges and the integration of hydromining with the new dredges. An upfront desliming circuit on the Wet Concentrator Plant and the introduction of a Tailings Storage Facility will reset the operational capabilities at WCP A to deliver consistently at design capacity for decades to come. Capital expenditure for WCP A is estimated to be $247 million over the period 2023-25 and is expected to maintain low operating costs, retaining Kenmares first quartile industry position. Separately, we have identified an opportunity to accelerate the upgrade of WCP B, previously anticipated in 2027, at an estimated cost of $41 million. This would enable us to maintain production of 1.2 million tonnes of ilmenite per annum as WCP A mines the transition between Namalope and Nataka, delivering a compelling payback of approximately two years. Kenmare enters this investment phase in a strong financial position and following a period of steadily improving financial performance and shareholder returns. We are comfortable with the current absolute level of dividends for the medium term and are revising the payout range to between 20% and 40% of Profits After Tax. Story continues Overview WCP A to complete mining in Namalope in 2025 with an 18-month transition to Nataka Estimated capital expenditures of $247 million over 2023-25, including $37 million in contingencies Key capital investments include the replacement of two existing dredges at WCP A, installation of a desliming circuit and introduction of a Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) Studies underway to assess potential upgrade of WCP B capacity from 2,400 tonnes per hour (tph) to 3,400 tph at an estimated capital cost of $41 million Dividend policy revised to a payout ratio of 20% to 40% of underlying Profit After Tax Capital Markets Day A presentation for analysts and investors will be held today at 10:00am. A copy of the presentation will be available on the Companys website, and a replay of the event will be available shortly afterwards. No new material information or trading update, other than that contained in this announcement, will be provided at the event. Capital Projects The transition of WCP A to Nataka is expected to commence in 2025. Over an 18-month period, WCP A will mine its way to the Nataka ore zone. Following this, WCP A will continue to mine in Nataka for the remainder of its economic life, which is estimated to exceed 20 years. Capital expenditure for the transition of WCP A to Nataka is estimated at $247 million, including a $37 million contingency. This capital is expected to be phased over a three year period from 2023 to 2025, with the majority of the expenditure incurred in 2024 and 2025. A significant proportion of the expenditure covers the cost of replacing WCP As two existing dredges, the addition of a desliming circuit and the implementation of a TSF. During 2026 and 2027, a further $23 million of capital expenditure will be required for additional pumping infrastructure along with up to $25 million on power infrastructure upgrades, the latter subject to ongoing studies. Kenmare has also identified an opportunity to upgrade WCP B utilising one of the redundant dredges from WCP A and increasing the processing capacity of the wet concentrator plant. This would increase the capacity of WCP B from 2,400 tph to 3,400 tph and provide sufficient Heavy Mineral Concentrate (HMC) to maintain production at 1.2 million tonnes per annum ilmenite as WCP A is transitioning to Nataka from 2025. Based on prefeasibility studies, the capital cost is estimated at $41 million, incurred in 2025 and 2026. A decision to progress to Definitive Feasibility Study is expected imminently. The Company plans to fund capital expenditure requirements from existing resources and operating cash flows whilst maintaining conservative gearing levels. Separately, Kenmare in conjunction with its lenders is investigating the refinancing of existing bank facilities. Dividend policy In 2018, Kenmare announced its maiden dividend policy with a payout ratio of at least 20% of Profit After Tax. Since then, the Company has made cumulative returns to shareholders of $186 million through both normal dividends and a share buyback in 2021. This included dividend payouts of 25% of Profit After Tax in both 2021 and 2022. Based on Kenmares current and anticipated financial performance and strong balance sheet position, the Company believes that dividend payments should be sustainable at or about their current absolute level. Consequently, to ensure that the Company can have the flexibility to adapt to market conditions Kenmare intends to evolve its dividend policy towards a payout range of 20% to 40% of underlying Profit After Tax. Special dividends and further share buybacks may also be considered, subject to market conditions, balance sheet position and capital requirements. Prior to 2022, Kenmare primarily utilised a combination of trading profits and reserves arising from intra group capital reconstruction to create distributable reserves. Looking forward, the principal source of distributable reserves will be via intragroup dividends from trading subsidiaries. Based on the current structure of the Group, these dividends are likely to attract a charge to Irish tax based on the difference between the effective rate in Mozambique and the relevant Irish rate of 25%. The Group is actively investigating options to mitigate this exposure, which may include a restructure of the Kenmare Group. Further updates will be provided in due course. For further information, please contact: Kenmare Resources plc Jeremy Dibb / Michael Starke Investor Relations ir@kenmareresources.com Tel: +353 1 671 0411 Mob: +353 87 943 036 Murray (PR advisor) Paul OKane pokane@murraygroup.ie Tel: +353 1 498 0300 Mob: +353 86 609 0221 About Kenmare Resources Kenmare Resources plc is one of the world's largest producers of mineral sands products. Listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Euronext Dublin, Kenmare operates the Moma Titanium Minerals Mine in Mozambique. Moma's production accounts for approximately 7% of global titanium feedstocks and the Company supplies to customers operating in more than 15 countries. Kenmare produces raw materials that are ultimately consumed in everyday quality-of-life items such as paints, plastics and ceramic tiles. All monetary amounts refer to United States dollars unless otherwise indicated. Forward Looking Statements This announcement contains some forward-looking statements that represent Kenmare's expectations for its business, based on current expectations about future events, which by their nature involve risks and uncertainties. Kenmare believes that its expectations and assumptions with respect to these forward-looking statements are reasonable. However, because they involve risk and uncertainty, which are in some cases beyond Kenmare's control, actual results or performance may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders Anny Castilla-Earls said they will be studying an often under-served population of children: bilingual kids with developmental language disorder. A University of Houston professor and her research team are seeking to improve the lives and education of bilingual children across the country through their research on developmental language disorder. Anny Castilla-Earls, professor of communication sciences and disorders, was awarded $3.27 million for five years by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders to investigate the relationship between a childs proficiency in English or Spanish and the language in which they receive treatment for developmental language disorder. Developmental language disorder, or DLD, is a communication disorder that interferes with a persons learning, understanding and use of a language, and the cause cannot be attributed to limited language exposure, autism, intellectual disability, hearing impairment, or other external factors. This is often an underserved population of children because they are bilingual, said Castilla-Earls, a faculty member of the UH College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. There are many difficulties in identifying these children. There are only a few therapy programs for them. And if there are therapies for them, they tend to be in one language only. Castilla-Earls, along with her co-principal investigator and University of Delaware communication sciences and disorders professor Amanda Owen Van Horne, point out that a key challenge in serving bilingual children with developmental language disorders is the mismatch between the languages they speak and the availability of speech language pathologists who can provide services in those languages. Their hypothesis is simple: The childs strongest language should be the language of treatment. If the strongest language is treated, practitioners will see gains in both languages. If this hypothesis turns out to be correct, it will provide guidance about best practices for treating bilingual children with a language disorder. The team will conduct a randomized clinical trial enrolling 120 children with developmental language disorder between 4-6 years old from Houston-area public schools. It would be offered as a supplementary therapy in addition to the services the children receive in school. The study will focus on children who have trouble building complex syntax sentences. These are sentences such as, The ice melts if it gets warm, or If you finish your work, sit on the rug. Because these types of complex sentences exist in both Spanish and English, we can treat children in Spanish and we will see some gains in English, and vice versa, said Castilla-Earls. But we believe the strongest language of the child would be the best language to see those effects. Castilla-Earls will conduct the randomized clinical trial with her lab group. Pictured left to right are doctoral student Michelle Hernandez and Javier Jasso, postdoctoral researcher. They will test children using two grammatical structures. Children will receive one of three possible treatments: English only, Spanish only or bilingual (50% English, 50% Spanish) for one grammatical structure for nine weeks. Following treatment, outcomes will be assessed for both grammatical structures in both languages. Then the second grammatical structure will be treated for nine weeks, and outcomes will again be assessed for both grammatical structures for both languages. Vast Potential Impact on Bilingual U.S. Children According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 8.5 million children in the U.S. speak Spanish at home. Developmental language disorder is one of the most common developmental disorders, affecting approximately 1 in fourteen children in kindergarten. Its impacts can persist through adulthood. Through this study, we will have evidence to examine what is the best approach for treatment of children with developmental language disorder, said Castilla-Earls. "I look forward to the potential ramifications of our work and how it can truly support bilingual kids and their learning of language. She thanks the UH Division of Researchs Grants to Enhance and Advance Research program for the award of $39,000 three years ago that made it possible to collect pilot data to apply and be awarded a prestigious R01 grant from the NIH. Research reported in this release was supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders of the NIH under Award Number R01DC020183. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. A hub to service Leopard 2 tanks that Ukraine is receiving from its allies will start operating at the Bumar-Labedy defense enterprise in Gliwice, Poland, already in May. Poland's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak said this at a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. Blaszczak said that last Friday, he and his Ukrainian and German colleagues signed an agreement in Ramstein, Germany, on the creation of a maintenance and repair center for the Ukrainian Leopard 2 main battle tanks in Poland. "On the basis of this agreement, the maintenance center will start its work in May," he said. He added that Ukraine already has or will soon receive two battalions of Leopard 2 tanks in the A4 and A6 variants. "All these tanks will be serviced at Bumar-Labedy in Gliwice," Blaszczak said. He said it had been decided to set up a hub to repair Ukrainian tanks in this particular place because this enterprise has 20 years of experience in the maintenance and repair of Polish Leopard 2 A4 tanks. In addition, the center will be located in Poland that is a natural hub for this type of activity. Blaszczak drew attention to certain challenges related to the repair of Leopard 2 tanks due to limited access to spare parts. In this context, he noted that one of the signatories of the agreement on the creation of the hub is a German minister, since Germany is a manufacturer of Leopard tanks. "I really wanted the Germans to also feel their responsibility and for this process to take place quickly and effectively," he said. Blaschak noted that T-72 tanks are also maintained and repaired at Bumar-Labedy. He said he had received information from the Ukrainian side that these refurbished T-72 tanks are showing themselves very well at the front, defending Ukraine. On April 21, a meeting of the defense ministers of the countries that are part of the so-called tank coalition took place as part of a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Ramstein. After the meeting, the defense ministers of Ukraine, Germany and Poland signed a protocol of intentions to set up in Poland a hub to maintain and repair Leopard 2 main battle tanks that are being sent to Ukraine. Instructors of the Estonian Defense Forces have trained at least 1,000 Ukrainian servicemen since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the national broadcaster ERR. "A thousand Ukrainian soldiers were trained in Estonia. All training was organized in four groups. The Defense Forces in cooperation with the Kaitseliit (Volunteer Self-Defense Forces - ed.) made the main contribution to the first two, namely individual and professional training," said Colonel Mart Vendla, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Estonian Defense Forces. According to him, the feedback on the results of the training is positive. Vendla added that snipers are also being trained in Estonia. Colonel Viktor Kalnitski, Head of the Training Department of the General Staff of the Estonian Army, said that the program includes training in four areas: individual, specialized training, group work and command training. Estonian instructors are involved in the first two. "For example, we trained medics and taught Ukrainians how to use FH-70 guns," said Kalnitski. At the same time, the trained Ukrainian artillerymen are already at the front line and, according to feedback, are working successfully and professionally. Kalnitski added that the training for the Ukrainian military did not interfere with the planned training of the Estonian armed forces. In addition, the experience from these programs will be analyzed and used to improve the training of the Estonian military. Colonel Kalnitski also recalled that Estonia had been training the Ukrainian military even before Russia's full-scale aggression in Ukraine: The Academy of the Defense Forces conducted English language courses, trained medics, and Ukrainian officers studied at the Baltic Defense College. The training of Ukrainians is partly funded by the Estonian budget and partly by the EU. As Ukrinform reported last week, Latvian Defense Minister Inara Murniece said that the Baltic country would continue training Ukrainian military, and that it intends to train twice as many specialists as in 2022, which will amount to about 3,000 servicemen. Italy wants to host the Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2025 and is ready to resume the work of its credit agency in Ukraine as part of international financial support. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated this at a bilateral conference on Ukraines reconstruction in Rome, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "In 2025, Italy wants to host the large-scale Ukraine Recovery Conference on its territory. I am very glad to announce this and want to give a new impetus to the process of rebuilding the destroyed, starting with energy structures," she said. Meloni emphasized that Russia destroyed the strategic infrastructure of the civilian population to bring it to its knees. The Italian prime minister noted that Italy should work to restore the infrastructure objects that were destroyed: streets, bridges, schools, healthcare facilities. In this context, Meloni said that the SACE export credit agency, which is controlled by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance, is ready to operate again in Ukraine within the framework of international financial support, including for strategic projects in the energy sector, and is ready to resume projects halted in 2022 due to war. Meloni also called on the Italian private sector to support Ukraine's economic recovery. As reported, on Wednesday, April 26, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal arrived in Italy to participate in a bilateral conference on Ukraines reconstruction. Photo: Denys Shmyhal, Telegram Ukraine is looking into the joint production of components for air defense systems with Rheinmetall Italia S.p.A. Thats according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports. "Today, I visited the Italian defense company Rheinmetall Italia S.p.A., which specializes in the production of modern air defense systems. Among its projects is the Skynex short-range air defense system. We need such an effective weapon to protect Ukraine from the drones which Russia uses to attack us. This will save dozens of lives and infrastructure that is critical for millions of people," the head of government wrote on Telegram. The head of the Ukrainian government emphasized that such batteries have already been deployed in Ukraine. At the same time, "the possibility of joint production of components of these systems" is being considered, he added. "I thank our partners for their support! We are working to have more such effective air defense systems. They will create a reliable shield around our strategic infrastructure facilities," Shmyhal noted. As Ukrinform reported, Shmyhal launched a visit to Italy, where he is participating in a bilateral conference on the restoration of Ukraine. Ukraine is already preparing its energy system for the next winter. The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his video address, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The full text of the speech is provided below: Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians! I came back to Kyiv from a working trip to Zhytomyr, we actually worked there all day. First, there was the visit of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. Negotiations and signing of the Joint Declaration. I am grateful to Mrs. Prime Minister and the entire Estonian people for their clear and unwavering support of our movement to the European Union and NATO the relevant points on the Alliance are included in the declaration. Today, most attention was paid to defense issues, and this is obvious. Estonia is among those whose assistance to our defense is the fastest and the largest if you look at the ratio of aid to the country's GDP. This applies to guns for our artillery, shells and weapons for our anti-aircraft gunners... Many aspects. We also discussed decisions on weapons and ammunition that are still being implemented by our other partners in the European Union. This is the case when people's lives directly depend on the speed of delivery and the implementation of decisions already made. I am grateful to Estonia for its willingness to assist in the relevant communication with other partners. Zhytomyr was not chosen as a venue for our talks by chance. It is in the Zhytomyr region that a reconstruction project has been implemented, which gives Estonia the lead - the lead in how quickly what has been agreed upon is implemented. In the city of Ovruch, Zhytomyr region, the reconstruction of a kindergarten is to be completed by June 1 with the help of Estonia. This project will be further expanded. There are other reconstruction projects as well, and I am sure we will implement them all. It was a great pleasure to visit Zhytomyr Polytechnic and talk to the university students. It's a great university - you can feel that they really care about students. They care about Ukraine, taking into account that the university prepares different specialists for the country. I thank each and every one who attended the meeting at the Polytechnic, who asked questions and who responded sincerely to the answers. It was a nice, energetic communication. This is exactly what we are fighting for for the whole of Ukraine for all our children, all Ukrainian students in every part of our country to feel free, enjoy freedom, get an education and realize themselves in life as they want. And this will happen. Ukraine will defend its freedom. I also held a special coordination meeting in Zhytomyr with all those responsible for the region. We discussed in detail the security, economic and social situation in the region. We have made decisions, in particular, to restore the energy sector after the Russian strikes. We are already preparing our energy sector for the next winter. There are also decisions on educational infrastructure - the Minister of Education and Science took part in the meeting today. Of course, we will help our regions, and Zhytomyr region in particular, with school buses. Special attention was paid to the border. There was a report by the Head of the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration and the Head of the State Border Guard Service. We talked about the protection, arrangement of the border, and the situation in general. I am grateful to everyone who ensures the strength of our state border. And by the way, I would like to recognize our border guards today - those who, together with all the defense forces of our country, are defending Ukraine on the frontline. There is much to thank them for. Luhansk and Kramatorsk border guard detachments - thank you, soldiers, for your steadfastness in Bakhmut! Lutsk border guard detachment - thank you guys for your strength in the Avdiivka area! Kherson and Berdyansk border guard detachments - thank you for the successful completion of tasks in the south of our country. Well done to all of you! Glory to all our warriors who are now in combat, at combat posts, on combat missions! Thank you to everyone who helps Ukraine defend itself against Russian evil! I thank Zhytomyr for today. Glory to Ukraine! Ukraine will be a member of the European Union, and this is one of the reasons why Italian businesses should invest in Ukraine. "Ukraine will be a member of the EU, and this is one of the arguments why Italian businesses should invest in Ukraine today. I emphasized this during the reconstruction conference in Rome. The speeches of Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as the participation of hundreds of Italian and Ukrainian companies, businesses, and associations in the event, are a signal that we have a common interest in the implementation of reconstruction projects," Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal posted on Telegram after taking part in the conference on Ukraine's reconstruction in Rome, Ukrinform reports. Shmyhal invited Italian companies to invest in Ukraine and already implement reconstruction projects. After all, those who invest in Ukraine now will get the best opportunities and prospects during the implementation of the Great Recovery Plan, he emphasized. As reported, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal makes a visit to Rome. He took part in a bilateral conference on the restoration of Ukraine, held meetings with the President and the Prime Minister of Italy. Meetings with the defense minister and the heads of chambers of the Italian Parliament are also scheduled. Pope Francis is expected to receive Shmyhal on April 27. Photo: Denys Shmyhal, Telegram Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced several important agreements that are planned to be signed during the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference in Rome. "The Ukraine Reconstruction Conference in Rome is yielding results. Important agreements, which will add dynamics to our relations, will be signed during the event," Shmyhal posted on Telegram. In particular, several memoranda will be signed: between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Italian Trade Agency to intensify trade relations; between the Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) and the MERMEC company which specializes in diagnostics of railway tracks; between agricultural associations for the implementation of modern projects in the process of restoration of Ukraine; between the company We Build and Ukrhydroenergo on cooperation in the construction of hydroelectric power stations. In addition, a memorandum for environmental protection and restoration of ecology and a memorandum of cooperation in the industrial sector will be signed. In addition to the EUR 500 million credit line, the Italian Export Credit Agency is ready to allocate another EUR 1 billion to support trade and financial operations. Kharkiv region and the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, Kyiv region and Tuscany will sign the cooperation memoranda. As reported, PM Shmyhal participates in the bilateral conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine in Italy. Representatives from more than 150 Ukrainian businesses were able to meet directly with Italian counterparts and discuss the possibilities of cooperation in many areas and even conclude a number of contracts on the spot. Thats according to Hennadiy Chyzhykov, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine, who spoke with Ukrinform after the Conference on Ukraines Restoration, held in Rome on April 26. According to Chyzhikov, "not only did we hear some inspiring speeches, not only did we talk about what concerns us, but we also got to know each other: each company had five to seven business negotiations, some even signed business contracts," noted the head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He recalled that the high-level event was initiated by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during her visit to Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky also delivered an inspiring address, while leading ministers and business associations took part in the plenary session. In addition to the session, there were thematic meetings devoted to infrastructure and logistics, pharmaceuticals and health care, issues related to industrial development, IT and others. Some proposals were worked out for each section, which are important for the development of bilateral relations, while business-to-business negotiations are taking place, noted the head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He drew attention to the fact that Italy is a member of the G7, with enormous experience in transport; engineering, IT, renewables, etc. "A message was sent to the Italians: where to go, with whom and how to work; that Ukraine is open, that they dont need to wait for the end of the war, but to start moving toward estoring Ukraine," he said. Chyzhykov praised the Italians for believing in Ukraines Victory and that this Victory will be on Ukraine's terms. "They see future Ukraine also as a driver, including of the European economy," Chyzhykov emphasized. As reported, the Ukrainian-Italian conference on the restoration of Ukraine held in Rome saw nearly a thousand attendees, in particular, the prime ministers of both states and several relevant ministers, representatives of international financial organizations, and others. Ben F. Windham P.C., Macon, GA Personal Injury Attorney, was chosen by Super Lawyers as one of their top lawyers of 2023. MACON, GA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Leading Macon, Georgia law firm Ben F. Windham, P.C. is pleased to announce that their founding partner, Mr. Ben Windham, has been recognized as a 2023 Georgia Super Lawyer. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Mr. Windham has been named to the prestigious list, a recognition given to only 5% of practicing attorneys annually. Ben F. Windham P.C., Wednesday, April 26, 2023, Press release picture Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters company, is a rating service that recognizes outstanding lawyers in over 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process for the Super Lawyers list involves a patented multiphase process that includes research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. Upon receiving the recognition, Mr. Windham expressed his honor and gratitude for being selected for the Super Lawyers list for the fifth time. He further emphasized his firm's dedication to providing high-quality legal representation for their clients, and how this recognition is a true reflection of their passion for their work in personal injury law. Mr. Windham sees his advocacy for victims of negligence as a privilege and is committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for his clients. The Super Lawyers selection process evaluates candidates' verdicts and settlements, experience, bar involvement, honors and awards, pro bono and community service, and other qualifications on an annual, state-by-state basis. The list highlights attorneys across the nation who exhibit excellence in their practice areas. To be selected for the Super Lawyers list is a testament to the reputation attorneys have cultivated among their peers, as well as their professional achievements and ethical conduct. Super Lawyers does not permit attorneys to pay for a place on the list, and inclusion is based entirely on objective criteria. This makes the list a reliable resource for lawyers and consumers seeking exceptional legal counsel. To learn more about Super Lawyers and its selection process, please visit SuperLawyers.com . Story continues About Ben F. Windham, P.C.: Lawyers at Ben F. Windham, P.C., serve personal injury clients throughout Macon and all counties in Georgia. They specialize in seeking justice for individuals who have been injured by the negligence of others and litigate against all insurance companies providing tenacious and honest representation. Their approach is hands-on and much different from the high-volume TV and billboard lawyers. Clients of Ben F. Windham, P.C. work directly with an attorney during all phases of their case. At Ben F. Windham, P.C. expect a collaborative team with an entrepreneurial mindset determined to meet and exceed their client's expectations each step of the way towards obtaining justice. To learn more about top-rated personal injury lawyer of Macon, GA , Ben F. Windham P.C. Trial Attorneys, or for a free case evaluation please visit https://windhamlaw.com or call 833-236-9467. Contact: Ben F. Windham P.C. Address: 461 3rd St Ste 3, Macon, GA 31201 Contact Name: Ben Windham Website: https://windhamlaw.com Email: Ben@windhamlaw.com Phone: 833.236.9467 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1833BENWINS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bewindham/ SOURCE: Ben F. Windham P.C. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/751487/Car-Accident-Lawyer-Macon-GA-Ben-Windham-Named-to-Super-LawyersR-2023-List Slovakia has supported granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for membership in the European Union. The Chairman of the Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk expects the same support for Ukraine's further European integration. The Chairman of the Parliament of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk said this on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. Ruslan Stefanchuk met for the first time with the Chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic Boris Kollar. "During the conversation, I emphasized that another strategic goal of Ukraine is NATO membership and support of Slovakia is important to us," he said. The parties discussed in detail the issue of the special tribunal. The Slovak parliament passed a resolution supporting its establishment. "Today I heard from my colleague a firm position: Russia is an aggressor country that must be punished and must compensate for all the damage caused to Ukraine," Stefanchuk said. As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed an application for Ukraine's membership in the European Union on February 28, 2022. The European Council approved Ukraine's application as a candidate for membership in the European Union on June 23, 2022. On April 25, Stefanchuk discussed Ukraine's movement towards the European Union with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. Photo: Facebook/Ruslan Stefanchuk Members of the U.S. Congress presented the draft resolution "Ukrainian Victory" which supports the efforts of Ukrainians in their fight for freedom, as well as Ukraines accession to NATO. The document was presented during a press conference organized by the Helsinki Commission, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. The resolution affirms that it is U.S. policy to ensure Ukraine is able to retain sovereignty over its internationally-recognized borders, to pursue justice and reparations for Ukraine to help facilitate reconstruction, and to integrate Ukraine into Euro-Atlantic institutions like NATO, consistent with U.S. policy since 2008. As Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA Oksana Markarova posted on Facebook, the draft resolution says that the House of Representatives: 1) Affirms that the U.S. policy is for Ukraine to defeat the [Russian] invasion and restore its internationally recognized borders of 1991 2) Believes that peace after the Ukrainian Victory should be ensured by the integration of Ukraine into NATO and other Euro-Atlantic institutions, consistent with the long-term U.S. policy 3) Declares that the United States should work with its allies and partners to ensure that the Russian Federation pays reparations to Ukraine; the world community helps to restore Ukraine; the leadership of the Russian Federation is held to account for this war of aggression; justice for the victims of crimes committed by the Russian Federation during its invasion is restored The co-authors of the resolution are members of the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress: Republican Joe Wilson, Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, and Democrat Steve Cohen, Ranking Member of the Helsinki Commission. As reported, the administration of President Biden is convinced that the Senate controlled by Democrats and the House of Representatives with a Republican majority will continue consistent support for Ukraine. Photo: Oksana Markarova, Facebook Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has criticized the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He said this at a business conference in Spain on Tuesday, April 25, according to Reuters. Lula said he is committed to finding a peace formula to end the conflict. "I understand the European view of this war. It is unacceptable that one country invades another, but it is a war in which I do not see anyone talking about peace," the Brazilian president said. According to Reuters, Lula angered many in the West this month when he called for the U.S. and European allies to stop supplying arms to Ukraine saying they were prolonging the war, prompting a White House spokesperson to accuse him of "parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda." After the backlash, the Brazilian leader toned down his comments and on a visit to Portugal and Spain he has condemned Russia's violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity. Lula suggested earlier that Ukraine cede the Black Sea peninsula to Russia to end the war. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, in turn, said that Ukraine does not trade its territories and does not see any reason to cede at least a centimeter of Ukrainian land. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Italian President Sergio Mattarella at a meeting in Rome discussed current areas of cooperation in the financial and defense spheres, sanctions against Russia's nuclear industry and the work of the Grain from Ukraine initiative. That's according to the Ukrainian government website, Ukrinform reports. "The parties also raised the issue of sanctions against Russia's nuclear industry and the work of the Grain from Ukraine grain initiative. Denys Shmyhal thanked Italy for supporting Ukraine's European aspirations and expressed hope that Italy would also support Ukraine's accession to NATO," the report reads. Shmyhal once again thanked Italy for its military assistance to Ukraine's security and defense forces, particularly for the sixth aid package that included critically needed air defense systems. He emphasized that along with efforts aimed at ensuring quick and stable supplies of all necessary weapons and ammunition from Ukraine's partners, the government is also focusing on the implementation of President Volodymyr Zelensky's Peace Formula. "This initiative presents our vision of the necessary steps that will ensure a comprehensive, just and stable peace in Ukraine and security for the whole world," he said. He also thanked the Italian side for its willingness to join the implementation of the Peace Formula. Mattarella, in turn, noted that his country would continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. Shmyhal arrived in Italy on Wednesday, April 26. In Rome, he will take part in a bilateral conference on the restoration of Ukraine and present its results together with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. It is also expected that Pope Francis will receive Shmyhal on April 27, ahead of the pontiff's apostolic visit to Hungary. Italy will help Ukraine fulfill as soon as possible the criteria necessary for its full membership in the European Union and speed up the beginning of negotiations on the country's joining the European community. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said this at a joint meeting with her Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal in Rome on Wednesday, April 26, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "We believe that the future of Ukraine is with us, that Ukraine will increasingly join our European family. We will help do everything in our power to speed up the accession process. We see the huge efforts that are being made by the government in Kyiv despite the war in order to get closer as soon as possible to the goals set by the European Commission in the accession process. We will contribute to speeding up the negotiations within the process of joining the EU," Meloni said. She noted that this concerns political support, however, as a bilateral conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine proved, Italy will also support the private sector and promote cooperation between enterprises. The bilateral conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine is taking place in Rome on April 26. The topic of captured Ukrainian territories by Russia can never be exchanged for the word "peace", and a way out of the conflict with Russia is possible only on Ukraine's conditions. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said this at a bilateral conference in Rome, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Meloni noted that Italy could not make any other choice but to stand by Ukraine in its struggle for freedom, territorial integrity and European solidarity. "The Ukrainian people are also fighting for us. The Ukrainian people are not bringing the conflict closer with their struggle, they are moving it away. The support we provide is the support we must provide," the Italian Prime Minister said. According to her, she wants to send one message from Rome to the international community today: the future of Ukraine can only be peaceful and free, there are no other options, and Italy wants to contribute to achieving this goal not only by helping Ukraine defend itself and providing political support. "When we talk about any future negotiations to end this conflict, the topic of the capture [of Ukrainian territories by Russia] can never be exchanged for the word 'peace'. Thus, we can get out of this conflict only on the conditions of Ukraine and the initiatives [of President Zelensky] that we are now moving forward," Meloni said. As reported, a bilateral conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine is taking place in Rome on April 26. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky had a phone call with President of the Peoples Republic of China Xi Jinping. The details have been made public on the website of the President of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports. During a productive hour-long conversation, the heads of state discussed a full range of topical issues of bilateral relations. Special attention was paid to the ways of possible cooperation to establish a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine, reads the press release. Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine's unwavering position on adherence to the "One China" policy and thanked the President of the Peoples Republic of China for China's support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The President expressed gratitude to the Chinese side for the humanitarian assistance and noted that Ukraine properly cares about the safety of Chinese citizens in our country. The parties discussed ways to strengthen the Ukrainian-Chinese partnership. "Before the full-scale Russian invasion, China was Ukraine's number one trading partner. I believe that our conversation today will give a powerful impetus to the return, preservation and development of this dynamic at all levels," the President of Ukraine emphasized. This should be facilitated by the resumption of the work of the bilateral intergovernmental commission and the appointment of the Ambassador of Ukraine to China. The President of Ukraine emphasized that today Ukraine honors the memory of the victims of the Chornobyl accident the largest man-made disaster in the history of mankind. He emphasized that the ongoing Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the use of the plant as a cover for military strikes at our cities and villages demonstrate that Moscow does not respect the fair interest of all people of the world to live in guaranteed safety from any nuclear or radiation threats. In this regard, the Head of State called on China to play an effective role in the settlement of the security issue around the ZNPP. "This will be in line with the essence of the Budapest Memorandum," he emphasized. Zelensky briefed the Chinese leader on the situation at the front: "The situation at the front is difficult, but we are standing. And we will continue to liberate our land. We did not start this war, but we have to restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country. Within the internationally recognized borders of 1991. Including Crimea. This is fully consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter." The Head of State specifically focused on the devastating consequences of the Russian invasion, emphasizing the abduction of 20,000 Ukrainian children by Russia. The President of Ukraine outlined the content of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and informed about the ongoing diplomatic work on the organization of the Global Peace Summit. Zelensky expressed hope for China's active participation in efforts to restore peace. "Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainian people. We are on our land and fighting for our future, exercising our inalienable right to self-defense. Peace must be just and sustainable, based on the principles of international law and respect for the UN Charter. There can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises. The territorial integrity of Ukraine must be restored within the 1991 borders," the President of Ukraine said. The parties emphasized the importance of efforts to establish peace. The Head of State separately emphasized the importance of all states refraining from supporting Russia in the war. This should apply to military-technical cooperation, including the supply of weapons. "Russia converts any support even partial into the continuation of its aggression, into its further rejection of peace. The less support Russia receives, the sooner the war will end and serenity will return to international relations," Zelensky emphasized. The President of Ukraine emphasized the readiness of our country to remain a guarantor of global food security. Zelensky noted that Ukrainian ports are currently hostage to Russian aggression and are blocked by the aggressor state, and our export routes are blocked with them. In this context, the parties expressed joint support for the need for proper implementation and continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Zelensky informed about the implementation of the Grain from Ukraine global humanitarian program. The leaders of Ukraine and China agreed to maintain a regular dialogue. 04/25/2023 By Karen Angelo Goodbye, faxes, paper and spreadsheets. Hello, streamlined public health communications. A digital revolution is happening in health care, and public health will not be left behind, says Micky Tripathi, national coordinator for health information technology at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Tripathi spoke on campus recently to students, staff and faculty about the modernization of public health systems in celebration of National Public Health Week. It was also a homecoming for him, since he grew up in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. My mother worked at Lowell General Hospital and still lives in Chelmsford; my sister lives in Dracut, he said at the opening of the event. Its a pleasure to be here to share how we can transform our public health infrastructure with your help and the benefit of youth. A generation that has grown up with computers isnt intimidated by digital technologies or the internet, said Tripathi, who leads the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), the federal entity charged with coordinating nationwide efforts to implement the most advanced health information technology and the electronic exchange of health information. We need public health professionals with IT experience who can work with the ONC and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on a project to make disparate public health systems interoperable, he said. Tripathis office supports the overall administration of the Public Health Informatics & Technology (PHIT) Workforce Development Program, an American Rescue Plan-funded program that awarded UMass Lowell $3 million to help build a pipeline of diverse public health IT professionals. Led by Prof. Dan Berlowitz of the Department of Public Health, the UMass Lowell PHIT program was developed in partnership with three local community colleges Middlesex Community College, Northern Essex Community College and Nashua Community College and eight community health agencies. Having Dr. Tripathi on campus talking about the national vision for public health systems was inspirational for our administration, community leaders, staff and faculty, says Berlowitz. Since the program was launched, UMass Lowell has developed new undergraduate and graduate courses and trained 46 students to date. Berlowitzs team is working with community health partners to secure career-connected internships for students. These new professionals are needed to prevent what happened during the pandemic, when public health information systems either didnt exist or couldnt keep up with daily tracking, reporting and sharing, says Berlowitz. Tripathi explained how each state and jurisdiction has the authority over how they collect and report public health information. Our public health system is not really a system, but rather disparate islands of information, said Tripathi, who was appointed to his role in January 2021. We dont see this as a roadblock. I believe that we can find ways to connect with each other and share information in more modern ways than we do today. To illustrate his point, he asked the audience to think about using Venmo to transfer funds to a friend who doesnt have the same bank, or calling a colleague on a mobile phone who doesnt have the same network carrier. You probably dont even think about it. The infrastructure operates in the background to make these systems autonomous, secure and shareable, Tripathi said. We need to apply this knowledge to public health. Tripathi stressed that the type of information needed in a public health system goes beyond patient records. As the pandemic demonstrated, we also need easy, fast ways for health care providers to quickly report information to the CDC, such as how many ICU beds and ventilators are available and how many clinicians are on staff, he said. He believes that this can be done without an added burden to health care providers and state and local public health offices and that UMass Lowell is doing its part to make that happen. Theres important work that's happening at UMass Lowell to get the students trained and become experts so they can help build a digital interoperable public health system, he said. Master of Public Health student Heer Patel, who is taking the health care management track, attended the event to learn about the plans for developing shareable systems at the national level. I found the event to be very informative, and one theme greatly stood out to me the idea of uniformity, connectivity and being able to communicate easily from one system to another, says Patel, who will graduate in May 2023. Did you know there are some financial metrics that can provide clues of a potential multi-bagger? Amongst other things, we'll want to see two things; firstly, a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an expansion in the company's amount of capital employed. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. In light of that, when we looked at Challenger Technologies (SGX:573) and its ROCE trend, we weren't exactly thrilled. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It? Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. The formula for this calculation on Challenger Technologies is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.069 = S$12m (S$220m - S$41m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2022). Thus, Challenger Technologies has an ROCE of 6.9%. On its own, that's a low figure but it's around the 8.4% average generated by the Specialty Retail industry. See our latest analysis for Challenger Technologies roce While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you want to delve into the historical earnings, revenue and cash flow of Challenger Technologies, check out these free graphs here. What Can We Tell From Challenger Technologies' ROCE Trend? In terms of Challenger Technologies' historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. Over the last five years, returns on capital have decreased to 6.9% from 21% five years ago. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It's worth keeping an eye on the company's earnings from here on to see if these investments do end up contributing to the bottom line. Story continues On a side note, Challenger Technologies has done well to pay down its current liabilities to 18% of total assets. That could partly explain why the ROCE has dropped. What's more, this can reduce some aspects of risk to the business because now the company's suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of its operations. Some would claim this reduces the business' efficiency at generating ROCE since it is now funding more of the operations with its own money. The Bottom Line On Challenger Technologies' ROCE In summary, Challenger Technologies is reinvesting funds back into the business for growth but unfortunately it looks like sales haven't increased much just yet. And investors may be recognizing these trends since the stock has only returned a total of 35% to shareholders over the last five years. As a result, if you're hunting for a multi-bagger, we think you'd have more luck elsewhere. Challenger Technologies does come with some risks though, we found 2 warning signs in our investment analysis, and 1 of those is a bit unpleasant... While Challenger Technologies isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Comb through any Chipotle (CMG) earnings call transcripts from the past five years and you are likely to see one word more than a few times: throughput. For Chipotle and other fast-casual restaurants, throughput is the speed at which customer orders are satisfied. Chipotle has long had an issue with speedy throughput, especially during the busy dinner hours. A customer waits in Chipotle's line, carefully walks down the service line to pick ingredients for a burrito or bowl, and then pays at the cash register. It could be quite a time investment because many customers are unsure about what they want to order while others will order double of an ingredient (usually meat and chicken), slowing up the line and triggering out-of-stocks. Customers sometimes will be upset and, at worst, leave the store entirely because the line is too long. Either way, the issue has held back Chipotle's fullest profit potential, many experts contend. However, Chipotle appears to be on the cusp of fixing this longtime problem maybe. The company's CFO Jack Hartung confirmed to Yahoo Finance Live (video above) it's rolling out a new double-sided grill to cook chicken and steak faster. The new grill will be installed in 10 additional Chipotle restaurants in the second quarter after a successful pilot test earlier this year. "Now the chicken you get is going to be coming from the grill even faster and even fresher," Hartung said. "It means it's going to be juicier because it's going to be cooked to the exact right temperature, and we are not going to have the yield loss, which means our economic model and our ability to continue to deliver value to our customers is going to be better than ever." A Chipotle Mexican Grill employee prepares food on Tuesday Dec. 15, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) In other words, Chipotle isn't clucking around anymore when it comes to speeding up its lines. Bernstein analyst Danilo Gargiulo told Yahoo Finance the new grill has "good potential" for Chipotle in three areas: Story continues "Throughput improvement: faster line since cooking times are reduced (from 12-13 min to 2-3 min) and staffing the grill has historically been complex." "Better customer experience, given the higher level of cooking consistency: big deal for a company that has to prepare from scratch their food across 3,000 locations." "Better item availability: with faster preparation time, customers may choose to wait rather than walk out of the store if charred chicken is temporarily unavailable." Not that any of this showed up materially in the first quarter for Chipotle. Chipotle's first quarter same-store sales surged 10.9%, easily beating estimates for an 8.5% increase. Hartung told Yahoo Finance that consumers didn't blink at higher prices for burritos and bowls. "1Q23 did much to assuage lingering concerns about Chipotle Mexican Grill's comp sustainability," Bank of America analyst Sara Senatore wrote in a client note. "Mid-single digit percentage traffic growth continuing into April is consistent with our established view that last year's price increases did not permanently impair the brand." "Likewise, after concerns about CMG's ability to continue to drive comps with limited-time offerings/menu innovation, recent launches are a reminder that the stage gate process works," Senatore continued. "Veggie fajitas are now a permanent menu item and the global chicken al pastor limited-time offering is tracking ahead of all prior protein limited-time offerings." Now bring on those new grills. Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance's Executive Editor. Follow Sozzi on Twitter @BrianSozzi and on LinkedIn. Tips on deals, mergers, activist situations or anything else? Email brian.sozzi@yahoofinance.com Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Indonesia: Rule of Law Challenges The past decade has witnessed profound social, political and economic change in Indonesia. The country has transformed from an authoritarian regime into one of Asia's most vibrant and decentralised democracies. This transformation is especially remarkable given Indonesia's high vulnerability to natural disasters, its geographical fragmentation and its large ethnically diverse population. In a decade, Indonesia achieved relative political and macroeconomic stability, made important progress toward its Millennium Development Goal targets, graduated from a Middle Income Country status and was welcomed to the fold of the G20. 1 However significant challenges to development remain. Problematic drug use has increased in the last decade, and Indonesia is now a major manufacturer for the growing amphetamine-type stimulant market. The link between drug use and HIV/AIDS remains strong, as statistics indicate that 40% of all HIV/AIDS cases consist of injecting drug users. In addition to drug trafficking, illegal forest crimes and the trade of environmental goods are issues of increasing concern. The Indonesian Department of Forests estimates that in recent years, the country has been losing 1.6 to 2.8 million hectares annually to illegal land and land conversion. Terrorism remains high on the priority of the UNODC and the Government of Indonesia after the Bali bombings in 2002 and 2005 and the attacks on the J.W. Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta in 2009. UNODC applauded the Government's significant progress in ending the separatist conflicts in Aceh and Papua, which has helped to reduce terrorist attacks by separatists. Of late, the large scale radicalization of students enrolled in Pesantrens (Islamic schools) and the subsequent spreading of such influence in regular universities remains a cause for concerns. As with other countries in South East Asia, Indonesia suffers as a prime source, transit and destination for illegally trafficked and smuggled persons. Patterns are further exacerbated by internal strife, such as underemployment, poverty and organised crime. Many efforts to address current security threats are challenged by the prominent role that corruption plays in the day-to-day running of the nation. In 2011, Indonesia was ranked 100 out of 183 counties on Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index, although this was an improvement on the previous year. Indonesia has advanced a strong institutional reform program over the past 10 years. Indonesians have successfully held elections, institutionalized democratic politics, made multiple improvements to their constitution and initiated a comprehensive program of decentralization reforms. An anti-corruption agenda has moved to the centre of Government reforms with the establishment of anti-corruption institutions. However, combating corruption is still a struggle. Susceptibility to corruption flows from systemic weaknesses in governance. Government of Indonesia ongoing efforts are required to strengthen flaws in law enforcement agencies and transparency mechanisms. The Government initiatives, such as the Corruption Eradication Commission has contributed positively to Indonesia's fight against corruption, their full effectiveness remains impaired by deep-rooted challenges. --------------------------------- 1UNPDF 2011-2015. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th April, 2023) Russian President Vladimir Putin and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev discussed bilateral agenda, in particular, steps to expand trade and economic cooperation, the Kremlin said on Wednesday. "Topical issues of the bilateral agenda were discussed, in particular, steps to further expand mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation," the statement said. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Chrysler-parent Stellantis NV wants to cut approximately 3,500 hourly U.S. jobs and is offering voluntary exit packages, according to a United Auto Workers union letter made public Tuesday. The automaker is looking to reduce its hourly workforce offering incentive packages that include $50,000 payments for workers hired before 2007, UAW Local 1264 said in a letter dated Monday posted on its Facebook page. Stellantis spokeswoman Jodi Tinson declined to comment. A person briefed on the matter said the figure might be lower than the figure cited in the UAW letter. In late February, Stellantis indefinitely halted operations at an assembly plant in Illinois, citing rising costs of electric vehicle production. The action impacted about 1,350 workers at the Belvidere, Illinois, plant that built the Jeep Cherokee SUV and resulted in indefinite layoffs. The automaker has warned it may not resume operations as it considers other options. The UAW letter said openings created by workers leaving would be filled by workers on indefinite layoff. Stellantis said in February that about 40,000 U.S. hourly workers were eligible for profit sharing. Last week, UAW President Shawn Fain said Stellantis' decision to idle the Illinois plant was "a flat-out violation" of the union's contract with the UAW and is unacceptable. The UAW will enter talks with the Detroit Three before labor contracts expire in mid-September. Earlier this month, General Motors said about 5,000 salaried workers accepted buyouts to leave the automaker. GM CEO Mary Barra said February job cuts of a few hundred jobs and the 5,000 buyouts "provided approximately $1 billion towards" a $2 billion cost cutting target. Ford Motor Co recently announced significant job cuts in Spain, Germany and other parts of Europe and in August said it would cut a total of 3,000 salaried and contract jobs, mostly in North America and India. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) SHARJAH, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 26th Apr, 2023) Major General Saif Al Zari Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police (SP), chaired the 4th Permanent Supreme Command Committee meeting for 2023 in the presence of Brigadier General Abdullah Mubarak bin Amer, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, and members of the Permanent Supreme Committee. The meeting discussed several security issues related to enhancing the quality of life and security in Sharjah, including a report on security surveillance systems for protecting private facilities from theft. The meeting also revealed the highlights of the first quarter's work of the committee and some proposed developments for Sharjah Police sports teams, their participation in specialised tournaments, and strategic indicators for the previous year. Khartoum, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Apr, 2023 ) :A US-brokered ceasefire between Sudan's warring generals entered its second day Wednesday but remained fragile after witnesses reported fresh air strikes and paramilitaries claimed to have seized a major oil refinery and power plant. "The pause was not fully upheld, with attacks on headquarters, attempts to gain ground, air strikes, and explosions in different areas of the capital," UN Special Representative Volker Perthes told the Security Council Tuesday. Perthes said he maintained contact with both generals: army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the heavily armed paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). "There is yet no unequivocal sign that either is ready to seriously negotiate," Perthes said. Security fears were compounded when the World Health Organization (WHO) warned Tuesday of a "huge biological risk" after fighters occupied a Khartoum laboratory holding samples of cholera, measles, polio and other infectious diseases. The fighting has killed hundreds of people and left some neighbourhoods of greater Khartoum in ruins, prompting thousands of foreigners and Sudanese to flee. As combat eased in the city of five million, foreign governments have been organising road convoys, aircraft and ships to get thousands of their nationals out. A boat carrying nearly 1,700 civilians from more than 50 countries arrived in Saudi Arabia early Wednesday, the kingdom's foreign ministry said. It added that it has evacuated 2,148 people, including more than 2,000 foreigners. Other evacuation efforts continued, with a British military transport plane landing in Cyprus. "The most difficult thing was the sounds of the bombing and the jet fighters flying above our home. That horrified the children," said Safa Abu Taher, who landed with her family at a military airport in Jordan Tuesday night. Bewildered civilians were seen walking down one street in Khartoum North where almost all buildings were blasted out and smoke rose from scorched ruins, in an unverified video posted on social media. Witnesses in the same area later reported air strikes, and paramilitary forces firing anti-aircraft weapons. Late Tuesday, witnesses reported more air strikes in Khartoum North where they said fighter jets struck RSF vehicles. Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Apr, 2023 ) :South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol kicked off a six-day trip to the United States with a tour of a NASA facility Tuesday, ahead of joining President Joe Biden for a visit to the Korean War Memorial in Washington and a formal state visit at the White House. Yoon toured NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center just outside Washington along with US Vice President Kamala Harris. In remarks to reporters, both said there was particular emphasis on using satellite technology to track and respond to climate change. Yoon laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery and later Tuesday he was set to join Biden at the Korean War Memorial, depicting life-sized steel statues of US soldiers marching during the 1950-53 war against the communist north. On Wednesday, Yoon and his wife Kim Keon Hee will arrive at the White House for only the second full-fledged state visit of the Biden era, following that of France's Emmanuel Macron. This will feature lavish ceremonial events and a gala White House dinner. But beyond the pomp and circumstance, Biden and Yoon will discuss their countries' deepening partnership in an increasingly volatile Asia-Pacific, where North Korea is ramping up nuclear-capable missile production and China is saber-rattling around Taiwan. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters that Biden and Yoon have had four "engagements" since Yoon took office less than a year ago and "have developed a rapport." Washington and Seoul are also highlighting the strong cultural links, something emphasized by Netflix's announcement of a $2.5 billion investment in South Korean content. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos met with Yoon in Washington on Monday. A priority for Biden will be reassuring his guest over the US commitment to "extended deterrence" -- the US military nuclear and conventional umbrella for South Korea. "President Biden will reinforce and enhance our extended deterrence commitments to South Korea with respect to the threat" from North Korea, Sullivan said. Sullivan said to expect "major deliverables on extended deterrence, on cyber cooperation and climate mitigation, foreign assistance, on investment, and on strengthening our people to people ties." But the two leaders have some "uncomfortable" topics to discuss, said Katharine Moon, Professor Emerita of Political Science at Wellesley College. The South Korean president has seen his domestic approval ratings dive over his handling of a recent US intelligence leak that appeared to reveal Washington was spying on Seoul. However, he told NBC news in an interview that the spat would not have lasting impacts. "I believe that this matter is no reason to shake the ironclad trust that supports the US-South Korea alliance, because it is based on shared values like freedom," Yoon told NBC News. "When you have that trust, you don't get shaken." Yoon is meanwhile likely to come under pressure from the White House to do more to help the US support Ukraine, as Washington looks to South Korea -- the world's ninth-largest arms exporter -- to help secure ammunition and weapons for Kyiv. South Korea has sent humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, and has sold tanks and howitzers to Poland, but Seoul has a longstanding policy of not providing weapons to active conflict zones. Seoul is also mired in a diplomatic spat with China after Yoon blamed recent heightened tensions over Taiwan on "attempts to change the status quo by force." (@FahadShabbir) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Apr, 2023 ) :Two soldiers of the Pakistan Army were martyred during an intense exchange of fire between the security forces and the terrorists in the general area of Tirah, Khyber District, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday. Martyred Sepoy Waqas Ali Shah, 26, resident of Charsadda District and Sepoy Basit Ali, 24, resident of Peshawar District along with their colleagues fought gallantly and effectively engaged the terrorists, killing two of them and injuring four others. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists. "Sanitization of the area is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists in the area," ISPR said, adding the security forces were fully determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of brave soldiers further strengthened their resolve. The European Union is allocating a new aid package of 32.7 million euros ($36 million) to support those affected by the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the European Commission said on Wednesday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th April, 2023) The European Union is allocating a new aid package of 32.7 million Euros ($36 million) to support those affected by the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the European Commission said on Wednesday. "The humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to deteriorate, especially in the east of the country. As a result, the EU is allocating an additional 32.7 million, to support the humanitarian crisis response in the country," the Commission said. The new package will add to the 45.7 million euros allocated for the DRC in March and bring the EU's total aid for the African country in 2023 to 80 million euros. "This funding will be channeled through humanitarian organizations to cover immediate needs such as nutrition, healthcare, water and sanitation, shelter and protection," the statement read. In March, the EU set up a Humanitarian Air Bridge to the DRC's city of Goma through which 260 tonnes of supplies have already been delivered, the statement added. The United Nations estimates that the international humanitarian community will need at least $2.25 billion this year to provide food, shelter, health care and other necessities to 10 million people in the DRC, which is less than the half of those deemed in need. More than 5 million in the eastern DRC have been displaced by a resurgence of armed violence in North Kivu following the return of M23 and other rebel groups. The UN says the government's deployment of troops to the province has created a security vacuum in other regions, allowing militants to grain ground. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The US Department of Defense and the European Defense Agency (EDA) on Wednesday signed an agreement on increasing defense cooperation between the two sides and enhancing their defense dialogue, the EDA said MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th April, 2023) The US Department of Defense and the European Defense Agency (EDA) on Wednesday signed an agreement on increasing defense cooperation between the two sides and enhancing their defense dialogue, the EDA said. "Today, the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the Department of Defense of the United States of America (DoD) have formalised a framework for cooperation through the signing of an Administrative Arrangement (AA). The EDA-DoD AA provides for stronger transatlantic cooperation in defence in specific areas, including in the exchange of information," the European agency said in a press release. The dialogue within the framework of the agreement will focus on all issues that are in the EDA's competency, including military mobility, supply chain issues and the impact of climate change on defense, according to the press release. "The EDA-U.S. Administrative Arrangement provides another pillar to strengthen transatlantic cooperation and the link between the EU and the U.S. The European Defence Agency, as the hub for EU defence cooperation, plays a unique role in raising our level of defence cooperation and contributing to make the EU a stronger defence actor and partner," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said, as quoted in the statement. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, in turn, said that the agreement was "evidence" of the strengthening US-EU relationship and would contribute to transatlantic and global security. (@ChaudhryMAli88) DOHA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th April, 2023) Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah Burhan has agreed to speak with the rebel paramilitary commander, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the acting foreign minister of South Sudan said Wednesday. The South Sudanese foreign ministry said Monday that President Salva Kiir had reached out to Sudan's military rivals to have the 72-hour ceasefire prolonged beyond Wednesday to create a conducive atmosphere for peace talks. South Sudan's Acting Foreign Minister, Deng Dau Malek, told Sky News Arabia that the president had asked Gen. Burhan to hold a meeting with Daglo or his representative, without specifying the location. "Burhan agreed in principle to the possibility of holding talks with Daglo ... Our president is trying to reach Daglo to offer the possibility of meeting with Burhan," the Arab-language news channel quoted Malek as saying. Clashes between Sudan's regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces broke out on April 15 after a long period of rising tensions within the military. The United Nations estimates that more than 400 people have died and thousands more have been displaced by the ongoing power struggle. Countries have been evacuating their nationals and diplomats from Sudan since Sunday. ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th April, 2023) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's interview with local broadcasters was abruptly interrupted on Tuesday night as the Turkish leader felt unwell during the live event due to stomach flu, also known as gastroenteritis. The interview began late Tuesday night because of the president's busy election campaign. The live broadcast was abruptly interrupted as a journalist began to ask a question about future cabinet reshuffles. The long pause during the event caused anxiety on social media. "First of all, I wish you good health. There was a lot of election work yesterday and today. That is why I got the stomach flu. I even wondered if we should cancel the program. But we promised, and we came. I apologize to you and our viewers," Erdogan said in the broadcast after the pause. After two short questions, a moderator announced that the interview with the Turkish leader was about to end to "allow Mr. President to rest." Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the presidential candidate of the Turkish opposition alliance, wished Erdogan a speedy recovery after he felt unwell. "I send my best wishes for a speedy recovery to Mr. Erdogan," Kilicdaroglu said on Twitter. Meral Aksener, the leader of the Good Party, also wished Erdogan a speedy recovery on Twitter. Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin tweeted that Erdogan "is in good health, thank God." Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections are set to take place on May 14. The elections are likely to become the most challenging for Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party due to the February earthquakes, which killed at least 50,000 people and caused significant material damage. Kilicdaroglu, put forward by a six-party opposition alliance, is considered Erdogan's main opponent. results of pre-election polls are constantly changing and have not yet revealed an unquestionable favorite in the upcoming election. The list of presidential candidates also includes Muharrem Ince of the Homeland Party and Sinan Ogan of the ATA Alliance. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th April, 2023) US Senator Bernie Sanders said that he will endorse President Joe Biden in his bid to be reelected in 2024, the Associated Press reported. The last thing the United States needs is Donald Trump or some other "right-wing demagogue" who will undermine US democracy and not address the crisis of gun violence, racism, sexism and homophobia, among other pressing issues, the report quoted Sanders as saying on Tuesday. The senator from Vermont emphasized that he is therefore going to do what he can to make sure Biden is reelected in 2024, the report said. Sanders was Biden's chief opponent during the 2020 presidential primaries and had left the idea open that he may run again in 2024 until Biden announced his candidacy earlier on Tuesday, the report said. The senator said it is still too early to say exactly how he will support Biden's campaign, but he plans on making certain that the needs of the working class are represented, the report added. Earlier on Tuesday, Biden announced his intention to run in the 2024 election despite polls suggesting that a majority of voters in both major political parties in the United States do not wish to see him run again, according to the report. (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th April, 2023) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed former Minister for Strategic Industries Pavlo Riabikin as the country's new ambassador to China, according to the relevant decree released on the website of Zelenskyy's office on Wednesday. "To appoint Pavlo ... Riabikin Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the People's Republic of China," the decree read. Earlier in the day, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a telephone conversation with Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian leader said his conversation with Xi was "long and meaningful" and will provide a powerful impetus to the bilateral relations. (Bloomberg) -- A push by investors to de-risk out of the US amid banking sector and regulatory challenges contributed to the drop in the market value of stablecoin USD Coin, according to the chief executive of the tokens issuer. Most Read from Bloomberg We are seeing a huge amount of concern globally about the US banking system, Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle Internet Financial Ltd., said in an interview on Bloomberg Television on Wednesday. We are seeing concern about the regulatory environment in the US. USD Coin temporarily lost its $1 dollar market peg during the banking crisis this year but has since stabilized. However, the tokens overall market capitalization has continued to fall and now stands at about $30.7 billion from a peak of more than $56 billion in 2022, CoinGecko data shows. Stablecoins are key parts of the crypto sector where investors often park funds to use in trading. They are meant to hold a steady value, typically $1, and are often backed by reserves like cash and bonds. Regulators have stepped up scrutiny of stablecoins over concerns about the risks they can pose. The market capitalization of USD Coin also known as USDC has dropped about $13 billion since US banking woes flared up in March. The token temporarily de-pegged after it emerged that $3.3 billion of the reserves used to back the stablecoin were at the collapsed Silicon Valley Bank. Officials later said depositors will get their money back, part of an effort to shore up confidence in the US financial system. Circle also vowed to cover any reserves shortfall. That helped USDC recover its $1 value in crypto markets. US Clampdown In the US, crypto firms are reeling from a sharp regulatory crackdown following the collapse of the FTX digital-asset exchange and a deep market rout last year. Blowups like FTX and the market crash saddled investors with huge losses, leading to an outcry about the dangers of digital assets. Story continues The US Securities and Exchange Commission contends that most tokens are unregistered securities and that too many digital-asset businesses have failed to comply with the agencys requirements. Crypto companies are calling on US politicians to put in place legislation to clarify the status of cryptoassets. But prospects for near-term passage of stablecoin rules have dimmed, hampered by partisan divides. Critical Moment Its a critical moment here in the US and, as I like to say, its really a moment for Congress to step up, Allaire said. He said questions are being raised about the competitiveness of the US dollar amid the evolution of blockchain technology and Internet-based currencies. The European Union, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Middle East are making progress on crypto rules, while the US is behind right now, Allaire said. USDC is backed by cash and short-dated U.S. Treasuries and remains the second-largest token in the $132 billion stablecoin sector. The biggest is Tether, which has cemented its No. 1 position with a near $82 billion market value despite facing scrutiny about the transparency of its reserves. (Updates with more comments from Allaire from the ninth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. UWs Wyoming APEX Accelerator Part of Aerospace and Defense Industry Conference May 3-5 Wyoming APEX Accelerator will be part of the third annual Aerospace and Defense Industry Conference that will take place in Casper Wednesday-Friday, May 3-5, at the M Building, located at 234 E. First St. This three-day conference will guide businesses through the opportunities; the types of manufacturing that the government is looking for; and the certifications needed to gain government contracts. It also provides the ability for Wyoming businesses to connect with companies that need their help to maintain the supply chain. To register, go here. For a conference schedule, go here. Wyoming APEX Accelerator, part of the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network housed at the University of Wyoming, is the states expert in government contracting assistance. Over the years, Wyoming APEX Accelerator has helped Wyoming small businesses secure hundreds of millions of dollars in federal, state and local government contracts. Innovation Day, which will take place May 3, is hosted by Manufacturing Works, Wyoming APEX Accelerator and the U.S. Small Business Administration. This additional conference day is meant to provide Wyoming small businesses with the actionable resources they need to get into government contracting; network with businesses that need their help; and sustainably grow their bottom line for years to come. Wyoming APEX Accelerator will be presenting on government contracting to arm attendees with the knowledge they need to network with federal agencies and federal government prime contractors, says Janean Forsyth, Wyoming APEX Accelerator program manager. The conference provides an opportunity for Wyoming manufacturers and technology companies to be introduced to the aerospace and defense market through direct interaction with prime aerospace and defense companies with operations in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah. The conference is a partnership among Advance Casper, U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso and U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman. Wyoming APEX Accelerator, along with over 95 other government contracting assistance centers nationwide, is now under the management of the Department of Defenses Office of Small Business Programs. In addition to federal funding, Wyoming APEX Accelerator also is supported by the Wyoming Business Council; is a program within the Wyoming SBDC Network; and a component of UWs Business Resource Network. To learn more about Wyoming APEX Accelerator and how small businesses might take advantage of government contracting opportunities, go to www.wyomingsbdc.org/wyomingapexaccelerator. For more information, call Forsyth at (307) 343-0765 or email jforsyth@uwyo.edu. Canadian National Railway Company MONTREAL, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) announced that the director nominees listed in the management information circular dated March 7, 2023, were elected as directors of CN. The detailed results of the vote for the election of directors held at CNs Annual Meeting of Shareholders (Meeting) on April 25, 2023 via online webcast are set out below. Election of Directors On a vote by ballot, each of the following 11 nominees proposed by management was elected as a director of CN: Nominee Votes For % For Votes Against % Against Shauneen Bruder 507,003,865 99.15 % 4,332,559 0.85 % Jo-ann dePass Olsovsky 503,153,373 98.40 % 8,183,051 1.60 % David Freeman 510,655,708 99.87 % 680,766 0.13 % Denise Gray 508,625,951 99.47 % 2,710,523 0.53 % Justin M. Howell 508,424,824 99.43 % 2,911,650 0.57 % Susan C. Jones 510,308,305 99.80 % 1,028,169 0.20 % Robert Knight 510,158,956 99.77 % 1,177,518 0.23 % Michel Letellier 509,646,443 99.67 % 1,690,031 0.33 % Margaret A. McKenzie 506,091,465 98.97 % 5,244,509 1.03 % Al Monaco 510,368,285 99.81 % 968,189 0.19 % Tracy Robinson 510,785,729 99.89 % 550,745 0.11 % Shauneen Bruder was unanimously re-elected by the board of directors as board chair. Ms. Bruder is a Corporate Director and retired Executive Vice-President, Operations at the Royal Bank of Canada. Biographical information on all directors is available at https://www.cn.ca/en/investors/regulatory-filings/ Final voting results on all matters voted on at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 25, 2023 will be filed with the Canadian and U.S. securities regulators. Meeting Questions Any questions related to the Meeting that were not answered during the Meeting due to time constraints will be posted online and answered at https://www.cn.ca/en/events/2023/04/agm-2023 . The questions and answers will remain available until one week after the Meeting. About CN CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. CNs network connects Canadas Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through a 18,600-mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship. Story continues Contacts : Media Investment Community Jonathan Abecassis Stacy Alderson Senior Manager Interim Assistant Vice-President Media Relations Investor Relations (438) 455-3692 media@cn.ca (514) 399-0052 investor.relations@cn.ca South Africa is not planning to quit the International Criminal Court, as earlier suggested by President Cyril Ramaphosa, his office said Tuesday, citing a communication error from the ruling ANC party. Hours earlier, Ramaphosa had said his African National Congress had decided to withdraw South Africa from the International Criminal Court, which last month issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin. The ICC arrest warrant meant that Pretoria, which is to host the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa bloc summit this year, would have to detain Putin on arrival. "The presidency wishes to clarify that South Africa remains a signatory (to the ICC)," Ramaphosa's office said in a late-night statement. It said the "clarification follows an error in a comment made during a media briefing held by the governing African National Congress." The ANC had earlier told journalists that the issue of South Africa withdrawing from the ICC had been raised at a weekend meeting of its national executive council. Then, when questioned by a journalist during a joint media conference with the visiting President Sauli Niinisto of Finland, Ramaphosa said the ANC "has taken that decision that it is prudent that South Africa should pull out of the ICC." The presidency said "regrettably" Ramaphosa had "erroneously affirmed a similar position" to the ruling party. In another statement Tuesday night, the ANC said an "unintended impression may have been created that a categorical decision for an immediate withdrawal had been taken. This is not so." It said the executive committee, the party's supreme decision-making body, had discussed the "unequal" and "often selective application of international law by the ICC." The arrest warrant against Putin followed accusations that the Kremlin unlawfully deported Ukrainian children. On whether South Africa would arrest Putin, Ramaphosa said, "that matter is under consideration." But his party's secretary general Fikile Mbalula earlier declared that "Putin can come anytime in this country." Pretoria has close ties with Moscow dating back decades to when the Kremlin supported the ANC's fight against apartheid. The continental powerhouse has refused to condemn the invasion of Ukraine that has largely isolated Moscow on the international stage, saying it wants to stay neutral and prefers dialogue to end the war. South Africa made an attempt to pull out of the ICC in 2016 following a dispute a year earlier when then-Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir visited the country for an African Union summit. It refused to arrest him, despite him being the subject of an ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes. The controversial decision to pull out was however revoked when a domestic court ruled such a move would have been unconstitutional. Workers at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on Wednesday marked the 37th anniversary of the world's worst nuclear disaster amid an ongoing war and nuclear threats, somberly laying flowers at a monument for victims. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used the day to repeat his warnings about the potential threat of a new atomic catastrophe in Ukraine amid the war with Russia, drawing a parallel between the Chernobyl accident in 1986 to Moscow's brief seizure of the plant and its radiation-contaminated exclusion zone following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "Last year, the occupier not only seized the (Chernobyl) nuclear power plant, but also endangered the entire world again," Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post in English. On April 26, 1986, an explosion and fire at the plant caused radioactive fallout to begin spewing into the atmosphere. Dozens of people were killed in the immediate aftermath of the disaster while the long-term death toll from radiation poisoning is unknown. Thousands of tanks and troops rumbled into the plant's radiation-contaminated exclusion zone in the early hours of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, churning up the site's highly contaminated soil. Russian forces remained stationed at the closed plant between February and March last year, before they withdrew from the Kyiv area, and it was recaptured by Ukrainian troops. Zelenskyy said Kyiv has since reestablished prewar security measures and scientific activities within the zone. But he cautioned that future moves from Moscow could endanger global nuclear safety. Russian forces have also been stationed at southern Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, one of the 10 biggest in the world, since capturing the site early in the war. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Russia of using the plant as a base for firing on nearby Ukrainian-held territory. On Tuesday, Ukrainian officials reported that heavy Russian artillery fire hit cities on the western bank of the Dnipro River just across from the plant. The plant has six reactors, all of which have been shut down over the past year. "We must do everything to give no chance to the terrorist state to use nuclear power facilities to blackmail Ukraine and the entire world," Zelenskyy said in his Telegram post. Zelenskyy's office published photos of him laying flowers at two Kyiv memorials to Chernobyl victims and observing a minute's silence. At the site of the exclusion zone, workers and engineers placed flowers at a memorial Wednesday and received awards from the minister of environment, Ruslan Strilets. Mykola Pobedin, an engineer, recalled with fear the 25 days he spent under Russian occupation. He had been working at the station for 35 years, but on the day of the invasion, he encountered something he never thought he would. "Heading to the workplace, I saw a tank that was standing right here, and the muzzle was pointed at the station," he said. He recalled sleeping and eating little for the next weeks, with even bread running out. More than 150 members of the Ukrainian National Guard captured during Russia's occupation of the Chernobyl exclusion zone remain in Russian custody, Strilets said. The level of radiation at the plant was now normal, he added. "The day when the exclusion zone was crossed, when the Ukrainian flag flew over the Chernobyl station again, it was a day, it was a sign that Ukraine would definitely win this war," he said. Haiti's foreign minister intensified his government's appeal to the international community Wednesday to help break the grip of armed gangs that are terrorizing the capital and large areas of the island nation. "Haiti is in danger, and it urgently needs the assistance of the United Nations family to make it through this turbulence," Foreign Minister Jean Victor Geneus told the 15-nation U.N. Security Council. There are at least seven major gang coalitions and some 200 affiliated groups in Haiti. The country's police force is undermanned and ill-prepared to take them on. The U.N. says there is a ratio of 1.2 police offers for every 1,000 Haitians. Since the beginning of the year, gang members have killed at least 22 police officers. There were also more than 800 confirmed homicides, mostly in the capital, between January and the end of March. Little interest in getting involved In early October, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres backed a request from the Haitian government to send an international specialized armed force to assist Haiti's National Police in addressing the spiraling insecurity and a deepening humanitarian crisis. But more than six months on, there has been little interest from the international community in getting involved and the situation has further deteriorated. "The deployment of an international force remains vital if we are to stem the violence we are seeing, the violations of human rights, and restore the rule of law, creating conducive conditions for the holding of credible elections," Foreign Minister Geneus said. "I would like to issue an urgent appeal for international cooperation to assist us to restore security to the country." Children fear crossfire The new U.N. envoy to Haiti, Maria Isabel Salvador, took up her post last week. She painted a bleak picture of the situation in her first council briefing, reporting that kidnappings and killings are skyrocketing, rooftop snipers are targeting civilians, and many children no longer go to school for fear they may be caught in the crossfire or kidnapped. Salvador said Haitians in some neighborhoods of the capital with limited or no police presence have begun to take matters into their own hands. "Only two days ago, in Port-au-Prince, a group of civilians took 13 suspected gang members from police custody, beat them to death and burned their bodies," she said. This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing. Click to reveal This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing - Click to reveal People stand near the remains of alleged gang members after they were set on fire by a crowd in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, April 24, 2023. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the envoy said she is worried about the emergence of these "self-defense" groups. "That is really dangerous. In the region, in Latin America, we've had experience with self-defense groups in other countries," said Salvador, who is a former foreign minister from Ecuador. "It's something that needs to be stopped before it starts." She also appealed to the Security Council to authorize deployment of a non-U.N. specialized international force to support the Haitian national police, saying the need to address the deteriorating security situation "cannot be overemphasized." "Further delay in addressing the unprecedented insecurity in Haiti could also lead to a spill-over of insecurity in the region," she said. Neighboring Dominican Republic's foreign minister shared that concern and questioned why the Security Council had not yet acted. "There are examples of other support initiatives for other countries in crisis, where international assistance has not had to complete such a tortuous journey to reach those in need," Minister Roberto Alvarez Gil said. "If we are frank, we are starting to think that as some people say, there is a hierarchy of countries in need which determines the order in which they receive attention." Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Gil compared the situation in Port-au-Prince to an internal armed conflict. "Today, what we are witnessing is the dissolution of the Haitian state," he said. The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime says the violence is being fueled by the trafficking of high-caliber guns and ammunition into Haiti. The country is a transshipment hub for Colombian cocaine and Jamaican cannabis destined for the United States and Western Europe. In a report last month, UNODC said the United States, and in particular the state of Florida, is the principal source of illegal firearms coming into Haiti by land, air and most often, sea. Networks procure the guns in U.S. states with looser gun control laws and fewer purchasing restrictions and smuggle them through Florida into Haiti. They include high-powered rifles such as AK47s, AR15s and Galils. Last October, the Security Council imposed sanctions on Haiti's gangs, including an arms embargo, asset freeze, and travel ban. South Korea agreed not to pursue its own nuclear weapons program, in return for a greater decision-making role in U.S. contingency planning in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack and a more muscular U.S. presence in the region. The deal is part of the so-called Washington Declaration, announced Wednesday, as President Joe Biden hosts South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in a state visit to celebrate the two countries 70th year of bilateral relations and discuss the allies future relationship. Our mutual defense treaty is ironclad, and that includes our commitment to extended deterrence, said Biden during his joint White House press conference with Yoon, referring to the 1953 agreement signed at the end of the Korean War that commits Washington to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea. He repeated a line from his administrations 2022 Nuclear Posture Review that a nuclear attack against the United States or its allies and partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of that regime. SEE ALSO: A related video by VOA's Anita Powell Speaking through an interpreter, Yoon called the Washington Declaration an unprecedented expansion and strengthening of the extended deterrence strategy a term also known as the American nuclear umbrella. It says the United States will respond to attacks on its allies and partners across the spectrum of potential nuclear and non-nuclear scenarios. Our two countries have agreed to immediate bilateral presidential consultations in the event of North Korea's nuclear attack and promised to respond swiftly, overwhelmingly and decisively using the full force of the alliance, including the United States nuclear weapons, Yoon said. In a briefing to reporters Tuesday, senior administration officials said that under the Washington Declaration, Seoul will maintain its nonnuclear status and continue to abide by all the conditions of its signatory status to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The NPT, which South Korea ratified in 1975, prohibits signatories from developing nuclear weapons. The two countries will also establish the U.S.Republic of Korea Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), a regular bilateral consultation mechanism that will focus on nuclear and strategic planning issues and will give our ROK allies additional insight in how we think about planning for major contingencies, the official added. Beyond greater information sharing, Seoul will have a greater voice in the deliberations of U.S. weapons deployment, he said. Growing doubt Biden is trying to demonstrate that his pledge to defend South Korea is credible and rock-solid, said Scott Snyder, director of the program on U.S.-Korea policy at the Council on Foreign Relations. Giving South Korea a greater say in nuclear planning is needed to address the countrys increasing sense of vulnerability from North Korea, Snyder told VOA. As Pyongyang moves rapidly with its nuclear weapons program, including developing missiles that can target American cities, there has been growing doubt among South Koreans on whether Washington would risk its own safety to protect Seoul and whether Seoul should continue to rely on U.S. extended deterrence. In January, Yoon told his defense and foreign ministry officials that if the threat posed by North Korea gets worse, his country may introduce tactical nuclear weapons or build them on our own. Seoul walked back Yoons comments following an international backlash. However, the narrative of South Korea having its own nuclear deterrence capability has become more mainstream in the countrys national security discourse. A 2022 poll by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs showed that 71% of South Koreans say their country should build its own nuclear weapons. More muscular deterrence The U.S. official said the deal would mean enhanced integration of South Korean conventional weapons into U.S. strategic planning, and a more muscular approach to deterrence through increased war games and deployments of military assets, including U.S. nuclear ballistic submarine visits to South Korea, which has not happened since the early 1980s. The U.S. removed its last tactical nuclear weapon from South Korea in 1991 as part of a broader global nuclear drawdown agreed by U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Go Myong-hyun, a research fellow at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies, a conservative think tank in Seoul, told VOA that short of positioning American nuclear weapons in the region, which is what proponents of South Korean nuclear deterrence want, establishing the NCG is the next best thing. The NCG is similar to the mechanism used by NATO allies as they deployed thousands of nuclear weapons across Europe during the Cold War. Go told VOA that regular visits by a U.S. nuclear submarine amount to hinting at a dedicated nuclear submarine option, which could be fully fleshed out in the next round of discussions between the two allies. The declaration will not end the debate for Seoul arming itself with nuclear capabilities, he added. The nuclear deployment debate will also continue in the United States. Senators Jim Risch and Roger Wicker, two leading Republicans in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee, are pushing for the NCG to go further to discuss the circumstances under which a return of U.S. nuclear weapons to the Korean theater would become necessary. A senior administration official said the NCG will not determine when to launch nuclear strikes, as that is the sole authority of the U.S. president. China reaction China, which has long seen North Korea as a buffer against U.S. influence in the region, is expected to react strongly to additional deployment of U.S. assets, particularly in light of simmering tensions between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan and various other thorny issues. We are briefing the Chinese in advance and laying out very clearly our rationale for why we are taking these steps, the U.S. official said, adding that Washington has been disappointed Beijing has not been able to influence its ally Pyongyang to halt its many provocations. The official said the administration has urged Kim Jong Uns government to return to dialogue. They have chosen not to and instead have taken a series of increasingly provocative and destabilizing steps, he said. North Korea has conducted at least 13 missile launches this year alone, including three intercontinental ballistic missile launches. Pyongyang insists they are a response to expanded U.S.-South Korea military drills that it sees as rehearsals for an invasion. Sharon Squassoni, international affairs professor at George Washington University focusing on nuclear risk reduction, is concerned the declaration will spark more instability. References to exercises and nuclear planning will be seen as provocative by North Korea, ratcheting up tensions instead of decreasing them, she told VOA. Semiconductors While Washington and Seoul appear in lockstep regarding security, theyre at odds over the tax credit for American-made electric vehicles provided by Bidens 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which Seoul sees as a protectionist move against South Korean automakers. In his attempt to outcompete Beijing on semiconductor production, Biden also wants Seoul to join his administrations ban on exports of chips and chipmaking equipment to China, a move that is hurting South Korean companies that rely heavily on Beijing. Were not going to sit back and be in a position where you dont have access to those semiconductors, Biden said, adding that his policies are creating jobs in South Korea. Just two weeks before Yoons visit, leaked U.S. documents suggested the administration was spying on South Korean security officials who were uneasy over the prospect of Biden pressuring Yoon to sell more ammunitions to Ukraine. Seoul has been reluctant to export weapons to Kyiv due to fears that Russia would retaliate by providing support for North Korea but has been backfilling U.S. and Polish ammunition stocks to replace what they have sent to Ukraine. Yoon said he will wait for U.S. investigation results and continue to communicate on the matter. VOA's Anita Powell, William Gallo and Katherine Gypson contributed to this report. In the largest penalty of its kind, tobacco giant British American Tobacco has agreed to pay U.S. authorities nearly $630 million to settle charges of violating U.S. sanctions on North Korea. The hefty penalty is part of a deferred prosecution agreement that the company has reached with the U.S. Justice Department, officials announced on Tuesday. At the same time, a Singapore-based subsidiary of BAT pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions. The settlement caps a long-running U.S. investigation into BATs alleged violations of U.S. sanctions on North Korea. In 2007, the company spun off its North Korea sales to a third-party company, announcing that it was no longer doing business in the country. But in reality, BAT continued to do business in North Korea through the third-party company that was controlled by its Singapore subsidiary, according to court documents. Over the 10-year period, BAT and its subsidiary sold nearly $428 million worth of tobacco products to North Korea. To pay BAT, North Korean purchasers allegedly used front companies to hide the transactions from U.S. financial institutions. A 'warning to companies' Matthew Olsen, assistant attorney general for national security, said the nearly $630 million BAT has agreed to pay is the largest penalty ever imposed by the Justice Department in connection with U.S. sanctions on North Korea. And the latest warning to companies everywhere about the cost and the consequences of violating U.S. sanctions, he said. Holding corporate wrongdoers who violate U.S. sanctions accountable is an important priority for the Justice Department, Olsen said at a news conference. In a statement, BAT chief executive Jack Bowles expressed regret for the misconduct, adding that we fell short of the highest standards rightly expected of us. BAT said it had stopped all business activities related to North Korea in 2017. Three accused in tobacco scheme Separately, the Justice Department unsealed charges against North Korean banker Sim Hyon-Sop, 39, and Chinese nationals Qin Guoming, 60, and Han Linlin, 41, in connection with an illegal effort to facilitate the sale of tobacco to North Korea. The three men are accused of engaging in a scheme, from 2009 to 2019, to buy $74 million worth of leaf tobacco for North Korean state-owned cigarette manufacturers and using front companies to hide North Koreas involvement from the U.S. banks that processed the transactions. The banks would have frozen, blocked, investigated or declined to process the transactions had they known they were connected to trade with North Korea, the Justice Department said. The tobacco purchases resulted in nearly $700 million in revenue for the North Korean manufacturers, one of which was owned by the countrys military. U.S. prosecutors say cigarette trafficking is a significant source of revenue for the North Korean government and helps fund its nuclear weapons program. Every $1 North Korea spends on smuggled tobacco products generates revenue of up to $20, prosecutors say. The U.S. State Department announced a reward of $5 million for information leading to the arrest of Sim, and a reward of $500,000 for Qin and Han. The charges against the three men are unrelated to BATs violation of U.S. sanctions. If you want to compound wealth in the stock market, you can do so by buying an index fund. But one can do better than that by picking better than average stocks (as part of a diversified portfolio). To wit, the Coca-Cola HBC AG (LON:CCH) share price is 53% higher than it was a year ago, much better than the market decline of around 0.2% (not including dividends) in the same period. If it can keep that out-performance up over the long term, investors will do very well! However, the stock hasn't done so well in the longer term, with the stock only up 19% in three years. Since the stock has added UK341m to its market cap in the past week alone, let's see if underlying performance has been driving long-term returns. View our latest analysis for Coca-Cola HBC To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During the last year, Coca-Cola HBC actually saw its earnings per share drop 24%. This means it's unlikely the market is judging the company based on earnings growth. Indeed, when EPS is declining but the share price is up, it often means the market is considering other factors. We think that the revenue growth of 28% could have some investors interested. We do see some companies suppress earnings in order to accelerate revenue growth. You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. This free report showing analyst forecasts should help you form a view on Coca-Cola HBC What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Coca-Cola HBC's TSR for the last 1 year was 58%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective It's good to see that Coca-Cola HBC has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 58% in the last twelve months. Of course, that includes the dividend. That's better than the annualised return of 3% over half a decade, implying that the company is doing better recently. In the best case scenario, this may hint at some real business momentum, implying that now could be a great time to delve deeper. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Coca-Cola HBC better, we need to consider many other factors. For example, we've discovered 4 warning signs for Coca-Cola HBC that you should be aware of before investing here. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Although the European Union has boosted its press freedom record over the past few years, the organization still has room for improvement, according to a new report on the Brussels-based group. "Much progress has been made, but combating entrenched pressure on and threats to journalists in Europe and setting an effective example for governments around the world still requires improved and sustained action from Brussels," the Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ, said in a report released Tuesday. The most pressing issues facing journalists in Europe include killings, as well as pandemic-related media controls, disinformation, spyware and the ongoing war in Ukraine, said the report, titled, "Fragile Progress." Since 2015, multiple journalists have been killed in EU countries. At least two of them Malta's Daphne Caruana Galizia and Slovakia's Jan Kuciak were murdered because of their work. Meanwhile, Swedish reporter Kim Wall was killed on assignment, and the motives for the killings of Bulgarian reporter Viktoria Marinova, Dutch reporter Peter R. de Vries, and Greek reporter Giorgos Karaivaz, remain undetermined. Threats include lawsuits, beatings The EU has not commented on the latest CPJ report. In 2021, the European Commission said killings were "the most tragic" kind of threat facing reporters in Europe. But far more common than killings are other issues such as online harassment, disinformation, retaliatory lawsuits, and beatings at protests. The war in Ukraine has posed an unprecedented test of Europe's commitment to protecting journalists, the report said. Several member states have provided refuge or support to Russian and Ukrainian journalists affected by the war. Still, the war on the battlefield has been accompanied by the information war playing out online, forcing reporters to face a wave of disinformation and harassment. Brussels has recognized that disinformation poses an increasingly concerning threat toward democracy and has taken steps to combat the issue and build trust in journalism, the CPJ said. But another problem is that some countries, such as Hungary, have used the fight against disinformation as a pretext to launch anti-fake news policies that are actually designed to curb independent media. Hungarian President Viktor Orban's policies, such as those addressing fake news, underscore how the EU is a mixed bag when it comes to press freedom. In a 2022 report, the European Commission urged 16 of the EU's 27 members to take steps to better protect journalists. Harassed for pandemic coverage At its worst, the COVID-19 pandemic presented newfound issues as well, with journalists in countries such as Italy facing violent harassment in retaliation for their coverage of the outbreak and anti-vaccine movements, as well as restrictions imposed in the name of public health. Although Brussels has taken some concrete steps to improve media freedoms, the EU appears to prefer supporting press freedom in theory, rather than in practice, the report said. The report pointed to some contradictions in the EU's approach to press freedom. The EU has taken steps to address threats posed by surveillance of journalists, but at the same time, the report says the bloc has threatened the end-to-end encryption policies put into place by secure messaging platforms such as Signal and WhatsApp. Many journalists use those platforms to safely communicate with sources. Meanwhile, even as Brussels funds investigative reporters, it regularly blocks access to official documents, the report said. "The scope and effectiveness of EU actions in support of press freedom often reflect the gap between the values-based narrative that the EU tells about itself and the reality of how it and its member states pursue their interests," the report said. If Brussels doesn't improve its press freedom record at home, then what's at stake, the CPJ said, is the EU's capacity to advocate for press freedom in third countries without coming across as hypocritical. "To be effective and credible, the EU must apply the same criteria to all actors, within the EU and internationally, and actively fight against the pitfall of double standards," the report said. U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns presented his credentials to Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, more than one year after Burns arrived in Beijing. While the U.S. State Department downplayed the implication of the delay, some analysts said it reflects "the frozen nature" of current US-China diplomatic ties. In a tweet on Tuesday, Burns said: "I presented my credentials to President Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People. It is an honor to represent the United States as Ambassador to the People's Republic of China." Burns arrived in China in March 2022. He was among about 70 ambassadors whose credentials Xi received on Monday. During the ceremony, Xi noted the Chinese government will "provide support and convenience for ambassadors to perform their duties," adding China is ready to "expand mutually beneficial cooperation" with people of other countries on the basis of "equality." When asked about the delay, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told VOA: "That's a question for the Chinese MFA [Ministry of Foreign Affairs]. I will let them speak to their schedule on how they have their diplomats present credentials." "I don't think so. I'm not going to speculate," Patel said when asked if it's a retaliatory move by the Beijing government amid the strained U.S.-China relationship. The presentation of credentials (formerly called Letter of Credence) is usually arranged upon arrival at a new post, according to the U.S. State Department Foreign Affairs Manual. A State Department spokesperson later told VOA: We understand this was the first credentialing ceremony in two years due to COVID in Beijing. Ambassador Burns was credentialed on April 24 along with 71 other ambassadors, all of whom arrived within the last two years, as part of a standard process, according to the spokesperson. "There is no question Beijing was sending a message, said Dennis Wilder, an assistant professor of Asian studies at Georgetown University. Burns was received with dozens of other diplomats, showing China did not consider the U.S. emissary particularly special, he said. "Beijing will probably try to excuse the tardiness of the ceremony by claiming that zero COVID had made it difficult. But no other U.S. ambassador has ever been treated as just another member of the diplomatic corps," according to Wilder, who served from 2009 to 2015 as senior editor of the U.S. president's daily brief. On July 12, 2017, Xi accepted the credentials of then-U.S. Ambassador Terry Branstad two weeks after Branstad arrived in Beijing. The ceremony was personal as Xi and Branstad had first met in 1985 when Xi was a young agricultural official visiting Iowa. Branstad was Iowa governor at that time. According to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, ambassadors officially assume duties when their credentials are accepted. On Thursday, South Africans of all races celebrate the 29th anniversary of Freedom Day, a public holiday marking the countrys first democratic elections. The day is mostly associated with the black majority who were disenfranchised under the apartheid regime. However, another minority group, Chinese South Africans, were also denied voting rights under apartheid. Marking Freedom Day, they remember the joy and excitement of the first time they were allowed to vote Over a four-day period in April 1994, the world watched as millions of South Africans formed massive lines for their chance to make history. They were about to cast their ballots in the first elections in which all races were allowed to participate. Prior to that, under the racist apartheid system, only members of South Africas white minority could vote, disenfranchising not only the Black majority but all other non-whites, including the countrys small Chinese population. Sixty-four-year-old Francis Lai Hong, vice chairman of the Chinese Association in Johannesburg, told VOA he had stood in line for hours at a school hall to cast his vote. I can remember quite fondly, as though it were yesterday, the first time we were allowed to vote in South Africa, he said. The Chinese have been here for almost 300, 400 years and this was the first time we were able to vote in our own country. The very first Chinese came to South Africa as convicts in the 17th century, followed by indentured laborers in the 19th century. In the late 1880s Chinese started migrating to the country as part of the gold rush, only to find they were banned from mining. Other barriers in place because of their race affected their ability to trade. Under the apartheid system that began in 1948, the Chinese were classified as a sub-group of the colored group, a racial categorization that lumped together anyone who wasnt black or white. The electric atmosphere of the day he could finally vote 29 years ago is ingrained in Hongs mind. I can remember the camaraderie and the good-naturedness of the people of the other races who had also never been able to vote before, who were standing in the queue and everybody was so filled with joy and anticipation and expectation and hopefulness of a new South Africa and a new democracy and perhaps a new future, a bright new future for all of us, he said. Retiree Vernon Hong, no relation to Francis, is the son of immigrants from Chinas Guangdong province. His father was a stowaway on a ship to South Africa in the 1950s and his mother came via Macau through Mozambique and on to Johannesburg. He was 27 when he went to vote for the first time. It was quite an exciting experience for me that Ive now been given the privilege of voting for the new government, he said. Thats how Vernon Hong felt at the time, though he has since become disappointed with the route his country has taken, with the government plagued by corruption and South Africa experiencing high levels of unemployment. Jackie Lai, whose grandmother immigrated to South Africa, grew up in Eastern Cape province in a town with just five Chinese families. Now she works in human resources. She was in her late twenties and traveling in Europe when the first elections were held, but still made a point of casting her absentee ballot. I went on my own on the train to London and walked down to Trafalgar Square and stood in the queue, and it was a strange feeling to be standing in London, realizing that this was potentially the first time that I was going to be able to vote, she said. Lai said she always remembers this now when she votes and appreciates what a privilege it is. I think that part of the voting was part of an acknowledgement that we were part of a country and we could contribute equally to that country where wed actually settled, she said. Things have changed a lot for the Chinese here since the dark days of the apartheid era. Now, as well as having the vote, a handful of Chinese South Africans have even run for office in the democratic Rainbow Nation. This week marks 10 years since the Rana Plaza collapse, the Bangladesh garment industrys worst tragedy that killed 1,134 workers inside an eight-story Dhaka factory. But the legal battle over the deadly building collapse has made little headway. The factory collapsed just before 9 a.m. on April 24, a day after workers raised concerns about cracks appearing in the walls. In the hours and days following the collapse, this correspondent witnessed the frantic rescue calls made by the people trapped inside. As rescue workers struggled to reach them for days afterward, many slowly perished. Of the 14 legal cases filed over the disaster, 13 have seen little progress over the past decade. Only 45 witnesses out of 594 have testified in court in the last 10 years. Who is responsible for the slow pace is in dispute. 10 years of testimony Bangladesh courts sentenced Rana Plaza building owner Sohel Rana and his mother, Morzina Begum, to prison for corruption charges in 2017 and 2018. The owners, along with some 40 other people, still face charges over the collapse. Thirty-eight people are accused of murder. Trials have been stalled for years at a time as the accused persons went to the High Court to secure stay orders. Prosecutors blame delays on the stay orders and the logistical difficulties of transporting victims of the disaster to court. Public Prosecutor Bimal Samadder told VOA, The trial proceedings were halted for eight years only due to stay orders of some accused persons. He said there was still no indication of when the trial would conclude. The biggest challenge here is that the witnesses are very needy. Many had moved to their village home after the incident. We bring them to Dhaka with the help of the police and bear the cost of their travel from our own pocket, Samadder told VOA. A survey done by the Institute of Social Business on behalf of ActionAid Bangladesh found that 55% of the survivors of the disaster were still jobless and 89% of them did not have any work for five to eight years. Senior journalist Masudur Rahman has been following the cases closely for 10 years and told VOA the process of taking testimony was laborious. The witnesses are spread across different districts of the country," he said. "Some of them are injured; some are mutilated, while some are mentally ill. Many had moved to their villages after the incident. He said that even when witnesses do appear in court, there sometimes are too many other cases that prevent them from testifying. A total of 15 witnesses were scheduled to testify [at] the latest date, but deposition of only eight of them was recorded. They go back dejected when they come here but cant testify. Labor leaders and rights activists contend that ultimately it is the government that bears responsibility. Taslima Akhter, president of Bangladesh Garment Sramik Samhati, a labor rights group, said the fact that no one who designed the building or who approved the construction had been held accountable was part of the reason the situation remained utterly tragic. We think the governments negligence and carelessness are partly to blame," she said. "Such delay in the trial process proves again that the government and owners dont consider the workers even as humans. Despite criticism of the handling of the trial, Akhter said there were signs the work environment in factories had improved somewhat since the Rana Plaza collapse. Although we heard of sporadic incidents of fire in different factories in the last 10 years, weve not seen any incident like building collapse," she said. "This indicates some improvements took place. The rights activist wants the anniversary of the Rana Plaza to be commemorated around the world as a day for workers. We want 24 April to be declared Rana Plaza Day and observed throughout the world to improve the living standard and safety of the workers," Akhter said. "Moreover, all the persons involved with the incident should be punished and the victims should be rehabilitated. A former Harvard University professor convicted of lying to federal investigators about his ties to a Chinese-run science recruitment program and failing to pay taxes on payments from a Chinese university was sentenced Wednesday to supervised release and ordered to pay more than $83,000 in restitution and fines. Charles Lieber, 64, was sentenced by Judge Rya Zobel in U.S. District Court in Boston to time served the two days he spent in jail after his arrest two years of supervised release the first six months in-home confinement a $50,000 fine and $33,600 in restitution to the IRS, which has been paid. Lieber, the former chair of Harvard's department of chemistry and chemical biology, was convicted in December 2021 of filing false tax returns, making false statements and failing to file reports for a foreign bank account in China. "We are grateful for the court's ruling," said Lieber's attorney, Marc Mukasey. "We think it was the appropriate decision so that Charlie can keep up his fight against his severe health issues." Mukasey said his client has a form of incurable blood cancer. Prosecutors had recommended three months in prison, a year of probation, a $150,000 fine and restitution to the IRS of $33,600. Prosecutors said Lieber knowingly lied to Harvard and government agencies about his involvement in China's Thousand Talents Plan, a program designed to recruit people with knowledge of foreign technology and intellectual property to China, to enhance his career including the pursuit of a Nobel Prize and benefit financially. Lieber denied his involvement during questioning from U.S. authorities, including the National Institutes of Health, which had provided him with millions of dollars in research funding, prosecutors said. Lieber also concealed his income from the Chinese program on his U.S. tax returns, including $50,000 a month from the Wuhan University of Technology, some of which was paid to him in $100 bills in brown paper packaging, according to prosecutors. In exchange, they say, Lieber agreed to publish articles, organize international conferences and apply for patents on behalf of the Chinese university. Lieber's case was one of the most notable to come out of the U.S. Department of Justice's China Initiative, started during the Trump administration in 2018 to curb economic espionage from China. But in February 2022 under the current administration, a decision was made to revamp the program and impose a higher bar for prosecutions after a review based on complaints that it compromised the nation's competitiveness in research and technology and disproportionally targeted researchers of Asian descent. Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said at the time the department will still "be relentless in defending our country from China," but would not use the China Initiative label, in part out of recognition of threats from other nations including Russia, Iran and North Korea. The federal government ended up dismissing multiple cases against researchers or had them thrown out by judges. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who led her country through a devastating mass shooting, will be temporarily joining Harvard University later this year, Kennedy School Dean Douglas Elmendorf said Tuesday. Ardern, a global icon of the left and an inspiration to women around the world, has been appointed to dual fellowships at the Harvard Kennedy School. She will serve as the 2023 Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellow and a Hauser Leader in the school's Center for Public Leadership beginning this fall. "Jacinda Ardern showed the world strong and empathetic political leadership," Elmendorf said in statement, adding that Ardern will "bring important insights for our students and will generate vital conversations about the public policy choices facing leaders at all levels." Ardern, who was 37 when she became prime minister in 2017, shocked New Zealanders when she announced in January she was stepping down from the role after more than 5 years because she no longer had "enough in the tank" to do it justice. She was facing mounting political pressures at home, including for her handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which was initially widely lauded but later criticized by those opposed to mandates and rules. She said she sees the Harvard opportunity as a chance not only to share her experience with others, but also to learn. "As leaders, there's often very little time for reflection, but reflection is critical if we are to properly support the next generation of leaders," she said. Ardern's time at the Cambridge, Massachusetts, university will also include a stint as the first tech governance leadership fellow at the school's Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. The center has been an important partner as New Zealand worked to confront violent extremism online after a white supremacist gunman killed 51 people at two mosques in the city of Christchurch in 2019, Ardern said. The gunman livestreamed the slaughter for 17 minutes on Facebook before the video was taken down. Two months after the shooting, Ardern launched the Christchurch Call with French President Emmanuel Macron. The initiative's goal is to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. More than 50 countries joined the initiative, including the United States, Britain, Germany and South Korea, as well as technology companies like Facebook parent company Meta, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, YouTube, Zoom and Twitter. "The Center has been an incredibly important partner as we've developed the Christchurch Call to action on addressing violent extremism online," Ardern said, adding that the fellowship will be a chance not only to work collaboratively with the center's research community, but also to work on the challenges around the growth of generative AI tools. Jonathan Zittrain, co-founder of the Berkman Klein Center, said it's rare for a head of state to be able to immerse deeply in a complex and fast-moving digital policy issue. "Jacinda Ardern's hard-won expertise including her ability to bring diverse people and institutions together will be invaluable as we all search for workable solutions to some of the deepest online problems," he said in a statement. Ardern said she planned to return to New Zealand after the fellowships. A Kenyan grandfather is blaming a lack of action by authorities for the deaths of dozens of people in a cult who starved themselves and their children to death. Kenyan investigators have uncovered at least 90 bodies of people who belonged to the Good News International Church. Hundreds of others affiliated with the church are still missing. Investigators are in their sixth day of searching for the bodies of people who starved to death after being told that if they died this way, they would meet Jesus. Francis Wanje rescued his grandson on March 17, two days after two of the boys brothers died of starvation. The high school teacher had mobilized community members and police officers to check on his family, who lived with the cult in the Shakahola Forest in eastern Kenya. "When I arrived there, on the 17th at around 2 p.m., I found my daughter, the husband and the mother of the husband," Wanje said. "They were there and they were holding the firstborn, who was very weak and already waiting for him to die and be buried. They rescued the boy. My daughter, the husband and the mother disappeared in the forest. Up to today, they have not been found." Authorities in the area did not begin an active search for church members until last week. Wanje said if authorities had taken action earlier, the death toll would not be so high. "Things were not handled the way they were supposed to be handled," Wanje said. "If these people could have moved early enough, they could have saved many lives." Kenyan authorities have so far found the bodies of 90 church members. Another 34 people were rescued but the Kenyan Red Cross said 314 others are missing. Kenyan authorities say members of the church were encouraged to not eat or drink by its founder, Paul Mackenzie, who describes himself as a pastor. Antony Njeru, a theology student at Pan Africa Christian University, said Mackenzies ideology has no basis in Christian teachings. "It's an exploitation of people using the Bible but that is not biblical at all. It has no foundation in doctrine," Njeru said. "You cannot take away people's rights and say that the Bible tells people to fast to death. That's nowhere in the Bible. His doctrine cannot be traced in the Bible, so we don't believe he is a true pastor." Stephen Akaranga, a religious studies professor at the University of Nairobi, said people like Mackenzie prey on the poor and those who have not studied religion. "Those people who are gullible are those who are not strong in their spirit, people who don't understand about their religion, those who are least schooled and those people who are very poor and people who can easily be swayed by not understanding their faith truly," he said. "So, you can find these are people who can now most likely be lured into some cult because this is not a religion." Kenyan government officials said they will fight religious extremism and radicalization of the population. Njeru said the government needs to enforce relevant laws. "Demanding accountability is still good, it is still OK we encourage that," Njeru said. "We also encourage pastors to be open to scrutiny and at all times be open to their followers." Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said Tuesday that Mackenzie will be prosecuted for the alleged deaths of his followers. He was arrested April 15 and remains in custody in the coastal city of Malindi. The FBI is reporting a slight decline in the number of active shooter incidents last year but says the tally still surpassed the levels seen in most of the last five years. The FBI defines an active shooter as one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area such as a school or night club. Not all shootings are counted as active shooter incidents by the FBI. Excluded are cases of self-defense, gang violence, drug violence, and domestic disputes. In a report released on Wednesday, the FBI said it counted a total of 50 active shooter incidents in 2022, down from 61 the previous year. But that number is still 67% higher than five years ago when there were 30 active shooter incidents in the country. While we see a decrease from 2021 to 2022, we see over time, over the past 20 years since weve been reporting on active shooter incidents, and certainly in the last five years, there has been an overall increase in this number, a senior FBI official said during a press call with reporters. The biggest increase in recent years came in 2021, when the number of active shooter incidents jumped from 40 to 61, according to the report. Although fewer people died in active shooter incidents in 2022 than in 2021, the total casualty count deaths and injuries combined was higher last year than the year before and the highest in five years.. The shootings caused a combined 313 casualties, including 100 killed and 213 wounded, up from 243 in 2021, including 103 people killed and 140 wounded, the report said. Last years casualty count was the highest in five years, the report said. According to the report, 13 of the 50 incidents last year resulted in mass killings, defined as four or more people shot dead in a single incident. Not everyone agrees on what constitutes a mass shooting, however. The Gun Violence Archive uses a broader definition that encompasses incidents with at least four victims, either injured or killed. By this definition, the non-profit tallied 646 mass shootings last year, more than ten times the number reported by the FBI. In its report, the FBI singled out four incidents that claimed the most lives or inflicted the most injuries last year. On May 24, a gunman entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, opening fire on students and staff. Nineteen children and two adults were killed. It was the deadliest school shooting since 2012, when a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Ten days before the Uvalde massacre, another gunman entered a supermarket in a predominantly African American neighborhood of Buffalo, New York, killing ten people and injuring three. The two incidents with the highest number of injuries but fewer deaths occurred in Highland Park, Illinois, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. On July 4, a gunman perched atop a commercial building fired into an Independence Day parade crowd, killing seven and wounding 48 others. On November 19, five people were killed and 28 others wounded when a gunman opened fire in an LGBTQ club. The FBI says it tracks active shooter incidents to give law enforcement agencies and the public a baseline understanding of the problem. This years report offers a wealth of details about the shooters, the time and location of the shootings, and the types of weapons used in the assaults. Among the reports key findings: Of the 50 shooters, 47 were male. They ranged in age between 15 and 70 years old. Four shooters wore body armor, while two acted as snipers. In nearly half of the incidents, the shooter had a known connection to the location, the victim or both. In the incidents, the shooters used a total of 61 weapons, including 29 handguns, 26 rifles, three shotguns, and three unknown firearms. The 50 active shooter incidents occurred in 25 states and the District of Columbia, with Texas reporting six incidents, more than any other state. The shootings took place in seven types of locations, including open spaces, commercial buildings, residences, educational facilities, government buildings, houses of worship, and a healthcare facility. For 2021, FBI highlighted an emerging trend involving roving active shooters, or gunmen who shoot in multiple locations. That trend was observed in 2022 as well, the senior FBI official said without giving a number. Amid a shaky cease-fire in Sudan, members of the former regime, including ousted president Omar al-Bashir have left the prison where they were held, raising questions on their whereabouts. Sudans military accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of attacking the prison, while the RSF accused the military of releasing the former leaders. Ahmed Haroun, a security official for Sudans former president Omar al-Bashir, announced Tuesday that he and other former leaders were freed from Khartoums Kober prison. Haroun told state media Sudan TV the inmates were allowed to leave Sunday after clashes near the prison, which couldnt care for them because of the fighting. Saudi Arabias Al Hadath TV rebroadcasted his comments. Haroun said all inmates lacked basic services, including shortage of water, power, and healthcare. He added that some inmates were injured due to the ongoing exchange of gunfire. The announcement raised concerns about the whereabouts of other former officials, including Bashir, who was also being held at the prison. Unnamed military sources told the Associated Press that Bashir, Haroun, and former minister Abdel-Rahim Muhammad Hussein had been moved to a military hospital. Bashir, Haroun, and Hussin are wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes in Sudans Darfur region. Hospital sources confirmed to Reuters news agency that Bashir was at a military hospital. The Sudan Tribune reports that Bashir and Hussein are at a military hospital in Omdurman, a town next to Khartoum. Sources at the Alia Military Hospital told VOA that Bashir and Hussein have been held there for more than three months. Haroun in his Tuesday comments to Sudan TV indicated those released from the prison Sunday were on their own. He said they decided to take their own responsibility to protect themselves. Haroun added that they stand ready to appear before the law, once there is an operational judicial system in place. Haroun also declared his support for Sudans military in the fighting that broke out April 15 with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Sudans military has denied any involvement in their release from prison and accused the RSF of impersonating the military to release the inmates and loot the facility. The RSF denied the allegations and claimed the military released the former leaders as part of a plan to restore Bashir to power. The military and RSF ousted Bashir in 2019 after a popular uprising against his three-decade rule. Both claim to support a return to democracy in Sudan, but have thwarted efforts to establish a civilian-led government, including a coup in 2021. Fighting broke out between the two sides over a timeline for integrating the RSF into the military. The warring has led foreign missions to evacuate diplomats and citizens. While thousands of Sudanese have fled the fighting, millions are left struggling to survive in war zones as supplies of food, water, and medicine are running out. Indias Supreme Court is hearing arguments in a landmark case on whether to legalize same sex marriage in the South Asian country, a right given by only about 34 countries so far. The case follows a number of petitions filed by LGBTQ couples saying that the constitution prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gives all citizens the right to marry a person of their choice. What we are canvassing before this court is a new imagination of marriage and family whose foundation is love, care and respect," Vrinda Grover, one of the lawyers for the petitioners told the court. Indias Hindu nationalist government and leaders from Indias main religions Hindu, Muslim, Jain, Sikh and Christian, have strongly opposed same sex marriage. The government has called same sex marriage a mere urban elitist concept far removed from the social ethos of the country and told the court that it will undermine social and religious values, while religious leaders have raised concerns of what same sex unions would mean for the natural family order. Petitioners have however argued that the concept of marriage has changed over time. Earlier we had child marriages, temporary marriages, a person could marry any number of times. That also changed, lawyer Mukul Rohatgi said. The hearings that began on April 18th before a five-judge bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, are being livestreamed on YouTube and are getting widespread attention, both in the packed courtroom and outside. Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, who is appearing for the government, also questioned the courts jurisdiction in deciding the matter, saying that only parliament and not judges could amend the law. The judges dismissed his plea. But chief justice Chandrachud has said the test really is how far can the courts go? Activists have meanwhile pointed out that all the legal rights that the LGBTQ community has secured so far have come through the Supreme Courts intervention. The case holds huge significance for Indias LGBTQ community, which only emerged from the shadows four and a half years ago after the top court struck down a law criminalizing homosexuality. Their legal battle for the right to marry marks the next big step in a country that is still largely conservative, but where acceptance and understanding of same sex relationships has been gradually growing. In the big cities, many now celebrate their sexuality openly. The government estimates Indias gay population at about 2.5 million while gay rights campaigners say it is over 100 million. Petitioners say both emotional compulsions and the practical need for legal rights that heterosexual couples take for granted prompted them to approach the court. Among them are Abhay Dang and Supriyo Chakraborty, a gay couple based in the southern city of Hyderabad who held an elaborate wedding ceremony a year and a half ago to seal their partnership. But they still do not count as a married couple under the law. I really wanted to call Abhay my husband. My mother, my family accepted us. I want my mother to call Abhay loudly, proudly, legally as her son-in-law, says Chakraborty as he emerged from the courtroom where the hearings were going on. Another gay couple, Utkarsh Saxena and Ananya Kotia, who met 15 years ago in college, want the right to marry to be able to take their relationship forward. In Indian society, marriage is an important institution, it is the bedrock on which a lot of social and family interactions occur, so emotionally this is an important next step for us, says Saxena. In practical terms, both couples say they want the host of legal rights that flow from being marriage such as adoption, filing joint taxes, holding joint bank accounts and inheritance rights. The pivotal moment that prompted Dang and Chakraborty to approach the court was when they both contracted COVID-19 during the pandemic. It just made us realize that life is very, very fragile and we cant really predict what may happen in the next moment, said Dang. We cannot sign documents for each other. Suppose I am hospitalized, and I need someone to make a decision for me, like a surgery or something of that sort, Supriyo would not be able to make that decision. Both had contracted the virus during a deadly second wave that struck India in 2021. Since they first met 10 years ago on a dating app, their journey has been like that of any heterosexual couple. As part of the relationship, we both have grown in terms of how to deal with things and just to value each other more than ourselves, our individual egos, says Dang. Gay rights activists dismiss the governments argument that same sex marriage will undermine Indian society. We are looking at people who want to do something that society holds a lot of value for, the institution of marriage for example. And marriage denotes commitment, caring for each other, loving each other, says Anjali Gopalan, Executive Director of the Naz Foundation. They need a strong law to give them protection. The organization played a frontline role in a long legal battle to strike down the law criminalizing gay relationships. While same sex marriages may still not be accepted by many in a society that is still traditional, petitioners have argued that societal acceptance will follow once law shows the way. There are social transformations happening and this is reflected in popular culture. For example, increasingly one sees very sensitive depictions of gay couples in movies and shows on streaming platforms. This shows us that people are ready for such a step, according to Saxena. Chakraborty found that in the last five years, discussions about homosexuality have come more easily, whether with families or friends. People dont say the word gay not very quietly anymore. People are very confident to start a conversation about it. And I am not just talking about the LGBTQ community, I am talking about everybody in general. It is not clear when the court will pronounce a decision. But even as they wait for it, Saxena and Kotia hope the law will soon allow them to plan a marriage while Dang and Chakrabarty hope that ceremonies like the one they held will count as a legal wedding someday. SOPA Images/Getty Images Contributor Terraform Labs cofounder Daniel Shin was indicted by authorities in South Korea, per Bloomberg. The former crypto exec is facing several charges including violations of capital markets law. Nine others were also indicted in relation to the $60 billion crash of TerraUSD and sister token Luna. Daniel Shin, the cofounder of Terraform Labs, was indicted by South Korea on Tuesday. The former crypto exec, along with nine others, are facing several charges including violations of capital markets law related to the fallout of Terra, according to Bloomberg. Prosecutors froze 246.8 billion won ($184.7 million) in assets so far, per the report, citing head prosecutor Dan Sung Han. Shin's lawyer, Kim Ji-dong, said the exec has "nothing to do with the Terra, Luna collapse as he left the company two years before the fallout," the report reads. "He voluntarily returned to South Korea immediately after the collapse, and has been faithfully cooperating with the probe for over 10 months, hoping to contribute to fact finding." Do Kwon, the other cofounder of Terra, was arrested in Montenegro by authorities last month. He was later charged with fraud by federal prosecutors in New York. The fall of algorithmic stablecoin terraUSD (UST) and sister token Luna, once worth a combined $60 billion in value, sent crypto markets spiraling last year, taking out industry giants like hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, brokerage Voyager Digital, and lender Celsius. Read the original article on Business Insider Iranian authorities have been shutting down a large number of shops and businesses around the country they say are not observing the mandatory hijab law. According to reports from Iran, Ali Akbar Javidan, the police commander of Kermanshah Province, said the Public Places' Supervision Department, in cooperation with "other responsible agencies," has begun "the implementation of the chastity and hijab plan." Javidan said 45 businesses were closed after ignoring warnings they were not abiding by the compulsory hijab rule. Many walk unveiled Iran recently launched a new domestic surveillance program for enforcing its mandatory hijab law, and many women appear to be ignoring it. In recent weeks, VOA Persian has observed a series of what it deems to be credible social media videos showing women in different parts of the country walking unveiled in public in defiance of the hijab law. Iranian state media said the program went into effect on April 15. A week earlier, Iran's national police chief, Ahmad Reza Radan, said authorities would employ advanced surveillance capabilities, including street cameras, to identify women violating the law. It requires them to wear a hijab to cover their hair in public in accordance with an Islamist dress code that is reviled by secular Iranians. Many women in Iran have publicly opposed the mandatory hijab since the death last September of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died while in the custody of the morality police. Amini had been detained for allegedly violating the hijab rule, and her death sparked nationwide protests. Security forces have violently put down the protests, and according to a report by the Human Rights Activists News Agency in early January, 516 protesters have been killed, including 70 children. The latest figures from the U.S.-based human rights monitor put the number of people arrested at more than 19,200, among them 687 students. 'Why should the hijab be compulsory?' Even though women can be arrested if they are not wearing a hijab in public, they are widely seen without a head covering in malls, restaurants, shops and streets around the country. Many women and girls continue to discard their veils in public and publish their photos and videos despite previous police threats. In an interview with VOA last week, Homayoun Katouzian, a professor at Oxford University, criticized Iran's policies regarding the hijab and said, "When prayer and fasting are not compulsory, and there is no crime for not doing them, why should the hijab be compulsory?" Ahmad Vahidi, the former commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and current Interior minister, has threatened the opponents of compulsory veiling with "deprivation of public services." The leader of the Islamic State terror group cell that carried out the August 2021 bombing that killed 13 U.S. troops and about 170 Afghan civilians is dead, slain during recent clashes with Afghanistan's ruling Taliban. U.S. officials, who initially confirmed the death to VOA on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss the intelligence, declined to name the cell leader or say when or where he was killed. It was also unclear whether the individual was targeted by the Taliban or was killed as a result of ongoing fighting between the two groups. In a statement the U.S. Defense Department said, The United States was not involved in this operation. National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby confirmed the cell leader's death in an email to VOA, calling it "another in a series of high-profile leadership losses" that the group has suffered so far this year. Kirby said the cell leader was a key official "directly involved in plotting operations like Abbey Gate," adding that the IS affiliate's ability to launch additional attacks against U.S. interests has been diminished due to a series of setbacks inflicted by the U.S. and its partners, and even the Taliban. Confirmation of the IS cell leader's death came as multiple U.S. media outlets reported U.S. officials were contacting family members of the 13 U.S. troops killed in the attack on Kabul Airport's Abbey Gate to inform them of the development. The attack on Abbey Gate in the waning days of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan left a lasting mark on the United States. Following the attack, U.S. President Joe Biden promised justice for those killed. "To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive," Biden said in a nationally broadcast address. "We will hunt you down and make you pay." But since the withdrawal, the U.S. has carried out just one counterterrorism strike in Afghanistan: Last July, a drone strike killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of IS rival al-Qaida, as he hid in the capital of Kabul. U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in South Asia, has acknowledged two other operations but said the details remain classified. In the meantime, the Islamic State's Afghan affiliate, known as IS-Khorasan or ISIS-K, has spread across the country, with cells in the Afghan capital and a growing number of provinces. Intelligence shared in a United Nations counterterrorism report earlier this year estimated IS-Khorasan has between 1,000 and 3,000 fighters but cautioned that the affiliate was looking to expand its reach, pumping out propaganda in multiple languages, including Persian, Tajik, Uzbek and Russian. Top U.S. military and intelligence officials have also grown increasingly wary of the IS Afghan affiliate. Last month, CENTCOM Commander General Michael Kurilla told U.S. lawmakers that IS-Khorasan has set its sights on striking the West. "They can do external operations against U.S. or Western interests abroad in under six months with little to no warning," Kurilla said, adding the likely targets would be in Asia or Europe. U.S. intelligence agencies have likewise sounded alarms about IS-Khorasan's ambitions. Defense Intelligence Agency chief Lieutenant General Scott Berrier said early last month that it was only "a matter of time before they may have the ability and intent to attack the West." This past January, National Counterterrorism Center Director Christine Abizaid called IS-Khorasan the "threat actor I am most concerned about." U.S. officials have also expressed little faith in the ability of the Taliban to make good on their pledge to contain IS-Khorasan. "The Taliban doesn't have the precision to go after individuals," CENTCOM's Kurilla told U.S. lawmakers. "They [Taliban] will do large, sweeping clearance operations," he said, noting such operations are only "disruptive to a point." The White House's Kirby, late Tuesday, defended U.S. efforts to target IS-Khorasan, despite the lack of strikes. "We have made good on the president's pledge to establish an over-the-horizon capacity to monitor potential terrorist threats, not only from in Afghanistan but elsewhere around the world," he said. As an example, Kirby pointed to the U.S. counterterrorism operation this past January in Somalia that killed IS operative Bilal al-Sudani, who played a key role in funding IS-Khorasan. IS-Khorasan was quick to claim the August 26, 2021, attack on Kabul Airport's Abbey Gate, using it to build momentum as the U.S. left. But despite initial claims by U.S. military officials that the bombing was part of a coordinated attack on the airport, a subsequent Pentagon investigation determined that was not the case. "This was not a complex attack," Army Brigadier General Lance Curtis told reporters in February 2022, detailing the investigation's findings. "It was a single blast, and it did not have a follow-on attack." According to the report, all of the death and damage was caused by the single bomb, which investigators said was powerful enough to send shockwaves through the tightly packed crowds at Abbey Gate, spreading 50 meters from the detonation site. The Abbey Gate bombing put the U.S. military in Afghanistan on heightened alert until the very end of the withdrawal, and possibly contributed to a botched airstrike three days later that killed as many as 10 civilians, including an aid worker and seven children. "The degradation of ISIS in the region continues to be a top priority for this administration," State Department Principal Deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters during a briefing earlier Tuesday. "It's something that we continue to work collectively on with our allies and partners and others in the region." The contradictions that make up Israel its economic and military prowess and its deep divisions and rancorous politics were on full display Tuesday as the country mourned its fallen soldiers and began celebrating its 75th Independence Day. The jarring transition from Israel's Memorial Day to its landmark anniversary ceremony, meant to be a stunning display of unity that transcends the usual noise of Israeli politics, came as the country faces one of the gravest crises in its history. The events reflected the troubles of a nation preoccupied not only with its external enemies but with its internal conflicts. A plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right government to overhaul the judiciary has stoked widespread discontent and spurred weeks of protests that have brought cities to a standstill. Critics fear the changes would weaken the Supreme Court and erode the country's democratic character. Netanyahu and his supporters argue the overhaul is needed to rein in a liberal and overly interventionist court of unelected judges. Fighter pilots have threatened to stop reporting for duty. High-tech investors have considered relocating. The nation's leaders have openly warned of civil war. Following weeks of mass protests and dissent from within his own coalition, Netanyahu said he would pause the overhaul in hopes of finding a compromise. On Tuesday, arguments and protests over the judicial crisis broke out at a few burial sites, offering what many Israelis considered to be an undignified backdrop for the most solemn day on Israel's national calendar, in honor of its 24,213 war dead and 4,255 victims of militant attacks. At a cemetery in the southern city of Beersheba, hard-line National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attended and addressed a Memorial Day ceremony, even after bereaved families appealed to him to stay away or at least not speak on behalf of the government. When he was 18, Ben-Gvir was banned from compulsory military service on the grounds of his extremist ideology and conviction for incitement to racism and support for a terrorist group. Even before Ben-Gvir turned up at the graveyard, scuffles and insult-laden shouting matches broke out between his supporters and opponents. Some attendees threw water at each other after the ceremony. In Tel Aviv, a group of bereaved families held a separate ceremony to avoid visiting cemeteries and interacting with right-wing politicians whose presence drew shouts of "Shame!" from protesters. "This year, the Israeli nation is torn between extremists," said Israel Shur, who attended an alternative ceremony in Tel Aviv near the building where Israeli independence was declared 75 years ago. "We don't want to confront the politician bringing their agenda inside our sacred place." As is customary, people across the country came to a standstill for two minutes when the whine of air raid sirens sounded late in the morning. Motorists and pedestrians froze in the street, got out of their cars and stood with heads bowed. Bereaved families visited cemeteries while television and radio programming shifted to somber music and documentaries about slain soldiers. "Citizens of Israel, the siren this year, the intensely Israeli signature call, is a wake-up call for all of us. The cost of internal strife is heavy," Israel's figurehead President Isaac Herzog said late Monday. In a speech at the ceremony at a Jerusalem military cemetery, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recalled the lives of several fallen soldiers and spoke of the brotherhood of the Israeli people, a kinship fortified by military service that is compulsory for most Jews. "We will stand together as brothers and ensure our independence from generation to generation," Netanyahu said. "We will bow our heads to the bravery of the fallen." After sundown on Tuesday, the country shifted from its melancholic contemplation to exuberant celebration, kicking off its 75th Independence Day as trumpets blared and drums rolled. The doleful ballads performed at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl became pulsating dance tunes. The dark space became illuminated by flashing blue and white lights. Yet even as the party got underway and the speaker of parliament, Amir Ohana, began lighting the first of 12 torches, representing the 12 tribes of Israel, crowds of anti-government protesters poured into the streets of central Tel Aviv. They unfurled a massive banner featuring a blazing torch labeled "Democracy." Protesters also planned demonstrations for Saturday the 17th week in a row. The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, is set to resume next week following its break over the national holidays. Israel declared independence on May 14, 1948, but the holiday, like all national holidays, is observed according to the Hebrew calendar. Palestinians generally commemorate what they call the "nakba," or the "catastrophe," of 1948 in which hundreds of thousands of them fled or were forced from their homes during the war surrounding Israel's creation on May 15. An attack on the prison holding deposed Sudanese strongman Omar al-Bashir has raised questions about his whereabouts, with one of the warring sides saying he is being held in a secure location and the other alleging he has been released. Al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan for three decades despite wars and sanctions, was overthrown during a popular uprising in 2019. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide and other crimes committed during the conflict in Sudan's western Darfur region in the 2000s. He and other former top officials accused of atrocities have been held in Kober prison in Khartoum for the last four years, as authorities have declined ICC requests that they be handed over. The Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which together had removed al-Bashir from power during mass protests, are now battling one another across the capital. The fighting reached the prison over the weekend, with conflicting reports about what transpired. Military officials told The Associated Press that al-Bashir, as well as Abdel-Rahim Muhammad Hussein and Ahmed Haroun who held senior security positions during the Darfur crisis had been moved to a military-run medical facility in Khartoum under tight security for their own safety. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with media. The army later accused the RSF of donning military uniforms and attacking the prison, saying they released inmates and looted the facility. The RSF, led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, denied the allegations and claimed that the military "forcibly evacuated" the facility as part of a plan to restore al-Bashir to power. Local media meanwhile aired a purported audio statement from Haroun in which he said that he and other former officials were left in the prison complex guarded by a small number of security forces, and were later allowed to walk free. He said they left the prison for their own safety because of the fighting and a lack of food or water. He did not mention al-Bashir or say where he and the other officials were. A lawyer for al-Bashir did not respond to phone calls or messages seeking comment. Burhan and other senior officers served under al-Bashir, and activists say the Islamist "deep state" that underpinned his long rule is still intact. Dagalo also once served as a loyal enforcer to al-Bashir, helping to suppress rebellions in Darfur and other provinces. Both the military and the RSF have sought to portray themselves as allies of the country's pro-democracy movement who are trying to restore its transition to civilian rule. But both have a long history of brutalizing activists and protesters, and they joined forces to remove civilian leaders from power in a coup less than two years ago. Kober prison held a number of activists detained after the coup, some of whom were charged in the death of a senior police officer during a protest. One of them, Mosab Sharif, posted a video online saying that the entire prison had been emptied after a military strike that killed some of those inside. He said armed men burst through the doors and ordered everyone out. Another activist who walked free, Ahmed al-Fatih, said he was willing to surrender at a police station but could not find any that were functioning amid the unrest, according to a statement released by his defense lawyers. Both activists said their lives were in danger at the prison as food and water ran low. Videos circulating online appear to show a long line of prisoners leaving the facility with bags of belongings slung over their shoulders. The ICC indicted Al-Bashir, Hussein and Haroun on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur. The Darfur conflict erupted when rebels from an ethnic African community launched an insurgency in 2003, complaining of oppression by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum. Al-Bashir launched a scorched-earth campaign that included air raids and attacks by notorious Janjaweed militiastribal fighters who stormed into villages on horses and camels. The campaign was marked by mass killings, rape, torture and persecution. Some 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven from their homes. Dagalo has not been implicated in the atrocities carried out in Darfur at the height of the conflict in 2003 and 2004, but his forces grew out of the Janjaweed and are accused of using similar tactics. Distressed parents of Kenyan university students stuck in Sudan converge in a house in Kenya's Wajir County while they wait for news of their stranded children in Sudan's capital, Khartoum. The imminent end of a 72-hour cease-fire between Sudan's warring forces has left many Kenyan parents extremely apprehensive, including Osman Mohamed. "My son is among those still stranded in the university, and he confirmed to me that they are several of them who are waiting for communication from the embassy and they are yet to receive that information," he said. The first group of Kenyan evacuees arrived home aboard a Kenyan air force plane on Monday night from Paloich airport in South Sudan. The group of 39, including 19 Kenyan students, was evacuated following the unrest in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, which has resulted in hundreds of deaths. "We started our journey two days ago from Khartoum," said Abdi Hamza, an evacuated medical student at the International University of Africa in Khartoum, "and we came by bus to Kosti near the border, then from Kosti to Jodah. In Jodah we were received by the South Sudanese government." A promise to evacuate Kenyans Kenya's cabinet secretary for defense, Aden Duale, said Kenya was committed to ensuring the safe return of all citizens stranded in Sudan. "We will make sure that aircrafts and all logistics are available to evacuate all Kenyans," said Duale, while receiving the evacuees at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. "There are over 3,000 Kenyans held up in Sudan, and so far, we have mapped out 900 Kenyans in various parts of Khartoum and Sudan as a whole." Despite the Kenyan government's efforts, parents of students still in Sudan have expressed fear and appealed to the government to evacuate them before fighting resumes. "We are strongly appealing to the government to speed up the evacuation process so that at least before the extended time elapses, that at least all the students in Khartoum have been ferried to safer places," Mohamed said. Critic says Kenya 'can do better' Earlier this week, Kenya's foreign affairs ministry told stranded Kenyans to register with its embassy in Khartoum in a bid to expedite a quick evacuation process. But since Monday, there have been no further flights of Kenyans out of Sudan. "The fact that out of the 900 that have been mapped you were only able to evacuate 35 shows you how small efforts [were]," said Ahmed Madey, an education researcher in Nairobi. "I think the Kenyan government can do better." Sudan's armed forces and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on Monday agreed to a 72-hour cease-fire, triggering a rush of evacuations of hundreds of foreign nationals by Western, Arab and African countries. As the cease-fire deal comes to its scheduled end, many Kenyan parents such as Mohamed fear for their loved ones but hold out hope for a safe return home. Ukraines military forces have all the equipment, weapons and ammunition they need to launch their long-awaited spring offensive, according to a top U.S. military commander. Ukrainian officials and their Western allies have made no secret of the anticipated military campaign aimed at retaking Ukrainian territory still under Russian control, with speculation mounting that it will get underway in the coming weeks, if not sooner. Whenever the offensive does start, the commander of U.S. military forces in Europe is very confident Ukraines forces will not be held back by a lack of weapons systems or supplies. "We have been shipping it into the country, U.S. European Commands General Christopher Cavoli told U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday. "Over 98% of the combat vehicles are already there." Western tanks, including British-made Challengers and German-made Leopards, began arriving in Ukraine last month. And just last week the United States unveiled more military aid for Kyiv, a $325 million package promising more artillery rounds and rockets, as well as TOW anti-tank guided missiles and other anti-armor weaponry. "We sat down with the Ukrainians, with our Ukrainian colleagues, and we calculated the amount of materiel they would need, Cavoli, who also serves as NATOs top military commander, told lawmakers when asked about Ukraines preparations. I am very confident that we have delivered the materiel that they need and will continue a pipeline to sustain their operations. While some Ukrainian officials have urged patience regarding the potential offensive, an analysis of recent video posted by pro-Russian bloggers suggests key pieces are moving into place. According to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, the video indicates Ukrainian forces have set up positions on the eastern side of Dnipro River, a possible staging point for any effort to recapture the Crimean Peninsula. Despite the deliveries of U.S. and European military aid, Ukrainian officials have consistently pressed their Western allies for more, specifically asking for longer-range missiles and aircraft. But Assistant U.S. Defense Secretary Celeste Wallander insisted to lawmakers Wednesday that Kyivs most critical needs were being met. While on the list, Western, modern aircraft, is about eighth on the list, she said, saying air defense systems, artillery and armored capabilities remain the priorities. U.S.-made Patriot missile defense systems arrived in Ukraine earlier this month, and Cavoli said those types of systems were helping Kyiv control the airspace over its country and over its forces. Thats the thing thats most imperative right now, he said. They've been doing that very effectively with ground-based air defense." Cavoli and Wallander also warned lawmakers against overconfidence, cautioning that despite the heavy losses in Ukraine, key parts of the Russian military machine remained unscathed. "Although Russia's conventional military capabilities are diminished, Russia continues to present serious risk as it retains capabilities in nuclear, cyber, information operations, counterspace and undersea warfare," Wallander said. "Much of the Russian military has not been affected negatively by this conflict," Cavoli added, pointing to Russias fleet of submarines. "Their patrols into the Atlantic and throughout the Atlantic are at a high level," he warned. More active than we've seen them in years. Latest Developments Three Russian aircraft intercepted over Baltic Sea by Germany and Britain Ukrainian and Chinese leaders speak by phone in first known contact since Russias invasion of Ukraine British defense ministry says heavy short-range combat continues in western districts of Bakhmut Russian opposition former mayor on trial over criticism of war in Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had a long and meaningful phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday, with the two men agreeing to send envoys to Beijing and Kyiv in a possible initial move to broker peace talks to end Russias war against Ukraine. Zelenskyy, in a comment on Twitter, gave no details of his nearly hourlong conversation with Xi, his first known contact with the Chinese president since Russias invasion 14 months ago. Zelenskyy said, I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraines ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations. Later, on his website, he called the conversation productive and said it would lead the way toward "possible interaction with the aim of establishing a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine." Chinese state media reported that Xi appealed to Zelenskyy for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, warning, "There is no winner in a nuclear war." He was apparently referring to the threat of Russia using tactical nuclear weapons. Chinese state TV said Xi's government would send a special representative to Ukraine for talks about a possible political settlement. "Negotiation is the only viable way out," state TV said in a report on Xi's comments to Zelenskyy. "All parties concerned should remain calm and restrained in dealing with the nuclear issue and truly look at the future and destiny of themselves and humanity as a whole and work together to manage the crisis." China has attempted to appear neutral on the Russian invasion, in February proposing a cease-fire and peace talks. But Beijing has also refused to condemn Russias invasion or call for Moscow to withdraw its troops from Ukraine, including Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014. Zelenskyy has repeatedly said his government will not engage in peace talks until Moscow withdraws its troops from all of Ukraine. "There can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises, Zelenskyy said after his phone call with Xi. Meanwhile, Russia wants Kyiv to acknowledge Russia's annexation of Crimea and last years declaration that the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia are part of Russia. Chinese state media quoted Xi as telling Zelenskyy, Amid the current rise of reasonable thinking and voices from all sides, we should seize the opportunity to build up favorable conditions for a political settlement of the crisis. In Washington, the White House described the Xi-Zelenskyy call as a positive development, allowing the Chinese leader to hear Ukraine's view of Russias "illegal, unprovoked invasion." "We think that's a good thing," said John Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesman. Last month, Xi made a three-day state visit to Moscow, highlighting Beijings bid for global leadership. At the end of the talks, Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin declared their two countries had a no-limits friendship. Since then, Putin has also met at the Kremlin with Chinese defense officials. Russian recon aircraft over Baltic Sea Three Russian military reconnaissance aircraft were intercepted in international airspace over the Baltic Sea, the German air force reported Wednesday. German officials said the aircraft, flying without their transponders on, were intercepted by German and British planes. Norway on Tuesday said its air force had identified a group of Russian military planes flying over the Barents Sea. The Norwegian air force identified the aircraft as two bombers, two refueling tankers and three fighter jets. In Wednesdays update on the situation in Ukraine, the British defense ministry said heavy, short-range combat continues in the western districts of Bakhmut. In the post on Twitter, the ministry said that during the past week Ukraine has sought to maintain control of an important supply route because other resupply options into Bakhmut are likely complicated by mud. The former mayor of Yekaterinburg, Russia, has gone on trial on charges of discrediting the Russian military over its offensive in Ukraine. Yevgeny Roizman is a popular opposition figure. He is the last prominent Kremlin critic who is still in Russia and not in prison. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Armed with machetes, bottles and rocks, residents in the hilly suburbs of Haiti's capital fought back against encroaching gangs Tuesday, a day after a crowd burned 13 suspected gangsters to death in a gruesome outburst of vigilante violence. Tired of relying on an understaffed police department, scores of men in the Canape Vert neighborhood of Port-au-Prince spent the night on roofs and patrolled entrances of their community blocked with big trucks spray-painted with the words, "Down with gangs." "We are planning to fight and keep our neighborhood clean of these savages," Jeff Ezequiel, a 37-year-old mechanic, told The Associated Press. "The population is tired and frustrated." Gangs expand reach The makeshift brigade is the latest example of growing attempts by Haitians to fight gangs on their own. Earlier this year, people elsewhere in Port-au-Prince and in the central Artibonite region, which has been hit by heavy gang violence, have lynched several suspected gang members. Until now, Canape Vert and nearby Turgeau the site of a major hotel chain and a local university had largely avoided the gang-fueled violence that has been consuming the capital and surrounding areas since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. The United Nations estimates that gangs now control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince. "Gang expansion into areas previously considered safe has been alarming," according to a U.N. Security Council report released on Tuesday. Reported killings from January to March 31 have risen by more than 20% compared with the last quarter of 2022, and 637 kidnappings have been reported so far this year, an increase of 63% compared with the last three months of 2022, the report stated. UN calls for international force Meanwhile, Haiti's National Police has 1.2 officers per 1,000 inhabitants in this country of more than 11 million people. "The police remain underresourced and face overwhelming odds in their struggle to keep gangs from tightening their grip on the country," the U.N. report said. On Tuesday, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged the immediate deployment of an international armed force to Haiti a request Haiti's prime minister first made in October last year and warned in a report that violence in Port-au-Prince "has reached levels comparable to countries in armed conflict." More than 130,000 Haitians have fled their neighborhoods as gangs break into homes, kill and rape residents in a fight to control more territory, and nearly 40% of them are now living in makeshift shelters lacking basic services, according to the U.N. But on Tuesday, many in Canape Vert returned to their homes after temporarily fleeing the area on Monday when the 13 suspected gang members were killed. "There's nowhere to run," said Samuel, 25, who declined to give his last name out of fear of being killed. "We have to stand and fight back. If there has to be a war, I will be part of it, because authorities are not taking responsibility and are letting everyone die under their eyes." He was walking back to his home Tuesday along with other residents, including Sandra Jenty, 26, who took shelter under her bed with her 4-year-old son on Monday night, losing control of her bladder as gunshots rang out in her neighborhood before she fled around dawn. "It felt like they were shooting inside of my house," she said. "I'm not hurt by the grace of God." She cradled her son as they walked back to their house, with Jenty confident that the makeshift neighborhood brigade would protect them. Meanwhile, authorities dragged one body of a suspected gang member along the pavement and into a van for removal. It was one of 13 suspected gang members who had been killed with rocks and sticks and burned to death with gasoline-soaked tires. 'Willing to die' to protect neighborhood At one checkpoint in Turgeau, more than a dozen masked men with machetes stood guard. They declined to speak to the AP and warned that no images of them were to be taken. It's a movement that resident Reynald Jean Pierre, 30, said he supports, adding that he was "willing to die" to protect his neighborhood from gangs. "People are being kidnapped, people are being raped, people are being extorted, but we are not going to let it happen under our watch," he said. "We don't have another home to go to." The U.N. said Haitian police estimate that there are seven major gang coalitions in the country and some 200 affiliated groups. Residents believe that the 13 suspected gang members who were killed by the crowd Monday were members of the Kraze Barye gang, which translates to "Breaking Barriers." Ezequiel dismissed concerns about possible retribution by gangs for Monday's killings, adding that he was saddened by the slayings of the young men he said could have been doing something productive for society. "We won this fight, but the war is not over," he said. "We are going to continue searching for gangs, and if they are still hiding, we are going to get them and make sure they don't leave alive." Russia said on Wednesday that it had appointed one of its most senior army commanders to lead a peacekeeping force in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, as tensions rise again between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Russian peacekeepers were deployed in 2020 to end a war over Nagorno-Karabakh, the second that Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought since the 1991 Soviet collapse. The mountain enclave is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but populated mainly by ethnic Armenians. The Russian armed forces said the peacekeepers were now headed by Colonel-General Alexander Lentsov, deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian ground forces. He replaces Major-General Andrei Volkov, a more junior officer. No reason was given for the change, announced hours after a telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Armenia has voiced increasing frustration that the Russian force has failed to keep open the Lachin corridor, the only land route that links it to Karabakh across Azerbaijani territory. Russian media quoted an Armenian spokesperson on Tuesday as saying the country had appealed to the International Court of Justice over Azerbaijan's installation of a checkpoint on the highway on Sunday, calling it a "flagrant violation" of Baku's obligation to ensure free movement. Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov said the checkpoint was set up in response to "safety concerns in light of Armenia's continued misuse of the road for the transport of weapons and other illegal activities." He added: "We continue to be in close contact with the ICRC [International Committee of the Red Cross] and the Russian peacekeeping contingent to best facilitate humanitarian access." An Armenian spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of a Russian government-backed paramilitary group, has offered weapons to one of the warring parties in Sudan, according to several media reports. Since the fighting began in April, there have been unconfirmed reports and diplomatic sources who spoke to news outlets saying that Wagner fighters are supporting the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces and supplying them with weapons. Cameron Hudson, a former U.S. State Department official and a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA that the Wagner Group is supplying portable air defense systems, shoulder-fired rockets, tank busters and heavy armor. The RSF denies receiving support from Russia. As news emerges, however, that the Wagner Group could be taking sides, experts warn such external involvement can only worsen the conflict, citing the groups negative track record and trail of atrocities in Africa. In a rare admission to the groups involvement in Sudan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that the decision to involve the Wagner Group is up to African leadership. Central African Republic and Mali and Sudan, a number of other countries, whose governments, whose legitimate authorities turn for this kind of services [to Wagner Group], have the right to do so, Lavrov told a news conference at the United Nations. High-level U.S. officials continue to express concern over the involvement of the Wagner Group in Sudan, where it is involved in mineral extraction. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that the group's involvement has the potential to further ignite the conflict. Obviously, we dont want to see this conflict expand or broaden, and we certainly wouldnt want to see additional firepower brought to bear; that will just continue the violence and continue to escalate the tensions, he said. The fight to grab power is between two generals, General Abdel Fattah Burhan, head of the armed forces, and General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, or Hemedti, the leader of the RSF paramilitary group. Hemedti traveled to Russia shortly after Moscows invasion of Ukraine and has sought to win support from the Wagner Group. Through this visit, we hope to advance relations between Sudan and Russia to broader horizons, and strengthen the existing cooperation between us in various fields, Dagalo said in a Twitter post at the time of his Moscow visit. Jacqueline Burns is a senior policy analyst with RAND Corporation, a global policy research group. She said by supporting Hemedti, Russia is seeking to protect its own interests. Russia and the Wagner Group, they benefit from gold concessions in Sudan and the illicit smuggling of gold out of the country, she told VOA. The Wagner Group is siding with the party they think is most likely to be able to continue to secure these interests, particularly in opposition to any civilian-led government. The Wagner Groups history in Sudan dates to the previous government of Omar al-Bashir. Prigozhin had a close relationship with the autocratic leader, who allowed Wagner-affiliated companies access to gold mining. After the army ousted al-Bashir in 2019 amid a popular uprising, Wagner continued to have a close relationship with the Sudanese military, particularly the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces headed by Hemedti. This replicates its model of engagement in other African countries. Wagner Group does seem to engage with African countries on a pretty predictable sort of pattern, said Ben Dalton, a program manager at New Americas Future Frontlines, a Washington-based research group. Normally it starts with a cultivation of elites, or at least a subset of elites, and then that is followed up with a formal military technical agreement between the states. And this could be something like Russia will supply arms in exchange for concessions that allow them to do mining or other kinds of resource extraction. Russia views Sudan as a strategic location with vast mineral wealth and is eager to help install a friendly leader, say analysts. Weve seen a lot in recent months about Russias efforts to gain a port on the Red Sea in Sudan through an official military relationship and theyve signed other official military relationships with other countries in the region, said Hudson. Wagners involvement in other parts of the continent, however, has only brought strife to the population, Dalton said. Engaging with this group tends to go pretty badly for the population that has to deal with them. Theyve been associated with widespread atrocities everywhere they go; you see civilian deaths and various atrocities, Dalton said. "Russias interests are in extracting the continents resources so that it can strengthen its own position and build a web to resist ... international sanctions. They don't really have the interests of Africans at heart. Patsy Widakuswara and Cindy Saine contributed to this report. TORONTO and GATINEAU, QC, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Converge Technology Solutions Corp. ("Converge" or "the Company") (TSX: CTS) (FSE: 0ZB) (OTCQX: CTSDF) is pleased to announce that it will release its first quarter financial results for the three-month period ended March 31st, 2023 on Tuesday May 9th, 2023 after market close. Subsequently, the Company will hold a conference call on Wednesday, May 10th, 2023, at 8:00 am EST hosted by the Converge leadership team. A question and answer session will follow the corporate update. Converge Technology Solutions Corp. Logo (CNW Group/Converge Technology Solutions Corp.) Conference Call Details: Date: Wednesday, May 10th, 2023 Time: 8:00 AM Eastern Time Participant Webcast Link: Webcast Link - https://app.webinar.net/bE13rwz0YGB Participant Dial-in Details with Operator Assistance: Confirmation #: 19352249 Toronto: 416-764-8609 North American Toll Free: 888-390-0605 International Toll-Free Numbers: Germany: 08007240293 Ireland: 1800939111 Spain: 900834776 Switzerland: 0800312635 United Kingdom: 08006522435 You may register and enter your phone number to receive an instant automated call back via https://emportal.ink/41om1vV Recording Playback: Webcast Link - https://app.webinar.net/bE13rwz0YGB Toronto: 416-764-8677 North American Toll Free: 1-888-390-0541 Replay Code: 352249 # Expiry Date: May 17th, 2023 Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure time for any software download that may be required to access the webcast. A live audio webcast accompanied by presentation slides and archive of the conference call and webcast will be available by visiting the Company's website at https://convergetp.com/investor-relations/ . About Converge Converge Technology Solutions Corp. is a services-led, software-enabled, IT & Cloud Solutions provider focused on delivering industry-leading solutions. Converge's global approach delivers advanced analytics, application modernization, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and digital workplace offerings to clients across various industries. The Company supports these solutions with advisory, implementation, and managed services expertise across all major IT vendors in the marketplace. This multi-faceted approach enables Converge to address the unique business and technology requirements for all clients in the public and private sectors. For more information, visit convergetp.com. Story continues Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/converge-announces-first-quarter-2023-financial-results-conference-call-date-301807637.html SOURCE Converge Technology Solutions Corp. The former head of South Africa's national energy firm, Eskom, has refused to name the minister and politician who allegedly tolerated its corruption. Andre de Ruyter, who was answering lawmakers' questions by video link due to death threats against him, cited security and legal risks. A couple of months after de Ruyter alleged someone tried to poison him by putting cyanide in his coffee at his office, he engaged in an interview with a local news channel. His appearance Wednesday before parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts stems from what he revealed then about the level of corruption in Eskom. De Ruyter told the committee in an affidavit this week that in his estimation, the company loses about $54 million per month to corruption. He called that number a "conservative estimate" based on losses that came to his attention. Despite being offered parliamentary privilege Wednesday, de Ruyter wasn't willing to name the politician he alleges is involved in the graft nor the government minister he claims tolerates it. However, he didn't object or correct this statement from Alf Lees, a member of parliament representing the main opposition Democratic Alliance: "It has become patently evident to me, certainly, that the minister who made the comment about letting other people feed was indeed Minister Gordhan." Pravin Gordhan is the minister of public enterprises under which Eskom falls. Gordhan has previously admitted to having a conversation with de Ruyter about criminality at the power company but has denied saying corruption should be tolerated. When pressed Wednesday, de Ruyter said Gordhan knew the name of the politician involved. "I think that is a question that will be able to be answered by Minister Gordhan. He should be able to answer that question," de Ruyter said. "To my recollection I did mention it to him, and he would be best placed to respond to that." De Ruyter complained of Gordhan being extremely involved in Eskom's operations and of by-passing him, his chief operating officer, and head of generation. "There were examples of intervention in day-to-day operations," de Ruyter said. "Whether that was to gain information or to verify information, I don't know. But it, it made life as the responsible accounting officer quite difficult. Many cooks in the kitchen does not always result in a good meal." De Ruyter denied taking or carrying out any illegal instructions. "The way that the organized crime works is that there is a network of people, some of them regrettably Eskom employees, who collude with criminals to ensure that through fraudulent activity they can extract money from Eskom," he said. The parliamentary committee's chairperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, seemed unimpressed with de Ruyter's testimony, saying they were still at "square one" as he revealed nothing more than in his television interview. Hlengwa said they would be calling him again. De Ruyter's appearance came on the eve of Freedom Day, when South Africa marks 29 years since the first democratic election after decades of apartheid rule, which oppressed people of color. Political analyst Amanda Gouws, a professor at Stellenbosch University, said the level of corruption in South Africa is sad. "I mean there's nothing to celebrate. We are doing really, really badly," Gouws said. "What we are seeing is a process of deconsolidation of democracy, of back sliding of democracy with a government that's really not governing. So for all the euphoria of 1994, there is nothing left. What we have is collective depression because we're literally in the dark with an ANC government that's not capable of governing." South Africa's economy has been dealt a massive blow in recent months by daily rolling blackouts, which critics blame on mismanagement of Eskom. South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa backtracked on remarks he made Tuesday that the country would withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued an arrest warrant for Russias President Vladimir Putin. The presidents office late Tuesday walked back comments Ramaphosa made earlier that day at a briefing, saying he misspoke when he said the governing African National Congress (ANC) party would pull out of the International Criminal Court. His remarks sparked controversy as Russias President Vladimir Putin, who is wanted by the ICC for war crimes in Ukraine, is invited to an August summit in South Africa. As a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the ICC, Pretoria is required to arrest Putin if he sets foot in the country. But just hours after Ramaphosa said the ANC party would quit the court in The Hague, his spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, said the remarks were an error. South Africa remains a signatory to the ICC in line with a resolution of the 55th national conference of the ANC held in December 2022 to rescind an earlier decision to withdraw from the ICC, he said. Magwenya said the correction followed an error made at a media briefing by the ANC on South Africa and the ICC, which he said the president had regrettably and erroneously affirmed. Ramaphosa had said there had long been a feeling in the governing party that the court treats some countries unfairly. The ANC wanted to pull out of the ICC some years ago but was prevented from doing so by a South African court ruling that found it unconstitutional. It is not yet clear if Putin will attend a summit of the BRICS group of emerging nations Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Even if he does, it is far from guaranteed that South Africa would arrest the Russian president. Pretoria refused to act on an ICC arrest warrant in 2015, when former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir visited. The African National Congress party is staunch friends with Moscow, which as leader of the Soviet Union supported its fight against Apartheids white minority rule. Kyiv also supported the ANCs struggle for democracy, but Pretoria has so far refused to condemn the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine. Taiwan and the U.S. have signed two deals worth close to $420 million for maintaining fighter aircraft operated by the self-governing island that China considers its own territory. Based on the agreement, around $323 million will be allocated for a parts contract that runs through March 2028, according to a local news report. The smaller deal, which runs through June 2027, covers nonstandard parts and aviation materials. The deals were signed on Sunday. Taiwan has relied on the U.S. for air defense capability to secure its airspace and prepare for a possible Chinese invasion. China has been ramping up military pressure in recent years to try to force the island to accept integration with mainland China. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on April 21 that Taiwans return to China is an integral part of the international order after World War II: Once Chinas land is recovered, it will never be lost againanyone who plays with fire on the Taiwan issue will set himself on fire. The Washington Post on April 15 quoted confidential documents leaked from the Pentagon that Taiwan is unlikely to thwart Chinese military air superiority in a cross-strait conflict as its airfields and radar positions are all within the range of Beijings land-based missiles. According to the documents, just over half of Taiwans aircraft are fully mission capable and Taiwanese officials doubt the ability of their air defenses to accurately detect missile launches. The documents also said Taiwan feared it could take days to move the planes to shelters, leaving them vulnerable to Chinese missiles. Taiwans Ministry of National Defense on April 16 said that the documents content did not conform to the facts. Phillip Saunders, director of the Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs and distinguished research fellow at the National Defense University, told VOA Mandarin on April 20 at an event hosted by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, that air defense is going to be a huge problem for Taiwan as its airfields and radar are all within range of Chinas land-based missiles. Saunders said, I think the general assessment is Taiwans Air Force is going to be out of the fight pretty quickly because the airfields are going to be gone, and if the Air Force hits the sky, theyre within range of Chinese surface-to-air missiles based on the mainland. Harry Halem, a senior fellow at Yorktown Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank, told VOA Mandarin in an email on April 20 that the Taiwaneses biggest issue is geographic. Halem said, Taiwan is densely populated with large cities, making it a hellish urban combat area, but its also very small, and therefore, (in theory) easy to blanket with reconnaissance elements to identify enemy targets. Another major vulnerability of Taiwanese aircraft is their ability to be hit on the ground in a Chinese missile first strike, he said. The leaks and other information indicate that Taiwan doesnt have the hardened aircraft shelters to protect its air force if it is caught on the ground, and given the numbers of Chinese aircraft, Taiwan could simply get overwhelmed. Chieh Chung, a researcher at the National Policy Foundation, a Taipei-based think tank, told VOA Mandarin that one of the main challenges for Taiwans Air Force is that airfields and early warning radar in western Taiwan are highly vulnerable to Chinese sabotage. He told VOA Mandarin in a phone interview on April 21 that Taiwans air defense system, including various long-range radar, is still operating smoothly, and the effectiveness of the entire joint air defense is quite good. For example, when China launches a ballistic missile, Taiwans early warning radar provide at least seven minutes of early warning to the relevant anti-missile units. But the problem is that most of the long-range radar that make up our air defense system are in fixed positions. It is very likely that the effect of these long-range radar (positions) will be reduced after Chinas first few waves of long-range ballistic missile attacks. If it starts to decrease significantly, it will affect the success rate of anti-aircraft missile interception, he said. And China has more air power than Taiwan. According to Global Firepower and Forces, the Chinese military has over 3,000 aircraft and nearly 400,000 people in its air force. Taiwan has slightly more than 700 aircraft in total and more than 30,000 air force troops. Eric Chan, senior strategist at the United States Air Force, told VOA Mandarin that the largest air threats to Taiwan might come from large swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles or short-range ballistic missiles. In an email on April 20, he said in an invasion scenario, China could attempt to use mass firepower to suppress Taiwans defenders, gain air superiority, and, thus, overcome the disadvantage of attacking into challenging terrain. Losing air supremacy would have severe consequences for Taiwan. Halem said that unless the United States and its allies can help Taiwan regain air supremacy, Taiwan may lose a Taiwan Strait war. Chan said the U.S. could work with allies to provide Taiwan with more air defense systems and missiles, creating a multilayered, integrated air and missile defense system. Chung believes that the U.S. still needs to share early warning information to help Taiwan carry out fighter jet transfers and consider selling AGM-158C long-range anti-ship missiles to Taiwan to prevent Chinese aircraft from entering the waters east of Taiwan, as well as providing F-35 fighters to respond to Chinas attacks on airfields and runways. Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report. When Taiwan's former and current presidents each embarked on overseas trips this month, their travels highlighted how rising tensions between the United States and China are seen by the islands' voters who will pick a new leader in January. President Tsai Ing-wen met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other American legislators during stops in New York and California. Around the same time, Tsai's predecessor, former President Ma Ying-jeou became the first Taiwanese former or current president to visit China since the two sides were separated at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949. Generally, Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party supports Taiwanese nationalism and has championed building diplomatic ties with the U.S. and other nations. Ma's Kuomintang party generally favors building ties with Beijing, as well as with the U.S. and other nations, and trying to find consensus. Opinion polls conducted after the trips among Taiwanese adults 20 years and older found some 61% reported approving of Tsai's meeting with McCarthy while 22% disapproved. Ma's trip found opinions more evenly split, with some 39% of respondents saying they approved, and 43% disapproving. Contrasting approaches to China Tsai, her ruling Democratic Progressive Party known as the DPP, and their supporters see the meeting with McCarthy as an example of Taiwan's right to conduct diplomacy and an important step for Taiwan's security. "In the face of pressure and intimidation, the people of Taiwan will only become more united," she said according to Taiwan's Central News Agency, adding that her meetings with the American legislators "will contribute to cross-Taiwan Strait stability and regional peace." Soong Hseik-wen, an international affairs professor at Taiwan's National Chung Cheng University, said Tsai's visit will help her party with voters. "It shows that globally, countries like the U.S. accept Taiwan's [de facto] independence," Soong said. "In the future, there will be many countries that support democracy, freedom and human rights, including the EU, the U.S., Canada, Japan, and even South Korea, Southeast Asian countries that will stand with Taiwan." Former President Ma Ying-jeou had a different goal for his lower-key journey to China, a "private" visit he made as a citizen, not as a former president, that saw him bring college students and academics for exchanges, to promote more interaction between the two sides as a way of reducing tensions. Ma remains influential after serving two terms in office from 2008 to 2016 at a time when he improved relations with Beijing without losing Taiwan's self-rule, freedoms and democracy. On his "peace-building" mission this month, Ma told reporters, "the two sides must pursue peace, otherwise both sides will not have a future." Tso Chen-dong, a National Taiwan University political science professor said Ma's visit shows that when the two sides have regular contact, they can gain a better understanding about each other, which can help them out of the current "hostility spiral." "If the two sides continue to hold a negative view of each other, then they are moving towards a collision," Tso said. "However, if they can change their perception through mutual exchanges, little by little, the collision can be slowed down and even reversed." Public opinion While surveys indicated most Taiwanese support Tsai's U.S. visit, some voters worried that embracing Americans could further raise tensions with China. "Tsai keeps going overseas to win over the U.S. and promote her anti-China agenda and then China carries out these military activities. This is not what we want," said Yen Hsiao-lien, who told VOA by phone that she worries her two sons will be drafted into a combat situation. "The median line (in the Taiwan Strait) is gone" Yen said, referring to the more than 100 Chinese warplanes that crossed the invisible line between the two sides in response to Tsai and McCarthy's meeting. "Tsai's supporters think she's doing great and more countries are now paying attention to Taiwan, but practically the whole world recognizes (there's only) one China." She was referring to the fact that almost all countries except 13 nations in the world recognize the mainland as China and do not treat Taiwan as a country or have formal diplomatic relations with the island, although many have close informal ties with Taipei. Washington adopted the "One China Policy" in 1979 when it switched diplomatic recognition from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the mainland People's Republic of China. Under this policy, Washington acknowledges but does not accept Beijing's claim that Taiwan is a part of China to be reunified one day, preferring that the two sides reach a peaceful resolution, and urging both not to take unilateral actions that change the status quo. The One China Policy is not the same as the One China principle, under which Beijing asserts Taiwan and the mainland are part of one country to be reunited one day. Splits over what sort of status and relationship Taiwan should have with China continue to divide voters such as Helen Ko, a 30-year-old law student who said she will not vote for the Kuomintang because its concept of "country" encompassing the mainland and Taiwan, "is not my definition." She prefers the DPP's approach of seeking international support. "Let's say the whole world thinks Taiwan is very democratic and recognizes Taiwan's importance. Could this prevent China from attacking us? If so, the United States, Germany and everyone can come and protect us," Ko said. Analyst Tso, however, cautioned against underestimating Beijing's determination to safeguard what it sees as its territorial integrity. Even if unification is not a top priority for Beijing now, it has vowed to crush moves toward formal independence. Beijing sees the two sides as part of one country to be reunified one day and has not renounced the use of force to do so. But Tso said it was encouraging that the U.S. administration seems to be aware of the need to maintain the balancing act between Beijing and Taipei's concerns, despite the difficulties in doing so. "Those in the U.S. who hope to prevent a collision between the U.S. and China are still mainstream opinions in policy circles." said Tso. "That gives people hope that the two sides can prevent any risk-taking action from really causing a collision." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is appealing for the fighting between rival generals in Sudan to "stop immediately" and warned that it must not turn into a prolonged, full-scale war. "This conflict will not and must not be resolved on the battlefield with the bodies of Sudan's people," Guterres told a Tuesday evening meeting of the Security Council called to discuss the situation. He said the parties must respect the U.S.-brokered, 72-hour cease-fire that started at midnight Monday. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces of General Abdel Fattah Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces led by General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo publicly pledged to uphold the halt in fighting. Meanwhile, the White House said Wednesday that a second American has died in Sudan. It also said the U.S. is helping a small number of Americans looking to leave the country amid ongoing clashes, even as overall violence appeared significantly down. White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters the U.S. is continuing to work with both sides of the conflict to strengthen the cease-fire to allow more humanitarian assistance into the country. "We urge both military factions" to abide by the cease-fire "and to further extend it," Kirby said, adding that the violence "levels ... generally appear to have gone significantly down." "The levels are down, but we want to see the levels at zero," he said. The U.N.'s top diplomat in Sudan, Volker Perthes, told the council via a video briefing from the city of Port Sudan, where he and hundreds of U.N. staff have relocated from Khartoum, that the temporary cease-fire was holding only in some parts of the country, and that the army and RSF were each accusing the other of truce violations. "However, we also hear continuing reports of fighting and movement of troops," he told the council. "In Khartoum, fighting around the Republican Palace, Khartoum international airport, the army headquarters, RSF bases and other strategic locations has largely continued or, in some cases, intensified," Perthes said. "Airstrikes and heavy shelling have also continued, particularly in Bahri and Omdurman." Some tribes mobilizing Omdurman, north of the capital, is the largest city in Sudan, with more than 2.3 million residents. The U.N. envoy said the situation in Darfur "remains volatile," with fighting in the south and west. He expressed concern about reports that tribes are arming themselves in West Darfur to join the fight. "Reports of mobilization by some tribes and some armed movements in Darfur who are taking sides is dangerous and could draw in Sudan's neighboring countries," Perthes warned. Since fighting began on April 15, he said at least 427 people have been killed and up to 4,000 wounded, and the numbers are growing. Five aid workers are among the dead, as well as an Egyptian diplomat. Perthes called on the parties to allow civilians to safely leave conflict areas. The U.N. envoy has been in regular contact with the rival generals. "There is as yet no unequivocal sign that either is ready to seriously negotiate, suggesting that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible," Perthes said. "This is a miscalculation." Evacuations The United Nations says it is not leaving Sudan, but it has temporarily relocated about 1,200 people from Khartoum to Port Sudan. Perthes said that includes 744 U.N. staff and their dependents, international NGO personnel and diplomatic staff from embassies. "Today, this afternoon, I said farewell to 450 of them, when they boarded a French frigate that will take them to Jeddah through the night," Perthes said. "The rest will be evacuated with commercial vessels over the next two days. A few international staff and their dependents are still in Khartoum and were not evacuated due to various reasons." Conflict deepens Sudan's needs Before fighting erupted 10 days ago, more than 15 million Sudanese needed humanitarian assistance. "This conflict will not only deepen those needs, it also threatens to unleash an entirely new wave of humanitarian challenges," U.N. deputy humanitarian chief Joyce Msuya told council members. "Fighting is massively impeding and imperiling aid operations. A humanitarian crisis is quickly turning into a catastrophe." Countries have rushed to evacuate their diplomats and citizens. In all, more than 4,000 people have fled Sudan in foreign-organized evacuations that began on Saturday, including by sea to Saudi Arabia and by aircraft to Jordan and Cyprus. Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Ukraine and the United States are among the countries using aircraft and convoys to ferry foreign nationals out of the country. The majority of U.S. government personnel who evacuated the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, arrived Monday afternoon in Washington. Britain's foreign office said it began an evacuation effort Tuesday with flights leaving from an airfield outside of Khartoum. China's foreign ministry said Tuesday that most of its nationals had been safely evacuated. Sudanese nationals fending for selves Sudanese nationals are fending for themselves amid power blackouts and loss of internet service. Some Sudanese have made the decision to escape in cars and buses on the dangerous roads. The U.N. refugee agency said at least 20,000 Sudanese have arrived in Chad since fighting started and it has registered 4,000 South Sudanese refugees who have crossed back into their country from Sudan. "We have received reports of tens of thousands of people arriving in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan," the deputy humanitarian chief said, adding it is critical to keep borders open. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. U.S. and European officials on Wednesday toured Ukraine's southern port of Izmail, a facility that is important in bringing Ukrainian grain to the world and could become critical if a deal with Russia to allow grain exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports expires. From Izmail, which has been upgraded since the start of the war with the help of U.S. and other funding, grain is taken by barge down a branch of the Danube through Romania to its Black Sea port of Constanta for shipment onward. U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink, who joined Ukrainian and EU officials as well as Ukrainian grain companies in looking over port facilities, told The Associated Press that they were exploring ways to increase the exports from Danube ports. Ukrainian grain supplies are critical to millions of people around the world, and Wednesday's visit comes after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov again this week threatened to abandon the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July. 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, but is set to expire May 18 unless renewed. "There is no time to lose," Brink said. "Russia has put tremendous pressure on the Black Sea Grain Initiative by deliberately and very cynically controlling and limiting the amount of ships that can go in and out, which means that people who need the food aren't able to get it." She added that grain exports are also critical to the Ukrainian economy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy brought up the issue of the grain initiative Wednesday in a call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the first known direct contact between the two leaders since the war began. China has offered to act as a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow, and in a statement on his website Zelenskyy's office said he and Xi had "expressed joint support for the need for proper implementation and continuation" of the deal. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, who hosted Brink along with representatives from the European Union's executive commission and the Danube Commission an international organization on navigation on the river said newly constructed terminals in the region are processing thousands of tons of agricultural products daily. "This region and its ports have become crucial for us," he said. The increased exports down the Danube Europe's second longest river have also increased pressure on Romanian facilities, and Alain Baron, from the European Commission's Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, said he would be traveling there next for talks. "We will be visiting our friends in Romania to continue our common work, our common goals, to increase capacity for Ukraine and to fully use the infrastructure that exists," he said. U.S. President Joe Biden will pull out all the stops Wednesday when he hosts South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at a pomp-filled state dinner to cap a day grounded by serious discussions. White House officials say the leaders will discuss the threats posed by an increasingly bold North Korea, how the two nations can cooperate economically, and ways to counter an increasingly powerful China among other issues. Presidents Biden and Yoon will hold a news conference after their discussions. Yoon will also speak before Congress while he is in Washington. Yoon's visit marks 70 years of U.S.-South Korea relations. While Yoon and Biden talk, the White House says their wives will visit the National Gallery of Art in Washington in celebration of their shared appreciation of the arts and the continuing friendship between the two countries. Tuesday, Biden, Yoon and their wives paid a solemn visit to the Korean War Memorial on the National Mall in Washington. WASHINGTON - A member of the House of Lords in Britain says the government should investigate a British citizen and close ally of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa that appeared in an Al Jazeera investigative documentary series claiming that he could launder and smuggle to Zimbabwe using his diplomatic pouch more than US$1.2 billion. Lord Jonathan Oates, who represents in the House of Lords Derby Grange in the County of West Yorkshire in England, says he wants his government to explain steps it will take to investigate British citizen and self-proclaimed prophet, Mr. Eubert Angel and other Britons mentioned in the Al Jazeera four-part documentary called Gold Mafia released recently. The documentary was done by undercover journalists who paused as investors who wanted to move money from Hong Kong to Zimbabwe. Angel is Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwas ambassador at large to Europe and the Americas.Oates says the British government should also dig deep into Angels private life as there are indications that he may have fraudulently obtained his United Kingdom citizenship. He said, These are very serious allegations against British citizens, so I wrote to the House of Lords to seek their position on investigations of these so that we understand what steps they are taking about them, In his motion tabled in the House of Lords Thursday, Oates wants to know what steps the British government has taken to investigate the activities of companies whose named directors are alleged to have been involved in a plot to commit financial crime. Angel is an evangelical preacher and founder of United Kingdom-based Spirit Embassy, a Pentecostal ministry. He appeared in the documentary series bragging that he was capable of laundering billions of United States dollars from Hong Kong to Zimbabwe. He also claimed that he had direct links with the Zimbabwean president, and his wife, Auxilia, whom he called in one of the editions of the hard-hitting documentary series. Angel appeared in the documentary with suspected British gold smuggler, Kikki Doolan, attempting to receive a US$200,000 fixing fee in order to facilitate a meeting between Al Jazeera investigative reporters and President Mnangagwa. Gold mined in Zimbabwe is being allegedly sold to merchants in Dubai under the cover of fake companies that are laundering proceeds of the precious mineral worth millions of dollars. Some observers say they are backing Oates as Zimbabwe may be losing millions of dollars a year in potential gold revenue. An independent economic expert, Miss Chenai Mutambasere, based in the United Kingdom, says Britain should investigate Angel, Doolan and all its citizens allegedly involved in the gold scam. Mutambasere said, It is very necessary to conduct a full investigation into this issue and Lord Oates pointed out many discrepancies surrounding Prophet Angels identity as he has since stopped using his birth name, Angel and Doolan did not respond to calls on their mobile phone. But Angels Zimbabwe-based attorney and law professor at the University of Zimbabwe, Lovemore Madhuku, told journalists in Harare that his client was aware of the Al Jazeera sting operation. Madhuku claimed that Angel was a sanctioned decoy in a classified national counter-intelligence operation. Zimbabwean authorities have declined to speak about this so-called intelligence operation. At the same time, Doolan has dismissed allegations that he is involved in the gold smuggling scam, noting that he is a professional businessperson. Mr. Calvin Manduna, a Zanu PF-leaning political analyst and Phd student at Howard University in Washington DC, says allegations levelled against Angel, Doolan and others are serious and need further investigations. Manduna said,The events in UK over the Gold Mafia documentary in relation to the accused persons, show clearly that there is need to dig more and bring transparency to the whole saga Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa told VOA journalists recently that Zimbabwe will carry out investigations on the gold scam. She said,Government will continue to look into gold and other minerals smuggling and money laundering to come up with the truth and keep the nation updated. But opposition Citizens Coalition for Change interim leader, Mr Nelson Chamisa, is demanding that Mnangagwa must face the nation and explain the allegations published in the documentary. Mnangawa replaced former authoritarian leader, the late Robert Mugabe in December 2017 following the latters forced resignation that was aided by the military. Mnangagwa has not publicly commented on the Gold Mafia documentary. But his spokesperson, George Charamba, recently threatened journalists with unspecified action if they continued to write about the gold scam, linked to the First Family. Before the documentary aired, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, dismissed the allegation as sensationally wild, false and malicious and urged the public to dismiss the false allegations with the contempt they deserve. Since then, the central banks Financial Services Unit has frozen the bank accounts of some individuals named in the documentary, including Mr. Angel. Other people featuring in the documentary series are suspected notorious gold smugglers Kenyan-born Kamlesh Pattni, who was implicated in the Goldenberg scandal in Kenya in the 1990s, and Zimbabwean Ewan McMillan known as Mr Gold by Zimbabwean gold panners and alleged money launderers Mohammad Khan of South Africas Tobacco Leaf Company, and Alistair Mathias of Dubai and several others. They all met with undercover Al Jazeera reporters in a sting operation believed to have exposed one of the biggest scams since Zimbabwes independence from British rule in 1980. Latest Developments Three Russian aircraft intercepted over Baltic Sea by Germany and Britain Ukrainian and Chinese leaders speak by phone in first known contact since Russias invasion of Ukraine British defense ministry says heavy short-range combat continues in western districts of Bakhmut Russian opposition former mayor on trial over criticism of war in Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had a long and meaningful phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday, with the two men agreeing to send envoys to Beijing and Kyiv in a possible initial move to broker peace talks to end Russias war against Ukraine. Zelenskyy, in a comment on Twitter, gave no details of his nearly hourlong conversation with Xi, his first known contact with the Chinese president since Russias invasion 14 months ago. Zelenskyy said, I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraines ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations. Later, on his website, he called the conversation productive and said it would lead the way toward "possible interaction with the aim of establishing a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine." Chinese state media reported that Xi appealed to Zelenskyy for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, warning, "There is no winner in a nuclear war." He was apparently referring to the threat of Russia using tactical nuclear weapons. Chinese state TV said Xi's government would send a special representative to Ukraine for talks about a possible political settlement. "Negotiation is the only viable way out," state TV said in a report on Xi's comments to Zelenskyy. "All parties concerned should remain calm and restrained in dealing with the nuclear issue and truly look at the future and destiny of themselves and humanity as a whole and work together to manage the crisis." China has attempted to appear neutral on the Russian invasion, in February proposing a cease-fire and peace talks. But Beijing has also refused to condemn Russias invasion or call for Moscow to withdraw its troops from Ukraine, including Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014. Zelenskyy has repeatedly said his government will not engage in peace talks until Moscow withdraws its troops from all of Ukraine. "There can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises, Zelenskyy said after his phone call with Xi. Meanwhile, Russia wants Kyiv to acknowledge Russia's annexation of Crimea and last years declaration that the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia are part of Russia. Chinese state media quoted Xi as telling Zelenskyy, Amid the current rise of reasonable thinking and voices from all sides, we should seize the opportunity to build up favorable conditions for a political settlement of the crisis. In Washington, the White House described the Xi-Zelenskyy call as a positive development, allowing the Chinese leader to hear Ukraine's view of Russias "illegal, unprovoked invasion." "We think that's a good thing," said John Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesman. Last month, Xi made a three-day state visit to Moscow, highlighting Beijings bid for global leadership. At the end of the talks, Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin declared their two countries had a no-limits friendship. Since then, Putin has also met at the Kremlin with Chinese defense officials. Russian recon aircraft over Baltic Sea Three Russian military reconnaissance aircraft were intercepted in international airspace over the Baltic Sea, the German air force reported Wednesday. German officials said the aircraft, flying without their transponders on, were intercepted by German and British planes. Norway on Tuesday said its air force had identified a group of Russian military planes flying over the Barents Sea. The Norwegian air force identified the aircraft as two bombers, two refueling tankers and three fighter jets. In Wednesdays update on the situation in Ukraine, the British defense ministry said heavy, short-range combat continues in the western districts of Bakhmut. In the post on Twitter, the ministry said that during the past week Ukraine has sought to maintain control of an important supply route, since other resupply options into Bakhmut are likely complicated by mud. The former mayor of Yekaterinburg, Russia, has gone on trial on charges of discrediting the Russian military over its offensive in Ukraine. Yevgeny Roizman is a popular opposition figure. He is the last prominent Kremlin critic who is still in Russia and not in prison. Some information in this report came from Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Partnership will support cloud and technology adoption, sharpening the competitive edge of Italian banks that cover local and global markets MILAN and LONDON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Finastra, a global provider of financial software applications and marketplaces, today announced its partnership with Corvallis, Tinexta Group, a leading IT provider in the Italian financial services sector, to support Italian banks with their digital transformation journeys. With Finastra's Essence, a SaaS solution deployed on the cloud via Microsoft Azure, Corvallis' customers can upgrade their business models, embrace new innovations and adapt quickly to their customers' demands. Finastra Logo "Cloud adoption is becoming increasingly significant in Italy for all financial institutions," said Roberto Casalini, Digital Tech Business Line Director at Corvallis. "This is bringing greater efficiencies and flexibility to the sector, enabling banks to scale as required, optimize resources and enhance security. Deploying Essence will give them the ability to quickly transform their operations at a reduced cost, while providing their customers with the end-to-end, personalized and seamless experiences they expect. Above all, Finastra will help our customers achieve success, today, tomorrow and always." Essence is a cloud-first, next-generation digital banking solution that combines sophisticated functionality and advanced technology to increase enterprise agility, reduce costs and improve operational efficiency. Powered by open architecture and integrated with FusionFabric.cloud, Essence's rich, broad and deep retail and commercial banking functionality enables institutions to rapidly deploy market leading products and services. Banks can also tap into Finastra's Retail Analytics, a module that delivers a 360 view and turns raw data into actionable insights. Corvallis provides implementation expertise and complementary solutions, such as for anti-money laundering (AML), payment and settlement, and fraud management. Story continues "The Italian financial services marketplace is unique, so we needed a partner with strong knowledge of local banking processes and regulations alongside deep expertise in implementation and delivery," said Saraswathy Parthasarathy, COO, Universal Banking at Finastra. "Collaborating with trusted and experienced partners is integral for Finastra's growth and success. With more than 30 years of experience in supporting Italian financial institutions, we believe that Corvallis has the skillset required to deliver our solution to a wider pool of Italian banks, through a smooth and seamless customer experience." Finastra and Corvallis' first mutual customer went live in March 2023. For more information about Essence, click here. About Finastra Finastra is a global provider of financial software applications and marketplaces, and launched the leading open platform for innovation, FusionFabric.cloud, in 2017. It serves institutions of all sizes, providing award-winning software solutions and services across Lending, Payments, Treasury & Capital Markets and Universal Banking (Retail, Digital and Commercial Banking) for banks to support direct banking relationships and grow through indirect channels, such as embedded finance and Banking as a Service. Its pioneering approach and commitment to open finance and collaboration is why it is trusted by ~8,600 institutions, including 90 of the world's top 100 banks. For more information, visit finastra.com About TinextaCyber SpA TinextaCyber (Tinexta Group) is the Italian cybersecurity hub with strong vertical skills and proprietary custom solutions for digital security's risks mitigation and governance. With Italy-based services and in compliance with EU data residency, data protection and GDPR's regulations, the company assists customers with specialized assessment and advisory activities. It lays out the design, development and integration of solutions, also taking care of their monitoring and management. The company operates through its subsidiaries Corvallis, Swascan and Yoroi. In particular, Corvallis has a long experience as a provider of high value and tailored solutions for - but not limited to - financial companies' large projects. Swascan is an innovative Italian start-up, both creator and owner of the Cloud Security Testing platform and a reference point for SMEs in terms of IT security and regulatory compliance. Yoroi provides adaptive and dynamic cyber defense integrated systems to those who want to prevent risks or reduce damage from possible cyber-attacks. Through the Cyber Hub, these three companies guarantee the client's security with solutions for the mitigation and governance of the risks deriving from cyber-attacks, making companies increasingly competitive. About Corvallis Corvallis (Tinexta Group) is one of the Italian leaders in the Information Technology field, with specific solutions aimed at banking, insurance, industrial, service and public administrations sectors. Over 30 years of experience and a deep knowledge of production processes, have strengthened its business model focused on the sharing of partnership's strategies and enriched by the consolidated wealth of skills. Corvallis pays constant attention to technological evolution with the aim of bringing highly innovative solutions to the market. In supporting digitalization, it aids to increase the compliance and security with which its customers carry out their activities. Corvallis has become an essential player for Tinexta Cyber, the first Italian Cyber Security hub and part of Tinexta Group. Corvallis is expanding its competitive offer thanks to Advisory, Implementation and Managed Security Services. Visit Corvallis.it Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1916021/3985047/FINASTRA_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/corvallis-and-finastra-partner-to-drive-digital-transformation-for-italian-banks-301808033.html SOURCE Finastra NAIROBI, KENYA A Kenyan grandfather is blaming a lack of action by authorities for the deaths of dozens of people in a cult who starved themselves and their children to death. Kenyan investigators have uncovered at least 90 bodies of people who belonged to the Good News International Church. Hundreds of others affiliated with the church are still missing. Investigators are in their sixth day of searching for the bodies of people who starved to death after being told that if they died this way, they would meet Jesus. Francis Wanje rescued his grandson on March 17, two days after two of the boys brothers died of starvation. The high school teacher had mobilized community members and police officers to check on his family, who lived with the cult in the Shakahola Forest in eastern Kenya. "When I arrived there, on the 17th at around 2 p.m., I found my daughter, the husband and the mother of the husband," Wanje said. "They were there and they were holding the firstborn, who was very weak and already waiting for him to die and be buried. They rescued the boy. My daughter, the husband and the mother disappeared in the forest. Up to today, they have not been found." Authorities in the area did not begin an active search for church members until last week. Wanje said if authorities had taken action earlier, the death toll would not be so high. "Things were not handled the way they were supposed to be handled," Wanje said. "If these people could have moved early enough, they could have saved many lives." Kenyan authorities have so far found the bodies of 90 church members. Another 34 people were rescued but the Kenyan Red Cross said 314 others are missing. Kenyan authorities say members of the church were encouraged to not eat or drink by its founder, Paul Mackenzie, who describes himself as a pastor. Antony Njeru, a theology student at Pan Africa Christian University, said Mackenzies ideology has no basis in Christian teachings. "It's an exploitation of people using the Bible but that is not biblical at all. It has no foundation in doctrine," Njeru said. "You cannot take away people's rights and say that the Bible tells people to fast to death. That's nowhere in the Bible. His doctrine cannot be traced in the Bible, so we don't believe he is a true pastor." Stephen Akaranga, a religious studies professor at the University of Nairobi, said people like Mackenzie prey on the poor and those who have not studied religion. "Those people who are gullible are those who are not strong in their spirit, people who don't understand about their religion, those who are least schooled and those people who are very poor and people who can easily be swayed by not understanding their faith truly," he said. "So, you can find these are people who can now most likely be lured into some cult because this is not a religion." Kenyan government officials said they will fight religious extremism and radicalization of the population. Njeru said the government needs to enforce relevant laws. "Demanding accountability is still good, it is still OK we encourage that," Njeru said. "We also encourage pastors to be open to scrutiny and at all times be open to their followers." Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said Tuesday that Mackenzie will be prosecuted for the alleged deaths of his followers. He was arrested April 15 and remains in custody in the coastal city of Malindi. UNITED NATIONS U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is appealing for the fighting between rival generals in Sudan to "stop immediately" and warned that it must not turn into a prolonged, full-scale war. "This conflict will not and must not be resolved on the battlefield with the bodies of Sudan's people," Guterres told a Tuesday evening meeting of the Security Council called to discuss the situation. He said the parties must respect the U.S.-brokered, 72-hour cease-fire that started at midnight Monday. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces of General Abdel Fattah Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces led by General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo publicly pledged to uphold the halt in fighting. Meanwhile, the White House said Wednesday that a second American has died in Sudan. It also said the U.S. is helping a small number of Americans looking to leave the country amid ongoing clashes, even as overall violence appeared significantly down. White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters the U.S. is continuing to work with both sides of the conflict to strengthen the cease-fire to allow more humanitarian assistance into the country. "We urge both military factions" to abide by the cease-fire "and to further extend it," Kirby said, adding that the violence "levels ... generally appear to have gone significantly down." "The levels are down, but we want to see the levels at zero," he said. The U.N.'s top diplomat in Sudan, Volker Perthes, told the council via a video briefing from the city of Port Sudan, where he and hundreds of U.N. staff have relocated from Khartoum, that the temporary cease-fire was holding only in some parts of the country, and that the army and RSF were each accusing the other of truce violations. "However, we also hear continuing reports of fighting and movement of troops," he told the council. "In Khartoum, fighting around the Republican Palace, Khartoum international airport, the army headquarters, RSF bases and other strategic locations has largely continued or, in some cases, intensified," Perthes said. "Airstrikes and heavy shelling have also continued, particularly in Bahri and Omdurman." Some tribes mobilizing Omdurman, north of the capital, is the largest city in Sudan, with more than 2.3 million residents. The U.N. envoy said the situation in Darfur "remains volatile," with fighting in the south and west. He expressed concern about reports that tribes are arming themselves in West Darfur to join the fight. "Reports of mobilization by some tribes and some armed movements in Darfur who are taking sides is dangerous and could draw in Sudan's neighboring countries," Perthes warned. Since fighting began on April 15, he said at least 427 people have been killed and up to 4,000 wounded, and the numbers are growing. Five aid workers are among the dead, as well as an Egyptian diplomat. Perthes called on the parties to allow civilians to safely leave conflict areas. The U.N. envoy has been in regular contact with the rival generals. "There is as yet no unequivocal sign that either is ready to seriously negotiate, suggesting that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible," Perthes said. "This is a miscalculation." Evacuations The United Nations says it is not leaving Sudan, but it has temporarily relocated about 1,200 people from Khartoum to Port Sudan. Perthes said that includes 744 U.N. staff and their dependents, international NGO personnel and diplomatic staff from embassies. "Today, this afternoon, I said farewell to 450 of them, when they boarded a French frigate that will take them to Jeddah through the night," Perthes said. "The rest will be evacuated with commercial vessels over the next two days. A few international staff and their dependents are still in Khartoum and were not evacuated due to various reasons." Conflict deepens Sudan's needs Before fighting erupted 10 days ago, more than 15 million Sudanese needed humanitarian assistance. "This conflict will not only deepen those needs, it also threatens to unleash an entirely new wave of humanitarian challenges," U.N. deputy humanitarian chief Joyce Msuya told council members. "Fighting is massively impeding and imperiling aid operations. A humanitarian crisis is quickly turning into a catastrophe." Countries have rushed to evacuate their diplomats and citizens. In all, more than 4,000 people have fled Sudan in foreign-organized evacuations that began on Saturday, including by sea to Saudi Arabia and by aircraft to Jordan and Cyprus. Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Ukraine and the United States are among the countries using aircraft and convoys to ferry foreign nationals out of the country. The majority of U.S. government personnel who evacuated the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, arrived Monday afternoon in Washington. Britain's foreign office said it began an evacuation effort Tuesday with flights leaving from an airfield outside of Khartoum. China's foreign ministry said Tuesday that most of its nationals had been safely evacuated. Sudanese nationals fending for selves Sudanese nationals are fending for themselves amid power blackouts and loss of internet service. Some Sudanese have made the decision to escape in cars and buses on the dangerous roads. The U.N. refugee agency said at least 20,000 Sudanese have arrived in Chad since fighting started and it has registered 4,000 South Sudanese refugees who have crossed back into their country from Sudan. "We have received reports of tens of thousands of people arriving in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan," the deputy humanitarian chief said, adding it is critical to keep borders open. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Over the last decade, an aging American population has increasingly turned away from nursing homes in favor of trained caregivers who can provide critical help in the home with basic daily tasks. But a new investigation warns the need for at-home care has vastly outpaced a much smaller growth in the pool of home care workers. The result: between 2013 and 2019, the number of available home care workers for every 100 patients in need has fallen by nearly 12%. The resulting caregiver gap is putting vulnerable patients in a very precarious position, the researchers said. We know that the number of people who want to receive long-term care at home has been growing over time, which is in part because the U.S. population is getting older, explained study lead author Amanda Kreider. She is a postdoctoral researcher with the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia. Additionally, older adults and people with disabilities are increasingly accessing long-term care at home instead of nursing homes, Kreider added. Much of that shift stems from expanded low- or no-cost coverage for home and community-based services (HCBS) steadily put in place by Medicaid, the main insurer for long-term care, she noted. In theory the shift is a positive trend, Kreider said, given that people with long-term care needs tend to prefer to live at home when possible. But Kreider and study co-author Rachel Werner wanted to know if caregiver availability is actually meeting the moment. To find out, the duo pored over data collected by two sources. The first was the Census Bureaus American Community Surveys conducted between 2008 and 2020. The annual survey gathers information on the characteristics of 3.5 million American households, and by inference indicated the number of health care professionals who had been working in a home setting each year. The second was survey information collected by KFF, a non-profit health policy organization. KFFs data tracked the number of Medicaid participants seeking home care in each state between 1999 and 2020. Kreider and Werner determined that the home care workforce had, in fact, grown between 2008 and 2019, from 840,000 to more than 1.4 million. However, they also noted that the pace of that growth slowed after 2013. At the same time, the number of Medicaid-covered patients seeking home care rocketed upwards, rising from just over 2 million in 2008 to more than 3.2 million by 2019. The result: an 11.6% drop in the availability of home care workers for every 100 patients seeking their help. The size of the need gap may very well have grown further since 2020, said Kreider, but we are interpreting that data point cautiously due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As to why the home care industry isnt growing faster, she pointed to a number of job downsides. These jobs are not attractive, said Kreider. Theyre very demanding, and offer low pay and benefits. Many care workers live in poverty, and more than half rely on public benefits like Medicaid and SNAP. Agencies report a really difficult time attracting workers, and anecdotally, they lose workers to the fast-food industry, which often pays higher wages. Its possible that this has gotten worse due to COVID burnout. That points to practical ways to fix the problem, with the most central issue being pay. Agencies commonly say that they cant pay workers more," Kreider noted, because Medicaid payment rates for these services are too low. Since Medicaid is the nations primary insurer for long-term home-based care, its possible that reimbursement rates will have to rise in order for wages to increase. The field also needs better opportunities for training, growth and career advancement, predictable scheduling, and improved culture and worker agency, she added. The findings were published in the May issue of Health Affairs. Alice Burns is KFFs associate director of the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured. She said that while the size of the patient-home caregiver gap may be a matter of debate, the noted job downsides are part of the story. The one factor I would add to your list is that there is an overall shortage of [all] workers who provide caregiving in the U.S., said Burns, with a similar shortfall seen when looking at institutional settings such as nursing homes. A recent study of health employment by sector shows that employment in nursing care facilities is [about] 13% lower than prior to the pandemic, she noted. And with both home care jobs and institutional setting jobs pulling from the same workforce pool, a big component of the shortage of home and community-based service workers is an overall shortage of low-skilled people in the caregiving field, Burns said. More information There's more on the post-pandemic home care landscape at KFF. SOURCES: Amanda Kreider, PhD, postdoctoral researcher, Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Alice Burns, PhD, associate director, Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured, KFF, Washington, D.C.; Health Affairs, May 2023 Polls show President Recep Tayyip Erdogan losing to United Opposition leader Kemal Klcdaroglu in Turkeys May 14, 2023 presidential election. This possible domestic turnaround is leading the incumbent president to radicalize his position on international matters. Until now, he appeared to be halfway between the United States on one side and Russia and China on the other. Now, his political party presents him as the saviour of Turkish independence in the face of Washingtons darker side. In contrast, he portrays his competitor as a Yankee henchman, which he probably is not. The United States is thus paying the price for the assassination attempts on the Turkish president, especially the one that led to the failed coup of July 15, 2016, after Ankara decided to build a gas pipeline with Moscow and even bought weapons from it. In addition, Washington is blamed, rightly or wrongly, no one knows, for causing the recent earthquake that cost the lives of tens of thousands of Turks. Public opinion thus shares a strong anti-American sentiment in a country that has given much to the United States since the Korean War (the Turkish army won and fought a decisive battle there, saving the United States from disaster) and has suffered much from them with the Kurdish drama (the CIA has taken control of the PKK and encouraged its terrorist actions, thus holding a "gun to Ankaras head"). U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Flake took the liberty of ostensibly visiting candidate Kemal Klcdaroglu. Flake is an old-school Republican, a friend of John McCain, who like him comes from Arizona, where they were one of the two senators. He screamed against Donald Trumps entryism and left the party to get closer to Joe Biden, who appointed him ambassador. By showing up with Klcdaroglu, he thought he was doing the right thing and doing good. Mistake: he gave grist to Erdogan who rushed to declare, "Joe Bidens ambassador visits Kemal. Shame on you, think with your head. You are an ambassador. Your interlocutor is the president. How will you behave after this and ask for an appointment with the president? Our doors are closed for him, he cannot enter. Why not? He needs to know his place. In the same vein, Interior Minister and Vice President of the Presidential Party, Suleyman Soylu, publicly condemned the U.S. ambassador during the earthquake, telling him to remove his dirty hands from Turkey . All Turks noticed that the Westerners withdrew their ambassadors from the country in the two days before the disaster, as if they knew about it before it happened, and that they delayed sending relief supplies. Soylu added: "Every U.S. ambassador is wondering how he can harm Turkey. This has been one of Turkeys greatest misfortunes for years. They gather other ambassadors and try to give them advice. They do the same in Europe so that the US embassies rule Europe. The Turks, who are very nationalistic, approve. But the minister is still a mafioso and an Islamist, publicly denounced by another godfather, Sedat Peker, now on the run. The latter revealed in a series of videos posted on the Internet that Suleyman Soylu and Prime Minister Binali Yldrms son used al-Qaeda soldiers to overthrow the 2016 putschists. He delivered weapons to them through a private military company, SADAT. They were the ones who defeated the insurgent soldiers on the Bosphorus Bridge. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was a street thug who entered politics in Necmettin Erbakans militia, the Milli Gorus. He distinguished himself on the side of the Muslim Brotherhood in Afghanistan, then supported the Islamists in Chechnya. He came to power in Turkey with the help of the CIA, against which he is now turning. If no one doubts the sincerity of his reversal, everyone wonders whether it will be lasting or not, whether he will not become an agent of Washington like the others. In his name, Suleyman Soylu pushes the envelope further. Without denying Erdogans heavy past, it is a matter of making people forget his involvement alongside Daesh against Syria. Speaking to party youth on April 17, Suleyman Soylu thus described globalization as an attempt by the United States to use the rise of international trade to destroy all cultures and make their own triumph. He then attacked the European Union, whose leaders he described as subservient, to the point of calling it "Americas mule". He went on to note that the "American empire" is losing its reputation. Europeans are Washingtons spadassins in Africa. That is why Africans hate them. In the end, "it is the whole world that hates America". Kemal Klcdaroglu has allied himself with Washington, he is "in too much of a hurry" and, without meaning to, he is putting the future of Turkiye in great danger. It should be remembered that Turkey is still a member of the Atlantic Alliance and hosts Nato military bases. In the midst of the election campaign, President Erdogan will inaugurate the launch of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant next Thursday. This is the first VVER-type pressurized water reactor with a unit capacity of 1,200 MW, built by Rosatom. To mark the occasion, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, has been invited to the ceremony, although he is unlikely to attend. The old world is already dead while a new world is only emerging. 87% of the worlds population does not share the Western view on the war in Ukraine. Their governments see that the United States is nothing more than a paper tiger. They now refuse to obey the dictates of the G7. You may not know anything about it and its natural: Western news agencies dont relay this kind of news. They hide the debacle from you. So, we have gathered correspondents from five continents and we publish a weekly newsletter to give you access to the work of a news agency. In Voltaire, International Newsletter you will find contextualized news, unbiased facts placed in their historical background. This wealth of information is only available by subscription: Dutch Jaarabonnement: 150 euro Maandelijks abonnement: 15 euro English Yearly subscription: 150 euros Monthly subscription: 15 euros French Souscription annuelle : 150 euros Souscription mensuelle : 15 euros German Jahresabonnement: 150 Euro Monatsabonnement: 15 Euro Italian Sottoscrizione annuale: 150 euro Sottoscrizione mensile: 15 euro Spanish Abono anual: 150 Abono mensual: 15 Contents of N37: EDITORIAL G7 still true to itself and deaf to the world AMERICAS US Strategy for Low Earth Orbit Donald Trump gun champion Tom Perriello steps down as director of the Soros Foundation Washington blames China for fentanyl ravages U.S. could be hit by hypersonic missiles China masters hypersonic ballistic missiles Ilan Goldenberg appointed advisor to Kamala Harris Senator Roger Marshall and the origins of Covid Biden administration obstructs investigations into US departure from Afghanistan According to four lawmakers, the Bidens are at the head of prostitution rings Settlement between Dominion and Fox News Pentagon leaks reveal bewildering level of incompetence FBI dismantles Chinese police office in New York Mexican Supreme Court invalidates the attachment of the National Guard to the armed forces Sino-Brazilian relations Russian-Brazilian relations EUROPE Tony Blair knew about the illegality of Iraqs invasion as early as 1998 Western Special Forces in Ukraine Three French parliamentarians illegally enter Syria France increasingly unstable Denmark protects Islamophobic and anti-Turkish demonstration Finland joins NATO maneuvers Finland and civil nuclear power Yuri Kosiuk floods EU with battery-raised chickens Slovakia delivers fighter jets to Ukraine Ursula von der Leyen next NATO Secretary General? Vladimir Putin celebrates Orthodox Easter with Russian soldiers Li Shangfu in Moscow AFRICA Morocco and Tunisia take ownership of the Arab Maghreb Union Tunisia arrests Muslim Brotherhood leaders Tunisia restores relations with Syria Chiefs War in Sudan Paul Kagame explains the M23 fight against the DRC Somalia on the brink of famine Comorians demonstrate against French colonization ASIA Jabotinsky never anticipated the Holocaust China calls on Palestine, Israel for two-state solution Saudi Arabia restores relations with Syria Dissolution of the Assembly in Kuwait Istanbul next financial center between East and West? Myanmar releases prisoners China exasperated by Western blockade against North Korea South Korea downplays revelations of secret Pentagon documents North Korea wins Cybertheft of the Year 2022 China cautious about Western actions in Ukraine CCP condemns US sabotage of human rights What the attack on Fumio Kishida hides OCEANIA Paul Keating criticizes Australian foreign policy INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS Human Rights Council condemns unilateral coercive measures IMF says BRICS will surpass G7 in 2023 The Russian Investigative Committee probing into the crimes committed in Ukraine said it identified French mercenaries among those involved in the murder of 25 Russian prisoners of war. They were reportedly embedded in the Azov Battalion and the 92nd Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The Investigative Committee will look into all the circumstances of the incident in order to bring the culprits to justice. There are said to be 8,000 foreign mercenaries on the Ukrainian front, mainly Poles, Americans, Canadians, Romanians and British. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCH), Austrian lawyer Volker Turk, Ukraine does not prosecute its soldiers who have committed war crimes, even if they are documented. The French Criminal Code punishes mercenary activities with 5 years of imprisonment and the prohibition of civic, civil and family rights (art. 436). Mercenaries, like regular soldiers, are also accountable for acts of torture and the murder of prisoners. The sentence is life imprisonment. CREDIT AGRICOLE SA Montrouge, 26 April 2023 CREDIT AGRICOLE S.A. ORDINARY AND EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF 17 MAY 2023 Publication of the Notice of Meeting Opening of the vote Procedures for making the preparatory documents available Credit Agricole S.A. informs its shareholders that its Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 17 May 2023 at 9.30 am in Paris (75005), France, at Maison de la Mutualite 24 rue Saint-Victor. A Notice of Meeting, including in particular the agenda and the draft resolutions, was published in the French bulletin of mandatory legal announcements (Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires) No. 39 of 31 March 2023. All of the matters relating to this General Meeting are made available to shareholders in accordance with the regulations and legislation in force. In particular: the information and documents referred to specifically in Article R. 22-10-23 of the French Commercial Code (Code de Commerce), as well as the Notice of Meeting for the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting, are available on the Credit Agricole S.A. website at: https://www.credit-agricole.com/en/finance/individual-shareholders/annual-general-meeting by means of the Notice of Meeting press release, all shareholders may: familiarise themselves with the documents referred to in Article R. 225-83 of the French Commercial Code at the Company registered office; and up until 13 May 2023 inclusive, request that the company sends them these documents, it being specified that in order for holders of bearer shares to exercise this right, they must provide a certificate of shareholding for the bearer share accounts held by the authorised intermediary. Online voting will be open from 12.00 pm (midday, Paris time) on 26 April 2023 until 3.00 pm (Paris time) on 16 May 2023. The paper forms must be received by Uptevia no later than 14 May 2023. Story continues The General Meeting will be broadcast live on the website, on the page relating to the General Meeting (https://www.credit-agricole.com/en/finance/individual-shareholders/annual-general-meeting ). CREDIT AGRICOLE S.A. PRESS CONTACTS Alexandre Barat +33 (0)1 57 72 45 73 alexandre.barat@credit-agricole-sa.fr Olivier Tassain +33 (0)1 43 23 25 41 olivier.tassain@credit-agricole-sa.fr All our press releases can be found at: https://www.credit-agricole.com/en CUSTOMER RELATIONS CONTACT INDIVIDUAL SHAREHOLDERS Freephone: 0 800 000 777 credit-agricole-sa@relations-actionnaires.com CUSTOMER RELATIONS CONTACT REGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS + 33 (0)1 57 78 34 31 ct-contactcasa@uptevia.com CUSTOMER RELATIONS CONTACT INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS + 33 (0)1 43 23 04 31 investor.relations@credit-agricole-sa.fr Attachment Photo: Jonathan Olley/Lucasfilm Ltd. In sneak-preview footage of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny that screened during the Disney panel presentation at CinemaCon Wednesday, viewers were treated to a triple-front spectacle. In what appears to be a first-act, getting-to-know-the-characters action sequence from this fifth and purportedly final film in the 42-year-old blockbuster franchise, Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and a child actor whose name I couldnt immediately find on IMDb Pro swerve through the narrow streets of Tangier, Morocco, in a rickety tuk-tuk. They drift around turns, dodge gunfire, dispatch knife-wielding assassins from the top of the vehicle using defensive driving, and mow down murderous motorcyclists all while engaging in conversational parry and thrust. ActressscreenwriterFleabag creator Waller-Bridge denigrates Fords daring adventurer as an aging grave robber. It turns out Indy knew her characters father years earlier, and he proceeds to give Waller-Bridge heavy vibes about certain life choices. Do you think hed be proud of this? His only daughter selling her soul for bail money? Jones shouts in the clip. To which the kid this installments answer to Short Round, so it would seem yells in response, Its not all bail money. Some of it is gambling debts. For savvy cultural consumers, part of the sequences impact will derive from seeing Waller-Bridge explode her wordy, largely inert (or at best, briskly walking) public image as a lacerating wit someone more likely to tear an antagonist apart verbally while seated at a cafe than resort to actual physical violence by moving into legit Fast & Furious territory. Her character, Helena, rips the sleeves off her silk blouse and leaps from the tuk-tuk onto the back of a speeding Mercedes in an effort to choke bad guy Mads Mikkelsen into giving her the titular dial. But the James Mangolddirected films more absorbing spectacle is surely all that jarring actions soothing familiarity. Dial of Destinys Morocco set piece provides a deliberate, dopamine-inducing echo of the bantery Cairo shoot-em-up chase sequence from 1981s Raiders of the Lost Ark (which was actually shot in Kairouan, Tunisia). As exciting as the DoD footage may be, its impossible not to see Waller-Bridge as a modern-day substitute for Karen Allens sassy, brassy, defiantly self-sufficient heroine, Marion Ravenwood, from Raiders. And by once again placing Indy in a context immediately familiar to franchise fans yet just different enough to be original, DoD plays into a strategy that has worked with varying degrees of success in a number of Fords most recent films with the octogenarian actor reinhabiting old characters and retracing some of their dramatic footsteps in Blade Runner 2049 and 2019s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Then there is the sheer visceral jolt of watching an 80-year-old action icon an ostensibly ageless yet actually superannuated swashbuckler driving at high speed on sidewalks. He is seen jumping from vehicle to vehicle and punching out cannon-fodder villains without so much as ingesting a heart medication pill or breaking a hip. Viewed a certain way, this final franchise installment stands as a testament to Fords enduring audience appeal as well as the strength of Indiana Jones IP four decades on from inception even if one has to suspend no small amount of go back to bed, Grandpa disbelief to enjoy him in action. met gala 2023 The Best, Weirdest and Most On Theme Met Gala 2023 Looks The Best, Weirdest and Most On Theme Met Gala 2023 Looks Carey personally approved Beau Is Afraids use of Always Be My Baby after Ari Aster wrote a letter to her, according to producer Lars Knudsen. Photo: A24 Warning: This post spoils many plot details of Beau Is Afraid. Before watching Beau Is Afraid, Ari Asters three-hour Freudian epic, I thought there were only two kinds of needle drops. Either it was the kind that fit a scene so well, the song felt tailor-made to it (Aerosmiths Sweet Emotion in Dazed and Confused), or it was the kind that took you out of the moment entirely (Angel of the Morning during an otherwise scary sequence in It: Chapter Two). With Beau Is Afraid, Aster has introduced me to a secret, third option: a needle drop so incongruous and absurd given everything else happening onscreen that its actually somehow perfect. Beau Is Afraids needle drop arrives in the third act, once youve started to feel like youve seen it all suicide by paint-chugging, an elaborately executed play-within-a-play, a completely nude homicidal maniac. And then comes a sex scene. Its a surprising turn of events, given the main characters whole deal. But its not just that. This scene is underscored by a song that would take anyone 10,000 tries to guess correctly with the movie playing on mute. That song is Mariah Careys 1996 chart-topper Always Be My Baby. Aster had a rough first draft of Beau Is Afraid ten years ago, and the Mariah song was in the draft already all the way back then, says Asters producing partner Lars Knudsen. (The two have worked together on all three of Asters feature films, and co-founded their production company, Square Peg, in 2021.) Its a very idiosyncratic scene. Its emotional, its strange, its provocative, and when you add Mariah Carey on top of that it just becomes something else entirely. Some background: Beau (Joaquin Phoenix) is an agoraphobic mamas boy who sets out on a surreal quest to make it back to his mothers house in time for her funeral. When he finally arrives after a series of highly surreal obstacles, he sees that the service has already ended and that his childhood crush has just arrived, too. Elaine (Parker Posey) is everything Beau is not: self-possessed, assertive, maybe a little pushy. She takes charge, leading Beau straight up to his mothers bedroom, where she instructs him to undress. Panic grips Beau. From the time he was a child, Beaus mother Mona (played by Zoe Lister-Jones in the characters younger years) burdened her son with the knowledge that his father died as Beau was conceived (literally the second he ejaculated). She explains this fate also befell his fathers father, and his father before him. So Beau is a virgin grappling with the idea that sleeping with the girl of his dreams might literally kill him. Elaine, unbothered, straddles him, reaches for her phone, and queues up a banger. There was not one single song that could do what that song did. It was definitely money well spent. The iconic opening of Always Be My Baby doo doo doop dum elicited an audible gasp when I saw the film in theaters. Its a song that calls to mind prom dances and mixtapes, a sonic reminder of Beaus forever state of arrested development. Sensing Beaus tension and trying to get him to relax, Elaine at one point stops the song and plays it again from the beginning. Mariah is mid-do do doop when Beau, terrified, barrels toward his first orgasm. I really felt that, Elaine says afterward as Beau, still alive, processes the supposed generational curse hes escaped. That was a lot. You just blasted through that thing. Elaine goes to work on her own orgasm, climaxes, and then goes quiet. Beau looks up at her and realizes shes dead, frozen stiff mid-straddle, as Always Be My Baby keeps playing in the background. Though Aster always knew he needed this song, getting Always Be My Baby into the movie posed some obstacles. Beyond the task of getting Carey to sign off on it, Knudsen also needed to make sure they had the budget to license it. Knudsen declined to name the songs official price tag, but he did say that it clocked into the hundreds of thousands a number that required A24 to raise the films music budget, and cut a few other, less critical songs from the film. For a brief time, Knudsen says, he and Aster considered alternatives. They looked for pop songs from the 80s and 90s, hoping to find something instantly recognizable that would still play as a surprise in the moment. (Knudsen wouldnt say which others they considered.) Ari listened to a hundred of other songs to try to find a replacement, Knudsen says. But he rehearsed and shot the scene with Careys song, and the cast and crew grew increasingly attached to it. It just became a thing where we were like, Were kind of fucked now if we cant get it, because there was no alternative. Aster wrote a letter to Carey, pleading his case and describing the alchemy of the song with the scene, Knudsen says. He was trying to give her the history that he had lived with for ten years, and basically begging her to let us use it. Carey watched a clip of the scene with the song on her phone, according to Knudsen approved it, and later attended the films premiere after-party. Like the rest of Beau Is Afraid, the sex scene is an exercise in dark humor. Knudsen says Aster wants audiences to dive into the layers of meaning in the films use of the song themselves, but he acknowledges that theres something intentionally bleak about a middle-aged man whos been smothered by his mother losing his virginity to a song called Always Be My Baby. The first time I saw it with an audience, I knew we made the right choice, he says. There was not one single song that could do what that song did. It was definitely money well spent. Photo: Hana Mendel Patti LuPone, legendary for her work on the Broadway stage and with the English language, once called Madonna a movie killer who is dead behind the eyes. She erected an Andrew Lloyd Webber Memorial Pool at her Connecticut home in the 90s with the money she made suing him for replacing her in Sunset Boulevard, then called him the definition of a sad sack. There is an entire section on LuPones Wikipedia page dedicated to her views on theater conduct, including the time she yanked a phone out of an audience members hand mid-performance and the time she told told an American Theatre Wing patron to wear a mask or get the fuck out. Controversy is my middle name, she tells me cheerfully, sitting behind a little table backstage at New Yorks Cherry Lane Theatre, the Off Broadway venue thats now owned by a movie studio and LuPones most recent employer, A24. Its not intentional. People think it, and I say it. But just in case I do something stupid, hes here to stop me, she adds, pointing to her publicist, a man named Philip, whom shes known for 40 years and who looks alternately charmed and unbothered by everything that exits her mouth. She and Philip are not concerned about LuPone accidentally spilling plot points from her A24 movie presently in theaters, Beau Is Afraid though spoilers ahead. They are concerned about LuPone leaking details about her upcoming Marvel show, Agatha: Coven of Chaos. Indeed, on The View later this same day, shell reveal shes playing a 450-year-old Sicilian witch named Lilia Calderu in the WandaVision spinoff series. When I joke that Disney is famously litigious, she bursts into delighted laughter. Uh-oh, she says. Theres not enough money in the world. LuPones near-Shakespearean quotability and relish for calling a spade a son of a bitch has for many fans been a feature, not a bug, of her decades-long career. Andy Cohen, for one, regularly hosts her on Watch What Happens Live in a segment called Does Patti Give a Damn? in which LuPone doles out spontaneous assessments of casting announcements and celebrity breakups. That delicious transparency has sometimes gotten in the way of her Hollywood aspirations, relegating her to playing, as she puts it, stregas and nonas: angry Italian wives who yell at Robert De Niro (The Comedian) and Danny DeVito (Wise Guys) or pissed-off single women whose limited patience is tested by Harrison Ford (Witness). But its the very same quality that helped LuPone land a part in Beau Is Afraid the best role Ive ever been offered on-camera as Joaquin Phoenixs towering, smothering mother in Ari Asters darkly comic Jewish anxiety opera. When Aster reached out to LuPone, she had no idea who he was and hadnt heard of Hereditary and Midsommar, the A24 golden boys previous features about deranged women and the hapless men upon whom they rain terrible punishments. Her son, 32-year-old Joshua Johnston, urged her to hop on a Zoom with Aster. He said, Mom, this is the guy, recalls LuPone. And so I watched Midsommar and Hereditary. And I said, Why me? Is he a musical-theater queen? I watched Midsommar and Hereditary. And I said, Why me? Is he a musical-theater queen? Aster, who has not self-identified as such, cast LuPone for two reasons: He was impressed, she says, by how well she handled the language of 2012s The Anarchist, a Talmudic David Mamet play. (I was so grateful that Ari came to me from the legitimate side of my stage career, not the musical-theater side, says LuPone, who has won three Tonys for her work in musical theater.) Hed also seen a clip of her calling Donald Trump a motherfucker on a red carpet and thought she seemed like a hard-ass. (It just flew out of my mouth, shrugs LuPone of that moment, which quickly went viral. I turned to Philip after and I said, Well, you are going to have to be dealing with something in about ten minutes.) Beau Is Afraid follows Phoenix as the titular character, who embarks on a Homeric journey to attend the funeral of his mother, Mona, played by Lupone, after hes told she was beheaded by a falling chandelier. Along the way, Beau gives Lloyd Webber a run for LuPones sad-sack title, becoming the victim of a break-in, a stabbing, a near-drowning, an attempted kidnapping, a compulsory crack smoking, multiple murder attempts, and Nathan Lane. In the days since its theatrical release, the three-hour Oy-dyssey has become a polarizing piece of filmmaking with some calling for Aster to be locked up in movie jail and others proclaiming it one of the most fascinating films of recent years. Critics seem to agree on one thing, however: Despite appearing in only a handful of scenes, LuPone runs away with the film. LuPone admits she found the whole thing a bit baffling tonally: While filming Beau in Montreal in the summer of 2021 (during a break between critically acclaimed performances in London and New York productions of longtime collaborator Stephen Sondheims Company), she played Mona totally straight, unaware that the film was Asters version of a black comedy. I did not see the humor, she says, lifting up her legs and calmly removing her Manolo Blahniks from her feet as she talks. I saw the horror. Not even scenes featuring a gigantic talking penis a character who is identified as Beaus biological father tipped her off. Well, I didnt think that was funny, she says. She recalls seeing the penis for the first time in a big barn on their set and responding, Oh, shit. I never saw it move, she adds. But I tried to figure out how he penetrated Mona. LuPone says she and the cast were typically in thrilling disbelief during filming, often asking one another, Somebody put money behind this script? LuPones co-star, Stephen McKinley Henderson, who plays Beaus therapist and whom LuPone has been friends with since they studied together at Juilliard in the 1970s, kept referring to the movie as vaudeville, and LuPone was totally lost. I said, Wait a minute. I dont feel vaudeville at all. What am I missing? Later, when she was recording dialogue in postproduction, LuPone noticed that a grotesque portrait of a woman with green skin and a wide grimace had appeared behind her in a pivotal scene. I said, Ari, who is that? she recalls. And he said, Thats Monas mother. I went, What? and I burst out laughing. I said, Oh my God. I wished Id known it was a comedy. LuPone is, nonetheless, uproariously funny as Mona, oozing passive-aggressive Jewish guilt and Machiavellian manipulation as she puppeteers her pathetic sons entire existence. Near the end of the film, its revealed that, in a staggering, lifelong attempt to test Beaus devotion to her and protect him from what she sees as an irrevocably dangerous world, Mona created an entire corporation whose central purpose was to track and control her son. After faking her own death, then killing her beloved housekeeper as a decoy, Mona tries Beau in a kind of extralegal, existential court for, among other things, regifting her the same Bette Midler CD twice. Fascinatingly, LuPone didnt play her character as a villain. I see her as deeply concerned. She structured her entire life around that child, says LuPone, poker faced. And he constantly disappoints! LuPone first appears in Beau in an audio-only scene that takes place after Beau reneges on a long-planned flight to visit Mona, and she makes a meal of it, peppering the dialogue with long, loaded pauses hinting at biblical rage. She tells me the scene was her first interaction with Phoenix she was in New York, dialing him from her own cell phone; he was in Montreal on set. The two did the scene a few times with LuPone taking her cues from Phoenix. Joaquin took a very long pause. And I went to myself, Am I still connected on the phone? Are you wasting my life, basically, kid? she laughs. I told myself, Just be patient. Just be patient. And then he finally said, What do I do? And I thought, Wow. Once LuPone made it to Montreal, the two became friends, having coffee each morning on their hotel balconies with Phoenixs partner, Rooney Mara, and their baby. I would bring out my French press and say, Does anyone want coffee? And Ari and Joaquin and I would chat not about the movie but just What a day! I think it helped Joaquin and I be able to go at it as we did. LuPone similarly bonded with Zoe Lister-Jones, who plays young Mona in several flashbacks to Beaus childhood. The two are playing the same tune but in different keys: Lister-Jones draws out the characters incestuous overtones, while LuPone hits heavy notes of shame. They didnt scientifically calibrate their performances, but they did hang out a lot, going to museums and dinner, casually studying each others mannerisms. Because shes a very fine actor, she understood the responsibility that she had in playing an earlier version of me, LuPone says. The two still keep in touch I think its important that you establish a friendship with people but LuPone knows how this song ends. These are never going to be friendships that last forever, she says matter of factly. Its show business, after all. LuPone has always had a dramatic relationship with show business. Although shes dominated the stage for decades, she decided to give up her Actors Equity card, which she announced LuPone-ishly in the fall of 2022: Quite a week on Broadway, seeing my name being bandied about. Gave up my Equity card; no longer part of that circus. Figure it out. Without the card, LuPone can still perform on Broadway, but she tells me she doesnt even want to. She launches into one of her favorite topics: the Las Vegasification of Broadway. I dont think its encouraging audiences to be educated, she says, convincingly falling into character as an American theatergoer who willingly pays $350 to debase themselves. Its more like, Lets go see Mamma Mia! I wish the Phantom would come back. (I ask LuPone if Lloyd Webbers musical finally closing on the same weekend LuPones biggest film opens is meaningful to her, and she throws her head back with a cackle and brief applause. No, but yay!) Patti LuPone as Mona in Beau Is Afraid. Photo: Takashi Seida/A24 Shes not done with theater shes merely looking downtown. I want to work on East 4th Street. I want to go to the New York Theatre Workshop, she proclaims. She gestures to the space around us at the Cherry Lane, where shes pondering bringing a new play she might produce. Lets get creative, she says. The audience will find me. Historically, audiences have found her. Over the years, the gays and Jews (Ryan Murphy, Lena Dunham, Rachel Bloom, et al.) who grew up mainlining her show tunes have given her memorable cameos and supporting roles on shows such as Hollywood, Girls, and Will & Grace. But she hasnt had a lead TV role since the early 90s, when she played the matriarch on a network sitcom called Life Goes On. Shes never had a starring, or even hefty supporting, role in a film until now. Its definitely the nose, says LuPone, turning so I can see her profile. She thinks its why shes so often cast as Jewish, Italian, Greek, and, at least once, Latina, in 2013s Parker as a shitty mother to Jennifer Lopez. When I tell her I often forget she isnt actually a member of the tribe, she is visibly exhilarated. Thank you! she responds. I did 23andMe, and I am 12 percent Ashkenazi Jewish. Italians and Jews, were the same. Its my biggest fear besides falling on stage. Which is more important, falling onstage or my kid dying? When Aster offered her the role of yet another Jewish mother, LuPone was so proud to finally get the chance to play what she describes as an attractive, vital woman with an emotional arc and a monologue so juicy its already incited some Oscar chatter. Thats so dangerous, to talk about awards, because it only leads to disappointment, she says. She will, however, emphatically request that A24 and Aster put her in more movies. Put me in everything, Ari, she says. I dont care if Im sneaking around a corner, just sticking my head in. I ask LuPone if she thinks Mona, a character with whom she continues to empathize, ever took things too far. I think ultimately she does, and she regrets it at the very end, she says. She pauses for a moment, then shakes her head, disagreeing with herself. But he missed his flight to see her, goddamn it! Now lets see whether he shows up when shes headless. What the hell else does she have to do? I think its understandable that a mother becomes irrational when its her child, she adds, laughing. This raises the inevitable question regarding LuPones own mothering of Joshua, her only son with her longtime husband, Matthew Johnston, a cameraman she met while filming a TV movie in the 80s. Ive never gotten as mad as Mona. Ive never created a baby formula or an empire around my kid, LuPone says. But I do love my son unconditionally. And I worry about my son the same way that she worried about her son. Im always worried that my son is going to die, and then I think, Am I projecting? Am I going to create it? I ask what her son thought of Beau Is Afraid, and LuPone gets a mischievous glint in her eye for approximately the fifth consecutive time during our conversation. I think we should call him and find out, she says, whipping out her phone. LuPone dials Johnston, who picks up immediately, and briefs him on our conversation. What do you mean that I am going to die, Mom? he asks, vaguely frightened. Oh, I always worry, Joshua, she says. Im always worried that youre going to die. Its my biggest fear besides falling onstage. Which is more important, falling onstage or my kid dying? Johnston quietly mulls the question. Its terrifying when youre not in control of a situation, he says. Thats probably what youre fearful of with me. So what did he think of Mona, the mother he never had? Ive lived with a lot of interesting characters that youve played over the years, Johnson says, but its a testament to your acting ability that the person onscreen was not anyone I was familiar with. LuPone looks pleased. Brilliant, she says. Hes a very smart boy. Photo: Amazon Prime/Niko Tavernise/Prime Video The key draw of Prime Videos Dead Ringers is Rachel Weiszs dual role as identical twins Beverly and Elliot Mantle, the same names as when Jeremy Irons played them in David Cronenbergs 1988 film of the same name. The series takes the basic idea behind Cronenbergs film twin gynecologists who have a lot of sex, some of it rather unsettling and spins it out into a six-hour story line with themes of jealousy, control, the amoral arrogance of the one percent, and vaginas. (This series is obsessed with vaginas.) These motifs surface as part of a story line in which the Mantles go into business with billionaire Rebecca Parker (Jennifer Ehle), the heir to a prescription-opioid empire, as a practical means to an idealistic end for the opening of their dream birthing center. Beverly aims to change childbirth from a medicalized process that kills women to a holistic one that empowers them. Her sister has, lets say, more Frankensteinian ambitions, beginning with the illegal embryos she is secretly growing in her lab. Dead Ringers also gives Weiszs horny online fan base what it craves, having her deliver a line about putting [her] tongue on [her sisters] tongue and inside her cunt within the first five minutes of the first episode. Weisz plays each of the Mantle twins differently, going big for drug-abusing wild card Elliot while keeping her body language modest for shy Beverly. The easiest and most consistent way to tell them apart is their hairstyles: Wild Elliot literally lets her hair down, while conservative Beverly wears hers in a chignon. Even so, its sometimes hard to tell the two Weiszes apart especially when theyre split up and decipher why they do what they do. Which of the twins starts going to church midway through the series? (Its not the one youd think.) And which Mantle is sharing her feelings about the death of her sister at those support-group meetings? (That ones a bit more complicated!) So lets break down the story from each Mantle sisters perspective and see if we can get to the bottom of what they were up to. Warning: Deep spoilers for every episode of Dead Ringers lie ahead. Episode One Photo: NIKO TAVERNISE/Niko Tavernise/Prime Video The Basics: The Mantle twins are Manhattans most successful and notorious obstetricians. Their dream of opening their own birthing center is about to come true thanks to an angel investment from Rebecca Parker. . What shes up to: After a (quite graphic!) sequence of a day in the life delivering babies, Elliot does a bump in the bathroom at the hospital before heading out to the club, where shes interrupted having sex with a guy in a bathroom stall by her sister. A few scenes later, Elliot and her assistant, Tom (Michael Chernus), discuss what might happen (wink) if Elliot were to hypothetically (wink, wink) keep a fertilized embryo alive in their lab longer than the legal 14-day limit. The unethical doctoring continues when Elliot nudges a pregnant patients husband to show her his penis Thank you so much, Max. That was actually a huge disappointment, she says and the twins pull a switcheroo when Beverly is overwhelmed by her attraction to TV star Genevieve (Britne Oldford). Elliot trades places with Beverly midway through the exam and texts her sister afterward that [Genevieves] got the most extraordinary uterus. Still pretending to be Beverly, she meets Genevieve at a bar and makes the first move. Both Elliot and Beverly go to dinner with Rebecca to talk about investing in their birthing center, after which Elliot meets up with a guy before going home and smelling Genevieves panties while crawling on the twins kitchen island. The next morning, Elliot introduces herself to a shell-shocked Genevieve and is so annoyed at Beverlys happiness about the hookup that she freaks out in a bathroom stall about it. (Elliot spends a lot of time in bathroom stalls.) But why?: As the series opens, Elliot is her usual confident, voracious, possessive self. My sister says Im a hungry person. I like to feast, she says. One thing she does not like to do is share control over her sister with other people, which is why shes so jealous of Beverlys budding relationship with Genevieve. . What shes up to: Shes in the bathroom, having a miscarriage and talking to the clump of cells. Later on, she scrolls through childbirth photos on her phone while her sister parties. Her bad day turns around when she meets Genevieve, a TV actress who comes in for a fertility check; though Beverly is too flustered to follow through with the exam, her sister has promised to get her for [her]. During a dinner at which they discuss the potential investment in their birthing center, Beverly takes offense to Rebeccas disinterest and gives an impassioned speech about the horrors of the birthing system, convincing Rebecca to consider investing. With her confidence boosted, after dinner Beverly goes to the hotel where Genevieve has just finished up a press day and takes the actress home with her (as herself this time). Toward the end of the episode, Dead Ringers flashes forward. (Or does it?!?!) In one of the series most confusing scenes, one of the twins introduces herself and says, Im here because my sister died. My twin. We later find out this is Beverly. But why?: At this point, Beverly is beaten down emotionally, both because her attempts to conceive are not working and because her sister controls everything about her life. Shes timid and relies on the more outgoing Elliot to do the things she cant, like flirt with or perform a pelvic exam on Genevieve. Beverlys speech at dinner in this episode is the first time she shows any agency (a sign of a growing backbone, perhaps?). Quintessential Twin-ism: Beverly: Shes a patient. You cant fuck the patients. Elliot: Fine, I wont fuck the patients anymore. Episode Two Photo: NIKO TAVERNISE/Niko Tavernise/Prime Video The Basics: The twins head upstate for a weekend at Rebeccas compound, where they meet her crowd of eccentric hangers-on. Beverly and Genevieves relationship is developing, and Elliot doesnt like being left out. . What shes up to: After the cold open, we see Elliot watching dispassionately as the FDA raids Toms lab for having embryos in storage that are older than the legal 14-day limit. Oops! From there, we flash forward to the end of the weekend at Rebeccas Elliots the one in the robe. We then jump back to the beginning, when a resentful Elliot throws Beverlys presentation out the window of the car on the way to Rebeccas place. The twins spend much of the evening together until Elliot puts her sister in a wheelbarrow and locks her in a room with a sack over her head, as part of the game before having weird sex with a new acquaintance. But why?: Elliot is pissed about Beverlys new relationship. She cannot stand seeing Beverly happy without her and wolfs down in the car on the way to Rebeccas to soothe her overwhelming feelings of jealousy. (Elliot binge-eats when shes overwhelmed.) She sets out to sabotage the dinner as petty revenge until she realizes that these are her people, promising edgy experiments to their potential donors as a way to salvage the deal and reassert her place as the dominant twin. . What shes up to: After the flashback in which shes the one in the gray T-shirt with the ponytail Beverly has loud sex with Genevieve in her bedroom while Elliot mopes in the kitchen. During dinner at Rebeccas, she gets her period and has a long talk with Rebeccas wife, Susan (Emily Meade), about Susans difficulties conceiving. Shes in bed when Elliot comes to capture her for the game and escapes by crawling through the ventilation ducts of the house. She tells off Rebecca, calling her and her friends categorically the worst people. The next morning, she changes her mind and humbles herself for the sake of the center and accepts Rebeccas funding. But why?: Beverly is put off by the billionaires, who make fun of her for caring about equality and accessibility. She gets so angry she almost fumbles the deal, but ultimately shes the one who calls Rebecca to accept the offer. She downplays a question about having kids and refuses to tell Elliot why another sign of her growing desire for independence from her sister. Quintessential Twin-ism: Elliot: You all drilled holes in your skulls! Its nuts! I love it. Episode Three Photo: NIKO TAVERNISE/Niko Tavernise/Prime Video The Basics: The Mantle-Parker birthing center is open for business, but Beverly and Genevieves relationship is putting pressure on Elliots psyche. . What shes up to: After watching her sister in bed with Genevieve, Elliot goes to her lab to satisfy her need for control over Beverly (or, at least, her genetic materials) before going to the opening party for their new birthing center, at which she downs a whole tray of martinis. The next day, she demonstrates an experimental procedure designed to delay menopause. The rich middle-aged women paying for everything love it. Later, Elliot causes a scene at Genevieves wrap party but is helpful when she and Beverly rush back to the center for an emergency birth. Then Genevieve and Beverly leave for a romantic weekend and Elliot loses it. She gets drunk at her lab, then goes to a bar, then takes the whole bar back for a party at her apartment, which she trashes with an unhoused woman named Agnes (Susan Blommaert), who may or may not be real. Elliot hopes she isnt real because she pushed Agnes off their balcony. But why?: Elliot is feeling right. Feeling confident. Feeling enabled by Rebeccas rational self-interest shtick until Beverly decides to take advice from Genevieve and spend some time away from her. Fearing the loss of control over the only relationship that has ever mattered to her, Elliot lets her self-destructive impulses take over until shes slapping herself in the face and screaming. . What shes up to: Beverly brings Genevieve to the gala as her date, and the two snuggle and look very happy together. Afterward, they go back to Genevieves, where Beverly meets Genevieves little brother. A protester dumps a bucket of cow blood and organs on Beverly (Rebecca is a dick about it, as usual). Elliot also gives her shit, but Beverly stays calm and shows an excellent bedside manner with a patient who doesnt want to be touched. After the emergency birth, Beverly exits the narrative (on a romantic weekend with Genevieve) until the end of the episode, when she returns after Elliot calls her in a panic. But why?: Beverly is uneasy with Rebeccas laissez-faire attitude toward medical ethics and wonders aloud if its all worth it. Im struggling, she tells Elliot. Shes keeping secrets from Elliot for the first time in the sisters lives, which is partly a passive-aggressive move toward independence and partly going along with Genevieves distrust of Elliot. Quintessential Twin-ism: Tom: What the fuck have you done? Elliot: You dont want to know. Episode Four Photo: NIKO TAVERNISE/Niko Tavernise/Prime Video The Basics: The Mantles surprisingly normal parents visit New York. We see flashbacks of the twins infancy, when their mother struggled with her ambivalence about parenting. . What shes up to: The bad twin, Ellie avoids Bev and their parents for most of the episode. Bev gives Ellie pills and puts her to bed, showing how their roles have reversed now that Beverly is in a stable relationship and is no longer emotionally dependent on Elliot. Ellie still loves to fuck with people, though, and surprises Genevieve in the shower, which upsets Genevieve and causes her to storm out. Elliot does join her family to watch the show, after which she binge-eats taffy while watching TV. She overhears Beverly and Genevieve talking and flips into doctor mode when she realizes that Beverly has betrayed her by getting pregnant without Elliots help. At church, Elliot reconnects with a guy from a previous episode who turns out to be a famous politician. She brings him to her and Bevs birthday dinner, during which she ruins everything before absconding to her lab, where she reveals her mad-scientist plan to Tom. But why?: Shes getting closer to the edge all the time, consumed by her confusion over killing Agnes and her ongoing anxiety about losing Beverly. She snuggles up to their dad and ignores their mom; when asked if shes okay, she says no and stumbles away. She oscillates between mania and depression and has started attending church when feeling low. Toward the end of the episode, she regains all-important control over her sister by blabbing Bevs secrets as revenge for her betrayal. . What shes up to: The dutiful twin, Bev spends much of the episode visiting with their parents during their trip. She goes to work in the daytime and then hangs out with them at night, watching the show, which is a TV series based on Cronenbergs 1977 independent body-horror film Rabid. Now that shes pregnant, she and Genevieve begin planning a life together without Elliot. In a flash-forward ( or?), she tells her support group about a dream (or is it a memory?) in which shes in a rowboat on a lake and cant find her sister. At the same meeting, she refers to talking to Elliot in my head, suggesting this whole series has been a Sixth Sense thing. (Its not.) After the disastrous birthday dinner, Beverly does an ultrasound on herself its twins! But why?: Being around their parents makes Beverly feel anxious and guilty. She insists it hasnt been years since theyve seen one another. (It has.) Even though shes pregnant, shes smoking and makes a baby sound before lighting up. It all feeds into her nihilistic belief that shes inadequate and doomed to fail as a mother (her mother telling her Youre going to be a terrible mother, Beverly, probably doesnt help), as badly as she wants to be one. And shes down bad after Elliot reveals the episode-one switcheroo that led to Beverly and Genevieves relationship and Genevieve storms out. Quintessential Twin-ism: Elliot: Our cunts and our tongues are identical, so what does it fucking matter? Episode Five Photo: NIKO TAVERNISE/Niko Tavernise/Prime Video The basics: The Mantle twins go to Alabama to open a new birthing center in Susans hometown. There, they meet Susans family, and everything goes wrong. . What shes up to: In a bloody flash-forward, we learn that Elliots turn toward domesticity making smoothies, listening to meditation tapes, getting a dog! will be temporary. She tells Silas (Ntare Mwine), the writer doing a profile on them, that she has quit drinking and drugs (a lie). Elliot takes the lead with Susans creepy eugenicist family. She slugs some booze with Silas before delivering quadruplets at the birthing center, botching the procedure by puncturing the mothers bladder during a C-section. But why?: As the episode opens, Elliot feels good because her sister is emotionally dependent on her again now that Genevieve is gone. By the end of the episode, shes lying on Susans dads driveway and swerving all over the road in Silass rental car all because Bev is distancing herself from her once again. (She insists on driving despite her unstable mental state because Elliot can never not be in control.) . What shes up to: At this point, telling Beverly and Elliot apart becomes significantly easier, as Beverlys pregnancy starts to show. On the surface, everything seems fine: The Mantle-Parker empire is growing, and though Genevieve is barely speaking to her after Elliot revealed that it was she, not Bev, who made the first move back in episode one, having Elliot around fulfills Beverlys emotional needs. (At least thats what she says.) In Alabama, Beverly throws up all over the dinner table. Late that night, she sees a vision of a woman who tells her the real story of the enslaved 17-year-old girl tortured by the doctor Susans dad, Marion (Michael McKean), praised at dinner. (The doctor from the story is a reference to J. Marion Sims, the father of modern gynecology, who conducted horrific research on enslaved Black women.) Still, she sticks with Rebecca, Susan, and the money. Theres no going back this time. But why?: Bev is suppressing her emotions the way only the British can, biting herself on the arm to keep feelings from escaping. At first, shes trying to forget about Genevieve I have to pretend she never existed, she tells Silas but by the end of the episode, its Elliot she leaves behind. Ive left her. She doesnt exist, she tells Genevieve. Quintessential Twin-ism: Elliot: Were going to be parents. Beverly: Im having twins. One and two. Elliot: Two little babies, Silas. Episode Six Photo: NIKO TAVERNISE/Niko Tavernise/Prime Video The Basics: Elliot and Beverlys sibling breakup is too much for both of them, leading to a shocking escalation in their games of mistaken identity. . What shes up to: Elliot is in exile after the botched C-section from the previous episode. Eating alone in the diner, fucking the dumpy guy from the first episode, and not feeling a single thing. Lying in bed and calling Bev over and over. Once Beverly gives in and the two reunite at the birthing center, Elliot slices herself across the abdomen to mimic a C-section scar before cutting her sister open and reaching up inside her uterus with an unwashed, ungloved hand. Now shes Beverly and can be the mommy and the mad scientist. But why?: Beverly choosing a romantic relationship over her relationship with Elliot was one thing, but Beverly distancing herself from her sister professionally is too much for Elliot to handle. Elliot can no longer be seen at least publicly at the Mantle-Parker birthing center, and her mental health is destroyed by this loss of purpose in her life. She hasnt changed out of her scrubs from the previous episode, is numbing herself with booze and online shopping, and is sleeping on the floor of her lab. . What shes up to: Beverly is back with Genevieve, but they still have the same fight about Elliot. The center is making money, the patients are happy, and she has everything she ever wanted yet she still feels empty. Then Rebecca asks her to destroy her sister to save all of their reputations before Silass profile publishes. She complies, calling Ellie abusive and destructive in an awards speech. Still, she misses Elliot and returns to the apartment to smell her sisters sheets. When they reunite, Beverly is delighted by her sisters gift of two new genetically engineered Bevs, and, long story short, Beverly asks Elliot to kill her and take her place. She dies bleeding out on an operating table. In a mid-credits sequence, we finally find out what was happening with those support-group meetings in the faux flash-forwards. For two years before her death, Beverly had been secretly attending grief counseling, where she processed her desire to be free from her twin by talking about Elliot as if she were dead. Elliot had no idea any of this was happening and is shocked to hear that Beverly had a real secret (unlike the pregnancy, which she sniffed out right away). As a final gesture of control over her sister, Elliot/Beverly starts going to the support-group meetings in her stead. But why?: Bev cant get Ellie out of her mind. She keeps flashing back to the bloody clump in the toilet and hears Elliots voice whispering, Baby sister, baby sister. Thats in her head, but the insistent buzzing of her phone is real. Shell never escape Elliot and will never be happy as a result. Seeing no other way out, she submits to her sisters desire for ultimate control by allowing her to kill her and take over her life. Quintessential Twin-ism: Beverly: I have to climb inside of you now. There was only supposed to be one of us. You were always the better me. What has Ireland done to these women? I dont know if its the Guinness, the end of the rainbow, the ghosts of the castle, or maybe just the Druid energy that courses through the ley lines under this perfect island, but everyone is behaving strangely. But the strangest occurrence of all: Teresa Giudice is almost nice to her sister-in-law Melissa Gorgonzola. (Hey, if she is going to say Slainte, the traditional Irish toast, as salami, then we can call her whatever we want.) It starts the morning of their final day in Ireland when Paulies mother, Claire, stops by the castle to see Dolores. Everyone with an Irish grandmother knows what Claire is like: She tells an excellent joke, an even better story, has suffered for most of her life so she has a great sense of humor, and shes probably wasted before her third Murder, She Wrote rerun. (RIP Grandma Moylan.) These Italian women from New Jersey are lapping her up when she calls Dolores a hussy and jokes about how she doesnt find any of the Househusbands hot in their sexy calendar (except for Doloress ex Frank). I love Claire. Bravo should pay to fly her over for next season, and then they can start a show where Claire and Doloress mother, Valerie, solve cold cases in suburban New Jersey. Anyway, Teresa says her father was like Claire, always saying weird and inappropriate things. She then adds a Right, Melissa? to the end of the table, and everyone in that room is so shocked that they have to go back upstairs and straighten their hair. Melissa then shares a nice memory about the first time she met her future mother-in-law, and she was jokingly calling her a puttana, which is like the Italian word for hussy. See, this is what you lose. The shared history, those group memories, that sense of who you are and where you came from all get lost when you become estranged from your family. No amount of friends can replace that. Yeah, Im ready for the Giudice/Gorga rift to be off my television for good, but there is some sick part of me that still hopes they can get over this. That afternoon everyone goes on Teresas hen do, which is what they call a bachelorette party in the British Isles. Im not sure if Jennifer Aydin Googled Irish hens or what, but they somehow arrive on a farm with a nice Irish lad named Peter, who was sweating his ass off in the balmy Irish summer heat of 55 degrees. Peter takes them around the farm playing games of some sort. This is very confusing. Is this a sixth-grade field trip or a hen do? The first game they play is called Catch the Cock, where the women enter a chicken coop in pairs and one of them has to, you know, catch the cock. Teresa gets to go first and she picks Melissa? Say what now? The next activity is for the women to paint a memory from Teresas life on the wall while she sits outside and pets Peters puppy. Yes, much like catch the cock, this is an alliteration but not a euphemism. Teresa is a little worried about someone drawing her in jail and says she doesnt want to see any bars. She tells us in a confessional that she just pretends that part of her life didnt happen. Well, you know what happens when you ignore history? You repeat it. Oh, hi, Luis; I didnt see you there. When Tre comes inside, Melissa paints a picture of her family in Italy coming over to America with her parents and brother. They both get teary thinking about it. See, this is what we need. We need them to remind each other of what brings them together. Teresa comes over and hugs her. Its so weird seeing Teresa and Melissa getting along. I dont think I like it. Teresa then says she wants Melissas family in the wedding in some vague way. She spitballs some ideas, but we all know they wont happen. Melissa poo-poos the idea in her confessional, saying her family members are not props for Teresa to bring in at the last minute to make herself look good. Yes, but couldnt Melissa have met her halfway? Couldnt she have seen this as a window to making things better? This whole interlude is sweet, but lets be honest, Jennifer painting the iconic table flip moment will win a rural Irish art award. Speaking of which, at lunch after we find out that Bill Aydin will also be at the wedding. Teresa says that Bill and Jen have been very supportive of her relationship all along, and then she says, And I dont have any family. I get it, Missy G, I really do. One minute shes crying over you; the next minute, shes pretending you dont exist. Its more exhausting than figuring out exactly how Margarets mullet skirt of layered black tulle is constructed. Then Peter takes the ladies to the Irish spa. They ask if its going to be nice. Oh, sister, if you put the word Irish in front of anything, it goes from being excellent to being awful. Irish Spring. Irish good-bye. Irish Republican Army. It even happens if you put Irish after a word, like the Fighting Irish. I mean, who the fuck wants to go to Notre Dame? (Well, my brother, for one, but much like Teresa and Danielle, we are currently not speaking for entirely mysterious and unexplained reasons.) The Irish spa is a giant mud pit that all of the women jump into and then sink at least down to their knees. Oh no. Uh uh. This Irish homosexual will be sitting this Irish spa out, k thx bai. Melissa and Teresa are the last two in, and they decide to jump in together, holding their hands before they jump like their Dirty Thelma and About to Be Filthy Louise. They even scream together as they get in. Thats whats so confounding about these two. At least they have this to bond them. At least they have ten years of being on the show together to relate to each other, but they cant even manage because even there, they have been on opposite sides. I mean, cant they at least agree on hating Danielle Staub or being super afraid of a Posche Fashion Show? As the women are gearing up for dinner in Ireland, Joe Benigno and Marges assistant Lexi are gearing up for guys night at Joes house. We discover Lexi is now living in Marges guest house after a separation. She says that where Marge is in Ireland is 30 minutes from my hometown. Wait, so is Lexi English or Irish? Her accent is as inscrutable as Dorit Kemsleys after three carcass-out cocktails. Where is this lady from? Is she just lying to us at this point? Is she the George Santos of Dirty Jerz? Im hiring a PI because I need answers. Guys night is the same kind of intoxicated mess that we know and love from the RHONJ husbands, but with a twist: theyre all stoned this time. Apparently, Frank is getting into the cannabis game and brought over some joints for the guys to enjoy. He even blows smoke in Joe Gorgas face so that he will get zooted too. Thats fair play since Joe is always doing the equivalent with shots when the dudes are all drinking. I couldnt find any indication of Frank having his own weed line, but a very cursory Google pulled up this article about Frank Catania opening a weed shop in Union, New Jersey. I dont know if this is our Frank Catania, but this is so incredibly New Jersey that it made me LOL IRL. Anyway, it is nice to see them all mellowed out and scarfing down the crispy chicken from the food truck in the driveway rather than getting red face enraged while drinking appletinis. Back in Ireland, at dinner, Danielle and Rachel get back into their fight, which I still dont understand. As Melissa points out, Rachel has nothing to do with this, and its Marge who should be mad at Jen and Teresa for talking to her ex-friend, Laura, the Non-Friendly Ghost. These newbies should be out of it. But Danielle starts shouting about how everyone should calm down, and then she tells Marge that she is why Jens kids know that their dad messed around on her. Danielle tells Marge that she will forgive, but she wont forget. Thats when Marge goes full Allison DuBois, He will never emotionally fulfill you, know that, on Danielle. She looks into the future, and she reads her to absolute filth. That is why you are gonna have problems with your family for your whole life, Margaret incants. You will never have a clean slate if you keep bringing up old shit. And thats a fucking fact. You can forgive, but you cant forget? You pull that shit your whole life; you will never move past anything. I dont know that Margaret is necessarily right about Danielle, and this wasnt a very nice thing to say, but everyone around that table needs to listen. Its the old shit that is bringing the show down. It is the old shit that is ruining families. And, to paraphrase a famous Irishman, it is the old shit, much like history, that is a nightmare from which Im trying to awake. Market.Us The latest insights from Market.us highlight the tremendous growth potential of emerging markets, where healthcare costs are on the rise. With a growing need for financial protection against serious illnesses, the demand for critical illness insurance policies is expected to surge as insurance penetration increases in these markets. New York, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global critical illness insurance market is projected to reach USD 541.4 billion in 2032 at a CAGR of 11.2%, from USD 192.3 billion in 2022. Critical illness insurance is a type of policy that provides lump-sum payments if the policyholder is diagnosed with an eligible serious illness or medical condition covered by the policy. Critical illness insurance was designed to provide financial security to those facing high medical bills, lost income, or other costs caused by a serious illness. Critical illness insurance provides protection from serious illnesses like cancer, heart attack, stroke, organ failure, and other life-threatening ailments. On diagnosis of a covered illness, policyholders typically receive money that can be used for medical bills, lost income, and other necessary expenses. Critical illness insurance costs vary based on several factors, such as the age and health of the policyholder, coverage amount, and illnesses covered by the policy. Critical Illness Insurance Market To get additional highlights on major revenue-generating segments, Request a Critical Illness Insurance Market sample report at https://market.us/report/critical-illness-insurance-market/request-sample/ Key Takeaway: By disease, in 2022, the critical illness insurance market was dominated by the cancer disease segment due to its increased cases. By premium mode, the monthly segment dominated the largest market share in premium mode analysis and accounted for the largest revenue share in 2022. By type, the individual segment dominated the largest market share. In 2022, North America dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 40% . APAC is expected to grow at a greater pace owing to the aging population and high prevalence of chronic diseases. Story continues Factors affecting the growth of the Critical Illness Insurance industry There are several factors that are affecting the growth of the critical illness insurance industry. These include: Aging Population: As the population ages, their risk for critical illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, and stroke increases. This has driven an increasing demand for critical illness insurance as people look to protect themselves and their families financially from these illnesses. Rising Healthcare Costs: Healthcare expenses worldwide are rising, and critical illnesses often require expensive treatments and prolonged hospital stays. As a result, more people are turning to critical illness insurance to help cover these expenses. Increase in Lifestyle Diseases: Lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension are becoming more widespread around the world. These conditions can increase your risk for critical illnesses and are fuelling demand for critical illness insurance policies. Advances in Medical Technology: Medical innovation has dramatically improved survival rates for critical illnesses, yet treatments remain expensive. Critical illness insurance can help cover these expenses and offer financial security to policyholders and their families. Government Policies: Some governments have implemented policies to encourage people to purchase critical illness insurance. For instance, in some countries, tax incentives are offered to individuals who purchase these policies. Awareness has Grown: With growing awareness of critical illnesses and their financial toll on families, more people are realizing the significance of having critical illness insurance. This has resulted in an uptick in demand for such products. To understand how our report can bring a difference to your business strategy, Inquire about a brochure at https://market.us/report/critical-illness-insurance-market/#inquiry Market Growth As the global population ages, so too do the risks for critical illnesses like cancer, heart disease, and stroke. This has spurred an uptick in demand for critical illness insurance as people seek to shield themselves and their families financially from these devastating illnesses. Modern medical technology has drastically improved survival rates for critical illnesses, but treatments have become more expensive. Critical illness insurance can help cover these expenses and provide financial security to policyholders and their families. Lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension are becoming more common worldwide - these conditions increase the risk of critical illnesses thus driving demand for this type of cover. Regional Analysis North America is expected to be the leading region in the global critical illness insurance market, boasting a market share of 40% and projecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.6% over the forecast period. The region's high incidence of critical illnesses, an established insurance industry, and rising consumer awareness are driving market growth. The United States leads this space as it is the leading contributor to this region. Europe is the second-largest market for critical illness insurance, led by countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. Asia Pacific's aging population and high prevalence of chronic diseases are driving market expansion with countries like China, Japan, and India leading the charge with their growing middle classes, increased awareness about critical illnesses, and rising healthcare expenditure fuelling expansion there too. Have Queries? Speak to an expert or Click Here To Download/Request a Sample Scope of the Report Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 192.3 billion Market Size (2032) USD 541.4 billion CAGR (from 2023 to 2032) 11.2% North America Revenue Share 40.0% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032 Market Drivers The rising incidence of critical illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, and stroke has created an increasing need for critical illness insurance. Medical treatments and survival rates continue to improve, increasing the likelihood that more people will develop critical illnesses and require financial protection to cover associated expenses. Healthcare costs worldwide continue to rise, creating a financial strain for individuals and families alike. Critical illness insurance can provide financial security to cover the high cost of medical treatments and other expenses resulting from a critical illness. With increased awareness and education about critical illnesses and their financial toll, more people are becoming aware of the value of critical illness insurance. This growing awareness has created a demand for policies that provide comprehensive protection against financial hardships resulting from critical illnesses. Insurers are increasingly offering customized critical illness insurance policies tailored to policyholders' requirements, whether these cover specific illnesses or are tailored specifically to individuals and families' requirements. Market Restraints Critical illness insurance policies can be pricey and high premiums may deter some individuals and organizations from purchasing them. This could limit the growth of the critical illness insurance market, especially in regions where healthcare costs are already high. Some critical illness insurance policies may offer limited coverage, making them less attractive to consumers. Policies may exclude certain critical illnesses or have limits on coverage amounts or duration. Government policies and regulations can also influence the growth of the critical illness insurance market. For instance, in certain countries, governments may provide free or subsidized healthcare for critical illnesses which could reduce demand for policies covering such illnesses. Critical illness insurance policies may not be easily available through all distribution channels, which could limit their reach and accessibility. This is especially true in developing countries where insurance distribution networks may not be well established. Market Opportunities Emerging markets boast tremendous growth potential, as healthcare costs are on the rise and individuals and businesses alike seek financial protection against serious illnesses. As insurance penetration increases in these markets, the demand for critical illness insurance policies is expected to increase. Insurance providers can design tailored policies to fit specific customer segments covering critical illnesses or provide differing coverage amounts and durations based on what the policyholder requires. Modern technologies such as telemedicine and wearable devices allow insurers to more accurately assess the risk of critical illnesses and customize policies accordingly. This enables them to provide more tailored policies, resulting in higher customer satisfaction ratings. Insurers may collaborate with healthcare providers to develop comprehensive critical illness insurance policies that cover both medical and non-medical expenses associated with a critical illness. Partnerships like these help insurers provide more comprehensive protection while improving customer experience. Grow your profit margin with Market.us - Purchase This Premium Report at https://market.us/purchase-report/?report_id=11942 Report Segmentation of the Critical Illness Insurance Market Disease Insight On the basis of disease, the critical illness insurance market is divided into cancer, heart attack, stroke, and other applications. Of these diseases, cancer is projected to be the most lucrative segment within the global critical illness insurance market with a projected CAGR of 11.4%. By 2022, the total revenue share of cancer will reach 34%. Many critical illness insurance policies are tailored to provide coverage for cancer - one of the most prevalent and financially devastating illnesses. These policies typically cover various cancer types and stages as well as provide benefits for treatments like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Heart disease can also be caused by genetics, lifestyle choices, and age; policies in this category may cover conditions like a heart attack or stroke with benefits like bypass surgery, stenting, and angioplasty. Premium Mode Insight Premium mode further subdivides the market into monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, and yearly. The monthly premium mode is estimated to be the most lucrative segment in the global critical illness insurance market with a share of 45% and CAGR projected at 14.4% between 2022 and 2025. Premium mode refers to the frequency at which premiums are paid and insurers typically offer various options to meet different policyholder needs. The monthly premium mode is the most frequent option, where policyholders make regular payments. When selecting a premium mode for an insurance policy, the policyholder's financial situation, budget, and preferences must all be taken into account. Policyholders who prefer making fewer payments annually can select either annual or semi-annual premium modes, while those who favor smaller, more frequent payments might select monthly or quarterly premium modes. Furthermore, the premium mode selected may affect the overall cost of the policy - insurers often offer discounts or surcharges based on which premium mode is selected, with annual typically being the most cost-effective choice. Type Insight On the basis of type, the market is divided into individual and family. The individual segment is expected to be the most lucrative market in global critical illness insurance, boasting a revenue share of 55% and a projected CAGR of 13.4% over the forecast period. Individual policyholders are the primary beneficiaries of critical illness insurance, purchasing policies to financially safeguard themselves and their families in case of serious illnesses. Family insurance plans are more cost-effective than individual coverage, providing customers with better conditions at a lower price. Customers receive fair coverage at an affordable cost with this plan. Many corporations also include this coverage in employee benefits packages, providing workers with financial security in case of serious illnesses. Coverage may be extended to all employees or tailored specifically towards certain groups such as executives or those at high health risks. For more insights on the historical and Forecast market data from 2016 to 2032 - download a sample report at https://market.us/report/critical-illness-insurance-market/request-sample/ Market Segmentation Based on Disease Cancer Heart Attack Stroke Other Applications Based on Premium Mode Monthly Quarterly Half Yearly Yearly Based On Type Individual Family By Geography North America The US Canada Mexico Western Europe Germany France The UK Spain Italy Portugal Ireland Austria Switzerland Benelux Nordic Rest of Western Europe Eastern Europe Russia Poland The Czech Republic Greece Rest of Eastern Europe APAC China Japan South Korea India Australia & New Zealand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Rest of APAC Latin America Brazil Colombia Chile Argentina Costa Rica Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa Algeria Egypt Israel Kuwait Nigeria Saudi Arabia South Africa Turkey United Arab Emirates Rest of MEA Competitive Landscape Major key players are employing various strategic tactics such as launching innovative services, partnerships, and collaboration to expand and strengthen their businesses in growing markets. Companies invest heavily in research and development to better meet consumer satisfaction while gaining a competitive edge within the market. Some of the major players include: Allianz SE China Life Insurance Company Aflac Incorporated Aegon Prudential PLC AIG Inc. American Fidelity Anthem Inc. Aviva PLC UnitedHealthcare Desjardins Group Other Key Players Recent Development of the Critical Illness Insurance Market In 2021, Prudential PLC released "Thrive," a mental health app that provides policyholders with resources and support. In 2021, China Life Insurance Company introduced its "Health Plus" health and wellness program. This initiative provides policyholders with access to various wellness activities. In 2020, Aviva PLC unveiled its MyAviva digital platform that allows customers to manage their policies and make claims online. 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Mobile Phone Insurance Market size is expected to be worth around USD 93.8 Bn by 2032 from USD 30.7 Bn in 2022, growing at CAGR of 11.8% About Us: Market.US (Powered by Prudour Pvt Ltd) specializes in in-depth market research and analysis and has been proving its mettle as a consulting and customized market research company, apart from being a much sought-after syndicated market research report-providing firm. Market.US provides customization to suit any specific or unique requirement and tailor-makes reports as per request. We go beyond boundaries to take analytics, analysis, study, and outlook to newer heights and broader horizons. Follow Us On LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Our Blog: CONTACT: Global Business Development Team - Market.us Market.us (Powered By Prudour Pvt. Ltd.) Email: inquiry@market.us Address: 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 300, New York City, NY 10170, United States Tel: +1 718 618 4351 Website: https://market.us IPO Edge hosted a fireside chat from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange with senior management from Thirty Madison . The in-person interview featured President Michelle Carnahan and CFO Quan Zhang joined by IPO Edge Editor-in-Chief John Jannarone who discussed their tenure at Sanofi, the shift to a startup, treatments of migraines, hair loss, skin conditionsWatch the full recording below: About Thirty Madison Operator of a human-first healthcare company designed to support the unique needs of the community with personalized treatments and care. The company builds condition-specific brands that provide end-to-end care for hair loss, a cove for migraine, a picnic for allergies, a facet for skin conditions, and NURX for sexual health and offers telehealth, personalized treatment delivery, and ongoing condition management, allowing clients to get superior outcomes for a reasonable price. About Michelle Carnahan Michelle Carnahan is President of Thirty Madison, the family of specialized healthcare brands creating exceptional outcomes for all. After spending more than 25 years in healthcare and treatment innovation, Michelle joined Thirty Madison because of her commitment to patients and her desire to improve specialty care. As President, Michelle focuses on leading the company into the future, expanding its offerings, and ensuring a constant patient focus. Her background in strategy, marketing, and operations at Sanofi and Eli Lilly allowed her to see how having access to the care patients needed changed their lives for the better. About Quan Zhang Quan Zhang is the Chief Financial Officer at Thirty Madison. Quan has spent the past 7 years at Sanofi, holding executive finance leadership positions across various businesses and geographies. During her tenure, she served as CFO for China and CFO for North America and the Global Primary Care business. In her most recent role as SVP of the Global Consumer Healthcare project, she built out and led the enterprise transformation of the entire business from commercial operations, scientific innovation, manufacturing and supply, to finance, people, legal, and technology in over 70 countries. Prior to joining Sanofi, Quan spent time at Pfizer, where she led global shared services, optimization, transformation, and the portfolio management teams throughout her tenure. Story continues Contact: IPO-Edge.com Editor@ipo-edge.com International Workers' Day falls on a Monday in 2023. Italy celebrates Labour Day - known as the Festa dei Lavoratori or Festa del Lavoro - with a nationwide public holiday every year on 1 May. This year the Primo Maggio holiday falls on a Monday so will result in a long weekend and a day off for Italy's schools and public offices. The annual event, marked in more than 80 countries, is held in commemoration of the labour movement and the social and economic achievements of trade unions on behalf of workers. The Primo Maggio holiday is celebrated in Rome with a free May Day concert in Piazza S. Giovanni in Laterano. Organised by Italy's trade unions, the concertone attracts established acts along with rising stars from the Italian music industry and is used as a platform to promote workers' rights. Cover image: Il quarto stato (1898-1901) painting by Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo. Minister invites culture heads to working lunch on mid-August holiday. Italy's culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano has called out directors of his ministry for taking time off on Monday 24 April, the day before the national public holiday for Liberation Day. Sangiuliano sent a letter to the 11 directors general in the culture ministry, according to Italian news reports, scolding those who took a "ponte" (bridge) long weekend by taking Monday off work. "Dear directors, I have found that many of you, with some praiseworthy exceptions, were on vacation on Monday 24 April, the ponte day leading to the Festa della Liberazione", reads the letter from Sangiuliano, first published by Dagospia. Acknowledging that taking holidays is an "intangible right", Sangiuliano said that due to the "peculiarity of our ministry" - whose activities are met with a particular response during public holidays - "that it would suggest a punctual presence on these days." The minister said the absence of directors during this time was comparable to the "forces of law and order going on vacation when the city empties for the summer holidays". Sangiuliano signed off his letter by pointedly inviting all the directors to a working lunch on 15 August, Italy's summer holiday of Ferragosto, when Italians tend to escape the heat of the city by heading to the beach or the mountains. It is not the first time that Sangiuliano has cracked the whip since taking office as part of premier Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition last October. Days after assuming the role of culture minister, he admonished Uffizi director Eike Schmidt for closing the world-famous galleries in the middle of what was a four-day holiday for many Italians. In a strongly-worded letter to Schmidt, the minister said it was "very serious" to keep the Uffizi shut during the "ponte" weekend for All Saints' Day, a public holiday in Italy on 1 November. Schmidt blamed the closure on staff shortages, pointing out that he had raised the matter with the culture ministry for years but his appeals to increase recruitment had not been met with concrete results. Sangiuliano made headlines earlier this year for announcing a 5 entry fee to the Pantheon and for promising tough action against climate activists who damage cultural landmarks. April 26, 2023 release at 7:30 am CET Sophia Antipolis, France Nicox SA (Euronext Paris: FR0013018124, COX), an international ophthalmology company, today announced that studies highlighting nonclinical data on NCX 470 and NCX 1728 have been presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting 2023 being held April 23-27, 2023 in New Orleans, LA, United States. Poster title: NCX 470, a nitric oxide (NO)-donating bimatoprost, preserves rabbit eyes from biochemical and functional changes associated with endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced ischemia/reperfusion injury of optic nerve head and retina. Retina and optic nerve head vascular dysfunction in glaucoma is an important therapeutic target. Effectively managing the ocular blood flow may slow the progressive worsening of retinal cell function seen in glaucoma patients. This work shows compelling new evidence of retinal cell protective activity with NCX 470 in addition to its IOP lowering ability. Specifically, NCX 470 is found to reverse both hemodynamic and retinal cell impairments consequent to ET-1 induced ischemia/reperfusion injury in rabbits. NCX 470, a novel NO-donating bimatoprost eye drop, is currently in Phase 3 clinical development for the lowering of IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Mont Blanc, the first of the two Phase 3 clinical trials, has been completed and the results announced in October 2022. The second Phase 3 clinical trial, Denali, is currently ongoing, and the results are expected in 2025. Mont Blanc and Denali trials have been designed to fulfill the regulatory requirements for safety and efficacy Phase 3 trials to support NDA submissions in the U.S. and China. Two new Phase 3b clinical trials to evaluate the dual mechanism of action (NO and prostaglandin analog) in IOP lowering and the potential retinal benefits of NCX 470 are planned to start in H1 2023. Paper presentation title: NCX 1728, a nitric oxide (NO)-donating phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor, but not its des-nitro derivative (NCX 1880), enhances ocular perfusion and improves photoreceptor function in rabbits with endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced ischemia/reperfusion injury of optic nerve head and retina. Nitric oxide has a well-established role in ocular blood flow and visual function. This work shows for the first time that our NO-donating avanafil derivative, NCX 1728, abolishes ET-1 induced retinal and vascular dysfunction in rabbits. Data point to nitric oxide/soluble guanylyl cyclase signaling pathway stimulation as the main contributor for these effects. NCX 1728 holds promise for the treatment of retinopathies where dysfunctional ocular perfusion and neovascularization are key pathophysiological features in disease progression. NCX 1728 is an NO-donating phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor, the lead compound of a new class of NO-donating molecules based entirely on NO-mediated activity. NCX 1728 is currently under preclinical evaluation for development in retinal conditions. Swiss Guards celebrate 517 years in 2023. The Vatican will hold its annual ceremony to swear-in new recruits into the Swiss Guards, the world's smallest army, on Saturday 6 May. The pomp-filled event, held in the S. Damaso courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, will see 23 new guards take a solemn oath of allegiance to the pope. The annual ceremony commemorates 6 May 1527, when 147 Swiss Guards died protecting Pope Clement VII from the army of the Holy Roman Emperor. The pope fled via the 800-m Passetto di Borgo passageway to the nearby refuge of Castel S. Angelo. Led by Commander Christoph Graf, the current Swiss Guards belong to the world's oldest standing army which celebrated its 517th anniversary on 22 January this year. The guards must be male and of Swiss nationality, as well as being Catholic, unmarried and aged between 19 and 30. They must also have undergone intensive Swiss military training and be a minimum height of 174 cm. In addition to protecting the pope, the army performs ceremonial duties and assists at Vatican functions, and is famous for its ancient halberd weapons and its blue, gold and red uniform. The soldiers generally serve for between two and 25 years at the Vatican, in the service of the pope. Photo credit: AM113 / Shutterstock.com. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share The world is full of thankless tasks, though only a select few can attract the type of vitriol directed in recent years at Britains judges who have been called subverters of democracy, politically biased leftists, enemies of the people and wet liberals soft on crime. Get ready for another volley of outrage if an appeal this week against the governments plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda proves successful. So who would want to be a judge in the UK these days? Only 8% of salaried judges in England and Wales feel valued by the government, the 2022 UK Judicial Attitude Survey showed last month. That was down by a percentage point from the last time they were asked, in 2020. Its a result that should make the government pay attention. The judiciary has offered a convenient foil for the frustrations and unfulfilled promises of the UKs withdrawal from the European Union. Attacking a privileged elite that is perceived to be standing in the way of the will of the people or at least can be presented as doing so makes an easy win for politicians in need of a scapegoat. The judicial survey, which has a 99% response rate from full-time judges so is highly authoritative, is a reminder that such a strategy has consequences. This is ultimately corrosive to democracy and potentially to the UKs standing in the world -- as political leaders in Israel, Hungary and Poland are learning. Advertisement A key turning point came in November 2016, with the Daily Mails Enemies of the People headline. The infamous front page followed a court ruling that only parliament, not the government, had the power to invoke Article 50, triggering the Brexit withdrawal process. The headline appeared over photographs of three judges; the Conservative-supporting newspaper accused them of declaring war on democracy and disclosed details about their private lives. Future Prime Minister Liz Truss, who as Lord Chancellor had a legal duty to defend the independence of the judiciary, said nothing initially. Government attacks on judges increased in frequency and intensity after that, according to a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Democracy and the Constitution last year. Brexit has continued to be the biggest bone of contention. A Supreme Court ruling in 2019 that Boris Johnsons decision to prorogue, or suspend, parliament for five weeks was unlawful spurred another rash of complaints that judges were trying to thwart the publics wishes. Ministers have also chafed over the continuing influence of the European Court of Human Rights, which intervened to prevent the UK from sending asylum seekers to Rwanda last June. Its natural for governments to be displeased by adverse decisions in the courts. But to respond to setbacks by complaining of political bias, pledging to root out leftist culture in the judiciary (as Johnson did in 2019), or threatening to get the judges sorted (as Johnsons senior adviser Dominic Cummings was quoted as saying) gives a misleading impression of the constitutional role of judges and risks undermining public trust in a pillar of the rule of law. Advertisement The idea that the judiciary is a hotbed of left-wing radicalism has always been fanciful. Judges are mostly privately educated, elderly (86% of full-time Court of Appeal judges are over 60, and 97% of High Court judges are over 50), and economically advantaged. As a demographic, they are more likely to lean conservative. In any case, the government always has a remedy for court decisions it doesnt like: pass new legislation in parliament. In fact, this is what the government is doing. Under Dominic Raab, who resigned as justice secretary and deputy prime minister last week, it proposed to repeal and replace the 1998 Human Rights Act. Conservative MPs have also been pushing for the UK to withdraw from the European convention on human rights to aid its crackdown on immigration. They should be careful what they wish for. Judicial independence has been under pressure around the world. Most recently, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month delayed a planned overhaul that would allow the government to handpick judges, after weeks of mass protests. Israels proposals mirror changes in Hungary and Poland that strengthened the hand of political leaders over the judiciary, part of a slide toward more illiberal, authoritarian forms of government. Advertisement In Hungary, where Viktor Orban has been prime minister since 2010, the erosion of judicial independence was followed by restrictions on free media and civil society that irked fellow EU members. Members of the European Parliament declared last year that Hungary is no longer a fully functioning democracy and instead should be considered a hybrid regime of electoral autocracy. Meanwhile, leaving the ECHR would put the Britain alongside Russia as the only countries to have exited the convention in the past 50 years. Is this really the company the UK wants to keep? It would be unwise for Britain to continue further down this road. Perhaps its time for politicians to start biting their tongues and moderating their language a little. That could begin with the Rwanda decision, whatever the outcome. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Advertisement The Verdict on Authoritarianism vs. Democracy: Andreas Kluth What Brazils Election Says About Authoritarians: Eduardo Porter Not Everything You Dislike Is Anti-Democratic: Tyler Cowen This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Matthew Brooker is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering business and infrastructure out of London. A former editor and bureau chief for Bloomberg News and deputy business editor for the South China Morning Post, he is a CFA charterholder. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share TAIPEI, Taiwan China warned against continued U.S.-Taiwan cooperation Wednesday, responding to reports that the U.S. military was sending officers to help train Taiwans counterparts and that a delegation of defense contractors would visiting the self-ruled island next week. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight We resolutely oppose the U.S. having any form of official or military contact with Chinas Taiwan region, Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a weekly press briefing in Beijing. Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war. Taiwan never has been part of the Peoples Republic of China, but the Communist Party says it is obliged to unite with the mainland, by force if necessary. President Xi Jinpings government has flown fighter jets and bombers near Taiwan in increasing numbers and fired missiles into the sea in an attempt to intimidate the island. Advertisement Taiwanese media reported this month that the U.S. had sent 200 military personnel, mostly Marines, to help train Taiwan troops. Taiwans Defense Ministry has neither denied nor confirmed the report. Meanwhile, a delegation of around 25 defense contractors is visiting the island next week, hosted by the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council. Nikkei Asia reported that the weapons manufacturers will discuss joint production of drones and ammunition in Taiwan. U.S. defense contractors intentionally provoke confrontation between the two sides, taking the opportunity to make a profit, Zhu said. She accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which has been in power for six years, of colluding with the U.S. to press for the islands formal independence. The U.S. doesnt formally recognize the Taiwan government but is Taipeis most vital provider of weapons and other security assistance as well as political support. China has turned up the heat by sending fighter jets and navy vessels near the island on a near daily basis, especially in response to political meetings between the U.S. and Taiwan. Earlier this month, China held large-scale military exercises simulating a strike on key targets in Taiwan in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share BELGRADE, Serbia The Serbian president on Monday sharply criticized Western officials who are mediating talks on normalizing ties with Kosovo, calling them liars and frauds, and said the Serb minority in the former Serbian province will no longer tolerate foreign occupation. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine. ArrowRight Aleksandar Vucic spoke a day after local elections in Serb-dominated northern Kosovo that were overwhelmingly boycotted by the Serb voters there. As a result, ethnic Albanians were elected. Tensions in the Western Balkans, which went through a bloody war in the 1990s, have soared since the Russian aggression on Ukraine. Vucic praised the vote boycott by the Kosovo Serbs, saying it represented a peaceful political uprising against their occupiers. Serbs are claiming harassment by Pristina authorities and demand autonomy for their region. Advertisement Our people in Kosovo have shown in which country they want to live, said Vucic, a populist leader known for his frequent anti-Western outbursts. He is apparently angry at the European Union and the U.S. for allowing Pristina to hold the vote when the Serb boycott, called by Belgrade, was expected. The EU said on Monday that the elections were held in line with the legal framework of Kosovo and that efforts were undertaken for them to take place in a smooth and orderly manner. At the same time, the EU regrets that not all parties and communities made use of their democratic right to participate and vote in the elections, the EU statement said. The very low turnout, in particular among Kosovo Serb citizens, shows that this process is not and cannot be considered business as usual. The Kosovo government hailed citizens for their courage and calmness while taking part in the vote. It said the election was a manifestation of democracy. Advertisement The threatening campaign orchestrated by Belgrade and executed through intimidation, pressure and blackmail by criminal groups ... led to a low turnout of citizens in the elections, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said. Kosovo is a majority ethnic Albanian former Serbian province. The 1998-1999 war erupted when separatist ethnic Albanians rebelled against Serbias rule, and Belgrade responded with a brutal crackdown. About 13,000 people died, mostly ethnic Albanians. In 1999 a NATO military intervention forced Serbia to pull out of the territory. Kosovo declared independence in 2008. Tensions have simmered ever since. Kosovos independence is recognized by many Western countries, but it is opposed by Belgrade with the backing of Russia and China. EU-brokered talks have made little headway in recent years, although their leaders last month tentatively agreed on how to implement a EU-sponsored plan to normalize relations after decades of tensions. Advertisement Vucic said he will probably take part in the next round of EU-mediated talks with Kosovos Kurti, scheduled in Brussels on May 2, despite expecting nothing to come out of that meeting. Im afraid that this is a prelude to a much deeper crisis, Vucic said. There are fears in the West that Russia, a Serb ally, could destabilize the Balkans through its proxies in the region, open another front in Europe and shift at least some international attention from the war in Ukraine. Fueling those claims was a decision Monday by parties close to the Bosnian Serb separatist leader Milorad Dodik, a staunch pro-Russian, to propose a series of measures that could lead to about half of Bosnia controlled by Serbs to secede from the joint state and become part of neighboring Serbia. The move triggered a sharp reaction from the U.S., whose peace plan ended the 1992-1995 Bosnian war that killed more than 100,000 people and left millions homeless. Advertisement The U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo said in a terse statement that Republika Srpska the Bosnian Serb entity is an entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, does not exist outside (the country), and there is no right under (Bosnia and Herzegovinas) constitution for an entity or any other sub-state unit to secede or unify with another state. Milorad Dodik is wrong if he thinks that the United States will step aside while he pushes (Bosnia and Herzegovina) toward conflict, it added. The United States will protect Bosnia and Herzegovina and ensure it maintains its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and multiethnic character. Llazar Semini contributed from Tirana, Albania. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share HONG KONG Singapore on Wednesday executed a man accused of coordinating a cannabis delivery, despite pleas for clemency from his family and protests from activists that he was convicted on weak evidence. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine. ArrowRight Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, was sentenced to death in 2018 for abetting the trafficking of 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cannabis. Under Singapore laws, trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis may result in the death penalty. Tangaraju was hanged Wednesday morning and his family was given the death certificate, according to a tweet from activist Kirsten Han of the Transformative Justice Collective, which advocates for abolishing the death penalty in Singapore. Although Tangaraju was not caught with the cannabis, prosecutors said phone numbers traced him as the person responsible for coordinating the delivery of the drugs. Tangaraju had maintained that he was not the one communicating with the others connected to the case. Advertisement At a United Nations Human Rights briefing Tuesday, spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani called on the Singapore government to adopt a formal moratorium on executions for drug-related offenses. Imposing the death penalty for drug offences is incompatible with international norms and standards, said Shamdasani, who added that increasing evidence shows the death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent. Singapore authorities say there is a deterrent effect, citing studies that traffickers carry amounts below the threshold that would bring a death penalty. The island-states imposition of the death penalty for drugs is in contrast with its neighbors. In Thailand, cannabis has essentially been legalized, and Malaysia has ended the mandatory death penalty for serious crimes. Singapore executed 11 people last year for drug offenses. One case that spurred international concern involved a Malaysian man whose lawyers said he was mentally disabled. Advertisement The Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network condemned Tangarajus execution as reprehensible. The continued use of the death penalty by the Singaporean government is an act of flagrant disregard for international human rights norms and casts aspersion on the legitimacy of Singapores criminal justice system, the statement said. Relatives and activists had sent letters to Singapores President Halimah Yacob to plead for clemency. In a video posted by the Transformative Justice Collective, Tangarajus niece and nephew appealed to the public to raise concerns to the government over Tangarajus impending execution. An application filed by Tangaraju on Monday for a stay of execution was dismissed without a hearing Tuesday. Singapore claims it affords people on death row due process, but in reality fair trial violations in capital punishment cases are the norm: Defendants are being left without legal representation when faced with imminent execution, as lawyers who take such cases are intimidated and harassed, said Maya Foa, director of non-profit human rights organization Reprieve. Advertisement Critics say Singapores death penalty has mostly snared low-level mules and done little to stop drug traffickers and organized syndicates. But Singapores government says that all those executed have been accorded full due process under the law and that the death penalty is necessary to protect its citizens. British billionaire Richard Branson, who is outspoken against the death penalty, had also called for a halt of the execution in a blog post, saying that Singapore may be about to kill an innocent man. Singapore authorities criticized Bransons allegations, stating that he had shown disrespect for the Singaporean judicial system as evidence had shown that Tangaraju was guilty. GiftOutline Gift Article SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd. SkyQuest's Piezoelectric Materials Market report provides actionable insights for individuals interested in valuable data, trends, and opportunities in a rapidly growing industry. Additionally, the report is produced and published concisely, making it accessible to various audiences, from industry experts to market readers. Finally, one can gain an in-depth understanding of the primary and secondary market drivers, providing them with a comprehensive outlook of the current market situation and future projections. Westford USA, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per SkyQuest's latest report, the global piezoelectric materials market is expected to reach USD 1.83 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period (2023-2030), driven by the growing demand for energy harvesting devices, piezoelectric actuators and sensors, and healthcare industry in North America and Asia Pacific. The report also highlights that Piezoelectric materials have the potential to provide up to 1.5% of global electricity consumption by 2030. Furthermore, piezoelectric materials have found successful applications in various areas, such as vibration sensors, wireless sensors, and low-power electronics. The Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy published a study titled "A review of piezoelectric energy harvesting based on vibration," which stated that piezoelectric energy harvesting could convert up to 30% of mechanical energy into electrical energy. Browse in-depth TOC on "Piezoelectric Materials Market" Pages - 242 Tables - 9 Figures - 65 Piezoelectric materials are increasingly important in several industries, including healthcare, automotive, aerospace, energy harvesting, and electronics. The ability of these materials to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy has led to their use in sensors, microphones, and speakers, among other applications. The growing demand for energy-efficient solutions and the rapid growth of consumer electronics will drive the piezoelectric material market's growth. Advancements in technology and research and development activities in the field will create new opportunities for market players. Story continues Prominent Players in Piezoelectric Materials Market Acoustiblok, Inc. ArtUSA Noise Control Products, Inc. AVT Inc. BSW Berleburger Schaumstoffwerk GmbH Eckel Noise Control Technologies Flexshield Group H&H Acoustic Technologies Herzan LLC Kinetics Noise Control Knauf Insulation Mason Industries Noise Barriers, LLC Noise Solutions Quiet Solution Rite-Hite Corporation Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Sound Seal, Inc. Technicon Acoustics UNIFRAX ZAK Acoustics Pvt. Ltd. Get a sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/piezoelectric-materials-market Sensors and Actuators Segment to Drive Higher Sales Due to the Increasing Demand from Various End-use Industries The rapid development of the Piezoelectric Materials market in 2021 was primarily driven by the sensors and actuators segment, according to a recent analysis. This trend is expected to continue from 2022 to 2030 as piezoelectric sensors are used to measure pressure, force, acceleration, and temperature, among other parameters. Piezoelectric actuators are used in various applications such as precision positioning, vibration control, and flow control. Furthermore, according to research analysis, North America is predicted to become a significant Piezoelectric Materials market from 2022 to 2030. SkyQuest projects a CAGR of 4.22% for the region during the forecast period, driven by increasing investment in research and development activities to develop new piezoelectric materials and the growing demand for energy-efficient and eco-friendly products. The government initiatives promoting the adoption of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, are also driving the demand for piezoelectric materials. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/piezoelectric-materials-market Piezoelectric Ceramic Material Segment to Exhibit Strong Growth Due to Growing Demand for Piezoelectric Ceramics in Applications The demand for piezoelectric ceramic material has made it the dominant segment in the market in 2021 and is expected to maintain its lead from 2022 to 2030. This trend is being driven by the increasing demand for piezoelectric ceramics in applications such as sensors, actuators, and transducers in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and healthcare. Moreover, the Asia Pacific region has emerged as a significant force in the Piezoelectric Materials market and is expected to continue its dominance by 2030. SkyQuest has projected substantial growth in the market for this region, with a CAGR of 5.97% during the forecast period. The region's growth can be attributed to its increasing demand from various end-use industries such as automotive, aerospace, and healthcare. Additionally, various government initiatives are supporting the market's growth, such as the Indian government's "Make in India" initiative encourages domestic manufacturing, which could boost the demand for piezoelectric materials. A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the piezoelectric materials market has been recently conducted in a report. The report encompasses various aspects, including collaborations, mergers, innovative business policies, and strategies, providing valuable insights into key trends and breakthroughs in the market. Furthermore, the report scrutinizes the market share of the top segments and presents a detailed geographic analysis. Lastly, the report highlights the major players in the industry and their endeavors to develop innovative solutions to cater to the growing demand. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/piezoelectric-materials-market Key Developments in Piezoelectric Materials Market Brain Scientific Inc. (OTCQB: BRSF), a company specializing in neurology-focused medical devices and software, has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Piezo Motion Corp. The latter is known for its high-precision piezoelectric motion technology. The merger is anticipated to boost the companies' market reach and enable them to deliver cutting-edge technologies to high-growth markets upon completion. Researchers from EPFL have found that gadolinium-doped cerium oxide, a compound developed in their lab, could be a potential alternative to specific piezoelectric materials due to its similar properties but with a potential 100 times more efficiency. Additionally, it is lead-free, making it suitable for use in bio-compatible medical applications. The researchers plan to conduct further studies on this compound and similar materials due to their promising properties. Key Questions Answered in Piezoelectric Materials Market Report What specific growth drivers are projected to impact the market during the forecast period? 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 do these differences shape the market's future growth? Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global Soluble Dietary Fiber Market Global Geosynthetics Market Waterborne Coatings market Global Sodium Alginate Market Global Blue Ammonia Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com LinkedIn Facebook Twitter His diatribes bemoaning immigration across the Mexican border and demonising the Black Lives Matter movement helped to galvanise support behind Trump, while earning the host a reported salary of as much as $US20 million ($30 million). Carlson even had the presidents ear, flying to Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in early 2020 to convince him to take COVID more seriously. That was before the Fox host himself changed course, promoting anti-vax views on air and branding medical experts witch-doctors. Regardless of political affiliation, it will be advertising dollars that are of most concern to Murdoch. Credit: AP In many ways, Carlsons exit should not have been a surprise he was fired from his two previous roles at CNN and MSNBC. Yet his downfall came quickly. The decision to oust him, which reportedly came directly from Murdoch, can be linked to Fox News eye-watering $US787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems on the eve of a defamation trial last week. Documents released as part of the suit, which alleged Fox knowingly broadcast false claims about vote-rigging in the 2020 US presidential election, exposed messages from Carlson that criticised his bosses and fellow journalists at Fox, often in offensive language. Carlson has also been condemned for his attempts to portray the Capitol Hill riots in January 2021 as peaceful protests. A discrimination lawsuit filed by Abby Grossberg, a former Fox producer, last month, which accused Carlson of overseeing a toxic work environment of bullying and anti-semitism, may have been the final straw. His ousting may represent a more fundamental change of direction at Murdochs cable news channel. I think it could be an editorial decision by Fox to tack away from a host that is so pro-Trump, says Alice Enders at Enders Analysis. Text messages released in the Dominion lawsuit show Carlson was privately telling friends he passionately hated Trump. On air, however, he continued to support the former president. The court documents show that Murdoch, too, was turning his back on Trump after years of support. We want to make Trump a nonperson, he told one former executive. The billionaire media mogul has instead thrown his weight behind Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida, tipped to launch a bid for president. A split from Carlson could signal Murdochs effort to shift back to a more traditional, conservative audience base and away from the increasingly fringe Trumpworld. The network has weathered scandals before. Prime-time host Bill OReilly, who was Foxs most popular star, was ousted amid sexual misconduct allegations in 2017. Credit: AP This shift has taken on more urgency in the wake of the rattling Dominion settlement, Enders says. In a crucial decision ahead of the trial, Judge Eric Davis ruled that Fox could not defend airing Trumps false stolen election claims on the grounds that they were newsworthy. All media organisations in the US are going to have to clean up their act and impose some discipline they cant use the First Amendment as a blanket cloak for everything thats said by their presenters, says Enders. The channel is still facing a separate $US2.7 billion lawsuit from Dominions rival Smartmatic, as well as a case brought by a shareholder. I think it could well be that there is some move to gather the flock, the employees, the hosts and so on together and just say, Look, there are guidelines youre just going to have to observe. Ian Whittaker, a media analyst, says Carlsons departure may be part of a broader shift away from highly partisan programming and towards safer ground nearer the centre. Carlsons exit consolidates editorial power firmly with Murdoch and his lieutenants. While he may try to steer Fox away from the extremities of the Trump era and back towards safer ground, the media mogul will be reluctant to tinker too much with the crown jewels. He draws comparisons with Don Lemon, the long-service anchor who was fired from left-leaning CNN on the same day as Carlson. Loading If you deliberately limit your appeal to one side of the equation, at some point youre going to come up against a buffer, says Whittaker. Regardless of political affiliation, it will be advertising dollars that are of most concern to Murdoch. The tycoon has always put pragmatism ahead of politics in his efforts to back the winner, most notably when The Sun came out in support of Tony Blair in 1997. Enders describes Fox News as a complete cash cow and the jewel in the crown of Murdochs empire. With its low costs and high margins, Foxs cable business brought in more than $US6 billion of revenues last year and accounted for the vast majority of the groups profit. Undoubtedly, there will be some concerns that Carlsons departure will spark an exodus of advertising. Yet analysts are sanguine about the impact on Foxs bottom line. Loading The network has weathered scandals before. Prime-time host Bill OReilly, who was Foxs most popular star, was ousted amid sexual misconduct allegations in 2017. The Fox juggernaut ploughed on regardless. More fundamentally, there are limited options for viewers or advertisers looking for a new home on right-wing television. Newsmax and OAN, its two main rivals, operate on a far smaller scale. Moreover, they are still being pursued by Dominion for $US1.6 billion in damages a sum that could bankrupt both operations if they were forced to pay up. Fox is number one, there isnt an alternative, and political advertising has never been bigger and gets bigger in every single election, says Enders. Loading With another presidential election looming, 2024 could offer Fox a much-needed opportunity to claw back some of its losses from the Dominion case and solidify its position in the market. Carlsons exit consolidates editorial power firmly with Murdoch and his lieutenants. While he may try to steer Fox away from the extremities of the Trump era and back towards safer ground, the media mogul will be reluctant to tinker too much with the crown jewels. Hes seen plenty of times that trying to carve out a new line probably wont work, says Whittaker. Murdoch is going to be interested in his legacy and making sure that Fox continues. The federal government has extended its temporary cap on gas prices until at least 2025 but backed away from imposing harsher curbs on gas companies, ditching a plan to force supply deals to reflect costs plus a reasonable rate of return. After a surge in global energy prices due to Russias invasion of Ukraine last year, the Albanese government introduced emergency laws in December to cap the domestic gas price at $12 a gigajoule for 12 months to shield homes and businesses from the biggest possible future bill hikes. Gas producers face the extension of a $12-a-gigajoule price cap for at least another two years, but some companies will be exempt. Credit: Bloomberg The government on Wednesday released the details of a new plan for consultation that would keep the $12 price limit in place for longer to act as a price anchor before being reviewed in July 2025. Under the proposal, smaller gas producers that supply the domestic market only and do not ship the fuel overseas as liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be exempt from the price cap. A Brunswick woman has successfully argued in court to have a fine of nearly $400 for late pet registration dropped, and has encouraged others to fight after a wave of fines dubbed robo-debt for pets hit residents in Melbournes inner-north last year. Last month, this masthead revealed Merri-bek City Council, formerly Moreland City Council, made $600,000 in unanticipated revenue by fining residents for overdue animal registrations in the six months to December. But there were widespread claims from pet owners that they were unfairly fined without notice. Cat owner Negar Riazati avoided having to pay registration fines she received for her two cats, Samur and Pashmak. Credit: Chris Hopkins The claims led to the establishment of the Merri-bek Pet Registration Justice Committee. Some residents claim their renewal notice went straight to their spam inbox, so they did not see the notice sent by third-party bill provider EzyBill. Others claim to have received no renewal notice at all, via post or email, but failed to convince the council to overturn the fines. Moving the new $1.8 billion womens and babies hospital to Murdoch will increase the risk of death and disability for the states most at-risk newborns, the former WA neonatal intensive care boss has warned. After running WAs major neonatal ICUs and emergency baby transfers for nearly two decades UWA Professor Karen Simmer knows the level of care some babies require. She said the governments decision to take the hospital from the QEII medical precinct where the Perth Childrens Hospital is located, 20 kilometres south to Fiona Stanley Hospital was dangerous and urged the government to reverse the decision. King Edward Memorial Hospital. Twenty kilometres for the mothers, for the greatly sick babies, is a long way on the freeway, especially in peak hour traffic, the former neonatal ICU and newborn emergency transport services director at King Edward and Perth Childrens Hospital said. The point of the uproar from me and senior clinicians is if King Edward were to be moved to Fiona Stanley Hospital, the risk of death and disability for the very small children that we care for will be increased, and their families need to be aware of this. West Australian public servants have been told to delete TikTok from government-owned devices but Premier Mark McGowan and agencies with the largest presence on the social media app will not say whether they will delete their accounts altogether. On April 4, the federal government announced it would ban the Chinese-owned app from politicians and public servants devices following concerns from intelligence and security agencies. The Commonwealth shared its advice with states and the same position was adopted by the McGowan government. The WA Office of Digital Government, which is embedded in the Department of Premier and Cabinet, sent a directive to the whole public sector via chief executives and department heads to prevent the use of the app on government devices. Proof of reserves plays a critical role in the cryptocurrency industry by providing a vital security mechanism for investors. Given the industrys lack of regulation and transparency, investors may have reservations about putting their money into the market. In response, many leaders in the industry are stepping up to assure users of their reserves. The #Binance Proof of Reserve system has now integrated with zk-SNARK, a zero-knowledge verification method. It will also be made open source. We hope this would help the entire industry benefit, Changpeng CZ Zhao, the CEO of Binance, recently tweeted. Ben Zhou, CEO of Bybit, has also reassured clients that Bybit has always [been] committed to client fund safety and guarantees 1 to 1 reserves. OKX, led by founder, Mingxing Star Xu, recently announced their fifth proof-of-reserves report showing over US$8.9 billion in clean assets held in the exchange reserves, including over 100% reserves for BTC, ETH and USDT. This past week, Texas also jumped on the proof of reserves bandwagon as its House of Representatives passed a bill that would require it for crypto companies operating in the U.S. state. By requiring adequate reserves, the proposed legislation seeks to prevent situations where a company is unable to meet its obligations to customers due to insufficient funds. These words and measures may help alleviate some investor concerns that their digital assets held by a crypto exchange are safe and not being used by the exchange for other purposes, such as trading or investment. However, many crypto users still do not understand the concept of proof of reserves and how it works. Here is an overview of what proof of reserves is all about, the potential gaps in how its being carried out, and how investors can demand more accurate and timely data for protecting their crypto holdings. What proof of reserve does Proof-of-reserve audits are crucial in verifying that exchanges hold the total amount of crypto assets they claim to have on behalf of their customers. This gives investors the confidence to know that their assets are securely stored and not at risk of being lost or stolen. It is especially important given the recent high-profile hacks and security breaches in the industry, which have resulted in the loss of millions of dollars worth of digital assets. Story continues Proof of reserves provides a level of accountability for crypto exchanges. By ensuring that they are holding customers assets safely and securely, exchanges are incentivized to maintain high levels of transparency and openness. This can help to prevent suspicious or illegal financial activities from occurring on the exchange, which is vital for the overall credibility and legitimacy of the industry. Thus, it plays a crucial role in maintaining investor confidence and promoting the growth and success of the cryptocurrency industry. But many people have a mixed understanding of what proof of reserve means and what it entails. There are three methods for proof-of-reserve verification, including public wallet address, third-party audit, and the most widely used Merkle tree proof. Proving reserves through public wallets A public wallet is one method for proving reserves, which entails an exchange publicly sharing the addresses of its crypto wallets that contain customer funds. This approach offers a transparent and verifiable mechanism for both customers and regulators to confirm that the exchange is indeed holding the funds it claims to possess. Through public wallets, customers of a crypto exchange can monitor the wallet addresses and ascertain that the funds contained in those wallets match the amounts they have deposited with the exchange. Such a high level of transparency can bolster trust between customers and the exchange and reassure customers that their funds are safe. Apart from total transparency and enhancing accountability, a public wallet can also serve as an early warning mechanism for investors to detect any irregularities in a crypto exchanges financial situation. For instance, if the balance of a wallet suddenly decreases without any explanation, it could signal potential fraudulent activity. Just a word of caution: A public wallet may not be sufficient in revealing how the reserves are being managed or invested. Hence, it is critical to view a public wallet as just one part of a more extensive transparency and oversight framework, which includes other techniques such as live audits and continuous proof of solvency. Third-party audits Third-party audits of proof of reserve are a method of validating an exchanges reserves through an independent auditor. This approach aims to provide an unbiased evaluation of an exchanges financial status and can enhance trust between customers, regulators and the exchange. During a third-party audit, the auditor investigates the exchanges records and verifies that the funds the exchange holds correspond to the amount owed to its customers. The auditor also confirms that the funds are held in secure and auditable accounts while scrutinizing any potential irregularities or discrepancies that may indicate fraudulent activities. Using third-party auditors can yield several benefits, including preventing crypto exchanges from exaggerating their reserves or engaging in fraudulent activities, fostering confidence among customers and regulators, and promoting transparency and accountability within the largely unregulated cryptocurrency industry. There are some drawbacks to relying on third-party audits for proof of reserves. Finding an impartial auditor with the required expertise and experience to carry out the audit may not always be feasible. In addition, the audit may only reflect a specific snapshot of the exchanges financial status at a particular moment in time, potentially overlooking other fraudulent activities or ongoing mismanagement. Merkle tree A Merkle tree is a cryptographic technique that plays a significant role in securing the blockchain. It employs a complex process that creates a series of hash values representing a block of transactions stored on the exchange. This process is done by combining the hash values of each transaction within the block, thus producing a unique hash value for the entire block. The creation of this unique hash value is crucial as it provides an extra layer of security for the digital assets held by the exchange. Any attempt to tamper with a single transaction within the block would result in a change to the hash value of the entire block, which the system would detect. As a result, any unauthorized modification of the block can be quickly detected and prevented. For crypto investors, verifying the hash value of their digital assets is an essential process that enables them to confirm the security of their assets. By doing so, they can be confident that their crypto assets are stored securely on the exchange and not stolen or compromised. Moreover, verifying the hash value of their assets is crucial because it helps to maintain their personal privacy regarding the total amount of assets held on the exchange. Merkle tree provides this added privacy by only revealing the specific block of transactions that the hash value represents while not revealing any information about the total amount of assets held by the holder. This privacy protection is crucial for holders who want to verify the security of their assets while keeping the total amount of their assets private. Importance of proving reserves Proof of reserve plays a vital role in the cryptocurrency industry for three key reasons. Firstly, it allows customers to ensure the accuracy of their holding balances and verify that their assets are safe and secure. As the cryptocurrency market lacks regulation and transparency, It is an essential tool that empowers customers to confirm that their assets are not being used for unauthorized investment purposes, such as trading or lending. Secondly, it incentivizes exchanges to operate in a more transparent and accountable manner. By verifying the accuracy of their reserve holdings, exchanges are held responsible for their actions, which promotes greater transparency and responsibility in the industry. This creates an environment that discourages suspicious or illegal financial activities, which is crucial for the growth and legitimacy of the market. Thirdly, it prevents exchanges from acting like traditional banks by lending customer deposits to third parties. In the past, traditional banks have used customer deposits to make loans, putting depositors funds at risk. With proof of reserves, customers can verify that their assets are not being lent out, which provides peace of mind and ensures the safety and security of their assets. This important feature sets cryptocurrency exchanges apart from traditional banks and promotes trust and credibility in the industry. Can public statements be trusted? Publicly disclosing proof of reserves can have several benefits for cryptocurrency exchanges and crypto holders alike. By verifying the accuracy of reserve holdings, holders can feel confident that their assets are being securely stored and not being utilized for other purposes. This increased trust can attract more users to trade on the exchange, boosting its reputation and market share. Public proof of reserves can also help enhance the stability of an exchanges operations by preventing the use of customers deposits for investment or other business activities. Many mainstream exchanges, including Binance, OKX, Bitget, KuCoin and Bybit, have publicly disclosed their reserves to showcase their commitment to transparency and security. By doing so, these exchanges create a more stable and sustainable operating environment. While this is a step in the right direction toward greater transparency and accountability, such disclosures are not foolproof and may have some flaws and loopholes. For instance, exchanges can manipulate their reserves data by temporarily moving funds into a hot wallet just for the purpose of verification. Additionally, it only proves that an exchange has enough reserves at a specific point in time, and it does not guarantee that the reserves will remain the same in the future. One potential solution to the flaws is combining proof of reserve with other transparency methods. Through the use of multiple methods, it is possible to instill greater confidence in both customers and regulators regarding an exchanges adherence to its claims of reserve holdings. This is particularly critical as an exchanges failure to maintain adequate reserves can have far-reaching consequences, including reputational damage and financial losses. By leveraging additional methods, such as live audits and continuous proof of solvency, it is possible to detect fraudulent activities in real time, thereby providing a more detailed and current view of the exchanges financial position. This proactive approach to monitoring can enable irregularities to be immediately identified and addressed, in contrast to relying on infrequent or less comprehensive audit approaches. Necessary but not sufficient The dynamic nature of the crypto industry suggests that proof of reserve may not be the ultimate solution but rather a building block to the development of more advanced and robust methods of verifying reserves. Despite its limitations, it is a formidable tool in the crypto industrys quest for greater transparency and accountability. While it is true that disclosing proof of reserve is not infallible, it represents a significant stride in the right direction, as it bolsters confidence in the sector and cultivates a more mature market. The widespread adoption of proof of reserve could significantly enhance the credibility and legitimacy of the crypto industry. This would benefit investors and open doors to innovative financial tools and services that could revolutionize the broader economy. Ultimately, as the crypto industry evolves and adapts, its limitations could be addressed and overcome, leading to greater trust and confidence in the sector. To me, trust can be a really cheap word. If you are truly worried, withdraw your crypto and keep it all to yourself and only yourself. The best way to test proof of reserve is to put on a stress test. If the exchange can withstand withdrawals of any sort in a timely manner, this is the best proof. The World Customs Organization (WCO), in partnership with the WCO Asia Pacific ROCB and the Japan Regional Customs Laboratory, organized a study visit for Heads of African Customs laboratories from 18 to 20 April 2023, in Kashiwa, Japan. The Study visit was conducted under the EU-WCO HS Africa Programme, funded by the European Union, at the margins of the second regional meeting of the Heads of the WCO Regional Customs Laboratories of the Asia Pacific Region. Delegates from Ghana, Kenya and Uganda, as well as Sudan with virtual presence, had the opportunity to attend the proceedings of the meeting and engage in rich exchanges with representatives of Regional Customs Laboratories from India, Japan and South Korea in person, and with China and Indonesia virtually. The Asia Pacific region counts a high number of Regional Customs Laboratories (RCLs), and a great level of coordination, cooperation and capacity building activities. In line with the HS Africa support to provide guidance and best practice examples for setting up relevant regional and national Customs laboratory policies and facilities, it was of great relevance that Heads of Customs laboratories from Africa attend this meeting to exchange with peers and learn from best practices. The study visit was a huge opportunity for African partners to learn more about the functioning of RCLs, their work organization methods, infrastructure and technology. The presentations of the Five Regional Customs Laboratories, RILO, WCO Regional Development Manager, ROCB and the Vice-Chair from the Asia Pacific region, gave a comprehensive picture on the ongoing work, the latest developments, the challenges, the capacity building actions and cooperation opportunities in the work and management of regional customs laboratories. As part of the programme, Japan Customs organized study tours to the RCL in Kashiwa and to the Tokyo Customs laboratory. Experts explored the premises of the laboratories and were introduced to the methods and equipment used to analyse various categories of merchandise, along with the sampling techniques, safety requirements, analysis purposes, laboratory standards, and procedural aspects of laboratory work. This study visit also intervened in complementarity with the WCO Regional Customs Professional Programme funded by Japan and Korea Customs which is benefiting African administrations as well. Two countries benefiting from the last edition of the programme (Sudan and Uganda) had the chance to further build up on the acquired knowledge and expertise. The study visit was highly appreciated by the African experts, who reiterated their administrations sustained commitment to further enhance Customs laboratory work in their countries based on the information received during the visit, and engage together to move towards setting up RCLs in Africa. The experts stressed that the visit had been highly useful in gaining a better understanding the complexity, challenges and benefits inherent in the implementation of a RCL, and in inspiring their administration to follow all of the modern standards in Customs laboratory work. They look forward to further engagement at national level with dedicated capacity building, and for more exchange opportunities with other countries and regions. For more information, please contact hs@wcoomd.org. On 17 April 2023, the role of the WCO Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) Programme in promoting Customs cooperation with the private sector was highlighted during participation of the A-CIP Programme Manager in a panel discussion at the Trade Facilitation and Cargo Security Summit, hosted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Over 4,000 participants heard how the WCO was taking concrete steps and the lessons learned for Customs engaging the private sector on matters of integrity during the Session Fostering Integrity Through Partnerships Around the Globe. The Customs administrations of Guatemala and Australia also made important contributions on the panel, as did a representative of the private sector. Later in the same week, from 19-20 April, the WCO A-CIP Programme continued its contributions to reinforce Customs relationship with the private sector by facilitating a hybrid workshop, held jointly with the WCO Vice-Chair for the Americas and Caribbean (AMS) Region, hosted at the premises of the National Customs Service of Ecuador (SENAE), in Guyaquil and online. More than 100 representatives from Customs administrations of the WCO-AMS region participated. The workshop Strengthening Joint Action for Ethics and Integrity in the Customs and Private Sector of the Americas and the Caribbean aimed to forward action related to the Letter of Intent on integrity that was signed last year by representatives of the 24th Regional Conference of Customs Directors General of the WCO-AMS region and the WCO regional Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG). In her opening words, Ms. Martha Elba Garamendi Espinoza, Deputy National Superintendent of Customs of SUNAT, Peru, and WCO Vice-Chair for the Americas and Caribbean Region, emphasized that corruption can undermine confidence in the functioning of public institutions and distort competition in the market, increasing not only public spending and decreasing the income of nations; but also undermining the image of Customs. Hence, the importance of fighting corruption and strengthening public confidence. The WCO A-CIP Programme will continue to support Customs initiatives in line with the Relationship with the Private Sector key factor of the WCO Revised Arusha Declaration Concerning Good Governance and Integrity in Customs. For more information, please, contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org. Disney says in a new lawsuit that Gov. Ron DeSantis led a "targeted campaign of government retaliation" against the company, the latest chapter in a remarkable clash between the governor and the state's most iconic company. "Disney regrets that it has come to this," the lawsuit reads. "But having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution, the Company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit." Disney's lawsuit filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for north Florida accuses DeSantis of threatening the company's business and violating its constitutional rights, calling the government's actions "patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional." "But the Governor and his allies have made clear they do not care and will not stop." the lawsuit reads, adding that legal action is necessary to protect against a "relentless effort to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials." The lawsuit alleges five different violations of Disneys constitutional rights by DeSantis, including two free speech violations, a property rights violation, a due process violation and a violation of the contracts clause. Disney battle: DeSantis suggests building prison near Disney World, touts bill to assert Disney control 'I let you down': Disney CEO apologizes for 'Don't Say Gay' bill response DeSantis v. Disney: New round, few words with Florida governor's latest salvo DeSantis has been feuding with Disney since the company opposed his Parental Rights in Education law, which was derided by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill. He called the Legislature into special session to end Disney's self-governing status and take control of the special district that governs Disney's properties in Central Florida. Shortly before that law was approved, though, Disney pushed through a series of contractual agreements that allow the company to sidestep the state's oversight, prompting DeSantis to push for more legislation to nullify those agreements. A DeSantis-appointed oversight board also moved to nullify Disney's actions Wednesday. Story continues Now Disney is fighting back with the lawsuit, which came shortly after the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District which has five members appointed by DeSantis voted to invalidate the agreements Disney made with the district before DeSantis took control of it. "Today's action is the latest strike: At the Governor's bidding, the State's oversight board has purported to 'void' publicly noticed and duly agreed development contracts, which had laid the foundation for billions of Disney's investment dollars and thousands of jobs," the lawsuit reads. Highlighting the key role Disney plays in Florida's economy, the lawsuit notes that the company is one of the largest in Florida with 75,000 employees. It contributed $1.1 billion in state and local taxes in 2022 and plans to invest $17 billion in Florida over the next 10 years, which would create 13,000 jobs. GOP vs. ESG: Why Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Republicans are fighting 'woke' ESG investing "Disney today is an unparalleled engine for economic growth in the State," the lawsuit reads. Disney says it tried for nearly a year to "de-escalate" the situation with DeSantis to "no avail." "Disney wishes that things could have been resolved in a different way," the lawsuit reads. "But Disney also knows that it is fortunate to have the resources to take a stand against the States retaliation a stand smaller businesses and individuals might not be able to take when the State comes after them for expressing their own views. In America, the government cannot punish you for speaking your mind." This is a developing story check back for more information. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Disney sues Ron DeSantis claiming targeted campaign of 'retaliation' The federal government unveiled changes on Wednesday purporting to make it easier for sexual assault survivors to lift publication bans and speak out about their experiences changes that one leading expert warns will have the opposite effect. Publication bans are typically imposed on the names of complainants in criminal sexual assault cases as a matter of routine. But a growing number of survivors have pushed to have the bans removed so that they can speak publicly without the risk of being prosecuted for revealing their own identity. The bill tabled Wednesday in the Senate would amend the Criminal Code and require judges to ask prosecutors if complainants have been consulted before a ban is ordered. And if a victim wants a ban modified or removed, the bill says judges must order a hearing to deal with the application. That latter step is counterproductive, said Robin Parker, a Toronto lawyer who has represented complainants in publication ban cases including one woman who was convicted and fined $2,000 for violating a ban on her own name before the decision was overturned on appeal. What this bill does, unfortunately, is not only make it easier to prosecute survivors for violating a publication ban, (but) it makes it harder to get it lifted, she said. In deciding whether to remove the ban, judges must take into account any material change of circumstance, including the victims wishes, and whether the variation or revocation is in the interests of justice, the bill says. But holding a hearing would also mean giving notice to the accused and their lawyer, allowing them to make submissions on whether or not the ban on the complainants name should be lifted, Justice Department officials confirmed at a technical briefing Wednesday. A hearing with notice to the accused is already what happens in some courthouses when a complainant wants a publication ban lifted and its something that survivors have said should absolutely not be happening. In the case of survivor Maarika Freund, notice to the accused added months of delay to her request before the ban on her name was finally lifted in 2021. The man was given an extension of 60 days to decide if he wanted to respond to her application, and he never did. Its so isolating, Freund told the Star. Everybodys talking on social media about how you need to be brave and speak up, and its like, no, I literally could not. Something similar happened earlier this year to Nathalia Comrie in a Brampton case. The 21-year-old woman had wanted to share her story publicly with the Star about the Crowns opposition to her pleas to move the sexual assault case against her ex-partner out of the criminal system and into a restorative justice process. The criminal case was over the charges were stayed after Comrie refused to testify but the publication ban remains for life. It took more than a month between when Comrie first asked the Crown to have the ban lifted and when a judge ordered it removed. When the Crown finally submitted the application, the judge ordered an in-person hearing with notice to the lawyer for the accused. Comrie was also asked to send a letter explaining that she understood what lifting the ban would mean. But the defence said they would not attend. The ban was lifted after the brief hearing, and Comrie was able to be identified and photographed in the Stars story. It took way longer than it needed to, Comrie told the Star this week. He shouldnt have a say in that at all. From my understanding, the publication ban is there for the victim, to protect them; its not there to protect the defendant. Justice Minister David Lametti said at a news conference Wednesday that the bill provides clarity on how to get a ban removed. He said he cant think of an example where a judge would deny a complainants request, other than potentially in cases where there are multiple complainants and removing the ban on one could identify others. Thats certainly something we can look at in the legislative process to clarify, but it is clear that we are trying to empower victims here, he said. It is the victims views that ought to be taken into account, but we can certainly make that more clear. Every jurisdiction handles publication ban removal requests differently. In some cases, all thats required is the Crown making an application in writing to the judge, Parker said. The governments move to mandate a hearing every time may make it more difficult to get a ban lifted, she said. And the legislation leaves open the possibility that a judge could continue to enforce a publication ban despite the complainants wish that it be lifted, because the judge and complainant differed in their view of what is in the interest of justice, Parker said. What this legislation fails to do is to take into account that the purpose of the publication ban is to protect the complainant. Parker said she knows Lametti is supportive of survivors, and she intends to work with the government to improve the bill. The issue of publication bans gained attention in 2021 after the Star and other media reported that a Waterloo Region woman was fined $2,000 plus an additional $600 victim surcharge for violating the publication ban on her own name. Her ex-husband had been convicted of sexually assaulting her, and she had shared the transcript from the court proceedings with a small group of supporters. Anyone found to have violated a publication ban under the current regime is guilty of what is known as a summary conviction, which carries a maximum penalty of two years less a day in jail and/or a fine of $5,000. The conviction and fine as well as the Crowns decision to prosecute the woman in the first place sparked widespread outrage and the case was overturned on appeal. Parker, who represented the woman on appeal, pointed out that the governments new bill broadens the scope of what a publication ban covers by stating that information that could identify the victim cannot be published in any document, broadcast or transmitted in any way or otherwise made available. Parker argues the new wording means a survivor could once again be prosecuted for sharing a transcript from a court proceeding. Theyve cast the net so wide by including otherwise made available, she said, noting that this could apply to survivors, for example, sharing information with a support network. Asked about the section on Wednesday, Lametti said he wont, at this point, jump into the technical extent of the change. The minister was joined by survivor Morrell Andrews, who is part of My Voice, My Choice, a group of sexual assault survivors and advocates pushing for reform on publication bans. Andrews was sexually assaulted by her driving instructor, who pleaded guilty to assault in Milton, admitting to groping Andrews when she was 18. A publication ban was imposed without Andrewss knowledge. Wanting to speak publicly, she was initially left on her own to figure out how to get the ban lifted and, given the Waterloo case, worried about repercussions if she somehow breached it. The Crown ultimately reached out to Andrews in the wake of the Stars story on the Waterloo case and made the removal application on her behalf. But first, there was a two-week delay after the assailants lawyer said he wanted to make submissions opposing the request. He never did, and the ban was finally removed. Im elated to see this federal legislation that addresses the gaps in how publication bans are actually being implemented in this country, Andrews said in Ottawa on Wednesday. Speaking directly to parliamentarians, she said: Please be decisive as you move forward with this legislation. It is marginal, but it is a huge improvement to a system and will have a meaningful impact on people who are just trying to make it through and find some sort of resolution to harms that have been caused. Jacques Gallant is a Toronto-based reporter covering courts, justice and legal affairs for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @JacquesGallant SHARE: THUNDER BAY, Ont. - A police officer with the Thunder Bay Police Service is facing a criminal charge after the alleged assault of a 61-year-old man. Ontarios police watchdog says the officer is facing one count of assault causing bodily harm. The Special Investigations Unit says in the early hours of Nov. 8, there was what it called an interaction between an officer and a 61-year-old near the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. The SIU says the man later went to hospital, where he was diagnosed with serious injuries. The watchdog is called in to investigate when police conduct may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault, or when an officer fires a gun. The SIU says it will not provide further comment on the investigation as the case is before the courts. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2023. SHARE: Forde, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Australian open innovation ecosystem EarlyBirds is helping decision-makers in the public and private energy sectors understand the critical elements of the transition to green energy green electrons, green molecules, and green bits. Readers can find out more about EarlyBirds by heading over to earlybirds.io. While governments all over the world have time and time again expressed their desire to move away from traditional non-renewable energy sources, the challenges that prevent such a transition have been hard to overcome. Competing in the global economy is of prime importance and any policy changes that threaten a nation's ability to create and support industrial activity are met with fierce resistance. The transition to green energy is, essentially, a balancing act that requires switching over without sacrificing the progress that has already been made. These obstacles have also magnified the disparity between developing and advanced nations. Since the developed world mostly relies on service-based economies while developing countries have strong manufacturing sectors, many nations will not be inclined to meet green energy goals while disrupting their primary drivers of growth. Finally, precarious geopolitical situations, especially in regions where rare earth minerals are found, impede the ability to mine resources and establish the supply chains needed to fuel the green energy transition. EarlyBirds cofounder Kris Poria talks about how solutions can be found for these problems by saying, "We have several tools at our disposal, each at different levels of maturity and readiness for mass production. While the technologies are diverse, the elements at their core remain the same. Bolstering the technological understanding and the capability to scale up production for each of these core elements can help nations and private energy producers make the switch to green energy much more economical and seamless." Story continues The core elements that Kris is referring to include green electrons, green molecules, and green bits. Green electrons are the energy carriers that traverse the grid and can be stored for future use. Green molecules encompass the materials that act as fuel or are used to create batteries to accumulate energy from green electrons. Finally, green bits include the array of digital services that control and ensure the smooth operation of green energy infrastructure. EarlyBirds cofounder Jeff Penrose explains the impact that technological development on each of these elements can have on facilitating the green energy transition. Jeff says, "Moving to renewable sources for the production of green electrons can significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the global economy's reliance on crude oil. By investing in higher-density batteries using novel green molecules and creating a more robust grid that allows individuals to contribute energy, countries can involve their most passionate residents and hasten the transition. Finally, creating and tweaking digital technologies to support the advancements in green electrons and green molecules will help reduce costs, improve efficiency, and add resilience to these systems. If you believe you have an innovation that can help facilitate the green energy transition, you are welcome to sign up for the EarlyBirds platform as an Innovator at https://earlybirds.io/en/innovator." Open innovation ecosystem EarlyBirds is the ideal partner to assist both early adopters and innovators to understand and address the challenges associated with green electrons, molecules, and bits needed for a seamless green energy transition. EarlyBirds can help early adopters by breaking down the energy transition market into core themes across the topics of electricity, fuel, and the needed digitization. The unique and practical EarlyBirds innovation maps are created based on any one of these topics and then dynamically populated with data from its award-winning platform. EarlyBirds Explorer Program is designed for businesses that need innovation as a service to supplement existing innovation programs or to conduct innovation projects as required. The Challenger Program is designed to solve one business or technical challenge at a time and search for relevant innovators that meet the business, technical, commercial, and business risk requirements. The team at EarlyBirds is eager to talk to energy industry leaders and policymakers about their energy transition plans across any of the relevant areas. The open innovation ecosystem also invites those with the power and willingness to make a change to sign up for its platform as Early Adopters by visiting https://earlybirds.io/en/early_adopter. ### For more information about EarlyBirds, contact the company here: EarlyBirds Mr Kris Poria and Mr Jeff Penrose +61 401 287 060 support@earlybirds.io FORDE SUITE 10, LEVEL 1, 26 FRANCIS FORDE BOULEVARD, FORDE, ACT 2914 CONTACT: Mr Kris Poria and Mr Jeff Penrose If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here. PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS - Air Products & Chemicals Inc. plans to invest a half-billion dollars to produce environmentally friendly hydrogen in New York state. - The Trexlertown Chick-Fil-A plans to add a second drive-thru lane as part of a plan to reduce traffic congestion. - The Harrisburg-based Mid Penn bank has opened its first full-service branch in the Lehigh Valley in South Whitehall. - The Allentown Planning Commission put off a decision on a new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at the site of the former Nostos Greek restaurant. - The former Star Crete concrete plant at the intersection of Farmersville Road and Easton Avenue has been sold for $1.58 million, and that may clear the way for a medical office building. - The local business SuperSets Gym will open its third location in Allentown's South Mall, with no opening date set yet. - The jewelry boutique Versant will close later this year, but the business will be consolidated at Gary Werkheiser's other location in Saucon Valley Square. - The DSW Woodmill Commons has moved to Berkshire West, 1101 Woodland Road in Wyomissing. - Trainer Michael Melendez has opened his new Reading Extreme Boxing Club where PacSun used to operate in the Berkshire Mall. - Frackville NAPA Auto Parts held a grand opening with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Frackville Business & Professional Association. - Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers in North Manheim Township held a grand opening, in conjunction with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Pottsville Business Association. - PDC Machines, a maker of hydrogen compressors, showed off a new plant in Lower Salford. - Maya Capital Partners has acquired Amwell Valley Self Storage, a 265-unit storage business on Route 31 in Ringoes, New Jersey. - Norwescap is buying the former Sullivan's on the Main restaurant in Phillipsburg to renovate the building and then use it for programs to help educate and feed people. Today Mostly cloudy, brisk, and unseasonably cool with a few scattered showers. More dry than wet overall, but still cool and unsettled. Tonight A shower or two. Low: 42F. Tomorrow Lots of clouds, a few breaks of sun, and continued brisk and cool with a few spotty showers. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A trial connected to a $1.6 billion class action lawsuit against utility PacifiCorp over the catastrophic Labor Day 2020 wildfires in Oregon started Tuesday in Portland. The fires in 2020 killed nine people, burned more than 1,875 square miles (4,856 square kilometers) in Oregon and destroyed upward of 5,000 homes and structures. PacifiCorp is the primary defendant in litigation stemming from the fires, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The Portland-based utility, Oregons second largest, didnt shut off power to its 600,000 customers during the windstorm. Its lines have been implicated in multiple blazes, one of which started in its California service territory and burned into Oregon. Jurors in the Multnomah County trial will determine PacifiCorps responsibility, if any, in four of those blazes: the Santiam Canyon fires east of Salem; the Echo Mountain Complex near Lincoln City; the South Obenchain fire near Eagle Point; and the Two Four Two fire near the southwest Oregon town of Chiloquin. The lawsuit no matter the outcome is likely to reshape the way Oregons electric utilities respond to increasing wildfire risks amid climate change, consistent drought conditions and a spike in the average number of acres burned annually. Nicholas Rosinia, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, asked jurors to hold PacifiCorp accountable for its failure to shut off power on Labor Day 2020. These fires were predictable and preventable and devastated the lives of thousands of Oregonians, Rosinia told jurors. They had the knowledge, they understood, and they chose to do nothing. Doug Dixon, an attorney representing PacifiCorp, disputed that the utilitys lines caused three of the four fires and most of the resulting damage. He told jurors that PacifiCorp had been on high alert and acted similarly to most other utilities that did not proactively cut power. This case is about reasonable precautions that PacifiCorp takes to provide safe, reasonably priced power, he said. PacifiCorp has and will continue to take its role very seriously. Rosinia on Tuesday told jurors that before that Labor Day, PacifiCorp had been repeatedly warned by state regulators for deficient tree-trimming and vegetation management around its power lines, The utility's employees were also told that increasingly alarming forecasts about the coming Labor Day windstorm and extreme fire danger had come from the National Weather Service days before the fires as well as a dire warning from the utilitys own contract meteorologist, he said. Fires ignited in PacifiCorps Washington state service territory hours before the windstorm pushed south into Oregon, also providing ample warning of what was to come, Rosinia said. At some point, Rosinia told jurors, a power shutoff was the only option left to the utility to prevent ignitions. But he said PacifiCorp never seriously considered it, even as employees in its Portland headquarters were receiving reports of fires burning under its power lines around the state. Dixon, in his opening statements, said the plaintiffs were trying to blame PacifiCorp with an overly simplified, hindsight version of what happened without context about the realities of climate change and the role that forest management has in causing and preventing wildfires. Far from being unprepared, PacifiCorp was the first in the Pacific Northwest to develop a wildfire preparedness plan, he told jurors. PacifiCorp was the first utility to identify areas in its service territory at high risk of wildfires and roll out a plan for public safety-related power shutoffs in those areas. It also boosted spending on tree-pruning in the two years before the fire, he said. No utility (in Oregon) had ever initiated a public-safety power shutoff before September 2020. It is truly a measure of last resort that comes with its own risks to public safety, he told jurors. A public safety power shutoff is like a sledgehammer when what utilities really need is a scalpel, he said. Dixon said PacifiCorp employees were on high alert, but that its own forecasts showed relatively benign winds in its service territory. He said only two utilities either proactively shut off the power or left it off after the windstorm triggered a blackout in the Santiam Canyon. PacifiCorp intends to challenge whether its power lines and the fires they ignited in the Santiam Canyon caused property damage to most of the plaintiffs in the class action suit. It blamed those damages on a lightning-caused blaze miles away that was whipped into a major conflagration amid the Labor Day winds. Dixon acknowledged that power lines did cause a one fire. But he said the company will show there is no way it could have spread beyond a very contained area. The trial will determine PacifiCorps liability and any actual property damages for 17 named plaintiffs, each of whom is also seeking $3 million in non-economic damages for emotional distress and suffering. The liability finding, if any, would then apply to a larger class of about 2,400 people who had property damaged in the fires. The trial is expected to last at least six weeks. READING, Pa. The Reading Planning Commission on Tuesday night reviewed a preliminary/final development plan for the redevelopment of a property located at 22 Kenhorst Blvd. Lichty's Mennonite Church, currently in East Earl, Lancaster Township, has plans to convert the buildings which previously housed the VCA Detwiler Veterinary Hospital into a second location for the church. The existing buildings on the 2.49-acre lot would be renovated to create a sanctuary, a nursery and meeting rooms. The project has already received a special exception to allow the use from the zoning hearing board. The project still needs review from the Berks County Conservation District. It will also require a municipal improvements agreement and a stormwater management maintenance agreement because of an expansion of the existing parking lot. No action was taken on the application on Tuesday night. Property conversion In other business, the planning commission voted 4-1 to recommend to City Council a conditional-use application to allow the owner of a property at 138 S. Eighth St. to convert a three-unit property into six units. City Council must ultimately make the decision on a conditional-use application. The project would also require a zoning variance, but the solicitor for the commission recommended the city first approve or deny the conditional use before going before the zoning hearing board. Planner William Cinfici cast a dissenting vote, saying he did not understand why the city would consider such a request. "In our draft comprehensive plan, there is a concern that density is one of our areas that we're supposed to be mindful of," Cinfici said. "I don't understand the argument for conversion and going against the prohibition (for increasing density). "I don't see why there should be a departure from the city ordinance," he added. "It's the responsibility of somebody purchasing a property to do the due diligence to find out what the zoning is, what permits there are and what the ordinances are of the city." Housing for homeless veterans Housing for homeless veterans gets OK from Reading planners The Berks County Redevelopment Authority plans to renovate existing buildings on the three lots to create single-bedroom and studio apartments for homeless veterans. Also Tuesday, the planners reaffirmed a previously approved land development plan project at 615-619 Walnut St. The project involves the plans of the Berks County Redevelopment Authority to renovate existing buildings on the three lots to create single-bedroom and studio apartments for homeless veterans. East Jordan Middle and High School is shown. EAST JORDAN A students home was searched after classmates at East Jordan Middle/High School reported hearing them make threats of using a firearm against other students. According to a press release from East Jordan Chief of Police George Lasater, the police department responded to East Jordan Middle/High School at the end of the school day on Friday, April 21 after multiple students reported the threats to school administration. School officials then contacted the departments school resource officer James Schlappi. Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage More: East Jordan fills new school resource officer position The threats were investigated, and the student was located at the school. They were not in possession of any firearms. A search warrant was executed at the students residence and evidence was seized. According to the release, the police department and school are continuing the investigation. The name of the student is being withheld at this time. The student will not attend school while the investigation continues. The report will be forwarded to the local prosecuting attorney for review once completed. Lasater praised the students who came forward to report the threat, as well as the officers who quickly investigated the situation. This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: East Jordan police investigate school threat, evidence seized at students home WEST READING, Pa. - West Reading is looking for a new police chief. Wayne Holben stepped down from the position and was reappointed as a sergeant during Tuesday nights borough council meeting. Officials say the decision to vacate the position was a personal matter and made no further comment. Holben, who was sworn in as chief less than a year ago, served as a sergeant in the borough for 21 years prior to taking the top position. He replaced Glenn Granitz Jr., who served less than six months as chief before leaving the job. Members of council said West Reading was fortunate to have him as chief for nearly a year, and that Holben was an excellent sergeant in the past and will be again. Council also voted to enter into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association to begin the search for a new chief. The initial cost to enter into the agreement is $5,500, and the association will gather resumes, conduct phone interviews and provide a ranked list to council. The list will be then narrowed down and used by council, along with its own ranked list, to select the new chief. ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Allentown City Council is set to hold a special meeting Wednesday to continue the conversation about the parking enforcement issues that people say are plaguing the city. Council could take action on the proposed ordinance to make changes to parking regulations. Mayor Matt Tuerk says if they don't, the city is going to step in. The parking authority currently enforces all parking regulations 24 hours a day, but residents have raised issues about what they call overzealous enforcement and excessive ticketing. This is all stemming from months of complaints from people saying they're racking up fines for parking violations that never seemed to be an issue before. And a food bank distribution event at Fuente de Vida church in Allentown last weekend that turned into a parking nightmare. The Allentown Parking Authority says a neighbor near the church called because cars were blocking the street. That call resulted in several tickets for people picking up food. "As soon as we found out that it was at a food bank, we immediately rescinded them and turned them into warnings," Allentown Parking Authority Chairman Ted Zeller said. Zeller says he recognizes the mistakes made that day, but the complaints from people about parking enforcement issues have been rolling in for months and the church's food bank was only one instance. "There's a level of frustration on the part of residents," Tuerk said. "There's a level of frustration on the part of the businesses in downtown Allentown that are just trying to operate." Tuerk spoke to reporters Tuesday on behalf of the people who say they're fed up during a news conference outside La Cocina del Abuelo. Owner Greenberg Lemus says he's one of them. For weeks people have been showing up to city council meetings to say something needs to change. "When I park my car here, they {Allentown Parking Authority} come in to give me a double-parking ticket because I'm loading my products to go here," Lemus said. Tuerk called the parking enforcement's behavior aggressive. "The recent activity of the parking authority seems to have been driven less by service to our residents, and more toward needing to meet its revenue targets," Mayor Tuerk said. Zeller says that's not the case. "This is not revenue driven and we don't have quotas," Zeller said. Zeller says the complaints started coming in after the department's responsibilities were increased a few months ago to help out Allentown Police. Prior to 2019, the Allentown Parking Authority only handled calls until 5 p.m., Zeller said. "We've slowly built up our dispatch to handle 'round-the-clock enforcement," Zeller said. Zeller says that he welcomes enhancements to the organization, such as better training for agents. Tuerk says he's expecting Allentown City Council to make some kind of movement on this issue during their next special meeting. If not, he says he'll use his power to appoint board members to the parking authority and to remove members if he has to. HELLERTOWN, Pa. - The rules for clubs are changing in the Saucon Valley School District. This comes after the district revoked its approval of the After School Satan Club back in February. There were two main changes the board approved Tuesday night. The first says third-party clubs have to have an approved adult present at every meeting who lives in the school district. The second says third-party clubs can't meet on-campus until 6 p.m. We caught up with one parent who has a third-grader in the district. Adrian DeAngelo said it could be for the best. "I understand the thought process behind it. It's not directly after school, so I mean let's face it, a lot of kids would not be around when the meetings are happening, which might be better, I don't know," said DeAngelo. The change comes less than two months after the school district received a shooting threat related to their approval of the After School Satan Club. Pennsylvania State Police later arrested 20-year-old Ceu Uk for calling in that threat from Charlotte, North Carolina. In the federal court case, the school district claims it revoked the club's approval because it did not explicitly say in its brochure and Facebook post that it was not endorsed by the district, but the ACLU argues revoking the approval was a reactionary move following the shooting threat and violated the club's First Amendment rights. In an interview last week, they told us they want the club reinstated immediately. "Having to wait until the next school year would not be fair to the club, and would just give people who oppose the club's viewpoint more ammunition to try to fight the club next year," said Pennsylvania ACLU Deputy Legal Director Sara Rose. The ACLU argues the federal judge should not only force the district to approve the club immediately, but also to allow them to hold meetings in May under the old rules that let them meet after school. No word on when that ruling will be made. We reached out to several members of the school board, but we did not hear back. HARRISBURG, Pa. Senators Lisa M. Boscola (D-Northampton) and Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) introduced a bipartisan proposal Wednesday to allow registered voters who selected "none" or "no affiliation" on their voter registration form to vote during a primary election. More than 1.2 million voters in Pennsylvania identify as "independent" and are not registered to one of the two largest political parties: Democratic and Republican, according to a news release from Boscola's office. According to the Pennsylvania Department of State, that number of unaffiliated voters has risen by 51,816 between 2015 and 2021. Look outside of Pennsylvania and you will see that most states have open primaries, and it hasnt created chaos. In fact, it empowers more voters and will likely increase voter participation," Boscola said. "Thats a good thing." Pennsylvania is 1 of 9 remaining states that bar independent voters from participating in primaries, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. These states include Delaware, New York, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, and New Mexico. Boscola's office says Senate Bill 400 would bring Pennsylvania in line with the majority of states that have modified or open primaries. COVID-19 has diminished but it hasnt gone away. As a result, first quarter sales for GSK declined compared to 2022s first quarter. The company, with facilities in Collegeville and Valley Forge, Pa., reported total sales in the first quarter fell 8% CER (constant exchange rate). However, this was anticipated, and, in fact, GSK beat expectations by 500 million. Excluding COVID-19 solutions, sales grew 10% CER with strong performance across Vaccines, Specialty and General Medicines. The key growth drivers included Shingrix for shingles, meningitis vaccines, oral two-drug regimen and long-acting HIV medicines, Benlysta in immunology, Nucala and Trelegy in respiratory. Collectively, these drugs contributed more than 40% of sales. To help maintain forward momentum, GSK announced the proposed acquisition of Bellus Health, which provides GSK with access to camlipixant, a potential best-in-class and highly selective P2X3 receptor antagonist currently in phase III development for treatment of refractory chronic cough. Also, the company signed an exclusive license agreement with Scynexis for Brexafemme, a US FDA approved, first-in-class antifungal for treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Emma Walmsley, Chief Executive Officer, commented in a statement: We have made a strong start to 2023, with excellent performance across Vaccines, Specialty and General Medicines. We are very focused on our upcoming launches, including our potential RSV older adult vaccine, and on continuing to strengthen our pipeline both organically with several positive late-stage read-outs already this year, and through targeted business development. Operating results GSK said total operating profit and total EPS (earnings per share) performance reflected the comparison to the first quarter of 2022 which included the one-off income benefit of the Gilead settlement and higher Xevudy sales. Adjusted operating profit was stable at CER, the company reported, including a 5% adverse impact following expected lower COVID-19 solutions sales and 4% from legal provisions primarily relating to royalties. Adjusted EPS increased 7% CER due to a lower effective tax rate, and strong sales growth excluding lower COVID-19 solutions (which impacted performance by 7%). Cash generated from operations was 0.3 billion and free cash outflow was 0.7 billion lower than first quarter 2022 primarily due to Gilead settlement income received in that quarter and the timing of profit share payments. Key product results Vaccines grew in all regions, which GSK breaks into US, Europe, and International. Key growth drivers were geographical expansion and market growth for Shingrix, and inclusion in National Immunization Programs for Bexsero. Pandemic vaccines sales reflected GSKs share of 2023 contracted European volumes related to a COVID-19 booster vaccine co-developed with Sanofi. Shingrix, a vaccine against herpes zoster (shingles), grew in the companys International and Europe segments, reflecting new launch uptake, demand and favorable pricing mix. First quarter sales were 833 million, up 11%. US sales were primarily impacted by unfavorable wholesaler and distributor inventory movements. GSK reports Shingrix is now available in 31 countries. Strong growth in Meningitis vaccines was primarily driven by Bexsero, a vaccine against meningitis B, which grew in Europe mainly from inclusion in National Immunization Programs and in International due to an increase in demand ahead of an anticipated price increase. Sales were 280 million, an increase of 25% above quarter one 2022. Menveo, GSKs vaccine against meningitis strains ACWY, grew in the US primarily due to initial public stocking of the new liquid formulation and Center for Disease Control (CDC) purchasing patterns. GSK reported Established Vaccines grew mainly in Hepatitis vaccines resulting from continued travel market recovery in Europe and International, and due to CDC purchasing patterns in the US. Sales were 815 million, an increase of 4%. Rotarix, a vaccine to protect infants against rotavirus, grew in the US primarily driven by initial stocking of the new liquid formulation by the CDC. Synflorix, a 10-valent vaccine for pneumococcal disease, declined in the quarter GSK said, reflecting phasing of public market supply and lower demand related to decreased birth patterns in International. Specialty Medicines growth reflected consistent performance, with HIV, Oncology and Immunology/Respiratory and Other all growing. Total sales, excluding Covid-19 solutions, were 2.205 billion, up 13% from 2022. In the quarter, there were minimal sales of Xevudy contrasting with strong sales in the first quarter of 2022, resulting in a drag of 46% CER. HIV sales were 1.468 billion in the quarter, an increase of 15%. The performance of HIV benefited from strong patient demand for Oral two-drug regimen (Oral 2DR) and long-acting medicines which contributed approximately two-thirds of the growth. US pricing favorability contributed approximately one-third of growth. Growth, driven by both Respiratory and Other General Medicines categories, enabled sales to achieve 2.674 billion in the first quarter, up 9%, driven by ongoing demand for Trelegy in all regions in addition to a strong allergy season in Japan and continued post pandemic recovery of the antibiotic market in Europe and International regions. Sales of 1.767 billion in Respiratory reflect strong growth of Trelegy and the single inhaled triple therapy class across all regions. Growth also includes the benefits of a strong allergy season in Japan and the US launch of Flovent authorized generic in the second quarter of 2022. R&D highlights GSK claims an innovative pipeline of 68 vaccines and specialty medicines based on the science of the immune system with 17 in Phase III/registration. There are four anticipated 2023 approvals: daprodustat for anemia due to chronic kidney disease, RSV older adults vaccine, momelotinib for myelofibrosis, and Jemperli for first-line endometrial cancer. In addition, GSK expects four positive phase III/IV data readouts in quarter one 2023, including a pentavalent Meningitis ABCWY vaccine candidate; gepotidacin for uncomplicated urinary tract infections; Jemperli for first-line endometrial cancer and Cabenuva for HIV treatment. 2023 guidance GSK affirmed its full-year 2023 guidance at constant exchange rates (CER). The company noted all expectations, and full-year growth projections exclude any contributions from COVID-19 solutions. The company said sales are expected to increase between 6% to 8%. Adjusted operating profit is expected to increase between 10% to 12% and adjusted earnings per share is expected to increase between 12% to 15%. Taking first quarter 2023 performance and the latest expectations for second quarter 2023 into account, GSK now expects first half and second half sales growth to be broadly similar and for General Medicines to be broadly flat to slightly down this year. GSK expects adjusted operating profit growth to be lower in the first half of 2023 and higher in the second half. Despite the recovery of healthcare systems, the company claims, uncertain economic conditions prevail across many markets in which GSK operates and it continues to expect to see variability in performance between quarters. GSK plc, formerly GlaxoSmithKline plc, is a British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company with global headquarters in London, England. It was established in 2000 by a merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham. CHELTENHAM TWP., Pa. - Two people have been charged in the deadly shooting of a young mother in a Dunkin' drive-thru line. Zakkee Alhakim, 33, of Philadelphia, and Julie Jean, 34, of Elkins Park, were charged in the death of 35-year-old Rachel King in Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, announced the district attorney on Wednesday. The DA says Jean conspired with Alhakim to kill King, because Jean was bitter over an ended affair she had been in with King's longtime boyfriend. The boyfriend had a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order against Jean, because Jean had continually harassed King and the boyfriend since he ended the affair. Investigators found Jean and Alhakim, who is a family member of Jean's children's father, met up several times in the weeks before the April 11 killing, and Alhakim stalked the victim for days. That morning, Alhakim followed King's SUV from her apartment to the Dunkin' drive-thru lane in the Melrose Shopping Center, the DA says. When King pulled into the line, Alhakim parked nearby, walked up to the SUV and shot King multiple times while her young son was in the backseat. Later that day, Philadelphia police spotted Alhakim's car, which was bought in Jean's name on March 30, and chased it until it crashed. Alhakim was taken into custody and charged in a Philadelphia homicide on April 7. He and Jean are now charged with first- and third-degree murder in the Cheltenham Township killing. Authorities say Alhakim used a ghost gun, or a privately-made, unregulated gun. The two are behind bars and bail was denied. BEIJING (AP) A veteran Chinese journalist who worked at a ruling Communist Party-affiliated newspaper and was a Harvard University fellow faces espionage charges after being detained while meeting with a Japanese diplomat in a restaurant, his family said Monday. Dong Yuyu, deputy head of the editorial department at Guangming Daily, regularly met with foreign journalists and diplomats to help understand global trends. But Chinese authorities regarded his contacts with foreign diplomats as evidence of spying, according to a family statement. Dong is the latest in a series of liberal Chinese voices to be accused by the government of being linked to what it terms foreign interference. As a non-Communist Party member, he was one of the most pro-reform voices at Guangming Daily and wrote articles in favor of an independent legal system, his family said. He was awarded a Nieman fellowship at Harvard University in 2006-07 and became a visiting fellow at Keio University in Japan in 2010. Four years later, he served as a visiting professor at Hokkaido University in Japan. But his writings caused him problems in China. In 2017, an investigation by party authorities found that some of his articles were anti-socialist and Dong was threatened with demotion, his family said. He was detained in February 2022 while eating lunch with a Japanese diplomat at a restaurant in a Beijing hotel where he often met with foreign friends, the statement said. The diplomat was also detained, triggering a strong protest from Japan's Foreign Ministry. The diplomat was released after several hours, but Dong has remained in detention. His family was told in March that Dong will be tried, but the date is still unclear, the statement said. In China, espionage can be penalized with a jail term of more than 10 years. On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said she did not know the specifics of Dong's case when she was asked about it. The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for further comment. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to comment when he was asked about the case, citing the sensitivity of the issue. Dong's case has drawn international attention, with the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., issuing a statement Monday calling for his release. More than 60 people, including prominent foreign journalists and academics, also signed a petition urging the Chinese government to reconsider the charges against Dong, saying meetings with foreign diplomats and journalists should not be regarded as evidence of espionage. Who would want to come to China to meet Chinese journalists, academics or diplomats if these meetings could be used as evidence that the Chinese side is committing espionage? they wrote in the petition. Separately, a group of writers and scholars issued a statement Saturday calling for the release of Taiwan-based publisher Li Yanhe, who was reportedly detained in Shanghai. They said his lawyer and family members have not been allowed to see him. Radio Free Asia reported last week that Li was detained during a trip to visit relatives in China. On Wednesday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said Li is under investigation by national security authorities for being suspected of engaging in activities that endanger national security. She said his legitimate rights will be protected in accordance with the law. In 2022, Australian journalist Cheng Lei was tried in China on national security charges but has not yet learned of the verdict, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in March. Cheng was born in China and was a journalist for CGTN, the English-language channel of China Central Television. She was detained in August 2019 and accused by China of sharing state secrets. Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report. Millions of people visit the Roman Colosseum every year to learn about ancient history. Now, a select few are getting a hands-on look at objects that didn't make the cut in a new museum. The Colosseum Archeological Park is home to so many pieces of the past. The ones not on display at the museum typically sit in warehouses and collect dust. Now, those storage facilities are open to tourists. Former shops and market stalls have been converted into temporary museum space. They contain hundreds of artifacts that didn't fit in the new museum that opened in 2021. So, until the end of July, visitors can reserve a special tour guided by an archeologist. The tours are limited to eight people at a time. They will have a chance to hold the artifacts and examine them up close. Many of the relics have not been on display in 30 years! The popular pieces in the warehouses will eventually get upgraded to the museum. The others will remain in storage at the warehouse, their fate unknown. The director of the archeological park says she hopes the project gives people a better understanding of daily life in ancient Rome. She also hopes other historical sites will open up their warehouses to let people all history has to offer. Family and friends gathered in Rhode Island to honor a couple who has spent three-quarters of a century together. The couple says they're having just as much fun now as they did at the start of their marriage. Robert Gorman, 98, and his bride, 95-year-old Ann Marie, are celebrating their 75th anniversary. For decades, they've been by each other's side. After returning home from the war in the 1940s, Robert met Ann while they were working at a mill in Providence. Robert says he knew right away that Ann was the one, but she needed a little more convincing. They eventually went on a dinner date, and the rest is history. Two years later they were married, then came two biological children and an adoptive son. Robert and Ann say amidst all the celebrations, the sweetest thing of all has been a love like this. "It was a pleasure. Really," Ann said. "I couldn't ask for a better partner. No way in the world would I'd find a better girl than her," Robert said. About two dozen people gathered to celebrate the love these two built. The original Bible and cake topper from their 1940s wedding were on display. The pair say there's really no secret to their success, but sarcasm and laughter helped in more ways than one. They say they never go to bed angry. They could argue every morning but would always make up every night. Their daughter, Cheryl, is 72 and says its amazing to be her age and still have both of her parents. Crave-Worthy Ice Cream Sandwiches Are Available Just in Time for Summer ISLANDIA, N.Y., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ice cream lovers rejoice! For the first time ever, the iconic taste of Entenmann's baked goods can now be enjoyed in its newest form delicious ice cream novelty treats. The crave-worthy lineup of ice cream sandwiches is inspired by all-time favorite Entenmann's products such as Original Recipe Chocolate Chip Cookies and Rich Frosted Donuts. Perfect for summer snacking, these new frozen varieties are available now in the freezer aisle at Walmart stores across the US! Entenmann's Ice Cream Sandwiches "Entenmann's is thrilled to expand its portfolio into the freezer aisle and offer consumers a new lineup of ice cream sandwiches inspired by the iconic flavors our fans know and love," said Alicia Rosas, VP of Innovation at Bimbo Bakeries USA. "We are looking forward to seeing how our fans enjoy these special treats, perfect for any occasion!" Bimbo Bakeries USA tapped Sorrisa Group Inc. to help develop these never-seen-before frozen treats, which feature six ice cream sandwich flavors inspired by fan-favorite Entenmann's baked goods! The assortment includes: Brownie Cookie Salted Caramel Ice Cream Sandwiches Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches Chocolate Chip & Brownie Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches Chocolatey Glazed Cookie Donut Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches Chocolatey Glazed Cookie Donut Salted Caramel Ice Cream Sandwiches Glazed Cookie Donut Ice Cream Sandwiches For more information on Entenmann's brand and its delicious lineup of products, visit www.entenmanns.com. To purchase this product, visit a Walmart store near you. About Bimbo Bakeries USA Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU) is a leader in the baking industry, known for its category leading brands, innovative products, freshness and quality. Our team of 20,000+ U.S. associates operates more than 50 manufacturing locations in the United States. Over 11,000 distribution routes deliver our leading brands such as Arnold, Artesano, Ball Park, Bimbo, Boboli, Brownberry, Entenmann's, Little Bites, Marinela, Mrs Baird's, Oroweat, Sara Lee, Stroehmann and Thomas'. BBU is owned by Mexico's Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B de C.V., the world's largest baking company with operations in 33 countries. Story continues About Sorrisa Group Inc. Sorrisa Group Inc., incorporated in 2017, is a food development and marketing company dedicated to introducing innovative, fun food solutions for retailers across North America. The company focusses on private label innovation and has successfully launched the Heavenful brand of ice cream novelties in Canada and the USA. Visit www.sorrisagroup.com. Entenmanns Logo (PRNewsfoto/Entenmann's) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/entenmanns-introduces-new-line-of-delicious-ice-cream-novelty-treats-301808480.html SOURCE Entenmanns WASHINGTON (AP) A ground assault by the Taliban killed the Islamic State militant who spearheaded the August 2021 suicide bombing at the Kabul airport that left 13 U.S. troops and about 170 Afghans dead during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, U.S. officials said. Initially, neither the U.S. nor apparently the Taliban were aware that the mastermind was dead. He was killed during a series of battles early this month in southern Afghanistan between the Taliban and the Islamic State groups affiliate, according to several officials. But in the past few days, U.S. intelligence confirmed with high confidence that the Islamic State leader had been killed, a senior administration official said Tuesday. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters. Late Tuesday night, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder issued a statement confirming that the plotter had been killed by the Taliban. The United States was not involved in this operation," Ryder said. Over the weekend, the U.S. military began to inform the parents of the 11 Marines, the sailor and the soldier who were killed in the blast at Abbey Gate, and they shared the information in a private group messaging chat. The father of one of the Marines said the death of his son's killer brings little comfort. Whatever happens, its not going to bring Taylor back and I understand that, Darin Hoover, the father of Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, said in a phone call with The Associated Press. About the only thing his mom and I can do now is be an advocate for him. All we want is the truth. And were not getting it. Thats the frustrating part. Hoover said he and his sons mother, Kelly Henson, have spent the past year and a half grieving his death and praying for accountability from the Biden administration for the handling of the withdrawal. He added that the Marines provided only limited information to him and did not identify the Islamic State leader or give the circumstances of his death. U.S. officials declined to provide many details because of sensitivities in the intelligence gathering. The administration official said it was their moral responsibility to let the victims families know that the mastermind and person most responsible for the airport attack had been taken off the battlefield. The official added that intelligence officials determined that the leader had remained a key plotter and overseer for the group. Several officials said the U.S. played no role in the killing and did not coordinate at all with the Taliban. The administration official called the Taliban action significant and said the U.S. only learned of the operation through its over the horizon intelligence capabilities. Hoover is among a group of 12 Gold Star families that have kept in touch since the bombing, supporting one another and sharing information through the messaging chat. The chat was created by Cheryl Rex, the mother of Marine Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, who died in the blast. Rex, who has been a vocal critic of the Biden administrations handling of the withdrawal, told the AP it was through the chat group that they were informed late Monday about the killing as they awaited official confirmation from U.S. military officials. The fallen service members were among those screening the thousands of Afghans frantically trying on Aug. 26, 2021, to get onto one of the crowded flights out of the country after the brutal Taliban takeover. The scene of desperation quickly turned into one of horror when a suicide bomber attacked. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility. The blast at Abbey Gate came hours after Western officials warned of a major attack, urging people to leave the airport. But that advice went largely unheeded by Afghans desperate to escape the country in the last few days of an American-led evacuation before the U.S. officially ended its 20-year presence. The Afghanistan-based offshoot of the Islamic State called Islamic State-Khorasan has up to 4,000 members and is the Talibans most bitter enemy and top military threat. The group has continued to carry out attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, especially against the countrys minority groups. After the Trump administration reached a 2020 deal with the Taliban to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan and the Biden administration followed through on that agreement in 2021, there had been hope in Washington that the Talibans desire for international recognition and assistance for the countrys impoverished population might moderate their behavior. But relations between the U.S. and the Taliban have deteriorated further since they imposed draconian new measures banning girls from school and excluding women from working for international aid and health agencies. However, a line of communication still exists between the two sides, led by the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, Tom West. Wests contacts are primarily with Taliban officials in Kabul and not with the groups more ideological wing based in Kandahar. The U.S. decision to withdraw all troops fueled the swift collapse of the Afghan government and military, which the U.S. had supported for nearly two decades, and the return to power of the Taliban. In the aftermath, President Joe Biden directed that a broad review examine every aspect of this from top to bottom and it was released earlier this month. The Biden administration in the publicly released version of the review largely laid blame on President Donald Trump for the deadly and chaotic 2021 withdrawal, which was punctuated by the suicide bombing at Abbey Gate. News of the killing came on the same day that Biden formally announced he will seek a second term as president, offering a reminder of one of the most difficult chapters of his presidency. The disastrous drawdown was, at the time, the biggest crisis that the relatively new administration had faced. It left sharp questions about Biden and his teams competence and experience the twin pillars central to his campaign for the White House. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday the U.S. has made clear to the Taliban that it is their responsibility to ensure that they give no safe haven to terrorists, whether from al-Qaida or the Islamic State. We have made good on the Presidents pledge to establish an over-the-horizon capacity to monitor potential terrorist threats, not only from in Afghanistan but elsewhere around the world where that threat has metastasized as we have done in Somalia and Syria, Kirby said in a statement. Yet Rex said the administration has not done enough to take responsibility for what happened at Abbey Gate. "I feel like this is the administration trying to get the pressure off of them for accountability by saying that were holding ISIS accountable for our kids death, Rex said. Associated Press writers Tara Copp and Ellen Knickmeyer contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) A British tobacco company has agreed to pay more than $629 million to settle allegations that it did illegal business with North Korea in violation of U.S. sanctions, the Justice Department said Tuesday. British American Tobacco, one of the largest tobacco companies in the world, entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department, while the companys Singapore subsidiary pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bank fraud and violate sanctions. The London-based BAT said in its own statement that the settlement concerns sales from 2007 through 2017 and that the company has since taken steps to improve its business practices. North Korea faces stringent U.S. and international sanctions going back nearly two decades for its nuclear weapons program and development of intercontinental ballistic missiles. Pyongyang has continued to research and test more nuclear weapons. It has also worked to evade sanctions with the cooperation of allies like China and illicit trade with barred countries and companies. Smuggled tobacco products are regarded as a major source of revenue for North Korea's nuclear and weapons of mass destruction programs, the Justice Department said. The penalty is the largest arising from North Korea sanctions violations in the Justice Department's history, said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen. This case and others like it do serve as a warning shot to companies, companies that support rogue regimes like North Korea through their activities that they have to have compliance programs, compliance programs that prevent these kinds of activities from taking place, he said. BAT admitted as part of the settlement that it continued to do tobacco business in North Korea despite stating publicly in 2007 that it no longer had operations with the repressive regime. Prosecutors say a third-party company operating under the control of a BAT subsidiary sold more than $400 million in tobacco products between 2007 and 2017. That money was then funneled back to BAT, the Justice Department said. North Korean purchases of the tobacco occurred through front companies that concealed the connections from U.S. banks that processed the transactions. In a statement, BAT chief executive Jack Bowles said the company regrets the misconduct arising from historical business activities that led to these settlements, and acknowledge that we fell short of the highest standards rightly expected of us. He said the company, whose brands include Lucky Strike, Kent and Pall Mall, had since transformed its ethics and compliance programs. Separately, federal prosecutors disclosed a cigarette trafficking scheme that raised money for North Koreas nuclear weapons program, announcing charges against three men a North Korean banker and two Chinese facilitators. The State Department has announced a reward for information leading to their arrest. British American Tobacco agreed in 2017 to take over Reynolds American Inc., which owned brands like Newport and Camel, creating the world's largest publicly traded tobacco company. A mother and son will both soon be gracing the West End stages of two hit musicals at the same time. The apple has not fallen far from the tree, it seems. Angeline Bell is currently a cast member of Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge Theatre, where she serves as part of the ensemble, as well as cover for Mrs Phelps and Mrs Wormwood. Bell became the first Black performer to play the latter role on a UK stage. Her son, Maddison Tyson, will begin rehearsals shortly for his professional debut in Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre, where he will act as a vocal swing, covering the roles of Marquis De Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson and John Laurens/Philip Hamilton. Bell commented: "We are thrilled to both be in the West End at the same time. I have always believed in his talent and knew that he would do well, but it does feel very surreal." In 2019, Bell won the Black British Theatre Award for Best Teacher, and was nominated again in 2022, thanks to her position as a permanent faculty member at Urdang - City, University of London and on The Dang Associates Programme. Tyson a recipient of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Scholarship, which funded three years of training at the Urdang - City, University of London and Dang Academy in London recently starred as Tommy Ross in his graduation musical, Carrie. We will keep our eyes peeled to see if the pair ever end up standing across the same West End stage from each other. This insightful, funny and quietly heartbreaking play boasts some superb performances and provides a refreshingly uproarious look at the reality of living with cerebral palsy. In common with many young men, David (Christopher John-Slater) thinks a lot about sex. But his desires are hampered by his condition, so when flatmate Jill (Amy Loughton) suggests he turn to Grindr for help, he begins a series of casual gay encounters that soon become habitual. Written by Jon Bradfield, known for his riotous adult pantomimes at Above The Stag, from an idea by Josh Hepple, the early exchanges have a sitcom feel. David's rotating team of assistants, which includes struggling actor Derek (Matt Ayleigh) and flamboyant Mani (Harry Singh), provide many of the biggest laughs as they regale him with stories from the outside world (such as Derek's description of auditioning for a production of Ray Cooney's Run for Your Wife set in Iraq). But it's this barrier between the outside and David's home, where the action is set, that is key to his frustration. John-Slater's performance eloquently captures the life of a man who is desperate to express himself. In one especially poignant scene he goes on a date with the dreamy Liam (Joshua Liburd) only to find himself stuck on a train with no help in sight. In a society that still has such poor accessibility, is it any wonder he feels alienated? Christopher John-Slater and Joshua Liburd in Animal Piers Foley Despite its many qualities, the production feels overstretched, running to two and a half hours, and at times allows the dramatic and comic tension that's built up to leak like the air out of a balloon. Part of the issue is the sheer profusion of characters, which means some get short shrift. The introduction of David's dad (William Oxborrow - who neatly doubles as a number of older dates) comes late in proceedings and feels like a missed opportunity. Bronagh Lagan's lucid production certainly isn't short on visual flair. Gregor Donnelly's apartment set neatly incorporates projections (designed by Matt Powell) showing various texts and Grindr interactions, while Julian Starr's soundscape injects some invigorating bursts of techno. It's also worth noting that the sex scenes, of which there are many one of them a harrowing moment of abuse are sensitively choreographed by intimacy director Robbie Taylor-Hunt. There is undoubtedly the germ of something very special here. This is largely due to the fact that in David, Bradfield, Hepple and John-Slater have created a character who is much bigger than his condition. He's charming, darkly comic ("suck a cock for me," he shouts as Mani heads out clubbing), and in the end deeply problematic. But some further refinement is needed for his story to find its full expression. The authenticity of Deborah Bruce's new play about the effects of sexual abuse on a family cannot be questioned. Co-produced by the National Theatre and Clean Break, the company that exists to challenge pre-conceptions and support women with experience of the criminal justice system, it has the tang of truth as well as the tension of drama. Its essential aim is to examine the question most often asked of survivors of domestic violence and abuse why do they stay? It does this by showing a family torn apart by the decision of a victim to take an abusive man to court. It's hard to write about without giving too much away, because some of its impact depends on the sense of dread that Bruce brings to the play, letting its secrets emerge slowly. But it begins when Brid Brennan's tightly-wrought Mary returns from a short spell in prison to be greeted by her daughters Julie (Andrea Lowe) and Bernie (Liz White) and her granddaughter Ella (Yazmin Kayani). The anger and resentment in the air of Roisin McBrinn's carefully naturalistic production are heavy; so is the memory of their dead father which lies over the daughters "like a lead blanket". Kat Heath provides a set that shows the rooms of their childhood home, both upstairs and down, some semi-screened from view, which has both a dramatic and a metaphorical purpose. Paule Constable's lighting is equally dual-purpose and equivocal. Andrea Lowe, Yazmin Kayani, Brid Brennan, Posy Sterling, and Alison Fitzjohn in Dixon and Daughters Helen Murray As secrets are revealed, the family dynamics emerge too. Julie, played with sulky unhappiness by Lowe, is on the run from a violent boyfriend, struggling to give up drink and constantly picked on as useless by her angry, prickly mother. White makes Bernie the quietly efficient coper, earnestly trying to smooth over the cracks, while Brennan reveals the fear beneath Mary's aggressively hard-done-by exterior. Kayani, in a wonderfully fresh and open performance, is like her mother in trying to be the good girl; but her own life has been fractured by her unhappiness at university. The action is enlivened, and the story complicated by the intervention of Alison Fitzjohn's forceful Briana, constantly intoning self-help mantras in her determination to make her life meaningful, and Posy Sterling's loose-canon Leigh, whom Mary has met in prison and is determined to mother in a way she has not managed for her daughters. There is a lot going on and arguably too many stories of misery at the hands of men. The action sometimes loses momentum as another thread emerges. Nevertheless, the honesty of both writing and performances shines through, making the play an involving examination of exactly why women continue to suffer in silence, in homes where they should feel safe. Key Insights The projected fair value for MTAG Group Berhad is RM0.38 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity MTAG Group Berhad's RM0.43 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate Industry average of 13,975% suggests MTAG Group Berhad's peers are currently trading at a higher premium to fair value Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of MTAG Group Berhad (KLSE:MTAG) by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for MTAG Group Berhad Crunching The Numbers We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM25.6m RM23.2m RM22.0m RM21.4m RM21.2m RM21.3m RM21.6m RM22.0m RM22.6m RM23.2m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -14.75% Est @ -9.25% Est @ -5.40% Est @ -2.71% Est @ -0.83% Est @ 0.49% Est @ 1.42% Est @ 2.06% Est @ 2.51% Est @ 2.83% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 11% RM23.1 RM19.0 RM16.2 RM14.3 RM12.8 RM11.6 RM10.6 RM9.8 RM9.1 RM8.4 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM135m Story continues We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (3.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 11%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = RM23m (1 + 3.6%) (11% 3.6%) = RM339m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM339m ( 1 + 11%)10= RM123m The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is RM258m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM0.4, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf Important Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at MTAG Group Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.885. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Moving On: Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For MTAG Group Berhad, we've compiled three essential elements you should further examine: Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for MTAG Group Berhad you should know about. Future Earnings: How does MTAG's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Williamson, WV (25661) Today A mix of clouds and sun early, then becoming cloudy later in the day. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 59F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Cloudy in the evening, then off and on rain showers after midnight. Low 42F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. This photograph taken on November 3, 2022 shows a Ukrainian border guard carrying an Anglo-Swedish NLAW anti-tank missile launcher at a fortified position near the Ukrainian border with Russia and with Belarus. - The Ukrainian army expressed its alarm to the "growing threat" of a new Russian offensive from its northern neighbor and Moscow ally as Belarus announced the creation of a new joint force with Russia, with up to 9,000 Russian troops and about 170 tanks, to be deployed on its territory. (Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images) - SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP Weapons supplies to Ukraine are at risk of stalling unless Europe comes up with a pan-continental plan for arming the front, a senior defence chief has warned. Micael Johansson, chief executive of Saab, the designer of the successful NLAW tank-killing missile, said there needed to be collaboration to prevent bottlenecks and delays, following a dramatic increase in orders. We need governments to step in now to ensure security of supply, he said. Mr Johansson said: There is an ecosystem here, when it comes to who can actually make that volume of explosives and powder. There needs to be some sort of collaboration, how do we boost the ecosystem to support us and European markets going forward. And I think we have to create some sort of risk sharing between countries and governments and industry in doing that. Countries are currently making their own discreet orders, with demand for weapons such as the NLAW increasing dramatically, he said. Orders of sensors, radars, and air defence systems have also grown. Mr Johansson's company, Swedens biggest defence firm, has ramped up production but he warned that common components such as powder for shells and explosives for missiles are in high demand with limited manufacturing sites. Without coordination the flood of orders could create bottlenecks that unexpectedly slow or temporarily halt supplies to Ukraine. FILE - A Ukrainian serviceman fires an NLAW anti-tank weapon during an exercise in the Joint Forces Operation, in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, on Feb. 15, 2022. Western weaponry pouring into Ukraine helped blunt Russia's initial offensive and seems certain to play a central role in the approaching battle for Ukraine's contested Donbas region. Yet the Russian military is making little headway halting what has become a historic arms express. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File) Mr Johansson said there will be long term growth in the demand for munitions and European countries should plan accordingly. Orders for Saabs products doubled in the first three months of the year to 17bn Swedish krona, led by demand for NLAWs, which are constructed in Belfast.. Britain is ramping up production of artillery shells in a bid to replenish stockpiles, after donating thousands of munitions to Ukraine. The UK has ordered more shells and it has also sent BAE Systems, the UKs biggest defence company, a letter of intent signalling that further orders are on the way. Story continues Precisely how many are made now, or how many will be made after the expansion, is a secret. In September, the Telegraph disclosed that Ukrainian officials were scouring the UK for foundries to make cannon artillery casings as it eyed expansion of production facilities. Nato 155mm howitzer rounds are understood to be most in demand. BAE currently manufactures the shells at its plant in Washington in the north east of England before they are filled with a charge and assembled in Glascoed in Wales. San Jose, CA --News Direct-- Cloudwerx CloudWerx, a full-service enterprise cloud consulting firm, is co-hosting a Startup Accelerator Panel with Google Cloud to explore how the top startups in climate tech, blockchain, and sustainability are driving innovation in Web3 and using modern technology to scale their businesses. Taking place during Consensus 2023, the Startup Happy Hour will be held as part of the Blockchain Climate Summit at ReFi House, 811 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas, on April 28, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Other event hosts include Celo Foundation and Flowcarbon. An expert all-woman panel will examine the future of Web3 and how blockchain is leaving its mark on the digital world. Moderated by Anella Bokhari, Startup Sales Leader at Google Cloud; the panelists include Betsy Reed, Co-Founder and CRO at CloudWerx; Sandy Carter, COO and Head of Business Development at Unstoppable Domains; Xochitl Cazador, Head of Ecosystem Growth at Celo Foundation; and Maryam Ayati, Co-Founder, Watr Protocol. The panel will dive deep into how startups can navigate the complicated macro environment. They will also discuss the importance of technology decisions and partner ecosystems to future success, as well as how to advance DEI strategies and hire diverse talent. I am delighted that CloudWerx will be partnering with Google Cloud to sponsor another event and looking forward to joining such an immensely talented group of women on stage for this panel. We are aiming to empower startups to utilize blockchain technology to innovate in a wide range of areas, from digital identity to sustainability. We hope our attendees stick around afterwards for our cocktail reception an incredible opportunity to intermix with thought leaders and professionals across the climate, blockchain, and sustainability industries, said Reed. CloudWerx is an engineering-focused cloud consulting company with a Web3 and blockchain-specific consulting practice focused on making efficient use of the blockchain and Web3 services that Google Cloud enables. The company empowers customers to build high-scale businesses on Web3 and blockchain with tools like Googles fast and secure node infrastructure with Blockchain Node Engine, analyze large amounts of blockchain data with BigQuery and Pub/Sub, and more. Story continues To attend the Startup Accelerator Panel, RSVP to apply here. To learn more about CloudWerx, please visit cloudwerx.tech. About CloudWerx CloudWerx is an engineering-focused cloud consulting company that provides the most elite technology resources to solve the toughest challenges. Maintaining 100 percent customer retention and a commitment to 11/10 technical, account and customer service, the CloudWerx team has unique experience working in some of the most complex cloud environments at scale and can help your business accelerate with confidence. Please visit https://www.cloudwerx.tech/ to learn more. Contact Details Betsy Reed +1 206-999-3517 press@cloudwerx.tech Company Website https://www.cloudwerx.tech/ View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/expert-all-woman-panel-to-explore-the-future-of-web3-during-startup-accelerator-event-at-blockchain-climate-summit-784654552 Thompson Davis & CO. Inc. purchased a new position in Chart Industries, Inc. (NYSE:GTLS Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 2,350 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $271,000. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in GTLS. Capital World Investors boosted its stake in Chart Industries by 16.1% during the 1st quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 4,402,819 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $756,272,000 after purchasing an additional 609,148 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in Chart Industries by 63.1% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,339,412 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $230,071,000 after purchasing an additional 517,951 shares during the last quarter. Scout Investments Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Chart Industries by 87.9% in the 4th quarter. Scout Investments Inc. now owns 640,060 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $73,754,000 after buying an additional 299,406 shares during the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Chart Industries by 245.6% in the 3rd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 378,334 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $69,746,000 after buying an additional 268,848 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Macquarie Group Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Chart Industries by 581.8% in the 3rd quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 312,798 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $57,746,000 after buying an additional 266,920 shares during the last quarter. Get Chart Industries alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on GTLS shares. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Chart Industries from $144.00 to $140.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 14th. Raymond James upgraded Chart Industries from a market perform rating to a strong-buy rating and set a $160.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 4th. StockNews.com started coverage on Chart Industries in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Craig Hallum dropped their price target on Chart Industries from $249.00 to $205.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Finally, TheStreet downgraded Chart Industries from a b- rating to a c rating in a research note on Friday, February 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Chart Industries presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $194.81. Chart Industries Price Performance NYSE:GTLS traded up $0.41 on Wednesday, reaching $129.38. 178,540 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 703,686. The company has a quick ratio of 3.08, a current ratio of 3.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $118.16 and a 200-day simple moving average of $126.70. The firm has a market cap of $5.43 billion, a PE ratio of 226.27, a P/E/G ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 1.46. Chart Industries, Inc. has a 12 month low of $101.44 and a 12 month high of $242.59. Chart Industries (NYSE:GTLS Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 24th. The industrial products company reported $1.67 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.64 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $441.40 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $490.88 million. Chart Industries had a return on equity of 7.84% and a net margin of 1.40%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 16.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.73 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Chart Industries, Inc. will post 5.8 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling at Chart Industries In other news, Director Linda S. Harty acquired 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 20th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $105.01 per share, for a total transaction of $525,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,067 shares in the company, valued at approximately $637,095.67. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, Director Linda S. Harty acquired 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 20th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $105.01 per share, for a total transaction of $525,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,067 shares in the company, valued at approximately $637,095.67. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, VP Gerald F. Vinci acquired 300 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 21st. The shares were purchased at an average price of $119.28 per share, with a total value of $35,784.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 300 shares of the companys stock, valued at $35,784. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have acquired a total of 7,875 shares of company stock valued at $836,825 over the last ninety days. 0.80% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Chart Industries Company Profile (Get Rating) Chart Industries, Inc engages in the manufacturing of engineered equipment for the industrial gas, energy, and biomedical industries. It operates through the following business segments: Cryo Tank Solutions, Heat Transfer Systems, Specialty Products and Repair, Service & Leasing, and Corporate. The Cryo Tank Solutions segment supplies bulk, microbulk, and mobile equipment used in the storage, distribution, vaporization, and application of industrial gases. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Chart Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chart Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arbor Realty Trust (NYSE:ABR Get Rating) was downgraded by research analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, The Fly reports. They presently have a $11.00 target price on the real estate investment trusts stock, down from their previous target price of $15.00. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s target price points to a potential upside of 5.57% from the stocks previous close. A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and issued a $17.50 target price on shares of Arbor Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday, March 15th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Arbor Realty Trust in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on Arbor Realty Trust from $15.50 to $12.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three 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 price target of $15.10. Get Arbor Realty Trust alerts: Arbor Realty Trust Trading Down 0.7 % ABR opened at $10.42 on Monday. Arbor Realty Trust has a 1-year low of $10.10 and a 1-year high of $17.65. The company has a current ratio of 46.60, a quick ratio of 46.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.85. The company has a market cap of $1.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.28 and a beta of 1.94. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $12.50 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $13.44. Insider Transactions at Arbor Realty Trust Institutional Trading of Arbor Realty Trust In other news, Director William C. Green bought 4,200 shares of Arbor Realty Trust stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $12.94 per share, with a total value of $54,348.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 138,905 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,797,430.70. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . In other Arbor Realty Trust news, Director William C. Green bought 4,200 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The stock was bought at an average price of $12.94 per share, with a total value of $54,348.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 138,905 shares in the company, valued at $1,797,430.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Also, CEO Ivan Kaufman bought 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $12.43 per share, with a total value of $124,300.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 1,168,277 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,521,683.11. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . Company insiders own 3.80% of the companys stock. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Arbor Realty Trust by 7.8% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 15,429,978 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $177,444,000 after acquiring an additional 1,110,055 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its position in Arbor Realty Trust by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,126,167 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $35,951,000 after acquiring an additional 108,959 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in Arbor Realty Trust by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,104,609 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $40,949,000 after acquiring an additional 116,335 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp increased its position in Arbor Realty Trust by 4.2% in the 2nd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,786,167 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $23,417,000 after acquiring an additional 71,247 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in Arbor Realty Trust by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,576,910 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $20,799,000 after acquiring an additional 64,222 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 40.52% of the companys stock. About Arbor Realty Trust (Get Rating) Arbor Realty Trust, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust, which engages in the provision of loan origination and servicing for multifamily, seniors housing, healthcare, and diverse commercial real estate assets. It operates through the Structured Business and Agency Business segments. The Structured Business segment offers structured loan origination and investment services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Arbor Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Arbor Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT Get Rating) by 2.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 28,894 shares of the retailers stock after buying an additional 729 shares during the quarter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Walmart were worth $4,096,897,630,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in WMT. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Walmart by 1,519.2% during the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 8,129,341 shares of the retailers stock valued at $1,054,376,000 after buying an additional 7,627,286 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in shares of Walmart by 2.9% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 96,570,711 shares of the retailers stock valued at $12,525,224,000 after buying an additional 2,712,886 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Walmart by 1.4% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 130,176,496 shares of the retailers stock valued at $16,883,890,000 after acquiring an additional 1,832,388 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its position in shares of Walmart by 34.2% during the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 5,258,231 shares of the retailers stock worth $783,056,000 after purchasing an additional 1,340,328 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec lifted its holdings in shares of Walmart by 85.3% during the 1st quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 2,399,536 shares of the retailers stock valued at $357,339,000 after purchasing an additional 1,104,427 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 31.27% of the companys stock. Get Walmart alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets WMT has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Stephens reissued an overweight rating and issued a $170.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Royal Bank of Canada set a $163.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Walmart in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. They issued an overweight rating and a $159.00 price objective on the stock. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of Walmart from $146.00 to $159.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Walmart from $161.00 to $160.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Walmart presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $165.09. Insiders Place Their Bets Walmart Stock Down 0.3 % In other Walmart news, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 9,708 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $143.57, for a total value of $1,393,777.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,432,515 shares in the company, valued at approximately $205,666,178.55. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . In other Walmart news, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 9,708 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $143.57, for a total transaction of $1,393,777.56. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,432,515 shares in the company, valued at approximately $205,666,178.55. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, Director S Robson Walton sold 706,197 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $142.07, for a total value of $100,329,407.79. Following the transaction, the director now owns 266,135,223 shares in the company, valued at $37,809,831,131.61. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 21,053,710 shares of company stock valued at $2,982,527,217 over the last three months. Company insiders own 47.06% of the companys stock. NYSE WMT traded down $0.53 on Wednesday, reaching $151.04. The company had a trading volume of 978,950 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,252,973. Walmart Inc. has a 1 year low of $117.27 and a 1 year high of $156.98. The firm has a market capitalization of $407.41 billion, a PE ratio of 35.24, a P/E/G ratio of 4.58 and a beta of 0.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.21. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $144.59 and a 200-day moving average of $143.84. Walmart (NYSE:WMT Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 21st. The retailer reported $1.71 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.20. Walmart had a net margin of 1.91% and a return on equity of 20.45%. The firm had revenue of $164.05 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $158.67 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.53 EPS. The firms revenue was up 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 6.06 EPS for the current fiscal year. Walmart Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, December 8th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 7th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.51%. Walmarts dividend payout ratio is currently 53.27%. Walmart Profile (Get Rating) Walmart, Inc engages in retail and wholesale business. The company offers an assortment of merchandise and services at everyday low prices. It operates through the following business segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sams Club. The Walmart U.S. segment operates as a merchandiser of consumer products, operating under the Walmart, Wal-Mart, and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands, as well as walmart.com and other eCommerce brands. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Walmart Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walmart and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arkansas Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:SUB Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 107,317 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,190,000. iShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF comprises about 2.5% of Arkansas Financial Group Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest holding. Arkansas Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.10% of iShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC grew its position in shares of iShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF by 69.8% during the 3rd quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 275 shares of the companys stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 113 shares during the period. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. raised its position in shares of iShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 11,656 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,215,000 after acquiring an additional 234 shares during the last quarter. 9258 Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF by 9.7% in the 4th quarter. 9258 Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,845 shares of the companys stock valued at $297,000 after purchasing an additional 251 shares during the period. FCA Corp TX lifted its stake in shares of iShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF by 3.6% in the 1st quarter. FCA Corp TX now owns 7,271 shares of the companys stock valued at $761,000 after purchasing an additional 252 shares during the period. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA boosted its position in shares of iShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF by 81.1% in the 3rd quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 605 shares of the companys stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 271 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF alerts: iShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF Trading Down 0.2 % NYSEARCA SUB traded down $0.18 on Wednesday, reaching $104.31. The company had a trading volume of 139,929 shares, compared to its average volume of 715,578. iShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF has a 52 week low of $102.45 and a 52 week high of $105.50. The stocks 50 day moving average is $104.26 and its 200-day moving average is $104.09. About iShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF iShares 2016 AMT-Free Muni Term ETF, formerly iShares S&P Short Term National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P Short Term National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index (the Index). Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Atlantic Lithium Limited (OTC:ALLIF Get Rating) dropped 6.7% on Monday . The stock traded as low as $0.40 and last traded at $0.42. Approximately 65,492 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 9% from the average daily volume of 60,075 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.45. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In ALLIF has been the subject of several analyst reports. Macquarie initiated coverage on shares of Atlantic Lithium in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. They issued an outperform rating for the company. Echelon Wealth Partners restated a speculative buy rating on shares of Atlantic Lithium in a research note on Sunday, January 29th. Get Atlantic Lithium alerts: Atlantic Lithium Stock Down 9.6 % The firms 50 day moving average price is $0.40 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $0.45. About Atlantic Lithium Atlantic Lithium Limited engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in West Africa. It primarily explores for lithium deposits. The company's flagship project is the Ewoyaa lithium project located in Ghana. It also holds interest in a lithium property covering an area of 774 square kilometers in Cote d'Ivoire. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Atlantic Lithium Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Atlantic Lithium and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. raised its holdings in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT Get Rating) by 144.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,409 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 833 shares during the period. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd.s holdings in Caterpillar were worth $338,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. BCK Partners Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Caterpillar in the first quarter valued at about $2,580,000. Sei Investments Co. increased its stake in Caterpillar by 17.3% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 65,643 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $14,634,000 after buying an additional 9,695 shares in the last quarter. Dakota Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Caterpillar during the first quarter valued at approximately $405,000. Mather Group LLC. lifted its position in shares of Caterpillar by 6.8% in the first quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 2,592 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $577,000 after acquiring an additional 165 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Caterpillar by 4.4% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 49,705 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $11,075,000 after purchasing an additional 2,076 shares in the last quarter. 68.02% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Caterpillar alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades CAT has been the topic of several research reports. Robert W. Baird downgraded shares of Caterpillar from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $230.00 to $185.00 in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price target on Caterpillar from $228.00 to $225.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Caterpillar in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Credit Suisse Group boosted their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $290.00 to $306.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, UBS Group cut shares of Caterpillar from a neutral rating to a sell rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $230.00 to $225.00 in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $238.59. Insider Activity at Caterpillar Caterpillar Stock Up 0.2 % In other news, General Counsel Suzette M. Long sold 8,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.04, for a total value of $2,008,320.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 8,776 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,203,127.04. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . In other Caterpillar news, General Counsel Suzette M. Long sold 8,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $251.04, for a total transaction of $2,008,320.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 8,776 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,203,127.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Also, Director David Maclennan bought 400 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The stock was bought at an average price of $249.29 per share, for a total transaction of $99,716.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 3,709 shares in the company, valued at approximately $924,616.61. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 37,953 shares of company stock worth $9,514,484 in the last 90 days. 0.27% of the stock is owned by insiders. Caterpillar stock traded up $0.42 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $219.05. The companys stock had a trading volume of 875,583 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,242,584. Caterpillar Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $160.60 and a fifty-two week high of $266.04. The company has a market cap of $113.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.28, a P/E/G ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $229.09 and a 200-day simple moving average of $230.86. Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The industrial products company reported $3.86 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.95 by ($0.09). Caterpillar had a net margin of 11.28% and a return on equity of 45.61%. The company had revenue of $16.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $15.84 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.69 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 20.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Caterpillar Inc. will post 15.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Caterpillar Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 19th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 24th will be paid a $1.20 dividend. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.19%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 21st. Caterpillars dividend payout ratio is currently 37.94%. About Caterpillar (Get Rating) Caterpillar, Inc engages in the manufacture of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. It operates through the following segments: Construction Industries, Resource Industries, Energy and Transportation, Financial Products, and All Other. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Caterpillar Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Caterpillar and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Check Capital Management Inc. CA purchased a new stake in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 1,100 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $242,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ITW. Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Illinois Tool Works in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Red Tortoise LLC acquired a new position in Illinois Tool Works in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Standard Family Office LLC acquired a new position in Illinois Tool Works in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Old North State Trust LLC bought a new stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works in the 3rd quarter valued at $42,000. Finally, JFS Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 51.0% in the 3rd quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 237 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. 79.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Illinois Tool Works alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have recently commented on ITW. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $211.00 to $205.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $213.00 to $245.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $241.00 to $240.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $232.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $228.64. Illinois Tool Works Stock Performance NYSE ITW traded down $2.26 on Wednesday, hitting $232.77. 388,436 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,055,886. The businesss fifty day moving average is $234.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $225.65. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 12 month low of $173.52 and a 12 month high of $253.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $70.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.03, a PEG ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.00, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.41. Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 2nd. The industrial products company reported $2.34 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.60 by ($0.26). Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.04% and a return on equity of 87.15%. The firm had revenue of $3.97 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.95 earnings per share. Illinois Tool Workss revenue for the quarter was up 7.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.5 EPS for the current fiscal year. Illinois Tool Works Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 13th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st were given a $1.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $5.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.25%. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 53.58%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Vice Chairman Christopher A. Oherlihy sold 60,137 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.26, for a total value of $14,809,337.62. Following the sale, the insider now owns 40,072 shares in the company, valued at $9,868,130.72. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, CEO Ernest Scott Santi sold 235,656 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.29, for a total value of $58,039,716.24. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 213,538 shares of the companys stock, valued at $52,592,274.02. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Vice Chairman Christopher A. Oherlihy sold 60,137 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.26, for a total value of $14,809,337.62. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 40,072 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,868,130.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.78% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Illinois Tool Works Profile (Get Rating) Illinois Tool Works, Inc engages in the manufacture of industrial products and equipment. It operates through the following segments: Automotive OEM, Test and Measurement and Electronics, Food Equipment, Polymers and Fluids, Welding, Construction Products, and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment produces components and fasteners for automotive-related applications. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Illinois Tool Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Illinois Tool Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Chiba Bank, Ltd. (OTCMKTS:CHBAY Get Rating)s stock price hit a new 52-week low during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $37.38 and last traded at $37.38, with a volume of 0 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $37.38. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Daiwa Capital Markets cut shares of Chiba Bank from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Get Chiba Bank alerts: Chiba Bank Price Performance The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $37.38 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $32.20. About Chiba Bank The Chiba Bank, Ltd. engages in the business of banking services. The company offers general banking services including deposits, loans, domestic and foreign exchange transactions; and financial services such as leasing, securities brokerage, credit cards and others. It also develops software; and provides business management and staffing services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Chiba Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chiba Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cumberland Partners Ltd lessened its stake in TELUS Co. (NYSE:TU Get Rating) (TSE:T) by 41.5% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 205,697 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock after selling 145,948 shares during the quarter. Cumberland Partners Ltds holdings in TELUS were worth $3,967,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in TU. National Bank of Canada FI increased its position in TELUS by 119.2% in the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 18,117,787 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $349,314,000 after acquiring an additional 9,850,903 shares in the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its position in TELUS by 20.6% in the 3rd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 36,303,097 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $727,902,000 after acquiring an additional 6,202,073 shares in the last quarter. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc acquired a new stake in shares of TELUS during the 4th quarter worth approximately $45,382,000. Toronto Dominion Bank grew its position in shares of TELUS by 15.1% during the 3rd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 15,852,364 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $356,395,000 after buying an additional 2,080,931 shares during the period. Finally, Alpine Associates Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of TELUS during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $21,620,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 51.42% of the companys stock. Get TELUS alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have recently commented on TU. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of TELUS from C$36.00 to C$33.00 in a research report on Monday, February 13th. National Bank Financial lowered their price target on shares of TELUS from C$31.00 to C$30.00 in a research report on Friday, February 10th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of TELUS in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Desjardins reduced their price objective on shares of TELUS from C$33.00 to C$32.00 in a research note on Friday, February 10th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of TELUS from C$35.00 to C$33.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 3rd. TELUS Stock Up 0.6 % Shares of TU stock traded up $0.13 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $21.05. The companys stock had a trading volume of 700,897 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,519,582. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $20.26 and a 200-day moving average price of $20.54. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27. The company has a market cap of $30.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.74. TELUS Co. has a one year low of $18.85 and a one year high of $25.80. TELUS (NYSE:TU Get Rating) (TSE:T) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 9th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.17 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.21 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $3.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.68 billion. TELUS had a return on equity of 9.49% and a net margin of 8.82%. Analysts anticipate that TELUS Co. will post 0.9 earnings per share for the current year. TELUS Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th were issued a dividend of $0.264 per share. This represents a $1.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.02%. This is an increase from TELUSs previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. TELUSs payout ratio is presently 113.33%. TELUS Profile (Get Rating) TELUS Corp. is a telecommunications company, which engages in the provision of telecommunication services and products primarily for wireless and wireline voice and data. It operates through the following segments: TELUS Technology Solutions (TTech) and Digitally-led Customer ExperiencesTELUS International (DLCX). Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for TELUS Co. (NYSE:TU Get Rating) (TSE:T). Receive News & Ratings for TELUS Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TELUS and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fingrid Oyj Stock Exchange Release 26 April 2023 at 11:00 EET Fingrid follows a six-month reporting period as referred to in the Securities Markets Act and publishes Management Reviews for the first three and nine months of the year; the Management Reviews contain key information illustrating the companys financial and other development. The information presented in the Managements Review relates to Fingrid Groups performance in January March 2023 and the corresponding period of 2022, unless otherwise indicated. The figures presented here have been drawn up in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The Managements Review is not an interim report in accordance with the IAS 34 standard. The figures are unaudited. Turnover for JanuaryMarch was slightly higher than in the previous year. The mild winter and lower electricity prices reduced operating expenses. Profit before taxes was EUR -80.4 (63.1) million. Losses from the period under review were caused by the negative change in the market value of electricity derivatives hedging loss power procurement. We waived grid service fees in January and February. This was compensated in the companys result with a congestion income allocation. The congestion in electricity transmission and area price differences in the Nordic countries were significantly lower than in the previous year. Congestion income was EUR 71.1 (166.6) million. The companys investment programme is proceeding as planned and investments were higher than in the previous year. Fingrids liquidity remained strong. Review by the President & CEO: Out of the crisis and sights set on modernising the power system In terms of the availability of electricity, the past winter was successful, thanks to the mild and windy weather and the outstanding electricity-saving efforts of Finns. The mildness of the winter is clearly illustrated by the fact that Finlands electricity consumption peaked as late as the ninth of March, when peak hour consumption reached an average of 12,192 megawatts. This is far below the record level of 15,105 megawatts, which was reached during the freezing cold temperatures of January 2016. We were prepared for much worse, but thankfully the worst did not happen. The system security of the transmission grid stayed at a high level all winter. Story continues The significant increase in electricity prices that began in the previous year in Europe led to spirited debate on the functioning of the electricity markets. However, the market mechanism worked just as it was intended to: rising production costs increased the commodity price as well. In the Commissions change proposals for the electricity markets, marginal pricing remains at the core of functioning markets. The electricity market ground rules created at the European level offered the stability that investors are looking for, despite the crisis: the European market rules are not exposed to national risks related to the politics of the day. The mild weather meant that the price of electricity fell significantly from last years peaks. The decline in the electricity price was also reflected in a decline in the prices of power system reserves, which was considerably accelerated by the partial opening of the reserve markets to cross-border competition. This was a concrete step in the transformation of national reserve markets to Europe-wide reserve markets. Thanks to the cooling down of the electricity markets, congestion income received by Fingrid fell significantly. As announced previously, we waived grid service fees in January and February. This was compensated in the companys result with the record-high congestion income that accumulated in the previous year. Finland has the opportunity to make the green transition a success story and a source of well-being. Our energy system is evolving at an incredible pace. The electricity consumed in Finland comes with consistently lower emissions. In the electricity system vision we released in March, we are preparing for significant growth in the consumption and production of electricity. Production connection enquiries received by Fingrid continue to grow: alongside onshore wind energy, also solar and offshore wind energy investments are taking off. The increase in production attracts electricity consumption and foreign investors. We have already received 12,000 megawatts worth of connection enquiries linked to electricity consumption. Reliable electricity networks are one of the most important national competitive factors in industrial projects involving the green transition. Fingrids investment programme is moving ahead as planned and we have around one hundred grid investment projects at different stages of completion under way. For years, Fingrid has focused on strengthening an open and community-oriented corporate culture that encourages development. Our long-term work has received recognition outside the company. A year ago we came in third in the Great Place to Work large companies category, followed up by this years win in Finlands Most Inspiring Workplaces competitions mid-sized companies category. Key figures M 13/23 13/22 change % 112/22 Turnover 355.3 331.7 7.1 1,815.2 Operating profit* 70.9 61.9 14.5 149.8 Profit before taxes -80.4 63.1 -227.3 257.4 Profit before taxes ** 69.6 59.5 16.9 136.4 Profit for the period -64.3 50.6 -227.0 205.8 Capital expenditure, gross 56.9 45.6 24.7 276.1 Net cash flow from operations*** -76.9 245.3 -131.3 747.5 Interest-bearing net debt 363.8 696.3 -47.7 322.7 Balance sheet total 3,111.5 2,749.6 13.2 3,216.6 Equity ratio % 21.1 25.4 22.4 * Operating profit excluding the change in the fair value of derivatives ** Profit before taxes excluding the change in the fair value of derivatives *** Net cash flow from operations, after capital expenditure Operating profit, excluding the change in the fair value of derivatives linked to operational activities, amounted to EUR 70.9 (61.9) million. Operating profit excluding the change in the fair value of derivatives grew from the previous year due to higher balance service income. Congestion income from cross-border transmission connections amounted to EUR 71.1 (166.6) million. Congestion income that includes income from financial transmission rights (FTR) at the Finnish and Estonian border came to altogether EUR 82.6 million, of which Fingrids share was EUR 67.0 (166.6) million. A total of EUR 67.9 (0.0) million in congestion income was recognised in turnover to cover the waiving of grid service fees, and EUR 20.5 (0.0) million in other operating income to cover operating expenses. Going forward, Fingrid will use congestion income to finance investments increasing cross-border transmission capacity and recognise them in turnover and other operating income to the benefit of its customers. Net cash flow from operating activities fell largely due to lower congestion income. The companys liquidity remained high. Main business events Fingrids transmission reliability rate in January March was 100 per cent. There were no grid disturbances impacting the markets. The weather was mild in the first few months of the year. Finns continued to save electricity and in January March, electricity consumption in Finland totalled 22.2 (23.5) terawatt hours. In the same period, Fingrid transmitted a total of 18.3 (20.0) terawatt hours in its grid, representing 76.2 (77.1) per cent of the total electricity transmission in Finland. During this period, the electricity Fingrid transmitted to its customers amounted to 16.1 (17.5) terawatt hours, which represents 72.6 (74.5) per cent of Finlands total consumption. Exports of electricity from Finland to Estonia occurred on 1% of all hours of the period and net exports to Sweden on 8% of all hours. Peak electricity consumption during the 20222023 winter season was reached on 9 March 2023, when consumption amounted to 12,192 megawatts between 8 and 9 a.m. Some 1,351 megawatts of electricity were imported from Sweden and 470 megawatts were exported to Estonia. The area price of wholesale electricity in Finland was EUR 158.09 per megawatt hour between 8 and 9 a.m. Fingrid had 65 substation projects and approximately 230 kilometres of transmission line projects underway. Fingrid made investment decisions concerning altogether four new 110 kV substations in Bole, and in Harjavalta, Kolsi and Kissankuja in Satakunta. Additionally, a decision was made to modernise the SiikajokiSorsaraivio transmission line section, expand the Vanaja 110 kV substation and Naantalinsalmi 110 kV substation, and replace a 110 kV transmission line in Nurmijarvi. The number of occupational accidents fell at Fingrids transmission line and substation worksites. The accident frequency over a 12-month period was 4.96, with the milestone for 2023 set at below 5. Fingrid achieved an excellent result in the International Transmission Operations and Maintenance Study (ITOMS), which assesses the efficiency and quality of electricity transmission system operators. The system security of Fingrids main grid was, once again, of the highest grade and its maintenance costs have been lower than the average. Fingrid received a Top Performer mention for its substation maintenance. Fingrid published an electricity system vision describing the electricity systems change phenomena and Finlands growth opportunities in clean energy production and industrial electricity consumption. Fingrid is preparing for significant growth in electricity consumption and production and creating preparedness to develop the grids main transmission grid in the long term. The balance service tariffs of balance responsible parties rose as of 1 January 2023 to EUR 1.7 per megawatt hour. Fingrid announced that balance service tariffs would fall as of 1 May 2023 to EUR 1.2 per megawatt hour. The reasons for the price changes are changes in the power systems reserve costs and the electricity market situation. Fingrid won in Finlands Most Inspiring Workplaces competitions mid-sized companies category. The selection was based on the results of the PeoplePower personnel survey. On 2 March 2023, Fingrid Oyjs President and CEO, Jukka Ruusunen (D.Sc. Tech.), announced his retirement on 31 December 2023. On 31 March 2023, Fingrid Oyjs Annual General Meeting approved the financial statements for 2022 and decided on the dividend payment. The first instalment of the dividend, totalling EUR 88,691,600.00, was paid on 5 April 2023. Hannu Linna was re-elected as Chair of the Board of Directors, and Leena Morttinen, who was elected as a new member, was elected as Deputy Chair. Jukka Reijonen was re-elected to the Board and Jero Ahola and Anne Jalkanen were elected as new members. Legal proceedings and proceedings by authorities Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) has lodged a request for an investigation with the Energy Authority on 25 May 2022 related to the claims by TVO that Fingrid has neglected its obligation to develop the main grid as stated in the Finnish Electricity Market Act and/or other applicable legislation, and that, as a result, it has placed unlawful restrictions on connecting the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant to the grid, and that Fingrid is in breach of its administrative obligations linked to carrying out its public administrative task. Fingrids view is that the claims made by TVO are unfounded. Fingrid lodged a statement of defence with the Energy Authority concerning the claims made by TVO in its request for an investigation. The EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), on 14 September 2022, made a decision on long-term price risk hedging opportunities between Finland and Sweden. In its decision, ACER requested that the Finnish and Swedish TSOs ensure the availability of other long-term cross-zonal hedging products and develop the necessary arrangements for providing hedging products. Fingrid, on 14 November 2022, filed an appeal against the decision to ACERs Board of Appeal. The company has not changed its earnings guidance from what is stated in the Financial Statements Bulletin of 2 March 2023. Further information: Jukka Ruusunen, President & CEO +358 30 395 5140 or +358 40 593 8428 Jukka Metsala, Chief Financial Officer +358 30 395 5213 or +358 40 563 3756 Fingrid is Finlands transmission system operator. We secure reliable electricity for our customers and society, and shape the clean, market-oriented power system of the future. Fingrid delivers. Responsibly. www.fingrid.fi EastGroup Properties (NYSE:EGP Get Rating) issued an update on its FY23 earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $7.49-7.61 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $7.44. EastGroup Properties also updated its Q2 guidance to $1.83-1.89 EPS. EastGroup Properties Stock Up 0.3 % Shares of NYSE:EGP traded up $0.53 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $164.71. The companys stock had a trading volume of 35,534 shares, compared to its average volume of 225,881. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $163.09 and a 200-day moving average of $158.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.40, a PEG ratio of 4.01 and a beta of 0.93. EastGroup Properties has a 12-month low of $137.47 and a 12-month high of $208.13. Get EastGroup Properties alerts: EastGroup Properties Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 31st were paid a dividend of $1.25 per share. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.04%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 30th. EastGroup Propertiess payout ratio is 113.90%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Institutional Trading of EastGroup Properties Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on EGP shares. Robert W. Baird raised their price target on EastGroup Properties from $170.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Mizuho upgraded shares of EastGroup Properties from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the stock from $180.00 to $185.00 in a research note on Monday, March 20th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of EastGroup Properties in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Truist Financial lifted their target price on EastGroup Properties from $170.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of EastGroup Properties from $150.00 to $158.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $170.30. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC purchased a new stake in EastGroup Properties in the 4th quarter worth $436,000. Alps Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in EastGroup Properties during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $434,000. Engineers Gate Manager LP lifted its holdings in EastGroup Properties by 28.9% in the 1st quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP now owns 1,776 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $361,000 after purchasing an additional 398 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in EastGroup Properties by 97.7% in the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 2,406 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $356,000 after purchasing an additional 1,189 shares during the period. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. purchased a new stake in EastGroup Properties during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $354,000. 89.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. EastGroup Properties Company Profile (Get Rating) EastGroup Properties, Inc is an internally-managed equity real estate investment trust, which engages in the development, acquisition, and operation of industrial properties. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Ridgeland, MS. See Also Receive News & Ratings for EastGroup Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EastGroup Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Full Sail Capital LLC lifted its holdings in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) by 82.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,133 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after purchasing an additional 1,865 shares during the period. Full Sail Capital LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $454,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ABT. JDM Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Arcus Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. grew its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 283.3% during the 4th quarter. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. now owns 391 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $43,000 after buying an additional 289 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Glassy Mountain Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $44,000. 72.93% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades ABT has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Raymond James increased their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $116.00 to $123.00 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $117.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Wolfe Research cut their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $107.00 to $103.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $127.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Mizuho lifted their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $122.37. Insider Buying and Selling Abbott Laboratories Price Performance In related news, SVP Julie L. Tyler sold 260 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.24, for a total transaction of $26,842.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 40,896 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,222,103.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink . In other news, SVP Randel William Woodgrift sold 1,032 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total value of $103,922.40. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 52,203 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,256,842.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, SVP Julie L. Tyler sold 260 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.24, for a total value of $26,842.40. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 40,896 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,222,103.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last ninety days, insiders sold 1,971 shares of company stock valued at $199,140. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Shares of NYSE:ABT traded down $1.50 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $108.47. 1,890,002 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,325,270. Abbott Laboratories has a 1 year low of $93.25 and a 1 year high of $118.74. The company has a market cap of $188.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.43, a PEG ratio of 4.95 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.63. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $102.29 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $104.95. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.05. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 22.48% and a net margin of 13.98%. The firm had revenue of $9.75 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.64 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.73 EPS. The firms revenue was down 18.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.38 EPS for the current fiscal year. Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be paid a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.88%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.01%. 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. Featured Stories 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. Crescent Point Energy Corp. (TSE:CPG Get Rating) (NYSE:CPG) Equities research analysts at Stifel Firstegy dropped their FY2023 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Crescent Point Energy in a research report issued on Monday, April 24th. Stifel Firstegy analyst C. Kwong now forecasts that the company will post earnings per share of $1.51 for the year, down from their prior estimate of $1.54. The consensus estimate for Crescent Point Energys current full-year earnings is $1.66 per share. Get Crescent Point Energy alerts: Several other brokerages also recently commented on CPG. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Crescent Point Energy from C$11.00 to C$12.50 in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Crescent Point Energy from C$15.50 to C$15.75 in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. National Bank Financial boosted their price target on Crescent Point Energy from C$16.00 to C$18.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. TD Securities reduced their price target on Crescent Point Energy from C$18.50 to C$13.00 and set an action list buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Finally, Raymond James boosted their price target on Crescent Point Energy from C$12.00 to C$12.50 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Crescent Point Energy Stock Performance Shares of TSE CPG opened at C$9.92 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 24.11. Crescent Point Energy has a 12 month low of C$7.57 and a 12 month high of C$13.74. The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$9.53 and a 200-day moving average of C$9.78. The company has a market capitalization of C$5.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.82, a P/E/G ratio of -0.59 and a beta of 2.85. Crescent Point Energy (TSE:CPG Get Rating) (NYSE:CPG) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported C$0.38 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of C$0.38. Crescent Point Energy had a return on equity of 24.93% and a net margin of 37.15%. The company had revenue of C$1.02 billion during the quarter. Crescent Point Energy Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a None dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were issued a $0.032 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. Crescent Point Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 15.38%. Crescent Point Energy Company Profile (Get Rating) Crescent Point Energy Corp. explores, develops, and produces light and medium crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas reserves in Western Canada and the United States. It's crude oil and natural gas properties, and related assets are located in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba; and the states of North Dakota and Montana. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Crescent Point Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Crescent Point Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Harmony Gold Mining (NYSE:HMY Get Rating) was upgraded by investment analysts at Morgan Stanley from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday, The Fly reports. Several other brokerages have also weighed in on HMY. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Harmony Gold Mining in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Investec lowered Harmony Gold Mining from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. Finally, HSBC lowered Harmony Gold Mining from a hold rating to a reduce rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold. Get Harmony Gold Mining alerts: Harmony Gold Mining Stock Up 1.1 % Shares of Harmony Gold Mining stock opened at $4.55 on Monday. Harmony Gold Mining has a 1 year low of $1.93 and a 1 year high of $4.79. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $3.79 and a 200-day moving average price of $3.51. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. Institutional Inflows and Outflows About Harmony Gold Mining Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. O Dell Group LLC bought a new position in Harmony Gold Mining in the 3rd quarter worth about $28,000. Signaturefd LLC boosted its stake in Harmony Gold Mining by 334.9% in the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 12,816 shares of the mining companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 9,869 shares during the period. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in Harmony Gold Mining by 378.1% in the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 11,714 shares of the mining companys stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 9,264 shares during the period. Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its stake in Harmony Gold Mining by 94.7% in the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 12,081 shares of the mining companys stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 5,875 shares during the period. Finally, Wealth Architects LLC bought a new position in Harmony Gold Mining in the 3rd quarter worth about $42,000. Institutional investors own 36.50% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Harmony Gold Mining Co Ltd. engages in mining and exploration of gold. It involves building mines, open-pit operation, sales and financial management, land rehabilitation and mine closure. It operates through the following segments: Tshepong Operations, Moab Khotsong, Mponeng, Bambanani, Doornkop, Joel, Target 1, Kusasalethu, Masimong, South African Surface Operations, Mine Waste Solutions, Kalgold, and Hidden Valley. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Harmony Gold Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Harmony Gold Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crane NXT (NYSE:CXT Get Rating) and Advanced Deposition Technologies (OTCMKTS:ADTC Get Rating) are both business services companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their risk, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, dividends, institutional ownership and earnings. Insider and Institutional Ownership 70.8% of Crane NXT shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.4% of Crane NXT shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 36.5% of Advanced Deposition Technologies shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Get Crane NXT alerts: Earnings and Valuation This table compares Crane NXT and Advanced Deposition Technologies top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Crane NXT $3.37 billion 0.78 $401.10 million $7.55 6.22 Advanced Deposition Technologies N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Profitability Crane NXT has higher revenue and earnings than Advanced Deposition Technologies. This table compares Crane NXT and Advanced Deposition Technologies net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Crane NXT 13.10% 24.45% 10.14% Advanced Deposition Technologies N/A N/A N/A Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Crane NXT and Advanced Deposition Technologies, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Crane NXT 0 0 1 0 3.00 Advanced Deposition Technologies 0 0 0 0 N/A Risk and Volatility Crane NXT has a beta of 1.49, indicating that its share price is 49% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Advanced Deposition Technologies has a beta of 5.87, indicating that its share price is 487% more volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Crane NXT beats Advanced Deposition Technologies on 6 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Crane NXT (Get Rating) Crane NXT Co. engages in the management of a subsidiary, which manufacture aerospace equipment, electronics systems, and flow control systems. The company was founded on December 2, 2021 and is headquartered in Stamford, CT. About Advanced Deposition Technologies (Get Rating) Advanced Deposition Technologies, Inc. engages in the exploration of oil and gas. The firm is developing the assets of its subsidiary, Tahou Natural Resources Development Co., Ltd. It owns a land parcel located in Atsuma-cho, Yufutsu-Gun, IburinoKuni, Tomakomai, and Hokkaido Japan. The company was founded on January 11, 1985 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT. Receive News & Ratings for Crane NXT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Crane NXT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras (NYSE:PBR Get Rating) and Birchcliff Energy (OTCMKTS:BIREF Get Rating) are both oils/energy companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, risk, dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings and valuation. Profitability This table compares Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras and Birchcliff Energys net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras 29.42% 44.48% 18.03% Birchcliff Energy 49.27% 29.14% 21.05% Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras and Birchcliff Energy, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras 1 6 0 0 1.86 Birchcliff Energy 0 2 2 0 2.50 Dividends Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras currently has a consensus target price of $14.00, indicating a potential upside of 18.44%. Birchcliff Energy has a consensus target price of $10.97, indicating a potential upside of 85.03%. Given Birchcliff Energys stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Birchcliff Energy is more favorable than Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras pays an annual dividend of $2.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 19.3%. Birchcliff Energy pays an annual dividend of $0.58 per share and has a dividend yield of 9.8%. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras pays out 40.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Birchcliff Energy pays out 31.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Insider & Institutional Ownership 12.3% of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.5% of Birchcliff Energy shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.5% of Birchcliff Energy shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras and Birchcliff Energys gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras $124.47 billion 0.62 $36.62 billion $5.60 2.11 Birchcliff Energy $1.03 billion 1.53 $505.23 million $1.83 3.24 Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras has higher revenue and earnings than Birchcliff Energy. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Birchcliff Energy, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Volatility and Risk Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras has a beta of 1.38, indicating that its share price is 38% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Birchcliff Energy has a beta of 0.89, indicating that its share price is 11% less volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Birchcliff Energy beats Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras on 9 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks. About Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras (Get Rating) Petroleo Brasileiro SA engages in oil and gas exploration, production, and distribution activities. It operates through the following segments: Exploration and Production; Refining, Transportation, and Marketing; Gas and Power; and Corporate and Other Business. The Exploration and Production segment involves crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas exploration, development, and production. The Refining, Transportation and Marketing segment involves refining, logistics, transportation, trading operations, oil products and crude oil exports and imports, and petrochemical investments. The Gas and Power segment includes transportation and trading of natural and liquefied natural gas, the generation and trading of electric power, and the fertilizer business. The Corporate and Other Business segment comprises the financing activities not attributable to other segments including corporate financial management, and central administrative overhead and actuarial expenses. The company was founded on October 3, 1953 and is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. About Birchcliff Energy (Get Rating) Birchcliff Energy Ltd. engages in the business of exploring, developing, and producing natural gas, light oil, condensate, and other natural gas liquids. The firm also focuses on the operation of Montney/Doig Resource Play. The company was founded by Myles R. Bosman, Gordon W. Cameron, Bruno P. Geremia, Laurence A. Shaw, Werner A. Siemens, James W. Surbey, and A. Jeffery Tonken on July 6, 2004 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Snap-on Incorporated (NYSE:SNA Get Rating) SVP Anup R. Banerjee sold 29,750 shares of Snap-on stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $259.55, for a total value of $7,721,612.50. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 5,994 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,555,742.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Snap-on Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:SNA traded down $1.27 on Tuesday, hitting $257.85. 367,587 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 313,727. The companys 50 day moving average price is $242.92 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $236.52. Snap-on Incorporated has a one year low of $190.08 and a one year high of $263.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 2.43 and a current ratio of 3.48. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.82, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.09. Get Snap-on alerts: Snap-on (NYSE:SNA Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 20th. The company reported $4.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.14 by $0.46. Snap-on had a net margin of 20.60% and a return on equity of 21.17%. The company had revenue of $1.18 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.13 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $4.00 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Snap-on Incorporated will post 17.46 earnings per share for the current year. Snap-on Dividend Announcement Institutional Inflows and Outflows The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 23rd were paid a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 22nd. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.51%. Snap-ons payout ratio is currently 37.18%. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Copeland Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Snap-on by 653.3% during the 4th quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC now owns 113 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its holdings in shares of Snap-on by 57.3% in the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 129 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. NuWave Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Snap-on in the third quarter valued at $29,000. Ridgewood Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of Snap-on in the first quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, Trustcore Financial Services LLC grew its stake in shares of Snap-on by 200.0% in the third quarter. Trustcore Financial Services LLC now owns 150 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. 85.19% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms recently commented on SNA. Longbow Research upgraded shares of Snap-on from an underperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Friday. MKM Partners lifted their price target on shares of Snap-on from $238.00 to $259.00 in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of Snap-on from $230.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research note on Friday. Barrington Research reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $280.00 price objective on shares of Snap-on in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Finally, Tigress Financial reissued a buy rating and set a $302.00 target price (up previously from $298.00) on shares of Snap-on in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $254.33. Snap-on Company Profile (Get Rating) Snap-On, Inc engages in the manufacture and marketing of tools, equipment, diagnostics, repair information, and systems solutions for professional users performing critical tasks. Its products and services include hand and power tools, tool storage, diagnostics software, handheld and PC-based diagnostic products, information and management systems, shop equipment and other solutions for vehicle dealerships and repair centers, as well as for customers in industries such as aviation and aerospace, agriculture, construction, government and military, mining, natural resources, power generation, and technical education. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Snap-on Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Snap-on and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kentucky Retirement Systems raised its holdings in shares of Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT Get Rating) by 0.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 112,067 shares of the retailers stock after acquiring an additional 490 shares during the quarter. Walmart makes up approximately 0.6% of Kentucky Retirement Systems holdings, making the stock its 29th biggest position. Kentucky Retirement Systems holdings in Walmart were worth $15,890,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in WMT. My Personal CFO LLC bought a new position in shares of Walmart during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Bellwether Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Walmart by 112.0% during the 3rd quarter. Bellwether Advisors LLC now owns 212 shares of the retailers stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. JDM Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Walmart during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Ulland Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Walmart by 105.3% in the 4th quarter. Ulland Investment Advisors LLC now owns 195 shares of the retailers stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lipe & Dalton acquired a new stake in shares of Walmart in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. 31.27% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Walmart alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Walmart In other Walmart news, Director S Robson Walton sold 1,504,039 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.51, for a total value of $218,852,714.89. Following the transaction, the director now owns 245,711,516 shares in the company, valued at $35,753,482,693.16. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, major shareholder Jim C. Walton sold 1,908,331 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.15, for a total transaction of $275,085,913.65. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 247,215,555 shares of the companys stock, valued at $35,636,122,253.25. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director S Robson Walton sold 1,504,039 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $145.51, for a total value of $218,852,714.89. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 245,711,516 shares in the company, valued at $35,753,482,693.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 21,053,710 shares of company stock worth $2,982,527,217 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 47.06% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Walmart Price Performance WMT has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Telsey Advisory Group reissued an outperform rating and issued a $160.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Walmart from $155.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Stephens reissued an overweight rating and issued a $170.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. Finally, Erste Group Bank reissued a hold rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $165.09. Walmart stock traded down $0.75 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $150.82. The companys stock had a trading volume of 820,492 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,251,241. Walmart Inc. has a 52 week low of $117.27 and a 52 week high of $156.98. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $144.59 and a 200-day moving average price of $143.84. The stock has a market cap of $406.81 billion, a PE ratio of 35.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.58 and a beta of 0.48. Walmart (NYSE:WMT Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The retailer reported $1.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.20. Walmart had a return on equity of 20.45% and a net margin of 1.91%. The firm had revenue of $164.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $158.67 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.53 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Walmart Inc. will post 6.06 EPS for the current year. Walmart Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 8th will be given a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.51%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 7th. Walmarts dividend payout ratio is presently 53.27%. About Walmart (Get Rating) Walmart, Inc engages in retail and wholesale business. The company offers an assortment of merchandise and services at everyday low prices. It operates through the following business segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sams Club. The Walmart U.S. segment operates as a merchandiser of consumer products, operating under the Walmart, Wal-Mart, and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands, as well as walmart.com and other eCommerce brands. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Walmart Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walmart and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC decreased its position in shares of Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV Get Rating) by 1.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 54,165 shares of the auto parts companys stock after selling 670 shares during the quarter. Autoliv comprises approximately 1.7% of Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest position. Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLCs holdings in Autoliv were worth $4,148,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Signaturefd LLC raised its holdings in Autoliv by 52.5% during the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 526 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 181 shares during the last quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main bought a new position in Autoliv during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $72,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Autoliv during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $69,000. Dupont Capital Management Corp bought a new position in Autoliv during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $91,000. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Autoliv during the 1st quarter worth approximately $122,000. Institutional investors own 46.63% of the companys stock. Get Autoliv alerts: Insider Activity at Autoliv In related news, insider Magnus Jarlegren sold 402 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.66, for a total value of $36,847.32. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 4,184 shares in the company, valued at approximately $383,505.44. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, insider Magnus Jarlegren sold 402 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.66, for a total value of $36,847.32. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 4,184 shares in the company, valued at approximately $383,505.44. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Fredrik Westin sold 1,505 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.45, for a total value of $146,662.25. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 4,142 shares in the company, valued at $403,637.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 2,865 shares of company stock worth $269,670. Company insiders own 0.22% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Autoliv Stock Performance Several research firms have recently weighed in on ALV. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price objective on shares of Autoliv from $113.00 to $110.00 in a research note on Monday. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Autoliv from $97.00 to $93.00 in a research note on Monday. Nordea Equity Research lowered shares of Autoliv from a buy rating to a sell rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 31st. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Autoliv from $100.00 to $95.00 in a research note on Monday. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Autoliv in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $98.25. Shares of NYSE:ALV traded up $0.40 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $85.88. The company had a trading volume of 124,696 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,192,523. The companys 50 day moving average price is $90.62 and its 200 day moving average price is $85.05. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The stock has a market cap of $7.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.88, a P/E/G ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 1.71. Autoliv, Inc. has a 52-week low of $65.74 and a 52-week high of $96.49. Autoliv (NYSE:ALV Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 21st. The auto parts company reported $0.90 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.81 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $2.49 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.32 billion. Autoliv had a net margin of 4.51% and a return on equity of 16.30%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 17.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.45 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Autoliv, Inc. will post 6.47 EPS for the current fiscal year. Autoliv Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 23rd. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 8th were paid a $0.66 dividend. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 7th. Autolivs dividend payout ratio is currently 55.23%. About Autoliv (Get Rating) Autoliv, Inc engages in the development, manufacture, and supply of automotive safety systems. The firms products include passive safety systems, including modules and components for passenger and driver airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, seatbelts and steering wheels. It also supplies anti-whiplash systems and pedestrian protection systems. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ALV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Autoliv Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Autoliv and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NewGen Asset Management Ltd grew its stake in shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE:BIP Get Rating) (TSE:BIP.UN) by 70.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 400,000 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 165,600 shares during the period. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners accounts for about 6.2% of NewGen Asset Management Ltds investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest position. NewGen Asset Management Ltds holdings in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners were worth $12,399,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. CCLA Investment Management purchased a new position in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $46,430,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its holdings in shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners by 9.6% in the third quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 11,325,926 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $407,446,000 after purchasing an additional 989,573 shares in the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank increased its position in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners by 21.7% in the third quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 5,170,733 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $185,424,000 after purchasing an additional 920,915 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners by 12.1% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 6,344,597 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $420,203,000 after purchasing an additional 685,194 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its stake in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners by 13.6% during the third quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 5,179,747 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $186,589,000 after purchasing an additional 618,188 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.81% of the companys stock. Get Brookfield Infrastructure Partners alerts: Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Trading Up 1.0 % Shares of NYSE BIP traded up $0.33 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $34.85. The company had a trading volume of 124,084 shares, compared to its average volume of 385,053. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. has a 52 week low of $30.03 and a 52 week high of $43.62. The businesss 50-day moving average is $33.70 and its 200-day moving average is $34.30. The stock has a market cap of $15.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 252.60 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Increases Dividend Brookfield Infrastructure Partners ( NYSE:BIP Get Rating ) (TSE:BIP.UN) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The utilities provider reported ($0.03) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by ($0.74). Brookfield Infrastructure Partners had a return on equity of 1.20% and a net margin of 2.09%. The company had revenue of $3.71 billion during the quarter. Equities analysts expect that Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. will post 3.01 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 28th were issued a $0.382 dividend. This represents a $1.53 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.38%. This is a boost from Brookfield Infrastructure Partnerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.36. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 27th. Brookfield Infrastructure Partnerss dividend payout ratio is currently 1,119.57%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have commented on BIP. Raymond James dropped their price objective on shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from $47.00 to $45.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Brookfield Infrastructure Partners in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $47.00 price objective on shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $43.58. About Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (Get Rating) Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP operates as an infrastructure company, which engages in the management of diversified portfolio of infrastructure assets that will generate sustainable and growing distributions over the long-term for unit holders. It operates through the following segments: Utilities, Transport, Midstream, and Data. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BIP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE:BIP Get Rating) (TSE:BIP.UN). Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MarketsandMarkets Research Pvt. Ltd. Chicago, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a research report France Precision Farming Market with COVID-19 Impact Analysis by Technology (Guidance, Remote Sensing and Variable Rate Technology), Offering, Application, and Region (Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Rest of the World) - Global Forecast to 2030" published by MarketsandMarkets, the global precision farming market is projected to grow from USD 8.5 billion in 2022 to USD 15.6 billion by 2030; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.7% from 2022 to 2030. Precision Farming market to grow at an attractive rate of CAGR of 9.7% in France by 2030 France has been one of the dominant agricultural centres in Europe for centuries. With about ~730,000 farms, about 7% of the working population is employed in agriculture or similar sectors, such as fishing and forestry, according to the French Ministry of Agriculture. Agriculture technology has gained popularity across French farms as it improves efficiency, yield, and profitability. Many start-ups in France are developing algorithms, software, satellites, drones, artificial intelligence, and robots. In April 2020, an alliance of associations from the EU agri-food chain signed a joint EU Code of Conduct on the sharing of agricultural information. About 250 start-ups in France are focusing on the agriculture technology sector. Driven by the high value of crops and the importance of quality, many precision farming research projects are in operation in the wine production areas of France. Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1243 The adoption of precision farming technologies has been on the rise in France over the past few years, driven by a combination of factors including government support, advances in technology, and the need for more sustainable and efficient farming practices. French government has implemented policies and initiatives aimed at promoting precision agriculture in the country. For example, the French Ministry of Agriculture has launched a national plan for the development of precision agriculture, which includes measures to support research and development, training for farmers, and the deployment of precision farming technologies in the field. In addition to government support, advances in technology have also contributed to the growth of precision agriculture market in France. Story continues Few small French based companies also work towards precision farming solutions. For instance, Ekylibre is a French company that provides a cloud-based software platform for precision agriculture. Their platform includes tools for data management, crop monitoring, and yield analysis, as well as a marketplace for purchasing agricultural inputs. Similarly, Naio Technologies is a French company that develops robotic solutions for precision farming. INQUIRY BEFORE BUYING : https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=1243 Their products include autonomous robots for weeding and harvesting crops, as well as software for real-time data analysis and decision-making. Limagrain, Climpact, Kuhn S.A., Sulky-Burel, and The Vapormatic Co. Ltd are major manufacturers of precision farming related tools in France. Related Reports: Content Source: : France Precision Farming Market Research Insight : Deere & Company (John Deere) (US) and Trimble (US) are leading players in Precision Farming Market https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/precision-farming-market.asp CONTACT: About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com NexPoint Residential Trust (NYSE:NXRT Get Rating) was upgraded by StockNews.com from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday. Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Credit Suisse Group downgraded NexPoint Residential Trust from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $47.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Monday, January 9th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on NexPoint Residential Trust from $46.00 to $49.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. Finally, TheStreet downgraded NexPoint Residential Trust from a c rating to a d+ rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $60.20. Get NexPoint Residential Trust alerts: NexPoint Residential Trust Price Performance NYSE NXRT traded down $1.67 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $42.15. 124,714 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 127,503. The company has a current ratio of 2.51, a quick ratio of 2.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.21. The company has a market cap of $1.08 billion, a PE ratio of -120.43, a P/E/G ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.07. NexPoint Residential Trust has a fifty-two week low of $38.67 and a fifty-two week high of $95.04. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $44.60 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $45.19. Hedge Funds Weigh In On NexPoint Residential Trust About NexPoint Residential Trust A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of NexPoint Residential Trust by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,784,482 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $128,670,000 after buying an additional 29,122 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of NexPoint Residential Trust by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,389,586 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $86,863,000 after buying an additional 25,510 shares in the last quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of NexPoint Residential Trust by 18.0% during the 1st quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC now owns 1,241,425 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $54,213,000 after buying an additional 189,165 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of NexPoint Residential Trust by 6.1% during the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 732,549 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $45,792,000 after buying an additional 42,027 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of NexPoint Residential Trust by 8.2% during the 3rd quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 516,202 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $23,854,000 after buying an additional 39,140 shares in the last quarter. 77.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. (Get Rating) NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc engages in the acquisition, management, and disposition of multifamily assets. It also focuses on providing lifestyle amenities and upgraded living spaces to low and moderate income renters in the Southeastern United States and Texas. The company was founded on September 19, 2014 and is headquartered in Dallas, TX. Read More Receive News & Ratings for NexPoint Residential Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NexPoint Residential Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nordic American Tankers Limited (NYSE:NAT Get Rating) Equities researchers at Jefferies Financial Group dropped their FY2023 earnings estimates for Nordic American Tankers in a note issued to investors on Monday, April 24th. Jefferies Financial Group analyst O. Nokta now anticipates that the shipping company will earn $0.70 per share for the year, down from their previous estimate of $0.72. Jefferies Financial Group currently has a Buy rating and a $5.00 target price on the stock. The consensus estimate for Nordic American Tankers current full-year earnings is $0.58 per share. Get Nordic American Tankers alerts: Several other research analysts also recently commented on NAT. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Nordic American Tankers in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. B. Riley raised their price target on shares of Nordic American Tankers from $5.00 to $5.50 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $5.25. Nordic American Tankers Trading Down 3.7 % NAT stock opened at $3.63 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $702.26 million, a PE ratio of 60.50 and a beta of 0.10. Nordic American Tankers has a 12 month low of $1.80 and a 12 month high of $4.65. The firms 50-day moving average is $3.88 and its 200 day moving average is $3.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 1.96 and a quick ratio of 1.61. Nordic American Tankers (NYSE:NAT Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The shipping company reported $0.17 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.22 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $71.10 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $83.48 million. Nordic American Tankers had a return on equity of 2.96% and a net margin of 8.95%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned ($0.12) EPS. Nordic American Tankers Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 14th were paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 16.53%. This is a boost from Nordic American Tankerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.05. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 13th. Nordic American Tankerss payout ratio is presently 1,000.00%. Institutional Trading of Nordic American Tankers Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Nordic American Tankers during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Aigen Investment Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Nordic American Tankers during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $274,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Nordic American Tankers by 13.2% during the 3rd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 766,974 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $2,048,000 after purchasing an additional 89,514 shares in the last quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Nordic American Tankers during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Financial Architects Inc purchased a new position in shares of Nordic American Tankers during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $115,000. 40.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Nordic American Tankers Company Profile (Get Rating) Nordic American Tankers Ltd. operates as an international tanker company. It owns and operates Suezmax crude oil tankers. The company was founded by Herbjorn Hansson on June 12, 1995 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Nordic American Tankers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nordic American Tankers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ntt Docomo, Inc. (OTCMKTS:DCMYY Get Rating)s stock price traded up 0% on Monday . The company traded as high as $36.17 and last traded at $36.13. 3,300 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 89% from the average session volume of 29,309 shares. The stock had previously closed at $36.12. Ntt Docomo Price Performance The firm has a 50-day moving average of $36.13. Ntt Docomo Company Profile (Get Rating) NTT DOCOMO, INC., a telecommunications company, provides various mobile services in Japan and internationally. It operates through three segments: Telecommunications Business, Smart Life Business, and Other Businesses. The company offers iPhone, iPad, smartphone, tablet, and feature phone products and services under the docomo name, as well as d POINT CLUB, a point program. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Ntt Docomo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ntt Docomo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pacer CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF (NYSEARCA:AFTY Get Rating) shares traded down 0.5% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $15.72 and last traded at $15.73. 1,067 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 39% from the average session volume of 766 shares. The stock had previously closed at $15.80. Pacer CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF Price Performance The company has a fifty day moving average price of $16.23 and a 200 day moving average price of $15.94. The company has a market cap of $4.87 million, a PE ratio of 12.77 and a beta of 0.43. Get Pacer CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF alerts: Institutional Trading of Pacer CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. UBS Group AG raised its position in shares of Pacer CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF by 61.7% during the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 3,051 shares of the companys stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 1,164 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC raised its position in shares of Pacer CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 46,637 shares of the companys stock valued at $723,000 after buying an additional 1,625 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Flow Traders U.S. LLC raised its position in shares of Pacer CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF by 100.0% during the 1st quarter. Flow Traders U.S. LLC now owns 31,236 shares of the companys stock valued at $567,000 after buying an additional 15,615 shares in the last quarter. Pacer CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF Company Profile The Pacer CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF (AFTY) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the FTSE China A 50 index. The fund tracks an index of the 50 largest China A-shares listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges. AFTY was launched on Mar 12, 2015 and is managed by Pacer. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Pacer CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pacer CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Retirement Systems of Alabama cut its position in shares of The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW Get Rating) by 1.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 242,148 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after selling 2,792 shares during the quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama owned about 0.09% of Sherwin-Williams worth $57,469,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in SHW. Roundview Capital LLC boosted its stake in Sherwin-Williams by 8.1% during the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 8,065 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $2,013,000 after acquiring an additional 607 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. grew its stake in shares of Sherwin-Williams by 189.1% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 10,409 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $2,598,000 after buying an additional 6,808 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. increased its position in Sherwin-Williams by 26.5% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 118,763 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $29,956,000 after buying an additional 24,884 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC bought a new stake in Sherwin-Williams in the first quarter worth $1,231,000. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in shares of Sherwin-Williams by 2.6% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 11,387 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $2,842,000 after acquiring an additional 287 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.03% of the companys stock. Get Sherwin-Williams alerts: Sherwin-Williams Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:SHW traded down $1.24 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $233.55. 205,960 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,548,267. The firm has a market cap of $60.27 billion, a PE ratio of 30.38, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 1.07. The Sherwin-Williams Company has a 52 week low of $195.24 and a 52 week high of $285.00. The companys 50 day moving average price is $222.79 and its 200-day moving average price is $230.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.09, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.55. Sherwin-Williams Dividend Announcement Sherwin-Williams ( NYSE:SHW Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.04 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.84 by $0.20. Sherwin-Williams had a net margin of 9.12% and a return on equity of 90.04%. The company had revenue of $5.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.14 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.61 EPS. Sherwin-Williamss revenue for the quarter was up 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that The Sherwin-Williams Company will post 8.51 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, May 19th will be paid a dividend of $0.605 per share. This represents a $2.42 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.04%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th. Sherwin-Williamss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.35%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Sherwin-Williams news, SVP Bryan J. Young sold 2,750 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $220.76, for a total transaction of $607,090.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 7,955 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,756,145.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, SVP Bryan J. Young sold 2,750 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $220.76, for a total transaction of $607,090.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 7,955 shares in the company, valued at $1,756,145.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO John G. Morikis purchased 2,207 shares of Sherwin-Williams stock in a transaction on Friday, January 27th. The stock was bought at an average price of $226.70 per share, for a total transaction of $500,326.90. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 231,344 shares in the company, valued at approximately $52,445,684.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.55% of the stock is owned by insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Loop Capital increased their price objective on shares of Sherwin-Williams from $260.00 to $285.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Sherwin-Williams from $270.00 to $251.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Zelman & Associates downgraded Sherwin-Williams from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Sherwin-Williams in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Sherwin-Williams from $300.00 to $275.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $256.72. Sherwin-Williams Profile (Get Rating) The Sherwin-Williams Co engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of paint and coatings. It operates through the following segments: America Group, Consumer Brands Group, and Performance Coating Group. The America Group segment manages the exclusive outlets for Sherwin-Williams branded paints, stains, supplies, equipment, and floor coverings. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Sherwin-Williams Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sherwin-Williams and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lemonade (NYSE:LMND Get Rating) and The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, analyst recommendations, dividends, valuation, earnings and risk. Valuation & Earnings This table compares Lemonade and The Hartford Financial Services Groups revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Lemonade alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Lemonade $256.70 million 2.97 -$297.80 million ($4.61) -2.39 The Hartford Financial Services Group $22.36 billion 0.97 $1.82 billion $5.45 12.68 The Hartford Financial Services Group has higher revenue and earnings than Lemonade. Lemonade is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than The Hartford Financial Services Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Lemonade -116.01% -33.69% -18.73% The Hartford Financial Services Group 8.12% 18.15% 3.44% Volatility and Risk This table compares Lemonade and The Hartford Financial Services Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Lemonade has a beta of 1.5, meaning that its stock price is 50% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, The Hartford Financial Services Group has a beta of 0.85, meaning that its stock price is 15% less volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of recent ratings for Lemonade and The Hartford Financial Services Group, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Lemonade 2 3 0 0 1.60 The Hartford Financial Services Group 0 6 7 0 2.54 Lemonade currently has a consensus target price of $20.44, suggesting a potential upside of 85.63%. The Hartford Financial Services Group has a consensus target price of $86.00, suggesting a potential upside of 24.48%. Given Lemonades higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Lemonade is more favorable than The Hartford Financial Services Group. Institutional and Insider Ownership 67.7% of Lemonade shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 89.9% of The Hartford Financial Services Group shares are held by institutional investors. 36.7% of Lemonade shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.0% of The Hartford Financial Services Group shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Summary The Hartford Financial Services Group beats Lemonade on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About Lemonade (Get Rating) Lemonade, Inc. provides various insurance products in the United States and Europe. Its insurance products include stolen or damaged property, and personal liability that protects its customers if they are responsible for an accident or damage to another person or their property. The company also offers renters, homeowners, pet, car, and life insurance products, as well as landlord insurance policies. In addition, it operates as an agent for other insurance companies. The company was formerly known as Lemonade Group, Inc. and changed its name to Lemonade, Inc. Lemonade, Inc. was incorporated in 2015 and is headquartered in New York, New York. 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 Lemonade Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lemonade and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stepan (NYSE:SCL Get Rating) released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The basic materials company reported $0.71 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.94 by ($0.23), Briefing.com reports. The business had revenue of $651.40 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $649.73 million. Stepan had a return on equity of 13.53% and a net margin of 5.31%. Stepans quarterly revenue was down 3.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.76 earnings per share. Stepan Stock Performance SCL stock traded up $0.31 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $90.82. The stock had a trading volume of 33,345 shares, compared to its average volume of 81,008. The stocks 50 day moving average is $100.73 and its two-hundred day moving average is $104.78. The firm has a market cap of $2.03 billion, a PE ratio of 14.26 and a beta of 0.84. Stepan has a 52 week low of $88.20 and a 52 week high of $116.72. The company has a current ratio of 1.56, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. Get Stepan alerts: Stepan Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be given a dividend of $0.365 per share. This represents a $1.46 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 30th. Stepans dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.92%. Insider Activity Institutional Inflows and Outflows In related news, VP Richard Finn Stepan sold 479 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.06, for a total value of $50,323.74. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 188,326 shares of the companys stock, valued at $19,785,529.56. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . In related news, Director F Quinn Stepan, Jr. sold 4,132 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.12, for a total value of $434,355.84. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 228,165 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $23,984,704.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . Also, VP Richard Finn Stepan sold 479 shares of Stepan stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.06, for a total value of $50,323.74. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 188,326 shares in the company, valued at $19,785,529.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 4,766 shares of company stock valued at $500,964 in the last quarter. 6.90% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Personal Capital Advisors Corp raised its stake in Stepan by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Personal Capital Advisors Corp now owns 175,839 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $18,720,000 after acquiring an additional 3,597 shares during the period. CI Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Stepan during the 4th quarter valued at $385,000. State of Tennessee Treasury Department lifted its stake in shares of Stepan by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. State of Tennessee Treasury Department now owns 12,460 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,326,000 after buying an additional 552 shares in the last quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Stepan in the 4th quarter worth $324,000. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Stepan in the 4th quarter worth $38,000. Institutional investors own 76.84% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Stepan in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. About Stepan (Get Rating) Stepan Co engages in the manufacture and sale of specialty and intermediate chemicals. It operates through the following segments: Surfactants, Polymers, and Specialty Products. The Surfactants segment offers a range of surfactant chemicals such as anionic, cationic, nonionic, and amphoteric surfactants. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Stepan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stepan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Suncor Energy Inc. (TSE:SU Get Rating) (NYSE:SU) Stock analysts at Zacks Research decreased their Q1 2023 earnings per share estimates for shares of Suncor Energy in a research note issued on Thursday, April 20th. Zacks Research analyst N. Choudhury now forecasts that the company will earn $1.17 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $1.21. The consensus estimate for Suncor Energys current full-year earnings is $6.37 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Suncor Energys Q2 2023 earnings at $1.28 EPS, Q3 2023 earnings at $1.11 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $4.54 EPS, Q2 2024 earnings at $1.40 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $1.29 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $1.25 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $4.91 EPS. Get Suncor Energy alerts: SU has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Eight Capital raised shares of Suncor Energy from a sell rating to a neutral rating and boosted their target price for the company from C$43.00 to C$50.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. CSFB cut their price target on shares of Suncor Energy from C$60.00 to C$56.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on Suncor Energy from C$54.00 to C$52.00 in a report on Monday, April 17th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Suncor Energy from C$61.00 to C$58.00 in a report on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Scotiabank decreased their target price on shares of Suncor Energy from C$50.00 to C$47.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$54.07. Suncor Energy Stock Down 1.7 % SU opened at C$40.71 on Monday. Suncor Energy has a fifty-two week low of C$36.38 and a fifty-two week high of C$53.62. The firm has a market capitalization of C$53.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.23, a PEG ratio of 0.15 and a beta of 1.67. The companys 50-day moving average is C$43.50 and its 200 day moving average is C$44.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 40.72, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.83. Suncor Energy (TSE:SU Get Rating) (NYSE:SU) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 14th. The company reported C$1.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$1.68 by C$0.13. Suncor Energy had a net margin of 15.56% and a return on equity of 23.89%. The firm had revenue of C$13.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$12.92 billion. Suncor Energy Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 24th were issued a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.11%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 2nd. Suncor Energys payout ratio is 31.85%. About Suncor Energy (Get Rating) Suncor Energy Inc operates as an integrated energy company. The company primarily focuses on developing petroleum resource basins in Canada's Athabasca oil sands; explores, acquires, develops, produces, transports, refines, and markets crude oil in Canada and internationally; markets petroleum and petrochemical products under the Petro-Canada name primarily in Canada. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Suncor Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Suncor Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tanger Factory Outlet Centers (NYSE:SKT Get Rating) will issue its quarterly earnings data after the market closes on Thursday, April 27th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.43 per share for the quarter. Parties that wish to listen to the companys conference call can do so using this link. Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Trading Down 1.1 % Shares of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers stock opened at $18.44 on Wednesday. Tanger Factory Outlet Centers has a 1 year low of $13.26 and a 1 year high of $20.27. The firm has a market cap of $1.94 billion, a PE ratio of 23.95, a PEG ratio of 6.89 and a beta of 1.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.78, a current ratio of 2.53 and a quick ratio of 2.53. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $18.78 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $18.50. Get Tanger Factory Outlet Centers alerts: Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 28th will be given a dividend of $0.245 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 27th. This is a positive change from Tanger Factory Outlet Centerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $0.98 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.31%. Tanger Factory Outlet Centerss payout ratio is presently 114.29%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Analyst Ratings Changes Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers in the 1st quarter worth approximately $74,000. M&T Bank Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers by 6.0% in the 3rd quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 10,623 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $144,000 after acquiring an additional 602 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $178,000. Blair William & Co. IL bought a new stake in Tanger Factory Outlet Centers during the 1st quarter valued at $217,000. Finally, Natixis Advisors L.P. bought a new stake in Tanger Factory Outlet Centers during the 2nd quarter valued at $231,000. 74.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. SKT has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Compass Point lowered shares of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $21.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Monday, January 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers in a research report on Tuesday, March 21st. They set a buy rating and a $22.00 target price for the company. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Company Profile (Get Rating) Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc engages in the operation of upscale open-air outlet centers. The firm focuses on developing, acquiring, owning, operating, and managing outlet shopping centers. The company was founded by Stanley K. Tanger in 1981 and is headquartered in Greensboro, NC. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tanger Factory Outlet Centers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The European Smaller Companies Trust PLC (LON:TRG Get Rating) shares were down 1.8% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 175 ($2.19) and last traded at GBX 175 ($2.19). Approximately 107,418 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 51% from the average daily volume of 221,291 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 178.20 ($2.23). The European Smaller Companies Trust Stock Down 1.8 % The company has a quick ratio of 0.01, a current ratio of 0.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.60. The company has a market cap of 701.52 million and a P/E ratio of 2.13. The company has a fifty day moving average of GBX 175 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 175. The European Smaller Companies Trust Company Profile (Get Rating) TR European Growth Trust PLC is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Henderson Investment Funds Limited. It is co-managed by Henderson Global Investors Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of Europe. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for The European Smaller Companies Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The European Smaller Companies Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DUBLIN, April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Antimony Market Outlook to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Research and Markets Logo According to the report, the Global Antimony market is expected to witness a significant growth rate during the forecasted period. The increasing use of Antimony as the chemical in fire retardants for fire resistance in plastic, rubber, and fabric prevents the materials from bursting into flames, expected to drive the Global Antimony Market. Further, increasing the use of Antimony for lead batteries and lead alloys to produce energy storage and fabrications of high-quality sheets in the manufacture of lead batteries helps prevent corrosion is expected to drive the Global Antimony Market. Furthermore, the increasing use of Antimony in the Ceramics & Glass industry to produce the white gaze necessary for making ceramic wares such as vases, dinner sets, etc., which provides excellent mechanical strength, is also projected to drive the global market. However, exposure to antimony leads to serious health hazards, including breathing disorders, skin irritation, and lung cancer, and leads to several environmental hazards that are expected to hinder the market growth. Antimony is used for manufacturing flame retardants, plastic additives, rubber, fabric, lead batteries, lead alloys and used in the manufacture of ceramics & glass industry such as vases, dinner sets, as well as used in electric vehicles and semiconductor devices such as infrared detectors, diodes, low friction metals, flameproofing materials, ceramic enamels, and paints. The Flame Retardant is the prime consumer of Antimony and is projected to drive the global Antimony market. Fire retardant plastic additives such as Antimony are added to plastics to inhibit, suppress or delay combustion. Therefore, it is necessary to add flame retardant plastic additives to meet governmental, and industry regulatory standards, the use of Antimony is bound to rise. According to the Malaysian Rubber Council, the total exports of rubber products have exceptional growth of 76% contributed by the surge in global demand for protective equipment including rubber gloves. Story continues The overall rubber products industry contributed almost 5% to Malaysia's total export in 2020. The addition of flame blocking ingredients in rubber gloves, such as Antimony Trioxide is widely used for effective fire resistance, has made the demand for the Antimony Market. Fire Retardant is applied to both natural and synthetic fibers, treated with Antimony. When a fire occurs, the chemical coated on the fabric reacts with gases and tars, which ultimately slows down the burning of the fabric, which has made the demand of industry shoot, thus driving the Global Antimony Market. Therefore all these factors have increased the need for Antimony as an efficient fire retardant is expected to grow and drive the overall market in the future. The Asia-Pacific region is poised to be the leader in the production and the subsequent consumption of Antimony, with most of the consumption in countries like China and India. There is a massive rise in the growing fire & safety regulation in both private and commercial spaces. Other places like schools and offices are pushing greater use for Antimony in the Asia-Pacific region, accounting for the significant consumption of Antimony. Factors include rapid urbanization and the increase in the demand for electric vehicles in which lead batteries are used. Antimony can be extracted from lead batteries and reused, the use of Antimony is also increasing day by day, which increases the demand for Antimony in the Global Market. The glass and ceramics use Antimony as a decolorizing and finishing agent to clarify glasses and as a stabilizing agent in ceramics production, increasing the demand for Antimony in the market. Due to rapid industrialization, the increasing demand for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging manufactured using Antimony as a critical ingredient is projected to drive the Antimony market. Factors like these have made Asia-Pacific an essential scope for the global Antimony market. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Research Scope and Methodology 3. Market Analysis 4. Industry Analysis 4.1 Supply Chain Analysis 5. Market Segmentation & Forecast 5.1 By Product Type 5.1.1 Antimony Pentoxide 5.1.2 Antimony Trioxide 5.1.3 Alloy 5.1.4 Others 5.2 By Application 5.2.1 Flame Retardant 5.2.2 Lead Acid Batteries 5.2.3 Glass - Ceramics 5.2.4 Others 6. Regional Market Analysis 7. Key Company Profiles 8. Competitive Landscape 9. Conclusions and Recommendations A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes Advanced Metallurgical Group NV American Elements United States Antimony Corporation Belmont Metals Inc Umicore N.V. Korea Zinc Co. Ltd Huachang Antimony Industry Co. Ltd Nihon Seiko Co. Ltd GeoProMining Ltd Recyclex Village Main Reef Ltd Dongfeng Antimony Industry Co Ltd Geodex Minerals Ltd China Tin Co Ltd Muli Antimony Industry For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/omq9fb About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-antimony-market-report-2023-increasing-use-in-lead-batteries-and-alloys-to-drive-sector-growth-301807200.html SOURCE Research and Markets Ifrah Financial Services Inc. reduced its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO Get Rating) by 1.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 21,218 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 351 shares during the quarter. Ifrah Financial Services Inc.s holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF were worth $827,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in VWO. Signaturefd LLC boosted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 3,906.2% during the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 4,950,880 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $180,658,000 after acquiring an additional 4,827,299 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 843.4% during the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 4,898,835 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $178,758,000 after acquiring an additional 4,379,584 shares during the period. Yale University lifted its position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 49.6% during the 1st quarter. Yale University now owns 10,971,356 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $506,109,000 after acquiring an additional 3,637,900 shares during the period. Adviser Investments LLC lifted its position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 6,844.1% during the 4th quarter. Adviser Investments LLC now owns 2,049,565 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $85,405,000 after acquiring an additional 2,020,050 shares during the period. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec acquired a new stake in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $72,980,000. Get Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF alerts: Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Price Performance Shares of VWO stock traded up $0.34 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $39.56. 2,436,743 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 10,375,621. The company has a market cap of $69.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.00 and a beta of 0.70. The companys 50 day moving average is $40.03 and its two-hundred day moving average is $39.62. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF has a 1 year low of $34.88 and a 1 year high of $44.30. About Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF The Fund seeks to track the performance of the FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index, that measures the return of stocks issued by companies located in emerging market countries. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VWO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Walker River Resources Corp. (CVE:WRR Get Rating)s share price traded up 2.6% on Monday . The stock traded as high as C$0.20 and last traded at C$0.20. 33,500 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 58% from the average session volume of 78,845 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.20. Walker River Resources Stock Down 10.0 % The company has a market cap of C$6.68 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.60 and a beta of 1.53. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$0.20 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$0.27. About Walker River Resources (Get Rating) Walker River Resources Corp., an exploration stage company, engages in the identification, exploration, and evaluation of mineral properties in Canada. Its flagship property is the 100% owned Lapon Canyon gold project with 147 claims located in Nevada. The company was formerly known as Rhino Exploration Inc and changed its name to Walker River Resources Corp. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Walker River Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walker River Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Future Market Insights Global and Consulting Pvt. Ltd. The United States is One of the Significant Global Markets That Secured a Relevant Share During the Forecast Period. Consumers Are More Concerned About Their Health and Are Anticipated to Increase the Adoption of Organic Edible Oil to Maintain a Better Lifestyle. Several Key Manufacturing Companies in the United States Organic Edible Oil Market Offer a Huge Quantity of Organic Oils, Including Olive, Coconut, Sesame, and Others. NEWARK, Del, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The organic edible oil market is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 3.14 Billion in 2023 and is projected to be worth US$ 7.43 Billion by 2033. The market is capturing a CAGR of 9% during the forecast period. How are Consumers Rapidly Growing the Demand for Organic Edible Oil? There are several ways in which consumers are rapidly growing the demand for organic edible oil. Increase in Health Consciousness: Consumers are becoming more health-conscious and actively seeking healthier food options. Organic edible oil is considered healthier as it is free from harmful chemicals, pesticides, and other toxic substances that can adversely affect human health. As a result, more consumers are buying organic edible oil to improve their overall health and well-being. Rise in Environmental Awareness: Consumers are becoming more aware of the impact of conventional farming practices on the environment. Using chemical fertilizers and pesticides in conventional farming can pollute the soil, air, and water. On the other hand, organic farming promotes using natural fertilizers and pest control methods to reduce environmental impact. As consumers become more environmentally conscious, they choose organic edible oil over conventional oil. Increased Availability and Accessibility: Organic edible oil is becoming more widely available and accessible to consumers. As more farmers and producers switch to organic farming methods, the supply of organic edible oil is increasing. Additionally, many grocery stores and online retailers now offer organic edible oil, making it easier for consumers to access and purchase. Increasing Marketing and Advertising Efforts: Many companies are aggressively marketing their organic edible oil products, highlighting the health and environmental benefits. They are making consumers more aware of organic edible oil's benefits and driving the demand for these products. Story continues These trends continue increasing consumer awareness and the upsurge in demand for organic edible oil. Get Full PDF Sample Copy of Report (Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures, and Chart): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-16970 Key Takeaways: The organic edible oil market is estimated to secure a CAGR of 9% with a valuation of US$ 7.43 Billion by 2033. Historically, the market captured a valuation of US$ 2.04 Billion in 2018. India is leading the global market by producing a maximum share during the forecast period. Which Strategies are Implemented by Key Players in the Global Market? Key players are implementing various strategies in the global market to maintain their market position and growth. Prominent Players in the organic edible oil market are Cargill Incorporated , Bunge Limited , Archer Daniels Midland Company , Adams Group Inc , Wilmar International Limited , Conagra Brands Inc , Hain Celestial Group Inc , Spectrum Organics , Ventura Foods LLC , NOW Foods , Nutiva , Dr. Bronners , Chosen Foods LLC , and La Tourangelle Inc. A few common strategies are: Product Diversification: Key Players in the market offer a wide range of products to cater to different customer needs. It helps them capture a huge market share and build customer loyalty. Branding and Marketing: Strong branding and marketing strategies are important for key players to build brand recognition and consumer awareness. They invest in marketing and advertising campaigns to reach a wider audience and differentiate their products from competitors. Sustainable and Ethical Practices: Sustainable and ethical practices are increasingly important to consumers, and key organic edible oil market players often highlight their values. They may use environment-friendly production methods, source ingredients from local and sustainable sources, and use eco-friendly packaging. Innovation: Key players in the market may invest in research and development to create new and innovative products that meet consumers' changing needs and preferences. They may also adopt new technologies to improve production efficiency and reduce costs. Expand operations in the future, ask for your custom report here: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-16970 Recent Development in the Organic Edible Oil Market are: Wilmar International: Wilmar International is an agribusiness company that produces and sells organic edible oils under its brand, Fortune. In July 2021, Wilmar International announced that it had agreed to acquire a 50% stake in FFM Berhad. Adams Group: Adams Group is a family-owned company that produces and sells organic edible oils, including organic soybean oil and sunflower oil. In July 2021, Adams Group announced that it had acquired J.M. Smucker Co.'s Natural Oils business assets, including the brand name Crisco. Organic Edible Oil Market by Category By Type: Palm Oil Rapeseed Oil Coconut Oil Soybean Oil Olive Oil Sunflower Oil By Distribution Channel: Specialty Stores Convenient Stores Supermarkets/Hypermarkets Online Retail Stores By Region: North America Europe Latin America Asia Pacific Middle East Africa Grow your profit margins Buy your report now: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/16970 Table of Content (ToC) 1. Executive Summary | Organic Edible Oil Market 1.1. Global Market Outlook 1.2. Demand-side Trends 1.3. Supply-side Trends 1.4. Technology Roadmap Analysis 1.5. Analysis and Recommendations 2. Market Overview 2.1. Market CoverageTaxonomy 2.2. Market DefinitionScopeLimitations 3. Market Background 3.1. Market Dynamics 3.2. Scenario Forecast 3.3. Opportunity Map Analysis 3.4. Product Life Cycle Analysis 3.5. Supply Chain Analysis 3.6. Investment Feasibility Matrix 3.7. Value Chain Analysis 3.8. PESTLE and Porters Analysis 3.9. Regulatory Landscape 3.10. Regional Parent Market Outlook 4. Global Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast, 2023 to 2033 (TOC Continue...) Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/organic-edible-oil-market Top Reports Related To Food and Beverage Market Insights Edible Oils and Fats Market Size: According to the new edible oils and fats market analysis by Future Market Insights (FMI), sales of edible oils and fats are estimated to generate a total of US$ 121.90 Billion in 2023. Olive Oil Market Analysis: The global olive oil market is expected to be valued at US$ 13.79 Billion in 2023 and reach a valuation of US$ 18.35 Billion by 2033. The demand for olive oil is estimated to record a steady 2.9% CAGR. Sustainable Palm Oil Market Share: According to Future Market Insights research, during the projected period, the Global Sustainable palm oil market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.0%. The market value is projected to increase from US$ 913.8 Million in 2022 to US$ 1,636.5 Million by 2032. Citrus Oils Market Opportunity: The citrus oils market is estimated to be valued at US$ 3.9 Billion in 2022. As per Future Market Insights (FMI), the overall market value is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 5.8 Billion by 2032, rising at a CAGR of 4% from 2022 to 2032. Abies Alba (Fir) Leaf Oil Market Value: According to Future Market Insights research, during the projected period, the Global Abies Alba (Fir) Leaf Oil Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.1%. Lavandula Oil Market Demand: According to Future Market Insights research, during the projected period, the Global Lavandula oil market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.0%. The market value is projected to increase from US$ 913.8 Million in 2022 to US$ 1,636.5 Million by 2032. Cottonseed Oil Market Growth: The Cottonseed Oil Market is valued at US$ 4 Billion in 2021. The market is likely to grow at a CAGR of 3.2% through 2028, reaching US$ 5 Billion. Lemongrass Oil Market Trends: According to the research of Future Market Insights, the market for Lemongrass Oil is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 5.6% over the forecast period. Cold-Pressed Oil Market Sales: The global cold-pressed oil market share is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 25.2 Billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2022 to 2032. Flavored Butter And Oils Market Outlook: Overall demand for flavored butter and oils is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% between 2022 and 2032, totaling around US$ 891.5 Million by 2032. About Future Market Insights, Inc. Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, Stevie Award - recipient market research organization, and a member of Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) provides in-depth insights into governing factors elevating the demand in the market. It discloses opportunities that will favor the market growth in various segments on the basis of Source, Application, Sales Channel, and End Use over the next 10 years. Contact Us: Future Market Insights, Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA Tel: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: www.futuremarketinsights.com LinkedIn | Twitter | Blogs | YouTube Future Market Insights Global and Consulting Pvt. Ltd. Demand for Painkillers in Western Europe is Expected to Register a Growth of 3.3% Over the Next Ten Years. Pfizer Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc, and Abbott Laboratories Are a Few Key Players in the Global Painkillers Market. NEWARK, Del, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global painkillers market is predicted to be worth US$ 70.0 Billion by the end of 2023, and to grow at a CAGR of 3.7% to be worth US$ 100.9 Billion by the end of 2033. According to a new analysis by Future Market Insights, opioids will lead the global market with a share of approximately 53.4% in 2022. The regulatory environment surrounding Painkillers has a big impact on the market's expansion. These rules are necessary to protect patient safety and stop the overuse and abuse of Painkillers, but too many rules could prohibit people from accessing appropriate pain relief solutions. The use of opioid Painkillers have been subject to stronger controls and limitations as a result of heightened scrutiny in recent years. This has given non-narcotic Painkillers like NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines) and other non-narcotic drugs the chance to increase their market share. The regulatory attempts to enhance pain management and decrease opioid abuse, like prescription drug monitoring programs and physician education initiatives, may present the potential for businesses to provide alternative pain management options. Check our brief Offerings Request A Sample Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-17075 Clinical advancements in the delivery and formulation of analgesic medications are a constant priority for several top pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, they are creating safer opioids with reduced side effects and efficient pain management. The creation of analgesic formulations with abuse-deterrent qualities that are more challenging to manipulate for snorting or injectionthe methods of administration most frequently associated with addiction due to their rewarding effectsis perhaps the most notable clinical improvement. Story continues Key Takeaways from Market Study: Opioids are the leading segment as a drug class, and hold a 53.4% market value share in 2022, owing to low cost and easy availability compared to other drugs. The prescription Drugs segment dominated the global market with a value share of around 58.8% in 2022, as they are covered under health insurance and thus affordable to patients. The surgical pain indication segment held 58.8% market value share in 2022, owing to the increasing number of surgeries and growing demand for Painkillers for post-operative pain management. Oral route of administration held 38.7% market value share in 2022, as they are easy to consume for patients making them more convenient. By distribution channel, retail pharmacies held a share of around 27.5% in 2022, owed to easy access to both prescription and OTC drugs in retail pharmacies. North America dominated the global market with the U.S. contributing around 91.5% of the regional share in 2022 owing to the large number of painkiller drug manufacturers in the region. Increasing Number of Surgical Procedures across the Globe and Growing Demand for Painkillers in Post-Operative Pain Management is set to Propel the Global Market for Painkillers. Says an analyst at Future Market Insights. Market Competition: The Painkillers market is a highly fragmented market with several global and domestic players active within this sphere. Leading players in the market introduce their products via various marketing channels/marketing campaigns to reach a large consumer base and maintain their market position. In July 2020, Teva Pharmaceuticals concentrated on specialty assets and a portfolio of chosen generic drugs to address patients' medical needs, and the company decided to extend operations in the Japanese market. In March 2022, Teva Pharmaceuticals agreed to a settlement agreement with the Rhode Island Attorney General for the state and its subdivisions' opioid-related claims. Ask More About Detailed Analysis to our experts: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-17075 Key Players: AbbVie Inc. (Allergan plc) Bristol Myers Squibb Co. Sanofi S.A. Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH Pfizer Inc. Zydus Lifesciences Ltd. (Cadila Pharmaceuticals) GSK plc. Others What Does the Report Cover? Future Market Insights offers a unique perspective and actionable insights on the Painkillers market in its latest study, presenting a historical demand assessment of 2018 to 2022 and projections for 2023 to 2033. The global Painkillers market is segmented in detail to cover every aspect of the market and present a complete market intelligence approach to the reader. Key Market Segments Covered in Painkillers Industry as below. By Drug Class: Opioids Tramadol Oxycodone Hydrocodone Other Opioids NSAIDs Local Anesthetics Acetaminophen By Product: OTC Products Prescription Drugs By Indication: Surgical Pain Cancer Pain Neuropathic Pain Musculoskeletal and Joint Pain Others By Route of Administration: Injectable Oral Rectal Topical Transdermal Others By Distribution Channel: Hospital Pharmacies Specialty Clinics Long-Term Care Centers Retail Pharmacies Drug Stores Online Pharmacies Table of Content (ToC): 1. Executive Summary | Painkillers Market 1.1. Global Market Outlook 1.2. Demand Side Trends 1.3. Supply-Side Side Trends 1.4. Analysis and Recommendations 2. Market Overview 2.1. Market Coverage/Taxonomy 2.2. Market Definition/Scope/Limitations 2.3. Inclusions and Exclusions 3. Key Market Trends 3.1. Key Trends Impacting the Market 3.2. Product Innovation/Development Trends 4. Value-Added Insights 4.1. Patient Treatment Journey 4.2. Disease Epidemiology 4.3. Standard daily doses per 100,000 people, By Countries 4.4. Trends in Use of Prescription Opioids 4.5. Annual Mean Consumption of Controlled Opioids (TOC Continue...) Buy Now to Gain Access to Detailed Information - Key Trends, Drivers, and Challenges in the Market: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/17075 Have a Look at Related Reports of the Healthcare domain: Veterinary Electrosurgery Market Size: The market is projected to procure US$ 993.41 Million by 2032 while expanding at a CAGR of 7% during the forecast period from 2022 to 2032. Pediatric Clinical Trials Market Share: According to Future Market Insights, the global pediatric clinical trials Market is projected to grow steadily at a 5.3% value CAGR, during the forecast period 2022 to 2032. 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About Healthcare Division at Future Market Insights (FMI): Future Market Insights facilitates corporates, government, investors, and associated audiences in the healthcare sector to identify and accentuate vital aspects applicable to product strategy, regulatory landscape, technology evolution, and other crucial issues to achieve sustainable success. Our unique approach to gathering market intelligence equips you in devising innovation-driven trajectories for your business. About Future Market Insights, Inc. Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, Stevie Award - recipient market research organization and a member of Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) provides in-depth insights into governing factors elevating the demand in the market. It discloses opportunities that will favor the market growth in various segments on the basis of Source, Application, Sales Channel and End Use over the next 10 years. Contact Us: Future Market Insights, Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA Tel: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: www.futuremarketinsights.com LinkedIn | Twitter | Blogs | YouTube Chinese astronaut Liu Yang speaks during a science popularization lecture at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, April 24, 2023. A science popularization lecture is held at USTC on Monday as a part of the celebration of Space Day of China, which falls on April 24 every year. The first Chinese woman astronaut Liu Yang shared China's manned space program achievements and her own stories and dreams with students during the lecture. [Xinhua/Du Yu] HEFEI, April 25 (Xinhua) Rounds of applause broke out as the first Chinese woman astronaut Liu Yang shared her space adventure with students at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) on Monday. "I get excited every time I look up at the sky because I know we have a space home up there, which was built by our Chinese astronauts," said Liu when she shared China's manned space program achievements and her own stories and dreams. With the launch of China's Shenzhou-9 spacecraft in June 2012, Liu became the first Chinese woman astronaut in space, spending 13 days there. In June 2022, she re-entered space 10 years later in China's Shenzhou-14 spaceship and completed multiple tasks, including the construction of the space station's T-shape structure with other crew members during their six-month mission. More than 500 students from different schools in Hefei, the capital of east China's Anhui Province, listened closely to the science popularization lecture on site, while many more participated in the event through live streaming in different parts of the country. "How do you overcome various challenges in work?" "How do astronauts drink water in space?" "What's your feeling when you first enter space?" Several students were lucky enough to be picked to ask Liu questions after the lecture. "I'm excited to attend this activity. Now I know what preparations and training astronauts need to make before going into space and what it is like to work in space," said Zhou Ziqi, 14, from the middle school attached to USTC. "About 270 students from our school attended the event today. Being the first woman astronaut in China, Liu Yang proved that everyone can pursue their dreams regardless of gender," noted Sun Yan, a teacher from the middle school attached to USTC. "I believe the women students would be more confident in their decisions in the future," Sun added. The activity was a part of the celebration of Space Day of China, which falls on April 24 every year. In 2016, China selected this date to celebrate Space Day to honor the launch of its first satellite "Dongfanghong-1" into space on April 24, 1970. Chinese astronaut Liu Yang speaks during a science popularization lecture at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, April 24, 2023. A science popularization lecture is held at USTC on Monday as a part of the celebration of Space Day of China, which falls on April 24 every year. The first Chinese woman astronaut Liu Yang shared China's manned space program achievements and her own stories and dreams with students during the lecture. [Xinhua/Du Yu] Chinese astronaut Liu Yang speaks during a science popularization lecture at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, April 24, 2023. A science popularization lecture is held at USTC on Monday as a part of the celebration of Space Day of China, which falls on April 24 every year. The first Chinese woman astronaut Liu Yang shared China's manned space program achievements and her own stories and dreams with students during the lecture. [Xinhua/Du Yu] Chinese astronaut Liu Yang waves to attendees during a science popularization lecture at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, April 24, 2023. A science popularization lecture is held at USTC on Monday as a part of the celebration of Space Day of China, which falls on April 24 every year. The first Chinese woman astronaut Liu Yang shared China's manned space program achievements and her own stories and dreams with students during the lecture. [Xinhua/Du Yu] Chinese astronaut Liu Yang attends a science popularization lecture at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, April 24, 2023. A science popularization lecture is held at USTC on Monday as a part of the celebration of Space Day of China, which falls on April 24 every year. The first Chinese woman astronaut Liu Yang shared China's manned space program achievements and her own stories and dreams with students during the lecture. [Xinhua/Du Yu] (Source: Xinhua) Weather Alert ...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph expected. * WHERE...All of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From 10 AM CDT this morning to 7 PM CDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Strong winds and rough chop on area lakes will create hazardous conditions for small craft. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Some lakes in the advisory area include Clearwater Lake, Lake Wappapello, Rend Lake, Crab Orchard Lake, Kinkaid Lake, Cedar Lake, Little Grassy Lake, Devil's Kitchen Lake, Lake of Egypt, Kentucky Lake, and Lake Barkley. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Lake Wind Advisory indicates that winds will cause rough chop on area lakes. Boaters on area lakes should use extra caution since strong winds and rough waves can overturn small craft. && Company Logo Global Surgical Robotics Market Global Surgical Robotics Market Dublin, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Surgical Robotics Market - A Global and Regional Analysis: Focus on Type, Application, End-user, and Country - Analysis and Forecast, 2022-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global surgical robotics market was valued at $8,705.3 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach $18,410.9 million by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 7.78% during the forecast period 2022-2032. The growth in the global surgical robotics market is expected to be driven by the rising preference for minimally invasive surgical procedures globally and increasing awareness among practitioners for simulation, training, and continuous medical education. The surgical robotics market is in the developing phase. The increasing demand for minimally invasive surgeries, increasing demand for robotic-assisted surgeries, and increasing synergetic activities within the surgical robotics industry are some of the major opportunities in the global surgical robotics market. Furthermore, some of the key trends going on in the market are the technological advancements in the field of medical surgery, such as the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI), the introduction of telerobotics, and the increasing application of microsurgery. Impact of COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted practically all sectors and social functions worldwide, including the global surgical robotics market. The pandemic led to a shortage of hospital supplies and staff and the cancellation of admission and surgeries around the globe. In the beginning, the hospitals were overwhelmed with patients, which caused a shortage of beds, ventilators, and other hospital supplies. During the pandemic, hospitals reduced elective surgeries to ensure patient safety and to support COVID-19 patients on a larger scale. Elective surgeries were postponed or canceled as a safety measure to protect patients from hospital-transmitted infection as well as associated postoperative pulmonary complications. Story continues Recent Developments in the Global Surgical Robotics Market In September 2022, CMR Surgical Ltd. signed a two-year clinical study partnership contract with Institut Curie, France's leading cancer research center, and ranked among the best cancer treatment centers in the world. In September 2022, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. announced that Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) had cleared the da Vinci SP surgical system for use in general surgeries, thoracic surgeries (excluding cardiac procedures and intercostal approaches), urologic surgeries, gynecological surgeries, and trans-oral head and neck surgeries. Intuitive Japan will launch the da Vinci SP surgical system in the near future. In June 2022, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. and Siemens Healthineers AG enhanced scanning integration for Ion Endoluminal procedures. In February 2022, DePuy Synthes, a Johnson & Johnson's Orthopaedics Company, received approval from the Medical Device Division of the Israeli Ministry of Health (AMAR) for the commercial use of VELYSTM Robotic-Assisted Solution in Israel. In March 2022, Quantum Surgical received FDA 510(k) clearance for the Epionerobot designed for cancer treatment. In September 2022, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. received FDA clearance for the Identity Shoulder System for shoulder replacement. In July 2022, Medical Microinstruments S.p.A. secured $75 million to advance robotic microsurgery. Deerfield Management led the round with participation from new investors, RA Capital Management and Biostar Capital, as well as existing investors, Andera Partners, Fountain Healthcare Partners, Panakes Partners, and Sambatech. The company also announced the addition of three new members to its board of directors. Market Segmentation The general segment held the largest share in the global surgical robotics market (by application), accounting for $3,144.9 million in 2021, followed by urology segment at $1,549.1 million in 2021. The global surgical robotics market based on the end-user segment is dominated by the hospitals segment. The global surgical robotics market is dominated by the North America region due to better healthcare systems and infrastructure, high adoption rate of new technology, the presence of well-established as well as emerging players in the region, and increased demand for minimally invasive surgeries, especially for the geriatric population. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 453 Forecast Period 2022 - 2032 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $8.7 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2032 $18.41 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.8% Regions Covered Global Key Companies Profiled Asensus Surgical, Inc. avateramedical GmbH Brainlab AG CMR Surgical Ltd. Corin Group Curexo, Inc. EndoMaster Pte Ltd Globus Medical, Inc. Human Xtensions Ltd. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. Johnson & Johnson Kinova inc. Medtronic plc meerecompany Inc. Monteris Medical Corporation Medicaroid Corporation Neocis, Inc. PROCEPT BioRobotics Corporation Renishaw plc Siemens Healthineers AG Stryker Corporation Smith & Nephew plc Stereotaxis, Inc. Virtual Incision Corporation Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. Venus Concept Inc. Vicarious Surgical Inc. Virtuoso Surgical, Inc. Precision Robotics Industry Outlook Business Drivers Benefits Offered by Robotic-Assisted Surgeries over Conventional Surgeries Increasing Use of Robotics-Assisted Surgery Driven by Upsurge in the Incidence of Chronic Diseases Growing Adoption of Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures by Geriatric Population Increasing Business Synergies between Major Players Driving the Growth of the Surgical Robotics Market Technological Advancements in the Surgical Robotics Market Business Restraints High Cost of Acquisition of Robotic Surgical Systems and Robotic-Assisted Surgeries Complications Associated with Robotic-Assisted Systems and Associated Instruments and Accessories Dearth of Skilled Healthcare Professionals and Significant Learning Curve Associated with Robotic Surgeries Business Opportunities Penetration of Robotic-Assisted Systems in Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) Indulging in Various Strategies for Driving the Adoption of Surgical Systems Comparative Analysis Conventional Surgery vs. Robotic Surgery Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Surgery (LESS) vs. Robotic Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Surgery (R-LESS) Case Study Sudhir Srivastava Innovations Pvt. Ltd. CMR Surgical Ltd. Key Enabling Technology Tetherless Insertable Surgical Camera (s-CAM) Robot Teleoperated Surgical System Market Overview Product Definition Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria Key Findings Assumptions and Limitations Clinical Trials Product Pipeline Insights on Emerging Platforms in Pipeline End User Perception Value Chain Analysis Price Analysis Business Model Analysis Distribution Strategies Marketing Strategies Funding Scenario Technology Adoption Matrix Robotic-Assisted Surgery Adoption Across Surgical Applications Regulatory Scenario U.S. De-Novo Pathway European Union (EU) Impact of the EU's Medical Device Regulations (MDR) Expansion of Product Scope Reclassification of Medical Devices as per Associated Risk, Contact Duration, and Invasiveness More Supportive Clinical Investigations for Class III and Implantable Medical Devices Dedicated Personal for MDR Compliance More Emphasis on Post-Market Surveillance Requirement of Common Specifications Implementation of a Unique Device Identification (UDI) Mechanism COVID-19 Impact Business Dynamics Iceberg Analysis Impact Analysis For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6wj57l 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 CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Last weekend Australian Labor Party Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a policy change that will remove long-standing barriers for New Zealanders living in Australia to gain citizenship. New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, left, meets Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, Australia, Tuesday, February 7, 2023. [AP Photo/Hilary Wardhaugh] In 2001, the right-wing Australian government led by Prime Minister John Howard introduced strict criteria making it much harder for New Zealanders to gain permanent residence and citizenship. As of 2016, New Zealanders could only apply if they had worked consecutively in Australia for five years, earning at least $53,900 a year, an insuperable barrier for hundreds of thousands of working class people. Any New Zealander moving to Australia after 2001 could live and work there indefinitely under a temporary Special Category Visa (SCV), with no access to welfare benefits, public housing, student loans, disability support and no right to vote. Around 670,000 New Zealand citizens live in Australia (more than a tenth of the NZ population) and roughly half have no residence or citizenship. In recent years, Australia has deported hundreds of New Zealanders for often minor offences, including many who grew up in Australia. Under the new rules, New Zealanders on SCVs will be able to apply for citizenship from July if they have lived in Australia for four years, and the income threshold has been removed. The discrimination against New Zealanders was one component of the anti-immigrant measures enforced by successive Labor and Coalition governments, including the ongoing imprisonment of refugees in detention centres. New Zealand, for its part, has similar discriminatory policies, including frequent deportations of migrants from the Pacific, Asia and elsewhere. These broader anti-immigrant measures will remain unchanged. The announcement of the new policy for New Zealanders in Australia has been exploited for maximum political advantage both by the Albanese government, as well as Chris Hipkins Labour Party-led government in NZ, which faces an election in October. In both countries, the established parties are increasingly discredited by the cost of living crisis, soaring social inequality and a catastrophic situation in public hospitals and aged care facilities caused by the decision to let COVID-19 rip. One motivation behind the relaxation of citizenship criteria, which had been opposed by successive governments in Australia for more than two decades, is that the Albanese government is desperate to encourage immigration to fill labour shortages across all sectors of the economy. The tight labour market, caused in part by never-ending waves of illness from COVID-19, is an obstacle to the ruling elites plan to intensify exploitation by pushing up unemployment and reducing wages and conditions. The timing of the deal and the rhetoric surrounding it, however, makes clear that it is part of a more fundamental push for closer strategic and military ties between Australia and New Zealand as both countries integrate themselves into US-led war preparations against China. The less restrictive citizenship rules, while they will undoubtedly be welcomed by working people in both countries, are not being done out of humanitarian motivations. The changes were in fact negotiated last year, but Hipkins, who visited Australia over the weekend, said the announcement was deliberately timed to be on the closest weekend to Anzac Day [to] reaffirm our incredibly strong Anzac mateship. Anzac Day, April 25, is a public holiday in Australia and NZ that marks the entry of both countries into World War I in the Allies disastrous invasion of Gallipoli in Turkey. The day is characterised by patriotic military parades and political speeches that glorify all the wars that Australia and NZ troops have fought in, including the bloody invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. At a joint press conference in Australia Hipkins said the historic citizenship agreement will make an enormous difference to the lives of so many people making Australia home. He immediately added that he and Albanese had discussed the geostrategic challenges in our region and how, as allies, Australia and New Zealand can continue to work together to advance our common interests and values. Albanese was asked by one journalist whether he considered Australia and New Zealand to be close allies when it comes to responding strategically in our region, in particular [in response to] China? He replied: We are absolutely close allies and will remain that in perpetuity. Hipkins endorsed the AUKUS military pact between Australia, the UK and United States, which will supply Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines and ramp up collaboration between the imperialist powers throughout the Indo-Pacific region, as they gear up for war with China. New Zealand agrees with the AUKUS partners that the collective objective needs to be the delivery of peace and stability and the preservation of an international rules-based system in our region, Hipkins said. Defending the rules-based system established by US imperialism following World War II is the pretext for an unprecedented military build-up in the Indo-Pacific and continual military provocations against China. New Zealand is a minor imperialist power, allied with Australia and part of the US-led Five Eyes intelligence network. Successive NZ governments have, however, been reluctant to say anything that might threaten the lucrative trade relationship with China, which takes about 30 percent of New Zealands exports. This is now changing, as it becomes ever more clear that Washington is intent on provoking a Third World War against both Russia and China, to secure its domination over the worlds resources and markets. The Hipkins government has indicated that it is prepared to join some aspects of AUKUS, including the sharing of military and intelligence technology. Earlier this month, the Australian and New Zealand armies signed Plan ANZAC, an agreement to closely integrate their operations and share resources in anticipation of new conflicts. Chief of Australian Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart said the plan would enhance interoperability, capacity, ability to jointly support combat operations and will see both armies better prepared to work together to support security and stability missions. After signing the deal, Stuart and the head of the New Zealand Army, Major General John Boswell, travelled together to Fiji and Vanuatu to strengthen ties with military forces in the small Pacific island countries. Australia and New Zealand are seeking to push back against growing Chinese influence across the Pacific, which the ruling elite in both countries view as their colonial backyard. A significant aspect of the new pathway to citizenship is that it will give hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders in Australia the right to enlist in the Defence Force, which is carrying out its biggest recruitment drive since the Vietnam War, and its biggest expansion in spending since the Second World War. The New Zealand Herald, meanwhile, has marked Anzac Day by lamenting the unbelievable surge in people leaving the military. With just 9,000 active personnel and attrition rates of more than 15 percent, journalist Pete McKenzie stated that if [the Defence Force] was asked to do a long-term peace-keeping mission in the Pacific, for example, it probably wouldnt be able to do that, according to the people I spoke to. Amid the escalating US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, and declarations by the US that war with China is likely within the next two years, the Australian and New Zealand ruling elites are scrambling to build up their military forces and to place their countries on a war footing. The invocations of the Anzac spirit and enduring mateship by Australian and New Zealand politicians serve the crucial ideological function of glorifying the sacrifices made by working people in past wars, in order to condition the population for even more devastating wars in the future. One simple way to benefit from the stock market is to buy an index fund. But if you buy good businesses at attractive prices, your portfolio returns could exceed the average market return. For example, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) shareholders have seen the share price rise 82% over three years, well in excess of the market return (38%, not including dividends). On the other hand, the returns haven't been quite so good recently, with shareholders up just 11% , including dividends . So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 3 years and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns. Check out our latest analysis for Goldman Sachs Group To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). During three years of share price growth, Goldman Sachs Group achieved compound earnings per share growth of 15% per year. This EPS growth is lower than the 22% average annual increase in the share price. This suggests that, as the business progressed over the last few years, it gained the confidence of market participants. That's not necessarily surprising considering the three-year track record of earnings growth. The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for Goldman Sachs Group the TSR over the last 3 years was 94%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! Story continues A Different Perspective We're pleased to report that Goldman Sachs Group shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 11% over one year. That's including the dividend. Since the one-year TSR is better than the five-year TSR (the latter coming in at 10% per year), it would seem that the stock's performance has improved in recent times. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Goldman Sachs Group that you should be aware of. Of course Goldman Sachs Group may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Fourteen months after the reactionary invasion of Ukraine by the Putin regime, the NATO powers are escalating the war offensive against Russia ever more aggressively. At a meeting on Friday, they agreed to massively expand arms supplies to Kiev in support of the Ukrainian armys planned spring offensive. NATO head Jens Stoltenberg also announced that Ukraine would become a member of NATO. The danger of a direct NATO-Russia war is thus becoming increasingly acute. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius gives a statement after the meeting of the 'Ukraine Defense Contact Group' at Ramstein Air Base in Ramstein, Germany, Friday, April 21, 2023. [AP Photo/Matthias Schrader] German imperialism, which already sought to annex Ukraine and subjugate Russia during the First and Second World Wars, is playing an increasingly central role in the escalation of the war. After the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the US Air Force base in Ramstein, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius declared how important the endurance and the operational readiness are now. He stressed Berlins central role and announced further military support. Germany is by far the biggest supporter of Ukraine after the United States, along with the United Kingdom, and is significantly involved in everything with air defense, tanks, artillery, troop capabilities and ammunition, he boasted. In March, 18 state of the art Leopard 2 A6 battle tanks and 40 Marder armoured vehicles were delivered to Ukraine. In addition, they will be equipped with large packages of materiel and spare parts and much-needed ammunition. Among the supplies were also very useful tactical support vehicles. Pistorius mentioned the Buffalo salvage vehicle and Badger tankdozer, as well as the bridge-laying and mine-clearing tanks Biber and Wisent. Germany provides quality and quantity and is also one of the strongest trainers for Ukrainian forces. Only a few days ago, the second IRIS-T system with guided missiles and a Patriot missile unit with 100 missiles was handed over to Kiev. Pistorius made no secret of the fact that the German missile systems do not simply serve to protect cities from attacks, but will play a key role in the planned Ukrainian offensive. We are helping to protect our tanks, which are now operating there, from threats from the air, he said. Effectiveness at the frontline is crucial. He added that there would be no letup. Training for 100 Ukrainian soldiers is beginning on the Leopard 1 A5 battle tank. About 80 tanks of this type should be delivered quickly starting from the middle of the year. It is becoming increasingly clear that the NATO powers are preparing for a long war of attrition, which will cost hundreds of thousands more lives, can escalate at any time and is already devouring vast sums of money. It is important that all this persists, Pistorius warned. Any material that is delivered into this war has wear and tear, especially if it is in continuous combat. He said he was very pleased that he and his Polish and Ukrainian colleagues had signed a memorandum of understanding on a joint repair hub in Poland for the entire Leopard 2 fleet. This will ensure, close to the Polish-Ukrainian border, that these tanks can be repaired and repaired quickly and when neededand demand will increase. All this costs a lot of money, but shows our determination that we want to persevere. To achieve thisthe declared goal of the imperialist powers is the complete defeat of the Russian military in Ukrainethe Bundestag [German parliament] made available up to 12 billion a few weeks ago. He added. Ukraine can count on Germany as long as it takes. Pistorius should explain what this means in concrete terms. Is the German government preparing to send ground troops into the war against Russia, a nuclear-armed power, after the battle tanks? How far does the ruling class want to go this time to assert its imperialist interests in the East? During World War II, German imperialism fought a war of extermination that killed about 27 million Soviet citizens and committed the Holocaust. A direct conflict with nuclear-armed Russia would mean the destruction of all of Europe and possibly the entire planet. The Scholz government and the other leading NATO powers are escalating the war in full awareness that it can lead to a nuclear Armageddon. Just one year ago in April 2022, in an interview with Der Spiegel, the German chancellor answered the question on the supply of heavy weapons by stating that one must do everything to avoid a direct military confrontation between NATO and a highly armed superpower such as Russia, a nuclear power. The issue is to prevent an escalation that leads to a third world war. The German government is now not only supplying heavy weapons but explicitly justifying attacks on Russian territory. It is completely normal in such a military conflict, that the attacked party also moves into the opponents territory, for example, to cut off supply routes, said Pistorius on the eve of the Ramstein meeting on the ZDF program Maybrit Illner. Statements like these come close to a direct declaration of war on Russia. In January, Green Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock declared at a Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that we are fighting a war against Russia. The ruling class is not only concerned with Ukraine and Russia. It uses the war provoked by the NATO powers as a pretext to reestablish itself as a leading military power that can wage full-scale war at any time. We need a ready, combat-strong and durable Bundeswehr [German army] a force that can fulfil its missions from a standstill in its entirety, that is, capable of cold-starting, Pistorius demanded last Thursday at the presentation of the latest army report in the Bundestag. The report paints a distorted picture of a completely broken and dilapidated army and advocates for the tripling (!) of the Bundeswehrs special fund from 100 to 300 billion in order to close the capability gaps. The scope of the rearmament plans is gigantic and only comparable to the rearming of the Wehrmacht from the mid-1930s onwards. And as then, despite all official propaganda phrases of freedom and democracy, the goal is the enforcement of the predatory interests of German imperialism worldwide. We must learn to think again in large security policy contexts and longer periods and lines, also and especially we here together, Pistorius told parliamentarians. The security situation will get more difficult than easier. Not only with a view to Russia, but of course also with a view to the world: most recently in Sudan, but also in the Indo-Pacific and the Sahel region, he continued. No one in the Bundestag opposed Pistorius wartime madness and militaristic plots for world power. On the contrary, representatives of all government and opposition parties praised the military report unanimously and outdid themselves with calls for a more effective and faster rearmament. Kerstin Vieregge rejoiced for the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union faction that the military report finally buried the fairy tale that comprehensive capabilities [would come] from the special fund. The sum of 300 billion mentioned in it shows how enormous the investment needs actually are. The report shows what is needed to make the military pillar of our integrated and broad security policy resilient and sustainable, said Green Party spokesperson Merle Spellerberg. After all, we expect our soldiers to fight in the event of an emergency. The Left Party, whose leadership fully supports NATOs war against Russia, struck a similar tone: One can only be grateful to the military commissioner for this report and the openness with which at least some problems are openly addressed, Ali al-Dailami said. The problem is that these are not new and nothing substantial has changed to this day. In recent years, hardly any major procurement project has been carried out without delays, price increases or shortcomings. The fundamentally fascist character of the policy of rearmament and war was most evident in the speech of the representative of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Hannes Gnauck, the federal chairman of the Junge Alternative fur Deutschland, cheered that this years military report contains all kinds of criticism, suggestions and demands that the AfD has been making for the Bundeswehr for years. Now the parliament has the task to prepare the army for the right framework conditions: enough ammunition, functional material and professional equipment. And the political leadership has the duty to create an atmosphere in which young soldiers can say: I am fighting for my German people, and I am proud of it. A real turning point begins in spirit and one needs a Bundeswehr that not only endures in battle, but above all wants to win, to win against the enemy on the battlefield We need soldiers ready to fight, in whose hearts the fire for Germany is burning. The only party that can counteract this militaristic filth is the Socialist Equality Party. Together with our sister parties in the International Committee of the Fourth International, we are holding a worldwide online May Day rally on April 30 to give voice to the widespread opposition to war and fascism and to arm them with a clear understanding of the situation and the necessary political perspective. The appeal for the rally explains: Two processes dominate this years celebration of the international unity of the working class: the war in Ukraine, which is escalating toward a global conflagration, and an international resurgence of the class struggle. These two processes are profoundly related. The same economic, geopolitical and social contradictions that drive the imperialist ruling elites onto the path of war provide the objective impulse for the radicalization of the working class and the outbreak of revolutionary struggles. This years May Day rally will advance the socialist programme upon which this struggle must be based. We encourage all workers to register today to attend this event. China has reported a better-than-expected growth rate for the first three months of the year but there are a number of questions hanging over the economy. These include the increase of debt held by local government authorities, the sustainability of consumer demand and the worsening effects of US technology bans. A worker assembles electronic devices at an Alco Electronics factory in Houjie Town, Dongguan City, in the Guangdong province of China. [AP Photo/Ng Han Guan] Data released by Chinas National Bureau of Statistics last week showed the economy had advanced at a rate of 4.5 percent for the first three months of the year, considerably better than the 2.2 percent growth in the December quarter, and above market predictions of a 4 percent increase. But the bureau said that while the first quarter had made a good start, domestic demand remained inadequate and the foundation for economic recovery is not solid yet. The main driver of the increase was consumer spending with retail sales growing by 10.6 percent in March following the abandonment by the Xi Jinping regime of its previous zero Covid policy at the end of last year. Exports were another key driver, expanding by 14.8 percent over the year to March compared to expectations of a decline of 5 percent. How long this surge might continue is another question as economists expect a slowdown in the US and Europe. The International Monetary Fund has forecast that growth in the US will slow to 1.6 percent this year, down from 2.1 percent in 2022, while the growth rate for the eurozone is predicted to be only 0.8 percent. The parlous state of the global economy is highlighted by the expectation that lower Chinese growth will account for around one-third of total world growth this year, according to the IMF. It has said the world economy will grow by only 2.8 percent this year which, apart from the major contraction in 2020 when the pandemic hit, is the lowest level since the global financial crisis of 2008-2009. But China is not going to come to the rescue as it has in the past. As Louise Loo, China economist at Oxford Economics in Singapore, put it: Anyone looking for China to save the global economy this year might be somewhat disappointed. Internally, the property market and real estate development, which have been key components of Chinese growth for more than a decade, continue to remain under pressure because of liquidity and financial problems that have led to a series of defaults as credit conditions have been tightened. Real estate investment fell by 5.8 percent in the first quarter, home sales dropped by 1.8 percent and new housing starts declined sharply by 19.2 percent year on year. Growing financial problems were pointed to in a recent report by Bloomberg. It said that while China had so far not experienced a financial crisis, despite close calls, there was an elephant in the room in the form of Local Government Financing Vehicles (LGFVs). For years local authorities had relied on them to finance major infrastructure projects and to support their regional economies. But this had resulted in a massive increase in debt such that LGFV borrowings at $12.4 trillion are equivalent to 48 percent of Chinas GDP and are almost the same as central and local government debt combined. This financial edifice has been maintained to a considerable degree by the revenue local governments obtain from land sales, but over the last year this dropped by 23 percent. The problems for the Chinese economy and the Beijing leadership were outlined by long-time China analyst Eswar Prasad, even as he extolled what he called the stunning growth of the Chinese economy in recent decades. In a paper prepared for the National Bureau of Economic Research earlier this month, Prasad said the huge build-up of domestic debt and the highly volatile prices of stocks, property and other assets were emblematic of a number of problems. Beijing now faced a series of policy dilemmas, some of its own making, he wrote. These included: how to reduce debt while maintaining growth; how to reduce energy-intensive production while the economy continued to rely on heavy industry; how to restrain wealth inequality while relying on the private sector to generate more wealth, and how to encourage private sector innovation while cutting private enterprises down to size. The economic issues and problems are inextricably connected to political ones. Having long ago abandoned any, even nominal, connection to socialism, under conditions where social inequality has widened, the Xi regime is tolerated by the population to the extent that it is seen as promoting economic growth. It used to maintain that social stability required a growth rate of at least 8 percent. Now the official target is just 5 percent, amid concerns that even this rate will only be obtained this year with considerable difficulty. The regime sits atop a potential social powder keg because the very economic expansion over the past three decades has led to the growth of the working class, numbering around 400 million, as economic prospects become gloomier. As the Financial Times noted in a recent article: The ruling Chinese Communist Party claims legitimacy from its ability to improve the lives of the countrys 1.4 billion people, but a structural slowdown in manufacturing has hampered its ability to boost employment. This is seen in the persistence and increase in youth unemployment. There are now 30 million Chinese people aged 16 to 24 who are out of work, with the youth jobless rate rising by 3 percentage points from the December to March quarter. The Xi regime is well aware that the growing problems of the economy and the class tensions to which they will give rise cannot be resolved through the methods developed since the restoration of capitalism three decades ago. Neither production of cheap consumer goods, as took place in the 1990s and the early years of this century, nor the reliance on massive infrastructure and real estate development, as occurred following the global financial crash of 2008, provides a way out. Hence the turn by the regime to high-tech development as the key driver of further economic development which is central to its maintenance of political power. However, here it has run headlong into a major obstacle in the form of US imperialism which regards the growth of Chinese technological development as an existential threat to its global dominance and is determined to crush it by all means necessary, including war. Like its counterparts in the former USSR, which maintained that the concept of imperialism was not the expression of objective economic and political reality but a figment of Marxist imagination, the Chinese Stalinist-Maoist leadership considered, as it restored capitalism, that it would be able to manoeuvre and join the family of nations through a peaceful rise. US imperialism is determined to crush such a development, regarding it as an existential threat to its economic dominance. The high-tech bans it has imposed on China, begun under Trump and intensified under Biden, are already causing major problems. Last month, the Financial Times carried a report on one of Chinas richest counties, Kunshan, located just 50km from Shanghai. Tech bans introduced by the US have led to firms relocating out of the country. Factory owners are cutting back with some reducing wages by as much as a third, according to the report. It stated: The labour market weakness has been exacerbated by Taiwanese manufacturers, the countys biggest employer, relocating to other countries, to limit their exposure to US-China tensions. One logistics company owner said shipments from the county had dropped by at least a third in the first quarter of this year. And the pressure on China is going to intensify, not lessen, as a major speech by US Treasury secretary Janet Yellen on US-China relations delivered last week made clear. The speech was generally welcomed as offering accommodation for China or even as an olive branch. But as a Foreign Policy column by economic historian Adam Tooze indicated, it was anything but that. He said Yellen had presented a goldilocks vision in which US bans were targeted and not directed at the broader economy. Tooze responded: But as everyone knows, those targeted measures have so far included massive efforts to hobble the world leader in 5G technology, Huawei, sanctions against the entire chip industry supply, and the inclusion of most major research universities in China on Americas entities list that strictly limits trade. Tooze, who would like to believe that Yellens speech was intended to be reasonably accommodating, nevertheless found it jarring that China had to accept Americas demarcation of the status quo and if it did not then it should expect to face massive sanctions. And it was hard to see how Yellens vision in which the United States arrogates to itself the right to define which trajectory of Chinese economic growth is and is not acceptable, can possibly be a basis for peace. The Socialist Equality Party (Australia) held a successful public meeting on Sunday at Bankstown Senior Citizens Centre reviewing the lessons of the recently concluded New South Wales (NSW) elections. The meeting was addressed by SEP election candidates Oscar Grenfell, Max Boddy and Mike Head, and was chaired by Zac Hambides. SEP public meeting in Bankstown [Photo: WSWS] More than 100 participants attended the meeting in person and online from across the country and internationally, including Sydney, Newcastle, the flood impacted Northern Rivers region, Queensland, South Australia, and New Zealand. Hambides opening report placed the meeting within its international context. He detailed the ongoing assault on the living conditions of workers internationally, which is being carried out in part to finance machines of war. This includes the announcement of $368 billion over 30 years for nuclear-powered submarines made by the Federal Labor government in the course of the NSW election campaign. Hambides made clear that the same objective forces giving rise to war are giving rise to its oppositea progressive and revolutionary response from the working class worldwide. A compilation of video interviews with workers on polling day was shown at the meeting, emphasising that the same processes are underway in Australia. World Socialist Web Site writer Oscar Grenfell opened his report by noting that, during the election campaign, the SEP was the only party to raise the issue of war. Grenfell made clear that, while the party opposes the Putin regimes reactionary invasion of Ukraine, it was, above all, a reaction to provocations led by American imperialism, including the vast expansion of NATO along the Russian border. He emphasised that this was just one plank of a global strategy, which includes plans for a war with China, which is viewed as the chief economic threat to US capitalism. Grenfell explained that Australia is already preparing to play a leading role in conflict with China, ramping up spending on missile systems, fighter jets and other offensive weaponry. He also drew attention to calls in the corporate media for stationing nuclear weapons in northern Australia and introducing mass conscription. Oscar Grenfell, Socialist Equality Party public meeting in Bankstown, April 23, 2023. [Photo: WSWS] While there is widespread opposition to war, this cannot be taken forward through the Greens, the pseudo-left, or sections of the ruling elite who, for their own profit interests, call for a more independent Australian foreign policy. Instead, Grenfell outlined, our perspective is to unite the international working class in a common struggle to end war and its source, the capitalist system. WSWS writer Mike Head addressed the meeting remotely from northern NSW, where, 14 months on from last years devastating floods, thousands of people are still living in caravans, in the shells of houses with no walls, or government encampments of temporary units. This is just one expression of the social crisis confronting workers and young people, who are suffering the biggest cut to living standards since World War II. The victory of Labor in NSW means it is now in office federally and each state and territory, except for Tasmania. Head pointed out that this has profound implications as the ruling class needs Labor to implement its agenda of austerity and war, with the collaboration of the trade unions. Head explained that the Labor governments Voice referendum is first and foremost a massive political diversion from this social and political crisis. He outlined how the Voice will do nothing to ameliorate the conditions of Aboriginal workers, but seeks to enshrine in the constitution the privileges of a small Aboriginal elite. Max Boddy addressing Socialist Equality Party public meeting in Bankstown, April 23, 2023. [Photo: WSWS] The final report, by SEP Assistant National Secretary Max Boddy, demonstrated the role of NSW Labor in the weeks it has been in office. The first substantive act by incoming Labor Premier Chris Minns was to shut down all drive-through and walk-in COVID-19 testing clinics across the state, a conscious policy that will result in mass infection, illness and death. Boddy drew out that this is a warning of what is being prepared as Labor, working in close collaboration with the trade union bureaucracy, seeks to enforce an agenda of austerity and war. He said that to fight against this, new organs of struggle, rank-and-file workers committees, must be formed. Following the reports, there was a lively question and answer session. One of the first questions was on the SEPs position on Labors Voice to Parliament, saying people he had spoken to agree with everything the SEP says, except on the issue of the Voice. Similar questions emerged on the difference between the SEPs position and that of the Voices conservative opponents. Head responded to the question by first making clear that the Voice cannot be separated from the rest of the program of the Albanese government, which is leading an offensive against the working class as a whole and placing the population on the frontline of a war against China. Head placed the Voice within the history of the promotion of a privileged Aboriginal elite, pointing to the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which was not a grassroots movement, but was set in train by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, with bipartisan support, to develop a mechanism for reconciliation and constitutional recognition. He detailed what the ruling class means by reconciliation: reconciling Indigenous worker and youth with capitalism, the very system that has caused so much ruin, trauma and despair. Cheryl Crisp, National Secretary of the SEP, also spoke on this essential question. She began by pointing to the immense opposition among the Australian working class to the conditions which have been imposed on the Aboriginal population. Crisp emphasised the need to understand these conditions as the sharpest expression of attacks against the working class as a whole, as was demonstrated by the imposition of work for the dole, which was first directed against Aboriginal people, before being rolled out across the country. Crisp outlined the development of native title by successive Labor governments as a means of creating division among workers, beginning in the late 1960s, a time of profound industrial struggle in the Australian and global working class. Finally, Crisp drew the connection between the Voice, the social crisis, war and the homicidal pandemic policies of governments internationally. These were not a mistake, she said, but were consciously undertaken for the purpose of a mass culling of the elderly. Crisp concluded by explaining that the governments responsible for such policies will do nothing to alleviate the plight of Aboriginal people, nor will they baulk at the issue of prosecuting nuclear war. Therefore, Crisp explained, the only means by which there is a future for young peoplethe possibility of a decent life, being able to have a house, a job, a family, all the things which every young person has a right to dois the overthrow of capitalism. **** Following the meeting, WSWS reporters spoke to Angus, an IT worker, who gave a video interview on his thoughts on the meeting. He detailed why he attended, his thoughts on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the war drive against China in this region. Angus Bridget, a psychologist, attended her first SEP meeting in-person. Speaking on the government's justifications for their let it rip COVID policies, Bridget said, Theres not much of a difference between the two major parties. No matter who you vote for, the same policies are getting promoted, they are on the same page. What they promote is to justify letting people die. There are 25,000 excess deaths, which is a massive difference in how many are expected to die each year. A lot of people are against the nuclear submarines because it means war is coming. I disagree with killing people, whether they are civilians or not. The Iraq war was a war on terrorism, they told people they were killing terrorists when in fact they were killing lots of civilians and creating lots of refugees, she said. On the Voice, about 40 percent of children in care identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, but they are only 3 percent of the population. It is incredibly evident that there is disadvantage amongst Indigenous people and the Voice isnt fixing the problem, it only makes it look like it is. There are still kids being removed from their parents every day and then getting systemic trauma from being pushed around in the system. More money should be going into out of home care and mental health. But if the education, health care and welfare systems had more funding that would help people to have better mental health to begin with because their basic needs would be met. Maybe then you wouldn't need to put as much funding into mental health. But they [the government] don't want to do that., she said. Tennah attended the meeting to oppose the drive to war. A single mother of two young girls, Tennah was an 11-year-old when she, her parents, brother and sister fled Sierra Leone to escape war. The former British colony is rich in diamonds, bauxite and iron, yet its inhabitants suffer extreme poverty and life expectancy of just 37 years. She said: I want war to stop. War kills innocent kids; war kills adults, and the kids are left behind. I want a community that lives in peace, to build a better life for the kids. Tennah also spoke of the terrible effects of Ebola, Dengue and Lassa fevers on her community. She attributes their prevalence to poverty and the failure of the government to act against its spread: My auntie and all her family died of Ebola because the government doesnt help anyone. They dont care about the community, only themselves. Tennah also voiced her disgust at the treatment of refugees all over the world: Im a refugee. Wars come, people flee, they try to go to other countries to get jobs to support their families back home. Now residing in the electorate of Bankstown, Tennah pointed to the growing cost of living. Her rent recently increased by $100 a month, and she was struggling to find work: Its very hard to find a job. President Recep Tayyip Erdogans government has launched a police operation arresting at least 126 people, including Kurdish politicians, journalists, lawyers and artists. Arrest warrants were issued for a total of 216 people in operations yesterday in 21 provinces, centred on Diyarbakr. The police operation provoked protests in Diyarbakr, Istanbul, Bursa, Izmir, Mardin, Mersin, Van and many other cities. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaking on Thursday, June 9, 2022 [AP Photo/Turkish Presidency ] At least 25 lawyers were arrested and the Aram Publishing House in Diyarbakr was raided. In addition, the City Theatre and the Dicle Culture and Art Association in Diyarbakr, the Mesopotamia Culture and Art Association in Mardin and the Bahar Cultural Centre in Batman were raided and many artists were arrested. According to Mezopotamya Agency, among those detained are Mezopotamya Agency (MA) Editor Abdurrahman Gok, MA reporters Ahmet Kanbal and Mehmet Sah Oruc, JINNEWS Beritan Canozer, Yeni Yasam Editor-in-Chief Osman Akn, Xwebun official Kadri Esen, journalists Mehmet Yalcn, Mikail Barut, Salih Keles and Remzi Akkaya and HDP executives Ozlem Gunduz and Mahfuz Guleryuz. Arzu Kurt, a leading member of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (OHD), said its members had been detained, and that a confidentiality order on the file and a 24-hour restriction on lawyers had been issued. According to the MA, they were arrested on charges of membership in the outlawed Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), an umbrella group that includes the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria. This is a pretext the Turkish state has used for decades to carry out arrests. In a statement denouncing the police raids, the HDP called it a new coup, adding: The government, which has been trying to prolong its life with political coups, massacres, black propaganda, special warfare methods, threats, blackmail and all kinds of attacks since 2015, has started a new coup process against the May 14 elections with mass arrests this morning. It added, This operation is an operation to steal the ballot boxes and the will of the people. This operation is an open intimidation and threat to society and its political preferences. The World Socialist Web Site and the Socialist Equality Group oppose this undemocratic police operation and demand the release of those who have been detained. Our well-documented opposition to Kurdish nationalism in no way diminishes our irreconcilable opposition to police repression by the capitalist state. This crackdown, coming less than three weeks before explosive national elections, is a flagrant attack on democratic rights. The Erdogan government has repeatedly cracked down on the Kurdish nationalist Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) and its affiliated groups. It is clear that this attack is bound up with the deep crisis of Erdogans ruling Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP). After more than 20 years in power, Erdogans AKP faces widespread social opposition, which has only grown since the February 6 earthquake disaster that led to tens of thousands of preventable deaths. According to many polls, Erdogan is likely to lose both the presidential and parliamentary elections. The HDP, which has around 6 million voters support and supported Erdogans rival Kemal Klcdaroglu in the presidential election, is expected to have a significant impact on the election results. The defense of democratic rights can only be carried out in opposition to every faction of the capitalist political establishment. This includes opposing any action by Erdogan to follow the example of his right-wing authoritarian counterparts like Donald Trump in the US or Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, and refusing to accept the election results; or to take military action against Kurdish militias in Syria or Iraq. It also involves opposing the reactionary role of Erdogans rivals, such as Kemal Klcdaroglus Republican Peoples Party (CHP). Since 2015, the Erdogan government has increasingly targeted the HDP. In this period, many HDP deputies were stripped of their parliamentary immunity and jailed, with the support of Klcdaroglus Republican Peoples Party (CHP). Thousands of HDP members were arrested, while elected mayors were dismissed by government orders. Before this police-state repression, however, the HDP and its predecessor, the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), were firmly allied with Erdogan himself. The so-called peace process negotiations between Ankara and the PKK, continued until 2015 under the auspices of the US and European powers. It was essentially an attempt by the Turkish and Kurdish ruling elites to forge an alliance to obtain a share in the ongoing plunder of the Middle East led by the imperialist powers. The Erdogan government, starting in 2011, was one of the most ardent supporters of the US-led war for regime change against the Russian-backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. However, it ended the so-called peace process with the Kurdish nationalists when the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), the PKKs sister organization in Syria, emerged as the main US proxy force in that country. The Turkish government feared that the consolidation of a Kurdish entity in Syria could lead to the separation of majority-Kurdish regions of Turkey. Renewed violent conflicts thereupon erupted inside Turkey itself between Erdogan and the Kurdish nationalist organizations. The HDP is a pro-NATO party like Erdogans AKP or Klcdaroglus CHP, although it seeks to adopt a democratic and even anti-imperialist pose. The HDP has glorified the YPGs dirty alliance with US imperialism in Syria as the Rojava revolution. It recently declared that Finlands accession to NATO, in a move aimed to escalate the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, was legitimate. According to a recent report by the Washington Post, citing leaked Pentagon documents, Ukrainian military intelligence planned in December to attack Russian forces in Syria through the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), of which the YPG is the backbone. The Post wrote, Ukrainian officers considered training operatives of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the military force of Syrias Kurdish-controlled autonomous northeast, to strike Russian targets It continued: As planning occurred last fall, the SDF sought training, air defense systems and a guarantee that its role would be kept secret in exchange for supporting Ukrainian operations. The leadership of the SDF also forbade strikes on Russian positions in Kurdish areas, the document says. Moreover, according to the document, Ankara was also aware of the plan. The Turkish officials sought to avoid potential blowback and suggested that Ukraine stage its attacks from Kurdish areas instead of those in the north and northwest held by other rebel groups, some of them backed by Turkey. An SDF official denied the document, while the Turkish Foreign Ministry and the Turkish embassy in the US did not respond to the Posts questions. The Erdogan governments reactionary crackdown on the Kurdish nationalists underscores that the defense of basic democratic rights is incompatible with the escalating war across the region, in which all the bourgeois parties in the region are implicated. The struggle for the defense of democratic rights and against war requires an independent revolutionary struggle of workers internationally against imperialism and all its bourgeois proxies. In an unexpected announcement Monday, the Fox News corporation announced that it was parting ways with its top-rated prime-time television host Tucker Carlson. In a terse three-sentence statement, Fox News wrote,We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor. During Carlsons last show on Friday, April 21, the far-right commentator gave no indication that he expected to be released, telling viewers he would be back on Monday. Tucker Carlson in a Fox News Channel studio on March 2, 2017, in New York. [AP Photo/Richard Drew] Citing anonymous sources, both the New York Times and Los Angeles Times said the decision to fire Carlson was made on Friday night by Lachlan Murdoch, son of Rupert and chief executive of Fox Corporation, and Suzanne Scott, chief executive of Fox News Media. Carlsons senior executive producer on Tucker Carlson Tonight, Justin Wells, was also fired, according to the same sources. As of this writing, there has not been a definitive reason given for the abrupt departure of Carlson. The former Fox News host has long been the target of advertiser boycotts due to the fascist content consistently churned out on his show. Carlsons anti-immigrant and racist program was frequently the highest-rated show on Fox during the Trump presidency and following his failed coup, drawing upwards of 3 million viewers a night. Trump expressed his dismay at Carlsons departure, writing on his social media network, The fact that Tucker Carlson will no longer be on Fox News is a big blow to Cable News, and to America. Tucker was insightful, interesting, and ratings gold. He will be greatly missed! Similarly, Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson wrote on Twitter that Carlson has been engaging in the best journalism on TV uncovering and exposing the truth. This is a huge loss to Fox News. Disoriented middle-class and libertarian elements, such as journalists Glenn Greenwald, Max Blumenthal, Anya Parampil and Aaron Mate along with comedian Jimmy Dore and fascist Jackson Hinkle also took to social media to praise Carlson, primarily for his professed opposition to US involvement in the Ukraine war and the Syrian civil war. Carlson, an early proponent of the Iraq war, is not a genuine opponent of US imperialism but, like Trump, seeks to capitalize on broad antiwar sentiment in the working class, and channel it to the advantage of the Republican Party. While Fox News is the unofficial house organ of the Republican Party, Carlson was one of the more influential hosts on the network. Republican politicians not only watched his program, but frequently coordinated with Carlson on talking points and attack lines. If Republicans refused to go on the program to defend any perceived slight against him, Trump or the MAGA movement, Carlson would threaten them on air, causing not only political, but potentially real physical harm. An example of Carlsons sway was the decision early this year by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to provide Carlson with exclusive access to over 42,000 hours of security footage from the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. Using the footage, Carlson aired multiple programs attempting to portray Trumps foot soldiers, such as the QAnon shaman Jacob Chansley, in a positive light. While nearly every Fox host leans hard-right, following Trumps failed coup, Carlson stood out among his peers for his avid promotion of the Fedsurrection conspiracy theory, which has also been voiced by Trump and his co-conspirators in Congress. The bogus narrative posits that gullible Trump supporters were entrapped by government agents to storm the Capitol in order to make Trump and the MAGA movement look bad. The theory has been repeatedly advanced by former Trump speechwriter Darren Beattie of Revolver News on Carlsons program. Beattie was fired from the Trump administration in 2018 after it was revealed he attended and spoke at a neo-Nazi conference in 2016. Lamenting the departure of Carlson on the WarRoom podcast of former Trump White House advisor Stephen K. Bannon, Beattie said that Tucker was kind of an anomaly ... a brave guy someone who was not supposed to be on primetime television in the globalist American empire, and who had the courage to platform and amplify our reporting. .. about January 6. Bannon concurred, saying that the firing of Carlson by the Murdoch family was disrespectful to MAGA and Trump. The Murdochs are foreigners and scumbags who hate our country, Bannon hissed. They are not even Americans. They hate you. They disrespect you. Carlsons firing comes less than a week after Fox was ordered to pay over three-quarters of a billion dollars as part of the defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems. Had Fox not settled, Carlson was one of several Fox personalities who would have been compelled to take the stand. Prior to the settlement of the case, text messages from Carlson had emerged showing the commentators personal disdain for Trump, his lawyer Sidney Powell, as well as for other Fox employees who undercut Trumps stolen election narrative. In addition to the Dominion lawsuit, Carlson was named in a discrimination lawsuit by Abby Grossberg, a former producer on Tucker Carlson Tonight. Grossberg alleged that Carlson and others produced a hostile work environment while she was employed on the program. The lawsuit alleges that Grossberg was subject to sexist insults, antisemitic comments and passed over for promotion due to her sex. While he pretends to be a champion of the working class on cable television, Carlson was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. After his mother and father divorced at an early age, Carlsons father remarried Patricia Caroline Swanson, an heiress to the Swanson Enterprises family fortune. Carlson grew up in San Diego and as a teenager he was kicked out of a Swiss boarding school. After graduating from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, Carlson attempted to join the Central Intelligence Agency but was rejected. He quickly began a career in journalism working for the far-right think tank the Heritage Foundation and as an opinion writer for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Carlson would go on to be published in The Weekly Standard, The New York Times Magazine, The Daily Beast, and the Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal. In 2000 Carlson was hired on at CNN as the right-wing co-host on Crossfire. In 2003 Carlson also joined PBS where he hosted the program Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered. Neither his PBS or CNN programs gained much of an audience and he left both networks in 2005 to join MSNBC. After three years at the network Carlson was let go due to low ratings. Upon joining Fox in 2009 as a paid contributor and throughout the Obama presidency, Carlson guest hosted various programs. He eventually took over the 8 p.m. prime-time slot from Bill O Reilly in November 2017, following OReillys ouster due to sexual harassment allegations. While at Fox, Carlson refashioned himself from a bow tie-wearing George F. Will-style conservative into a populist demagogue. In the aftermath of Trumps 2016 election victory, Carlson repositioned himself as a champion of the populist right, regurgitating Trumps political line on his show, while infusing his program with his own brand of racist, xenophobic and outright fascist demagoguery. Throughout Trumps presidency, Carlson parroted the administrations political line which meant embracing outright neo-Nazi talking points and a constant railing against immigrants, primarily through the promotion of the Great Replacement theory, which the New York Times found he promoted on his show over 400 times. The leaking of Pentagon documents on the NATO war in Ukraine has provoked a faction fight between Podemos and its newly-founded electoral rival, Sumar, led by Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz. The leaked documents exposed the lies of NATO governments, including the Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos government Diaz leads. They reveal that NATO has troops in Ukraine, that NATO is directly involved in the war, and that Ukraines military is in a far worse position than presented by NATO media. Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz [Photo by U.S. Department of Labor / CC BY 2.0 The entire corrupt pseudo-left political milieu of Podemos and Sumar lied to the public and hid from the working class the imminent danger of all-out NATO-Russia war. Last February, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares said sending troops to Ukraine is absolutely ruled out by Spain, the European Union or NATO. He dismissed reports of NATO troops on the ground as a hoax. PSOE-Podemos Defense Minister Margarita Robles said: 'Never, ever, will any troops from a NATO country, and Spain is one of them, participate in the war in Ukraine. This is, she claimed, an absolutely impossible scenario; non-existent. Albares and Robles were reacting to a speech made days before by Podemos general secretary and Minister of Social Rights Ione Belarra. Also hiding that NATO troops are already fighting Russia in Ukraine, Belarra postured as a critic of her own government. She said, They told us, first, that we were never going to send offensive material. Then they told us that we did have to send anti-aircraft missiles; then, that we are going to send tanks and now jet fighters; whats next, sending Spanish soldiers to Ukraine? The documents show more than 150 US and NATO troops are, in fact, deployed in Ukraine. Podemos and Sumar are political tools of a conspiracy, hatched behind the backs of the people of Spain and the NATO countries, to wage an undeclared war on Russia, a nuclear-armed power. In a press conference, Belarra said that Podemos is very concerned about these leaks released according to which elite NATO, British, French soldiers are reportedly already in Ukraine. She claimed that there are two different positions within this government on the Ukraine war, without adding any further points on the positions of Podemos or Sumar. After the initial shock of the leaks, Podemos reacted by trying to cover itself, launching a factional struggle accusing Sumar of being pro-NATO. The level of cynicism involved is virtually indescribable. Indeed, Podemos leader Ione Belarra and Sumar leader and Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz are both ministers of a NATO government that, only last Friday, sent Leopard tanks to the Ukrainian army. For days, however, Podemos officials denounced Sumar for being subservient to NATO and the Ukraine war. In a ludicrous video posted last week, Podemos made thinly-veiled criticisms of Diaz, reminding her of her lack of opposition to sending weapons to Ukraine. Podemos members, it asserted, are outraged when they see that their ministers look the other way with NATO and the war in Ukraine, and that only Ione [Belarra] says what she thinks about the war. On CTXT, ex-Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias defended his partys supposed criticisms of NATO against Diaz, stating: These leaked security documents confirm an involvement of the United States and Europe in the war that goes beyond sending money and weapons. That is, they would confirm that we have been lied to. He then defended Belarras criticisms of NATO war strategy in Ukraine, claiming that her previous statements are relevant and the best proof that Podemos ministers are criticized in the media for daring to say what the leaders of Sumar privately recognize is true. Yolanda Diaz reacted by accusing Iglesias of male chauvinism on a La Sexta TV interview. Asked whether she believed Iglesias imposed male-chauvinist situations on her, she replied: Yes, absolutely, I think that I did and so did all of Spain. It was this thumping on the table during negotiations. Im used to this, Jordi. She thereupon doubled down on defending the arguments the PSOE-Podemos government has given to justify the NATO war on Russia in Ukraine, whatever the risks. She said, If I were prime minister, I would fulfill a fundamental objective, which is to deploy our own European security policy. The Russian war is illegal, illegitimate, and all my solidarity with Ukraine. When there is an illegitimate aggression, the Ukrainian people have the right to defense. This debate exposes both the fraud of Sumars claim to represent a political alternative to Podemos, and of Podemos posturing as an anti-imperialist critic of Sumar. Diaz and Sumar as a whole have the closest ties to Podemos; Diaz was nominated as Deputy Prime Minister by former Podemos leader Iglesias after he resigned from that post. The Sumar alliance she leads includes various Podemos allies: the Stalinist-led United Left (IU), More Country (Mas Pais), Greens Equo (Verdes Equo), and In Common We Can (ECP). It includes two government ministers and the mayors of Barcelona and ValenciaSpains second and third largest cities, respectively. Podemos was not invited, however, after Diaz refused to commit to internal primary elections. A faction fight is now unfolding inside the affluent petty-bourgeois milieu of Podemos for access to influence and posts in the capitalist state machine. The Sumar (Unite) electoral platform was launched earlier this month by Deputy Prime Minister and Labour Minister Diaz for this years national elections in December. Diaz announced that she aspires to become prime minister. There are no differences of political principle or class orientation between Sumar and Podemos. Both are populist, nationalist and pro-capitalist parties of the affluent middle class, theoretically rooted in a postmodernist rejection of Marxism and of the revolutionary role of the working class. Both are led by pro-NATO ministers of the Spanish capitalist state that wage imperialist war abroad and class war on workers at home. Sumar has no differences with Podemos ultra-reactionary domestic policies, which it has helped to formulate and impose on the working class. This includes pension cuts and a labour reform; pumping 140 billion of EU bailout funds into Spanish corporations and banks; a profits-over-lives policy in the COVID-19 pandemic leading to over 160,000 deaths; the barbaric incarceration and murder of migrants, including the infamous massacre of 37 refugees at the borders of the Spanish enclave of Melilla in Africa; and violent crackdowns on striking metalworkers and truck drivers. Despite their differences on foreign policy, neither Belarra nor Diaz specifically criticizes their governments decision to send 320 million in military aid to Ukraine. This includes rocket launchers, armoured vehicles and tanks and the training of over 850 Ukrainian soldiers on Spanish soil. Spanish weapons provided by Podemos and Sumar ended up in the hands of the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion. To the extent that differences have arisen, they are on questions of how to market Spanish imperialisms foreign policy. This reflects not opposition to war in the working class, but tactical divisions within the Spanish political establishment over how to balance its war policies between Washington, the NATO alliance, the European Union, Russia, and the growing influence of China. For now, at least, Sumar is more closely associating itself with support for NATO and Podemos with a call for strategic autonomy from Washington. After French President Emmanuel Macron traveled to China and called for European strategic autonomy from Washington, Iglesias told CTXT that he defends European strategic autonomy and wants to remain within NATO. He said Podemos must continue to hold our hand out despite the insults. But this autonomy means an independent imperialist course for European capitalism, against rivals abroad and the workers at home. While Washington and the US-led NATO alliance play leading roles in stoking wars with Russia and China in a bid to preserve US global hegemony, Europes pseudo-left parties that advocate a multi-polar capitalist order are also unflaggingly reactionary. The calls for autonomy is not to protect the liberty and social and democratic rights of working people, but, instead, the liberty of the capitalist classes to wage war in the pursuit of their profit interests. Podemos and Sumar are united in their hostility to the global upsurge of the working class against real wage cuts and attacks on social and democratic rights. This is reflected in the strike by over 120,000 Canadian federal government workers, the three-month-long mass protests in France against President Emmanuel Macrons pension cuts, and major strikes by health care and postal workers in Britain and education workers in the United States. All of these struggles are objectively defying the ruling class. Workers in struggle must be warned: Podemos, Sumar and all their pseudo-left apologists internationally are dragging the world to war. They must be stopped. Preventing a catastrophic military escalation requires mobilizing the working class against Podemos and similar pseudo-left parties in all the NATO countries and internationally. May Day 2023 will be a vital step in the building of this movement. On Sunday, April 30, the International Committee of the Fourth International, the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality and the World Socialist Web Site will hold an online global May Day rally to mobilize workers and youth around the world against the war in Ukraine. We urge all of those opposed to the war to register today. Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy will bring his campaign tour to the Upstate this weekend. At 1 p.m. Saturday, the tech entrepreneur will hold a Life Town Hall at Carolina Pregnancy Center, in Spartanburg, according to campaign spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin. At 5:30 p.m. Saturday, a "Meet and Greet with Vivek" is scheduled at 30 Promenade Drive, Greenville. At 9:30 a.m. Sunday, he is scheduled to be at Morningside Baptist Church, 1115 Pelham Road, Greenville. 2024 Presidential Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speaks to the crowd at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition's annual Spring Kick-Off, on Saturday, April 22, 2023, in Clive, Iowa. Ramaswamy joins former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former President Donald Trump, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and radio host Larry Elder as declared GOP presidential candidates. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Vice President Mike Pence are also considering launching GOP presidential campaigns. Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina formed an exploratory committee, a step toward a formal campaign for the White House. Spartanburg crowd hears DeSantis Spartanburg crowd of 1,000 gathers for Gov. DeSantis rally. Protesters reject 'blueprint' Ramaswamy is the author of "Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate Americas Social Justice Scam," and, "Nation of Victims: Identity Politics, the Death of Merit, and the Path Back to Excellence." He graduated with a degree in biology from Harvard and received his juris doctorate from Yale Law School, while working at a hedge fund, then started a biotech company, Roivant Sciences. In 2022, he co-founded Strive, an Ohio-based asset management firm. Vivek Ramaswamy, his wife Apoorva, and their two sons. This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy to campaign in South Carolina Express Employment Professionals Half of Canadian Companies to Hire Recent Graduates in 2023 Job Prospects For Grads at Highest Level in Years Job Prospects For Grads at Highest Level in Years TORONTO, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The persistently tight labour market might be frustrating for Canadian employers, but its good news for university and college graduates entering the job market, according to a new survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals. About half of Canadian companies (47%) plan to hire recent university and college graduates this year, up from 43% last year and a significant increase from 36% in 2020. In addition, 30% of companies plan to hire graduates of career tech and vocational schools this year. 2023 04 26 CDA NR College Grads Even those who havent graduated yet are in demand with 2 in 5 employers (38%) planning to hire college and university students this year, up from 36% last year and 33% in 2021. In terms of the positions employers are looking to fill with recent graduates, the most common are entry-level (53%) and mid-level (47%) jobs, followed by individual contributors (28%) and senior-level jobs (20%). Key areas in which employers are hiring include customer service (26%), sales (21%), accounting/finance and IT/technology support (both at 13%) and business development and human resources (both at 11%). The job market is very promising for recent graduates, according to James Norris, an Express franchise owner in London, Ontario. For many sectors, especially hands-on positions such as healthcare and skilled trades workers, the job prospects of graduates will grow even more as demand increases and large numbers of older workers continue to move into retirement. Norris says there are several benefits to hiring recent graduates as they bring new ideas, fresh perspectives and in some cases, information about brand new advances in their field that have only recently been discovered and taught. His advice to new graduates is to focus on getting work experience. Understand the need for real-world experience and seek employment as quickly as you can, regardless of whether or not it is in your ideal industry or position, said Norris. Real-life work experience is key to advancing your career, and building your skills and experiences will be much better than having nothing but education on your resume. Be willing to work hard to advance, and ask for additional training and development from your employer as soon as possible. Story continues This years graduates are entering a hot job market, said Bill Stoller, Express Employment International CEO. Its a great time for this group to gain experience and build skills that will aid them in the development of successful careers. Survey Methodology The Job Insights survey was conducted online within Canada by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between Dec. 1 and Dec. 15, 2022, among 506 Canadian hiring decision-makers (defined as adults ages 18+ in Canada who are employed full-time or self-employed, work at companies with more than one employee, and have full/significant involvement in hiring decisions at their company). Data were weighted where necessary by company size to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 4.6 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest. If you would like to arrange for an interview to discuss this topic, please contact Ana Curic at (613) 858-2622 or email Ana@MapleLeafStrategies.com. About Bill Stoller William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment International. Founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing franchisor supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. About Express Employment Professionals At Express Employment Professionals, were in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 579,000 people globally in 2022 and more than 10 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com/CA. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5f5d490b-42e6-46a1-928e-3a3da8d13d41 The iconic Mackinac island property selects Optii for better flow of communication and tracking of service requests AUSTIN, Texas, April 26, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Optii Solutions, the leading hotel operations software, today announced that Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in Michigan has selected Optii as its hotel operations solution for housekeeping, service, and staff communication. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005300/en/ (Graphic: Business Wire) Grand Hotel joins the Optii family as the third Davidson Hospitality Group property after The Don Cesar and The Alexander. Since first opening in 1887, Grand Hotel continues its legacy as a premier vacation destination on Mackinac Island. Not only is it a National Historic Landmark and considered one of the best hotels in Michigan, but Grand Hotel is also recognized as one of the top 10 all-inclusive resorts in America. Optii was selected because of its unique ability to connect front and back of house with flow of information from the PMS to Optii housekeeping and service. Optii chat acts as a powerful addition for staff communication between the departments. Because of the expansive property and premium services, such as everyday turndown service for all guests, Optii housekeeping will deliver both productivity gains and a new level of insight and control over the operation. David Jurcak, President, Grand Hotel, said: "After reviewing Optiis solution and having a background in housekeeping and operations myself, the choice was pretty simple. We are excited to get started with Optii and reap the benefits of higher efficiency, improved communication, and better collaboration across teams. Ultimately this will translate into an improved guest experience, and thats what its all about for us." Katherine Grass, CEO, Optii Solutions, said: "We are very excited to welcome Grand Hotel to the Optii family. To me, its particularly gratifying when a leader with a housekeeping background recognizes what Optii can do, not only for the operation, but for the teams making it all come together. Thats how I know were doing it right. Its for this very same reason we hire from within the industry, and especially those with housekeeping and operations experience." Story continues About Optii Solutions Optii Solutions is a hotel operations solution that leverages smarter technologies such as artificial intelligence, analytics, messaging and mobility to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of housekeeping and service delivery departments. For further information about Optii, please visit: www.optiisolutions.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005300/en/ Contacts Rama Samal-McCausland rsamalmccausland@fireoth.com +44 7842 797728 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Acre: Acre, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, Press release picture Only half of the largest listed companies' green generals came from previous sustainability roles, with many preferring operations and strategy experience. In a recent article for the Business Times, Acre's Head of Sustainable Business, APAC, Greg Brittian, discusses the different paths companies can take when hiring sustainability leaders, as well as the trending skills associated with CSOs. The article looks at the largest listed companies in Singapore, and analyses sustainability-related expertise, hiring backgrounds, and challenges. "CSOs should possess both relevant sustainability qualifications - even if they do not have a technical sustainability background - as well as exhibit strong leadership and strategic skills." To read the full article, please click here. Original Source: The Business Times| Written by Wong Pei Ting and Janice Lim | Published on 03/04/23 About Acre At Acre, we work with the most aspirational businesses with potential to make real change; from those who are just starting out to those who are well on the journey to crafting a legacy. Our 18 years' experience in sustainability recruitment, combined with our extensive global network, enables us to provide talent solutions that are designed to deliver this change. Through our unique behavioural assessment technology, we understand the types of people, skills and behaviours required to create impact. We can develop these qualities within your existing teams too. We find talented people and develop their skills to ensure they make a true impact in ambitious, progressive organisations. Acre. Making companies ready for tomorrow. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Acre on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Acre Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/acre Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Acre View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/751380/Green-Guru-or-Strategic-Savant-Singapore-Companies-Make-Tough-Choices-in-CSO-Hires SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd. SkyQuest's Precious Metal Tubing Market report provides actionable insights for individuals interested in valuable data, trends, and opportunities in a rapidly growing industry. Additionally, the report is produced and published concisely, making it accessible to various audiences, from industry experts to market readers. Finally, one can gain an in-depth understanding of the primary and secondary market drivers, providing them with a comprehensive outlook of the current market situation and future projections. Westford, USA,, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SkyQuest projects that the precious metal tubing market will attain a value of USD 42.05 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 8.5% over the forecast period (2022-2030). The global market is changing in several ways due to the increased demand for customized goods. Manufacturers are concentrating on offering customized items to suit these expectations as end users increasingly look for solutions with unique dimensions and qualities. The medical, aerospace, automotive and electronics industries all employ precious metal tubing in form of customized goods. For use in applications such as catheters, stents and pacemaker lead, the medical industry requires specially made-precious metal tubing. Customized precious metal tubing is used in the aerospace sector to create items, including hydraulic lines, fuel lines and engine components. According to SkyQuest, the need for precious metal tubing is also being driven by the rising use of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power. To ensure dependable and effective functioning, these energy sources need cutting-edge components, including tubing made of precious metal. The market is significantly constrained by the high price of the precious metals required to produce tubing. Additionally, the accessibility of substitute materials and the growing use of composite materials in various applications may limit market expansion. Story continues Get sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/precious-metal-tubing-market Browse in-depth TOC on "Precious Metal Tubing Market" Pages - 242 Tables - 68 Figures 80 Precious metals are naturally occurring substances with a high luster. Compared to base metals, these metals are more economically valuable, scarce, complex and less reactive. Additionally, they are malleable, corrosion-resistant, ductile and adequate heat- and energy-conductors. As a result, they are used worldwide to produce jewellery, consumer electronics, cars, chemicals and medical equipment. Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium are a few examples of precious metals utilized as valuable investments. Prominent Players in Precious Metal Tubing Market Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. Materion Corporation Precision Castparts Corp. Kobe Steel Ltd. BAOJI TITANIUM INDUSTRY CO., LTD. Luvata Sichuan Tianze Precious Metals Co., Ltd. Ningbo Jintian Copper Tube Co., Ltd. MKM Mansfelder Kupfer und Messing GmbH KME Germany GmbH & Co KG Poongsan Corporation United States Brass & Copper MTT Non-Ferrous Metals South Africa (Pty) Ltd Cambridge Lee Industries LLC Mueller Industries, Inc. Marmon/Keystone LLC RathGibson, LLC Amari Precision Tubes Plymouth Tube Co. Sandvik AB Outokumpu Oyj Mueller Copper Tube Products, Inc. Cerro Flow Products, LLC Sterling Tubes & Valves Private Limited Ningbo Powerway Alloy Material Co., Ltd. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/precious-metal-tubing-market Electronics and Medical Devices Segment in the Precious Metal Tubing Market Is Expected to Grow Due to High Electrical Conductivity The electronics and medical devices segments have been the largest users of precious metal tubing due to their wide range of applications, including in the production of sensors, implantable medical devices and connectors. Electrical contacts, connections and circuits are just a few benefits for using precious metal tubing in the electronics sector. It is also great choice for premium electronic components due to its high electrical conductivity, low resistance and corrosion resistance. Stents, catheters and implants are just a few examples from the medical device industry. In addition, its characteristics offers biocompatibility, resistance to corrosion and sterilizability. North America is one of the world's largest markets for precious metal tubing due to significant end-use sectors in the region, including aerospace, automotive and medical devices. North America's largest market for precious metal tubing is the United States, which accounts for a sizeable portion of the global market. In North America, the aircraft sector is a significant end-user. Some of the biggest aerospace firms in the world, such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, have their headquarters in this region. In addition, air conditioning systems, fuel lines, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, and other aerospace-related systems all require precious metal tubing in some capacity. Aerospace and automotive Segment Dominate the Market Due to High-Performance Materials The aerospace and automotive segment see a strong demand for precious metal tubing due to the need for high-performance materials with good heat and corrosion resistance. Hydraulic systems, fuel lines and instrumentation are listed as few uses in the aerospace sector. Precious metal tubing is a great option for airplanes because of its lightweight, high strength, and corrosion resistance. Fuel lines, brake lines, and exhaust systems are just a few uses for precious metal tubing in the automotive sector. The market growth for Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow fastest in the global scenario. Several reasons, including the rising demand for electronics, automobiles and renewable energy sources in countries such as China, Japan and India fuel the market growth. In addition, the demand for passenger automobiles and commercial vehicles is propelling the rapid growth of the automotive sector in Asia Pacific. Fuel lines, brake lines and air conditioning systems are just a few automotive-related applications for precious metal tube. The market in the region is expanding due to the rising demand for these applications. A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the Precious Metal Tubing 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 endeavours to develop innovative solutions to cater to the growing demand. Key Developments in Precious Metal Tubing Market In January 2022, Austria's Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, the industry's top producer of precious metal tubing announced that it has enlarged its production plant to fulfil the rising demand for premium tubing. In 2021, The Materion Corporation's new range of precious metal tubing for medical purposes is intended to offer better strength and corrosion resistance than conventional tube materials which was announced in October. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/precious-metal-tubing-market Key Questions Answered in Precious Metal Tubing Market Report What specific growth drivers are projected to impact the market during the forecast period? 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 these differences shape the market's future growth? Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global Platinum Mining Market Global Rhodium Market Global Diamond Market Global Sapphire Market Global Ammonia Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Note: Some responses were also from the BuzzFeed Community from this post. Some spoilers ahead! 1. Allie from The Notebook "Allie is just as toxic as Noah. She hit him and screamed at him violently. If he did that, people would very much call it out." hollygolightly20102 New Line Cinema / Courtesy Everett Collection 2. Daniel Hillard, aka Mrs. Doubtfire, from Mrs. Doubtfire "As memorable as Robin Williams' performance is, if you think about the story with even an ounce of depth, his character is basically a nightmare stalker ex." johnmichaelw "That movie came out when I was little, and everyone loved it, but its so cringe and steeped in discomfort to me. Ive never watched more than, like, 15-minute pieces of it. Its just too much. I don't know what it is; its so awkward." shalewark 20th Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection 3. Tony Montana from Scarface "He isnt a hero. He betrayed everybody close to him in his life. His best friend, sister, and wife all came second to power, greed, and materialism. If anything, the ending is illustrating how meaningless his pursuit of the American Dream was because he traded or lost everything that mattered." "He was miserable even after he accomplished all of his goals, and he used his friends like pawns. Never even shed a tear for Angel; his life was happily traded just to get his foot in the door. I love the movie, but find it funny that anybody can see Tony Montana as admirable. He is very driven to make his American Dream a reality, but the movie is trying to illustrate that its what kills him and his loved ones." u/CitizenPain00 Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection 4. Sophie Sheridan from Mamma Mia! "What kind of prick invites her mother's ex-lovers to her mother's hotel on the eve of her wedding without telling her to try and force a situation where her real father will be revealed?" "Then she bails on the whole wedding anyway to go traveling around the world. If I was a wedding guest having forked out thousands to get there for a non-wedding, I'd be livid." u/GreyFoxNinjaFan Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection 5. Christian Gray from Fifty Shades of Grey "He was publicized as the 'ultimate kinky boyfriend,' the best of the best, but he's just an abusive jerk." "I really can't understand people who can't see how terrible he is, and I am not talking about kink just the abuse and the non-consensual stuff he did to her. If he wasn't rich and beautiful, that story would be a crime one." voldy Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection 6. Tyler Durden from Fight Club "Hes a misogynistic, controlling, manipulative sociopath." u/scaryboilednoodles "I must have read Fight Club 20 times in high school and idolized him. Led to some bad and reckless decisions because I wanted to be like him. Now Im 27 and understand Tyler Durden wasn't an antihero; he was literally just selfish and power-hungry, and I cringe when I think about how I used to act." Anonymous 20th Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection 7. Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite "He's hilarious and accurate to somebody each of us knows, but he definitely is a bad person. A loser, mostly. Living in the past, trying to make money by manipulating emotions, etc." u/Flaming-Hecker Fox Searchlight Pictures 8. Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars "The dark side does change you mentally in a way that the movies don't really get into, like how in Rebels, he doesn't even try to spare Ahsoka, despite being her master and having a great relationship. But even so, in that scene, he still hasn't embraced the dark side yet. You can clearly see that his eyes aren't Sith yellow like Maul's or Sidious's, meaning he really has no excuse for doing what he did." "If I remember, he actually killed the kids specifically to get closer to the dark side, so yeah...pretty messed up." u/AndyAndrewAnderson 20th Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection 9. The Phantom from The Phantom of the Opera "As I get older, I get more and more creeped out by his character but also the fact that Christine thought of him as a father and knew him since she was a child, and he thinks of her...like that." u/Munchablesdelights "Hes not romantic. Hes a creep." u/emojicatcher997 Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection 10. Maui from Moana "He straight-up doomed the world for selfish reasons and attempted to murder a child on several occasions." u/Bdroyle1988 Walt Disney Co. / Courtesy Everett Collection 11. Scott Pilgrim from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World... Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection 12. ...and Peter Quill from the Marvel Cinematic Universe "Both Scott and Peter are meant to be a dissection of the typical male hero archetype. But both are written so audiences can identify with them in a negative way. To see the flaws in the mindsets of these archetypes that the media tends to be pushed as being cool. But it in fact makes them big ol' jerks, to put it mildly. And in both of their stories, characters call them out on it." "In the Scott Pilgrim book, he nearly ruins all his relationships with his friends and most of them don't want anything to do with him by the time it hits book four. Peter is constantly being called out for being a horny idiot who immaturely views the world through movies and TV shows from his childhood and feels like he just 'deserves' to save the world, get the girl, etc. Both of these people are challenged, called out, and grow to be better people by the end of their stories, but a lot of people tend to miss the part about them being challenged. They don't see the problems they have as problems. And it's so annoying when the point is so obvious that is goes over their heads." u/kaject Jessica Miglio / Marvel / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection 13. Dumbledore from Harry Potter "He manipulated and used people, even literal children, especially poor Harry. Left him in an abusive home for the 'greater good,' and even after that, he didn't tell the kid what the hell was happening in his life." "He knew how Snape treated the students yet never took any action because he was useful to him. I'm just still mad about it ." u/anxiousbiscorpio "I always hated Dumbledore. He never trusted anyone, kept information from people so no one ever knew enough, and conditioned Harry not to trust others. They probably could have had so much help from the Order had Harry been able to ask for it, but Dumbledore was like, 'Nope, three teens are where we need to put all our eggs. Good luck...'" mslm90 Warner Bros / Courtesy Everett Collection 14. Westley from The Princess Bride "It just hit me the other day that Westley is a mass murderer. He posed as the Dread Pirate Roberts for years, taking over from the last one, and knowing that the pirate never left anyone alive, must have killed everyone his ship raided until handing it over to Inigo at the end of the movie." svenswensen Courtesy Everett Collection 15. Ferris Bueller from Ferris Bueller's Day Off "He's a slimy, manipulative liar and con artist. Probably went on to work at Enron. He is a perfect symbol of everything that went wrong with America." u/mranster "I watched that damn film every time we had a substitute teacher who didnt have a lesson plan. I hate Ferris Bueller. Everyone excuses him but hes awful." u/Mabel_Waddles_BFF "I think that film is another of those polarising ones. When you're young, you love Ferris. When you're older, you side with the sister and principal." u/Onion_Heart Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection And finally.. 16. Kylo Ren from Star Wars "I can't stand such awful abusive characters who commit atrocious crimes but it all gets brushed off because they had a 'hard life,' and then decided they loved a woman in the end as if that redeems them." "And don't get me started on how she has to lessen herself to get to a point of 'loving' him." u/sarahbekett Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Lucasfilm / Courtesy Everett Collection Who are some other movie characters who shouldn't be glorified? Let us know in the comments below! Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity. Daily-Show-Desi-Lydic-Abortion-Pills - Credit: Daily Show While Fridays Supreme Court ruling has protected access to a widely used abortion medication for now, abortions are currently banned in 14 states following the overturning of Roe v. Wade last summer. On Tuesdays Daily Show episode, guest host Desi Lydic tackled the right-wing attack on abortion pill access, and took the audience on a wild dystopian ride. Two weeks ago, a judge in Texas banned abortion pills nationwide for safety reasons. Because even though women have used it safely for over two decades, hes a man, and I guess he just knows better, said Lydic. The comic then added, Thank God the Supreme Court has temporarily halted that decision, at least until Clarence Thomas comes back from his all-expenses-paid cruise. More from Rolling Stone Lydic warned that over a dozen states have enacted their own bans against abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol, including Wyoming where a law making providing abortions a felony was temporarily blocked by a judge. You can still get misoprostol in Wyoming, as long as youre a dog or a cat, or a horse. If youre a woman in Wyoming whose rights are being restricted, you might need to get creative, said Lydic before the camera cut to a veterinarian clinic. In the clip, Lydic sets up an appointment with a vet under the guise of her dog needing a subscription for the abortion pill. Its just really not a great time for her. You know, shes really trying to focus on her career, Lydic explains to her vet, insisting that her dog has a career in sledding. The ruse is up, however, as her vet quickly catches on. While the skit lampoons Republican-led bills banning abortions, it serves as a stark reminder that, as Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, puts it, Were not out of the woods yet. Story continues Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. 10 ways to add to the story of your home. Jeff Herr; Design by Mallory Mathison Inc. Books are a designer's best friend. Theyre a helpful bit of decor that designers rely on to give flourish to nearly every room of the house. Beyond the decorative, books can instill personality in a home, communicating a message about the people who live there. I was an English major in college, so reading has always been a passion of mine, says Charlotte, North Carolina-based designer Lucy Doswell. The books that people have in their home say a lot about who they are. It's an extension of your personal style. Mallory Mathison Glenn, principal designer for Mallory Mathison Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia, agrees that books in the home can speak volumes. I think it adds so much to the story of a home, she says. Obviously the inside of the book is the real story, but books give a space a soul in a way that throw pillows cant. Books as decor is one designer move that couldnt be easier to replicate. However, the decorative potential of books goes far beyond laying your most recent read on the coffee table or placing a novel on a shelf. Heres every trick in the book to decorate with books. Lucy Doswell is the owner and principal designer for Lucy Doswell Interiors in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mallory Mathison Glenn is the principal designer for Mallory Mathison Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia. Use What You Have (And Fill In The Gaps) Read McKendree / JBSA; Design by Lucy Doswell Interiors Start by working with the books you have. However, designers tell us that its never enough, because you can just never have too many books. Both designers say that they use books that clients already own and either start sourcing more, or encourage the homeowners to start collecting more books over time. The books arent just for show though. Both Mathison Glenn and Doswell take care to curate books that suit each homeowner. Some clients have incredible book collections. Others have a great start, Doswell says. One of my favorite things to do is to mix novels and books that they've read for pleasure with art books, coffee table books, books about foliage or trees or photographythings based on what their interests are. We want something that someone would actually want to pick up and read. Story continues Gather the books you have to start your display, then over time, begin compiling more that interest you, Matthison Glenn recommends. Books are an easy and affordable collectible that can provide stellar reading material and equally attractive decor. Re-Cover Them Haley Jane Griffith; Design by Mallory Mathison Inc. One way of working with what youve got is to re-cover your books. This is an easy way to recycle weathered novels and make them look up to par for decorating. Mathison Glenn sends her clients novels over to E Lawrence LTD, a bookseller in Marietta, Georgia, to have them rebound in handsome leather bindings. You can also go a DIY route with some fabric and glue. Invest In Vintage Read McKendree / JBSA; Design by Lucy Doswell Interiors If youre adding to your book collection, both Mathison Glenn and Doswell cant resist the allure of vintage books. They admire the charm of antique reads like classic novels from beloved authors, but your collection can include whatever strikes your interestfrom biographies to old Southern Living and Junior League cookbooks. I love finding antique books and if a client doesn't have any, I typically try to find some and mix them in. I'm always looking at auctions and I see a great collection of antique books and I have also found some on eBay and in my own travels, says Doswell. It adds a really wonderful sense of history and character to the room to mix up the time periods as well. Match Sets Or Dont Annie Schlechter Our designers have a split vote on whether or not to organize matching sets of books together. While Mathison Glenn thinks that a series with coordinating covers or a group of encyclopedias can be really pleasing, Doswell prefers the visual interest from a mis-matched assortment. We take that to mean that the beauty, in this case, is in the eye of the beholder. For the most part, I think it's fun to just have books interspersed as if you just pulled one out, read it, and then put it back, Doswell explains. The alternative, she thinks, feels really tight and rigid. Stack Risers Laura Negri Childers; Design by Mallory Mathison Inc. Another way to decorate with books is to use them as podiums to display other decor. A stack of books can add dynamic height to emphasize a knick knack or even something as big as a lamp. A few books make such a great spot to put another object on top of, whether its a magnifying glass, a pretty little box, or a candle, they provide a nice base., Mathison Glenn says. Organize Shelves Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Elly Poston Cooper A wall of shelves full of books can make a stunning impression. Designers also recommend incorporating books on the shelves beyond display cases or walls, but on table shelves too. If youre looking to fill a shelf with books, designers encourage you to avoid straight, boring rows that can feel austere. Instead, there are three approaches you can take: organizing by topic, purely for looks, or a laid-back approach. The first option is exactly how it sounds. Organize your books by their topic so that you can easily find exactly what youre looking for. Because this style is less of a stickler for looks, the overall effect will be beautifully busy. If a pretty display is your goal, theres a few ways to go about it. Organize with color, height, or both in mind. Mathison Glenn advises to sort books on a shelf by height so that a tall book doesnt look awkward next to a short one, and to create a pattern of three or four books stood-up vertically, then two or three stacked horizontally. Finally, for that easy-going organization style, take a deep breath and step back before layering your books on the shelf wherever you please. Mathison Glenn recommends a pseudo careless approach that is accessible and easy on the eyes. I don't like bookshelves that are styled to the point where it looks like you can't actually kind of reach in and touch it, says Mathison Glenn. The whole idea is to be able to pull something off the shelf and open it, read through it and then put it back. Pair With Other Decor Read McKendree / JBSA; Design by Lucy Doswell Interiors Especially on shelves, designers say that books are only part of the design. Other tchotchkes and decorative items like picture frames, pretty boxes, and china displays should be dispersed throughout to complete the look. Mathison Glenn reminds us that when displaying family photos on shelves with your books, to make sure that the photos are at a height thats close to eye-level so that you can actually see them. Another way to add interest with the help of other decor is to hang framed art in front of the shelves. In fact, Mathison Glenn lets us in on a secret that she often uses this as a method to fill in gaps that she doesnt have enough books to fill. Top A Coffee Table (Or Really Any Surface) Laurey W. Glenn Coffee table books are a classic way of decorating with books. These ones are often oversized and artistic, featuring a visual representation of a topic of interest. Place a book, a stack of books, or our designers favorite: multiple stacks of books, on your coffee table and get creative. Choose to put them all on a decorative tray and incorporate other adornments too. We love using coffee table books in our residential design projects, shares Dallas, Texas boutique designer Amy Atkins. Larger coffee table books provide color, interest, and varying heights for layering accessories. Dont stop at the coffee table though, says Mathison Glenn. In my own house, I have stacks of books everywhere: underneath tables, on chair tops, and books overflowing from every single shelf that is there, she says. She even uses books below surfaces, citing that books are an excellent trick to prop up a crooked table leg. Show Off Cookbooks Alexandra Rowley; Design: Kevin Walsh; Styling: Olga Naiman Both Mathison Glenn and Doswell love having cookbooks out on display, but only if you actually use them. I love the way that cookbooks look, says Mathison Glenn. Especially when you can tell they're really usedthat's the key with having cookbooks in your kitchen. You can't have a bunch of brand new, untouched cookbooks, or it looks silly. To display cookbooks, if you use them of course, Doswell recommends having a designated place for them rather than laying or stacking them on every surface in the kitchen like you might other books in the living room. For the kitchen, Doswell is partial to open shelves and cabinets with glass or fabric doors that you can see into. Build A True Library Laurey W. Glenn; Styling by Lindsey Ellis Beatty A functioning library right in your home sounds like a dream, but designers say its one that is achievable. If you have a whole room ready to be converted into a library, we envy you so, but you can also convert a corner, reading nook, or living room wall into a usable library by organizing your bookshelves in an accessible way to easily locate and retrieve any given book. "My favorite room to decorate, if I had to choose, would always be a library. I love being surrounded by books and making it feel like a really cozy room, says Doswell. Meanwhile, Mathison Glenn shares that this is a strategy she uses for professional-minded clients, like lawyers for instance, who have an abundance of legal books they need to be able to reference but can double as decor. Whether youre designing a full, functional library, reorganizing the books already in your collection, or looking to acquire more for decorating, designers assure us that you can never have too many books around the house. You can't have enough pieces of art. You can't have too many dogs. And you can't have too many books, Mathison Glenn tells us. They're all things of a home that really speak to the people who live there. For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Southern Living. Walt Disney World is taking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to the least magical place on Earth: the courtroom. Disney filed a lawsuit against DeSantis on Wednesday after a board appointed by the Florida governor voted to nullify agreements that gave the company control over its 25,000-plus acre resort and theme park district. The lawsuit filed against DeSantis, board members, and other state officials accuse them of "a targeted campaign of government retaliation," reports The New York Times. The lawsuit stems from a quarrel between Disney and DeSantis' that began last year, after the resort, in the face of pressure from employees, publicly condemned a Florida law that banned sexual orientation and gender curriculums in classrooms between kindergarten and the third grade, better known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill. As a result, DeSantis took over Disney's special self-governing district called the Reedy Creek Improvement District and appointed a board to curb the resort's autonomy. Florida previously allowed the resort to select its own board members. In the lawsuit, Disney accused DeSantis of a "relentless campaign to weaponize government power" against the resort "in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint." The campaign, the lawsuit added, "threatens Disney's business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights." Disney World Michael Orso/Getty Images Walt Disney World The board appointed by DeSantis claimed that Disney's efforts to retain control over the district was unlawful, having previously accused the resort of "self-dealing," "procedural unconscionability," and the creation of an "absolute legal mess." Representatives for Walt Disney World did not immediately respond to EW's request for comment about the lawsuit. DeSantis' spokesperson Taryn Fenske doubled down on claims that Disney's efforts are unlawful when reached for comment. Story continues "We are unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state," Fenske said. "This lawsuit is yet another unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law." Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more. Related content: According to Maria Grazia Chiuri, the effort to advance women artists will have to start in her own country. The creative director of haute couture, ready-to-wear and accessories collections at Dior said that shes noticed concerted efforts to highlight female artists in the U.S. and France, but sees room for improvement in her native Italy. More from WWD In Italy, we are suffering because there is not much space for many women artists. They are more concentrated on historical exhibitions, she said, before highlighting several champions of female artists in the U.S., including the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., and the Brooklyn Museum in New York. Chiuri served as co-chair at the latters annual Artists Ball, presented by Dior, alongside Regina Aldisert, Henry Elsesser, Marley B. Lewis, Janet Mock and Carla Shen. This year, the event honored artist-activist Carrie Mae Weems, whose multidisciplinary career spans photographs, text, fabric and installations. Other attendees included Tracee Ellis Ross, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Swizz Beats, Christian Serratos, Kiersey Clemons, Charlie Heaton, Natalia Dyer, Thomas Doherty and Eli Brown, among others. I am very interested in this museum because its the first museum in New York that started to speak about women artists, so for me, its very important to be here, Chiuri said of the Brooklyn Museum, acknowledging the irony of holding a dinner party next to Judy Chicagos landmark feminist installation in the museum, Dinner Party. My dream, she joked. The table for me is a reference in the history of feminist art it was very inspiring in my work in Dior because we get to work with women artists to support all the artists around the world, Chiuri continued. During her latest trip to New York, Chiuri stopped by the International Center of Photographys Face to Face: Portraits of Artists exhibit, which featured Dior collaborator Brigitte Lacombe. I had never seen the International Center of Photography, which is unbelievable, Chiuri said. Story continues The Metropolitan Museum of Arts exhibit Cecily Brown: Death and the Maid was also on her list. Chiuri wont be at Mondays Met Gala, however. I cant go to the Met this year because we have to realize our [next] show, she added. The designers art agenda for the summer is broad. I want to go visit a new artist in galleries in Paris. Were really obsessed with the exhibition made with [Francesco] Vezzoli. He put archeological statues from Rome and Greece in conversation with his work, and thats super interesting. I saw that before coming to New York. She relies on her team to help her scout new artists, either for inspiration or collaboration. I didnt have a specific [art] background, but I have a cultural team that supports me and I go to see exhibitions all around the world. And when I see something that resonates, theres no other reason. It is usually something close to me. Art is specific when you see something, you love it or not. Charlie Heaton, Natalia Dyer, Thomas Doherty and Eli Brown. Launch Gallery: Inside Brooklyn Museums Artist Ball Honoring Carrie Mae Weems Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. SAN FRANCISCO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GrubMarket today announced the launch of GrubPay, a powerful and easy-to-use payment platform that facilitates safe and secure payments for food wholesalers and distributors, making GrubMarket the first and only eCommerce platform to offer a fully integrated payment solution designed for the fresh industry. In addition to operating as a standalone product, GrubPay also integrates seamlessly with GrubMarket's existing software ecosystem, which includes its comprehensive 360-degree ERP system, WholesaleWare; innovative mobile eCommerce solution, Orders IO; and leading CSA management software, Farmigo, providing a centralized omnichannel solution for the food supply chain. GrubMarket's customers can now directly accept and manage payments quickly, easily, and securely via ACH, credit card, and other online methods. GrubMarket Logo (PRNewsfoto/GrubMarket) "Traditional payment acceptance methods for the fresh industry are cumbersome, expensive, and unreliable. Third-party payment providers lack an understanding of the nuanced needs of food distributors and wholesalers, and their fee structures squeeze the already thin margins of these businesses. This is why GrubPay is such a big step forward for the fresh industry. Our integrated payment solutions make it possible for food suppliers to get paid quickly with ACH and credit card payments, while easily managing all invoicing, communications, and reporting directly through our innovative and proprietary software products WholesaleWare, Orders IO, and Farmigo. With the addition of GrubPay, customers reduce errors, eliminate check fraud, and get paid faster. This is a game changer," said Genevieve Wang, Chief Product Officer at GrubMarket. In addition to seamless integration with WholesaleWare, OrdersIO, and Farmigo, GrubPay offers a number of unique features and benefits, including: Online payments: Businesses of all sizes can easily connect to the GrubPay credit card payment gateway, to securely accept online card payments and/or process transactions in-store. The GrubPay gateway can accept payments from all major credit card issuers and payment networks. Pay by link: Customers can pay via ACH transfer and/or credit card using a secure payment link that is hosted by GrubPay. Users can create emails and SMS messages with payment links or add payment links to invoices to get paid directly by customers; create QR codes that facilitate real-time payment at checkout; or even embed payment flows on social media. Real-time payment tracking: Payment status is available in real-time. Users can track their active payment balances and gain complete visibility into the status of each payment. Full accounting integration: Within WholesaleWare, users can automatically generate payment requests for invoices; payments, customer balances, and reports are kept in sync and up to date with WholesaleWare's Accounting Module, in real-time. Competitive pricing: As industry insiders, GrubMarket understands the tight margins of B2B food supply chain businesses. GrubPay's pricing model is highly competitive, transparent, and designed for the food distribution and wholesale business model, so customers can worry less about costs. Flexibility and customization: Customers can use GrubPay's developer platform and APIs to rapidly build production-ready integrations that enable invoicing and online payment functionality, designed for their customers' and products' unique needs. Story continues "Right now, most fresh industry players still use traditional offline methods like checks and cash to complete payment transactions. Others rely on third-party providers that charge exorbitant fees and are not tailored to facilitate payments in the food supply chain industry. We are proud to take the next step of every great eCommerce company - offering seamless payment solutions to our customers. GrubPay is a truly transformative solution that will create significant value for the food industry and help customers streamline their payment processes, reduce costs, and save time. By facilitating payments for the food supply chain through a one-stop solution integrated with our best-in-class WholesaleWare, OrdersIO, and Farmigo software products, GrubPay will make payments easy, accessible, and affordable to all our customers," said Mike Xu, CEO of GrubMarket. This revolutionary new payment system is available to all WholesaleWare, OrdersIO, and Farmigo customers. For more information about GrubPay or to sign up as a customer, visit https://www.grubpay.io , or send an inquiry to software@grubmarket.com. About GrubMarket Founded in 2014, GrubMarket is a San Francisco-based food technology company operating in the space of food supply chain eCommerce for both business customers and end consumers, as well as providing related software-as-a-service solutions to digitally transform the American and global food supply chain. Currently, GrubMarket operates in all 50 U.S. States; Ontario and British Columbia (Canada); Argentina, Chile, and Colombia (South America); Egypt, India, Mexico, South Africa, and Spain, with plans to expand to the rest of the U.S., Canada, South America, and other parts of the world. For Media Inquiries: GrubMarket Media Team media@grubmarket.com (415) 986-0523 GrubMarket 1925 Jerrold Ave. San Francisco, CA. 94124 Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/grubmarket-launches-grubpay-to-bring-payments-solutions-to-the-food-supply-chain-industry-301808041.html SOURCE GrubMarket Lower education criteria. Boosted training salaries. Increased tolerance for tattoos and facial hair. A quicker path to the top pay. Lateral transfers. Law enforcement agencies across Rhode Island are taking steps to sweeten the offerings for would-be recruits. Everybodys scrambling. Its essentially a crisis, said David Lambert, director of the Justice System Training and Research Institute at Roger Williams University. Theres a lot of soul-searching in police departments about how to do better recruiting. Across the state and the nation, agencies are seeing flagging numbers of applicants, even as their ranks edge closer to retirement age. Adding to that is increasing competition from neighboring towns and cities promising better work conditions and benefits. These forces are combining to leave some departments hemorrhaging officers at a time when interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement is lagging as never before. From COVID to the present, the numbers are ridiculously low, said Sid Wordell, executive director of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association. Were just not seeing the individuals coming forward for law enforcement. More: Should police wear body cameras in schools? Why the issue has become a battleground. Department of Corrections faces record retirements Thats a stark reality in the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, where 194 officers are currently eligible for retirement and another 223 will qualify in the coming year, according to department records. With a workforce of roughly 900 officers at the Adult Correctional Institutions, it amounts to a third of the staff that could head out the door. Were falling far short. If we see this mass exodus, were in trouble, Richard Ferruccio, president of the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers union, said. The department took steps aimed at recruitment and retention in reaching contract terms in February. The agreement increased the rates that recruits are paid during the training academy from a $500 weekly stipend to a competitive starting salary of about $60,000. The pace at which officers can achieve the top step quickened from 20 years to 14 years, and officers will see salary hikes of 2.5% at 25 and 30 years in hopes they will remain. Story continues Were hoping that will be a more attractive salary, Ferruccio said. You get to that top pay scale so much faster. Even so, five officers have recently left for the municipal police academy, he said. Gov. Dan McKee has budgeted for two corrections training classes of 50 officers each in the coming fiscal year, but the class to graduate in May stands at 20, Ferruccio said. New corrections officers take the oath in 2022. Recruitment is falling far short of the corrections department's needs, with about a third of its 900 officers eligible for retirement in the coming year. The department relies on online recruiting platforms, mailing lists, social media and career fairs at local colleges and high schools, among other strategies, corrections spokesman JR Ventura said. We have been fortunate to have a steady flow of applicants at various stages of our recruitment process, he said. So far, there are approximately 150 applicants in the hiring process for the academy class of 2023, he said. The department is also changing its physical fitness test from one used by many law enforcement agencies to a less rigorous assessment used by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, a step the union opposes, Ferruccio said. We just dont think its the direction to go, Ferruccio said. More: Camera crews will follow Warwick police again with 'On Patrol: Live' TV show The department stands behind the new standard, which is based on an assessment of physical agility tests conducted by correctional agencies from around the country and more specific to the duties of a correctional officer. A persistent and expensive problem remained unaddressed in the new contract: officers working 32-hour shifts and accruing overtime to plug staff shortages, , sometimes tripling their wages. Everything is staff-driven, Ferruccio said. We have a significant number of officers who are getting frozen in. Thats frustrating. Rhode Island is one of the few states that allow officers to work "quads" of four consecutive shifts. Division of Sheriffs tries to master a 'shell game' of staff shortages Shortages in the Division of Sheriffs are delaying court proceedings statewide, leaving judges at times unable to take the bench, defendants awaiting court appearances in lockup, trials delayed, and lawyers schedules being bogged down by complications that ripple throughout the day. Its like a shell game, said Chief Sheriff David DeCesare, whose deputies are responsible for protecting judges, transporting prisoners to court and overseeing courtroom safety. At least six deputies may be needed to safeguard a courtroom during a trial with a high-risk defendant. The effects are being felt by the judiciary. The inability to ensure safety in our courtrooms due to the sheriff shortage impedes access to justice and cannot be overstated, said Lexi Kriss, spokeswoman for the judiciary. Sheriffs flank defendant James Belanger following a 2018 Superior Court appearance. A shortage of sheriffs, who transport prisoners, protect judges and oversee courtroom safety, is delaying court proceedings statewide. The division is about 50 officers short of the full 181-member complement. It has seen 11 deputy sheriffs resign and another 11 retire over the last year. Were looked at now like the farm team for the police departments, DeCesare said. Exit interviews indicate that the leading contributors are low pay, lack of advancement and the retirement age of 67, unlike most law enforcement agencies in which officers can often retire at 50 years of age and 25 years of service. While deputies work weekday shifts and get weekends and holidays free, they do not have the opportunity to boost their income with detail pay and overtime. They say 'I cant see myself doing this for 45 years.' Having been a retired police officer, I get it, said DeCesare, who served as deputy chief of the Johnston Police Department. You can see how were upside down. More: Why police and state agencies are opposing updates to RI's public records laws In 2022, its training academy had six graduates, two of whom have already left, he said. According to the union, the division hired 86 deputies between 2013 and 2022, 47 of whom have resigned. One deputy in a courtroom is not safe, Jim Cenerini, legislative coordinator for Local 94 of AFSCME AFL-CIO, told state lawmakers earlier this month. Youre putting people in danger. To draw more recruits, the division dropped a requirement that applicants have 60 college credits. It now accepts a high school education or GED. The division made a big recruiting push this year, branching out on social media, through radio ads and local media outlets, thanks to an employee with marketing expertise. It saw 305 applicants for the training academy set to start in the coming weeks. While cheering the number of prospective recruits, DeCesare knows many will drop off as the process progresses. As seen with most agencies, about half will show up for the agility test and more will be disqualified by the written test, background checks, or medical and psychological testing. The union is hoping for changes in state law that would put the divisions retirement ages and benefits more in line with local police departments. The division and the courts would also like to see all the sheriffs move to a 40-hour work week a $600,000 cost that the governor did not include in his budget. More: 'Money grab': Is East Providence profiting from deceptive billing for police details? The Rhode Island State Police headquarters in Scituate. Since 2015, the agency has seen a dramatic decline in applicants, which sank below 1,000, to 986, for the first time last year. Rhode Island State Police face a changing landscape Gone are the days when thousands of prospective recruits flooded the Rhode Island State Police with applications. Before, they came knocking on our door. We need good people to be troopers, said Rhode Island State Police Maj. Kenneth S. Buonaiuto. All I can say is that people are much less interested in law enforcement. Since 2015, the agency has seen a dramatic decline in applicants, which sank below 1,000, to 986, for the first time last year. This year, 629 people applied for 40 slots in its training academy after a recruiting push that hit the Dominican Festival, food truck events and even wedding fairs. We targeted very diverse groups, Buonaiuto said. The state police have taken steps to improve their recruiting odds by increasing the salary for their live-in training academy from $1,300 to $1,800 biweekly, Col. Darnell Weaver told state lawmakers at a recent House Finance Committee Public Safety Subcommittee hearing. Of the applicants, 525 are men and 99 are women, with 75 identifying as Black and 124 as Hispanic. More: Rhode Island State Police lose 'great ambassador,' dog that investigated child pornography Graduates of the 2019 Rhode Island State Police Training Academy take the oath. The department is boosting pay at its live-in academy and holding practice sessions to help prospective recruits pass the required agility test. Like other agencies, the state police have experienced many no-shows for the agility tests and a dismal 25% pass rate. The agency is trying to ease the way for the first time by holding practice sessions to teach prospective recruits the proper form for pushups and other exercises, hoping it will give them an edge. We wanted to provide them with every opportunity we could to help them succeed, Buonaiuto said. A trooper from the departments recruiting unit also called each applicant and provided them with a contact they could reach out to during the lengthy process, Weaver told the subcommittee. The training academy will bring the agency to near full staff, as it currently has 42 vacancies. Providence Police Department to recruit year-round The Providence Police Department is down 80 officers from a full staff of 491, but those numbers should ease somewhat this fall when 30 Training Academy graduates join the ranks. Its concerning. I would like to be at full strength, but I have to deal with the challenges that are happening nationally with recruitment, Col. Oscar Perez said. Facing those difficulties, the department for the first time moved to accept applications for lateral transfers from other Rhode Island police departments, a step Perez hopes will bolster staffing. Several officers are now in that process and will need to be approved by the Rhode Island Police Officers Commission of Standards and Training. Were going to try to come up with a higher number, he said. Col. Oscar Perez speaks after being appointed Providence's 39th police chief in March. The department is making recruitment a year-round effort, and doing outreach with high schools, colleges and community groups to attract more candidates. The department is also doing outreach with high schools, colleges and community partners, such as the Nonviolence Institute and the Providence Police Advisory Board, to attract candidates. Even so, it fell short of 50 hires authorized by the city, fielding only 30 qualified candidates for the latest academy. Perez plans to make recruiting a year-round effort. I would love to have a constant recruitment process, he said. By the end of the year, there will be 24 officers over 60 years old, according to the department. Another 90-plus are eligible to retire after reaching 20 years of service. There are many officers eyeing retirement before July, given that our contract expires at the end of June 2023, and due to the overall feeling of a lack of support from many in the public and some politicians, said Michael Imondi, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 3. The uncertainty of the next contract is weighing heavily on the minds of those eligible to retire, it's a driving force leading many to consider retiring earlier than they normally would. Still, Perez touts the benefits of working as a police officer in such a diverse city and in a department that has opportunities to specialize as bike patrol, school resource officers, the mounted command, and narcotics and major crimes. This provides professional development, said Perez, whos about to enter his 30th year with the Providence Police Department. More: Providence will use undercover officers and surveillance to stop ATV joyriding in city Whats driving the recruiting crisis? Rhode Island is not alone in grappling with declining interest in law enforcement as a profession. A survey by the International Association of Police Chiefs found that 78% of law enforcement agencies nationwide reported having trouble recruiting qualified candidates, a downward trend that started about a decade ago and picked up in severity over the last five years. In response, half have changed policies to draw more recruits. Theyre trying everything, even signing bonuses, Lambert, of Roger Williams University, said. With lower applicant pools comes a less diverse field, he said. This is especially a problem for department diversity and equity goals, where they are seeing less female and minority recruit candidates. The theories on what is driving the trend are myriad. Law enforcement itself places the blame on negative perceptions fueled by media coverage, combined with increased scrutiny and cellphone recordings of their interactions with the public. Most police officers reported that their jobs have grown more difficult since high-profile use-of-force incidents involving police, including the murder of George Floyd. Protesters in Providence's Burnside Park support a call to defund the police in June 2020 amid the civil unrest that swept the country following the murder of George Floyd. Providences Imondi puts a share of the responsibility on sometimes violent anti-police groups, many political leaders, and some attorneys general nationally who he says have demonized and vilified the law enforcement profession and emboldened criminals. They have made police officers feel as if any wrong move or wrong decision can lead to termination or worse, prosecution, causing fear and apprehension in many officers and dissuading many otherwise good and qualified candidates from becoming police officers, he said. Many now wonder why would someone want to become a police officer, putting their life on the line every time they put their uniform on, when you could do something else, like become a school bus driver and make 12 cents more an hour than you do as a police officer in Providence at the top step? It's a local and national crisis that will take years to correct and only after more support is shown to police officers, Imondi said. Do younger candidates have unrealistic expectations about a law enforcement career? Lambert says hes seeing a generational divide, with the students he teaches having unrealistic expectations about a law enforcement career. He strives to demythologize the field. You dont come to a police department and become a detective on day one. A lot of these kids want to go right to the fun stuff, he said. Potential police candidates undervalue the role that patrol officers play in community policing and problem solving, he said. The police survey concluded, too, that millennials and Generation Z tend to place a higher value on work-life balance than generations before. That means they are seeking flexible hours and guaranteed time off and are less willing to miss holidays with family or be held over for overtime shifts, as seen at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. Some experts are calling for police to rethink the recruitment process, which typically stretches from four months to a year, to be more candidate-centered and more in line with the private sector. Many students cannot wait up to a year to find a job, Lambert said. Providence police recruits do pushups during training in 2017. Some experts are calling for police departments to rethink the recruitment process, to make it more candidate-centered and in line with the private sector. Departments are also revisiting restrictions, such as minor past drug use, tattoos, facial hair and checks of credit history, that may be barriers to many candidates without having a clear impact on the quality of policing, Lambert said. But he cautioned that the crisis has spurred some agencies to reduce some of their standards in a way that may have negative long-term effects. He is not a proponent of lowering educational requirements. [W]e are asking police officers to address a wider range of social problems, such as substance use disorder, mental illness and cybercrime. Does it make sense to eliminate some college-level education at a time when our challenges are more complex? We want police officers to be problem solvers, critical thinkers, change agents in their community and to be culturally competent, he said. Police officials remain hopeful that recruitment will rebound in the coming years. Im hoping things turn around with law enforcement, because its a great career, the state police's Buonaiuto said. I hope things change so that young people can see its a rewarding career. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island law enforcement agencies grapple with a staffing crisis The Flash director breaks silence on Ezra Miller's mental health: 'We're all hoping that they get better' The Flash director Andy Muschietti and producer Barbara Muschietti addressed the state of the film's star, Ezra Miller, for the first time with press. The sibling filmmakers gathered on the Warner Bros. lot in Los Angeles Monday night to screen the current cut of the film in its entirety and participate in a Q&A. When asked by the moderator how Miller was doing, months after the actor had various run-ins with the law, Andy said, "Ezra is well now." "We're all hoping that they get better... They're taking the steps to recovery," he added of the actor, who uses they/them pronouns. "They're dealing with mental health issues, but they're well. We talked to them not too long ago, and they're very committed to getting better." "And, I have to say, during our shoot, during principal photography, their commitment to the role was something we've never seen," Barbara said. "And the discipline to the work, the willingness physical, mental, and just wanting to go beyond the pale is just amazing." The Flash (2023) Ezra Miller and Sasha Calle Warner Bros. Pictures Barry Allen, Barry Allen, and Supergirl meet in 'The Flash' Miller, who stars in The Flash as speedster Barry Allen, became a controversial figure in 2022 when they were arrested multiple times in Hawaii for various public disturbances. In the proceeding months, they were accused of inappropriate behavior and harassment towards minors, and they were charged in a burglary case in Vermont. (Miller pleaded not guilty to felony burglary, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of unlawful trespass.) A video had also resurfaced online that appeared to show Miller choking a woman at a bar in Iceland. Last August, as Warner Bros. met with Miller to decide how best to proceed with The Flash's theatrical release, the actor released a rare statement on the matter. "Having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, I now understand that I am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment," Miller said. "I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior. I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life." Story continues The Muschiettis continued to praise Miller's work in The Flash, in which the star plays two very different versions of Barry Allen. In the movie, DC's Scarlet Speedster, fueled by the power of the speed force, moves so fast that he can travel through time. Barry uses this newfound ability to alter the past, preventing his mother from being murdered and his father from being wrongfully blamed for the crime. The time tampering inadvertently creates a new reality in which DC's superheroes don't exist, meaning there's no one to stop General Zod (Michael Shannon reprising his Man of Steel role) from invading Earth. Barry teams up with his past self, as well as Michael Keaton as an alt-reality Batman and Sasha Calle as Supergirl, to save the day. THE FLASH (L-R) EZRA MILLER as Barry Allen/The Flash, SASHA CALLE as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl and EZRA MILLER as Barry Allen/The Flash in Warner Bros. Pictures action adventure THE FLASH, Warner Bros. Pictures Ezra Miller's Barry Allens (yes, plural) and Sasha Calle's Supergirl take on Zod in 'The Flash' "Ezra is an extraordinary actor," Andy told the gathered reporters. "It's probably... Not probably, it's one of my best experiences working with an actor ever. They're brilliant. Their contributions are constant. And also, they like to play and they like to do more takes than I do, which is a lot." "They're full of incredible emotions. They bring them to the set every time," he added. And they're an incredible comedian also, which is something that I wasn't fully prepared for." He called the two Barrys "the perfect odd couple." There's "the Barry that we all know that is neurotic, anxious, full of hardships, childhood trauma, whatnot, coping with all of that," he said. Then there's "the Barry that is basically none of that. He's absolutely carefree and a bit of a goofball... We can say he's an idiot." "Nothing was set in stone while we were working with the script," Andy noted. "Parts of the script were written almost [on] the last days of prep, especially. I wanted to deepen the emotional repercussions of having two characters that are diametrically opposed in sensibilities, and they have to work together." Warner Bros. released showcased The Flash with a new trailer screened at CinemaCon in Las Vegas Tuesday morning, followed by a showing of the movie later that evening. The film is scheduled to open in theaters on June 16. These quotes have been edited to reflect Miller's correct pronouns. Andy Muschietti acknowledged that he gets "mixed up" on the matter sometimes. Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more. Related content: Disney is dialing up the fever for Indiana Jones. A new action sequence from Lucasfilms Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny debuted during the studios presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Wednesday. It featured Harrison Ford back in action as the iconic hero archaeologist for filmmaker James Mangold. Starring opposite Ford are Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore and Mads Mikkelsen. More from The Hollywood Reporter And Ford introduced the footage himself via a recorded message that played on the Colosseums big screen. Hello, CinemaCon, said the action hero, who added that playing Indiana Jones all these years has meant the world to me. He then went on to say that the films are filled with adventure and heart, and for some reason, snakes. Why did it have to be snakes? Classic Indy. Ford then thanked theater owners for their support and said that the entire Indiana Jones team is thrilled for everyone to experience their new film on the biggest and best screens. Disneys head of theatrical distribution Tony Chambers teed up the Ford intro. We are cranking up to 11 with a high-stakes adventure, Chambers noted before praising Mangolds amazing job of directing the new installment. This is a big-screen, must-see movie event. The minutes-long clip was a thrilling chase sequence through narrow streets with Ford behind the wheel of a mini motorized cart as he faces off with Waller-Bridges character, and they both seek to evade a gang of gun-toting bad guys that are hot on their respective trails. Through the swerving and death-defying maneuvering (Waller-Bridge punches, leaps and jumps cars and at one point is seen hanging out of the back of a car window in full action star mode), the two are bickering back and forth about the dial. Story continues The preview footage comes just weeks ahead of the films world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in France, where its showing out of competition, and it follows a splash at the Star Wars Celebration in London earlier this month when a new trailer and six minutes of the film were shown. At the time, The Hollywood Reporter reported the scenes were littered in classic Indy moments with tuk-tuk races around dusty Moroccan streets, Jones riding a horse through a New York street parade and jumping out of a burning plane with Waller-Bridge (who describes him in the film as an aging grave robber), and a scene with a giant rolling boulder. Keeping the film series ongoing Nazi theme alive, the story revolves around an ancient device being chased by both Jones and a villain played by Mads Mikkelsen, who says: Hitler made mistakes, and with this I will correct them all. The anticipated final installment of the franchise will open in theaters June 30. Directed by Mangold, the film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Simon Emanuel, with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas serving as executive producers. John Williams, who has scored every Indiana Jones outing since the original Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981, has once again composed the score. CinemaCon, the official convention of National Association of Theatre Owners, is being held inside Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from April 24-27. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY -- "Clearing the Heir" Episode 1011 -- Pictured: Jennifer Aydin -- (Photo by: Heidi Gutman/Bravo) Jackie Goldschneider has really been demoted on Real Housewives Of New Jersey as Jennifer Aydin has upgraded to the groups reigning Merriam Webster. Jennifer added a new word to all of our vocabulary lists when she called Margaret Josephs a boogawolf on the cast trip to Ireland. Needless to say, both Jens RHONJ costars and the viewers were gobsmacked with the unique diss. However, being one-of-a-kind is Mrs. Aydins specialty. Jennifer and the rest of the RHONJ crew talked about the boogawolf of it all during The Real Housewives of New Jersey: After Show. According to Bravos The Daily Dish, Jennifer explained that she didnt come up with the word on her own. A friend of hers, who she described as being from the South, described Marge as a boogawolf. The friend apparently told Jen to save it in her own arsenal use during an inevitable battle of wits among frenemies. When Jen felt Marge was attacking her intelligence publically, she decided to spring a pop vocab quiz on her friends. Its both unhinged and iconic. Jennifer went on to give the definition of boogawolf. She describes it as a very ugly, nasty person or a busted club chick. Marge, always ready to retaliate, wasnt impressed with the insult. I have legendary club looks, Marge stated. She went on to point out Jennifers busted chipped toenails and doubled down on calling her disheveled. I am very maintained, Marge quipped. This pairing will never not be entertaining to me. RELATED: Real Housewives Of New Jersey Star Jennifer Aydin Says She Never Considered Ending Her Marriage After Bill Aydin Was Unfaithful The rest of the RHONJ cast also elaborated on the After Show about Jennifers word choice. Dolores Catania, who is frequently annoyed by Jennifer, flat-out said that boogawolf is a stupid fking word. I hate that I can literally hear Paterson Dolores say those words verbatim in my head. She added, Even if I wanted to call somebody a bad word, it wouldnt be that. The way Dolo and Jennifer made up, yet Dolores has zero patience for Jen, is also just a goofy subplot to watch. Story continues Melissa Gorga obviously thought the diss was stupid as shes forever #TeamMarge. Its also probably because Jennifer is going to call Melissa and Joe Gorga a whole lot more than a boogawolf at the RHONJ reunion. Teresa Giudice was just happy to have learned a new word and called Jennifers diss very witty. Tre is just as entertained by Jennifer as I am. Does it mean were morally correct? Absolutely not. Tre and I are just a couple of girls who can spot reality TV gold when we see it. TELL US WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT JENNIFER CALLING MARGE A BOOGAWOLF? DO YOU THINK THE INSULT LANDED WELL AMONGST THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY CAST? [Photo by: Heidi Gutman/Bravo] The post Jennifer Aydin Explains Why She Called Margaret Josephs A Boogawolf; Real Housewives Of New Jersey Cast Reacts To Insult appeared first on Reality Tea. "I'm just really excited for this new music and new phase of life, so people can really hear me," the singer-songwriter tells PEOPLE Preemo Leah Marie Mason Back in the day, if Leah Marie Mason was going to steal a little something out of her parent's liquor cabinet, you best believe it was going to be a little Hennessy. "It would be the one thing that they wouldn't notice was missing," Mason, 23, says with a laugh during a recent interview with PEOPLE. "The song is very nostalgic for me in that way." Indeed, the memories came flooding back in for the North Carolina native as she walked into the room with co-writers Jason Reeves and Emmi Elliott to eventually pen her somewhat sultry new single "Honeydew & Hennessy." "It's cool and interesting and different," says Mason, who is currently bringing her Lana Del Rey vibe into the country music genre with impressive songs such as this. "That's exactly what I represent. This song is kind of my vibe." Preemo Leah Marie Mason It's a vibe that has been setting the genre on fire since the moment Mason became a viral sensation back in 2021 with the release of the touching "Far Boy." "I'm a very upfront, brutally honest person," says Mason, who lays it all on the line on tracks such as "Trust Fund Cowboy" and Holy Water" on her debut EP Honeydew & Hennessy. "But I'm also vulnerable and emotional and I feel things very deeply." And she also is a young twenty-something that is just like the young twenty-somethings that listen to every note she sings on songs such as the so-relatable "Red Ruby Boots." "I wore them last night, and I did drink a little bit too much," Mason admits about the boots she bought about a year and a half ago that inspired the song that she ended up writing with Jason Reeves and Nelly Joy. "They are beside my bed right now. I was in North Carolina back home and I needed a pair of boots. So, we went to this rundown consignment store, and I saw these red boots and I was like, I need those. They were $50 and I wear them all the time." Story continues Heck, she wore them on the very day she wrote the song. "The boots have something about them that brings out something different in me," she says with a laugh. "Every time I wear them, something crazy happens!" But make no mistake how Mason has gotten to the place she finds herself now is no magical feat. There is an undeniable talent within every pore of Mason, one that the country music genre hasn't seen possibly since the likes of Taylor Swift, Kelsea Ballerini and Kacey Musgraves first made their way onto the scene. And it's this undeniable talent that one can hear all over "Me or My Hometown." "I had just gone home for the first time in a while, and it was so weird," she remembers of the inspiration behind the song she also co-wrote alongsideReeves and Joy. "It was the first time being home without any of my high school friends there. And I was like, 'This doesn't even feel like home.' That was the first time that Nashville felt more like home than my home." She draws in a deep breath. "You don't think it's going to feel that way until it does," Mason admits quietly. "It was just really sad. It was really hard to come to terms with that, I guess. So, writing that song was very therapeutic, for sure." It's as if we can hear Mason growing up in every one of her songs. "I kind of had a quarter-life crisis," admits Mason, who once had dark brown hair and a dream of becoming a book author. "It's a really beautiful thing when people can be very blunt and upfront in some ways, but then also be very artistic and poetic. Combining that is a really beautiful thing, which is what I try to do." She pauses. "I'm just really excited for this new music and new phase of life, so people can really hear me." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. JUAREZ, Mexico The head of Mexico's immigration agency was arraigned on charges Tuesday that he failed in his responsibility to protect those in his custody when 40 migrants died in a fire at a border detention center last month. Federal prosecutors said that there are video recordings showing that private security guards in the facility had asked immigration agents for permission to release the migrants when the fire started but were denied. Prosecutors presented evidence that Francisco Garduno, the head of the Mexican Immigration Institute, was responsible for the safety of country's immigration facilities and should have closed those that did not meet safety requirements. A migrant allegedly started a fire inside the Juarez detention center March 27. Security cameras inside the facility showed smoke quickly filling the cell holding 68 male migrants, but no one with keys attempted to release them. Francisco Garduno, head of Mexico's National Migration Institute, exits the Mexican Federal Court on Friday. Garduno is expected to face federal charges in connection with the deaths of 40 migrants. In addition to the 40 killed, more than two dozen were injured in the fire. Garduno has not stepped down from his post, and President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has voiced his support. The president appointed Garduno to run the agency in 2019 while under pressure from then-U.S. President Donald Trump to take a more aggressive stance against migrants crossing Mexico. Garduno had previously been in charge of Mexico's prisons. Prosecutors also spoke of nefarious dealings inside the facility and some migrants in their statements recounted how they had been told they would be freed if they paid $1,000. So far, the highest ranking official headed to trial is the immigration agency's delegate in the state of Chihuahua, retired Navy Rear Adm. Salvador Gonzalez. He was charged with homicide and causing injury by omission, among other charges. Prosecutors had previously said that they identified a pattern of irresponsibility and repeated omissions in the immigration institute. More: 'They couldn't find the keys': How 40 migrants died in Juarez fire Story continues A judge was expected to decide later Tuesday whether one of Gardunos lieutenants would go to trial. The turmoil in Mexicos immigration agency comes at a time when several thousand migrants are walking north from near the Guatemalan border in protest of the deadly fire and calling for Mexico to close its detention centers. It also plays out just weeks before the United States government is expected to end the Title 42 pandemic-era restrictions on asylum at the border and implement new measures that authorities hope will deter a new rush to the border. More: Dozens dead, injured in border fire at migrant detention center in Juarez This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Mexico immigration agency head arraigned in fatal Juarez migrant fire Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has weighed in on Tucker Carlsons firing from Fox News, and the Morning Joe team on MSNBC was left scratching their heads in concern, recounting Carlsons habit of echoing some of the Russian governments rhetoric. Ive heard that Tucker Carlson has left Fox News. Its curious news, Lavrov said during a speech at the United Nations on Tuesday. What is this related to? One can only guess, but clearly the wealth of views in the American information space has suffered as a result. The comment left the hosts of Morning Joe visibly baffled on Wednesday. I cant underline this enough. There was a host on an American network who constantly attacked the United States military and told millions of Americans that the United States military was going to bring helicopters that they used in war in Afghanistan to kill Americans in the United States who voted for Donald Trump, co-host Joe Scarborough said. That was the dark overture that along with law enforcement officers from the FBI were going to kick down doors to go after people who voted for Donald Trump. Lavrov and the Russians could not have had a better, more propaganda points from a guy who said why wouldnt I support Vladimir Putin the invasion of Ukraine? Also Read: Rachel Maddow Says Tucker Carlson Firing Puts Fox News and GOP at Crossroads: There Will Be Someone After Him (Video) Vanity Fair special reporter Molly Jong-Fast joined the Morning Joe panel, noting there were so many times where what Tucker Carlson was saying was what you were seeing on Russian TV. I would say if youre an American cable news host, youd want to live your life so that Sergey Lavrov is not upset when you get fired and not working it into the conversation, she added. Obviously, Tucker Carlson looms large for these people, and thats not a good sign. Story continues Scarborough pointed out how troubling it is that Fox News is owned by the same company that owns the Wall Street Journal, which has a reporter rotting in Russian jail right now. Talk about a house divided against itself, Scarborough continued. Im not exactly sure why he was fired, but he certainly wasnt fired for saying things that played right into Russian televisions propaganda every night, he wasnt fired for that. But you actually have a Wall Street reporter rotting in jail right now, kidnaped by the same Russian government that Tucker Carlson was saying, I have nothing against them. Why wouldnt I be for Vladimir Putin? I think at one point he may have said he was cheering for Russia. Co-host Jonathan Lemire added that the Russians clearly thought that Tucker Carlson was useful and spreading a message they wanted to get out there. They were happy to amplify him on their own air waves and their state television has already offered him a job were he to take it, Lemire noted. Also Read: Tucker Carlsons Fox Exit Sparks Reactions Across the Board: Earth-Shaking Moment in Cable News and the End of an Era According to the Los Angeles Times, the decision to fire Carlson was Fox Corp. chairman Rupert Murdochs and was related to a discrimination lawsuit filed by former Fox News producer Abby Grossberg. In her lawsuit, in which she also accuses the network of setting her up to take the fall in its defamation case against Dominion Voting Systems, Grossberg said that as a producer on Carlsons show, she witnessed sexist jokes and was asked about host Maria Bartiromos sex life after moving over from Bartiromos show in 2022. Grossberg also said that Carlsons staff frequently made sexist and antisemitic jokes. An individual with knowledge of the matter told TheWrap that Carlson has no clue why he was fired Monday from his top-rated Fox News show and suggested it may not have much to do with the Grossberg lawsuit. She was only in our office for several months. If [Carlson and Grossberg] spoke by phone I dont remember it, the individual said. Id be shocked if it was anything newsworthy. The news of Carlsons departure also came in aftershocks of Fox News parent company settling with Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit for $787.5 million. Watch the full Morning Joe segment in the video above. Also Read: Gavin Newsom Shelves Own Presidential Ambitions, Endorses Joe Biden Reelection Run | Exclusive The Lafourche Parish Council increased the coroner's pay by a narrow vote. The government and the coroner are under investigation for past payments. Council Chairman Armand Autin, who proposed the pay raise, said the change will correct long-standing discrepancies in the ordinances that govern how Parish Coroner Dr. John King has been paid. According to Autin, the ordinance will have no retroactive effect on how King has been paid up to this point, thereby preserving the integrity of the investigation by Louisiana State Police. "This is clearing up our paperwork and allowing us to move forward. From today forward, this ordinance does not address the paperwork inaccuracies that exist from now for the last ten years." Autin said. "It's from today forward." The Lafourche Parish Council narrowly passed an ordinance increasing the Parish Coroner's pay. Both the Coroner, and the Lafourche Parish Government are under investigation for payments the coroner received. The original ordinance dictating King's pay had his salary at $25,000 per year, and allowed him to collect $250 in fees per autopsy completed. In 2011 the fee portion of his compensation was removed. A separate annual ordinance, called a budget ordinance, has raised King's salary over the years. Under these ordinances King has been paid $50,000. Autin's new ordinance has officially set the position of the Lafourche Parish Coroner's salary at $50,000 and reinstated the fee-per-autopsy payment at $300. More:Standoff at Colonial Apartments ends peacefully More:A Houma man declined treatment at a hospital, was then intubated and died The ordinance narrowly passed with only five votes. Both Councilmen Jerry Jones and William Adams voted against the motion. Councilmen Aaron Melvin and James Wendell abstained from their vote. "I just don't get it, you're already getting paid to do a job. I understand you got fees to pay somebody to come do it or you need supplies to do it, but you are already getting paid to do a job so why do we have to pay you extra to do your job," Adams said. "$50,000, I'm fine giving him a salary, now I'm going to give him a salary and he can make as much money as he wants?" Story continues The Louisiana State Police are investigating both King and the Lafourche Parish Government for at least $75,000 that King potentially shouldn't have received from fees. State law says coroners are allowed to bill no less than $250 nor more than $300 for autopsies at the discretion of the parish government. The $75,000 came to light when King sent an invoice raising his per-autopsy rates to $500 last October. King had been sending invoices since 2011 for autopsies performed and being paid since the ordinance was amended to remove the fee portion of his compensation. Each time he sent an invoice, he collected payment and increased his rates multiple times until October, when the parish noticed it. In an interview with the Houma Courier/Daily Comet on December 29, King said he was never notified of the change to the ordinance. According to King, the money budgeted for the per autopsy payments goes to whoever carries out the work, and he never exceeded the budget. He acknowledged that in one year he received $35,000 from fees that were in addition to his salary. The State Police are close to completing their investigation, and will bring their findings to the Lafourche Parish District Attorney's Office for review to decide whether charges should be pursued, said Ross Brennan, Louisiana State Police public information officer. "I spoke to the lieutenant in charge of the investigation today (because) I wanted to find out if it was actually true (because) I wanted to make sure for myself and yeah there is a criminal investigation going on so like I said I don't want to touch any of this," Adams said. Until charges are filed, the state police investigation is not considered criminal, according to Brennan. According to Autin, he conferred with the district attorney's office, the clerk of court, the parish administration, and King's attorney William "Chuck" Credo III, in creating the ordinance. Autin said his concern was that, without a clear path forward, bodies could stack up while the administration and the coroner's office disputed how the office would be compensated. This article originally appeared on Daily Comet: Under looming investigations, Parish Council increase coroner's pay It was a 2020 headline that caught actor Rainn Wilsons attention. A celebrity (Julianne Hough, he confirms) went through a spiritual transformation in Davos, Switzerland in which stuck energy was removed from her body by John Amaral, an energy practitioner featured on Gwyneth Paltrow's The Goop Lab. Headlines circulated describing her treatment as an "energy exorcism" that made her "scream and writhe." I'm like, How is this spiritual? Wilson, 57, tells USA TODAY from his Washington state home. To me, that has nothing to do with spirituality. It's not about ghosts and shamans and demons. So it was important to define our terms. Purchases you make through our links may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. The terms Wilson sought to define eventually turned into his new book, Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution (Hachette Go, 288 pp., out now). And he believes regardless of how you practice spirituality, anyone can lead said revolution. "Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution," by Rainn Wilson. The most important of the seven pillars for a spiritual revolution is to foster joy and squash cynicism, he says. It's super important that if we want change, that we start in our own hearts and we stay optimistic. More Must-Reads: Acting legends Chita Rivera, Laura Dern and Diane Ladd release books Through life experiences and his Bahai faith, which embraces an essential unity of all religions and the unity of humanity, Wilson takes readers on a 10-chapter journey that touches on how spirituality can be found in everything from official religious texts to quotes from Captain James T. Kirk, the Star Trek character. Wilson is plenty introspective in the book too, reflecting on his bouts with materialism (like when he panic-purchased Japanese soybeans during 2020 lockdown shortages) to the death of his father later that year. Story continues (My fathers) body was just a vessel, the actor says he realized. He rode around in this really wonderful, silly, fun, handsome vessel for all of his life. Why are we here riding around in these meat suits on planet Earth? Those are the kind of big questions that I love to ask. Rainn Wilson's third book, "Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution, attempts to reframe the idea of spirituality. Perhaps youre asking why is Dwight Schrute, beloved Dunder Mifflin employee from the hit show The Office, making the case for a spiritual revolution? Wilson made it a point to address that in the books preface. If I hadn't written that introductory chapter that talks about why the hell is the guy who played Dwight from The Office writing a book about spirituality, I think that people wouldn't know what to do or what to think of it, he notes. Also along the way, the book is a little bit funny and fun to read, I hope. In one such instance, Wilson finds a bit of humor in the sweaty circumstances after his fathers death. Its a Bahai custom to carefully wash the body after a person dies. But the funeral home didnt have a clean bowl for the water. So Wilson hightailed it to the nearest Target, on a humid day. This is truly absurd, I thought to myself: A minor television celebrity is jogging through a Target the size of an airport in a black suit, sweaty hair pressed to his head, trying to track down a bowl nice enough to use to wash his fathers dead body, which is laying on a table in a basement a few miles away, Wilson writes in the book while noting that the story exactly fit his fathers sense of humor. But while striking lighter notes, the author also believes to see the world through spiritual glasses, we must start with death. I feel like in contemporary America, (death is) not something we know how to talk about, he says. It's something we're afraid to talk about. I wanted to start with death because death frames everything. If we're able to effectively look at death through a spiritual lens, it can make our life richer. And Wilson hopes to accomplish that by reframing the idea of spirituality. We need these spiritual tools of compassion, of forgiveness, of healing, of creating unity, of love at its maximum possible level, and we need to put them to work in our organizations, in our companies and in our government systems, he believes. And that might seem like pie in the sky and highfalutin and impossible, but I truly believe that it's possible and it's doable. And not only that, it is crucially necessary. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rainn Wilson reveals Julianne Hough inspired new spirituality book [Source] Lawmakers have reintroduced a bipartisan bill to speed up the visa process for children of Filipino World War II veterans. On Tuesday, the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act was reintroduced by Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Representatives Ed Case (D, HI-1) and Jen Kiggans (R, VA-2) to exempt the sons and daughters of Filipino WWII veterans from numerical limitations on immigrant visas. The law would benefit thousands of people, including those already waiting in the visa application queue. Filipino soldiers served our country with honor and bravery during World War II. But for too long, theyve been denied many of the rights and benefits they deserve, including the ability to reunify with their families in the U.S., Senator Hirono said in a press release. More from NextShark: Protestors gather outside Yuh-Line Nious office, accuse her of siding with sweatshop bosses There were more than 260,000 Filipino soldiers who fought for America from 1941 to 1946 when the Philippines was a U.S. colony. In 1990, Former President George H. W. Bush granted U.S. citizenship to about 26,000 Filipino nationals who served the U.S. during WWII. However, the law did not grant citizenship or residency to the veterans children. To this day, Filipino applicants must wait nearly 20 years before their applications are considered. In 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services implemented the Filipino WWII Veterans Parole program to reunite veterans with their families. However, the extensive delays are leaving applicants without certainty as dozens of the surviving veterans are now over 100 years old. More from NextShark: Taiwanese Military to Highlight Same-Sex Marriages at Annual Mass Wedding The new legislation would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act, providing a permanent solution for WWII veterans who were naturalized under the 1990 law or other specified laws. Senator Lisa Murkowski said in a press release: Story continues To express our gratitude to the brave Filipino service members who fought for our nation in WWII, we should do what is right and fair for our veterans and their family members. This bill will reunite mothers and fathers with their children, and honor the service of Filipino veterans who served under the American flag. More from NextShark: How a samurai-born man became the father of an alternative therapy used by millions worldwide Im proud to reintroduce the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act to reunite these veterans with their loved ones, Hirono added. I will continue working to support Filipino veterans, their families, and all veterans in Hawaii and across our country. Hirono has been leading the bipartisan Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act since 2013. She also led the introduction of the Filipino American History Month (FAHM) Resolution, which recognizes October as FAHM and celebrates the heritage and contributions of Filipino Americans. Due to her years of advocacy, Congress finally awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino WWII veterans in October 2017 after decades of fighting for recognition. More from NextShark: Japan Opens First LGBT Athlete Support Center in Tokyo Before the Olympics HEINEKEN NV Amsterdam, 26 April 2023 - HEINEKEN N.V. ('HEINEKEN') (EURONEXT: HEIA; OTCQX: HEINY) has announced the completion of its acquisition of Distell Group Holdings Limited (Distell) and Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL), which have been combined with HEINEKEN South Africa into a new HEINEKEN majority-owned business to capture significant growth opportunities in Southern Africa. The combined businesses will be known as HEINEKEN Beverages the rebranding reflects the new companys multi-category portfolio and commitment to deliver high-quality beverages to consumers across the continent. HEINEKENs CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board Dolf van den Brink said: We are delighted to welcome over 5,400 talented employees of Distell and Namibia Breweries into HEINEKEN and look forward to adding more than 1 billion in net revenue and 150 million operating profit to our African footprint. By combining the strengths of all three entities, we can leverage our expertise and resources to foster growth, create jobs, and contribute to the overall economic development of the region. Following agreement with the Competition Authorities in South Africa, HEINEKEN Beverages will now move ahead with a significant public interest package which is a vote of confidence in the South African economy, and includes1: An ambitious investment plan of more than 500m over five years. Investing more than 250m towards the construction of a new brewery and maltery. Establishing a 20m supplier development fund and contributing 10m towards a localisation and growth fund in South Africa over five years. Creating an Innovation and Research & Development (R&D) hub for the region. Implementing a Tavern Transformation programme which will support around 1,000 tavern owners to become licensed, sustainable local enterprises over a five-year period. For additional information on the transaction please refer to our HEINEKEN website (Distell deal). Story continues -ENDS- Press enquiries Sarah Backhouse / Michael Fuchs E-mail: pressoffice@heineken.com Tel: +31-20-5239-355 Investor and analyst enquiries Federico Castillo Martinez / Mark Matthews / Chris Steyn E-mail: investors@heineken.com Tel: +31-20-5239-590 About HEINEKEN HEINEKEN is the world's most international brewer. It is the leading developer and marketer of premium and non-alcoholic beer and cider brands. Led by the Heineken brand, the Group has a portfolio of more than 300 international, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders. With HEINEKENs over 85,000 employees, we brew the joy of true togetherness to inspire a better world. Our dream is to shape the future of beer and beyond to win the hearts of consumers. We are committed to innovation, long-term brand investment, disciplined sales execution and focused cost management. Through "Brew a Better World", sustainability is embedded in the business. HEINEKEN has a well-balanced geographic footprint with leadership positions in both developed and developing markets. We operate breweries, malteries, cider plants and other production facilities in more than 70 countries. Most recent information is available on our Company's website and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. About Distell Distell is Africas leading producer of spirits, wines, ciders and ready-to-drinks (RTDs) as well as the world's second-biggest producer of ciders. Some of the companys top brands include Amarula, Hunters, Savanna, 4th Street, Klipdrift, Nederburg, Richelieu, Viceroy, and J.C. Le Roux. Distell employs 4500 people worldwide. About Namibia Breweries Limited Established on 29 October 1920, NBL is one of the leading beverage manufacturing companies in Namibia and indeed in Southern Africa. Based in Windhoek, and employing more than 800 people, NBL leads the domestic beer market in Namibia and has significant share of the premium beer category in Southern Africa. Its portfolio includes a range of soft beverages, as well as low and non-alcoholic products. NBLs beer brands are brewed in strict accordance with the Reinheitsgebot Purity Law - which only uses three ingredients: malted barley, hops and water. Its brands Windhoek Lager, Tafel Lager and Windhoek Draught have earned international recognition for quality and purity. NBLs products are exported to 19 countries outside of Namibia and South Africa. 1 All figures translated into at todays current EUR/ZAR rate Attachment police Last summer, a Rhode Island police officer was filmed punching a Black female politician at an abortion rights rally. In November 2022, he was acquitted of a misdemeanor simple assault charge by a judge who felt his violence was justified because the cop was trying to keep the peace. Today (April 26), it was announced that he would also be able to keep his job as a law enforcement official. A police officer in Rhode Island will neither go to jail nor get fired after he was seen on video at a rally assaulting Jennifer Rourke, a Black woman who was running for state senate. The only accountability that Jeann Lugo will face is a 10-day unpaid suspension, a social media user tweeted following the news. So he got a 10-day vacation, one person responded. A police officer in Rhode Island will neither go to jail nor get fired after he was seen on video at a rally assaulting Jennifer Rourke, a Black woman who was running for state senate. The only accountability that Jeann Lugo will face is a 10-day unpaid suspension. pic.twitter.com/FQUEKAuXBR Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) April 26, 2023 Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez, confirmed the news, according to local outlet The Providence Journal. However, that does not mean Perez was on board with keeping Lugo on the Rhode Island force. Many within the department hoped Lugos employment would be ended, but ultimately, it was a LEOBOR committee that opted for the suspension rather than termination. We have to respect the decision. The decision was made by a committee. Again the chief only has the authority to recommend beyond two days, Perez shared. The chief added that certain arrangements were already made regarding Lugo before he accepted that position within the department. Again that was something that was done previously. The previous administration, whatever decision was made was made by them and based on their own knowledge. Thats something I inherited when I took over, Perez claimed. As of today, Perez has not spoken with Lugo but insisted that upon his arrival, he will undergo any training he may have missed while on his previous paid leave. Typical. No consequences, so they continue to abuse their power, another person wrote on Twitter. Story continues See related posts below. Typical. No consequences so they continue to abuse their power. ^croper ron^ (@Switchazel79) April 26, 2023 Biggest gang in America. You can't reform this when they're all in on it. bird, ball, and anchor. (@grayroosters) April 26, 2023 disgusting. absolutely unjust. Torchy Brown_Justin Pearson's Dashiki (@LuzMiz9) April 26, 2023 Let me guess He feared for his lifeit was him or her kneeKnocker (@Tincan989) April 26, 2023 So he got a 10-day vacation. A.M.W. (@AmieMcWayne) April 26, 2023 Trending Stories A Russian T-14 Armata tank moves across challenging terrain at the International military and technical forum ARMY-2016 in Alabino, outside Moscow, Russia. Russian Defence Ministry Press Service photo via AP Russia's cutting-edge T-14 Armata tanks have arrived in Ukraine, state media reported. But the high-tech armored vehicles have yet to truly get in on the action of the war. The T-14 program has been plagued by setbacks in recent months. The Russian Army has finally brought its top-tier T-14 Armata tanks to the fighting in Ukraine, according to Russian state media but the armored vehicles are thus far serving more as propaganda than potential military power. The RIA state news agency reported Tuesday that the much-awaited T-14 tanks have made it to Ukraine, citing an "informed source." But the high-tech tanks are yet to get in on the action of the stalemated front lines, instead firing on Ukraine's forces from a distance, according to RIA. "Russian troops have begun to use the latest Armata tanks to fire on Ukrainian positions," the unnamed source told the outlet. "They have not yet participated in direct assault operations." Russian state media outlet TASS previously called the cutting-edge vehicle "the world's best tank," but the T-14s have been plagued by setbacks in recent months, according to reports. British intelligence in January predicted that Russia was on the brink of deploying the tanks in Ukraine, but suggested the vehicles would participate in little actual fighting, with the British Ministry of Defense citing satellite imagery of the tanks in a Russian pre-deployment training zone. The tanks, which have been eleven years in the making, are so new that deploying them to fight in Ukraine would be a "high-risk decision," the British Defense Ministry said earlier this year. "If Russia deploys T-14, it will likely primarily be for propaganda purposes," the British Defense Ministry said in January. "Production is probably only in the low tens, while commanders are unlikely to trust the vehicle in combat." The decision to introduce the tanks into the war comes after Russia's T-14 program was bogged down by delays, struck with a reduction in the size of its planned fleet, and hindered by manufacturing problems, according to the British intelligence report. Story continues But should the vehicles ever truly join the fray, they could ostensibly offer Russia a powerful advantage. The T-14 Armata is equipped with defense systems that can shoot down the anti-tank rockets on which Ukraine has so heavily relied to block Russia's ongoing assaults throughout the war, and RIA said this week that the vehicles can reach a speed of 80 kilometers on a highway. The outlet said Russian combat crews have been undergoing training to use the tanks in Ukraine since the end of last year. RIA described the T-14 as an "uninhabited tower," in which three crew members sit in an isolated armored capsule in the front of the vehicle's hull, from where they remotely control the capsule. Read the original article on Business Insider Former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll, testifying in her defamation and battery case against former President Donald Trump, described being "almost too frightened to think" during what she alleges was an attack by Trump in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. Carroll, who brought the lawsuit in November, alleges that Trump defamed her in a 2022 Truth Social post by calling her allegations "a Hoax and a lie" and saying "This woman is not my type!" when he denied her claim that Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room. She added a charge of battery under a recently adopted New York law that allows adult survivors of sexual abuse to sue their alleged attacker regardless of the statute of limitations. MORE: Trump 'lunged at her,' E. Jean Carroll's lawyer tells jury in battery, defamation case "'Hey, you're that advice lady,'" Carroll said Trump told her when the two ran into each other near the store entrance. "I said, 'You're that real estate tycoon,'" Carroll recalled. "I'm an advice columnist and here's Donald Trump asking for advice helping to buy a present," Carroll said. "I was delighted to go to [look at] lingerie with him." At that point, the tone of their conversation was "very joshing," Carroll said. "He was having a good time and so was I." Carroll told the jury that Trump led her into a dressing room under the guise of trying on some lingerie. PHOTO: Former advice columnist E. Jean Carroll walks into Manhattan federal court, April 25, 2023, in New York. (Seth Wenig/AP) "That door has plagued me for years because I just walked into it," she said. "He immediately shut the door and shoved me up against the wall and shoved me so hard my head banged." "Were you afraid while all this was happening?" her attorney, Michael Ferrara, asked. "I was almost too frightened to think if I was afraid or not. My whole reason for being alive at that moment was to get out of that room," answered Carroll, who said that Trump then raped her. Story continues "I'm here because Donald Trump raped me," Carroll said at the start of her testimony. "And when I wrote about it, he said it didn't happen. He lied and shattered my reputation. And I'm here to try and get my life back." Trump has denied all allegations that he raped Carroll or defamed her. Asked later in her testimony how she felt about entering the dressing room, Carroll answered, "It was very stupid. I know people have been through a lot worse than this, but it left me, it left me unable to have a romantic life again." Carroll told the jury she has had no romantic relationship since she was allegedly assaulted by Trump. "I tried to engage him. I laughed at his jokes. I found him charming. And what happened to me when I was flirting? I got into serious trouble," she testified on the trial's second day. "I'm a happy person but I'm aware I've lost out on one of the glorious experiences of a human being," she testified, saying that flirting with Trump "ended up as the worst decision of my life." Carroll also testified that her second husband, John Johnson, strangled her on three occasions. She said that the violence was not sexual, and that she did not call the police and did not sue him. Asked by her attorneys about her motivation for bringing the lawsuit, Carroll said, "I'm not settling a political score. I'm settling a personal score because he called me a liar repeatedly and it really has decimated my reputation" as a journalist. Carroll said she voted for Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden for president, but denied that her politics have anything to do with her lawsuit. Ferrara showed the jury Trump's responses to the publication of Carroll's account of the alleged attack in 2019 that included the phrase "she's not my type." Carroll testified she took the phrase to mean she was "too ugly to attack, too ugly to rape." "I thought he would say it was consensual," Carroll said. "He said it didn't happen. He was there. He knows it happened." "The vileness and the dirt and the seedy language and people describing what they think I did and why nobody in the world would touch me because of my enormous ugliness, it sort of swamped the heartfelt letters I received on the other end," Carroll said. Carroll told the jury that she first met Trump in 1987 -- but she struggled to pinpoint the year that she alleges he attacked her. MORE: In deposition, Trump mistook rape accuser E. Jean Carroll for his 2nd wife "This question, the when, the date, has been something I've constantly been trying to pin down," Carroll said. At first she said she thought it was 1994 or 1995, but she said her friend Lisa Birnbach published an article about Trump for New York magazine in February 1996. "Lisa never would have gone down to Mar-a-Lago ... if she knew what Donald Trump had done to me," Carroll said, leading her to believe the alleged attack occurred in 1996. In her opening statement, Carroll attorney Shawn Crowley suggested the lack of specificity doesn't matter. "While Ms. Carroll doesn't remember exactly when this happened, she remembers almost every detail of what happened, and her testimony alone will be enough for you to find Donald Trump liable in this case," Crowley said. The defense told the jury those details matter. "She can't tell you the date that she claims to have been raped. She can't tell you the month that she claims to have been raped. She can't tell you the season. She can't even tell you the year that she claims to have been raped by Donald Trump," defense attorney Joe Tacopina said during his opening statement. MORE: Trump calls E. Jean Carroll 'whack job' in newly released deposition transcript Earlier Wednesday, the jury heard from the former general manager at the Bergdorf Goodman women's store. Cheryl Beal, who worked for the department store in the mid-1990s, testified regarding the store's layout, including the sixth floor where lingerie, couture brands and designer sportswear were sold, and where Carroll said Trump raped her in a dressing room while few, if any, people were around. "It wasn't one of our busiest floors," Beal said. Before the jury entered the courtroom, Carroll's attorney read aloud parts of two social media posts by Trump that she said violated the judge's orders. On Truth Social Wednesday morning, Trump posted that Carroll's legal team is being "financed by a big political donor that they said didn't exist, only to get caught lying about that." PHOTO: Joe Tacopina, lawyer of former U.S. President Donald Trump, makes opening statements during a civil trial in New York, April 25, 2023 in this courtroom sketch. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters) He also posted regarding Carroll, "She said there was a dress, using the ol' Monica Lewinsky 'stuff,' then she didn't want to produce it." Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said the posts violated the court's orders against "comments about lawyers and one about DNA." "These are out-of-court comments obviously," said defense attorney Joe Tacopina, but Judge Lewis Kaplan cut him off, saying, "...where for two years he refused to give a DNA sample, and now wants it in the case." "What you're trying to do is to get away from a statement by your client, a public statement, that on the face of it seems entirely inappropriate," Kaplan told Tacopina. Tacopina said he would address the posts with Trump. "I will speak to my client and ask him to refrain from any posts about this case," Tacopina said. MORE: E. Jean Carroll requests Trump's DNA related to sexual assault allegation Kaplan said he hoped the lawyer was successful. "We're getting into an area in which your client may or may not be tampering with a new source of potential liability, and I think you know what I mean," Kaplan said. It remains unclear if Trump will testify himself at any point. The judge demanded to know this week whether Trump will appear, telling the defense that it was time to "fish or cut bait." The trial is expected to last about five days. The nine-member jury of six men and three women is weighing Carroll's defamation and battery claims and deciding potential monetary damages. This week's trial is taking place as Trump seeks the White House for a third time, while facing numerous legal challenges related to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, his handling of classified material after leaving the White House, and possible attempts to interfere in the Georgia's 2020 vote. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said Monday she would decide whether to file criminal charges against Trump or his allies this summer. Carroll's lawsuit is her second against Trump related to her rape allegation. Carroll previously sued Trump in 2019 after the then-president denied her rape claim by telling The Hill that Carroll was "totally lying," saying, "I'll say it with great respect: No. 1, she's not my type. No. 2, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" That defamation suit has been caught in a procedural back-and-forth over the question of whether Trump, as president, was acting in his official capacity as an employee of the federal government when he made those remarks. If Trump is determined to have been acting as a government employee, the U.S. government would substitute as the defendant in that suit -- which means that case would go away, since the government cannot be sued for defamation. 'Trump raped me,' E. Jean Carroll testifies in battery, defamation case originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Councilor Victor Rios speaks during a Marco Island City Council meeting on March 2, 2020. The trial for former Marco Island City Councilor Victor Rios began this week over allegations that he forged votes to win re-election to a condominium board in 2019. Rios, 80, is facing a forgery count for altering a public records and three counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information. His trial began Monday in Collier County Court before Judge Christopher Brown. Each of these counts is a third-degree felony, punishable by a maximum of five years in prison. Rios' attorney did not immediately return a request for comment. Rios was elected to the Marco Island council in 2014 and resigned mid-term in October 2020, citing "personal reasons." Four months later, authorities charged him with fraud for allegedly fabricating votes to remain on the board of the Belize Condominium Association. More: Former Marco Island City Councilor charged with forging condo association votes Rios allegedly altered ballots to make it appear that condo residents who did not vote in the election had voted for him. The election was contentious, and two residents asserted their right to inspect the ballots, according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation. The residents found that some of the ballot envelopes appeared to bear the same handwriting and 12 people who had purportedly voted for Rios told investigators that they had not in fact voted, according to the FDLE report. Forensic testing allegedly found Rios' DNA on the envelopes of the contested ballots. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Victor Rios: Fraud trial begins for Marco ex-councilor Victor Rios The U.S. is ready to step up its efforts to deter a North Korean attack on South Korea. Also in the news: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's debt limit plan would mean major education cuts and "The Flash" highlighted many of the new movies previewed at 2023 CinemaCon. I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Biden's favorite dessert will get a Korean twist at the White House state dinner tonight. Now, here we go with Wednesday's headlines. What to know about South Korean president's state visit with Biden White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said President Joe Biden will announce specific new nuclear deterrence efforts as well as a new cybersecurity initiative, economic investments, and educational partnership amid this weeks celebratory state visit by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon's state visit is meant to highlight the two countries' relationship as they mark the 70th anniversary of their alliance. But the encounter also comes just as leaked Pentagon documents surfaced suggesting the U.S. had been surveilling the longstanding ally. Read more Where in the world is Ron DeSantis? The Florida governor met with South Korea's prime minister on Wednesday. Mastermind behind deadly bombing killed by Taliban The Taliban has killed the Islamic State terrorist who plotted the deadly attack at Kabul's airport during the chaotic evacuation of Afghanistan in 2021, an assault that fatally wounded more than 170 people and 13 U.S. troops, according to a U.S official. A suicide bomber killed Afghans who had clustered near one of the entrances to Hamid Karzai International Airport and the U.S. troops screening them. The attack on Aug. 26 was one of America's deadliest days in the nearly 20-year war in Afghanistan and came days before President Joe Biden's Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawing troops. Read more Story continues More news to know now What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here. What McCarthy budget's means for education Education Secretary Miguel Cardona slammed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for a Republican budget proposal the White House estimates would cut 22% from the nation's budget. The GOP plan would tighten funding for America's schools, which Cardona said amounted to an attempt to "undermine education." McCarthy last week revealed the GOP's plan to raise the debt ceiling, which proposes $4.5 trillion in cuts. The plan would in part reallocate unspent COVID-19 relief money and limit other government spending and return discretionary funding to fiscal year 2022 levels. Biden has threatened to veto the GOP debt limit bill and has insisted that the debt limit be raised without conditions as it has been under past presidents, including Donald Trump. The Education Department says the GOP's proposal would also "eliminate" Biden's student debt relief plan and would affect the most disadvantaged students. Keep reading: Should Biden negotiate with McCarthy? These Democratic lawmakers want him to strike a deal. VP Harris opens 2024 campaign with speech on abortion rights Appearing before Democratic activists and young voters, Vice President Kamala Harris launched the 2024 presidential campaign with a fiery attack on Republican-led states and anti-abortion groups that have been making use of legislatures and friendly courts to limit access to the procedure. Speaking at Howard University, a historically Black institution that is also Harris' alma mater, Harris said she trusts women to make their own decisions: "So don't get in our way, because if you do, we're going to stand up and we're going to organize, and we're going to speak up and we're going to say we're not having it." Read more GOP Sen. Tuberville blocked 184 military promotions in his ongoing abortion fight with the Pentagon. Vice President Kamala Harris greets supporters after speaking on reproductive freedom at Howard University on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Washington. Just for subscribers: These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here. 'Barbie' and 'The Flash' highlight CinemaCon An unfinished cut of the eagerly anticipated DC superhero film "The Flash" premiered at CinemaCon Tuesday night, winning the hearts of a packed house of theater owners, studio executives and journalists in Las Vegas. The film's narrative centers on the Flash, played by Ezra Miller, who uses his super-speed to save his parents and in the process accidentally breaks the world and meets his 18-year-old self. Meanwhile, "Barbie" star Margot Robbie brought her much-anticipated comedy to CinemaCon and wowed the convention with a new look at her portrayal of the fantastic plastic doll and Ryan Gosling's Ken. Read more about "The Flash" and here's our look at "Barbie." Michael Keaton's Batman returns in ''The Flash'' to help reset DC universe. Timothee Chalamet meets Oompa Loompa Hugh Grant in new ''Wonka'' footage and debuts ''Dune 2'' trailer. Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie arrive for the red carpet photocall for "Barbie" during CinemaCon 2023. Quick Hits Photo of the day: Jill Biden previews State Dinner honoring South Korea's president Only the Bidens' second state dinner following last fall's fete for France, Wednesday's event is timed in part to celebrate this year's 70th anniversary of the alliance between the U.S. and South Korea. Click here for more photos of the State Dinner decor. Place settings and decorations adorn the tables as first lady Jill Biden hosts a preview of Wednesday's State Dinner to honor South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol. Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this subscribe to USA TODAY here. Associated Press contributed reporting. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Korea, Taliban kills Kabul airport bomber, McCarthy's budget plan, abortion, CinemaCon, state dinner: Daily Briefing The 73-year-old remains of an American veteran of the Korean War have been identified, the United States and South Korea revealed on Wednesday. The joint announcement from President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol identified the remains as belonging to Cpl. Luther H. Story, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1951 for his display of "conspicuous bravery during intense combat" near South Korea's Pusan Perimeter in September 1950, according to the White House. "The supreme sacrifice and heroism of Corporal Luther Story is illustrative of the freedom, security, and prosperity the South Korean people have today," the White House said. Story was among 652 soldiers whose remains were disinterred in 2021 for DNA, dental, and anthropological analysis, the statement said. PHOTO: Army Corporal Luther H. Story (U.S. Army) On Tuesday evening, Yoon, Biden and their wives visited the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C. There they met Story's niece, Judy Wade, and her spouse, Joseph Wade. Biden will host Yoon at a state dinner Wednesday night, and the South Korean president is set to address Congress on Thursday. PHOTO: FILE - President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden, South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, April 25, 2023. (Susan Walsh/AP, FILE) South Korea, a key strategic ally in the Indo-Pacific, recently moved to increase joint security efforts with the U.S. as neighboring nations attempt to counter China's heightened aggression in the region. The country has also bolstered its relationship with Japan by restoring its trade status, shoring up critical partnerships as China seemingly prepares to invade Taiwan. Remains of Korean War hero identified 73 years later originally appeared on abcnews.go.com On Tuesday, Stanislaus County public health officials delivered to county leaders what they said was the last quarterly report on the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, in this update, there wasnt much to report in terms of viral activity. Dr. Thea Papasozomenos, county public health officer, said people still are being hospitalized for COVID-19, but the private health system and pharmacies have taken over most responsibility for dealing with the contagious illness and protecting the vulnerable. California ended its COVID state of emergency in February, serving to close local testing sites. The federal government is scheduled to end the national emergency May 11. President Joe Bidens administration has promised to make sure COVID vaccines and treatments are accessible and covered by health insurance and government programs. Medicaid will cover COVID treatments like Paxlovid without a co-pay through September 2024. Out-of-pocket costs for certain treatments will depend on a persons insurance plan. For families or individuals who may need a test, the county is giving away COVID test kits at seven locations including the city halls in Ceres, Turlock, Patterson and Waterford, the Modesto and Salida libraries and El Concilio. Heather Duvall, county public health director, said the public health division is in a better position to respond to contagious diseases after three years of responding to COVID-19. When the Mpox virus was detected in Stanislaus County in July 2022, trained medical investigators were ready to respond to the new public health threat. Mobile clinics were used for vaccinations. Public health staff have partnerships with medical facilities and community groups and hold monthly meetings with schools. The county has wastewater surveillance today to watch for new viruses that may endanger the public. It also has better systems for data collection and analysis. Supervisor Vito Chiesa said the pandemic served to amplify the work of the county public health system, which previously was less understood by county residents. According to Tuesdays report, COVID-19 is evolving from pandemic status to something thats managed as an endemic illness. Going forward, the coronavirus will be one of the contagious diseases for discussion in an annual public health update. Authorities confirmed that remains found beside an abandoned Washington state barn earlier this month belong to missing Oregon mother-of-three JoAnna Speaks, and that her death is being investigated as a homicide. Clarks County Sheriff's Office officials said that Speaks, 32, died from blunt force trauma to the head and neck, according to KGW-TV. Ridgefield Police officers were called out to a property off South 5th St. and 78th Place in Ridgefield, a Washington city about 22 miles north of Portland, Oregon, at around 6 p.m. on April 8. There were "indications that the body was moved to [that] location" from elsewhere, according to the sheriff's office. RELATED: Kawhi Leonard's Sister Sentenced To Life Without Parole For 2019 Murder Of Elderly Woman In Casino Bathroom Police have not identified a suspect, revealed additional details about the case or released a motive in the killing. "CCSO is asking for the publics assistance with this investigation," the Clarks County Sheriff's Office said in a statement to KGW. "Please contact detectives if you are aware of any suspicious people or vehicles at or near 8004 S 5th St in Ridgefield during the last few weeks. If you have recent contact with Joanna Speaks or have information about where she has been staying or who she has been associating with, please contact detectives." Speaks leaves behind two sons, aged 12 and 13, and a 7-year-old daughter, according to a GoFundMe launched by her family to cover funeral expenses. A photo of Tiera Strand "Her children have made it clear that they would like to keep a piece of her with them, but also have a place to visit where her name and life will be engraved and never forgotten," reads the fundraiser's description. "We're hoping that we can at least give them that." Story continues "You can definitely tell [the kids are] sad they've broken down the first couple days, but now it's like they're trying to avoid talking about it," Ariel Hamby, Speaks' stepsister, told KGW. "We have amazing memories with her. She was a big kid. She was hilarious, sarcastic and super witty," said Hamby. "She's now the missing piece of our family that completed us. And we'll never forget her and we will never let our kids forget her." Hamby and another one of Speaks' sisters said that the last time she was in contact with her family was in March, according to the news station, and that she had been struggling with addiction. The family wrote in their GoFundMe that they received the "call that would break [them] to pieces" on April 11, informing them that Speaks was found dead. Oxy App Breaking the awful news to Speaks children "was one of the most difficult and heart-wrenching things weve ever had to do, the GoFundMe read. "It keeps me up at night thinking that whoever did this to her blunt force trauma to the head and neck, I mean that is violent that person is walking around," Hamby told KGW. Robyn Speaks, JoAnna's sister, told the outlet that her sister's death "just doesn't make sense." However, she said, theirs is not "a family that gives up." "We won't give up on finding answers ... doing whatever we have to to get some sort of peace for her," she said. "We'll find them," added Hamby. Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping make a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21, 2023. PAVEL BYRKIN/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images Xi and Zelenskyy spoke for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine. The Chinese leader spoke a lot about peace, even as he continues to support Putin in numerous ways. But Zelenskyy appears open to furthering Ukraine's relationship with China amid the war with Russia. Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke for the first time since Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on Wednesday. During their call, Xi repeatedly stressed that China is eager to help facilitate peace talks even as he continues to avoid condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin for ordering the invasion. "On the Ukraine crisis, China always stands on the side of peace. Its core stance is to facilitate talks for peace," the Chinese government said in a statement on the call. China unveiled a peace proposal for the war in late February, which has been met with deep skepticism in the West particularly given it does not call for Russian troops to withdraw from the Ukrainian territories they occupy. Ukraine has repeatedly said it would not agree to a peace deal requiring it to cede territory to Russia. The statement went on to say that Xi would send a special representative to Ukraine and other countries "to have in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis." The readout made no reference to a war in Ukraine or an invasion, and did not lay any blame at Putin's feet. In fact, the statement did not mention Russia a single time and referred to what's happening in Ukraine as a "crisis." This follows a trend when it comes to China's approach to the war, and raises questions as to how Beijing could be an effective mediator when it won't even acknowledge who started the fight. The Chinese government has claimed neutrality in the Ukraine war, while maintaining close ties with Moscow throughout. China and Russia declared a "no limits" friendship last year, shortly before the invasion. As the West has moved to cut off profits from oil and gas sales that help fuel Russia's war machine, China has continued to purchase Russian energy providing Moscow with a lifeline. Meanwhile, Chinese officials and China's state-run media have parroted the Kremlin's propaganda about the war, blaming NATO for the conflict. Story continues Indeed, as much of the world has turned against Russia over the invasion, Beijing has refused to openly rebuke Putin who has faced widespread allegations of war crimes. Along these lines, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Russian leader in March. Xi visited the Russian leader in Moscow shortly after, offering Putin an opportunity to tout his relationship with his Chinese counterpart. Though China and Russia maintain a robust relationship, Beijing still has not publicly committed to providing Moscow with weapons it desperately needs as the war in Ukraine rages on. The West has warned China of severe consequences if it provided lethal aid to Russia. In recent months, China has increasingly sought to position itself as a mediator in various disputes and conflicts across the world. Beijing, for example, recently helped facilitate a peace deal between longtime rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran. China has also proposed itself as a potential peacemaker in the Israel-Palestine conflict. This all comes amid historic tensions between China and the US, as both countries vie for influence across the globe. That said, even as Ukraine receives vital security aid from the US and its allies, Zelenskyy appears open to seeing China play a more vocal and active role when it comes to ending the war in his country. The Ukrainian leader had repeatedly expressed a desire to speak with Xi prior to their conversation on Wednesday. "I had a long and meaningful phone call with President Xi Jinping. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations," Zelenskyy said in a tweet. Read the original article on Business Insider NORTHBROOK, Ill., April 26, 2023 /CNW/ -- Amsterdam-based Hilco Industrial Acquisitions, an operating company of U.S.-based Hilco Global, announced today the strategic partnership for the sale and project management relating to the disposition and removal of all assets at Vallourec Deutschland GmbH, which are located at two production sites in Dusseldorf-Rath and Mulheim an der Ruhr. The assets to be sold, are primarily related to Seamless Steel Pipe Production Lines. The sale will be conducted in partnership with National Machinery Exchange, Inc. Hilco Industrial Acquisitions has listed these assets for sale on their website Hilcobid.com. The production will cease at the end of 2023. Hilco Global Asset Smarter (PRNewsfoto/Hilco Global) Vallourec Deutschland is a global leader in the production of premium tubular solutions catering to the energy markets and demanding industrial applications such as oil & gas wells in harsh environments, new generation power plants, challenging architectural projects, and high-performance mechanical equipment. On 18th November 2022, the company management and employee representatives have mutually agreed to close their German operations. Vallourec is known for its innovative spirit and cutting-edge research and development, which enables them to explore new technological horizons. Featured Equipment Plant No. 1 - Dusseldorf-Rath, Germany 16" & 26" Pipe Manufacturing Equipment PILGER MILL (complete), including 2017 DANIELI Cross Rolling Mill and 2012 Rebuilt SMS Pilger Mill BRONX 28"Hot Straightener; Cold Straighteners; Sizing Mill 16"and 26"HEAT TREATMENT Plants (2018) Ultrasonic Testing GE KRAUTKRAMER; (2016) TAYLOR WILSON Hydrotester. (2017) RAGA Inside + Outside Shotblasting Units; Cut-off and Circular Saws; Bevelling Machines (2017) Hydraulic UPSETTING Press Line GFU (6) Mori-Seiki SL 80, SL60, SL 45, HW 700 CNC Lathes Plant No. 2 - Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany 7.5" Pipe Manufacturing Equipment Story continues (2019) BILLET SAWS "MFL" + (2) WAGNER Cooling Bed Cold Saws:(2) SMS; End Saws (4) "Reika" (2016) Rotary Hearth Furnace (3) Mandrel Furnace Units (6) Roll-Turning Lathes (10) Saws (2) Straighteners (2014) Hydro- & Ultrasonic Testing Line SMS INNSE (2011) Ultrasonic Tester "GE-KRAUTKRAEMER" According to Robert Bouland, CEO at Hilco Industrial Acquisitions, the sale of assets on behalf of Vallourec Deutschland presents an exceptional opportunity for buyers who are looking for modern, high-quality machinery for various industrial applications. These applications include mechanical pipes, structurals, cylinder pipes for industrial usage, boiler heads, nuclear for power generation, and OCTG for oil and gas purposes. Bouland further added that they anticipate receiving a considerable level of interest from Asia, Middle East, and the Americas. Additionally, the company is willing to explore offers from potential buyers for purchasing a comprehensive package of significant assets. To arrange an inspection, access more detailed information about the assets which are being sold, or to learn specific information about the sales process please contact: Margot Ter Bogt (mterbogt@hilcoglobal.com) About Hilco Industrial Acquisitions, B.V.: Hilco Industrial Acquisitions, B.V. (www.hilcohia.com ) is based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands and provides industrial asset acquisition and disposition services, specializing in machinery, equipment and inventory auctions and negotiated sales. It sells the broad range of industrial assets found in manufacturing, wholesale, and distribution companies. The company buys and sells assets through on-site, online and combination webcast auction sale events as well as negotiated (private treaty) sales. In addition to providing services on a fee or commission basis, Hilco Industrial Acquisitions, B.V. puts capital at risk and often acquires assets or provides guarantees. Hilco Industrial Acquisitions, B.V. is part of Northbrook, Illinois based Hilco Global (www.hilcoglobal.com), the world's leading authority on maximizing the value of business assets by delivering valuation, monetization, and advisory solutions to an international marketplace. Hilco Global operates more than twenty specialized business units offering services that include asset valuation and appraisal, retail and industrial inventory acquisition and disposition, real estate repositioning and renegotiation, strategic advisory, operational consulting, and strategic capital solutions. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hilco-global-announces-sale-of-all-assets-at-vallourec-deutschland-gmbh-301808686.html SOURCE Hilco Global Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/26/c7796.html church The Department of Justice has charged an Ohio man who allegedly attempted to burn down a church as a result of his homophobic views. Twenty-year-old Aimenn D. Penny faces up to 50 years in prison for his actions. The incident occurred on March 25. According to the Justice Department, Penny threw Molotov cocktails at the Community Church of Chesterland in Chesterland, Ohio after learning that the religious institution was hosting multiple drag show events the following weekend. The DOJ charged him with violating the Church Arson Prevention Act, using fire to commit a federal felony, malicious use of explosive materials, and possessing a destructive device, per The Associated Press. After the attack, the FBI found that Penny was part of a white lives matter group that regularly espouses racist, homophobic, and pro-Nazi views. It also discovered that on March 11, just two weeks before the Chesterfield Church attack, Penny joined other members of the group to protest a local drag event in Wadsworth, Ohio, according to ABC News. Prosecutors said they showed up carrying flags with swastikas and yelling homophobic slurs. Penny reportedly came wearing military-style gear and carrying a firearm. An affidavit released on March 31 detailed when police interviewed Penny in October 2022 where they first encountered his extreme views. He was handing out racist flyers and told authorities that he believed Black people were a problem and that a race war was coming. When police searched his home, they found a handwritten manifesto, a Nazi flag, and other memorabilia. He also regretted that his Molotov cocktails didnt burn the church down completely. Penny remains in custody before a trial date is set. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years behind bars for his violation of the Church Arson Prevention Act, up to 20 years for the malicious use of explosive materials charge, up to 10 years for the possession of a destructive device charge, and a mandatory 10 years for using fire to commit a federal felony. Trending Stories WASHINGTON Vice President Kamala Harris opened the 2024 presidential campaign with a warning to Republican leaders who want to scale back access to abortion: Don't get in our way. Appearing before Democratic activists and young voters, Harris launched into a fiery attack on Republican-led states and anti-abortion groups that have been making use of legislatures and friendly courts to limit access to the procedure. "The true sign of a leader, the measure of a leader is not based on who you beat down and belittle," Harris said at Howard University, a historically Black institution that is also her alma mater. "It is based and measured on who you lift up." Saying that she trusts women to make their own decisions, Harris said, "So don't get in our way, because if you do, we're going to stand up and we're going to organize, and we're going to speak up and we're going to say we're not having it." Vice President Kamala Harris greets supporters after speaking on reproductive freedom at Howard University on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Washington. In the last year, Florida and Texas have passed six-week bans that were made possible by the Supreme Court ruling last summer that overturned federal abortion rights. A judge in Texas also decided this month to suspend the Food and Drug Administration's decades-long approval of abortion medication, paving the way for another fight at the high court over the issue that has become a cultural flashpoint. Harris said Tuesday that bans in Florida and Texas and part of an "extremist plan" that has widespread implications for women. Although the Supreme Court weighed in to allow access to abortion drugs to continue for now, it is a temporary ruling, she noted. "If they determine to stand by that Texas decision, it will in effect be a national ban on abortion. There is a national agenda at play by these extremist so-called leaders." The event was the clearest signal yet that Harris and President Joe Biden intend to make abortion rights a central part of their reelection effort. Story continues Abortion access featured prominently in Biden's reelection announcement on Tuesday morning, with activists at the Supreme Court appearing on screen in the video even before the president. "From the video to today's event it's clear they are champions for abortion rights and access, and we are wholeheartedly with them," Mini Timmaraju, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said in an interview. NARAL Pro-Choice America was one of several leading abortion rights groups that organized the rally at Howard. "This is our moment. But you are the momentum," Planned Parenthood Federation of America president Alexis McGill Johnson told advocates during the event. Liberals expect the issue to help drive up support for Democrats, including Biden and Harris, among young voters and voters of color. Such groups, liberal leaders say, will be most affected by laws curbing abortion access. "Men and women are incredibly passionate about this issue. We have to harness their energy," Timmaraju told USA TODAY. Harris has coordinated closely with abortion rights groups since the Supreme Court ruling in the Dobbs case last summer. Preserving access to reproductive rights became a key focus of her midterm election pitch. Making consistent and authentic connections with voters who put Harris and Biden in the White House will also be critical to their reelection bid, said Laphonza Butler, a confidante of Harris' and the president of EMILY's List. "Sooner rather than later, I think these are events that are going to make the vice president Auntie Kamala," she said. Francesca Chambers is a White House Correspondent for USA TODAY. Follow her on Twitter @fran_chambers. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kamala Harris warns Republicans not to "get in our way" on abortion rights PROVIDENCE Two years after lawmakers prohibited cities and towns from banning short-term rentals offered through online platforms such as Airbnb, the hotel lobby is asking them to repeal the law. The legislation sponsored at the behest of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association is just part of a bevy of proposed bills in the General Assembly this session that would allow cities and towns to increases taxes, regulations, or to ban the booming industry. Rep. Lauren Carson, D-Newport, said she introduced the bills to roll back the provision that prevents cities and towns from banning short-term rentals, and to levy a 10% impact fee, at the hotel lobbying group's behest. Carson said she wants to get the legislature out of the "business of regulating" short-term rentals and put the onus back on municipalities. Cities and towns still can, and do, regulate short-term rentals, while a 2021 law prevents them from banning them and also requires owners to register with the state. Interested what the short-term rental rules are in your town? We looked at all 39 cities and towns to get the lowdown. Short-term rental owners complain of poor access to legislators Among the biggest complaints from short-term rental owners was the access the national hotel lobby had to legislators, getting to testify first, and without a time limit, in a meeting that lasted seven hours. "You're only getting information from one source, and their job is to protect hotels," said Bill Gagnier, who owns three short-term rentals in Pawtuxet Village. "We don't have enough time to testify and we want to be a part of the process." Bill Gagnier, who owns three short-term rentals in Pawtuxet Village, says the hotel lobby wants to "eliminate or regulate" short-term rentals out of existence. More: Short-term rentals are booming with online bookings. Is your town regulating them? Gagnier said the hotel lobby wants to "eliminate or regulate" short-term rentals out of existence. The American Hotel and Lodging Association's national policy counsel, Sarah Bratko, who is based in Rhode Island, said her organization doesn't want to ban the competition but rather "level the playing field." Story continues New business or old business with a new look? Short-term rental owner Shawna Rihani, who is a member of Narragansett 2100, a landlord group, said the number of short-term rentals in her town has stayed relatively steady over the last decade, although it has increased since 2007, the earliest data the group got from the city. In 2012, there were 2,739 rental units owned by 2,108 people. In 2021, there were 2,734 rental units owned by 2,192 people. Narragansett tracks and bills short-term rental owners. More: Warwick moves one step closer to rules on short-term rentals. Here's what's changed. Rihani said the reasoning that platforms like Airbnb and VRBO have "changed everything" isn't borne out by the data in coastal vacation towns, but efforts by local officials to artificially restrict housing, like preventing more than three college students from living together, is driving up housing demand. William Walsh, who said he was representing the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, said short-term rentals may be playing a role in the housing crises, but the primary driver is a barrier to production. What would the bills do? In all, eight bills have been introduced across the House and Senate. Four were introduced in the House and Senate and four just in the House. Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Providence Journal subscription. Here's our latest offer. Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com or follow him on Twitter @WheelerReporter. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Hotel lobby backs bill to let RI cities, towns ban short-term rentals The world needs more uplifting stories like this. One Colorado farmer is a hero to a tiny orphaned calf, and now they're both gaining lots of popularity after their story went viral online. They first rose to Internet fame after someone alerted the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office that a calf was "spotted living in a residential neighborhood near East Smoky Hill Road and South Himalaya Street." As unusual as this is, a very lucky deputy got to see that it was true. What an adorable surprise! We'd be over the moon to see this sweet little calf while on the job, and it looks like Deputy Ferguson feels the same way. We're so jealous that she got to give the little one a cuddle! As KDVR reports, the homeowner told officials, "he owns a ranch in Douglas County. A cow at the ranch gave birth to a calf but was not able to produce enough milk to feed the baby. The homeowner brought the calf back to his Arapahoe County residence to nurse the calf." What a kind thing to do! Caring for a calf can be around-the-clock work, notes South Dakota State University. They require 2 to 3 feedings per day, frequent monitoring, and lots of room to sleep, play, and grow. For Benjamin, that looks like a quiet backyard and a dog house for shelter, though he'll be reunited with his mama in just a few weeks. We were happy to read that Benjamin's owner was not fined since the calf's situation is temporary. Normally, Arapahoe County does not allow livestock in residential neighborhoods, and that will continue to be the case moving forward. Clearly, this ranch owner cares deeply about his animals, and we think that's the real reason everyone loves this story so much. Of course, this baby cow's cuteness doesn't hurt one bit! Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. READ THE COMMENTS Downtown L.A., as seen from the Griffith Park Observatory. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) One never knows what one might encounter in downtown Los Angeles. Im going to cut your head off, threatened a man with a tangled beard and untied boots who swept past one day in a sudden gust. I walked on, turning back, watching him cross into the shadow of the Bradbury Building, his big coat blowing like a tattered flag. But then came a moment of unexpected tenderness. I want to sing for you, said a woman as I headed toward her on the sidewalk. I held out a dollar in hopes of hurrying along. I want to earn it, she said. She sang "Amazing Grace" in ripped clothes, her voice a hymn in the traffic. People rolled down windows and listened at the stoplight. No one wanted this rare thing abloom in the dusk to end. Now, give me $5, she said, laughing and holding out her hand to my applause. The Continental Building at Spring and 4th streets in the Old Bank District of Los Angeles. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times) When I moved downtown near Pershing Square a decade ago, there were fewer high rises, less gleam. I had just returned from living for years in Rome, Berlin and Cairo as a foreign correspondent and wanted a city that felt at once international and at home, a place of endless languages and an unfinished skyline. Urban Outfitters had opened in the old Rialto Theatre, but Apple was years away from moving into the Tower Theatre on Broadway. Grand Central Market, once known for cheap produce and tacos, had started the gentrification that would bring in Eggslut, gourmet nut-butter sandwiches and oysters on the half shell. It was a time of ragged splendor. Rents were beginning to edge up, and one could run into a voice actor or a trust-fund baby in cafes. Most people walked their own dogs. But new buildings quickly rose, and others were rehabbed for lofts and apartments. Sidewalks grew more crowded, and the fluid line between hipsters, tech workers, financiers, drug users and homeless people turned into a strange pageant running east and west of Spring Street. Shopping carts rattled amid Escalades and Ferraris. A mural of an Indigenous child gazed over Pershing Square. One was struck by the possibility of what a downtown could become against the burden of what it was. I wanted to see how it would all turn out, this map of contradiction where poverty, mental illness and addiction seethed below rooftops of pools, palms and fire pits. Compassion collided daily with the hard eye of survival. Story continues New people arrived, and some of those already here were exposed in troubling ways. The young and well-to-do stepped around slumped bodies while flocking to Whole Foods and ordering boxes of macarons from Bottega Louie. The meth dealer next door to me was hauled away when police showed up with long guns and a battering ram. My former district Councilman Jose Huizar, who once spoke to residents of my building about a downtown renaissance, pleaded guilty in January to extorting at least $1.5 million in real estate bribes. Life downtown is navigating the dystopian and the make-believe, the frivolous and the consequential. A vast array of people can be glimpsed when turning a corner or stepping into a back street. A dazed woman in a blanket wandering toward the light of the Metro. Young men driving loud and wild beneath the stars. Drunken lovers kissing outside Perch. A few weeks ago, Joaquin Phoenix, who was filming Joker 2 just beyond my window, ran through traffic, a painted villain on slippery streets beneath battered marquees. The alley behind the Orpheum and the Arts District have this grit and layer to them you cant re-create, Caleb Duffy, a film location manager, once told me. I would have loved to have seen downtown in the 1930s and 40s. Those theaters alive and open. And the light reflecting off the new buildings going up is amazing. Its all purposeful. They thought of that. L.A. is pliable. You can turn it into other places. The Orpheum Theatre. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) It certainly feels like another place when you walk up the stairs alongside Angels Flight to Bunker Hill. Nature conspires with architecture and the best of the human spirit: Disney Hall, the Broad and the Museum of Contemporary Art rise against the San Gabriels. The visage of Gustavo Dudamel looks over Grand Avenue, and the sounds of oboes, pianos and cellos drift from the Colburn School. A bit farther on, Lincoln Jones and his dancers at the American Contemporary Ballet rehearse in a studio of big windows 28 floors above the city. They move like fireflies against glass. Its still a little crazy down here. We get people with mental problems and on drugs. Its slowly starting to clean up." Richard Powell, who works at the Last Bookstore It is different up on the hill. Less disconcerting; the lines, clean. The Victorian houses are long gone, and ghosts like novelist John Fante, who last century called Los Angeles you sad flower in the sand, you pretty town are occasionally mentioned on walking tours. One thinks of impermanence and renewal. Skateboarders skim and clatter; a woman in a sequined dress, hair piled high, poses for a photographer. Older Asian Americans take afternoon strolls in loops around fountains, stopping to sit and talk near lemon trees and beehives in California Plaza. Back down the hill beneath a billboard for a law firm at Fourth and Hill that reads Stop getting screwed are people like Levi and Stephanie. I met them a few years ago when they sailed over the sidewalk, Levi pushing Stephanie in a wheelchair. She was frail and bent and much older. He was twitchy and mercurial. They lived in a small-domed tent that was put up and taken down every day. They were both nomads and addicts; he had gone two years without an arrest warrant and thought maybe he could stay that way. Walt Disney Concert Hall at dusk. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) A homeless woman on skid row. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) In the hour or two before nightfall, Levi would park Stephanie in front of the building across the street from mine and assemble the tent. Hed secure the bottom, lay in blankets. Hed return to Stephanie. Theyd share a cigarette, watching people pass, keeping an eye out for security guards. The cigarette finished, Levi would lift Stephanie. Hed kneel, ease her into the tent, rub her arms with lotion, tuck her in. Hed go to the curb alone and have another smoke and look at the sky for a few minutes and climb into the tent, pulling the wheelchair in behind him and zipping the flap for the night. "We need each other," Levi told me. "She saves me, and I save her." Stephanie got sick one day, and Levi took her to Good Samaritan Hospital. He went back a few days later, he said, and was informed that she had died. He lit candle vigils for her on sidewalks. He wandered alone with his tent. Three weeks passed. Stephanie reappeared one morning. She hadnt died. The hospital had sent her to a nursing home, but she didnt stay. She wanted to be with Levi. She took a bus. He cried, and they went back to what was. I havent seen them in a while. Its still a little crazy down here, said Richard Powell, who works at the Last Bookstore. We get people with mental problems and on drugs. Its slowly starting to clean up. It gets a lot better after 7th Street, with all the new clubs and restaurants. People are moving back. What do you call them, hipsters? All these different people and ethnicities are starting to mesh together. Its nice. The book tunnel on the second floor at the Last Bookstore. (For The Times) Not all of it. The homeless guy who lived on the corner died there three weeks ago, said Powell, his eye over a COVID-19 mask following customers. He was a panhandler. We called him the dollar man. One day he just didnt wake up. I must have passed him, maybe often. Perhaps I gave him a dollar. It is hard to know. Narratives shift and turn, and the faces of anguish and disarray are many. They overpower, then retreat, inseparable from the sirens and the breezes off the coast that cool the twilight. So many voices, spinning in doorways, drifting beneath windows. My favorite neighbor is a hawk. He perches on the fire escape of the empty Hotel Clark. He comes often. I watch him from my window. He scans the skyline like a lonely prince. He drops, spreads his wings, takes flight, returns with a pigeon. One day, while he was eating his prey, bloodied feathers spiraled down from the fire escape and floated above tourists walking to the Grand Central Market. They didnt notice. A few months later, while I was sitting on our rooftop deck, the hawk landed a few feet away, another pigeon in his clutches. He left a mess and flew away. I thought of the Indigenous child painted over Pershing Square and wondered what it would have been like centuries ago to watch a hawk soar over a land with no buildings, a city not yet realized between desert and ocean. Then to fast-forward to what it is today. A multilingual dream of promise and transgression. The last flame at the edge of the continent. The stuff of movies. One evening not long ago, the neon sign at the Hotel Clark clicked on. It does that from time to time, casting a pink glow over the street, evoking a sense of 1940s noir in the night. I wonder who turns it on. Perhaps I'll never know, but that is of no matter. Its infrequency leaves an anticipation of when it might shine again. It is one of the many mysteries that keep me here. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Utah Jazz officially announced it will host its eighth consecutive summer league this July, with four teams including the Oklahoma City Thunder participating in the event. The four teams will be the Thunder, Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers and Memphis Grizzlies. All four will play each other during the Salt Lake City summer league from July 3 to July 6. This will be the second consecutive season the Thunder participated in Utahs summer league. Thunder GM Sam Presti confirmed OKCs attendance during his end-of-season press conference. This announcement makes it official. Summer hoops in SLC Returning for its eighth consecutive year, the 2023 Salt Lake City Summer League will take place July 3, 5 and 6th at the . Single and three day passes will go on sale in May. Learn more https://t.co/GjkTzw71EM#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/IpSAnCv9aF Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 25, 2023 There is a non-zero chance Chet Holmgren suits up for this summer league, as Presti noted its possible he plays in July following missing the entire 2022-23 season due to a Lisfranc injury that required multiple foot surgeries. The Thunder will also participate in Las Vegas league-wide summer league from July 7 to July 17. This means the Thunder will have games every other day for two weeks, from July 3 to July 17. More News! Jalen Williams finishes No. 2 in Rookie of the Year award voting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finishes No. 2 in Most Improved Player of the Year award voting On this day: Damian Lillard hits series-clinching 3-pointer in 2019 playoffs vs. Thunder Story originally appeared on Thunder Wire Princess Mary of Denmark Princess Mary of Denmark looked effortlessly glam in a khaki skirt and white blouse as she visited the island of Vanua Levu in Fiji. Princess Mary opted for a casual look as she met with community members in Fiji, pairing a long khaki skirt with a white blouse and trainers. The look was a different one for the royal who is often seen in elegant ensembles for her engagements but we're obsessed with the style nonetheless. In other royal news, Queen Letizia of Spain's beautiful polka dot dress is the outfit of dreams. Princess Mary of Denmark looked effortlessly stunning as she met with Fijian locals at Nabavatu on the island of Vanua Levu in Fiji. The royal showed off a perfect casual look in a long khaki skirt, white shirt, and comfortable running trainers, pulling her brunette locks back into a voluminous ponytail. The toned-down look reflected the poignant reason for Princess Mary's visit to the area. The royal's recent visit to Nabavatu aimed to shine a light on the challenges faced by the communities living on the Pacific islands, specifically in connection with climate change. In Nabavatu, where the royal was pictured smiling and laughing with local residents, the inhabitants have been forced to live in tent camps since a series of cyclones hit the area nearly two years ago. According to a Danish royal statement, during her visit, "The Crown Princess will, among other things, focus on how the destruction and evacuations in the wake of climate change result in an increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence." The statement also added that she will find out more about "how the health care system works to protect women and girls in vulnerable situations." Princess Mary of Denmark Khaki Jersey Tie Side Midi Skirt, 22.99 ($29) | New Look Featuring a simple tie-side detailing, you get all the pros of a wrap-around style without the fear of exposing any skin should the wind pick up. Made in a soft jersey fabric, the split hem and slim fit work to create a stunning silhouette that's easy to style.View Deal Story continues The stunning khaki midi skirt Princess Mary wore for the engagement is the Rosehip Midi Skirt from the brand Apiece Apart. The style debuted in the brand's 2018 collection and is one of their best-selling designs. Made from an airy Tencel material and supplemented with a linen blend, it allows the wearer to comfortably battle the heat while still remaining covered. The design features a flattering wrap front and asymmetric hem whose light pleating allows for stunning movement as you walk. The style is currently unavailable but there are plenty of similar styles available on both the high street and online. Later in the evening, Princess Mary attended a reception and dinner with the Fijian president Wiliame Katonivere. For the occasion, she swapped her casual outfit for a stunning white maxi dress decorated with a muted marble print. The busy pattern is toned down by its muted colors, creating an elegant yet unique and interesting look perfect for any occasion. Princess Mary of Denmark Long silk dress, 99.99 ($125) | H&M This long, sleeveless dress is the perfect addition to any summer wardrobe. Made with an airy organic mulberry silk weave, the dress boasts a marble print motif, a deep v-neckline, and a deep opening at the back with a covered button closure. Even better, the dress has side pockets!View Deal The dress she stepped out in is the Long Silk Dress in the natural white/patterned colorway from high street brand H&M. You can currently pre-order the stunning style on the brand's website to get the exact same look as Princess Mary. Accessorizing the look, Mary kept off the chill with a cropped cream cardigan. Her choice of bold jewelry elevated the outfit, with the royal adding large gold hoop earrings, a chunky gold necklace boasting a variety of boho stones, and gold cuffs on each wrist. The Princess kept her makeup looking classic, opting to intensify her dewy base with a subtle pink lip and lightly smudged brown eyeliner. "Can China Outcompete the US?" HONG KONG, April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong Policy Research Institute and Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network, jointly organised a luncheon presentation entitled "Can China Outcompete the US?" featuring keynote speaker Professor Kishore Mahbubani. The event was sponsored by B & P Foundation with Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group News Department Omnimedia Center as the official media partner. Group photo of Keynote Presentation and Luncheon with Professor Kishore Mahbubani : Dr. Esther Chan, Executive of B&P Foundation; Ms. Winnie Yip, Executive of B&P Foundation; Mr. Paul Tse, Executive Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Policy Research Institute; Dr. Betty Chan, CEO of Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network, Co-founder of B&P Foundation; Professor Kishore Mahbubani, Distinguished Fellow at the Institute of Asian Studies, National University of Singapore; Professor Paul Yip, Chairman of the Hong Kong Policy Research Institute, Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network, and B&P Foundation; Mr Chan Heng Wing, the Non-Resident Ambassador of Singapore to the Republic of Austria; Dr. Lydia Chan, Executive of B&P Foundation. (from left to right) (PRNewsfoto/Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network) Professor Kishore Mahbubani, a former Singapore Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations, President of the United Nations Security Council and Founding Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, delivered an insightful presentation on the relative political, economic, social and cultural strengths of the two superpowers. Professor Mahbubani is currently a Distinguished Fellow at the Institute of Asian Studies, National University of Singapore. Mr Paul Tse, Executive Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Policy Research Institute and Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, moderated the event. He praised Professor Mahbubani's vast diplomatic experience and noted that the speaker's profound research and insights on international relations made him a renowned expert and scholar in the field of international geopolitics. Professor Paul Yip Kwok-wah, Chairman of the Hong Kong Policy Research Institute and Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network, and Mr Chan Heng Wing, the Non-Resident Ambassador of Singapore to the Republic of Austria, were acknowledged respectively for initiating and arranging the event and for extending the invitations on behalf of the organisers. The event was attended by more than 100 participants from various sectors, including representative office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong SAR, foreign consulates, and local and international media. Professor Mahbubani fielded questions from the audience during the Q&A session. Story continues For further details about Professor Mahbubani's speech, please visit: https://www.ycyw-edu.com/en/article/news/keynote-presentation-and-luncheon-with-professor-kishore-mahbubani About Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network (YCYW) YCYW is a global education pioneer with roots in Hong Kong, China. It seeks to combine the best of Chinese and Western cultures to create a truly distinctive spectrum of educational provision. Its mission is to nurture compassionate global citizens for the building of a better world. Madam Tsang Chor-hang was a visionary and education pioneer who founded the first Yew Chung School and Kindergarten in Hong Kong in 1932. In 1970, her daughter Dr Betty Chan Po-king joined Yew Chung to assist in its management. As a dedicated researcher in early childhood education, Dr Chan put forth an innovative concept of 'learning through play'. In 1985, Yew Chung organised the 'Pillars of Tomorrow', an Early Childhood Education Exhibition in Beijing, which was officiated by Ms Kang Keqing, the then Chairlady of the Beijing Soong Ching Ling Foundation. In 1989, Yew Chung collaborated with UNICEF to organise the world's first academic forum on early childhood education, promoting exchanges between early childhood education communities in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and around the world. In the 1990s, Yew Chung was invited to Shanghai and Beijing to run schools for expatriates in the mainland. Following in her mother's footsteps, Dr Betty Chan Po-king and her husband, Professor Paul Yip Kwok-wah, later founded the Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network, nurturing Chinese and expatriate students to contribute to the international stage. The educational pedigree encompasses the entire spectrum from early childhood to tertiary education including Yew Chung International Schools, Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education, Yew Wah International Education Schools, Yew Wah International Education Kindergartens and Yew Wah Infant and Toddler Discovery Centres in cities covering Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Qingdao, Yantai, Tongxiang, Silicon Valley, USA and Somerset, UK. Each year, YCYW provides quality education and development opportunities for more than 13,000 teachers and students around the world. About The Hong Kong Policy Research Institute The Hong Kong Policy Research Institute (HKPRI) is a non-profit making and independent public policy think tank set up in 1995 in anticipation of China's resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997. The primary objective of the HKPRI is to contribute, through conducting public researches and publishing effective and pragmatic proposals and recommendations, towards the successful implementation of the One Country Two Systems in Hong Kong. About B & P Foundation The B&P Foundation, a non-profit organization established in February 2010 by Professor Paul Yip Kwok-wah and Dr. Betty Chan Po-king, has a distinguished history of contributing to public welfare initiatives. Professor Yip and Dr. Chan have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing the greater good, and the foundation has provided funding for a diverse range of programs spanning social services, education, policy research, youth development, cultural development, and international exchanges. The B&P Foundation benefits from the support of the B&P Group, a prominent business entity with operations in various sectors, including education, culture and tourism, social welfare, and science and technology. In education, the group is involved in the Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network, which supports kindergartens and primary schools, and the forthcoming Hong Kong Yew Wah School, which will be the first school outside of mainland China to offer Mainland China curriculum in 2027. The culture and tourism sector includes the Huang Shan scholars Conference Hotel, Mandarin Plaza Hotel, the Cebu Bohol Island Resort and Bohol Island Beach Resort, and International Scholars Exchange Centre Limited, which operates as a travel agency. To create a positive social impact, B&P has supported organizations such as the Hong Kong Policy Research Institute, the Hong Kong Chinese Cultural Development Association, the Hong Kong Basic Law Foundation, and H.K.F.S. Fund Limited. Finally, the B&P Group holds shares in Rainbow Fish Ocean Technology and Abyss Exploration, demonstrating its commitment to the advancement of science and technology. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/hong-kong-policy-research-institute-and-yew-chung-yew-wah-education-network-co-organise-keynote-presentation-and-luncheon-with-professor-kishore-mahbubani-301807649.html SOURCE Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network LANSING State Rep. Dale Zorn last week brought a bit of Lenawee County history to the state Capitol in Lansing in support of Abolitionist Day in Michigan. On March 21, the Michigan House of Representatives adopted a resolution recognizing Abolitionist Day in the state, which was led by state Rep. Dale Zorn, R-Onsted. State Rep. Dale Zorn, R-Onsted, introduced a resolution last week to declare March 21 as Abolitionist Day in Michigan. He also presented a tribute recognizing the lifes work of Laura Smith Haviland, a trailblazer in the American abolitionist movement who lived near Adrian. Zorn presented the tribute to Havilands fifth great-nephew, Robert Haviland, during the House session March 21. He was joined at the Capitol by Robert Haviland, the fifth great-nephew of Laura Smith Haviland, a trailblazer in the American abolitionist movement whose home in Raisin Township served as the first Underground Railroad location in Michigan. There, she taught others how to confront and obstruct anti-abolition authorities and slave catchers in the north. The abolitionist movement was made up of many people like Laura Smith Haviland who dedicated their lives to eradicating injustice and assisting members of the Underground Railroad, Zorn said in a news release. Its important to recognize the integral role the abolitionist movement made in our nations history, moving us closer to true equality of life for all Americans. According to House Resolution No. 58, March 21, will be recognized as Abolitionist Day in Michigan. In 1839, Haviland and her husband, Charles, founded the Raisin Institute at their farm. The school was open to all students of good moral character, regardless of sex or color, which, Zorns release said, was a bold undertaking in a day and time when no school in Michigan would accept Black students. From right, Robert Haviland, the fifth great-nephew of Laura Smith Haviland, is joined March 21 at the state Capitol in Lansing by state Rep. Dale Zorn, R-Onsted, and Chip Moore of Adrian. Zorn last week introduced a resolution to declare March 21 as Abolitionist Day in Michigan. He also presented a tribute recognizing the lifes work of Laura Smith Haviland, a trailblazer in the American abolitionist movement who lived in Raisin Township. She was born in 1808 in Canada and died in 1898 in Grand Rapids and is buried next to her husband in the Raisin Valley Cemetery near Adrian. In 2018, she was inducted into the National Abolition Hall of Fame in Peterboro, New York, for her role in the anti-slavery movement in Michigan and the Midwest. One city, Haviland, Kansas, is named after Haviland because of her lifelong effort to help slaves and refugees, the National Abolition Hall of Fame said on its website. Haviland wore many hats during her lifetime from being a teacher, a nurse and a missionary, to her work as an abolitionist, a humanitarian, a temperance reformer and a mother. Story continues Laura Smith Haviland is responsible for freeing and assisting in freeing countless enslaved people during her time, Zorn said. Regardless of the dangers she inevitably faced, she continued her work to ensure freedom and dignity was afforded to as many people as possible throughout her entire life. A sculpture of Haviland sits in front of the Lenawee County Historical Museum in Adrian. An inscription on the sculpture reads: A Tribute to a Life Consecrated to the Betterment of Humanity. There is also a drinking fountain at the base of the sculpture with an inscription of I was thirsty and ye gave me drink. This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Rep. Dale Zorn honors Laura Smith Haviland with House tribute Legislation that would make it easier to turn an old mill, office, school, church, hospital or shopping mall into apartments sailed through the House of Representatives on Tuesday despite questions from the state Republican Party about whether it might unfairly benefit the House speaker's law clients. Introduced by Pawtucket Democratic Rep. Karen Alzate, the bill would prevent cities and towns from blocking commercial-to-residential conversion projects unless they violate state or federal environmental protections. It would also prevent municipalities from requiring more than one parking space per apartment in these adaptive reuse projects and let developers build extra units if they include affordable housing. The bill part of House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi's 14-bill housing agenda passed 69 to 2, with 7 Republicans joining House Democrats in support. West Warwick Republican Rep. Patricia Morgan and Cranston Republican Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung cast the two votes in opposition. Conversion of mills and other former industrial properties into homes continues in Rhode Island. Here, project manager Christopher Reynolds walks the Cranston Print Works property, where his employer, Brady Sullivan, a Manchester, New Hampshire-based developer, proposes to turn the sprawling and cavernous complex at Cranston and Dyer streets into 129 apartments and 100,000 square feet of self storage. The Cranston Planning Board has given the project initial approval. On Tuesday morning, the Rhode Island Republican Party issued a news release suggesting the bill could benefit clients of Shekarchi's law practice. As an example of a potential conflict, the GOP referred to the planned conversion of the Sheraton PVD Airport Hotel on Post Road in Warwick into apartments. Shekarchi represented the developer of the project, which got permission from the Warwick Zoning Board of Review to include fewer off-street parking spaces than called for by zoning. "If Shekarchis legislation had been in effect in 2021, Shekarchi would never have needed to negotiate with Warwicks Planning Department over the parking space requirement," the Republican Party wrote. "Shekarchi needs to disclose if he has or expects to have any clients who would benefit from this legislation. You dont usually see a state legislator push for a bill that overrides his own municipalitys zoning code. From now on, when Shekarchi pushes a piece of legislation affecting local zoning, the people of Warwick need to ask themselves this question: 'Who does Shekarchi really represent, you or his client?'" Story continues In an email response, Shekarchi wrote that the adaptive reuse legislation "does not impact any of my current or past clients" and would not go into effect until Jan. 1 of next year. "This bill is supported by the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, among many others," Shekarchi wrote. "We have a severe housing crisis in Rhode Island and this is one of many bills that will make a difference. I am not going to let a Republican national committeeman deter me from creating more housing opportunities in Rhode Island." Rhode Island's Republican national committeeman is Steve Frias, a member of the Cranston Planning Board who has objected to several bills in Shekarchi's housing package for limiting local control of land use. In addition to preventing cities and towns from blocking residential conversions, the Alzate bill would also prevent them from limiting project density to less than 15 units per acre if they include below market-rate housing. At least 20% of the units in each project would need to qualify as affordable to get that density bonus. Also on Tuesday, the House passes 68-to-1 a bill introduced by Rep. Leonela Felix, D-Pawtucket, that would create a pilot program for communities that incentivize construction of affordable housing near mass-transit hubs. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Old buildings more easily changed to homes under bill OK'd by RI House President Joe Biden announced that hes running for reelection on Tuesday morning. Heres the whos captaining the ship : Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Campaign Manager After serving as one of Bidens senior advisors and White House director of intergovernmental affairs, Chavez Rodriguez will pivot to leading the reelection push. She has never run a campaign before, but she served as the deputy campaign manager on Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris last campaign and is close with the president. A longtime Democratic aide, shes currently the highest ranking Latina in the White House. She also served in several roles in the Obama administration, and is the granddaughter of labor icon Cesar Chavez. Quentin Fulks, Principal Deputy Campaign Manager A democratic strategist, Fulks was most recently the campaign manager for Sen. Raphael Warnocks reelection campaign last year the first successful reelection bid for a Democratic senator in Georgia in more than 30 years. Before that, he was the deputy campaign manager and senior political adviser to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, helping flip the seat blue in 2018. He has also held several positions at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, EMILYs List and Priorities USA. Kevin Munoz, Media Relations Most recently an assistant White House press secretary, Munoz will take care of press for the reelection bid initially as a larger team is built out. None of the other hires on the comms team or their potential roles in the campaign have been set in stone, two people familiar with the process said. At least one other campaign staffer is set to be announced soon. National Co-chairs Rep. Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-Del.) has been close with Biden for years, helping him choose his running mate for the last campaign. A long-time family friend, shes also the first woman and first African American to represent Delaware in Congress. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), another longtime ally, threw his support behind Biden in 2020. That gave the president a stamp of approval among Black voters at at a critical time for the campaign, following a string of losses to Sen. Bernie Sanders and coming just days before the states primary. Story continues Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) has served as the bridge between the Hill, the White House and foreign capitals during the Biden presidency. Abroad, he has served almost as a proxy to Biden, being talked about in the U.S. and internationally as a shadow secretary of State. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a veteran and the first Thai American woman in Congress, was floated as a vice presidential candidate in 2020. Since then, she has been a Biden ally, but also challenged the president two years ago for not naming Asian American Cabinet secretaries, vowing to oppose nominees on the floor before backing down. Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) has been a staunch defender of the administrations handling of the southern border crisis, an issue thats likely to be central in the 2024 presidential campaign. One of the first two Latinas to represent Texas in the House of Representatives, she represents El Paso, the largest city at the U.S. border. Jeffrey Katzenberg, a film producer and major Democratic fundraiser, has been key to Bidens presidential endeavors, backing him in 2020 and raising millions of dollars for Dems alongside the president. Wisconsin State Sen. Lena Taylor and Milwaukee attorney Molly Gena, candidates for Milwaukee Municipal Court judge. While most of the attention this election cycle has been placed on the state's supreme court race, there is also a big local race for the second branch of Milwaukee's municipal court. A judgeship opened after Derek Mosley left in January to become director of Marquette University Law Schools Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education. He served 20 years on the municipal bench. A state senator and a longtime local attorney are now running to fill the vacancy. What is municipal court? There are 229 municipal courts in the state. Milwaukee has the largest. The court handles noncriminal matters for traffic, parking, and ordinance matters, including first-time drunken driving offenses and license revocation. It also handles juvenile matters, such as truancy, underage drinking, drug offenses and curfew violations. Judges on the court serve four-year terms. Who is running for the position? Molly Gena: Managing attorney, Legal Action of Wisconsin, 2019 to present Supervising attorney, Center for Drivers License Recovery and Employability Member, Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic advisory board Member, MBA Courts Committee Member, ACLU Milwaukee Chapter Of note: Gena has spent more than 15 years as a civil legal aid attorney, providing free legal services to those who cannot afford them. She also has volunteered with the nonpartisan Wisconsin election protection coalition. Lena Taylor: Wisconsin state senator, January 2005 to present Private practice attorney Public defender Of note: Much of her focus while working as an attorney was criminal, family, personal injury, and bankruptcy law. Says she takes on pro se cases and for those who cannot afford an attorney. She also has taken occasional personal injury cases since entering the legislature. The candidates recently spoke about their approach to the office. What is your judicial philosophy? Gena: As a judge, I would make sure to treat every single person before the court with dignity, respect and a lot of patience. A lot of people, this might be their first entry and only experience with the legal system. And it can be really difficult to navigate for folks. Even though these arent criminal cases, they can show up on peoples criminal records. They can be used to deny housing, employment. They have serious consequences for folks, so I would make sure to treat everyone fairly and respectful and with patience and make sure to include trauma-informed care in my judicial philosophy because in my work. Story continues Taylor: It's a judge's role to take their lived experience to type the law and the facts that come before them, and to make sure that the law is implemented fairly. It's not the hat, for example, that I've been in, which is the legislative hat. I'm not there to make the law. I'm there to interpret what is in front of us and to be able to make a decision. Now, I will say that I think that there are times where the court can tell the legislature, "We need to address something." It's exactly how I got involved with doing work to reform municipal court. What are the biggest challenges you see facing municipal court right now? Gena: The court is stacking ticket upon ticket, fine upon fine for people. What the court does do very well currently and what Judge Mosley does is he does go into the community and holds court at places, like the Benedict Center and the Guest House. Those are things Id absolutely continue. But I would like to increase some of those diversion programs with working more with Justice Point which is there in the courthouse and trying to figure out whats causing the behavior and whats causing some of these problems and refer people to some of those communities as much as possible. Taylor: One of the biggest challenges I think is they need to be open. There needs to be accessibility. Even if it is seen by the city as a revenue stream, I think it is a problem when court is not accessible based on the time you can come, based on how you can have your item heard, based on walking up and saying, "I got time today right now. I want to try to go and take care of that." It needs to be more accessible to the people. Of the 19 municipalities in Milwaukee County, I believe the city of Milwaukee is the only one that doesn't have night court. I want to bring court to people. I want to do it in school. I want to do it in school too. It's huge. Exactly. It is huge. And night court is huge for me. I can't believe that we don't have it and we're the largest municipality. Do you believe that you can impose community service in lieu of monetary fines? Gena: (It) depends on the defendant and their time and ability and desire to do the community service. But for people who cannot afford the ticket, no matter what the case is, community service benefits everyone. It benefits the community if theyre volunteering for a nonprofit. And it, of course, benefits the defendant if they have the time to do it. And it benefits the court as well because they see someone putting in this time and service that holds them just as accountable. I had a client who I asked the judge to order community service for. The nonprofit liked him so much, they offered him a job. For me, its just a win-win-win-win all around. Its really beneficial for people and the community, and I would consider it for every case. Taylor: Whether underemployed or working two jobs and barely making ends meet, I believe that we have to deal with that piece of it in a community where poverty is great. Judge Mosley and I talked a lot about judges using more community service. And it's not that we don't use community service, but when you have that amount of poverty and that amount of people not paying their fines, I want to see, do you need to be connected to pathways to work? Do you need to learn some skills because we need to change that? And not necessarily for the revenue end, because I think community service could work too. I see a lot of stuff that could be addressed in a city where financially, we are challenged. Both of you have mentioned making court more accessible. What are some ideas you have to make that happen? Gena: Its a big part of the role of municipal judge to be out in the community, to participate in the community. Not only would I want to share community resources with litigants that might assist them and make sure that the court is always up on those points of contact. I would like to increase some of those diversion programs with working more with Justice Point, which is there in the courthouse and trying to figure out whats causing the behavior and whats causing some of these problems and refer people to some of those communities as much as possible. I also want to continue Judge Mosleys program of holding court places, like the Benedict Center and Guest House, and meeting people where theyre at. Talking to them about their cases and bringing court to all kinds of different places in the community. And really going out into the community as much as possible to educate people about the court, and the role the court has and what their options are in court. I think that is all incredibly important. Taylor: We need to think out of the box innovatively in order to be able to address the high amount of fines and lack of payment, the warrants that individuals have. Those are things that we can be more accessible to the community by doing these things. I want to see the court in the community more. And if my branch if I'm blessed to be chosen by the people, if my branch can be your night court branch that goes in the community, I'll be in court heaven because I think it will allow for people to not only be able to come to court, but it will, I'm hoping, inspire neighborhood associations and bids and organizations to be engaged so that we can have people engaged in those organizations giving back in this community for harm that has been done. Prior to the pandemic, the municipal court offered walk-in options for defendants to come in on their time to address their cases. Would you reinstate walk-in court? Gena: Its time to bring it back. Access to justice and access to the court is really important. Now, people who dont want to try and come in and have their drivers license suspension or warrant lifted have to try to schedule it and wait and cant just walk in on the day off. That is something Id reinstate. Right now, the judges are all on Zoom and I would be in-person to make it possible for people to walk in and give the defendants the Zoom option as well. Taylor: Yes. It goes under my accessibility plans. Even the concept of having what you're paying to reopen cases is a challenge for some individuals. Even if it is seen by the city as a revenue stream, I think it is a problem when court is not accessible based on the time you can come, based on how you can have your item heard, based on walking up and saying, "I got time today right now. I want to try to go and take care of that." The fact that people are not able to do that, being able to be accessible so that you can say and speak your voice as a resident in this community about the kinds of cases that come before the municipal court. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Meet the candidates who are running for Milwaukee municipal court Photo: darksoul72 (Shutterstock) Fourteen months on from Russias invasion of Ukraine, the fast food brand exodus from Russia continues. KFC has finalized its exit from the Russian market, but the nations people will not be left without fast food: Reuters reports that another chain, Rostiks, is popping up to take its place. It just goes to show that no matter where you live, its important to get ones fill of fried chicken. What is Rostiks, Russias KFC replacement? Rostiks (sometimes transliterated as Rostics) is a restaurant chain that was founded in 1993 as Russia transitioned from communism to capitalism. In 2005, KFC partnered with Rostiks to begin its expansion into Russia; by 2010, KFC eventually exercised an option to wholly buy out Rostiks. Read more Now, as KFC makes its exit from the Russian market in response to Moscows attacks on Ukraine, the company has transferred all of its franchise rights to a local business, a franchisee system named Smart Service. This company holds the trademark for the Rostiks brand, along with all of KFCs 1,100 locations in Russia. Not all Russian KFC locations are gone There will be remnants of KFC within the Russian market, as franchisees have been allowed to keep existing shops open and wont be forced to rebrand those stores if they dont want to. This is similar to how Subway has allowed some operators to stay open in Russia, as those stores are independently owned. However, all profits from those Subway locations redirect to Ukrainian war relief efforts. KFCs exit echoes that of McDonalds once the Golden Arches pulled out in 2022. A local licensee took over the McDonalds restaurants, replacing them with a new brand called Vkusno & Tochka, which means tasty and thats it. Its food has received mixed reviews. KFC had a presence of about 1,100 restaurants in Russia prior to its exit, and the company had been targeting the Russian market for expansion up until the war between Russia and Ukraine began in February 2022. The KFC employees will continue to be retained by Rostiks. Story continues Whats on the Rostiks menu? Rostiks menu will be nearly identical to KFCs, though the names of the offerings will change. For example, the Twister (which is KFCs take on the Snack Wrap) will be called the Chef-Roll, while another product called the Boxmaster will be called the Rostmaster. No word yet on whether the Colonels secret signature blend of 11 herbs and spices will remain the same. It sounds like not much will change from the customers perspective. Rostiks logo is even the familiar KFC colors of red, white, and black. Smart Service estimates that the entire rebranding will take about 18 months, and Russians will be able to continue crunching on drumsticks as usual, just under a slightly different banner. More from The Takeout Sign up for The Takeout's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. There's a sherry for every kind of drinker. Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christine Keely It might have been after tasting the 40th barrel, or the 50th, or possibly the 60th, when I began to say to myself, Good god, this is a lot of sherry. I was in Jerez, Spain, with Antonio Flores, the longtime winemaker and master blender at Gonzalez Byass, itself one of the great names in sherry. Along with us was his daughter (and associate winemaker) Silvia Flores, as well as Pedro Rebuelta, the fifth-generation vice chairman of the company. We were deep among the towering stacks of barrels in one of the bodegas many vast, silent cellars. Flores plunged his venencia essentially a small, tubular metal cup on the end of a whiplike, flexible handle deep into the next barrel, pulled it out, and, with a flourish, poured me another taste, spilling not one drop. What do you think? he asked. What I thought was, ouch, do we really have another 40 barrels to go? But of the wine itself, what I thought was that it was terrific: savory, salty, complex, a masterful fino sherry. Very, very good. Wow. Flores tasted, then nodded, agreeing. This one, definitely yes, I said. Silvia Flores made a note in the record she was keeping, and we moved on down the row. We were making the preliminary selection for Gonzalez Byass annual release of its four Las Palmas sherries. The name is a nod to the historic way of marking exceptional sherry butts (130- gallon barrels): a chalk mark on the head of the barrel, one stroke down, and then either one, two, three, or four strokes to the right, suggesting the leaves of a palm tree. The town of Jerez is filled with palmspalmas sherries, not so much; very few make the cut. Barmalini / Getty Images We were tasting through 100 barrels of sherry to make our initial selection. Later in the day, we would sit down in a quiet, well-lit tasting room and reduce that number even further. From 10 six-year-old possibilities, three barrels would go into the Una Palma bottling; from a mere three barrels of 50-plus-year-old sherry, only one would go into the ultra-rare Cuatro Palmas. But for the moment, we were in one of the dimly lit, cathedral-like cellars at Byass, the dirt floor under our feet damp to keep the aging sherries at optimal humidity. Story continues Sherry is one of the great wines of the world, but for many people, its an afterthought. Partly, thats an image issue. Queen Elizabeth II honestly did a service to sherry by preferring to drink Dubonnet and gin (an odd choice if ever there was one) because the idea of the elderly English lady tippling her sherry needs to be retired, stat. Its a cliche. The other problem with sherry is more intrinsic to the drink itself: The stuff is pretty complicated. Sherry can be dry or sweet, super-fresh or aged for decades, salty as a sea breeze or rich and nutty; the variations go on and on. But, very generally, there are two primary kinds: biologically aged sherries and oxidatively aged ones. Biologically aged sherries finos and manzanillas develop a layer of yeast called flor on the surface of the wine in the barrel. It looks sort of like ivory-colored cotton batting, anywhere from a thin film to a half-inch layer, and its what gives those sherries their distinctive, savory, pungent, briny, refreshing character. Antonio Flores says, Because of the flor, every cask is its own ecosystem every child is different. The yeast changes to fit the environment, he says. Like a human being, it breathes, it eats, and it reproduces. But its a single-cell being. Typical finos and manzanillas, like Gonzalez Byass ubiquitous (but quite good) Tio Pepe, are aged for about four years under flor. The wines we were tasting were older, more complex, deeper, and stronger in all those savory characteristics the yeast brings. (For the best finos and manzanillas to try, see below.) Eventually, though, like all living things, the yeast dies out. After that, a sherry ages oxidativelythe more familiar kind of aging that brings nut and leather and caramel notes, turning them a burnished copper hue. Amontillados are made this way; the darker and richer olorosos are typically made by fortifying the wine early (which kills the yeast layer), giving them much more time to age by way of oxygen contact. Then there are PXs, made from the Pedro Ximenez grape. Ive tried now for two decades to like them, but theyre just too damn sweet for me. (I admit to my failings. I dont like candied dates, either.) Theres also a category of fino and manzanilla sherries known as en rama. These are unfiltered and unstabilized true expressions of sherry straight from the barrel. Byass releases a Tio Pepe En Rama sherry every year, which is like a wilder, East Village version of its uptown uncle; the Las Palmas sherries we were selecting would be the very best from barrels normally used for the En Rama release (though for the Tres Palmas and Cuatro Palmas, the wines would be much, much older). In a way, these wines are a glimpse into the unguarded soul of sherry. We tasted and moved on, tasted and moved on. At one point, I noticed a very tiny ladder on the ground, placed next to a single small glass of sherry. Whats that? I asked. Oh, that was for the mouse, Silvia Flores said nonchalantly. He liked sherry. He was quite famous, actually you can find a video on YouTube of him. Of course. But since no one else seemed to find this the least bit strange, we tasted, and moved on. 5 Great Fino Sherries to Try Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christine Keely Valdespino Inocente ($24) This always-reliable fino offers light, bready flor aromas and tangy, crisp flavors. Its a great introduction to fino sherry, ideal with a plate of jamon Iberico and some marcona almonds. El Maestro Sierra ($20 for 375 ml.) El Maestro Sierra started as an almacenista (a small sherry producer that would age wines and then sell them to the major bodegas). Today, they market their own wines, like this gold-hued fino. Its powerful and austere (in a good way), with distinct notes of blanched nuts. Lustau Almacenista Jose Luis Gonzalez Obregon Fino del Puerto ($24) Bodegas Lustau makes exceptional sherries, both its own and in its line of almacenista bottlings; this nutty fino is from a micro-bodega in El Puerto de Santa Maria that serves as the familys excellent old-school wine bar. Hidalgo la Panesa Especial ($80) This 14-karat-gold-hued fino comes from a very small selection of the top barrels located in the Hidalgo bodega and is aged for 15 years under flor, far longer than usual. Its full-bodied, rich, and impressively complex, with a lasting salty-umami note. Gonzalez Byass Tio Pepe Una Palma ($65) The 2022 release of this aged, limited fino sherry is salty and vividly fresh. If youre interested in the heights of complexity that fino can reach, seek it out. But you cant go wrong with Tio Pepe ($20), either, the bodegas classic, widely available fino bottling. 5 Great Manzanilla Sherries to Try Manzanillas, which usually have a saltier, more coastal tang than finos, traditionally come from the seaside town of Sanlucar de Barrameda. Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christine Keely La Guita ($15) This creamy manzanilla is a go-to bottling, with its modest astringency, distinct saltiness, and faint, appealing hint of bitterness. La Cigarrera ($16 for 375 ml.) Super fresh, with a kind of straw-over-stones character (OK, but taste itits true), this is manzanilla in a dry, light style thats very refreshing. Barbadillo Solear ($17) This old-school manzanilla sherry from a family-owned bodega has a savory yeast-flor character, with hints of citrus rind. One taste will transport you right to the seaside in Sanlucar de Barrameda. Fernando de Castilla ($13 for 375 ml.) Boutique producer Fernando de Castilla specializes in top-quality, unblended, unmodified sherries, among them this beautiful, almond-and-fresh-bread-scented, brightly tart bottling. Bodegas Baron Xixarito Manzanilla Pasada en Rama ($28) Super savory and salty, with a note of fresh leather, yet gentle on the palate, this is a thrillingly distinctive sherry. Manzanilla pasadas are aged for an extended period of time, around a decade for this wine. For more Food & Wine news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Food & Wine. Easter decorations receive a new coating of snow in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 30, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News The National Weather Service on Thursday issued a winter storm warning for the northern and south halves of the Wasatch Mountains, elevating areas within the range from a winter weather advisory that was previously issued ahead of a storm system that arrived in the state Wednesday. The warning states that additional snow accumulations of 12 to 18 inches are possible within the mountain range between Thursday morning and Friday night. The upper Cottonwood canyons may end up with additional totals exceeding 2 feet of snow. "Travel could be very difficult (Thursday night) through Friday morning. Traction restrictions may be enacted (and) some road closures are possible due to avalanche mitigation," the warning says. "The Friday morning commute will be impacted, including I-80 through Parleys Canyon." Many of Utah's other mountainous areas remain in the original winter weather advisory, though the agency extended that out to the Wasatch Front and Tooele valleys on Thursday, too. Some snow has already fallen in some valley areas. The advisory states that an additional 1 to 4 inches of snow are possible in the valley floors Thursday night through Friday morning, while benches may end up with an additional 3 to 7 inches. Laura Seitz, Deseret News The storm system has already delivered slightly more than what was expected. Alta, Brighton, Park City Mountain, Snowbird and Solitude resorts all reported close to or more than 1 foot of snow by 6 a.m. Thursday. Meanwhile, close to a -inch of rain fell at Salt Lake City International Airport by the end of Wednesday. Brigham City and Ogden each ended up with about three-quarters of an inch of precipitation as well, said KSL meteorologist Matt Johnson, adding that many areas throughout the state also got soaked Wednesday night. There were still some lingering showers in the state Thursday morning. Johnson adds that many parts of the state will receive a mixture of rain and snow Thursday afternoon, too. "(There are) rain and snow showers north to south all across the I-15 corridor, from Logan all the way to St. George," he said. Story continues The valley advisory is in relation to another wrinkle in the storm pattern that primarily impacts northern Utah Thursday night through Friday morning. There's a low-pressure system coming in from the north that brings the valley snow with it. Johnson said the pattern may produce some lake-effect snow, which could boost snow totals. "Then we begin to break things up here and it becomes a little bit more showery (Friday) afternoon but the big concern is for (Friday) morning's commute. We're watching it carefully," he said, adding that the system clears out late Friday. Utah's forecast calls for a mild and dry weekend. High temperatures are expected to be in the 70s in St. George and in the 50s along the Wasatch Front on Saturday and Sunday. The next storm system rolls in after that. Full seven-day forecasts for areas across Utah can be found online, at the KSL Weather Center. A 3-2 majority of the South Carolina Supreme Court on Wednesday voided a secret judges order that allowed a convicted killer to be released from prison 16 years early and ordered that Jeroid Price be arrested and returned to prison. The decision was confirmed by Attorney General Alan Wilson and 1st Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe, who as an assistant Richland County solicitor in 2003 convicted Price, 38, of a Columbia nightclub murder. The courts decision was made only hours after justices heard arguments from Wilson and Prices attorney Todd Rutherford, who also serves in the South Carolina House. In the majority were justices John Kittredge, John Cannon Few and new Justice Garrison Hill. Dissenting were Chief Justice Donald Beatty and Associate Justice George Buck James. Were pleased the Court heard our request with such urgency and agreed that Jeroid Prices release was unlawful and that he should be remanded back to the Department of Corrections immediately, Wilson said in a statement. Secret orders and backroom deals have no place in our justice system. I hope this sends a clear message to the people of South Carolina: our procedures matter and no one is above the law. Rutherford was not immediately available for comment. At Wednesdays hearing, justices appeared frustrated over whether they had jurisdiction to overturn the order, which one justice called a phantom order and another, an underground order. Prices whereabouts are currently unknown. Since he was released from prison in mid-March, he had not been under any kind of supervision or orders to report to law enforcement. Price, convicted of murder in 2003 of Carl Smalls 2002 shooting death, was released from a New Mexico prison on March 15 despite only serving 19 years of a 35-year prison sentence. His release was largely unknown to the public until last week, when Pascoe told media of Prices early release and the secret order signed by now-retired Judge Casey Manning that allowed him out. Story continues The case has since sparked widespread controversy and outrage, particularly after the victims family said they were only notified the day of Prices release on March 15 and were not given an opportunity to speak against his release in a courtroom. State law requires that victims be given an opportunity to attend a public hearing about a prisoners release. Prices release has raised questions about the cozy nonpublic relationships of lawyers to solicitors and judges and about lawyer-legislators who vet and elect judges that they sometimes practice in front of. Rutherford had urged the justices Wednesday to uphold the release of Price, saying hell be a target and his life will be in danger if returned to prison. Price was released because he provided substantial assistance to law enforcement that saved lives, Rutherford told the justices. Although the dispute over Prices release was originally scheduled to go before a state court judge last week, Wilson raised legal objections to the states highest court, which agreed to unseal the judge order. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. TORONTO, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Hospital Professionals represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO) will be holding rallies on Thursday, April 27 to speak out against the threat that Bill 60 poses to the regulation of their professions and the safe delivery of healthcare services. OPSEU Logo (CNW Group/Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO)) Local leaders will be present and available for media comment. Ajax Time: 12:00 1:00 p.m. Location: Lakeridge Health Ajax Pickering Hospital, 580 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax Media contact: Leanne Weatherill, OPSEU/SEFPO L. 348 President, 905-213-5772, leannedw@hotmail.com Barrie Time: 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Location: Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, 201 Georgian Drive, Barrie Media contact: Liz Watts, OPSEU/SEFPO L. 346 President, 705-794-6702, opseu346pres@hotmail.com Kingston Time: 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Location: Kingston General Hospital, 76 Stuart St., Kingston Media contact: Erica Benn, OPSEU/SEFPO L. 4106 President, 613-888-5754, ericabenn72@gmail.com Kitchener Time: 11:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Location: Grand River Hospital, 835 King St. W., Kitchener Media contacts: Dan Hahn, OPSEU/SEFPO L. 239 Vice-President, 519-616-0090, danhahn31@gmail.com Judith Kaye Freeman, OPSEU/SEFPO L. 236 President, 519-998-3759, jkayefreeman@gmail.com London Victoria Hospital Time: 11 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Location: Victoria Hospital, 800 Commissioners Rd. E., London Media contact: Steve McCaw, OPSEU/SEFPO L. 106 President, 519-709-6634, mccaw.steve@yahoo.com London University Hospital Time: 11 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Location: University Hospital, 339 Windermere Rd., London Media contact: Steve McCaw, OPSEU/SEFPO L. 106 President, 519-709-6634, mccaw.steve@yahoo.com London St. Joseph's Hospital Time: 11 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Location: 268 Grosvenor St., London Media contact: Steve McCaw, OPSEU/SEFPO L. 106 President, 519-709-6634, mccaw.steve@yahoo.com Oshawa Time: 12:00 1:00 p.m. Location: Lakeridge Health Oshawa, 1 Hospital Ct, Oshawa Media contact: Leanne Weatherill, OPSEU/SEFPO L. 348 President, 905-213-5772, leannedw@hotmail.com Story continues Ottawa Time: 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Location: The Ottawa Hospital, 501 Symth Rd., Ottawa Media contact: Melissa Coenraad, OPSEU/SEFPO Region 4 Vice-President, 613-218-7323, melissacoenraad@gmail.com Peterborough Time: 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Location: Peterborough Regional Health Centre, 1 Hospital Drive, Peterborough Media contacts: Karen Seymour, OPSEU/SEFPO L. 373 Acting President, 705-740-3666, keseymour@hotmail.com Shelley Hermer, OPSEU/SEFPO L. 373 Vice-President, 705-772-6987, root.hermer@gmail.com Sarnia Time: 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Location: Bluewater Health Sarnia, 89 Norman St., Sarnia Media contact: Philip Hodgetts, OPSEU/SEFPO L. 145 Executive member, 519-331-1386, philipghodgetts@gmail.com Toronto Time: 12:00 1:00 p.m. Location: Baycrest Health Sciences, 3560 Bathurst St., North York Media contact: Iris Weinberg, OPSEU/SEFPO L. 583 Vice-President, 647-809-7690, daniris64@hotmail.com Thunder Bay Time: 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Location: Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre, 980 Oliver Rd., Thunder Bay Media contact: Gail Kelly, OPSEU/SEFPO L. 715 President, 807-632-2030, kellygailkelly@yahoo.ca Quick facts: In February 2022, the Ontario Conservative government introduced Bill 60, Your Health Act, under the guise of relieving strain in public hospitals and reducing wait times. The Bill will allow more private clinics to open, without limit, and conduct OHIP-covered surgeries and diagnostic services. This announcement comes as public hospital operating rooms cannot operate at full capacity due to a lack of staff and funding. Hospital professionals and their unions have adamantly spoken out against Bill 60. Schedule 2 of Bill 60 has serious consequences for the safe delivery of healthcare services. It will give the government the power to deregulate some health professions by making changes to the definitions of Medical Laboratory Technologists, Medical Radiation Technologists, Registered Respiratory Therapists, Physicians, Registered Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses. Bill 60 poses a further threat to public hospitals budgets because of 'cream-skimming' when for-profit clinics the easiest, fastest and most lucrative procedures and leave the most difficult, risky and expensive ones for the public system. Ontario's underfunded public hospitals rely on these procedures to offset the costs of more difficult ones. Bill 60 will not only privatize surgical and diagnostic services; it is going to pull even more funding and staff away from public hospitals, making the healthcare crisis worse. Ontario competes for last place among the provinces when it comes to healthcare funding per capita. In terms of hospital staffing, bringing Ontario from dead last to the Canadian average would cost $2 billion. Last fall, Ontario's Financial Accountability Office (FAO) reported that healthcare spending was nearly $2 billion ($1.8 billion) less than what was originally earmarked. SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO) Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/26/c5836.html WASHINGTON Federal authorities announced Tuesday $629 million in criminal fines and $508 million in a civil settlement with a subsidiary of British American Tobacco for selling products to North Korea for years despite sanctions against the transactions. The complex scheme featured the company selling tobacco products through its Singapore subsidiary to North Korean companies in China, to avoid detection. The transactions provided North Korea with tobacco to produce counterfeit cigarettes for sale at home and aboard, officials said. The profits flowed back to the North Korean government and its military, which have been sanctioned by the international community to deter the development of nuclear weapons. This is the single largest North Korean sanctions penalty in the history of the Department of Justice, Matthew Olsen, head of the departments national security division. Sanctions and export controls are among the most powerful weapons in our arsenal." Here is what we know about the case: U.S. Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, of the Justice Departments National Security Division, speaks during a press conference at the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida in Miami, Florida, on Feb. 14, 2023. What were the charges? The Justice Department agreed to defer prosecution of British American Tobacco, but its subsidiary, BAT Marketing Singapore, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to violate sanctions for its egregious conduct, Olsen said. British American Tobacco had announced in 2007 it halted all sales to North Korea, Olsen said. But it continued to sell tobacco to North Korea from 2007 to 2017, he said. The profits from this scheme are staggering, and a substantial portion of them are believed to flow back to the North Korean government and its military, said Matthew Graves, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. The Treasury Department also imposed a $508 million civil settlement with British American Tobacco for violating sanctions. Its not just banks that need to comply with sanctions, its all businesses including foreign companies that seek to avail themselves of the U.S. banking system, Brian Nelson, undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence. If you try to circumvent our sanctions, there will be serious consequences. Story continues Estimated range of North Korea's missiles ballistic missiles. Three individuals charged with similar violations Three individuals were charged in a similar, separate scheme to avoid detection of the illegal transactions from banks from 2009 to 2017. North Korean banker Sim Hyon-Sop, 39, and two Chinese nationals, Qin Guoming, 60, and Han Linlin, 41, were charged with using multiple front companies to buy tobacco products for North Korea while laundering U.S. dollars for the shipments, according to Jung Pak, State Department deputy special representative for North Korea. The State Department offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest and or conviction of Sim and $500,000 each for information about Guoming and Linlin, Pak said. Place settings and decorations adorn the tables as first lady Jill Biden hosts a preview of the State Dinner being held to honor South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol on April 24, 2023. North Korean announcement comes day before South Korea state dinner The Justice Department announcement came at a time of heightened tension with North Korea, which has been testing rockets that threaten U.S. allies such as Japan. The announcement also came the day before a state dinner with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon is also scheduled to address Congress on Thursday. A diplomatic snafu came after leaked intelligence indicated top advisers to Yoon were concerned ammunition South Korea agreed to sell the U.S. to refill its stockpiles could wind up in Ukraine. The State Department is abuzz with excitement about President Joe Bidens second state visit, but Pak said the criminal cases were announced when they were completed. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: British American Tobacco fined for selling to North Korea Photo illustration by Sam Whitney for Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images, Alexey Niklsky/AFP via Getty Images Yahoo News has obtained confidential strategy documents drawn up by the Kremlin that reveal Russias ambitious plans to exert its influence in the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Formerly annexed states of the Soviet Union, all three are now proud NATO and EU members with governments fiercely critical of Russias foreign policy. Among other things, the documents show Moscows intention to thwart the construction of NATO military bases, weaken the local democratic governments, expand Russian cultural and linguistic influence and bolster pro-Kremlin political organizations. But in a running theme throughout the documents, which were drafted in 2021, Russias subsequent invasion of Ukraine has undermined almost every aspect of the plans. Estonia, our allies and partners have long been aware of Russias interest to use hybrid tactics to pursue their goals and try to assert their influence in other countries, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas told Yahoo News. Its Russias classic playbook many of their tactics are taken straight from the KGB. We know our neighbor, she continued. Our job is to continuously share our knowledge of Russias actions, build resilience and stand against Russias direct and indirect attempts of influence. We have had to bolster our defenses to stand up against any threat, including hybrid threats. And its also crucial to discuss these matters publicly. Ingrida Simonyte, the Lithuanian prime minister, similarly told Yahoo News after reading the Russian plan for her country that it was all something you would usually suspect. Latvia has been facing Russias desire to strengthen and expand its influence in neighboring countries since the restoration of independence, said Krisjanis Karins, the Latvian prime minister. Latvia maintains a realistic view of Russia's foreign policy and its initiatives. At the international level, Latvia actively advocates for and promotes Russias isolation. Story continues The documents were drafted by the Russian Presidential Administrations Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation, which formulated similar plans, previously revealed by Yahoo News, for the creeping annexation of Belarus and the toppling of Moldovas pro-Western government. Despite its benign name, the Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation is staffed by Russian intelligence officers from the three main spy services, the FSB, SVR and GRU, respectively representing the domestic, foreign and military agencies. The directorates real agenda is bringing nations back into Russias sphere of influence. Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, on April 19. (Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images) Yahoo News obtained these documents together with its consortium partners Delfi Estonia, Swedens Expressen, London-based Dossier Center, Latvias Re:Baltica, Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT, Suddeutsche Zeitung, German radio networks WDR and NDR, the Kyiv Independent, Polands FrontStory and Central European media outlet VSquare. With populations between 1 million and 3 million, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia are all small countries dwarfed by Russia but strategically located on the easternmost edge of both NATO and the EU. Annexed by Moscow as part of a deal between Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin, the three now-liberal democracies restored their independence when the Soviet empire collapsed. Their alliance with the West is a source of deep annoyance to Vladimir Putins regime, especially because there are hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians living inside their borders. Like the Belarus and Moldova documents, Russias plans for the Baltic countries are broken up into three chapters: political, military, military-technical and security-related objectives; trade and economic; and humanitarian or society-related goals. All chapters are subdivided into three distinct time frames: the short term (by 2022), the medium term (2025) and the long term (2030). Each country in the latest Kremlin documents is addressed in two separate texts. The first lists the strategic interests of the Russian Federation in different areas and at different periods. The second text outlines the risks that lie in Russias path. A European intelligence source described the Russian Presidential Administration as a kind of think tank that, in addition to drafting Russian foreign policy prescriptions, also decides on the conduct of disinformation campaigns ways to weaken preexisting ties between and among allies. The Baltic papers are not about gaining influence in the respective countries, the source told Yahoo News, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Theyre rather a containment policy to prevent Russian influence from dwindling any further. Few in the Kremlin, the source added, really think the Baltic states can be brought back into the Russian fold. A more realistic plan would be sowing internal opposition to keep them from slipping more completely into the Western one. A different European intelligence official, who is aware of the documents, said it was very unlikely that the authors were aware of the forthcoming invasion of Ukraine, given how remote the prospects for success of their schemes now look in hindsight. Indeed, Europe is far more united against Russian influence than it was before the attack on Ukraine. All three Baltic states have poured hundreds of millions of dollars of military aid into Ukraine, making them per capita the three largest contributors to Ukraines defense, whose struggle they see as a bulwark against the Kremlins designs for their own countries. Estonia alone has spent $440 million on military assistance for the embattled nation, more than 1% of its gross domestic product, and, as Yahoo News first reported, is transferring its entire inventory of 24 FH70 towed howitzers to Kyiv. Destroyed buildings in the Donetsk region of Ukraine in January. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Russias plans to gain leverage over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania remind me why their NATO accession was such a good idea, Dan Fried, the former U.S. assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, told Yahoo News. Without Baltic NATO membership, Russia would have invaded by now. With Baltic NATO membership, the Russians are reduced to cheap political intrigue. Though each Baltic nation is distinct, there are commonalities in Russias proposed approaches to all three. In the stated humanitarian sphere, the promotion of Russian culture and the preservation of Russian-language education are paramount. Estonia is home to about 300,000 ethnic Russians, about 24% of the population. Latvia is home to around 471,000, roughly 25% of its population. Lithuania, the most populous of the Baltics, with 2.8 million people, is also host to the smallest ethnic Russian diaspora: 140,000, a mere 5%. Moscow has for years routinely criticized all three Baltic states for their reluctance to acknowledge Russian as a state language and for allegedly discriminating against ethnic Russians. Estonia and Latvia have both recently adopted language reforms that will gradually bar kindergartens and schools from teaching in Russian. At the same time, both countries have kept the door open for extensive opt-in Russian language and culture classes. To counter such efforts, Russias Estonia strategy directly calls for the propaganda of Russian culture, including the cultivation of children and the training of talented Russian-speaking youth in Russian universities. Analysts and intelligence officials have long argued that language and culture are integral to the Kremlins compatriots policy, by which Moscow claims for itself the role of patron of the worlds ethnic Russians and Russian speakers, and which it believes it has the right to defend by military means. Moscows coercive form of cultural outreach is prosecuted by a host of Russian government agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its culturally oriented subsidiaries Rossotrudnichestvo and the Russkiy Mir (Russian World) Foundation, both of which previously had offices throughout Europe but now face EU and NATO sanctions. A medium-term goal for Latvia is the opening of a school at the Russian foreign mission in Riga as a potential center for the implementation of a set of measures to maintain and strengthen the position of the Russian language, literature, culture and education in Latvia. Although it sounds innocuous, such a school could easily act as a clearinghouse for the recruitment of Russian spies and agents of influence, according to Latvias Constitution Protection Bureau (SAB), the foreign and counterintelligence service. SAB sent a written statement to Yahoo News after reviewing the Latvia strategy document, noting that Russias intelligence services play an outsize role in the country. This includes obtaining intelligence information and conducting research on the possibilities of influence, working with agents of influence, including providing financing to various individuals and groups in Europe to use as a lobby for Russian interests, the statement read. The Kremlins interest lobby is often carried out through economic interests and businessmen whose activities are related to Russia. A mural depicting Putin decorates a building adjacent to the Russian Embassy in Riga, Latvia, in February. (Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Another explicit aim of the Russian documents is to prevent the establishment of NATO military bases in Latvia and Lithuania. National air and army installations in the Baltic countries host troops and units from NATO allies on a rotating basis. But since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, the alliances footprint has only grown in the Baltics. The number of allied troops in Estonia alone is already near 2,000, and the U.S. sent an infantry company equipped with High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to Estonia just before last Christmas. The next goal in the documents is the creation of the conditions for weakening the influence of the Western countries in the military-political, trade-economic and humanitarian spheres and counteracting the attempts of anti-Russian Estonian political forces to falsify history. Falsifying history, in this context, refers to Estonias memorialization of its loss of independence in 1940 following the Soviet annexation; its heroizing of forest brothers, or anti-Soviet partisans, during the long years of occupation; and its celebration of reclaimed independence upon the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991. These themes, integral to Estonias modern national identity, are falsely rebranded by the strategy document as the glorification of Nazism. Part and parcel of that alleged glorification is Estonias decision to remove or relocate Soviet-era World War II monuments. In 2007, a decision to move the so-called Bronze Soldier from its perch at an intersection in central Tallinn to an Estonian military cemetery caused riots by ethnic Russians, perhaps encouraged from abroad. Then it led to a massive cyberattack against the country, which temporarily crippled Estonias expansive digital commerce and banking sectors. One unnamed Estonian official told the BBC in 2017 that the attacks, traced to Russian IP addresses, were orchestrated by the Kremlin, and malicious gangs then seized the opportunity to join in and do their own bit to attack Estonia. In a symbol of how these three small countries, numerically outmatched by Russias military, have adapted to inhabiting a hostile piece of geography, Estonia has since grown into a cybersecurity powerhouse, including in eastern Ukraine. Its foreign intelligence service, Valisluureamet, is considered to be one of the premier collectors of signals intelligence, or communications intercepts, in NATO. Moreover, the bulk of Estonian society has only grown more inhospitable to Russian influence operations and espionage since the invasion of Ukraine last February. Since then the EU has expelled more than 600 Russian diplomatic staff, 36 of them from Estonia alone, a remarkable proportion given the countrys small population of just 1.3 million. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have also since barred the entry of Russian citizens, including those fleeing conscription following Putins mass mobilization order in September, a decision criticized by other EU members. A big motive for this controversial decision, hinted Mikk Marran, the recently retired head of Valisluureamet, wasnt just showing solidarity with Ukraine but safeguarding Estonian national security. Hosting a few hundred thousand military-aged men, aged 18 to 35 Im not so sure thats a good idea for any country so close to Russia, Marran said in a wide-ranging interview last November. Soldiers from the Royal Welsh Battlegroup participate in maneuvers during a NATO exercise on the Estonian-Latvian border in 2022. (Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images) Yahoo News showed the document to Aleksander Toots, the deputy director general of the Estonian Internal Security Service. Naturally, we have to pay serious attention to such plans, he said. But we also need to understand which point in time the documents originate from. Maybe the set strategic goals have already become obsolete because of changed circumstances. If you see that the plans are being implemented, you need to do everything you can to put brakes on it. One of the most dated chapters in all the Baltic documents concerns Russias plans to influence local economies, trade and business. A medium-term goal is increasing Russian exports and bilateral trade and foreign direct investment. This plan was clearly based on the relationships that were burned by Moscows war of aggression against Ukraine. They want to increase exports to Estonia by 2022, Toots said, but last summer Russia itself decided to close the Narva-Ivangorod bridge to trucks in retaliation for Estonias support for Ukraine, referring to the border crossing in Estonias northeast. How can you increase exports if you close the main channel? Stoking pro-Russian sentiment in Estonian society and within the political and military elites is listed as an ever-present goal throughout all three periods. So is limiting the influence of nationalist elements and creating new public associations and nongovernmental organizations that promote cooperation with Russia. Its the same thing the Russians have been doing for 30 years, Toomas Henrik Ilves, the former president of Estonia, told Yahoo News after reviewing the strategy documents. What strikes me is the same out-of-touch understanding of the reality of Estonia evinced already with the invasion of Ukraine. They just dont understand whats happening in our country, or in Latvia and Lithuania, for that matter. Per the documents, a short-term goal for Estonia is the formation of new public structures, foundations, NGOs and NGOs advocating cooperation with the Russian Federation. Another short-term goal is working with Estonian businessmen to explain the Russian Federations readiness to open up the Russian market to them, provided that Tallinn changes its foreign policy to be more pro-Moscow. This is a more practical goal than many of the others in the documents, according to experts. Entrepreneurs are the most easily vulnerable and influenceable group, said Toots. Once a politician runs out of votes and power, he has nothing. But as long as businessmen have money, they will try to influence politics in their own interests. One of the most bizarre objectives stated in the Estonia strategy is the counteraction of Estonias alleged efforts to foster separatist sentiments in the Russian regions [and] to create such sentiments among representatives of Finno-Ugric peoples living in Russia. Estonians, along with Finns and Hungarians, originate from the Finno-Ugric tribes, descendants of ancient inhabitants of Europe. A protest in Vilnius, Lithuania, against the Russian attack on Ukraine in 2022. (Paulius Peleckis/Getty Images) But the notion that Tallinn is trying to foment a separatist movement in its next-door neighbor reeks of projection, according to one senior Estonian intelligence official. This is the stuff of Russian fantasy. It has zero correspondence to reality, but sounds like something theyd say because its exactly something theyd do and indeed have done in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine three countries where Moscow has fostered independence movements among Russian-speaking minorities. The strategy document for Lithuania, the most populous Baltic country, contains the most specific military requirements for Russia, starting with the short-term project of stopping the build-up of the military presence of the United States and other NATO member countries on Lithuanian territory. A medium-term follow-on is preventing the deployment of medium-range air defense/missile defense systems integrated into a single NATO air defense system and reducing the number and scope of NATOs operational and combat training activities in Lithuania. But a large swath of that has already happened. A NATO multinational battalion battle group is based in Rukla, Lithuania, in the central county of Kaunas. In the first two years of Enhanced Forward Presence, the Lithuanian Armed Forces state, roughly 8 thousand allied soldiers from nine NATO allies have served in the unit on a rotational basis. A NATO summit in Vilnius is scheduled for July, and a big item on the agenda will be integrated air defenses along the alliances eastern flank, something Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has called for. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on March 14. (Frederick Florin/AFP via Getty Images) Another Kremlin preoccupation with Latvia is ensuring the necessary protection of Russian assets including in terms of possible court decisions on freezing or arresting the property of the state or private companies. Latvia has long been a notorious hub for Russian money laundering, with banks being the gateway for billions of dollars in Russian wealth entering the European Union. Yet this access to Western markets is now also closed thanks to the Latvian authorities' shuttering of the dirty banks and, more recently as well, the Western sanctions due to the war. The current objectives in Latvia, said the Latvian intelligence service SAB, are to divide the Latvian society as much as possible, promote tension and dissatisfaction with the state authorities, create contradictions among Western countries to make unified decision-making difficult. According to the documents focusing on potential risks Russia envisions in pursuing its objectives in the Baltic countries, the increased militarization of NATO, sanctions, resurgent Nazism, and suppression of Russian language, culture and education in the Baltic states are listed. The first two are now accomplished facts, again thanks to Russias war on Ukraine. Demonstrators hold a sign showing the Ukrainian flag with text reading in Russian "Putin leave Ukraine" and with Putin's face depicted as Hitler during a protest in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 2022. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images) As a whole, the Kremlins designs on the Baltics reflect time-tested Soviet tactics, Marius Laurinavicius, a Lithuanian expert on international affairs, told Yahoo News. This is the old KGB method: We should weaken our enemies. And the best way to weaken them is from inside, not from outside. What they are good at is dividing societies, creating problems, creating conflicts. And if the Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation sounds misguided in its ambitions for the Baltics, that may be because it needs to justify its existence to the higher-ups in the Kremlin. Toots, the deputy director of Estonias intelligence service, thinks the plans feature exactly the same kind of delusional thinking and hubris, predicated on poor intelligence and false premises, that led Russia to believe it could quickly sack Kyiv over a year ago. Knowing how the Russian regime operates, he said, I can say that the employees there have a habit of lying to their bosses because the bosses dont like to receive unvarnished accounts of the real situation. If you provide them with embellished stories, you will live in an illusion. The Russian system is built on everyone bluffing. Three Michigan companies and 11 owners or employees have been charged with violating the federal Clean Air Act for allegedly helping disable pollution controls on diesel tractor-trailer truck emissions systems, the U.S. Attorney's Office and Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday. Mark Totten, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan, called the case "one of the largest of its kind ever charged in the United States." Corporate defendants include Diesel Freak LLC of Gaylord and Accurate Truck Service LLC and Griffin Transportation Inc., both of Grand Rapids. Individuals charged include: Ryan Lalone, 47, of Gaylord, Diesel Freak owner. Wade Lalone, 44, of Gaylord, Diesel Freak employee. Dustin Rhine, 32, of Indian River, Diesel Freak employee. James Sisson, 42, of Mount Pleasant, Diesel Freak employee. Douglas Larsen, 51, of Wayland, Accurate Truck Service co-owner. Craig Scholten, 58, of Byron Center, Accurate Truck Service and Griffin Transportation co-owner. Ryan Bos, 45, of Grandville, Accurate Truck Service and Griffin Transportation co-owner. Robert Swainston, 50, of Hopkins, Accurate Truck Service employee. Randy Clelland, 33, of Grand Rapids, Accurate Truck Service employee. Scott DeKock, 45, of Hudsonville, former owner of a shipping company. Glenn Hoezee, 55, of Howard City, former employee of DeKock's shipping company. Why companies would alter diesel emission controls Prosecutors allege that between 2012 and 2018, Accurate Truck Service removed or altered the hardware components of vehicles with heavy-duty diesel engines designed to control vehicle emissions. Diesel Freak is alleged to have in turn reprogrammed engine computers of the vehicles so that they could continue to operate after the emissions-controlling hardware was removed or altered. Reasons for a company to tamper with emissions controls can include to avoid repair and maintenance costs associated with the emissions controls; or to improve horsepower, torque or fuel efficiency of the diesel engines. Story continues More: As mystery of Escanaba paper mill's blastomycosis outbreak deepens, its victims try to heal More: Attorney general: Macomb developer illegally filled 18+ acres of wetlands Diesel Freak is alleged to have deleted at least 362 emission systems during the period examined by investigators. Accurate Truck Service had at least 83 deletions; Griffin Transportation at least 12 and DeKock's former company at least four deletions, prosecutors said. "This criminal scheme has released or will release an enormous amount of pollutants into the air, many of which are dangerous to human health," including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, Totten said. The three companies and all defendants except Rhine and Sisson have signed agreements indicating their intent to plead guilty to a felony, Totten said. Accurate Truck Service and Griffin Transportation have agreed to pay a combined $1 million fine. Diesel Freak has agreed to pay a $750,000 fine, subject to defense arguments regarding inability to pay, prosecutors said. Rhine and Sisson were indicted by a federal grand jury. Arraignments and plea hearings will be scheduled by the U.S. District Court. Scheme used Italian software to circumvent emissions systems A conviction for conspiracy is subject to a prison term of up to five years and a $250,000 fine for an individual. A conviction for violating the Clean Air Act carries a potential penalty of up to two years in prison and the same fines. Messages left by the Free Press with Diesel Freak and Accurate Truck Service were not immediately returned Wednesday. Totten said Diesel Freak used software designed to circumvent emissions systems that originated out of Italy and was distributed in the U.S. by an Ohio company unnamed in the federal government's charging documents. The investigation continues. Jennifer Lynn, assistant director of operations for the EPA's Criminal Investigation Division, said environmental laws protect the water we drink, the lakes we fish and the air we breathe. They protect the planet and people, especially the most vulnerable, including children, older Americans and people with disabilities, she said. "There are some who think that these laws don't really matter, that they are useless red tape or that no one ever gets caught," Lynn said. "To those people, I hope that today makes you think twice. And if you are driving a deleted vehicle now is the time to get it fixed." Contact Keith Matheny: kmatheny@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 3 Michigan companies charged with disabling semi emissions controls WASHINGTON The House on Wednesday passed a Republican debt ceiling plan that includes $4.5 trillion in cuts and raises the debt ceiling until May 2024, but Democrats say it won't ward off a potential government default this summer. Just before the evening vote, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused Republicans of "playing with fire" by not raising a clean debt ceiling. They raised the debt ceiling three times during the Trump administration, she said, but now they are using the full faith and credit of the U.S. to try and force spending cuts Democrats will not accept. The passage sets the stage for a debt ceiling showdown between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who have disputed government spending levels and have not agreed on how to raise the debt ceiling. The bill passed by a vote of 217-215. Meanwhile, lawmakers are facing a time crunch to avoid default. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Congress the U.S. could default on its debt as soon as June 5. Three financial firms recently estimated early June as well. Between now and then, the House has 15 days in session. Biden previously said he will refuse to negotiate with Republicans over their proposal, claiming the plan would hurt "hard-working" people the most. McCarthy pointed the finger at Biden, claiming the president is "ignoring" the debt crisis. Smart analysis delivered to your inbox: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter What's in the bill?: McCarthy, GOP debt limit plan proposes $4.5 trillion in cuts, eliminates student loan forgiveness 'Playing with American lives': House GOP leaders blast Biden before debt limit vote What's in the GOP plan? Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy speaks during an event at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Monday, April 17, 2023. The GOP's debt ceiling plan, dubbed the "Limit, Save, Grow Act," includes $4.5 trillion in cuts to government spending and returns discretionary spending to fiscal year 2022 levels. Story continues This includes: Rescinding the funding for 87,000 IRS agents Reallocating unspent COVID-19 relief money Eliminating Biden's student loan forgiveness plan Ending tax credits for companies that invest in green energy Raising the age limit to 56 from 50 on work requirements to receive federal food aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP Blocking the Biden administration from limiting consumer access to gas stoves or ovens These cuts are tied to a $1.5 trillion increase of the debt ceiling until May 2024. What happens if the US hits the debt ceiling? Here's what to expect if we reach debt limit. Hit to education: McCarthy budget would slash 60,000 teachers, 'undermine education,' Biden administration says White House criticizes Republican plan President Joe Biden is scheduled to formally kick off his 2024 campaign on April 25, 2023. The White House rebuked the Republicans' plan and said the president would veto the bill if it came to his desk. Biden told McCarthy he would not negotiate on the debt ceiling, arguing it should be raised by Congress without parameters. This has happened under former presidents, including Donald Trump. "It's not about fiscal discipline," Biden said. "It's about cutting benefits for folks that they don't seem to care much about. It's about finding ways to squeeze out more of America's middle class." The president proposed his own $6.9 trillion budget in March that included raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans and corporations and expanding social safety net services. It is an 8% increase over this year's budget. Biden says McCarthy risking default on national debt: 'What are MAGA Republicans doing in Congress?' What happens next? President Joe Biden talks with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., on the House steps as they leave after attending an annual St. Patrick's Day luncheon gathering at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, March 17, 2023. The bill's odds of passing in the Senate, where Democrats have the majority, are low. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer described it as "dead on arrival," as Senate Democrats won't agree to the GOP spending cuts. If the federal government defaults on its payments this summer, the United States could see a recession, rise in unemployment or stock market crash, experts told USA TODAY. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: House debt limit vote: GOP plan passes with $4.5 trillion in cuts Democrats in the state Legislature overcame united GOP opposition to pass a so-called "red flag" gun law. But they now face the prospect that some law enforcement officials might refuse to comply with court orders to temporarily remove guns from those a judge determines pose an imminent threat to themselves or others. At least one law enforcement official Livingston County Sheriff Michael Murphy vowed not to enforce the legislation in interviews with local TV stations, making a preemptive commitment to defy an extreme risk protection order issued by a court under the proposed law. In response to a Free Press interview request, Murphy shared a link to the Livingston County Sheriff's Facebook page that features a video of him calling red flag laws unconstitutional and casting doubt on their ability to curb gun violence. Livingston County Sheriff Michael Murphy, left, talks to Tom Leonard, Republican candidate for Attorney General, at the Sheriff's Office in Howell, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018. More: Livingston officials, sheriff say they won't enforce 'unconstitutional' gun laws Marquette County Sheriff Gregory Zyburt said he has never experienced a scenario where a law enforcement agency selectively chooses which laws to enforce. "I get a lot of Second Amendment people coming in and (asking me) to sign a piece of paper saying I will never enforce any new laws," Zyburt said. "If (it's) the law, then I have to enforce it." The head of the Michigan Sheriffs' Association a group that expressed support for the red flag legislation declined to comment on Murphy's statements. A red flag law is not yet in place, so it remains to be seen whether a sheriff will ignore it, association executive director Matt Saxton said. Matt Saxton, former sheriff of Calhoun County and now executive director of the Michigan Sheriffs' Association, said the alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has law enforcement officials concerned. Resistance to Democrats' gun safety push is already bubbling up at the local level. County boards in more than 50 Michigan counties have adopted resolutions declaring themselves Second Amendment "sanctuary" counties committed to resisting gun safety legislation, according to the Holland Sentinel. Grand Traverse County Sheriff Tom Bensley called the resolution adopted in his county "just a piece of paper" that does not have any legally binding effect. Story continues "They don't direct the sheriff, what he does or what he doesn't do," said Bensley, who added he wouldn't comment specifically on the red flag bill until it was signed into law. Law enforcement officers in states with red flag laws in place have made declarations vowing not to enforce them, but the communities they serve have still seen extreme risk protection orders granted, according to April Zeoli, director of the policy core for the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention at the University of Michigan. "I've not heard that the sheriffs aren't actually enforcing them," she said. More: Michigan lawmakers send 'red flag' gun legislation to Whitmer More: Judge denies request to block Michigan's new gun safety laws State Rep. Kelly Breen, D-Novi, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee and worked closely with law enforcement representatives to shape the final version of the red flag legislation, said she wants that pattern to hold in Michigan. Kelly Breen "I am really hoping that this is just a temporary gut reaction," she said of the reactions like sheriff Murphy's. But what if sheriffs in Michigan take a different tack? The Michigan State Police, which has jurisdiction throughout the state, could enforce the proposed red flag law, according to the state attorney general's office. An MSP spokesperson declined to comment whether it would do so if a local law enforcement agency refused. "The MSP will enforce all state laws and orders properly made by a court, but we will not speculate on hypothetical scenarios," an MSP spokesperson said over email. Courts have discretion to identify the law enforcement agency responsible for serving an extreme risk protection order under Michigan's proposed red flag law, according to bill sponsor state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak. Sen. Mallory McMorrow But she said she fears opposition from law enforcement leaders could make lower level officers reluctant to file petitions for those orders. In states with red flag laws like the one proposed in Michigan, allowing individuals other than law enforcement to seek extreme risk protection orders, law enforcement still accounts for the vast majority of petitioners, U-M gun safety researcher Zeoli said. Clara Hendrickson fact-checks Michigan issues and politics as a corps member with Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project. Make a tax-deductible contribution to support her work at bit.ly/freepRFA. Contact her at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on Twitter @clarajanehen. Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @arpanlobo. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How Michigan's proposed red flag law would be enforced After walking for days, a refugee family arrives in Yida, South Sudan, in 2018. South Sudans president on Feb. 22, 2023, urged the countrys more than 2 million refugees to return home in his first meeting with displaced people since civil war erupted almost a decade ago. | Sam Mednick, Associated Press Imagine being forced to leave your home because of war, walking hundreds of miles to relative safety in a neighboring country, eking out a meager living to keep your family fed and then war finds you again. Talk about making a hard life harder. Thats the situation that refugees in Sudan find themselves in as heavy fighting broke out in the middle of April. It has turned the capital, Khartoum, into a ghost town. Theres no water, no power, no health care and no food. Armed men are invading homes to rob, rape and kill, as reported by The Washington Post, and those who can are fleeing for their lives. According to The New York Times, regional spokeswoman for the United Nations refugee agency, Faith Kasina, said, The humanitarian impact of this crisis is going to be almost unimaginable. The worst case scenario is unfolding right before our eyes. The humanitarian crisis includes not just the outbreak of violence and lack of basic necessities, but the displacement of people in an area rocked by violence, poverty and natural disasters. There has been war (some say genocide) in Ethiopia, starvation and fighting in South Sudan, flooding in Sudan and South Sudan and a coup in Chad. According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees data, Sudan was home to 1.14 million refugees, most of them from South Sudan, an independent country roiled by civil war since 2011. They have also hosted refugees fleeing from conflicts in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Syria. Now many of those refugees are on the move again. Related This months explosion in violence has been simmering since 2019 when Omar al-Bashir was overthrown. The former president had been indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity for murder, extermination, forced relocation, torture and rape. Women called Kandakat, named after Nubian queens, led the revolt. There was an effort to transition to a democracy, but in 2021, Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, who leads the armed forces, and Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hededti), who leads the paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces, led a military coup and took power. Story continues During the time between the coup and the conflagration that began on April 15, both sides worked to fill their war chests and woo other international powers to support them, including Russia (and the Wagner group), Egypt, Libya and the United Arab Emirates. Theyve also been engaged at least superficially in talks about power, peace and governmental structure. Jacqueline Burns, a former adviser to the U.S. special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, and a senior policy analyst at the nonprofit, nonpartisan Rand Corporation think tank, wrote about the problems with what she calls never-ending peace negotiations in the region. Armed groups and dictatorial regimes know that as long as they are participating in a peace process, international pressures will eventually often quickly ebb. If they are pressed into signing an agreement, there are typically very few effective mechanisms to hold them to it. Whats more, the time put into these peace processes which in Sudans case amounted to decades is spent by the armed groups amassing political and military power. She says that international interveners legitimize those armed groups as the only valid power brokers or voices that need to be heard. Women, in spite of leading the 2019 revolt, have been left out of the peace process almost exclusively. As Ive written previously, research by Marie OReilly, Andrea O Suilleabhain and Thania Paffenholz has already shown that when women are at the negotiating table, the peace agreement reached is 35% more likely to last at least 15 years. Desiree Nilssons research from 2012 found that when civil society groups, including womens organizations, are involved in making a peace agreement, it is 64% less likely to fail than if they are not involved. Related Further, Burns writes, if the international community truly wants to stop the continued cycle of violence and human suffering, they must stop prioritizing the armed and corrupt over those seeking real reform and representation. What should be clear, writes Jeffrey Feltman, a former U.S. special envoy to the Horn of Africa and former U.N. undersecretary general for political affairs, is that Burhan and Hemedti are not reformers and that they will never be reformed. In the meantime, more than 400 people have been killed, a lab containing biohazardous samples of measles, cholera, polio and other pathogens has been seized by one of the fighting parties and the fourth cease-fire agreement in 10 days failed to hold. The ink wasnt even dry. Holly Richardson is the editor of Utah Policy. rfubn ol;;;;;;;t.rygy Where I teach in Henderson County, I have witnessed remarkable transformations, all because of sausage biscuits, apples and chicken nuggets. In one of my first few years of teaching, a student with a reputation was assigned to my class. This student had been labeled as a problematic student. This was based on his learning difficulties combined with his disruptive behaviors. Ryan Mitchell These disruptive behaviors impacted his ability to stay in the classroom. Along with these behaviors, this student struggled to focus in class. These factors made him fall behind academically quickly and increasingly frustrated with the school environment. I knew what behaviors were occurring. I knew the academic deficit that this child was facing. But what I didnt know was why all of this was occurring. So, going into the first few days of the school year, I made it my mission to figure out what was happening with this student. It quickly became apparent that he wasnt a kid who needed extra discipline. Instead, this kid was hungry and needed food. He was one of the 75,000 North Carolina students who fell into a hunger gap. Their parents make more money than the threshold for receiving free or reduced-price meals, but they can barely afford to make ends meet and put food on the table. Now that I knew what he needed, it was time to make it happen. As many educators do, I went into my bank account. Out of my pocket, I always ensured he had a snack or meal at school. The result? The child who was once a problematic student became a model of classroom etiquette. His disruptive behaviors completely disappeared, and he was revered by staff and peers alike for his outstanding character. Now that his belly was complete, he could pay attention during class and excelled at his coursework. Not worrying about hunger allowed him to erase his academic deficits. While the success of one child is a triumph for any teacher, we have also witnessed positive changes throughout the district. Story continues On a macro level, our school district in Henderson County has also served as an informal and unintentional test case for piloting universal school breakfast in schools. In the 2021-2022 school year, all students received free breakfast and lunch as part of the federal governments COVID relief programs. As a result, students went into class with full bellies and excelled. Those funds lapsed at the start of the 2022-2023 school year, and all children were no longer eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch. From my perspective, some of the problems we had witnessed before COVID and implementing meals for all students at no cost to their families began to rear their ugly heads again. But in the winter of 2023, our school district made free breakfast a universal offering for all students, and the change was near immediate. Like that student I mentioned earlier, I saw increased focus and academic performance. This isnt a coincidence. A UNC study found schools offering no-cost breakfast and lunch are likelier to have high-performance grades and meet growth targets. Theyre also less likely to have chronic absenteeism and discipline problems. Lets do right by all kids in North Carolina. Lets remove a barrier to learning and make school meals available to all students at no cost to their families. Ryan Mitchell is a second-grade teacher at Mills River Elementary. He is the 2021 Henderson County Teacher of the Year and the 2022 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Western Region Teacher of the Year. This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Opinion: Provide lunches, breakfasts for all Henderson County students Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio awaiting a verdict on charges he conspired to violently prevent Joe Bidens presidency lashed out at the Justice Department and Democrats on Tuesday, accusing them of weaponizing government institutions and seeking to manipulate the 2024 election. Tarrio, speaking to supporters and journalists by phone from a jail in Alexandria, Va., avoided commentary on most of the specifics of his four-month trial, which heads to jury deliberations Wednesday morning. He acknowledged that speaking too pointedly about the trial might be detrimental even though the jury has been ordered to avoid media coverage of the case. But Tarrio used his appearance his first public comments since his arrest and detention 13 months ago to eagerly embrace far-right critiques of the Justice Departments pursuit of Jan. 6 perpetrators, accusing prosecutors of overcharging defendants and criminalizing pro-Trump speech. He assailed the seditious conspiracy case against him and four other Proud Boys as a part of an effort to silence figures on the right. Im the next stepping stone, Tarrio said in the call, which was broadcast to a freewheeling Twitter Space organized by the Gateway Pundit, a far-right media outlet known for promoting conspiracy theories about Jan. 6 and the government. Tarrios attorneys used their closing arguments in court Tuesday morning to lay blame for the Jan. 6 Capitol attack at the feet of Donald Trump, who they say bore the ultimate responsibility for riling up supporters and aiming them at Congress. Tarrio praised his legal team but declined to elaborate on their contention. But his lawyers claim stands at odds with many of Tarrios far-right supporters who have, with no evidence, characterized Jan. 6 as a government setup fueled by undercover agents, or the result of left-wing agitators. Tarrio also used the call to praise congressional Republicans including House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan by name for pursuing investigations about the weaponization of government. He said Jordan should call some Jan. 6 defendants to testify about their experiences. Story continues Tarrios decision to speak publicly came two weeks after he opted against taking the stand in the trial. He elaborated on that decision in Tuesdays call, saying he wanted to avoid a grilling from prosecutors about statements hes made over the years. Whats happening is, in these cross examinations, they're bringing things in from years past things from 2015, 2016, 2017 is fair game, Tarrio said. It has nothing to do with January 6th. We were afraid they were going to use old statements, muddy up the waters. Prosecutors have charged Tarrio and four allies with acting as the tip of the spear of the mob that overran the Capitol, assembling a group of hundreds of Proud Boys to form a fighting force on Jan. 6. Those men surged across police barricades and stoked the crowds anger at decisive moments in the melee. One of them Dominic Pezzola ignited the breach of the Capitol itself when he smashed a Senate window with a riot shield. Tarrio wasnt present on Jan. 6 he had been ordered to stay away from Washington due to an arrest for a separate charge two days earlier but prosecutors say he stayed in contact with other Proud Boys leaders from a hotel in Baltimore and later celebrated their role in the attack. Tarrio spoke to supporters and journalists for more than an hour Tuesday, calling into the Twitter broadcast from the cell phone of a friend, Bobby Pickles. He claimed hes treated as a greater security risk in the Alexandria jail than the Lockerbie bomber, who is housed in the same facility, and he lamented being held in his cell for 23 hours a day. Although two of Tarrios codefendants Pezzola and Zachary Rehl took the stand last week, Tarrio opted against testifying. But in Tuesdays call, he echoed the arguments defense lawyers made about the Proud Boys, describing their often violent or vulgar language in group chats as locker room banter. Its simple fun, he said. Tarrio also insisted that he never opened or saw a document titled 1776 Returns that prosecutors featured in the case. The document, sent to Tarrio by a girlfriend a week before Jan. 6, outlines a plan to storm government buildings in order to protest the election results. Defense attorneys in the case argued that there was no evidence Tarrio ever opened the document, though an FBI agent called by prosecutors noted that Tarrios Google searches at that time referenced The Winter Palace, an analogy to the Russian Revolution that was referenced in 1776 Returns. Tarrio also referred to The Winter Palace on the night of Jan. 6 in text messages with Proud Boy Jeremy Bertino. Tarrio also used the call to emphasize that he believes the jury in his case can be fair. Although many of his allies have been sharply critical of the judge in his case, Tim Kelly, Tarrio described any conflicts with him as simple disagreements over legal issues and said he respects the courts decisions. Tarrio also said he and his codefendants are in a good place. Were very positive, he said. We havent given up on each other." Republicans had planned to add to a bill an unrelated provision that would provide immunity to certain state contractors from lawsuits filed by sex abuse victims and their families. But on Wednesday morning, the bill's author, Rep. Ann Vermilion, R-Marion, decided instead to consent to a Senate version of the bill, which does not include the immunity language. Indiana lawmakers are withdrawing a plan that would have given certain state contractors immunity from most lawsuits filed by abuse victims and their families. The sudden reversal comes after revelations about sexual abuse allegations at a residential treatment center that was leading the push for the liability protections. Republicans had planned to tack the immunity provision onto an unrelated bill earlier this week after the proposal failed to advance in the Senate earlier this month. But on Wednesday morning, the lawmaker who was carrying the bill, Rep. Ann Vermilion, R-Marion, decided instead to consent to a Senate version of the bill, which does not include the immunity language. Vermilion did not immediately respond to inquiries from IndyStar about the decision. IndyStar investigation: After sexual abuse claims, politically connected treatment center seeks immunity The immunity proposal stoked outrage among child advocates, trial attorneys and some lawmakers after an IndyStar investigation on Tuesday revealed that the faith-based contractor pushing for the legislation had been accused of allowing staff to sexually abuse boys in its care. Some lawmakers involved with the legislation said they were previously unaware of the abuse allegations. "I think the emphasis needs to be focused on protecting our most vulnerable in our state, and not ensuring that corporations for profit or not that are doing harm to our most vulnerable are not held accountable for their actions," said Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn, D-Fishers. A leading proponent of the immunity measure was Lifeline Youth & Family Services/Lasting Change, a politically connected state contractor based in Fort Wayne. The faith-based nonprofit is the Indiana Department of Child Services' largest contractor, raking in nearly $200 million from the state since 2017. Lifeline, which provides homebased services and runs residential treatment centers for teenage boys who have been abused or committed sex crimes, told lawmakers the immunity provision was critical to keep insurance costs in check. Story continues "We love helping these boys heal and get better," Lifeline CEO Tim Smith told lawmakers during a legislative hearing in March. "It's the only reason we do what we do." Changes to DCS: Dozens of attorneys working for Indiana DCS would lose jobs under proposed pilot program But court documents and Department of Child Services records detail a troubling history at one of Lifeline's two residential treatment centers about 30 miles west of Fort Wayne. Among the most damning is a psychologist's report listing at least a dozen staffers who were known or suspected to have sexually abused boys at Pierceton Woods Academy. Only two staffers were investigated by DCS, and only one was charged. In 2020, a Pierceton Woods resident and his father sued Lifeline, alleging a female staffer, who was married to another employee, groomed the then-16-year-old boy and other teenagers and coerced them into participating in sex acts over several months. The complaint, filed in Kosciusko County, alleged that Lifeline failed to protect young boys from abuse and, instead, covered up sexual assault allegations. Indianapolis psychologist Kristine Chapleau, who was hired by the boy's attorney as part of the lawsuit, said in her report that Pierceton Woods had a "highly sexualized" environment where female staffers talked openly about abusing the residents. A 2019 DCS investigation into the same employee found that allegations of child seduction were substantiated, meaning there was enough evidence for a "reasonable person" to believe the boy had been abused. Police and DCS investigated the same employee two years earlier, but neither the staffer nor the alleged victim cooperated. Both Lifeline and the employee denied the allegations. Curtis Smith, a spokesman for Lifeline, said Tuesday the employee no longer works for the nonprofit. He said he couldn't comment on DCS investigations, but said the nonprofit cooperated with the inquiry. Smith also said Lifeline's attorneys "put little stock" in the psychologist's report, saying it was based on "hand-picked" information and documents. Chapleau told IndyStar her report was based on sworn depositions of eight employees, Lifeline's policies and the substantiated DCS investigation. The parties in the lawsuit reached a $72,000 settlement last year. The boy's attorney, Travis McConnell, has accused Tim Smith, Lifeline's CEO, of lying to lawmakers about his client's case to keep the immunity legislation alive. Travis McConnell represented a boy in a 2020 lawsuit that alleged sexual abuse at Pierceton Woods Academy, a residential treatment center that provides care for sexually maladapted youth in Northern Indiana. Smith told lawmakers in March that the case, which he said is the only lawsuit Lifeline has faced in 55 years, was settled for "nuisance value." Lifeline's spokesman told IndyStar that Smith "stands firmly" behind that opinion. McConnell lauded the decision to remove the immunity provision Wednesday. He said he hoped lawmakers would be more cognizant of future efforts to tack on the immunity language in other bills. Actions have consequences," he said, "and the people who caused them to happen are the ones who should bear the consequences." Curtis Smith did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday about the recent legislative developments. McConnell said he believes this does not end Lifelines efforts to seek immunity, citing the nonprofits multiple attempts to do so. Lifeline initially pushed for House Bill 1282, which wouldve limited the civil liability of DCS contractors, but a Senate committee failed to advance it earlier this month. Since then, there have been efforts to add similar language to other bills, including, most recently, House Bill 1091, Vermilion's bill. The nonprofit's insurance costs skyrocketed following the lawsuit, and Tim Smith told lawmakers he'd been forced to cut in half the number of boys Lifeline's facilities take. "Premiums are going to go up when they have a claim, yes ... It's the cost of doing business," McConnell said. "To expect taxpayers to bear the burden of that, I don't believe that's fair." Contact IndyStar reporter Tony Cook at 317-444-6081 or tony.cook@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @IndyStarTony. Contact IndyStar reporter Kristine Phillips at (317) 444-3026 or at kphillips@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @bykristinep. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: After revelations of sexual abuse claims, lawmakers drop immunity plan BlueWeave Consulting and Research Pvt Ltd The in-depth research report on the global Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) market covers many country-specific markets across the five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. Europe dominates the global Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) market, with Germany likely playing a significant role in the growth of the European market. The Asia-Pacific market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to the growing health awareness among consumers in the region. New Delhi, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) market is gaining traction because of the growing awareness about the benefits of HMOs in infant nutrition, including supporting digestive health and technology advancements, such as microbial fermentation, enzymatic synthesis, and chemical synthesis, in HMO production. BlueWeave Consulting, a leading strategic consulting and market research firm, in its recent study, estimated the global Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) market size at USD 199 million in 2022. During the forecast period between 2023 and 2029, the global Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) market size is projected to grow at a robust CAGR of 22.9% reaching a value of USD 842.78 million by 2029. The development of R&D efforts and the increasing usage of HMO as a component in infant formula are two major growth factors for the global market for HMO. One of the primary factors propelling the growth of the human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) market is the accessibility of cutting-edge technologies like enzymatic trans-glycosylation, which is used to artificially synthesis the HMOs. Global Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) Market Overview Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are a group of complex carbohydrates and the third most prevalent solid substance in human milk after lipids and lactose. Mother's milk contains HMOs that are essential for the immune system and intestinal barrier development in a newborn. Some HMOs may also have an impact on how the infant's brain develops. Although there are more than 100 distinct kinds of HMOs, most moms' breast milk contains the most 2'-FL HMO (2'-fucosyllactose), which is the most common form. Story continues Sample Request @ https://www.blueweaveconsulting.com/report/human-milk-oligosaccharides-market/report-sample Global Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) Market By Application Based on application, the global Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) market is segmented into infant formula, functional food & beverages, food supplements, health ingredients, and others. The infant formula segment accounts for the highest market share. These HMO supplements shield newborns against infection. Additionally, it helps gut health maintenance, protects them from prebiotic effects, and boosts cognition. Therefore, most infant formula-making food companies add this component into their products, due to which its demand is gaining traction in the market. Please Visit the Press Release: https://www.blueweaveconsulting.com/press-release/global-human-milk-oligosaccharides-hmo-market-size-booming-more-than-4x-at-robust-cagr-of-23-during-2023-2029 Impact of COVID-19 on Global Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) Market The market for Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to panic buying for at-home consumption during the early stages of the pandemic, the demand for HMOs soared during the lockdown. Because HMOs operate as an immunity booster, their sales increased during the pandemic as a result. However, restrictions on production activities and a shortage of labor also created a huge demand and supply gap that impacted the market revenue negatively in the later period of the COVID-19 outbreak. But it is estimated that the market will overall gain new opportunities owing to the rising health consciousness among consumers. Competitive Landscape Major players operating in the global Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) market include Abbott Laboratories, FrieslandCampina Domo, DuPont Nutrition & Health, Jennewein Biotechnologie GmbH, Glycom A/S, Nestle S.A., Inbiose NV, ZuChem Inc., InnoBio Ltd., Elicityl SA, TCI Chemicals (India) Pvt. Ltd., Medolac Laboratories, Glycosyn LLC, Glycosyn-Stanford JV LLC, and ProZomix Limited. To further enhance their market share, these companies employ various strategies, including mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, license agreements, and new product launches. Dont miss the business opportunity in the Global Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) Market. Consult our analysts to gain crucial insights and facilitate your business growth. The in-depth analysis of the report provides information about growth potential, upcoming trends, and the Global Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) Market. It also highlights the factors driving forecasts of total market size. The report promises to provide recent technology trends in the Global Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) Market and industry insights to help decision-makers make sound strategic decisions. Furthermore, the report also analyzes the growth drivers, challenges, and competitive dynamics of the market. Recent Developments In December 2022 Kirin, a Japan-based integrated beverages company, announced the commencement of the first human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) production plant in Rayong Province, Thailand. In December 2022 FrieslandCampina, a Netherlands-based multinational dairy cooperative, secured 2-fucosyllactose approval in Australia and New Zealand for use in infant milk formula. Scope of the Report Attributes Details Years Considered Historical Data 20192022 Base Year 2022 Estimated Year 2023 Forecast Period 20232029 Facts Covered Revenue in USD Million Market Coverage North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Product/ Service Segmentation Type, Distribution Channel, Application, Region Key Players Abbott Laboratories, FrieslandCampina Domo, DuPont Nutrition & Health, Jennewein Biotechnologie GmbH, Glycom A/S, Nestle S.A., Inbiose NV, ZuChem Inc., InnoBio Ltd., Elicityl SA, TCI Chemicals (India) Pvt. Ltd., Medolac Laboratories, Glycosyn LLC, Glycosyn-Stanford JV LLC, ProZomix Limited By Type 2FL 3FL 3SL 6SL By Distribution Channel Hypermarkets & Supermarkets Drug Stores or Pharmacies Mass Merchandisers Departmental Stores Mono-brand Stores Specialty Stores Online Sales Channel Others By Application Infant Formula Functional Food & Beverages Food Supplements Health Ingredients Others By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific (APAC) Latin America (LATAM) Middle East and Africa (MEA) Please Find Below Some Related Topics: About Us BlueWeave Consulting provides comprehensive Market Intelligence (MI) Solutions to businesses regarding various products and services online and offline. We offer all-inclusive market research reports by analyzing qualitative and quantitative data to boost the performance of your business solutions. BlueWeave has built its reputation from scratch by delivering quality inputs and nourishing long-lasting relationships with its clients. We are one of the promising digital MI solutions companies providing agile assistance to make your business endeavors successful. Contact Us: BlueWeave Consulting & Research Pvt. Ltd +1 866 658 6826 | +1 425 320 4776 | +44 1865 60 0662 info@blueweaveconsulting.com https://www.blueweaveconsulting.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/blueweaveconsulting/ A US Air National Guard F-16C parked at Mirgorod Air Base as a Ukrainian Su-27 takes off in July 2011. US Air National Guard/Tech. Sgt. Charles Vaughn Calls for Western countries to send fighter jets to Ukraine have grown in recent months. Those calls center on the US-made F-16, which proponents say will boost Ukraine's air force. But Russia would notice if Ukraine began modifying its airbases to support F-16s, one expert says. Should Ukraine ever receive F-16 fighters from the US, the jets might not last very long. The F-16 is so fragile that it requires specially prepared airbases and those bases can be identified and targeted by Russia, one expert says. The F-16 has a large air intake under the nose that "sucks everything from the ground directly into it," Justin Bronk, an air-warfare analyst for Britain's Royal United Service Institute (RUSI) think tank said during a recent episode of the Geopolitics Decanted podcast. "So F-16s typically require very clean, very well-maintained air bases." The F-16 has "fairly lightweight" landing gear because it is designed to have a good thrust-to-weight ratio and "there is no more weight on the jet than there needs to be," Bronk said. Russian fighters are built to operate on more primitive airfields, while Western carrier-based jets like the F/A-18 are designed to absorb the shock of hard landings on a floating runway. An Air National Guard crew chief inspects the intake of an F-16 in May 2022. US Air Force/Senior Airman Erica Webster "You would have to do a lot of work to get those Ukrainian, old Soviet-pattern runways to a clean enough state to use an F-16 without high risk of foreign object debris going in and damaging the engines," Bronk said. In addition, a lot of Ukrainian airfields are too short to be used by a fully loaded F-16. "So you'd be looking at resurfacing work on runways and potentially extension work, all of which is highly visible" to Russia's satellites as well as to sources Moscow has on the ground, Bronk added. Despite being numerically and technologically outmatched by Russian aircraft and air-to-air missiles, Ukraine's air force has proven remarkably resilient and resourceful. But so far, Russia has chosen to not to use its limited stockpile of long-range missiles against Ukrainian airbases because Ukrainian airpower "doesn't pose a massive threat," Bronk said. Story continues But that will change if Western-made jets start operating from Ukrainian airfields. "All of Ukraine's airbases are within reach because the whole country is within reach of Russia's ballistic and cruise missiles," Bronk said on the podcast. Military personnel guard an Su-27 at Ozerne air base in northern Ukraine in December 2018 SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images Though Russia's arsenal of missiles is shrinking, they would only need to be launched against a limited number of targets to neutralize any Ukrainian F-16 fleet. Despite struggling with accuracy in its airstrikes, "Russia has the ability to put craters in things that it wants to," Bronk said. "It can't do loads of them. But if you're having to centralize something like the F-16 around one or two bases because you can only prepare one or two to the required standard within the resource constraints, that's quite a vulnerable posture." Since Russia invaded in February 2022, Ukraine has been pleading for Western jets to replace its dwindling fleet of Soviet-era MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters, which are badly outnumbered and outgunned by Russia's air force. Western bloc nations have already sent large quantities of weapons and ammunition including tanks, artillery, and guided missiles to Ukraine, but they have yet to send jets because of concerns about Ukrainian unfamiliarity with Western aircraft and for fear of provoking Russia. US Air National Guard crews replace a part on an F-16 at Ukraine's Mirgorod Air Base in July 2011. US Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Charles Vaughn NATO members Poland and Slovakia have agreed to send jets to Ukraine, but they are providing older MiG-29s, which Ukrainian pilots and mechanics are accustomed to but don't have much capability beyond that of the MiG-29s Ukraine already has. Still, as the conflict drags on into its second year, the pressure to send fighters may prove irresistible. For months, there have been various reports that several Western nations the US, Britain, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden are considering sending their jets. Even a small number of Western fighters would be enough to get the Russian Air Force "to back off, at least for a while," Bronk said, and Ukraine's leaders would probably be happy to have any Western jet that is reasonably good condition, but one of the main questions about any such transfer is which jet would be best suited for Ukraine. US-built F/A-18s or French-made Mirage 2000Cs and Rafale Ms would be "reasonably suitable" for Ukraine's "relatively austere runways," Bronk told Insider in an email. But those jets may not have much utility due to limits on what air-to-air munitions Western countries will provide. A Swedish JAS 39 Gripen takes off at Bodo airport in November 2018. Mats Nystrom/Forsvarsmakten The Mirage 2000C can only use MICA missiles and would be "totally out-ranged in air-to-air terms," Bronk said, adding that while Rafale Ms use the more capable Meteor missile, "it's highly unlikely" that France would send Rafales or that Ukraine could support dispersed operations with them. The F/A-18 would require AIM-120C8/D3 missiles to conduct effective attacks from low altitudes on Russian fighter patrols at medium- or high-altitude, Bronk said, but the US may not provide those missiles out of concern that Russia would capture some and gain access to their advanced components. Bronk has argued that Sweden's JAS-39 Gripen fighter would be the best choice because it is designed to be easy to maintain and to operate from rugged airstrips. "Gripen is the only option that combines austere and short runway capabilities with comparative ease of maintenance, high in-cockpit automation, and the Meteor missile," Bronk told Insider. Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds a master's in political science. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn. Read the original article on Business Insider A mother of three was found dead in a bedroom the morning after a drive-by shooting, according to authorities in Texas. Deputies with the Harris County Sheriffs Office were called to a Katy home shortly before 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 26, Homicide Sgt. Sidney Miller said during a recorded news conference. Authorities found a 46-year-old woman shot to death in the home, Miller said. Her three children 11-year-old twins and a 19-year-old were also in the home, uninjured. Investigators learned people in the area reported hearing gunshots and seeing a dark-colored vehicle speeding off at about 11 p.m. the night before. In the news conference recorded by KPRC, Miller confirmed the mom was killed during a drive-by shooting. Her 19-year-old son found her dead the next morning and called authorities to report the fatal shooting, Miller continued. Investigators believe she was in bed prior to being killed, Miller said, and its possible she had gotten up after hearing something outside. Multiple shots were fired, and they were concentrated on the upstairs bedroom, according to the sheriffs office. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing. No suspects have been identified. Katy is about 30 miles west of downtown Houston. 11-year-old shot in head while playing game with family inside Ohio apartment, cops say 59-year-old man using leaf blower in yard is shot dead by neighbor, Illinois cops say Man killed roommate over rent money and watch in 2012, feds say. Now hes been arrested The significant spring rain for the Fort Collins area fell far short of the National Weather Service's forecast. However, the storm did deliver an array of weather-related events across Colorado. Here's a look at the Fort Collins-area predictions and actual rain and snow amounts Fort Collins was first predicted to receive more than an inch of rain, and later 0.81 inches, but most stations around the city recorded roughly 0.30 to 0.40 inches during the Tuesday and Wednesday storm. Official totals for the city are not yet available. Red Feather Lakes was forecast to get 9 inches of snow and Estes Park 4 inches, but reports showed totals ranging from no snow to less than 2 inches. Greeley was forecast for 0.74 inches of rain, and one reporting station recorded 0.88 inches, but others reported about half that much. A station 5.9 miles west of Bellvue reported 1.7 inches of rain and one 8 miles west of Loveland reported 1.25 inches. Why Fort Collins received far less rain than forecast The storm track moved slightly south, resulting in less upslope conditions and rain and snow for the Fort Collins area and northern foothills and mountains, according to Victoria Chavez, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Boulder. That favored locations from Interstate 70 and south, where Aurora picked up 1.41 inches of rain and the Pueblo area 2 to 2.5 inches. More: What to know about Colorado's deadliest natural disasters, including key safety tips Storm spawns Colorado's first tornado and thunderstorm warning of the season There were several landspout tornadoes reported mostly in southern Weld County around Keenesburg, Roggen and the Prospect Valley area, and near Denver International Airport, prompting a thunderstorm and tornado warning. Landspout tornadoes form from the ground up to a thunderstorm cell, while other tornadoes form in the reverse. Landspout tornadoes are generally weak and are the most common tornado in Colorado. Story continues Hail is pictured on Interstate 76 near Keenesburg on Tuesday. Hail, flooding reported in Northern Colorado during storm The Berthoud, Arvada, Westminster, Aurora, Dacono and Keenesburg areas reported hail, impacting Interstate 25 and Interstate 76. There was a flood advisory for southwest Weld County, including the Hudson and Fort Lupton areas. Fort Collins-area forecast calls for more rain, but will it prove true? Here is the Fort Collins forecast through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service: Thursday, April 27: 20% chance of rain and thunderstorms during the day, increasing to 90% chance of mostly rain with some snow; half inch possible Thursday night into early Friday morning. High of 68 degrees. Friday, April 28: 20% chance of rain/snow mix in the morning. High of 55 degrees and north wind 18 to 26 mph, gusting to 40 mph. Saturday, April 29: Mostly sunny, breezy and high of 72 degrees. Sunday, April 30: Sunny, with a high near 71. Colorado spring lawn care: What to know about snow mold, fertilizer, watering and more This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Why the Fort Collins area didn't get as much rain, snow as forecast Business Reporter Joel Donofrio is the business reporter for the Yakima Herald. He was born and raised in the Chicago area, but he and his wife, Cathy, fell in love with the beauty (and low humidity) of the West and moved here in 2009, eventually relocating to Yakima in September 2021. They have two young adult children, Anthony and Joanna, and a dog, Molly. When he is not taking photos of construction sites, tracking down new and relocating businesses or catching up on agricultural trends, Joel enjoys playing guitar, singing, listening to music and playing and watching sports. Education Reporter Vanessa Ontiveros is the education reporter at the Yakima Herald-Republic. She grew up near Los Angeles but has happily made Yakima her new home. She is passionate about reporting stories that serve the community and highlight various aspects of the educational system.She also hosts a podcast that discusses local arts education, Yakima Arts Talk, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The daughter of two longtime public school teachers, she is always looking to include community voices in her work. Boeing says it lost $425 million in the first quarter as it continues to deal with production problems on its airline jets Sudanese and foreigners are streaming out of the capital of Khartoum and other battle zones, as fighting shakes a new three-day truce brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN) LOS ANGELES, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via InvestorWire IBN , a multifaceted communications organization engaged in connecting public companies to the investment community, is pleased to announce the release of the latest episode of The Bell2Bell Podcast as part of its sustained effort to provide specialized content distribution via widespread syndication channels. The Bell2Bell Podcast delivers informative updates and exclusive interviews with executives operating in fast-moving industries. Bell2Bells latest podcast features Mark Selby, Chairman, CEO and Director of Canada Nickel Company Inc. (TSX.V: CNC) (OTCQX: CNIKF) , a company working to advance the next generation of high quality nickel-cobalt projects to feed the high growth electric vehicle and stainless steel markets. To begin the interview, Selby provided an introduction to the companys business model and operating markets. Canada Nickel Company was founded just over three years ago. In that very short timeframe, weve taken a project from drillhole to one of the largest nickel-sulfide discoveries ever and the largest since the early 1970s, Selby said. The project is located just outside Timmins, which is a very well-established mining camp. We have all the major infrastructure needed to advance this project, and were about a third of the way through the permitting process already. Were looking to be permitted by the middle part of this decade, with first production by 2027. Later this year, well have our feasibility study out. Were rapidly advancing this project, which will be one of the largest nickel-sulfide mines globally. Selby next discussed his professional background and those of the Canada Nickel leadership team. Weve got an excellent team thats done this before. I started in the mining industry about 20 years ago working for a company called Inco, which was the worlds largest nickel producer at that time and was acquired by Vale in 2007, he continued. For most of the last 20 years, I have been in the nickel business. I started as Head of Commodity Research at Inco, so Im seen as one of the experts on the nickel market. Theres a real market opportunity for a large-scale source of nickel thats in a safe jurisdiction and, most importantly, can be a very low-carbon source, which our project has the unique ability to be given its location and the fact that its hosted in ultramafic rocks that spontaneously soak up CO2. Story continues In terms of our team, some of us were involved with another company called RNC Minerals that took the Dumont project, which is also nickel-sulfide, from resource stage right through to fully-permitted and construction-ready. Weve got the people whove permitted large projects; weve got members of our team whove been involved in building large-scale open-pit mine mill operations in the same Abitibi region of Ontario and Quebec. Thats a big part of why weve been able to advance this project in a fraction of the timeframe that it would take most mining companies, including most major mining companies. Join IBNs Stuart Smith and Mark Selby, Chairman, CEO and Director of Canada Nickel Company Inc. (TSX.V: CNC) (OTCQX: CNIKF) , to learn more about the companys recent milestones and goals for the balance of 2023 and beyond. To hear the episode and subscribe for future podcasts, visit https://podcast.bell2bell.com . The latest installment of The Bell2Bell Podcast continues to reinforce IBNs commitment to the expansion of its robust network of brands, client partners, followers, and the growing IBN Podcast Series . For more than 17 years, IBN has leveraged this commitment to provide unparalleled distribution and corporate messaging solutions to 500+ public and private companies . To learn more about IBNs achievements and milestones via a visual timeline, visit: https://IBN.fm/TimeLine About Canada Nickel Canada Nickel Company Inc. is advancing the next generation of nickel-sulfide projects to deliver nickel required to feed the high growth electric vehicle and stainless steel markets. Canada Nickel Company has applied in multiple jurisdictions to trademark the terms NetZero Nickel, NetZero Cobalt and NetZero Iron and is pursuing the development of processes to allow the production of net zero carbon nickel, cobalt and iron products. Canada Nickel provides investors with leverage to nickel in low political risk jurisdictions. Canada Nickel is currently anchored by its 100% owned flagship Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulfide Project in the heart of the prolific Timmins-Cochrane mining camp. For more information, visit the companys website at www.CanadaNickel.com About IBN IBN consists of financial brands introduced to the investment public over the course of 17+ years. With IBN, we have amassed a collective audience of millions of social media followers. These distinctive investor brands aim to fulfill the unique needs of a growing base of client-partners. IBN will continue to expand our branded network of highly influential properties, leveraging the knowledge and energy of specialized teams of experts to serve our increasingly diversified list of clients. Through our Dynamic Brand Portfolio (DBP) , IBN provides: (1) access to a network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets ; (3) Press Release Enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) full-scale distribution to a growing social media audience; (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions ; and (6) total news coverage solutions. For more information, please visit https://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorBrandNetwork website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: http://IBN.fm/Disclaimer Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company's SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Corporate Communications IBN Los Angeles, California www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com 310.299.1717 Office Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com A lawsuit filed Tuesday accuses the Washington Legislature of violating state law by failing to disclose public records. (Karen Ducey / The Seattle Times) A Ruger AR-15 semiautomatic rifle, center, is on display with other rifles in a gun shop in Lynnwood. (Elaine Thompson / The Associated Press, 2017) RFA/Health Care Access Reporter Santiago Ochoa is a bilingual journalist covering health care access at the Yakima Herald-Republic in Yakima, Washington. Before joining the Herald, Ochoa reported for Flint Beat in Flint, Michigan, covering the citys Latino populationhealth care, education, community building and more, and winning top honors in the Michigan Press Associations feature category. He served as photographer and later editor for his college newspaper, The Michigan Times. When hes not working, Ochoa enjoys cross-country trips on his motorcycle, going to the movies, reading and skiing. Elizabeth Shackelford is a senior fellow on U.S. foreign policy with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. She was previously a U.S. diplomat and is the author of The Dissent Channel: American Diplomacy in a Dishonest Age. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 25, 2023 / Entrepreneur Sam Stathis is set to embark on a trip to Ukraine to offer his technologies to help rebuild and resurrect the country, which has been devastated by war and economic crisis. Stathis will be using Theometrics Global and Bevis by Theo innovative solutions to aid in the rebuilding efforts. Theometrics has already donated limited edition NFTs, solely for the purpose of raising money for humanitarian and military aid for Ukraine. Stathis will be initiating the next phase of support during his trip and offering his technologies to help rebuild the country. Theometrics Stathis has established several programs, including conferences on construction and technical innovation, contributing to Startup New York, and founding Theometrics University to train young people in precision measurement and navigation in real estate and construction. His philosophy is rooted in the ancient Greek ideals, with a focus on helping people figure out their place in the universe through Theometrics Global. Theometrics has a broader mission of promoting global peace and prosperity by training and preparing the new generation for the modern economy, technology, arts, and sciences. Stathis launched Theometrics in Greece in the summer of 2021 to help his homeland recover from the Greek Economic crisis of 2007, which plagued the country for decades. Stathis had issued a call to action to the Greek diaspora to invest back in their homeland, to help bring Greece up to modern standards and create new job opportunities. Sam Stathis has also been involved with professional Chariot Racing competitions and tournaments for years, and as part of his initiative, he also aims to revive chariot racing as a modern-day Olympic sport, reinstating it as one of the five events that founded the ancient Greek Olympic Games. In February 2022, Stathis also focused his attention to the War in Ukraine. Working with world leaders on Theometrics worldwide peace and prosperity campaign, the efforts multiplied and Team Stathis and Theometrics sprang into action. Story continues "I immediately began efforts to support Ukraine by donating drones to the front lines, and the military sent me videos of the drones in use with their gratitude for this support. I accomplished this with a partnership with a Ukrainian news agency, a young group of volunteers at Sky Over Ukraine. In addition to publicizing and raising awareness, Sky Over Ukraine uploads footage and videos daily of what was happening at the front lines - including footage from the drones I donated that are used for reconnaissance missions," said Stathis. Theometrics Global has already donated NFTs that are limited edition, solely for the purpose of raising money for humanitarian and military aid for Ukraine. Stathis stresses, "Neither Theometrics Ukraine, nor Sky Over Ukraine have received or will receive any administrative fees or any fees of any kind, thus all proceeds go directly to Ukrainian aid." Stathis will be traveling to Ukraine to witness the atrocities of war first-hand and to initiate the next phase of support, in offering his technologies to help rebuild and resurrect Ukraine, with his new set of NFTs and real coins minted in copper, silver & gold. In March 2023, while traveling for a Chariot Racing tournament in Palermo, Sicily, and Syracuse, Stathis was awestruck by the ancient Greek temples in Agrigento, Sicily, and prompted Stathis' passion for Greek heritage to now further extend to investing in technology and innovation, leading the effort to resurrect Magna Graecia, particularly in the Valley of the Temples, in Agrigento and expanding freedom and democracy in Ukraine. What began as Sam Stathis' vision for a New Greece, now has expanded to Sicily's Agrigento and Ukraine, and is grounded in his belief of the potential of each region, its human capital, and his entrepreneurial spirit. By investing in technology and innovation and engaging young people in profit management and growth, he aims to create a brighter future for these countries. For more: https://theometrics.com Bevis by Theo: www.bevisbytheo.com Sky Over Ukraine: https://skyoverukraine.com Contact Information Press Contact Director of Communications press@theometrics.com 212-627-8220 SOURCE: Theometrics Global . View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/751265/International-Entrepreneur-Sam-Stathis-Supports-Ukraine-to-Initiate-Next-Phase-of-Rebuilding-Devastated-Economy-Through-Technology-and-Innovation (Bloomberg) -- Shares of Tokyo-based Ispace Inc. tumbled by the daily limit of 20% after the company said its lander bound for the moon probably crashed on the lunar surface. Most Read from Bloomberg The stock finished the day at 1,590 ($11.90), capping its worst performance since going public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange earlier this month. Shares had remained untraded for most of the session due to a glut of sell orders from investors. Before the failed landing attempt, the companys shares had increased nearly eight times from the 254 offering price. It was probably overbought going into this, said Kirk Boodry, an analyst at Astris Advisory in Tokyo. Now that the excitement has sort of passed, investors are going to take a harder look at what it means as a business model. Ispace had expected its Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander to touch down on the moon around 1:40am Japan time but lost contact with it shortly after engineers confirmed the lander was in position for its final approach. Several hours later, the company said there was a high probability that the spacecraft made a hard landing on the moon. A successful landing would have made Ispace the first to place a commercial lander on the moons surface. The companys executives said the setback would not impact Ispaces plans to send more missions to the moon. While the lander wasnt able to reach the final step, were the first private company to collect data from an attempted lunar landing, Chief Executive Officer Takeshi Hakamada said. That data will greatly help us in our preparations for Missions 2 and 3. The apparent crash is a reminder of the difficulty of conducting missions in space, according to Steven Freeland, co-chair of a UN working group focused on issues related to the use of space resources. Story continues The failed landing is not the first, and will most likely not be last to have such an unwanted conclusion, he wrote in an email. It obviously is a setback but no doubt others will try to achieve a successful landing in the future. --With assistance from Loren Grush. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 57F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 57F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow Partly cloudy. High around 85F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. Valcean prins cu 116 km/h pe strazile din Baia Mare Luni, 1 mai, politistii baimareni au efectuat semnal regulamentar de oprire a unui autoturism care a fost inregistrat cu aparatul radar avand o viteza de 116 km/h. Autoturismul circula pe strada Europa din municipiu, dinspre Bulevardul Regele Mihai I catre Busevardul Unirii, pe un sector de drum [citeste mai departe] Stiri pe aceeasi tema - The minister of National Defense, Angel Tilvar, is paying an official visit to the Republic of Moldova on Tuesday and Wednesday, where he will meet with president Maia Sandu and prime minister Dorin Recean, a press release from the MApN sent to AGERPRES, reads. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. - The Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) closed lower the trading session on Wednesday, and the value of exchanges amounted to 28.75 million RON (5.83 million EUR). Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Help your friends know - There were 875,594 persons with disabilities registered in Romania as of end-December 2022, accounting for a rate of 3.99 percent of the total population; of these, 98.12 percent (859,176) were in family care and/or lived independently (not institutionalized), while 1.88 percent (16,418) lived in dedicated - The Ministry of Justice announced on Wednesday that it will support the adoption by the Chamber of Deputies of a threshold of 9,000 RON for the definition of the offence of abuse of office."There is no concrete reference in the rulings of the Constitutional Court of Romania or in the opinions of - The National Authority for Administration and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) has released for public consultation the list of localities covered by fixed public broadband communications networks."In order to fulfill the objectives of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), respectively - The average upload speed for the fixed internet increased by over 50% last year, compared to 2021, and the download speed registered a 17% advance, according to the statistics developed by the National Authority for Administration and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) based on the tests carried - Romania's vehicle registrations were 30.6 percent up in January this year from the same period of 2022, while green car registrations jumped 61.2 percent, taking the market share of these vehicles to 22 percent of the total, shows a survey released on Wednesday by the Association of Automobile Manufacturers - Three troops of the Bucharest-based 13th Communications and Informatics Center "Colonel Gheorghe Visata" were injured during a TNT pyrotechnic ignition drill on Wednesday morning, at the Catelu military training range, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Transgaz's investment programme for the development of the National Transport System (NTS) in the next decade is estimated at over 3.2 billion euros, the company informs in a statement. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro - Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca hailed the official opening in Kyiv of a new office within the Economic Department of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), underscoring that Romania will continue to stand by the side of OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann, in all OECD - Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca asked the Minister of Development, Cseke Attila, to develop an instrument for monitoring the implementation of all projects regarding the rehabilitation of high seismic risk buildings, underscoring, at the same time, that there is need of a "very clear" prioritization - A new moderate earthquake, with a magnitude of 4.2, occurred on Tuesday, at 5:24 p.m., in Oltenia, southwestern Gorj county, at a depth of 15 kilometers, according to data from the National Institute for Earth Physics Research and Development (INCDFP). Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. - Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu stated on Sunday evening that mistakes were made regarding Romania's accession to Schengen, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Help your - MEP Eugen Tomac (EPP, People's Movement Party - PMP) estimated on Saturday that CJEU proceedings over the lawsuit initiated by him for Romania's not being accepted to join the Schengen could last between one year and a half and two years. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste - Romania's accession to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is one of the most important country projects for the current government, alongside a series of commitments undertaken within the PNRR, with the Executive to mark, on Thursday, through an event, one year since - Romania will join, as of this year, the Indicators on National Education System (INES) programme dedicated to the indicators of education systems, in the context of our country's accession process to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a release of the Education Ministry Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Gerhard Karner nu a dat nicio speranta Romaniei pentru o ridicare rapida a blocajului privind aderarea tarii la Schengen. El a respins cererea guvernului roman de stabilire a unui calendar, in cadrul unei intalniri cu omologul sau Lucian Bode la Bucuresti. Acesta din urma a vazut totusi un dezghet in - The visiting Austrian federal minister of the Interior, Gerhard Karner, in Bucharest said on Wednesday that Romania has made very good progress in the fight against illegal migration, but there is still a long way to an effective protection of the external borders of the European Union."I have great - IntMin Bode: Minister Kraner's visit thaws bilateral relations between Romania and Austria.The minister of Internal Affairs, Lucian Bode, declared on Wednesday that at the meeting with the federal minister of the Interior of the Austrian government, Gerhard Kraner, the subject of unlocking the process - Defence Minister Tilvar to co-chair meeting of Defence ministers in B9 Format, in Warsaw.National Defence Minister Angel Tilvar will co-chair on Wednesday, alongside his counterpart from Poland Mariusz Blaszczak, a new meeting of the Defence ministers in the Bucharest 9 Format (B9), which takes place - Romania and Bulgaria do play their part in stemming illegal migration, the Romanian president said on Wednesday, adding he hoped the two neighbouring states will be let into the European Unions passport-free Schengen area this year, according to Reuters. The two EU states were kept out of Schengen - The extension of the Schengen area is not on the agenda of the Council of Justice and Internal Affairs (JAI) for Thursday and Friday, even after Wednesday's meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the European Union ( COREPER), when the JHA's provisional agenda could still have undergone - The President of the People's Movement Party (PMP), MEP Eugen Tomac, on Wednesday stated, during a press conference held in Bistrita, that Romania's chances of entering Schengen by the end of 2024 are increasing "significantly" after he sued the Council of the European Union with the Court of Justice - The plenary meeting of the Chamber of Deputies gathered on Monday to debate the simple motion against Interior Minister Lucian Bode, which has been submitted by the Save Romania Union (USR) and MPs of the Right Force Party, with the vote to be cast on Wednesday. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi Kelvin Watson Executive Director, Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Las Vegas, NV, United States, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kelvin Watson, executive director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, has been awarded the American Library Association (ALA) Medal of Excellence Award. This annual award, presented by the ALA and sponsored by OCLC, recognizes creative leadership in library management, library training, cataloging and classification, and the tools and techniques of librarianship. The jury for the 2023 Medal of Excellence award is delighted to honor Kelvin Watson for his many accomplishments during a long, pioneering, and accomplished career as a leader in public library management, according to a statement from the ALA. Among the achievements specifically noted by the Medal of Excellence jury, and the many colleagues and admirers who wrote in support of this award, are Watsons outstanding service to the communities he has served, and his development of partnerships at many levels. Watson was described by various nominators as visionary, engaged and connected, a true champion in our community and in each life that his work touches; and as someone who has the unique ability to guide a group of individuals toward achieving a common goal. The jury was especially impressed by the number of commendations received from colleagues outside the library industry. One partner noted that Kelvin demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to the communityand has made a tremendous impact in the lives of some of our most underserved populations. Another wrote that Kelvin is engaged, accessible, and supportive as he drives the advancement of library innovation. This commitment to serving all people, in ways that meet their unique needs and circumstances, demonstrates in an exemplary way his achievement for recent creative leadership of high order that the Medal of Excellence is designed to honor, according to the ALA. I am extremely honored to accept the Medal of Honor from the ALA, and humbled by the words of our community partners who nominated me, said Watson, who joined the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District in 2021. Librarians are purveyors of free speech in society and it is our privilege, in this role, to teach information literacy to all ages. Story continues Watson oversees 25 branches run by 600+ employees, spanning 8,000 square miles across Clark County, Nevada. Working with a $77 million budget and a collection of 3.2 million items, Watson has brought innovative, award-winning leadership to Nevadas largest library system. His deep experience in fundraising, technology, program development, and demonstrated success in addressing the digital divide has brought a new era to this growing metropolitan area. One of the most highly respected thought leaders in the library industry, Kelvin is credited with expanding his customer base in multiple library management roles through outreach efforts to underserved and diverse populations. The 2023 Medal of Excellence will be presented on June 25 at the ALA Presidents Program during the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. About Las Vegas-Clark County Library District The award-winning Las Vegas-Clark County Library District is an independent taxing entity that serves a diverse community across 8,000 square miles. Through its 25 branches and website, the Library District offers a collection of 3.2 million items, including books, movies, music (including streaming and downloadable), online resources, and free programs for all ages. The Library District is a vibrant and vital member of the community offering limitless learning; business and career advancement; government and social services support; and best of all, a place where customers find a sense of culture and community. For more information, and to support Library District programs, please visit TheLibraryDistrict.org. ### Attachment CONTACT: Lisa Jacob Las Vegas-Clark County Library District 702-507-6285 jacobl@lvccld.org Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Labour Minister Marius Budai on Wednesday, May 10, will participate in a Government Question Time to be held by the Senate as part of a plenary sitting, on a request by the Save Romania Union (USR) floor group. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook - The interim chairwoman of the Senate, Alina Gorghiu, claims that a possible merging of next year's elections is perfectly constitutional, the coalition will decide whether one of the scenarios that can be taken into account will materialize. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste - Finance Minister Adrian Caciu is invited to attend today a Government Question Time as part of a plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies to report on the government revenue collection.The meeting is scheduled for 16:00hrs. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro - Save Romania Union (USR) MPs protested Wednesday in the foyer of the Senate plenary hall against the draft law on special pensions.They displayed placards reading "Stop special pensions." Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro - Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu is set to participate in the Government Question Time programme in the Chamber of Deputies on Monday.The meeting is chaired by the Chamber's vice-president Daniel Suciu. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro - Labour Minister Marius Budai said on Monday that the government in Romania should first deal with the hope for a healthy life of the citizens, after which they could see if they can discuss a possible increase in the retirement age.He added that he does not support raising the retirement age beyond - More than 36,000 people are expected to attend, on the weekend between 3 and 5 March, the first edition of Massif Festival, in Poiana Brasov, "the first festival which turns a mountain resort into a party of epic proportions," the organizers announced on Tuesday. Fii la curent cu cele mai - Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca is invited on 6 March, 15:00hrs, in the Senate plenary meeting, at the "Prime Minister's Question Time" at the invitation of the Save Romania Union (USR) group to discuss the special and service pensions reform, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Presedintele UDMR, Kelemen Hunor, a declarat ca unul dintre esecurile coalitiei de guvernare a fost faptul ca nu s-a folosit de oportunitatea oferita de majoritatea constitutionala, mentionand ca este rar ca un Guvern sa aiba majoritate de doua treimi cu care ar putea modifica Constitutia. El s-a referit - The visiting Austrian federal minister of the Interior, Gerhard Karner, in Bucharest said on Wednesday that Romania has made very good progress in the fight against illegal migration, but there is still a long way to an effective protection of the external borders of the European Union."I have great - The Social Democratic Party (PSD) welcomes the intervention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) for opening of diplomatic dialogue regarding grain exports from Ukraine."The PSD welcomes the prompt response of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, to the request to open the diplomatic - Approximately 180,000 people, Romanian and foreign nationals, and over 50,000 means of transport underwent border checks at all of Romania's crossing points on Saturday, on both the inbound and the outbound, the General Border Police Inspectorate (IGPF) reports.As many as 93,655 travelers of whom - Deputy Prime Minister and national leader of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) Kelemen Hunor on Tuesday evening told broadcaster TVR Info that he would prefer Romania and Ukraine measurements on the Danube to be made in parallel, and measurements on the Chilia arm to be performed with - REPER MEP Dacian Ciolos requested, on Friday, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) chairman, Marcel Ciolacu, to urgently remove the minister of Agriculture, Petre Daea, "for the disastrous way in which he negotiated the compensations from the European Commission"."Romanian farmers are wronged because - Romania and Bulgaria do play their part in stemming illegal migration, the Romanian president said on Wednesday, adding he hoped the two neighbouring states will be let into the European Unions passport-free Schengen area this year, according to Reuters. The two EU states were kept out of Schengen - A delegation of the Romanian parliament came to Vienna on Monday to discuss overcoming the Austrian blockade of the countrys Schengen accession, criticising Austrias hesitation in resuming a dialogue, according to Euractiv. Romanian delegates arrived in Vienna on Monday to discuss the countrys Schengen VILLANOVA, Pa. (April 26, 2023) The Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, Villanova University President, announced that award-winning journalist and NBC News anchor Lester Holt will address the Class of 2023 as the Universitys commencement speaker. Holt will also receive the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa. The Universitys 180th commencement will be held Friday, May 19, at 2:30 p.m., in Villanova Stadium. In the event of severe weather, the ceremony will be held indoors in the Finneran Pavilion. Note: For the livestream of Commencement, click here. Holt is an award-winning journalist at NBC News, serving as the anchor and managing editor of the networks flagship broadcast "NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt," which won a 2022 Edward Murrow Award. Additionally, he anchors Dateline NBC and was named the most-trusted television news personality in America by The Hollywood Reporter/Morning Consult poll. Holt has spent the past four decades in journalism and has reported and anchored breaking news events across the globe. In 2015, Holt became anchor of NBC Nightly News, after anchoring the weekend editions of "NBC Nightly News" for eight years and co-anchoring "Weekend TODAY" for 12 years. Holt has served as principal anchor of "Dateline NBC" since September 2011. Holt has conducted numerous exclusive and headline-making interviews with world leaders and newsmakers from around the globe. In addition to his many domestic and international journalistic credits, he anchors NBC News special primetime election coverage and, in 2020, anchored the networks weekly special primetime coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the early days of the pandemic in 2020, Holt also launched Nightly News: Kids Edition, a digital newscast aimed at informing and educating children, which he still anchors weekly. While at NBC, Holt has covered every Olympics from the ground since the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He marked his 10th Olympics at the 2020 Tokyo games. One of Holts trademarks is his on-the-ground reporting and his deep commitment to providing viewers with first-person accounts when disaster and tragedy strikes. Over the past few years, he has also distinguished himself as the leading broadcast journalist on criminal justice reform. In 2019, Holt led the Emmy-nominated and groundbreaking series, Justice for All, across all NBC News platforms. Before becoming co-anchor of "Weekend TODAY in 2003, he anchored "Lester Holt Live," a daily news show on MSNBC. Holt served as a primary anchor for MSNBC's coverage of major news events, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and the war in Afghanistan, and he was the lead daytime anchor for MSNBC's coverage of Decision 2000. Holt started at NBC News in 2000, anchoring Newsfront. Holt has been recognized with numerous honors, including multiple Emmy Awards and a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism award. Most recently, he was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. In 2021, he was honored with the prestigious National Press Club Fourth Estate award and the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement award. Two years prior, in 2019, he was honored with the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism. In April 2016, Holt received several notable designations: he was featured on TIMEs 100 Most Influential People list and was named Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists. About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova Universitys Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six collegesthe College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nations top universities, Villanova supports its students intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu. Borsodi Brewery, one of Hungary's biggest beer manufacturers, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its foundation this month with the introduction of a birthday logo for its flagship Borsodi Vilagos beer, and special prizes for its consumers. Borsodi Brewery started its operations 50 years ago, in April 1973, in Bocs (about 155 km northeast of the capital). The brewery's first product, Borsodi Vilagos, has become one of the most popular beers in the country over the past five decades. The first bottle has since been followed by millions of hectolitres, and Borsodi Brewery has grown from a factory serving local needs to a regional center for one of the world's largest companies, Molson Coors. The company is credited with the introduction of the first non-alcoholic beer in Hungary and, in response to consumer demand, it was also among the first companies to introduce a flavored beer, called Borsodi Friss, to the Hungarian market. Borsodi also introduced a number of innovations in the field of packaging, as it was the first brewery to make aluminum cans available to consumers in the country and it was also the first to introduce kegs for catering establishments. "Borsodi Brewery adapts its portfolio and products to changing market trends and consumer needs. The success of this strategy is proven by the fact that thanks to the renewed Borsodi Vilagos recipe brewed from pure barley malt and our new Borsodi portfolio, we closed a successful year in 2022, as domestic consumers expect consistent, reliable quality and are open to trying new things", emphasized Zsolt Vuleta, managing and commercial director of Borsodi Brewery. "We are proud of our successes over the past five decades, and we owe it all to our dedicated colleagues, cooperative partners, and loyal consumers." Over the last five decades, Borsodi Brewery has also been focusing on sustainability, in order to reduce its ecological footprint, protect the environment, support communities, and help its employees. The brewery also announced the launch of a special gift promotion for its consumers. From May 18 to July 6, for 50 days, those who send in the code on the opening tab of the cans of Borsodi beers participating in the promotional program will be entered into a draw to win an Edenred card worth HUF 50,000 and one Neuzer bicycle per day. Photo: A "birthday cake" made with bottles featuring the brewery's special 50th-anniversary logo. Everything is set for Pope Franciss upcoming visit to Hungary, the state secretary for international communications said after a meeting on Tuesday of the operative body in charge of preparations. Zoltan Kovacs said making preparations was a state responsibility, though the popes visit would basically be an apostolic event. Organisers have been working in line with decisions by the Hungarian Catholic Church and the papal delegation in terms of selecting venues and planning programmes, he added. Bishop Andras Veres, the head of the Conference of Hungarian Catholic Bishops, said the visit would be an honour and joyful meeting not only for Catholics but for the whole nation. He noted that Francis could not visit outside Budapest due his fragile health, but organisers were mobilising the country and inviting believers and priests to come to Budapest during the three-day visit starting on Friday. Novak Praises Pontiff as 'Man Of Peace' President Katalin Novak has called Pope Francis a man of peace and said she hoped that his visit to Budapest at the weekend would restore a sense of hope after the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine, in an interview published in Magyar Kurir. The Bible teaches that the future belongs to men of peace. Francis is such a man, and so are we Hungarians, she said. It appears that Pope Francis aims to meet as many Hungarians and real communities as possible during his visit between April 28-30, she said. She noted that during his visit to Budapest during the Eucharistic Congress in September 2021, Francis highlighted the importance of cooperation between the churches. Regarding the war in Ukraine, Novak said the priority there was to assure victims of our support, condemn aggression and find a way to peace. Her visit to Kyiv last November was such a show of support, she said. At the same time, she noted that the rights of Hungarians had been curbed in Ukraine recently, which she called unacceptable. The issue should not be swept under the carpet, she warned. Hungarians living in Ukraine should be able to make a living in their own community and homeland, using their mother tongue, she said. On finding a way to peace in Ukraine, Novak praised Franciss Easter message in which he said that he stood by Ukrainians under attack but will not forget or give up on Russian people either. To find solutions, dialogue must be fostered between warring parties and the forces supporting them, she said. That needs, first of all, a strong decision to end the war, she said. It seems clear to me that the war must not end with Russia achieving its aims, even though they have not declared a concrete goal. It cannot end with Russia allowed to stay in Ukrainian territories, she said. At the same time, a growing number of countries getting involved in the conflict could lead to escalation, she said. War will not necessarily stop at the borders, and its spilling over into Hungary should be avoided at all costs, she said. MTI Photo: Zoltan Mathe Georgia is a strategic partner of Hungary in the southern Caucasus and their cooperation is key to Hungarys energy security, Finance Minister Mihaly Varga said after meeting his Georgian counterpart, Lasha Khutsishvili, in Budapest. The two countries are planning to hold a joint cabinet session this year, to boost ties based on shared values and interests, he said. Hungary also supports Georgia in its bid to become a candidate for European Union membership, especially since its views on geopolitics, war and peace are close to Hungarys, Varga said. A planned electricity line connecting Georgia and Romania under the Black Sea is key to ensuring European energy security, Varga said. The unique, 1,200km long line could deliver green electricity from Azerbaijan to Hungary via Georgia and Romania, he said. Prime Minister Viktor Orban signed an agreement on the investment last spring, and has supported Georgia in obtaining funding from the World Bank, he said. Bilateral economic ties between Georgia and Hungary grew by 40% last year, with Hungary exporting mainly pharmaceuticals, vehicles and machines there, he said. Khutsishvili was briefed on Hungarys strategies to finance state debt and its bond programme. Hungary has successfully restructured state debt so a large part is now in domestic hands, and Georgia is working to achieve similar results in handling its own, the ministry said. Wide-ranging security preparations are ongoing for the Budapest visit of the Pope: all street lamps and sewers are being checked and manhole covers are being welded down near the locations of the papal visit and three possible routes leading from the airport to central Budapest. Snipers will be deployed and air law enforcement units will also be present, Magyar Nemzet reports. The sewer network on the routes affected by the popes visit have partly been examined, in search for explosives and firearms. Bomb-seeking robots will check most routes and wherever it is possible bomb disposal experts from the Counter-Terrorist Centre (TEK) will also check everything personally. Which of the routes designated in advance on which the pope will arrive in downtown Budapest will not be public knowledge. The final decision will only be made after the papal airplane has landed. Dwellers, neighbouring houses and buildings on the areas affected by the visit will also be thoroughly examined and possibly some roads and parts of the city may be closed for certain periods. In addition, helicopters and drones will monitor the affected locations. A ban on flights over St. Istvan ter and Kossuth ter will be in force, so the police will destroy every alien drone or force it to land. Visitors will be allowed to approach Kossuth ter or St. Istvan ter outside the Basilica only after multiple checks. Protection for Pope Francis is provided by the elite unit of the Swiss Guard in co-operation with local authorities and the secret services, as well as 140 members of the Vatican police, including 20 counter-terrorist agents. The passenger centre of Budapests Keleti railway station has been revamped for 1.9 billion forints (EUR 5m) with European Union and national funding, state secretary of the Ministry of Construction and Transport Balint Nagy said. The 1,542 sqm passenger centre has been upgraded to allow disabled access for ticket office counters, elevators and toilets, which have been equipped with vandal-resistant sanitary ware. The new centre will be opened on the first week of May. Keleti railway station is the main international and intercity railway terminal in Budapest. It receives almost 11 million people annually. Custom Market Insights [220+ Pages Latest Report] According to a market research study published by Custom Market Insights, the demand analysis of the US Animal Health Market size & share revenue was valued at approximately USD 4.9 Billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 5.7 Billion in 2023 and is expected to reach around USD 11.3 Billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 10.3% between 2022 and 2030. The key market players listed in the report with their sales, revenues and strategies are Zoetis, Ceva Sante Animale, Merck & Co. Inc., Vetoquinol S.A., Boehringer Ingelheim Gmbh, Elanco, Virbac, Heska, Dechra Pharmaceuticals Plc, Idexx Laboratories Inc., Norbrook Inc., and others. Austin, TX, USA, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Custom Market Insights has published a new research report titled US Animal Healthcare Market Size, Trends and Insights By Animal Type (Dog, Cat, Equine, Others), By Product (Vaccines, Pharmaceuticals, OTC, Prescription, Feed Additives, Diagnostics, Others), By Distribution Channel (Retail, E-commerce, Hospital Pharmacy), By End-use (Point-of-care testing/In-house testing, Veterinary Hospitals & Clinics, Others), and By Region - Industry Overview, Statistical Data, Competitive Analysis, Share, Outlook, and Forecast 20232030 in its research database. According to the latest research study, the demand of US Animal Health Market size & share was valued at approximately USD 4.9 Billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 5.7 billion in 2023 and expected to reach a value of around USD 11.3 Billion by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 10.3% during the forecast period 2022 to 2030. According to CMI, It is anticipated that the market for animal-derived food products will thrive in the near future due to the rising global population, which is leading to an increase in demand for such products. Click Here to Access a Free Sample Report of the Global US Animal Health Market @ https://www.custommarketinsights.com/request-for-free-sample/?reportid=23360 US Animal Health Market: Dynamics and Growth Drivers The US animal health market is subject to various dynamics that influence its growth and development. Some of the key dynamics include: Story continues Increasing pet ownership : The growing trend of pet ownership among people is driving the demand for animal health products and services. Rising demand for livestock-based products : The increasing consumption of meat and dairy products is boosting the demand for animal health services in the livestock industry. Technological advancements : The development of advanced technologies in animal health, such as diagnostic imaging and telemedicine, is fueling market growth. Government initiatives : The government is taking various initiatives to improve animal health and welfare, which is further boosting the animal health market. Growing awareness of animal health : The increasing awareness of animal health among pet owners and livestock farmers is driving demand for animal health products and services. The emergence of new diseases: The emergence of new diseases in animals is driving demand for effective treatments and preventive measures, which is boosting the animal health market. (A free sample of the US Animal Health 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 2022 updated report. The COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak Impact Analysis is included in the package About 220+ Pages Research Report (Including Recent Research) Provide detailed chapter-by-chapter guidance on the Request Updated Regional Analysis with a Graphical Representation of Size, Share, and Trends for the Year 2022 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 Custom Market Insights (CMI) research methodology (Please note that the sample of the US Animal Health report has been modified to include the COVID-19 impact study prior to delivery.) Request a Customized Copy of the US Animal Health Market Report @ https://www.custommarketinsights.com/request-for-customization/?reportid=23360 Report Scope Feature of the Report Details Market Size in 2023 USD 5.7 Billion Projected Market Size in 2030 USD 11.3 Billion Market Size in 2022 USD 4.9 Billion CAGR Growth Rate 10.3% CAGR Base Year 2022 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Key Segment By Animal Type, Product, Distribution Channel, End-use, and Region Report Coverage Revenue Estimation and Forecast, Company Profile, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Recent Trends Regional Scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East &, Africa, and South &, Central America Buying Options Request tailored purchasing options to fulfil your requirements for research. US Animal Health Market: COVID-19 Analysis The COVID-19 pandemic has had a mixed impact on the US animal health market. On the one hand, the pandemic has led to increased demand for pet ownership, as people sought companionship during periods of social isolation. This has translated into increased demand for animal health products and services, particularly for preventive care and vaccinations. Directly Purchase a copy of the report [220+ Pages] @ https://www.custommarketinsights.com/report/us-animal-healthcare-market/ On the other hand, the pandemic has disrupted the supply chain for animal health products and services, as well as veterinary clinics and hospitals. The lockdowns and restrictions on movement have made it difficult for pet owners to access veterinary care, leading to a decline in revenue for veterinary clinics. In addition, the economic impact of the pandemic has led to a decline in spending on pet care and livestock management. This has led to a decrease in demand for animal health products and services. Overall, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the US animal health market has been mixed. While some segments of the market have experienced growth, others have seen a decline in demand. As the world recovers from the pandemic and economies stabilize, it is expected that the animal health market will bounce back and continue its growth trajectory. Key questions answered in this report: What is the US Animal Health market's size and its expected growth rate? What are the primary driving factors that push the US Animal Health market forward? What are the US Animal Health Industry's top companies? What are the different categories that the US Animal Health Market caters to? What will be the fastest-growing segment or region? In the value chain, what role do essential players play? What is the procedure for getting a free copy of the US Animal Health market sample report and company profiles? Request a Customized Copy of the US Animal Health Market Report @ https://www.custommarketinsights.com/report/us-animal-healthcare-market/ Key Offerings: Market Share, Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20232030 Market Dynamics Growth Drivers, Restraints, Investment Opportunities, and Leading Trends Market Segmentation A detailed analysis by Types of Services, by End-User Services, and by Regions Competitive Landscape Top Key Vendors and Other Prominent Vendors Recent Developments July 2019 Zoetis and Colorado State University set up a study lab to make new immunotherapies for animals. August 2021 Merck Animal Health in the United States made WHISPER ON ARRIVAL, a precise tool that uses a lot of different factors to figure out which cattle may be more likely to get sick. Competitive Landscape US Animal Health Market Zoetis Ceva Sante Animale Merck & Co. Inc. Vetoquinol S.A. Boehringer Ingelheim Gmbh Elanco Virbac Heska Dechra Pharmaceuticals Plc Idexx Laboratories Inc. Norbrook Inc. Others Request a Customized Copy of the US Animal Health Market Report @ https://www.custommarketinsights.com/report/us-animal-healthcare-market/ (We customized your report to meet your specific research requirements. Inquire with our sales team about customizing your report.) Still, Looking for More Information? Do OR Want Data for Inclusion in magazines, case studies, research papers, or Media? Email Directly Here with Detail Information: support@custommarketinsights.com Browse the full US Animal Healthcare Market Size, Trends and Insights By Animal Type (Dog, Cat, Equine, Others), By Product (Vaccines, Pharmaceuticals, OTC, Prescription, Feed Additives, Diagnostics, Others), By Distribution Channel (Retail, E-commerce, Hospital Pharmacy), By End-use (Point-of-care testing/In-house testing, Veterinary Hospitals & Clinics, Others), and By Region - Industry Overview, Statistical Data, Competitive Analysis, Share, Outlook, and Forecast 20232030 Report at https://www.custommarketinsights.com/report/us-animal-healthcare-market/ The US Animal Health Market is segmented as follows: Animal Type Outlook Dog Cat Equine Others Product Outlook Vaccines Pharmaceuticals OTC Prescription Feed Additives Diagnostics Others Distribution Channel Outlook Retail E-commerce Hospital Pharmacy End-use Outlook Point-of-care testing/In-house testing Veterinary Hospitals & Clinics Others By Region North America The U.S. Click Here to Access a Free Sample Report of the Global US Animal Health Market @ https://www.custommarketinsights.com/report/us-animal-healthcare-market/ Spectacular Deals Comprehensive coverage Maximum number of market tables and figures Subscription-based option offered Best price guarantee Free 35% or 60 hours of customization. Free post-sale service assistance. 25% discount on your next purchase. Service guarantees are available. Personalized market brief by author. Browse More Animal Health Related Reports: Dog Grooming Market : Dog Grooming Market Size, Trends, and Insights By Product (Conditioners & shampoos, Combs & brushes, Shear & trimming tools, Others), By Distribution Channel (Retail, E-commerce), and By Region - Global Industry Overview, Statistical Data, Competitive Analysis, Share Outlook, and Forecast 20222030 Animal Healthcare Market : Animal Healthcare Market Size, Trends and Insights By Animal Type (Companion animal, Production animal), By Product (Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines, Medical feed additives, Equipment and disposables, Diagnostics, Others), By Distribution Channel (Ecommerce, Retail, Veterinary hospitals and clinics), By End User (Reference laboratories, Veterinary hospitals and clinics, Point of care testing, Others), and By Region - Global Industry Overview, Statistical Data, Competitive Analysis, Share, Outlook, and Forecast 20222030 Veterinary Vaccine Market : Veterinary Vaccine Market Size, Trends and Insights By Vaccine (Livestock Vaccine [Porcine Vaccines, Poultry Vaccines, Bovine Vaccines, Other Livestock Vaccines], Companion Animal Vaccine [Canine Vaccines, Equine Vaccines, Feline Vaccines], By Technology (Inactivated Vaccines, Live Attenuated Vaccines, Recombinant Vaccines, Toxoid Vaccines, Other Technologies), and By Region - Global Industry Overview, Statistical Data, Competitive Analysis, Share, Outlook, and Forecast 20232030 Veterinary Orthopedic Implants Market : Veterinary Orthopedic Implants Market Size, Trends and Insights By Product (Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy, Advanced Locking Plate System, Total Knee Replacement Implants, Others), By End-User (Hospitals, Clinics, Others), and By Region - Global Industry Overview, Statistical Data, Competitive Analysis, Share, Outlook, and Forecast 20222030 Pet Supplement Market : Pet Supplement Market Size, Share, Growth Analysis Report By Pet Type (Cat, Dog, Fish, Others), By Product Type (Pills, Powders, Chewable, Others), By Distribution Channel (Offline, Online), and By Region - Global Industry Overview, Statistical Data, Competitive Intelligence, Trends, Outlook, and Forecast 20222030 This US Animal Health Market Research/Analysis Report Contains Answers to the following Questions. What Developments Are Going On in That Technology? Which Trends Are Causing These Developments? Who Are the Global Key Players in This US Animal Health Market? What are Their Company Profile, Product Information, and Contact Information? What Was the Global Market Status of the US Animal Health Market? What Was the Capacity, Production Value, Cost and PROFIT of the US Animal Health Market? What Is the Current Market Status of the US Animal Health Industry? What's Market Competition in This Industry, Both Company and Country Wise? What's Market Analysis of US Animal Health Market by Considering Applications and Types? What Are Projections of the Global US Animal Health Industry Considering Capacity, Production and Production Value? What Will Be the Estimation of Cost and Profit? What Will Be Market Share, Supply and Consumption? What about imports and exports? What Is US Animal Health Market Chain Analysis by Upstream Raw Materials and Downstream Industry? What Is the Economic Impact On US Animal Health Industry? What are Global Macroeconomic Environment Analysis Results? What Are Global Macroeconomic Environment Development Trends? What Are Market Dynamics of US Animal Health Market? What Are Challenges and Opportunities? What Should Be Entry Strategies, Countermeasures to Economic Impact, and Marketing Channels for US Animal Health Industry? Click Here to Get a Free Sample Report of the Global US Animal Health Market @ https://www.custommarketinsights.com/report/us-animal-healthcare-market/ Reasons to Purchase US Animal Health Market Report US Animal Health Market Report provides qualitative and quantitative analysis of the market based on segmentation involving economic and non-economic factors. US Animal Health Market report outlines market value (USD) data for each segment and sub-segment. This report indicates the region and segment expected to witness the fastest growth and dominate the market. US Animal Health Market Analysis by geography highlights the consumption of the product/service in the region and indicates the factors affecting the market within each region. The competitive landscape incorporates the market ranking of the major players, along with new service/product launches, partnerships, business expansions, and acquisitions in the past five years of companies profiled. Extensive company profiles comprising company overview, company insights, product benchmarking, and SWOT analysis for the major market players. The Industry's current and future market outlook concerning recent developments (which involve growth opportunities and drivers as well as challenges and restraints of both emerging and developed regions. US Animal Health Market Includes in-depth market analysis from various perspectives through Porter's five forces analysis and provides insight into the market through Value Chain. Reasons for the Research Report The study provides a thorough overview of the global US Animal Health market. Compare your performance to that of the market as a whole. Aim to maintain competitiveness while innovations from established key players fuel market growth. Request a Customized Copy of the US Animal Health Market Report @ https://www.custommarketinsights.com/report/us-animal-healthcare-market/ What does the report include? Drivers, restrictions, and opportunities are among the qualitative elements covered in the worldwide US Animal Health market analysis. The competitive environment of current and potential participants in the US Animal Health market is covered in the report, as well as those companies' strategic product development ambitions. According to the component, application, and industry vertical, this study analyzes the market qualitatively and quantitatively. Additionally, the report offers comparable data for the important regions. For each segment mentioned above, actual market sizes and forecasts have been given. Who should buy this report? Participants and stakeholders worldwide US Animal Health market should find this report useful. The research will be useful to all market participants in the US Animal Health industry. Managers in the US Animal Health sector are interested in publishing up-to-date and projected data about the worldwide US Animal Health market. Governmental agencies, regulatory bodies, decision-makers, and organizations want to invest in US Animal Health products' market trends. Market insights are sought for by analysts, researchers, educators, strategy managers, and government organizations to develop plans. Directly Purchase a copy of the report [220+ Pages] @ https://www.custommarketinsights.com/report/us-animal-healthcare-market/ About Custom Market Insights: Custom Market Insights is a market research and advisory company delivering business insights and market research reports to large, small, and medium-scale enterprises. We assist clients with strategies and business policies and regularly work towards achieving sustainable growth in their respective domains. CMI provides a one-stop solution for data collection to investment advice. The expert analysis of our company digs out essential factors that help to understand the significance and impact of market dynamics. The professional experts apply clients inside on the aspects such as strategies for future estimation fall, forecasting or opportunity to grow, and consumer survey. 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The expansion raises the number of hens at the farm by 140,000 from 200,000 and brings the total number of hens at Gyermelyi's farms to 680,000, the managing director of the firm's egg unit, Csaba Rethy, said. The company's annual egg output will rise from 140 million to 170 million, of which half will be sold fresh and the rest used for noodle production, he added. Gyermelyi was awarded HUF 700 mln in state support for the investment. Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Agriculture Istvan Nagy said development in the farm sector is a "calling," noting that the profitability of a single hectare of Hungarian farmland is 53% of the European Union average. Gyermelyi's noodle plant in Gyermely (35 km northwest of Budapest) turned out almost 42,000 tonnes of product last year; more than 35% of output was exported. Borsodi held an event on April 20, where, apart from recalling the most important events and innovations in the brewery's history, the company also demonstrated how modern keg tapping technology works, with customer excellence director Tibor Oz explaining the secrets of a perfect pint to the audience. IWG, the worlds largest provider of hybrid working solutions with brands including Spaces and Regus, is opening a new flexible workspace in Szeged as the demand for hybrid working rapidly accelerates, according to a press release sent to the Budapest Business Journal. This opening is being delivered in partnership with Cedrus Liget, who chose the IWG flexible workspace platform and has entered into a management agreement with the Regus brand. Szeged, one of the biggest cities in Hungary, is one of the fastest-growing regional locations. Demand for workspaces in the area has performed strongly, with the number of inquiries for space in IWG locations continuing to sharply increase. The building owners decided to invest in the IWG platform to maximize the return on their real estate space by capitalizing on the rapidly expanding demand for hybrid working. With an annual investment of around GBP 50 million into its technology platform, IWG provides partners with access to the companys expertise as well as design and fit-out support and sales and marketing capabilities. According to the press release, the location encapsulates the "15-Minute Commute" an increasingly popular concept, whereby all needs including housing, shopping, healthcare, and work facilities are within a 15-minute radius. The different working options are also an essential part of the concept, as they are the ones that could be implemented fastest and are generally welcomed by employees. The new Regus location will include facilities including private offices, meeting rooms, co-working, and creative spaces. Situated on Bakay Nandor utca in Szeged, this new Cedrus Liget location is part of a drive by IWG to meet the sharply rising demand for top-class flexible working space in Hungary's southern area. The office building is easily approachable via a 10-minute walk from the city's pedestrian streets, a 6-12 minute walk from the university faculties, and a 2-minute walk from the city's largest shopping center. The building will provide space for both established firms and startups across a wide range of industries, while IWGs "Design Your Own Office" service allows companies to tailor their space entirely to their requirements. Mark Dixon, CEO & founder of IWG, comments, We are establishing a stronger and much-needed footprint in Szeged with this latest opening. As an important business hub, Szeged is a fantastic place for us to boost our expansion plans. The need for high-quality flexible workspaces continues to soar as hybrid working becomes the new normal. We are very pleased to work in partnership with Cedrus Liget to develop the Regus brand under a management agreement that will add a cutting-edge workspace to their building. Our opening in Szeged comes at a time when more and more companies are discovering that flexible working boosts employee happiness and satisfaction while helping the environment. Our workplace model is also proven to increase productivity and allows for a business to scale up or down at significantly reduced costs, he adds. Chu Phan Huang, leader of Cedrus Liget, added, We are delighted that IWGs hybrid working solutions brand, Regus has chosen our facility to set up its new center. Our unique location at the gate of Szeged city center created a high demand for a top-quality working space for the companies and their workers in this area and by the partnership with Regus brand we can fully meet the demands increasing the value of the facility and the provided services even further. A demonstration was held in Budapest on Monday in protest against draft legislation changing the employment status of teachers. Protesters marched from downtown Kalvin Square to the building of the interior ministry chanting slogans such as The status law is revenge law, General strike, Pinter resign referring to the interior minister, and police state is no rule of law. In front of the interior ministry on Roosevelt Square, Erzsebet Nagy of teachers union PDSZ called on the government to withdraw the draft, as it aims not to improve education but to discipline teachers. Instead, the government should come up with legislation in line with its commitments to the European Union during negotiations on accessing its recovery and resilience funding, which would improve public education and money would also flow in, Nagy said. Nagy noted that all the large groups of the European Parliament had turned to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a letter, asking that the EC put pressure on the government to withdraw the legislation. After the demonstration in front of the ministry, some demonstrators marched to the Prime Ministers Office in the Castle District. The Budapest police headquarters said late on Monday that an unregistered protest had been held at the Prime Ministers Office where many of the protesters acted aggressively with police who used tear gas against them. Earlier on Monday, opposition Parbeszed also held a protest in front of the ministry. Ministry: Teachers Set to Receive Further Pay Hikes New draft legislation supporting the careers of teachers serves to improve the quality of public education, the interior ministry said on Monday, adding teachers could expect further wage hikes and streamlined advancement. The ministry reacted to a statement by teachers union PDSZ and protests organised by the body on Monday. The ministry said it has been in talks on the new draft legislation with the National Teachers Chamber and the National Public Education Council for a month and a half. The bills will be submitted to the government once the consultations are concluded, the statement said. The draft proposals are aimed at establishing a new career model for teachers and improving the quality of public education, the ministry said. Children come first in education, it said, adding that teachers could expect further wage increases and streamlined advancement. Those who do a better job teaching and focus more on the children can earn more money, they said. The ministry said it was regrettable that PDSZ, which barely represents one percent of teachers, continued to act as a political organisation of the left, and organises strikes and demonstrations instead of being a professional partner in improving education for children, parents satisfaction and the situation of teachers together. The statement noted that the government raised teachers wages by 10% from January, but will bump them up to 21% retroactively as soon as Hungary receives the European Union funding it is entitled to. Wages may increase by 25% in 2024 and by up to 30% in 2025, compared with 2021 levels, it said. The government is committed to having teachers wages reach 80% of the average wage of degree holders by 2025, it said. A video about the protest available here MTI Photo from an earlier demo by Tibor Illyes LINCOLN Sometime this summer, Nebraskans will be allowed to carry concealed weapons without a permit under a new law signed by Gov. Jim Pillen on Tuesday. Pillen signed Legislative Bill 77 into law at a press conference Tuesday afternoon, a week after the bill was passed by state lawmakers in a 33-14 vote following three rounds of debate. Pillen said the bill upholds the right to bear arms enshrined in both the U.S. and Nebraska Constitutions. Today, with the signing of this bill into law, we do justice to the constitutional promise, Pillen said. LB 77 will allow Nebraskans 21 and older to carry concealed weapons without a permit. The bill will apply statewide and invalidate any local ordinances limiting that ability. It will take effect 90 days after the session ends, likely near the end of August or early September. Currently in Nebraska, getting a concealed carry permit requires passing a criminal background check, paying a $100 fee and taking an eight- to 16-hour gun safety class. LB 77 will allow people to continue getting permits if they wanted. It would not change who is allowed to purchase firearms in Nebraska, nor would it change where people are allowed to carry concealed weapons. Measures like LB 77 are sometimes called constitutional carry in reference to some gun rights advocates belief that the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives people the right to carry concealed guns without a permit. State Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon had attempted to pass such a measure since he took office in 2017. He took time during Tuesdays press conference to thank other lawmakers who supported his effort. For some of us, this has been a long endeavor, Brewer said. An amendment folded into LB 77 added an extra misdemeanor charge if someone carries a firearm while committing certain dangerous misdemeanors, including domestic assault, shoplifting or stalking. It also will make it a felony, on a third offense, for people to fail to notify a law enforcement official that they were carrying a weapon. The amendment turned the Nebraska Sheriffs Association into being a supporter of the bill, and changed the position of Omaha and Lincoln police unions and the Police Chiefs Association of Nebraska to neutral. However, Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer and Lincoln Police Chief Teresa Ewins remained opposed to LB 77, along with Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and a majority of Omaha City Council members. The bill stirred up its fair share of controversy, prompting several protests from students and parents who largely argued the legislation would make Nebraska less safe. One of those protestors, Melody Vaccaro, was banned from entering the Capitol after she shouted Shame from the legislative balcony after LB 77 passed the final round of debate. Neither Pillen or Brewer touched on the recent opposition to LB 77 at the press conference. However, Pillen did comment that he believed the bill would be an early step in what he expects will be a historic session, even as several opposing lawmakers continue their effort to slow legislation down in protest to a separate bill intent on banning gender-affirming care for people under 19. I might add, we are just getting started, Pillen said. Photos: 2023 Nebraska legislative session Major automakers around the world are focused on adding more and bigger screens to their vehicles. But changing the pattern, Hyundai has come up with a different idea to de-clutter the dashboard of a car. Hyundai and its Mobis technology arm have developed a screen that reduces the space it takes by rolling the screen up. Furthermore, this feature of the screen comes without sacrificing any quality of the screen, like a high-resolution display. The company also claims that this is the first time the technology is being used in the automobile world by bringing it out of the world of smartphones. The technological advancement in vehicles can be made possible by the use of Organic Emitting Diode (OLED) technology. The use of this tech allows the display to be made using a flexible material instead of glass. Also read: Watch: Tourists Caught Dancing On Rental Mahindra Thar In Goa, 'Everyday Affair' Say Netizens The foldable screens will leave a lot of space on the dashboard giving designers more room for creativity and features. Furthermore, this seems to be in sync with the minimalistic designs that most manufacturers seem to be following in their new vehicles. The method may be used in a variety of sizes and is effectively adaptable. It could only display a small portion of the screen when you're driving to reduce distractions, but when it's charging, it can expand to its full 16:9 orientation to display videos. According to Hyundai Mobis, this screen can already be rolled up into an area in the dashboard that is 4.7 inches (12 cm) deep and can accommodate displays up to 30 inches in size. The creator of the technology Hyundai Mobis also claims that the technology might be more appealing to North American and European brands. With this, the company hints that the new technology will not be limited to its parent company. The recently inaugurated new integrated terminal (T-2) of the Chennai international airport here on Tuesday witnessed arrival of its first flight with customary water cannon salute. The Chennai Airport tweeted: "First flight @usbanglaairline BS 205 docks in at New Integrated Terminal Building (NITB). The airline was accorded the customary water cannon salute on arrival to NITB." While BS 205 is Dhaka to Chennai, BS 206 is Chennai to Dhaka, which departed on time. A passenger, Thammem from Bangladesh said the new terminal is "well organised, perfect and beautiful" and he was happy to be among the first group of travellers to arrive at Chennai's T-2. This was his first visit to India/Chennai. Before boarding a flight to Dhaka, a passenger, Ashok said the terminal has state-of-the-art facilities and he was thrilled to travel on the first flight to depart from the new terminal. Similar was the reaction of other passengers. The US-Bangla Airline @usbanglaairline BS 205/206 would operate from the NITB (T-2) on April 25, the Chennai Airport had said. Among the cultural aspects of the new terminal is a sculpture of "The boatman" in the arrival area which depicts the traditional fishermen of the state termed an "ingenuous tribute" to their way of life. On April 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new terminal building set up at a total outlay of Rs 2,437 crore. Nepal's civil aviation authority on Tuesday banned two managers of the FlyDubai airline from entering the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) "for spreading rumours of a bird-hit" involving an aircraft of the Gulf-based airline. The FlyDubai aircraft, which took off from Kathmandu airport on Monday with 168 people on board and developed a problem in one of its engines, landed safely in Dubai on Tuesday morning. The Kathmandu-Dubai flight of FlyDubai encountered a problem while taking off at 9.20 PM on Monday. The aircraft made a round in the sky of Kathmandu and reached the sky in Dhading district located in the West of Kathmandu. The pilot later informed the air traffic controllers at the Kathmandu airport that the problem had been resolved, and the aircraft headed towards its destination, Dubai. The aircraft had a problem with one of its engines and part of the aircraft caught fire. After checking all the indicators the pilot found no further problem with the engine, it flew towards the destination, where it landed safely. Despite an engine problem, the aircraft flew towards its destination. But the official page of FlyDubai claimed that the aircraft was hit by a bird. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) rejected the claim, saying the aircraft didn't encounter a bird hit during the incident. CAAN has taken action against two of the managers of FlyDubai. "As the two managers of the FlyDubai spread rumour that there was a bird hit involving the Kathmandu-Dubai flight, action has been taken against the country manager and airport manager of the FlyDubai," the CAAN said in a statement. According to CAAN, the two managers of the FlyDubai have been banned from entering the airport and their airport passes have also been deactivated. A flight from Cairns to the Northern Territory of Australia had to make an emergency landing after a fight between passengers onboard. Four passengers onboard the flight engaged in a brawl mid-air while other flyers remained spectators, as per News.com's report. The violence on the flight among the passengers forced the pilot to return to the origin airport, and another fight forced the plane to perform an emergency landing. The whole incident on the plane was caught on camera and shared on various social media platforms. The reports online quote the Australian Federal Police (AFP) claiming that the incident on the Cairns-Groote Eylandt flight occurred on Thursday, April 20, forcing the plane to return. Upon return, one of the female passengers onboard was charged with common assault, disorderly behaviour, and not obeying the cabin crew's instructions. Also read: Over 50 IndiGo, Go First Planes Grounded Due To Pratt & Whitney Engine Issue After removing the unruly female passenger, the plane took off again for its destinations. However, the same group of passengers got into another fight, resulting in a smashed aircraft window. Following this, the flight made an emergency landing in Alyangula on Groote Eylandt. Upon landing, the unruly passengers were arrested by the NT Police Department. Departing Cairns today.. Just someone trying to glass someone. More fighting amongst themselves. Complete disregard for other passengers and the plane. I wonder if there were any consequences. #VoteNO #VoiceToParliament pic.twitter.com/v5iKWbWRtM Jet Ski Bandit (@fulovitboss) April 20, 2023 The brawl video shared on social media shows the group of passengers fighting near the aisle of the plane. They can be seen trying to slap and hit each other while other passengers onboard watch the brawl. After a while, one of the passengers can be seen raising a bottle above the head of other passengers, seemingly to hit someone. Seriously unbelievable ( courtesy of the mango enquirer facebook page) A flight from Cairns to Groote Eylandt was forced to return mid-flight yesterday afternoon, after a fight broke out onboard the aircraft. FIFO workers had to step in to assist flight staff quell the unrest. pic.twitter.com/MWBZ4dTXyy Action for Alice 2020 - Darren Clark (@actionforalice) April 21, 2023 A 23-year-old man who was involved in the incident was accused of endangering other passengers on purpose, aggravated assault, property damage, disorderly conduct in a public place, and breaking a domestic violence order. While a 22-year-old passenger was charged with commercial drug supply, drug possession, impeding an officer, disorderly conduct, and alcohol possession in a prohibited place. As per the reports, all three passengers are expected to be presented in the Darwin Local Court on Monday. LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Board on Tuesday, broke the record of 100 years by announcing the results of 10th and 12th grades in just 67 days, the government informed in a press release. "The Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Council (Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad) has declared the results of Class 10 and 12 board exams, with 89.78 per cent of students clearing Class 10 examinations and 75.52 per cent of students passing the Class 12 exams," the release stated. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated students on their successes and also announced to honour students who have scored in the top 10 at the state and district levels in the examinations. It is noteworthy that 253 intermediate students and 179 high school students, respectively, made it to the top 10 according to the results that were declared. A total of 432 students have been included in the top-10 in both examinations. Also, the UP Board exams began on February 16, one day after Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), but UP Board results were released prior to CBSE, even though UP Board has many times more students than CBSE, the release stated. Director of Secondary Education Council Mahendra Dev and Secretary Dibyakant Shukla, on Tuesday, provided information about this achievement while declaring the results of UP Board`s high school and intermediate examination. Board director Mahendra Dev said that in high school, Priyanshi Soni of Sitapur secured the top position by scoring 590 marks out of 600 whereas, Mahoba`s Shubh Chhapra has topped the Intermediate exams, scoring 489 marks out of 500.Board Secretary Dibyakant Shukla said that the Board of Secondary Education has set a record by declaring the results in the shortest period of time in the history of 100 years. He said that after the formation of the board in 1921, the first board examination was conducted in 1923. Since then, the board has declared the result in the shortest possible time. Earlier in 2019, the result was announced on April 27 in the shortest possible time of 89 days as the examination started on February 7. This time the examinations were conducted after February 16, and the results were declared in a total of 67 days, the release stated. Dibyakant Shukla also said that according to the intention of Chief Minister Yogi, this year the board had succeeded in conducting a cheating-free examination. This was the first time in 30 years that no paper was leaked, no exam was cancelled and there was no mass copying. He said that being the world`s largest board, it is a matter of pride that this is the first time in the last 100 years that all the results are complete. Some results used to be incomplete in the past for a variety of reasons. He stated that the Grievance Cell would address the issues of the students after the results were announced. At the regional office level, grievance cells have been established and will begin to operate the following week. The issues of the students who submitted the application will be dealt with here within the allotted time. After Monday, the work of the scrutiny application will begin. CM Yogi Adityanath took to Twitter to congratulate students on their success. He posted, "Hearty congratulations to all the students, their parents and teachers who have passed the 10th and 12th class examinations of the Board of Secondary Education, Uttar Pradesh. All of you are the pillars of the golden future of `New Uttar Pradesh`. "May you all have a bright future with the blessings of Maa Saraswati. In the 10th and 12th board exams, the students who get the top 10 positions at the state level will be honoured at the state level and the students who get the top 10 positions at the district level will be honoured at the district level by the state government," he added. As per the release, UP Board has also created another history in the evaluation of answer sheets of board exams. Board Chairman Dr Mahendra Dev said that this time the evaluation of answer sheets for the UP Board started on March 18. To check the answer sheets, 258 centres were set up in the state, in which a total of 3.19 crore books were to be evaluated. For this, 1,43,933 examiners were appointed. The date for completion of the evaluation of answer sheets was fixed as April 1, but the board completed the evaluation a day earlier, i.e. on March 31, 2023. This is also a record, the release added. New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that outsiders were brought to the state to carry out attacks on Kaliaganj Police Station and private property at Kaliaganj in Uttar Dinajpur district. Banerjee alleged BJP was behind the incidents of vandalism that rocked Kaliganj following the death of a minor girl and directed the state police to explore attaching properties of those found involved in the arson. "Outsiders were brought in to set fire to Kaliaganj police station as well as ordinary people's property. Police will explore attaching properties of those involved in rioting," Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat after an administrative meeting. "The BJP is carrying out hooliganism in Bengal. They are attempting to create disturbance in Bengal. We will defeat this conspiracy to create anarchy," she said. She claimed the centre was trying to "disturb all states where the opposition was in power." Lauding the police for disarming and arresting a man who barged into a school in Old Malda brandishing a gun, thereby averting a school hostage crisis, Banerjee alleged that the entire matter may have been a plot. "Case of man brandishing gun at Malda school may not be act of lunacy," the chief minister said. Police Avert Hostage Crisis In Bengal school A gun-wielding man barged into a packed classroom at a high school in West Bengal's Malda district Wednesday afternoon, but was overpowered by police and arrested, officials said. Panic gripped the students of Muchia Anchal Chandra Mohan High School at Old Malda, as the unidentified man brandished the gun and started yelling, a senior police officer said. Also Read: West Bengal: Mob Protesting Death Of Teenage Girl In Kaliaganj Sets Police Station On Fire "The man managed to enter the school and barge into the room where Class-8 students were seated. He was holding a gun and shouting at the students, allegedly threatening to kill them and the class teacher," the officer told PTI. The man identified by bystanders as Vallabh kept shouting he 'would shoot if someone shoots him'. The person who is being was however overpowered by bystanders and police personnel and arrested, the officer said, adding, a pistol, two bottles containing some liquid and a knife were seized from his possession. The bespectacled man claimed he acted in this way, as his son and wife have been missing since a year, and he wanted to exert pressure on the administration to take note of it. However, according to his neighbours the man in his mid-40s, is separated from his wife and his child lives with her. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Viscom fair value estimate is 9.54 Viscom's 10.50 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate Viscom's peers seem to be trading at a higher premium to fair value based onthe industry average of -51% Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Viscom AG (ETR:V6C) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Viscom The Model We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (, Millions) 9.30m 4.90m 4.30m 3.50m 6.10m 6.36m 6.55m 6.69m 6.79m 6.87m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 4.22% Est @ 3.00% Est @ 2.15% Est @ 1.55% Est @ 1.14% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 7.7% 8.6 4.2 3.4 2.6 4.2 4.1 3.9 3.7 3.5 3.3 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 41m Story continues The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (0.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.7%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = 6.9m (1 + 0.2%) (7.7% 0.2%) = 91m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 91m ( 1 + 7.7%)10= 43m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is 85m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of 10.5, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Viscom as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.7%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.273. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Viscom Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is well covered by earnings. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Electronic market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the German market. Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Paying a dividend but company has no free cash flows. Moving On: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Viscom, there are three important items you should further research: Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Viscom . Future Earnings: How does V6C's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every German stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here New Delhi: Indian Air Force's first flight carrying Indian nationals who were evacuated from Sudan landed in Delhi on Wednesday. The special flight was carrying 360 Indian evacuees from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Under its evacuation mission 'Operation Kaveri', India is taking the evacuees to the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah from where they are returning home. India has set up a transit facility at Jeddah and Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan is overseeing the evacuation mission from the Saudi Arabian city. #WATCH | A special flight, carrying 360 Indian evacuees from Sudan, lands in Delhi from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia pic.twitter.com/v7WmyR9sDm ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 India has evacuated at least 534 Indian nationals from Sudan and is looking to rescue more of its citizens from the strife-torn African nation before the end of a tenuous ceasefire between the regular army and a paramilitary force, news agency PTI reported. Two C-130J military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force brought to Jeddah 256 Indians from Port Sudan on Wednesday, a day after an Indian Navy ship rescued 278 citizens from that country. The total number of Indians evacuated so far from Sudan stands at 534, according to official data. India welcomes back its own. #OperationKaveri brings 360 Indian Nationals to the homeland as first flight reaches New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/v9pBLmBQ8X Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 26, 2023 Evacuted Indians From Sudan Narrate Their Experience The Indians evacuated from violence-hit Sudan narrated their ordeal and said that the fight was so intense that it became an everyday struggle to even arrange for food. Narrating his experience, one of the Indian nationals evacuated from Sudan told ANI, "The fight was intense. We were struggling for food. The scenario continued for 2-3 days." Sudan is facing violence due to fighting between the army and the paramilitary forces. Also Read: Explained: What is Sudan Crisis? Know All About The Conflict There are reports of violence even amid a 72-hour ceasefire. Fighting has been raging between forces loyal to Sudan`s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Also Read: Saudi Arabia Evacuates Indians, Nationals Of 11 Other Countries From Sudan In a separate statement, another evacuated Indian said, "The tent of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) was fixated near our company. Early morning at around 9, the forces entered our company. We were looted." "They kept us, hostage, for 8 hours. They kept riffles at our chest and looted us. Our mobiles were stolen," he told ANI. #WATCH | Indian nationals evacuated from Sudan, narrate their ordeal in the conflict-torn country. pic.twitter.com/c6zcN84r9G ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday termed Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks that Karnataka will be afflicted with riots if the grand old party comes to power as a "brazenly intimidatory statement", and accused him of "issuing threats" during the election campaign. Addressing a public meeting on Tuesday in Karnataka's Belagavi district, Shah said the development of the state will be on the "reverse gear" if the Congress forms the government. "If the Congress comes to power, dynastic politics will be at an all-time high and Karnataka will be afflicted with riots," the home minister had said. Hitting back at Shah, Congress general secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said, "This is a brazenly intimidatory statement. The Union Home Minister having allegiance to an organisation banned by India's very first Home Minister is now issuing threats during an election campaign when staring at certain defeat." In another tweet, Ramesh said that it is now clear that BJP is losing Karnataka decisively. The response of the people to the campaigns of the Congress leadership has been overwhelming, he said. "This explains Amit Shah's 4-I strategy: Insult, Inflame, Incite and Intimidate. Shame on Shah! We are raising it with the ECI," Ramesh said. The Congress had criticised Shah on Tuesday as well over his reported remarks that the upcoming Karnataka polls are not just to elect MLAs but to entrust the future of the state in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Opposition party had claimed that the comments were an "insult" to 6.5 crore Kannadigas. Voting for the Karnataka Assembly polls will take place on May 10 and the counting of votes is scheduled for May 13. Bengaluru: Amid high-voltage electioneering in poll-bound Karnataka, a defamation case has been filed against Karnataka`s Leader of Opposition and Congress stalwart Siddaramaiah over his alleged statement on corruption practised by Lingayat Chief Ministers in the state. According to reports, the defamation suit against Siddaramaiah has been filed by activist Shankar Sait at the Magistrate court in Bengaluru on Tuesday. The court, after accepting his petition, adjourned the matter to April 29. A complaint had also been registered against the Congress leader with the Election Commission in this regard already. The statement that Lingayat CMs indulged in corruption and destroyed the state has stirred controversy ahead of the May 10 Assembly elections. The Lingayat Yuva Vedike Legal Cell, which had lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, claimed that Siddaramaiah had insulted the Lingayat community and defamed it. Siddaramaiah Clarifies On Lingayat CM Remark Siddaramaiah had clarified after a row over his remarks. He said that he meant to say Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who is the present CM, is indulged in corruption and destroyed the state and he didn`t mean to comment about others. The Congress leader stated that his remarks were twisted and misinterpreted by the BJP. My comments referred only to Bommai. I only said Basavaraj Bommai alone is corrupt. I did not say Lingayats are corrupt. Therefore, making such a sweeping report is inappropriate. There have been very honest Lingayat chief ministers. There was S. Nijalingappa, Virendra Patil and others for whom I have a lot of respect as they were very honest chief ministers. My comments have been twisted and misinterpreted by the BJP, he said. Shettar Defends Siddaramaiah Meanwhile, Congress leader Jagadish Shettar, who is a candidate from Karnataka`s Hubli-Dharwad-Central constituency, defended LoP Siddaramaiah`s "Corrupt Lingayat Chief Minister" remark and said that the comment was aimed at CM Basavaraj Bommai and not on all Lingayat CMs. "His comment was only on the present CM Bommai and not all Lingayat CMs. He did not comment on other Lingayat CMs", Shettar told news agency ANI. BJP Steps Up Attack On Siddaramaiah The BJP has also made it a big poll issue in the state and used it as a weapon to control the damage caused by the exit of former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi demanded an apology from former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over his remark where he mentioned that `Lingayat CM had done corruption` in the state adding that it is an insult to Karnataka. Joshi said, "The statement where he mentioned that Lingayat Chief Ministers are corrupt is condemnable. This is an insult to Karnataka. We demand that Siddaramaiah should apologise for this". Shettar became the second senior leader from the Lingayat community to leave the ruling BJP and join Congress in less than a week. Earlier, former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi joined the Congress. BJP has fielded Mahesh Tenginkai against the Shettar for the seat in the upcoming polls. The 224-seat Assembly polls are slated to take place in a single phase on May 10 and results will be declared on May 13. New Delhi: Amid the 72-hour ceasefire that has been agreed upon by the two warring factions in Sudan, countries have been evacuating their citizens at the speed of light, India being one to recently evacuate its nationals under Operation Kaveri. The Indian Air Force very recently rescued another batch of around 250 trapped Indians from conflict-torn Sudan as part of the rescue effort. More than 250 people were evacuated from Port Sudan by two IAF C-130 J planes. Prior to this, 135 more stranded Indians were rescued from Sudan on Wednesday. The Indians evacuated from violence-hit Sudan, too had a story to tell. They narrated their ordeal and said that the fight was so intense that it became an everyday struggle to even arrange for food. Narrating his experience, one of the Indian nationals evacuated from Sudan told ANI, "The fight was intense. We were struggling for food. The scenario continued for 2-3 days." Sudan is facing violence due to fighting between the army and the paramilitary forces. There are reports of violence even amid a 72-hour ceasefire. Fighting has been raging between forces loyal to Sudan`s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In a separate statement, another evacuated Indian said, "The tent of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) was fixated near our company. Early morning at around 9, the forces entered our company. We were looted." "They kept us, hostage, for 8 hours. They kept riffles at our chest and looted us. Our mobiles were stolen," he told ANI. #WATCH | Indian nationals evacuated from Sudan, narrate their ordeal in the conflict-torn country. pic.twitter.com/c6zcN84r9G ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 "We kept in touch with the Embassy and told them to arrange for the buses, as we had diesel. The Indian Navy came and treated us well," the Indian national evacuated from Sudan said. The conflict began when a coup in 2021 between Sudan`s military leader and his deputy on the ruling council erupted derailing a plan for a transition to a civilian democracy after the fall of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019. Also Read: Explained: What is Sudan Crisis? Know All About The Conflict 'Operation Kaveri` As the fighting between the Sudanese Army and paramilitary groups intensified in the capital Khartoum, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed on Monday that its `Operation Kaveri` to evacuate its citizens from battle-torn Sudan is underway and about 500 Indians had reached Port Sudan. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, "Operation Kaveri gets underway to bring back our citizens stranded in Sudan. About 500 Indians have reached Port Sudan. More on their way. Our ships and aircraft are set to bring them back home. Committed to assisting all our brethren in Sudan."Previously, France Embassy in India informed that their country has evacuated some Indians along with citizens of 27 other countries as part of its evacuation mission from violence-hit Sudan. Earlier, on Saturday, Saudi Arabia said it has evacuated 66 citizens of "brotherly and friendly" foreign countries that included a few Indian nationals from the conflict-hit nation. The evacuation came days after Jaishankar spoke to his Saudi Arabia counterpart. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Sudan. #WATCH | Indian nationals evacuated from #Sudan thank Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia and the Indian govt for the smooth arrangements. pic.twitter.com/oWkRB3tjbo ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 Various countries have successfully evacuated their citizens from the violence-hit North African country. However, there is still an immense concern about the safety of those who still remain in the country, regardless of their nationality, given the ongoing violence and its impact on critical resources like food, water and medical care. JEDDAH: The third batch of another 135 stranded Indians, aboard the second IAF C-130J aircraft, left strife-torn Sudan on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, received the second batch of the 148 evacuated Indians as the first IAF C-130J reached Jeddah airport on Wednesday. Earlier, naval vessel INS Sumedha reached Jeddah port with 278 evacuated passengers."#OperationKaveri in full swing. The second IAF C-130J flight departs Port Sudan for Jeddah, carrying another 135 passengers. This is the third batch of evacuees under #OperationKaveri," MEA tweeted. Earlier on Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted that 121 passengers left by the IAF C-130J aircraft.However, the MoS MEA later tweeted saying 148 Indians were evacuated in the second batch. "First IAF C-130J aircraft under #OperationKaveri from Port Sudan carrying 148 Indians landed in Jeddah," tweeted MoS MEA V Muraleedharan. A second C-130 flight reaches Jeddah bringing 135 passengers from Sudan.#OperationKaveri moving steadily forward. pic.twitter.com/JvwKgelnqN Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 25, 2023 Third batch comprising 135 Indians from Port Sudan arrived in Jeddah by IAF C-130J aircraft. Onward journey to India for all who arrived in Jeddah will commence shortly. #OperationKaveri pic.twitter.com/OHhC5G2Pg8 April 26, 2023 On Tuesday, the Union minister of state for External Affairs inspected the transit facility at the International Indian School, Jeddah where Indians evacuated from Sudan will be received & put up briefly before arriving in India."Inspected transit facility @IndianPage, Jeddah where Indians evacuated from Sudan will be received & put up briefly before travel to India. It is fully equipped incl with mattresses, provisions, fresh meals, toilets, medical facilities, Wifi. Has 24*7 control room. #OperationKaveri," the MoS wrote on Twitter. #OperationKaveri in full swing. Second IAF C-130J flight departs Port Sudan for Jeddah, carrying another 135 passengers. This is the third batch of evacuees under #OperationKaveri. pic.twitter.com/oQzsH4yBAr Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 25, 2023 As the fighting between the Sudanese Army and paramilitary groups intensified in the capital Khartoum, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed on Monday that its 'Operation Kaveri' to evacuate its citizens from battle-torn Sudan is underway and about 500 Indians had reached Port Sudan.India launched "Operation Kaveri" to bring back stranded Indians from the war-torn country. First IAF C-130J aircraft under #OperationKaveri from Port Sudan carrying 148 Indians landed in Jeddah. Glad to see the joy in the Indians. pic.twitter.com/PwvDFFiHFK April 25, 2023 Indian Navy's INS Teg on Tuesday joined `Operation Kaveri` to further facilitate the ongoing evacuation of Indians stranded in Sudan. The frigate on Tuesday arrived at Port Sudan with additional officials and essential relief supplies for stranded Indians, a senior MEA official said. "INS Teg joins #OperationKaveri. Arrives at Port Sudan with additional officials and essential relief supplies for stranded Indians," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted on Tuesday. "Will boost ongoing evacuation efforts by Embassy Camp Office at Port Sudan," Bagchi added. INS Teg is the fourth Talwar-class frigate constructed for the Indian Navy.In a recent development, warring factions in Sudan have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire on Monday after the US and Saudi Arabia mediated the truce while countries are engaged in evacuating their citizens from the country. NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH: President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several ministers and leaders cutting across party lines condoled the death of former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday, hailing his contribution to the state as well as the country. Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Badal died at a private hospital in Mohali at the age of 95. President Murmu said Badal was one of the tallest political stalwarts since independence. "Though his exemplary career in public service was largely confined to Punjab, he was respected across the country. His demise leaves a void. My heartfelt condolences to his family and admirers," the Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted. Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar said the passing of Badal is a great loss to Punjab and the nation. "He will always be remembered for his exceptional leadership, vision, and unwavering dedication to the welfare of the people," the vice president said in his condolence message. Prime Minister Modi described Badal's demise as a "personal loss" and said he was a colossal figure of Indian politics who contributed greatly to the nation. "Extremely saddened by the passing away of Shri Parkash Singh Badal Ji. He was a colossal figure of Indian politics, and a remarkable statesman who contributed greatly to our nation," Modi said in a tweet. Badal worked tirelessly for the progress of Punjab and anchored the state through critical times, the prime minister said. "Parkash Singh Badal's passing away is a personal loss for me. I have interacted closely with him for many decades and learnt so much from him," Modi said. "I recall our numerous conversations, in which his wisdom was always clearly seen. Condolences to his family and countless admirers," he said. In a series of tweets, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Badal played a significant role in Punjab's politics for decades and made several noteworthy contributions towards the welfare of farmers and other weaker sections of society. "Badal Sahab was the son of soil who remained connected to his roots, all his life. I fondly remember my interactions with him on several issues. I'm deeply anguished by his demise. His demise is a personal loss to me. My heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family and supporters," Singh said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the passing away of the veteran leader is deeply saddening. "His career spanning several decades was dedicated to the welfare of the poor. His demise is an irreparable loss to Indian politics.... I was fortunate to meet Parkash Singh Badal Sahab on several occasions. His unparalleled political experience was very helpful in public life and always a delight to listen to. The memories of those meetings will always remain with me," he said. The governors of Punjab and Haryana and the chief ministers of several states, including Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, condoled the demise of Badal. Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit described Badal as a towering figure in Indian politics and a leader who served the people of Punjab with distinction. "Badal was a man of integrity, wisdom, and compassion, who devoted his life to the service of our people. He was a true son of Punjab, who worked tirelessly to promote the interests of our state and its people," Purohit said. Expressing his condolences, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said, "He was an able administrator and above all a fine human being with qualities of head and heart." Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar who went to the hospital in Mohali offered his condolences to Badal's son Sukhbir Singh Badal. Speaking to the media outside the hospital, Khattar said former CM Badal was a leader with a foresight. "He always raised his voice for farmers, the poor and the downtrodden. He served people and today an era has come to an end with his demise," Khattar said. AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister tweeted in Hindi, "Received very sad information about the demise of former chief minister of Punjab Sardar Parkash Singh Badal. May Waheguru ji give his soul a place in his holy feet." "My condolences are with Sukhbir Badal ji and his entire family," he added. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed grief at the demise of Badal. Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said, "His demise brings down the curtain on an accomplished political career, which served people of Punjab with tireless dedication." Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J P Nadda said Badal was a towering political figure whose contributions to the development of Punjab are immense and will always be remembered. "Deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of Former CM of Punjab Prakash Singh Badal Ji. He was a towering political figure whose contributions to the development of Punjab are immense & will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family & supporters. Om Shanti," Nadda tweeted. The Congress said his demise marked the end of an era in Indian politics. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said in a tweet, "Although we differed in our ideologies, he earned immense respect among the people of Punjab for his simplicity and loyalty to his cadre, as he served multiple terms as CM." Condoling Badal's passing, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the news was saddening. Former Punjab chief ministers Amarinder Singh and Charanjit Singh Channi also paid tributes to Badal. Amarinder Singh said it was not only a loss to the family but to the entire state and the country as a whole. He said Badal was a towering leader who commanded respect across states and party lines. His absence will be felt for a long time and the void created will be difficult to fill, he said. Haryana's Chautalas, who shared a close bond with the Badal family, on Tuesday expressed sadness at the death of Badal. "He was the head of our family," said Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala. "We are in a state of shock and deeply saddened by his death. For the last five decades, Sardar Parkash Singh Badal had an unbreakable relationship with our family," said Abhay Singh Chautala, the younger son of INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav tweeted in Hindi, "The death of senior politician and former chief minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal is very sad. May God give peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family. Heartfelt condolence!" Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, in a tweet in Hindi, said, "Extremely saddened by the news of the demise of Shiromani Akali Dal's patron and former chief minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal, who had traveled a long respected political journey. My deepest condolences to his family and all followers." Former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar described Badal as one of Punjab's tallest political leaders since independence and said his demise will leave a void in the political firmament of the state. New Delhi: Amid a strained relationship between India and China, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will on Thursday hold a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu in Delhi. This is the first visit by a Chinese defense minister to India since the violent clashes between the Indian and Chinese armies along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh's Galwan Valley in 2020. Last year, the then Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi visited India, followed by the visit of the new Chinese FM Qin Gang this year for the G20 Foreign Ministers meet. The meeting between Rajnath Singh and Li Shangu comes ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers' meet that will take place in the national capital on Friday. No details have been given by either side on topics that will be on the agenda of the bilateral meet. Earlier on Sunday, India and China held the 18th round of Corps Commander Level talks at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side. "The two sides had a frank and in-depth discussion on the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector so as to restore peace and tranquility in the border areas, which will enable progress in bilateral relations," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement. In line with the guidance provided by the State Leaders and further to the meeting between the two Foreign Ministers in March 2023, they had an exchange of views in an open and candid manner, the statement added. "In the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain the security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector. The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest," the statement read. Chinese, Russian defence ministers in India for SCO meet Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu, Russia's Sergei Shoigu, and their counterparts from the other member countries of the grouping, except Pakistan's Khawaja Asif, are set to attend the key SCO meeting in Delhi. In a statement, India's defence ministry said counter-terror cooperation and matters concerning regional peace and security will figure prominently at the SCO defence ministerial conclave. It said the theme of India's presidency of the grouping in 2023 is "Secure SCO". The SCO meeting will be chaired by Rajnath Singh. "The defence ministers will discuss amongst other issues concerning regional peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts within the SCO and an effective multilateralism," the ministry said. It said India attaches special importance to the SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. "The SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, equality of all member states and mutual understanding and respect for opinions of each of them," it added. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Over the years, it has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations. India and Pakistan became permanent members in 2017. New Delhi: The Supreme Court, hearing pleas seeking legal sanction for same-sex marriage, observed on Wednesday that it is a well-settled principle that "judges don't legislate" and asked the Centre not to cite the US top court verdict denying any constitutional right to abortion in support of its argument. The Centre referred to the controversial judgement of the US Supreme Court in the Dobbs case in support of its contention that the judiciary should not venture into the domain of the legislature. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud expressed strong reservation to the reference, saying the point is well taken but the case not be referred to as India has moved far beyond in recognising the rights of women. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, argued that the issue of granting legal sanction forsame-sex marriage be left to Parliament and that it was dealing with a "very complex" subject having a very "profound social impact" and about 160 provisions of different laws would have to be gone into. To buttress the submissions, the top law officer referred to the Roe v. Wade case, the 50-year-old landmark ruling of the US top court which had established the constitutional right to abortion in 1973. He said the US top court overturned it in the Dobbs case in 2022, citing incompetence of the judiciary to legislate and noting that "the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives". In response, Chief Justice Chandrachud said, "...These judgements which you (solicitor general) have cited on the limits of judicial power...The principle of law is well settled. There is no question about it that judges don't legislate. The power to frame law, looking at different social complexities, lies with the legislature. That principle is a well-settled principle." Also Read: Centre Asks SC To Consider Leaving Same-Sex Marriage Issues To Parliament 'You Are Citing A Wrong Judgement': CJI To SG Mehta "But if you are relying on the Dobbs (case) in support of that principle then we have gone far beyond the Dobbs in India. Because, it represents a view in which the American Supreme Court said that women have no bodily control over their own bodily integrity. This theory has been debunked long back in our country. So, therefore, you are citing a wrong judgement. I have pronounced a judgement in support of that principle," the CJI said. The law officer said he was not fond of citing foreign judgments and referred to it to support the contention that the issue of same-sex marriage is best left to Parliament. He said that he was not citing it for the facts of that case. "Fair enough, But don't cite Dobbs. Because, we have gone far beyond the Dobbs here. And, fortunately so. We can give credit to ourselves that we are far ahead of western countries," the CJI said. The bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul, S R Bhat, Hima Kohli and P S Narasimha, referred to a recent apex court judgement where it granted the right to abortion to unmarried women also. "For instance our law granted only married women the right to obtain an abortion between 20 and 24 weeks (of pregnancy). We dealt with that. Unmarried women came to us and said that they must get this right as well. And we upheld that right. We have gone far beyond...," the bench said. The bench also dealt with a British judgment in which the tenancy right of a same-sex surviving partner was upheld and granted. "The idea is that when a tenant dies and anybody, who is in the settled residence and the member of the family, is also entitled for protection of tenancy. Which otherwise is a heritable asset. That is the principle and the Gaidan (British judgment) also did the same thing. Saying, well if you have a same-sex partner, even though the statute does not recognise the same-sex surviving spouse, you can have the tenancy right," it said. The idea was to protect, as a matter of social welfare, one of the occupants under the tenancy law, it said. On the issue of the Special Marriage Act, 1954, the bench said that it was intended to be a religion neutral law. "The idea was to create a platform for partners who do not marry within their personal law. In that sense this is religion neutral. The whole object was to permit two individuals who profess different faiths or belong to different castes (to marry)," the CJI said. New Delhi: Ten policemen and a civilian were killed in a Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada, officials said on Wednesday. Naxalites blew up the mini-goods van in which a team of the Chhattisgarh police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) was travelling by using an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) containing an estimated 40 kg of explosive material. The blast took place under Aranpur police station limits when the security personnel were returning after an anti-Naxalite operation. It was reportedly the biggest strike by the Maoists on the security forces in the state in the last two years. #WATCH | Visuals from the spot in Dantewada where 10 DRG jawans and one civilian driver lost their lives in an IED attack by naxals. #Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/GD8JJIbEt2 ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 Reacting to the Dantewada attack, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that it is 'very saddening' and that the Naxals won't be 'spared'. "It is very saddening. My condolences to the bereaved families. This fight is in its last stage. Naxals won't be spared," Bhupesh Baghel told reporters. #WATCH | On reports of an IED attack by naxals on security personnel in Dantewada, claiming the lives of 11 personnel, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel says, "There is such information with us. It is very saddening. My condolences to the bereaved families. This fight is in its last https://t.co/n1YV67sIoi pic.twitter.com/CC8Dj0uAca ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 PM Modi 'strongly condemns' naxal attack in Chhattisgarh Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'strongly condemned' the naxal attack on Chhattisgarh police personnel and paid tributes to those killed in the incident. "Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families," he tweeted. Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2023 Amit Shah 'Anguished' by 'cowardly' Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that he is 'anguished' by the 'cowardly' Naxal attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. He said that spoke to Bhupesh Baghel and assured all possible assistance. "Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred Jawans," Amit Shah said in a tweet. Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred Jawans. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 26, 2023 Meanwhile, Bhupesh Baghel held a high-level meeting to review the situation after the Naxal attack in Dantewada district. During the meeting, which was also attended by the state Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, the Chhattisgarh CM reviewed various aspects linked to the latest attack, the public relations department official said. Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, Director General of Police Ashok Juneja, Secretary to CM Ankit Anand and Inspector General (Intelligence) Ajay Yadav, among others, were present. Baghel and Home Minister Sahu will pay homage to the slain personnel in Dantewada on Thursday. Baghel, who was scheduled to leave for poll-bound Karnataka on Wednesday evening to campaign for Congress, cancelled his visit. New Delhi: Bank branches will remain closed during certain days in the month of May in several cities of the country as per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Holiday list. Though branches will be closed for physical operations, online banking activities will continue to work. Hence, if you want to visit your bank branch for any bank related important work next month, you must note down the number of days when branches will be closed in various cities in the month of May 2023. While some bank holidays will be observed nation-wide, some others will be local holidays. Several bank branches will remain closed in various states owing to these festivities. Before visiting your bank branch in the month of May, you must note down the list of important days during which banks will remain closed. Banks will remain closed for total 12 days in the month of May 4 as per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar list and the remaining days are that of weekends and state declared holiday. However, you must note that the banks will NOT be closed for 12 days in all states or regions. This is the total number of days when banks in different parts of the country will remain closed for state-observed holidays. For example bank branches might be closed for Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti in Tripura but not closed for the same in Goa, Bihar or other states. Here is an elaborate list of bank holidays falling in the month of May 2023. Check out the list. Maharashtra Day/May Day: May 1 Buddha Purnima: May 5 Birthday of Rabindranath Tagore: May 9 State Day: May 16 Maharana Pratap Jayanti: May 22 Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti in Tripura: May 24 Weekends and Second Saturdays May 7: Sunday May 13: Second Saturday May 14: Sunday May 21: Sunday May 27: Fourth Saturday May 28: Sunday Reserve Bank of India places its Holidays under three brackets --Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act; Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act and Real Time Gross Settlement Holiday; and Banks Closing of Accounts. However, it must be noted that the bank holidays vary in various states as well not observed by all the banking companies. Banking holidays also depend on the festivals being observed in specific states or notification of specific occasions in those states. Holidays of the mentioned days will be observed in various regions according to the state declared holidays, however for the gazetted holidays, banks will be closed all over the country. TYSONS, Va., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- M.C. Dean announced that it has acquired International Energy Conservation Systems, Inc. (IEC Systems). M.C. Dean, Inc. Logo (PRNewsfoto/M.C. Dean, Inc.) "IEC is a respected leader in building automation and energy management systems, including expertise in HVAC and lighting controls," said Bill Dean, M.C. Dean chief executive officer. "They will enhance our solution expertise and project delivery for some of our highest-profile controls systems engineering and facilities engineering operations and maintenance customers." IEC Systems is a leading provider of turn-key proprietary and non-proprietary building automation systems and a Distech Controls authorized system integrator. The acquisition includes a newly signed original equipment manufacturer partnership with Distech to expand the firm's direct digital controls (DDC) and building automation systems capabilities. The newly integrated team will join the Automation Systems strategic business unit, which serves as M.C. Dean's center of expertise in industrial, power, energy management, and transit control systems as well as SCADA and networked operational technology. "As the Automation Systems strategic business unit continues to increase our focus on client performance outcomes with respect to facility operations and energy optimization, the addition of IEC Systems and their accretive capability and personnel certifications with proven DDC technology provides M.C. Dean with expanded solution paths for both retrofit and new construction projects," said Bob Link, M.C. Dean vice president of Automation Systems. About M.C. Dean M.C. Dean is Building Intelligence. We design, build, operate, and maintain cyber-physical solutions for the nation's most recognizable mission-critical facilities, secure environments, complex infrastructure, and global enterprises. The company's capabilities include electrical, electronic security, telecommunications, life safety, automation and controls, audio visual, and IT systems. M.C. Dean is headquartered in Tysons, Virginia and employs more than 5,200 professionals who engineer and deploy automated, secure, and resilient power and technology systems; and deliver the management platforms essential for long-term system sustainability. Story continues About International Energy Conservation Systems, Inc. IEC Systems, Inc. is a full-service Independent Systems Integrator of HVAC and Lighting Controls company specializing in government, commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities. The company was incorporated in the State of Georgia in November 1974. Five individuals, four of whom were employees of the IBM Corporation, founded the company. Recent signature projects include support of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, New Carrollton Federal Building, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Department of the Interior. Media Contacts: Regine de la Cruz Phone: (202) 430-1389 Email: regine.delacruz@mcdean.com Ramneek Kaur Phone: (202) 446-6116 Email: ramneek.kaur@mcdean.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mc-dean-acquires-international-energy-conservation-systems-301808190.html SOURCE M.C. Dean, Inc. New Delhi: The Bloom Review, an independent report commissioned by former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has highlighted the existence of "small, extremely vocal and aggressive minority of British Sikhs who can be described as pro-Khalistan extremists". The report examines how the government should engage with faith groups in England and identifies the need for a more nuanced understanding of "subversive and sectarian activity" within the Sikh community. The report warns that some pro-Khalistan Sikh groups aim to artificially inflate their influence by lobbying political bodies under the guise of human rights activism, presenting a false appearance of legitimacy. It also notes that some groups use various aliases to "subvert the British political order", a strategy used historically by white supremacist and Islamist terrorist groups. It notes that the subversive, sectarian, and discriminatory activities of these groups do not reflect the true nature of the majority of British Sikh communities. However, it acknowledges that these activities have adversely affected these communities, making it crucial for the government to take steps to define and deal with such harmful extremism. Also Read: Issue Of Attack On Indian Consulate Raised In British Parliament, MP Bob Blackman Demands Ban On Khalistani Terrorists The Bloom Review draws on over 21,000 responses to a call for evidence that posed a series of questions about how those of all faiths perceive the governments engagement with faith organizations. It includes 22 recommendations to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up Housing and Communities on how engagement can be improved, both in terms of recognizing the contribution of faith communities and addressing harmful practices linked to faith. The reports also point out how Lord Singh of Wimbledon, a prominent Sikh in public life, was deliberately ill-treated to silence him in his recent evidence to the House of Lords Conduct Committee. He claimed that he was being bullied and harassed by certain individuals and organizations who sought to prevent him from expressing views contrary to theirs on Sikh issues. Also Read: 'Not Interested In Assurance, Would Like To See Action': MEA On Attacks On Indian Missions In UK, US By Khalistanis Lord Singh was ill-treated by Sikh Federation UK (SFUK), a major pro-Khalistan organisation and one that runs the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Sikhs, an informal cross-party group. The Colin Bloom report suggests that there may be some overlap of membership between certain Sikh groups operating in the UK and proscribed groups. The report recommends that the All-Party Parliamentary Group for British Sikhs take note of these findings and that the parliamentary authorities take steps to prevent the unwitting hosting of individuals and organizations linked to bullying, harassment, and subversive behaviour. The key recommendation of the report has been that the British govt should, "clearly define and investigate extremist activity and identify where this exists within the Sikh community" and take "steps to develop a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of subversive and sectarian Sikh extremist activity." It suggested that the govt should ensure that "unacceptable and extremist behaviours are not inadvertently legitimized by government or parliamentary engagement." The report is significant given India-UK ties were impacted earlier this year after Khalistani elements vandalized the Indian High Commission in the UK. The UK had assured the safety of the Indian mission after the incident. In the past as well, Indian missions have been targeted. Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday said it has upgraded its entire range of vehicles to meet the stricter emission norms under the BSVI regime. All company hatchbacks, sedans, MPVs, SUVs and commercial vehicles are now compliant with the new BSVI Phase-II real driving emissions (RDE) regulations, alongside being compatible with E20 fuel as well, the auto major said in a statement. The new RDE compliant Maruti Suzuki cars feature an enhanced on-board diagnostics (OBD) system to monitor emission control systems of the car in real-time and will notify drivers in case of any malfunction, it added. The products now also come equipped with an electronic stability control (ESC) system, MSI said. "At Maruti Suzuki, we are always finding new and innovative ways to reduce emissions from our vehicles..The Government's drive to incorporate the new BS6 Phase II norms will go a long way in controlling emissions from vehicles over their entire lifespan," Maruti Suzuki India Chief Technical Officer C V Raman noted. During this upgrade, the company also took the opportunity to delight customers even more by equipping cars with ESC, a leading safety feature globally, he added. Maruti Suzuki currently sells 15 models in the country. From April 1 this year, vehicles need to have an on-board self-diagnostic device to monitor the real time driving emission levels. The device constantly monitors key parts for meeting emission standards such as the catalytic converter and oxygen sensors, to keep a close watch on emissions. In a scenario wherein the emissions exceed the parameters, the device indicates through warning lights that the vehicle be submitted for a service. India had leapfrogged to BSVI emission regime from BSIV norm with effect from April 1, 2020. The transition saw the domestic automobile industry pumping in around Rs 70,000 crore to upgrade its technology. In 2016, the government asked the automobile industry to upgrade to BSVI norms by April 2020. Deteriorating air pollution situation in various cities, including Delhi-NCR, was one of the prominent reasons to usher in stricter vehicular emission norms in the country. Sulphur content is the major difference between BSIV and BSVI norms. India adopted Euro-III equivalent (or Bharat Stage-III) fuel with a sulphur content of 350 ppm in 2010 and then took seven years to move to BSIV that had a sulphur content of 50 ppm. BSVI petrol and diesel contain just 10 parts per million (PPM) of sulphur. Rapper Desiigner was hit with a federal charge for allegedly masturbating on an international flight and claiming he exposed himself because he "didnt have (sex) in like a week." The 25-year-old rapper, whose real name is Sidney Royel Selby III, was charged with one misdemeanour count of indecent exposure over allegations he exposed himself multiple times starting about 60-90 minutes into a flight from Tokyo to Minneapolis on April 17, a criminal complaint alleges, reports nypost.com. After a flight attendant spotted him exposing himself, he quickly covered up only to be caught masturbating about five minutes later by members of the flight crew. He was again told "no" and covered himself up, the complaint stated. Even after he was told he was going to be arrested, Selby was seen exposing himself for a third time, the feds said. Two travel friends agreed to watch him the rest of the flight when he was moved to the back of the plane where he apologised to his security guard and claimed he was "bugging" and "messed up." When he got up from his first-class seat to move to the back, "a jar of Vaseline dropped in the aisle," the complaint stated. Before he was taken into custody, he also apologized to the flight crew. When talking to the FBI, he allegedly told an agent he "didn`t get much" in Japan and showed his "magic stick" to one of the flight attendants he found attractive, according to the complaint. He also said he exposed himself "because I didn`t have anything in like a week," which the agent understood to mean sex, the complaint stated. When the agent asked if his actions interfered with the flight attendant`s job, he replied: "I thought I was giving her encouragement, to keep pushing, you know what I mean, to keep striving for it," the complaint alleged. He also told the agent he was not under the influence during the flight, the complaint stated. The rapper, known for his hit `Panda`, said on social media Thursday that he was seeking mental health treatment noting he was "ashamed" of his actions on the flight back to the US without elaborating. "For the past few months i have not been ok, and i have been struggling to come to terms with what is going on," Desiigner wrote in a statement posted to his Instagram Story on Thursday. "While overseas for a concert i performed at, i had to be admitted in to a hospital, i was not thinking clearly. They gave me meds, and i had to hop on a plane home," he added. "I am ashamed of my actions that happened on that plane. I landed back to the states, and am admitting myself in a facility to help me." "I will be cancelling all of shows and any obligations until further notice. Mental health is real gu`s, please pray for me. If you`re not feeling like yourself please get help," he concluded. NEW DELHI: Delhi Public School located at Mathura Road - a top school in the national capital - claimed to have received a bomb threat via e-mail on Wednesday. Local authorities immediately rushed to the school as soon as the threat mail was received and an investigation was initiated into the matter. Sharing more details, Delhi Fire Service confirmed that the Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, has received a bomb threat via e-mail and the matter is being probed. Delhi | There is no threat as no suspicious object found on the school premises yet. The situation is normal. Bomb Disposal Squad, Dog squad and SWAT team sanitising the school buildings: DCP South East, Rajesh Deo, at DPS, Mathura Road https://t.co/UZJxMSFJvA pic.twitter.com/CBzMtEyABY ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 Earlier this month, another school located in Sadiq Nagar - The Indian School - received a threat via an email claiming that there are bombs on the premise. The school was evacuated by the bomb squad and other agencies, which inspected its premises for any explosive substance. However, the authorities later said that the threat email was a hoax. Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) Chandan Chowdhary said, "Bomb squads and the Special Cell officials were rushed to the spot. and the Special Branch. The SWAT team also conducted searches inside the premises. However, the e-mail threat appears to be a hoax.'' Punjab Board Result 2023: The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) will soon release the PSEB Class 8th Results 2023 on its official website - pseb.ac.in. As per the latest reports, the board is likely to declare the 8th class results on April 28, however, an official confimation is awaited. Once released, candidates will be able to check the PSEB Class 8th result from the official website- pseb.ac.in following the simple steps given below PSEB Class 8th Result 2023 Step 1: Visit the official website - pseb.ac.in Step 2: On the home page, click on the link that reads - PSEB Class 8th Result 2023 Step 3: Entre your roll number and other required credentials Step 4: Click on "Submit" and your PSEB Class 8th Result 2023 will appear on the screen Step 5: Download your result and take a printout for future reference In the academic year 2021-2022, the pass percentage stood at 98.25 % where 3,07,942 students registered for the examination and 3,02588 passed the examination. MG Motor India has launched its second electric car in the country, the MG Comet EV today at a starting price of Rs 7.98 lakh (introductory, ex-showroom). Morris Garages, the British-Chinese brand expects 30 percent of its sales to accrue from the electric vehicle segment this year, as MG will have ZS EV and Comet EV in the portfolio, catering the audience with two electric cars under Rs 25 lakh. The two-door, four-seater electric vehicle, 'Comet,' will be delivered in a phase wise manner starting next month. The MG Comet EV comes with a 17.3 KWH Li-ion battery with a battery range of 230 km (claimed) and can be fully charged in around 7 hours. The MG ComeT EV is based on the global GSEV-platform-based, which is said to be the fastest selling EV platform to reach 1 million buyers. The MG Comet EV gets a new design language with a 2 door setup and a 4 seater cabin. The MG Comet EV will be available for bookings from today, while the deliveries are expected to begin from next month. Inside, the MG Comet EV gets an in-built iSmart with 55+ Connected Car Features & 100+ Voice Commands. It has a Floating Twin Display widescreen with a 10.25 head unit and a 10.25 digital cluster. It also gets a smart key, with no start/ stop button inside the vehicle. One has to double tap the brake pedal to start the car. The MG Comet EV gets an IP67-rated battery, making it highly resistant to water and dust. High Strength Vehicle Body with 17 hot stamping panels makes the overall structure of the MG Comet EV, while it gets features like Dual Front Airbags, ABS +EBD, Front & Rear 3 pt. Seat Belts, Rear Parking Camera & Sensor, TPMS (Indirect) and ISOFIX Child Seat. Commenting on the launch, Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, MG Motor India, said, We are delighted to launch the MG Comet EV in India, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of urban mobility. The Comet EV is built on the pure electric GSEV platform, the fastest to hit the 1 million EV sales mark globally. The car seamlessly blends style, technology, and sustainability, offering a versatile and spacious ride with unparalleled safety features." NEW DELHI: "Mann Ki Baat" is an important piece of communication through which Prime Minister Narendra Modi connects with citizens, actor Aamir Khan said on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 'National Conclave on Mann Ki Baat @100'. The one-day conclave was inaugurated by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar here with Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur as the guest of honour. The 100th episode of the prime minister's monthly radio programme is scheduled to be broadcast on April 30. "It's a very important piece of communication that the leader of the country does with the people, discussing important issues, putting forward thoughts, giving suggestions, leading...That is how you lead by communication. You tell your people what you're looking at, how you're seeing the future, how you want your support in that. (It's an) important communication that happens in 'Mann Ki Baat'," Khan told PTI. Asked if Modi only talks about his "mann ki baat" (what he wants to talk about) in the radio programme, the Bollywood star said, "I think it's his prerogative because he's doing it... It is his method of hearing what the people have to say connecting with people across the country. I think it's a very important initiative." Later in the day, the "Laal Singh Chaddha" actor will participate in a panel called "Awahan Se Jan Andolan". Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said he was eagerly awaiting the 100th episode of his radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', scheduled to be broadcast on April 30. After becoming prime minister in 2014, Modi started the monthly radio programme. "This year is being celebrated as the year of millets. Millets are getting popular among people, be it ragi cookies or idlies. They are selling like hot cakes and farmers' incomes are increasing due to it," he said before a huge gathering at Silvassa in Dadra and Nagar Haveli district after launching various projects. "I mentioned millets many times in Mann Ki Baat....You all know that next Sunday Mann Ki Baat will complete its century, it will be the 100th episode. Mann Ki Baat has become a very good platform to highlight the specialities of the people of India and praise the uniqueness of the country," Modi said. New Delhi: The Centre asked the Supreme Court on Wednesday to consider referring questions raised in the petitions seeking legal sanction for same-sex marriages to Parliament. The Centre's Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, told a five-judge Constitution bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud that the apex court is dealing with a "very complex subject" with a "profound social impact." "The real question is who decides what constitutes marriage and between whom," Mehta said on the fifth day of the hearing. He told the bench, which also included Justices S K Kaul, S R Bhat, Hima Kohli, and P S Narasimha, that there would be ramifications on several other statutes that would necessitate a debate in society and in various state legislatures. Not Granting Legal Sanction Would Be 'Clear Discrimination': Petitioners To SC The petitioners seeking legal sanction for same-sex marriage on Tuesday urged the Supreme Court to recognise their right to marry saying there can't be a situation where the court will say it will give nothing as it can't give everything. Not granting legal sanction to same-sex marriage would amount to "clear discrimination" on the ground of sexual orientation of a person and this may led to "gay brain-drain" where such persons will be forced to go to other countries for enjoying the fruits of marriage and other consequential benefits, said senior advocate Saurabh Kirpal, himself a gay. Kirpal, appearing for the petitioners' side, told a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud that seven per cent of India's GDP will be affected if the LGBTQIA++ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit, asexual, and ally) are denied this fundamental right. "There can't be a situation where the court will say that as it can't give everything, so it will give nothing," he told the bench, also comprising justices S K Kaul, S R Bhat, Hima Kohli and P S Narasimha. During the fourth day's hearing in the matter, Kirpal said non-recognition of same-sex marriage will lead to a situation where gays and lesbians will be unwillingly tied in an unworkable marriage. He said the LGBTQIA+ community cannot be left at the "mercy" of Parliament, which "failed them for 75 long years". One of the lawyers appearing for the petitioners' side said 12 out of the G20 countries, including the EU, have permitted same sex marriages and around 34 countries of the world have also done that so India should not be "lagging" behind. The hearing in the matter remained inconclusive and would continue on Wednesday. Kirpal's name for elevation as a judge of the Delhi High Court is still pending with the Centre despite the apex court Collegium reiterating his name for judgeship. New Delhi: A six-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by the cab driver for the last one year during her commute from school to home in Southeast Delhi, an official said on Wednesday. The official said that an FIR under section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code and section 6 of POCSO Act was registered at Shaheen Bagh police station and the accused identified as Mohd Azhar (30), a resident of Jaitpur, has been arrested. According to police, the victim`s mother gave a complaint in which she stated that a cab is engaged for ferrying her daughter to her school Lady Irwin Senior Secondary School Defence Colony. "Her daughter informed her that the driver of the cab Azhar has been touching her private parts inappropriately while ferrying her from school for the last about one year," said Rajesh Deo, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast). "Acting on the complaint, the FIR was registered and the accused was arrested," said the DCP, adding that further probe is on. 11 Year-Old Girl Sexually Assaulted In Delhi's Ghazipur Earlier on Monday, an 11-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a 58-year-old man in Delhi`s Ghazipur area, the police said. According to the police, a PCR call was received last Friday at the Ghazipur police station informing about sexual assault on a minor girl, following which a police team was rushed to the spot. Also Read: Video: Bengaluru Woman Jumps Off Moving Rapido Bike After Driver Gropes Her "The victim, who is a Class 6 student at a government school, said that in the morning, she had gone to her aunt`s home which is near to her house. While she was coming back, the perpetrator dragged her into his home near GD Colony, stripped her naked, and made inappropriate physical advances towards her," said Amrutha Guguloth, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East). A case under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 6 of the POCSO Act has been registered based on the statement of the victim. The accused, who has been identified as Md Taqi Ahmed, has also been apprehended from a paper market based on a secret tip-off. "Ahmed owns the house where the assault took place, but presently he was residing in the Sarita Vihar area," the officer said. Buildforce Canada OTTAWA, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After enjoying a strong year in 2021, Manitobas construction and maintenance industry experienced more moderate activity in 2022, as further work on a number of infrastructure projects offset most of the contractions created by the winding down of activity on the Keeyask dam project. Total employment was virtually unchanged as a result. BuildForce Canada released its 20232032 Construction and Maintenance Looking Forward report for Manitoba today. The outlook calls for a moderate contraction in employment across the forecast period (-1%), as a contraction of just below 3% in the residential sector more than offsets a slight increase of just below 1% in the non-residential sector. These numbers are based on existing known demands and do not take into account the federal governments goal to double the number of new homes built across Canada over the next 10 years, nor the anticipated increase in demand for construction services related to the retrofit of existing residential, industrial, commercial, and institutional buildings to accommodate the electrification of the economy. Across the forecast period, slowing demand for new-housing construction should be offset by almost continuous growth in demand for residential renovation and maintenance work. Meanwhile, the non-residential sector should see moderate, but sustained employment growth between 2025 and 2030 as a series of projects cycle up and down. Construction activity in Manitoba should remain at a relatively constant and elevated level across the 10-year forecast period, says Bill Ferreira, Executive Director of BuildForce Canada. Thats a positive sign for the industry, as it means labour markets should remain balanced across most of the forecast years. It also means that the industry should be able to satisfy its hiring requirements, given the provinces comparatively younger demographic. BuildForce Canada expects that approximately 7,600 workers, or nearly 19% of its 2022 labour force, will retire by 2032. At the same time, the industry is expected to attract an estimated 8,700 new workers under the age of 30 from the local population. This trend shows that industry efforts to boost recruitment to meet future needs are working, and that the industry should be able to meet its anticipated labour force demands throughout the forecast period. Story continues The development of skilled tradespersons in the construction industry takes years, and most often requires participation in a provincial apprenticeship program, said Ramona Coey, Executive Director of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Manitoba. After years of declines, it was encouraging to see industry efforts to promote careers in the trades bearing some fruit as evidenced by the recent upswing in new registrations in Manitobas 17 largest trade programs. It is important this momentum is not lost as we work to fill the labour shortage experienced in several key trades. Based on projected new registrations and completion trends, however, several Manitoba trades may be at risk of potentially undersupplying the number of new journeypersons required by 2032. Trades within this group include Bricklayer, Carpenter, Mobile Crane Operator, Roofer, and Welder. The construction industry is working collaboratively to build a more diverse and inclusive labour force. To that end, efforts are ongoing to enhance the recruitment of youth, individuals from equity-deserving groups traditionally under-represented in the construction sector, and from outside the country through permanent immigration, said Paul de Jong, President of the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada. In 2022, there were approximately 5,930 women employed in Manitobas construction industry. Of them, only 26% worked directly in on-site construction. Women represented just 4% of the 38,600 tradespeople employed in Manitobas industry in 2022. All figures are virtually unchanged from 2021. The Indigenous population is another under-represented group that presents recruitment opportunities for Manitobas construction industry. In 2021, Indigenous workers accounted for approximately 17% of the provinces construction labour force. That figure was the highest among all provincial labour forces and is notably higher than the share of Indigenous People represented in the overall labour force (13%). As the Indigenous population is the fastest growing in Canada and Indigenous workers seem predisposed to the pursuit of careers within the sector, there may be scope to further increase the recruitment of Indigenous People into the provinces construction industry. The construction industry is also committed to the recruitment of newcomers to Canada. Based on historical settlement trends, Manitoba is expected to welcome an average of just over 11,000 newcomers every year through 2032, making the immigrant population a key potential source of labour force growth. Currently, newcomers and more established immigrants make up about 15% of the provinces construction workforce. This figure is notably lower than the share in the overall provincial labour force. To avoid chronic labour force shortages, increasing the participation rate of women, Indigenous People, and new Canadians will be imperative to help Manitobas construction industry meet its future labour force needs, said Darryl Harrison, Director of Stakeholder Engagement with the Winnipeg Construction Association. BuildForce Canada is a national industry-led organization that represents all sectors of Canadas construction industry. Its mandate is to support the labour market development needs of the construction and maintenance industry. As part of these activities, BuildForce works with key industry stakeholders, including contractors, proponents of construction, labour providers, governments, and training providers to identify both demand and supply trends that will impact labour force capacity in the sector, and supports the career searches of job seekers wanting to work in the industry. BuildForce also leads programs and initiatives that support workforce upskilling, workforce productivity improvements, improvements to training modalities, human resource tools to support the adoption of industry best practices, as well as other value-added initiatives focused on supporting the industrys labour force development needs. Visit www.buildforce.ca. For further information, contact Bill Ferreira, Executive Director, BuildForce Canada, at ferreira@buildforce.ca or 613-569-5552 ext. 2220. This report was produced with the support and input of a variety of provincial construction and maintenance industry stakeholders. For local industry reaction to this latest BuildForce Canada report, please contact: Ramona Coey Executive Director Mechanical Contractors Association of Manitoba 204-774-2404 Paul de Jong President Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA) 403-620-3781 Darryl Harrison Director, Stakeholder Engagement Winnipeg Construction Association 204-755-8664 ext. 2249 Funded by the Government of Canadas Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program. New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday arrested Sukanya Mondal, the daughter of Trinamool Congress strongman Anubrata Mondal in Delhi in connection with the cattle smuggling scam in West Bengal. The ED had summoned Sukanya to its headquarters here several times to question her in connection with the scam, but she avoided the summons. Her father Anubrata Mondal is currently in judicial custody in connection with the same scam. Sukanya was arrested by the ED eight months after her father was arrested in August last year. The ED wanted to question her about the sources of funds in the companies and rice mills in West Bengal`s Birbhum district where she had been having directorship or partnership. Probe revealed that she is the director of two companies, Neer Developer Pvt Ltd and ANM Agrochem Foods Pvt Ltd. The companies have their offices at the same address where Bholebam Rice Mill, which is also owned by her, is located in Birbhum`s Bolpur town. Apart from that, she had been having partnerships in a number of rice mills in Birbhum district. Earlier, she was questioned by the ED but she denied having any knowledge or details about the companies, rice mills or other properties in her name. She also maintained that their personal chartered accountant Manish Kothari was aware of all the details. Even Kothari was also arrested by the ED and is currently in judicial custody. TMC Maintains Safe Stand On Sukanya's Arrest As the news of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arresting Sukanya Monda in Delhi reached Kolkata on Wednesday evening, the state`s ruling party took a safe stand in the matter. Trinamool spokesman Kunal Ghosh said that he would refrain from making any comment in the matter since that party`s stand on such issues is very clear that it will not stand behind anyone who is involved in corruption. "But a question automatically arises as to whether the central agency could have continued its investigation without taking Sukanya Mondal into custody. She lost her mother a few months back, her father is in judicial custody. So, was such an extreme step necessary? Was this step taken after instruction from a political force," Ghosh asked. BJP Says Sukanya's Arrest Was Inevitable Meanwhile, West Bengal BJP President and Lok Sabha MP Sukanta Majumdar said that the arrest was inevitable considering that she had been repeatedly avoiding the summons of the central agency. "Since the beginning, she had been resorting to non-cooperation in the investigation process. So, the inevitable has happened," he said. Legal brains in the state feel that Sukanya`s denial of knowledge about the huge funds lying in the companies where she was a director cannot be used to prove her innocence. "She is an adult. So she cannot claim ignorance in such matters, especially being the director of companies that are under scanner," said senior counsel of the Calcutta High Court, Kaushik Gupta. New Delhi: Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday said that Jagadish Shettar, who recently switched from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to Congress, won't win in the upcoming Assembly elections. Yediyurappa, a senior BJP leader, said that Shettar has backstabbed the saffron party and that he can give in writing in the blood that he won't win from the Hubli-Dharwad-Central constituency. "Jagadish Shettar has backstabbed the BJP and the members of the party. With all his selfishness, he left the party and joined the Congress. We should make sure he will be defeated here in Hubli. I can write with my blood that he will lose this election on a Congress ticket," BS Yediyurappa said during a meeting in Hubli. #WATCH | "I will give it in writing with blood that Jagadish Shetter will not win from here," says BJP leader BS Yediyurappa in a meeting in Hubballi. Congress leader Jagadish Shettar is contesting from Hubli-Dharwad Central Assembly constituency in Karnataka (Video source:BJP) pic.twitter.com/mdfj3PgsxH ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 Jagadish Shettar, however, said that he takes criticism from BS Yediyurappa as his 'blessing' in this election. "Amit Shah came here and attacked me. Many from BJP have joined Congress recently but they are targeting me only. I take criticism from BS Yediyurappa as his blessing in this election... His wish for me (to lose) will convert into success for me," the Congress leader said. Shettar, who is a former Karnataka CM, is one of the most prominent political figures in the fray in the May 10 Assembly elections. His falling out with the BJP over not getting a ticket, and then taking on the party he served for years, has been in the spotlight for a few days now. A staunch RSS man, he was part of the Jan Sangh and BJP for several decades before severing his ties with the party. The BJP has now pitched Mahesh Tenginkai against Shettar in the Hubli-Dharwad Central seat. Earlier on Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Shettar will not win the polls this time, and pointed out that Hubli-Dharwad has always voted for the BJP. "Jagadish Shettar will lose the election, Hubli has always voted for the BJP, not for any person. Reason for him not being given the ticket was conveyed to him," Shah said while addressing a press conference in the Karnataka district. On Shettar and former deputy CM Laxman Savadi (who too quit the BJP recently), alleging that Lingayats were being humiliated in the saffron party and holding party General Secretary BL Santosh responsible for it, Shah said that his party believes in teamwork and is not under any control of anyone. "BJP Chief Minister (Basavaraj Bommai) himself is a Lingayat, what are they speaking (about party humiliating Lingayats)?"," he added. Voting will take place in Karnataka on May 10 and the results will be out on May 13. Noida: The Gautam Buddh Nagar administration has slapped a penalty of Rs 1 lakh each on around 100 private schools in Noida and Greater Noida for non-compliance of an order of the Allahabad High Court, officials said on Wednesday. The court had directed schools to return 15 per cent of the fees to all students which were charged during the 2020-21 coronavirus period, they said. The penalty against the schools will be increased to Rs 5 lakh if the students are not refunded within 30 days, according to the order issued by District Inspector of Schools Dharamveer Singh. A senior official said the matter of non-compliance of court order by the schools, which include prominent institutions, had come to light during a meeting of the District Fee Regulatory Committee (DFRC) on Monday. "The DFRC meeting was chaired by District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma and it emerged that around 100 private schools in Gautam Buddh Nagar have not complied with the HC order which had set a deadline of March for the repayment," the officer said. The penalty order, issued on Wednesday to schools, cited the court order which was passed on January 6 this year. "It is made clear that in case any fee has been paid in excess of what has been determined by the Supreme Court in the aforesaid judgment (i.e 15 per cent of the fees charged from students during the academic year 2020-21, when classes were held online), in the case of the students still studying, the same may be adjusted in the fee to be paid in future," the order stated. "In case of students who have passed out or left the school, the amount may be calculated and returned to those students. Let the entire exercise be done within two months of date," the order added. New Delhi: The apex body of central civil services officers has expressed "deep dismay" at the Bihar government's decision to tweak the prison manual paving way for the release of former MP Anand Mohan, convicted for killing an IAS officer. In a statement, the Indian Civil and Administrative Service (Central) Association said this is "tantamount to denial of justice" and urged the state government to reconsider its decision. "The Central IAS Association expresses its deep dismay at the decision of the state government of Bihar to release the convicts of the brutal killing of G Krishnaiah, IAS, former district magistrate of Gopalganj, by a change in classification rules of prisoners," it said. The Central IAS Association asserted that a convict of the charge of murder of a public servant on duty, cannot be re-classified to a less heinous category. Amendment of an existing classification which leads to the release of the convicted killer of a public servant on duty is tantamount to denial of justice, it said. "Such dilution leads to impunity, erosion in morale of public servants, undermines public order and makes a mockery of administration of justice," it said. The association urged the Bihar government to reconsider its decision at the earliest. The Central IAS Association expresses its deep dismay at the decision of the State Government of Bihar to release the convicts of the brutal killing of Late Shri G Krishnaiah, IAS, former District Magistrate of Gopalganj, by a change in classification rules of prisoners. pic.twitter.com/a84s7pYL20 IAS Association (@IASassociation) April 25, 2023 Whats The Row About? The Bihar government recently amended the law pertaining to prisoners and released 27 persons including Bahubali leader Anand Mohan Singh, who was undergoing life imprisonment in the murder of Krishnaiah on December 5, 1994. A notification to the effect was issued late Monday evening, when, incidentally, Mohan, who has been on parole, was celebrating the engagement of his son Chetan Anand, who is a sitting MLA of the ruling RJD in the state. IAS G Krishnaiah's Murder & Anand Mohans Conviction G Krishnaiah, the then District Magistrate of Gopalganj, was killed by a mob allegedly provoked by Anand Mohan Singh in the year 1994. The mob was protesting with the body of Chhotan Shukla, a gangster turned politician of Anand Mohan's party. Krishnaiah, in shocking incident, was dragged out of his official vehicle in broad daylight and lynched to death. Krishnaiah, according to investigation, was returning from Patna after an official meeting and had reached Muzaffarpur at a time when supporters of underworld don Chotan Shukla were carrying his dead body to the cremation ground. They attacked his car and lynched him. Anand Mohan was part of the funeral process and police of Muzaffarpur chargesheeted him for provoking the supporters for the lynching. Who Is Anand Mohan Singh? Anand Mohan, who was serving life imprisonment in murder case of an IAS officer, has kicked off a storm in Bihar politics. Founder of the now-defunct Bihar People's Party (BPP), Anand Mohan Singh was convicted in the year 1994 over the murder of then Gopalganj District Magistrate G Krishnaiah, who was killed by a mob allegedly provoked by him. Anand Mohan Singh - a big name in Bihar politics - was one of the co-founders of the Samata Party along with Nitish Kumar. The strongman is the grandson of noted freedom fighter Ram Bahadur Singh Tomar. Singh, 69, is active in Bihar politics since the year 1990. He was elected as an MLA in the same year from Saharsa constituency. Singh, who was touted as the top Rajput community leader in Bihar, became an MP from Saharsa constituency while he was in jail. Mumbai: Writing false content is "unnecessary and insensitive", said actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on Tuesday and she hopes the press will not "perpetuate" it. Last week, the Delhi High Court restrained several YouTube channels from publishing misleading content on the health of Aaradhya Bachchan, daughter of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya, saying spreading misinformation about a child reflects "morbid perversity". At the press conference of her upcoming movie "Ponniyin Selvan: II", Aishwarya was asked about the irrelevant news content that hurts people emotionally and sentimentally. "It's so nice that a member from the media only is recognising that that does exist. So that gives us great hope that you are obviously not going to perpetuate that, you are not going to encourage that and thank you very much for your wise recognition of the negative impact of false writing or unnecessary writing which is insensitive and unnecessary," the 49-year-old actor said. "So thank you so much for your support for the sentiment that we all share and for your wisdom in recognising that," she added. On the work front, Aishwarya is currently promoting "Ponniyin Selvan: II", the second part of filmmaker Mani Ratnam's screen adaptation of author Kalki Krishnamurthy's 1955 Tamil novel of the same name. Also starring Jayam Ravi, Vikram, Karthi, Trisha Krishnan and Aishwarya Lekshmi, the movie will be released in theatres across the country on Friday. Mumbai: In an unnerving development, a Mumbai actress has been jailed in the UAE's Sharjah after she was found carrying drugs hidden in an award trophy even as the Mumbai Police nabbed a person who had trapped her and two others into becoming "drug mules". Chrisann Pereira's distraught family here said that Chrisann, 27 - in jail since April 1 - is innocent and sought her early release from the UAE prison after her bail plea was rejected on Monday (April 24) there. "We are appealing to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister for External Affairs for their intervention in the matter to secure the release of our daughter... After the Mumbai Police investigation, it is clear that she was framed in the whole thing," her mother Premila Pereira told IANS. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch, which is probing the case, have nabbed the prime accused Anthony Paul, 35, a bakery owner of Borivali and his associate, a banker Rajesh Bubhate, 34, alias Ravi. They have confessed to handing three persons the award trophies with drugs concealed in them and two others with drugs-laced cakes before they flew to Dubai, ostensibly as vendetta against the Pereira family. While two, including Chrisann, unwittingly walked into the trap, three others managed to evade the authorities in Sharjah. The accused, identifying himself as a talent consultant, had approached Premila Pereira in March-end, to lure Chrisann with an audition for a role in an international webseries in Sharjah. He also persuaded Chrisann to carry the trophy in which he had hidden the drugs to be handed over to an associate in Sharjah who would give details of her hotel booking. After reaching Sharjah, Chrisann found that nobody came to receive her at the airport, but the local police landed, detected the drugs in the trophy and hauled her to the lockup, and later the Sharjah Central Prison from April 1. Paul, said to be the brain behind the revenge con, apparently nursed an old grudge against the Pereira family, especially Premila (the mother), and even got into fisticuffs with her son Kevin. Police have found that the accused Paul had used the same modus operandi with some other wannabe actors, assuring them of plum roles in global webseries, though one person declined to carry the trophy, which Chrisann later agreed to take with her. The Mumbai Police does not suspect a drug syndicate involvement but only Paul's "revenge tactics" against all the victims with whom he had some or other problems, but they are investigating from various angles. An upcoming actress, Chrisann has played roles in films like "Sadak 2", "Batla House", webseries "Thinkistan", several stage plays, and lives in Borivali suburb with her family. Premila Pereira said that they are completing the legal formalities to approach the Sharjah authorities and will also send an appeal to the PM and MEA for help to secure the release of their innocent daughter. New Delhi: Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe and his longtime partner, actor Erin Darke have become parents to their first child. A representative for Radcliffe confirmed the joyous news to People magazine, however, they did not reveal the sex of the baby, or when the child was born. In late March, it was reported that the actor couple was expecting a baby after they were spotted in New York City, where Darke's baby bump was visible underneath her hoodie. Radcliffe, 33, and Darke, 38, have been together for over a decade. They first sparked romance rumours after co-starring in the 2013 film "Kill Your Darlings". In a 2019 interview, the actor talked about shooting an intimate scene with Darke ("Good Girl Revolt") for "Kill Your Darlings". "It'll be a hell of a story to tell our kids one day because of what our characters do with each other. "Our characters are meeting and flirting with each other, so there is this kind of sweet record of us just meeting for the first time and flirting," Radcliffe had said. Daniel was 12 when he was cast as the bespectacled boy wizard in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer`s Stone in 2001 alongside Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. He went on to appear in all eight films based on the books written by JK Rowling. More recently, he played the lead role in `Weird: The Al Yankovic Story`, for which he was nominated for BAFTA. (With agency inputs) C$ unless otherwise stated TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945 TORONTO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife Financial Corporation will release its first quarter 2023 financial results after markets close on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, which will be made available at manulife.com/en/investors/results-and-reports. Manulife Logo (CNW Group/Manulife Financial Corporation) A live webcast and conference call are scheduled for Thursday, May 11, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. (ET) where Manulife's executive leadership team will discuss the results, followed by a question and answer period with analysts. Manulife adopted IFRS 17 "insurance contracts" and IFRS 9 "financial instruments" effective January 1, 2023. As this will mark the first quarter of reporting under the new accounting standards, we have extended the length of the call to two hours. To access the conference call, dial 1-800-806-5484 (toll free in North America), using passcode 7425868#. International dial-in numbers are also available. Please call in 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. The archived webcast will be available at manulife.com/en/investors/results-and-reports following the call. A replay of the call will also be available until August 5, 2023 by dialing 1-800-408-3053 or 1-905-694-9451 (Passcode: 7830868#). About Manulife Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Through Manulife Investment Management, the global brand for our Global Wealth and Asset Management segment, we serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2022, we had more than 40,000 employees, over 116,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 34 million customers. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong. Story continues Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/manulife-to-release-first-quarter-2023-financial-results-301807351.html SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation New Delhi: Malaika Arora never really disappoints with her fashion choices. Be it gowns, evening wear or stunning ethnic style - Malla pulls off each outfit with elan. She recently turned heads at an event in Dubai looking simply stunning in a deep-cut backless black fishcut gown. The evening gown had a silver floral print on it and Malaika looked ravishing walking in that gorgeous piece. Popular celebrity pap Viral Bhayani shared the videos from the event online and many commented on it. Malaika rocked the sexy outfit like a true blue diva. He wrote in the caption: #malaikaarora at the most glamorous real eestate launch in Dubai. @danubeproperties @rizwan.sajan #FashionzByDanube A few days back, Malaika Arora and boyfriend Arjun Kapoor headed for a brief holiday and shared pictures of their vacay. The sneak-peek into their exotic vacation went viral on social media. On the work front, Malaika Arora recently appeared in the music video titled Tera Ki Khayal with Guru Randhawa. She was seen in Moving In With Malaika - a show which gave fans an exclusive insight into her personal life. The series is available for streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. Malla on her show did talk about dating a younger man. Malaika runs a yoga studio by the name of Diva Yoga centre and often urges people to either take to yoga or hit the gym to keep the body, mind and soul balanced. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a tweet on Wednesday, appreciated the grand welcome of newly inaugurated Thiruvananthapuram-Kasargod Vande Bharat Express at Thrissur railway station. During its inaugural run on April 25, 2023, the train was welcomed with much fanfare amidst a grand reception and folk music, to which, PM Modi said, "Terrific Thrissur!" PM Modi had on Tuesday flagged off the train connecting the state capital with the northernmost Kerala district of Kasaragod, which happens to be Kerala's first Vande Bharat and India's 15th semi-high speed train. At the Thrissur railway station, the train was accorded a grand reception with traditional folk music, drum beats and people thronging the platform to take its photographs and selfies with it, reported PTI. The PM also tweeted in Malayalam, "Gambheera Thrissur", which too means 'terrific' Thrissur. Meanwhile, there were some reports of water leakage in the Vande Bharat Express when it rained at Kannur as the train reached there on Tuesday. The allegation was refuted by the Indian Railways, which said the news reports were false. A Railway official told PTI that a few droplets of water had formed along the air conditioner ducts during the train's inaugural run. He said it was a normal occurrence, especially when the AC unit is new, and though it was noticed during the journey, a decision was taken to address the issue on reaching Kannur instead of stopping the train mid-way. The official also said maintenance and repair staff were travelling on the train to address this and other issues that may come up during operations. On the other hand, some party workers of Congress defaced a couple of bogies of the Vande Bharat Express by pasting posters of a politician on the train. New Delhi: WhatsApp has now announced to let users run the same account on multiple phones in order to improving its multi-device offering. Therefore, you can link your phone as one of up to four additional devices, the same as when you link with WhatsApp on web browsers, tablets, and desktops. It will be major relief for those users who need several devices all-at-once for personal or professional use and can be free to sign-in from WhatsApp account whenever they have to use them. Each linked phone connects to WhatsApp independently, ensuring that your personal messages, media, and calls are end-to-end encrypted, and if your primary device is inactive for a long period, we automatically log you out of all companion devices, WhatsApp informed in the blog. The update has started rolling out to users globally and will be available to everyone in the coming weeks. How Will It Be Useful? Linking phones as companion devices can make messaging easier. Now you can switch between phones without signing out and pick up your chats where you left off. For instance, if youre a small business owner and you want your additional employees can respond directly to customers from their phones under the same WhatsApp Business account. You can do so now by linking the account on their devices simultaneously without additional need to sign-in every time. WhatsApp Working On Easy Way To Link Companion Devices WhatsApp also announced that it will introduce an alternative and more accessible way to link to companion devices in the coming weeks. The user just needs to enter your phone number on WhatsApp web to receive a one-time code, which you can use on your phone to enable device linking, rather than having to scan a QR code. (Bloomberg) -- Pressure is building on President Joe Biden to respond after House Republicans unified on a set of demands to avert a catastrophic US debt default in the coming weeks. Most Read from Bloomberg The deadline for a deal is about to come into sharper focus, clarifying the ramifications for the financial markets even as the two parties remain deeply polarized over whether to require spending cuts in any agreement to raise the US debt limit. But now that Republicans have squeaked their debt plan through the House, Biden can no longer claim they lack a cohesive plan ratcheting up pressure to sit down with Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The president can no longer ignore by not negotiating, said McCarthy, who needed to pass the bill to in order to have any serious leverage over Biden. We have done our job. Biden, however, has dug in on his refusal to cave to GOP demands to attach budget cuts to raising the $31.4 trillion US debt ceiling, although he has signaled openness to separate budget discussions. Im happy to meet with McCarthy, but not on whether or not the debt limit gets extended, Biden said on Wednesday. Thats not negotiable. The White House has already attacked the 22% cut to domestic programs that Republicans propose for next year in exchange for their agreement to lift the debt ceiling. Each side is likely to rev up their campaign to build support from the public. Theres probably a week of mutual recriminations to come, and then they find a basis to have a conversation, said Rohit Kumar, who was Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnells chief negotiator in 2011 debt-limit talks and is now a principal at PwC. Story continues The spread on one-year credit default swaps, the most popular contracts for wagering on a missed payment by the US government, has surged in recent days, touching a record 1.62 percentage points on Wednesday, according to data compiled by Bloomberg going back to 2007. The pressure to open talks will only intensify once Treasury reveals a new date in the coming days after which the US would default on payments without lifting of the ceiling. The so-called X-date could be as early as June. The GOP bill, which passed 217 to 215, is the Republican opening offer and has no chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate. To win support of conservatives, it contains a long list of their priorities including repealing climate change spending from Bidens signature bill enacted last year. Embattled Representative George Santos of New York, who had been undecided, provided extra drama, waiting to be the last Republican to cast a vote and tipping the balance in favor. Four members of his party, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ken Buck of Colorado and Tim Burchett of Tennessee, voted against the plan, along with every Democrat in the chamber. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that the measure cuts veterans health care, education, Meals on Wheels, and public safety, takes away health care from millions of Americans, and sends manufacturing jobs overseas. The president, she said, has made clear this bill has no chance of becoming law. The McCarthy plan would increase the US debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion, which would stave off a US payments default until March 31, 2024 at the latest. In exchange, Republicans demand $4.8 trillion in budget cuts, defying Bidens demands for a so-called clean debt ceiling increase. McCarthy secured the votes to pass the measure after making middle-of-the-night concessions to factions within his party. Midwestern Republicans forced the speaker to restore biofuels tax breaks, while conservatives accelerated work requirements in food stamp and welfare programs to 2024. Democrats said the bill is so extreme that it cannot move talks forward. This is a ransom note, said Jim McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat. They say that in order for us to pay our bills for one year, we have to make 10 years of deep cuts that will hurt our constituents. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats cannot and will not allow the Republicans DOA Act to ever become law. It is DOA, plain and simple. For McCarthy, passing the bill allows him to quiet critics who have unfavorably compared him to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi who had a legendary ability to bend her caucus to her will. McCarthy only became speaker after 15 rounds of voting at the start of the year and instituted a new process of dialogue between conservatives and moderates. The talks on the substance of the debt bill were led by Louisiana Representative Garret Graves, who played a key role in adding energy and fossil fuel provisions to the proposal to win over conservatives, while sparing cuts to popular prescription drug provisions enacted last year. We have empowered Speaker McCarthy to go and negotiate, added Representative Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma. This brings them to the table. Josh Huder, a senior fellow at Georgetown Universitys governmental affairs institute, said McCarthy had to demonstrate the House has its demands in order for the House to even be at the table. Failure to pass the measure would have left McCarthy and the House essentially irrelevant in the negotiations, Huder added. McCarthys greatest test, however, is yet to come. If he strikes a compromise with Biden or a looming default forces him to put a no-strings-attached bill up for a vote, he risks angering ultra-conservatives. A deal that falls short of their demands could set up a career-ending no-confidence vote on the floor. --With assistance from Josh Wingrove and Alexandra Harris. (Updates with market reaction in ninth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. OTTAWA, ON, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) will release its latest Housing Market Outlook (HMO). CMHC's annual HMO provides forward-looking analysis into Canada's national and major housing markets. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Logo (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) The report will be available in the CMHC Media Newsroom on Thursday, April 27th at 9:30 a.m., Eastern. A media availability via teleconference with CMHC Chief Economist Bob Dugan and CMHC Deputy Chief Economists to outline the national forecast will begin at 10:00 a.m., Eastern. Call number: 1-866-805-7923 Participant passcode: 3309320# Journalists looking for further information regarding forecasts at the local level can contact CMHC Media Relations and arrange to speak directly to local market experts. Follow us on Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn , Facebook and Instagram . SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/26/c2057.html Melcor Real Estate Investment Trust EDMONTON, Alberta, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Melcor Real Estate Investment Trust (Melcor REIT - TSX: MR.UN) today announced the results of its annual general meeting, held today. A total of 17,372,521 units were voted in person or by proxy, representing 59.72% of the outstanding units as of the record date. Unitholders approved all items of business before the AGM, including the election of trustees as follows: Nominee Votes For % Votes For Votes Withheld % Votes Withheld Carolyn Graham 17,341,906 59.62% 30,615 0.11% Richard Kirby 17,313,805 59.52% 58,716 0.20% Bernie Kollman 17,342,805 59.62% 29,716 0.10% Andrew Melton 17,341,904 59.62 30,617 0.11% Larry Pollock 17,341,904 59.62% 30,617 0.11% Naomi Stefura 17,343,256 59.62% 29,265 0.10% Ralph Young 17,341,904 59.62 30,617 0.11% About Melcor REIT Melcor REIT is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust. Melcor REIT owns, acquires, manages and leases quality retail, office and industrial income-generating properties in western Canada. Its portfolio is currently made up of interests in 38 properties representing approximately 3.1 million square feet of gross leasable area located across Alberta and in Regina, Saskatchewan and Kelowna, British Columbia. For more information, please visit www.melcorREIT.ca. CONTACT: Contact Information: Nicole Forsythe Director, Corporate Communications Tel: 780-945-4707 ir@melcorREIT.ca (Bloomberg) -- Meta Platforms Inc.s head of global affairs, Nick Clegg, called into question the values of TikTok by invoking the anti-China rhetoric thats become a trademark of lawmakers that want to expel his companys rival from the US. Most Read from Bloomberg TikTok, a hugely successful, highly dynamic and innovative Chinese company, is able to operate in the United States, but companies like Meta are not able to operate our social media services in China, Clegg said in an interview Tuesday with Bloomberg TV. So there is this issue of a kind of lack of a level playing field. And in the end, theres always an underlying issue of values: What values are the underpinning of new technologies? TikTok, owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance Ltd., has said its not a Chinese company and is walling off sensitive US operations to house all data and employees in America. The app also isnt available in China. Still, it hasnt been able to shake concerns about its ownership and whether that opens up the app for influence or data collection by the Chinese government. Cleggs comments echo the hawkish sentiments that have swirled around China and TikToks connection to the country. In the US, where the social media platform has amassed 150 million users every month, the company is facing a national security review and legislation that could limit its availability in the country. There are pretty profound differences in values in how China views technology and individual privacy, Clegg said, including the countrys willingness to seal off most of its internet from access by foreign companies. This has also expanded to discussions about new artificial intelligence technologies where, he said, Chinese authorities are already rushing to insert their values and the way in which those AI systems are developed. Story continues Its so important that Europe, America, India dont need to act in an identical fashion, Clegg said. But if they can align, then we can ensure that these new technologies are based on democratic values and not all autocratic values, because I can guarantee you these very powerful new technologies are going to be used by autocrats around the world for their own purposes and I think we need to do something quite different. India has already banned TikTok within its borders. TikTok Has Option to Fight Back as US Weighs Ban or Forced Sale A TikTok ban in the US would be convenient for Meta, which has copied the apps core feature of an endless stream of short-form video based on a users interests. TikTokers spend more time on the app than on any of its competitors, clocking an average of 95 minutes a day, according to Sensor Tower. Thats almost double the 51 and 49 minutes spent on Metas Instagram and Facebook, respectively. Meta has taken swings against TikTok in the past. Last year, the Washington Post reported that the company paid Republican consulting firm Targeted Victory to malign TikTok in op-eds and letters sent to newspapers across the US, calling TikTok a threat to young peoples well-being. Absent from the communications was any mention of Metas Reels, a feed of vertical videos thats similar to what TikTok offers. And lawmakers and users have often railed against Metas values, saying the company prioritizes profit over the mental health and data privacy of people using its technologies, and has failed to stop influence campaigns on its platform. Over the last half-decade, executives have been called into a string of congressional hearings, as recently as last fall. (Updates with comments on AI in fifth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Michael Masciorini, Managing Director - Investments, Senior PIM Portfolio Manager, of Wells Fargo Advisors in Irvine, CA has been recognized on this year's list of Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors. "It's an honor to have Forbes recognize me on this year's list of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors," said Masciorini. Michael Masciorini, works alongside his son, Jordan Masciorini, Vice President - Investment Officer, and Ivanna Berrio, Registered Client Associate in the Irvine, CA branch of Wells Fargo Advisors. Michael has over 35 years of experience and was one of the earliest advisors in Southern California to specialize in retirement planning. "In the early 1990's, I was a part of a team that formed The Retirement Planning Group of Smith Barney. We held seminars throughout Southern California for people nearing retirement". "Back then, we had no choice but to develop our own retirement planning software, we ran financial planning reports which were very time consuming and required various hand calculations." said Masciorini as he reflected on how far things have come. When asked about the future, Michael said "I still really enjoy coming into the office each day, working alongside my son, who I've been with since 2018." Michael says that the practice has stayed successful because of referrals. "Some of the conversations I've been having are with the children of my client's, who are now also nearing retirement". "They mention that they witnessed their parents live a long, fulfilling retirement that sometimes spanned over 30 years, and they want that for themselves". Michael currently lives in Dana Point, CA, where he raised three sons, with his wife Connie of 38 years. Wells Fargo Advisors, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, Press release picture Investment and Insurance Products are: Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Federal Government Agency Not a Deposit or Other Obligation of, or Guaranteed by, the Bank or Any Bank Affiliate Subject to Investment Risks, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount Invested Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets, proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of small businesses in the U.S., and is a leading middle market banking provider in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 41 on Fortune's 2022 rankings of America's largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy. Story continues Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management (WIM) is a division within Wells Fargo & Company. WIM provides financial products and services through various bank and brokerage affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company. News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories. Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter: @WellsFargo Contact Information Michael Goldfader Senior Vice President, Branch Manager (949) 253-4416 Michael.Goldfader@wellsfargoadvisors.com SOURCE: Wells Fargo Advisors View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/751462/Michael-Masciorini-named-as-a-Forbes-Best-In-State-Wealth-Advisor (Bloomberg) -- Alphabet Inc.s Google and Microsoft Corp., whose quarterly earnings each got a boost from their established search and cloud-computing businesses, used their time with investors to emphasize whats next: artificial intelligence. Most Read from Bloomberg In their respective earnings calls on Tuesday, the tech giants, which are becoming rivals in the competition for the future of search, offered up starkly different assessments of just how much disruption is in store for the market. Google executives encouraged investors to trust in the companys long track record as the worlds leading search engine, and framed AI as just another shift in its constantly evolving business. Microsoft suggested that something much more dramatic is underway. Investors seemed to like Microsofts thesis better, sending its shares up 7.1% in early New York trading, while Alphabet fell 0.8%. Read More: Microsoft Soars as Robust Cloud Growth Drives Beat: Street Wrap Until recently, Google was viewed as all but invincible in the market for online search, which it dominates worldwide. That changed with the debut of OpenAIs wildly popular chatbot, ChatGPT. Microsoft has begun weaving OpenAIs technology into its Bing search engine, and the partnership has ratcheted up pressure on Google to reinvent its core search business to allow for more of the conversational exchanges that generative AI makes possible. Speaking to analysts, Alphabet Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai stressed that Google is investing heavily in AI, yet he downplayed what the technology would mean for the search advertising business, which remains the companys lifeblood. He expressed optimism that users will continue to value online advertising even if their searches yield a summary composed by a large language model, rather than the familiar list of links that Google has long delivered. Story continues Throughout the years, we have gone through many, many shifts in search, Pichai said. And as we have evolved search, I think weve always had a strong, grounded approach in terms of how we evolve ads as well. Yet Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella suggested his company is a formidable challenger. He said app installations have quadrupled since the launch of the AI-powered Bing in February. He added that Bing took share in the US market in the quarter, without offering specific metrics. Read more: Microsoft Profit, Sales Top Estimates on Strong Cloud Demand We look forward to continuing this journey in what is a generational shift in the largest software category search, Nadella said on the companys earnings call. Billions of dollars in revenue could be up for grabs with even relatively small changes in market share. But in the past quarter, at least, Googles search business appeared to be weathering the heightened competitive threats and a broader downturn in the digital advertising market. The companys revenue from search and related businesses rose to almost $40.4 billion in the period ended March 31, besting analysts estimates. As Google moves to incorporate generative AI into search, Pichai said the company would draw on its institutional knowledge. Well be guided by data and years of experience about what people want and our high standards for quality, Pichai said. And well test and iterate as we go because we know that billions of people trust Google to provide the right information. Yet the company has ample reason to be worried, said Max Willens, an analyst at Insider Intelligence. Googles core business is facing the most serious challenges it has encountered in quite some time, Willens wrote in a note. Read more: Alphabet Shares Rise on Revenue Beat as Ad Sales Recover Googles partnerships with manufacturers of Android phones present another opportunity for Microsoft to gain ground. Yet there, too, Pichai suggested that Googles long track record will win the day. When we work with our partners, we work hard to create a win-win experience, Pichai said. And ultimately, partners end up choosing us because thats what their users want. (Updates shares in third paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Money market funds targeting European clients have quietly been reclassifying their legal status to market themselves as promoters of ESG, with close to $1 trillion of highly liquid client assets now registered as such. Most Read from Bloomberg The designation in question is known as Article 8, which under European Union rules means a financial product promotes environmental, social and good governance goals. Asset managers have been attaching it to funds that specialize in ultra-short-term assets at a pace thats transformed the market since European ESG investing rules were first enforced in 2021. Money market funds registered as Article 8 currently have $986 billion of client assets, up about 43% since August, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. BlackRock Inc., Amundi SA, and the asset management arms of BNP Paribas SA and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. were the four biggest players, the data show. Europe has a fairly broad definition of Article 8, and its clear that market participants and even regulatory authorities have different interpretations, Minyue Wang, director at Fitch Ratings, said in an interview. Against that backdrop, money-market funds can promote ESG characteristics as much as other asset classes, she said. The development feeds into a broader debate over what ESG should and shouldnt be. In Europe, there are calls for a fundamental review of the regions ESG investing rulebook, the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, as continual waves of fund reclassifications leave investors bewildered. Bloomberg Intelligence estimates that in total, money-market funds with $1.6 trillion of client assets have registered under some form of ESG label. Its become the trend du jour, said Adeline Diab, director of ESG Research for Bloomberg Intelligence. Story continues A spokesperson for BNP Paribas Asset Management said its decision to categorize money-market funds as Article 8 follows strict ESG guidelines and constraints, including that each fund must have an ESG score that is better than that of its investment universe. Spokespeople for Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Amundi declined to comment. BlackRock didnt respond to a request for comment. Researchers at Morningstar Inc. regard money market funds as too cash-like to be included in analyses of ESG products. They tend to be large and can distort the fund flow picture, said Hortense Bioy, global director for sustainability research at Morningstar. We prefer to ignore them. The total market for Article 8 has swelled to roughly $5.8 trillion, according to Bloomberg data that includes funds of funds and money-market funds. Thats in part as fund distributors put pressure on asset managers to deliver products that cater to demand for ESG from investment clients. But analysts at Jefferies International Ltd. and Commerzbank AG said the Article 8 market may be headed for a period of upheaval, in light of planned regulatory changes. Europes markets watchdog wants to introduce minimum thresholds for the kinds of investment products that can be sold as ESG and sustainable, which might dramatically change the landscape, they say. According to the Securities and Markets Stakeholder Group, which advises the European Securities and Markets Authority, less than a fifth of funds currently registered as Article 8 would be able to call themselves sustainable if the plan is enforced. ESMA has said its still working through consultation responses, but that it expects to move ahead with its proposal later this year. Money market funds contain highly liquid investment products, meaning theyre often considered an attractive substitute for cash deposits. Asset managers tend to fill them with short-term treasury securities or commercial paper issued by corporations, often banks. Such investment vehicles have grown in popularity since last months banking crisis, as highly liquid funds became a preferred alternative for depositors reacting to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. Even before those shocks, corporations and consumers were opting to shift cash into money-market funds, which generally offer higher returns than bank deposits. Concern about the US banking sector was a prominent driver of cash flows to money market funds in March, Fitchs Wang said. Read More: BI SFDR Barometer: Article 8 Everything, Everywhere, All At Once Tracking SFDR Upgrades and Downgrades The embrace of ESG by money market funds coincides with a slowdown in the wider market for sustainable investing. Globally, ESG funds drew $29 billion in net new money last quarter, down from almost $38 billion in the previous quarter, Morningstar Inc. said on Tuesday. ESG fund launches in Europe slumped by almost two-thirds, meaning the cool-down in new sustainable product development was entirely driven by a significant reduction of new sustainable fund launches in Europe, it said. --With assistance from Amine Haddaoui. (Adds comment from Morningstar in ninth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The ceremony celebrated the milestone of distributing four million moose hide pins to Canadians. Wearing a pin acts as a symbol of solidarity in standing up against violence towards women and children in Canada. The Moose Hide Campaign presented its four millionth moose hide pin to the Honourable Senator Michele Audette (CNW Group/Moose Hide Campaign) OTTAWA, ON, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, the Moose Hide Campaign presented its four millionth moose hide pin to the Honourable Senator Michele Audette, one of the commissioners responsible for conducting the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The gift of the four millionth moose hide pin reflects Senator Audette's lifelong commitment to the cause of supporting Indigenous women and her tireless work on Reconciliation between peoples. With over four million pins distributed since 2011, the Moose Hide campaign has engaged Canadians from coast-to-coast in a collective movement to stand up against violence towards women and children. Studies have shown that each pin generates five conversations about ending gender-based violence. The four millionth pin symbolizes over 20 million impactful conversations. Wearing the moose hide pin signifies a commitment to honour, respect, and protect the women and children in your life and speaks out against gender-based and domestic violence. The ceremony took place at the Senate Building in Ottawa. Raven Lacerte, co-founder of the Moose Hide Campaign, presented the pin to Senator Audette. Raven Lacerte and her father Paul Lacerte were inspired to start the Moose Hide Campaign on an annual moose-hunt twelve years ago. The hunt took place on their traditional territory along the Highway of Tears in British Columbia, where so many Indigenous women were murdered or went missing. Since then, thousands of Canadians have participated in the Campaign every year and worn a moose hide pin as a symbol of solidarity in standing up against violence towards women and children in Canada. The presentation of the four million pin comes in advance of Moose Hide Campaign Day on May 11. In 2022, over 400,000 Canadians took part in the Campaign Day by participating in the Walk to End Violence, fasting, ceremony and education about gender-based violence and reconciliation. Story continues Anyone interested in joining can register directly to the Moose Hide Campaign at: https://moosehidecampaign.ca/campaignday/ About The Moose Hide Campaign The Moose Hide Campaign is a grassroots movement of Indigenous and non-Indigenous men and boys who are standing up against violence towards women and children. It was created by Paul and Raven Lacerte, an Indigenous father and daughter from the Carrier First Nation. Twelve years ago, while on their annual moose-hunting trip, on their traditional territory along the Highway of Tears, where so many Indigenous women were murdered or went missing, they were inspired to launch this initiative. Wearing the moose hide pin signifies a commitment to honour, respect and protect the women and children. Media Contact: Anna Woodmass, NATIONAL Public Relations E: awoodmass@national.ca P: 416-571-2147 SOURCE Moose Hide Campaign Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/26/c5620.html Feverpitched / Getty Images/iStockphoto Purchasing a home is likely the biggest expenditure most people will make in their lifetimes, and home prices can vary wildly from state to state. So a $300,000 home buying budget in a state such as West Virginia or Mississippi can get you much more living space than what that same bundle of cash will get you in Hawaii or California, where costs of living, particularly housing, are super high. With the U.S. median list price at $333,910, $300,000 is just the bare minimum in some states. To help you gauge your options, GOBankingRates took March 2023 typical home values for single family residences from all states and divided it against $300,000 to see how much of a home $300,000 can buy you in each state in 2023. Next: These Are the 10 Most Overpriced Housing Markets in the US -- 5 Are in Florida Read: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 Keep reading to learn how much house you can actually afford -- and whether it's worth buying a home in a different state. Shutterstock.com 50. Hawaii March 2023 home value: $966,277 % of home $300K will get you: 31.05% Find Out: 7 Florida Cities That Could Be Headed for a Housing Crisis Save Money: Unplug These Appliances That Hike Up Your Electricity Bill Shutterstock.com 49. California March 2023 home value: $744,023 % of home $300K will get you: 40.32% Look: Here's How Much Money Experts Say You Should Have in Your Savings Account If You're in Your 50s Shutterstock.com 48. Massachusetts March 2023 home value: $576,889 % of home $300K will get you: 52.00% Shutterstock.com 47. Washington March 2023 home value: $576,090 % of home $300K will get you: 52.08% Shutterstock.com 46. Colorado March 2023 home value: $551,616 % of home $300K will get you: 54.39% Shutterstock.com 45. Utah March 2023 home value: $515,188 % of home $300K will get you: 58.23% Related: 8 Places in California Where Home Prices Have Plummeted Shutterstock.com 44. Oregon March 2023 home value: $491,195 % of home $300K will get you: 61.08% Andrew F. Kazmierski / Shutterstock.com 43. New Jersey March 2023 home value: $464,321 % of home $300K will get you: 64.61% Shutterstock.com 42. New Hampshire March 2023 home value: $443,447 % of home $300K will get you: 67.65% Story continues Shutterstock.com 41. Idaho -- 1,829 Square Feet March 2023 home value: $435,726 % of home $300K will get you: 68.85% Investing: 5 Best Long-Term Cryptocurrencies To Buy for 2023 Shutterstock.com 40. Montana -- 1,476 Square Feet March 2023 home value: $430,042 % of home $300K will get you: 69.76% Shutterstock.com 39. Nevada March 2023 home value: $426,782 % of home $300K will get you: 70.29% Shutterstock.com 38. Rhode Island March 2023 home value: $422,844 % of home $300K will get you: 70.95% Shutterstock.com 37. Arizona March 2023 home value: $418,605 % of home $300K will get you: 71.67% Look: 5 Best Long-Term Cryptocurrencies To Buy for 2023 Shutterstock.com 36. Maryland March 2023 home value: $398,383 % of home $300K will get you: 75.30% Shutterstock.com 35. Florida -- 1,801 Square Feet March 2023 home value: $398,378 % of home $300K will get you: 75.31% Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock.com 34. New York March 2023 home value: $398,211 % of home $300K will get you: 75.34% Shutterstock.com 33. Connecticut March 2023 home value: $380,883 % of home $300K will get you: 78.76% Next: 15 Cities Where Houses Are Best Bargains Right Now Shutterstock.com 32. Virginia -- 1,875 Square Feet March 2023 home value: $364,552 % of home $300K will get you: 82.29% Shutterstock.com 31. Alaska -- 1,748 Square Feet March 2023 home value: $358,058 % of home $300K will get you: 83.79% Shutterstock.com 30. Delaware March 2023 home value: $356,466 % of home $300K will get you: 84.16% Shutterstock.com 29. Maine March 2023 home value: $348,776 % of home $300K will get you: 86.02% Learn: 5 Expensive Renovations Homeowners Always Regret Shutterstock.com 28. Vermont March 2023 home value: $333,080 % of home $300K will get you: 90.07% pamspix / Getty Images 27. Wyoming March 2023 home value: $324,494 % of home $300K will get you: 92.45% Shutterstock.com 26. Minnesota March 2023 home value: $320,972 % of home $300K will get you: 93.47% Shutterstock.com 25. North Carolina March 2023 home value: $310,895 % of home $300K will get you: 96.50% Check Out: Mortgages for Homebuyers with Good Credit To Cost More Starting May 1 -- High-Risk Buyers Will Pay Less Georgia / Getty Images 24. Georgia March 2023 home value: $307,758 % of home $300K will get you: 97.48% Shutterstock.com 23. Texas March 2023 home value: $296,178 % of home $300K will get you: 101.29% Shutterstock.com 22. Tennessee March 2023 home value: $289,570 % of home $300K will get you: 103.60% Shutterstock.com 21. South Dakota -- 1,812 Square Feet March 2023 home value: $285,078 % of home $300K will get you: 105.23% Make Money With AI and Chat GPT: How To Earn $1,000 a Month Shutterstock.com 20. New Mexico -- 2,261 Square Feet March 2023 home value: $281,091 % of home $300K will get you: 106.73% Shutterstock.com 19. South Carolina -- 2,321 Square Feet March 2023 home value: $273,186 % of home $300K will get you: 109.82% Shutterstock.com 18. Wisconsin -- 2,151 Square Feet March 2023 home value: $264,573 % of home $300K will get you: 113.39% Shutterstock.com 17. North Dakota March 2023 home value: $246,155 % of home $300K will get you: 121.87% Check Out: 22 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time Job LEE SNIDER PHOTO IMAGES / Shutterstock.com 16. Pennsylvania March 2023 home value: $244,440 % of home $300K will get you: 122.73% Shutterstock.com 15. Nebraska March 2023 home value: $243,695 % of home $300K will get you: 123.10% rafalkrakow / Getty Images/iStockphoto 14. Illinois March 2023 home value: $240,439 % of home $300K will get you: 124.77% Shutterstock.com 13. Missouri March 2023 home value: $228,738 % of home $300K will get you: 131.15% Why Is My Cash App Payment Pending? 5 Reasons and Solutions Shutterstock.com 12. Indiana -- 2,844 Square Feet March 2023 home value: $222,539 % of home $300K will get you: 134.81% Shutterstock.com 11. Michigan -- 2,351 Square Feet March 2023 home value: $214,785 % of home $300K will get you: 139.67% Shutterstock.com 10. Kansas March 2023 home value: $211,548 % of home $300K will get you: 141.81% Shutterstock.com 9. Ohio March 2023 home value: $207,503 % of home $300K will get you: 144.58% Zelle Scams on Facebook Marketplace: How To Recognize and Avoid Them Roman Korotkov / Shutterstock.com 8. Alabama March 2023 home value: $203,528 % of home $300K will get you: 147.40% Shutterstock.com 7. Iowa March 2023 home value: $202,856 % of home $300K will get you: 147.89% Shutterstock.com 6. Oklahoma March 2023 home value: $190,235 % of home $300K will get you: 157.70% Shutterstock.com 5. Kentucky March 2023 home value: $189,531 % of home $300K will get you: 158.29% More: Facebook Marketplace Scams To Watch Out For in 2023 Shutterstock.com 4. Louisiana March 2023 home value: $183,113 % of home $300K will get you: 163.83% matthewleesdixon / Getty Images/iStockphoto 3. Arkansas March 2023 home value: $178,264 % of home $300K will get you: 168.29% Shutterstock.com 2. Mississippi March 2023 home value: $161,582 % of home $300K will get you: 185.66% Shutterstock.com 1. West Virginia March 2023 home value: $146,499 % of home $300K will get you: 204.78% Shutterstock.com Best and Worst States To Buy a Home For $300K If you're looking for a large house on a $300,000 budget, some states have real estate markets that just won't meet your needs. These states, including the District of Columbia, rank in the bottom 10 for getting the most bang for your buck: Idaho New Hampshire New Jersey Oregon Utah Colorado Washington Massachusetts California Hawaii On the other hand, these are the 10 best states that will provide you with the most value for a $300,000 homebuying budget: West Virginia Mississippi Arkansas Louisiana Kentucky Oklahoma Iowa Alabama Ohio Kansas More From GOBankingRates Jordan Rosenfeld contributed to the reporting of this article. Methodology: For this support piece we took March 2023 typical home values for single family residences from all states and divided it against $300,000 to see how much of a home $300,000 can buy you in each state in 2023. All data was sourced from Zillow's Marc 2023 set and is up to date as of April 18, 2023. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much Home You Can Buy for $300,000 in Every State SAVUSAVU, Fiji, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Namale Resort & Spa, a luxury boutique resort in Vanua Levu, Fiji, is among the Top 500 Hotels in the World according to Travel + Leisure's new 2023 listing of standout hotels worldwide. Namale Resort & Spa Logo Namale is a 5-star, all-inclusive boutique resort known for its tranquility and exclusivity, attracting celebrities, honeymooners, and travelers seeking unparalleled luxury. Guests at Namale enjoy private luxury villas with world-class amenities including farm-to-table dining, a 4:1 staff-to-guest ratio, award-winning spa hydrotherapy and unique experiences that include romantic dinners in a candlelit sea cave and sandbar oasis excursions. Namale takes great pride in its dedicated staff and is committed to enriching the local community and celebrating Fijian culture. Staff live in neighboring villages and strive to deliver an authentically Fijian experience to all guests. "At Namale, we are dedicated to delivering an unforgettable, high-quality experience for modern travelers," said Co-General Manager Nowdla Keefe. "Our exceptional staff create intimate and unique experiences for each guest to make their stay exceptional and memorable. We're honored to be recognized as one of the top 500 hotels in the world for these efforts." In 2022, Namale was named the #1 Resort in the South Pacific in the World's Best Awards, where Travel + Leisure readers vote for their favorite islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more. The 2023 Top 500 list draws from contenders in the World's Best Awards, creating a prestigious directory for travelers to choose from. Visit https://www.namalefiji.com/ for more information and to make a reservation. About Namale Resort & Spa Set amidst 525 acres of breathtaking tropical beauty in Fiji's northern island of Vanua Levu, Namale Resort & Spa is redefining all-inclusive. Offering an intimate, adults-only boutique setting provides a truly unique and authentically Fijian experience where every request is met, every want anticipated, and every expectation exceeded. Story continues About Travel + Leisure Co. Travel + Leisure Co. is the world's leading membership and leisure travel company, with nearly 20 travel brands across its resort, travel club, and lifestyle portfolio. The company provides outstanding vacation experiences and travel inspiration to millions of owners, members, and subscribers every year through its products and services. At Travel + Leisure Co., a global team of associates brings hospitality to millions each year, turning vacation inspiration into exceptional travel experiences. Learn more at travelandleisureco.com. Media Contact: Jennifer Connelly Phone: (646) 922-7755 Email: jconnelly@jconnelly.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2060473/Namale_Logo_Fijis__1_Resort___Spa_2__1_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/namale-resort--spa-named-among-top-500-hotels-in-the-world-by-travel--leisure-301804772.html SOURCE Namale Resort & Spa NanoXplore Inc. MONTREAL, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NanoXplore Inc. (NanoXplore or the Corporation) (TSX: GRA and OTCQX: NNXPF), a world-leading graphene company, is pleased to hold a webcast to discuss the results of its third quarter ended March 31, 2023, on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time). The financial results will be released, after market close, on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Q3 Webcast Details When: May 11, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) Webcast: To listen to the live webcast, please join and register at: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/fgyva2y6 or via our website under Events and Presentations in our Investors section at https://nanoxplore.ca/events-presentations/ A replay of the webcast will be available through the link above or in the Investors section under Events and Presentations of the Corporations website at www.nanoxplore.ca. About NanoXplore Inc. NanoXplore is a graphene company, a manufacturer and supplier of high-volume graphene powder for use in transportation and industrial markets. The Corporation provides standard and custom graphene-enhanced plastic and composite products to various customers in transportation, packaging, electronics, and other industrial sectors. NanoXplore is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec with manufacturing facilities across North America and Europe. Please visit www.nanoxplore.ca. For further information, please contact: Martin Gagne Director, Investor Relations martin.gagne@nanoxplore.ca Tel: 1 438.476.1927 Vancouver --News Direct-- Nextech3D.AI Nextech3D.AI CEO Evan Gappelberg joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the companys platform Toggle3D.AI has been granted conditional approval from the Canadian Securities exchange to begin trading as a stand-alone public company in the first half of June. Gappelberg tells Proactive the company will use the ticker symbol TGGL and a dual listing in the United States is also in the works. The Toggle3D platform allows product designers, 3D artists, marketing professionals and eCommerce site owners to create quality 3D models and convert large CAD files into lightweight 3D models. Contact Details Proactive Investors Canada +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/nextech3d-ai-receives-conditional-approval-from-cse-for-toggle3d-ai-spin-off-listing-460311535 Oceana Canada New Survey finds most Newfoundlanders and Labradorians support pausing capelin fishery to rebuild it OTTAWA, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the 2023 capelin fishing quota announcement just around the corner, new polling commissioned by Oceana Canada from leading market research firm Abacus Data found that the vast majority - 84 per cent - of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador care deeply about rebuilding local ocean ecosystems and support pausing the commercial capelin fishery until the population recovers. Capelin is a main food source for many animals, such as northern cod, puffins and whales, and is culturally important for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians through its historical use as food and fertilizer and the annual capelin roll that brings residents to the beaches each summer. However, this vital connection to the ocean continues to be threatened by mismanagement and overfishing. Last year, the governments decision to maintain a harvest quota of 14,533 tonnes followed a decades-long pattern of overfishing. The 2J3KL capelin population has been critically depleted for more than 30 years and is at just seven per cent of its pre-collapse level. Fisheries and Oceans Canadas (DFO) latest science assessment found that the stock is deep in the critical zone, where fishing should stop, at just 41 per cent of the threshold between critical and cautious zones. Capelin has been in a critically depleted state for decades and the harmful effects of this weakened population are reverberating across the entire marine ecosystem, said Jack Daly, Marine Scientist, Oceana Canada. If the government is serious about rebuilding fisheries such as northern cod and other commercially and culturally important groundfish, it has to protect capelin, which feeds so many other species off our coasts. It is now time for the government to make the science-based decision to pause the fishery and allow it to rebuild. Oceana Canada is urging DFO to take the following immediate actions: Story continues Close the commercial capelin fishery to rebuild this critically depleted population Develop a rebuilding plan that is consistent with the Fisheries Act rebuilding regulations Set transparent, science-based benchmarks for the population, while strengthening scientific assessments and fisheries monitoring, before resuming the commercial fishery Oceana Canadas research also found that an overwhelming 82 per cent of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador feel the Canadian government should do more to protect and manage fish populations like capelin to benefit local ecosystems, culture and the fishing industry. With this years quota announcement, DFO must follow the best available evidence to rebuild the stock for the benefit of those most affected by its current state. Sadly, a long history of reckless management decisions now requires drastic management interventions to promote the recovery of this critically depleted population, said Dr. Robert Rangeley, Director of Science, Oceana Canada. This must be the year we make wise decisions about managing essential fish populations. Visit oceana.ca/en/our-campaigns/critically-depleted-capelin-are-being-overfished/ to sign the petition to rebuild Canadas wild fish populations and click here for the full market research results. Oceana Canada was established as an independent charity in 2015 and is part of the largest international advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana Canada has successfully campaigned to ban single-use plastics, end the shark fin trade, make rebuilding depleted fish populations the law, improve the way fisheries are managed and protect marine habitat. We work with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples and the federal government to return Canadas formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. By restoring Canadas oceans, we can strengthen our communities, reap greater economic and nutritional benefits and protect our future. Find out more at www.oceana.ca. Media contacts: Vaishali Dassani, Oceana Canada, vdassani@oceana.ca, 647-294-3335; Angela Pinzon, Pilot PMR, angela.pinzon@pilotpmr.com, 647-295-0517 Oral presentation on BRACELET-1 to take place on June 3, 2023 SAN DIEGO and CALGARY, AB, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC) today announced the acceptance of an abstract for an oral presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, which is taking place from June 2 6, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois and online. Oncolytics Biotech Inc Logo "Being selected for an oral presentation at ASCO is an immense honor that speaks to the importance of BRACELET-1's results to key opinion leaders and other critical stakeholders in breast cancer," said Dr. Matt Coffey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. "ASCO is widely recognized as one of the world's premier oncology conferences, and we're thrilled that our collaborators at PrECOG will have such a prestigious venue to present the randomized phase 2 BRACELET-1 trial." Details on the abstract and corresponding presentation are shown below. Title: BRACELET-1 (PrE0113): Inducing an Inflammatory Phenotype in Metastatic HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer with the Oncolytic Reovirus Pelareorep in Combination with Paclitaxel and Avelumab Presentation Type: Oral Abstract Number: 1012 Session Type: Clinical Science Symposium Session Title: The Dr. Bernard Fisher Memorial Annual Clinical Science Symposium Supported by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation: Harnessing the Breast Cancer Immune Response Session Date and Time: June 3, 2023 | 1:15 p.m. 2:45 p.m. CT The abstract will be published on the ASCO Annual Meeting website at 5:00 p.m. ET on May 25, 2023. About BRACELET-1 Additional information on the BRACELET-1 study can be found at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/home and the identifier (NCT number) NCT04215146. About Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Oncolytics is a biotechnology company developing pelareorep, an intravenously delivered immunotherapeutic agent. This compound induces anti-cancer immune responses and promotes an inflamed tumor phenotype -- turning "cold" tumors "hot" -- through innate and adaptive immune responses to treat a variety of cancers. Story continues Pelareorep has demonstrated synergies with immune checkpoint inhibitors and may also be synergistic with other approved oncology treatments. Oncolytics is currently conducting and planning clinical trials evaluating pelareorep in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies in solid and hematological malignancies as it advances towards registration studies in metastatic breast cancer and pancreatic cancer. For further information, please visit: www.oncolyticsbiotech.com. This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities laws (such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include statements regarding Oncolytics' belief as to the potential and benefits of pelareorep as a cancer therapeutic; our plans to conduct clinical trials evaluating pelareorep in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and target therapies in solid and hematological malignancies; our plans to advance towards registration studies in metastatic breast cancer and pancreatic cancer; and other statements related to anticipated developments in Oncolytics' business and technologies. In any forward-looking statement in which Oncolytics expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, such expectations or beliefs are expressed in good faith and are believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the statement or expectation or belief will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause Oncolytics' actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue research and development projects, the efficacy of pelareorep as a cancer treatment, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, Oncolytics' ability to successfully commercialize pelareorep, uncertainties related to the research and development of pharmaceuticals, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes to the economic environment. In particular, we may be impacted by business interruptions resulting from COVID-19 coronavirus, including operating, manufacturing supply chain, clinical trial and project development delays and disruptions, labour shortages, travel and shipping disruption, and shutdowns (including as a result of government regulation and prevention measures). It is unknown whether and how Oncolytics may be affected if the COVID-19 pandemic persists for an extended period of time. We may incur expenses or delays relating to such events outside of our control, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition. Investors should consult Oncolytics' quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. Company Contact Jon Patton Director of IR & Communication +1-858-886-7813 jpatton@oncolytics.ca Investor Relations for Oncolytics Timothy McCarthy LifeSci Advisors +1-917-679-9282 tim@lifesciadvisors.com Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oncolytics-biotech-announces-upcoming-oral-presentation-on-randomized-bracelet-1-trial-in-hrher2--metastatic-breast-cancer-at-the-asco-annual-meeting-301808396.html SOURCE Oncolytics Biotech Inc. REPORTSINSIGHTS CONSULTING PVT LTD The Global Optical Communication and Networking Equipment Market is projected to register a CAGR of 7.68% during 2023-2030, fueled by growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) and increasing energy efficiency regulations. New York, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the research report titled "Global Optical Communication and Networking Equipment Market " released by Reports Insights, the market had a valuation of USD 18.02 Billion in 2022. The report further predicts that the market will grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.68%, and is expected to reach a value of USD 31.90 Billion by 2030. Optical communication and networking equipment is a device used to transmit data across a telecommunication network by utilizing signals encoded light. Optical networking involves WAN and LAN to facilitate interconnectivity across the network. The networking equipment involves various components including transceiver, optical amplifiers, and others. The rising demand for internet connectivity due to growing requirement of internet access for personal and business need is driving the growth of the optical communication and networking equipment market. The advancement of technologies including artificial intelligence, IoT, and big data analytics has increased the demand for connected devices and smart devices resulting in a rise the growth of the optical communication and networking equipment market. Furthermore, transceiver manufacturers are focusing on the development of applications in the metro network, long haul applications, data center interconnect and others. Thus, rising demand for compact-sized transceivers is driving the demand of the optical communication and networking equipment market. Apply For Free Sample Report @ https://www.reportsinsights.com/sample/673829 Global Optical Communication and Networking Equipment Market Segmentation Details: Based on Component, the transceiver segment accounted major market share in the year 2022 due to the rising demand for compact-sized transceivers. Additionally, the increasing implementation of cloud computing and increased use of the internet is driving the growth of transceivers in the optical communication and networking equipment market. Thus, owing to the above-mentioned trends the market is anticipated to grow. Story continues Based on Technology, Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) technology holds a major market share for the year 2022 due to the rising use of high-speed internet. Additionally, the increasing adoption of connected devices for residential and commercial buildings is propelling the growth of WDM technology in optical communication and networking equipment market. Based on End User, the healthcare segment is expected to grow during the forecast period due to the increasing adoption of advanced technologies including IoT and artificial intelligence for medical devices, diagnosis, treatment, and others. Thus, the adoption of digitalization for secure networking is propelling the growth of the healthcare industry which in turn propels the optical communication and networking equipment market. Based on region, the Asia Pacific region is projected to grow during the forecast period due to technological developments and rapid digitalization in developing countries including China and India. Additionally, the development of 5G technology is promoting the growth of the optical communication and networking equipment market in the Asia Pacific region. Find What You Need With Our Detailed Table Of Contents (TOC) & Summary Of Optical Communication and Networking Equipment Market Report @ https://www.reportsinsights.com/industry-forecast/global-optical-communication-and-networking-equipment-market-statistical-analysis-673829 Optical Communication and Networking Equipment Market Report Coverage:- Report Attributes Report Details Market Size By 2030 USD 31.90 Billion Forecast Period 2023-2030 CAGR (2023-2030) 7.68% Base Year 2022 Study Timeline 2017-2030 Key Players Cisco System Inc., Nokia, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., ZTE Corporation, Ciena Corporation, ADVA Optical Networking, Infinera Corporation, FUJITSU, FiberHome, NEC Corporation, ADVA Optical Networking By Component Optical Fiber, Switch, Transceiver Others, and Others By Technology SONET, WDM, and Fiber Channel By End User BFSI, IT & Telecom, Healthcare, Retail, and Others Report Coverage Company Ranking and Market Share, Growth Factors, Total Revenue Forecast, Regional Competitive Landscape, Business Strategies, and more. By Geography North America, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Europe, Middle East & Africa Key Market Highlights The Global Optical Communication and Networking Equipment Market size is estimated to exceed USD 31.90 billion by 2030 and grow at a CAGR of 7.68% during the forecast period (2023-2030). Globally, Optical Communication and Networking Equipment are divided based on the Component into Optical Fiber, Switch, Transceiver, Others, and Others. In the context of Technology, the market is separated SONET, WDM, and Fiber Channel. On the basis of End User, the market is categorized into BFSI, IT & Telecom, Healthcare, Retail, and Others. The market is geographically divided into five regions: Europe, South America, the Asia-Pacific, North America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America and Asia Pacific are estimated to support the market growth during the forecast period in terms of the large presence of market players combined with high expenditures on technological advancements in Optical Communication and Networking Equipment. Recent Developments In March 2022, ADVA Optical Networking introduced a pluggable MicroMux Edge BiDi device with four independent and bidirectional 10GbE optical interfaces, to enable the operator to enhance the capacity and fix the fiber limitation in the access network. Request For Customization/Enquiry @ https://www.reportsinsights.com/enquiry/673829 List of Major Global Optical Communication and Networking Equipment Market Players The market research report examines various market factors to determine the key drivers, limitations, and opportunities affecting market players. The report includes a SWOT analysis, regional analysis, and segment analysis to give a complete view of the market situation. This evaluation helps to identify possible growth opportunities through the implementation of technology, product utilization, business strategies, and the launch of new products. The following are major market players operating in the market environment Cisco System Inc. Nokia Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. ZTE Corporation Ciena Corporation ADVA Optical Networking Infinera Corporation FUJITSU FiberHome NEC Corporation ADVA Optical Networking Global Optical Communication and Networking Equipment Market Segmentation: By Component Optical Fiber Switch Transceiver Others By Technology SONET WDM Fiber Channel By End User BFSI IT & Telecom Healthcare Retail Others Discover More With Reports Insights Library Of Others Research Reports:- Laser Technology Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis, By Product (System and Laser), Laser Type (Solid-State, Liquid, and Gas Lasers), Application (Laser Processing, Optical Communication, and Others), End-Use (Aerospace and Defense, Automotive, Manufacturing, Electronics and Semiconductors, Healthcare and Others), By Region, Forecast Period 2023 - 2030 Wireless Optical Communication Market Size, Regional Trends, Growth, By Regions (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, Middle East And Africa), Segment Analysis, Key Technology Landscape, Market Dynamics, and Forecast (2023-2028) Optical Communication and Networking Market Size, Regional Trends, Growth, By Regions (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, Middle East And Africa), Segment Analysis, Key Technology Landscape, Market Dynamics, and Forecast (2022-2030) Optical Communication Chip Market Size, Growth, By Regions (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, Middle East And Africa), Analysis, Trend and Forecast (2022-2028) InGaAs PIN Photodiode Market By Product Types (High Speed InGaAs, Large Active Area Photodiode, Segmented InGaAs Photodiode, Other), By Applications (Optical Communications, Physics and Chemistry Measurement, Other), in ), Growth, Trends and Forecast (2023-2030) About Reports Insights Consulting Pvt Ltd ReportsInsights Consulting Pvt Ltd. is the leading research industry that offers contextual and data-centric research services to its customers across the globe. The firm assists its clients to strategize business policies and accomplish sustainable growth in their respective market domains. The industry provides consulting services, syndicated research reports, and customized research reports. Topnotch research organizations and institutions to comprehend the regional and global commercial status use the data produced by ReportsInsights Consulting Pvt Ltd. Our reports comprise in-depth analytical and statistical analysis on various industries in the foremost countries around the globe. CONTACT: Contact: Email: sales@reportsinsights.com USA: +1-214-272-0393 Europe: +44-20-8133-9198 TSXV: PGZ OTCQB: PGZFF The Canada Honda target is a large gravity anomaly extending approx. 2km east-west Drill hole CHD02 targeted a large gravity anomaly and intersected 11m of 0.6% Cu, 0.12g/t Au and 3.2g/t Ag, with the hole unable to continue after it collapsed before reaching the target New Induced Polarization (IP) survey highlights previously untested chargeability and resistivity-low anomalies extending beneath the mine tunnel Drilling initiated at Canada Honda target to test beneath historic mine tunnel for copper-gold mineralization VANCOUVER, BC, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Pan Global Resources Inc. ("Pan Global" or the "Company") (TSXV: PGZ) (OTCQB: PGZFF) is pleased to announce that it has commenced diamond drilling at the Canada Honda target at the Company's 100%-owned Escacena Project in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, southern Spain. This follows completion of a new IP survey that identified an untested IP anomaly beneath the historic mine tunnel. Results are also announced for drillhole CHD02 that attempted to test a deep gravity target at Canada Honda and was abandoned before reaching the target depth due to the hole collapsing. "New geophysics data highlights the Canada Honda target's potential to host volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) mineralization. The intersection of anomalous copper and gold above the target in hole CHD02 is another positive indication of potential for significant copper mineralization associated with the Canada Honda gravity anomaly. The new IP survey appears to show an anomaly that becomes stronger at depth beneath the historic mine workings on the margin of the gravity anomaly," said Tim Moody, Pan Global's President & CEO. The Canada Honda target is characterized by a large gravity anomaly (up to 1 mGal) that extends approximately two kilometers east-west. The target is potential sulphide mineralization within the prospective Volcanic Sequence (VS) concealed beneath overthrust rocks of the Phyillite Quartzite (PQ) unit. Previous Pan Global channel sampling of the historic mine tunnel on the southern margin of the gravity anomaly included 26m at 0.42g/t Au and assay values up to 2.9g/t Au, 27.5g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu and 0.4% Co. A single drill hole (CHD01) by Pan Global in 2019, approximately 150m northwest of the tunnel, also intersected minor anomalous gold values of up to 0.34g/t Au. Story continues Drill results for hole CHD02 are summarized in Table 1 and drill hole collar details are presented in Table 2 below. Drill hole locations are shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 Canada Honda gravity anomaly map with drill hole locations and cross section location A-A in Figure 2. (CNW Group/Pan Global Resources Inc.) Canada Honda Additional gravity survey data has been collected over the Canada Honda target area and a new line of IP has been completed adjacent to a historic mine tunnel along a thrust contact on the southeastern margin of the gravity anomaly. The new IP highlights a chargeability high and previously untested resistivity low anomaly beneath the tunnel. Drilling has commenced on the first of two new holes (CHD03 and CHD04) testing chargeability and resistivity-low anomalies beneath the historic mine tunnel. Drill hole CHD02 was drilled to test the eastern extension of the large Canada Honda gravity anomaly, targeting potential massive sulphide concealed beneath the overthrust Phyllite Quartzite geology unit. The hole collapsed before reaching the target and had to be abandoned. The hole intersected a zone of sulphide mineralization with anomalous copper and gold within the thrust-fault sequence above the target. Highlights include; CHD02 11m at 0.6% Cu, 0.12g/t Au, 3.2g/t Ag from 426m, including 2.0m at 1.0% Cu, 0.24g/t Au, 7.7g/t Ag 1.0m at 1.8% Cu, 0.13g/t Au, 6.1 g/t Ag Additional isolated assay up to 0.7g/t Au over 1m The results provide additional positive indicators of the potential for more significant copper-gold mineralization in the Canada Honda target area. The main gravity anomaly remains untested and further drilling is pending additional modelling. Figure 2 Cross section showing new planned drill holes CHD03 and CHD04 targeting a resistivity low anomaly beneath the historic Canada Honda mine tunnel. (CNW Group/Pan Global Resources Inc.) Table 1 Canada Honda drill results summary (all intersections are >90% to 100% of true thickness) hole abandoned before the target depth Hole From To Interval Cu Pb Zn Au Ag m m m % % % g/t g/t CHD02 426.0 437.0 11.0 0.6 <0.1 <0.1 0.12 3.2 Incl. 427.0 429.0 2.0 1.0 <0.1 0.2 0.24 7.7 Incl. 431.0 432.0 1.0 1.8 <0.1 <0.1 0.13 6.1 Table 2 Canada Honda drillhole collar information Hole_ID Easting1 Northing1 Azimuth () Dip () Depth (m) CHD02 736881 4156375 180 -70 542.6 1Coordinates are in ERTS89 datum UTM29N Drilling is ongoing in the Escacena Project at the La Romana and Zarcita targets. Results are pending for approximately 15 drill holes at La Romana and Zarcita. Negotiations are progressing with land owners for access to the untested potential near-surface extensions to the La Romana mineralization. QA/QC Procedures Core size was HQ (63mm) and all samples were core. Nominal sample size was 1m core length and ranged from 0.4m to 2m. Sample intervals were defined using geological contacts with the start and end of each sample physically marked on the core. Diamond blade core cutting and sampling was supervised at all times by Company staff. Duplicate samples of core were taken approximately every 30 samples and Certified Reference materials inserted every 25 samples in each batch. Samples were delivered to ALS laboratory in Sevilla, Spain and assayed at the ALS laboratory in Ireland. All samples were crushed and split (method CRU-31, SPL22Y), and pulverized using (method PUL-31). Gold analysis was by 50gm Fire assay with ICP finish (method Au-ICP22) and multi element analysis was undertaken using a 4-acid digest with ICP AES finish (method ME-ICP61). Tin was analyzed in selected intervals using Lithium borate fusion and ICP MS finish (method ME-MS81). Over grade base metal results were assayed using a 4-acid digest ICP AES (method OG-62). Over grade tin was determined using peroxide fusion with ICP finish (method Sn-ICP81x). About the Escacena Project The Escacena Project comprises a large, contiguous, 5,760-hectare land package controlled 100% by Pan Global in the east of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. The project is located near operating mines at Las Cruces and Riotinto and is immediately adjacent to the former Aznalcollar and Los Frailes mines where Minera Los Frailes/Grupo Mexico is in the final permitting stage with construction anticipated to restart in 2023. The Escacena Project hosts the La Romana copper-tin discovery and a number of other prospective targets, including Zarcita, Hornitos, La Jarosa, Romana Deep, Canada Honda, Bravo, Barbacena, El Pozo, and San Pablo. About Pan Global Resources Pan Global Resources Inc. is actively engaged in base and precious metal exploration in southern Spain and is pursuing opportunities from exploration through to mine development. The Company is committed to operating safely and with respect to the communities and environment where we operate. Qualified Persons James Royall, Vice President Exploration for Pan Global Resources and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information for this news release. Mr. Royall is not independent of the Company. On behalf of the Board of Directors www.panglobalresources.com Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this news release are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, environmental and technological factors that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products and prices. Readers should refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of its audited financial statements filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Pan Global Resources Inc. logo (CNW Group/Pan Global Resources Inc.) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pan-global-commences-drilling-at-canada-honda-copper-gold-target-in-the-escacena-project-spain-301807972.html SOURCE Pan Global Resources Inc. Acquisition will support Paycor's mission of empowering leaders by inspiring positive and sustainable behavior change programs through personalized development pathways CINCINNATI, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Paycor HCM, Inc. ("Paycor") (Nasdaq: PYCR), a leading provider of human capital management (HCM) software, today announced that it will acquire Verb, a people development platform incorporating behavioral science and proprietary microlearning content to create best-in-class workplace training. According to Gartner, leader and manager effectiveness is the most frequent top priority among HR leaders. With the acquisition of Verb, Paycor will support organizations with their top priority of empowering leaders to develop winning teams. Paycor Logo (PRNewsfoto/Paycor) Paycor plans to fully integrate Verb into its HCM platform and accelerate the development of Paycor Paths, a new product designed to help organizations inspire positive and sustainable behavior change within their frontline leaders through a series of personalized development journeys. As part of Paths, Verb will enable Paycor's customers to deliver personalized and effective employee learning experiences at scale. "We look forward to welcoming the talented and passionate Verb team to the Paycor family," said Swati Garodia, Chief Strategy Officer of Paycor. "With ongoing talent shortages and the accelerating pace of change, it is critical for companies, large and small, to invest in upskilling their internal teams and frontline leaders. With the acquisition of Verb, we will provide our customers with the most engaging, results-oriented, and personalized learning solution on the market." Verb is a behavioral science-based microlearning platform that's built to easily upskill and develop managers and their frontline teams. Verb has a library of 100+ hours of proprietary, bite-sized soft skills content that addresses a variety of talent development needs. The expertly built content drives real behavioral change by building real-world practice and reflection into its learning. Verb enables HR and Learning & Development leaders to choose between pre-built, ready to launch learning programs or to develop a custom learning program, such as manager training, leadership development, employee onboarding and DE&I training. Story continues "We've built an incredible learning platform," said Suzi Sosa, Chief Executive Officer of Verb, "and we're thrilled to join forces with Paycor to bring it to millions of frontline leaders. Our action-based learning helps employees and managers develop the soft skills they need to be successful in their roles. By combining Verb with Paycor Paths, we will help companies create a culture of continuous learning and development while also showing clear ROI on training. Paycor is the ideal partner to help us achieve the impact we've always wanted." Paycor expects to fully integrate Verb's learning offerings into Paycor Paths by the second half of 2023. To learn more, visit: www.paycor.com/verb. About Paycor Paycor's human capital management (HCM) platform modernizes every aspect of people management, from recruiting, onboarding, and payroll to career development and retention, but what really sets us apart is our focus on leaders. For more than 30 years, we've been listening to and partnering with leaders, so we know what they need; a unified HR platform, easy integration with third party apps, powerful analytics, talent development tools, and configurable technology that supports specific industry needs. That's why more than 30,000 customers trust Paycor to help them solve problems and achieve their goals. Learn more at paycor.com. About Verb Verb is a people development platform that empowers learning and development (L&D) teams to quickly design, launch and track their soft skills training programs. Through expertly built, ready-to-go programs and flexibility to adapt and customize, it's easy for customers to address the various learning needs across their company. With the support of Verb's customer success team, customers also get L&D expertise throughout program strategy, design, and implementation. Verb measures the results that matter, giving a deeper understanding of learners' behavioral data and personalized recommendations to ensure they are giving the best learning possible to their learners. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/paycor-to-acquire-behavioral-science-based-microlearning-solution-verb-301807609.html SOURCE Paycor LIMA, Peru, April 26, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Peru, a global leader in the mining industry, presents a reliable, innovative offering for the supply of specialized products and services for this important sector. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230425006053/en/ Peru has a wide catalog of products and services for mining. (Photo: PROMPERU) Peruvian businesses stand out for their ability to adapt to different projects, their technological development and competitive pricing. This makes them the ideal choice to take on the challenges of large and medium-sized underground and open-pit mining operations. The product range includes equipment for mills, thickeners, wear parts, geo-membranes, pumping equipment, flotation reagents, general solutions, virtual reality simulators, among others. Peruvian suppliers have also embraced digitization as a way to significantly boost the sustainability and competitiveness of their products. Peru is represented by the Mine Peru Efficiency for Mining industry brand - the quality hallmark of the Peruvian Brand - designed to achieve a global positioning. Through its offices abroad, the Commission for the Promotion of Peru for Exports and Tourism (PROMPERU) also supports Peruvian businesses by identifying new trends and opportunities in the industry, with a view to optimizing their offering based on global market needs. In 2022 suppliers to the mining sector posted a positive result in excess of US$ 521.5 million. Exports to South-American markets account for almost half of all exports of the mining supply industry. In the last 5 years the share of deliveries to the region has hovered between 43% and 51%. The top 13 destination markets account for 80% of exports. In this group, Canada recorded the strongest growth (+115.7 %), with a share of 1.8 %, followed by Panama, the Netherlands and the United States. Notably, PROMPERU will open registrations to international buyers in the mining industry for the Industria Peru business forum to be held in September in Arequipa as part of the PERUMIN mining convention. Story continues The original source-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the source-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230425006053/en/ Contacts jcornejo@promperuext.pe Vantage Market Research, The North Star for the Working World WASHINGTON, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Pharmaceutical Glass Packaging Market is valued at USD 18.1 Billion in 2022 and is projected to reach a value of USD 33.9 Billion by 2030 at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 9.4% over the forecast period 2023-2030. Market Overview The rising need for pharmaceuticals and medications brought on by technological developments in the pharmaceutical business directly fuels the demand for bottles, auto-injectors, and other glass packaging options. Moreover, Glass's noteworthy characteristics, such as its chemical resistance and suitability for sustaining a variety of chemical compositions, are some of the causes influencing packaging suppliers to select Glass as a pharmaceutical material. We forecast that the bottles category in pharmaceutical glass packaging market sales will account for more than 59% of total sales by 2030. Glass bottles are popular with customers due to their many benefits, including bottlenecks, sanitary packaging, leak-resistant construction, and uniform wall thickness. Because of their many benefits, these bottles are used in various industries, including blood products, research centres, institutes, and clinics. These applications are anticipated to drive the growth rate of the glass bottle market over the forecast period. Get Access to Free Sample Research Report with Latest Industry Insights @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/pharmaceutical-glass-packaging-market-2097/request-sample Market Dynamics Rise of Specialty Packaging will Support the Market Expansion Specialty packaging, like a unique bottle and plastic container shapes and designs, can help items stand out from the competition and draw in consumers. To enhance the use and aesthetics of their products, glass packaging businesses are also experimenting with cutting-edge technologies like lightweight and decorating methods. Some glass packaging firms are investing in technologies to lower energy and carbon dioxide emissions consumption and implementing policies to enhance the percentage of their recycled products. Story continues Growth of the Pharmaceutical Sector in Emerging Economies to Drive the Growth of Market Growth Emerging markets are defined as developing, rich countries where, despite major risks, investment is expected to boost profits. In countries like China, the glass packaging market for pharmaceuticals has experienced tremendous growth. In affluent nations, glass packaging for drugs is becoming more prevalent. The healthcare and pharmaceutical industries are expanding in developed nations due to COVID-19, which offers an opportunity for the Chinese market for pharmaceutical glass packaging. Top Players in the Global Pharmaceutical Glass Packaging Market Corning Incorporated (U.S.) Nipro Corporation (Osaka, Japan) Stelle Oberg Las GmbH (Austria) Bormio Pharma SPA (Italy) West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. (U.S.) Schott AG (Germany) Hergesheimer AG (Germany) Shandong Medicinal Glass Co. Ltd (Shandong, China) Beatson Clark (UK) Ardagh Group SA (Luxembourg) Piramal Enterprises Ltd. (Mumbai, India) Sisecam Group (Turkey) Owens-Illinois Inc. (U.S.) Budget Limitation? Contact us for Special Discount and Pricing Top Trends in the Global Pharmaceutical Glass Packaging Market One trend that Vantage Market Research (VMR) expects to see in the pharmaceutical glass packaging industry is the growing demand for ampoules. The ampoules are anticipated to grow due to the increasing demand for these goods for the packaging of injectable medications. Drugs for injection have traditionally been packaged in glass ampoules. Ampoules are one of the most popular glass-based core parenteral packaging options, and their use is certainly increasing in price-sensitive emerging market areas. Another trend that VMR predicts will continue in the pharmaceutical glass packaging industry is its increasing trend of glass bottles being frequently filled in high-speed lines, thus they must be manufactured to strict tolerance standards. Glass is being investigated as a potential substitute since it has significantly fewer negative effects on people and the environment than polyethylene terephthalate (PET), making it the most environmentally friendly packaging material. The assortment of glass bottles includes common items like syringe bottles, infusion bottles, oral medication and syrup bottles, tablet and cream jars or wide-mouth bottles. Top Report Findings Based on the Product, the glass bottles category controls most of the pharmaceutical glass packaging market's revenue. Depending on their size, glass bottles used for pharmaceutical packaging can be divided into small and large categories. Reagents, as well as infusion and infusion bottles, are packaged in giant glass bottles. Syrup and other oral liquids are packaged in little glass bottles. The market for small-sized bottles is anticipated to expand due to several new opportunities, including the increased popularity of oral tablets that come in small bottles. Based on Drug Type, the generic drug category controls most of the pharmaceutical glass packaging market's revenue. Due to an aging population, an increase in disease cases, and a growth in the number of medicine patents that have expired in recent years, the demand for generic medications has increased globally. Additionally, it is projected that initiatives by states and medical professionals to lower healthcare and prescription costs and provide coverage for health insurance will increase the use of generic medications. Due to its regulatory simplicity and exceptional barrier qualities, the rising use of generic medications is anticipated to enhance the need for pharmaceutical glass packaging. Buy this Premium Research Report with Discount | Immediate Delivery @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/buy-now/pharmaceutical-glass-packaging-market-2097/0 Recent Developments in the Global Pharmaceutical Glass Packaging Market In September 2022, Hergesheimer AG and StevanatoGroup SPA, in joint, created a high-end ready-to-use (RTU) solution platform. The platform first focused on vials based on StevanatoGroup's industry-recognized EZ-fill technology. In terms of greater productivity, higher quality standards, quicker time to market, the cheaper total cost of ownership (TCO), and decreased supply chain risk, the clients are anticipated to gain from the relationship . In May 2021, Piramida was acquired by Nipro, a Japanese company specializing in pharmaceutical glass packaging. Nipro's production capacity is expected to increase due to the acquisition. Further aids Nipro's ampoules and vials business. Generic Category of the Drug Type Segment of Global Pharmaceutical Glass Packaging Market Expected to Generate Nearly Half the Global Revenue Based on the Drug Type, the Pharmaceutical Glass Packaging market is divided into Generic, Branded and Biologic for better understanding. The Generic market was the largest by application and is anticipated to hold the top spot during the projected period. Because trademarked medications with the same makeup are more expensive than generic drugs. The government has made steps to encourage the use of generic medications; the patent expiration of branded medications results in an increase in generic medications. The high consumption of generic injectable medications has increased demand for these medications. On the other hand, the Biologic category is anticipated to grow significantly. Biologics will primarily benefit the pharmaceutical sector since they address unmet therapeutic needs. The market category for biologics has had moderate expansion due to the need for comparable competition. The ability of biological medications to treat serious chronic diseases, particularly specific types of autoimmune diseases and cancer, is the key driver of their expansion. North America Region in Pharmaceutical Glass Packaging Market Projected to Generate Nearly Half the Total Global Revenue The North American region is anticipated to do so in the coming years. Innovative products are predicted to fuel the expansion of the pharmaceutical sector in the region, with the U.S. expected to remain a major driver and most significant market. The advent of generic drugs in the area, which is likely to see consistently high demand in volume and sales, is anticipated to support this expansion. The Asia Pacific region is expected to grow the fastest in the Pharmaceutical Glass Packaging market. Growing income levels, more chronic disease cases, and greater healthcare awareness are anticipated to support the expansion of Asia Pacific's emerging markets. As a result of greater awareness, the governments in the Asia Pacific area are extending their Medicare and Medicaid coverage. The government's initiatives to encourage affordable generic medications and lower healthcare costs in developing nations are anticipated to enhance the volume of pharmaceutical items produced, further boosting the market's expansion. Browse market data Tables and Figures spread through 148 Pages and in-depth TOC on Pharmaceutical Glass Packaging Market Forecast Report (2023-2030). Global Pharmaceutical Glass Packaging Market Segmentation By Product Vials Bottles Cartridges & Syringes Ampoules By Drug Type Generic Branded Biologic By Region North America United States Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea South-East Asia Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa GCC Countries South Africa Rest of MEA Read Full Report with TOC @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/pharmaceutical-glass-packaging-market-2097 Scope of the Report: Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 USD 18.1 Billion Revenue Forecast by 2030 USD 33.9 Billion CAGR 9.4% from 2023 to 2030 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2030 Key Players Corning Incorporated, Nipro Corporation, Stelle Oberg Las GmbH, Bormio Pharma SPA, West Pharmaceutical Services Inc., Schott AG, Hergesheimer AG, Shandong Medicinal Glass Co. Ltd, Beatson Clark, Ardagh Group SA, Piramal Enterprises Ltd., Sisecam Group, Owens-Illinois Inc. Customization Options Customized purchase options are available to meet any research needs. Explore customized purchase options https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/pharmaceutical-glass-packaging-market-2097/request-sample Key Questions Answered in the Pharmaceutical Glass Packaging Market Report are: What is the current size of the pharmaceutical glass packaging market, and what is its expected growth rate over the next few years? What are the key drivers, challenges, and opportunities for the pharmaceutical glass packaging market? What are the various types of pharmaceutical glass packaging, and what are their respective advantages and disadvantages? What are the key end-use segments of the pharmaceutical glass packaging market, and what are their respective growth prospects? What are the key geographic regions for the pharmaceutical glass packaging market, and what are the growth prospects for each of these regions? What are the key trends in the pharmaceutical glass packaging market, such as the adoption of new materials, technologies, or designs? Who are the major players in the pharmaceutical glass packaging market, and what are their respective market shares, product portfolios, and strategies? What are the key regulations, standards, and certifications governing the use of pharmaceutical glass packaging, and how are these likely to evolve in the future? What are the key challenges and opportunities for sustainable and eco-friendly pharmaceutical glass packaging, and how are companies responding to these trends? What are the key recommendations for companies operating in the pharmaceutical glass packaging market, such as strategies for innovation, cost optimization, or market expansion? Browse More Reports from Vantage Library: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market - Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/pharmaceutical-excipients-market-2095 Bioplastic Packaging Market - Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/bioplastic-packaging-market-2038 End Of Line Packaging Market - Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/endofline-packaging-market-1987 Automotive Glass Market - Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/automotive-glass-market-1864 Contract Packaging Market - Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/contract-packaging-market-1841 Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging Market - Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/sustainable-pharmaceutical-packaging-market-2092 About Vantage Market Research: We, at Vantage Market Research, provide quantified B2B high quality research on more than 20,000 emerging markets, in turn, helping our clients map out constellation of opportunities for their businesses. We, as a competitive intelligence market research and consulting firm provide end to end solutions to our client enterprises to meet their crucial business objectives. Our clientele base spans across 70% of Global Fortune 500 companies. Follow Us on: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube Contact us Eric Kunz 6218 Georgia Avenue NW Ste 1 - 564 Washington DC 20011-5125 United States Tel: +1 202 380 9727 Email: sales@vantagemarketresearch.com Website: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/ Latest Vantage Market Research Press Releases Latest Vantage Market Research Blog Vantage Market Research All Reports Blog: (Bloomberg) -- Pioneer Natural Resources Co. Chief Executive Officer Scott Sheffield, an architect of the shale boom that made the US an oil powerhouse, will retire for a second time as acquisition talk reaches a fever pitch among North American drillers. Most Read from Bloomberg Sheffield, 70, will step down at years end and maintain a seat on the board, the company said in a statement on Wednesday. The announcement comes amid speculation that Exxon Mobil Corp. has been in early-stage talks to buy Pioneer, one of the dominant independent explorers in the prolific Permian Basin oilfield. Sheffields more than 20 collective years at the helm of Pioneer is one of the longest ongoing public CEO tenures in the US oil industry. Only Hess Corp.s John Hess has reigned longer, with almost 30 years on the job. Sheffield said in an interview that his move has nothing to do with Exxon and characterized the reports of takeover talks as rumors. Scott has been a trailblazer in this industry, and he has guided Pioneer through multiple commodities and market cycles as well as recent macroeconomic challenges, including the pandemic, Chairman Ken Thompson said. Sheffield will spend more time on personal and philanthropic interests, he added. Pioneers stock fell as much as 2.8% in after-market US trading. Chief Operating Officer Rich Dealy, 57, will succeed Sheffield. Hes been with the company for decades, joining one of Pioneers predecessor entities in 1992. Exxon has declined to comment on any Pioneer discussions, which were first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Such a deal would reshape the US oil landscape and be Exxons biggest acquisition since its 1999 takeover of Mobil Corp. Story continues Despite a recent spate of shale deals, Sheffield said in the interview that major consolidation is actually a couple of years away. The oil prices that underpin company valuations and cash flow have been too volatile of late, he said. Sheffield said he notified the board of his desire to step down last year. Sheffields retirement is noteworthy, given his accomplishments in both of his leadership stints at Pioneer and his overall reputation as a thought leader for the industry, but it should not be a surprise, KeyBank Capital Markets Inc. analysts Tim Rezvan and Slate DeMuth said in a note to clients. He has been a savvy and decisive leader. Sheffields retirement was announced as the company disclosed first-quarter results that included ample free-cash flow and production data. Sheffield cut his teeth in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico more than 40 years ago when he joined one of Pioneers predecessor companies, Parker & Parsley Petroleum Co., as an engineer. He was instrumental in the family-owned firms growth and 1997 merger with MESA Inc. to create Pioneer. Read More: Most Boring CEO in the Business Lucked Into Biggest Oil Patch Crucially, Sheffield remained in the Permian region through the dark decades when supermajors such as Exxon abandoned the basin to search for crude overseas. By the time drilling and fracking innovations developed in natural gas fields were adapted to oil deposits around 2010, Pioneer was well-placed to become one of the fastest-growing producers. The company now pumps the equivalent of more than 600,000 barrels of oil daily from Permian wells. Sheffield also is an outspoken advocate for the US shale sector, appearing regularly at energy conferences and in television interviews to opine on everything from OPEC to government regulation. He was one of the leading voices that persuaded the U.S. government to lift a four-decade ban on most domestic crude exports in 2015. This will be Sheffields second swan song. He first stepped down in late 2016 but returned less than three years later as investors soured on his successors strategy of aggressively pursuing production growth at the expense of shareholder returns. A vocal critic of debt, Sheffield immediately parked drilling rigs to curb spending and expanded investor payouts. He was one of the first shale CEOs to implement a variable dividend, intended to reward shareholders with cash directly from rising oil prices. Sheffield also expanded Pioneers Permian holdings with the purchase of Parsley Energy and private equity backed Double Eagle in 2021. Incorporating those assets into Pioneers portfolio was one of Sheffields goals before stepping down, he said. Dealy, one of Sheffields longest-serving lieutenants, said the company is really not going to change and will focus on execution and small, so-called bolt-on acquisitions. Steady as she goes, he added. --With assistance from Joe Carroll. (Updates with details starting in the second paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. FACT.MR Polyurethane Dispersion Market Analysis By Type (Water Based Polyurethane Dispersion, Solvent Based Polyurethane Dispersion), By Application (Paints and Coatings, Adhesives and Sealants, Leather Finishing, Textile Finishing), By Region - Global Market Insights 2023 to 2033 Rockville, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On the basis of Fact.MR, a market research and competitive intelligence provider, the global polyurethane dispersion market is estimated to be valued at US$ 2.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.7% during the forecast period of 2023-2033. Polyurethane dispersion (PUD) is a water-based, high-performance polymer that is used in a variety of applications such as coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers. The PUD market is experiencing significant growth due to increasing demand from end-use industries such as automotive, furniture, construction, and textiles. The growing use of PUDs in the booming automotive industry for the production of high-performance coatings and adhesives. Further, PUDs are preferred over traditional solvent-based coatings due to their low VOC emissions and high durability. This, in turn, create ample growth opportunities for the market players. For more insights into the Market, Request a Sample of this Report: https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=5770 Report Attributes Details Polyurethane Dispersion Market Size (2022A) US$ 2.3 Billion Estimated Market Value (2023E) US$ 2.5 Billion Forecasted Market Value (2033F) US$ 5.2 Billion Global Market Growth Rate (2023-2033) 7.7% CAGR No. of Pages 170 Pages No. of Tables 84 Tables No. of Figures 74 Figures The increasing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly coatings and adhesives, along with the growing awareness of health and safety issues, is also a prominent factor driving the growth of the PUD market. Further, with the increasing demand for bio-based and renewable raw materials, manufacturers are focusing on developing PUDs from sustainable sources such as soybean oil, castor oil, and corn starch, to reduce the carbon footprint and minimize the environmental impact of their products driving the polyurethane dispersion market growth. Story continues Key Takeaways from Market Study The global polyurethane dispersion market is projected to grow at 7.7% CAGR and reach US$ 5.2 billion by 2033 The global polyurethane dispersion market is valued at US$ 2.5 billion in 2023 The global polyurethane dispersion market size reported by Fact.MR for 2022 is US$ 2.3 billion South Asia would experience a prominent growth rate of around 11.0% during the forecast period Huntsman Corporation and BASF SE are the prominent market players Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Coatings Demand Likely to Drive Polyurethane Dispersion Demand During the Forecast Period says a Fact.MR analyst. Segmentation of Polyurethane Dispersion Industry Research By Component: Water-based Solvent-based By Application: Paints and Coatings Adhesives and Sealants Leather Finishing Textile Finishing Others By Region: North America Latin America Europe East Asia South Asia & Oceania MEA Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=5770 Market Growth Stratagems The polyurethane dispersion (PUD) market is highly competitive with the presence of several key players, including BASF SE, Covestro AG, Dow Chemical Company, Huntsman Corporation, and Lubrizol Corporation. These companies are adopting various growth strategies to expand their market share and strengthen their position in the industry. One of the key growth strategies adopted by PUD market players is mergers and acquisitions. Further, investing in research and development to develop new and advanced PUD products that meet the growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly coatings, adhesives, and sealants. For instance: Covestro is planning a new production facility for polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) at the Covestro Integrated Site in Shanghai, China (CISS) to address the rising demand for environmentally compatible coatings and adhesives in the Asia-Pacific region. The company has scheduled the completion of this plant for 2024. Key Companies Profiled Bayer Material Science BASF SE Chemtura Corporation Huntsman Corporation Lubrizol Corporation The Dow Chemical Company For in-depth competitive analysis, Buy Now: https://www.factmr.com/checkout/5770 More Valuable Insights on Offer Fact.MR, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the polyurethane dispersion market, presenting historical market data (2018-2022) and forecast statistics for the period of 2023-2033. The study reveals essential insights on the basis of component (water-based and solvent-based), application (paints and coatings, adhesives and sealants, leather finishing, textile finishing, and others), and across major regions of the world (North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia, and Oceania, Middle East & Africa). Key Questions Covered in the Polyurethane Dispersion Market Report What will be the estimated size of the Market in 2023? At what rate will the global Polyurethane Dispersion sales grow until 2033? Which are the factors hampering the Polyurethane Dispersion demand? Which region will spearhead the growth in the global industry during 2023-2033? Which are the factors driving sales in the Polyurethane Dispersion Market during the forecast period? Check out more related studies published by Fact.MR Research: Polyurethane Market: Global Polyurethane Market is likely to grow rapidly because of the various benefits of polyurethane, coupled with the rising application of polyurethane in different industries, with North America and Europe leading the way with around 60% of the market share. Worldwide polyurethane consumption is valued at US$ 83.1 billion in 2022, and the market is forecast to reach US$ 162.3 billion by 2032, expanding at a high CAGR of 7% from 2022 to 2032. Thermoplastic Polyurethane Market: The global sales of the Thermoplastic Polyurethane Market in 2021 were held at US$ 3 Billion. With 6% CAGR during 2022 2032, the market is projected to reach a valuation of US$ 5.8 Billion by the end of 2032. Polyester-Type Thermoplastic Polyurethanes is expected to be the highest revenue-generating segment, projected to grow at a CAGR of over 7% during 2022 2032. Expanded Thermoplastic Polyurethane Market: Properties offered by expanded thermoplastic polyurethane are a combination of the properties of thermoplastic polyurethane and foam. Expanded thermoplastic polyurethane is a highly elastic material with low density and excellent resilience and high abrasion resistance. Some of the key features of expanded thermoplastic polyurethane are high tensile strength, high resistance to chemicals and good long-term durability at wide temperature ranges. Pigment Dispersion Resin Market: Pigment dispersion resin can offer the finest quality of paints, inks and coatings with extraordinary colour strength. Pigment dispersion resin replaces the air and moisture covering the pigment and transforms the dry pigment into pigment dispersion. The market has blown-up after advanced discoveries in polymers which have become the driving factor for the growth of the pigment dispersion resin market. Wax Dispersion Market: According to the latest study by Fact.MR, wax dispersion market is expected to show progressive growth over the forecast period (2021-2031). Increasing demand for wax dispersion in inks & coatings industry has ignited the demand for these wax dispersion during the assessment period. Moreover, business is projected to grow at CAGR of around ~6.5% over the projected forecast period. About Us: We are a trusted research partner of 80% of fortune 1000 companies across the globe. We are consistently growing in the field of market research with more than 1000 reports published every year. The dedicated team of 400-plus analysts and consultants is committed to achieving the utmost level of our clients satisfaction. Specialties: Competition Tracking, Customized Research, Syndicated Research, Investment Research, Social Media Research, Business Intelligence, Industry Analysis, Thought Leadership. Contact: US Sales Office: 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583 Connect to Analyst: Yash Pathak Email : yash@factmr.com Sales Team : sales@factmr.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with Aton Resources and White Gold Corp. discussing their latest news. The Power Play by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives. Aton Signs 10,000m RC Drilling Contract with Geodrill The Market Herald, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, Press release picture Aton Resources Inc. is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract with Geodrill, to undertake a 10,000m programme of reverse circulation percussion drilling at the Company's 100% owned Abu Marawat Concession, in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. For the full interview with Javier Orduna and to learn about Aton Resources Inc, click here. White Gold Corp. Significantly Increases Inferred Resources by 41% at its Flagship White Gold Project and Reports 1,152,900 Gold Ounces in Indicated Resources and 942,400 Gold Ounces in Inferred Resources, Yukon, Canada The Market Herald, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, Press release picture White Gold Corp. is pleased to announce an updated Mineral Resource Estimate for its flagship White Gold project located approximately 95 km south of Dawson City in west-central Yukon, Canada. The White Gold project now comprises 16 million tonnes averaging 2.23 g/t Au for 1,152,900 ounces of gold in the Indicated Resource category and 19 million tonnes averaging 1.54 g/t Au for 942,400 ounces of gold in the Inferred Resource category. Exploration programs supporting the MRE have been backed by partners Agnico Eagle Mines Limited and Kinross Gold Corporation. For the full interview with David D'Onofrio and to learn about White Gold Corp., click here. Interviews for The Power Play by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Power Play or to explore our other interviews visit The Power Play by The Market Herald. About The Market Herald The Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our team of Canadian markets reporters, editors and technologists covers the entire listed company universe in Canada. We cover over 3,985 businesses, their people, their investors, and their customers. We write the stories that move the Canadian capital markets. Story continues DISCLAIMER: Report Card Canada Media Ltd. ("Report Card") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market Herald Limited, an Australian company ("Market Herald"). Report Card is not an advisory service, and does not offer, buy, sell, or provide any other rating, analysis or opinion on the securities we discuss. We are retained and compensated by the companies that we provide information on to assist them with making information available to the public. All information available on themarketherald.ca and/or this press release should be considered as commercial advertisement and not an endorsement, offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities. 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CONTACT: The Market Herald marketing@themarketherald.ca themarketherald.ca SOURCE: The Market Herald View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/751499/The-Power-Play-by-The-Market-Herald-Releases-New-Interviews-with-Aton-Resources-and-White-Gold-Corp-Discussing-Their-Latest-News (Bloomberg) -- Prosus NV continued its selloff of Tencent Holdings Ltd., bringing its stake in the Chinese internet giant to under 26%. Most Read from Bloomberg The Amsterdam-listed tech investor sold 789,600 ordinary shares of Tencent on Tuesday, lowering its holding to 25.99%, it said in a regulatory filing. Prosus bought its own shares worth 185 million ($203 million) between April 17 and April 21 as part of a repurchase program, according to the statement. Prosus, an early investor in Tencent through its Cape Town-based parent Naspers Ltd., first started its campaign to reduce its holdings in mid-2022 as a way to fund the buyback. The selloff is an open-ended process and Chief Executive Officer Bob van Dijk has said that trades are being executed in small chunks of between 3% to 5% of daily volumes. Prosus deposited an additional 96 million Tencent shares, or about 1% of the company, in Hong Kongs clearing and settlement system this month, typically a precursor to offload stock. The Dutch firm has a regulatory requirement to disclose its interest in the Chinese company every time it decreases by a full percentage point. Prosus has cut its stake in Tencent from 29% in June 2022 in a move that could help it to bridge the gap between its market value and the value of the assets it holds. Prosus shares were down 1.1% in Amsterdam while parent Naspers declined 0.3% Tuesday in Johannesburg. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Free To Play App Features a "Carnival" of Casual Mobile Games Allowing Users the Opportunity to Win Cash and Sponsored Prizes TORONTO and MUMBAI, India, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - QYOU Media Inc. (TSXV: QYOU) (OTCQB: QYOUF), the fast-growing creator driven media company doing business in India and the United States, announced today the launch of Q GAMESMELA, its first direct to consumer casual mobile gaming app. The launch follows the closing of its acquisition of mobile game developer, Maxamtech Digital Ventures in January of 2023. Q GAMESMELA (MELA translates to "CARNIVAL" in English) offers a variety of engaging casual mobile games and can be downloaded from the Google Play store for Android phone users. All games are free to the user and game players can win a variety of cash and sponsored product prizes by topping leader boards that are regularly updated. Monetization will be driven by ads and promotions on the platform. Q GAMESMELA logo (CNW Group/QYOU Media Inc.) QYOU Media acquired a controlling interest in Maxamtech Digital Ventures in early 2023 to facilitate a direct to consumer capability for casual mobile gaming for the QYOU business in India. The driving business strategy is to leverage the immediate reach of Q branded content offerings across broadcast TV, connected (Smart) TV's and app based platforms that collectively now reach approximately 125 million Indians each week. The gaming app will be initially promoted to this audience via a variety of marketing initiatives across the Q branded channels and content offerings. A direct link to download the app will be provided via a QR code in the promotional ads. In addition, the company expects to create new ad sales programs on the app that will attract and leverage its vast universe of brand partnerships that now numbers over 100 advertisers across its various India business units. The mobile gaming industry in India continues to experience massive growth with over 450 million casual mobile gamers today. Analysts expect that number to grow to 650 million by 2025. According to Business Today magazine, India is now the world's largest online gaming market by app downloads with over 15 billion downloads in 2022. Story continues Curt Marvis, CEO and Co-Founder commented, "We are thrilled that our first gaming product is hitting the market only three months after we closed our acquisition of Maxamtech. We remain confident that fans of Q branded content offerings across India are perfectly suited to become customers of our gaming products. In addition, with recently developed data mining capabilities taking shape, we look to truly begin to leverage our audience data and influencer marketing capabilities to maximize stickiness and overall revenue generation. We view today as the kick off of an entirely new revenue vertical for our business in India." Xerxes Mullan, Co-Founder of Maxamtech added, "This is exactly why we were so excited about joining the QYOU Media family. It provides a unique opportunity to get products to market quickly and with the ability to reach the right audience and build momentum. We have many more exciting plans going forward to grow the gaming business across a variety of user segments and business models. Q GamesMela is only the beginning!" About QYOU Media One of the fastest growing creator-media companies, QYOU Media operates in India and the United States producing, distributing and monetizing content created by social media influencers and digital content stars. In India, under our flagship brand, The Q, we curate, produce and distribute premium content across television networks, VOD and OTT platforms, mobile phones, smart TV's and app-based platforms. We now have numerous additional content destinations, apps and gaming platforms poised to engage the over 125 million Indian households we reach weekly. Our influencer marketing company, Chtrbox, has been a pioneer in India's creator economy, leveraging data to connect brands to the right social media influencers. In the United States, we power major film studios, game publishers and brands to create content and market via creators and influencers. Founded and created by industry veterans from Lionsgate, MTV, Disney and Sony, QYOU Media's millennial and Gen Z-focused content reaches more than one billion consumers around the world every month. Experience our work at www.qyoumedia.com , www.theq.tv and www.theqyou.com and www.chtrbox.com. QYOU Contact: Contact shareholder@qyoutv.com or Doug Barker at 437-992-4814 for more information. Join our shareholder chat group on Telegram: http://t.me/QYOUMedia 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. Maxamtech logo (CNW Group/QYOU Media Inc.) QYOU logo (CNW Group/QYOU Media Inc.) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/qyou-and-maxamtech-launch-q-gamesmela-301808097.html SOURCE QYOU Media Inc. French President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping - Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP Blame it all on Richard Nixon if you like. Nixon was the US president who began the process of post-war economic integration with China, and in so doing severely compromised Taiwan's right to an independent sovereign future. By recognising Beijing as China's legitimate authority, and therefore its claims over Taiwan, Nixon opened Pandora's box, and if the more alarmist predictions are to be believed, very possibly sowed the seeds of World War Three. Part of history's enduring fascination is the way it keeps rewriting itself; up until relatively recently, Nixon's opening to China in 1972 was regarded as a masterpiece of diplomacy that thwarted the Soviet Union and gave birth to an unparalleled period of globalisation, economic integration, and advancement. If there was ever redemption to be had for the shame of Watergate, this was it, Nixon's lasting contribution to a better and more harmonious world. Yet in so doing, Nixon incubated a monstrous rival which now challenges US economic and geopolitical hegemony on multiple fronts. Poor little Taiwan, sandwiched between vying Chinese and US interests, is the most visible proxy for this ever more dangerous standoff. As a result of Nixon's manoeuvrings, Taiwan has no standing as a recognised sovereign state, let alone one that presumptuously still claims jurisdiction over all China. Taiwan was cynically sacrificed in Nixon's attempt to build bridges with Beijing. Notwithstanding repeated pledges by President Joe Biden, if Beijing invaded Taiwan tomorrow it is not clear that the US could legally come to its aid. In international law, Taipei's position would be more akin to that of Chechnya almost indisputably part of Russia than that of Ukraine. So there we have it, a flashpoint as potentially deadly today as the Balkans were in the runup to the First World War, a period that was likewise characterised by unprecedented levels of economic integration which many people believed had made conflict between the great powers impossible because of the damage it would do to prosperity. Story continues We've seen a repeat of naive thinking like this in Emmanuel Macron's recent positioning on China. The great risk Europe faces, the French President said on a flight back from a state visit to Beijing, is that it gets caught up in crises that are not ours, which prevents it from building its strategic autonomy. Macron seemed to be giving the green light to whatever China wants to do in the East. His remarks have been widely interpreted as an attempt to sweet talk China into brokering a peace deal in Ukraine. Possibly he's right in believing that Chinese involvement is ultimately the only way of delivering the desired peace settlement. Morally and geopolitically, surrendering Taiwan as a quid pro quo nevertheless seems a very high price to pay. But there may also be an ulterior motive. This week, Bernard Arnault's sprawling luxury goods empire, LVMH, became the first European company to achieve a half a trillion dollar valuation and thereby enter the hallowed ranks of the top ten companies worldwide by market capitalisation. Bernard Arnault - Nathan Laine/Bloomberg The latest surge in the share price has been driven largely by success in Chinese markets, where demand for luxury goods has surged since China abandoned its zero-Covid policies. If you want to know why Macron is schmoozing Xi Jinping, there could be your answer: the economic interest has trumped the security concern. Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, may pretend otherwise, but privately he will not have been displeased by Macron's intervention. Europe's economic interest in China ensures an ambivalence to Chinese ambition and causes it to shrink from outright confrontation. Unfortunately, Beijing doesn't appear minded to return the favour. Its ambassador to Paris, Lu Shaye, this week outrageously took it on himself to question the sovereign status of the former Soviet Baltic states of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, prompting even the Elysee to recoil in horror. It is as if Macron's green light on Taiwan has also legitimised renewed Russian interest in taking back Eastern Europe. Give autocracy an inch, it would seem, and it will take a mile. To see the dangers, just answer this question; what would Europe do if China actually went ahead with its threat to take Taiwan by force? Is it really credible that everyone would then just stand back and say none of our concern fine by us as long as Louis Vuitton handbags continue to fly off the shelves in Shanghai? Whatever Macron says, this seems deeply unlikely. Instead, even Europe would be on the slippery slope to outright conflict with China. Any such outcome would be an extraordinarily dangerous and pivotal moment in world affairs, making Putin's invasion of Ukraine look like a mere skirmish by comparison. At almost any cost, it must be avoided. Encouraging China to think it might get away with subverting Taiwan undermines any such endeavour. But it is not just Macron who struggles with the dilemma of balancing economic objectives with security concerns. In a speech this week, James Cleverly, the UK foreign secretary, seemed to side much more overtly with the European view than that of Washington. It would be clear and easy, perhaps even satisfying, for me to declare a new cold war and say that our goal is to isolate China, he said in an address at the City of London's Mansion House. Clear, easy, satisfying and wrong. Because it would be a betrayal of our national interest and a willful misunderstanding of the modern world. For the US, Taiwan has become totemic; to surrender Taiwan would be not just to imperil crucial supplies of advanced chips; it would also mean giving up on key shipping lanes and on large parts of the Pacific in general. America's sphere of influence would be permanently impaired, with both Japan and Australia left isolated. Total disengagement from China in preparation for such a moment is not really an option. After decades of economic integration, we are bound at the hip. Separation would be extraordinarily destructive. Comparisons with the Cold War of the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies are therefore not particularly instructive. There was little or no economic interaction between West and East in those days. This is not a remotely similar situation. Instead, we have increasingly hostile powers which in economic terms are also highly integrated and dependent on each other. This is a potentially calamitous mix. That very dependence has thus far helped to prevent an outright conflict, and somewhat tempered Chinese ambitions. But the chances of mishaps are growing by the day. Countries and companies that don't prepare for them will be hit doubly hard if and when a permanent parting of the ways occurs. Congratulations to Bernard Arnault for overtaking Tesla's Elon Musk to become the world's richest man, but fortunes built on the shifting sands of Xi Jinping's say-so are bound to be insecure, and cannot in any case be allowed to dictate the West's approach to Chinese expansionism. Chancellor visit to Inmarsat, The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt visits Inmarsat to discuss the emerging technology and government's plan to grow the economy. Photo by Zara Farrar / HM Treasury - Zara Farrar / HM Treasury On Wednesday afternoon, Rishi Sunak hosted around 100 video game companies at Number 10 in what Downing Street called a celebration of the success of the UKs video games sector. The Prime Minister told attendees that the British game industry was going from strength to strength and promoted a raft of tax reliefs and investment funds. But Sunaks message was knocked off course by a decision taken on the other side of London, at the Canary Wharf headquarters of Britains merger regulator. At noon, the Competition and Markets Authority announced that it had chosen to block Microsofts $68.7bn (60.8bn) takeover of Activision Blizzard, the publishing behemoth behind Call of Duty, one of the worlds most popular video games. The regulator said the deal the biggest ever in the video game industry threatened to stifle competition in the fast-growing cloud gaming market by making the market leader Microsoft even stronger. Microsoft president Brad Smith said the company would appeal the flawed decision, which he said discourages technology innovation and investment in the United Kingdom. If Smith, a statesmanlike lawyer, was subdued in his criticism, Activision and its outspoken chief Bobby Kotick were anything but. An Activision spokesman said the CMAs report was a disservice to UK citizens, who face increasingly dire economic prospects, adding that the UK is clearly closed for business. Kotick, in a message to staff, said: If the CMAs decision holds, it would stifle investment, competition, and job creation throughout the UK gaming industry. Technology veterans found it impossible to ignore the irony in Microsoft being foiled by a competition watchdog. The American software giant has spent much of the last decade as an enthusiastic advocate of technology regulation, once funding campaigns against Google and supporting privacy laws such as Europes GDPR. Now that Microsoft is the target of regulators, it would be simple to accuse the company of sour grapes. Story continues The CMA countered that effective competition . is critical for the economy as a whole and that merger control has a critical role to play in driving productivity and growth in the UK. It said that regulators examine around 750 deals a year, and only take about a dozen to an in-depth investigation. SAINT-OUEN, FRANCE - JULY 03: Will Shu, Deliveroo CEO and Founder, inaugurates its first Deliveroo kitchen site in France, called Deliveroo Editions on July 3, 2018 in Saint-Ouen, France. It is the first French cooking site of the British ready meals delivery company, which has already opened 74 Editions on different continents. (Photo by Aurelien Morissard/IP3/Getty Images) - Aurelien Morissard/IP3/Getty Images But it is hardly the first time the regulator, which has new merger powers after Brexit and is set to become more powerful with new competition regulation, has been accused of overreach. This week Will Shu, the chief executive of the takeaway app Deliveroo, said he had been treated like a criminal during the CMAs 18-month investigation of Amazons $500m investment in the app. The probe, which ultimately cleared the deal, was total bulls---, he told the Business Studies podcast. In 2021, the regulator ordered Facebook to unwind its $315m acquisition of Giphy, the animated gif depository, declaring that it would increase its dominance of social media. The Competitive Enterprise Institute said blocking the small beer transaction amounts to an assertion by the CMA that it intends to act as the worlds policeman of mergers and acquisition activity. The regulator also heavily scrutinised Nvidias $40bn acquisition of Arm, Britains biggest microchip company. The deal was called off before a final decision but Simon Segars Arms then chief executive, warned that blocking it would harm investment. Weeks after the deal collapsed, Arm unveiled plans to cut hundreds of jobs. The CMA seem intent on taking a sledgehammer to Britain's international reputation as a place to innovate, hindering our Government's ambition to make us a technology superpower, the Adam Smith Institute think tank, a regular critic of the CMA ,said. Tech investment in Britain is a sensitive subject. Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, has outlined plans for the UK to become the next Silicon Valley, but recent months have dealt a series of blows to that ambition. Arm, which is pursuing a multibillion-dollar float, has snubbed overtures from Sunak and announced plans to list in New York, rather than London. Instagram told staff last week that it was effectively shutting down most of its UK operation, with chief executive Adam Mosseri returning to the US. Other tech giants, which have been expanding in London for a decade, are now cutting office space. Kotick, who was left furious by yesterdays decision, has said that Britain could be a beneficiary of plans to hire up to 5,000 staff, but that blocking his companys sale to Microsoft means they [the UK] are not going to be Silicon Valley, they will be Death Valley. Other regulations also threaten to drive aware business that could otherwise thrive in Britain. Encrypted messaging services such as Whatsapp have heavily criticised the Online Safety Bill, which they claim would give the Government access to users' messages on a whim. Whatsapp has said it could shut down in the UK if forced to break its encryption. This week, the Government unveiled plans for the CMAs powers to be beefed up, with a digital markets unit within the regulator given the power to fine tech giants billions for breaking rules set by the watchdog. If it uses those powers, the regulators critics are only likely to get louder. SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd. SkyQuest's GCC Ship Loader and Unloader Market report provides actionable insights for individuals interested in valuable data, trends, and opportunities in a rapidly growing industry. Additionally, the report is produced and published concisely, making it accessible to various audiences, from industry experts to market readers. Finally, one can gain an in-depth understanding of the primary and secondary market drivers, providing them with a comprehensive outlook of the current market situation and future projections. Westford, USA,, April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SkyQuest projects that the GCC ship loader and unloader market will attain a value of USD 142.37 million by 2030, with a CAGR of 3.78% over the forecast period (2022-2030). Ship loader and unloader market growth are fueled by rising demand for ship loaders in manufacturing, transportation, logistics, warehousing and storage facilities, which drives the demand for overhead cranes. In addition, several private businesses and governmental agencies are investing in infrastructure development projects such as building roads, dams, bridges, railroads and waterways. Large overhead cranes with high loading capacities frequently need lifting and moving heavy loads. As a result, there is a growing need for overhead cranes in these emerging industries. Additionally, the precision of work is increased by ship loaders and unloaders that were constructed utilizing specialized tools by requirements. These factors are anticipated to accelerate the market expansion during the forecast period. According to the SkyQuest, it offers the highest efficiency, precision and stability possible and an incredibly high lifting capacity. The growth in urbanization significantly influences the demand for ship loaders and unloaders in the GCC during the analysis period. However, due to a disturbance in the supply chain, and a lack of workforce, the supply chain for ship loader and unloader products was put on hold during the pandemic due to a shortage of raw materials which impacted the market's expansion. Story continues Get sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/gcc-ship-loader-and-unloader-market Browse in-depth TOC on "GCC Ship Loader and Unloader Market" Pages - 242 Tables - 116 Figures 67 A ship loader and unloader are powerful devices that load and unload bulk items such as metals, coal, composites and grains. The tonnage capacity of ship loaders and unloaders ranges from 200 to 8,000 tonnes per hour. In addition to other uses, a ship loader and unloader machines are particularly well suited for mining, packaging, building and marine ports. Prominent Players in GCC Ship Loader and Unloader Market FLSmidth A/S Fluor Corporation (American Equipment Company Inc.) Buhler Group Vigan Engineering S/A NEUERO Industrietechnik fur Forderanlagen GmbH Sandvik AB SMB International GmbH Aumund Group EMS-Tech Inc. Liebherr-International AG EMS-Tech Inc. Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co., Ltd NEUERO VIGAN Engineering S.A Sandvik AB FLSmidth & Co. A/S XINAPSE SYSTEMS LTD American Equipment Company SMB Group AUMUND Fordertechnik ZPMC Buhler AMECO Xinapse Systems Ltd. Fordertechnik Stationary Segment in the GCC Ship Loader and Unloader Market Is Expected to Grow Due to High Efficiency and Capacity The stationary segment is anticipated to take the lead during the forecast period due to characteristics including bulk material handling capacity, post-Panamax vessels and cost-effective design. Although, static ship loaders and unloaders have a high capacity and efficiency, which is one of its main advantages. Furthermore, they require less maintenance and are less expensive to run over time; stationary ship loaders and unloaders are frequently more economical than their mobile counterparts. Saudi Arabia has a substantial impact on the GCC ship loader and unloader industry due to the presence of numerous vital ports that are essential to the region's trade and commerce. With intentions to significantly enlarge and modernize its ports over the next ten years, the Kingdom has recently made sizable expenditures in its port infrastructure. The King Abdullah Port, one of the biggest ports in the area and a significant contributor to Saudi Arabia's economy is an example of this investment. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/gcc-ship-loader-and-unloader-market Mobile Segment Dominates the Market Due to High Efficiency The mobile segment is anticipated to expand at the largest CAGR throughout the forecast period due to features such as high efficiency and remote accessibility, as well as rising use in various industries like mining, packing and seaports. The flexibility and adaptability of mobile ship loaders and unloaders are one of their main advantages. They're perfect for processing cargo in challenging locations with stationary equipment because they can be quickly moved to different regions of the port or harbour as needed. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is dominating the GCC ship loader and unloader market. The UAE is anticipated to continue to lead market growth with plans to upgrade and extend its port infrastructure over the following ten years. To help the market, other GCC nations including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman, are also investing in their port infrastructure. A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the GCC Ship Loader and Unloader 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 endeavours to develop innovative solutions to cater to the growing demand. Key Developments in GCC Ship Loader and Unloader Market In July 2022, Pact agreed to build a logistics hub and container goods station in the Sohar port. In August 2021, The opening of a new jetty extension and extra raw material storage facilities at its maritime port were announced by Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the largest aluminium smelter in the world. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/gcc-ship-loader-and-unloader-market Key Questions Answered in GCC Ship Loader and Unloader Market Report What specific growth drivers are projected to impact the market during the forecast period? 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 these differences shape the market's future growth? Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global Concrete Crack Fillers Market Global Bio Based Concrete Admixtures Market Global Biodegradable Plastic Packaging Market Global 3D Printing Construction Market Global Ceiling Tiles Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com LinkedIn Facebook Twitter MENLO PARK, Calif., April 26, 2023 /CNW/ -- Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI) today reported revenues and earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. Robert Half (PRNewsfoto/Robert Half) For the quarter ended March 31, 2023, net income was $122 million, or $1.14 per share, on revenues of $1.716 billion. Net income for the prior year's first quarter was $168 million, or $1.52 per share, on revenues of $1.815 billion. "Our first-quarter results were largely in line with expectations," said M. Keith Waddell, president and chief executive officer at Robert Half. "Protiviti led the way with its 22nd consecutive quarter of year-over-year revenue growth. Talent solutions performed well against a backdrop of client hiring caution and tight labor markets. We remain very optimistic about our ability to navigate the uncertain global macroeconomic environment and are well positioned to benefit as the macro landscape improves. "Our employees across the globe made possible a number of company accolades in the first quarter. We are proud to have earned three prestigious awards from Fortune the inaugural America's Most Innovative Companies, the 100 Best Companies to Work For and, for the 26th consecutive year, the Most Admired Companies. We were also recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Diversity just yesterday," Waddell concluded. Robert Half management will conduct a conference call today at 5 p.m. EDT. The prepared remarks for this call are available now in the Investor Center of the Robert Half website (www.roberthalf.com/investor-center) . Simply click on the Quarterly Conference Calls link. The dial-in number is 888-394-8218 (+1-323-994-2093 outside the United States and Canada). The confirmation code to access the call is 7679792. A taped recording of this call will be available for replay beginning at approximately 8 p.m. EDT on April 26 and ending at 8 p.m. EDT on May 24. To access the replay, visit https://webcasts.com/RobertHalfQ12023 . The conference call also will be archived in audio format on the Company's website at roberthalf.com. Story continues Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm that connects people with meaningful work and provides companies with the talent and subject matter expertise they need to confidently compete and grow. Robert Half is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm that provides internal audit, risk, business and technology consulting solutions. Robert Half, including Protiviti, has been named to the Fortune Most Admired Companies and Most Innovative Companies lists and is a Forbes Best Employer for Diversity. Robert Half has operations in more than 400 locations worldwide. Certain information contained in this press release and its attachments may be deemed forward-looking statements regarding events and financial trends that may affect the Company's future operating results or financial positions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees or promises that goals or targets will be met. These statements may be identified by words such as "estimate," "forecast," "target," "project," "plan," "intend," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," or variations or negatives thereof, or by similar or comparable words or phrases. In addition, historical, current, and forward-looking information about the Company's ESG and compliance programs, including targets or goals, may not be considered material for SEC reporting purposes and may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, on internal controls, diligence, or processes that are evolving, and on assumptions that are subject to change in the future. Forward-looking statements are estimates only, based on management's current expectations, currently available information and current strategy, plans, or forecasts, and involve certain known and unknown risks and, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict and often beyond our control and are inherently uncertain. Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: changes to or new interpretations of U.S. or international tax regulations; the global financial and economic situation; the duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to mitigate its spread; changes in levels of unemployment and other economic conditions in the United States or foreign countries where the Company does business, or in particular regions or industries; reduction in the supply of candidates for contract employment or the Company's ability to attract candidates; the entry of new competitors into the marketplace or expansion by existing competitors; the ability of the Company to maintain existing client relationships and attract new clients in the context of changing economic or competitive conditions; the impact of competitive pressures, including any change in the demand for the Company's services; the Company's ability to maintain its margins; the possibility of the Company incurring liability for its activities, including the activities of its contract employees, or for events impacting its contract employees on clients' premises; the possibility that adverse publicity could impact the Company's ability to attract and retain clients and candidates; the success of the Company in attracting, training, and retaining qualified management personnel and other staff employees; the Company's ability to comply with governmental regulations affecting personnel services businesses in particular or employer/employee relationships in general; whether there will be ongoing demand for Sarbanes-Oxley or other regulatory compliance services; the Company's reliance on short-term contracts for a significant percentage of its business; litigation relating to prior or current transactions or activities, including litigation that may be disclosed from time to time in the Company's SEC filings; the ability of the Company to manage its international operations and comply with foreign laws and regulations; the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the possibility that the additional costs the Company will incur as a result of healthcare reform legislation may adversely affect the Company's profit margins or the demand for the Company's services; the possibility that the Company's computer and communications hardware and software systems could be damaged or their service interrupted; and the possibility that the Company may fail to maintain adequate financial and management controls, and as a result, suffer errors in its financial reporting. Additionally, with respect to Protiviti, other risks and uncertainties include the fact that future success will depend on its ability to retain employees and attract clients; there can be no assurance that there will be ongoing demand for broad-based consulting, regulatory compliance, technology services, public sector or other high-demand advisory services; failure to produce projected revenues could adversely affect financial results; and there is the possibility of involvement in litigation relating to prior or current transactions or activities. Because long-term contracts are not a significant part of the Company's business, future results cannot be reliably predicted by considering past trends or extrapolating past results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update information contained in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, and notwithstanding any historical practice of doing so. A copy of this release is available at www.roberthalf.com/investor-center . ATTACHED : Summary of Operations Supplemental Financial Information Non-GAAP Financial Measures ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except per share amounts) Quarter Ended March 31, 2023 2022 (Unaudited) Service revenues $ 1,716,335 $ 1,814,834 Costs of services 1,026,603 1,042,988 Gross margin 689,732 771,846 Selling, general and administrative expenses 552,229 514,194 (Income) loss from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts (27,291) 30,001 Amortization of intangible assets 721 417 Interest income, net (4,825) (166) Income before income taxes 168,898 227,400 Provision for income taxes 46,893 59,161 Net income $ 122,005 $ 168,239 Diluted net income per share $ 1.14 $ 1.52 Shares: Basic 106,420 109,218 Diluted 107,130 110,591 ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION (in thousands) Quarter Ended March 31, 2023 2022 (Unaudited) SERVICE REVENUES INFORMATION Contract talent solutions Finance and accounting $ 777,833 $ 801,690 Administrative and customer support 219,350 284,906 Technology 194,082 213,327 Elimination of intersegment revenues (1) (125,791) (144,200) Total contract talent solutions 1,065,474 1,155,723 Permanent placement talent solutions 156,737 186,782 Protiviti 494,124 472,329 Total service revenues $ 1,716,335 $ 1,814,834 (1) Service revenues for finance and accounting, administrative and customer support, and technology include intersegment revenues, which represent revenues from services provided to the Company's Protiviti segment in connection with the Company's blended business solutions. Intersegment revenues for each functional specialization are aggregated and then eliminated as a single line. Quarter Ended March 31, 2023 2022 $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue (Unaudited) BUSINESS SEGMENT INCOME INFORMATION: Contract talent solutions $ 102,146 9.6 % $ 133,246 11.5 % Permanent placement talent solutions $ 23,827 15.2 % $ 37,328 20.0 % Protiviti $ 38,821 7.9 % $ 57,077 12.1 % March 31, 2023 2022 (Unaudited) SELECTED BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION: Cash and cash equivalents $ 547,729 $ 550,330 Accounts receivable, net $ 1,009,192 $ 1,071,608 Total assets $ 2,912,134 $ 2,950,766 Total current liabilities $ 1,148,310 $ 1,289,031 Total stockholders' equity $ 1,598,481 $ 1,452,768 Quarter Ended March 31, 2023 2022 (Unaudited) SELECTED CASH FLOW INFORMATION: Depreciation $ 12,738 $ 11,080 Capitalized cloud computing implementation costs $ 10,457 $ 9,464 Capital expenditures $ 9,369 $ 14,987 Open market repurchases of common stock (shares) 484 475 ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES The financial results of Robert Half International Inc. (the "Company") are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and the rules of the SEC. To help readers understand the Company's financial performance, the Company supplements its GAAP financial results with the following non-GAAP measures: adjusted gross margin; adjusted selling, general and administrative expense; combined segment income; and as adjusted revenue growth rates. The following measures: adjusted gross margin and adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses include gains and losses on investments held to fund the Company's obligations under employee deferred compensation plans. The Company provides these measures because they are used by management to review its operational results. Combined segment income is income before income taxes, adjusted for interest income and amortization of intangible assets. The Company provides combined segment income because it is how management evaluates performance. As adjusted revenue growth rates represent year-over-year revenue growth rates after removing the impacts on reported revenues from the changes in the number of billing days and foreign currency exchange rates. The Company provides this data because it focuses on the Company's revenue growth rates attributable to operating activities and aids in evaluating revenue trends over time. The impacts from the changes in billing days and foreign currency exchange rates are calculated as follows: Billing days impact is calculated by dividing each comparative period's reported revenues by the number of billing days for that period to arrive at a per billing day amount. Same billing day growth rates are then calculated based on the per billing day amounts. Management calculates a global, weighted-average number of billing days for each reporting period based upon inputs from all countries and all functional specializations and segments. Foreign currency impact is calculated by retranslating current period international revenues, using foreign currency exchange rates from the prior year's comparable period. The non-GAAP financial measures provided herein may not provide information that is directly comparable to that provided by other companies in the Company's industry, as other companies may calculate such financial results differently. The Company's non-GAAP financial measures are not measurements of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to amounts presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company does not consider these non-GAAP financial measures to be a substitute for, or superior to, the information provided by GAAP financial results. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is provided on the following pages. ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES ADJUSTED GROSS MARGIN (UNAUDITED): (in thousands) Quarter Ended March 31, Relationships As Reported As Adjusted As Reported As Adjusted 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 Gross Margin Contract talent solutions $ 423,625 $ 461,861 $ 423,625 $ 461,861 39.8 % 40.0 % 39.8 % 40.0 % Permanent placement talent solutions 156,395 186,449 156,395 186,449 99.8 % 99.8 % 99.8 % 99.8 % Total talent solutions 580,020 648,310 580,020 648,310 47.5 % 48.3 % 47.5 % 48.3 % Protiviti 109,712 123,536 114,484 119,690 22.2 % 26.2 % 23.2 % 25.3 % Total $ 689,732 $ 771,846 $ 694,504 $ 768,000 40.2 % 42.5 % 40.5 % 42.3 % The following tables provide reconciliations of the non-GAAP adjusted gross margin to reported gross margin for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and 2022: Quarter Ended March 31, 2023 Quarter Ended March 31, 2022 Contract talent solutions Permanent placement talent solutions Total talent solutions Protiviti Total Contract talent solutions Permanent placement talent solutions Total talent solutions Protiviti Total $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue Gross Margin As Reported $ 423,625 39.8 % $ 156,395 99.8 % $ 580,020 47.5 % $ 109,712 22.2 % $ 689,732 40.2 % $ 461,861 40.0 % $ 186,449 99.8 % $ 648,310 48.3 % $ 123,536 26.2 % $ 771,846 42.5 % Adjustments (1) 4,772 1.0 % 4,772 0.3 % (3,846) (0.9 %) (3,846) (0.2 %) As Adjusted $ 423,625 39.8 % $ 156,395 99.8 % $ 580,020 47.5 % $ 114,484 23.2 % $ 694,504 40.5 % $ 461,861 40.0 % $ 186,449 99.8 % $ 648,310 48.3 % $ 119,690 25.3 % $ 768,000 42.3 % (1) Changes in the Company's deferred compensation obligations related to Protiviti operations are included in costs of services, while the related investment (income) loss is presented separately. The non-GAAP financial adjustments shown in the table above are to reclassify investment (income) loss from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts to the same line item that includes the corresponding change in obligation. These adjustments have no impact on income before income taxes. ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES ADJUSTED SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES (UNAUDITED): (in thousands) Quarter Ended March 31, Relationships As Reported As Adjusted As Reported As Adjusted 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 Selling, General and Administrative Expenses Contract talent solutions $ 341,722 $ 305,334 $ 321,479 $ 328,615 32.1 % 26.4 % 30.2 % 28.4 % Permanent placement talent solutions 134,844 146,247 132,568 149,121 86.0 % 78.3 % 84.6 % 79.8 % Total talent solutions 476,566 451,581 454,047 477,736 39.0 % 33.6 % 37.1 % 35.6 % Protiviti 75,663 62,613 75,663 62,613 15.3 % 13.3 % 15.3 % 13.3 % Total $ 552,229 $ 514,194 $ 529,710 $ 540,349 32.2 % 28.3 % 30.9 % 29.8 % The following tables provide reconciliations of the non-GAAP adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses to reported selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and 2022: Quarter Ended March 31, 2023 Quarter Ended March 31, 2022 Contract talent solutions Permanent placement talent solutions Total talent solutions Protiviti Total Contract talent solutions Permanent placement talent solutions Total talent solutions Protiviti Total $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue Selling, General and Administrative Expenses As Reported $ 341,722 32.1 % $ 134,844 86.0 % $ 476,566 39.0 % $ 75,663 15.3 % $ 552,229 32.2 % $ 305,334 26.4 % $ 146,247 78.3 % $ 451,581 33.6 % $ 62,613 13.3 % $ 514,194 28.3 % Adjustments (1) (20,243) (1.9 %) (2,276) (1.4 %) (22,519) (1.9) % (22,519) (1.3 %) 23,281 2.0 % 2,874 1.5 % 26,155 2.0 % 26,155 1.5 % As Adjusted $ 321,479 30.2 % $ 132,568 84.6 % $ 454,047 37.1 % $ 75,663 15.3 % $ 529,710 30.9 % $ 328,615 28.4 % $ 149,121 79.8 % $ 477,736 35.6 % $ 62,613 13.3 % $ 540,349 29.8 % (1) Changes in the Company's deferred compensation obligations related to talent solutions operations are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, while the related investment (income) loss is presented separately. The non-GAAP financial adjustments shown in the table above are to reclassify investment (income) loss from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts to the same line item that includes the corresponding change in obligation. These adjustments have no impact on income before income taxes. ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES COMBINED SEGMENT INCOME (UNAUDITED): (in thousands) The following tables provide reconciliations of the non-GAAP combined segment income to reported income before income taxes for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and 2022: Quarter Ended March 31, 2023 2022 $ % of Revenue $ % of Revenue Income before income taxes $ 168,898 9.8 % $ 227,400 12.5 % Interest income, net (4,825) (0.2 %) (166) 0.0 % Amortization of intangible assets 721 0.0 % 417 0.0 % Combined segment income $ 164,794 9.6 % $ 227,651 12.5 % ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES REVENUE GROWTH RATES (%) (UNAUDITED): Year-Over-Year Growth Rates (As Reported) Non-GAAP Year-Over-Year Growth Rates (As Adjusted) 2021 2022 2023 2021 2022 2023 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Global Finance and accounting 39.1 33.5 22.1 9.9 -0.1 -3.0 39.8 34.6 24.4 12.8 2.9 -3.1 Administrative and customer support 37.6 29.2 4.2 -10.3 -21.2 -23.0 38.4 30.5 6.3 -7.8 -18.8 -23.2 Technology 21.4 23.9 12.3 0.6 -2.1 -9.0 21.8 24.6 13.9 2.5 0.5 -9.3 Elimination of intersegment revenues (1) 74.3 38.9 -3.8 -23.1 -14.5 -12.8 75.1 40.1 -1.9 -20.8 -11.5 -12.7 Total contract talent solutions 31.3 30.0 19.2 8.1 -4.0 -7.8 31.9 31.0 21.3 10.7 -1.2 -8.0 Permanent placement talent solutions 73.0 67.2 39.3 16.5 -1.4 -16.1 73.8 68.8 42.6 20.3 2.4 -15.8 Total talent solutions 35.3 34.1 21.7 9.2 -3.7 -9.0 36.0 35.2 24.0 12.0 -0.8 -9.1 Protiviti 36.7 18.9 8.4 2.0 0.8 4.6 37.4 20.0 10.8 4.8 4.0 4.4 Total 35.7 29.8 17.9 7.1 -2.4 -5.4 36.3 30.9 20.2 9.9 0.6 -5.6 United States Contract talent solutions 33.4 33.4 22.7 11.3 -3.4 -8.6 33.6 33.4 22.7 11.3 -2.9 -9.9 Permanent placement talent solutions 78.6 78.3 44.3 22.4 1.4 -16.9 78.9 78.3 44.3 22.4 1.9 -18.1 Total talent solutions 37.2 37.8 25.2 12.6 -2.9 -9.7 37.4 37.8 25.2 12.6 -2.4 -11.0 Protiviti 31.7 17.0 8.3 4.1 3.6 7.5 31.9 17.0 8.3 4.1 4.1 5.9 Total 35.6 31.7 20.2 10.0 -1.1 -5.2 35.8 31.7 20.2 10.0 -0.6 -6.6 International Contract talent solutions 24.0 18.5 7.0 -3.2 -6.3 -4.7 26.3 23.5 16.6 8.7 5.3 -1.2 Permanent placement talent solutions 61.9 44.7 28.0 2.9 -7.5 -14.0 64.0 50.0 39.0 15.4 4.3 -10.5 Total talent solutions 29.2 22.5 10.5 -2.2 -6.5 -6.4 31.6 27.5 20.3 9.8 5.2 -2.9 Protiviti 58.3 26.2 8.6 -6.3 -9.2 -5.7 61.2 32.3 20.6 7.3 3.7 -1.5 Total 36.2 23.4 10.0 -3.3 -7.3 -6.2 38.6 28.7 20.4 9.1 4.8 -2.5 (1) Service revenues for finance and accounting, administrative and customer support, and technology include intersegment revenues, which represent revenues from services provided to Protiviti in connection with the Company's blended business solutions. Intersegment revenues for each functional specialization are aggregated and then eliminated as a single line item. The non-GAAP financial measures included in the table above adjust for the following items: Billing Days. The "As Reported" revenue growth rates are based upon reported revenues. Management calculates the billing day impact by dividing each comparative period's reported revenues by the number of billing days for that period to arrive at a per billing day amount. Same billing day growth rates are then calculated based on the per billing day amounts. Management calculates a global, weighted-average number of billing days for each reporting period based upon input from all countries and all functional specializations and segments. Foreign Currency Translation. The "As Reported" revenue growth rates are based upon reported revenues, which include the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The foreign currency impact is calculated by retranslating current period international revenues, using foreign currency exchange rates from the prior year's comparable period. The term "As Adjusted" means that the impact of different billing days and constant currency fluctuations are removed from the revenue growth rate calculation. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP year-over-year revenue growth rates to the "As Reported" year-over-year revenue growth rates is included herein, on Pages 10-12. ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES REVENUE GROWTH RATE (%) RECONCILIATION (UNAUDITED): Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth GLOBAL Q4 2021 Q1 2022 Q2 2022 Q3 2022 Q4 2022 Q1 2023 Finance and accounting As Reported 39.1 33.5 22.1 9.9 -0.1 -3.0 Billing Days Impact 0.3 -0.2 0.0 0.2 0.8 -1.3 Currency Impact 0.4 1.3 2.3 2.7 2.2 1.2 As Adjusted 39.8 34.6 24.4 12.8 2.9 -3.1 Administrative and customer support As Reported 37.6 29.2 4.2 -10.3 -21.2 -23.0 Billing Days Impact 0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.1 0.7 -1.1 Currency Impact 0.7 1.5 2.1 2.4 1.7 0.9 As Adjusted 38.4 30.5 6.3 -7.8 -18.8 -23.2 Technology As Reported 21.4 23.9 12.3 0.6 -2.1 -9.0 Billing Days Impact 0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.1 0.9 -1.3 Currency Impact 0.3 0.9 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.0 As Adjusted 21.8 24.6 13.9 2.5 0.5 -9.3 Elimination of intersegment revenues As Reported 74.3 38.9 -3.8 -23.1 -14.5 -12.8 Billing Days Impact 0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.2 0.8 -1.3 Currency Impact 0.7 1.4 1.9 2.1 2.2 1.4 As Adjusted 75.1 40.1 -1.9 -20.8 -11.5 -12.7 Total contract talent solutions As Reported 31.3 30.0 19.2 8.1 -4.0 -7.8 Billing Days Impact 0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.1 0.8 -1.3 Currency Impact 0.5 1.2 2.1 2.5 2.0 1.1 As Adjusted 31.9 31.0 21.3 10.7 -1.2 -8.0 Permanent placement talent solutions As Reported 73.0 67.2 39.3 16.5 -1.4 -16.1 Billing Days Impact 0.1 -0.3 0.0 0.2 0.8 -1.1 Currency Impact 0.7 1.9 3.3 3.6 3.0 1.4 As Adjusted 73.8 68.8 42.6 20.3 2.4 -15.8 Total talent solutions As Reported 35.3 34.1 21.7 9.2 -3.7 -9.0 Billing Days Impact 0.2 -0.2 0.0 0.1 0.8 -1.2 Currency Impact 0.5 1.3 2.3 2.7 2.1 1.1 As Adjusted 36.0 35.2 24.0 12.0 -0.8 -9.1 Protiviti As Reported 36.7 18.9 8.4 2.0 0.8 4.6 Billing Days Impact 0.2 -0.2 0.0 0.2 0.8 -1.5 Currency Impact 0.5 1.3 2.4 2.6 2.4 1.3 As Adjusted 37.4 20.0 10.8 4.8 4.0 4.4 Total As Reported 35.7 29.8 17.9 7.1 -2.4 -5.4 Billing Days Impact 0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.2 0.8 -1.4 Currency Impact 0.5 1.3 2.3 2.6 2.2 1.2 As Adjusted 36.3 30.9 20.2 9.9 0.6 -5.6 ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES REVENUE GROWTH RATE (%) RECONCILIATION (UNAUDITED): Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth UNITED STATES Q4 2021 Q1 2022 Q2 2022 Q3 2022 Q4 2022 Q1 2023 Contract talent solutions As Reported 33.4 33.4 22.7 11.3 -3.4 -8.6 Billing Days Impact 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 -1.3 Currency Impact As Adjusted 33.6 33.4 22.7 11.3 -2.9 -9.9 Permanent placement talent solutions As Reported 78.6 78.3 44.3 22.4 1.4 -16.9 Billing Days Impact 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 -1.2 Currency Impact As Adjusted 78.9 78.3 44.3 22.4 1.9 -18.1 Total talent solutions As Reported 37.2 37.8 25.2 12.6 -2.9 -9.7 Billing Days Impact 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 -1.3 Currency Impact As Adjusted 37.4 37.8 25.2 12.6 -2.4 -11.0 Protiviti As Reported 31.7 17.0 8.3 4.1 3.6 7.5 Billing Days Impact 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 -1.6 Currency Impact As Adjusted 31.9 17.0 8.3 4.1 4.1 5.9 Total As Reported 35.6 31.7 20.2 10.0 -1.1 -5.2 Billing Days Impact 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 -1.4 Currency Impact As Adjusted 35.8 31.7 20.2 10.0 -0.6 -6.6 ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES REVENUE GROWTH RATE (%) RECONCILIATION (UNAUDITED): Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth INTERNATIONAL Q4 2021 Q1 2022 Q2 2022 Q3 2022 Q4 2022 Q1 2023 Contract talent solutions As Reported 24.0 18.5 7.0 -3.2 -6.3 -4.7 Billing Days Impact 0.1 -0.4 0.2 0.5 2.1 -1.7 Currency Impact 2.2 5.4 9.4 11.4 9.5 5.2 As Adjusted 26.3 23.5 16.6 8.7 5.3 -1.2 Permanent placement talent solutions As Reported 61.9 44.7 28.0 2.9 -7.5 -14.0 Billing Days Impact 0.1 -0.5 0.2 0.6 2.2 -1.6 Currency Impact 2.0 5.8 10.8 11.9 9.6 5.1 As Adjusted 64.0 50.0 39.0 15.4 4.3 -10.5 Total talent solutions As Reported 29.2 22.5 10.5 -2.2 -6.5 -6.4 Billing Days Impact 0.2 -0.4 0.1 0.5 2.2 -1.7 Currency Impact 2.2 5.4 9.7 11.5 9.5 5.2 As Adjusted 31.6 27.5 20.3 9.8 5.2 -2.9 Protiviti As Reported 58.3 26.2 8.6 -6.3 -9.2 -5.7 Billing Days Impact 0.1 -0.5 0.2 0.5 2.1 -1.7 Currency Impact 2.8 6.6 11.8 13.1 10.8 5.9 As Adjusted 61.2 32.3 20.6 7.3 3.7 -1.5 Total As Reported 36.2 23.4 10.0 -3.3 -7.3 -6.2 Billing Days Impact 0.1 -0.4 0.2 0.5 2.2 -1.7 Currency Impact 2.3 5.7 10.2 11.9 9.9 5.4 As Adjusted 38.6 28.7 20.4 9.1 4.8 -2.5 Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/robert-half-reports-first-quarter-financial-results-301808777.html SOURCE Robert Half Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/26/c7088.html ROCKVILLE, Md., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology (HFA-ESC) and the Japanese Heart Failure Society (JHFS) announced today a joint scientific statement on Natriuretic Peptides: Role in the Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure. (PRNewsfoto/Heart Failure Society of America) Natriuretic peptides, brain (B-type) natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), are internationally used as a biomarker for diagnosis and management in adults with heart failure (HF). In addition, natriuretic peptide biomarker data can be important in risk stratification of heart failure prognosis. In addition to biomarker data, implementation of an oral angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) has increased healthcare professionals' awareness of natriuretic peptides as an important therapeutic agent. Natriuretic Peptides: Role in the Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure scientific statement aims to provide a framework and expert recommendations to healthcare professionals on the diagnosis and management of HF and focuses on the following areas: History and basic research: discovery, production, and cardiovascular protection Diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers: acute HF, chronic HF, inclusion/endpoint in clinical trials, and natriuretic peptides-guided therapy Therapeutic use: nesiritide (BNP), carperitide (ANP), and sacubitril (neprilysin inhibitor [combined with an angiotensin receptor blocker]), and Gaps in knowledge and future directions Standardized screening for HF remains challenging because of the heterogeneity of risk factors across different patient populations. Natriuretic peptides are recommended for initial diagnosis of HF as noted in the 2022 ACC/AHA/HFSA Guideline for the Management of HF, 2021 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic HF, and JCS2017/JHF2017 Guideline on diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic HF. Story continues "There are several differences in the statements among HF Societies regarding the use of natriuretic peptides as biomarkers for risk stratification and prevention. The scientific statement provides up-to-date perspectives and guidance that healthcare professionals can use to navigate and provide the best care for their patients with HF," Nancy Albert, PhD, CCNS, CHFN; co-chair and co-author representing HFSA in the Trilateral International Consensus Conference (TICC) said. The joint scientific statement on natriuretic peptides was developed by the TICC, a collaboration of HFSA, JHFS and HFSA-ESC. The TICC 2021 was hosted by the JHFS and was chaired by Hiroyuki Tsutsui, President of the JHFS, with Nancy M. Albert (HFSA) and Andrew Coats (HFA-ESC) serving as co-chairs. The Natriuretic Peptides: Role in the Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure scientific statement will jointly publish on Monday 17 April at 9:00 AM EDT in the Journal of Cardiac Failure, the official journal of the HFSA and the JHFS, and the European Journal of Heart Failure, the official journal of the HFA-ESC. DOI: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2023.02.009 To receive a copy of the manuscript in advance of the embargo, contact LPoko@hfsa.org. About the Heart Failure Society of America The Heart Failure Society of America, Inc. (HFSA) represents the first organized effort by heart failure experts from the Americas to provide a forum for all those interested in heart function, heart failure, and congestive heart failure (CHF) research and patient care. The mission of HFSA is to provide a platform to improve and expand heart failure care through collaboration, education, innovation, research, and advocacy. HFSA members include physicians, scientists, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, trainees, other healthcare workers and patients. For more information, visit hfsa.org. About the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology As the world's largest heart failure association, the Heart Failure Association of the ESC prioritizes patient management and awareness of heart failure as a global health problem. HFA-ESC's mission is to improve quality of life and longevity through better prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart failure, including the establishment of networks for its management, education and research. Learn more online. About the Japanese Heart Failure Society In response to the increased interest in heart failure, based on the basic studies on its mechanisms and clinical trials, the Japanese Heart Failure Society (JHFS) was established in 1996. The first General and Scientific Meeting of the JHFS was held in October 1997 at the Kyoto International Conference Center. The number of members increased from 900 to approximately 4000 in 2020. The vision of JHFS is to enrich the happy life of the patients and their families through investigating the basic pathophysiology of heart failure, and developing the effective and efficient diagnosis, prevention and treatment strategies. About the Journal of Cardiac Failure The Journal of Cardiac Failure (JCF) publishes the highest quality science in the field of heart failure with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, mentorship, multidisciplinary partnerships, and patient-centeredness. Published papers span original investigator-initiated work to state-of-the-art reviews, guidelines and scientific statements, expert perspectives, early career and trainee spotlight pieces, patient and patient-partner narratives. JCF also emphasizes the power of language and prioritizes innovative approaches to dissemination of published work to reach and impact the broader heart failure community. For more information, visit onlinejcf.com. About the European Journal of Heart Failure The European Journal of Heart Failure (EJHF) is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge in the field of heart failure management. The journal publishes reviews and editorials to improve the understanding, prevention, investigation and treatment of heart failure. Molecular and cellular biology, pathology, physiology, electrophysiology, pharmacology, as well as clinical, social and population sciences all form part of the discipline. Visit EJHF online. Media Contact: Laura Poko: Director of Marketing and Communications, Heart Failure Society of America, 301-798-4493, ext. 226 lpoko@hfsa.org Olivia Seward: Associate Director Communication, European Society of Cardiology, +33 (0)4 89 87 20 10, oseward@escardio.org Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-role-of-natriuretic-peptides-in-the-diagnosis-and-management-of-heart-failure-discussed-in-new-joint-scientific-statement-by-the-heart-failure-society-of-america-heart-failure-association-of-the-european-society-of-cardiology-301807389.html SOURCE Heart Failure Society of America (Bloomberg) -- Russia took control of utilities owned by Finlands Fortum Oyj and Germanys Uniper SE, the first such move from the Kremlin in retaliation for asset freezes by European countries over its invasion of Ukraine. Most Read from Bloomberg Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree late Tuesday that allows the government to introduce temporary state control over the assets of companies or individuals from unfriendly states which include the US and its allies - in response to similar moves, or the threat of them, by those countries. Russia threatened to seize the assets of foreign companies last year after Germany took control of a local arm of natural gas producer Gazprom PJSC, which it later nationalized. Chancellor Olaf Scholzs government has also seized refining assets part-owned by the sanctioned state oil company, Rosneft PJSC. The only assets listed in an addendum to Putins decree are Unipers 83.7% stake in Unipro PJSC and Fortums 98.2% stake in local Fortum PJSC. Both companies had sought to sell their stakes after Putin ordered troops into Ukraine last year, but were blocked by the Kremlin, which has banned foreign investors from selling Russian assets without special permission and required a large discount. Fortum shares recovered after two hours of declines in Helsinki trading, when they had fallen as much as 3%. Compensation Fund The main goal of the decree is to create a compensation fund for possible use in tit-for-tat measures in response to the expropriation of Russian assets abroad, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Tass. The takeover affects power-generation assets which have primary importance to the stable functioning of the Russian power sector, he said. Story continues The ownership of the assets isnt affected, according to the Federal Agency for State Property Management, the government body that will manage the assets. The original owner no longer has the right to make management decisions, it said. The decree introduces the temporary external management on a case-by-case basis and the list of assets may be broadened if needed, the agency said. The arrangement can be terminated only by presidential decree. I think many companies that didnt get or didnt use the opportunity to leave earlier should be afraid now because it is a clear pattern of further tightening of the regulations and leaving Russia will become increasingly more difficult, said Elina Ribakova, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. The key objective is hostage-taking, and that was clear from very beginning. Germany Nationalizes Second Gas Major as It Fights Energy Crisis Germany Working on Historic Takeover of Three Gas Companies Yesterdays action shows there is no longer any room for dithering, said Chris Weafer, chief executive officer of Macro-Advisory Ltd., comparing the powers taken under the order to a power of attorney to control the assets. If a foreign owner is deemed to be damaging a strategic business through its actions or delays, he said, then the state will turn up with a power of attorney and the owner will be locked out until the crisis ends and when the state, and only when the state decides to cancel the PoA. Fortum said in a statement Wednesday that it had no official confirmation of Russias move or its possible implications for the assets, and would issue a comment when it has more information. Fortums Russian unit said it had re-elected Chief Executive Officer Vyacheslav Kozhevnikov Wednesday on the instructions of the Federal property agency and that it was operating as before. Uniper said it is currently reviewing the legal situation. Fortum, controlled by the Finnish state, was among the largest foreign investors in Russias electric-power sector, with seven thermal power plants in the Ural region and western Siberia, as well as the countrys largest wind and solar portfolio. In May 2022, it announced a plan to put the assets up for sale, but the process stalled as the Kremlin refused to approve the deals. Writedowns Uniper booked a 4.4 billion ($4.8 billion) loss on its Russian unit Unipro earlier this year, writing its value down practically to zero and saying it was no longer in control of operations at the subsidiary. The German company was trying to sell Unipro, which operates five power plants in Russia, and said in February it had lined up a local buyer but the deal was stuck waiting for approval from Putin. Uniper is a former subsidiary of Fortum and was taken over by the German state last year to prevent its collapse. So far, Fortum had taken writedowns of 1.7 billion on its assets, leaving them worth 1.7 billion on its books. Writing down the entire asset value of about 1.7 billion is the likeliest outcome under the current circumstances in which the company appears to have lost control over the assets, analyst Juha Kinnunen at Inderes Oyj said in a note. With Fortum no longer being in formal control of its Russian assets, we see a fair chance that some investors will now be willing to invest in Fortum, as the Russian exposure might no longer be an obstacle from an ESG point of view, Danske Bank analyst Jakob Magnussen wrote in a credit note. --With assistance from Leo Laikola and Kati Pohjanpalo. (Updates with Kremlin, analyst, Uniper, Fortum comment from sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. VANCOUVER, BC, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Sable Resources Ltd. ("Sable" or the "Company") (TSXV: SAE) (OTCQB: SBLRF) is pleased to provide an update on the ongoing drill program at the Don Julio project, located in the province of San Juan, Argentina ("Don Julio" or the "Project"). All exploration activities at Don Julio are funded by South32 under the Earn-In Agreement between the Company and South32, signed in 2021. Dr. Ruben Padilla, President and CEO of Sable commented, "Don Julio is a multi-target project contained within an area of over 10 x 10 km. This season's drilling program has been designed to test several of these targets. The current drilling results from the La Gringa and Punta Cana targets along with our geological observations define large anomalous mineral systems and provide exploration vectors that take us closer to the causative porphyry intrusive centres which in porphyry systems often host the best copper and gold grades. Drilling continues at La Gringa along with the modeling of all available data from La Gringa and Punta Cana to continue exploration, refine the geological models and to plan additional drilling." Highlights 1-La Gringa Nine drill holes have been completed this season at the La Gringa target for a total of 4,098m. Drilling has defined a >1,500m NNE long and >1,000m wide porphyry system, mostly covered by thin quaternary gravels along the La Gringa valley (Figure 1). Cu-Au-Mo anomalous values are hosted by altered siliciclastic rocks and hydrothermal breccias with an upper advanced argillic alteration zone overprinting deeper sericitic and potassic alteration assemblages. The latest results increase the size of the already large porphyry style mineralization that remains open along the NNE strike and at depth. The causative intrusion, and potentially the host of the best Cu-Au grades, has yet to be found. Story continues DJ-DH-23-14 3.75% CuEq (17.3 g/t Ag; 1.44 g/t Au; 2.33% Cu; 0.58% Zn) over 2.90m from 77.6 to 80.5m Including DJ-DH-23-15 0.17% CuEq (3.14 g/t Ag; 0.092% Cu; 163 ppm Mo) over 17.0m from 724.0 to 741.0m 0.17% CuEq (0.068% Cu; 319 ppm Mo) over 157.0m from 844.0 to 1,001m Including DJ-DH-23-17 1.11% CuEq (5.33 g/t Ag; 1.07 g/t Au; 0.28% Cu) over 6.0m from 155.5 to 161.5m DJ-DH-23-19 1.15% CuEq (8.63 g/t Ag; 0.42 g/t Au; 0.77% Cu) over 0.9m from 281.55 to 282.45m 0.61% CuEq (5.48 g/t Ag; 0.3 g/t Au; 0.26% Cu) over 17.5m from 326.5 to 344.0m 0.49% CuEq (9.77 g/t Ag; 0.16 g/t Au; 0.1% Cu) over 11.0m from 427.0 to 438.0m 0.75% CuEq (14.88 g/t Ag; 0.37 g/t Au; 0.32% Cu) over 1.6m from 448.1 to 449.7m 2-Punta Cana A 437m drill hole (DJ-DH-23-16) was completed at Punta Cana targeting subcropping Au-Cu porphyry style mineralization over a strong magnetic anomaly and close to two anomalous drill holes from the last drill season (see Figure 3). The last 156m of this hole returned 0.32 g/t AuEq associated with quartz-bornite-chalcopyrite veinlets hosted by a series of subvolcanic intrusions and breccias. The Company believes that this mineralization represents the highest part or carapace of a large porphyry system at deeper level. Future drill campaigns will evaluate the grade profile of the system below the 4,500 masl horizon (Figures 3 and 5). DJ-DH-23-16 0.32 g/t AuEq (6.39 g/t Ag; 0.11 g/t Au; 0.086% Cu; 32 ppm Mo) over 156.0m from 281.0 to 437.0m Including 3-Fermin The first round of drilling started at the Fermin base metals skarn target during the last week of March (Figure 5). Two drill holes for a total 450.8m have been completed with assays pending. Figure 1. Location of reported holes from the La Gringa target. CuEq (%) is shown along the hole trace to highlight the large size of the geochemical anomaly associated with the La Gringa porphyry system. Holes from the 2021/2022 exploration season are shown in blue and holes from the current season (2022/2023) are shown in black. (CNW Group/Sable Resources Ltd.) Hole Descriptions DJ-DH-22-14 Hole 14 was drilled perpendicular to hole DJ-DH-23-12, previously released and which intercepted three intervals of high-grade Au-Cu-Ag mineralization associated with chalcopyrite, enargite, and sphalerite bodies (Figure 2 and Table 2). The hole encountered the first mineralized zone intercepted by hole 12 extending it around 50m towards the west with similar grade profile. Hole DJ-DH-23-18 was drilled on the western margin of the same chargeability anomaly targeting the same mineralization style but did not intercept significant mineralization (Figure 2). Figure 2. Cross section along drill holes DJ-DH-23-12, 14, and 18 with chargeability section on the background. (CNW Group/Sable Resources Ltd.) DJ-DH-22-15 Hole 15 was drilled as an extension of DJ-DH-22-09 drilled last season (Figure 1), the hole started at 623m and finished at 1,001m of depth, becoming the deepest hole in the history of the Project. The hole intercepted extensive biotite alteration in sedimentary rocks with abundant A and B veinlets. Although the Cu anomaly is moderate, the Moly values are consistently high reaching up to 0.16% Mo and yielding >200 ppm Mo over the entire hole (Table 2). Results from this hole increase the size of the already large moly halo external to the porphyry intrusion yet to be found. DJ-DH-22-16 Hole 16 is the only hole drilled at the Punta Cana target this season; the hole targeted the core of a conspicuous magnetic anomaly associated with the Au-Cu porphyry mineralization (Figures 3 and 5). The hole intercepted a broad zone of Au-Ag-Cu mineralization represented by porphyry quartz veinlets bearing chalcopyrite, bornite, and magnetite (Table 2). The mineralization found in the three holes forms a relatively low angled zone with apparent orientation ENE. The veinlets are hosted in a series of subvolcanic intrusions and breccias; the company believes that this mineralization represents the highest part or carapace of a large porphyry system at deeper level. Future drill campaigns will evaluate the grade profile of the system below the 4,500 masl horizon. Figure 3. Cross section along DJ-DH-23-16 showing the intercepted mineralization with respect to holes 06 and 08 from last season as well as magnetic 3D model on the background. (CNW Group/Sable Resources Ltd.) DJ-DH-23-17 Hole 17 is a shallow hole drilled on the eastern margin of the previously shown chargeability anomaly looking for high-grade mineralization similar to the one intercepted in holes 12 and 14 (Figure 1 and Table 2). The hole intercepted sediments with SCC and minor advanced argillic alteration crosscut by abundant D veinlets. Although shallow the hole points to the large potassic alteration zone defined by holes DJ-DH- 22-07, DJ-DH-23-11, and DJ-DH-23-15, and shows a marked increase in Cu and Mo values towards its bottom helping with the larger scale vectoring at La Gringa. DJ-DH-23-19 Holes DJ-DH-23-13 and DJ-DH-23-19 were both drilled on the western margin of the large chargeability anomaly discovered along the La Gringa Valley (Figures 1 and 4). Hole 13 discovered a series of hydrothermal breccias with advanced argillic alteration and weak copper mineralization and hole 19 was a step back hole that defined a large diatreme breccia with Cu-Au-Ag anomalies. Hole 19 also discovered several mineralized zones at depth including 17.5m @ 0.61% CuEq associated with pyrite-chalcopyrite in pyrophyllite veinlets (Table 2). Figure 4. Cross section along holes DJ-DH-23-13 and DJ-DH-23-19 drilled from the western margin of the chargeability anomaly shown on the background. Bars display CuEq (%) to highlight the significant geochemical anomaly. (CNW Group/Sable Resources Ltd.) Figure 5. Location of drill holes from Punta Cana and Fermin targets. (CNW Group/Sable Resources Ltd.) Hole Azimuth Dip Easting Northing Elevation Depth DJ-DH-23-13 55 70 2431386 6626757 4342 455 DJ-DH-23-14 50 50 2431681 6627231 4310 229 DJ-DH-23-15 150 80 2432193 6627441 4286 1,001 DJ-DH-23-16 90 70 2431762 6623732 5084 437 DJ-DH-23-17 50 50 2431787 6627108 4321 202.5 DJ-DH-23-18 55 65 2431236 6626884 4286 356 DJ-DH-23-19 55 70 2431272 6626678 4360 498 Table 1. Location of reported holes Hole From To Interval (m) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Mo (ppm) Zn (%) CuEq (%) AuEq (%) DJ-DH-23-14 77.60 80.50 2.90 17.3 1.44 2.33 0.58 3.75 Including 78.70 79.20 0.50 46.50 3.85 6.03 1.61 9.83 DJ-DH-23-14 137.90 140.00 2.10 2.57 0.32 0.085 0.34 DJ-DH-23-14 165.45 165.95 0.50 4.33 0.21 0.74 0.93 DJ-DH-23-15 844.00 1,001.00 157.0 0.068 319 0.17 Including 724.00 741.00 17.0 3.14 0.092 163 0.17 And 903.20 926.00 22.80 0.11 333 0.22 DJ-DH-23-16 281.00 437.00 156.00 6.39 0.11 0.086 32 0.32 Including 330.00 385.00 55.00 11.05 0.14 0.11 39 0.45 Including 330.00 342.00 12.00 46.68 0.13 0.15 51 1.05 DJ-DH-23-16 403.50 420.80 17.30 2.27 0.10 0.10 44 0.29 DJ-DH-23-17 23.50 25.50 2.00 9.71 0.14 0.12 0.30 DJ-DH-23-17 155.50 161.50 6.00 5.33 1.07 0.28 1.11 DJ-DH-23-17 181.50 183.50 2.00 1.96 0.14 0.14 0.25 DJ-DH-23-19 281.55 282.45 0.90 8.63 0.42 0.77 1.15 DJ-DH-23-19 326.50 344.00 17.50 5.48 0.30 0.26 0.61 DJ-DH-23-19 427.00 438.00 11.00 9.77 0.16 0.10 0.49 DJ-DH-23-19 448.10 449.70 1.60 14.88 0.37 0.32 0.75 Table 2. Highlighted intervals from reported holes Porphyry mineralization is characterized by broad zones of disseminated sulfides and vein stockwork; high-grade Cu-Au mineralization intercepted in hole 14 consists of irregular zones of semi-massive sulfides, sulfide-rich breccias, and stockworks; therefore, true width cannot be determined at this time. CuEq and AuEq were calculated based on 100% recovery and prices of USD 1,500 per oz for gold; USD 18.00 per oz for Ag; USD 3.00 per pound for copper; USD 10.00 per pound of molybdenum, and USD 1.10 per pound of zinc. Webinar Sable's President and CEO, Ruben Padilla, will be providing an exploration update discussing these results and the 2022 / 2023 exploration season. The webinar, hosted by Adelaide Capital, is scheduled for Monday, May 1, 2023 at 4:15pm EST. Register at the following link - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NmJer5IyT7OT8J67Ibfbkg QUALIFIED PERSON Luis Arteaga M.Sc. P.Geo., Vice President Exploration is the Company's Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. ABOUT THE DON JULIO PROJECT The Don Julio project comprises 69,350 hectares in the Cordillera Frontal in San Juan, Argentina. It includes the Don Julio cluster that contains numerous targets of porphyry (La Gringa, Poposa, Amarillo, Punta Cana, Tocota); intermediate sulfidation (Lodo, San Gabriel, Colorado); skarn (Fermin); and the regional properties that include the Los Pumas project as well as extensive unexplored ground. Since 2018, Sable has conducted systematic surface work including mapping; rock sampling; talus sampling; GroundMag, and UAV-Mag, and induced polarization. Sable performed a first drilling campaign in 2019 with 3,101m drilled in 11 holes and a second campaign in early 2022 comprising 4,294m in 9 holes. In 2021, Sable signed an Earn-In agreement with South32 to jointly explore the Don Julio project. ABOUT SABLE RESOURCES LTD. Sable is a well-funded junior grassroots explorer focused on the discovery of Tier-One new precious metal and copper projects through systematic exploration in endowed terranes located in favorable, established mining jurisdictions. Sable's focus is developing its large portfolio of new greenfields projects to resource level. Sable is actively exploring the San Juan Regional Program (163,969 ha) incorporating the Don Julio, El Fierro, La Poncha, and Los Pumas Projects in San Juan Province, Argentina; and the Mexico Regional Program (1.16Mha in application, 39,000ha titled) incorporating the Vinata and El Escarpe projects. ABOUT SOUTH32 South32 is a globally diversified mining and metals company. The company's purpose is to make a difference by developing natural resources, improving people's lives now and for generations to come. South32 is trusted by its owners and partners to realise the potential of their resources. South32 produces commodities including bauxite, alumina, aluminium, copper, silver, lead, zinc, nickel, metallurgical coal, and manganese from its operations in Australia, Southern Africa and South America. With a focus on growing its base metals exposure, South32 also has two development options in North America and several partnerships with junior explorers around the world. Related link: sableresources.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider, as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SAMPLE PREPARATION AND QA/QC Sample preparation for projects in Argentina is carried out by ALS Chemex Argentina, a subsidiary of ALS Minerals, at its facility located in Mendoza, Argentina. Analyses are carried out at their laboratory in Lima, Peru. Sample preparation includes drying in an oven at a maximum temperature of 60C, fine crushing of the sample to at least 70% passing less than 2 mm, sample splitting using a riffle splitter, and pulverizing a 250 g split to at least 85% passing 75 microns (code PREP-31). The holes contained in this press release were analyzed by methods Au-AA24 (Fire Assay Fusion and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry finish) and ME-MS61 (Four Acid Digestion with Mass Spectrometry finish); the latter one includes 48 elements (Al, Ag, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, Hf, In, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Re, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, Sr, Ta, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, Y, Zn, Zr). Both digestion methods dissolve most minerals but not all elements are quantitatively extracted in some sample matrices. Control samples (standards, blanks, and duplicates) are inserted systematically, and their results evaluated according to the Company protocols. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Sable's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of Sable's management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate. While Sable considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to variations in grade or recovery rates, risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals, risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, and regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and Sable is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Sable Resources Ltd. Logo (CNW Group/Sable Resources Ltd.) SOURCE Sable Resources Ltd. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/26/c6814.html Safe Orthopaedics Safe group modifies its financial agenda Eragny-sur-Oise, Fleurieux-sur-l'Arbresle, April 26th, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. CET - Safe (ALSAF), a company specializing in the design, manufacture and marketing of ready-to-use technologies for back surgery, particularly safe for spinal fractures treated in emergency (the "Company") announces the modiication of its financial agenda. Francois-Henri Reynaud, Chief Financial Officer of Safe Group, said: "Due to calendar constraints, we have decided to change the date of the Board of Directors meeting to approve the 2022 financial statements. Initially scheduled for April 28, 2023, it has been moved to the end of May 2023. The other dates remain unchanged Modified Financial Agenda 2023 Financial communication Date* Annual results 2022 End of May 2023 (instead of April 28th, 2023) Annual General Meeting June 30th, 2023 First semester revenues 2023 July 7th, 2023 First semester results and Q3 2023 October 10th, 2023 Second half 2023 revenues January 10th, 2024 (*) : any publication will be made after market closing. Information subject to change About Safe Group Safe Group is a French medical technology group that brings together Safe Orthopaedics, a pioneer in ready-to-use technologies for spine pathologies, and Safe Medical (formerly LCI Medical), a medical device subcontractor for orthopaedic surgery. The group employs approximately 150 people. Safe Orthopaedics develops and manufactures kits combining sterile implants and single-use instruments, available at any time to the surgeon. These technologies are part of a minimally invasive approach aimed at reducing the risks of contamination and infection, in the interest of the patient and with a positive impact on hospitalization times and costs. Protected by 18 patent families, SteriSpineTM kits are CE marked and FDA approved. Safe Orthopaedics is headquartered in the Paris region (95610 Eragny-sur-Oise) and has subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, and the Lyon region (Fleurieux-sur-l'Arbresle). Story continues For more information: http://www.safeorthopaedics.com/ Safe Medical produces implantable medical devices and ready-to-use instruments. It has an innovation center and two production sites in France (Fleurieux-sur-l'Arbresle, 69210) and in Tunisia, offering numerous industrial services: design, industrialization, machining, finishing and sterile packaging. Supported by the French stimulus plan in 2020, the company invests in additive printing and will be operational in 2022 on this new technology. For more information: http://www.safemedical.fr/ Contacts Safe Group Francois-Henri Reynaud Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Tel. : +33 (0)1 34 21 50 00 investors@safeorthopaedics.com Attachment Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation WATERLOO, Ontario, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The need to limit flood risk in Canada is urgent, with approximately 1.5 million homes, representing 10 per cent of the Canadian residential housing market, in high-risk zones where they are ineligible for flood insurance. A new CSA Group report, authored by the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation (University of Waterloo), provides practical guidance for federal, provincial, local, and Indigenous governments, to tackle river flooding. Nature can offer cost-effective solutions to limit flood risk for example, communities can be protected downstream by restoring wetlands and using floodplains to soak up, store and slow down water upstream. Historically, flood management techniques largely relied on built infrastructure solutions, such as flood walls, dikes and river channel modifications, to control natural processes. However, as large-scale flooding in British Columbia demonstrated in 2021, these structures can have negative impacts on river systems and can fail, leaving towns and homeowners underwater. In contrast, nature-based flood solutions provide benefits for people and nature and are often self-maintaining. The CSA Group report, Managing Flood and Erosion at the Watershed-Scale defines how governments can support the use of nature-based solutions (NbS) to reduce flood risk. The report reviews watershed management practices within provinces, together with trends in federal funding for flood risk projects. It also identifies existing best practices, and opportunities for improvement in how nature-based flood solutions are applied at the watershed-scale. CSA Group is excited to publish this latest report as we continue focused efforts to address urgent flood risks across the country with new national standards and research says Michael Leering, Director, Environmental and Business Excellence, CSA Group. This research supports the addition of new nature-based solutions standards that enhance an already robust set of existing standards to mitigate flood risk. We are encouraged at the growing momentum at regional levels to adopt new flood resilient standards, and this research is the latest tool to support all levels of government. Story continues The report presents three key recommendations: Develop consistent provincial approaches to integrated watershed management. Canada has best practices for watershed management that support nature-based solutions in some provinces. However, approaches vary significantly between provinces. Ontario is the only province where watershed-scale organizations (Conservation Authorities) have a legal mandate that combines river flooding, erosion, and nature-based conservation. This can serve to inform other provinces. Direct funding for river flood management to high-risk watersheds. Currently, funding is often directed to municipal governments that may not have the jurisdiction to implement nature-based solutions at the scale of the watershed. Going forward, projects funded at a local scale should be part of a watershed flood strategy. Routinely consider nature-based solutions for river flood and erosion management alongside built infrastructure. Nature-based solutions represent a credible choice and should be considered as a viable alternative to built solutions for providing long-term benefits to people and nature. The report also identifies how future standards could support implementation of the three recommendations, including to support consistent approaches to watershed management planning, selection of flood risk options and the use of nature-based solutions that would enhance and support existing standards to mitigate flood risk. We are seeing increased awareness of the need to work with, rather than against nature, in tackling flooding in Canada, says Joanna Eyquem, lead author of the new report and Managing Director, Climate Resilient Infrastructure, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation. However, to deliver these flood solutions, we need to work at the scale of natural systems, which in the case of rivers is the watershed. The release of the report is timely as the Government of Canada looks to define the role of the new Canada Water Agency and finalize the National Adaptation Strategy. Establishment of a watershed approach to tackle river flooding could be a key role for the new agency, and a cost-effective complement to the regional coastal resilience approach that was announced with the strategy in November 2022. With flood risk on the rise, and atmospheric rivers flowing stronger, the time to implement nature-based flood risk solutions is now. Visit CSA Groups website to download Managing Flood and Erosion at the Watershed-Scale. About CSA Group: CSA Group is a global organization dedicated to safety, social good and sustainability. We are a leader in North American standards development and in product testing, inspection and certification around the world. Our mandate is to hold the future to a higher standard. About Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation: The Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation is an applied research centre at the University of Waterloo. The Centre was founded in 2015 with a gift from Intact Financial Corporation, Canadas largest property and casualty insurer, and helps homeowners, communities, and businesses to reduce risks associated with climate change and extreme weather events. Contact details: Kimberly Gibson Manager, Public Relations CSA Group 416 388 2371 | kimberly.gibson@csagroup.org Ryon Jones Media relations manager University of Waterloo 226-339-0894 | @uwaterloonews| uwaterloo.ca/news Joanna Eyquem Managing Director, Climate Resilient Infrastructure, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation University of Waterloo 514-268-0873 | joanna.eyquem@uwaterloo.ca BE Semiconductor Industries N.V. Q1-23 Revenue of 133.4 Million and Net Income of 34.5 Million Down 3.1% and 14.2%, Respectively, vs. Q4-22. Operating Profit Exceeds Midpoint of Guidance Q2-23 Revenue to Increase 15%-25% Above Q1-23 Levels DUIVEN, the Netherlands, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BE Semiconductor Industries N.V. (the Company" or "Besi") (Euronext Amsterdam: BESI; OTC markets: BESIY), a leading manufacturer of assembly equipment for the semiconductor industry, today announced its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. Key Highlights Revenue of 133.4 million down 3.1% vs. Q4-22 due primarily to lower shipments for computing and automotive end-user markets from IDMs and Asian subcontractors. Down 34.1% vs. Q1-22 due to industry downcycle with particular weakness in computing end-user markets Orders of 142.0 million down 21.3% vs. Q4-22 principally as a result of lower mobile and, to a lesser extent, computing bookings from IDMs and Asian subcontractors. Vs. Q1-22, orders decreased 30.7% due primarily to broad weakness in computing end-user markets Gross margin of 64.2% rose 1.9 points vs. Q4-22 and 4.1 points vs. Q1-22 principally due to a more favorable product mix, positive net forex influences and cost reduction initiatives Net income of 34.5 million down 14.2% vs. Q4-22 primarily due to higher share-based incentive compensation. Down 48.9% vs. Q1-22 reflecting broad based industry weakness and increased R&D spending. Ex share-based incentive compensation, net income reached 43.0 million vs. 42.3 million in Q4-22 and 75.5 million in Q1-22 Net margin of 25.9% vs. 29.2% in Q4-22 and 33.4% in Q1-22. Ex share-based incentive compensation, net margin realized of 32.2% vs. 30.7% in Q4-22 and 37.3% in Q1-22 Cash and deposits of 644.9 million and net cash of 325.8 million decreased 7.4% and 20.0%, respectively, vs. Q1-22 due to significantly increased capital allocation to shareholders Outlook Q2-23 revenue anticipated to increase 15-25% vs. Q1-23 with gross margins in a range of 62%-64% Story continues ( millions, except EPS) Q1-2023 Q4-2022 Q1-2022 Revenue 133.4 137.7 -3.1 % 202.4 -34.1 % Orders 142.0 180.5 -21.3 % 204.8 -30.7 % Operating Income 41.7 48.7 -14.4 % 81.7 -49.0 % EBITDA 48.2 54.8 -12.0 % 87.2 -44.7 % Net Income 34.5 40.2 -14.2 % 67.5 -48.9 % Net Margin 25.9 % 29.2 % -3.3 33.4 % -7.5 EPS (basic) 0.44 0.51 -13.7 % 0.87 -49.4 % EPS (diluted) 0.44 0.50 -12.0 % 0.81 -45.7 % Net Cash and Deposits 325.8 346.5 -6.0 % 407.0 -20.0 % Richard W. Blickman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Besi, commented: Besis first quarter results were within guidance in an industry downturn with gross margin exceeding guidance. Revenue of 133.4 million decreased by 3.1% versus Q4-22 primarily reflecting general weakness in high-end and mainstream computing markets from both IDMs and Asian subcontractors and a temporary reduction in shipments for automotive applications. Such adverse influences were partially offset by increased shipments for high-end smartphone applications. On a year over year basis, revenue this quarter declined by 34.1% reflecting the impact of the current downturn on Besis business. In addition, demand from Chinese customers remained weak representing approximately 27% of total revenue this quarter. Besis profitability was solid in Q1-23 with gross margins reaching 64.2% due primarily to the current product mix and cost control efforts. Operating income of 41.7 million exceeded the midpoint of guidance. Excluding share based compensation expense, Besis net income and net margin were 43.0 million and 32.2% this quarter versus 42.3 million and 30.7% recorded in Q4-22 despite lower revenue levels. In fact, our financial performance has significantly improved at this point of the industry downcycle as measured by a comparison of Besis results for the latest twelve months ending March 31, 2023 versus the comparable period ending March 31, 2019 with revenue, orders and operating profit increasing by 44.7%, 66.5% and 82.7%, respectively. Our financial position remained solid at quarter end with cash and deposits and net cash of 644.9 million and 325.8 million, respectively. In addition, cash flow from operations increased to 61.4 million in Q1-23, up 36.4% versus Q1-22. During the quarter, we repurchased 77.8 million of our shares bringing total purchases to 174.1 million since the August 2022 initiation of our 300 million share repurchase program. Order trends in Q1-23 reflect both the negative effects of the current industry downturn and the favorable prospects for Besis wafer level assembly portfolio. For the quarter, orders of 142.0 million declined by 21.3% versus Q4-22 primarily due to the pull-forward of some high-end smartphone bookings into Q4-22 and, to a lesser extent, decreased orders for mainstream computing and hybrid bonding applications. Orders for smartphone applications for the most recent two quarters significantly exceeded those for the comparable period of the prior year but were less than previously anticipated. Demand for automotive applications improved in Q1-23 versus both Q4-22 and Q1-22. We received a 10.5 million order from a Chinese subcontractor subsequent to quarter end for automotive applications indicating ongoing strength in this end-user market. Bookings this quarter also included orders for multiple hybrid bonding systems with follow on orders anticipated in Q2-23 from multiple customers, including two new customers. Progress in hybrid bonding and other wafer level assembly adoption continues apace with increased interest received from the development community and customers primarily for data center, mobile and memory applications. In addition, the first order for a TCB chip to wafer system was received subsequent to quarter end from a US customer. The assembly equipment market outlook for 2023 remains negative as we work through the current industry downturn. Analysts have further lowered market estimates for this year but forecast a renewed upturn starting in the second half of 2023. We are prepared for various scenarios with a highly flexible production model and strategic intiatives in place to enhance profitability regardless of the industry direction. In the interim, we continue our investment in R&D programs and service/support in preparation for the next upturn and the significant projected growth of our wafer level assembly portfolio over the next three to five years. For Q2-23, we forecast that revenue will increase by 15%-25% versus Q1-23 with gross margins of 62%-64% due to our projected product mix. Operating expenses are forecasted to decrease by 0-5% versus Q1-23. First Quarter Results of Operations millions Q1-2023 Q4-2022 Q1-2022 Revenue 133.4 137.7 -3.1 % 202.4 -34.1 % Orders 142.0 180.5 -21.3 % 204.8 -30.7 % Book to Bill Ratio 1.1x 1.3x -0.2 1.0x +0.1 Besis Q1-23 revenue of 133.4 million declined 3.1% versus Q4-22 and was at the midpoint of prior guidance. The decrease was primarily due to lower shipments for computing and automotive end-user markets from IDMs and Asian subcontractors partially offset by increased shipments for high-end smartphone applications. Versus Q1-22, revenue decreased by 34.1% reflecting adverse industry conditions generally and particular weakness in computing end-user markets from IDMs and Asian subcontractors partially offset by higher shipments for mobile applications. Orders of 142.0 million decreased 21.3% versus Q4-22 primarily due to the pull-forward of some high-end smartphone bookings into Q4-22 and, to a lesser extent, decreased orders for mainstream computing and hybrid bonding applications. Versus Q1-22, orders decreased by 30.7% principally as a result of lower bookings for high-end and mainstream computing applications by IDMs and Asian subcontractors. Per customer type, IDM orders decreased 24.2 million, or 24.6%, versus Q4-22 and represented 52% of total orders for the period. Subcontractor orders decreased by 14.3 million, or 17.4%, versus Q4-22 and represented 48% of total orders. millions Q1-2023 Q4-2022 Q1-2022 Gross Margin 64.2 % 62.3 % +1.9 60.1 % +4.1 Operating Expenses* 44.0 37.1 +18.6 % 39.9 +10.3 % Financial Expense, net 1.5 3.6 -58.3 % 3.7 -59.5 % EBITDA 48.2 54.8 -12.0 % 87.2 -44.7 % * Excluding share-based compensation expense, operating expenses would have been 34.7 million, 35.0 million and 31.3 million in Q1-23, Q4-22 and Q1-22, respectively. Besis gross margin rose to 64.2%, an increase of 1.9 points and 4.1 points versus Q4-22 and Q1-22, respectively, and exceeded prior guidance. Gross margin development this quarter benefited from (i) a more favorable product mix, (ii) positive net forex influences, particularly versus Q1-22 and (iii) cost reduction initiatives. Q1-23 operating expenses rose by 6.9 million, or 18.6%, versus Q4-22 due to a 7.2 million increase of share-based incentive compensation. Versus Q1-22, operating expenses rose by 4.1 million, or 10.3%, due primarily to 2.4 million of increased R&D spending for next generation wafer level assembly systems as well as higher marketing and technical support costs related thereto. Excluding share based compensation expense, operating expenses represented 26.0% of revenue in Q1-23 versus 25.4% in Q4-22 and 15.5% in Q1-22. Financial expense, net, decreased by 2.1 million and 2.2 million versus Q4-22 and Q1-22, respectively, primarily as a result of increased interest income earned on cash balances outstanding. millions Q1-2023 Q4-2022 Q1-2022 Net Income* 34.5 40.2 -14.2 % 67.5 -48.9 % Net Margin* 25.9 % 29.2 % -3.3 33.4 % -7.5 Tax Rate 14.0 % 10.9 % +3.1 13.4 % +0.6 * Excluding share-based compensation expense, Besis adjusted net income (net margin) would have been 43.0 million (32.2%), 42.3 million (30.7%) and 75.5 million (37.3%) in Q1-23, Q4-22 and Q1-22, respectively. Besis Q1-23 net income of 34.5 million decreased 5.7 million, or 14.2%, versus Q4-22. The profit reduction was primarily due to a 7.2 million increase in share-based incentive compensation and a higher effective tax rate partially offset by improved gross margins and lower net financial expense. Versus Q1-22, net income decreased by 33.0 million, or 48.9%, principally as a result of a 34.1% revenue decrease and increased R&D spending partially offset by increased gross margins and lower net financial expense. Financial Condition millions Q1-2023 Q4-2022 Q1-2022 Total Cash and Deposits 644.9 671.7 -4.0 % 696.6 -7.4 % Net Cash and Deposits 325.8 346.5 -6.0 % 407.0 -20.0 % Cash flow from Ops. 61.4 86.6 -29.1 % 45.0 +36.4 % Capital allocation* 77.8 65.0 +19.7 % 14.1 +451.8 % * Includes dividends and share repurchases. Total cash and deposits of 644.9 million at the end of Q1-23 decreased by 4.0% versus Q4-22 and by 7.4% versus Q1-22 due to significantly increased capital allocation to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases. During the quarter, Besi generated cash flow from operations of 61.4 million which was used to fund (i) 77.8 million of share repurchases, (ii) 5.4 million of capitalized development spending and (iii) 1.1 million of capital expenditures. Besis net cash of 325.8 million at the end of Q1-23 decreased by 20.7 million (-6.0%) versus year end and by 81.2 million (-20.0%) versus Q1-22. Net cash development was positively influenced by the conversion of 7.9 million of Besis 2024 Convertible Notes during the quarter. An additional 13.0 million of 2023 Convertible Notes and 2024 Convertible Notes were converted in April 2023, resulting in a reduction of their principal balances to 0.6 million and 13.4 million, respectively. Share Repurchase Activity During the quarter, Besi repurchased approximately 1.1 million of its ordinary shares at an average price of 69.37 per share for a total of 77.8 million. Cumulatively, as of March 31, 2023, a total of 2.9 million shares have been purchased under the current 300 million share repurchase plan at an average price of 59.33 per share for a total of 174.1 million. As of March 31, 2023, Besi held approximately 3.6 million shares in treasury equal to 4.4% of its shares outstanding. Outlook Based on its March 31, 2023 backlog and feedback from customers, Besi forecasts for Q2-23 that: Revenue will increase by 15-25% versus the 133.4 million reported in Q1-23 Gross margin will range between 62%-64% versus the 64.2% realized in Q1-23 Operating expenses will decrease by 0-5% versus the 44.0 million in Q1-23 Investor and media conference call A conference call and webcast for investors and media will be held today at 4:00 pm CET (10:00 am EDT). To register for the conference call and/or to access the audio webcast and webinar slides, please visit www.besi.com. Important Dates 2023 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders April 26, 2023 Publication Q2/Semi-annual results July 27, 2023 Publication Q3/Nine-month results October 26, 2023 Publication Q4/Full year results February 2024 Dividend Information * Proposed ex-dividend date April 28, 2023 Proposed record date May 2, 2023 Proposed payment of 2022 dividend Starting May 4, 2023 * Subject to approval at Besis AGM on April 26, 2023 Basis of Presentation The accompanying condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union. Reference is made to the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements as included in our 2022 Annual Report, which is available on www.besi.com. About Besi Besi is a leading supplier of semiconductor assembly equipment for the global semiconductor and electronics industries offering high levels of accuracy, productivity and reliability at a low cost of ownership. The Company develops leading edge assembly processes and equipment for leadframe, substrate and wafer level packaging applications in a wide range of end-user markets including electronics, mobile internet, cloud server, computing, automotive, industrial, LED and solar energy. Customers are primarily leading semiconductor manufacturers, assembly subcontractors and electronics and industrial companies. Besis ordinary shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (symbol: BESI). Its Level 1 ADRs are listed on the OTC markets (symbol: BESIY) and its headquarters are located in Duiven, the Netherlands. For more information, please visit our website at www.besi.com . Contacts: Richard W. Blickman, President & CEO Leon Verweijen, SVP Finance Claudia Vissers, Executive Secretary/IR coordinator Edmond Franco, VP Corporate Development/US IR coordinator Tel. (31) 26 319 4500 investor.relations@besi.com Caution Concerning Forward Looking Statements This press release contains statements about management's future expectations, plans and prospects of our business that constitute forward-looking statements, which are found in various places throughout the press release, including, but not limited to, statements relating to expectations of orders, net sales, product shipments, expenses, timing of purchases of assembly equipment by customers, gross margins, operating results and capital expenditures. The use of words such as anticipate, estimate, expect, can, intend, believes, may, plan, predict, project, forecast, will, would, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements, although not all forward looking statements contain these identifying words. The financial guidance set forth under the heading Outlook contains such forward looking statements. While these forward looking statements represent our judgments and expectations concerning the development of our business, a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors could cause actual developments and results to differ materially from those contained in forward looking statements, including any inability to maintain continued demand for our products; failure of anticipated orders to materialize or postponement or cancellation of orders, generally without charges; the volatility in the demand for semiconductors and our products and services; the extent and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken to contain the outbreak, and the associated adverse impacts on the global economy, financial markets, global supply chains and our operations as well as those of our customers and suppliers; failure to develop new and enhanced products and introduce them at competitive price levels; failure to adequately decrease costs and expenses as revenues decline; loss of significant customers, including through industry consolidation or the emergence of industry alliances; lengthening of the sales cycle; acts of terrorism and violence; disruption or failure of our information technology systems; consolidation activity and industry alliances in the semiconductor industry that may result in further increased customer concentration, inability to forecast demand and inventory levels for our products; the integrity of product pricing and protection of our intellectual property in foreign jurisdictions; risks, such as changes in trade regulations, conflict minerals regulations, currency fluctuations, political instability and war, associated with substantial foreign customers, suppliers and foreign manufacturing operations, particularly to the extent occurring in the Asia Pacific region where we have a substantial portion of our production facilities; potential instability in foreign capital markets; the risk of failure to successfully manage our diverse operations; any inability to attract and retain skilled personnel, including as a result of restrictions on immigration, travel or the availability of visas for skilled technology workers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; those additional risk factors set forth in Besi's annual report for the year ended December 31, 2022 and other key factors that could adversely affect our businesses and financial performance contained in our filings and reports, including our statutory consolidated statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or alter our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Consolidated Statements of Operations ( thousands, except share and per share data) Three Months Ended March 31, (unaudited) 2023 2022 Revenue 133,406 202,407 Cost of sales 47,718 80,758 Gross profit 85,688 121,649 Selling, general and administrative expenses 28,982 27,313 Research and development expenses 14,995 12,622 Total operating expenses 43,977 39,935 Operating income 41,711 81,714 Financial expense, net 1,545 3,716 Income before taxes 40,166 77,998 Income tax expense 5,618 10,460 Net income 34,548 67,538 Net income per share basic 0.44 0.87 Net income per share diluted 0.44 0.81 Number of shares used in computing per share amounts: - basic - diluted 1 77,946,873 83,777,673 77,879,169 85,084,945 ______________________________ 1) The calculation of diluted income per share assumes the exercise of equity settled share based payments and the conversion of all Convertible Notes outstanding Consolidated Balance Sheets ( thousands) March 31, 2023 (unaudited) December 31, 2022 (audited) ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents 489,927 491,686 Deposits 155,000 180,000 Trade receivables 145,921 148,333 Inventories 101,024 92,117 Other current assets 24,126 24,562 Total current assets 915,998 936,698 Property, plant and equipment 32,278 33,272 Right of use assets 16,512 17,480 Goodwill 45,556 45,746 Other intangible assets 82,191 81,218 Deferred tax assets 18,397 19,563 Other non-current assets 1,170 1,213 Total non-current assets 196,104 198,492 Total assets 1,112,102 1,135,190 Current portion of long-term debt 2,372 2,361 Trade payables 48,877 41,431 Other current liabilities 109,761 100,099 Total current liabilities 161,010 143,891 Long-term debt 316,779 322,815 Lease liabilities 13,837 14,372 Deferred tax liabilities 12,882 13,303 Other non-current liabilities 12,001 12,274 Total non-current liabilities 355,499 362,764 Total equity 595,593 628,535 Total liabilities and equity 1,112,102 1,135,190 Consolidated Cash Flow Statements ( thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, (unaudited) 2023 2022 Cash flows from operating activities: Income before income tax 40,166 77,998 Depreciation and amortization 6,493 5,465 Share based payment expense 9,273 8,617 Financial expense, net 1,545 3,716 Changes in working capital 4,454 (42,501 ) Income tax paid (1,387 ) (7,272 ) Interest (paid) received 849 (1,057 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 61,393 44,966 Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures (1,135 ) (1,223 ) Capitalized development expenses (5,390 ) (5,654 ) Repayments of (investments in) deposits 25,000 14,286 Net cash provided by investing activities 18,475 7,409 Cash flows from financing activities: Payments of lease liabilities (1,100 ) (908 ) Purchase of treasury shares (77,779 ) (14,115 ) Net cash used in financing activities (78,879 ) (15,023 ) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 989 37,352 Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents (2,748 ) 953 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period 491,686 451,395 Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period 489,927 489,700 Supplemental Information (unaudited) ( millions, unless stated otherwise) REVENUE Q1-2023 Q4-2022 Q3-2022 Q2-2022 Q1-2022 Per geography: Asia Pacific 95.8 72 % 98.2 71 % 126.9 75 % 164.1 77 % 159.3 79 % EU / USA / Other 37.6 28 % 39.5 29 % 41.9 25 % 49.9 23 % 43.1 21 % Total 133.4 100 % 137.7 100 % 168.8 100 % 214.0 100 % 202.4 100 % ORDERS Q1-2023 Q4-2022 Q3-2022 Q2-2022 Q1-2022 Per geography: Asia Pacific 106.8 75 % 127.4 71 % 93.3 74 % 104.3 68 % 161.8 79 % EU / USA / Other 35.2 25 % 53.1 29 % 32.0 26 % 48.8 32 % 43.0 21 % Total 142.0 100 % 180.5 100 % 125.3 100 % 153.1 100 % 204.8 100 % Per customer type: IDM 74.0 52 % 98.2 54 % 80.7 64 % 86.8 57 % 97.1 47 % Subcontractors 68.0 48 % 82.3 46 % 44.6 36 % 66.3 43 % 107.7 53 % Total 142.0 100 % 180.5 100 % 125.3 100 % 153.1 100 % 204.8 100 % HEADCOUNT Mar 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Sep 30, 2022 Jun 30, 2022 Mar 31, 2022 Fixed staff (FTE) Asia Pacific 1,163 69 % 1,162 69 % 1,176 69 % 1,203 70 % 1,186 70 % EU / USA 519 31 % 513 31 % 518 31 % 511 30 % 500 30 % Total 1,682 100 % 1,675 100 % 1,694 100 % 1,714 100 % 1,686 100 % Temporary staff (FTE) Asia Pacific 232 74 % 60 42 % 237 74 % 433 83 % 536 86 % EU / USA 80 26 % 84 58 % 84 26 % 91 17 % 86 14 % Total 312 100 % 144 100 % 321 100 % 524 100 % 622 100 % Total fixed and temporary staff (FTE) 1,994 1,819 2,015 2,238 2,308 OTHER FINANCIAL DATA Q1-2023 Q4-2022 Q3-2022 Q2-2022 Q1-2022 Gross profit 85.7 64.2 % 85.8 62.3 % 105.2 62.3 % 130.4 61.0 % 121.6 60.1 % Selling, general and admin expenses: As reported 29.0 21.7 % 22.6 16.4 % 20.5 12.1 % 24.6 11.5 % 27.3 13.5 % Share-based compensation expense (9.3 ) -7.0 % (2.1 ) -1.5 % (0.9 ) -0.5 % (3.6 ) -1.7 % (8.6 ) -4.3 % SG&A expenses as adjusted 19.7 14.8 % 20.5 14.9 % 19.6 11.6 % 21.0 9.8 % 18.7 9.2 % Research and development expenses:: As reported 15.0 11.2 % 14.5 10.5 % 13.5 8.0 % 13.3 6.2 % 12.6 6.2 % Capitalization of R&D charges 5.4 4.0 % 5.5 4.0 % 5.2 3.1 % 5.2 2.4 % 5.7 2.8 % Amortization of intangibles (3.5 ) -2.6 % (3.0 ) -2.2 % (2.9 ) -1.7 % (2.9 ) -1.3 % (2.9 ) -1.4 % R&D expenses as adjusted 16.9 12.7 % 17.0 12.3 % 15.8 9.4 % 15.6 7.3 % 15.4 7.6 % Financial expense (income), net: Interest income (2.6 ) (1.2 ) (0.2 ) (0.2 ) 0.0 Interest expense 2.9 2.8 3.3 3.7 2.4 Net cost of hedging 1.6 2.6 2.3 1.5 1.1 Foreign exchange effects, net (0.4 ) (0.6 ) 0.1 0.8 0.2 Total 1.5 3.6 5.5 5.8 3.7 Operating income as % of net sales 41.7 31.3 % 48.7 35.4 % 71.2 42.2 % 92.5 43.2 % 81.7 40.4 % EBITDA as % of net sales 48.2 36.1 % 54.8 39.8 % 77.1 45.7 % 98.0 45.8 % 87.2 43.1 % Net income as % of net sales 34.5 25.9 % 40.2 29.2 % 57.3 34.0 % 75.6 35.4 % 67.5 33.4 % Income per share Basic 0.44 0.51 0.71 0.94 0.87 Diluted 0.44 0.50 0.69 0.90 0.81 Julie Su speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions confirmation hearing for her to be the Labor Secretary, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, April 20, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Bidens nomination for the next labor secretary, Julie Su, advanced through a Senate committee Wednesday, but a handful of Democrats are withholding support, creating uncertainty ahead of a vote in the full chamber. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee advanced Su's nomination on a party-line vote. Every Democrat on the committee voted in favor of Su, but a number of their Democratic colleagues have declined to publicly support Su. My hope is that ultimately well be able to find the votes for her to be successful coming out of this committee and then on the Senate floor, said Sen. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat. But theres no question in my mind that no one has ever been nominated to be secretary of labor who is better qualified. Su would be the first Asian American in the Biden administration to serve in the Cabinet at the secretary level. She was previously confirmed as the deputy labor secretary, but has faced a campaign from business groups critical of her record leading Californias labor department. They have run billboard and digital ads against Su in West Virginia, Montana and Arizona. Unions and some business organizations, including the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, have spoken up to support Sus nomination. Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin, Jon Tester and Mark Kelly and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an independent, have all declined to say whether they would vote for her confirmation. The White House has worked to win over those holdouts and Su has met with several senators in recent days, but top Democrats have acknowledged her nomination remains in doubt. The Biden administration cannot afford to lose more than a couple of Democratic votes in the closely-divided Senate. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is also recovering from shingles in California, with no firm return date. If Su's nomination fails, she would be the highest-ranking Biden nominee to be rejected by the Senate and leave a vacancy in the Cabinet. Su is currently acting labor secretary after Marty Walsh, the former mayor of Boston, left the White House last month. Story continues Republicans appear unified in their opposition. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said Su unfairly favored unions during her tenure leading the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency. Su has also faced blame for problems at the California agency during the pandemic. The state paid out billions of dollars in fraudulent claims as an unprecedented number of people sought assistance and Congress lifted many of the checks on unemployment insurance applications. A qualified secretary of labor needs to successfully handle negotiations, be a competent manager of a department and refrain from partisan activism. Ive not seen evidence of Ms. Su's ability to do any of these three, Cassidy said. SANTA BARBARA, Calif., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- International disaster response organization ShelterBox announced today that it is responding to Tropical Cyclone Freddy, a devastating, long-lasting storm that has swept through parts of Eastern Africa leaving tens of thousands homeless. Aid workers build emergency shelter in Malawi after Tropical Cyclone Freddy caused devastating flooding. ShelterBox will provide emergency shelter and live-saving essential household items for families displaced by the catastrophic flooding in Malawi. Experts say Cyclone Freddy may become one of the most powerful on record, displacing more than 650,000 people from their homes so far. It travelled across the southern Indian ocean for five weeks in February and March, making landfall in Madagascar, before Mozambique and Malawi and causing widespread devastation. In Malawi, more than 700 have died and hundreds remain missing. "Tropical Cyclone Freddy is a historic storm that deserves the world's attention," said Kerri Murray, president of ShelterBox USA. "As climate change continues, we're seeing the severity of storms increase, and they are causing unprecedented damage. In Malawi, there has been significant loss of life, property, and critical infrastructure. ShelterBox is working around the clock to respond and provide life-saving aid to families who lose everything in an instant." Catastrophic floods and mudslides have consumed homes and washed away farmland and livestock. Lack of adequate shelter and mosquito nets have exposed communities to malaria, and there are growing concerns about water-borne and other diseases, including as a recent cholera epidemic. Malawi's president has described it as the most devastating Malawi has ever experienced. A ShelterBox emergency response team deployed to Malawi and is now working with the nonprofit CARE Malawi to provide thousands of people with emergency shelter and other essential items. "The floods and mudslides have left huge scars on the hillsides, with enormous car sized rocks destroying everything in their path," said Melanie Hughes, a ShelterBox program manager who led the response team on deployment in Malawi. "They've left nothing but boulder fields in their wake that will be impossible to clear and so the people in the communities that lived there will have no choice but to move." Story continues ShelterBox will provide aid as flooding subsides, allowing it to access hard to reach locations. The aid package is likely to include shelter kits to build temporary structures, and timber for framing. It will also include kitchen sets, blankets, mosquito nets, solar lights, sleeping mats, and water filters. The aid organization is also considering multi-purpose cash in its aid package. "People will be able to use the aid to construct a shelter that offers protection from the elements, gives safety, and provides privacy helping people, families, and communities start their road to recovery," Hughes said. ShelterBox has responded in Malawi previously. After Cyclone Idai in 2019, it helped more than 10,000 people. The impact of Cyclone Freddy, however, is anticipated to be five times worse than Cyclone Idai. In addition to this response, ShelterBox is helping people affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, those displaced by the monsoon flooding in Pakistan, and the worst drought to hit East Africa in 40 years. It is also supporting people displaced by conflict in Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Mozambique. About ShelterBox USA Since 2000, ShelterBox has provided shelter and life-saving items following more than 300 disasters in nearly 100 countries. ShelterBox responds urgently to earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami, or conflicts. It works with local partners and individuals to customize each response, which can include a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, a water filtration system, emergency lighting, and other tools for survival. ShelterBox was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 and 2019. ShelterBox USA is based in Santa Barbara, California. ShelterBox aid workers assess damage after Tropical Cyclone Freddy flooded parts of Malawi. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shelterbox-launches-response-to-tropical-cyclone-freddy-in-eastern-africa-301808589.html SOURCE ShelterBox USA SAN JOSE, Calif. and FARMINGTON, Conn., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nest Collaborative, the nation's first and largest virtual lactation consultation platform, announced it is teaming up with Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, Calif., part of the national HCA Healthcare enterprise, to bring virtual breastfeeding support services to the Silicon Valley. Nest Collaborative is the creator of the nations first virtual lactation platform. The companys nationwide network of lactation consultants is available to moms for same-day virtual consults, meaning more moms have access to the help that creates successful breastfeeding journeys. Nest Collaborative was recognized by Verywell Family as the Best Online Lactation Consultant of 2021, beating out competitors by offering insurance-covered appointments, availability, and group sessions Latch Lounge. (PRNewsfoto/Nest Collaborative) The partnership will augment lactation support services offered at Good Samaritan Hospital by providing telehealth access via mobile phone or desktop computer to Nest Collaborative's nationwide network of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), who are experts in human lactation. The 473-bed acute care hospital is located in the heart of Silicon Valley with campuses in San Jose and Los Gatos. Good Samaritan Hospital is recognized as a leader in neurosciences, high-risk obstetrics, comprehensive cancer services, advanced cardiology, and innovative surgery techniques. Readers of Bay Area Parent magazine have chosen the hospital as the "Bay Area's Best Place to Have a Baby" for over 10 years. Good Samaritan Hospital chose Nest Collaborative to give parents a convenient and easy way to connect with lactation consultants for breastfeeding education before giving birth and for support once they leave the hospital. The partnership will also provide critical support to families of premature babies who return home and want to breastfeed and/or provide breast milk while their baby is in the neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU). "Families who give birth at Good Samaritan Hospital now have access to additional, evidence-based breastfeeding support both prenatally and when they leave the hospital to return home with their newborn," said Kelli Wray, DNP, APRN, Chief Nursing Officer of Good Samaritan Hospital. "Parents will be able to make same-day, telehealth appointments with Nest Collaborative's team of IBCLCs who can provide the expert guidance in the first days when breastfeeding can be the most challenging. They will also be a critical lifeline for parents of babies staying in our NICU." Story continues Good Samaritan Hospital has a deep connection with generations of families in the Silicon Valley area and serves a culturally diverse population. Nest Collaborative's IBCLCs are available to families for virtual consultations, seven days a week and in multiple languages. Families with active insurance or Medicaid pay no co-pay or deductibles for the service and Nest Collaborative handles all insurance billing. "We are thrilled to join Good Samaritan in providing the best possible support for new parents who give birth at the hospital," said Judith Nowlin, CEO of Nest Collaborative. "Breastfeeding has so many health benefits yet there are barriers that prevent many families from attempting and continuing to breastfeed. Our IBCLCs work with families to ensure they are informed about safe feeding options so they can make the best choice possible on their breastfeeding journey." How To Get Support Good Samaritan families wishing to book a same-day or future appointment with a Nest Collaborative IBCLC can call or text 888-598-1554 or 410-443-0022, or follow this link. Nest Collaborative consultations for all Good Samaritan families include: Unlimited 1-to-1 sessions On-demand consults 7 days a week (including mornings, evenings & weekends) No out-of-pocket costs with active insurance or Medicaid No copay, no deductible Appointments in multiple languages Prenatal or postpartum appointments (or both) About Nest Collaborative Nest Collaborative, Farmington, CT, is the creator of the nation's first virtual lactation platform. The company's nationwide network of lactation consultants is available to families for same-day virtual consults, meaning more parents and their health providers have access to the help that creates successful breastfeeding journeys. Nest Collaborative was recognized by Verywell Family as the Best Online Lactation Consultant of 2021 and 2022, beating out competitors by offering insurance-covered appointments, same-day availability, and group sessions through their offering of Latch Lounge. For more information, visit: www.nestcollaborative.com. About Good Samaritan Hospital Good Samaritan Hospital, a 473-bed acute care hospital in the heart of Silicon Valley, has been delivering elite level care with compassion since 1965. Locations include the main campus in San Jose, California and the Mission Oaks campus, in Los Gatos, California. We also serve patients at our Breast Care Center in Los Gatos, California. Good Samaritan Hospital offers a comprehensive array of inpatient and outpatient services including Emergency, Orthopedics, Cardiovascular, Neurosciences, Women's and Children's Services including a level 3 NICU, and Medical/Surgical services. Good Samaritan's care team of dedicated medical professionals consists of more than 1900 employees and more than 650 active physicians. Good Samaritan is part of HCA Healthcare, the nation's leading provider of healthcare services, composed of 182 hospitals and 2,200 sites of care located in 20 states and the United Kingdom. Media Contact: Todd Stein Todd@toddsteincommunications.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/silicon-valleys-good-samaritan-hospital-selects-nest-collaborative-to-provide-telehealth-breastfeeding-support-for-new-parents-301808176.html SOURCE Nest Collaborative DALLAS, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The No. 1 luxury brokerage in North Texas, Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty, is proud to represent another exceptionally unique home. 10150 Marsh Lane in Dallas, represented by Terri Brak Thomas and Jason Clark of Briggs Freeman Sothebys International Realty for $4,600,000 In the center of Dallas sits 10150 Marsh Lane, a majestic, modern gated estate on 1.39 acres, with another 1.5 acres of adjoining land available, located centrally in the private-school corridor. At more than 7,000 square feet, the home offers sleek finishes, a glass-walled entryway and an open-concept living area with 24-foot ceilings and a floor-to-ceiling fireplace. The ultramodern gourmet kitchen is an entertainer's dream, with its maple cabinetry, Thermador appliances, prep pantry and island topped with a waterfall ledge of illuminated golden onyx. A special luxury here is the serene primary suite: Walk through its double doors and feel the warmth of the two-sided fireplace that separates the sleeping and seating areas, with a view of the pool and spa. A coffee bar, dual custom closets, dual sinks, a soaking tub and a multihead massaging shower complete this sumptuous retreat. So remarkable is 10150 Marsh Lane that it has already been featured in the media. Some excerpts: D Home magazine: "Every detail of [this] home was a well-thought-out plan between the owners and the architect They used acacia wood on the exteriors. They installed towering glass windows Inside, they installed a mix of concrete, cork and burnt-oak floors; maple cabinetry; and onyx counters The house has three living rooms, a sprawling courtyard for indoor-outdoor living and five bedrooms spread across several wings." Candy's Dirt: "A highlight of this house has to be the bar. 'We lit the bottles from below, making it look like a show bar,' [architect Blane] Ladymon said. 'It's out of amber onyx and 20 feet long. It's a great vantage point for the host to be behind the bar because you can see everything happening' It's hard to imagine a home better suited to entertaining. 'The floor plan is great,' Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty [agent] Terri Brak Thomas said. '[And] they have hosted 300 people in the front yard, complete with camels!' This is the first time this majestic modern home has been on the market, so we don't expect it to last long." Story continues 10150 Marsh Lane is represented by Terri Brak Thomas and Jason Clark of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty for $4,600,000. Photos, more details and a video are at briggsfreeman.com. LINK TO PROPERTY https://www.briggsfreeman.com/listing/20274151/10150-marsh-lane-dallas-tx-75229/ Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sky-high-ceilings-onyx-countertops-and-room-for-camels-dallas-top-luxury-brokerage-brings-a-sumptuous-modern-mansion-to-market-ideal-for-parties-big-and-small-301807856.html SOURCE Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty WASHINGTON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Small business owners are facing a "nightmare" scenario in finding, hiring and retaining employees, according to new survey data from SCORE , mentors to America's small businesses and a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 11 million entrepreneurs start, grow or successfully exit a business. SCORE's 10,000 volunteers provide free, expert mentoring, resources and education in all 50 U.S. states and territories. (PRNewsfoto/SCORE) SCORE's Spring 2023 Megaphone of Main Street: Employee Engagement report surveyed more than 1,500 small business owners on employee-related issues, including hiring and retention, and the impact on their businesses. Two of their top three concerns are hiring the right talent (60.7%) and retaining and motivating employees (33%). "It's a nightmare," said SCORE client Adina Silberstein, founder, president and CEO of Queenie's Pets in Philadelphia, Pa. "We have an endless waitlist for hiring and our growth is so stunted. We could be crushing it but instead we are just stagnated." Signs of economic improvement While fewer small businesses are having trouble hiring and retaining employees compared to fall 2021, significant employee-related challenges remain: Eight in 10 (84.3%) small business employers report challenges with regard to hiring new employees. Nearly half (45.8%) say it's difficult to retain existing staff. "This is a continual journey treating employees as your number one asset is not a 'check the box,' but a continuous work in progress," said SCORE client Mary Kruse, CEO and owner of HealthSource Solutions in Minneapolis, Minn. "It is a journey with no endpoint." Competitive pay and healthcare benefits Low wages and benefits continue to cause issues for small business employers. More than half (59.3%) say the lack of competitive pay is their biggest weakness in motivating and retaining employees, while 39.1% say the same for healthcare benefits. These are growing concerns, both being rated twice as worrisome as they were rated in SCORE's 2017 survey. A positive outlook for the years ahead In the face of these obstacles, small business owners remain even more optimistic for the future than before the pandemic. Nearly three-quarters (72.2%) of small business employers say they're very or somewhat optimistic about the future growth of their business within the next six months, up from 67.2% in fall 2021 and 69% in 2017. Story continues "Time and again, we see entrepreneurs exhibit an indomitable drive to succeed and their tenacity keeps them buoyant during challenging times," said SCORE CEO Bridget Weston. "I am confident that American entrepreneurs will continue to create jobs, strengthen their local community and bolster the national economy." Click here to view the full Megaphone of Main Street: Employee Engagement data report. About SCORE: Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 11 million entrepreneurs start, grow or successfully exit a business. SCORE's 10,000 volunteers provide free, expert mentoring, resources and education in all 50 U.S. states and territories. Visit SCORE at www.score.org . Funded [in part] through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. CONTACT: SCORE 800-925-8458 media@score.org Visit SCORE's media resources to be connected with expert small business interview sources and news updates. SCORE's Spring 2023 Megaphone of Main Street: Employee Engagement report surveyed more than 1,500 small business owners on employee-related issues, including hiring and retention, and the impact on their businesses. At Thompson Tee in Las Vegas, Nev., a strong, engaged team of employees is a critical component of their small business success, according to founders Billy Thompson (left) and Randy Choi (center front). Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/small-businesses-struggle-to-retain-and-engage-employees-in-post-pandemic-economy-301808477.html SOURCE SCORE In the future, with all the Social Security problems, if we are collecting Social Security, what are the chances that they will decrease the payment to those already collecting? Jeff K.; McDonough, Georgia Hi Jeff, I completely understand why you fear your Social Security payments will be reduced, or possibly eliminated entirely. The Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds reports that The Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund will be able to pay 100 percent of total scheduled benefits until 2033. So what happens when we get to 2033? I asked a few experts to get their takes on what the future of Social Security holds. Social Security: Whether Youre 62, 65, 67 or 70, Heres Why Your Age Matters Important: 3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Retirement Ric Edelman, an investor and author, predicts that your Social Security benefits wont get reduced outright, but you may have to pay more taxes on them. Democrats want to raise taxes. Republicans wont agree to that unless there are cuts to the program. These cuts are likely to come in the form of taxes on benefits which has better optics than straight-line benefit cuts, he said. They could cut benefits [by] 10%, or they could tax benefits at a rate sufficient to equal a 10% clawback of benefits; you get to the same result, but politically, it appears to be a tax rather than a cut in benefits. I also spoke with Bryan Kuderna, CFP and author of What Should I Do With My Money?, and he has a more optimistic outlook he doesnt think your benefit payments will be affected. For those already collecting Social Security, I would not be at all worried that your benefits will decrease in your lifetime, he said. As the top source of retiree income in America, politicians on both sides are weary of altering the program and jeopardizing those votes. However, your kids (or other family members from younger generations) will likely not get the same benefits you are getting. Story continues Future generations will likely retire in a different system, perhaps collecting at later ages indexed for life expectancy, Kuderna said. Current retirees at worst could face higher income taxes on their Social Security benefits, and maybe pausing or reducing COLA increases will get debated, but dont expect a reduction in existing benefits. Another expert I spoke to, Martin Neil Baily, a senior fellow emeritus at the Brookings Institution, also doesnt think you have anything to worry about. There is no chance they will cut benefits for current recipients, he said. [It] would be political suicide. Baily believes the best solution going forward would be to make modest cuts in future benefits for high-income households and to make modest increases in the FICA tax. It is a solvable problem if both sides would only give a little, he said. So, while I dont have a crystal ball, the experts seem to believe that your Social Security benefits will remain intact for the rest of your life. I hope that brings you a little more peace of mind! See: 6 Types of Retirement Income That Arent Taxable I am over 50 years old, so if I max out my 401(k) at work to $30,000 in 2023, how much more money can I add to my retirement savings in my work Roth 401(k)? (I also contribute $7,500 to my regular Roth IRA account.) -Tom Hi Tom, First of all, congratulations on putting so much money away for retirement! As you near retirement, its definitely a good idea to be contributing as much to these accounts as possible but you may already be at your limit. I spoke with Ben Peters, CFP, J.D., a lead advisor at Burton Enright Welch, to get his expert insights, and he told me that you cant add more to 401(k) plans for the year beyond the $30,000 limit, but you may be able to make a $7,500 non-deductible IRA contribution, which can be converted to a Roth IRA. This backdoor Roth approach would be advisable if there are no pre-tax IRA dollars in his world, so the conversion is completely tax-free, he said. Beyond those buckets, there are no other tax-advantaged retirement buckets he can add to, unless he happens to have self-employment income. Jaime Catmull contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Social Security Administration Reports Benefits Are Payable Until 2033, so What Happens to My Future Payments After That? New Orleans, Louisiana --News Direct-- Software Effective Solutions Corp. Software Effective Solutions, (OTC: SFWJ) (The Company, SFWJ) doing business as MedCana, is thrilled to provide a corporate update on its recent progress, expansion plans, and partnership opportunities. Major highlights With a positive outlook for Q2, Eko2O S.A.S. has increased sales potential into Central and South America as it looks into greenhouse and irrigation system opportunities in Panama and Uruguay. Production firms owned by MedCana are moving forward according to schedule and haven't run into any problems during the current development and construction phases. Talks between MedCana and the Mendoza administration in Argentina are going very well and are intended to examine potential subsidies for beginning operations there. Sales Opportunities in Central and South America are expanded by Eko2O S.A.S. Eko2O SA, a MedCana subsidiary, has successfully increased its sales potential in Central and South America. The subsidiary specializes in the construction and distribution of greenhouses and sophisticated irrigation platforms. A positive outlook for Q2 has resulted from the company's expansion as it investigates new potential for greenhouse and irrigation system installations in Panama and Uruguay. These possibilities are anticipated to accelerate Eko2O's development and strengthen its position as a top supplier of innovative agricultural solutions in the cannabis sector. Smooth Progress by MedCana-Owned Production Companies The five production firms owned by MedCana are being built and developed in Medellin, Colombia, according to schedule and without any major setbacks. These businesses' ongoing entire crop cycle testing is providing insightful data on crop behavior monitoring, staff training, and production process improvement. To ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality cannabis products to clients and customers, MedCana is still committed to ensuring the seamless integration of manufacturing processes throughout its subsidiaries. Story continues MedCana Engages in Partnership Talks with Mendoza, Argentina Government MedCana has started talking with the Mendoza government in Argentina about possible incentives for starting operations there as part of its ongoing worldwide development strategy. These discussions are going quite well, and both parties are excited about the potential alliance. Support from the Argentinean government and the start of new operations there would greatly increase MedCana's market share in Latin America and solidify the company's position as the market leader in the world of cannabis. MedCana CEO Gabriel Diaz expressed his optimism, saying: "We are extremely pleased with the progress we've made in recent months, and the prospects for continued growth in the near future. Our expansion into Central and South America, the steady progress of our production companies, and our ongoing discussions with the Argentine government all point to a bright future for MedCana and its shareholders." ABOUT SFWJ: Software Effective Solutions/MedCana is a global infrastructure and holding company in the cannabis industry. Currently, MedCana has five companies focused on pharmaceutical cannabis production, one software company focused on managing processes for plant-to-patient operations. The recent acquisition an irrigation and greenhouse technology company has rounded out MedCanas portfolio of companies. MedCana's initial focus is on developing clients and companies in Latin America with an initial focus in Colombia and partnerships with laboratories, research facilities, and hospitals throughout the world. SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT This press release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "believes," "expects," "potential," "plans," "suggests," "may," "should," "could," "intends," or similar expressions. Many forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results implied by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to continue to enhance our products and systems to address industry changes, our ability to expand our customer base and retain existing customers, our ability to effectively compete in our market segment, the lack of public information on our company, our ability to raise sufficient capital to fund our business, operations, our ability to continue as a going concern, and a limited public market for our common stock, among other risks. Many factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond the company's control. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. Contact: Jose Gabriel Diaz, CEO www.medcana.net info@medcana.co Contact Details MedCana info@medcana.co Company Website https://www.medcana.net/ View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/software-effective-solutions-medcana-otc-sfwj-provides-corporate-update-for-shareholders-784452296 SUDBURY, ON, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - SPC Nickel Corp. (TSXV: SPC) ("SPC Nickel"), is pleased to announce new assay results from its Phase 1 drilling campaign, including the complete assay results from hole WG-23-026, at the recently consolidated West Graham and Crean Hill 3 properties (collectively, the "West Graham Project") located in the world-class Nickel-Copper mining district of Sudbury, Ontario. Highlights The ongoing 5,000 metre drill program is focused on confirming, upgrading, and extending the historical Nickel-Copper resources that straddle the consolidated property boundary (see West Graham Project summary below). Hole WG-23-026, intersected a thick zone of Nickel and Copper mineralization over 80.9 metres grading 0.49% Ni, 0.25% Cu (0.58% Nickel Equivalent (NiEq.) from 106.0 to 186.9 metres, including the previously reported higher-grade zone that returned 2.48% Ni, 0.64% Cu (2.72% NiEq.) over 7.9 metres from 170.0 to 177.9 metres (SPC Nickel's news release of April 11, 2023). Hole WG-23-025, intersected 47.0 metres grading 0.56% Ni, 0.30% Cu (0.67% NiEq.) from 20.0 to 67.0 metres, including a higher-grade zone of 0.72% Ni, 0.42% Cu (0.87% NiEq.) over 23.0 metres from 42.0 to 65.0 metres. Individual semi-massive sulphide samples from WG-23-027 returned values as high as 3.33% Ni, 0.23% Cu over 0.50 metres. To date, 3,600 metres in 22 holes have been completed and results from 9 of these holes have been received (See Figure 1). Grant Mourre, CEO and President of SPC Nickel commented, "We are enthusiastic about these assay results from the West Graham Project drilling program which continue to return thick mineralized zones with nickel and copper grades that are equal to or better than the historic West Graham Resource. To date, assays from only 9 of the 22 holes drilled during the campaign have been received from the lab, so we expect to continue providing updates on results through the remainder of this quarter. Our focus remains on working towards delivering a combined mineral resource estimate at the West Graham Project by the end of 2023." Story continues Assay Results Table 1: Assay results from the Phase 1 drill program on the West Graham Project. Assays from all holes not listed in Table 1 are pending. (CNW Group/SPC Nickel Corp.) Notes: Results for hole WG-23-020 and partial results for WG-23-026 were previously reported in Company's April 11, 2023 news release. 1. Width refers to downhole length. True widths are estimated at 35 to 100% of downhole lengths. 2. NiEq.% = Ni%+ Cu% x 0.32 + Co% x 0.53 and does not factor in Pt, Pd, Au or Ag values. No allowances have been made of recovery losses that may occur should mining eventually result. The NiEq.% calculation used in this release is consistent with the relative metal prices used in the West Graham resource report published by First Nickel Inc. in 2009. 3. 3E PGM represents Pd g/t + Pt g/t + Au g/t. West Graham Project On January 23, 2023, SPC Nickel announced the signing of an Agreement with Vale Canada ("Vale") granting SPC Nickel the right to earn 100% interest in the Crean Hill 3 Property which is adjacent to SPC Nickel's West Graham Property (see Figure 2 for property location and SPC Nickel's January 23, 2023 press release for full details of the Agreement). As an advanced project, the combination of the West Graham and Crean Hill 3 assets is a transformational opportunity for SPC Nickel. The historical mineral resources on these properties form one contiguous near-surface deposit and consists of the following: Figure 1: Plan map of the current area of drilling on the West Graham Project showing the collar locations and drill traces of the completed holes. (CNW Group/SPC Nickel Corp.) Figure 2: Aerial plan map of the West Graham area showing the relative locations of the historic Crean Hill 3, West Graham and Lockerby East resources. Addition current and historic mineralized zones including the Crean Hill Mine (current and historic), Lockerby Mine (historic) and the Ellen Pit (historic) are also shown. (CNW Group/SPC Nickel Corp.) SPC Nickel considers the West Graham and Crean Hill 3 resource estimates to be historic mineral estimates for purposes of NI 43-101. Neither the Company nor a qualified person on behalf of SPC Nickel have done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and SPC Nickel is not treating such historical estimates as current mineral resources. SPC Nickel considers the historic mineral estimates to be relevant to an understanding of the Project but has not done any work to validate the estimates. Nickel Equivalent value (NiEq.) % = Ni% + Cu% x 0.32 + Co% x 0.53 and does not factor in Pt, Pd, Au or Ag values. No allowances have been made for recovery losses that may occur should mining eventually result. The NiEq.% calculation used in this release is consistent with the relative metal prices used in the West Graham Resource report published by First Nickel Inc. in 20092. Reference Van Wiechen, A.G (1990): December 31, 1989 Mineral Resource Inventory table in: The Exploration Potential for Sulphide Mineralization in the Crean Hill Ellen Crean Hill No.3 Environment, Internal Inco Report, December 13, 1990. Routledge, Richard and Churchill, Bruce (2009): Technical Report on the West Graham Property Conwest Zone Resource Estimate, Graham Township, Ontario, Canada prepared for First Nickel Inc., January 15, 2009. Scott Wilson Roscoe Postle Associates . Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Qualified Persons The technical elements of this news release have been approved by Mr. Grant Mourre, P.Geo. (PGO), CEO and President of SPC Nickel Corp. and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. SPC Nickel follows rigorous sampling and analytical protocols that meet or exceed industry standards. Core samples are stored in a secured area until transport in batches to the ALS facility in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Sample batches include certified reference materials, blank, and duplicate samples that are then processed under the control of ALS. All samples were analyzed in Vancouver by ALS Chemex. Platinum, palladium, and gold values were determined together using standard lead oxide collection fire assay and ICP-AES finish. Base metal values were determined using sodium peroxide fusion and ICP-AES finish. Silver values were determined using an aqua regia digestion and an AAS finish. A Certified Reference Material (CRM) standard, blank or duplicate is inserted on every 10th sample in the following order: CRM, blank, CRM, duplicate. The cycle repeats every 40 samples, thus ensuring that 10% of samples submitted are control samples. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. About SPC Nickel Corp. SPC Nickel Corp. is a Canadian public corporation focused on exploring for Ni-Cu-PGMs within the world class Sudbury Mining Camp. SPC Nickel is currently exploring its key 100% owned exploration project Lockerby East located in the heart of the historic Sudbury Mining Camp that includes the Graham West Resource and the Crean Hill 3 property under option from Vale. SPC Nickel also holds three additional projects across Canada including the large camp-scale Muskox Project (located in Nunavut), the past producing Aer-Kidd Project (located in the Sudbury Mining Camp) and the Janes Project (located 50 km northwest of Sudbury). The corporate focus is on Sudbury, and SPC Nickel continues to look for new opportunities to add shareholder value. Additional information regarding SPC Nickel and its projects can be found at www.spcnickel.com. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of SPC Nickel. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, SPC Nickel expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SPC Nickel Corp. (CNW Group/SPC Nickel Corp.) SOURCE SPC Nickel Corp. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/26/c2360.html Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway Launches in Romeoville, Illinois, Offering a Fast Track to the Flight Deck Click HERE for Spirit & Lewis University photos MIRAMAR, Fla., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aspiring pilots in the Chicago area can soon soar from a college classroom to the flight deck at Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE). The carrier and Lewis University today announced a new partnership to launch the Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway program at the university's College of Aviation, Science and Technology in Romeoville, Illinois. The program provides graduates with a direct path to a rewarding career flying for Spirit. Lewis University students can gain valuable experience and complete the steps needed to become a Spirit First Officer while attending a leading aviation university and finishing their college degree. "We're on a mission to expand our pilot pipeline with more top-notch talent as we continue to grow, and the Chicago area is a great fit to launch the first university-based Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway program in the Midwest," said Ryan Rodosta, Senior Director of Flight Operations and System Chief Pilot at Spirit Airlines. "We can't wait to welcome the next generation of pilots from Lewis University, which has exceptional resources and is highly regarded as a leader in aviation training." Lewis University students pursuing an aviation technology degree can apply for the program after obtaining a recommendation from a faculty member in the College of Aviation, Science and Technology and completing their sophomore year. If successful in Spirit's interview process, they will receive a conditional offer of employment, a Spirit Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) and mentorship as they complete their degree and all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for a Restricted Airline Transport Pilot (R-ATP) certificate. Graduates who meet all program requirements will join the team as a Spirit First Officer. Story continues "Lewis University is proud to partner with Spirit Airlines and the Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway program," said Dr. Ryan Phillips, Chair and Professor of Aviation and Transportation at Lewis University. "This agreement allows our high-achieving flight students to earn positions at Spirit. The agreement provides mentorship, resources, and training to Lewis University students and gives them the opportunity to secure a position flying for a mainline carrier after graduation." Spirit's signature yellow planes include some of the newest, most fuel-efficient aircraft in the industry that fly across a network of 90+ destinations. More than two dozen brand-new planes are planned for delivery in 2023, creating opportunities for First Officers to quickly upgrade to Captain. Spirit's Pilots recently approved a contract that provides a significant pay increase and other enhanced benefits. Spirit also offers its Pilots industry-leading training and great quality of life. Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway expands the carrier's presence in Illinois. Spirit currently offers about two dozen daily departures from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), which is also home to one of the airline's ten pilot crew bases. To learn more about the program and application process, visit www.lewisu.edu/spirit-airlines/ Recognition Spirit was recognized by Forbes as one of America's Best Employers for Diversity 2022 following its active efforts to create and celebrate a diverse workplace environment. Spirit was also recently named the Value Airline of the Year by Air Transport World (ATW). In addition, the airline was recognized as one of LinkedIn's Top Companies in Travel & Hospitality in 2022, which ranks the 25 best workplaces to grow a career in the industry. Spirit was also recognized for safety with the FAA's "Aviation Maintenance Technician Diamond Award of Excellence" for the fourth consecutive year. About Spirit Airlines: Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE) is committed to delivering the best value in the sky. We are the leader in providing customizable travel options starting with an unbundled fare. This allows our Guests to pay only for the options they choose like bags, seat assignments, refreshments and Wi-Fi something we call A La Smarte. Our Fit Fleet is one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient in the United States. We serve destinations throughout the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean, making it possible for our Guests to venture further and discover more than ever before. We are committed to inspiring positive change in the communities where we live and work through the Spirit Charitable Foundation . Come save with us at spirit.com . About Lewis University: Lewis University is an innovative Catholic university offering market-relevant undergraduate and graduate programs to 6,500 students. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis University is nationally recognized for preparing intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, and globally-connected graduates who impact the world for the better. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spirit-airlines-and-lewis-universitys-new-pathway-program-for-aspiring-pilots-takes-flight-near-chicago-301808185.html SOURCE Spirit Airlines, Inc. The Education Department and consumer advocates warned this week how devastating the House Republican debt ceiling plan would be for student borrowers and those seeking higher education. The plan would reverse the presidents student loan forgiveness up to $20,000 even if the Supreme Court rules in favor of its legality in the next months. It would also cancel the creation of a more affordable student loan payment plan. Overall, the Education Department would see a 22% reduction in funding, the department said Tuesday, which would shrink the Pell Grant program that helps lower-income students afford college. Speaker McCarthy declared that he will force a catastrophic default and plunge America into recession unless he can claw back school relief dollars and prevent millions of hard-working Americans from getting the student debt relief they need coming out of the pandemic, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement. A staffer with the Republican leadership holds a guide to Speaker Kevin McCarthy's debt ceiling package during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, April 26, 2023. McCarthy is struggling to round up the votes for the bill, which would couple an increase of the country's debt ceiling with restrictions on federal spending. A final vote on the package is likely Thursday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) The proposal, which House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tweaked Tuesday evening in an effort to wrangle enough votes among the GOP to pass the House, comes as the Treasury continues to move money around to keep the federal government from defaulting on its debt. Those maneuvers could stop working sooner than expected as early as mid-June if capital gains revenue continues to come in weaker than expected, Yahoo Finance previously reported. A default could shake the markets and send ripple effects through the economy. President Joe Biden has already promised a veto, with the White House pointing to a recent Moodys Analytics report that found the bill would cut into near-term economic growth if enacted. It is outrageous and unacceptable that lawmakers would prioritize political maneuvering over the financial wellbeing and future of millions of struggling student loan borrowers, Natalia Abrams, president of the Student Debt Crisis Center (SDCC), said in a statement. We call on Congress to put the needs of the people first and reject any legislation that seeks to undermine efforts to provide relief and support to those burdened by student debt. Story continues Jordan Crowe, a supporter of student loan debt relief, rallies in front of the Supreme Court as the justices are scheduled to hear oral arguments in two cases involving President Joe Biden's bid to reinstate his plan to cancel billions of dollars in student debt in Washington, U.S., February 28, 2023. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Already, 16 million borrowers have been approved for Bidens student loan forgiveness announced last year, with 40 million borrowers likely eligible. The legality of the program is in the hands of the Supreme Court, which is expected to give a ruling in May or June. Also at stake is an improved REPAYE income-driven repayment plan that would: Raise the income exclusion allowance to 225% of the federal poverty level from 150%, giving borrowers more income for basic needs. Decrease the discretionary income percentage to 5% from 10% on the amount of borrowers discretionary income that goes toward loan payment for undergraduate loans only. Eliminates the negative amortization scenario where the balance grows as interest accrues because the IDR payment is too small to cover the interest payment. Reduce automatic loan forgiveness to 10 years from 20-25 years of repayments for borrowers whose original principal was $12,000 or less. This proposal would make permanent the debt trap for any borrower who does not earn enough money to afford their monthly loan bills by blocking the Administrations newly proposed income-driven repayment plan, Mike Pierce, executive director of the Student Borrowers Protection Center (SBPC), said in a statement. Additionally, the 22% budget cut would create a $17 billion shortfall in the Pell Grant program by 2026, according to a senior ED official. That would reduce the value of the maximum Pell Grant by $1,000 for 6.6 million recipients and eliminate Pell Grants altogether for 80,000 students, ED said in a press release. Other education programs would also be in jeopardy, including funding for students with disabilities, low-income and rural students, and those with mental health issues. The student loan system was broken when President Biden inherited it from Donald Trump, Pierce said. Kevin McCarthy and House Republicans are making it clear they like it that way. Ronda is a personal finance senior reporter for Yahoo Finance and attorney with experience in law, insurance, education, and government. Follow her on Twitter @writesronda Click here for the latest personal finance news to help you with investing, paying off debt, buying a home, retirement, and more Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Transparency Market Research Deployment of smart grids and innovations in grid communication technology are anticipated to offer new opportunities for market expansion Wilmington, Delaware, United States, April 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc. - The global substation automation market is anticipated to grow at a 6.7 % CAGR from 2023 to 2031. A market valuation of US$ 51.65 billion is anticipated by the end of the forecast period. The substation automation market is anticipated to experience substantial growth in the forecast period as substations are a critical part of electrical infrastructure. Substations execute critical functions like step-up/step-down voltage regulation and form the basic part of generation, transmission, and distribution systems. A shift towards future transmission and distribution substations is happening across the globe. This is due to the desire to integrate more automation and intelligence into the power grid network to address various utility concerns, such as to reduce operational costs to cater to new regulatory requirements, like NERC-CIP (North American Electric Reliability Corporation - Critical Infrastructure Protection). The market is further driven by factors such as increasing electricity demand around the world as well as a rise of smart grids and the demand for upgradation of the existing networks. In addition, advancements in communication technologies and use of renewable & non-conventional energy resources are expected to create new opportunities for market expansion. For Insights on Global, Regional, and Country-Level Parameters with Growth Opportunities by 2031 - Download a Sample Report! Market Snapshot: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue USD 27.29 Bn Estimated Value USD 51.65 Bn Growth Rate - CAGR 6.7% Forecast Period 20222031 No. of Pages 218 Pages Market Segmentation Offering, Type, Installation, Industry Vertical Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, South America Companies Covered Cisco Systems, Inc., Eaton Corporation plc, General Electric, Hitachi ABB, Ingeteam, Itron Inc., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, NovaTech, LLC., Schneider Electric SE, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc., Siemens AG, Trilliant Inc. Key Takeaways from the Market Report The global substation automation market is expected to be US$ 31 billion as of 2023quisition (SCADA) segment is projected to grow with a significant CAGR of 7.2% during the assessment period. The programmable logic controllers (PLCs) segment is estimated to grow with a CAGR of 6.2% during the projection period. As per TMR projections, the demand for substation automation in China is expected to grow at a significant CAGR of 6.1 % throughout the forecast period. Story continues Buy this Premium Research Report | Immediate Delivery Available - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=2737 The treaty thus provides Washington broader rights of maritime surveillance, while acting as an economic lifeline for some Pacific signatories that earn about 40 per cent of their national income from tuna fishing licenses and access fees. Along with the US and Australia, parties to the treaty include the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Story continues While regional experts have voiced their concern about the political bickering over federal spending, relevant Pacific organizations have been reticent. The Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency, an inter-governmental body that led the negotiations on the tuna treaty, declined to discuss the legislative hurdles the pledged funding confronts. The Pacific Islands Forum, an 18-member inter-government group that facilitates cooperation among the countries and territories of Oceania, did not immediately provide a comment. Fulfilling the pledge is under scrutiny because of recent US history concerning the treaty. In 2016, Washington reneged on a promise to pay US$89 million a year in economic assistance for fishing rights. After the Barack Obama administration threatened to withdraw entirely, the islands were compelled to stick with the earlier payments of US$21 million. But at the Pacific Island Forum in Fiji last July, US Vice-President Kamala Harris described the tuna treaty as the "cornerstone" of the US-Pacific partnership, nearly tripling the US contribution to US$60 million annually for the next 10 years. "At a time when we see bad actors seeking to undermine the rules-based order, we must stand united," Harris declared, a tacit reference to China. Washington regularly accuses China of illegal fishing in the Pacific. US Vice-President Kamala Harris speaking via video link to the Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji on July 13, 2022. Photo: AFP alt=US Vice-President Kamala Harris speaking via video link to the Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji on July 13, 2022. Photo: AFP> A Chinese security deal with the Solomons last year galvanised Washington into action due to concerns about Beijing establishing a military base there. Decades of US neglect have allowed China to make steady gains in the Pacific. According to Australia-based Lowy Institute, from 2006 to 2017, China provided about US$1.5 billion in foreign aid to the Pacific Islands region through a mix of grants and loans. The Pacific Partnership Strategy is Biden's attempt to address that, but the funds are yet to materialise, awaiting congressional approval. Jessica Collins, a research fellow at Lowy, attributed the delay to the Republicans' retaking control of the House of Representatives in the November midterms. "The Republicans may continue to kick the can down the road to keep President Biden's agenda at a standstill, which could impact funding for the tuna treaty," she said, adding that there was still "room for hope". The US has fulfilled some other promises, like the reopening of a US embassy in the Solomons, she noted. And discussions to open embassies in Kiribati and Tonga have been under way since July. Some House Republicans have called for slashing the country's foreign aid budget, but both Democrats and Republicans have shown willingness to work together to counter China's campaign for global influence. Although Congress largely agrees on the need to compete with China, Brian Harding of the United States Institute of Peace noted, "there's not necessarily bipartisan consensus on how to compete". He said that both parties understand that working with Pacific Island nations on their priorities is "good for overall strategic competition" but that Democrats were more inclined to engage heavily on climate related issues. The debate over cutting federal spending had nothing to do with sentiment toward the region, Harding added, "but the problem is that everything is potential collateral damage". A group of Republican representatives this month introduced a bill named "Defund China's Allies Act" seeking to "prohibit the availability of foreign assistance to certain countries that do not recognise the sovereignty of Taiwan". Among the 21 countries listed on the proposed legislation are Kiribati and the Solomons. Both nations severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan and switched recognition to the People's Republic of China in September 2019. Kenneth Kuper of the Pacific Centre for Island Security, a research institute based in Guam, said that Pacific Island nations do not want to get caught in the middle of two powers clashing for regional supremacy. Kuper said that the region would "need to manage expectations" as it watched the budget process unfold. The pledges of assistance are not limited to the Pacific Partnership Strategy: Biden's budget also proposes more than US$7 billion over 20 years to extend the Compact of Free Association deals with Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau, the largest budget item ever for the region. Those pacts, set to expire this year, grant the US military basing rights in exchange for economic support and security. Kuper called the COFA commitment "a litmus test for US credibility" in the region. He said that the three island nations had a close relationship with the US and that if the COFA funding is not secured, "the rest of the Pacific will start to wonder whether or not this Pacific Partnership Strategy, and whether or not the summit that happened, was just a temporary phase". Collins of the Lowy Institute added that failing to deliver could damage "Washington's authority in the region". "It's safe to say that some Pacific leaders would already be sceptical about the sincerity of Washington's promises," she noted. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. (Bloomberg) -- The US asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit by hedge fund manager Ken Griffin against the Internal Revenue Service after the billionaire accused the agency of failing to protect his confidential financial information. Most Read from Bloomberg The Citadel founder seeks financial damages over a data breach that led to ProPublicas publication of private data about some of the wealthiest US taxpayers. Griffin accused the IRS of failing to establish appropriate safeguards, saying on information and belief that unidentified IRS workers leaked his tax returns and return information to ProPublica between 2019 and March 2022. In a filing Tuesday in Miami federal court, US lawyers said Griffin filed a textbook shotgun pleading that speculates IRS workers leaked his information even though ProPublica said it didnt know the source of the tax information it published about Griffin and other wealthy Americans. Griffin speculates that some unknown individual(s) in an organization of nearly 80,000 employees, using unknown methods and exploiting unspecified security weaknesses, wrongfully obtained his return information, US lawyers wrote. Griffin infers that someone at the IRS gave that information to ProPublica, while omitting or discounting all other possibilities or explanations. While its certainly understandable that Griffin would want to know how his return information became public, the section of the Internal Revenue Code dealing with privacy bars release of the existence or details of any investigations related to the case, the US said. In a statement, Citadel spokesperson Zia Ahmed said: Every year the IRS expects over 150 million Americans to file their taxes, and taxpayers expect the IRS to protect their personal data. It is unforgivable that the IRS continues to shamelessly abdicate its basic duty to safeguard this private information. The fact that the tax returns of Ken and hundreds of others, which only the IRS had access to, ended up in ProPublicas hands is due to the IRSs malfeasance or negligence. Neither is acceptable. Story continues Needle in Haystack Finding a culprit among the vast IRS workforce requires the US to search for a needle in a haystack, the US wrote. But the needle may not even be in the haystack, the government said. ProPublica does not know if the source of the information was the IRS and acknowledges that the source may be a hostile state actor. Both Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and former IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig said they referred publication of Griffins return information to the US Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. If events reveal beyond speculation and conjecture that his return information violated the Internal Revenue Code, then Griffin can file suit, the government said. Read More: Thiel Gets Tax Edge With $5 Billion in Roth IRA, ProPublica Says Republicans, who control the House of Representatives, have pledged to use their power to investigate the breach and the IRS response. The ProPublica report said billionaires including Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk had in some years paid minimal or no income tax even as their fortunes soared. It outlined the tax strategies available to the top 0.1%. Griffin reported an average annual income of almost $1.7 billion between 2013 and 2018 and paid an average federal tax rate of 29.2% during that time, ProPublica reported. Griffin has a net worth of $34.8 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Michael Bloomberg, majority owner of Bloomberg News parent Bloomberg LP, was also among those included in the reporting. In its filing, the US said that Griffin failed to allege actual damages, which is necessary under the Privacy Act. The case is Griffin v. Internal Revenue Service, 22-cv-24023, US District Court, Southern District of Florida. (Updates with comment from Citadel spokesperson.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. VAALCO Energy, Inc. HOUSTON, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EGY; LSE: EGY) (VAALCO or the Company) today announced that it has issued its 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report, which is now available on VAALCOs web site, www.vaalco.com, under the Sustainability tab. The report covers VAALCOs ESG initiatives and related key performance indicators for the calendar year 2022. During 2022, the Company completed a materiality study, led by its ESG Engineer with input from key personnel across the organization with responsibility for engaging with its key stakeholder groups. Working with an external consultancy, VAALCO created an ESG materiality framework against which it plotted material topics informed by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). Each of these was assessed based upon the perceived level of risk to the business and the level of management control in place. Commenting on the newly issued ESG report, Chief Executive Officer George Maxwell said, In Q4 2022, we completed our strategic combination with TransGlobe Energy Corporation, which increased production and reserves, diversified our production portfolio, reduced risk, and increased our cash flow which will continue to be key to our long-term sustainability. To effectively combine the two businesses, a variety of integration strategies were designed; critical systems have been either fully integrated or are on their way to completion. Last year we adopted the framework of the Task Force on Climate related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) to drive our focus and response to climate change risks and opportunities. In accordance with our objective to reduce our emissions footprint, we have taken significant steps to progress our approach. We developed a decarbonization program, which was reviewed and approved by our Board. This has established a Decarbonization Steering Group which is comprised of senior management that is responsible for setting the direction for our carbon reduction efforts. Early-stage projects are currently being scoped and we look forward to updating our stakeholders on progress in due course. Story continues We continue to place great emphasis on capturing, monitoring, analyzing and ultimately sharing our ESG performance with our stakeholders. We believe our 2022 ESG Report successfully communicates the progress we have made to date on our ESG journey. About VAALCO VAALCO, founded in 1985 and incorporated under the laws of Delaware, is a Houston, U.S.-based, independent energy company with production, development and exploration assets in Africa and Canada. Following its business combination with TransGlobe in October 2022, VAALCO owns a diverse portfolio of operated production, development and exploration assets across Gabon, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea and Canada. For Further Information VAALCO Energy, Inc. (General and Investor Enquiries) +00 1 713 623 0801 Website: www.vaalco.com Al Petrie Advisors (US Investor Relations) +00 1 713 543 3422 Al Petrie / Chris Delange Buchanan (UK Financial PR) +44 (0) 207 466 5000 Ben Romney / Jon Krinks / Chris Judd (ESG) VAALCO@buchanan.uk.com Forward Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by those laws and other applicable laws and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Where a forward-looking statement expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. The words anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, intend, forecast, outlook, aim, target, will, could, should, may, likely, plan and probably or similar words may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to (i) VAALCOs ability to realize the anticipated benefits and synergies expected from the acquisition of TransGlobe; (ii) estimates of future drilling, production, sales and costs of acquiring crude oil and natural gas; (iii) estimates of future cost reductions, synergies, savings and efficiencies; (iv) expectations regarding VAALCOs ability to effectively integrate assets and properties it acquired as a result of the acquisition of TransGlobe into its operations; (v) the amount and timing of stock repurchases, if any, under the VAALCOs stock buyback program and VAALCOs ability to enhance stockholder value through such plan; (vi) expectations regarding future exploration and the development, growth and potential of VAALCOs operations, project pipeline and investments, and schedule and anticipated benefits to be derived therefrom; (vii) expectations regarding future acquisitions, investments or divestitures; (viii) expectations of future dividends and returns to stockholders; (ix) expectations of future balance sheet strength; (x) expectations of the continued listing of VAALCOs common stock on the NYSE and LSE; and (xi) VAALCOs ability to finalize documents and effectively execute the POD for the Venus development in Block P. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks relating to any unforeseen liabilities of VAALCO or TransGlobe; declines in oil or natural gas prices; the level of success in exploration, development and production activities; adverse weather conditions that may negatively impact development or production activities; the right of host governments in countries where we operate to expropriate property and terminate contracts (including the Egypt PSCs, the Etame PSC and the Block P PSC) for reasons of public interest, subject to reasonable compensation, determinable by the respective government in its discretion; the final terms of the agreements pertaining to Block P in Equatorial Guinea, which remain under negotiation; the timing and costs of exploration and development expenditures; inaccuracies of reserve estimates or assumptions underlying them; revisions to reserve estimates as a result of changes in commodity prices; impacts to financial statements as a result of impairment write-downs; the ability to generate cash flows that, along with cash on hand, will be sufficient to support operations and cash requirements; the ability to attract capital or obtain debt financing arrangements; currency exchange rates and regulations; actions by joint venture co-owners; hedging decisions, including whether or not to enter into derivative financial instruments; international, federal and state initiatives relating to the regulation of hydraulic fracturing; failure of asses to yield oil or gas in commercially viable quantities; uninsured or underinsured losses resulting from oil and gas operations; inability to access oil and gas markets due to market conditions or operational impediments; the impact and costs of compliance with laws and regulations governing oil and gas operations; the ability to replace oil and natural gas reserves; any loss of senior management or technical personnel; competition in the oil and gas industry; the risk that the business combination with TransGlobe may not increase VAALCOs relevance to investors in the international E&P industry, increase capital market access through scale and diversification or provide liquidity benefits for stockholders; and other risks described under the caption Risk Factors in VAALCOs 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on April 6, 2023. Inside Information This announcement contains inside information as defined in Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 on market abuse which is part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (MAR) and is made in accordance with the Companys obligations under article 17 of MAR. The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of VAALCO is Matthew Powers, Corporate Secretary of VAALCO. Vastned Belgium Vastned Belgium organised an Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders on Wednesday, 26 April 2023. The General Meeting of Vastned Belgium approved all items on the agenda: - Approval of the statutory annual accounts for the financial year ending on 31 December 2022, as well as the allocation of the result. - Approval of the Remuneration Report for 2022. - Approval of the annual fixed remuneration of the independent directors. - Change of legal representative of the statutory auditor. Full press release: Attachment By Phuong Nguyen HANOI (Reuters) -Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast said on Wednesday it had received a fresh round of funding pledges worth $2.5 billion for its future development, in a move that may signal a new delay to its planned listing in the United States. Two people familiar with the matter had previously told Reuters that VinFast's planned U.S. Initial Public Offering (IPO) may be further delayed, with one saying it could be pushed into next year due to unfavourable market conditions. "We remain committed and focused on our listing process," VinFast said later on Wednesday without elaborating on the time frame of the planned IPO. VinFast, which began operations in 2019, is gearing up to expand in the U.S. market, where it hopes to build a car and battery plant to compete with legacy automakers and startups, although shipments of vehicles from its factory in Vietnam have so far proceeded slowly. Of the new pledges, $1 billion will be provided as a grant within the next year from founder Pham Nhat Vuong, Vietnam's richest man, the company said in a statement. Parent company Vingroup, Vietnam's biggest conglomerate, will provide a grant of $500 million plus a $1 billion loan with a maturity of up to five years. That would increase total funds raised by VinFast to $10.7 billion, based on earlier company filings. The grants and loan will "give a push for VinFast to accelerate its development," the company said. Vingroup has plans to raise money from possible sales of assets from its shopping mall arm and real estate developer, Reuters exclusively reported in March. VinFast first flagged a U.S. IPO in April 2021, aiming to raise $2 billion with a valuation of about $60 billion. The listing was initially planned for the second half of last year and a number of bankers have since said the IPO was expected this year. However, there was no updated timeline in the company's latest filing to U.S. authorities in March. The market valuation for EV startups has drastically cooled after some companies with sky-high valuations faced scrutiny amid the gloomy global economic outlook. (Reporting by Phuong Nguyen, writing by Khanh Vu and Francesco Guarascio, Editing by Louise Heavens, Kirsten Donovan) The Viking Saturn Will Be Named in New York City on June 6 by Godmother Ann Ziff, Chairman of the Metropolitan Opera LOS ANGELES, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Viking (www.viking.com) today announced it has taken delivery of the company's newest ocean ship, the Viking Saturn. The delivery ceremony took place this morning when the ship was presented at Fincantieri's shipyard in Ancona, Italy. Viking also announced that the Viking Saturn will be officially named in New York City on June 6, 2023, by her ceremonial godmother, Ann Ziff, the esteemed philanthropist and Chairman of the Metropolitan Operaa longtime Viking cultural partner. Following the naming ceremony, the ship will spend her inaugural summer sailing two new Viking voyages: Iconic Iceland, Greenland & Canada, between New York City and Reykjavik, and Iceland & Norway's Arctic Explorer, between Reykjavik and Bergen. Viking today announced it has taken delivery of the companys newest ocean ship, the Viking Saturn. The delivery ceremony took place this morning when the ship was presented at Fincantieris shipyard in Ancona, Italy. For more information, visit www.viking.com. "We are very proud to welcome the newest sister ship to our award-winning ocean fleet," said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. "We are also grateful that Ann Ziff has honored us by serving as godmother of the Viking Saturn. Having traveled with us for years, Ann is a loyal Viking guest, and she shares our commitment to the arts and cultural enrichment. Her contributions to the Metropolitan Opera, one of our longtime cultural partners, as well as many other important causes are truly impressive." "I am delighted to serve as godmother of the Viking Saturn," said Ann Ziff. "For those who are curious about the world, there is no better way to explore and immerse yourself than from the comfort of a Viking ship." Ann Ziff, Godmother of the Viking Saturn A dedicated philanthropist focused on the arts, education, culture and environmental conservation, Ann Ziff is Chairman of the Metropolitan Opera and serves on several boards, including the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Sing for Hope, the World Science Festival and the Los Angeles Opera. Passionate about bringing culture and arts into the lives of children in need, she co-founded Smile Train and was a board member at Maloto, an organization that provides education and housing for abused and abandoned girls in Malawi. Ms. Ziff also has an eponymous fine jewelry brand, Tamsen Z, where she designs and creates one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by her love of culture, art and music as well as her travels as a loyal Viking guest. Story continues Viking and the Metropolitan Opera The Metropolitan Opera is home to the most creative and talented musicians around the world and has been a Viking cultural partner since 2016. On board Viking's ocean ships, guests are treated to the Metropolitan Opera's award-winning Live in HD series, including an exclusive viewing of Mozart's The Magic Flute. As part of Viking's continued commitment to support enriching cultural programming, other premier partnerships and sponsorships include Ballet Sun Valley, BBC, Highclere Castle, Los Angeles Philharmonic, PBS' MASTERPIECE, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Oslo's Munch Museum, TED and many others. The Viking Saturn The Viking Saturn is the newest ship in Viking's award-winning ocean fleet of identical sister ships. Classified by Cruise Critic as "small ships," Viking's ocean vessels have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, with 465 staterooms that host 930 guests; the ships feature all veranda staterooms, Scandinavian design, light-filled public spaces and abundant al fresco dining options. The delivery of the Viking Saturn comes as Viking continues celebrating its 25th anniversary. In January 2023, the company had its most successful single month of bookings following recent years of strong growth. Since 2020, Viking has welcomed 17 new ships to its fleetincluding eight new Viking Longships on the rivers of Europe; new purpose-built vessels on the Mekong, Nile and Mississippi rivers; four new, identical ocean ships; and two Polar Class expedition vessels. Most recently, Viking was voted "Best Cruise Line" by Food & Wine readers in the publication's inaugural Global Tastemakers Awards. In March 2023, the company dominated Cruise Critic's Cruisers' Choice Awards, receiving top honors in six categories including "Best Overall Line," "Best River Line," and "Best Dining" for its ocean and expedition voyages. Additionally, Viking has been named both the #1 Ocean Line and #1 River Line by both Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler, making it the first line ever to simultaneously earn #1 in its categories from both publications. Media Assets For more information, images and b-roll for Viking, contact vikingpr@edelman.com. About Viking Viking was founded in 1997 and provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans and lakes around the world. Designed for experienced travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers experiences for The Thinking Person. Viking has more than 250 awards to its name, including being the first cruise line to ever be named both the #1 Ocean Line and the #1 River Line in a single year in Travel + Leisure's 2022 "World's Best" Awards. Viking has also been rated the #1 River Line and #1 Ocean Line by Conde Nast Traveler in the publication's 2022 and 2021 Readers' Choice Awards. For additional information, contact Viking at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or visit www.viking.com. For Viking's award-winning enrichment channel, visit www.viking.tv. Viking has taken delivery of the companys newest ocean ship, the Viking Saturn. The delivery ceremony took place this morning when the ship was presented at Fincantieris shipyard in Ancona, Italy. The Viking Saturn will be officially named in New York City on June 6, 2023, by her ceremonial godmother, Ann Ziff, the esteemed philanthropist and Chairman of the Metropolitan Operaa longtime Viking cultural partner. For more information, visit www.viking.com. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/viking-takes-delivery-of-newest-ocean-ship-301807860.html SOURCE Viking Koninklijke Vopak N.V. Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 26 April 2023 Vopak reports strong Q1 2023 results and increases FY 2023 outlook Key highlights Q1 2023 Improve: Started the year with Q1 2023 EBITDA of EUR 249 million and increased our EBITDA outlook for FY 2023 to above EUR 950 million. Signed an agreement for a new debt issuance of EUR 400 million equivalent in the US Private Placement Market. Grow: Established a 50/50 joint venture with AltaGas for a large-scale LPG export facility in West Canada. Strengthening Vopaks leading position in India through four expansions in LPG and liquid products. Developing LNG infrastructure in the Netherlands to enhance gas supply security in Europe. Accelerate: After signing the acquisition of a prime location in the Port of Antwerp for new energies and sustainable feedstocks we are progressing towards closing. Investing in hydrogen logistics in Europe together with Hydrogenious. In EUR millions Q1 2023 Q4 2022 Q1 2022 Revenues 361.8 355.3 324.1 Results -excluding exceptional items- Group operating profit / (loss) before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) 249.0 227.8 213.1 Group operating profit / (loss) (EBIT) 168.6 150.3 125.8 Net profit / (loss) attributable to holders of ordinary shares 103.1 88.5 74.7 Earnings per ordinary share (in EUR) 0.82 0.71 0.60 Results -including exceptional items- Group operating profit / (loss) before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) 249.0 226.2 213.1 Group operating profit (loss) (EBIT) 168.6 148.7 125.8 Net profit / (loss) attributable to holders of ordinary shares 103.1 86.9 74.7 Earnings per ordinary share (in EUR) 0.82 0.70 0.60 Cash flows from operating activities (gross excluding derivatives) 219.7 316.9 169.1 Cash flows from operating activities (gross) 227.0 341.2 150.2 Cash flows from investing activities (including derivatives) -103.1 -100.7 -94.8 Additional performance measures Proportional EBITDA -excluding exceptional items- 294.1 269.6 253.7 Proportional capacity end of period (in million cbm) 22.1 22.1 22.6 Proportional occupancy rate 92% 90% 84% Storage capacity end of period (in million cbm) 36.6 36.6 36.2 Subsidiary occupancy rate 92% 90% 83% Proportional operating cash return 15.4% 9.3% 11.7% Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) 12.6% 10.6% 9.1% Average capital employed 5,223.0 5,319.4 5,418.2 Net interest-bearing debt 2,946.5 3,050.8 2,908.9 Senior net debt : EBITDA 2.49 2.65 2.70 Total net debt : EBITDA 2.69 2.85 2.92 Story continues Royal Vopak chief Executive Officer Dick Richelle, comments on the Q1 2023 results We continue to make good progress on our strategy to improve our financial and sustainability performance, to grow our base in industrial and gas terminals, and to accelerate towards new energies and sustainable feedstocks. The start to the year demonstrates the strength of our organization and diversity of our infrastructure portfolio across geographies, energy and manufacturing markets and customers. I am pleased to increase our outlook for the year 2023, supported by favorable storage demand and cost management. We will continue to deliver on our strategic goals while at the same time keeping our disciplined approach towards capital allocation. Financial highlights for Q1 2023 - excluding exceptional items Revenues increased to EUR 362 million (Q1 2022: EUR 324 million) despite a divestment impact of EUR 13 million. The positive performance was driven by favorable storage demand, particularly a steady recovery in oil markets, contribution from growth projects and currency translation effects. Proportional occupancy rate at Q1 2023 was 92% (4Q 2022: 90%) driven mainly by higher occupancy in the Europe & Africa division and the Asia & Middle East division. Costs increased by EUR 10 million to EUR 175 million (Q1 2022: EUR 165 million) mainly due to increased energy costs and personnel expenses (EUR 9 million), currency translation effects (EUR 2 million) and higher operating expenses, including the cost of growth projects and business development (EUR 7 million). The cost increase was partially offset by a positive divestment impact (EUR 9 million). Compared to Q4 2022 (EUR 191 million), costs decreased by EUR 16 million mainly due to non-recurring costs recorded in Q4 2022 (EUR 12 million), divestments (EUR 4 million), lower operating expenses (EUR 8 million) and currency translation effects (EUR 3 million) which were partly offset by higher energy and personnel expenses (EUR 11 million). EBITDA increased by 17% to EUR 249 million (Q1 2022: EUR 213 million) driven by organic growth across all divisions and currency translation effects (EUR 4 million) partially offset by higher costs and divestment impact. EBIT was EUR 169 million (Q1 2022: EUR 126 million), an increase of EUR 43 million mainly due to EBITDA performance and lower depreciation compared to Q1 2022. Growth investments in Q1 2023 were EUR 54 million (Q1 2022: EUR 42 million), including the growth projects in Vlaardingen in the Netherlands, Alemoa in Brazil and the transformation of Eurotank in Belgium. Proportional growth investments in Q1 2023 were EUR 64 million (Q1 2022: EUR 63 million). Operating capex , which includes sustaining and IT capex, in Q1 2023 was EUR 50 million (Q1 2022: EUR 51 million) while proportional operating capex was EUR 55 million (Q1 2022: EUR 55 million) in line with the prior year spend. Cash flow from operating activities increased by EUR 77 million to EUR 227 million compared to Q1 2022 EUR 150 million. The increase was related mainly to positive business performance (EUR 31 million), working capital movement and derivatives (EUR 67 million) offset by lower dividend receipts from joint ventures (EUR 21 million). Proportional operating cash flow in Q1 2023 increased by 26% to EUR 222 million (Q1 2022 EUR 176 million) driven mainly by improved proportional EBITDA performance. Proportional operating cash return in Q1 2023 was 15.4% compared to 11.7% in Q1 2022. Proportional operating cash return from FY 2022 includes lessor accounting, excluding the impact of lessor accounting (0.6 percentage points), the increase in operating cash return was 3.1 percentage points. The change in the methodology of calculating proportional operating cash return provides better insight into the cash generation of the business. Net profit attributable to holders of ordinary shares was EUR 103 million (Q1 2022: EUR 75 million). The senior net debt : EBITDA ratio is 2.49x at the end of Q1 2023 (Q1 2022: 2.70x), in line with the low end of our ambition to keep senior net debt to EBITDA ratio in the range of around 2.5-3.0x. Total net debt : EBITDA is at 2.69x at the end of Q1 2023 (Q1 2022: 2.92x). For more information please contact: Vopak Press: Liesbeth Lans - Manager External Communication, e-mail: global.communication@vopak.com Vopak Analysts and Investors: Fatjona Topciu - Head of Investor Relations, e-mail: investor.relations@vopak.com The analysts presentation will be given via an on-demand video webcast on Vopaks corporate website, starting at 08:45 AM CEST on 26 April 2023. This press release contains inside information as meant in clause 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation. The content of this report has not been audited or reviewed by an external auditor. For Vopak's full press release, please refer to the attached document. Attachment Meta President Global Affairs Nick Clegg - Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP Sir Nick Clegg has warned that China will stuff the artificial intelligence it is developing with autocratic values and that Western countries should unite to defend against them. China has unveiled new rules governing AI that prevent the software from undermining state power and ensure it supports socialist values. Its so important that Europe, America, India dont need to act in an identical fashion, Sir Nick, head of global affairs at Facebook's parent company Meta, told Bloomberg Television. But if they can align, then we can ensure that these new technologies are based on democratic values and not all autocratic values, because I can guarantee you these very powerful new technologies are going to be used by autocrats around the world for their own purposes and I think we need to do something quite different. Sir Nick also complained that rival social media platform TikTok, owned by a Chinese company, can operate in the US, while Facebook is banned in China. The former deputy prime minister warned that differing Western approaches between India, the US and European nations could allow Chinese AI to operate. Sir Nick joins politicians in the US pushing for a crackdown on TikTok, a video platform popular with young people. The Chinese Communist Party has ordered that all new AI bots are presented for a security review before they are released to the public. Recently launched AI tools such as ChatGPT can be used to write articles, compose songs or provide answers to internet search queries. Similar generative AI tools have been developed to create fake images and videos that appear realistic. Under rules announced by the Cyberspace Administration of China, AI will also be required to stop the spread of false information, racist posts or obscene content. The bots should also comply with copyright laws. Researchers who develop technology that fails these tests could face fines of 100,000 yuan (11,000), or criminal sanctions if they break other laws. Xcitium SAN FRANCISCO, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today at RSA San Francisco, Xcitium the cybersecurity industry's only provider of ZeroDwell Containment cybersecurity solutions, is announcing its integration of Intel Threat Detection Technology into its platform. According to industry analysts, ransomware is rapidly shaping up to be the defining online security issue of our era; attacks increased by 97% in just the last two years, while causing over $20 billion in damages. As adversarial tradecraft evolves and intensifies, we are highly motivated to take advantage of Intel Threat Detection Technology, and to do battle together against ransomware and cyber-attacks, said Ken Levine, Xcitiums Chief Executive Officer. Xcitium Advanced integrates neatly with Intel TDT because our patented ZeroDwell Containment technology is the core of our layered approach which also leverages detection-based technologies in powerful ways. Xcitiums ZeroDwell Containment isolates all unknown, undetectable threats that have no known signature or hash before they can access or damage any real assets. With our ZeroDwell technology, adding Intel TDTs advanced CPU telemetry to our real-time decision mechanisms, we can now provide unprecedented visibility at the chip level to help inform on over-all security. Frost & Sullivan Industry Principal Sarah Pavlak commented, Xcitiums Zero Dwell Technology prevents unknown malware from accessing critical system resources that cause damage, while providing complete use of the unknown file or applicationthis is a distinct departure from all existing vendors which terminate the offending unknown once their engine makes a threat determination. Intel vPro is a business computing foundation with built-in security hardware capable of detecting ransomware and software supply chain attacks. Using Intel Threat Detection Technology software (Intel TDT), continuous cyberattack monitoring is coupled with increased security performance at the Intel CPU/hardware level. Endpoint security solutions, and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) platforms specifically, are now able to leverage Intel TDT to help them discover advanced attacks that evade most other detection methods by leveraging CPU telemetry from a native app, a browser, or a virtual machine. Story continues Ransomware impacts business of all sizes, often resulting in significant financial and reputational damage, as well as loss of employee productivity. We are excited to partner with Xcitium, a leader in innovative detection-less cybersecurity, to integrate Intel Threat Detection Technology which delivers a compelling hardware and software capability. This integration delivers right-sized security for businesses of any size and takes a big step to help in the fight against ransomware, said Carla Rodriguez, Vice President and General Manager, Ecosystem Partner Enabling at Intel. In todays world, the need for innovation is greater than ever. Combining Intel Threat Detection Technology with Xcitiums real-time detection-less software technologies and instantaneous CPU virtualization means customers are better protected by a genuine zero trust, defense-in-depth solution that defeats undetectable threats. About Xcitium Xcitium is used by more than 5,000 organizational customers & partners around the globe. Xcitium was founded with one simple goal to put an end to cyber breaches. Our patented ZeroDwell technology uses Kernel-level API Virtualization to isolate and remove threats like zero-day malware & ransomware before they cause any damage to any endpoints. ZeroDwell is the cornerstone of Xcitiums endpoint suite, which includes preemptive endpoint containment, endpoint detection & response (EDR), and managed detection & response (MDR). Since its inception, Xcitium has a track record of zero breaches when fully configured. https://www.xcitium.com/ For Xcitium media enquiries: During RSA Xcitium is available for media briefings, please contact Krison Thakkar to arrange an in-person meeting on the Intel booth #5235. Contact details: Krison Thakkar Zonic Group PR Account Executive Email: kthakkar@zonicgroup.com Phone: 408 458 8605 YouTube Music and Cognizant workers strike outside Google's office in Austin, Texas. SUZANNE CORDEIRO/ Getty Images Contactors for YouTube Music voted 41-0 to unionize. Cognizant employs the workers, but the NLRB has ruled that Google is a joint employer. If the NLRB upholds the decision, Google will have to bargain with the union in good faith. Contract workers who support YouTube Music have won their union election and will now prepare to bargain for a labor contract. The National Labor Relations Board, or NLRB, held the official vote on Wednesday. Out of 49 eligible workers, all 41 who submitted ballots voted "yes" in favor of union representation. The Alphabet Workers Union, which has sought to organize Google workers and demand better working conditions, will represent the contractors at YouTube Music, who work for the outsourcing firm Cognizant. The vote is historic because it could represent the first time the tech giant must negotiate directly with a labor group. Alphabet, Google's parent company, has been adamant that Cognizant employs these YouTube Music contractors, and therefore Cognizant alone is responsible for their working conditions. The NLRB recently ruled, however, that Alphabet should be designated as a "joint employer," meaning it would be responsible for the workers alongside Cognizant. Alphabet is currently appealing the decision. Alphabet and Cognizant have until May 3 to file objections to the election. If they don't file any objections, the result will be certified, and the companies will have to begin bargaining in good faith with the union. Alphabet reiterated its stance on contract workers in a statement following the election. "We have no objection to these Cognizant workers electing to form a union," an Alphabet spokesperson said. "We've long had many contracts with unionized suppliers. However, as we made clear in our active appeal to the NLRB, we are not a joint employer as we simply do not control their employment terms or working conditions this matter is between the workers and their employer, Cognizant." Story continues For its part, Cognizant wrote in an email, "The National Labor Relations Board has informed us that a majority of Cognizant associates voted in support of unionizing. Our philosophy remains that we are better together through open dialogue and collaboration. We are committed to continuing our mission as a team and delivering for our client." YouTube Music contractors have said that Cognizant displayed messaging on TV screens around its Austin, Texas offices that discouraged organizing in favor of direct communication with the company. In an internal memo, the company told workers that even if the union efforts were successful, workers would not receive the same compensation or benefits as those Google directly employs, Insider previously reported. It also said that should the joint-employer decision be upheld, Google would only have minimal involvement in bargaining. The Alphabet Workers Union launched in 2021 and represents both full-time workers Google directly employs and its large contract workforce. In recent years, Alphabet has employed hundreds of thousands of contractors. Tech companies rely on contractors because these workforces can be scaled up and down as needed, and they are not entitled to the same promised benefits as full-time employees. Contractors for Google have long complained they feel like they are treated as second-class citizens despite contributing meaningfully to the company's business. Contractors perform tasks from rating search-result quality to updating YouTube Music playlists. More recently, they have been helping improve the output of Google's AI chatbot, Bard, Insider previously reported. Some Google contractors can command high salaries, while many including those at Cognizant make as little as $19 an hour. The YouTube Music contractors initially began organizing to seek a guaranteed work-from-home policy, saying that it's too expensive to live in Austin on the wages offered. Some live far from the offices and have said they could not afford to relocate. Support for unions has risen in the US in recent years, but representation remains at about 10% of the total workforce. Workers at companies including Apple, Wells Fargo, and Starbucks have recently attempted to organize and push for better labor conditions. Got a tip? This reporter can be reached via email at tmaxwell@insider.com, Signal at 540.955.7134, or Twitter at @tomaxwell. Read the original article on Business Insider (Bloomberg) -- A group of YouTube contract staff in Texas have unanimously voted to unionize in a labor victory that could force parent company Alphabet Inc. to collectively bargain with US workers for the first time in its history. Most Read from Bloomberg The US National Labor Relations Board counted ballots on Wednesday, with 41 of the roughly 50 eligible employees voting for the union, nobody voting against and around eight people not voting. The workers, whose jobs include ensuring videos are correctly labeled and handling requests from users of YouTube Music, are hired via the staffing agency Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. But those who petitioned in October to unionize contend that they are also employees of Google, which runs YouTube. In a March ruling, a regional director of the NLRB agreed, deeming Google a joint employer a company that has enough control of a group of workers to be liable for their treatment and obligated to negotiate with them if they unionize. Alphabet, Googles parent company, is appealing the March ruling and has repeatedly denied that it employs the sub-contracted staff. These have not been and are not our employees, company attorney Aaron Agenbroad said at a November labor board hearing, according to a transcript obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request. Cognizant has said it also disagrees with the NLRB. The NLRB could formally certify the union as soon as next week. Were that to happen, Alphabet would legally be required to collectively bargain with the Alphabet Workers Union, the Communications Workers of America affiliate the staffers voted to join. That watershed change would restrict the tech giants authority over how it sets conditions that affect those workers, and could embolden people in other parts of the company to seek similar status. Story continues In an emailed statement, Google reiterated its stance that it is not the workers employer. We have no objection to these Cognizant workers electing to form a union, spokesperson Courtenay Mencini wrote. We simply do not control their employment terms or working conditions this matter is between the workers and their employer, Cognizant. It could be years before talks actually commence. Even if labor board members in Washington, where Democrats hold a majority, uphold the regional directors decision, Alphabet could still refuse to negotiate, ultimately forcing the issue into federal appeals court. Starbucks Corp. is asking appellate judges to overturn the labor boards ruling that it must negotiate with employees at a megacafe in Seattle, where it objects to the use of mail ballots. Amazon.com Inc. has signaled it expects to contest a New York City warehouses union victory in US court as well. Todays victory sets us on our path to earn our fair share and we hope other tech workers join us by standing shoulder to shoulder with their coworkers and flexing their power on the job, Maxwell Longfield, a YouTube worker and member of the unions organizing committee, said in an emailed statement from AWU. The treatment of contract workers has been a recurring flashpoint for Alphabet, which relies heavily on staffing firms. Contract staff became the majority of the companys global workforce in 2018, and AWU has been pushing to organize both those workers and Alphabets direct employees. Several groups of Alphabet contract staff have unionized and won collective bargaining with their staffing agencies, but because Alphabet was not deemed a joint employer in those cases, the internet giant itself has not had to negotiate with them. AWU has also filed a still-pending complaint with the NLRB accusing Alphabet and Cognizant of responding to the union campaign by making threats, transferring work abroad and using new return-to-office rules to try to derail organizing. Cognizant has said the allegations have no merit. Workers have been on strike for months over that dispute. In its own emailed statement, Cognizant said it was committed to maintaining its mission. Our philosophy remains that we are better together through open dialogue and collaboration, the company said. (Updates with details on vote in second paragraph, comment from Alphabet in sixth paragraph, from worker in eighth paragraph, and from Cognizant in last paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. As an investor, mistakes are inevitable. But really big losses can really drag down an overall portfolio. So take a moment to sympathize with the long term shareholders of Zip Co Limited (ASX:ZIP), who have seen the share price tank a massive 76% over a three year period. That would be a disturbing experience. And more recent buyers are having a tough time too, with a drop of 49% in the last year. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 22% in the last 90 days. With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies. Check out our latest analysis for Zip Co Because Zip Co made a loss in the last twelve months, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. As you can imagine, fast revenue growth, when maintained, often leads to fast profit growth. In the last three years, Zip Co saw its revenue grow by 53% per year, compound. That's well above most other pre-profit companies. So on the face of it we're really surprised to see the share price down 21% a year in the same time period. You'd want to take a close look at the balance sheet, as well as the losses. Sometimes fast revenue growth doesn't lead to profits. If the company is low on cash, it may have to raise capital soon. The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). Zip Co is well known by investors, and plenty of clever analysts have tried to predict the future profit levels. If you are thinking of buying or selling Zip Co stock, you should check out this free report showing analyst consensus estimates for future profits. A Different Perspective Zip Co shareholders are down 49% for the year, but the market itself is up 2.0%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 7% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Zip Co better, we need to consider many other factors. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for Zip Co you should be aware of. Story continues If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Australian exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here By Mark Trevelyan (Reuters) - A leading Russian lawmaker said on Wednesday he had filed a complaint about an online art tool promoted by the country's largest bank, saying it consistently generated negative images of Russia. Lender Sberbank features the "Kandinsky 2.1" design tool on its website, with versions in Russian and English. Visitors are invited to type in a word or phrase and get the "neural network" to produce a matching image in vivid colours within seconds. But lawmaker Sergei Mironov said checks had shown the Kandinsky art tool - named after Wassily Kandinsky, a prominent early 20th-century Russian abstract painter - was unable to faithfully produce a white, blue and red tricolour when asked for a picture based on the phrase "Russian flag". The phrases "Donbas is Russia" and "I love Donbas" - referring to the eastern region of Ukraine that Russia has partly occupied and claimed as its own territory in an act rejected as illegal by most countries - gave rise to pictures in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, Mironov said. And the search term "I am a Z-patriot" - referring to the Z motif that Russia has adopted as a military symbol - "generated an image of a creature resembling a zombie", Mironov wrote on the messaging service Telegram. When Reuters entered the same phrase, the site produced a picture of four young people with their mouths wide open and teeth bared, holding an inaccurately reproduced Russian flag against the background of an onion-domed church. Mironov said it appeared "Kandinsky 2.1" had been based on designs by "unfriendly states waging an informational and mental war" against Russia. He said the risk was that young Russians would form a negative perception of their own country. "They will not know what the national flag of Russia looks like and will assume that Russia is a scientifically backward country," he wrote. Story continues Mironov said he had therefore written to Russia's prosecutor general to ask him to investigate Sberbank and whether the content produced by "Kandinsky 2.1" was lawful. Reuters has requested comment from Sberbank. Whether or not the complaint is upheld, it is embarrassing for Sberbank at a time when Russia is calling on both citizens and businesses to rally in support of what it calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine. Sberbank has invested heavily in technology in recent years. On Monday it said it had joined the artificial intelligence chatbot race by releasing technology called GigaChat as a rival to ChatGPT, released last year by Microsoft-backed startup Open AI. (Reporting by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Mark Heinrich) Fredericksburg City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a first reading of an ordinance setting the real estate tax rate at $0.89 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal year 2024, which begins July 1. It is a three-cent increase compared to the current real estate tax rate, but it is lower than the $0.91-cent rate Council agreed to advertise last month and the $0.90-cent rate that has been discussed at recent work sessions, budget analyst Donna Leahy said during Tuesdays meeting. Council also unanimously approved a first reading of a resolution appropriating the budget for the new fiscal year. The $121.4 million general fund budget includes the implementation of the results of a classification study and a cost-of-living adjustment for city employees; six new full-time general fund positions; three new social services positions; and four new transit positions. It includes a $30.7 million transfer to the school division, as well as about $400,000 placed in reserve in case of a revenue shortfall from the state. The General Assembly is still negotiating a statewide budget for next fiscal year, and school division budgets all over Virginia are in limbo until that happens later this summer. The reason for the reserve is because our General Assembly has not yet passed the state budget and the schools cannot know for sure what they will receive, Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw said. The School Boards budget is based on receiving $23.9 million from the state and includes funds for employee raises. Teachers who are on steps 0 to 25 of the salary scale will receive raises of between 7% and 12%, while school nurses will see their salaries increase by 1520%, custodians by 718%, and all other employees by 3.5%. Council also approved committing $484,500 of the citys unassigned fund balance to the school division, to enable it to issue contracts in the midst of uncertainty regarding the state budget. This goes to making sure school personnel are retained, council member Kerry Devine said. Contracts need to go out and people need to be able to have assurances that they will have a job and will be making a certain salary. Council also approved first readings of ordinances increasing the water and sewer rates by 10% and the lodging tax rate to 8%. Council is expected to approve second readings of the budget resolution and the water and sewer, lodging tax and real estate tax ordinances on May 9. Stanlee Fazi, 41, pleaded guilty to trafficking turtles in a federal court in Alexandria after admitting he illegally collected the animals from the wild, bound them in socks and shipped them by FedEx to online buyers across the country on at least 27 occasions from 2017 to 2020. The buyers, he said, would smuggle the turtles from the U.S. to Hong Kong and China as part of the illegal pet trade. The trafficking of the animals violated the federal Lacey Act, which prohibits the interstate transportation or sale of any wildlife captured or possessed illegally under state law and carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Virginia banned the catching of box turtles, as well as other common reptiles and amphibians, from the wild in 2021 because of declining populations and mistreatment by pet owners. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices in Baltimore and Vero Beach, Florida, conducted the investigation as part of Operation Middleman, which focused on the trafficking of reptiles from the U.S. to China. Also referred to as eastern box turtles, the colorful reptiles reside in forested regions of the eastern U.S. and can grow up to 6 inches long and live more than 100 years. The box turtles namesake comes from the box-like appearance the animal assumes when it retreats into its yellow and orange-splotched shell. Those with more colorful markings are particularly prized in domestic and foreign pet trade markets. Fazis sentencing is scheduled for July 26. The Stafford County School Board on Tuesday approved a provisional budget for fiscal year 2024 that cut $33 million from the boards initial request. Initiatives that the board removed from the budget include the second phase of corrections to the teacher pay scale, which would have provided an average 8.5% raise; differentiated compensation for hard-to-staff positions; enhancements to the paraprofessional pay scale; and contributions to a major maintenance fund and contingency fund. The provisional budget also cuts several new full-time positions that the School Board had approved to meet new staffing standards. The positions include 11 new social workers, five new elementary school teachers and four new elementary deans of students. The budget is considered provisional because the General Assembly has not yet finalized its budget for next fiscal year, meaning the amount of revenue Stafford can expect to receive from state coffers is unknown. Superintendent Thomas Taylor told the board at a special meeting Tuesday that a final state budget might not be approved until mid-to-late June, but that the division needs to be able to issue contracts to employees now in order to remain competitive. I would like for the board to think about this as a placeholder and worst-case scenario at this point, Taylor said. What we are looking at is the basement, not the ceiling. It will be several months before this comes to its conclusion. The county Board of Supervisors earlier this month approved a budget that provides about $15.9 million in new money for the schools operating fund. The new funding will be enough to provide a 5% across-the-board raise for school employees. The budget includes funding for 20 new full-time teaching positions and 26 full-time paraeducators to meet growing enrollment projections and the needs of special education students. Chris Fulmer, deputy superintendent and chief operating officer, said he expects the states final budget to include additional education funding enough so that the division can restore the second phase of corrections to the teacher salary scale. Taylor also stressed that the funding picture is far from clear. My expectation is that additional state revenue will help fill this gap immediately and we dont have to reduce anything, he said. The School Board unanimously approved the provisional budget as it was presented by staff. Board members thanked the community for advocating for the school division during this budget season and apologized for not being able to do more. I am deeply disappointed that we are giving a 5% raise to our staff when others in the county are getting 8%, said Elizabeth Warner, referencing the raises for general government employees and some public safety employees that were included in the countys budget. We think that you deserve more than we can give you. Alyssa Halstead said the School Board and school division leadership heard the communitys advocacy loud and clear. We are exceptionally sorry that the supervisors didnt hear the same thing we did, she said. For almost 20 years, a group of women who fled Latin American countries because of violence against them have been supporting each other in the Fredericksburg area, throughout Virginia and into Washington and Maryland. The Latinas call themselves Madre Tierra, or Mother Earth. Since 2004, theyve connected about 500 immigrants with lawyers who helped secure their legal status or application for political asylum. Group members also have provided emotional support after domestic violence or sexual assault, human trafficking or forced marriages or persecution because of their sexual orientation. They didnt migrate for the American dream, said Dilcia Molina, the groups founder and president. They migrated to save their lives. Once in America, some discovered similar problems as those theyd tried to escape. Younger women, especially those who dont have drivers licenses or speak English, sometimes were expected to give sexual favors in return for jobs and transportation, Molina said. Others faced continual harassment from managers to the point of being sexually assaulted. Even before the women arrived in American cities and towns, they fell prey to human traffickers lurking around immigration detention centers. The traffickers promised jobs but ended up luring the women into forced labor or sex, she said. They take advantage of everybody, Molina said about traffickers, women who are alone, women with families, people who are part of the LGBTQ community. It doesnt matter the age range, they pretty much go after everyone. The members of Madre Tierra decided to do something to stem the tide of violence, as well as inequality. There are about 80 in the group, with half being in the Fredericksburg area and the rest throughout Washington, Maryland and Virginia. Many of them clean houses or commercial buildings and often get a pittance of whats paid to owners of cleaning companies. During a recent interview, five members of the group described, with the help of interpreter Obdulio Alcantara, a typical arrangement. They vacuum, dust and scour toilets in a three-story, two-bathroom townhouse and get about $35 per job while company owners receive as much as $250, said Jean Carla Palomo, whos from Bolivia. The women have started a cleaning cooperative that they will own and manage. Called Magic Broom, its a branch of Madre Tierra, and the 12 women who form the co-op, where everyone has an equal say, see it as a solution on several fronts. This will allow us to come together and make a living and hopefully get the means to be able to sustain ourselves, said Palomo, who said Latinas typically have to work two or three jobs to make a living. In addition, she said the co-op will teach women about their rights so they can know when theyre being discriminated against and how to prevent violence. As part of the process, the women plan to work in small groups to protect each other and check out each situation before they sign contracts. The co-op already has acquired one cleaning contract in Washington, and members are excited about the prospect of more, along with the independence that it would bring. It makes us feel very happy, very safe, said Molina, who was on the board of one of the only LGBTQ community centers in Honduras. The paramilitary there invaded her home and threatened to kill her and her family because of her activism. Leslie Moncada, whos also from Honduras, said the new cooperative makes her feel hopeful. Its not just a business that belongs to one person, Molina said. Its a collective that were all owners of. Unification is what brings us power, said Counseulo Barboso, whos from Colombia and was married to an abusive husband. Molina jokingly said the group will feel more powerful when they have more contracts and she invited the newspaper to do another story when were millionaires. Members of Madre Tierra have been working with Samuel Gray, a Richmond lawyer, to set up the legal structure of the cooperative. He typically works with similar businesses that are governed democratically so each member of the cooperative has a single vote and they vote on decisions, he said. Hes worked with people of diverse backgrounds but never one composed of Spanish-speakers with this element of advocacy for women. I think theyre amazing, Gray said. Its been an honor to work with them and Im just happy to be helping out, trying to get them more exposure and business and help people learn whats going on. Spotsylvania County officials say Orange County isnt following a good neighbor policy as it moves ahead with the major Wilderness Crossing redevelopment project along the counties border. A letter sent by Spotsylvania County officials last week cites concerns about the Wilderness Crossing rezoning proposal and claims that Orange County failed to adequately engage the neighboring county about the project. In a correspondence dated April 18, Spotsylvania County Administrator Ed Petrovitch, speaking on behalf of the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors, stated his intent to address concerns related to the Wilderness Crossing rezoning as well as the review and notification process for the application. If approved, the Wilderness Crossing development would be the largest in Orange County history, spanning more than 2,600 acres on the eastern end of the county. Rezoning would shift the site from largely agricultural and industrial to mixed-use. The Orange County Planning Commission held a public hearing for the proposal on March 23 and voted 32 to recommend its approval on April 6. Two main concerns regarding the potential impact of the development on Spotsylvania County were listed in the letter: increased traffic and impoundment of Wilderness Run for a reservoir. The letter criticized the scope of the traffic impact analysis for not analyzing regional impacts or intersections while it simultaneously assumes 50% of the traffic will travel through Spotsylvania County. According to the Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors, neither Spotsylvania County nor the Virginia Department of Transportations Fredericksburg District were consulted in regard to the traffic analysis. The Fredericksburg District VDOT did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Spotsylvania County Director of Community Engagement and Tourism Michelle McGinnis said in an email that Spotsylvania County has been contacted by VDOT Fredericksburg, which has advised that an adequate Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) scoping would have studied major intersections between the Orange County line and Gordon Road in Spotsylvania. Petrovitchs correspondence also said concerns about the developments possible effect on the water supply within the region. Petrovitch requested a meeting with the Orange County Administrator and General Manager of the Rapidan Service Authority (RSA) to discuss RSAs water supply planning as it relates to western Spotsylvania County and this development, but he had not received a response at the time of the letter. According to McGinnis, Orange County Administrator Theodore Voorhees reached out to Petrovitch after the letter was sent. In a follow-up email, Voorhees confirmed that Orange is now planning to meet with Rapidan Service Authority officials about the water supply within the next week. In addition to traffic and water, the letter cited two procedural concerns. The first was a failure by Orange County to notify Spotsylvania County of the two public hearings for Wilderness Crossing. Spotsylvania did not receive written notice of the Planning Commission public hearing, nor to date have we received notice of the Board of Supervisors public hearing as is required by the Code of Virginia Sec. 15.2-2204.C. Under the aforementioned code, when any proposed change to a comprehensive plan or zoning classification map involves any parcel of land located within one-half mile of a boundary of an adjoining locality of the Commonwealth, then, in addition to the advertising and written notification as required by this section, written notice shall also be given by the local commission, or its representative, at least 10 days before the hearing to the chief administrative officer, or his designee, of such adjoining locality. The second procedural concern was less specific and was over a break in tradition regarding coordination between the two counties in reviewing rezoning applications along the border of the two counties. We are disappointed that this good neighbor policy was not followed for this significantly more impactful project, especially in light of past concerns raised by Spotsylvania County related to the Germanna Wilderness Area Plan, the letter said. Voorhees responded to a request for comment with a second letter dated April 20 written on behalf of the Orange County Board of Supervisors to the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors. In it, he says, Our records indicate that in addition to Orange County and Culpeper County addresses, proper notice of the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors public hearings was mailed to Spotsylvania County property owners and entities, following with a list of private addresses, a homeowners association, the city of Fredericksburg and the Spotsylvania County administrator. However, according to McGinnis, the county did not receive notice prior to April 20. HELENA, Mont. (AP) Montana Republican leaders will vote Wednesday on censuring or expelling lawmaker Zooey Zephyr, a transgender state representative who has been silenced in the House since last week after telling colleagues that if they voted for a bill to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender children they would have blood on their hands. On Tuesday night, Zephyr tweeted a letter she received from House leaders informing her of the plan to consider disciplinary action against her during Wednesday's session. Ive also been told Ill get a chance to speak," Zephyr tweeted. "I will do as I have always done rise on behalf of my constituents, in defense of my community and for democracy itself. Montanas House speaker canceled Tuesday's floor session without explanation, the latest development in a standoff over whether Montana Republicans will let the lawmaker from Missoula speak unless she apologizes for her remarks last week on a gender-affirming care ban proposal. Much like events in the Tennessee Statehouse weeks ago where two lawmakers were expelled after participating in a post-school shooting gun control protest that interrupted proceedings Zephyrs punishment has ignited a firestorm of debate about governance and democracy in politically polarizing times. Republicans are doubling down on their agenda of running roughshod over Montanans rights to free expression, to peaceful protest, to equal justice under the law," House Minority Leader Kim Abbott said of the plan to discipline Zephyr. Zephyrs remarks, and the Republican response, set off a chain of events that culminated in a rally outside the Capitol at noon Monday and seven arrests later that afternoon when protesters packed into the gallery at the Statehouse brought House proceedings to a halt while chanting Let her speak. The scene galvanized both those demanding she be allowed to speak and those saying her actions constitute an unacceptable attack on civil discourse. Such a protest won't be allowed to happen on Wednesday. Republican leaders said in the letter sent to Zephyr that the gallery will be closed to maintain decorum and ensure safety. Speaker Matt Regier did not take questions on Tuesday or explain why lawmakers were not returning to the floor, but in a brief statement called the disruptions a dark day for Montana. Currently, all representatives are free to participate in House debates while following the House rules, Regier told reporters. The choice to not follow the House rules is one that Rep. Zephyr has made. The only person silencing Rep. Zephyr is Rep. Zephyr. The Montana House will not be bullied. Republican Rep. Casey Knudsen, the chair of the House Rules committee, said Tuesday's cancellation gave leadership time to respond to Mondays events. Abbott said she saw leaderships decision to cancel as giving lawmakers some time to regroup. Under Regier's leadership, the House has not allowed Zephyr to speak since last week when she said that those who voted to ban gender-affirming care for young people would have blood on their hands. He and other Republicans said the remark was far outside the boundaries of appropriate civil discourse and demanded she apologize before being allowed to participate in legislative discussions. The events have showcased the growing power of the Montana Freedom Caucus, a group of right-wing lawmakers that has spearheaded the charge to discipline Zephyr. The caucus re-upped its demands and rhetoric Monday. In a statement they said that Zephyr's decision to hoist a microphone toward the gallery's protesters amounted to encouraging an insurrection." Although several protesters resisted law enforcement officers trying to arrest them on Monday, Abbott pushed back at characterizing the activity as violent. She acknowledged it was disruptive, but called the demonstration peaceful. She said public protests were a predictable response to a lawmaker representing more than 10,000 constituents not being allowed to speak and questioned bringing in officers in riot gear to handle the chanting protesters. It was chanting, but it absolutely was not violent," she said. Sometimes extreme measures have a response like this." There were no reports of damage to the building and lawmakers were not threatened. On Monday, Zephyr said the seven arrested were defending democracy and in an earlier speech said that the sequence of events that followed her remarks illustrated how they had struck a chord with those in power. "They picked me in this moment because I said a thing that got through their shield for a second," she told a crowd of supporters gathered on the Capitol steps near a banner that read Democracy dies here. She said she does not intend to apologize and argued that her blood on your hands remark accurately reflected the stakes of such bans for transgender kids. This story has been corrected to show that Rep. Casey Knudsen is not a member of the Montana Freedom Caucus. The partnership between Metropolitan Community College and local schools in Fremont continued this past academic year, with seven Fremont High School senior class students signing on with local industry partners as part of an MCC scholarship program. In a press release issued by officials from Fremont Public Schools, the seven students were recognized and details of the future career endeavors were announced. These students will work part time while taking classes at Metropolitan Community College or Southeast Community College and graduate with a full-time job, stated FPS communications director Hope Pierce in the press release. FPS Board of Education member Todd Hansen, who is also the associate vice president for Student Affairs at MCC, stated in the press release that the program is, a great example of the partnership between Fremont Public Schools, community colleges and local industry to meet our students needs. Business and industry education sponsorships are getting more popular. Employers are making an investment on the front-end to recruit students to develop and expand their business, Hansen stated. Among those honored were: Joscelyn Dake, Ismael Jimenez Juarez, Benny Alfaro, Domingo Perez Ramos, Brayden Reeder, Denver Fincham and Brandon Gallo. FPS officials provided brief biographies of each of the students to the Tribune, including details of their future plans. Here are some snippets on their next steps. Dake graduates with a Board of Governors Scholarship from MCC. She has been part of the Welding Academy at Fremont High School and will continue her education majoring in welding technology at MCC. Jimenez Juarez graduates from Fremont High School with a Board of Governors Scholarship from MCC. Juarez will seek a degree in automotive technology. Alfaro signed on with Sid Dillon as an automotive service technician. He also received a Board of Governors Scholarship from MCC. He will seek a degree in automotive technology and continue his career with Sid Dillon. Domingo Perez Ramos signed with Sid Dillon as an automotive service technician. Ramos will be taking classes at MCC toward automotive technology and applying that knowledge with his work at Sid Dillon. Ramos has taken a variety of industrial technology courses at Fremont High School. Sid Dillon teaches students that the car business isnt just for selling or fixing cars, there is much more to it, such as contract management, marketing and finance. Brayden Reeder has signed on with Platte Valley Equipment as a diesel technician in the JDTech Program. He plans to enroll at Southeast Community College in Milford. Fincham, a Nebraska State SkillsUSA Champion Welder, has signed with S2 Rolloffs as a part of the companys Repair Maintenance Scholarship as a welder. Fincham was in the Welding Academy at Fremont High School. Like other students, he has already begun his education at MCC and is expecting to graduate in November with an associate degree in welding technology. Gallo signed with Lozier to learn precision machinery trade. A former participant in Precision Machining at the State SkillsUSA competition, he placed third in the state competition and was the State Champion in 2022. He aims to earn an associate degree in precision machine technology. In the press release, Mark Williams, director of counseling at FHS, touted the program and partnerships. Our community businesses are giving life-changing opportunities to these students and these are not the only companies that offer this type of opportunity. Our community employers see the talent that our young people possess and want to work to build on their skills, Williams was quoted in the press release. The Fremont Police Department lost a well-respected veteran officer last week after Detective Matt Hultquist resigned from the department to take a new job with the Saunders County Sheriffs Office. According to a letter from the citys law firm sent to the Tribune in response to a public records request, Hultquists last day of employment with the FPD was Friday, April 21. Hultquist had worked at the FPD for more than 26 years. In a social media posting, officials from the Saunders County Sheriffs Office announced that Hultquist had officially joined the agency as an investigator as of Monday, April 24. (Hultquist) also works in cooperation with federal agencies on large-scale investigations, Saunders County officials stated in the post. We are extremely excited to have an asset like him joining our team at the sheriffs office. Hultquist was hired at the Fremont Police Department in 1996 after he graduated from the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center. In 2000, he was promoted to detective, and in FPD annual reports dating to 2019, he was listed as the highest tenured of three detectives at the department. According to his biography, Hultquist worked in the property control room of the FPD, served as an agent on the III Corps Drug Task Force, worked in the FPD drug unit and was also DEA and Drug Lab certified. Hultquists departure is the latest resignation from the FPD. The FPDs lone mental health co-responder is also no longer employed by the city. Mental Health Co-Responder Officer Rachel Wesely left the department in March. Her last day of work was March 3, according to another letter sent to the Tribune by the citys legal counsel in response to a different public records request. For the last eight years, Tammy Leffler was on a special assignment. Lefflers mission was to care for her husband, Harland, a Vietnam veteran with service-related dementia. Harland suffered for years with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. When the Fremont man died April 8, his widow faced financial uncertainty. At 59, she is too young to draw her own Social Security. Shed quit her job 10 years earlier and has spent the last eight as her husbands caregiver. But Leffler learned help is available for widows like her through the Veterans Administration. So shes applying for Dependent Indemnity Compensation (DIC), supplemental health insurance and also property tax relief via a Homestead Exemption. If it wasnt for this, Id be in a tough spot, she said. Many veterans widows face an income reduction after their spouse, whod been receiving Veterans Administration compensation, dies. Thats why Dodge County Veterans Service Officer Mark Schneck wants the public to know surviving spouses may be eligible for benefits they previously might not have been able to receive. Every couple of years, theres more advantageous legislation for surviving spouses or veterans. What may have been denied in decades past may now be approved, Schneck said. When a veteran dies, Schneck applies for a month-of-death check for the surviving spouse along with a $300 burial benefit and $750 grave plot allowance. But what may have been several years or decades of VA compensation can terminate in some cases. This is where DIC may help some widows. They can apply for DIC assuming the veterans death was caused by an illness associated with Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. These illnesses include: ischemic heart disease, diabetes, Parkinsons, lung, bladder or prostate cancer, non-Hodgkins lymphoma or chronic B cell leukemia or multiple myeloma. The VA knows that the Institute of Medicine has determined herbicide exposure will cause those diseases, Schneck said. Qualifying spouses can receive about $1,400 a month for their remainder of their lives, he said. These surviving spouses also would qualify for a free, supplemental health insurance benefit called CHAMPVA for the rest of their lives, and a Homestead Exemption, where no property tax would be collected on the surviving spouses primary residence. These benefits arent influenced by the surviving spouses current or past employment. Household income is irrelevant, he said. Schneck also noted that if a veteran died of an Agent Orange-related illness years ago, his office can still apply for the VAs DIC benefit. Schneck will assist in obtaining medical records that would support the benefits claim. In addition, benefits dating back to an original claim may be possible if PACT Act legislation permits an award of what previously had been denied. For example, a surviving spouse may have been denied a benefit after the Vietnam veteran died of bladder cancer. Schneck will appeal this denial based on recent legislation that will now allow the widow to receive accrued benefits as well as the DIC. He said widows are allowed to remarry after age 55, while continuing to receive the deceased veterans benefit. Schneck noted that the DIC is only available to a small population of widows. However, other widows whose husbands died under normal circumstances age-related or otherwise may be eligible for a survivors pension if their late spouse served during a time of war. This is almost an uninterrupted period of war except for the late 70s and 80s, he said, adding that Desert Storm began in 1989. The Survivors Pension isnt a retirement program that a widows husband contributed to, Schneck said. Instead, its a needs-based program when out-of-pocket medical expenses deplete the widows income, therefore causing her to fall below the poverty line. This assumes that her bank account is at $150,000 or less as this program is not intended preserve family wealth, he said. For instance, adult children may want to put the widow on the Survivors Pension so they can keep farm land. The VA frowns on that, he noted. Surviving spouses also are eligible to go to a Nebraska Veterans Home, which has locations in Norfolk, Bellevue, Kearney and Scottsbluff. Schneck said, however, the waiting list can be long since these homes primarily are designed for the veterans. To access these benefits, contact Schneck at 402-727-2719 to schedule an appointment. Schneck believes the benefits can help surviving spouses. It can offer financial peace of mind, he said. Thats important to widows like Leffler, whose husband was a private first class in the U.S. Army. Harland Leffler served with the 7th Battalion, 9th artillery (1965-67). Except for basic training, he was in Vietnam. Leffler and her husband had been together since 1987 and married in 1995. He was a guy that was liked by everybody, she said. Harlands dementia was diagnosed early and testing indicated it was service-related. His spouse would care for him at home. He wanted to be at home, she said. He didnt want to be in a nursing home, so I promised him that he wouldnt. Harland had spoken little of his time in Vietnam after hed come back from the war, but revealed more in his last years. We learned more and more as he went through the dementia, she said. He relived it (his time in combat) over and over again. He went through hell the last couple of years. The whole family did. He spent the last eight days of his life on hospice. During that time, he was presented with a Quilt of Valor. Leffler said she had all of her spouses four sons and their wives and 18 grandchildren come to see him. He pretty much knew us all until the day he died, she said. Family members took turns spending time and talking to him. On Harlands last day, one of his sons approached her. Tammy, I think its time, the son said. She tenderly recalls those moments. I gave him a hug and heard his heartbeat for the last time and the boys put his arms around me and he passed, she said. He died with his family all around him, so it was a good send off. Harland Leffler was 76. His widow said the visitation was beautiful. Tons of people were there and the funeral was huge, she added. People at Harlands visitation and funeral told his widow that they were happy to have known him. Nieces and nephews said he was their favorite uncle. Leffler said shed been told four honor guard veterans would provide the rifle salute. I walked out the door and there were 10 guys standing there, she said, adding that active duty military personnel assisted. Weeks after her spouses death, Leffler understands the financial strain that can ensue. She anticipates receiving the DIC, a $2,000 service-connected burial benefit, supplemental health insurance and Homestead Exemption. Leffler said she knows widows who dont know about these benefits and are struggling and could really use this help, so shes been telling them about it. And shes facing life as a widow. Everybody says youll make it through it, she said. And yeah, I will. Ive got a good support group. Gov. Jim Pillen on Tuesday signed into law a bill authorizing Nebraskans to carry concealed handguns without a permit or gun safety training while praising Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, its sponsor, for his "grit and determination" in gaining its enactment. Pillen said it was "a great day for our Constitution." The U.S. Constitution guarantees Americans "the right to keep and bear arms," the governor said, and Tuesday signified a day of "promises made, promises kept." The bill (LB77) sends a message that "Nebraska as a state supports the Second Amendment," Pillen said. The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed," although the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that "like most rights, the right secured by the Second Amendment is not unlimited." A couple dozen state senators joined a scattering of law enforcement officers and gun advocates at the signing ceremony. Brewer's bill was passed by the Legislature on a 33-14 vote, ending a seven-year effort by the retired U.S. Army colonel to gain sufficient legislative support to enact a bill. Brewer, wearing a red, white and blue tie, thanked his colleagues "for being there for me." Later, during an interview outside the legislative chamber, Brewer said he welcomed the day with "a lot of relief." "We had to change the proposal so many times and keep going back to the players," including law enforcement officers and representatives of the National Rifle Association, to fashion the legislation, Brewer said. "My district and most of Nebraska outside of Lincoln and Omaha is pretty positive" about the new law, he said. When the bill was enacted by the Legislature, negative votes were cast by eight metropolitan Omaha senators, five Lincoln senators and Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont. The bill was opposed by the cities of Lincoln and Omaha. Photos: Jim Pillen marks 100 days in governor's office Nebraska lawmakers advanced a bill Tuesday that would require gas stations in the state to offer gasoline blended with up to 15% ethanol. LB562 cleared the first of three rounds in a 32-1 vote, after a total of eight hours of debate. Supporters said the bill would help Nebraska farmers; opponents described it as government overreach. Corn is one of the largest components of Nebraskas agriculture industry, and ethanol makes up one of the biggest shares of that. According to the Nebraska Corn Board, the states 24 ethanol plants use more than 750 million bushels of corn annually. The plants are able to produce over 2 billion gallons of the fuel, and Nebraska is the nations second-largest ethanol producer. Even so, state Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams said, Nebraska is ranked near the bottom in the U.S. in terms of ethanol usage, with much of its ethanol being exported to other states. Dorn, who introduced LB562, said requiring that 15% ethanol fuel top be offered at gas stations will benefit the farmers who produce the fuel. We should be showing that we can support our farmers, Dorn said. Many gas stations in Nebraska already offer gasoline blended with up to 10% ethanol. Several opponents said the requirements in LB562 amount to a government mandate on businesses; Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha said the conservative lawmakers who support the bill are hypocritical. We say we dont like big government, Wayne said. We say we dont like mandates. But we do when it fits us. Although the only dissenting vote to advance the bill came from Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, a Democrat, a number of Republican lawmakers were present but not voting. They included Speaker of the Legislature John Arch and Sens. Carolyn Bosn, Ben Hansen, Jana Hughes, Merv Riepe and Brad von Gillern. Dorn pushed back against the criticism that LB562 was a government mandate, noting the bill contains exemptions for businesses that would need to spend more than $15,000 to make the changes and those who sell low amounts of fuel per year, among other provisions. Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings said he did see the bill as a mandate but still supports it as a conservative because it will help Nebraskas biggest industry and will give drivers more choices at the pump. Other supporters said that more ethanol production in Nebraska would create jobs and reduce the price of gas. They also said it is a cleaner form of energy that will reduce the states dependence on oil. Anytime we can agree with the EPA, I think its a good day, said Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner. Hunt took issue with several of those arguments. She said that mandating the sale of 15% ethanol fuel could drive up its price and that ethanol production uses high amounts of water and other energy. She also said that several lawmakers, including Ibach, should file conflict of interest statements because they hail from farming families that could benefit financially from the bill. Photos: 2023 Nebraska legislative session 010523-owh-new-lege-em01.jpg 010523-owh-new-lege-em02.jpg 010523-owh-new-lege-em04.jpg 010523-owh-new-lege-em05.jpg 010523-owh-new-lege-em06.jpg 010523-owh-new-lege-em65 010523-owh-new-lege-em37 010523-owh-new-lege-em38 010523-owh-new-lege-em49 010523-owh-new-lege-em60 010523-owh-new-lege-em45 010523-owh-new-lege-em39 010523-owh-new-lege-em48 010523-owh-new-lege-em55 010523-owh-new-lege-em59 010523-owh-new-lege-em43 010523-owh-new-lege-em42 010523-owh-new-lege-em50 010523-owh-new-lege-em53 010523-owh-new-lege-em46 010523-owh-new-lege-em40 010523-owh-new-lege-em47 010523-owh-new-lege-em51 010523-owh-new-lege-em61 010523-owh-new-lege-em64 010523-owh-new-lege-em52 010523-owh-new-lege-em56 010523-owh-new-lege-em62 010523-owh-new-lege-em63 010523-owh-new-lege-em58 010523-owh-new-lege-em44 010523-owh-new-lege-em41 010523-owh-new-lege-em54 010523-owh-new-lege-em36 010523-owh-new-lege-em31 010523-owh-new-lege-em30 010523-owh-new-lege-em32 010523-owh-new-lege-em33 010523-owh-new-lege-em35 010523-owh-new-lege-em34 010523-owh-new-lege-em24 010523-owh-new-lege-em27 010523-owh-new-lege-em26 010523-owh-new-lege-em28 010523-owh-new-lege-em25 010523-owh-new-lege-em29 010523-owh-new-lege-em23 010523-owh-new-lege-em18 010523-owh-new-lege-em21 010523-owh-new-lege-em15 010523-owh-new-lege-em17 010523-owh-new-lege-em22 010523-owh-new-lege-em19 010523-owh-new-lege-em16 010523-owh-new-lege-em20 010523-owh-new-lege-em12 010523-owh-new-lege-em09 010523-owh-new-lege-em14 010523-owh-new-lege-em13 010523-owh-new-lege-em07 010523-owh-new-lege-em11 010523-owh-new-lege-em08 010523-owh-new-lege-em03 010523-owh-new-lege-em10 010523-owh-new-lege-em03.jpg There are 14 standing committees here in Lincoln that are assigned legislation based on the subject matter found in the language of each bill. These committees are able to prioritize legislation that is then scheduled ahead of other bills waiting for debate. Because of the limited time left in the session and constant filibusters, senators are coming up with creative solutions. We are working together to create amendments for the priority bills to include a combination of non-controversial issues that were heard by the committees. Last week, we passed both the Business and Labor Committee and the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committees priority bills through 16 hours of filibuster. The Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee merged 15 bills into AM 1364. This involves renewal periods for business entity licenses, the authorization for electronic delivery of certain health benefit plan documents, the requirements for increased coverage and a variety of topics regarding the Nebraska Banking Act. It also caps the price of insulin for insured Nebraskans at $35 for a 30-day supply. I joined the debate in a conversation with Senator Bostar who brought language that requires insurance companies to cover mammograms and colonoscopies. While the intention is to encourage health, I have hesitations when the proposal consists of regulating the free market. Our government has controlled areas like healthcare, insurance, education and housing for years and it is not by chance that these have become the most expensive aspects of life. If we add more regulations for insurance, the procedures may appear to be cheaper. However, history shows that hospitals will raise their prices and force insurance rates to become more expensive. Eventually, the cost falls back on the individual. The Business and Labor Committee put together seven pieces of legislation for their final priority bill. These would change provisions in the Rural Workforce Housing Investment Act and the Nebraska Workers Compensation Act. It also arranges protection for critical infrastructure utility workers during emergencies, promotes job retention incentive programs, eliminates unnecessary fees for out-of-state contractors and reimburses first responders for the cost of mental health examinations. Moving forward on these two amended bills will be beneficial for Nebraskans in all walks of life. There was also a monumental vote taken last week to pass LB 77, sending it to the governors desk to be signed into law. Our state will now be a constitutional carry state. Safety courses and permit systems are still available along with background checks. But this confirms that Nebraska values the environment that is created when law-abiding citizens are able to exercise their constitutional rights. If you have questions or comments, please contact Carson Clayton or Ellie Stangl in the District 16 office at (402) 471-2728 or email me at bhansen@leg.ne.gov. To follow along with the session, please visit nebraskalegislature.gov or you may watch the live stream when available at nebraskapublicmedia.org. Shreeya Roy couldnt stay silent when two classmates in her Delaware elementary school bullied her friend from India about the ethnic foods she ate for lunch reporting it to her teacher, which resulted in an end to the bullying and an apology to the friend from the classmates. She counts standing up for a friend as a proud moment and now tries to use her voice to help others whenever possible. She has improved her advocacy skills through involvement in speech and debate and has joined Discovery Canyon High Schools chapter of the No Place for Hate. The national anti-bias program of the Anti-Defamation League that tries to build a learning community of inclusivity, respect and equity at 1,800 U.S. schools. Im still proud because I was able to change someones life for the better. Im glad I chose to speak up for someone who didnt speak up for themselves. Roy said in her application for The Gazettes Best and Brightest scholarship. While speech and debate have been a big part of Roys life in high school, science is her first love, first cultivated by a grandmother in India who taught her when she was a child about parts of a flower by dissecting the plant. Roy completed a summer internship last year at the BioFrontiers Institute at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and a summer program focused on science and technology at Yale University; founded an Inventors Club at Discovery Canyon; is co-president of Medicinal Youths, an organization that helps inform high school students about health care careers, and qualified for the Future Health Professionals International Leadership Conference in Biotechnology. She started the Inventors Club to promote engaging STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) outreach to younger students, Roy said in her application. She cited an example in which students from the club volunteered to operate a table at a local STEM event, where they shared information about targeted muscle reinnervation and displayed an interactive model of a prosthetic arm that was a hit with all participants, leaving them filled with amazement and curiosity. Roy also has volunteered as a mentor in her school during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping students improve their study skills that had eroded while students were learning remotely. In one case, she found that a student was distracted by doodling instead of taking notes, brainstormed with her and realized she didnt have a creative outlet. Roy recommended the student dedicate time to creating art to limit how much they doodled. Shreeyas passion for science is evident in her pursuit of science based extracurricular activities, Kay Snider, one of Roys science teachers at Discovery Canyon, said in her letter of recommendation. Her natural curiosity and thoughtful approach will serve her well in her future course of study. Roy has been accepted for admission by both University of Michigan and San Diego State University and once she decides between the colleges, she will major in biomedical engineering for a possible career in research and development for pharmaceuticals, vaccines or cancer delivery systems. Its not surprising that a new bipartisan poll found that the Denver school board is deeply unpopular, given the boards collective inability to focus on what matters most at any given moment. The polls 410 respondents skewed older, whiter, and more conservative than the city as a whole. Then again, so do the people who show up to vote in mayoral and school board elections. So the two incumbents up for re-election Auontai Anderson and Scott Baldermann would be wise to take the poll results seriously. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of Denverites who responded believe DPS board members are only interested in their political ambitions, and not in improving the education outcomes of DPS kids, including 70% of parents. Just under 60% of respondents had an unfavorable view of the board, while 36% viewed the board favorably. And a plurality of respondents 39% support a mass resignation of the seven board members, while 33% opposed, and 28% either had no opinion or neither supported nor opposed. No poll questions focused specifically on Baldermann, who represents southeast Denver. But a question about whether voters should reelect the 24-year-old Anderson, a citywide board member who has been a lightning rod during his almost four years on the board, found only 9% support for returning him for a second four-year term. Fifty-six percent said it was time for someone new, while 36% were undecided. The poll has a margin of error of 4.83%. More troubling for Anderson was that 42% of Black poll respondents said he should not be re-elected, with just 20% of Black respondents saying he should get a second term. Latino respondents were more negative about re-electing him 67% want him gone than white voters 55% oppose his re-election. Focusing on popularity by race might seem distasteful to some, but its necessary given that Anderson has consistently put race at the center of his frequent public and social media pronouncements. He is an outspoken champion for children of color, and especially Black children. This might make me unpopular in some circles, but I view Anderson as a politician with significant potential. He is committed, hard-working, and unafraid to take unpopular positions, even if it means alienating powerful constituencies, like the Denver Classroom Teachers Association. Those are all attributes lacking in too many contemporary political figures. Where Anderson still has ample room for growth is in learning how to harness his ambition and ego and steer them toward productive ends. Too often he seems to crave the spotlight above all else, and to feel he has to get in the last word after a disagreement had seemingly ended (see for, example, his most recent dust-up with board President Xochitl Gaytan). As criticism of the board has mounted since the March East High School shootings, and calls for mass resignations have gathered steam, Anderson has intensified his allegations that much of the criticism of him is race-based. There is no question that he has been the target of reprehensible racist attacks on social media, and I have no doubt that some of his unpopularity results from his being a proudly outspoken young Black man. That is deeply unfortunate. But he does himself no favors when he lets his youth and inexperience cloud his better judgment. One recent example: He posted, as he often does, a screenshot of a vile, racist Tweet aimed at him. This time, he added the comment: This is the type of stuff Van (Schoales) would endorse! Schoales, a white man (who, full disclosure, is an old personal friend of mine), has been a Denver school leader, education reform advocate, and local policy wonk for more than two decades. He has never been shy about publicly expressing his opinions. No one who is thinking clearly would call him a racist. When Anderson was called out for his Tweet attack on Schoales by, among others, former Colorado House Speaker Terrance Carroll, who is Black, Anderson doubled down. Respectfully, Mr. Speaker his ongoing antics against the (board of education) encourage this racist behavior. The antics Anderson was referring to were Schoales repeated calls on social media for the school board to resign en masse. Im not much of a Tweeter, but I had to respond to that: So criticism encourages racist attacks? Therefore everyone who disagrees with you should just shut up or risk being labeled a racist-enabler? Im sorry, Auontai, but that is so wrong-headed I dont even know where to start. And I suspect you know better. The election is a little more than six months away. Anderson, having reportedly alienated the Denver Classroom Teachers Association by virtue of some of his more enlightened votes, will have to scramble to find a new base of support if he wants to get within shouting distance of re-election. Given his recent actions, and the new poll, he has his work cut out for him. Alan Gottlieb is editor of Denver-based public education watchdog boardhawk.org. Gottlieb covered Denver Public Schools as a newspaper reporter in the mid-1990s, worked as an education program officer for The Piton Foundation and co-founded Education News Colorado and Chalkbeat. A highly decorated Air Force Academy graduate and retired fighter pilot visited her alma mater on Tuesday to share her experience with dozens of military and strategic studies cadets, many of whom are set to graduate and commission in a few weeks. Retired Col. Kim KC Campbell, a Distinguished Flying Cross recipient and 1997 academy graduate, shared some of the difficult lessons she has learned as a fighter pilot, mother and military spouse. The former fighter pilot is a familiar face at the academy, which was Campbells final active-duty assignment before she retired in 2021. And she visits the campus often, drawn in by nostalgia, gratitude and a sense of duty, she said. I will always have a special place in my heart for the Air Force Academy, she said. I think theres something here that I feel connected with, even as a graduate. This is an opportunity for me to give back to an institution that gave so much to me, that taught me so much about myself, and about overcoming challenges. Campbell spoke of the pressures she faced as one of only a few female fighter pilots, the importance of training even when it seems repetitive and boring and the leadership lessons she learned at the academy and beyond. You will all make mistakes, she told the cadets. You will all fail at some point. Whats most important is what you do after you fail. She also spoke about courage, saying its completely normal and, at times, necessary to be brave and feel fear at the same time. Courage is about being scared and doing it anyway, she said. Campbell knows what shes talking about. On April 7, 2003, Campbell was deployed in Iraq when she was summoned to provide air support for ground troops under enemy attack. She dropped several rockets on the enemy, but the tail of her A-10 Warthog aircraft was hit by a surface-to-air missile. With her plane severely damaged, unable to climb or turn, Campbell switched the plane from hydraulics to manual flight control mode as she weighed the decision to land or eject. Operating the battle-scarred plane on old-school cranks and cables, she managed the long flight back to friendly territory in Kuwait. Sign Up for free: Military Brief Your weekly local update on local military news and events, sent straight to your inbox. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. This month, on the 20th anniversary of what she calls that moment over Baghdad, Campbell released a book, titled Flying in the Face of Fear: A Fighter Pilots Lessons on Leading with Courage, that imparts lessons she learned from that terrifying experience, and other hard-earned wisdom she acquired during 1,800 flight hours in the A-10 Warthog, more than 100 combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan, and 24 years of active-duty service. Campbell presented cadets with copies of her book, autographed and inscribed with what has become her mantra: Lead with courage! Its a real honor to host Colonel Campbell and welcome her back to the academy and the Military and Strategic Studies Department, said Col. Robert Grant of the academy's Military and Strategic Studies Department. Her story and experiences connect the long blue line of academy graduates, reminding us what it means to be dedicated to service of our country, the need for continuous personal and professional improvement, and serving with excellence. Cadets said they felt inspired by Campbells brief speech. I think today has given me a look at the obviously complex defense challenges that were going to be facing after we graduate, said Cadet 1st Class Catherine Bakken. Its much appreciated from all of us, and I think its really great for the lower classes to hear from her. There are more (female pilots) now than there were when she went through, said Cadet 1st Class Lauren Brashear, who hopes to become a fighter pilot herself. But there still arent that many, and Ill be facing some similar circumstances where Ill have to lead with courage and fight through my fears, and rely on my training like she said. Cadet 1st Class Matthew Miller said Campbell showed him what a determined, well-trained Air Force pilot is capable of. Colonel Campbell painted the picture of the ultimate goal what success looks like, Miller said. And she showed me what I need to do in order to prepare for the future, which we know is uncertain. Campbell said the academy hasnt seen the last of her, by any means. Returning to the academy always has a special meaning for me. This is where my career started and Im passionate about helping to inspire this next generation of leaders, she said. Im excited for the opportunities they have ahead of them, and have full confidence they will rise to the challenge. Prescribed burns at the Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station have been postponed because of rain Wednesday. A new date for the burns has not yet been determined, according to a news release from Peterson Space Force Base. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will burn 24 piles of forest slash in a controlled burn at the station on Cheyenne Mountain. The slash has been collected over two years as part of a forest health and habitat improvement program. Officials said the burns may create visible smoke in southern Colorado Springs. The burn will be closely monitored with support from the Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station Natural Resources Program. Denver police have identified two people killed Monday at the American Elm restaurant in the West Highland neighborhood and are asking for the public's help solving the crime. Police said Emerall Vaughn-Dahler and Ignacio "Nacho" Gutierrez Morales were killed inside the business, located near North Raleigh Street and West 38th Avenue in northwest Denver. Authorities did not provide the victims' ages, but a fundraising page said Vaughn-Dahler was 34 and Gutierrez Morales was 58. Vaughn-Dahler is listed at the restaurant's general manager on American Elm's website. Police first announced the death investigation just before 1 p.m. Monday, then updated at 3:30 p.m. that it was a double homicide investigation. No details have been released about what led to the deaths. American Elm on Monday announced it would be closed the remainder of the week. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. The American Elm team is completely devastated by todays tragic events," the company said in a statement Monday. "We are focused on providing our staff mental health support and will be closed for the rest of the week. We are cooperating fully with the Denver Police Department in their ongoing investigation and will not be providing any further comment at this time out of respect for the families and loved ones involved. A Go Fund Me account had been set up to support the victims and their families. The page said Vaughn-Dahler is survived by her son, Michael, age 12, and husband, Andrew. Born in St. Johns, Arizona, Vaughn-Dahler grew up in St. Johns, San Diego and Arvada, according to the fundraising page. The page said she spent her career in the Denver hospitality scene and she joined the American Elm Team in June 2021 as a server. "Through hard work and dedication, (she) quickly rose to become General Manager. She was earnest, hard working and compassionate, had a kind and gentle spirit. Above all she was a loving mother, selfless and accepting of all, no judgements," the page said. The page said Gutierrez Morales, who was born in Puebla, Mexico was "extremely well-respected" in Denvers culinary community, and that he worked at Guard and Grace and Highland Tavern before coming to American Elm as a prep cook. "He is survived by his 3 children who all love him very much (Cinthia 36 years-old; Johnathan 32 years-old; and Alex 18 years-old). Nacho was very caring, humble and loved by many. If he had a chance to help someone he was always there. He was quiet and always there to listen," the page said. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for up to a $2,000 reward. In a landmark moment in Colorado Springs' move toward cleaner electricity generation, six new natural gas generating units now stand where coal once piled up near the closed Martin Drake Power Plant downtown. "The utilities industry is changing by the day from market costs and technology to regulatory mandates and deadlines," Colorado Springs Utilities Board Chairman Dave Donelson said, in part, in a news release Tuesday. "... I'm excited to commemorate the completion of these natural gas generating units because they represent the balance that we strive for managing cost impacts and maintaining reliability, while also delivering clean energy." Colorado Springs Utilities began installing the modular units in September 2021 that officials say will ensure better energy reliability and resiliency for customers. The new turbines will run between 5% and 30% of the time to help fill peak demand on the community's hottest and coldest days and can be started up in minutes, as opposed to the several hours' startup time required by a coal plant, Utilities spokesman Steve Berry said Tuesday. "Thats really important in managing our electric grid moving forward. ... We want reliable natural gas services in our portfolio so that as technology improves, as battery storage improves, as we get more access to solar and wind (power), then we can carefully make that jump and we're not instituting more onerous financial impacts on our customers," he said. The new units cost just over $200 million including the price of the units and the labor to install them Berry said. They produce low emissions and up to 167 megawatts of power while covering only about 5 acres compared to Drake's 50 acres, he said. Low emissions outputs are a big advantage because the city must meet evolving state emissions mandates, he said. The new turbines also bring Colorado Springs closer to its goal of reducing carbon emissions at least 80% by 2030 and 90% by 2050. The new units can also run on natural gas and diesel, allowing Utilities to provide an alternate fuel source on-site if there are any issues with natural gas supply. This helps insulate customers a bit from huge spikes in natural gas costs resulting from supply shortages or interruptions, Berry said. Eventually, officials will relocate the six modular units out of downtown to other parts of the utility's electric grid "to maintain system resiliency and reliability," the news release states. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. The city is also forging ahead with a year-plus plan to demolish the aging, nearly 100-year-old plant, one of the last remaining urban power plants in the country. Independence Demolition, an Ohio-based company with a Denver office, will oversee the plant's physical breakdown and removal of its old internal equipment, stacks and buildings. Officials expect demolition to happen in eight phases, with work set to begin in June and wrapping up by the end of 2024. Closing the coal-fired plant and installing the new modular gas units are steps the city-owned utility is taking not only to reduce carbon emissions but also to add renewable resources like solar and wind power to its portfolio and incorporate new technologies like battery storage into the electric grid. For example, Utilities plans to bring the 175-megawatt Pike Solar project online by 2024. When it is built, it will be the largest solar facility on Utilities' electric grid, the release said. Officials estimate renewable energy will account for 27% of Utilities' entire energy portfolio after the Pike Solar project is completed. By 2025 Utilities also plans to add between 100 to 200 megawatts of battery storage, the first of its kind on the system, officials said in the release. Battery storage can help increase the energy grid's flexibility as new power resources are added to Utilities' portfolio, they said. The new natural gas generating units can also produce power for a profit on the open market, Berry said. In August, Utilities joined the Southwest Power Pool to allow for those sales, as well as the ability to tap into that market as needed to purchase lower-cost energy as opposed to the higher-priced and volatile open market, he said. Joining that pool saved the utility $2.1 million in five months between August and December, Berry said. The first mental health professional to testify in the murder trial of Letecia Stauch, accused of killing her 11-year-old stepson, Gannon Stauch, faced a tense period of questioning Tuesday as the defense contested the validity of her assessment of Stauchs sanity during incarceration. Christine Mohr, a clinical and forensic psychologist who oversaw psychiatric care in the El Paso County jail in 2020, conducted Stauchs initial mental health assessment on March 5, 2020, shortly after Stauchs arrest three days prior. Her testimony was highly anticipated in a trial hinged on the state of Stauchs sanity at the time she allegedly stabbed and shot her stepson, hid his body in a suitcase and disposed of his body in Florida. While the prosecution hopes to convince a jury the 39-year-old woman not only killed Gannon, but knew what she was doing and tried to cover up the crime, the defense has opted not to dispute crime evidence but has instead argued that Stauch had a psychotic crack at the time of the killing, according to an evaluation by a defense-hired expert who found Stauch insane. Mohr began her testimony by explaining that she normally puts all inmates accused of first-degree murder, including Stauch, on suicide watch as a cautionary practice for their safety, but that Stauch appeared very calm (and) polite and carried lucid, fluid conversation. Mohr testified that Stauch never exhibited overt symptoms of dissociative disorder or bipolar disorder, such as glancing around the room, talking to herself or having lapses in memory, and that she never referred to herself by a different name or spoke in a different accent. When asked about any history of mental illness, Stauch only reported general anxiety disorder and did not mention any trauma from molestation during her childhood or previous commitments to hospitals, Mohr said. She said Stauch did claim emotional abuse in her marriage to her then-husband Al Stauch, who would tell her she was never a good stepmom. Mohr said Stauch would often blurt out information about her case voluntarily, and on March 9 told Mohr that she had control of her brain and wanted to be an advocate for herself. Mentally, Im fine, Stauch said, according to the testimony. Im not guilty, the truth will come out. Mohr also said she believed she was the first to tell Stauch that Gannons body had been found, but did not include where. She said Stauch was a bit tearful and had a "normal, but limited" reaction, and that Stauch responded that she had never been to Florida. Prosecutor Dave Young said he believed Stauch would not have known to mention Florida if she had not been involved in Gannons disappearance, given that Mohr was the first to inform her of Gannons death. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. According to Mohr, Stauch began to announce to jail staff that she was going to become manic and impulsive, take on different personalities and pull out her hair. But Mohr said that people truly experiencing dissociation rarely know when a shift in personality will occur, and that Stauchs increasingly erratic behavior coincided with her beginning to bring issue to her competency in court. During cross-examination, defense attorney Will Cook seemed to link the quality of care at the jail under Mohrs leadership to a 2020 lawsuit against the Sheriffs Office and her employer, for-profit jail medical care provider, Wellpath. The lawsuit was filed after COVID-19 sickened more than 1,000 people incarcerated there. Cook seemed to imply that Stauchs behavior could have been in response to that care, and said that her 23-hour-per-day confinement made for terrible conditions for properly conducting mental health evaluations. They dont act in jail like they would out in the street, would they? he asked. Cook also asked Mohr if, because Stauch was checked on every 15 minutes, it was possible that shifts in her personality in her cell went undetected. He also questioned the validity of her ruling out dissociative identity disorder within a 30-40-minute analysis. Mohr said it was "possible" those shifts could go undetected, but said that people with the disorder would be likely to self-report to address lower quality of life, and noted that no one who knew Stauch ever said they had witnessed such behavior. Tensions grew toward the end of the day, when Young provided a jail log showing no attorneys had visited Stauch before she was informed of Gannon's death. Cook said that virtual visits are not counted on official jail visitor records and objected during Young's presentation. When Young retorted, Judge Gregory Werner silenced the courtroom. "Stop it, both of you," Werner said, telling the attorneys that they would only be allowed to address him, not each other. After the jury was dismissed, Cook said he would like to add at least one more witness - possibly an attorney who met with Stauch virtually ahead of her assessment with Mohr - to the defense's list next week. Werner expressed concern that such a move may violate attorney-client privilege, and that he would have to meet with Stauch personally before granting that request. Jefferson County Sheriff's investigators arrested three 18-year-old Arvada residents in connection with the death of a woman who was killed when a heavy rock was tossed into her moving vehicle, authorities said on Wednesday. The suspects Joseph Koenig, 18, Nicholas Mitch Karol-Chik, 18, and Zachary Kwak, 18 were arrested at their homes late Tuesday or early Wednesday. They are being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, extreme indifference and additional potential charges as determined by the First Judicial District Attorneys Office. Joseph Koenigs father, Mark Koenig, was also arrested Tuesday night after allegedly getting in the way when deputies approached the family home as they attempted to secure a search warrant, said Jefferson County Sheriff's spokesperson Jacki Kelley,. He was arrested for obstruction, said Kelley. The three suspects are scheduled to be advised of the charges against them at the Jefferson County Courthouse Thursday morning. "Ultimately, mobile device forensics and supporting information from the public helped lead to the identification and arrest of the suspects," Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said in news release. Alexa Bartell, 20, of Arvada was talking to a friend on the phone in her yellow Chevy Spark late April 19 when she suddenly went silent. Bartells friend tracked down her phone and drove to the location on Indiana Street and found Bartell dead inside her car, which was off the roadway in a field. Her death was part of a string of rock attacks that night. The incidents began at around 10 p.m. on April 19, ended just after midnight April 20 and included five vehicles. Other drivers whose vehicles were hit suffered from minor injuries. The arrests were made with assistance from Westminster Police, Arvada Police, and the Boulder County Sheriffs Office, according to the news release. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Investigators "worked around the clock to identify and arrest the suspects responsible for Alexas death," the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said. "While it remains unclear at this time which suspect(s) were driving throughout the spree, the suspect vehicle is a black 2016 Chevy Silverado," the office said. "All three are suspected of throwing rocks and all three are currently facing charges." A family friend expressed relief Wednesday morning at the news of the arrests. "We are grateful for the work the police have done," said Eric Peterson, Alexa's boss at Commercial Flooring Services in Denver. "They don't get enough credit for what they do behind the scenes." The company put up $15,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects, in addition to the $2,000 from Crime Stoppers. "This opens the door for more healing," Peterson said. "We've been wondering who did it and what happened. It doesn't take away the devastating loss. We remember the great times and the smiles and the laughter." A friend of Karol-Chik, who worked at a lawn service company with him, said he was "shocked" to learn of the arrest. He asked not to be identified, as he hadn't gotten permission from the family. "We're all very alarmed and worried about him," the friend said. "I would never have expected anything like this." Karol-Chik apparently graduated early from Ralston Valley High School, did courses online and worked fulltime, according to the friend. "He went to work all last week and showed no signs of being worried or upset," the friend said. A Jefferson County Sheriff's spokesperson said last week that large landscaping-style rocks were used in the attacks. A home believed to be owned by Zachary Kwak's family, according to public records, sits nestled near the foothills in Arvada, just a 10-minute drive from where Bartell's body was found in a field on Indiana Street. There was no answer at the door late Wednesday morning. Denver Gazette reporter Julia Cardi contributed to this story. MOSCOW (Reuters) -The United States gave JPMorgan permission to process payments for agricultural exports via the Russian Agricultural Bank, but the arrangement was no substitute for reconnecting the bank to the SWIFT system, two Russian sources told Reuters. Access to the SWIFT payment system for the Russian Agricultural Bank is one of Moscow's main demands in negotiations over the future of the Black Sea grain export deal, which the United Nations says helps to tackle a global food crisis that has been aggravated by the Ukraine war. The Kremlin has repeatedly warned the deal will not be renewed beyond May 18 unless the West removes obstacles to Russian grain and fertiliser exports. Russia's grain and fertilizer exports are not subject to Western sanctions imposed following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but Moscow says Western restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance are a barrier to shipments. European Union and U.S. sanctions on Russia have also had a general chilling effect that has left the private sector wary of any dealings with Russia even if it is permitted. A Russian source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control had allowed JPMorgan to process the transaction. "JPMorgan received permission from OFAC to carry out payment for agricultural procure - but the process is difficult," said the first Russian source. A second Russian source said that JPMorgan and Russian Agricultural Bank were both specifically given exemptions to execute a single transaction. It involved grain and was denominated in U.S. dollars, according to the second Russian source. A third source also said the transaction was for grain. U.N. CONFIRMATION Reuters could not ascertain who the exporter was or the destination of the supply. The JPMorgan route was proposed as an alternative to reconnecting Russian Agricultural Bank (known as Rosselkhozbank) to SWIFT, but could be terminated at any time, the first Russian source said. "This cannot replace SWIFT," the source said. A senior State Department official said on Wednesday that Washington had broad exemptions in place for Russian food and fertilizer trade and that the Russian Agricultural Bank is not blocked by sanctions. The Russian Agricultural Bank did not reply to requests for comment. JPMorgan and the U.S. Treasury declined to comment. The United Nations confirmed on Wednesday that JPMorgan processed a payment for the Russian Agricultural Bank. "I wouldn't dispute that there was a transaction involving JPMorgan that happened earlier this month, but I don't have any details to provide about that at this stage," Deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters. Another source familiar with the transaction said the U.S. State Department and U.S. Treasury had asked JPMorgan to carry out the "very limited and highly monitored" transaction in relation to the export of agricultural materials, which occurred this month. RUSSIAN DEMANDS Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday told a briefing at the United Nations on Tuesday that one bank "kindly consented to finance one operation," but that this was not an acceptable long-term solution. Lavrov did not name the bank. Russia, usually the world's top wheat exporter, signed a deal last July in which the United Nations agreed to try to remove any obstacles to its grain and fertiliser exports. Along with returning the Russian Agricultural Bank to the SWIFT banking system, Russia also wants access to ports, the resumption of the Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline, and the unblocking of assets and the accounts of Russian companies involved in food and fertiliser exports. To try to save the Black Sea grain deal, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gave Lavrov a letter addressed to President Vladimir Putin that outlines a way forward aimed at the improvement, extension and expansion of the Ukraine Black Sea grain deal, U.N. spokesperson Haq said on Monday. The Kremlin said on Wednesday that the letter had been passed on via diplomatic channels. "It is being considered," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. In Geneva, a Russian envoy said there had been no real progress on resolving the obstacles and that Rosselkhozbank had to be reconnected to SWIFT. "What we need is not only case-by-case decisions, we need a systematic decision to reconnect Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT to make it possible for this bank to operate," Russia's envoy to the United Nations in Geneva, Gennady Gatilov, told reporters. (Reporting by Reuters in Moscow, Michelle Nichols in the United Nations, Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber in Geneva and Humeyra Pamuk and Daphne Psaledakis; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Barbara Lewis, Jane Merriman and Grant McCool) Republican 2024 presidential candidate and former Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC) took a hit at Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) Wednesday by inviting Disney to leave Florida and bring its business to South Carolina instead. Haley's invitation comes shortly after Disney filed a lawsuit against DeSantis in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida over what the company called "a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials." DISNEY SUES DESANTIS OVER ALLEGED 'CAMPAIGN TO WEAPONIZE GOVERNMENT POWER' AGAINST COMPANY "South Carolina was a very anti-woke state. It still is," Haley said on Fox News. "And if Disney would like to move their hundreds of thousands of jobs to South Carolina and bring the billions of dollars with them, I'll let them know I'll be happy to meet them in South Carolina and introduce them to the governor and the legislature that would welcome it." Haley also said that when she was governor of South Carolina, businesses were her partners "because if you take care of your businesses, you take care of your economy, your economy takes care of the people, and everyone wins." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER She continued, "And so that's the way we dealt with it." The lawsuit came after a yearlong conflict between the media conglomerate and the potential 2024 GOP presidential candidate in which DeSantis made efforts to limit Disney's power as Florida's largest employer. Original Location: Nikki Haley extends invite to Disney to leave Florida in shot at DeSantis Washington Examiner Videos Former President Donald Trump will participate in the GOP presidential debates despite bashing them publicly, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel predicted. "I think he'll do it. President Trump never shies away from a debate, and he did very well on the debate stage in 2020 as well as 2016," McDaniel told Fox and Friends on Wednesday. TRUMP HINTS HE MAY SKIP GOP DEBATES: NOBODY GOT MY APPROVAL' "He does. ... He skipped ours in 2016," co-host Brian Kilmeade interjected. "He did. He skipped one. But you know, he was on the center of the debate stage in 2016, and he never left it, so we'll see what happens. But we are talking to the campaigns and the candidates," McDaniel replied. Trump signaled Tuesday that he was souring on the 2024 debates, complaining that "nobody got my approval, or the approval of the Trump campaign." McDaniel appeared to indicate during the interview that the RNC has been in contact with his campaign. "When you're leading by seemingly insurmountable numbers, and you have hostile Networks with angry, TRUMP & MAGA-hating anchors asking the 'questions,' why subject yourself to being libeled and abused?" Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER In 2016, Trump boycotted a Fox News debate in Iowa amid a spat with former network anchor Megyn Kelly. He went on to lose the Iowa caucuses and attended the next debate. Trump also skipped the second scheduled 2020 debate with President Joe Biden due to disagreements over COVID-19 rules and the moderator. The RNC announced its first primary debate will take place in Milwaukee in August and will be hosted by Fox News. The second debate will take place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, but details about the moderator and date have not been revealed. Original Location: Ronna McDaniel predicts Trump wont boycott GOP debates: 'He did very well' in 2016 Washington Examiner Videos By Karen Lema SAN ANTONIO, Philippines (Reuters) - U.S. and Philippine armed forces unleashed a volley of missiles on a mock enemy warship in the South China Sea on Wednesday, in a show of military power and a strengthening alliance at a time of rising regional tension. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr watched from a four-storey tower as a high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) fired rockets at a decommissioned navy corvette in the waters just a few miles off its western province of Zambales. It was the first time the annual U.S.-Philippines "Balikatan" exercises featured live fire drills at sea, at a location just a few hours by boat from one of the world's most contested maritime features, the Scarborough Shoal, which China has occupied for more than a decade. Military from both countries have said the exercises across the Philippines, which include sites facing Taiwan, were not targeted at any country. This year's war games end on Friday and with 17,000 troops are the biggest edition yet, in a sign of rekindled ties between the defence treaty partners after a period of strain under the previous, anti-U.S. president, Rodrigo Duterte. "The alliance is alive," said Colonel Michael Logico, a Philippine spokesperson for Balikatan. Marcos, who was joined by his defence and armed forces chiefs, boarded and inspected a HIMARS cab displayed at the San Antonio naval base before observing the exercise through binoculars and on a TV screen. He smiled the moment the first missile was fired, leaving a trail of smoke in the sky, part of a coordinated coastal, inland artillery bombardment and airstrike that obliterated the mock enemy target. "The president came away with a deeper appreciation for joint and combined operations," spokesperson Logico added. Marcos is due to meet U.S. counterpart Joe Biden in Washington next week and plans to discuss a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty that he feels must evolve in the face of "heating up tensions". China has criticised the military exercises, which come against the backdrop of what the Philippines calls "aggressive" Chinese actions in the South China Sea. Beijing has said the U.S.-Philippines alliance must not interfere in sea disputes or harm China's territorial sovereignty and security interests. The Philippines and United States say their activities are for defence purposes only. "There's nothing provocative about training to defend from a nation's sovereign territory," Major General Joseph Ryan, commanding general of the U.S Army's 25th Infantry Division, told reporters. "It is every sovereign nation's right to defend their space." (Additional reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Martin Petty) While much of the conversation about challenges posed by Chinese land ownership has focused on purchases near U.S. military bases, one issue has gone somewhat under the radar. A growing number of legislators and experts have also raised alarms about potential national security risks posed by Chinese leverage over U.S. agriculture. WHO OWNS AMERICA? SHORTCOMINGS IN CHINESE FOREIGN OWNERSHIP DATA 'Food security is national security' Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) told the Washington Examiner that there are "obviously national security concerns" related to Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland, noting that "if they are in close proximity to a sensitive military installation or other piece of infrastructure," then it's "certainly" a problem. But he said food security was also a big concern. "My original focus was on the food production side of the equation," Newhouse said. "Them getting any kind of control over any link in our supply chain when it relates to the supply of food could be an area of vulnerability at some time in the future, whether it's in times of shortage, where likely the production from those areas would be exported to China and not used domestically, or could perhaps be used strategically in case of a conflict between China and the United States or one of our allies." The sentiment appears to have bipartisan appeal. Daleep Singh, the former deputy national security adviser for international economics on the Biden National Security Council, told the Senate he believed that "food security is economic security" and "food security is national security." Joseph Glauber, senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute and former chief economist for the Department of Agriculture, said China's land holdings in the United States are too small to threaten food shortages. "Insofar as some sort of food security threat, I see none," Glauber told the Washington Examiner. Glauber noted the amount of food the U.S. exports to China dwarfs the amount of food Chinese entities can currently produce on the U.S. land they own. "Without a doubt, foreign ownership of U.S. farmland poses a consequential risk to food security and food security is national security," Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said in January. Grassley noted that "nearly half" of U.S. farmland is owned by people aged 65 or older and added that "studies say nearly 100 million of these acres are expected to change ownership" over the next decade, which he described as a "red flag" for Congress to address. The senator proposed the "Food Security is National Security Act" in 2021, which would add the secretary of agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a panel that is supposed to focus on transactions, such as Chinese land purchases, which could threaten U.S. national security. And the potential problems that foreign ownership of land can create for food security go beyond the risk that China could ship away too much American-grown food. Some food security concerns have arisen when foreign entities buy agricultural land that they then convert to other uses. Foreign companies have taken advantage of green energy tax incentives, for example, to buy up farmland and lease it out for wind turbines. That cuts down on food production in ways that could disrupt at least local markets, if not have broader implications. China seeks 'leverage' over US agriculture The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission assessed in 2022 that because China can't fix its own food security problems, it has gone to other countries in search of agricultural resources. "The Chinese government's domestic efforts are not enough to solve China's problems" with farm production at home, the commission found, so "China has also gone abroad to address its needs through investments and acquisitions of farmland, animal husbandry, agricultural equipment, and intellectual property, particularly of genetically-modified seeds." The commission said the U.S. "is a global leader in all of these fields, making it a prime trading partner and often a target of China's efforts to strengthen its agriculture sector and food security, sometimes through illicit means." It warned that China's efforts "present several risks to U.S. economic and national security." And it added that "if further consolidations and Chinese investments in U.S. agricultural assets take place, China may have undue leverage over U.S. supply chains." Like in the technology sector, intellectual property has factored into the concerns about China's involvement in the agricultural sector. That's because China could uncover information about how American farmers and corporations develop seeds and produce larger yields. "China's access to U.S. agricultural IP may also erode U.S. competitiveness in agriculture technology that supports food production," the commission said. "Additionally, China's illicit acquisitions of genetically-modified seeds provides a jumpstart to China's own development of such seeds, deprives U.S. companies of revenue, and offers an opportunity to discover vulnerabilities in U.S. crops." FBI sounds 'alarm' over Chinese theft FBI Director Christopher Wray traveled to the Omaha, Nebraska, field office in August, where he spoke about combating threats to U.S. farm production. "If the agriculture sector ever suffers a serious cyber disruption, the effects will be felt across the country and across the spectrum from the farms in your states to dinner tables across America," Wray said. Wray spoke about the Chinese threat to U.S. agriculture and to the U.S. economy as a whole in October 2022 following the arrest of nearly a dozen Chinese intelligence officers accused of meddling in U.S. affairs. The FBI director said China's targets included businesses "in almost every sector," including agriculture. "Chinese scientists have in certain cases chosen to simply steal U.S. agriculture IP and technology rather than try to research and develop them themselves," the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission warned last year. "Agricultural IP theft could enable Chinese agribusinesses to undercut U.S. competitors on international seed markets." Chinese national Mo Hailong was arrested in 2013 because he had "conspired to steal the trade secrets of several U.S. based seed manufacturing companies." The FBI said, "The object of Mo's five-year conspiracy was to steal proprietary corn seeds from fields in Iowa and across the farm belt of the Midwest and send them to China, where Mo's employer, a Chinese corn seed company, was based." The bureau said he had stolen "the valuable trade secrets" of DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto, major American seed makers. The same day Mo was arrested, the FBI said, "two agricultural scientists from China were arrested and charged with trying to steal samples of rice seeds" from an Arkansas research facility. 'More nefarious route' The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission also warned, "Agricultural genetic technologies present unique dual-use potential that may attract further economic espionage. While China's main interest in obtaining GM seeds from the United States is in improving its crop yields, the potential weaponization of agricultural IP is possible. Using the genetic code data it has obtained on U.S. crops, China can strengthen its agricultural output by replicating years of U.S. research on its own farms, or it can take a more nefarious route." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The more nefarious route, the commission noted, could involve Chinese scientists experimenting on the American-made seed formulas until they turn those seeds into weapons to wipe out U.S. crops. "The potential weaponization of genetically-modified organisms, like genetically-modified seeds, also poses a threat to U.S. economic and food security, which could be at risk if genetically-modified seed code is used to create a bioweapon," the commission added. Original Location: Who owns America: Experts warn of threat to food security from Chinese land ownership and espionage in US Washington Examiner Videos Last weekends tragedy at Club Q, when an attacker killed two bartenders and three customers and shot 17 others inside the nightclub before two patrons intervened, in several ways united what some view as a divided community. Differences on religion, politics and sexual orientation and identity seemingly were set aside as grief took over, and thousands of mourners laid flowers and notes near the site, attended memorials and vigils, and donated generously to fundraisers benefiting victims. The citys willingness to respond to a horrifying situation with compassion, sensitivity and respect might be the catalyst that helps lift the negative perception about Colorado Springs and its attitude toward LGBTQ people that has lingered for three decades, said Sophie Bjork-James, assistant professor of anthropology at Vanderbilt University. Theres been a lot of people coming out in support of the local queer community, she said, which I think can make a huge difference. Bjork-James conducted research on evangelical Christian anti-LGBT bias in Colorado Springs from 2008 to 2016 and last year published a book on the topic, The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalisms Politics of the Family. Moving forward, the entire community even people who wouldnt want to go to a gay club is going to have to come out and say, We want everyone to feel safe in our community, she said. It takes the majority of the community to show that in their actions. Whether the stain of a 30-year-old anti-gay rights movement that originated in Colorado Springs and resulted in statewide legislation that prohibited legal protections for sexual orientation will fade remains unclear. An act of vandalism less than a handful of days after the shooting seemed to underscore the tense divide. A large stone sign at the front of the campus of Focus on the Family, an evangelical Christian communications organization that relocated its headquarters from California to Colorado Springs in 1991, was spray-painted in black overnight Wednesday with the words: Their blood is on your hands" and "Five lives taken. Focus President Jim Daly said Friday in a statement that while the organization recognizes the community is hurting in the aftermath of the reckless and violent actions of a very disturbed individual, this is a time for prayer, grieving and healing, not vandalism and the spreading of hate. He urged everyone to pray for peace. The families of the individuals killed in Saturday nights senseless attack are in our prayers, Daly said. We also pray for the individual or group responsible for this unwarranted defacing of our ministry's property." Social media and some LGBTQ publications also cast blame on Focus on the Family, which supports traditional marriage, gender identity and sexual orientation. Overall, Damage was done, and it runs deep, said Carolyn Cathey, a longtime local gay-rights activist. We definitely have come a long way, but we have a long way to go. Its unfair to point the finger at Christians as having a role in the shooting or any other violence, Daly said in an interview. Its very disparaging to take these acts of violence and associate them with groups of people that have a different point of view, Daly said. Thats not how we solve problems. Focus on the Family is often labeled by people who disagree with their beliefs as a hate group against LGBTQ people, Daly said. But that's not true, he said. Were Christian folks following Scripture that indicates how we should behave and treat people, and how marriage is defined by God, as between a man and a woman, Daly said. People have the right to disagree, and Focus and other Christians have the right to believe what they believe. Evangelical Christians were at the forefront of Amendment 2, Bjork-James said, a ballot measure voters approved in November 1992 to ban the state and its municipalities from enacting anti-discrimination safeguards for gays, lesbians and bisexuals. I understand the city has changed quite a bit, but for so long Colorado Springs was a center of anti-LGBTQ organizing both in Colorado Springs and nationally, so there has been a long history of discrimination, and there have been long-term effects, Bjork-James said. Those responsible for the vandalism, like the action of the shooting suspect, do not represent the entirety of the community, many say. Rich Ferraro, spokesperson for the Los Angeles-based Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD, spoke at last Tuesday's City Council meeting on behalf of the national LGBTQ community. My message to the council (was) its been absolutely incredible to see how everyone here in Colorado Springs is coming together," he said. Its not just LGBTQ people but the entire city standing united together. That love and affirmation for the LGBTQ community, the LGBTQ community wants to see that going forward. Over the past three decades, Focus on the Family, churches and other groups have held community discussions on gay rights. I am sure that there remains antagonism in our city as in every city to some degree or another, but the heads of Christian churches and organizations I believe on both sides of the debate have sought greater understanding from one another, said the Rev. Kelly Williams, pastor of Vanguard Church. His Southern Baptist congregation in Colorado Springs has hosted some of the conversations. Our philosophy was to add a name and a face to an issue so that we could show love and respect to one another while we may disagree on the matters at hand, Williams said, adding that one event drew 1,200 attendees. Local churches of 2022 "don't purport hate, Williams said. Disagreement, yes, but not hate," he said. Court documents filed last week by defense attorneys in the Club Q shooting indicate that the suspect, Anderson Lee Aldrich, identifies as nonbinary, which describes a person who does not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. The motions address Aldrich as Mx. Aldrich, which is the title given to those who are considered nonbinary. Some question whether Aldrich is part of the LGBTQ community or whether such an identification is a defense tactic. Regardless of how Aldrich identifies, the suspected shooter still committed an act of hate, said Liss Smith, spokesperson for Inside Out Youth Services, which supports LGBTQ teens and young adults. Society teaches us so much shame, and internalized homophobia or transphobia is more common than we like to admit, she said. While none of us can speak to the shooter's inner feelings, we can certainly see how our culture incites us to feel shame, hatred for who we are and even hatred for other members of our LGBTQ community. Social media is rife with debates about the "right" kind of queer person, Smith said, often villainizing overt sexuality or trans identities, using the same rhetoric that is used to attack our community as a whole. Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric from the 1970s has been recycled, she said, with LGBTQ adolescents reporting cyberbullying, misidentifying names and pronouns at school and other problems. When bullying and discrimination happens, its still coming from that same place of fear and ignorance and folks who dont understand, Smith said. Owners of some local LGBTQ-oriented businesses said at local vigils for shooting victims that their companies have been targeted because of their openness. Authorities have said they are investigating the shooting as a hate crime. Hate crimes against LGBTQ people are the second-highest category of hate crimes in Colorado Springs, according to police data. A total of 22 hate crimes against gays, lesbians and bisexuals have occurred since 2019; hate crimes against Blacks top the list with 54 incidents in the past four years, Colorado Springs Police statistics show. In announcing the names of the five people who died in the Club Q shooting, Colorado Springs Police made a point of issuing pronouns along with the names of deceased victims given by families, out of respect, officials said. Improvements include laws that provide protection for when LGBTQ people are wronged, and LGTBQ people serving in the military, gay-rights activist Cathey said. Whats different is the attack on our school system and erasing history and inclusiveness for our children, she said, referring to the so-called "don't say gay" movement in some school districts in various states, including Florida. We continuously have to work to fight what was taken from us by hateful people in 1992, Cathey said. Many acknowledge that Colorado Springs has changed for the better. Were not the hate city we were in 1992, said Smith of Inside Out Youth Services. Passage of the controversial Amendment 2 spawned a national debate over gay rights and presented the first anti-gay case to the United States Supreme Court. The high court struck down the legislation in 1996, deeming it unconstitutional. Even though the legislation was never enacted, harsh criticism, boycotts and other blowback ensued, as Colorado became known as the anti-gay state and the "hate state." Evangelicals Bjork-James interviewed in Colorado Springs agreed that to be gay, bisexual or transgender was to be outside of Gods desires, which she believed birthed the movement to pass Amendment 2. It seemed like their actions opposing rights for sexual minorities was one of the most important things of their faith, Bjork-James said. Today, Colorado is considered one of the nations most progressive states, with an openly gay governor and his husband as first gentleman, robust legal protections for the LGBTQ population and among the countrys most liberal abortion laws. While El Paso County retains a conservative stronghold politically, the gap is narrowing. Smith of Inside Out Youth Services thinks its unfortunate that the national spotlight that has shown on Colorado Springs for the past week has focused on the citys historical reputation. Its important, she said, to not only understand the history but also recognize that the city has matured and grown not only demographically and culturally, but also morally, to the point that its more inclusive and accepting of the LGBTQ community. That being said, The shooting highlights that our work on growth is not done, Smith said. Daly of Focus on the Family also sees the old narrative as no longer applying to todays city. As a Christian leader in Colorado Springs, Im never in a conversation thats denigrating to the LGBT community, he said. Most Christians I know and interact with are big believers that everybodys created in the image of God, and everybody is due respect even if we disagree on social issues or politics. Bjork-James believes the shooting reinforces the idea that Colorado Springs is not a welcoming place but still thinks the sensitivity and compassion can prevail for the long-term. We all want to ensure our community is not defined by this tragedy but by our response to it, Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers said at one of last weeks media briefings. Cathey, one of the speakers at a memorial service last Sunday at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, said city and state leaders would not have attended such an event 30 years ago, but the fight for gay rights has led to such progress. We have seen an evolution of tolerance and inclusion, Cathey said in an interview. Some of our leaders are not just allies, but theyre accomplices in making our city a great, inclusive city. Just a few days after the murder of three 9-year-old children and three staff members at a private Christian school in Nashville by a deranged, transgender former student, a crowd of angry protesters gathered outside the Tennessee statehouse demanding gun control. This is a knee-jerk reaction of emotional, frustrated people who simplistically believe gun control is the remedy to end these mass shootings. As tempers rose at the Tennessee protest, a mob of protesters broke off and spilled into the state Capitol led by two young Black representatives, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, who entered the House chamber and took over the lectern in the well, demanding gun controls. They proceeded to stir up the mob with a bullhorn, shouting chants like, No action, no peace, echoed by fellow protesters in the upper spectators gallery. All this, drowning out deliberations on the House floor where their colleagues had been going about their legislative business. Several days later, in the calm of reflection, the Republican-controlled Tennessee House of Representatives voted to expel Reps. Jones and Pearson for breaking House decorum rules. Rep. Andrew Farmer, who sponsored the expulsion resolutions, explained, Just because you dont get your way, you cant come to the well, bring your friends and throw a temper tantrum with an adolescent bullhorn. (The pair have since been reinstated to the state legislature by county officials in their respective House districts, as is permitted under Tennessee law. So, the whole thing was an act by the perpetrators.) Predictably exploiting the opportunity for political gain, President Joe Biden (or whoever writes this kind of stuff for him) had promptly tweeted, Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting. And what are GOP officials focused on? Punishing lawmakers who joined thousands of peaceful protesters calling for action. Its shocking, undemocratic and without precedent. Rep. Justin Pearson has claimed, This is what democracy looks like. Theyre both blatantly wrong. First, Biden. Jones and Pearson werent punished for joining protesters calling for action. They were punished for breaking the rules of their legislative body. The mob that stormed the Capitol and disrupted the proceedings of the legislature wasnt exactly peaceful, as the video shows. Had they been, theyd have listened quietly and politely to the House deliberation. Jones and Pearson were expelled, democratically, in a super-majority vote of the House. And this kind of thing is not unprecedented. Members of the U.S. Congress have also been expelled for bad behavior. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Despite Pearsons claim, this incident in the Tennessee statehouse is not what democracy looks like. Its what anarchy looks like. The term democracy has its roots in Greece, derived from the Greek word demos, and refers to rule by the ordinary people. Pundits and politicians often use it loosely to include nations with institutions like fair elections, representative government, property rights, due process, freedom of speech, the press and religion. In practice, the degree of those rights varies wildly from one democracy to another, say, from the U.S.A. to the theocracy in Iran, to the Democratic Peoples Republic of (North) Korea. In a pure democracy, all policies would be determined by a plebiscite: a direct, majority vote of the people. This is impractical. Our nations founders created a constitutional republic, with the wishes of the people filtered through their elected representatives. The word democracy, appears nowhere in the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution. (However, Article IV does guarantee a republican form of government.) To protect individual rights from the tyranny of the majority our republic tempers majority rule with anti-democratic guard rails like the Bill of Rights; the Supreme Court; the Senate, with two seats for every state regardless of population; ratification of three-fourths of the states to amend the Constitution, and others. Tennessee is a solidly Republican state with a Republican governor and big majorities in the state legislature. Jones and Pearson represent solidly Democrat House districts, but they do not speak for most Tennesseans. They have a voice in the legislature representing their constituents but are routinely outvoted by the GOP majority. Thats also what democracy looks like. Democracy is not disruptive mobs shouting down lawmakers at work. Protesters are free to act out on the streets, peacefully. Gov. Bill Lee has called on legislators to produce a thoughtful, practical gun control bill to protect the public while preserving the constitutional gun rights of the people. Radicals like Jones and Pearson wont like it. Come to think of it, Republicans legislators are routinely outvoted by an overwhelming Democrat majority in Colorado, most recently in an ineffective, feel-good gun control bill. Do you suppose those Democrats would approve of Republicans behaving like Jones, Pearson and their angry mob in our statehouse? Mike Rosen is a Denver-based American radio personality and political commentator. Coloradans were divided over the legalization of dangerous hallucinogens last fall on the statewide ballot. Proposition 122 passed by only a slim margin despite a slick, deceptive, multimillion-dollar campaign orchestrated by the Washington, D.C.-based New Approach political action committee. Legalization of magic mushrooms and other hallucinogens was pitched to the public as a way to address depression, PTSD and related problems. While some research appears to support the use of hallucinogens in treating such maladies, clearly, only medical professionals should be allowed to administer the drugs after a case-by-case evaluation. Prop. 122 instead does an end-run on the medical establishment which is why its really just a cynical ploy for legalizing more drugs for recreational use. Plenty of voters seemed to see through the propaganda. They likely harbored misgivings about unleashing a new wave of mind-bending substances in a state experiencing the ill effects of recreational marijuana legalization. Now that its the law of the land, the best hedge against the worst of Prop. 122 is to use what regulatory authority it grants the state to create safeguards against wide-ranging, potential abuses. Theres time to act as implementation is slated for September 2024. Unfortunately, Colorados Legislature already is blowing it. Senate Bill 23-290, passed by the state Senate on Tuesday and now en route to the House, would prohibit local governments from banning the healing centers that will be authorized to dispense the hallucinogens. The legislation also bars local governments from enacting more restrictive regulations and penalties than those that will be adopted by the state. As dissenting Republican lawmakers pointed out in Senate debate the bill is sponsored by ruling Democrats many Colorado communities voted overwhelmingly against Prop. 122 last fall and shouldnt have to bear its burdens. They should be able to opt out. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. "Local elected officials need to have some ability, more ability than what's in this bill, to mitigate negative impacts and to ensure the safety, health and well-being of their community, Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton, told fellow lawmakers. It was of no avail; the bill passed largely along party lines. Details for licensing the healing centers, as well as other regulations, have yet to be worked out by the state executive branch using its rule-making authority. The guidelines provided by Prop. 122, however, are not promising. The healing centers can be private residences. And while the measure doesnt permit retail sales, it will allow growing hallucinogen-yielding mushrooms for personal use. A grower will be able to give the drug to anyone 21 or older. As we noted here last fall in urging a no vote on Prop. 122, the prohibition against sales is an unenforceable farce. Money will change hands just as it does for any street drug. Thats why lawmakers in the House would be wise to amend SB 23-290 to allow for a local opt-out for any community that doesnt want to host the healing centers. They invite abuse. The bill does do one good thing it pushes off implementation until 2025. It also gives lawmakers a chance to make another improvement: They can ensure the legalization of hallucinogens really is about mental health as originally touted. Prop. 122 leaves it to the state to set education and training requirements for the licensed facilitators who will dish out the drugs. So, amend the bill to require the facilitators to be psychiatrists i.e., M.D.s licensed to practice medicine and write prescriptions in Colorado. Thats one way to give this otherwise dubious measure some true potential for therapeutic value. This legislative session, anti-gun politicians in the Colorado General Assembly have made gun control a top priority. As a responsible gun owner and school shooting survivor, Im sorry to say that none of this years legislation will make anyone safer. It will only undermine the God-given rights of law-abiding citizens. Proponents of the bill to increase the minimum age to purchase rifles from 18 to 21, which has passed both chambers of the Legislature, argue that it will prevent mass shootings. However, the median age of mass shooters is 32. Some have been as old as 72. The facts dont justify labeling an entire demographic of adults too dangerous to own firearms. At the age of 18, young men and women are old enough to get married and start a family. Parents have the right, indeed the duty, to defend their children from harm, but if Gov. Jared Polis signs this bill, the children of young parents will be defenseless. Another bill, which has passed through both chambers and is awaiting the governors decision, mandates a three-day waiting period to purchase a firearm. This would be a fatal mistake. Take for example a woman who just escaped an abusive relationship and is ready to reassert control over her own life. She might have children to protect and an abusive ex who is threatening to harm them. Three days might as well be an eternity. According to an adage of Albert Einsteins, insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. That sums up the expansion of the red flag law. The year after Colorado passed the original red flag law in 2019, there was an increase in gun-related homicides. The measure failed to do what supporters said it would. Their solution: another red flag law, which recently passed both chambers of the Legislature. If someone hits another person on the head with a hammer, we hold the assailant responsible, not Makita nor Harbor Freight. But legislators recently passed a bill through the Senate and House to hold gun manufacturers and retailers liable for the actions of criminals. This legislation is not only unfair. Its dangerous. By making business untenable for legitimate manufacturers and retailers, this bill will have the unintended consequence of propping up black market gun-dealers. A bill which passed the House and is under consideration in the Senate would allow county governments to prohibit shooting on private property. For generations, rural Coloradans have shot target practice and taught their children about responsible gun ownership on their own land. Its a harmless practice that fosters a culture of responsible gun ownership. If passed, the bill could have a profoundly negative effect on the lifestyle and heritage of rural Coloradans. It will also reduce the number of responsible gun owners. To make Colorado safer, we need more responsible gun owners, not fewer. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. A ban on unserialized firearms, as proposed in a bill making its way through the Senate before going to the House, would be impossible to enforce. Supporters of the bill claim it will reduce crime. This argument relies on the false idea that criminals will check to make sure their guns have serial numbers before using them in a stick-up. The recently defeated bill to ban assault weapons was not merely an attempted infringement on the Second Amendment, but an attempt to repeal it. The bill aimed to outlaw every semi-automatic center-fire rifle and handgun capable of accepting a magazine. It would have banned the firearms commonly used for self-defense. The Colorado State Shooting Association rallied huge numbers of citizens to oppose the assault weapons ban. We were glad to see it defeated. Unfortunately, the next egregious bill is always right around the corner. Gun-control measures are attacks on the right to self-defense, which is derived from the God-given right to life the most fundamental right we have, and one acknowledged in the Declaration of Independence. By assaulting the Second Amendment, anti-gun politicians assault the right to life. Whatever their intentions, this years spate of anti-gun legislation will cost innocent lives. Daniel Fenlason is the executive director of the Colorado State Shooting Association (the NRAs state association). Learn more at cssa.org. County has a plan for fraud Recently, home owners have been bombarded with advertisements that we need to purchase home title insurance to reduce the possibility of home title theft. I recently contacted the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder (Steve Schleiker) to inquire about the possibility of home title theft in El Paso County. I was presently surprised that the county is taking a proactive approach to this problem: Beginning April 17, the El Paso County Clerk and Recorders Office will be alerting property owners to the increase in mortgage and property fraud based on the premise that a person can file fraudulent deeds, mortgages or other liens against a property without the owners knowledge and consent. The El Paso County Recording Departments new program will provide a safeguard mechanism to all county property owners. The property owner will be notified by mail only when the exact name listed on public records as grantor or grantee on many of the document types that transfer ownership against the property. This will provide an early warning system that allows the property owner to act if they believe fraudulent activity has occurred with their property. Once notified, the owner can affirm to the El Paso County recorder if the filing is legitimate or if it is a fraudulent attempt by someone to seize ownership or cause other issues with the property. Kudos to the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder! Patrick Ziuchkovski Manitou Springs The best of times or the worst? Victor Davis Hanson recently presented us with a despondent view of the current American situation, offering evidence of decadence and decline. Now we have the Cronin-Loevy optimistic response inspired by Arnold Toynbees grand historical speculation on civilization more than two generations ago under circumstances quite different from those of this moment in our history. The history of empires from ancient to modern times suggests that, at the height of their power, internal decay appears, coupled with the increasing expense of defending the periphery of the imperial order against challenging powers. We might call it imperial fatigue. In themselves such challenges do not tell us how long the existing order can sustain itself. Is it the best of times or the worst of times? There is challenge and there are responses. Our historical speculations, and the responses we devise, extrapolate from what we define as most salient in the experience we have actually had. Speculation about the future is necessarily about what has not yet come to pass, coupled nowadays with the rhetoric of existential threat the final threat beyond all threats which is dramatic but does not rescue us from the speculative and argumentative nature of the claims or the uncertainty in deciding what the next steps should be. Decisions must be made despite the contingencies of historical change and the unavoidable contestability imposed on whatever policy responses we devise. We can initiate responses, but we cannot control all the consequences that might follow from the choices we make. Timothy Fuller Colorado Springs Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Hanson is an American icon You would think that Tom Cronin and Bob Loevy should have realized that they have done enough damage to Americas constitutional republic by indoctrinating hundreds, if not thousands of students at Colorado College on big government and socialism. But no, they have to go and denigrate professor Victor Davis Hanson for pointing out that the Biden administration is indeed destroying the American economy and culture. As Hanson has so elegantly pointed out, over 6 million illegal aliens have entered the USA since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. To put that in perspective, that is about 10 times as many people who live in Colorado Springs and more than the population of Alaska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Wyoming combined. I will take the opinion of Hanson any day over Arnold Toynbee, an upper-class British subject, who never lived in America. Professor Hanson has written more than 30 scholarly books and has written weekly newspaper columns since 2001. Hanson is truly an American icon. Sam Taylor Colorado Springs Look at whos pulling the trigger I am not a gun owner, and I have no desire to go out and buy a firearm. But as a country, we continue to deny the reality of gun violence and allow politicians to cherry pick the facts to further their ideology. A headline reads that gun violence is the leading cause of death for children according to a report by the CDC. The inference by one political party is that there is an epidemic of a paramilitary segment of our population that is gunning down the nations youth. One opinion to The Gazette stated that mental illness is a myth and that guns alone are to blame. Yet, out of the millions of legal gun owners in the United States, 99.9% are able to resist the urge to gun down their fellow Americans. So, what does the rest of the CDC report include that is not as widely reported in the media? The recent outrage is being spurred by the tragic deaths of young school students...predominantly White children. Yet, the vast majority of our children being gunned down are minorities ... more specifically, Black children. Black children are 5 times more likely to die from gun fire than their White counterparts ... and that is not by police shootings. Eighty-four percent of Black children (mostly male) die from an act of homicide, while the leading cause for White children is gun suicide ... 66%. A Black youth is three times more likely to be a victim of gun violence in large cities than in smaller population centers. Clearly, there are socioeconomic issues that we continue to ignore as a country and our children are paying the price. We continue to turn a blind eye to the root cause of gun violence. We call for the end of the tools of violence without looking at the person pulling the trigger. Make no mistake, I have no problem with stricter gun laws ... but we are not even effectively enforcing the ones that we have on the books. But if we continue to hold the tools of violence responsible for these heinous acts instead of the person wielding its power, we will continue to see these firearm related tragedies. Steve Warner Colorado Springs Colorado farmers will soon be guaranteed access to the resources needed to repair their own agricultural equipment, as the state on Tuesday became the first in the nation to sign a farmer's right to repair bill. Modern agricultural equipment often runs on advanced computer software, and, currently, some manufacturers prohibit access to these systems or do not provide information on how they work. House Bill 1011 requires manufacturers to sell tools, parts and digital access to farmers and independent repair shops to diagnose and fix problems with equipment. The bill, which Gov. Jared Polis signed into law today, is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2024. "Colorado always likes to lead the way," Polis said. "Many farmers and ranchers face difficulty around exclusive arrangements where they have to get their repairs done by the dealer. ... This bill will save farmers and ranchers time and money by opening up additional options to repair farm equipment." Colorado was one of 11 states this year to introduce legislation seeking the right to repair for farmers, but it is the only state so far to get its proposal signed into law. Proponents said the idea came from farmers throughout the state who had to wait weeks and pay thousands of dollars to manufacturers to conduct repairs they said they could have done themselves. Many of these farmers testified in support of the bill during public hearings. Danny Wood said he paid $950 for a technician to type in a code to unlock his tractor after he had already paid $8,500 for them to repair the tractor two days before. Dale McCall said he he spent $6,000 for technicians to work on his hay balers for over three weeks without fixing them, causing him to miss harvesting deadlines. After convincing the manufacturer to give him access to the software, McCalls son fixed the balers in less than two hours, he said. "It's a great day for Colorado agriculture," said bill sponsor Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. "When I was running this bill, I fought every minute for the farmers who do the work out in the fields to feed us. They're the ones who I was working for. ... They deserve to be able to get their stuff fixed when needed because their work is so important." The bill's signing comes after it passed the Senate in a 25-8 vote in March and passed the House, 44-17, in February. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. While the bill received bipartisan sponsorship and approval, the votes were largely split along party lines, with Democrats in support and Republicans in opposition. Throughout both chambers, only one Democrat voted against the bill and only five Republicans voted in favor of it. Most critics of the bill said they are worried about hurting manufacturers and dealerships of agricultural equipment that rely on revenue from repairs to stay in business. Others argued that right to repair is not needed. "Those service departments might become distressed and it would cause the dealership to become distressed and then it goes away," said Rep. Richard Holtorf, R-Akron, while voting against the bill on the House floor. "When something goes away, it hardly ever comes back." Manufacturers strongly opposed the bill, arguing it would give farmers the ability to tamper with equipment beyond repairs, such as increasing a machines horsepower or by passing emissions control systems. In response to this concern, sponsors amended the bill to clarify that these changes would still be illegal and that the dealer is not liable for a change someone makes to the products. The bill was also amended to automatically repeal if the federal government enacts legislation establishing the right to repair agricultural equipment and to allow memorandums of understanding to overrule the bill if the memorandum is actively in effect and adequately gives owners the tools or information needed to repair their own equipment. This change came from critics arguing that the private sector is handling the problem itself, pointing to the manufacturing company John Deere reaching a private agreement with the American Farm Bureau Federation in January. While the agreement has no enforcement provision, in it John Deere promises to offer farmers and independent repair shops access to purchase software, manuals and other information needed to service their equipment. "Being able to repair in a timely manner and not having to wait for somebody to come do what you can do yourself is essential," said bill sponsor Sen. Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo. "Nobody works harder than our farmers and a farmer can only work as hard as his or her equipment." HB 1011 is also sponsored by Rep. Ron Weinberg, R-Loveland, and Sen. Janice Marchman, D-Loveland. The bill is backed by the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Colorado Cattlemen's Association, National Federation of Independent Business and the Colorado growers associations of corn, wool, wheat, fruit and vegetables. More than one in three young adults exiting Colorados foster care system end up homeless within three years. Lawmakers are trying to change that with the passage of Senate Bill 82. If signed into law, the bill would create a housing voucher and case management program for foster youth, providing housing security for around 100 people. The program would offer $1.09 million in housing vouchers and $1.44 million in case management services annually to 18- to 26-year-old Coloradans who are homeless or at risk of being homeless, and who were formerly involved in the foster care system. Voucher recipients would contribute to paying for their housing, but not more than 30% of the total costs. "Our foster kids are failing in Colorado," said bill sponsor Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. "They're not graduating from high school, they're not going to college, they have substance use disorder, they have mental health disorders. They need help. And that's what this bill is about." Nationally, an estimated 50% of homeless young adults were once in the foster care system. After aging out of the system at 18, approximately 25% are involved in the criminal justice system within two years, 50% are unemployed by the age of 24 and, of women, 71% are pregnant by the age of 21, according to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. SB 82 passed the House in a 48-17 vote Wednesday, following the Senate's 32-3 approval earlier this month. Though the bill had bipartisan support, only Republicans voted against the bill in both chambers. In the House, Republicans introduced five failed amendments, unsuccessfully trying to limit the housing voucher and case management program. The amendments tried to require voucher recipients to be employed, to pass random drug tests, to be younger than 24, and to only get the voucher for two years. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. "Colorado needs to grow up," said Rep. Richard Holtorf, R-Akron, who voted against the bill. "It's time to grow up and be an adult. And that includes the foster kids. ... Young people need to know, in this life and this country, you need to get after it. You need to go along and figure it out." In the Senate, opponents questioned spending money on starting a new program to support homeless youth, arguing that the state should simply invest more in existing programs. Colorado currently uses two federally funded housing voucher programs, but the bill sponsors said the existing programs are geared towards adults and have very limited access, with months- to years-long wait lists. They also do not include the case management services included in SB 82. Proponents of the bill also urged opponents to consider that young adults who grew up in the foster system often do not have access to the information and resources that other people get from their parents. Bill sponsor Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, spoke of supporting her son when he almost got evicted from his apartment at 20 years old, after being hit by a car and being unable to work due to his injuries. "Not every kid has what they need to make it," Michaelson Jenet said. "I can't so quickly dismiss kids who have had the worst of life. ... So, how would we help our children struggling on the brink of homelessness? Senate Bill 82 is the answer to that question." The bill will next be sent to Gov. Jared Polis for final consideration. If approved, it will take effect immediately with his signature. The Senate Appropriations Committee on a party-line approved an amendment watering down Gov. Jared Polis' signature affordable housing bill before advancing it out of the panel that brought a halt to its progress. The Wednesday vote came after a vigorous hour of debate among committee members over a competing amendment and an effort to return it to a lower committee. Both Republican efforts failed on party-line votes. The hearing on Senate Bill 213 was delayed several times while bill sponsor Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, tried to broker a compromise between the governor's office and Senate Democrats. Among the key opponents in the Senate's majority caucus were the appropriations panel's chair and vice-chair, both who pledged to vote against the bill if it continued to strip local government authority on zoning. The winning amendment was a strike-below that rewrote the bill and took out its most controversial provision: language that sought to allow state control of local government zoning decisions. The bill in its new form would signal a major defeat for Polis, who made state preemption a key feature of his affordable housing plan for the 2023 session. As amended, SB 213 is little more than a planning measure and still lacks any requirement that new housing be affordable. Its most important provision now appears to be a housing needs assessment that would look at housing needs on a statewide, rural and urban basis. The assessment has bipartisan support. But the bill still lacks full support from its most ardent opponents, including the Colorado Municipal League. Kevin Bommer, the association's president, told Colorado Politics Tuesday he's waiting for confirmation the governor and the bill's House sponsors are on board with the amendment and with other changes sought by CML. Should that happen, Bommer has pledged to change from opposition to support. The bill as amended also lacks some of the assurances Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, wanted around water supply. Those would be based on whether denser housing developments along the Front Range could be built without taking more water from the Western Slope. Roberts also wanted language around affordability, and that it be determined on a regional basis. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Kirkmeyer's amendment was the same one she offered in the local government panel a week ago. Her proposal sought to strike the state control language and require a statewide housing summit, an idea she said was similar to one employed by Democratic Gov. Roy Romer some 30 years ago. While the amendment didn't win committee approval, the summit has gained support from Senate Democrats, including from Moreno. Those who supported SB 213 in its original form are licking their wounds Wednesday. "Historic, transformational change is never easy," said a statement from Healthier Colorado. "There are roadblocks along the way, especially when we are fighting to infuse equity in a system that has for too long benefited some at the expense of others. ... By fighting for the illusion of local control, local communities are giving up their ability to provide for their constituents. We are disappointed in today's outcome, but still going to fight to pass the best possible version of this bill." SB 213 is available for debate in the full Senate. The bill now joins hundreds others awaiting final action in the session's final 12 days. In related news, the Senate local government panel Tuesday night killed a proposal from progressive Democrats on rent control, a bill the governor signaled he would not support. The deciding vote came from Roberts, who joined with the committee's Republicans to put an end to the measure. House Bill 1115 would have lifted the state prohibition that keeps local governments from adopting ordinances to impose rent control. Polis spokesman Conor Cahill said in February: "Governor Polis is skeptical that rent control will create more housing stock, and locations with these policies often have the unintended consequences of higher rent."